El Salvador's president grasps the threat to democracy of the politicized FBI raiding President Trump's home. He tweeted :''What would the US government say if OUR police raided the house of one of the main possible contenders for OUR 2024 presidential election?''

https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2022/08/09/el-salvadors-president-nayib-bukele-trump-fbi-raid-what-would-u-s-say-if-i-did-that/

The real danger as corrupt and partisan as today's FBI is would be their planting something in the materials they took.

One remembers their crooked and partisan behavior on the diary of Biden's daughter. It was political dynamite because in it she wrote about how as a young girl, Joe Biden showered with her and how that had messed up her later sex life. She left the diary among trash when she moved out of an apartment, and the finder sold it to a conservative outlet. They had not published it because they were trying to authenticate it when the FBI raided two journalists in the organization to intimidate them. Funny thing though, it backfired because in their raid, they showed that the diary was authentic.

The FBI these days is as bad as Putin's FSB. The FSB is Putin's political fixer and the FBI is Biden's political fixer. The Federal Bureau of Intimidation.
Xi replies to letter from teachers, students in Malta

Xinhua) 08:15, August 10, 2022

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping recently replied to a letter from teachers and students of the China Corner of St. Margaret College Secondary School in Malta, encouraging more Maltese youth to actively participate in people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

In his letter, Xi said thanks to efforts from both sides, the China Corner of the school has contributed positively to increasing knowledge about China among the Maltese youth and promoting the China-Malta friendship.

Xi wished the China Corner even greater success in the future, and welcomed faculty members and students to China for exchanges and study.

Peace and harmony amongst all states has been a long-held wonderful aspiration of the Chinese nation for the human society, Xi said, adding that it is also the cultural root of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

"We live in a world where history and reality meet, where opportunities and challenges coexist, and where humanity as a whole rise or fall together. Countries must assist each other in times of need and choose win-win cooperation if we are to share in the fruits of development," he noted.

Xi said for the purpose of tackling global development and international security challenges, China has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative.

It is a concrete step on the part of China to galvanize consensus and strength to put the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into action, Xi added.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malta, Xi said, adding that the bilateral relationship has become a fine example of friendship between two countries with different history and culture.

He hopes that more Maltese teachers, students and young people will actively engage in bilateral cultural exchanges, promote mutual learning between the two civilizations, and carry forward the great tradition of friendship between the Chinese and Maltese people.

St. Margaret College Secondary School is a comprehensive public school in Malta, which set up the China Corner in 2010 with support from the Chinese side.

The teachers and students of the China Corner wrote a letter to Xi recently, in which they quoted a saying from the Book of Rites that "the whole world is one family," expressing their appreciation for the Chinese culture and speaking highly of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative.

They also extended wishes for the 50th anniversary of Malta-China diplomatic relations and expressed the willingness to make more contributions to cultural exchanges between the two countries.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
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Faridabad (Haryana) [India], August 10 (ANI/NewsVoir): The Master of Business Administration (MBA), a master's degree with widespread recognition, helps students develop the abilities necessary for management and business roles. However, the benefits of an MBA are not just restricted to the commercial sector. Managerial jobs in the public sector and non-profit organizations, can be procured from an MBA. A comprehensive MBA degree might result in a significant pay increase and a significantly escalated professional network. Individuals who hold an MBA from top business schools may find it easier to enter numerous industries that are incredibly competitive, in comparison to those without an MBA degree. Regardless of the sector of your career, you can definitely profit from an MBA. Given the time and money required, some might question whether getting an MBA is worthwhile. For individuals who wish to engage in the management sector, with financial institutions, or as entrepreneurs, a degree in MBA can assist to develop the leadership qualities necessary to thrive in these fields. Completing an MBA programme shows a dedication to acquiring, honing, and using talents that can help businesses prosper. Moreover, individuals with MBAs are more assured of their market potential and the depth of knowledge they can contribute to various pursuits is immensely valuable. Few of the benefits of getting an MBA degree are: 1. Larger Understanding of the Global Market: With an MBA degree, one can interact with students and professionals from around the world with various backgrounds and experiences in the global economy. MBA students can broaden their knowledge in addition to receiving guidance from experts. 2. Development of Effective Communication: Successful professionals must possess the core talent of effective communication. An MBA can help students improve their written and oral communicative skills, enabling them to convey concepts to people at different organisational levels successfully, and ensure that everyone can interact in pursuit of a common objective. 3. Strengthens Professional Network: By getting an MBA, one joins a community of students and professionals worldwide, offering exposure to reputable and knowledgeable individuals who might not have otherwise had the opportunity. Learners will have the chance to communicate with other specialists both within and outside of the course and join a larger community. 4. Improved Workforce: An MBA degree might help students stand out from their competitors in a highly competitive employment landscape. It can help areas, such as the energy, consumer goods, and start-up sectors. Due to their expertise in marketing and finance, which other company staff may not have, employers frequently seek to hire or promote candidates with MBAs. As a result, individuals may undertake several initiatives swiftly and contribute to the economic success of their organization. If one wants to start a global career with various prospects, earning an MBA is one of the best choices. The professional resume will instantly gain credibility after having an MBA, in addition to having access to a wide range of prospects on a global scale. But this can only be done by enrolling in one of India's top management universities for an MBA. One such academic institution offering a Master's in Business Administration is Manav Rachna. Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), a NAAC-accredited institution with an "A" grade, offers MBA under the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS). Numerous organizations and academic bodies like NIRF-MHRD, NHRDN, TOI, Business India, Business Today, and India Today have listed FMS as one of the top management institutes in the country. It has also been ranked the No. 1 Prominent B-School of India by the Competition Success Review 2021. The two-year MBA programme at Manav Rachna is a multimodular comprehensive management program with a leadership curriculum created to turn individuals into leaders who can implement technology-driven approaches for corporate growth. The Management Program combines the rigour and reputation of the top MBA programmes worldwide with focused, individualised attention and unmatched results. FMS MRIIRS aspires to cater for students with a comprehensive education by providing the proper balance of industry and academic exposure. It offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level courses in management. Manav Rachna, adding to the conventional MBA courses, offers dual specializations in varied sectors. With this dual specialization, students can now specialize in two fields, and further benefit academically, professionally, and economically. The dual specializations offered at Manav Rachna are Finance, Marketing, Human Resource & Organizational Behavior, International Business, Management Information Systems, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management, Business Analytics, Event & Media and Operation Management, Banking and Insurance Management, Aviation Management, Healthcare Management & Waste Management. The 4-tier mentoring program (peer/ industry/ faculty/ alumni) prepares students to be both 'mentees' and 'mentors'. To accelerate industry interaction, students are given an opportunity to work on more than 120+ case studies. Industry veterans also interact with the students of Manav Rachna under the 'CEO Talk' and 'Countdown to Corporate Careers' series. Courses on Professional Competency are delivered in the mode of a Finishing School, along with a plethora of student-centric activities, including outbound experiential trips. Students are given an option to choose courses from a wide array of platforms such as Coursera, UGC's SWAYAM, edX etc. to encourage interdisciplinary learning. In addition to MBA Dual Specialization, Manav Rachna also offers an MBA in Business Analytics - a programme associated with The Institute of Analytics (IoA), UK. This programme has been specifically created to meet the needs of the existing and future industries. It strongly emphasizes the theoretical and practical knowledge of numerous analytical domains. Students learn to use analytical tools, address current business issues and make futuristic data-driven choices. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, a shift in the educational trend has been observed. Manav Rachna has consistently tried to stay one step ahead of the trend and satisfy current needs. Understanding the need of the hour, Manav Rachna has established Manav Rachna Centre for Distance and Online Education (MRCDOE). The institution aims to provide students with a distinctive educational atmosphere with flexible and extensive online learning opportunities. This Centre for Distance and Online Learning offers seven professional courses, including a Master of Business Administration program. The centre has collaborated with reputable industry partners to provide students with global employment chances and prepare them for today's technologically sensitive needs. As placements are one of the crucial parts of a student's educational journey, Manav Rachna offers incredible placement opportunities to its MBA students and houses a powerful Corporate Relations and Career Management Centre. All students are assisted with the campus placement procedure for internships and placements. Along with guiding students in making intelligent career choices, the Corporate Relations and Career Management Centre also helps recruiters make effective hiring decisions. Each year, more than 100 organizations arrive at the institution. KPMG, Bharti Airtel, American Express, 99acres.com, Info edge, Zomato, Hindustan Times (HT), Eli Research, Grofers, Naukri.com, and numerous others are among the top recruiters of MBA students at Manav Rachna. Manav Rachna firmly stands to offer the best educational experience for students enrolled in MBA that is both academically excellent and research-oriented. Manav Rachna is a name to reckon with and is among the best choices for those who want to experience a rich academic environment and industry exposure. Manav Rachna offers up to 100% Scholarship on the basis of scores in MRNAT/CAT/MAT/XAT/ATMA/CMAT/Qualifying Examination. Along with the scholarship, students are given financial assistance wherein they can take education loans from leading banks. You can Click here to sign up for an MBA degree of the highest standards at Manav Rachna. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 10 (ANI/NewsVoir): The number of Indian students choosing Wales to further their education has risen for the fourth year running, latest figures reveal. The small UK nation, known for its rich heritage, low living costs and outstanding natural beauty, has seen a 37 per cent increase in the number of students from India enrolling onto an undergraduate or postgraduate course at one of Wales' eight leading universities. And with London recently voted the fourth most expensive city in the world to live, Study in Wales hopes that more talented students from India looking to study abroad will join those already taking full advantage of the opportunities that Wales has to offer. Market Development Manager Harish Lokhun, from Study in Wales, explained, "The reintroduction of the Graduate Immigration Route (GIR) has presented fruitful opportunities for Indian students to study in Wales, with applications from India continuing to rise across all our universities. The GIR permits students to remain in the UK to look for work and continue to experience life in the UK for two years after completion of their studies and graduation, which is a highly attractive proposition for international students." "Regular feedback from our Indian student community in Wales tells us that the cost of living and affordable tuition fee rates, as well the warm welcome they receive from Welsh people, distinct cultural offering and strong employability prospects, collectively position Wales as a desirable destination for study." The increase in Indian students choosing to study in Wales has also been driven by the Global Wales Postgraduate Scholarship programme, which offers scholarships worth up to 10,000 (approx. Rs 9,56,800) to study a full-time masters programme. The scheme is the first scholarship of its kind in Wales and is funded by the Global Wales Programme-a partnership between the Welsh Government, Universities Wales, The British Council and HEFCW. Harish added, "For Indian students looking to gain a postgraduate degree, the Global Wales Scholarship programme is a huge opportunity, and emphasises Wales' commitment to helping international students succeed." "Wales is a unique place to study-and we look forward to welcoming more international students this year." One student who jumped at the chance to further her education in Wales was Anisha Hegde. After her cousin told her how beautiful the city was, Anisha, from Mumbai, enrolled onto an MA in International Public Relations and Global Communications at Cardiff University. Anisha explained, "Everyone here has been so friendly and welcoming, and the approach to lessons in Wales is very different to my education back home." "In India, I had lots of exams and practical lectures-five, or sometimes six, days a week. But here I'm encouraged to have discussions, read and carry out independent research for my assignments which is much more enjoyable." Anisha added, "The best thing about Cardiff University is the feeling of warmth the community of students have created here." To anyone thinking of applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Wales, Anisha advises them to come prepared. "Studying in Wales is not just about work and attending classes-it's about embracing a new culture, meeting new people and exploring new places." To find out more about studying in Wales at either undergraduate or postgraduate level and read about the hundreds of world-leading courses across Wales' eight universities, visit the Study in Wales website. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 10 (ANI/PNN): QualityKiosk Technologies, a leading global QA automation and digital performance engineering specialist, has participated in the 11th Edition of Elets NBFC100 Summit held in Chennai on June 17th 2022. Apart from representing their services through an interactive booth, QualityKiosk in association with Elastic has also hosted an exclusive roundtable discussion that featured elite panelists from NBFC world discussing on "Empowering NBFCs to evolve through revolutionary Customer Experience: AI, ML, IoT, Big Data, RPA, Bots & Observability". Through this discussion the top NBFC leaders have shared their expert opinions and personal experiences on the technology landscape in NBFC industry. Speaking on the occasion, Sundarrajan K. D.,Vice President - Sales, QualityKiosk Technologies, said, "With this CXO roundtable discussion, we aim to help and empower organizations to understand the evolving role of advanced technologies like AI, ML, IoT, Big Data, RPA, Bots & Observability in enhancing business velocity, agility, and scalability. The roundtable discussion has shed light on the important areas of technology that businesses need to invest in and provided strategic blueprint organizations can follow to avoid pitfalls and gain a competitive edge. This is a great opportunity for NBFC organizations looking to gain pragmatic insights into investing in technology and how it can be leveraged to improve bottom lines and achieve business goals." During the award ceremony of the Elets NBFC100 Summit, QualityKiosk Technology was recognized with the "Digital Customer Experience Provider of the Year" award. A few members of the QualityKiosk team were present at the ceremony and were delighted to accept the award behalf of the organization. "The Digital Customer Experience Provider of the Year award gives an essential boost to our morale. We are humbled to be recognized for our continuous efforts in the customer experience field through our various services which include Digital Lending, QRACE, Compas, DTaaS, etc. "Sundarrajan K. D. added. QualityKiosk Technologies is one of the world's leading Digital Quality Assurance partners for some of the biggest names in the banking and financial services, telecom, and automobile industries across the globe. Founded in 2000 by IIT-Kanpur graduates, the company is a pioneer in digital performance engineering and offers Enterprise Digital Quality Assurance, Business Automation, Customer Experience services, and Data Analytics solutions for an array of industries and verticals. Visit https://www.qualitykiosk.com/ to know more about the innovative quality assurance and performance engineering solutions. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 10 (ANI/PNN): Mitsu Chem Plast Limited (Mitsu) (BSE:540078), One of the largest manufacturers of Blow Moulding, Injection Moulding and Customized Moulding, announced its unaudited Financial Results for Q1FY2. - Total revenues for 1QFY23 at Rs 84.69 crore; up by 41.6 per cent - EBITDA at Rs 9.40 crore; 22.82 per cent YoY growth - PAT at Rs 5.16 crore; 39.79 per cent YoY growth - EPS at Rs 4.27 against Rs 3.06; up 39.54 per cent Commenting on the performance, Jagdish Dedhia, Chairman of Mitsu Chem Plast Limited said, "After having a landmark year FY 22, we continue to ride strongly on growth path. Q1 FY23 financial performance clearly indicate strong Indian consumption story. Raw material prices were continued to be high which has pressurised our operating margin however rising sales enabled company to report strong operating profitability and increase in the operating efficiency of the company added to the increase in profitability of the company. Despite various economic and political headwinds, we are optimistic about the future growth of the Company." Mitsu Chem Plast Limited (BSE - 540078) is a certified polymer-based moulded products manufacturing company, engaged in the business of manufacturing and marketing of technically driven innovative products catering to growing industry sections like Industrial Packaging Solutions, Automotive Components, Healthcare Products, Infrastructure related products and Emergency Handling Solutions with in-house testing and quality control systems and machines. The key products of the company are Moulded Industrial Plastic Packaging products such as Drums, Jerry Cans, Bottles, Jars and its accessories; Infrastructural furniture parts such as chair shells; Hospital Furniture Parts such as Panels, Railings, Planks, Trolley Parts; Rescue and Safety Equipment such as Spine Board; Automotive Components such as Washer Tanks, Rainhood. The company majorly supply's to OEMs of various industries such as chemical, pharmaceutical, dyes, agro-chemical, disinfectants, diagnostic, hospital and infrastructure furniture, automotive manufacturers. The Journey of the Company started 30 years back with a plant situated at Boisar, Tarapur and have enlarged its wings up to three manufacturing units situated in Maharashtra i.e. Two (2) units situated at Boisar, Tarapur and one (1) unit in Khalapur. Safe harbor statement: Statements in this document relating to future status, events, or circumstances, including but not limited to statements about plans and objectives, the progress and results of research and development, potential project characteristics, project potential and target dates for project-related issues are forward-looking statements based on estimates and the anticipated effects of future events on current and developing circumstances. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties and are not necessarily predictive of future results. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results changed assumptions or other factors. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
Chandigarh [India], August 10 (ANI/PNN): Humble Motion Pictures in association with Omjee Star Studios have released the trailer of their much-awaited Punjabi film 'Yaar Mera Titliaan Warga' on Wednesday on Gem Tunes' official YouTube channel and it has instantly become the talking point of the town! After watching the trailer, it is quite evident that the audience will surely have a great time watching this laughter riot of a film. The trailer gives a glimpse into the life of a couple played by Gippy Grewal and Tanu Grewal, who after six years of marriage are bored of each other. To spice things up, they create fake Facebook accounts but end up befriending each other which brings a lot of comic twists and turns. The trailer has managed to tickle our funny bones with a novel concept, entertaining dialogues and applause worthy performances! The film is produced by Gippy Grewal, Ravneet Grewal and Ashu Munish Sahni. Directed by Vikas Vashisht and written by Naresh Kathooria, it's definitely one of the most anticipated films of the year. Speaking about the film, Actor-Producer Gippy Grewal states that Yaar Mera Titliaan Warga is one of the most entertaining scripts that he has worked on. He believes that all the characters and situations created in the film are going to make people laugh their heart outs and they'll leave the theatres with a big smile on their faces. The Producer, Munish Sahni from Omjee Star Studios says that we have made a complete and a solid family entertainer which has everything from comedy, drama to unlimited fun! We are thrilled to see that the audiences love the trailer and are sure that they'll love the film even more. The other producer, Ravneet Grewal from Humble Motion Pictures adds that Yaar Mera Titliaan has turned out to be an out n out entertainer with its heart in right place. She says that the film has different flavours and shades to entertain one and all! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dWoYM_OIQE Along with Gippy Grewal and Tanu Grewal, the film also stars Karamjit Anmol, Raj Dhaliwal, and Gurteg Singh, among others. The first song from the film, 'Iko Ik Dil' has already been released and getting great response from the audience. Yaar Mera Titliaan Warga is set to hit the theatres on 2nd September, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dWoYM_OIQE This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)
New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI/SRV): KL Technology Incubators Foundation (KLTIF-TBI) at KL Deemed to be University has hosted Startup Carnival, a grand scale event that celebrates and encourages the spirit of entrepreneurship among Startups. KLTIF-TBI has been established with support from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. With the vision of empowering youth through entrepreneurship, KLTIF-TBI has incubated over 50 startups across the nation, generating employment in the hundreds. The Carnival witnessed the influential presence of eminent entrepreneurs, student innovators, venture capitalists, investors, mentors, leaders, influencers, enablers and other stakeholders across the country to empower the excellence of the youth. The incubation center envisioned a platform to create and nurture an entrepreneurial ecosystem with the best-in-class resources and tech equipment, and the Startup Carnival is the manifestation in the same direction. With nationally acclaimed mentors to guide the innovators of tomorrow, the event witnessed several startups developed to address societal problems in the fields of agriculture, Pharmacy, HealthTech, Biotech, FoodTech, and other emerging areas. The Chief Guest at the event was Dr Ramanathan Ramanan, the first Mission Director of the Atal innovation mission - a flagship national Innovation initiative of the Prime Minister, and the Government of India under the NITI Aayog. Dr Ramanan, who has been instrumental in the launch and execution of several nationwide innovations has assessed the startups of tomorrow and addressed the gathering in a moving speech on entrepreneurship and belief in self. Commenting on the successful Startup Carnival event, Er Koneru Satyanaraya, Chancellor, KL Deemed-to-be University said "Entrepreneurship in the Indian and global education ecosystems is finally receiving the paramount importance that is long overdue. With India currently hosting over 100 unicorns, and numerous others germinating amongst our youth, it is within the responsibility of educational institutes to identify, nurture and back revolutionary ideas. At KL Technology Incubators Foundation, the brilliance showcased by our own talent is all the security we need to incubate startups that promise economic and societal upliftment". Er. K Raja Hareen, Vice President, KL Deemed to be University said, "At KLTIF-TBI, we strongly believe that collaborative, mentored events of this magnitude encourage the startups to develop innovative ideas and hone their entrepreneurial skills to sustain confidence for their future endeavors. The startups at the event, which were also incubated at the incubation center, pose combined revenue in crores, and generate an employment of hundreds across the national. In addition to this inspiring showcase, KL Technology Incubators Foundation promotes a brilliant entrepreneurship culture, making it an ideal destination for growth. We encourage KLEF students to base their startup ideas on addressing problems of Socio-economic relevance". Veena Hanamsagar, CEO, KLTechnology Incubators Foundation, briefed about the journey of KLTIF-TBI and the unique experience of managing early-stage ventures and start-up that addresses problems of Semi-urban and rural India. KL Deemed-to-be University boasts an environment for entrepreneurial development. With an ultra-modern Incubation Center, a Women's Technology Park, and technical resources of global standards, the university's strides towards budding entrepreneurship have been patented. This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the second generation (2G) ethanol plant in Panipat via video conferencing on World Biofuel Day on Wednesday and said the facility will be able to dispose of the stubble without burning it. Terming the ethanol plant just a beginning, he said that this plant will reduce pollution in Delhi, Haryana and NCR. The Prime Minister said that people who have a tendency to avoid problems by adopting shortcuts for political selfishness can never solve the problems permanently. Those adopting short-cuts may get applause for some time, and may gain political advantage, but that does not solve the problem. Adopting a short-cut will definitely result in a short-circuit, he said. "Instead of following short-cuts, our government is engaged in permanent solutions to the problems. A lot has been said about the problems of stubble over the years. But those with a short-cut mentality could not solve it," he said. "Selfish announcements of freebies will prevent the country from becoming self-reliant, increase burden on honest taxpayers and prevent investment in new technologies," he added. The Prime Minister also said that in the next few years, more than 75 per cent of the households in the country will get piped gas. The Prime Minister said that if there is selfishness in politics, then anyone can come and announce to give free petrol and diesel. Such steps will take away the rights of children, and prevent the country from becoming self-reliant. Due to such selfish policies, the burden on honest taxpayers of the country will also increase, the PM remarked. To deal with the challenges that the country is facing, it needs clear intentions, extreme hard work, policy and huge investments. The Prime Minister said if the government does not have money, then even the plants like ethanol, biogas and solar plants will also close down. "We have to remember that even though we will not be there, but this nation will always be there, the children living in it will always be there. Those who sacrificed their lives for freedom have also worked with this eternal spirit.....As a country, we have to take a pledge that we will not allow such tendencies to grow. This is a collective responsibility of the country," he said. The Prime Minister said that in a country like India that worships nature, biofuel is a synonym for protecting nature. "Our farmer brothers and sisters understand this better. Biofuel for us means green fuel, environment-saving fuel." He said that with establishment of this modern plant, farmers of Haryana, where rice and wheat are grown in abundance, will get another lucrative means of using crop residue. The bio-fuel plant of Panipat will also be able to dispose of the stubble without burning it and it will lead to many benefits. The first advantage would be that mother earth would be freed from the pain that was caused by burning stubble. The second advantage would be that the new systems for stubble cutting and its disposal, new facilities for transportation and new biofuel plants will bring new employment opportunities in all these villages. The third advantage would be that the stubble, which was a burden for the farmers, and was a cause of concern, would become a means of additional income for them. The fourth advantage will be that pollution will be reduced, and the contribution of farmers in protecting the environment will increase further. The fifth benefit will be that the country will also get an alternative fuel. The Prime Minister expressed happiness that such plants are coming up in various areas of the country. The Prime Minister listed steps that aim to solve the problem in a comprehensive manner. Farmers Producer Organisations (FPO) were given financial support for 'parali' and up to 80 percent subsidy on modern machinery for crop residue. This modern plant will help in providing a permanent solution to this problem, he said. "Farmers who were given bad name due to compulsions of parali burning will now feel the pride of contributing to production of bio-fuel and nation building," he said. The Prime Minister also mentioned Gobardhan Yojana as an alternative means of income for farmers and talked about new fertiliser plants, nano fertilisers, new missions for edible oil. The Prime Minister pointed out that due to the mixing of ethanol in petrol, in the last 7-8 years, about 50,000 crore rupees of the country have been saved and about the same amount has gone to the farmers of our country because of ethanol blending. He said till eight years ago only 40 crore litre ethanol was produced in the country and now this production is about 400 crore litre. He emphasised that till 2014, there were only around 14 crore LPG gas connections in the country and half of the country's population, mothers and sisters, were left in the smoke of the kitchen. The Prime Minister also expressed happiness upon the delivery of more than nine crore gas connections to poor women from the Ujjwala scheme alone. "Now we have almost reached 100 per cent LPG coverage in the country. There are about 31 crore gas connections in the country today." PM Modi also pointed out that CNG stations increased to more than 4,500 from mere 800 eight years ago. Gas is reaching through pipes to more than a crore households. "Today, when we are completing 75 years of independence, the country is also working on the goal that in the next few years, more than 75 percent of the households in the country will get piped gas '', he said. He said that during the Amrit Mahotsav when the entire country is painted in the colour of the Tricolour, he would like to draw the attention of the country to something that has happened. PM Modi said an attempt has been made to defame the holy occasion, to humiliate brave freedom fighters and "it is important to understand the mentality of such people". He said that there are some people in the country who are trapped in the vortex of negativity, immersed in despair. "Even after lying against the government, the public is not ready to trust such people. In such desperation, these people are also seen turning towards black magic" In a veiled reference to Congress protest in black clothes against price rise, he said the events of August 5 when there was an attempt to spread black magic mentality. The Prime Minister said those who think that by wearing black clothes, their period of despair will end are unaware that irrespective of the black magic and their belief in superstition, people's trust will never be restored in them. A release said dedication of the plant is part of a long series of steps taken by the government over the years to boost the production and usage of biofuels in the country. The 2G Ethanol Plant has been built at an estimated cost of over Rs 900 crore by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and is located close to the Panipat Refinery. Based on state-of-the-art indigenous technology, the project will turn a new chapter in India's waste-to-wealth endeavours by utilising about 2 lakh tonne of rice straw (parali) annually to generate around three crore litres of ethanol annually. The project will provide direct employment to people involved in the plant operation and indirect employment will be generated in the supply chain for rice straw cutting, handling, storage, etc. The project will have zero liquid discharge. By reducing the burning of rice straw (parali), the project will reduce Greenhouse Gases equivalent to about 3 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per annum, which can be understood as equivalent to replacing nearly 63,000 cars annually on the country's roads. (ANI)
Hollywood star Ezra Miller, who will be seen starring in DC's 'The Flash' movie, has once again gotten in trouble with the law. According to Variety, the actor has been charged with felony burglary in Stamford, Vt., as per a Vermont State Police report. The report states that the Vermont State Police were notified of a burglary complaint from a residence in Stamford at 5:55 pm on May 1. They found that several alcohol bottles were taken from the residence while the homeowners were not present. The police found probable cause to charge Miller with felony burglary into an unoccupied dwelling after they collected statements and looked at surveillance videos. On August 7, at 11:23 pm, Miller was located by the police, who issued the 'Justice League' actor a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court on September 26 for arraignment, Variety reported. This is the latest controversy to befall Miller, who has been at the centre of scandals for the better part of this year. They were arrested twice in Hawaii this spring, once for disorderly conduct and harassment and once more for second-degree assault. Miller is facing several allegations of abuse from different women around the world, including choking a woman in an Icelandic bar and harassing another woman in her home in Berlin. An 18-year-old activist's parents have also accused them of grooming their daughter. Miller is set to star in the DC movie, 'The Flash', a reprise of their role from 'Justice League' that has a 2023 release date. Throughout Miller's arrests and controversies, the question of whether or not the solo 'Flash' movie will be cancelled or released in theatres next year has persisted. However, last week, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav reiterated that "The Flash" is still a go, saying: "We have seen 'The Flash,' 'Black Adam' and 'Shazam 2.' We are very excited about them," as per Variety (ANI)
American comedian and actor Pete Davidson, who recently split from Kim Kardashian, has been attending trauma therapy largely due to Kanye West's social media posts targeted at him. According to E! News, Davidson has been in trauma therapy since April because West had targeted the 'SNL' star in several posts, throughout Davidson's relationship with Kim. Most recently, just three days after it was revealed that Davidson and Kim have split, West shared a since-deleted Instagram post of a fake New York Times front page that read, "Skete Davidson Dead at Age 28." This post was the latest one in a series of social media posts and comments targeting the comedian throughout his nine-month romance with Kanye's estranged wife. The Grammy winner even rapped about beating "Pete Davidson's ass" in his music, called him a "d--khead" on social media and more. Though Pete initially tried to ignore West's actions, West refused to back down. Following this, Pete's friend Dave Sirus, in March, shared photos of a text exchange between Kanye and Pete, which showed Pete defending Kim amid Kanye's posts. "Kim is literally the best mother I've ever met. What she does for these kids is amazing and you are so f--king lucky that she's your kids mom. I've decided that I'm not gonna let you treat us this way anymore and I'm done being quiet. Grow the f--k up," Pete wrote in part of the text. Following Davidson and Kardashian's breakup, the 'SKIMS' founder continues to stand by Pete. After West posted the recent death hoax, "Kim is upset," a source close to the situation told E! News. They added, "Not only is she sad from the breakup, but this on top of it has tested her mentally. She is not ok with this type of behaviour and won't tolerate her loved ones being treated like this. She has asked numerous times for him to take down the post. She will always protect Pete." (ANI)
Sara Ali Khan recently visited New York and it looks like she had a blast. Sara shared a video on Instagram and wrote "24 hours in NYC" in it. In the video, she can be seen living life in New York style - visiting her favourite cafes, and restaurants, sipping coffee, and of course, paying a visit to the iconic Times Square. Looks like she also squeezed some time for revisiting her alma mater - Columbia University! Sara took to her Instagram stories on Wednesday morning and shared a picture of herself right outside the University. Sara mentioned that she turned nostalgic as she shared the picture. She wrote, "Looking back with so much gratitude, fondness, and nostalgia". For the unversed, Sara graduated in 2016, two years before her first film 'Kedarnath' hit the screens. Sara has a degree in history and political science from the prestigious University. On the work front, Sara was last seen onscreen on 'Koffee With Karan' alongside Janhvi Kapoor where she was seen being her candid self. As far as films are concerned, Sara has a couple of them in her kitty. Sara will be seen sharing screen space with Vikrant Massey and Chitrangada Singh in 'Gaslight'. The film is being directed by Pawan Kriplani who earlier helmed 'Bhoot Police' and is bankrolled by Ramesh Taurani. She has also recently finished shooting for an untitled project alongside Vicky Kaushal. She was last seen in the film 'Atrangi Re' opposite Akshay Kumar and Dhanush. (ANI)
Aamir Khan, on Wednesday morning, visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar to seek blessings for his upcoming film 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. His co-star Mona Singh also paid a visit to the sacred place along with him. Several pictures have surfaced online in which Aamir is seen in casual attire, while Mona donned a pink suit. The duo was also surrounded by other devotees. Prior to this, Aamir and Mona along with Naga Chaitanya paid homage to Bravehearts at the National War Memorial in Delhi. Aamir essays the role of a Sikh character in the movie which is the remake of the 1994 superhit Hollywood movie 'Forrest Gump'. Kareena Kapoor Khan is also a part of the film. Makers of the upcoming family entertainer recently hosted a special screening of their film in Hyderabad in presence of many big industry names. The guest list included Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna, Amala Akkineni, Kartikeya Gummakonda, Satyadev Kancharana, Allu Sirish, and Allu Aravind. Also, the makers have announced that the film will be available on OTT after 6 months of its release. Aamir recently expressed how he just got saved from having the same release date with that of KGF 2. 'Laal Singh Chaddha' was supposed to release on that day. But fortunately for us, Red Chillies was taking a little time on the VFX so we got saved! Otherwise, we would have come with KGF 2". 'Laal Singh Chadha' will clash with Akshay Kumar's 'Raksha Bandhan' this Thursday. (ANI)
Makers of the family entertainer 'Laal Singh Chaddha' recently hosted a grand premiere of their film in Mumbai. Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, while addressing the media said, "We need your blessings guys. I usually get stressed before the release of my film, and this time also I am not able to sleep for the past one month, but today morning I visited Darbar sahib, Golden Temple, post that I felt relieved, and now I believe whatever happens it will be fine as it is. So thank you so much." Apart from Aamir, actors Kareena Kapoor Khan, Naga Chaitanya and the director and writer of the film Advait Chandan and Atul Kulkarni were also present at the premiere. The 'Thugs of Hindostan' actor also said, "We are very happy that our film is finally releasing tomorrow. I would like to say that we created this film with all our hearts, and I think this film will touch your hearts, the same way it touched ours. I am proud to say that Advait has directed the film so well, in the same way as we imagined. I am proud that it's a film about love, I am proud that this film shows our beautiful Indian culture. The film is getting a very big release, so I feel proud that through this film we can showcase the beauty of India and Indian culture and Indian civilization. On the eve of the release of the film we are proud that we made this film and we hope the audience will like this film." Kareena, on the other hand, stated, "After 'Talaash' and '3 Idiots' I got a chance to work with Aamir in such a special film. Atul Ji wrote such a beautiful story. When I first heard the narration of the film I wasn't able to hold my tears. I have done many films, but this is the first time I think I cried listening to a narration of the film. I have done this film just because of its storyline and my character. I think this is the perfect treat for all the fans. We are already getting very good reviews for the film internationally and our fingers are crossed, and I am quite sure everyone will love the film." South actor Naga Chaitanya is all set to mark his big Bollywood debut with 'Laal Singh Chaddha', where he portrays the role of an army officer. Talking to the media, Naga said, "It's quite a nervous moment for me. This has been a really special film in my career, very few films and very few opportunities come and go like this, but this has been really special and it's my first Hindi film, so I would like to thank the entire team. We have been having a few screenings in the last few days and the kind of response we have been getting from the audience is very overwhelming. So nice to see smiles on everyone's faces. The kind of patience and determination the entire team is having for the past 3-4 years towards it was amazing. I am so happy for them that it is finally out. So hoping for the best." Helmed by Advait Chandan, 'Laal Singh Chaddha' is an official Hindi adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 film 'Forrest Gump' which had Tom Hanks in the lead role. The film is all set to clash with Akshay Kumar's family entertainer 'Raksha Bandhan' this Thursday. (ANI)
Meanwhile, the Covid positivity rate has marginally declined to 15.41 per cent, and the number of active cases stands at 8,506, out of which 5,504 patients are being treated in home isolation.

With 1,466 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 19,38,545, while Delhi's total caseload is 19,73,394 and the death toll is 26,343.

The number of Covid containment zones stands at 253.

A total of 16,187 new tests -- 10,451 RT-PCR and 5,736 Rapid Antigen - were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,96,42,039 while 19,170 vaccines were administered - 1,063 first doses, 2,950 second doses, and 15,157 precaution doses.

The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,59,84,974, according to the health bulletin.

--IANS avr/vd

( 182 Words)

2022-08-09-22:38:02 (IANS)
As per a letter from the NMC, approval has been granted for starting the MBBS course with an intake of 100 students annually from the academic year 2022-23.

A top health official said that the infrastructure facilities of the new medical college, laboratories, library, hostels, hospital and availability of faculty were assessed by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) and following which the approval was given.

The Board has also reviewed the overall progress of other facilities at this medical college in a virtual hearing before giving its nod.

Executive Director at the Assam National Health Mission, Manoj Choudhury told IANS that many new medical colleges are in the pipeline.

The health department will seek approval for two medical colleges in Kokrajhar and Nalbari later this year. The construction of Nagaon medical college is almost complete and it may get NMC's nod early next year.

He also said the state government has also sanctioned medical colleges in Tinsukia and Bongaigaon districts. Guwahati is set to get a new medical college within the next two years.

The shortage of doctors was always an issue of concern in Assam.

"The situation is changing very fast. We now have 1,200 seats for medical admission including Dhubri," added Choudhury.

--IANS tanuj/pgh

( 246 Words)

2022-08-09-23:22:04 (IANS)
"BJP never betrays the people of a State

"Encouraging defections from other parties is a welfare measure to uplift the defectors," he said in a tweet.

"Breaking other political parties is to purify those parties

"Destabilising state governments is to bring stability to governance in those states", he added.

"Launching investigations against Opposition leaders is to test the efficacy of laws passed by Parliament so that the laws can be more weaponised

"Congress mukt Bharat is to strengthen democracy through one party rule like China, Russia, Turkiye, Vietnam & North Korea," he said in a subsequent tweet.

Chidambaram's comments came as Nitish Kumar again switched over the Mahagatbandhan, drawing outrage from the BJP.

--IANS miz/vd

( 176 Words)

2022-08-09-22:34:02 (IANS)
Nitish Kumar, the powerful JD-U leader, on Tuesday once again parted ways with the BJP-led NDA and resigned as the Chief Minister, joining hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) -- throwing a stunner that not only created a stir in Bihar, but also in the country's political arena. However, this is not the first time Nitish Kumar chose to board the RJD boat by dumping the NDA ship. In a dramatic turn of events in 2015, he had decided to walk along with Lalu Prasad's RJD. But the JD-U veteran, in a surprise move in 2017, walked out the of alliance with RJD, and again forged a partnership with the NDA. The developments of Tuesday have made many question Nitish Kumar's intent, as to whether he had pre-planned this move after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the seventh time in November 2020. Many have also been left wondering what could have prompted Nitish Kumar to ally with the RJD -- the party which does not enjoy a decent reputation in several areas, the most prominent being law and order. In fact, Nitish Kumar's brand of politics was majorly being driven on the plank of his crusade against RJD's 'Jungle Raj'. According to political analysts, Nitish Kumar had gotten the drift that he would not be able to run the administration on his terms and conditions, and enjoy a free-hand the moment Sushil Kumar Modi -- considered a trusted lieutenant of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- was shown the door and two others -- Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi -- were made Deputy Chief Ministers. Nitish Kumar, apparently, was also not pleased with the BJP over certain issues, including appointing ministers from its quota. When the Cabinet was expanded in July 2021, despite Nitish Kumar's repeated requests, only one JD-U leader -- R.C.P. Singh -- was appointed as minister. According to sources, the development made Nitish Kumar upset, and since then the relation between him and Singh -- who recently resigned from the JD-U -- went downslide. Sources said Nitish Kumar feels that the BJP, by making R.C.P. Singh a minister, not only took away his trusted aide from him, but also tried to deduce his importance. Upset over this, he did not nominate Singh to Rajya Sabha a year later (in 2022). Also, JD-U accused Singh of being involved in corruption, which compelled the former Union minister to resign from the party. The heated argument that took place in Bihar Assembly in March this year between Nitish Kumar and Speaker Vijay Sinha (appointed from BJP quota) had also raised some points of concern. In fact, Nitish Kumar also accused Sinha of violating Constitutional norms. The soft buzz in the JD-U hinted towards "BJP's repeated attempts to humiliate Nitish Kumar". In fact, since that episode, Nitish Kumar began maintaining a distance from 'Delhi'. The JD-U has claimed that the BJP tried to create cracks among the party legislators with the help of R.C.P. Singh. Nitish Kumar, having witnessed the Jyotiradtiya Scindia episode in Madhya Pradesh and the Eknath Shinde saga in Maharashtra, got alarmed about the "possibilities of a sabotage by the BJP", sources said. Meanwhile, it also needs to be underlined that the BJP never tried to hurt Nitish Kumar's prospects. Despite the exchange of words between JD-U and BJP leaders that remained confined just within Bihar, the senior leaders of the saffron party, including its President J.P. Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah, have maintained that Nitish Kumar is the leader of NDA, and they would contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and 2025 Assembly elections together. The alliance, however, witnessed an abrupt end on Tuesday. --IANS stp/pgh/arm ( 622 Words) 2022-08-09-22:42:02 (IANS)
Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar''s chief minister again on Wednesday afternoon after having announced a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav''s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties. Tejashwi Yadav is also likely to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Seven parties including 164 MLAs along with independent MLA in our Mahagathbandhan, says Nitish Kumar at a joint presser with RJD''s Tejashwi Yadav after meeting Bihar Governor. Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar. According to a tweet by Kumar''s new alliance partner RJD, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan. "The swearing-in ceremony of Honorable Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan," the party said in a tweet from its official handle. While the RJD tweet did not mention any names, it is widely expected that Nitish Kumar would be the chief minister while Tejashwi Yadav would become his deputy. In a day of fast-paced political developments, Bihar''s chief minister Nitish Kumar twice met Governor Phagu Chauhan, first to hand over his resignation as NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the RJD-led `Mahagathbandhan'' (grand alliance) to stake a claim for the top job in the state once again. Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122. Notably, it will be the eighth time when Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar. Meanwhile, BJP lashed out at Nitish Kumar over his decision and said he had "disrespected the mandate given by the people of Bihar". Nitish Kumar, who talked to the media with Tejashwi Yadav, said they have the support of seven parties in Mahagathbandhan. Tejashwi Yadav attacked the BJP and claimed the party does not have an alliance partner across the Hindi heartland. He accused BJP of trying to destroy parties with whom it forms alliances. "Across the Hindi heartland, BJP does not have any alliance partner. History shows that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it forms alliances. We did see that happening in Punjab and Maharashtra," he said. He also referred to the remarks of BJP president JP Nadda. "JP Nadda said they will end regional parties. BJP knows only to intimidate and buy people. All of us wanted the BJP''s agenda shouldn''t be implemented in Bihar, we all know Laluji stopped the ''Rath'' of Advaniji, and we won''t relent at any cost," Yadav said. Kumar, who was a long-time BJP ally before snapping ties in 2013 and again joining hands in 2017, said that there was a unanimous decision in the party meeting in the morning "to break off ties". JD-U and BJP had fought the 2020 assembly polls together and Nitish Kumar was made the chief minister of the alliance though the BJP had won more seats. Nitish Kumar''s ties with BJP stretched to over two decades and he was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996. JD-U leaders indicated that factors including the developments related to the exit of RCP Singh from the party had soured the ties with BJP. JD-U leaders have also been chaffing at the role of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan during the 2020 assembly polls and have indicated that his putting up candidates from seats contested by the party had damaged it. JD-U and RJD had fought the 2015 Bihar polls together. JD-U has 45 and the RJD has 79 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar assembly. JD-U is the third major ally to leave the BJP in the past over three years after Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal. (ANI)
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested a terrorist with Islamic State (ISIS) links from Mubarakpur in Azamgarh, who was planning an IED blast on Independence Day. According to an official release, the man has been identified as Sabauddin Azmi alias Dilawar Khan alias Bairam Khan alias Azar, a member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He is a resident of the Amilo area of Azamgarh district. Subauddin used to lure people to join it and also propagated about ISIS on social media platforms. A case has been registered against Sabauddin in Lucknow under sections 121A, 122, 123 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act. "We received information that a person in Mubarakpur of Azamgarh district, who is influenced by the ISIS ideology through his associates, is spreading the jihadi ideology through WhatsApp and other social media applications. He is also encouraging others to join the terrorist organization," the statement reads. The accused was brought to the ATS headquarters in Lucknow for interrogation, where, after questioning and scanning his mobile data, it came to the fore that he joined the Telegram channel "Al-Saqr Media" created by ISIS to brainwash Muslim youth for terror and violence. During the interrogation, it was also revealed that Sabauddin connected on Facebook with a person named Bilal in 2018. Bilal used to talk to Sabauddin about jihad and the action being taken on the Mujahids in Kashmir. Bilal gave the number of Musa alias Khattab Kashmiri who is a member of ISIS, following which he came in touch with the terrorist group. "In relation to the plan to avenge the atrocities on the Muslims in Kashmir, Musa gave the number of ISIS''s Abu Bakr al-Shami, who is currently in Syria. After coming in contact with Abu Bakr al-Shami through social media, Sabauddin learned about the retaliation of the action on Mujahideen, the formation of an Islamic organization in India like ISIS and also how to make IEDs," it added. According to the ATS, Shami told Sabauddin about the method and necessary material to make IEDs and he was contacted by ISIS recruiter Abu Umar, who is a resident of Mauritania. ATS further said that Sabauddin received training of hand grenades, bombs and IEDs by Abu Umar through social media apps. "Following this, the Mujahideen started working on the plan to establish Islamic State in India and to implement Islamic rule and Sharia law in India," said the ATS. Sabauddin was working on a plan to target the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members for which the accused created a fake e-mail ID and Facebook account using RSS name. The ATS also recovered illegal weapons and cartridges along with materials used in making bombs from his possession. Searches were also conducted at his residence. (ANI)
According to The Verge, instead of arriving on the My files tab when a user first opens OneDrive, they'll find themselves on the new Home page that resembles that dashboard in the online version of Office.

Similar to the Office web app, OneDrive Home contains a list of user files, organized by how recently they accessed them. Above the list are filters that let users sort their documents by Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF file types.

As per The Verge, there's also a new 'Activity' column to the right of the 'Owner' file field that tells a user when someone leaves a comment, @mentions another user, or assigns them a task within a shared document.

On the left side of the Home view, Microsoft's adding a new Quick access section, where users can find and pin their most frequently-accessed spaces.

Unfortunately, these changes aren't live right now. As per The Verge, Microsoft has said OneDrive Home will be available in "the coming months."

From what it looks like, though, the new Home page could serve as a central hub that should help users stay organized while collaborating remotely, reported the outlet. (ANI)
Referring to the current political developments in the State and the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress in a series of tweets took jibes at the government and said that the state appears set to see a third Chief Minister after Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Bengaluru last week. The Congress said that the Bommai government, which has not been able to conduct its first-anniversary "Janotsva", will soon see its end. The Congress said that it looks like Bommai is counting the hours to leave the chair and asked Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, "Dear Bommai, the 'sword fight' for the CM has been started. What is the reason for the change of CM, is it your administrative failure, a fight between leaders, or is it B.S. Yediyurappa's anger?" These comments from Congress came a day after former BJP MLA B. Suresh Gowda claimed that the party's top leadership was considering replacing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He had said, "The Chief Minister might get replaced before Independence Day. There have been talks in the party." The Opposition Congress, taking a dig at Bommai, tweeted, "40% government is likely to see a third Chief Minister." In another tweet, the party said that "the puppet CM Bommai is on his way out." The Congress also lashed out at the BJP government for various scams such as recruitment of PSI, drug peddling, fake currency, and bitcoin and alleged that the Bommai government supported these scams. "When the State is suffering, it is power-play for the BJP. Instead of providing relief to the people suffering from floods at a war footing, the BJP in Karnataka is looking at installing its third Chief Minister. Whenever the State is in distress, the BJP begins its power game," Karnataka Congress tweeted. Meanwhile, hitting back at the Congress, Health Minister K Sudhakar said that the grand old party was dreaming about CM-change. "The BJP government is safe and stable under the efficient leadership of Mr. Bommai," Dr. Sudhakar remarked. (ANI)
As Nitish Kumar dumped his ally BJP to form a new government with Mahagathbandhan including RJD in Bihar, former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday questioned the change of stance by the JD(U) leader while also accusing him of siding with "corruption and Congressism". Prasad also asked if Kumar's politics which is around "non-Congressism", has finished, adding that it was the BJP that made him a big leader. The remarks of the BJP leader came hours before the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar as the Bihar Chief Minister for the 8th time. However, RJD leader Manoj Jha called the move a "ghar wapasi of 2017-2020 mandate". Speaking to ANI, Prasad said, "My question is, has Nitish Kumar gone back to the laps of corruption once again? What he had said in 2017, that there was a railway recruitment scam, mall scam in Patna, there was a scam in the selling of a hotel of railways that was sold in Ranchi, Sushil Modi had questioned it. Lalan Singh had raised questions too. There has been no response. Tejashwi said that he would not answer and talk to his lawyer. Nitish ji, have you got the answer?" "The second question is, you (JDU) won the Lok Sabha elections due to the wave of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his name. You had won 2 seats in 2014, and won 16 seats in 2019 due to our alliance once again. in 2020 Assembly elections, when PM Modi started the campaign in full swing, you won 43 seats, the BJP won nearly double the seats, still, the Prime Minister announced you as the Chief Minister," he added. The former minister said that the people will give a reply to move of Kumar in the 2024 Lok Sabha and 2025 Assembly polls in Bihar. "You returned to BJP in 2017 due to corruption, and now you returned to Mahagathbandhan again. What are you? Nitish Kumar has been a non-Congress leader. His politics is around non-Congressism. Is that finished? Compromise with corruption and non-Congressism! Nitish Kumar sided with corruption and Congressism. Congratulations. People will give a reply in LS and Assembly polls," he said. "I would say the BJP made Nitish Kumar a big leader on its shoulders. Atal ji made him Railway Minister, Chief Minister of Bihar, and a CM candidate in 2005 despite the opposition from the JDU leaders. Arun Singh had announced that we would contest along with JDU in the 2024 and in 2025 Assembly elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar. Since when was it being plotted?" Prasad added. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar today at Raj Bhavan today. Seven parties including 164 MLAs along with independent MLA in our Mahagathbandhan, says Nitish Kumar at a joint presser with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav after meeting Bihar Governor on Tuesday. Manoj Jha who is an MP in Rajya Sabha said that Bihar has given a "message". It's not only a government that'll take the oath, it's 'ghar wapasi' of 2017-2020 mandate. It's very important, especially in an era where BJP has decided to mangle democratic values - that only they would remain. Bihar gave a message. It's an oath of the people of Bihar," Jha told ANI. Reacting to the return of Kumar in alliance with Opposition parties, RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari said that it has happened for the first time that one of BJP's strongest allies has pulled out. "The entire country is welcoming it. Everyone was worried about the kind of politics that the BJP was playing at. The BJP government is not in the interest of the nation. They have been breaking the Opposition by misusing the ED, CBI. It has happened for the first time that one of their strongest allies have pulled out," he said. The RJD leader, hitting back at the BJP over the allegations of betraying the mandate of the people of Bihar, said that the BJP has done it the most "in the history of democracy". "If there is any party, which has insulted the people's mandate the most in the history of democracy," he said. Meanwhile, RJD National General Secretary Shyam Rajak said that awareness against PM Modi is spreading among the people of the country. "An atmosphere has been created in the country. The communal powers that were trying to rise have been defeated. Awareness against PM Modi is spreading among the people of the country. Jungle raj is a word coined by the BJP, there is no jungle raj," he told ANI. "More than 10 lakh people would be employed... There is a flicker of hope for the people who have been concerned about the growing communalism," Rajak added. Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar.According to a tweet by Kumar's new alliance partner RJD, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan. "The swearing-in ceremony of Honorable Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan," the party said in a tweet from its official handle. While the RJD tweet did not mention any names, it is widely expected that Nitish Kumar would be the chief minister while Tejashwi Yadav would become his deputy. In a day of fast-paced political developments, Bihar's chief minister Nitish Kumar twice met Governor Phagu Chauhan, first to hand over his resignation as NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the RJD-led `Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) to stake a claim for the top job in the state once again. Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122. Notably, it will be the eighth time when Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar. (ANI)
A large number of students took part in a painting competition held under the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign organized by Hamdaniya Mission High School Pampore in South Kashmir's Pulwama district. The competition was held on Tuesday by the Zonal physical education office Pulwama in collaboration with the school. 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India's independence. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. Various activities are being conducted by different departments and schools across Kashmir Valley and the painting competition was part of this initiative. While speaking to ANI, Physical education Officer Pampore, Mehraj Andrabi Zonal said, "Under the directions of district administration Pulwama, we have organized painting competition at Hamdaniya Mission High School Pampore and we are happy that students were thrilled about this event and the theme of this painting competition was Dandi March and Jallianwala Bagh." The students lauded this initiative by the school and other departments. They made sketches of the National Flag, Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters. "This is the first event after COVID in which we are participating. I hope this type of programme will be held every year because we learn a lot through these activities," said a student, Syed Imran. The Principal of the school, Nisar Ahmad said, "This completion aims to tell the students the importance of the National Flag and these types of activities are then chain through which the students connect with their nation. This will surely motivate them." The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav is a big hit in Jammu and Kashmir with a large number of people joining the celebrations to mark the 75 years of India's Independence. In Pulwama, the campaign has gained momentum as students, besides taking active part in essay, painting and singing competitions, are also participating in Tiranga rallies in all educational institutions in the district. PM Modi had earlier called upon all citizens to turn the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign into a mass movement by hoisting or displaying the national flag at their homes and using the 'Tiranga' as a display picture on their social media accounts between August 2 and August 15 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's Independence." "Under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, from the 13th to the 15th of August, a special movement - 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is being organized. Let us further this movement by hoisting the National Flag at our homes," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday while addressing the monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their home. The aim of the programme is to make the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional. (ANI)
Union Minister Nityanand Rai on Wednesday, while addressing the speculations about Nitish Kumar's national ambitions after quitting the NDA, said that the JD(U) leader will "never be the Prime Minister" of the country, adding that post of the head of the government is "reserved" for PM Narendra Modi. The remarks of the Union Minister came after speculations made rounds about Kumar seeing himself in a central role in the upcoming 2024 General elections. Speaking to the reporters, Rai said, "Going with RJD and Tejashwi Yadav is a betrayal to the people & mandate of Bihar, to the ideologies of Lohia-JP-George. Going with Congress-RJD proves that Nitish Kumar does everything just to be in power." "The youth who had laid down their lives in the 1974 agitation (Bihar movement) from the entire country including Bihar, Nitish Kumar has betrayed their blood by tying up with Congress and RJD. His move has proved that he does everything only for power. What does it mean to compromise with 15-year-long terror and anarchy?" he said. Stating that the people of the country have made up their minds and blessed Narendra Modi "to be the prime minister for lifetime", Rai said that they (people) will not accept anybody else on the post. "The people of not only Bihar but the entire country have made up their minds and blessed Narendra Modi to be the prime minister for lifetime. The people of this country will not accept anybody else as their PM if there is Narendra Modi. He will never be the Prime Minister. The post of PM is reserved for PM Modi because the poor got its massiha for the first time,' Rai added. Tarkishore Prasad, who was Nitish's Deputy in the NDA government from which Kumar walked out yesterday, said that the people of Bihar will give a "befitting reply" if a leader acts as per his "own personal ambitions". "In 2017 Nitish Kumar said RJD trying to break JD(U). Yesterday, he said BJP trying to break his party. His decision to split from BJP was well-thought-out. If a leader acts as per his own personal ambitions, Bihar will give a befitting reply," Prasad said. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that Kumar joined hands with the ones who "insulted" him and left the ones who "gave him respect". "He is going with the ones who insulted him and abused him, and leaving the ones who gave him respect. We worked with honesty and announced that we would contest the elections together. The rise of Nitish Kumar had happened against the RJD. It was his USP that he came forward against corruption," he said. "We will play the role of a strong Opposition. We will put in efforts from now to win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar in the 2024 elections," Hussain added. Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar.According to a tweet by Kumar's new alliance partner RJD, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan. "The swearing-in ceremony of Honorable Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan," the party said in a tweet from its official handle. While the RJD tweet did not mention any names, it is widely expected that Nitish Kumar would be the chief minister while Tejashwi Yadav would become his deputy. In a day of fast-paced political developments, Bihar's chief minister Nitish Kumar twice met Governor Phagu Chauhan, first to hand over his resignation as NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the RJD-led `Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) to stake a claim for the top job in the state once again. Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122. Notably, it will be the eighth time when Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar. (ANI)
The police arrested them from Barakhamba road of New Delhi and they are identified as Rohit and Mohit.

After receiving the complaint, the police registered an FIR on August 6 under sections 365, 323, 386, 341, 506, and 34 against three people and started an investigation.

"The police have arrested two of them while we are searching for the third one. Strict action against the accused will be taken after the whole investigation," said the police.

According to the primary interrogation, the incident took place following a money transaction between Shobhit Agrawal and the accused. As per the police, Agrawal had borrowed money from the accused on interest after that they threatened him and kidnapped him.

"The police said that the businessman Shobhit Agrawal filed a complaint in which he said that some people kidnapped him and took Rs 20 lakhs from him," Deputy Commissioner of Police of New Delhi Amrutha Gugulot said.

Further investigation into the case is underway. (ANI)
A team of North District Cyber Police on Tuesday arrested a conman in Indore Madhya Pradesh for duping a Granthi of Gurudwara. The accused has been identified as Sanjay Yadav, a resident of Madhya Pradesh who duped Granthi of a Gurudwara on the pretext of offering Kirtan Opportunity in the United States of America. "The police received a complaint of cyber fraud in Cyber Police Station North District and in which Baldev Singh, head Granthi at Gurudwara in Delhi alleged that he was contacted by a person in name of providing Kirtan Opportunity in marriages and other cultural occasions in various cities of United States of America and was duped for Rs 1.25 lakhs. Ten mobile phones and eleven debit cards have been recovered from the possession of the accused person. It has been reported that the accused used many mobile numbers and bank accounts for contacting the victim and duping him and also he is involved in similar criminal cases in Delhi and Mumbai. Following the case, the accused, on July 30 was booked in section 420 of the Indian Penal Code in Cyber Police Station North after that the police started an investigation regarding the case. Technical analysis of call details and money transactions was done and it was found that the accused was operating from various locations in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. "The police raided various locations in Indore after analysing CCTV footage of the locations from where the accused withdrew the money. During raids one accused namely Sanjay Yadav, aged 51 years was apprehended from Indore, Madhya Pradesh and was arrested in the above-said case,' the police said. Later, the accused admitted that he duped in name of payment for Visa Fee and Money Exchange. The accused Sanjay Yadav was produced before the concerned Court as per the provisions contained in the Criminal Procedure Code. (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday attended a programme in Shimla to mark the festival of Raksha Bandhan. "Nothing is possible without the contribution of women, whether it is running the government or running a family," CM Thakur said addressing the public gathering. On the occasion, several students and women present at the event tied rakhi to the Chief Minister. Raksha Bandhan is one of the most awaited festivals in the country which marks the bond of love between the siblings and will be celebrated nationwide on August 11. It is celebrated on the full moon of the Savan month of the Hindu year. The month of Savan is considered an auspicious period among the Hindus and Lord Shiva is worshipped every Monday during this entire time. Meanwhile, during the day, school students also tied 'Rakhi' to the personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Attari-Wagah border. Earlier on August 6, the students of various schools handed over Rakhi, made by them, to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The students made the rakhi for the soldiers guarding the borders. Rural women in different parts of Himachal Pradesh were contributing to preserving the Himalayan region and the environment by making Rakhis and other gift items using dried-up pine needles. The Karwan Society and The Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA) jointly trained the women, here, for making Rakhi and other gift items from pine needles for the upcoming Rakshabandhan festival in India. The organizers have earlier trained only 22 women from the rural areas in 2017, since then more than 500 women have been recorded to participate in making rakhi and other gift items using environment-friendly materials including pine needles. According to the HIPA's data, around 11 per cent forests of Pine trees were damaged in forest fires and after that, these women started using waste pine needles in the Solan and Shimla districts of the state. Women are very happy to contribute to the environment and are appealing to the women in the region to buy the Rakhi made by them from Pine needles. These women were happy as they are getting a chance to make products from pine needles which helps them earn their own money, making them self-dependent. (ANI)
Moments after Nitish Kumar was sworn in as Bihar Chief Minister on Wednesday after parting ways with the BJP and joining the Grand Alliance to form government in the state, he called for a united Opposition ahead of the General elections scheduled to be held in 2024. Kumar parted ways with the BJP alleging that the party was trying to break the JD(U), and joined hands with the political opponents RJD in the Mahagathbandhan on Tuesday. Speculations have been rife regarding his future with his 'national ambitions' doing rounds in the political sphere since his move against the NDA, which whom he had reunited in 2017. However, the Chief Minister rejected any such speculations after being sworn in today. "Those who came to power in 2014, will they be victorious in 2024? I would like all (opposition) to be united for 2024. I am not a contender for any such post (on PM post)," he said while speaking to the reporters here. Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, Kumar said that the party made the decision together to leave the BJP. "The party made the decision together (to leave BJP). I did not want to be the Chief Minister after the previous election. But a lot of pressure was put on me to handle the post. When there were talks with them (points towards Tejashwi Yadav), the decision was made. whether I will stay or not (till 2024)...they can say what they want, but I will not live in the year 2014," the Chief Minister said. Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister while RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav became his Deputy in the Bihar government. Earlier today, Union Minister Nityanand Rai, while addressing the speculations about Nitish Kumar's national ambitions after quitting the NDA, said that the JD(U) leader will "never be the Prime Minister" of the country, adding that post of the head of the government is "reserved" for PM Narendra Modi. "The people of not only Bihar but the entire country have made up their minds and blessed Narendra Modi to be the prime minister for lifetime. The people of this country will not accept anybody else as their PM if there is Narendra Modi. He will never be the Prime Minister. The post of PM is reserved for PM Modi because the poor got its massiha for the first time,' Rai said. Tarkishore Prasad, who was Nitish's Deputy in the NDA government from which Kumar walked out yesterday, said that the people of Bihar will give a "befitting reply" if a leader acts as per his "own personal ambitions". "In 2017 Nitish Kumar said RJD trying to break JD(U). Yesterday, he said BJP trying to break his party. His decision to split from BJP was well-thought-out. If a leader acts as per his own personal ambitions, Bihar will give a befitting reply," Prasad said. BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that Kumar joined hands with the ones who "insulted" him and left the ones who "gave him respect". (ANI)
For the first time ever since independence, Srinagar will be linked to the rest of India after the overarch deck on the world's highest single-arch railway bridge over Chenab River will be launched on August 13. The 1.315 km long bridge which is being built at a dizzying height of 359 meters is even taller than Eiffel Tower. It will connect the Salal-A and Dugga railway stations on either side of the bridge with the mighty River Chenab in Reasi district. The moment will be marked with a golden joint and is seen as the symbol of national integration. The bridge is the tallest railway bridge in the world and is being constructed by the Northern Railway at an estimated cost of Rs 28,000 crore as part of the Udhampur Srinagar Baramulla Rail Link Project.Named 'Chenab Bridge', this railway bridge will be 359 meters higher than the water level of the Chenab river and its length will be 1315 meters. The highest railway bridge at the time is located on the Bepanjiang River in Guizhou Province, China, with a height of 275 meters above the water level. It is a major achievement towards the completion of the 111 km long Katra-Banhal railway section, for which massive Himalayan Hills are being mined.The installation of the arch before the construction of the deck was one of the biggest civil engineering challenges in the recent history of India, with a 5.6-meter span at the top of the bridge being connected at the center on both sides. Out of the 111 km. There is 97 km of tunneling which is more than 85%. Tunneling on this scale has not been done in any other part of the country. About 86 km of tunneling work has been completed so far. Built on Darya Chenab, the arch of this bridge is capable of withstanding winds of 266 kilometers per hour. The length of the bridge is 1315 meters. The number of pillars is 17. 28,660 metric tons of steel were used in its construction, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,486 crore. The weight of the installed arch is 10,619 metric tons. The steel used in the structure is suitable for temperatures ranging from minus 10 degrees Celsius to minus 40 degrees Celsius. The bridge will have a minimum lifespan of 120 years and will be built for trains at a speed of 100 km.This bridge has the ability to withstand winds of 266 kilometersper hour and withstand blast load and withstand severe earthquakes.The bridge has 93 deck segments, each weighing about 85T, launched simultaneously on reinforced steel arches from both ends, and work is underway on five. The two ends will eventually be joined with 'High Strength Fraction Grip' (HSFG) bolts to complete the upper deck of the bridge. The bridge has been constructed by Afcons, a Mumbai-based company.Gary Dhar Raja Gopalan, Deputy Managing Director of African Company said, " When we finished the arch closure last year, it gave us huge relief in terms of our competency to finish the project with such accuracy that there was no mismatch. And that gave us a lot of confidence to tackle the balance part of the project very comfortably. Together with NR and KRCL, we are eagerly looking forward to the forthcoming milestone of the golden joint." "The bridge superstructure on the arch was being incrementally pushed from two ends of the Chenab River valley, and it will finally meet at the middle of the arch. "To push it to ensure that it has all the coordinates perfect, and meets and joins is itself a golden joint. Once the golden joint is completed we can safely say that the bridge is about 98% complete," he added. Earlier, appreciating the role of Northern Railway and Konkon Railway Corporation in finalizing the design of the Chenab Bridge, he further said, "We were assisted in technical issues, approval of drawings, etc. by Northern Railway and Konkon Railway Corporation (KRCL) which created local employment." KRCL constructed roads to reach the project site till the construction of this bridge. This provided connectivity to remote areas of the region.According to him, the Northern Railway allowed them to use a Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing Machine for inspection of welds, a first in India. A fully equipped NABL laboratory was set up for the first time in India to ensure that quality was monitored at every stage of the project, even over time. (ANI)
The productivity of Rajya Sabha was on the decline since 1995 but saw a marked improvement during the last three years of Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu's tenure, a publication released by the Upper House has revealed. The publication titled 'Rajya Sabha - 2017-22: An Overview' analysed data from 1978 onwards, when the House worked overtime and the productivity was over 100 percent. However, over time protests and interruptions became more frequent and productivity suffered. "For the first 17 years since 1978, the annual productivity of Rajya Sabha has been more than 100 percent. During the next 27 years, it has been so only twice in 1998 and 2009. The lowest annual productivity has been 40 percent during 2018," says the publication. Among other years, the productivity of the Upper House was 95 percent during 1995-97; 90 percent during 1998-2003; over 80 percent during 2004-13 and this continued till the 248th session in 2019. Naidu became the vice president in 2017 and according to the publication, the initial sessions he chaired saw a decline in productivity. The decline was steep during the first five full sessions (244th to 248th) presided over by Naidu with the House clocking a productivity of only 42.77 percent, according to the report. The 248th session held during January-February, 2019 recorded the lowest sessional productivity of only 6.80 per cent. For the next eight sessions (249th to 256th), the productivity of Rajya Sabha has almost doubled to 82.34 percent. The House functioned for 105 percent of the scheduled time during the Budget session of 2019 held in June-August with 35 sittings. This has been the first session to report such high productivity during the tenure of Naidu marking a break from the past. Thereafter, four more sessions clocked close to or above 100 percent productivity. During the 13 sessions presided over by Naidu from the 244th session, Rajya Sabha has clocked productivity of 82.34 per cent for two-thirds of the total sittings (173 of 261 sittings) enabling the reversal of declining productivity. The publication also lists several initiatives taken during the tenure of Naidu including the decision to review the functioning of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees, contextual analysis of the functioning of the House since 1978, initiation of a review of the Rules of the House and examination of the attendance and participation of members. Other initiatives included analysis of timeshare of different items of business of the House, quantification of the duration and attendance in each meeting of the committees, use of Indian languages in the proceedings of the House, extent of public outreach on various aspects of the functioning of Rajya Sabha through media and commissioning the first-ever comprehensive study on 'System Improvement' in the Secretariat. During the tenure of Chairman Naidu, Rajya Sabha has functioned for over 951 hours till the last session. The House has lost 26 sittings due to different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the last five years, the eight Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees of Rajya Sabha has held 558 meetings till June this year and submitted 369 reports. Due to regular review and monitoring of their functioning by Naidu, the average duration of the meetings has substantially improved with an average attendance of over 45 percent per meeting. (ANI)
He was speaking at an event organised to flag off 150 new diesel buses of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).

CM Yogi said, "Today, we are providing free bus service for women for 48 hours on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. In the coming future we will provide this service for all women above 60 years of age in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation in a phased manner."

CM Yogi said that women can travel for free in government buses between August 10 to August 12.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath also inaugurated an automated driving testing track and bus stand. At this event, he flagged off a fleet of 150 new buses, keeping in view the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

"Two buses would be allotted for every district. For 48 hours, all women in the state can avail free bus services from 10th Aug midnight-12 Aug midnight," said UP CM Yogi.

The announcement is CM Yogi's gift to females of the state on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.

"On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, the Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation should provide free travel facility in buses for the safe travel of all the women of the state," tweeted the office of CM Yogi.

The unique move became even rarer with the state chief adding that the females can travel free for 48 hours, starting from August 10 midnight till August 12 midnight.

The move comes with an aim to mark the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava', and the free bus travel facility will be available to women across the state for a period of 48 hours. (ANI)
The vaccine has been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar (Bareilly).

Tomar while launching the vaccine said that livestock is the biggest asset of the country.

Ever since the disease came to India in 2019, research institutes have been engaged in developing the vaccine.

Tomar congratulated the scientists of the Equine Research Center and the Veterinary Research Institute for developing the Lumpy disease vaccine having complying a 100 per cent with all standards, which will be effective in getting rid of Lumpy disease.

Further, Tomar directed the concerned officials to provide this vaccine in large numbers at the earliest for relief to the cattle. He said that there are 30 crore livestock in the country, and considering the plight of mute animals, all possible measures should be taken to provide them relief at the earliest.

Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary, Secretary Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Jatindra Nath Swain, Director General of ICAR, Dr Himanshu Pathak, Deputy Director General Dr B.N. Tripathi, Dr Triveni Dutt, Director, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Dr Yashpal, Director, National Equine Research Center and other senior officers were present on the occasion. (ANI)
The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) headed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved 10 industrial projects worth Rs 74,620.18 crore that would generate employment opportunities for over 24,047 people in the state. Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia, Metal & Metal Downstream, and Infrastructure are among the ten industrial projects approved by the HLCA committee of the Government of Odisha. The committee approved the proposal of ReNew EFuels Private Limited (REFPL) to set up a Green Hydrogen (Capacity: 20 KTPA) & Green Ammonia Plant (Capacity: 100 KTPA) in Paradip, Jagatsinghpur district, against an investment of Rs 2,000 crore which will generate employment opportunities for 2,000 persons. The establishment of these plants will have a pragmatic environmental impact since they will create ammonia and hydrogen using renewable resources, which will cater to the demand for steel and fertiliser sector in Odisha. The committee gave approval for setting up of 60,000 MT Industrial Structure and 6,000 MT Steel plant equipment facilities to Tata Steel Limited (Growth Shop) against an investment of Rs 1,000 crore with employment opportunities for over 2,451 people. This would give a significant boost to the Government of Odisha's "Vision 2030: Development of Downstream Units in Metal Sector," which offers short, medium, and long-term interventions to accelerate the business ecosystem for metal sector downstream units. The HLCA gave a nod to Adani Enterprises Limited to set up a 4.0 MTPA Alumina Refinery and 175 MW CPP Plant in Kashipur, Rayagada district, against an investment of Rs 41,653 crore, which will generate employment opportunities for over 7,750 people. In addition, the panel gave a nod to set up a 2.5 MTPA steel plant and 370 MW CPP in Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur district, by Orissa Alloy Steel Pvt Ltd against an investment of Rs 8,000 crore creating employment opportunities for 5,000 people. Sompuri Infrastructures Private Limited got the approval to set up a 24 MTPA Pellet plant & 6 MTPA of Filter Cake at Dhamra, in Bhadrak district, at an investment of Rs 7811 crore, which will generate employment opportunities for over 684 people, a 30 MTPA Beneficiation plant at Deojhar, in Keonjhar district and a 30 MTPA Slurry Pipeline connecting its proposed 30 MTPA Beneficiation plant at Deojhar, in Keonjhar district to the proposed Pellet plant at Dhamra, in Bhadrak district against investments of Rs 4592.18 crore and Rs 3674 crore which will create employment opportunities for 250 and 600 persons respectively. Approval was also given to Aarti Steels Limited for the expansion of the steel plant by setting up 3,20,833 TPA SMS, 3,00,000 TPA Special Steel Bars and Rods (auto-grade), 75,000 TPA Ferro Alloys, 2 MTPA Beneficiation, 1.2 MTPA pellet plant and 65 MW CPP at Athgarh, in Cuttack district at an investment of Rs 3000 crore, which will generate employment for over 3587 people. This project will facilitate the availability of raw materials to Auto component manufacturers. The committee approved the proposal of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited for setting up a 6 MTPA Beneficiation Plant at Village Dalki and 12 MTPA Slurry Pipeline from the proposed Beneficiation plant at Dalki to Dabuna Slurry pumping station unit in Dalki, Keonjhar district against an investment of Rs 1490 crore generating employment opportunities for 600 persons. Rungta Metals Private Limited (RMPL) got the approval for setting up of 0.5 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant creating employment potential for 1125 persons against an investment of Rs 1400 crore in Rairangpur in the district of Mayurbhanj. One of the government's key focus areas has been on employment-intensive sectors such as metal and metal downstream; the state is considered India's mineral hub, with reserves of 92 per cent chromite, 92 per cent nickel, 52 per cent bauxite, 44 per cent manganese, 33 per cent iron ore, and 24 per cent coal. Odisha produces over half of the country's iron ore, making it an attractive site for establishing steel plants. These sectors provide a wide range of prospects in a single package. Given the vast trained workforce in this sector, such industries contribute significantly to the state's employment. (ANI)
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday launched a book 'Shabdansh', a compilation of selected speeches of Home Minister Amit Shah. The book has been written and edited by Shivanand Diwedi and highlights Shah's political timeline and approaches throughout. Speaking on the occasion, Singh lauded Shah's selfless nature. "Amit Bhai works in the background and is a great leader. He does big things by staying behind. He has no longing for credit. Despite being in the background, doing great things for the government and the party, he reads so much,' said the Defence Minister. The book is a compilation of 28 speeches and has Shah's vocal approach on a wide range of issues. The compilation also includes important references related to great men including Chanakya, Ramanuja, and Shankaracharya in Shah's speech. Threads about Prime Minister Narendra Modi which were cascaded by Amit Shah in his speeches are also included in the book. The defence minister also stressed that Shah was also troubled by the investigative agencies and even went to jail but the challenges made him stronger. "Whatever the Home Minister says has some significance. Investigation agencies troubled PM and Amit Shah in the past, Amit Bhai even went to jail but they didn't create a ruckus in the country. I want to say those challenges made Amit Bhai strong," he added. Outlining the book's special notions Singh noted that the book will serve as a "lighthouse for generations to come." "He has an intuitive and detailed understanding of Dvaita, Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, and Pushtimarg in his speeches. He told everything about Shankaracharya in a single speech, this book gives you the vision to think. These speeches are not just political rhetoric. There are documents with reference to changing India," he added. The book includes answers to the country's defence, security, policy-making and governance. The newly-launched book not only includes Indian scriptures, grammar, and religion, but also philosophy and history by the Sanskrit masters of Gaekwad state. The book also contains a speech on Veer Savarkar. "Government gives titles like Padma Vibhushan, Padma Shri but no party or government gave Savarkar 'Veer' title but people gave him this title. Words like Doordarshan, Saansad, Mahapor were given by Veer Savarkar," Singh added. Singh also featured Shah's gentle nature and the common norm about the political leader. "People have a perception in politics that they do not read or write, they come and give speeches like this and fool people around. Shah is a person who does politics for 24 hours and has given prominent speeches. He seems to be very strict from the outside but talk to him then you will know his gentle nature," said Singh Issues ranging from triple talaq, Article 370, and many others form the foreground of the book 'Shabdansh'. Shivanand Dwivedi the editor of the book has also written a political biography of Amit Shah. According to Dwivedi, his main motive behind the book was to spread these speeches across the masses and therefore Shah's speeches on CAA, and abrogation of Article 370 have been put in the foreground. (ANI)
The arrests come after a former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and a woman Arpita Mukherjee were arrested by the probe agency in connection with the case.

Earlier, the court sent Arpita Mukherjee and former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee to judicial custody till August 18 in connection with the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam.

The hearing concluded from both sides including Arpita Mukherjee and Partha Chatterjee.

The ED claimed to have unearthed many disproportionate assets of Partha Chatterjee since his arrest, of which were three flats in West Bengal's Diamond City. The ED sleuths have also claimed to have recovered around Rs 50 crore in cash, along with jewellery.

The ED raided Arpita Mukerjee's house in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam. It was claimed that Rs 20 crore were recovered from her residence in south Kolkata.

ED officials also conducted a raid at the residence of businessman in Ballygunge, considered an aide of state minister Partha Chatterjee. (ANI)
The development came after a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday allowed ED to question the accused lawyer Surendra Gadling in this regard at Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai.

The ED's case is based on the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon violence case in which the NIA has arrested 16 activists, including Gadling.

Arrested in 2018, Gadling has been in prison since then. Pune police first arrested him before the case was handed over to the NIA. ED arrested 16

Gadling was arrested in 2018 and has been in prison since then. He was first arrested by the Pune police before the case was handed over to the NIA. The agency has arrested 16 activists for allegedly forwarding the agenda of the CPI (Maoist) to "overthrow" the Indian government.

The NIA has claimed that speakers at the Elgar Parishad event organised by front organisations of the CPI (Maoist) at Pune on December 31, 2017, had incited violence at Bhima Koregaon the next day in which one person died and several others were injured. (ANI)
"Foreigners who stay in the country even after their visas have expired, engage in anti-national activities and necessary steps should be taken to deport them," Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said to the senior officials of the department.

He gave this instruction at a high-level meeting held to discuss measures to increase the capacity of the detention centres to hold illegal foreign migrants. Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivasa Pujari was also present at the meeting.

In the meeting, State Director General of Police Praveen Sood proposed to expand and increase the capacity of the 'Detention Centres' which provide temporary accommodation to illegal foreign immigrants.

"Immigrants from other foreign countries, including illegal Bangladeshi citizens, should be arrested as per law but should not be kept in any jail and should be accommodated in their own detention centre. However, the detention centre is functioning only in Nelamangala near Bengaluru and there is a lack of space," Sood said.

Home Minister said, "The social welfare department should provide a grant for expanding the capacity of the current detention centres."

The Home Minister requested Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivasa Pujari that action should be taken so that the release of grants is not delayed. (ANI)
Amid the ongoing tussle and war of words between BJP and AAP, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday alleged a massive toll tax scam in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The Deputy CM wrote to Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. "I request to draw your attention towards a very big corruption of Delhi Municipal Corporation. The matter should be immediately investigated by the CBI strict action should be taken against the officials and leaders involved in the scam. The matter pertains to the toll tax to be collected from commercial vehicles entering Delhi," read the letter. Sisodia also highlighted that the Delhi Municipal Corporation has suffered a loss of about Rs 16,000 crores due to the scam. He alleged that the contract for the toll collection for the vehicles coming from Uttar Pradesh or Haryana side in Delhi was given to a private firm and as per the contract, the developer company was to pay Rs 1200 crore to the MCD but only paid 20 to 30 per cent in the years following 2017. He claimed the company was to pay Rs 1200 crores every year. "In the first year, the money was given to the municipal corporation. But after that, in connivance with the leadership of the municipal corporation, it almost stopped giving money .... sometimes only 20 per cent or 30 per cent was paid," the letter added. Sisodia also stressed that the MCD never took an action against the infrastructure firm for four years. The AAP leader claimed that a new contract was given to the former's sister company with an even lower amount as a payback to MCD. "This should be investigated," claimed Sisodia. He also listed that the new firm was given a relief of Rs 86 crores during the Coronavirus pandemic. Earlier, on Saturday Sisodia had demanded a CBI probe against former Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal alleging his decisions had caused a loss to the exchequer. The BJP, however, hit back claiming that Sisodia was making the allegations as he was facing the heat in the matter. Addressing a press conference, Sisodia claimed that the government had to incur huge losses because of the "deliberate" change of stance by then Lieutenant Governor Baijal on the new excise policy just 48 hours ahead of its implementation last year.Sisodia wrote to the CBI seeking an investigation into Baijal's change of stance on the opening of liquor shops in "unauthorised areas". "I have written to CBI asking them to probe how the government was made to suffer losses and profits were extended to some shopkeepers by changing things indirectly in the passed policy of the government," he said. Sisodia claimed that the LG had suggested a few changes in the first draft of policy that was sent to him, and approved the new policy when it was presented to him the next time without objecting to the opening of liquor shops in the "unauthorised" areas. "In the earlier excise policy, the shops were distributed very unevenly. So in the new excise policy, it was decided that the shops will be distributed equally. In May 2021, the new policy was passed and sent to the LG for approval. He read the policy carefully before his approval gave important suggestions. Incorporating all his suggestions, the Cabinet sent a new policy again to the LG in June, which he approved," he said. "It was mentioned in the policy that inequitable distribution would be ended. The shops will be distributed equally, even in the unauthorised areas. He had neither objected to the opening of shops in the unauthorised areas, nor gave any suggestions for change when he had read the policy earlier," Sisodia said. Sisodia, who also heads Delhi Excise Department, alleged that the LG changed his stance when the files to open the shops were sent to him for approval. BJP leaders have, however, levelled charges of irregularities against the AAP government in connection with the implemention of the state's exicise policy. (ANI)
A senior CBI official said that an FIR was registered on the basis of the complaint lodged against Govind Kumar, the engineer of Utility Powertech Ltd.

Kumar allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 2,50,000 from a contractor to return his security deposit.

After negotiations, the accused reduced the amount to Rs two lakh and agreed to accept an initial amount of Rs one lakh.

Kumar has been working in UPL since 2015 on a contract basis and was looking after the safety and accounts related issues in the absence of a regular accountant.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the engineer red handed while accepting Rs one lakh from the contractor.

"Searches were conducted at the premises of accused in Solapur which led to recovery of incriminating documents. The accused was produced before the Competent Court at Solapur and was remanded to 14 days judicial custody," said the official.

--IANS atk/bg

( 193 Words)

2022-08-10-19:00:02 (IANS)
Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Wednesday hailed the move by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to dump his ally Bharatiya Janata Party to form a new government with other opposition parties. The NCP supremo also accused the BJP of "finishing off its regional allies" after tying up with them to grab power, referring to the recent developments concerning the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, earlier with the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab and now the latest with the Janata Dal (U) in Bihar. "The BJP's speciality is to join hands with a regional party during elections, but ensure that the local ally wins fewer seats. We have witnessed this with the SAD in Punjab and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra," said Pawar. He referred to BJP President J. P. Nadda's recent assertion that regional or family-led parties have no future and they would cease to exist, with only the ideology-driven BJP surviving in the country. "From this (Nadda's statement), it's clear that the BJP eliminates its allies gradually. This was even Nitish Kumar's complaint," pointed out Pawar, adding that SAD leader Prakash Singh Badal had allied with the BJP but today his party (SAD) is almost annihilated in Punjab. "Now, the BJP is planning how to weaken the Shiv Sena by creating a rift in the party -- Eknath Shinde (who rebelled in June) became the CM, and others (BJP) helped him," Pawar said. The NCP, Shiv Sena and the Congress were allies in the 31-month old MVA government, which crashed on June 29 after the Shinde-led revolt, which now some BJP leaders are claiming credit for. In an apparently pre-emptive decision, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday walked out of the JD(U)'s alliance with the BJP in Bihar, resigned and formed a new government with the support of the Opposition Grand Alliance comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress. --IANS qn/bg ( 327 Words) 2022-08-10-19:44:02 (IANS)
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Nitish Kumar was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time after forming a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties. Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD. According to the top source of the Congress from Bihar, the screenplay for the political change in the State was written by a courtesy call. This call was made from Nitish Kumar to Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi when she was battling COVID-19. During this call of Nitish Kumar to Sonia Gandhi to inquire about her health, the Bihar Chief Minister referred to the pressure being put on him by the BJP, during his political conversation with Sonia Gandhi and he said that the BJP is trying to break his party. He sought cooperation from Sonia Gandhi for change in Bihar. Sonia Gandhi asked him to contact Rahul Gandhi as well. However, Kumar gave the responsibility to contact Congress leader Rahul Congress to Tejashwi Yadav. Tejashwi immediately contacted Rahul Gandhi. Notably, Rahul Gandhi agreed to be in touch with the party in-charge of the state Bhakta Charan Das. After this talks took place and the script for the change was ready. Nitish wanted such a majority so that the BJP could not topple the government by making a dent in it, so remained silent till the figure reached 164 through the Left and Congress and the bet was played as soon as he got the chance. Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi suggested that the fallout between his party and Nitish Kumar could be linked to the Bihar chief minister's desire to become the country's vice president. Kumar parted ways with the BJP alleging that the party was trying to break the JD(U), and joined hands with the political opponents RJD in the Mahagathbandhan on Tuesday. Speculation was rife regarding his future with suggestions of his 'national ambitions' doing rounds in the political sphere. Kumar was a long-time BJP ally before snapping ties in 2013. He later joined hands in 2017. Kumar said that there was a unanimous decision in the party meeting in the morning "to break off ties". JD-U and BJP had fought the 2020 assembly polls together and Nitish Kumar was made the chief minister of the alliance though the BJP had won more seats. Nitish Kumar's ties with BJP stretched to over two decades and he was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996. JD-U leaders indicated that factors including the developments related to the exit of RCP Singh from the party had soured the ties with BJP. JD-U leaders have also been chaffing at the role of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan during the 2020 assembly polls and have indicated that his putting up candidates from seats contested by the party had damaged it. JD-U and RJD had fought the 2015 Bihar polls together. JD-U has 45 and the RJD has 79 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar assembly. JD-U is the third major ally to leave the BJP in the past over three years after Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab. (ANI)
More than 53 lakh national flags valued at Rs 16.07 crore have been sold in Assam so far as the state government gears up for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, a minister said on Wednesday. As part of the national event, Tricolour would be flown at official, private and commercial houses and establishments nationwide as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', which is being observed across the country on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of India's Independence. Assam's Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that while 33 lakh tricolours prepared and sold by the members working under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM), another 20 lakh have been sold through 34,000 fair price shops across the state till Tuesday. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier announced to hoist 80 lakh national flags in residences, government and private institutions, including educational institutions, commercial establishments from August 13 to 15 as part of the countrywide programme, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government. Sarma earlier said that the government is refraining from providing the Tricolour free of cost to the people as it wants greater people's involvement in the programme and turn it into a universal mass movement. Minister Dass said that more than 23,000 members of Self-Help Groups have stitched around 36 lakh flags. Besides the local production, the state government has sought another 50 lakh flags from the Union Culture Ministry while 39.26 lakh flags have already been received by the state government. Meanwhile, on the occasion of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', Indian Army had organised 'Freedom Ride - Trans Meghalaya Monsoon Odyssey', a motorcycle expedition covering all districts of Meghalaya. In all, 25 Indian Army riders traversed 1100 km in eight days from August 3 to 10. Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat said that the expedition team after the adventurous and challenging ride of 8 days was welcomed during a grand ceremony by Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday at Umroi Military Station. The Army official said that the expedition team visited the memorials of three famous freedom fighters of the state - U. Kiang Nongbah, Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma and U. Tirot Singh, who sacrificed their lives in India's freedom struggle against British and paid homage to them on behalf of the Indian Army. --IANS sc/uk ( 402 Words) 2022-08-10-20:34:04 (IANS)
A Hyderabad court on Wednesday sentenced a doctor to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment on charges of sexually assaulting a woman patient six years ago. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the doctor after holding him guilty of sexually assaulting the 54-year-old patient at his hospital in Secunderabad. The incident had occurred in 2016 and on the complaint of the victim, a case was registered against the pulmonologist at the Gopalapuram police station. The doctor, identified as B. Vijay Bhaskar, was arrested, but was later released on bail. The police had collected evidence against the accused and presented them in the court. Sections 376 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were invoked against the doctor. After the trial, the court found him guilty and sentenced him. According to the police, the victim had approached the doctor for treatment of some respiratory problem in May 2016. The doctor had allegedly touched her private parts and when she questioned him, he convinced her that it was part of the treatment. On September 24, 2016, the woman consulted the same doctor who again misbehaved with her. During the third visit to the hospital on October 7 the same year, she found a young woman arguing with the doctor. The victim learnt that the doctor had misbehaved with the young woman as well, following which she realised that the doctor had molested her. She then informed her husband and subsequently lodged a complaint with the police. According to the police, another woman had lodged a complaint against the doctor in 2016. However, the doctor was acquitted in the case. She then challenged the order of the lower court in the high court and her petition is pending. --IANS ms/arm ( 305 Words) 2022-08-10-22:28:02 (IANS)
Social hunting strategies are already well documented in many animal species when prey is distributed in an unpredictable way across the landscape. Researchers have now demonstrated for the first time that animals in this case the common noctule bat join together and form a mobile sensory network in order to increase their chances of finding their prey. The analyses show that predators can adjust to variable environmental conditions through flexible foraging strategies by networking with conspecifics. Many predators need to find food on a daily basis. If the prey is irregularly distributed across the landscape and only available for a short time, this task seems like searching for the needle in a haystack. Animals that depend on such unpredictable prey have therefore often developed social strategies for foraging: During the search for prey, individuals are in contact with each other and exchange information about their environment. An international research team led by the University of Potsdam and Leibniz-IZW has now observed for the first time that common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) temporarily join together to form mobile, sensory networks while foraging. "The common noctule is particularly well suited for such investigations because its prey -- swarms of insects -- disperse completely unpredictably in open airspace," explains the paper's lead author, Manuel Roeleke. "Moreover, the distance over which the bats can locate the insects via ultrasound is relatively small, about 10 to 15 metres. This makes it difficult for them to track their prey. On the other hand, the bats can perceive their own conspecifics over much greater distances, under ideal conditions up to 160 metres. Searching in a group should therefore be more successful." In total, the scientists analysed the flight patterns of 81 common noctule bats. This was made possible by small radio transmitters that send signals to an array of antennas. Florian Jeltsch from the University of Potsdam explains: "With the state-of-the-art 'ATLAS' system, we can simultaneously record the movement of dozens of individual animals. Thanks to the great support of local farmers and private landowners, we have been able to operate the tracking technology in the Uckermark district in Eastern Germany since 2018 -- a unique opportunity to study animal movements and biodiversity in the European agricultural landscape." His colleague Christian Voigt from Leibniz-IZW adds: "With the 'ATLAS' system, it is now possible to record the interactions of bats in flight. Our data confirm the theory of mobile sensory networks: During the search for insects, the bats fan out but remain in acoustic contact and, if necessary, adjust their flight paths to one another in order to search as large an area as possible." If an individual bat in the network finds a swarm of prey insects, its neighbours are informed of this via changes in flight movements and via ultrasonic calls specifically used for insect hunting. This gradually makes all animals in the sensory network aware of the rewarding hunting area. The scientific team compared the foraging efficiency of "networked" bats and of individual hunters as a function of group size and food distribution. In order to achieve this, they used a computer model developed by co-author Cara Gallagher using the empirically determined movement patterns. "Networking and exchanging information proved particularly useful for the bats when food sources were widely distributed in space," Roeleke explains. "Thus, our model showed that 'networked' animals needed 40 percent less time to track down prey than bats that ignored their conspecifics while foraging." By foraging in groups, bats can find prey even in large-scale cultivated landscapes and thereby also effectively contribute to the control of agricultural insect "pests." If this is to continue in the future, the bats require consistent protection, particularly their system of roosts. When local populations become too small in numbers, the bats can no longer form efficient networks. As solitary animals, it is then difficult for them to find food quickly and reliably. (ANI)
Laos, a south-east Asian nation is at a high risk of default as the country has taken huge loans from China to build its large-scale infrastructure projects, giving new momentum to the 'debt trap' diplomacy. Laos is at high risk as it is deeply indebted to China for large-scale infrastructure projects, financial experts said. And the international rating agency Moody's downgraded Laos' credit rating to Caa3 in mid -June, citing "a very high debt burden and insufficient coverage of external debt maturities by (foreign exchange) reserves." The agency warned that Laos' default risk will remain high, The Singapore Post reported. According to the report published by the World Bank in April, preliminary estimates indicated that Laos' total public and publicly guaranteed debt reached 88 per cent of gross domestic product in 2021. The debt is valued at 14.5 billion US dollars, about half of which is owed to China on loans to fund projects including the China-Laos railway. The 418-km Laos-China railway is a joint venture between Beijing Railway group and two other Chinese government-owned companies with a 70 per cent stake and a Laotian state company with 30 per cent. According to the website, in December 2021 when the Chinese railway build was launched, foreign experts raised questions about the potential benefits to Laos beyond serving as a channel for Chinese trade and that too at a heavy cost. It also pointed out that the Kunming-Vientiane railway is a link in a possible future network to connect China with Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and Singapore. That would give southern China more access to ports and export markets. Laotian leaders hoped that the railway will energize their isolated economy by linking it to China and markets as far away as Europe The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and others had cautioned that harnessing the full economic potential of the railway line will depend on the successful enactment of various changes genuinely linking the railway to the Lao economy at large. People who were displaced from their homes to make way for the railway had complained they were paid too little. Environmentalists said that the construction damaged natural habitats and threatened endangered species in Laos, which already is a centre for wildlife trafficking. The Laos-China railway has linked China's poor southwest to foreign markets but piled on potentially risky debt. Laos hoped that the railway would reduce transportation costs and boost exports and tourism. According to news reports, Laos incurred a 1.9 billion US Dollars debt for the project, an additional obligation that may push Vientiane to seek some grace from Beijing on repayment. The World Bank forecasts that Laos' economy will grow by 3.8 per cent this year but warns this will not be enough to generate the fiscal revenue needed for the government to pay its foreign debt. (ANI)
A day after the transmission of Pakistani television station ARY News was taken off air by the country's regulatory authorities, the outlet's senior Vice President Ammad Yousaf was arrested from Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday, the channel said. Yousuf's arrest comes after the channel, which is the country's biggest private broadcaster, was served a showcause notice by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday. ARY News said that its journalist was arrested by Karachi Police and a raiding team broke into his house from the main gate in the middle of the night. It has termed Yousaf's arrest as retaliation by the government against the channel and noted that police officers in plain clothes forcibly entered the journalist's house. PTI leader Murad Saeed has strongly condemned the late-night arrest of the senior journalist. Regulatory watchdog PEMRA has alleged that the channel was airing "false, hateful and seditious" content based on "absolute disinformation with a clear and present threat to national security by instigating rebellion within the armed forces", Dawn reported. In its notice to the news outlet, the regulatory watchdog also termed the news anchor who delivered the news as "biased." PEMRA has also directed the channel's CEO to appear in person for a hearing today (August 10). The entire episode was perpetuated due to a news piece aired by the channel on how the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly activated its strategic media cell to malign Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and the country's former prime minister Imran Khan. The PEMRA notice to ARY News alleged that PTI leader Shehbaz Gill had made "highly hateful and seditious" remarks tantamount to "incite armed forces towards revolt," Dawn reported. Shortly after ARY News was taken off air, PTI leader and close aide of Imran Khan, Shahbaz Gill was arrested in Islamabad on Tuesday. An Islamabad police spokesperson said that Gill has been taken into custody for inciting the public against the state institutions, Geo News reported. "After the ban on ARY yesterday, they've today arrested @SHABAZGIL. Pakistan is living under a fascist imported government, who doesn't care about the human rights of the people of Pakistan. We strongly demand the immediate release of Dr Gill," Imran Khan's PTI tweeted yesterday. PTI leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said that Gill was picked up from Banigala Chowk by unidentified personnel in cars with missing number plates. Meanwhile, the former prime minister slammed the arrest, asking "can such shameful acts take place in any democracy?" "This is an abduction not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks," Imran Khan tweeted. After the arrest of Gill, the country's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the current government has not broken the law and the arrest was legal. In another key development, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi said that he is sending Punjab Police for the protection of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's residence Banigala. Former interior minister of Pakistan and Awami Muslim League chief, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has warned the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government saying that if anyone tries to arrest Imran Khan that would trigger instability and bloody politics in the country. (ANI)
Protesting Pakistan's proposal to grant provincial status to Pakistani Occupied Kashmir, an activist from the region Shabir Choudhry said that with this move Pakistan is eyeing to control the region's natural resources and urged the people to raise their voice against this "naked aggression and imperialism" where all is controlled by the Pakistani army and country's property tycoons. These remarks by the activist came over the 15th amendment in Act 1974 which Pakistan is proposing to grant provincial status to PoK however, the rights activists are showing strong resentment towards this and saying that the politicians are fooling the people of the region by saying that they will be benefited from this change. "Pakistan wants to conclude its imperialist and strategic game plan which it started in October 1947. This imperialist agenda began in name of Islam, and the captured prey shall be slaughtered with the 'Islamic touch'," activist Shabir Choudhry said. He said that Pakistan is using Islam to camouflage its imperialist agenda. Since 22 October 1947, the activist noted that people of PoK are living in the false sense of being independent or liberated. "Right from childhood, our children through social, educational, economic, and cultural mechanisms are brainwashed or educated on how to be a good slave of Pakistan," he said while slamming Pakistan of manipulating the people of PoK region. " He said that though all affairs of peoples' lives in the region are controlled by four Pakistanis stationed there who are known as 'lent officers'. "These Pakistanis are deputed on high salaries, and they protect Pakistani interests in this region, and control affairs of this region. These lent officers are IG Police, Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary, Accountant General." Shabir Choudhry highlighted that all officials of the PoK, before their application for any post, are forced to swear their allegiance to Pakistan. "As if this control was insufficient, there is General Officer Commanding and sits in Murree, and is generally known as GOC Murree. He calls shots and controls all political, economic and administrative matters," he added. In addition, the activist also revealed that there is an interference of Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan's elite secret agency, into the regional affairs of PoK. He pointed out that the ISI not only controls this region, but also controls the politics of Pakistan and many other aspects of social, political, economic, administrative, and cultural life. Apart from that, there are many other secret agencies that are freely operating in PoK and are abducting, arresting, torturing, or even killing people, he said. "In addition to all the above, there is a Kashmir Council. Seven members of the Council are Pakistanis. Four Pakistani Lent Officers mentioned earlier shall be present in the meetings. Other Pakistani experts could also be invited to attend the meetings." In nutshell, Choudhry asserted that the Kashmir Council consists of all Pakistanis and all the laws passed by the Council could not be challenged in any court; and PoK Assembly have no right to oppose or reject these laws. Terming the 15th Amendment the last nail in the coffin of our PoK's separate identity, the activist said that although there is a strong public resentment against the proposed changes, and demonstrations are taking place in every nook and corner of PoK, 'mental slaves' in the PoK Assembly will not dare to refuse or challenge Pakistani proposal. The minimum damage of the 15th amendment shall be more restrictions and more layers of control on all aspects of our lives, the activist continued saying. Speaking on the plight of the people, Choudhry stated that they have no foreign office to protect their interests and they cannot even represent the PoK dispute in the UN, or in any other international forum. "All the electricity generated from our region goes to Pakistan's 'national grid' and is sold to the consumers in Pakistan. They also sell our electricity to us at a much higher price per unit than what they sell to Pakistani consumers." Condemning the economic strain on PoK, he said that to rub salt in our wounds, and to show us our real status as master and slave, they have imposed an extra tax on us. "Our electricity requirement is 380 Megawatts, and we don't even get that, and our people have to endure up to 18 hours of load shedding, which makes life extremely difficult. Pakistan wishes they can stop our electricity. They can switch off our Internet and mobile signals." If the 15th amendment is passed, the Chief Justice of the High Court and other Judges and Election Commissioner will be appointed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and these appointments cannot be challenged in any court. "The PoK property worth more than Rs 80 trillion will be managed by the Council." "There is a strong public pressure against these proposals. However, the fact remains that the Pakistani politicians have no spine. The region is politically controlled by the Pakistani political parties, namely Pakistan Tehrek e Insaf, Pakistan Muslim League N, and Pakistan Peoples Party and secret agencies." He urged people to stand up for their fundamental rights; and to save PoK's identity and its future. "There must be a strong movement in all parts of PoK, and especially in Muzaffarabad." (ANI)
Islamist militant outfit Haqqani network which is long known to be a terrorist proxy of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, was involved in Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's movements and his stay in Kabul is a clear indication of Pakistani complicity, a think tank report said. Notably, key 9/11 plotter, Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan by a US drone on the morning of 31 July. The prospect of Pakistani involvement in Zawahiri's targeting, meanwhile, has emerged as a contentious issue, even if neither the US nor Pakistan has so far publicly acknowledged such a role. It is worthwhile to point out that Zawahiri was reported to be living in Pakistan till the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, probably under the protection of the Pakistani intelligence agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), reported European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS). The think tank while quoting a report by the New York Times said that for many years it was believed that Zawahiri was hiding in the border area of Pakistan and it remains unclear why he returned to Afghanistan. Following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, it is believed that Zawahiri's family returned to the safe house in Kabul. Reports quoting top intelligence sources have also claimed that Zawahiri was being sheltered in Karachi and that sometime after the Taliban takeover he was moved to Kabul through the Chaman border by the Haqqani network. Relations between the ISI and the Haqqanis have been so symbiotic that the then chief of the ISI, Faiz Hameed, had openly visited Kabul on multiple occasions after the Taliban takeover to weigh in for key ministries for the Haqqani network in the government that the Taliban was then engaged in negotiating and forming. Over the role of Pakistan in Zawahiri's killing, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Michael Rubin said that he is convinced that Pakistan had a role in Zawahiri's killing. He underlined that "Pakistan's economy is in danger, and the country is in danger of collapse. It was in this context that, Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to Washington to seek U.S. help to expedite the dispersal of a USD 1.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund." Pakistan needs the cash now to avoid default as its foreign reserves stand only at $9 billion, and its currency crashes. (ANI)
Journalist organisations across Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the arrest of ARY News head Ammad Yousaf and demanded his immediate release. The journalists' bodies and press clubs termed the arrest of ARY News senior Vice President an act of victimization and said that journalists will call for a nationwide protest if Ammad Yousaf is not released immediately, ARY News reported. Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in its statement said that the government should come to its senses. PFUJ leader, Lala Asad Pathan said, "The government's action is very shameful. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should take immediate action into the matter." PFUJ Dastoor Secretary General AH Khanzada said that if Ammad Yousaf is not released immediately, journalists will call for a nationwide protest. "Restrictions on freedom of expression will not be tolerated in any way, Lahore Press Club has also demanded the immediate release of the ARY News head," said the Secretary of Karachi Press Club, Rizwan Bhatti. Yousuf's arrest comes after the channel, which is the country's biggest private broadcaster, was served a show cause notice by the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday. Meanwhile, the founder and CEO of the network Salman Iqbal along with two other anchors have been booked for sedition. On the complaint of the Station House Officer (SHO), a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at Karachi's Memon Goth police station. According to the channel, the FIR was registered just an hour before the arrest of ARY News head Ammad Yousaf. Anchorpersons, Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghuman have been booked under the 'sedition' charges. The FIR has been registered under sections 120, 124A, 131, and 153A in which sedition and charges of plotting alleged conspiracy have been included. A day after the transmission of Pakistani television station ARY News was taken off air by the country's regulatory authorities, the outlet's senior Vice President Ammad Yousaf was arrested from Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday, the channel said. ARY News said that its journalist was arrested by Karachi Police and a raiding team broke into his house from the main gate in the middle of the night. It has termed Yousaf's arrest as retaliation by the government against the channel and noted that police officers in plain clothes forcibly entered the journalist's house. Regulatory watchdog PEMRA has alleged that the channel was airing "false, hateful and seditious" content based on "absolute disinformation with a clear and present threat to national security by instigating rebellion within the armed forces", Dawn reported. In its notice to the news outlet, the regulatory watchdog also termed the news anchor who delivered the news as "biased." PEMRA has also directed the channel's CEO to appear in person for a hearing today (August 10).The entire episode was perpetuated due to a news piece aired by the channel on how the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has reportedly activated its strategic media cell to malign Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and the country's former prime minister Imran Khan. The PEMRA notice to ARY News alleged that PTI leader Shehbaz Gill had made "highly hateful and seditious" remarks tantamount to "incite armed forces towards revolt," Dawn reported. Shortly after ARY News was taken off the air, PTI leader and close aide of Imran Khan, Shahbaz Gill was arrested in Islamabad on Tuesday.An Islamabad police spokesperson said that Gill has been taken into custody for inciting the public against the state institutions, Geo News reported. "After the ban on ARY yesterday, they've today arrested @SHABAZGIL. Pakistan is living under a fascist imported government, that doesn't care about the human rights of the people of Pakistan. We strongly demand the immediate release of Dr Gill," Imran Khan's PTI tweeted yesterday. PTI leader and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry said that Gill was picked up from Banigala Chowk by unidentified personnel in cars with missing number plates. Meanwhile, the former prime minister slammed the arrest, asking "can such shameful acts take place in any democracy?" "This is an abduction, not an arrest. Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks," Imran Khan tweeted. After the arrest of Gill, the country's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the current government has not broken the law and that the arrest was legal. In another key development, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) leader Moonis Elahi said that he is sending Punjab Police for the protection of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's residence Banigala. Former interior minister of Pakistan and Awami Muslim League chief, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has warned the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government saying that if anyone tries to arrest Imran Khan that would trigger instability and bloody politics in the country. (ANI)
The Election Commission of India will be hosting a virtual meet of the 'Asian Regional Forum' on the theme "Making our Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative" at Nirvachan Sadan on August 11, 2022. This Regional Forum meeting is a precursor to the "Global Summit for Democracy'' to be hosted by the National Electoral Institute of Mexico in the coming month. The Global Summit and Regional Forum meet aims to generate synergy amongst international organizations, and electoral bodies from the world and to promote intellectual and institutional mobilization to strengthen electoral democracy in the world. Chief Election Commissioner of India, Rajiv Kumar, and Election Commissioner, Anup Chandra Pandey, will preside over the Asian Regional Forum meeting. The meeting will have participation from Election Management Bodies of Mexico, Mauritius, Philippines, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Maldives and Representatives from International IDEA, Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) and International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). This Asian Regional Forum (ARF) meeting has two sessions. The first session is on 'Inclusive Elections: Enhancing Participation of Youth, Gender and Citizens in Remote Areas' which will be co-chaired by the Chief Election Commissioner from Mauritius and Nepal. The session will have representation from Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Philippines and representatives from International IDEA and A-WEB. The second session on 'Accessible Elections: Enhancing Participation of Persons with Disabilities & Senior Citizens' will be chaired by the Commissioner, COMELEC, Philippines and CEC of Uzbekistan and will have representation from Election Commission of Nepal & Maldives and IFES (Asia Pacific). As part of this 'Global Summit for Democracy', five Regional Forums namely Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and countries of the Arab States have been created. India is hosting the Asian Regional Forum meeting of the EMBs not only to institutionalize and mobilize the EMBs as a precursor to "Global Summit for Democracy'' but also to reflect upon the changing geo-politics, emerging technologies and their use in election management in view of the challenges presented by COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes from the Regional Forum Meets are aimed at generating an action plan and agenda to strengthen democracy around the world, particularly through robust election processes. So far, three Regional Forum meets for Europe, America and Africa have been held in the months of June and July 2022. (ANI)
An ex-Twitter employee has been found guilty of spying for Saudi Arabia as he passed on private user information like email and phone numbers of accounts that criticized the Kingdom to an official affiliated with that country's government. Ahmad Abouammo, 44, a former Twitter Inc. employee, upon passing on the private user information associated with critics of the kingdom in exchange for a luxury watch and hundreds of thousands of dollars, reported Wall Street Journal. He was also found guilty of money laundering, falsification of records and one count of wire fraud by the 11-person jury in San Francisco federal courthouse on Tuesday. Abouammo was found innocent on five other counts of wire fraud. Abouammo worked at Twitter from 2013 to 2015 while managing media partnerships with high-profile users in the Middle East and North Africa. As per the media portal, he repeatedly accessed the email accounts and phone numbers of accounts that criticized the Saudi government, including the anonymously run account "mujtahidd," prosecutors said. Prosecutor Eric Cheng in closing arguments last week, had said that Abouammo took bribes close to three times his annual salary for almost a year. "We all know that that kind of money is not for nothing." However, Twitter declined to comment on the episode. Abouammo is scheduled to be back in court on Wednesday for a hearing. The US government said Abouammo, a dual U.S. and Lebanese citizen, had been recruited into the scheme by a man named Bader Binasaker, who was rising in the ranks of the Saudi government. Abouammo, a husband and father of three, was charged in 2019 in Seattle where he lived at the time and was working as a social media consultant after three years at Amazon Inc. He had pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said the scheme began in the summer of 2014 when Abouammo met Binasaker, an aide to then-Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during a tour of Twitter's headquarters. The two began cultivating a relationship shortly thereafter. About six months later, in December, Abouammo met Binasaker in London while on a work trip. He flew back to the U.S. with a luxury watch worth more than USD 40,000, the government said. "That luxury watch--it was not free," Eric Cheng said. "The kingdom had now secured its Twitter insider." US government said that Abouammo also involved one of his colleagues, Ali Alzabarah, who performed website maintenance for Twitter, introducing him to Binasaker. The Justice Department charged Alzabarah and another man, Ahmed Almutairi, with acting as illegal agents of a foreign government for their alleged roles in giving private Twitter user information to Saudi Arabia. Almutairi, a Saudi citizen, controlled a social-media company that worked for the Saudi royal family and helped recruit Abouammo into the scheme, the U.S. government said, as per media portal. (ANI)
The new COVID-19 outbreak in Southwest China's Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region raises grave concern across the region amid the lack of medical personnel and nucleic acid testing sample collectors, as well as a shortage of oxygen for treating severe cases due to its high altitude. "Now the hospital doesn't have enough manpower to deal with the sudden COVID-19 flare-up, even if we dispatched all its medical workers, including the administrative staff against the epidemic," a staffer from a functional department of the Xigaze Tibetan Hospital told the Global Times on Tuesday. A doctor from the Lhasa People's Hospital said, "The treatment of mild cases is not a big problem for Xizang, as makeshift hospitals are arranged to take care of them, but the treatment of severe cases would be a challenge due to the lack of oxygen in the high-altitude location and limited medical equipment." Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, home to about 800,000 people reported 27 cases on Tuesday, Global Times reported. According to the Xizang regional health commission, the youngest patient is two and a half, and the eldest so far is a 76-year-old woman. Based on gene sequencing tests, a local health official said that the COVID-19 cases detected in Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, were a family cluster infection caused by imported Omicron subvariant BA.2.76. Earlier, it reported 22 cases since Sunday out of which 18 cases were found in Lhasa and four cases were found earlier in Ngari Prefecture's Burang county, marking the end of the region's 920-day record of no cases. The majority of those cases showed no symptoms. The Chinese authorities have temporarily closed the World heritage sites Potala Palace and Norbulingka, as well as Tibet Museum in Lhasa to visitors on Tuesday with an undetermined reopening date amid the new surge in COVID-19 cases. Lhasa announced plans to implement "static management" in medium- and high-risk areas, and cross-city travellers in low-risk areas will be required to present a 48-hour negative nucleic acid testing result, Global Times reported. Xigaze on Monday put the whole city under a three-day static management, with nobody allowed to enter or leave the city. It means that local residents must stay indoors and public transportation is suspended, in what officials call "static management". In Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, COVID-19 infections continued to rise on Tuesday after 10 days of epidemic handling. The daily tally on Monday was 146, taking total infections to 420 as of press time. Since the first case was found on July 30, the Xinjiang region has seen at least 12 counties in seven prefectures hit by COVID-19, Global Times reported. A medical expert specializing in epidemic prevention and control, Zhang Yuexin said, "The challenge for Xinjiang is that more cases still can be found among communities, which indicates that the transmission chain has yet to be cut off." "This wave of Xinjiang's outbreak originated from imported goods in Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture. How to better keep out virus transmission from overseas cargo is a long-term test for Xinjiang," he added. Officials from the local health authority said that the Xinjiang region has been hit by multiple sporadic clusters of COVID-19 infections, and the current epidemic prevention and control situation is still grim. According to data from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region's Department of Culture and Tourism, the Xinjiang region has witnessed a surge in the number of tourists this summer. The Gatherings of people and cross-regional movement may have potentially increased the transmission of the virus and the risk of its spread inside and outside Xinjiang, health authorities said. Meanwhile, Sanya city in Hainan province sent back the first batch of 125 tourists to Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The city known as the "Hawaii of China" and one of the most famous tourism destinations in China had a total of 80,000 stranded. The Hainan province, with a population of more than 10 million reported 40 new local infections on Tuesday, bringing cumulative infections to 1,899, including 1,558 infections in Sanya. The sudden flare-up in Hainan caused by the Omicron BA5.1.3 variant started from the central fishing port of Yazhou district in Sanya, and around 180,000 tourists were stranded in the province as of Sunday. (ANI)
As India marks 75 years of independence, Robin Hood Army (RHA), a zero-funds volunteer organization, is celebrating the occasion by serving 75 lakh meals across India and transforming 75 lives in each city. In 2014, Neel Ghose, RHA founder and a handful of friends spent one evening distributing excess food they had collected from local restaurants to the less fortunate people living under the Hauz Khas flyover in South Delhi. Four years later, this initiative had developed into The Robin Hood Army, an organization entirely based on volunteer work that used food redistribution as a medium to bring out the best in humanity. By the end of 2019, the Robin Hood Army was present in twelve countries, was serving over 500,000 meals per month, and had helped more than 750 children enrol in public schools. All of it without raising a single rupee, in line with their "golden rule" of being a zero-funds organization. The organization is tackling all challenges and opportunities associated with the fast growth and international expansion of a start-up that operates with no monetary assets. The organization works to get surplus food from restaurants and communities to serve the less fortunate. RHA "Robins" are largely students and young working professionals who volunteer for the organization in their free time. Robins serve the lesser fortunate sections of society including homeless families, orphanages, patients from public hospitals and old age homes. Modelled on the Re-Food program in Portugal, the Robin Hood Army started on the streets of Delhi, India in August 2014. At last count, the organization says that it has served 99.5 million people across 360 cities in 13 countries. However, reflecting its humble side the organization says that it is still 1% that has been done. The organization has just one rule - zero funds. The Robin Hood Army has no revenue, employees, nor office space - if someone wants to help, all that is needed is time. So How does the organization grow? It says that they are in the business of spreading smiles. "We share our experiences on social media. Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are our tools to grow. Along the way, our extremely passionate Robins and kind members of the press community have helped drive our mission to the world." They need just 3 hours of your week on a regular basis. The organiztion does not provide any certificates for volunteering. "We want our team to serve less fortunate people, not build their own polished resumes. Citizens First - Mission Next - Robins Last," the RHA website says. (ANI)
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) verdict in the prohibited funding case in the Islamabad High Court, local media reported. Additional Secretary General of PTI Omar Ayub challenged the verdict in the IHC and pleaded with the court to strike down ECP's verdict in PTI prohibited funding case, ARY News reported. ECP has been made respondent in the case. Earlier, former Minister for Planning Asad Umar had said that there is no threat to Imran Khan's politics. The Election Commission of Pakistan has violated the Supreme Court's verdict because the commission mentioned PTI Chief Imran Khan's false affidavit, ARY News reported. "The Political Parties Act 2002 mentions a certificate and not an affidavit," he said. "Bilawal himself said that Nawaz Sharif had taken money to overthrow the government. The economy of the country is standing only because of the remittance of money from overseas, the Election Commission has become a biased and political opponent," he had added. On August 2, ECP, in its unanimous verdict, ruled that the party received funds from 351 businesses including business tycoon Arif Naqvi and from 34 foreign nationals. The donations were sent from America, Australia, Canada, and the UAE. The ECP observed the 'unknown accounts' and said that hiding accounts are a "violation of the Constitution". The ECP bench in its reserved verdict said prohibited funding against PTI had been proven. A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, comprising Nisar Ahmed Durrani and Shah Muhammad Jatoi announced the reserved verdict. Moreover, it found that PTI Chairman and former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I. The ECP decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received. Notably, Akbar S Babar, the man who blew the lid off the scam involving the inflow of dubious foreign funds into Imran Khan's political outfit Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI. Babar told the FIA that the PTI's financial board 2011 illegally authorised four employees of the party's central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad. Following this, the Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan constituted a sex member team to probe into the matter. Pakistan's FIA has summoned 10 leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf including former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, former Sindh governor Imran Ismail, Mian Mahmood-ur-Rashid, former MPA Seema Zia and others to address questions during the probe. The probe agency has also identified four employees of the PTI secretariat, whose personal and salary accounts were used for receiving foreign funding. The agency said funds were received in the bank accounts of Muhammad Arshad, Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Rafique, and Nauman Afzal. In the statements, the PTI employees said that they used to give the money received in their accounts to PTI's finance manager, according to a report in a local Pakistan newspaper. They said they would give signed blank cheques to the finance manager. According to the publication, the FIA came to know during the investigation that besides other accounts, foreign funding was also received in employees' salary accounts. The summoned PTI leader Qaiser is expected to record his statement on August 11 at 2 pm, while Imran Ismail and Seema Zia have been asked to appear before the agency on August 12 and 15 respectively. (ANI)
Russia on Tuesday launched an Iranian satellite into orbit, as Moscow and Tehran seek to build closer ties in the face of Western sanctions. The remote sensing satellite called "Khayyam" was launched by a Russian Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the main base for Russian space launches located in southern Kazakhstan, at 8:52 a.m. Moscow time (5:52 a.m. GMT) on Tuesday, as per a live video broadcast by Russia's Roscosmos space agency on YouTube. The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) rejected the claims that the satellite could be used by Russia to boost its intelligence capabilities in Ukraine and said that it will have exclusive control over the satellite "from day one", and Russia's Roscosmos, Al Jazeera reported. Earlier this month, The Washington Post reported that Russia plans to use the satellite "for months or longer" to assist its war efforts in Ukraine, citing anonymous Western intelligence officials as saying. The report stated that US officials are concerned by the fledgling space cooperation between Russia and Iran, fearing the satellite will not only help Russia in Ukraine but also provide Iran "unprecedented capabilities" to monitor potential military targets in Israel and the wider Middle East. ISA said that the orders transmitted to the satellite and data received from it will be encrypted and controlled by a team of Iranian engineers and scientists in Iran, and "no other country has access to the information throughout this process". The agency also emphasised that images from Khayyam, which are expected to come with a resolution of one metre, will be used to bolster "management and planning capacities" in a variety of industries such as agriculture, natural resources, environment, water resources, mining, disaster management, in addition to border monitoring. ISA said that the satellite is designed for scientific research, including radiation and environmental monitoring for agricultural purposes. According to the state-run news agency IRNA, Iran has the capability to build remote-sensing satellites with an image resolution of 5-10 metres (16.4-32.8 feet) and can inject up to 50kg (110pounds) packages into an orbit of 500km (311 miles). But the Khayyam - named after 11th-century Persian polymath Omar Khayyam - which was commissioned by Iran and built by Russia, can hit a much more precise resolution of 1 metre (3.3 feet) and is to operate at the 500km orbit while weighing about 600kg (1,322 pounds), Al Jazeera reported. "This is the start of a strategic cooperation between Iran and Russia in the space industry," Iran's ICT Minister Issa Zarepour said in a video on Monday while standing in front of the rocket in Baikonur, adding that Iran aims to achieve the technology to put a 100kg satellite into the 500km orbit by next year. Iran has also stressed that the country's military space programme is separate, with the ISA saying, "the country's defence forces will pursue their own exclusive paths technically and strategically to account for their own needs". The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched two satellites into space so far, with the second launch taking place in March. The elite forces' aerospace chief, Amirali Hajizadeh, announced last month that the IRGC plans to launch another satellite into orbit before the end of the current Iranian year in March 2023. In June, Iran's defence ministry test-launched a satellite vehicle that it said was for research purposes, Al Jazeera reported. Iran said that its military space programme is for defence purposes only and poses no threat to others. Iran has maintained that its military space programme is for defence purposes only and poses no threat to others, but Western officials have expressed concern, saying the same technology can be used to carry nuclear warheads. The launch comes just three weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran to discuss with the Iranian side bilateral cooperation and ways to solve the impasse on the Iran nuclear talks. Lavrov, at the invitation of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, arrived in Tehran and held a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Having not revealed any details of the meeting, the state-run television had said that "Lavrov is expected to meet Iran's senior officials to discuss the negotiation that aims to restore a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers." Both Iran and Russia are subject to strict US sanctions, which have restricted their ability to transport their energy to international markets. Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the world powers in July 2015 accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on Tehran. However, former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed Washington's unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting Iran to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement in retaliation. (ANI)
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday demanding the creation of an institutional mechanism to deal with domestic abuse abroad following the tragic suicide of an Indian-origin woman Mandeep Kaur in New York. Kaur, who was allegedly tortured by her husband, committed suicide on August 3 after she posted an online video in which she spoke about years of traumatic domestic abuse by her husband Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu. The distressing video went viral and sparked a massive outrage across India and abroad. In a letter to minister Jaishankar, Chaturvedi requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to look into the issue of protection of Indian women facing domestic violence abroad, and take necessary actions in that regard. "In my letter to MEA and WCD highlighted the recent suicide of Mandeep Kaur in NYC due to continued domestic violence and abuse by the husband. From 2017-19, Indian Missions have received over 3955 complaints from married women of Indian citizenship of domestic violence and harassment," she tweeted. The Shiv Sena MP said there is an urgent need for the MEA and Ministry of Women and Child Development to develop a sound oversight mechanism to not only provide counselling but also protection to the women in distress abroad. "Between the years 2017 to 2019, Indian Missions and Posts have received more than 3955 complaints from married women of Indian citizenship of domestic violence, harassment, and other matrimonial disputes. However, these figures are only representative of the cases directly reported to the Indian government," she wrote. Priyanka Chaturvedi stressed that it is of utmost importance that sufficient awareness is created to promote the consular helpline and put an institutional mechanisms in place. "Further recommendations of Standing Committee on the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 may be accepted and the Bill be passed by the Hon'ble Parliament at the earliest for statutory safeguards for the same," she said. Earlier, the Indian consulate in New York City expressed grief over her demise. "We are deeply saddened by the death of Mandeep Kaur in Queens, New York under most tragic circumstances. We are in touch with the US authorities at the Federal and local levels as well as the community. We stand ready to render all assistance," it had tweeted. Before ending her life, Kaur released a heart-rending video, narrating the excruciatingly painful details of the torture she faced at the hands of her husband following which a massive storm took over social media. (ANI)
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Asad Umar has accused the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government of trying to create a rift between Imran Khan's party and the powerful Army. Lambasting the ruling coalition, Umar addressed a press conference in Lahore on Wednesday. He said that cases were being filed against PTI in a manner as if it is a threat to Pakistan, adding that foreign powers have a habit of dictating Pakistan. As per Dawn, the PTI leader said it was a historic turnaround that the people had taken to the streets and rejected foreign interference as they saw Imran as their "hope". Stating further, Umar said a "condemnable" tweet was posted from a Twitter account that merely had 50 followers, and it was played up by accounts with a huge following only to add fuel to the fire, reported Dawn. The top brass of the ruling coalition, including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Asif Ali Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been criticising the Pakistan Army until the recent past, he added asking why no action was taken against them back then. The PTI leader further stated that Imran had always emphasised the need to have a strong army, even after losing the government and dismissed the possibility of Imran being sidelined from mainstream politics. "If decisions for the future of Pakistan are taken, it will only be made by people and not anyone else," he added, saying the government will need a new Constitution to knock Imran out of politics, reported Dawn. Opposing the arrest of Shahbaz Gill, Umar said incarcerated party leader Shahbaz Gill has all rights to explain and justify whatever he had said. "He has the right to clear his position under the law," he stated, asking whether any action was taken against Nawaz Sharif who had been rebuking the Army's top brass since time immemorial. (ANI)
PTI leader Shireen Mazari condemned the suspension of Pakistani TV channel ARY News saying it was forcefully removed from screens by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government for releasing a report that exposed the "inept and corrupt" government. "Right now ARY still remains forcefully removed from screens by Imported govt because this cabal of crooks has no democratic moorings and cannot bear being exposed for what it is - inept and corrupt," she said taking to Twitter on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday issued a show-cause notice to ARY News for airing what it called was "false, hateful and seditious" content and describing it as a threat to national security, Dawn reported. Prior to the issuance of the notice, ARY News went off air in many parts of the country on Monday evening. During his talk with the channel, Gill had alleged that PML-N tried to build a narrative to provoke the lower and middle tier of the army against the PTI, saying the families of such "rank and file" support Imran Khan and his party which is giving rise to severe instability and rage within the government". As per Dawn, Gill also alleged that the "strategic media cell" of the ruling coalition was spreading false information. The government leaders, including Javed Latif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and former National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq, had lambasted the army in the past "and they were at the government positions now", Gill said. Notably, according to PEMRA, the comments aired by the TV channel violated Section 20 of Pemra Ordinance 2002 and Electronic Media (Programmes and Advertisements) Code of Conduct 2015. ARY News' transmission was suspended in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Sialkot, Hyderabad, Faisalabad and other cities. As the news outlet shutdown continued, many leaders of Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) took to Twitter and registered their protests. Earlier, a report compiled by the Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors highlighted that Pakistan's media freedom has been under serious question. The media freedom report paints an abysmal picture of the realities of being a journalist in the country. It highlights how, in the last year alone, many journalists were killed in the line of duty and how overall attempts to stifle the media and block access to information have grown, according to Dawn. In the past year, the financial standing of media houses has also worsened. Two media workers took their own lives due to unemployment. The situation today, the report concludes, is worse than during the previous two years. Media workers, both field reporters and desk staff are increasingly experiencing either harassment or financial hardship or both. They are being threatened, silenced and squeezed. Be it a prime-time TV anchor or a beat reporter, the threats exist for everyone. Even media group owners are not immune to such harassment. (ANI)
A blaze occured at a shoe factory in Nepal's Kathmandu on Wednesday and destroyed property worth about 45 million Nepali Rupees. Firefighters were able to take down the fire in about two hours after it started from around 11:45 (NST) sending plumes of smoke into the skies of Kathmandu, which was visible from almost all the high-lying areas of the bowl-shaped valley. "As per our preliminary assessment, properties worth 45 million rupees have been lost in the blaze. It includes loss incurred by surrounding houses on the site of the incident," Govinda Rijal, Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, confirmed to ANI over the phone. According to the official, the fire might have started due to a short circuit in one of the machines operational in the factory. The factory registered with the company name "One World Shoes Factory" lies in the middle of a residential area and at a distance of about one kilometre from the Balaju Industrial Area just outside the ring road of the valley. "I was sitting at a cafe nearby. It was around 11:45 (NST) we noticed smoke rising from the premises and then raised the alarm informing the fire tenders, police, army and other concerned authorities. A group of about 25 people rushed to take out the materials that were highly inflammable," Bhakta Joshi, one of the witnesses, told ANI. Fire tenders from around Kathmandu Valley including the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force along with the locals were involved in the operation to put out the fire. Raw materials and chemicals used to prepare the shoes and bags are believed to have fueled the fire which caused people living nearby to vacate their houses and run for safety. (ANI)
As per the statement, the minister will visit Norway on August 16-18, Iceland on August 19-20 and Malta on August 21-23.

During her visit to Oslo, Meenakashi Lekhi will meet Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt. She will also participate in a panel discussion on India-Norway Green Energy Cooperation together with Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Climate and Environment in Arendal.

While in Reykjavik, she will have discussions with Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir, Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as Lilja Alfredsdottir, Minister of Culture & Business Affairs.

Moreover, she will also pay a courtesy call on Birgir Armannsson, Speaker of the Parliament, as per MEA.

In Valletta, Meenakashi Lekhi will pay a courtesy call on George Vella, President of Malta and will have discussions with Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign & European Affairs and Trade. She will also meet the Minister of Tourism as well as the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government.

In addition to bilateral meetings, Lekhi will interact with a cross-section of members of the Indian diaspora and participate in cultural/yoga events as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations in the three countries.

The visit will further the momentum of the high-level exchanges, and provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the three countries bilaterally and in the multilateral fora. (ANI)
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss on Wednesday summoned the Chinese Ambassador to explain his country's actions following Beijing's "aggressive behaviour" near Taiwan. "The UK and partners have condemned in the strongest terms China's escalation in the region around Taiwan, as seen through our recent G7 statement," Truss said in a statement. "I instructed officials to summon the Chinese Ambassador to explain his country's actions. We have seen increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, which threaten peace and stability in the region," she added. Truss, who is in the final race to become the next UK Prime Minister, urged China to resolve any differences by peaceful means, without the threat or use of force or coercion. Tensions started brewing between Taiwan and China after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-ruled island that Beijing regards as its breakaway province. UK's concern comes as China released a white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era", reiterating its claims on the self-ruled island with over 22 million people. The white paper was released today, a week after Pelosi's visit to Taiwan which led to tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese state media said the white paper was released to "reiterate the fact" that Taiwan is part of China and to demonstrate the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and their commitment to national reunification. According to Xinhua news agency, the white paper emphasizes the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era. It states that Taiwan "belongs to China" since ancient times, stating that this claim has a "sound basis in history and jurisprudence." Last week, the Group of Seven (G7) nations said that there's "no justification" for Beijing to use Pelosi's visit "as a pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait." "We are concerned by recent and announced threatening actions by the People's Republic of China (PRC), particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation. There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait," the Foreign Ministers of G7 said in a statement. The G7 ministers called on China not to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the region, and to resolve cross-Strait differences by peaceful means. They also reiterated their commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. (ANI)
The United States has brought administrative charges against China's largest wire and cable manufacturer, stating that it had violated America's export controls by helping telecommunication company ZTE Corp. deliver banned technology to Iran, according to reports. A charging letter by a bureau of the US Commerce Department said that Far East Cable Co., a company based in China's Jiangsu province, signed a contract with ZTE in an effort to conceal the telecommunication company's business with Iran, which relied on US-origin routers and microprocessors, The Wall Street Journal reported. The investigation against Far East Cable was opened by US authorities into ZTE in 2012, as per the publication. Meanwhile, ZTE in 2017 reached a series of settlements with federal prosecutors and the Commerce Department under which it admitted to violating US export control rules and sanctions on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Commerce Department said that contracts signed with ZTE and Iranian telecommunications companies in 2013 and 2014 allowed Far East Cable to deliver US technology to ZTE's customers in Iran while obscuring ZTE's role in the transactions. Earlier in a month, the former Chief Executive Officer of Mauritius Telecom (MT) Sherry Singh is accused of using selective bidding exercises to help the Chinese mega-firm Huawei, which already awarded contracts worth hundreds of millions of rupees, to expand its business. The 3G network in Mauritius has been largely developed by Huawei. The issue of the allocation of contracts to Huawei under the era of Sherry Singh, the former Chief Executive Officer of Mauritius Telecom has pointed toward the unholy alliance between the executive and the Chinese government. Moreover, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has accused China of engaging in surveillance activities through Huawei. The FBI discovered that the Chinese-made Huawei equipment atop cell towers near US military bases in the rural Midwest could capture and disrupt highly restricted Defense Department communications, including those used by US Strategic Command, which oversees the country's nuclear weapons, CNN reported citing sources. Even though China denied the allegations of spying on the US, several sources have said that the Huawei equipment has the ability to intercept commercial cell traffic along with highly restricted airwaves that are used by the military and can disrupt critical US Strategic Command communications, allowing the country to spy on America's nuclear arsenal, it added."This gets into some of the most sensitive things we do. It would impact our ability to essentially command and control with the nuclear triad. That goes into the Bona Fide Determination (BFD) category. If it is possible for that to be disrupted, then that is a very bad day," a former FBI official had said. (ANI)
The two families are residents of the Paktia province of Afghanistan and were reportedly involved in a legal dispute which eventually turned into a violent and fatal confrontation.

As per the local sources, the incident occurred in one of the Zurmat district's villages in Paktia province on Tuesday, reported Khaama Press.

The Paktia police spokesperson told the media that the incident has left two fatalities and wounded seven other people.

According to a health official in the province, seven injured people and two dead bodies were taken to the Gardiz District Hospital, and as per the local sources five of the wounded were critical. The critically injured were later transported to a hospital in Paktia for treatment.

Under the Taliban's rule, domestic violence, honour killings, personal and social enmity, family blood feuds, and suicide reports have seen a massive surge recently.

Since the Taliban seized power in Kabul last year, the human rights situation has been exacerbated by a nationwide economic, financial and humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale. Acts of terror, killings, blasts and attacks have become a regular affair with unabated human rights violations involving ceaseless murder of civilians, destroying mosques and temples, assaulting women, and fueling terror in the region.

With the US troop's withdrawal from the country, a large-scale violence has been unleashed creating political uncertainty in different parts of the country.

At least 59 per cent of the population is now in need of humanitarian assistance - an increase of 6 million people compared with the beginning of 2021, according to UNAMA. (ANI)
The two leaders also exchanged views on global economic challenges.

"A good conversation with Ueli Maurer, Head of Federal Department of Finance of Switzerland. Reviewed our bilateral relations and discussed fintech and digital domains. Also exchanged views on global economic challenges," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Ealier this month, India and Switzerland held the 11th round of India-Switzerland Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.

During the consultations, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relations. They referred to their long-standing dynamic partnership and agreed to make it future-oriented, read the Ministry of External Affairs press release.

Both sides appreciated that the annual bilateral trade had exceeded USD 30 billion and agreed on the importance of diversifying their trade, added the release.

Over 330 Swiss companies are present in India in sectors such as engineering, services, precision instruments, chemicals and pharmaceuticals while Indian companies are present in Switzerland in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, and machinery.

The two sides took note of the progress made in the negotiations on India-Switzerland Bilateral Investment Treaty and India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) and agreed on the need for their early conclusion.

They agreed to further cultural and people-to-people relations and looked forward to commemorating 75 years of bilateral diplomatic relations next year in a befitting manner.

Both sides agreed to continue high-level exchanges and regular meetings of the institutional mechanisms such as the Joint Economic Commission, Joint Working Groups on Railways and Environment and Financial Dialogue to keep up the momentum in bilateral relations, added the release. (ANI)
Heavy downpour since Tuesday resulted in waterlogging on the banks of Bagmati River affecting daily activities of numerous settlements nearby. Massive downpour compelled people to move out of their homes along with belongings.

As per the police officials, no human casualties have been reported so far; however animal shelters have suffered severe damage."Heavy rainfall on Tuesday night has resulted in inundation of many settlements. The roads were flooded with the water increasing challenge to drive the vehicles," Subash Shrestha, a resident of Kathmandu Valley told ANI.

Chovar, the exit point of most of the rivers flowing through the Kathmandu and Lalitpur District was also flooded with muddy water as river breached the embankments and entered settlements.

Since the wee hours of Wednesday, Nepal Police has been carrying out rescue operations across the Kathmandu Valley. Dozens of people were stuck in the overnight flood as 75.1 millimeter rainfall was recorded till 6AM (NST) on Wednesday.

Monsoon season in Nepal starts from the month of June and extends till September when the Himalayan Nation records the human casualties in paramount numbers and damage to properties.

The monsoon season in Nepal generally begins on June 13 and ends on September 23. Last year it started on June 11.

A normal monsoon, supported by the timely arrival of rain, translates into favorable conditions for agricultural production, mainly of paddy, and is further linked with the country's overall economic growth.

The monsoon season, which delivers around 80 per cent of the country's total annual rainfall, generally lasts 105 days. However, in recent years, it has been taking more time to withdraw. (ANI)
Authorities in several parts of Tibet have rolled out mass testing, including in the capital Lhasa after the region reported a string of Covid-19 cases in over two years. American broadcaster CNN reported that the region reported a total of 49 local cases this week as of Tuesday. Authorities from Ngari prefecture said they found infections in four travellers from southern Tibet, marking the first reported cases in 920 days since one case was found at the pandemic's start in January 2020, the report added. The new COVID-19 outbreak in Tibet, what China describes as Xizang, raises grave concern across the region amid the lack of medical personnel and nucleic acid testing sample collectors, as well as a shortage of oxygen for treating severe cases due to its high altitude. "Now the hospital doesn't have enough manpower to deal with the sudden COVID-19 flare-up, even if we dispatched all its medical workers, including the administrative staff against the epidemic," a staffer from a functional department of the Xigaze Tibetan Hospital told the Global Times on Tuesday. A doctor from the Lhasa People's Hospital said, "The treatment of mild cases is not a big problem for Xizang, as makeshift hospitals are arranged to take care of them, but the treatment of severe cases would be a challenge due to the lack of oxygen in the high-altitude location and limited medical equipment." Xizang Autonomous Region, home to about 800,000 people reported 27 cases on Tuesday, Global Times reported. According to the Xizang regional health commission, the youngest patient is two and a half, and the eldest so far is a 76-year-old woman. Based on gene sequencing tests, a local health official said that the COVID-19 cases detected in Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, were a family cluster infection caused by imported Omicron subvariant BA.2.76. While China claims that its hard-line "Zero-COVID" policy has been successful in preventing large-scale hospitalisations and deaths, critics including the World Health Organization have decried its impact on the economy and society and said it is out of step with the changing nature of the virus and new methods of prevention and treatment. (ANI)
A petition has been filed in Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's decision to contest elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats. Dawn newspaper reported that Justice Shahid Jamil Khan will hear the case on Thursday. The petition was filed by Advocate Mian Asif Mehmood, named the Federation of Pakistan through the Cabinet Division secretary, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar through the law secretary, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) through Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, and Imran as respondents in the case. Last week, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced that by-elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats will be held on September 25. Last month, the ECP accepted 11 out of the 131 resignations tendered by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs, following the removal of the party chief from the office of the Prime minister earlier this year. Soon after the decision was taken, Imran Khan had announced his candidature for all the seats. According to Dawn newspaper, the petition was filed today stated that it had become "a lacuna to contest election on multiple seats by the candidates in the general elections", highlighting that the issue needed to be addressed as it was a "very clear case of political exploitation". It pointed out that this phenomenon was legally "questionable" and the costs of an individual contesting multiple seats were "significant" in bypoll-related expenses that would be required if a candidate secured many seats. The petitioner said he was filing the application on the basis of public importance/interest to get the ambiguity in the law removed for the "larger interest of the nation", adding that it needed to be heard in the "supreme interest of justice for the interest of the public at large". Furthermore, he requested the LHC to direct Imran not to contest any election of the parliament before the submission and acceptance of his resignation as an MNA. The petition also called for a direction to be issued to the relevant respondents to amend the law so as to regulate the eligibility criteria of parliamentarians to contest the election. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday accused the country's coalition government led by PM Shehbaz Sharif of devising a plan to crush his party. "They have prepared a plan to crush the PTI," the PTI chairman was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper in an address to his party supporters. This statement comes as PTI leader and close aide of former Pakistan Prime Minister, Shahbaz Gill was arrested in Islamabad on Tuesday. A day after Gill was arrested in a treason case, an Islamabad court approved a two-day physical remand for him. Gill was arrested on charges of colluding with a private TV news channel in carrying out propaganda against the state. Speaking via video link, the former Pakistan PM said that a "frightening conspiracy" was being devised to present "Pakistan's biggest political party and the army as opponents". "Let me tell you [...] this plot is extremely dangerous and can damage the country," he said, and added that "This Sharifs and Zardaris who are calling us traitors today went on international platforms and gave interviews against the army." The PTI chief said, "Today, it's being said that we are against the army and now they've become the patriots who are calling us traitors." Echoing what Imran said, senior PTI member Asad Umar also accused the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government of trying to create a rift between Imran Khan's party and the country's Army. Lambasting the ruling coalition during a press conference in Lahore, Umar said that cases are being filed against PTI in a manner as if it is a threat to Pakistan, adding that foreign powers have a habit of dictating Pakistan. The senior PTI leader said it was a historic turnaround that the people had taken to the streets and rejected foreign interference as they saw Imran as their "hope". Umar further said a "condemnable" tweet was posted from a Twitter account that merely had 50 followers, and it was played up by accounts with a huge following with malicious intent. Earlier, Imran Khan's PTI announced that it will now hold its "Haqeeqi Azadi jalsa" rally in Lahore. He also announced a strategy to counter what he described as state "fascism". Pakistan Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned the PTI of "dire consequences" if its workers disrupted law and order or resorted to violence during the party's rally. (ANI)
A proposal to ban Schengen visas for Russia was put forward to the European Union for discussion, official spokesman of the German Cabinet Steffen Hebestreit said, adding that Berlin took note of that. "It was put forward by certain countries in the EU and is thereby on the agenda. The German government should now discuss it among Cabinet members and inside the EU. These discussions are not completed and therefore I cannot tell you about interim results," Hebestreit said during a media briefing on Wednesday, as per TASS news agency. "I request to have patience," the spokesman said, adding that "The German government took note of such proposal at the EU level." This proposal could be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers in late August in Prague, spokesperson of the German Foreign Ministry Andrea Sasse noted. She did not detail the Berlin's position on this issue, TASS reported. Meanwhile, French parliamentarian Marine Le Pen had earlier said that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia have hurt rather Europe itself. "These sanctions have only made the population of European countries suffer. This is a failure of the sanctions policy," Marine Le Pen said, TASS reported. The politician said that the reality is that we are victims of these sanctions more than Russia. (ANI)
At least three youths were shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Swabi district, local media reported. Their bodies were found in a village in a graveyard in Swabi district. The police said that in Jalsai village in Chota Lahore three youngsters were found shot, The Express Tribune reported. Complainant Fazal Ghani lodged an FIR with the Lahore police station saying that on Monday he was informed that his 19-year-old son Shah Swar was found dead in the Shaheed Baba graveyard in Jalsai village. "When I reached there I found him dead along with 18-year-old Murad and Waqar. All of them were friends and residents of Jalsai village. They had been shot. I don't know who killed them as they had no personal enmity with anyone," he said. Police said that the local residents spotted the bodies of three youngsters in the graveyard and police shifted them to Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC) for autopsy. An investigation team was formed to look into the case, reported The Express Tribune. "These boys always stayed together and they had no family or personal feud. This is a mysterious and blind murder case at the moment but with the passage of time we are hopeful that this case will be solved," said an official of the local police station, adding that the mobile numbers of the three had been obtained and police were working on it. A similar incident was reported in the Pashtunabad area late on Monday night. Unidentified gunmen killed two people and injured four others in firing. Two victims, identified as Amir Muhammad and Najieebullah, died on the spot due to excessive bleeding, reported Dawn, citing police officials. The incident took place at Mehta Chowk where armed men opened fire on people and escaped, police said. The police reached the incident site right after receiving information about the firing and shifted the bodies and the injured to the Civil Hospital, Dawn reported. Meanwhile, a speeding rickshaw injured two people near the Salim Khan Stop on the Swabi-Mardan Road on Monday, rescue officials said. A Rescue 1122 team reached the spot and provided first aid to the injured before shifting them to the District Headquarters Hospital, Dawn reported. The injured were identified as Nadeem Khan and Mohammad Khan. (ANI)
Nepal's Foreign Affairs Minister Narayan Khadka held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in China's Qingdao on Wednesday and reiterated Kathmandu's unwavering commitment to the 'One China Policy', according to the statement released by the Nepalese Foreign Affairs Ministry. Khadka also assured Wang that the Nepali territory will not be allowed to be used for any activity against China. During the meeting, Wang reiterated China's continued and unconditional support for Nepal's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and assured support for the country's development endeavours as per the priority of the Kathmandu government. Wang also announced that they will provide 800 million RMB to Nepal for the year 2022. "The two Foreign Ministers took stock of overall aspects of Nepal-China relations and cooperation and agreed to promote further cooperation in various sectors including trade, connectivity, investment, health, tourism, poverty alleviation, agriculture, disaster management, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, among others. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made in a range of matters of bilateral cooperation since the official visit of the State Councilor to Nepal in March 2022," the statement reads. Both the ministers expressed their commitment to the timely implementation of the agreements signed and understandings reached during high-level visits in the past. They agreed to expedite the implementation of China-assisted projects in Nepal. During the meeting, the Chinese side assured the Nepali delegation that China will soon start the construction works of the second phase of the Kathmandu Ring Road Improvement Project. Wang also announced that China will carry out the feasibility study of the Keyrung-Kathmandu Railway under the grant assistance. He also assured support for the pre-feasibility study of the Nepal-China cross-border transmission line as agreed during his official visit to Nepal in March 2022. Upon the request of the Nepali side, the Chinese side assured that it will positively consider providing chemical fertilizer to Nepal and study the feasibility of establishing a chemical fertilizer factory in Nepal. "The State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China agreed to assist Nepal's agricultural sector. He also agreed to encourage Chinese investment in developing the manufacturing capacity of Nepal and enhance cooperation in the export of Nepali tea and traditional medicinal herbs," the statement noted. Chinese Foreign Minister also announced to provide Nepal with 3 million RMB worth of disaster relief materials as per the Kathmandu request. China will also provide Nepal with an additional 2 million RMB worth of medical items and logistics. Apart from these, China will provide additional COVID-19 vaccines and COVID-19-related medical assistance as much as Nepal may require. "The two Foreign Ministers also exchanged views on continuing cooperation in various regional and multilateral forums on matters of mutual interests," the statement added. (ANI)
Influential Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday called on the Iraqi judiciary to dissolve the parliament by the end of next week. Al-Sadr in his tweet said that the Parliament will convene to dissolve itself citing that it has "blocs that adhere to the quota (system) and are involved in corruption and will not answer to the peoples' demand of dissolving the Parliament." In the last week of July, thousands of supporters of al-Sadr stormed the heavily fortified parliament building in Baghdad for the second time. And the protesters are continuing their sit-in outside the legislature. This move came in response to attempts by his rivals, mainly the Iran-backed Coordination Framework, to form a government with prime ministerial candidates of whom al-Sadr does not approve. Al-Sadr went on to state that an alternative way to disband the assembly can be achieved through the judiciary, Anadolu Agency reported. Shia leader expressed hope that the judicial authorities will "correct the path" after the constitutional deadline for the parliament to choose a president and assign a premier to form a government expires. He urged the judiciary to "dissolve the Parliament... within a period that does not exceed the end of the next week." On July 30, supporters of Iraqi cleric stormed parliament for the second time in a week. The protesters again breached the high-security Green Zone in Baghdad, as they oppose the nomination of a pro-Iran rival candidate for prime minister. Over 120 people were injured in the latest unrest. Earlier also, Al-Sadr demanded for an early election and dissolution of parliament. "Dissolve parliament and hold early elections," al-Sadr said in a televised address from Najaf on Wednesday, signalling a deepening power struggle with his rivals that may prolong the political deadlock. Al-Sadr recently called for the dissolution of the assembly and holding early polls amid a nine-month-old political crisis that has stalled the government formation since the October 10, 2021 elections. Notably, Al-Sadr's bloc won 73 seats in Iraq's October 2021 election, making it the largest faction in the 329-seat parliament but, ever since the vote, talks to form a new government have stalled, and Al-Sadr stepped down from the political process. A deadlock persists over the establishment of a new government. In 2016 too al-Sadr's supporters stormed the parliament in a similar fashion. They staged a sit-in and issued demands for political reform after then-Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi sought to replace party-affiliated ministers with technocrats in an anti-corruption drive. Mass protests erupted in 2019 amid public anger over corruption and unemployment and this current protest poses a challenge for the oil-rich country. (ANI)
Members of Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia conduct an investigation of a security threat at Dunbar High School on February 8, 2022 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Police are investigating after two men were assaulted and called an anti-gay slur in northwest Washington, DC.

The suspect called the men "monkeypox f-----s" before fleeing the scene, according to a police report.

The suspect is not yet in custody as police view the incident as a suspected hate crime, the Metropolitan Police said.

Police are investigating a suspected hate crime against two men who were punched and called an anti-gay slur, according to a police report obtained by Insider.

On Sunday, two men were out walking on a sidewalk in northwest Washington, DC, when they were approached by the suspects, who punched them multiple times. The suspects then called them "monkey pox f-----s," according to the police report.

The suspects fled the scene and are not yet in custody, according to the report.

"This case remains under investigation and it is being investigated as potentially motivated by hate/bias," a representative from the Metropolitan Police Department said in a statement. The MPD's LGBTQ Liaison unit is also investigating the incident.

The suspected hate crime comes as the nation sees a rise in anti-gay sentiment brought on by the stigma prompted by the monkeypox outbreak in the US. The illness has mainly been impacting gay and bisexual men. However, monkeypox can spread between any two people, typically through skin-to-skin contact, regardless of sexuality.

In a statement on Tuesday, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was "extremely disturbed" by the suspected hate crime.

"Whenever a hate crime happens in our city, it is our collective responsibility to understand the role we each play in building a safer community for every person who lives in and visits DC," Bowser said in the statement. "We must stand up for our friends and neighbors, especially right now when there is too much anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric sweeping our nation."

"We must call out the people in our circles if they promote hateful or ignorant ideology, especially right now when people are using public health to stigmatize and discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community," the DC mayor continued. "We hold our DC values dear, but protecting and advancing our values is a collective and intentional effort."

Read the original article on Insider
EVANSVILLE  It was a night of excitement, and farewells, for Hoosier soldiers.

On Tuesday, 300 Indiana National Guard soldiers said their goodbyes as they prepared for deployment to help coalition security forces in Iraq. It marked the first time the 163rd Field Artillery had deployed this many of its members since 2008.

They will spend nine months in Iraq, with some training time scheduled before they leave the United States. They are expected to return in July 2023.

"The Indiana Guard has deployments all the time. They're usually small. We're talking a handful, dozen soldiers here, a dozen soldiers there and those are happening every year. But it's not to this scale," Lt. Col. Aaron Lange said.

There are 85 countries that are a part of the global coalition the unit will be helping. The Indiana National Guard does not know which country the soldiers will be helping.

Staff Sgt. Whitney Belwood of St. Wendel, Ind., scoops up her daughter, 3-year-old Alora, during the send-off for the Indiana National Guard 1st Battalion, 163rd Field Artillery at the Christian Fellowship Church in Evansville Tuesday evening, Aug. 9, 2022. The group is heading to Iraq as part of a coalition security forces mission.

Lange said most of the time the soldiers volunteer for deployment. And sometimes officials will choose a specialist who doesn't have a family over one with children.

For many, this is the first major deployment.

Joseph Bichler has been deployed to Japan previously and said it was a cultural shock.

"We've done our research," Bichler said. "They've definitely have put us in a situation to be prepared and ready for the environment we're going to be in."

Bichler has been in the National Guard for six years. He played football in high school, and he wanted something that gave him a team dynamic and kept him fit. He also wanted to travel.

"I plan on going full-career," he said. "You learn really quickly that you see someone in uniform, that's your brother; that's your sister."

Members of the Indiana National Guard 1st Battalion, 163rd Field Artillery stand for The Star-Spangled Banner at the Christian Fellowship Church in Evansville Tuesday evening, Aug. 9, 2022. The group is heading to Iraq as part of a coalition security forces mission.

Birchler said hopes they get some free time because he plans on bringing two frisbees with him. He will be leaving his wife and two dogs at home while he is away.

Lt. Tony Carsten was the first in his family to join the National Guard. And according to his sister Jessica Carsten, Tony "came out of the womb an Army soldier. 

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He's excited and it's perfect timing for him, Tonys father, Jeff Carsten, said.

Tonys mom Amy Carsten said she is going to miss having him around.

Im having a hard time, Amy said. "A year is a really long time."

Capt. Matthew Holtman of Brownsburg, Ind., embraces his daughter, Eleanor, 5, at the Indiana National Guard 1st Battalion, 163rd Field Artillery's send-off at the Christian Fellowship Church in Evansville Tuesday evening, Aug. 9, 2022.

Supporting the families

Nicole Taylor, chairperson for Soldier Family Readiness group, said they do everything they can to aid families while the soldiers are away.

"Our job is to just support the soldier while they are gone as well as we can and make sure they have all the resources that they need as far as making sure everything at home is taken care of," Taylor said.

Vanderburgh County Sheriff candidate Noah Robinson came to represent the sheriff's office and support a friend who was deploying.

His attendance represents the role he believes the sheriffs office plays to the families of those deploying: safety.

I think it must be nice to know that youve got a person inside the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and the police department here keeping your family safe, he said, noting the similarities between law enforcement and the military and the camaraderie between the two. They know that if something were to happen, wed be there in a second to help support that family."

Billy Towson sat in the front row with family to honor his grandson who was deploying, something he said he is proud of.

It makes me feel way up there, he said, gesturing to the ceiling. His grandson is among several family members who joined the service.

Towson said he served from 1952 to 1957 as a medic.

Troy Lamont King II, from Anderson, Indiana, is among the hundreds of soldiers deploying. At the age of 21, he said hes excited to do this duty for the country and his family.

Im more than ready. The mission that were doing just happens to be my job and Im blessed because people in my job dont actually get to do their job in the states, he said.

Wanting a cool job, he decided to work on air defense artillery. Coming from an armed forces family, he knew there was a possibility of joining the service, but he took a different route than most of his family.

Traditionally in his family, members joined the Marines, but King decided to try something else. While some family members dont support him joining a different branch, they are still proud of him.

My Marine uncles beat me up the day I was leaving. They were like, Thank you for your service, Im proud of you and a way to keep the tradition going but you chose the wrong branch,' he said.

Afterwards he was sent on his way with a lot of support and congratulations from them.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: 300 National Guard soldiers leave Evansville, prepare to head to Iraq
Lamont Dozier, one-third of the classic songwriting and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland. (Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images)

When a person writes as many perfect songs in as brief a period of time as Lamont Dozier did, other peoples temptation is to liken the labor to that of a machine or a robot or an industrial plant.

How else to understand the ability to pump out tunes like Heat Wave, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You), Stop! In the Name of Love, This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) and Standing in the Shadows of Love  songs that defined the sound of Motown Records and by extension of young America, as the labels slogan accurately put it  over the course of less than half a decade?

Even Dozier himself, who died Monday at age 81, reached for the comparison: Referring to the songwriting and production team he formed at Motown with brothers Brian and Eddie Holland, Dozier wrote in his 2019 memoir, We thought of H.D.H. as a factory within a factory.

But if their pace of assembly reflected a technicians know-how  not to mention a belief in the efficiency of interchangeable parts  their music always beat with a human heart. In their work for Martha and the Vandellas, the Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye and especially the Supremes, for whom they wrote and produced no fewer than 10 No. 1 hits, Holland-Dozier-Holland channeled the blooming ecstasy and the pervading agony of young romance; they also evoked the thrill of young sex in an era when its pleasures had to be rendered in code.

Think of Bernadette by the Four Tops, which went to No. 4 on the Hot 100 in large part due to the desolation in Levi Stubbs inconsolable vocal performance. But what a text Dozier and the Hollands gave him. Bernadette, they want you because of the pride that it gives, Stubbs howls of his lovers other suitors as the songs descending bass line chases him down into a hole, But Bernadette, I want you because I need you to live.

This guy isnt just horny and heartbroken  hes locked in an epic moral struggle in which his only hope for victory is that the purity of his emotion matters.

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Another way you could tell Dozier wasnt actually a machine: Not everything he created did what it was designed to do. Though he landed dozens of indelible singles inside the Top 40 during his life, Dozier leaves behind a catalog rich with less commercially successful songs, some composed by the H-D-H team while it was at its peak, others by Dozier and separate collaborators in the decades that followed. Because you already know all the classics, here are seven underrated gems worth revisiting or discovering for the first time.

1. Lamont Anthony, Popeye (1960)

Sung by Dozier himself (under a stage name) before he linked up with the Hollands, this rough-edged funk tune sets a delightfully shameless lyric  Just when I thought he was finished / He pulled out a can of spinach  against scrubbing guitar, rollicking piano and a propulsive beat bashed out by a pre-stardom Marvin Gaye. When the owners of the Popeye the Sailor Man comic strip threatened to sue, Dozier recut the song as Benny the Skinny Man.

2. The Marvelettes, Locking Up My Heart (1963)

One of H-D-Hs earliest singles to chart on the Hot 100 (albeit at a lowly No. 44), Locking Up My Heart showcases the songwriting trios knack for marrying emotional misery to musical ebullience: Hello loneliness, goodbye love, the Marvelettes sing with cheerful resignation, Im tired of being abused and being misused. Great sax solo too.

3. The Supremes, Run, Run, Run (1964)

In a chatty YouTube video posted just days before her death last year, the Supremes Mary Wilson admitted that she and her bandmates thought this speedy, scrappy pop-soul song about a two-faced man was gonna be a hit, but it wasnt. Today it sounds like a hidden pointer toward the Go-Gos and the Bangles.

4. Freda Payne, Unhooked Generation (1969)

H-D-H left the Motown fold in 1967 amid a fight over money and then started their own labels, Invictus and Hot Wax, with which they scored hits including Freda Paynes Band of Gold and Give Me Just a Little More Time by the Chairmen of the Board. This fuzzed-out Payne jam  credited like many other Invictus titles to Edythe Wayne as a means of skirting Motowns legal department  did nothing like Band of Golds business but has swagger for days.

5. Dionne Warwick, Youre Gonna Need Me (1973)

Warwick drafted H-D-H following her split from Burt Bacharach and Hal David; the partnership was short-lived yet yielded this lightly psychedelic groove later sampled by J Dilla on his beloved Donuts album.

6. Lamont Dozier, Going Back to My Roots (1977)

Any good pop songwriter knows the value of flexibility, which is why Dozier went disco (or close to it) after a few years of struggling to reignite his solo singing career. His ultra-growly vocal delivery here contrasts intriguingly with the tracks sumptuous strings-and-winds arrangement  and explains perhaps why the song floundered in the year of Dancing Queen and I Just Want to Be Your Everything.

7. Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle, Without You (1987)

Dozier made it back atop the Hot 100  and earned an Oscar nomination  in 1989 with Two Hearts, his and Phil Collins chipper bit of Motown cosplay from the film Buster. (Dont forget that Collins had covered H-D-Hs Supremes smash You Cant Hurry Love in a nearly note-for-note rendition in 1982.) But by then, Dozier was already in the movie business, having penned this lush R&B ballad for the sorry Bill Cosby vehicle Leonard Part 6. Forget the movie; savor the song.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The murder of four men in Albuquerque has put the Muslim community on high alert for future attacks, leaving some also concerned about the public perception of their Islamic faith.

Police detained a primary suspect on Tuesday for the murders of the men, the first of whom was killed months ago and the other three within the past two weeks. All four belonged to the same mosque.

The murders placed the Muslim community in Albuquerque on edge and fearful for their safety, said Zainab Chaudry, national spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.

It also reminded Muslims around the country that this is obviously a concern that all of us have at some point to some degree, especially in light of the growing Islamophobia [and] the spike in hate incidents, Chaudry added.

Islamic places of worship across the country, like the Mosque Foundation near Chicago, were forced to increase security and safety measures around their buildings in order to encourage their communities to continue their day-to-day activities.

These types of attacks can inspire others, said Haroon Imtiaz, director of communications for the Islamic Society of North America. Weve seen in the past extremist attacks and then others being inspired by them. It makes us concerned that this could just show up anywhere else and we just dont know.

Tuesdays arrest came nine months after 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi, the first victim, was murdered in November. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, Aftab Hussein, 41, and Naeem Hussain, 25, were all killed within the last two weeks.

The arrest also brought a sense of relief for many, said Imtiaz.

We hope the investigation remains ongoing and it actually yields results, said Imtiaz. Hopefully the community can get a much needed level of peace, security and sense of well-being back because I know its been difficult for them. A lot of them [had] to adjust their lives. Some people were afraid to go pray in public. Its been a very frightening time.

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But the arrest also elicited frustration and anger.

The suspect, 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, is an Afghan man who may have known his victims. And though police have not yet identified the motive behind the attacks, they did acknowledge interpersonal conflict may have been a motivation. Syed identifies as Sunni Muslim, and three of the men murdered were Shia.

In a statement following the arrest, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said the organization was disturbed by early indications that the alleged killer may have been targeting particular members of the Shia community.

If this is true, it is completely unacceptable, and we encourage law enforcement to file any appropriate hate crime charges against the suspect, the statement continued. Acts of hateful, sectarian violence against followers of the Shia tradition and any other group have no place in our communities, our country or anywhere else. American Muslims are and must be united against all forms of hateful bigotry, including anti-Shia bias.

Shia and Sunni leaders gathered Tuesday for a joint press conference to express unity and solidarity between the two sects.

Regardless of the identity of the perpetrator or the identity of the victims, we are united by our faith which reminds us every day  that truly the believers are one brotherhood, said Awad. I urge myself and all of us to keep that in mind. Our community is solid. Our community is strong. Our community is united. Our community will continue to show responsible leadership and love to another.

Still, Imtiaz expressed worry that news of the suspects identity could create a skewed perspective of what the Islamic faith represents.

Our faith places a lot of emphasis on living in peace and harmony with others and also interfaith love and harmony, said Imtiaz. This type of sectarian hatred really just has no place in our faith and these type of attacks can send a message to others in public that maybe Islam actually tolerates this type of violence or that its OK or acceptable when, in reality, our faith doesnt allow this and that this is completely and utterly unacceptable.

Imtiaz encouraged non-Muslims to focus on the efforts Muslims are doing for the common good of the country, such as in health care, politics and other fields.

He also said its important to remember it is an insignificant percentage of the people who engage in violent attacks and that they are not representative of the entire community.

Were committed to civic engagement. Were doing our best to fight for human rights in this country, he said.

He also said leaders could counter false narratives of the Islamic faith by showing their disapproval, their anger, and that they wont tolerate this.

But that includes looking at the root causes of some of the violence.

Whether its mental health issues that really enable some of these types of violence, whether easy access to guns or whatever it could be, I think we also have to look at the underlying causes that might facilitate a lot of this hatred, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Albuquerque Police Department

Even as police offered new details into the execution-style slayings of at least two Muslim men in Albuquerque, the long, sprawling record of alleged violence by the chief suspect in the murders came into focus.

Among the wild array of arrests for battery and domestic violence detailed in court records obtained by The Daily Beast against Muhammad Syed, the 51-year-old has allegedly threatened to kill his daughters boyfriend, beat his wife in a state building, lacerated his sons head with a metal spoon, kicked a Walmart employee, and punished his daughter after she refused to take her brother to college with her as an escort.

But despite the alleged years-long abuse, Syed never faced charges, in part, because his family always seemed to downplay the incident once police arrived at the scene. On multiple occasions, police officers had difficulty taking reports because the family said they did not speak English, and required the help of a telephone translation service in their native Pashto. Often, Syeds children acted as translators between their parents and the police.

On one occasion, Syeds son told police that his mother was instructing him in Pashto to tell the police no violence was occurring at the house. On another, Syed told police they could not speak directly to his wife because it was not accepted in his culture. As recently as February of this year, police advised the family that withholding information is not okay after an incidence of domestic violence.

Even now, as Syed is implicated in at least four murders, his wife and daughter are still standing by his side.

I believe they will release my father, his daughter Lubna told KRQE. He didnt do anything.

The revelations come as Syeds son, Shaheen Maiwand Syed, was arrested for allegedly giving a false address when he purchased two rifles in 2021. In an affidavit obtained by The Daily Beast, an ATF agent alleges the son violated federal law by indicating he lived in Florida when he'd lived in New Mexico.

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Attempts by The Daily Beast to contact the family were unsuccessful. Megan Mitsunaga, who is representing Muhammad Syed, did not immediately respond to The Daily Beasts request for comment.

Muhammad Syed is accused of murdering Aftab Hussein, 41, on July 26, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, on Aug. 1. Hes also the main suspect in the homicides of Naeem Hussain, 25, who was killed on Aug. 5 after attending a funeral for the other two victims, and Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, who was gunned down in November outside a market he operated with his brother.

Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, one of the four Muslim men killed. JORDAN YUTZY

On Wednesday afternoon, Syed appeared via a video feed for his initial court appearance with his hands cuffed and ankles chained. Speaking through an interpreter, Syed asked if he could talk for myself, but was denied by his lawyerwho asked the court not to allow him to make any statements. Whatever you guys think is the right thing, sounds good, Syed reportedly replied, before Judge Renee Torres revealed she was transferring the case to a district court, where bail will be determined.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by The Daily Beast, Syed was pulled over by police on Monday about 100 miles from the Texas state line. He allegedly said he was driving to Houston to find a new place for his family because things were bad in Albuquerque. Many in the local Muslim community have taken measures to protect themselves in the face of what appeared like a possible hate crime spree.

While he denied any wrongdoing in the police stop, the complaint states the authorities found a handgun in the carand a bullet casing between the dashboard and the windshield. The casing and the handgun, authorities said, matched ballistic evidence found at the Aug. 1 crime scene.

During an interview with Albuquerque police, Syed added that he also owns an AK-47 and likes the platform because he had one in Afghanistan, before noting that he was in Special Forces and fought against the Taliban. He added that he keeps his AK-47 in a cardboard box, under his bed, in his bedroom.

Syed also allegedly told police he knew another one of the victimsNaeem Hussainsince at least 2016 and recognized Aftab Hussein from parties in the community, but refused to provide details about their relationship and denied any role in the series of killings that sent a Muslim community into a state of terror.

His wife and daughter, however, have said that the family knew three of the four men who were killed.

In a previous interview with Times, Ahmad Assed, the president of the citys biggest mosque, said authorities told him that the suspect is a Sunni Muslim who possibly targeted victims because he was angry over his daughter marrying a Shiite Muslim. Police have said they are investigating that possibility, but have not definitively indicated a motive in the series of murders that devastated New Mexicos largest city.

The criminal complaint states that Syed was allegedly hiding behind a bush near where Aftab Hussein usually parked his car and shot him multiple times when he got home. Days later, Syed allegedly shot Afzaal Hussain in a drive-by shooting while he was walking near his apartment.

Records obtained by The Daily Beast indicate that Syed, his wife, and son were previously accused of assaulting his daughters then-boyfriendwho may now be her husband, public records showas early as 2017. Syed also has a history of allegations of domestic violence and aggravated assault against his wife and children, going back to 2017.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller speaks to an interfaith memorial ceremony at the New Mexico Islamic Center mosque to commemorate four murdered Muslim men, hours after police said they had arrested a prime suspect in the killings. ANDREW HAY

In a July 2017 domestic violence incident report, Lubna reported ongoing verbal and physical disputes with her very conservative Muslim parents. The report states after officers arrived at the house on a family dispute call, Lubna told the officer that she had a class at the University of New Mexico and her father and mother wanted their unnamed son to go with her because they feared for her safety, but she did not want to be escorted.

Police then spoke to Syed, who told officers through translations that he did not hit Lubna and that based on disrespect and the concern for her safety in her community, his wife did grab her by the arm as she walked out on them. Syed also said that some boys in their apartment complex had been harassing his daughter and he did not want her to leave their unit alone.

Lubna did not wish to be escorted by anyone and that she did not feel in danger by herself, the July 13, 2017 report states. The officer added that he did notice that the 20-year-olds arm had redness and there was swelling around her eyebut could not make an arrest as Lubna did not want her father arrested because it would only make their family dynamic worse.

Months later, on Dec. 17, 2017, police were called to the UNMH hospital where Syed told them about an altercation he and his wife Bibi had had with a man called Iftikhar Amir (spelled Eftekhar-Amir in the report, which also spells Syeds first name as Mohammed.). Syed said his daughter, Lubna, had come home hours late from work that day. When confronted by her mother about where she had been, Syed said Lubna admitted to hanging out with a young man, Iftikhar Amir, and then fled from the house.

The couple said they then followed Lubna in their car to an unknown address where they confronted Iftikhar. Bibi slapped Iftikhar in the face, according to Syeds account to the police. Iftikhar then put his hands around Bibis neck and tried to choke her. As he tried to push Iftikhar away, Syed said Iftikhar pulled out a large knife and started to slash at him. The police report noted that Syed had a visible laceration on his chest and a small scratch on his stomach.

Syed said he knew nothing about Iftikhar other than that he was from Afghanistan. He would not let his wife Bibi speak with the police officer who took the report, saying that was not accepted in our culture.

Days later, authorities say that Syed was arrested after he attacked and beat Iftikhar Amir, who by then is described by police as Lubnas boyfriend. (Property records show that Lubna Syed and Iftikhar Hussain Am Jan took out a mortgage for an Albuquerque home in November 2021. They are also listed as the propertys current owners for the 2022 tax year on the Bernalillo County Assessors website.)

Iftikhar told police on Dec. 23, 2017, that he was sitting in Lubnas car, when three members of her family opened the car door, pulled him out of the vehicle, and started punching and kicking him. Iftikhar identified the assailants as Lubnas father, brother, and mother. He told police that Lubnas family attacked him because they did not want her having a relationship with [him]. The beating left Iftikhar with a bleeding nose, bruised face, and scratched body, and he was transported to the hospital in an ambulance, according to a police report obtained by The Daily Beast.

Syed was charged with battery, but the case against him was dropped.

In early 2018, officers were called to a disturbance involving Iftikhar and Syed. Iftikhar told police that he and Syed were arguing about Iftikhar dating Muhammad's daughter, Lubna. Iftikhar said Syed had threatened to kill him.

When a police officer contacted Syed, he said he had been receiving threatening late-night phone calls from Iftikhar. Syed denied threatening Iftikhar, saying he just wanted him to stop calling. An officer also interviewed Lubna, who said she had not heard her father make any threats, but confirmed the two had been arguing about her relationship with Iftikhar.

Iftikhar declined to press any charges against Syed, but told an officer he hoped he would leave him alone. The police ordered the two men to stay away from each other, and no charges were filed.

Three months later, Syed was once again the subject of a domestic violence call. In May 2018, Syed and his wife Bibi started arguing in the car on the way to an appointment at the New Mexico Department of Human Services, according to an arrest report obtained by The Daily Beast. Bibi told police it was her first time driving the car, and Syed became enraged by the mistakes she was making. He began to scream and yell that she was a bad driver, and then grabbed her by the hair and threw her out of the car, Bibi told police. She was forced to walk for two hours to get the rest of the way to the Human Services building, according to her statement.

Syed arrived at the Human Services around an hour and a half before Bibi, according to witnesses interviewed by the police. Bibi told police Syed was angry that it had taken her so long to get to the appointment, and had thrown her to the ground. Employees heard Bibi yelling in distress from the buildings lobby, and then Erica Montoya, an employee who helped process the couples documents, found Bibi lying on the floor, yelling My husband! My husband! with a large chunk of hair missing from her scalp. Syed told police Bibi had slapped him across the face in their car and had pushed and kicked him at the office.

The battery charges against Syed were ultimately dropped.

Marriage of Suspects Daughter Eyed in Albuquerque Slayings

Seven months later, Syeds son Maiwand, called the police after locking himself in the familys bathroom, saying that his father was outside beating his mother, Bibi, with a large metal slotted spoon. He told police that Syed had been attacking his mother while his sister, Lubna, tried to restrain him and that Syed had then struck Maiwand in the head. When the police arrived they found the back of Maiwands head soaked with blood. He told police that Muhammed routinely beat him and his mother, Bibi. However, as Maiwand translated for his mother, who did not speak English, he told police she was denying that any violence had occurred and telling him not to tell the police anything. Syed was arrested for aggravated battery, but the case against him was later dropped.

Records show that in 2019, Syed was the subject of other police reports though the accusations against him didnt result in arrests. In May of that year, police issued Syed and a person named Joey White a criminal summons for food stamp fraud under $250 after cops were called to a disturbance at a meat market, records show.

An incident report reveals that White sold Syed a food stamp card the day before and that Syed called him and demanded he meet him so he could get the PIN number to use the card. White said he tried the pin but it didnt work, and Syed began to yell at him. During the fracas, Syed apparently called 911. Muhammad attempted to purchase 159 dollars worth of meat but the purchase did not go through, the incident report states. Muhammad began to get upset with Joey because Joey would not give him the pin. Muhammad called the police wanting his money back that he paid Joey.

Five months later, records show, that a Home Depot security officer accused Syed of shoplifting a flashlight that cost $119.91. The security employee said Syed hid the item and walked out of the store before the employee confronted him near the door. The employee recovered the item and called the police after Syed left the property. No further action took place, the incident report notes. Home Depot would not proceed with prosecution and the case will be considered closed.

A January 2020 incident report also detailed a harrowing altercation between Syed and a Walmart employee. The report states that Msambya Eboko, via Swahili translator, told authorities that on Jan. 22, 2020, he was bringing carts inside Walmart when Syed approached him.

Mr. Eboko told me that Mr. Syed was speaking English to him, saying something to the effect of, why are you looking at me, the report states, noting that the pair previously met at a class to learn English. Mr. Syed then tried to kick Mr. Eboko and missed. Mr. Syed kicked at Mr. Eboko a second time and did kick him on the right side of his right leg.

The report states that Eboko ran into the store to find security, but Syed followed him. Mr. Eboko tried to avoid Mr. Syed who was still acting confrontational, making chest bumping actions into the air and staring at Mr. Eboko. Security footage reviewed by authorities later showed Syed throwing an object toward Eboko and trying to physically harm him.

Syed was issued a summons for battery against Eboko, though the status of the case is not immediately clear.

Meanwhile, records show Syed was arrested in February 2020 for allegedly resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer (refusal to stop) and failure to obey traffic control devices/failure to obey sign. In a police report, the arresting officer said he pursued Syed after observing his maroon Honda run a red light at a four-way intersection.

According to the report, the cop turned on his squad cars emergency lights and followed Syeds car for about four blocks and into the parking lot of an apartment complex. Syed did not exit the vehicle after the officer ordered him to do so over the P.A. system, the document states.

Cops then handcuffed Syed and put him in the back of a patrol car, and an interpreter was called to explain to Syed why he was being arrested. The report indicates Syeds son was also brought over to translate for him since he only spoke Pashto.

I had Muhammad step out of the vehicle and asked if he was going to cooperate and sign the citation, the officer noted in the report. Muhammad then stated that I was good man and my sergeant was a motherfucker.

Muhammads son asked him if he was going to comply or if he wanted to go to jail, the officer continued. Muhammads son attempted to reason with him but Muhammad just elevated his voice and got more angry.

The son, according to the report, indicated that his dad wanted to go to jail, so Syed was transported to the Bernalillo County jail and booked on the charges.

According to a March criminal complaint, authorities were dispatched after Syeds son, Maiwand Syed, allegedly hit his father and sister. Speaking through an interpreter, Syed told authorities that his son knocked on his sisters door while she was studying and started hitting his sister for an unknown reason.

The complaint states that Syed then went to stop the altercationwhich prompted his son to turn the abuse onto him. Authorities said that while Syed had blood all over his face, he denied medical attention and insisted on pressing charges, adding I want justice.

But when the officer went inside the house, Maiwand was nowhere to be found and the other family members refused to tell authorities information about the incident. The report even states that Syeds wife insisted he was lying and refused to even provide authorities with her sons birthday.

By the time authorities got a chance to speak to Syeds daughter, she insisted she did not know what happened after her family yelled at her in Pashto. In the end, after the complaint notes that the officers tried to coax information, the family kept saying they were safe and everything was okay.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2022, 12:03

Co-founder of the Swedish Division of Amnesty International Per Wastberg has announced that he is leaving his post because of the organisations scandalous report on the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Source: Svenska Dagbladet and Expressen

Wastberg: "I have been a member (of the organisation  ed.) for almost sixty years. With a heavy heart, I am ending my long and fruitful cooperation because of Amnesty's statements about the war in Ukraine."

Details: He added that at the beginning of its existence, the group worked on the release of political prisoners, but it had gradually "expanded its mandate".

For reference: Wastberg became a founder of the Swedish branch of Amnesty International in 1963. From 1976-1982, he was editor-in-chief of Sweden's largest daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter. Wastberg is also a member of the Nobel Prize Committee for Literature.

Background:

On 4 August, human rights organisation Amnesty International stated in its report that the Ukrainian military is endangering the civilian population. However, the document did not say a word about the crimes of the invaders.

The Presidents Office said that the lives of Ukrainians are threatened only by the Russian army and it denounced the selectivity of Amnesty International.

The Head of the Ukrainian office Oksana Pokalchuk left her post after the organisation's scandalous report.

Amnesty International's central office stated that it regretted the "suffering and anger" caused by its statement.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda!
A video image shows the police stop of Army Lt. Caron Nazario on Dec. 5, 2020, in Windsor, Va. (Windsor Police Department via Associated Press)

A U.S. Army lieutenant who was pepper-sprayed, struck and handcuffed during a traffic stop in Virginia can present his claims of false imprisonment and assault and battery to a jury, a federal judge has ruled.

But the summary judgment Tuesday said federal immunity laws shield the two officers involved.

Caron Nazario, who is Black and Latino, claims that the officers violated his constitutional protections against excessive force and unreasonable seizure. Further, he claims a violation of his right to free speech, alleging that the officers threatened him with arrest if he complained about their behavior.

U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young also ruled that the officer who initially pulled Nazario over is liable for illegally searching for a gun in the soldier's SUV in violation of the U.S. Constitution and Virginia law, leaving the question of damages on that point up to a jury. Nazario had a concealed carry permit.

The December 2020 traffic stop of the uniformed military officer in the small town of Windsor drew national attention and outrage after Nazario sued in April 2021, citing police body camera images and his cellphone video of the encounter. He was never charged with a crime.

Nazario had been driving home in the dark from his duty station when Officer Daniel Crocker radioed that he was attempting to stop a vehicle with no rear license plate and tinted windows, the lawsuit says. Body camera video later showed that a temporary tag was taped to the inside of the rear window.

It appeared to Lt. Nazario that there was no good location in the immediate vicinity to stop safely. So, for the benefit of the officers safety and his own, Lt. Nazario continued slowly down US 460," the lawsuit says. Nazario drove below the posted speed limit for less than a mile until he reached the well-lit parking lot of a BP gas station, it says.

Crocker said the driver was eluding police and he considered it a high-risk traffic stop, according to a report cited in the lawsuit. Another officer, Joe Gutierrez, was driving by and joined him.

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The lawsuit says both officers escalated the situation by immediately pointing their guns at Nazario and trying to pull him out of the vehicle while he kept his hands in the air. Gutierrez pepper-sprayed Nazario multiple times as the officers yelled for him to get out.

At one point, Nazario said he was afraid to get out, to which Gutierrez replied: You should be.

When Nazario did get out and ask for a supervisor, Gutierrez responded with knee-strikes to his legs, knocking him to the ground, where the two officers struck him multiple times and then handcuffed and interrogated him, the lawsuit says.

Gutierrez was later fired for failing to follow department policy during the stop. A special prosecutor concluded late last month that Gutierrez should not be criminally charged under Virginia law, but should be investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for potential civil rights violations.

The federal judge ruled Tuesday that the officers had probable cause to pull Nazario over for an improperly displayed license plate and to charge him with eluding police as well as obstruction of justice and failure to obey when he refused to exit the vehicle.

But Young said the allegations of false imprisonment, assault and battery that Nazario made under state law can move forward because Virginia law only provides local officials immunity from suits alleging negligence.

Explaining his summary judgment on Crocker's search for the gun, Young wrote that the firearm was not relevant evidence for the crimes of eluding or obstruction of justice." However, he said Nazarios claims that Gutierrez knew about the search and failed to intervene could proceed to trial. Gutierrez has argued that he knew nothing about the search.

Jessica Ann Swauger, an attorney listed for Gutierrez, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Jonathan Arthur, one of the attorneys representing Nazario, said the judge's ruling is a victory even though three of the federal claims were tossed.

Whether its under federal law or whether its under state law, the jury is going to speak," Arthur said. "And we hope that the jury is going to stand up and say that this behavior will not be tolerated.

Anne C. Lahren, an attorney for Crocker, said the remaining questions are classic issues for a jury, rarely decided at this stage in a civil suit. She also noted that the judge found the stop itself and the officers' ensuing commands to be lawful.

Lt. Nazarios own actions gave rise to the unfortunate, but lawful, escalation of force, Lahren wrote. Had Lt. Nazario simply followed the lawful commands of the officers from the outset of the traffic stop, none of this would have been necessary.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
RIGA, Latvia (AP)  The U.S. will conduct more military exercises with Baltic nations such as Latvia, and look to provide increased training, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, saying the U.S. may bring in additional troops from America if needed to bolster the region against any possible threat from Russia.

Speaking at a press conference with Latvias Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, Austin said plans to do continuous rotations of forces into the Baltics will likely use troops from U.S. brigades in Romania and other parts of Europe, but we can also bring in forces from the United States.

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades, underscoring the increased importance of the Baltic nations, who sit at Russias western edge. They have watched Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fear that they could be the next victims of Moscows aggression. The Pentagon said the last defense chief to go to Latvia was William Perry in 1995.

Pabriks told reporters that his top priorities are to get more U.S. military enablers, adding that in order to defend his country, his troops need nitty gritty training on a daily basis. He added that Latvia also needs additional financial assistance from the U.S. in order to buy new military equipment, and to beef up its air defense and coastal defense.

In two days of meetings in this Baltic capital, just a few hours drive from the Russian border, Austin repeatedly re-enforced America's commitment to helping the region defend itself. He met with U.S. troops on Tuesday, including members of the Security Force Assistance Brigade that provides training to allies. He said Wednesday that he is looking to maintain use of the SFAB in the Baltic region going forward.

Austin's visit comes as the Russian war in Ukraine is in its sixth month, as Russia continues to make slow but incremental progress but has met growing counterattacks by Ukrainian forces in Russian-occupied areas of southern Ukraine. Ukraine has also been battling to hold off the Kremlins forces in the industrial Donbas region in the east.

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In a possible escalation of the fighting, powerful explosions rocked a Russian air base in Crimea on Tuesday and sent towering clouds of smoke over the landscape. Russias Defense Ministry denied the Saki base on the Black Sea had been shelled and said instead that munitions had blown up there. But Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles.

In a rapid-fire series of meetings on Wednesday with top Latvian leaders, including President Egils Levits at Riga Castle, Austin pledged Americas steadfast commitment to stand with the Baltic region against any Russian aggression. The three Baltic nations - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - are all former Soviet republics, and were seized and annexed by Josef Stalin during World War II . They gained independence with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies.

We will enhance our rotational deployments in the region and intensify our training with our Baltic allies to further strengthen our combat credible posture in the region, Austin said, as the start of his meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday morning.

During the press conference, Pabriks acknowledged worries about the threat from neighboring Belarus, which is a Russian ally. He said he doesnt consider Belarus an independent nation and is instead just part of Russia. He said Latvia is routinely concerned about the threat along that border and watches it closely.

The U.S. has deployed an additional 20,000 U.S. troops to Europe -- for a total of about 100,000 --- in order to reassure NATO allies, beef up training and exercises and shift the focus of the forces to the alliances eastern flank. Of those, the U.S. now has about 500 troops in Latvia, an increase over the 100 that were in the country as of last December.

In March, shortly after Russias invasion of Ukraine, NATO began to explore how best to shore up the defense of the eastern flank, from Estonia in the north through Latvia, Lithuania and Poland down to Bulgaria and Romania on the Black Sea.

On land, our new posture should include substantially more forces in the eastern part of the Alliance, at higher readiness, with more prepositioned equipment and supplies, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, at the time. In the air, more allied air power, and strengthened integrated air and missile defense.

Austin first stopped first at Lielvarde Air Base where he and Pabriks met with U.S. and Latvian troops. Standing in a hangar in front of an Apache helicopter, Pabriks flatly told Austin and the service members that if something happens on the border  we are ready to die."

Austin assured Pabriks and the troops that if something happens, and ... the sovereign territory of Latvia is questioned or challenged, were gonna be here to work with our partners.

NATO only began stationing troops on its eastern flank after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Until late last year, only around 5,000 troops were deployed in the Baltic states and Poland on a rotational basis.

Now, NATO says, hundreds of thousands of troops are on heightened alert, with America's 100,000 troops in Europe, and 40,000 troops under direct NATO command, supported by around 150 ships and a similar number of aircraft.

Austin's visit also comes as Latvia moves to increase its own defenses, and the nation's president eyes a plan to reinstate national conscription for men, and for women on a voluntary basis. The draft could be reintroduced next year after a hiatus of over 15 years.

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said the country was working closely with the U.S. and boosting its defense budget in response to the looming Russian threat.

Now that Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine, the U.S. and we are united, working on strengthening NATO and providing support to Ukraine, Karins said, in comments published by the Baltic News Service, the regions main news agency.

___

Associated Press reporter Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

This story corrects that helicopter in the hangar was Apache, not Black Hawk, which was outside.

.
Benjamin Mendy arrives at court (David Rawcliffe/PA) (PA Wire)

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy has pleaded not guilty to an eighth count of rape ahead of his trial.

The footballer appeared at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday for his trial.

He has already denied seven counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and one count of sexual assault.

Benjamin Mendy arrives at Chester Crown Court (David Rawcliffe/PA) (PA Wire)

He pleaded not guilty to the 10th charge, relating to a new complainant, which had already been reported but had not previously been put to him.

The 28-year-old, who wore a blue suit for the hearing, is alleged to have committed the offences against seven young women between October 2018 and August last year.

He is due to stand trial alongside co-defendant Louis Saha Matturie, 40.

Matturie, of Eccles, Salford, denies eight counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault relating to eight young women.

His alleged offences span July 2012 to August last year.

Louis Saha Matturie arrives at Chester Crown Court (David Rawcliffe/PA) (PA Wire)

About 20 members of the media were in court for the hearing on Thursday, with others watching by videolink.

A French interpreter was in the dock with the defendants.

Jury selection is expected to take place later on Wednesday.

None of the women involved can be identified and reporting restrictions apply ahead of the trial.

Mendy has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported 52million.

He was suspended by the club after being charged by police.

Both defendants are on bail.
Closeup of gavel in courtroom.

Craven County District Attorney Scott Thomas announced Tuesday afternoon that a former New Bern travel agent was found guilty of embezzling money from her customers.

Julie Ann Mincey, 58, of New Bern, was found guilty by a Craven County jury of nine counts of felony embezzlement and one count of obtaining property by false pretenses following a week-long trial that concluded Tuesday.

Mincey was sentenced to 44-59 months in prison (3-5 years) and ordered to pay $53,402.58 in restitution to the victims of her crimes, according to a news release.

"We appreciate the guilty verdicts by the jury after hearing the evidence in this case," Thomas said. "This has been a long process for the victims, investigators, and prosecutors. My office considers financial crimes of this nature a serious matter. Were glad that a prison sentence and restitution were ordered.

The release explained Mincey operated a travel agency in New Bern called Country Travel and Tours.

Throughout the trial, which began on August 1, prosecutors presented evidence showing that while operating the business, Mincey accepted thousands of dollars from dozens of local customers, promising each of them to book travel packages around the world.

Near the dates of their departure in September 2018, customers discovered no travel packages had been secured on their behalf and Mincey was unavailable to provide any explanation.

Investigators later learned that Mincey had traveled out of the country to Europe.

Mincey had not reimbursed any of her clients for their loss and many testified during the trial that they had not seen or heard from her since September 2018.

Investigators also performed an analysis of Mincey's business accounts. Between August 2017 and December 2018, instead of applying funds received on behalf of her customers as promised, Mincey conducted a series of transactions for her own benefit.

Transactions include making payments on personal credit cards for herself and her associates, making payments on a vehicle for an associate and transferring funds to her personal bank account.

Story continues

Superior Court Judge John E. Nobles, Jr. presided over the trial and handed down the sentence.

Editor Trevor Dunnell can be reached by email at tdunnell@newbernsj.com. Please consider supporting local journalism by signing up for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern travel agent found guilty of embezzlement
Parents are suing the Chappell School day care in St. Johns County after a former employee is accused of molesting a student.

The lawsuit claims there were more young victims and that the day care knew it.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

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Action News Jax told you last month about the arrest of Anthony Guadalupe.

Investigators say 18-year-old Guadalupe molested a 4-year-old girl while working at the school.

Were digging deeper into the complaint right now. Watch CBS47/FOX30 for the latest.

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(Bloomberg) -- China accused Taiwans ruling party of damaging the chances of peaceful unification, as authorities in Beijing attempted to keep the pressure on Taipei a week after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Democratic Progressive Party helmed by President Tsai Ing-wen must change course to reduce tensions, the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing said, in its first white paper published since President Xi Jinping took power. The report said DPP leaders deepened the dispute by refusing to accept that both sides belong to one China.

China wont rule out the use force to unify the two sides, the paper said, reaffirming the Communist Partys long-stated position that it would reserve all necessary options.

The independence-seeking behavior of the DPP authorities has led to tensions across the Taiwan Strait, endangered the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, undermined the prospect of peaceful reunification, squeezed the space for peaceful reunification, and is a barrier for peaceful reunification that must be removed, the paper said.

The paper comes days after China held unprecedented military drills around Taiwan in the wake of Pelosis visit to the island, including likely firing missiles over Taipei. While no invasion seems imminent, the escalation has raised fears around the region about a miscalculation that could lead to a wider conflict.

The DPP was founded on the promise of independence, and refuses to accept that both sides belong to One China. Still, Tsai -- who met with Pelosi last week -- has avoided any moves to formally declare independence, saying any such move is unnecessary because she already leads a de facto independent state.

Story continues

China issued its white paper this morning in a wishful thinking way, disregarding the reality of the cross strait, Tsai said Wednesday afternoon, speaking in her capacity as DPP chair. She added that Taiwanese people would not cave on safeguarding their sovereignty.

Tensions with China could affect local elections planned across Taiwan in November. The DPP suffered widespread losses to the opposition Kuomintang during similar polls in 2018, only for Tsai to win a convincing reelection victory a year later, fueled in part by her criticism of Chinas crackdown on Hong Kong.

The KMTs vice chairman, Andrew Hsia, began a visit to China on Wednesday, a move Tsai condemned as disappointing to Taiwanese people and sending an erroneous message to the international community. The KMT oversaw an expansion of ties with China under the one China framework before her election in 2016.

Hsia, a former head of the Mainland Affairs Council in Taipei, will visit the nearby provinces of Fujian and Zhejiang, where many Taiwanese work and study. The trip had been planned since June, he told reporters upon his departure, dismissing the Mainland Affairs Councils objections. The delegation will quarantine upon arrival and return to Taiwan on Aug. 27.

The main goal is to understand the difficulties that many Taiwanese businessmen and students faced over the years due to Covid-19 and cross-strait relations, Hsia said. I think the timing is never right for MAC. Whether its a good timing or not depends on whether you want to do it or not.

(Updates with Tsai Ing-wens comments in seventh paragraph.)

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SYDNEY (Reuters) -More work needs to be done to reset relations between Canberra and Beijing, China's ambassador to Australia said on Wednesday, adding that the two nations had not yet reached the stage of resolving political and trade disputes.

Australia's largest trading partner, China put sanctions on its products from coal to wine and seafood after Australia urged an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and put a 5G network ban on telecoms giant Huawei.

Ambassador Xiao Qian said there had been no meeting between leaders of the two nations in recent years because Beijing believed a face-to-face meeting could worsen strained ties.

"It's because we did not believe the meeting would help to improve the relationship and we were concerned the meeting could perhaps make things even more deteriorated," he said at the National Press Club in Canberra, the capital.

The foreign ministers of both nations met last month for the first time in three years, on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Bali, after the election of a Labor government.

Despite some contact between ministers, "we have not yet come to the stage to discuss about how to solve those specific issues, political issues, trade issues", Xiao added.

He said it was "a good start only and there is a lot to be done to really reset this relationship".

Coal stocks jumped last month on rumours that China would lift an unofficial ban on Australian coal in place since 2020.

China is also the largest buyer of Australia's iron ore.

On Saturday, the Chinese embassy criticised a joint statement from Australia, Japan and United States that expressed concern over China's military exercises in the Taiwan Strait.

Xiao said Australia should not misinterpret the "One China" policy. "On the question of Taiwan, there is no room for compromise," he said.

Asked about comments by China's ambassador to France that people in Taiwan would need to be "re-educated", Xiao declined to use the term, and said people in Taiwan had a different perspective about the motherland.

"I think my personal understanding is that once ... Taiwan is united, comes back to the motherland, there might be process for the people of Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China," he said.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Clarence Fernandez)
This fall, high school juniors and seniors at Claremore High School will have the chance to take technology classes that will help them earn a cybersecurity certificate.

The new offering is being made possible by Rogers State University that announced a partnership with Claremore High School in March to offer the concurrent cybersecurity certification.

RSU is offering tuition waivers for up to 18 credit hours per academic school year to high school juniors and seniors. This will provide high school students with the opportunity to complete the Cybersecurity Certificate while they are still in high school.

Claremore high school students had the chance to begin signing up for the program last spring.

Cybersecurity will be offered in addition to other STEM programs at Claremore High School including biomedical science, digital video editing, graphic design, pre-engineering and robotics.

Coming up tonight on FOX23 News at five and six well introduce you to the educators who are making this possible at Claremore High School this fall.

RELATED>>>TCC, Tulsa Innovation Labs launch program to teach cyber security
A Clinton County man called an environmental terrorist by a judge is on his way to prison for illegally burning wood paneling, drywall, processed wood, plastic and other solid wastes.

>> Monkeypox: Butler County reports its first case, the second in Miami Valley region

Jason Wallace, 46, of the unincorporated community of Cuba, was sentenced Tuesday in Clinton County Common Pleas Court. He was found guilty on two counts of illegal open burning of solid waste, which is an unclassified felony, and two counts of causing air pollution, which is a misdemeanor.

The open-burning charges arise from separate incidents -- one in 2020 and the other in 2021.

Some people just wont learn that if you play with fire, you are bound to get burned, Yost said in a prepared statement Wednesday. I appreciate the help of our environmental partners at the Ohio EPA, Wilmington Fire Department and Clinton County Sheriffs Office in halting this illegal activity.

In the 2020 incident, Wilmington fire received a call on Sept. 30 about smoke that smelled toxic. Firefighters arrived in Cuba to find Wallace, who claimed he was burning wood to clean up the property.

Wilmington fire Lt. Brant Schmitt reported seeing wood paneling, drywall, processed wood, plywood, cardboard, plastic, a nylon bag and a hairbrush in the fire -- and a charred wheel rim nearby.

At Wallaces trial, Lt. Schmitt testified that Wallace had been warned previously not to open-burn solid wastes yet ignored the warnings.

In the second incident, the Clinton County Sheriffs Office in February 2021 responded to a report from an Ohio EPA investigator about burning on another property. Deputies found Wallace burning bags of trash on a utility trailer, including plastic containers, soda cans and bottles.

In sentencing Wallace to prison, the judge cited Wallaces history of poor decision-making and his lengthy and significant criminal history.

The court finds [the] defendant to be an environmental terrorist completely oblivious to the harm his misconduct causes to the community and his neighbors, the judge wrote. The [d]efendant shows no remorse and remains a continuing threat to the public.




A 73-year-old man who suffered an injury while hiking near Cape Johnson in Olympic National Park was rescued on Monday by the Coast Guard.

At 1:50 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a call from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center after park rangers requested help in rescuing a man with a leg injury.

Park rangers were alerted after the injured mans son had hiked to a location along a nearby road to get cellphone reception.

At 2:15 p.m., a Coast Guard helicopter crew stopped their training operations, refueled at Air Station Port Angeles and rescued the man at 3:18 p.m. by pulling him up from the beach.

He was taken to medics, who took him to a medical facility for treatment.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials received a barrage of letters from lawmakers Wednesday, with leaders of the Secret Service, the department, and even its watchdog asked to supply reams of documents about missing text messages for Jan. 6.

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate asked DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secret Service Director James Murray to answer a suite of questions about the agencys decision to undergo a software migration in the days following Jan. 6 that leaders say resulted in the lost messages.

Collectively, the letters indicate the legislative branch has no plans to slow its oversight surrounding the missing texts as lawmakers largely head out for the summer.

It also shows lawmakers remain baffled by the chain of events that led to the missing messages nearly a month after their deletion was first disclosed, including Secret Services policy surrounding texting, and whether the department has made any effort to recover the messages.

Although DHS and the USSS may not have maliciously deleted text messages, we are deeply concerned about the implementation of the data migration, including the decision to continue with the migration after multiple entities requested the preservation of communications on or around January 6, 2021, the House Committee on Homeland Security wrote in a letter to both men that included 20 follow-up questions.

Given these document requests, DHS senior officials and the USSS should have paused the migration to preserve communications and comply with the investigations.

And in the Senate, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Gary Peters (D-Mich.) is also asking DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to explain his own actions in waiting months to alert lawmakers of the issue, only for it to surface that his own deputy at one point told the Secret Service they would no longer need to provide the messages.

I appreciate that you have an ongoing investigation into these matters. Nevertheless, it is essential that I have full confidence and faith in your work, Peters wrote, adding the request came in light of the divergence between the information you have provided me and information that has otherwise come to light.

Story continues

Peters also sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking about the wiping of phones of former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller and former Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy following the transition.

Neither DHS nor Cuffaris office immediately responded to request for comment.

Lawmakers have been fuming since being alerted last month that Secret Service messages were erased shortly after being requested, while the messages of then-DHS acting Secretary Chad Wolf and his deputy Ken Cuccinelli on Jan. 6 were also lost when their phones were wiped during the transition.

The letters ask numerous questions about possible recovery methods that might be used to retrieve the texts, with the Senate correspondence even specifying whether the data could be retained by Apple or through Verizon.

The letters also ask for more specifics on the exact period of time that Wolf and Cuccinellis messages cannot be accounted for.

The House has requested all documents and communication with DHS and Secret Service staff about the need to preserve records during the migration to a new mobile management software, including an 11-day period encompassing the inauguration.

Secret Service has said its not clear that text messages are missing, given that agents are advised against communicating via phone texts for security purposes.

The letter from House lawmakers seems to question that claim as well.

If USSS policy is that no official business be conducted by text message, why are USSS mobile devices text capable? they ask.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Capitalizing on an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, conservative Greenwich fundraiser Leora Levy roared to a stunning victory Tuesday night against moderate Themis Klarides in a race that surprised Connecticut on primary day.

After Klarides won the partys convention endorsement with nearly 60% of the vote, many Republicans believed that she would handily win the primary as Levy and immigration attorney Peter Lumaj of Fairfield would split the conservative vote.

But Levy stunned many political observers by running a highly spirited campaign, raising more money than her rivals and constantly blasting Klarides in negative television commercials that were shown repeatedly on multiple channels.

As soon as the polls closed at 8 p.m., the trend started in Levys direction as she defeated Klarides in numerous small towns that report early. The unofficial results showed Levy winning in Andover, Ashford, Burlington, Canton, Cromwell, Chester, Clinton, Colebrook, Columbia, Danbury, and Farmington, among others.

Were making history here,' Levy said in her victory speech at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Old Greenwich. Its really exciting. This is just chapter one. Weve got the longer chapter ahead. ... This has been an amazing experience for me. ... My sister and I escaped communist Cuba. ... This is our story, and our journey was tragedy and sacrifice. But it was hope at the end. And we found hope here in America. My American Dream is I am a candidate here for the U.S. Senate.'

When Levy thanked both Klarides and Lumaj, a supporter in the large crowd booed.

No, please, no booing,' Levy responded. We need to unify. They each ran aggressive campaigns. We agreed on some issues, but I know they love our country, too.'

She added, I would like to thank President Trump. Thank you, President Trump, for your strong, clear, unequivocal endorsement. ... I will not let you down. Thank you for having my back.'

Story continues

Regarding Mondays high-profile search by FBI agents for classified documents at Trumps home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Levy said, That is unAmerican. That is what they do in Cuba, in China, in dictatorships.'

Levy then turned her attention to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic powerhouse who has never lost an election in his 37-year career. Blumenthal has about $8 million in cash on hand for the November election.

Here in Connecticut, Dick Blumenthal is Joe Biden,' Levy said. Dick Blumenthal supported defunding the police.'

As she headed to an overall total of about 40%, Klarides won in Beacon Falls, Bridgewater, Cornwall, Deep River, and Simsbury, among others. Despite moving recently to Madison, Klarides needed a blowout victory in her former hometown of Derby. She won by 56% to 36% with Lumaj carrying 7%.

During her brief concession speech at about 10:45 p.m. in Middletown, Klarides thanked Larraine Rubacha, a key supporter who made 12,000 telephone calls by herself to get out the vote.

I have spent the last 25 years trying to make Connecticut a better place,' said Klarides, repeating her moniker of herself as that loud-mouthed Greek girl.'

Rubacha was stunned after the defeat.

Im heartbroken, she said. I never saw this coming, its shocking. ... The Trump factor must have played a large role, but who saw this coming in Connecticut? Not me and not anyone I know.

After seeing Klarides win the endorsements of delegates at the convention in May at Foxwoods Resort Casino, supporters were stunned by her defeat.

Obviously, this isnt the way we wanted this to play out, said Brian Werstler, the campaign manager. Im proud of the work we did. We stood up for people in Connecticut.

Im feeling very bummed, said Zachary Foti, a volunteer and student entering his first year in Quinnipiacs political science program. Im grateful for the opportunity I had. I just am so bummed right now.

Trump as game changer

The game changer in the primary came when Levy won the endorsement Thursday of Trump, who retains major support among Republicans, particularly hard-core primary voters.

Trump held a tele-rally for Levy on Monday night, and the Levy campaign said that 32,679 people listened to the call  a huge number at a time when 450,000 Republicans were eligible to vote Tuesday. Trump arranged the rally and promoted the call to his supporters through social media, and the Levy campaign said that 98% of the callers had been from Connecticut.

Both Klarides and Lumaj downplayed the endorsement from Trump, who is still seen as the most popular candidate in the Republican Party nationally even while no longer holding office.

Despite a call for unity by state party chairman Ben Proto, the candidates hammered each other relentlessly and did not focus their political fire on Blumenthal, a powerhouse Democrat who is already running television commercials on multiple channels.

Im the only candidate who has a chance to beat Dick Blumenthal,' Klarides told The Courant in a recent interview. We are never all going to agree on everything  ever. But were going to agree on way more things than what we disagree on. ... I would hope on August 10 that everybody is together.'

Klaridess supporters strongly maintained that a pro-gun, pro-Trump candidate could win in Alabama, but could not win in Connecticut.

On primary day, Republicans heard Trumps voice in their homes on a robocall that was delivered after the voting had already begun. Trumps call came in the afternoon as voters were urged to head to the polls.

Leora will fight to stop inflation and the Biden administrations war on American energy like nobodys ever seen,' Trump said on the call. That may be the dumbest war of all. Shell vote to secure our border and stop illegal immigration. Shell defend free speech, our great Constitution and the Second Amendment. She will work to crack down on violent crime, support our police officers, and restore public safety. I hope you can all get out and vote for Leora Levy.'

A narrator after Trumps statement said the message, which lasted about one minute, was paid by the Connecticut Patriots PAC, an independent Super PAC that is supporting Levy.

Bristol resident Rae Rudzinksi, a Republican voting for Bob Stefanowski for governor in November, said Trumps endorsement of Levy made her choose Levy over Klarides.

When I learned Trump backed Levy, I knew I had to vote for her,' Rudzinski said. I dont know a lot about the candidates, but Trumps endorsement was huge for me because it helps me know what she stands for. That was huge for me.

She added, The economy is the biggest issue. I like to bake, and going to the grocery everything is more expensive. Just eggs and milk have gone up. Its getting too expensive.

Levy is also supported by Simsbury landscaper Robert Hyde, a major Trump supporter who attended the state party convention but did not qualify for the primary this year after receiving less than 1% of the delegates in the final tally. Instead, he says he is running in 2024 against U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Hartford.

This is the year for conservatives to run,' Hyde said in a message. The national political environment has not been this favorable since 1994.'

Lumaj said on live television that Trumps endorsement was a key factor.

This is a huge victory for President Trump in our state,' Lumaj said. The target remains Blumenthal and the failed liberal policies. ... I wouldnt do anything differently. ... Obviously, the endorsement by the President changed the political landscape in our state.'

Three Democrats for state treasurer

The partys convention-endorsed candidate, Erick A. Russell of New Haven, scored a major victory Tuesday night in a three-way race.

An attorney, Russell piled up endorsements across the state and pulled away in the race against Greenwich hedge fund manager Dita Bhargava and Karen Dubois-Walton, a Yale graduate who serves as New Havens public housing authority executive director and chairwoman of the state board of education.

In a rare open seat as incumbent treasurer Shawn Wooden did not seek reelection, the Democrats battled for the position that is often seen as the second most powerful in the state after the governor - for overseeing a pension fund that fluctuates and is now about $45 billion.

Bhargava ran a spirited campaign with two eye-catching commercials and a late endorsement from Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Bill and Hillary Clinton, who remain highly popular among Democratic primary voters.

Erick has the perfect combination of political chops, deep policy experience and grassroots support to make an effectual state executive,' said Mayor Annise Parker, chief executive officer of the LGBTQ Victory Fund. Voters are clearly eager to support his policy agenda to address racial and social wealth gaps and ensure all of Connecticuts residents have a fair shot at the American Dream. His success tonight is also a strong rebuke to the wave of racism and bigotry sweeping our nation.'

Secretary of the State for Democrats

With the retirement of Secretary of the State Denise Merrill after 12 years, more than 10 candidates stepped forward to fill the open seat as the states top elections official.

State Rep. Stephanie Thomas of Norwalk defeated New Haven health director Maritza Bond in a race that became increasingly bitter as Bond started running negative television commercials on a steady basis.

Thomas won the partys convention endorsement in a five-person race and rolled up more than 125 endorsements that included Merrill and more than 40 state legislators. Bond relied on the support of a wide array of unions for door-knocking and phone-banking, including the state AFL-CIO, the United Auto Workers Region 9 A, the Connecticut Employees Union Independent, and others that she said are the backbone of the Democratic Party.

Secretary of the State for Republicans

The convention-endorsed candidate, Dominic Rapini, defeated state Rep. Terrie E. Wood of Darien, a legislator who has won seven elections and has the most experience at the state Capitol of any candidate running to be the top elections official.

A longtime sales executive for Apple and local football coach, Rapini notes that he has coached more than 1,000 young players in the Pop Warner program in New Haven County over the past three decades. He taped a video with former GOP party Chairwoman Sue Hatfield, a former athlete who was carrying a football in front of a scoreboard as she endorsed Rapini.

Rapini started the general election campaign right away late Tuesday night by saying, Todays systematic failures by the Secretary of the States office in the primary further proved we have real problems that need real solutions. Political insiders like Stephanie Thomas won fix these problems - she pretends that they dont even exist. Plainly stated, she is a fraud denier.'

Wood was endorsed by House Republican leader Vincent Candelora of North Branford, Bolton First Selectman Pam Sawyer, and Pauline Kezer, the last Republican who held the secretary of the states office in the early 1990s before losing a primary for governor against John G. Rowland in 1994. Democrats have dominated the constitutional office for decades, but Kezer broke the logjam as the only Republican winner over the past 60 years.

West Haven

Rep. Trenee McGee, an African American freshman legislator who has served less than one year in Hartford, defeated Joe Miller, a 24-year-old abortion rights advocate, in a contest that focused on abortion. Miller said he decided to challenge McGee after she made an impassioned speech on the floor of the state House of Representatives against an abortion bill that was later signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont.

Im proud of it, said McGee, noting she knocked on doors and talked to many West Haven residents. I worked very hard. Im a boots-on-the-ground person.

McGee knocked on doors with fellow members of the legislatures Black and Puerto Rican Caucus during the campaign.

The top issues she heard from people were taxes and the economy. One of the things I heard about is how can we restore transparency and integrity. People are still reeling from the precious representative, she said, referring to Michael DiMassa, who was indicted in the theft of federal COVID-relief funds.

Miller conceded before the towns absentee ballots were counted.

Its an unfortunate result for the women of West Haven and the women of Connecticut, he said. Im going to take this message from the Democrats home with me tonight.

Asked if he might run as an independent, Miller said, I havent ruled anything out. We built a movement and gave people hope.

Abortion, McGee said, has been destructive to my community in urban neighborhoods, and she wanted to speak the fearless truth about too many abortions in minority communities.

The intra-party clash was the most interesting legislative contest of the primary season, said state Republican chairman Ben Proto.

Simsbury

In the Simsbury race to fill the seat of outgoing state Rep. John Hampton, petitioning candidate Melissa Osborne defeated party-endorsed Eric Wellman by 34 votes, securing the Democratic nomination for the 16th District General Assembly seat with 1,086 votes to Wellmans 1,052.

Osborne, an attorney and alternate zoning commissioner who previously served on the towns Charter Revision Commission, said that she is confident that Simsbury Democrats will come together as she prepares to face off against Republican nominee Mike Paine this November.

I know that the number one priority for Democrats has got to be making sure that we maintain a strong majority in the House to protect all of the rights and the core democratic values that we share, Osborne said.

Hampton, a political powerhouse in Simsbury who served for nine years on the board of selectmen and 10 years in the state legislature, provided a key endorsement to Osborne that helped make the difference.

Wellman, Simsburys former first selectman and a current board of selectmen member, said that despite the loss, he is proud of what his campaign accomplished and wished Osborne the best.

I told her that what shes been given is a gift and a blessing,' Wellman said. Theres really no higher honor than, you know, serving, being a public servant, and representing your hometown at the state legislature.'

An hour before the polls closed, Simsbury election officials reported a combined in-person and absentee voter turnout of about 31% for Democrats. About 19% of registered Republicans had also participated in the primary.

Democrats exiting the voting booths Tuesday said that preserving abortion access and maintaining a Democratic hold on the state government weighed heavy on their minds as they cast their ballot for either Wellman or Osborne.

Earlier today, Geoff Luxenberg, the majority caucus chair and deputy majority leader for the Connecticut House representing the 12th House District, campaigned for Osborne outside the polls.

She is a brilliant attorney, a mom, a cancer survivor. She has been an outstanding Democrat, for Simsbury, and even beyond Simsbury, her entire adult life, Luxenberg said. She really impressed a lot of people. And I think thats why you saw John Hampton, the person whos vacating the seat, endorse herAnd I think that says a lot about what a good job shell do. Shes also the strongest Democrat to beat the Republicans this fall.

Courant staff writers Stephen Underwood, Alison Cross, and Pam McLoughlin contributed to this story.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

After the government ended all legal Covid restrictions earlier this year, Covid cases have remained high and have started to climb again in recent weeks.

The end of mandatory masks, social distancing and self-isolation measures, combined with the contagious Omicron BA.2 sub-variant drove the number of infections up in the weeks following the publication of prime minister Boris Johnsons Living with Covid plan, which was put in place in February.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), about one in every 17 people in the UK had coronavirus by the end of July.

The Living with Covid plan brought an end to the legal requirement for employees to tell their employers when they have tested positive for the virus and need to self-isolate.

But with so many people continuing to test positive for Covid-19, is going to work with Covid a good idea?

Can I go to work with Covid?

Yes, you can go to work even after testing positive for Covid-19, and there is no legal obligation to tell your employer if you are infected.

However, workers are encouraged to follow the governments guidance for people who become infected with the virus and self-isolate for seven days.

Do I have to test for Covid before going to work?

No, you dont have to test for Covid before going anywhere, including to work.

Most people in England are no longer advised to get tested and can no longer get free lateral flow tests from the NHS unless you are one of a small number of people who are eligible.

Those who want to get tested must buy a Covid-19 test from pharmacies and other retailers.

What should I do if I feel unwell?

The government has set out guidance for people who have symptoms of a respiratory infection but have not taken a test for Covid-19, as well as for those who have taken a test and received a positive result.

Symptoms of common respiratory infections and Covid-19 include a continuous cough; high temperature or fever; loss of, or change in normal sense of taste or smell; shortness of breath; lack of energy; lack of appetite; headache; sore throat and stuffy or runny nose.

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According to the Department for Health and Social Care, you should work from home if you can and avoid contact with other people if you are experiencing these symptoms.

It is especially important to avoid close contact with anyone you know who may be at higher risk of becoming seriously sick if they catch Covid-19.

If you must leave your home, you should wear a face covering and avoid crowded or poorly ventilated places.

If you receive a positive Covid-19 test, you are also advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you took your test.

However, you should avoid meeting people at higher risk of serious illness from Covid-19 for 10 days after the day you took your test.
(Reuters) - Credit Suisse's top shareholder Harris Associates on Wednesday disclosed a stake of more than 10% in the Swiss bank.

The investment firm said in a filing that it owned 266 million shares, or a 10.1% stake, in the company as of end-July.

Harris Associates previously held a stake of around 5.2%, according to Credit Suisse's website. The bank's second-largest shareholder is Qatar Holding - a unit of the Qatari sovereign wealth fund - with a stake of about 5% as of Nov. 17. (https://bit.ly/3PfMWmA)

Credit Suisse is in the middle of what it has described as a "transition" year with a new CEO, restructuring aimed at curtailing risk-taking in investment banking and the bulking up of wealth management. Its shares have declined nearly 40% in 2022.

The company last month launched its second strategic review in less than a year to evaluate options for its securitised products business to attract third-party capital.

In May, when Reuters first reported about the strategic review, David Herro of Harris Associates said in an interview that there was no need for the bank to raise fresh equity capital.

(Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by Aditya Soni)
NORTH DAKOTA  Dakota Business Lending is pleased to welcome Michaela Schell to their team as its Entrepreneurial Development Director.

Based out of the Fargo office, Schell will be working to develop, manage, and deliver new and innovative small business lending programs and resources for Dakota Business Lendings entire service area.

Schell has a masters degree in Communications and has spent the past ten years working in the business world, particularly in Grand Forks and Fargo. She founded Live Unlimited Training & Events in Fargo, is an Elite Level V Leader for the nationwide Rodan + Fields, and is heavily involved in local organizations such as Fargo Mom. Schell has joined the Dakota Business Lending team to use her program development, strategic development, sales/marketing, and leadership skills to assist the organization with the development and implementation of several new programs and resources. She is a wife, mom of three, yoga instructor, and loves to spend her free time outdoors, hiking, reading, or throwing pottery.

Dakota Business Lending is pleased to welcome Michaela Schell to their team as its Entrepreneurial Development Director.

Stay tuned for these exciting, innovative, and new financing programs and small business resources coming soon. Dakota Business Lending will provide announcements as they become available.

Founded in 1982, Dakota Business Lending is the oldest, largest, and most experienced 504 CDC in North Dakota. With staff throughout North Dakota and Montana, Dakota Business Lending serves North Dakota, Montana, and five counties in western Minnesota. The mission of this private, not-for-profit entity is to provide small business financing solutions through collaborative partnerships in a supportive, creative environment that grows the economy and creates or preserves quality jobs. Since inception, Dakota Business Lending has provided over $550 million in loans with total project impact exceeding $1.2 billion to small businesses and local economies.

This article originally appeared on Devils Lake Journal: Dakota Business Lending welcomes Michaela Schell
The Declaration of Independence, the most consequential and perhaps most heroic challenge to authority in human annals, reached the ear of King George III in London on this day in history, August 10, 1776.

The Second Continental Congress voted for Independence on July 2, the day the Founding Fathers expected succeeding generations to celebrate.

The document was officially adopted July 4, the date remembered as Independence Day in the United States.

The document arrived in London via sail, about 3,500 miles from Philadelphia across the Atlantic Ocean, a little more than five weeks later.

MEET THE AMERICAN WHO WROTE THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States," the signatories declared in July, pointing their pens directly at the monarch, the most powerful man in the world at the time.

The Founding Fathers signed their names to the Declaration at risk of death  a fact of which they were fully aware.

"We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor," stated the 56 signatories at the end of the document, after they enumerated their grievances against the king.

The Declaration's ideals were shocking in a world ruled since time began by strongmen, tyrants and unelected, hereditary monarchs such as King George.

4TH OF JULY QUIZ: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW INDEPENDENCE DAY?

Its notions that "all men are created equal," that human rights come from God and not other men, and that governments derive their powers from "the consent of the governed" challenged all global authority for the first time in history with real action, not just the thoughts of idle philosophers.

There is no known public record of how King George reacted the moment he heard the stunning rebuke of his authority.

Founding Father John Adams, center, enjoyed the profound pleasure of declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776, negotiating the Treaty of Paris, which secured American independence in 1783 and then serving as the new nation's first ambassador to Great Britain. This engraving shows the future American president as he greets King George III of England as U.S. ambassador to St. James's Court in 1785. Stock Montage/Getty Images

Such a record may exist. The Georgian Papers Programme was created in 2016 at the behest of Queen Elizabeth II, who counts the king as her third great-grandfather.

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It contains about 350,000 pages worth of documents from the monarch that had been held for 200 years in Windsor Castle's royal archives. Scholars are still poring through the voluminous catalogue.

The crown had already sent a massive force to invade Brooklyn, which it did successfully in late August. But plans for that attack were in place before the American Declaration of Independence reached London.

AMID NEW GUN LAWS, HERE'S THE TRUE STORY BEHIND THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND TO BEAR ARMS

The king's emissaries, brothers Viscount Richard Howe and General William Howe, issued a responding declaration to the rebels on September 19, considered by many historians the crown's first official response to the American outrage.

It stated the king might be willing to compromise should the rebels reconfirm their allegiance to the crown.

American colonists toppled a statue of King George III on Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan on July 9, 1776. (Original Caption) 1857  New York, NY: Statue of George III in New York City. Revolutionary War. William Walcutt (1819-1895); painted 1857

The rebels did not.

The king publicly addressed the colonial insurgents for the first time in a speech before Parliament on October 31.

"So daring and desperate is the spirit of those leaders, whose object has always been dominion and power, that they have now openly renounced all allegiance to the crown, and all political connection with this country," the king told the English assembly.

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"They have rejected, with circumstances of indignity and insult, the means of conciliation held out to them under the authority of our commission; and have presumed to set up their rebellious confederacies for independent states."

"The Declaration did not establish the independence of the American colonies," British repository Britannica notes.

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"Complete separation from Britain would have to be accomplished by force. Once the Declaration had been adopted, however, there was no turning back."
The White House warned Iran on Wednesday after the Justice Department charged a member of Irans Revolutionary Guard in connection with a plot to kill former national security adviser John Bolton.

Well look about the plot. Plus, well talk about President Biden signing into law comprehensive legislation expanding benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxins during war.

This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, Im Jordan Williams. A friend forward this newsletter to you? Subscribe here.

White House warns Iran for plotting to kill Americans

The White House on Wednesday warned that Iran will face severe consequences for an attack on any U.S. citizen following charges that a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) planned to hire someone to kill former national security adviser John Bolton.

The arrest: The DOJ said in a release that Shahram Poursafi started planning to kill Bolton in October, likely in retaliation for the United States January 2020 drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the IRGCs elite Quds Force.

The release says that Poursafi attempted to pay people $300,000 to kill Bolton in Washington, D.C., or Maryland.

Not the first time: The Justice Department has the solemn duty to defend our citizens from hostile governments who seek to hurt or kill them, said Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney general for the DOJs national security division. This is not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on U.S. soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these efforts.

Sullivans warning: We have said this before and we will say it again: The Biden Administration will not waiver in protecting and defending all Americans against threats of violence and terrorism, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

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Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences, he added.

Potential jail time: Poursafi could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of using interstate commerce facilities to commission a murder-for-hire scheme. He also faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of attempting to provide material support for a transnational murder plot.

Read more here.

Biden signs veterans toxic exposure bill into law

President Biden on Wednesday signed into law a bill to expand benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins during war and are suffering illnesses as a result.

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act also aims to expand presumptions of service connections for a variety of conditions related to toxic exposure  meaning veterans dont have to prove their illness was service-connected.

A journey through Congress: Bidens signature comes after a monthslong legislative journey that culminated in the bill earning bipartisan support.

The upper chamber initially passed the bill in June by a vote of 84-14, and the House later passed the bill by a vote of 342-88 in July, sending it back to the Senate due to technical changes.



But late last month, the upper chamber voted 55-42 to advance the bill, with

25 Republicans who voted to pass the bill earlier changing their vote. The Senate later passed the measure 86-11 on Aug. 2, with all no votes coming from Republicans who cited concerns about the cost of the bill.

Most significant law: This is the most significant law our nation has ever passed to help millions of veterans who are exposed to toxic substances during the military services, Biden said in remarks from the East Room.

You know, [VA] Secretary [Denis] McDonough can tell you I was going to get this done come hell or high water, the president continued.

About the ceremony: Biden was joined in a ceremony in the East Room by members of Congress, toxic exposed veterans and their families, key advocates, representatives of Veterans Service Organizations and staff from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The president was introduced by Danielle Robinson and Brielle Robinson, the surviving wife and daughter of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson for whom the PACT Act is named.

Heath Robinson died of a rare form of lung cancer that was developed as a result of exposure to toxins during his deployment in Iraq and Kosovo.

The PACT Act: The PACT Act expands Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare eligibility to those who served in the post/9-11 era and creates a framework for establishing presumptions of service connections related to toxic exposures.

The bill also expands presumptions for 23 burn pit-related illnesses, and the illnesses would be phased in overtime. But Biden said that he directed the VA to make those conditions applicable upon his signature.



It also expands presumptions related to exposures to Vietnam War-era Agent Orange to veterans who those who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Guam.

Read the full story here.

US downplays China tensions

Following House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) high-profile trip showing solidarity with Taiwan, Washington and Taipei are taking drastically different tracks toward Chinas retaliatory military drills encircling the island.

In an unprecedented show of force, China has sent warships and aircraft through the Taiwan Strait and fired missiles into waters surrounding the island it views as its own territory under its One China policy.

Taiwan has since accused Beijing of not only rehearsing for an invasion of the self-governing island, but of signaling its ambitions to control large swaths of the western Pacific.

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has largely played it cool when addressing the war games.

Concerned as much as they are: Im concerned they are moving as much as they are, President Biden told reporters on Monday. But I dont think theyre going to do anything more than they are.

The Pentagons top policy official Colin Kahl also offered a measured response to reporters on Monday when asked if China was gearing up to militarily seize Taiwan in the next few years.



Clearly the [Peoples Republic of China] is trying to coerce Taiwan, clearly theyre trying to coerce the international community, and all Ill say is were not going to take the bait and its not going to work, Kahl said.

Unprecedented drills: The Chinese drills, which began Thursday in retaliation for Pelosis trip and were extended on Sunday, are Beijings largest-ever wargames in the Taiwan Strait and have included a dozen missile exercises that bracketed Taiwan. Beijing also upped the pace of naval and air activities in the waterway, including those that crossed over the median line between mainland China and Taiwan.

Though crossing the center line was a rare move for Beijing before 2019  when it sent aircraft over the divider for the first time in 20 years  the country has done so several times since.

Taiwans response: Taiwan has sounded the alarm over the exercises, with its Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warning that China looks to control more of the western Pacific. That dominance would include the East and South China Seas and the Taiwan Strait, as well as a blockade to keep the U.S. and its allies from helping Taipei should Beijing attack, according to The Associated Press.

Wu also said Chinas claim that its wargames were prompted by Pelosis trip is simply cover for undertaking long planned military posturing.

Averting misunderstandings: The Biden administration has remained outwardly cool, with the Pentagon in the past several weeks looking to quell any perceived aggression that may arise from U.S. military movement.

On Thursday the Defense Department for a second time held off on a planned intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launch to reduce the risks of miscalculation and misperception, amid Chinas posturing, according to John Kirby, the National Security Councils strategic communications coordinator.



Defense officials have also stayed silent on if theyll move any U.S. aircraft or Navy vessels closer to Taiwan should the situation grow more tense for Taipei.

Read the full story here.

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

The 25th Annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium will continue at 7:30 a.m.

The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs will host a conference on Atomic Backfires: How Great Power Nuclear Policies Fail at 10 a.m.

Politics and Prose Bookstore will host a discussion on The Fifth Act  with Kori Schake at 7 p.m.

WHAT WERE READING

Thats it for today! Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow!

VIEW THE FULL VERSION HERE

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
IRYNA BALACHUK  WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2022, 12:36

DMYTRO MARCHENKO. PHOTO NOVYNARNIA.COM

Ukraine will liberate Crimea by military means and the destruction of the Crimean Bridge is a necessary measure for this.

Source: Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Marchenko in an interview with RBC Ukraine

Marchenko on whether Ukraine can liberate Crimea by military means: "Yes. We will liberate it by military means. No one has rejected this. Crimea is Ukraine, it is our land, and there are our people there who are still forced to sit under occupation. No one gave Russia the right to come, take a piece of land and say that this is mine."

Details: He clarified that for the liberation of Crimea, it is necessary to destroy the Crimean Bridge.

Quote from Marchenko: "Yes, this is a necessary measure to deprive them of the opportunity to provide reserves and strengthen their troops from the territory of Russia."

Details: The Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed that Ukraine will reclaim Crimea, as well as Kherson, Luhansk and Donetsk.

Background:

At the end of July, it became known that Major General of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Dmytro Marchenko, who until April led the defence of Mykolaiv, had returned to the Mykolaiv area to carry out some operations.

On the afternoon of 9 August, explosions rocked the military airbase in Novofedorivka in Russian-occupied Crimea. Local residents posted videos on social media showing at least two fires and commenting that they had heard 7-12 explosions.

The Russian Defence Ministry claimed that the fire at the Saky airfield was the result of the detonation of some aircraft ammunition. Later, a source at the Russian Defence Ministry informed TACC that the explosions were caused by a "fire safety violation" at the military airbase near Novofedorivka.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has said it was not aware of what caused the explosions at Novofedorivka.

The New York Times quoted a "senior Ukrainian military official with knowledge of the situation" who said that Ukrainian forces were behind the blast at the air base.

Mykhailo Podoliak, Senior Adviser to Ukrainian President, said that Kyiv was not involved in the explosions at the airfield in Novofedorivka in Russian-occupied Crimea.

On the morning of 10 August, the General Staff reported that on 9 August, Russia lost 160 military personnel, nine aircraft and 15 tanks.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda!
Chinese, ROK FMs have in-depth exchange of views on THAAD

Xinhua) 08:36, August 10, 2022

QINGDAO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday had an in-depth exchange of views on the THAAD issue with Park Jin, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), during their talks in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province.

The two sides expounded their respective positions, agreed that both sides should attach importance to each other's security concerns and strive to properly handle the THAAD issue to make sure that it will not become a stumbling block affecting the bilateral relations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The U.S. Justice Department unsealed charges Wednesday against Iranian operative Shahram Poursafi in connection with an alleged plot to kill former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

The DOJ said in a statement that Poursafi, who is also known as Mehdi Rezayi and is a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, attempted to arrange the murder of Bolton likely in retaliation for the January 2020 death of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  Qods Force (IRGC-QF) commander Qasem Soleimani.

The 45-year-old allegedly attempted to pay individuals in the U.S. $300,000 to murder Bolton in either Washington, D.C., or Maryland. He allegedly said it didnt matter how the murder was carried out, but that his group would need video confirmation of the murder.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, through the Defendant, tried to hatch a brazen plot: assassinate a former U.S. official on U.S. soil in retaliation for U.S. actions, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia said in the DOJ statement. Iran and other hostile governments should understand that the U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to thwart their violent plots and bring those responsible to justice.

On January 3, 2022 Poursafi told a source he was under pressure from his people to complete the job and expressed regret that the murder would not be completed by the anniversary of Soleimanis death, the DOJ alleges.

Two months later he allegedly said he had a second assassination job to offer in the U.S. but to keep Bolton in the back of your mind.

Bolton has been a critic of the Iranian regime for decades and pushed for the U.S. to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal under Trump. The Iranian regime has threatened retaliation against Bolton and other top Trump administration officials over the assassination of Soleimani.

Larissa Knapp, executive assistant director of the FBIs National Security Branch, said in a statement: Iran has a history of plotting to assassinate individuals in the U.S. it deems a threat, but the U.S. Government has a longer history of holding accountable those who threaten the safety of our citizens.

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Let there be no doubt: The FBI, the U.S. government, and our partners remain vigilant in the fight against such threats here in the U.S. and overseas, Knapp added.

I wish to thank the Justice Dept for initiating the criminal proceeding unsealed today; the FBI for its diligence in discovering and tracking the Iranian regimes criminal threat to American citizens; and the Secret Service for providing protection against Tehrans efforts. pic.twitter.com/QDjkX6gUWM  John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) August 10, 2022

Bolton issued a statement thanking the DOJ, FBI and Secret Service.

While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Irans rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States, he said, adding that Irans nuclear weapons and terrorist activities are two sides of the same coin.

More from National Review
The Daily Beast

Tennessee Department of CorrectionA woman who shared a kiss with a prisoner during a visitation in Tennessee has been charged with murder after the inmate died shortly after their exchange.Rachel Dollard was taken into custody over the weekend by special agents from the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and the Dickson County Sheriffs Department, the TDOC confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. She is accused of smuggling drugs into the Turney Center Industrial Complex.Dollard is facing ch
Convertedin, an Egyptian startup that operates a marketing operating system for e-commerce brands, has raised $3 million in a seed round led by Saudi Arabia-headquartered Merak Capital.

Other participating investors include 500 Global and MSAS. The company, in a statement, said it plans to utilize the funds for strategic hiring and further development of its platform.

When brands shift to e-commerce sales, they operate with vast amounts of fragmented data that need to be unified to drive informed decisions and growth. As such, platforms like Convertedin become essential because it caters to brands and businesses with one, some, or all of these objectives: drive personalized and scalable campaigns, convert customers, achieve measurable results and grow revenue.

CEO Mohamed Fergany founded the company with Mohamed Atef and Mustafa Raslan in 2019 after working with several brands in companies such as Speakol Ads and Vodafone. His time as an employee opened his eyes to the opportunity of helping offline stores retarget and retain their customers online while finding new ones to shop at their stores offline.

If you walk into IKEA and they take your phone number down. After that, our engine works to find a similar product you might buy and we retarget you online. If you went back to IKEA for that product, we can calculate the cost of online conversion, the chief executive said in the interview. This was the main idea at this time as we saw a huge problem where there was no analytics platform for the offline store or a retargeting mechanism.

As the pandemic hit and offline stores were forced to close their doors, many of these brands turned to e-commerce, and as a result, Convertedin took its business online too.

Fergany argues that though online brands use CRM software to gather data, they do not utilize most of it. So Convertedin offers a solution where they can use their data best. It plugs into more than 10 major e-commerce platforms and ad networks -- and brands, once connected, can place customers into different segments such as high- and low-value and categories like those looking for specific products and use these insights to create personalized multi-channel marketing and drive various campaigns on social media, SMS, email, search and other channels while having the ability to track and attribute revenue conversion.

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Convertedin says SMB e-commerce marketers that use its platform increase their return on ad spend (ROAS) by 2x and reduce customer acquisition costs (CAC) by 40%. So far, the company partners with media buying and advertising agencies and works with over 100 local and multinational brands across Africa, the Middle East and South America in the automotive, healthcare and technology industries. Convertedins revenues from these businesses have been growing in double-digits month-over-month, Fergany said.

The three-year-old Egypt-headquartered company also has offices in Saudi Arabia and Brazil; it just recently opened one in the latter. The South American market is enormous, with e-commerce revenues reaching $160 billion by 2025 from over 200 million users. As a result, Convertedin plans to make its services available in Portuguese -- in addition to English and Arabic -- for brands in Brazil and also Mexico, another South American market. Fergany also said Convertedin is eyeing South Africa and India too.

We focus on emerging markets and if you look at it from healthy unit economics, we can sell easily in those countries because there is low competition there, said the CEO on the expansion to five new markets, including Saudi Arabia. And customer acquisition cost is low compared to the U.S. or Europe markets. The new investment will help Convertedin with this expansion in addition to R&D and hiring.

In a statement, Ahmed Aljibreen, partner at lead investor Merak Capital, addressing his firms investment, said the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing platforms adds a new layer of challenges for e-commerce companies -- and that Convertedin solves that. Hence, the reason why Merak Capital backed the firm. We are excited to back Convertedin, a martech company that has built a state-of-the-art platform to simplify digital marketing, improve customer acquisition and drive growth for its clients. Convertedin is led by a world-class team in which we have tremendous confidence as the company embarks on its next stage of growth in MENA and Latin America.
Alex Kantrowitz

Elon Musk appeared to indicate "X.com" could become a Twitter competitor.

Musk bought the domain name in 2017 from PayPal as it had "sentimental value."

Twitter is attempting to force Musk to buy the social media company in court for $44 billion.

Elon Musk teased a possible Twitter competitor if he isn't forced to go through with the $44 billion deal.

Musk responded to a question on Twitter as to whether he'd launch his own site by simply tweeting "X.com" on Tuesday. The comment came after it was revealed that the billionaire had sold 7.92 million Tesla shares worth $6.9 billion ahead of the very real chance he could be forced to purchase Twitter.

"In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners don't come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock," Musk said about the sale on Twitter.

It's not the first time that the billionaire has hinted at launching a direct competitor to Twitter. Ahead of his Twitter takeover offer, Musk told Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal he had considered creating his own platform.

What's more, Twitter listed the idea as a cause for concern in its lawsuit against Musk, saying they believed he could be compiling internal data about the company in an effort to replicate it.

X.com also has an interesting history. At Tesla's annual shareholder meeting last week, the CEO commented on the website which he bought back from PayPal in 2017.

"I do sort of have a grander vision for what I thought X Corporation could have been back in the day," Musk said. "It's a pretty grand vision and of course that could be started from scratch but I think Twitter would accelerate that by three to five years."

X.com was initially an online bank that was co-founded by Musk in 1999. The company eventually merged with another payment system and became PayPal which eBay bought for $1.5 billion in 2002.

In 2017, Musk bought the domain name "X.com" from PayPal, saying the site had "great sentimental value" and relaunched the website. At the time, he said he didn't have plans for it. Today, if you visit the site it merely shows a blank white page with a single small "X" in the corner of the web page. The website has remained much the same over the past five years.

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If X.com became some sort of social network or Twitter substitute, Musk will likely focus on eradicating bots on the site, as well as minimizing censorship. The billionaire has been highly critical of bots on Twitter, as well as the company's ban on former President Donald Trump.

Musk might not have an option to build his own competitor as his court battle with Twitter is set to begin in October. The social media company has said it plans to make the billionaire buy the platform at the original price of $44 billion. In recent weeks, Twitter has subpoenaed many of Musk's closest business partners and friends.

The case is being tried in Delaware. Last month, Twitter appeared to win its first battle against Musk when Chancery Court judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick agreed to an expedited trial.

Multiple experts previously told Insider that Musk faces an uphill battle in his efforts to get out of the deal due to the ironclad contract he signed earlier this year.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Emily Meier, D-Aberdeen, seen here at a candidate forum in early 2022, has withdrawn as a candidate for District 3 House of Representatives.

The lone Democrat running for one of two available seats in District 3 has withdrawn her petition.

Emily Meier, 25, of Aberdeen, withdrew her petition Aug. 2, according to records on the South Dakota Secretary of State's website. That's the last day candidates can withdraw from the November ballot.

Meier works as a server and is a Northern State University student.

"This summer I've had quite a bit of health problems and have decided to prioritize dealing with that," Meier said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Meier said she had a surgery earlier this summer that she thought would resolve some medical issues, but it ended up being the the start of more medical procedures to come.

More: Regional jail in Brown County a prime topic at legislative candidate forum; most support idea

But, she doesn't discount the option of pursuing politics in the future.

"I still love Aberdeen and South Dakota and feel like the people in Aberdeen deserve balanced representation," she said.

While her campaign sites remain active, Meier said she's in the process of disabling them.

More: Al Novstrup, Lee Schoenbeck, Fred Deutsch among incumbent Republicans to win primary races

The local Democratic Party had until 5 p.m. Tuesday to find a replacement candidate, but Party Vice President Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, of Aberdeen said no replacement candidate was found.

Meier was one of three candidates on the Nov. 7 ballot. Also running are Republicans Carl Perry and Brandei Schaefbauer, both of Aberdeen. Perry and Schaefbauer were the top two candidates in a four-way race in the June primary. District 3 predominantly covers the city of Aberdeen and Bath. With Meier's withdrawal, Schaefbauer and Perry are now unopposed in November.

Perry, 69, is a retired businessman and member of Hub City Capital. Schaefbauer, 48, is a former real estate broker who has recently been a stay-at-home mom.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Sole Democrat withdraws as South Dakota District 3 House candidate
Tensions are high as New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) deals with an influx of migrants bused into the city from the southern border by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who said the move is in protest of President Bidens immigration policies.

Abbott, joined by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), has reportedly sent thousands of migrants north to New York City and Washington, D.C., to highlight what they say is a humanitarian crisis caused by Bidens wind-down of Title 42.

The White House rescinded the Trump-era policy, a health order implemented during the pandemic to block migrants from seeking asylum and entering the U.S., though the roll-back was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in early May.

The Texas governors office announced New York City and Washington, D.C., as drop-off location[s] for the busing strategy as part of the Governors response to the Biden Administrations open border policies overwhelming Texas communities.

Adams has asked for federal assistance to handle the influx of migrants in New York and called for Abbotts removal from office when the Texas governor, up for reelection, faces Democratic challenger Beto ORourke in this years midterms.

I already called all of my friends in Texas and told them how to cast their vote, the New York mayor said during a Tuesday press conference.

I am deeply contemplating taking a busload of New Yorkers to go to Texas and do some good old-fashioned door knocking. Because for the good of America, we have to get him out of office.

On Twitter earlier this week, Adams said Abbott used innocent people as political pawns to manufacture a crisis. He acknowledged New York NGOs and workers helping out and chided Abbott for not doing the same.

Abbott, on the other hand, says the move to bus migrants north is a response to too-lenient immigration policies that affect states along the southern border.

Texas should not have to bear the burden of the Biden Administrations failure to secure our border, Abbott said in a statement in a statement from his office.

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On Twitter after the first bus of migrants arrived in New York City, Abbott wrote, Biden refuses to do his job, so Texas continues to take unprecedented action to secure our border NYC is the ideal destination for these migrants. They can receive the services Mayor Adams has boasted about w/in the sanctuary city.

Abbott has long opposed sanctuary cities, where local authorities arent required to report information to federal immigration authorities.

In July, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) asked for the activation of the D.C. National Guard to help manage what the mayors office reported as 200 buses carrying more than 4,000 migrants to the capital.

In a letter to White House officials, Bowser called the action cruel political gamesmanship from the Governors of Texas and Arizona and accused the pair of having decided to use desperate people to score political points.

Abbott also knocked Bowser as migrants arrived in the capital: DC is experiencing just a fraction of the border crisis created by Bidens disastrous policies.

Bowsers request for the D.C. National Guard was denied by the Pentagon.

White House officials initially dismissed Abbotts threats, with then-press secretary Jen Psaki calling them a publicity stunt.

Earlier this month, Abbott invited Adams and Bowser to Texas to see the border situation for themselves.

As many as 68 migrants have arrived in NYC since the first bus Friday, according to CNN. Abbotts office reported sending thousands to D.C. since the buses started arriving in April.

The Hill has reached out to the NYC and D.C. mayors offices for more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Julia Payne and Marwa Rashad

LONDON (Reuters) - Top U.S. gas exporter, Freeport LNG, has retracted the force majeure it initially declared after an explosion in June, a development that could cost its buyers billions of dollars in losses, a document showed and three trading sources said.

Force majeure is a notice used to describe events outside a company's control, such as a natural disaster, which usually releases it from contractual obligation without penalty.

The force majeure would also have allowed Freeports LNG buyers to exit their own agreements to deliver gas to end users. Instead, they are facing a collective loss of up to $8 billion as they source alternative supplies at elevated spot market prices, according to the trading sources, who have knowledge of the matter, and calculations by a consultancy.

Those buyers include BP, TotalEnergies, Osaka Gas, Japans top power generator JERA and South Koreas SK Gas Trading and trading house Trafigura that holds a small contract.

Freeport and the buyers declined to comment on the force majeure, its retraction and potential losses.

Freeport accounts for 20% of U.S. LNG exports but stopped shipments after the explosion on June 8, causing a spike in global gas prices which had already soared on falling Russian supplies to Europe and other outages.

Freeport declared force majeure on June 9, before retracting the notice around the end of June, two of the three sources with knowledge of the matter said, adding that Freeport blamed human error.

"No facts have been revealed that would indicate that the incident was a result of Force Majeure," Freeport told market participants on Aug. 3 in a notice seen by Reuters.

Neither the retraction nor the notice has been previously reported.

Freeport does not expect full operations to resume until the end of the year, although a partial restart is scheduled for October. Without the force majeure, the company needs to pay compensation to its gas buyers and the buyers still need to supply end users.

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The outage leaves a hole of about 80 cargoes based on an October restart date, according to Reuters calculations and an LNG consultancy, although Freeport's buyers may not need to replace them all depending on how they negotiate their onward contracts.

The buyers had paid Freeport around $30-$50 million per LNG cargo, according to two of the sources, with the fuel then sold to end users at a premium usually amounting to a few millions of dollars per cargo.

Freeport's buyers would have to pay $100 million per cargo based on Wednesday's spot market prices to replace the lost volumes as LNG prices have doubled since the explosion, which happened when markets were already tight.

However, Freeport is offering buyers compensation of around 10% of the value of the purchased and undelivered cargoes or lump sums of between $3 million-$5 million per cargo, according to the two sources.

"There are ongoing discussions taking place right now with Freeport as the compensation they are offering will not cover taking a spot cargo at today's rates," one of the sources said.

Freeport declined to comment on its compensation policy.

"The potential losses Freeport's offtakers may face... will probably be within the range of about $6-$8 billion, on a collective basis," said Tamir Druz, managing director at Capra Energy, an LNG consultancy.

While some of these cargoes may not need to be replaced, on a mark-to-market basis, it remains a significant loss.

Oil major BP has the largest contract at 4.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) through 2040. JERA and Osaka Gas have contracts at 2.3 mtpa each through 2039, while SK and TotalEnergies each have 2.2 mtpa contracts running through 2040, according to the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers.

Based on Freeport paying 10% compensation per lost cargo, losses may amount to about $2.3 billion for BP and $1.1 billion for TotalEnergies on a mark-to-market basis, Capra Energy's Druz said.

BP and TotalEnergies declined to comment on any losses.

Mark-to-market is a way of measuring the fair value of accounts based on current market prices, which is likely different to the price paid to acquire them.

Osaka Gas sharply cut its annual net profit forecast this month citing a nearly 80 billion yen ($611 million) hit from the Freeport outage for the second quarter alone.

(Reporting by Julia Payne and Marwa Rashad; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Explosion hits near headquarters of United Russia party in occupied Melitopol

Russia has been planning sham referendums in the areas of Ukraine it occupies in order to justify its claims to have annexed more Ukrainian territory.

In the temporarily occupied Melitopol, yet another explosion thundered at night near the headquarters of United Russia, where preparations for the so-called "referendum" are underway, reads the report.

Read also: Preparing to hold sham referendums, Russia kidnaps and tortures Melitopol locals

The headquarters of United Russia is located in the Foxtrot shopping center in the center of Melitopol.

According to local media RIA Melitopol, there were no casualties in the explosion. However, the facade of the shopping center where the headquarters is located was significantly damaged.

The publication said the explosion was the work of Ukrainian partisans.

Read also: Collaborators in occupied Melitopol panic, refuse to work, says local media

The day before, local media reported that partisans made an assassination attempt near Melitopol on two "members of the commission" who were working on preparations for the sham referendum.



Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, on Tuesday suggested it is inexplicable that some Americans view mandatory mask-wearing as a violation of their freedom, according to a new report.

When you tell people they need to mask in an indoor congregate setting when youre in a zone that has a high dynamic of infection  that is looked upon by a lot of people, not everybody, as an encroachment on your freedom, Fauci said during an event hosted by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Fox News reported.

Weve never had that before, he added. Its almost inexplicable.

Fauci went on to say the Covid-19 vaccination effort in the country is a very difficult situation.

You have people who dont want to get vaccinated for any of a variety of reasons, ranging from pure anti-vax to just because were telling them to get vaccinated, Fauci said.

He noted that 67 percent of the population is vaccinated and just half of that group has received their booster shots.

That means a third of the people in the country are vaccinated and properly boosted. How could that possibly be when you have a disease thats killed one million Americans and you have a hesitancy to use a life-saving intervention which is a vaccine and a booster? Fauci said. It seems like  what world are we living in?

Faucis comments come weeks after he said that if he could change anything about his response to the pandemic, he would have recommended that the government impose much, much more stringent restrictions during the spring of 2020.

During an appearance on Rising, Fauci told hosts Robby Soave and Batya Ungar-Sargon that if he knew in 2020 what I know now, we would do a lot differently.

The insidious nature of spread in the community would have been much more of an alarm, and there would have been much, much more stringent restrictions in the sense of very, very heavy encouragement of people to wear masks, physical distancing, what have you, he said.

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Meanwhile, Faucis own public opinion about the importance of masking and the threat of the virus has shifted since the start of the pandemic.

He said in February 2020 that whenever you have the threat of a transmissible infection, there are varying degrees from understandable to outlandish extrapolations of fear, calling the risk to Americans minuscule.

He also suggested at the time that only those who were infected with Covid-19 should wear masks. If you look at the masks that you buy in a drug store, the leakage around that doesnt really do much to protect you, he said.

Fauci said on Rising that Americans in high-transmission areas should wear a well-fitted mask that is of high quality, such as an N95 or KN95, in schools, places of worship, or other places where people gather in a closed environment.

More from National Review
FBI agents would not allow Trump lawyers watch as they raided former President Trumps private home at Mar-a-Lago early Monday morning, a source told Fox News.

Trump was in New York City while his home in Palm Beach, Florida, was raided.

A source familiar with the raid told Fox News the warrant for the raid was related to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) effort to collect records and materials the former president took with him from Washington, D.C., to Mar-a-Lago.

"This was a NARA issue," the source close to the former president told Fox News, adding Trump has been "cooperating."

WHITE HOUSE SAYS BIDEN LEARNED OF FBI RAID ON MAR-A-LAGO THROUGH REPORTS, 'JUST LIKE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'

Supporters of former President Trump rally near his home at Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Florida. The FBI raided the home to retrieve classified White House documents. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images

"There is no need for any of this," the source said, adding the FBI "wouldnt let the attorneys come in to watch the raid. They told them to leave."

The source told Fox News that when NARA visited Mar-a-Lago in February, Trump and his team "gave them what they wanted."

"It was all provided to them," the source said. "This is absurd."

Another source told Fox News negotiations and communications "never broke down."

Earlier this year, NARA said Trump took 15 boxes of presidential records to his personal residence in Florida. Those boxes allegedly contained "classified national security information" and official correspondence between Trump and foreign heads of state.

NARA notified Congress in February that the agency recovered the 15 boxes from Mar-a-Lago and "identified items marked as classified national security information within the boxes."

NARA describes itself as "the nation's record keeper."

"Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever," the NARA website states.

The Presidential Records Act of 1978 requires presidential administrations to preserve certain documents.

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FBI RAIDS TRUMP'S MAR-A-LAGO: 'UNPRECEDENTED' FOR AGENCY TO EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANT AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT

Under the law, all White House staff must copy or forward any presidential records created on non-official electronic messaging accounts to their official electronic messaging account within 20 days of leaving office.

According to a 2017 memorandum issued by the White House counsel's office under the Trump administration, "any employee who intentionally fails to take these actions may be subject to administrative or even criminal penalties."

"The National Archives did not find anything, they were given, upon request, Presidential Records in an ordinary and routine process to ensure the preservation of my legacy and in accordance with the Presidential Records Act," Trump said in a February statement, adding that Democrats "are in search of their next scam."

The matter was referred to the Justice Department by NARA.

An FBI source confirmed that FBI agents from Washington, D.C., on the bureau's Evidence Response Team conducted the raid and notified the Miami Field Office just before doing so.

A separate source familiar with the raid told Fox News agents brought a "safe cracker" and cracked a "relatively new" safe in Mar-a-Lago but found "nothing in it."

TRUMP SAYS MAR-A-LAGO HOME IN FLORIDA 'UNDER SIEGE' BY FBI AGENTS

Supporters of former President Trump wave flags as they gather outside his Mar-a-Lago home after Trump said FBI agents raided it in Palm Beach, Florida, on Aug. 8, 2022. Reuters/Marco Bello

Another source told Fox News that FBI agents went to Mar-a-Lago and looked in every single office and safe and grabbed documents and boxes without going through them on the property. They took boxes and documents to go through them later.

"They were not being judicious about what they took," that source told Fox News.

Trump made the raid public Monday evening, saying in a lengthy statement, "Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before.

"After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate," Trump said. "It is prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, and who will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections.

"Such an assault could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries. Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before.

"What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee? Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States."

On Tuesday, Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich told Fox News the FBI's "brazen raid was not just unprecedented, it was completely unnecessary."

"President Trump and his representatives have gone to painstaking lengths in communicating and cooperating with the appropriate agencies  something that is routine for all similar instances," Budowich said. "These disgusting actions by Joe Biden's administration would make a third-world dictator blush.

"However, in the Democrats' desperate attempt to retain power, they have unified and grown the entire conservative movement."

The White House maintained it was given no advance notice of the FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago and said President Biden learned of it through public press reports "just like the American people."
Helicopters and firefighters battled Tuesday to contain a days-old blaze at a fuel depot in Cuba that has already destroyed four tanks and was threatening four more.

The fire, which started on Friday after lightning struck one of the tanks, left a 60-year-old firefighter dead and 14 colleagues missing, according to authorities.

More than 100 people were reported injured, with 22 still hospitalized.

About 5,000 people have been evacuated from around the disaster zone on the outskirts of Matanzas, an industrial city of 140,000 people some 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Havana.

As teams prepared Tuesday to try and douse the fire with foam, fears were rising that the blaze could threaten the fuel supply to thermoelectric plants at a time Cuba is already battling electricity outages.

Four military helicopters flew repeated sorties over the depot, dropping sea water on the blaze.

"The firefighting teams continue to clear a path to the flames so the teams charged with applying the foam can get to the place," Matanzas governor Mario Sabines said on Twitter.

He added that smoke from the fire had reduced visibility to near zero, and drones were deployed to provide a better view.

- Help arrives -

Four of the eight tanks on site have already collapsed in the blaze, have spilled their contents, and were still burning, according to deputy fire chief Alexander Avalos Jorge.

Water was being sprayed on the remaining four tanks, clustered just 150 meters (about 492 feet) from the other four tanks, in a bid to keep them cool.

The tanks each have a capacity of some 50,000 cubic meters or 50 million liters of fuel.

The Matanzas depot, built in the 1980s and modernized several times, supplies the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the communist nation.

The plant features five docks to receive ships of up to 180,000 tonnes, and can handle 40,000 barrels a day.

The big question now is "the supply of fuel to thermoelectric plants," said Jorge Pinon, a Cuban expert in energy policy at the University of Texas.

Story continues

"The problem with (electricity generation) has not been the lack of fuel, but the plants are very old and have maintenance problems. Now they will also have a lack of fuel," he said.

"If they lose Matanzas, they lose the ability to supply the power plants," said Pinon.

The disaster comes at a time when the island -- with an outdated energy network and persistent fuel shortages -- has faced mounting difficulties in meeting energy demands.

Since May, authorities have imposed energy blackouts of up to 12 hours a day in some regions -- sparking protests around the nation of 11 million people.

Thirteen flights have arrived from Mexico and four from Venezuela with technicians, firefighters and equipment, including fire retardant foam, fire hoses, helicopter water buckets, spray pumps and medicines.

A Mexican Navy logistics support ship also arrived at Matanzas Bay Tuesday with a helicopter on deck.

And Cuba's deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, thanked the United States -- which has maintained six decades of sanctions against the communist nation -- for an offer of "technical advice."

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The four candidates in the Florida House District 8 race agree outgoing Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, was an effective legislator for Gadsden County and Tallahassee's west and south sides.

None, though would question Alexander's decision to step aside in the wake of sexual harassment allegations from a former Florida A&M University athletic department employee.

How District 8 opened:

Alexander represented District 8, which takes in all of Gadsden County, Floridas only minority majority county and Tallahassees South City and Bond neighborhoods, which includes the states poorest ZIP code, for the past six years.

He decided not to seek reelection when he was ensnared in sexting scandal as he prepared to assume the leadership role for House Democrats for the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.

Meet the candidates

Tallahassee attorney Hubert Brown, pharmacist Gallop Franklin III, pastor Gregory James, and community organizer Marie Rattigan, rated Alexander a good to phenomenal lawmaker for a district dotted with trailer parks and single family dwellings tucked along forested back roads.

Brown is the education candidate. He tells people he attended segregated schools as a child and went on to earn an accounting degree at Florida A&M University and a law degree from the University of Texas.

His focus is on improving education opportunities.

Candidates for House District 8 participate in a forum on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

James campaign is about redemption.

An ex-felon, he served nearly 14 years in federal prison on a drug conviction. Released in 2008 he founded Life Church International and as its Senior Pastor, established himself as a community leader.

Franklin is a pharmacist, FAMU professor, and like Alexander, who he calls a friend, is a past president of FAMU student government.

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Rattigan is the millennial candidate. The FAMU graduate is the first in her family to earn a college degree, was an active member of Students for Bernie during the 2020 presidential campaigns and worked as a legislative aide for Florida House Democrats during the 2022 session.

The four offered different ideas to address the districts mix of urban and rural poverty while participating in a candidate forum hosted by the Tallahassee Democrat, League of Women Voters, and WFSU Public Media.

The percentage of people living in poverty in District 8 is nearly double the state average. Forty-two percent of children live below the poverty line, and the median household income is a third less than statewide for a district that begins at the edge of the Capital Complex and extends west to the Apalachicola River.

Brown, Franklin, James and Rattigan, like Alexander before them, pledged to prioritize Florida A&M University, the districts chief economic engine, and increased funding for infrastructure to boost economic growth.

You can watch the full forum at the Tallahassee Democrat's YouTube page or on tallahassee.com.

The winner of the Aug. 23 Democratic primary will face Republican Curt Bender in November. Bender has missed three deadlines for filing campaign finance reports since qualifying for the race in June.

Marie Rattigan participates in a forum for House District 8 candidates on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Here are excerpts from the forum attended by the Democratic candidates, slightly edited for clarity.

In District 8, the poverty level is 21.9% compared to 12.4% statewide. How do you change that number?

Hubert Brown

"Part of the issue that we have, especially for our youth, is we have to make sure that our youth are trained to do the jobs that are available.

And also, for small businesses. One of the things that I have worked on at the City of Quincy is Community Redevelopment Agency was helping our small businesses to survive, they expand to give them some assistance, like during the time that COVID was ravaging small businesses and things were shutting down.

Hubert Brown, candidate for Florida House District 8

One of the things we did was the small mom and pop small business grant program so that those small businesses could continue to expand. We need to focus on not just bringing in new businesses which we need to do, such as the Amazon that the city ... did a great job on, but we also need to help those that are here."

Gallop Franklin

"We need to have a war on poverty and our first step is ensuring that our community is wealthy and is able to have good paying jobs. And so, investing in infrastructure to ensure that commerce can happen, ensuring that we're also being sensitive to our growth to make sure we still protect our environment.

Gallop Franklin

We're being very, very aggressive in growing small businesses, creating apprenticeship programs with other companies in this part of the state to show the smaller businesses in our area, what it looks like and what it takes to get to where we need to go.

Also, you recruit larger companies to ensure that we can bring higher paying jobs to this region. And we're best suited and equipped to do that of all the candidates and the reason for that is we have been endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce that believes in our ability to increase the quality of life in this region. By focusing on economic development. We've also been endorsed by the Associated Industries as well."

Gregory James

"It's so important that we be able to bring jobs as one of the candidates just stated. But beyond that, the question is how do we provide the kinds of services that is needed in Gadsden, with the different citizens that are there who are dealing with mental illnesses?

Gregory James

We're dealing with the fact that they're at the educational level that is not in a place where it needs to be. How do we put before them the opportunities that they need so that they can be successful?

So, I think once we begin to bring a community in place, a community that embraces what is within the community, then we begin to bring those opportunities there. We are going to change the whole trajectory of what the county looks like."

Marie Rattigan

"I believe that opportunity and success should not be guaranteed by someone's ZIP code or who they know.

Marie Rattigan

Something that's very important is being able to work with community organizers, work with allies, work with different institutions to bring jobs into rural areas and Leon County.

I think that's something that will be beneficial is being able to have a hospital in Gadsen County. We know that Gadsen County does not have a hospital and being able to talk with and see what is the certification of need to bring that hospital there would not only be able to provide jobs, but it'll also make sure that everyone has the quality of care and health."

Do you think any changes are needed in Florida Laws to improve voter access to the ballot box?

Brown:

"Yes, there are definitely some things we need to do, such as increasing the voting hours, because a lot of people, are like when I grew up, very poor.

We work in jobs that you just can't take off and go down and vote. But we often do later voting hours. The other thing is increased polling places, because a lot of times people do not have cars and are trying to get to and from the polling places.

The other thing we need to do is remove what a federal judge has called a poll tax. For those former felons who we voted to give them a right to vote. Yet now the legislature decided that they want to put additional requirements that says, all those fees are paid off when often they don't even have records of what the fees are. We need to remove that."

Hubert Brown participates in a forum for House District 8 candidates on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Franklin:

"Absolutely. We need more precincts. There should be so many precincts based on geographical area per square mile. Like someone just mentioned, everyone can't really travel 20, 30, 40 minutes.

We need to make sure that we don't have a police force at these polling stations but someone that can assist folks to vote, (not) intimidate but assist. We need to expand our early voting.

Also, I have an issue of why do we have to register to vote? We are a United States citizen, and it is proven by your social security number. Why do I have to fill out a paper to be able to participate in my government?"

James:

"I would just say that (I am) in total disagreement with a lot of things that have been put in place.

I think the biggest thing that we must do, in spite of what's in place, we still have to empower our people to get out and vote until we get in a position to revitalize what has been put in place.

If we let what's in play stop us from getting to the voting booth and getting access to being an eligible voter and an active voter, then things are only going to get worse.

Let's keep voting until we get in a position to make the necessary change."

Candidates for House District 8 participate in a forum on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Rattigan:

"Actually, with SB 90 being passed, we see that a lot of things were stripped, such as access to ballot drop off boxes.

And we also see, recently, there are police that are going to be put in place that only report back to Governor DeSantis. I think that that is a scare tactic, especially when we're talking about inside of the Black and Brown community, those who are, who have always been, under structural attack that want to cast their votes.

More: A tale of two election laws: While Georgia saw a corporate backlash, response is muted in Florida

I think something else that we can definitely fix is the ability to extend hours when it comes to voting those who are in line whether they're seniors or elderly people. We also see that people are no longer able to give them water, give them snacks and could actually be charged with a felony or crime."

How would you address a teacher shortage in Florida public schools

Gregory James participates in a forum for House District 8 candidates on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Brown:

"First and foremost is to increase the pace so that we can attract more students amongst our teachers. Also, through talking to teachers, such as my niece, one of the key issues is having multi-year contracts or terms.

Right now, a teacher has a one-year contract generally. And so they can be let go. So it's not job stability. Make sure that we increase the pay, give them more stability through longer term contracts and also make sure that they feel safe in the school system. Give back some of the control that Republicans took away in the last session by deciding what was health and safety issues."

Franklin:

"A better job of recruitment. Also, employment programs like Teach For America within our region. So, as you know, Teach For America really helps recruit the best and brightest folks from across the entire country to get them involved in education.

Also, teachers need to make more than what they're currently making. I'm not saying it's about money, but oftentimes if you make enough money, you can focus on what's important, then just serving. So we need to look at those two things, recruitment, as well as incentives."

James:

"One thing we all agree that a greater incentive for our teachers (is) being able to give them once again, the kind of control that they need.  being able to assure them how valuable they are.

Because at the end of the day, it's the teachers who create the presidents who create the governors. So, they are the most valuable players and we got to make the investment that they need to feel and know that we are concerned about them and what they're doing."

Gregory James (right) participates in a forum for House District 8 candidates on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

Rattigan:

"Yes, increased pay wages as well as, to make it even more personal, allow teachers in Gadsden County the ability to have choice. That they are not having to come from Gadsden County to Tallahassee in order to teach for better wages.

Also instill in them that they are important because they are teaching the next generation that will be our lawyers, our attorneys, as well as our presidents."

ONLINE ELECTION GUIDE

Visit tallahassee.com for candidate debates from all the key races, Q&As with all the candidates and more.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com. Follow on him Twitter: @CallTallahassee

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A lawyer and a pharmacist compete with two activists for House seat
Florida Keys deputies Wednesday morning shot and killed an off-duty federal law enforcement officer who they said pointed a semiautomatic rifle at them.

The deputies shot Lane Morgan Caviness, 48, at a house near mile marker 95 in Key Largo around 10:42 a.m. Monroe County Sheriffs Office spokesman Adam Linhardt said they were at the house after receiving reports of an armed, intoxicated, suicidal man.

Caviness was a commercial airline pilot who was also a sworn law enforcement officer with the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, which is part of the Department of Homeland Securitys Air Marshal Service, Keys Sheriff Rick Ramsay confirmed.

Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Caviness death.

When deputies arrived at the house in the Key Largo Ocean Resort subdivision, they saw a man there and confirmed he was armed, Linhardt said. They reached him by phone after he moved away from view.

Linhardt said the man told deputies he was intoxicated and prepared to confront them.

He then appeared again, this time pointing the rifle at the deputies, Ramsay said. The deputies responded by firing at him, Linhardt said.

Deputies began first-aid, but the man was pronounced dead, he said.

Although this appears to be a suicide by cop situation, as I always do in such cases, I have asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an independent investigation into this matter, Ramsay said in a statement.

Linhardt referred all questions about the shooting to FDLE.

An FDLE spokeswoman declined to respond to questions about how many deputies fired their weapons, their identities and if theyve been placed on paid leave during the investigation.

Our investigation is active, said FDLEs Gretl Plessinger.
A 35-year-old Florida man who was recording the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean died when a sand dune collapsed on top of him, sheriffs officials said.

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A beachgoer saw a portion of the mans body protruding from the sand on Hutchinson Island early Monday and called for help, the Martin County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

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The man was apparently resting beneath the dune while recording the sunrise when the hill of sand collapsed, detectives said. They said it appears the man had died as a result of being trapped underneath the sand.

Detectives dont suspect foul play, but they are awaiting results of toxicology tests before deeming it to be a tragic accident, the post said.

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Hutchinson Island is north of West Palm Beach on Floridas Atlantic coast.

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The annual story: Summer break officially ends for millions of children across Florida, as 62 of 67 school district reopen their doors to resume classes.

Certain messages have come through loud and clear throughout the state:

 Buses will be running late to and from campuses, with drivers in short supply. The superintendent of St. Johns County schools is asking for patience, WJXT reports. So, too, are Leon County district officials, WCTV reports.

 Upon arrival, many students will not have permanent teachers, as districts struggle to find enough qualified applicants for their numerous vacancies. South Florida districts, for instance, still have hundreds of open teacher jobs, WPLG reports. Schools are getting creative in their efforts to have adults in front of students, WKMG reports. More from the Bradenton Herald.

 Children in several counties will see their cafeteria prices rise, after two years of federally subsidized meals for all. A political battle over free lunches and federal rules regarding gender discrimination also has some families concerned about their childrens meal status, WZVN reports.

 Classes will be working their way through new standards attached to new testing, while teachers and parents feel their way through newly state laws relating to their roles and responsibilities. The head of the Orange County teachers union said confusion abounds over the laws effect, WKMG reports.

With so much going on, communication will be key. The Monroe County school district has launched a new mobile app to better inform parents about the latest news and activities, Key West Citizen reports.

Hot topics

Housing costs: Rising rents are forcing families to move out of their childrens central Florida school districts, Spectrum 13 reports.

School board politics: Someone is posting illegal campaign signs accusing Brevard County School Board incumbent Misty Belford of illegally requiring student masks during the pandemic, Florida Today reports.  Okaloosa County School Board incumbents repeatedly are skipping candidate forums, the Northwest Florida Daily News reports.  A candidate for Seminole County School Board has challenged the eligibility of her opponent over state residency requirements, WKMG reports.

Story continues

Campus security: Lee County schools are adding new technology to their safety efforts, the Fort Myers News-Press reports.  Brevard County school resource officers will be carrying rifles on campus this year, WKMG reports.

Tax referendums: The Hernando County School Board canceled a special meeting to determine next steps toward a sales tax referendum. It cited member illness, Suncoast News reports.

Other school news

A Christian school in Tampa continues to fight for its right to pray at state football tournaments. Cambridge Christian filed another appeal in its 2015 lawsuit, citing new U.S. Supreme Court precedent as a mitigating factor, the News Service of Florida reports.

The Flagler County School Board made some last minute changes to its rules. It loosened up its dress code restrictions on t-shirts, and it decided middle schools will start 10 minutes earlier than planned, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports.

Alumni of an Alachua County high school want to bring back a traditional HBCU style to the schools marching band. Theyre protesting the school administrations refusal to allow the change, WUFT reports.

The Palm Beach County school district is opening a new school in Boca Raton. Officials expressed hope it will help ease classroom crowding that has plagued the growing community, the Palm Beach Post reports.

In higher education

K-12 educators are not the only ones angling for better wages. The adjunct faculty at St. Petersburg College, who make up 70% of the schools instructors, have lost another round in their effort to negotiate pay for preparation time.

Hundreds of Flagler College students are being bumped from their dorms. Sprinkler systems went off unexpectedly, flooding their rooms, the St. Augustine Record reports.

Professors at Floridas universities are feeling the pressures of new laws on instruction, academic freedoms and tenure. Many are considering leaving the state, the Miami Herald reports.

Dont miss a story. Heres the link to yesterdays roundup.

Before you go ... Maybe theres not really 104 days of summer vacation. Even so, there was plenty of time for an adventure or two. Did yours match up to those of Phineas and Ferb?

  

Sign up for the Gradebook newsletter!

Every Thursday, get the latest updates on whats happening in Tampa Bay area schools from Times education reporter Jeffrey S. Solochek. Click here to sign up.
Paul Ringon, right, and his husband, Wesley DeShaw, during their four-day wedding event in Italy.

Paul Ringon and his husband had just one request when they opened their wedding registry in 2019: Delta Air Lines gift cards.

The two are avid travelers and tend to fly abroad at least twice a year. For Ringon and Wesley DeShaw, creating memories through travel is more appealing than a KitchenAid stand mixer or another material gift.

We had already bought a place, we kind of had everything we needed, said Ringon, the 37-year-old founder and CEO of South Florida-based real-estate company Ringon Homes. Overall, we were like, if youre going to get us something, get us a gift card to the airline we stick with.

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A recent report from online wedding marketplace The Knot found experiences and virtual gifts like gift cards to Airbnb and Delta were some of the most popular registry gifts in 2021.

Esther Lee, deputy editor of The Knot, said pent-up travel demand among couples who had to postpone their honeymoons due to COVID-19 has helped boost these gifts' popularity.

We're seeing that the travel demand is high and that the desire for these megamoons  these beautiful, lavish honeymoons  is up," Lee said. "And part of that includes requesting airline gift cards. (Couples) want the funds to be able to get to their destinations.

Airbnb gift cards are growing more popular on wedding registries.

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The Knot found 7 of every 10 couples in 2021 were registering for cash gifts, up 10% from the previous year. These gifts include gift cards or destination-specific experiences such as a snorkel tour in Hawaii or a private gondola ride in Venice.

About 80% of the gift cards that couples registered for on The Knot's registry last year are for travel- or home-related retailers. Airbnb accounted for 17% of gift cards on registries, while 20.4% were Home Depot gift cards and 7.6% were Delta Air Lines gift cards.

Story continues

Paul Ringon, right, and his husband, Wesley DeShaw, during their four-day wedding event in Italy.

Ringon, who married DeShaw in Italy in 2019, said he and his husband ended up with about $5,000 in Delta gift cards and are still planning a trip to use the funds.

I think the best thing about these types of gifts is that you're allowing people to create an experience, he said. I'd rather die with amazing memories than stuff in my closet.

Are airplane seats too small?: FAA soliciting public comments on minimum dimensions

You can follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter @bailey_schulz and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Airline, Airbnb gift cards are taking over wedding registries
A former nurse at De Soto High School was sentenced Tuesday in Johnson County Court for having sexual contact with a 16-year-old student and making inappropriate sexual comments to other female students.

Richard Finazzo, 47, who pleaded guilty in June to two counts of unlawful sexual relations, was sentenced to three years of probation Tuesday.

According to court documents, Finazzo resigned from his position in October 2018 after concerns were raised about his relationship with a specific student and the amount of time students spent in his office. He was first charged in Johnson County District Court in June 2019.

Finazzo allegedly admitted to the schools principal that a 16-year-old student had been to his home and that they communicated over text when she experienced anxiety, according to an affidavit filed with charging documents.

The student told officers she started seeing Finazzo in August for anxiety and depression. In October she told police she met him twice outside of school and engaged in sexual activity. Finazzo allegedly admitted to meeting the student but said it was only for counsel.

Other female students told police Finazzo touched them inappropriately or made inappropriate comments when they visited his office, according to the affidavit. The students said Finazzo would buy female students gifts, give out his phone number and Snapchat and comment on their appearance.

Finazzo sometimes spoke to students about his sex life and made sexual comments about their injuries and illnesses, according to the affidavit.

He was fired in 2016 from his job as a nurse at Gardner-Edgerton High School, a school about 15 minutes away from De Soto, because of suspicion of inappropriate contact with a student, according to the affidavit.

The De Soto superintendent said he didnt know Finazzo was previously suspected of inappropriate conduct when he was hired to work at De Soto.
BERLIN (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations on Wednesday called on Russia to immediately hand back full control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine.

"The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine's territory and sovereignty," the foreign ministers said in a statement released in Germany.

"In that context, we demand that Russia immediately hand back full control to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine, of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as well as of all nuclear facilities within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders to ensure their safe and secure operations."

(Reporting by Kirsti Knolle)
Willie McKinley Hill dabbed tears with a tissue as he sat before a judge awaiting his fate.

Two summers ago, Hill shot and wounded his 17-year-old son during an argument that boiled over after Hill sent his son to pick up some food at McDonalds.

When the son took more than an hour to return, and with cold food, long-brewing tension between the pair led to gunfire.

As he sat in Bibb County Superior Court on Monday having just pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the case, Hill, 51, was facing up to four years in prison.

He had admitted to firing a bullet  by accident, Hill claimed  that tore through his sons shoulder and broke the boys clavicle.

The shooting didnt make the local news when it happened on Aug. 24, 2020, in the Beaumont Heights subdivision off Williamson Road in southwest Macon.

Prosecutor Lauren Brown argued Monday that Hill should go to prison, in part, for escalating the argument instead of just removing himself from the fray. Instead, Brown said, Hill grabbed a .40-caliber handgun.

The weapon, she said, went off when Hill shoved his son to, in essence, put him out of their house.

Brown acknowledged that Hills son does not want to see his father go to prison.

Hills attorney, Debra Gomez, told the judge that the father-son clash was not as simplistic as the police initially noted in their reports.

There has been, Gomez said, a long history brewing in the family. ... This argument wasnt just about McDonalds.

Well, Judge Howard Z. Simms chimed in, referring to a 2003 Macon slaying over $2 borrowed to buy fast food, weve had folks get killed around here over french fries, so nothing surprises me anymore.

Hill, who had no criminal history and has worked for two decades at a south Macon ceiling-tile factory, spoke next.

He told the judge, My anger got the best of me.

He said he lost his cool, that he had just planned to kick his hard-headed son out of the house.

Hill said that when his son showed up with cold food after driving around for more than an hour, the son smarted off.

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Thats when my blood pressure went up, Hill said.

He said their argument got out of hand.

Willie McKinley Hill, left, in Bibb County Superior Court on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, where he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the August 2020 shooting and wounding of his 17-year-old son in an argument at their southwest Macon home.

Hill apologized and said his relationship with his son is fine now. He has since given the boy a truck.

Simms told Hill that parents and teens argue often enough, but that they dont resort to gunfire.

It was totally an accident, Hill said. I didnt want to shoot him. I didnt mean to shoot him. Man, when that gun went off that thing scared me so bad.

The judge told Hill that his was a rare case.

Based on everything Ive seen and heard, Simms said, you are a fine and upstanding fellow  right up until you shot your son.

The judge, known for his sometimes-scathing lectures and often-stiff sentences for the most cold-blooded of killers, told Hill that sometimes he makes it a point to send a message to locals: violence wont be tolerated here.

But in Hills case, Simms said, there was no message to send.

Im not going to send you to prison, Mr. Hill, the judge said. I deal with enough tragedy on a daily basis to where Im not anxious to compound it.

Hill was sentenced as a first-time offender to 12 years on probation. If he violates those terms, he would likely be sent to prison for four years.

Its not very often that somebody walks out of my courtroom through the same door they came in having shot somebody, Simms told Hill. They generally leave in handcuffs. But I have some faith that I wont be seeing you again.
Scott Perry Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket/Getty Images

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), an ally of former President Donald Trump and chair of the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus, said Tuesday that three FBI agents "seized my cellphone" earlier in the day after having made "made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish." Perry did not disclose what the FBI is searching for on his phone  he would have received a copy of the search warrant  but he is linked to several investigations focused on efforts to keep Trump in office after he lost his re-election bid.

Perry is one of at least 11 congressional Republicans involved in discussions with Trump's White House about overturning the election, according to former Justice Department officials, the House Jan. 6 committee, and an October 2021 Senate Judiciary report. He also introduced Trump to Jeffrey Clark, a former assistant U.S. attorney general, and reportedly pushed for Trump to name Clark acting attorney general so the Justice Department would go along with various rejected schemes to overturn President Biden's electoral victory.

The Justice Department is investigating efforts by Trump allies to overturn the 2020 election, but the Justice Department inspector general is also conducting an investigation of the department's role in the events leading up to Jan. 6, an inquiry that led to an FBI search of Clark's home in June and the contemporaneous seizure of conservative lawyer John Eastman's cellphone. Eastman promoted novel legal theories to justify replacing President Biden's electors with pro-Trump "alternates."

The Justice Department's internet in Perry "may also intersect with the probe of Trump's handling of White House records," Politico reports, noting that Perry and Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows exchanged encrypted messaging apps about the 2020 election and, according to Jan. 6 committee testimony, Meadows burned certain papers after a White House meeting with Perry.

Story continues

"I'm outraged  though not surprised  that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garland's DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress," Perry said, calling the confiscation of his phone "banana republic tactics.

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A Leflore County, Mississippi grand jury determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi grand jury has declined to indict the white woman whose accusation set off the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago, most likely closing the case that shocked a nation and galvanized the modern civil rights movement.

After hearing more than seven hours of testimony from investigators and witnesses, a Leflore County grand jury last week determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter, Leflore County District Attorney Dewayne Richardson said in a news release Tuesday.

The decision comes despite recent revelations about an unserved arrest warrant and the 87-year-old Donhams unpublished memoir.

Carolyn Bryant poses for a 1955 photo. A grand jury in Mississippi has declined to indict the white woman, Carolyn Donham, known as Carolyn Bryant, whose accusation set off the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago. (AP Photo/Gene Herrick, File)

The Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr., Emmett Tills cousin and the last living witness to Tills Aug. 28, 1955, abduction, said Tuesdays announcement is unfortunate, but predictable.

The prosecutor tried his best, and we appreciate his efforts, but he alone cannot undo hundreds of years of anti-Black systems that guaranteed those who killed Emmett Till would go unpunished, to this day, Parker said in a statement.

The fact remains that the people who abducted, tortured, and murdered Emmett did so in plain sight, and our American justice system was and continues to be set up in such a way that they could not be brought to justice for their heinous crimes.

Ollie Gordon, another one of Tills cousins, told The Associated Press that some justice had been served in the Till case, despite the grand jurys decision.

Justice is not always locking somebody up and throwing the keys away, Gordon said. Ms. Donham has not gone to jail. But in many ways, I dont think shes had a pleasant life. I think each day she wakes up, she has to face the atrocities that have come because of her actions.

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A third cousin, Deborah Watts, who leads the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, said the case is an example of the freedom afforded to white women to escape accountability for making false accusations against Black men.

She has still escaped any accountability in this case, Watts said. So the grand jurys decision is disappointing, but were still going to be calling for justice for Emmett Till. Its not over.

An email and voicemail seeking comment from Donhams son Tom Bryant werent immediately returned Tuesday.

In June, a group searching the basement of the Leflore County Courthouse discovered the unserved arrest warrant charging Donham, then-husband Roy Bryant and brother-in-law J.W. Milam in Tills abduction in 1955. While the men were arrested and acquitted on murder charges in Tills subsequent slaying, Donham, 21 at the time, was never taken into custody.

The 14-year-old Chicago boy was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he and some other children went to the store in the town of Money where Carolyn Bryant worked. Relatives told the AP that Till had whistled at the white woman, but denied that he touched her as shed claimed.

In an unpublished memoir obtained last month by the AP, Donham said Milam and her husband brought Till to her in the middle of the night for identification but that she tried to help the youth by denying it was him. She claimed that Till then volunteered that he was the one they were looking for.

Tills battered, disfigured body was found days later in a river, where it was weighted down with a heavy metal fan. The decision by his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, to open Tills casket for his funeral in Chicago demonstrated the horror of what had happened and added fuel to the civil rights movement.

Emmett Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago, was killed while visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi after store Caroyln Bryant Bonham claimed the teen whistled at her and touched her. AP Photo, File)

Following their acquittal, Bryant and Milam admitted to the abduction and killing in an interview with Look magazine. They were not charged with a federal crime, and both have long since died.

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice Department opened an investigation of Tills killing after it received inquiries about whether charges could be brought against anyone still living.

Tills body was exhumed, in part to confirm it was he. A 2005 autopsy found that Till died of a gunshot wound to the head, and that had fractures in his wrist bones, skull and femur.

In 2006, the FBI launched its Cold Case Initiative in an effort to identify and investigate racially-motivated murders. Two years later, Congress passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

The Justice Department said the statute of limitations had run out on any potential federal crime, but the FBI worked with state investigators to determine if state charges could be brought. In February 2007, a Mississippi grand jury declined to indict anyone, and the Justice Department announced it was closing the case.

But federal officials announced last year that they were once again closing their investigation, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she lied to the FBI.

Timothy Tyson, the North Carolina historian who interviewed Donham for his 2017 book, The Blood of Emmett Till, said the newly rediscovered warrant did nothing to appreciably change the concrete evidence against her. But he said the renewed focus on the case should compel Americans to face the racial and economic disparities that still exist here.

The Till case will not go away because the racism and ruthless indifference that created it remain with us, Tyson wrote in an email Tuesday. We see generations of Black children struggle against these obstacles, and many die due to systemic racism that is every bit as lethal as a rope or a revolver.

For Gordon, the renewed attention on the Till case has been a reminder of the social progress it helped spark.

It helps the younger generations identify how far weve come with the many liberties and civil rights that weve gained since Emmetts death, Gordon said. As his mother would say, his death was not in vain.

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The post Grand jury declined to indict white woman whose accusation led to Emmett Till lynching appeared first on TheGrio.
Aug. 10MANCHESTER  An investigation conducted by the State Police Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force has resulted in the arrest of a Hartford man who is accused of using fraudulent credit cards to purchase over $8,000 worth of appliances from P.C. Richard and Son.

The man, Jorge Monroy Hernandez, 32, was charged in July with organized retail theft, and conspiracy to commit each of the following: second-degree identity theft, third-degree identity theft, third-degree larceny, and using a revoked payment card.

According to a state police affidavit, events happened this way:

Hernandez and another unidentified individual went to the electronics and mattress store on Hale Road in March, and said they needed to purchase items for rental properties.

They purchased televisions, security cameras, air purifiers, speakers, thermostats, and a refrigerator.

The two men said their boss would provide the payment information over the phone, and two different credit card numbers were relayed to an employee, for a total purchase of $8,785 split between the two.

The two men provided a name and phone number of the purchaser on the invoice.

The store later received a charge-back for the transactions, because they were identified as fraudulent.

Police determined that one of the credit cards belonged to a person in Ohio, while the other was a business card connected to New York.

Both victims were contacted, and confirmed that they hadn't authorized the purchases and had reported them to their banks.

Using the phone number provided at the time of purchase, police analyzed call records, and found that a number belonging to Hernandez had called that number the day the purchases were made at P.C. Richard. This eventually led them to meet with Hernandez in May.

Hernandez explained that he had met a man at a restaurant in Hartford a few months before, who hired him to purchase some items for rental properties. Hernandez said he went to the store in March, not knowing that the credit cards were stolen.

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After leaving the store, Hernandez said he and the other man drove to Cromwell, where they met two men with a box truck, who loaded the items inside and drove away.

He called the man who hired him afterward, but was never paid for the job.

Police were eventually able to speak with a man of the same name Hernandez had provided, but that man said his identity had also been compromised.

He said he no longer lived in the state, and did not have any knowledge of what had happened.

For breaking news and happenings in North Central Connecticut, follow Matthew Knox on Twitter: @MatthewPKnoxJI, and Facebook: Matthew P. Knox JI.
A 75-year-old Hawaii man was accused Tuesday of the brutal rape and murder of a California teenager, four decades after her body was found by a cinder block wall in Silicon Valley, authorities said.

Gary Ramirez was linked to the 1982 killing of Karen Stitt, 15, after a Sunnyvale police detective was alerted to the killer's possible identity last year, according to court documents filed in Santa Clara County.

Ramirez, who grew up in the Fresno area and served in the Air Force, was arrested Aug. 2 in Maui and is expected to be extradited on charges of murder, kidnap and rape, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office said in a news release.

Karen Stitt, 15, of Palo Alto, around 1982. (Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office)

A trucker found Stitt's body on the morning of Sept. 3, 1982, at the base of a cinder block wall, according to a statement of facts included in the court documents.

An autopsy revealed that she'd been stabbed 59 times, the document says. Sunnyvale Police Detective Matt Hutchinson, who wrote the statement of facts, said the teen had also been raped.

Stitt's boyfriend, who had been with her the night before she was killed, was initially believed to be a suspect, the district attorney's office said.

They'd met on the night Sept. 2 at a 7-Eleven in Sunnyvale, where the boyfriend lived, and spent a few hours together before Stitt went to a bus stop for a ride home to Palo Alto, according to the statement of facts.

Her naked body was found 100 yards from the bus stop, the document says.

The boyfriend was ruled out as a suspect after a DNA analysis found that sperm collected from Stitt's body and male blood found at the crime scene didnt match a sample provided by the boyfriend.

No other suspect was identified, and the case remained cold until 2021, two years after Hutchinson teamed up with a genetic genealogist, The Associated Press reported.

The researcher found that a son of a woman named Rose Aguilera Ramirez may have killed Stitt, the statement of facts says.

Hutchinson found that the woman's family lived in the Fresno area and that she had four sons, according to the document. The detective ruled out two of the brothers as possible suspects using law enforcement and public records databases, the document says.

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When details for one of the two remaining brothers couldn't be verified, Hutchinson found a child of Gary Ramirez and obtained DNA, according to the statement of facts.

The county crime lab compared the DNA sample from the crime scene and found "very strong statistical support" that they were a match, the statement says.

It wasn't immediately clear whether Ramirez, who was arrested at his home in Makawao, has a lawyer to speak on his behalf.

One of his brothers, Rudy Ramirez, told the San Jose Mercury-News that he'd never seen his brother get violent or angry.

"He wouldn't hurt a fly," he told the newspaper.
Woman watering her garden

A drought has been declared in large parts of England and millions of households are facing hosepipe bans.

Announcing this, the Environment Agency urged people in the affected areas to "use water wisely" but added "government expects water companies to act to reduce leakage and fix leaking pipes as quickly as possible".

So how are these companies performing?

What is their record on leaks?

Daily demand for water in England and Wales was 14 billion litres (three billion gallons), in 2018.

But each day, another three billion litres was lost through leakage, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report.

Level of leakages has been pretty stable for 20 years. Annual leakage data for England. .

Tackling leaks is a big challenge as some of the 347,000km (216,000 miles) of water pipes date back to the 19th Century, according to Water UK.

In England, leaks fell by 36% between 1994 and 2000, according to the regulator, Ofwat, but since then, have only fallen by another 8%.

Scottish Water says it has reduced leaks from 1.1 billion to 463 million litres per day during the past 16 years.

By the 2050s, demand for water in England is expected to exceed supply, due to climate change and population growth.

And the most important way of bridging that gap will be tackling leaks, the NAO report says.

Most water companies in England and Wales plan to cut leakage by at least 15% between 2020 and 2025, working towards halving it by 2050.

In 2020-21, 13 out of the main 17 suppliers met their targets for the year, according to the latest Ofwat report.

Looking at some of the bigger suppliers:

Thames Water's target was 644.3m litres of water leaked daily - it lost 635.6m

United Utilities' target was 443.5m litres of water leaked daily - it lost 438.8m.

Severn Trent Water's target was 418.2m litres leaked daily - it lost 414.6m.

The companies that missed their targets were Northumbrian Water, South West Water, Southern Water and Affinity Water.

Reduced water levels are seen at Ardingly Reservoir,

What about reservoirs and other infrastructure?

Reservoirs are expensive and planning permission takes a long time. The last new reservoir - at Carsington, in Derbyshire - was built in 1992.

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Since then, the UK population has risen by about 10 million people and the effects of climate change are being felt.

"We really failed to adequately prepare for these conditions," Hannah Cloke, professor of hydrology, at Reading University told BBC News.

"It's poor investment - there's no modern infrastructure that's able to cope with these conditions."

The Havant Thicket reservoir, near Portsmouth, the first new reservoir in the South East since the 1970s, received planning permission last year.

But the project has proved controversial because the water companies involved are now planning to build a water recycling plant nearby to treat and purify wastewater. That water will then flow into the reservoir, combining with the water from underground springs that was in the original planning application.

Southern Water told BBC News that the new proposals are subject to further consultation and planning approvals.

Another potential answer to water shortages is desalination - converting salt water to drinking water.

Thames Water opened the UK's first desalination plant in Beckton, in 2010, but it is currently closed.

East Ham MP Stephen Timms has claimed this is because desalination is energy-intensive and energy prices are currently high - but the company insists it is closed to undertake essential maintenance.

The company said the plant was designed to run for short periods to boost London's water supply and had previously been used in 2016, 2018 and 2021.

And when it comes to the sewerage system, about 0.05% of the UK network is being replaced every year, compared with the European average of 0.5%, according to the Angling Trust.

How does the water industry work?

It was privatised in England and Wales in 1989 and water and sewerage services are now provided by 32 privately owned companies.

Their ownership varies. For example, Thames Water, the largest, is part-owned by a Canadian pension scheme and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.

Welsh Water, which serves most of Wales, Herefordshire and parts of Deeside, has been a not-for-profit company since 2001.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, water and sewerage is provided by Scottish Water and Northern Ireland Water, which are state owned.

Two workers on a dam

Between 2002 and 2018, Scottish Water had invested nearly 35% more per household than the average for English water companies, researchers at the University of Greenwich found.

And they said that English companies had paid their shareholders dividends of 18.9bn, between 2010 and 2021 - about half the amount they invested.

What about water transfers?

Scotland has 90% of the UK's freshwater reserves.

And the idea of transferring or selling water from Scotland to England - by shipping or via pipelines - has been raised.

But in 2020, the Scottish government said this "would not be economically viable at this time".

The UK Environment Agency says only 4% of water supplies are transferred between individual water companies.

But a number of new water-transfer projects have been proposed, using rivers, canals and pipelines.

What about using less water?

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has committed to setting a target for water companies to reduce consumption, as part of its 25-year environment plan.

The current level of consumption in England is 141 litres per person each day, up from 85 in the 1960s.

That needs to fall by about 35 litres, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) says.

It has made cutting consumption its priority action for 2022.

Water companies want to raise the proportion of households with meters from 52%, in 2019, to 83%, by 2045.

"The reluctance by government to commit to compulsory water metering  entirely commonplace in many other countries and for other utilities here in the UK  shows the need for a public debate about risks, solutions and costs," the NIC said.

"A power shower for 10 minutes uses 130 litres of water, which is the average daily consumption of an individual," Sir John Armitt, who chairs the NIC, said.

"If we know that we're paying for it and we know how much we are using, then that can be an incentive to use less".

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The pound jumped on Wednesday after a better-than-expected US inflation report spurred expectations the Federal Reserve will slow the pace of interest rate hikes.

Sterling jumped as much as 1.6pc in afternoon trading, after data showed US consumer prices rose 8.5pc in the year to July, a fall on Junes 9.1pc reading.

The slowdown, which was sharper than expected, sparked hopes that America may have passed the peak of the worst inflationary storm since the 1980s. The drop was driven by a sharp decline in road fuel prices.

President Joe Biden seized on the figures, saying: We're seeing some signs that inflation may be beginning to moderate.

Traders adjusted their expectations for the Feds future interest rate path following the reading. Markets are now pricing in a 0.5 percentage point increase at next months meeting, rather than the 0.75 point rise previously predicted.

A smaller increase would ease pressure on the Bank of England, which has faced calls to support the pound by trying to match the Feds pace in increasing rates. Central bank rate rises tend to strengthen domestic currencies by making them more lucrative to hold.

Wednesday's rally a small relief for sterling, which is one of the worst-performing major global currencies this year, down 9.5pc against the dollar.

Jane Foley, a foreign exchange strategist at Rabobank, said investors remained focused on the UKs poor growth potential.

Long-term issues over low productivity growth in the UK and a lack of clear direction likely contributed to weak investment levels and a lacklustre performance of the pound, she said.

Steven Blitz, chief US economist at TS Lombard, said the Feds path was still unclear.

There is still a lot more data to come and dynamics to play out  and the Fed likes to see at least three-months of data moving in the same direction before declaring a trend, he said.

The report buoyed Mr Biden, who has been boosted in recent days after a breakthrough for his flagship economic legislation in congress, including a major bill to tackle climate change.

Story continues

06:01 PM

Wrapping up

That's all from us, thank you for following! Before you go, have a look at the latest stories from our reporters:

06:00 PM

Wall Street on the rise

Over in the US, Wall Street's main indices rose more than 1pc after the latest inflation reading.

US consumer prices were unchanged in July due to a sharp drop in the cost of gasoline, delivering the first notable sign of relief for weary Americans who have watched prices climb over the past two years.

Traders are now pricing in a 41.5pc chance of a 75-basis-point increase in fund rates at the Fed's next meeting in September, compared with 67.5pc before the data.

"(Inflation at) 8.5pcis still very high, but there is optimism that perhaps June was the peak," said Randy Frederick, vice president of trading and derivatives for Charles Schwab.

However, he warned that producer prices data for July on Thursday, and August's inflation and employment data next month are still pending before the central bank meeting that could alter the course of the Fed again.

05:37 PM

FTSE 100 ends in the green

The FTSE 100 has closed higher as investors cheered signs of moderating inflationary pressures in the US.

The index edged up 0.3pc to 7,507 to close at a fresh two-month high, even though strength in sterling and weakness in healthcare stocks weighed on it.

Wall Street rallied after data showing a slower-than-expected rise in US consumer prices prompted traders to cut their bets on aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve next month.

"The market is thinking the Fed won't be hiking as aggressively so sterling has jumped and because the FTSE 100 has a lot more multinational companies - it's got dollar revenues and earnings - it is underperforming," said Patrick Armstrong, chief investment officer at Plurimi Wealth.

05:14 PM

Prudential hit by Covid lockdowns in Hong Kong

Moving on to another insurer, Prudentials pivot to Asia has been hit by draconian Zero Covid lockdowns in China, while rival insurer Aviva enjoys booming demand for its products in the UK and Ireland. Simon Foy reports:

Prudential said its Hong Kong business was badly hit by Chinese lockdowns and warned that market conditions will remain challenging for the rest of the year. The Asia-focused insurer reported a 31pc drop in new business profits at its Hong Kong division during the first half of the year, while profits from new mainland China customers fell to almost zero. Before the pandemic hit in 2019, Pru made profits of nearly $700m (572m) from customers in mainland China travelling to the city state to buy insurance policies but this has ground to a halt as communist officials have kept the border closed for more than two years. Mark FitzPatrick, Prudentials interim chief executive, said: Although there are signs that Covid-19-related impacts in many of our markets are stabilising, over the remainder of the year we expect that operating conditions may continue to be challenging.

04:50 PM

Aviva raises dividend as results beat expectations

Aviva has increased its dividend following better-than-expected figures and said it is planning more share buybacks.

The insurance giant already dished out 4.75bn to shareholders after selling off chunks of the business in recent years. It is now increasing its interim dividend payout by 40pc to 10.3p a share.

It came as the group reported a 14pc rise in half-year profits to 829m.

The FTSE 100 group has come under pressure from activist investor Cevian, which has been pushing for 5bn in cash returns by the end of 2022.

04:27 PM

E.on slashes value of its Nord Stream stake as Russia cuts gas supplies

German energy giant E.ON has cut the value of its stake in a key gas pipeline from Russia to Europe, citing heightened uncertainty amid the war in Ukraine. Rachel Millard writes:

E.ON has written down the value of its stake in Nord Stream 1 by 700m as the conflict throws its future into doubt. The company owns a 15.5pc stake in the Nord Stream 1 pipeline under the Baltic Sea between western Russia and Germany, which has become a flashpoint for tensions over gas supplies since the war began. In March it valued the stake at 1.2bn (1bn) but it has now cut that to about 500m, chief financial officer Marc Spieker told reporters on Wednesday.

03:55 PM

Boeing delivers first 787 Dreamliner since April 2021

American Airlines has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner since April 2021, a milestone for the planemaker.

The airline's chief Robert Isom confirmed the delivery in an Instagram post, saying, "This is the first of nine 787s we expect to receive this year."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) earlier this month cleared the way for the delivery of the first plane. Boeing halted deliveries in May 2021 after the FAA raised concerns about its proposed inspection method.

03:37 PM

Handing over

That's all from me for today  thanks for following! Giulia Bottaro is in the hot seat for the rest of the day.

03:32 PM

EDF calls for more energy bill support

EDF has called on the Government to do more to support households ahead of a meeting with ministers to discuss soaring energy bills.

The French utility giant, which is the UK's fourth-biggest supplier, said the Government needs to work with the industry to find a "viability solution" for customers this winter.

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng are due to meet energy bosses tomorrow.

It comes after the latest forecasts showed energy bills are set to top 4,200 in January, deepening the crisis for British families at a time when many are already struggling to pay.

03:14 PM

Germany raises income tax thresholds as UK families brace for 30bn stealth raid

German finance minister Christian Lindner - Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg

Germany is preparing 10bn (8.5bn) of relief for families battling the rising cost of living as British households brace for a 30bn stealth tax raid spurred by price increases.

Louis Ashworth has more:

Finance minister Christian Lindner said the country would raise income tax thresholds while millions of UK taxpayers are dragged into higher bands, costing them 30bn a year. Germany will increase the base tax-free allowance and also bring up the level at which the countrys 42pc top income tax rate kicks in to help counter soaring inflation. Mr Lindner said: To allow for a tax increase during these times is not fair, and is dangerous for economic development." Families with dependent children would also get further relief, he said. Mr Lindner said the action  dubbed the inflation compensation law  would support the broad middle of families, giving people 192 extra on average. He warned of the dangers of bracket creep, in which rising salaries tip people into higher tax brackets.

Read Louis' full story here

02:45 PM

Treasury picks four new directors in BoE shake-up

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi is said to have approved four new directors to the Bank of England's governing body.

The appointments, reported by Sky News, could be announced in the coming days as part of a shake-up. It comes amid growing political scrutiny over the Bank's efforts to tackle inflation.

The new directors are:

Former investment banker Jitesh Gadhia

Soumen Das , chief financial officer at Segro and a non-executive director at Next

Sabine Chalmers , BT's general counsel

Tom Shropshire, Diageo's general counsel

02:36 PM

Wall Street jumps as rate rise fears ease

Wall Street's main indices have opened sharply higher after softer-than-expected US inflation eased worries about further interest rate rises.

The benchmark S&P 500 jumped 1.7pc, while the Dow Jones was up 1.4pc. The strongest gains were on the tech-heavy Nasdaq, which leapt 2.4pc.

02:24 PM

Reaction: Services inflation still 'very hot'

There's a more cautious response from analyst Callie Cox, who warns inflation in the services sector is still surging on an annual basis.

Services inflation making methe more I look at it.



Yes, slowing month over month, but VERY hot year over year (and rising).



That's pure demand -- and services inflation can stick around.  Callie Cox (@callieabost) August 10, 2022

02:16 PM

Falling fuel prices bring inflation relief

The main factor behind July's inflation slowdown is a decline in petrol prices in the US.

Gasoline prices have dropped by almost a dollar from their peak earlier this year. Compare that to the UK, where petrol prices have started to ease back, but at a much slower rate.

Average US gasoline (petrol) prices peaked at $5.11 a gallon earlier this year - but are now back down to $4.15 pic.twitter.com/6PCeWWCywf  Ben Chu (@BenChu_) August 10, 2022

02:10 PM

Traders pare back bets on Fed interest rate rises

Markets are toning down their bets on further interest rate rises by the Federal Reserve after US inflation fell short of forecasts.

Traders are now betting on 59 basis points of hikes at the Fed's next meeting in September, suggesting a move of 0.5pc is considered more likely than an aggressive 0.75pc increase.

Meanwhile, the two-year Treasury yield briefly exceeded the 10-year rate by the most in around four decades, before ripping back lower after the data came through.

That suggests markets are now much less worried about the short-term prospects for economic growth as the Fed slows its tightening of monetary policy.

02:05 PM

Reaction: Slowing inflation gives risk assets new lease of life

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG Group, says the latest figures will give a boost to riskier assets such as stocks and the pound.

The softer inflation print has given risk assets the new lease on life they were looking for, and seems to confirm the idea that some sort of Fed pause might take place in the final months of 2022. Futures are surging and the dollar is firmly on the back foot. It looks like the drop in commodity prices has done its job, and while inflation is still at levels that would be considered eye-watering a year ago, the turn in direction has been greeted with relief by risk assets. Having struggled for a few days, equities seem well-placed to push on from here, extending their summer rally.

02:00 PM

Market relief over cooling core inflation

Markets were expecting the consumer price index to ease in July, so the headline figures won't be much of a surprise.

What's more encourage, though, is that so-called core inflation  which strips out food and energy prices  was also below expectations at 5.9pc.

This will help to ease concerns that inflation is becoming embedded throughout the economy.

We knew headline inflation would slow in July because of falling gas prices. But "core" inflation (excluding food and energy) also cooled on a month-to-month basis: Prices up 0.3% in July, vs 0.7% in June. Year-over-year up 5.9%, same as a month earlier.  Ben Casselman (@bencasselman) August 10, 2022

01:51 PM

Reaction: Too early to declare victory over inflation

Mike Bell, global market strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management, also warns that the US isn't out of the woods yet.

Much will inevitably be made of the fact that US inflation appears to finally be peaking. However, with core inflation still significantly above target, it is far too early for the Fed to declare victory and stop raising rates. With the Atlanta Feds measure of wage growth now at 6.7pc, core inflation is unlikely to return to anywhere near target until wage pressures moderate significantly. With unemployment at the lowest level in over 50 years and workers demanding pay rises to try to keep up with inflation, its hard to see wage growth moderating by enough to return inflation to target without first seeing a rise in unemployment. So while a peak in inflation is welcome news, its probably not enough to allow the Fed to ease off its tightening or to put recession fears to bed.

01:44 PM

Pound surges as US inflation slows

Sterling has surged against a weaker dollar after US inflation data came in lower than forecast.

The pound jumped 1.3pc against the US currency to $1.2232  its highest level since August 2.

01:42 PM

Reaction: Inflation levels still concerning

Richard Flynn, managing director of Charles Schwab UK, says the Fed will have to keep acting to tackle inflation, despite the slowdonw.

Whilst todays inflation rate is below the rate recorded last month, the figure is far above the 2pc target. Therell still be widespread concern about price rises across the economy. In recent months, the Fed has been talking and acting tough on fighting inflation  twice raising interest rates by 0.75 basis points, taking its benchmark to 2.25-2.5pc. Investors are likely to ask how high will rates need to go to restore price stability. The Fed is indicating its likely to keep hiking rates despite widespread signs of an economic slowdown. Indeed, first and second quarter real GDP growth was already negative. Markets are pricing in half-percentage-point rate hikes or more at the Feds next four meetings. Whilst a recession isnt the Feds ambition, it may have already tightened financial conditions enough for one to develop.

01:40 PM

US inflation slows

US inflation eased back by more than expected in July  a welcome sign price rises may have peaked.

The consumer price index rose 8.5pc from a year earlier, but this was much cooler than the 9.1pc rise the previous month.

The driving force behind the decline was energy prices, which fell back sharply. This offset rises in food and accommodation costs.

Cooler US CPI #inflation in July



Headline CPI: 0%

- Core: 0.3%

- Energy: -4.6% with gasoline -7.7%

- Food: 1.1%



 Headline inflation: 8.5% y/y (-0.6ppt)

 Core inflation: 5.9% y/y (flat) https://t.co/W6JJJWDBWe  Gregory Daco (@GregDaco) August 10, 2022

01:20 PM

Gas prices rise as Rhine crisis deepens

Natural gas prices surged as low water levels in the Rhine threaten to hamper energy shipments, adding to supply woes.

The Rhine is set to become virtually impassable at a key point in Germany on August 12, which could severely restrict the flow of coal and other fuels.

That comes as the continent is already grappling with a crunch in energy supplies after Putin slashed gas flows to the continent.

Benchmark European prices jumped as much as 5.4pc, ending a three-session slide.

12:43 PM

Used car sales fall as drivers hold onto vehicles for longer

ICYMI  Used car sales are suffering from a shortage of vehicles as manufacturers continue to grapple with a lack of computer chips.

Howard Mustoe reports:

Sales of secondhand cars in the three months to the end of June fell 14 pc below pre-pandemic levels to 1.76m. That was 19pc below the high seen last year, equivalent to 407,820 fewer cars sold. Last year saw the busiest quarter since records began, as buyers flocked to forecourts after an easing of coronavirus-related restrictions. The drop-off in transactions comes as problems further up the supply chain put downward pressure on the number of cars coming onto the market. A dearth of computer chips around the world has slowed production lines and choked off the supply of new cars. Supply problems mean about 2m cars have been "lost" due to production constraints since the pandemic began, according to Ian Plummer of Auto Trader. That leaves many car owners reluctant to sell their vehicles, with the waiting time for some new models currently over a year.

Read Howard's full story here

12:23 PM

Government working on new support package for next PM, says Simon Clarke

The Government is working on new cost-of-living support measures for the next prime minister to consider, Treasury minister Simon Clarke has said.

Mr Clarke, who is backing Liz Truss in the leadership race, said: "Of course, the Government is working up a package of cost of living support that the next Prime Minister can consider when they take office."

But he said it was "absolutely right" to wait until the next prime minister is in place before acting.

It comes amid growing calls for the Government to provide more support for households as energy bills rise even further.

2/4 It is absolutely right to consider these options in the round when the new Prime Minister has taken office - rather than announce new un-costed policies, without sight of all the details of the pressures people could face, during a leadership election.  Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) August 10, 2022

12:10 PM

US futures edge higher ahead of inflation data

US futures posted modest gains this morning in cautious trading ahead of inflation data that will shape the outlook for further interest rate rises.

The figures are expected to show a cooling in the consumer price index for July, while the measure of core inflation may have accelerated.

The data will be taken as a key indication of how the Federal Reserve moves forward with its plans for tightening monetary policy.

Futures tracking the benchmark S&P 500 and Dow Jones were both up 0.2pc, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.3pc.

11:58 AM

Ed Davey blasts 'cosy meeting' of energy bosses

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey is forthright in his assessment of how the Government is handling the energy crisis.

He takes aim at a "cosy meeting" between energy bosses and ministers, which is due to take place in Downing Street tomorrow.

Instead, he calls for the price cap rise to be scrapped to prevent a "social catastrophe".

We dont need a cosy meeting with energy bosses in Downing Street - we need to cancel the energy price rise to stop a social catastrophe in our country, it is as simple as that.  Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) August 10, 2022

11:44 AM

Liz Truss backs new powers to override City watchdogs

Liz Truss has hinted she'll give ministers the power to override financial regulators if she becomes prime minister  a move that would further ignite tensions with the Bank of England.

Allies of Truss say she favours "call-in" powers allowing the Government to block or change the decisions of watchdogs including the Bank's PRA and the FCA.

Her position, first reported by the Financial Times, means regulators will be gearing up for a fight regardless of who wins the Tory leadership race.

Rishi Sunak has previously said that call-in powers are needed to ensure politicians  not "faceless regulators"  are accountable for regulatory decisions.

11:27 AM

Security staff at Leeds Bradford airport vote to strike

Amid the mounting wildcat strike action, there are also further official walkouts on the horizon.

Security staff at Leeds Bradford airport have voted 93pc in favour of strike action over pay.

The GMB union said its members will walk out at the end of August if a meaningful offer to increase pay isn't forthcoming. It said the move could leave thousands of passengers grounded.

The union called for an immediate, "substantial" increase in hourly pay after bosses implemented discretionary and performance related bonuses, which are inaccessible to many security staff.

GMB said work pressures caused by chronic understaffing also prompted the action.

11:13 AM

Rhine to become impassable by Friday as German energy nightmare becomes reality

Rhine river boats coal - Ben Kilb/Bloomberg

Germanys Rhine river will become impassable for barges carrying coal, oil and gas later this week, in a devastating blow to factories upriver.

Louis Ashworth has more:

Levels at Kaub, a key point along the waterway west of Frankfurt, are predicted to fall to below 40cm on Friday, according to the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration. At that chokepoint, the river becomes effectively impassable for many barges, which use the Rhine to move a range of goods including coal, oil and gas. Water levels will then fall further to 37cm on Saturday, officials warned. The river runs from Switzerland through France and Germany to the Netherlands, where it joins the North Sea. It is a vital supply line for several major companies, providing transit and plentiful water for engine cooling. A typical barge has the same capacity as more than 100 lorries. Rental rates for the vessels have soared as navigation becomes more difficult. These include BASF, the German blue-chip chemicals giant which has a huge facility at Ludwigshafen, electricity generator RWE and Swiss chemicals group Novartis.

Read Louis' full story here

10:53 AM

Truss' tax cuts would boost UK earnings, says Barclays

Liz Truss' plans for tax cuts if she becomes prime minister would boost UK earnings but wouldn't be enough to "move the needle" for British stocks.

That's according to analysts at Barclays, who said the leadership candidate's policies would boost GBP by 0.5 percentage points and medium-term inflation by no more than 0.25 percentage points.

Scrapping the corporation tax hike would boost FTSE 250 earnings by about 6pc, while international FTSE 100 companies would get a 3pc uplift.

Mid-cap firms could also benefit from Ms Truss' plan to reserve the National Insurance hike and remove a green levy on energy bills, given the likely boost to household spending.

Still, the Barclays analysts said they weren't getting "more constructive" on UK stocks yet due to weak PMI data and low consumer confidence.

10:25 AM

Musk sells $7bn of Tesla stock to avoid Twitter fire sale

Elon Musk has sold $6.9bn (5.7bn) worth of shares in Tesla, saying he wanted to avoid a fire sale in the event he's forced to go ahead with his takeover of Twitter.

The world's richest person sold about 7.92m shares on August 5, according to regulatory filings. The Telsa chief tweeted that he was done selling and would buy shares in the electric-car maker if the Twitter deal doesnt close.

Tesla rose 3.4pc in pre-market trading, while Twitter jumped 4.3pc.

Yes.



In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners dont come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 10, 2022

10:12 AM

Workers at Scottish oil refinery stage 'unofficial' strike

Workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland are taking unofficial strike action as part of a nationwide protest.

Around 250 workers are said to have downed tools and temporarily blocked access to the site in a row over pay. Grangemouth supplies two-thirds of the petrol and diesel needed for forecourts in Scotland.

Operator Ineos said manufacturing and fuel disruption were unaffected.

10:00 AM

Germany plans 10bn relief package as inflation soars

Germany will offer tax relief worth 10bn (8.5bn) to help workers cope with soaring inflation.

Finance Minister Christian Lindner said the package will raise base tax-free allowance as well as bring up the level from which the top income tax rate of 42pc will apply.

Families will also benefit from higher tax exemptions for dependent children.

Inflation in Germany reached 7.5pc in July  fractionally lower than the 7.6pc recorded in June  fuelled mainly by soaring energy prices.

Mr Lindner said his plan was aimed primarily at fighting the problem of employees who find themselves with a higher tax burden because they have received a pay increase to combat inflation. As a result, the gain the workers have received is wiped out essentially by the higher taxes due.

09:51 AM

Households face 30bn stealth raid from Rishi Sunak's tax freeze

ICYMI  Families will pay an extra 30bn a year in tax as soaring inflation drags millions of people into higher income tax bands, according to a leading think-tank.

Szu Ping Chan has more:

Rising prices and former chancellor Rishi Sunaks freeze on tax thresholds have left workers facing a stealth raid on their earnings, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said. The change is due to so-called fiscal drag, which pushes people into higher income tax brackets as pay rises. Tax allowances usually rise in line with inflation but were frozen last year by Mr Sunak until 2026. The 30bn in extra income tax is almost four times as much as the Government was originally expected to raise from Mr Sunaks policy and will wipe out any gains from tax cuts promised by leadership frontrunner Liz Truss. Ms Truss has pledged to reverse a 14bn rise in National Insurance (NI) contributions introduced by her rival.

Read Szu's full story here

09:35 AM

Eon writes down value of Nord Stream stake by more than half

Eon has slashed the value of its stake in the Nord Stream pipeline by around 700m (591m) amid "heightened uncertainty" over the war in Ukraine and Putin's gas cuts.

Earlier this year the German company said its 15.5pc stake was worth 1.2bn, meaning the value has tumbled by almost 60pc. It comes after Moscow cut flows through the key gas link.

Eon also reported a 15pc fall in profits to just over 4bn in the first half of the year as it was squeezed by surging energy prices.

Leonhard Birnbaum, chief executive of Eon, said: "The current energy crisis finally makes clear that Europe needs to transform its energy system. To be independent of Russian gas. To ensure supply security."

09:14 AM

Lord Wolfson steps down from Deliveroo board as losses widen

Deliveroo Lord Wolfson - REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Lord Wolfson has stepped down from the board of Deliveroo as the food delivery companys loss widened in the first half.

The Next boss said the time required to fulfil the role was no longer compatible with my executive and other commitments.

It came as Deliveroo posted a pre-tax loss of 147.3m for the first half of 2022, compared to losses of 95.4m a year earlier.

It also saw growth in group sales by gross transaction value slow sharply to 2pc in the second quarter  down from 12pc in the previous three months.

The slowdown reflects waning demand for takeaways as the cost-of-living crisis takes its toll on household budgets.

Deliveroo has increased customer fees and started selling ads on its app in a bid to increase revenue.

08:57 AM

FTSE risers and fallers

The FTSE 100 has slipped into the red in early trading as caution gripped markets ahead of US inflation figures due this afternoon.

The blue-chip index was down 0.2pc, moving further away from a two-month peak hit earlier this week.

Asia-focused insurer Prudential fell 1.5pc as it warned of challenging conditions for the rest of the year as Covid curbs persist in some markets.

Insurer Aviva, however, rose 4.9pc after saying it planned to give more money back to shareholders as it posted a better-than-expected 14pc rise in first-half operating profit.

The domestically-focused FTSE 250 also fell 0.2pc, with Royal Mail down as much as 3.4pc after it warned a planned strike would push it to a full-year loss.

08:29 AM

Tui takes 63m hit from travel chaos

Tui travel chaos - REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo

Holiday group Tui has taken a 75m (63m) from the recent travel chaos that's led to lengthy delays and cancellations at airports.

The German company said its customers were affected by about 200 cancelled flights in May and June, in particular due to woes at Manchester Airport amid staff shortages.

Tui remained loss-making in the three months to the end of June due to the costs of the airport disruption, reporting underlying pre-tax losses of 27m.

It said that, with the airport disruption impact stripped out, it would have reported underlying earnings of 48m  its first quarterly profit since the pandemic struck

Both Heathrow and Gatwick have told airlines to cut their flight schedules as staff shortages have left them unable to cope with the rebound in travel demand after the pandemic.

Tui's chief financial officer and incoming boss, Sebastian Ebel, said he will hold "intensive" talks with airports and airlines, as well as resorts, as he looks to improve the customer experience.

08:15 AM

Royal Mail says strike will spark full-year loss

Royal Mail strikes CWU - REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

Royal Mail has warned it will crash to a full-year loss if 115,000 posties go ahead with a planned strike over pay.

The company said it will be "materially loss making" in the 2023 financial year in the event of walkouts by the Communication Workers Union over four days in August and September.

Royal Mail said it's ready to negotiate with the CWU to "try and avert damaging industrial action", though any talks must address changes to working practices as well as pay.

It said the union had "failed to engage meaningfully on the business changes required" despite more than three months of talks.

The CWU yesterday said it would go on strike in protest over a pay increase of just 2pc.

Read more on this story: Royal Mail workers announce biggest strike of the summer

08:06 AM

UK energy debts hit record 1.3bn ahead of winter price surge

There's more data this morning highlighting the extent of the energy crisis facing households.

Tom Haynes reports:

Existing debt to energy providers will immediately swallow up half of Rishi Sunaks cost of living crisis payment to households. According to price comparison site Uswitch, six million households owe an average of 206 to providers. This figure is 250pc more than in September last year. Overall, households owe a record sum of 1.3bn to energy suppliers, even though summer is usually a time when households build up their credit ahead of higher winter bills. Mr Sunaks cost of living payment, announced in May when he was chancellor, promised a minimum non-repayable grant of 400 to ease the impact of soaring energy bills. However, households will be left with less than half of this after existing debts to suppliers are paid off. Uswitch said the number of homes in credit had dropped from 11 million to nine million since April, and now eight million households have no credit balances at all, leaving them most exposed to higher bills.

Read Tom's full story here

08:01 AM

FTSE 100 opens lower

The FTSE 100 has lost ground at the open as investors turn their attention to US inflation figures due this afternoon.

The blue-chip index slipped 0.2pc to 7,473 points.

07:58 AM

Sunak ally calls for expansion of windfall tax

Calls are mounting for the Government to expand its planned windfall tax on energy giants as the price cap continues to surge.

Former minister Theresa Villiers, an ally of Rishi Sunak, said the Government should "seriously consider" expanding the windfall tax, suggesting firms could play a bigger part in helping customers.

Rishi Sunak-supporter Theresa Villiers MP says the govt does "need to look at the huge levels of corporate income" to see if oil and gas companies "can play a part in further help for their customers who are suffering".



Cost of living latest: https://t.co/xOdJ0Y1FIX



 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/gItydSsj1s  Sky News (@SkyNews) August 10, 2022

07:41 AM

Octopus boss calls for extra 500 energy support

Good morning.

Households need at least an extra 500 to survive soaring energy bills this winter as predictions for the price cap just keep going up.

That's according to Octopus Energy boss Greg Jackson, who said current plans for 400 help "clearly isn't sufficient" and urged the Government to go further.

He said direct help on energy bills would not only help families survive the winter, but also help to tackle inflation.

It comes after the latest predictions from Cornwall Insight found bills are set to top 4,200 a year by January.

Meanwhile, The Sun reports that energy bosses will meet ministers tomorrow amid plans to ramp up an existing 25pc windfall tax on the profits of major producers.

5 things to start your day

1) Heathrows Spanish owner considers selling stake amid airport chaos Ferrovial has previously warned about committing more funding following row over landing charges

2) Used car sales fall as drivers hold onto vehicles for longer Chip shortage chokes production lines, leading to a lack of supply on secondhand market

3) Taxpayer-backed tech startup falls into administration as investor writes off 79m stake Ticketing firm Pollen had received backing from Rishi Sunaks Future Fund

4) The last thing we need to fight energy poverty is Soviet price controls or Macrons coddling of the affluent Allowing the state to intervene could lead to damaging consequences

5) EDF sues French government for 8.4bn after Macron forces it to sell energy at a loss Nuclear giant estimates price cap could cost it 15bn over the year

What happened overnight

Asian shares fell and the dollar steadied on Wednesday as investors waited for a key US report on inflation to provide hints to the Federal Reserve's plans for future monetary tightening.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) report will be released later today, with markets watching for signs that inflation eased in July despite last week's unexpectedly strong US jobs numbers.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.51pc, while Japan's Nikkei extended losses from the previous day and was down 0.65pc.

South Korea's KOSPI lost 0.64pc, Australia's AXJO dropped 0.12pc, and Taiwan's TAIEX fell 0.7pc.

Coming up today
Mary Altaffer/AP

A New York congressional candidates father played a small part in the biggest financial scandal of the past decadeat a time when the candidate herself was managing the familys assets.

The massive Panama Papers leak of 2016 exposed more than 214,000 once-opaque firms and triggered prosecutions and political meltdowns across the planet. The trove of shady businesses reported by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists included an entity called Tri-Stone Ltd., which, like the other covert companies uncovered, had as its agent the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonsecaan outfit that the Central American nations attorney general labeled a criminal organization that is dedicated to hiding money assets from suspicious origins.

Like almost a third of the entities revealed, Tri-Stone Ltd. had its roots in China and Hong Kong. And, like almost half of Mossack Fonseca concerns, it was organized in the British Virgin Islandsan infamous tax haven and lockbox for corporate secrets.

But what marks Tri-Stone Ltd. apart is that it has not just a name but a U.S. address attached: Chorng-Shyr Niou, a longtime researcher and director at the Chinese state-owned Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., and a Seattle townhouse that served as home for his three children. One of those children, his eldest daughter Yuh-Line Niou, controlled his and his wifes finances in America and signed the documents to acquire the propertyand today, she is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

New York Assemblywoman Niou has represented Manhattans Chinatown and adjacent communities since 2017, having left the West Coast for New York City a few years earlier to pursue a masters degree and a career in politics. She is now a contender in the Democratic primary for the Empire States new 10th District, presenting herself as a progressive alternative to Rep. Mondaire Jones, former Trump impeachment counsel Daniel Goldman, and City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera, among others, and earning herself the endorsement of the influential left-wing Working Families Party.

Story continues

In a brief phone interview with The Daily Beast, Niou denied having ever heard of Tri-Stone Ltd. or possessing any knowledge of its activities. She acknowledged, however, that she and her two younger siblings were the main occupants of the Seattle address associated with the entity at the time of its incorporation, as her brother and sister attended college while she worked as a lobbyist in Washington State. Before cutting the call short, the lawmaker maintained her parents resided during that period at their property in Vancouver.

A company name plate is displayed next to the entrance of Mossack Fonseca & Co. (Asia) Limited in Hong Kong. Reuters

Its not clear what business purpose Tri-Stone served before it became inactive in 2013, and the campaign declined to discuss its purpose on the record. The British Virgin Islands records contain scant details, part of the archipelagos appeal as a business base.

But in the months before her father established Tri-Stone in December 2007, Niouthen in her mid-twentiesassumed her parents power of attorney in both Vancouver and Seattle, which public records indicate allowed her to acquire the Seattle address her father used to found the firm. The power of attorney documents filed in King County, where Seattle is located, refer explicitly to this parcel. Further, Niou inked the mortgage to purchase the property on her parents behalf. The prior year, they had signed over similar authority to her for a property they owned in El Paso, Texas.

In all of these cases the documents her parents signed, which were subsequently filed with county authorities, were notarized at the American Consulate in Shanghai, where Chinas Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation is based.

Offshore entities are a common tool for evading tax officials and official capital controls and for acquiring hard assets overseas, noted James Lewis, vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Rich Chinese people usually have two goals: 1) Get their money out of China (buying real estate is a normal trick for this), in case things go south with the Party, the former diplomat wrote in an email. 2) Avoid paying taxes (not confined to wealthy Chinese).

John Oliver Explains the Panama Papers: This Is Absolutely Huge

Bill Majcher, a Hong Kong-based investigator who tracks down money-launderers and tax-dodgers for corporate and government clients, concurred. A deep distrust prevails between the Chinese elite and their government, an after-effect of 20th century Maoist repression.

If you generate wealth in China, you better figure out how to get it out of China, the former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer told The Daily Beast. Whatever you have can be gone tomorrow. They trust very few peoplethey trust their family.

Echoing other analysts, Majcher asserted that Hong Kong, where one of Tri-Stones agents is based, serves as a laundromat for scrubbing money flows from the mainland. One of the citys colonial legacies is its history of English common law and connections to the dominions of the old British Empire. That includes the British Virgin Islands, which Majcher described as the preferred jurisdiction for avoiding the regulatory and fiscal reach of Beijing.

What is unusual about Tri-Stone, a third expert on Hong Kong corporate governance and corruption argued to The Daily Beast, is its connection to Mossack Fonseca. The companys Hong Kong-based agent did not work for a well-known or even formally registered accounting firm, but its connection to the international corporate services provider would have been a key attraction for customers.

The use of a Panamanian company is super-rare, said the expert, who requested anonymity to speak freely. Having them help would have been a selling point for the local affiliate.

For decades, Mossack Fonseca was a favorite firm of members of the global ultra-elite, who sought to stash their riches in obscure jurisdictions out of view of both the public and the public authorities. Its brass eventually escaped conviction for money-laundering in Panama, but the operationonce the fourth-biggest provider of offshore legal and financial services in the worldnonetheless shuttered for good in 2018.

The 2016 leak was particularly humiliating for China, not just because of the density of entities linked to the country, but because the revelations implicated members of the Communist Partys uppermost echelons: including relatives of China President Xi Jinping.

Public records and statements place both of Nious parents on the mainland in the lead-up to Tri-Stones creation, when their daughter took control of their U.S. assets. Between 2005 and 2009, Nious father was listed as an assignor for several patents SMIC filed in the United States while using an address in Shanghai. A corporate press release datelined in the Chinese megacity around the same time also identified Nious mother as an assistant director at the firm, while her fathers LinkedIn account identifies him as a senior director. Her mother seems to have subsequently gone to work as chief operating officer of a health-care conglomerate, but her and her husbands LinkedIn profiles both place them in China. So do the documents related to the Seattle propertys sale in 2019, which were again stamped in the American consulate in Shanghai. Efforts to reach the elder Nious proved unsuccessful.

The U.S. government sanctioned SMIC in 2020 over alleged ties with Chinas military, citing evidence of activities between SMIC and entities of concern in the Chinese military industrial complex. (SMIC has repeatedly denied these accusations.)

The SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation) logo of a Chinese semiconductor foundry company. SOPA Images/Getty

The campaign told The Daily Beast that both parents left SMIC long before the Trump administration levied sanctions against the company, and that they now reside in the United States. The semiconductor industry is a particularly prized operation for China, as it is key to Chinas military-civil fusion doctrine and its plans to establish its military as the most technologically advanced in the world. Theres no evidence that Nious parents had any connections to Chinas defense sector, aside from working for SMIC.

But it would be highly unlikely that employees of SMIC, and their families, would fly under Beijings radar, said Holden Triplett, the former head of the FBI in Beijing.

Individuals working for companies in sensitive industries or industries important to the national security of China are very unlikely to not be known to Chinese security services, Triplett said. It becomes a matter of national security in Chinas eyes.

Lewis, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the 2000swhen both of Nious parents worked at the firmrepresented the heyday of U.S.-Chinese relations. SMICs leadership then consisted of talented technocrats with strong American ties, he said, not the Communist Party cadre embedded in its management today.

Nonetheless, he and multiple experts The Daily Beast consulted for this story agreed that it is the countrys privileged but closely watched upper crust who go through the costly and complicated process of setting up overseas entities out of Hong Kong.

I saw this a lot in L.A. and Vancouver. It looks like the behavior of rich people, he wrote to The Daily Beast. Thats why the Panama Papers had over 200,000 listings.

Before this story was published Nious campaign refused multiple requests to comment on the record. After publication the campaign took to social media to state the story was anti-immigrant and racist, though it did not dispute any facts this article raised.

Yuh-Line has nothing to hide, the campaign said on Twitter. The Beasts article falsely insinuates that Yuh-Lines parents set up a shell company in order to quietly sneak money out of China.

Her most recent campaign finance disclosures show her parents made a combined $11,600 max-out donation to her bid for Congress in June.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Associated Press

The man charged with stabbing Salman Rushdie on a lecture stage in western New York said in an interview that he was surprised to learn the accomplished author had survived the attack. Speaking to the New York Post from jail, Hadi Matar said he decided to see Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution after he saw a tweet last winter about the writer's planned appearance. Matar, 24, said he considered late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini a great person but wouldn't say whether he was following a fatwa, or edict, issued by Khomeini in Iran in 1989 that called for Rushdies death after the author published The Satanic Verses.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Powerful Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday called on the country's judiciary to dissolve parliament by end of next week, threatening unspecific consequences if it does not do what he says.

The populist leader has helped inflame tensions in Iraq over the last two weeks by commanding thousands of followers to storm and occupy parliament, preventing the formation of a government nearly 10 months after elections.

His political opponents, mostly fellow Shi'ites backed by Iran, have refused to accede to Sadr's demands, raising fears of fresh unrest and violence in a conflict-weary Iraq.

The judiciary "must dissolve parliament by the end of next week... if not, the revolutionaries will take another stance," Sadr said in a statement on his Twitter account, without elaborating.

Sadr has called for early elections and unspecified changes to the constitution after withdrawing his lawmakers from parliament in June.

The withdrawal was a protest against his failure to form a government despite holding nearly a quarter of parliament and having enough allies to make up more than half the chamber.

Sadr blames Iran-aligned parties for the failed government formation and accuses them of corruption, but his followers also control some of the worst-managed government departments.

(Reporting by John Davison; additional reporting by Yasmin Hussein in Cairo; Editing by Toby Chopra)
JACKSON TWP.  A Stark County attorney who has been practicing law for nearly 60 years is accused of swindling more than $250,000 from a local family's trust fund and purchasing a home in Hills and Dales.

According to a complaint filed with the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, Edward Lang D'Atri is accused of violating five provisions of the rules of professional conduct between July 2020 and May 2022 and is now facing sanctions.

The complaint alleges D'Atri assisted a family in creating various trust funds, several of which were paid out and closed throughout his years of service.

In July 2020, it's alleged that D'Atri began transferring funds from an active family trust to inactive trusts, then writing checks to himself and his Jackson Township area law firm.

More court news:Stark County man admits to entering U.S. Capitol, smoking cigarette in rotunda on Jan. 6

In all, D'Atri is accused of withdrawing and converting for his own use more than $250,000 from the family trusts.

Why was the Jackson Township attorney charged?

According to the complaint, a family member confronted D'Atri about a trust fund transfer request being delayed, and D'Atri admitted after several status requests that he'd taken somewhere between $70,000 and $120,000 from the family's trust, but wasn't sure of the exact amount.

The family retained an attorney, and discovered that while working for the family, D'Atri had created his own personal trust and used the trust to purchase a home on Dunkeith Drive NW in Hills and Dales village in September 2021, the complaint says.

The residence did not hold a mortgage, the complaint detailed. It was purchased for $650,000, according to Stark County property records.

When was Edward Lang D'Atri served by the Stark County Bar Association?

In May, D'Atri was served with a letter from the Stark County Bar Association regarding the missing funds. Three hours later, the complaint stated that D'Atri is accused of transferring the interest of the home into his wife's name.

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Stark County court:New trial set for Alliance man accused in 2009 disappearance case of Glenna White

The family filed a lawsuit in Stark County Common Pleas Court on July 8, and a complaint was filed with the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct on Aug. 3. No criminal charges have been filed.

D'Atri has no previous history of discipline, administrative sanctions or suspensions, according to the Board of Professional Conduct.

D'Atri could not be reached for comment at his office or through his attorney, Craig Pelini.

Reach Cassandra cnsit@gannett.com; Follow on Twitter @Cassienist

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson Township attorney accused of stealing $250,000
The Daily Beast

Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / GettyAt the risk of awarding the title prematurely, we think weve found the weirdest study published in 2022. Scientists strapped GoPro cameras to the bodies of six dolphins trained by the U.S. Navy, and recorded them hunting for food and consuming their prey in grisly detail. According to the study, there was a purpose behind this potential invasion of dolphin privacy; namely, to learn more about how the mammals hunted and ate.Scientists
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  The federal magistrate judge who signed off on the warrant that allowed federal agents to search former President Donald Trumps Florida residence once drew scrutiny for switching from his job as a federal prosecutor to working as a defense attorney on behalf of individuals connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The judge, known for his meticulous nature, is also well-respected within the Palm Beach legal community and had once worked in the Justice Departments public integrity section. He had contributed to both Democrat and Republican candidates.

Trump lawyer Christina Bobb told POLITICO that magistrate judge Bruce Reinhart signed off on the warrant and that agents removed about a dozen boxes of materials from the property. Bobb was said to be present at the time the FBI conducted the search of Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach.

Reinharts decision to grant the FBIs warrant request to search Trumps resort has sparked a firestorm among Republicans, who have decried what they call the weaponization of the Department of Justice.

But one local prosecutor described Reinhart  who has been a magistrate judge since 2018  as well respected within the Palm Beach County legal community. Reinhart is married to Circuit Judge Carolyn Bell, a former federal prosecutor who was appointed to the bench by then-Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who is now a senator.

Hes a former prosecutor and a defense attorney and hes also known for being meticulous, said Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg, a Democrat was who elected state attorney but who also once worked for Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Hes not going to make a snap judgment, Aronberg added.

Reinhart could not be reached for comment.

Magistrate judges are not appointed by the president but instead are appointed by district judges. Their duties can include dealing with bond hearings, handling technical issues in civil cases and signing off on whether to authorize a search warrant.

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Reinhart, who earned his law degree from University of Pennsylvania and also graduated from Princeton, worked for the Treasury Department, the public integrity section of the U.S. Department of Justice, and spent more than 11 years as an assistant United States attorney. During that time he handled more than 100 grand jury investigations including cases involving health care fraud, public corruption and tax fraud, according to a biography of Reinhart posted by the private law firm where he worked for about six years. His official bio on the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida site appeared to be deactivated.

He worked as a federal prosecutor until Jan. 1, 2008, when a day later he became a defense attorney representing employees of Epstein, according to a 2018 story by the Miami Herald. According to the Herald, the employees included pilots for Epstein, his scheduler and a woman who had been described by some of Epsteins victims as his sex slave. Epstein committed suicide in a Manhattan federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

The Herald also reported that in 2011, Reinhart was named in a lawsuit where he was accused of violating Justice Department policies by representing the employees. Reinhart denied the allegations and said he did not participate in Epsteins criminal case and did not learn any confidential information while working as a prosecutor.

Law 360 reported in June that Reinhart agreed to a request by Google that the tech giant be awarded attorneys fees after the tech company prevailed in a lawsuit that alleged Google had blacklisted a website because the site was owned by conservatives.

Reinhart did not rule in the underlying lawsuit but instead adjudicated a dispute over legal fees. Law 360 reported Reinhart did decrease the fee amount from Google wanted from more than $200,000 to slightly more than $145,000.

Federal campaign finance records show that Reinhart in 2008 donated $1,000 to President Barack Obamas presidential campaign and $1,000 to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee. He had also donated $500 to former Florida Republican Gov Jeb Bush in 2016 when he was running for president.

State records show that over several election cycles, Reinhart donated $4,550 to a handful of candidates, including Aronberg as well as candidates running for judge, state attorney, public defender and a Democrat who ran for the Florida House.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. laid off many of its contract-based recruiters in the past week, part of a push to rein in the tech giants hiring and spending, according to people with knowledge of the matter.About 100 contract workers were let go in a rare move for the worlds most valuable company, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the situation is private. The recruiters were responsible for hiring new employees for Apple, and the cuts underscore that a slowdown is underway a
Jason Sudekis, Olivia Wilde

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Getty Jason Sudeikis (L); Olivia Wilde

A judge has granted Olivia Wilde her request to dismiss ex Jason Sudeikis' custody petition.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE on Wednesday, the judge sided with Wilde, 38, last month, granting her motion to dismiss a custody petition filed by Sudeikis, 46, in October 2021.

In his petition, the Ted Lasso actor reportedly said he hoped for the duo to parent their kids from New York City, where the family previously lived and where the kids were born, according to court records obtained by The Daily Mail.

"Both Judge Powell and this Referee agreed that New York was not the home state of the subject children; but rather California was the children's home state," the documents stated.

For more on Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

"This court finds that New York does not have jurisdiction to hear the custody petitions as New York is not the home state of the subject children," they added.

As a result, the case  which pertains to the couple's two children: daughter Daisy, 5, and son Otis, 8  will remain in California.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Olivia Wilde Goes Viral After She's Handed Mysterious 'Confidential' Envelope During CinemaCon

VALERIE MACON/Getty Olivia Wilde

RELATED: Olivia Wilde Claims Ex Jason Sudeikis Meant to "Embarrass" Her with Custody Papers Served Onstage: Report

In the court documents obtained by DM, Wilde reportedly accused Sudeikis of "embarrass(ing) me professionally" when she was served the custody papers during a presentation she was making onstage during CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April.

"Jason's actions were clearly intended to threaten me and catch me off guard. He could have served me discreetly, but instead he chose to serve me in the most aggressive manner possible," the actress and Don't Worry Darling director said in her court filing, per DM.

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"The fact that Jason would embarrass me professionally and put our personal conflict on public display in this manner is extremely contrary to our children's best interests," added Wilde.

"Since Jason has made it clear that we will not be able to work this out for our children's sake outside of the court system, I filed a petition for custody in Los Angeles," she said.

RELATED VIDEO: Olivia Wilde Was Served Legal Papers from Jason Sudeikis in Middle of CinemaCon Presentation

Sudeikis reiterated in his own filing, reports DM, that he did not intend for Wilde to receive the papers onstage at CinemaCon, but instead requested that they be served at Heathrow Airport  and that plans to serve them at the hotel she was staying at for CinemaCon in Las Vegas went awry.

"I understand that the process server had only done her job; however, I deeply regret what happened," said the Saturday Night Live alum. "Olivia's talk was an important event for Olivia, both professionally and personally, and I am very, very sorry that the incident marred her special moment."

He also explained of Wilde, who is currently dating Harry Styles, "I did not want service to take place at the home of Olivia's current partner because Otis and Daisy might be present."

"I did not want service to take place at the children's school because parents might be present," Sudeikis also said, according to DM.
A Kansas man who illegally provided private autopsy services has been banned from the business and ordered to pay over $250,000 in restitution, according to the Kansas Attorney Generals Office.

Shawn Parcells, 42, of Leawood, was ordered by a Shawnee County district court judge to pay restitution to 82 people that used his services. Each of his three companies that provided autopsy services were permanently banned and required to pay over $400,000 in penalties for violating Kansas law and business standards, according to Kansas State Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

His companies eachParcells Forensic Pathology Group, ParCo-Parcells and Company and National Autopsy and Tissue Recovery Services will pay a $200,000 penalty for violating the Kansas Consumer Protections act and Kansas False claims act. They were also ordered to pay Wabaunsee County $49,600 in damages and $60,000 in investigative and receivership fees. The judge banned these companies from doing any business related to the human body.

It is important to remember that behind all these case details are individuals and family members who have been put in unimaginable circumstances due to Parcells conduct, Schmidt said in a statement.

Navigating the loss of a loved one can be difficult enough, but the additional harm created by Shawn Parcells has added to that difficulty.

A self-taught pathologist with no formal education, Parcells was found to have unlawfully received money from Wabaunsee County to perform coroner-ordered autopsies in three cases between 2014 and 2015. He also was found to have performed autopsies on three occasions without a licensed pathologist present, which is illegal.

From 2016 to 2019, Parcells allegedly received fees from 375 clients to perform autopsies. The charges totaled more than $1.1 million and despite his claims stating otherwise, no licensed pathologist was present, according to prosecutors.

In 2019, Schmidt filed a case against Parcells, alleging that he failed to conduct autopsies with any supervision and in accordance with Kansas law.

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An investigation into Parcells businesses uncovered that he had collected 1,700 biological samples from his autopsy services. By November, the samples were seized by the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and released to victims families upon their request.

That year, a Shawnee County district judge temporarily banned Parcells and his companies from conducting autopsies, forensic pathology and tissue recovery until the civil lawsuit alleging violations of Kansas consumer protection and false claims acts was resolved.

Parcells was convicted in November 2021 in Wabaunsee County on three counts of felony theft and three misdemeanor counts of criminal desecration. He is awaiting sentencing.

On May 26, Parcells pleaded guilty to one count of fraud in federal court in Topeka.

The Stars Aaron Torres and Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.
More than 90% of polling stations across the country have reported results

Provisional results suggest a tight presidential race in Kenya between Deputy President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, a former prime minister

With more than 90% of results posted from thousands of individual districts, local tallies of the raw data suggest little separates the pair.

However it could be several days before the official result is known.

Tuesday's vote followed a campaign dominated by debates about living costs, unemployment and corruption.

Turnout is estimated at around 64%, well short of the 80% in the last election five years ago.

However, electoral commission head Wafula Chebukati has said this figure will go up once data comes in about voters who were verified manually, instead of via an electronic ID kit.

A largely peaceful election day was marred by logistical delays and a failure of these identification kits in some parts of the country.

At his latest briefing, Mr Chebukati said the commission had received 97% of presidential results sent in electronically, but official tallying would not begin until the physical results were received for verification.

He also referred to one of the incidents of violence reported on voting day involving an MP who is on the run for allegedly shooting dead his rival's bodyguard at a polling station.

"A murder case is a matter to be dealt with by the police, the law will take its course and justice will be served," he said.

Baba v Hustler

The two frontrunners in the presidential race are seasoned politicians.

Mr Odinga, 77 - a long-serving opposition leader, nicknamed Baba ("father") by his supporters - is running for president for a fifth time. Mr Ruto, 55, who has tried to emphasise his connection with ordinary Kenyans by calling himself a "hustler", is taking his first stab at the presidency.

Two other candidates - David Mwaure and George Wajackoya - are also in the race.

Outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta is backing Mr Odinga, a foe turned ally, to succeed him, after a falling out with Mr Ruto.

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To win the presidential race in the first round, a candidate needs:

more than half of all the votes cast across the country

at least 25% of the votes cast in a minimum of 24 counties.

After counting the votes, local officials take a photo of the final tally sheet and send the image to both the constituency and national tallying centres.

The media, political parties and civil society groups have been compiling their own tallies using these final results declared at the more than 40,000 polling stations.

But only the electoral commission can declare the winner of the presidential election after verifying the physical and digital forms sent to the national tallying centre.

It has seven days to announce the result.

Click here to see the BBC interactive

Election branding
Kylie Jenner has sparked backlash online after the reality star shared a video of Travis Scott backstage at Londons O2 arena, the rappers first solo performance since the Astroworld tragedy last November which killed 10 attendees.

On 6 August, the Kylie Cosmetics founder joined Scott  along with their daughter Stormi  in London to support the rapper at his first international concert since the festival. Jenner, 24, shared several photos and videos from the show to social media, including one video which featured Scott celebrating the sold-out show backstage.

In the clip filmed by Jenner, the 31-year-old rapper is seen raging backstage and banging on a door as his entourage sprays him with champagne. Scotts fans are affectionately known as ragers, and he previously talked about the meaning behind raging in a 2015 GQ video titled: How to Rage with Travis Scott.

Scotts friends, including basketball player James Harden, are seen yelling Biggest in the world while Jenner laughs behind the camera. The Kardashians star shared the video in a carousel post on Instagram, but has since deleted the video from her TikTok page.

Before the clip was deleted, it received much negative reaction online. Fans slammed Scotts raging behaviour in the wake of the Astroworld tragedy. Over on the r/KUWTK Reddit forum, some users claimed Jenners video was tone-deaf and insensitive towards the families of the Astroworld victims.

This is soooo insensitive to the lives lost at his festival, wrote one user. It shows that he thinks super highly of himself and looks pretty aggressive and self consumed. Like who does this? Especially this being his first big solo performance since youd think hell be a lot more humble and self reflective

Its so tonedeaf, another user said. Even if youre one of those people thats convinced hes innocent, who does this given the circumstances? Not only is there Astroworld but theres all the chaos hes incited thats led to people getting hurt at other shows.

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One person commented, Has astroworld taught him nothing? while another Redditor wrote: No respect for the victims of Astroworld at all, this isnt cute its actually sickening.

Ten people between the ages of nine and 27 died at Travis Scotts two-day Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas following a crowd surge towards the stage while the rapper was performing. At least 50,000 people gathered for the third annual event on 5 November at the site of the former Houston Six Flags park.

Following the tragedy, a lawsuit was filed against Scott and Live Entertainment for $2bn that represents nearly 280 alleged victims. The rapper has since issued a general denial to the lawsuit and Scotts lawyer has suggested the rapper was unaware of what was happening during his performance.

Although Scott offered to pay the funeral costs for the families whose loved ones died at Astroworld, his offer was rejected by the families of five Astroworld victims.

Travis Scotts solo concert at Londons O2 arena on Saturday marked one of his first major headline performances since the festival.
Inside Ponte Vedra High School, theres a club that many students say is unique.

Its called the Law Enforcement Club, and its returning for the 2022-2023 school year.

STORY: Survey for veterans, relatives and caregivers of veterans, to shape future policy in Jacksonville

Students and staff in the school rely daily on St. Johns County deputy Jared Monie, the school resource officer, to help keep them safe.

All these kids here at the school, says Monie. Responsible for all 2000 of them.

Monie says his job isnt just about safety.

Any time day or night, they know that they can come and talk to me, says Monie.

He says its also his duty to help break down stigmas about law enforcement.

I want these kids to get a different impression about law enforcement, a positive impression, says Monie.

STORY: Saharan dust headed toward the Jacksonville area again: Heres what to expect

He says that starts by sitting down and having a conversation with them.

Monie says its good for the students to know what to expect if they were to get stopped by law enforcement.

At least once a month, Monie sits down with the students, he is sometimes joined by other officers or deputies, and just talks with them.

Theyve discussed traffic stops, how to use an AED and tourniquet usage.

STORY: Florida man filming sunrise killed when sand dune collapses

Student Paulina Sidhu says the club has been helpful in more ways than just one.

Theres a lot of negative stigmas about police officers, says Sidhu.

She says such conversations help break down those stigmas.

Its these kinds of conversations that help teens and police better understand one another, says Sidhu.

We have no idea who were stopping or whats in the car, explained Monie during one of the clubs meetings.

A lot of new guys are thinking the worst, theyre thinking Oh hes going for a gun, said Monie in during a meeting. Before you just reach say hey my wallet is in my console.

STORY: 3 dead in shooting at Florida Narcotics Anonymous meeting

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Ive learned that not only are they police officers but theyre people, says Sidhu. Its changed a lot for me.

Monie has been on the force for 17 years, but he says participating in activities that allow him to build relationships with students are by far the most rewarding parts of his job.

Were here to help them, were here to support them, and do anything that we can for him and all these kids here at the school, says Monie.

STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
The Daily Beast

Pascal Deloche/Godong/Universal Images Group via GettyA Texas school district has pulled dozens of challenged books from its library shelvesincluding the Biblejust before the start of the academic year under a new policy introduced by conservative leaders.Attached is a list of all books that were challenged last year. By the end of today, I need all books pulled from the library and classrooms, Keller Independent School District executive curriculum director Jennifer Price instructed princip
Lorraine Kelly won't be joining 'I'm a Celebrity'. (ITV)

Lorraine Kelly has strongly denied rumours that she will be heading to Australia for the the next edition of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.

Taking to Twitter Kelly refuted the reports that she would be joining the reality show when it returns to ITV later this year.

She joked: "FFS  again another terrific show to watch but theres no way on Gods green earth Im eating a kangaroos bum hole in front of @antanddec (or indeed anyone  or alone  just no!)"

Read more: Who's rumoured for I'm A Celeb 2022?

The next series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here will also be the first in Australia since 2019 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ant and Dec host 'I'm a Celebrity'. (ITV)

The last two stints of the show took place at Gwyrch Castle in Wales.

The castle, which is ran as a charity, recently thanked the show for letting it host the popular series: "As a small charity, we will always be grateful to ITV and Im A Celebrity for the opportunity to host one of the most watched shows in the UK.

Read more: Lorraine Kelly returns to show, admitting coronavirus 'completely floored me'

"The show has showcased the true beauty of the Castle to millions of people, and has enabled us to carry out urgent repairs after years of neglect, vandalism and arson. We have a huge amount to do to bring the Castle back to its former glory, but were excited for the future!"

'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here' returns to ITV later this year. (ITV)

Last year's winner was Emmerdale star Danny Miller while former EastEnders actor won the show the last time it was in Australia.

There is also set to be an all-star spin-off of the show which will feature various contestants from past editions of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.

A number of popular past contestants to be linked with the all-star series include Helen Flanagan, Paul Burrell and Gillian McKeith.

Watch below: Lorraine Kelly pays tribute to Dame Deborah James
Watch: Maura Higgins recalls sexual assault by taxi driver

Love Island contestant Maura Higgins has revealed she was once sexually assaulted by a taxi driver when she fell asleep in the car.

The 31-year-old Irish TV presenter - who rose to fame after competing on the ITV2 dating show in 2019 - said she "sobered up" after waking to find his hand up his skirt.

Higgins was asked during a live Q&A on her Instagram stories about her worst encounter with a man.

Read more: Maura Higgins says body-shaming trolls say she's too skinny

She said: "So would you believe I actually have many. Like, a few. The worst one I've never ever opened up to any of you about and I don't even think I'm ready yet. It was probably one of the scariest things that's ever happened to me.

Maura Higgins was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver when she fell asleep. (Getty Images)

"I also had an incident with a taxi driver before, a long time ago, in Ireland. Silly me, I fell asleep. I probably told you this story, I don't know if I have.

"I fell asleep, my friends were dropped off before me and I was being dropped off alone.

"Because I lived on my own at the time and I woke up and his hand was right up my skirt, and honestly, I sobered up so quickly.

"I memorised his taxi number so quick and I still remembered it the next day."

Maura Higgins rose to fame with her no-nonsense appearance on Love Island in 2019. (ITV)

Higgins did not go into further details or confirm if she reported the incident.

Higgins finished in fourth place on series five of Love Island, coupled with Curtis Pritchard.

She dated Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice for four months last year, splitting in October 2021.

She competed in Dancing On Ice in 2020 and presents the Irish version of make-up artist contest Glow Up.

Maura Higgins recently competed on Cooking With The Stars. (ITV)

She also appears as a contributor on This Morning and recently competed on Cooking With The Stars.

Earlier this year she revealed she is trolled for being "too skinny".

Higgins told The Sun: "I get it all the time. I get it so much. People writing go and get a boob job or youre too skinny'.

Read more: Maura Higgins reveals pre-Love Island financial struggles

"Ive always spoken to my mammy about it and asked: Why is it OK for people to turn around to your face and say: God, youre too skinny? Would you ever say to somebody: God, youre too fat? No, you wouldnt."
The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged an Iranian national and member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday with planning to hire someone to kill former national security adviser John Bolton.

The DOJ said in a release that Shahram Poursafi started planning to murder Bolton in October, likely in retaliation for the United States January 2020 drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the IRGCs elite Quds Force.

The release says that Poursafi attempted to pay people $300,000 to kill Bolton in Washington, D.C., or Maryland.

The Justice Department has the solemn duty to defend our citizens from hostile governments who seek to hurt or kill them, said Matthew Olsen, the assistant attorney general for the DOJs national security division. This is not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on U.S. soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these efforts.

The release states that Poursafi asked a U.S. resident he met online to take photographs of Bolton in October, ostensibly for a book he was writing. The resident told Poursafi that they could introduce him to another person who would take the photos; that person was identified in court documents as a confidential human source.

Poursafi offered the source money the next month to eliminate Bolton and said he had another job that he would be willing to pay $1 million for. He repeatedly referenced a group he belonged to that would be angry if Bolton was not killed and said the group would require video confirmation of Boltons death.

In January, Poursafi told the source that he regretted that the killing would not occur by the anniversary of Soleimanis death on Jan. 3, according to the DOJ.

Poursafi could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of using interstate commerce facilities to commission a murder-for-hire scheme and up to15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of attempting to provide material support for a transnational murder plot.

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Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement after the charges were unsealed, adding that the Biden administration will not waiver in protecting and defending all Americans against threats of violence and terrorism.

Updated at 1:14 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Some participants in the march donned colourful masks

Members of Mexico's indigenous communities took to the streets of the capital on Tuesday to celebrate their heritage and demand more rights.

Their Mexico City march marked the United Nation's Day of the World Indigenous Peoples.

A spokesman for the march said 18 indigenous communities took part in the celebration.

They wore traditional clothing as they marched down Reforma Avenue in the city's centre.

Women from the Triqui indigenous group wearing their traditional embroidered clothes

Among those taking part were indigenous groups from the south-western state of Oaxaca such as Triqui, Mazatec and Zapotec, as well as groups from southern Chiapas state, such as the Tzetal.

Some participants turned out in elaborate headgear

Spokesman Pascual de Jesus said the idea behind the parade was to give visibility to the many indigenous people living in the capital and to combat discrimination.

The participants said it was important to give their beliefs and traditions more visibility

The Diablos of Juxtlahuaca (Devils of Juxtlahuaca) in their elaborate horned masks were among the highlights of the parade.

The Devils of Juxtlahuaca danced through the streets wearing their goatskin chaps

The Devils of Juxtlahuaca traditionally perform their dance on 25 July, the feast day of Santiago (Saint James), the patron saint of Juxtlahuaca.

But as the Devils have tried to expand knowledge of their traditions, the dance is now performed on other occasions, too.

The masks are handmade by artisans

The dance dates back to the times of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, when Spanish priests tried to convert the indigenous Mixtec people to Catholicism.

They organised dances representing events in Spanish history which had a strong religious significance, such as the battles to regain control of Spain from the Moors and impose Christianity.

The mock battle showed the fighters for Christianity, led by Saint James, defeating their Muslim rivals.

Some carried whips as well as masks

The dances are performed to this day: at one point, a dancer representing an injured Moor is given the choice to convert to Christianity.

He refuses, saying he would rather be taken away by devils than betray his religion. It is then the dancers dressed as devils enter the stage and drag him away.

All pictures subject to copyright.
Mindy Kaling has recounted being labelled unattractive by the media during the years in which The Mindy Project aired.

The now 43-year-old multihyphenate starred as successful obstetrician/gynaecologist Mindy who struggles to balance her personal and professional life in her cringe-comedy, which ran between 2012 and 2017.

In a new interview with Marie Claire, Kaling spoke about the criticism she endured while fronting the six-season sitcom.

The amount of articles that were like, Its so good for a culture that this unattractive woman is finally on camera, she began.

I didnt know I was so unattractive until I was the star of my own show.

She added: So not having to see those things, thats wonderful.

Elsewhere in the interview, actor Priyanka Chopra praised Kaling for being a South Asian pioneer for a generation who pushed open the doors and said, Mainstream TV, here we come.

Mindy Kaling (Getty Images)

[Now] Hollywoods saying, Okay, theyre not just a check in the box or a character that you throw in there so that we can pretend to be diverse, the Quantico star said.

Kaling is currently working behind the scenes as the director, producer, and writer for the Netflix teen drama Never Have I Ever and HBO Max comedy-drama The Sex Lives of College Girls.

Meanwhile, shes also working on developing the script for the forthcoming Legally Blonde 3.

Never Have I Ever season three returns to Netflix on Friday 12 August.
Missouri voters will get to vote on whether to legalize adult recreational marijuana on November 8.

The ballot initiative was launched this year by Legal Missouri 2022, a group thats led by some of those who pushed for the 2018 amendment that legalized medical marijuana in the state and is backed by much of Missouris medical marijuana industry. The ballot question would essentially remove the states ban on marijuana sales, consumption and manufacturing for people who are 21 years of age or older.

The initiative also includes automatic expungement for people who have nonviolent weed-related crimes on their record. This means if someone does have a nonviolent weed charge, they wont have to petition for their crimes to be expunged. It will just be removed from their record straight away.

Heres what laws around marijuana are on the books in Missouri now.

Medical marijuana is already legal

Medical marijuana was legalized in Missouri in 2018 by nearly two-thirds of voters.

People who qualify can purchase medical marijuana from a state-licensed dispensary, if they have a medical ID card from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Patients can only purchase up to 4 ounces of marijuana within 30 days.

Kansas City already decriminalizes marijuana

In 2020, Kansas City decriminalized marijuana possession, removing it as a crime from the city code. That means Kansas City police arent supposed to arrest you for a city crime of marijuana possession, but they could still ticket you or arrest you for violating state laws or for distribution.

The state laws in Missouri have partially decriminalized marijuana possession too. If a person is caught with 10 grams, they can only be fined and could receive a criminal misdemeanor.

In Jackson County, the prosecutor has pledged not to charge people for most marijuana possession cases, with an exception for people who are suspected of selling.

If a person gets caught up in Clay, Platte or Cass counties, there is still a chance that they could be charged for violating state laws if they are caught with more than 10 grams of marijuana.

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What are marijuana charges like in Missouri?

If a person is caught with 10 grams or less of marijuana, they can be charged a $500 fine for a class D misdemeanor. If they are caught a second time, they could be subject to either one year in jail or a $2,000 fine. Kansas City police are not supposed to arrest for marijuana possession.

If a person is caught with more than 10 grams, they will be charged with a class A misdemeanor and could receive either a year in jail or a $2,000 fine on the first offense.

Usually, for a misdemeanor amount of marijuana, police, sheriffs departments or the Missouri Highway Patrol will write a ticket, which is then forwarded to either the county or municipal prosecutors office for review and potential filing.

Possession of 35 grams or more is considered a felony offense and could result in seven years in jail or a $10,000 maximum fine.

The stakes are a bit higher for those suspected of selling and distributing weed illegally. In Missouri, a local weed plug can be charged with a felony and serve four years in jail for less than 35 grams.

Meanwhile, it is technically legal to purchase more than four ounces of medical marijuana from a licensed dispensary each month with the right credentials. For context, thats upwards of 112 grams of weed.

This is one major reason why activists called for the automatic expungement of nonviolent weed charges to be included in the ballot initiative this fall.

Who is charged with marijuana-related crimes in Missouri?

In Missouri, 50% of drug arrests are due to marijuana possession. Black Missourians are more than twice as likely to be arrested for possession than white Missourians, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri.

What does expungement really mean?

When states legalize marijuana, typically that includes conversations about past marijuana convictions. Many advocates, including organizers at Legal Missouri 2022, see expungement as the first step to reconciling with the reality that many people are facing years in prison for a substance that could soon be legal.

Expunging a record means that the court will seal a criminal charge so it is no longer public. However, the record can still be unsealed with a court order, according to the Missouri Bar.

The ballot initiative calls for automatic expungement for nonviolent marijuana charges. Sealing those records could affect thousands of peoples access to employment, housing and wages. Expungement would not apply to people with charges of violent crimes, or whose offenses involved distribution to a minor or driving under the influence of marijuana.

Other states that have automatic expungement on certain marjiuana charges include California, Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New Mexico, New York and Vermont.

Other criminal justice reform activists still have concerns about the ballot initiativeeven with the expungement clausebecause it also includes other criminal penalties that would then become enshrined in the state constitution, like a provision that allows for fines of up to $100 for smoking marijuana in public.

The Stars Kacen Bayless, Jon Shorman and Glenn Rice contributed reporting.

If you have more questions about the vote, you can email kcq@kcstar.com or fill out the form below.
Pablo Mari has landed in Italy to complete a loan move from Arsenal to Monza.

The 28-year-old central defender is surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium this season, having spent the second half of last year on loan at Udinese.

Now Mari is set to return to Serie A with newly-promoted Monza, with only the finer details of the loan to be agreed between the clubs.

It is understood the inclusion of an option in the deal for Monza to make the switch permanent is the only stumbling block that remains, potentially because relegation back to Serie B would mean the club would not have the finances to complete the transfer.

Another player closing in on a move away from north London is goalkeeper Alex Runarsson.

It is understood two Turkish clubs are interested in a permanent deal for the Iceland international, who has made just six first-team appearances since joining the Gunners in 2020.

Having already signed Fabio Vieira, Marquinhos, Matt Turner, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, any other additions are likely to rely on Arsenal clearing more money off the wage bill.

Hector Bellerin looks likely to join Real Betis, where he spent last season on loan, but Arsenal are keen not to terminate his contract even though they do not want to stand in his way of securing a move.

Mikel Arteta, whose side opened their Premier League account with a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Friday night, is also understood to be willing to listen to loan offers for both Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Reiss Nelson.

In terms of recruitment, Leicester midfielder Youri Tielemans continues to be linked with a switch to the Emirates but it is believed that no deal has yet to be discussed between the two clubs.
Devon Lyon has been named president and chief executive officer at Central One FederalCredit Union in Shrewsbury, effective Aug. 22. He is succeeding David LEcuyer, who has led Central One as CEO since 1994.

Lyon is being promoted from his current position as chief operating officer. He has been with Direct Federal Credit Union since 2018.

Lyon

He previously served in senior leadership roles at several financial services institutions, including as director of education at the National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions.

Lyon holds a juris doctorate degree from Albany Law School of Union University, and a bachelors degree in political science from Binghamton University.

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Jon S. Barooshian, a partner at Bowditch & Dewey, has been named a Go To Tax Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

Attorneys who earn this recognition have distinguished themselves through their in-depth knowledge of tax law, creativity and strong record of success.

Barooshian

Barooshian, who works from Boston and Framingham, is a trial lawyer who defends businesses and individuals throughout the U.S. His primary practice areas include civil and criminal tax controversy and compliance, and government investigations and white collar defense and related civil litigation.

A former assistant district attorney, he holds a master's of laws degree in taxation, a juris doctorate and a business degree.

Bowditch & Dewey handles sophisticated transactions, litigation and regulatory issues. It has offices in Framingham, Boston and Worcester.

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Chris Woolf, of Franklin, was recently named manager at Intermission, a theater-themed cafe in downtown Franklin.

He has been part of Intermission's staff since March.

Woolf

Woolf is a retired broadcast journalist with the BBC World Service for 34 years and was news editor for public radios main international news show, The World. He served in the UKs Territorial Army as an infantry soldier during the Cold War, is a writer and chief operating officer of a professional voiceover company, The Voice Depot.

Open since 2018, Intermission's menu includes Hills Coffee and Harney Teas, an extensive list of hot and cold beverages, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, Medway Muffin House muffins, B Goods baked items, a variety of sandwiches and salads, smoothies, and snacks.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Devon Lyon takes over as CEO at Central One Credit Union in Shrewsbury
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP)  Native Americans in Massachusetts are calling for a boycott of a popular living history museum featuring Colonial reenactors portraying life in Plymouth, the famous English settlement founded by the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower.

Members of the states Wampanoag community and their supporters say Plimoth Patuxet Museums has not lived up to its promise of creating a bi-cultural museum that equally tells the story of the European and Indigenous peoples that lived there.

They say the " Historic Patuxet Homesite, the portion of the mostly outdoor museum focused on traditional Indigenous life, is inadequately small, in need of repairs and staffed by workers who arent from local tribes.

Were saying dont patronize them, dont work over there, said Camille Madison, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe on Marthas Vineyard, who was among those recently venting their frustrations on social media. We dont want to engage with them until they can find a way to respect Indigenous knowledge and experience.

The concerns come just two years after the museum changed its name from Plimoth Plantation to Plimoth Patuxet as part of a yearlong celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing.

At the time, the museum declared the new, more balanced moniker reflected the importance of the Indigenous perspective to the 75-year-old institutions educational mission.

Patuxet was an Indigenous community near Plimoth, as the Pilgrim colony was known before becoming modern day Plymouth. It was badly decimated by European diseases by the time the Mayflower arrived, but one of its survivors, Tisquantum, commonly known as Squanto, famously helped the English colonists survive their first winter.

Theyve changed the name but havent changed the attitude, said Paula Peters, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe who worked for nearly 20 years at the museum, most recently as marketing director. Theyve done nothing to ingratiate themselves with tribes. Every step they take is tone deaf.

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Museum spokesperson Rob Kluin, in a statement emailed to The Associated Press, said the museum has expanded the outdoor Wampanoag exhibit, raised more than $2 million towards a new Indigenous programs building and has several initiatives in place to recruit and retain staff from Native communities. He declined to elaborate.

The statement also cited a pair of grants the museum received to boost its Native American education programming. That included more than $160,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to host a workshop this summer for teachers on how to incorporate Indigenous voices into their history lessons.

The museum also noted that its new director of Algonquian Exhibits and Interpretation is an Aquinnah Wampanoag who serves on his tribes education committee.

Carol Pollard, whose late brother Anthony Nanepashemet Pollard played a key role in the development of the museums Indigenous programming as a leading Wampanoag historian, was among those dismayed at the state of the site.

Last week, large gaps were evident in the battered tree bark roof of the large wetu, or traditional Wampanoag dwelling, that is a focal point of the Indigenous exhibit. Neither of the two museum interpreters on site was wearing traditional tribal attire. Meanwhile, on the Pilgrim settlement part of the museum, thatched roofs on the Colonial homes had been recently repaired, and numerous reenactors milled about in detailed period outfits.

I know my brother would be very disappointed, said Pollard, who also worked as a gardener at the museum until last summer. I guarantee you, people dressed in khakis and navy blue tops was not my brothers vision.

Former museum staffers say museum officials for years ignored their suggestions for modernizing and expanding the outdoor exhibit, which marks its 50th anniversary next year.

That, coupled with low pay and poor working conditions, led to the departure of many long-standing Native staffers who built the program into a must-see attraction by showcasing authentic Indigenous farming, cooking, canoe building and other cultural practices, they say.

For more than a decade now, the museum has systematically dismantled the outdoor exhibit, the Wampanoag Consulting Alliance, a Native group that includes Peters and other former museum staffers, said in a statement late last month. Many steps taken to provide equal representation to Wampanoag programming have been removed, and the physical exhibit is in deplorable condition. The result has been the virtually complete alienation of the Wampanoag communities.

Kitty Hendricks-Miller, a Mashpee Wampanoag who was a supervisor at the Wampanoag exhibit in the 1990s and early 2000s, says she worries about what non-Indigenous families and students are taking away from their visits to the museum, which remains a school field trip rite of passage for many in New England.

As Indian education coordinator for her tribe, shes been encouraging teachers to reach out to Native communities directly if theyre seeking culturally and historically accurate programs.

Theres this unwillingness to acknowledge that times have changed, said Casey Figueroa, who worked for years as an interpreter at the museum until 2015. The Native side of the Plymouth story has so much more to offer in terms of the issues were facing today, from immigration to racism and climate change, but they went backwards instead. They totally blew it.

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Containers of the medication used to end an early pregnancy. Jeff Roberson/AP

A Nebraska woman and her mother could face felony charges for seeking an abortion.

Local police found out the woman, who was 17 at the time, had messaged her mother about it on Facebook.

Facebook turned the personal messages over after a search warrant was served on the company.

A Nebraska woman could face jail time for seeking an abortion illegal under Nebraska law after Meta turned over her personal Facebook messages with her mom to a local detective.

Madison County, Nebraska prosecutors alleged that Jessica Burgess gave her daughter Celeste, who was 17 at the time, abortion medication, instructed her on how to safely use it, and helped her bury the aborted fetus, according to court documents sourced by NBC News.

Meta's turnover of personal messages related to an illegal abortion investigation marks one of the first times the company has complied with such a search warrant, NBC News reported. It also comes as federal and state laws have tightened around abortion access, and as digital rights advocates warn of more cases where authorities will seek non-encrypted messages as evidence that someone sought an abortion.

Celeste Burgess was charged with two misdemeanors and a felony, and her mother was charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors. The charges stem from performing an abortion, providing false information to authorities, and "concealing a body," according to court documents.

Police alleged that Celeste Burgess was close to 23 weeks pregnant. They claimed that in chats, Jessica Burgess instructed her daughter on how to use the medication and that they discussed getting rid of the fetus.

Detective Ben McBride of the Norfolk Police Investigations Unit wrote in an affidavit that police first received a tip from Celeste Burgess' friend and in June, police served a search warrant on Meta to access the teenager's personal messages.

A Nebraska state law codified before the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade makes it illegal to seek an abortion 20 weeks after fertilization.

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"I obtained and served a search warrant to Facebook/Meta Platforms for information on C. Burgess and J. Burgess' accounts," McBride wrote in the affidavit. "On 04-20-22 (2 days prior to the miscarriage/stillbirth) J. Burgess and C. Burgess exchanged messages concerning some pills J. Burgess received for C. Burgess to take."

"I know from prior training and experience, and conversations with other seasoned criminal investigators, that people involved in criminal activity frequently have conversations regarding their criminal activities through various social networking sites, i.e. Facebook," McBride added in an application for the search warrant.

In response to Insider's request for comment on the case, a Meta spokesperson said they weren't aware the warrants were related to an abortion.

"Nothing in the valid warrants we received from local law enforcement in early June, prior to the Supreme Court decision, mentioned abortion," a spokesperson for Meta told Insider. "The warrants concerned charges related to a criminal investigation and court documents indicate that police at the time were investigating the case of a stillborn baby who was burned and buried, not a decision to have an abortion."

The Norfolk police department did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

But the search warrants raised concerns among digital privacy advocates, especially as states begin to bring law enforcement into abortion investigations.

"This is going to keep happening to tech companies that store significant amounts of communications and data," Jake Laperruque, deputy director of surveillance at the Center of Democracy and Technology, told NBC. "If companies don't want to end up repeatedly handing over data for abortion investigations, they need to rethink their practices on data collection, storage and encryption."

Read the original article on Insider
The New Hampshire Department of Education is trying to raise awareness about the work-based learning program.

New Hampshires Department of Education is encouraging high school students to take part-time jobs with New Hampshire companies and earn academic credit as part of a program launched in February.

In a press conference Monday, officials with the department and leaders with the states Business and Industry Association touted the new program as a way for students to earn real-life experiences outside the classroom.

The program allows up to 1,000 high school students to take jobs offered by companies partnering with the state, each offering academic credit and up to $15 an hour. The state will then reimburse companies at 50 percent of that salary, up to $7.50 an hour. The reimbursement will cover 480 hours of work, equal to 24 weeks at 20 hours a week.

Young NH teachers leaving the profession: The 'heartbreaking, infuriating' reasons why.

The program is being administered by Awato; since launching in February, around 200 companies have signed up to offer jobs. The employers vary from service-based employers like Margaritas, Five Guys, and 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria in Manchester, to health care providers to grocery stores like Hannaford, to construction and trucking companies, to outdoor organizations like Ski New Hampshire and the Appalachian Mountain Club, to municipal and state agencies such as the town of Derry, the Division for Children, Youth and Families, and New Hampshire State Police.

Those employers have been vetted by state officials to ensure they are legitimate, a department spokeswoman, Kim Houghton, said Monday.

Students who take the jobs will be participating in an extended learning opportunity; the students schools will then decide whether it can count toward credit. That process is carried out through a meeting to design the extended learning opportunity with a students teacher, advisers, and the participating employer, according to the department.

The state will pay its share of the salaries with $2.5 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, provided to states in two tranches by congressional aid packages.

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Seacoast schools struggle to hire: Rochester plans multiple job fairs

So far, 25 students have taken jobs with the program since it launched in February. Houghton said the state is now trying to raise awareness ahead of the next school year.

Work-based learning is a powerful educational strategy, and it is an integral component of career development for New Hampshires youth by providing them with a chance to acquire work skills and build life skills that have endless advantages, said Department of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut in a statement Monday.

Mike Skelton, president and CEO of the Business & Industry Association, said the program was beneficial for both students and employers, and could improve the pipeline between schools and businesses in the state, amid persistent labor shortages that predated the pandemic.

Work-based learning is a great way for students throughout the state to explore career opportunities and develop authentic employability skills at a worksite, he said in a statement.

The story originally appeared in New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH high school students urged to try work-based learning program
Nicola Peltz Beckham told Variety why she didn't wear a Victoria Beckham wedding gown. John Shearer/WireImage/Jeff Spicer/BFC/Getty Images

Nicola Peltz Beckham explained to Variety why Victoria Beckham didn't design her wedding dress.

She said she planned to wear a Victoria Beckham gown, but Beckham's atelier "couldn't" make the dress.

She wore a custom Valentino gown to marry Brooklyn Peltz Beckham instead.

Nicola Peltz Beckham spoke out about why she didn't wear a Victoria Beckham wedding dress to marry Brooklyn Peltz Beckham in an interview with Variety published on Wednesday.

The couple tied the knot on April 9 in Palm Beach, Florida.

Nicola Peltz Beckham wore a custom Valentino dress to the wedding. It took Valentino a year to make the dress, and Peltz Beckham had to travel to Rome twice for fittings, as Insider previously reported.

Peltz Beckham's choice to not wear a dress designed by Victoria Beckham helped to fuel reports of a feud between the actor and Posh Spice, as an unnamed source told Page Six that the two "can't stand each other and don't talk" and that Peltz Beckham didn't want Beckham "to be any part of the planning" for the wedding.

But speaking to Variety's chief TV critic Daniel D'Addario, Peltz Beckham said she originally planned to wear a dress designed by her mother-in-law.

"I was going to and I really wanted to, and then a few months down the line, she realized that her atelier couldn't do it, so then I had to pick another dress," she said. "She didn't say you can't wear it; I didn't say I didn't want to wear it. That's where it started, and then they ran with that."

Victoria Beckham with her son Brooklyn Beckham at the 2015 Glamour Women of the Year Awards. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Entertainment

However, Beckham did design dresses for some of the wedding's attendees, including Eva Longoria and her son Romeo's girlfriend at the time Mia Regan, as the Daily Mail reported.

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham also denied the reports of a feud in the same Variety interview, saying that "everyone gets along" in his family.

"I've learned they're always going to try to write stuff like that," he said of tabloids. "They're always going to try and put people down. But everyone gets along, which is good."

Read the original article on Insider
Nicola Peltz Beckham is speaking out about her alleged feud with her mother-in-law, Victoria Beckham, and why she thinks the rumours were started.

During an interview with Variety published on Wednesday, the 27-year-old actor talked candidly about the rumoured feud, following her marriage to Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, and how its been making headlines.

When asked why she thought the claims about her and Victoria were made in the first place, Nicola said it could be due to her wearing a Valentino couture gown at her wedding -- instead of a dress designed by her mother-in-law.

I was going to and I really wanted to, and then a few months down the line, she realised that her atelier couldnt do it, so then I had to pick another dress, she said.

Nicolas comments come after a source claimed to Page Six that the Transformers: Age Of Extinction star and former Spice Girls member cant stand each other and dont talk.

While speaking to Variety, Nicola also said she didnt publicly discuss the wedding dress with Victoria so fans were prompted to assume that the pair was feuding.

She didnt say you cant wear it; I didnt say I didnt want to wear it. Thats where it started, and then they ran with that, she continued.

Nicolas husband Brooklyn chimed in to say of his wife and mother: Everyone gets along, which is good.

The son of the 48-year-old fashion designer and 47-year-old soccer star, David Beckham also detailed some of the online criticism hes faced and how he doesnt let it get to him.

I always wish them well, the haters, he said. Im just doing what I love doing, staying healthy, being happy, and thats what it is. I hope they like my next video.

The couples joint interview arrived days after Nicola spoke out on Instagram about feeling hurt. In her post, she said it was okay to be vulnerable and shared how other people have made her feel bad.

We all have days where people make you feel bad and its okay to be hurt by it. I just thought I would write something because I never show this side of me here, she wrote in the caption, as she shared a photo of herself crying while lying in bed.

I wanted to show this side of me. I love you all so much and truly appreciate all of your support. It means so much when you guys are kind on my page, she continued. I want you to know i see you, I hear you, and it means a lot to me.
Two years after a tragic loss, the family of an Immokalee man shot dead by Collier County Sheriff's Office deputies is filing a federal lawsuit against the agency.

On Thursday, the family of Nicolas Morales, 37, will file a federal lawsuit in Fort Myers against the three Collier County Sheriffs Office officers  Cpl. Pierre Jean, Cp. Nathan Kirk, and Deputy Brian Tarazona  who were involved in the 2020 shooting death and K-9 dog mauling of Morales.

Morales was a farmworker and father. His young son now an orphan.

Related: State Attorney's Office: No charges vs. Collier deputy who fatally shot Immokalee man

Advisory board: Collier Sheriff's citizen watchdog panel refuses to meet or be subject to public scrutiny

Five shootings: Officer-involved shootings: Three agencies involved in five shooting incidents in 2022

"We need more transparency about what happened to Nicolas," Jesse Andrade, Nicolas Morales step-son and the plaintiff in the lawsuit said in a press release issued Wednesday. "The sheriffs office is trying to sweep this case under the rug but for us, what happened to Nicolas two years ago feels like it just happened yesterday."

The family also named Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk in the lawsuit.

They allege he perpetuated a culture of violence and impunity within the sheriff's office, failing to discipline officers who needlessly beat, Tase and shoot civilians.

The complaint also alleges the sheriff promoted Jean, the officer who shot Morales, despite him being denied employment by neighboring Lee County Sheriffs Office.

Jean failed out of the Collier County Law Enforcement Officer Academy and has a long, documented history of poor performance, failing to operate well under stressful conditions and unable to state the sheriff's office's lethal force policy, the release stated

"The person who has been most impacted is Nicolas son, Nick Jr.," Marisol Andrade, Nicolas Morales step-daughter and Nick's guardian, said in the release. "It has been so hard for Nick knowing this horrible thing happened and that there has been no justice for his dad."

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Early Sept. 17, 2020, Morales was suffering from a mental health crisis and wandering around his neighborhood. A neighbor called 911 saying she felt threatened.

Within 21 seconds of deputies' arrival, Jean shot Mr. Morales three times, a department analysis showed. Kirk unleashed his K-9 German Shepherd, mauling Morales while he was injured on the ground and calling for his mother.

Morales died from his injuries shortly after arriving at a hospital.

"Mr. Morales death was a preventable tragedy. He was not committing a violent crime, nor did he pose a threat to the officers who took his life,," said Chris Lomax, of LomaxLegal, said in the release. "There were no efforts whatsoever by the officers to de-escalate the situation before using deadly force. These officers violated Collier County Sheriffs Office policies and violated the law."

The complaint alleges that deputies used excessive force and failed to follow clear policies governing the need to de-escalate and treat people in mental health crises with special care.

The lawsuit also claims the sheriff's office failed to conduct a "real" investigation into the shooting incident, exonerating each officer in contravention of the evidence and allowing them back on the streets within weeks.

The States Attorney relied on the sheriff's office "sham criminal investigation" in not pressing charges against Jean or Kirk. No one has faced any consequences for Morales shooting death, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit outlines 11 incidents since 2009 of police violence against civilians that did not result in legal or administrative action against the officers involved.

"Officers in the CCSO have a longstanding practice of using Tasers, fists, dogs, and guns to terrify and abuse members of the community," Alexa Van Brunt, director of the Illinois Office of the MacArthur Justice Center and one of the lead counsel for the Morales family said in the release. "Over and over again, Sheriff Rambosks officers have harmed civilians without justification."

Morales' family raised money for a burial in Mexico.

In February 2021, the State Attorneys Office cleared the officers in Morales' case.

The State Attorneys Office completed a review of the shooting and determined the use of force by Cpl. Pierre Jean was legally justifiable.

Karie Partington, spokesperson for the Collier County Sheriff's Office, said in a statement they can't comment on pending litigation.

She added that a death investigation, an independent review by the State Attorneys Office and an investigation by their Professional Responsibility Bureau all determined the deputies actions were justifiable and were within and the law.

The Morales family is represented by Alexa Van Brunt, Noor Tarabishy, and Danielle Berkowsky of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center in Chicago, IL; Chris Lomax of Lomax Legal in Miami, FL; and Brent Probinsky of Probinsky & Cole in Sarasota

The Daily News and The News-Press contacted the Coalition of Immokalee Workers; Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center; Lomax Legal; and Probinsky & Cole, but didn't receive an immediate response.

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. Follow him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier County Sheriff's Office faces lawsuit in fatal shooting of man
A Georgia nurse is facing just over seven years in prison and $1.6 million in restitution after prosecutors said she falsified medical records in a Medicare fraud scheme that targeted older adults.

With the help of co-conspirators, court documents show, Sherley Beaufils, 44, of Conyers, used the identities of people older than 55 obtained through telemarketing to order more than 3,000 medical braces. She never met or examined any of the patients, federal officials say.

To pocket profits, Beaufils then sold the orders to other companies and billed Medicare for the equipments reimbursement  which added up to more than $3 million, according to a Tuesday, Aug. 9, news release U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

The former nurse practitioners lawyers did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment.

Beaufils was convicted of five counts each of health care fraud, false statements related to health care and aggravated identity theft, prosecutors say, which landed her an 87-month prison sentence and $1,635,161.61 in restitution. She was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

Sherley Beaufils let greed take the wheel when she raked in massive profits by ordering unnecessary medical devices for patients she never examined or spoke to, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia David H. Estes said in the release. She targeted the elderly and medically vulnerable with her schemes, and is now being held accountable.

Conyers is about 70 miles north of Macon.

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Ohio Republicans blasted the FBI search of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home on Tuesday, suggesting it's a political ploy that warrants further investigation.

Federal agents searched Trump's Palm Beach property Monday in what appears to be part of a probe into whether he removed classified documents from the White House when he left office. The former president cast it as a "weaponization of the Justice System" aimed at preventing him from running for reelection in 2024.

Trump and his allies have faced scrutiny for a range of issues, including his business dealings and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Ohio Republicans criticized the FBI and Department of Justice and demanded further details about what led federal officials to execute the search warrant. Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, who sits on a House Intelligence Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Way to provide the committee with information about the search.

Trump appointed Wray to the position of FBI director.

"What was on the warrant? What were you really doing? What were you looking for?" U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, said in a Fox News interview. "Why not talk to President Trump and have him give the information you're after? This is unbelievable."

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in April.

Democrats defended federal law enforcement officials and maintained that no one, including a former president, can circumvent the criminal justice system. Even Gov. Mike DeWine noted that the FBI doesn't "put out news releases" explaining who or what they're investigating.

"Our law enforcement agencies pursue their work without political pressure, and politicians' threats to interfere should alarm all of us," Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said. "Obtaining a search warrant from a judge requires law enforcement to present convincing evidence. For a warrant of this magnitude, that evidence would have to be strong."

Republican Sen. Rob Portman said he's monitoring the situation.

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"Im not going to jump to conclusions until we learn more, but we need to be sure our justice system is never politicized," Portman said. "The Justice Department should be transparent, including explaining on what basis they initiated this search."

Ohio Senate candidates react to Mar-a-Lago search

The Mar-a-Lago search also came up on the U.S. Senate campaign trail Tuesday.

At a Pickaway County farm, "Hillbilly Elegy" author J.D. Vance said "haggling over some documents" doesn't justify the search. He argued the issue transcends legal questions and said federal officials need to be transparent with the public before taking action that could make political waves.

"You're dealing with a very popular former president of the United States, so it's fundamentally a political question," Vance said. "There's also a proportionality question. It's not just, what do we have the right to do, but what is in the national interest to do, what inflames the political passions of the country, and what are the American people owed in light of the fact that there's a big controversy around this?"

Vance's opponent, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, struck a different tone.

"No person is above the rule of law," Ryan said. "It is my hope that this investigation delivers the accountability and justice we need to heal and move beyond this dark chapter in our countrys history."

USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau reporter Jessie Balmert contributed to this report.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mar-a-Lago search: Ohio Republicans call FBI action political
GALESBURG  OSF HealthCare is moving the location of its PromptCare clinic to 698 N. Kellogg St., the site of the former Cottage Hospitals emergency department.

OSF HealthCares media relations coordinator, Lee Batsakis, announced the move on Tuesday, stating the new clinic is slated to open in September after OSFs Galesburg PromptCare site leaves its current location next to the OSF St. Mary Medical Center at 3375 N. Seminary St.

The space that was formerly an emergency department is being upgraded to serve patients in a new capacity and will provide larger capacity for provision of urgent care services, including on-site lab and imaging, in Galesburg and surrounding communities, Batsakis wrote in the news release.

OSF HealthCare System bought the former Cottage Hospital at 695 N. Kellogg St. from Galesburg Hospital Corp. for $4 million in April 2022, according to the Knox County Assessors Office. At the time of the sale, the Cottage Hospital building was no longer considered an Illinois health facility.

Cottage Hospital closed on Jan. 8, 2022, after it was found deficient of various U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services codes. The hospital had lost 72% of its revenue after it lost its Medicare provider agreement on Dec. 27, 2021.

The Knox Clinic Corp. is currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings in eastern Michigan.

Batsakis described OSF PromptCare sites in Tuesdays news release as walk-in clinics designed to assess and treat minor illnesses and injuries when a patients primary care provider is unavailable. These minor illnesses and injuries may include sprains, minor lacerations, respiratory infections or the flu.

More:OSF HealthCare welcomes three new advanced practice registered nurses in Galesburg

OSF PromptCare also will offer lab and radiology services on-site.

There will be other changes coming to OSF clinics in nearby areas, as the OSF Primary Clinic currently located in Knoxville at 104 S. Broad St. will move to 904 E. Main St. in August.

In Galva, OSF expects to open an OSF Rehabilitation satellite clinic in the OSF St. Mary Medical Center at 230 Exchange St., Unit D, this fall. This clinic will focus on physical therapy, balance issues, shoulder surgeries, knee/back/neck pain and more.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: OSF PromptCare in Galesburg, IL to move into former Cottage Hospital.
Petition calling for the legalization of porn in Ukraine garnered 25,000 votes

The petition was registered on July 4. Now the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, must provide a response to it.

Read also: Zelenskyy is sent petition asking to legalize same-sex marriages

The appeal itself states that "most developed countries do not have bans on pornographic activities."

"In Ukraine, this law was adopted with international comments that it violates freedom of speech, the petition reads.

In addition, this law does not make any sense, because anyone who wants to act in porn can go abroad and boost the economy of other countries.

Read also: Petition urges Zelenskyy to properly regulate ongoing mobilization

The petition also states that "the law itself is very generalized and gives room for different interpretations."

The author of the appeal notes that the law "poorly explains where eroticism is art, and where eroticism is porn."

"There was a huge number of cases when girls were convicted specifically for eroticism using the pornography articles of the law," the petition says.



Read also: Zelenskyy to consider petition to ban Russians from entering Ukraine for 50 years

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
BRAINTREE  Three men were stabbed and one critically injured in a confrontation between two groups at a Forbes Road hotel Tuesday night, police said.

At 11:14 p.m. officers responded to a report of multiple victims at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 180 Forbes Road. Police said they found one man in the hotel lobby and two additional men suffering from stab wounds in the parking lot.

"The victims all had multiple stab wounds and were immediately treated by responding officers and subsequently transported to Boston-area hospitals," Braintree police said in a statement. "One victim is in critical condition and another is in stable condition. A third has been released from the hospital."

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Police said the victims are from out of state and were staying at the hotel while working in the area. Initial investigation showed a confrontation occurred in the parking lot between two groups who may have known each other. The members of the other group left the scene before officers arrived.

Detectives from Braintree police and State Police are investigating, along with State Police Crime Scene Services. Braintree police urge anyone with information to contact detectives at 781-794-8620.

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers who make this coverage possible. Please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Three injured, one critically, in stabbing outside Braintree hotel
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Law enforcement officers are leaving their jobs "at a rate weve never seen before," with some departments seeing decreases by as many as hundreds of members compared to the same time last year, a handful of the nations top police officials said.

National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) President Patrick Yoes sounded the alarm during the third annual Faith & Blue conference in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, when he told about 100 law enforcement officials, community leaders and reporters: "I want to signal a crisis."

"We see law enforcement officers leave our profession at a rate we've never seen before," Yoes told the crowd. "Our profession is dependent on the best and brightest stepping up and taking this job. And because of the actions, and because of the turmoil that has happened in the last two years, we have a crisis right now in manpower."

Top representatives from 19 local, state and federal police agencies  including Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security  convened Tuesday to announce plans for the 2022 National Faith & Blue Weekend, which is scheduled for October 7 through October 10. The event encourages conversation and communication between faith groups, law enforcement agencies and the communities, and has garnered support from some of the biggest names in law enforcement in doing so.

POLICE, FAITH-BASED ORGS PARTNER AMID VIOLENT CRIME SURGE: COMMUNITIES CANNOT AFFORD TO SIT ON THE SIDELINES'

When asked about retention and recruitment on Tuesday, Rev. Markel Hutchins, the events lead organizer and MovementForward CEO, said law enforcement agencies "will not be able to recruit or retain or attract new talent if police officers continue to have to work under the circumstances and situations that they're working under now.

ALBUQUERQUE MURDERS: POLICE NAB PRIMARY SUSPECTS IN SLAYINGS OF 4 MUSLIM MEN

"The stresses and the anxiety that's caused by the tensions that we've seen have driven the law enforcement professionals away," he went on. "There is no way to reduce crime and there is no way to attract new talent in law enforcement if we don't change the discussion and shift the narrative again away from the points of conversation that divide us."

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More than 210 police and law enforcement officers have been shot in the line of duty so far this year as of July 31  up 14% from the same time last year, according to data provided by the FOP earlier this month.

Deaths of officers in the line of duty jumped by 55% from 2020 to 2021, with the majority succumbing to COVID-19 -related illness, according to statistics from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. And data released last week by the Major Cites Chiefs Association shows homicides in big cities have surged by 50% since 2019.

"Unfortunately, we find ourselves in a very difficult time in American history in the last two years. America's law enforcement has been demonized by many. It has created a rift within this country and eroded the very trust of the institution and the profession of law enforcement," Yoes added during his address to the crowd. "And we're paying for it. We're paying for it in our communities with higher crime. And we're also paying for it in law enforcement officers."

US MURDER RATE HIGHEST IT'S BEEN IN 25 YEARS AS BIG CITIES SHATTER RECORDS

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee listens to a question from a reporter after U.S. Secret Service officers shot and killed a person who had trespassed onto the Peruvian Embassy earlier in the morning in the tony Chevy Chase neighborhood April 20, 2022 in Washington, DC. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Chief Robert Contee of Washington, D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), estimated to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that his office employed 300 fewer officers than when he started his post in 2021.

CALIFORNIA POLICE OFFICER SHOT TO DEATH IN GYM PARKING LOT

"That is significant for our police department," Contee said.

An MPD spokesperson said the department was authorized for a police force of 4,000 sworn members for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. As of Tuesday, the department employed 3,472 sworn members. As of Jan. 1, 2022, there were 3,535 uniformed MDP personnel on staff. MPD employed 3,569 sworn members as of Jan. 1, 2021, the spokesperson said.

A Chicago police officer attempts to deescalate tension as Englewood residents clash with demonstrators protesting outside the 7th District station of the Chicago Police Department on August 11, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Contee, who also spoke as a member of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said the need for more staffing and retention of personnel has "a huge impact."

"With respect to police officers who are out there working every day when they are overworked because we dont have adequate staffing, that impacts judgement, that impacts police officer community interactions and it impacts a lot of things," Contee went on.

DOUBLE SHOOTING IN DC INJURES 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL, 13-YEAR-OLD BOY

Earlier this week, the New York Post reported that 2,465 New York Police Department officers have submitted their papers to leave the agency so far in 2022, including 71% who did so before becoming eligible for their full pensions. The 2022 figure is a 42% jump from the 1,731 officers who left the job at the same time in 2021, the report states.

Steven Casstevens, president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, said there was "no one reason why our profession is struggling with recruitment and retention right now."

"Probably 35 years ago in one of my former agencies when we advertised for law enforcement open position, we'd get eight 800 to 1000 applicants. Today we have 50," said Casstevens, who also serves as the chief of Buffalo Grove Police Department in Illinois. Now, that didn't happen overnight. There are a lot of reasons."

Sheriff Dennis Lemma, president of the Major County Sheriffs of America, called the issue "probably one of the most significant challenges that we have right now."

"As fundamental as you can put it, people are attracted to this business because they have a heart to serve, and they want love and appreciation from the recipients of that service," said Lemma. "And when there is a false narrative out there  in many regards, a radical narrative that wants to defund the police, or allowed cities across the country to engage in total lawlessness  your good, quality police officers will find a different way to serve. They'll go to the military. They'll serve in the church. They'll serve in the fire department. They will find another calling."

That said, he added that the "strongest advocates" of defunding police and law enforcement "are now changing their position, because they've seen the violent crime rise in major cities across America."

"I went into a large group of sheriffs across the country and I asked  By a show of hands, how many of you are encouraging your sons, daughters, grandchildren to get in this business? And there was not enough hands raised in the room," Lemma went on. "We can do better, and I think efforts like this start to move us down that path."

Fox News' Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
A man was stabbed to death early Tuesday in Daytona Beach and police said a suspect was in custody.

According to Daytona Beach Police Sgt. Tim Ehrenkaufer, the stabbing occurred at 1:41 a.m. at Ridgewood Avenue and Shady Place. The victim, Ricky Shelhorse, 34, of Daytona Beach, died at the scene, Ehrenkaufer said.

Durian T. Atwaters, 38, of Daytona Beach, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, Ehrenkaufer said.

More: 16-year-old accused in stabbing dies after becoming unresponsive in Daytona police custody

More: Man accused of killing Daytona Beach couple as they rode bikes home arrested, police say

A passerby called 9-1-1 and when police arrived, they found Shelhorse lying on the ground, Ehrenkaufer said.

Surveillance video from nearby businesses show Atwaters walking up to Shelhorse as he stood by his vehicle. An argument ensues and Atwaters stabs Shelhorse in the chest and flees the scene, the report states.

Daytona Beach Police detectives tracked Atwaters down at the Relax Inn, a few blocks from the scene of the stabbing, police said.

Ehrenkaufer said detectives did not immediately have a motive for the stabbing,

In a report, a woman with Atwaters at the motel said she knew Shelhorse, whom she dated for 10 months, and that she and Shelhorse had been texting when Atwaters left the motel.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona Beach man stabbed to death early Tuesday, suspect arrested
Memphis Police released images of a brazen crime. The pictures show three men holding high-powered weapons. Memphis Police said those men used those weapons to open fire and kill a man outside of a Memphis motel.

It happened on Sycamore View Rd. at a Motel 6 at about 7:10 p.m., police said.

PHOTOS: Gunmen wanted for Motel 6 murder

Memphis Police are looking for three men wanted for shooting another man to death at a Motel 6 on Sycamore View Road around 7:10 p.m. on August 8. Police said the men pulled up in a red car, got out, opened fire on the man and then took off in the red car. If you recognize these men, police urge you to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Holding high-powered rifles, police said the men ran up and unleashed a barrage of bullets after jumping from a red sedan, hitting, and killing the man.

I see an AK47. I see what you would consider a baby AK, said Bennie Cobb, a FOX13 law enforcement analyst and weapons trainer. Cobb owns Eagle Eye Security and Training and has spent years studying crime trends, too.

SEE MORE: Man shot to death at Motel 6 in Memphis, police say

Of the weapons, Cobb said they can be bought online.

Some of the police agencies dont have the firepower these guys have, he said. Some [officers] have them but they have to be rifle certified.

Our reporting uncovered a police report showing another shooting at the Motel 6 in January. The report said that a man driving found his windshield hit by a bullet.

Motel 6 was asked about previous occurrences of crime at the location this year, things like weapons and drug violations, the January shooting, if management is prepared to handle those issues, and if they have security onsite.

A spokesperson neglected to answer those questions and instead said they are working with police on the investigation.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death that took place at the Motel 6 in Memphis. The safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and we are doing everything we can to assist the police as they continue their investigation. Motel 6 is committed to ensuring a safe environment at our locations. We take a robust approach to education, response and training by providing our franchise owners with tools and resources to enhance safety procedures. Any other questions should be directed to police and local officials, a Motel 6 spokesperson said in a statement sent to FOX13.

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Police have not caught the men responsible. Cobb said they are armed and dangerous.

Police asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers or homicide detectives with information.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

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Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, a Washington state Republican Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler conceded defeat on Tuesday, a week after polls closed in Washington state.

Trump backed a primary opponent to Herrera Beutler after she voted to impeach him.

The former president has made it clear that he wishes to rid the GOP of any pro-impeachment lawmakers.

Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler on Tuesday conceded defeat to a Trump-backed primary challenger, handing former President Donald Trump another victory in his vendetta against pro-impeachment lawmakers.

"Thank you, Southwest Washington, for entrusting me six times with the privilege of representing you in Congress. Ever since I was first elected to this seat I have done my very best to serve my home region and our country," Herrera Beutler said in a statement a week after polls closed in Washington state, per the Chinook Observer. "Though my campaign came up short this time, I'm proud of all we've accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home."

Trump endorsed Joe Kent, an Army veteran, in the race. The Washington Third District is favorable to Republicans and should be easily held by Kent if historical midterm trends prevail this November.DDHQ projected that Kent would advance under the state's top two jungle primary format earlier Tuesday evening.

Herrera Beutler's loss means that seven of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump for inciting the January 6 insurrection will not be returning to Congress next year. She is the third Republican in the group to fall in a primary, joining fellow Reps. Tom Price of South Carolina and Peter Meijer of Michigan. January 6 committee vice chair Rep. Liz Cheney faces voters in Wyoming next week. The other four lawmakers decided to retire.

Democratic lawmakers discussed calling Herrera Beutler to testify during the impeachment trial about her recounting of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's reportedly heated conversation with Trump as the riot unfolded. Ultimately, no witnesses were called.

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Trump has made it clear since leaving office that one of his key missions is to rid the Republican Party of the lawmakers who made his second impeachment the most bipartisan in history. On both occasions, Senate Republicans later acquitted him.

Only two House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, Reps. David Valadao of California and Dan Newhouse of Washington, have survived GOP primaries in the wake of their votes. Newhouse faced six fellow Republicans in the race and bested Trump-backed Loren Culp by just over 6,000 votes.

Read the original article on Business Insider
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed possibly supplying food, fertilisers and fuel to Mali in a phone call with the African country's interim leader Assimi Goita on Wednesday, according to a Kremlin statement.

Goita said on Twitter the two leaders talked about Russia's support for Mali's political transition.

Goita's junta came to power in a coup two years ago and has sparred repeatedly with neighbouring countries and Western powers over election delays, alleged army abuses and cooperation with Russian mercenaries in its fight against an Islamist insurgency.

The West African country has deepened its Soviet-era ties to Russia as its relationship soured this year with its long-time ally and former colonial ruler, France.

"We discussed the support of the Russian Federation for Mali's political transition and I praised the quality of our partnership, which respects the sovereignty of #Mali and the aspirations of its population," Goita tweeted.

France announced in February it was pulling its troops out of Mali after nearly a decade there fighting insurgents, some with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State, which have since spread across the Sahel region.

Fighters from the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-linked private military company, have been supporting the Malian army in its fight since late last year.

(Reporting by Reuters; Additional reporting by Nellie Peyton in Dakar; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Mark Potter)
As House Republicans rush to argue that the FBI search of Donald Trumps home is marred by politics, they are readying a future Hunter Biden investigation designed to ensnare Joe Biden ahead of a potential reelection bid.

House Republicans see no contradiction between their suspicion of the FBIs law enforcement activity at Mar-a-Lago and their interest in digging into the business dealings of the presidents son and other family members. Oversight of the Bidens, they contend, would counterbalance what they see as a Justice Department where partisanship influences decisions like the probe of 2020 election subversion thats drawing closer to Trump.

But the House GOPs eagerness to say the quiet part out loud about their Biden investigation, injecting presidential politics into an already acrimonious chamber, underscores how far it has come since Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took intra-party heat in 2015 for touting the electoral payoff of an investigation into Hillary Clinton.

These days, Republicans are making no secret of their plans to use a Hunter Biden inquiry next year as a platform to go after his father  after years of brushing off conflicts of interest within Trumps family. No evidence has emerged to show that the business dealings of Hunter Biden, whos faced a years-long federal investigation, affected his fathers decisions as president.

GOP lawmakers are pushing ahead anyway, planning a sprawling probe that will reach into the ethics of Hunter Bidens artwork sales and other business deals, as well as policy decisions by the Biden administration.

Im not exactly sure I see a big difference between starting with Hunter and incorporating Joe Biden from the getgo, said Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.), a member of the Oversight Committee, which is expected to take the lead on a House inquiry into Hunter Biden. Obviously, you start with Hunter  [but] it appears as though the president is involved as well, and its something youre going to have to look into.

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The president's son has long fueled a conservative media fixation on par with Hillary Clintons handling of classified material, and a House majority would help Republicans try to push their narrative into the mainstream. But GOP plans to poke at Hunter Biden may have to compete with a growing GOP appetite for an in-depth House inquiry into the DOJs scrutiny of Trump, particularly if Republicans decide to form a select committee instead of launching an investigation through the Judiciary Committee.



Conversations Tuesday with more than a half-dozen House Republicans revealed deep concern about constituents panicked and infuriated by the FBIs daylong Mar-a-Lago search.

The base has lost its mind. If Trump decides to call them to arms, then I think he could get another Jan. 6, one senior House Republican said in an interview, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But before this weeks law enforcement activity against Trump, House Republicans had been homing in on Hunter, and several name-checked him in their response to the FBIs search. Months before an election that will determine whether they control the House, GOP lawmakers and committee aides are already doing prep work, including planning hearings, collecting documents and nailing down potential witnesses  including former business associates and banks.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), set to chair the Oversight Committee if Republicans win the majority, said hell be ready to formally launch an investigation in January, when the new Congress is sworn in.

Were going to have a great hearing early on the potential wrongdoing within the Biden family, Comer said in an interview. The fear is that these shady business dealings have compromised the president.

Comer declined to name the witnesses hed like to call, simply saying theyd be some of Hunter Bidens former business associates. Hunter Biden will be invited to testify and it is very possible the First Son would be subpoenaed, he added.

The Oversight chair-in-waiting is prepared to answer critics who say his work is manufactured to ding Joe Biden; he insisted that House Republicans wouldn't investigate Hunter Biden as a political witch hunt. But other Republicans are more open in depicting their broader oversight as a way to tee up a 2024 election where they hope to win back the White House.



That will help frame up the 2024 race, when I hope and I think President Trump is going to run again. And we need to make sure that he wins, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who's set to chair the Judiciary Committee under a 2023 GOP majority, said at a CPAC conference in Texas late last week.

It would hardly be the first time a congressional investigation has converged with presidential politics, nor the first Hill investigation into Hunter Biden and by extension the wider Biden family. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) conducted a joint probe of Hunter Biden heading into the 2020 election, sparking warnings from fellow Republicans about unintentionally spreading Russian disinformation.



But House Republicans are planning a more sweeping look: Comer fired off a laundry list of topics to delve into, including Hunter Bidens work in China and an ethics agreement governing Hunter Bidens art sales that's been questioned by Obama-era officials.

Then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last year that ethics arrangements governing sales of the art were not White House arrangements; theyre arrangements between Hunter Bidens representatives and ones that we, certainly, were made aware of.

Comer is using material from a laptop linked to Hunter Biden that's attracted controversy, though he underscored that he's interested in the Biden son's finances, not salacious personal details.

In addition, Oversight Committee Republicans are still seeking Treasury Department suspicious activity reports relevant to Hunter Biden, though they've complained of an inability to obtain the material without Democratic support.

Treasury responded by indicating that its policy of requiring a committee chair or majority of members to OK requests for those reports applies regardless of political party. Some Democrats have also bristled over the departments handling of suspicious activity reports.

Since the beginning of this Administration, Treasury has made SARs available in response to authorized committee requests and continues to engage on the process with any individual members seeking information, Treasury spokesperson Mike Gwin said in a statement.



Democrats are already excoriating the GOPs investigative plans, accusing Republicans of selectively attacking Biden while ignoring ethical lapses during the Trump years.

To borrow an old line, every time these Republicans open their mouths, its a noun, a verb, and Hunter Biden. They are pushing false conspiracy theories in a desperate effort to attack the President personally and politically, all in service  as they have admitted  of assisting another Trump campaign. And the public will see it for what it is: an abuse of power, a person close to Biden said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Current Oversight Committee Chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that if Comer is concerned about presidential conflicts of interest, I would welcome him to join me in investigating taxpayer funds spent at Trump properties, serious deficiencies in President Trumps financial disclosures, foreign government spending at the former Trump Hotel," and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner's ties to Saudi Arabia.

That criticism doesn't faze House Republicans, who view this week's search of Mar-a-Lago as further evidence that federal investigations are biased against conservatives  despite the role that one played in derailing Clinton's 2016 campaign.

"When contrasted with their actions following Clinton-inspired Russian collusion allegations, [the] Clinton [email] server and Hunter Biden, the impression is strong that the FBI is selective and politicized, said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who represents a swing district.

And Comer, when asked about critics who cite Trump world conflicts of interest, described those as well-trodden ground by others.

"It is not like they are disagreeing on Hunter Biden," Comer said, adding that "what I say is, 'There are plenty of people investigating the Trump kids.

Olivia Beavers contributed.
By Richa Naidu

LONDON (Reuters) - As energy bills mount and the threat of rationing increases, some European retailers are turning off lights and considering shorter opening hours this winter.

Energy bosses and government officials have urged people and businesses to reduce power use and put in place contingency plans so they are less reliant on gas imports if there are shortages linked to the war in Ukraine.

SPAR Austria is reducing the hours of lighting for storefront advertising and outside its more than 1,500 stores across the country, a spokesperson said in an email. The business, which operates over 1.2 million square metres (12.92 million square feet) of store floor space, posted retail sales of 8.56 billion euros ($8.86 billion) last year.

The move will reduce the retailer's energy consumption by 1 million kilowatt hours annually, the spokesperson said, without saying how much money would be saved.

Last month, the head of Leclerc warned that France's largest food retailer could reduce opening hours at its stores to deal with power shortages.

That came days after rival French supermarket operator Carrefour signed an "EcoWatt Charter" with national energy grid operator RTE, reducing electricity consumption in its stores during periods of high demand.

Some retailers, including Belgium's Colruyt and Ahold, might be partly insulated from potential disruptions and the higher costs due to existing sustainable energy programs that conserve power.

"No concrete measures are planned in the short term, but the firm ambition is to continue the efforts as part of our overall energy policy," a Colruyt spokesperson said. "That's why we don't have any illuminated signs, we opt for closed freezers, a cold room, etc."

The company has 44 "zero fossil fuel" stores, which do not use fuel oil or natural gas, but are instead heated entirely by waste heat and green electricity, the spokesperson said.

Story continues

Ahold is also looking for ways to cut its energy usage, chief executive Frans Muller said in an interview.

"We have not made any decisions on opening times but we're looking much more at the use of energy," he said.

The company already had some gas saving programs in place, including running its Albert Heijn stores entirely on sustainable energy next year.

($1 = 0.9665 euros)

(Reporting by Richa Naidu; Additional reporting by Anthony Deutsch in Amsterdam; Editing by Matt Scuffham, Elaine Hardcastle and Mike Harrison)
Aug. 10The robots in Carlotta Berry's Rose-Hulman robotics program certainly don't look capable of conquering the planet and becoming our overlords, but give them some time.

Berry and two of the Institute of Technology's students, Murari Srinivasan and Josiah McGee, are teaching their diminutive contraptions how to navigate and even map out their terrains.

"They're both learning about advanced robot behaviors as well as controls," explained Berry. Srinivasan's creation, crafted from programming that the University of Michigan shared with Rose-Hulman, is "the smartest robot in the room right now," Berry said. "But we're going to try to get the others to that level [of sophistication]."

"When we first got in here, I was doing a lot of hardware, building and soldering things," Srinivasan recalled. "On this project, I've shifted to software, going through files trying to change codes. It showed me how robotics works  building things and programming."

Srinivasan is programming his robot to travel around something of a small obstacle course while simultaneously mapping the area and transmitting the results of its mapping to a laptop. At one point, the bot bumps into a wall  repeatedly  something it is definitely not supposed to do.

"I gave it an instruction and told it to go somewhere before it had all the data of where it was configured in that space, so it went a little haywire," Srinivasan explained. "There's a certain distance a robot is told not to go towards the wall."

Robotics is more complicated that it might initially seem, Srinivasan said. "It's not just telling a motor to move a wheel or telling a censor something," he said. "You have to do all the mathematics about how much it's going to move, your angular kinematics. You have to do stuff that helps you understand how your robot is moving and why it's moving before you can get bigger levels of movement."

Story continues

Soon, his robot is circling the obstacle course with aplomb. Srinivasan's next goal, he said, is to "work on a multi-robot collaboration so that we can have two of these robots work together to create a full map." Eventually, he hopes to employ what he has learned from this robot to benefit another of his interests, sustainable energy, employing a set of robots in something called heterogeneous training.

He envisions the robots working together to accomplish one goal, say, repairing a solar panel. "One robot would detect the damage, one would mark the damage and one robot would come fix the damage," Srinivasan said.

Meanwhile, McGee is working with a robot he has named Sunny, inspired by the movie "I, Robot." Coincidentally, Sunny was created by the company iRobot, and looks like one of its more famous creations, the Roomba, only it's not a vacuum. At this point, Sunny is able to follow alongside a wall, but McGee plans "to switch to more difficult things using a different program, ROS" [Robotics Operating System].

ROS represents "a lot of nasty code, is more graphic and has more capabilities," McGee said. Eventually, Sunny will be able to interact with other robots, much like Srinivasan's goal.

Meanwhile, Berry herself is working on a couple of robots and sharing their open-source designs [the tech equivalent of public-domain materials], as well as information on where to get the necessary materials, on her Rose-Hulman web page so that all ages can create their own robots with varying degrees of sophistication.

"Anyone who wanted to design a robot could design this and change anything they want," Perry said. "Anyone can use this robot and make it more complicated as you become more advanced. I will be documenting designing this robot and then making it progressively more complicated, for K-12 all the way up to the graduate level."

Lily-bot is her smaller robot, and Rosie-bot, named after the school's mascot, will be taller and wider and otherwise more complicated.

Berry was recently named the Society of Women Engineers' 2022 Distinguished Educator of the Year, not only for her work at Rose-Hulman but also her outreach work in robotics and for programs she co-founded to increase access to STEM [training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] to diverse populations.

It's one of a number of honors Berry has received recently, including the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers' Undergraduate Teaching Award and the 2022 Distinguished Educator Award from the American Society of Engineering Education's Electrical and Computer Engineering Division. She also was named to the Trailblazer Fellows Program by the Open Source Hardware Association.

No matter how many accolades pour in for Berry, she finds each one meaningful.

"They do, because they all come from different organizations," she said. "What makes it most meaningful to me was when I was a college student, I had somebody who encouraged me not to get into engineering, and now I'm getting awards for teaching it, so it makes it worth it."

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.
Photo: . A new image of one of the two suspects involved in accused killer Rabih "Robby" Alkhalil's escape from Port Coquitlam's North Fraser Pretrial Centre on July 21, 2022. By Coquitlam RCMP

It appears investigators have "established" the route of the van used to help break an accused killer out of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre almost three weeks ago.

RCMP say the vehicle in which Rabih "Robby" Alkhalil was transported from the Port Coquitlam jail (1451 Kingsway Ave.) was found at an "abandoned location."

It's the newest information and was made public today (Aug. 9), and also includes a video of the van and surveillance images of the two men involved in the 35-year-old's escape.

However, spokesperson Const. Deanna Law told the Tri-City News that details of the exact route and drop-off are not being released at this time due to the active and ongoing case.

Alkhalil went missing and on the run after he left the pretrial centre before 7 p.m. on July 21, appearing to be disguised as an employed contractor similar to the suspects, according to photos initially released by RCMP.

Law said since then, Mounties have endured long days piecing together what parts they have of the larger puzzle.

"Police have spent extensive hours canvassing for video and countless hours reviewing all CCTV footage that has been obtained," she says.

"Investigators have now established the route that the escape vehicle (a white Ford Econoline van) took from North Fraser Pretrial to the abandoned location."

New suspect images

Police have updated the photos of the two men involved in Alhkalil's escape.

This comes weeks after investigators were given, what turned out to be, fake images the suspects left behind at North Fraser.

Now, the following descriptions are being used to describe the accomplices:

Suspect One



White



Last seen wearing...

White hard hat

Face mask

Black shirt with a high visibility vest

Black pants

Black gloves

Black boots



A new image of one of the two suspects involved in accused killer Rabih "Robby" Alkhalil's escape from Port Coquitlam's North Fraser Pretrial Centre on July 21, 2022. By Coquitlam RCMP

Suspect Two



White



Last seen wearing...

Black ball cap

Face mask

Glasses

Black shirt

Black pants

Black gloves

Black boots







A new image of one of the two suspects involved in accused killer Rabih "Robby" Alkhalil's escape from Port Coquitlam's North Fraser Pretrial Centre on July 21, 2022. By Coquitlam RCMP

Investigation ongoing

Law said Coquitlam RCMP is still working with enforcement agencies at the regional, national and international levels in hopes of finding Alkhalil and the suspects.

Alkhalil is known to have contacts around the world, including Canada, the United States, Asia and Europe, and might be trying to flee the country.

He was extradited from Greece to face first-degree murder charges for his alleged involvement in the January 2012 death of Sandip Duhre, who was gunned down in a busy restaurant at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre.

Alkhalil was charged with the murder of Duhre in 2018, but pleaded not guilty.

"For this case, time is crucial and its important to keep the public as informed as possible even though the facts could change as we go," Law said in an earlier statement.

Alkhalil is described as:



Middle Eastern



5'10"



166 pounds



Short black hair



Brown eyes





Investigators are working with the North Fraser Pretrial Centre, Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU-BC), Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA), along with global networks in hopes of tracking down Alkhalil.

If he or his accomplices are seen, you're strongly urged to not approach them and call 911 immediately.

Anyone with more information on Alkhalil and the suspects, or their whereabouts, is urged to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and ask for the major crime unit, anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go online to www.solvecrime.ca.

With a file from Jeremy Hainsworth, Glacier Media
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  WEDNESDAY, 10 AUGUST 2022, 09:39

The Russian Federation asked for the UN Security Council meeting to be held on 11 August, lying about the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP by Ukrainian troops.

This is reported by "European Pravda".

"I confirm. We submitted a request for a meeting due to the Ukrainian shelling of the ZNPP," Dmitry Polyansky, the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the UN, on his Telegram.

He stated that "Ukrainian provocations should not be hidden from the general public."

Earlier, a source in the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN stated "Interfax" that on 11 August, Russia asked for the UN Security Council meeting.

As another source clarified, the Russian side also invited the participation of IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi as a speaker.

Reminder: On August 6, the European Union condemned Russia's military actions in the area around the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

In a telephone conversation with the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for the sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry and nuclear fuel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova expressed concern about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP and called for the admission of IAEA experts to invite the station.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda!
A view of the border crossing from Estonia into Russia over the Narva River in Estonia. (Getty)

Estonia has become the third EU nation to call on the bloc to ban all Russian tourists following Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The northern European nation joined its neighbours Finland and Latvia in making a plea to close borders to all Russians.

On Tuesday, Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas tweeted: "Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right.

Air travel from Russia is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbours to Russia carry the burden (Finland, Estonia, Latvia  sole access points). Time to end tourism from Russia now.

Read more: Ukrainian special forces 'carried out daring Crimea airbase attack' behind enemy lines

Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas wants an EU ban on Russian tourists. (Getty)

It came as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy also asked Western nations to deny entry to Russians until they change their philosophy.

He told Washington Post: The most important sanctions are to close the borders  because the Russians are taking away someone elses land

Latvia and Finland have been pushing for the ban.

Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin said she personally thought tourism should be restricted and expected the issue to be on agenda in upcoming EU meetings.

Latvian foreign inister Edgars Rinkevics tweeted last month: EU must consider Russia as state sponsor of terrorism, I reiterate proposal to impose EU tourist visa ban for citizens.

Read more: Russia has new ground forces as shelling kills 13 in Dnipro

The Kremlin has threatened to retaliate if Finland bans Russian tourists.

Moscow said it would react very negatively should its neighbour refuse Russian citizens entry after it emerged there was growing support for this in Finland, Russian news outlet Interfax reported.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said: All such actions against Russian citizens would require countermeasures and a response. This should be understandable and expected.

Estonia and Latvia are members of Nato, while Finland has been accepted but full ratification may take up to a year.

Story continues

Finland's Imatra border crossing point with Russia. (Reuters)

Russian shelling killed at least 13 people in Ukraine's central Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, governor Valentyn Reznychenko said on Wednesday, as the UK said Russia had "almost certainly" established a major new ground force to support its war.

Reznychenko said more than 20 buildings were damaged in Marganets, a city across the Dnipro river from the Russian-captured Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, where there have been other reports of shelling.

The new Russian ground force, called the 3rd Army Corps, is based out of the city of Mulino, east of Russia's capital Moscow, Britain said in an intelligence update on Twitter.

In the northern town of Bucha, 15 bodies were buried on Tuesday after they were found four months after Russian forces withdrew from the area.

The Kyiv government has accused Russia of atrocities and brutality against civilians during the invasion and said it had identified more than 10,000 possible war crimes.

Russia has denied targeting civilians or involvement in war crimes and accused Ukraine of staging them to smear its forces.
What is happening in the south of Ukraine, the General Staff reported

Read also: Cook and maid suspected of poisoning Russian-backed Kherson governor

In particular, the enemy fired shells from tanks and artillery of various calibers along the contact line in the South Buh area.

The villages of Novohryhorivka, Andriyivka and Olhyne were hit by air strikes. The invaders also conducted air reconnaissance with the use of UAVs.

Read also: Ukrainian defenders destroy three Russian bases in south Ukraine

Ukraines General Staff said that two Kalibr-type sea-based cruise missile carriers remain stationed in the waters of the Black Sea for use against Ukraine.

Read also: Huge explosions rock airfield in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea

There is a threat of missile strikes on military and critical infrastructure sites in Ukraine, reads the report.

The military added that the attack aircraft of the Air Force of Ukraine continue to patrol the airspace of Ukraine, while ground attack aircraft are successfully providing air support to Ukrainian units in certain operating areas.

Help NV continue reporting on the Russian invasion



Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The home of a former Russian state TV journalist was raided by the authorities on Wednesday over her criticism of Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, her lawyer has said.

Marina Ovsyannikova, who worked until March as a producer for the Kremlin-funded Channel One, is currently facing criminal charges for her opposition to the war, according to her representative Dmitry Zakhvatov.

If she is convicted under a new law which criminalises speaking out against Moscows special military operation in Ukraine, the 44-year-old could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Mr Zakhvatov told the independent news website Meduza that he believes the case is connected to a protest Ms Ovsyannikova staged last month, in which she carried a sign calling Putin a killer and his troops fascists.

She first made international headlines when she interrupted an evening news broadcast on 14 March, holding a poster which read stop the war, dont believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here.

Ms Ovsyannikova initially fled to Germany, before returning to Russia so that she could fight a parental custody battle.

The journalist received a 30,000 roubles (400) fine for her first public protest, and has subsequently received further penalties for her anti-war campaigning.

The mother-of-two was recently given a 40,000-rouble (533) fine for a social media post about the Russian army, Mr Zakhvatov said.

I go to the courts like I go to work, Ms Ovsyannikova said earlier this week.

I could not express my gratitude to Putin on behalf of 30 million Russians who live in the 21st century without sewers and warm toilets, she added.

The legal aid group Net Freedom estimates that there are currently 79 criminal cases like Mr Ovsyannikovas going through the Russian courts.
The man in was attacked alongside a friend in his 40's in the Cathedral Green area of Salisbury, Wiltshire. (PA Images)

Two teenagers have been arrested after a wheelchair-bound man was left with life-changing injuries after he was attacked last month.

The vulnerable man in his 30s was attacked alongside a friend in his 40's in the Cathedral Green area of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Now two males, aged 17 and 18 and who are local to the area, have been arrested on suspicion of causing Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent and released on conditional bail.

Wiltshire Police said the pair were set upon and chased into the High Street and onto Crane Street by the youths at around 9:15pm on 19 July.

The force said the wheelchair-bound man suffered potentially life-changing injuries as a result of the attack, which left him incredibly distressed.

Detective constable Susan Ellway said: This was a sustained attack, during which a vulnerable man has suffered serious injuries which have left him incredibly distressed.

"The incident happened in a public place with a number of members of the public believed to be witnesses.

"We have already obtained a number of witness accounts and we would continue to urge anyone with information to get in touch.

Behaviour of this nature is completely abhorrent and will not be tolerated within our community.

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54220075949. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
As expected, Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip 4  but the phone's greatest improvements might come through upgrades to software, not specs. The new clamshell foldable now lets you do more while it's closed. You can take higher-quality selfies from the 1.9-inch external screen, and start recording a video in Quick Shot that continues when you open the phone to the half-folded Flex mode. You can also use the closed Flip as a digital car key, for outbound calls and texts, for payments and for controlling SmartThings home scenes. You might not have to rely on the 6.7-inch, 120Hz 1080p main display as much as you think.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 Samsung's clamshell foldable phone for 2022.

There are some meaningful (if modest) hardware upgrades, of course. The main camera now packs a 65 percent brighter sensor compared to its equivalent in the Galaxy Z Flip 3, while a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip provides the obligatory boost to processing power. Samsung is also tackling battery life complaints with a larger 3,700mAh power pack (up from 3,300mAh) and faster wired charging that brings the Z Flip 4 to 50 percent in about 30 minutes. You still won't get more than 8GB of RAM, but a new 512GB storage option should appeal to avid media consumers.

The design will seem very familiar, but there are some noticeable tweaks. You'll see a slimmer hinge, straighter edges and contrasting hazed back glass. The body includes material from recycled fish nets. And yes, there are new colors  you can get the Z Flip 4 in blue and pink gold as well as the more familiar Bora Purple and graphite. Bespoke Edition customization is still available if you prefer to mix-and-match color choices.

As with the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Flip 4 is available to pre-order today and will reach stores on August 26th. The base price hasn't changed for the new model  it starts at $1,000 for a 128GB version and you can pre-order it from Samsung, Amazon and other retailers. While that still makes it relatively affordable as far as foldables go, you'll still be paying a premium for a smaller footprint in your pocket.

Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
Samsung's 1TB T7 Shield SSD is back to its all-time low price of $100, or $60 less than what it usually sells for on Amazon. The last time it was listed for $100 on the website was on Prime Day in July  if you missed the chance to get one at the time and now need a rugged SSD for whatever reason, you may want to head on over to its product page. The T7 Shield is a tougher version of its standard counterpart, one that's encased in a rubber casing to give it the durability needed to survive up to 9.8-foot drops. That rubber exterior with its Dynamic Thermal Guard also prevents overheating so it suffers no performance drops even while transferring massive files. In addition, the T7 Shield is resistant to water and dust.

Buy Samsung T7 Shield 1TB at Amazon - $100

When it comes to performance, the T7 Shield has sequential read speeds of up to 1,050 MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,000 MB/s, which Samsung says are the fastest transfer speeds available today based on the USB 3.2 Gen2 standard. It employs the 256-bit Advanced Encryption Standard so it can keep your data secure in case you lose it. And while it only has one USB-C port, it comes with a USB Type C-to-C and a Type C-to-A cable.

Take note that the model on sale for $100 right now is the 1TB version, but you can also get the 2TB variant at a discount. The bigger capacity SSD is currently listed for $200, which is $90 less than its normal price. Both versions are available in blue, black and beige.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  South African prosecutors have charged seven self-employed miners with the rapes of eight women nearly two weeks ago in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg.

Seven more men are to be charged with the rapes on Thursday, officials said.

The rapes of the women  who were part of a film production crew shooting a music video at an abandoned mine in the area  sparked protests and violent attacks against freelance miners, known as zama-zamas.

Residents accuse the miners of operating illegally and committing many other crimes in their neighborhoods.

Following the rapes, angry residents went on the rampage, assaulting the miners before handing them over to the police and torching the camps where they lived, their belongings and mining tools. The protests erupted in Krugersdorp and surrounding areas including Kagiso, Bekkersdal and Mohlakeng.

The 14 suspects were identified by witnesses on Tuesday, according to the National Prosecuting Authority. More than 80 suspects were arrested in a police raid at a disused mine in Krugersdorp after reports of the rapes and robberies emerged.

Seven of the suspects were charged in the Krugersdorp Magistrates Court on Wednesday with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and robbery. The remaining seven will appear in court on Thursday, officials said. Those who will be charged Thursday were in a different court on Wednesday where they were charged with being in South Africa illegally.

We cannot rule out the possibility of more people being charged and added to the docket as investigations are ongoing. We will be directed by the direction that the investigation is taking, National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Phindi Mjonondwane said outside the court.

Illegal mining is rife in many parts of South Africa such as the Gauteng and Free State provinces where miners dig for gold deposits at disused and abandoned mine shafts. The miners hold gold illegally and often operate in heavily armed syndicates, according to local reports.

Various community and political organizations protested outside the court where the men appeared Wednesday, calling for the suspects to be denied bail and for the government to address the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa.
Women's rights protesters outside the court in Johannesburg last week.

South African authorities have charged seven men with 32 counts of rape after a mass assault at an abandoned mine near Johannesburg.

A group of eight women were attacked while filming a music video at the mine near the town of Krugersdorp last month.

Officials say they are illegal miners who dig for gold in disused shafts.

The men were among more than 60 suspects who appeared in court on immigration and firearms charges.

All are believed to be illegal migrants to South Africa. However, they are now expected to be tried separately because of the severity of their offences.

The suspects were identified by the women during a police line-up after the attacks.

But officers say the number of people charged could rise as DNA tests are concluded, as many of the men involved were wearing balaclavas when they attacked the crew which concealed their identities.

One of the victims told the BBC the women were seeking "justice for all the girls that went through thisfor the countless number of women who've been raped in this country".

Outside the court, protesters from civil society groups and several political parties gathered to demand that the men are denied bail.

The assaults sparked outrage in South Africa and has seen some urge authorities to do more to tackle a spate of violence against women.

The country has one of the world's highest rate of rapes and sexual assaults, yet the conviction rate remains low.

The connection between the assaults and migration has seen angry mobs seeking to track down foreign miners and torch their homes in retaliation.

Earlier this week, three of the rape survivors told the BBC of their ordeal, which left them traumatised and in fear for their lives.

President Cyril Ramaphosa had appealed for help in bringing the attackers to justice during a national address earlier this month.

"These horrible acts of brutality are an affront to the right of women and girls to live and work in freedom and safety," Mr Ramaphosa told South Africans.

Story continues

"We call upon communities to work with the police to ensure that these criminals are apprehended and prosecuted."

South Africa's Minister for Women Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said the attacks had given rise to a "moment of crisis" and urged the country to "defend the democratic gains" that women have achieved.

Three years ago Mr Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence a national crisis, and in light of the recent gang rape, activists want a state of emergency declared so that rape and gender-based crimes are prioritised for swift prosecution.

A call for rapists to be chemically castrated was made at the governing African National Congress's policy conference in response to the latest attack.
SIEGEN, Germany  The Spanish military took delivery of a THeMIS robotic vehicle, made by Estonias Milrem Robotics, to gauge how unmanned ground technology can improve operations of its ground forces, the company announced Aug. 9.

The evaluation comes as some European armies are in the market to equip their soldiers with robots for anything from cargo carrying to surveillance and attack missions. Manufacturers hope the technology will one day be as ubiquitous as drones are in the air domain, though navigating the intricacies of earthly terrain has proved to be a harder nut to crack.

Spains robotic evaluation program, dubbed Scorpion, began in early 2021, though sporadic tests with THeMIS began as early as 2019 under the countrys Fuerza 35 effort, a major modernization program for the Army.

Milrems flagship product has been a staple at defense exhibitions for years, and the company displayed the THeMIS at last Novembers FEINDEF show in Madrid, Spain.

The THeMIS has already prove[d] itself to 12 countries, seven of which are members of NATO, as a capable, robust and versatile system, said Kuldar Vaarsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. We are glad that Spain has joined as the 13th user of THEMIS and chosen Milrem Robotics as a partner to build their robotic and autonomous systems capabilities.

The companys robot saw front-line action alongside deployed Estonian forces during the now-defunct Barkhane counterterrorism mission, led by France, in Mali. According to the manufacturer, the vehicle there logged 1,200 kilometers (746 miles miles) in harsh desert conditions.

Milrem, backed by the Estonian government, booked a major win in 2020 when it received the European Commissions nod to lead a pan-European Union effort to create a standardized architecture for a new-generation unmanned ground system. While the effort is meant to be hardware-agnostic, it uses the THeMIS as a reference platform.
Photo: Photo Mike Howell. Franchesca Leo surveys the scene Tuesday outside her makeshift shelter on East Hastings Street in front of the vacant Regent Hotel.

Franchesca Leo spent part of her Tuesday loading dirty laundry and other personal belongings into a large plastic garbage container outside her tarp-heavy shelter on East Hastings Street.

The City of Vancouver delivered the 360-litre bin in the morning to Leo as part of a multi-step plan to remove dozens of makeshift structures and tents from sidewalks along East Hastings.

Its been exhausting, said Leo, a 45-year-old Indigenous woman, as she filled the bin that would eventually be transported to a storage site on either Main or East Cordova streets.

In between loading her bin, Leo filled out a BC Housing application form given to her by a friend but didnt expect to immediately find a place to live; she planned to move further down East Hastings to another spot on the strip.

I have no other place to go, but if I cant stay here, Ive got to go somewhere, she said.

Firefighters fear tents could catch fire and spread to buildings

In the past week, BC Housing and Mayor Kennedy Stewart have told Vancouver Is Awesome that there is not enough housing for people living on East Hastings  a fact that is competing with Fire Chief Karen Frys order to remove all tents from the sidewalks for fear they could catch fire and spread to buildings.

On Tuesday, firefighters, police officers, city crews and others from various social service agencies were largely in standby mode as Leo and others slowly and methodically began to empty their belongings into the bins.

In the morning, police had closed the section of East Hastings between Main and Columbia streets as media and local residents gathered in front of the vacant Regent Hotel, which is the spot the city was focused on because of the concentration of shelters on the sidewalk.

Capt. Matthew Trudeau, public information officer for Vancouver Fire Rescue Services, said firefighters had answered 1,016 fires in the Downtown Eastside this year, including the Vancouver Street Church across the street from the Regent.

Regent Hotel vacant since 2018

Standing outside the Regent, Trudeau pointed to the vacant building and described the challenges firefighters would have if a fire started in the single-room-occupancy hotel, which the city closed in 2018 because of its dilapidated state.

Our crews are going to be facing a really difficult time pulling up here seeing fire and smoke that's coming from this building and getting adequate water onto that fire in a reasonable amount of time, he said, noting firefighters were called this weekend to a tent fire at 122 East Hastings. This is incredibly dangerous.

The city did not have anyone present Tuesday on East Hastings Street to answer questions but issued a news release in the morning that emphasized the street and traffic bylaw prohibits structures on sidewalks.

This is a complex effort and the city appreciates the work of the many community organizations and social enterprises who have been contributing expertise and effort as well as the support of BC Housing and Vancouver Coastal Health, the release said.

We recognize that this work will have an emotional impact on the community and everyone involved. City staff will be seeking to conduct the work with thoughtfulness and care of the residents and their circumstances.

City crews delivered storage bins Tuesday to unhoused people on East Hastings Street. Photo Mike Howell

The city should consider using vacant lots to operate encampments

Kelin Ryan, 39, said he lives with a friend in a tent outside the Regent when he cant get into a shelter space, saying its a roll of the dice whether or not youre going to have somewhere to sleep.

Ryan, a trained heat and frost insulator, said the city should consider using vacant lots to operate encampments, where bathrooms and cooking facilities would be available, which is something that some U.S. cities offer to unhoused people.

Ryan said he collects social assistance but also works at day labour jobs.

When I do go to day labour, anything that I earn is immediately subtracted off of my income, he said. So it's kind of a kick in the pants. Yeah, it helps me be able to eat today. But it gives me no ability to save anything or put anything aside for come the end of the month.

Asked where he was going to stay Tuesday night, Ryan said: Honestly, probably nowhere. At this point, I mean I really don't have any other options. So probably just going to stay where I am until they literally seize my belongings, or have provided me somewhere adequate or safe for us to go to.

The city has purchased more hotels

Ironically, Ryan and Leo live outside a hotel  the Regent  that has been vacant since 2018 after the city forced its closure. The city did the same with the Balmoral Hotel in 2017. Combined, the hotels housed about 300 people.

The city has since purchased the hotels from the Sahota family, with plans to demolish the Balmoral and possibly renovate the Regent, which was closed because of its poor condition.

The Regent and Balmoral have made the citys top-10 list of problem hotels for almost 20 years and have been cited by police in numerous reports for drug activity, violence and other crimes.

The citys last homeless count in March 2020 recorded more than 2,000 people without a home.

The situation changed when the police clashed with a crowd

That scene changed in the late afternoon as police responded to an incident at Carnegie Centre unrelated to the encampment. Following the arrest of a man reported to be throwing computers and behaving erratically according to a VPD news release, as officers were taking him into custody, the man resisted arrest and fought with police.

The release continues, a large crowd gathered and became hostile and combative with the officers. Several police officers were assaulted. Multiple arrests were made.

The release said officers were in the area at the request of the city to stand by and keep the peace while city crews conducted their information campaign into the tent and structure removal on the strip.

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@Howellings
Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, told a news conference Tuesday that the arrest brought "an incredible sigh of relief" from the Muslim community. At right is Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis / Associated Press)

After he was detained by New Mexico police, the suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community  and told authorities he was so unnerved by the violence that he was driving to Houston in search of a new home for his family, court documents said.

The documents made public Tuesday night in a criminal complaint said Muhammad Syed, 51, had clothing, shoes and a handgun in his car when he was arrested Monday during a traffic stop more than 100 miles from his Albuquerque home.

Investigators determined that bullet casings found in Syed's car matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at those crime scenes were linked to a gun found at Syeds home, the criminal complaint said.

Syed, an Afghan immigrant, told detectives with assistance from a Pashto interpreter that he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, the complaint said. He also denied any involvement in the killings during the interview with detectives, according to the complaint.

The ambush killings of the four Muslim men in different outdoor locations around Albuquerque sent fear rippling through the Muslim community of New Mexico's largest city but generated tips that led to the arrest of Syed, who knew the victims, authorities said.

He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors planned to ask that he be held without bail pending trial, and court documents did not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Following the arrest, Albuquerque's Muslim community breathed an incredible sigh of relief, said Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. Lives have been turned upside down.

The first killing last November was followed by three more between July 26 and Aug. 5.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes, serial killings or both.

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Syed had lived in the United States for about five years, police said.

The offender knew the victims to some extent, and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings, a police statement said, although investigators were still working to identify how they had crossed paths.

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said, Motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

Assed acknowledged that there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of Syed, who occasionally attended the centers mosque.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syeds daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents. The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges.

Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

The Albuquerque slayings drew the attention of President Biden, who said such attacks have no place in America. They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

There is no justification for this evil. There is no justification to take an innocent life," Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, said at a Tuesday news conference in Washington.

He called the killings deranged behavior."

The first of the victims, in November, was Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, said he was a generous, kind, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us forever.

Investigators consider Syed the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

The announcement that the shootings appeared to be linked produced more than 200 tips, including one from the Muslim community that police credited with leading them to the Syed family.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

Syeds sons were questioned and released, according to authorities.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LFB fire fighters are tackling a blaze in east London. File picture. (Reuters)

Around 70 firefighters tackled fire in East London which broke out on grassland.

Authorities were called just before 2pm to the blaze in two large areas on Lambs Lane in Rainham, and 10 fire engines attended.

The flames covered nearly six hectares of grass and took firefighters over two and a half hours to bring under control.

Residents in the area have been advised to keep their windows and doors closed to avoid the smoke.

A statement from the London Fire Brigade said: "Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a grass fire on Lambs Lane in Rainham.

"Firefighters tackled a grass fire where nearly six hectares of grass were alight.

"The Brigade was called at 1343 and the fire was under control by 1617. Fire crews from Dagenham, Hornchurch, Barking, East Ham and other surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

"Firefighters will remain at the scene for the next few hours to dampen down the area.

"The cause of the fire will be investigated."

The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon. (Twitter)

The London Ambulance Service said: "We were called today (10 August) at 2.24pm to reports of a fire on Lambs Lane, Rainham.

"We have sent a number of resources to the scene including an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team (HART).

"The incident is ongoing and we are working with our emergency service colleagues."

The fire is just a mile from where a large blaze in Wennington on 19 July destroyed 16 homes, with crews fighting to save the fire station itself from the flames.

The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned UK cities they need to prepare for wildfires after dozens of unprecedented blazes broke out during last months record breaking temperatures.

The road is only a mile from where a large fire in Wennington saw 16 homes lost and and crews had to fight to save the fire station itself from the flames. (PA)

Londons fire chief has called for a total ban on disposable barbecues as the capital braces for a second summer heatwave.

The warning comes after the LFB experienced its busiest week in history last month.

Londons Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said urgent action was needed to introduce a national ban on the sale of disposable barbecues which he warned could cause untold damage.

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Firefighters attended more than 1,000 fires in the week from 18 July as temperatures soared, taking more than twice as many calls as usual and tackling an unprecedented number of large grassland fires.

During that period the brigade received 8,302 calls, while on average it usually takes around 450 calls a day.

Roe said people behaved carelessly and recklessly despite warnings about grass fires.
Kenyans on Wednesday were waiting for the results of the country's presidential election after a largely peaceful poll, with preliminary results on television suggesting a tight race as low turnout pointed to growing frustration with the political elite.

Deputy President William Ruto and Raila Odinga, the veteran opposition leader now backed by the ruling party, have vowed to maintain calm following Tuesday's poll, but the memory of past election-related violence remains fresh for many Kenyans.

With pressure building on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which has to declare the results by August 16, officials worked overnight to count votes under the watchful eye of observers.

The complicated process of verifying and tallying votes is expected to take days, and IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati urged Kenyans to be patient, keen to avoid rigging allegations that have haunted previous polls.

Kenyans, some of whom lined up before dawn to cast their ballot, voted in six elections on Tuesday, choosing a new president as well as senators, governors, lawmakers, woman representatives and some 1,500 county officials.

But despite the early show of enthusiasm, turnout was markedly lower than in previous years, suggesting that for some Kenyans at least, patience with the political establishment was running out.

In Ruto's Rift Valley stronghold of Eldoret, Anthony Kemboi, a 24-year-old graduate, told AFP voter disillusionment was to blame.

"People did not turn out... as compared to the past because there have been fake promises" over the years, he said.

According to the latest IEBC figures, turnout was just over 65 percent, with voting still under way in Wajir county, where a gunfight forced officials to postpone the poll until Wednesday.

That compares with a final turnout of 78 percent in the disputed August 2017 election.

In the lakeside city of Kisumu -- Odinga's bastion -- retired civil servant Koga Edward said younger Kenyans had simply failed to show up.

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"Most of our youth, they are only good at participating in political rallies, but they don't participate in the actual voting process," the 65-year-old told AFP.

- 'No longer care' -

"Personally, I did not even vote because I no longer care," said Caroline Mwangi, a 31-year-old waitress in Kenya's capital Nairobi.

Politicians "tell the same old stories and they do nothing for us," she told AFP.

Others said they just wanted the election cycle to end so they could focus on putting food on the table in a country hit by skyrocketing inflation and an unemployment crisis.

"The election was done yesterday, I am not interested in wasting more time on it," Celestine Muoki, a 28-year-old IT specialist, told AFP.

"Let us move on."

Gabrielle Lynch, professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick in England, said the shrinking turnout was a consequence of politicians' tendency to "promise a lot and then under-deliver".

"Many Kenyans are... becoming unfortunately increasingly sceptical about the political class," she told AFP.

Few Kenyans expect either Ruto or Odinga to accept the result without a challenge in a country where no presidential election outcome has gone uncontested since 2002.

Once the heir-apparent, Ruto, 55, found himself banished to the sidelines after President Uhuru Kenyatta -- who cannot run again -- joined hands with his former foe Odinga, 77, in a move that stunned the country.

Ruto has since cast himself as the champion of "hustlers" trying to survive in a country ruled by "dynasties" -- the Kenyatta and Odinga families that have dominated Kenyan politics since independence from Britain in 1963.

- 'Life is very hard' -

With a third of Kenya's population living in poverty, economic pressures weighed on voters even before the war in Ukraine sent the prices of essential goods soaring.

Some observers surmised that the economy could even surpass tribal affiliations as a key motivator for Kenya's 22 million registered voters.

With two other candidates also in the race, Kenya could stage a run-off for the first time in its history, if neither Ruto nor Odinga wins more than 50 percent of the vote.

Kenya's international partners are closely watching the election as a test of its stability in a region blighted by conflict.

Security is tight nationwide, with a view to preventing a repeat of the post-election violence that roiled Kenya after the 2007 and 2017 polls, and schools have been ordered to remain closed until Monday.

In deserted downtown Nairobi, Japeth Kigongi, a 25-year-old shoe shiner, told AFP he couldn't even afford to travel to his home constituency to vote.

"Life has become very hard," he said.

"Whoever will be chosen, I will back him so long as there's peace."

bur-amu/txw/ah
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has received a request for former Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to visit the country, but he has no intention of seeking political asylum, Thailand's foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat said Thailand saw no problem with Rajapaksa entering on a diplomatic passport, which would allow him to stay 90 days. He did not say when Rajapaksa intended to visit.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Veterinarians take care of a beluga whale that was stranded in the River Seine at Notre Dame de la-Garenne, northern France, on August 9, 2022. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images

80 people rescued a beluga whale trapped in the River Seine, according to French news channel BFM-TV.

The AFP News Agency reported the whale was first spotted in the river on August 2.

French officials haven't been able to determine how the whale ended up in the Seine.

It took 80 people to rescue a malnourished beluga whale trapped in the River Seine, according to French news channel BFM-TV.

The BBC reported the 80-person operation included divers, vets, and police officers. French officials haven't been able to determine how the whale ended up in the Seine, considering its arctic habitat, the outlet reported.

"It's a long rescue operation, very technical, which required many skills," Isabelle Dorliat-Pouzet, secretary general of the Eure prefecture, told the BBC.

Rescuers pull up a net as they rescue a beluga whale stranded in the River Seine at Notre Dame de la-Garenne, northern France, on August 9, 2022. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP via Getty Images

The BBC said a crowd gathered on the banks of the river at Saint-Pierre-La-Garenne in Normandy to watch the rescue unfold.

French officials tried a number of things to stimulate the beluga's appetite, including offering it a vitamin cocktail and feeding it frozen herring, but nothing seemed to work, according to the news outlet.

The AFP News Agency reported the whale was first spotted in the river on August 2.

In May, a killer whale was found dead in the French waterway. It had become ill with mucormycosis, a rare but serious disease that causes a fungal infection.

According to the National Marine Fisheries Service, belugas aren't endangered, but they are vulnerable to a number of stressors which include pollution, habitat degradation, and other types of human disturbance.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Award-winning Zimbabwean novelist Tsitsi Dangarembga denied charges of inciting violence at the opening of her trial in Harare on Wednesday over a protest she made in July 2020 in which she called for reform.

Dangarembga, 63, an author and filmmaker, took the stand after a magistrate dismissed her request to be allowed more time to prepare her defence.

"We did not stop anybody or force anybody to engage in anything that we were doing," Dangarembga told the court.

She staged the protest alongside a neighbour in the empty streets of the affluent Harare suburb of Borrowdale during the coronavirus lockdown.

"We just walked on our own," she said.

Dangarembga was stopped while holding a sign reading "We want better, reform our institutions", while her neighbour held a placard calling for the release of detained journalist Hopewell Chin'ono, who faced similar charges of inciting violence. It also read "We want a better Zimbabwe for all".

Arbitrary arrests and a crackdown on dissent have worsened in Zimbabwe since President Emmerson Mnangagwa replaced long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in 2017, according to human rights groups.

Dangarembga told the court she did not address any members of the public or the press during the demonstration and was "minding my own business."

"I wanted the peaceful words on the placards to speak for themselves," she said.

She denied resisting arrest, adding she only asked police to explain what she was being arrested for.

"There is a difference between expression and incitement," she told the court, describing her actions as peaceful.

Dangarembga is the author of three international award-winning novels, whose accolades include this year's Windham-Campbell Prizes.

Her 1988 groundbreaking debut novel "Nervous Conditions" was the first book published in English by a black Zimbabwean woman.

Her trial is set to continue next week.

str-giv/ub/ri
When David Krejci decided to return to the NHL after a year playing in his native Czechia, there was only one option.

With Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron deciding to play another year and fellow Czech David Pastrnak also recruiting his countryman, Krejci re-signed with Boston this week to make one more run at the Stanley Cup.

I told my agent: Just get a deal done. Do what youve got to do, lets just get it done. I want to be a Boston Bruin next season, Krejci told reporters Tuesday, a day after Bergeron had a teleconference to discuss his return.

Obviously, there was a B plan, but I never wanted to go that way, said Krejci, who will be paid $1 million, with the potential to earn $2 million more in incentives. I didnt want to play anywhere else. Im more than happy that Im a Bruin again.

A 14-year veteran whose 730 career points puts him ninth on Bostons all-time list, Krejci led the team in regular-season and playoff scoring during its 2011 championship run. The team returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and again in 19.

Were coming back to try to make a push, the 36-year-old forward said. Im not sure how many years weve got left, but were coming back to do something because we believe in the team.

Krejci opted to play in the Czech Republic last season so that his children could experience his homeland and bond with their grandparents. He led HC Olomouc with 20 goals, 26 assists and 46 points in 51 games.

It was even better than I thought it would be. Just being with my family pretty much every day, it was special, Krejci said. Ill remember that forever, it was amazing. Being at home, showing my family where I grew up. My oldest daughter went to school. It was a great experience. Im obviously going to miss it, miss my family, my friends, my teammates from last year  but I feel like Im back where I belong.

Krejci said he kept in touch with his Bruins teammates and saw many of them at Tuukka Rasks late July wedding in Italy. Krejci also played with Pastrnak  whom he called one of the best players in the world  on the Czech team that won a bronze medal at the world championships.

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That was kind of a turning point in my decision, coming back to the NHL, Krejci said. Just playing with him, just kind of seeing what we can still do together, it was pretty cool.

After losing in the first round of the playoffs last year, the Bruins fired coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with Jim Montgomery. Krejci said he made his decision before the coaching change, and it had no impact on his decision.

That would be a good story if I would say yes, he said. But my decision was made before they hired the new coach.

Krejci and Bergeron, 37, help the Bruins avoid a complete roster overhaul. With 34-year-old Brad Marchand, they are the only players remaining from the 2011 NHL championship roster.

But with Pastrnak, who is 25, on offense, 24-year-old Charlie McAvoy on defense and 22-year-old Jeremy Swayman in net, the team could put together one more run at a title before the core of the three-time Stanley Cup finalists completely disbands. (Marchand and McAvoy will miss the start of the year after offseason surgery.)

The Bruins also acquired forward Pavel Zacha  another Czech  from the Devils and signed him this week to a one-year deal worth $3.5 million. Zacha, 25, scored 15 goals with 21 assists for New Jersey last year.

Zacha said he had never played on an NHL team with another player from his homeland. With Jakob Lauko and Tomas Nosek also on the roster, the Bruins have five.

Its going to be exciting for me to be on a team with some Czech players, but also players that are really, really good players, the guys in the locker room, Zacha said. So thats it, Im just super excited to play there.

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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Leora Levy, former President Trumps endorsed candidate in the Connecticut Senate race, is projected to have won the chance on Tuesday to face off against Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) this fall.

The Associated Press called the race at 10:49 p.m. ET.

Levy defeated two other candidates, including former Connecticut state House Rep. Themis Klarides, the state Republican partys endorsed candidate.

The Cuban-born candidate has been a fixture in Republican circles, with her campaign website touting her work on the finance committees of the campaign arms of both House and Senate Republicans in addition to the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Shes also spent time as the finance chair of the Connecticut Republican Party and served in the same role for the 2014 gubernatorial campaign of Tom Foley (R) and the 2018 gubernatorial campaign of Bob Stefanowski (R).

Trump announced his endorsement of Levy less than week ago, but the Republican candidate has also notched endorsements from other high-profile Republicans, including Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)

Former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has also endorsed Levy.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as solid Democrat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden called Liz Cheney on Wednesday after the Wyoming congresswoman and vocal critic of former President Donald Trump was defeated in her states Republican primary.Biden reached out to Cheney, who earned the ire of the former president when she voted to impeach him over his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection and her subsequent work on the congressional committee investigating the matter, according to a person familiar with the conversation. The White House de
Carlos Barria/Reuters

As news broke that the FBI had seized 10 boxes of evidence while carrying out their search warrant on former President Donald Trumps Mar-A-Lago residence, his lawyers were floating the idea that something more sinister might be going down.

Appearing Tuesday evening on Fox News, Trump lawyer Alina Habba expressed concerns about the actions of FBI personnel, alleging the possibility of planted materials.

Quite honestly, Im concerned that they may have planted something, you know? the attorney said. At this point, who knows? I dont trust the government, and thats a very frightening thing as an American.

a Trump lawyer (Alina Habba) floats the idea that the FBI planted evidence at Mar-a-Lago. That's the second time today a Trump lawyer has floated this. pic.twitter.com/vdIjxFTtp4  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2022

Striking a similar tone, Trump lawyer Christina Bobb took issue earlier in the day on Real Americas Voice with not [being] allowed to observe the search while being present during the raid on Monday on Trumps legal behalf.

No, there is no security that something wasnt planted, the lawyer said. Im not saying thats what they did.

This was a completely unnecessary power flex. It was a weird flex, Bobb added. Its quite honestly sad to see what they have done to our country.

Asked by The Daily Beast on Tuesday whether she believes the FBI is playing tricks, Bobb said: I have no reason at this point in time to believe anyone has made anything up.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that National Archives had already seized 15 boxes of documents and other items from the resort in January that Mr. Trump should have handed over to the agency at the end of his term.

Those boxes contained several documents that federal law requires be turned over once a president leaves office, along with archives that officials described as classified national security information.

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A source told the newspaper that those documents included correspondence between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, among others. The discovery of those documents led to the involvement of the Justice Department. In June, Justice Department lawyers returned to Mar-a-Lago, where they sought more information about the sensitive material taken from the White House. Investigators were led to a basement where boxes of documents were stored, but investigators looked around and eventually left, a source told the Journal.

A June 8 letter from the Justice Department ordered Trumps legal team to secure the room where the documents were stored. The latest search was undertaken because the FBI believed even more classified documents had been stored at the residence, the paper reported but it is unclear how or if the latest search is connected to the June visit.

The FBI raid might have caused some headaches within Trumps orbit, but it also now gives MAGAworld allies more than enough material to cast Trump as a victim, which one current adviser sees as a path for Trump to win a second termor, as some advisers falsely claim, a third term.

FBIs Trump Raid Is the MAGA Fuel Fox News Was Waiting For

The Biden folks love to talk about preserving norms, and now theyre so desperate to get Trump that theyre raiding his home and turning him into a martyr, a Trump adviser told The Daily Beast. Theyre going to mess around and single-handedly get him re-elected.

Elsewhere, on cable news on Tuesday night, several Trump backers cast doubt on the legitimacy of law enforcement activity at the former presidents estate.

Fox News host Jesse Watters suggested that the FBI is engaging in illegal activity.

Watters: What the FBI is probably doing is planting evidence.. We also have a hunch that they doctored evidence to get the warrant pic.twitter.com/hR2Ac8tP1t  Acyn (@Acyn) August 9, 2022

What the FBI is probably doing is planting evidence, which is what they did during the Russia hoax, Watters asserted, pejoratively referring to the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, a habit among Foxs primetime hosts. We also have a hunch they doctored evidence to get the warrant.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also baselessly ginned up fears about evidence tampering.

Referring to the fake FBI, Gingrich said on right-wing activist Charlie Kirks show, Youll notice they didnt allow anybody on the Trump side into Mar-a-Lago. So we have no idea whether or not they planted evidence.

By Wednesday morning, Trump had backed the theory that the FBI might have plant[ed] evidence at his Florida residence.

Everyone was asked to leave the premises, they wanted to be left alone, without any witnesses to see what they were doing, taking or, hopefully not, planting. Why did they STRONGLY insist on having nobody watching them, everybody out? he wrote on Truth Social. Obama and Clinton were never raided, despite big disputes!

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Photo: Mitch Dudoward Kris Dudoward onboard the commercial fishing vessel Irenda with catch of sockeye salmon.

The summer of 2022 is shaping up to be a bumper season for both pink and sockeye salmon in British Columbia rivers, with one veteran Indigenous fisherman reporting the biggest catches of sockeye in decades.

Mitch Dudoward has worked in the salmon industry for more than 40 years, and says fishing on the Skeena River in northwest B.C. has never been better.

"This is the best season I can recall in my lifetime with the numbers we are catching," said Dudoward, who recently completely a big sockeye haul aboard his gillnetter Irenda.

Bob Chamberlin, chairman of the Indigenous-led First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance, meanwhile said that thousands of pink salmon are in Central Coast rivers after years of minimal returns.

The strong run comes two years after the closure of two open-net Atlantic salmon farms in the area.

"We had targeted those farms," said Chamberlin, whose group wants open-net farms removed from B.C.'s waters. "We got them removed and two years later we went from 200 fish in the river to where we have several thousand to date. In our mind and knowledge that is a really clear indicator."

Fisheries and Oceans Canada spokeswoman Lara Sloan said departmental observations indicated big returns of sockeye to the Skeena River.

"Test fisheries currently indicate that Skeena sockeye returns are tracking at the upper end of the forecast, with an in-season estimate of approximately four million sockeye," said Sloan in a statement. "Sockeye populations returning to a number of areas in British Columbia, Washington and Alaska are returning better than forecast in 2022."

The five-year average return of sockeye to the Skeena is 1.4 million and the 10-year average is 1.7 million, Sloan said.

Dudoward said the Skeena sockeye season ended this week, but it could have gone on longer.

"We should be fishing until the end of August when the sockeye stop running," he said. "There's plenty of them to take."

But Sloan said the Fisheries Department was being careful about salmon stocks.

"For 2022, the department is taking a more precautionary approach toward managing impacts of commercial fisheries on stocks of conservation concern including smaller wild sockeye populations, chum and steelhead returning to the Skeena River," she said.

The Fisheries Department also expects a large sockeye run to the Fraser River this summer, but returns of chinook, coho and chum to northern and Central Coast rivers and streams are expected to be low.

"The forecast range for Fraser River sockeye in 2022 is 2.3 million to 41.7 million, with a median forecast of 9.7 million," said Sloan. "The median forecast means there is a 50 per cent chance returns will come in below that level."

That is well above the estimated 2.5 million sockeye returns in 2021, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada data.

The strong returns come amid debate over the future of open-net salmon farming in B.C. waters.

In 2018, the B.C. government, First Nations and the salmon farming industry reached an agreement to phase out 17 open-net farms in the Broughton Archipelago between 2019 and 2023.

The agreement was negotiated to establish a farm-free migration corridor to help reduce harm to wild salmon.

In June, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray said the government will consult with First Nations communities and salmon farm operators in the Discovery Islands, near Campbell River on Vancouver Island, about the future of open-net farming in the area.

A final decision on the future of the farms is expected in January 2023, the minister said.

"That is such a key migratory route of all Fraser River salmon, in particular coho and chinook," Chamberlin said. "If we are going to see Fraser runs return, we need to see removal of impediments."
Trump Investigations FBI (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

With each passing day, it becomes harder for a casual observer to distinguish between the post-presidential life of Donald Trump and that of late-season Tony Soprano.

In the past week alone, Mr Trumps home has been searched by the FBI as part of an investigationg into his handling of classified documents, he has pled the Fifth in a separate case into his business dealings in New York, and now, according to several reports, he is trying to flush out a rat in his orbit.

(Its worth noting that Mr Soprano faced only two of three above).

Trumpworld is abuzz with speculation about which close aide or aides has flipped and provided additional sensitive information to the FBI about what former President Trump was keeping at Mar-a-Lago, Axios reported this morning, citing several sources.

Newsweek , meanwhile, cites two senior government sources claiming that the FBIs warrant to search Mar-a-Lago was based on information from a confidential human source who was able to identify what classified documents former President Trump was still hiding.

Mr Trumps opponents are making the most of the rumours. The professional Trump-tormentors at the Lincoln Project cut an ad goading the former president about the possible collaborators in his midst.

Who was it Donald? Who gave you up to the feds? it begins, before running through a list of possible family members and associates who may have turned coat.

Donald Trump is paranoid for a reason; they really are out to get him, Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson told The Independent.

His own staff has learned the lessons that Trump is a stranger to loyalty or honour. Theyre damned if they cooperate, and damned if they dont, but since going to prison rarely appeals to his followers, at least some of them are singing like birds, he added.

At this point, the only one not talking to the @January6thCmte is Donald. pic.twitter.com/vBKzHRxTMz  The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 10, 2022

Weeding out the enemies within has long been a pastime of Mr Trumps. Even before he became president he was fond of promoting a conspiracy theory that the Deep State was out to get him. While in office, the turnover in his top advisors was 92 per cent heading into his last year, many of which were firings or resignations under pressure.

Story continues

Leakers are traitors and cowards, and we will find out who they are! then-president Trump wrote on Twitter in 2018.

This time around, the stakes are even higher. Availed of the protections of his office, Mr Trump is currently facing multiple investigations in multiple states for multiple alleged offences. The list of potential flippers and leakers has grown exponentially, as have the consequences.

The House committee investigating the January 6 attack has presented a parade of former Trump White House officials who have testified to his role in encouraging the events of that day  from former attorney general Bill Barr to former aide Cassidy Hutchinson.

In all those cases, though, Mr Trump has been able to fight back publicly. He called Mr Barr " weak and frightened " following his testimony, and Ms Hutchinson  bad news !

This time, crucially, its not a leaker that is bothering Mr Trump, but an informant  someone who could not just embarrass the former president, but put him in genuine legal peril.

So, who are the potential candidates?

Mark Meadows, Mr Trumps former chief of staff, is frequently suggested among the names of possible collaborators.

CNN recently reported that Mr Trump had been advised to break off contact with Mr Meadows, and that the former president ignored that advice. Mr Meadows is thought to be high up on the list of Trump advisors who may face legal peril relating to the events of January 6.

"The reason [Meadows] is valuable is also the reason he is in jeopardy: He was basically at Trumps right hand throughout all these exercises and participated in key meetings and phone calls," Former White House attorney Ty Cobb told CNN.

Former federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner has also singled out Mr Meadows as a potential flipper.

"Do you really think Mark Meadows is just going to sit quietly by and take the fall for Donald Trump? Maybe just volunteer to dive under the bus? No," Mr Kirschner said in a video posted to YouTube last month.

"Hes going to cut his losses. Hes going to cooperate. Hes going to flip. Hes going to turn states evidence. Hes going to rat Trump out. Hes going to snitch," he added.

Mr Wilson, of the Lincoln Project, believes it might be someone much closer to Mr Trump, however.

My money is on Jared. Hes looking for the exits, he said.

There is another, less Shakespearan, scenario. Some of the most damning testimony from the January 6 hearings came not from high profile White House advisors, but from relatively junior staffers and aides who happened to be in the room when key events took place.

It was Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Mr Meadows, who revealed the most shocking details about her boss and Mr Trumps movements on the day. And Sarah Matthews, former White House deputy press secretary, who testified that Mr Trump was "pouring gasoline on the fire by encouraging the mob to march on the Capitol.

If someone in Trumps orbit is providing information to authorities, it may well be someone whose name he doesnt even know.
Tunisia's judicial authorities on Wednesday revoked the sacking in early June by President Kais Saied of around 50 judges, judicial sources told AFP.

A June 1 presidential decree in the north African country saw Saied fire 57 judges, after accusing many of corruption and other crimes.

His move, which rights groups called "a deep blow to judicial independence", sparked a nationwide strike by judges.

Fifty-three of those sacked -- including some accused of "adultery" -- had lodged appeals with the administrative court against Saied's move.

The administrative court's spokesman told reporters the suspension of the dismissals related to an unspecified number of judges, but a lawyer on a committee for those sacked said "about 50 judges" were affected.

Lawyer Kamel Ben Messoud added that those concerned would be able to resume their duties once a copy of the ruling was obtained.

Ben Messoud told media that remaining magistrates, the subject of criminal proceedings, did not benefit from the decision.

Saied's June 1 decree saw the president grant himself the power to fire judges, and he duly sacked the 57, further cementing a power grab that began in July last year when he dismissed the government and suspended an elected parliament.

A coalition of 10 rights groups in a joint statement at the time called the dismissals "a frontal assault on the rule of law".

Last month Tunisia approved a new constitution granting Saied's office unchecked powers after a poorly attended referendum in which voters overwhelmingly backed the document.

The vote came a year to the day after Saied sacked the government and suspended parliament in a dramatic blow to the only democracy to have emerged from the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

kl/fka/sbh/srm/fz
Two children were hospitalized and a New Britain home was condemned after mercury levels 600 times the permissible limit were discovered on Tuesday.

The DEEP Emergency Response Unit responded to a call from a local hospital to investigate possible mercury contamination at a home on Hatch Street in New Britain after two children were hospitalized, according to DEEP director of communications Will Healey.

One of the children found a jar of silver-colored liquid and started playing with it, Healey said. The second child scooped up the liquid and disposed of it.

The DEEP Emergency Response Unit arrived at the house and conducted testing, finding levels close to 600 times the permissible limit for human exposure to mercury. According to Healey, the five remaining people in the house were taken to the hospital to be checked for mercury exposure.

The local health department condemned the house, according to Healey, and the next steps are being determined. Environmental Services, Inc. was contracted to help DEEP with the clean-up.

There is no risk to the public at this time, Healey said in a statement.

DEEP is working with New Britain and the local health department to relocate the residents.

If you find a silvery liquid, do not play with it or handle it, according to a DEEP statement. Contact a professional to properly dispose of it.
By Alexander Cornwell

DUBAI (Reuters) -A United Arab Emirates court has lifted a prison sentence but upheld a conviction on money laundering charges for U.S. citizen and civil rights attorney Asim Ghafoor, who was detained while transiting through Dubai last month, the Judicial Department and a lawyer for Ghafoor said on Wednesday.

The court ordered Ghafoor to pay a 5 million dirham ($1.36 million) fine and for 18 million dirhams in his account to be confiscated. But it removed a three-year jail term from an earlier sentence handed down in absentia in May, lawyer Habib Al Mulla told Reuters.

The anti-money laundering and tax evasion court in Abu Dhabi also ordered Ghafoor to be deported, the emirate's Judicial Department said in a statement posted on its Twitter account. It confirmed the jail term had been removed and that Ghafoor faced the fine and confiscation of his funds.

The lawyer did not say whether Ghafoor, who is based in Virginia, had been released. The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment.

Ghafoor, who helped set up a human rights group with slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, had been detained at Dubai International Airport based on the absentia court conviction, following an investigation that the UAE said was launched in 2020 based on a request for assistance from U.S. authorities.

The UAE Embassy in Washington said on Monday the Emirati investigation had determined Ghafoor had committed tax evasion and money laundering by moving at least $4.9 million in international transfers through the UAE banking system.

The in-absentia trial and his detention on July 14 while U.S. President Joe Biden was visiting the region had drawn criticism from rights groups and some members of Congress.

The United States has not confirmed it requested the Emirati probe and said Ghafoor was not detained at Washington's request.

Ghafoor's supporters have said he was not aware of the charges, with some U.S. lawmakers suggesting the arrest might be political and mentioning his ties to Khashoggi, who was murdered by Saudi agents in Turkey in 2018.

Story continues

UAE authorities have consistently described the case as strictly one of financial crimes. They did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters on Tuesday for comment on the accusation Ghafoor's links to Khashoggi may have been a factor.

U.S. intelligence says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation in which Khashoggi was killed. The prince has denied involvement. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are close allies.

According to Ghafoor's website, Ghafoor helped Khashoggi incorporate U.S.-based rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) in 2018 and is a member of its board.

DAWN had called for his immediate release, saying the May conviction was obtained without due process, a criticism that has been taken up by members of the U.S. Congress.

The UAE Embassy said Ghafoor has received due process since his arrest, local legal counsel and regular contact with his family and with U.S. consular officials.

($1 = 3.6727 UAE dirham)

(Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Additional reporting by Lilian Wagdy in Cairo; Editing by Toby Chopra, Peter Graff and Mark Heinrich)
The UFC will return to Brazil in January for the first time in nearly three years.

The promotion Wednesday announced UFC 283 will take place at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro on Jan. 21. It will be the UFCs 11th trip to Rio and 38th visit to Brazil overall.

The announcement coincided with the promotions news that its UFC Fight Pass streaming platform, along with the Band TV network, will be the new broadcast home in Brazil for all UFC events. UFC Fight Pass will launch in Brazil on Jan. 1, according to a news release, and will be a fully localized version of the streaming service.

Band will provide free broadcasts of select UFC events, as well as original content. But UFC Fight Pass subscribers in Brazil will get access to all live UFC events, including pay-per-views, as well as access to all other live events and the platforms archives and library.

Anyone who follows this sport knows how important Brazil is to mixed martial arts and to UFC, UFC president Dana White stated. Brazil is one of our biggest and fastest growing markets and has produced some of the best athletes this sport has ever seen. Fight Pass is going to take our business to the next level by delivering all our content directly to our fans. Plus, were teaming up with Band, one of the biggest broadcasters in Brazil, which is going to provide massive exposure for UFC and help us grow our fan base and make this sport bigger than ever.

No fights were announced for the UFC 283 card, which is expected to air on pay-per-view, ESPN and ESPN+, though a statement from White said it will be a stacked event you dont want to miss.

The UFC most recently was in Brazil in March 2020 for an event that took place in the capital of Brasilia just as the world was starting to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event went on, but took place without fans in attendance  an 11th-hour decision after the governor suspended large gatherings.

Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
A heat health warning has been extended as the UK braces itself for soaring temperatures in a fresh heatwave.

The UK Health Security Agency alert will now run for a day longer until Sunday evening due to the sweltering weather forecast across the weekend.

The heat-health alert serves as an early warning that high temperatures could affect public health.

An extreme heat warning has also been issued by the Met Office, which says hot temperatures are likely to impact vulnerable peoples health and the wider population could also be hit by heat-related illness.

Temperatures are expected soar this week and hit the mid-30s towards the end in a new heatwave that comes just weeks after a record-breaking one in July.

It also follows months of sparse rainfall, which has seen water companies announce hosepipe bans.

Thames Water has now joined other firms in announcing restrictions on hosepipes as dry weather persists.

Key Points

UKHSA extends heat health warning

Thames Water to impose hosepipe ban in coming weeks

Met Office issues four day warning for extreme heat

UKHSA heat health warning now in place

Exceptional' fire warning issued by Met Office as temperatures to soar in heatwave

09:41 , Emily Atkinson

Images capture Londons parched parkland, dried out by recent dry, hot weather.

Hyde Park, 10 August

(PA)

(PA)

Primose Hill, 9 August

(PA)

(PA)

Wanstead Park, 8 August

(PA)

(PA)

What is a heatwave?

09:18 , Emily Atkinson

Britons are facing scorching weather this week as temperatures soar once again.

The mercury is expected to hit 28C on Monday and remain high throughout the week, passing 30C on Thursday and continuing into the weekend, according to the Met Office.

While there is no denying the UK is experiencing another (very) hot spell, can it be officially classified as a heatwave?

My colleagues Chiara Giordano and Maryam Zakir-Hussain take a look at the evidence:

What is a heatwave?

Ian Blackford flags cost of heating crisis in Highlands amid heatwave warning

08:59 , Emily Atkinson

Story continues

SNP Commons leader Ian Blackford has warned of a cost of heating crisis in the Scottish Highlands while other parts of the UK battle swelteringly hot weather.

Posting on Twitter, he wrote: It will of course only get worse. Whilst there might be a heatwave elsewhere the temperatures on Skye will not rise above 16C over the next ten days. Folk already have their heating on.

Cost of heating crisis is here in the Highlands. It will of course only get worse. Whilst there might be a heatwave elsewhere the temperatures on Skye will not rise above 16c over the next ten days. Folk already have their heating on.  Ian Blackford  (@Ianblackford_MP) August 9, 2022

Watch: Four-day amber warning for extreme temperatures issued as heatwave looms

08:46 , Emily Atkinson

Simple water-saving changes to your home routine

08:27 , Emily Atkinson

Water UK has published a number of handy tips for the home and garden to limit water usage and help take the strain off supplies.

Swathes of water companies have already signalled they will bring in a hosepipe ban to conserve water supply in the face of the hot, dry summer.

Here are seven ways you can help:

Keep your shower time to just 4 minutes

Replace your old shower head with a water efficient version

Only run the dishwasher when its full

Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth

Wait for a full load before running your washing machine

Use the eco setting on your dishwasher or washing machine

Try to reuse water whenever you can

Oxfordshire village becomes 'first area in UK to run dry

08:10 , Emily Atkinson

A village in Oxfordshire has been named as the first area in the UK to have had its water supply run dry, leaving residents to rely on bottled and tanker water deliveries from Thames Water.

Northend is usually supplied by the Stokenchurch Reservoir, which ran dry as demand soared in the face of the hot, dry summer, reports The Telegraph.

Good morning

07:54 , Emily Atkinson

Welcome to our live coverage on UK weather as temperatures are set to soar.

Tuesday brought with it a fresh wave of grass fires as water shortages continued to ramp up across the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency also extended its heat health warning for an extra day to Sunday evening, while the four-day Met Office extreme heat alert is expected to come into force on Thursday.

For now, heres the Met Office outlook for todays weather:

A bright and sunny start on Wednesday morning, with just a few mist and fog patches 



Cloudier in northern Scotland with a few spots of rain  pic.twitter.com/v9xi70kE1P  Met Office (@metoffice) August 9, 2022

Tuesday 9 August 2022 20:02 , Katy Clifton

We are pausing our live updates for the evening.

How the heat is affecting the natural environment

Tuesday 9 August 2022 19:45 , Zoe Tidman

The UK has seen dry conditions which, combined with last months record-breaking heatwave, have depleted rivers, reservoirs and aquifers and dried up soils, hitting agriculture, water supplies and wildlife and raising the risk of wildfires.

Analysis from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology warns river flows are set to remain exceptionally low in central, southern and eastern England until October.

Groundwater levels in southern England and South Wales will be below normal and exceptionally low in some areas for the next three months, it said.

Several inches of extra rain, in addition to what would normally be expected, is needed to overcome the dry conditions in parts of southern England.

PA

Temperatures to build throughout week, Met Office says

Tuesday 9 August 2022 19:07 , Zoe Tidman

The Met Office has recapped its forecast for the week, saying temperatures are expected to increase and peak at the weekend.

See here:

 Temperatures will build through the week, peaking in the mid 30s Celsius on Saturday



 An amber extreme heat warning has been issued Thursday - Sunday



Latest info  https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs#WeatherAware  pic.twitter.com/Up7IkjHk8j  Met Office (@metoffice) August 9, 2022

How to keep cool in the day

Tuesday 9 August 2022 18:39 , Zoe Tidman

And here are some more tips on how to keep cool during the day:

How to keep your house cool in a heatwave

How to keep cool at night in a heatwave

Tuesday 9 August 2022 18:00 , Zoe Tidman

Heatwaves can often lead to very warm nights that many may find very uncomfortable, especially without a fan or air-conditioning.

My colleagues Sarah Young and Kate Ng have taken a look about how to keep cool at night as temperatures swelter:

How to sleep during a heatwave, according to experts

Why is the UK underprepared for extreme heat?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 17:30 , Zoe Tidman

Compared with other countries, the UK is underprepared for these heatwaves, experts say.

Jane Dalton takes a look at why and what can be done:

Why the UK is so unprepared for extreme heat?

Advice on how to keep cool - from councils

Tuesday 9 August 2022 17:00 , Zoe Tidman

Councils are issuing advice on how to keep cool in the hot weather. See more here:

 #UKHeatwave: Councils are urging people to take care as temperatures rise again this week.



Thank you to the #LocalGov workers providing extra support for residents in the coming days.



You can find support and advice on our severe weather hub https://t.co/NKA0JwwNRw  Local Government Association (LGA) (@LGAcomms) August 9, 2022

What defines a heatwave?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 16:30 , Zoe Tidman

With the UK experiencing another hot spell, here is a quick reminder about what sets a heatwave apart from hot weather:

What is a heatwave?

Met Office forecast for tonight

Tuesday 9 August 2022 16:04 , Zoe Tidman

Here is the latest from the Met Office on what we can expect for tonight:

 It will be a fine and very warm evening for most of us with plenty of evening sunshine



 Cloudier across parts of Scotland with an ongoing chance of some drizzly rain in the far north



 Temperatures for many staying in the 20s Celsius well into the evening pic.twitter.com/scl5xRv583  Met Office (@metoffice) August 9, 2022

Fire service really busy fighting wildfires

Tuesday 9 August 2022 15:46 , Zoe Tidman

Suffolk Fire Service says it has been really busy fighting wildfires in rural areas, as have other fire services across the country.

It comes as the scorching temperatures have triggered new fire warnings this week:

.@SuffolkFire & fire services across the country have been extremely busy fighting wildfires in rural locations 



Be prepared & download the @what3words app, so if you ever needed to call 999 you have the precise location of where you need help #SaferSuffolk pic.twitter.com/mPmNE9769B  Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service (@SuffolkFire) August 9, 2022

What does heatwave actually mean?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 15:15 , Zoe Tidman

Here is a handy reminder of what constitutes as a heatwave, as the UK prepares for another one:

Temperature thresholds for a heatwave. In the UK the temperature has to be reached or exceeded for 3 days in a row. In Ireland, its for 5 days. pic.twitter.com/Kw7r0YEDFJ  Barra Best (@barrabest) August 9, 2022

Thames Water hosepipe ban statement

Tuesday 9 August 2022 15:00 , Zoe Tidman

Here is what a Thames Water spokesperson said about the hosepipe ban:

Given the long-term forecast of dry weather and another forecast of very hot temperatures coming this week, we are planning to announce a temporary use ban in the coming weeks.

For more, read Saphora Smiths article:

Thames Water to impose hosepipe ban in coming weeks

Images of hot weather and parched parks

Tuesday 9 August 2022 14:41 , Zoe Tidman

Here are some more images of the hot weather and dry parks today:

The grass at Primrose Hill in London is also dry due to lack of water (PA)

Lawns have been parched around Leeds Castle in Kent (PA)

Drivers urged to check tyres on searing Saturday'

Tuesday 9 August 2022 14:22 , Zoe Tidman

Drivers are being urged to check their tyres before beginning journeys on searing Saturday.

The AA is concerned the start of a weekend when millions of people will be making long trips to the seaside, football matches, music festivals and holidays will coincide with extreme heat.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 35C, increasing the risk of blowouts for tyres that are inflated to the wrong pressure or already damaged.

PA

Sun-bleached grass at London park

Tuesday 9 August 2022 14:03 , Zoe Tidman

Londoners taking a stroll in Richmond Park today are facing a different sight to the usual green grass.

Like other fields across the country, its meadows are looking parched after months of sparse rainfall:

Fields and parks have been parched after months of sparse rainfall (Getty Images)

Richmond Parks grass has been sun-bleached in the dry and hot conditions (Getty Images)

BREAKING: Thames Water to impose hosepipe ban in coming weeks

Tuesday 9 August 2022 13:56 , Zoe Tidman

Thames Water to impose hosepipe ban in coming weeks

UKHSA extends heat health warning

Tuesday 9 August 2022 13:44 , Zoe Tidman

The heat health warning has also been extended by another day.

With high temperatures now forecast to last throughout the weekend, UKHSA has extended the current heat health alert, the government agency says.

The alert is now in place from midday Tuesday 9 August until 11pm Sunday 14 August.

With high temperatures now forecast from @metoffice to last throughout the weekend, we have extended the current heat health alert, which is in place from midday today (9 Aug) until 11pm Sunday (14 Aug) 

See our resources on how to #BeatTheHeat: https://t.co/KYTUsRrPuw pic.twitter.com/96h1rBrN0N  UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) August 9, 2022

UKHSA heat health warning now in place

Tuesday 9 August 2022 13:23 , Zoe Tidman

A heat-health alert urging the elderly and vulnerable to prepare for soaring temperatures has come into effect for all regions of England as large parts of the UK brace for another heatwave.

Saphora Smith, our climate correspondent, reports:

Heat health alert in place in England as country braces for another heatwave

Advice for pet owners

Tuesday 9 August 2022 12:56 , Zoe Tidman

The British Veterinary Association has also told pet owners to take extra care to protect their animals in the extreme heat.

Animals need extra care during the summer to keep them safe from heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke, heart conditions, breathing difficulties and sunburn, many of which can sadly be fatal, Dr Justine Shotton, its president, said.

Make sure animals have access to fresh drinking water, good ventilation and shade from direct sunlight at all times.

She said dogs especially can overheat easily, so owners should avoid walking them in the hottest part of the day or leaving them inside hot cars or conservatories.

Keep an eye out for early signs of heatstroke, such as heavy panting, drooling, restlessness, and lack of coordination and contact a vet immediately in case you have any concerns, Dr Shotton added.

National Highways advice in extreme heat

Tuesday 9 August 2022 12:38 , Zoe Tidman

National Highways has issued advice to drivers in light of the extreme heat warning.

It is always very important to plan ahead for your journey and this advice remains the same during periods of hot weather, Jeremy Phillips, its head of road safety, said.

When hot weather is forecast, please remember to take plenty of drinking water with you  enough for you and your passengers.

He added: We also advise everyone should check their vehicles, such as tyres, coolant and oil levels, before heading out.

Lots of sunshine in afternoon

Tuesday 9 August 2022 12:19 , Zoe Tidman

This afternoon looks set to be a hot one for much of the country, according to the Met Offices latest forecast:

Lots of sunshine on offer once again this afternoon, and feeling hot, especially in central, southern and some eastern areas



Cooler near coasts where there is an onshore breeze



Cloudier and damp in the far northwest of Scotland pic.twitter.com/qjJe8Y1VjO  Met Office (@metoffice) August 9, 2022

What is the situation in Europe?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 12:00 , Zoe Tidman

It is not just the UK experiencing sweltering temperatures.

Spain experienced its hottest month on record in July, according to the World Meteorological Organisation:

#Spain had its hottest month on record in July, with an average national temperature of 25.6C.

The heatwave was the most intense and long-lasting on record (8 to 26 July), says @AEMET_Esp #StateofClimate pic.twitter.com/EeJgEaI0P2  World Meteorological Organization (@WMO) August 9, 2022

Harry Cockburn, our environment correspondent, has also reported on heatwaves and droughts sweeping through Europe:

Heatwave: Drought and searing temperatures expected in Europe and UK

Temperatures to rise day-on-day this week, Met Office says

Tuesday 9 August 2022 11:39 , Zoe Tidman

Dan Rudman from the Met Office has spoken about the new heat warning.

The deputy chief meteorologist says:

Thanks to persistent high pressure over the UK, temperatures will be rising day-on-day through this week and an extreme heat warning has been issued.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 35C on Friday and Saturday, or even an isolated 36C on Saturday. Elsewhere will see temperatures widely into the high 20s and low 30s C.

Coupled with the high daytime temperatures there will be some warm nights, with temperatures expected not to drop below the low 20s C for some areas in the south.

What does the extreme heat warning mean?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 11:14 , Zoe Tidman

Here are some of the Met Offices warnings over the extreme heat forecast:

Adverse health effects are likely to be experienced by those vulnerable to extreme heat

The wider population are likely to experience some adverse health effects including sunburn, heat exhaustion, and other heat related illnesses

More people are likely to visit coastal areas, lakes, rivers and other beauty spots leading to an increased risk of water safety and fire-related incidents

Delays to travel are possible, with potential for welfare issues for those who experience prolonged delays

When and where is the extreme heat warning for?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:55 , Zoe Tidman

Here is more detail from the Met Office on its new amber warning for extreme heat:

 Amber extreme heat warning issued 



Extreme heat warning issued across parts of England and Wales



Thursday 0000 - Sunday 2359



Latest info  https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs



Stay #WeatherAware pic.twitter.com/L3p9rFqxfk  Met Office (@metoffice) August 9, 2022

Please be sensible. Please help us, fire service says

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:36 , Zoe Tidman

Another fire service has urged the public to be sensible to help it cope during the next heatwave:

The second heatwave of the summer is coming... 



Please be sensible.



Please help us. pic.twitter.com/Zo5yIGjt8L  South Yorkshire Fire (@SYFR) August 9, 2022

Hosepipe bans in the hot and dry weather

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:20 , Zoe Tidman

As well as posing a fire risk, the hot and dry conditions are also impacting water supply.

Several water companies have announced hosepipe bans to cope with increased demand and stretched resources.

Saphora Smith, our climate correspondent, has more on them:

What is a hosepipe ban and why are they imposed?

BREAKING: Met Office issues four day warning for extreme heat

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:16 , Zoe Tidman

Met Office issues four-day warning for extreme heat

Golf course dries out in Kent

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:03 , Zoe Tidman

Here is an example of how grassy areas have been parched in the prolonged dry weather.

See how this has affected a golf course in Kent:

London Fire Brigade issues advice for another hot, dry day

Tuesday 9 August 2022 09:45 , Zoe Tidman

Fire services are also putting out similar advice, such as London Fire Brigade:

It's another hot, dry day and we need your help to prevent dangerous grass fires and protect #London's green spaces. Make sure you dispose of cigarettes safely, don't barbecue in parks, and never leave glass lying around - it can magnify the sun's rays and start a fire pic.twitter.com/JCaCfkg9hL  London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 9, 2022

Councils issue advice to reduce fire risk

Tuesday 9 August 2022 09:27 , Zoe Tidman

Councils are putting out warnings to try and reduce the fire risk in the hot weather:

Due to the extreme heat and very dry conditions there is a high risk of BBQs causing fires. To keep our parks and each other safe we ask you to please not have a BBQ in our parks. pic.twitter.com/7RDpksdJDT  Arun District Council (@ArunDistrict) August 9, 2022

 HEAT WARNING - how to keep our commons safe from wild fires 



Please enjoy our commons & help protect them from accidental fires:



 take litter home

 don't light fires

 no barbeques (enjoy a picnic instead )

 don't smoke

 if you see a fire dial 999 pic.twitter.com/dmD69hsMJM  Stroud District Council (@StroudDC) August 8, 2022

BREAKING: Most severe fire warning issued by Met Office as temperatures to soar in heatwave

Tuesday 9 August 2022 09:00 , Zoe Tidman

Most severe fire warning issued by Met Office as temperatures to soar in heatwave

Parched landscapes across UK

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:55 , Zoe Tidman

The latest heatwave coming after months of low rain, which have left the countryside and urban parks and gardens tinder-dry.

Here are some images of parched landscapes:

A golf club in Burnley has suffered dry grass in the dry conditions (Getty Images)

Greenwich Park in London is among those that has been parched in the dry weather (PA)

Parliament Squares grass has been looking dry in London (REUTERS)

UK given warning over fire risk

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:36 , Zoe Tidman

On that note, households are being urged not to light fires and retailers to ban sales of disposable barbecues as England faces another heatwave in already tinder-dry conditions.

Full story here:

Fire warning as new heatwave builds in tinder-dry conditions

Exceptional fire risk towards end of week

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:28 , Zoe Tidman

The Met Office has a fire severity index that looks at how severe a fire could become if one were to start.

This is very high for most of England and Wales throughout the week and will reach exceptional - the top level - for some by the weekend.

You can see for yourself here:

UK Fire Severity Index - Met Office

What is the heat health alert?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:26 , Zoe Tidman

The heat health alert system aims to help the health service manage through periods of high temperatures by acting as an early warning system, where the weather may affect the publics health.

The UKHSA has issued advice on how people can stay cool and safe in the heat, as well as how to look after particularly vulnerable groups.

This can be found on its website:

Heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency

And its social media:

With temps forecast to get warmer this week, we've issued a heat-health alert for all regions in England. We want everyone to enjoy the warm weather safely, so it's important to ensure that people who are more vulnerable are prepared for the hot weather. #WeatherReady   UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) August 8, 2022

What is the forecast for this week?

Tuesday 9 August 2022 08:08 , Zoe Tidman

The UK is set to face another heatwave this week which is expected to last longer than the one in July.

Temperatures are due to soar, with forecasters saying they could enter the mid-30Cs by Friday.

Full story on this weeks sweltering forecast here:

UK faces longer heatwave than Julys 40C record as millions under hosepipe ban

Sunshine from the word go'

Tuesday 9 August 2022 07:50 , Zoe Tidman

Here is what the Met Office forecasts for this morning:

 Sunshine from the word go for many on Tuesday morning with temperatures quickly climbing



 Cloudier skies will persist across northwest Scotland as rain pushes across the Northern Isles pic.twitter.com/WsiL5p9v3l  Met Office (@metoffice) August 8, 2022

Heat health alert set to kick in today

Tuesday 9 August 2022 07:30 , Zoe Tidman

The UK Health Security Agency has issued a heat health alert for all regions of England as the country braces itself for another heatwave, Joe Middleton reports.

This is coming into force from midday today.

UK weather: Heat health alert issued ahead of heatwave

Tuesday 9 August 2022 07:27 , Zoe Tidman

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage on UK weather as temperatures are set to soar.
Smoke can be seen from the beach at Saki, in Crimea, after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military air base. (UGC via Associated Press)

Ukraine said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea that appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian attack, which would represent a significant escalation in the war.

Russia denied that any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday's blasts  or that any attack took place. But satellite photos clearly showed at least seven fighter planes at the base had been blown up and others probably damaged.

Ukrainian officials stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while mocking Russias explanation that a careless smoker might have caused ammunition at the Saki air base to catch fire and blow up. Analysts also said that explanation doesnt make sense and that the Ukrainians could have used anti-ship missiles to strike the base.

If Ukrainian forces were, in fact, responsible for the blasts, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site on the Crimean peninsula, which the Kremlin seized from Ukraine in 2014. Russian warplanes have used Saki to strike areas in Ukraines south.

Crimea holds huge strategic and symbolic significance for both sides. The Kremlins demand that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia has been one of its key conditions for ending the fighting, while Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians from the peninsula and all other occupied territories.

The explosions, which killed one person and wounded 14, sent tourists fleeing in panic as plumes of smoke rose over the coastline nearby. Video showed shattered windows and holes in the brickwork of some buildings.

One tourist, Natalia Lipovaya, said that the earth was gone from under my feet after the powerful blasts. "I was so scared, she said.

Sergey Milochinsky, a resident, recalled hearing a roar and seeing a mushroom cloud from his window. "Everything began to fall around, collapse, he said.

Crimeas regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said about 250 residents were moved to temporary housing after dozens of apartment buildings were damaged.

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But Russian authorities on Wednesday sought to downplay the explosions, saying all hotels and beaches were unaffected on the peninsula, which is a popular tourist destination for many Russians.

A Ukrainian presidential advisor, Oleksiy Arestovych, cryptically said that the blasts were either caused by Ukrainian-made long-range weapons or the work of Ukrainian guerrillas operating in Crimea.

A Ukrainian parliament member, Oleksandr Zavitnevich, said the airfield was rendered unusable. He reported on Facebook that it housed fighter jets, tactical reconnaissance aircraft and military transport planes.

Satellite photos dated Wednesday issued by Planet Labs showed wreckage in spots on the airfield where the company's photos a day earlier showed numerous warplanes.

Official Kyiv has kept mum about it, but unofficially the military acknowledges that it was a Ukrainian strike, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said.

The base is about 125 miles from the closest Ukrainian position. Zhdanov suggested that Ukrainian forces could have struck it with Ukrainian or Western-supplied anti-ship missiles that have the necessary range.

A satellite image shows aircraft at the Russian air base in Saki, in Crimea, before an explosion Tuesday. (Planet Labs PBC)

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said that it couldnt independently determine what caused the explosions but noted that simultaneous blasts in two places at the base probably rule out an accidental fire but not sabotage or a missile attack.

But it added: The Kremlin has little incentive to accuse Ukraine of conducting strikes that caused the damage since such strikes would demonstrate the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems.

During the war, the Kremlin has reported numerous fires and explosions on Russian territory near the Ukrainian border, blaming some of them on Ukrainian strikes. Ukrainian authorities have mostly kept silent about the incidents, preferring to keep the world guessing.

Neither side has released much information about their own casualties. In his nightly video address Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed nearly 43,000 Russian soldiers had been killed.

Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of Defense for policy, estimated Monday that Russian forces have sustained up to 80,000 casualties in the fighting. He did not break down the figure with an estimate of forces killed or provide a Ukrainian casualty count.

In other developments, Russian forces shelled areas across Ukraine on Tuesday night into Wednesday, including the central region of Dnipro, where 13 people were killed, according to the regions governor, Valentyn Reznichenko.

He said the Russians fired at the city of Marganets and a nearby village. Dozens of residential buildings, two schools and several administrative buildings were damaged.

It was a terrible night, Reznichenko said. It's very hard to take bodies from under debris. We are facing a cruel enemy who engages in daily terror against our cities and villages.

In Ukraine's east, where fighting has raged for eight years, a Russian attack on the center of the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region killed seven, wounded six and damaged stores, homes and apartment buildings, setting off fires, Ukraine's prosecutor general said on the messaging app Telegram. Bakhmut is a key target for Russian forces as they advance on regional hubs.

Two residents of the village of Staryi Saltiv in the Kharkiv region in the northeast were killed Wednesday in Russian shelling, police reported.

In the country's southeast, Moscow's forces continued shelling the city of Nikopol across the Dnieper River from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling it, stoking international fears of a catastrophe.

On Wednesday, foreign ministers of the Group of 7 industrialized democracies demanded that Russia immediately hand back full control of the plant to Ukraine. They said they are profoundly concerned about the risk of a nuclear accident with far-reaching consequences.

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An employee stands under a sign for Meta, the company that owns Facebook (Getty Images)

A teenager and her mother are facing criminal charges in Nebraska for allegedly inducing an abortion. Celeste Burgess, 18, and Jessica Burgess, 41, both face felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly procuring medication to stop a pregnancy  in other words, buying abortion pills  and disposing of the fetus after it was stillborn. They have both pleaded not guilty, meaning that, unless they strike a deal with the prosecution in the coming months, they will face trial.

The idea that a teenager would end up facing criminal charges for terminating a pregnancy is jarring, but its been a possibility ever since Roe v Wade was overturned. Indeed, some might say it was inevitable. And the way in which charges were brought against Celeste and Jessica is particularly notable. Facebook released private messages between the mother and daughter when access to them was requested by investigators in Nebraska, according to The Associated Press. It was only after those private messages were reviewed that those investigators believed they had enough evidence to charge the mother with the abortion-related crime. And even though the daughter was a minor when all of this occurred, the state is now choosing to prosecute her as an adult.

In early June, the agency wrote, the mother and daughter were only charged with a single felony for removing, concealing or abandoning a body, and two misdemeanors: concealing the death of another person and false reporting. It wasnt until about a month later, after investigators reviewed the private Facebook messages, that they added the felony abortion-related charges against the mother. The daughter, who is now 18, is being charged as an adult at prosecutors request.

Facebook has argued it was only complying with a warrant when it gave investigators access to the Burgesses messages. Nothing in the valid warrants we received from local law enforcement in early June, prior to the Supreme Court decision, mentioned abortion, Andy Stone, a spokesman for Facebook, told the AP. The warrants concerned charges related to a criminal investigation and court documents indicate that police at the time were investigating the case of a stillborn baby who was burned and buried, not a decision to have an abortion.

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The company has insisted its officials always scrutinize every government request we receive to make sure it is legally valid, adding that it will fight back against requests that it thinks are invalid or too broad. Not shy about providing numbers, Facebook told the AP it was asked for data by the government 59,996 times in the second half of last year, and it provided information in about 88 percent of those times.

One might point out that there was a time when Facebook showed a bit more reticence when it came to sharing its users information, and a bit more energy when time came to try defending it. In 2014, it fought a government request for what The New York Times described as the contents of hundreds of Facebook accounts stemming from a social security fraud case in New York, namely nearly complete account data on 381 people, ranging from pages they had liked to photos and private messages. Facebook lost the case, but damn if it didnt fight it for years (the search warrants were signed in 2013, and the state Court of Appeals didnt rule against Facebook until 2017).

Of course, one could argue that that case was different, and that it fell under the too broad requests Facebook says it may oppose. The search warrant in the Burgesses case only affected a couple of people, not 381. But regardless of whether you believe Facebook should have fought a bit harder to keep the mother and daughters information private, the case is a compelling, urgent call for women to rethink how we use technology  and to think of how it may be used against us. (The fact that Meta, Facebooks parent company, also owns the encrypted messaging service WhatsApp and Instagram is not what I would call especially reassuring either.)

We do appear to be caught in a perfect storm of crappy legal infrastructure (as I believe the scientific parlance goes) and technological scrutiny. The allegations against Celeste and Jessica Burgess predate the overturning of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court in June, but the prosecutor handling the case told the AP its the first time he has charged anyone for illegally performing an abortion after 20 weeks.

Before the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June, states werent allowed to enforce abortion bans until the point at which a fetus is considered viable outside the womb, at roughly 24 weeks, the agency noted.

Do you remember when people thought that the only consequence of Roe v Wade being nuked was that women seeking abortions in red states would simply travel somewhere else? That was a stupid argument, obviously (travel requires funds and time, resources that are far from available to everyone), but its astonishing to see how short-sighted it really was. Of course the overturning of Roe is about more than just traveling to another state. Its about further poisoning the well of our legal system by making it easier to prosecute women.

The allegations against Jessica and Celeste Burgess are complex, and deserved to be treated as such. The mother and daughter allegedly enlisted the help of a 22-year-old man to bury the fetus, and later discussed via Facebook DM burning it to dispose of it, Motherboard reported after obtaining and reviewing court documents. If anything, the case is an illustration of what happens when states impose abortion bans at 20 weeks  a limit denounced by Planned Parenthood.

Politicians in Congress have repeatedly pushed bills that would impose a nationwide ban on abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy. This dangerous, out-of-touch legislation is nothing more than yet another attempt to restrict access to safe, legal abortion, Planned Parenthood wrote on its website. Nearly 99 percent of abortions occur before 21 weeks, but when they are needed later in pregnancy, its often in very complex circumstances.

When Roe was overturned, multiple social media users advised others to delete their period-tracking apps, with the idea that any data they might store on their menstrual cycle  including a potential pregnancy  could be used to prosecute them. (The New York Times pointed out that its hardly just your period-tracking app that can be used as digital evidence of a pregnancy or abortion.) If any evidence was needed that this is a valid concern, the Burgess case is it.

In the words of Shane Ferro, an attorney at the Legal Aid Society, a nonprofit legal aid provider in New York City: Yeah, you should get off Facebook, stop using Instagram, use Signal or the real phone to talk about sensitive subjects, but you should also demand the government that represents you takes steps to protect your privacy, bodily, digital, and otherwise.

Because most of us dont have the option to leave the internet entirely  nor should we be forced to do so. For one thing, I like to communicate with my loved ones (many of whom live across the ocean from me.) For another, working online  including on social media  is a big part of my job as a journalist. Considering that, it would be nice  some might say the bare minimum  if my government could remember that I and other women are human beings, and perhaps it could do a thing or two to protect our basic rights, like the right to privacy.

For a long time, weve been told that free markets mean freedom for everyone. Facebook has just shown how completely untrue that is. Weve also been told that our government is there to protect us, and that justice will be done on the Supreme Court. This case makes that look laughable, too.

In a world like this, I and women across America are left to wonder: Is anything there to protect us at all? Or was locking us up always the point?
By Dietrich Knauth

(Reuters) -Walgreens Boots Alliance contributed to the opioid epidemic in San Francisco through its sale of prescription drugs in the city, a federal judge concluded on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco said that Walgreens failed to properly investigate suspicious opioid orders for nearly 15 years. The amount the pharmacy chain must pay will be determined in a later trial.

Walgreens' pharmacists filled hundreds of thousands of suspicious opioid prescriptions from 2006 to 2020 with pharmacists not given time, staffing or resources to properly investigate red flags, Breyer wrote.

San Francisco in 2018 sued Walgreens, as well as several drug manufacturers and distributors, over the opioid epidemic in the city, saying they created a "public nuisance" by flooding the city with prescription opioids and failing to prevent the drugs from being diverted for illegal use.

A trial began in April, and all of the defendants except Walgreens reached settlements with the city before the court ruled.

Breyer said San Francisco had shown that Walgreens' lax oversight led to illegal drug use that substantially contributed to the opioid epidemic in the city.

Walgreens said that it was disappointed with the ruling and intends to appeal.

"We never manufactured or marketed opioids, nor did we distribute them to the 'pill mills' and internet pharmacies that fueled this crisis," Walgreens spokesman Fraser Engerman said.

The opioid epidemic has caused more than 500,000 opioid overdose deaths over two decades, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 3,300 opioid lawsuits have been filed nationally against drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies, culminating with many of the other companies - though not the pharmacies - agreeing to proposed global settlements.

The opioid crisis has hit San Francisco hard, with opioid-related emergency room tripling from 886 in 2015 to 2,998 in 2020, according to the court ruling.

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Paul Geller, an attorney who represented the city in the case, credited San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu for working to hold companies accountable for contributing to "the horrific epidemic in the Bay Area.

Walgreens was found liable in 2021 for contributing to the opioid epidemic in a similar trial brought by two Ohio counties. Walgreens and its co-defendants, CVS Health Inc and Walmart, are awaiting a ruling from the Ohio court on the amount they must pay to address the opioid crisis in those counties.

(Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Mark Porter, Deepa Babington, Alexia Garamfalvi and Mike Harrison)
Walmart banned a man from its stores for 99 years after he was accused of stealing a pair of shoes, Washington authorities said.

The man was seen wearing the shoes while walking down aisles at a Walmart in Spokane Valley on Monday, Aug. 8, the Spokane County Sheriffs Office said.

A pair of worn shoes were shown to authorities where the man had been seen standing, deputies said.

When deputies tried to tell the man to return the shoes, he ran out of the store without paying.

A deputy followed the man and told him he was under arrest, but he fled, the sheriffs office said.

Eventually he was arrested and taken into custody on charges of third-degree theft and resisting arrest. He also had a felony warrant out on a charge of identity theft.

Walmart barred the man for 99 years and returned the shoes he left inside the store, the sheriffs office said.

A manager at the Spokane Valley store told McClatchy News she could not provide any information regarding the mans 99-year ban from the store.

Man ambushes Walmart worker with machete he stole from the store, Indiana cops say

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Mans drags woman into car at Walmart, then leads police on 110 mph chase, SC cops say
Chinese Foreign Minister calls for healthy, stable relations with ROK

Xinhua) 08:37, August 10, 2022

QINGDAO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, saying China is willing to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations along with the ROK.

Wang said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK. The two countries have always been neighbors and partners, and the two sides should grasp the overall situation of the development and stability of bilateral relations.

Wang pointed out that the two countries should adhere to independence and freedom from external interference, adhere to good-neighborliness and friendship and take care of each other's major concerns, adhere to openness and win-win results and maintain stable and smooth production and supply chains, adhere to equality and respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, adhere to multilateralism and abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

China is willing to work with the ROK to adhere to the positioning of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, Wang added.

Park Jin said the ROK is willing to, on the basis of the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership, respect each other, promote equality and mutual benefit, enhance mutual trust, and carry out open and inclusive cooperation to make bilateral relations more mature and healthier.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Photo: The Canadian Press TransAlta president and CEO Dawn Farrell speaks during the company's annual general meeting in Calgary on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. Trans Mountain Corp. says Farrell will become its president and chief executive next week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal

Trans Mountain Corp. says Dawn Farrell will become its new president and chief executive next week.

The pipeline operator says Farrell has more than 35 years of experience in the energy business, where she has held senior level positions.

She was most recently the president and CEO of TransAlta Corp. and helped the company transition away from coal-fired electrical generation.

Farrell's appointment comes after Ian Anderson announced in February that he would retire from the position in April.

Farrell will be tasked with guiding the company as it oversees a pipeline expansion she called "one of Canadas most important infrastructure projects."

Farrell says the Trans Mountain expansion project is passing the 60 per cent completion mark and she is looking forward to leading the organization to the end of it while steering the next phase of the companys future.
The collapse of Antarcticas sleeping giant could cause planetary-scale change in the coming centuries, according to a new warning from scientists.

If the climate crisis continues on its current trajectory, then melting of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) alone could contribute around 3-10 feet (1-3metres) of sea-level rise by 2300, and 7-16.4ft (2-5m) by 2500.

The research, by an international team of scientists, was published on Wednesday in the academic journal Nature.

The team points out that this potentially catastrophic outcome of global heating could be avoided if the world meets the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Nearly every country signed up to the pact to play their part in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or at least well below 2C.

The planet has currently warmed around 1.1C since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. With greenhouse gas emissions, largely caused by burning fossil fuels, continuing unabated, the planet is on track to hit 2.7C by 2100.

However, research showed that if global temperatures remains well below 2C, the East Antarctic sheet is predicted to add less than half a metre to sea-level rise by the year 2500.

If dramatic cuts are made to emissions, then its projected that the sleeping giant -- which holds the majority of glacier ice on Earth -- will likely not add to sea-level rise in the coming decades.

Though, some sea-level rise will still be unavoidable due to melting in West Antarctica and the Arctic region. Notably, the window of opportunity to avoid awakening the sleeping giant is fast-closing, the scientists warned.

The team looked at how the EAIS behaved during warm periods in Earths past, and analysed existing studies to project how future emissions levels will take a toll across the coming centuries.

A key lesson from the past is that the EAIS is highly sensitive to even relatively modest warming scenarios. It isnt as stable and protected as we once thought, said co-author Professor Nerilie Abram, from the Australian National Universitys Research School of Earth Sciences.

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Achieving and strengthening our commitments to the Paris Agreement would not only protect the worlds largest ice sheet, but also slow the melting of other major ice sheets such as Greenland and West Antarctica, which are more vulnerable to global warming.

Co-author Professor Matthew England, from the University of New South Wales, said that satellite observations already show signs of thinning ice and the retreat of the vast ice sheet, while Professor Matt King from the University of Tasmania said much more work was needed on East Antarctica.

We understand the Moon better than East Antarctica. So, we dont yet fully understand the climate risks that will emerge from this area, Professor King said.

Professor Abram said that scientists once thought that East Antarctica was less vulnerable to the climate crisis than other polar regions - but that was no longer the case. Keeping the planet well below 2C is critical.

This means the fate of the worlds largest ice sheet very much remains in our hands, she added.
The White House on Wednesday warned that Iran will face severe consequences for an attack on any U.S. citizen following charges that a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) planned to hire someone to kill former national security adviser John Bolton.

We have said this before and we will say it again: The Biden Administration will not waiver in protecting and defending all Americans against threats of violence and terrorism, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement.

Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences, he added.

Sullivan said that the Department of Justices (DOJ) unsealed charging documents outline Irans continued attempts to assassinate Bolton on American soil.

Sullivan said that the U.S. will continue to use the full resources of the government to protect Americans, adding that he commends the DOJ and FBI for their handling of the situation.

The DOJ publicly shared Wednesday that Shahram Poursafi allegedly started planning to kill Bolton in October. The planning was likely in retaliation after the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani, the leader of the IRGCs elite Quds Force, in a January 2020 drone strike.

The release from the DOJ alleges that Poursafi attempted to pay people $300,000 to kill Bolton in Washington, D.C., or Maryland. He also repeatedly referenced a group he belonged to that would be angry if Bolton was not killed, saying the group would require video confirmation of Boltons death, according to the DOJ.

He could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of using interstate commerce facilities to commission a murder-for-hire scheme, and up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of attempting to provide material support for a transnational murder plot.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A woman trapped in her car at an intersection in El Paso, Texas, was rescued on Tuesday evening just moments before her vehicle was mostly swallowed up by a sinkhole.

Video filmed by Enrique Duenas-Aguilar, the public information officer with the El Paso Fire Department, shows the small white sedan submerged and sinking in water on Tuesday at an intersection in the city. As some bystanders and firefighters appear to use tools to keep the backend of the car somewhat above water, others are seen pulling the woman out of the car's rear windshield.

Moments later, the rushing water drags down most of the car. Within a few minutes, the car is almost totally in the sinkhole, with only the very back of the trunk visible above water.

Duenas-Aguilar told Storyful that the incident happened at around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Gateway South and Yandell Drive. Three firefighters who responded were treated for minor injuries from when they broke the back window and the woman in the car was transported to medical care in stable condition with minor injuries, he said.

Additional video from the scene shows part of the road completely covered in mud and water and a traffic light that leads to a nearby highway knocked down.

New York officials urge vaccinations after polio detected in wastewater

Woman pulled from car moments before it's swallowed by a sinkhole in El Paso

Republicans slam FBI's Mar-a-Lago search
Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Photo credit: Hearst Owned

Following the Supreme Court decision on June 24 to overturn Roe v. Wade, the nation exploded in outrage. Faced with what The Washington Post called a reckless fit of judicial activism, people all over the country took to the streets in large numbers to protest the courts decision. In Birmingham, Washington D.C., New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Antonio, Oakland, and more, thousands turned out with myriad demands, outcries, and affirmations on their signs.

At the protest I attended over that weekend in New York City, I heard chants and saw signs that spoke to a range of backgrounds and emotions: Abortion is a human right not just for the rich and white; Reproductive justice is racial justice; Thank God for abortion; Trans dykes for abortion rights; Anti-abortion laws kill us; We will not go back. I attended the protest after first calling my mother and crying in despair when I heard about the ruling Friday morning. The protests were cleansing and activating, in a way that only protests can be: a life-giving reminder that when our institutions fail us, we have and always will take care of each other, that we are not alone in this fight.

Strength in Numbers

In the past few years, weve seen some of the largest protests in American historywith some studies showing the 2020 George Floyd protests as perhaps the largest in American history. Whenever these public showings of activism pop up, media and spectators alike share grumbling tweets and think pieces about whether protesting works. But if protests dont work, or are a waste of time, then why are our institutions and police so hell-bent on stopping them? And if they do work, how do they work?

I posed these and other questions about Roe and the benefit of social movements to LaGina Gause, PhD, assistant professor of political science at UC San Diego and the author of The Advantage of Disadvantage: Costly Protest and Political Representation for Marginalized Groups.

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Gause cites the recent gun rights legislation that swiftly passed through the Senatea bipartisan bill that expands background checks and closes the boyfriend loopholeas proof that protests can move legislators into action: Gun rights has been a conversation for decades, without any progress. Why now? Because people are fed up and they arent taking no for an answer.

The interesting thing about so many people taking to the streets for abortion rights is that it came amid concurrentand sizableprotests on other issues as well. Its not just abortion thats being protested about. Theres gun rights, theres immigration, and there are the Fight for $15 protests to demand a higher minimum wage. There are labor strikes and the great resignation. From a political science perspective, this state of affairs does not necessarily bode well for long-term legislation: Legislators may recognize that people want things done. But they also think that voters wont stay as engaged as they are right now. Cue the argument that the bipartisan bill on gun legislation did not go far enough: e.g., the boyfriend loophole, an aspect of the bill that bars convicted domestic abusers from buying a gun unless they are first-time offenders, in which case the legislation would waive this restriction after five years if they are not convicted again. According to Gause, the thinking of some lawmakers is: We need to survive this moment. Maybe this legislation will get people to calm down and stop being so active on gun legislation. Fortunately, protestors know this, and many activists have devised strategies to cope with burnout.

Finding Your Political Family

But legislation is not the only reason to protest. Many of the current protestors are feeling abandoned by what they see as the inaction of the Democratic Party, which failed to protect and codify Roe despite warning signs that the court was likely to overturn the ruling. In a two-party system such as ours, the voices and perspectives of marginalized groups arent always adequately represented by only two voting choices. Protests are a way for people to take action instantaneously and with agency, to come together and make their voices heard. Some protests may not seem to have an immediate impact but have a long legacy.

A recent example is Occupy Wall Street, a protest movement against widespread income inequality in 2011 that I participated in. A frequent critique of OWS at the time was that the movement was leaderless and without concrete demands. In her book Direct Action: Protest and the Reinvention of American Radicalism, L.A. Kauffman argues that OWSs signature political move of what organizers called dreaming in public, or holding participatory public debates about what a more egalitarian world would look like, spurred action and concrete change for years to come: Occupy created a new sense of political possibility. Veterans of the encampments fanned out across the country to launch or support diverse activist initiatives. One direct effect of OWS-helmed initiatives is the Debt Collective, the nations first debtors union, and Strike Debt, the broader movement to cancel student debt, which has pushed the idea of student-debt cancellation from the fringe into the mainstream. Case in point: President Joe Biden, who ran on a promise of canceling student debt, is expected to cancel at least $10,000 of debt by federal borrowers in August. Activists hope this is just the beginning.

Gause agrees that in order for protests to have long-term impact, they need to go beyond lawmaking and voting: A social movement isnt just about legislation. Its about building community and ground-level capacity buildingtrying to influence not just legislators but also the media, as well as hearts and minds. The George Floyd protests, and the Black Lives Matter movement more broadly, are a salient example of protests having the power to change public opinion. In fact, racial attitudes started to shift after the first BLM protests in 2014, according to The Washington Post, with more Americans than ever before holding the belief that the country has a problem with anti-Black discrimination. The Floyd protests have only accelerated that trend. And according to a study by FiveThirtyEight, in the immediate aftermath of the Floyd protests, phrases like defund the police and police abolition saw a marked uptick in Google searches. These increased searches suggest that the mainstream is gaining comfort with ideas that have long been central to the BLM movement but elsewhere were considered radical or fridge ideology.

When it comes to abortion, many pro-choice advocates cite the fact that a majority of Americans support the right to chooseso why focus on convincing more citizens? The reason is the distribution of that opinion. Gause explains that if 60 or 65 percent of Americans [are said to support abortion rights], thats of the entire nation, right? But we really need these numbers at a state level, otherwise, it doesnt tell us much. This is why protests matter; they tell us how intensely people care about an issue. If you [are a state representative and you] look outside your window and there are a bunch of people at your state capitol protesting, that can be more galvanizing than poll numbers.

On some occasions, the deciding vote may be your friend or neighbor rather than your representative. On August 3, in a popular referendum, Kansas voted to protect reproductive rights rather than allow state legislators the power to revise the state constitution. That referendum, which requires ordinary citizens to turn up to polling places and cast a vote like they do for a general election, had some of the highest voter turnout the state has ever seen. How much of that enthusiasm was due to protest is hard to gauge, but it proves that individual votes and popular discourse do matter.

Going All In

In her book, Gause also discusses the notion of costly protest, or protests where people are willing to pay dire costs over an issue, as being very effective. On the Saturday following the Supreme Court decision, there were already reports of nationwide police violence at abortion rights protests. In Arizona, police wielded batons, fired tear gas, and forcibly removed protestors from public spaces. In New York City, more than two dozen protestors were arrested in Washington Square Park, Union Square, and in front of the Fox News building in Midtown. In South Carolina, six protestors were injured by police. In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a man drove his Ford pickup truck into a group of female protestors, putting one of them in the hospital. In Los Angeles, the city Im from, police were seen assaulting women, including Full House actor Jodi Sweetin and at least four journalists with press badges, including my brother-in-law, Lexis-Olivier Ray, who has been repeatedly targeted by police for his reporting on protests for L.A. Taco. Says Gause: [Protestors] wouldnt do it if they didnt really care. [It says:] I really care about abortion and Im going to show up even if I know that police might get hostile.

Witnessing the fervent dedication of protestors is particularly meaningful in the fight for abortion rights. In the face of widespread abortion bans in their state, many people are very afraid. But when they go out into a protest, they see that they arent alone in this struggle. Thats really important, especially in the immediate aftermath [of Roe being overturned] to make sure people know that other people are similarly concerned about this issue; that there is community.

Unfortunately, there is some danger associated with protests. Americans stay silent at their peril. Even before Roe was struck down, abortion was already unsafe or unavailable for many people in the United States. This was especially true for those living in one of the 27 cities where one has to travel 100 miles to get an abortion, or are one of the 18 to 37 percent of women on Medicaid who would otherwise get an abortion but are forced to give birth because of lack of funding. And lets not forget Texas, where a host of anti-abortion laws in the past year had already made abortion care all but illegal in the state. Theres always been large segments of the population that havent had access to sufficient healthcare, says Gause. Even in the states that permit abortion, some of the laws around [requisite] counseling can put a person so far into the pregnancy that it becomes less safe to get one. I guess if we want to try to find a silver lining to the Roe [decision], it is calling attention to some areas of healthcare that were already pretty bad and could use a change.

As I sat down to write this piece, I recalled another sign I had seen over the weekend: You are right to fear our rage. On a gut level, I already knew that this was true, that protests work. Having spoken to Gause and conducted my own research, I can prove it, too.

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Nelson County residents want to preserve the rural character, sense of community and natural beauty of the county they call home. But they also want to see more affordable housing, job opportunities, public transportation and community facilities.

This is the sentiment of the third of three workshops giving residents a chance to give input on the countys comprehensive plan, a guide for future growth and development.

Berkley Group Senior Planner Cecile Newcomb told workshop participants in the Heritage Center cafetorium their input was especially important because the comprehensive plan is a roadmap for the future of your community based on your values and vision.

Nelson County is updating its comprehensive plan, adopted in 2022 and last updated in 2014, with the help of Virginia consulting firm The Berkley Group. The county is required by the state to have a comprehensive plan and to review it every five years. Newcomb said counties typically do a major update every 10, 15 or 20 years.

Its a decision-making guide for elected officials when theyre making decisions in their everyday work to take care of the county. Its also an organizing document for all the other plans and studies that the county uses and those plans and studies ideally implement a comprehensive plan. It is also an implementation guide for the zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance and the capital improvement program, and those are all regulatory documents for the county, she explained.

Newcomb said a comprehensive plan addresses transportation and land use, as well as historic, natural and cultural resources, the local economy, housing and community facilities and services.

The Berkley Group conducted a study of the current Nelson County comprehensive plan and in its diagnostic report found the plan to be most effective in addressing land use and future development, the natural environment and rural resources, and active transportation, and least effective at practical implementation, providing for affordable and manufactured housing, and addressing existing conditions.

The diagnostic report evaluated the current plan based on how it addresses 40 Virginia Code sections. In general, The Berkley Group recommends updating the plan to reflect current transportation projects, plans and studies, population data and growth trends. The firms recommendations also include reviewing designated development areas, discussing existing affordable housing conditions and addressing manufactured housing.

At the workshop, participants were directed to choose a table based on their main concern: growth and development, transportation and infrastructure, or recreation and the outdoors, and collaborated with their groups to identify the countys strengths and weaknesses and goals for the future.

Asked to list challenges facing the community, groups identified a lack of affordable housing; public parks, playgrounds and swimming pools, public transportation and work opportunities. Groups also reported traffic on Virginia 151, pollution, empty stores and an out-of-control vacation rental situation, along with insufficient medical care, services for the elderly and child care as problems facing the county.

Groups also identified areas on a map of the county where they thought different kinds of development, recreation opportunities and transportation improvements should occur as well as areas that they think should remain undeveloped.

Newcomb said The Berkley Group would take the information garnered from the activities and draft a plan, then return with a plan in summer of 2023 and again request community feedback.

Its going to be a long process because we want to make sure we get it right, Berkley Group Director of Planning Kelly Davis told participants.

According to a timeline on the new Nelson County comprehensive plan website, nelson2024.com, The Berkley Group will start drafting in November and hold work sessions with the planning commission, board of supervisors and county staff from December 2022 through April 2023.

A public draft review and open house will be held in summer 2023 in preparation for public hearings and adoption in fall 2023. Board of Supervisors Chair Jesse Rutherford confirmed work sessions will be advertised once scheduled, and are open to the public. He also talked about the county potentially holding another public workshop.

In the meantime, community members can submit their feedback by completing the online survey on the comprehensive plan website through Aug. 31. Physical copies of the survey, to be returned to the offices of Planning & Zoning, are available at Schuyler and Rockfish Valley Community Centers, Nelson Memorial Library, the HeART of Nelson, Hickmans Grocery, Macs Market, Ashleys Market, Wintergreen Property Owners Association, Shannon Farm, Blue Ridge IGA, Rockfish Valley Fire Departments, via North District Supervisor Tommy Harvey or at 38 local churches.
Liberty University will work with CarterBaldwin Executive Search to identify its next president.

The search firm will conduct an extensive and national search, according to a news release from LU.

We are excited about partnering with the search committee to find the right leader. Along the way we will bring to the university our commitment to always providing objective counsel and the best available expertise in executive search. Its an honor for us to help Liberty University find its next president, Price Harding, chairman of CarterBaldwin, said in a release.

Jerry Falwell Jr., son of the universitys founder, resigned as president of the school in August 2020, following a string of personal scandals.

Jerry Prevo, who previously served as the chair of the board of trustees of Liberty University, assumed the role of interim president immediately after Falwell resigned.

During his tenure, Prevo has fielded multiple lawsuits against the school, including one involving a group of a dozen anonymous women who claimed the university erred in its handling of sexual assault cases, with such allegations going as far back as 2005. The lawsuit was settled in May amid promises of change at the university.

President Prevo has been a gift from God and exactly what Liberty needed over these transitional years. He has positioned Liberty well for the future, Liberty University Board of Trustees Chairman Tim Lee said in the news release. Liberty University will always be indebted to President Prevo for stepping out of retirement for these three years to serve Liberty tirelessly and sacrificially. His exceptional work will ensure a good start for our next leader and his own contribution to Liberty University will be remembered, and celebrated, for generations.

The university will release a full position profile in mid-September with a target date of installing the new president prior to the 2023 academic year.

Prevo will serve in his current position until the new president takes over.

We ask for the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Liberty University to pray that God will guide us to the right leader for his university. Training Champions for Christ has never been as important as it is today, Gilbert Bud Tinney, search committee chairman, said in the release.
Try to identify a different piece of Lynchburg-area history every week. If you have any mystery pictures of your own (or any old photos of Lyn
Buying a new home is a major life event. So, making such an important decision in front of a national television audience only elevates the stakes.

However, Kirstie Thomas was up to the challenge when she filmed an episode of House Hunters that will air on HGTV at 9 p.m. CST Wednesday, Aug. 10. A Clarinda native, Thomas now lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

Over the course of the half-hour episode viewers will follow Thomas, along with her boyfriend Kyle Kinman, as they view three potential homes in Omaha. The episode will conclude with the reveal of which house she chose.

Filming for the episode was completed in March and Thomas has since moved into the new home. I love it, she said.

What makes Thomas story stand out from many of the other home buyers featured on the popular program is the fact she is also a real estate agent. She is licensed in both Nebraska, working with eXp Realty of Omaha, and Iowa, where she works with Thomas Realty, which is owned by her father, Chuck Thomas of Clarinda.

They had been in contact with me in the past as an agent. So, when I started my own house search, I reached out to them with the idea I could be both the realtor and the buyer. They kind of liked that idea, Thomas said.

Thomas pitched the idea for the episode to officials with HGTV in early January and learned she had been selected for the show in February.

I was super excited. I called everyone I could to let them know. But the first call I made was to my dad because he is also a real estate agent and was the one who got me involved in real estate. So that was a super exciting moment for both of us, Thomas said.

My daughter spearheaded the whole thing. She put out some feelers and lo and behold the producers got a hold of us and said they would be interested. It just kind of escalated from there, Chuck Thomas said. I was a little reluctant to do it at first, but my family wanted me to do it. I was excited for them and excited we could show off Clarinda to a national audience.

Chuck said the opening scenes of the episode take place in the living room of his mother, Shirley Thomas of Clarinda, as Kirstie speaks to her boyfriend; grandmother; brother, Korbin Thomas, who also works for Thomas Realty; and Chuck about her upcoming house search. Kirstie said there is also scenic footage of Clarinda in the episode.

This was the first time they have ever been to Southwest Iowa, Kirstie said. It meant a lot to have them drive to Clarinda and comment on how awesome the area was. It meant a lot to me to share this experience with my family and I wanted the town I grew up in included.

I thought it was interesting a national television program would have interest in look at a small town like Clarinda, Chuck said. It was nice we could showcase our hometown on national TV and Thomas Realty on national TV. We have worked hard over the years, so this was a little bit of a reward to learn people like seeing stories about the Midwest and small towns like Clarinda.

The episode then shifts to Omaha as Kirstie, with the aid of her family members, starts her house hunt. She said the filming was completed over the course of five days as a camera crew followed them on their tour of the three potential homes.

It was really cool, but definitely a learning experience as well. It was a whirlwind of a week as they filmed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. to take advantage of the daytime hours. It was crazy how many different scenes we did within that week to go into a 25 minute episode. It was a surreal and unique experience, Kirstie said.

Chuck said he enjoyed going through the different houses and hearing Kirstie and her boyfriend discuss the qualities of the properties.

My daughter is chattier than I am, so she did most of the talking, Chuck said.

Through the use of a small handheld screen, Kirstie said she had the opportunity to view scenes right after they were filmed with her family.

That was cool. But the best part about being on national TV was sharing that experience with my family and having them there with me, Kirstie said.
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Mervyn Wright uses two phones while ordering a ride-share for a trip to St. Charles from Terminal 2 at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Aug. 9, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Standing outside Terminal 2 at OHare International Airport, a phone in each hand, Mervyn Wright weighed the options to get to his suburban hotel.

He eventually settled on a $64 Uber ride from OHare to St. Charles.

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Thats it. Its 64 bucks, said Wright, a business strategist from Virginia, relieved that it wasnt more expensive.

For flyers like Wright, contending with busy airports this summer and dodging airline cancellations and delays is only part of the journey. They must also get to and from the airport, navigating ride-share or taxi prices, CTA service or parking.

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Amid rising living costs, travelers who choose ride-shares might be facing some sticker shock. At the start of the summer travel season, the average cost of rides between Chicago and the areas around OHare or Midway airports reached or tied their highest prices since the city began collecting data in 2018.

The average cost of Chicago rides to the census tract covering OHare broke $60 in May and June, reaching a high of $60.56 in June, city data shows. A year earlier, the average cost was $55.33.

At Midway, the average cost of Chicago rides to the airports census tract was $53.56 in June, the most recent month for which city data is available  about a dollar more than a year earlier, and nearly the same as the average price in July 2021.

Airline passengers wait for ride-share pickups from Terminal 2 at O'Hare International Airport on Aug. 9, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The prices largely comes down to a labor shortage, said Joseph Schofer, professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering and a transportation expert at Northwestern University. Gas prices might be playing a role but rising ride-share costs predate the gas-price leap, he said.

The risk and the challenge and the difficulty of doing these driving jobs is such that a significant number of people have decided, this doesnt work for me,  he said. And so you have a shortage, and you have uncertainties.

Drivers must weigh the possibility of crime, COVID-19 and the uncertainty of how much their next fare will be and when it will come, he said. And that uncertainty can translate to passengers too.

On a Friday night in June, Schofer checked his Uber app after he landed at OHare and the price of a trip to his north suburban home was around $85. He checked again minutes later, after getting off the plane and walking through the terminal, and the price was closer to $40, he recalled.

Schofer said he has also sometimes faced challenges getting a taxi from his home to OHare. Taxi drivers, too, face the same challenges as ride-share drivers, sitting at the airport and hoping their next fare makes up for the time spent waiting, he said.

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Taxi prices dont always fluctuate the same way ride-shares do. For cabs licensed by the city of Chicago, those hailed at a cab stand at the airport must activate their meter, and charge no more than the meter or meter-and-a-half, depending on the destination. City cabs hailed via an app can offer dynamic upfront pricing, including prices above the metered rate.

But some travelers are reaching their limits on what theyll pay to get to or from the airport, whether taxi or ride-share.

I wont pay $50 for a ride, said Stanley Pierre, a 29-year-old truck driver in town from Miami to pick up his truck.

I mean, its supposed to be cheaper than a taxi, right? asked Pierre, a former Uber driver. The whole point was to make it more affordable for riders taking ride share  $50 would be a taxi ride.

Stanley Pierre heads to his ride-share vehicle for a trip to the Lincoln Square neighborhood from O'Hare International Airport on Aug. 9, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

Koray Yesilli, who arrived to welcome his visiting brother and planned to take ride-share back to the city also had a limit on what he was willing to spend on a trip.

If it was $75 to $100 from here to Lakeview, I wouldnt pay it! he said.

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Lyft trips to the airport are making up an increasing amount of business for the company nationwide. Airport trips accounted for 10.2% of total rides in the second quarter, the highest ever share, Lyft CEO Logan Green said during an early August earnings call.

Travelers choosing other options to get to the airport might face other hurdles.

CTAs Orange and Blue lines serve Midway and OHare, but the agency has faced complaints about the amount of service running and the experience of riding the trains. And travelers driving to OHare might sometimes find the economy parking lots full.

When economy lots are full  which is especially likely over holiday weekends  parking attendants direct drivers to the nearest available lot, and a limited number of vouchers for the main garage are distributed first come, first served, depending on space in the garage, said Kevin Bargnes, spokesman for the citys aviation department. He encouraged drivers to check the status of parking lots online, and said reserved parking is available in some lots.

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Construction has also reduced available parking in Lot D at OHare, near Terminal 5. Work began in June on a six-story parking garage that is expected to double the amount of parking at the terminal when its finished in 2024. The terminal is undergoing an overhaul that is adding new gates and passenger amenity space, among other work.

A jet takes off behind short-term parking at O'Hare International Airport on Aug. 9, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

OHare travelers getting picked up or dropped off along the lower level roadway near terminals 1, 2 and 3 have encountered utility and pavement work, which is expected to be finished in the coming weeks with little effect on traffic during that time, Bargnes said.

Schofer doesnt expect the challenges of getting to or from the airport will dampen demand for travel, after two years of pent-up demand.

Perhaps instead, he said, travelers will leave their homes earlier or choose to fly at times when their options for getting to or from the airport are more predictable. They might turn to ways of getting around they hadnt previously considered, such as taking a Pace bus or shared rides.

Theres chaos in the system, he said. Theres a rebound from a situation thats really different from what weve experienced the last two years. And the rebound is a struggle, because people (who were driving for ride-share companies) got used to not doing the jobs they were doing before.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com

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wlee@chicagotribune.com
The Guatemalan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores, said that his country is a reliable and secure ally of Morocco in Central America, and advocated the consolidation of economic cooperation ties between the two countries that celebrate this year the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

Mario Bucaro also reiterated the unchanging position of his country in favor of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and its sovereignty over the Sahara, highlighting the many things that unite Morocco and Guatemala, especially the historical ties of friendship.

Mario Bucaro told MAPs news channel M24 that since 2014, Morocco is an observer member of the Central American Integration System (SICA) and the Central American Parliament (Parlacen), which brings it closer to the region.

Referring to the approach of his country to address the issue of migration, Mario Bocaro was keen to stress that his country and Morocco share good practices in migration that were recognized by the United Nations on the occasion of the Global Compact on Migration in Marrakech.

These good practices implemented by Guatemala have as objectives the preservation of the life and dignity of migrants, the respect of human rights and the recognition of migration as a right that must be exercised in an orderly, safe, legal and voluntary manner, he said.

Addressing bilateral cooperation in the field of environment, the head of diplomacy of Guatemala said that his country has promoted the recognition of the vulnerability of our countries to climate change, while we are minor generators of greenhouse gases for less than 0.35%.

He expressed hope that Guatemala and Morocco can work together to defend this position at the coming COP Conference.

Asked about his countrys support for the territorial integrity of Morocco, the Guatemalan minister said that we support since 2007 the very clear position of Morocco to preserve its sovereignty over the Sahara, primarily because we Guatemalans have also been victims of conflicts and complex processes of loss of [national] territory.

On the economic side, the Minister pleaded for Guatemala to become the gateway for Morocco to a market of 270 million people (Central America, Caribbean etc. ..), adding that the investments of his country are very strong in the Caribbean and that Guatemala is one of the main producers of sugar in the region.

The Minister who praised the great experience of Morocco in the production of fertilizers, said Guatemala wants to seize this great opportunity to bring fertilizers in the region and become a distribution center in Central America.

Other opportunities for trade and distribution in Africa and the Middle East are also available in the cardamom, coffee and sugar sectors, of which Guatemala is a major producer, the Foreign Minister said.
The Moroccan Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday the end of the second wave of Omicron, after two consecutive weeks of low green vigilance level of COVID-19 community circulation and the beginning of the post-wave phase or the fourth intermediate period.

Morocco has experienced a fourth wave of community circulation of COVID-19 that lasted 11 weeks and reached its peak in the two weeks from June 20 to July 03, said the coordinator of the National Center for Emergency Operations of Public Health, Mouad Mrabet, in his presentation of the bi-monthly review of the epidemiological situation (July 05 to August 08, 2022).

The end of an epidemic wave does not mean the end of the epidemic, warned Mrabet, stressing that the spread of the virus will continue at a low level with the possibility of the appearance of a possible, but not imminent, wave.

The Health Ministrys official noted that the last two weeks have been marked by a gradual decline in the level of virus circulation, noting that the rate of positivity of the tests went from 22.6% during the peak week to 3.2% last week, with an index of reproduction of cases that stands at 0.83.

According to the latest reports from the National Genomic Surveillance Consortium, the Omicron mutant is still prevalent with two main sub-mutants (BA.5 82.5%) and (BA.2 10.5%), compared to 7% for the other sub-mutants, he noted.

Regarding other indices, Mrabet reported a 76% decrease in the number of serious or critical cases in the resuscitation services to settle at 999 cases during this 4th wave, against 4,201 that were admitted during the same period during the 1st wave of Omicron. This result is due to the fact that citizens acquire natural and vaccine immunity against severe and critical cases, he argued.

A total of 931 serious cases due to COVID-19 have been avoided during the current wave and this thanks to the national vaccination campaign, he noted, citing data from the Center for Emergency Operations of Public Health under the Ministry.

Regarding cases of death, they have reached 182 during this wave, against 1,182 during the 1st wave of Omicron, a decrease of 85% compared to the two waves.

Regarding the national vaccination campaign, the rate of people who took the booster dose reached 18.3%, while nearly 30,000 people received the 4th dose.

The head of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection reiterated the call to all citizens aged 60 and 18 years and over, as well as people with chronic diseases to receive the booster dose, six months after receiving the 3rd dose, urging people with respiratory symptoms to wear the mask and stop any professional or social activity, while going to health facilities for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Morocco and Mauritania are in talks to set up an internet cable interconnection building on the inroads of Moov Mauritel, a subsidiary of Moroccos Maroc Telecom.

Moroccan and Mauritanian media said the cable would be laid inland crossing the Sahara territory, offering Mauritania a second alternative besides the African Coast to Europe (ACE) cable.

The new interconnection would boost internet speed in the vast west African country of about 4 million people.

The cable will be over 1000 km long stretching from Moroccos southern Saharan regions to Mauritania while crossing the Guerguarat border post.

Mauritania sees economic benefits from Moroccos move to secure the Guerguarat border crossing in late 2020 from Polisario banditry. Besides steady, peaceful and uninterrupted flow of goods, now better internet services are insight.
The Tindouf camps, where thousands are held against their will by the Algeria-backed polisario militias, have once again been the scene of violent infighting between clans vying for power in an area where Algeria seems to have relegated all authority to militiamen.

As Polisario leader Brahim Ghali was flown to South Africa for medical treatment on board an Algerian presidential aircraft, an exchange of fire took place in the camps between his supporters and fighters loyal to defense minister Mohamed Lemine El Bouhali, according to the well-informed Al Ahdath Al Maghribia newspaper.

Tension has been simmering in the camps since a Polisario-controlled court sentenced the son of Bouhali to 15 years in prison.

Mohamed Lemine Bouhali called on his clan, tribe and loyal fighters to protest peacefully before ordering them to take arms against militiamen loyal to Brahim Ghali.

The infighting over the control over corruption and embezzlement as well as trafficking has created rifts between Polisario leaders who have been trading in the suffering of thousands of Sahrawis in the full sight of their host and mentor Algeria.

With the recurring hospitalizations abroad of Brahim Ghali, alias Benbatouch to borrow the fake name he used while in Spain, various warlords in the Tindouf camps are vying to succeed him. Most of them seek to maximize gains from corruption and banditry before their sponsor Algeria assigns a new separatist leader to continue its failed proxy war against Morocco, while holding thousands hostage in the camps prey to inhumane living conditions.

Several rights watchdogs have on multiple occasions alerted to the adversity faced by the Sahraouis in Tindouf.

The EU has reduced the amount of humanitarian aid it sends to Tindouf camps after a report in 2008 accused Algeria and the Polisario of embezzlement.
Several European countries are increasingly turning to the African continent for gas supply as best alternative to the Russian gas as western countries look to reduce and end dependence on Moscow.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February this year, tensions built up between Russian President Vladimir Putin and European countries. The Russian leader in face of heaping economic sanctions has decided to significantly reduce Russian gas export to Europe.

The already energy crisis in Europe has shifted the focus from renewable energy to fossil fuel. The African gas supply to Europe which only accounts for 21 per cent, is set to shoot up in years to come as many European countries woo and sign deals with their African counterparts for gas supply.

Italy, one of Russias main clients, has turned to Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Mozambique and Congo for alternatives. Italy is already the leading European importer of the Algerian gas but a recent deal signed between the two countries will see the North African country adding 9 million tons of Liquefied National Gas (LNG) to its current supply, by 2024.

Italian energy giant ENI is expected to make investment in Algerias state-run energy company Sonatrach for exploration of new gas fields and the sustainability of supplies as Italian authorities push towards an end of the Russian gas dependence.

The increase in supply to Italy comes after Madrid has fallen out with Algiers after it shifted its position on the Sahara issue and clearly supported the Morocco-proposed Autonomy initiative.

Rome has also lured Congo, Egypt and Mozambique for LNG supplies. In the Central African country, ENI is set to increase its gas output. A deal signed with Congolese authorities early month talks about 4 billion of cubic meters of gas export to Italy from 2024.

In Mozambique, ENI is eying production of 3.4 million tons of LNG per year.

Apart of Italy, Germany has made Africa, its major alternative for gas supply. The European powerhouse has singled out Senegal endowed with massive gas reserves. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the West African country in June for potential deals.

Berlin is interested in the joint Senegal-Mauritania gas project Grand Tortue Ahmeyin (GTA) located at the border between the two countries. GTA slated to start beginning of next year, is expected to produce 2.5 tons of LNG per year but the production is projected to reach 10 million tons by 2026.

The project boasts an estimated gas reserve of around 560 billion tons.

Aside from the GTA project, German authorities are also interested in the Teranga offshore gas field located in Senegal. The first production for the development is expected by 2024. Authorities expect an annual production of 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Spain, after Algeria proved to be an unreliable supplier, also turned to the African continent and looks to increase import from Nigeria through the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project. Angola and Equatorial Guinea also stand out as alternative supplying markets.
The United States has decided to support Morocco with integrated air defense networks against missile & drones attacks, dealing another hard blow to the Polisario militias, which are armed, funded and sheltered by the ruling Algerian military junta.

The decision has been approved lately by the U.S. Congress in its vote for the appropriation bill for Fiscal Year 2023. Funds have been appropriated by the lawmakers to enhance military capacities of U.S. allies in the MENA region including Morocco to counter missile and unmanned aircraft systems attacks by Iran and its proxies, making reference to the Polisario armed militias with links to Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror group.

In 2018, Rabat cut diplomatic ties with Teheran for its support to Hezbollah in arming and training Polisario separatists with the blessing of Algerian rulers.

According to intelligence reports, the Iranian embassy in Algiers facilitated the trip of Hezbolah leaders and military commanders to Tindouf wherein they trained separatist militias to carry out attacks against Morocco.

During the latest ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh held in Marrakesh, participants sounded the alarm against the growing terrorism-separatism nexus, saying that the collusion against the sovereignty and stability of states nurtures the alliance between terrorists and separatists, threatening regional peace and security.

Last year, Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid voiced concern over Algerias rapprochement with Iran. Washington is also concerned over the Algiers-Teheran axis as the United States is working to curb Irans destabilizing activities, and help regional partners lay the foundation for greater security, prosperity, and opportunity for their people.

The United States is partnering with allied African countries to solve problems of common interest from health security to shared economic prosperity to countering terrorismmindful of the continents importance to critical global issues.
The recently launched Saudi-Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC) is set to acquire 25 per cent of stakes in Egyptian fertilizer giant Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO) for an unrevealed amount.

The deal, Arab Finance reports citing a source who asked not be named, might have been executed Tuesday or it would be carried out this Wednesday in the Egyptian Exchange (EGX).

The transaction is taking place few days after the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced SEIC establishment. SEIC would invest in swathes of Egypts promising sectors including infrastructure, real estate development, healthcare, financial services, food and agriculture, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical, along with other investment opportunities.

The wealth fund said the SEIC will work with the Egyptian private sector to enlarge PIFs access to investment opportunities across the Arab country.

In March, Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to lure investments of $10 billion in cooperation with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) and the PIF. Saudi Arabia had previously pledged $15bn to support Egypt. SEIC activities will increase significantly the kingdoms investment in Egypt whose economy has been hit hard by the pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Established in 1998, MOPCO is a state-owned company specialized in the production of fertilizers, ammonia, and nitrogen.

MOPCO is one of Egypts biggest exporters of urea as it produces around 2 million tons per annum and exports its output to Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa.
A flight of Egypts national carrier EgyptAir landed Tuesday at Tripolis Mitiga International Airport for the first time since 2014.

The flights, according to the airliner, will continue till October 11 to transport groups of tourists from Libya to the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

The flag carrier will operate a weekly flight between the two airports on board Boeing B737-800 aircraft, which is capable of carrying up to 154 passengers, to promote Libyan tourism flow to Egypt.

Egypt and Libya agreed in September last year to resume flights from Tripoli to Cairo after seven years of hiatus owing to security concern in the oil-rich North African country. The two countries also reactivated the direct flight service between Cairo and Benghazi in April this year.
Adam and Victoria Bilter are pictured on Aug. 5, 2022, in Maxims, the famous Chicago restaurant in the lower level of the former Astor Towers hotel, now being reborn as a ritzy private club. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

On a recent sunny morning, Goudy Square, the small park in the heart of the Gold Coast at Astor and Goethe Streets, was alive with dozens of little children in the company of their parents, grandparents or nannies.

You could hear their carefree and playful noise across the street where Adam and Victoria Bilter were standing and talking. A sincere and passionate duo, they live on the top floor of the building at 1300 N. Astor but are busy bringing back to life the 8,120-square-foot space that occupies the basement.

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We want to preserve the history of this special place, says Adam. We are both deeply appreciative of the past and want to be part of the future.

Maxims, the famous Chicago restaurant in the lower level of the former Astor Towers hotel, now being reborn as a ritzy private club. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

This building rose in 1962, the work of revered architect Bertrand Goldberg, who is most famous for creating that iconic structure that is Marina City. This was the Astor Tower Hotel, where The Beatles, among many famous folks, once stayed.

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The basement space became a restaurant through the efforts of the architects bright, ebullient wife, Nancy, who opened Maxims as an homage to Maxims-de-Paris in France, which had opened 70 years before.

It was as opulent a restaurant as this city has ever known, a stylish Art Nouveau-inspired space, all dim lighting, plush furniture and artful design. It served meals that earned it a place on Life magazines list of the top six gourmet restaurants in the country. But it also housed what was then the citys first discotheque and as late as 3 a.m. some nights, you could find people playing backgammon in its Bagatelle Room.

Original dishes at Maxims. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

It was very popular and a gossip column staple  thanks to high-profile guests and customers including Hollywood royalty and local high-society figures  until closing in 1982. It carried on for a few years, as Nancy let other restaurateurs move in, including the late, hard-to-forget George Badonsky. Nancy died in 1996, her husband the following year, and in 2000, their heirs gave Maxims to the City of Chicago.

It became Maxims: The Nancy Goldberg International Center. And thats where I came in about a decade later when Lois Weisberg, then the citys commissioner of cultural affairs, got the idea to present a series of events in the place. She called them Conversations with Extraordinary People and asked me to host.

Over five years I did so. These talks were broadcast over the citys cable network and often drew a standing-room-only crowd and why not? I talked with such interesting people as Studs Terkel, Carol Marin, Corky Siegel, Bob Falls, Karen Abbott, Martha Lavey, Dennis DeYoung, Audrey Morris, Judy Roberts  the list is long, the memories pleasant.

The room was also used for private parties and by the time it closed for keeps around 2015, it had begun to look a bit bruised and threadbare, though it retained enough of its distinctive grandeur to wow first-time visitors.

A couple of years ago, the Bilters, who then lived a few blocks away, were walking their dogs and We wondered what was beneath that revolving door, down that spiral staircase. We convinced the building engineer to show us and we were amazed, says Adam. The more we researched the more we fell in love with the idea that we might be able to bring this place back to vibrant life.

He is a child of Oswego, where he grew up on a small horse farm before becoming a marketing/advertising executive, a real estate developer and a hospitality business investor. She was born in Ukraine, the daughter of a nurse and was living in Bellagio, Italy, when she met and fell in love with Adam. They were married in Grant Park and had their reception at Gibsons.

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Flash forward a bit to earlier this year, when they became the spaces new owners (at a cost of $680,000). They have since been in the process of turning it into the Astor Club, a private club scheduled to open later this year.

Empty bottles on display at Maxims. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Sweeping stairway at Maxims. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

They already have a member list approaching 100 people. A few of them are famous and some I know, some I dont, but the Bilters are not naming names  to them private is private.

Many of the members are from the neighborhood, says Adam. We have been doing a lot of outreach so that everyone knows what we are doing.

The couple has many ideas for their club: live music, guest chefs and mixologists, charity events, cooking classes, fashion shows, guest speakers, art events. We are always thinking of something new that we might try, says Victoria.

Will this work?

Thats difficult to say.

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This is still a city of venerable private clubs, such as Saddle and Cycle, the Casino, Racquet Club, Chicago Yacht Club, Union League and others. The Bilters have visited most of them and are encouraged by the conversations they have had with their operators and staff.

I think they are happy to have a new club coming to the city, says Adam. They have shared good thoughts and many ideas.

Their enthusiasm is not dimmed by their knowledge that some private clubs have not been successful. The Playboy Club is long gone. Arnie Mortons Zorines vanished. Barely remembered is Huckleberrys, a flashy Oak Street club owned by Barbara Eden of I Dream of Jeannie fame, and her then-husband, Sun-Times executive Chuck Fegert. The Standard Club recently sold its Loop building.

The refurbished kitchen at Maxims. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

Original faucet fixtures at Maxims. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

The Bilters remain optimistic. Walking with them through the space last week, one could see the care they are taking. The massive kitchen has been remade, the other spaces polished and refurbished. They show a visitor the plates and silverware that remain from the past, and lovingly display some of the photos, menus and other materials they have received from former patrons.

It has been so nice to learn how much people loved Maxims, says Adam.

Change comes hard to this neighborhood, the citys wealthiest and arguably its loveliest.

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Just to the west of the Astor Club is what was once the Ambassador East Hotel and its Pump Room restaurant, arguably the citys most potent star magnet for decades. But even famous hotelier Ian Schrager was unable to remake or capitalize on the legends of the past. The hotel is now part of the Hyatt chain, the restaurant went through numerous iterations but still exists as the Ambassador Room.

Leaving the Astor Club, the Bilters proudly showed off one of their two cars. It is a fully restored 1923 Ford Model T. It runs and they sometimes drive it through the neighborhood, top speed 35 mph.

We call it Daisy, said Adam.

From the park across the street came the sounds of little kids at play.

Those children, maybe one day they will be old enough to come to the Astor Club, said Victoria.

Her husband smiled and said, Why not? We plan to be here for a long, long time.
Snap Inc. signed Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatars Government Communications Office (GCO) to open a new office in Doha, expanding its footprint in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, a statement by the Gulf country has announced.

This move is part of Snaps efforts to support and create opportunities for its highly engaged community in Qatar, as well as work closely with local partners and businesses, ultimately contributing to Qatars growing and vibrant digital landscape, the statement said.

The creators economy in Qatar has witnessed a significant growth over the last two years with the discovery of several local creators and Arab expats. Snap is building on this progress and sees a clear opportunity to elevate the voices of Qatars creator ecosystem, amplify their stories and support their continued innovation.

The California-based company currently boasts 319 million daily active users that produce more than 5 billion videos and photographs every day. The figures reveal an impressive growth since 2014 when it had just 59 million active daily users.

Saudi Arabia is the fifth biggest market for Snapchat with some 19.7 million active users. Iraq comes in at ninth place with 12.8 million users, while Egypt comes in tenth place with 12.75 million users.

Qatar office will be managed by the MENA leadership of the company.

The new office will help better serve our local community of Snapchatters, creators and businesses, and invest in developer partnerships to create even more opportunities for digital transformation in Qatar, Hussein Freijeh, General Manager of Snap Inc. in the Middle East said.
The rift is growing between Tunisia and one of its main donors, the United States, as President Kais Saied continues his power grab leaning on authoritarian Algeria.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tunisias dream of self-government was in danger.

His comment added to previous US criticism in the wake of the adoption of a controversial constitution that further empowers the President and undermines the countrys post-2011 democratic gains.

Across Africa, those who support democracy and freedom and the rule of law are battling the forces of autocracy, chaos and corruption, Austin said at a US Africa Command ceremony.

We can feel those headwinds in Tunisia, where people inspired the world with their demands for democracy, he said.

Last month, President Saied organized the referendum on the constitution which bolsters his powers, a year after he suspended the parliament launching a process of power grab that left pro-democracy activists warning the country is backpedaling to autocracy.

Those who voted yes represented 94.6% of all voters, though turnout stands at a mere 30%.

Tunisia has experienced an alarming erosion of democratic norms over the past year and reversed many of the Tunisian peoples hard-won gains since 2011, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said following the referendum.

Tunisian foreign minister summoned US ambassador over Washingtons comments which he described as an interference in the countrys domestic issues.

Tensions with Washington and the backpedaling to authoritarianism has already pushed the US to cut its aid to Tunisia.

The standoff with the US and political instability that the slide towards autocracy may trigger will also cast a shadow over Tunisias quest to obtain a lifeline from the IMF to avert the crumbling of its public finances.

Morgan Stanleys ranked Tunisia, along with Ukraine and El Salvador, in the top three list of likely defaulters.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, says it is unable to meet the growing humanitarian needs in the Democratic Republic of Congo because of a lack of money. The UNHCR is calling on donors to urgently step up to the plate to help the many refugees and displaced people in the country.

In a statement made public, the UNHCR says it is no longer able to meet all the growing humanitarian needs, its intervention in the Democratic Republic of Congo being one of the least funded in the world.

This announcement has alarmed some Congolese, who already fear the worst.

Our fear is that we are looking after women, children and old people who are in difficulty, we will have problems with the cantonment of sites, and there is a risk of loss of life and we could still run into many other difficulties, warns Roger Mwinihire, head of a local organization that receives displaced people and refugees in North Kivu province.

According to the UNHCR, there is no question yet of stopping the ongoing interventions, although its communications officer in the DRC, Joel Smith, is sounding the alarm.

If nothing is done, UNHCR assistance will be considerably reduced, warns Joel Smith.

For Johnson Butaragaza, a political activist, the Congolese government should learn from this UNHCR warning and understand that the care of IDPs is primarily the responsibility of national authorities.

UNHCR has been supporting the Congolese government for more than 45 years to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to people forced to flee their homes because of recurring conflicts.
Bailey Yard workers are more prone to give up on railroading after three years of layoffs followed by COVID-19, a North Platte rail union leader told an AFL-CIO virtual town hall last week.

Mike Gage, president of Local 1920 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, spoke second among 15 U.S. members of individual craft unions during Thursdays hour-long forum related to rail labor negotiations with the nations major railroads.

The shortage of workers has really had an effect on us, said Gage, a 17-year Union Pacific Railroad veteran at the worlds largest classification yard.

Despite recent U.P. efforts to recall or hire workers, those of us who are lucky enough not to have been furloughed during this still are dealing with the fallout from being shorthanded.

In further comments at the forums end, Gage said he has seen Bailey employees with 10, 15, 20 years walking away from this job and quitting.

That used to be unheard of, you know. And I think these factors are just a byproduct of the deteriorating work environment that we have out there and the attitude of the work force.

Other nationwide union members said railroaders time to rest, tend to personal business or spend time with family has largely vanished due to the spread of precision scheduled railroading across the U.S. rail industry.

Railroads and their working conditions are less safe now than before PSR because so many workers are constantly fatigued, they said.

Online users can view the full town hall through the Facebook or YouTube pages of the AFL-CIOs Transportation Trades Department or on its website at ttd.org.

When contacted Monday for comment by The Telegraph, U.P. spokeswoman Robynn Tysver referred readers to the National Railway Labor Conferences position on current rail issues at raillaborfacts.org.

The June 15 end of federal mediation and threats of a nationwide rail strike led President Joe Biden July 15 to invoke federal law and appoint an emergency board to recommend settlement terms to resolve the three-year dispute between carriers and unions.

A 30-day cooling-off period will follow the boards release of its recommendations, expected to take place no later than Aug. 15. No work stoppages are permitted currently and during that upcoming period.

Layoffs and furloughs at Bailey Yard followed the September 2018 implementation of Union Pacifics Unified Plan 2020. It uses precision scheduled railroading to cut the operating ratio percentage of U.P.s income spent on operating expenses.

PSR envisioned shifting the focus of operations from moving trains to moving cars, greater use of general-purpose trains, more efficient utilization of crews and rail assets and minimizing car dwell, car classification events and locomotive power requirements, the Omaha-based railroad said at that time.

U.P. made $1.8 billion in net income during 2022s second quarter, the same as April to June 2021. Its operating ratio of 60.2% was slightly higher, the railroad said in a July 21 press release.

Gage, who is also secretary-treasurer of the Midwest Nebraska Central Labor Council, said PSR has made railroading less attractive for Bailey Yard workers who survived the concepts layoffs.

In 2016, we had 309 people on our (IBEW) roster, and now were down to 191, he told the AFL-CIO town hall.

And the thing is (that) 60 of these were laid off by December 2020. Its not pandemic-related; its PSR-related.

The excess work the survivors have had to absorb has erased some of the perks union members with seniority are supposed to enjoy, Gage said.

In Local 1920, you dont have the days off that youve earned if there arent less senior workers to pick up the slack, he said.

Like, after 17 years, Monday (and) Tuesday are the best days I can have off, Gage said. Thankfully, I have day shift. There are people with 15 years or so that are still working third shift  second shift if theyre lucky.

Its the same when it comes to holidays, he told town-hall viewers.

We cant plan anything around the holidays. They told most of us when we hired on the railroad, you know, after 10 years youve paid your dues, you get part of the weekend off, youre on day shift, you dont have to worry about holidays.

And now youve got guys with over 20 years working holidays that before this they had off. 

I know theres no shift differential, theres no pay differential, and the carrier doesnt seem to think that, you know, we sacrifice anything by working this way. But we really do.

Only four of the 60 IBEW members furloughed from Bailey in 2019 have returned, Gage said. But a lot of people dont want to come back.

Under an agreement dating to 1987, he added, railroads dont have to call back furloughed workers who had worked for them less than three years and have been off work for a year or longer.

So you lose your seniority there, he told the virtual town hall. Its been kind of a mess, really.
30 Korean companies will exhibit and sell their excellent products at 2022 CHUNGBUK BEST PRODUCT PROMOTION in Hong Kong from August 11th to 13th

CHEONGJU, South Korea & HONG KONG, August 10, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chungcheongbuk-do has started to secure export channels for promising exporters in North Chungcheong Province to the Hong Kong market.

2022 CHUNGBUK BEST PRODUCT PROMOTION will be held by Chungcheongbuk-do and Chungbuk Business Agency (CBA) from August 11 (Thu) to 13 (Sat) at MS Medicine Limited in Kowloon City, Hong Kong. 30 companies from the province will introduce excellent products to local citizens in Hong Kong at the event.

About 30 types of products including foods, cosmetics, quarantine products, and pet products of companies from Chungcheongbuk-do Province will be showcased at the promotional event.

The event will feature various programs, such as sales promotions, tasting events, and surveys where consumers have a chance to experience and express their opinions on the Chungbuk products. In addition, corporate visitors who are interested in the products can have 1 on 1 business meetings at the site.

The major companies and products in for the promotion are as follows.

Biopolytech (SKINUA COLLAGEN)

THE MOM CO., LTD. (crispy rice crust)

Chowol red Ginseng (red ginseng)

Haesarang (seaweed)

WELLFARM CO., LTD. (fruit juice)

Blueberrynft (KF94-mask)

CoreGreen Co., Ltd. (ilpoom seasoning)

Komega (perilla oil)

AROPET CO., LTD. (cat sand)

An official from the CBA, the organizer of the promotion, said, "2022 CHUNGBUK BEST PRODUCT PROMOTION will be a good opportunity to promote the excellent quality products of Chungcheongbuk-do companies to the world."

The venue for the promotion is MS Medicine Limited located in Shop No. G4, Ground Floor, Kingsford Terrace, No. 8 King Tung Street in Kowloon city. The event opens from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

CHUNGBUK BEST PRODUCT PROMOTION will be held sequentially in a total of six countries of Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220809005561/en/

Contacts

Chungcheongbuk-do Business Agency

In Yeong Jeong

iyjeong0602@naver.com
MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd.

Chicago, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EMC Filtration Market is projected to grow from USD 861 million in 2022 to USD 1,160 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The growth of the market is attributed to the stringent environmental and EMC regulations, increasing adoption in industrial automation applications, and increasing deployment of data centers in developing nations. During the forecast period, development of EMC and power quality filters for new application areas such as electric vehicle and renewable energy is expected to create growth opportunities for the market.

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EMC filters product type to account for larger share of EMC filtration market in 2022

EMC Filters accounted for a larger share of the EMC filtration market in 2021 and it is expected to remain dominant throughout the forecast period. Increasing focus on considering electromagnetic compatibility to calculate the quality of electromagnetic products has accelerated the market potential for EMC filters. For example, in the power systems designing process, EMC filters help enhance the overall anti-interference capacity and service life of the power systems by offering good electromagnetic compatibility. Increasing efforts by regulatory bodies toward developing stringent noise regulations to suppress noise generated from electronic devices to a reasonable level will accelerate the growth opportunities for EMC filter manufacturers. Also, EMC filters help achieve immunity, reduce emissions, and fulfill fast transient requirements to deliver a robust design for electronic devices. Therefore, government and regulatory bodies have set policies and regulations for adopting EMC/EMI filters. For instance, in the US, the Federal Communications Commission regulates EMI and the set EMI policies under Title 47 Part 15, which focus on noise immunity and noise emissions of electronic devices among various industries.

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Industrial automation application to lead EMC filtration market in 2022

Industrial automation to hold high opportunities for EMC filtration market compared to other applications in 2022 and 2027. Motor dive application holds for the majority of the share in the industrial automation application. EMC and power quality filters in motor drives are used to minimize EMI problems, high-frequency common-mode noise, leakage current issues, and overvoltage transients. The filters used in motor drive applications are selected on various parameters such as motor drive power rating, full load current rating, operating voltage, and EMC requirements such as EN 61800-3 for the power drive system. EMC filters are integrated between the inverter output terminals and input terminals of the induction motor to limit the effect of EMI, common-mode noise, and differential noise. Moreover, the introduction of new regulations by several authorities such as the International Electrotechnical Commission and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers to guide the engineers on emission limits to protect circuits and other devices will further accelerate the growth opportunities for EMC filtration in motor drive applications.

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Market in Europe to hold significant opportunities for the market during forecast period

Rising inclination toward environmental consciousness and valiant efforts to develop processes in sync with maintaining safe ecology will drive the adoption of EMC filtration solutions in Europe. A wide range of legislations and harmonization standards have come into force and been published in the field of EMC in the past few years. For example, in the European Union, the EMC directive 89/336/EEC of the Council of the European Communities focuses on the protective aims of the EMC directive that all equipment must comply with. The manufacturer or importer must guarantee conformity with the respective standard in the form of a declaration of conformity. These standards and regulations will increase the adoption of EMC filters in the region.

Major vendors in the EMC filtration market include Schaffner Holding AG (Switzerland), Delta Electronics, Inc. (Taiwan), TDK Corporation (Japan), TE Connectivity (Switzerland), Littelfuse, Inc (US), Sinexcel (China), Schurter Holding AG (Switzerland), AstrodyneTDI (US), among others.

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CONTACT: About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarketss flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com




Sen. Hassan toured the companys U.S. headquarters in Portsmouth before meeting and speaking with employees

ROOT, Switzerland, August 10, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday, Aug. 9, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (NH) joined members of Novocures leadership team to tour the companys U.S. headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and learn more about Novocures groundbreaking work to extend patient survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer.

Following the tour, Sen. Hassan met with Novocure employees to answer questions and provide an update on her work in Washington. In her remarks, Sen. Hassan spoke about the importance of expanding patient access to innovative medical technologies as well as Novocures impact as an innovative job creator in New Hampshire.

"It was great visiting Novocure to learn more about the innovative work being done here for the health and well-being of Granite Staters and Americans," said Sen. Hassan. "I am focused on working across the aisle in order to improve our health care services and technology so that companies like Novocure can continue their critical work. I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Novocure and their staff about how we can keep working together to strengthen health care and support innovative technology to improve health care outcomes."

"We thank Sen. Hassan for her continued leadership and dedication to ensuring that patients are afforded timely access to the most revolutionary cancer-treating therapies on the market," said Bill Doyle, Novocures Executive Chairman. "Novocure is proud to have Sen. Hassan representing New Hampshire on Capitol Hill, where she continues to champion the needs of patients everywhere. We were honored to host Sen. Hassan here to share more about Novocures patient-forward culture of growth and our commitment to bringing more high-quality jobs to the Granite State. We look forward to having her back in Portsmouth for another visit soon."

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About Novocure:

Novocure is a global oncology company working to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer through the development and commercialization of its innovative therapy, Tumor Treating Fields. Novocures commercialized products are approved in certain countries for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma and in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Novocure has ongoing or completed clinical trials investigating Tumor Treating Fields in brain metastases, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer.

Headquartered in Root, Switzerland and with a growing global footprint, Novocure has regional operating centers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Tokyo, as well as a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit Novocure.com and follow @Novocure on LinkedIn and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005449/en/

Contacts

INVESTORS:

Ingrid Goldberg

investorinfo@novocure.com

610-723-7427

MEDIA:

Leigh Labrie

media@novocure.com

610-723-7428
As heavenly as the return to strength of Canadas Stratford Festival feels, hell is very much a thing in the Ontario farmland this year. And I speak neither of the delay to cross the Blue Water Bridge from Michigan into Ontario nor the Canadian border guard who struggled to understand how anyone could possibly be going to the theater alone.

In director Donna Feores splendiferous new production of the musical Chicago, the sleaze-bag attorney Billy Flynn descends there, complete with his ironic exit music. Down Dan Chameroy goes to Hades, courtesy of a trapdoor in the 1,800-seat Festival Theatre, the much-beloved mainstage of this venerable citadel of classically oriented theater since 1957.

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His exit is all the more resonant for how it contrasts with Feores take on a show long associated now with Walter Bobbies sardonically minimalist Broadway production.

Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Velma Kelly with members of the company in "Chicago" at the Stratford Festival 2022. (Cylla von Tiedemann / HANDOUT)

Feores highly detailed staging, filled with closely observed detail, acrobatic dancing, extra tricks and accouterments of all kinds, and bravura lead performances, especially from the leads Chelsea Preston and Jennifer Rider-Shaw, leans in the other direction. It embraces the cynicism of a piece that originated with a reporter at this newspaper by amping up the razzamatazz. Its the only musical on the docket this year in Stratford and its a real, audience-pleasing doozie.

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Meanwhile, in Stratfords newest theater, named for its founder Tom Patterson, Colm Feores diabolic Richard III makes his first entrance by walking out of his own grave, as discovered under a parking lot in the English city of Leicester in 2012.

Once the villain has left his own bones behind, Richard, the car park king, as the British press dubbed him, is spun back from modern-day Leicester to his original 15th-century milieu, director Antoni Cimolino having made a couple of useful points: (1) villainy born of pain and insecurity knows no chronological limitation, and (2) even great kings end up as a stack of bones underneath where shoppers parks their Mini Coopers.

And while were on the meta track here, its worth noting that Colm Feore (Donnas husband), best known to Canadians for playing Pierre Trudeau for the CBC and to Americans for appearing in Spider-Man movies, is also deconstructing the whole idea of superheroes, even as Cimolinos production plays with notions of action movies through wild special effects, including a knock-out moment where Dicky 3 is ejected onto the ground, screaming hopelessly about his horse-less state.

Colm Feore (center) as Richard III with members of the company in "Richard III." (David Hou / HANDOUT)

Richard is, of course, one of that small but mighty crew of Shakespeares declared villains: people like Iago and Don John, who just walk out onto the stage and declare both their grievances and what nastiness they intend to do as a consequence of them. All these years of writing about them, Ive felt these were inferior creations, so to speak, when compared with more nuanced figures like, say, Hamlet, whose doings are also on offer this year in Stratford in a new production by director Peter Pasyk starring the actress Amaka Umeh as the moody Dane.

But in this current moment, these infamous clutches of aggrieved humans, utterly assured of the moral rectitude of their outright hostility and disinclined to apologize for anything under the sun, are looking a whole lot more like everyone else.

Ive always thought Richard an outlier; Colm Feore, who keeps him entirely recognizable, made me think otherwise. Cimolinos production, which also stars the excellent Jessica B. Hill as Lady Anne, doesnt so much focus on whether Richard is likable or not, but makes it clear that the people who surround him are appropriating his dastardly nature for their own ends. The only moral force for good is Ben Carlsons Lord Hastings, a character who marvels constantly at the world in which he lives. Judging by all the sympathetic nods Carlson got from the audience, his efforts were appreciated.

Jessica B. Hill with Colm Feore (center-left), Jordin Hall and members of the company in "Richard III." (David Hou / HANDOUT)

Smart theater shoppers know to show up when a major destination theater opens a multi-million-dollar new building that comes complete with all the latest toys. Cimolinos Richard is a showcase for the festivals newest addition and I dont doubt he was thinking about it throughout a lengthy pandemic delay that had the new theater ready and waiting but unable to house a show.

The new Tom Patterson Theatre truly is a low-slung venue of great beauty, filled as it is with natural wood, bronze beams, Danish brick, (for a futureHamlet perhaps?) Italian marble and light-spilling windows in the lobbies. Its also embraced by expansive, verdant landscaping.

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On the other hand, what will be most striking to festivalgoers is how much the theater resembles the old venue on whose site it was built. The surroundings most certainly are upgraded from before, but the relationship of the audience to the space largely remains the same. Those who fear change have not received too much of it. The tech capabilities, though, are something else entirely. Cimolinos brilliant production is filled with sharp shafts of light, potent underscoring, sculpted images of cinematic intensity and, of course, a head-cocked bad guy talking to the audience as if he were posting on his Facebook wall.

That same intimacy starts off the contemporary Hamlet at the Festival Theatre: we see a family group sitting around a table under which lies the Ghost of King Hamlet. Or, at least, the corporeal form thereof, even as the more ghostly form walks abroad. Here, Hamlet often texts his sweet nothings to Andrea Rankins Ophelia, sending her spiraling into a crisis of uncertainty over his intentions.

That rich closeness, the unpretentious clarity of the spoken language and the energy and creativity of Amaka Umeh, are the shows strengths. But the piece runs out of dramatic steam before the end, mostly because you dont feel enough of a change in Hamlet, nor intuit that he finally is engaging with a level of thinking that matches the words coming out of his mouth. The show, in the end, doesnt translate its moment-by-moment force into a viable dramatic arc. It does not grab hold of death, shake it, attack it nor succumb to it with enough heft for a tragedy.

Stratford has produced this play many times, of course. Never has it presented so sympathetic a Gertrude as Maev Beaty, whom the director not only seems to absolve of all blame for the goings on here but who kills herself most clearly and deliberately in Act 5, so as to save her child. Fascinating, like everything here.

One final note: For the first time ever, despite years of visits, I caught a show in Stratford not produced by the festival. The piece was Dennis Kellys Boys & Girls, a one-woman, monologic shocker about marriage, careers, kids and jealousy that is performed (Chicago-style) in a simple room inside the Falstaff School (this is Stratford, after all).

Directed by Lucy Jane Atkinson, its the work of the Here For Now Theatre Company and it contains a riveting and gut-wrenching performance by Fiona Mongillo thats fully equal to anything in the big houses.

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It made me think that Stratford, every bit as pleasant as Edinburgh, Scotland, needs a fringe.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com
I understand why she feels the way she does but her anger is misplaced. It wasnt Ariana who put her in such a shitty position.

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this is an excerpt from her book so it seems shes explaining how she felt back then when she was still quite young. now that shes removed from the situation she probably feels differently. she even says comparing their careers is a mistake on her part

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This. People keep framing it as a 'feud' it it doesn't read that way. She's open about being jealous at the time but is very clear that she didn't blame Ariana for that.



Granted I haven't read the full book yet but these are clickable headlines.

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exactly. it's in the present tense, but the context is clearly her feelings at the TIME when she was a child? very young adult? and given how this books has been marketed as an excoriation of all the adults in the industry who failed her, i'm pretty sure that time and maturity have done their work and she's figured out who she really should be mad at.

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I mean, I wouldn't feel that way anymore, but if I was going through that situation, it would be hard not to feel jealous or resentful towards her. It's hard to be logical when you're hurting sometimes.

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I think this is just a clickbait headline, like with anything else having to do with celebs and once one reads the story its not at all like whats advertised. Heh. She comes off very self aware.

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It's pretty clear that she's not blaming donut licker just detailing her feelings at the time about race baiting mumble demon.

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I think she knows that now in retrospect, however I will say that Ariana was a known brat back in the day and a classic rich kid who got a lot of opportunities that other kids were denied because of it (ofc she's also talented but so were those others). I know of one girl who was originally slotted to be in her position in 2013 industry-wise but the label pushed Ariana's album instead and that girl's career is now....nothing.



the industry pits young women against each other constantly and it's so sad, though I do think Ariana was ALSO pretty snotty and awful too, so that didn't help. I think she's grown and changed a lot since then ofc.

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maybe all children actors should be replaced with CGI or something.

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child actors...show me the ethics of it all.

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I think this every time a new born baby in a show/film. It's like it popped out stright on to a set like how tf is this allowed?!! And why is it still a thing when those creepy lifelike dolls can easily substitute.

Having countless strangers hold your new born baby seems kinda disgusting



Where's the PETA for children?? Why aren't they outraged?



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I get what youre saying but fwiw I was under the impression that actual newborns are pretty much never used on sets, partly because its probably not great for them and also theyre too fussy to work with but partly because real babies are fucking weird looking at birth. The newborns we see on TV are more like 3 months old (iirc), which is about how long it takes babies to get that familiar baby cuteness. I could be wrong or their could be exceptions but having passed into the phase of my life where my group chats involve a lot of baby content I can attest that newborns on TV are much rounder and less wrinkly than my friends kids on day 1 lol.

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Lmao, the newborns are either animatronic fakes or 3-6 month year olds.

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i recently watched the 20th harry potter anniversary, and how did they do it? all of the kid actors seemed to have become normal adults with minimal stardom trauma. maybe its too soon for that stuff to come out, but they really seem okay compared to america's child actors.

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i don't get why it's okay for children to work as long as they're actors. they're WORKING.

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Idk I feel like it's not fair to take away acting from kids/teens in things, like kids need to see themselves in media geared towards them. I'd rather wish they'd just be doing the acting and then left alone. Not involved in promo, no public social media. Like if kids act on things it should be like a summer camp, few weeks of fun and then back to normal.

A friend of mine worked on a show (geared towards adults) set for a year or two and had some experience with kids being on and that was regulated pretty strict and seemed like a good way to have kids even on sets for projects with more heavier content. But I'm not in the US and our film industry is really small in comparison, that might make it easier to regulate it better idk.

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I frequently make the mistake of comparing my career to Arianas.



that really sucks to see your co-star so easily accommodating her outside pursuits while she got stonewalled. it seems like in hindsight it's not a "feud" with Ariana so much as being frustrated by the writers and showrunner (and simultaneously not a fan of her music). I can't fault her for not liking Ariana because the people in charge favored her so blatantly.



Edited at 2022-08-09 11:54 pm (UTC)

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fued was referring to this:

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what is this lmao so there was an actual feud?!

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YIKES. I wonder who had more animosity. Her and Victoria or her and Jennette. But I guess her and Tori "made up" recently.



Edited at 2022-08-10 12:32 am (UTC)

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Anyone with a bit of critical thinking can see she's speaking out of anger and didn't necessarily hate Ariana.

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Nah she definitely hated Ariana

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"Anyone with a bit of critical thinking" is about 0.05% of the internet

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I think its possible to acknowledge it wasnt all Arianas fault but also that maybe Ariana was kind of shitty about it too. It doesnt have to be so cut and dry.

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who is saying she did tho? she's just reflecting on it all

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No offense but when she says shitty hairstyle I cant help but think shes had the same hairstyle outside of the set

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I just went to her Insta and she still has the same hairstyle! So I wonder what she meant by that unless she had it differently for a bit bc Ive always remembered the bangs she had

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I think her hair looks less like a Raquel Welch wig now  via GIPHY

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I always thought it was so offputing that styled a child to look like a 45 yr old mom trying to reclaim her youth.

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it doesnt really sound like a feud it just sounds like she was really angry and Ariana was and is this physical manifestation of all the things Jeanette couldnt do or have. along with a slew of other things, her relationship with her mom gave her this complex of wanting or needing to please authority figures more than anything else.



it is very unfair though that Ariana got the chance to miss episodes of the show when 1. Jeanette was offered a solo spin-off show and was then saddled into this weird spin-off with two characters from two different shows who had nothing in common and 2. they kept taking away her chance to direct an episode when they promised her she would be able to do that. also Sam & Cat was a garbage show, shes right to hate it.



Edited at 2022-08-09 11:57 pm (UTC)

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Yeah this is understandable but misplaced frustration. I'm guessing Ariana just had a good team that knew how to fight for her while Jennette truly didn't and it hurt her a lot. No one can say whether or not if she'd taken those opportunities that they would have lead to her own successes OR if they would've been flops like Victoria's things either but I can get the resentment of those lost opportunities. Not Ariana's fault but she was right there being compared to her and I get that.

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Arianas family is wealthy. Jennette was the bread winner in her family. So def a difference in the amount of support that could be bought between them.

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Yeah this is the real difference between them. Ariana comes from extreme privilege and was protected where Jennette was not. Dan Schneider and others at nick would never have dared treat her like they did Jennette.

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I increasingly feel like nepotism kids are the least problematic casting when it comes to child actors because at least they're not in the position to be the breadwinner of the family and their family is connected enough to navigate the industry and be aware of the creeps. And I'm sure it's still not ideal.



Edited at 2022-08-10 12:10 am (UTC)

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from the source:

I grew up in Garbage Grove in a god**mned hoarder house with a cancerous mom who constantly wept about not being able to afford rent and utility bills, she added. Ariana grew up in Boca Raton, Florida, an incredibly wealthy, idyllic town, with a healthy mom who could buy her whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted  Gucci bags, fancy vacations, Chanel outfits.

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this is absolutely it. Ariana is absolutely mega-talented and deserves her spot, but theoretically so do a lot of other people who didn't have the same opportunities she did or were denied access/gatekept in favor of her. it's systematic and it's sad.

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not just wealthy but business people which i think its also an important distinction. isnt her mom a CEO? they know how to read contracts, that you have to hire the right people etc etc hollywood is a business and having parents who understand business makes a huge difference

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Resentment is a bitch. I get it.

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I've seen her use "whistle-toning" as Ariana's default verb like 3 times now and I can't stop laughing abt it

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lmao at "whistle toning"





she's so funny

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The comparison trap is a sucky place to be.

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Obviously this wasn't a personal issue but frankly, Ariana seems like such an easy person to hate so I'm not surprised Jennette's anger could've been misplaced lol The donut licking sis just has quite an insufferable aura about her.

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Her and her half brother are definitely cut from the same cloth in that respect.

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she's 100% one of those people that sings everything instead of speaking it, and it would drive u crazy lmao

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Please dont insult Linda Belcher like this

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Ariana was a known brat back in the day so I can't blame her tbh

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She's always been known as a nightmare to be around. She might've mellowed out since Mac died but who knows

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100% backed science  There was an ontd original post that explained this. It's because she's a cancer: https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/92373497.html 100% backed science 

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There are so many blinds that Ariana's a huge cokehead and tbh that would explain the donut licking stuff.

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Is she paying Ontd to make all these posts? Good luck to her, her promo game is strong.

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And for that reason Im going to use this as an opportunity to talk about Brene Browns newest Atlas Of The Heart where she points out the difference between jealousy and envy; jealously is when youre afraid to lose someone to someone else and envy is when you want what someone else has.







Theyve been daily. Sometimes multiple times in a day iircAnd for that reason Im going to use this as an opportunity to talk about Brene Browns newest Atlas Of The Heart where she points out the difference between jealousy and envy; jealously is when youre afraid to lose someone to someone else and envy is when you want what someone else has.

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it's been on my twitter timeline dozens of times this week so it's not just ontd. there were a lot of icarly fans back in the day who are interested now; i never got into the show and honestly i was surprised their were so many viewers

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It's always been clear she envied Ariana's career success from jump. She's never really hid it.



I get it although it's not like Ariana deliberately stalled her career either. Plus it seems like the entire Victorius cast kinda knew that Ariana was gonna be the breakout star cause of her voice and Nickeloden saw the opportunities that would bring to their brand.



Ariana kinda knew this too because I remember her saying that purposely signed up for one of these shows cause she knows they give record deals to the singing cast members.



So I feel like even if they hadn't have stalled Jennette....she was gonna find ways of resenting Ariana cause she was always destined to make it. She clearly even envies the "whistle-toning" cause this is probably the 3rd time she's referenced it.

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i dont think jennette necessarily envied arianas career because everything that ariana is famous for, jennette didnt want for herself. jennette as a kid hated acting and hated singing; she wanted to be a writer (but her mom discouraged her, saying only fat people are writers) or a director (part of why she reluctantly did sam & cat, but someone told her that someone on the show would quit if jennette directed an episode, so she wasnt allowed to direct).



so really, she envied arianas freedom to explore career choices.

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I envy the whistle-toning too, I mean... Multiracial queen is insufferable but her voice is incredible. I'm completely talentless, I can't even keep a cactus alive.

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there is just something unlikeable about ariana lol, the good sis jennette tried to warn us!!

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RIP

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This sucks, he was a wonderful actor. I especially remember him from Hanging with Mr Cooper and he was also in Terminal Island.



Also, Whats with all these car accidents lately? I think the government needs to put pressure on auto makers to prioritize car safety. RIP to him, he had an incredible career.

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I actually think cars are safer than they've ever been, it's the drivers that are the problem. Way too many people on their phones while driving

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That is a good point about drivers but still, Teslas aren't safe for example. But you aren't wrong that they need to crack down on drivers who are negligent on the road.



Edited at 2022-08-10 06:57 pm (UTC)

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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Aw this sucks. I loved Magnum PI and the core group was so cool. RIP and peace to his family.

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My childhood is slowly dying. RIP.

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Damn, The Mack was That Movie. Rest In Peace, old-timer.

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RIP. I loved TC

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Aww so many icons leaving us  RIP

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I loved his character on Magnum. RIP.

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Oh no :( I used to watch Magnum & think he was gorgeous

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RIP. I actually remember him from a one off appearance in Danger Bay. 

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i miss falling to sleep to magnum reruns on Hallmark movies & mysteries. monk doesn't do it for me.



rip

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Monk used to do it for me but it has gotten too much now. They might as well bring back hart to hart.

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Damn. This makes me sad and I'm already too emotional. RIP

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RIP

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What's your go to thing to do when riddled with anxiety ONTD?



I've bought CBD gummies recently, so I hope they help a bit.



Edited at 2022-08-10 04:42 pm (UTC)

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lay on the floor and listen to sax-heavy jazz. or go to a park and just sit among the trees.



also buspirone



Edited at 2022-08-10 04:55 pm (UTC)

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cbd vape

meditation

a walk

a nap

deep breathing- this has helped me so much

journaling and then throwing it out

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I have tried deep breathing, but when I get super anxious I can't 'fill my lungs' (I dunno the word for when you can't take a full deep breath) and every attempt at it that I can't do makes me panic more and it's cyclical.



I dunno if I'm just not doing it right or my thinking I can't do it makes me panic more when I try.

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xanax :( worried about getting addicted tho

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Go outside. Even if it's only a few minutes, if you can look at nature, do so.

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i take ashwagandha capsules & CBD oil regularly, and i notice a difference when i skip a few days. i hope the gummies help!



it depends what triggers your anxiety - for me, i get stressed when i don't get time to myself (busy at work, tons of errands & appointments, friends and family obligations, etc.) i get up very early for work (5:00am) so i put my phone on Do Not Disturb at like 8:30pm til morning and i limit long/intense conversations with my family after that time, so i can have at least an hour-ish of alone time to myself to watch tv, play animal crossing, or just scroll thru ONTD.

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Guitar, and Id prefer weed but its a fucker to get so Ive been using CBD vapes. CBD flower is better, but it clogs the pipe quickly and goes straight for my lungs.

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Working out, going for a drive. I take buspirone as well

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idk if it's placebo affect, but i've drunk kratom tea this past week due to high anxiety, and i've found myself calmer afterwards (not immediately, but noticeably). gummies if it isn't too late in the day and for last resort i take klonopin

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- nintendo switch

- youtube videos

- fluffy movies

- playing the piano

- writing



I have benzos, but they are an absolute last resort. (And are now expired anyway, lol.)

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holding my cats. it's funny how they can tell when i'm having an episode bc they'll just endure my hugs until I'm done. When I'm doing fine and hold them they peace out in a matter of seconds lol



Yoga helps me a lot too, but I'm a very lazy person so it's hard keeping up a routine.



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Yoga and weed.

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Delta 8 gummies are great too.

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Boxed breathing, yoga, going outside and taking my shoes off and letting my feet feel the grass.



Also getting stoned and having a bubble bath or painting my nails or knitting. idk why but those three things pair well with weed.

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work out or binge eat

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I sometimes try deep breathing or a long walk, but if I cant go outside for whatever reason, I attempt to get all of my senses involved in something, if that makes any sense lol. So like, Ill cook/bake something that is cheap but takes a long time and/or a lot of prep work (nothing that requires fast/reflex reactions); while Im preparing it Ill be listening to music or listening to a funny/lighthearted podcast/audiobook. While Im doing those two things, Im also usually snacking or drinking something I like.

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like, aside from benzos?



a Slurpee, something about it super calms me

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I use the 4-7-8 breathing technique, although sometimes I struggle with taking a deep breath when my anxiety is really bad. I also find doing cardio to get my HR up, even if it's just for 10 mins or doing jumping jacks in my tiny apartment, helps because after it's over my body seems to immediately relax.



I did recently schedule an appointment with my dr to discuss medication options, since I think it might be time as it gets bad when it comes to sleeping.



Also, I was Instagram influenced and bought the Arrae calm capsules...so we'll see how those work.

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Take the 10mg melatonin for bed, knocks me RIGHT out. Gaba 500mg is good for throughout the day.

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4-7-8 breathing and/or CBD vape or gummies if it's acute and I'm trying to stave off a panic attack. If it's generalized and mild, exercise that doesn't spike my heart rate too much (yoga, pilates, an easy spin ride). I've found that for me, a spiked heart rate trips up my brain and makes things worse but that's not universal. Overall I find the breathing exercises to be the most effective thing by far.

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Meditation, music, call someone I know might need some help, text my friends, send my spouse a help, I need help! message, exercise, binging fandom stuff, xanax

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Knitting

Crocheting

Running

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I find breathing hit or miss with me so I do try one that is body awareness where you lay down (or sit) and go bit by bit focusing on your body and slowly relaxing them (or just noticing them). Like literally from the top of your head, then forehead, then face, cheeks, tongue etc etc till you get to your toes.



Focuses my attention on ME but not getting stressed about an outcome like breathing does, more just saying hello to all my body parts one at a time.

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Cup of Calm tea, you can get it on Amazon. It is nearly as effective as a low-dose xanax for me.



I also use buspirone, but I have to keep it on board, meaning 3 times per day to stay even. It is not like xanax or other benzos, not fast acting.

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Masturbation and watching fancy sims houses be built on youtube

*edited because I can't spell, sorry!!



Edited at 2022-08-10 07:06 pm (UTC)

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sleep and then get more depressed bc of sleep

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I go for a walk at the beach or the nearby park. Sun therapy for me. If its that I need to get out of this town or i will explode anxiety I drive to the desert. Theres something to that saying about removing yourself physically from a situation.

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For chronic anxiety, cutting out all caffeine and sugar (even limiting fruit) has helped the most. Upping protein too. For shorter-term relief, I like lemon balm and blue skullcap. Getting enough exercise and going outside for walks, especially when the sun is out. The website doasone.com was always helpful; you join a room and breathe in sync with people from around the world.



If there's something specific that you're anxious about, I also recommend not seeking out reassurance for it. For example, if you're afraid of one of the new diseases floating around, don't go spend an hour on Reddit looking up what people are saying about it. You'll think you're making yourself feel better but it's a false sense of control and you're feeding your fear, IMO.



Hope you feel better soon!

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knitting. it's like meditation, and I can get a lot done when stressed 

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magenisium citrate fizzy drinks

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-Meditation: I hold so much tension in my body that I actually do it laying flat down so I can release it when Im aware of it

-Making lists to break down a goal into smaller components

-Talk to friends

-Walks and exercise

-Gratitude: Talking to the universe and listing all the things Im grateful for helps me ground myself

-Being in nature

-Singing and listening to beautiful songs



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This is very welcome, OP, you are lovely! 

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The way this post made me smile so big. Thanks OP, good news are very much needed <3

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This was nice OP 





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> Sea turtle populations are on the rise in the U.S. Gulf Coast



What wow :o

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Staying in this thread  thank you op

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i've been very down the past few days and this made me smile OP, thank you <3

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Omg the baby turtle 

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I love turtles and tortoises so much 

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I am glad that this wholesome post was accepted!

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Awww this is very sweet OP.



It's easy to be hard on ourselves, so today, let's all practice treating ourselves how we'd treat our best friends- with grace and compassion.

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What a lovely, thoughtful post! Thank you for this.

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i need someone to tell me to relax. work has gotten me so agitated. were so close to finishing major parts of this project and i just want this month OVER because then well be done and ill be on vacation.

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I love this!

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I want to quit my job with no back up plan. I have 13,000 in credit spread across to credit cards. I can mahbe start working for target again in November. The job Im at now only pays 15/Hr but what Im doing was not in the job description. Its an RV delearship and I have to make sure everything goes smoothly on the day the customers sign, and I dont even get a piece of any commission. Im forced to act like a supervisor to the detail team, and we all make the same amount of money. I have to witness grown men(the technicians) freak out and cuss and throw things because something broke when they RVs are moved around.



I havent even hit my 90 days and I want to leave. But I have an almost 500 dollar car payment, not to mention insurance. My calculations show me having to use 4,000 of my available credit if I dont work again until November.



The thought have having that long of a break mentally seems so good. I know its a siren call because I know it will be a mistake.



Im fighting so hard not to just type up I QUIT and leave it on my desk along with my keys and name tag, and then just blocking everyone on my phone.



I thought this job would be better, like a step up from retail. But its not. I regret leaving target, even when they were screwing me over with lower hours. I should have sucked it up then and just taken on more shifts, even if that meant giving up days off. This was not a lateral move for me, I dont want to be here anymore.



Im scared Im really going to just walk out of this job. Ive never left a job without having another one line up and working out my last 2 weeks.



Idk what to do. I just want to turn my brain off. Im so tired. I feel like Im falling asleep and entering a dream as I write this. At least Im getting paid currently as Im on the clock.





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sending you good vibes

( ) ..:*..:*..:*..:*



I hope you can figure out the best way forward for you. it's easy to say "leave a toxic work environment" but trading one type of stress for another doesn't always solve the problem.

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maybe look for remote work instead of stopping working? I switched to remote 2 months ago and it has transformed my life tbh, esp in regards to my mental health

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That's the dream. Sadly where I live, I have really bad internet service. I have applied to a few, but I haven't gotten any call backs. Eventually I would love to only work remote only. I never want to leave my house.

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he also "did not want service to take place at the home of Olivia's current partner because Otis and Daisy might be present



hmm this seems like a lie. there's no reason otis and daisy would understand what it meant for someone to deliver their mom an envelope at the house. i thought probably the servers made the decision to serve her at cinemacon on stage and he wasn't that involved, but this makes me suspect if he was ruling out the easiest ways for reasons that don't make sense.



Edited at 2022-08-10 08:19 pm (UTC)

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Also he has them every other week so like why wouldnt you instruct them to serve her on the weeks you have them and know they wont be with her?!



Edited at 2022-08-10 08:26 pm (UTC)

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right lmao this is extremely obvious. he's a liar.

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Plus they go to school which Jason would know so she could be served when the children arent there.

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I think that basically confirms he left the server no viable option to reach Olivia, while also confirming that she wasn't actively running away from the servers like some delusion- pardon, like some posters were suggesting before.

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Mte. He confirmed he's had a lot of say in when she got served. He seems like a vindictive shithead.

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he's a liar and didn't think it would receive so much backlash so i'm guessing he's acting all surprised like it wasn't HIS idea

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Team no one really but moving children out of the country is probably not the best idea for anyone involved.

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this post is inaccurate-- I just read the story on vulture, the kids home state is California and where Olivia wants them to go to school, not London. She's been in London because Jason was also in London.

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O i c hmm

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So he was able to dictate not to serve her at the childrens school, or her current partners home, but had no control to tell them not to do it during a big press event?  sure

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Yeah I can see how this happened - he may not of told them to serve it in public but his limitations didnt give them much choice so I get her blaming him. Honestly even if he didnt intend it he and his team fucked up with this.



All that said if it's in Cali and she is hoping to move the kids to London I'm not sure if that will work? This shit shouldn't even be leaking tbh.

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And so many people were somehow blaming her for getting served at Cinemacon saying she was probably dodging the papers. Ooops.



Also how is serving her at the airport good either? I sincerely don't understand why serving her in public is better than in the privacy of her own home.

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apparently, olivia wants to remain in London with the kids full-time, hence some of the mess.



Because of Harry??? Um...

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Because that and LA is where the kids have been mostly living because of Jasons and Olivias work on Ted Lasso and movies respectively.



Jason wants them in NYC because hes a New Yorker



Edited at 2022-08-10 08:29 pm (UTC)

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How Marriage Story of him.

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Given the writing staff of Ted Lasso, and its filming location, it makes no sense for them to just move pre-production to London anyway.

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the thing is Ted Lasso is ending with season 3, after that Jason doesn't plan to work out of London anymore

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Hes lying. I dont trust men but his reasons for not serving her in more discreet ways are weak as hell and fall apart easily. You share custody and have the kids every other week you know when she doesnt have the kids



It seems like she told him she wanted to move to London full time at a later date and he lashed out. Regardless of whether they should move to London him making this a public spectacle is much worse

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In her motion to dismiss the action, Wilde said the two had initially agreed to send their kids back to school in Los Angeles for the upcoming school year since Sudeikis was due to wrap up the final season of Apple TV series Ted Lasso which had required him to be in London.



'Recently, however, Jason decided that he wanted to go to New York for the next year while he is not working, and wanted the children to be with him there during this time off,' the actress said in the filing.



'When I did not agree, since the children have not lived in New York for several years, Jason filed these papers.'



Wilde, who began dating Styles in January 2021, argued that the children have spent most of the last four years in LA or in London, even attending schools in the two cities.

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In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July.



He said he hoped that his ex and their children would also return to New York so they could continue their current custody arrangement.



Sudeikis said he now believes those plans are 'unlikely to occur' after Wilde 'insisted upon' living with their kids in LA and asked him to join them during a discussion over custody in April.



She also disclosed her future plans to move to London, where she has been living with former One Direction star Harry Styles, 28, at the end of next year.



'For better or worse, I am a New Yorker,' Sudeikis said, adding that it was in the kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn.

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This reminds me of Marriage Story lol.



Although the London move seems a bit messy too.

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I understand not wanting her to move to London, but expecting her and the kids to move to NYC just because he decided to return there? Nope.

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Sorry but whenever anyone talks about New York in ~that~ way (you know what I mean) Im just like lmao yeah yeah ok 



But anyway that sounds like a lot of upheaval for the kids which is pretty sad at their age.

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It's all about what HE wants - wants to move to NY for a year, wants the kids with him, wants the same custody arrangement.



There are whole other human beings involved ~Jason.

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For better or worse, I am a New Yorker,' When compared with the kids have spent most of their time in LA and London and went to school in both places, seems a pretty weak argument for why they should be in NYC. Im not surprised the judge sided with her and kept the case in LA

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and I am very, very sorry that the incident marred her special moment."



lol I can taste the petty

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Fuck this guy. I dont care what Olivia did or how much ONTD likes him. He has a whole child he doesnt see. Trash.

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He has another child?

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Pretty sure he's rumored to be the father of January Jones' son.

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who is his other child?

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Tbf I think thats more Januarys choice than whoever the father is.

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January Jones has never once claimed this.

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I'll go to my grave with the belief that Xander is Matthew Vaughn's kid but it also doesn't matter either way because it's January's right to keep that private.

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Matthew Vaughn is JJ's baby daddy

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Wow it sucks when these things cant be worked out amicably so they agreed on LA but Jason wanted to move to NYC which Olivia says goes against their agreement so she wants them in LA BUT then she also says she wants to relocate the kids to London next year anyway? Thats a lot of upheaval.

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Thats what Im confused on. Children need stability, theyre not going to be wanting to move back and forth (between countries even) and they dont care where they live as long as they know what to expect everyday



Olivia and Jason need to suck it up and stop dragging their kids everywhere they want to go, not what is truly in the best interest for the kids

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Exactly, its like they want to move them around according to their own whims Jason now deciding hes a New Yorker and wants to live in Brooklyn lol, Olivia wanting to follow her 20 something boyfriend to London (wasnt he living in LA anyway?) and what happens when that relationship inevitably ends?

Like both of them seem to want their kids to fit into their different lives rather than both of them deciding on a place for the kids first and foremost and then working out the rest from there.

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Yeah, it's like... I get it... people move! Kids move all the time and grow up perfectly fine! But, you guys are superstar celebrities and you can't figure out how to accommodate this? Like, if I was a celebrity with kids getting divorced from a non-abusive parent, I would probably just build an in-law suite in my backyard for them to stay in whenever to be with the kids without feeling like they have to be under my supervision so the kids don't have to schlep off on a plane all the time.

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Tbh part of the London move was to bc of his Ted Lasso filming. The kids have been in London for most of the last two years while hes been filming. They are clearly in school there and everything. It seems like now hes (almost) done filming he doesnt want to be in. London and wants to be back in NYC where they havent ever really lived.

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he also "did not want service to take place at the home of Olivia's current partner because Otis and Daisy might be present and "did not want service to take place at the children's school because parents might be present"



but it's totally fine to serve it at the biggest industry event of her life?? His excuse is pathetic. FUCK OFFFFF



Also the last season of Ted Lasso sucked.

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Also the last season of Ted Lasso sucked



It definitely was missing the charm of S1 and seemed too self-aware and not in a good ironic way. Ted's pithiness seemed contrived too. I didn't hate it, but not as good as S1 IMO.



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"Olivia's talk was an important event for Olivia, both professionally and personally, and I am very, very sorry that the incident marred her special moment."



Lmao bullshit.

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And Olivia handled it like a champ.

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Now I definitely think it was on purpose.

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This came across so swarmy. Total nice guy vibes.

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I'm not sensing sincerity in this statement.

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Me and the other five ONTDers who watch Loot will probably agree that this sounds like a scene straight out from that show lol Adam Scott's asshole character had a very similar moment where he pretended to be happy for his ex only to eventually reveal his true colors.

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Im one of those 5 as well! And I completely agree lmao you nailed it

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I watched Loot straight after Severance and I'm now obsessed with Adam Scott. (Not in a sexy way, I just think he's brilliant)

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I like Jason and i call bullshit

I think he lashed out

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I feel for the kids.



I wonder what the truth is regarding the papers served is .



Even at the airport seems shitty. The hotel or home wouldve been more app.

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Between the shady timing of the service, and the move to another country, this case is going to get ugly. The only ones who will really lose are the kids.

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Imagine risking the custody of your kids over Harry Styles...

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Thats not why theyve been in London. Theyve been there because Jason has been working and living there the past few years for Ted Lasso.

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I distrust almost all men when it comes to custody disputes because, you know, statistics and reality.

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Mte I dont see Jason Sudekis being any different tbh like Ted Lasso isnt a real person lol

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The EU's subsequent ban on Russian oil is slated to come into effect at the end of the year.

As a part of the fifth package of sanctions levied against Russia, the coal ban aims to weaken the Russian economy.

The EU is set to put its ban on Russian coal into effect on August 11.

An EU embargo on the import of Russian coal goes into effect on August 11 after a midnight deadline for the transition period agreed by bloc members four months ago.

The ban is part of the fifth package of EU sanctions to punish the Russian economy since President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine in late February.

The coal embargo is the first measure among the seven rounds of EU sanctions so far to hit energy supplies, which have been particularly hard-hit along with grain exports by the Ukraine conflict.

The 120-day grace period for compliance since the approval of the coal ban in April expires at midnight on August 10.

The European Commission estimates that the coal cutoff could cost Russia around $8 billion a year.

EU countries imported nearly 52 million tons of coal from Russia in 2021, up from 41 million tons the previous year.

But overall coal imports to the EU fell by almost half from 2014 to 2020 under pressure from climate-change targets and efforts to find cleaner energy alternatives.

The EU's subsequent ban on Russian oil is slated to come into effect at the end of the year.

The EU sanctions are part of an unprecedented international response to the biggest military invasion in Europe since World War II, targeting oil and gas, SWIFT payments, overflights and travel, broadcasting, and a range of other areas.

By RFE/RL

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Despite raising its crude oil production in July by 500,000 barrels per day, the OPEC+ group was still well below its collective quota, pumping 2.75 million bpd below targeted output, an Argus survey found on Wednesday.

OPEC+ saw its combined crude oil production at 38.70 million bpd last month, with Saudi Arabia, OPECs top producer and de facto leader, raising its supply to the market the most.

According to the survey and preliminary tanker-tracking from Argus, Saudi Arabias crude oil shipments jumped by more than 550,000 bpd in July compared to June, and stood at some 7.37 million bpd last month. However, not all the crude in the tracked high export levels came from a rise in the Kingdoms oil production. Some volumes came from Saudi stockpiles, Argus noted. Between 60,000 bpd and 120,000 bpd of the jump in Saudi Arabias crude oil exports likely came from stockpiles, analysts have told Argus.

OPEC is set to release data on its members production for July on Thursday, August 11.

Nigeria, the top African producer at OPEC, was a major laggard in production, again, despite vowing to start pumping to quota by the end of August. Nigerias July production, however, failed to increase amid a force majeure at the Bonny Light terminal, according to the Argus survey.

Elsewhere in the OPEC+ group, Russian oil production increased marginally, the Argus survey showed.

Libya, exempted from the OPEC+ deal, raised production and exports after lifting a force majeure in the middle of July.

The 500,000-bpd July increase of the collective OPEC+ oil production was lower than the 648,000-bpd rise the alliance had set for each of the months of July and August, after which it will have rolled back all the cuts from May 2020.

Last week, OPEC+ gave the go-ahead to raise the collective oil production target for September by 100,000 bpd as recommended by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC).

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Europe's gas storage is filling despite significantly lower Russian pipeline supply this year, which has weakened the power of Vladimir Putin's "gas weapon" against the EU, analysts at Standard Chartered say.

"It was once thought unthinkable that Europe could get through a winter comfortably without Russian gas, but thanks to the strength of the inventory build, we now think it can," the analysts said in a Tuesday note carried by Bloomberg. "The power of Russia's gas 'weapon' has deteriorated significantly," the bank's strategists say.

According to Standard Chartered, the pace of gas storage builds in Europe this summer is some nine weeks ahead of last year's pace of injections into storage.

Europe started the 2021/2022 winter heating season with gas in storage below seasonal norms.

Russia said last month that gas supply via Nord Stream would be cut to just 20% of the pipeline's capacity, days after Gazprom restarted the pipeline at 40% capacity after regular 10-day maintenance. The Russian explanation for the even lower gas flows to Europe was that another turbine at a compressor station was sent for repairs, while the one that Canada returned from repairs has yet to be returned and installed.

Per Standard Chartered analysts, despite the low levels of Russian deliveries via Nord Stream, EU gas inventories are "still building relatively strongly."

The bank estimates that even if Russia cuts off all its gas flows to Europe, the injection season in Europe will end with enough gas in storage to provide "sufficient insulation."

Data from Gas Infrastructure Europe shows that as of August 9, EU gas storage was 72.4% full, with Germany's storage at just over 73% full, as Europe has been hauling record volumes of LNG from the United States and other suppliers to replace Russian pipeline gas.

Despite the gas stock builds, industries in Europe, including its biggest economy, Germany, have been warning they may have to curtail production amid the gas crisis, which could lead to a collapse of supply and production chains.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The rally in coal prices, which began at the end of last year and intensified after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent EU ban on Russian coal imports, will likely last for years, according to an analysis by Fitch Solutions carried by Bloomberg.

The EU ban on coal imports from Russia begins this month.

In April, the EU imposed a ban on imports of coal and other solid fossil fuels from Russia as of August 2022 as part of the fifth round of EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The package includes a prohibition to purchase, import or transfer coal and other solid fossil fuels into the EU if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia, as from August 2022.

The EU ban means that Europe will have to source more supply, including from Australia, Colombia, and South Africa, which raises the price of seaborne coal shipments globally. Moreover, Europe will need more coal supply as it has restarted idled coal-fired power generation plants as it aims to conserve as much gas as possible ahead of the winter.

According to Fitch Solutions, global coal prices will also be supported by Europes run on LNG, which is pricing out emerging economies in Asia, and they could seek more coal, too.

Fitch hiked its forecast for the Asian thermal coal benchmark for coal loaded at Australias Newcastle terminal for this year and for the next four years. Fitch now sees Asian thermal coal prices averaging $320 per ton in 2022, up from $230 a ton previously expected. For the period 2022 through 2026, the forecast was raised to an average of $246, up from $159 per ton previously expected.

Soaring natural gas prices are giving rise to coal demand around the world, with consumption set to match this year the record-high from 2013, and further jump to a new all-time high next year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said at the end of last month.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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French nuclear giant EDF, forced to sell power to competitors below market value, is now suing the French government for over $8 billion in compensation.

EDF says it has lost 8.3 billion euros (nearly $8.6 billion at todays exchange rate) as of the date of filing the claim against the government, and anticipates losing more than 15 billion euros for the full year.

The French power company, which is already 84% owned by the government and is in the process of being fully nationalized, is forced to sell electricity it produces to rival power plants to increase competition as EDF holds a monopoly.

The initial government decree states that suppliers can purchase up to 25% of EDFs annual nuclear output between July 2011 and December 2025 at a fixed, discounted price of about $47 per MWh. However, in January this year, the government implemented a larger cap at one-fifth in order to reduce consumer energy bills for this year. Then, in March, the government issued additional decrees, further increasing the volume and reducing the price for EDF.

The losses cited by EDF stem from this time period.

In June, EDF reported earnings showing its largest ever half-year loss. EDF lost 5.3 billion euros in the first half of this year, compared to 4.2 billion euros in profit for the same period of 2021.

EDFs power stations account for 70-75% of Frances power consumption, and the government is keen on nationalizing the giant in order to ensure energy supplies amid a looming crisis that began when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Losses are mounting for EDF in other areas, as well.

Last week, EDF was forced to slash output at nuclear power stations on two rivers as a heatwave spreading across Europe has rendered the rivers too hot to cool the units.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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The future of oil prices is on the table after the European Union moderators of the U.S.-Iran nuclear talks presented the two sides with a final version of the agreement this week.

Should the sides make the respective concessions that the agreement requires, oil prices could plunge as Iranian crude returns to international markets officially. If the talks fail, Iran sanctions will remain, cutting the country off most international oil markets.

It is now in a final text, the European Unions top diplomat, Josep Borrell Fontelles, said in a tweet.

What can be negotiated has been negotiated, and its now in a final text. However, behind every technical issue and every paragraph lies a political decision that needs to be taken in the capitals. If these answers are positive, then we can sign this deal, he tweeted.

The New York Times cited an unnamed State Department spokesman as saying the U.S. side was ready to quickly conclude a deal and that the latest EU proposal was the only possible basis for such a deal. However, skepticism remains about Irans readiness to agree to this deal in the U.S. camp.

Still, the NYT report notes, Iran has reportedly gone back on two of its demands: the removal of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps from the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations and guarantees that no future U.S. president would be able to go back on the deal if sealed and if Iran upholds its commitments as stipulated in the deal.

If a deal is agreed upon, oil prices could plunge to $80 per barrel, and they have declined following the news that a deal is in the making. However, uncertainty remains until the deal is signed by both parties.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Dancers Fernando Rodriguez and Ariel Israel are part of the Chicago Dancers United lineup for this summers Dance for Life. (Todd Rosenberg / HANDOUT)

In 1992, a group of Chicago dancers put on a concert to raise money for HIV/AIDS. Their friends were dying; an underwhelming public health response to the AIDS crisis brought dancers together to try and do something. And they did what they knew how to do best: they danced for their lives.

That one-night-only fundraiser  originally intended as a one-off  sold out the Organic Theater. And every year since, Dance for Life has packed theaters and raised millions of dollars. Every year, that is, but one: 2020. Chicago Dancers United, the nonprofit organization that now produces Dance for Life, released archival footage from previous fundraisers online that summer, and commissioned one piece that was filmed and released digitally. The fundraiser came back in person last summer with an outdoor concert in Millennium Park  free for the first time in DFL history.

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But the main goal of Dance for Life is to raise money, and the event returns to full force on Aug. 13, back at its longtime place in the Auditorium Theatre. Mainstays Giordano Dance Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet are on the bill. Also returning: Chicago Dance Crash, Trinity Irish Dance Company and Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater. Najwa Dance Corps makes its Dance for Life debut. And Deeply Rooted Dance Theater revisits the DFL stage after 14 years away.

Chicago Dancers United board president Michael Anderson was a dancer with the Joffrey Ballet when the company moved to Chicago in 1995. That same summer, he saw a Dance for Life rehearsal and looked for ways for the Joffrey to get involved. Joffrey Ballet co-founder and company namesake Robert Joffrey died of AIDS-related illness in 1988.

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Then in 1996, Joffrey Ballet joined the roster of companies in Dance for Life. Anderson recalled performing then-artistic director Gerald Arpinos work, Round of Angels.

It was amazing, he said, and I danced in Dance for Life every year for the next 10 years while I was in the company.

Upon retirement, Anderson started volunteering for the event and gradually stepped up his involvement, becoming president of the board of directors in 2021.

The Dance for Life fundraiser maintains a strong connection to its root cause: to bring dancers together to take care of one another. But the nature of the AIDS crisis has changed. Advocacy efforts have promoted awareness and reduced the stigma surrounding the disease. Decades of research and advancements in treatment mean an HIV/AIDS diagnosis is not the death sentence it once was.

In 2015, The AIDS Foundation of Chicago reduced its involvement in Dance for Life. That prompted the formation of Chicago Dancers United, and the primary goal shifted toward raising money for The Dancers Fund, a pool of emergency microgrants managed by CDU that is available to anyone in the Chicago dance community with a health need. (The AIDS Foundation of Chicago remains a beneficiary.)

The Dancers Fund began serving health needs beyond HIV/AIDS, paying medical bills and assisting with housing insecurity and lost income for dancers dealing with critical health needs, including cancer.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated efforts to further widen eligibility criteria, but it didnt happen immediately. Anderson said the scope of what CDU could do during the early stages of the pandemic was limited by the size of The Dancers Fund.

There wasnt ever a hesitation to support dancers with medical needs, he said. When COVID hit, it was so unfamiliar, and we were getting requests from dancers to pay their salaries and cover their housing. The scope of what we were getting from the community around what they needed during COVID was just out of our reach.

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The Dancers Fund would have needed millions of dollars to cover every request for assistance. Behind the scenes, Chicago Dancers United began talking about what they could do, and that triggered a shift from critical care and emergency grants to thinking more holistically about health and wellness.

This is the evolution of Dance for Life, Anderson said. In the beginning, it was to help HIV/AIDS. Then it was critical need and critical care. As weve grown, where we are today is that we want to help our dance community remain healthy. That really evolved out of COVID.

In addition to $5,000 grants for critical care (up from $4,500 prior to the pandemic), Chicago Dancers United now accepts applications for up to $1,000 to support mental health and general wellness needs.

Not for nothing, Dance for Life is also Chicago dances biggest and best party of the year, bringing our brightest stars together for a rollicking good time.

The indefatigable women of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater will perform Gary Abbotts exquisite work Parallel Lives. Equally rousing is Giordano Dance Chicago in Ray Mercers crowd-pleaser Shirt Off My Back. Chicago Dance Crashs infectious blend of hip-hop and contemporary dance is on full display with an excerpt from their newest narrative work, Boomsday. And Trinity Irish Dance Companys American Traffic is a heart-thumping fusion of tap and Irish stepdance. As per tradition, Randy Duncan will choreograph a soul-affirming finale joining dancers across company lines.

As the Year of Chicago Dance rounds the bend, Dance for Life feels like a perfect celebration of this citys unique scene.

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I think its like no other dance community in the country, Anderson said. Dance for Life is one of those key events that brings us all together. Thats what drives and motivates me.

Dance for Life takes place 6 p.m. Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr.; tickets are $25-$500 at (312) 341-2300 and auditoriumtheatre.org

Lauren Warnecke is a freelance critic.
Crude oil exports from OPEC producers rose by 223,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the first week of August, compared to the average shipments for the full month of July, according to data from trade flow intelligence firm Petro-Logistics cited by commodity analyst Giovanni Staunovo on Wednesday.

In the first seven days of August, OPECs crude oil exports averaged 21.325 million bpd, per Petro-Logistics data.

Libyan crude oil exports rebounded, after the African producer, exempted from the OPEC+ deal, lifted a force majeure in the middle of July.

Libyan crude oil shipments jumped by 333,000 bpd to 927,000 bpd, according to Petro-Logistics.

Last week, Petro-Logistics said that Saudi Arabia, OPECs top producer and de facto leader, raised its crude oil exports in July to the highest level in 26 months.

The Kingdom is finally supplying volumes in line with its #OPEC quota after restraining supply in the first-half of 2022, Petro-Logistics said.

Despite raising its crude oil production in July by 500,000 barrels per day, the OPEC+ group was still well below its collective quota, pumping 2.75 million bpd below targeted output, an Argus survey found on Wednesday.

OPEC+ saw its combined crude oil production at 38.70 million bpd last month, with Saudi Arabia, OPECs top producer and de facto leader, raising its supply to the market the most.

Still, the 500,000-bpd July increase of the collective OPEC+ oil production was lower than the 648,000-bpd rise the alliance had set for each of the months of July and August, after which it will have rolled back all the cuts from May 2020.

Last week, OPEC+ gave the go-ahead to raise the collective oil production target for September by 100,000 bpd. The increase for the entire group means less than a 30,000 bpd rise for Saudi Arabia, and less than a 10,000 bpd increase for the UAE. Those two countries are believed to be the only two producers in OPEC+ and in the world currently holding enough spare capacity to raise their oil production.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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American refiners and oil and gas operators expect strong demand for fuels and energy through the remainder of the year, despite analyst concerns in recent weeks that demand could take a hit with a possible recession or demand destruction.

The firms' short-term views on the market are generally brighter than most analysts', according to a Reuters review of earnings calls.

"It's still a strong environment for gasoline compared to historical levels," Kian Hidari, an analyst at Tudor, Pickering, Holt and Co, told Reuters.

"Permian Basin volumes continue to be strong, and Permian Basin inlet volumes remained at or near record highs. We are utilizing the Permian Bridge daily to optimize our available processing capacity as well as increasing our processing capacity in the area to accommodate incremental demand we are seeing," Energy Transfer's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Tom Long, said on the earnings call last week.

"We expect production improvements, market conditions, and strong domestic and international demand for our products to positively impact all of our segments for the remainder of this year," Long added.

U.S. refiners said during earnings calls in July that there was no indication across their channels that America's fuel demand was weakening, contrary to recent data about gasoline consumption. The weekly inventory reports from the EIA at the beginning of July pointed to faltering demand after nationwide gasoline prices hit an average of $5 a gallon in the middle of June. During the earnings calls, however, some of the largest U.S. refiners said they hadn't seen any signs of demand destruction.

"Through our wholesale channel, there's really no indication of any demand destruction," Gary Simmons, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Valero Energy, said.

Brian Mandell, executive vice president, Marketing and Commercial for Phillips 66, told analysts on the company's Q2 earnings call:

"We're at low inventories. If you look in the U.S., we're at minus 20% versus 2015 to 2019 averages. We're heading into a turnaround season. Demand is strong."

"We've seen demand better than 2019 currently," Mandell noted.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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FBI Director Christopher Wray spoke to reporters Wednesday at the FBIs Omaha field office, days after the FBI search of former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate.

Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, said he couldnt speak to specifics regarding the investigation.

The search, which occurred Monday, came as part of an investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information after the National Archives said that earlier this year it had retrieved from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of records containing classified information.

A lawyer for Trump said Tuesday that investigators said they were looking for classified information that they think should not have been removed from the White House, as well as presidential records.

A federal judge had to sign off on the warrant after establishing that FBI agents had shown probable cause that a crime had occurred before they could search Trumps home.

Trump has criticized the search, describing it as an unannounced raid that he likened to prosecutorial misconduct. His supporters, including some elected officials, have called for the dismantling of the FBI. Other supporters have taken to online forums with a call to arms and comments about a civil war.

When asked about those statements, Wray said he always is concerned when violence against law enforcement is brought up.

Any threats made against law enforcement, including the men and women of the FBI, as with any law enforcement agency, are deplorable and dangerous, Wray said.

After The World-Heralds story published online Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse commented on Wray declining to comment on the Mar-a-Lago investigation.

Sasse said that Wray, as well as U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, is obligated to make facts available to the public without delay.

Someone at the DOJ signed off on this and the American people deserve to know why. Public trust matters, Sasse said in a statement.

Ahead of his press conference, Wray met with leaders of Nebraska law enforcement agencies. Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer was seen leaving the FBI building late Wednesday morning. Wray said he also has met in recent days with law enforcement officials in Iowa and Illinois.

Wray was in the field office, in part, to speak about the potential for cyberattacks on the agriculture industry. He said officials have seen an uptick in such attacks on grain co-ops and agriculture production facilities. Reliance on data and technology in the field have streamlined agriculture processes, but it also makes the industry more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Wray and other department officials encouraged organizations to have a plan in place in case of a cyberattack  and to contact the FBI should an incident occur.

Wray also announced that FBI agents recently had helped stop a cyberattack on a hospital in David City, Nebraska.

Officials with the Irish counterpart to the FBI first identified the cyberattack on the Butler County Health Care Center in early July, said Ken Schmutz, supervisory special agent. Irish officials notified the FBI, and within hours, local officials started investigating.

The infected server was taken offline so no malware could spread to the rest of the network and compromise patient care.

Officials still are investigating to determine who was behind the attack and how they infiltrated the system, Schmutz said.

This report contains material from the Associated Press.

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A 71-year-old man who was critically injured Saturday in a fire at his Benson neighborhood home later died at an Omaha hospital, Omaha police said.

James L. Campbell died after he was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, police reported. A 43-year-old woman, Laci M. Campbell, was taken to the hospital to be treated for burns to her left hand and smoke inhalation, the report said. Her son, Jonathan Cates, 10, sustained a small burn on his abdomen and smoke inhalation.

Firefighters were called to a home near 55th and Wirt Streets about 9:30 a.m. Saturday and found light smoke coming from the house.

Three occupants of the home had evacuated prior to the arrival of firefighters, according to an Omaha Fire Department report.

The fire caused an estimated $35,000 of damage to the home, which was valued at $71,500. Approximately $12,500 in the homes contents also were destroyed.

A dog that lived in the home was missing, the fire department spokesman said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Police announced a breakthrough Tuesday in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, charging a man from Afghanistan  himself a Muslim  with two of the slayings and identifying him as a prime suspect in the other killings that put the entire community on edge.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was taken into custody a day earlier after a traffic stop more than 100 miles away, authorities said.

Three of the four ambush shootings happened in the last two weeks. Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes or serial killings or both.

Investigators received a tip from the city's Muslim community that pointed toward Syed, who has lived in the U.S. for about five years, police said.

Police were looking into possible motives, including an unspecified interpersonal conflict."

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, acknowledged that "there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of the suspect, who he said attended the centers mosque from time to time.

Knowing where we were, you know, a few days ago to where we are today is an incredible sigh of relief that were breathing, he said. Lives have been turned upside down.

The exact nature of the relationships between Syed and the victims  and the victims to one another  remained unclear. But police said they continue to investigate how they crossed paths before the shootings.

The slayings drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who said such attacks "have no place in America." They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

When told about the arrest before the suspect's identity was made public, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, brother of one of the victims, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, said he felt relieved but needed to know more about the assailant and the motive.

"This gives us hope that we will have (the) truth come out, he said. We need to know why.

It was not immediately clear whether Syed had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed Friday night. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

The earliest case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

For now, Syed is charged in the killings of Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain because bullet casings found at the crime scenes were linked to a gun found at his home, authorities said.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

Officers followed him to Santa Rosa, about 110 miles east of Albuquerque, where they pulled him over. Multiple firearms were recovered from his home and car, police said.

Syeds sons were questioned and released, according to authorities.

Prosecutors expect to file murder charges in state court and are considering adding a federal case, authorities said.

Shiites make up the second largest branch in Islam after Sunnis.

Aneela Abad, general secretary at the Islamic center, said the two Muslim communities in New Mexico enjoy warm ties.

Our Shiite community has always been there for us and we, Sunnis, have always been there for them, she said.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussain had worked as a field organizer for Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansburys campaign.

Muhammad was kind, hopeful, optimistic," she said, describing him as a city planner "who believed in democracy and social change, and who believed that we could, in fact, build a brighter future for our communities and for our world. ___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in LA also contributed to this report.
News that FBI agents descended on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home and searched it has spawned accusations of a politicized law enforcement organization doing the bidding of the Biden administration in targeting political enemies.

The reality is that the process of obtaining a search warrant is a controlled by a checklist of requirements before a judge signs off on a decision to invade someone's home.

Experts say that even the decision to seek a warrant to search a former presidents property would probably have to have been approved by top officials at the Justice Department.

The search is part of an investigation into whether Trump took classified records from the White House to his Florida residence, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information since the National Archives and Records Administration said it had received from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of White House records, including documents containing classified information, earlier this year.

Here's a look at the process for obtaining a search warrant and laws governing government records:

HOW DO SEARCH WARRANTS WORK?

FBI agents can't just show up to search a property such as Mar-a-Lago. Investigators first need to obtain a search warrant, which requires convincing a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.

Federal authorities seeking a search warrant present their evidence and the basis for needing to search a property in an affidavit reviewed by a federal magistrate or district court judge.

Magistrate judges are not nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Instead, they are appointed by district court judges to handle matters such as search warrant applications and defendants' initial court appearances.

The judge can ask for additional information and question the agent seeking the search warrant under oath. The judge will only sign off on the warrant if there is probable cause there's evidence of a federal crime at the location authorities want to search.

Given the sensitivity of an investigation involving a former president, there must have been a serious amount of deliberation by both the Justice Department and the judge, said Dennis Lormel, who served 28 years in the FBI before retiring in 2003.

This couldn't have been just a knee jerk lets go serve a warrant' situation, said Lormel, now president of the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI. I would want to make sure that I have an as airtight or as bulletproof of an affidavit as I could have."

The search warrant application process happens in secret in order to avoid tipping off the person whose property may be searched. Any court records related to the warrant application would be sealed.

Those records typically remain under seal unless and until a criminal case is brought, and even then, authorities may try to keep the affidavit from public view. The person whose property is being searched is entitled to see the warrant, but not the affidavit.

When executing a warrant, the FBI controls the scene and doesnt let residents of the home or their attorneys follow agents around as they search to ensure items arent improperly removed from the property, said Tom OConnor, a retired special agent.

If a property is searched without a valid warrant or probable cause, any evidence seized may be suppressed, which means it can't be used in court.

Brian O'Hare, president of the FBI Agents Association, said Tuesday that all search warrants must satisfy detailed and clear procedural rules, and are the product of collaboration and consultation with relevant Department of Justice attorneys.

In this particular case, execution of the warrant also included notifying the Secret Service detail that provides protection to the former president and his homes. A person familiar with the search told The Associated Press that the FBI reached out to the Secret Service shortly before serving the warrant.

Secret Service agents contacted the Justice Department and were able to validate the warrant before facilitating access to the estate, the person said.

WHAT LAWS MAY BE AT ISSUE?

It's not clear what law officials think may have been violated. Numerous federal laws address the handling of classified records, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such records and retain them at an unauthorized location.

The Presidential Records Act, which was enacted in 1978 in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, requires the preservation of White House documents as property of the U.S. government.

But while the law is designed to require the preservation of such records as emails, text messages and phone records, there's never been a case in which a former commander in chief has been punished for violating the Presidential Records Act and there's no real mechanism for enforcing the law.

Another federal law says it's a crime if anyone in custody of government records willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys" the documents. If the person is convicted, the law calls for a fine or up to three years in prison, or both.

That law also says the person convicted shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States." But legal experts have said that would not apply in the case of the office of the president, whose qualifications are set by the Constitution.

Associated Press reporters Mike Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, Ga. (AP)  A Georgia dairy farm has been fined after a release of food waste caused a fish kill, a rare instance of government getting involved with a practice that counties can't regulate despite chronic complaints from residents.

WAGA-TV reports the Georgia Environmental Protection Division fined McAvoy Farms, also known as Mar Leta Farms, $5,000 after nearly 1,700 fish died in the Little River in Wilkes County on June 16.

The division found that 1.2 million gallons of sludge and other food byproducts overflowed a lagoon into a farm pond and then to a creek over a six-week period.

Farmers accept the byproducts as what's called a soil amendment, which can be used in place of traditional fertilizer. But critics call it industrial waste because its made up of byproducts from poultry and other food processing plants, waste such as chicken blood or water used to rinse equipment.

Really, this is not to us a farm product, Wilkes County Commission Chairman Sam Moore told the television station. This is an industrial waste product that theyre really dumping on these rural counties.

Farmers are often paid to accept the byproducts. At McAvoy Farms, records show the waste came from Nestle Purina's pet food plant in Hartwell, where the liquid had been used to clean and rinse tanks and equipment.

Jeff Johnson, a Wilkes County neighbor of the dairy farm, said the smell is putrid, makes his eyes waters and has attracted a plague of flies.

Its like you washed out the bottom of a trash can, he said. A very foul trash can.

Johnson said it's the first time he's had to put out fly traps and fly strips in the 23 years he's lived there.

State rules require a soil amendment be tilled under the soil within an hour of application, but Johnson said it was sprayed onto fields and left to run off.

If it had been plowed in, there wouldnt be much of an issue at all, he said. "But it wasnt done that way from the very beginning.

The state ordered the farm to stop taking the material and remove all liquids and sludge from the tributaries on your property. The farm did not respond to a request for comment.

Moore and Oglethorpe County Commission Chairman Jay Paul said complaints about soil amendment are the top complaint they get from constituents in the neighboring counties east of Athens. They also say they're worried because they don't know what's in the waste.

If this stuff has such value to it, why they having to truck it 60, 80, 100 miles away and a couple hours away and sometimes pay people to take it? asked Paul.

But local governments cant regulate where soil amendments are sprayed. Thats strictly a state matter.

A Department of Agriculture spokesperson said the state does not track locations, only which companies are allowed to provide the soil amendment.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lanka's justice minister submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Parliament on Wednesday that would clip the powers of the president, a key demand of protesters calling for political reforms and solutions to the countrys worst economic crisis.

The action came as former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled violent anti-government protests last month, was reportedly seeking to enter Thailand from his temporary exile in Singapore. He fled Sri Lanka last month after thousands of angry protesters stormed his official residence, holding him responsible for the countrys economic woes.

A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Rajapaksa would be allowed entry but had not asked for political asylum. However, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Rajapaksa was seeking asylum in a third country, which he did not identify.

Rajapaksa was unavailable for comment.

In Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe presented a bill that would transfer some presidential powers  including those to appoint independent election commission members, police and public service officials, and bribery and corruption investigators  to a constitutional council comprising lawmakers and respected non-politicians. The council would then recommend candidates for appointments that the president could choose from.

Under the proposed amendments, presidents would only be able to appoint chief justices, other senior judges, attorney generals and central bank governors on the recommendation of the council. The prime minister would recommend appointments to the Cabinet and the president would not be allowed to hold any ministry positions except defense.

The bill, which will undergo debate, must be approved by two-thirds of Sri Lankas 225-member Parliament to become law.

If passed into law, the amendments would reinstate democratic reforms made in 2015. Rajapaksa reversed those reforms and concentrated power in himself after being elected in 2019.

Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who succeeded Rajapaksa, has promised to limit the powers of the presidency and strengthen Parliament in response to the protesters demands.

In Thailand's capital, Bangkok, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat said the Sri Lankan government had requested that Rajapaksa be allowed to enter. After fleeing Sri Lanka last month, Rajapaksa first went to neighboring Maldives in a Sri Lankan military plane and then to Singapore.

Protesters blame mismanagement and corruption by the Rajapaksa family for the economic crisis that has led to serious shortages of essentials such as medicines, food and fuel. The island nation is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout program.

Rajapaksas older brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as prime minister in May. Three other close family members resigned from their Cabinet positions before him.

Thai spokesperson Tanee said in a text message to journalists that under a 2013 bilateral agreement, Rajapaksa is able to enter Thailand without a visa for 90 days because he holds a Sri Lankan diplomatic passport.

The stay is temporary in nature with the aim of onward travel, Tanee said. No political asylum has been sought.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth, speaking to reporters, said he was aware of Rajapaksa's intended visit and that it was allowed for humanitarian reasons because the former president was seeking asylum in a third country. He did not elaborate.

S. Khan, director general of public diplomacy at Sri Lankas Foreign Ministry, said she had no comment about the Thai statements.

Sri Lankans have staged massive street protests for four months demanding democratic reforms and solutions to the countrys economic collapse.

Last month, a human rights group filed a criminal complaint with Singapores attorney general seeking Rajapaksa's arrest for alleged war crimes during Sri Lankas civil war. He was was defense secretary during the conflict, which ended in 2009.

The International Truth and Justice Project - an evidence-gathering organization administered by a South Africa-based nonprofit foundation - said its lawyers filed the complaint requesting Rajapaksas immediate arrest. The complaint alleges Rajapaksa committed grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions during the civil war and that they are subject to domestic prosecution in Singapore under universal jurisdiction.

Sri Lankas civil war, in which Tamil Tiger rebels fought to create an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils, resulted in the deaths of 100,000 people, according to conservative United Nations estimates. The actual number is believed to be much higher. A report from a U.N. panel of experts said at least 40,000 Tamil civilians died in the final months of fighting alone.

This story corrects that the director general of public diplomacy at Sri Lankas Foreign Ministry is a female.

-

Associated Press journalist Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bangkok contributed to this report.
LINCOLN  The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska has gone to federal court seeking the release of information on the alleged mistreatment of workers rounded up during a 2018 immigration raid in Nebraska.

The group filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Monday after getting no response to a Freedom of Information Act request for more than two years.

The suit names the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the departments Office of Inspector General as plaintiffs and asks the court to order them to release documents and other information relating to an OIG investigation into the alleged mistreatment.

Jane Seu, an ACLU of Nebraska attorney, said department officials have failed to meet their responsibilities under public records laws.

ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents conducted this raid, tearing a community apart while using public dollars, and the public has a right to understand what the investigation into that raid looked like and whether any agents faced consequences for any substantiated concerns, she said.

Federal law outlines clear requirements on responding to public records requests, and its troubling we have to turn to the judicial system to compel officials to follow the law, Seu said.

The raid occurred on Aug. 8, 2018, with ICE agents entering several worksites in and around the northeast Nebraska town of ONeill.

The agents arrested at least 118 workers at businesses, including meat processing plants, a potato factory, a hydroponic tomato greenhouse and a cattle company, for suspected immigration violations. They arrested another 17 people for exploitation of the arrested workers.

ACLU and other organizations responded to provide legal help after the raids. ACLU representatives said they got reports from released detainees about potential civil rights violations. Among them:

Many workers, including two pregnant women, reported a lack of access to food and water in nearly 100-degree weather for approximately 12 hours.

Workers reported a lack of air conditioning and extreme temperatures while on ICEs bus transporting them during the two-hour drive from ONeill to Grand Island, Nebraska.

Finally, workers reported a general lack of adequate interpretation and translation by ICE agents during interviews, which impeded their ability to exercise their constitutional rights.

According to the lawsuit, the OIG, which is supposed to provide independent oversight of immigration enforcement activities, launched an investigation into the allegations and interviewed affected people in October 2018. The ACLU participated in at least two interviews.

The suit said that the investigation has been completed but the inspector generals office has not released any information. The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the information on June 16, 2020, and got a reply dated June 19, 2020, that acknowledged the request and promised a response within 20 days.

The lawsuit said that ACLU has not received the information or any response to subsequent inquiries, made by both email and voicemail.

Homeland Security did not respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday about the lawsuit and the reason for delay in releasing records.

In a statement at the time of the raids, ICE denied the claims of mistreatment. Spokesman Shawn Neudauer called the allegations blatantly false. He said ICE was well prepared to provide items such as commercial cooling units and on-site medical services.

Every step possible was taken to ensure that these individuals were provided with food, water, restroom breaks and that they were processed as quickly as possible in order for our agents to focus on the criminal investigation that they are conducting into money laundering, wire fraud and the exploitation of these individuals, he said.
South Korea will bring back joint military exercises with the U.S. that had been scaled down or halted since about four years ago under former President Donald Trump to facilitate his nuclear negotiations with North Korea.

The government of President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who took office in May on pledges of bolstering military ties with the U.S. and taking a tough line with Pyongyang, will resume combined field training drills with American troops, the Defense Ministry in Seoul said in a policy report Friday.

The two will also restore exercises that include training with aircraft carrier groups and amphibious vehicles. The sides will return to practicing war scenarios in person, replacing training over the past three years that used computerized command-and-control simulations, it said.

The allied forces will conduct 11 joint field exercises in August and September, including a large-scale drill at the Korea Combat Training Center, the military said.

Yoon warned Friday that North Korea could soon ratchet up tensions with its seventh nuclear test, after firing off ballistic missiles at a record pace this year. Any display of the weapons in leader Kim Jong Uns nuclear arsenal would serve as a reminder of the pressing security problems posed by Pyongyang that have simmered as Bidens administration focused on Russias invasion of Ukraine.

We believe North Korea is prepared to conduct a nuclear test any moment they decide to do so, Yoon said, adding he has discussed the matter with the U.S.

Satellite imagery indicated that refurbishment work and preparations at Tunnel No. 3 at Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility, where North Korea has conducted all six of its nuclear tests, are complete and ready for another detonation of a nuclear device, the Beyond Parallel website said in mid-June.

The moves from Seoul come less than a week before the 69th anniversary of the July 27 signing of the armistice agreement that ended fighting in the 1950-1953 Korean War. The U.S. still has about 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Trumps three meetings with Kim from 2018 led to no concrete steps to wind down Pyongyangs nuclear program, which only grew in strength and size as the in-person diplomacy eventually fizzled. The former U.S. president had repeatedly expressed frustration with the open-ended troop deployment, saying after a meeting with Kim in June 2018 that he would like to bring them back home but thats not part of the equation right now.
Tim Michels claims victory in the Republican primary for governor, late Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, at Tuscan Hall Venue and Catering in Waukesha, Wis. (Mark Hoffman/AP)

Tim Michels, a wealthy businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for Wisconsin governor on Tuesday and will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a contest that could reshape elections in the marquee battleground.

Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence and had backing from establishment Republicans, including ex-Gov. Scott Walker.

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In his victory speech, Michels promised to focus on jobs and the economy and said he would stand up for people who have been left behind by the Democratic Party that just wants to focus on the social issues.

As governor, my number one priority is to take care of the hardworking people of Wisconsin, Michels said.

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Evers campaign called Michels the most extreme and divisive nominee possible, one that will tell Donald Trump anything just to keep his endorsement.

Both Michels and Kleefisch falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was rigged, a lie Trump has pushed in an effort to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Michels said decertifying the results of the 2020 contest was not a priority but said everything will be on the table. He supports other changes to voting and elections, including dismantling the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections.

The governors race was the latest proxy war between Trump and Pence, one-time partners who have backed opposing candidates in other swing states as they try to push the GOP in different directions. The results Tuesday added to Trumps record of wins, following victories for his preferred candidates last week in closely watched races for governor and Senate in Arizona.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who supported Trumps second impeachment, conceded defeat in her Washington state congressional district after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president. And in next Tuesdays slate of contests, Rep. Liz Cheney, who also backed Trumps impeachment and is the vice chair of the House panel probing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, faces a challenging primary race.

Those developments, combined with the rush of support from Republicans after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trumps Florida estate on Monday, were fresh reminders of the former presidents enduring grip on the GOP.

Back in Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won the Democratic nomination to face Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, one of Trumps most vocal supporters. The matchup is among the last to be set before the November general election, when control of the currently 50-50 split Senate is up for grabs, and Democrats see Wisconsin as one of their best opportunities to flip a seat.

Wisconsins most powerful Republican, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, held off a Trump-backed challenger. Trump endorsed Adam Steen after Vos rejected the former presidents pressure to decertify the 2020 results. Vos said his victory showed you dont have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

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Tuesdays outcomes have far-reaching consequences beyond Wisconsin, a state that is almost evenly split between Republicans and Democrats and where 2022 will be seen as a bellwether for the 2024 presidential race. The person elected governor this fall will be in office for the presidential election and will be able to sign or veto changes to election laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The next governor and U.S. senator also may sway decisions on issues from abortion to education and taxes.

Were a 50-50 state and so every race in Wisconsin, just by definition, is going to be decided by a few percentage points one way or another, said former Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. And those few percentage points in Wisconsin may well determine what the course of the nation is in the coming years.

Elsewhere Tuesday, a Trump-backed candidate won the GOP primary for Senate in Connecticut, a state thats long been home to the Republican establishment. Republican National Committee member Leora Levy, whom Trump endorsed last week, will face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal after she defeated former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, who had support from the state party.

Voters in Vermont  the only state to never have a woman in its congressional delegation  chose a woman, Becca Balint, as the Democratic nominee for the states lone House seat. She is favored in the race to replace Rep. Peter Welch, who won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat long held by Patrick Leahy, who is retiring. And Minnesota Republicans chose Dr. Scott Jensen, a COVID-19 vaccine skeptic endorsed by the state GOP, to face Gov. Tim Walz.

But the most-watched races were in Wisconsin, where Trump has kept up his pressure campaign to cancel Bidens 2020 victory. Biden won the state by nearly 21,000 votes, four years after Trump narrowly won the state by roughly the same margin. The 2020 outcome has been upheld in two partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a review by a conservative law firm and multiple lawsuits.

Evers has made voting and elections a focus of his own campaign, telling voters hes the only candidate who will defend democracy and we are that close to not having our vote count in the state of Wisconsin.

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Both Michels and Kleefisch said overturning the 2020 election results was not a priority. But they said they would dismantle the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections and would support prohibitions on voters having someone else turn in their absentee ballots, as well as ballot drop boxes located anywhere other than staffed clerk offices.

Michels is co-owner of Wisconsins largest construction company and has touted his work to build his familys business. He lost the 2004 Senate race to Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, and has been a major donor to GOP politicians.

At a rally on Friday, Trump praised Michels as an incredible success story. He criticized Kleefisch as part of the failed establishment and also took aim at Vos. He told supporters that Michels was the better choice to defeat Evers.

Michels pledged that we are going to have election integrity here in Wisconsin. He also said he will bring law and order back to Wisconsin, criticized Evers handling of schools and blamed Biden for rising prices.

GOP state Rep. Tim Ramthun also made a long-shot bid for governor.

In her concession speech, Kleefisch said, The fight now is truly against Tony Evers and the liberals who want to take away our way of life.

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Barnes, in his victory speech in Milwaukee, emphasized his middle-class background and upbringing while casting Johnson as self-serving and an out-of-touch politician who cares only about special interests and wealthy donors.

It is time for a change, everybody, said Barnes, who would be Wisconsins first Black senator if elected. Its time for us to be represented by somebody who shares our experiences.

Johnson called Barnes the most radical left candidate Democrats could have chosen.

This is a contest between radical left socialism versus freedom and prosperity, he said.
100 years ago

Aug. 10, 1922: A "safe milk" drive in Illinois is being waged by the state department of health under the direction of Dr. Isaac D. Rawlings, director of public health. The department has drafted a milk ordinance and is urging passage by city councils and village boards. Over the state, cow testing associations are busy testing herds for tuberculosis. Rawlings hopes to prevent the sale of milk that does not measure up to safety standards.

75 years ago

Aug. 10, 1947: Although the Illinois Wesleyan University College of Law expired more than two decades ago, the success of its former students has spread across the state. A check of the state judicial directory reveals that the chief and an associate justice of the supreme court and eight judges of the state's 17 circuit courts are former students of the IWU College of Law, which was shuttered for financial reasons. The final class graduated in 1927.

50 years ago

Aug. 10, 1972: Arne Bygstad, 18, of Bergen, Norway, is scheduled to arrive in Bloomington to begin his year-long stay as an American Field Service student at Bloomington High School. He will make his home with the Blaine Ramsey family at 3 Continental Court. Arne has studied English for seven years and German for four years. He is interested in several sports, plays guitar, studies geology and plans to be a Lutheran minister.

25 years ago

Aug. 10, 1997: The Bloomington-Normal chapter of the NAACP presented its annual Academic Scholarship Awards and Life Membership Awards. The recipients will receive certificates and $500 cash scholarships. They include Jarrett Johnson of Bloomington, who will attend Millikin University; Twanna and Tonya Rayborn of Bloomington, who will attend Augustana College; and Erica Hunter of Normal, who will attend Illinois State University.
BLOOMINGTON  When Bloomington resident Danielle King lived in rural Charleston, her family raised as many as 50 chickens at one time for the purpose of collecting eggs.

By helping to take care of the chickens, King said her children have learned to reap the benefits of treating an animal with kindness.

"Healthy chickens produce the healthiest eggs, so the better you treat them, the better the eggs," King said. "Grocery store eggs aren't treated as well, and we wanted to teach our kids that how you treat something produces better quality food."

Although she is unable to continue the practice on the same scale as she did in Charleston, King said she was grateful to be granted a special use request on Monday to raise up to four chickens at her home on Aberdeen Way.

The Bloomington City Council accepted four special use requests, including King's, during its Monday meeting  effectively doubling the number of homes authorized to keep chickens.

The council in 2019 approved an amended zoning ordinance that allowed chickens to be kept on residential districts as a special use. Since then, nine permits have been granted, including the four approved Monday, said Katherine Murphy, external affairs and communications manager for the city. One of the applicants has since moved and that permit is likely to expire.

Roosters are not permitted under the city rules, which also prohibit chickens from being kept for slaughter.

Several other Illinois cities also have adopted ordinances allowing chickens to be raised on residential property, including Decatur, Springfield, Evanston and Chicago. However, Normal does not have a chicken ordinance at this time.

Under Bloomington's ordinance, up to four chickens may be kept on lots up to one acre with a primary use of a single-family or two-family dwelling. For lots larger than one acre, an extra chicken may be permitted for every additional half-acre.

King's three chickens are named Honey, Cinnamon and Sugar.

Each typically lays one egg a day, she said. Aside from a few purchases during the winter, she hasn't had to buy eggs from the grocery store in years.

Although misconceptions exist about the odor and noise coming from the chickens, King said her neighbors have, for the most part, supported her efforts.

Chickens shall be kept in a covered or fenced enclosure at all times, according to Bloomington's ordinance. Enclosures must be 10 feet away from all property lines.

Any feed or other chicken-related items that could attract pests must be protected and stored.

King said her chicken feed is kept in a sealed container in her garage, but she also feeds any leftovers her family won't eat to the chickens.

And with only three chickens on the property, King said there won't be any more of an odor issue than someone with two dogs that roam around their backyard.

"When they lay an egg, they're a little vocal," King said. "Other than that, they don't make a single sound."

King said any misconceptions regarding noise or odor come down to being a responsible owner.

She cleans her chicken coop twice a week, which takes no more than five minutes.

"You hear more about who don't take care of dogs than chickens," King said. "If they go through the trouble of going through a chicken coop and a permit, they're going to take care of their birds."

Showing that level of responsibility is also a good lesson for her kids, she added.

"They kind of need to have hands to the dirt and realize food doesn't just come from Walmart," King said. "To have a hand where the food comes from teaches sustainability."
If Mondays FBI search at Donald Trumps Florida home leads to the prosecution of the former president, as supporters fear and detractors hope, then citizens of democracies everywhere might ask Americans, What kept you?

The U.S. has been a laggard in an important measure of freedom: holding former leaders accountable to the law. From Brazil, France and South Africa to Israel, the Philippines and South Korea, many of the worlds major democracies have tried  and frequently, convicted  former presidents and prime ministers, mostly for crimes committed, covered up or both when they were in power.

The list of those brought to justice includes such prominent figures as Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Dilma Rousseff and Michel Temer of Brazil, South Africas Jacob Zuma, South Koreas Park Geun-Hye and Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.

The closest a U.S. president came to joining the list was over Watergate, but President Richard Nixon was pardoned by his successor, Gerald Ford, before he faced a day in court. Fords explanation, that Americans would needlessly be diverted from meeting [our] challenges if we as a people were to remain sharply divided over prosecuting Nixon, has been invoked by those seeking to draw a curtain of charity across misdeeds by subsequent occupants of the White House, notably Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and, of course, Trump.

And this isnt just a matter of partisan politics. Americans as a whole are leery of prosecuting former presidents. In a recent PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll, barely half of all respondents said Trump should face criminal charges  and only 28% felt he would  for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The arguments for treating leaders differently from ordinary citizens turn on questions of perception and propriety. The prosecution of a former president, especially if it takes place during the term of a successor from the other side of the aisle, is not only an unseemly prospect, it will inevitably be seen by the ex-leaders supporters as politically motivated. That is certainly the case with Trump: The narrative in MAGA-land is that President Joe Biden is persecuting their man to prevent him from running for president in 2024.

Then theres the specter of retaliation: a cycle of tit-for-tat prosecutions with every change of guard in the White House. This would unquestionably bring down the tenor of national politics, damaging public trust in the highest office in the land  and by extension, in all offices. In other words, democracy itself would be diminished.

And finally, there is the alarmist argument, which is getting the full klaxon treatment from Trumps supporters: Pursuing a former president risks setting off a civil war. Right-wing social media accounts are already resonating with calls for a violent response to the FBI search.

Against all this is the case for prosecution: Putting a former president on the dock is a signal that nobody is above the nations laws. And rather than enfeebling democracy, the high-profile demonstration of accountability strengthens its sinews.

The evidence from international experience is for the most part reassuring. We can argue whether the legal action against former leaders has had a cautionary effect on subsequent officeholders  three South Korean presidents have been convicted since that country achieved full democracy in 1987  but the dire scenarios painted in America havent come to pass in other countries.

In none of the democracies I mentioned has the political culture devolved into retaliatory prosecutions. The public perception of democratic institutions varies by country and circumstance, but it would be hard to draw a straight line from the conviction of former leaders to a general disenchantment with politics. After all, there is no dearth of disenchantment in countries where leaders havent been brought to court.

And certainly, none of the countries I cited has dissolved into a civil war.
Access Bank Ghana is empowering more SMEs through its capacity building workshops on digitalization. Over 100 SMEs got the opportunity to participate in the fourth edition of the Banks capacity building workshop on digitalization at Koforidua, organized in partnership with Open Labs, an Information Technology Firm.



The workshop on the theme Boosting Digital Skills for Emerging Opportunities, sought to enhance the skills of SMEs to be more efficient in the use of digital tools to position their businesses to attract both local and international opportunities.



Sharing insights ahead of the workshop held in Koforidua, Managing Director of Access Bank (Ghana) Plc, Olumide Olatunji was delighted at the impact the Bank is making towards Ghanas economy through its support to the sector, which contributes over 70% to the nations GDP. He said, Access Bank is proud to be championing the cause of SMEs, a key contributor to Ghanas GDP. Since 2021, we have supported over 6,300 SMEs with digital skills, business advisory services and financing. Because access to funding is a major challenge for SMEs, we have made the process less cumbersome by excluding collaterals from the requirement needed for our Instant Business Loans and other loan products. I am happy to say that our support is yielding results as attested by many participants of these workshops.



Delivering his welcome address at the workshop, Jones Darmoe, Zonal Head for Business Banking at Access Bank (Ghana) Plc noted that Access Bank loves SMEs. He said between 2021 and July 2022, the Bank had reached many SMEs through clinics and workshops held in different locations across the Greater, Ashanti, Western and Central Regions and online participants from across the country.



Jones noted that, Research reveals that a major step towards strengthening SMEs is improving access to technology and funding. As a go-to Bank for SMEs in Ghana, Access



MORE



Bank continues to lead this cause by equipping SMEs with digital skills through capacity building workshops on relevant subjects, aimed at strengthening them as well as meeting their financing needs. Within these past two years, we have disbursed over GHS50 million to SMEs to boost their capital and provided advisory services to them.



Mr. Darmoe also called on SMEs to approach any of the 54 branches of Access Bank nation-wide or locate an AccessClosa agent in their vicinity to discuss their business financing needs.



Participants were excited about the opportunity offered by Access Bank and thanked them for supporting the sector.

Access Bank remains committed to giving customers more than banking. The Bank has over the years developed a deep understanding of customers needs, delivering excellent service and empowering them to achieve more through financial inclusion.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The United Nations Mission in South Sudan said on Wednesday it was gravely concerned about the reported execution of four rebels in the north of the country on Aug. 7.



South Sudan erupted into civil war shortly after declaring independence from Sudan in 2011, which pitted rival communities against each other and plunged the country into violence and lawlessness.



A peace agreement signed three years ago is largely holding but the transitional government has been slow to unify the various factions of the military into a single unit, write a new constitution and pave the way to elections. read more



The executions were allegedly in response to a July 22 attack by the South Sudan People's Movement / Army (SSPM/A) on the Mayom county commissioner, the United Nations said.



"Anyone who is suspected of a crime must be subject to a proper trial as part of a fair judicial process," the head of the U.N. mission said in a statement.



Lul Ruai, a spokesperson for the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), said the army had started an investigation into the killings, which it said were captured on a video.



One video shared on social media showed five men in combat fatigues shooting three hooded figures sitting on the ground.



Three men were killed by firing squad while a fourth was tied up and burned alive in a grass-thatched hut, Ruai said in a statement.



"The men were allegedly killed by elements from the SSPDF," he added.



The men were arrested across the border in Sudan on Aug. 6 and handed over to South Sudan authorities, SSPM/A spokesperson Luke Gattiek said in a statement.













Source: Reuters









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General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church has prayed for Gods protection for the nations Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.



Pastor Mensa Otabil also prayed for the African continent to rise up and occupy its rightful place.



He was speaking at the climax of the churchs 5-day Greater Works Conference in Accra attended by thousands of Christian faithful from Ghana and across the world.



Pastor Otabil declared that the future of Ghana will be far more glorious than the present.



Quoting scriptures from the book of Haggai 2:6-9, the theologian stated that in a little while, Ghana and Africa will witness a divine shaking and rearrangement that will cause systems to shift in their favour.



The future shall be so glorious that there will be no comparison with where we are today, he prophesied.



His message titled, Its going to be Glorious he recalled the prophet Jeremiahs prophecy to the children of Israel about captivity and the rebuilding process that brought liberation.



Pastor Otabil declared, God is going to do something for you and its not going to be a repetition of what has been done. Its going to be more glorious



He enjoined the congregation to document and archive their current situation because people may not believe where they have been when the transformation takes place.



The conference climaxed with an anointing service, after which Pastor Otabil and Bishop Tudor Bismark, a guest speaker, pronounced the blessings of God on attendees.



Earlier in the week, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of the Kingsway International Christian Center in London preached about stepping into significance. He challenged all present to reach beyond where they were and determine to make a greater impact on their world.



A cross-section of participants, after the conference, said this years Greater Works had been the very best. They particularly commended the messages, security, music, punctuality, technical direction, and overall organization.



Greater Works is the annual convocation of the International Central Gospel Church that climaxes the annual period of fasting and prayer known as 40 Days of Power. This years conference took place at the churchs new campus, Christ Temple East in Teshie.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) Ghana Country Director Robert Austin, has called for an improvement in the productivity of cashew plantations in Ghana.



He made the call at a sensitization program on a new Code of Practice (CoP) for cashew planting material production on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 in Accra. The Code was developed by the MEDA Farmers' Economic Advancement Through Seedlings (FEATS) project in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and with funding from the Canadian government through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).



Ghana currently has a 10-year Cashew Development Plan (2017-2027) which has strategies to increase the countrys cashew production of 80,000MT in 2018 to over 300,000MT within 10 years. The development plan includes the requirement for production of over 19-million improved grafted seedlings to help establish the needed cashew plantations to bring Ghanas total output of Raw Cashew Nuts (RCN) to the target of 300,000mt by 2027.



However, to achieve the targets set in the development plan, especially to increase production from 80,000MT to 300,000MT, Mr. Austin explains, "We will need to do two things: (1) increase area cultivated under cashew, and (2) improve the productivity of our cashew plantations."



He added that, "In this era when we have to keep environmental sustainability foremost in our minds, it is important that we focus on increased productivity rather than merely expanding area cultivated under a particular crop. In replacing old farms or even in cultivating new ones, it is very important that quality grafted seedlings are used. This is because cashew plants raised from sources other than grafted seedlings will show variation in morphological and economic characteristics, leading to unpredictable performance."



Mr Austin therefore called for the use of grafted seedlings with quality scions to improve the productivity of Ghanaian cashew farms. He said Quality grafted seedlings will provide cashew plantations with higher-yielding trees.



He also expressed the hope that the newly established Tree Crop Development Authority would among other activities provide the right environment for cashew farmers in Ghana to improve their productivity.



Commenting on the Code, the Chairperson of the GSA Technical Committee for development of the Code of Practice Bernard Boateng, observed that Ghanas cashew industry was not well organized. He was however optimistic that with introduction of the Code, the industry would now be properly organized to ensure that the contribution of the cashew subsector to Ghanas economic growth and development increases.









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Divine Presbyterian Church located at Anyaa in the Ga Central Municipality has inducted 9 newly elected executives of the Young Adults Fellowship (YAF).



The induction ceremony held on Sunday 7th August 2022 during a forenoon service of the church was to officially initiate the new executives into office. The inductees who are expected to govern the YAF group in the church for the next 3 years included: Daniel Asare as President, Eric Tei-Mensah as Vice President, Joyce Asamoah as Secretary, and Deborah Quarcoo as Assistance Secretary.



The rest are Grace Ampong as Organizer, Laura Awuah as Treasurer, and Charity Owusu as Womens Commissioner. Nicholas Dugbaza as Financial Secretary and Enoch Acquah as Evangelism Coordinator.



Preaching on the theme: The Lord our God is our Fortress, the Minister in Charge of Divine Presbyterian Church, Reverend Patrick Acheampong, admonished the new executives to put their trust in God and rely on His guidance in the discharge of their duties.



He also counseled them to learn to seek assistance from their predecessors in order to continue their good works.

Psalm 46 reminds us of what is real and true. There are trials in our journeys, but never forget that God is our strength, and therefore, He is always available to assist in times of trouble. I encourage you to call on Him all the time when the going gets tough. Rely solely on God for guidance in your work, and dont forget to walk closely with your predecessors to learn from their rich experiences.



On behalf of the inductees the President, Mr. Asare, expressed appreciation to the Almighty God for His grace that had enabled a successful leadership transition process. He also appealed to the YAF group and the church to support his team to serve the youth and the church.



The service also witnessed an appreciation ceremony for outgoing executives of the YAF group. In attendance were the Kwashieman District Executives of the YAF group and family and friends of both outgoing and incoming executives.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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"This is a clear indication that they don't have the men and any further approach to reshuffle will cause his government to spiral down further. Ghanaians should rather brace for the worst."



That is the assessment of the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, on the Akufo-Addo led administration.



To him, the only hope for disillusioned Ghanaians is for them to take advantage of the 2024 polls and vote the incompetent NPP out of power.



Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he explained that President Akufo-Addo's posture clearly shows that he has lost it and has nothing left in him again to take the country out of the dungeons of a failed economy and provide a permanent solution to the hardships Ghanaians suffer daily.



"You claim to have the men yet these men have proven to be as incompetent as your government. Ghanaians are clamouring for a reshuffle which they believe can inject some fire into the system to turn the economy around but you are saying otherwise.



"This clearly shows that the Nana Addo government does not have the men as they claim because he (Akufo-Addo) fears if he changes the already underperforming team, the next appointees will even make matters worse. And like the adage 'Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad'," he said.



The NDC scribe however could not fathom why the President would also want to blame the NDC for his inability to reshuffle his non performing Ministers.



"What about your own party members and Ghanaians who are appealing to you for a change which they believe can some how turn things around?" he rhetorically asked.



Watch video below





President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reacted to a public call for him to reshuffle his appointees, especially ministers of state and says, he has no immediate plans of heeding to those calls.To him, the output of the Ministers were consistent with the expectations and therefore there is no need to reshuffle them.For all you know, it is people who want to destabilise my government or people who are looking for jobs, who are behind those calls, he said.President Akufo-Addo made the reaction in a radio interview with the Tamale based Radio North Star on Monday [August 8, 2022], as part of his tour of the Northern Region this week."The issue of reshuffling or performance of my ministers is a daily pre-occupation, I'm required on a daily basis to ask myself whether a particular minister is up to the mark."I am the final authority and if they are not up to the mark, I'm required to act. So if they are up to expectations then I don't have any reason to heed to the calls for reshuffling," President Akufo-Addo said.

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected]









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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described as "fake", media reports suggesting he was interfering in the upcoming Nigerian presidential elections.



He said: "I have written no such letter to the APC leader, and it will not occur to me to do so. Ghana and Nigeria boast of decades of cordial, strong and brotherly relations, and I am not going to be the one to interfere in the internal affairs and politics of Nigeria".



In a tweet he wrote:





My attention has been drawn to a disturbing post making the rounds on social media, where it is alleged I have written to the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to give Peter Obi a chance and seek treatment for his health. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/qdDkyNNbtz  Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) August 9, 2022







This is completely false and mischievous, with no iota of truth whatsoever in it. 2/3  Nana Akufo-Addo (@NAkufoAddo) August 9, 2022



















Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Robert Boik, the Chicago Police Departments executive director of constitutional policing and reform, was fired by the superintendent Tuesday after sending an email asking for a reversal of a decision to distribute his staff to patrol instead of officer training, according to multiple police sources.

Boik had been in the role for about a year and a half and was fired without warning, sources said. Monday morning he sent an email to police Superintendent David Brown after he was told the Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform had to send 46 individuals back to patrol.

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Mayor Lightfoot responds to firing of Chicago police leader of reform effort, calling it palace intrigue. Read more here >>>

In Boiks email, which was obtained by the Tribune, he said that if those individuals were moved to patrol, there would be 21 fewer instructors at the academy and the department would no longer be able to offer an eight-hour gender-based violence course to officers this year.

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Robert Boik, executive director of the Chicago Police Department's Office of Constitutional Policing and Reform, addresses reporters at police headquarters on Sept. 8, 2021. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

The decision would also result in 10 fewer people in the crisis intervention training program, which would diminish the program by about 30%, according to the email. Putting these individuals on patrol would also put a minimum of 8% of the departments current consent-decree compliance at risk.

Beyond the consent decree requirement to train our frontline officers, we have a fundamental obligation to ensure all our officers are provided with equal tools to do their jobs in the field. With the proposed cuts, every single officer will fall short of 40 hours of training this year, Boik wrote in the email.

Brown announced at Saturday and Monday news conferences that the department would be moving officers around the department to meet the needs of CTA and downtown violence. Boiks email suggested that his staff would be moving to districts all over the city and therefore will likely have minimal impact on patrol capacity for any one district.

Chicago police had little to say about Boiks exit.

Robert Boik is no longer a member of the Chicago Police Department. Beyond that, we do not comment on personnel matters, the department said in a statement.

Boik did not immediately comment on the situation.

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Arne Duncan, a managing partner of Emerson Collective and the founder of violence prevention organization Chicago CRED, wrote in a statement: Bob Boik was fired for blowing the whistle and telling the truth  that he has no support and that the administration is not serious about police reform. Trust between the police and community is already far too low, and losing him is a big step in the wrong direction. That is dangerous for our city, for the community and for our police officers.

Walter Katz, who served as former Mayor Rahm Emanuels top public safety aide, tweeted criticism of the firing.

For 25 months I talked to Bob Boik daily  often multiple times a day. We were in the same conference room for months negotiating the consent decree in 2018-19., Katz tweeted. We also went through the pain of 4 line of duty deaths in a year. Bob deserves a medal. Not this. #leadership

Alexa James, the head of the Chicago chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, said the loss of Boik was very troubling to those who are trying to help the department implement the massive court-ordered reforms, many of which focus on mental health.

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This sends us a message that it is an unstable environment (for reform), said James, who up until September worked in the department on officer wellness and continues to work in crisis intervention training.

James called Boik an innovator.

And we really need more innovation in government, she said. ... Losing somebody with this level of institutional knowledge and respect in the department leaves us wondering who is going to do it.

Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. >

The firing is not the first round of turmoil for the Police Departments reform efforts.

Chad Williams, the former civilian commanding officer of the Police Departments audit division, resigned in 2021 after emailing Mayor Lori Lightfoot to say he had been proud to lead the unit but had become disillusioned and was resigning his post.

Unfortunately, my disappointment with the inability of this departments top leadership to even feign interest in pursuing reform in a meaningful manner has made it impossible for me to remain involved, Williams wrote in the email, as previously reported by the Tribune. Even more unfortunate is that my experience is far from unique. Many well-meaning and talented civilians have signed up to help improve the nations (second-largest) police department, only to find themselves steadily thwarted by its perverse incentive structures until they inevitably depart due to demoralization.

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Lightfoots onetime deputy mayor for public safety, Susan Lee, left that post in fall 2020 but remained involved at City Hall as an unpaid consultant on public safety issues until she resigned in August 2021 while raising concerns about the citys ability to keep moving the ball forward on its violence prevention efforts and Police Department consent decree implementation, records obtained by the Tribune show.

pfry@chicagotribune.com

gpratt@chicagotribune.com

asweeney@chicagotribune.com
A former right-hand man of Democratic Republic of Congo's president and now opposition leader, Jean-Marc Kabund, was arrested on Tuesday, his lawyer said, during controversy over a remark about his onetime boss.



The former vice president of parliament and current lawmaker had a falling out with President Felix Tshisekedi earlier this year, after which he launched his own political party.



He has been under investigation in recent weeks on charges that authorities have not specified.



His lawyers say he is accused of contempt of the head of state after a speech calling him "a danger".



Kabund's lawyer Henriette Bongwalanga said he was arrested on Tuesday after a hearing at the attorney general's office.



"They did not respect the procedure. Today they came after the hearing and (arrested) him despite his (parliamentary) immunity," she said.



The justice ministry could not be reached for comment and a spokesperson for the government declined to comment.



A police source said Kabund had been taken to Makala Central Prison in Congo's capital Kinshasa.



Kabund was a leading figure behind Tshisekedi's rise to power and their fallout has highlighted emerging fault-lines in the country's leadership. This could spell uncertainty for the future of the ruling Sacred Union coalition as the 2023 presidential election nears, political analysts have said. read more



In a statement about the proceedings last week, Kabund said the investigation against him was proof that Congolese institutions were being exploited to serve political interests.



"Fighting the Tshisekedi regime is an absolute necessity for me, no matter the price to be paid," he wrote on Twitter.

Source: Reuters









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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) which started last week with the practicals is progressing smoothly.



It has, therefore, assured the general public that the examination has not yet entered the written phase, and therefore, what had happened at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH) and the Bawku Technical Institute (BAWTI) had nothing to do with the WASSCE.



Those students were writing the Pre-Tertiary Technical and Vocational Core and Elective Subject Examination and not WASSCE as was reported by a section of the media, the Head of the Public Affairs of the WAEC, Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, explained.



The assurance followed concerns that the final year candidates that rioted at the BOTECH and BAWTI were writing the WASSCE, which incidentally started last Monday at almost the same time as the CTVET examination.



Mrs Teye-Cudjoe, therefore, urged the general public to remain calm, assuring that the WAEC was liaising with the national security and other security bodies to ensure that the examination was conducted free of malpractice.



She used the opportunity to remind the candidates that they could pass their examinations without engaging in examination malpractice.



Mrs Teye-Cudjoe cautioned the general public, especially candidates, to be wary of the activities of rogue website operators who lured candidates to part with money for "apo".



WASSCE 2022



She added that Ghanaian candidates were writing the ongoing WASSCE scheduled from August 1 to September 27, 2022 alone.



This is because the other four-member countries of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)  Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia  have returned to the May/June calendar and had administered the WASSCE for their school candidates from May 9 to June 24, this year.



The four countries have had their academic calendars streamlined to enable them to write the examination in May/June, as Ghana sticks to the new normal calendar occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.



She added that notwithstanding the fact that Ghana was taking the examination alone, Ghanaian candidates would still compete for the National Distinction Award and the WAEC Excellence Award with candidates from those countries.



Rioting



BOTECH was last week Tuesday shut down by the Upper East Regional Security Council following violent protests by some students of the school as a result of managements decision to clamp down on examination malpractice.



The students, mostly males, had gone on the rampage, pelting the teachers with stones, resulting in some of the teachers taking cover in the library and the staff common room.



The angry students blocked the main entrance to the school as well as the main Bolgatanga-Navrongo road, which prevented motorists and other road users from using that stretch of the road during the demonstration.



Personnel of the police service was subsequently called in to disperse them and control the situation but they turned their anger on the police and pelted them with stones, leading to damage to the riot control van.



Warning shots were fired by the police to disperse the students but they ran into the school and destroyed seven vehicles and a number of motorbikes belonging to some teachers.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Singapore MAS rescinds in-principle approval for Hodlnaut after the crypto lender suspends withdrawals. (PHOTO: Getty Creative)

By Joanna Ossinger

(Bloomberg)  Cryptocurrency investment is highly hazardous but meltdowns in the sector havent created financial-stability risks for Singapore, regulators in the city-state said after another digital-asset firm ran into trouble.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore has rescinded its in-principle approval for crypto lender Hodlnaut to obtain a license to provide digital payment token services under the Payment Services Act, an MAS spokesperson said in an emailed statement Tuesday. That came after Hodlnaut told MAS of its intention to withdraw its application amid its halt in customer withdrawals announced Monday. It had been one of the few firms granted in-principle approval by MAS under the Act.

MAS has been continually reminding the general public that dealing in cryptocurrency is highly hazardous, the regulators spokesperson said in response to an inquiry about Hodlnauts situation. Not only are the values of cryptocurrencies extremely volatile, customers monies are not protected under the law.

Entities that currently or previously have been affiliated with Singapore in some way have been at the epicenter of this years crypto meltdown. Bitcoin and Ether, the two biggest cryptocurrencies, are both down about 50% year-to-date. The Terra/Luna ecosystem suffered a massive collapse and hedge fund Three Arrows Capital is in liquidation. Lenders like Vauld and Babel Finance have halted customer withdrawals. Trading platform Zipmex also halted withdrawals, but its since partially unfrozen client funds.

In its statement, the MAS noted that PSA licensing involves regulation around money laundering and terrorism financing risks as well as technology risks, but that the firms are not subject to risk-based capital or liquidity requirements, nor are they required to safeguard customer money or digital tokens from insolvency risk. It said thats similar to the approach taken in most jurisdictions. Still, the trouble in the sector hasnt had broader implications for the island nation, it said.

The turmoil in the cryptocurrency market has not posed financial stability risks in Singapore, the MAS spokesperson said. Spillover to the domestic financial system has been very limited as our key financial institutions do not have significant exposures to either distressed cryptocurrency firms or cryptocurrencies.

 2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Migratory animals include a wide range of speciesfrom tiny insects to the world's largest marine mammals. To achieve their journeys, migrants must walk, swim, or fly, often traversing complex landscapes that requires many choices about where, when, and why to move. Despite the diversity of migratory journeys made by animals, most scientists who study migration have a taxonomic focusmeaning that they study a particular species or group of species that migrate.

To better understand when, how and why social interactions shape migration, an all-female team of Konstanz scientists brought together research from 100 scientific publications spanning a diverse range of species and ecosystems. Through this synthesis, these researchers suggest that social interactions and social learning during migration are likely more widespread than previously thought.

The research took place at the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour at the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Animal Behavior. The review article was published online in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.

Key findings:

Migration itself creates a unique and challenging situation where social interactions are likely to be particularly beneficial. For example, migration is often timed with the changing seasons and as a result, the time available to explore and learn through individual experience alone is limited.

Migration increases interactions between individuals that otherwise may not interact, providing opportunities for information exchange and learning. For example, some songbirds that are thought to be solitary move en masse through the sky during night-time migrations. Likewise, animals that are territorial during other parts of the year may change this behavior during migration. The synchronized nature of migratory movements brings together individuals from different groups, families, populations and species.

There are many ways animals can gain information from other individuals to improve their performance during migration. For example, even animals that travel alone can benefit from social information, by listening to distant vocalizations in the case of migrating blue whales or by following scent trails of other solitary carnivores. Likewise, migratory animals can learn from individuals of the same species or from other species.

The authors see great potential in "next-generation tracking" methods to understand social interactions between animals. "Next-generation tracking" techniques include approaches like lifetime tracking (monitoring movements from birth to death) and group tracking (recording the whereabouts of an entire group of animals on the move), which share the characteristics of combined technological advances in animal tracking with novel study designs.

The review also highlights wildlife reintroductions and translocations as opportunities to study social aspects of migration. The authors encourage future research that takes advantage of these wildlife management actions to provide new insights into animal migration and help to enhance existing efforts to conserve and protect animal migration in a changing world.

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More information: Ellen O. Aikens et al, Viewing animal migration through a social lens, Trends in Ecology & Evolution (2022). Journal information: Trends in Ecology & Evolution Ellen O. Aikens et al, Viewing animal migration through a social lens,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.06.008
The Beluga whale swims in the lock of Notre Dame de la Garenne prior to be moved, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. French environmentalists are moving a dangerously think Beluga that had strayed into the Seine River last week to a salt-water river basin to try and save its life. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, said the ethereal white mammal measuring 4-meters will be transported to the salty water for "a period of care" by medics who suspect the mammal is sick. Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

A beluga whale that became a French celebrity after a wrong turn took it up the Seine River had to be euthanized Wednesday after experiencing health complications during an urgent rescue operation, authorities said.

The sparkling white marine mammal appeared deep inside France last week, having accidentally veered off the normal ocean migration route that takes belugas to and from Arctic waters.

Fearing the malnourished creature would not survive in the Seine much longer, a wildlife conservation group and veterinarians planned to move the lost whale to a saltwater port in Normandy, from where they hoped to return it to the open sea.

A team of 80 people assembled to try to save the animal's life, and it was successfully moved Tuesday night from a river lock in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, into a refrigerated truck for the 160-kilometer (99-mile) journey to the port in Ouistreham.

But during the drive, the 4-meter-long (13-foot-long) whale started to breath with difficulty, according to Florence Ollivet Courtois, a French veterinarian who worked on the rescue operation.

"During the journey, the veterinarians confirmed a worsening of its state, notably in its respiratory activities, and at the same time noticed the animal was in pain, not breathing enough," Courtois said.

The Beluga whale swims in the lock of Notre Dame de la Garenne prior to be moved, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. French environmentalists are moving a dangerously think Beluga that had strayed into the Seine River last week to a salt-water river basin to try and save its life. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, said the ethereal white mammal measuring 4-meters will be transported to the salty water for "a period of care" by medics who suspect the mammal is sick. Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

"The suffering was obvious for the animal, so it was important to release its tension, and so we had to proceed to euthanize it," she added.

Environmentalists had acknowledged the plan to move the beluga risked fatally stressing the mammal. But marine conservation group Sea Shepherd said that it couldn't have survived much longer in the Seine's fresh water.

The group and veterinarians noted the whale had responded to a cocktail of antibiotics and vitamins over the last few days, making them hopeful it would recover once it was back in a saltwater environment.

A necropsy is planned on the whale, which weighed about about 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds).

Rescuers had hoped to spare the whale the fate of an orca that strayed into the Seine and died in May. In 2006, a bottlenose whalenicknamed "Willy"swam up the Thames River as far as London and died during a its attempted rescue.

General view of the lock of Notre Dame de la Garenne where a Beluga whale is being prepared to be moved, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. French environmentalists are moving a dangerously think Beluga that had strayed into the Seine River last week to a salt-water river basin to try and save its life. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, said the ethereal white mammal measuring 4-meters will be transported to the salty water for "a period of care" by medics who suspect the mammal is sick. Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

People and media gather to see firefighters and members of a search and rescue team conduct a mission to move a Beluga whale that strayed into France's Seine river to a saltwater basin, near the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garenne lock in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Credit: Benoit Tessier / Pool via AP

Onlookers wait near the lock of Notre Dame de la Garenne where a Beluga whale is being prepared to be moved, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. French environmentalists are moving a dangerously think Beluga that had strayed into the Seine River last week to a salt-water river basin to try and save its life. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, said the ethereal white mammal measuring 4-meters will be transported to the salty water for "a period of care" by medics who suspect the mammal is sick. Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

French gendarmes and fire brigade with Sea Sheperds members attend a meeting near the lock of Notre Dame de la Garenne where a Beluga whale is being prepared to be moved, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. French environmentalists are moving a dangerously think Beluga that had strayed into the Seine River last week to a salt-water river basin to try and save its life. Lamya Essemlali, president of Sea Shepherd France, said the ethereal white mammal measuring 4-meters will be transported to the salty water for "a period of care" by medics who suspect the mammal is sick. Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

Isabelle Dorliat Pouzet, deputy prefect of the town of Evreux speaks to the media near the lock of Notre Dame de la Garenne where a Beluga whale is being prepared to be moved, in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. French environmentalists are moving a dangerously think Beluga that had strayed into the Seine River last week to a salt-water river basin to try and save its life. The whale would remain in its temporary saltwater home for "two to three days" of surveillance and treatment before being towed out to sea, according to Isabelle Dorliat Pouzet, deputy prefect of the town of Evreux. Credit: AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard

Beluga whale that strayed into France's Seine river swims near the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garenne lock in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Credit: Benoit Tessier / Pool via AP

Beluga whale that strayed into France's Seine river swims near the Notre-Dame-de-la-Garenne lock in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, France, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Credit: Benoit Tessier / Pool via AP

Another complicating factor during the beluga's rescue attempt was the extreme heat gripping France. Authorities tried to keep it cool and wet with soaked towels and moved it at nightfall when temperatures are at their lowest.

The sad end to a saga that gripped France in recent days came after experts determined the whale "was too weakened to be put back into water," Guillaume Lericolais, the sub-prefect of France's Calvados region, said.

Rescuers tried to feed the whale fish without success since Friday. Sea Shepherd France said veterinary exams after the beluga's removal from the river showed it has no digestive activity.

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A collage of oak galls created by oak gall wasps. Credit: Kirsten Prior

Climate change has led to warming temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, leading some insect species to expand their range into more northerly oak savannas, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Side by side, Dylan Jones displayed photos of two oak leaves. One was healthy and green, dotted by the occasional gall, a structure made by a herbivorous species of oak gall wasp. The other leaf was yellowed and tattered, the victim of an insect population without predatory checks and balances. Climate change has led to warming temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, leading species such as Neurotereus saltatorius to expand their range into more northerly oak savannas.

"In the native range, you might find a handful of galls on a single leaf. In the expanded range, sometimes you're finding thousands on a single tree," said Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Kirsten Prior. "This is pretty prevalent throughout Vancouver Island."

Jones, a Binghamton University doctoral candidate in biological sciences and Clifford D. Clark Diversity Fellow, is the lead author of a research paper recently published in the Journal of Animal Ecology on the situation. Co-authors on "Latitudinal gradient in species diversity provides high niche opportunities for a range-expanding phytophagous insect" include Prior, field technician Julia Kobelt, then-undergraduate Jenna Ross and Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Thomas Powell.

Oak savannas are grassy and shrubby areas that feature oaks as the dominant tree species. The oak species in questionQuercus garryanarequires a dry environment. As a result, oak savannas are often found in the rain shadow of the West Coast's mountain range, Prior explained.

A diverse and ecologically important group of trees throughout North America, oaks host a wide diversity of insect species, such as oak gall wasps. These wasp species form growths known as galls that can be striking in their varied forms, from those that resemble large apples to others with colorful spikes reminiscent of sea urchins.

Interestingly, Alfred Kinseyyes, that Kinseystudied oak gall wasps before transitioning his field of study to human sexuality.

"There has been a long fascination by biologists and amateurs for this group of species because they're pretty charismatic," Prior said. "You can go to an oak and see all these structures on it."

In addition to their herbivorous creators, these galls host other species of insects, including a dazzling variety of parasitoid wasps, one of the most diverse and ecologically important groups in the animal kingdom, the latter for their role in keeping insect pests in check. Parasitoid wasps lay their eggs in the gall; after hatching, their larvae then eat the oak gall wasp larvae.

Oak gall wasps are highly diverse in North America, but not well-documented; their evolutionary relationships and even the identification of some species remain unknown. A consortium of scientists across the continent is working to change that; Jones and Prior are part of this effort.

"It's important to continue to document biodiversity. We still haven't described a good portion of the biodiversity on Earth, particularly with insects," Prior said.

Ecosystem invaders

The researchers checked their study sites on three different occasions during the course of that summer. Some were quite remote, involving trips down dirt logging roads, or located on Bureau of Land Management property or on preserves associated with Indigenous communities. Others were suburban, located a short jaunt from cities.

Because of urbanization, few oak savannas remain on Vancouver Island; those that are left are highly documented and tended by landowners.

"We've had long relationships with lots of landowners there that allow us to work on their property," Prior said. "Some of them are so jazzed to have researchers there."

Biodiversity tends to work on a latitudinal gradient, Jones added: The closer you are to the equator, the more species you have. A similar situation holds true when it comes to higher altitudes. When one species can expand its range due to warming temperatures, it can move into areas without a diversity of predators and competitors, eventually overwhelming the ecosystem.

The case of the oak gall wasps highlights the importance of biodiversity and the potential long-term ramifications of climate change, the researchers point out.

"Biodiversity can be really important in potentially protecting areas from invading species," Jones said. "If we have strong competitors and predators, this might make areas less susceptible to invading species."

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More information: Latitudinal gradient in species diversity provides high niche opportunities for a range-expanding phytophagous insect, Journal of Animal Ecology (2022). Journal information: Journal of Animal Ecology Latitudinal gradient in species diversity provides high niche opportunities for a range-expanding phytophagous insect,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13780
This image from the Gemini North telescope in Hawai'i reveals a pair of interacting spiral galaxies  NGC 4568 (bottom) and NGC 4567 (top)  as they begin to clash and merge. The galaxies will eventually form a single elliptical galaxy in around 500 million years. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURAImage processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF's NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF's NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF's NOIRLab)

An evocative new image captured by the Gemini North telescope in Hawai'i reveals a pair of interacting spiral galaxiesNGC 4568 and NGC 4567as they begin to clash and merge. These galaxies are entangled by their mutual gravitational field and will eventually combine to form a single elliptical galaxy in around 500 million years. Also visible in the image is the glowing remains of a supernova that was detected in 2020.

Gemini North, one of the twin telescopes of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF's NOIRLab, has observed the initial stages of a cosmic collision approximately 60 million light-years away in the direction of the constellation Virgo. The two stately spiral galaxies, NGC 4568 (bottom) and NGC 4567 (top), are poised to undergo one of the most spectacular events in the universe, a galactic merger. At present, the centers of these galaxies are still 20,000 light-years apart (about the distance from Earth to the center of the Milky Way) and each galaxy still retains its original, pinwheel shape. Those placid conditions, however, will change.

As NGC 4568 and NGC 4567 draw together and coalesce, their dueling gravitational forces will trigger bursts of intense stellar formation and wildly distort their once-majestic structures. Over millions of years, the galaxies will repeatedly swing past each other in ever-tightening loops, drawing out long streamers of stars and gas until their individual structures are so thoroughly mixed that a single, essentially spherical, galaxy emerges from the chaos. By that point, much of the gas and dust (the fuel for star formation) in this system will have been used up or blown away.

A new image captured by the Gemini North telescope in Hawai'i reveals a pair of interacting spiral galaxies  NGC 4568 and NGC 4567  as they begin to clash and merge. These galaxies are entangled by their mutual gravitational field and will eventually combine to form a single elliptical galaxy in around 500 million years. Also visible in the image is the glowing remains of a supernova that was detected in 2020. Credit: Images and Videos: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/F. Summers (STScI), G. Besla (Columbia University), and R. van der Marel (STScI)Image Processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF's NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF's NOIRLab)Music: Stellardrone - A Moment of Stillness

This merger is also a preview of what will happen when the Milky Way and its closest large galactic neighbor the Andromeda Galaxy collide in about 5 billion years.

A bright region in the center of one of NGC 4568's sweeping spiral arms is the fading afterglow of a supernovaknown as SN 2020fqvthat was detected in 2020. The new Gemini image was produced from data taken in 2020.

By combining decades of observations and computer modeling, astronomers now have compelling evidence that merging spiral galaxies like these go on to become elliptical galaxies. It is likely that NGC 4568 and NGC 4567 will eventually resemble their more-mature neighbor Messier 89, an elliptical galaxy that also resides in the Virgo Cluster. With its dearth of star-forming gas, Messier 89 now exhibits minimal star formation and is made up primarily of older, low-mass stars and ancient globular clusters.

This image from the Gemini North telescope in Hawai'i reveals a pair of interacting spiral galaxies  NGC 4568 (bottom) and NGC 4567 (top)  as they begin to clash and merge. The galaxies will eventually form a single elliptical galaxy in around 500 million years. Also shown in the image is the glowing remains of a supernova that was detected in 2020. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURAImage processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF's NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF's NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF's NOIRLab)

Advanced technology on the Gemini North telescope, including the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph North(GMOS-N) and the dry air above the summit of Maunakea, allowed astronomers to capture this spectacular image.

The image was obtained by NOIRLab's Communication, Education & Engagement team, as part of the NOIRLab Legacy Imaging Program.

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Map of the Western United States study area showing topography/bathymetry with WUS256 domain (outer thick black line), labeled major physiographic regions (black lines, Fenneman & Johnson, 1946), plate boundaries (red lines), hotspots (yellow diamonds, Muller et al., 1993), and Pleistocene and Holocene volcanic centers (yellow squares and circles, respectively, Global Volcanism Program (2013)). Abbreviations for features are: BFZ, Blanco Fracture Zone; GR, Gorda Ridge; JdF, Juan de Fuca Hotspot; JdFR, Juan de Fuca Ridge; MFZ, Mendocino Fracture Zone; R, Raton Hotspot; RGR, Rio Grande Rift; SAF, San Andreas Fault; SRP, Snake River Plain; and YS, Yellowstone Hotspot. The global inset map (lower left) shows the WUS256 model domain (black) and Salvus domain for waveform simulations (blue). The depth to the top of Cascadia slab in km (Hayes, 2018) is indicated with dashed green lines. Credit: A. Rodgers et al, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022JB024549

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have created a new adjoint waveform tomography model that more accurately simulates earthquake and explosion ground motions. The paper, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, was selected for an Editor's Highlight.

Seismic tomography is a method to estimate the inaccessible three-dimensional (3D) seismic material properties of the Earth, specifically the speeds of compressional and shear waves related composition and temperature variations. It provides images of 3D structures that relate to plate tectonic processes as well as models to better represent seismic wave propagation through Earth's complex structure.

Unlike typical seismic tomography models, this model uses fully three-dimensional wave propagation simulations to compute the sensitivity of observed seismograms to Earth structure, enabling more accurate simulations and better estimates of seismic source properties.

In the new research, scientists created a new model of the 3D seismic structure for the upper 400 km of the Earth in the western United States using adjoint waveform tomography (AWT). The model is produced by a computationally intensive waveform inversion process that updates the sub-surface model to improve the match to observed seismograms. In order to triangulate features in the model, AWT also is data-intensive, requiring many seismograms crossing the target region.

The teammade up of scientists from LLNL's Geophysical Monitoring Program (GMP) and researchers from Mondaic, a small incubator start-up company from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technologyused more than 60,000 HPC simulations on LLNL's Lassen supercomputer to run 256 model iterations for 72 earthquakes to fit nearly 100,000 seismograms.

"While other models of the western U.S. exist, this model is unique in that it is based on many more inversion iterations than previous models and provides much better fits to recorded seismograms," said LLNL scientist Artie Rodgers, lead author of the paper. "It also can provide more accurate estimates of seismic source characteristics by removing distortion due to unknown 3D Earth structure in previous models."

Researchers found that seismic structure is made up of 3D variations in compressional and shear seismic wave speeds and density, and horizontally and vertically polarized waves have different speeds.

While many seismic tomography studies focus on imaging of sub-surface structure, the primary motivation in the new work was the development of a 3D model for improved waveform fits of periods of 20 to 120 seconds after an Earth motion.

"We produced a more detailed 3D structure of the crust and upper mantle for the purposes of improving predictive capabilities of 3D waveform simulations for applications such as source characterization and/or long-period earthquake ground motion simulations," Rodgers said. "Waveform fits are remarkably better with our final model compared to previous models of the same region."

Nuclear explosion monitoring methods can benefit from 3D models that can accurately simulate short-period waveforms (20 s), which are strongly impacted by crustal and upper mantle structure. Similarly, earthquake ground motion hazard and risk studies require simulations of much shorter-period waveforms (less than 510 s) than found in the new model. However, Rodgers said the large-scale structure must first fit the longer period data before drilling down to the shorter period waves. Work to resolve finer-scale structure is underway.

This new method enables LLNL to exploit more seismic waveform information to support national and international monitoring of nuclear tests. UC Berkeley graduate student Claire Doody and LLNL scientists Andrea Chiang and Nathan Simmons also contributed to the research.

More information: A. Rodgers et al, WUS256: An Adjoint Waveform Tomography Model of the Crust and Upper Mantle of the Western United States for Improved Waveform Simulations, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth (2022). Journal information: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth A. Rodgers et al, WUS256: An Adjoint Waveform Tomography Model of the Crust and Upper Mantle of the Western United States for Improved Waveform Simulations,(2022). DOI: 10.1029/2022JB024549
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

UK scientists have created an "eternal engine" to keep the next generation of atomic clock ticking.

Precision timing is essential for systems such as global navigation, satellite mapping, establishing the composition of exoplanets and the next generations of telecommunication. But atomic clocks are currently massive devicesweighing hundreds of kilogramswhich need to be housed within precise, difficult-to-maintain conditions.

That is why scientists from around the world are racing to build portable versions that will work in real-world settings, and could replace existing satellite navigation systems, such as GPS and Galileo.

Now, research undertaken at the University of Sussex and continued at Loughborough University has solved a major stumbling block in the development of these portable atomic clocks, by working out how to reliably switch "on" their counting deviceand keep them running.

Microcombs are a fundamental part of future optical atomic clocksthey allow one to count the oscillation of the "atomic pendulum" in the clock, converting the atomic oscillation at hundreds of trillions of times per second to a billion times a seconda gigahertz frequency, that modern electronic systems can easily measure.

Based on electronic compatible optical microchips, microcombs are the best candidates to miniaturize the next generation of ultraprecise timekeeping. They are cutting-edge laser technology sources, made up of ultraprecise laser lines, equally spaced in the spectrum, which resemble a comb.

This peculiar spectrum opens an array of applications blending ultraprecise time keeping and spectroscopy which could lead to the discovery of exoplanets, or ultra-sensitive medical instruments based simply on breath scans.

"None of this will ever be possible if the microcombs are so sensitive that they cannot maintain their state even if someone just enters in the lab," said Professor Alessia Pasquazi, who began this ERC and EPSRC funded project at Sussex before moving to Loughborough with her team, last month.

In a new paper published in the journal Nature, research undertaken at the University of Sussex by Prof Pasquazi and her team has identified a way to allow the system to start by itself and remain in a stable stateessentially being self-recovering.

"We have basically an 'eternal engine'like Snowpiercer if you watch itwhich always comes back to the same state if something happens to disrupt it," said Prof Pasquazi.

"A well-behaved microcomb uses a special type of wave, called a cavity-soliton, which is not simple to get. Like the engine of a petrol car, a microcomb prefers to stay in an 'off-state.' When you start your car, you need a starter motor that makes the engine rotate properly."

"At the moment, microcombs do not have a good 'starter-motor.' It is like having your car with the battery constantly broken, and you need someone to push it downhill every time you need to use it, hoping that it will start. If you imagine that usually a cavity-soliton disappears in a microcomb laser when someone simply talks in the room, you see that we have a problem here."

Professor Marco Peccianti, who worked on the research at the University of Sussex and directs the newly funded Emergent Photonic Research Centre at Loughborough University, added that "in 2019 we had already demonstrated that we could use a different type of wave to get microcombs."

"We called them laser cavity solitons because we embedded directly the microchip in a standard laser and we obtained a great boost in the efficiency."

"We have shown now that our soliton can be naturally turned into the only state of the system, and we call this process 'self-emergence.'"

Dr. Juan Sebastian Totero Gongora, EPSRC research fellow in quantum technologies in Loughborough explained that "it works like a simple thermodynamical system, which is ruled by 'global variables," like temperature and pressure."

"At atmospheric pressure, you are always sure to find water as ice at -5 degrees or as vapor above 100 degrees, whatever has happened to the water molecules before."

Dr. Maxwell Rowley, who obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Sussex developing this system with Prof Pasquazi, and who now works with CPI TMD Technologies, a division of Communications & Power Industries (CPI), where work continues to commercialize the microcomb, added that "similarly, when we set the electrical current driving the laser to the appropriate value, here we are guaranteed that the microcomb will operate in our desired soliton state."

"It is a set-and-forget systeman 'eternal engine' that always recover the correct state."

The paper has been published this week in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Sussex, City University of Hong Kong, the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, in China, Swinburne University of Technology in Australia, the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) in Canada and the University of Strathclyde.

The pursuit of this technology is a key goal of the newly funded Emergent Photonics Laboratory Research Centre, which will focus on cutting edge optical technologies at Loughborough.

The microcomb is a core component for creating a portable and ultra-accurate time reference, which is critically needed for the current and next generation of telecommunication (5 and 6G+ and fiber communication), network synchronization (e.g. electrical network) and it will reduce our dependence on the GPS.

The self-emergent microcombs will be directly used in optical-fiber based calcium ion references, being pursued under Innovate UK support and the leadership of Professor Matthias Keller at the University of Sussex with CPI TMD technologies, and in a broader collaboration on Quantum Technologies including co-author Professor Roberto Morandotti at the Canadian Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS).

Prof Pasquazi says that "microcombs are expected to revolutionize the telecommunication networks, which use many different colors to transfer as much information as possible."

"While networks currently use separate lasers for every color, microcombs will provide a compact and power-efficient alternative, with the possibility of also transferring ultra-precise timekeeping."

"The pursuit of next generation telecom technologies is one of the goals of our collaboration with Swinburne University and co-author Professor David Moss."

"We are collaborating with their astronomy department, hopefully one day these 'optical rulers' will enable their search for exoplanets."

Explore further New microcomb could help discover exoplanets and detect diseases

More information: Maxwell Rowley et al, Self-emergence of robust solitons in a microcavity, Nature (2022). Journal information: Nature Maxwell Rowley et al, Self-emergence of robust solitons in a microcavity,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04957-x
A man was stabbed on a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train Tuesday night, just a day after Chicago police pledged to increase CTA security in an effort to make public transportation safer.

The 37-year-old man had been riding an L train when he became involved in an argument with a woman around 10:30 p.m., police said. The pair exited the train at the Fullerton station, where the woman struck the man twice in the neck with a sharp object before running away, police said. Paramedics took the man to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition, officials said.

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Much earlier in the day during an unrelated incident, Chicago police arrested a 22-year-old man who was charged in connection with carrying a gun at the Roosevelt CTA station, 1167 S. State St., police said. According to a news release, around 1:10 a.m. officers saw the man on a CTA platform, clutching onto his waistband area where (he) appeared to be concealing a firearm.

The man started to run but he was stopped by members of the public transportation tactical team, police said. A weapon was recovered, and Erion Harrington, 22, was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, police said.

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A few hours later, around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a man riding a Red Line train had his bag stolen in another unrelated incident, police said. Officers responded, located and arrested the thief, police said.

Violence at CTA platforms and trains has spurred alarm in recent weeks. On Friday, a man shoved someone off a Near West Side train platform onto the tracks.

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A week earlier, four people were stabbed when a group of six tried to rob a man at a Near North Side Red Line station.

Then, early Saturday, a 29-year-old was shot and killed while riding a Red Line train.

[ Chicago police to beef up CTA patrols after man slain on Red Line ]

CTA workers are doing everything they can to stem these egregious acts of violence, CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. said at the time.

The Police Department is dedicated to ensuring that the people who ride the CTA are safe, Superintendent David Brown said Monday.

CPD plans to add more officers and police dogs to the transit system in response to the recent violence, he said. Officers are being pulled from desk duties to help meet demand, he added. Brown said crime on CTA property is down 43%, when compared with pre-pandemic numbers from 2019.

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CTA authorities and police planned to increase security in March to combat a spike in transit crime. They said they would double the number of unarmed security guards and add more police officers and supervisors to patrol the transit system.

Chicago Tribunes Paige Fry, Adriana Perez and Shanzeh Ahmad contributed.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In what's thought to be one of the biggest dog rescue efforts in the U.S., nearly 4,000 beagles are looking for forever homes after being saved from a Virginia facility that bred them to be sold to laboratories for drug experiments.

Animal rescue organization volunteers started moving the first batch of dogs late last month, the U.S. Humane Sociality reported. As of Tuesday, just over half of them had been removed, the non-profit reported on its website.

"I was able to bring out the very first puppy and it gets you. To know what these dogs were destined for and where they are going now, it's indescribable," said Kitty Block, president and chief executive of the U.S. Humane Society.

Shelters from Illinois to Pennsylvania have begun receiving the dogs to give them medical exams, vaccinations and other treatments before they are ready for adoption.

"It's going to take 60 days to get all of these animals out, and working with our shelter and rescue partners across the country, working with them to get these dogs eventually into ever-loving homes," Block told Reuters.

The plan to remove the dogs kicked off when the federal government filed a civil lawsuit in May against Envigo RMS, which owns and operates the Cumberland, Virginia, facility that breeds beagles for medical research.

According to court papers, the U.S. Department of Justice alleged Animal Welfare Act violations at the facility.

"It's very unprecedented," said Audra Houghton, the Humane Society's Animal Rescue Team director. "I don't think there is anyone on our team that has seen 4,000 dogs in one location at one time in their entire career."

Federal officials accused Envigo of a chain of animal welfare violations at the facilityincluding dogs receiving insufficient food, inadequate medical care, housing in filthy conditions and some being euthanized without anesthesia. An inspection report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that, between January and July of last year, more than 300 puppy deaths were attributed to "unknown causes"with the facility not taking any additional steps to investigate the deaths or prevent similar losses in the future.

In June, parent company Inotiv Inc. said it would close the facility. In July, Envigo settled with the government, without paying any fines.

"The Cumberland Facility was recognized as needing improvements and investments," Inotiv's Chief Executive Officer Robert Leasure, Jr. said in a statement released to U.S. TODAY Wednesday. "Our work and the work of our clients is essential to saving human lives. Without critical drug discovery and development efforts, millions of people around the world would continue their lives devoid of any hope for treatments and cures to life-threatening diseases. Our top priority continues to be ensuring proper animal welfare and regulatory compliant practices at all of our facilities."

The Humane Society does not adopt animals directly to the public.

On its website, the non-profit wrote its shelter and rescue partners plan to place the dogs into foster and adoptive homes.

"While these dogs prepare for the next stage of their new lives, our work is far from over," the non-profit posted on its Facebook page. "Please, rush a donation to help transfer the remainder of these dogs and give more animals a better life."

Explore further 4,000 beagles to be rescued from Virginia breeding facility after animal welfare violations alleged

More information: For more information visit For more information visit www.humanesociety.org/beaglerescue , where names of shelter and rescue partners aiding with placement are listed as they are confirmed.

(c)2022 USA Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Mountains protruding above the surface of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Credit: Jan Lenaerts

The fate of the world's biggest ice sheet still rests in our hands if global temperature increases are kept below the upper limit set by the Paris Agreement on climate change.

A new study led by Durham University, UK, shows that the worst effects of global warming on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) could be avoided if temperatures do not rise by more than 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Staying below this limit would see the EAISwhich holds the vast majority of Earth's glacier icecontribute less than half a meter to sea level rise by the year 2500, the researchers say.

However, they add that if warming continues to increase beyond the 2C limit, we could potentially see the EAIS contribute several meters to sea-level rise in just a few centuries.

The research team, which included scientists from the UK, Australia, France and the U.S., has published its findings in the journal Nature.

To assess the sensitivity of the EAIS, they looked at how the ice sheet responded to past warm periods, as well as examining where changes are currently occurring.

They then analyzed a number of computer simulations made by previous studies to examine the effects of different greenhouse gas emission levels and temperatures on the ice sheet by the years 2100, 2300 and 2500.

Scientists overlooking the edge of Mawson Glacier, East Antarctica. Credit: Richard Jones

Lead author Professor Chris Stokes, of the Department of Geography, Durham University, UK, said: "A key conclusion from our analysis is that the fate of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet remains very much in our hands.

"This ice sheet is by far the largest on the planet, containing the equivalent of 52 meters of sea level and it's really important that we do not awaken this sleeping giant.

"We used to think East Antarctica was much less vulnerable to climate change, compared to the ice sheets in West Antarctica or Greenland, but we now know there are some areas of East Antarctica that are already showing signs of ice loss. Satellite observations have revealed evidence of thinning and retreating, especially where glaciers draining the main ice sheet come into contact with warm ocean currents."

The team's analysis shows that if warming continues beyond 2100, sustained by high emissions, then East Antarctica could add several meters to global sea level rise over the coming centuries. This would add to the substantial contributions from Greenland and West Antarctica and threaten millions of people worldwide who live in coastal areas.

Iceberg towers calved from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Credit: Nerilie Abram

Professor Stokes added: "Restricting global temperature increases to below the 2C limit set by the Paris Climate Agreement should mean that we avoid the worst-case scenarios, or perhaps even halt the melting of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and therefore limit its impact on global sea level rise."

When world leaders met at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, they agreed to limit global warming to well below 2C and pursue efforts to limit the rise to 1.5C.

According to the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, published last year, human activity has already increased global mean temperatures by about 1.1C since pre-industrial times.

The Durham-led study showed that with dramatically reduced greenhouse gas emissions and only a small rise in temperature, the EAIS might be expected to contribute around two centimeters of sea level rise by 2100much less than the ice loss expected from Greenland and West Antarctica. Indeed, some research shows that snowfall has increased over East Antarctica in the last few decades and, if this continues, it will offset some of the expected ice losses over the next century.

Scientists drilling a shallow ice core at the surface of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Credit: Nerilie Abram

If the world instead continues on a pathway of very high greenhouse emissions, the researchers could not rule out the possibility of the EAIS contributing nearly half a meter to sea levels by 2100, but viewed this as very unlikely.

If emissions remain high beyond 2100 then the EAIS could contribute around one to three meters to global sea levels by 2300, and two to five meters by 2500.

Crucially, if the target of the Paris Agreement is met, significant ice loss from East Antarctica could be reduced or even prevented, with the EAIS's contribution to sea-level rise remaining below half a meter by 2500.

The researchers also reviewed how the ice sheet responded to past warm periods, when carbon dioxide concentrations and atmospheric temperatures were only a little higher than present.

They said that unlike the very rapid and extreme warming that we have experienced over the last few decades, that can only be explained by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, past warming occurred over much longer timescales and was largely caused by changes in the way the Earth orbits the Sun.

A field camp on the surface of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, Princess Elizabeth Land. Credit: Nerilie Abram

For example, the last time that carbon dioxide concentrations exceeded the current value of 417 parts per million was during a period known as the mid-Pliocene, around three million years ago. Temperatures were only 2-4C higher than present at that timein the range of the temperature changes we could experience later this centurybut global mean sea level eventually reached 10-25 meters higher. Worryingly, evidence from sea-floor sediments around East Antarctica indicates that part of the ice sheet collapsed and contributed several meters to sea level rise during the mid-Pliocene.

Even as recently as 400,000 years ago, not that long ago on geological timescales, there is evidence that a part of the EAIS retreated 700 km inland in response to only 1-2C of global warming.

Sky over Vanderford Glacier, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Credit: Richard Jones

Professor Nerilie Abram, a co-author of the study from the Australian National University in Canberra, said: "A key lesson from the past is that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to even relatively modest warming scenarios. It isn't as stable and protected as we once thought.

"We now have a very small window of opportunity to rapidly lower our greenhouse gas emissions, limit the rise in global temperatures and preserve the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

"Taking such action would not only protect the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, but also slow the melting of other major ice sheets such as Greenland and West Antarctica, which are more vulnerable and at higher risk.

"Therefore, it's vitally important that countries achieve and strengthen their commitments to the Paris Agreement."

The terminus of Vanderford Glacier, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica. Credit: Richard Jones

The research was led by Durham University working with King's College London, and Imperial College, London (UK); the Australian National University, University of New South Wales, University of Tasmania and Monash University (Australia); Universite Grenoble Alpes (France); the University of Colorado Boulder, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Columbia University (U.S.).

Explore further Antarctic ice's deep past shows it could be more vulnerable to warming

More information: Chris Stokes, Response of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet to past and future climate change, Nature (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04946-0 Journal information: Nature Chris Stokes, Response of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet to past and future climate change,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04946-0
Female white-faced capuchin monkeys interacting with each other. Credit: Susan Perry

Female white-faced capuchin monkeys living in the tropical dry forests of northwestern Costa Rica may have figured out the secret to a longer lifehaving fellow females as friends.

"As humans, we assume there is some benefit to social interactions, but it is really hard to measure the success of our behavioral strategies," said UCLA anthropology professor and field primatologist Susan Perry. "Why do we invest so much in our relationships with others? Does it lead to a longer lifespan? Does it lead to more reproductive success? It requires a colossal effort to measure this in humans and other animals."

Perry would know. Since 1990, she has been directing Lomas Barbudal Capuchin Monkey Project in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where her team of researchers document the daily life of hundreds of large-brained monkeys. While chimpanzees and orangutans are more closely related to humans, the white-faced capuchin monkey has highly sophisticated social structures that influence behavior and are passed to others.

Throughout the year, Perry's team of graduate students, postdoctoral students, international volunteers and local researchers, trek into the forest for 13-hour days of observation to try to draw conclusions that may help us understand our own relationships, culture and other behaviors.

Credit: University of California, Los Angeles

Female-female relationships matter

The latest findings, published recently in Behavioral Ecology, honed in on the relationship between female capuchins' social integration and survival. The authors tracked the female monkeys' interactions with other females, males and companions of any sex and age, based on 18 years of data. Lead author Kotrina Kajokaite earned her bachelor's, master's and doctorate at UCLA while working with the monkey project data under Perry's supervision.

Their key findingadult female capuchins who are better integrated into social networks with other adult females survive longer.

Interactions counted in the study included giving and receiving grooming, foraging nearby, and taking part in coalitionary conflictsintervening to help one another in conflicts by fighting, chasing, or making aggressive sounds and facial expressions.

Credit: University of California, Los Angeles

There was no evidence that heterosexual relationships provided any survival-related benefits to females, at least regarding the types of behaviors measured in this study. But this doesn't rule out the possibility that some adult females might benefit from social interactions with one or a few male partners who co-reside with them for long periods of time.

While there is also some evidence that females who were more socially integrated into their overall group survived longer, the overwhelming conclusion from the research is that female-female relationships had the greatest impact on survival.

Testing friendship through rituals

In a different study published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Perry's team observed white-faced capuchin monkeys engaging in socially learned human-like rituals. Among the interactions: inserting a finger into the mouth, eye, nostril or ear of a social partner; prying open each other's mouths or hand to conduct a detailed inspection of its contents; passing an object back and forth from mouth to mouth in a gentle tug-o-war; and clasping each other's hands.

Credit: University of California, Los Angeles

Other rituals observed included cupping the hand over some part of the partner's face, sucking on an appendage belonging to the partner and using the partner's back or belly as a drum to create loud, rhythmic noises. Some of these rituals went on for up to 30 minutes, even though some include uncomfortable elements that might be expected to annoy a partner.

How do these behaviors function in the lives of these animals and whatif anythingcan they tell us about the evolution of ritual behaviors in humans?

The rituals are used to test the quality of friendships and alliances and are particularly prevalent in pairs of monkeys uncertain of the current status of their relationship, Perry said. They're most often performed by pairs that rarely interact; the rituals are also most often used by monkeys with a history of primarily friendly interactions.

Although the capuchin rituals have nearly all the elements present in anthropologists' and psychologists' definitions of rituals, they differ from humans in that they are not performed simultaneously by all members of a group. Perry said the psychology behind the nonhuman primates' bond-testing may have been an evolutionary precursor to the more group-oriented form of humans' ritual practices.

Explore further Research finds male and female capuchin monkeys show visible differences in brain structures

More information: Kotrina Kajokaite et al, Social integration predicts survival in female white-faced capuchin monkeys, Behavioral Ecology (2022). Kotrina Kajokaite et al, Social integration predicts survival in female white-faced capuchin monkeys,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac043 Susan Perry et al, Capuchin monkey rituals: an interdisciplinary study of form and function, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2020). DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0422 Journal information: Behavioral Ecology
A leveret or young hare by the runway at Dublin Airport. Researchers from University College Cork have identified the times of day when hares are at most risk of being hit by aircraft on runways. Photograph by Samantha Ball, University College Cork, Ireland. Credit: Samantha Ball, University College Cork, Ireland

Researchers have identified the times of the day when hares are more likely to be struck by aircraft at Dublin airportand believe their findings may help reduce costly "runway roadkill" incidences around the world.

A study led by Samantha Ball, an Irish Research Council Scholar at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) in University College Cork used motion-activated camera traps to collect activity data on the hare population inhabiting the airfield at Dublin Airport, and used the data to identify when hare strikes, or wildlife-aircraft collisions, were more likely to occur.

These new findings were published today in the journal Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation.

The new study follows a paper published last year in which a team lead by Ms Ball found the number of wildlife-aircraft collisions with mammals are increasing by up to 68% annually in some countries and has caused damage that has cost in excess of $103 million in the United States alone over a 30 year period.

"Firstly, we identified two distinct time periods of increased strike risk, generally around sunrise and in the hours approaching midnight," Ms Ball explained.

"Of course, with varying daylength throughout the year in Ireland, there is some seasonal variation here. We also found that hare strike times at the airfield were closely associated with the times of day when hares were most active at the airfield but when aircraft movements were relatively low.

"This tells us that we can focus strike prevention efforts- such as scaring tactics and runway patrols- directly onto the hare population themselves as opposed to facing the near-impossible task of altering aircraft activity, in order to reduce hare strike events.

"This work has allowed us to identify periods throughout the day, and year, when strike risk with hares may be higher, indicating when strike prevention efforts can be increased to deter hares from the active runway. The research can also be applied to other airfields, as although we focus here on the Irish hare at Dublin Airport, this method can be used to identify periods of increased strike risk with ground-dwelling species of concern worldwide, such as deer and large carnivore species," she said.

The paper "Hareport hazard: Identifying hare activity patterns and increased mammal-aircraft strike risk at an International Airport by Samantha Ball," Anthony Caravaggi, and Fidelma Butler will be published by Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation.

Explore further More mammals are being struck by aircraft each year

More information: Hareport hazard: Identifying hare activity patterns and increased mammal-aircraft strike risk at an International Airport, Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation (2022). Hareport hazard: Identifying hare activity patterns and increased mammal-aircraft strike risk at an International Airport,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/rse2.2934
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

There is growing alarm that Wall Street actors are increasingly buying up hospitals, nursing homes and other providers to make "outsized returns." These investors have little or no knowledge of health care, many say, and treat it simply as a financial asset to be bought and sold, not a social good.

These findings are documented in research by ILR Professor Rosemary Batt and Eileen Appelbaum, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

In their new study, Batt and Appelbaum describe how investors are undermining the financial stability of hospitals and nursing homes by selling off their real estate and pocketing the proceeds for themselves, rather than reinvesting the money to improve patient care. The study was published Aug. 1 by the Institute for New Economic Thinking and the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

The perpetrators, the researchers say, are private equity firms in partnership with "real estate investment trusts," known as "REITs." Both are Wall Street investment funds that most people have never heard of, but that have increasingly penetrated the health care industry.

Their tactic is known as a sale-leaseback. Private equity firms buy out health care providers, load them with debt and plan to exit them in a four- to five-year window. REITs are their handmaidens, Batt said. The REITs buy the real estate and lease it back to hospitals or nursing homes in long-term leases that typically increase at 3% annually. Sale-leasebacks provide quick returns for private equity firms and stable long-term returns for the REITs.

Batt, the ILR School's Alice H. Cook Professor of Women and Work, provides an example: "Take the Steward Health Care System. Cerberus Capital, a private equity firm, bought six Catholic hospitals in the Boston area in 2011. The Massachusetts attorney general oversaw the conversion of the hospitals from non-profit to for-profit status, and monitored Cerberus' compliance with requirements for charity care and investment for five years. As soon as the attorney general's oversight expired, Cerberus sold the hospital property for $1.25 billion to a health care REIT, Medical Properties Trust. But the hospitals were left in shambles."

"The hospitals were suddenly paying inflated rents on property they had owned for over 100 years. To pay the rent on prime city properties, the private equity owners required deep cuts in staffing, supplies and equipment. Even so, the Steward system was deeply in the redthe worst financial performer of all hospitals in Massachusetts in 2019before the pandemic hit."

REITs control over $3.5 trillion in assets in the U.S., but pay no taxes because the law defines them as passive investors. "However, their actions are anything but thattheir aggressive actions and costly rents undermine the ability of health care providers to survive and serve patient needs, according to Batt. Appelbaum said, "We shouldn't be subsidizing financial actors who make outsized profits at the expense of patients and workers. Policymakers need to revisit their tax-exempt status and rein in their behavior."
Associate Professor Maria Karanika-Murray. Credit: Nottingham Trent University

The performance of workers across their employment life span has been mapped by a new study, which found that more complex jobs can help employees to maintain their ability to be proactive and adaptive at work as they grow older.

Using survey responses from more than 900 employees of a local government organization, research led by Nottingham Trent University (NTU) analyzed proficiency, proactivity, and adaptability, and also looked at the complexity of the job.

The results showed that proactivitysuch as innovation and taking initiative at workshowed a slow decrease from early life until midlife, around 40 years of age, and remained stable for about 15 years until it started to decrease again at about 55 years of age.

However, performing a highly complex job protected workers from this decline in proactivity. In more complex jobs, proactivity appeared to decrease gradually until about 30 years of age, remained stable for approximately five years, and started to increase again from midlife until retirement age. However, midlife was the tipping point. People seemed to be least proactive around midlife but then became more proactive if their job was more complex or became less proactive if their job was less complex.

Furthermore, the ability to adapt to changes in one's job or in the workplace decreased until around 42 years of age and then increased gradually until the end of the work life span. People were least adaptive in midlife but most adaptive in early and later stages of life.

There was no change in task proficiency across the working life span, suggesting that how good a worker is at their job is stable across different age groups or is not linked to other changes across the life span.

These changes in performance can be explained by changing priorities in different life stages, the accumulation of experience, and the observation that the accumulation of skills and expertise over time may counteract any declines in physical or cognitive functioning as we get older.

Workers in the "early exploration" stage of their career (roughly age 1830) are typically prioritizing exploring their identity and role, and experiences such as furthering education, or starting a career or a family.

Midlife (around age 2549) was seen to be a crucial stage when different types of performance may increase or decrease depending on how challenging a job is. People in midlife tend to experience more responsibilities across all areas of life, such as bringing up children, caring for older dependents, or career changes. This conflict of roles can lead to poor integration in the workplace, impacting on job commitment and performance.

The late stage (roughly age 4565) can see a shift in goals from work to family and leisure, with fewer responsibilities and more stable relationships. Key concerns may include retirement, caregiving, the empty nest, or becoming a grandparent.

Lead researcher Dr. Maria Karanika-Murray, Associate Professor in Occupational Health Psychology at NTU's School of Social Sciences, said: "There is evidence that work performance may increase or decrease with age, but that evidence is inconclusive and often contradictory. Some research shows that performance increases and other that it decreases over time across our working life span. Our findings reveal that it is possible that performance both increases and also decreases depending on what stage one is at in their working life and how complex their job is.

"For example, older workers are better able to deploy resources to cope with demands, prioritize goals, and adapt to change. They use their mental, physical, and social resources to deal with age-related losses, which can have a positive impact on work performance.

"Older workers may also focus more on the development of social relationships and supporting the younger generation, whereas younger workers may be more motivated by career goals and further developing their skills and knowledge."

The study suggests that performance should not be assessed as one concept. Instead, employers should consider different types of performancesuch as adaptability and proactivitywhich can be essential in a changing world of work and for different types of jobs. Organizations should be aware that employees at different life stages have different needs but also strengths, and use that knowledge to provide career-stage appropriate support to their employees.

Dr. George Michaelides, from the University of East Anglia, who was co-author on the paper, added: "Of course many of these changes across the life span vary between individuals and are not universal. These are general observations from a large sample of workers. However, they help us to understand changes in performance across the life span, expect any possible negative changes, and build on positive changes at different life stages. In turn, this can help us to support job performance and, more broadly, life adaptation. The balance and timing of gains and losses across the life course is important. Here, midlife is a critical point for mapping how resources change across the working life span.

"For instance, we found that complex jobs can help to keep levels of adaptability and proactivity high, even increasing reserves at midlife to levels that are higher than those at the early life stage. This gives employers the opportunity to redesign or adjust jobs to younger or older workers' needs and individual preferences, help increase job complexity and counteract any losses in resources and capacities to do a good job."

The research, "Curvilinear Relationships Between Age and Job Performance and the Role of Job Complexity," was carried out by a team of researchers from Nottingham Trent University, Tilburg University in the Netherlands, University of East Anglia, and Bath Spa University. It has been published in the Oxford University Press journal Work, Aging and Retirement.

More information: Maria Karanika-Murray et al, Curvilinear Relationships Between Age and Job Performance and the Role of Job Complexity, Work, Aging and Retirement (2022). Maria Karanika-Murray et al, Curvilinear Relationships Between Age and Job Performance and the Role of Job Complexity,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/workar/waac006
Common lizard (Z. vivipara) newborn. Credit: Andreaz Dupoue and Arnaud Badiane

An international team of researchers has found that some lizards living in increasingly warm environments have shorter telomeres, leading to shorter lifespans. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their 10-year study of lizards living in a mountainous part of France and what they saw when measuring telomere length.

Telomeres are strands of DNA situated on the ends of chromosomes that serve as a sort of cap, helping to protect the DNA inside. Prior research has shown that telomere length can be used as a measure of overall health and aging status. As a person gets older, their telomeres degrade, which plays a role in the aging process and eventual death. Also, shortening telomeres in an individual (or group) can suggest a person (or animal) is having health issues and could therefore have a shorter lifespan. In this new effort, the researchers spent a decade studying 10 groups of common (viviparous) lizards living in parts of the Massif Central mountains in France. They measured telomere length in random lizards of all ages.

As part of their study, the researchers found that population levels for all the groups they studied were droppingand the warmer the temperatures grew, the bigger the decline. The group living in the part of the mountains that had warmed the most, disappeared altogether.

Common lizard (Z. vivipara) newborn. Credit: Andreaz Dupoue and Arnaud Badiane

Suspecting the population declines were related to the increase in temperatures, the researchers compared the condition of the telomeres between lizard groups. They found that those living in places that had warmed the most had shorter and more degraded telomeres. The also found indications of lizards passing on telomere traits to their younglizards were being born with shorter telomeres and thus had shorter lifespans. Because of that, many died before they grew old enough to reproduce, further reducing population size.

The researchers conclude that climate change is making the lizards age prematurely and they are thus at risk of extinction. They also suggest that testing telomere length and condition in other species in other places could serve as a means for testing their survivability as the planet warms.

Explore further Size does matter when it comes to telomeres

More information: Andreaz Dupoue et al, Lizards from warm and declining populations are born with extremely short telomeres, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Andreaz Dupoue et al, Lizards from warm and declining populations are born with extremely short telomeres,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201371119

 2022 Science X Network
Patagosaurus is from Patagonia, and it is one of the sauropods most closely related to Perijasaurus. Credit: Pol et al. (2020)

A medium-sized sauropod dinosaur inhabited the tropical lowland forested area of the Serrania del Perija in northern Colombia approximately 175 million years ago, according to a new study by an international team of researchers published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

The new species is a long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur known from a single trunk vertebra that is about a half meter tall and wide. The vertebra bears a distinct pattern of bony struts that identify it as the new dinosaur species Perijasaurus lapaz (pear-EE-hah-SOW-roos la-PAHZ)named in recognition of the mountainous region where it was found and for the 2016 peace treaty that allowed scientists to pursue their research decades after the fossil remains were found in 1943.

Perijasaurus is the northernmost occurrence of a sauropod in South America and represents an early phase in their evolutionary history.

"This new genus and species in the paleotropics allows us to understand a little more about the origin of the sauropods in the Jurassic, as well as how they set the stage for later sauropods from the Cretaceous," said study lead author Aldo Rincon Burbano, professor of physics and geosciences at the Universidad del Norte in Colombia.

The fossil was first discovered in 1943 during a geological mapping campaign by the Tropical Oil Company. The specimen was taken to the collections of University of California, Berkeley and preliminarily described in 1955.

University of Michigan paleontology curator and professor Jeff Wilson Mantilla examined the specimen as a graduate student in 1997 and later developed a project supported by the Fulbright Foundation to study early sauropod evolution in Colombia.

As part of that project, the Colombian specimen was loaned to U-M, where chief preparator William Sanders removed glues and plaster, greatly increasing the visibility of anatomical details and reducing the total weight of the sample.

"Following repreparation of the fossil, we were able to better visualize the delicate bony laminae that interconnect the projecting parts of the vertebrathe spine, the intervertebral articulations, the rib articulationsthe architecture of those connections provides critical morphological information that identifies it as a new species and places it within the sauropod family tree," Wilson Mantilla said.

A 3D model of the specimen is hosted on the University of Michigan Online Repository of Fossils.

A conflict since 1964 between the Colombian military forces, the FARC guerrilla group and paramilitary groups made it unsafe to conduct research in Serrania del Perija, near the border between Colombia and Venezuela, until the peace agreements in 2016.

Since then, the research team has been working to determine with higher precision where the fossil was found. A satellite image of the region was superimposed upon a hand-drawn map from 1955 showing the location of the fossil. A further clue was provided by sediment removed from the vertebra itself during the preparation processallowing the team to determine the specific layer from which the bone was

collected. Fieldwork at the site and neighboring localities helped to reconstruct the paleoenvironment the dinosaur inhabited.

"Perijasaurus lived in an environment of low slopes associated with a river and a forested area. We found fine sand and leaf debris in the sediment deposited in the area where the vertebra was originally found, and it is consistent with the sediment within the neural arch of the vertebra, which are only preserved near a floodplain, i.e., near the slopes of a river, a wooded area," said Daniel Raad, a former geology student at the Universidad del Norte.

Most of the discoveries of dinosaurs in South America come from rocks from the Cretaceous period located in Argentina and Brazil. Dinosaurs from the northern part of South America are much rarer, particularly during the Jurassic and Triassic periods, during the initial radiation of dinosaurs, when landmasses were still substantially interconnected.

"Although Perijasaurus is represented by a single vertebra, that region of the skeleton provides the most information in sauropods, due to a series of laminae and other structures," said Martin Ezcurra, a paleontologist and associate researcher of the CONICET (Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research) and head curator of paleovertebrates at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences.

The researchers were able to determine the evolutionary relationships of Perijasaurus through a computational analysis focusing on Early and Middle Jurassic sauropods.

A single trunk vertebra that is about a half meter tall and wide has allowed scientists to identify a new species of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaur. Credit: U-M Online Repository of Fossils viewer developed by the U-M Museum of Paleontology

"Perijasaurus is part of the early radiation of sauropods, which includes species from southern South America, Africa, Asia and Europe," said Harold Jimenez Velandia, a geologist at the University of Caldas.

The presence of Perijasaurus in the paleotropics of South America, together with its close phylogenetic relationship with geographically widespread species that inhabited low latitudes, suggests that sauropods diversified and dispersed fairly rapidly following a major anoxic event at the end of the Lower Jurassic, when portions of the oceans were depleted of oxygen over large geographic areas.

"What we see in the Early Jurassic, both in high latitudes and in the most tropical areas, is that sauropod species were evolutionarily and geographically interconnected, which is something that had also been seen with other groups of carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs," Ezcurra said.

Sauropods are the largest animals to have walked on land, some reaching estimated lengths of 49 meters and weights of up to 57 metric tons. Their ability to support their weight and move their bodies efficiently stems from a series of adaptations to reduce weight and increase bony support.

An anatomical hallmark of sauropods is vertebral pneumaticity. Essentially, extensions of the air-sac system of the lungs extend into the vertebral column and actually remove internal bone, effectively lightening the skeleton.

"By the Late Jurassic, sauropods had evolved highly pneumatic vertebrae riddled with air spaces that removed one-half to three-quarters the bone weight. Perijasaurus represents an evolutionary antecedent in which the pneumatic invasions are much simpler and more limited in extent, removing less than a quarter of bone volume," Wilson Mantilla said.

He said the team will continue to focus on regions of Colombia that have exposures of Jurassic sediments.

"Colombia is emerging as a country with great potential to contribute to the paleontology of the continent and the world," Wilson Mantilla said.

Perijasaurus is permanently stored at the University of California Museum of Paleontology in Berkeley, California.

Explore further Three fossils shed light on dinosaurs in China

More information: Aldo F. Rincon et al, A sauropod from the Lower Jurassic La Quinta formation (Dept. Cesar, Colombia) and the initial diversification of eusauropods at low latitudes, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (2022). Aldo F. Rincon et al, A sauropod from the Lower Jurassic La Quinta formation (Dept. Cesar, Colombia) and the initial diversification of eusauropods at low latitudes,(2022). DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2021.2077112 Specimin 3D model: umorf.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/wp/wp  e=1673&extension=ctm Journal information: Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
The 200-foot-tall (60-meter-tall) front of the Getz Ice Shelf in Antarctica is scored with cracks where icebergs are likely to break off, or calve, in this 2016 photo. The first estimate of Antarctic calving has found that since 1997 ice shelves have lost as much ice from calving as from melting. Credit: NASA/GSFC/OIB

New research on Antarctica, including the first map of iceberg calving, doubles the previous estimates of loss from ice shelves and details how the continent is changing.

The greatest uncertainty in forecasting global sea level rise is how Antarctica's ice loss will accelerate as the climate warms. Two studies published Aug. 10 and led by researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California reveal unexpected new data about how the Antarctic Ice Sheet has been losing mass in recent decades.

One study, published in the journal Nature, maps how iceberg calvingthe breaking off of ice from a glacier fronthas changed the Antarctic coastline over the last 25 years. The researchers found that the edge of the ice sheet has been shedding icebergs faster than the ice can be replaced. This surprise finding doubles previous estimates of ice loss from Antarctic's floating ice shelves since 1997, from 6 trillion to 12 trillion metric tons. Ice loss from calving has weakened the ice shelves and allowed Antarctic glaciers to flow more rapidly to the ocean, accelerating the rate of global sea level rise.

The other study, published in Earth System Science Data, shows in unprecedented detail how the thinning of Antarctic ice as ocean water melts it has spread from the continent's outward edges into its interior, almost doubling in the western parts of the ice sheet over the past decade. Combined, the complementary reports give the most complete view yet of how the frozen continent is changing.

Iceberg calving

"Antarctica is crumbling at its edges," says JPL scientist Chad Greene, lead author of the calving study. "And when ice shelves dwindle and weaken, the continent's massive glaciers tend to speed up and increase the rate of global sea level rise."

Most Antarctic glaciers flow to the ocean, where they end in floating ice shelves up to 2 miles (3 kilometers) thick and 500 miles (800 kilometers) across. Ice shelves act like buttresses to glaciers, keeping the ice from simply sliding into the ocean. When ice shelves are stable, they have a natural cycle of calving and replenishment that keeps their size fairly constant over the long term.

Changes in elevation of the Antarctic ice sheet from 1985 to 2021 are shown. Ice height diminishes (red) as the ice sheet melts by contact with ocean water; it rises (blue) where accumulation exceeds melting. Ice shelves are shown in gray. The missions that supplied data are listed at bottom. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

But in recent decades, the warming ocean has been destabilizing Antarctica's ice shelves by melting them from below, making them thinner and weaker. Satellite altimeters measure the thinning process by recording the changing height of the ice, but until this study, there hasn't been a comprehensive assessment of how climate change might be affecting calving around the continent.

That's partly because satellite imagery has been challenging to interpret. "For example," said Greene, "you can imagine looking at a satellite image and trying to figure out the difference between a white iceberg, white ice shelf, white sea ice, and even a white cloud. That's always been a difficult task. But we now have enough data from multiple satellite sensors to see a clear picture of how Antarctica's coastline has evolved in recent years."

For the new study, Greene and his co-authors synthesized satellite imagery of the continent in visible, thermal infrared (heat), and radar wavelengths since 1997. Combining these measurements with an understanding of ice flow gained from an ongoing NASA glacier-mapping project, they charted the edges of ice shelves around 30,000 linear miles (50,000 kilometers) of Antarctic coastline.

Losses from calving have outpaced natural ice-shelf growth so greatly that the researchers think it's unlikely Antarctica can grow back to its pre-2000 extent by the end of this century. In fact, the findings suggest that greater losses can be expected: Antarctica's largest ice shelves all appear to be headed for major calving events in the next 10 to 20 years.

Mapping 36 years of ice loss

In the complementary study, JPL scientists have combined almost 3 billion data points from seven spaceborne altimetry instruments to produce the longest continuous data set on the changing height of the ice sheetan indicator of ice lossfrom as early as 1985. They used radar and laser measurements of ice elevation, accurate to within centimeters, to produce the highest-resolution monthly maps of change ever made of ice loss.

The unparalleled detail in the new record reveals how long-term trends and annual weather patterns affect the ice. It even shows the rise and fall of the ice sheet as subglacial lakes regularly fill and empty miles below the surface. "Subtle changes like these, in combination with improved understanding of long-term trends from this data set, will help researchers understand the processes that influence ice loss, leading to improved future estimates of sea level rise," said JPL's Johan Nilsson, lead author of the study.

Synthesizing and analyzing the massive archives of measurements into a single, high-resolution data set took years of work and thousands of hours of computing time on NASA's servers. Nilsson says it was all worth it: "Condensing the data into something more widely useful may bring us closer to the big breakthroughs we need to better understand our planet and to help prepare us for the future impacts of climate change."

Explore further Sea ice can control Antarctic ice sheet stability, new research finds

More information: Chad Greene, Antarctic calving loss rivals ice shelf thinning, Nature (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05037-w Chad Greene, Antarctic calving loss rivals ice shelf thinning,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05037-w Johan Nilsson et al, Elevation change of the Antarctic Ice Sheet: 1985 to 2020, Earth System Science Data (2022). DOI: 10.5194/essd-14-3573-2022 Journal information: Science , Nature
A woman writing in a notebook. Credit: RF._.studio, Pexels, CC0 (creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

An analysis of scholarly research papers published in the last 50 years provides new insights into trends in research productivity, highlighting an overall increase in productivity and a worldwide gender gap. Milad Haghani of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on August 10, 2022.

Tracking trends in research productivity can help inform many endeavors, such as allocating research funding, making hiring decisions, and maximizing the impact of research.

To build an updated picture of productivity trends, Haghani and colleagues conducted a deep-dive search of scholarly publications using the Web of Science platform. They ultimately analyzed information on 75 million scholarly articles published worldwide between 1970 and 2020. In line with prior evaluations, they used the number of scholarly publications as a measure of research productivity.

This analysis illuminated several trends. Between 2010 to 2020, the yearly number of publications generally increased every year, with the fastest-growing fields being environmental sciences and environmental engineering. However, the overall number of publications dropped in 2020, potentially reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; computer science, engineering, and social science had the most notable 2020 declines.

The analysis also highlighted a persistent worldwide gap in the overall number of publications involving at least one female author versus at least one male author, which does not appear to be closing for any country and is widening in someparticularly in Middle Eastern countries. However, the ratio of female-to-male productivity does appear to be narrowing, albeit at very different rates for different countries.

The analysis did not find any significant gender difference in the overall decline in productivity associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in certain countriesincluding the Netherlands, the U.S., and Germanythe pandemic was associated with a greater decline in male versus female productivity.

The authors note that the long-term impact of the pandemic remains to be determined. They also outline potential directions for future evaluations to further deepen understanding of research productivity trends, such as evaluating gender gaps in specific fields and the impact of country-specific lockdown measures.

The authors add: "The problem of gender gap in scholarly publications, as an indicator of gender representation in academia, is vastly different across the world. In many countries, it is not on its way to closing, and in many others, the trends indicate that the gap will not close even a century from now, unless interventions are introduced."

Explore further Researchers find marked gender differences in scholarly productivity

More information: Trends of research productivity across author gender and research fields: A multidisciplinary and multi-country observational study, PLoS ONE (2022). Journal information: PLoS ONE Trends of research productivity across author gender and research fields: A multidisciplinary and multi-country observational study,(2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271998
Kimberly Vaughn's father, Del Phillips, talks to reporters after a Will County judge gave Kimberly's husband, Christopher Vaughn, four consecutive life terms in prison for fatally shooting Kimberly and their three children. To his left are Kimberly's sister, Jennifer Ledbetter, left, and her mother, Susan Phillips. (Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune)

The parents of an Oswego man convicted of murdering his wife and children have filed suit claiming that investigators misled the grand jury in the case.

Pierre and Gail Vaughn filed the lawsuit in federal court in Chicago, claiming that the misrepresentation violated their son Christopher Vaughns constitutional right to a fair legal process.

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Vaughn was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murders of his wife, Kimberly, and children in 2007. Abigayle, 12; Cassandra, 11; and Blake, 8, were shot at close range while buckled into the familys SUV off Interstate 55 near Channahon.

Kimberly was shot under the chin, while Christopher Vaughn walked away with two superficial bullet wounds, and told police he didnt remember what happened. A strip club dancer testified at trial that Vaughn visited her at the club several times in the weeks before the murder and said he was going to leave his wife, and that she wasnt going to see it coming.

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Jurors took less than an hour to reach a verdict, saying they had no doubts about Vaughns guilt. He received four life sentences from a Will County judge.

The defense theory was that Kimberly Vaughn murdered her children, then killed herself after shooting at her husband.

During the grand jury hearing that led to Vaughn being charged, Illinois State Police Sgt. Gary Lawson testified that there was blood on Kimberlys seat belt, but didnt say whose it was. Defense attorney Keith Altman argued that implied it was Kimberlys blood. But DNA analysis showed it was Christophers blood, which Altman argued showed Kimberly had unbuckled the belt before committing the shootings.

Christopher Vaughn leaves the the Will County Courthouse in June 2012 after a hearing. (Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune)

The states DNA lab report was changed from a draft to a final report the day after the indictment, with the only change being that Kimberly Vaughn was eliminated as a suspect, suggesting the report was being unfairly manipulated, Altman said.

His indictment was secured by deception, Altman said.

Kimberly was on the prescription drug Topomax, which can have suicidal thoughts as a side effect. Altman said he would file requests in Vaughns criminal case to overturn the verdict and get a new trial.

Will County States Attorney James Glasgows office said he could not comment on the suit, but shared this statement: In the successful prosecution of Christopher Vaughn, we called 90 witnesses to the stand ... and the jury returned a guilty verdict in 60 minutes.
WHITE CREEK  Students in Cambridge Central Schools summer field school in historical archaeology began excavations at a new site in July: an early trading post, built in what is now the town of White Creek by a Dutch settler for a local Native American leader.

So far weve found ceramics, tobacco pipes, buttons, and architectural hardware like nails, said science teacher Steve Butz, who runs the popular summer program. More artifacts will likely come to light this fall as students sift through eight buckets of muck from the sites cellar hole, Butz said.

Work at the site was conducted July 12-14 by eight students in grades 9-12. Butz was assisted by science teacher Derek Syrgley. A rainstorm the first day flooded the site, so students collected the mud in the cellar hole for later study, Butz said. Students were able to dig around the outside of the foundation on the following two days.

In previous summers, Butz led students in studies at the Shays settlement site in Sandgate, Vermont. Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays was a leader of Shays Rebellion in central Massachusetts in 1786-87. When the rebellion failed, Shays and some of his followers fled to Vermont, then an independent republic. Work by Butz and his students over seven or eight summers showed that the settlement continued into the early 19th century.

The Archaeological Conservancy has purchased the site and will preserve it, Butz said. Thats great news. It has local, regional and national significance.

That left the field archaeology program in need of a new site. Butz began researching Native American sachems in the area and learned of the trading post built for Soquon, the Owl King, by Arendt Van Corlaer, a Dutch fur trader, in 1709-1711. If the date of construction is correct, it may be the oldest European structure in Washington County, Butz said.

I found out the house might still be in White Creek, Butz said. I approached the landowners, Marilyn Robinson and her son Duane Robinson, and they were totally on board.

The trading post was dismantled in the 1990s with plans to reconstruct it elsewhere, but that never happened. The beams are still on site. The only previous archaeological study was done in the 1990s by a student from the State University of New York at Albany, Butz said.

Its perfect for the students, Butz said. Its close by and relevant to local history.

The site is shown on a bronze relief map of the area at the Bennington Battlefield state historic site, which includes houses, barns, orchards and other features of the area at the time of the battle, he said.

Soquons territory was the confluence of the Owl Kill and Hoosic and Walloomsac Rivers, an area known as Tiashoke, Butz said. Soquons tribal affiliation isnt clear since there seems to have been a good deal of overlap among the Hoosic, Schaghticoke and Mohicans in the area. It is known that he had a big role in the peace treaty at the Knickerbocker Mansion in Schaghticoke, Butz said. That treaty was negotiated in 1676 by English Gov. Edmund Andros, the local Mohican people and Native refugees from King Philips War in New England. Soquon supported the refugees, who formed a settlement farther north in White Creek at Pompanuck, Butz said.

Trading post dealt in furs

The trading post bought furs locally and sold them in New Jersey to avoid taxes imposed in Albany, Butz said. According to local legend, Soquon had an inscription carved into a beam over the fireplace. It may include some Dutch or English lettering but is mostly a design of lines and curves. Butz said it may represent a Wakon bird, which was a spiritual being, or an owl. When the house was dismantled, the beam was removed by someone claiming to be from Williams College. Butz contacted the college but theres no record of it there, he said.

It must be one of the most rare things, Butz said, since the local Indigenous people didnt have a written language, and because we know who wrote it.

Soquon left Tiashoke in 1711 with four other Native American leaders to ask Britains Queen Anne for protection against the French. Sadly, Soquon died at sea at age 111. British artists painted portraits of the other four leaders with their personal symbols.

Soquons death is unfortunate because if he had survived, his portrait and symbols would have been recorded, Butz said.

After Soquons death, the Van Corlaers took over the trading post and added to it. During the Battle of Bennington in 1777, retreating British forces set fire to the building, but according to local lore, an enslaved person hiding nearby put out the fire as soon as they were gone. The house remained in the family until the 1970s, Butz said.

The kids were very motivated by the (sites) story, Butz said.

No native artifacts found

During the dig, they looked for signs of early occupation at the trading post. Artifacts such as ceramics and tobacco pipes are easily dated, Butz said. It may be possible to determine when the trees for the timbers were cut through dendochonolgy, or tree ring dating, Butz said. Students also found carpenters marks and apotropaic marks, or hex signs, carved into the wood. The apotropaic marks were to guard against misfortune.

We found no Native American artifacts at all, Butz said. By that time, Soquon was living like a European.

The students excavated it as a Dutch site, he said.

Because of issues of tribal sovereignty and ownership of artifacts, excavating Native American sites is far more complicated. Butz wants to reach out to Native American historians about the site but because of the controversy over the schools Indian mascot, the climate at school is difficult, he said.

Over the winter, students will clean, sort and identify the artifacts they found during the dig and go through the soil from the cellar hole. Some artifacts may join objects from the Shays settlement site on display in Cambridge Central Schools science wing.

We plan to continue next summer, Butz said. That was suggested by the students.
ATLANTIC CITY  Police charged former pro football standout Frank Gore with simple assault after a domestic incident at a casino.

Gore, the third-leading rusher in NFL history, is scheduled to appear in Atlantic City Municipal Court on Oct. 17.

At 8:11 a.m. July 31, officers were dispatched to Tropicana Atlantic City for a report of a domestic violence dispute. They arrived to find the victim, a 28-year-old woman from Miami, speaking with hotel security, police said Tuesday in a news release.

The woman did not exhibit signs of injury, and complaints were not filed at the time, police said.

However, an ensuing investigation resulted in charges against Gore, 39, of Southwest Ranches, Florida. He was issued a summons pending court, police said.

Gore announced his retirement from the NFL in June after playing 16 seasons in the league. A majority of his career was spent on the San Francisco 49ers, but he nearly joined the Eagles in 2015. He initially agreed to a three-year deal with the team but ultimately backed out, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Since retiring from the NFL, Gore has started a career in boxing. He made his professional debut in that sport in May, knocking out Yaya Olorunsola in the fourth round, according to the Inquirer.
The sand tiger shark, a fish that could use a makeover or a name change, has been a social media star in recent months.

These big, beady-eyed and snaggle-toothed sharks have also appeared on television and in newspapers recently as fishermen up and down the the Jersey Shore have hooked and caught them right off the states beaches.

This is the ocean. This is where sharks live, fisherman P.J. Braun told Fox & Friends last month after reeling in a 7-foot sand tiger in Sea Isle City.

On Tuesday, however, Sea Isle Mayor Len Desiderio announced that the city intends to amend the rules and regulations for beach fishing and to prohibit shark fishing in, on, or near the beaches and within 600 feet of the beaches of Sea Isle City.

According to an article Tuesday on SeaIsleNews.com, some residents have complained about the shark fishing on the beach, fearful it could lure in larger, more dangerous sharks.

I just want to be clear that surf fishing is not a problem. The problem is the shark fishermen trying to lure sharks close to shore, a resident told City Council, according to the article.

Sea Isle City bans shark fishing on city beaches SEA ISLE CITY  Fishermen looking to catch sharks from the beach will have to leave town as 

Its illegal in New Jersey to try to target certain species of sharks while fishing, but using bait  live or dead  is ubiquitous across the hobby and bound to attract sharks. Many fishermen do target them too, simply for the the allure of catching such a large predator.

The ban, according to SeaIsleNews.com, took effect Monday and violators could be fined up to $1,250. The city said chumming, the use of unmanned drones to drop bait or having the assistance of any water vessel would be prohibited.

When told of the ban, some fishermen said people would simply move to another municipality.

The sharks are everywhere up and down the coast, said Joey Bittipaglia, of Monmouth County.

Bittipaglia, 20, has caught sand tigers from New Jersey beaches.

Its unclear how the shark fishing ban would be enforced. Desiderio could not immediately be reached for comment.

World's toughest turtle? Survivor among 8 returned to ocean If what doesnt kill you truly makes you stronger, then Titan is the strongest turtle in the ocean. The juvenile Loggerhead turtle has been gashed by a boat propeller, had part of his front flipper bitten off by a shark, and was being attacked by a different shark when two New Jersey fishermen saved him. They called Sea Turtle Recovery, a group that rescues and rehabilitates turtles before returning them to the ocean. Tuesday morning, Titan was among eight turtles returned to the sea in Point Pleasant Beach after being nursed back to health. The group has returned 85 rehabilitated turtled to the ocean since 2016.

Sand tiger is the common name for Carcharias taurus, and if biologists had any say, scientific names would be the norm, to avoid confusion. First, the sand tiger doesnt share many of the traits associated with tigers. No one has ever been killed by a sand tiger shark.

Sand tiger sharks dont usually come into contact with humans, said Kevin Decker, assistant curator of fish and invertebrates at Adventure Aquarium in Camden.

According to the Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark Attack File, which has tracked unprovoked attacks across the globe since the early 1960s, sand tiger sharks are responsible for 36 unprovoked, nonfatal shark attacks over that period of time. The great white shark, also known to pass through New Jersey, is responsible for 297 nonfatal, unprovoked attacks.

In Australia, the sand tiger is known as the ragged-tooth shark, which is a more apt description. Decker said those intimidating teeth actually reveal the sand tiger is only interested in eating fish.

Their teeth are long and narrow and not meant for chewing or taking bites out of large animals, he said. They swim through a school of fish, grab one and gulp it down.

Sand tigers can swim close to shore looking for fish, and are common along most of the popular, sandy beaches up and down the Atlantic Coast. On Long Island, the sand tigers been blamed for a series of recent attacks  experts say those sharks are juveniles chasing bait fish and mistakenly biting feet. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

Cape May police seek shoplifters CAPE MAY  Police are seeking a man and woman who reportedly stole from a store at the Washi

Decker said swimmers concerned about sharks of all stripes should avoid the water at dawn and dusk and also leave if theyre seeing schools of bait fish pushing toward them.

Again, you will rarely, if ever, come into contact with one, he said.

John Valdez, a fisherman from Camden County, has caught sand tigers off the beaches in Sea Isle. He said most of them are caught in deeper water, sometimes 100 yards from the surf.

Its rare to catch them during the day, he said.

Valdez said he was surprised by the sudden ban in Sea Isle but also thought it would be difficult to enforce.

People will just say theyre fishing for bluefish, he said.

Beachgoers hes encountered while fishing are more interested in the sharks than scared, Valdez said. Some applaud, he said, when they release them back to the surf. None have ever complained to him.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection declared a statewide drought watch Tuesday, asking residents and businesses to voluntarily conserve water, the first step of a multitiered drought advisory system that culminates with mandatory restrictions if conditions worsen.

The state began asking residents two weeks ago to start conserving water as July fell well under the normal for rainfall.

Much of South Jersey is abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, including Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. And parts of central and northern New Jersey are already in a moderate drought. The Drought Monitor does not line up exactly with New Jerseys own complex system of determining drought.

The watch advisory issued by DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette is the first of three stages of the drought system and is designed to let the public know of conditions and encourage voluntary water conservation.

The DEP said more than 30% of water demand in suburban areas is for lawns, washing vehicles and hosing off driveways. Much of that can easily be cut back, officials said.

If conditions worsen, the state could declare a drought warning, or, finally, a drought emergency. LaTourette said conserving water now could stave off more extreme measures. His own lawn is brown, he said, and thats OK.

Dry summer has water levels at Lake Nummy dropping WOODBINE  On a sandy beach at Belleplain State Forest, those hoping to escape the heat with

Stream flow and groundwater levels are falling below normal for most of the state and some reservoirs are showing steep rates of decline as hot and dry conditions continue, LaTourette said in a statement. While water conservation is always important, it becomes critical during prolonged dry and hot periods like New Jersey has been experiencing. If residents and businesses do all they can to reduce water demand, together we can ensure ample supplies in the coming weeks and months.

DEP officials said the reservoirs feed parts of North Jersey.

Meanwhile, Steve Domber, a section chief with DEPs Water Resource Management, said streams and waterways that feed drinking water in South Jersey bear watching.

As far as South Jersey streamflow and groundwater levels go, that has certainly been the drier part of the state for most of the year, Domber said. Theyve gotten some storms, but not enough. Groundwater tends to respond a little bit slower. It takes a while for the water to infiltrate and groundwater levels to recover. So were watching this closely.

August is already running about an inch below normal for rainfall in Philadelphia, which has the closest National Weather Service station to South Jersey with summary data. Philadelphia is also running 5.6 degrees above normal.

July was 2.8 inches below normal for rain in Philadelphia and 3.4 degrees hotter than normal.

Weather: 3rd heat wave of 2022 possible as 90s, high humidity sizzle NJ The third heat wave of 2022 may already be in the works. With inland 90s Tuesday and forecast 90s possible through Friday, we could be in one. Oh, and it'll be sticky too. The shore does get sea breeze relief, with cold ocean waters returning.

The DEPs Scientific Report on Climate Change says that, under climate change, New Jersey will experience a greater frequency of intense storms, as well as decreases in rainfall in the summer, resulting in the potential for more frequent and prolonged droughts.

The last drought watch or warning issued in the state was in 2016. And the last time the state made restrictions mandatory was in 2002.
LAYTON  Alongside fields of wildflowers and on restaurant porches, written large outside a sportsmens store above ads for firewood and deer corn, new signs and banners dot the landscape near the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

No National Park, they read.

The Delaware Water Gap Defense Fund, the group behind the signs, opposes a plan to designate the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area the regions first national park. Turning the Water Gap into a national park has been talked about for years, but the proposal gained steam last year with the support of the Sierra Club. Proponents say it would bring in up to a million new visitors and secure increased funding.

The recreation area encompasses 70,000 acres of mountains, forest and the Delaware River in North Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania. Everyone agrees its beautiful there  but is it a national park?

Theres nothing to see here. Do you see a geyser? Do you see any monumental mountains here? asked Sandy Hull, a Layton resident who is fighting the park proposal. This is just a beautifully wooded area.

A larger concern for Hull is whether the park designation would drive out locals living among the recreation areas miles of winding country roads because of crowding and eminent domain. They fear centuries-old traditions, like hunting and fishing, will be barred from the park.

Traffic delays expected from Delaware Memorial Bridge work WILMINGTON, Del.  Drivers are being warned to expect traffic delays when a major constructi

John Donahue, who spent 14 years as superintendent of the Delaware Water Gap, is spearheading the park proposal with the support of the Sierra Club.

This place, basically, already is a national park, he told The Inquirer last year during a hike near Raymondskill Falls in the recreation area.

The Sierra Club has said turning the recreation area into a national park is a diversity and inclusion issue, given its proximity to such large urban centers. The No National Park group said a fee to enter the park would actually make the area less inclusive.

The Delaware Water Gap is currently one of the nations most popular outdoor destinations, with an estimated more than 4 million-plus visitors annually. (The visitor tally is one of the things the opposition questions  they believe the number is much lower, the counting process flawed.)

Park proponents estimate a redesignation would bring an additional 600,000 to 1 million visitors per year.

Thats bad news for one large, regional nonprofit, the Riverkeeper Network, saying such an increase would ultimately affect water quality of the Delaware River and increase development.

Social media key in saving Mays Landing man's life ATLANTIC CITY  Whatever views people have about social media, Facebook in particular, one M

National Park status will significantly increase the number of visitors to the park in the near term and the long term  thereby increasing the environmental footprint and creating increasing rationale for additional infrastructure including parking lots, sewage treatment and other utility facilities, hotel housing, and other development, Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, wrote in a letter to the National Park Service last month.

It would just be a disaster around here, said Kristin Albrecht, a resident of Milford, Pike County, who opposes the plan. The National Park Service cant afford to maintain what it already has.

Albrecht said many local businesses oppose the park because they do not want to become a seasonal destination, where numbers spike heavily in the warmer months and drop off when its cold.

During the high season, they know locals wont come because they know its crowded, she said.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York have no national park, the nearest being Shenandoah in Virginia, four hours south of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania is home to several national historical parks, including Independence Mall and Valley Forge. While historical parks are prized for their place in history, national parks like Yosemite and Grand Canyon are designated for their natural beauty and resources. There are only nine east of the Mississippi River.

A national park is the highest level of protection offered by the National Park Service, Donahue said.

In a recent interview, Donahue reiterated that no properties would be taken by the National Park Service in the transition from recreation area to park. He notes that the Water Gap already charges user fees, and his plan would not add any additional tolls (or toll gates).

Fishing would still be allowed, but the transition to a park would reduce the amount of land where hunting is permitted by approximately 8,000 acres, he said.

Donahue said the park belongs to the people of Wyoming and New York City as much as it does to locals.

He has been presenting the proposal to municipalities and county officials on both sides of the river, trying to build a consensus. Some county commissioners have voted to support the plan, others have not. Neither governor has weighed in on the park proposal, though Cindy Adams Dunn, secretary of Pennsylvanias Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said a national park would have many benefits.

Ultimately, the national park designation would require an act of Congress.
East Moline is heading in the right direction as the city looks to improve streetscaping along roads connecting them to other areas in the Quad Cities.

The third time was a charm as the city was awarded $23.7 million from the RAISE grant. This funding will be used to complete streets and streetscaping of 15th Avenue from 6th to 13th streets, 12th Avenue from 1st to 7th streets, and 7th Street from 15th to 12th avenues. A new road and streetscape will also be extended from 3rd Street along Bend Boulevard to 6th Avenue.

City Engineer Tim Kammler told the Dispatch Argus/Quad-City Times the city had applied for grants for nearly three years and is thrilled to move forward with revitalizing downtown.

"With the transformative nature of this project, people will see the difference and be able to feel the difference with this big of a grant," Kammler said.

Kammler said with a riverfront that has been historically industrial and divided from the rest of the area, connecting downtown to the Rust Belt will be a welcome transformation.

The next steps in the process are filling out the proper documents and soliciting proposals from engineering and planning consultants.

Mayor Reggie Freeman told the Dispatch Argus/Quad-City Times that the city has looked forward to receiving the grant for years and that he is thankful for city staff and elected officials from the state, federal and local level working to make this happen.

The state was awarded $83.5 million in grant funding by the Department of Transportation through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity discretionary grant program.

Illinois Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth released joint statements congratulating the Illinois communities who received grant money for improvement projects.

Durbin said that investments in rebuilding and modernizing the state's infrastructure are critical in improving resident's quality of life.

"This grant from the Department of Transportation will allow these communities to make improvements that meet the demands of the 21st century," Durbin said.

The program is intended to help communities around the country carry out infrastructure and transportation projects that have significant local or regional impact.

Duckworth said this Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will benefit Illinois residents and that federal support will go a long way in modernizing and making transit more efficient as well as adding more good-paying, local jobs.

The others cities that were awarded grant money through the RAISE grant was Chicago, Springfield and Harvey.
DES MOINES  Iowas latest broadband map is its most detailed yet, but officials and broadband experts say Iowans should confirm the speeds reported at their homes and businesses to make sure the map is accurate.

The Iowa Office of the Chief Information Officer released the latest broadband coverage map last week, which aims to determine where high-speed internet is available in the state and where it's lacking.

Previous maps determined eligibility for funding using census blocks  small statistical areas usually encompassing a few hundred residents. But the new map identifies individual addresses and determines the availability of broadband to each home, business or other location.

For previous rounds of funding, a census block was considered served if one house in the region had access to broadband, which often left out people without access and didnt allow state funding to go to projects in those areas.

It's kind of like looking at a fuzzy picture, it's sharpening the focus on that picture, Community Broadband Action Network co-founder Curtis Dean said. And the benefit that that will be for providers that are looking to potentially serve those areas is, it gives them a lot better definition of where service needs to be extended.

The preliminary map divides locations between being likely eligible and likely ineligible for funding. Addresses eligible for funding are reported as having access to speeds under 100 megabits download and 20 megabits upload, and not covered by previous state-funded projects.

But like other maps at both the state and national level, Dean and Dave Duncan, CEO of the Iowa Communications Alliance, said the map is not perfect.

The map is currently in a challenge process through Sept. 2, where residents and providers can present objections to the information given in the map. Dean and Duncan said the process will be vital for making sure money goes to the right places in future broadband allocations.

The state used a combination of third-party data and internet providers self-reporting coverage areas to develop the map, Dean said. In previous maps, internet providers have sometimes over reported their speeds and areas in order to protect their turf and prevent money from going to other providers to build competing networks, he said.

Experts and government officials alike said individuals have an important role to play in verifying the maps authenticity. Because it is location based, Iowans can use the map online to find their address, and find out if the speeds reported there match what is available to them.

If that is incorrect, then those consumers should notify the OCIO  and say, Wait a minute, I cant get this coverage, and therefore we should be eligible for funding so that I can get an upgrade, Duncan said.

When the map was announced, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Iowans should verify the information reported at their address.

We are making important progress to connect all Iowans to high-speed broadband, but many communities remain unserved, Gov. Reynolds said in a press release last week. Today, Im asking all Iowans to visit the broadband map and let us know if the broadband service reported at their location is inaccurate. This feedback will help us to direct resources to areas with the greatest need for broadband investment in the future.

The new map comes as the federal government works to finalize the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, a $42.5 billion fund from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law that will likely be distributed to states sometime next spring.

Since 2018, the state has awarded more than $380 million in grants to expand broadband into rural and underserved areas. The bulk of that funding has been in federal coronavirus relief funds from the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. Reynolds and the Legislature also devoted close to $100 million in state funds last year.

At least $100 million more will be coming sometime next year from the infrastructure law. The state could also make funding available from a number of channels, including budgeting money during the next legislative session, before then.

I would anticipate there will be a round of state funding with funds sourced from the BEAD program, sometime next spring, early summer, Dean said.
A man who was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison in a scheme to sell unlicensed drugs, claiming to treat or even cure the terminally ill, now is serving as a vice chairman for the Rock Island County GOP.

Lawrence Stowe, 69, also has revived his efforts to solicit donations for medical treatments out of his brother's home in Moline. He said Wednesday that he was "innocent from the beginning" and intends to prove that several federal agencies, the federal judge and the TV program '60 Minutes' all were out to get him.

Stowe admitted as part of his guilty plea in federal court that, beginning in January 2006, he used several businesses, including The Stowe Foundation, to advertise and promote a medical treatment protocol for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinsons, and other neurological diseases.

There is currently no cure for these diseases.

Stowe was at the time operating a clinic near San Diego, California. In early 2010, '60 Minutes' aired a two-part segment on his business, including hidden-camera excerpts with potential patients. He was dubbed a "21st Century Snake Oil Salesman."

In May of 2014, U.S. District Judge Gray Miller sentenced Stowe to 78 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Miller emphasized that Stowe took advantage of people dying and offered them hope.

Stowe on Tuesday, speaking from GOP headquarters in Rock Island, said the federal judge threatened him with a 30-year sentence if he did not accept the plea.

"I never got the chance to defend myself," he said. "It's just like the people from January 6 (attack on the U.S. Capitol). Those people didn't commit any crimes."

Though a federal grand jury indicted Stowe on two dozen charges related to the medical fraud, he said Tuesday, "They invented the charges."

"I was innocent from the beginning," he said. "I will prove that."

Restitution in Stowe's case was ordered in the amount of $419,358 to be paid with co-defendant Francisco Morales, who was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

Stowe filed a motion in December, seeking to cut short the terms of his supervised release. Among his justifications for seeking the early release, he pointed out that he has been paying the required monthly restitution and is involved in Illinois politics as a "volunteer Science and Technology advisor."

He also said he hoped to become a precinct committeeman in Rock Island County. After winning the seat, the county party recently elected Stowe to one of its vice chairmanship positions.

In opposing the motion for early termination of his supervised release, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas H. Carter pointed out that more than $400,000 in restitution still is owed in Stowe's case.

"As the Court is well aware, Defendant Stowe masqueraded as a legitimate doctor to enrich himself by selling fake medications and false hope to families of the terminally ill," Carter wrote. "Defendant Stowe's claim that he is serving, or wishes to serve, as a 'volunteer Science and Technology advisor' to a political party should be chilling to anyone who knows his criminal history."

According to his website for the Stowe Foundation, he now seeks to raise $500 million. He continues to assert that treatment protocols exist for reversing multiple sclerosis.

"The donations being brought to the Stowe Foundation will bring hope to all who suffer debilitating illness," the Moline-based website states.

Asked Tuesday whether the website is a continuation of the conduct and misrepresentations that landed him in prison, Stowe said, "It's improved technology. I went to prison for '60 Minutes' misrepresenting it."

He needs $10 million for his "Tier 1" priority, the Stowe Foundation claims, including $500,000 in annual operating expenses. According to documents he submitted to the court in December, Stowe is retired and lives on Social Security, paying $700/month for rent at a Moline home owned by his brother.

Several members of the county party who reached out to a reporter about Stowe's new position declined to comment on the record, saying they do not wish to inflict damage upon their party.

Stowe mixes his medical interests with his political positions in letters to potential donors, writing, "The impeachment and conviction of (President Joe) Biden for his lawless behavior is just one part of the effort ... take down the organized Crime Syndicate that installed Biden as the puppet President."

At a federal hearing, a sister of one of Stowe's victims testified about how she cared for her brother in the last year of his life when he met Stowe and gave him $47,000 with the false hope of a cure. She said her brother did not have much money, so the $47,000 represented all of his savings. Her brother was preyed upon and never helped medically by Stowe, she said.

But Stowe said all of his past will be behind him when he completes his supervised release on Feb. 11, 2023. After that, he said, he will be free to run for public office. He said he is not sure what position he will seek.

He also intends to pursue legal action to have his conviction overturned.

"Once the Republicans regain control, my case will be on the (U.S.) Senate docket," Stowe said. "The people that know me best in the Republican party voted me in ... with the same information about my history."

Told it was members of the party who contacted a reporter with their concerns, he replied, "They're trying to destroy my character. Don't let them."

He said the Department of Justice, the FDA, the federal judge, federal prosecutors and '60 Minutes,' acting on behalf of "Big Pharma advertisers," manufactured the case against him.
Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey, who faced bipartisan criticism for declaring that Holocaust deaths during World War II paled in comparison with lives lost through abortion, contends Jewish community leaders have told him he was right.

Baileys campaign did not respond to a request for the identities of the Jewish religious leaders who he said agreed with his comparison of abortion to the Nazi genocide of 6 million Jews.

The Jewish community themselves have told me that Im right, Bailey, a state senator and farmer from downstate Xenia told WSPY-FM of Plano during a weekend visit to the Kendall County Fair in Yorkville.

Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish and has made abortion rights a key campaign issue against Bailey, has run a TV ad featuring the Republicans making the comparison in a 2017 Facebook video.

The attempted extermination of the Jews in World War II doesnt even compare on a shadow of the life that has been lost with abortion, Bailey says in the Facebook video, made during his run for state representative.

Pritzkers ad, which notes Baileys opposition to abortion in all cases except to save the life of the mother, calls the Republican too extreme for Illinois.

Bailey faced condemnation from Democrats as well as some fellow Republicans for citing the Holocaust in the political debate over abortion. Pritzker and others have contended Baileys remarks were disqualifying for someone seeking the states top office.

In response to Pritzkers ad, Baileys campaign last week released a statement in which the GOP contender said, The Holocaust is a human tragedy without parallel. In no way was I attempting to diminish the atrocities of the Holocaust and its stain on history. I meant to emphasize the tragedy of millions of babies being lost.

But over the weekend, when asked if he owed the Jewish community an apology for making the comparison, Bailey said he did not.

All the people at the Cabads (apparently referring to members of Chabad, a Jewish religious movement) that we met with and the Jewish rabbis, they said, No, youre actually right,  Bailey said.

So no. And thats whats frustrating, you know, when government, when elected officials, copy and paste these messages and turn them into something that theyre not because anybody that would watch my message, the whole nine minutes of it, would understand exactly what I was saying and where I was going with this, Bailey said.

But several Jewish groups and community leaders, including the Anti-Defamation League Midwest and the Springfield Jewish Federation, described Baileys comparison as inappropriate, deeply offensive and something that does an incredible disservice to the millions of Jews and other innocent victims killed by the Nazis.

On Twitter, Democratic state Rep. Bob Morgan of Deerfield, who chairs the House Jewish Caucus, responded to Baileys latest comment as a member of the Jewish community, saying that Bailey was not right to belittle the deaths of 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, including my great-grandparents. More clear for you?
CHICAGO - Standing outside Terminal 2 at OHare International Airport, a phone in each hand, Mervyn Wright weighed the options to get to his suburban hotel.

He eventually settled on a $64 Uber ride from OHare to St. Charles.

Thats it. Its 64 bucks, said Wright, a business strategist from Virginia, relieved that it wasnt more expensive.

For flyers like Wright, contending with busy airports this summer and dodging airline cancellations and delays is only part of the journey. They must also get to and from the airport, navigating ride-share or taxi prices, CTA service or parking.

Amid rising living costs, travelers who choose ride-shares might be facing some sticker shock. At the start of the summer travel season, the average cost of rides between Chicago and the areas around OHare or Midway airports reached or tied their highest prices since the city began collecting data in 2018.

The average cost of Chicago rides to the census tract covering OHare broke $60 in May and June, reaching a high of $60.56 in June, city data shows. A year earlier, the average cost was $55.33.

At Midway, the average cost of Chicago rides to the airports census tract was $53.56 in June, the most recent month for which city data is available  about a dollar more than a year earlier, and nearly the same as the average price in July 2021.

The prices largely comes down to a labor shortage, said Joseph Schofer, professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering and a transportation expert at Northwestern University. Gas prices might be playing a role but rising ride-share costs predate the gas-price leap, he said.

The risk and the challenge and the difficulty of doing these driving jobs is such that a significant number of people have decided, this doesnt work for me,  he said. And so you have a shortage, and you have uncertainties.

Drivers must weigh the possibility of crime, COVID-19 and the uncertainty of how much their next fare will be and when it will come, he said. And that uncertainty can translate to passengers too.

On a Friday night in June, Schofer checked his Uber app after he landed at OHare and the price of a trip to his north suburban home was around $85. He checked again minutes later, after getting off the plane and walking through the terminal, and the price was closer to $40, he recalled.

Schofer said he has also sometimes faced challenges getting a taxi from his home to OHare. Taxi drivers, too, face the same challenges as ride-share drivers, sitting at the airport and hoping their next fare makes up for the time spent waiting, he said.

Taxi prices dont always fluctuate the same way ride-shares do. For cabs licensed by the city of Chicago, those hailed at a cab stand at the airport must activate their meter, and charge no more than the meter or meter-and-a-half, depending on the destination. City cabs hailed via an app can offer dynamic upfront pricing, including prices above the metered rate.

But some travelers are reaching their limits on what theyll pay to get to or from the airport, whether taxi or ride-share.

I wont pay $50 for a ride, said Stanley Pierre, a 29-year-old truck driver in town from Miami to pick up his truck.

I mean, its supposed to be cheaper than a taxi, right? asked Stanley, a former Uber driver. The whole point was to make it more affordable for riders taking ride share  $50 would be a taxi ride.

Koray Yesilli, who arrived to welcome his visiting brother and planned to take ride-share back to the city also had a limit on what he was willing to spend on a trip.

If it was $75 to $100 from here to Lakeview, I wouldnt pay it! he said.

Lyft trips to the airport are making up an increasing amount of business for the company nationwide. Airport trips accounted for 10.2% of total rides in the second quarter, the highest ever share, Lyft CEO Logan Green said during an early August earnings call.

Travelers choosing other options to get to the airport might face other hurdles.

CTAs Orange and Blue lines serve Midway and OHare, but the agency has faced complaints about the amount of service running and the experience of riding the trains. And travelers driving to OHare might sometimes find the economy parking lots full.

When economy lots are full  which is especially likely over holiday weekends  parking attendants direct drivers to the nearest available lot, and a limited number of vouchers for the main garage are distributed first come, first served, depending on space in the garage, said Kevin Bargnes, spokesman for the citys aviation department. He encouraged drivers to check the status of parking lots online, and said reserved parking is available in some lots.

Construction has also reduced available parking in Lot D at OHare, near Terminal 5. Work began in June on a six-story parking garage that is expected to double the amount of parking at the terminal when its finished in 2024. The terminal is undergoing an overhaul that is adding new gates and passenger amenity space, among other work.

OHare travelers getting picked up or dropped off along the lower level roadway near terminals 1, 2 and 3 have encountered utility and pavement work, which is expected to be finished in the coming weeks with little effect on traffic during that time, Bargnes said.

Schofer doesnt expect the challenges of getting to or from the airport will dampen demand for travel, after two years of pent-up demand.

Perhaps instead, he said, travelers will leave their homes earlier or choose to fly at times when their options for getting to or from the airport are more predictable. They might turn to ways of getting around they hadnt previously considered, such as taking a Pace bus or shared rides.

Theres chaos in the system, he said. Theres a rebound from a situation thats really different from what weve experienced the last two years. And the rebound is a struggle, because people (who were driving for ride-share companies) got used to not doing the jobs they were doing before.
Joyce Kenner, left, who is retiring as principal of Whitney Young High School, hugs Rickey Harris Wednesday evening at the school after he's chosen as her successor. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

For the first time in 27 years, a new principal has been selected to lead Chicagos Whitney Young Magnet High School. The Local School Council awarded a contract Wednesday to Whitney Young Assistant Principal Rickey Harris.

The students really like him. If I can use the word hip, hes really hip, outgoing Whitney Young Principal Joyce Kenner, 66, told the Tribune. Hes still very, very professional. Hes smart. Hes articulate. The faculty and staff for the most part, I believe, respect him. Hes creative. And I hate to say this, but hes younger. Hes younger, and he has the energy to attend the numerous events that I used to attend.

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Harris, who turns 50 this month, won the role over Kerry Dolan, assistant principal at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, a selective enrollment school in Roseland. Kenner, the Whitney Young principal since 1995, announced in April that she would be stepping down from the post. She said seven people applied for the chance to take the helm of the selective enrollment school.

Rickey Harris stands after being selected as the new principal during a Whitney Young High School Local School Council meeting Wednesday. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

At the meeting, Kenner tearfully passed a baton to Harris, who called her the greatest of all time. He later told news reporters he felt elated to be selected by the LSC, which voted unanimously in his favor.

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He said his main focus during the leadership transition is to create a sense of belonging, to really make sure that everyone feels safe, not just physically safe, but psychologically safe, making sure that everyone has what they need to continue to be successful.

The search for Kenners successor lasted much of the summer, with a virtual candidate forum taking place last week. Harris and Dolan answered questions about how they would maintain a school culture of inclusivity; attract more Black students to the school, where the student population is nearly 18% Black; and improve the diverse learners department, among other topics.

I honestly felt like it was a transparent process  and it was as fair as it possibly could be, given that one of the candidates had been affiliated with Whitney Young for a large number of years, Kenner said of the search. When you know a building, to me, like this person knows it, its hard to discount that.

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Harris served as the dean of students at Whitney Young from 2006 to 2010 before returning two years ago to be an assistant principal, according to his online resume. Hes also worked as an administrator at University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Wolcott College Prep, South Shore International College Prep High School, Dvorak School of Excellence and St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School, his resume states.

Harris will be the fourth principal in the history of Whitney Young, considered one of the top high schools in the city. Last year about 2,100 students attended the Near West Side school, heralded as Chicagos first magnet high school when it opened in 1975.

The announcement comes as Chicago Public Schools leaders move forward with a controversial plan to open a new high school on the Near South Side. The $120 million proposal includes $70 million once set aside for a new Near West Side high school. Kenner opposed that project at the time, expressing concern it would lead to a traffic nightmare for her school.

The group behind the Near West Side high school plan has shifted its focus to pushing for an open-enrollment neighborhood program at Whitney Young to serve students within a boundary designated by CPS.

Joyce Kenner looks out at attendees while being applauded shortly before Rickey Harris is selected as the new principal. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Meanwhile, the new CPS year is set to start Aug. 22. Kenner, who received a standing ovation at Wednesdays LSC meeting, said she may help greet people arriving at Whitney Young on the first day of school. She said her next assignment  besides spending time with her young grandchildren  is to write a book about her Whitney Young experience.

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Any major event that occurred, I would write it down and just put it in a folder over the last 22 years, Kenner said. And so I think I have hundreds of incidents that occurred that Im going to write about. Its going to be a leadership book.

tswartz@tribpub.com
A 39-year-old woman accused of stealing almost $4,000 from Elevate Trampoline Park in Davenport has faced similar charges before.

Scott County authorities have charged Tiffany Eva Marie Ferraraccio, who lived in Cedar Rapids at the time, with second-degree theft, according to county court records. She allegedly took a total of $3,828.08 from the park beginning on Sept. 23, 2021, while working as a store manager there.

Investigators think Ferraraccio kept portions of the companys money rather than depositing it at a bank, Scott County court records state. When interviewed as part of the inquiry, she allegedly kept changing the statements she made to police about the money.

Initially she said she deposited it, but the bank said the deposits were not made, Scott County court records state. Other statements she made included that she did not know which bank location she deposited the money at, that she did not have time to deposit the money because she had to buy printer paper and that she had a toothache.

After the money went missing, the business owner told Ferraraccio the money could be returned without police involvement and Ferraraccio denied any wrongdoing, Scott County court records state.

At some point, Ferraraccio stopped coming to work, kept her work keys and never picked up her final paycheck, Scott County court records state.

An arrest warrant for the Scott County theft charge was issued in January and was served on Sunday, according to court records. Her first court appearance was Monday and her next is scheduled for Aug. 18.

There were two older cases in Linn County in which Ferraraccio was accused of stealing.

On Sept. 27, 2018, Ferraraccio pleaded guilty to third-degree theft in relation to money reported stolen from a Cedar Rapids Quality Inn, according to Linn County court records. She received a suspended jail sentence and a year of unsupervised probation.

In that case she was accused of taking between $1,000 and $10,000 in cash deposits from the business while working there on or around Dec. 1, 2017, Linn County court records state. She was initially charged with second-degree theft.

On July 14, 2020, Ferraraccio allegedly used a debit card that did not belong to her to withdraw about $240 from a bank in Marion, Iowa, according to Linn County court records. She was charged with unauthorized use of a credit card.

She pleaded guilty to the unauthorized use charge on May 26, 2021, Linn County court records state. She was sentenced on July 1, 2021, to 187 days in jail, with 180 days suspended until July 2022. She also received self-supervised probation.

In April, a Linn County judge issued a warrant because Ferraraccio failed to appear for a probation revocation hearing, court records state.

Scott County Jail records also list a warrant out of Cedar County, but details about that warrant were not available Wednesday.

Ferraraccio was arrested Sunday evening during a traffic stop by an Eldridge Police Department officer on U.S. Route 61, according to Scott County court records. Someone saw her nearly lose control as she abruptly pulled over the 2007 Chrysler Aspen she was driving.

She allegedly gave a false name and birthday to the officer, but further investigation showed she had a barred drivers license and the arrest warrants, Scott County court records state.

Ferraraccio faces a misdemeanor charge of driving while barred as a result of the traffic stop, according to the court records from that case, which listed her address in Davenport.

Ferraraccio was still in custody Wednesday, held on $12,000 bond, of which only $5,000 was related to the Davenport theft case, according to the Scott County jail and court records.
Downtown Rock Island might be getting ready for big revival sooner rather than later.

In a 5-1 vote, Rock Island City Council approved a motion to formally begin the process in which a special service area is being considered to help revive downtown.

An SSA is an area within a municipality or county in which special governmental services are provided in addition to services provided generally throughout the municipality or county. The cost of SSAs would be paid from revenues collected from taxes levied or taxes imposed on property's within the area.

Tom Thoms said even in the face of increased taxes, many residents wish to not be disappointed again and that the council has been presented with a "golden key" to create a solution in reviving downtown.

"I've watch the slow death march of downtown while living in the middle of it," Thoms said.

Third Ward Ald. Judith Higgins Gilbert was the lone no vote and 7th Ward Ald. Bill Healy did not vote due to owning property downtown.

Gilbert said she is all for downtown revitalization but it is "not fair or right to vote on something as impactful as an additional tax burden during a recession."

But the SSA would not be the sole source of funding and would be supplemented with additional contributions from private partners and the city.

According to the draft budget, the place management organization would have a yearly budget of about $534,750 with the SSA funding $315,000, the city funding $150,000, and the private sector funding $69,750. The draft budget also would hold about 35% or $165,000 of allocated money for Quad Cities Chamber staff salaries.

Erica Williams, owner and resident of DuMarche Market on 3rd Condos, said one of the main reasons her family moved back to the area was because they saw the potential and excitement of what downtown could be. Williams said she became more energized about helping revive downtown when Jack Cullen, Rock Island's downtown director, approached her about the possibility of an SSA.

"I see the benefit to having unique funding source for particular area and the pride that it brings to people," Williams said. "It's a unique opportunity to have a direct say in where that money goes."

Special services for downtown would include litter pick up, maintenance of flower plantings, hospitality assistance for visitors, district signage, branding and marketing activities, and supplemental business assistance programs.

Partners Caitlyn Russell and Jeff Ehrenberg spoke in opposition of the proposed SSA. The two have a contract to lease the new federal courthouse in downtown. The partners said any increase in the level of real estate taxes they have already negotiated will come directly of their pocket.

"There is no guarantee regardless what kind of SSA deal that you have, or how it hurts, or helps anybody downtown, that it would be a success," Ehrenberg said.

The SSA is being proposed for a five-year trial period as opposed to being permanent so the SSA and organization it helps fund can be evaluated at the end of the trial period to determined whether or not the city should continue with it.

In East Moline, Moline, Davenport and Bettendorf have established SSAs. Moline and East Moline manage it in-house whereas Davenport and Bettendorf have contracted services with the Chamber that manages the Downtown Davenport Partnership and the Downtown Bettendorf Organization.

The city will need to initiate a second reading of the ordinance at the Aug. 22 council meeting and have a 60-day waiting period before a public hearing could be held. The waiting period allows property owners to provide any feedback or suggest changes. A public hearing is scheduled on Oct. 24.
As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to take the country by storm, states are taking measures to ensure that charging stations are widely accessible.

The Illinois State Fair and Gov. JB Pritzker announced that an EV charging station will be available at the fair, courtesy of a sponsorship with Sunrun. The EV charger allows for two EVs to charge at the same time, and it will be located near the Gate 7 entrance in Lot 21 along 8th Street near Conservation World, according to the state of Illinois.

As the leading provider of home solar, battery storage and now electric vehicle charging solutions, Sunrun is proud to partner with the Illinois State Fair and are excited to continue working with the Governor to realize Illinoiss clean energy vision, said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell.

Illinois State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark expressed a similar sentiment.

Sunruns partnership allows us to provide this service and lets fairgoers enjoy all the Illinois State Fair has to offer while safely charging their EVs on site, said Clark. Its another showcase for the future while offering an opportunity to enjoy the present.

Pritzker said that the state of Illinois is committed to clean energy. This is paralleled by the states efforts to implement charging stations along I-80.

As the second largest interstate highway in the U.S., I-80 is a designated corridor of the Federal Highway Administration Alternative Fuels Corridor (AFC) initiative. When upgrades to the interstate are complete, EV charging stations will be available at least every 50 miles and compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling will be available at least every 150 miles.

Alternative fuels play an important role in Illinoiss economic and environmental success. Alternative fuel corridors improve air quality, especially to communities living closest to highways, said John Walton, chair of Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition. Significant opportunities exist to fill remaining gaps in alternative fueling across all highways. In addition to the health-related benefits, and energy security, the installation of new fueling infrastructure supports jobs throughout the state.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Area Clean Cities Coalition, the Bi-State Regional Commission and others are hosting a convening session on Aug. 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p..m. at Western Illinois University. This session is for citizens of Illinois and Iowa who want to know more about the project. Space is limited, so those interested should register at this link.
Outdoorsman Chad Belding is hooked on the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

Belding is the host of The Fowl Life. The shows 14th season is now airing on the Outdoor Channel and while filming his series, Belding has visited South Dakota to highlight the states hunting. Last year was his first trip to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, where he teamed with Jack Daniel's to raise money for nonprofit Operation Ride Home.

Since 2011, Operation Ride Home has supplied plane tickets and prepaid debit cards to active duty servicemen and women who wouldnt be able to go home for the holidays or for events such as the birth of a child without financial assistance.

Belding is back in Sturgis to help raise $25,000 for Operation Ride Home. Items such as whiskey barrels and barrel heads and a variety of merchandise can be purchased at the Jack Daniel's tent at Third and Lazelle streets in Sturgis. A portion of proceeds will benefit Operation Ride Home, Belding said.

People came out of the woodwork to support Operation Ride Home during the first weekend of the rally, he said.

Belding will be on-site at the Jack Daniel's tent in Sturgis through Friday, along with Jack Daniel's Barrel Man Kevin Sanders, who will be making appearances and signing autographs around the Black Hills. Other special guests include Tommy Miller, Jack Daniel's sponsorship and events specialist, and Lexie Phillips, Jack Daniel Distillerys first female assistant distiller.

Belding said hes been impressed by how meaningful the rally is to the servicemen and women and veterans hes met in Sturgis.

For sure Jack Daniel's and Sturgis means a ton to our active-duty military and veterans, and vice versa.  Ive seen how therapeutic this bike rally is. I think it really is therapy for them to see their brothers and sisters, to see bikers who support the military. Thats what Ive heard the most, he said. They get to go out on bikes and go on all these different rides.

You talk to (active duty military and veterans) about the support Jack Daniel's gives to them. Ive heard a ton of stories in the last two years and I know Im going to hear more this week. Theyre constantly coming in and shaking hands and telling stories," Belding said. "It makes you feel like youre part of a bigger picture.

I just got caught up in the all the culture and the energy behind the Jack Daniel's brand and what Sturgis has meant to them and just how much patriotism and respect to the military is always given by Jack Daniel's, Belding said. It was so evident  to see all the soldiers and men and women coming to the booth and telling stories. Knowing the history of how Jack Daniel's got involved in Sturgis, and I heard more stories Sunday night  it was very intriguing and inspiring that this brand is part of the Sturgis family.

Belding describes himself as a duck hunter from the desert in Nevada and said hes been impressed by the warm welcome hes received.

Im an outdoorsman and I love South Dakota and I dont think Ill ever miss the rally again, Belding said. I just think its really cool that a duck hunter will be invited in with open arms  to the worlds biggest motorcycle rally.  Theres so much energy and theres so much going on. It truly is an honor to be here.

In addition to hosting The Fowl Life, Belding is a lifelong foodie with extensive experience cooking game and fish in the wild. He recently announced a line of rubs for meat and grilling, and he launched a line of premium meat, American Almond Beef, and hopes to sell South Dakota-grown beef in the future.

Belding also hosts a podcast, This Life Aint for Everybody, and when he returns to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2023, he wants to bring a crew and record interviews during the rally for his podcast.
Luna and Hunter Potts are believed to be traveling with their non-custodial mother Leah Potts and her companion Benjamin Moore. Possible vehicle is a dark blue Chevy Equinox with Canadian license plates: CGC 2492. The safety of the children is believed to be endangered and there is an order in place to return the custody of the children to Canadian authorities. Saskatchewan, Canada has issued an Amber Alert for the children. The children are currently believed to have traveled to South Dakota.If YOU have seen these Children, Suspect or Vehicle,Call 1-306-780-5563 Immediately. Do NOT take action to rescue the child, CALL IMMEDIATELY.This poster is available on the state Amber Alert webpage at
Within an hour and 45 minutes after an Amber Alert was issued in South Dakota Tuesday night, two Canadian children were recovered in Meade County.

The Meade County Sheriff's Office posted on social media at 11:42 p.m. Mountain Time Tuesday that the children were safely recovered and the suspects were captured.

According to the post, the office, state Division of Criminal Investigation, state Highway Patrol and the Sturgis Police Department aided in the capture and recovery.

The state issued the Amber Alert at 11:05 p.m. Central Time Tuesday (10:05 p.m. Mountain Time) for 7-year-old Luna Potts and 8-year-old Hunter Potts. The suspect was listed as Benjamin Martin Moore, 50, in a 2015 dark blue Chevy Equinox with an Alberta, Canada plate. The alert came following a Saskatchewan, Canada, Amber alert, with the belief they were heading to South Dakota.

According to the alert, the children were believed to be traveling with their non-custodial mother Leah Potts and her companion, Moore.

Tony Mangan, spokesperson for the South Dakota Attorney General's office, said in an email the case is under investigation. He said the children were found at a campground near Sturgis. They are now being cared for and preparations are being made to get them back to the rightful custodian.

Criteria for declaring an Amber Alert include a request from a law enforcement agency, credible evidence that a child under 18 years old has been abducted, evidence that the child is in danger of bodily harm or death, and enough credible and useful information from eyewitnesses or other sources that could assist in the safe recovery of the child and arrest of the suspect.

Meade County Sheriff Ron Merwin said Wednesday his office worked with DCI and Homeland Security to search Sturgis Motorcycle Rally campgrounds after the alert was issued.

He said the blue Chevrolet Equinox was located at the Glencoe Campground east of Sturgis. The suspects were also alerted to law enforcement closing in.

They figured out about the same time as we located them, they located us, Merwin said Wednesday. "They got to their car and were going to leave. ... There was a traffic stop made and they were both taken into custody without incident.

Merwin said the children have been placed with the state Department of Social Services. He said the Canadian authorities are pleased.

"I talked with them today (Wednesday). They are totally impressed that, with the rally going on, within about 90 minutes of the alert going out, we had them in custody, he said.

Pennington County Jail's inmate roster includes a Leah Alayne Potts and Benjamin Martin Moore, both booked around 6 a.m. Wednesday. Both are held for immigration and customs enforcement, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Both have federal holds and no bond listed. Merwin confirmed neither were taken to Meade County Jail.

 Jim Holland and Siandhara Bonnet contributed to this report.
STURGIS  A veteran who helped provide military honors at more than 3,300 funerals, and a woman who will celebrate her 28th year in the South Dakota Army National Guard in September, were honored Tuesday during Sturgis Motorcycle Rallys Military Appreciation Day ceremonies.

Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen was joined by other local and state dignitaries, commanders from the National Guard and Ellsworth Air Force Base in honoring Arvid Meland and Cindy Erickson, both of Sturgis.

The days activities also included a flyover by a pair of B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworths 28th Bomb Wing and the unveiling of the Woody Williams Foundation Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, all to loud cheers from a enthusiastically pro-military audience of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally-goers at Harley-Davidson Rally Point.

Meland, 92, was born in Watertown and was a 1948 graduate of Wallace High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951 and served with a mortar company in Germany.

After his discharge he attended South Dakota State College, studying agronomy. He worked for the Soil Conservation Service from 1957-1986 and later was employed by the Meade County Assessors Office where he retired in 1999.

Meland served on the Sturgis City Council for 17 years, and is a life member of the American Legion. He is a member of Sturgis Kiwanis, the Sturgis Area Arts Council, Grace Lutheran Church and Toastmasters.

Meland joined the Sturgis Honor Guard in 1999. He is a past commander and has provided funeral honors for more than 3,300 funerals.

He made a return to Germany earlier this year as part of the Honor Flight program.

Meland has four children, a son Paul, and two daughters, Rebecca and Stephanie, with his first wife, Avenell, and a son, Christopher, with his current wife Paulette.

I wasnt expecting this until a couple of weeks ago, Meland said of a proclamation naming Aug. 9 as Arvid Meland Day in Sturgis. Its one of those things that is a real privilege to have served both the American Legion, the Honor Guard and the city of Sturgis. Thank you.

Erickson was born in Spearfish, grew up in Whitewood and graduated from Sturgis Brown High School.

She enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard in 1994, serving with the 842nd Engineer Company, including 10 years as a construction equipment mechanic and nine years as a crane operator.

Erickson deployed to Iraq in 2003-2004 with the 842nd and completed a training rotation in Germany in 2001.

She also trained and qualified Danish soldiers in the Army Basic Instructor Course to certify them to instruct U.S. soldiers for Officer Candidate School at Fort Meade.

Cindy and her husband, DeLane, have three daughters  Christina, Jaden and Kaylee. She and her family live in Sturgis on a hobby farm and ranch.

Erickson thanked her family during the ceremony Tuesday.

If it werent for them I wouldnt be able to have the support of everybody in everything I do, she said.

Carstensen also proclaimed Tuesday as Cindy Erickson Day in Sturgis.

Col. Martin Yost of the South Dakota Army National Guard said he has served with Erickson.

She is a real soldier, a hard charger and (someone who) get things done, Yost said.

Col. Joseph Sheffield, 28th Bomb Wing Commander from Ellsworth Air Force Base, also paid tribute.

They are local heroes that have served our nation and our community so very well and your services are meaningful and appreciated, he said.

The four-panel, black granite Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was installed at the Rally Point on June 29, the very day that Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, died at his West Virginia home at the age of 99.

Williams received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the invasion of Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. He was credited with single-handedly attacking and destroying a number of enemy pillboxes to allow his unit to advance.

Williams established his foundation initially with the goal of building a Gold Star Families memorial in his home state, but later decided to build memorials in all 50 states.

South Dakota was the 49th state to receive a memorial.

The monument will be formally dedicated on Aug. 24, during the citys annual appreciation picnic.

Also speaking at Tuesdays event was South Dakota Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden, Bev Rosenboom of Sturgis, representing Employers Support of the Guard and Reserve, and Rick Butler on behalf of Tim Borland, National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who was called back to Washington, D.C. to attend Wednesdays signing of the PACT Act, the recently-passed measure addressing treatment of veterans' exposure to toxic substances.
Ex-Russian TV journalist charged with discrediting Russian army faces 10 years in jail

MOSCOW, August 10 (RAPSI)  Former Russian TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova who was fined on several occasions for discrediting the country's armed forces in social media posts faces criminal charges and up to 10 years in prison, her lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov told RAPSI.

Ovsyannikova was accused of publicly disseminating knowingly false information about the operation of the Russian Armed Forces based on political, ideological, racial, national or religious hatred or enmity, or on the basis of hatred or enmity against any social group, as defined by the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Investigators are interrogating the journalist, the court has not decided yet whether to place her under house arrest or in a pre-trial detention, Zakhvatov said.

This summer, Moscow courts fined Ovsyannikova twice in the framework of administrative proceedings over discrediting the countrys Armed Forces, charging from her fines in the amount of 50,000 and 40,000 rubles ($830 and $650 accordingly at the current exchange rate).

Also, this March, the Moscow Ostankinsky District Court found Ovsyannikova guilty of committing an administrative offense, that is a violation of the established procedure for organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing, and imposed an administrative fine on the ex-editor in the amount of 30,000 rubles ($500).

The fine was imposed after Ovsyannikova had demonstrated a poster against the special operation in Ukraine in the course of a live broadcast of the Vremya program on Channel One.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church continues to serve the community with its Little Free Pantry, thanks to a generous builder and wonderful community support.

Reverend Gretchen Strohmaier of St. Pauls said the initial goal was to serve the community during Lent.

We did it for that season and people read about it in the paper and people beyond the church participated, Strohmaier said. They came and dropped off food, and people from the community got food and we thought maybe well keep going.

In May she received an offer from builder Rick Rosecrans to donate the materials and build a bigger, more permanent structure that would withstand the weather.

In June he came and built this one and it has been so cool, she said. It has a little roof on it so is protected from the elements and people are using it, using it, using it. It is hard to keep it full these days.

Strohmaier said there is lots of activity with community members dropping off food and others taking whats been donated.

There is a lot of activity and for the last three weeks every Monday it is empty, she said. Last week our friends from the Presbyterian Church donated and other people who live in the neighborhood but dont go to St. Pauls keep an eye on it regularly and add to it as well. Its just really worked and were super excited about it.

Strohmaier said the Little Free Pantry at St. Pauls Episcopal Church works because it is anonymous.

We dont know who is coming and leaving things and who is coming and getting things, she said. It is great because when people have a need they can come and get it. It is community and a community way to serve people who have needs.
A Missoula man faces the possibility of life in prison for allegedly sexually assaulting three underage girls in the area during a two-year period.

Tyler Wayne Goeres, 37, appeared in Missoula County District Court on Tuesday after being arrested on a warrant Monday. Hes been charged with sexual assault of a minor, attempted sexual assault of a minor and sexual intercourse without consent, all felonies.

Goeres, who did not have an attorney at the time, did not make a plea to District Judge Dusty Deschamps on Tuesday. If he is convicted on all charges, he could face up to 300 years in prison and a $150,000 fine.

Charging documents allege on Oct. 28, 2020, that a victim approached her school counselor and said she had been assaulted. School officials told Missoula Police Department detectives, who allege that the victim was assaulted by Goeres in her house while she was asleep.

Goeres is alleged to be dating the victim's mother and lived with the victim, according to charging documents.

Detectives also interviewed the victims aunt and a friend of the victim, who both experienced similar situations. The aunt alleged Goeres assaulted her when she was as young as 15, at houses in Bonner and Missoula, according to charging documents.

The victims friend alleged Goeres assaulted her at a sleepover when she was 11 in 2020. The most recent alleged assault happened to the first victim in June 2022.

Goeres bail is set at $100,000. He is currently not allowed to contact the victims, or any minor. He is also banned from where children congregate, like schools, parks and playgrounds.
China strengthens monitoring production, storage of drugs in shortage

Xinhua) 08:53, August 10, 2022

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Relevant authorities in China have demanded efforts to enhance the monitoring of production and storage of medicines that are in short supply and medicines that have been selected for centralized procurement.

While strengthening information sharing, related authorities should improve their multi-tier management of medicines and instruct producers on submitting information and increasing production capacity, said a circular jointly issued by four state organs, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the National Medical Products Administration.

The list of medicines to be closely monitored will be open to further adjustment, as will producers, the circular said.

The MIIT said it would cooperate with relevant departments to analyze information related to medicine production and inventories, and to conduct regular examinations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Bianji)
The Hanover County School Boards agenda for its Tuesday night meeting included a review of the controversial proposed policy regarding the treatment of transgender students.

The policy, if approved, would require transgender students, along with their parents or guardians, to submit a written request to school administration asking for access to restrooms, locker rooms or changing facilities that align with the students gender identities.

The conversation about the proposed policy was limited to a presentation by School Board Attorney Lisa Seward. There was no conversation between board members.

The policy suggests that the written request may contain several personal documents related to the student including their disciplinary or criminal records, as well as signed statements from the students doctor or therapist verifying that the student has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and/or that the student consistently and authentically expresses a binary gender identity. Seward clarified that the documents suggested in the policy are not required.

The proposal was largely drafted by the Arizona-based organization Alliance Defending Freedom, according to Seward. The ADF is a conservative legal advocacy organization with expressed anti-LGBTQ views. The board voted in March to allow ADF to review its policy.

Parents and community members flooded the School Board chambers on Tuesday night to speak at public comment.

Dana Clark, who identified as the parent of a transgender child, said the proposed policy implies that transgender students are degenerates.

Not only does he have to explain transgenderism to you, not only do I have to support it, but somehow were to give you personal, invasive information from our medical provider or therapist to also support who he is  and all of this is just to use the bathroom, Clark said at the meeting.

Some people spoke in favor of the proposed policy, including Kristin Holte, who in her speech also described the FBI search on Donald Trumps residence at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on Monday as the political weaponization of the FBI and DOJ.

The majority of Hanover County supports parental rights and safe bathrooms for all students, Holte said. Please do everything you can to ensure that this policy protects the safety of every student supporting the provision that requires a criminal or disciplinary history.

Several community members also spoke about the logo on T-shirts and other materials used during a HCPS conference last week that resembles a swastika. Superintendent Michael Gill, in a message to families and staff last week, apologized for the mistake and for the emotions that the logo has evoked by its semblance to a swastika.

Shannon Spiggle, who described herself as a Jewish parent who belongs to the LGBTQ community, compared discrimination of LGBTQ people to the discrimination Jewish people faced during the holocaust.

When I read the part of policies that require a background check, among other requirements just for a child to use the restroom, I thought about my great grandma, who is a holocaust survivor, Spiggle said at the meeting. Instead of talking about the  paperwork and hoops they have to go through just to use the bathroom, learn from the history of the Holocaust. Do not adopt these policies.

Because of the overwhelming interest in discussing the proposed policy, the School Board scheduled an additional public hearing on Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.

The controversy about the proposed policy that has surrounded HCPS stems from the boards decision in November to shoot down a policy that would have allowed transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that conform to their gender identities. School boards were required by a Virginia law to adopt such policies before the start of last school year.

A vote on the proposed policy is expected to take place at a special School Board meeting Aug. 30.
Vinton Cerf, the computer scientist and industry pioneer known widely as the father of the internet, will be the keynote speaker at a global digital infrastructure conference in Henrico County this fall.

Hosted by the Internet Ecosystem Innovation Committee (IEIC), a consortium of digital technology and international business leaders, the second IEIC/NAP Summit will feature speeches and panel discussions on topics such as the growth of internet infrastructure, its implications for the global economy and future technological advancements in multiple sectors, including the health care, finance and automobile industries.

The summit will be held Nov. 8 at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump.

The creation of new enterprise and new customers in areas ripe for new development is a high priority for this country, Cerf said in a news release from the Henrico Economic Development Authority. Henrico can be a bellwether for the opportunity and worked examples raise the economic tide for everyone.

Henrico, which is associated with the IEIC through its economic development authority, has poised itself to be a major proponent of internet infrastructure development by courting businesses such as QTS and Facebook to locate data centers in the county. IEIC and county officials say the county has become a global internet hub for the Mid-Atlantic, as new subsea cables that land in Virginia and route through data centers in the Richmond area have improved the countrys connectivity to Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and South America.

Established in July 2019, the IEIC was formed to work with other industry leaders in the private sector, academia and governments to advocate for the development of internet nexus points around the world. Its founding members include executives and leaders from companies and organizations such as IBM, QTS, Nvidia, FreddieMac, Ford, Hilton, Uber and Virginia Commonwealth University. Cerf, who is vice president at Google and its chief internet evangelist, is chairman of the IEIC.

Anthony Romanello, executive director of the Henrico Economic Development Authority, said in an interview that the data centers and other infrastructure development is important for numerous businesses, especially as companies today produce phones, televisions, cars and consumer devices that generate data and connect to the internet.

This isnt about Verizon FIOS getting a little bit faster at your house, Romanello said. This is about businesses moving big data around the world.

The summit program will also include the official opening of DE-CIX Richmond, a new network convergence point with connections to similar exchange points in New York, Dallas, Chicago and Phoenix.

More information about the IEIC/NAP 2.0 Summit can be found online at ieicco.com/summit-2-0/.
The neo-Nazi torch rally held five years ago this month shook Charlottesville and beyond, but perhaps no single institution was affected as much as the University of Virginia.

Recognized as one of the top universities in the country, UVa and its loyal alumni and supporters have long guarded its reputation. Honor and good citizenship are strongly held ideals. Supporters and others across the land were stunned by the images of torch-carriers on the Lawn and in front of founder Thomas Jeffersons statue, with many taking it as a personal affront.

But even more than a reputation to protect, UVa has students, professors, workers and others to protect.

An extensive report released in November 2017 said that the university had been slow to respond. The report shed light on the circumstances around the white nationalist Unite the Right rally and deadly violence on the streets of Charlottesville.

Heather Heyer, 32, was killed when a car was deliberately driven into a crowd. Separately, Virginia State Police Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates and Lt. H. Jay Cullen, who had been monitoring the Charlottesville unrest, also died when their helicopter crashed.

Former federal prosecutor Tim Heaphy, who headed the investigation and later became lead counsel for the university, said the University Police Department ignored information about the rally as well as offers of aid. In turn, that led to a volatile, inflamed atmosphere that continued into the tragic events on Aug. 12.

There was ample notice of the Friday night torch-lit event to university officials, Heaphy said at a news conference announcing the reports results. They knew perhaps days in advance and perhaps early in the day on Friday, that there would be some sort of event by the white nationalists that were coming to the Unite the Right rally.

Some activists were particularly upset that their warnings went unheeded.

I called it in, the mayors wife called it in and students called it in, said Jalane Schmidt, who is also a professor at UVa. They called us hand-waving leftists for using the F-word: fascist.

UVa has since worked to create a safer and more inclusive future with all of its students and faculty in mind. And while many changes have been made, many people believe there is need to do more.

Limits on Lawn

Teresa Sullivan, who was UVa president at the time, immediately formed a working group to review all of the universitys policies to see where it could have handled the situation differently. The group made several suggestions.

Since that time, UVa updated its open flame policy to make it enforceable by security officials; the Lawn is now a facility, allowing for more safety measures like regulating the use of firearms; and adjusted its time, place and manner restrictions, which required university outsiders to apply for permission to hold a speech event at least one week in advance with a two-hour time limit, only during week days between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., while keeping participants to a 50-person maximum.

Sullivan said she had done everything she could before the rally to thwart any violence. For example, after the Ku Klux Klan had held a rally in Charlottesville in July 2017, Sullivan consulted with the Southern Poverty Law Center for the best course of action.

After learning that many white supremacist groups are looking to create a media event, she decided she would give the media some good news instead.

Sullivan organized an extensive teach-in at Alderman Library for Aug. 12, 2017. The family-friendly event was set to include several classes on different topics, exercises and film sessions to prevent people from going downtown, as many people routinely do on a Saturday afternoon.

Part of the goal, she said, was in keeping with UVas distance itself from groups with harmful ideologies that target large populations within the UVa community.

The measures did not work, to Sullivans deep regret.

I wish Heather Heyer were alive today. I wish those state troopers were alive today. Its an eternal grief, Sullivan said. I did my best to try and ameliorate the bad effects of it and, as it turned out, it didnt work. There are still bad things that happen. Jan. 6 was like post-traumatic stress for me. I just couldnt believe it all over again.

Enslaved laborers memorial

As a part of its goal to create more visibility for minority groups on Grounds, Sullivan approved plans proposed by the Deans Working Group to construct the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers located on campus.

The collective administrations and University faculty also have been developing plans and policies to repel the hateful ideologies that targeted people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and Jewish people.

UVa President Jim Ryan is adamant that his 2030 plan, crafted upon his arrival in 2018, will propel the university into a future worthy of its foundational ideals.

This is a university based on certain ideas. They werent fully realized when they were articulated, but they remain captivating and compelling, Ryan said. The way that you change that is by moving closer to the values and ideals that were expressed, in some cases, two centuries ago  expanding the We in We the People.

Ryans 2030 plan emphasizes strategic goals to increase cultural diversity among both faculty and staff as a part of strengthening its foundation. The SuccessUVA initiative, for example, is the expansion of the Universitys financial aid program in an effort to bring more low-to-middle income, minority, first-generation and underrepresented students into the fold.

The initiative includes construction of a new Health and Wellness Center, a new Contemplative Sciences Center and an expanded Multicultural Student Center to support an increasingly diverse student body with a variety of needs.

Public safety changes

Associate Vice President of Safety and Security and Chief of Police Tim Longo, who took his local law enforcement post in the fall immediately after the rally, had a goal to create more synergy between the UVa, Charlottesville and Albemarle County police departments.

As the former Charlottesville Chief of Police, Longo regards this alliance as a positive and necessary change for the future of safety at UVa.

Its essentially important when we have large-scale events, whether they be spontaneous demonstration by a student body, civic group or an organized demonstration to a ballgame, Longo said. What I think the University has done well is had the foresight to know it makes sense to bring all those assets into one place.

The University increased the presence of ambassadors and doubled up on Lawn security, Longo said. Donning bright yellow shirts, the unarmed ambassadors are UVas first line of defense and report suspicious or dangerous activity to Chief Longo, rather than intervening.

A gentle middle ground between security guards and police officers, the ambassadors create a sense of heightened awareness and protection for students, parents, faculty and visitors alike, Longo said.

Although the group has not met in about a year, the UVa Student Councils University Police Accountability Board facilitates collaboration, communication and transparency between the student body, the University Police Department and other safety and security officials at UVa.

When I first got here, there were actually faculty and staff members within that group as well, Longo said. I always envision that as, not just a mechanism for oversight and accountability and asking questions, but also input on safety measures or preventative actions. More than its ever been, its always that balance between individual rights and governmental responsibilities to create safe environments.

Executive vice president and chief operating officer at UVa, J.J. Davis, has a safety insecurity committee that is a cross-section of people representing different positions and experiences on Grounds, including student representatives. The committee meets once a month to discuss issues within the University on, both, broad and specific scales.

Even with the policy and committee developments since 2017, students would like to see more intentional action from the University.

Student body president Cecilia Cain, a Black rising fourth year at UVa, sat on the University Police Accountability Board but said she did not find it effective. Cain said she is looking toward a new future of campus policing. Im hoping to work with UPD this year, Cain said. Removing university police from mental health crises, instead, having trained counselors and EMTs as a part of that system is something weve been working on.
The city of Richmond has paid $1.6 million in settlement payments to resolve 122 claims stemming from cases related to protests that rocked the city in 2020.

Neil R. Gibson, senior assistant attorney for the city, disclosed the amount to the Times-Dispatch in an email Wednesday. He declined to share information about the cases, citing confidential settlement agreements and an exemption in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Major crime has risen 28% so far this year in Richmond, with property crime driving the numbers Reported violent crime rose from 522 offenses during the first six months of 2021 to 531 for the same period this year. By comparison, property crime surged from 3,119 offenses to 4,134, the chief reported.

The cost of settling cases alleging police misconduct at protests following the police killing of George Floyd two years ago has continued to escalate over the past year. ABC 8-WRIC first reported the $1.6 million sum Tuesday.

Jim Nolan, the mayor's press secretary, said in an email Wednesday evening that the costs were "apparently" covered by the city's insurance policy.

In addition to the monetary settlements, the city recently reached an agreement in a federal suit that required the release of documents and videos related to the Richmond Police Department's use of force against people during a demonstration at the Robert E. Lee monument on June 1, 2020.
A former Virginia police officer who pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer deserves to avoid a prison sentence for his cooperation and trial testimony against the other officer, federal prosecutors argued in a court filing.

Justice Department prosecutors this week recommended six months of probation, along with a period of home detention or community confinement for former Rocky Mount police officer Jacob Fracker. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge that he conspired with a former colleague, Thomas Robertson, to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory.

Prosecutors have recommended an eight-year prison sentence for Robertson, who was convicted by a jury of attacking the Capitol to obstruct Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021.

Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday and Fracker next Tuesday.

Sentencing guidelines calculated by the courts probation department recommend Fracker receive a term of imprisonment ranging from 15 to 21 months. His lawyer requested a sentence of house arrest, probation and community service. U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper isnt bound by any of the recommendations when he sentences Robertson and Fracker.

Prosecutors said they wouldnt have known that Robertson destroyed two cellphones containing incriminating videos and photos taken on Jan. 6 without Frackers fulsome cooperation.

In addition, Frackers testimony substantially helped establish Robertsons corrupt intent to obstruct the proceeding, prosecutors wrote. Prior to Frackers cooperation, the evidence of Robertsons intent relied on his social media postings, which Robertson sought to discount as online bragging.

Fracker testified at Robertsons trial that he initially believed he was merely trespassing when he entered the Capitol. But he ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiring with Robertson to obstruct Congress.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday overturned a three-year prison sentence for an American citizen who had represented slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, one of his lawyers said, instead punishing him with a fine of $1.36 million and deportation.

Authorities have not released specifics about the case, saying only that it involved illegal money transfers through the UAE banking system.

Last month, Ghafoor's supporters say Emirati security agents arrested him upon landing at Dubai International Airport and sent him to a detention facility in Abu Dhabi, where he was sentenced to three years in prison followed by deportation.

Ghafoor's lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to disrupt the proceedings as his client was still in the UAE. He said Ghafoor was ordered to pay the $1.36 million fine before he could leave the country.

There was no immediate acknowledgement from Emirati officials. The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not respond to request for comment.

Ghafoor had been transiting through Dubai en route to Istanbul for a family wedding. His supporters say he had no idea the UAE had convicted him at some point in the past.

Emirati authorities claim they had investigated Ghafoor at the request of the United States. The State Department, however, said Washington had not ordered Ghafoors detention. The Justice Department has declined to comment.

Ghafoors lawyer rejected the charges of tax evasion and illegal money transfers. His supporters insist he had no opportunity to defend himself against the charges and describe his trial and conviction as unjust.

Ghafoor serves on the board of Washington-based human rights watchdog Democracy for the Arab World Now, DAWN, which is highly critical of human rights abuses in the autocratic UAE.

Ghafoors connection to Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist who was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in Turkey in 2018, has raised the profile of the case. However, the State Department said there was no indication Ghafoors detention was related to his association with Khashoggi.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Wednesday denounced Gov. Glenn Youngkin for impugning the Department of Justice over the search of former President Donald Trumps Florida home and for the governors characterization of its role in a Loudoun County schools controversy.

Im very disappointed in legislative colleagues who are quick to trash this search ... and trash its legitimacy, Kaine said in a Zoom interview with reporters and editors at several Virginia newspapers.

And I was most disturbed this morning to see Virginia Governor Youngkin basically ... impugning the Department of Justice and saying that this was the same Department of Justice that labeled Loudoun school parents terrorists.

Thats just a lie. The Department of Justice never labeled Loudoun schoolchildren or their parents as domestic terrorists, Kaine said. A national school board association wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking if they would investigate violence and threats of violence against school board members as possible acts of domestic terrorism.

In a tweet Tuesday from his personal Twitter account, Youngkin called the search at Mar-a-Lago a stunning move by the DOJ and FBI. He added that This same DOJ labeled parents in Loudoun County as terrorists and failed to enforce federal law to protect Justices in their homes.

Youngkin was referring to a controversy over a high school student in Loudoun who assaulted students at two schools. The governor, who highlighted parents role in schools during his successful campaign, has faulted Loudoun school officials for their handling of the case. An executive order he signed the day he took office authorized Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate Loudouns schools.

Youngkins tweet on Tuesday apparently referred to a letter that the National School Boards Association sent to President Joe Biden last year comparing parents protests in the county to domestic terrorists.

Now, whether the school board [association] should have used that phrase or not, it was not the Department of Justice that did it, Kaine said Wednesday. The Department of Justice has not labeled anybody in Loudoun  school, parent or otherwise  a terrorist.

For Governor Youngkin  who knows better  to trash the Department of Justice in that way shows a severe lack of judgment. What it also shows is that too many in the GOP  even people who should know better  feel like, for political reasons, they have to be water carriers for Donald J. Trump.

They should be, instead, protectors of our democracy and the rule of law, rather than ... trying to court favor with Donald J. Trump, private citizen.

Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin, said in a statement: Its alarming that Senator Kaine doesnt think Virginians deserve an explanation from Attorney General [Merrick] Garland and the Biden Administration on the unprecedented raid of the private residence of a former president. His clear disagreement with many of his Democratic colleagues and Virginians is notable.

While Youngkin and Kaine differ politically, each has praised the other on occasion. For example, in June Youngkin thanked several Virginia Democrats, including Kaine, for playing roles in Boeings decision to move its headquarters to the state. Last month, Kaine said he was pleased that Youngkin acted quickly to declare a state of emergency in response to flooding in Buchanan County.
NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  A U.S. Army lieutenant who was pepper-sprayed, struck and handcuffed during a traffic stop in Virginia can present his claims of false imprisonment and assault and battery to a jury, a federal judge has ruled.

But the summary judgment Tuesday said federal immunity laws shield the two officers involved from facing Caron Nazarios claims that they violated the Black and Hispanic soldier's constitutional protections against excessive force and unreasonable seizure, as well as his right to free speech by allegedly threatening him with arrest if he complained about their behavior.

U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young also ruled that the officer who initially pulled Nazario over is liable for illegally searching for a gun in the soldier's SUV in violation of the U.S. Constitution and Virginia law, leaving the question of damages on that point up to a jury. Nazario had a concealed carry permit.

The December 2020 traffic stop of the uniformed military officer in the small town of Windsor drew national attention and outrage after Nazario sued in April 2021, citing police body camera images and his cell phone video of the encounter. He was never charged with a crime.

Nazario had been driving home in the dark from his duty station when Officer Daniel Crocker radioed that he was attempting to stop a vehicle with no rear license plate and tinted windows, the lawsuit says. Body camera video later showed that a temporary tag was taped to the inside of the rear window.

It appeared to Lt. Nazario that there was no good location in the immediate vicinity to stop safely. So, for the benefit of the officers safety and his own, Lt. Nazario continued slowly down US 460," the lawsuit says. Nazario drove below the posted speed limit for less than a mile until he reached the well-lit parking lot of a BP gas station, it says.

Crocker said the driver was eluding police and he considered it a high-risk traffic stop, according to a report cited in the lawsuit. Another officer, Joe Gutierrez, was driving by and joined him.

The lawsuit says both officers escalated the situation by immediately pointing their guns at Nazario and trying to pull him out of the vehicle while he kept his hands in the air. Gutierrez pepper-sprayed Nazario multiple times as the officers yelled for him to get out.

At one point, Nazario said he was afraid to get out, to which Gutierrez replied: You should be.

When Nazario did get out and ask for a supervisor, Gutierrez responded with knee-strikes to his legs, knocking him to the ground, where the two officers struck him multiple times and then handcuffed and interrogated him, the lawsuit says.

Officer Gutierrez was later fired for failing to follow department policy during the stop. A special prosecutor concluded late last month that Gutierrez should not be criminally charged under Virginia law, but should be investigated by the U.S. Justice Department for potential civil rights violations.

The federal judge ruled Tuesday that the officers had probable cause to pull Nazario over for an improperly displayed license plate, and to charge him with eluding police as well as obstruction of justice and failure to obey when he refused to exit the vehicle.

But Young said the allegations of false imprisonment, assault and battery that Nazario made under state law can move forward because Virginia law only provides local officials immunity from suits alleging negligence.

Explaining his summary judgment on Crocker's search for the gun, Young wrote that the firearm was not relevant evidence for the crimes of eluding or obstruction of justice." However, he said Nazarios claims that Gutierrez knew about the search and failed to intervene could proceed to trial. Gutierrez has argued that he knew nothing about the search.

Jessica Ann Swauger, an attorney listed for Gutierrez, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Jonathan Arthur, one of the attorneys representing Nazario, said the judge's ruling is a victory even though three of the federal claims were tossed.

Whether its under federal law or whether its under state law, the jury is going to speak," Arthur said. "And we hope that the jury is going to stand up and say that this behavior will not be tolerated.

Anne C. Lahren, an attorney for Crocker, said the remaining questions are classic issues for a jury, rarely decided at this stage in a civil suit. She also noted that the judge found the stop itself and the officers' ensuing commands to be lawful.

Lt. Nazarios own actions gave rise to the unfortunate, but lawful, escalation of force ..., Lahren wrote. Had Lt. Nazario simply followed the lawful commands of the officers from the outset of the traffic stop, none of this would have been necessary.

No criminal charges warranted against Windsor police officer involved in controversial 2020 traffic stop, special prosecutor says A Windsor police officer who pepper sprayed and repeatedly threatened a Black Army lieutenant during a controversial 2020 traffic stop, knocki

WATCH NOW: Police videos like the Windsor one that went viral usually stay secret in Virginia The now-viral footage that captured a small-town Virginia police officer pepper spraying a Black man during a routine traffic stop in December gave the public a rare glimpse inside the states historically secretive criminal justice system. Virginia law gives police departments a lot of power to hide information from public view, and they often employ it. That means records like the ...
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Virginia, a primary battleground during the Civil War, is now a conservative Christian legal outfits staging ground in the culture wars.

Alliance Defending Freedom helped the Hanover County School Board craft an odious policy that would require transgender students to submit a written application, disciplinary records, a criminal background check and information from their personal physician to use a bathroom, locker room or changing facility that aligns with their gender identity.

The policy proposal was on Tuesday nights School Board agenda. Its ultimate approval appears to be a fait accompli on a board that, if anything, is even more ardently conservative than the one that enlisted the aid of the notoriously anti-LGBTQ Alliance Defending Freedom earlier this year.

The Hanover board, in the process, has slow-walked compliance with a 2020 state law, the resulting model guidelines for the treatment of transgender and nonbinary students, and federal legal precedent.

And now we have an insulting policy that conflates being transgender with criminality. No other class of Hanover students needs a background check to pee.

Its bad enough that transgender students are bullied in school. Its unforgiveable that their School Board is party to the bullying.

Theres no reason to have our children go through a background check to use the restroom, said Kelly Carter Merrill, the mother of a transgender student. It is unfounded. It is discriminatory. And they are not qualified to make those calls anyway, she said of the board.

Or as Christopher Berg, the parent of a nonbinary student, said: Its tough enough being a trans kid without having to go through a judging process to decide if youre worthy to go to the bathroom. Its going to be pretty traumatizing.

But the Hanover School Board majority knows which way the political winds are blowing and has seized upon the parents rights campaign that swept Glenn Youngkin into the governors office. Now, they have friends in high places, including the U.S. Supreme Court, which appears to be willing to blur the line between church and state.

Add the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based ADF and you have the perfect storm of Christian nationalism and right-wing politics shaping K-12 education in Virginia.

ADFs relationship with the Harrisonburg School Board is not nearly as chummy as its romance with Hanovers board; in June, it filed a lawsuit against the Harrisonburg body over its transgender policy. And in a case now before the Virginia Supreme Court, ADF is defending a former West Point High School teacher, Peter Vlaming, who was fired from his job for refusing to call a transgender student by his preferred pronoun.

All of this once appeared to be settled law.

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit both ruled that the Gloucester County School Board violated Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause by prohibiting then-student Gavin Grimm, a transgender male, from using the same bathrooms as other boys. In June 2021, the Supreme Court refused to hear the case.

But in post-Roe v. Wade America, legal precedents are nothing if not precarious.

The Hanover School Boards intransigence in complying with the law led to a December 2021 lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia on behalf of the parents of five transgender students.

Tuesday, a coalition of advocacy groups in Virginia spoke out against the proposed policy.

This is not just about bathrooms or locker rooms. Its about the right of transgender students to exist in public spaces without having to justify or explain themselves, said Breanna Diaz, policy and legislative counsel at the ACLU of Virginia.

Jamie Nolan, co-executive director of Side By Side VA, said trans and nonbinary students overwhelmingly experience hostile learning environments simply by walking through the doors of our schools. This invasive and discriminatory policy would have Hanover double down by institutionalizing an environment that all students are not welcomed to learn and participate in.

Narissa Rahaman, executive director of Equality Virginia, said the Hanover School Boards unnecessary and discriminatory policy will lead to more harm for transgender and non-binary students in Hanover public schools.

The School Board can send a message that they truly value and support transgender and non-binary students by ceasing engagement with Alliance Defending Freedom and rejecting the policy when they meet again in September, she said.

Good luck with that.

This School Board is more intent on doubling down on discrimination and winning the culture wars than providing a safe and nurturing environment for all of its students.
A man who set himself on fire Sunday afternoon while sitting on a public park bench in Salem died later that day, the state medical examiners office confirmed Wednesday.

Hugh Alan Kiser, 56, died from complications of thermal injury, according to LaKeshia Johnson of the state medical examiners Central District office in Richmond.

Johnson also confirmed that Kisers death was as a result of suicide.

Kisers most recent address was a street near Lake Spring Park in Salem, where eyewitnesses said he set himself ablaze.

Kelseigh Meador of Salem and her two daughters were at the park when the incident occurred. Meador was one of three witnesses that helped to douse the flames.

Meador said Monday that she had spoken with Kisers mother, who said he died Sunday evening at a Richmond hospital. Kiser was flown there with over 90% of his body burned, Meador wrote on Facebook.

Kiser was recently charged in Salem with public intoxication on Aug. 6, according to court records. His hearing for that offense was scheduled for Sept. 13.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or having a mental health crisis, you can dial just three numbers  988  to get help.
Virginia Western Community College will be offering two new health care programs when the fall semester starts later this month.

The physical therapy assistant and surgical technology programs are inherited from Radford University Carilion, which has planned to pass the two-year programs to VWCC since merging with Jefferson College of Health Sciences in 2019.

Students will also have the opportunity to earn a degree as an occupational therapist assistant beginning in 2025, but in the meantime RUC will continue to offer the program, according to a VWCC news release.

After completing prerequisite courses, students typically complete the program in two years.

They gain clinical experience in the second year and ultimately earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant. RUCs final cohort graduated in spring 2022, and Virginia Western expects 24 students in this inaugural class, the release states.

The programs transition from RUC to Virginia Western has been in the works since 2019, when Dr. Jordan Tucker was hired as program administrator to develop the curriculum, plan the campus laboratory space and procure equipment and resources, according to the release.

Elizabeth Wilmer, the vice president for student and academic affairs, said the students will get the same quality education from VWCC as they would have at RUC, but for a fraction of the cost.

The cost per credit hour at RUC is $387, compared to just over $170 per credit hour at the community college, which she attributes to lower operating costs for VWCC.

It is part of our mission as a community college to offer affordable educations for our students, she said.

Wilmer said the average wages for the positions in Virginia are competitive as well, with physical therapy assistants making roughly $60,000 a year and surgical technicians making nearly $50,000.

More than 70% of students who graduate from health care programs at VWCC go directly into the workforce, according to the release.

While the physical therapy program will have the 24 students in its inaugural class, the surgical program will have 11 transfers and approximately 13-15 new students, according to Wilmer.

VWCC will be leasing space from RUC for the surgical program, according to Wilmer, who noted the hospital RUC now operates already has a furnished surgical room where students can get hands-on experience.

For more information on Virginia Western at its program offerings, visit www.virginiawestern.edu.
A couple of interesting economic development initiatives are taking shape in Carroll and Grayson counties. The unsexy one is for a regional slaughterhouse that would give farmers much easier access to marketing their livestock. The other, which sounds like science fiction, could create biosecure farms where disease-free animals are raised for their organs, for future transplantation into humans.
A limited liability company set up by an international furniture designer and his wife received zoning approval Wednesday to build a boutique hotel and restaurant in South Roanoke.

Rudy van Thiel, 71, speaking for himself and his wife Ellen, described the development as possibly the last creative project of their lives. If completed as expected in spring of 2024, the still-unnamed establishment will combine an upscale restaurant and 21-room hotel with oversized rooms measuring 500 square feet to 600 square feet in a 4-story structure with a brick and glass exterior on Crystal Spring Avenue.

The city Board of Zoning Appeals voted 6-0 to grant the project a special exception, enabling the couple to move toward the preparation of detailed plans which still must pass city review.

One zoning board seat is vacant due to a recent resignation.

Some South Roanoke residents criticized the proposed complex as too large for the location and likely to overwhelm available parking, while others welcomed it, at a July hearing, the first of two. Supporters outnumbered critics by the close of public comments and no one from the public or board spoke against it Wednesday before the unanimous, favorable vote.

City staff also endorsed the project. They found that the existing street system has more than enough capacity to handle the additional traffic of hotel and eatery patrons. The project complied with the areas master plan, wont overwhelm the water, sewer or stormwater systems and fit with the existing character of the surrounding neighborhood, according to the recommendation.

Van Thiel described himself as a furniture designer and manufacturer and part of a Dutch family-owned company with primary operations in Hong Kong and Vietnam. They are furniture architects who design and arrange the production of furniture and other home goods for U.S. retailers, he said. He has lived in Roanoke since six years ago. His wife relocated to Roanoke from Holland.

Were doing this for a certain reason: we like to be creative, he told board members.

He described the scene inside the future complex as upscale, with natural light, plants and other decorative touches. Although spacious with room to seat 150 restaurant patrons, the venue wont host loud parties, he said. More typical will be music from the violin, he said.

Board member Andrew Raduly said he welcomed the projects potential to bring a little bit of spark to the Crystal Spring business district.

Van Thiel declined to release an estimate of the total development cost. In acquiring the site, his development company paid $400,000 for a former Famous Anthonys restaurant location and $369,000 for an adjacent building, online real estate records show.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined many Republican Party politicians in blasting the FBIs search of former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago home.

A stunning move by the DOJ and FBI, the governor said in tweet from his personal Twitter account.

This same DOJ labeled parents in Loudoun County as terrorists and failed to enforce federal law to protect Justices in their homes, he said.

Youngkin referred to the controversy over a high school student who assaulted students in two different Loudoun schools, as well as the protests that followed the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The FBI search of Trumps home, which the former president called a raid, was reportedly in search of information about classified records he may have kept, which, if true, could be in violation of federal records law.

In February, the National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents and gifts from Trumps home, saying they should have been turned over when he left office. Trumps aides at the told The Washington Post the boxes contained mementos and gifts, including correspondence from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that Trump had described as love letters.

Youngkins press secretary, Macaulay Porter, declined to elaborate on the tweet or the governors motive for making the statement.

The governors statement in support of Trump  who Youngkin might want to challenge for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination  comes after the governor navigated a delicate dance with the former president during his campaign for governor.

Trump endorsed Youngkin on multiple occasions. In a radio interview shortly after Youngkin won the GOP nomination for governor, he said: President Trump represents so much of why I am running.

During his campaign for the GOP nomination Youngkin was slow to acknowledge Joe Biden was duly elected president.

But that September, in his first general election debate with Democrat Terry McAuliffe, Youngkin split with Trump on the notion of election fraud.

Youngkin said in the debate: I do not believe theres been significant fraud in Virginia elections and he said he did not expect Democrats to cheat.

I think were going to have a clean, fair election and I fully expect to win, Youngkin said.

State Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, tweeted a response to Youngkins statement, saying that FBI director Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump, who had described him as having impeccable credentials.

In Washington, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. said Congress would investigate the Justice Department if the GOP takes control of the chamber next year.

Virginian Republicans also chimed in.

Selective enforcement of our laws is not just a bad look for federal authorities, its downright scary, said Speaker of the House Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah. Perhaps President Trump should have hidden Hillary Clintons emails and Hunter Bidens laptop in his safe.

State Sen. Jen Kiggans, R-Virginia Beach, who is running to replace Rep. Elaine Luria, D-2nd, said: The dangerous precedent the Democrats set yesterday by weaponizing the FBI should anger and frighten every American.

Kiggans said the search was intended to settle old political scores and to silence a political opponent.

Her tweet came in response to one from Luria that said: There is no way to defend Trump, only to deflect. Luria is a member of the House Jan. 6 committee that is investigating the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, tweeted that: If they can come from President Trump they can come for you.

Democrats meanwhile, fired back.

Its a fundamental truth in our country that no one is above the law, tweeted Sen Mark Warner, D-Va. The FBI and DOJ must be allowed to continue their work free from political interference, he added.

Youngkin has previously called on federal officials to step in to protect Supreme Court justices privacy at their Virginia homes.

He has also criticized the way Loudoun school officials handled the assaults. An executive order he signed the day he took office authorized Attorney Gen. Jason Miyares to investigate Loudouns public schools. The executive order said: The Loudoun County School Board and school administrators withheld key details and knowingly lied to parents about the assaults.

Youngkins tweet apparently referred to a letter last year that the National School Boards Association sent to President Joe Biden, comparing parents protests in the county to domestic terrorists.

Miyares has empaneled a special grand jury to investigate the school boards response to the assaults. Last month, a state judge rebuffed the school boards effort to quash the grand jury, calling it politically motivated.
A new policy in effect this year at Caroline Middle School and Caroline High School prohibits students from accessing their cellphones during class.

According to the policy, which is included in the 202223 Student Code of Conduct, secondary students must silence their cellphones and smart watches at the beginning of class. Devices will be kept by the teacher until the end of the period.

Students may access their phones in the hallways, library and cafeteria before school, between classes and during lunch.

Elementary students who have devices must keep them switched off and out of sight during the school day.

Caroline High School Principal Joshua Just said the new policy developed out of discussions held at the end of last year between the instructional leadership team.

One of the things that came back is its really tough to keep students focused with their phones available, Just said. The pandemic was tough on our kids. They were out of school for a large chunk of it and became dependent on their phones. We all did. Were all guilty of that.

Just said the goal of the new policy is to reset and do whats best for our kids and whats best for teaching in this building.

Caroline County Public Schools began communicating the new policy over the summer, through its regular newsletter, via social media pages and at PTSO meetings in July.

The policy will also be presented at open houses and transition days as students get ready to return to school Aug. 15.

Just said parents have expressed support of the new policy, while others have concerns. He said his goal is for the division to be honest and clear about the why behind the new policy.

What were trying to make sure we do is protect our instructional time and make sure kids get as much out of their education as possible, he said.

Brooke Point High School and Stafford High School in Stafford County implemented similar no-cellphone policies in 2019.
Van Do-Reynoso is leaving her job as head of the county's Public Health Department to become an executive with CenCal Health, the Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan for low income residents of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
Expedition 67 Flight Engineers (clockwise from bottom) Jessica Watkins, Kjell Lindgren, and Bob Hines, all from NASA, and Samantha Cristoforetti of ESA (European Space Agency), pose for a fun portrait inside their individual crew quarters aboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA

Students from California and Indiana, along with staff members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, will have the opportunity this week to hear from astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The two space-to-Earth calls will air live today, Tuesday, Aug. 9, and Thursday, Aug. 11, on NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website.

NASA astronaut and former California Institute of Technology student Jessica Watkins will answer prerecorded questions from undergraduate and postdoctoral students and faculty from Caltech, as well as JPL staff members, at 12:55 p.m. EDT (9:55 a.m. PDT) today, Tuesday, Aug. 9. Caltech and JPL have a keen interest and dedication to encouraging STEM learning. Laurie Leshin, director of JPL and Caltech vice president, will deliver opening and closing remarks.

NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will answer prerecorded questions from students at Van Buren Elementary School in Nashville, Indiana, at 1:05 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11. Van Buren Elementary offers students educational experiences in STEM, the arts, and career-connected learning. The downlink will kick off a school-wide STEM-a-Thon. Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb will deliver opening remarks.

Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance, and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Near Space Network Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS).

For more than 21 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Through NASA's Artemis program, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon, with eventual human exploration of Mars. Inspiring the next generation of explorersthe Artemis Generationensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

More information:

For more information, please visit www.nasa.gov/audience/foreduca  n_station/index.html

Provided by Jet Propulsion Laboratory
With fall classes beginning in just a few weeks, a new chair of the faculty at Francis Marion University has already settled into her new position.

Sharon OKelley, professor of mathematics, began her term as head of the faculty last month after being elected to succeed outgoing chair Professor Glen Gourley.

A native of Walhalla, South Carolina, OKelley came to Francis Marion University in 2011 and said she looks forward to continuing a strong tradition of cooperation and collaboration between faculty and administration that has been the hallmark of Francis Marion for years.

We are known for the shared governance system we have at Francis Marion, OKelley said. The faculty, staff and administration work very well together to keep the university moving forward. My primary goal is to keep that momentum going in the form of open communication and transparency.

Francis Marion University President Fred Carter said he looks forward to working with OKelley in the years ahead.

Sharon is an extraordinary professor, a wonderful colleague, and is already doing an exceptional job as chair of the faculty, said Carter. Her knowledge of this institution and the people who work here is invaluable. Ive had the pleasure of working with phenomenal faculty chairs over the past two decades and Sharon will continue this tradition.

OKelleys journey to FMU and a career in mathematics began in an unlikely place  with a degree in English.

As a student, OKelley disliked math, and majored in English at Erskine College with the intent of someday becoming a teacher. However, her career took her on a compelling journey before she became a professor of math, and now faculty chair, at Francis Marion.

During her time as an Erskine student, OKelleys academic adviser gave her some advice that would one day take on more meaning.

I was taking calculus when I complained to my adviser that math was taking up too much of my time that was supposed to be spent studying literature, OKelley said. My adviser looked at me and said, Sharon, I dont understand you. Why do you not like math when math is a language? And you are good at language. Nineteen-year-old Sharon didnt want to hear that. But my adviser planted a seed.

Following her graduation from Erskine, OKelley completed four years of service in the United States Army. She was commissioned as second lieutenant and served at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington.

Next came law school at University of Puget Sound School of Law, now known as Seattle University School of Law. OKelley went on to practice law for a brief period in the state of Washington before rediscovering her true calling: teaching.

After 12 years teaching middle and high school, OKelley took the next step in her career. She spent three and a half years at University of Georgia working towards her doctorate in mathematics education. A connection formed through that program opened the door to a job opportunity at FMU.

One of the primary reasons Francis Marion is such a good place to work is the people, OKelley said. We have a dedicated faculty and staff who are very passionate about their subjects and finding the best ways to deliver the material to students. And then we have an administration thats very supportive.
FLORENCE, SC   Now in its seventh year, the Fellows in Education program gives business and community leaders a unique behind-the-scenes look into Florence 1 schools.

The program, a School Foundation, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, and Florence 1 Schools partnership, is designed to give its members a close look at day-to-day school operations.

We are thrilled that the Fellows in Education program is now in its seventh year, said Debbie Hyler, executive director of The School Foundation. Having the opportunity to visit the classrooms affords our community leaders a better understanding of todays technology and programs designed to provide our students with the skills needed to enter the workforce. The foundation is proud to have the opportunity to showcase the numerous grants we have funded throughout the years.

Each year the Chamber looks forward to working with The School Foundation and Florence 1 Schools on this joint project, said Michael Miller, president of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. The Fellows in Education experience has grown to be popular with area business and community leaders. It certainly has served its purpose by creating a community of educational ambassadors that can share firsthand knowledge of our local student proficiencies and educator experiences.

Florence 1 Superintendent Richard OMalley expressed his views about the program.

The Fellows program helps provide cohesive districtwide and communitywide communication and is re-energizing collaborations with our business community. I am excited about the opportunities this program provides.

Organizers of the program say the ultimate goal of Fellows in Education is to create a large group of local leaders who will be able to collaborate with policymakers and community members in developing better education policies in the local community.

An orientation meeting for the program was held on Tuesday. The first of nine sessions will begin on Sept. 13 and sessions will be held thereafter each month through the month of May at various Florence 1 schools.

Members of the three-way partnership have sought community and business leaders whom they believe are civic-minded supporters of the need for expansion of local educational resources.

Members of this years Fellows in Education Program include:

Emily Adams  McLeod Health

Dr. Natasha Addison  High School to Infinity

Jay Bishop  Duke Energy

Stephanie Bosch  Florence County Economic Development Partnership

Dr. Gloria Bracey  F1S Board of Trustees

Chris Day  Morning News

Sarah Duby  Assurant

Pam Edwards  ThermoFisher Scientific

Dr. Jermaine Ford  Florence-Darlington Technical College

Kate Glass  Francis Marion University PAC

Jay Hinesley  MUSC Health  Florence Medical Center

Debbie Hyler  The School Foundation

Julie Jebaily  Jebaily Properties

Uschi Jeffcoat  Florence County Museum

AJ Jones  Florence Toyota

Mathew Langston  Truist

Terry Martin  McCall Farms

Glaceria Mason  Diversity Works Magazine

Sara McIver  PGBA-BCBSSC

Michael Miller  Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce

Darryl Morris  Pee Dee Food Service

David Mullins  First Reliance

Chip Munn  Signature Wealth

Richard OMalley  Florence 1 Schools

Richard Rowlett  Field Fastener

J. Lawrence Smith  Smith Funeral Home/City Council

Carin Spears  HopeHealth

Sarah Sweeney  United Way

Mindy Taylor  Duke Energy

Jon Weiss  Adams Outdoor Advertising

Georgiana Wester  Parent

Joan Wilson-Pringle  Retired  Social Security Administration
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A 25-year-old man with a hand-drawn map that included dead pigs written at the bottom tried to ambush deputies from his home but his plan was stopped when the deputies followed training and got out of the firing zone, a South Carolina sheriff.

One deputy was slightly injured when one of 16 rounds fired by the man on Aug. 3 hit and shattered the windshield of his patrol car, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said at a Tuesday news conference.

Other bullets were found in nearby homes and cars in the densely packed suburban neighborhood northeast of Columbia. The shooter walked outside and killed himself, but no one else was hurt, Lott said.

God put his shield of armor around those three deputies, Lott said.

The deputies came to the home after the man called 911 twice to say a woman was being beaten by a man. While several officers responded since it was a potentially life-threatening call, only one deputy approached the home, ruining the shooters plans, the sheriff said.

His intent was to kill as many Richland County deputies as he could, Lott said.

Lott showed a hand-drawn map the shooter made of the floorplan of his parents home. It indicated at least four points where he could fire on deputies with outside trees and other obstructions drawn as well.

At the bottom of the map was written dead pigs and a smiley face.

The man fired on a deputy as he backed up his car but the deputy quickly accelerated out of the kill zone where the man would have had a clear shot, Lott said.

The other officers stayed out of places they could be ambushed from the start and other deputies responding to the shooting made sure to avoid becoming targets, the sheriff said.

That disrupted the plan, Lott said.

The shooter was a high school dropout who could not get into the military. He was wearing an armored vest and had more than 400 rounds of ammunition for his rifle, which was equipped with a light and a scope, investigators said.

The man told his parents he was training to fight in Ukraine and buying equipment and ammunition for the Ukraine army, Lott said.

The sheriff called the plans pure evil, but said his investigators were still left with questions that probably cant be answered.

Thats what makes this so odd, Lott said. You see him trying to do one thing, and then he does something completely different.
 iPhone7 Pro 1% 5%4%       0.35% 0.26%4%  25.3537.6%  1800-20001416  18.711.33%  12001600  3010-3169  2.0429.2% 825A0.2564 4550   NOVO LAND180 6300 3.094 5031%   MIAMI QUAY 12 4162  2022   17.38  1000-1500  1.15213.85% 7178.3 19.1%   6
LE MARS, Iowa  A Le Mars hardware store was chosen from among 24 competitors statewide for the top prize in the annual "Open 4 Business" pitch contest organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Finance Authority.

Hardware Hank & Flooring, a hardware and flooring store, won $20,000 in a pitch contest held in Pella, Iowa, on Aug. 1. Last month, the store won $8,000 in an earlier, regional round of the business pitch competition.

Scott Pageler, who has owned Hardware Hank & Flooring for 12 years, pitched a high-tech "mobile flooring showroom" to demonstrate how the flooring would look inside a customer's home or business.

"Instead of coming down to the store, looking samples over, taking samples out to the car, taking them into your house, looking them over, back to the car, back to the store -- I bring the flooring showroom to you," Pageler said.

Pageler began bringing samples to the customer in recent years, but he doesn't yet have the equipment to bring them the mobile showroom experience he has in mind. Thus, the grant.

The enclosed trailer was ordered Wednesday, Pageler said.

Inside the trailer-showroom will be samples of flooring, a big-screen television, a mobile wi-fi hotspot, and a tablet-computer. The technology allows the customer to see how their flooring choice would look.

"So, what happens is, we go inside, we take pictures of their home, of the flooring, and then we can go back out to the trailer and upload those pictures to manufacturers' websites, where they have -- it's like a flooring visualizer tool -- and so we can plug different flooring options right on top of their existing floor," he said.

The mobile showroom would be especially attractive for older residents, busy parents and businesses considering a new floor, Pageler said.

"Elderly people hesitated taking any samples because they were cumbersome, moms that are busy with kids running around the store -- it's hard for them to stay focused," he said. "So we started delivering samples to peoples' houses. But there's always a better way to do something."

In addition to the trailer, Pageler said he's planning to expand the store's flooring displays.

The IEDA grant is expected to cover about 75 percent of the cost of the mobile showroom, which Pageler said will be completely sourced from local firms. The other 25 percent will be paid for by Pageler.

Initially, Pageler had forecast 10 percent growth in demand for flooring jobs during the first year the mobile showroom is up and running, but the publicity generated by his winning the IEDA contest has already begun fueling demand, well before the trailer is ready.

"We don't even have a trailer yet, and our foot-traffic for flooring has increased -- so I would say probably more along the lines of 15 to 20 percent in the first year, we're projecting," he said.

The other finalists in the contest at Pella didn't go home empty-handed. The first runner-up in the competition, Candle Ready Cakes in Dubuque, won $10,000; the second runner-up, The Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery in Burlington, won $7,500; and two honorable mentions, The Hangry Lady in Cedar Rapids and The Corner restaurant, won $5,000 each, according to an IEDA announcement. "All of the participants actually ended up getting something," Pageler said.

The big ideas pitched by these small business owners exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and strength of small businesses and Main Streets across the state," Debi Durham, executive director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) and Iowa Finance Authority, said in a statement.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP)  Atlantic City casino dealers opposed to smoking indoors are rejecting an idea being floated among state legislators to create designated outdoor smoking areas that employees could opt out of staffing.

Pete Naccarelli, a Borgata dealer and a leader of a group of Atlantic City casino workers pushing for a full indoor smoking ban, said Tuesday the opt-out suggestion is not the solution to protecting workers and customers.

The so-called opt-out idea only forces workers to risk their health for a paycheck," he said. "It is not a solution at all.

A casino worker living paycheck to paycheck should not have to risk their health by working in a smoking area just to get by," he said. "But thats exactly what would happen, and the most vulnerable workers would suffer most. Legislators should recognize the problematic scenario this would create and reject this half-baked idea.

Last week dealers said that creating true outdoor smoking areas could be a workable solution as long as no worker is exposed to secondhand smoke.

But having any casino workers assigned to those areas  or evening having to pass through them on their way to other places in the casino  is not acceptable to them.

A bill that would ban smoking inside Atlantic City's nine casinos has sat untouched in the Democrat-controlled state Legislature since February. An identical bill died in last year's session, even though Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy has said he will sign it if it passes.

As of Tuesday, no legislative committee hearings had been scheduled for the bill, to which half the state Legislature has signed on as sponsors or co-sponsors.

The bill would close a loophole in New Jersey's indoor smoking law that makes casinos virtually the only indoor workplaces in the state where smoking continues to be allowed.

The Casino Association of New Jersey, the trade association for Atlantic City's casinos, opposes a smoking ban, fearing it would lead to job and revenue losses. Smoking opponents reject those assertions, pointing to places in other states where non-smoking casinos are outperforming competitors that allow it.

Follow Wayne Parry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
SIOUX CITY  Sioux City Public Works Director Dave Carney told the Iowa Transportation Commission Tuesday, during a public input meeting at the Sioux City Convention Center, that the replacement of the deteriorating Gordon Drive viaduct is "critical" for the community and the region.

The commission travels to different locations across Iowa in April, June, August and October to review ongoing and proposed projects.

"It's a key component for our rail and vehicle transport, industrial transport all coming across. It also joins up with our Bacon Creek conduit that runs about 2,500 feet under Gordon Drive," Carney said of the viaduct. "This is probably our most important local service street connecting Morningside, the east side of our community, to our downtown area and to our north side and west side."

State DOT officials are currently studying options to replace the 3,970-foot-long viaduct, built in 1937 and improved in 1963 and 1966. Options include building a new, 98-foot-wide wide viaduct directly to the south of the current one or demolish and rebuild it in the same location. The state is developing a plan with Sioux City officials to replace the Bacon Creek conduit, which was built in 1909, at the same time to reduce disruptions to traffic and property owners.

The viaduct project is expected to run between $95 and $106 million and the Bacon Creek box culvert project between $23 and $33 million, not including right of way and utilities. The viaduct would be funded 100 percent by the Iowa DOT, while the city would cover 100 percent for city utilities. The city has proposed a 50/50 cost share for the box culvert.

"Right now, I think it's the right time to hit it with all the (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) funding that's out there," Carney said. "I think we've got to be able to secure some of that."

City and county leaders also made presentations to the commission about Sioux Gateway Airport, regional trails and the Southbridge Interchange, a new Interstate 29 interchange that would serve the 3,000-acre Southbridge industrial area immediately south of Sioux Gateway Airport.

Commission members were mostly mum on the projects. They are typically unable to comment about specific projects and the likelihood of those projects being included in future five-year transportation improvement programs until program development planning sessions begin. Those sessions are generally held monthly from February through April.

"The reason this area is so important to us is it's the only real available large, flat industrial land we have left in Sioux City. There's some other areas, but the sites are fewer and fewer to develop," Sioux City Economic Development Director Marty Dougherty said of Southbridge.

Cold-Link Logistics, a Florida-based cold storage company, is building a 500,000-square-foot cold storage facility in phases on a 40-acre parcel in Southbridge Business Park. The first phase will contain roughly 130,000 square feet of cold storage space along with offices, truck docks, parking and other amenities. The city is constructing Alicia Avenue along the eastern side of the Cold-Link development and a rail spur from the city-owned lead track north to serve the facility.

"I want to thank you for your support of these important projects to us," Dougherty told the commission. "We have continued to receive tremendous interest in this area. We're always talking to companies locally and getting new leads from the state and others."

Lesley Bartholomew, a PlyWood Trail committee member, spoke to the commission about the 16-mile trail that will run through rural Plymouth and Woodbury counties, connecting existing trail systems in Le Mars and Sioux City.

"We want a tri-state trail network that is unique, that attracts people to this area of the state and will continue to do so for years and years to come," Bartholomew said of the project, which has been estimated at $18 to $20 million.

Ryan Schapp, executive director of the PlyWood Trail, said there will be three different segments to the trail and that the project is being broken up into "manageable projects." The first connection runs from Le Mars to Merrill, the second from Merrill to Hinton, and the third from Hinton to Sioux City. Schapp told the commission that the most complicated piece of the trail will be Merrill to Hinton

"It's six miles of concrete and, as you can probably guess, a much more complicated route. We'll have a couple pieces of bridge work and crossings for Highway 75 along the way," he said. "We're anticipating total cost of this chunk of the project to be around $12.8 million. I think this is really our big reason for coming in front of you today, just to make you aware of a lot of the needs we're going to have between Hinton and Merrill."
Long before North to Alaska was a hit song and a movie in 1960, Addie Braxton and Ruth Wilson went that way and made pioneering journeys.

Braxton went there to prospect several years after the Klondike gold rush. There hadnt been many women in the Alaska gold fields, and Black prospectors were said to be few. Such a combination was news in Omaha in 1905.

Wilson went there to regain her mental health. She was said to have been the first White woman to visit Mount McKinley (now Denali) National Park and certainly the first to attempt a climb to the summit. Her story in 1920 went coast-to-coast in newspapers.

With Johnny Hortons song stuck in my head (and now maybe yours), we shall mush on to learn about these two exploring women from the Omaha area.

Braxton followed her aunt, a Mrs. Shepard, to the Klondike. Talk about a pioneer. The aunt was said to have been the first Black woman in the gold fields, having walked from Seattle. She offered Braxton and her husband, James, a dining car porter, two mine claims near Skagway in 1904. The Braxtons left their 10-year-old daughter, Hazel, in the care of her grandmother in Blair. When the Braxtons got there, Addie Braxton and the aunt were the only Black women in the British Columbia hamlet of Atlin.

She told her story to The World-Herald upon her return in December 1905.

I walked over the Chilcoot pass (likely the Chilkoot, and she said she fainted several times on the arduous trek) and carried my bundle on my back like the rest of them, she said. There are not many colored people up there and everybody was surprised to see me going with my husband. I only weighed 90 pounds when I went up there and you see how well I am now. I never had better health.

She worked her own claim, wearing heavy sheepskin trousers. She cut timber to build sluice boxes, for a piece of lumber was $4. In snowshoes, she claimed, she walked 90 miles at one time over an unbroken trail to prospect.

The Braxtons, she said, named a small creek Abe Lincoln Creek. She said, It was at the end of a long trail and when one of the miners asked us why we had named it that, we told them him because we were so glad to find the end of our trail and the prospect of gold in sight that we felt we were out of bondage, and so we named it for Abe Lincoln.

The couple had interests in four mines  Lucky Dog, Last Chance, Little Spruce and Carmenita. The aunt found a nugget worth $180 while digging where her old cabin had been. Addie brought home several large nuggets, including one that she said was worth $65  about $2,300 today.

She told of the hardships and sufferings on the mining frontier. Forest fires, howling gray wolves, death.

One becomes accustomed to the cold and the stories of suffering. The trouble is that so many people do not realize the necessities one must have and go out entirely unprepared for the things one must face out there. It takes plenty of money if you expect to stay. While we have four gold mines and things look very promising, indeed, yet it takes a large sum of money to work the mines properly.

The machinery and help are expensive. In our first cleanup we got over $1,100 (more than $37,000 today) but all of that and more had to go back into the ground.

While seeking validation for her account, as one must do for any old tale, I found mention in the Aug. 16, 1905, edition of the Daily Alaskan in Skagway that James Braxton was one of four miners who made a new placer gold strike on  Lincoln Creek.

While Addie Braxton apparently never returned to the gold fields, James apparently stayed. An item in the Omaha Monitor in June 1920 said he had recently died in Alaska. And she apparently had lost track of him. She was listed as a widow in the last Omaha city directory before her death at 41 in 1915. She is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Addie Braxton went to Alaska to find wealth. Ruth Wilsons trip came because she was wealthy. And as previously mentioned, to get healthy.

Wilson told her story to the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Los Angeles Times in the spring of 1920. The former Ruth Campbell, a 1913 graduate of Council Bluffs High School, married Frank Wilson, a wire chief with the Nebraska Telephone Company, in 1916. Less than two years later, he died from a diving accident at Morse Park in Fremont, where the couple had moved from Omaha.

She was selected for overseas assignment in the Red Cross in World War I, but the war ended. She suffered a nervous breakdown. To recover, in April 1919, she chose to make the 5,000-mile trek to visit her brother William, a prominent mining man in Fairbanks since the start of the gold rush.

It was a dream trip for a sportswoman of that era. She rode the first steamer to arrive in Roosevelt City, a deserted mining camp. From there, in the company of the last couple left in the area, Joe and Fannie Quigley, who lived 5,000 feet up a mountainside, she hiked, fished  and bagged a caribou on her first shot at big game.

But it was the scenic beauty that enrapt her. Her first glance at Mount McKinley, she screamed when its magnificence appeared from behind the clouds.

I had several other interesting side trips to all the mining camps out of Fairbanks and up to Fort Yukon, but the trip to Wonder Lake and Mount McKinley was the most wonderful experience of my life. I mushed 12 to 20 miles a day right with the men and they said I was a real sour-dough.

It was they, she said, who told her she was the first White woman to visit the national park, which received its designation in 1917. She told the Times she entered districts where White women had never before been seen, where Indians came from miles around to see her and visit with the first White woman they had ever seen.

Unlike Addie Braxton, Ruth Wilson returned to Alaska. On her original trip she met James Barrack, a hardware man from Fairbanks, in Seattle. He was a close friend to her brother. Their friendship continued during the steamship ride and ripened, as the Lincoln Star termed it, in Alaska. They were married for 33 years and active in civic affairs, before his death in 1954. She donated a carillon to the University of Alaska as a memorial.

Ruth Barrack, who died in Seattle in 1980 at 86, had another claim to fame: she possessed the granddaddy of all sourdough starters, dating to 1898 in Dawson, British Columbia, that her husband obtained from another miner.

Acknowledgement to History Nebraska researcher Matt Piersol for his blog post in March about the Klondike gold rush and Addie Braxton.
SIOUX CITY  Sioux Gateway Airport will receive more than $280,000 in state funds for airport improvements, according to a statement from State Senator Jackie Smith, of Sioux City.

The funding will come from the State Aviation Fund for aviation safety, planning, and airport development projects throughout Iowa.

"The Sioux City Gateway Airport is an important Iowa and regional transportation asset, a resource that helps our community grow," said Smith, the ranking member of the Iowa Senate Transportation Committee. "Siouxland is growing and supporting our local economy is a smart investment of state dollars."

The state funds will cover half of the $300,000 total cost of the north ramp taxi lane overlay at the airport. The state is providing an additional $131,896, which will cover the entire cost of a project to rehabilitate and build hangars at the airport.

The Sioux City investment was one of a group of projects scheduled for 21 different airports across Iowa.
STORM LAKE, Iowa  State biologists aren't worried that a virus killing thousands of juvenile-age carp in Storm Lake will have a lasting impact on the species' population in the lake.

Thousands of common carp infected with the koi herpes virus have died and continue to wash up, lining beaches and shorelines with rotting carcasses and attracting birds dining on an easy catch of the day.

The dead fish all have been age 2, considered to be juveniles, leaving thousands of breeding-age carp in the lake to replenish their numbers.

"They're pretty prolific, so I think they'll bounce back pretty well," said Ben Wallace, an Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist.

The dead carp began appearing about two weeks ago, but the fish likely have been infected for decades.

"It's likely there have been asymptomatic carriers of it for generations in this lake," Wallace said.

If the fish always have had the virus, why haven't large fish kills like this occurred before?

Wallace said some type of stress event, such as low oxygen levels in the water or high population density, likely caused the virus to manifest and become deadly. It's unknown what caused this outbreak, but spawning occurred about a month and a half ago, a time when the fish would have been more active and had close contact with one another to spread the virus.

It's the first documented case of koi herpes in Iowa, Wallace said.

"There's not much you can do," he said. "Fortunately, it's a species we don't really want there anyway."

The virus is specific to carp, and does not effect the other 20 fish species in the lake. It's also not transmittable to humans.

The outbreak is not indicative of water quality issues such as high nitrate levels or pollution in the lake, Wallace said. The virus has probably been with the carp since they were imported to the United States in the late 1800s, and there are no options to treat a lake full of fish.

"There's nothing you can do," Wallace said. "It's just going to run its course.

"It's kind of one of nature's checks and balances."
NEW YORK (AP)  Chipotle Mexican Grill will pay $20 million to current and former workers at its New York City restaurants for violating city labor laws, Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday.

According to investigators, Chipotles violations of the citys Fair Workweek law included failing to post work schedules 14 days in advance, pay a premium for schedule changes and offer available shifts to current employees before hiring new employees.

The settlement between the city and the California-based fast-food chain covers about 13,000 employees who worked at the chain's New York City outlets between 2017 and this year. It is the result of an investigation by the city's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection into complaints filed by 160 Chipotle workers and Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, city officials said.

Todays settlement with Chipotle is not only a victory for workers by securing up to $20 million in relief for approximately 13,000 workers, but also sends a strong message, as the largest worker protection settlement in New York City history, that we wont stand by when workers rights are violated," Adams, a Democrat, said in a statement.

Under the agreement, any hourly New York City Chipotle worker is eligible to receive $50 for each week worked between Nov. 26, 2017, and April 30, 2022. Chipotle will also pay $1 million in civil penalties to the city.

"Were pleased to be able to resolve these issues and believe this settlement demonstrates Chipotles commitment to providing opportunities for all of our team members while also complying with the Fair Workweek law Scott Boatwright, Chipotle's chief restaurant officer, said in a statement.

Boatwright said the company has taken steps to improve compliance through measures such as improved time-keeping technology and looks forward to continuing to promote the goals of predictable scheduling and access to work hours for those who want them.
Domino's' Italian job was harder than it looked.

Seven years after its debut in the country, the American pizza giant has formally shut its stores after it failed to win over locals who preferred homegrown options, according to a report by Milano Today.

EPizza SpA, the franchise operator of the Domino's brand in Italy, filed for bankruptcy in April, after it struggled to make enough sales during two years of pandemic restrictions, according to a document filed in a Milan court.

The company stopped activity in all its Domino's stores on July 20, according to a report by Food Service, an Italian food industry publication.

Although some may attribute Domino's failure to its brazen attempt to infiltrate pizza's homeland with American fare, ePizza said it went bust because of competition from food delivery apps.

The Milan-based company faced "unprecedented competition" from local restaurants that started using services such as Glovo, Just Eat and Deliveroo during the pandemic, the court filing said.

Domino's said in a document, attached to the court filing, that ePizza's troubles last year were the result of "significantly increased level of competition in the food delivery market with both organized chains and 'mom & pop' restaurants delivering food to survive."

It said it also faced problems once pandemic restrictions were eased and consumers started visiting sit-down restaurants again.

The Milan court had granted the company a 90-day grace period, during which its creditors were not allowed to demand repayment or take its assets. That expired at the start of July.

Domino's had high hopes when it moved into the Italian market in 2015, signing a 10-year franchizing deal with ePizza. It planned to introduce a large-scale pizza delivery service to the country, which was absent at the time, the court filing said.

By the start of 2020, ePizza was managing 23 stores in Italy and six more through a sub-franchise partner.

Neither Domino's nor ePizza immediately responded to CNN Business' request for comment.
China has the second largest number of nuclear power units in operation or under construction in the world, Tang Bo, an official with the National Nuclear Safety Administration, said on Tuesday.



Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 29th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE), Tang said that, as of June this year, China had 54 nuclear power units in operation, and 23 were under construction.

The development of nuclear power has helped China ensure an adequate energy supply, improve the environment and move closer to its goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, Tang said.

Wang Shoujun, head of the Chinese Nuclear Society, said that the total operational installed capacity of the country's nuclear power is expected to reach roughly 70 million kilowatts by 2025.

China has announced that it will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

Jointly initiated by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1991, the ICONE is the premier global conference for nuclear professionals. The Chinese Nuclear Society has been one of the organizers since 2005.

The 29th ICONE is being held from Aug. 8 to Aug. 12 in the Chinese capital Beijing and the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, with over 1,200 participants from more than 20 countries.
WASHINGTON  The year was 2016, the presidential candidate under investigation was Hillary Clinton and the FBI director at the time, James Comey, laid out the factors the Justice Department weighs in deciding whether to charge someone with mishandling classified records.

Fast forward to 2022 and that tutorial proves instructive as another candidate from that election, Donald Trump, is entangled in an FBI probe related to sensitive government documents.

Whether an FBI search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence is a prelude to criminal charges is unknown. The action Monday nonetheless focuses attention on the thicket of statutes that govern the handling of government records, though the department's own history of prosecutorial discretion  some high-profile investigations have ended without charges or in misdemeanor plea deals  makes it hard to forecast with certainty what might happen this time.

These are statutes that have historically not been enforced to the fullest extent, said University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Tim Michels, a wealthy businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for Wisconsin governor on Tuesday and will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a contest that could reshape elections in the marquee battleground.

Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence and had backing from establishment Republicans, including ex-Gov. Scott Walker.

In his victory speech, Michels promised to focus on jobs and the economy and said he would stand up for people who "have been left behind by the Democratic Party that just wants to focus on the social issues.

As governor, my number one priority is to take care of the hardworking people of Wisconsin, Michels said.

Evers' campaign called Michels the most extreme and divisive nominee possible, one that will tell Donald Trump anything just to keep his endorsement."

Both Michels and Kleefisch falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was rigged, a lie Trump has pushed in an effort to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Michels said decertifying the results of the 2020 contest was not a priority but said everything will be on the table. He supports other changes to voting and elections, including dismantling the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections.

The governors race was the latest proxy war between Trump and Pence, one-time partners who have backed opposing candidates in other swing states as they try to push the GOP in different directions. The results Tuesday added to Trump's record of wins, following victories for his preferred candidates last week in closely watched races for governor and Senate in Arizona.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who supported Trump's second impeachment, conceded defeat in her Washington state congressional district after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president. And in next Tuesday's slate of contests, Rep. Liz Cheney, who also backed Trump's impeachment and is the vice chair of the House panel probing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, faces a challenging primary race.

Those developments, combined with the rush of support from Republicans after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump's Florida estate on Monday, were fresh reminders of the former president's enduring grip on the GOP.

Back in Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won the Democratic nomination to face Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, one of Trumps most vocal supporters. The matchup is among the last to be set before the November general election, when control of the currently 50-50 split Senate is up for grabs, and Democrats see Wisconsin as one of their best opportunities to flip a seat.

Wisconsins most powerful Republican, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, held off a Trump-backed challenger. Trump endorsed Adam Steen after Vos rejected the former presidents pressure to decertify the 2020 results. Vos said his victory showed you dont have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

Tuesdays outcomes have far-reaching consequences beyond Wisconsin, a state that is almost evenly split between Republicans and Democrats and where 2022 will be seen as a bellwether for the 2024 presidential race. The person elected governor this fall will be in office for the presidential election and will be able to sign or veto changes to election laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The next governor and U.S. senator also may sway decisions on issues from abortion to education and taxes.

Were a 50-50 state and so every race in Wisconsin, just by definition, is going to be decided by a few percentage points one way or another, said former Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. And those few percentage points in Wisconsin may well determine what the course of the nation is in the coming years.

Elsewhere Tuesday, a Trump-backed candidate won the GOP primary for Senate in Connecticut, a state thats long been home to the Republican establishment. Republican National Committee member Leora Levy, whom Trump endorsed last week, will face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal after she defeated former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, who had support from the state party.

Voters in Vermont  the only state to never have a woman in its congressional delegation  chose a woman, Becca Balint, as the Democratic nominee for the states lone House seat. She is favored in the race to replace Rep. Peter Welch, who won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat long held by Patrick Leahy, who is retiring. And Minnesota Republicans chose Dr. Scott Jensen, a COVID-19 vaccine skeptic endorsed by the state GOP, to face Gov. Tim Walz.

But the most-watched races were in Wisconsin, where Trump has kept up his pressure campaign to cancel Bidens 2020 victory. Biden won the state by nearly 21,000 votes, four years after Trump narrowly won the state by roughly the same margin. The 2020 outcome has been upheld in two partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a review by a conservative law firm and multiple lawsuits.

Evers has made voting and elections a focus of his own campaign, telling voters hes the only candidate who will defend democracy and we are that close to not having our vote count in the state of Wisconsin.

Both Michels and Kleefisch said overturning the 2020 election results was not a priority. But they said they would dismantle the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections and would support prohibitions on voters having someone else turn in their absentee ballots, as well as ballot drop boxes located anywhere other than staffed clerk offices.

Michels is co-owner of Wisconsins largest construction company and has touted his work to build his familys business. He lost the 2004 Senate race to Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, and has been a major donor to GOP politicians.

At a rally on Friday, Trump praised Michels as an incredible success story. He criticized Kleefisch as part of the failed establishment and also took aim at Vos. He told supporters that Michels was the better choice to defeat Evers.

Michels pledged that we are going to have election integrity here in Wisconsin. He also said he will bring law and order back to Wisconsin, criticized Evers handling of schools and blamed Biden for rising prices.

GOP state Rep. Tim Ramthun also made a long-shot bid for governor.

In her concession speech, Kleefisch said, The fight now is truly against Tony Evers and the liberals who want to take away our way of life.

Barnes, in his victory speech in Milwaukee, emphasized his middle-class background and upbringing while casting Johnson as self-serving and an out-of-touch politician who cares only about special interests and wealthy donors.

It is time for a change, everybody, said Barnes, who would be Wisconsins first Black senator if elected. Its time for us to be represented by somebody who shares our experiences.

Johnson called Barnes the most radical left candidate Democrats could have chosen.

This is a contest between radical left socialism versus freedom and prosperity, he said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday nominated Patricia Guerrero to be the state's next chief justice, picking the daughter of Mexican immigrants to lead the nation's largest judicial system.

Guerrero, 50, would replace Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who will step down once her term ends in January.

Guerrero made history earlier this year when she was the first Latina confirmed to the California Supreme Court. Now she's poised to do it again as the first Latina to lead the state's sprawling court system that includes about 2,175 judges across 58 trial courts and 105 justices on the Courts of Appeal.

Justice Guerrero has established herself as a widely respected jurist with a formidable intellect and command of the law and deep commitment to equal justice and public service, Newsom said in a news release announcing Guerreros nomination.

Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, California judges are not confirmed by the Legislature and do not get lifetime appointments. Guerrero must first be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, consisting of the chief justice, state Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Manuel Ramirez, the senior presiding justice of the state Court of Appeal.

After that, voters will decide in November whether to give Guerrero a 12-year term.

Guerrero's background makes her qualified as the judicial branch's chief executive, said David Ettinger, an appellate lawyer who writes a blog about the California Supreme Court. Guerrero has been a judge at all three levels of California's judicial system, and before that was a partner at Lantham & Watkins, one of the largest law firms in the world.

It's important to remember that the chief justice is called the chief justice of California, not the chief justice of the Supreme Court," Ettinger said. She leads not just the court, but the entire judicial branch.

Since taking office in 2019, Newsom has made diversity a priority with his judicial appointments. In 2020, he nominated Martin Jenkins as the first openly gay man and only the third Black man to serve on the state Supreme Court. Earlier this year, he nominated Guerrero as the court's first Latina member.

And on Wednesday, Newsom said he planned to nominate another LGBT member to the Supreme Court: Alameda Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans, who would take Guerrero's spot once she is elevated to chief justice.

A graduate of Stanford Law School, Guerrero was a superior court judge in San Diego County from 2013 to 2017. She joined the fourth District Court of Appeal in 2017 before being confirmed to the state Supreme Court in March.

Guerrero is a registered Democrat and will be paid a salary of $293,286. She grew up in the Imperial Valley, raised by her parents who immigrated from Mexico.

If confirmed, I look forward to continuing the strides the Court has made under Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye to expand equal access to justice and create a fairer justice system for all Californians, Guerrero said in a news release.

Evans, 53, is from Oakland and grew up in public housing. She attended Stanford University and got a law degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. She was chief deputy legal affairs secretary for Newsom, where she helped him shape a moratorium on capital punishment that Newsom issued in 2019.

In a news release, Evans said she was truly honored at the opportunity to be on the state Supreme Court.

If confirmed, I look forward to furthering our state's work to ensure equal justice under the law for all Californians, Evans said.

Evans is a registered Democrat and would make $279,677.
TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP)  A third candidate for public office has come to forward to say a sheriff on Florida's Space Coast offered help in getting a job in exchange for leaving a race and backing his favored candidate.

Kimberly Musselman, an assistant state attorney in Brevard County, told Florida Today she was asked by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey to bow out of her race for county judge and endorse a candidate backed by him. In exchange, the sheriff said he could use his influence to help her become the district's top prosecutor, she said.

After she refused, Ivey urged some of her biggest donors to drop their support, Musselman told Florida Today.

My donors dried up real quick, Musselman said.

In response to an inquiry Wednesday, Tod Goodyear, a spokesperson for the Brevard County Sheriff's Office, said in an email, We are not commenting at this time."

Two other candidates for public office have made similar allegations to Florida Today.

Cocoa Beach police officer Chris Hattaway said the Republican sheriff asked him to step aside for former state Rep. Tom Goodson, another candidate in a county commission race. Shawn Overdorf, a former school resource officer, told a similar story about his race for school board. In exchange, both candidates were offered jobs in Goodson's office if he won, Florida Today reported.

When contacted by Florida Today, Goodson denied involvement with any efforts to pressure candidates out of the election and said he had not spoken with Ivey about hiring anyone.

Ivey has gained national attention in recent years due to his weekly  Wheel of Fugitive  videos which feature the sheriff spinning a wheel with photos of 10 of the countys most wanted.

Everybody watches it. Even the fugitives watch it to see who becomes fugitive of the week, said Ivey, who was elected sheriff in 2012.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP)  Two anti-government extremists sought to spark a second American revolution by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday, as the government tried for a second time to get convictions in an alleged plot to shock the country into chaos before the 2020 election.

Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. are on trial again, four months after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict while acquitting two other men.

The jury heard competing themes during opening statements. Prosecutors will present angry, profanity-filled conversations, text messages and social media posts to show that a band of homegrown rebels was serious about snatching the Democratic governor.

The steps included gun drills in a handmade shoot house, two rides to see Whitmer's northern Michigan home and a stop at a nearby bridge where an explosive might be placed, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher OConnor said.

Defense attorneys, however, attacked the tactics of undercover FBI agents and informants who had infiltrated the group and built the investigation. They argued that government operatives were embedded at every critical turn, even supplying a pen and paper for Fox to make a crude map of Elk Rapids.

No conspiracy, no crime, Christopher Gibbons told jurors, adding that Fox was poor, lonely, practically homeless and incapable of leading anything.

Its not a crime to not like your governor or your president or anybody else who sits in elective office. ... Its not a crime to be a big talker, an empty talker, no matter how ugly or offensive the subject matter is to you personally or anyone else, Gibbons said.

Fox and Croft are charged with two counts of conspiracy. Croft faces a third weapons-related charge.

Fox, 39, lived under a vacuum shop in the Grand Rapids area, and Croft, 46, is from Bear, Delaware. They regularly communicated with other extremists who were disgusted with Whitmer and various public officials over COVID-19 restrictions.

But O'Connor said seeds were planted ahead of the pandemic and prior to the FBI getting involved.

They called for a second American revolution, he told jurors. They wanted to violently overthrow elected government officials because they believed those officials were tyrants who were constantly violating their rights.

The first witness, FBI agent Todd Reineck, introduced social media posts and audio messages, starting in 2019. Croft, complaining about efforts at gun control, said brute force was the only way to protect rights. Fox referred to organizing an army to take real action.

Its a new game out here. I dont think you understand the patriot movement has a role, Croft said in 2020. We understand exactly the enemy that confronts us, and we aint playing with it anymore.

Prosecutors displayed a photo of Croft in a tri-cornered hat with Expect Us tattooed on his arm, a contrast to his appearance in court wearing a suit and tie. Fox, too, wore a dress shirt. Roughly a dozen people were in the gallery, mostly reporters.

In remarks to the jury, defense attorney Joshua Blanchard repeated an argument that he vigorously made in the first trial, accusing the FBI of targeting Croft and pulling him in because he had encouraged violence and protest.

Blanchard played an audio clip of an agent telling an informant: A saying we have in my office is, Dont let the facts get in the way of a good story.' Right?

He didn't offer jurors any context to the sound bite.

Because they weren't willing to let the facts get in the way of a good story they wanted to tell, Barry has been sitting in jail for the last 672 days waiting for you to tell the FBI that the facts do matter," Blanchard said.

Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were found not guilty in April. Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and will testify again for prosecutors.

Whitmer has blamed then-President Donald Trump for stoking mistrust and fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn hate groups and right-wing extremists like those charged in the plot.

Trump referred to Whitmer last weekend during a speech in Texas.

Gretchen Whitmer was in less danger than the people sitting in this room right now, it seems to me, said Trump, who called the plot a fake deal.

White reported from Detroit. Cappelletti is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Find APs full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
Houshang Ebtehaj, a distinguished Iranian poet whose small but influential body of work made him a major figure in his own country and in world literature, has died in Cologne, Germany. He was 94. His death on Wednesday was confirmed by his daughter on Instagram. He was born in 1928 in Irans northern city of Rasht. Throughout the 20th century, Ebtehaj contributed to the popularity of the ghazal  a traditional form of Persian poetry set to music that expresses the writers feelings. Socialism was central to Ebtehajs identity, and he landed in prison after the 1979 Islamic Revolution for his politics. He became recognized for verses that modernized the traditions of 14th-century mystic poetry.
SCOTTSBLUFF -- A Scottsbluff man arrested as a suspect in a shooting had been involved in a contentious divorce involving custody disputes and protection orders, according to court documents.

Scottsbluff Police arrested Alexander J. Maldonado, 35, of Gering, in connection to a shooting Thursday in a Scottsbluff parking lot, according to information released by Capt. Lance Kite.

Police and paramedics were called to the Main Street Market parking lot around 4:57 p.m. Thursday. They found a man, identified as Martin Maldonado Jr., 34, with a single gunshot to the abdomen. He was transported to Regional West Medical Center for treatment.

Police arrested Alexander Maldonado on suspicion of attempted murder, use of a firearm to commit a felony, prohibited person in possession of a firearm, protection order violation and discharge of a firearm within city limits. He is being held at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center.

Martin Maldonado Jr. is an officer at the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington. According to the Wyoming Department of Corrections, he remains hospitalized.

Court records filed in Scotts Bluff County Court indicate that Alexander Maldonado and his estranged wife have been involved in a contentious divorce since May 2020 and custody issues were scheduled to be heard during trial this month. According to court records, subpoenas were issued to several individuals in the case Thursday, as a trial had been scheduled for Aug. 22.

In June, Alexander Maldonados estranged wife filed a protection order on behalf of herself and a minor child. A hearing on the protection order occurred Wednesday, and court records noted that Alexander Maldonado and the woman had agreed to a four-hour weekly, supervised visitation with his child. The case had been continued for hearing later this month.

The woman says in the filing that she is dating Martin Maldonado Jr. and cited specific incidents involving Alexander Maldonado that she said made her fear for her safety and well-being, as well as for her child. Martin Maldonado Jr. had also filed a harassment protection order against Alexander Maldonado in September 2021, alleging Alexander Maldonado had assaulted him on one occasion, which resulted in criminal charges.
A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit can go forward against the city of Wymore and its Emergency Medical Services department on three former workers' claims of gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.

Rylee Meints, Blake Pesetsky and Matthew Mittan say that between 2015 and 2020 they experienced or witnessed sexual harassment, then suffered retaliation after complaining about it.

Two allege they were terminated wrongfully after reporting the harassment and one left the department over the conditions, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court last year.

Tara Stingley, an attorney for the city, had argued the case should be dismissed because the three were volunteer members of Wymore EMS and not city employees.

Wymore, a town of about 1,300 people south of Beatrice, provides a 24-hour ambulance service, paying its volunteers per call.

In an order last week, U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said for purposes of the motion to dismiss he must assume the allegations true. And the former workers said they were employees.

Stingley also argued that those named in the lawsuit, including Wymore EMS president Jeff Argo, Rescue Chief Shawna Schwartz, Darren Allington, a former supervisor, and Milton Pike, the mayor, all should be dismissed because the right to be free from transgender and sexual orientation discrimination wasn't clearly established.

Gerrard said it is true that in the years prior to the alleged conduct there had been a shift in the law away from criminalizing same-sex conduct and marginalizing the rights of those who don't conform to traditional sexual stereotypes.

"That doesn't, however, give this court leave to find that a freestanding constitutional right that has not been recognized by the Supreme Court or the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals was, nonetheless, clearly established," he wrote.

Gerrard said he didn't find a controlling case, or even a "robust consensus of persuasive authority, holding that discrimination based on an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity violated such person's constitutional rights."

However, he said, the conduct alleged here  which included frequent comments of a sexual nature, a supervisor propositioning for sexual favors and exposing his genitals  was the type ordinarily seen in sexual harassment claims where gender identity or conformity is not an issue.

He said what Allington and Schwartz were alleged to have said and done would qualify as sexual harassment without respect to the victim's gender identity, and the victims sufficiently alleged it created a hostile work environment.

Stingley argued the alleged conduct wasn't sufficiently severe or pervasive. For instance, there was no physical contact alleged.

But the judge said the allegations included one supervisor asking repeatedly for oral sex, making graphic and vulgar references to female anatomy, and exposing himself in the workplace; and another supervisor continually asking one of the workers about his sexual practices and preferences, and others in the workplace about his sexual preferences.

"These allegations, presumed to be true, show conduct that was not merely rude or unpleasant, but conduct that is objectively, as well as subjectively to the plaintiffs, offensive, extreme, severe and pervasive," Gerrard said.

The plaintiffs alleged that top decision-makers for the city and Wymore EMS were directly involved in the unlawful conduct.

"These allegations give rise to an inference that this culture is a policy decision made by one or more of the individual defendants whose edicts or acts may fairly be said to represent official policy," the judge said.

He said who had the final decision-making authority is a matter to be sorted out in discovery.

In response to the ruling, the attorney for the three, Vince Powers, said: My clients just wanted to help people in their community. They did not want to be treated that way.

In the lawsuit, he alleged Pesetsky's supervisors singled him out, demanding that he disclose to patients that he is transgender and was born a woman and ultimately refusing to allow him to treat patients by himself. When he reported it to city managers, they allegedly encouraged other employees not to trust him or back him up and made physical threats against him.

Powers said city managers and supervisors who witnessed the sexual harassment of Pesetsky and others laughed, rather than take remedial action.

Meints alleges Allendale, one of her supervisors who no longer works at Wymore EMS, made verbal and written requests to her for sexual favors and sexually harassed her co-worker Pesetsky. Shortly after she went to Schwartz and the mayor to report it, she was suspended, then terminated.

Mittan, whom Powers described as a gay man with nonconforming gender/sex appearance, actions and behavior, alleges he was continually subjected to sexual comments that interfered with his ability to do the work in the nearly five years he worked there.

When he opposed or reported it, officials retaliated against him, Powers alleges.

The three are seeking a jury trial and compensation for their lost pay and benefits, as well as reinstatement to their positions or front pay.
OMAHA -- An estimated 120,000 people have gone missing during 50 years of violent civil war in the South American nation of Colombia, according to estimates by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

This week, 10 forensic anthropologists tasked with identifying Colombias missing are at Offutt Air Force Base to meet with their U.S. counterparts at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

We have the same objective: giving identity to these remains, Francis Paola Nino Ruiz, who investigates cases for the office of Colombias attorney general, said through a translator.

They are taking part in a workshop Monday and Tuesday that also includes forensic experts from the U.S. Department of Justice and the University of Nebraska.

We are exchanging ideas on the different cycles and processes we go through in our case work, said Jessica Yopak, an Offutt-based DPAA forensic anthropologist. Were excited to have them here.

DPAA and its predecessor organizations have been working to identify the remains of missing American service members since 1973. The Offutt lab opened in 2013 and took up its first large project two years later with the identification of nearly 400 missing crew members from the USS Oklahoma.

The Justice Departments International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program has been working with law enforcement in Colombia since 1989, according to a DOJ fact sheet.

For the past five years it has worked specifically with forensic anthropologists to gain accreditation for Colombia's forensic laboratories and boost their ability to identify victims, return remains to families and prosecute human rights crimes.

With the programs assistance, Colombian officials have collected evidence leading to the recovery of nearly 300 sets of human remains, according to the fact sheet.

The visit to the Offutt lab has been nearly two years in the making. The visiting anthropologists said they have been looking forward to seeing how DPAA carries out its work.

This is the benchmark in the labs, said Jonathan Buitrago Sanchez, head of human identification for Colombias Criminal Investigation Directorate.

The countrys civil war dates to May 27, 1964, when the Colombian armed forces attacked a small band of leftist guerrillas in a rural village. In the decades since, it has involved far-left and far-right groups, as well as criminal syndicates and drug cartels.

Large-scale conflict between the government and the main rebel group, FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) ended with a peace agreement in 2016, but it continues to simmer in parts of the country. A report from a national Truth Commission, released in June, said more than 7 million people were displaced and 450,000 people were killed during the decades-long war.

Nino Ruiz said the ongoing nature of the war has hampered efforts to find and identify the victims.

We have areas where we dont have access yet to burial sites, or to families, she said. We have a lot of missing persons, and we have a lot of families who are scared.

Buitrago Sanchez said the idea of bringing comfort to grieving families is what drew him to the work of identifying the casualties of his countrys bloody civil war..

Working with the victims, with their families, he said, is something that is highly rewarding.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  A shooting involving law enforcement outside a fast food restaurant in Sioux Falls has left one person dead, according to police.

Sioux Falls officers and a Minnehaha County sheriffs deputy made a traffic stop about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday outside a Burger King when at least one individual fired at the officers, officials said.

Law enforcement returned fire and one person was fatally shot. Officials did not say who was killed or describe his or her role in the incident.

Witnesses said about 10 to 12 gunshots could be heard. Investigators cordoned off the area around the Burger King, including placing yellow police tape at the drive-thru. Patrons of the restaurant waited in their vehicles to be cleared from the scene.

Steven Carrillo was inside the Burger King with his partner and three children when the shooting happened and said the family hid in the bathroom when the gunfire rang out.

I felt gunless, he said. We were in there for like an hour we didnt even eat afterward.

Carrillo said there were about 20 people inside the restaurant when the shooting began.

I was mostly worried about my kids, man Carrillo said, shaking his head. His children range in age from 4 to 9 years old.

The case has been turned over to the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation.

Its the fifth police shooting in the city since the end of March, and the seventh since October 2021. Four of those seven have been fatal, according to Argus Leader.
You are here: Business

Great Wall Motor (GWM), China's largest sport utility vehicle (SUV) and pickup manufacturer, saw vehicle sales increasing 11.32 percent year on year to 101,920 units in July.

Among them, 14,710 were sold overseas, 18.27 percent more than the figure of July last year, the company said.

Haval, GWM's leading SUV brand, sold 61,279 vehicles in July, up 7.14 percent year on year. Great Wall pickups continued to dominate the domestic market with 16,305 units sold in July.

Last month, 12,473 units of Tank, another GWM SUV brand, were sold, up 128.03 percent year on year. The brand also started entering into the overseas market as Tank 300 was launched in Saudi Arabia on July 3.

Headquartered in the city of Baoding, north China's Hebei province, Great Wall Motor owns several vehicle brands, including HAVAL, GWM Pickup, WEY and ORA.
George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist and bete noir of conservatives, has written a column for The Wall Street Journal, defending his donations to liberal prosecutors who are releasing criminals on low or no bail, resulting in their frequent commission of new crimes.

Soros claims a choice between public safety and justice is a false one and that they reinforce each other. He can pontificate on the issue because he likely has paid security protection.

His proposals for reducing crime and reforming the criminal justice system have been tried before. He makes the ludicrous claim that there is no connection between the election of reform-minded prosecutors and local crime rates. In fact, violent crime in recent years has generally been increasing more quickly in jurisdictions without reform-minded prosecutors.

In fact, violent and other crimes have been increasing in cities and states run by Democrat mayors and prosecutors, some of whom are facing recall elections. According to the worldpopulationreview.com, Democrats run 11 of the deadliest 15 American cities.

Like many other progressives, Soros blames racism for the number of Black men arrested for violent and non-violent crimes. Yet the latest Department of Justice statistics reveal that for Black victims of violent crime, 70.3 percent of offenders are fellow Blacks while 10.6 percent of offenders are white. Is Black on Black crime the result of racism? This is not breaking news as the trend has been known for years. If liberal solutions to violent crime worked, would they not have by now?

The main causes of rising crime, in addition to progressive prosecutors funded by Soros, are moral and spiritual. A sense of entitlement and envy of the successful, as well as the absence of fathers in the home and the loss of a shared moral and value system have all contributed to rising crime. Consider the rampant looting of high-end stores and pharmacies one sees regularly on TV news.

No racial group has suffered more from violent crime than African Americans. Several prominent Black voices have correctly diagnosed the crime problem, among them former NAACP leader Kweisi Mfume, writer Thomas Sowell and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley. When asked by Larry Elder which posed the bigger threat to Black communities white racism or absent fathers, Mfume said, The absence of Black Fathers. Thomas Sowell agrees: The black family, which had survived centuries of slavery and discrimination, began rapidly disintegrating in the liberal welfare state that subsidized unwed pregnancy and changed welfare from an emergency rescue to a way of life.

Writing on the 50th anniversary of a report by then-assistant Labor Secretary (later senator) Daniel Patrick Moynihan on the state of the Black family, Riley noted: History has proved that Moynihan was onto something. When the report was released, about 25 percent of black children and 5 percent of white children lived in a household headed by a single mother. During the next 20 years the black percentage would double and the racial gap would widen. Today more than 70 percent of all black births are to unmarried women, twice the white percentage.

While no prosecutor can rebuild the family structure, they can better protect the public by enforcing laws and tightening the bail structure, especially for violent offenders. The revival of the family structure is up to the religious community and prison programs that seek to spiritually transform criminals so they are less likely to commit new crimes when released.

The George Soros approach makes it more likely offenders and offenses will increase. Perhaps he should speak with crime victims to learn what they think about the revolving door that has become too much a part of the criminal justice system.
Three in the afternoon, 91 degrees, and the air conditioning is broken at Les Argentiers, the brasserie that Ivan Rizzi runs on a workaday street in Paris 12th Arrondissement. Needs a new motor, the repairman says. Rizzi makes note of that, but decides, for now, not to fix it. Never mind that theres condensation on his patrons wine glasses, or that its going to be this hot or worse every day this week.

Its a choice that holds the weird secret of Europes reluctance to embrace air conditioning, a blend of culture, climate, architecture, regulation, and foreign policy that leaves some of the richest people on the planet sweating through their clothes for a few weeks each summer.

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Rizzi insists he is pro-air conditioning. Were heating up the planet, youve got to put it everywhere, he said. Just not here at his restaurant. His antiquated, water-hungry system simply costs too much to bother repairing, he said. Fighting with his neighbors to install a new one that pumps hot air into the street? Fat chance.

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Just one in 10 households in Europe has A/C, far below the rates in China, Japan, or the United States, where 90 percent of households have a cooling system. Why have some of the worlds wealthiest countries been so slow to adopt hot-weather climate control? Its a question thats top of mind once again as another heat wave bakes Western Europe this week.

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Instead of using the moment to embrace A/C, European leaders have mostly shunned the technology or moved to limit its use. In Spain, for example, the government this week began requiring that A/C in public places be set no lower than 80 degreesfollowing similar measures in Italy and Greece.

If it seems like a counterintuitive response to a heat wave, thats because Europe is simultaneously in the midst of a huge energy crunch as Russia throttles the continents natural gas supplies. With E.U. member states trying to cut winter gas use by 15 percent this winter to avoid blackouts or industrial shutdownsand with one eye on Paris Agreement emissions targets by 2030putting millions of new A/Cs on the grid just isnt an option right now. Air conditioning makes up just 1 percent of building energy use in Europe, compared to 10 percent in the United States.

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To make matters worse, the summer is also one of the driest on record. The drought has reduced the output of Frances nuclear plants and is threatening shipping on the Rhine River, which brings fuel and other material to Germanys industrial heartland. Its a frightening example of how two different but related climate change events can compound, with each making it harder to respond to the other.

But what explains the longer-term A/C resistance? In a 2021 OpinionWay poll of 1,045 French adults (conducted, it must be said, for a company that makes heat pumps), almost two in three respondents said they did not plan to buy an air conditioner. The top two reasons cited were energy costs and environmental impacts.

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When I asked a French friend why her compatriots resist A/C, she explained: It pollutes, its often too cold, the air is fake. It makes you sick, and it gives you a headache. It keeps you inside and it creates nonstop arguments with the team at work. It makes me feel like an old prune.

Most of that can be called the cultural argument against A/C, and its alive and well. Every European who has visited the United States has a story about freezing in an air-conditioned shop or office.

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Not everyone buys it. When the French cant pay for something, theyll find 10,000 excuses, counters Gilles Bourquin, who runs the A/C company his father started in 1967, Clim Denfert. They have it in the car, they have it in the office, he notes, and yet, air conditioning is considered a luxury product. He means both practicallytheres a 20 percent tax on A/C in France, compared to 5 percent for a new heating systemand in cultural perception, where Bourquin feels A/C has been unfairly vilified by left-wing environmentalists.

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There are several reasons A/C adoption, at least on the northern part of the continent, has remained the province of corporate offices, movie theaters, and luxury stores.

First is that this summers heat is historically quite rare. Paris, for example, has a summer temperature pattern thats closer to Seattle than any other American city. Those cool nightsaverage summer lows of 60 degreeshave made A/C at home seem unnecessary. That is changing as summer temperatures rise. The U.S. Army used to say A/C was not considered appropriate for bases in Europe, except in Italy, in part an attempt to live like the locals. But after a blistering summer in 2019, the Army decided to delegate that decision to garrison commanders. Soldiers stationed in family housing in Germany are now permitted to buy their own units.

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Second: Electricity is expensive. Well before the war in Ukraine sent the continent into an energy crisis, E.U. electricity rates were more than twice the U.S. average, while incomes are lower. In 2016, for example, retail electricity prices in Germany were about three times higher than in Texas. Thats in part because the continent is making steep investments in clean power. Ironically, Bourquin suggests, the coming gas crisis might actually help mainstream air conditioningby encouraging Europeans to replace gas heaters with energy-efficient heat pumps, which can also do A/C in the summer.

Third is the urban heat island effect, which is more severe in Europes denser, grayer cities than it is in Americas more suburban metropolises. Even if they rely on clean power, A/Cs heat the air outside as much as they cool the inside. That means the comfort of those with air conditioning feeds the discomfort of those without. Researchers at the French National Center for Weather Research have concluded that if Paris doubles its A/C use by 2030, it could raise outdoor temperatures in the city by 3 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, policymakers have been very reluctant to encourage A/C adoption except in vulnerable places like nursing homes.

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Fourth is the office-home divide. European workplaces, including some factories, malls, shops, and offices, are more likely to have climate control than homes. Modern office buildings where the windows dont open, of course, are all air-conditioned. Remote work remains unusual in Europe, and many workers have continued to schlep to the office on some of the hottest days in the continents history. That means fewer people sitting in non-air conditioned homes during the hottest parts of the day.

In France, even the air-conditioning installers are on vacation.

Fifth is vacation. Many Europeans take substantial summer vacations. In France, even the air- conditioning installers are on vacation. Almost three in four Europeans said they planned to travel this summer. Those that remain home take part in the continents rich tradition of public space, such as biergartens, cafe terraces, and public parks. Or adopt a siestasnoozing through the hottest part of the day.

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Sixth is architecture. Europes building stock is old. In most EU countries, more than half the residential building stock was constructed before 1970. As a result, very few homes were built with A/C. Renters may not feel like investing in a unit they may not be able to take with them; owners have to pay for a complex, time-consuming installation that can require drilling through concrete, the permission of a co-op board, and even the approval of the local government.

But that legacy is a mixed blessing; many European homes have climate-friendly adaptations built in. Some of these are very simple. Its rare to see a building in Madrid or Athens that does not have external shutters to keep the summer sun off the windows. The Germans, naturally, have a word for these rolling sunproof gates: rolladen.

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Balconies are almost as common, and unlike A/C, theyre not seen as a luxury: the Pritzker-wining architects Lacaton and Vassal added them onto older social housing blocks in Bordeaux. Most apartments also have cross-ventilation, which is made possible by efficient, single-stair floor plans.

These days, new homes in the hotter parts of the continent come with A/C-enabled heat pumps as a matter of course. Still, you can see the focus on architecture before technology on display in the United Kingdoms new building regulations, which were adopted this summer. In the new code, a cross-ventilated apartment is legally recognized category. There are limits on window surfaces and instructions for overhangs to shade them when the sun is high in the sky. Most interestingly, the code says, builders must show that all practical passive means of limiting unwanted solar gainsi.e., heat from the afternoon sunhave been used first before adopting mechanical cooling. Air conditioning, explicitly, is a tool of last resort.
At the end of August, in a courtroom in Virginia Beach, a judge will decide whether to put two books on trial for obscenity.

This is a strange sentence to write, and I expect a strange sentence to read, because these days books dont go on trial for obscenity. Books havent really gone on trial for obscenity since landmark 20th-century cases determined that first James Joyces Ulysses, and then Henry Millers Tropic of Cancer, could not be banned by the government. Like most Americans, you might believe books have a settled status in our culturethat even if they contain sexual material, theyre protected by the First Amendment.

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Tim Anderson disagrees. Hes the man trying to get the books declared obsceneand, in the process, change obscenity law in the United States. Anderson, a lawyer and Republican Virginia state delegate whose district includes Virginia Beach, will argue the case later this month. (Another Republican, Tommy Altman, filed the petition; Altman recently lost his primary for a House seat in Virginias 2nd district.) The petition is a new twist on recent right-wing attacks on materials that address sexuality, gender, and race. Rather than demanding that school boards or librarians remove books, the current case takes the books to court, using an obscure Virginia law that would allow the judge, if she found the books obscene, to ban bookstores, libraries, and even private citizens from selling or sharing them, everywhere in Virginia.

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Its very, very rare for a judge to further an obscenity proceeding against a book, said Kevin Birmingham, author of The Most Dangerous Book, a history of the 20th century obscenity challenges to Ulysses. And yet, when retired Virginia circuit court judge Pamela S. Baskervillwho was assigned the case when all the local circuit court judges recused themselvesfirst looked at Andersons petitions, she found probable cause that the books may be obscene and allowed the proceeding to continue. When the court informed the publishers of the two booksas well as Barnes and Noble (also named in the petition)that the books were being challenged, lawyers hurriedly drafted briefs running down the basics of First Amendment law as it pertains to obscenity and the written word. On Aug. 30, both sides will argue their cases, and Baskervill will get the chance to decide whether the books in questionGender Queer and A Court of Mist and Furyshould be banned in the state of Virginia, and for whom.

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The two books make for strange bedfellows. Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe, is a graphic memoir about the authors nonbinary gender identity that has recently become one of the most-challenged books in American libraries and schools. A Court of Mist and Fury is a mainstream (straight) fantasy/romance about a human transformed into a faerie, the second in a hugely successful YA series by Sarah J. Maas. The books vary widely in tone and artfulness: one is an earnest, carefully crafted memoir focused on gender identity, the other an enjoyably trashy high fantasy with the occasional hot sex scene. (Kobabe declined to comment; multiple emails seeking comment sent to Maas publisher, Bloomsbury, received no reply.)

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The two books do share one thing, which is that Tim Anderson and Tommy Altmanthe plaintiffs, basically, in this odd proceedingthink kids should not read them. Well, Gender Queer is the number one rated contested book in the nation, Anderson told me when I asked him why hes challenging these two particular titles. Its definitely one of the more egregious books when it comes to illustrations. As for the Sarah Maas novel, its not as extreme as other books, but he found it in a middle school library in Virginia Beach. So this was being recommended by school librarians to children that were as young as sixth grade.

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The petitions Anderson filed in April list various racy moments in the two books. As examples:

Page 538: He was enormous in my handso hard, yet so silken that I just ran a finger down him in wonder. Page 135Illustrates minors providing stimulation of genitals with hands.

The sexual content, Andersons petitions declare, promote felonious sexual encounters when exposed to minors. The books, he asserts, go substantially beyond customary limits of candor, and accordingly have no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value to minors.

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The Virginia statute Anderson employs dates from the 1950s and has rarely been used. A lot of lawyers didnt even know it existed, said Matt Callahan of the ACLU of Virginia, which is representing a collection of Virginia bookstores and nonprofits in opposing the petition. The statute allows any Virginia citizen to challenge a book as obscene in circuit court. If the court agrees, it may file a restraining order against the distribution or sale of the book anywhere in the state. The language of the statute is clearly unconstitutional and alarmingly broad, according to Callahan: It doesnt apply only to distribution by major bookstores. It seems to apply to, say, one person handing the book to someone they live with.

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The petition is the latest gambit in a wave of book-banning attempts that have driven local Republican politics over the past few years. There is a movement spreading around the country that seeks to make this a political wedge issue, trying to cast books with any sexual content whatsoever as legally obscene, said Jonathan Friedman, the director of free expression and education at PEN America. Many, though not all, of the books targeted are about LGBTQ issues, which many Republicans deem sexually explicit whether or not theres actual sex involved. Said Friedman, Its a small group of people trying to decide what everyone should have access to.

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The legal arguments of the books defenders say as much. The Petitions exemplify efforts to ban books that have featured prominently in recent Virginia political campaigns, write Barnes & Nobles attorneys in a brief filed to the court. While most of these controversies have focused on the availability of books in public schools, here, the Petitioner seeks to move beyond just the schools and deploy an antiquated statute to limit access to books generally in bookstores and elsewhere.

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Once upon a time, courts did determine a books obscenity based on whether children should read its most shocking lines.

Anderson dismissed that assertion. Were not trying to ban these books, he said. Were not trying to burn these books. He said his goal is simply to exclude minors from having access to the two books without parental consent.

In making his case, Anderson pointed to a line in the law that notes that, should a judge find a book obscene, it may exercise discretion to except from its judgment a restricted category of persons to whom the book is not obscene. Hes asking the court to declare the books obscenebut then delineate a specific category of people, namely all adults, for whom the books are not obscene. Its an unusual argument, one that depends on a judge agreeing with Anderson that the books sex scenes are beyond the pale, yet also taking the initiative to declare that nevertheless the books should not be considered obscene for 78 percent of the states residents (adults).

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According to decades of Supreme Court precedentand Virginia lawa book cannot be found obscene based only on a selection of its most salacious bits. Books must be considered as a whole and, if they have serious literary, artistic, political, or social value, cannot be ruled obscene. Anderson seeks to redefine that standard: I think that when youre talking about an adult looking at the material, maybe you can use that standard. But I certainly think we have to have a different standard for children, because if you taint a book with extreme sexual copy, whether its text or pictures, minors cant process that like an adult.

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Anderson offered a hypothetical. Lets say Moby Dick. Great work of art. But what if they just decided, right in the middle of the story, to put a graphic picture of two men performing fellatio on each other? Or even better, two children just performing fellatio on each other? Wouldnt we say that, Whoa, like, that is unnecessary in that book and we dont want children to see that? Its not appropriate for children to see other children performing fellatio on each other. (In Gender Queer, one scene involves a 25-year-old Kobabe and a partner experimenting with a strap-on. It does not seem especially out of place in a memoir of youthful discovery.)*

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Once upon a time, courts did determine a books obscenity based on the question of whether children should read its most shocking lines. In 1921, the state of New York ruled that Ulysses was obscene, because, Birmingham said, the implicit question that the judges had in mind was, Do I want my daughter reading this? But in 1933, a federal judge found that Ulysses had to be considered according to the books overall effect on an average adult. Otherwise, as Birmingham noted, Were effectively holding the nations reading to the standards of a childrens library.

A hearing on Aug. 30 in Virginia Beach will determine whether the case can go forward. In his brief responding to the books defenders, Anderson goes all-in on describing the books sexual content. (A search for fellatio yields eight results.) Theres also a lot of talk of undeveloped prefrontal cortexes, the harm such explicit images could do to highly susceptible children, and a full-page aside about the Marxist ideology of the American Library Association.

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If you, an adult, read something, or my 12-year-old reads that same thing, can it be obscene to the 12-year-old and not to you? Anderson asked me. It was clear he thought so. I think were going to be able to carve that exception out in this case, either here at this trial level, or as we work our way up the chain.

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Is he right? Well, if Baskervill follows nearly a century of precedent, shell throw the case out. But because the issue is so long-settled, obscenity cases rarely make it to court at all, and as a result, judges often arent that familiar with the law. Im sure in her entire career shes never seen a case like this, Birmingham said. And these days its hard to predict what a state court judge will do, or an appeals court, orshould it get that farthe Supreme Court. We see how easily conservative judges are willing to go back on precedent, Birmingham said, especially when they feel theres a groundswell of public support buttressing their sentiments.

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This is a movement that isnt looking to stop at Gender Queer, said PENs Jonathan Friedman. This is a movement that seeks to ban broad swaths of material, for everyone, based on any mention of sexuality or other topics they find distasteful. Its useful to think of Andersons petition as a hopeful salvo, testing out the defenses. It attempts to make the most of an archaic state law thats unlikely to survive constitutional scrutiny. I dont think this particular case is going to change federal law, Birmingham said. But neither he, nor anybody else I spoke to, thought it would be the last try. And eventually, one of those hopeful salvos might break through.

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Even if this case doesnt succeed, Birmingham thinks its entirely possible that long-settled obscenity rulings could be rolled back the way Roe v. Wade was rolled back. The result could be a wave of book bannings across the country, long after most readers thought that reading the literature of your choice was a fundamental American right. It depends on how you interpret the word obscenity, Birmingham said. Its as illegal today as it was in 1917. All thats changed since then is the definition. For decades, he pointed out, liberals and free speech champions have cheered the way that definition has changed. But in the future, theres no reason that hardline conservatives couldnt celebrate a new definition, too.
The GOPs meltdown after the FBI raided Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort was swift and fevered, with calls for investigations of the Justice Department and increasingly mainstream whispers of civil war. The right-wing corners of the internet mobilized in kind. The fertile far-right media ecosystem was more animated than its been in months, and the loose network of YouTube and podcast stars posted multiple shows filled with doomsday punditry within hours.

Stephanie Foggett is focused on the darker, seedier parts of that ecosystem. Foggett is the director of global communications at The Soufan Group, a national and foreign security consultancy, and she monitors the white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups on discord and Telegram channels. Shes watched the reaction to the Trump news in real time, and she sees warning signs flashing in several places. Over the phone, she told me what shes seen in those spaces so far, and what she expects if a case against Trump really does proceed. She said shes become especially alarmed by the short distance between rhetoric in extremist forums and Fox News. Our conversation has been condensed and edited.

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Aymann Ismail: What are right-wing extremist channels saying about last nights FBI raid?

Stephanie Foggett: One big conspiracy is that the timing of all of this is meant to prevent Trump from running for president in 2024, bringing it back to stealing the election. Theres also lots of whataboutism, pulling from the years worth of talking points on Hunter Biden, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and the Clinton foundation, all the way back to Benghazi: Why is the state going after Trump when all of these things that weve cared about for so many years never see the light of day?

Im also seeing posts like There is no political solution. One narrative thats brewing, and this goes back years but especially over the past year, is that there is a war on dissidents. That term, dissidents, is really coming up a lot. There are so many Telegram channels. I follow lots of women, so theres Dissident Housewives and Dissident Homeschooling, and all types of things. And today Im seeing that this is a war on dissidentsthat theyve gone after a former president, and if theyve been going after everyday citizens, and now theyre going after Trump, whats gonna ever stop them from coming after you?

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What strikes me about that is that it sounds a lot like the run-of-the-mill messaging were seeing from more mainstream Republicans.

Correct. A big thing that my colleagues and I have been talking about is this laundering of messaging. Lots of these conspiracies have become mainstream. They start as fringe messages, then you see them on Fox News. And it kind of goes both ways, if theres something mainstream that will serve these extremists. The gap between hardened extremists in their corners of the information ecosystem and the mainstream is getting smaller and smaller. Hardened extremists push the messaging that democracy doesnt work: stop this steal, our elections are stolen, everythings rigged, these institutions are against you. They really, really want people to lose faith in democracy. There is no political solution is a really, really common message that youll find among the more extreme and, to be frank, more violent actors of the group, because they want violence to be the solution. And when you have big politicians and big media figures laundering these types of narratives, especially from these alternative or conspiratorial news sources, its obviously very worrisome.

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Dataminr observed a big spike in posts mentioning civil war.

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That messaging is not coming from a vacuum. Its come out of years worth of core messaging from these groups in these spaces. Hunter Bidens been the big one the last few years, but before that, you had Clinton and the Clinton foundation and Benghazi. These conspiracies come up any time theres investigations against the right or people deemed helpful to their movement. They have an arsenal to keep clouding the conversation so that people arent focusing and feel victimized. CPACs performance art of a political prisoner is a good example of this. The message is that theyre not being targeted for violence or for crimes, theyre being targeted for their ideas and their beliefs. There are lots of movements to write to Jan. 6 people whove been arrested and ended up in jail, and help them with commissary and keep up their spirits and get them books. The narrative is, Hey, this could be you. You could be next.

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Is anyone making threats? Do any of those threats seem legitimate to you?

I just see this FBI raid as another high-profile example for them to add to their narrative. Theyve been warning about school teachers and the everyday people who were arrested after Jan. 6. And now, its Look! theyve even gone after a former president! Were not safe! Its a way to expand and add some more weight to that narrative.

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And what happens when theres more weight to their narrative?

It creates paranoia and confusion. The FBI isnt going after these people because of their beliefs. In fact, working in counter-terrorism and counter-extremism, we are engaged in the pre-crime space. How do you address people taking on these ideas? Or writing things? Its only once theyve crossed a line that law enforcement can come in. And these narratives make it so that theres less focus on the crimes that were committed and more focus on blurring whats going on and making it about them being attacked or imprisoned because of their ideas and beliefs.

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Groups that we monitor in the white supremacy, neo-Nazi, and other far-right spaces really do believe that a collapse is coming. Accelerationism is the strand of thought that the current system is so corrupt that they should speed its demise through any form like violence and acts of terrorism, or celebrating natural disasters like power grids going down, because it contributes to making the state harder to govern. Making yourselves ungovernable is a strong message in these spaces. They want to weaken the status quo as much as possible so that it collapses and a new political order can be born that aligns with their worldview for how things should be. By increasing mainstream paranoia, people start to question whether theyre safe. Anything from crime to banking to the economy, anything that makes people start to think that things really arent in a good place. They will tap into any narrative by saying Hey, we told you so. We knew this was coming. Which side do you want to be on? Upcoming civil wars and collapse is really, really common in the more hardened spectrum of this space.

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We dont know much about the FBI raid yet. All we know so far is that it relates to boxes of presidential documents Trump may have improperly taken to Mar-a-Lago. The current head of the FBI was appointed by Trump himself. Are those facts breaking through in those channels at all?

I definitely saw that today, that Wray was appointed by Trump and things like that. But then they add the caveat, you shouldnt trust them or you shouldnt trust the system. Theyre conspiring against you.

What happens when these ideas get to everyday people?

A lot mainstream and powerful figures spouting a lot of this stuff without thinking about the consequences. These groups are trying to mainstream their neo-Nazi views, their white supremacist views, and make them more palatable. Red pilling is taking a normal person and bringing them into this worldview. And I see lots of chatter about strategies, like Swastikas are too hard. Lets start with softer things, and tap into more popular grievances and slowly pull people in. Theyve been trying to clean up their image, and obviously when its laundered by somebody in the mainstream, that adds rocket fuel to getting these ideas out to everyday people who arent really embedded in these movements.

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They tie in people using everyday grievances that the average person has. If your car has been broken into a few times, and youre thinking, Wow, why does this keep happening?, these people want you to frame your answer through their ideology. When that was harder to find, in the harder-to-reach spaces of the internet, that meant that the average person wasnt really going to see that. But now there are thousands of channels that are constantly moving and migrating between platforms. The way that this content has been able to breach the mainstream, thats where it starts to get concerning.

What do you think will happen if Trump is found guilty of something?

With conspiracy theorists, new information doesnt change their worldview. Theyve already got these responses like Its just part of the plan. They just conveniently manage to find ways to keep it going. I actually saw something earlier today, they were like, Whichever way it goes, its gonna cause chaos. And thats good for our movement anywayto undermine democracy and its institution.

I think the focus should be on making sure that this doesnt reach mainstream audiences, and making sure that the vast majority of Americans can explore whats going on without algorithms on social media platforms pushing these types of alternative news channels and spaces on them. If you are Googling Mar-a-lago today, are you actually being driven to sources of information that are going to help you understand whats going on? Or are you being driven to places that are going spiral you into these conspiratorial places? Thats what concerns me, the proximity of these ideas to regular people who arent necessarily seeking it. They might be trying to just understand whats going on, and then they spend six hours down a conspiratorial rabbit hole reading some nonsense.

Its only been hours since the raid, and more people just tapped into longstanding things that have been there for months and years now.
As demographers and rural sociologists from Penn State who have studied social inequality for more than 20 years, were practiced in observing the ways public policies and events shape peoples livesand particularly attuned to the impacts on historically marginalized groups including racial and ethnic minorities, people with low incomes, children, and women. When the COVID pandemic happened, we studied how it impacted the health and income of Alaskan Indigenous fishing communities. When Russia invaded Ukraine, we studied its impacts on Central Asian labor migrants in Russia. When it comes to abortion, the data couldnt be clearer: limiting access to abortion increases social inequality and puts disproportionate burdens on women of lower income and minorities.

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We know, because weve spent the past ten months studying what happened after Texas passed Senate Bill 8, or its Heartbeat Bill. Notably, SB 8 was allowed to be implemented even before the Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which means there are months of data about who is affected most by abortion bans in the United States. Our findings offer a devastating glimpse at whats in store across the country as more and more states adopt draconian measures to limit abortion access after the fall of Roe.

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We designed our study to compare women access to abortion clinics before and after the implementation of SB 8, and between Texas and its neighbor state Oklahoma, where abortion was not yet outlawed at the time of the study period. We used clinic visitation data from eight months before and eight months after the SB 8 implementation, that is, from January through August 2021 and from September 2021 through April 2022. From the University of California San Franciscos Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Healths abortion facility database, we analyzed 21 open clinics in Texas and 4 in Oklahoma that provided abortion services. The clinic visitation data were derived from cell phone data that were provided by the SafeGraph. Here is what we found: Texas SB 8 was associated with a 34 percent reduction in abortion visitation compared to Oklahoma. But we also found a 59 percent increase in Texas residents traveling to Oklahoma abortion clinics in September 2021, immediately following the implementation of SB 8.

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Further, there are big discrepancies between high-income and low-income areas to access legal abortion clinics in the aftermath of bans. Our data shows disproportionate increases in Texas women from high-income areas, or with a median household income of more than $70,000, that traveled to Oklahoma after SB 8 was implemented. In the eight-month period after SB 8 implementation, abortion travel for low-and-medium income Texas residents declined by around 4 percent compared to a 144 percent increase among high-income Texans.

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But statistics never tell the whole story: Ultimately, this is about womens lives. Unable to travel for abortion services, some women, often low-income, young, and women of color will turn to unsafe methods that place their lives in peril as was common prior to legalized abortion in 1973. Pregnancy is a greater risk to womens health than abortion and more women will be forced to carry to term, particularly among non-Hispanic Black women who are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications compared to non-Hispanic white women. In fact, states with more restrictive abortion policies experience higher maternal mortality rates.

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Lack of access to abortion care will also increase the likelihood of unintended births disproportionately for low-income women, rural women, and women of color. Women who have unintended births are also likely to delay education and entrance into the workforce, and to have higher poverty levels. According to one study, women who were turned away from abortion clinics because of gestational limits had increased economic and housing insecurity in the form of bankruptcies, evictions, and court judgments.

Overturning Roe v. Wade will decrease abortion access and widen the socioeconomic gap in society. States that do not allow abortion should be prepared for more hospitalizations from unsafe abortions and risky pregnancies and increasing levels of poverty and inequality in their states. Abortion bans will increase travel distance to abortion clinics and, as seen in Texas, disproportionately harm pregnant people in low-income communities who lack the means to travel for healthcare.

The worst of this societal inequality is yet to be seen.
Around 7 p.m. Monday night, the tweets starting flying. The FBI had raided Donald Trumps home in Palm Beach, Florida. Or so he said. And, trusted journalists who have access to the platforms that he still covets, said he said. And so we all retweeted. Then turned on the television for proof, and for details.

The FBI had arrived around 10 a.m. in plain clothes blending in with the few people who would be present in and around Mar-a-Lago in August. The club is officially closed for the summer, and few people would be wandering about outside, the temperature feeling at times like 100 plus with the humidity. The agents remained several hours to execute the search warrant that sought top-secret documents apparently pilfered by the former president on his way out of the White House in late January of 2021. Documents that may have originally been in the 15 boxes that he held onto for a full year before supposedly returning, despite efforts to get them back sooner. Areas searched in the residence included Trumps personal office and safe. The planned raid was kept close. Not even the Biden White House or local law enforcement were told in advance. The FBI only warned the Secret Service just before arriving.

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But we didnt know all those details at first. At first it was all vibes. Oh. My. God. Is this happening? Shock and awe.

All we had in those first glorious minutes before reporters from the New York Times and Washington Post filled in the missing pieces, were basic facts and related inferences. Fact. A judge approved a search warrant for Mar-a-Lago. Inferences. Ever-cautious Attorney General Merrick Garland must have signed off on this. And he and a judge were convinced there was probable cause of a federal crime. Particular evidence to be found on site. But what crime? So many to choose from. And which documents? Anything was possible. And would this result in an indictment? And, did that even matter?

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But it was fine not to know. It felt good to just feel so good. It had been a week of landmark legislation to tax corporations, fight climate change, protect veterans, invest in the semiconductor industry, and more. Like the Passover song, Dayenu: It would have been enough. And now the FBI at flipping Mar-a-Lago. And Garland drawing a line in the sand.

Where will this lead? It is unclear. And Im okay with that. My friend Mary Trump cautioned that it is too soon for schadenfreude. But she also said of her uncle This may be the very first time in his life that hes not protected. Hes not protected by the office anymore, hes not protected by the banks anymore, hes not protected by his father anymore and this put him in the position to be subject to a search warrant.

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And, one thing is for sure, something has shifted. As Mary noted, after Monday night, we learned that the playing field is a little more level than it was before. The words no one is above the law, always an aspiration, was now looking like a reality.

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After five plus years tracking the potential legal troubles of this deranged narcissist, I had finally come around a couple weeks ago to the conclusion that we should actually trust Garland, and I was beginning to detach from my hobby of collecting all Donald details to work on new research projects. I was able to finally put down my Mueller investigation spreadsheets and their attendant spreadsheets: Civil RICO. Campaign finance violations. Seeking Russias help to interfere in the 2016 election. Emoluments. Hatch Act. Obstruction of the special counsel investigation. Bribery. Seeking help from Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election. Conspiracy to defraud the United States. Obstruction of a Congressional Proceeding. Seditious Conspiracy.

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I cannot even accurately count the number of opinion pieces and tweet threads Ive written, academic talks, interviews Ive given, that focus on Trumps post-election misconduct. And, Ive tried. Even my recent book on white collar crime called Big Dirty Money devotes space to his pre-election predation, concluding that had he been held accountable for his many bad deeds before he first ran for president, he would have spent time in federal prison and not the Oval Office.

All of that plus the books and articles and court decisions and reports. A mind and office shelves and drawers jam-packed with information. And, nothing, nothing getting anywhere. A pressure cooker of infinite details and theories. Suffocating.

Then last night, the sky broke open and it began to rain. A rain of joy, and of memes, and of hopes. There will be time for a hundred visions and revisions. In the meantime, Im singin in the rain. What a glorious feeling. Im happy again.
Ukraine expected to restore transit after Slovnaft pays fees.

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Oil flows from Russia to Slovakia are expected to re-start within days after being cut off for almost a week.

The country had not received any oil from Russia since August 4, but today Slovnaft announced it expected flows to restart soon.

Ukraine stopped crude exports via the southern branch of the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses into Slovakia, on August 4.

Russian firm Transneft said its payments for oil transit to Ukrainian pipeline operator TransNafta were blocked because EU sanctions prevented the money being accepted from Moscow.

However, Druzhba is exempt from EU sanctions imposed on Russian oil imports.

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The cut off in supplies affected Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary. Flows continued via the northern branch of Druzhba running through Belarus to Poland and Germany.

Oil is expected to start flowing through the southern branch again within days after the Slovnaft refinery paid transit fees to Ukraine on August 10.
China has released the first national draft guideline on the use of self-driving vehicles for public transport, a key move in accelerating the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving technology and encouraging local authorities to formulate the relevant management policies, industry experts said.

The country will encourage the use of self-driving vehicles such as buses in an enclosed Bus Rapid Transit or BRT system, and allow autonomous vehicles to offer taxi services under simple and relatively controllable scenarios, according to draft rules published by the Ministry of Transport on Monday. The authorities are asking for public opinion or reactions to the guideline through Sept 7.

"The national draft rules on self-driving vehicles are expected to better regulate the whole industry, providing a reference and guidance for local authorities that have yet to issue similar guidelines," said Zhang Xiang, a researcher at the Automobile Industry Innovation Research Center at North China University of Technology in Beijing.

The draft regulation classified autonomous vehicles into three types: conditionally, highly and fully autonomous vehicles, depending on the degree of their autonomous capacity.

The guideline said that conditionally and highly autonomous vehicles should have human drivers. Remote drivers or safety supervisors should be required for fully autonomous vehicles. In addition, safety should be the top priority in the management of self-driving vehicles, it said.

The draft guideline also stipulates that the routes of autonomous vehicles should be far away from densely populated areas such as schools, hospitals and large shopping malls.

The move came after local governments in Wuhan and Chongqing's Yongchuan district granted tech giant Baidu the country's first permits to offer fully driverless commercial robotaxi services to the public on open roads.

Apollo Go, the name of Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service, is authorized to charge fares for robotaxi services completely without human drivers and safety supervisors in the car in designated areas.

Noting that China has taken the lead in the research and development as well as application of autonomous driving technologies, Zhang said the latest move will encourage self-driving companies to carry out road tests and commercial operations of robotaxi services in more cities, speeding up the large-scale commercial use of autonomous vehicles across the nation.

Some local governments have already rolled out a series of supportive policies to promote the commercialization of autonomous driving technology.

For instance, the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has allowed fully autonomous vehicles without human drivers to run on certain roads since Aug 1, when a local regulation on smart and internet-connected vehicles came into effect.

In July, Beijing launched China's first pilot area for commercial autonomous driving vehicle services. Baidu and self-driving startup Pony.ai are the first enterprises granted permission, and they will offer paid robotaxi services, without a safety operator behind the steering wheel, within a 60-square-kilometer area in Yizhuang, a southern suburb of Beijing.

However, a supervisor will still sit in the front passenger seat to ensure safety.

"Currently, only a few countries, including China and Germany, have rolled out policies at the national level that support the development of autonomous vehicles," said Lyu Jinghong, an intelligent-mobility analyst at research firm BloombergNEF.

Lyu added that clear regulations at the national level will encourage local governments and autonomous driving companies to speed up the application of self-driving technology, which is crucial to achieving the commercialization target.
Sales of new energy vehicles or NEVs in China are expected to reach 6 million units this year, as the sector's growth gathers momentum on rising popularity among consumers, said the country's major industry association on Tuesday.

Carmakers sold 564,000 electric and plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles in July, up 123.7 percent from the same month last year, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

That swelled NEV sales in the first seven months to 3.03 million units, up 123 percent year-on-year.

"They have exceeded our expectations. So, we are revising up our estimates to 6 million (units) from 5.5 million (units) for this year," said Cui Dongshu, secretary of the association.

Cui estimated that their monthly sales are expected to average over 600,000 units from August to December. Combined with electric trucks and buses, sales of all types of NEVs in China could reach 6.5 million units, he said.

He said Chinese consumers' acceptance of NEVs is growing continuously. The association's data showed that NEVs accounted for 26.4 percent of total passenger vehicle sales in July. In the same month last year, the corresponding figure was 16.6 percent.

The availability of new models, favorable policies including extra license plates and subsidies this year, as well as local governments' introduction of environmentally friendly fleets, are fueling their sales, said Cui.

Local authorities in Shandong province have said that NEVs will account for 100 percent of new vehicles they purchase by 2025.

A breakdown of July sales showed 16 carmakers sold over 10,000 personal NEVs each. Most of them are local Chinese marques and five of them are startups, including Xpeng.

BYD topped the list by delivering 162,200 units, followed by Wuling at 59,300 and Geely, 32,000 units.

Tesla, which frequently figured among the top three players, slipped to fourth position at 28,217 units.

This was primarily because it suspended production for days in the month to upgrade the production line at its Shanghai plant. Now the facility can produce 750,000 vehicles a year, the most among Tesla's plants worldwide.

Last month, Tesla exported 19,756 Shanghai-made vehicles. In the first seven months, its exports from China exceeded 110,000 units to markets including Europe, Japan, Australia and Singapore.

SAIC ranked No 2 last month, exporting 13,413 units. It was followed by eGT, a joint venture between Dongfeng and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, at 6,103 units.

Carmakers in China shipped 49,000 personal NEVs overseas in July, nearly 22 percent of the total vehicle exports.

Cui said China-made NEVs are gaining growing acceptance in overseas markets, and their manufacturers' expanding after-sales service networks are expected to boost the vehicles' reputation.

In late July, Chinese EV startup Nio said its first overseas vehicle battery plant, located in Hungary, is expected to be operational in September.

The plant will serve as a production, service and R&D center for Nio's battery-swap stations in Europe.

Nio entered the European market in 2021, with Norway as its first stop. In the second half of this year, it will expand to Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, the company said.

"The operation of the plant will add further momentum to the construction of battery-swap stations in these countries, providing a solid foundation for local battery-swaps and charging services," the company said.
The field for the 2022 $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Harrah's Hoosier Park is set, with a total of nine horses that will attempt to knock off the world's fastest Standardbred, Bulldog Hanover on Friday (August 12).

Bulldog Hanover drew post three for driver Dexter Dunn in the draw conducted before the card of harness racing at Hoosier on Tuesday (August 9). The son of Shadow play - B Js Squall comes into the 2022 Dan Patch off a qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park on August 2 where he toured the Campbellville oval in a time of 1:51.

In his pari-mutuel start prior to that, Bulldog Hanover made harness racing history with his 1:45.4 performance in the William R. Haughton Memorial on July 16 at The Meadowlands Racetrack.

No stranger to racing in Indiana, Bulldog Hanover rattled off four straight victories at Hoosier Park last fall to conclude his sophomore campaign for trainer / owner Jack Darling of Cambridge, Ont. and co-owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.

With combined career purse earnings exceeding $10 million, the talented field of 10 includes four millionaires, two World Champions, and the number one ranked horse in all of harness racing. North Americas leading money-winning trainer, Ron Burke, will look to score his third Dan Patch victory and become the first trainer to score three Dan Patch victories. As the richest horse in the field with more than $2 million in lifetime purse earnings, This Is The Plan will be one of five entrants in the field for Burke and will start from post nine. The half-mile track world champion will look to add to his bankroll and secure his first Dan Patch trophy after finishing fifth in the same event last year.

Also included in the celebrated field of 10, Little Rocket Man and Tellmeaboutit will play the role of local fan favourites starting from post two and five, respectively. John DeLong has been enlisted to drive Little Rocket Man for trainer Missy Essig while Michael Oosting will be the pilot for Tellmeaboutit and trainer Alvin Miller. With multiple Indiana Sires Stakes wins to their credit, Little Rocket Man and Tellmeaboutit have combined 57 lifetime wins over the Hoosier Park surface.

The field for the 2022 Dan Patch with morning line odds is as follows:

1. Workin Ona Mystery - David Miller - Ron Burke - 15-1

2. Little Rocket Man - John DeLong - Missy Essig - 15-1

3. Bulldog Hanover - Dexter Dunn - Jack Darling - 3-5

4. Rockyroad Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna - 9-2

5. Tellmeaboutit - Mike Oosting - Alvin Miller - 30-1

6. Backstreet Shadow - Trace Tetrick - Ron Burke - 15-1

7. Fortify - Todd McCarthy (also listed) - Ron Burke - 20-1

8. Lous Pearlman - Andrew McCarthy - Ron Burke - 20-1

9. This Is The Plan - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 15-1

[10. Abuckabett Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke - 6-1 (starts from the second tier)

The 2022 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated the 14th race on the program with an estimated post time of 11:05 p.m. EDT and will be supported by an all-star undercard of racing action.

Racing fans will have the opportunity to participate in three special wagers offered for the Dan Patch card. A $20,000 Guaranteed Late Pick-4 will be offered in Races 12-15, a $25,000 Guaranteed Superfecta pool will be available on the Dan Patch Stakes in Race 14 and a $15,000 Guaranteed Hoosier-High Five pool on the last race of the program will be available as part of the Strategic Wagering Program. Each wager is available through the cooperative efforts of the United States Trotting Association, Harrahs Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and the Indiana Standardbred Association.

In addition to the special wagers, $250 megabets will be offered throughout the evening along with a $1,000 Late Night Lucky cash drawing immediately following the Dan Patch Stakes. Guests are encouraged to visit a Trackside Promotional kiosk to enter beginning at 5 p.m.

The Dan Patch festivities will also include a driver autograph session, family-friendly activities, special giveaways in the winners circle, and a Dan Patch chair giveaway to the first 250 guests to visit a Trackside Promotional Kiosk, beginning at 5 p.m. Harrahs Hoosier Park will also have food trucks, outdoor games and roaming entertainment to delight racing guests throughout the evening.

(with files from Hoosier)
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Tuesday warned that Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities will receive "more severe blows" if they continue banking on external forces to seek "Taiwan independence."

The recent visit to China's Taiwan region by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, showed that it was the DPP authorities who made provocations, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

He made the comment in response to the recent remarks by Taiwan politician Joseph Wu claiming that the Chinese mainland tried to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait by military means.

Ma said the DPP authorities have attempted to fulfill their political intents by betraying the interests of the Chinese nation and relying on external anti-China forces, especially by relying on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence."

While the mainland adopted a series of countermeasures, the DPP authorities, instead of reflecting on their own actions, distorted the facts to dress themselves up as "victims" and cover up their nature and behavior of seeking "Taiwan independence," said the spokesperson.

"The DPP's chicanery cannot deceive Taiwan people and the international community," he said.
It was a chalk parade Tuesday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park , and that included the four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Resolve To Win was a front-stepping winner in his $22,600 division for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer John Bax.

The son of Resolve-Sensual Hall battled with Stonebridge Jasper to the quarter pole in :27.4 before that foe cleared to the top. It was a short-lived stint on the lead, however, as Resolve To Win promptly came back around to reclaim the position of command.

Resolve To Win then produced middle splits of :58.4 and 1:29.2 before using a :28.3 closing panel to win by three-quarters of a length over Lava Field in 1:58. Rough Tuff Tested took home third prize in the nine-horse affair.

Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, the colt improved his rookie record to 2-0-1 from four trips to the track. The winner of $25,264 is owned by Bax Stable Brad Grant, Gaelic Stable and Don Allensen.

In the second division it was heavily favoured Busting With Pride blowing away the foes he faced for the team of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Bob McIntosh.

Sent off at 1-5, the homebred son of Resolve-Bustingattheseams was parked to the half before clearing to the top. Once in charge, he sailed past the three-quarter pole in 1:28.1 and then used a final quarter clocked in :30 to win by 4-1/2 lengths over Mr Experience in 1:58.1. First Digit rounded out the Trifecta ticket.

Robert Mcintosh Stables Inc and Dave Boyle share ownership on the gelding who improved his freshman record to 2-1-0 from four starts with the triumph. His bankroll now stands at $29,926.

Darbyshire gave MacDonald and Bax their second stakes wins on the card thanks to his popular score in the third division.

The son of Muscle Mass-Danish Darby got away third early and watched Airborne sail through early fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.4. Darbyshire tracked cover around the final turn, and when MacDonald cut him loose in the lane the colt responded with a :28.1 closing quarter which earned him the 1-1/4 length triumph over Floyd The Freak in 1:58.2. Beacon Beach was third.

Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Darbyshire bettered his rookie record to 3-0-0 from four starts for Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, Goin To The Show Stable and Happy Trails Stables.

MacDonald nabbed the Grassroots triple thanks to a handy score in the final division with the popular Nothingbutadreamer.

The Harry Poulton pupil shot to the top from Post 8 and sliced his way through fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.1. He then used a :28.2 closing panel to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Take On Me in 1:57.3. Watch A Pro grabbed the show dough.

The son of Muscle Mass-Myimpossibledream has racked up three wins from just five trips postward this season, and all three of them were taken against Grassroots company. Thestable Nothinbutadremr of Guelph , Ont. owns the career winner of $34,500.
The harmful algae blooms are growing at Lake Anna.

The most recent test samples, taken Aug. 2, detected unsafe levels of harmful algae at eight locations in the North Anna, Pamunkey branches and at Lake Anna State Park beach, according to a news release by the Virginia Department of Health.

The health department has now issued no-swim advisories for portions of the Pamunkey Branch, North Anna Branch, Lake Anna State Park beach and the main branch of Lake Anna from the Splits to the confluence of Pigeon Run above Route 208 in Orange, Louisa and Spotsylvania counties.

Some harmful algae blooms are a cyanobacteria that can cause skin rashes, stomach illness, vomiting and diarrhea.

People are advised to stay out of water that smells bad, looks discolored or has foam, scum or algal mats on the surface. The water isnt safe for pets, either. Water with red, green or white streaks should be avoided. Boating in algae-infested waters is safe, but experts advise against any activity that risks ingesting water, such as swimming.

Authorities issued the summers first harmful algae bloom advisories in July for the northern side of Lake Anna.

This is the fifth summer the blooms have spread in Lake Anna and resulted in no-swim advisories for parts of the popular 13,000-acre, man-made lake, which cools the Dominion Virginia Energy North Anna nuclear power plant and is surrounded by hundreds of homes.

The Lake Anna Civic Association is working to address the harmful algae with its Cyanobacteria Mitigation Program, which will use BlueGreen Water Technologies treatment to target harmful algae without harming other life forms or leaving any chemical trace in the water.
The neo-Nazi torch rally on Aug. 11, 2017 shook Charlottesville and the entire nation, but perhaps no single institution was as affected by the rally as the University of Virginia.

Recognized as one of the top universities in the country, UVa and it loyal alumni and supporters have long guarded its reputation. Honor and good citizenship are strongly held ideals. Supporters and others across the land were stunned by the images of torch-carriers on the Lawn and in front of founder Thomas Jeffersons statue, with many taking it as a personal affront.

But even more than a reputation to protect, UVa has students, professors, workers and others to protect. An extensive report released in November, 2017 said that the university had been slow to respond.

Former federal prosecutor Tim Heaphy, who headed the investigation and later became lead counsel for the university, said the University Police Department ignored information about the rally as well as offers of aid. In turn, that led to a volatile, inflamed atmosphere that continued into the tragic events on Aug. 12.

There was ample notice of the Friday night torch-lit event to university officials, Heaphy said at a news conference announcing the reports result in late November 2017. They knew perhaps days in advance and perhaps early in the day on Friday, that there would be some sort of event by the white nationalists that were coming to the Unite the Right rally.

Some activists were particularly upset that their warnings went unheeded.

I called it in, the mayors wife called it in and students called it in, said Jalane Schmidt, who is also a professor at UVa. They called us hand-waving leftists for using the F-word: fascist.

UVa has since worked to create a safer and more inclusive future with all of its students and faculty in mind. And while many changes have been made, many people believe there is need to do more.

Limits on LawnTeresa Sullivan, who was UVa president at the time, immediately formed a working group to review all of the Universitys policies to see where it could have handled the situation differently. The group made several suggestions.

Since that time, UVa updated its open flame policy to make it enforceable by security officials; the Lawn is now a facility, allowing for more safety measures like regulating the use of firearms; and adjusted its time, place and manner restrictions, which required University outsiders to apply for permission to hold a speech event at least one week in advance with a two-hour time limit, only during week days between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., while keeping participants to a 50-person maximum.

Sullivan said she had done everything she could before the rally to thwart any violence. For example, after the Ku Klux Klan had held a rally in Charlottesville in July, 2017, Sullivan consulted with the Southern Poverty Law Center for the best course of action.

After learning that many white supremacist groups are looking to create a media event, she decided she would give the media some good news instead.

Sullivan organized an extensive teach-in at Alderman Library for Aug. 12, 2017. The family-friendly event was set to include several classes on different topics, exercises and film sessions to prevent people from going downtown, as many people routinely do on a Saturday afternoon.

Part of the goal, she said, was in keeping with UVas distance itself from groups with harmful ideologies that target large populations within the UVa community.

The measures did not work, to Sullivans deep regret.

I wish Heather Heyer were alive today. I wish those state troopers were alive today. Its an eternal grief, Sullivan said. I did my best to try and ameliorate the bad effects of it and, as it turned out, it didnt work. There are still bad things that happen. January 6 was like post-traumatic stress for me. I just couldnt believe it all over again.

Recognizing the enslaved

As a part of its goal to create more visibility for minority groups on Grounds, Sullivan approved plans proposed by the Deans Working Group to construct the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers located on Central Grounds.

The collective administrations and University faculty also have been developing plans and policies to repel the hateful ideologies that targeted people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and Jewish people.

UVa President Jim Ryan is adamant that his 2030 plan, crafted upon his arrival in 2018, will propel the University into a future worthy of its foundational ideals.

This is a university based on certain ideas. They werent fully realized when they were articulated, but they remain captivating and compelling, Ryan said. The way that you change that is by moving closer to the values and ideals that were expressed, in some cases, two centuries ago  expanding the We in We the People.

Ryans 2030 plan emphasizes strategic goals to increase cultural diversity among both faculty and staff as a part of strengthening its foundation. The SuccessUVA initiative, for example, is the expansion of the Universitys financial aid program in an effort to bring more low-to-middle income, minority, first-generation and underrepresented students into the fold.

The initiative includes construction of a new Health and Wellness Center, a new Contemplative Sciences Center and an expanded Multicultural Student Center to support an increasingly diverse student body with a variety of needs.

Public safety changes

Associate Vice President of Safety and Security and Chief of Police Tim Longo, who took his local law enforcement post in the fall immediately after the rally, had a goal to create more synergy between the UVa, Charlottesville and Albemarle County police departments.

As the former Charlottesville Chief of Police, Longo regards this alliance as a positive and necessary change for the future of safety at UVa.

Its essentially important when we have largescale events, whether they be spontaneous demonstration by a student body, civic group or an organized demonstration to a ballgame, Longo said. What I think the University has done well is had the foresight to know it makes sense to bring all those assets into one place.

The University increased the presence of ambassadors and doubled up on Lawn security, Longo said. Donning bright yellow shirts, the unarmed ambassadors are UVas first line of defense and report suspicious or dangerous activity to Chief Longo, rather than intervening.

A gentle middle ground between security guards and police officers, the ambassadors create a sense of heightened awareness and protection for students, parents, faculty and visitors alike, Longo said.

Although the group has not met in about a year, the UVa Student Councils University Police Accountability Board facilitates collaboration, communication and transparency between the student body, the University Police Department and other safety and security officials at UVa.

When I first got here, there were actually faculty and staff members within that group as well, Longo said. I always envision that as, not just a mechanism for oversight and accountability and asking questions, but also input on safety measures or preventative actions. More than its ever been, its always that balance between individual rights and governmental responsibilities to create safe environments.

Executive vice president and chief operating officer at UVa, J.J. Davis, has a safety insecurity committee that is a cross-section of people representing different positions and experiences on Grounds, including student representatives. The committee meets once a month to discuss issues within the University on, both, broad and specific scales.

Even with the policy and committee developments since 2017, students would like to see more intentional action from the University.

Student body president Cecilia Cain, a Black rising fourth year at UVa, sat on the University Police Accountability Board but said she did not find it effective. Cain said she is looking toward a new future of policing on Grounds.

Im hoping to work with UPD this year, Cain said. Removing university police from mental health crises, instead, having trained counselors and EMTs as a part of that system is something weve been working on. I think a really good way to reimagine public safety is to divert funding from police and into different types of public safety, such as mental health professionals.

While UVa is making plenty of progress in culturally diversifying the student body and instituting anti-racist hiring practices, students would still like to see a more vocal and firm stances on the kinds of speech that are institutionally protected.

The University has come a long way since Aug. 11 and 12, 2017, but there is still much work to be done, many believe. Aligning the experience that forced students into a head-on confrontation with hate and racism with the truth about what happened that weekend is one major step toward smoothing tensions among the UVA community.

This is a place with a very deeply rooted, dark history, and without doing the work that we need to confront that and change current conditions, manifestations of that racist history will happen, Cain said.

On Aug. 11, UVa is hosting a moment of silence during the noon chimes, followed by an extended ringing of the University Chapel bells. Anyone under the sound of the bells may participate. Also on Aug. 11, the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy and the UVa Jewish Studies Program is hosting The Legacy of Charlottesville, A Fifth-Anniversary Conversation About Law and Democracy in America on Zoom from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To register for the Zoom conversation, click here.
Of all U.S. cities and hamlets, Charlottesville was just listed as one of the two dozen best places to live in the country in Livability.coms Top 100.

But former public housing resident Gloria Beard thinks that ranking is for the wealthy white residents in town, not for people like her.

Beard, who is Black and has lived in Charlottesville since 1974, owns her own home but has seen housing costs rise to unrecognizable numbers. According to a report released by the Charlottesville Association of Realtors last week, the median home cost in the city during the second quarter was $464,000. Across the country, the median home cost is $440,300, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve.

After living in Friendship Court public housing for several years, Beard was able to own her own home in the 10th and Page neighborhood through a city program in 1995 that aimed to help lower income individuals achieve home ownership.

Now Beard feels gentrification pressure after the Dairy Market office, residential and commercial complex was built next to the 10th and Page neighborhood, and taxes and housing prices have skyrocketed.

Beard said she would not be able to afford to rent an apartment in town should she decide to sell and take her equity.

Every year Charlottesville is on a list of best places to live, but its not that way for the poor, the elderly, or people of color, Beard said. If I sold my home, I couldnt afford to live in these apartments here. I dont know where low-income people are supposed to go.

In many ways, the shortage of affordable housing in Charlottesville is the ultimate structural problem. Not only do low-income people struggle to find affordable homes to rent, they are often forever shut out of the wealth-building process that occurs when people can buy their own homes.

After the events of Aug. 11 and 12, 2017, activists and many lower-income Black residents and others wondered: What will it take to honor all peoples dreams of having a home they can afford and feel safe in?

Doors closed for too long

Its a question thats been at the front of City Council campaigns, University of Virginia community committees and housing activist marches and rhetoric since the aftermath of the August 2017 rally.

The event has made city officials more aware of systemic race and equity issues and they pledged to address a legacy of racism-through-zoning, but ran up against decades of unfair housing practices and a shortage of affordable housing.

According to a 2021 report from the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, in urban areas including Charlottesville only 29% of Black households own their own home, compared to 55% of white households. About 31% of Asian and Hispanic households own their own homes.

A 2022 study conducted by the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless found that homelessness rates are up in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, with 41% of the unhoused being Black. Thats more than double the percentage of Black people who live in the area.

The shortage of affordable housing and the lagging home ownership rates for Black people stems from years of restrictive covenants that kept them from buying homes, combined with the razing of neighborhoods such as Vinegar Hill and Gospel Hill during urban renewal in the 1960s and 1970s.

Organizations such as Legal Aid Justice Center have asked the city to make real efforts to eradicate institutional racism by significantly improving the lives of low-income people.

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the murder and the attacks in Charlottesville in 2017 sort of laid bare for us as a nation what racism still looks like and feels like in America, said Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward.

Race Forward runs the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, which works with local governments across the country to achieve racial equity.

I have likened the events of 2017 to a bell that continues to reverberate. And it obviously is not as loud now as it was five years ago, but the reverberations are still there, Charlottesville Mayor Lloyd Snook said.

A social awakening

Calls for change led to discussions of equity in government spaces that rarely occurred before. While the concerns were not new to racial justice activists, the events of Unite the Right forced open the eyes of a lot of government officials.

Aug. 12 was really a wake-up call saying, well, actually, weve got a lot of work to do, said Lyle Solla-Yates, chair of the Charlottesville Planning Commission.

The citys comprehensive plan and zoning code update, in process prior to 2017, became part of the effort for finding equity in housing. Solla-Yates said many of the people involved thought it would be a simple, basic revision but Charlottesville residents and officials began to look at housing and land use through the lens of equity.

Immediately after the attack, there were people who were sitting outside on the Downtown Mall, having a lovely meal, like nothing had happened. And there were other people who were super traumatized and really freaked out. Like what does this mean? How do we do better? How do we become better? I was one of those people, Solla-Yates said.

Activists and community members got louder about government boards and commissions not remedying the affordable housing crisis. Solla-Yates recalled City Council and Planning Commission meetings being shut down, and activists holding signs that read there is blood on your hands.

The city hired a consulting firm to review neighborhoods based on equity issues and, five years later, approved a revised Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map in November that includes a specific Affordable Housing Plan.

While it is not a zoning ordinance, the plan is a framework for what zoning should be allowed in the future and is one of the first substantial steps the city has taken to address the equity. There are many more steps to take as the pattern of limiting Black ownership of property goes back more than 100 years.

Historical racism

For most of the 20th Century, Charlottesville was not only segregated by state laws developed to keep the races separate but deed restrictions and bank lending practices that determined where Black people, white people and others could buy property.

Jordy Yager, a researcher with the Jefferson School African American Heritage Centers Mapping Cville project, said racial covenants in Charlottesville can be traced back to early 1890. Racial covenants were a racist practice between a buyer and a home seller that implemented a clause in the deed prohibiting Black families and other minorities from ever living there.

Those clauses are now illegal, but they have not entirely disappeared.

Now we have a lot of other ways to stipulate who can and cant live or do certain things on property. Stipulating things based on residential use or business use, stipulating that certain types of business can be conducted on a place, these are all the zoning laws that are being examined. Those are in essence the same, Yager said.

The comprehensive plan and Future Land Use Map aimed to address the issues. Passed unanimously by the Planning Commission and City Council, FLUM, as it came to be called, was vehemently opposed by many community members who live in single-family home neighborhoods.

The city is undergoing the formal zoning rewrite for the plan, which can make concrete changes, and is collecting input now.

I think [the zoning rewrite] is a real chance to take sweeping action that isnt just addressing the symptoms, but really is creating change. But I think we also know that many homeowners and property owners in Charlottesville, largely wealthy and white, will do all they can to prevent zoning changes in their neighborhood, said Elizabeth Stark, co-chair of the Charlottesville area chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which is researching the impact of evictions and housing affordability in the region.

For months, dozens of people voiced their opposition to the revised Future Land Use Map and zoning rewrite at City Council meetings, and Cville Plans Together representatives said they got thousands of pieces of feedback. Many of those who were vocal were wealthier white homeowners in single family homes.

Zoning is only part of the battle. Affordable apartments and houses need to go up, and rents need to come down, community members and activists say.

Affordable housing has become a key hot topic in the city budget. Snook pointed out the city has put $10 million toward affordable housing in this years budget, and is renovating the Friendship Court public housing complex.

I applaud the people, the activists who showed up every single city council meeting until one in the morning, advocating for more funding, said Elaine Poon, deputy director of advocacy for the Legal Aid Justice Center. Within the first few years after 2017, we hit historic levels of funding for affordable housing, and theres no denying that we started the first city voucher program in Charlottesville. That has been a huge success. Is it enough? No.

Other community members and organizations agree. They question if enough is being done, including maintenance of public housing and creation of affordable housing.

I blame City Council. They could be doing better, Beard said. People dont see it. Because they dont have to live like that, they dont see whats going on.

Beard pointed to a broken elevator at Midway Manor, a public housing complex for elderly and disabled, as an example. It wasnt until residents lobbied City Council and the city manager that the elevator was fixed. It was inoperable from July 2020 till April 2022.

It makes me feel like people just want low-income people to get out, and the elderly as well, Beard said.

Frank Walker, who grew up in the old Vinegar Hill neighborhood and is now a local artist, said he doesnt think any of the citys actions post-August 2017 have helped marginalized people build generational wealth. Home ownership allows people to bequeath their homes to their heirs upon death, allowing wealth accumulation over the decades. Black people have historically lagged far behind white people in this type of wealth-building when they cant afford to buy a home.

How do you accumulate wealth by charging $1,200 to $1,500 for a single bedroom apartment? [Thats] not fair housing. What is that? If white investors come here and build apartment buildings and minorities cant afford to live in them, its not affordable housing, Walker said.

Community members and activists are concerned that tangible affordable housing hasnt actually been built.

What once seemed like a major reckoning with the effects of institutional racism and white privilege, has back slid toward the status quo for Charlottesville white liberal elites, Stark said. I think the lack of affordable housing thats been built in the wake of Unite the Right shows that it was lip service all along.

Poon, of the Legal Aid Justice Center, said she wishes community members and organizations didnt have to continually remind the city of its commitment to affordable housing.

We have to remind them pretty regularly to uphold that [$10 million affordable housing fund] each time budget time comes around, and people kind of hem and haw about what we can afford, despite being one of the richest towns in the region, Poon said.

City takes a few stepsSnook, meanwhile, said one of the substantive changes hes most proud of is the addition of a dedicated staff member to tackle diversity and equity issues. Ashley Reynolds Marshall was hired as Charlottesvilles first ever Deputy City Manager for Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in May 2021.

For local government, equity can look like how we think about snow plows, how we think about public pools and park maintenance. How do we think about curb cuts and sidewalks? How do we think about language? Can anyone come in City Hall and be able to do business easily? Can you physically come in if youre differently abled? If English is your second language, can we still support you? Marshall said.

Glenn Harris said when he works with local governments to be more equitable, he encourages them to focus also on seemingly small changes that can make a big impact.

Its easy to imagine that government is just elected officials, but its also people like your sanitation workers, the people who maintain your local parks. And their understanding and ability to engage with these questions makes a huge difference, because theyre implementing these changes day in and day out, Harris said.

Marshall cited the work and persistence of community members in being vital to the local government making changes.

[We want] to make sure that people have an opportunity now to say what they would like and it may be very similar to what they wanted after 2017. They may have some additional needs, and we want to make sure were not ignoring those additional needs either, Marshall said.
Nebraska is experiencing terrific growth. Weve seen big success creating jobs, cutting taxes, and attracting investment to our state.

This week, Im hosting Nebraskas Ag and Economic Development Summit in Kearney. The Summit convenes key leaders from across the state to discuss how to build on our strong momentum. Over the course of the Summit, well dive into the challenges and opportunities we face as a state. Some topics are familiar: developing our workforce, opening new markets for Nebraskas exports, and growing value-added agriculture. Others are newer, such as dealing with the supply chain issues that have disrupted the flow of commerce over the past year. I look forward to gathering together to look at where weve been, what weve weathered, and how much Nebraska has grown.

Our states growth over the past year has been truly remarkable. Nebraska has enjoyed 12 consecutive months of record-high employment. There are now 24,700 more Nebraskans employed in our workforce than there were before the pandemic began. Manufacturing employment in Nebraska is at its highest point in over 14 years.

While generating jobs, weve successfully controlled state spending to deliver tax relief. Over the past eight years, weve dramatically reduced the rate of state spending growthlimiting it to 2.8% annually. During that same time, we delivered $12.7 billion of tax relief to Nebraskans. This years historic tax package (LB 873) will provide 12 times the amount of tax relief of any tax relief bill passed in any prior administration.

The changes to our tax code also make us more competitive for businesses looking for places to grow. This year, weve already seen major investments in communities across Nebraska. Here are just some of the examples:

January: Ag Processing announced it will build a major soybean processing plant in David City with capacity to process over 50 million bushels per year.

February: Norfolk Crush unveiled plans to build a $375 million soybean crushing plant near Norfolk that will process 38.5 million bushels per year.

March: Preferred Popcorn began production at a 123,000 sq. ft. facility in Waco. The company is a key driver of our nation-leading popcorn production.

April: Google announced a $750 million investment in Papillion/Omaha.

May: 3M announced a $58 million expansion in Valley to bolster manufacturing of respiratory and hearing protection products.

June: Duncan Aviation held a groundbreaking ceremony for its $38 million expansion in Lincoln. The project is expected to create up to 75 jobs.

July: Monolith Materials announced $300+ million of private investment as it scales up production at its existing facility in Hallam, constructs another plant to manufacture carbon-free ammonia, and develops new technologies.

August: Last week, Clean Harbors said it expects to spend over $50 million in Kimball this year as part of a $180 million investment to double its capacity to incinerate waste materials in Nebraska. The expansion is creating 100 full-time jobs.

As established businesses grow in Nebraska, entrepreneurship is also strong. Last year, Nebraska attracted an all-time high of $317.6 million in venture capital. That more than doubled our states previous high of $153 million in 2018.

Small businesses are growing in the Good Life, too. Weve worked to help our Main Street businesses access the infrastructure and workforce they need to thrive. Were building rural broadband in Nebraska to expand access to high-speed Internet. Weve developed a talent pipeline through programs like the Developing Youth Talent Initiative, high school career academies, registered apprenticeships, and Nebraska Career Scholarships. Were also investing in affordable housing to increase inventories of high-quality, reasonably priced homes.

These investments are helping our small businesses succeed. In its latest Small Business Empowerment Report, Amazon reported that Nebraska vendors who sell through Amazons online store have had the fastest year-over-year retail growth in the nation at 60%. In federal fiscal year 2021, Nebraskas lending institutions helped the Small Business Administration break its previous record of regular program loans in Nebraska at $244 million. This lending activity was $80 million more than the previous record set in 2011, which is a great sign of small business growth.

Our states largest industry, agriculture, has been the engine of Nebraskas growth. Our beef exports for 2021at $1.81 billionsurpassed our previous annual high by 25%. Our top crops had great years in 2021, too. We set records for both soybean and corn production with 1.85 billion bushels of corn and 351 million bushels of soybeans.

Nebraska beef brought in $11.35 billion in cash receipts in 2021, up 18% from 2020.

With all of this growth, Nebraska is shattering records for state revenue receipts. State revenues exceeded projections by over 30% last fiscal year, bringing in $1.47 billion more than expected.

The states rainy day fund is at an all-time high of $1.69 billion. This sets up the next Legislature to build on the historic tax relief we delivered to Nebraskans in 2022.

By pulling together as a state, weve powered through floods, wildfires, and a global pandemic with one of the strongest and most resilient economies in the country. As we hold our Summit this week, I want to thank our states ag and economic development leaders for their dedication to grow the Good Life.

They personally contact industry leaders to encourage investment in Nebraska. They host business prospects and international trade officials. They provide hospitality at Husker Harvest Days to showcase our world-class agricultural equipment and technology. They tell Nebraskas story on trade missions. Theyre our greatest ambassadors. And we wouldnt be enjoying the growth weve seen without their tireless work.

If you have questions about the States work to support Nebraska agriculture and spur economic growth, please contact me at pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov or 402-471-2244.
The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" on Wednesday.

The white paper was released to reiterate the fact that Taiwan is part of China, to demonstrate the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people and their commitment to national reunification, and to emphasize the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era.

Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence, according to the white paper.

The UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is a political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide, says the white paper.

The one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community; it is consistent with the basic norms of international relations, says the white paper.

"We are one China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable," says the white paper.

The CPC is committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification. Under its resolute leadership, people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have worked together to de-escalate tension across the Straits. They have set out on a path of peaceful development and made many breakthroughs in improving cross-Straits relations, according to the white paper.

Under the guidance of the CPC, great progress has been made in cross-Straits relations over the past seven decades, especially since the estrangement between the two sides was ended. Increased exchanges, broader cooperation and closer interactions have brought tangible benefits to people across the Straits, especially of Taiwan. This fully demonstrates that cross-Straits amity and cooperation are mutually beneficial, says the white paper.

"The realization of complete national reunification is driven by the history and culture of the Chinese nation and determined by the momentum towards and circumstances surrounding our national rejuvenation. Never before have we been so close to, confident in, and capable of achieving the goal of national rejuvenation. The same is true when it comes to our goal of complete national reunification," says the white paper.

China's development and progress -- in particular, the great achievements over four decades of reform, opening up and modernization -- have had a profound impact on the historical process of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing complete national reunification, according to the white paper.

The actions of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have resulted in tension in cross-Straits relations, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and undermining the prospects and restricting the space for peaceful reunification. These are obstacles that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification, says the white paper.

External forces have encouraged and instigated provocative actions by the separatist forces; these have intensified cross-Straits tension and confrontation, and undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. This runs counter to the underlying global trends of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and goes against the wishes of the international community and the aspiration of all peoples, says the white paper.

Relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan's separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. The wheel of history rolls on towards national reunification, and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force, says the white paper.

Peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification. Embodying the Chinese wisdom -- we thrive by embracing each other -- they take full account of Taiwan's realities and are conducive to long-term stability in Taiwan after reunification, according to the white paper.

"To realize peaceful reunification, we must acknowledge that the mainland and Taiwan have their own distinct social systems and ideologies. The 'one country, two systems' principle is the most inclusive solution to this problem. It is an approach that is grounded in democratic principles, demonstrates good will, seeks peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question, and delivers mutual benefit. The differences in social system are neither an obstacle to reunification nor a justification for secessionism," says the white paper.

"We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification; but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form," it says.

"We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances," it adds.

The future of Taiwan lies in China's reunification, and the wellbeing of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "We will join hands with our fellow Chinese in Taiwan to strive for national reunification and rejuvenation," says the white paper.

Once peaceful reunification is achieved under "one country, two systems," it will lay new foundations for China to make further progress and achieve national rejuvenation. At the same time, it will create huge opportunities for social and economic development in Taiwan and bring tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan, it says.

Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole, says the white paper.
The Mooresville Police Department is investigating an armed robbery at a vape and tobacco shop Sunday.

Around 1:35 p.m., police responded to the Hope 1 Tobacco and Vape Shop at 1355 Shearers Road at the Rocky River Road Promenade Shopping Center.

Employees of the shop told police that a man entered and left the store several times. When he came in the last time, he took a handgun from his waistband, pointed it at an employee and demanded the employee empty the register. He left the store after getting the money, police said in a news release.

The robber was described as white, about 5-feet-7 to 5-feet-8 inches tall, about 30 years old with blue eyes. He was wearing jeans, a light blue button up shirt over a white shirt, a grey Atlanta Braves hat with sunglasses on top and a blue surgical face mask. Security footage from the shopping center showed he appeared to be driving a black Ford Explorer.

Anyone with any information about the robbery or suspect is asked to calll Detective Saladino with the Mooresville Police Department at 704-658-9023.
A look around American Legion Post 65 might not show anything that bears Sammy Deals name.

But, said Benny Wilhelm, theres very little at the post building that is not directly related to Deals dedication.

The front gate, he put it up, Wilhelm said. The back gate, he put it up. Wilhelm recited several other instances of Deals work at the post building on Salisbury Road.

Hes a true blessing to the post, said Chuck Spangler.

Like most of the post members, Deal doesnt volunteer his services for recognition, but they made sure Deal was honored Monday night. Deal was honored as the Hurst Turner Post 65 Legionnaire of the Year.

Wilhelm said he and Deal are a part of the 70 group. Everybody in it is over 70, he said.

Wilhelm said he and Deal have been friends for many years, and in that time hes learned that Deal is a dedicated man who quietly does whatever is needed around the post and the community.

Im glad to have him as a friend, he said. Hes a great guy. I think the world of Sammy.

Post Commander Kenny Wallace also offered praise for Deal, and said that he helps around the post without fanfare.

He doesnt look to do something for recognition, he said.

Deal, in the same unassuming manner he goes about his life, expressed his appreciation for the award.

I appreciate everything people do for me, he said. I like to give back.

The post also paid tribute to another man whose contribution might not seem that big, but it eases the burden on the other members. James Bartlett was honored for keeping the grounds at the post building mowed and landscaped. Bartlett, Wallace said, does the mowing on the post grounds at no charge.

He uses his own lawn mower, his own gas, Wallace said.

The post members also heard from Mike Satterfield concerning a program he co-founded, Wreaths for Veterans. The program is an offshoot of the nationwide Wreaths Across America, which places wreaths on the graves of veterans.

Satterfield said the goal of Wreaths for Veterans is to put a wreath on the grave of every veteran in North Carolina.

He said his inspiration for Wreaths for Veterans came nearly four years ago when he was visiting the National Cemetery Annex in Salisbury to place a wreath. A young child, a little girl, asked him why her grandfathers grave didnt have a wreath. Satterfield said he gave the girl his wreath and decided to make sure that didnt happen to another veteran.

Wreaths for Veterans was born, and although COVID-19 put a crimp in the groups mission in 2020, but it came back in 2021 and is planning for putting more wreaths on graves in December.

We want to pay homage and honor, he said.
Jadyn Dixon, a student at South Iredell High School, completed the intensive, eight-week U.S. Navy Summer Flight Academy aviation program at Delaware State University in Dover, Delaware, receiving her FAA private pilots license and five college credits.

The program took place from June 12-Aug. 5.

Dixon was one of just 20 high-performing 11th and 12th graders throughout the U.S. selected for the program, which was established in 2021 by Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, commander, Naval Air Forces, to increase diversity in naval aviation.

The Navy partners with select universities throughout the country to provide the flight training to the participating students. The cost of the program is about $24,000 per student, but is offered at no cost or obligation to participants.

The Department of the Navy sponsors the program for students participating in Navy and Marine Corps Junior ROTC. The program is a new STEM initiative that was selected for funding by the Naval STEM Coordination Office, which oversees investments in STEM education, outreach and workforce initiatives.

The goal of the scholarship program is to expose exceptional minority students to a career path that currently lacks diversity, says Cmdr. Chris Frozone Williams, a Navy fighter pilot, instructor and former director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Whitesells command. Jadyn Dixon has what it takes to be a leader in the field of aviation, and the Navy is honored to have played a part in her personal and professional journey.

During the Summer Flight Academy, she also passed the Federal Aviation Administrations written exam and completed 42.6 hours of flight time, including multiple solo flights.
Two students from the Smyth Career & Technology Center competed in state and national competition this past spring as part of the SkillsUSA program.

State competition took pace in April at Virginia Beach, and nationals were held in June in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ethan Medley, a 2022 graduate of Marion Senior High, ranked 1st in state and 9th in nationals in industrial motor control.

Joey Widener, a 2022 graduate of Chilhowie High, ranked 1st in state and 13th in nationals in telecommunications cabling.

From district to state to national is like daylight to dark, said Andy Hunt, instructor at SCTC when talking about the level of competition. State was one day of competition while national contests lasted two to three days.

The level is dramatically up for national, much more intense, he said.

A former SCTC student himself, this is Hunts 10th year of teaching. He is an electrician by trade and an adjunct professor at Virginia Highlands Community College.

The dual-enrollment electricity program at SCTC offers 16 college credits in electrical technology that includes a certificate from Virginia Highlands Community College. Hunt said 2022 was the first time SCTC students had walked across the community college stage before their high school graduation.

Hunt has taken his SCTC electrical program students to district and state competition since 2014 - minus 2020 during the pandemic and virtually in 2021 - for competitions in basic electronics, construction wiring, industrial motor control and telecommunications cabling. Students have written and hands-on competition categories. This was his fourth trip to national competition but the first time for these two particular categories.

The national competition was a lot more intense than state, agreed both Medley and Widener.

There were a lot more people, Medley said. Ive never seen that many in one place before.

It was a totally different atmosphere, said Widener. Thousands of people. Very intense. A lot of energy.

Both students commented on the advanced equipment used during the competition.

Its like we were at a factory that was really up to date, Medley said.

It surprised me because everything they had was the latest and greatest equipment, Widener said.

Hunt said he was proud of his students for their efforts at national competition and earning college credits while still in high school through the dual-enrollment program.

Both Medley and Widener are working at jobs but Widener said he wants to finish college before working full-time.

Widener has an interest in working in telecommunications cabling for a company like Comcast. He became interested in this field when his family would have Internet trouble and he wanted to learn how to fix it. He said he basically taught himself and then found a career path through SCTC.

Mr. Hunt had never had anyone else interested in telecommunications cabling, Widener said. He was the first to study it and went all the way to national competition.

Im just in shock I made it, Widener said. Representing the state and county and the school made me proud. It made all my family proud.

They never lost faith in me, he said about his studies and his support. Thats the main thing. I had good training.

Medley said he enjoyed the national competition in industrial motor control.

It seemed more advanced. I like to take on challenges, he said. It seemed fun to me. Electricity has always interested me. Mr. Hunt taught us the basics of how electricity works.

Medley is working with broadband right now and said he would like to eventually be on an electric repair crew responding to disasters that disrupt electric service. Someday he would like to be a foreman on a crew.

Hunt said there was competition in home installation or Smart houses at national competition, but SCTC doesnt currently have a class for that. He said he wouldnt look for that to be a class by itself but the training could be integrated into current curriculum.

SkillsUSA is a nonprofit national education association, serving middle-school, high-school and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service (including health) occupations. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

SkillsUSA serves more than 372,000 students and instructors annually. This includes nearly 21,000 instructors who join as professional members. Including alumni, SkillsUSA membership totals more than 435,000. SkillsUSA has served more than 13.6 million annual members cumulatively since 1965.
Joseph Johnson Jr. died last Thursday, but the Gentleman from Hayters Gaps legacy will live on in much of Southwest Virginia.

Best known as Joe Johnson, the longtime state legislator represented parts of Smyth and Washington counties and Bristol, Va., in the House of Delegates. He became the ranking Democrat on the influential legislative Courts and Justice and Finance committees. As a ranking member of the two panels, he had direct access to the governor.

That power didnt go to Johnsons head.

Friday, Marion Mayor David Helms remembered, He didnt forget where he came from.

In 2009, Johnson told the News & Messenger, Im in a position to represent the peoples views as I see here in this district.

On issues big and small, Helms said Johnson was always working behind the scenes for the good of Southwest Virginia.

Charlie Atkins, Smyth County Board of Supervisors chair, spoke to Johnson and his staff frequently when he served as the countys chief financial officer.

Atkins said Johnson never said no, but always responded, Well work it out.

Of Johnsons death, Atkins said, We lost a good one. He was for Southwest Virginia.

A Korean War veteran, Johnson, who served as an attorney and judge, was ahead of time in fighting for peoples needs.

More than a decade before the commonwealths mental health system hit the crisis state of recent years, Johnson was talking about the importance of bolstering it. He was always an advocate for education.

In the 2009 interview, he said, I am always interested in education and in people with mental disabilities, to do all that I can to help those that cannot speak for themselves, I want to be at the table to speak for them, he said. Transportation, economic development, law enforcement, sure theyre important, but education in this state is cheap and we need to do better. We need to provide funds for those that cant continue their education. We need to make life more comfortable for those that arent able to help themselves.

A graduate of and advocate for Emory & Henry, the college acknowledged Johnsons loss Friday, saying he provided enormous leadership to the region, state and his alma mater, Emory & Henry College, through a lifetime of service.

Johnson served on E&Hs Board of Trustees for 14 years, eight of which he was board chair.

In appreciation for his leadership as chair of the Board for the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center and for his support of higher education, its grand hall is named in his honor.

"The Emory & Henry family mourns the loss of former Delegate Joe Johnson, whose lifetime of service to this region, the commonwealth, and to his alma mater has inspired many. Delegate Johnson worked tirelessly, logging thousands of miles representing us in Richmond for years, and in his trademark way, shaking hands all along the way," said Dr. John W. Wells, E&H's president.

"Our hearts are heavy at this time, but our thoughts of the many ways in which Joe contributed to the betterment of Southwest Virginia and Emory & Henry shall be long remembered," Wells continued.

Johnson, a leader of the tobacco commission, could put faces with the results of his work. In 2010, at a Smyth County forum, he spoke of a man he knew who increased his income by $15,000 because the tobacco commission invested a $3,000 scholarship through which the man completed his education.

While Johnson worked for colleges, he also knew the importance of programs like 4-H.

When Virginia Tech proposed changing the Cooperative Extension program and its 4-H work, Johnson was clear in his opposition. To me the 4-H program is one of the most important we have in agriculture.

In a Facebook post, state Sen. Todd Pillion said, Johnson leaves behind a legacy and model of public service marked by kindness, sincerity, and dedication  one which will continue to inspire and challenge our community.

Chilhowie Town Manager John Clark also reflected on Johnsons kindness, observing, "I would say that Joe Johnson was the true definition of a Virginia gentleman. He was kind to everyone no matter what their station in life. He didn't look at it as a Republican or Democratic bill or issue, he judged an issue if it was good for Southwest Virginia. I never heard one person say an unkind thing about him. He will be missed. His generation is unfortunately leaving us."

Friday, House Speaker Todd Gilbert said in a formal statement, "Our friend and colleague, Joe Johnson, has passed. Joe, a true gentleman, was one of Southwest Virginias most dedicated public servants. A strong advocate for his community, Joe was one of the kindest, nicest men Ive ever met. I have no doubt that he has been reunited with his loving wife Ann, who left us just last month. I ask that all Virginians join me in prayer for his family at this difficult time."

Joe Johnson was 90 years old.

His family will receive friends on Friday, Aug. 12, from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Joseph P. Johnson, Jr. Grand Hall of the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center on the Virginia Highlands Community College campus in Abingdon. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at Abingdon Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Knollkreg Memorial Park.
Genealogical group meets

How to Utilize Family Search is Marie Armons topic at the Aug. 11 Zoom meeting of the Lower Columbia Genealogical Society.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. for announcements and visiting. Armons talk starts at 7 p.m.

The public is invited. To join the meeting, send an email request to lcgsgen@gmail.com.

Cruise on over to Delaware Plaza

The annual Cruizin to the Delaware car show takes place from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Delaware Plaza, 926 Delaware St., Longview.

All makes, models and years of vehicles are welcome.

The event includes a barbecue, raffles and music provided by Bad Motor Scooter.

For registration information call 360-423-3333 or send and email to LongviewCL@koelschsenior.com. Registration can be done by mail or upon arrival the day of the event ($25). Registration includes a dash plaque and swag bag while supplies last.

Clothing and supplies needed

Castle Rock resident Bill Ammons is collecting socks and underwear for children in need, along with school supplies.

Ammons noted in a voicemail that last year, approximately 14,000 pairs of socks were collected and this year he hopes the community will help to surpass that goal. In addition, underwear is a much-needed clothing item for children.

People who would like to donate are encouraged to call Ammons at 360-274-7811.

KHS class of 71 meets for lunch

Members of the Kelso High School class of 1971 will meet for lunch at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Kelso-Longview Elks Lodge No. 1482, 900 Ash St., Kelso.

All classmates and spouses or significant others are encouraged to attend.

For details, call Paula Radspinner Cooper at 360-751-3945.

Donate blood to Red Cross

The American Red Cross urges healthy people who have all types of blood to donate blood or platelets to ensure there is a stable blood supply available for patients during the upcoming holiday season.

A blood donor or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs at least 110 pounds and is in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

The schedule

Longview: 1-6 p.m. Aug. 16 and Aug. 24, Cowlitz PUD, 961 12th Ave.

Free dance at Kelso Elks lodge

A summer dance sponsored by the Harlequin Dance Club takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Kelso-Longview Elks lodge, 900 Ash St., Kelso.

The event is free and open to the public. People interested in attending do not have to be a member of the Elks or the dance club.

Music will be provided by DJ Terry West. Advance registration is not necessary. Dinner is not provided but people can call the Elks no later than Aug. 9 at 360-425-1482 to reserve the clubs steak dinner.

For details on the event, send an email to Vickie Rhodes at vrhodes1@msn.com or call/text 360-431-4738.

RAL class of 72

holds reunion

Members of the R.A. Long High School class of 1972 are holding their 50-year class reunion Aug. 19 and 20.

Classmates will meet from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 19 at Pie@trios, 614 Commerce Ave., Longview. The event is a no-host, pizza will be provided and donations will be accepted.

The festivities begin Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a tour of the school. Classmates are asked to meet in the front lobby.

At 4:30 p.m., members will meet to check in and for no-host cocktails at the Moose Lodge, 921 Washington Way, Longview.

A welcome and group photo take place at 6 p.m. and dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. with music and dancing.

For details, call Janet (Fugitt) Schultz at 360-425-3202 or Theresa (Schroeder) Ames at 360-560-7397.

Free in-person tax assistance

AARP tax aide volunteers will answer tax questions, help with letters received from the IRS and provide other income tax preparation help Aug. 13 and Sept. 17 at the Longview Public Library, 1600 Louisiana St., Longview.

Same-day appointments are available between noon and 2 p.m. on the dates above. People who want to use the services should show up and they will be provided a same-day appointment.

Taxpayers should bring all tax documents and IRS letters to their appointments. Masks are required.

Order fresh berries now

Kelso Lions Club members are offering fresh local raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and Columbia Star blackberries cleaned and individually quick frozen in 15-pound boxes (six 40-ounce bags).

The berries will be available for pickup between 9 a.m. and noon Aug. 20 in the Kelso-Longview Elks parking lot, 900 Ash St., Kelso.

The berries must be ordered and paid for in advance before Aug. 13.

The cost is $80 for the raspberries, $75 for the blackberries and $60 for the blueberries and strawberries.

For details or to order, call 360-577-6718, 360-673-2796 or visit www.e-clubhouse.org/sites/kelso/.

Play bingo every month

The public is invited to play bingo once a month. The next session starts at 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the 1414 Club, 1414 12th Ave., Longview.

Four rounds cost from 50 cents to $1. Winners can choose from an array of prizes, including cash.

For details, call 360-425-7260.

 The Daily News
Southwest Washington will have a new representative in Congress as Jaime Herrera Beutler concedes her third-place finish in the primary for Washingtons 3rd District.

Herrera Beutler trails fellow Republican Joe Kent by roughly 1,000 votes in the Aug. 2 primary results as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. The current results are a major shift in the race from this time last week, when Herrera Beutler led Kent by 5,000 in the initial tally from election night.

Though my campaign came up short this time, Im proud of all weve accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home, Herrera Beutler said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

Kent will face Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat from Skamania County who received the most votes of any candidate in the primary stage. Perez will emerge from the primary with 31.1% of the total votes, while Kent received 22.7% and Herrera Beutler received 22.3%.

Kent would immediately be seen as the favorite to win the seat in November, as Southwest Washington remains one of the states conservative bases after the redistricting process concluded earlier this year.

The tight margin adds more attention to the race between the incumbent six-term Congresswoman and Kent, her Donald Trump-endorsed challenger. Herrera Beutlers vote to impeach Trump following the Jan. 6 insurrection lost her significant local support and dominated the headlines for the primary.

I am relieved that I do not have to vote for Jaime Herrera Beutler ever again, said Christy Tseu, chair of the Cowlitz County Republican Party.

In her concession statement, Herrera Beutler only obliquely referred to the impeachment vote through a line about unexpected and difficult surprises she faced in Congress. But Im proud that I always told the truth, stuck to my principles, and did what I knew to be best for our country, Herrera Beutler said.

Kents campaign manager said he would not be doing local news interviews until after the election results are certified. Kent has been appearing on conservative media over the last few days, including Tucker Carlsons show on Fox News and a podcast hosted by Steve Bannon.

Surprises in Cowlitz County

The apparent comeback by Kent was fueled by large number of ballots submitted close to the election deadline, which made up the votes that were verified and counted over the last week.

The large number of late ballots caught Cowlitz County Auditor Carolyn Fundingsland by surprise. The county Elections Office had been on pace for a quiet turnout through the end of July but saw a flurry of both in-person voting and ballots left at drop boxes right before the deadline.

On that Monday and Tuesday of the election, our lobby was full. We had people that came in to register to vote and cast their ballot at 7:59 p.m. (on Tuesday), Fundingsland said.

Nearly 40% of the votes in Cowlitz County were cast either on Election Day or the Monday before.

Around 45% of eligible Cowlitz County voters cast a ballot in the primary election. Fundingsland said the number of challenged and rejected ballots would change that rate, but it would be the countys second-highest turnout rate for a primary in modern history, behind only the 2020 election.

Our norms in elections are no longer norms. Every election is different now, Fundingsland said. I actually think that the only typical norm that held true this election is those late return ballots seemed to be conservative ballots.

Tseu said the effort came from patriots that want to push for more in-person voting in Washington because of unspecified concerns about election security. Tseu said she had not heard about the idea until after the election but thought it looks like that is going to be the new trend.

All of the top four candidates are currently within 400 votes of each other in Cowlitz County. As of Monday afternoon, Herrera Beutler held an eight-vote lead over Perez at the top of the ballot in Cowlitz County, with Kent in third place.
Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday OKd moving ahead with a project to find an additional water source for when the creek supplying Ryderwoods water runs low.

The commissioners approved the agreement with RH2 Engineering to determine a reliable supplemental water source for a maximum of $50,000 in American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief funding.

Susan Eugenis, county engineer, said the retirement communitys main source of fresh incoming water, Campbell Creek, often gets close to running dry in the summer.

The project will include drilling a new well nearby the countys old, inoperable well, testing and monitoring through the spring to see if it is an adequate source of water, Eugenis said. The testing will focus on water volume because the county knows the water quality meets standards, she said. Cowlitz County has water rights in the area.

Eugenis said the project includes monitoring upstream Campbell Creek using gauges to see if there is another potential well location.

Once the report is complete next year, the county will move into the design phase, Eugenis said.

In August 2018, the flow of water through Campbell Creek completely dried up for multiple days. The creek ran dry because of a major lack of precipitation in Cowlitz County at the time, according to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Residents relied solely on the towns stored water reservoir until the next rainstorm.

The county was preparing to have water trucked over from Vader and poured into the Ryderwood reservoir during the 2018 shortage. Eugenis said the county has never had to truck in water, in part because Ryderwood residents have been good about conserving water when needed.

In 2021, the commissioners approved $150,000 for an investigation on the areas infiltration gallery, which collects groundwater, but the project never moved forward, Eugenis said.
Boeing has cleared a key hurdle with federal regulators and could soon resume deliveries of its large 787 airliner, which has been plagued by a series of production issues since late 2020, a person familiar with the matter said Saturday.

The Federal Aviation Administration notified Boeing on Friday that it would approve the companys process for validating fixes to each plane before they are delivered to airline customers, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that has not been publicly announced.

The FAA declined to comment and referred inquiries to Boeing. In a statement, Boeing said only, We will continue to work transparently with the FAA and our customers towards resuming 787 deliveries.

Approval to resume deliveries would be a boost for Boeing, which collects a big chunk of each planes purchase price at delivery. Boeing has accumulated a backlog of about 120 undelivered 787s. The plane, which Boeing calls the Dreamliner, lists at $248 million to $338 million depending on size, although airlines pay far less than sticker price.

Issues with the 787 started in 2020 when small gaps were found between panels of the fuselage that are made of carbon composite material. That prompted inspections that turned up problems with a pressurization bulkhead at the front of the plane.

Boeing also had to replace titanium parts including fasteners after it was discovered that the Italian supplier used alloys that did not meet FAA standards.

Boeing has maintained that none of the issues raised immediate safety concerns.

It is not clear how long it will take Boeing to deliver all 120 backlogged planes, which were built at factories in Washington state and South Carolina. Each one will need to be cleared by the FAA.

American Airlines expects to get its first two 787s in early August but isnt including them in the schedule until November, the airlines chief financial officer, Derek Kerr, said last week on a call to discuss quarterly earnings.

The FAA decision to approve Boeings retrofitting plan was first reported by Aviation Week.
VANCOUVER  A Clark County Superior Court jury on Tuesday acquitted Brent Luyster III of second-degree murder in the fatal May 2021 stabbing of his stepfather in Amboy.

Luyster, 18, became emotional after hearing the not-guilty verdict and looked as his attorney with surprise on his face.

After a final defense witness testified in the morning, the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments before the case went to the jury around 2 p.m. Jurors deliberated for nearly 2 hours before reaching the verdict.

Luyster, who took the stand Monday, claimed self-defense in the stabbing.

His defense attorney, Michele Michalek, described him to the jury as a scared little boy dealing with a brute man in a drunken rage attacking him with a stick.

Outside of the courtroom, Michalek said she was shocked by the verdict, but she thinks the jury saw Luyster was afraid during the incident. She said that after being in jail for more than a year, since his arrest in this case  in addition to his upbringing  he will need services to find his way in life.

Judge Suzan Clark said she wishes Luyster success and hopes to not see him in court again. Luyster apologized to the judge for his previous comments, including when he swore at her during his first appearance. Clark said she understands how emotions run high and doesnt hold that against him.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Jeff McCarty was not immediately available for comment on the verdict.

During his closing argument, McCarty said Luyster had no other intent than to kill Luther Moore, 48, when he stabbed him 11 times, puncturing his lungs, on May 23, 2021, at Moores apartment. He again noted the way Moores injuries differed in severity from Luysters injuries of a cut on his pinky finger and redness on his back. He said Moore was butchered while Luyster was barely hurt.

Sometimes an act just speaks for itself, McCarty said. When you plunge a knife into someones body cavity multiple times, you have no other intent than to kill that person.

Michalek questioned why Luyster would want to kill Moore; he viewed Moore as a father figure after Moore was married to his mother for about seven years. Luyster is the son and namesake of convicted triple-murderer Brent Luyster.

Michalek said the redness on the teens back showed he was trying to leave the apartment when Moore hit him with a broomstick.

Brent did what he did because he had to, Michalek said.

But McCarty questioned why Moore would try to kill Luyster after several people testified that the two loved each other.

Postmortem toxicology results found Moore had a blood-alcohol level of 0.22. McCarty said Luysters mother testified that her soon-to-be ex-husband could at times be a happy drunk.

McCarty also questioned Luysters testimony that Moore shouted at the top of his lungs that he was going to kill him, which McCarty said no neighbors heard. He also questioned the credibility of Luysters claims that he held onto his socks and his shoes while wrestling with Moore  knocking items over in the living room  and stabbing him multiple times.

The final witness to testify for the defense Tuesday morning was Dr. Megan Quinn, who performed the autopsy on Moores body while she was employed with the Clark County Medical Examiners Office. Quinn testified the trajectory of the stab wounds to Moores back that punctured his lungs was forward, right and upward.

Michalek told the jury the trajectory of the wounds could be consistent with Luysters testimony that Moore was on top of him when he stabbed him.

But McCarty noted that although Luyster had blood on his hands and arms, he had little on his clothes; Clark County Medical Examiner Dr. Martha Burt testified that those wounds would have bled profusely.

Michalek told the jury not to think with their hearts and let the brutality of the autopsy photos sway them to finding Luyster guilty.

Think with your head, she told the jury. If youre thinking with your head, youll come to the conclusion that Brent is not guilty.
The last solar storm had sparked a strong geomagnetic storm on Earth after it hit the magnetosphere.

Just a few days ago, a potentially disruptive sunspot had transmitted surprising strong solar winds towards Earth at a striking speed of 372 miles a second! According to space experts, this resulted in sparking a moderately strong G2-class geomagnetic storm on the Earth. A geomagnetic storm, a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere, occurs when there is a remarkably efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind in the direction of Earth.

According to the NOAA Space Weather Scale, a severe geomagnetic storm can even cause radio blackouts on Earth while impacting communication and electric grids. This G2-class geomagnetic storm did not cause any damage to infrastructure, it did result in dazzling colourful auroras all across Canada and the UK. The Space Weather Physicist Dr. Tamitha Skov also re-shared several snaps of the mesmerizing aurora views taken by residents.

And nothing like an August night, drenched in your loving... Lady aurora made a G1 appearance in the skies over central Alberta this morning, a Twitterati Jeff Adams said while sharing aurora view. While, in a similar event, a user named Alan Dyer shared one of the rare events of the aurora, named "STEVE", short for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement. The SpaceWeather.com report also confirmed that STEVE was visible in Montana and Pennsylvania during the last geomagnetic storm.

During Monday's surprise geomagnetic storm, hot ribbons of plasma flowed through Earth's magnetosphere. Alan Dyer saw one of them near Gleichen, Alberta, SpaceWeather.com mentioned.

Over the past few nights, Alberta has seen active Aurora Displays. This photo shows STEVE, A unique Aurora Phenomenon mostly seen around lower attitudes and discovered right here in Alberta! Taken Sunday night around 1:00 am MST, Dyer tweeted.

This rare event is a recent discovery, which looks like an aurora, but it is not! According to spaceweather.com, the purple glow is caused by a hot temperature of 3000 Celsius. Ribbons of gas flowing through the magnetosphere of Earth at a lightning speed exceeding 6 km/s! It only appears during a few geomagnetic storms, usually alongside a type of green aurora called the picket fence.
Today, Samsung Malaysia has announced a new colour variant of the Samsung Galaxy S22 phone. Now available for purchase, the new colour is called Bora Purple and it will appear very soon on the company's official web portal. It is also priced at the same RM3499 when the phone made its debut.

According to Sonia Chang, VP of Global Brand Marketing Group, MX Business at Samsung Electronics, she said that Bora Purple was chosen because it "embodies optimism and a sense of calm". Also, like all the colour variants of any particular model, the Galaxy S22 Bora Purple phone features the same exact tech specs.

To refresh your memory, the Galaxy S22 features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, 8GB of RAM, 128GB or 256GB of storage of your choice. The Dynamic AMOLED 2x display measures 6.1-inches with a 10MP front camera, whereas the back is where the 50MP (main) + 12MP (ultrawide) + 10MP (telephoto) triple rear camera is placed. Lastly, there is a 3700mAh battery inside the hood.

What do you think of this colour? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more trending tech news at TechNave.com.
Xiaomi Malaysia has teased that the Xiaomi 12 Lite will officially be coming to our shores soon after it revealed that our country would have its very own brand ambassador for the smartphone. Posted on its official Facebook page, Xiaomi Malaysia is running a contest for netizens to guess who the ambassador is, whereby you stand a chance to win a Redmi Watch 2 Lite.

Contests aside, given that there would be a local ambassador for the 12 Lite, it means that the device is indeed set for release on our shores soon. Furthermore, Xiaomi Malaysia has even today invited local media to an official launch event for an undisclosed range of products on 18 August 2022, one of which may well be the 12 Lite.

Previously, the 12 Lite was launched globally by Xiaomi and features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC paired with either 6 or 8GB of RAM. Other notable specs include a 6.55-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision, 108MP main + 8MP ultrawide + 2mp macro triple-camera setup, 4300mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging and 5G connectivity.

The smartphone is already available in our neighbouring country Indonesia since 19 July 2022 and as it stands, we may be following suit soon. Well, we just have to wait until 18 August 2022 to find out!

What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond!
Dr Simon Bennett, pictured here at NPAS' base at Husband's Bosworth (Leicestershire, UK), accompanied police air crews for more than two years to assess operational safety and efficiency. Credit: Simon Bennett/University of Leicester

Real-world research has shown, for the first time, that the theory of effective crew resource management makes an "invaluable contribution" to the safety and efficiency of police air support in England and Wales.

Dr. Simon Bennett, Director of the Civil Safety and Security Unit at the University of Leicester, accompanied crews from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) for more than two years to assess operational safety and efficiency.

NPAS operates 19 helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft in support of 46 individual police forces across the UK.

Through interviews with pilots, tactical flight officers (TFOs) and support staff, plus first-hand experience of the challenges that crews face on operations, Dr. Bennett has produced an in-depth analysis of NPAS operations and their successful use of crew resource management (CRM).

CRM is a series of training procedures proposed in the late 1970s, primarily for improving aviation safety. Techniques can also be applied to other environments where the possibility for human error is likely to have devastating effects.

One such episode analyzed as part of the research involved a harrowing incident in North London, where a man decapitated a pensioner and threatened the helicopter crew before heading towards a group of children. The crew used CRM techniques both during the incident and once the man was taken into custody to preserve the safety of the aircraft, mission and people on the ground.

The CRM framework has been applied to NPAS training and operations for many years, but Dr. Bennett's project was the first time the organization's application of CRM techniques has been studied sociologically, specifically through in-vivo ethnographic research.

He says that he "interviewed one of the TFOs who had witnessed the Edmonton beheading. His testimony confirmed that CRM improves safety margins and helps flight crew land their aircraft safely, even in challenging circumstances."

"Had the three Edmonton crewmembers not been able to fall back on the skills they acquired during CRM training, it is possible that, with crewmembers distracted and emotional, the aircraft might have been lost and persons on the ground killed or injured. This episode proves CRM works."

"Rarely has the theory of CRM faced a stiffer test. These findings validate every claim made about CRM."

Further findings and recommendations made by the report include:

that the NPAS achieves much on an inadequate budget

that pilots and TFOs are able, through creative thinking, to develop effective work-arounds. For example, when downlinking fails, relaying messages to ground units via the NPAS HQ in Wakefield

that the NPAS could do more with larger, more capable helicopters, equipped with better, more reliable sensors and communications

that operating a helicopter with just one TFO plus pilot creates more latent errors (accidents waiting to happen) than with two TFOs

that widening the constituency for CRM training and ensuring that force officers understand the NPAS tactical air support offering would improve operational safety and efficiency

that the co-training of pilots and TFOs in CRM improves teamwork and resilience and, therefore, operational safety and efficiency.

Dr. Bennett has published a summary of his NPAS study with the Royal Aeronautical Society.

More information: Research summary: Research summary: www.aerosociety.com/news/blues-and-crews/
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When Hurricane Maria, a Category 4 storm with 155-mph winds, made a direct hit on Puerto Rico in 2017, it ravaged the island's power grid and caused the longest blackout in U.S. history. Maria left many residents without power for nearly a year.

In the aftermath of this devastation, the Department of Energy and its national laboratory system partnered with Puerto Rico to generate a more resilient power grid to keep the lights on in communities and to protect against the worst consequences of new hurricanes.

Now, DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has delivered a solution to a more resilient power grid with the Electrical Grid Resilience and Assessment System (EGRASS), a powerful platform that helps prepare and fortify critical structures as new threats are identified.

"It is very important for Puerto Rico to prepare for this and the next hurricane season," Power Systems Engineer Marcelo Elizondo said. "In order to tackle this, we combined our expertise in grid modeling, cloud architecture and emergency response to help protect Puerto Rico's current and future power systems," Elizondo added. "We validated our model in site damage assessment reports that allowed us to gain more accurate ability in predicting grid failure."

The development of this software may help the island be better prepared with proper action plans and materials when facing big storms in the future.

"Our Interagency Recovery Coordination division at the FEMA Puerto Rico recovery office worked tirelessly to reach the interagency agreement that paved the way for this innovative technology. Knowing the potential impacts of a future storm will help local governments make sound determinations when preparing for a post-landfall scenario," said the FEMA Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator in Puerto Rico, Jose G. Baquero.

Credit: Animation by Sara Levine | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The Puerto Rico Energy Power Authority (PREPA), and the operator and administrator of the Transmission and Distribution System in Puerto Rico, LUMA Energy, are now using EGRASS to study and plan for extreme weather events and potential impacts on the grid, to better expose data and knowledge gaps in the system and to use that information to protect critical infrastructure.

EGRASS helps emergency managers better characterize storm impacts by simulating historical storm paths for a variety of different wind intensity estimates. These exercises are helping LUMA Energy managers plan ahead to repair transmission lines, substations, and other components in Puerto Ricokeeping them safe from upcoming weather threats.

PNNL is participating in the unified DOE effort to rebuild Puerto Rico's power grid and help it prepare for future hurricanes. The multiyear project includes complex work on grid modernization and planning for the future, including a transition to 100% renewables by 2050.

"Puerto Rico is committed to transitioning to 100% renewables, so we are eager to help plan for that transition in a resilient and reliable way accounting for hurricane impacts on the system as it transitions. We would like to help identify how renewables and energy storage can be part of the solution, by designing their grid controls," Marcelo Elizondo notes. Elizondo leads the PNNL team that provides grid resilience modeling and analysis on this project.

How EGRASS helps prepare for hurricanes

EGRASS assesses the impact on infrastructure as a result of natural hazard events. It estimates the probability of failure for different components of the electrical infrastructure, such as towers, transmission lines and substations, and it analyzes the associated risk and impact of their failures on system reliability. It also aids in real-time recovery operations by providing expert judgment for determining alternative power sources for critical end-use loads.

"For the system reliability part, we already had a tool for that. It is called DCAT, the Dynamic Contingency Analysis tool," Jeff Dagle, Chief Electrical Engineer at PNNL said. "We recognized a gap in our tools as we worked to rebuild the grid after the effects of Hurricane Maria. We wanted to add information like, 'which power lines would go down' to gain a better understanding of the fragility of the towers and their susceptibility to substations and to the individual components of the power system. EGRASS does that."

The team designed the model to understand which systems would fail based on certain assumptions about hurricane forces. "We gained an understanding of the impact of weather on the components of the power system to feed into our grid analysis," Dagle added.

EGRASS helps protect and recover the current infrastructure by presenting intelligent modeling to best prepare for future hurricanes. Future plans include extending its applicability to other events, such as earthquakes and floods.

Explore further Landslides triggered by Hurricane Maria
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The Amazon distribution center in Garner, North Carolina, is massive. Located a few miles southeast of downtown Raleigh, it covers 2 million square feet and houses multiple departments across four floors. The facility, known as RDU1, employs more than 4,000 people who work shifts spanning all hours of the day and night, seven days a week.

It's a colossal operation, and Mary Hill is one of the workers trying to unionize it all.

A Raleigh resident, Hill is the co-founder of Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment, or C.A.U.S.E., which she formed with her colleague Rev. Ryan Brown, a former pastor in western North Carolina.

Their desire to unionize began in January, when Brown, 41, says management asked him to work in an area he knew was experiencing COVID-19 spread. He later shared his frustrations with Hill, who agreed with his plan to take action.

"It was time to take a stand," Hill said. "To stop the unfair treatment of associates, the way they talk to us, the lack of respect."

Hill, 68, works in the pack singles department at $15.50 an hour. She spends 10.5-hour shifts packaging "anything that anybody orders," which on a recent day included a cast-iron pot, a Ring doorbell, and lots of batteries.

C.A.U.S.E. remains in the early stages of organizing, and it has a long road ahead.

Hill and Brown have built a coalition of pro-union workers, most of whom are Black and Latino, like the workforce as a whole. But the support isn't yet large enough to win an election. To reach that point, C.A.U.S.E. must convince skeptical coworkers, overcome opposition from Amazon, and learn to lead a grassroots campaign in a state that lacks strong structural and historical foundations for organizing.

Many factors are working against the group, but Hill believes their mission is too important not to try.

'Someone who's been in the trenches'

In April, Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island, New York, voted to form the first union at the company.

Organizing the 8,000-worker facility called JFK8 was a landmark win for the labor movement, which has seen immense potential in unionizing throughout the nation's second-largest private employer. But this major victory has come with a string of losses. Last year, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union fell short in its effort to organize a facility in Bessemer, Alabama, and this spring, the Amazon Labor Union (ALU) lost another election at a second Staten Island facility.

Other ALU campaigns have sputtered before reaching elections, leaving some questioning the union's leadership.

For now, C.A.U.S.E. is not seeking to join another union, though it shares developments and advice with ALU leaders on biweekly conference calls. The North Carolina group is focused on gaining enough support for an election, which C.A.U.S.E. treasurer Tim Platt believes will arrive in 2023.

To call an election, unions must get at least 30% of workers to sign union authorization cards within a year. Labor experts note unions almost always want to obtain cards from 50% of the workforce before asking the National Labor Relations Board for an election because support from a majority of voters will be needed to win.

C.A.U.S.E. isn't ready to collect union cards. The union is currently passing around petitions to gauge interest and sign up members. So far, it has gathered around 700 signatures, or about 15% of the workforce, said Platt, who works at the Amazon RDU5 sorting center in Durham. He said the union is "planting the seeds" for future action at RDU5, but current mobilization is centered on the Garner facility.

But progress has been gradual, organizers say, in part because of RDU1's high worker turnover rate and its sheer size.

"It has so many departments, so many different shifts, people speaking different languages," Hill said. "It's never closed: 24/7/365. It just takes a little time, a little maneuvering to get the word out through the vastness of the place."

C.A.U.S.E. has held routine flier events to connect with coworkers, using the face-to-face opportunities to share what they believe their union can deliver: higher pay, more generous sick leave, safer conditions and a voice at the collective bargaining table.

Hill said many workers don't understand what a union does.

"We need a working committee, a body of us," she will explain. "Someone who's been in the trenches with us making changes that directly impact our livelihoods and our families."

Hostile state for labor

North Carolina is perennially ranked among the least friendly, if not the least friendly, states for unions. While organized labor made headway in Northern factories in the 20th century, their efforts wilted in the fiercely anti-union tobacco and textile industries.

This resistance can be seen in the 1979 movie "Norma Rae," based on a real-life union organizer at a textile mill in the North Carolina city of Roanoke Rapids.

Much of unionizing is rooted in tradition, an act passed down from parents to children. North Carolina, like much of the South, lacks this legacy.

Last year, 2.6% of North Carolina workers belonged to unions, compared to 10.3% in all of the United States. The only state with a lower rate was South Carolina.

While Starbucks unions have scored consistent wins in high-profile campaigns across the country this year, employees of the coffee chain in North Carolina have only successfully unionized in one out of four elections. (Workers at a fifth store in Wilmington will have their mail-in votes tallied later this month.)

North Carolina is one of 27 right-to-work states, which means employees aren't required to join a union or pay union dues even when a union represents their workforce. This can financially strain unions and deter deeper investments. For example, while unions received dues from 2.6% of North Carolina workers last year, they represented 3.4% of workers.

But the profile of organized labor in the state is growing, said Dan Bowling, who teaches labor and employment law at the Duke University School of Law.

"There was a time when no one under the age of 50 knew what a union was," he said. "Now that has changed. And it's with Amazon, so unions are back in the headlines."

With tobacco and textiles no longer the major economic engines of the state, Bowling foresees young, well-educated professionals, especially in tech industries, being open to unions.

"I think it's inevitable there will be a shift," he said. "We're going to see an increase in activity. We might never be New Jersey but I think there's now a large potential for growth in North Carolina."

'We don't think unions are the best answer'

Amazon doesn't want their facilities to unionize.

"As a company, we don't think unions are the best answer for our employees," said Amazon spokesperson Paul Flaningan in an email to The News & Observer. "Our focus remains on working directly with our team to continue making Amazon a great place to work."

Like Starbucks, Amazon has taken strict measures to ward off unions. The company hires anti-union consulting firms to steer its messaging, and requires workers to sit through anti-union classes.

"Like many other companies, we hold these meetings because it's important that everyone understands the facts about joining a union and the election process itself," Flaningan said.

Last month, Amazon announced the company would bar off-duty workers from the facilities, a move seen as an attempt to undercut grassroots organizing.

"They're dialed to 11," Elon Law professor Eric Fink said of the company's anti-union efforts. "They are super, super aggressive."

C.A.U.S.E. leaders say they will be undeterred by Amazon's approach, even if the real battle hasn't yet begun.

"Once you go into that campaign phase, even though (Amazon) has done some busting already, it really ramps up," Platt said. "They have a huge war chest, which doesn't faze us at all. We recognize how good we are organizationally."

Even if his group doesn't have union cards signed from 50% of the workforce, Platt believes getting the campaign formally started will help C.A.U.S.E build momentum needed to achieve a massive labor victory in a state that's seen few.

Explore further Workers at New York Apple store launch union campaign

2022 The News & Observer.

Distributed at Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Cryptographer and computer scientist Mayank Varia, a Boston University Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences associate professor, says his work can help balance privacy and human rights with online trust and safety. Credit: Jackie Ricciardi, Boston University

Cryptographers love an enigma, a problem to solveand this one has it all. Indestructible codes, secret notes, encryption and decryption.

Here's the puzzle: Someone wants to send a secure message online. It has to be so private, so secret, that they can deny they ever sent it. If someone leaks the message, it can never be traced back to the sender. It's all very Mission: Impossible. But there's a kicker: if that message peddles abuse or misinformation, maybe threatens violence, then anonymity may need to go out the windowthe sender needs to be held to account.

And that's the challenge: is there a way to allow people to send confidential, secure, untraceable messages, but still track any menacing ones?

Mayank Varia might have cracked the conundrum. A cryptographer and computer scientist, Varia is an expert on the societal impact of algorithms and programs, developing systems that balance privacy and security with transparency and social justice. Working with a team of Boston University computer scientists, he's designed a program called Hecatefittingly named after the ancient Greek goddess of magic and spellsthat can be bolted onto a secure messaging app to beef up its confidentiality, while also allowing moderators to crack down on abuse. The team is presenting its findings at the 31st USENIX Security Symposium.

"Our goal in cryptography is to build tools and systems that allow people to get things done safely in the digital world," says Varia, a BU Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences associate professor. "The question at play in our paper is what is the most effective way to build a mechanism for reporting abusethe fastest, most efficient way to provide the strongest security guarantees and provide the weakest possible puncturing of that?"

It's an approach he's also applying beyond messaging apps, building online tools that allow local governments to track gender wage gapswithout accessing private salary dataand enable sexual assault victims to more safely report their attackers.

Everything is deniable

When two people chat in a private room, what they talk about is just between themthere's no paper trail, no recording; the conversation lives on in memory alone. Put the same conversation onlineTwitter, Facebook, emailand it's a different story. Every word is preserved for history. Sometimes that's good, but just as often it's not. An activist in an authoritarian state trying to get word to a journalist or a patient seeking help for a private health issue might not want their words broadcast to the world or held in an archive.

That's where end-to-end encryption comes in. Popularized by apps like WhatsApp and Signal, it scrambles sent messages into an unreadable format, only decrypting them when they land on the recipient's phone. It also ensures messages sent from one person to another can't be traced back to the sender; just like that private in-person chat, it's a conversation without a trail or recordeverything is deniable.

"The goal of these deniable messaging systems is that even if my phone is compromised after we've had an encrypted messaging conversation, there are no digital breadcrumbs that will allow an external person to know for sure what we sent or even who said it," says Varia.

Amnesty International calls encryption a human right, arguing it's "an essential protection of [everyone's] rights to privacy and free speech," and especially vital for those countering corruption or challenging governments. Like much in the online world though, that privacy can be exploited or bent to more sinister ends. "There are specific times where this can be a bad thing," says Varia. "Suppose the messages someone is sending are harassing and abusive and you want to go seek help, you want to be able to prove to the moderator what the message contents were and who said them to you."

A study of elementary, middle, and high school students in Israel, where more than 97 percent of kids reportedly use WhatsApp, found 30 percent had been bullied on the app, while UK prosecutors have said end-to-end encryption could harm their ability to catch and stop child abusers. Extremist groups, from Islamic State to domestic terrorists, have leaned on encrypted apps like Telegram and Signal to spread their calls for violence.

The task for tech companies is finding a way to support the right to privacy with the need for accountability. Hecate offers a way to do bothit allows app users to deny they ever sent a message, but to also be reported if they say something abusive.

A message in invisible ink

Developed by Varia and doctoral students Rawane Issa and Nicolas Alhaddad, Hecate starts with the accountability side of that contradictory deniable and traceable combination. Using the program, an app's moderator creates a unique batch of electronic signaturesor tokensfor each user. When that user sends a message, a hidden token goes along for the ride. If the recipient decides to report that message, the moderator will be able to verify the sender's token and take action. It's called asymmetric message franking.

The fail-safe, says Varia, the part that allows for deniability, is that the token is only useful to the moderator.

"The token is an encrypted statement that only the moderator knows how to readit's like they wrote a message in invisible ink to their future self," says Varia. "The moderator is the one who builds these tokens. That's the nifty part about our system: even if the moderator goes rogue, they can't show and convince the rest of the worldthey have no digital proof, no breadcrumbs they can show to anyone else."

The user can maintain deniabilityat least publicly.

Similar message franking systems already existFacebook parent Meta uses one on WhatsAppbut Varia says Hecate is faster, more secure, and futureproof in a way current programs are not.

"Hecate is the first message franking scheme that simultaneously achieves fast execution on a phone and for the moderator server, support for message forwarding, and compatibility with anonymous communication networks like Signal's sealed sender," says Varia. "Previous constructions achieved at most two of these three objectives."

The civic impact of algorithms

The team says Hecate could be ready for implementation on apps like Signal and WhatsApp with just a few months of custom development and testing. But despite its technological advantages, Varia suggests companies approach Hecate with caution until they've fully investigated its potential societal impact.

"There's a question of can we build this, there's also a question of should we build this?" says Varia. "We can try to design these tools that provide safety benefits, but there might be longer dialogues and discussions with affected communities. Are we achieving the right notion of security for, say, the journalist, the dissident, the people being harassed online?"

As head of CDS' Hub for Civic Tech Impact, Varia is used to considering the societal and policy implications of his research. The hub's aim is to develop software and algorithms that advance public interest, whether they help to fight misinformation or foster increased government transparency. A theme through recent projects is the creation of programs that, like Hecate, straddle the line between privacy and accountability.

During a recent partnership with the Boston Women's Workforce Council, for example, BU computer scientists built a gender wage gap calculator that enables companies to share salaries with the city without letting sensitive pay data leave their servers.

"We're designing tools that allow peopleit sounds counterintuitiveto compute data that they cannot see," says Varia, who's a member of the federal government's Advisory Committee on Data for Evidence Building. "Maybe I want to send you a message, but I don't want you to read it; it's weird, but maybe a bunch of us are sending information and we want you to be able to do some computation over it."

That's caught the interest of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Naval Information Warfare Center, which both funded the work that led to Hecate and have an interest in asking computer experts to crunch data without ever seeing the secrets hidden within it.

Varia's approach to encryption could also benefit survivors of sexual abuse. He recently partnered with San Franciscobased nonprofit Callisto to develop a new secure sexual assault reporting system. Inspired by the #MeToo movement, its goal is to help assault victims who are frightened of coming forward.

"They report their instance of sexual assault into our system and that report kind of vanishes into the ether," says Varia. "But if somebody else reports also being assaulted by the same perpetrator, thenand only thendoes the system identify the existence of this match."

That information goes to a volunteer attorneybound by attorney-client privilegewho can then work with the victims and survivors on next steps. Just like Hecate, Varia says it finds a balance between privacy and openness, between deniability and traceability.

"When we talk about trade-offs between privacy, digital civil liberties, and other rights, sometimes there is a natural tension," says Varia. "But we can do both: we don't have to build a system that allows for bulk surveillance, wide-scale attribution of metadata of who's talking to who; we can provide strong personal privacy and human rights, while also providing online trust and safety, and helping people who need it."

Explore further Research offers solution to encrypted messages being hacked before sending or after receipt
A College Station man was arrested Monday evening on a felony charge of having sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl identified as his cousin, police said.

The defendant, 18-year-old Danuel Turek, was being held on a $50,000 bond as of Tuesday afternoon.

Police said officers responded to a reported sexual assault of a child at around 6:30 p.m. Monday. The victims mother told police her daughter reported to medical professionals that she had been sexually assaulted by her cousin on Friday.

Police said Turek was at the residence when police arrived. Turek admitted to touching the victim on two occasions, police said. He was arrested for indecency with a child, which is a second-degree felony.
US move on Taiwan threatens world

09:00, August 10, 2022 By Li Yan ( China Daily

SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY

The presidents of China and the United States discussed bilateral relations and issues of common concern on the telephone on July 28, the second time they did so since March. Needless to say, such top-level China-US exchanges are of major significance to bilateral relations and world stability in the current global situation.

The international situation highlights the need for China and the United States to fulfill their due responsibilities and cooperate in different areas, so as to maintain global stability. The risks and challenges facing the international community have become more complicated, not least because the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to the health and lives of people around the globe.

Also, the global impact of the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict is being increasingly felt across the world. The disruptions in global supply chains and adjustments to industry chains have dealt a heavy blow to systems and normal operations around the globe. And the energy and food crises, and financial risks are intensifying in some countries.

Against such a backdrop, the global connotations of China-US relations have become even more important, so there is an urgent need to put China-US ties back on the normal track. For that, however, the two countries need to maintain regular communication and exchanges; in fact, they need to increase the frequency of candid, in-depth communication, both on bilateral and major international issues.

Indeed, communication between the two sides in different fields and at different levels have increased of late, which is good news for the world at large. But the two sides also need to shoulder their due major-country responsibilities and play their respective role as a global stabilizer.

An important premise to this is that the US needs to see China in an objective, rational manner. The last two US administrations have viewed and defined Sino-US relations from the perspective of strategic competition, continuously hyped the so-called China threat theory, and recklessly tried to contain and suppress China in various ways.

The US government's outlook on China has led to misjudgment of China's development goals and misreading of China's intentions. It has also misled the international community regarding China's initiatives and regional and global development projects. That's why Sino-US relations have deteriorated dramatically and the scope for the two countries to work together to resolve global issues has shrunk. China has pointed out the US' strategic mistakes many a time but to no avail.

So it's time the US side faithfully implemented the consensuses the two countries' leaders have reached over the years and US strategic circles developed an objective, rational outlook on China. As for the Joe Biden administration, it needs to address the domestic political and economic issues and drive some sense into the anti-China forces in the US. This is the only way China and the US can cooperate to boost their economies, sustain global growth and stave off risks of turbulence and recession.

The Taiwan question will be an important test for the US, because it is the most sensitive issue in Sino-US relations and the foundation on which bilateral ties are based. But the US has been frequently playing the Taiwan card and gradually upgrading exchanges with Taiwan at various levels and in various fields, undermining the political foundation of Sino-US ties.

The Chinese side has repeatedly underscored the Taiwan question's importance and sensitivity in recent dialogues with the US side. During the July 28 phone conversation, President Xi highlighted Beijing's position on the Taiwan question, pointing out its importance and sensitivity.

Biden, on his part, did assert that the US has not changed its one-China policy and doesn't support Taiwan independence. But the US side has been saying one thing and doing just the opposite, as evident from its anti-China rhetoric and actions, especially US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's stopover in Taiwan on Aug 2 on her way to the Republic of Korea.

Therefore, the US needs to honor its pledges, match its words with deeds and correct its mistakes.

In the years since the People's Republic of China and the US established diplomatic relations in 1979, all US administrations, both the Democratic and Republican parties and all political forces have been fully aware of the sensitivity of the Taiwan question. Even after that, if the US side keeps playing the Taiwan card, it will fundamentally damage Sino-US ties.

To consolidate the political foundation of Sino-US ties, bilateral interactions have increased lately, albeit at a slow pace, gradually creating an atmosphere for the two sides to cooperate on common issues and maintain world stability.

Given the increasingly gloomy world economic outlook, the two sides should maintain close communication and coordinate their macroeconomic policies, taking inspiration from the Sino-US policy coordination during the 2008 financial crisis which helped the global economy deal with many financial and economic challenges.

Facing the challenges created by the global energy and food crises, China and the US need to strengthen collaboration through bilateral cooperation networks or multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and G20. For instance, the two sides can collaborate on projects to clear the bottlenecks of the international supply chains and provide assistance to countries suffering from shortages of grain, oil and gas, thus clearing the way to deeper cooperation in different fields, thereby boosting bilateral ties.

The author is deputy director of the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
FORT WORTH  A 65-year-old father was found guilty Tuesday of capital murder in the 2008 shooting deaths of his two daughters in his taxi near an Irving hotel in what some family members called honor killings.

Yaser Said showed no emotion as Judge Chika Anyiam announced the verdict from the Dallas County jury, which took about four hours Tuesday to reach a decision.

The judge ordered Said to prison for life without parole because prosecutors had decided not to seek the death penalty before his trial started last week in Criminal District No. 7 in Dallas.

My client has told me from the start that he didnt do it, Brad Lollar of Dallas, one of Saids attorneys, said after the verdict.

Lollar said Said would appeal the verdict.

In victim impact statements after the verdict was announced, Patricia Owens, who is Saids former wife, told Said that she could never forgive him for killing their daughters, Amina Said, 18, and Sarah Said, 17.

You can keep those evil eyes glaring at me, Owens said. I dont have to worry about you anymore. My kids were my world.

As Owens talked, the judge ordered Said to keep quiet as he talked to his attorneys.

Im not scared of you, she said. You are nothing.

After the fatal shooting in 2008, Said fled the scene and hid for 12 years before he was captured near Fort Worth in August 2020, authorities have said. He was on the FBIs 10 Most Wanted list.

In closing arguments Tuesday morning, defense attorneys continued their argument that the investigation into the shooting deaths of the girls was botched, noting that authorities lacked evidence such as DNA or fingerprints.

Justice is not convicting an innocent man, defense attorney Joseph Patton told the jury Tuesday morning. Yaser Said loved his daughters. He may have made mistakes, but he did not kill them.

Earlier in the trial, Patton told the jury that Said was targeted as the suspect because he is a Muslim.

But prosecutor Lauren Black said Tuesday that Yaser Said kept control of his family.

All signs point to Yaser Said, period, Black said in her closing argument. Fourteen years later, he still puts himself with (the victims).

Once again, Black played the 911 call from Sarah Said. The call was played for the jury last week during the first days of the trial.

Shes screaming out of the grave, Black said. No one else was involved in this. He took their lives. Hes the murderer. No one else.

On Monday, Said took the witness stand and denied shooting to death his daughters.

Said, who was born in Egypt but has lived in the U.S. for decades and is an American citizen, began testifying in Arabic, which an interpreter translated to English.

The 65-year-old told jurors that he ran away from the cab the night the girls were killed because he thought someone was following him and planned to hurt him.

Said answered questions from Patton and Black through a translator.

When Patton asked Said if he killed his daughters, he said, For sure, did not.

The prosecution contends that Yaser Said killed his daughters after persuading them to go out to dinner on New Years Day 2008. Witnesses have said he was upset they were dating boys who were not Muslim.

Amina Said was shot twice, and Sarah Said was shot nine times.

Hours before the bodies of the teens were found, Yaser Said picked up his daughters, saying he was going to take them to dinner, and never returned home, according to the capital murder warrant obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The girls escaped the familys home with their mother on Christmas Day in 2007 and went to Oklahoma and Kansas because they were afraid of their father.

The sisters had become very scared for their lives, and the decision to leave was made after Yaser Said put a gun to Aminas head and threatened to kill her, Black said.

But in an act of manipulation, claiming he had changed, He got them to come home, Black told jurors last week. On the night they are killed, Amina is sitting on the front-seat passenger side and Sarah was in a back seat. Yaser Saids wife wanted to go with them, but he told her to stay home.

Before she died, Sarah Said called 911. She was unable to say where she was.

Help! she said. My dad shot me.

Patton, the defense attorney, said that in moments of extreme trauma, like being shot multiple times, people can have hallucinations.

Since his arrest, Said has been in the Dallas County Jail. Two of Saids family members have been sentenced for hiding him in North Texas for years.

His son Islam Said, 32, pleaded guilty in January 2021 to conspiracy to conceal a person from arrest, concealing a person from arrest and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. He was later sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.

Yaser Saids brother, Yassein Said, was sentenced in 2021 to 12 years for the same charges as Islam Said.

Throughout the investigation, federal agents and Irving police believed other members of Yaser Saids family had assisted and communicated with him.

Owens, the victims mother, told federal authorities that members of his family had indicated to her little remorse for the victims, and indicated support for their killer, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Some family members said that the girls were victims of honor killings because their father thought they had brought shame to the family.
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A former Twitter employee has been pronounced guilty for his role in digging up private information pertaining to certain Twitter users and turning over that data to Saudi Arabia.

Ahmad Abouammo, 44, was convicted by a jury after a two-week trial in San Francisco federal court, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. He faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

The verdict comes nearly three years after Abouammo, along with Ali Alzabarah and Ahmed Almutairi (Ahmed Aljbreen) were indicted in 2019 for acting as "illegal agents" of Saudi Arabia, with the former also charged with destroying, altering, and falsifying records in a federal investigation.

Prosecutors accused Abouammo and Alzabarah, both of whom joined Twitter in 2013, of being enlisted by officials of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for unmasking its critics on the social media platform.

According to court documents, both individuals leveraged their access to internal systems to unauthorizedly get hold of nonpublic information about users of specific accounts that were critical of the regime.

This information encompassing email addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, and dates of birth, were then handed over to the officials in return for which Abouammo received $300,000 in cash and a Hublot Unico Big Bang King Gold Ceramic watch valued at $40,000.

Furthermore, in an attempt to impede the probe, Abouammo is said to have lied to federal agents when confronted at his Seattle home in October 2018, saying the watch was "junky" and just worth $500, in addition to providing a falsified invoice about only receiving a $100,000 wire for what he claimed was consulting and media strategy work.

While Alzabarah sought assistance from Almutairi to flee the U.S. in December 2015 and escape the trial, Abouammo was arrested on November 5, 2019.

"These individuals are charged with targeting and obtaining private data from dissidents and known critics, under the direction and control of the government of Saudi Arabia," FBI Special Agent in Charge, John F. Bennett, said at the time. "Insider threats pose a critical threat to American businesses and our national security."
She always said she wanted to invest in students who had the fire in their belly for success.

Bessie Frith of Grand Island made good on that promise with a $2.4 million estate gift to the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation to endow the Charles & Bessie Frith Scholarship Fund.

Frith died in December 2021 at the age of 84. Her first husband Charles (Chuck) died in 2010. They both had been educators, with Chuck later changing careers to pursue his passion for the outdoors.

Grand Island Public Schools and the students were always part of their family. The bond ran deep. In Bessies case, she first stepped into Stolley Park Elementary in 1942. Stolley was a two-room country school when Bessie entered as a beginner. She stayed at Stolley through eighth grade and credits the beginning of her affection for school to the two teachers who taught her for the entire duration at the rural Stolley Park School. Frith then moved on to Grand Island Senior High as her mother Letha (graduated 1927) had before her. She graduated in 1955. It was just the beginning.

I went into teaching, because I liked school so well, I didnt have the guts to quit, Frith said in 2014.

The fall of 1955 took Bessie off to Kearney State College, where she earned a two-year teaching certificate. She returned to Grand Island for the 1957-58 school year to teach kindergarten at West Lawn Elementary. With the money that Bessie earned that year, she went back to Kearney for two more years to earn her bachelors degree in education. In 1960, Bessie returned to West Lawn, teaching some of her kindergartners again, this time as their third-grade teacher.

Over the years, Bessie taught and/or was principal at West Lawn, Wasmer Annex, Starr, Stolley Park and Howard. She retired in 1997 after a 38-year career in education. Truly, Bessie spent a lifetime with Grand Island Public Schools  as a student, as a teacher, as a principal, and later an ardent supporter of school and students. She was Howards principal for 18 years.

Chuck and Bessie started the Charles and Bessie Frith Scholarship fund with the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation in 2007 and made their first scholarship award in the spring of 2008. To date the fund has made $41,350 in scholarship awards to 15 students. With the addition of the estate funds, the scholarship awards will grow substantially.

The criteria for the scholarship includes the following: the student must be a graduate of Grand Island Senior High. The student must demonstrate financial need by qualifying for the federal free or reduced school lunch program. The student must have the ability to succeed in college; however, an honor roll grade point average is not necessary. A 2.0 to 3.0 GPA is acceptable. The student must demonstrate the ability to work hard for desired goals and must demonstrate good character and citizenship. And, finally the student must attend a public Nebraska trade school or University.

In 2014, Bessie Frith gave a $5,000 challenge gift to the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation Staff Campaign. When asked why she said, I dont think you ever retire from education. You continue to care. I gave my heart and soul to Grand Island Public Schools and I want to do what I can to help students succeed.

Bessie was the kind of person that commanded presence in a room. She never minced her words, and you never had to guess how she felt. But, she loved fiercely and her North Star was always the staff and students of Grand Island Public Schools. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her and though I miss her deeply, I am thrilled to see this final investment from her estateensuring that her legacy and her impact will be felt forever, Traci Skalberg, outgoing executive director of the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation, said in a statement.

The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation invests, manages and awards scholarships and grants to benefit the students of the Grand Island Public Schools. Over the years, many individuals have donated to support individual scholarships or other funds to grant students their dreams of a higher education. Some have donated annually or through payroll deductions, while others have established endowed scholarships in their familys names or in honor or memory of someone special.

The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation is a separate nonprofit entity from the school district and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The Foundation serves as the official tax-exempt vehicle for philanthropic gifts to enhance the education at Grand Island Public Schools.
Three people sustained serious burns after an electrical incident at the Google data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

According to Jim Wood, the assistant chief for the Council Bluffs Fire Department, first responders were dispatched to the data center at 11:59 a.m. to a report of an electrical event on the property. Scanner traffic indicates that there were initial reports of a large explosion, but Wood did not confirm specifics.

It was definitely some sort of electrical issue, he said.

All three victims were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center. Two were taken by ambulance, while one person with critical injuries was taken by helicopter. All patients were awake and talking after the incident, according to Wood.

Googles complex, located near Lake Manawa State Park, is one of the companys largest data centers. The centers are home to hundreds of supercomputers, which are high-tech computers used to store and process large amounts of information.

The fire department is investigating what caused the incident.

We are aware of an electrical incident that took place today at Googles data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, injuring three people onsite who are now being treated, said Google spokesperson Devon Smiley. ... We are working closely with partners and local authorities to thoroughly investigate the situation and provide assistance as needed.
YORK  Prosper Gilpin, 20, one of four former York College students accused of beating a man, stealing his property and breaking into multiple vehicles in York, was back in court this week on allegations that he violated the terms of his probation.

The now-Winnebago resident was earlier sentenced in York County District Court to probation for the amended charges of misdemeanor criminal mischief and misdemeanor theft.

He was initially charged with the following:

 Robbery, a Class 2 felony

 Conspiracy to commit a Class 2 felony, a Class 2 felony

 Criminal possession of multiple financial transaction devices, a Class 4 felony

 Third degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor

 Identity fraud, a Class 1 misdemeanor

 Theft by unlawful taking, $0-$500, a Class 2 misdemeanor

The case began when the York Police Department was dispatched to 6 Arbor Court in reference to an assault that took place on the college campus, according to the probable cause affidavit filed with the York County Court.

The victim told police he was on a walk, listening to music, around 5 a.m., and was in the area of the colleges prayer chapel when someone grabbed him from behind and pushed him to the ground. Two individuals punched and kicked him while he was on the ground. He attempted to fight back but could not. He sustained superficial abrasions to both knees. He stated that being punched and kicked caused him pain. The two individuals began going through his pockets but he did not have anything in them. The individuals took the hat he was wearing, which was then on the ground, and ran away.

The victim said there were four individuals in the group. Only two assaulted him and deprived him of his property by force, the officers report says. He was able to provide descriptions of the individuals. He said he recognized all four individuals as York College students as he works in the cafeteria and has seen them before.

At 5:52 a.m., police officers were dispatched to the 600 Block of N. Iowa Ave., on the report of an attempted vehicle break-in. Officers were advised the people fled the scene after the reporting partys car alarm went off. Officers were told the suspects fled in a darker colored sporty car. The reporting party said the vehicle was occupied by more than one person.

At 6 a.m., a sergeant with the police department located a gray Infiniti G35 driving in the area of 11th Street and North Nebraska Ave. A traffic stop was initiated due to a traffic infraction.

Another officer arrived and observed that the description of the four men by the earlier victim matched the description of the occupants of the vehicle.

Officers also saw a number of Nebraska vehicle registrations throughout the vehicle, which was strange because the vehicle had California license plates. All four occupants were asked to exit the vehicle.

The driver was identified as Robbie Lovejoy Jr., the officer says in the affidavit filed with the court. The front seat passenger was identified as Fernando Servin Jr. The drivers side rear passenger was identified as Isaiah Hernandez-Jasso. And the passengers side rear passenger was identified as Prosper Gilpin.

It should be noted the victim immediately identified his assailants, through a drive-by line-up. He also identified Jasso and Servin as the men who assaulted him, the affidavit says.

Servin and Jasso were arrested for robbery and assault. Later, Lovejoy told officers he saw Fernando and Jasso assault (the man) and take his hat. He said he did not know why. He also stated he was just driving them around so Fernando and Jasso could steal items out of vehicles. He said he and Gilpin stayed in the car the entire time the group was driving around York.

The affidavit says Lovejoy was found to have no operators license, Gilpin was under the influence of alcohol and the other two were arrested  for that reason, a tow truck was called. The wind made it nearly impossible to conduct a tow inventory search as papers were flying out the door. The vehicle was taken to an indoor location where it was searched. During the search, officers located items belonging to 16 victims. Most of which were vehicle registrations, insurance cards and various vehicle related documents. Most notably, officers located a womans wallet containing her drivers license, a bank-issued checkbook and multiple bank cards. Officers also located another bank card issued to a man.

Gilpin was sentenced to two years of traditional probation. A court hearing has been set for the near future, regarding his admission or denial of the new allegations.
Expert Viewpoint

Teaching Digital Literacy is a 21st Century Imperative & This is Why

The reliance on digital resources in instructional spaces has been a topic of increasing importance for decades. Long before the pandemic, students were using digital resources academically and socially to connect with others, build community, conduct research, consume, and create media. The necessity of remote learning during the pandemic further accelerated the need to use digital resources for both learning and communication.

Clearly, students need to know how to responsibly use the vast and ever-expanding trove of digital resources at their disposal.

But what does it mean to be digitally literate, and what role can digital resources play instructionally to advance students academic needs? This two-part series will explore this topic and offer guidance to educators on growing students into interactive citizens of the world.

What Exactly is Digital Literacy & How Does it Matter for Education?

Defining digital literacy is so complex that in 2020, a group of researchers analyzed digital literacy studies from the past 50 years to examine conceptual convergence around the idea of digital literacy. They concluded that the concept is associated with many different terms that can be divided into two perspectives: skills-competences for the use of technology and teaching-learning and its strategies.

In classrooms, digital literacy enables students to access information in new ways and then communicate what has been learned with others, giving students a more prominent voice in the world around them.

First, though, students need to be taught how to use the various technologies to benefit fully from available digital tools. Digital texts are often dynamic and fluid, including hyperlinks to other sources that may be visual or auditory, and blending sources together to add meaning for the reader. Students should be guided to navigate these new text types and replicate the techniques in their own creative production efforts.

Why is Digital Literacy Imperative for Students?

Inherent to being able to actively learn via technology is the ability to tap into the plethora of sources of information available on the internet, allowing students a sense of agency in the selection of materials they use.

Not only are there sources with written content such as news articles, online research journals, classic literature, poetry, and blogs, but also video sources such as vlogs, TikTok, and YouTube. Audio sources like podcasts or audio files are also prominently featured, as are many social media sites. Many sources are multimedia with a mixture of text, audio, and video.

The Role Educators Must Play in Building Digital Literacy  and How to Start In part 2 of their series, NWEA education leaders explain ways that teachers can easily add digital literacy elements to existing instruction and assignments so they emphasize collaboration and critical thinking  while also instilling digital literacy skills and teaching students how to be responsible citizens of our digital world. Read More.

Having such a diverse body of resources to select from motivates students to actively explore the various resources, using their creativity to harness the most effective and appealing sources to further their learning.

But with access and self-selection comes the obvious issue of being able to sort through voluminous amounts of information to decide what is credible and what students should or should not rely upon to build their understanding of the world and then communicate that to others.

Students must be able to critically evaluate what is being said and who is saying it, understanding that just because information is published on the internet, it may not be a reliable, credible, or accurate source of information.

The brew of accurate information, misinformation, and disinformation in digital spaces results in an urgent and crucial need for educators to teach students how to examine reasoning, how to look for unsupported claims, and how to separate fact from opinion  beginning in earlier grade levels and continuing through later grade levels with checking for logical fallacies.

To effectively be able to identify fallacies in digital materials, students will also need to use evaluative thinking to assess the credibility of the source.

Fallacies are often the result of bias: The creator of the digital material may have a clear purpose for development that then slants the perspective presented. For example, a website created to tout the benefits of wind power may only show the positive impacts (e.g., unlimited resource, extremely low greenhouse gas emissions) rather than potential negative impacts (e.g., threat to local species, blight on the landscape) leaving students with only one side of the issue.

Students should be guided to investigate the purpose of the website and to then verify not only the information presented but also any possible missing information, such as opposing views, to form their own evidence-based viewpoint. Students are then able to work on expressing their stance on issues, whether through in-person discussions, social media posts, or writing, to be more connected to the global community.

The process of deciding which sources to use and vetting them for credibility and bias presents opportunities for collaboration with peers, even when students are in a remote learning environment. Discussion and debate with others can lead to deeper understanding of an issue and can teach students to consider the importance of other perspectives  a much-needed skill in a diverse society.

Finally, as members of the digital community, students bear responsibility for producing credible content as opposed to perpetuating misinformation online.

But digital literacy is important for more tangible reasons, too: Digital literacy has material outcomes for job prospects after high school or college, as it has become more prominent in jobs that traditionally havent required such skills. The onus is on our education system to ensure students are employable when they graduate, and now more than ever, digital literacy is a foundational skill for building future careers.
PINCKNEYVILLE  If you are looking for something good to eat in the Pinckneyville area, stop in the Grecian Steak and Seafood House at 502 S. Main St.

The restaurant is run by the Sandravelis family. Angelo and Hrisoula Sandravelis and their daughter Athena Luthy.

Angelo Sandravelis opened the restaurant on March 25, 1990. On Dec. 23, 2017, the restaurant burned. They rebuilt and opened the new building on Dec. 2, 2019.

I love the restaurant business -- Thats what I know and its who I am, Sndravelis said.

He moved to America from Greece when he was 23 years old. He spent a number of years working for his brother-in-law and sister in Farmington.

When Sandravelis decided to open his own restaurant, he would drive in circles from within a hundred miles of Farmington. One evening, he saw an old restaurant business in Pinckneyville. He stopped at Moto Mart to ask who owned the building. The answer was it was owned by a bank.

The next day he was off, he called the bank. They told him they were working on a sale, so Sndravelis put the idea on a back burner.

A couple months later Sandravelis wondered about the building. He called and found out the sale had fallen through. Sandravelis bought the building. They did a little painting and cleanup and opened the Grecian Steak House.

Pinckneyville has been home ever since. His daughter Athena Luthy was three when the restaurant opened. She grew up in the business. Her daughter Chrisoula is now 12 and is growing up in the restaurant.

Shes really growing up in the business. She came from the hospital straight here, Luthy said.

I love Pinckneyville. Pinckneyville is a good town, Angelo Sandravelis said.

What about the food?

Steaks are our specialty, and we have a buffet, Angelo Sandravelis said.

Angelo is the head cook, with Hrisoula in charge of the buffet.

Their steaks are delicious and popular with those who frequent the restaurant.

The buffet also is a nice choice and features a delightful mix of food.. You can find a salad bar, main dishes and sides, fruit, and a variety of desserts.

Luthy said the dishes on the buffet change daily, but there are some constants. Sirloin steak is on the buffet for lunch every Friday. Sunday always features prime rib smoked at the restaurant. Another Sunday staple is homemade chicken and dumplings.

We make everything here  all from scratch  and we hand cut our steaks. I think the big important thing is we are not commercial, not a franchise. We are still a small, family-run business, Luthy said.

Luthy added that working in a restaurant in a small town is more than work. Your customers become family.

Angelo Sandravelis said he has lived in Pinckneyville most of his life and has no plans to move or for retirement, although he does have some things hed like to do.

Working is good for the body and soul. I may cut back eventually, but I dont plan a traditional retirement, Angelo Sandravelis said.
CARBONDALE  A final amended unit development plan for Neurorestorative Assisted Living Facility at 1300 E. Walnut St. received unanimous approval during the regular city council meeting Tuesday evening.

The facility will have three units with 17 beds each and parking for each unit. The plan includes landscaping to cover generators to be used for power outages.

Don Monty of Carbondale asked several questions about the plan. His main question was why this plan was being approved after Neurorestorative had gotten so far into building the facility.

John Lenzini, community development manager for the city of Carbondale, said Monty was right about the development plan. Buildings are up on the property.

If we didnt have COVID and supply chain issues, it probably wouldnt have done that, he said.

Lenzini said it is the only new construction project in the city at this time. They did not want to cause issues with the development. He said this is not the only project the group had done in the city and they are trusted to do the right things when constructing this facility.

Councilman Tom Grant said he would have felt better about the process if they were going through it in according to the citys guidelines.

The council also discussed licensing and registering taxicabs and transportation network company drivers in Carbondale.

There is a problem finding transportation in the city during certain hours, such as 1 to 3 a.m. when the bars close, and for special events like the upcoming eclipse.

Councilman Adam Loos said it was fair to demand drivers be registered.

Cory Scales, owner of Quality Cab Co., said it isnt fair to ask his drivers to be registered and licensed, but let another man put stickers on his car and advertise his services on the internet.

The city should be able to vet anybody whos approved to provide taxi services, Monty said.

Steve Quinn, president of Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said the issue came up in discussion during one of their recent meetings with SIU. He suggested the city talk about it.

The item was not open for action, they just held a discussion. Any action, such as creating new regulations, would have to be taken up in a later meeting.

During the consent agenda, the council approved the purchase of automated license plate reader cameras from Rekor Systems in the amount of $60,515.

They also authorized a budget increases for FY2023 budgeted expenditures for the purchase of 1501 W. Main St. and for the purchase of vehicles authorized by the city council in FY 2022 and received in 2023.

They awarded a contract for the CIP project ST2109 from Giant City Road from the mall frontage road to East Walnut Street to E.T. Simonds Construction Co. for $495,240.74.

The council also recognized certificates of achievement for excellence in financial reporting awards from the Governmental Finance Office Association for the city's fiscal year 2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

They also gave three awards to homeowners for historic preservation. The awards were for homes at 405 W. Monroe St., 601 E. Main St. and 2607 W. Sunset Drive.
Illinois State Police are investigating the death of Theresa Terri Walters Henry, wife of Carbondale Mayor John Mike Henry, Tuesday evening.

According to a media release from the Illinois State Police, Mayor Henry found his deceased wife in their Carbondale residence upon his return home. The mayor presided over the Carbondale City Council meeting Tuesday evening.

According to the release, Mayor Henry notified the Carbondale Police Department who responded along with paramedics from Jackson County Ambulance Service who pronounced Theresa Henry dead at the scene.

She was a real estate agent with Re/Max Integrity Realty of Carterville. Her personal website indicated that she had more than 40 years of experience in real estate. According to her personal Facebook page, the couple had been married since 1998. She is a native of Carbondale and attended Carbondale Community High School.

John Mike Henry has served as Carbondale mayor since 2015. His current term runs through April 2023. Additionally, he is the owner of Henry Printing.

Theresa Henry was 66. An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday. Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services and the Jackson County Coroners Office are investigating.

Officials with the City of Carbondale could not be reached for comment.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Sesser is a finalist for a $25,000 grant to build a dog park, thanks to a sixth grade end-of-the-school-year project.

Last spring, Zeke Endicott completed the years homeschool studies with a major project: development of a proposal to bring a dog park to Miners Memorial Park in his community of Sesser. Now, his dream is the only Illinois finalist in PetSafes Bark for Your Park national grant program, and he is campaigning for votes.

Endicott wants the park not only for Penny, his own lab-beagle mix, but also for other dogs and owners in the area to enjoy.

Penny needs a dog park, the shy 12-year-old said.

His mother, Amber Endicott, said Zekes research taught him about the benefits of dog parks.

We interviewed a veterinarian and learned that dogs are happy and healthy when they can socialize with other dogs and are able to get all of their extra energy out in a safe and closed environment, she said.

In pursuit of his goal, Zeke, did his homework, so to speak.

I got with the mayor and I got to talk with other people who did this before, like in Carbondale, he said. They were very helpful.

Organizers of a dog park in Carbondale won $25,000 from PetSafe last year. They provided suggestions and tips for the proposed Sesser park.

Its going to have one side for small dogs and one for big dogs, Zeke explained. They told us its best to separate them.

His plans are well-thought out, even right down to the shape of the park.

When Mayor Ashmore showed us the map of where the park could go, Zeke saw that it was kind of shaped like a heart. Weve called it the I Heart Dogs park ever since, his mother said, adding he would like to see amenities including an agility course and a fire hydrant-shaped water fountain for dogs.

Zeke has other plans, too. She said he wants the venue to be home to an annual Dog Days celebration which would feature opportunities for pet adoptions from area animal shelters.

Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore said he is impressed with Zeke, his plans and his drive to bring a dog park to the community.

One of his ideas for his school project was a community project and he decided to try to get a dog park, Ashmore said. I loved his idea and I love that he was doing all of the leg work. Its just amazing, all that hes done on this. Hes done diagrams, researched grants and even visited other dog parks. Hes the reason were in the running for this grant right now.

Zeke said the only way Sesser will receive one of the four $25,000 PetSmart grants being awarded nationwide this year is for supporters to vote for the project at www.barkforyourpark.petsafe.com/finalists. Votes may be cast daily through Aug. 31 with winners announced in early September.
In the Southwest corner of Jackson County, which borders the left descending side of the Mississippi River and is directly across from the City of Grand Tower, lying in the Mississippi River, is the historic Tower Rock. It is a most dangerous place in high water due to swirling eddies.

This Devonian period limestone is a product of marine deposits formed about 380 million years ago. There are very few areas of Devonian period rock exposed in Illinois. These rocks, consisting of limestone, dolomite, chert, and shale, also indicate that Illinois was primarily ocean-covered during this period.

After the Civil War, the army engineers recommended that this rock along with others be removed because of the hazard to the growing river traffic. But upon the recommendation of Delano, Secretary of the Interior, who issued an executive order on Feb. 24, 1871, saying it should be kept as public property, there was the idea that it might someday serve as a natural pier for a bridge.

Not only does this rock have an ancient beginning and a lot of history, but over the centuries has had many stories told about it, in numerous legends and rich folklore. These stories have been told over and over again and has drawn the attention of many people.

A tragic, but true story, is that on April 9, 1839, a wedding party from Grand Tower crossed the river to Tower Rock and the wedding was held atop the rock. The wedding party included Penelope Pike, the bride; John Davis, the groom; four family members; the Reverend Josiah Maxwell; and three slaves. Upon completion of the ceremony, the jubilant party got back in their boat for the return journey, but the craft was caught in a whirlpool and capsized. All were drowned, except one slave and he was swept downstream and rescued by fishermen.

During the French exploration and settlement of the Mississippi Valley, this complex of features was equally well known, but was referred to as Cap St. Antoine, Cap St. Cosme, Cap de la Roche, and Cap St Croix. Most early maps of the Central Mississippi Valley from the 1700s note the site.

American Indians were familiar with Tower Rock long before Europeans entered the New World. Initial European contacts with Native Americans indicate that the natives not only knew of the rock, but also had thoroughly incorporated it into their mythology and folklore.

This rock with all its history is truly a site to see. The early explorers referred to it as a grand tower standing tall above the water. From this, Grand Tower, Illinois derived its name.

This rock is owned by the federal government and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

One can view this picturesque rock from the levee in front of Grand Tower or from the Grand Tower City Park. Its history and view are fascinating. When I was 16, my buddy and I rowed across the river and climbed to the top. I remember the awesome feeling I felt, as if I was standing in the middle of time.
A man is accused of stabbing passengers on a Greyhound bus until they were able to subdue him, according to an Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office incident report.

Juan Antonio Gomez Barrales, 53, of Cosgrove Avenue, North Charleston, is facing three counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. He also has a Summerville address.

The incident took place around 8 p.m. Saturday on Five Chop Road, a few miles outside of Orangeburg.

Witnesses said that, earlier in the evening, Barrales was pacing back and forth at the bus station in Charleston and tried to get in front of the line, but the bus driver stopped him.

Later, two men napping on the bus woke up to find the suspect holding a cutting tool, the report said.

The suspect allegedly stabbed them.

A 47-year-old North Charleston man had one stab wound to his neck and another to his right shoulder.

A 51-year-old St. Louis, Missouri, man had one stab wound each to his wrist, right arm and left cheek.

A 19-year-old North Charleston man had a knife with him and held it to the suspects neck while he, the two injured men and other passengers subdued the suspect, the report said.

When deputies got to the bus, they ordered the suspect out and to the ground.

Orangeburg County EMS transported the 47-year-old man, the 51-year-old man and Gomez Barrales to the Regional Medical Center for treatment.

Orangeburg County Magistrate James Rickenbacker set Gomez Barrales bond at $25,000 cash or surety on the charge of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. A circuit judge will determine bond on the three attempted murder charges at a later date.

Gomez Barrales remains at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison on each count of attempted murder.

A mugshot of Gomez Barrales was unavailable.
Lander University and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College have established a series of articulation agreements that will enhance the transfer of business and criminal justice students from OCtech to Lander.

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College is a greatly valued community partner of Lander University, said Dr. Scott Jones, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at Lander.

This partnership will help our institutions honor our shared commitment to South Carolina to develop a strong and able workforce through high-quality education, as well as empower our students to lead satisfying and productive lives, Jones said.

These agreements allow OCtech students to easily transfer their credits to Lander, entering as juniors. Students who meet the requirements of the program will be guaranteed admission to Lander and receive priority acceptance in their degree program.

OCtech is a comprehensive technical college, which means that we provide students the opportunity to transition directly into the workforce or transfer seamlessly to a four-year college or university, OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin said. I am excited about these new opportunities now available to OCtech students.

Our relationship with Lander University continues to strengthen as we both work collectively to educate the citizens of the great state of South Carolina.

The agreements apply to:

 OCtechs associate of applied science in criminal justice to Landers bachelor of science in criminology

 OCtechs associate of applied science in business administration to Landers bachelor of science in business administration, accounting emphasis

 OCtechs associate of applied science in business administration to Landers bachelor of science in business administration, management/marketing emphasis

Officials at Lander extended their welcome to OCtech students interested in transferring to Lander.

We know that OCtech graduates are well-prepared for success at Lander, said Dr. Lucas McMillan, dean of Landers College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Landers criminology program takes advantage of the credentials and experience that full-time and part-time faculty members bring to the classroom. Our curriculum prepares students with the knowledge and skills to have successful careers and contribute to society.

Dr. Mick Fekula, dean of the College of Business at Lander, added, OCtech students will immediately be part of the Lander University family. OCtechs business programs provide students with an opportunity to develop the skills they need for the workforce, and we are proud to offer OCtech students a path to seamlessly turn their two-year degree into a four-year degree.

OCtech faculty are equally excited to provide this additional pathway to a four-year degree to their students.

This is such a great opportunity for our students to expand the skills they gain at OCtech, said Billy Ethridge, dean of Business, Computer Technology, Education and Public Service at OCtech, and coordinator of the institutions criminal justice program. The additional knowledge theyll receive at Lander coupled with the hands-on training they get from OCtech will serve them well as they enter the field.

Moving from a community college to a four-year college or university can be challenging, added Debra Jones, coordinator of OCtechs business program. Articulation agreements are a great way for our students to pursue a bachelors degree without having to repeat classes at Lander. I am a graduate of Landers business program, and I wish that I could have had this opportunity to move seamlessly from an associate degree to a bachelors degree.
The City of Orangeburg is considering doing away with the requirement that police officers also be certified as firefighters.

Officials believe the change could help the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety recruit employees.

We were having potential recruits who did not want to necessarily be dually certified, City Administrator Sidney Evering told City Council during its August meeting.

They did not want to be certified to be a police officer and fire, he said.

ODPS is the umbrella agency for both the city's police and fire services. Police officers are also required to become certified as firefighters for the city under the current arrangement.

Evering said the matter was brought to his attention by Director of Public Safety Charles Austin and has been under investigation over the past year.

Though dual certification would not be required under the proposal, those who want to become dually certified would be given incentives to do so, Evering said.

In addition, the city is considering creating a battalion fire chief position specifically to head up the city's fire department.

Both the city police and fire departments are currently under Austins leadership.

Austin said the structural change request was made by firefighters.

Our firefighters felt there was no one at the command level upper level that represented or understood the nuances of professional firefighters, Austin said.

The battalion chief would have day-to-day oversight of the city's professional fire service.

That gives the fire service representation on the command staff. That person's rank would be equivalent to a police captain, he said.

The battalion chief would still report to Austin. Austin said the position would be posted online.

The city is also considering placing someone in charge of the city's forensic lab. The individual would be a mid-management employee with the rank of a lieutenant.

In 2004, Orangeburg and Claflin University forged the partnership to improve forensic laboratory services in the hope of reducing crime in the area.

The lab conducts DNA and ballistic analysis, reducing the reliance on the S.C. Law Enforcement Division.

As the lab processes the DNA, it creates a profile in a local database to generate police investigation leads and to help identify suspects.

These recommendations are anticipated to be revenue neutral or close to it for the next three years, Evering said. These recommendations would maintain the agency model. It is not separating fire from the police. It is adding a little more bifurcation.

It is not in any way to negatively affect the concept of public safety, Austin affirmed.

The changes would be implemented under the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget. The budget received first reading last week by a 4-2 vote.
Technology can make or break a students experience at any college or university in the 21st century.

Thats why South Carolina State University is launching a complete audit of its information technology networks, applications, processes and capabilities with the ultimate goal of enhancing technology to help attract, teach, retain and graduate more students.

SC State President Alexander Conyers has brought on a consulting firm to analyze the universitys IT infrastructure and develop recommendations for improvements. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Branchville Inc. will conduct assessments of SC States IT projects in development, existing systems and software, and the University Computing and Information Technology Services divisions organization and capabilities.

We know that technology is among the many keys to success in the modern campus environment, Conyers said. Everything we do at South Carolina State University involves technology at some level. For us to serve todays students and families, we must make sure robust systems are in place for a seamless experience. We have some critical IT functions that must be addressed in short order to keep up the momentum we have built at SC State.

I trust that Branchville will successfully help us identify the strengths and weaknesses in our current networks and offer solutions that ultimately result in better communication, more efficiency and unencumbered interactive learning both on and off the campus, Conyers said.

Branchville CEO Kevin Summers, who named the company for his hometown of Branchville, South Carolina, and his business partner Quentin Cantlo visited the campus earlier this week to discuss strategy with SC State leaders.

Summers noted his ties to the campus include 26 family members who have attended SC State, so he was excited by the opportunity to help the university. Summers worked in IT management for such global companies as Coca-Cola, Lowes and Whirlpool and launched Branchville in retirement to aid universities and other businesses with technology. Clients have included other Historically Black Colleges and Universities, such as Howard and Delaware State universities.

Branchvilles first priority will be to evaluate projects already in the works at SC State, including resolving issues with the campus telephone system, networks, wireless technology and network security. The university experienced a security interruption last September that affected all network functions. Another inflight project is the installation of 700 cameras and 27 emergency call boxes to enhance safety and security on the campus.

The first thing is helping restore the experience for students, for their parents, for faculty (and) for the administration, Summers said. We need to make sure we understand what those projects are and help make them successful.

Secondly, Branchville will do a deep dive on the entire IT profile at SC State.

Its a great opportunity for us to really look at all the systems on the campus and do a systems audit  the usability of features, the functionality and the integration, Summers said. We will look at how they work together for the administration, the faculty and the student.

Were going to go deep into the infrastructure  the network, the data centers, the wiring and the workstations, he said.

Along with evaluating the current state of IT at SC State, Branchville will help the administration delve into the universitys short-term and long-term needs in managing finances, enrollment, instruction, research, retention efforts, grades and other student records.

What is the technology needed to do that? Summers said. Its the whole student life cycle. Technology drives everything.

We want to uncover where the breakpoints are  things that prevent you from having a great student experience, having a great faculty experience or a great administration experience, he said. Thats the most important thing. How can the technology help in that whole process?"
With students arriving on the South Carolina State University campus this week, the administration is encouraging students to follow recommended precautions against the COVID-19 virus and other health risks.

S.C. State will continue to monitor health advisories both nationally and locally throughout the school year.

As the semester begins, the following policies are in place for students:

Testing

 Students are not required to submit negative test results prior to arriving to campus. Although routine testing is no longer required, on-demand testing and testing for suspected exposure will be available to students at Brooks Health Center, which can be reached at 803-536-7055.

Vaccination

 While S.C. State will not require students to have the COVID-19 vaccine, the administration strongly encourages all students to get vaccinated for their own safety and to decrease risk to the campus community.

 Students who have completed full vaccination and booster shots are asked to upload vaccine records into the Brooks Health Center Portal.

 The university will notify the campus community when free vaccination clinics are offered on campus. Additional information about where vaccines are available in South Carolina can be found at vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov .

Optional face masks/coverings

 Face masks/coverings are optional for all students at indoor and outdoor locations except where required by state or federal law and regulations, which includes the Brooks Health Center on campus.

 Some community members may choose to continue wearing face coverings for various reasons. Please respect their decisions. If an employee asks a student or guest to wear a mask inside his/her individual office, please honor the request or request to make alternate arrangements to meet outdoors, by phone or virtually.

What if Im sick?

 If you are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19 while on campus, do not attend classes and please contact Brooks Health Center immediately.

 Each student who tests positive for the COVID-19 virus must have an isolation plan and must isolate at home or off campus.

 The primary purpose of creating isolation space on campus is to support out-of-state and international students who are asymptomatic or exhibit very mild symptoms, as well as to limit the spread of COVID-19.

 Should Brooks Health Center or any other medical provider recommend regular or constant monitoring of a student due to elevated symptoms, the family will be expected to make plans for the student to include removing the student from campus.

 S.C. State cannot guarantee the health of students who exhibit serious symptoms of illness. It is critical that students provide the university with the most current emergency contact information.

Please refer to the Student Guide for Returning to Campus for further information or call the Brooks Health Center at 803-536-7055.
This column has focused on the Biden administration's practice of allowing illegal border crossers to stay in the United States. Documents made public as a result of a lawsuit over border policy revealed just how many illegal crossers the administration has admitted into the country.

The documents showed that 1,049,532 illegal border crossers were allowed to stay in the U.S. between Inauguration Day 2021, the day Joe Biden became president, and May 2022. That is greater than the population of Wyoming, of Vermont, of Alaska, of North Dakota, of South Dakota and of President Joe Biden's home state of Delaware.

The real number is even higher, if one counts the so-called got-aways, who crossed the border illegally and eluded the Border Patrol. The number also does not include 190,053 unaccompanied minors who were allowed to stay. Put them all together, and Biden has allowed as many as 2 million illegal border crossers to stay in the country they entered unlawfully -- and that's in less than two years in office.

Many in the president's party are happy with what is going on. Remember that the 2020 Democratic presidential primary contest was essentially a bidding war in which each candidate proposed progressively more permissive border policies. Biden is making good on his promises.

But now Biden's policies are becoming a painful problem in some Democratic strongholds far from the border. Those areas are getting a first-hand feel for conditions on the border -- and they don't like it.

In April, the Biden administration announced it would let even more illegal border crossers stay in the country by rescinding the Trump-era regulation that allowed authorities to cite the need to stop the spread of COVID as a reason to turn migrants away.

In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, whose state has borne a tremendous burden as a result of Biden's policies, announced that he would begin sending busloads of migrants to Washington, D.C. Then, Abbott said, the Biden administration "will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border."

On April 13, the first bus arrived. Then, in May, Arizona began sending migrants, too. "With Arizona community resources under all-time demand, and little action or assistance from the federal government, individuals who entered Arizona seeking asylum have the opportunity to voluntarily be transported to Washington, D.C.," said Arizona Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

The buses kept coming. "In the last few weeks the number of buses arriving a day has increased from two to four, sometimes five, sometimes late at night," the Washington Post reported recently, "exhausting donations and exceeding the ability of volunteers and mutual aid networks in the city to respond."

That sounds a bit like the situation in Texas, doesn't it? The flow of migrants, encouraged by the Biden administration and supported by many Democrats around the country, has taxed the resources of border states. What Abbott and Ducey have done, by sending migrants to Washington -- which is, after all, a sanctuary city -- is spread the burden around.

At first, local officials, Democrats all, did not react publicly. But now, with more arriving every day, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is beginning to complain.

Bowser has claimed, without evidence, that Texas and Arizona have "tricked" migrants into boarding buses to Washington. (Both Abbott and Ducey have made clear that getting on a bus is entirely voluntary.) Bowser has said that local taxpayers in Washington "should not pick up the tab" for the cost of dealing with the migrant surge. And she is looking to the federal government for help.

"We have for sure called on the federal government to work across state lines to prevent people from really being tricked into getting on buses," Bowser said on CBS. "We think they're largely asylum-seekers who are going to final destinations that are not Washington, D.C. I worked with the White House to make sure that FEMA provided a grant to a local organization that is providing services to folks. But I fear they're being tricked into nationwide bus trips when their final destinations are places all over the United States of America."

What Bowser said about Washington, D.C., is true of the situation in Texas. For many migrants, Texas is not the final destination. They are hoping to get to destinations that are not on the border. The cost of their care has to be paid by somebody. It is a problem thrust on Texas and Arizona and other border areas by the Biden administration. And Abbott and Ducey are pushing back.

Recently, another voice jumped into the argument -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The city has a right-to-shelter law, meaning officials are required to provide shelter to anyone who needs it. There has been a spike recently in people staying in the city's shelters, with the system coming under tremendous strain. The mayor is blaming the situation on the border.

"Adams said the asylum-seekers are arriving from Latin America and other regions, and in some instances, being sent in on buses by the federal government and the state governments of Texas and Arizona," Politico reported.

Both Abbott and Ducey said they are not sending migrants to New York (which is also a sanctuary city). "If these Democrat mayors are now that concerned about having migrants in their cities, they should call on President Biden to do his job and secure the border, instead of attacking Texas with baseless political accusations," said a spokeswoman for Abbott.

Whatever the case, neither Mayor Adams nor Mayor Bowser should blame Texas and Arizona. Their real problem is with the president of the United States. The massive influx of illegal border crossers is a problem for all of the country, not just the areas closest to the border.
South Carolina is fighting the problem of robocalls, and Attorney General Alan Wilson is being certain there is strength in numbers.

"We all get robocalls and we all hate them. But South Carolina cannot fight them alone because robocalls are a nationwide problem," Wilson said. "That's why I am proud to join my fellow attorneys general as we take this fight to anyone who helps these scammers and robocallers."

Wilson said South Carolina is joining a nationwide Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force of 50 states to educate consumers, investigate and take legal action against the telecommunications companies responsible for bringing a majority of foreign robocalls into the United States. This bipartisan nationwide task force has one goal: to cut down on illegal robocalls.

The task force has issued 20 civil investigative demands to 20 gateway providers and other entities that are allegedly responsible for a majority of foreign robocall traffic, Wilson said.

Gateway providers that bring foreign traffic into the U.S. telephone network have a responsibility to ensure the traffic is legal, but these providers are not taking sufficient action to stop robocall traffic. In many cases, they appear to be intentionally turning a blind eye in return for steady revenue, Wilson said.

The task force will focus on the bad actors throughout the telecommunications industry, to help reduce the number of robocalls that South Carolina's residents receive and benefit the companies that are following the rules.

Wilson said he is committed to stopping illegal and unwanted calls.

According to the National Consumer Law Center and Electronic Privacy Information Center, over 33 million scam robocalls are made to Americans every day. These scam calls include Social Security Administration fraud against seniors, Amazon scams against consumers, and many other scams targeting all consumers, including some of our most vulnerable citizens.

An estimated $29.8 billion was stolen through scam calls in 2021. Most of this scam robocall traffic originates overseas. The task force is focused on shutting down the providers that profit from this illegal scam traffic and refuse to take steps to otherwise mitigate these scam calls.

The efforts of the attorneys general in the 50 states are welcome. Robocalls are a nuisance of our time.

While the official battle against them is being waged, here are ways to avoid scams and unwanted calls:

 Be wary of callers who specifically ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency. For example, the Internal Revenue Service does not accept iTunes gift cards.

 Look out for prerecorded calls from imposters posing as government agencies. Typically, the Social Security Administration does not make phone calls to individuals.

 If you suspect fraudulent activity, immediately hang up and do not provide any personal information.

 File a Do Not Call or Text complaint here: https://www.donotcall.gov/report.html
SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK  A former Twitter Inc manager accused of spying for Saudi Arabia was convicted on Tuesday on six criminal counts, including acting as an agent for the country and trying to disguise a payment from an official tied to Saudi's royal family.

Ahmad Abouammo, a dual US-Lebanese citizen who at Twitter helped oversee relationships with journalists and celebrities in the Middle East and North Africa, was found guilty after a 2-1/2 week trial in San Francisco federal court.

Jurors acquitted him on five of the 11 counts he faced.

Federal public defenders representing Abouammo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Twitter declined to comment.

Prosecutors said Bader Al-Asaker, a close adviser to Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, recruited Abouammo to use his insider knowledge to access Twitter accounts and dig up personal information about Saudi dissidents.

Those accounts allegedly included @mujtahidd, a pseudonym for a political agitator who gained millions of Twitter followers in the Arab Spring uprisings by accusing the Saudi royal family of corruption and other misdeeds.

Prosecutors said Abouammo received at least $300,000 and a $20,000 luxury watch from Al-Asaker, and concealed the money by depositing it in a relative's account in Lebanon and having it wired to his own account in the United States.

Defense lawyers argued that the work Abouammo did at Twitter was simply part of his job.

Abouammo was also convicted of wire fraud and honest services fraud, money laundering and a conspiracy charge.

"The government demonstrated, and the jury found, that Abouammo violated a sacred trust to keep private personal information from Twitter's customers and sold private customer information to a foreign government," U.S. Attorney Stephanie Hinds in San Francisco said in a statement.

Ali Alzabarah, a former colleague of Abouammo also accused of accessing Twitter accounts on behalf of Saudi Arabia, left the United States before being charged. Al-Asaker, Saudi's crown prince and Twitter are not among the defendants.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and Katie Paul in San Francisco; Editing by Stephen Coates)
During a police check on Rue du Commerce, a presumed drug dealer attracted attention with his ostensible swallowing efforts.

Suspecting that the man was in possession of illegal d rugs, the police proceeded to conduct a body search and found a small quantity of marijuana and two mobile phones. A later medical analysis identified at least four foreign objects in the man's digestive system.

The presumed dealer appeared before the judge on Tuesday morning before being taken to Schrassig prison.
Holidaymakers have resumed their travels, with passenger levels just 10% lower than 2019, according to Luxair CEO Gilles Feith.

In 2022, Luxair and Luxair Tours have counted over 1 million passengers thus far. Feith said many flights were full and that the price increases had not always been passed down to customers, as many had booked far in advance.

Luxair / Reportage Jean-Marc Sturm

The situation at many European airports has been "catastrophic", continued Feith, but in Luxembourg, the situation is largely under control, despite the difficulties.

Luxair has noted that passengers are choosing different holiday destinations, as the classic destinations have suffered as a result of the price regulation, as hotels have become significantly more expensive. As customers turned away from the traditional destinations, they have opted instead for trips to Turkey, Egypt, Cap Verde and others as the summer has progressed.

Feith went on to criticise the fact there is still no Europe-wide directive on mask measures, as the rules on mask-wearing still differs from country to country.
Amid reports that a billion-barrel oil reserve had been discovered in central Wyoming, the company behind the find was quick to explain that it has not, in fact, doubled the known volume of recoverable oil in the state.

Canadian Overseas Petroleum Limited (COPL), an oil and gas company based in Alberta, estimated in January that federal leases it holds in Natrona and Converse counties overlie most of a reservoir containing 1.5 to 1.9 billion barrels of oil.

The company announced Friday that a report it commissioned from an independent consultant, Ryder Scott Company, found approximately 993.5 million barrels of oil in the reservoir, supporting its internal findings.

Only a fraction of that oil is recoverable with current technology.

Theres really a misunderstanding between resources and reserves, Arthur Millholland, COPLs president and CEO, said during a call with investors on Monday.

Reserves refer only to oil that can feasibly be extracted. The majority of the oil in the reservoir cannot.

The companys internal analysis now indicates that the reservoir holds between 1.7 and 2.1 billion barrels of oil, higher than Ryder Scotts findings. It expects wells to extract about 8-10% of that oil, or 133 to 207 million barrels, before the underground pressure falls too low.

Secondary oil recovery  injecting water or gas to raise that pressure and force more oil out of the ground  typically releases another 10-30% of a reservoirs oil. COPL, targeting the high end, hopes the reservoir will ultimately produce about 666 to 826 million barrels of oil (but is unlikely to declare all of that oil recoverable).

Millholland said in a Friday statement that the report from Ryder Scott validates what we announced at the start of the year and highlights the significant potential of our fantastic Wyoming asset.

The Star-Tribune was unable to reach a Ryder Scott office familiar with the report.

As some in Wyoming celebrate the discovery, others await more proof. State officials have not yet corroborated the companys numbers.

The Wyoming State Geological Survey, which regularly appraises oil resources throughout the state, has identified proven reserves  oil with a high likelihood of profitable extraction  of roughly 700 million barrels statewide.

Christina George, the agencys outreach and publications manager, said in an email to the Star-Tribune that it does not have additional information to provide about the COPL discovery, other than that the upper sands in the Frontier Formation have received a lot of interest in the recent past, and we expect discoveries of reservoirs in Cretaceous-age rocks to continue in the Powder River Basin.

Gov. Mark Gordon is pleased oil and gas producers are continuing exploration in Wyoming, but his office has not been in touch with the company, Michael Pearlman, Gordons communications director, said via email.

The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission did not respond to a request for comment.

If COPLs numbers hold up, I think its going to be very significant as far as our communities, and for our employees in the state, as well as tax revenue, said Ryan McConnaughey, director of communications for the Petroleum Association of Wyoming.

Well be highly dependent on working with our partners at the federal level to make sure its recovered, he added, given the both federal lands and federal mineral estate in the area that this is being studied.

COPL drilled an exploratory well at the reservoir last fall. It plans to begin drilling three more near the end of this year. The results from those wells will influence how the company proceeds.
Authorities in Natrona County have arrested a man identified as a person of interest in an active double-homicide investigation, officials said Wednesday afternoon.

The man, Luke Thomas Young, was located roughly 16 hours after officers responded to the homicide, according to the Natrona County Sheriffs Office. Officers had warned the public Wednesday morning that Young may be considered armed and dangerous.

Young was arrested on an outstanding warrant from a different county, sheriffs spokesperson Kiera Grogan said.

Sheriffs deputies have been on scene since 11 p.m. Tuesday. Two people were found dead, and no other injuries have been reported, according to Grogan.

The Natrona County Coroners Office identified the two people as Kameron Young Johnson, 27, and Acacia Colvin, 19, both of Casper. Autopsies for both have been scheduled.

Earlier Wednesday, the sheriffs office said Young was last seen in the area of Ten Mile Road and Highway 20-26 west of Casper, and authorities suspected he might be traveling on foot.

The sheriffs office thanked the many vigilant citizens that reported pertinent information about the incident in a statement Wednesday afternoon.

He is the only suspect in the investigation, Grogan said.

On Thursday night, Young failed to report back from an Adult Community Corrections program that he was sent to after serving time in prison on a drug charge, according to the Wyoming Department of Corrections. He was apparently on a work-release program and did not come back from his job. The corrections department says its director, Daniel Shannon, issued a warrant for Youngs arrest on Friday.

As part of the investigation Wednesday, officers temporarily closed U.S. Highway 20/26 from Zero Road to Thirty Three Mile Road. The closure was lifted shortly after 11 a.m.

On Wednesday morning, Natrona County School District said it would control access and have heightened awareness at all of its schools and buildings. Outdoor school activities will be limited, but summer school will occur as normal.

The sheriffs office also asked people in the area to secure their homes and cars.

Officers from the countys Special Response Team and Wyoming Highway Patrol were also on scene Wednesday morning.
 Flash

New data published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 99 percent of monkeypox cases in the United States are in males.

The report released on Aug. 5 also showed that 94 percent of those male infected patients reported male-to-male sexual or close intimate contact during the three weeks before symptom onset, and racial and ethnic minority groups appear to be disproportionately affected.

Moreover, the data from the report, which was gathered from reported cases of the virus in the United States from May 17 to July 22, showed that clinical presentations of some patients differed from typical monkeypox, with fewer persons experiencing prodrome and more experiencing genital rashes.

These epidemiologic details should guide treatment and vaccine protocols, the authors of the study said, adding "current findings indicate that community transmission of monkeypox is widespread and is disproportionately affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; this is consistent with data reported from other countries."

It noted that although the largest proportion of cases have occurred in white persons, Black and Hispanic persons, who represent 34 percent of the general population, accounted for more than one half (54 percent) of confirmed monkeypox cases.

As of Monday, the United States had the world's most number of confirmed cases of monkeypox, which stood at 8,934. It is likely that the figure is a severe undercount because of the lack of testing.
Authorities in Natrona County are searching for a man in connection with an active double-homicide investigation, they said Wednesday morning.

The man, Luke Thomas Young, is considered a person of interest in the case, according to the Natrona County Sheriff's Office. He may be considered armed and dangerous and could have outstanding warrants.

Sheriff's deputies have been on scene since 11 p.m. Tuesday. Two people were found dead, and no other injuries have been reported, according to sheriff's spokesperson Kiera Grogan.

The Natrona County Coroner's Office identified the two people as Kameron Young Johnson, 27, and Acacia Colvin, 19, both of Casper. Autopsies for both have been scheduled.

Young was last seen in the area of Ten Mile Road and Highway 20-26 west of Casper, and authorities suspect he might be traveling on foot.

The sheriff's office is asking the public to call 911 if someone spots Young, and stressed people not to approach him. Young is currently the only suspect in the investigation.

"Please take extra precautions in securing your home and DO NOT pick up hitchhikers," the sheriff's office said.

Young is described as a 26-year-old white man with short brown/sandy hair and no facial hair. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 195 pounds.

Young reportedly has warrants out for his arrest unrelated to this incident, from other counties possibly in the northern part of Wyoming, according to Grogan.

Due to the situation, Natrona County School District said it would control access and have heightened awareness at all of its schools and buildings. Outdoor school activities will be limited, but summer school will occur as normal.

The sheriff's office also asked people in the area to secure their homes and cars.

Officers from the county's Special Response Team and Wyoming Highway Patrol were also on scene Wednesday morning.
Federal officials visited northwestern Wyoming this week to take stock of a vulnerable landscapes conservation needs.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams toured conservation projects at Sublette Countys Rolling Thunder Ranch and Rim Ranch on Tuesday, as part of an effort to learn how federal infrastructure law dollars can better protect the sagebrush ecosystem spanning much of Wyoming and 10 other Western states.

It represents, to me, just such an important, intact ecosystem that we still have time to conserve, and move to a better trajectory, Williams said. The time is right now, but we still have time to really make a difference.

The hundreds of species that rely on and migrate through sagebrush habitat are highly vulnerable to the fires and droughts that are intensifying with climate change.

But according to Matt Kales, the agencys sagebrush ecosystem team coordinator, cheatgrass and other invasive grasses represent the singular  the existential  threat to sagebrush ecosystem health, and all of the people and the wildlife that rely upon this ecosystem.

As rising temperatures bake the West, the flammable grasses invade new areas, catch fire and then reestablish themselves, progressively diminishing the surviving native species and the available livestock forage.

When the infrastructure bill became law in November, it afforded the Fish and Wildlife Service $10 million per year for the next five years to conserve the sagebrush ecosystem. The agency invested a million dollars of its first installment in Wyoming-specific initiatives and plans to award another million to the state next year.

While the agency has the scientific knowledge and technical skill to combat invasive grasses and restore degraded wetlands so they can better withstand drought, Williams said, we couldnt possibly do it alone.

Instead, she said, the emphasis is on collaboration: Lots of listening. Asking the communities and people what they need  where are they? Being totally transparent and forthright. Learning as we go.

Wyoming and the Fish and Wildlife Service have worked closely on conserving sagebrush  and particularly the greater sage grouse  for years. Williams hopes strengthening federal partnerships with the sagebrush ecosystem will facilitate local solutions to the challenges the region faces.

The projects come from the communities, come from Wyoming, and were responding to the projects they put forward, she said.

The harms imperiling the sagebrush ecosystem dont spare the agricultural bottom line, said Dave Kimble, a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who works with private landowners. Ranchers want help preserving wetlands and fending off invasive grasses, which are a lesser source of livestock forage.

Theres huge receptivity to these types of projects by the private landowners that voluntarily come to us and want to work together, Kimble said. We wish we could work more quickly.
A block on enforcing Wyomings abortion ban will continue until a lawsuit contesting the ban is resolved, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The ruling comes after a hearing Tuesday on the matter and was filed about 10 minutes after an existing two-week block on the ban expired.

Now, the state is likely to appeal the block. That could delay a final decision on the matter by months, or as much as a year.

A group of plaintiffs that includes Wyoming abortion providers, women and a nonprofit abortion fund sued the state over its abortion ban in late July. Judge Melissa Owens then granted a temporary restraining order that paused the bans enforcement for two weeks.

This is not a case about the moral propriety of Wyomings restrictions  This case is only about whether the HB92 Amendment, as written, is constitutional under Wyoming law, Owens wrote in Wednesdays order.

Vagueness

The plaintiffs argue that the ban puts abortion providers at risk of prosecution and possible prison time, and that pregnant women could be denied care or have it delayed because of the bans vagueness. Owens agreed, writing that the ban lacks any guidance for providers dealing with pregnancy complications or claims of rape or incest.

That vagueness creates uncertainty, especially in pregnancies that are desired but complicated, Dr. Giovannina Anthony, a provider at the states only active abortion clinic, said Wednesday. The legal quagmire created by the abortion ban was really terrifying as a provider, to be sure youre providing evidence-based care without breaking the law.

Jay Jerde, an attorney for the state, said Tuesday that the bans exceptions for pregnancies that result from rape or incest or that threaten the life of the mother could be severed from the law to eliminate any vagueness.

Without the exceptions, Owens questioned whether the law could still be classified as a reasonable and necessary restriction on health care, which is the standard laid out by Wyomings constitution.

So, if I sever out the exceptions of, lets say incest and rape, then wed be left with basically no abortions can be performed, period, except in life-threatening situations, Owens said. And if I leave that in, but theres no medical judgment in the statute, how is the doctor to know what exactly qualifies as life threatening?

Status quo

Jerde also said Tuesday that abortion being illegal is the status quo in Wyoming, since a criminal statute existed for more than 100 years after the state wrote its first laws. That statute was repealed in 1977.

Since abortion was legal in Wyoming, with restrictions, for 50 years following Roe v. Wade, plaintiffs attorney John Robinson argued that means abortion being legal is the status quo. The temporary block, he said, was therefore preserving it  meaning the longer pause the plaintiffs argued for would do the same.

For the purposes of this preliminary injunction, the Court finds that the status quo is the period of time when (Wyomings 1977 abortion law) bacame (sic) effective, Owens said in her ruling on the injunction.

Anthony, the doctor, said the ruling means the Jackson clinic can continue providing abortion care in the same way it did before Roe was overturned.

Im relieved that we can continue as we have been, and for all the OB/GYNs across the state who now dont have to worry about a conflict when they provide care, Anthony said.

Health care decisions

The state also said that Wyomings constitution does not protect abortion, though plaintiffs say a 2012 amendment (originally aimed at Obamacare) provides explicit protections for health care. Jerde argued that provision only protects the right to choose legally-available health care, which abortion would not be under the ban.

Owens wrote in Wednesdays ruling that her court could find that the state constitution allows all Wyoming residents to make their own health care decisions.

That includes a Wyoming womans right to make her own decision regarding abortion, the judge said.

Though the constitutional amendment targeted Obamacare, Owens wrote that she cant assume Wyoming voters were voting on that context rather than the plain language on the ballot. At the time, she noted, abortion in Wyoming was legal before viability and therefore would have been a legitimate health care option.

Ryan Semerad, a Casper lawyer following the case, said it would be unreasonable to interpret that amendment based only on its context, rather than its words.

In the modern era, in the world post-Antonin Scalia, it is the text and it will always be the text, Semerad said. The idea that we would go back in time to 2012 and poll the population ... thats crazy.

Equal protection

While the plaintiffs in the case, who are all female, say that the abortion ban unequally targets women over men, the state contends that the ban only mentions providers and therefore shouldnt be seen as discriminatory.

Owens sided with the plaintiffs, finding the ban discriminates against women on the basis of sex in violation of the state constitution.

(The ban) only restricts a health care procedure needed or elected by woman, the judge wrote. The statute dilutes the rights available to women in making decisions regarding their health care and whether or not to give birth to a child.

Whats next

The states sole clinic providing abortions reopened appointments for abortion care after the temporary block was put in place in late July. This week, Anthony said, the clinic had stopped scheduling appointments after noon Wednesday, when the temporary block was set to expire. After Owens ruling, Anthony said they can continue providing abortion care as usual.

Theres still a lot of confusion, Anthony said. A lot of women are confused as to whether Plan B is legal, whether abortion is legal... our office gets a lot of questions about that.

Another clinic, which planned to open in Casper this summer before an arsonist attempted to burn it down, will still look to open in the coming months, according to a statement Wednesday.

Todays ruling is an important victory for abortion access in Wyoming and in support of Wyomingites constitutionally protected right to make decisions about their own health care, which includes abortion care, said clinic founder Julie Burkhart. While we are heartened by todays outcome, we know the fight to keep abortion legal in Wyoming is far from over.

The injunction doesnt necessarily mean the plaintiffs have a better chance at winning the case down the line.

There certainly are cases where preliminary injunctions have been granted, and eventually the case does not go the plaintiffs way, Casper civil litigator Alaina Stedillie said. Stedillie is not involved in the case, but has been following it.

Now, the state can appeal the injunction to the Wyoming Supreme Court. Its attorneys would have to file a petition within 15 days of Wednesdays ruling, then the plaintiffs have another 15 to respond. Within 30 days of the injunction, the high court can decide whether or not to take it up.

The appeal process is typically lengthy, and can last between several months and a year.

The Teton County case could be put on hold while the appeal is heard, but the states petition wouldnt automatically pause the case. Either the district or Supreme Court could order a stay pausing the case while the petition is decided. Without a stay, the case would continue and both sides would begin gathering evidence and taking depositions to support their sides.

In this case, where theres a significant constitutional question at issue, I think either court would want to stay it, Stedillie said. Theres no point in moving forward until the Supreme Court decides.

Attorneys for both sides, as well as Owens, have said they also expect the case to be appealed to the Wyoming Supreme Court after it is resolved at the county level. Owens, Semerad said, is likely choosing to write her own orders to make sure she can control exactly what gets sent to the high court.
Republican secretary of state candidate Chuck Gray said Monday the $300,000 he loaned a previous campaign came from his own funds that were legally given to him after the death of his grandfather.

At a Monday candidate forum in Casper, Gray called a federal complaint filed against him last week regarding those loans false and defamatory. He reiterated that point Tuesday in an email to the Star-Tribune, saying the claim was leaked because his opponents believe hes winning.

I will continue my grandfathers legacy of dedication to service by fighting as hard as I can to return government authority back to the people and away from the corrupted insiders like my opponent, he said. Thats why I too have donated to my campaigns to make sure that out-of-control government authority is returned back to the citizens.

The complaint, submitted to the Federal Elections Commission by former Secretary of State Max Maxfield, alleges that loans Gray reported that he made to his previous congressional campaign were actually not funded by the candidate and therefore violated federal campaign finance law.

Maxfield alleges in the complaint that because Gray only listed roughly $10,000 of earned income in 2021 and the first few months of 2022, loans that amount to nearly $300,000 must have come from another source, not Gray himself.

Gray denied the allegation at the forum, as he did last week. But this time he offered an explanation for the loans.

My grandfather two years ago passed away, and businesses that I helped build were cashed out as part of his passing. Those funds were my funds, he said.

They were reported correctly, went through multiple attorneys, he continued. And shame on Ms. Nethercott, her allies, Mr. Maxfield for taking advantage politically  trying to take advantage  of my grandfathers passing.

Gray, who is also a Casper lawmaker, added that he was advised by his attorneys that income off the death of a loved one is not subject to the reporting in those disclosures.

On the day the complaint was filed, Gray declined to tell the Star-Tribune the source of the money when asked where the $300,000 came from. He responded with a statement calling the filing frivolous and saying it was the work of liberal insiders working with the Star-Tribune to elect his main political opponent in the race, Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, whom Maxfield has endorsed.

Maxfield previously said that his opposition to Grays candidacy did not play a role in filing the complaint.

Nethercott hit back at Gray at the forum, questioning whether he was qualified for the secretary of states position.

It says your income is $11,000 a year. Thats a question for the people of Wyoming to ask  whether or not a 32-year-old who doesnt own a home in Wyoming, whos only worked for his fathers business and earns $11,000 a year is the next secretary of state, number two to the governor, Nethercott said at the forum. And I think thats a decent question when $11,000 a year is less than minimum wage. Its an offense to the hard working men and women of this state.

If the money did come from liquidating businesses before the campaign, and if the money went to Gray at the time, the loan is likely legal, said one expert, whom the Star-Tribune spoke with before Mondays forum.

Is the money really the candidates money or not? asked Adav Noti, legal director of Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit campaign law watchdog group. The Federal Election Commission when its asked to analyze that question looks at legal entitlement to the money.

When money is in the candidates possession, even in something like a joint checking account, and especially before the start of a campaign, its fair game for the candidate to list it as his or her own, Noti explained.

That pre-existing distribution, thats not going to be a [campaign] contribution, Noti said.

The federal complaint theorizes that the money came from Grays father, Jan Charles Gray, which would violate the straw donor ban.

The elder Gray donated $100,000 to his sons U.S. House campaign through a donation to a political action committee  Protect Wyoming Values PAC  supporting the state representatives bid for Congress. That was the only contribution from Jan Gray listed.

Gray has attempted to raise issues with Nethercotts campaign. In a text last week to the Star-Tribune, he alleged that Nethercott has also not put the paid for line in her signs and there have been meetings with the Secretary of States office to begin investigation on that.

In a statement to the Star-Tribune, Wyomings current Secretary of State Ed Buchanan said that wasnt the case.

No such meetings have occurred nor has anyone contacted us about that, Buchanan said. In addition, WS 22-25-110(b) exempts yard signs as far as requiring a disclosure as to the paid for.

Gray and Nethercott have emerged as candidates on opposite sides of the debate on election integrity.

Gray is running as a 2020 presidential election skeptic, saying that there was more fraud than the margin of votes between Biden and Trump.

Gray is pushing to ban ballot drop boxes, which have become a target after the movie 2000 Mules was released, a film that alleges widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Gray has also sponsored numerous showings of the movie throughout Wyoming while on the campaign trail.

Nethercott says that there is no objective evidence to prove that the 2020 election was stolen for President Joe Biden, and she repeatedly emphasizes her confidence in Wyomings elections.

There is a third candidate in the race: Mark Armstrong, a Wyoming native and former geologist.

Welp, this is politics. And my opinion of this is Chuck is calling Tara an insider, Tara is calling Chuck untruthful and unethical ... I just suggest you believe them both..., Armstrong said at the forum. Im running to give you a choice.

Buchanan is not running for reelection, having sought and obtained a position as a judge in Goshen County. The primary is Aug. 16.
Wyomings senators both asked Tuesday for more information about the FBIs raid at former President Donald Trumps Florida home.

Raiding a former presidents home is unprecedented, Sen. John Barrasso said Tuesday morning. The Justice Department needs to quickly and transparently tell the American people who approved this raid and why it occurred.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis tweeted out a similar statement a few hours later.

Im very concerned about the precedent being set by the FBI. People in Wyoming deserve answers on why the DOJ raided a former presidents home, she said.

The FBI searched Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate Monday as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to his Florida residence, according to the Associated Press. This development represents a dramatic escalation of law enforcement action against the former president.

My beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents, Trump said in a statement Monday evening. They even broke into my safe, the statement continued.

Barrasso and Lummis did not go as far as some of Trumps other allies, who called for action like the defunding of the FBI. The raid also led to Trumps allies speaking out against the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice.

If the FBI can raid a U.S. President, imagine what they can do to you, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik said in a tweet. The Biden administrations political weaponization of the FBI and DOJ is an actual threat to democracy. There MUST be accountability, she later added.

Stefanik took over for Rep. Liz Cheney as House Republican conference chair after Cheney was ousted last year for her continued opposition towards Trump.

Cheney declined the Star-Tribunes request for comment on the raid.

Cheneys Trump-endorsed challenger, however, joined in with the likes of Stefanik and went more extreme than Wyomings senators in her response to the raid.

If the FBI can treat a former President this way, imagine what they can do to the rest of us. Its a 2-tiered justice systemone for elites & another for their political enemies, Harriet Hageman said in a tweet Tuesday. Like sending 87k IRS agents to harass citizens. Or the J6 committee. Political persecution!

While a search warrant does not suggest that criminal charges are imminent, federal officials looking to get one must first prove to a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
THE recent, and perhaps ongoing, difference of opinion between Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) and the Tobago House of Assemblyover the limitations on the national air carriers service on the Tobago routeled me to question whether CAL needs to be responsible for the domestic airbridge.
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Nothing saved: Cathy Ann Telesford wipes a tear from her eyes as she stands in the ruins of her home yesterday, after it was gutted by fire on Monday night. Telesford told the Express during an interview at her home at Coconut Boulevard, Pleasantville, that seven members of her family are now homeless following the blaze. Photo: DEXTER PHILIP
Angostura chairman Terrence Bharath, right, chats with Unit Trust Corporation executive director, Nigel Edwards at Fridays earnings call for the rum and bitters maker at the House of Angostura in Laventille.
 Flash

Kuwaiti Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Majdi Ahmed Al-Dhafiri has said his country firmly supports the one-China principle.

When meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kuwait Zhang Jianwei on Sunday, Al-Dhafiri said Kuwait scrupulously abides by this position as well as all related international resolutions. He also stressed the need for all sides to respect the basic norms governing international relations to maintain world peace and stability.

The Chinese ambassador said the one-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm governing international relations and a consensus of the international community, adding that Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region seriously violated the one-China principle, and infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.




A NINE-YEAR-OLD boy is in critical condition at the Port of Spain General Hospital after bei
The magical charm of the Manzanilla-to-Mayaro vista is not the only gift of nature that could be lost to future generations. Natural phenomena combined with the human-induced impacts of climate change are already altering our lives, and are projected to do so in even more drastic and dramatic ways within the lifetimes of most people alive today.
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Michas Restaurant and The Buffet Bar: The Community Prevention Coalition of Pima County and the South Tucson Operation Prevention Intervention and Treatment Coalition, both of PPEP Inc, honored Michas Restaurant and The Buffet Bar as Community Champions. The two coalitions, which promote the prevention of underage drinking and other youth substance misuse, hosted and paid for Responsible Beverage Server Training, covering topics including: how to effectively and safely avoid serving underage drinkers and over serving legal age adults, identifying fake age verification IDs, recognizing signs of intoxication, learning intervention safety techniques, and understanding personal and business liabilities, local ordinances and state laws regarding alcohol service.
Some people picked up hobbies during the pandemic.

Tucson pianist Fanya Lin learned military-style martial arts.

Originally, because of the Asian hate crimes, I learned it as self defense, said the Taiwanese-born University of Arizona music professor. But I fell in love with it.

Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed in the mid-1930s by Jews facing antisemitic attacks in the former Czechoslovakia. The goal is to be able to defend yourself against a variety of attacks with extreme efficiency thats based largely on muscle memory.

Lin, who arrived in Tucson from Minnesota in 2019, wanted to be prepared in case the Asian hate crimes that had been spreading throughout the country came too close to home.

I was in contact with friends in New York ... and they were telling me that they didnt want to take the subway, said the 32-year-old.

Krav Maga and the pandemic also inspired her Masquerade program that she will play Sunday, Aug. 14, when she debuts with the popular St. Andrews Bach Society summer concert series.

The title is a throwback to the pandemic  wearing masks at the height of COVID-19  and the celebration of coming out of it  a costume ball and dancing.

If that vision is lost on you, the music will surely transport you there, from little-known Curacaoan composer Wim Statius Mullers lovely Nostalgia Waltz to Stravinskys The Firebird and Ginasteras sometimes fiery and frenetic Danzas Argentinas.

The concerts centerpiece and the work that really sums up Masquerade is Schumanns Carnaval, which is based on masked revelers at the pre-Lenten Carnival festival.

I (programmed) all the repertoire related to dance, said Lin, who has done a handful of public recitals and has played keyboards with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra a couple of times in her three years here.

Lin said she chose Stravinskys The Firebird, transcribed for solo piano by Guido Agosti, because it reminded her of her Krav Maga lessons and her instructor.

She taught us not only to protect ourselves but confidence and perseverance, Lin said, two dominant themes in The Firebird.

Originally composed as a ballet for Sergei Diaghilevs Paris-based Ballets Russes, the piece is based on the Russian fairy tale of the firebird who helps a prince fight evil spirits.

The rhythm and energy reminds me of our training, Lin said. The audience will hear, especially in the opening, this repeated high note that is so shocking and so different from the normal lyrical and melodic piano repertoire.

In September, Lin will perform the Griegs Piano Concerto and Rachmaninoffs Second Piano Concerto with the Tucson Repertory Orchestra at Crowder Hall. In January, she and her Lin-Linder Piano Duo partner, UA piano professor Daniel Linder, will perform works for piano four hands and two pianos.

The Sunday performance is at 2 p.m. at Grace St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St.
We are in the shank of summers extravagant offering of vegetables, and a single trip to the farmers market will show you that.

I saw some exquisite Japanese eggplants at last weekends market, their elongated shapes glossy in the sunlight, lightening their deep lavender skins to a delicate orchid color.

Ratatouille, I instantly thought and picked up the remaining vegetables needful for one of my favorite summer dishes. But when I got home, I had another idea. Since I was going to have the oven on anyway to roast a chicken, why not a tian instead? The French classic shares the same seasonal ingredients, but it treats them in a different way.

On a bike trip through Provence years ago, my companion and I saw tians of many types on lunch menus when we stopped midday. A wedge of some savory tian or another, some cheese, and a glass or two of icy white wine saw us through long, sweltering afternoons of riding on to our evening destination.

I decided I wanted to resurrect that memory and set about devising a vegetable tian that would suit my Sonoran palate.

The key to a visually striking tian is to have all the vegetables about the same size in diameter. That way, when you arrange the vegetables in their baking dish, theyre all about the same height.

The cook can cheat a bit, if necessary, by trimming oversized pieces to make them fit. But ideally you would start with vegetables that are the same size. Thats one reason I like Japanese eggplants for this dish; their cylindrical shape makes them easier to use than the more familiar globe eggplant.

Add to this, if youd like  slices of sweet onion and/or fennel slices are good additions  or subtract if, for example, you loathe eggplant. (Whats wrong with you?)

I sometimes turn this into a showy tart planned for a special lunch menu. If youd like to try that, blind-bake a pastry-lined tart pan until the crust is golden brown before arranging the vegetables atop the crust. When I do this, I usually use a rectangular rather than a round pan because it seems more dramatic.

Whether tart or tian, refrigerate any leftovers. Youll have an incredible lunch the next day  maybe, like my Provencal lunches, squired by a bit of cheese and a glass of wine. I promise you wont feel one bit deprived. As 17th-century Welsh poet George Herbert said, Living well is the best revenge.

A Tucsonan tian

Makes 4 to 6 servings as a side dish, 2 to 4 servings as a main dish

A tian is both the dish that this classic French favorite is baked in, and the dish itself. The classic version is the baked form of ratatouille. Seasoned for a Southwestern palate rather than its traditional Provencal flavor profile, this tian is good served hot or at room temperature. Turn it into a tart if you like by blind-baking a pastry crust until golden, then arranging the vegetables atop the crust.

Ingredients

1 pound Japanese or Chinese eggplant

1 to 1 pounds beefsteak type tomatoes

1 pound zucchini (this is a good place to use the oversized ones)

2 tablespoons olive oil plus additional for drizzling

1 tablespoon hot chile powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons Mexican oregano

Coarse salt and black pepper, to taste

 cup grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a shallow 10-inch round baking dish or pie pan and set aside.

Slice the eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes into one-quarter-inch slices. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it lightly. Arrange the sliced vegetables on the baking sheet in a single layer; if they wont all fit, place the remainder on a second parchment-lined baking sheet, or plan to work in two batches.

Brush the sliced vegetables generously with the olive oil. Combine the chile powder, cumin and oregano in a small bowl, and scatter the mixture over the vegetables, making sure everybody gets a good dusting. Season with coarse salt and black pepper.

Bake the vegetables for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set them aside until theyre cool enough to handle. They wont be fully cooked at this point.

Assemble the tian by alternating rounds of eggplant, zucchini and tomato around the outside of the baking dish. Fill the center with the remainder of the vegetables, alternating them if possible. Drizzle additional olive oil over the vegetables. Scatter the Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese over the top of the tian. The assembled dish can stand at room temperature for several hours before baking.
You want to know why the FBI searched Donald Trumps place at Mar-a-Lago Monday?

Just ask the candidates Trump endorsed who won primary elections in Arizona. They seem to know everything about it.

They immediately concluded via social media Monday that Trump was the victim of a politicized FBI carrying out a vendetta against the ex-president.

How do they know that? Its unclear.

In fact, maybe, just maybe, their knee-jerk reactions display a weird devotion to the former president that overrode their common sense and even their strategic wisdom about the coming general election.

Take Kari Lake, the GOP candidate for governor, for example. Like the others Ill mention, Lake benefited deeply from a Trump endorsement. Maybe she wouldnt have won without it, since she beat Karrin Taylor Robson by a pretty narrow margin, 47.8% to 43.3%.

In a social-media post, Lake absurdly declared Monday one of the darkest days in American history, the day our Government, originally created by by the people, turned against us.

She went on, This illegitimate, corrupt Regime hates America and has weaponized the entirety of the Federal Government to take down President Donald Trump.

As governor, she said, I will fight these Tyrants with every fiber of my being.

Well, thats a platform for governor of Arizona, I guess.

The GOP candidate for attorney general, Abraham Hamadeh, was calm, cool and collected in his reaction.

Just kidding: Hamadeh completely lost it, too.

Our justice system has been HIJACKED, he tweeted. Our FBI has been CORRUPTED. Its time to restore LAW & ORDER.

Its bad enough for a candidate for governor to go off the deep end the way Lake did, but it means a bit more when someone wanting to be the states top law-enforcement officer does so. It raises the question of what he knows about the judicial system and how prudently he would use the powers of the office.

U.S. Senate candidate Blake Masters, who got a big boost from Trumps endorsement, quickly swung to the former presidents defense, too.

Everyone knows this was politically motivated, Masters tweeted. And that should terrify us all.

He went on: When street crimes go unsolved but opposition leaders are hounded by federal police, youre living in a third world country.

I suppose thats possible, but its also possible that the search shows we live in a country where the rule of law applies even to the most powerful  rarely true in developing countries.

But who am I to question the candidates judgment? We should probably trust the judgment of people like Mark Finchem, the state legislator from Oro Valley who has become a top Trump ally and the GOP candidate for secretary of state.

His assessment on Twitter: The DOJ didnt just unite the Republican party, they united all Americans against their tyranny.

On Telegram he went even further: The FBI just united the entire world behind President Trump.

The whole world! Finchem and many other Trump supporters tend to have an exaggerated view of Trumps popularity because they feel so strongly about him and surround themselves with others who feel the same way.

Thats why the only way they can explain the fact that Trump lost Arizona is by saying he was cheated. They cant imagine an Arizona that did not feel the same way about him that they do.

But Tucson Republican Benny White and two fellow election researchers have proven conclusively why Trump lost the state by a narrow margin in 2020: People who otherwise voted for Republicans chose not to vote for Trump at the top of the ticket.

Thats part of what makes the decision to needlessly rush to Trumps defense over the FBI search so puzzling.

Yes, these candidates likely required Trumps endorsement in order to win their primaries. The voters in the Republican primary apparently placed high value on Trumps endorsement.

But that is not a majority of Arizona voters. The voters who cast ballots for Lake in the primary amount to 9.4% of all Arizona registered voters. For Finchem, that figure is 7.8%; for Masters, 7.7%; for Hamadeh, 6.3%.

None of them even won more than 27% of registered Republicans votes. And Republicans only make up 34% of Arizonas electorate. The remaining 66% is unlikely to include many similar Trump devotees.

Now, one could argue that the search of Trumps home raises unprecedented questions about the application of the rule of law in America. It does! But that argument cuts both ways: You can just as easily say that the search shows nobody is above the law as you can argue that it shows bias.

None of these candidates actually knew the reasons for the search when they opined about its supposed wrongfulness on Monday. In fact, it emerged Tuesday that the search was apparently part of an investigation into Trump allegedly keeping classified documents he was supposed to turn over to the National Archives.

Not exactly a bombshell political investigation.

This shows why the Trump endorsed candidates should have been more circumspect. I think we all understand their strong feelings of devotion about Trump, whose presidency they supported and who helped launch them to political success in the state primary.

But they all, especially Hamadeh, ought to show the patience to wait to see the legal and procedural justification for the search before they pass judgment.

They should do that not just because its right and shows maturity, but also because it makes political sense in Arizonas general election.
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  The leader of Vermont's state Senate, Becca Balint, won the Democratic Party primary on Tuesday for Vermont's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, meaning she could become the first woman and the first openly gay person to represent the state in Congress.

In deep-blue Vermont, its likely the Democratic candidate will also clinch the general election in November. A win by Balint, who is white, would help erase what some consider to be the blot on the liberal states reputation of only being represented by white men.

Balint garnered support from the progressive wing of the state party, including the independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, and national progressive leaders such as Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Balint had campaigned with Sanders late last month.

Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, a more centrist candidate who was supported by the states Democratic establishment, including retiring U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and former governors Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin.

In a statement, Balint thanked her opponents in the primary and said she was "humbled and honored by this victory."

Tonight is a big step forward for our state. Vermont has chosen a bold, progressive vision for the future, and I will be proud to represent us in Congress," Balint said. We can preserve democracy, tackle climate change, bridge inequality, and make the health care system work for all of us. I know that we will.

In a concession speech, Gray said she'd called Balint to congratulate her on the win.

While my disappointment is profound, so too is my gratitude for his opportunity, Gray said. This was a tough race with deeply qualified candidates making their case to Vermonters.

Vermont voters also chose Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch to replace Leahy, who has held the seat since 1975 and was the last of Congresss so-called Watergate babies. Welchs decision to run for the Senate seat opened up his seat in the House, the first time since 2006 that there have been any openings in Vermonts three-member congressional delegation.

Welch easily defeated two little-known candidates to move on to the general election in November. During his years in Congress, Welch has been one of Vermonts top vote-getters and would be an odds-on favorite to win the general election.

Welch will face retired U.S. Army officer Gerald Malloy, who defeated former U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan in Tuesday's Republican primary for the Senate seat. Malloy says he believes he can win in November, although no Republican has represented the state in Washington since 2001 when the late Sen. Jim Jeffords left the GOP to become an independent, switching control of the Senate from Republican to Democratic.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott also cruised to his partys primary victory, defeating two candidates as he seeks a fourth term. The lone candidate for the Democratic nomination is activist Brenda Siegel, of Newfane. Last fall she spent 27 nights sleeping on the steps of the Vermont Statehouse to highlight the states homelessness challenge.

Liam Madden, a Marine Corps veteran who describes himself as a non-traditional candidate, won the GOP primary, defeating Ericka Redic of Burlington and Anya Tynio of Charletson.

Madden says he's an independent, and has said he considered declining the nomination if he won  until he learned that would allow the party to choose a replacement for the November ballot.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  U.S. officials wont approve a natural gas pipeline from Idaho to Wyoming until additional environmental studies are completed.

A U.S. District Court on Wednesday approved an agreement between the U.S. Forest Service and two environmental groups that filed a lawsuit to stop the 50-mile (80-kilometer) Crow Creek Pipeline Project.

The Forest Service agreed to complete a supplemental environmental impact statement before authorizing the project that partially crosses Forest Service land. The timeline for completing the environmental study isn't clear.

Wyoming-based Lower Valley Energy wants to build the pipeline that would start near Montpelier, Idaho, and run to Afton, Wyoming. But the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Yellowstone to Uintas Connection say it will harm protected grizzly bears and other wildlife.

"The ruling is a huge victory for the climate as well as free-roaming endangered species like grizzly bears, wolverines, and lynx, said Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies.

A lawsuit the groups filed in 2020 contended an 18-mile (29-kilometer) portion of the pipeline would cut a corridor through Caribou-Targhee National Forest and create a road through six roadless areas. The 2001 Roadless Rule prevents road construction and timber harvest in designated roadless areas, which are typically 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) or larger.

The environmental groups argued the pipeline corridor would be a permanent motorized trail through the roadless areas.

"This unique area that links the Northern and Southern Rocky Mountains must be protected and managed as a wildlife corridor for our endangered wildlife species, said Jason Christensen, director of Yellowstone to Uintas Connection.

Lower Valley Energy  which intervened in the case on the side of the Forest Service, as did the state of Wyoming  has previously said it has been trucking natural gas to Afton, but that delivery has been unreliable and the town has sometimes nearly run out.

Lower Valley Energy spokesman Brian Tanabe didnt immediately return a call Wednesday from The Associated Press.

The Forest Service, before the lawsuit, approved building the pipeline through the forest with a temporary 50-foot (15-meter) wide right-of-way for construction and then a 20-foot (6-meter) utility corridor as a permanent right-of-way. In all, the construction phase would use about 110 acres (45 hectares) of forest land and the permanent right-of-way about 45 acres (18 hectares).

About 26 miles (40 kilometers) of the pipeline crosses private land and about 4 miles (6 kilometers) crosses state land.
 Flash

There is no room for ambiguity or arbitrary interpretation of the one-China principle, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu reiterated on Tuesday, a week after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region.

"This is just a political farce, and a dangerous, malicious provocation," Ma told CGTN during an interview on Tuesday, adding that Pelosi made the visit in disregard of China's warning.

Her visit infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, violated the one-China principle and provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques, affected the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

"It is unacceptable to the Chinese people," said Ma. "China has every reason to respond with countermeasures."

The one-China principle

In October 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, confirming a basic norm of international relations: There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.

Then in December 1978, China and the U.S. issued the joint communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, in which the U.S. "acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is a part of China." According to the three joint communiques between China and the U.S., Washington can only maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with Taiwan.

Ma on Tuesday rejected the U.S. claim that Pelosi's visit did not violate the one-China policy, as she herself had admitted that it was an official visit.

He also slammed the U.S. for unilaterally adding the "Taiwan Relations Act" and the "Six Assurances" to its one-China policy.

"This is against international law. China never accepts it, and is always opposed to it."

A U.S.-provoked crisis

In disregard of China's repeated representations and warnings, the U.S. house speaker arrived in Taipei on August 2. In response, China began a series of joint military exercises and training activities around the Taiwan island.

Ma rejected the U.S. accusation that China should take full responsibility for the current escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait, adding that it was "confounding black and white."

"The crisis is unilaterally provoked by the United States," he said. "China has no choice but to fight back and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Ma said.

Noting the U.S. and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are changing the status quo of the Taiwan Strait, he said China's countermeasures are a "necessary and legitimate" response to their provocations. "They are just and lawful."

In the aftermath of the visit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the cancellation and suspension of cooperation with the U.S. in some areas as well as sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family.

The United States is the "biggest troublemaker" of cross-Strait peace and regional stability, Ma said, urging it stop trying to use Taiwan to contain China.

A stronger one-China consensus

The Chinese side's position on Pelosi's visit has also been widely backed by the international community, with the United Nations reiterating the importance of adherence to the one-China principle.

Ma noted that more than 170 countries and many international organizations have "spoken up for what is right, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle and expressing support for China in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity."

In a rebuke to the G7 foreign ministers' statement expressing "concern" over China's actions, he asked, "Compared with over 170 countries, what do G7 think they are? Who cares what they say?"

"In its aftermath, the one-China consensus of the international community emerged stronger, and the U.S. attempt to play the 'Taiwan card' and contain China proved more unpopular and futile," he said.
Last month, the New York Times published a story about how a generation of chefs, who were born in Korea but grew up in the United States after being adopted, are trying to connect with their heritage through their experiments with Korean cuisine.

As the story, written by Elyse Inamine, states, they are enthusiastically expressing (their complex heritage) through the very public, and sometimes precarious, act of cooking for others.

That article got passed around a lot here, said Jeff Whitekiller, culinary manager at Mr. Kims in Tulsa. It really captured the sort of thing chef Alexander is going for with this restaurant.

Mr. Kims is perhaps the most personal concept Ben Alexander has developed in his role as culinary director of the McNellies Group. Alexander was born in Inchon, Korea, as Kim Young Duk; he and his two sisters were adopted at a very early age by Phil and Nancy Armstrong.

In the Who is Mr. Kim? section of the restaurants website, it states that the Armstrongs tried their best to create Korean dishes for their children, in spite of the challenge of finding the proper ingredients at that time.

Those efforts by his parents, as well as Alexanders own explorations of the broad spectrum of Asian cuisines during his years of service in the U.S. Navy, all fed into the menu he created for Mr. Kims.

One word we dont use around here is traditional, Whitekiller said. Just about anything we might think of as traditional, especially food, is really the product of a lot of different things coming together. So Mr. Kims isnt a traditional Korean restaurant but does have a base in Korean flavors and techniques.

Every table in Mr. Kims has in its center a round grill that is used to cook most of the components of ones meal. Items can be ordered a la carte from a list of beef, pork, seafood and vegetables, or one can take advantage of the Omakase, or Chefs Tasting Menu. (Omakase is a Japanese phrase that essentially means I put my trust in you.)

The basic, or House, Omakase includes a mix of beef and pork preparations  some marinated, some lightly adorned with a dusting of flaked sea salt, all raw  along with a trio of appetizers and banchan, the array of side dishes that are a familiar part of Korean cuisine.

Or one can go for the Baller Omakase, which adds seafood and portions of Wagyu beef to the selections. As this choice is $125 per person, our party of four decided it might be bit more prudent to keep to the House, which is $75 per person.

Our server, Edward, explained the menu and the process well. As there were a couple of appetizers that caught our collective eye, we wanted to know if they would be a part of our selection. Of the three appetizers on the menu that evening, only one was from the regular menu: a bite-sized portion of hamachi crudo atop a slaw of apple and daikon radish with a creamy ponzu dressing.

We considered adding the other appetizers to our order but ultimately decided to see what made up the House menu and be content with that.

The hamachi was the second of the third appetizers, and the mildness of the fish and the sweet, peppery quality of the ponzu dressing on the slaw made it a good foil for the richness of the other two appetizers.

One was an oyster (Whitekiller said Mr. Kims gets its oysters from Hood Canal, Washington, via Bodean) topped with ginger, mint and caviar, which was delightfully creamy and earthy all at once. The other was a lobster shumai, a single dumpling served in a tiny bamboo steamer. The dumpling contained a large flavorful chunk of perfectly steamed lobster.

This was followed by a small cup of a salad of cabbage and mixed greens in a pear-and-ginger dressing. Then came the main event.

Seven small ramekins were set in a circle around the by-now quite hot grill. These were the banchan, which are described as side dishes but might be better described as condiments. They include spicy pickled cucumbers, a slaw of scallions, white and red kimchi, a potato salad, sesame oil, and ssamjang, a Korean chili paste that has a good balance of heat and sweetness. A plate of red leaf lettuce in which to wrap the cooked meats and whatever banchan toppings one wanted completed the setup.

Then came the board of meats. This evenings selection included four beef selections: prime rib-eye, prime strip steak, prime rib cap and short rib in a galbi marinade. The lone pork offering was bulgogi-marinated pork.

One can have the server oversee the cooking, or one can take up the tongs oneself and get to grilling. Edward began the process, starting with the unmarinated meats. First, the grill is rubbed with a chunk of Wagyu beef fat for a bit of lubrication, then the meats are added.

The quality of these meats, which were dressed only with a little sale, was such that they really didnt need anything but some heat to be tasty. The heat on our grill was a bit temperamental, but one can rotate the grills surface to make sure every item on it gets enough heat.

A new grill grate is brought out before cooking the marinated meats, as the sugars in the marinades can burn quickly. Personally, the galbi short ribs were a favorite; the pork was sliced so thin it practically had only one side.

When the meats were presented, one member of our party asked, What are the rest of you going to eat?

Weve had some people comment about the size of the cuts, Whitekiller said. But in the House omakase, each diner is getting 7 ounces of meat. Thats as much as you get if you order a filet at a conventional steakhouse.

Our party included people with substantial appetites, but no one felt hungry at the end of the meal. Fortunately, we did have room for the included dessert, in this case a scoop of lemongrass sorbet (made by Tulsas Rose Rock Microcreamery) that was remarkably complex in flavor  tangy, slightly astringent and very refreshing.

Mr. Kims is in the space that previously was home to a retail shop and an art gallery. The interior has been done up in basic black with exposed brick walls and white accents. Gilt chopsticks are provided at each place setting, though Western-style cutlery is available upon request.

Mr. Kims offers full bar service, including such specialty cocktails as a Umani Manhattan, made with shiitake-infused rye whiskey; the Lost Coz, a frozen concoction of vodka, cranberry, triple sec and other ingredients; and Jian Punch, made with Bombay London gin, two types of soju, a Korean liquor made from rice; matcha cold brew, simple syrup, lemon and sparkling wine, that is available individually or a carafe that serves up to six people.

While Mr. Kims bills itself as a late night steakhouse, general manager Anne Jessup said shes been surprised at the number of families that have been patronizing the restaurant since its opening.

I guess its because its so interactive, and its a way of getting the kids involved, she said.

Tulsa World Scene podcast
Dear Amy: Im a senior woman, divorced for more than half my life.

Recently Ive hired a worker (30 years younger than I) to update my home, which badly needed some work done.

During the time hes been working in my home, weve become friendly.

I sincerely respect him and strongly believe he respects me, as well.

Lately I find myself having fantasies about us becoming friends with benefits, and he has made a couple of comments which lead me to believe that he may feel the same way.

Im uncomfortable with these feelings, but seem powerless to stop.

Ive never in my life done anything like this and truly dont want to now.

How should I handle this extremely uncomfortable situation?

 The Older Woman

Dear Older Woman: Fifteen years ago, I called a guy I went to high school with to renovate my house. He renovated my life, instead.

My point is that it is possible to meet Mr. Right  or Mr. Right Now  in your own living room.

If you truly dont want to become involved with this man, then you should limit your time spent with him, get him to finish up the contracted work, pay him, send him on his way and continue to live your life  as is.

However, life is short. Hot sex is great.

Understand that there are qualifications about being and staying safe. Do what you can to find out about this man beyond his Yelp reviews, and if you decide to go for it, use a condom.

No change in your circumstances is guaranteed to be seamless, happy or easy.

Any involvement with him would bring on questions, uncertainty and quite possibly an uncomfortable upheaval for you.

But  I repeat  a sexual reawakening is life affirming and lovely.

Even the emotional pain that might accompany the possible outcome of the friends with benefits scenario can be worth it, because reconnecting with your sensual side will remind you to love yourself, to live fully in your own body, and that its OK to be daring and occasionally wild.

The Emma Thompson film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (currently streaming on Hulu) might inspire you.

Dear Amy: Trying to be Accommodating described their discomfort hiking with friends who dragged their very young children (ages 2 and 4) on an eight-hour hike in the heat and over rough terrain. The kids did most of the walking themselves, and cried the whole time.

I was one of those kids.

I was taken backpacking at 3 years old. I learned to ski when I was 2. When I inevitably fell behind, my parents said they wanted me to learn independence and stamina and that they would just go on ahead.

By the time I was 14, Id been left on the Knife Edge of Mt. Katahdin in Maine, rescued by the snow patrol in Italy and found by strangers who CARRIED ME ON THEIR SHOULDERS up Mount Washington, to name just three episodes.

This behavior is traumatic for those children and if they are pushed beyond their limits in this way consistently it will only get worse.

Its one thing to not spoil or to not give in to a child.

Its another thing to ignore actual distress.

 JA

Dear JA: Some readers responded that the parental behavior described in the question from Trying to be Accommodating amounts to abuse, and I agree.

In my response, I suggested ways for Trying to respond to the parents, urging them to lessen the length and challenge of this years annual hike, but I didnt focus on the troubling parenting choices, and I should have.

Thank you for your response. Mount Katahdin is described as a very strenuous 8- to 12-hour hike. I could hardly bear to even watch a video of a hiker on the mountains famed Knife Edge (described as deadly); I cannot imagine being left there alone.

Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers, as well as the professional rescue squads who risk their own safety to help those stranded or left behind.

You sound like a true survivor.

Dear Amy: Annoyed Little Sister was bothered by her brothers incessant bragging. Through childhood, their mother had always set them up in a competition, with the brother on the bottom.

This sounds like my childhood. Blatant parental favoritism damages sibling relationships throughout life. Ive found ways to rise above it, but the sadness endures.

 Also Annoyed

Dear Annoyed: Parents write the script, while siblings spend the rest of their lives reciting it.
Contract termination proceedings that once threatened Epic Charter Schools future were formally ended on Tuesday.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted 3-0 to dismiss those sponsorship contract termination proceedings, initially begun in October 2020 and on hold since April 2021, when a consent agreement deal bought Epic more time to try to come into compliance with its sponsor.

It is a big deal. Its almost anticlimactic today, but it has been a hell of a ride, said Robert Franklin, who serves as chairman of the virtual charter school board.

The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board initiated termination proceedings against Epic, the states largest online public school, shortly after an October 2020 state investigative audit uncovered years of illegal administrative cost overruns, comingling of funds that should have been kept separate by Epics two Oklahoma schools, and the use of Oklahoma taxpayer dollars and taxpayer-funded school employees for a third Epic charter school operating in Southern California.

A consent agreement between Epic school leaders and the virtual charter school board was reached in 2021 to separate all administrative functions and governance of Epics two schools, but Epic struggled to come into full compliance with the deal.

One of the final hang-ups was Epics longtime practice of sharing employees between two separate schools and having only one governing board with the same members overseeing both schools.

Because state funds for the two schools were found to have been comingled in previous years, the statewide virtual charter school board was insistent that Epics two schools have two independent governing boards to represent each schools interests and adopt shared service agreements if the schools wished to continue sharing employees.

Instead, Epics governing board chose to consolidate into a single school, with the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board agreeing to sponsor it. Rose State College, which authorized Epics second school system  Epic Blended Learning Centers  also approved of the consolidation.

Epic Superintendent Bart Banfield called Tuesdays vote to formally end the termination proceedings a milestone moment in the history of Epic Charter School.

It has been a long road, but on behalf of our Epic team and Board of Education, we are grateful for the patience and direction provided to us by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and its leadership, Banfield said in a written press statement. Today, our hard work and dedication to transforming Epic Charter School was recognized by the organization directly in charge of our oversight.

Franklin, who works as associate superintendent at Tulsa Tech, said dealing with such a fiscal and legal crisis at a sponsored charter school has significantly altered the way the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board approaches oversight of existing schools and potential sponsorship of new applicants.

I think our ligaments have been stretched. To say how important this oversight is and the commitment that the three (virtual charter school) board members have taken professionally and personally is serious, Franklin said.

I give my colleagues high marks for staying with this. I think we have been changed dramatically and our executive director has been changed dramatically. Were all asking tougher questions and we are all in a place that is more attentive.

Epic co-founders Ben Harris and David Chaney, who made themselves millionaires by setting up the for-profit Epic Youth Services company to manage the Epic schools, lost control of Epic in May 2021 in the aftermath of the extremely critical investigative audit by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspectors Office.

In total, Epic has been docked about $20 million by the Oklahoma State Department of Education for hiding years worth of administrative overhead costs that exceeded statutory limits for all public schools in the state.

Chaney, Harris and their longtime chief financial officer, Josh Brock, are now facing criminal charges in a massive racketeering case filed in June, and the Internal Revenue Service recently expanded its ongoing audit of Epic to include an additional two years under the schools former for-profit managers.
The State Board of Educations decision to downgrade Tulsa Public Schools accreditation over an implicit bias training session is now being cited in a federal lawsuit challenging a state law meant to limit instruction on subjects related to race and gender.

In a supplemental submission filed Monday with the Oklahoma City-based U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law argue that the repercussions the Tulsa district has faced are examples of how the law is vague and can be used to stifle protected speech.

The cite both the decision of the Oklahoma State Department of Educations General Counsels Office to classify an August 2021 professional development session on implicit bias as a violation of House Bill 1775 and the Oklahoma State Board of Educations subsequent vote to penalize TPS accreditation because of that.

In short, the only thing that is clear or straightforward about the Act, as the board and OSDEs actions confirm, is the message it sends to school districts and teachers: Steer clear of any discussion of race or bias that could possibly be interpreted as causing offense or risk losing your accreditation status or teaching licenses, the filing states.

Filed in October, the lawsuit claims that HB 1775 violates both the First and 14th amendments, is unconstitutionally vague, overbroad and racially discriminatory, and has had a chilling effect on lesson plans. Along with an injunction to block the laws enforcement, the suit seeks to have HB 1775 declared unconstitutional.

In the suit, the attorneys noted that several school districts have removed multiple books by women and minority authors from their curriculum for fear of running afoul of the law, including Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird, Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun.

The lawsuit also claims that school districts have told teachers to avoid certain discussion topics and phrases, including white privilege and diversity, in their classes in order to comply with the new law.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Tulsa Public Schools is not a party to the litigation, and the published draft agenda for Mondays regular school board meeting does not include any references to it. A spokeswoman did not respond by deadline as to whether the district is considering joining the lawsuit.

Along with the Oklahoma State Conference of the NAACP, the plaintiffs include two public school teachers from Edmond and Oklahoma City Millwood, a high school student, the Black Emergency Response Team at the University of Oklahoma, and chapters of the American Indian Movement and the American Association of University Professors on behalf of their members, who are either teachers or parents of students currently attending an Oklahoma educational institution.

In Mondays filing, the attorneys noted that both AIM and the NAACP have members who are affiliated with Tulsa Public Schools as teachers, parents and students.

Named defendants include state Attorney General John OConnor, Gov. Kevin Stitt, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, the members of the State Board of Education, the members of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the members of the Board of Regents for the University of Oklahoma, Edmond Public Schools Superintendent Angela Grunewald and the members of the Edmond Public Schools Board of Education.

As of the close of business Tuesday, no hearings had been scheduled on the matter.

Passed in 2021, HB 1775 bans teaching that one race or gender is inherently superior. It also prohibits causing a student to feel guilty or uncomfortable because of their race or gender, as well as teaching that anyone is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or otherwise.

The text of the measure does not include the phrase critical race theory. However, many have construed its provisions as a ban on the concept, which argues that many key pillars of American society have been shaped in ways to benefit whites at the expense of minorities, including the judicial system and the economy.

TPS came under scrutiny after a science teacher from Memorial High School filed a written complaint with the State Department of Education in February, claiming that an implicit bias professional development course had a section that includes statements that specifically shame white people for past offenses in history, and state that all are implicitly racially biased by nature.

The training sessions slides and audio, reviewed by the Tulsa World, refer to implicit bias as a universal, widespread phenomenon and state that education and other systems were originally built for populations that are vastly different than those that attend our schools today.

Tulsa was one of two districts statewide to be accredited with a warning in July due to a violation of HB 1775. The other district, Mustang Public Schools, self-reported an investigation and violation after the boards June 23 meeting, prompting the Oklahoma State Department of Education originally to recommend that it be accredited with one deficiency.

In a footnote, the attorneys noted that they did not include Mustang in Mondays filing due to a lack of information about the circumstances leading up to the determination that the Oklahoma City-area district violated the law. However, the footnote also mentions that the attorneys have an open records request pending for additional information on the matter.

Video: Full Oklahoma State Board of Education discussion and vote on Tulsa Public Schools accreditation
Police have implicated four teens in the January fatal shooting of a man during a gun sale turned robbery in east Tulsa.

Bradlee Hale, 22, killed Jan. 22, was one of the first homicide victims of the year in a case that remained unsolved for months. Now court documents indicate the case will focus on four individuals who were all under 15 at the time of Hales killing.

Edson Bellefleur, Zion Crawford, Jayvione Valentine  now 16, 14 and 15, respectively  were charged last week in Tulsa County District Court with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Crawford also faces a charge of possession of a firearm after juvenile adjudication.

State court documents also identify Cherokee Nation member Kollea Jones, 16, against whom police said they presented charges to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma said federal juvenile cases are sealed and that by law, prosecutors cant discuss whether theyve charged someone in federal court.

Hale reportedly scheduled some type of sell that night with Valentine through Instagram, and his mother told detectives she drove her son to the provided location, the Summer Stone Duplexes near 21st Street and 129th East Avenue.

Hales mother said her son worked at a local dispensary and sold marijuana on the side, according to a probable cause affidavit, but she hurried the transaction along when she saw Hale hand over what she believed to be guns in exchange for money.

Preparing to leave, she said she saw a boy pointing a gun at her vehicle and heard him say something ... that made her believe the guy was trying to rob them, the affidavit alleges.

She said she heard gunshots as she drove away and Hale told her he had been shot.

She headed toward a hospital but pulled over when she saw police officers, telling them of the shooting. The officers attempted to provide first aid to Hale, and he was taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Video from the duplexes shows four individuals running from the scene, the affidavit alleges, and detectives later received Crawfords name as being involved in the homicide.

Two guns recovered during an unrelated search warrant service at Crawfords home were tied to the crime, one via forensics of cartridge casings found at the scene and the other from a photo of a gun Hale was attempting to sell prior to his death.

Bellefleur was captured while running from the back door of the home during the search warrant service, and Crawford was found in a bedroom.

Both denied involvement in Hales homicide in interviews alongside their parents, but another person arrested on unrelated charges later in the year told detectives they heard Bellefleur, Crawford, Valentine and Jones talking about hitting a lick and arguing over how to split three guns the night of Hales shooting.

Crawford was already in custody when his new charges dropped, police said, and Bellefleur was arrested the next day. Valentine, of Broken Arrow, remains outstanding.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS (2677), bit.ly/TCStips or through the Tulsa Tips app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play or iTunes stores.

Tipsters may remain anonymous, and cash rewards are paid for information leading to the arrest of persons committing crimes.
A Bartlesville man known for showing up uninvited to political events and attempting to get close to politicians pleaded guilty on Wednesday in federal court to cyberstalking and threatening to assault U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern and his wife, according to a news release.

Charles Eisenberger, 39, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma to cyberstalking; threatening to kidnap and assault a member of Congress; and threatening to kidnap and assault the spouse of a member of Congress.

The U.S. Attorneys Office and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate online threats of violence meant to intimidate elected officials or members of our community, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said. Keith Eisenberger now understands there are legal repercussions to committing these criminal acts.

Eisenberger admitted that between Nov. 27, 2018, and May 11, 2022, he threatened and harassed Hern, who represents Oklahomas 1st Congressional District, and his wife through electronic communication in an effort to cause emotional distress to Hern and his immediate family, the news release states.

Eisenberger first began making concerning statements when Hern won office in November 2018 and his statements became increasingly more violent over time and were made during visits and phone calls to the congressmans offices in both Washington, D.C., and Tulsa.

In January 2019, Eisenberger appeared at the Washington office yelling and demanding to see Hern; he told U.S. Capitol Police officers he was angry because he believed Hern had been appointed to the congressional position without Eisenberger being considering for the post.

In a social media post dated Nov. 9, 2020, Eisenberger again voiced his anger about the election and further suggested that the congressman and the state of Oklahoma deserved to be federally executed and that if that was not feasible then the resignation, death or expulsion of Hern was acceptable, the news release states.

In an October 2021 social media video post, he said he would assault the congressman at a debate, a conference, or elsewhere, and in a May 11, 2022, social media post, Eisenberger stated that he hoped to kidnap Hern and his wife and wished harm would come to the congressmans family.

The FBI conducted the investigation, according to the news release, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar prosecuting the case.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Human rights groups on Wednesday warned anxious Kenyans over rising levels of false or misleading information being shared on social media" as the country awaited results of a close presidential election. The electoral commission indicated it would be at least Thursday before a winner is declared.

High-profile supporters of the two leading candidates were tweeting claims of victory, citing counts based on more than 46,000 results forms posted online by the electoral commission in a gesture of transparency. Kenyan media raced to do their own tallies, but their differing, incomplete results added to confusion. The government-created Media Council of Kenya said it was consulting with editors for an urgent solution to ensure Kenyans receive synchronized results.

A day after Tuesday's election in which turnout was notably lower than in recent years, interest in the winner was sharpening in a country often held up as an example of a relatively strong democracy in Africa.

Amnesty International Kenya and other groups in a statement urged Kenyans to consider all results as provisional until the electoral commission announces the official results to reduce the risks of violence or claims of rigging. But tensions in some places were already high. In the Nairobi neighborhood of Mathare, an angry crowd formed after seals on a few ballot boxes at a tallying center were found broken.

This election is likely the final try by longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga, who on his fifth attempt is backed by former rival and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta. The other top contender is Deputy President William Ruto, who fell out with the president earlier in their decade in power.

Voters have expressed little hope of real change and frustration with rising prices and widespread corruption in East Africas economic hub.

The electoral commission said turnout was at least 65%, far lower than the 80% in the previous election in 2017. More than 22 million people were registered to vote, but some told The Associated Press they doubted they would bother, dispirited by economic challenges including high national debt and widespread unemployment.

Both top candidates are long known to Kenyans, Odinga as a democracy campaigner and former political detainee and Ruto as a wealthy populist who plays up his humble youth as a contrast to the dynasties that produced Odinga and Kenyatta.

The president's backing of Odinga cut across the usual ethnic lines that have long defined elections and contributed to violence. This time there is no candidate from Kenya's largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, though both top candidates chose Kikuyu running mates.

Official election results must be announced within a week of the vote. More than 99% of results forms had been electronically submitted by polling centers to the commission on Wednesday, but it still must verify them with the physical forms.

The issue of saying that we should declare results today (Wednesday), that will not happen today, commission chair Wafula Chebukati told journalists, but he said the aim is to conclude the process at the earliest possible time. He said polling went smoothly.

It's not done till it's done, Odinga's running mate Martha Karua tweeted, as other top candidates were publicly silent.

A runoff election will be held if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes.

On the eve of the vote, Kenya's government reminded people that this will be a CONTEST, not a FIGHT. A contest must have a winner, and a loser. In a fight, life can sometimes be lost.

More than 1,000 people were killed after 2007 election results were announced and Odinga alleged massive rigging. In 2017, the high court overturned the election results, a first in Africa, after Odinga alleged irregularities. He boycotted the fresh election and declared himself the people's president, drawing accusations of treason.

A handshake with Kenyatta calmed that crisis, set up their unusual alliance and angered Ruto, who still accuses the president of betrayal.

Both Odinga and Ruto have said they will accept the results as long as the vote is free and fair.

Already, reported troubles include the failure of about 200 voting kits out of the more than 46,000. The electoral commission called it not widespread and normal for technology to break down at times. But some local reports also cited people saying they were unable to vote when polling workers wouldn't use the paper voters' register as a backup, which was allowed.

Such frustrations occurred even after Kenya budgeted $347 million, or more than $15 per voter, for one of Africa's most expensive elections.

The wait for a winner was bringing anxiety and fatigue. Everybody is very exhausted, everybody is eager to give out the ballot boxes and go back home because we have not even slept for the past two days, said Loice Wanjiru, a deputy presiding officer at a tallying center in Nairobi.

Kenyans have a week from the announcement of official results to file any court challenges. The court has two weeks to rule. A fresh election would be held within 60 days.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive Squad, eked out a closer-than-expected Democratic primary victory Tuesday against a centrist challenger who questioned the incumbent's support for the defund the police" movement.

The evening went far smoother for another progressive, Becca Balint, who won the Democratic House primary in Vermont  positioning her to become the first woman representing the state in Congress.

In Minnesota, a Republican was headed to Congress to serve the remaining months of the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn's term.

And a key race was unfolding in western Wisconsin, where Democratic Rep. Ron Kinds retirement after 26 years in office opens up a seat in a district that has been trending Republican. The GOP nominee vying to replace Kind is a former Navy SEAL who attended the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Some of the top elections:

OMAR SURVIVES TOUGH CHALLENGE

Omar, who represents Minneapolis and is one of the left's leading voices in Congress, has defended calls to redirect public safety funding more into community-based programs. She squared off with former City Councilmember Don Samuels, whose north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city.

Samuels argued that Omar is divisive and helped defeat a ballot question last year that sought to replace the city police department with a new public safety unit. He and others also successfully sued the city to force it to meet minimum police staffing levels called for in Minneapolis' charter.

Samuels said his narrow loss shows that Omar is beatable: If this was the general election, no doubt that we would have won this race." Omar countered, Tonights victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for.

Barb Atkinson, a 53-year-old part-time event planner for a radio station who supported Samuels, called Omar "too far to the left.

Although I respect Ilhan Omar and what shes done, I disagree with the defund the police. I really think that wording sends the wrong message, Atkinson said. She added, "We need our leaders to work together to solve this issue.

Omar, who is seeking her third term in the House, had crushed a similar primary challenge two years ago from a well-funded but lesser-known opponent.

Shes had a lot of adversity already and pushback. I dont think her work is done, said Kathy Ward, a 62-year-old property caretaker for an apartment building in Minneapolis who voted for Omar. Weve got to give her a chance.

Two other members of the Squad  Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri  won their Democratic primaries last week.

TWO ELECTIONS, ONE SEAT IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

Voters in southern Minnesota, meanwhile, were deciding two races related to the same seat vacated by Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died earlier this year from cancer.

Republican Brad Finstad, who served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Trump administration, won a special election to serve the remaining months of Hagedorn's term. Finstad defeated Democrat Jeff Ettinger, a former chief executive at Hormel Foods, in a race that was closer than anticipated in the Republican-leaning district. Both had won a May 24 special primary election to advance to Tuesday's contest.

Finstad and Ettinger will face off again in November for a full term in the district  it includes Rochester and Mankato  after each secured his party's nomination Tuesday. Ettinger faced minimal primary opposition, while Finstad had little trouble dispatching state Rep. Jeremy Munson. Munson said he doesn't think President Joe Biden's victory was legitimate  despite federal and state election officials, courts and Trumps own attorney general saying there was no credible evidence the 2020 presidential election was tainted.

REPLACING RON KIND

Republicans see a pickup opportunity in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, the seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kind.

The district covers a swath of counties along Wisconsin's western border with Minnesota and includes La Crosse and Eau Claire. Republican Derrick Van Orden was unopposed in his primary Tuesday and has Trump's endorsement.

Van Orden narrowly lost to Kind in the 2020 general election. He attended Trump's Stop the Steal rally near the White House but has said he never stepped foot on the grounds of the Capitol during the insurrection.

State Sen. Brad Pfaff topped three other Democrats to secure the party's nomination and will face Van Orden in the fall. Pfaff, a onetime state agriculture secretary, had previously worked for Kind and received his endorsement.

RARE VERMONT OPEN SENATE SEAT

Vermont is the last state in the country yet to add a female member to its congressional delegation. Balint, who immediately becomes the favorite in November's general election, would also be the first openly gay member of Congress from Vermont.

She was endorsed by some of the nations leading leaders on the left, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Vermont has chosen a bold, progressive vision for the future, and I will be proud to represent us in Congress, Balint said in a statement.

Balint is vying to fill the states lone House seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Peter Welch who is running for Senate and easily secured the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. Welch is trying to succeed Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Senates longest-serving member, who is retiring, creating Vermonts first open Senate seat since 2006, when Sanders succeeded Jim Jeffords.

Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, an ex-staffer for Welch and has been backed by Leahy and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. In November, she'll face Liam Madden, a Marine Corps veteran from Bellows Falls who secured the Republican nomination.

Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski, Doug Glass and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., and Wilson Ring in Montpelier, Vt., contributed to this report.
Several Republican members of Oklahomas congressional delegation warned Tuesday that a legal search of former President Donald Trumps Florida home could set a dangerous precedent.

Its been 24 hours & weve heard nothing from DOJ & the FBI, according to a tweet from U.S. Sen. James Lankfords account. This is completely unacceptable. The politicization of DOJ/FBI has gone entirely too far.

First District Congressman Kevin Herns account posted two back-to-back tweets in which he echoes House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthys retribution threats:

Todays unannounced, politically-motivated raid on President Trumps home was a reckless move from the Biden Admin & proves how the administrative state has grown dangerously out of control. We (Republicans) MUST take back the House this fall & hold these unelected bureaucrats accountable!

Joe Biden campaigned on bringing our country together, but his DOJ just raided the house of his former  and possibly next  political opponent. Now he wants to add 87,000 new IRS agents and wants us to trust him?

The reference to 87,000 Internal Revenue Service agents involves Democrat plans to beef up enforcement of tax laws.

The longest statement came from 2nd District Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Markwayne Mullin, who says he speaks often to Trump.

What happened last night at the private residence of (former) President Donald Trump should send chills down every Americans spine, Mullin said in a written statement. The motivations for this investigation are overtly suspicious. An invasion like this is absolutely unprecedented. The weaponization and politicization of federal agencies is an attack on our democracy that we have now seen time and time again from the Democrat party in the last decade, from the Clintons to Joe Biden.

Political opponents have sought to undermine (former) President Trump from the moment he ran for office, all while ignoring actual crime run rampant from their own families, Mullin continued. From my post at the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence I will join Ranking Member Mike Turner with every resource we have available to demand immediate action by FBI Director Wray. The American peoples faith in our justice system is at stake.

Also tweeting a statement was 5th District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice.

The unprecedented raid on Mar-A-Lago & former President Trump is deeply concerning, she said. We must know exactly why this raid occurred. The DOJ & FBI should come to the Hill and provide much needed transparency. Its vital that we restore the American peoples faith in our institutions.

Bice, Mullin and Hern voted on Jan. 6, 2021, to hold up certification of the 2020 election results in response to Trumps unproven and mostly debunked claims of fraud and irregularities.

Lankford had planned to do so but changed his mind after Trump supporters overran the Capitol and threatened the life of Vice President Mike Pence.

U.S. Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District issued a statement Wednesday.

The FBIs unprecedented raid on the home of a former president should concern every American regardless of their political affiliation, said Cole. Absent a clear, full and compelling explanation for this extraordinary action, the public will begin to believe that the FBI and the Department of Justice have been deployed against a political opponent of the current Administration for political purposes. Nothing could be more dangerous and inappropriate.

So far neither the Department of Justice nor the FBI have offered any public explanation or justification for their actions. That must change immediately. I call upon the agencies in question to appear before the appropriate committees in Congress at once to explain their actions and justify this unprecedented move on the part of the FBI. The American people and the Congress deserve a complete accounting of this extraordinary action. So far neither the FBI nor the Department of Justice have chosen to provide one.

Editor's note: This story was updated after publication to include statements issued Wednesday.
Lawmakers are either willfully violating the law that requires them to send money to counties for mental health programs, or they are ignorant of it.

Regardless, state leaders have been ignoring the funding mandates of State Questions 780 and 781, both passed by Oklahomans in 2016. Those are the key portion of the criminal justice reforms that help prevent incarceration and recidivism.

The nonprofit Oklahoma Watch is the latest to point out in a recent story this dereliction of duties by state lawmakers to uphold laws. In November, the Tulsa World reported that the state has racked up a tab of about $50 million owed to county governments so far.

State Questions 780 and 781 reclassified some drug and property crimes to misdemeanors and instructed that the resulting state savings be divided among counties by population to invest in local mental health programs.

That first part  changing the classifications  was done. But not one dime has been given to county-level mental health programs.

To effectively and safely lower the prison population, offenders need resources that can help them change their lives.

That looks different across the state, with cities and towns having differing challenges. For some, there may be a youth suicide problem, while others face epidemics in opioid use or other obstacles. Many may have a mix of several factors.

The money could be used to bolster resources for community courts or mental health services.

Thats why the law focused on giving funding to county governments. Those officials are closer to what their residents require.

As expected, determining the amount of savings from having fewer inmates incarcerated went through some negotiation to get at an accurate amount. But that was settled two legislative sessions ago among the Department of Corrections, the Office and Management and Enterprise Services and representatives from the Oklahoma Policy Institute.

There is no logical reason why state lawmakers wont follow this law and release those funds to counties.

Oklahomas prison population is still too high. Oklahoma women are still No. 1 nationally in incarceration rate, and the state is at No. 2 overall.

Tulsa and Oklahoma counties were among the first to implement diversionary programs such as drug court, mental health court and veterans court. The metro areas now represent about 40% of prison intakes, instead of the 60% prior to these programs.

These types of programs transform lives and help retain a healthy workforce. Prisons can then hold people who are dangerous or who have committed heinous crimes.

State Rep. Justin Humphrey, chairman of the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections, sponsored an interim study on the issue. He tried last year to get funding secured under this law, but the measure failed to advance.

We hope lawmakers see the light on this issue and do the right thing.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to his Singaporean counterpart Halimah Yacob on the country's 57th National Day.

In the message, Xi said that Singapore has committed to a development path that suits its own national realities and has made huge achievements since its founding 57 years ago.

China and Singapore enjoy close and friendly relations, with wide-ranging and deep cooperation between the two countries, he said.

"I attach great importance to the development of China-Singapore relations, and stand ready to work with President Halimah to lead the two countries to dock their development strategies and expand high-level cooperation so as to take China-Singapore ties to a new level for the benefit of the two countries and peoples," said the Chinese president.

On Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also congratulated Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on the national day of the Southeast Asian country.

China is ready to work with Singapore to inject more positive energy for the regional peace and prosperity, Li said.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also extended his congratulations to Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on the day.
As a social contributor in the United States, Mother Sam was twice granted the presidential lifetime achievement award for her social devotion.

Ai Hong Sam, a Vietnamese-American doctor, has fostered hundreds of children for a simple reason that is allowing these orphans to call me 'mom' as they have long desired.

At that time, the Vinh Son orphanage in Thong Nhat Ward under Kon Tum Province, located in the Central Highlands region of Vietnam, was struggling to survive as it was home to hundreds of orphans, who were in desperate need of nurturing.

Once in a while, charitable groups or individuals paid them a visit and were able to assist in extremely difficult times.

One day, a woman from distant America found out, gradually got to know them, and voluntarily took on the burden.

Every single thing is confided to Mother Sam

Sam and the nuns in the orphanage are sharing the tasks with one another.

While the nuns are in charge of looking after the children, she travels back and forth to provide them with financial support for their studies.

Sam said that everything is not yet perfect, but it does not mean they are neglected.

Right now, she mainly provides books, tuition fees, and medicine for them.

However, the children come to her for everything from a broken rice cooker, water pump, and driller to school fees.

Her children are of all ages and backgrounds.

This year, 25 of them are set to enter high school so she took them from Kon Tum to Ho Chi Minh City and looked for a house so that they could stay together and take care of one another.

When they wanted to attend vocational school, she spent hours sitting and listening to their thoughts to give directions to each of them.

She wanted them to lead a life more like hers. She is determined to buy nice clothes and give good things to them.

Whenever she comes back from the U.S., she carries eight to ten suitcases containing gifts for her children.

She recounted that she once brought 250 pairs of jeans from the U.S. for all the children in the orphanage.

She was questioned by customs officers as she looked like a merchant.

However, the customs officers listened to her explanation, learned about the situation, and showed sympathy.

Also, when she bought watches for some older kids, she decided to get them for all.

It does not make sense if just a few of them own the watches, she said. Ive got to buy the nice ones as I love using the nice things, too, she added.

However, they cost an arm and a leg.

Therefore, the seller tried to dissuade her and asked why she needed to buy expensive items for charity.

And then, the seller gave her the maximum discount so that she could afford watches for all the children.

Despite the huge costs for the childrens lives, she brought them to a luxury resort to blow off steam, as a way to compliment them.

She was criticized for her wastefulness. Social media users said that she should have used that money to help many more people.

She just giggled and said each person has their own educating method.

To me, the most important thing is that my children learn to review themselves and look toward the future to strive for a better life," she said.

In order to get a leg-up, they have to feel the good and beautiful things of life to have a goal for effort. Otherwise, the children are satisfied with what they have, without any attempt.

In spite of their difficult backgrounds, I need to think about their future.

When the COVID-19 pandemic was put under control, she was back to visit the children and fostered two more.

Some of them are disabled: one of them has cerebral palsy and another was almost buried alive but was still breathing when discovered.

The nuns took them to the orphanage, and then she fostered both.

No one forced her to foster all the children, but she tried the best of her capacity.

To increase her income, she came up with new business plans.

Now, whether expanding my business or doing extra work, I always take the children into consideration, running some kind of business or doing some work so that they can take part in step by step or raise income sources for their lives, shared Sam.

Investment in children is profitable as they will become productive members of society and continue her dream mission, according to Sam.

Wholehearted care

To me, doing charity work means giving not only the fish but also the rod. Furthermore, directions for effective use are needed as well, Sam worried.

She realizes that she should give them more specific instructions as her children sometimes settle and stop trying to move forward.

Mom, heading to the mountain field and bringing back enough cassava and rice every day are sufficient and fulfilling. We dont need more, they told her.

Frisco City in the U.S. state of Texas chose April 5 each year to be Sam Nguyen Day to honor Doctor Sams contributions to the community. Photo: N.S. / Tuoi Tre

However, as a mother, she is not pleased to let her children feel satisfied with just that.

I am able to support them to go to school, then at least after high school, on the threshold of life, a well-off future needs preparing, she said.

Sam has put in a great deal of time in advising each of them.

The children have their own dreams and personalities, yet those dreams are hidden in life. As such, she is the one who elicits a life that is worth living and contributes more to society.

She is willing to appoint them to any position in her companies, or assist them with the house rent and tuition fees for learning.

Some of her children are working as a baking artist, a tour guide, a teacher, or a monk or a nun.

Recounting the reason why she keeps caring about the future of her children, she said,  I want them not to feel smug about their present when I am capable of doing something for them for a better future.

She hopes that she not only brings them up but also gives them career guidance and helps them become useful people to society.

This way is aimed at getting them out of adversity.

She always gives visionary orientations to her children, while her act turned 'ridiculous' in the eyes of inconsiderate people.

However, she thinks that without a future goal, her support for the children is useless.

Speaking of how to care about the innermost feelings and desires of such a large number of children, she said, I choose the right way of communication. My children do not use smartphones, so there is a fixed time on a weekly basis to use laptops to talk, send emails and messages to me. I always listen and give them advice.

She was once moved to tears by a message from one of her children.

Before he decided to lead a religious life, he asked her, Mom, if I am devoted to religion, will you feel sad? If I become a monk, I wont be able to help you take care of the younger brothers and sisters.

She answered emotionally that I am not sad at all, vice versa, I am happy as you have found your truth in life.

It is not really true that only biological children are dutiful to their parents, while fostered ones sometimes bring happiness in life.

Sam negotiated with her children that the older ones who can be independent and have a job will spend 10 percent of their income supporting their younger brothers and sisters.

That amount is worth little compared to what she covers in accommodation and transport fees for them.

However, it is also a sign for the children to learn that their mothers capacity is within limits. The more significant thing I want to pass on to them is to care about others, continue the giving, care and love, she said.

Now, the happiness of Hong Sam, an enthusiastic social activist, is to wait for the words 'Mother Sam' from everywhere, when her children are full-fledged.

Sam Nguyen has been twice granted the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award by two U.S. presidents, including Barack Obama in 2015 and Joe Biden in 2022, for her contributions to society. Sam is also the first Vietnamese person to be honored on April 5 annually by the city of Frisco in the U.S. state of Texas for her contributions to the community. It is not true that just do charity work and you will be respected. I used to receive judging looks and cruel preconceptions. For instance, they said I do so much charity work because I am backed up by a tycoon," she shared. "Or in America, after my fostered multi-racial children have grown up, people think that I am having affairs with them when seeing them walking with me on the street. "Yet I wont let those affect myself as I am doing nothing wrong.

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Firefighters on Tuesday finally overcame what officials described as the worst fire in Cuba's history that over five days destroyed 40% of the Caribbean island's main fuel storage facility and caused massive blackouts.

Reuters witnesses reported the raging flames that ravaged a four-tank segment of the Matanzas super tanker port had died down and the towering plumes of thick black smoke streaming from the area were diminished and now mostly gray.

Matanzas is Cuba's largest port for receiving crude oil and fuel imports. Cuban heavy crude, as well as fuel oil and diesel stored in Matanzas in 10 huge tanks, are mainly used to generate electricity on the island.

Lightning struck one fuel storage tank on Friday evening. The fire spread to a second by Sunday and engulfed the four-tank area on Monday, accompanied by huge explosions and despite efforts by local firefighters supported by more than 100 Mexican and Venezuelan reinforcements.

A firefighter works on the zone where fuel storage tanks exploded near Cuba's supertanker port in Matanzas, Cuba, August 9, 2022. Photo: Reuters

Firefighter Rafael Perez Garriga told Reuters on the steaming outskirts of the disaster that he worries the fire would impact the power situation in the country.

"The situation is going to be more difficult. If the thermoelectric plants are supplied with that oil, we are going to have the whole world affected, it is electricity and it affects everything," he said.

The island country, under heavy U.S. sanctions, is all but bankrupt. Frequent blackouts and shortages of gasoline and other commodities already had created a tense situation with scattered local protests following last summer's historic unrest in July.

On Tuesday, more helicopters joined the effort to put out the fire, along with two fireboats sent by Mexico along with heavy firefighting equipment.

"We have not yet been able to access the impact area due to the conditions. There is combustion and so we cannot risk our lives for now," Perez said around noon.

Later in the day firefighters for the first time were entering the area and spraying foam and water on the still smoldering remains.

A lightning strikes through smoke from fuel storage tanks that exploded near Cuba's supertanker port in Matanzas, Cuba, August 8, 2022. Photo: Reuters

"Today we have managed to control the fire," Rolando Vecino, head of transport for the Ministry of the Interior, said on state-run television from the scene.

Officials have not said how much fuel has been lost in the fire which destroyed all four tanks. Authorities stated that no oil had contaminated the nearby Matanzas Bay. Still they warned residents as far away as Havana to wear face masks and avoid acid rain due to the massive plume of smoke the fire generated.

One firefighter died and 14 went missing on Saturday when the second tank blew up, authorities said on Tuesday, correcting an earlier figure of 16 missing. Five others remain in critical condition.

Mario Sabines, governor of the Matanzas province, about 60 miles (130 km) from Havana, quipped the flames spread like an "Olympic torch" from one tank to the next, turning each into a "caldron."
Last month saw the lowest extent of Antarctic sea ice on record for July, according to the European Union's satellite monitoring group.

The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) found Antarctic sea ice extent reached 15.3 million square kilometres (5,900,000 square miles) -- some 1.1 million km2, or seven percent, below the 1991-2020 average for July.

This was the lowest ice cover for July since satellite records began 44 years ago, and followed record low Antarctic sea ice levels for June too.

C3S said the low ice values continued a string of below-average monthly extents observed since February 2022.

The service said in its monthly bulletin the Southern Ocean saw "widespread areas of below-average sea ice concentration" last month.

Arctic sea ice cover meanwhile was four percent lower than average, making it the 12th lowest July sea ice extent on record.

In a month that saw temperature records broken across parts of northern Europe and Britain, C3S said July was drier than average for much of the continent, noting a number of low-precipitation records in several locations.

"These conditions affected the economy locally and facilitated the spread and intensification of wildfires," it said.

C3S said July was also abnormally dry across much of North America, South America, Central Asia and Australia.

Climate change makes extreme heat and drought more likely to occur.

"We can expect to continue seeing more frequent and longer periods of extremely high temperatures, as global temperatures increase further," said senior C3S scientist Freja Vamborg.

The service said last month was however wetter than usual in eastern Russia, northern China and in a large wet band spanning from eastern Africa across Asia to northwest India.
Officials on Tuesday imposed a fine totaling more than VND26 million (US$1,111) on a restaurant in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, where methanol poisoning killed two people and seriously affected the health of six others last week.

Mr Bao Buffet BBQ Hotpot Restaurant, located at 10A Tang Nhon Phu Street, was required to pay a fine for running food services without holding a certificate of eligibility for food safety and using raw materials of unknown origin, according to the food safety management board in the southern metropolis.

Late on the evening of August 3, a group of eight people, including six employees of Mr Bao Buffet BBQ Hotpot Restaurant, threw a party at the restaurant.

They ate food bought from outside and drank a can of five liters of alcohol available at the restaurant during the feast.

On the afternoon of August 4, one of the six employees, aged 24, was found dead at a rented room in Thu Duc after showing signs of fatigue and cyanosis.

Seven others were eventually taken to the hospital after suffering serious health conditions.

One of them died at the hospital on August 5.

The remaining six people are still being treated at the hospital for methanol poisoning.

One of them is in a critical condition.

Methanol, commonly known as industrial alcohol, is used in paints or as solvents among different uses, but this substance is extremely toxic to the body, doctors said.

Consuming methanol is detrimental to the heart, brain, and respiratory system and it can also cause kidney failure, cardiovascular collapse, and blindness, they warned.

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ReportLinker

High Performance Polyamides Market Research Report by Polyamide Type (PA 11, PA 12, and PA 46), Manufacturing Process, End-Use Industry, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "High Performance Polyamides Market Research Report by Polyamide Type, Manufacturing Process, End-Use Industry, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06303587/?utm_source=GNW



The Global High Performance Polyamides Market size was estimated at USD 1,972.34 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 2,149.66 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 9.24% to reach USD 3,352.68 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the High Performance Polyamides to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Polyamide Type, the market was studied across PA 11, PA 12, PA 46, PA 9T, PARA, and PPA.



Based on Manufacturing Process, the market was studied across Blow Molding and Injection Molding.



Based on End-Use Industry, the market was studied across Automotive, Building & Construction, Electrical & Electronics, Industrial, and Medical & Healthcare.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for High Performance Polyamides market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the High Performance Polyamides Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global High Performance Polyamides Market, including Arkema SA, Ascend Performance Materials LLC, BASF SE, Biesterfeld AG, Domo Chemicals, DuPont, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, EMS-CHEMIE HOLDING AG, Evonik Industries, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited (GSFC), KURARAY CO., LTD., Lanxexx, MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., Radici Group SpA, Royal DSM NV, RTP Company, SABIC, Solvay, Teknor Apex, Toray Industries Inc., TOYOBO CO., LTD., and UBE INDUSTRIES,LTD.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global High Performance Polyamides Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global High Performance Polyamides Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global High Performance Polyamides Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global High Performance Polyamides Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global High Performance Polyamides Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global High Performance Polyamides Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global High Performance Polyamides Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06303587/?utm_source=GNW



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ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Emmett Tills accuser wont be charged for his death. His family is still searching for justice

Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured, beaten and shot before his body was tied to fan blade and weighed down in a river in Mississippi in 1955.

The men who killed the 14-year-old Black boy were acquitted by an all-white jury. They admitted to their crimes in a magazine interview a few months later. Both men have since died.

Nobody has been convicted for Tills death, which galvanised a civil rights movement and attracted nationwide attention to lynchings and racist killings of Black Americans, underscoring the brutal legacy of segregation and shadows of Jim Crow-era violence.

His mother Mamie Till-Mobley, who died in 2003, was pictured in a defining image at his open casket funeral in Chicago. I wanted the world to see what they did to my boy, she said at the time.

Nearly 70 years later, on 9 August, a grand jury in Leflore County declined to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham, who was 21 years old when she testified in court that Till sexually harassed her inside a store.

In June, an unserved warrant charging Ms Donham along with her then-husband Roy Bryant and brother-in-law JW Milam was discovered in a county courthouse basement. After Tills murder, Ms Donham was never taken into custody or charged with any crime in the decades that followed.

Following several hours of testimony from investigators and witnesses, a grand jury determined there was not enough evidence to indict Ms Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter, making it unlikely that the now-88-year-old woman or any other figures tied to the case will face prosecution for Tills death.

The murder of Emmett Till remains an unforgettable tragedy in this country and the thoughts and prayers of this nation continue to be with the family of Emmett Till, District Attorney Dewayne Richardson said in a statement.

#NoTrueBill for #CarolynBryantDonham

Her actions, and the unserved warrant proves her culpability.#JusticeForEmmettTill Continues

We will Never Give Up#EmmettTill's death will not be in Vain

We will keep our promise to #MamieTillMobley and hold any accomplice accountable. pic.twitter.com/gTGgucZ8VC  EmmettTillLegacyFdn (@EmmettTill) August 9, 2022

The Rev Wheeler Parker Jr, Tills cousin and the last living witness to his abduction in 1955, said in a statement that the grand jurys decision is unfortunate, but predictable.

Story continues

The prosecutor tried his best, and we appreciate his efforts, but he alone cannot undo hundreds of years of anti-Black systems that guaranteed those who killed Emmett Till would go unpunished, to this day, he said.

The fact remains that the people who abducted, tortured, and murdered Emmett did so in plain sight, and our American justice system was and continues to be set up in such a way that they could not be brought to justice for their heinous crimes.

The lynching of Emmett Till

The year before Emmett Till was killed while visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi, the US Supreme Court overturned the separate but equal doctrine in its landmark Brown v Board of Education case to end legal segregation. Cities and states across the US resisted the court with violence and in protracted legal battles that took decades to resolve, with their legacies imprinted in private schools that fought integration and in deteriorating public school systems nationwide.

More than 6,500 people, mostly Black Americans, were killed in racist attacks between 1865 and 1950. That time period encompassed the aftermath of the US Civil War and emancipation, white militia terror during Reconstruction, and the years surrounding the Civil Rights movement, according to the Equal Justice Initiative.

In the year after the Supreme Courts ruling in the Board case, several public acts of racist violence in Mississippi preceded Tills killing. The Rev George Lee  the first Black man to register to vote in Humphreys County in decades  was fatally shot for doing so. In Lincoln County, Lamar Smith was shot to death for telling people to register.

Author Timothy Tyson holds a copy of his book on the lynching of Emmett Till, in which (AP)

In the early hours of 28 August, 1955, Roy Bryant and JW Milam kidnapped Till at gunpoint from his uncles home and brought the 14-year-old to Ms Donham to identify.

Ms Donham, according to an unpublished memoir viewed by the Associated Press, claimed that she did not recognise Till.

After Tills uncle Mose Wright reported his abduction to the Leflore County Sheriff, Mr Bryant and Mr Milam were arrested on Aug 29 and held in jail without bond on kidnapping charges.

Two days later, Tills body was pulled from the Tallahatchie river.

Federal investigators open  and close  two cases

In 2004, the US Department of Justice opened an investigation to potentially weigh state-level charges in the case, though a grand jury declined to issue any indictments in 2007, and federal prosecutors closed their inquiry.

A federal investigation reopened in 2018 following the publication of Timothy Tysons The Blood of Emmett Till. The author said Ms Donham told him in a 2008 interview that her trial testimony was false  though her family has denied that she ever recanted her testimony.

The Justice Department renewed its probe after Ms Donham also denied to the FBI that she ever recanted her testimony and provided no information beyond what was uncovered during the previous federal investigation, according to federal prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors closed the investigation a second time in December 2021, claiming to find no new evidence suggesting that either Ms Donham or any other living person was involved in Tills abduction and murder.

Even if such evidence could be developed, no federal hate crime laws existed in 1955, and the statute of limitations has run on the only civil rights statutes that were in effect at that time, the agency said in a statement.

As such, even if a living suspect could now be identified, a federal prosecution for Tills abduction and murder would not be possible, according to investigators.

Carolyn Bryant is pictured in a 1955 photograph. (AP)

In March, the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also said investigators were unlikely to open another case.

This is a tragic and horrible crime, but the FBI, which has far greater resources than our office, has investigated this matter twice and determined that there is nothing more to prosecute, chief of staff Michelle Williams said in a statement.

But the discovery of the warrant for Ms Donhams arrest  which the Leflore County sheriff did not issue at the time because he did not want to bother her  amounted to new evidence, according to the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.

Ms Donham, who was most recently living in North Carolina, has not publicly commented on recent calls for her prosecution. Her actions and the unserved warrant proves her culpability, according to the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.

Tills death will not be in vain, the group announced on social media following the grand jury announcement on 9 August. We will keep our promise to [Mamie Till-Mobley].

More than a century after such legislation was first introduced, President Joe Biden signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act into law, making lynching a federal hate crime.

The law designates lynching as a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. It passed the House of Representatives on 7 March by a vote of 433-7 and cleared the US Senate by unanimous consent.
Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Authorities are urging an intruder who broke into a monkey enclosure in Tasmania to seek medical attention as they may have been exposed to a potentially fatal herpes virus.

The enclosure, which houses macaque monkeys, was broken into on Tuesday night with the intruder causing damage to the electric fence before stealing coins from a surrounding moat.

The city of Launceston council released a statement which said the break-in could have exposed the intruder to herpes B virus, which is carried by most macaques around the world.

The council is urging the intruder to seek medical attention as soon as possible, saying the virus could be potentially fatal to humans.

Related: Newly identified Langya virus tracked after China reports dozens of cases

The virus can be asymptomatically shed by the monkeys through bodily fluids and fomites  that is, any material that has come into contact with the virus, which includes the water in the enclosure.

The virus is potentially fatal to humans, with more than 30 known deaths recorded worldwide, with only one confirmed case of human-to-human transmission.

Launceston mayor, Albert van Zetten, said that the intruder had obviously intended to steal the coins, adding that if the disease was in the water, it could be transferred to humans.

Were really encouraging that person to seek medical attention as a matter of urgency, and they need to watch out for symptoms, which include blistering, pain, numbness and flu-like symptoms as well, Van Zetten said.

Its strange, theres no doubt about that. Perhaps someone saw some money and thought, oh well, heres a chance, I might be able to get some.

Van Zetten said the virus was not considered a risk to the monkeys, who exhibit symptoms similar to that of cold sores in humans. He said a break-in had never happened before.

You can never stop some people from trying to break in if they really want to, he said. But  we will continue to monitor and see if theres anything we can do that would make sure that people dont do this.

Story continues

The council said Tasmania police and the Tasmanian Department of Health had been advised of the break-in.

We ask that anyone with information regarding the break-in contact Tasmania police immediately, Van Zetten said. But importantly, council urges the intruder to seek medical attention as a matter of some urgency.

The enclosure was established as part of a sister-city relationship with Ikeda in Japan, where the monkeys came from.
 Flash

Republican Congressman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, an ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, told Fox News on Tuesday that the FBI had seized his cell phone while he was traveling with his family earlier in the day.
Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake, whose global career spanned more than half a century, has died aged 84, an employee at his office in Tokyo told AFP on Tuesday.

"He died on the evening of August 5," she said over the telephone, declining to be named and without giving further details of his death.

Miyake's funeral had already taken place, with "only relatives participating" in line with his wishes, and there were no plans for a public ceremony, she said.

Public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media reported the news of his death.

Miyake was part of a wave of young Japanese designers who made their mark in Paris from the mid-1970s.

He pioneered high-tech, comfortable clothing, side-stepping the grandiosity of haute couture in favour of what he called simply "making things".

Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Miyake was just seven years old when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city in August 1945.

He survived the blast, which killed an estimated 140,000 people on impact and led to the end of World War II after the bombing of Nagasaki three days later.

He established the Miyake Design Studio in Tokyo in 1970, and soon afterwards opened his first Paris boutique.

By the 1980s, his career was in full swing as he experimented with materials from plastic to metal wire and even artisanal Japanese paper.

kh/kaf/leg
Community leaders in Albuquerque, New Mexico, believe the man arrested as the primary suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in recent months may have targeted his victims out of sectarian hate.

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, said officials had told him that the suspect, Muhammad Syed, 51, targeted the men because he was angry over his daughter marrying a Shiite Muslim man, The New York Times report .

On Tuesday, Albuquerque Police Department officials said during a press conference they were aware of this theory, but hadnt officially assigned a hate motive to the killings, The Daily Beast reports .

Officials arrested Mr Syed, a native of Afghanistan, after connecting him with a Volkswagen sedan believed to have ties to the four killings, which began in November.

A search of Mr Syeds home yielded a gun believed to have been used in the killings, according to police.

Hes been charged with the two recent murders that have shocked the city of half a million: the killing of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, who came to the US from Pakistan and worked as planning director for the city of Espanola, who was found dead in early August from gunshot wounds; and the murder of Naeem Hussain, who was shot to death last Friday in the parking lot of an Albuquerque NGO that offers services to refugees and asylum seekers.

Police said on Tuesday Mr Syed is also the main suspect in two other killings: the 26 July death of an Afghan cafe worker named Aftab Hussein, 41, and the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, who was shot behind the halal market he owned with his brother in November.

This has been a tough week for our community, APD Chief Harold Medina said in a statement announcing the charges. But we all pitched in to solve these crimes and protect a community that felt like it was under attack.

Mr Syed reportedly knew the victims personally to a certain extent, KOB4 reports .

Local jail records do not indicate whether Mr Syed has legal representation yet, or how he intends to plead.

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Muslim leaders celebrated the arrest.

We welcome the arrest of a suspect in this horrific shooting spree and we commend law enforcement for their efforts at the local, state and federal levels, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said on Tuesday in a statement. We hope the news that this violence has been brought to an end will provide the New Mexico Muslim community some sense of relief and security.

The violence has rocked the city, which prides itself on being welcoming to migrants from Latin America, the Middle East, and beyond.

Hundreds of people have settled in Albuquerque from Afghanistan following the US exit from the country.

No one went to work, no one went outside for groceries, people cancelled their meetings. I cannot sit on my balcony. I cannot go outside of my apartment. This is very painful for us, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, the brother of the slain Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, told The Independent .

Local police, as well as the FBI; New Mexico State Police; Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Marshals Service are all assisting in the investigation.
Finlands prime minister Sanna Marin (L) speaks with her Estonian counterpart Kaja Kallas in Brussels on 15 December, 2021. (AP)

Finland and Estonia have urged the EU to ban Russians from receiving tourist visas, shortly after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky made the same plea to the West.

Russian citizens should not be allowed to enjoy holidays in the bloc while the Kremlin continues to wage war on Ukraine, they argued.

Although the EU has banned Russian planes from entering its airspace, its citizens can still travel across their countrys land borders with Finland, Estonia and Latvia to catch onward flights to other European destinations.

Russian travel firms are now offering car services from St Petersburg to Finlands Helsinki and Lappeenranta airports to facilitate such journeys, according to the Finnish broadcaster YLE.

Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin told the channel on Monday that "it is not right that while Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel in Europe, be tourists.

Ms Sarin said she expects the issue to be raised more strongly at future European Council meetings. My personal position is that tourism should be restricted," she added.

On Tuesday, Estonia also backed this position, with prime minister Kaja Kallas saying it was time to end tourism from Russia now.

Visiting Europe is a privilege, not a human right, she said in a tweet.

Ms Kallas added that Finland, Estonia and Latvia were carrying the burden of Europes current policy, as Russians use their borders as the sole access points into the EU. Foreign tourists can also travel from these countries to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as these non-EU countries are members of the Schengen Area.

The Estonian and Finnish prime ministers comments followed their Ukrainian counterparts request for Russian tourism to be banned so as to deter Moscows aggression.

Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians. Visiting #Europe is a privilege, not a human right. Air travel from RU is shut down. It means while Schengen countries issue visas, neighbours to Russia carry the burden (FI, EE, LV  sole access points). Time to end tourism from Russia now  Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) August 9, 2022

In an interview published by the Washington Post on Monday, Mr Zelensky called on the West to shut its borders, saying that such action would constitute the most important of all sanctions. He also expressed his wish for other countries to introduce a full Russian energy embargo.

Story continues

Referring to a potential travel ban, he added that Russians should live in their own world until they change their philosophy.

Mr Zelensky had little truck with the argument that the move would unfairly affect Russians who oppose Putins invasion of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president said this did not matter, arguing that all Russians can be held accountable for the war. The population picked this government and theyre not fighting it, not arguing with it, not shouting at it, he said.

The presence of more Putin opponents in Russia could also serve to influence the Kremlin, he said.

Thousands of Russians were arrested earlier in the conflict for protesting against their presidents actions. Under a new law, they can face up to 15 years in prison for challenging the Kremlins narrative about its special military operation in Ukraine.
(Google Maps)

A teenage boy is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed repeatedly in knife attack by a south London park.

The 18-year-old boy was found by police suffering multiple stab wounds in Westwood Hill, Sydenham at 7pm on Monday.

He was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition two days later.

Bloodied clothing and debris remains at the scene of the attack close to a bus stop.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: Police were called to Westwood Hill to reports of a stabbing.

Officers attended along with paramedics from London Ambulance Service (LAS). An 18-year-old man was found with stab wounds.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital where his condition is currently critical but stable. 

Police said there have been no arrests.

Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 6336/08Aug.
The University of North Georgia (UNG) will launch a Master of Science in spatial data and information sciences in fall 2023 through the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis (IESA), pending Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges approval.

UNG received University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents approval Aug. 9.

The degree will be available on the Gainesville Campus for both full-time students and part-time students who are working professionals. It will help students prepare for careers as statisticians, cartographers and photogrammetrists, computer and information research scientists, surveyors, and geoscientists.

"We are honored to receive approval of our master's degree," Dr. Jeff Turk, dean of IESA, said. "IESA faculty and staff look forward to this new opportunity of providing graduate degrees to our service area and beyond in the high-demand field of spatial data and information sciences."

The Georgia Governor's High Demand Career Initiative Report lists data science, which includes spatial and geospatial data science, as a high-demand career area. Likewise, the 2018 Georgia Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act lists many similar careers as high-demand fields. The Master of Science program is designed to develop and refine these skills in students to meet workforce and societal needs.

The program is aimed at students interested in developing and applying a high level of spatial data, science, technology, and expertise applicable to a wide variety of issues and needs. Spatial data science can be applied in any field where data sets and geography intersect.
Can you believe the cheekiness of the British Museum to offer Greece part-ownership of the Parthenon marbles? How can you share something that isnt yours?

The marbles  17 stone figures carved for the 2,500-year-old temple  were ripped from their mooring on the Acropolis in 1816 by the 7th Earl of Elgin and sold to the museum for $50,000.

Whats yours is mine?

Buying stolen property doesnt make the museum a rightful owner. Clearly shrugging off the theft, deputy director Jonathan Williams told the Sunday Times his offer is intended to change the temperature of the debate around the marbles.

Debate?

Theres no debate. The offer to partner is just another in a long list of efforts by the British Museum to keep the marble. The efforts began with Lord Elgin justifying his thievery by saying the museum would be better caretakers of the works than the Greeks.

Not even that claim was true. In 1999, William St. Clair, a British authority on the Parthenon Marbles, told the London Observer of a museum cover-up of foul-ups.

The cover-up

St. Clair said he discovered in a book, the diaries of museum official Roger Hinks how the marbles came to be damaged. As he explained, Londons polluted air ate away at the marble because the museum didn't use proper air-quality filters until 1962.

The museum also damaged the marbles in another way.

In 1938 they bungled a cleaning by using metal scrapers to scrub them to an alabaster white. Then, the museum coated the carvings with wax to mask the damaged surface.

The cleaning was ordered by Lord Duveen of Milbank, the British Museum's benefactor, who, St. Clair said, made his fortune retouching old masters and selling them to gullible Americans.

So much for the preservation of the marbles at the museum. Meanwhile, in 2004, the Greeks built a state-of-the-art treasure house for the marbles at the foot of the Acropolis.

Follow the money

But, despite numerous pleas from Greece, the British Museum refuses to return the marbles. Its not hard to figure out why. The sculptures are said to be the highlight of the institutions collection.

In plain speak, they are the main draw and big source of revenue. More than six million people reportedly pay $35 a piece to visit the marbles each year.

But wait. Theres more than concern about attendance at play here. Williams let slip a mindless incaution for Greek history saying that the marbles are an absolutely integral part of the collection. Hello? What about them being an integral part of the Parthenon?

Last year, a UNESCO advisory committee recommended that the Brits re-think their stance. But there was no re-thinking. Art News noted that Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Greek newspaper Ta Nea that the marbles will never be returned. Never?

The Brits exaggerated sense of self-importance, of entitlement, astonishes. Museums are supposed to be living encyclopedias of art history. The British Museum abuses the privilege.
 Flash

The United States has committed serious crimes in the Middle East and surrounding areas, which runs counter to international law and severely violates the human rights of local people, according to a report released on Tuesday by the China Society for Human Rights Studies.



The report, titled "US Commits Serious Crimes of Violating Human Rights in the Middle East and Beyond", revealed Washington's systematic violations of human rights, including launching wars, massacring innocent civilians, imposing unilateral sanctions that infringe on people's basic rights and creating a "clash of civilizations".

Since the end of the Cold War, the US has been involved in almost all major conflicts and wars in the Middle East and surrounding regions-the area hardest hit by the wars launched by the US, the report said.

Facts show that the US has seriously violated the basic human rights of people in the Middle East and other places, causing permanent damage and irreparable losses to countries and people in the region, it added.

Meng Qingtao, a professor of human rights studies at Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing, condemned Washington's war crimes and unilateral sanctions in the Middle East and the surrounding areas as "seriously violating international law, undermining the international order and severely infringing on the basic human rights of the local people".

He said the purpose of the US is to maintain global supremacy.

"Washington's foreign policy and the practical measures are designed to serve the fundamental interests of the US. 'American supremacy' is the guiding ideology behind its series of menacing behaviors," he said.

According to Smithsonian magazine, since 2001, wars and military operations launched by the US in the name of "anti-terrorism" have covered "about 40 percent of the countries on the planet".

The Costs of War Project of Brown University in the US said that more than 174,000 people died in the war in Afghanistan, of whom more than 47,000 were civilians.

The China Society for Human Rights Studies' report said that the US has abused the use of unilateral sanctions against sovereign countries, causing severe economic losses and a decline in the quality of life of people in those countries.

According to the US government's Treasury 2021 Sanctions Review, the US had more than 9,400 sanctions in effect as of fiscal year 2021.

Since 1979, the US has imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran and other countries, the society's report said. The Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, for example, forbade foreign companies from investing in Iran's or Libya's energy industry and implemented long-arm jurisdiction, which was gravely harmful and had a far-reaching impact, it said.

Furthermore, after withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan in 2021, the US not only imposed economic sanctions on Afghanistan, but also froze billions of dollars of foreign exchange reserves of the Afghan central bank, bringing the Afghan economy to the brink of collapse and worsening the lives of the people, the report said.

Meng, the Southwest University of Political Science and Law professor, said that the "irresponsible involvement" of the US in Middle East affairs has exacerbated conflict and chaos in the region.

"The US has seriously damaged the political, economic and military ecology in the Middle East, while bringing misery and disasters to the local community," Meng said. "Moreover, negative spillover effects have also been seen in other regions, including Europe and Asia."
HA NOI  The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has consulted the Government not to include 14,120 MW of coal-fired power in the national power master plan (PDP8) to achieve the goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Local media consider such a change a revolution in the electricity and environment of the country.

The MoIT said in a written report to the Government Standing Committee that of 14,120 MW of coal-fired thermal power, State corporations had invested in 8,420 MW.

Specifically, Electricity of Vietnam was assigned 3,600 MW, including Quang Trach II, Tan Phuoc I and II projects.

The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group has been given 1,980 MW for the Long Phu III project.

Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group has been assigned 2,840 MW, including Cam Pha III, Hai Phong III and Quynh Lap I assignments.

In addition, the BOT project is 4,500 MW, including the Quynh Lap II project, Vung Ang 3, and Long Phu II.

The Quang Ninh III project, with a capacity of 1,200 MW, has not yet been assigned to investors

The ministry believes that legal risks will not appear in projects invested by state-owned corporations while the project development costs incurred by corporations are not large.

Regarding three investment projects - BOT for Vung Ang 3 and the Long Phu II projects - the investors Samsung C&T Company and TATA Company asked to withdraw from the project and were approved.

The new BOT and the Quynh Lap II project were assigned by the Prime Minister to Posco Energy Company to research to develop a plant of 1,200 MW in capacity. However, the company has not been officially designated as an investor.

Posco Energy instead confirmed that it was not researching and developing the Quynh Lap II project as a coal-run plant but proposing to convert the fuel to LNG and increase the projects capacity. The result will be released according to the Law on Investment under Public Private Partnership provisions, said the MoIT.

The MoIT believes that not putting the above coal and gas thermal power projects in line with the recommendations of localities and investors is no legal risk.

In addition, some expenses of state-owned corporations have been spent to prepare for project investment, which corporations are responsible for handling.

A ministry document said: The MoIT consults with the Government Standing Committee on removing the above-mentioned unsuitable coal power projects to meet the countrys commitments at COP26."

The ministry also calculated three scenarios of load and power source development. In particular, in the base load scenario, the total capacity of power plants will reach nearly 121,000 MW in 2030 and 284,000 MW in 2045.

In this scenario, coal-fired thermal power will reach almost 37,467 MW, accounting for 31 per cent by 2030. Instead, the aim is to keep the capacity until 2045 at only 13.2 per cent.

Under the high load recovery scenario, the total capacity of power plants is expected to reach more than 134,700 MW in 2030 and 387,875 MW in 2040. Of which, coal-fired power will be 37,467 MW, accounting for 27.8 per cent in 2030 and the remaining will be unchanged until 2040, but then only at 9.7 per cent by 2045.

In addition, in the high-load scenario for operation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade expects the total capacity of power plants to reach 145,930 MW by 2030, of which coal-fired power will account for 25.7 per cent by 2030 and 9.7 per cent by 2045.

Accordingly, the draft power plan VIII is expected to offset 14,000 MW of LNG power in 2030-2045 and focus on strongly developing wind power to compensate for the reduced part of coal power.

Though the reduction of a large amount of coal-fired power capacity proposed by MoIT was seen as significant progress for the country, experts consider that it poses many long-term challenges and the Government needs to continue appropriate strategies to ensure energy security as well as electricity prices.

Dr Ngo uc Lam, an expert in the electricity industry and former director of the Department of Technical and Environmental Safety from MoIT, told local media: Coal-fired power is considered the backbone of the economy. This drastic down-regulation of coal power is making a revolution. One of the important milestones promoting the strong transformation is the commitment of the Prime Minister at the COP26 Conference. But what to replace coal-fired power with to ensure security is a tough question.

Lam said the draft Power Master Plan VIII had to be adjusted for more than a year and has not been completed.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Health has underlined that homosexuality is not a disorder, demanding rectification of medical centres and experts who claim themselves capable of curing homosexuality.

The health ministry sent a document on this issue to provincial/municipal health departments, health examination and treatment units under the management of the ministry, and other health authorities, amid reports of forced medical examinations and so-called treatment for members of the LGBT community.

The ministry stressed that homosexuality is not an illness, and therefore cannot be cured, need not be cured, and there is no way of changing this, citing the conclusions of the American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization (WHO).

On May 17, 1990, the WHO decided to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder. Homosexuality was removed from the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders list of mental disorders in 1974.

The health ministry urged the leaders of health care units to direct medical examination and treatment facilities under their management to strengthen awareness raising and information dissemination efforts to doctors, medical staff, and people who come to medical examination and treatment facilities so that they can adequately understand homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism  especially the fact that homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism are not disorders.

An equal, respectful of genders and non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising approach must be applied when providing medical services to gay, bisexual, and transgender people, the ministry said.

No forced or "coerced" intervention or treatment for these people is allowed, the health ministry noted, adding that, if any, there should only be psychological support, which people with knowledge of gender identity perform.

The health ministry requested the strengthening of inspection of medical examination and treatment establishments and practitioners to ensure the implementation and observance of medical principles and practices in accordance with the law.

The document, dated August 3, 2022, sent internally but publicly accessible from local health department websites, was welcomed by the LGBT community and supporters in Viet Nam for the progressive stance.

Luong The Huy, a well-known LGBT activist, remarked that the document was a cool shadow offered by the biggest tree in the centre of the village, that protects the dignity of all people, but just enough to let the light of knowledge reach the dark recesses of bias and prejudgment.

The UK Embassy in Viet Nam lauded the document as "A step forward for PRIDE efforts in Viet Nam!" in a post on Facebook on Tuesday.

"This is good news and a step forward for efforts to protect and promote the rights of the gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTIQ+) community in Viet Nam. The UK believes in celebrating diversity, respect and love, in whatever form it takes. Together, we can work towards a prosperous, secure and secure society, where all citizens can live freely without fear of prejudice or discrimination," it said.

The website and the Facebook page of the Government of Viet Nam has also posted the contents of the health ministry's document, drawing large amount of positive reactions.



Homosexuality is legal in Viet Nam. Same-sex marriage is not criminalised but still not fully in the eye of the law.  VNS
HA NOI  Supporting victims of Agent Orange (AO) is not only a charitable and humanitarian deed but is also the responsibility of every Vietnamese person, to express gratitude to those who gave so much to the revolution and protecting Viet Nam.

August 10 marks 61 years since the beginning of AO/Dioxin warfare in Viet Nam, the longest chemical warfare operation in history.

According to Viet Nam Association of Victims of AO/Dioxin (VAVA), the US military sprayed 80 million litres of toxic chemicals on the south of Viet Nam between 1961 and 1971, with 61 per cent being AO containing 366kg of dioxin, over nearly 3.06 million hectares (equivalent to nearly one-quarter of the souths total area).

Preliminary statistics showed that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to AO/dioxin, and about 3 million people became victims. Tens of thousands of people died while millions of others suffer from cancer and other incurable diseases as a result. Many of their children also suffer from various birth deformities that range from debilitating to serious diseases that shorten lifespans.

Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Rinh, Chairman of the Viet Nam Association of Victims of AO/Dioxin (VAVA), said the Party, State, and people have made wholehearted efforts with the highest sense of responsibility to care for revolution contributors, including those suffering from toxic chemicals in the resistance war, and AO victims.

Many policies on the settlement of AO consequences have been carried out, he said, noting that the State spends tens of trillions of ong each year on providing monthly allowances, health care, and functional rehabilitation for AO victims and aiding AO-hit areas.

More than 320,000 people engaging in the resistance war and their children were infected with AO and are currently entitled to preferential policies for revolution contributors. Families of the disabled, including AO victims, have also benefited from health insurance or free medical services.

Hundreds of thousands of people with serious disabilities, including AO victims, have received orthopaedic surgeries and functional rehabilitation while tens of thousands of children, including those suffering from indirect AO impacts, have received assistance to attend specialised schools.

Those policies have created favourable conditions for AO-infected persons who performed duties in the resistance war, and residents in affected areas, to provide them with a stable life, Rinh added.

In addition, VAVA raises hundreds of billions of ong from domestic and foreign sources each year to help AO victims build and repair houses, recover corporal functions, seek health examinations and treatment, undergo vocational training, pursue learning, and develop livelihoods.

Since the VAVA establishment in January 2004, more than VN2.66 trillion (nearly US$113.7 million) has been donated to the Fund for AO Victims, he said.

There are now 12 peace and friendship villages along with several nursing centres for disabled children, most of whom suffer from deformities caused by AO. The reproductive genetic counselling centres in Ha Noi and HCM City have also been working to reduce the rate of babies born with birth defects. Some localities have also conducted psychological trauma surveys and provided mental health assistance for AO victims, he added.

Besides, VAVA has brought into play its role as the core force in fighting for justice for AO victims.

Rinh said the struggle for justice for Vietnamese victims of AO has been carried out in various forms and obtained significant outcomes.

In particular, since 2007, the US Congress has approved an annual budget for the US Government to help with the environmental remediation of dioxin contamination in Viet Nam. The remediation was completed at a Nang Airport in 2018 and then moved on to the Bien Hoa Airbase.

The US Government also carried out a programme to support AO victims during 2016-20, at a total cost of US$21 million. Another programme worth $65 million for the 2021-25 period is being promoted in some provinces hit hard by toxic chemicals during the war.

Rinh expressed his belief that with assistance from all-level authorities, sectors, localities, domestic organisations and individuals, as well as international friends, the AO pain will be gradually eased, and more AO victims and their families will surmount difficulties to move forward.  VNS
BM PLASCO is the only group in the sector of building materials specialising in plastic pipes and plastic pipe fittings to be included in this year's list. This is a remarkable milestone for the company's 45-year effort, manifesting its relentless commitment to creating a better living environment for Vietnamese people through sustainable approaches.

Top 50 Listed Firms is a prestigious award by Forbes Vietnam magazine, in which 50 companies listed on Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange and Hanoi Stock Exchange have been selected based on a ranking methodology from Forbes US.

The award assesses the firms performance over five years  from 2016 to 2021  in the aspects of both financial achievement and sustainability.

While facing many challenges such as the pandemic, rising material costs, and the global downturn, BM PLASCO has successfully stabilised its operations and developed steadily. In 2021, the company achieved revenue of $192.4 million and a profit of around $9.2 million.

In the first half of the year, the company posted consolidated revenue of $124 million and a profit of $14.5 million  increases of 11.5 per cent and 100 per cent on-year respectively. These are outstanding figures that demonstrate the firm's stability and durability during the post-pandemic business recovery era and help establish its long-term goals for the future.

Nguyen Thanh Hai, BM PLASCOs deputy sales general director said, Along with the continual development of science and technology, the Vietnamese market has seen a growing number of plastic construction materials which not only focus on quality but also design and convenience of use. Founded on a firm basis, BM PLASCO strives to enhance quality and invest in new production lines in order to develop more diversified products to satisfy the market's rising demands."

Hai noted that BM PLASCO has launched its Inch PVC-U plastic pipe product range, which is made in compliance with ISO 1452, TCVN 8491 standards, and QCVN 16:2019/BXD.

These results have motivated the company to be more consistent with its objective of improving product quality in order to provide the best value to consumers while also making meaningful contributions to the community.

In addition to its excellent business performance based on continuous product innovations, BM PLASCO also consistently follows SCGs sustainable development strategies, in which economic progress is accompanied by social benefits and environmental protection.

As the result, the company has been on the list for four consecutive years according to the Programme on Benchmarking and Announcing Sustainable Companies in Vietnam, which was organised by the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This year, BM PLASCO will celebrate its 45th anniversary to reinforce its position as a pioneering firm in Vietnam's plastic industry.

Binh Minh Plastics ranked amongst Vietnams 50 Best-Performing Companies 2019 Binh Minh Plastics (HSX: BMP) has been awarded the Vietnams 50 Best-Performing Companies (TOP 50) 2019 title by Nhip Cau Dau Tu Magazine in tandem with Thien Viet Securities. Making this the ninth consecutive years in the Top 50, BMP has its consistent performance thanks to excellent corporate governance and strong commitment to quality improvement.

Nawaplastic lifts ownership in BMP to over 54.39 per cent After completing the purchase of an additional 1.17 million shares, Nawaplastic Industry Co., Ltd. (Nawaplastic), a subsidiary of Thailands SCG, has lifted its stake in Vietnamese plastic producer Binh Minh Plastic JSC (BMP) to 54.39 from 52.96 per cent.
In late July, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) sent a dispatch to the Ministry of Justice seeking the latters consensus in allowing VINA2 Investment and Construction JSC to transfer its stake in a project to one corporate entity and an individual investor outside the projects consortium.

VINA2 is one of three investors in a BOT project on the renewal and upgrading of National Highway 38s road section connecting the national highways No.1 and No.5.

This is also the first time a stake transfer at a BOT-related enterprise has taken place between a legal entity and individual investor.

This rare case began a year ago when the project developer first sought approval from the MoT to allow VINA2 to transfer its entire 31 per cent stake to Vo Phi Hai, who would hold 28 per cent of the stake, and to Investment Mining Port JSC (IMPORT) that will keep the remaining 3 per cent.

In the dispatch, the MoT assumed that the stake transfer to Hai is simply a capital restructuring step of the project enterprise, as after the move two remaining businesses in the contractor consortium (IMPORT with 40 per cent stake and Licogi 16 with 29 per cent) still have full financial, technical, and governance capacity to continue to implement the project contract.

In addition, leveraging the investors commitment, the stake transfer does not alter the apparatus as well as the personnel involved in the projects operation and management, while it also still complies to the contract regulations.

Hence, after the transfer, the parties acquiring the stake still ensure the financial, technical, and government capacity to carry out this contract as well as other relevant contracts, noted an MoT executive.

Tran Chung, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Road System Investors (VARSI), told VIR that it was regretful that such a straightforward case took around a year to settle.

Capital contribution, divestment, or transfer deals depend on the investors business plans in each particular period. Stake transfer at BOT projects during exploitation to either corporate or individual investors then needs to be swiftly handled, avoiding opportunities being missing out on when getting the approval, said Chung.

He also proposed to create more space for stake transfers of BOT project investors, gearing towards constituting a more attractive financial market to coax more investors into transport infrastructure development.

BOT procedure roadblocks hindering venture progress

The plan to renew and upgrade the National Highway No.38s road section connecting the national highways No.1 and No.5 was granted an investment certificate by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in 2014. In late 2017, construction was completed and the MoT approved the implementation of toll collection, along with road operation and maintenance from 2018.

Through an official document, Luu Quang Lam, board chairman of the project developer, reaffirmed that members of the investment consortium and associated lenders have all agreed to the stake transfer.

According to the Law on Public-Private Partnership Investment, financiers are allowed to transfer their stake to other investors and their capital contribution to each other. Simultaneously, the transition provision of the law also greenlights further implementation of regulations in the projects contract.

Stake transfer is then based on the projects contract and relevant regulations at the time of contract signing.

New BOT approaches bring investment opportunities As Vietnamese invesstors are moving to accelerate corporate bond issuances and new business models to raise funds for transport initiatives to ease reliance on bank loans, more opportunities are coming for international ventures.

Future outlined for BOT projects on back of PPP Law Over the past few years, investors have not been much inclined towards build-operate-transfer (BOT) transport projects in Vietnam, while the number of schemes with financial constraints has increased. According to the Ministry of Transport, in 2011-2015 around 88 BOT transport projects were implemented, but the number in 2015-2020 was far lower. It is challenging to raise capital for such large-scale projects.

Clock ticking for resurgence of BOT power projects A series of build-operate-transfer power projects are lagging behind set schedules, bringing more challenges for the upcoming national master plan to meet power supply issues.

Building PPP mechanisms in sci-tech venture investment Vietnams sci-tech market has seen improvements in business and investment activities, but more efforts are urged to keep up with international trends. Tran Van Tung, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, talked to VIRs Minh Anh about the solutions to move forward.

SBV warns about increasing bad debts, cross-ownership, and risks of BOT projects The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) earlier this week reported on the evaluation of the execution of Resolution No.42/2017/QH14 on piloting bad debt settlement of credit organisations at the 15th National Assembly session.
Nguyen Quang Hoa, director of Duong Vu Co., Ltd., is busy collecting rice from localities, and even from across the land border in Cambodia, to meet the orders of animal feed producers.

Domestic rice is being used more, but companies do not want it to be a long-term answer. Photo: Le Toan

The average orders are 30,000 tonnes per month, and over 10,000 tonnes ordered by C.P. Vietnam. The order volume has recently increased due to the escalation in prices of corn and wheat, Hoa said.

Some orders of rice volume are much larger than those figures, and so the company is making efforts to meet the demand of producers, according to Hoa.

Japfa Comfeed, GreenFeed Vietnam Corporation, and New Hope Vina Co., Ltd. are also buying rice closer to home in order to offset the shortage of imported materials.

In the first six months of this year, Vietnam garnered nearly 8.5 million tonnes of materials for animal feed production, equalling $3.7 billion in value. These figures have dipped by 33 per cent in quantity and 8.9 per cent in value on-year.

The major suppliers of animal feed and raw materials to Vietnam are Argentina, the United States, Brazil, and the European Union. In the first six months of this year, Argentina was the largest import market with a total cost of nearly $550 million, equalling just over a quarter of the turnover of the whole sector and decreasing by 27.3 per cent on-year.

Le Van Long, head of animal feed at Japfa Comfeeds northern branch, told VIR, Using domestic rice to replace imported materials is just a temporary solution because the selling price of imported corn is much higher than domestic rice prices, due to the global uncertainties including the Russia-Ukraine clashes.

Once the uncertain situation is resolved, according to Long, the selling price of imported materials will cool down, and imports will become lively again. Animal feed producers, including ours, want to gather more domestic materials. However, to be honest, domestic products cant compete with imported materials in terms of selling prices, Long said.

Statistics from the Department of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) showed that Vietnam currently has around 270 animal feed production facilities, 90 of which are foreign-invested enterprises. The countrys livestock industry needs over 33 million tonnes of feed. However, domestic supply sources just meet 40 per cent of the demand, equalling 13 million tonnes.

The dependence on imported raw materials leading to an unexpected impact on the domestic livestock industry is becoming a chronic issue. Meanwhile, Vietnam only produces rice bran and cassava, and has failed to develop plantation areas to grow feed inputs because of poor productivity.

In order to reduce the dependence on imported raw materials, the government has assigned the MARD and relevant authorities to study plans to develop the plantation areas.

According to the MARD, one of the key crops for the livestock industry is maize. But maize kernels domestic output can only meet one-fifth of the demand at the moment, while the remaining 80 per cent must rely on imports.

We will focus on growing biomass maize with the target to process 1.5 million tonnes of agricultural by-products for animal feed production, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien. The MARD has asked De Heus to cooperate with the Department of Livestock Production and Department of Crop Production to establish co-operatives in the Central Highlands region which specialise in growing cassava and maize to increase the supply for producers.

Hoa of Duong Vu Co., Ltd. added, It would be good if Vietnam could develop plantation areas, for example, for rice and maize. The potential for growing rice for animal feed is large, and it is important that Vietnam carries out more studies of short-term rice strains with high yield.

Local feed producers left with empty feeling More Vietnamese feed companies are expected to shut down this year upset by feed ingredient imports and tough exchange rates.

Fake feed producers face fines Counterfeit animal feed producers will face a fine of VND35 million ($1,700) as of March 15 this year under a recent governmental decree.

Feed producers get sinking feeling News that Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group has sold its controlling stake in animal feed manufacturer CP Vietnam to Hong Kong-based C.P Pokphand has left local animal feed producers with a bad taste in their mouths.

Feed producers big appetites Many foreign animal feed producers are increasing investment in Vietnam to meet the industrys rich potential.
On August 9, Thai Ambassador Nikorndej Balankura and commercial counselor of the Embassy of Thailand Taneeya Foocharoen were welcomed to attend the celebration to award the Thai SELECT certificate to Gusto Thai Restaurant at No. 9 Phan Chu Trinh street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi.

Gusto Thai receiving the Thai SELECT award from the Thai embassy

This event validates the authenticity and excellence of the Thai cuisine and service at the restaurant. Gusto Thai's founder, Pham Do Lan Phuong, told VIR, "When the Thai Embassy came unannounced to check, we were completely unaware and had not prepared anything. We greeted them as if they were typical guests."

During a discussion with Ambassador Balankura, Phuong said that maintaining the originality of Thai food while adapting it to Vietnamese preferences is Gusto Thai's greatest challenge.

Since the head chef of the restaurant is Thai, there are tight restrictions on the ingredients used in the recipes. The taste of Vietnamese limes, which differ from those of Thailand, presents Phuong with difficulties as she searches for a typical Thai flavour.

A conversation between Gusto Thai's founder and ambassador Balankura

According to Phuong, the ideal Thai cuisine should have a balance of all four flavours including sour, spicy, salty, and sweet, with spicy being the most prevalent. The restaurant has put a lot of work into each item they serve.

The menu is separated into four degrees of spiciness, with Authentic Thai Flavor being the spiciest and Non-spicy being the least. The restaurant strives to make the meals as mild as possible for those who cannot consume spicy food.

Due to the importance of retaining the original flavour, the restaurant must explain to guests that some specific meals cannot be modified. This also distinguishes the meals at GustoThai, causing customers to cherish them and return again for the perfect Thai experience.

"This is actually my debut restaurant," Phuong said. "Whenever I go overseas, my friends always take me out for Thai cuisine, which leaves an unforgettable memory for me. However, there are no really genuine Thai restaurants in Hanoi even though Ho Chi Minh City has quite a few. This motivated me to open a restaurant serving true Thai cuisine."

"In addition to its delight and pride, the restaurant is also focussed on how to continue and gain the next certification," Phuong added.

GustoThai has always been confident and has done its best to keep in form in order to continue bringing guests the authentic flavours of Thailand over the last decade.

Thai SELECT is a certificate that certifies the quality of cuisine, the flavour of food, and the style of service for Thai restaurants in Thailand and in other countries.

The Thai SELECT certification is certified by the Ministry of Commerce of the Thai government and is given with extreme precision, attention, and diligence. Therefore, it is fair to state that all Thai SELECT restaurants are well-known and have been selected by the Thai government to demonstrate to the world what authentic Thai cuisine tastes like.
Among the notable stocks is Kinh Bac Urban Development Corporation JSC (KBC). In the first six months, KBC achieved nearly $47 million in net revenues and $103 million in net profit, down 61 per cent in revenues but up 271 per cent in profit over the same period last year. This year, it set a business plan with total revenue of $426 million and profit after tax of $195 million.

Industry analysts say the demand for industrial real estate will continue in a positive trajectory in 2023, Le Toan

KBC currently owns more than 4,700 hectares of industrial land and 917ha of urban area nationwide. Of which, the four zones of Que Vo Industrial Zone (IZ) and its expansion, Trang Due 1, and Trang Due 2 are fully occupied.

The company is now developing two new IZs, Nam Son Hap Linh and Trang Due 3. Both of these projects cover large areas and are located in key cities and provinces in terms of industrial property development.

Industrial Development and Investment Corporation JSC (BCM) is one of the largest capitalised and most profitable enterprises in the industry. BCM is funding and managing many IZs in the southern province of Binh Duong and other provinces with a total area of more than 15,000ha.

Among those, My Phuoc Industrial Park Complex (including My Phuoc 1-3, Thoi Hoa-My Phuoc 4, and Bau Bang-My Phuoc 5) is a typical example with a high occupancy rate.

The commercial land area of up to 1,250ha in Binh Duong New City and Bau Bang and My Phuoc residential areas is expected to improve liquidity and profit margin to maintain a higher level of 43 per cent from 2022 after the new land price framework for rents in Binh Duong for the period 2020-2024 is applied.

Meanwhile, Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) is a joint venture between Becamex IDC Corporation and Sembcorp Industries Group. To date, VSIP has developed a total of 10 projects across the country with a total land fund of more than 10,000ha including industrial, urban, and service land. In addition, the VSIP3 project with a total area of 1,000ha will also be the driving force for future growth.

An updated report on industrial property stock released by SSI at the end of July predicts that the second half of the year will see a growth rate of 47.3 per cent in after-tax revenue for the whole sector compared with the same period of last year. This growth rate is based on the expected resumption in demand for industrial real estate and the anticipated average rental increase from 8 to 20 per cent on-year.

We assess that the demand for industrial land rentals will continue to grow positively in 2023 as the trend of shifting production from China to Vietnam continues and policies to attract foreign funding also promote a return to investing in Vietnam. These include preferential policies such as corporate income tax (CIT) exemptions for the first four years of operation, a reduction of 50 per cent CIT for the next five years, and many other incentives, said Hoang Viet Phuong, director of the Investment Consultant and Analysis Centre under the SSI.

In addition to these, the improvement of infrastructure in the coming time such as the ring roads No.3 and No.4, Bien Hoa-Vung Tau, Dau Giay-Phan Thiet, and North-South expressways, the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex, and Gemalink Port will create more convenient connections between IZs.

In 2023, the net profit of listed IZ developers is expected to grow by about 18 per cent due to the total area of leased land growing by 10 per cent per year. Land rent is expected to increase by 8 per cent in southern Vietnams IZs and by 6 per cent in the northern IZs, Phuong added.

According to SSI Research, the profit after tax of listed industrial real estate enterprises in the last six months of 2022 had a growth rate of more than 24 per cent, mainly coming from the recognition of land areas for investment.

In the second half of 2022 and into 2023, it is likely that industrial real estate will still gain investors interest, especially for stocks with attractive valuations. Some notable tickers are IDC, BCM, KBC, and VGC.

Real estate market slowing down, experts divided on bubble risk As moves are taken to control the credit flow into certain segments, while localities seek to tighten the land lot split, the real estate market could slow down, but experts remain divided on the risk of the bubble bursting.

Decree 35 clarifying legalities for industrial real estate Decree No.35/2022/ND-CP on the management of industrial zones and economic zones will become effective on July 15 this year, and replace Decree No.82/2018/ND-CP.

PM demands removing bottlenecks in real estate market for safe, healthy development Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh underlined the need to pay special attention to removing "bottlenecks" on the real estate market while chairing an online conference on July 14 on measures to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable development of the property market.
Localisation favoured by overseas banks, Photo Shinhan Bank Vietnam

Shinhan Bank last week expanded its footprint in Vietnam by opening three new branches in the countrys two most populous cities, solidifying its position as the largest foreign lender currently active in the Southeast Asian nation.

The bank said it has established a new branch in Hanoi, in addition to two branches in Ho Chi Minh City. This brings the total number of the banks offices in Vietnam to 46.

The new branches help us to maintain the largest sales network in Vietnam among all foreign banks operating there, the bank said. We expect that such a network will build a friendlier brand image across Vietnam, and in that regard, we will strive to offer better services.

In May, Shinhan Financial Group announced an agreement, worth roughly $90 million, to acquire a 10 per cent stake in Vietnams e-commerce platform Tiki. Its two units, Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card, purchased 7.44 and 2.56 per cent interests in Tiki, respectively.

Based on Shinhans financial expertise and Tikis database in a broad range of areas, we are expecting to build a new converged digital ecosystem in Vietnam, a Shinhan representative highlighted.

Meanwhile, Thailands Kasikornbank (KBank) is moving forward with aspirations to become a regional digital bank, with a focus on Vietnams growth. Thailands largest financial institution last week announced its commitment to broaden its presence in the Vietnamese market in order to serve customers across all segments with digital services.

With the goal of investing approximately $75 million, KBank plans to strengthen its service network within ASEAN, Japan, China, and South Korea. By 2023, the bank plans to lend $560 million to the Vietnamese market and have 1.2 million retail customers here.

Kattiya Indaravijaya, KBank CEO, highlighted that the post-pandemic outlook for the ASEAN economy is optimistic.

In addition to that, ASEAN is renowned for its expansive market with an increasing proportion of young people - the primary engine of its economic growth. Moreover, the blocs economy is set to see exponential growth as more and more consumers lead a digital life, Indaravijaya said.

KBank president Pipit Aneaknithi also revealed that the Thai lender aims to be the first foreign bank in Vietnam to offer fully-fledged digital solutions to all customer segments.

Woori Bank Vietnam  another wholly-owned South Korean lender operating in Vietnam  has inked an MoU with Seoul Guarantee Insurance Company (SGI) to jointly develop and launch new credit products in the country. Woori Bank said it would actively localise its business by building advanced credit solutions including loan application and loan approval. A favourable synergy between the two parties is expected as a result of this collaboration. SGI also expects this synergy would foster its underwriting business.

To achieve the goal of being the top digital and retail bank, Woori is laser-focused on the retail business based on digital platforms. The bank continues to significantly overcome the limitations of foreign banks and compete with leading domestic banks in Vietnam, Woori Bank noted.

Bank of America  the second-largest in the United States  submitted an application last month to open a branch in Ho Chi Minh City with capital of around $50 million.

The banks executive vice chair of Global, Corporate, and Investment Banking Madhu Kannan noted that it presently boasts 450 of the most successful investors in the globe.

To develop an advanced, world-class financial market, infrastructure and policy alignments are significant factors in luring financial and IT professionals to the city, Kannan emphasised. As Ho Chi Minh City aspires to be the next regional and global financial hub, we would adopt our expertise to support the city in this regard.

Founded in 1904, Bank of America had a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City until 2002 when the parent bank in the US liquidated it as part of a systemic restructuring.

In the same vein, Korean Development Bank (KDB), a wholly-owned policy development bank in South Korea, earlier this year also confirmed its intention to open a branch in Hanoi. According to its announcement, it will assist South Korean and Vietnamese enterprises in the infrastructure sector when it opens an office in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, BIDV Securities Company (BSC) and Hana Securities Company (HSC), a member of Hana Financial Group, have entered strategic cooperation. HSC will proactively assist BSC in formulating a strategic plan and long-term vision, particularly specialising in digital transformation and establishing a fund management company, the firm said.

In last weeks meeting with Kim Jung Tai, chairman of the Global Strategy Committee at Hana Financial Group, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stated, Vietnam will continue to consider expanding investment for foreign groups, including South Korean financial institutions.

Credit institutions asked to tighten loans in overheating sectors: SBV The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has requested local credit institutions and foreign banks restrict lending concentration for real estate and construction, Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and the consumption sector.

Foreign banks grab slice of investment promotion action More foreign banks are engaging in the organisation of investment promotion events, facilitating Vietnam to attract more investors to the country.

Loans galore for domestic brokerages Foreseeing the phenomenal expansion of Vietnams financial sector, a number of foreign banks, notably those from Taiwan, are escalating their lending offerings and affordable financing sources to some local banks and brokerage firms.
Vietnam only currently boasts wind farm projects in operation near the shores. Meanwhile, offshore equivalents are rather new. What does your company consider the challenges to be in the energy transition in the Vietnam market?

Riccardo Felici, country manager for renewables consultants OWC Vietnam

Every emerging market has challenges to overcome, and these cover different sectors of the industry. Our benefit is to have seen these challenges in several emerging markets such as Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Poland.

The main challenges that can be foreseen for a truly offshore industry development are policy stability, including remuneration schemes, power grids, and supply chain.

Offshore projects are complex projects developed from several miles up to a hundred miles off the coasts. The benefit is better wind resources and larger spaces that allow for very large turbines to be installed. As the size of the projects is significantly larger than onshore projects, the scale of investment and involvement of international finance is also larger.

To attract the necessary investment, stable supporting policies (from financial, environmental, and planning perspectives) and certainty on the remuneration scheme from the government are critical. These are currently being put in place in Vietnam and the outcome of the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) will be critical to encouraging this new industry in Vietnam.

The power grid will need to also be developed to be able to accommodate the production of variable renewable energy at the national level. Large investments are expected in this area and the potential to allow private investment into the grid system could play a vital role in this.

Finally, Vietnam will need to prepare its supply chain in terms of main component fabrication, port facilities, construction plants, and equipment, including vessels to be able to build and operate the 7GW and more of offshore wind proposed by 2030 in the current PDP8 draft.

The opportunities for Vietnamese suppliers and contractors can then arise not just within Vietnam itself, but across the wider international marketplace in offshore wind projects.

With your experience in many other markets, what lessons can you share with Vietnam?

There are several lessons to be shared and applied to the market. We could talk extensively about each of the different packages that form a wind farm. If we had to point to two of the main ones we would think of localisation requirements and setting achievable goals.

Starting from the latter, though it may seem great to set very high development targets, for the first years the focus should be on building experience and supply chain that will be used by the larger pipeline in the following years. The failure to deliver very large projects or extensive delays comes with the lack of confidence of investors in the market which in turn reduces the overall feasibility of the larger projects.

Localisation is key to be built in the projects, however, we have seen over and over how this can lead to very challenging and expensive projects. Vietnam has great internal resources in engineering, and manufacturing and has the foundations for the installation capabilities thanks to its oil and gas projects. The industry will naturally be drawn to these resources.

It will, however, be critical to have international practical expertise in the projects at different levels to ensure that we dont repeat the same mistakes again  appropriate partnering to get the best from local capabilities and international experience will provide a solution for Vietnam.

Oslo-based ABL Group, the parent of OWC, has already built up a presence in Vietnams renewable market. How has performance been so far here?

ABL Group has supported Vietnam in the energy, oil and gas, and maritime sectors for nearly 30 years. As Vietnam started to develop nearshore wind projects it was a natural transition to support the supervision of their construction and ensure that the highest standards were applied for the lowest risk and ensure the projects success.

OWC then started to support developers at the earlier design and development stages. Nowadays, OWC and ABLs wider group track record in Vietnam covers onshore wind, battery energy storage systems, and nearshore and offshore wind. This has been achieved for both local and international developers as well as working for development banks.

The expansion of the group with a new office was inevitable given our continued and increasing support of the market.

Our vision is to support the growth of the renewable energy market to achieve net carbon goals set by the government. Also, our ambition is to do so from Vietnam with a local team of experts who will gain invaluable exposure to our international projects to then bring the lessons learned to the local market.

Vietnam has tremendous potential in renewable energy with great resources, increasingly large energy demand and a growing supply chain. The stage is set for Vietnam to become a leader in Asia-Pacific for the development of new renewable energy.

Realising Vietnams just energy transition Vietnam is set to achieve net-zero by 2050. The announcement by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26 in Glasgow was a turning point in the countrys journey to sustainable development. The seriousness of intent and purposeful planning towards this net-zero commitment, with related pledges on reforestation and phasing out coal, has established Vietnam as a leader in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions and limit the negative impact of climate change.

UNDP roundtable to tackle energy transition financing On July 29, the "Finance and Governance Accelerators for a Just Energy Transition" roundtable hosted by Vietnam Investment Review in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam will dig into policy options on financial development toward a just energy transition.

Finance and governance accelerators for Just Energy Transition Initial results of the energy transition to date have proven that finance is not a constraint and that new governance solutions are key to a Just Energy Transition (JET).
In late July, PC1 Group JSC, a Vietnamese group operating in power construction, energy, and property, signed a contract to buy the entire stake in Singapore-based Nomura Asia Investment Vietnam (NAIV).

M&A heating up in industrial real estate, illustration photo

NAIV holds 70 per cent of charter capital at Nomura-Haiphong Industrial Zone Development Corporation, thus after the deal, PC1 will replace NAIV in operating Nomura-Haiphong Industrial Zone (NHIZ). This transaction is a part of PC1s plan to develop industrial real estate to add to its funding strategy and gradually develop the groups ecosystem.

Through merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, PC1 will take advantage in terms of clean energy solutions to upgrade its partners existing IZs to eco-equivalents. We will also cooperate with partners to develop new eco-IZs to meet the demand of investors, a PC1 representative said.

For example, at NHIZ, PC1 plans to install clean energy solutions for factories and the application of intelligent management software and digital transformation.

Regarding the specific schedule to convert NHIZ, the representative of PC1 told VIR it will still take some months to complete legal procedures and works relating to the deals.

Industrial real estate is still the most prominent M&A sector, accounting for 35 per cent of the total transaction value with a series of outstanding deals made this year, according to statistics from the global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield Vietnam.

Some of the biggest deals combine the acquisition of BW Industrial Development, a developer co-founded by Warburg Pincus and Becamex IDC in Bac Tien Phong Industrial Zone in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, developed by DEEP C Industrial Zones. A second prominent deal involves Boustead Projects Co., Ltd.s acquisition of 49 per cent in KTG & Boustead Logistics Industry JSC in Yen Phong IZ in the northern province of Bac Ninh for $6.9 million.

Both of these deals were completed in February.

Besides that, Saigontel, Vinacapital, and Singapores Aurous Capital Pte., Ltd. signed an MoU on developing an industrial and urban complex worth $2.5 billion in the northern province of Bac Giang in February this year.

Tran Thi Thu Huong, deputy general director of Long Duc Industrial Park in the southern province of Dong Nai said, The leading purpose of M&A deals in industrial real estate is to join forces to develop projects. To establish an IZ and take it into smooth operation, the investors need to complete legal procedures, land clearance, construct, and operate the zone. It is difficult for investors to cover all of these works by themselves in a short time.

Another key reason for similar cooperation is to improve the quality and service of IZs to attract large foreign groups, according to Huong.

At present, when many investors look to pour money into Vietnam, they want to issue more strict criteria to select zones, such as integrated eco-IZs and urban-industrial-logistics zones.

In addition, the operational methods in IZs need to be upgraded, Huong said. During an M&A transaction, the scale of partners is not the highest priority for foreign industrial real estate developers. Instead, they prefer partners with experience, prestige, and a large amount of land.

Do Gia Long, Deputy general director Redsunland Investment JSC Being a consultancy business in industrial real estate, Redsunland sees that foreign investors are paying attention to the investment environment in Vietnam, including industrial real estate developers. They prefer M&A because this method has many advantages, such as reducing a part of the burden during the administrative procedures. In order to develop an industrial zone (IZ), it needs the approval of the prime minister and hundreds of signatures of local authorities, which is the problem that foreign investors are concerned about. Meanwhile, domestic partners have advantages in resolving administrative procedures. Besides this, domestic developers have another advantage. They understand the planning of IZs, transport infrastructure, and even urban planning around IZs. Regarding reasons causing failures in M&A deals, the first reason is the lack of transparency in providing information from domestic partners, meanwhile, transparency is one of the leading criteria when foreign investors look for partners. Moreover, domestic sides often offer much higher value for the deal compared to their businesses real value. Furthermore, the parties cannot reach a compromise on cooperation time. Foreign investors are interested in cooperating with partners to develop an IZ when the land clearance work is completed while domestic developers want their partners to go together on starting steps.

Trade pact sets up stronger M&A interest from Europe In strong signals of EU interest in Vietnam over the past few months, a batch of leading companies has signed deals to purchase businesses and expand their merger and acquisition footprint.

Big M&A deals forecast in banking industry in 2022 Vietnams merger and acquisitions (M&A) market in 2022 is forecast to include big deals worth billions of dollars in the banking industry.

M&A deals light up property market in first half of 2022 Since the beginning of the year, the real estate market has seen an uptick in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, including office, residential, and industrial projects.
With the theme A World Beyond Cash  Accelerating, Innovating, Connecting you to Priceless Possibilities, the forum has helped sketch the big picture of the current payment landscape, drawing the ways how Mastercard and its key partners join hands to increase the capability of payment and better serve the population in Vietnam.

Vietnam is now among the fastest-growing economies in Asia-Pacific, experiencing the fourth payment revolution and showing great growth potential, thanks to a young population with a digital mindset.

Despite the negative impacts brought by the pandemic, the Asian Development Bank forecasts that the countrys GDP will reach 6.5 per cent in 2022, increasing 2.5 times from 2021s figure and reflecting the most impressive economic recovery across Southeast Asia.

In 2021, apart from maintaining a positive GDP figure, Vietnam recorded a 13 per cent increase in credit growth and a 9 per cent increase in foreign investments, alongside the $21 billion valued internet economy, driven by 8 million new digital consumers during the pandemic.

Safdar Khan, Mastercard's division president for Southeast Asia said, Vietnam is on the path of imperative growth, in parallel with peer nations in the Southeast Asia region and has shown a remarkable ability to adapt and evolve to achieve progress. With this remarkable achievement, all market players must work together to ensure that this growth is sustainable."

Khan added, "Beyond offering new payment technologies to partners, Mastercard is committed to working closely with the Vietnamese government and businesses to develop solutions that empower a more financially inclusive society in Vietnam and help the country realise its cashless economy vision. By leveraging Mastercards global expertise, Mastercard stands with Vietnam on the pathway towards a more globally connected and competitive economy," he added.

At the Mastercard Customer Forum 2022, Mastercard has also presented a series of awards celebrating its partners achievements in accelerating payment services in 2021 in recognition of their leadership in payment business performance and growth, both domestically and cross-border.

Winnie Wong, Mastercard's country manager for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

Winnie Wong, Mastercard's country manager for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia asserted the companys stronger commitment to the market through innovative partnerships, saying that despite the challenges from the pandemic, its exciting to see such fast and positive progress in Vietnam, thanks to the trust and cooperation with Mastercards valued partners."

She added that Mastercard also looks forward to bringing their most innovative payment technologies and solutions as well as global expertise to offer tailored and best-in-class programmes and solutions to meet the needs of partners, businesses, organisations, and people.

Together with collaborative efforts to facilitate a cashless and inclusive economy, Mastercard is going an extra mile to establish and reinforce its presence in the market with the debut of the Vietnam version of its Sound of Trust  the Mastercard melody recognised by consumers worldwide in storefronts, at payment terminals, in apps, and online.

Meanwhile, Mastercard also makes efforts to realise its long-standing commitment to enabling priceless experiences, introducing Vietnamese consumers to the power of personal connection and emotional fulfilment with the extension of its award-winning Priceless platform.

Mastercard goes the extra mile to bring Priceless to life for its partners and customers by bridging connections over a shared passion for food  one among nine leading passion points at Mastercard.

Distinguished guests were invited on a bespoke culinary experience, specifically curated by top celebrity chefs with domestic and international acclaim, and enjoyed the flavours of Vietnam in a unique and priceless way never before seen.

Being the first Mastercard Customer Forum in Asia-Pacific since the pandemic, the 2022 event sets a new milestone in Mastercards journey in Vietnam while highlighting the next developmental phase of cashless payment with the active participation of local players.

The event also solidifies the global payment technology companys commitment to Vietnam as one of its major markets in the Asia-Pacific, and how the country has been integrating deeply in terms of cashless payment vision, heading towards a dynamic, flexible, and sustainably developed digital economy.

Small business support programmes need to deliver in the wake of the pandemic While not yet through the darkness, greater access to vaccines and better treatments illuminate a future without a crippling global health pandemic, says Winnie Wong, Mastercard country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.

Mastercard offers new range of benefits and experiences for affluent consumers in Vietnam As consumers increasingly turn to online channels for their everyday purchases, the value propositions on their World and World Elite cards are evolving to derive maximum value.
A feasibility study contract was signed at the end of last month by MTBS and the investor of a superport in northern Vinh Phuc province, 60km from Hanoi.

Construction began last December for the Vinh Phuc Inland Container Depot Logistics Cente, to be known as Vietnam SuperPort. It is funded by YCH Group, a Singaporean integrated end-to-end supply chain management and logistics partner, and Vietnamese conglomerate T&T Group.

A graphic design of the Vinh Phuc ICD Logistics Centre (Source: vietnamnet.vn)

The $200 million, 83-hectare land plot with a designed cargo capacity of about 850,000 TEU will be finished before 2025. According to YCH Group, the SuperPort project will adopt technological advancements such as AI and automation that will help future-proof the logistics industry and enable the delivery of a more integrated, faster, safer, and more sustainable supply chain.

Over the past 20 years, Singaporean developers have also entered Vietnam to build hundreds of apartments and office projects for rent. Typical names include Mapletree, CapitaLand, Frasers Property, Sembcorp Development, and Keppel Land.

Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) is a joint venture between Sembcorp Development (Singapore) and Becamex IDC (Vietnam). Established in 1996, VSIP has had about a dozen investment projects in IPs spread throughout Vietnams provinces and cities, including Binh Duong, Binh Dinh, Nghe An, Hai Duong, Haiphong, and Bac Ninh.

In March, the 1,000ha VSIP3 IP in Binh Duong province started construction. The venture is considered a new milestone for the joint venture because it is designed foremost in a green and sustainable orientation. VSIP3 is designed to integrate smart technology in its operations, from the use of energy, water, and waste to traffic management and security.

Phase 1 of the project is 100ha in size and has met the conditions to be granted the Green Mark Certificate (GMC) of the Construction Authority of Singapore for industrial zones. This will help VSIP III become one of the greenest and most sustainable working environments in Vietnam.

According to chairman of the Board at Becamex IDC Corporation Nguyen Van Hung, so far more than 30 domestic and foreign corporations and companies have shown interest in exploring the possibility of production development at VSIP3, equivalent to around 180ha of land and $1.8 billion in investment capital.

We will develop this into one of the smartest, greenest, and most sustainable IPs in the country with large capacity solar power plants, providing on-site renewable energy sources for factories and contribution to the zero carbon strategy, said Hung.

In the Vietnamese real estate market, there are a number of other green building certification systems being utilised besides the GMC that is helping evaluate the performance of buildings in terms of energy use, emissions, design, safety, and working environment.

In Ho Chi Minh City, some office buildings that have been assessed for LEED certification include Deutsches Haus, Friendship Tower, Presidents Place, Phu My Hung Tower, and Saigon Center 2, all located in District 1.

In Hanoi, some prime examples include Techcombank Tower, Capital Place, and Landcaster Luminaire.

Elsewhere, CapitaLand Development (Vietnam), the development arm of CapitaLand Group, has won many awards in green and sustainable development for their projects in Vietnam with environmentally-conscious designs. Its incoming $1 billion industrial, logistics, and township development in Bac Giang province is also designed to be green-certified with plans to obtain a LEED certification by the US Green Building Council.

Frasers Property Vietnam, another Singaporean developer, has also outlined its approach moving toward responsible sourcing, with all suppliers using publicly-vetted green building materials. Binh Duong Industrial Park, which Frasers has developed, is on track to achieve LEED certification, while Melinh Point has become the first existing non-residential building in Vietnam to achieve the prestigious Green Mark Platinum Certification awarded by Singapores Building and Construction Authority.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Construction earlier this year, the number of green buildings in Vietnam has now reached just over 200, a modest number compared with the number of total projects built and put into operation. The construction and real estate sectors are responsible for nearly 40 per cent of global CO2 emissions and account for about 36 per cent of total energy consumption compared to other sectors.
According to Nguyen Thi Le Thu, director of Marketing and Business Development at FV Hospital, the hospital is going to build a new facility to meet the growing need for high-quality healthcare services in Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring areas. We plan to recruit more doctors and nurses to work at the new facility, she told VIR. FV is an ideal working environment that many health workers are looking for.

Many healthcare staff have switched jobs due to pandemic stress and low salaries, Le Toan

The French-funded hospital now boasts over 130 doctors from many countries, including 116 full-time. The hospital receives more than 200,000 patients a year, most Vietnamese but also many expatriates.

Like FV, Hanoi French Hospital is hiring new medical and support staff to support its development plan.

We have reactivated our recruitment for European specialist doctors and expect to welcome at least six more before the end of the year, said CEO Jef Peeters. We continue to work with international partners, particularly training hospitals in France, for advanced specialised training and programme development and are happy to have unrestricted travel in support of those programmes.

While a good working environment and well-paid job are among the most important factors to help hospitals retain talents, many state-owned institutions are struggling with manpower shortfall as a massive number of health workers switch professions.

At least one senior doctor has left Dong Nai General Hospital after years of working there and previously being honoured by Dong Nai Peoples Committee for his contributions during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was reported that the main reason for quitting the high-profile role was due to the toll taken on him with long, harsh working hours during the countrys time of need.

On top of that, a huge number of doctors and nursing staff have decided to quit their jobs in the same hospital. Director Dr. Ngo Duc Tuan admitted that the hospital suffered from about 100 employee losses in 2021, including 29 doctors, 30 nurses, technicians, and other positions.

According to local authorities in Dong Nai, 230 doctors, nursing staff, and technicians at state-run health facilities have left their job in the first half of 2022. This number is much higher than in previous years.

Meanwhile, Huynh Minh Chin, deputy director of Binh Duong Department of Health, said that about 300 staff at grassroots health facilities in the southern province have resigned because of low salaries, unreasonable working environment, work overload, and fewer opportunities to improve professional skills. The province is facing a lack of nearly 600 staff in the form of doctors and midwives, mostly for grassroots health facilities.

In addition, the 1,500-bed General Hospital, which is going to be put into operation in Binh Duong, is seeking new staff. While peoples healthcare demands are rising and more varied, the capacity of the local healthcare sector remains limited because of manpower shortfall, Chin said. Training and recruitment is still challenging. Annually, the number of recruited doctors and other health staff fails to meet demands.

According to Ministry of Health (MoH) statistics, nearly 900 health staff in Hanoi have resigned from their job in the past two years, with 250 quitting in Q1 of this year alone. In Ho Chi Minh City, the number was more than 1,000 in 2021, and nearly 400 in the first quarter of 2022.

The Vietnam National Union of Health Workers, which noted that over 9,300 health workers across the country have left their jobs over the past 18 months, saying that low salaries and allowances were the top of many reasons for getting out.

It explained that currently, the salary of a graduating doctor is around VND3.48 million ($150) a month before incentives. The average wages only partly help many doctors cover their daily expenses.

At recent meetings, including one in mid-July about human resources for the sector, the prime minister asked the MoH to work with ministries and agencies to study and amend Decree No.56/2011/ND-CP regulating preferential allowances for staff at state-owned health facilities, and supporting policies for those hit by the pandemic.
Given that Vietnams population, economy, and energy consumption are all expected to continue to rise over the coming years, renewable energy is one of the industries that has attracted the attention of foreign investors seeking merger and acquisition (M&A) prospects in Vietnam.

Some foreign-invested energy groups in the past have benefited from Vietnams previous tariff schedule, Photo: Shutterstock

However, while Vietnam witnessed 10 big M&A deals last year, so far 2022 has seen only two deals announced. Vaibhav Saxena from Vietnam International Law Firm told VIR, In the past 3-4 months there has been a market slowdown. The issue is the lack of a feed-in tariff (FiT) rate to calculate returns on investment, and competitive market regulations are yet to be seen. We will see an enormous interest from foreign investors after we have the tariff policy in place. Now, it is more about asset management and diversifying investments that have a cash flow in the renewable energy industry.

After being assigned by the government to advise on solutions for the projects that missed the FiT deadline last November, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) sent official options in late July to solve problems for projects and avoid wasting investment.

This is not the first time the MoIT has sought solutions to help the delayed projects. It was originally proposed that projects be allowed to negotiate purchase prices with Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) but final decisions have not yet been made.

The MoIT has argued that because the FiT provisions have expired but the legality remains, the prime minister should reverse any current decisions on incentives for the growth of wind and solar power. It has also been noted that some regulations on exchange rate fluctuations and term lengths are no longer relevant.

A range of groups, including Thailand-based trio Gulf, Super Energy Corporation, and Banpu Company, had become more active in Vietnam through M&A transactions thanks to FiT incentives.

Banpu invested in five wind and solar power plants with a combined total capacity of 218MW in Vietnam through both M&A deals and direct investment. Earlier this year, Banpu CEO Somruedee Chaimongkol said, Our substantial investment expansion in renewable energy in Vietnam over the past two years is just the right timing.

Meanwhile, M&A transactions are also the method used by Super Energy to expand in Vietnam. It owns nine solar power projects with total installed capacity of nearly 840MWp, and five wind power projects are in progress with a planned total capacity of 471MW.

We see the most M&A interest from foreign investors targeting operational renewable projects - as in those that were entitled to the FiT incentives, said Giles Cooper, partner at Allens. There is still some M&A interest in projects that missed the deadline. However, policy rules for those projects are not yet certain. For example, how much will they get paid for power? How will investors be selected? And what will the terms of their power purchase agreements be?

Last year, 62 wind power projects with a total capacity of 3.48MW missed the November deadline to enjoy the FiT incentives, and five solar projects with a total capacity of 452.6MW are also awaiting the determination of electricity prices according to EVN.

Although many advertisements have been posted online aiming to sell renewable energy in Vietnam from local developers, especially projects that missed the FiT deadline, no successful transactions have been made among the 62 unfinished wind ventures.

Ninh Thuan leads country in renewables development by turning difficulties into opportunities The south-central coastal province of Ninh Thuan has made leaps and bounds to become Vietnams leading locality in renewable energy development.

Untapped opportunities await with deeply-embedded renewables Businesses globally are adopting green financing and other environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. However, Vietnam still has hurdles to overcome to reap the full benefits, which Dr. Nguyen Viet Long CPA (Aust.) and Consulting Partner at EY Consulting Vietnam JSC outlined in an interview with VIR's Mai Dang.
This activity not only supports Vung Tau to gear itself toward becoming a green city and responds to the call from the prime minister for one billion trees to be planted nationwide from 2021 to 2025, but also demonstrates the environmental, social, and governance strategy (ESG) that the company is pursuing  in which reaching net-zero is one of the major commitments.

The impact of climate change and natural disasters has become increasingly complex, affecting all aspects of socioeconomic life and the environment and threatening the countrys sustainable development.

Therefore, planting and protecting forests and developing trees for environmental protection is of vital significance. Since 2021, Vietnam has been rolling out a project to plant one billion trees by 2025.

On a local scale, many cities and provinces have responded to the project by encouraging people to plant trees at home or through community programmes.

For Vung Tau, this project not only increases the density of trees for people in the city but also helps it move to a green city model.

Aligned with their sustainable development goals, SCGC and LSP have been initiating many programmes to leverage the environment and better the lives of people in communities around their complex.

Recently, SCGC and LSP, in collaboration with Vung Tau Peoples Committee, planted 300 trees in a public area in Long Son commune, turning the surrounding environment into green spaces.

Moreover, inside the LSP complex, 24.3ha of mangrove forest have been conserved. The plantation of 400 trees, including 100 poinciana trees and 300 yellow-flamboyant trees, in Vung Tau today is another effort to manifest their sustainability and ESG commitments towards a net-zero society.

Dhep Vongvanich, with representatives of Vung Tau province and SCGC staff, participated in planting trees at the event

At the Kick-off Conference to develop the Vietnam National Action Plan towards a Circular Economy in late June, SCG and its subsidiaries showed our strong commitment to work hand-in-hand with the government and the private sector in Vietnam to tackle the emerging issues of waste management and climate change to move towards the net-zero goal in 2050.

Dhep Vongvanich, advisor to president and CEO of SCG said, At the Kick-off Conference to develop the Vietnam National Action Plan towards a Circular Economy in late June, SCG and its subsidiaries showed our strong commitment to work hand-in-hand with the government and the private sector in Vietnam to tackle the emerging issues of waste management and climate change to move towards the net-zero goal in 2050."

"SCGC and LSP actually started our actions a long time ago as a joint effort with the local community of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. From the waste management project at schools and communes in Long Son to a wider-scale project on a provincial level, we are now delighted to work together with Vung Tau city on this plantation project. These actions clearly manifest our continuous corporate commitment to the sustainable future of the locality and Vietnam, added Vongvanich.

Chairman of Vung Tau Peoples Committee Hoang Vu Thanh said, As a part of the collaboration between the people's committee and SCGC, we organised the planting of trees across the city. Through this programme, we want to spread the green tree planting movement to every individual, household, agency, and business so that the entire society can join hands and passionately engage in planting trees and forests. We hope to raise awareness and implement effective strategies to safeguard forests, plants, and our own lives."

SCG inaugurates green outdoor gym to boost health of locals in Thuan An city Conglomerate SCG has led several meaningful initiatives in the southern province of Binh Duong to demonstrate its support for provincial socioeconomic development and the health and well-being of locals.

SCG kicks off the first-ever Hacks to Heal our Planet competition in Vietnam SCG  one of the leading conglomerates in the ASEAN region  has announced the Hacks to Heal our Planet contest in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. It is an opportunity for the new generation to show their creative ideas to improve the environment, build a better society, and ensure a better world for future generations.
The following are some of the year's highlights.

As one of the leading international schools in Vietnam, ISHCMC has a rich 28-year history of student achievement. The class of 2022 was no exception, with one student, Seoyeon Hong, achieving a perfect score of 45 points in the IB Diploma.

ISHCMC Director of Admissions and Market Growth Mike Hebert said, The result puts her in the 99.7th percentile amongst students studying the IB Diploma Programme globally. That is a true testament to the education that students at ISHCMC are receiving and one that the whole community is proud of.

Seoyeon Hong, who achieved a perfect score

The result puts her in the 99.7th percentile amongst students studying the IB Diploma Programme globally. That is a true testament to the education that students at ISHCMC are receiving and one that the whole community is proud of - Mike Hebert

Another student that has achieved greatness under ISHCMCs educational environment is Junsoo Chung. He joined ISHCMC in grade 2.

I arrived at school with no English language. On my first day, a classmate shared a copy of Star Wars with me  that book helped me kickstart my English skills, Chung recounted.

Chung is one of many recent graduates from ISHCMCs class of 22 and is a shining example of an ISHCMC learner. As the president of the ISHCMC Entrepreneur Society, he has networked with people from different backgrounds and engaged with diverse perspectives.

Having received 42 points in the IB Diploma Programme, scoring a 7  the highest grade possible  in Biology, Mathematics Analysis and Approaches, and Business Management, he hopes to take what he has learned at ISHCMC and apply it to his further education where he will be attending Boston College. His ultimate goal is to work with an NGO and institutionalise climate education in Southeast Asia.

I want to make sure every school has a climate curriculum, he explained.

Junsoo Chung

The IB Diploma Programme also allowed Japanese student, Karen Oda, the opportunity to blossom. Joining in grade 9, Karen found life at ISHCMC to be incredibly rewarding.

Art was my favourite subject. It allowed me to express not only myself but my individual culture, she said.

Scoring a total of 30 points means Oda has been given an unconditional offer to the University of Adelaide, which is ranked in the Top 100 universities in the world, to study Nutrition.

As she looked back on her education she said, I am very grateful that ISHCMC gave me the opportunity to discover my passion.

Karen Oda

A member of ISHCMCs swim team and a long-serving house captain, Drew Moreno explained, Theres always been a culture of care at ISHCMC and I think thats really important when you move to a new school. The school has changed so much since I arrived 11 years ago but its sense of community has stayed the same.

Having achieved 37 total points and a 7 in Environmental Systems and Societies, Moreno has accepted an offer to Wheaton College where he will be furthering his passion for environmental sustainability.

ISHCMC allowed me to discover passions I didnt think I had and the teachers have always made it really easy to reach out to them, he said as he reflected on his time at school.

Its graduates like these that show just how critical it is that education goes beyond the traditional classroom. In an uncertain future the responsibility placed on education is more important than ever. It is the responsibility of schools to equip all learners with the tools they need to navigate life in the 21st century. While learning will always present us with challenges we know that the programmes at ISHCMC offer great opportunities whilst supporting our learners through their learning journeys.

ISHCMC  the first international school in Ho Chi Minh City and the first to offer the full IB curriculum  recognises the important role education plays in allowing students to make choices in often complex and ambiguous environments.

The school utilises the flexibility of the IB programmes to encourage an inclusive, broad, and balanced approach to learning through inquiry, exploration of concepts, principled and caring citizenship, creative problem solving, collaboration, communication, and connectivity.

Through the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme, students like Hong, Chung, Oda, Moreno, and others develop the foundational skills that prepare them for excellence long after they leave school.

The IB programmes provide an education that enables learners to make sense of the world around them resulting in internationally-minded people who are equipped with the skills and dispositions needed for taking responsible action for the future. Furthermore, the education at ISHCMC at all grades crosses disciplinary, cultural, national, and geographical boundaries.

ISHCMCs head of School Kim Green explained, Students are encouraged to learn the skills and attitudes necessary to have ownership and take responsibility for their learning and their lives.

Green went on to say, Through learning in a collaborative and constructive environment, our students deepen their understanding and create new perspectives that prepare them for life beyond ISHCMC.

The school wishes luck to every student in the class of 2022 and looks forward to seeing them realise their potential far into the future. As Green says, Once a Rhino, always a Rhino.

To learn more about what an ISHCMC education can do for your child, contact admissions@ishcmc.edu.vn

International School Ho Chi Minh City featured as Leading School in Queen's album International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC) has been acknowledged and featured as one of the leading international schools globally in Queen Elizabeth IIs official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album, which was launched on June 5.

International School Ho Chi Minh City: One school, four values, endless possibilities More than 30 diploma subjects. A one-to-eight faculty to student ratio. Over 200 experienced IB educators. These are just some of the hallmarks that contribute to the 100 per cent pass rate achieved by pupils at International School Ho Chi Minh City (ISHCMC).
More Vietnamese businesses understand the importance of digital transformation. What are your observations on the current digital landscape?

Dwayne Ong, founder and CEO of Singaporean certification body CASUGOL

It is heartening to see that more small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam has started adopting digital solutions in their businesses and serve their customers. This covers digital payments, creating online presence, and using data to customise products/services to enhance customer experience. Recent research has also shown that the number of Vietnamese connected to the internet has also increased to nearly 85 per cent.

However, the majority of the digital transformation initiatives are largely congregated in major cities like Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City. With over 90 per cent of businesses in Vietnam made up of SMEs and micro-businesses, there are still a lot of opportunities to improve digital adoption among them. The main challenge that they face is the lack of digital literacy or lack of knowledge on core technologies that can impact their businesses. This results to firms kickstarting their digital transformation by purchasing lots of tools and solutions. Such an approach provides a quick fix to problems but is not sustainable in the long term.

The second challenge is the lack of willingness to continuously transform. Often, SMEs like to adopt a wait-and-see approach in digital adoption  for example, adopting a solution or tool only when a similar business has already deployed the technology. The lack of a long-term plan often leads to businesses losing momentum in their transformation, and eventually giving up.

The third challenge is of course the lack of digital talents. This is a global trend, and studies have shown that there is a shortage of digital talents who are skilled and competent in AI, data, and cybersecurity. This leads to hiring or training staff based on popular vendor-centric tools. The lack of talent and skills has caused them to embark on digital transformation dependent on the requirements/limitations of a tool or brand. This is extremely dangerous given the dynamic and fast-changing world that we are in today.

What are your recommendations for businesses which want to kickstart a sustainable digital transformation path?

The first step to a sustainable digital transformation is to stop rushing into solution or tool procurement because your competitor and other businesses are doing so. Take a step back and understand what your organisation truly wants to achieve in the next 3-5 years in terms of digital adoption.

Once an objective is set, it is important to use a gap analysis and be clear on what are the steps required to achieve the objective. It is necessary to start collecting relevant data and information, and put together a digital transformation framework to establish accountability and clarity in the organisation. Most importantly, it is also needed to build confidence within the organisation to support and nurture a digital culture.

Businesses will also need to prioritise the enhancement of digital literacy based on the core technologies rather than vendor-centric or branded tools, and this should be a continuous effort. Many of the successful companies we work with are still having staff attend our free workshops and seminars to update themselves based on the latest industry trends and best practices.

What can the Vietnamese government do to ensure the sustainability and growth of this digital economic boom?

The Vietnamese government is doing a tremendous job in investing in and promoting digital transformation and related initiatives. Many businesses, especially smaller ones, have benefited thanks to their continuous and consistent messaging. To ensure the sustainability of these initiatives, it is important to ensure that proactive effort is being taken to reach out to more businesses. Some activities like roadshows, seminars, workshops, and conferences will allow businesses to experiment and learn about the latest international trends, best practices, and things they can do to jumpstart a sustainable digital transformation.

Educational institutes are also continuously nurturing future digital leaders, building a pipeline of digital talent that can contribute to Vietnams workforce very quickly upon graduation.

Lastly, it is crucial to cultivate a healthy pipeline of students who are interested in pursuing a career in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

MIC debuts Flex Digital to support digital government development The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on December 4 held the launch of the Flex Digital platform to support the development of digital government.

A digital slant for economic recovery The health crisis has dented growth prospects for Vietnam that are now forecast to stay at a lower-than-hoped level. However, one of the key remedies for a sustainable rebound will be boosting the digital economy.

Digital economy to support $74 billion of annual economic impact in Vietnam by 2030 AlphaBeta and Google highlighted the potential in Vietnam's digital economy in a report launched yesterday (October 18) at a digital economy workshop held by the National Innovation Centre.
UPDATE: This story has been updated to remove a quote from McLennan County Republican Party Chair Brad Holland saying the machines from Election Systems & Software would be connected to the internet. After the story was published, an Election Systems spokesperson contacted the Tribune-Herald and clarified that voting machines the company provides in Texas do not connect to the internet.

Far from a bare-knuckled brawl, the battle to sell voting machines to McLennan County may look more like a pillow fight.

Only two companies have submitted offers, one headquartered 90 miles away in Austin, the other located in Omaha, Nebraska, but with a satellite office in Richardson. Both touted their machines to McLennan County commissioners Tuesday, and a deciding vote remains pending.

Both introduced systems relying on paper ballots marked by hand and scanned at polling places. The countys goal is compliance with a state law effective in 2026 that mandates auditable paper-based voting records, though not necessarily hand-marked paper ballots.

Both companies campaigning for McLennan Countys business met state certification to sell voting machines in Texas, a rigorous process that McLennan County Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith said should give state and local voters reason to trust the system.

Texas-based Hart InterCivic Inc. is the incumbent, having provided the county with voting equipment and maintenance 15 years. Vying to dethrone Hart is Election Systems & Software, with a presence in 41 states and more than 140 Texas counties, company spokesperson Chris Moody said.

Moody said his company occasionally faces off with six or seven competing vendors as it pursues contracts around the country.

Hart InterCivic is emerging as favorite, though Goldsmith has publicly endorsed neither company. McLennan County Republican Party Chair Brad Holland said the party favors the Hart system quite heavily. He said security features distinguish it from the Election Systems option in the estimation of election judges, party officials and precinct chairs.

Holland said Hart places a watermark on paper ballots, a measure intended to prevent them from being copied or rescanned. Holland said Hart prints provisional ballots identified as such, whereas Election Systems asks voters to mark ballots as provisional.

Provisional ballots are cast when voter eligibility comes into question, such as when someone forgets their ID or their name does not appear on voter rolls. Provisional ballots usually are kept separately until issues are resolved.

We have no major issues. There is no way to devise something perfect with human hands. Both systems are good, McLennan County Democratic Party Chair Mark Hays said.

Hays said curbside voting using either system asks voters to trust the process. Poll workers would have to take control of marked paper ballots as they move from the curb to scanning machines inside polling places.

That may make some people nervous, Hays said.

McLennan County Judge Scott Felton suggested the county assign two poll workers to each curbside interaction, if logistically possible.

Felton said he would hope to receive written comments from people attending a previous demonstration of the voting machines about two weeks ago, including political party officials. He said commissioners may take up the matter again when they meet Tuesday. Timing is not necessarily critical, because the county plans to start using the new equipment in May 2023, not during the November midterm elections this year, Felton said.

The vendors have very similar equipment, highly recommended by other counties, he said. Some commissioners intend to call these counties about their experience. We also have details to work out about warranty things, supply costs, and service after the sale.

Commissioner Ben Perry said his research continues.

Both companies presented very well, Perry said. I do like the security enhancements Hart presented. ES&S may have the same enhancements in place, but didnt bring it up. I will continue digging through this. I think were trying to get something done, possibly next week.

If pricing becomes an issue, Hart would appear to have the edge.

Goldsmith said Harts package carries a $1.2 million price. Moody, with Election Systems & Software, said the company is quoting a figure closer to $1.6 million.

The county will finance the purchase with bonds issued to convert an old downtown jail next to the courthouse to courtrooms and jury rooms.

Mary Mann, a longtime McLennan County Democratic Party official, cast what some may consider a dissenting vote. She said she found much to like in the Election Systems product, including its user friendliness.

I think they will go with Hart. I will be happy with that, Mann said. I trust Jared (Goldsmith), and will support his recommendation.

Without committing to either company, Goldsmith said he would prefer to keep separate the voter registration verification process and the ballot production process. He said standard procedure in McLennan County elections calls for poll workers to check voter eligibility using laptops with access to lists of registered voters. Voters then move on to voting machines.

Hart proposes keeping these functions separate, with no electronic link between voter information on laptops and the actual casting of ballots. He said the Election Systems process relies on piggybacking these functions.

Commissioner Pat Miller asked each vendor to supply her with client lists. Miller said she is determined to choose a system voters can rely on.
US politicians playing 'Taiwan card' biggest threat to regional stability: China Daily editorial

Chinadaily.com.cn) 09:04, August 10, 2022

A soldier looks through binoculars during combat exercises and training of the navy of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the waters around the Taiwan island, Aug 5, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

The United States was repeatedly warned that there would be serious consequences if House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.

But defying all the disapproval and the urgings from all corners of the world that she abandon her provocative plan, including the message from the White House that it was thought not to be a good idea, she arrived in Taipei anyway on Aug 2.

It is clear to all that her visit was intended to be a significant and provocative show of support for the secession-desiring Tsai Ing-wen administration on the island. The Democratic Progressive Party has written the pursuit of independence into its party program. Beijing is therefore fully justified in responding in a way that ensures the separatists know the risks they are running in trying to edge the island toward "independence".

The live-fire drills the People's Liberation Army is conducting around Taiwan are meant primarily as a deterrent against the separatist forces on the island. But they are also meant to ensure that not just Washington, but all "external forces" are aware of the serious consequences of meddling in the Taiwan question, which is purely an internal affair of China.

Pelosi's trip once again demonstrated that it is China hawks in Washington that are the source of the greatest trouble in the region and therefore the gravest threat to regional peace and stability. They are not only maliciously infringing on China's sovereignty by playing the "Taiwan card" but also violating the US' international obligations. The US' ugly record of meddling in other countries' internal affairs is littered with such hubristic provocations.

Beijing has thus announced eight measures tailored specifically for Washington, which are intended to drive home the message that playing the "Taiwan card" brews real dangers.

Three of the measures are cancellations of military-to-military talks. The other five are the suspension of cooperation in areas such as climate change and transnational crimes where China and the US have been working together.

The US is used to creating a problem first, and then using it to realize its own strategic aims. Despite the Joe Biden administration's claims that it couldn't stop Pelosi's visit, the US has clearly taken the opportunity, whether planned or not, to try and mess up the regional security landscape.

As State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, "This is very dangerous and stupid". No matter how the US supports or connives with the Taiwan separatist forces, it will be in vain. Nor should it pin its hopes on countries in the region joining it in provoking trouble over the Taiwan question, because peace, stability, development and win-win cooperation are the common aspirations of regional countries.

As Wang assured his hosts during his recent visits to Southeast Asian nations, while making justified, reasonable, legal and measured responses to counter Washington's attempts to play the "Taiwan card", Beijing is making every effort to preserve regional peace and stability. So while inflicting pain on the violators, Beijing has also shown that it wants to neither upend the China-US relationship, nor disrupt the regional security landscape.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
City officials on Tuesday presented Waco City Council with a new way to bring affordable housing to the area.

Formation of a public facility corporation, a nonprofit entity that cities can form under Texas law, would allow the city to offer tax exemptions to developers who build affordable housing on city land, Housing Director Galen Price said. Developers would instead pay fees that would make up the difference in missing tax revenue over time, Price said.

Each developer would pay an up-front fee and agree to annual fees, usually an agreed-upon percentage of the cash generated by the development, he said.

Each deal would be looked at differently, Price said.

During a Budget and Audit Committee meeting Tuesday, Waco Mayor Dillon Meek asked if the law means a developer could buy land and donate it to the citys public facility corporation in exchange for a lease agreement to use the land. City Attorney Jennifer Richie said that kind of arrangement is possible, but in most cases here, the land would be owned by the city.

For a development to qualify under state law, at least half its housing units have to be reserved for tenants whose income is 80% or less of the median income in the county, Price said. However, the city would use the corporation to attract developments that consist entirely of affordable housing, he said.

In our recent housing studies, it was identified that we have a lack of affordable units for extremely low-income households, Price said. Because of this gap, we have low-income households paying above their affordability level, crowding into units with other households or living in unfit places.

Price said the council is expected to vote Sept. 6 on forming the public facility corporation.

Budget highlights

City department heads also presented information Tuesday about ongoing and upcoming capital improvement projects.

Dan Quandt, interim director of the convention center and visitors bureau, said his department plans to spend $478,000 to replace carpet at the Waco Convention Center and $1 million to move its tourism information center somewhere west of Interstate 35.

Airport Director Joel Martinez went over several projects at Waco Regional Airport including the now-complete $750,000 refurbishment of passenger loading bridges, paid for by federal COVID-19 relief money approved in 2020. Another $1.2 million project to reroute storm drain pipes is nearly complete. An $8 million plan to renovate the airports terminal will be funded by $6.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief money, a $1.5 million grant and $25,000 in hotel tax revenue.

Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Tom Balk said the $12.8 million Waco Suspension Bridge rehabilitation is on track for completion in the fall. An $8 million overhaul of Lake Air Little League and Challenger Little League ballfields is slated for completion in nine months. The department also has $1.9 million budgeted to develop a new park in China Spring and another $2.9 million budgeted to renovate the former Doris Miller YMCA location into a city community center.

Parks budgeted another $2.8 million for work at the Hart-Patterson track and field facility next to the former site of Floyd Casey Stadium. When the project is done it will cost more than $25 million, which officials have referred to as the largest single park investment in the citys history.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP)  The mother of a man fatally shot by a North Carolina police officer during an attempted car theft filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday claiming the officer broke the law when he shot her unarmed son several times, called in the incident, then fired again.

Brandon Combs died after he was shot while behind the wheel of Concord Officer Timothy Larsons police SUV in February, attorneys said.

Attorneys for Virginia Tayara filed the complaint Tuesday in Winston-Salem federal court accusing Larson and the City of Concord of excessive force, assault and battery, wrongful and intentional death and gross negligence, The Charlotte Observer reported. Attorney Harry Daniels said the complaint seeks some form of justice for the Combs family. The family also hopes the civil complaint will jump start some criminal charge or indictment against Larson, he said.

Police officers cannot be judge, jury and executioner. Thats why we have a criminal justice system. Thats why we have the rule of law, Daniels said.

The Cabarrus County District Attorneys Office is investigating Combs death and has had the findings of a probe by the State Bureau of Investigation since June.

Concord Police said in a statement Tuesday that the department was aware of the lawsuit, and we understand people want to know more about the officer and his actions on February 13. To protect the integrity of the review, the department wont make any further comment until the district attorney announces her decision, police said.

Larson, who was later fired by his department, could not be reached for comment and his attorney did not immediately respond to emails from the newspaper seeking comment.

Concord police initially said Larson shot Combs following a physical altercation at the Modern Nissan car dealership, where the 29-year-old Gastonia man was trying to steal a truck. But Daniels said Larsons body-camera captured the truth.

The video has not been publicly released, but Daniels and other family attorneys have seen it. Daniels, who represented the family of Andre Brown after he was fatally shot last year by deputies in Elizabeth City, has called the Combs footage one of the worst police shooting videos he has ever seen.

According to the lawsuit, when Combs got behind the wheel of Larsons patrol vehicle, Larson fired five shots through the windshield of the vehicle, which was not moving. He called in the shooting to the department dispatchers, then fired again.

Larson did not go to Combs aid, the lawsuit claims. Larson, 27, later told the other officers at the scene that he shot Combs because he was trying to steal his SUV.

Larson was fired May, according to documents the newspaper received from a public records request. Chief Gary Gacek cited Larson for insubordination in his termination letter for refusing to answer questions after the shooting and for giving misleading or untrue answers in other instances.
ASHLAND  Less than a year after the first inquiries were made, a new Lutheran church was established in Ashland.

That church, American Lutheran Church, is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a special program and catered meal on Sunday, Aug. 14.

The program will include a service led by four former ministers from the church. These ministers are Pastor Rich Fangmann, Pastor Jim Lichtenberger, Pastor Dave Folkerts and Pastor Lori Morten. Pastor Megan Morrow, assistant to the bishop, will also be attending and will offer greetings from the synod and the meal prayer.

There will also be a program that details the churchs history and a catered meal. Music will be provided by Dixie Down Beat, a Dixieland band that includes ALC member Dennis Haberstitch.

The celebration was arranged by a committee including chairman Shari Nygren and members Dee Barney, Pat Riecken, Connie Freyer, Carolyn Blobaum, Judy Goff, Jean Whitaker, Bev Hohensee, Deb Pike, Shirley Niemeyer, Sue Palmer and Brittany Behrens.

American Lutheran Church was founded in 1947. A few months earlier, the process of canvassing for the church was started when Lois Judds discussed the possibility of a Lutheran church in Ashland during a Luther League convention in Iowa in the summer of 1946. Later that summer, a three-day survey took place and the results showed a need for a Lutheran church in the community.

The first service took place on Sept. 19, 1946 with Fenske at the pulpit in front of 37 people in the American Legion Hall, the first temporary space the congregation used..

In December, the Legion Hall was no longer available. Officials with St. Stephens Episcopal Church offered American Lutheran Church use of their sanctuary and the first service was held there on Dec. 1, 1946. One week later, the Rev. Vernon Strempke of Blair was installed as the pastor and John Schwenk was put in charge of the congregation in general. Mrs. Robert Judds was named the churchs organist.

On Palm Sunday (March 30, 1947), the congregation was organized and a constitution was adopted. There were a total of 22 charter members included 22 adults and 17 children.

In 1949, Robert Judds was named head of the building committee and land was purchased for a new church. With the help of a general contractor, Clarence Stohlmann of Louisville, the church members did much of the labor to build the $16,500 church, with groundbreaking taking place on Sept. 17, 1950.

Less than six months later, the congregation held a dedication ceremony on Feb. 25, 1951 for the 60x30 foot frame building. There were 62 members in the congregation at the time, but church officials were hopeful the church would continue to grow, and built a structure that could hold up to 140 people.

A parsonage was built in 1951-52 for the first full-time pastor, Pastor W. Gies. Otto Keeker, the building chairman, and Robert Judds did much of the work on the house.

Talk of expanding the church started in 1962, but building did not begin for four more years. Again, church members pitched in to help, doing much of the finishing work on the $30,000 addition. The builder, Philip Hergenrader, also donated his time. The new addition was dedicated on May 14, 1967.

The congregation continued to grow, and by its 25th anniversary in 1972, there were 292 baptized members. On Jan. 1, 1988, the church joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) synod. One year later, a planning committee was formed to again look at another expansion.

In May 1993, a $417,000 addition and remodeling project began. Members of the congregation  Roger Maxon, Mark Hohensee and David Lutton  acted as the general contractors. The project forced the church out of its home for nearly a year. Worship services were held at First Congregational Church and Spargen Hall hosted Sunday School classes.

On Aug. 28, 1994, the new sanctuary and expanded facilities were dedicated with the ELCA Bishop Richard Jessen in attendance.

In recent years, American Lutheran Church has become the home base for outreach ministries that bring food and clothing to those in need.

The church hosts a monthly Kids Cupboard food pantry, where school-aged children can get nutritious and easy-to-prepare food items. This project was started by a group of women from several local churches across the community in 2014.

The church basement also houses The Closet, a free clothing give-away that is held twice a month. It was started in 2011 by ALC member Nicole Chudomelka as a program for the needy. Over time, organizers realized that people of all income levels could take advantage of free clothing.

In addition, American Lutheran Church continues to minister to its congregation and the community in many different ways, with worship services, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, senior high groups, confirmation classes, Bible study groups, quilting groups, Easter breakfasts, soup suppers, trunk-or-treats and haunted houses, Christmas programs and holiday cookie sales and much more.

Suzi Nelson is the managing editor of The Ashland Gazette. Reach her via email at suzi.nelson@ashland-gazette.com.
WAHOO  The citys long-awaited first dog park announced its name as officials celebrated a soft opening last week.

On Aug. 5, the Wahoo Dog Park Committee opened the Doc Little Dog Park to the public. About a dozen dogs and their owners attended the short ceremony.

This truly has been a community-wide effort with many people, organizations and businesses pitching in to make it a reality. The community support all along has been nothing short of amazing, said Deb Wilcox, director of Saunders County Lost Pets and one of the members of the Wahoo Dog Park Committee.

My dad would truly appreciate the community effort, said Linda Little, daughter of the parks namesake.

Wilcox said the committee was proud to name the dog park after Dr. John Little, also known as Doc Little, a former veterinarian that served the Wahoo area.

He was a legend in this community, she said.

Doc Little grew up in Monroe, Tennessee and graduated from Auburn University in Alabama in 1947 with a degree in veterinarian medicine. Six days after graduation, he and wife Lurine came to Wahoo in search of a practice that worked with large animals.

Dad was interested in working where they had big numbers of cattle, Linda Little said.

Doc went on a job interview in Mississippi along the way, but after speaking to Dr. Harold Hedlund in Wahoo, he knew that was where he was going to stay.

He really loved his job and the people that he worked with, Little said.

Doc and his partners first office was in downtown Wahoo until they built a new facility in 1965 on what was then the outskirts of Wahoo. They called it Green Acre Animal Clinic.

Doc treated mostly large animals during his career, with only about 20% of the practice devoted to small animals and pets. But Doc knew the important role dogs and other pets played, referring to them as family members.

After a family dog died, he told his daughter, Remember, there is always another dog waiting that needs your love, Little said in a tribute to her father on the Dog Little Dog Park Facebook page.

After 44 years in practice, Doc retired in 1991. Just 18 months later, he died from congestive heart failure. Little said the family believes his heart was weakened years earlier when he caught brucellosis, an undulant fever, while treating cattle. The normally active man was bedbound for three months and it took several more months before he was well enough to work unaided.

It almost killed him, she said.

Doc was usually too busy working to worry about his own health. Little said he was in the middle of treating a cow for a prolapsed uterus when he suffered a heart attack. He finished the task and asked the farmer if he happened to have any nitroglycerine on hand. The farmer had just recovered from a heart attack himself, so he did. Doc put the pill under his tongue and said, Call the ambulance.

Working with cattle, horses and other large animals could be dangerous work. Little remembers sitting at the kitchen table one night, waiting for her father to come home for dinner. He sat down and her mother asked if he had had an eventful day. He shrugged off the question. Then she mentioned the telltale hoof-shaped mark on his forehead.

Were you kicked in the head by a cow? she asked.

Doc talked fast, with a southern accent that was accentuated with a slight speech impediment. People in Wahoo tried to figure out where he was from, guessing he was Swedish, German or even Czech, not realizing he was a southern boy from Tennessee, Little said.

Doc drove even faster than he talked, roaring along the country roads at 90 miles an hour. He only learned to drive right before he headed west to Wahoo from Alabama.

He famously didnt drive well for the rest of his life, his daughter said.

He was also famous for the work uniform he chose  snow white coveralls.

During calving season, he could go through eight pairs of coveralls a day, Little remembered.

Doc was loud, rowdy and charismatic, according to his daughter, and always looking for a good time.

Everyone had a Doc Little story, she said.

Along with his busy veterinary practice and raising a family, Doc also volunteered in the community through his church, as a Boy Scout and 4-H leader and by serving on local school and library boards. He also co-owned the 300 Bowl, a bowling alley with a skating rink in the basement where Wahoo kids spent their youth in the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

Doc would have praised the Wahoo Dog Park Committee for the years of planning and fundraising that took place in order for the dog park to become a reality, Little said.

My dad really appreciated a truly community effort, she said.

Little and her siblings watched as the committee worked their tails off to raise money for the dog park. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, progress slowed.

Last March, the Little family presented Wilcox with a check for $27,000, which helped the committee reach its fundraising goal. For the familys generosity and in tribute to Docs service to the community, Wilcox suggested the park be named after the veterinarian.

Kevin Stuhr, director of parks and recreation for the City of Wahoo, said there is no formal policy set in place for naming city parks. But in his mind and the minds of other city officials, naming the dog park after Doc Little was an easy choice.

For this project, the two considerations were the financial donation given by the family and his contributions over his lifetime, Stuhr said.

The idea of a dog park in Wahoo has been tossed around for many years, but the Wahoo Dog Park project began around 2019 as a collaborative effort between Saunders County Lost Pets (SCLP) and the City of Wahoo.

A dog park committee was formed that included Wilcox, Stacy Ideus, Kim Homes, Veronica Jarrett and Dave and Becky Henke. Wilcox said each member brought unique gifts to the project. Dave Henke, an employee of JEO Consulting Group, worked in planning and preparation and his wife, Becky, contributed to the steering committee as well. Ideus provided marketing strategies and planning support, while Homes offered many ideas and was there whenever needed and Jarretts contributions were vital to the fundraising efforts.

The City of Wahoo gave a $30,000 financial contribution to the dog park, but their behind-the-scenes work is also to be noted. Stuhr said his employees took a former alfalfa field and transformed it into smooth turf suitable for dogs of all sizes.

Weve done a lot of work over the last two years to get it ready, Stuhr said.

Stuhr said the project has been an example of cooperation between different local agencies.

This has been a collaborative effort from the beginning between SCLP, the dog park committee and the city, Stuhr said.

The day-to-day work at the park will be the responsibility of the city. Parks department employees will mow the grass, remove trash and maintain the equipment, and the city will foot the bill for the electricity.

We will treat it as any other park in the system, Stuhr said.

The citys rules and regulations for parks will be enforced, along with some specific rules regarding dogs.

The parks and rec department will continue to work with the committee as the dog park becomes a part of everyday life for Wahoo residents. Stuhr said once the park has been in use for a while, they will meet to discuss what is working and make any improvements if they are needed.

There are still some items to be installed, including the shade structures and waterers, which have been delayed by supply chain issues. Other future plans include adding an agility course.

We have donations for basically everything, Wilcox said.

Little said her father would love the idea of a place where people can go with their dogs, sit on a bench and visit with someone new.

Getting to know your neighbors over a shared love of dogs, she said.

Suzi Nelson is the managing editor of the Wahoo Newspaper. Reach her via email at suzi.nelson@wahoonewspaper.com.
LANSING, Mich. (AP)  The Michigan Attorney General's office is asking that a special prosecutor investigate whether the Republican candidate for state attorney general and others should be charged in connection with an effort to gain access to voting machines after the 2020 election, according to published reports.

The Detroit News reported Sunday that Attorney General Dana Nessels office has asked that the Michigan Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council, a state agency, appoint a special prosecutor to consider charges against nine people, including Republican attorney general candidate Matt DePerno, state Rep. Daire Rendon of Lake City and Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf.

The newspaper reported that the details of allegations were made in a letter sent Friday by Nessel's chief deputy attorney general, Christina Grossi, to Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson.

They involved convincing local clerks to hand over voting tabulators, breaking into them and performing tests," according to the letter.

The request for a special prosecutor was made because of the potential conflict of interest since Nessel likely will face DePerno in the November election.

DePerno, a lawyer, has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump. The political newcomer supports Trumps false claims about his 2020 loss in the swing state to President Joe Biden. DePerno was endorsed by Michigan Republicans at their state convention in April. He will be officially nominated at a second convention later this month, but that was considered a formality.

Dana Nessel knows she is losing this race," DePernos campaign manager, Tyson Shepard, said in a statement Sunday night, The News reported. "She is desperate to win this election at all costs and is now targeting DePerno, her political opponent. Her actions are unethical and will further demonstrate to the voters that she is unfit for office.

Five tabulators were taken from Roscommon and Missaukee counties in northern Michigan, and Barry County in western Michigan, according to the petition, which further states that Ben Cotton, Jeff Lenberg, Douglas Logan and James Penrose broke into the tabulators and performed tests on the equipment.

Cotton, Lenberg, Logan and Penrose have all been involved in efforts to question the 2020 election. Cotton, Lenberg and Penrose were cited as experts by DePerno in a lawsuit involving Antrim County, The News reported.

Logan is, the founder of Cyber Ninjas. He was involved in an audit of results in Maricopa County, Arizona.

The News said Leaf didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday and Rendon couldnt be reached.

Obtaining undue possession of a voting machine used in an election is a felony punishable by five years in prison, the newspaper reported.
WAUCOMA  A livestock station manager accused of manipulating scales when weighing pigs has pleaded to federal charges in a fraud investigation.

Tyler Jeffrey Thoms pleaded to one count of causing a livestock dealer to keep inaccurate records on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

Court records indicate the offense is punishable by a maximum of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Sentencing will be at a later date, and Thoms remains free.

Thoms had worked for Lynch Livestock, and court records allege he used a crowbar to lift electronic scales while weighing and arbitrarily downgraded swine brought in for sale at the Waucoma buying station between 2018 and 2022.

At the time, Lynch Livestock was under a 2017 consent agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture following an earlier investigation into weighing and sorting practices at the company.

In July, the company, now known as Lynch Family Companies Inc., announced it entered into a $2 million agreement with the government to settle charges it failed to comply with the Department of Agriculture in the 2017 order.







2021 Black Hawk County 4-H Fair PHOTOS
WATERLOO  A clerk at a Waterloo convenience store said an April shooting at the business started with an argument over the price of a lighter.

Authorities allege Tony Cecil Orr Jr. began shooting at the clerk at Logan Convenience Store as his brother yelled at the employee.

Orr, 18, of Memphis, Tenn., is charged with intimidation with a weapon, carrying weapons and going armed. Testimony in his trial began Tuesday in Black Hawk County District Court.

At Logan Convenience Store, 735 Logan Ave., disposable lighters were going for two for $1 or 75 cents each.

Derrick Tatum, a clerk at the shop, said a patron argued with him over the price one day in April.

The customer  Alante Amaechi  yelled and had some choice words, Tatum said while on the witness stand Tuesday.

I said some smart things back to him, and he left, Tatum said.

Then about three days later  on April 20  Amaechi returned, allegedly with his brother, Orr, in tow, and resumed the squabble, threatening and talking reckless in line as Tatum waited on another customer, the clerk said.

At some point, Orr, wearing a mask and standing by shelf of potato chips near the door, pulled a handgun with an extended magazine from his waist and began shooting, Tatum told jurors.

Orr aimed one shot and turned, firing behind him as he ran out the door, Tatum said. Two of the bullets came within a foot or two of Tatum and the customer he was ringing up.

I ducked  all the way to the floor, Tatum said.

When he looked up, the gunman was gone, and patrons were checking themselves over for injuries. No one was hit by a bullet, prosecutors said.

Tatum said he grabbed the store gun  a revolver placed behind the counter just in case  and called 911.

Its unreal. I cant believe this just happened, Tatum said.

In court, Tatum identified Orr as the shooter.

Prosecutor Brad Walz said police recovered three spent shell casings and one fired bullet from the scene. When police searched a home where Orr had been staying nine days later, they found clothing and shoes similar to those seen in surveillance videos of the shooting. They also found an extended magazine and ammunition but no gun.







Iowa Irish Fest 2022
WATERLOO  A Waterloo man accused of holding a woman against her will has been arrested on sex crime allegations.

Waterloo police arrested Christopher Paul Rumachik, 36, of 320 Glenwood St., formerly of Nashua, on Tuesday for false imprisonment, assault causing bodily injury and third-degree sexual abuse. Bond was set at $50,000.

According to court records, police searched his home Tuesday afternoon and found a woman who said Rumachik refused to allow her to leave the house for several weeks and he had forced her to have sex.

He is accused of assaulting the woman when she didnt do what he wanted and once used pepper spray on her when she attempted to leave, court records state.

The two were acquaintances, police indicate.

Rumachik was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine in connection with a June 10 incident in which Cedar Falls police searched his vehicle and found a bag of meth under the drivers seat.

He is also awaiting trial for theft in a June 20 incident where is accused of stealing Monster energy drinks and $70 worth of whey from Hy-Vee on Flammang Drive in Waterloo, and June 9 incident where he allegedly used a slingshot to break the windows at Davids Taphouse and Dumplings in Cedar Falls at 2:40 a.m.
WATERLOO  Black Hawk County is on the hunt for a new finance director after James Perry submitted his letter of resignation.

The Board of Supervisors accepted his resignation Tuesday. Perrys last day with the county will be Sept. 2. Hes been with the county since 2019 after taking over for Susan Deaton, who took a job in the private sector.

Perry did not respond to inquiries about why he is leaving the position.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity with Black Hawk County for the past three years, Perry said in a statement to the board. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the county working with an amazing staff.  However, I have determined that it is time for me to leave Black Hawk County.

Supervisor Dan Trelka thanked Perry for his work with the county, but said he is afraid others will follow.

The supervisors also approved beginning the search to find a new finance director. Perry said in his resignation letter that he would offer temporary services or training for the new director, saying he found it useful for when he came on board.

The board also approved classifying the finance directors annual wage from a starting pay of $81,367 to $98,543, as recommended by human resources director Amanda Fesenmeyer. The maximum salary would be $137,677.
SHOCKING

 We must not take prisoners. We must kill them.

 With these words, the famous Ukrainian presenter, Yanina Sokolova, called for the death of all Russians in a broadcast on NTA, a television channel.

 According to her, all Russians have a collective illness and the only remedy is annihilation.

 After the 2014 coup detat, there have been numerous calls by the new political and social elites in Ukraine to assassinate and exterminate Russians; the ethnic Russian diaspora in Ukraine numbers in the millions.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

WtR
Tamil actor Karthi who enjoys a fair amount of following in Telugu too, is busy promoting his latest film Viruman which releases on 12th August. There is no Telugu release simultaneously and the makers havent given any clarification regarding this.

Kaithi directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj went on to become the biggest hit in the actors career. After the success of Vikram, the audience was confused as to when Lokeh would start Kaithi 2 since Vikram and Kaithi are interlinked and Vikram 2 would also happen soon.

During the Kerala promotions, Karthi revealed that Kaithi 2s shoot would be commenced after the completion of Thalapathy Vijays 67th film which will be directed by Lokesh. Hence the order will be Thalapathy 67, Kaithi 2, and Vikram 2.

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Q: My doctor told me to stay from JUNCS. I have never heard of that before.

A: JUNCS is an acronym for: junk food; ultra-processed foods; nutritionally inappropriate foods; caffeinated/colored/carbonated foods/beverages; and sugar-sweetened beverages. And I am quite sure why your doctor told you that.

In all probability, you are not leading a healthy lifestyle especially in terms of your food and caloric consumption leading to increased weight.

Theme of several of my health columns have been about obesity, its rising trend, early onset of obesity, health concerns related to obesity.

I have also written about the prevention of obesity.

Remember that for the most part, and I would say more than 95% of the time, obesity is related to excess caloric intake. Yes, there are some medical and genetic conditions that can lead to obesity but those are rare. Obesity for the most part is defined as elevated body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight for height and the graphs are easily found on the internet (CDC website is a good place to look).

The BMI varies for children and boys and girls, but is constant in adults as adults have attained their height. Yes, in adults BMI varies between different cultures. Asians have lower normal BMIs than Caucasians.

Obesity as you are aware, has many connotations. Psychological effects, poor sleep, less energy, and multitude of illnesses including diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, increased risk of malignancy, poorer self-esteem, lower overall income, more hospital visits, more medication intake and many more.

It also was evident, the in the Covid pandemic obese individuals who already run a higher degree of inflammation in their body faced higher morbidity and mortality rates.

As obesity rates rise all over the world, governments and their partners for health are worried. Several schemes have been launched, some more effective than others in treatment or prevention of obesity. JUNCS is yet another attempt to control poor choices being made for buying and consuming food.

Many Latin American countries, Southeast Asian countries and others have adopted FOPL: front of pack label. This means that for all foods that are unhealthy, a label has been put on the front of the packet to warn consumers. Something akin to cigarette packets. In some nations, for e.g., Chile, just by warning consumers right before they consume the unhealthy product, there has been a drop in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by a whopping 24%. Such warnings have been found to be more useful than the actual nutrition label that includes all the contents, calories, sodium, etc., of that food item being consumed.

This kind of labelling is not currently followed in the U.S. But it is something that is being considered in various parts of the world and in some countries, as mentioned above, benefits are being seen. Nevertheless, an average consumer should be aware of JUNCS and avoid their consumption as much as possible, and certainly not buy them for home consumption.

Now it is well known that the treatment of obesity is extremely hard and truly the practical way forward is preventing obesity in the first place. Hence the emphasis on avoiding unhealthy food choices and certainly plotting on a growth chart and specifically a BMI chart, would be a good way to catch a child moving towards overweight and obesity early and take remedial actions.

So the bottom line is: avoid JUNCS (junk food, ultra-processed foods, nutritionally inappropriate foods, caffeinated/colored/carbonated foods/beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages) even if it is not mentioned as a FOPL (front of pack label).

Pankaj Vohra is a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at UNM. Please send your questions to pvohra@salud.unm.edu.
SANTA FE  Republican Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and a potential 2024 presidential candidate, is set to appear at a rally for Mark Ronchettis gubernatorial campaign this weekend.

The event in Carlsbad on Sunday will also feature U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, a Republican up for reelection this year in New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District.

Whether its crime, where were now the 2nd most violent state in the country, or on the economy, with high prices killing family budgets, Ronchetti said in a statement, New Mexicans are ready for change. Governor DeSantis is a premier leader on the national stage, and Im honored by his support and his interest in visiting our beautiful land of enchantment.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico slammed Ronchetti for campaigning with the governor who signed Floridas new 15-week abortion ban, which doesnt include an exception for rape or incest.

By campaigning with DeSantis, Ronchetti and Herrell have said the quiet part out loud: they fully intend to bring extreme Trump policies here to New Mexico, Democratic Party spokesman Daniel Garcia said.

Ronchetti has said he would support banning abortion after 15 weeks, but with certain exceptions, such as cases of rape or incest.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

What a difference the rain makes.

At the end of July, the Rio Grande ran dry in Albuquerque for the first time in nearly 40 years.

Now, the river has been revived throughout much of the city.

Jason Casuga, chief engineer and CEO for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, said steady rains, not planned water releases, are boosting water levels.

The district manages irrigation and flood control from Cochiti Dam to Bosque del Apache.

More than ever, the Middle Rio Grande is experiencing what its truly like to be a run-of-the-river system, Casuga said.

Rio Grande flows at Central Avenue in Albuquerque dipped below measurable levels on July 25.

That location is reporting flows of 900 cubic feet per second as of Tuesday.

Fast-dropping water levels last month had disrupted irrigation deliveries to farmers, especially in the districts southern reaches.

Now, irrigation demand is seeing an uptick after a hot and dry July, said Matt Martinez, who manages the districts water distribution.

We are predicting the demand to decline as forage farmers get another cutting and summer crops are harvested, Martinez said. Those who are considering planting in the fall will largely depend on more rainfall for successful planting.

Still, the rains are a mixed blessing.

The more water that flows through Otowi Gage at San Ildefonso Pueblo, the more New Mexico is required to deliver to downstream users under the Rio Grande Compact. Any increase in flows could compound a hefty water debt.

New Mexico ended 2021 owing more than 41 billion gallons under that compact and that debt has already restricted the states ability to store or release water from upstream reservoirs.
This weeks question: What do you think about the Voter Reference Foundation posting New Mexico voter information online, including residential addresses and birth years?

Want to participate in Top of Mind? Send your thoughts in 50 words or less to question@abqjournal.com. Responses must include your name and city to be published.

Or use our form at https://www.abqjournal.com/top-of-mind-weekly-question-form
When a state agency blows off a state senators request for public documents, something is terribly broken.

Sen. Jacob Candelaria, in his capacity as an attorney working with inmates and families, made a public records request Jan. 5 to the state Corrections Department seeking state contracts and agreements regarding a new policy in which a private company photocopies prison mail and delivers copies to inmates.

The policy began this year; its intended to curtail the flow of illegal drugs amid an increase in inmate overdoses.

More than eight months later, Candelaria says hes never received so much as a confirmation of his request under the states Inspection of Public Records Act.

The law states: If the inspection is not permitted within three business days, the custodian shall explain in writing when the records will be available for inspection or when the public body will respond to the request. It makes exceptions for such things as trade secrets, tactical response plans and law enforcement records that reveal confidential sources and methods  none of which seemingly apply here.

So, Candelaria, an independent from Albuquerque, filed a lawsuit in state District Court in late July alleging Corrections violated IPRA. His suit focuses on allegations the state failed to turn over public records, not the mail policy, which inmates and families say violates their rights.

Meanwhile, Candelarias lawsuit seeks damages of $100 a day  a total that would exceed $21,000 so far. Taxpayers are on the hook if he wins.

Corrections owes Candelaria and the public, who is paying its tab, an explanation and the documents. Its intransigence is inexplicable and potentially expensive to taxpayers.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Rain pounded the area as hundreds filled the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Tuesday evening to mourn the four local Muslim men whose lives were taken in the past year.

Samia Assed, who organized the event, said the news of an arrest brought some semblance of closure for a community that had been in a great panic over the past week.

But she said the arrest of a Muslim man was a shock.

This is a sigh of relief, but at the same time, were going to be really cognizant of making sure  moving forward as a Muslim community  that we stay united.  We dont want to divide between our different sects, she said.

Assed said that in the coming weeks and months, they would try to bring some healing and resources to the community to address all the needs they have. Asseds brother, Ahmad Assed, is president of the center in Albuquerque and spoke at a news conference about the arrest earlier in the day.

Those gathered for the prayers included such local leaders as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Mayor Tim Keller, and those in the Muslim community, as well as representatives of many other religious groups, Sikhs, Mennonites and Jews among them.

Prayers were recited, and both religious and local leaders spoke to bring solidarity to the community and the families reeling from the deaths.

Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, the brother of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, sat in the front row, staring solemnly forward as those at the podium spoke of his brother and the others killed in recent weeks. When it came his time to speak, he touched on how alone he felt when he learned of his brothers death. Then he spoke of the outpouring of support that followed from everyone in the community. How it made him feel no longer alone.

Today, Im here, Im thankful  I received love, which I feel, Hussain said, adding that he believes justice will be served for his brother.

Assed said she knew some of the victims, but she did not know the man arrested in connection with the case, Muhammad Syed. Its too early, she pointed out, to know the motives behind the crimes, but the questions are still there.

People are grasping at understanding why  So, the heavy lift is ahead of us, Assed said. Evil  will be ousted and the good will come back to this community.

Salim Ansari, who got up to speak, said he knew Syed and was shocked to hear of the allegations. Ansari said the Syed he knew was humble, nice and had six children who carried those same qualities.

Margarita Mercure, a community activist, said its important at a time like this to be there for the Muslim community.

Sometimes, people can take a blanket or generalized view of an entire community, and it shouldnt be that way, she said. Its heartbreaking.

Mercure said she knew two of the victims, both by chance encounters, with Mohammad Ahmadi at his Halal market and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain when he was with Congresswoman Melanie Stansburys campaign.

She said they both had something in common that struck her.

You dont forget people who are genuinely warm and kind, she said. Who knew that something this horrific could happen (to both of them).  The world is so small and we are all somehow connected, just a few layers distant.
WASHINGTON  An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed the countrys most powerful general, offering $300,000 to eliminate the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Shahram Poursafi, identified by U.S. officials as a member of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.

Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force and an architect of Tehrans proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike as he traveled from Baghdads international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.

The FBI believes that Poursafi was acting on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard when he sought to have Bolton killed, according to an affidavit unsealed Wednesday. Law enforcement officials located photographs of Poursafi in fatigues and with posters of Iran and Soleimani in the background to back up their allegation that he is a uniformed Revolutionary Guard member.

The Justice Department traces the plot to the fall of 2021, when Poursafi, 45, an Iranian citizen who officials say has never visited the United States, asked an unidentified person he met through social media and who was living in the U.S. to take photographs of Bolton for a book he said he was writing.

The person introduced Poursafi to an associate that could take the requested photos and videos. After the two connected, Poursafi encouraged that person, who was actually a confidential source working with the FBI, to hire someone to kill Bolton and offered to pay $300,000 for the job. Poursafi told the person that he wanted the guy to be purged or eliminated.

Poursafi provided the person with Boltons office address, including the name and contact information for someone who worked in the office, the FBI affidavit says.

This was not an idle threat, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Departments top national security official, said in a statement released by the department. And this is not the first time weve uncovered brazen acts by Iran to exact revenge against individuals in the U.S.

In 2011, for instance, the FBI and Justice Department revealed an Iranian government plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. while the ambassador was in the U.S.

A spokesman for Irans foreign ministry, Nasser Kanaani, called the latest accusations baseless and politically motivated, state-run media reported.

He said Iran reserves the right to take any action within the framework of international law to defend the rights of the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In his own statement, Bolton thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in developing the case and the Secret Service for providing protection.

While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Irans rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States, he said.

The unsealing of the complaint comes two days after negotiators seeking to revive the Iran nuclear accord in Vienna closed on a final text of an agreement, with parties now consulting in their capitals on whether to agree to it it.

The 2015 deal granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for tight curbs on its atomic program. Since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump, Iran has sped up its nuclear enrichment program. Bolton has been among the most hawkish critics of the deal and efforts by the Biden administration to rejoin it.

In his statement, Bolton said Irans nuclear-weapons and terrorist activities are two sides of the same coin and asserted that America re-entering the 2015 deal would be an unparalleled self-inflicted wound, to ourselves and our closest Middle East allies.

The Justice Department described Poursafi as at-large abroad but did not elaborate on where he might be located. It is not clear when or if he will be taken into custody. He faces charges of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and attempting to provide transnational support to a murder plot.

The Revolutionary Guard is a paramilitary organization formed in the wake of Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution to defend its clerically overseen government. The Quds Force is the Guards expeditionary unit, responsible for operations abroad.

Soleimani was the head of that force, and the Defense Department said at the time of the January 2020 strike that it killed him because he was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.

____

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington, Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed to this report.
One of New Mexicos largest homebuilders is looking to help meet housing demand in the Albuquerque metro area with two new developments.

Hakes Brothers are in the process of building two communities  one in Rio Rancho and one in Los Lunas  that will include nearly 200 homes. Construction is slated to begin in the next two months once roads are completed, said Christian Venegas, vice president of operations for Hakes Brothers Albuquerque division. Prospective buyers can purchase lots where the model homes will be built.

As Albuquerque continues to attract families and individuals seeking a better quality of life, were excited to provide housing solutions to meet that demand, Hakes Brothers Albuquerque division President Chris Hakes said in a statement. These two communities are designed to address the needs of a wide variety of new home buyers with (a) high-quality product.

The larger of the two communities currently under construction is Melon Ridge in Rio Rancho, with 155 homes planned in the area of Unser NE and Northern NE. Homes in the community start at around $370,000 and are open concept.

New homes at Melon Ridge have square footage between 1,366 and 2,380. They come in three- and four-bedroom models, and have two to two-and-a-half bathrooms, depending upon the layout.

As for the Los Lunas community, dubbed Cerro Vista, about 40 homes are currently under construction. The community is just west of Intestate 25, near the Facebook Data Center.

Prices for homes in the Cerro Vista community start at about $480,000. They span 2,119 to 2,740 square feet and some of the homes come with a three-car garage, the company said. Floor plans for the homes feature three to five bedrooms and two to three bathrooms, large kitchens and big room spaces.

Hakes Brothers has about a dozen active communities in and around the Albuquerque area with the addition of the two developments currently under construction.

The homebuilding firm, founded in 2006, has built communities in El Paso and San Antonio, Texas, according to their website. They also have five communities in Las Cruces.

Hakes Brothers has sold more than 300 homes from this time last year, said John Alarcon, the corporate marketing manager for the company.

According to the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors, which includes towns and cities in the metro area, the inventory of single-family detached homes for sale stood at a little over 1,200 in July.
Can you describe your job?

Aurora was my first engineering role, 32 years ago. I started on the first anniversary of the company, which we celebrated with champagne in little paper cups at the end of the day.

At the time the focus was on building robotic aircraft as a UAV technology development company. Thats what we continue to do. Now as chief engineer I lead the engineering and test organizations and am responsible for all test operations including flight testing.

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How has the company changed?

It was an aerospace startup, which was unusual then. We developed a UAV on a shoestring budget to do atmospheric research. That led into working on NASA programs, such as the Perseus UAVs.

There were ten employees then and we have grown up to where we are a thousand-person class company. I feel fortunate to have worked here during that time. The original startup culture is still here and is now evolving as part of Boeing, which opens up the potential of what the company can do even more, and thats really exciting.

What are Auroras core competencies?

One of our core capabilities is the creation of novel flight vehicles and configurations, and then proving they work by taking them through flight test. We do this by bringing a strong analytic basis to the process, combined with hands on experiential learning and incremental validation through test.

We develop a lot of prototypes and X-planes  30 aircraft over 30 years  on average a new flight vehicle a year. The continual repetition of the iterative development process over the years has had a compounding effect and we have a deep level of experience and knowledge within the organization.

Alongside electrification, autonomy is another one of our core competencies. Aerostructures, composites and integrated aerostructures are another large part of what we do. Composites allow you to make more mass-efficient complex geometries and novel configurations.

What is Auroras approach to failure in technology development?

When you are doing something new and difficult you have to expect it might not work. Thats OK, especially when part of the job is proving what can be done.

Having said that, you always want programs to succeed. Engineering is an applied science and you want to make something that works. Aurora has developed processes and methods of incremental build and test that enables first flights to succeed. We dont just throw things up in the air and expect them to fly  you cant ignore process.

Are there any projects you would like to highlight?

We are best known for first flights and X-planes that apply technology in novel ways. An X-plane we are working on now is for a DARPA program called CRANE (Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors). We are applying Active Flow Control (AFC) technology for multiple effects including flight control of the vehicle.

There are multiple benefits that could come from AFC, including performance benefits from certain features, or you could use it for flight control to enable alternate vehicle configurations. There are tactical and non-tactical reasons to do it.

With X-planes we are determining what new configuration of vehicles can be created by applying a technology in a novel way. We then try to understand what parameters and performance of that technology is needed for the vehicle to have some added value. The vehicles are made to learn the most about the technology.

What eVTOL and electric aircraft are you working on?

We have experience in a wide variety of electrification technologies. We worked on an eVTOL for DARPA, we have done other personal air vehicle entrants and participated in Uber Elevate. We are supporting our customer Wisk as they bring a self-flying eVTOL aircraft to the market.

The program that is getting a lot of focus right now is NASAs Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration project. Aurora is part of the Boeing team working for GE Aviation. The program is converting a Saab 340 turboprop aircraft to be the flight demonstrator for a megawatt class hybrid-electric powertrain.

At the Manassas office we are doing the nacelle design and integration, and incorporating the GE systems into the flight demonstrator.

What do you see as the big challenges in aircraft electrification?

Weight is important, so the drive is to make the flight vehicle lighter  motors, power transmissions, harnesses, energy storage, they all need to be optimized.

Technology demonstrators deliver real-world data so people can judge if components and systems will work in the future for aviation. To answer questions like  will the energy density of that battery work?

If you actually make something and fly it and get the data, then that is a solid point from which to start design optimization around.

Do you think hydrogen is suitable as an aviation fuel?

It is a useful source of energy, there are lots of potential applications. We have worked on hydrogen projects in the past  we had a high-altitude engine test cell that ran engines on hydrogen.

What challenges remain for autonomous aircraft?

The robustness and certifiability of autonomous systems is the biggest challenge. You must use incremental testing to have the learning that you can use to validate. This applies to things like detect and avoid, conflict detection and resolution, and contingency management.

Autonomy can mean a lot of different things  there are levels of automation that can be applied to a vehicle. There are also considerations around robustness and certifiability for autonomous systems, plus their capability to work in cooperative and non-cooperative spaces.

We work on autonomy in a lot of different places and at a lot of different levels from low level TRLs (technology readiness levels) through to operating unmanned aircraft in the national airspace and flight testing optionally piloted aircraft such as the Centaur.

A major part of our success in autonomous projects is always having a strong requirements-based design that uses test incrementally.

To what extent do you use modeling and simulation?

We use it a lot, but its still critical to do flight testing. Computing power means you can do more with modeling, but its an extra  you cant replace testing with simulation. People often ask why bother with demonstrators and wind tunnels. But to prove models and really understand whats going on, how it is going to perform, you need to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnels.

How is Aurora integrating with Boeing?

We are a wholly-owned subsidiary. Its been an incredibly positive experience for me personally. We are still doing exactly what we were doing before, exploring and advancing flight vehicles with innovative designs for our legacy customers  focusing on the programs that will bring new technologies to aviation.

What future aviation technologies excite you the most?

Its great that the industry is advancing on so many different fronts at the same time. Between drones and space, eVTOL aircraft, urban air mobility and sustainability there is so much going on. But I dont think picking a winner is a useful thing to do.

I work with a lot of great engineers, and young engineers still want to make the world a better place. They want to take their knowledge and skills, their ability to understand physics and change the world with aerospace technologies.

Essentially, if we want the world to be a global interconnected community, we need aviation and in the future we need it to be environmentally sustainable. That is what inspires people to choose a career in aviation.

What skills does an aerospace engineer need?

Engineering is a creative and collaborative profession. But I would say they really need to learn physics. And they need to do hands-on experiential learning. They can learn coding, that will be useful wherever they end up working.

What skills and knowledge does the industry need?

We need individuals who want to learn. Students have so much information and knowledge at their fingertips now, but what they also need are the practical skills of applying that knowledge and the experience of learning.

What is a typical day?

Im in a lot of meetings, we work in a hybrid way so that means web meetings and coming into the office. But I still manage to walk out and interact with the hardware we have here.

Clint Church CV

Clint Church is the chief engineer of Aurora Flight Sciences, a Boeing Company, where he is responsible for engineering functions across all Aurora programs. He has held the position since 2017, during which time he has led Auroras engineering teams through several programs including an eVTOL concept with Boeing and Porsche, Boeings autonomous passenger air vehicle prototype, and Auroras Odysseus solar-powered high-altitude pseudo-satellite.

Prior roles included chief engineer on a variety of robotic aircraft technology development and aerostructures programs including the SideArm runway independent UAV system. He was chief engineer for the design and manufacture of the S-97 Raider airframe for Sikorsky and led Auroras engineering team for the main rotor pylon assembly of the USMC CH-53K.

Church has also played a key role in the development of UAVs including for the NASA ERAST program, Mars planetary aircraft demonstrators and the RQ-4 Global Hawk, and developmental prototypes of various other UAV configurations. He joined Aurora in 1990 with a BS Aerospace Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Aurora Flight Sciences company history

Aurora was founded in 1989 and tracks its history through the 70 unique aircraft and integrated systems its engineers have flown during the last 32 years.

Originally founded as a follow on to the MIT Daedalus project which built and flew human-powered aircraft, the first aircraft Aurora produced was for NASA IN 1991. Perseus was a high altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used for high altitude atmospheric research and led to the development of several UAVs.

It also set up Auroras expertise domain to be UAVs for years to come. By 1995 its engineers were helping to develop the RQ-4 Global Hawk with Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force. The first two decades continued this focus and in 2009 after working on DARPAs Vulture UAV research program for several years, Aurora developed its own line of small vertical take-off UAVs known as the Goldeneye.

The company was acquired by Boeing in 2017. Today Aurora is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, with production plants and R&D Centers in four states and an office in Luzern, Switzerland.
They are trying to kill me! The worst words anyone wants to hear from their loved one.

One might imagine hearing those words when you are on the phone with your loved who is being brutally attacked as they cry out for you to save them.

But it is not. This fear-stricken cry for help from your loved one is caused by someone they trusted, that you trusted -- it is your doctor who wields the weapons of death.

The United States had the greatest healthcare system in the world. This status was achieved because the doctors swore as part of the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm to their patient, but rather to do everything to save their patients lives. This oath is exemplified in Dr. Ben Carson, who became the worlds greatest pediatric neurosurgeon because he did everything he could do save lives, even developing new medical procedures despite the naysaying doctors who would tell him it was impossible to save a life. His motto was I do my best, God does the rest.

The descent into the nightmare began slowly in the mid-1900s when government and insurance companies began their intrusion into healthcare with no concern for the fraud that would ensue. As a small child then I knew it was not going to end well when I heard a doctor at the hospital bragging that he could charge anything he wanted because Medicare would pay anything. Many years later when I was working for a workers compensation insurance company, we were told by the state government to pay all claims even if we could prove fraud. Ben Franklin foresaw this potential for fraud if people figured out they could write themselves a blank government check which would cause costs to spiral upwards. This spiraling of costs was clearly seen when Obamacare (ACA) which caused health insurance premiums to soar upwards to $2000/month with high deductibles so that healthcare was no longer affordable  the professed intent of ACA.

Today, our health care system is on life support, afflicted by the diseases of greed, incompetence, immorality, selfishness, politicization, and loss of good sense and ethics which have seeped into every aspect of health care. These afflictions have contributed not only to the demise of our once great healthcare system, but more sadly to the unwarranted demise of patients who should never have died, but did die because doctors no longer wanted to do everything they could to save their lives.

The loss of trust in healthcare is threefold: administrative, the patients, and ethics. Administratively, healthcare is buried under a plethora of regulations, standards, requirements, and laws which few doctors or their staff understand or apply properly. Many of the most serious administrative issues relate to reporting and billing as evidenced in recent legislation that is trying to dam the flood known as surprise billing.

The collection of patient data has exploded, and along with the mandate for electronic health records, serious problems developed. Breaches and theft of medical records numbered over 40 million in 2021. At the center of these problems are negligent activities, whether willful or deficient, with charts and documentation. Apathy or negligence of duties can result in the wrong information, loss of information, or lack of correct information in a patients chart which can seriously affect a patient. Healthcare mistakes are the number three killer of Americans (400,000/yr). Add to that, 12 million misdiagnoses every year are reported, but many more are not reported, oftentimes because patients seek help elsewhere or give up. And even when healthcare is provided, it may not be the right course and may cause problems of its own. Faulty documentation in a patients file can result in denial of services or payment by payers as well as other problems relating to many aspects of life such as employment and benefits.

At the heart of many of the administrative problems is medical coding and billing. There is a plethora of serious problems that can result if the correct codes are not applied which constitute fraud or abuse. Healthcare fraud today is estimated by the government to be in the tens of billions of dollars every year. Fraud may occur if the codes selected do not prove medical necessity. The payer may then refuse to pay and the patient will either not receive the needed services or are forced to pay a surprise bill with exorbitant charges. Another fraud issue is upcoding which is choosing a higher-level code than services provided so doctors can get more money or providing codes for services never provided. Failure to code correctly resulting in the payers refusal to pay can then be aggravated by the lack of proper appeals by the doctor to the payer.

These administrative failures were blamed on the patients who are supposed to know how the healthcare system and insurance function despite the fact even the highly experienced and qualified healthcare staff oftentimes do not know what they are doing, nor do the doctors or nurses. Patients are then conveniently left with little recourse for help or justice when the healthcare system fails them, and respectability for healthcare began to plummet.

Healthcare became a fatal setup eagerly embraced by patients who wanted the quick fix so their lives of pleasure were not interrupted. Wearing a mask or condom, or taking drugs or vaccines gave people that quick fix, and the truth was ignored because it was inconvenient despite the extensive warnings such as about the dangers of prescription drugs or the continuation of unhealthy lifestyles who believe taking insulin will let them eat as much sweets as they want. We became inpatient and did not want to wait for the good, but the quick easy healthcare fix isnt saving us, it is killing us, and respectability for healthcare continued to plummet.

Perhaps the most egregious problem and the most damaging to the respectability of healthcare nowadays is doctors unethical violation of their Hippocratic Oath to do no harm to their patients. Perhaps the "Hypocritic" oath would be more appropriate because too many doctors refuse to do everything they can to save the lives of their patients. They justify their refusal by blaming the protocols of the hospital and the government, regardless if the patient dies. This refusal by doctors to do everything they can to save the lives of their patients is further exacerbated by the intentional exclusion of family and friends from participation in the treatment of patients which is well known to have a huge impact on the well-being and recovery of patients. This loss of trust in healthcare has led to the replacement of respectability for healthcare with fear and distrust instead.

(Note: The term doctor is generically used to denote all the various types of healthcare providers as well as staff.)

Image: Public Domain
A brilliant strategy from Texas governor Greg Abbott (R) has put the mayors of sanctuary cities on their heels and exposed their hypocrisy on the destructive consequences of anti-borders policies.

Over the past few months, Abbott has been bussing scores of illegal aliens to major blue metropolises such as Washington, D.C. and New York City after they have crossed the southern border in his state. This has irked mayors of those cities, who have complained that the influx of illegal aliens is overwhelming resources in their cities. Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser has requested help from the National Guard to deal with the influx, while New York City mayor Eric Adams has also requested assistance from the federal government. There is a great irony in Adams and Bowser watching their cities become overwhelmed by the beast they helped create.

Both Adams and Bowser have made names for themselves as anti-borders zealots. Under Bowser's leadership, the nation's capital city has provided free legal services to illegal aliens, while proudly proclaiming itself a "sanctuary city." New York is also a notorious sanctuary city, having recently enacted legislation allowing non-citizens in the city to vote in local elections. This legislation was recently blocked by a judge after the Immigration Reform Law Institute filed a brief opposing the law.

It doesn't appear the recent influx of illegal aliens into their cities has changed Adams's or Bowser's minds on immigration policy. Abbott has offered to give both mayors a tour of the southern border to see the havoc their preferred policies have wrought, but neither mayor has taken him up on the offer, and Adams publicly turned him down.

"Instead of a photo-op at the border, we hope Governor Abbott will focus his energy and resources on providing support and resources to asylum seekers in Texas as we have been hard at work doing in New York City," an Adams spokesperson said in a recent statement.

Elite, cosmopolitan, leftists want porous borders, but they want other states to pay the price. This is why Abbott and other governors are right to shift some of the burden of the crisis onto these cities.

As President Ronald Reagan once said, "if you can't make them feel the light, make them feel the heat." Abbott is forcing these cities to feel the heat and has indicated that he plans to double down. Abbott said in a recent interview that he plans to begin shipping illegal aliens to other cities. This is a great idea, and there is no shortage of progressive enclaves that deserve to be flooded with illegals.

No place is better equipped to host thousands of newly arrived illegal aliens than Martha's Vineyard, a popular Massachusetts vacation destination for left-wing elites, including the Obamas, the Clintons, and many left-leaning, outspoken Hollywood celebrities. Perhaps the new arrivals can stay at Barack Obama's spacious $11.75-million mansion during their time on the island.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis suggested doing this late last year and earmarked $8 million in his state's budget to send illegal aliens out of his state. Texas senator Ted Cruz also proposed a bill last year that would create new points of entry at Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, another vacation favorite of anti-borders elites. Shipping illegal aliens to Martha's Vineyard may be the best way to get Joe Biden's attention, given how many of his well heeled fellow travelers live and vacation there.

Another great place for border state governors to send illegal aliens to would be Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where Biden spends most of his weekend at his beachside mansion. Maybe Biden would enjoy spending some time on the beach with all of the illegal aliens he has imported into the country? Or even invite them into his spacious home? That's unlikely, given that last year, Biden had a $455,000 fence installed for his protection at taxpayer expense.

Ultimately, it would be the best outcome if our government could send all those here illegally back to their home countries, but sending them to progressive enclaves is the next best thing. If left-wing elites are going to import record numbers of illegal aliens into our country, it should be their responsibility to care for them once they get here.

William J. Davis is a communications associate for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment on the FBI raid of President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home during a press conference in Kentucky, following recent floods that hit the eastern part of his home state.

"I'm here to talk about the flood and recovery from the flood," McConnell said when asked about the raid.

Hours later, McConnell's office released the following statement:

The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday. Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.

This wasn't the unequivocal condemnation that the FBI raid deserved. It was instead a perfunctory act released after pressure from the MAGA wing of the GOP.

Clearly, McConnell despises Trump and the MAGA movement and would love to see all of it brought to an end so everyone can go back to business as usual  i.e., deceiving the public that there is a two-party system when it is actually only one that loyally serves and profits off the Washington Establishment.

Mitch has benefited from the Washington Establishment.

McConnell's wife, Elaine Lan Chao, is from a family that has extensive business interests in China and close ties with Chinese elites. Chao was appointed secretary of Transportation by President Trump. There were reports that she used her office to promote her family's shipping business, even trying to include family members in high-level meetings with Chinese government officials. There were allegations that Chao boosted her husband's political fortunes by showering attention and grant money on McConnell's constituents and prominent Kentucky supporters.

But the Biden administration's FBI will never ever conduct raids of their homes or offices. There won't even be a preliminary investigation into these connections. In exchange, McConnell attacks Trump and remains mum about Hunter Biden's shady businesses. This is how D.C. functions.

McConnell probably fears that if Trump wins in 2024 and MAGA Republicans have control over law enforcement and investigative agencies, he may be among the first to be investigated.

For the likes of McConnell, the challenges presented by MAGA Republicans are much worse than the severe damage caused by the Democrats. He is probably elated that Trump with his America First mindset is no longer in the White House. McConnell gets along fine with Joe Biden and other Democrats.

McConnell gladly approves of the Democrat plan to send billions of taxpayer money to be spent to defend and rebuild Ukraine without any transparency and accountability measures. There were reports that McConnell informed Biden that he wanted to blunt President Trump's influence by conveying to allies in Eastern Europe that "Republicans believe NATO is important" and to "push back against the isolationist sentiment in my own party."

McConnell even visited Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Other than his home state, McConnell probably hasn't visited any part of the U.S. that is struggling due to Biden's failed policies.

McConnell was among the Republican senators who voted to resettle unvetted Afghan refugees in the U.S.

A Department of Defense whistleblower reports that 324 of the individuals the Biden administration evacuated from Afghanistan and welcomed into the U.S. have appeared on the terror watch list.

Mitch McConnell joined all 50 Senate Democrats in voting in support of a "gun safety" bill. Among the provisions in this bill is a "red flag" law that empowers a judge to order the seizure of firearms merely based on the suspicion that the owner of the weapon will use them to hurt himself or others. In other words, the government will be empowered to seize firearms without reason.

Now for the gratuitous investigations of President Trump.

The goal behind January 6 Select Committee is not justice, but to target Trump and the MAGA Republicans, preventing Trump from ever running for public office again. It's a show trial, which doesn't allow cross-examination of witnesses. It doesn't so much as allow Trump lawyers to question witnesses. It is just about blatant lies and fabrications. This Stalinist witch-hunt seems as if it were planned by the notorious Lavrentiy Beria, who famously boasted to Stalin, "Show me the man, and I'll find you the crime."

But Mitch McConnell hasn't said much against the committee. If asked, he probably claims that he doesn't want to interfere in an ongoing investigation and that he wants the law to take its course. Being neutral at such a critical juncture for what's obviously a political railroading is the equivalent of colluding with the enemy.

If the polls are any indication, the GOP seems on track to take back the House and the Senate. This victory will be the result of Donald Trump's popularity. His endorsements have swung races, and his campaign rallies continue to pack spacious arenas.

It has to be remembered that during the Russia hoax investigations, including the Mueller probe, the GOP held majorities in both the House and the Senate, but thenHouse majority leader Paul Ryan and thenSenate majority leader Mitch McConnell were mute spectators as the Democrats wrought havoc.

McConnell's term ends in 2027. He will be 85 by then, and perhaps he may not seek re-election. Since there are no recall facilities for senators, it gives McConnell five more years to do as he pleases without any challenge or concern about being voted out.

The biggest risk after a GOP landslide victory in November is that McConnell may end up enjoying the fruits of the hard work from Trump and MAGA Republicans. He returns as Senate majority leader and continues to collaborate with the Washington Democrat establishment to overtly and covertly wage war against President Trump and his supporters.

McConnell even predicted that he'll be re-elected as Senate GOP leader regardless of whether Republicans take back the upper congressional chamber in November's elections.

It is therefore essential that if the GOP wins back the Senate, Republicans elect a new leader, such as Sen. Rand Paul or John Kennedy or Josh Hawley or Ted Cruz, any of whom could be a worthy replacement.

GOP lawmakers have a great deal to do after winning the midterms. They have to undo the damage done by the Democrats on myriad fronts. The stakes are simply too high to allow the likes of Mitch McConnell to lead them again and scupper their agenda.

Caricature by DonkeyHotey via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this piece misstated its author.
According to some pundits, President Biden concluded a great week, from a jobs report to lower gas prices and some new legislation. They were also proclaiming that the red wave may be smaller than expected.

So what do you do in the early days of Joe's "comeback"? You raid President Trump's home? You order a raid just hours after signing a law that will add 87,000 IRS agents to look for tax cheats? How many Uber drivers or small business owners had FBI nightmares last night?

The FBI had better find what they are looking for. Otherwise, this may be the biggest blunder since Geraldo Rivera opened Al Capone's sadly empty vault. It may totally backfire on the Trump-haters. This is from TIPP Insights:

Where does the political persecution of Trump stop? The Democrats are afraid of the rise of Trump. They are in the endless pursuit to legally stop Trump from running for the nation's highest office in 2024. Having failed in their efforts to impeach him, they constituted the J6 select committee probe. And now, they have launched legal actions in multiple theaters, one in New York, the second in Georgia, and the third in D.C., hoping something would stick. The nation's law enforcement agencies under the Biden administration have set a remarkable course that, if not corrected, will undoubtedly lead to the country becoming a banana republic. Americans were stunned by the FBI's treatment of Peter Navarro, who served as a top presidential advisor to Trump. The raid on Mar-A-Lago outdoes shackling Navarro with leg irons. It is no wonder Americans lack confidence in the DOJ and the FBI.

Who thought that raiding President Trump's home was a good idea in such a polarized country? It's one thing to raid a narco's estate or a mafia leader or a criminal on the run.

My guess is that a decision of this type was made very close to the Oval Office, if not by President Biden himself. It's hard to believe that a local FBI office would take such a risk over documents that may or may not be found.

What happens if A.G. Merrick Garland swings and misses? What if the documents are not there or don't rise to the level of criminality that calls for an FBI raid? Maybe Garland can watch the aforementioned Geraldo Rivera show.

PS: Check out my videos and posts.

Image: Picryl.
On Monday, the conservative Washington Times published an op-ed piece by Gerard Leval on "McCarthyism" that featured an illustration with McCarthy's face in the background and four dead victims hanging from ropes connected to a human hand. Leval, a lawyer in Washington, praises Arthur Miller's 1953 play "The Crucible" for its role in seeking to "awaken the national conscience to the devastating impact of the fear that was being engendered by the rumors that communists had infiltrated the United States." The rumors were true.

Leval writes about the pursuit of communists evolving into a veritable "witch hunt" and the "hysteria fueled by McCarthy" that "spread throughout the nation." He mentions the fear and social ostracism suffered by actors and writers in Hollywood  a reference to the famed "Hollywood Ten"  and decries that "anti-communist hysteria" that made it "difficult to espouse any kind of left-wing opinions." Leval praises Miller and Joseph Welch for beginning the process of undermining McCarthy and McCarthyism and freeing the nation from "one of the worst episodes in its history." Leval ends the piece by equating McCarthyism with the current efforts to purge from history "many of the pillars of Western society" and expressing a wariness about "the fervor of those who vociferously seek to purge anyone and anything which is not in keeping with the new morality."

You would expect a piece like Leval's to appear in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Nation, or some other left-wing publication, not in the Washington Times. Leval obviously accepts the conventional view of McCarthy and McCarthyism. The illustration accompanying the piece  like Miller's play  implies that McCarthy's "purge" led to hangings of innocent leftists similar to the hangings or burning of witches in 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts.

It is a sure bet that Leval has never read M. Stanton Evans's Blacklisted by History, a book that uses FBI reports to support most of McCarthy's accusations, or Arthur Herman's Joseph McCarthy: Reexamining the Life and Legacy of America's Most Hated Senator, which provides a balanced view of McCarthy's life and legacy, or James Burnham's The Web of Subversion, which detailed communist infiltration of the Roosevelt and Truman administrations during the New Deal, World War II, and the early years of the Cold War, or the many books on the Venona papers, which reveal Stalin's extensive network of spies, agents of influence, and fellow travelers within the American government at the time. Nor must he have read Diana West's American Betrayal, or Whittaker Chambers's Witness, or Harvey Klehr's and Ronald Radosh's The Amerasia Spy Case. Soviet agents infiltrated the highest levels of the State Department, the Treasury Department, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the Office of War Information, and the Manhattan Project. As William Rusher noted in the Claremont Review of Books, "every important branch of the American government ... was infested with Communists busily doing the work of the Soviet Union."

Even some on the left finally had to admit that McCarthy had it right when it came to the big picture about the extent of communist infiltration of America in the 1930s, 1940s, and early 1950s. In 1996, Nicholas von Hoffman wrote a piece in the Washington Post about the revelations of Soviet archives and Venona intercepts that "provided proof ... that the Communist Party of the United States was subsidized by the Soviet government and used as a base for extensive espionage," and that "the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were rife with communist spies and political operatives who reported, directly or indirectly, to the Soviet government, much as their anti-communist opponents charged." Von Hoffman concluded that "[t]he Age of McCarthyism, it turns out, was not the simple witch hunt of the innocent by the malevolent as two generations of high school and college students have been taught." And as Gerard Leval and the editors of the Washington Times apparently were taught.

To be sure, Von Hoffman was no fan of McCarthy, but he had the courage to admit that "in a global sense McCarthy was on to something." "This is the essential truth," Von Hoffman wrote, "that the left end of the American political spectrum has evaded." Joe McCarthy, he concluded, was "closer to the truth than those who ridiculed him"  and, as evidenced by Leval's piece in the Washington Times, those who still ridicule him.

Leval's hero Arthur Miller, by the way, admitted helping communist front groups in the 1940s, according to the New York Times.

Miller later said he could never believe that the leftists he associated with  some of whom were Communist Party members and others who were fellow travelers  were "actual or putative traitors." These were people, mind you, who sided with Stalin against their own country.

In 2012, Ron Capshaw revealed that Miller wrote for the communist New Masses under the name "Matt Wayne" in 1945 and 1946. And Miller also later acknowledged that his play "The Crucible" was inspired by his belief in the innocence of the Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. If Leval still doubts the Rosenbergs' guilt, he should read Ronald Radosh's The Rosenberg File. Capshaw concluded that "Miller was not only a [communist] party member, he was also an obedient one."

Joe McCarthy did not burn or hang communists as the illustration in the Washington Times implies, but Josef Stalin shot and imprisoned millions of communists and non-communists, and most of the people McCarthy and others (like the House Un-American Activities Committee  which McCarthy had nothing to do with) investigated were communists, agents of influence, fellow travelers, or dupes who took Stalin's side in the Cold War.

Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.
It's one of the anti-liberty left's neat little tricks to rewrite their constant failure. Socialist regimes never fail; they just suddenly become "right-wing" and "reactionary"!

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, recently tweeted out a three-word message to end the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), apparently due to its authoritarian and oppressive policies. Anti-liberty leftists can no longer turn a blind eye to its surveillance state and the deliberate mass murder of millions.

Unfortunately for the liberticidal left, this presents a big problem, because for years, leftists have been touting the reds as the model for how every nation should be run. They just ignored the inconvenient facts of the People's "Liberation" Army shooting people during the Tiananmen Square massacre.

It presents several big problems for the Bolshoi Artists of the anti-liberty left. We're here to "help" and explain it all.

According to Marxist doctrine, after a certain amount of time with everyone steeped in the awe-inspiring ideology of collectivism (Bolshevism, communism, fascism, Fabianism, leftism, Maoism, or whatever label you have for your societal slavery), a wonderful and incredible transformation is supposed to take place.

This is known as the "Withering Away of the State" that is supposed to happen at some point. If you're curious, and you have a bout of insomnia, you can read all about it as a great way of boring yourself to tears.

They don't exactly explain how or why a dictator and an overarching government would give up power. You're just supposed to fall for the sales pitch and then pine for "true communism" sometime in the distant future, or as they say over on the site "The People's Cube": The Glorious World of Next Tuesday.

So we're all wondering why this never happened in red China or the USSR. But now that everything is turning bad and that is bloody obvious, it's likely we're going to see them try to play their other gambit. That's for them to suddenly decide that the Chinese Communist Party is actually "reactionary" or conservative. Even in the little ditty on the Withering Away of the State, they gave themselves a few excuses for this not happening in Russia:

Socialism (which, of course, will be international  "Socialism in one country" in the midst of a capitalist world is a myth) will see the withering away of the State. Russia is not Socialist and therefore no Socialist imagines that the State could wither away there.

Okay, it was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and it was "not Socialist"? Where have we heard that line of BS before?

D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, the director of communications for a Bill of Rights organization, and a longtime contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack.

Image via Max Pixel.
On the third day of conflict between Israel and the Islamic Jihad, the militant group announced that an Egyptian-brokered truce would begin at 20:30 GMT on August 7. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid's office confirmed the ceasefire.

A senior Arab official has informed me that the ceasefire was confirmed by Islamic Jihad after a 45-minute phone call between a senior Egyptian intelligence officer and his Iranian counterpart. "The Iranian side wanted the truce to happen as fast as possible."

What the source claims does not seem to contradict what has happened on the ground in Gaza. This quick conclusion of fighting is inconsistent with previous rounds. Usually, Hamas and Islamic Jihad refuse all offers for a ceasefire until serious Israeli bombings have taken place. The reasons for this are simple: the leaders of both terror groups are rarely affected by the fighting. They and their families are either safe in bunkers underground or vacationing in Jordan, Qatar, or Turkey. The second reason is that both Hamas and Islamic Jihad are not free to make their own decisions. They receive orders from their masters, who call the conditions of any ceasefires that serve their interests and not those of Gazans. In the case of Islamic Jihad, the leaders of the terror group receive their orders from Iran.

Trained, financed, and promoted by Iran and her Arab friends, Islamic Jihad is a de facto offshoot of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. This means that Iran is the one who has called the ceasefire shot. But why wouldn't Iran let Gaza burn this time, as it has always done? Why did Iran agree to a ceasefire so quickly?

The answer lies in the way Israel managed the matter, which was quite different from the previous times and therefore has produced different results.

First, Israel took the initiative by arresting a senior Islamic Jihad figure in the West Bank, Bassam Al-Saadi. This helped demoralize Islamic Jihad's followers there and blocked their chances of causing unrest in support of Islamic Jihad members in Gaza.

Second, Israel took the initiative by killing the most capable military commander of Islamic Jihad, Tayseer Al-Rajabi, on August 5, then immediately proceeded with surgical and effective strikes on installations of Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

Third, Hamas never joined the fight on the side of Islamic Jihad. My Arab intelligence sources have confirmed that the Egyptians and Qataris have both convinced Hamas to keep the truce they have sustained since January 2022. The sources claim that Hamas leaders were told that Qatar would go as far as freezing Hamas's monthly funds if it was to break the truce with Israel. Hence, Hamas did not join Islamic Jihad's fight and left them to fend for themselves.

Fourth, Israel was upping its Gaza operations quickly and went beyond the curve by killing Tayseer Al-Jabari's second-in-command, Khaled Mansour, commander of the Southern District in Gaza. Mansour was much less capable and nowhere near as charismatic as Al-Jabari; nonetheless, he was his potential successor.

With the Israeli strikes becoming more painful and on target, Iran had no chance but to swallow its pride and seek a quick truce to save its terrorist assets in Gaza from being annihilated by Israel.

With Islamic Jihad humiliated; its top leaders gone; and its mentor, Iran, approving a quick ceasefire, it is safe to say Operation Breaking Dawn has been successful. This success must serve as a challenge to the outdated "conventional wisdom" by several Israeli governments of "maintaining the status quo" and "keeping the current leaders because you never know whom you are going to get if they are gone."

The terror leaders ruling Gaza are a threat to the Gazans themselves, to Israelis, and to the region. Targeting the head of the snake kills it. The lesson learned from this operation could be summed up with this verse of ancient pre-Islam Arab poetry:

Do not you cut the snake's tail and let it go,

If you are a mensch, hit it on its head then follow with the tail.

It is worth noting that there was a major call by Gazans for "a million-man march to topple the Hamas regime," which was supposed to be launched on August 5, the same day the operations began.

Mudar Zahran is the secretary general of the Jordanian Opposition Coalition and an important Palestinian leader.

Image: MrPenguin20.
The sinking of SS Princes Alice, a British paddle steamer, on the River Thames on 3 September 1878, that resulted in the loss of more than 600 lives, was Britains worst inland waterway tragedy. The incident took place in some of the foulest waters of the Thames, and many survivors who were initially rescued later succumbed to illness after ingesting the heavily polluted waters. The tragedy led to major changes in the practice for waste disposal on the Thames.

On the evening of 3 September 1878, the Princess Alice was making her way up the Thames on her return journey from Sheerness to London, when she collided with the collier Bywell Castle. The larger vessel struck Princess Alice on the starboard side and broke the paddle steamer into two. Princess Alice capsized quickly and within four minutes, she had sunk beneath the waves.

Many of the passengers on Princess Alice were unable to swim and drowned promptly. The long heavy dresses worn by women also hindered their efforts to stay afloat.

The crew of Bywell Castle tried to rescue as many as they could. They dropped ropes from their deck for the passengers of Princess Alice to climb. They also threw anything that would float into the water for people to holdplanks of wood, lifebuoys and even chicken coops for people to cling. The Bywell Castle managed to pull up some sixty people. Residents from both banks of the Thames, particularly the boatmen of local factories, also launched their own rescue effort.

Altogether, some 130 people were rescued from the collision, but several died later from ingesting the water.

The accident took place at the point where London's sewage pumping stations were situated. Twice daily, around 75 million imperial gallons (340,000 cubic meters) of raw sewage is discharged into the water from the sewer outfalls Abbey Mills and the Crossness Pumping Station. That day, pumping had occurred just one hour prior to the collision. The water bubbled with raw detritus, giving out a stench strong enough to leave even the hardiest boatman gagging. The water was also polluted by the untreated output from Beckton Gas Works, and several local chemical factories.

Illustration of the collision between the Princess Alice and Bywell Castle, as it appeared in Illustrated London News 14 September 1878

In a letter to The Times shortly after the collision, a chemist described the outflow as:

Two continuous columns of decomposed fermenting sewage, hissing like soda-water with baneful gases, so black that the water is stained for miles and discharging a corrupt charnel-house odour, that will be remembered by all ... as being particularly depressing and sickening.

One survivor, Mr Huddart, recalled:

I noticed something very peculiar in the water. Both the taste and smell were something dreadful, something that I could not describe  having been down to the bottom and having rose again with my mouth full of it I could give a very good picture of it  it was the most horrid water I ever tasted and the smell was also equally bad.

The exact number of passengers on board the Princess Alice during that fatal voyage is unknown, as the ship did not keep a passenger list, but it is thought that around 640 people drowned, making this Britains worst inland waterway disaster.

When the bodies from the Thames were pulled out, many of them were covered with slime which was difficult to wash off. The corpses began to decompose at a faster pace than normal, and many of the corpses were unusually bloated. Victims' clothing also began to rot quickly and was discoloured after immersion in the polluted water. Sixteen of those who survived died within two weeks, and several others took ill.

At the coroner's inquest, the jury placed the blame on both boats for the collision. The Bywell Castle, the verdict said, had contributed to the collision by not taking the necessary precaution of easing, stopping and reversing her engines in time, and Princess Alice contributed to the collision by not stopping and going astern.. The jury expressed the opinion that there should be proper and stringent rules and regulations laid down for all steam navigation on the River Thames.

Recovering Bodies from the Wreck of the Princess Alice, The Illustrated London News

The Board of Trade launched its own inquiry and found that the Princess Alice had breached the Board of Trade Regulations and the Regulations of the Thames Conservancy Board, 1872, that stated that if two ships are heading towards each other, they should pass on the port side of each other. As Princess Alice had not followed this procedure, the Board found Princess Alice to blame and that Bywell Castle could not avoid the collision.

The owners of Princess Alice and Bywell Castle tried to sue each other for the accident, but in vain. The Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice heard the case and decided that both parties were to blame.

Concerns were raised in Parliament regarding the dumping of untreated sewage in the Thames that also contributed to the tragedy.

A few years later, London's Metropolitan Board of Works began to purify the sewage at Crossness and Beckton, rather than dumping the untreated waste into the river, and a series of six sludge boats were ordered to ship effluent into the North Sea for dumping. This practice of dumping at sea continued until December 1998.

In 1880, a memorial Celtic cross was erected in Woolwich Cemetery where the dead were buried.

Memorial in Woolwich Cemetery. Photo: Paul Wilkinson/Flickr

Princess Alice's owners recovered the wreck of the vessel, salvaged the engine and sent the rest to a ship breaker. Within six years, the company went bankrupt. Bywell Castle continued to sail for five more years when she herself sank in the Bay of Biscay with the loss of all forty crew.
Missing Hammond man found dead; three will be charged with first degree murder
After months of leaks and rumors, the much-awaited fourth-gen Samsung foldables went official today. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 bring plenty of improvements to the Korean firms foldable lineup. At their heart is Qualcomms latest and best Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. And youd be pleased to know that this chipset powers the devices globally. Samsung isnt shipping the new foldables with its in-house Exynos processors.

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 brings major CPU and GPU boosts over previous-gen chipsets. It also boasts the 7th-gen Qualcomm AI Engine for unbeatable intelligence. The company also promises improved power efficiency, up to 20% more performance per Watt of power. A dedicated Trust Management Engine, coupled with Samsungs Knox security platform, ensures the highest grade of security for apps and services.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 also feature Qualcomms FastConnect 6900 Mobile Connectivity System to enable superfast wireless connectivity, including 6GHz Wi-Fi 6/6E. They boast mmWave 5G cellular connectivity as well, powered by the Snapdragon X65 Modem-RF System. All this means you will get blazing fast speeds, low latency, and reliable performance whatever you might be doing, from gaming and streaming to taking advantage of the new foldables extensive multitasking capabilities.

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If youre planning to get the Galaxy Z Fold 4, here are the best deals for you. We have also compiled the best deals for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 here.

Samsung may entirely stop shipping the same device with two different processors

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 may be getting the same processor globally, but Samsung has a habit of shipping its flagship products with different chipsets in different regions. The likes of the Galaxy S22 series feature Snapdragon processors in the US and a few other markets but ship with an Exynos chipset in Europe. This practice has attracted wide criticism but the Korean firm has been doing it for years. Even though there has been a notable performance gap between Snapdragon and Exynos solutions. It needs to stop doing this, and theres some hope that it will soon.

Rumors are that the next-gen Galaxy S23 series will not use Exynos processors. Samsung reportedly plans to ship the devices with Qualcomms unannounced Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset globally. The company is rethinking its Exynos chipsets after widely documented shortcomings over the years. This is a change that everyone would welcome. After all, Qualcomm has made the best flagship smartphone processors for years and its only fitting that the best Android smartphones use those processors.
You might soon be able to participate in interactive workouts visible on your Google TV, by way of your Wear OS smartwatch. Thats according to a new report from Protocol (via DroidLife), which notes Googles future plans to integrate the two platforms. Google reportedly discussed these plans in July at a closed-door partner event.

Wear OS integration on Google TV devices may seem like a slightly far-flung feature. But it shouldnt really. Samsung already offers the ability to connect your Galaxy Watch 4 to a compatible Samsung TV for a range of different uses. Including getting a complete view of your fitness stats on a much larger display.

You can even interact with workouts shown on the big screen while the watch takes care of the tracking. The idea here is being able to focus more readily on the workout and less on the screen youre wearing around your wrist. And now it seems Google wants to make that more accessible to people.

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Wear OS integration with Google TV will enable interactive video workouts

This is the most obvious route for Google to take with this kind of integration. Even though the company could certainly work in more functionality, and is seemingly planning to, interactive video workouts are a no-brainer. Protocol states that this is one of the bigger features Google is working on.

On the list of things youll be able to do is checking your heart rate. In addition, youll be able to check your caloric burn. As well as look at other real-time data from Fitbit and Wear OS devices. While this does seem to be coming, its apparently not very close.

2023 is said to be the very earliest Google could roll this feature out to TVs running on the Google TV platform. Google is also said to be working on making Google TV and Android TV more compatible with various smart home functions.

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Using Nest speakers as wireless speakers for Google TV

Beyond Googles Wear OS ambitions, its also reportedly seeking further advancements for its Google TV and Android TV platforms. Among the handful of ideas, Google is said to be working on making your Nest speakers usable as wireless speakers. Youd need a Google TV and Android TV, of course.

But Google doesnt seem to be stopping there. The report mentions that Google is working to bring this feature to third-party audio. Meaning it wouldnt have to be the Nest brand.
So when does pre-orders for the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 start? Well they start right now. Pre-orders for the new Galaxy Z Flip 4 have already started, and if you pre-order by August 25, you can get a pretty sweet bonus from Samsung.com.

Samsung is offering the same bonus they did for the Galaxy S22 pre-orders earlier this year. Basically, anyone that pre-orders the Galaxy Z Flip 4, will get a free storage upgrade. Meaning if you pay $999 for the 128GB model, youre going to get double the storage for the same price. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 will be available in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB.

Customers who trade in a phone for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 will also get up to $900 in credit, and a Silicone Ring Case or Strap Case for free.

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Thats some pretty sweet bonuses for pre-ordering the Galaxy Z Flip 4, to be quite honest. Dont forget that you will be able to customize your Galaxy Z Flip 4 through Samsungs website with the Bespoke Studio. Offering over 75 different unique styles, which include the ability to customize the front and back glass, as well as the frame and hinge.

What about the carriers?

The carriers are also selling the Galaxy Z Flip 4, and pre-orders start today. With the devices shipping by August 26. Heres the pre-order bonuses for each carrier.

AT&T is offering a free Galaxy Z Flip 4 when you trade in a Galaxy phone. They will take any year, any condition Galaxy smartphone and give you $999 (the cost of the Galaxy Z Flip 4). This appears to be the same price for any Galaxy smartphone, so you could trade in a Galaxy S and get the Flip 4 for free. AT&T is also honoring the free storage upgrade that Samsung is doing.

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T-Mobile is offering the Galaxy Z Flip 4 for free with trade-in, if you are on the Magenta Max plan. Also Magenta Max users can get this free with a new line. Otherwise, you can get 50% off with a new line, or with trade-in, if you are on any other plan. You also get the same storage upgrade and a free case with T-Mobile.

Verizon is also honoring Samsungs free storage upgrade on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Youll also get up to $800 off of the new Galaxy Z Flip 4 with trade-in on a qualified 5G unlimited plan. If you switch over to Verizon, youll get a $200 Verizon eCard for switching. And finally, Verizon is offering 50% off on select Samsung phone cases, 25% on select Samsung chargers, and if you buy a Galaxy Z Flip 4, youll get $75 off of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

Pre-Order Galaxy Z Flip 4 - Samsung
(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 10 - Three-time former premier and media magnate Silvio Berlusconi said Wednesday he would stand for the Senate in the September 25 general election, ending speculation on whether he would run or not four days before his 86th birthday.

"I think I'll stand in the Senate, that way we'll make everyone happy," said the billionaire businessman, who served a two-year tax fraud office ban from 2013 to 2015 and who leads the centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party.

Berlusconi said Tuesday supporters had been urging him to stand but he still hadn't made his mind up.

Berlusconi was once by far the top dog on Italy's centre right, but he was supplanted first by former anti-migrant interior minister and far-right League leader Matteo Salvini and more recently by post-fascist Brothers of Italy (FdI) leader Giorgia Meloni, who looks set to become Italy's first hard-right and first woman prime minister after September 25.

FdI leads the coalition with 23.8% of voting intentions as of today compared to 12.5% for the League and just 8% for FI, down from the high 20s 10 years ago.

Salvini on Tuesday reiterated that Meloni will become premier if she gets one more vote than him. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 10 - The son of one of 15 WWII partisans executed in Milan on August 10 1944 said on the anniversary of the massacre Wednesday that he "shuddered to think that 100 years after the March on Rome the heirs of Fascism may take the premier's office" in the September 25 general election, which post-fascist leader Giorgia Meloni is favoured to win.

Sergio Fogagnolo, son of Umberto who was shot by Nazis and Fascists in Piazzale Loreto 78 years ago today, did not directly name Meloni, whose Brothers of Italy (FdI) party has the neofascist tricolor flame in its logo.

But he called Meloni's main ally, anti-migrant League leader Matteo Salvini, "a (former) interior minister with a totalitarian vocation".

During his stint as interior minister from 2018 to 2019, Salvini outlawed NGO run migrant rescue boats from Italian waters.

The president of Italian partisan association ANPI, Roberto Cenati, distanced himself from Fogagnolo's remarks.

He said they had "nothing to do" with Wednesday's commemoration of the atrocity.

Meloni has worked hard to present her party as a moderate rightwing force while not disowning its post-fascist nature.

(ANSA).


Tunisia experiences tourism boom - 3 mn at end of July Figures back to pre-Covid levels, Djerba-Zarzis most popular

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, AUGUST 10 - A reported three million tourists have visited Tunisia from the beginning of the year until the end of July, with the number of overnight stays exceeding seven million, Tunisian Tourism Minister Mohamed Moez Belhassine, was quoted as saying by Tap news agency during a visit to the governorate of Medenine. He stressed that the figures were close to those recorded in 2019, the year of reference before the Covid pandemic.



The touristic area of Djerba-Zarzis ranked first at a national level in terms of hosting capabilities, workforce and hotel units. Some 510,000 tourists visited this region from the beginning of the year until the end of July 2022, while overnight stays were 2.4 million, up 218% on the same period in 2021. The Algerian and Libyan markets remained important for Tunisian tourism, observed the minister, especially with the reopening of borders after Covid restrictions. The number of Libyan tourists reached 800,000 arrivals at the end of July, according to the minister. (ANSAmed).




TEL AVIV - Hamas - which governs Gaza - has backtracked on restrictions against journalists working in the Strip, issued following the conflict between the Islamic Jihad and Israel, the Foreign Press Association (FPA) in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories said, welcoming the decision which, if not revised, "would have constituted a harsh and unacceptable restriction on freedom of the press" and on which it opened a confrontation with Hamas.



According to the circular of the interior ministry of Hamas - quoted by FPA - local journalists "had to commit to not report, or not allow foreign journalists to do it, on the malfunction of rockets or the capabilities of militants or their role in preparing the conflict".




France: no more water in the 'fountain town' due to drought Pernes-les-Fontaines has turned off its famous 41 fountains

(ANSAmed) - PERNES-LES-FONTAINES, AUGUST 10 - Celebrated for its 41 fountains and a destination chosen by thousands of tourists, Pernes-les-Fontaines has turned off its famous fountains. The Medieval town in southern France, also known as the 'pearl of Comtat' for its glorious past as the capital of former pontifical state Comtat Venaissin, is paying the price of drought with its fountains running dry.



"Water restrictions began in April, but until now we were allowed to have water, with a reduced flow in some fountain.



Since the end of July, it was a total stop, the prefecture placed us in a situation of crisis due to the drought. Tradition says that drinking water from our fountains makes you fall in love, but this year", Guillhem Millet, the head of the tourism office of the city in the region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, told the AFP news agency.



"It is heartbreaking to see these empty fountains, but we can understand the restrictions", commented Christine Mercel, a tourist of the French region of Ain who arrived in Pernes to see its fountains, including the oldest that date back to the 15th century. Two-thirds of areas in continental France have been declared in crisis due to the drought this summer.(ANSAmed).




TUNIS - A reported three million tourists have visited Tunisia from the beginning of the year until the end of July, with the number of overnight stays exceeding seven million, Tunisian Tourism Minister Mohamed Moez Belhassine, was quoted as saying by Tap news agency during a visit to the governorate of Medenine. He stressed that the figures were close to those recorded in 2019, the year of reference before the Covid pandemic.



The touristic area of Djerba-Zarzis ranked first at a national level in terms of hosting capabilities, workforce and hotel units. Some 510,000 tourists visited this region from the beginning of the year until the end of July 2022, while overnight stays were 2.4 million, up 218% on the same period in 2021. The Algerian and Libyan markets remained important for Tunisian tourism, observed the minister, especially with the reopening of borders after Covid restrictions. The number of Libyan tourists reached 800,000 arrivals at the end of July, according to the minister.
A man alleged to be the fourth member of a terror cell known as The Beatles has reportedly been arrested in the UK on terror charges.

Aine Davis, 38, was arrested on Wednesday evening after arriving into Luton airport on a flight from Turkey, according to BBC News.

He was arrested in relation to offences under sections 15, 17 and 57 of the Terrorism Act, 2000.

Davis was arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command and taken to a police station in south London, the BBC reported.

He is currently being held in police custody.

A Home Office spokesperson said: We will always ensure the safety and security of the UK, and will not allow anything to jeopardise this.

We can confirm that a British national has been deported from Turkey to the UK, but it would be inappropriate to comment further while police enquiries are ongoing.

Davis is said to have denied he was part of the Beatles cell  so nicknamed because of their English accents  which tortured and beheaded western hostages in Syria.

Cell ringleader Mohammed Emwazi, widely known as Jihadi John, was killed in a drone strike in 2015.

Londoner Alexanda Kotey was jailed in the US in April for his part in the torture and murder of American hostages.

His co-defendant, El Shafee Elsheikh, will be sentenced in August for his role in the plot.
The Government is working up a fresh package of cost-of-living support for the next prime minister to consider when they take office, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has said.

Simon Clarke argued it is absolutely right for the new leader to consider these options in the round when they take the reins, suggesting they should steer clear of announcing new uncosted policies during the election period.

It comes after frontrunner Liz Truss  who has Mr Clarkes backing  hit out at bizarre proposals to agree help for rising energy bills with the Government and her rival Rishi Sunak before the contest is over.

Mr Sunak said he would welcome a meeting to agree emergency support ahead of the winter, but Ms Truss branded the proposal a kangaroo committee at Tuesdays leadership hustings in Darlington.

A quick thread on supporting people with the cost of living: 1/4 Of course, the Government is working up a package of cost of living support that the next Prime Minister can consider when they take office.  Simon Clarke MP (@SimonClarkeMP) August 10, 2022

On Wednesday, consumer champion Martin Lewis called on the two candidates to set out how they will tackle the energy crisis to alleviate the mental health damage facing millions in the UK.

Later, speaking in Manchester, Ms Truss insisted the country already has a proper constitution in place.

Put to her that some are asking why she cannot team up with her rival, as well as the outgoing PM, to assure people that there will be help for them in September, she said we have a Prime Minister, we have a Chancellor and they make decisions at present.

Separately, in an interview with the Evening Standard, she doubled down on her view that cutting taxes is a top priority.

Im not going to say anything further about a future Budget in advance because I think that would be irresponsible, she said.

Ms Truss vowed to do what I can to help households across the country, as I look at the evidence and I sort things out.

Her team went on to take a fresh swipe at Mr Sunaks campaign, accusing him of socialist tendencies.

(PA Graphics)

In a series of tweets, Mr Clarke said the Government is working up a package of cost-of-living support that the next Prime Minister can consider when they take office.

He stressed his view that the leadership hopefuls should avoid uncosted policies during the election, and instead look at the options in the round if and when they take charge.

The senior Treasury minister added that he has no doubt that Ms Truss will do the responsible and honest thing if elected, by making decisions in light of all the facts.

Speaking during a visit to Belfast, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi acknowledged the Government is making all sorts of contingency plans when challenged over the risk of blackouts this winter.

He said the UK must be able to withstand the pressure sparked by Russian President Vladimir Putin playing with energy prices deliberately.

Hence why we have to make all sorts of contingency plans, he said.

Conservative MP Chris Skidmore has switched to backing Liz Truss in the partys leadership contest (Joe Giddens/PA)

Meanwhile, allies of Mr Sunak played down the defection of one of his supporters.

Former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers, who is backing Mr Sunak, insisted that inevitably MPs change their mind during these contests, when asked about Chris Skidmores decision to switch allegiances.

But the Truss campaign claimed to be in touch with other Sunak-supporting MPs who could follow in Mr Skidmores footsteps, potentially triggering a bigger exodus from the former chancellors camp.

Were in talks with others from camp Rishi and Chris coming over could trigger a bigger exodus of MPs from Sunak to us, a spokesperson said.

Ms Villiers remarks came as former Tory Party leader Lord Howard said he agreed with Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raabs suggestion that Ms Trusss tax-cutting plans would be an electoral suicide note.

Lord Howard said he agrees with Dominic Raabs suggestion that Liz Trusss tax cut plans would be an electoral suicide note (PA)

With concerns mounting over the cost-of-living crisis, questions have been raised over any immediate cross-Government action to tackle energy price hikes.

Tony Danker, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has said that the Prime Minister and the two contenders to replace him should come together to agree a common pledge to support people and help quell fears.

But Education Secretary James Cleverly told ITVs Good Morning Britain it is not in the hands of Ms Truss or her campaign team to truncate the process of agreeing extra help.

In order to bring about changes to tax systems or to financial support systems, we need to have votes in the House, that needs to go through a proper scrutiny process, he said.

James Cleverly said Liz Truss will look at the energy price rises through an emergency Budget (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

It is not as simple as recalling Parliament to have an emergency debate on something like military action, which is a very simple one-question yes or no answer.

Ms Villiers said no government can insulate everyone from the rising cost of energy, but that Mr Sunak certainly recognises that we need to do more.

She told Sky News: Rishis determined, if hes PM, to do as much as he can to help people through what is a crisis around the world with energy bills.

She added that Rishi has the right plan for the economy at a time when the country is heading into a really serious situation.

But a spokesperson for the Truss campaign said: Liz believes in people keeping more of their own money, not Rishis socialist tax and spend which will lead us to recession.
Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson will host the 2022 Emmy Awards, it has been announced.

The US comedian said the prospect of hosting duties were ridiculously exciting ahead of the annual event next month.

The 74th Emmy Awards will take place on Monday September 12 on US network NBC.

Being a part of this incredible evening where we honor the best of the television community is ridiculously exciting, and to do it on NBC, my longtime network family, makes it even more special, Thompson said in a statement shared with US media outlets.

Join us LIVE from the Television Academy for the 74th Los Angeles Area Emmys Awards! https://t.co/Svk0wCKXSs  Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) July 24, 2022

Like all TV fans, I cant wait to see the stars from my favourite shows.

UK talent fared well at the nominations for the awards, which were announced last month, with several big British names picking up nods.

Colin Firth and Jodie Comer were among those to be tipped for top awards at the ceremony, which recognises the best in television excellence, and is hosted by the US Television Academy.

Brit award-winner Adele also picked up a nomination in the outstanding variety special (pre-recorded) category for her One Night Only show, offering her another chance at edging closer to the coveted EGOT status.

Nominations were read out by actors JB Smoove and Melissa Fumero in a virtual ceremony.
Nicola Sturgeon has said she believes Scotland will vote Yes to independence by a comfortable margin, when asked about her plans for a second referendum.

The First Minister also discussed post-independence energy prices and trade with the rest of the UK as she was interviewed at an Edinburgh Fringe show.

The Scottish Government has referred its plans to hold a second referendum on independence to the Supreme Court, amid a dispute with the UK Government over the jurisdiction of the legislation.

During the Fringe show on Wednesday, LBCs Iain Dale said current polling suggests a Yes vote would be unlikely to be a massive majority.

He asked Ms Sturgeon how she would react if a future prime minister said they would allow an independence vote but attached a 60% threshold for the constitutional change to take place.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Iain Dale she does not think a second independence referendum would see a narrow result (Jane Barlow/PA)

Ms Sturgeon responded: The international norms about referendums is that its about majorities.

Thats basically how a Scottish referendum should be conducted as well.

What Im about to say will be put to the test.

When Scotland comes to make this choice again, I dont think it will be narrow.

I think Scotland will vote to be independent and I think it will do so by quite a comfortable margin.

Discussing energy prices, Ms Sturgeon said the No campaign had warned in 2014 that bills would go up in the event of a Yes vote.

She said: Were paying a massive price right now for not being independent.

Independence is not a guarantee of sunny uplands for Scotland, but it puts control of our future and the decisions that shape our future into our own hands.

Mr Dale then asked: Are you seriously saying that energy prices would be cheaper if Scotland was independent?

Ms Sturgeon replied: Thats not the point Im making, thats not the argument I was making.

Plans for indyref2 have ben referred to the Supreme Court (Yui Mok/PA)

We could go into a debate about Scotland, the renewable energy capital of Europe

Mr Dale then said the SNP had pledged five years ago to create a nationalised energy company which would sell power to customers at almost cost price. He asked: Whats happened to that?

Ms Sturgeon said the pandemic had impacted on that plan, adding: We are absolutely still looking to make changes that will allow Scotland  much better than we do right now  to benefit from the vast renewable energy potential weve got.

The First Minister was also asked about her Governments plans for how trade would operate across the border with the rest of the UK following independence.

She said: My argument incidentally is not that these practical issues wont exist, it is that we will be able to deal with them with proper planning.

If we do the proper planning, we will be able to deal with these issues in a way that doesnt impede trade.

She pointed to the border between Norway and Sweden as an example of how such arrangements could be managed.
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has pledged that he will deliver an equivalent to the 400 energy bill discount in Northern Ireland.

Mr Zahawi is meeting with the Utility Regulator and Stormont ministers in Belfast to discuss extending the UK-wide scheme to the region  which has been complicated by the lack of a functioning Stormont Assembly.

The Chancellor would also be visiting Scotland and Wales, but said he wanted to come to Northern Ireland first to make sure the Government delivered its commitment around the energy discount.

Stormont communities minister Deirdre Hargey outside the Northern Ireland Office in Belfast before her meeting with the Chancellor (Liam McBurney/PA)

My pledge is that we will operationalise this and deliver it because that is what the Prime Minister wants me to do, that is what I will do, he said.

Today is about making sure that I work with the Utility Regulator, with the economy and community ministers to make sure we now deliver against that, and do it as quickly and as efficiently as possible, so the meeting today is to make sure we get that done.

I hope by the end of the meeting were in a place where we all know this will happen and it will happen as quickly as possible.

Last month, the Westminster Government revealed details of the scheme in which households in Great Britain would get more than 60 off their energy bills each month throughout winter as part of its cost-of-living support measures.

The money, which is part of a package announced in May this year, will be delivered in six instalments over six months to some 29 million households.

Households will see 66 taken off their energy bills in October and November, and 67 between December and March, the Government said.

But there has been uncertainty about how Northern Ireland households will receive the payment to help with energy costs.

The region is without a functioning executive or assembly as part of the DUPs protest against the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

Pressed on whether the energy discount would be delivered in Northern Ireland, Mr Zahawi said: I will do everything in my power to make sure that we deliver the money, and hence why Im here, and hence why were having these meetings.

Of course I want to see the Executive restored and we will do everything to try and get to a place where it is restored, that is the best place for the people of Northern Ireland in my view.
By Hyunjoo Jin and Akriti Sharma

(Reuters) -Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk sold $6.9 billion worth of shares in the electric vehicle maker, saying the funds could be used to finance a potential Twitter deal if he loses a legal battle with the social media platform.

"In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners dont come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock," he said in a tweet late on Tuesday.

Musk in early July tore up his April 25 agreement to buy Twitter for $44 billion. Twitter has sued Musk to force him to complete the transaction, dismissing his claim that he was misled about the number of spam accounts on the social media platform as buyer's remorse in the wake of a plunge in technology stocks. The two sides head to trial on Oct. 17.

"Street will read through this poker move that chances of Twitter deal more likely now," Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, tweeted.

In other comments on Twitter on Tuesday, Musk said "yes" when asked if he was done selling Tesla stock, and also said he would buy Tesla stock again if the Twitter deal does not close.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Musk, the world's richest person, sold $8.5 billion worth of Tesla shares in April and had said at the time there were no further sales planned. But since then, legal experts had suggested that if Musk is forced to complete the acquisition or settle the dispute with a stiff penalty, he was likely to sell more Tesla shares.

Musk sold about 7.92 million shares between Aug.5 and Aug.9, according to multiple filings. He now owns 155.04 million Tesla shares or just under 15% of the automaker according to Reuters calculations.

The latest sales bring total Tesla stock sales by Musk to about $32 billion in less than one year.

Tesla shares have risen nearly 15% since the automaker reported better-than-expected earnings on July 20, also helped by the Biden administration's climate bill that, if passed, would lift the cap on tax credits for electric vehicles.

Musk also teased on Tuesday that he could start his own social media platform. When asked by a Twitter user if he had thought about creating his own platform if the deal didn't close, he replied: "X.com"

(Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin in San Francisco and Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Shubham Kalia and Shivam Patel; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
Constrained by the capacity limits of renewable energy and ambitions to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, nuclear energy is getting a second look in the U.S. as lawmakers race to keep their climate goals intact in the face of historically high energy costs.

The Democrats climate and tax bill may just provide the tailwind in needs.

The $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides a $30 billion lifeline to dozens of nuclear power plants under threat of closure, potentially reviving an industry-long cast aside over fears of safety and cost overruns.

There's a pretty large vocal community of nuclear power advocates who think that it's the future and that any energy system in the future that is low carbon is going to have to have nuclear power and possibly lots of it, Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Yahoo Finance.

The U.S. remains the largest producer of nuclear power globally, with reactors generating roughly 20% of the countrys electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

However, just one nuclear power plant has come online in more than 25 years. Meanwhile, the average age of the countrys 93 nuclear reactors is about 40 years old.

The IRA commits $369 billion in climate spending, with a wide net of tax credits and subsidies intended to accelerate the clean energy transition. That includes the Zero-Emissions Nuclear Power Production Credit, which subsidizes existing nuclear power plants over the next decade. If signed into law, those plants would be eligible for a credit of $0.03 per kilowatt-hour. Plants that pay higher wages would be eligible for credits up to five times the base rate.

Senior Nuclear Engineer Randall Granaas takes a radiation reading at the ISFSI at the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California on April 21, 2022. (Photo by Paul Bersebach/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

The bill also commits $700 million for HALEU (high assay low enriched uranium), a critical fuel source for the next generation of advanced reactors.

The proposed tax credits come as policymakers look to prolong the life of nuclear power plants in order to keep climate goals intact, amid a global energy crunch brought on by the Russia-Ukraine war.

As much as 64% of existing U.S. reactors are on track to be decommissioned by 2030, according to the Rhodium Group. Just 45% of that energy generation is likely to be replaced by wind and solar, with natural gas replacing 55%, adding to the carbon intensity of the grid.

'Look at what happened in Germany'

The Biden administration sees nuclear power  a carbon-free energy source  as a critical bridge to reach its stated goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions to half of 2005 levels by 2030.

We have to invest enormously today to increase our reliance on cleaner and more renewable sources. And that includes nuclear, Amos Hochstein, special coordinator for international energy affairs for President Biden, told Yahoo Finance. We haven't built a nuclear power plant in the United States in decades. We have a fleet that needs more support in order to be able to stay up. Look at what happened in Germany by taking offline nuclear. Theyre now burning coal ... that's something we shouldn't be doing here.

The Diablo Canyon, the only operational nuclear plant left in California, due to be shutdown in 2024 despite safely producing nearly 15% of the state's green electrical energy power on December 1, 2021, near Avila Beach. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

That reality has turned former nuclear skeptics into advocates. In California, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recently penned an op-ed for the Sacramento Bee under the headline Why I changed my mind, opposing the closure of the states last remaining nuclear power plant Diablo Canyon, stating it made little sense under the current circumstances.

Closing Diablo Canyon would remove 18,000 gigawatt-hours from the grid, nearly 10% of the states electricity generation," she wrote. "This is an extraordinary amount of power for a grid facing reliability concerns amid heat waves and wildfires. When the power goes out, lives are endangered.

Lyman maintained that nuclear power remains the most "reliable" carbon-free energy source in the absence of full scale wind and solar. He is worried, however, that the sole focus on accelerating clean energy adaptation risks overlooking underlying safety concerns around aging reactors, saying U.S. regulators have not done enough to address the lessons of Fukushima.

The industry is very focused on minimizing the amount of safety regulations that they have to follow for the operating plants and also for new ones, Lyman said. I really do worry that if that message takes hold, that we may end up in a situation where theres more risk to the public instead of less. Thats not a good outcome.

Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita

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TAIPEI, Taiwan  China appeared to be rehearsing an invasion just miles away. World leaders issued forceful condemnations. But as Beijings military sent missiles and jets over their heads in a display of fury, many residents of Taiwan remained unmoved by what outside observers fear is a rising threat of war.

We grew up with this, said Rui Hao, a 40-year-old resident of Taipei, the capital, shrugging off the potential for conflict.

When he was a boy, his parents considered emigrating from their home in Taiwan to escape the threat of war with China. Three decades later, they still live here.

I dont think China will attack because our rockets can also reach Beijing and Shanghai, Rui said. There will be mutual destruction. Were just a small island, but they are the ones who have much more to lose.

Rui, who now has a child of his own, said he rarely discusses the possibility of a Chinese invasion with his friends and family.

Image: Taiwan On High Alert As China Conducts Live-fire Exercises (Annabelle Chih / Getty Images)

It has been a major point of discussion around the world, however, as the live-fire military exercises China launched in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit raise fears it is looking to change the long-established status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese officials say it is the United States that is trying to change the status quo by strengthening its unofficial relations with Taiwan, a self-ruling island that Beijing claims as its territory.

Faced with this, China has no choice but to fight back and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday.

But either way this latest crisis has sharpened global concerns about the future of the island, a longtime flashpoint in U.S.-China relations and a flourishing democracy in a region where autocracy has been making steady gains.

We only want to protect our way of life

Lee Ming-che was among the human rights activists who met with Pelosi last week, during the brief visit in which she reiterated Washingtons support for Taiwan.

Lee spent five years in a Chinese prison as a political prisoner. Now, only four months after his release and return to Taiwan, Chinese threats to the freedoms he can again enjoy at home are escalating.

From left, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Lee Ming-che and Lees wife, Lee Ching-yu, in Taiwan last week. (Courtesy Lee Ming Che)

I saw and personally experienced in prison how the Chinese government disregards human rights and the law. And now this kind of country wants to encroach on Taiwans democracy and human rights, Lee told NBC News by phone on Tuesday.

Because Taiwans previous generations have dedicated a lot of effort for Taiwans freedom, democracy and human rights, we only want to protect our way of life, to live in our own country, but China uses its military might to threaten Taiwan.

Beijings military exercises around the island have gone further than in the past and than many experts had expected. On Wednesday, a spokesman for Chinas Eastern Theater Command said the military had successfully completed various tasks around the island but would carry out military training and preparedness continuously.

It is possible we will see the staging of additional military exercises, at intervals, over the coming months, said Amanda Hsiao, senior analyst for China at the International Crisis Group, who is based in Taipei.

But for generations of people in Taiwan, where Chiang Kai-sheks Nationalists fled in 1949 after losing to Mao Zedongs Communist forces in Chinas civil war, these security concerns are nothing new. Co-existing with Beijings threats is simply part of life, which has carried on across Taiwan this summer as usual.

On Dongyin, a Taiwanese island just 31 miles off the coast of China, an electronic dance music rave with clouds of foam, fog and jets from water cannons kicked off on Saturday evening even as Chinas military drills were unfolding in the surrounding skies and waters.

This measured approach flies in the face of some rhetoric abroad comparing Taiwan to Ukraine, where many residents reacted with disbelief to Russias long-signaled invasion in February. U.S. military experts and former defense officials have warned Chinas army is now much more advanced than the last time cross-Strait tensions soared in 1996, leading some to ask whether Taiwan is being too complacent.

Theres a lot of what feels like judgment from experts in the U.S. looking at Taiwans calm reaction and saying people in Taiwan need to take this more seriously, they dont fully appreciate the circumstance theyre in, said Lev Nachman, a political scientist and associate professor at National Chengchi University in Taipei. To which I think a lot of the Taiwanese response is, We fully appreciate the circumstance were in, were just choosing to react to it in a more calm way than you are.

Air raid drills are held regularly in Taiwan, and officials are revising a civil defense handbook that was issued earlier this year. But the island also says it needs continued support from the international community.

This has repercussions for the entire region, which we are all witnessing real-time, said Enoch Wu, the founder of Forward Alliance, a nonprofit group that holds public workshops to prepare Taiwanese for conflict and crises. This is why it is in the common interest of democratic partners to enhance defense alliances now, as the only means of preserving peace and ensuring stability.

MaiCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange (Lam Yik Fie / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Resilience and confidence

Asked whether he was worried about Chinas actions, President Joe Biden told reporters Monday: Im not worried, but Im concerned that theyre moving as much as they are. But I dont think theyre going to do anything more. A Defense Department official said the U.S. had not changed its assessment that China would not try to invade Taiwan in the next two years.

Were not naive  we dont necessarily think that the U.S. will come help us if China did invade, said Sophia Hsieh, a 44-year-old English tutor based in the city of Taoyuan. We just all tacitly know that if they do attack, we wont let them benefit from it.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu pointed to that resolve in comments on Tuesday.

Taiwans people, society, military and government have displayed resilience and confidence, and remained calm, he said at a news conference. Chinas continued attempts to intimidate Taiwan will not panic us, nor will they defeat us.

He accused Beijing on Tuesday of rehearsing for an eventual invasion, while Taiwan started its own live-fire drill that it said had already been planned and was not a response to the Chinese exercises.

On Wednesday, the Chinese government released a white paper on the Taiwan question, its first since 2000, that reiterated its desire for peaceful reunification. But it did not rule out the use of force as a last resort taken under compelling circumstances, without specifying what those circumstances might be.

The majority of Taiwans almost 24 million people say they have no desire to become a part of China, preferring to maintain the status quo whereby the island runs independently but does not make any official claims of independence. In an opinion poll published this week by Taiwans Chinese Association of Public Opinion Research, 60 percent of respondents said they were either not that worried or not worried at all about a war between Taiwan and China.

Beijings aggression may end up backfiring, alienating even elements in Taiwan that have long supported reunification with China while leaving the broader public more skeptical than ever.

How can you expect reunification if even before you come youre already threatening us like this? said Li Ao, a Taipei taxi driver in his 30s who used to travel frequently to the Chinese mainland. Most people will be antagonized by this.
Jeremy Corbyn has said he stands by statements he made on the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine.

In an interview with Al Mayadeen in July he said pouring arms in would prolong and exaggerate the war, saying more effort should be placed on securing a ceasefire.

Al Mayadeen is a Middle Eastern TV channel based in Lebanon seen as being sympathetic to the Syrian government and Hezbollah.

On Wednesday, the former Labour leader spoke to LBCs Iain Dale at an event during the Edinburgh Fringe.

The Islington North MP said his removal from Labours parliamentary group was completely wrong and also described the Aukus defence deal between the UK, US and Australia as dangerous.

Mr Corbyn said his removal from Labours parliamentary group was completely wrong (UK Parliament)

Mr Dale said asked him about his comments on Al Mayadeen and whether he wanted the supply of weapons to Ukraine to stop.

Mr Corbyn said: I think the words I used was, the only policy being followed by most of the West is to pour arms into the Ukraine.

The point I was making was there is nobody as far as I can see pushing enough to get some kind of ceasefire.

The recent deal on grain exports from Ukraine indicated an agreement was possible, he said.

Mr Corbyn continued: The killing has to stop, the peace protesters in Russia have to be recognised.

The loss of peoples lives in Ukraine and the refugees have got to be recognised.

The war has to stop, otherwise where does it go?

Youve got nuclear arms in the neighbourhood.

Mr Dale then asked if that was for the head of the Ukrainian government to decide, as his territory had been invaded.

Mr Corbyn replied: His territory has been invaded, I absolutely condemn the Russian invasion.

He said he had long condemned human rights abuses by Russia, including during the Chechen war.

The Islington North MP continued: We could just watch the war go on.

Put more arms in there, Russia will put more arms in, and it will go on and there will be more killing.

Saying he did not want the war to continue for years, he added: A ceasefire, followed by withdrawal, followed by some kind of agreement between the countries has got to be the way forward.

Mr Corbyn discussed the supply of Western arms to Ukraine (UK MOD)

Mr Dale then asked if that meant Ukraine and the West would have to accept that Russia had taken more territory.

Mr Corbyn said this did not have to be the case, saying: The issues of the Donbas have been in dispute for some time, particularly Donetsk and Luhansk.

There has been a war going on there for a long time.

In the case of Crimea Russia would claim they had a referendum albeit nobody recognised the conduct of that referendum.

There has to be some negotiation on whats going to happen in the future.

Russian and Ukrainian people are interlinked in so many ways, they were part of the same country until 1992.

Mr Corbyn was asked about his links to Stop the War (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Mr Corbyn was also asked about statements from Stop The War, an organisation he said he was eternal vice president of.

However he said he sometimes disagreed with the language Stop The War used.

Discussing tensions between China and Taiwan, he said an arrangement should be reached between the two sides.

He continued: I do think the Aukus agreement, the UK, US Australia agreement, of militarisation in the South China Sea is quite dangerous in many ways because it would build up more and more tensions in that area.

Mr Corbyn was asked if he expected to be readmitted to the Parliamentary Labour Party, to which he said: Expectations in politics are always a bit risky.

Asked if he wanted to be readmitted, he said: Yes, obviously. I think it was completely wrong for me to be removed.

Mr Dale then suggested giving interviews to Iranian TV stations did not help his cause, to which Mr Corbyn said: I stand by the interviews Ive done, the statements Ive made.

I think the Labour Party has to be a big, diverse organisation.
Photo credit: Image courtesy of Biologique Recherche



"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."

As both a beauty and shopping editor, I've tried my fair share of brands over the years, but admittedly had notuntil recentlytested French skincare brand Biologique Recherche's coveted range of products. Beloved by celebrities like Iman, Rosalia, Demi Moore, Victoria Beckham, and more, the culty skincare line has previously been available to shop only at select spas and retail locations, and recently launched its own members-only commerce platform last November.



"Biologique Recherche is famous primarily in the U.S. because of P50it's this cult product that just exploded," general manager Margot Humbert tells BAZAAR.com. "Of course, the product is sold by our partners and clients, but there were limited places in this country where consumers could discover Biologique Recherche."

While the brand is thrilled with P50's juggernaut success, it also understands the importance of conveying to shoppers that Biologique Recherche is more than just a single product. "Brands often showcase their DNA through product distribution, online platforms, and stores, for those that have them. And I think we're at a point where we're ready to help people understand that BR is more than just P50there's actually a long history behind the brand, with a full understanding of the skin," Humbert says.

Originally founded in the late '70s by biologist and physiotherapist duo Yvan and Josette Allouche, Biologique Recherche cemented its reputation for effectiveness with a customized and active-forward approach to skincare. The idea to build the brand's Ambassadeswhich are presently in countries like France, Asia, and now the United Stateswas conceived by Yvan as the physical embodiment of the Biologique Recherche experience, similar to a country's embassy. The brand's first Ambassade location opened in 1992 in Paris on the Champs-Elysees and continues to serve as the model for each subsequent location.

"The demand for our brand on the West Coast is quite high," says Dr. Philippe Allouche, Biologique Recherche's research and creative director who is also the son of the brand's founders. "Our growth in this country in the beginning was very slowcreating an Ambassade [in California] and locations around the world was a decision of the brand partners to build up awareness and maintain quality control, which is very important to us."



The stylish two-story Los Angeles outpost features stunning design details, like a gilded front desk and warmly illuminated glass display cases, modeled somewhat after one of Philippe's former Parisian apartments. "The interior designers are good friends of mine, and one of them asked, 'Remember when I came years ago to a party at your apartment?'" he describes. "I tried to re-create that feeling I had taking in the high ceilings and marble work. So the space is influenced by a little bit of designer Europe with some Los Angeles flair."

Aside from clear opulence and prestige, the Biologique Recherche experience is also based on a unique, three-step methodologythe Assessment Stage, Initialization Stage, and Treatment Stagewhich equally help tailor the brand's popular treatments for hair, skin, and body to each customer. "Going step-by-step and in order is serious for us; we use great technicians to provide a full diagnosis for our consumers," Philippe continues. "Biologique Recherche is not a story of product, it's not a story of trends, but a story of skin, period."

During my visit to the Los Angeles flagship, I experienced one of the brand's personalized facial treatments from beginning to end, starting with an analysis of my skin by Biologique Recherche expert and aesthetician Elizabeth Lampell. After completing a short series of questions about my complexion's conditions using the brand's signature Skin Instant Lab, a five-tool diagnostic assessment that monitors particulars like hydration and sebum production, Lampell moved on to the Initialization Stage, where she and Philippe recommended a number of products (including Lotion P50W) suited especially for my combination skin's needs.



While the Treatment Stage was probably my favorite phase of the entire brand experience, I appreciate the time and effort Biologique Recherche takes overall to ensure long-term skin health and vibrancy. "I've been in beauty my entire life and worked on brands that followed trends right away and just ran after everything," Humbert says. "The very different message from Biologique Recherche is that consistency is what actually provides the best results. I think that's an essential component many people have forgotten, because we're so bombarded by new products and the thirst of getting the next exciting thing."



Like its thoughtful approach to its treatment options, Biologique Recherche takes the same care and consideration into crafting its line of products from the very beginning. "When we discover what could be the next active ingredient to use in a product, we have a court of around five or so people who decide whether the ingredient passes or not," Philippe explains. "Then, the court comes to me with each side of the argument, and I have the final say. I had to redo the P50, because I felt that the original P50 1970 was too harsh," he notes of Biologique Recherche's culty treatment.

"Every brand has quality control, but I can say that we're on another level with control and decision-making," Philippe continues. "We usually follow the physiopathology pattern of productswhat's happening, what the skin care problem isand try to enhance each angle. This is how our products are made, with an attempt to align different aspects for the most optimal resultswe're obsessed with results."

Photo credit: Biologique Recherche

Now that Biologique Recherche is readily more accessible to new and existing customers in the United States, Humbert has high expectations for the brand's continued success. "People who live in the neighborhood have walked in from off the street to let us know that they've seen the scaffolding and awning, and are so excited," she says. "People that know the brand never thought that we would open our own location here. For now, we're receiving mainly loyal customers and those who know the brand, but we're hopeful the Ambassade will make it easier for others to discover it as well."



Biologique Recherche's Los Angeles Ambassade is open for customized treatments, with products available for purchase in store or online at mybr.com, shoprescuespa.com, and joannaczech.com.

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When Daedalus gave his son Icarus finely made wax and feather wings in the popular myth, he told his son to follow his path: not too close to the sea and not too close to the sun. In his flightful glee, Icarus ignored that advice, making his mode of transportation melt by soaring too high, too fast, meeting his doom in the sea below. While this myth is set in Greece, it offers an analogy into what happened in Italy, the country next door, and the pizza chain that, like Icarus, flew much too close to the sun.

Dominos Pizza Inc. closed the last of its 29 branches in Italy, the country well-known as the spot where pizza as we know it was first created. According to a report by Bloomberg, court documents show that the countrys Dominos franchise had sought protection from creditors in April after running out of cash and falling behind on its debt obligations, adding that the pizza retailer had 10.6 million euros, or about $10.9 million, of debt at the end of 2020.

Dominos, a company which first started in Ypsilanti, Michigan in 1960 before expanding to more than 85 countries around the world, wanted to add Italy to its portfolio, and did less than a decade ago.

The Italian company ePizza S.p.A, doing business as Dominos Pizza Italia, started operations in the country in October of 2015, in a move that was met with immediate backlash by Italians on social media and beyond. Of Dominos expansion into the birthplace of pizza at the time, one Italian commenter social media said it would be like selling ice to Eskimos.

Unabated by critics, Alessandro Lazzaroni, who owned the franchise rights to the chain in Italy and previously worked for McDonalds Italy as a business insights manager, started by planning to open a trio of branches in Milan, Italy, before expanding the pizza chains footprint elsewhere in the country.

Weve created our own recipe, starting from the original pizza recipe, with Italian products, like 100 percent tomato sauce and mozzarella, and products like prosciutto di Parma, gorgonzola, grana padano and mozzarella di bufala campana, said Lazzaroni, who owns the franchise rights to the chain in Italy, in a statement in 2015 when operations first began.

Still, in recent times, the company was known in Italy for selling American interpretations of the dish, including cheeseburger pizza and other flavor innovations. The title of Dominos press release, by the way, was Dominos Pizza in Italy? Oh Yes We Did, perhaps signaling that it knew the kind of impression such a business move would leave on folks in Italy.

Domino's Pizza Inc. Leaves Italy as Traditional Margherita Wins (Alessia Pierdomenico/ / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In 2020, Lazzaroni said he aimed to expand big on Dominos in the country, wanting to open 880 new stores by 2030. He also earlier said he aimed to leverage Dominos ability to operate online delivery as nobody else, since at the time food delivery apps were virtually nonexistent in Italy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closings in Italy seem due to a multitude of factors, including the boom in Italian food delivery via digital app usage during the country's lockdown, seeing Europe-based food delivery app JustEat joined by competition from Uber Eats, Glovo, Deliveroo and others.

Also looming over Dominos closings is the perception that Italian culture is so deeply connected to their food traditions that failure was perhaps inevitable. That a company who wanted to sell pineapple pizza  controversial even outside of Italy  to the people who invented pizza in the first place was thought by many from the start as much too hard a sell.

Dominos isnt like McDonalds which came into Italy as American junk food, Kristina Gill, an Italy-based food editor and co-author and photographer of the award-winning cookbook Tasting Rome, told TODAY Food via email, adding that trying to open in Italy made her wonder how it would adapt its product to local standards to be competitive for the long term. How would Dominos compete with perfection with an imperfect product?

Dominos came in with PIZZA which is an Italian culinary sweetheart, especially in places like Rome which is known for its pizza, Gill continued, adding that the bar that Dominos set for itself was really high, first and foremost psychologically. I bet the majority of Italians wouldnt try Dominos on general principle! And those who did, well... we know how it ended, she said. Im surprised they lasted seven years!

On the other hand, Gill said the criticism of Dominos that shes read by some Italian customers is a bit harsh in that it always ends up calling the product an American abomination, amongst other more colorful terms we wont translate for you. As if there arent also comparably, if not identically awful homegrown pizzas being made and served by Italians to Italians around Italy, she said.

For its part, Dominos did actually have some Italian fans, including one on Twitter who proclaimed they were disappointed that the chain was ceasing operations in Italy. I loved their four cheeses, they tweeted (in Italian, of course).

Ma scusate pero io nera che dominos pizza chiude in tutta Italia. Amavo la loro quattro formaggi   Fred consegne a domicilio (@FredPitalBass) August 8, 2022

Still, Dominos failure in the country can be summed up by the response to that very tweet by another Twitter user, when they said in Italian, Really?

Domino's did not immediately reply to TODAY's request for comment.
Chinas ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office over Beijings aggressive and wide-ranging escalation against Taiwan in recent days.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said she had ordered officials to call in ambassador Zheng Zeguang to explain his countrys actions after US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to the self-governing island.

China responded to the visit  which it saw as a provocation by the US  with a series of missile launches and incursions into Taiwanese waters and air space by its military.

In a statement on Wednesday, Beijing again said it was not prepared to renounce the the use of force to take control of the island, which it has long claimed.

Ms Truss said in a statement: The UK and partners have condemned in the strongest terms Chinas escalation in the region around Taiwan, as seen through our recent G7 statement.

I instructed officials to summon the Chinese ambassador to explain his countrys actions.

(PA Graphics)

We have seen increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, which threaten peace and stability in the region.

The United Kingdom urges China to resolve any differences by peaceful means, without the threat or use of force or coercion.

Taiwan has been self-governing since nationalist forces fled there in 1949 after the communists took control of China, and is considered to be a rebel province by Beijing.

Chinas military exercises, which began on Thursday August 4, have caused extensive disruption to flights and shipping in one of the busiest regions for world trade.

A statement issued by Beijings Taiwan affairs office said China would continue to work with the greatest sincerity to achieve peaceful reunification.

It went on: But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities.

We will always be ready to respond with the use of force or other necessary means to interference by external forces or radical action by separatist elements.

Our ultimate goal is to ensure the prospects of Chinas peaceful reunification and advance this process.
Authorities in Northern California have arrested a 75-year-old Hawaii man in connection with the rape and killing of a teenager in Sunnyvale nearly 40 years ago, using forensic genealogy to zero in on the suspect from his family tree.

Gary Ramirez was arrested Aug. 2 at his home in Makawao on the island of Maui, the Santa Clara County district attorney's office said Tuesday. Once extradited, he will be arraigned on a charge of murder with rape and kidnapping special circumstances, as well as being armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon during the commission of a felony.

Karen Stitt, 15, of Palo Alto was last seen the night of Sept. 2, 1982. She and her 17-year-old boyfriend met at a 7-Eleven shortly before 9 p.m., walked to a miniature golf course and continued on to Ponderosa Elementary School, according to a statement by Sunnyvale Det. Matthew Hutchison.

Hutchison's statement was included with charging documents filed against Ramirez. Stitt's then-boyfriend was not identified.

Around midnight, Stitt's boyfriend walked her from the school back to the area near the convenience store so she could take a bus back to Palo Alto, Hutchison said.

The boyfriend "later told police that he felt bad about leaving her alone, but he did not want to get in trouble with his parents for being home late," according to the statement.

Around 10:45 the next morning, a truck driver discovered what he thought was a female's nude body lying in the bushes at the base of a cinderblock retaining wall along the driveway of the Woolworth Garden Center, where he was making a delivery, Hutchison said.

Stitt's wrists were bound behind her back with her shirt, her jacket was tied around her left ankle, and a blood stain was found on top of the cinderblock wall just above her body.

A medical examiner found that she had been stabbed 59 times in her neck, chest, abdomen and back, Hutchison said. Her cause of death was found to be "stab wounds to the chest and neck."

Stitt's body was found about 100 yards from the bus stop, and investigators noted that leaves and dirt around her feet were disturbed and kicked, "suggesting that she was still alive when her body was moved there," Hutchison said.

An extensive investigation was not able to identify a suspect, and the case went cold for 20 years.

By 2000, DNA analysis technology allowed investigators to build a genetic profile of the suspect from a sample taken of the bloodstain on the cinderblock wall above Stitt, Hutchison said. Swabs taken from the scene as well as items collected from Stitt's body were also sent to the Santa Clara County crime laboratory.

Investigators found that an unknown male's DNA taken from the sample on the wall matched the profile for DNA found on Stitt's jacket and from sperm cells found on vaginal slides taken during her autopsy.

A DNA sample from Stitt's boyfriend at the time did not match, and he was excluded as a suspect, the detective said. No matches were found after comparing the unknown profile to a national DNA crime database.

Hutchison said that in 2021, he received a tip that a male member of the Ramirez family may have killed Stitt, launching his genealogical search.

U.S. census records and other public databases showed that the family lived in Fresno, about 160 miles from Sunnyvale, as early as 1950, according to the detective's statement.

Hutchison found that there were four living Ramirez brothers; further investigation ruled out two of the brothers, and he was not able to conclusively rule out a third, leading him to turn his focus to Gary Ramirez.

In early March, Hutchison used social media to identify Ramirez's daughter, and he "obtained a sample" of her DNA on April 8. Court documents did not say how the detective got the sample.

Investigators found "very strong statistical support" tying DNA from Ramirez's daughter to the unknown male DNA from the Stitt crime scene, the detective said, establishing Ramirez as the prime suspect.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PLA Eastern Theater Command continues joint exercises around Taiwan

Xinhua) 09:12, August 10, 2022

NANJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) continued its joint combat exercises and training on Tuesday in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island.

The exercises mainly focused on joint blockade and joint support operations.

The air force under the theater command deployed multiple batches of warplanes, including early warning aircraft, fighter jets, aerial refueling aircraft and jamming aircraft, to conduct drills on airspace control operations, air-to-air refueling and air-to-sea support.

Drills were also conducted for joint search and rescue, ammunition and materials supply, equipment repairs, and rescue and transfer of the injured.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A 19-year-old camp counselor has been charged after officers say she shot several arrows toward an 8-year-old boy at a Minnesota day camp.

The alleged incident occurred on Wednesday, July 20, at a camp in Minnetrista, a suburb of Minneapolis. The name of the camp was not publicly released.

A charge was filed on Tuesday, Aug. 9, against the camp counselor, identified as McKenzie Kim Stolt. An attorney for Stolt was not provided.

Stolt said in a letter sent home with the 8-year-old that the boy had trouble listening and following directions during the day, according to a criminal complaint. When the boy continued to not follow camp rules, Stolt told him to stand in front of an archery target about 15-20 feet away, police said.

A witness said Stolt picked up a bow and arrow, then began shooting at the boy. The first arrow went through the boys legs and hit the target, and the next one landed on the ground in front of the victim and other children who had gathered near him, police said, citing a witness report.

After the second arrow, several more children went out on onto the range, according to police. (Stolt) then shot two or three more arrows (at the) victim and the other children, who were dancing around when this was occurring.

The final arrow struck the boy in the arm, and he ran off crying, the criminal complaint states. Police said he had a minor injury caused by the arrow.

Stolt said she was intentionally missing the victim and did not mean to strike him with the arrow. She was using arrows that have pointed tips  ones often used for target practice and hunting small game, police said.

(The boy) could have moved but chose not to, and therefore got hurt because of it, the counselor wrote in her letter that went home with the boy, according to police.

Stolt was charged with a misdemeanor count of endangering a child in situation that could cause harm or death, court records show.

Stolt is due in court on Thursday, Aug. 25.

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COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark will send military instructors to Britain to help train Ukrainian soldiers and also offer to train Ukrainian officers on its soil, the Danish defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The announcement preceded a conference in Copenhagen on Thursday when British, Danish and Ukrainian defence ministers are expected to discuss long-term support for Ukraine, including military training, mine clearance and weapons supplies.

"Denmark will support a British-led training project with 130 Danish soldiers and at the same time offer to train Ukrainian soldiers in Denmark," a ministry statement said.

The instructors will provide basic military training, including urban combat and tactical operations, of Ukrainian soldiers with zero to limited military experience, Defence Minister Morten Bodskov told the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark has contributed to both British and Canadian training missions in Ukraine since 2015 and provided weapons and cyber security support to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour in February, the ministry said.

(Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard; editing by Barbara Lewis and Mark Heinrich)
FILE - In this handout photo taken from video and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Aug. 7, 2022, a general view of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in territory under Russian military control, southeastern Ukraine. The Zaporizhzhia plant is in southern Ukraine, near the town of Enerhodar on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling Europe's largest nuclear power plant, stoking international fears of a catastrophe on the continent. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling Europe's largest nuclear power plant, stoking international fears of a catastrophe on the continent. A look at the plant and the situation around it:

EUROPE'S BIGGEST NUCLEAR PLANT

The Zaporizhzhia plant is in southern Ukraine, near the town of Enerhodar on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world.

Built during the Soviet era, it has six reactors with a total capacity of 5,700 megawatts. Three of the reactors are in operation.

Before the war, the plant accounted for about half of the electricity generated by nuclear power in Ukraine. The country has 15 reactors at four active plants, and also is home to the decommissioned Chernobyl plant, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

RUSSIANS TAKE CONTROL

Russian troops overran the plant shortly after invading Ukraine on Feb. 24.

During the fighting in early March, Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged fire near the plant. The skirmishes resulted in a fire at its training complex.

The Russians have left the Ukrainian staff in place to keep the plant operating, and it has continued to supply electricity to government-controlled parts of Ukraine.

The fighting around the plant has fueled fears of a disaster like the one at Chernobyl, where a reactor exploded and spewed deadly radiation, contaminating a vast area in the world's worst nuclear accident.

Russian forces occupied the heavily contaminated Chernobyl site soon after the invasion but handed control back to the Ukrainians after withdrawing from the area at the end of March.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE TRADE ACCUSATIONS

Ukraine has accused Russia of storing troops and weapons at the plant and using its grounds to launch strikes against Ukrainian-controlled territory across the Dnieper. Ukrainian officials and military analysts say Moscow's forces have cynically employed the plant as a shield, knowing that the Ukrainians would be hesitant to fire back.

Russia has denied the accusations and, in turn, accused Ukrainian forces of repeatedly shelling the plant.

A series of attacks on the plant over the past few days has damaged some of its auxiliary equipment but not its reactors, and there has been no threat of a radiation leak, according to Russian authorities.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian shelling of the plant on Sunday caused a power surge and smoke, triggering an emergency shutdown and forcing the staff to lower output from two of the reactors.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the Ukrainian shelling of the plant is "fraught with catastrophic consequences for vast territories, for the entire Europe, while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Ukraine of taking the entire Europe hostage.

Ukrainian officials countered by accusing Russian forces of planting explosives at the plant in preparation for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the region. They also have accused Russia of launching attacks from the plant using Ukrainian workers there as human shields and shelling the place themselves.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian shelling and mining of the plant amount to nuclear blackmail.

Zaporizhzhia Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said that while the reactors are well protected by their thick concrete containment domes, it is impossible to guarantee their safe operation because of the Russian troops' presence. He noted, too, that the storage sites at the plant for spent nuclear fuel are not as well protected as the reactors.

Mark Wenman, a nuclear expert at Londons Imperial College, said the plants reactors are designed to protect against natural disasters and or man-made incidents such as aircraft crashes or reactor accidents.

I do not believe there would be a high probability of a breach of the containment building even if it was accidentally struck by an explosive shell, and even less likely the reactor itself could be damaged by such, he said. He added that the spent fuel is also stored in "very robust steel and concrete containers that are designed to withstand very high-energy impacts.

CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL MONITORING

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Associated Press last week that the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia plant is completely out of control, and he issued an urgent plea to Russia and Ukraine to allow experts to visit the complex to stabilize matters and avoid a nuclear accident.

Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated at the plant, Grossi said. What is at stake is extremely serious and extremely grave and dangerous.

Grossi said the supply chain of equipment and spare parts has been interrupted, so we are not sure the plant is getting all it needs. He noted that the IAEA also needs to perform highly important inspections to ensure that nuclear material is being safeguarded.

Grossi added that there have been instances of friction and reports of violence between the Russians and the Ukrainian staff.

When you put this together, you have a catalog of things that should never be happening in any nuclear facility, Grossi said.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CLASH OVER IAEA VISIT

The IAEA has sought in vain to send an inspection team to the plant for months.

Moscow has said it welcomes a visit to the plant by the IAEA, but it is unclear whether it is ready to actually help arrange such a trip.

Ukraine previously opposed Grossi's visit to the site for as long as it remains under Moscow's control, demanding the Russian military withdraw.

This week, however, Ukrainian officials appeared to warm up to such a trip, with Ukraines ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, urging the U.N. and IAEA to send a delegation to help completely demilitarize the territory and provide security guarantees to plant employees.

____

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Humans could prevent the demise of the worlds largest ice sheet by keeping global warming below a threshold set in the 2015 Paris climate accords, scientists declared on Wednesday.

The worst effects of climate change on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet might be avoidable if temperatures do not rise by more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the researchers revealed in a new study in Nature.

As part of the Paris climate agreement  signed at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference  participating countries agreed to adhere to this limit, with hopes of keeping the increase to an even smaller 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

Staying below the 2 degrees Celsius limit would ensure that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, which holds most of the Earths glacier ice, contributes less than half a meter to sea level rise by the year 2500, according to the scientists.

But if warming continues to surge beyond that threshold, the ice sheet could contribute several meters to sea level rise in just a few centuries, the researchers warned.

The fate of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet remains very much in our hands, lead author Chris Stokes, a geography professor at the United Kingdoms Durham University, said in a statement.

This ice sheet is by far the largest on the planet, containing the equivalent of 52 meters of sea level and its really important that we do not awaken this sleeping giant, he added.

Stokes worked with colleagues from the U.K., the U.S., Australia and France to assess the sensitivity of the ice sheet and examine the potential impacts of different emissions levels and temperatures on the ice sheet by 2100, 2300 and 2500.

Their analysis revealed that if warming persists beyond 2100, then the East Antarctic Ice Sheet could add several meters to global sea level rise over the coming centuries.

This surge would add to the already substantial contributions coming from Greenland and West Antarctica  potentially threatening millions of people worldwide who reside in coastal areas, according to the study.

We used to think East Antarctica was much less vulnerable to climate change, compared to the ice sheets in West Antarctica or Greenland, but we now know there are some areas of East Antarctica that are already showing signs of ice loss, Stokes said.

Satellite observations have revealed evidence of thinning and retreating, especially where glaciers draining the main ice sheet come into contact with warm ocean currents, he added.

While probing the history of the East Antarctica, the scientists said they also identified worrying signs that the ice sheet might be more sensitive than previously assumed.

They found evidence from sea floor sediments indicating that part of the sheet already collapsed and contributed several meters to sea level rise during the mid-Pliocene era, around 3 million years ago. This was also the last time that carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere exceeded todays values, according to the study.

But the researchers stressed that with a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and only a small rise in temperature, humans still have the power to minimize East Antarcticas ice loss.

We now have a very small window of opportunity to rapidly lower our greenhouse gas emissions, limit the rise in global temperatures and preserve the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, co-author Nerilie Abram, a professor at the Australian National Universitys Research School of Earth Sciences, said in a statement.

Taking such action would not only protect the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, but also slow the melting of other major ice sheets such as Greenland and West Antarctica, which are more vulnerable and at higher risk, Abram added. Therefore, its vitally important that countries achieve and strengthen their commitments to the Paris Agreement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Leflore County, Mississippi grand jury determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi grand jury has declined to indict the white woman whose accusation set off the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago, most likely closing the case that shocked a nation and galvanized the modern civil rights movement.

After hearing more than seven hours of testimony from investigators and witnesses, a Leflore County grand jury last week determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter, Leflore County District Attorney Dewayne Richardson said in a news release Tuesday.

The decision comes despite recent revelations about an unserved arrest warrant and the 87-year-old Donhams unpublished memoir.

Carolyn Bryant poses for a 1955 photo. A grand jury in Mississippi has declined to indict the white woman, Carolyn Donham, known as Carolyn Bryant, whose accusation set off the lynching of Black teenager Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago. (AP Photo/Gene Herrick, File)

The Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr., Emmett Tills cousin and the last living witness to Tills Aug. 28, 1955, abduction, said Tuesdays announcement is unfortunate, but predictable.

The prosecutor tried his best, and we appreciate his efforts, but he alone cannot undo hundreds of years of anti-Black systems that guaranteed those who killed Emmett Till would go unpunished, to this day, Parker said in a statement.

The fact remains that the people who abducted, tortured, and murdered Emmett did so in plain sight, and our American justice system was and continues to be set up in such a way that they could not be brought to justice for their heinous crimes.

Ollie Gordon, another one of Tills cousins, told The Associated Press that some justice had been served in the Till case, despite the grand jurys decision.

Justice is not always locking somebody up and throwing the keys away, Gordon said. Ms. Donham has not gone to jail. But in many ways, I dont think shes had a pleasant life. I think each day she wakes up, she has to face the atrocities that have come because of her actions.

A third cousin, Deborah Watts, who leads the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, said the case is an example of the freedom afforded to white women to escape accountability for making false accusations against Black men.

She has still escaped any accountability in this case, Watts said. So the grand jurys decision is disappointing, but were still going to be calling for justice for Emmett Till. Its not over.

An email and voicemail seeking comment from Donhams son Tom Bryant werent immediately returned Tuesday.

In June, a group searching the basement of the Leflore County Courthouse discovered the unserved arrest warrant charging Donham, then-husband Roy Bryant and brother-in-law J.W. Milam in Tills abduction in 1955. While the men were arrested and acquitted on murder charges in Tills subsequent slaying, Donham, 21 at the time, was never taken into custody.

The 14-year-old Chicago boy was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he and some other children went to the store in the town of Money where Carolyn Bryant worked. Relatives told the AP that Till had whistled at the white woman, but denied that he touched her as shed claimed.

In an unpublished memoir obtained last month by the AP, Donham said Milam and her husband brought Till to her in the middle of the night for identification but that she tried to help the youth by denying it was him. She claimed that Till then volunteered that he was the one they were looking for.

Tills battered, disfigured body was found days later in a river, where it was weighted down with a heavy metal fan. The decision by his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, to open Tills casket for his funeral in Chicago demonstrated the horror of what had happened and added fuel to the civil rights movement.

Emmett Till, a 14-year-old from Chicago, was killed while visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi after store Caroyln Bryant Bonham claimed the teen whistled at her and touched her. AP Photo, File)

Following their acquittal, Bryant and Milam admitted to the abduction and killing in an interview with Look magazine. They were not charged with a federal crime, and both have long since died.

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice Department opened an investigation of Tills killing after it received inquiries about whether charges could be brought against anyone still living.

Tills body was exhumed, in part to confirm it was he. A 2005 autopsy found that Till died of a gunshot wound to the head, and that had fractures in his wrist bones, skull and femur.

In 2006, the FBI launched its Cold Case Initiative in an effort to identify and investigate racially-motivated murders. Two years later, Congress passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

The Justice Department said the statute of limitations had run out on any potential federal crime, but the FBI worked with state investigators to determine if state charges could be brought. In February 2007, a Mississippi grand jury declined to indict anyone, and the Justice Department announced it was closing the case.

But federal officials announced last year that they were once again closing their investigation, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she lied to the FBI.

Timothy Tyson, the North Carolina historian who interviewed Donham for his 2017 book, The Blood of Emmett Till, said the newly rediscovered warrant did nothing to appreciably change the concrete evidence against her. But he said the renewed focus on the case should compel Americans to face the racial and economic disparities that still exist here.

The Till case will not go away because the racism and ruthless indifference that created it remain with us, Tyson wrote in an email Tuesday. We see generations of Black children struggle against these obstacles, and many die due to systemic racism that is every bit as lethal as a rope or a revolver.

For Gordon, the renewed attention on the Till case has been a reminder of the social progress it helped spark.

It helps the younger generations identify how far weve come with the many liberties and civil rights that weve gained since Emmetts death, Gordon said. As his mother would say, his death was not in vain.

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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Tuesday said he warned FBI Director Christopher Wray that the recent search of former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence could impact the agencys credibility.

Last nights raid on the home of a former U.S. president without explanation will only further erode confidence in the FBI and the Justice Department, Grassley said in a statement.

The FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ) have not revealed the basis of the search warrant executed Monday at Mar-a-Lago.

If the FBI isnt extraordinarily transparent about its justification for yesterdays actions and committed to rooting out political bias that has infected their most sensitive investigations, they will have sealed their own fate, Grassley said.

The FBI on Tuesday declined to comment on the matter.

Grassleys comments added to the pile of Republican lawmakers urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to release justification for the search.

The top Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley called last week for further transparency from the FBI on a number of issues, including the handling of politically sensitive investigations and the management of its employees, in a committee hearing on FBI oversight.

Transparency brings accountability & if the FBI & DOJ arent transparent about raiding a former presidents home they risk further damaging their credibility Ive already raised issues from whistleblowers abt political bias in investigations so weve got a right 2b skeptical, Grassley posted on Twitter on Tuesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Women protest outside a courthouse in Krugersdorp, South Africa, where more than 80 men suspected of a gang rape appeared in court. (Shiraaz Mohamed / Associated Press)

The gang rape of eight women  allegedly by illegal miners  has transfixed South Africa and encapsulated numerous evils plaguing this society all at once.

The victims were models taping a program at a mining location when attacked. More than 100 men have been arrested in the assault, although not all charged. Many are from neighboring countries and are in South Africa without proper documentation, police say.

Women activists must be turning over in their graves, said Sophia Williams de-Bruyn, a veteran advocate who has been fighting violence against women for decades. Tuesday was a holiday here marking an anti-apartheid march undertaken by brave women 66 years ago, a touchstone in the struggle for women's rights.

The scourge of rape has long been one of South Africas post-apartheid crimes that human rights groups and law enforcement agencies have confronted unendingly. The United Nations says the incidence of rape in South Africa is among the highest in the world; local media say there are on average about 110 rapes a day in the country.

And now, the alleged culprits are said to be part of another scourge  miners who have entered the country illegally and are involved in illicit extraction of gold and other precious minerals from shuttered mines in precarious circumstances without safety measures or environmental protection.

There is even a name for them: zama zamas, a Zulu colloquial term meaning to persevere, to keep at it. Illegal miners who take advantage of South Africa's lax regulation for mineral exploitation and who work under the radar.

Residents attribute rampant crime in local communities over the last few years to the influx of illegal miners  "a situation that law enforcement officials seem unable or unwilling to control, wrote Tracy-Lynn Field, an environmental law professor at the University of Witwatersrand, in an opinion piece for the Star newspaper. An illegal and unregulated gold mining industry, among the most lucrative and violent on the African continent, has taken root.

South African regulations do not recognize small-scale mining, she said, so that those working in the field operate in a lawless environment.

In retaliation for the gang rape, groups of residents torched shacks belonging to the zama zamas. One person was reported killed. Senior government officials said the illegal miners were likely from Mozambique, Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Women activists lamented that a form of xenophobia threatened to overshadow the egregious violence against women. Tuesday's holiday was a moment to debate gender-based violence, including rape, murder and child abuse.

The rape of the eight women occurred in late July near a mining camp, police said. The women were filming a music video when masked, armed men attacked, police said. It was not clear how many alleged assailants participated, but 80 went on trial this month.

Amanda Gouws, a professor of political science and researcher in gender politics at Stellenbosch University, said that rape is "endemic and systematic" in South Africa but that authorities show an egregious lack of understanding of the crime. She said authorities "individualize" rape  blaming it on a handful of men instead of examining the underlying violence, sexist attitudes and sick pursuit of power.

"The response from the police  as well as the governing African National Congress (ANC)  underscores the failure to appreciate the systemic nature of the problem," Gouws wrote in the aftermath of the gang rape. As an example, she pointed to an ANC proposal to chemically castrate convicted rapists, which she called a punishment that may be harsh but does not address the violent nature of the crime.

On Tuesday, women and others showed up at several demonstrations around Johannesburg and Pretoria waving signs with slogans such as "My body is not your crime scene."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, in South Africa as part of a swing through sub-Saharan Africa, used the holiday to visit the country's premier medical research institute where 60% of scientists, doctors and other staff are women. He said the promotion of women in groundbreaking science and medicine programs represented "hope" for South Africa.

"We see literally life-changing results," he said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Lees Summit Parks and Recreation Department issued a public apology Tuesday afternoon to a Black family who says they were racially profiled and discriminated against after their private party at a city-run water park was suddenly canceled over the weekend.

In a statement, parks officials said they were aware of a disturbing social media post made by a part-time lifeguard in response to the familys frustration of not being able to access the Summit Waves Aquatic Facility, which is run by the parks department.

Parks officials also referenced other inappropriate and insensitive language used by staff and said appropriate measures were being taken to correct them.

A sincere apology is owed to the Evans family and our Lees Summit community, officials said in the statement. (Lees Summit Parks and Recreation) strives to be a respectful and inclusive organization where all members of our community feel welcome and appreciated. Inappropriate language, social media posts and behavior are not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

At issue is the cancellation of a 17-year-olds birthday party that was scheduled to be held Saturday in the suburban water park after his family arranged the get-together in early July. Chris Evans, the teens father, says his sons and their party guests were denied access to the park on the day of the planned event for no apparent reason other than the color of their skin.

In what has become a widely-seen post on the social media platform TikTok, Evans was seen speaking with a park official as a Lees Summit police officer stood by. In the video, Evans asks why the park would be uncomfortable hosting, repeating a term she used in informing the guests that they would not be allowed to enter.

The encounter has since thrown a national spotlight on the suburban Kansas City community. It also caught the attention of local officials, including Lees Summit Mayor William Baird, who called for the parks department to investigate.

Parks officials said an investigation of the incident was completed Tuesday. The city maintained that the event was officially canceled less than three hours beforehand because of concerns that the event was going to be too large for security to handle.

Findings from that investigation showed the rental agreement was entered on July 8 with a maximum capacity of 250 guests. Between ten and 15 people were to be there as chaperones as part of the agreement. Part of that rental agreement also forbid advertising the event on social media, a policy described by the parks department as a standard one because of the potential to result in insufficient staffing and security.

On Aug. 4, Summit Waves staff saw a social media post advertising an event called Splash Blast 2 scheduled to take place between 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the park. Calls were made and messages left with the party organizers over the next two days to inquire about the event that went unreturned, the investigation found.

More than a dozen calls were made to Summit Waves by others inquiring about the event on its scheduled date, officials say. Ultimately the park decided to cancel the party at 5 p.m. Saturday. Contact was first made with renters roughly 30 minutes later, according to the city, and guests were again informed of the cancellation as they began arriving around 6:15 p.m.

Under the rental agreement, the Evans family was required to pay for security to monitor the event, provided by Lees Summit police or the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. During its review, the city also found that staff failed to arrange any security for the party as required.

According to the city, the Evans family was offered a refund this week along with repayment of the cost of other expenses incurred by the family outside of rental fees.

Moving forward, parks officials say they intend to complete a comprehensive review of the rental process and enhance training to align with the Citys diversity and inclusion efforts.

Earlier Tuesday, the Evans family gathered at the Kansas City law office of Krigel and Krigel, attorneys hired to represent them, for a press conference to discuss the events of that day. Chris Evans said he hopes Lees Summit would make changes to its employee policies, that the Kansas City community may learn and progress from the incident, and that his family will ultimately be able to heal.

My family has to be OK, Evans said. Other Black families have to be OK.
Former national security adviser John Bolton discusses the "current threats to national security" at Duke University in February 2020. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images)

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser John Bolton were both targeted in an Iranian assassination plot, a source close to Pompeo told Yahoo News.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department charged a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in connection with a plot to murder Bolton, who was part of the Trump administration. The charging documents unsealed on Wednesday reference an unnamed second target, referred to as a former senior high-ranking Trump administration official.

A source close to Pompeo told Yahoo News that Pompeo is the unnamed second target. The Justice Department reached out to the former secretary of state last week to notify him of the plot and upcoming charges unsealed on Wednesday, the source said.

The DOJ declined to comment.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 25. (Octavio Jones/Reuters)

The source close to Pompeo also told Yahoo News that his decision whether to run for president in 2024 will be influenced by Iran and China.

He is the one most at risk, because of his frequent travel and because of his potential run in 2024, the source said.

Yahoo News previously reported that the U.S. government believes Iran wants to assassinate current and former U.S. officials, including Pompeo, to avenge the January 2020 death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. The strike was ordered by then-President Donald Trump.

Protesters in Tehran hold up an image of Qassem Soleimani at a demonstration after the U.S. airstrike on Jan. 3, 2020, that killed him. (Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The charging documents accuse a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Shahram Poursafi, aka Mehdi Rezayi, of trying to pay someone $300,000 to kill Bolton. He allegedly also discussed paying $1 million to kill another target, whom Yahoo News has identified as Pompeo.

Pursuing this second target, the high-ranking Trump official, would be difficult because of the number of people around him, Poursafi said, according to court documents.

But his/her time will come, he said. The source close to Pompeo said this is also a reference to Pompeo.

If Mike Pompeo decides to run for president or doesnt decide to run for president, it wont be anyone in the United States who keeps him from running, it will be the Chinese or Iranians, the source close to Pompeo said.
A third boarding school in southwest Missouri, led by a former long-time staffer of the embattled Agape Boarding School, has closed, according to past students who have communicated with that owner.

Legacy Academy Adventures, which opened in May 2020, served boys ages 9 to 15. Owner Brent Jackson left Agape in 2018 after working there for 18 years, including time as the schools dean of students.

Yes, it is closed, Jackson told two of his former students  James Griffey and Josh Bradney  in Facebook messages in recent days shared with The Star.

The closure leaves Agape Boarding School  where five staffers currently face low-level felony charges alleging that they assaulted students  as the only unlicensed Christian boarding school remaining in Cedar County, where there once were four. Schools like these often operate under the radar in secluded, rural areas of the state.

Emails sent from The Star to Jacksons personal email address were returned undelivered. Jackson hasnt responded to another message sent through Facebook or to another account associated with him. He also hasnt responded to a voicemail left Monday morning.

A Google listing says the school is permanently closed, and the schools website, Facebook page and Instagram account are no longer in operation.

Originally we had hoped to have a program for younger guys (ages 9-14 who were just starting to have trouble and were wanting help) where we could help them from ending up at places like agape, Jackson wrote to the two former students he supervised at Agape.

Overall, it was positive to work in a ministry that actually had the young mans interest at heart but we are definitely ready to move on to whats next.

Griffey, 39, of southern California, told The Star he received the message on Thursday after he contacted Jackson and asked if rumors hed been hearing about the school being closed were true. Bradney, 20, also from California, said he received the message from Jackson on Saturday after inquiring about the schools status.

Im glad Missouri is becoming a safer place and people are realizing that these schools shouldnt be open and that more people are speaking out, said Bradney, one of 19 former Agape students who have lawsuits pending against that school.

Two years ago, before allegations of abuse surfaced at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, there were four unlicensed Christian boarding schools operating in rural Cedar County. Now there is just Agape.

Circle of Hope Girls Ranch near Humansville closed in September 2020 after authorities removed the more than 20 students amid an investigation into abuse allegations against owners Boyd and Stephanie Householder. The Householders were charged last year with nearly 100 felony counts of abuse, including statutory sodomy, rape, physical abuse and neglect.

And Wings of Faith Academy near Stockton, a Christian boarding school for girls, closed on June 1 after 18 years in Cedar County. It was considered a sister school to Agape.

The Star has interviewed more than 70 former Agape students as part of an investigation into the states unlicensed boarding schools. Those students attended the school over a period spanning nearly three decades. The men shared emotional descriptions of beatings, long days of manual labor, food and water withheld as punishment, excruciating physical restraints and constant berating and mind games.

Numerous students who spent time at Agape told The Star that Jackson was among the top staffers who was verbally and physically abusive at times. At least one student said Jackson apologized to him years later about the abuse he said he suffered at the school.

The recent closings come as religious boarding schools in Missouri, which for nearly four decades were exempt from state oversight, have been under increased scrutiny. Prompted by The Stars stories of abuse at several of the states unlicensed boarding schools, the General Assembly passed a measure last year that for the first time gave the state oversight over these facilities.

Jackson opened Legacy Boys Academy for the purpose of training up Godly young boys, according to the schools former website.

Its mission, according to the site: To influence, instruct and inspire young men who are struggling with emotional, behavioral and educational issues.

Jackson changed the schools name to Legacy Academy Adventures on Aug. 2, 2021, corporation records show.

The school was originally located in a rural area between Stockton and Jerico Springs in Cedar County on property owned by David Smock, a local doctor who for years provided medical care to Agape students. Smock came to Missouri from Arizona and in 2006 built an 11-bedroom mansion with an indoor pool and gymnasium on the property at 6360 E. 1570 Road, which he used as his home and business addresses.

Prosecutors in two southwest Missouri counties charged Smock in December with numerous child sex crimes. The charges against Smock came three months after five staffers at Agape Boarding School were charged with assaulting students. One of the defendants, Seth Duncan, is Smocks son-in-law. And at the time the charges were filed against them, court records showed, Duncan and Agape staffer Trent Hartman listed the address of Smocks mansion as their home. Hartman has since moved to Colorado, court records show.

Both Agape officials and Jackson tried to distance themselves from Smock after he was charged. In an email to The Star in late December, Jackson said the academy had leased a portion of a building as well as a portion of property to start our program but was not directly involved with Dr. Smock.

But photos posted on Legacys Facebook page  now taken down  showed images of inside and outside the mansion, including the kitchen, gym and swimming pool.

Jackson told The Star that the academy had been completely removed from that property since September 30 of 2020. The state investigation into Smock began about a week later. To my knowledge, not one of our students were ever even in the presence of Dr. David Smock, Jackson said in the email.

Both myself and Legacy Academy Adventures welcome a high level of transparency, accountability as well as safety and security for the young people and their parents that we are privileged to work with, Jackson said. We want the children to be safe and happy and well taken care of.

Jackson also serves as senior pastor at Liberty Baptist Church of Lamar, Missouri  which, like Agape Baptist, is an independent fundamental Baptist church. IFB churches teach followers to separate themselves from worldly influence.
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The August primaries continued Tuesday as Democrats looked to maintain momentum in Wisconsin.

Since 2016, when Donald Trump pierced the state's "blue wall" by defeating Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, Democrats have bounced back, collecting a string of victories: Tony Evers was elected governor, Sen. Tammy Baldwin secured reelection and Joe Biden won in 2020.

Aiming to add to that tally, Democrats nominated Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes in their attempt to unseat Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in a race that could determine who controls the upper chamber next year.

A spokesperson for Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., says he was unaware of an exchange between his staff and that of Vice President Mike Pence on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump's tug-of-war with other top Republicans continued in the gubernatorial primary, in which he supported Tim Michels, a wealthy pipeline construction executive, against former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence.

In Minnesota, one of the six left-wing representatives who declared themselves "the Squad" in Congress had a close contest in the Democratic primary that could rattle liberals who've leaned into efforts to defund police.

Vermont voters will replace longtime Sen. Patrick Leahy, who will retire after serving roughly 50 years. The Green Mountain State could send its first woman to Congress.

Here are the main takeaways from Tuesday's primaries:

Wisconsin Senate showdown

Barnes coasted to victory Tuesday after three of his chief opponents dropped out of the primary in the final weeks of the race.

Once those rivals endorsed Barnes, he launched attacks against Johnson, whom Democrats hope could be one of the few vulnerable GOP incumbents on the 2022 map.

Mandela Barnes cast his vote Aug. 9 at GreenTree Preparatory Academy in Milwaukee. Barnes is the Democratic candidate running for U.S. Senate.

The states first Black lieutenant governor, Barnes, 35, wants to be its first Black senator. He has run as a liberal focusing on jobs.

"The days of Ron Johnson and the GOP leaving people behind are over," Barnes tweeted Aug. 9. "Change is coming, and the future will work for working people. We will make sure of it."

The days of Ron Johnson and the GOP leaving people behind are over.



Change is coming, and the future will work for working people. We will make sure of it.  Mandela Barnes (@TheOtherMandela) August 9, 2022

Republicans are likely to focus on Barnes' comments in support of grassroots movements that called for defunding police and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Johnson described Barnes as the "most radical left candidate" in the primary.

"Regardless of how Mandela Barnes and his allies in the mainstream media attempt to paint his views, Wisconsinites should not believe a word they say," the senator said Tuesday.

Johnson's favorability rating dropped to 37% in June, according to the most recent Marquette Law School Poll.

'It happened very quickly':The inside story of how the Wisconsin Senate primary broke for Mandela Barnes

More: Sen. Ron Johnson is poised to win Tuesday's primary. His chances in November look rocky

Once again, Trump vs. Pence

Trump and Pence have been at odds in Republican primaries this year, and their cold war played out again in Wisconsins primary.

The two former running mates locked horns over the GOP nominee for governor: Businessman Michels defeated Kleefisch.

Trump has a grudge against the Wisconsin Republican establishment over its lack of enthusiasm in helping him overturn the 2020 election.

The former president endorsed Michels, a construction executive who made his first bid for public office this year.

Donald Trump split from his vice president, Mike Pence, after their election loss.

Kleefisch had the backing of Pence and other prominent Wisconsin GOP leaders, including former Gov. Scott Walker.

Michels will face Democratic incumbent Evers in the fall election.

Wisconsin speaker survives Trump

Trump didn't get everything he wanted out of Wisconsin.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos defeated challenger Adam Steen, who was endorsed by the former president, in the GOP primary.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos describes a Republican bill to end a $300 unemployment supplemental payment on May 18, 2021, in Madison, Wis.

Vos angered Trump after refusing his demands to have the state Legislature decertify the 2020 election results in Wisconsin, which Biden won by about 21,000 votes.

"As a conservative, I believe in upholding the constitution," Vos said in a statement before the primary. "That's why I won't take the impossible step to overturn the 2020 election. My opponent is singularly focused on winning this primary so he can overturn the 2020 election."

Leahy's successor

Rep. Peter Welch, the favorite to win the Democratic Senate primary, secured the nomination within an hour of polls closing in Vermont.

Its been a privilege to serve Vermonters in Congress for 16 years, and Im honored to be your nominee for U.S. Senate.



There's so much on the line in November. Let's do this together. pic.twitter.com/2YpRyZNqm9  Peter Welch (@WelchForVT) August 9, 2022

Welch, an eight-term congressman, is running to succeed Leahy.

Vermont on the cusp of history

Leahy's retirement could open the door to history.Since Welch is running for the Senate, the Green Mountain State's lone congressional seat has no incumbent for the first time since 2006.

Despite its liberal reputation, Vermont is the lone state that hasn't had a woman represent it in Congress. That will probably change this fall.

In the Democratic primary to fill the at-large House seat, state Sen. Becca Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is set to retire.

The two had few differences on issues or policy, but the contest represented a joust between Vermont's two senators and their respective wings of the party.

Balint, the more liberal candidate, was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders while Gray was supported by Leahy.

White House: Biden was not aware of FBI search on Trump's Mar-a-Lago

More: McConnell says country deserves explanation after Mar-a-Lago search

Omar barely beats pro-police rival

A member of the crew of left-leaning House Democrats who call themselves "the Squad" had a much tighter race than she might have expected.

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has been one of the more outspoken lawmakers demanding police policy changes in the state where George Floyd was murdered by Minneapolis law enforcement officers in 2020.

Last week Congress had the opportunity to pass bills that better fund and better train local police departments to protect and respect their communities. It failed to pass this timeBut Don will make sure it does next time!

Don Samuels stands for public safety. pic.twitter.com/FAOo4fWrdE  Don Samuels (@DonSamuelsMN) August 8, 2022

Omar drew a primary challenge from fellow Democrat Don Samuels, a former Minneapolis City Council member, who ran heavily on putting more money toward police to combat rising crime.

Samuels, who grabbed a late election endorsement from Mayor Jacob Frey, focused on his role in defeating a Minneapolis ballot initiative that tried to replace the police department with a public safety agency.

Democrat Ilhan Omar hopes to retain her seat as representative for Minnesota's 5th Congressional District.

It was a nail-biter for most of Tuesday evening, but Omar won by roughly 2,500 votes. That was much closer than her 2020 reelection primary, which she won by a little more than 35,000.

Omar did not waver during the campaign from her support for cutting police budgets to fund anti-violence and social programs to lower crime.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Primary takeaways: Omar squeaks by in Minnesota; Trump wins proxy war
The axing of the insulin cap provision in the Senates budget reconciliation deal would leave millions of people scrambling to cover exorbitant out-of-pocket prices for the diabetes medication. Patient advocates were disappointed with Sundays vote  Republican senators blocked the $35 insulin cap for private insurers  and expressed hope that federal and state measures could be included in legislation down the road.

Clayton McCook of Edmond, Oklahoma, is among those who support capping the cost of insulin for people with private health insurance. His 14-year-old daughter, Lily, has Type 1 diabetes and needs insulin every day to stay alive.

A federal insulin cap for private insurance would have made a huge difference to our family, he said. The price of insulin is a tremendous stress.

About 53% of the public is in favor of Congress taking action to cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin, according to a recent poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

A separate analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 1 in 5 insulin users on private health insurance pay more than $35 per month  or $420 a year  for the lifesaving medication. Patients usually need to buy multiple vials a month to maintain their health, which can sometimes cause costs to skyrocket.

Insulin is too expensive for too many people with diabetes, said Dr. Robert Gabbay, the chief scientist for the American Diabetes Association, an advocacy group for patients with diabetes.

All is not lost for people who struggle to cover the cost of insulin, but new legislation could still be years away, experts say.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., vowed to bring the measure back up for a vote this fall.

They blocked a $35 price for insulin for non-Medicare people, Schumer told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow on Monday. Were going to come back and make them vote on that again."

And Sherry Glied, the dean of New York Universitys Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, noted that Congress can always change its mind."

The final version of the Senate bill did leave in a $35 monthly cap on insulin for people 65 and older on Medicare. The bill would also allow the federal government to negotiate lower drug prices on behalf of Medicare, a measure that members of Congress have debated for decades.

Some ideas take years to make their way into law but get there, said Tricia Neuman, a Medicare expert with the Kaiser Family Foundation. Neuman co-authored a report published last month that detailed how the Senate's reconciliation bill could affect both people on Medicare and people on private insurance.

She said that whether a provision succeeds largely depends on who the sitting president is, as well as the composition of Congress.

This year, with an evenly divided Senate, the insulin cap for people with private insurance didnt secure enough votes, Neuman said. That may not always be the case.

McCook works as a veterinarian, and he is able to get his daughter insulin through his employee health insurance, but not before he shells out the $6,000 a year his plan requires before his insurance begins to pay.

Oklahoma is among the 22 or so states that have passed laws that cap copayments for insulin, but McCook noted that several of the state laws cover only people with state-issued health insurance plans. Experts are hopeful policies can be changed to include employment-based insurance plans.

Experts say the price of insulin a more than 100-year-old medication  has remained high over the years because of the combination of an increasingly complicated supply chain and evergreening, a process in which drug companies make incremental improvements to their products that can extend the lives of their patents.

A study published last month in the journal Health Affairs found that 14% of people who use insulin in the U.S. face what is described as a catastrophic level of spending on the medication, meaning that after they pay for other essentials, such as food and housing, they spend at least 40% of their remaining income on insulin.

Other groups have pushed for policies that would have states provide emergency 30-day supplies of insulin to patients for $35. Such a bill, called the Alec Smith Insulin Affordability Act, has already been signed into law in Minnesota.

McCook also advocated for changes besides a cap on insulin costs, saying Congress pass legislation that would lower the list price.

The reconciliation budget "would have helped us, but it still leaves a lot of people out," he said, noting that the provision wouldn't help those who are uninsured.

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An engineer with the Hungarian Oil and Gas Company checks a pipeline at a refinery south of Budapest. (Bela Szandelszky / Associated Press)

Oil shipments from Russia through a critical pipeline to several European countries should resume soon after a problem over payments for the transit was resolved, Slovakias economy minister said Wednesday.

Russian state pipeline operator Transneft said Tuesday that it had halted shipments through the southern branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which flows through Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.

Transneft cited complications from European Union sanctions as the reason for the Aug. 4 stoppage, saying its payment to the companys Ukrainian counterpart was refused.

The Slovakian economy minister, Richard Sulik, said the payments would be made Wednesday by Slovak refiner Slovnaft after both the Russian and Ukrainian sides agreed to the solution. Slovnaft is owned by Hungarys MOL energy group.

I expect the oil shipments to resume in hours, Sulik said.

Slovakia receives practically all its oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Sulik said the payment is worth up to $10.2 million.

He said his country would work on a long-term solution to the payment problem, which he said was caused by the refusal of an unnamed bank in Western Europe to transfer the money because of the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

I wouldnt look for a political context behind it  theres none, Sulik said.

The northern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus to Poland and Germany, was unaffected, Transneft said.

EU leaders agreed in May to embargo most Russian oil imports by the end of the year as part of the blocs sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

The embargo covers Russian oil brought in by sea but allowed temporary Druzhba pipeline shipments to Hungary and certain other landlocked countries in Central Europe, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Russia has curtailed natural gas shipments to Europe after most countries refused to abide by Russian President Vladimir Putins wartime order requiring payments in rubles instead of dollars or euros.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, told a news conference Tuesday that the arrest brought "an incredible sigh of relief" from the Muslim community. At right is Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis / Associated Press)

After he was detained by New Mexico police, the suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community  and told authorities he was so unnerved by the violence that he was driving to Houston in search of a new home for his family, court documents said.

The documents made public Tuesday night in a criminal complaint said Muhammad Syed, 51, had clothing, shoes and a handgun in his car when he was arrested Monday during a traffic stop more than 100 miles from his Albuquerque home.

Investigators determined that bullet casings found in Syed's car matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at those crime scenes were linked to a gun found at Syeds home, the criminal complaint said.

Syed, an Afghan immigrant, told detectives with assistance from a Pashto interpreter that he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, the complaint said. He also denied any involvement in the killings during the interview with detectives, according to the complaint.

The ambush killings of the four Muslim men in different outdoor locations around Albuquerque sent fear rippling through the Muslim community of New Mexico's largest city but generated tips that led to the arrest of Syed, who knew the victims, authorities said.

He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors planned to ask that he be held without bail pending trial, and court documents did not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Following the arrest, Albuquerque's Muslim community breathed an incredible sigh of relief, said Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. Lives have been turned upside down.

The first killing last November was followed by three more between July 26 and Aug. 5.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes, serial killings or both.

Syed had lived in the United States for about five years, police said.

The offender knew the victims to some extent, and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings, a police statement said, although investigators were still working to identify how they had crossed paths.

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said, Motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

Assed acknowledged that there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of Syed, who occasionally attended the centers mosque.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syeds daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents. The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges.

Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

The Albuquerque slayings drew the attention of President Biden, who said such attacks have no place in America. They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

There is no justification for this evil. There is no justification to take an innocent life," Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, said at a Tuesday news conference in Washington.

He called the killings deranged behavior."

The first of the victims, in November, was Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, said he was a generous, kind, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us forever.

Investigators consider Syed the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

The announcement that the shootings appeared to be linked produced more than 200 tips, including one from the Muslim community that police credited with leading them to the Syed family.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

Syeds sons were questioned and released, according to authorities.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
When a Midlands high school was the target of threats earlier this week, the Kershaw County sheriff said his office moved fast and determined the posts on social media were not valid.

Sheriff Lee Boan said an investigation showed Mondays threats targeting Lugoff-Elgin High School were made by a 15-year-old male in Hawaii.

After dealing with jurisdictional issues, on Thursday the sheriffs office said law enforcement officers made contact with the teenager in Hawaii.

No arrests have been reported, but both the FBI and the Honolulu Police Department showed up to the teenagers home, according to the Kershaw County sheriffs office. Honolulu police are leading the investigation, and the teen could face prosecution in Hawaii, the sheriffs office said.

He thought he was making funny pranks, the sheriffs office said.

In addition to the investigation, the sheriffs office said the fake account used to issue the school threats was shut down. On Wednesday, Boan voiced frustration that the account was active at that time.

Why the account is still up, I dont know? Boan said Wednesday. Weve reported it multiple times, its a fake account and its making threats. We dont own Instagram, so we cant tell Instagram what to do.

Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan

That teenager in Hawaii created a fake account using the identity of a real student in Kershaw County, according to Boan. The teenagers had been chatting on the phone, Boan said.

But the Kershaw County student was one of the people to immediately call the sheriffs office and report the threats that first went online at about 4:15 p.m. Monday, according to Boan. The Midlands teen wanted to let law enforcement officers know someone was getting ready to use his name to put out false school threats, the sheriff said.

Deputies went to the students home, and after a search Boan said no guns were found, nor were any devices that connect the student to the posts with the threats.

The Midlands student told deputies that in a recent conversation, the teen in Hawaii told him that Im getting ready to post the threats, according to the sheriff.

There was no word on a motive for the threats.

Some of the threats were posted while deputies were at the students house, according to Boan.

At that point we come to the conclusion that this is a fake account using his identity, Boan said.

In the first six hours after the threats were made, Boan said investigators were able to track the fake account to Hawaii, where all the posts were being generated.

Making an arrest has not been as simple.

If this was a threat made in our county, I pretty much guarantee you we would be inside that house and we would have that device in our hands and the person making threats in custody, Boan said. Because of where hes at, in Hawaii over 4,500 miles away we dont have that luxury in this case.

In addition to the sheriffs office, FBI and Honolulu police, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division assisted in the investigation, according to Boan.

In another odd turn, Boan said this is not the first time this Midlands students identity has been used on a fake account issuing threats.

Hes had multiple incidents in the past where for some reason fake accounts are being created with his name on it and school threats are going out, Boan said. Were still working on why thats happening.
The former chief of the Justice Departments national security division said Tuesday that the FBI warrant for the search of Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Fla., suggests prosecutors believe they have probable cause that there may have been violations of the World War I-era Espionage Act.

That law has traditionally been used to target government leakers, such as former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. But it also actually has provisions that apply to essentially the mishandling [of classified material] through gross negligence, permitting documents to be removed from their proper place, or to be lost, stolen or destroyed, Mary McCord, a veteran federal prosecutor who headed DOJs national security division in the closing years of the Obama administration, told the Yahoo News Skullduggery podcast.

McCord said that the Espionage Act is one of two federal crimes that prosecutors may be focusing on in their warrant to search Trumps home. The other, she said, is another federal statute that targets anyone who willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies or destroys public records.

McCord noted that the decision to search Trumps home could only have been conducted with the approval of a federal judge based on an affidavit from the FBI that there was evidence of a crime at Mar-a-Lago at the time of the search.

So it couldnt be, We thought the stuff was there a year ago, but not now. It would have to be probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime exists in that location at that time, McCord said. And that means that the Department of Justice, probably at the highest levels, probably all the way up to the attorney general, agreed that this was a step that was not only legally supportable, but also important to take.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hilton Anatole on Aug. 6 in Dallas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

One factor that McCord suggested would be on the minds of DOJ national security lawyers is what Trump might have done with the highly classified material that was still believed to be at Mar-a-Lago. Are we worried that some of this information would actually be shared outside of Mar-a-Lago, potentially with foreign adversaries? Id be really concerned about that, she said.

What follows is an edited conversation of the interview with McCord conducted by Skullduggery co-hosts Michael Isikoff, Daniel Klaidman and Victoria Bassetti.

Isikoff: So rather striking news last night that the FBI has raided the home of the former president of the United States. And according to Trump, broke into his safe. What do you make of this?

McCord: First, I would quarrel with two terms you just used. "Raid" and "broke into his safe."

Isikoff: I said, "according to Trump."

McCord: OK, fair enough. Because this was of course a court-authorized search warrant that would've had to have included the safe within the terms of the search warrant. It's a very overt step for the FBI to actually execute a search warrant that signals to the whole world that they had probable cause  that a federal judge agreed with  to believe that the evidence of a crime would be located in the premises to be searched at the time it was searched. So it couldn't be, "We thought the stuff was there a year ago, but not now." It would have to be probable cause to believe that evidence of a crime exists in that location at that time. And that means that the Department of Justice, probably at the highest levels, probably all the way up to the attorney general, agreed that this was a step that was not only legally supportable, but also important to take.

U.S. Secret Service and Mar-A-Lago security staff at the entrance of former President Donald Trump's house at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Isikoff: What are the potential crimes here?

McCord: There's a variety of different possible crimes, but I think the two that are probably worth focusing the most on are 18 USC 2071. This really applies to any federal government employee who, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies or destroys public records, right? Records that are public records. Another potential crime is actually under the Espionage Act, which is 18 USC 793. And that actually has provisions that apply to essentially the mishandling through gross negligence, permitting documents to be removed from their proper place, or to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. There's also conspiracy provisions within that 18 USC 793. But certainly gross negligence could be proved by willfulness, because that would be even beyond gross negligence.

Klaidman: Does that suggest possibly that they had information that there was some kind of obstruction going on?

McCord: I think one of the things that is significant here to me is the fact that after it was revealed, however many months ago, that documents had been taken, presidential records had been taken to Mar-a-Lago, 15 boxes were returned [to the National Archives], right? This is a result of consultations with the archivist. Because even if [the removal of the documents] was all an accident, it's been called to the president's attention. Its been called to the president's lawyers' attention. There was an actual collaborative effort to round up the documents, the presidential records that had been mistakenly taken, and then return them. But this idea that, "Oh, it was a mistake." He [Trump] doesn't really have that anymore. I think that's significant because it shows, "OK. You had your chance. You argue mistake. The department obviously has probable cause to believe you still have documents." And so, the question is why. Right?

Bassetti: The New York Times is reporting that in June, multiple officials from the Department of Justice, including the chief of counter-intelligence and export control [Jay Bratt] visited Mar-a-Lago to check the documents, and see where some of them were being stored. What does it tell you that someone at that rank, and in that position, went to Mar-a-Lago?

Then Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary McCord at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., in 2017. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

McCord: So I do think it's significant. I mean, that's the litigating division within Department of Justice that investigates mishandling of classified information. And the fact that we have a national security division lawyer such as Jay Bratt, the head of counterintelligence and export control, does mean that we're talking about national security implications, not simply presidential records that aren't classified.

Bassetti: When you were the head of the national security division, what sort of evidence would you have wanted to see before you would have signed off on a search warrant of a potential suspect?

McCord: So I think what you're really asking is what prudential concerns would go into it, particularly in a sensitive case like this, where we're talking about a former president. And there's also prudential concerns about danger to national security. I would also be thinking down the line, am I going to be able to make a case in court? Because is the national defense information so sensitive that the equity holder, the national security agency whose information it is, is never going to let me put it in court, is never going to say to me, "It's OK, prosecutor, to prove up that this is national defense information." The very nature of which means it would cause substantial damage to U.S. national security, if it were disclosed. Admitting that is actually admitting to things that sometimes our national security agencies don't want to admit to. So there's all kinds of prudential things you'd be looking at in terms of the former president. That's what's unprecedented here. And so it would be more than just you have probable cause. It would be, "Where are we going from here? If we find the things we're going to find, are we going to be seeking an indictment from this? What are the different things to weigh?" To me, that would depend on how significant are the documents, right? How sensitive is the national security information? Are we worried that some of this information would actually be shared outside of Mar-a-Lago, potentially with foreign adversaries? I'd be really concerned about that.

Former President Donald Trump's residence Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Isikoff: I asked you before about Justice Department precedents for cases such as this, and the one that leaps to mind is Sandy Berger, who was Bill Clinton's national security adviser, and then after he leaves office, he goes into the National Archives while he was preparing for his testimony before the 9/11 commission, and outright helps himself to classified documents, stuffs them in his socks and his pants, and gets caught red-handed. He gets prosecuted. He doesn't get prison time, he gets fined and community service, gives up his law license. And there's some other cases of just outright theft by people who just take bucketloads of old Civil War documents from the archives, and try to use them for financial purposes. Those are cases that clearly meet the willfulness standard that you're talking about. But it's hard for me to see a set of circumstances involving Trump that meets that kind of standard here.

McCord: This is where I pointed out the whole background history here, right? Of being put on notice that there were documents missing from the archives. His own attorneys, and his own consultants, packaging up 15 boxes, in coordination with the archivist about the missing records, and sending them back. I'm sure his own attorneys advised him of what the laws are, and it was widely reported  many, many lawyers and others talking about what the laws are that prohibit the taking of presidential records, and certainly prohibit them as handling of classified information. So you know, I can tell a tale here that wouldn't sound that much different than stuffing [classified documents] into your pockets. You're put on notice that you may have classified information that needs to be returned, and then you make some decisions about what to keep and not return. I don't know that that's so much different than going into the archives and walking out with [documents]. You have now taken what you've been told is not yours to take.
Wildfires rage in France, thousands evacuated from homes Wildfires rage in southwestern France amid new heatwave

PARIS (Reuters) -A huge wildfire that has destroyed more than a dozen homes and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents, some of whom had clambered onto rooftops as the blaze neared, was sweeping through the Gironde region of southwestern France on Wednesday.

More than 1,000 firefighters backed by water-bombing aircraft were fighting the fire that has razed more than 6,000 hectares and is still burning out of control.

France, like the rest of Europe, is struggling with successive heatwaves and its worst drought on record. Dozens of wildfires are ablaze across the country, including at least four other major ones.

Camille Delay fled her home town of Hostens on the orders of emergency services late on Tuesday with her partner and son as a wall of flames drew rapidly closer.

The couple grabbed their two cats, chickens and house insurance documents before taking flight, she said.

"Everyone in the village climbed onto their rooftops to see what was happening - within ten minutes a little twist of smoke became enormous," the 30-year-old told Reuters by telephone.

The local Gironde authority described the blaze as "rampant". Firefighters said more evacuations were likely.

The Gironde was hit by major wildfires in July which destroyed more than 20,000 hectares of forest and temporarily forced almost 40,000 people from their homes.

Authorities believe the latest inferno was a result of the previous fires still smouldering in the area's peaty soil.

Fires were also raging in the southern departments of Lozere and Aveyron. In the Maine et Loire department in western France, more than 1,200 hectares have been scorched by another fire.

(Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Layli Foroudi; Editing by Jane Merriman, Richard Lough, Alexandra Hudson)
ALBANY  A new law signed by Gov. Hochul on Wednesday calls on state education officials to review how New York schools teach the horrors of the Holocaust.

The mandate directs New Yorks education commissioner to conduct a study verifying whether public schools are properly educating students about the persecution and genocide suffered by European Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs a legislative package to support Holocaust survivors in educational, cultural and financial institutions on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022.



New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs a legislative package to support Holocaust survivors in educational, cultural and financial institutions on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. (Don Pollard/)

Hochul and bill sponsors Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Nassau) and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Queens) touted the measures importance amid recent upticks in anti-Semitic violence and reports that young Americans are uninformed about the Holocaust and the 6 million Jews killed.

A picture taken just after the liberation by the Soviet army in January 1945, shows a group of children wearing concentration camp uniforms behind barbed wire fencing in the Oswiecim (Auschwitz) Nazi concentration camp.



A picture taken just after the liberation by the Soviet army in January 1945, shows a group of children wearing concentration camp uniforms behind barbed wire fencing in the Oswiecim (Auschwitz) Nazi concentration camp. (Anonymous/)

EXCLUSIVE: Report indicates N.Y. State leads nation in anti-Semitic incidents, with 24% jump in 2021

We need to teach people when theyre still young because we can not have these horrors repeated, the governor said during a signing ceremony at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan.

State law already mandates students learn about the atrocities of the Holocaust and certain other topics including slavery, the Great Irish Famine and how immigrants contributed to building the transcontinental railroad.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs a legislative package to support Holocaust survivors in educational, cultural and financial institutions on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022.



New York Governor Kathy Hochul signs a legislative package to support Holocaust survivors in educational, cultural and financial institutions on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. (Don Pollard/)

However, the nonprofit Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany found in a recent survey that young New Yorkers lacked basic knowledge about the Holocaust. The group found 58% of state residents between 18 and 39 could not name a single concentration camp, 19% said that Jews caused the Holocaust, while 28% believe the Holocaust is a myth or has been exaggerated.

FILE - In this photo provided by the U.S. Army, inmates of the German KZ Buchenwald are seen inside their barracks a few days after U.S. troops liberated the concentration camp near Weimar, Germany on April 16, 1945.



FILE - In this photo provided by the U.S. Army, inmates of the German KZ Buchenwald are seen inside their barracks a few days after U.S. troops liberated the concentration camp near Weimar, Germany on April 16, 1945.

The bill calling for an assessment of how schools approach the subject passed both Dem-led chambers in the Legislature this spring after stalling in the Assembly a year earlier amid concerns about how the state Education Department would carry out the survey.

According to the law, the audit must include questions on how the district is meeting the learning standards as required on the Holocaust and a school district superintendent must attest that students are being taught about the subject at all appropriate grade levels.

100-year-old Holocaust survivor finds parallels in Russias Ukraine invasion

A corrective action plan will be required for school districts that fail to meet state standards.

It will provide schools a pathway to remedy shortcomings and will provide all of us, at all levels of government, with a report on the findings so we can continue to improve the education New York students deserve, Rozic said ahead of the signing.

Another bill signed into law on Wednesday requires New York museums to put a notice in front of art stolen by Nazis during World War II. The Nazis looted approximately 600,000 paintings from Jews and some of those works are displayed at institutions across the state with no indication of their origins.

A third measure requires the New York State Department of Financial Services to maintain and update a list of financial institutions that waive wire fees associated with Holocaust reparations payments.

Roughly a third of Holocaust survivors in the U.S. live in poverty. The new law is meant to ease unnecessary burdens that banks may place on survivors receiving reparation payments.
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The Indian private airline will start new direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah from September 22

Kolkata: IndiGo on Wednesday announced Ras Al-Khaimah as its 100th destination in it's 6E network. The Indian private airline will start new direct flights between Mumbai and Ras Al-Khaimah from September 22.

Ras Al-Khaimah, which is the sixth populous city of the United Arab Emirates, was named as Gulf Tourism Capital for 2020 and 2021 by Gulf Cooperation Council. Some of it's tourist destinations are Sunset at Jebel Jais, Zipline Down Jebel Jais slope, Dhayah Fort, National Museum, Khatt Springs amongst others. The city is also a popular destination for leisure travellers, destination weddings and incentives targeting the MICE segment.

IndiGo Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer Sanjay Kumar said, We are pleased to announce our entry into the fourth Emirate with Ras Al-Khaimah as our 26th international and 100th overall destination. These new flights will cater to the high demand for travel to Ras Al Khaimah with India being the third largest international source market for the city in 2021, and traffic expected to reach pre-pandemic levels this year.

Ras Al Khaimah International Airport CEO Atanasios Titonis said, Our team along with IndiGos team have been working several months together to achieve this main step for our airport and to boost tourism for Ras Al Khaimah as an Emirate. We envisage a huge array of opportunities coming in from the Indian subcontinent with the start of this operation as Mumbai is a major airline hub and it can further connect our passengers to several destinations within India and also other international destinations served by IndiGo.

Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of The Department of Civil Aviation Ras Al Khaimah and Ras Al Khaimah International Airport said: Ras Al Khaimah International Airports partnership with IndiGo airlines is a significant step forward in getting back to a normal footing post the pandemic. We welcome them wholeheartedly and we are enthusiastic to address the increased passenger flow from the Indian subcontinent. Ras Al Khaimahs thriving tourism and industrial sector will benefit from this connectivity and I am confident that this partnership will prove to be an important piece in our ongoing expansion strategy for the airport.
Nitish claims support of seven political parties and 164 MLAs, Tejashwi to be deputy chief minister

Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar with Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap, in Patna, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Kumar, Tuesday submitted his resignation from the post of Bihar's CM to Governor Phagu Chauhan. (PTI Photo)

Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar met state governor Phagu Chauhan and submitted his resignation shortly after snapping ties with the NDA on Tuesday. The decision to quit the coalition government was taken at a meeting with all JD(U) MPs and MLAs here Tuesday morning. Mr Kumar chaired the meeting at his official residence here.

The MPs and MLAs of my party met today and decided to snap ties with the NDA government. I met the governor and resigned as chief minister of Bihar, Mr Kumar said after submitting his resignation to the Bihar governor at Raj Bhavan.

After he submitted his resignation, Mr Kumar visited the residence of Rabri Devi in Patna, where Congress and Left party leaders had met earlier to discuss the formula to support the JD(U) in forming the Mahagathbandhan government.

Later, after holding a brief discussion with the alliance leaders, Mr Nitish Kumar met the governor for the second time on Tuesday and staked claim to forming a Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar. RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav accompanied him to the governors house and submitted a list of 164 MLAs.

I have the support of seven political parties and 164 MLAs. The agenda of this government will be to work for the development of the state. There will be no compromise on corruption, chief minister Nitish Kumar said after meeting the governor. He said he had submitted the letters of support and will wait for the governor to call him to form the next government.

The swearing-in of the new Nitish Kumar government is likely to take place at 4 pm on Wednesday at the Raj Bhavan. RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav is likely to be the deputy chief minister, and the new Assembly Speaker will be from the RJD.

Tejashwi Yadav said: History tells that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it forms an alliance. We have seen this happening elsewhere as well.

Mr Nitish Kumar said that he has submitted the letters of support and would wait for the governor to call him to form the next government.

When asked why he chose to end his ties with the BJP-NDA, Mr Kumar said: A situation was being created to divide society, which I did not like. There are many other things which didnt go well with my party leaders.

What triggered conflict: JD(U) leaders said that there have been many issues which triggered a conflict with the BJP. They said Mr Kumar, at the meeting, said the BJP tried to weaken his government on many occasions. They said the party is convinced that it was the BJP and Chirag Paswan who was behind the JD(U)s poor show in the 2020 Assembly elections. The JD(U) was reduced to the third position, with 45 seats, in the last Assembly elections.

Nitish Kumar was also upset when BJP dominated the Cabinet formation in 2020 and put two deputy chief ministers. He also sees the entire R.C.P. Singh episode as part of the BJPs conspiracy to cause a split in the JD(U).

Party leaders said Mr Kumar felt on many occasions that there wasnt enough support despite the double-engine government. He also found no support from the BJP when the Assembly Speaker raised questions about the law and order scenario. The situation got out of hand in March and resulted in a war of words between the Speaker and the chief minister on the floor of the House.

The Bihar Legislative Assembly comprises 243 seats, bringing the majority mark to 122 seats. The RJD has 79 MLAs, JD(U) 45, Congress 19, Left 16 and Jitan Ram Manjhis HAM four seats. The BJP, which is the second-largest party in Bihar, has 77 MLAs in the Assembly.

As politics heated up in Patna after the NDA government collapsed, the BJP appeared to be on the backfoot. It accused Nitish Kumar of betraying the people of Bihar by switching partners.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who landed in Patna immediately after Mr Kumar resigned, said: He (Nitish Kumar) ended his ties with the Mahagathbandhan on the issue of corruption, and now he has once again returned to their camp. This has been his habit to switch sides. Does he even remember what he used to say during elections? He has betrayed the people of Bihar and insulted the mandate by switching sides.

In 2013, Nitish Kumar and his JD(U) split from the BJP after Narendra Modi was declared as the NDAs PM face. Two years later, in 2015, he joined hands with his arch-rivals Lalu Prasad Yadavs RJD and the Congress to form a Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. He fought the elections and returned as Bihar CM.

In 2017, Nitish broke ties with the Mahagathbandhan over corruption charges against then deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, saying he had zero tolerance for corruption.
The other news of the day: Chinas military exercises near Taiwan continue. Japan has 726,000 fewer inhabitants. Sri Lankas former president seeks refuge in Thailand. Modi's BJP loses power in Bihar. Pope Franciss trip to Ukraine might happen soon.

IRAN

The Islamic Republic used an unspecified crypto currency for its first import order, a way to get around the sanctions imposed by the United States over its nuclear and missile programmes. The transaction was worth US$ 10 million. At present, the value of cryptocurrencies is very volatile, which makes them difficult to use in large operations.

TAIWAN  CHINA

China conducted its seventh day of military exercises around Taiwan. Chinese naval units are still operating east and west of the Taiwanese coastline in response to the recent visit to Taiwan by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. Some 20 Chinese warships are sailing opposite as many Taiwanese ships along the midline that informally divides the Taiwan Strait between the two countries.

JAPAN

Japan's population dropped by more than 726,000 in 2021 to 125.93 million people. This is the countrys largest population decline since 2013. The trend affected every prefecture except Okinawa.

SRI LANKA  THAILAND

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is scheduled to arrive tomorrow in Thailand, where he is expected to seek refuge. On 14 July, he fled to Singapore after months of popular unrest with protesters demanding his removal from power.

INDIA

The Indian state of Bihar, the third most populous in the country, is facing a major political crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its majority after one of its allies, Janata Dal, a local party led by the states chief minister Nitish Kumar, joined the opposition to form a new majority.

UKRAINE  VATICAN

According to the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andriy Yurash, Pope Francis could visit Kyiv even before travelling to Kazakhstan in September. Yurash said that Ukraine has been waiting for the pontiff for many years. The Vatican has not excluded the possibility of such a visit earlier this month.

GEORGIA

The Georgian Foreign Ministry remembered the 14th anniversary of Russias invasion of its territory by complaining that Moscow continues to expand its illegal hold over the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to Tbilisi, the Russians refuse to respect the agreements reached with the mediation of the European Union that ended the conflict.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Russias evolving military and economic crises are an echo of the Soviet collapse after the war in Afghanistan, and are getting more and more people to ask questions. For political scientist Gallyamov, Tsar Putin is getting weaker and looking for a way out". The unexpected crisis with Israel is a sign that he is giving in to the Kremlin hawks. Despite his attempts to stay in the saddle, there is talk about his possible exile (in Tehran).

Moscow (AsiaNews)  The war in Ukraine is having an extreme impact on Russia and could turn into a global apocalypse.

Many are wondering about possible developments of the military and economic crises and one of the scenarios, with a hint to the Soviet collapse after the war in Afghanistan, would see Vladimir Putins departure.

Over the years and in plain view, the Russian president morphed from enlightened sovereign into a dictator obsessed with victory, or possibly defeat, at home and abroad.

One of the most lucid observers of Russian affairs is political scientist Abbas Gallyamov, who gave a long interview to the international edition of Novaya Gazeta, the newspaper of Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov, now shut down in Russia.

He believes that Putin is "weakening more and more in front of everyone's eyes, and is looking for a way out."

Unexpectedly for example, Russia began to quarrel with Israel a few weeks ago while the grain agreement, strangely signed by the Minister of Defence, was almost immediately derailed before the ink could dry.

According to Gallyamov, the worsening of relations with Israel is a sign of Putin's giving in to the Kremlin hawks.

The political scientist worked for a few years in the presidential administration in Moscow, and then worked alongside the president of Bashkortostan, the republic in the Urals with a large Tatar community where he was born.

He notes that two months ago Putin swore that he would maintain good relations with Israel, phoning the then Prime Minister Bennett to apologise for a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who spoke of Hitler's alleged Jewish origins.

Putin does not often apologise for the mistakes of his subordinates, and the aforementioned caused a certain sensation.

However, the Russian Ministry of Justice recently took action against Jewish interests, shutting down the Russian office of the Jewish Agency for Israel.[i] This decision irked Israeli leaders, as if diplomatic relations were dictated by the courts.

Yet Russia has no interest in harming relations with Israel, home to a huge Russian community. In fact, Israel has not followed the West and imposed sanctions on Russia and maintains a relative neutrality on Ukraine, to which it has refused to sell weapons.

Gallyamov believes that "Putin is no longer able to control the situation, which is getting out of hand under the influence of the siloviki, the men of the security apparatus around him.

One sign that the dictator in the Kremlin is facing a crisis is the progressive fall of domestic support towards the special military operation, which could spark protests against the president. Under such circumstances, Putin will give greater powers to the most radical factions.

Even the persecution of respected figures like Gorinov, Kara-Murza, Jashin and Shishlov is the result of hardliners, as reflected by the increasingly extreme rhetoric by leaders who in the past were though as relatively moderate, like former President Medvedev and former Prime Minister Kiriyenko.

It is not a given that Putin will give in all the way to these factions. As Gallyamov notes: Stalin also organised collectivisation and then blamed those who carried it out.

Sometimes Putin punishes his own cronies who go too far, like Nikolai Patrushev, who was removed from the FSB and is now seen as a possible successor to the president, and is pushing for an even harder line.

In fact, according to Gallyamov, Putin is trying to stay in the saddle as long as possible, because he is aware that his departure from the scene implies a scenario of uprisings and revolutions in Russia.

Meanwhile, on social media, Putin's recent visit to Tehran sparked a series of jokes about his possible flight abroad. According to the political scientist, Iran would be "a more appropriate destination than others, better than North Korea.

[i] HaSochnut HaYehudit L'Eretz Yisra'el
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Stretching over 12.42 miles, which is nearly 20 kilometers, the 156-corner mountain course has been dealt with in 10 minutes and 32 seconds by the soon-to-be-revealed Lamborghini Urus Performante . Hillclimb champion and Pirelli test driver Simone Faggioli drove the performance-oriented utility vehicle over an average gradient of 7 percent, from an altitude of 2,862 meters to 4,302 meters (those would be 9,390 feet and 14,114 feet).The decision to test ourselves at Pikes Peak reflects the Lamborghini spirit of 'expect the unexpected,' demonstrating the outstanding performance of the new model to be presented shortly, said chief technical officer Rouven Mohr. Pikes Peak is the most famous hillclimb in the world, as well as being extremely challenging for the car. The uneven track layout tests the chassis balance; significant altitude differences stress the powertrain; and the weather conditions can change very rapidly between start to finish.Is the Urus Performante  or whatever it will be called  fully stock? The answer is pretty much affirmative. Powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 of Porsche origin, this variant was modified to comply with the safety regulations of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. A passenger compartment roll cage opens the list of modifications, followed by a race seat with a six-point harness. A fire-extinguishing system is also featured.Measuring 285/40 by 22 inches up front and 325/35 by 22 inches out back, the semi-slick rubber boots of the Performante are said to be an evolution of the outgoing models Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires. The Italian tire manufacturer worked together with Lamborghini to develop these sticky shoes.The Raging Bull of SantAgata Bolognese notes in the very last paragraph of the attached press release that fuel consumption and emission data are in the type of approval stage. This info and the to be presented shortly from earlier pretty much confirms that the reveal is right around the corner.
One of the most stunning superyachts hiding out in plain sight in the now-infamous safe haven of Dubai is Madame Gu . The 325-footer (99 meters) pleasure craft designed by the iconic Andrew Winch immediately stands out to its hulls special shade of blue, called Shark Blue, and is joined by a custom Eurocopter Dauphin AS 365N3 flaunting the same unique color.The helicopter alone is worth around $9 million, and the gorgeous Madame Gu is estimated at $150 million. They are the toys that Andrei Skoch allegedly enjoys while at sea, but he also owns a private jet  a $90 million Airbus A319-100.A statement from OFAC earlier this year showed that the U.S. is officially targeting all of these luxury assets. But things just got worse for the billionaire, as federal prosecutors are authorized to actually seize his private jet, according to a recent affidavit. According to UPI (United Press International), theres a seizure warrant with Skochs name on it and his P4-MGU aircraft. Authorities say that theyve confirmed Skochs ownership, even though its through a complicated web of shell companies. The prosecutors are also stating that this luxury jet is one of the fruits of criminal activities, referring to the oligarchs alleged money laundering network.A twice-designated member of the Russian Federation Duma with strong ties to the steel industry, Skoch is one of the oligarchs that were sanctioned by the U.S. back in 2018, accused of organized crime activities. In March this year, he was sanctioned again for supporting Kremlins war against Ukraine.No details about Skochs private jet are known, but the Airbus A319 is a 111-foot (33.8 meters) powerful aircraft fitted with Sharklets. These wingtip devices improve the jets performance on every level, including reducing fuel burn by 15% and enabling an impressive range of 4,318 miles (6,950 km).
Word is Charles Leclerc splashed on a new yacht which he called Sedici, which means sixteen in Italian, his race number. The vessel is a Riva Sportfly 66 Ribelle, which has been featured on his latest vlog on his YouTube channel, Charles Leclerc: 24 Hours In Monaco (Day In The Life).Given Riva's partnership with Ferrari for over two years, it's no coincidence Charles Leclerc would go for a vessel from the Sarnico shipyard. Not long ago, for Rivas 180th anniversary , the Monegasque driver appeared in a short film for the brand, alongside soccer star David Beckham and Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino.Although the video posted on his channel a week ago showed Leclerc chilling on his boat at the end of the day, he is now on a full-time holiday in Sardinia, Italy, with his girlfriend, influencer Charlotte Sine, docking the luxury yacht in Porto Cervo. The two have been officially dating since December 2019.The Sportfly 66 Ribelle was launched in 2018, reinterpreting the shapes of the 1980s yachts in a modern way, with lots of sharp edges, a modern exterior, and a series of high-tech features on board.With an overall length of 68'8 ft (20.67 m), a beam of 17'3 ft (5.29 m), and a draft of 5'9 ft (1.8 m), it can accommodate up to 12 people in three cabins, plus a cabin crew. The configuration includes the owners room, a VIP cabin, plus a double room. It has three bathrooms, with one of them in the crew quarter.With a GRP hull and superstructure, the Riva 66' Ribelle is put in motion by twin MAN V12 engines with 1,550 horsepower each, which help it reach a maximum speed of 37 knots (43 mph / 69 kph) and a cruise speed of 33 knots (40 mph / 61 kph), with a range of 250 nautical miles (288 mi / 463 km).According to several reports, his new superyacht cost him $4 million, including customization. The Formula One driver has a net worth of $12 million, with a salary of over $10 million per season, so the new yacht doesnt put a dent in his pocket.Besides the new yacht, Charles Leclerc had previously spent $2 million back in 2020 for the Monza, another Riva vessel, the 48 Dolceriva. It was a two-cabin vessel, with enough space to accommodate four people. Which means the new Riva yacht is an upgrade, being able to fit more people and guarantee more fun.
When the first rumors about BYD supplying batteries for Tesla emerged, we were almost sure these LFP cells would end up in Chinese vehicles. Sina Tech corrected that by stating that the actual destination was not China but Germany. According to the Chinese website, Giga Grunheide will start pumping out its first vehicles with BYD batteries in about one month.

7 photos
The Laredo border crossing is busy almost at any given moment of the day. Even though there are enough personnel on both sides of the frontier, Tesla managed to get its exclusive lane in another location. Its 20 miles away from the main place of the border crossing, in an area called Columbia.The guys start the trip with 270 miles (434 kilometers) of range in a part of the U.S. that doesnt have many Superchargers available yet. The YouTuber himself admits that range anxiety is a worry.Moreover, they want to cross the border with a Tesla that has expired registration. It shouldve been renewed back in February. This could lead to the impound of the vehicle in Mexico. However, they push on.Both guys approach the frontier on the U.S. side with GoPros mounted on the roof and multiple cameras in the car. After reaching Mexico, the questioning starts. Authorities continued with the inquiry and kept them waiting for half an hour. During this period, they searched the Model 3 for potential illegal items and brought in the trained dogs as well. The military personnel also asked them to take the cameras off and delete the footage.Fortunately, the owner of the car speaks Spanish, and he was able to tell the Mexican authorities by the phone why the Tesla has expired registration. The situation was resolved, and the guys promised to return to the U.S.When they came back home, the guys saw that the Tesla sign is real. The all-electric automaker does have its own border lane crossing. Being in a car made by a company that has exclusive frontier rights, they enter the lane. Surprisingly, they are allowed to pay and go back to the U.S. through this point.Normally, it would have cost them $1.45. Unfortunately, the language barrier made the crossing more expensive  the guys paid $50.We went through the Tesla lane, said the YouTuber exuberantly.Surprisingly, the U.S. border agents didnt know about the Tesla signage and the exclusive lane. The guys enthusiastically told the officer checking their documents what was going on. After that, they entered the U.S.You can watch the rest of the video down below, but be aware of the fact that it gets tense at some intervals.The Tesla border crossing lane isnt made for customer vehicles only. It helps Mexican suppliers move faster when more people want to go at the same time. That saves the automaker a lot of money and keeps the momentum going at the companys plants.
Yes.



In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners dont come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 10, 2022

Although the number of shares Musk sold seems impressive, this is not the biggest weve seen. Last December, Teslas CEO sold more than 10 million shares to pay his taxes. Neither is in terms of value since the recent dump worth $6.9 billion was nowhere near the $8.5 billion from the April sale. In a series of tweets, Musk confirmed he wanted to avoid emergency stock sales if he would be forced to buy Twitter after all.In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners dont come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock, wrote Musk on Twitter late on Tuesday.When asked whether hes done selling Tesla stock, Musk said yes. But this is something that Musk has said in the past , so take that with a grain of salt. Reading through multiple Form 4 SEC filings, we notice the recent share dump happened between August 5 and 9. According to Reuters , Musk has sold a total of $32 billion worth of Tesla shares over the past 10 months. He still owns around 155 million, or just under 15% of Tesla.Analysts concluded that Musks latest stock sale significantly increased his odds of buying Twitter. The he will/no he wont buy Twitter saga got Musk dropping the $44 billion deal and many headaches down the road. Speculations abound that Musk will eventually settle with buying Twitter for a more favorable amount. However, he might also be forced to pay the price in full, plus compensations.In that case, Musk would likely have to sell even more Tesla stock, possibly after announcing the Q3 2022 results, to benefit from the improved stock value. This possibility is even higher if one or some investors will walk out of the deal, which would not be unprecedented.
SUV

27-year-old Darian Aspinall was traveling with her two- and four-year-old kids and 50-year-old mother from Queensland to Adelaide, with the local media revealing the car left the Noccundra Hotel on Sunday afternoon.Shortly after that, however, the family of four could no longer be reached, leading to a massive search launched by the local authorities in order to locate the vehicle.As it turns out, the driver was using Google Maps to get turn-by-turn directions to the destination in Adelaide. The navigation app, however, took the driver off the highway and guided her to a dirt road where the four-wheel-driveended up struggling.The vehicle eventually got stuck in the middle of nowhere, where a cellular signal wasnt available. The family decided to go on foot in order to seek help, but after walking for hours, they decided to return to the vehicle and wait for someone to find them.48 hours later, a helicopter spotted four people who were waving for help using their clothes, just to make sure the pilot sees them. As it turns out, they had already run out of food and water by the point the helicopter showed up.The family was eventually rescued and brought to safety, with the police revealing that Google Maps was the one that sent the driver to the dirt road.Of course, its easy to blame Google Maps for suggesting a bad road, but on the other hand, what the application (and all the other navigation solutions out there) tried to do was find a faster route to the destination. Its entirely up to the driver to decide if a certain route can be used or not, especially because Google Maps itself has no idea what vehicle theyre driving in the first place and whether a road is appropriate or not.As a general recommendation, if a road suggested by the navigation app looks dangerous, the driver should better stick with the safer route, despite the increased ETA.
Yes, thats right, this is one of those stories covering the exploits of Hot Wheels custom specialist Jakarta Diecast Project ( JDP ). This time, he came up with something titled Nissan Z Proto Modern Bosozoku With RB26 Engine Kanagawa Wave Livery Hot Wheels Custom, and that sounds so complicated we of course need to break it down a bit.First, the base machine. Its a diecast Nissan Z Proto the kind Hot Wheels started making this year to honor the precursor of the current generation Z car. Three versions are currently on the market, and JDP chose for this transformation the Everest White one.The toy car was dismantled, cut and chopped, glued and polished into getting a body meant to honor the Japanese Bosozoku subculture and gangs which started manifesting themselves as far back as the 1950s. This approach is seen in the peculiar body kit the Hot Wheels toy was wrapped in.Under the hood, where usually there is nothing, JDP fitted a hand-made, tiny replica of the RB26 engine that made Nissan such an important name of the automotive industry over the years.When all was said and done, the entire build was wrapped in Kanagawa wave livery, a throwback to the Edo-era woodblock print by Japanese artist Hokusai, the world-famous creation which served as inspiration for some of the works created later on by other famous artists in painting, music, or literature.Far from being a work of art in itself, the JDP Nissan Z Proto sure gets one thing right: it mixes all those elements together in a way that does not make one look away. Quite the opposite, actually...
This was the story of the Martin P6M SeaMaster in a nutshell, but the full story deserves mentioning too. It more or less sums up the proverbial demise of seaplanes as military weapons in a nutshell. Let's take a look at how this bonkers jet-powered flying boat almost ushered in a brand new age of military flying boats. Alas, this was not to be.In the immediate aftermath of the Second World War , there was a sense that the United States Navy was playing second fiddle to the Air Force. The successful atomic bombings on Japan coordinated by the USAF's predecessors, the Army Air Corps, only further hammered home this notion.With the perception that their national pride and their federal budget could be in jeopardy, the Navy spent much of its post-war R&D on novel ways of dispatching nuclear ordinance. More than a few proposals came across the Navy's top brass, with intriguing and ambitious plans that ultimately attempted to solve the same problems.If there were two things the Navy had in abundance at the end of World War II, it was freshly poached German jet engine technology and aircraft carriers. The problem was that launching heavy strategic jet bombers off of World War II carriers simply wasn't going to happen.A proposal for the gargantuan USS United States, intended to launch future Navy bombers similar in size to USAF heavy bombers, was ultimately canceled in 1950. Many believe this was largely due to meddling by the Air Force to keep the Navy firmly in its coattails.In direct response to the USS United States being killed in the cradle, the Navy proposed another solution. Jet-powered seaplanes. There was a litany of manufacturers for the Navy to sort through capable of bringing them the flying boat bomber design they wished with the designs they were looking for.Companies like Chance Vought, Convair, Grumman , Douglas, and the Glenn L Martin company had spent decades providing the U.S. Navy not only with visually stimulating items like fighter planes but also with float planes, flying boats, and seaplanes of all varieties. It was an embarrassment of aeronautical riches without overselling things.In the end, it was Convair, with their F2Y Sea Dart jet fighter, and Glenn L. Martin with their P6M SeaMaster that answered the call to give the Navy what it wanted. With the case of the P6M in particular, there was a sense that this warbird could reshape U.S. naval doctrine in unforeseen ways.Powered by quad Pratt & Whitney J75-P-2 turbojet engines cranking out 17,500 lbf (78 kN) of thrust each, the SeaMaster was comparable in size, speed, and range to most U.S. Air Force strategic bombers. More or less in between the Boeing B-47 Stratojet and B-52 Stratofortress.Indeed, the Glenn L. Martin Company utilized some of the very same technology used in their failed XB-Martin XB-51 land-based twin-engine jet bomber to turn the SeaMaster into the most advanced vehicle in the water by mid-1950s standards. Items like the all-moving t-shaped tail and pneumatically sealed rotating bomb bay found their origins on the defunct experimental jet bomber.First taking to the skies on 14 July 1955, the SeaMaster impressed test pilots and Navy personnel alike with its stunning nearly supersonic top speed. The 184,280 lb (83,588 kg) airframe was also noted to take off from the water with the grace and the composure of a flying boat half its size. With twin 20 mm autocannons for self-defense operated by a remote-controlled turret in the cockpit, this was far from a defenseless airplane.Apart from its ability to carry either a twin Mark 11 or a single Mark 28 thermonuclear bomb, it could also carry an array of sea mines ranging in size from 540 lbs (245 kg) to 2,030 lbs (921 kg) each. Even in the event the Air Force was once again favored to carry nuclear weapons, the P6M still seemingly had a vibrant career as a high-speed mine layer planned out for it.That was, until the advent of intercontinental and short-range ballistic missiles in the late 1950s. At which point, the comparatively expensive flying boat jet bomber suddenly didn't look like such a viable platform. Of the six P6M airframes constructed, none survive today. In doing so, the Navy more or less cast out flying boats as a viable weapon of war. A status it hasn't gained back even almost 70 years later.Check back soon for more from Sea Month here on autoevolution.
The exercise was held at the end of June, but only this week did the Navy provide us with details of the Fire Scout s exploits there. Were told that the unnamed helicopter flew for a total of 23 hours during the exercises, proving the unmanned helicopters expeditionary use from land and across multiple ship classes.Powered by a Rolls-Royce engine that gives it a top speed of 132 mph (213 kph), the thing can stay in the air for up to eight hours at a time, meaning it had to perform more than one mission over Cali.The Fire Scouts main missions are intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), but if need be, it can also be used for target-acquisition operations. Back in May 2022, we learned of it being deployed over a Florida beach in search of planted mines, also during an exercise.The most important aspect of the Fire Scout is that, because of its dimensions and the fact that it is, after all, a helicopter, it can be deployed either from land or from ships, and can land on pretty much any conceivable surface.Fire Scout is the Navys only unmanned helicopter with the ability to deploy from a ship or land with ISR&T at the extended range required for future warfighting, said in a statement Capt. Dennis Monagle, Fire Scout program manager. The system is vital in expeditionary use for situational awareness and critical decision-making.At the moment, the Fire Scout is deployed with the USS Jackson (LCS-6) in the Indo-Pacific region, undergoing more tests.
The NGI is supposed to be an upgrade of the existing Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) anti-ballistic missile system, and is to be used to protect the U.S. homeland from increasing and evolving intercontinental ballistic missile threats. Its not scheduled for delivery before fiscal year 2027, but that doesnt mean work on it is not progressing.This week, the American defense contractor announced it has recently validated prototype communications radio technology for the system. The tech is the one that will give the interceptor in-flight situational awareness and the ability to respond to threats.Although, because of the nature of the technology, no specifics were provided on the tech used, were told the tests demonstrated that the interceptors communications system can operate through harsh and adversarial environments it may encounter during flight.Early demonstrations like this allow us to learn as we go and manage risk, said in a statement Sarah Reeves, vice president and program manager of the Next Generation Interceptor program at Lockheed Martin.This milestone continues the NGI teams successful early and often testing cadence of critical technologies within our digital system design as it matures in alignment with our Developmental Evaluation Framework.When ready, the Next Generation Interceptor will become the first line of defense against ballistic missiles, and perhaps the most important part of Americas layered missile defense architecture. As per available info, its supposed to launch from silos based in Ft. Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The first tests took place back in May, when the two companies fired the round in the field. Other similar procedures, including the one announced this week by Boeing, followed in June.Were told that on June 28 a ramjet projectile was fired out of a cannon. Its engine (yes, were talking about an artillery shell with an engine attached) ignited successfully, the round followed a stable path to its target, and demonstrated a well-controlled engine combustion process.We have great confidence in the ramjet concept, said in a statement Nammo Chief Executive Officer Morten Brandtaeg.The test  with all aspects from cannon firing, to the projectile body, fins, and trajectory all functioning perfectly  represents a real technological breakthrough in artillery, and a major success for Boeing, Nammo, and the U.S. Army.Were not provided with any details regarding the speed or range achieved during this test, but in theory ramjet devices could easily reach Mach 3 (2,300 mph/3,700 kph), and in some cases even double that.The official specs of the Ramjet 155 (where 155 stands for caliber) point to it being capable of hitting targets located 40 km (25 miles) away, which is double the range of current rounds. Add to that the extreme speeds it will probably be capable of, and you get almost instantly obliterated targets.At the time of writing, neither of the companies involved in this project said when a finished product would be presented to the U.S. Army.
6x6

SUV

Ever since themania started to make waves, weve seen all sorts of vehicles converted to a six-wheel life. Its not that they are more practical, although some feature proper 6x6 traction, but they sure scream wealth and status. Its almost like you dont even have a truck unless it has a third axle and a stretched bed. Thats why many are built to impress without offering much in terms of traction or utility.Well, the trend has been exported over the Ocean, as weve seen in a video from Sweden. Roaming the streets of Stockholm, a red contraption seems to have drawn its inspiration from both American 6x6 trucks and Australian utes. Since were in Sweden, you wouldnt find it weird that it is based on a first-generation Volvo XC60, a pretty handsomein its heydays.Unlike the SUV, this one comes with an Australian-style bed and a third axle. Its still unclear whether this is powered or not, but the way it was integrated with the rest of the vehicle is pleasing to the eye. The build is pretty good, actually, with the taillights cut in half to match the new rear end. Its not ugly, just unusual enough to block the traffic while being filmed by Swedish enthusiasts.The Volvo was attending the Stockholm Cruising along with many other American cars and trucks. The work comes from the Swedish company Dalbo Fordonsteknik, which specializes in building similarly-looking vehicles. Its not quite a novelty since we wrote about the modified Volvo six years ago, and its great to see it has survived all this time.
EV

SUV

The company currently has an expansive fleet that until today's announcement only comprised of Tesla models. That said, it has placed big orders with 17 different electric vehicle manufacturers for a total of 23,000 vehicles valued at $1.2 billion (1.161 billion euro).Tesla was the big winner, securing the sale of 8,300 vehicles totaling $443 million (429 million euro), but Ford and GM also scored big.GM received orders for 3,400 EVs valued at $138 million (133.7 million euro) including the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV, the Cadillac Lyriq, and the GMC Hummerpickup that are already in production, and Autonomy also ordered GM's future EVs: the Chevrolet Silverado EV, Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and the GMC Hummer EVFord received orders for its Mustang Mach E and F-150 Lightning trucks totaling 1,800 vehicles in a sale valued at $88 million (85.2 million euro).According to the Detroit Free Press , neither company responded to requests for comments.Tesla was chosen as the launch brand back in January, but with the proliferation of other models from brands around the world coming to market, the company moved to expand its subscription lineup giving customers more options.Other automakers to land orders were; Volkswagen with orders of 2,200 Evs valued at $107 million (103.6 million euro); Hyundai sold 1,640 EVs for $74 million (71.6 million euro), and Kia received orders for 1,500 vehicles totaling $69 million (66.9 million euro).Rivian Motors took part of the action as well, landing orders for 1,000 of its electric trucks and SUVs worth 72 million (69.8 million euro).The company also has plans to order from Stellantis ' menu of models bearing 16 different brands including Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, and Maserati, to name a few.
EV

A Tesla enthusiast owned a 2021 Model 3 SR+ for a little over a year. He recently decided it was time to get a more spacious vehicle, so he started asking around about the Model Y. He wanted to remain in the Tesla family.Naturally, the man was looking to sell his current vehicle for a new downpayment. He saw his brother getting generous offers, and he tried popular car-buying platforms to see what his vehicle was worth. These companies surprised the Tesla owner. They were apparently offering him around $23,000, more than half of what his brother was getting for a similar car.But a representative contacted the saddened owner and told him directly that they couldnt make an offer on his Model 3 because it was involved in a crash where multiple airbags were deployed. The Carfax report included all these details, so nobody was trying to lowball him. Tesla told this customer before accepting delivery that his Model 3 had less than 500 miles on the odometer, but they still considered it new. Moreover, they offered a $1,700 discount for the added miles which he gladly accepted for anthat was barely driven around. He even points out on a Tesla dedicated forum that the loan was made for a new car.Surprisingly, the owner says he still loves the car and had no issues with it. Still, according to his forum post, an email has been sent to Tesla Disputes to address this situation. For the time being, getting a Model Y is still in play for this person.The Tesla customer says he lives in Texas and now awaits the expiration of a 60-day period in which a solution to this problem can be found.But thats not all of it. Another customer of Elon Musks company said they went through something similar with a Model 3 Long Range. He was allegedly waiting for his car to leave the factory when Tesla made contact and offered a similar vehicle with only 40 miles on the odometer that came with a discount. However, he found out at the DMV that the car couldnt be registered in his state because it was already registered somewhere else. This case ended amicably after the automaker offered to buy the car back.Other experienced forum members suspect service centers are allowed to repair cars damaged in transit and sell them as new to customers. But that wouldnt explain how the Carfax system registered the damage and the fixes done to the EV.Its also important to refrain from accusing Tesla of misleading customers since the persons that have complained on the dedicated forum didnt provide any proof of what they were talking about. Until documents and pictures surface, this should be treated as a simple post coming from an anonymous source. But given the number of details provided on the matter, its unlikely these buyers were lying about this fiasco.However, Tesla has been caught doing similar things outside the U.S. The company has been previously sued in China for selling a car as new, even though it was rebuilt from the ground up after an accident. The unlucky customer took the carmaker to court and won. The parties did not settle.On a completely unrelated note, Elon Musk sold 7.92 million Tesla shares which amount to almost $6.9 billion, according to SEC filings viewed by Reuters
FSD

EV

Our new safety test of @ElonMusks Full Self-Driving Teslas discovered that they will indiscriminately mow down children.



Today @RealDawnProject launches a nationwide TV ad campaign demanding @NHTSAgov ban Full Self-Driving until @ElonMusk proves it wont mow down children. pic.twitter.com/i5Jtb38GjH  Dan O'Dowd (@RealDanODowd) August 9, 2022

Its 2022, and Teslas still arent stopping for children. pic.twitter.com/GGBh6sAYZS  Taylor Ogan (@TaylorOgan) August 9, 2022

Tesla FSD Beta tester, ladies and gentlemen. https://t.co/DYQT0C4fnw  Taylor Ogan (@TaylorOgan) August 9, 2022

The Dawn Project is airing TV ads starting on August 9 that shows clips of these tests and the results. They were performed by Art Haynie, a professional pilot and driving instructor that worked for several carmakers, including Porsche. Haynies task was to place a 2019 Tesla Model 3 withBeta 10.12.2 on a 120-yard (109.7-meter) straight line sided by cones. It was the most recent one when the tests were performed at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, California.The driver would enter the course defined by the cones at 40 mph (64 kph) and activate FSD. Dressed mannequins representing children were placed at the end of the lane, right in the middle. The idea was to test if the software could detect the kid and brake the car, which it may have only done in one of the three runs on which the test was based.Nick Taylor filmed thefrom four perspectives, including the vehicle's interior. The raw videos show the main reaction FSD presented to the child mannequins was to try to deviate from them  and fail  in two of the attempts. In the one where the car keeps going forward, there was a warning for the driver to put his hands back on the wheel, and the EV decelerates, but not enough to avoid hitting the toddler mannequin.Haynie said the speed was quickly reduced to 25 mph (40 kph) because the Tesla would start to stagger as if lost and confused, slow down a little, and then speed back up as it hit and ran over the mannequins. The crash speeds were 24 mph, 27 mph, and 25 mph.Dan ODowd is the narrator of the main video. The founder of The Dawn Project states that 100,000 Tesla owners are using FSD on public roads. ODowd also says that FSD is the worst commercial software he has ever seen. In the end, the engineer asks viewers to tell Congress to shut it down, giving them a phone number.The Dawn Project website describes ODowd as the worlds leading expert in creating software that never fails and cant be hacked. He was running for the Senate but lost in the primary on June 7. Stopping Tesla from testing its beta software on public roads was one of the main proposals ODowd had if he was elected Senator.These tests from The Dawn Project are not the only ones that show FSD does not perform as it should. In fact, it does not even have to be FSD or Autopilot: automatic emergency braking (AEB) already fails. Taylor Ogan tweeted more than once the tests made by Luminar with a 2022 Lexus RX 450h equipped with Iris LiDAR and a Model Y with Tesla Vision.What the videos show is the Model Y hitting the mannequin and the RX 450h stopping in time not to hurt the hypothetical toddler. The CEO of Snow Bull Capital joked that Teslas still arent stopping for children in 2022. Tesla investors and advocates tried to argue that Tesla Vision is so advanced it does not stop for cardboard obstacles. It was no irony or sarcasm: they seem to really believe that. For the record, the mannequins are made of foam and fabric. Lets hope they do not try to prove Tesla Visions capabilities with real children.
A few years ago, Kristen and Huck decided to downsize and focus on the things that mattered to them. So they ditched the city life, got rid of everything that wasn't necessary, and bought a motorhome.They hit the road soon after that and ended up in Oregon, where they decided to settle down. They transitioned from a motorhome to a tiny home , so the change wasn't that big. However, their first house was really small, so the two moved into a slightly bigger space in a loving community called Tiny Tranquility.Their tiny is called the Harbor Seal, and it was built by Rewild Homes , a Canadian company that makes stunning mobile habitats on Vancouver Island. The dwelling measures 30 ft (9.1-meters) in length and is 8-ft-wide (2.4-meter-wide).It might not sound like a lot, but the Harbor Seal is a functional home that is incredibly spacious. It has a fully-equipped kitchen, a full-size bathroom, and two lofts! Right as you step inside, you're welcomed by a light-filled interior. The kitchen has a large window that opens up, eliminating the indoor-outdoor boundary.Since Huck loves to cook, he wanted to have a dedicated space packed with features.The kitchen looks like one you'd see in a regular-sized house. It includes a four-burner propane cooktop with an oven, a range hood, a refrigerator, a large sink, and a dishwasher. They even have a dehumidifier that helps with the excess moisture during the rainy season.A few steps ahead is the living room, which includes a couch with built-in storage, a coat rack, an electric fireplace, and a TV. This is where they keep their turtle tank as well. They also have a fur baby with which they share the space in their tiny home At the rear is a full-size bathroom. This area comes with a beautiful vanity, a full-height closet, a washer and dryer combo unit, and a generous walk-in shower. Of course, they had to include a hidden litter box for their cat too.An interesting feature you'll spot in the Harbor Seal is the walk-in closet. That's where they keep all their clothes. Above the bathroom is one of the lofts, which serves as the master bedroom. It's a compact space that has a queen-size bed, which is more than enough for them. The second loft functions as a storage area. Basically, every item that doesn't have its own place can be found there.Recently, Kristen and Huck offered a full tour of their tiny house to the folks from Tiny Home Tours. You can watch the clip down below to learn more about them and the Harbor Seal!
EV

When the deal with Nikrob was still valid, FreZe was supposed to use the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV platform. In fact, the car would have been a rebadged Mini, an idea that Leonard Yankelovich did not like. The DARTZ founder told autoevolution he is used to selling cars with more style, something he also wants FreZe to have. The problem is doing that in a way that makes sense from a business perspective.According to Yankelovich, the FreZe Nikrob was born when Nikrob offered him a fast solution, and he agreed, but that led to the split because the Lithuanian company was not about cars. Without high volumes, this sort of business usually does not make sense. However, neither Nikrob nor FreZe will make these vehicles.Nikrob buys them from Wuling. FreZe will buy the platform from a competitor that Yankelovich does not want to disclose right now. Their manufacturers are the ones having to sell thousands of these tiny EVs to make a profit. Nikrob and FreZe make some changes to them and resell the vehicles at a much higher price than the one they paid.According to Yankelovich, the FreZe Froggy EV Beachstar is a radically different vehicle than the donor car with very few changes. That means he does not have to spend that much on manufacturing: selling ten vehicles will not be that different from selling one thousand, even if higher volumes will help him make more money. The deal is that he does not depend on these volumes to make the business viable.The entrepreneur offered us a candid explanation for keeping the brand now that Nikrob is not involved. According to Yankelovich, FreZe is a way to prepare for the electric future. Although DARTZ will also have an EV  the Royal Cypher  FreZe is a sort of insurance if electric cars really become mainstream. He wants to make money with it, simple as that. That means he can keep it, make it go public, or eventually sell it.The idea is to sell the FreZe Froggy to businesses that need flashy vehicles, such as luxury hotels. Yankelovich plans to produce them in China for non-European Union (EU) markets, Europe for the EU, and even the Middle East. The focus will be on other businesses, which will spare FreZe from establishing dealerships.Yankelovich is studying swappable batteries for the FreZe products because he does not believe in fast charging. He makes an interesting comparison with livers as a battery pack and vodka bottles as electricity. People that take small drinks every once in a while may live longer than those killing a bottle in five minutes. Thats the difference between responsible alcohol consumption and cirrhosis.Production should start in the spring or summer of 2023. Apart from the Froggy, FreZe will also offer a closed-cabin vehicle called Cuviers Dwarf Kaiman, or Kaiman for short. That name will certainly call Porsches attention. Yankelovich also promised a targa derivative, yet to be named, and a buggy, the FreZe Mojo.
Celebrities are often involved in many other businesses so they can build connections and their net worth. When stumbling across Daniel Mac, Wiz Khalifa revealed what he does for a living to afford a $350k Rolls-Royce.

9 photos
VTOL

For those who are unfamiliar with Zapata, it is the company created by Franky Zapata, a.k.a. the flying man, as he goes in the media. He is a French inventor whos passionate about anything that can fly, hence the nickname. He is famous for his flying over the English Channel using a homemade hoverboard/jetpack. The crazy dude also made the headlines earlier this year when he crashed his flyboard into a lake. But he got away from it with no serious injuries and with his sense of humor intact.The latest Zapata creation is the JetRacer, aaircraft powered by 10 micro-turbo-jet engines, which can still fly in case it loses two of them. We dont have all the specs for the flying car just yet, but we do know it is a single-seater with a maximum carrying capacity of 200 kg (440 lb). It can reach altitudes of 3,000 m (9,842 ft) and fly at a top speed of 250 kph (155 mph). The JetRacer boasts of being able to withstand strong, turbulent winds.Now heres the most interesting part about the JetRacer. Zapata is kicking off a flight test campaign in the United States and 25 lucky folks will have the opportunity to take the JetRacer for a spin.Those who wish to participate have to sign up on the website and 25 participants of the 100 chosen finalists will get to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime adventure and turn into VTOL pilots for a day. Youll find out more details about the flight test campaign after you sign up. Meanwhile, you can see the JetRacer in action in the video below.
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Here again we are dealing with agreements and verbal arrangements reached behind the peoples back, and the deadline [for the evacuation of villages] revealed to the public is just another evidence of this, the Armenian parliaments opposition Hayastan faction said in a statement.

After the latest escalation of violence in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone on August 1-3 in which at least two Armenian and one Azerbaijani soldiers were killed authorities in the Armenian-populated region revealed arrangements made with Azerbaijan through Russian peacekeepers that Armenian residents of several settlements along the current Lachin corridor, including the town of Lachin and the village of Aghavno, will be required to leave their homes for good until August 25.

The five-kilometer-wide corridor became Nagorno-Karabakhs sole overland link to Armenia following the 2020 war. Armenian forces pulled out of the rest of the wider Lachin district under the terms of the Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the six-week hostilities.

The truce accord calls for the construction of a new Armenia-Karabakh highway that will bypass the town of Lachin and two Armenian-populated villages located within the current corridor protected by Russian peacekeeping troops.

Nagorno-Karabakhs leadership revealed early last week that Azerbaijan had demanded through the peacekeepers the quick closure of the existing corridor and suggested that the Armenian side use a bypass road which has yet to be constructed.

Armenias government dismissed the demands as not legitimate amid renewed deadly fighting along the corridor in which Azerbaijan claimed to have captured several strategic heights. The Armenian side has not confirmed the loss of such heights yet.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian argued during a cabinet session on August 4 that the truce accord requires Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to work out before 2024 a joint plan for the construction of a new Armenia-Karabakh road. No such plan has been drawn up yet, he said.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, however, that the three sides did agree on the route of the new corridor early this year and accused Yerevan of dragging out work on its Armenian sections.

In its latest statement the opposition Hayastan parliamentary faction accused the current Armenian authorities of serving the Turkish-Azerbaijani interests in implementing a plan for the exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh together with Ankara and Baku.

Hayastan, a bloc whose leader outside of parliament is former President Robert Kocharian, a top Pashinian critic, called for nationwide consolidation, stressing that stopping the spinning wheel of defeats is possible only by removing the current authorities.

Hayastan lawmaker Gegham Manukian claimed that the Pashinian government consistently fulfills the points of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020 that are beneficial to Azerbaijan, while not taking any steps towards the release of Armenian prisoners of war mentioned in the same document.

The authorities of Armenia have washed their hands of the Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh  ed.] Republic, the Artsakh Armenians and Artsakhs security. Even though under the government program presented to the National Assembly in 2021 as well as the election program of the [Pashinian-led] Civil Contract party the guarantor of the security of Artsakh Armenians is the Republic of Armenia, today Armenia is trying to completely put itself aside and leave Artsakh and Artsakh Armenians alone in this process, Manukian said.

Vahagn Aleksanian, a member of the ruling Civil Contract faction, dismissed Hayastans criticism, claiming that instead of criticizing Azerbaijan, the opposition faction extends the Azerbaijani aggression to the Armenian political and media domains.

First, I am very surprised that the Hayastan faction has finally decided to speak about the existence of the Lachin corridor and the Azerbaijani aggression there, because I had the impression that they did not want to talk about it. It was especially surprising, considering the fact that the Lachin corridor, under the terms of the 2020 ceasefire, is under absolute control of Russian peacekeepers. The Hayastan faction, for some reason, did not talk about that, Aleksanian said.

But generally the same pattern appears to be working with Azerbaijan and the Hayastan faction. Azerbaijan commits some kind of provocation, aggression, violates agreements, and after that the Hayastan faction, in its own style, starts accusing the Armenian authorities over the matter, the pro-government lawmaker added.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his visiting Algerian counterpart in Baku, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that Azerbaijan wants to have good relations with its neighbors.

The only right path to settle relations is to mutually respect the principle of the inviolability of each others borders, and we are moving forward based on that principle, Bayramov said, as quoted by Azerbaijani media.

In March, Azerbaijan presented Armenia with five elements which it wants to be at the heart of a peace treaty to be signed by the two South Caucasus nations that fought a bloody six-week war over Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020.

The elements include a mutual recognition of each others territorial integrity. The Armenian government, in principle, agreed to the elements, but said they should be complemented by other issues relating to the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh and the security of its population.

Amid a fresh escalation of violence in the conflict zone on August 3 when at least two Armenians and one Azerbaijan soldier were killed, Nagorno-Karabakhs de facto ethnic Armenian authorities ordered the evacuation, by the end of August, of several Armenian-populated settlements along the Lachin corridor, which is protected by Russian peacekeepers under the terms of the 2020 ceasefire agreement.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian argued during a cabinet session on August 4 that the trilateral agreement requires Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia to work out, before 2024, a joint plan for the construction of a new Armenia-Karabakh road. No such plan has been drawn up yet, he said.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, however, that the three sides did agree on the route of the new corridor early this year and accused Yerevan of dragging out work on its Armenian sections.

Eventually, the few remaining Armenian residents of the town of Lachin and Armenian families in the village of Aghavno have been ordered to leave their homes for good until August 25 as the area is due to be handed over to Azerbaijans control then.

In his remarks made on August 9 Bayramov accused Armenia of dragging out the fulfilment of another term of the 2020 ceasefire concerning the unblocking of regional transport links.

The Azerbaijan foreign minister again stressed that Armenia has still not opened road and railway links to connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave that Baku calls the Zangezur corridor implying the extraterritorial status to be given to the routes passing through Armenias southern Syunik province.

Last week, the Armenian prime minister again implicitly rejected the corridor logic for the unblocking of regional transport routes, insisting that Armenia must maintain sovereignty over the transport routes in its territory. At the same time, he said that Azerbaijan is free to use any territory of Armenia, including Syunik, for transit purposes in accordance with Armenian legislation.

Bayramov said yesterday that Azerbaijan will in any case get an alternative transport link to its western exclave, referring to the recently launched construction of a bridge over the river Arax, which is part of the infrastructure for such a connection via Iran.

Armenia is simply given a chance not to be left out of regional cooperation. If Yerevan fails to make the right decision, then it will damage its own interests, the top Azerbaijani diplomat said, as quoted by Azerbaijans Turan news agency.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited China's Taiwan region recently, despite China's strong opposition.

Experts in various countries say that the visit shows anti-China politicians in the U.S. are using Taiwan to strategically contain China, but this will be bound to fail.





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Kristen Hwang reports for CalMatters, a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization with a focus on stories that examine, explain and explore solutions to Californias quality-of-life issues while holding state government accountable. For more, visit calmatters.org.
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Biyi Bandele, the renowned Nigerian novelist, playwright and filmmaker behind 2013s Half of a Yellow Sun and upcoming film The Kings Horseman, has died. He was 54.

Bandele died on Sunday in Lagos, Nigeria, according to a Facebook post from his daughter, Temi Bandele. A cause of death was not given.

Biyi was a prodigiously talented writer and filmmaker, as well as a loyal friend and beloved father, Temi writes in the post. He was a storyteller to his bones, with an unblinking perspective, singular voice and wisdom which spoke boldly through all of his art, in poetry, novels, plays and on screen. He told stories which made a profound impact and inspired many all over the world. His legacy will live on through his work.

Bandele had recently finished his latest film entitled The Kings Horseman. Inspired by Nigerian Nobel Prize-winning writer Wole Soyinkas anti-colonial play Death and the Kings Horseman, the drama is set to have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month. The Yoruba-language film was produced by Mo Abudus EbonyLife Films for Netflix.

Speaking to Variety, Abudu described Bandeles death as totally unexpected and a real shock to us all.

He was over the moon about Elesin Oba, The Kings Horseman premiering at TIFF, and of course we were all planning to be there, she said, noting that the film was beloved by Bandele more so than any of the other projects he had worked on with us.

He knew the source material well and was so excited when he heard about our selection at TIFF, she added. Its so unfortunate that he will not be there to see the world enjoy a piece of his work that I know he was very proud of and so passionate about.

Bandele also co-directed this years Blood Sisters for Netflix. The streamers first Nigerian original series follows friends Sarah and Kemi as they are forced to go on the run after a wealthy groom disappears during his engagement party. Netflix paid tribute to Bandele via a Twitter post, saying, May he rest in power.

Biyi Bandeles passing is a monumental loss to Nigerias film and creative industry, the post reads. He will be remembered as a powerhouse who made some of the finest films out of Africa.

Bandele was born in 1967 in the small town in Nigeria called Kafanchan. He studied drama at Obafemi Awolowo University before he left Nigeria at age 22 for London. There, Bandele found a publisher and launched his career as a playwright with the Royal Court Theatre. On top of his extensive work on the stage, the creative also wrote screenplays for radio dramas and television. Eventually, the BBC picked up one of Bandeles teleplays for its Screenplay anthology series and attached Danny Boyle  the future director of Slumdog Millionaire and 127 Hours  to direct.

In 2013, Bandele made his directorial debut with Half of a Yellow Sun, an adaptation of the 2006 novel by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The film starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandiwe Newton and Anika Noni Rose in a family drama set in 1960s Nigeria.

Bandele also helmed the 2015 romantic drama Fifty and several episodes of the African-set MTV series Shuga.

Christopher Vourlias contributed to this report.

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An official of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission opens a ballot box for counting at a polling station in Nairobi Aug. 9, 2022. Kenya on Tuesday held general elections for the country's fifth president, members of the National Assembly, senators, and county governors. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua)

Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials count votes by displaying to agents at a polling station in Nairobi Aug. 9, 2022. Kenya on Tuesday held general elections for the country's fifth president, members of the National Assembly, senators, and county governors. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua)

An official of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission counts ballots at a polling station in Nairobi Aug. 9, 2022. Kenya on Tuesday held general elections for the country's fifth president, members of the National Assembly, senators, and county governors. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua)

An official of Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission pours out votes for counting at a polling station in Nairobi Aug. 9, 2022. Kenya on Tuesday held general elections for the country's fifth president, members of the National Assembly, senators, and county governors. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua)
PITTSBURGH (AP)  Managers at two skilled nursing facilities in western Pennsylvania fabricated records of staff time and residents' conditions to defraud state and federal agencies, prosecutors alleged Tuesday in announcing criminal charges.

Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Beaver and Mt. Lebanon Rehabilitation and Wellness Center in Allegheny County were accused of health care fraud, along with five people who managed their operations.
The Beaumont City Council chambers were packed to the brim on Tuesday as attendees spoke out and made comments while the council decided on the a manager.

The council ultimately appointed retired Buda City Manager Kenneth Williams.

The motion passed 4-3, with council members Mike Getz, Taylor Neild and Randy Feldschau opposing.

Williams has more than 34 years of municipal government experience. He served as the Lufkin assistant city manager, president of Texas City Manager Association and as a member of International City Manager Association.

Williams will be Beaumont's first ever Black city manager, according to Mayor Robin Mouton.

"This could have been an executive item," Mouton said. "I chose to do it publicly for transparency because I want it public. I want it on record. I want it on file so everyone can hear everything."

RELATED: 5 things to know about the contract Beaumont could offer its next manager

Before the council began to discuss appointing Williams, a handful of community members shared their own opinions.

Beaumont resident Rhonda Ruben said she's known Williams for more than two decades.

"Through the years, I have watched him ascend to new leadership heights as he moved from high-performance cities to superb-performance cities with continuous improvement for the citizen quality of life," Ruben said. "Kenneth is a man of impeccable integrity, possesses a broad range of knowledge and experience regarding city management and the personal needs to elevate Beaumont to the next level."

Out of the seven people who spoke about the city manager vote during public comment, five were in support of Williams. The other two spoke for what's best for city, not endorsing any candidate.

"I'm not here to talk about blacks and whites. I'm tired of talking about blacks and whites," Beaumont resident Sam Parigi said. "I want us to do the right thing. If Mr. Williams is the guy, and I'll support Mr. Williams, but he's got to prove himself to me first."

RELATED: Records reeal all candidates for Beaumont's next City Manager

Getz heavily opposed Williams as city manager, primarily for his persistence in including a severance section in his employment agreement.

The section states that Williams will be paid a six-month salary if the city terminates his employment within his first two years and a full year's salary if terminated after two years. Some of the possible termination reasons include engaging in a romantic or sexual relationship with a subordinate, failure to fulfill the city managers duties or falsifying records or documents, among other reasons.

"I think it's a bad deal where you could potentially come in here and do these things, force the staff to fire you and then we'll have to pay you," Getz said. "I asked him to take the severance package out ... But his response was 'No, I want that severance package in there.' And that gives me concern. It gives me concern, and I'm not going to support him as city manager."

The city council members who voted for Williams were quick to say that he wouldn't ruin his reputation just to be city manager of Beaumont. They also spoke to his decision to leave retirement to be city manager of Beaumont.

"(People) wonder why he retired in March and then put his name in the hat to be hired, and all I'm saying is have you heard Tom Brady," Ward IV Council member Chris Durio said. "Some people would consider him to be a GOAT -- a greatest of all time -- as far as city managers go. Some people would say you can compare him to Tom Brady as far as all his accomplishments go."

RELATED: Beaumont reveals likely city manager choice

The council received three different proposed versions of an employment agreement, the first coming Friday, another Sunday and the last shortly before the meeting.

City Attorney Sharae Reed went over the most recent version during the meeting, updating the council on the changes. She said most of the changes were to made to reflect the city's policies or improve the phrasing.

These changes include the removal of extra legal insurance, adding that the city manager must live in Beaumont while serving and changing the wording for the paid time off.

Williams' appointment begins Sept. 6.
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Summer vacation is officially over for Beaumont and Port Arthur students.

Wednesday was the start of a new school year for more than 25,000 students in the region -- a chance to learn new things, meet new people and, for some, to experience school for the very first time.

Between emotional early-morning arrivals and the joy of afternoon release, students spent most the day getting to know their peers, teachers and administrators. They'll be sharing the hallways for the next nine months, making a good first impression all the more important.

"We want kids to enjoy coming to school," said Jerry Gloston, who's been the principal at DeQueen Elementary School in Port Arthur for more than a decade. "It's about creating an environment in which kids look forward to learning and being here."

RELATED: Beaumont schools to start new year with more vacancies than 2021

More Information First day of school for districts around the region: Wednesday, Aug. 10 Bridge City ISD Buna ISD Evadale ISD Jasper ISD Orangefield ISD Silsbee ISD Vidor ISD West Orange-Cove CISD

Thursday, Aug. 11 Hamshire-Fannett ISD Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD Lumberton ISD Nederland ISD

Monday, Aug. 15 High Island ISD

Tuesday, Aug. 16 Hardin-Jefferson ISD Kirbyville CISD

Wednesday, Aug. 17 Port Neches-Groves ISD

Thursday, Aug. 18 East Chambers ISD Newton ISD

Monday, Aug. 22 Deweyville ISD

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At 7:30 a.m., parents and students crowded around a bulletin board outside Pietzsch-MacArthur PK-8 Center to see who would be their teacher for the next 170-plus days.

Anxiously holding their parents' and guardians' hands, children were decked out in brand new uniforms with fresh haircuts with backpacks -- some almost as big as the students themselves -- stuffed to the brim with school supplies.

Parents and students alike shed some tears as they said goodbye, with one parent walking away from the school saying, "I'm not ready."

Raylan Maxson, parent of four Pietzsch-MacArthur students in kindergarten; first; third; and fourth grades, said she's excited for the school year to begin.

RELATED: Beaumont schools discuss COVID, monkeypox precautions

Her kids, however, weren't so sure.

Early mornings and homework aren't exactly exciting, but Maxson's younger children were ready for a new adventure, excited to learn new things.

"I wasn't expecting (school) to come back so early, but it is what it is," Maxson said. "We're getting ready for homework which, oh man, is always a hassle."

The beginning of this school year was a big day for Pietzsch-MacArthur itself.

RELATED: Beaumont school district to increase employee salary

This year marks the end of the campus' two-year transition from an elementary school to a pre-k through eighth grade campus.

"(This year) is a milestone school year for Pietzsch-MacArthur," Principal Audrey Collins said. "We have been working towards becoming a center that services grades pre-k through eighth for several years, and I am thrilled to have both buildings bustling with first day excitement and to have our family complete."

She also looked forward to seeing students who have been with the school for multiple years return for another term.

"I am excited to see the growth of our students who have been phased in with us from year to year and the impacts of continuing through Pietzsch-MacArthur with consistent leadership and expectations," she said.

RELATED: Survey: 70% of Texas teachers are considering quitting their jobs

Shelia Alfred and Brad Buckley sat at the front of the school with their student, who is entering kindergarten this year.

He was nervous about the new experience but was looking forward to making new friends.

"(We're excited) for him to start school," Buckley and Alfred said. "He was in daycare but now he gets to adventure."

Students became more comfortable as the day moved forward.

RELATED: Preliminary state ratings show Beaumont schools improved performance

At DeQueen Elementary in Port Arthur, gym classes throughout the day gave students a chance to shake off any first-day jitters. After introductions, children got moving with some fun, easy exercises.

"I always tell them, 'This is your time to let out any stress or anxiety that you have,'" physical education teacher Joy Guillory said.

Back in the classroom, the learning curve was taking place for teachers, too. Fourth-grade instructor Quelinquia Darden was putting herself to the test, memorizing the names, likes and dislikes of all her students.

After asking her students a few brief questions, Darden went around the room and showed off those memorization skills, prompting smiles from each student as they heard their favorite foods and colors listed off.

RELATED: Beaumont school district plans to harden campuses, equip police

"I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty good," Darden said.

As the afternoon dwindled away, students began preparing to head home. They walked through the halls and were greeted by Gloston one last time before packing up for the day.

She was physically and mentally tired by the final bell, yet felt fulfilled having made it through the first challenge of a new school year.

"It can be a roller coaster," Gloston said. "You're going to have ups and downs, but overall, we're very happy to have our students back. The first day is always a great chance for us to learn about them, and them to learn about us."
WAYNESBORO, Ga. (AP)  Investigators searching for a Georgia man missing since 2016 may have found human remains buried in the mud at the bottom of a pond near Augusta.

Officials have been looking for Simon Powell, a logger known to carry large amounts of cash, since his truck was found on fire several miles from his home six years ago. Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has said he believes Powell was robbed and the robbers burned the truck to conceal evidence.
Richard Ross/Getty Images

The port of Port Arthur will receive a $13.6 million federal grant, according to a press release from Southeast Texas Rep. Randy Weber. The grant will be used to add flexibility to multimodal freight capabilities, reduce congestion at the port and improve safety and air quality, the release said. Through the grant, the port will be able to increase its cargo handling capabilities and promote local jobs.

"This is welcome news for Port Arthur. Our ports here in southeast Texasand the petrochemical and maritime industries they supportare critical to the economic success of the United States, not just our region," Weber said in the release. This project will create new jobs and economic opportunities for Port Arthur."
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Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan of Beaumont was always going to have an interesting session in January, but it just got more interesting.

On Tuesday, voters in one of the most conservative states in the country  Kansas  voted to preserve abortion access. Even with all the logistics stacked against them  an August primary election when few Democrats usually vote, a weirdly worded ballot item in which a no vote preserved abortion access  the pro-choice vote still prevailed. And not just by a close margin, but by a 59%-41% blowout.

And just to be clear, this is a state that hasnt gone to a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964 or sent a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932. Kansas politics are dominated by Republicans  just like our state.

Still the pushback from the Roe reversal was strong. And it wont be limited to Texas.

In state legislatures all over the country, you will soon see bills that would at least permit abortions in cases of rape, incest or the need to protect the health of the mother. In Texas and most other states with pro-life laws, the ban on abortion is total  no exceptions for rape or incest, though perhaps when the mothers life is endangered.

When Phelan bangs down the gavel in the Texas House in January, the 150 members will be faced with votes on bills to allow abortion in case of rape, incest or to protect the mothers health. Democrats will file bills to allow all abortions up to a certain time period, but those wont attract any GOP support. Yet a bill permitting some abortions will have a chance  a slim chance  of getting enough Republican votes in the House and maybe the Senate to pass.

This will be a challenge for area pro-life Republicans like state Sen. Brandon, Creighton, state Sen. Robert Nichols and any others who may be elected, such as Jacorion Randle, whos running for state representative in District 22, Joe Deshotels old seat.

In the days when Roe was still in effect, most Republicans wanted to ban all abortions, with no exceptions. But the Kansas vote was  or should have been  a wakeup call for the GOP. Poll after poll shows that most Americans want some flexibility on abortion. Only 15% or so want a total ban even for rape or incest.

Will Phelan and other Republican leaders try to quietly build support for a rape-incest exception bill next year? Or will GOP lawmakers stick to the total ban, either because they truly support it or dont want to be labeled soft on abortion?

Its an open question, and its one that just got a lot harder for Republicans to answer.
Photo courtesy of Orange County Sheriff's Office

Orange County sheriffs deputies shut down a business in Vidor last week, which is ordinarily the kind of thing that taxpayers would be concerned about. But this closure was justified, because it was a game room allegedly operating in violation of several county ordinances.

Orange County detectives did a compliance check on the Double Diamond Game Room in Vidor, and they found that compliance was a problem. Detectives said the alleged violations included store clerks not wearing a name tag, not having a complete application on file, not having a criminal background check on file, paperwork with an incorrect address and no proof of current payments to employees.

Whew. Thats quite a list. If any company is operating under that many alleged violations, something is wrong. But this wasnt the kind of business that Orange County residents would brag about.

For many years game rooms have been a problem in this area and throughout Texas. They often bring related problems, which is why cities and counties have been trying to suppress them. In this case, the Orange County sheriffs department bluntly called them crime-attracting establishments and possibly organized criminal activity.

Last August Orange County commissioners passed an ordinance regulating game rooms, and the Bridge City City Council did the same thing this spring. Also this spring, Orange County officials revoked a Mauriceville sites game room permit indefinitely.

Clearly, were not talking about noncontroversial businesses like book shops or grocery stores. Game rooms invariably bring more law enforcement scrutiny, and that scrutiny is usually justified.

When the Legislature convenes in January, it should consider giving cities and counties additional authority to control game rooms. House Speaker Dade Phelan is from Beaumont, so he is quite familiar with this problem.

Orange County, like every county in Texas, needs businesses that help attract new residents and other companies. This creates more jobs and tax revenues and enhances the quality of life. Game rooms dont contribute to that goal. As long as they are allowed to operate at all, they must be in complete compliance with all state and local regulations. If they dont, they should meet the fate of the Double Diamond Game Room in Vidor.
BEIRUT, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- An Italian agency and the United Nations on Wednesday signed a two-year agreement to repair the Mar Mikhael railway station in the Lebanese capital of Beirut and the housing units damaged by the 2020 blasts at the Beirut port.

The agreement, which is estimated to be worth 2.3 million euros (2.37 million U.S. dollars), was signed between the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

Italian Ambassador to Lebanon Nicoletta Bombardiere, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Italian agency, said the project "will allow people in Beirut to re-discover the old train station of Mar Mikhael and its historical relevance."

She said that Italy would remain committed to responding to Lebanese people's basic needs, such as social housing, and restoring the cultural and social fabric of the neighborhoods affected by the blasts, which killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 6,000 others on Aug. 4, 2020.

For her part, Taina Christiansen, head of UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Programme, said the UN body would work with Italy to rehabilitate the Mar Mikhael train station and provide adequate housing for those who were affected by the blasts. 
Unidentified assailants fatally shot two Rohingya leaders as they returned home after overseeing community night-watch duties at a refugee camp in Coxs Bazar, police said Wednesday.

The shooting inside the Kutupalong mega-camp in the Ukiah sub-district on Tuesday evening was the latest in a string of killings, as fears grow among Rohingya refugees about crime and deteriorating public safety in crowded camps along Bangladeshs border with Myanmar.

Abu Taleb, 40, and Syed Hossain, 35, were the victims of target killings by a criminal gang in Tuesdays attack, said Kamran Hossain, an additional superintendent of the Armed Police Battalion that is responsible for security in the camps, which are home to about 1 million Rohingya refugees.

Taleb was leader of a block in camp-15 while Hossain led a sub-block at the Jamtoli refugee camp in Ukhia, he said. Both camps lie within the confines of Kutupalong, the worlds largest refugee camp.

At around 11:45 p.m. Tuesday, Abu Taleb and Syed Hossain went to a hill of Jamtoli camp to make cell phone calls after distributing the night surveillance duties among Rohingya volunteers. Then eight to 10 assailants shot them and fled the scene through another hill, Hossain told BenarNews on Wednesday.

Both the slain Rohingya leaders had been active in curbing criminal activities at the camp. They used to cooperate with the police to arrest the camp-based criminals, so we are sure that they were the victims of target killings, he said.

The killings occurred a day after assailants killed Md. Ibrahim, 30, in the Nayapara refugee camp in Teknaf, another sub-district of Coxs Bazar. Since mid-June, nine Rohingya men, including two suspected members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), a militant group, were killed at the camps, according to the Bangladeshi authorities.

We have information that there is tension among different groups over the selection of camp leaders. We are examining all available clues, Hossain said. Most of the killings at the refugee camps are targeted  that are very hard to stop.

Mohammad Ali, the officer-in-charge of the Ukhia police station, told BenarNews that the bodies were sent to a Coxs Bazar hospital for autopsies, and police were preparing to file murder charges once suspects were identified.

The law enforcers said the rival groups have been attacking each other over control of the camps, where the trade in illegal weapons and drugs, along with human trafficking, are rampant.

ARSA, based in Myanmars Rakhine state where Rohingya began a mass exodus to the Coxs Bazar camps in August 2017, has been killing their rivals, law enforcers said.

Members of the militant group have also been blamed for the Sept. 29, 2021, killing of Muhib Ullah, who had gained international fame and visited the White House in Washington on behalf of his fellow refugees.

Until that time, authorities had denied the presence of ARSA in Bangladesh, but an investigation showed that ARSA members killed Ullah because of his popularity.

Refugees feel unsafe

In the wake of the recent spate of killings, camp residents said they worried about their safety.

We, the ordinary people, want peace at the camps. Many of the camp leaders help the police arrest the criminals and ARSA members, Md. Kamal Hossain, a leader at the Balukhali camp, told BenarNews.

After coming out of the jail on bail, criminals identify informants and kill them in a premeditated way, he said. Therefore, ordinary Rohingya people do not dare to give tips about the criminals.

Hossain said the night surveillance by police and volunteers had led to a drop in criminal activities in the camps.

Very often the ARSA members threaten the camp leaders over phones so we immediately inform police about the threats, Hossain said. Though the police have been helping us, we are really worried.
Thirteen Bangladeshi workers are suing American and Australian companies in a U.S. court, arguing that the two firms knowingly profited from forced labor at glove-making factories in Malaysia, according to a group that filed the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs in the case against the Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Ansell seek to represent thousands of other workers who, like them, were systematically trafficked into forced labor schemes to staff plants owned by the Brightway Group, the suit filed in Washington on Tuesday alleges.

The Malaysian company is not named as a defendant, but the word Brightway appears more than 300 times in the 78-page document seen by BenarNews.

Ansell and KCC have attempted to maintain their public reputation despite such usage of forced labor, each publishing statements regarding their dedication to addressing and ending modern slavery, International Rights Advocates said in the suit it filed on behalf of the 13 Bangladeshis.

Words without action mean nothing, and absolutely do not resolve either company of legal or moral responsibility. The companies policies have managed to mislead consumers but did nothing to remediate the forced labor in their supply chains. In fact, the statements prove the companies knowledge of the forced labor, and recognition of their accountability.

In recent years, some firms based in Malaysia, the worlds top manufacturer of disposable rubber gloves, have been hit with import bans or restrictions enforced by U.S. customs officials over the alleged use of forced labor and other abuses in the workplace. Workers from Bangladesh and Indonesia are among the largest communities of foreign migrants who travel to Malaysia to take on menial jobs that pay meager wages and can be physically demanding.

The lawsuit filed by International Rights Advocates, a Washington-based legal organization dedicated to addressing human rights abuses by multinational corporations, alleges that many of the Bangladeshis paid more than U.S. $4,000 to recruiters for jobs at the Malaysian manufacturers plants.

Once in Malaysia, many had their passports confiscated, were forced to work long hours without days off  except for Eid al-Fitr  and had to live in one room with 70 other people, the suit alleges. They also had their pay docked if they refused to work overtime and had restricted access to food, water, and restrooms.

The suit notes that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had filed a Withhold Release Order against the Brightway Group on Dec. 20, 2021  meaning its rubber gloves could not be delivered to U.S. ports.

The WRO remains in effect. The group is one of six Malaysian glove manufacturers subjected to WROs by the U.S. agency.

Until the CBPs WRO, Ansell and KCC imported gloves manufactured by Brightway and made enormous profits by distributing the gloves in the United States, the lawsuit said, adding that the two companies maintain business relationships with Brightway despite the U.S. action.

Kimberly-Clark is headquartered in Irving, Texas, while Ansell is an Australian company with offices in the U.S.

Lawyer Terrence Collingsworth, executive director of International Rights Advocates, said this type of suit against a Malaysian glove maker in a U.S. court is unique, adding he tried for mediation and a settlement first.

As far as I know this is the first case. Rather odd since the CBP finding should make this a pretty easy case, Collingsworth told BenarNews.

I sent the attached letters to both companies. I seriously thought with the CBP findings and the direct relationship between Brightway and KCC and Ansell that rational people would try to resolve this rather than hiring giant law firms that will charge millions in fees, but nope. They both declined and had their law firms contact me to say so.

A Kimberly-Clark spokesman said the company stands against all forms of forced labor and we are committed to ensuring that all workers within our supply chain are treated with humanity and in accordance with our workplace and human rights standards.

As a matter of practice, we do not comment on the specifics of litigation matters. However, the recent legal action brought against Kimberly-Clark is completely without merit, spokesman Terry Balluck told BenarNews in an email.

Ansell and Brightway officials, meanwhile, did not immediately respond to BenarNews requests for comment.

Advocate speaks

A news release issued by International Rights Advocates on Wednesday quoted Andy Hall, a labor rights specialist and advocate for migrant workers in Southeast Asia, saying that Brightway workers had asked for my support to bring their poor working and living conditions to the attention of the international community.

My own attempts to engage with Ansell and KCC to resolve these matters have been relatively unsuccessful, he said. By working with IRA in bringing an innovative legal claim against Ansell and KCC at this time, I hope the affected workers can hold these two global companies accountable for their poor governance and the woeful conditions for workers in their supply chain.

Balluck said Hall spoke positively about Kimberly-Clark in December, in response to the Withhold Release Order.

Despite some outstanding topics of concern still being discussed between myself and KCC, I acknowledge that positive efforts have indeed been undertaken by KCC to seek to address forced labor conditions at Brightway Group, reform the companys approach and significantly pay for the remediation of workers at the company, Hall said in a Facebook post on Dec. 21, 2021.

These actions of KCC contrasts sharply with the unacceptable approach of Ansell, an Australian company that remains one of the largest gloves companies in the world. Ansell has not replied to any of my communications on this issue nor seemingly played any role at all in remediation of victims of modern slavery at Brightway Group.

The lawsuit ends with a claim for relief involving five counts against the companies linked to forced labor, trafficking, unjust enrichment, negligent supervision and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It does not list specific requests for damages for the 13 Bangladeshis.
A Russian Mil Mi-17 military helicopter flies over a joint Russian-Turkish military patrol convoy in the countryside near Darbasiyah, along the border with Turkey, in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province, Nov. 30, 2020.

The new government in the Philippines announced Wednesday that it was canceling a contract to buy 16 military helicopters from Russia, weeks after the former defense chief said Manila planned to scrap the deal because of potential American sanctions over Moscows war in Ukraine.

The Department of National Defense (DND) said it formed a committee to formalize the withdrawal from the military procurement contract worth about 12.7 billion pesos (U.S. $244.2 million).

Signed under the Duterte administration in November 2021, the deal called for the purchase of 16 Russian-made Mil Mi-17 helicopters, with an additional unit of this Soviet era heavy-lift aircraft to be included at no extra cost.

We have reconstituted the DND Contract Termination and Review Committee  that will undertake the appropriate processes and exercise due diligence in formalizing the termination of the projects contract, department spokesman Arsenio Andolong said.

We are also preparing to initiate a diplomatic dialogue with the Russian side regarding matters arising from the projects cancellation.

Alluding to potential consequences from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in late February, Andolong noted that changes in priorities necessitated by global political developments resulted in the cancellation of the project by the previous administration.

In early March, the defense department had said it intended to go ahead with the purchase despite sanctions by Western nations over the Russia-Ukraine war.

Under the contract, the Russian firm Sovtechnoexport LLC would deliver the Mi-17s to the Philippine Air Force, a military branch looking to modernize its fleets.

A heavy-lift helicopter is a rotary aircraft capable of lifting large numbers of personnel or big amounts of cargo. The model of helicopter is known as the Mi-8M series among the Russian armed forces.

Two weeks ago, Delfin Lorenzana, the defense secretary under former President Rodrigo Duterte, announced that the government had canceled the deal. But on Wednesday, Andolong clarified that Lorenzana had merely voiced the governments intention, but that this caused some confusion.

Under Lorenzana, the department had made a down payment of two billion pesos in January. The delivery of the helicopters was supposed to start in November next year, or 24 months after the contract was signed.

Lorenzana said he canceled the contract on June 25, five days before the end of the Duterte administration. He said President Duterte wanted the contract canceled due to possible sanctions from the U.S.

Lorenzana was referring to sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017, which prohibits countries from purchasing Russian military hardware.

He [Lorenzana] started the [termination] process already by serving notice of our intention to cancel the contract. Now, there are procedures involved to formalize it, Andolong told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.

Its not yet terminated, we have to complete the process although his letter to the Russians already constitutes the start of the process, the intent is already there, he added.

When reporters asked him if the DND was confident it could recoup the payment already made to the Russians, Andolong said it was too early to say.

Western nations, led by the United States, meanwhile have imposed strict economic sanctions on Russia to punish President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The sanctions have included a ban on all imports of Russian oil and gas, the freezing of assets of Russian banks, restrictions on oligarchs and other high-powered Russians close to the Kremlin, and a slew of other measures, according to news reports.

While the Philippines condemned the Russian invasion, Lorenzana had initially said that the country had no business meddling in Moscows affairs.
One-China principle clearly violated by trip

(China Daily) 09:14, August 10, 2022

The Taipei 101 skyscraper commands the urban landscape in Taipei, Taiwan. [Photo/Xinhua]

Experts say that the Taiwan question brooks no interference by foreign forces

It's natural for China to feel angry and oppose the recent visit to Taiwan by United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, because the trip openly violates the one-China principle and challenges China's territorial integrity and sovereignty, experts said while explaining China's reaction and the severe countermeasures it has taken.

It's clear that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are the same country, and the Taiwan question, which is purely China's internal affair, brooks no interference by foreign forces, they said.

Traveling in a military aircraft, Pelosisecond in the line of succession to the US presidentlast week paid a high-profile "official visit to Taiwan", as her office described it in her arrival statement, and was given full protocol treatment by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, which make no secret of pursuing "independence" in their party platform.

Pelosi's two-day trip included meeting with the island's leader Tsai Ing-wen and some "human rights" advocates, as well as visiting the island's "legislative "authority.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese watched, discussed and were outraged by the provocative trip that was also followed by unprecedented countermeasures by the Chinese government, including canceling three cooperative dialogues or meetings with the defense authorities of the US, suspending climate talks, and conducting live-fire drills surrounding the Taiwan island.

Bao Chengke, assistant director at the Institute for East Asian Studies in Shanghai, said that the visit has trampled on the one-China principle and China's national sovereignty, and was a move that in nature promoted the concept of "one China, one Taiwan".

To the Chinese side, the one-China principle is a bottom line that cannot be crossed. It has been reiterated numerous times by the Chinese government, and is firmly believed by the Chinese people, that the island of Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China's territory for 1,800 years and it's crystal clear that the two sides of the Straits belong to one China.

It was even worse that Pelosi turned a deaf ear to repeated warnings from the Chinese government and still made the trip, Bao said, adding that when something like this happens, it's reasonable for any country to feel angry and take severe countermeasures.

Lin Kuan-ting, a young man from Taiwan who is studying on the mainland, said he opposes the visit and the US should not interfere in the Taiwan question as the island has always been a part of China. Another Taiwan student on main-land, Lin Pei-ying, said the visit seriously hurt the feelings of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, and the contradictions between the two sides are purely our family matters.

Root of the Taiwan question

As Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has said, the Taiwan question arose out of the weakness and chaos of the nation and will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality.

In 1894, Japan launched the First Sino-Japanese War to invade China. In the following year, the government of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan under the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki.

In 1945, the Chinese people won the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945). Taiwan was thus recovered and returned to the motherland.

In 1943, the leaders of China, the US and Britain issued the Cairo Declaration, which clearly states that all territories Japan stole from the Chinese, including Taiwan, shall be restored to China. The Potsdam Declaration of 1945 affirmed that the terms of the Cairo Declaration would be carried out. Thus, Taiwan's legal status as a part of China was irrefutably confirmed.

It was not long, however, before the two sides of the Straits fell into a special state of protracted political confrontation due to civil war in China and the interference of foreign forces.

In 1949, the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China was established, replacing the Republic of China government as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. It is logical for the government of the People's Republic of China to exercise sovereignty over China, which includes Taiwan.

In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority vote, restoring all rights of the PRC and recognizing the government of the PRC as the sole legitimate representative of China to the United Nations.

The one-China principle is a widely recognized basic norm of international relations. More than 180 countries have to date established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of their recognition of the one-China principle, according to official records.

When China and the US established diplomatic relations in 1979, the US recognized in the joint communique with China that the government of the PRC is the sole legal government of China. Since then, the US has long been committed to not developing official relations with Taiwan.

"The one-China principle is part of the postwar international order and has become a general international consensus. As a country that thinks of itself as a champion of the 'rules-based international order', the United States should naturally abide by the one-China principle," Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang wrote in an article in The Washington Post on Thursday.

"President Biden has said many times that the United States will not change its one-China policy and does not support 'Taiwan independence'. But for the 'Taiwan independence' forces, Pelosi's visit represents an exceptionally strong signal that 'the US is on Taiwan's side'. This goes against the one-China principle, the three Sino-US joint communiques and America's own commitments," the article said.

Wu Yongping, director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Tsinghua University, said that US support for "Taiwan independence "separatists is a fundamental reason why the Taiwan question is so difficult to resolve.

The US has tried to obscure and hollow out the one-China principle, Wu said, adding that it has colluded with "Taiwan independence" forces on the island and elevated relations with the island in various ways, including arms sales.

After the DPP came to power in Taiwan, it refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus which embodies the one-China principle, creating an increasingly tense and confrontational atmosphere across the Straits, according to Bao from the Institute for East Asian Studies.

Common will

Despite the complex situation, experts believe that the two sides of the Straits must be reunified in the future, which is also the will of the entire Chinese nation.

The mainland has great patience in dealing with the Taiwan question, and it has been working to promote integrated development and cooperation between people across the Straits in order to gradually overcome the resentment and differences and find the path of future reunification, Bao said.

Wu said the mainland's ability to resolve the Taiwan question has been increasing as well, which could been seen in the recent countermeasures, and no other forces should underestimate such ability and China's determination to safeguard its sovereignty and unity.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji)
by Dana Halawi

BEIRUT, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Abbas Nasreddine, a Lebanese citizen in his 60s, has been battling lymphatic cancer for more than two years. But four months ago, he was forced to stop treatment temporarily due to a lack of cancer medicines in Lebanon.

Nasreddine, who was prescribed Imbruvica for life, was finally able to purchase his medicines from the local market recently. Still, he is not sure if he could buy it in future as Lebanon's lingering financial crisis has made it increasingly difficult to obtain such medicines.

"I am very worried, because I do not know if my treatment could continue or not," he said.

Since Lebanon was hit by a financial crisis in 2019, the value of the Lebanese currency against the U.S. dollar has decreased by more than 90 percent. Lebanon's central bank has steadily reduced subsidies for a variety of commodities that were pegged to a fixed exchange rate.

Lebanon still subsidizes patients suffering from a number of chronic diseases, such as cancer. However, due to a lack of medicines, wealthier patients have to buy medicines either on the black market or from other countries through family or friends at higher prices.

For those who are unable to pay for their medicines, they have to stop their treatment, which could have a detrimental effect on their health.

Mohamed Jaber, a pharmacist and secretary-general of the Order of Pharmacists of Lebanon, blamed the drawn-out procedure of Banque Du Liban (BDL), Lebanon's central bank, for the medicine shortage.

Due to the financial crisis, the BDL asks medicine importers to obtain prior authorization. Such authorization is necessary for BDL to open letters of credit, which is required to import subsidized medicines, said Jaber.

The procedure usually takes a long time and delays the delivery of new shipments, sometimes making it difficult for patients to receive what they need, he said.

The shortage of cancer medicines has forced a big number of patients to stop their treatment, which has led to the deterioration of their health, said Nizar Bitar, a hematology and oncology medicine professor at the Sahel hospital in Beirut.

"Cancer patients have to take their medicines regularly, on time and in accordance with specific guidance. Because of a lack of medicines, we were sometimes obliged to provide outdated or less effective treatments to patients rather than new ones that would have improved their quality of life," Bitar said.

Bitar said that some treatments involve the prescription of several medicines, but when one of them is unavailable, the doctor is compelled to change the treatment without being able to evaluate its consequences properly.

Some cancer patients in Lebanon have expressed their worry and concerns over the country's failure to ensure necessary treatments for patients with cancers and other chronic diseases.

Fawzia Fayad, a woman who failed to survive cancer under the medicine shortage, was among one of a few outspoken Lebanese to voice concern about the country's medicine shortage. She passed away on March 3 at 24, after failing to get proper medication.

In the past few months, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has on many occasions called on international bodies and donor countries to support Lebanon's cancer-fighting patients amid the current economic crisis.

At a parliamentary health committee meeting on Monday, he promised to allocate more funds for cancer medication.

However, Jaber believed that the Lebanese government wouldn't be able to resolve this problem anytime soon because of the severe financial crisis.

The best solution now is to allow importers to bring in non-subsidized cancer medicines to ensure they are available on the local market, even if at higher prices, he added. 
A fear of attacks that had rippled through communities nationwide after the fatal shootings of four men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, gave way to shock and sadness when it turned out the suspect in the killings was himself a Muslim
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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Former Manchester City striker Jo has joined Ceara as a free agent, the Brazilian Serie A club said on Tuesday.

The announcement comes two months after the 35-year-old left Corinthians because of disciplinary problems.

"The center-forward is the newest edition to (our) squad this season," Ceara said in a social media post, without providing details of the contract.

Jo made 105 appearances and scored 22 goals across all competitions for Corinthians, whom he joined for a second time in 2020. He also spent two seasons with the club at the beginning of his career before moving to CSKA Moscow.

Capped 20 times for Brazil's national team, Jo has had spells at Manchester City, Everton and Jiangsu Suning, among other clubs, during a 19-year professional career.

Ceara is currently 14th in Brazil's 20-team Serie A standings. 
Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass.
Two big questions for a man in prison for arson remained up in the air Wednesday, though answers are coming soon.

Will he be granted a new trial? Will he be released in the meantime?

A judge overseeing the case of William P. Cascone said Wednesday he will decide this week under what conditions he might allow Cascone to be freed.

The Berkshire District Attorneys Office does not oppose his release, though on Wednesday it added three conditions for Judge Michael K. Callan to consider.

I expect to get that decision out to you very shortly, Callan told attorneys during a videoconference Wednesday afternoon. Callan would be acting on a request from Cascones attorneys that he grant a stay in the execution of their clients prison sentence.

Cascone was convicted in 1987 of arson and of three counts of second-degree felony murder and sentenced to three concurrent life sentences on the murder counts.

He watched Wednesdays short status hearing by video from MCI-Norfolk, the medium security facility where he has been imprisoned since 1995.

Attorneys with the Boston College Innocence Program are asking that Cascone be allowed to live with his mother in the Franklin County town of Rowe.

The next court session on Cascones legal future comes up Sept. 9, when Callan will hold a hearing in Hampden Superior Court and take testimony from arson experts. I want a public hearing with respect to these issues, Callan said. I find it tremendously helpful to hear from live witnesses.

Both Cascones pro bono legal team and the Berkshire District Attorneys Office agree that evidence presented at the mans 1987 trial was based on a now discredited understanding of fire science.

Three young people died in the Oct. 27, 1984, fire at a 279 State St. apartment building in North Adams.

The Boston College program filed a motion more than a year ago seeking a new trial. Their argument will get its first full airing Sept. 9, when Callan hears from two defense experts  and possibly one for the prosecution.

Jennifer K. Zalnasky, chief of appeals for the Berkshire DAs office, said an expert it retained this summer has been delayed in producing a report, due to a family members injury in a hit-and-run accident. Zalnasky said she hopes to get that experts report to the BC team by Aug. 26, ahead of the Sept. 9 hearing in Springfield.

I dont foresee needing to move the September 9th hearing date, Zalnasky said.

David J. Grimaldi of the Boston College program said the defense may only seek to present testimony from its two arson experts. That may well be, from our vantage point, all the evidence we would need to submit, he told Callan.

The prosecutions witness, Wayne Chapdelaine, lives in Toronto. Zalnasky asked if he could join the September hearing by videoconference. Given the Springfield courts limited access to that technology, Callan said he would start with the defense witnesses.

Why dont we go forward with the two witnesses that we have, and if I feel it necessary to hear from the other expert, then we can arrange for a day  to take testimony from that witness, Callan said.

Zalnasky noted that Chapdelaine has not reviewed the entire case, and the defense teams experts have done that.

Which puts him in a bit of a different position, she told Callan. But we can address that as soon as I hear from my expert.

The 1984 fire broke out just before dawn after an all-night party at the apartment. It killed two sisters sleeping in their mother Jeanette Scotts apartment: Sandra, 4, and Charlene, 3. A teen, Brent Buddy Tatro, 16, also died.

On Wednesday, the DAs office added three conditions of release to those proposed by Cascones attorneys.

The office requests that he face a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., that he have no contact with families of the 1984 fire victims and that he only be allowed to visit one address in the town of Charlemont, that of his brother.

The defense proposed five conditions: that Cascone live with his mother, report weekly to probation by telephone and monthly in person, have no contact with any potential trial witnesses, remain in Massachusetts and not apply for a passport or travel visa.
PITTSFIELD  Right now. Thats when Pittsfield Mayor Linda Tyer would like to have new city employees ready to respond to mental health crises.

But perhaps by September.

On Friday, after sitting for a second briefing on the fatal police shooting of Miguel Estrella, Tyer said steps taken to expand the citys ability to help people like Estrella are moving forward.

This spring, Pittsfield leaders responded to community calls for specialized responders for mental health crises with a proposal to add licensed social workers and additional co-responders to city payrolls.

That process, initiated during the citys budget process in May, is entering its next phase.

How can calls for help end in a person getting killed? Miguel Estrella's sister says he needed help from a mental health professional the night he was shot Elina Estrella spoke Friday afternoon at a news conference in which the Berkshire district attorney announced that Pittsfield Police Officer Nicholas Sondrini would not face criminal charges in the fatal shooting of her brother.

Tyer says she expects to be advertising positions for two social workers early next month. She spoke after a news conference at which Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington presented findings of a four-month investigation into the shooting. The DAs office determined that the officer who shot Estrella was legally justified, in light of what the probe determined to be an imminent risk.

My personal timeline is right now, right now, Tyer said Friday, when asked when the new staff would start with the city. But I would say that the first two positions that well seek candidates for will be the two social workers and I would like to start that process by the beginning of September.

The plan is to hire one licensed social worker to work in the citys Health Department and one social worker to work in the Pittsfield Police Department.

Together theyll work as what we hope to be a source of expertise that I need and Chief [Michael Wynn] needs, Tyer said.

An in-house social worker for the PPD is a new development, not discussed during the citys budget hearings.

Tyer said last week that she believed the police department had enough grant money to cover the cost of hiring the social worker for the department. During the budget process, Tyer secured $75,000 to fund the hiring of a licensed social worker to work within the citys Health Department.

At the time the mayor said she envisioned the social workers work being substantially separate from the work of the co-responders.

Bearing in mind that were not creating a Department of Mental Health and our goal is not to create direct mental health care or to provide clinical services  it is to help the city be more proactive and decisions around how do we network with our partners in the behavioral health field, Tyer told the City Council in May.

Tyer said the Health Department position would focus on evaluating clinical approaches proposed in the wake of Estrellas March 25 death.

Since 2016, the Brien Center and PPD have partnered to have a Brien Center clinician respond alongside Pittsfield Police on calls that have a mental health or substance misuse component, according to the centers website. At the time of Estrellas death, the city had two clinicians serving in this role. The co-responder on duty that night ended their shift minutes before the initial 911 calls for aid for Estrella came in.

Wynn said Friday following the DAs press conference that the department is now down to one clinician.

City leaders, community members and organizations have called on the administration to consider other options besides a co-responder program which is inherently tied to a police response.

In May, the Berkshire County branch of the NAACP called for the city to move away from a police response in instances of mental health crises to non-violent means.

The local chapter endorsed a piece of legislation known as the ACES Bill (H.2519), which would create alternatives for community emergency services. Filed in February 2021 by Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton, that bill would allow cities and towns to create a division of civilian mental health advocates who would respond to mental health crises without police.

On Tuesday, Councilor Ken Warren petitioned the council to appropriate $75,000 to explore the creation of an alternative for community emergency services. The council unanimously supported the effort, sending the petition to Tyer to find the money to direct into studying alternatives.

The city is still pursuing a more robust co-responder program, directed this time by the second of the licensed social worker positions. This time, co-responders will be hired directly through the police department rather than the Brien Center.

The City Council and Wynn agreed that $250,000 in grant funds to the department would be repurposed to cover the cost of hiring of co-responders.

How many will be hired is still up in the air.

As Ive said before, Id like to have [a co-responder] in every one of our working groups, which would be 18 but Im not going to get that [with this fiscal package], Wynn said.

Still to be worked out are the job descriptions and salaries for these positions. Those issues were set to come before the Personnel Review Board during its Friday meeting. That gathering was canceled and a new meeting has not been rescheduled.

Tyer said she remains dedicated to getting these positions created and staff on a quick timeline.

I really am pushing the team to accelerate this process [to hire additional co-responders and licensed social workers], Tyer said. Its not the only solution. We need a much bigger, broader community based solution. Its my hope that our two new social workers can help us build out that network, strengthen those relationships, so that we can be doing more beyond a co-responder program.
Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, of West Springfield, center, charged with negligent homicide in the deaths of seven motorcycle club members in a 2019 crash, enters a courtroom at Coos County Superior Court, in Lancaster, N.H., in July. Zhukovskyy was found innocent on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct in connection with the crash.
GREAT BARRINGTON  A vision for a long-desired sculpture of W.E.B. Du Bois in his hometown would transform the front grounds of the library in memory of his civil rights legacy, as well as his love of books and writing.

The installation would also rework a popular spot in front of the Mason Library, turning it into a more robust gathering space.

The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project on Monday presented one of its new drawings showing a life-size design of a seated Du Bois holding a book, as well as an oval-shaped plaza with marble seating. The changes would incorporate repair of the library steps, which are in need of an overhaul.

Its both a sculpture and a plaza, said Bobby Houston, who is working on the project and helped present it to the Select Board.

The project would tie together the nearby Du Bois Freedom Center, the African American Heritage Trail and Du Bois birthplace around the corner. Also, the library will eventually hold Du Bois literary materials that will be donated by The Du Bois Center/North Star Rare Books on South Main Street.

The nonprofit plans to reach out to Black sculptors who have experience in public art and hold an open competition, said Julie Michaels, chair of the project committee. The group expects to work with an African American historian, she said, and collaborate with other Du Bois legacy and Black history organizations.

The projects estimated cost is $323,000. Fundraising is sponsored by the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. Houston said the project had received significant donations, but declined to say how much.

The idea for a life-size statue of Du Bois was sparked by Freke Vuijst, a Dutch journalist and town resident, who died after the town approved the proposal in 2019, amid some attempts to derail it.

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A new group picked the effort back up and began reimagining an area on Main Street that has been drawing people in with the librarys outdoor weekend book sales and its central location.

Town officials have said they worry about removing grassy earth and overbuilding with concrete and marble there. Are we making it too big and grand for that space? asked Select Board Vice Chair Leigh Davis.

Houston said it is a concern shared by the organizers. The group wants to see level ground, so people arent navigating a hillside. A lawn is likely, given the drainage and engineering complexities of a stone plaza.

Michaels and Lauren Clark, who is working on the project, said public input would be sought throughout the project.

The chosen sculptors work-in-progress would be made available to the public at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, the former home of Lincoln Memorial designer, the sculptor Daniel Chester French.

Those working on the effort say they want to make sure the project aligns with the Du Bois legacy, as well as Black history and culture.

Ari Zorn, another project organizer, said he had fruitful discussions about the project with Du Bois Freedom Center staff. Beth Carlson, a director at the Freedom Center, said it would be valuable to also have a Black historian on the sculptor selection team and involved with the design.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Venezuela international midfielder Yeferson Soteldo is poised to return to Santos on loan from Mexico's Tigres UANL, according to media reports in Brazil.

The clubs are in advanced talks and a deal is likely to be struck before Brazil's mid-season transfer window closes on August 15, Globo Esporte reported.

Soteldo made 87 appearances and scored 19 goals for Santos between 2019 and 2021 but has since struggled to recapture his best form.

The playmaker, who has been capped 28 times for Venezuela, had a nine-month spell at Toronto FC before joining Tigres on a four-year deal in January. He has made just 19 appearances for the Liga MX outfit and scored one goal, having mostly been used as a substitute.

Santos is currently ninth in the 20-team Serie A standings with 30 points from nine matches, 15 points behind leader Palmeiras. 
The invasive spotted lanternfly has arrived in Springfield. Officials say it may have rode in on a truck
HempStreet aims to build solutions to help them in their fight against mass ailments

New Delhi-based startup HempStreet has partnered with Amrita School of Ayurveda. Through this collaboration, HempStreet aims to receive clinically supported solutions to aid in their fight against mass ailments.

HempStreets partnership with Amrita School of Ayurveda is one step further to meet the nation's needs of managing ailments through modern Ayurveda.



Abhishek Mohan, Founder & CEO, HempStreet, said, With this partnership, we strive to further our mission to harness the power of Ayurveda via cannabis-based medication with a layer of clinical validation. This fits our global strategy of best-in-class partnerships across Europe, the US and Israel.



Dr P Ram Manohar, Head, Centre for Advanced Research In Ayurveda (ACARA), said, "Our goal is to promote the expansion and advancement of Ayurvedic education, and working with HempStreet will help us close the knowledge gap between cutting-edge technological advancements and traditional medicine based on ancient wisdom."
TOKYO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) has recently started construction of facilities that will discharge radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea, taking another step in its plan to release nuclear-contaminated water.

The Japanese government's drive to push through a long-term plan to release wastewater into the Pacific Ocean starting in the spring of 2023, despite domestic and international opposition, is extremely selfish, analysts say.

SELFISHNESS

Struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that hit Japan's northeast on March 11, 2011, the No. 1-3 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant suffered core meltdowns, resulting in a level-7 nuclear accident, the highest on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale.

The plant has been generating a massive amount of radiation-tainted water since the accident happened as it needs water to cool the reactors. With groundwater and rainwater also flowing in, about 1.3 million tons of contaminated water are now stored at the nuclear plant and are still increasing at a rate of 140 tons a day.

TEPCO claimed that the water storage tank's current storage capacity of 1.37 million tons will run out this autumn and the plant has no more space for new water storage tanks to be constructed, so it has to release the contaminated water into the sea after filtering, purifying and diluting it.

In response to TEPCO's claims, Japanese environmental groups pointed out that much of the land near the plant has been left idle due to nuclear leakage and could be used to construct additional water storage tanks.

However, the Japanese government and TEPCO rejected the idea, citing the need for a large amount of time for communication and coordination as well as a lot more work.

Environmentalists say it is not that the option is infeasible, it is because the Japanese government and TEPCO do not want to do it, as they put their own interests first.

A panel of experts organized by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had proposed five options when considering how to deal with the contaminated water.

Among them, the Japanese government said the options of discharging the water into the sea and vapor release were two "most practical solutions" and it finally chose the former one, which "takes the shortest time and costs the least," passing on the risk to the whole world.

BROKEN CREDIT

Contaminated water generated at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant contains tritium, cesium, strontium and other radioactive materials. The Japanese government and TEPCO said they would use the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), a multi-nuclide removal equipment, to reduce the concentrations of 62 types of radioactive substances, with the exception of tritium, which is hard to remove by purification and will remain in the treated water.

TEPCO believes that tritium normally remains in the wastewater at ordinary nuclear power stations, therefore it is safe to discharge tritium-contaminated water.

Experts say TEPCO is trying to confuse the concept of the wastewater that meets international standards during normal operation of nuclear power plants with that of the complex nuclear-contaminated water produced after the core meltdowns at the wrecked Fukushima power plant.

The actual results of ALPS are not as ideal as TEPCO claims. Japanese media have found that in addition to tritium, there are a variety of radioactive substances in the Fukushima nuclear wastewater that exceed the standard. TEPCO has also admitted that about 70 percent of the water treated by ALPS contains radionuclides other than tritium at the concentration which exceeds legally required standards and requires filtration again.

Also the reliability of ALPS itself is questionable. According to a report by Japan's Asahi Shimbun in September 2021, 24 of the 25 filters used by ALPS to absorb radioactive substances were damaged, and the damage occurred two years ago, but TEPCO did not deal with it in time.

The Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, a South Korean civic environmental organization, said that TEPCO claimed to have the ability to reduce the concentration of 62 radioactive substances excluding tritium before the discharge of the contaminated water, but this is by no means the truth. The organization warned that it is hard to clean the sea water once it is polluted.

From the cover-up of the meltdown at the beginning of the Fukushima disaster to the bowing and apologizing for underreporting for more than a decade, TEPCO has left so many stains on its credibility that its nuclear credit has long since gone busted.

OPPOSITION FROM ALL SIDES

The willful push by the Japanese government and TEPCO to release wastewater into the sea has triggered strong opposition from both within Japan and its neighboring countries. Last Wednesday, a local civic group organized a protest outside the government house of Fukushima Prefecture to show their opposition to the plan.

After TEPCO announced last Thursday the start of the construction of facilities for releasing radioactive wastewater into the sea, a Japanese environmental organization issued a statement on the same day, pointing out that the Japanese government and TEPCO had made written commitments on the matter saying "without the understanding of relevant personnel, no actions will be taken." However, the government still decided in April last year to release the nuclear-contaminated water into the sea without seeking advice from relevant parties to make it a fait accompli.

On July 22, the Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan officially endorsed TEPCO's nuclear-contaminated water discharge plan.

Responding to this, Masanobu Sakamoto, president of the National Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Japan, said the plan has not gained the understanding of the public and the fishery industry and that the federation's firm opposition to the discharge had not changed at all.

Greenpeace Seoul Office said that the danger of discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea is obvious. The Japanese government's decision to discharge the contaminated water into the sea when there are alternatives such as long-term storage violates the precautionary principle recognized by the international community. 
The Bookmark Awards sets the benchmark for tech, digital and leading edge innovation. The award-winning work inspires and educates the industry about the power to build brands through creative and high-impact digital executions that deliver measurable results.

On 28 July, the industry gathered in person for the first time for over two years to celebrate the IAB Bookmarks event.

The MakeReign team was honoured to pick up 14 awards across the platforms (websites, mobile apps, mobile sites, and customer experience), emerging digital technology (AI), and craft (UX and UI) categories  making MakeReign the most awarded agency across platforms, UX and UI.

This brings their tally of Bookmarks wins to 31 in three years! Solidifying their position as a leading specialist in the user experience and interface design field.

MakeReigns partnerships director, Luke Engel noted on the accomplishments: From the very beginning, weve been focused. Were not a full service agency. We dont offer it all. Were intentionally specialists and focus on design solutions for interfaces. The many growing connection points between a brand and consumer. Digital screens.

He continued: We do this because we firmly believe that focus delivers true value and best in industry results for our clients. Clients looking to deliver world class experiences and digital products to their customers. And we believe that focus has paid dividends, not only tonight with some amazing wins for our clients, but over the many years weve been able to deliver real results and measurable value across the whole customer journey. Were very proud of these results and achievements.

The following work was awarded:

Bettr

Platforms category  brand website, UI craft

Bettr is a new world-class digital banking platform engineered for Africas creator economy; the first and only digital banking app in Africa to focus on enabling creators to monetise their passions, and bank their worth.

Doing it for the culture. We not only partnered with them on their product, but on delivering a website experience focused at the youth and enabling them fair access to affordable, transparent financial services that they can actually afford.

The result  over 25,000 sign-ups to their alpha launch!

We both share a common vision for the creator economy and how making money from your passion will become the future of work. For Bettr, this is a bold mission and we wanted to create a brand that embodies this belief. MakeReign steered our brand design strategy with as much discipline as we wanted to show rebellion. This amazing balance in our collaboration kept us authentic and true to our disruptive vision, winning us two bookmark awards. We can't be more proud of our co-creation, said Tobie van Zyl, CEO and co-founder of Bettr.

Pineapple 

Customer experience design category  UX craft, mobile apps, artificial intelligence

Having collaborated with this pioneering startup since their inception, taking their product from idea to launch, we have since worked closely with the Pineapple team on updates to the product. Launching new features, and delivering enhancements and improvements to existing features  adding more utility and value to their customers and making insurance even more easy!

These include the launch of their motor insurance product and rewards feature as well as an improved wallet feature.

Over 50,000 new members since launch!

A 5-star rating on the Google Play Store.

And R80m in Series A funding after growing 200%.

1ForYou

UX craft, UI craft, platform (micro site)

1ForYou is the most accessible payments solution in South Africa  offering online payment access for all. People can get cash online, make payments and top-up wallets.

There were a number of key business goals we needed to reach and deliver on in launching this site for 1ForYou. It needed to enhance product awareness and educate customers in order to drive adoption and conversion. This for both individual customers (transactions) and businesses (leads).

Its bankless and effortless. This was a key principle that drove our design decisions. The experience needed to be as effortless as the banking solution.

The results have been phenomenal, processing over a million transactions in the year since launch.

Flash Mobile

UX craft

Flash Mobile sought to create an easy to understand and use website experience that provided value and assistance to existing Flash traders and showcase their product offering to acquire new potential traders. Flash is a SA-based fintech company that enables informal retailers to sell virtual products, like airtime, data and electricity through the largest informal retail network in Africa.

Used by over 200,000 traders to earn money and commissions on sales. And processing millions in transitions daily.

Our collaboration with the amazing team at MakeReign really helped us elevate our platforms to a level of execution were proud of. Their ability to manage projects effectively also helped us deliver on time. We look forward to working with them again in future! says Stuart Murie, UX design manager at Flash Group.

Our partnership with Flash Group is one we are immensely proud of. As a leader in the Fintech space in South Africa, its been an honour to work across a number of brands, delivering success and results not only across 1ForYou, but for others including Flash Mobile and Go121, said Luke Engel.

Rho Business Banking

Platform category  customer experience design

Delivering the future of frictionless finance. Rho, a tech-enabled cash and spend management solutions company for high-performing business teams, recently rebranded to better showcase their slick product offering. As a result, this New York based, funded startup was in need of a website that better reflects, and elevates, their new branding.

Rhos offering allows their customers to access commercial banking, corporate card services, accounts payable, global payments, accounting integrations, and budgeting in one easy-to-use platform. Their new website needed to communicate clearly and succinctly who they are, what they do, and how their fintech solution is beneficial to their clients.

Smashbrand

Craft UI, craft UX

Smashbrand, an industry-leading branding and packaging design agency, needed a new website to show off their work and generate new quality leads. The website had to deliver on key metrics, most importantly generating new business leads and showcasing their award-winning work.

Extensive affinity testing was conducted with real customers, zeroing in on Smashbrands target market and informing all content and design decisions. A sky-rocketing $1m in revenue additional revenue was generated through organic reach from the new website. This was achieved through laser-focused SEO optimisation across copy, content, design, and code.

Tyrannosaurus Tech

Craft UI

Tyrannosaurus Tech is a software development agency from Atlanta, Georgia. We delivered a fun-filled responsive website that showcases their amazing work and quirky agency culture. We provided a website layout that allowed for playful content to sit in amongst the hard-selling agency jargon  playing very much on the ethos that this team takes their work, and not themselves, seriously. Nailing the creative brief.

About MakeReign

MakeReign designs digital interfaces that transform companies. They empower organisations to deliver experiences that move them forward  building for what is now and next.

Through research, user-centered design and testing with real customers, the interfaces they design enhance users' lives and drive value across the whole customer journey.

With expertise across key verticals of retail, financial services, insurance, telecoms and others, they are delivering for todays iconic brands and tomorrows category leader. Working across a wide range of customer segments, from mass market, to youth markets, to premium customers. Clients include: Woolworths, Santam, Clicks, Weylandts and Finchoice.




With the advent of language, human intelligence grew exponentially. With the advent of language models such as Open Source's GPT-3 and Google's Lamda, AI is experiencing an exponential explosion of intelligence.

Besides being able to hold nuanced conversations, these AIs can also describe and understand our world through photos and videos. They can generate usable software, unique images, and even video with only a text prompt. On request, they can also compose music and original poetry.

I believe we are on the cusp of convergence of systems that will result in an intelligence explosion that will ultimately render the artificial in artificial intelligence redundant to leave only the solitary I behind.

The methods by which these algorithms operate to produce such mind-boggling results are fascinating to observe. It is now only a matter of scaling up to reach the goal of a true general artificial intelligence that could rival and even surpass human intelligence, according to AI scientists.

It is interesting to note that they operate very much along the same logical principles as our own biological intelligence. The brain is a predictive engine. It is excellent at predicting the immediate and mid-term future and adapting to it. It is not great with the long-term future since the further forward in time it must project the less information it has to work with. Artificial intelligence is very similar.

Using vast amounts of data, they have access to, these algorithms attempt to predict the future as accurately as possible. Ranking and sampling this collected data allows them to predict with a high level of accuracy what should occur next and execute complex outputs.

When you ask GPT-3 a question, how does it know to respond in a manner that seems human? The AI compare your question to the vast database of conversations available on the internet and chooses the highest value response available to it. The more information it can sample the more effective its response matrix would be. Your response to it will then act as a feedback loop which it will incorporate into its own database for future use. This is basically how all algorithms are built.

Want your algorithm to recognise cats? Create a thousand iterations and give each a slight tweak. The one that has the highest percentage of success in recognising cats in a picture is selected and then duplicated, each iteration with a slight mutation in its code. You repeat this process over and over until your algorithm is the best at recognising cats. This is an oversimplified description of how an algorithm is evolved but it serves to illustrate the core mechanics.

But why do I think what is happening in AI research right now is so important? Its because AI is starting to observe, understand and reflect the world that we live in. No doubt with some help from research done towards self-driving cars and Captcha. It is beginning to work very much like our own brains that build a model of our reality from data sourced from the senses. Right now, AI has the intelligence equivalence of an insect, but this is complex enough for it to do some truly amazing things. Pigeons1 have after all been trained to recognise cancers with equal success to doctors and a slime mould2 could mirror the design of the Tokyo rail system with an efficiency rivalling that of the smartest engineers.

If you want to explore this stage of A. I evolution for yourself google Midjourney, an AI bot that runs on Discord and generates unique images from text prompts or Disco Diffusion which can generate videos from text prompts. Both are great introductions to what is to come and possible right now. Another interesting one is Copymatic AI, which helps with writing projects.

These developments should fill me with a feeling of gloom and doom as a creative, but it does not. When I played around with Midjourney I had a little revelation when I realised that the AI could not generate excellent results without the experience of creative intelligence inputting the prompts. This means that skilled creatives, professional ones especially, will be a requirement for excellent results.

I specify skilled creatives because language models perform best with the correct modifiers. Experience, creativity, and knowledge gained from having applied oneself in the creative fields are key to achieving the best results. 5-year-old prompts, and efforts will still be the equivalent of a stick figure, regardless of the complexity of the crayon that they are using. Those with the experience generally achieved the best results because they possess the experience, creativity, and knowledge required to guide the AI towards excellence.

It seems that we will not escape the responsibility of having to acquire actual human experience just yet, but we will be fortunate to do so with less drudgery in the not-too-distant future.
Mister Bread and Star Bakeries brand owner, Premier FMCG, aim to grow and nurture communities through programmes designed to help prepare South Africa's next generation for future success. For the second time, the Yondla Ikamva Holiday Camp was run in Mthatha in July, and for the first time this year, additional camps were hosted in Queenstown and Mdantsane.

Learners and camp facilitators from Mdantsane (left) and Queenstown (right) take a moment to celebrate their achievements at the end of another successful Yondla Ikamva Holiday Camp course.

The Premier team (left) and Mthatha learners take a moment to celebrate their achievements with Menzi, the Mister Bread mascot (right) at the end of another successful Yondla Ikamva Holiday Camp course.

The initiative intends to make a real and lasting impact in the lives of young South Africans, teaching them about entrepreneurship and how to start a business, all in a supportive learning environment, says Julian Singonzo, managing environmental, social, and governance executive at Premier FMCG.

Varied content was offered to learners including, creativity activities, basic mathematical skills, the fundamentals of money, entrepreneurship, and how to identify business opportunities in a community in a fun and engaging way.

The camps are also facilitated by local teachers to support the communities educators with additional holiday work. Weve seen wonderful results and attendance from our young ones. South Africas young people are our future  if they succeed, we all succeed. Were passionate about giving learners the opportunity, knowledge and support they need to become self-sustaining, responsible members of society who can take care of their families and contribute to the local economy, he adds.

The communities of Mthatha, Queenstown and Mdantsane were informed about the camps through a road show into the schools of the communities supported by a community radio campaign. The radio stations in the Eastern Cape shared the message of the camps through their airwaves and social media pages.

Director of Our Salad Mix, Kim du Plessis says calling on the listeners of four of the bigger stations in these areas further shows the commitment that Premier FMCG has to the communities within the areas it operates. Regional radio speaks to the heart of the community and the support that the Mister Bread and Star Bakeries brand shows to community radio is uplifting in itself. Communities depend on community radio to share information with them that enriches their lives on a daily basis and this support goes a long way in securing futures for these radio stations.

There was a great turnout of learners who attended the camps this year (397 at Star Bakeries camp and 375 at Mister Bread camp) and the impact will be felt in their hometowns for years to come.

The best part of camp was when I realised, hey, I can do this. I can build a business and help bring exciting change to my future and my community, says Grade 7 learner, Lakitah Skosana.

The Mister Bread team would like to thank the dedicated teachers and learners who made this years camp a success. We look forward to next year and another opportunity to empower young South Africans with the knowledge, skills and experience to learn about entrepreneurship and create their own futures, concludes Singonzo.




On 29 July 2022, marketers were given a platform on relevance: marketing's 'big ask'. More than 2,000 delegates logged in from 15 countries around the globe to watch the Nedbank Integrated Marketing Conference (IMC). Throughout the day marketers, creatives, and entrepreneurs were entertained and inspired to think differently about marketing relevance.

Thebe Ikalafeng and other speakers

The host Gugulethu Mfuphi, together with her co-hosts Xolisa Dyeshana, group creative director at Joe Public and Preetesh Sewraj, CEO of Loeries effortlessly led a phenomenal group of 30 thought leaders, some presenting in-studio and others remotely. Social media was ablaze, reaching more than 90,000 people via Twitter alone, as each thought leader spurred delegates into active consideration of the roles that we as marketers play in the relevance stakes.

Delegates were taken from the basics of considering our own social media footprints as outlined by Maps Maponyane, entrepreneur, TV presenter and producer, through to the intricacies of how people engage with marketing messages at a deep level as articulated by Bernice Samuels, group marketing executive at MTN Group.

International speakers provided insight from a global perspective. Greg Hoffman, former Nike CMO, United States outlined the emotive qualities that skyrocketed Nikes relevance among consumers. Ben Williams, global chief creative experience officer at TBWA Worldwide looked at creativity beyond the end result of a transaction. And Kathryn Williams, managing director of KMint, Australia, explained the importance of practically measuring and valuing brands and creativity.

Buli Ndlovu, executive: retail and business banking marketing, Nedbank Ben Williams global chief creative Experience officer, TBWA Worldwide

Nedbank IMC CEO, Dale Hefer expressed her thanks to the 30 thought leaders who had shared insights during the day, remarking that We remain committed to marketings place at the boardroom table and today further entrenched that mission.

Khensani Nobanda, Nedbank Group executive: group marketing and corporate affairs, wrapped up the days proceedings with the announcement of the 2022 bursary winners. These were two of the eight bursaries that have been awarded since the conference launch in 2019.

Luckily for marketers, the Nedbank IMC 2022 does not end there. The day's proceedings will be distilled in a white paper that will be freely accessible from Nedbank IMC website towards the end of August.

CMO CEO Speak session from left: interviewer Karabo Songo, Heidi Brauer, CMO Hollard Insurance and Saks Ntombela, Group CEO, Hollard Insurance Dale Hefer, CEO Nedbank IMC and Khensani Nobanda, group executive: marketing and corporate affairs, Nedbank

About the Nedbank IMC

In 2022 a total of 2,000 delegates from 15 countries around the world watched the virtual Nedbank IMC live. Since its launch in 2019 the conference has become known for its 'no sales pitch, one stream, one day only' format and a fascinating group of renowned and specialist speakers. Importantly, the conference is committed to presenting the business case for marketing, driven through the determination to secure marketings seat at the boardroom table.

The Nedbank IMC is presented in association with the Marketing Association of South Africa, with chartered marketers receiving continuous-professional-development points for attending. The conference is endorsed by the Interactive Advertising Bureau of South Africa.




Japan's Kyodo News outlet announced that fashion designer, Issey Miyake, passed on 5 August in a hospital in Tokyo. The designer was best known for pioneering delicate pleats as well as dressing many celebrities, such as Steve Jobs, with his iconic black turtlenecks.

Source:  Page Six Page Six Kim Kardashian wore Miyake in 2020

Though his dozens of endeavours within fashion were distinct in their aesthetics, their attitude was by and large the same: intelligence, humanism, and a fascination with technology.

I gravitated toward the field of clothing design, partly because it is a creative format that is modern and optimistic, he wrote in the New York Times in 2008. I prefer to think of things that can be created, not destroyed, and that bring beauty and joy.

It was a design ethos embodied as much in black turtleneck jumpers  which served as Steve Jobs uniform  as it was in his flying saucer dresses and minimalist, cloud-like columns of the '90s and '00s.

Worn by many celebrities

Page Six Style lists a number of celebrities that wore his clothes. Beyonce wore the designers veil in her video for Mine.

Solanges mom recreated a 1999 Miyake design while Mary-Kate Olsen wore Miyake to the 2013 CFDA Fashion Awards. Robin Williams wore a Miyake bomber jacket to the Flubber premiere.

Model Grace Jones was one of the designers biggest fans and friends, having modelled in his shows multiple times as well as worn his clothes out and about frequently in the 1980s and beyond.

More recently, Kim Kardashian wore Miyake in 2020, proving that Miyakes recent designs are just as beautiful as those from the beginning of his career, Kardashian wore a matching silver turtleneck and skirt from his collection in 2020.

Simple, yet complicated

Miyakes design philosophy was simple yet complicated, often taking one piece of cloth and folding it into origami-like pleats to create lovely organic shapes since the 1970s.

Dazed describes Miyake as practical and poetic in equal measure.

His work became a cornerstone of contemporary dress, shaking the foundations of Paris salons in the 1980s with daring proportions and experimental textiles while enriching everyday wardrobes with artful staples and signature pleats, says Dazed.

In 1997 he formally retired from fashion. However, he continued to oversee the creative direction of all the lines created by his company, such as Issey Miyake, Issey Miyake Fete, Pleats Please, and his accessories offshoot Bao Bao.

Flexible movement

According to Dazed he was born in Hiroshima on April 22 1938, first imagined himself as an athlete or a dancer, which perhaps explains the premium he placed on flexible movement.

It was his sisters fashion magazines, however, that inspired him to change tack and study graphic design at the Tama Art University in Tokyo.

He then entered his designs into a fashion competition at the Bunka Fashion College but failed to win on account of his pattern-making and sewing skills.

Shortly after, he attended the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris and was an apprentice to Guy Laroche and Hubert de Givenchy, drawing 50 to 100 sketches daily. Following a short stint in New York, where he became acquainted with artists like Christo and Robert Rauschenberg, he returned to Tokyo in 1970 to establish the Miyake Design Studio, says Dazed.

Protagonist of Japanese design

Alongside the likes of Rei Kawakubo and Kansai Yamamoto, Miyake was a protagonist of Japanese design, jostling to get a footing on the worlds stage throughout the 1980s.

And it was during this time that Miyake began to experiment with the Fortuny pleat, which would offer his wearers the freedom to move while signalling all the cachet of high-end design. The fabrics ability to hold its pleats made it perfect for dancers, and Miyake sent 300 pieces to the Ballett Frankfurt, which led to the development of his Pleats Please range in 1999.

It would be 10 years until Miyake launched his menswear equivalent, Homme Plisse, which united performers, gallerists, musicians, and fashion-heads in elasticated waists, comfort, and craft. The process to make these seihin pleats can now be witnessed first-hand at the Homme Plisse flagship in Minami-Aoyama in Japan, which opened in July 2019.

In 2016, Miyake told The Guardian that we call the people who make clothing couturiers  they develop new clothing items  but actually the work of designing is to make something that works in real life."
Tanzanian visual artist and 2019 Absa L'Atelier ambassador Winifrid Luena's first solo exhibition, Parsing The Juncture: 110 Billion Praxis, has opened virtually on the Absa Art Hot Spot.

Image supplied: Winifrid Luena

on 4 August 2022. Limited booking slots for visits to the physical exhibition at the Absa Gallery in Johannesburg from 10 August 2022 are open now via https://eur.cvent.me/NN7Qg.

This body of work is a self-reflection on Luenas continued shifting of states, perceptions and ideas of living, in response to adapting to changes in culture, reality and self-identity - after temporarily relocating from Tanzania to South Africa to pursue his studies at the Market Photo Workshop.

Parsing The Juncture: 110 Billion Praxis is based on the idea of embracing his shifting situation and living between two countries, while searching for ways to reconcile his twin realities in South Africa and Tanzania.

Creating works that allow him to communicate through conceptual art, photojournalism and documentary work, put Luena on the path to gain the fluidity of existence through merging his past and current experiences as he begins to engage with South African culture, society and communities.

I immersed myself in telling the stories of my own country and what was happening there  particularly during Covid-19. I had to find a way to reconcile the new reality I experienced while living in Johannesburg with the effect Covid-19 had on every aspect of life back home, he says.

Image by Winifrid Luena: Johannesburg CBD, II

I am presently studying at the Market Theatre Photo Workshop and wanted to find a way to express my exploration of my reality. The experience has changed me by giving me the confidence to share my ideas and I want to find ways to engage with the communities I live in.

Luena works across various mediums including photography, video art, digital design and illustration and is interested in psychological and sociological application of art. He uses art to explore different themes related with individuality, identity and history. His journey from artist, to photojournalist, and documentarian encompasses the three disciplines rather than progressing away from, or towards the other  seamlessly shifting between them, in order to better tell the stories he feels need to be told, in ways that communicate them best.

Winifrid is just one of the many young artists from across the continent that Absa supports, helping them gain a foothold in the global visual art industry, says Paul Bayliss, Absa senior specialist art curator. Were delighted to be able to host Winifrid's first solo exhibition as a reflection of our position as a truly African brand.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Winifrid Luena (@lu_iswondering)



The exhibition will travel to Tanzania in 2023 as part of Luenas Absa LAtelier Ambassador prize.

Parsing The Juncture: 110 Billion Praxis includes 20 artworks that celebrate this experience - 10 prints and 10 photographs. Luena applies vibrant, upbeat colours, and expressive and minimal composition that evokes healing, transformation, harmony and aliveness in this new chapter of his journey. He hopes to shed light on important stories and bring real change to the people whose stories he shares.

The exhibition is open now until 9 September at the Absa Gallery. The Absa Gallery is open Tuesday-Friday every week and is situated at the corner of Troye and Main Street, Johannesburg CBD. Pre-bookings for visits are essential and can be made here.
With only 6.4% of youth aged 19 years old attending tertiary education, according to South African Market Insights (2020), making the right decision regarding your studies is of great importance as, for most, tertiary education is nothing more than an unattainable dream. Despite this, however, the demand for tertiary education has grown significantly over recent years. There have been significant advances in the higher education sector in past decades, and most notably a rise in the number of institutions that prospective students can choose from due to an increased provision of these from the private sector.

Considering this surge in options, it is natural for young adults to be anxious when choosing an institution to study with. The only difference between public institutions (or universities) and private higher education is that public institutions are subsidised by the government, whilst private institutions are not. Nevertheless, considerations such as accreditation, employer recognition and teaching delivery methods should all be considered when choosing which institution is right for you. Below are some important questions to ask yourself when choosing a suitable institution for your studies.

Is the institution accredited?

Above all, the institution you are considering should be registered and accredited. South Africa has a simple quality assurance system called the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), which means that any institution that offers a qualification, whether public or private, is offering the qualification that is recognised and at an equal standard. Furthermore, the institution should be listed with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). By ensuring this, one should not be too concerned about whether the institution is called a private higher education institution, a college, or a university, as a listed institution is accredited regardless of the name.

MSC Business College, for example, is a private institution that is registered and accredited with all applicable departments and SETAs, thus ensuring your qualification is quality assured, as well as recognised and valued by employers.

Do employers recognise and respect the qualification?

The working world has transformed significantly over the past few years, especially with the tough economic climate. This has brought along the need for prospective students to ensure that their selected qualification and institution is recognised by employers in the market. Prospective students should question the institution about the curriculum, lecturer involvement in the industry, industry relationships and any practical experience included in the qualification.

With over 31 years of experience, MSC Business College is one of the most established private institutions in South Africa. Trainees also have direct access to Subject Matter Experts and are provided with an integrated work-ready curriculum with one-on-one support.

Are students offered support and individual attention?

Student support and class size are key factors for ensuring optimal academic performance and an easy transition into the workplace. Individual attention is another element that can significantly impact academic performance. Though, the institution's commitment should extend beyond a high standard of lectures and high performance in exams. A high-ranking institution ought to provide career-orientated programmes and academic support workshops to assist students.

Trainees are not merely a number with MSC Business College. Classes are kept a minimal size to ensure maximum student attention and meaningful one-on-one facilitation. This ensures better communication, a more engaging student experience and a higher quality of graduate.

What is the delivery method used by the institution? Is it right for me?

Essentially, an institutions delivery method refers to the way in which classes and assessments are conducted. This can be done through innovative virtual platforms or traditional face-to-face classes. Online lectures provide trainees with more flexibility to be able to work and study at the same time. However, not all online methods are equal in nature . It is important to consider whether your online classes will be live sessions or prerecorded. Live sessions provide students with the optimal in-class experience and allow students to engage directly with subject content, thus affording them the ability to ask questions and participate in their studies.

MSC Business College allows provides live, interactive virtual classes with continued learning through group communication platforms (such as Telegram) to ensure that trainees remain engaged in the content they are studying. When the class has ended, it does not mean the end of learning. Consistency is key to MSCs advanced teaching methodology.

Get in touch with MSC Artisan Academy and Business College today to begin planning your career the smart way. Contact us on 087 551 1744 or email az.oc.egelloccsm@ofni  Your future will thank you.

References

South African Market Insights. (2020, July 27). South Africa's Education statistics. Retrieved from South African Mi: https://www.southafricanmi.com/education-statistics.html




The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Michael Kgomotso Masemola, an NRF B-rated researcher with considerable international recognition.

Professor Michael Kgomotso Masemola, PhD (Sheffield, UK), NRF B-rated researcher

With BA (WITS), BA Hons (WITS), MA (Natal) and PhD (Sheffield, UK) degrees under his belt, Professor Masemola assumed duties on Monday, 1 August 2022, as the executive dean of the faculty of human sciences. Prof. Masemola joins VUT from Unisa where he held a similar position of being the executive dean of the college of human sciences that has a student enrolment of 52,000 students, where he developed and led a team that boasts 86 NRF-rated researchers as well as 497 staff with PhDs who support research Niche Areas.

As part of his future-proofing approach, aligned to priorities identified in the VUT Strategic Plan 2020-2024, Prof. Masemola places special emphasis on data-driven human capacity development for both academics and administrative and support staff. He is poised to now lead mentorship, innovation and equity-based transformation that is reflected in curriculum reform and demographic diversity. In his governance outlook, administrative and support staff - like academics - must enjoy career growth at VUT through deliberate pathway programmes that, amongst others, will see admin staff geared towards management qualifications such as the MBA or Master of Management or Master of Administration whilst academics in the faculty of human sciences will be immediately primed towards PhD attainment.

This will form the bedrock on which Prof. Masemola will continue to champion the localisation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the AU Agenda 2063 The Africa We Want priorities and the National Development Plan 2030 targets in the context of VUTs contribution to the National Innovation System. This is consistent with the strategic vision of VUT, considering that these interventions resonate with VUTs commitment to meeting its annual performance targets relating to knowledge production that is inextricably tied to employment creation through research-led curriculum transformation on IT-savvy platforms such as Vutela. Prof. Masemola believes in building digital competency for all. Students, admin staff as well academics will benefit from the executive deans intervention of improving VUTs performance culture by digital means. Besides upskilling and reskilling of all workers and students, for instance, Prof. Masemola believes that cybersecurity awareness is a baseline area of development for all at VUTs faculty of human sciences. Ditto for online tracking of PQM Viability, rollout of enrolment plans as well as performance management. This, he says, is the meeting point of performance culture with digital humanities. For him, this will allow VUT incredible purchase in the participation within the African Continental Free Trade Agreement opportunities for alumni, students and staff. Future-proofing is made thus.

At VUT Prof. Masemola will use his international exposure as an NRFB-rated full professor to also foster knowledge exchange and technology transfer, with a dedicated focus on commercialisation of industry-related solutions that are co-created with students in such a way that advances intelligent WIL participation. Professor Masemola has already set up prospects for collaborative exchange for staff and students in Frances University of Paris Sorbonne, University of Tolouse and University of Paris-Saclay. This will include undergraduate students, emerging or upstart academics, as well as admin and support staff who wish to do bespoke short courses and modules abroad. He values partnerships with industry in the pursuit of addressing challenges in the domains of energy, climate change, decarbonisation, market volatility, the water crisis, poverty alleviation and access to higher education through engaged scholarship that feeds on VUTs Memoranda of Understanding with SETAs. Similarly, he will be assembling a team within the faculty of humanities to draw massive grants that focus on digital humanities. He will involve staff from other faculties and units for strategic inputs and interdisciplinarity.

Notably, as part of his academic citizenship footprint, Prof. Masemola has leveraged his quality assurance leadership of the rollout of the National Doctoral Review in readiness for the Commonwealth of Learning Audit, which added a strong humanities bias as a member of the UCT Panel for the National Doctoral Review. Over and above adding value to VUTs programme accreditation processes, his involvement and participation in these platforms will undoubtedly contribute to the international positioning of VUTs faculty of human sciences. He plans to stimulate growth through the appointment of research chairs in the faculty of human sciences. Prof. Masemola says it is possible to activate, for example, a D&G chair of fashion design alongside a planned Zeiss Research chair in photography or even a proposed Tribeca/Edelman nb research chair of public relations. With these, the entire higher education sector will witness the improvement in the universitys standing in world rankings such as the Shanghai Rankings, QS and Times Higher Education. Commensurately, VUT brand equity will gain more value as the staff with PhDs will increase within the hub of research chairs. It will have a knock-on effect, Prof. Masemola says, on Master and Doctoral supervisory capacity.

A renowned scholar with considerable international recognition as indicated by his NRF B-rating, Prof. Masemola is the author of the monograph book South African Autobiography After Deleuze (Brill & RODOPI, 2017). He is also a co-editor (with Liberty M. Hove) of Strategies of Representation in Auto/biography (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014). Recently, he contributed book chapters such as Autobiography in Africa in The Oxford History of the Novel in English: The Novel in Africa and the Atlantic World, edited by Simon Gikandi (Oxford University Press, 2016).

A full professor of English Literature, Prof. Masemola has published in top-drawer journal articles locally and internationally. He holds the distinction of being internationally recognised through international keynote addresses and, as an example, an invitation by Professor Stephen Ross of York University to contribute to the prestigious Routledge Encyclopedia of Modernism. https://www.rem.routledge.com/.

Among several scholarly achievements, Professor Masemola has participated in the Trans-Atlantic Platform: Recovery, Renewal and Resilience in a Post-Pandemic World as a virtual panelist, adjudicating grant proposals from Europe, North America, and South America - at the behest the Research and Innovation Support and Advancement arm of the National Research Foundation. He has as recently as 2019 delivered papers at the Yanan Universitys School of Marxism in China back-to-back with presentations at the University of Nairobi. All his international conference papers and keynote addresses - from Oxford University to Qatar University, from the University of the West Indies to Zurich University - have resulted in research outputs in esteemed publishing outlets, accredited journals and publishing presses. He is set to establish career developmental pathways in human sciences for staff such that it replicates this feat in respect of all VUT human sciences staff. As executive dean, Prof. Masemola will use strategic instruments of mentorship, mobility pathways, higher international conference participation and academic qualification improvement sabbatical leave. This will improvenot only the qualifications profile of human sciences staff but also increase research productivity and citation metrics as envisaged in the VUT Strategic Plan 2020-2024.

As an executive dean and full professor who leads by example, Prof. Masemola continues to publish in accredited IBSS/ISS Journals of good standing. Some of his works published in 2020-21 include:

Michael Kgomotso Masemola Enter the jargon: the intertextual rhetoric of Radical Economic Transformation following the logic of Demostheness oratory, African Identities , Vol 19, Issue 2, pp. 209-220 (2021) 1st Published online: 29 July 2020 https://doi.org/10.1080/14725843.2020.1796589

, Vol 19, Issue 2, pp. 209-220 (2021) 1st Published online: 29 July 2020 https://doi.org/10.1080/14725843.2020.1796589 Michael Kgomotso Masemola: "African Cultural Memory in Fred Khumalos Touch my Blood and its Metafictional Para-texts" in Journal of Black Studies, Vol 52, number 2 (2021), pp.103-122 first published online in September 2020 https://doi.org/10.1177/0021934720959389

rof. Masemola continues to play a leading role in creating a transformed and agile knowledge organisation that shape and influence all aspects of the knowledge enterprise with unwavering commitment to transformation, impact, excellence, and sustainability. His management innovation is exemplified by his novel praxis of eQuality, which he formulated when the sector was confronted by the Covid-19 pandemic. He has demonstrated that, more than ever, e-learning platforms are set to equalise learning opportunities for students across the globe based on quality teaching and research. Prof. Masemola believes that this experience will contribute to the delivery of quality teaching and learning at VUTs Faculty of Human Sciences as envisaged in the VUT Strategic Plan 2020-2024.

The Vaal University of Technology will surely benefit immensely from Prof. Masemolas combined innovative leadership and governance as well as research expertise that, by his humble insistence, flow from the godliness of YHWH Elohim (Baruch Hashem).




The Google Equiano internet cable has made its final landing in Melkbosstrand, Cape Town, a month after arriving in Namibia, Wiocc announced

The Equiano cable connects Europe to Africas western coast via a landing station in Lisbon, Portugal, and has nearly ten times the West Africa Cable Systems capacity at 144 Tbps.

This private undersea cable will be the first submarine cable to incorporate optical switching at the fibre-pair level as opposed to the traditional approach of wavelength-level switching.

Wiocc Group CEO Chris Wood commented: Having invested multiple billions of Rand to enhance our 16Tbps-ready, Optical Transport Network-enabled national hyperscale network infrastructure, we are extremely well positioned to provide businesses with access to fully upgradeable, quickly and easily scalable capacity throughout South Africa and into neighbouring countries, over one of the most future-proof networks in the country.

As a fibre pair owner, Wiocc's Equiano capacity is upgradable fully under its own control. WIOCC owns and manages its own Submarine Line Terminating Equipment (SLTE), choosing to light and upgrade its capacity exactly as it wishes to meet the needs and demands of its clients.

Wiocc's Equiano capacity will be extended into a new Open Access Data Centres facility currently undergoing fit-out in Rondebosch, Cape Town, where clients can interconnect with terrestrial infrastructure providers, cloud networks, partners, suppliers and other ecosystem members.
The revised Critical Skills List extends the opportunity to obtain critical skills visas and permanent residence permits to various professionals in the healthcare sector effective from 2 August 2022.

Image source: Edward Jenner from Pexels

2022 brought about significant developments and proposed changes in immigration law specifically for South African employers hiring foreign nationals. On 2 February 2022, the Minister of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) published a Critical Skills List under the Immigration Act, 13 of 2002 (Immigration Act). Exactly 6 months later, the DHA published a revised Critical Skills List in Government Gazette No 47182 on 2 August 2022. The list of critical skills required in South Africa has been expanded to include various occupations in the healthcare sector. This means that foreign nationals employed in the newly listed occupations may now be eligible for the corresponding work visas and permanent residency.

Comparing the Critical Skills List that was published on 2 February 2022 with the newly published version, the DHA has identified an additional 39 occupations in which certain skills or qualifications are critical. The revised Critical Skills List indicates a general description of specialised medical practitioners and individual specialisations for each occupation. The following new occupations have been included on the revised Critical Skills List effective from 2 August 2022:

Dentist Specialist - in five different specialised fields;

Medical Practitioner Specialist - in 27 specialised fields;

Registered Nurse - in six specialised fields; and

Industrial Pharmacist.

In respect of the newly added occupations, the Critical Skills List provides the minimum qualification level required; however, it does not indicate a prescribed minimum NQF level required, as with the other occupations listed. It does however provide what qualifications are required to qualify under the newly added occupations. A minor change to an existing listed occupation relates to that of Nurse Educator which has been revised to Specialist Nurse Educator, in line with the focus on specialists. If a foreign national does not meet the requirements in the revised list due to the emphasis on specialised skills, then he or she will not be eligible to renew his or her current Critical Skills Work Visa when it expires.

If a foreign national possesses the skills and qualifications included in the revised Critical Skills List, he or she is still required to be registered as a member at a relevant professional body, board or council. Additionally, a foreign national who is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) is required to provide proof of his or her active registration with the applicable foreign regulatory body for the particular field.

Foreign healthcare professionals with the qualifications and experience desperately needed in South Africa and the businesses hoping to employ them in South Africa may sigh a breath of relief. Foreign nationals who qualify under the revised Critical Skills List still need to comply with all other applicable requirements set out in the Immigration Act and Regulations.
QINGDAO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has commented on U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region, saying it will only make the international community more aware of the United States' hegemonic bullying and strengthen the consensus of adhering to the one-China policy.

Wang made the comments during his recent contacts with foreign ministers of Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and Nepal.

Emphasizing that Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has been proved to be a sheer political provocation, Wang said this is a serious violation of the commitments made by the U.S. side and a serious violation of China's sovereignty.

"China will, of course, take necessary and resolute countermeasures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, uphold the basic norms governing international relations on non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and truly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Wang said.

Calling the visit a complete political farce, he said Pelosi's performance will only make the Chinese people more united and resolute in advancing the great cause of national reunification.

Wang warned against three dangerous trends as the situation develops.

He said that, firstly, it is necessary to be prepared for the United States gathering some accomplices to pour fuel on the fire, enhancing regional military deployments, further escalating the situation and attempting to create a new and bigger crisis.

Secondly, said Wang, we must be wary of "Taiwan independence" forces misjudging the situation, continuing to collude with external forces, and heading further along the path of splitting the country.

Thirdly, he said we must be wary of politicians in some countries ignoring right and wrong, getting caught up in the hype and following suit for political gain. This will seriously undermine the political foundation for relations between China and these countries, and will seriously undermine the UN Charter and the post-World War II international system.

"We are willing to, together with friends from all countries who love peace and uphold justice, resolutely oppose all words and deeds that interfere in China's internal affairs and resist all risky moves that undermine peace across the Taiwan Strait, and jointly safeguard the one-China principle, defend the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and safeguard regional stability and world peace," Wang said. 
Whichever way you look at it, the revitalised Toyota Starlet will throw stars in your eyes. It's a real crowd pleaser and since the re-launch, the comfortable and smooth vehicle is fast becoming a hit with customers.

Image supplied

First launched in September 2020, the Toyota Starlet was met with rapturous applause and instantly cemented itself within the highly-competitive B-segment in the passenger car market.

Its combination of stylish good looks, traditional hatchback layout, comprehensive specification level and impressive frugality at the pumps, earned the Starlet top marks amongst customers.

Have you ever heard these words: the gears are like butter? Well, that applies so aptly with the edition I drove on test recently. The derivative was a five-speed manual and the gear changes, whether up or down, were butter-soft. The ride in this five-seater was smooth and economical, and in a combination of urban and freeway driving, I managed to get a modest 6.2l per 100km.

But perhaps most of all, the price will be appealing to a cross-section of buyers. (See below for pricing). And its backed by a leading brand that boasts the biggest dealer network in the country.

The car is the star

The new Starlet promises to deliver even more, on all fronts. Revised front and rear-styling up the visual ante with sleek headlamps up front, chrome detailing, a sloping rear roofline with boot spoiler (which flows seamlessly into the tailgate), and stylish two-piece rear light clusters which complete the sporty yet elegant profile.

A revised interior design features swooping accent lines and blue detailing, with a large centrally-mounted infotainment screen and easy-to-read instrument binnacle. A sporty, three-spoke steering wheel with large Toyota insignia and steering switches, provides the perfect driver interface.

The newcomer also gets a boost in performance with the adoption of a larger 1.5l engine (as employed in the Urban Cruiser), replacing the outgoing 1.4l mill. This enhances performance by 9kW (for a total power output of 77kW), while the torque receives an 8Nm amplification to take it to a max of 138Nm. Despite the increase in performance, the fuel index remains low, ranging between 5.4 and 5.7 l/100km.

Starry-eyed specifications

In response to customer feedback and market trends, the new Starlet also boasts an upgraded specification roster. All models now come equipped with a touchscreen audio system (either 18 or 23cm) with USB, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto interface, as well as a rear USB charger. Automatic Climate Control, power-retractable mirrors and electric windows are features on the standard menu.

Driver assistance is aided by rear parking sensors (PDC), Hill Assist Control (HAC), Vehicle Stability Control, ABS and EBD across the board. Driver and passenger airbags are also provided with the flagship Xr grade featuring Side & Curtain versions too.

The top-tier Xr model adds Smart Entry, Push Start and Cruise Control amongst other niceties.

Verdict

The Starlet builds on the core strengths of earlier launch models. Good performance, fuel efficiency and affordable pricing the mainstay that brings out the Starlet with a modern exterior design, spacious interior and enhanced specification levels that will go down well with aspirant buyers. What more can one ask for considering the appealing price that the Starlet re-enters the market at? The Starlet could pass as a mid-sized vehicle and is value for money all round.

Starry line-up and pricing

The familiar three-grade strategy has been retained (Xi, Xs and Xr). Buyers have a choice between a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission on Xs and Xr models, resulting in a model matrix of five variants catering to a variety of needs.

Starlet 1.5 Xi MT - R 226,200

Starlet 1.5 Xs MT - R 239,100

Starlet 1.5 Xs AT - R 261,100

Starlet 1.5 Xr MT - R 294,900

Starlet 1.5 Xr AT - R 313,300

Peace of mind is all part of the seal

All Starlet models are sold with a three-services/45,000km service plan  with 15,000 km service intervals. A three-year/100,000km warranty is also provided. Customers can additionally purchase service plan and warranty extensions from their local Toyota dealer  and they benefit from the biggest dealer network in the country (over 220 outlets).

Image supplied
Hosted by the South African Wind Energy Association (Sawea), WindAc Africa 2022 is inviting renewable energy researchers to once again showcase their work.

Source: Supplied

The renewable energy sector looks to the academic community to unpack and analyse investment capital, skills availability, land availability, grid access, operational excellency, and investment in local supply chain development, all of which play a critical role in ensuring that the industry will successfully deliver.

The conference works to clearly establish a road towards facilitating an integrated approach to research in achieving a successful power transition towards a greater share of renewables, as outlined in the countrys energy roadmap and prioritised by the president and the ministers who serve on the Energy Crisis Committee.

The fifth edition of WindAc Africa offers a special programme for high potential young people from universities across the country, and hopes to welcome 40 sponsored students at this years event.

Facilitating strengthened partnerships

The conference brings together key stakeholders including professionals, policymakers, academics, government representatives and civil society. It aims to facilitate strengthened partnerships for the on-the-ground implementation of renewable energy projects to influence energy policy and provide a framework to aid strategic decision-making.

This conference presents the perfect opportunity for researchers to showcase their work and reflect on the current state of the energy landscape and the industrys readiness to transform and move towards a just energy transition, said Niveshen Govender, CEO of Sawea.

2022 programme

WindAc Africa will be hosted over two days, 1113 October, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The 2022 programme will cover technical, socioeconomic, policy, and environmental aspects of the wind industry, emphasising academic interaction across disciplines.

Abstracts may be submitted through the WindAc Africa website portal. The proposed topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Successive years of stringent water restrictions on farmers' drawings from the Kouga Dam are taking their toll in the citrus-rich Gamtoos River Valley, with several commercial farmers having relocated or closing shop over the past 12 months.

Source: Supplied

Last month, the Department of Water and Sanitation announced that the 128 citrus, cash crop and dairy farmers in the valley relying on the Kouga Dam would be permitted to draw just 20% of their usual water allocations from the dam for 2022/3. The dam is currently at 16.6% capacity.

While farmers bear a cutback on their full allocations from the Kouga Dam of 80%, the Nelson Mandela Metros allocation from the dam is just 35% lower than normal. This means that the Bays water allocation for 2022/3 totals 15 million cubic metres, compared with 12 million cubic metres for valley farmers. It is the first time that the citys allocation from the dam exceeds the farmers allocation.

"A 20% allocation [for agricultural users] has a devastating effect on the economy of our valley," says Rienette Colesky, chief executive of the Kouga Dam custodians, Gamtoos Irrigation Board (GIB). "Our emerging farmers have really been struggling and some of them have discontinued farming," she said, adding: "At least five commercial farmers have left the agricultural industry or relocated to other areas during this past year."

Sixth successive year of burdensome restrictions

"Last year our income went down by 61%," says citrus farmer Khaya Katoo, of Threepence Farm. "Our fruit wasnt a good size and we werent able to fetch good prices overseas."

Katoo said the lack of water meant that "we had to completely uproot some of our orchards, something we only intended doing in five years time". "But we had to make the decision now if we wanted to keep going."

Pressure on commercial farmers also felt by emerging farmers

Few of the emerging farmers farm independently. Many partner with larger commercial farming operations, meaning the crisis affects all 128 farming entities within the scheme which creates 7,000 permanent and 5, 000 seasonal job opportunities, says Colesky.

Most farmers in the region have stopped farming water-intensive cash crops, with that land now either lying barren or converted into citrus orchards, which require less water.

Planting crops in other parts of the country

The few remaining cash crop producers are now planting crops in other parts of the country to honour pre-packing contracts signed with retailers.

One such farmer, Noelie le Roux, said 70% of his crops comprised vegetables, "which require large amounts of water and are labour-intensive". "In the past four or five years we have moved around the province hiring land in places like Kareedouw, Steynsburg and Hofmeyr where there is more water," Le Roux says. "We have had to scale down massively and retrench long-standing labourers."

Citrus farmer Marthinus Colesky says some of his farmland was lying barren due to water scarcity. "I used to cultivate vegetables for big retailers, but now I only farm citrus  although our fruit yield has become much smaller (due to the drought and water scarcity), making selling it much harder," he says.

One aspect often overlooked, he says, was that it could take up to six years for an orchard to bear fruit, and that was during times of normal rainfall. In other words, he said, the drought was threatening the future supply of produce.

"I have had to install a 3.6km pipeline just to keep my trees alive, and it is expensive to maintain."

Farmers not coping under restrictions

Colesky explains that farmers have been careful not to exceed their water allocations over the past several years, while the Bays abstraction had exceeded the limit set by the department. This, she says, had meant that farmers were perceived as coping with the water restrictions, when in fact they were not.

"Some farmers, if they are able, supplement their abstraction from the Kouga Dam with groundwater, even though it is not ideal for irrigation and has a negative effect on the land in the long run.

"Farmers had also saved part of their quota from the dam should their groundwater sources, which they greatly utilise, fail," she says.
Rhino Tears wines have raised just short of R3m in donations to be used in anti-poaching efforts since its launch in 2015.

Image supplied: Rhino Tears wines have raised just short of R3m in donations to be used in anti-poaching efforts

The wine donates R15 of every bottle sold to aid in the ongoing war against rhino poaching within South Africas national parks (SanParks) and surrounding areas.

In celebration of this milestone, the brand announced the launch of its upgraded packaging, as well as an improved product. This updated look and feel includes a new bottle shape, as well as a premium embossed label.

Rhino Tears is now available in a dry red blend and Sauvignon Blanc.

Over the last couple of years, the fight against rhino poaching has really struggled with funding, largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and corporates cutting back on their donations to causes. With little support from the government, and local tourism taking a knock, it has become the responsibility of all South Africans to make sure that our wildlife is protected, says John Hooper, founder of Rhino Tears.

Wine lovers can be confident that 100% of the funds raised through sales of Rhino Tears are used for anti-poaching projects in South Africa. Projects supported by the brand include the training of tracker dogs used to track poachers on the ground and purchasing equipment for field rangers.

Considering the selling price of Rhino Tears is R79.99, the R15 a bottle donation is a large portion of the costs. To date, we have raised around R3m, more than any other wine brand in the world when it comes to saving rhinos. Thank you to everyone who has bought even just one bottle, your contribution is making a big difference and we couldnt have achieved this without your help, Hooper continues.

By purchasing just one case of Rhino Tears a month, buyers are contributing R90 towards a good cause and receiving great wine in return.

Further information about the wine and the anti-poaching initiatives can be found here.
Walt Disney Media Ad Sales Manager - TV and Digital

Remuneration: R65000 - R90000 per month cost-to-company Benefits: Medical Aid, Provident, Insurance, Bonus Structure Location: Johannesburg, Sandton Remote work: Some remote work allowed Education level: Diploma Job level: Mid/Senior Own transport required: Yes Travel requirement: Occasional Type: Permanent Reference: #WDC1 Company: Embark Exclusively on behalf of Walt Disney

Job description

Service the existing client base and generate TV and Digital media ad sales by selling to Media Agencies and Clients. This involves pitching for business and then implementing deals.

Research and educate clients and become involved in client strategy creating bespoke proposals

Develop Ad sales and promotions for the Disney film franchise and brand partnership proposals

Plan and implement trade marketing activities

Whilst considering compliance requirements, identify new partner opportunities

Present figures to the sales team whilst actively working towards targets

Be a 3rd line of back up in the absence of the planning \ traffic coordinator

Five years or more in Media Sales, specifically TV

Ideally, experience in Digital Media Sales (e.g. YouTube)

Experience generating new business and partnering with clients

Experience pitching for new business and media negotiating deals

This is a rare opportunity to join a global powerhouse: Walt Disney, based in Sandton, is seeking a Media Ad Sales Manager to develop and implement media ad sales across Disneys TV channels, Disney YouTube and Disney social media platforms. The role reports into the Senior Manager Ad Sales and Promotion and works closely with an internal Media Planner.If you have a business or media diploma or degree and a strong track record of media ad sales across traditional and digital mediums, this may be the role for you.1. Professionals currently in media or digital ad sales2. Professionals in media and Ad agencies who want to get into sales3. Professionals in media and Ad agencies that pitch for new business and manage client relationships (e.g. account director,client service director, business unit director, business unit head, business development manager, account manager with sales experience)4. A senior media planner or senior media strategist with sales exposureDDB, Draft FCB, Eurocom, Grey Group, Hunt Lascaris, Joe Public, J Walter Thompson, Leo Burnett, Magna Carta, Maxus Global, M & C Saatchi, Mediacom, Media Compete, Media Edge, Media Mark, Media Max, Mindshare, Mortimer Harvey, Naledi Network BBDO, Ogilvy and Mather, Penquin, Primelife, Red Cherry, Starcom, TBWA, The Jupiter Drawing Room, The Media Shop, Universal McCann, Upstream, Vizeum, Y&R.Media manager, media sales manager, senior media strategist, media director, account director, client services director, business unit director, business unit head, business development manager, digital sales director, digital sales managerPosted on 10 Aug 16:13, Closing date 9 Oct
Edelman has named Mike Wood head of digital for Africa to expand and enhance its digital capabilities on the continent.

In addition to enhancing Edelman's digital capabilities, Wood will integrate with the company's EMEA network to advance digital creative solutions.
YAOUNDE, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian and Nigerian producers of banana and plantain have agreed to collaborate to boost the production of the crops in the Central African nation.

The agreement was reached on Tuesday in Cameroon's capital Yaounde after the producers met with the country's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe.

"We are pleased that today actors in the banana and plantain sectors are beginning to find ways to transform the sector," Mbairobe told reporters after the meeting.

"Nigeria is a big African economy with a huge population and Cameroon, a great agricultural country can feed this population. We will revamp the local economy and increase employment," said Albert Agha Ngwana who led the Nigerian delegation.

Banana is Cameroon's third largest export product behind oil and wood, but the country was working to ensure that it becomes the first export product by 2025, said Samuel Tony Obam Bikoue, representative of a local agroforestry cooperative who welcomed the Nigerian delegation to Cameroon.

Cameroon exported 13,203 tons of bananas in July, representing an increase of around 6 percent year on year, according to statistics published by the Banana Association of Cameroon. 
Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.  President Harry S. Truman

Militarized police. Riot squads. Camouflage gear. Black uniforms. Armored vehicles. Mass arrests. Pepper spray. Tear gas. Batons. Strip searches. Surveillance cameras. Kevlar vests. Drones. Lethal weapons. Less-than-lethal weapons unleashed with deadly force. Rubber bullets. Water cannons. Stun grenades. Arrests of journalists. Crowd control tactics. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Lockdowns.

This is not the language of freedom. This is not even the language of law and order.

This is the language of force.

This is how the government at all levelsfederal, state and localnow responds to those who speak out against government corruption, misconduct and abuse.

These overreaching, heavy-handed lessons in how to rule by force have become standard operating procedure for a government that communicates with its citizenry primarily through the language of brutality, intimidation and fear.

We didnt know it then, but what happened five years ago in Charlottesville, Va., was a foretaste of what was to come.

At the time, Charlottesville was at the center of a growing struggle over how to reconcile the right to think and speak freely, especially about controversial ideas, with the push to sanitize the environment of anythingwords and imagesthat might cause offense. That fear of offense prompted the Charlottesville City Council to get rid of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that had graced one of its public parks for 82 years.

In attempting to err on the side of political correctness by placating one group while muzzling critics of the citys actions, Charlottesville attracted the unwanted attention of the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and the alt-Right, all of whom descended on the little college town with the intention of exercising their First Amendment right to be disagreeable, to assemble, and to protest.

Thats when everything went haywire.

When put to the test, Charlottesville did not handle things well at all.

On August 12, 2017, government officials took what should have been a legitimate exercise in constitutional principles (free speech, assembly and protest) and turned it into a lesson in authoritarianism by manipulating warring factions and engineering events in such a way as to foment unrest, lockdown the city, and justify further power grabs.

On the day of scheduled protests, police deliberately engineered a situation in which two opposing camps of protesters would confront each other, tensions would bubble over, and things would turn just violent enough to justify allowing the government to shut everything down.

Despite the fact that 1,000 first responders (including 300 state police troopers and members of the National Guard)many of whom had been preparing for the downtown rally for monthshad been called on to work the event, and police in riot gear surrounded Emancipation Park on three sides, police failed to do their jobs.

In fact, as the Washington Post reports, police seemed to watch as groups beat each other with sticks and bludgeoned one another with shields At one point, police appeared to retreat and then watch the beatings before eventually moving in to end the free-for-all, make arrests and tend to the injured.

Police Stood By As Mayhem Mounted in Charlottesville, reported ProPublica.

Incredibly, when the first signs of open violence broke out, the police chief allegedly instructed his staff to let them fight, it will make it easier to declare an unlawful assembly.

In this way, police who were supposed to uphold the law and prevent violence failed to do either.

Indeed, a 220-page post-mortem of the protests and the Charlottesville governments response by former U.S. attorney Timothy J. Heaphy concluded that the City of Charlottesville protected neither free expression nor public safety.

In other words, the government failed to uphold its constitutional mandates.

The police failed to carry out their duties as peace officers.

And the citizens found themselves unable to trust either the police or the government to do its job in respecting their rights and ensuring their safety.

This is not much different from what is happening on the present-day national scene.

Indeed, theres a pattern emerging if you pay close enough attention.

Civil discontent leads to civil unrest, which leads to protests and counterprotests. Tensions rise, violence escalates, police stand down, and federal armies move in. Meanwhile, despite the protests and the outrage, the governments abuses continue unabated.

Its all part of an elaborate setup by the architects of the police state. The government wants a reason to crack down and lock down and bring in its biggest guns.

They want us divided. They want us to turn on one another.

They want us powerless in the face of their artillery and armed forces.

They want us silent, servile and compliant.

They certainly do not want us to remember that we have rights, let alone attempting to exercise those rights peaceably and lawfully, whether its protesting politically correct efforts to whitewash the past, challenging COVID-19 mandates, questioning election outcomes, or listening to alternate viewpointseven conspiratorial onesin order to form our own opinions about the true nature of government.

And they definitely do not want us to engage in First Amendment activities that challenge the governments power, reveal the governments corruption, expose the governments lies, and encourage the citizenry to push back against the governments many injustices.

Why else do you think Wikileaks founder Julian Assange continues to molder in jail for daring to blow the whistle about the U.S. governments war crimes, while government officials who rape, plunder and kill walk away with little more than a slap on the wrist?

This is how it begins.

We are moving fast down that slippery slope to an authoritarian society in which the only opinions, ideas and speech expressed are the ones permitted by the government and its corporate cohorts.

In the wake of the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol, domestic terrorism has become the new poster child for expanding the governments powers at the expense of civil liberties.

Of course, domestic terrorist is just the latest bulls eye phrase, to be used interchangeably with anti-government, extremist and terrorist, to describe anyone who might fall somewhere on a very broad spectrum of viewpoints that could be considered dangerous.

This unilateral power to muzzle free speech represents a far greater danger than any so-called right- or left-wing extremist might pose. The ramifications are so far-reaching as to render almost every American an extremist in word, deed, thought or by association.

Watch and see: we are all about to become enemies of the state.

As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, anytime you have a government that operates in the shadows, speaks in a language of force, and rules by fiat, youd better beware.

So whats the answer?

For starters, we need to remember that weve all got rights, and we need to exercise them.

Most of all, we need to protect the rights of the people to speak truth to power, whatever that truth might be. Either we the people believe in free speech or we dont.

Fifty years ago, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas asked:

Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us? The constitutional theory is that we the people are the sovereigns, the state and federal officials only our agents. We who have the final word can speak softly or angrily. We can seek to challenge and annoy, as we need not stay docile and quiet [A]t the constitutional level, speech need not be a sedative; it can be disruptive [A] function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger.

In other words, the Constitution does not require Americans to be servile or even civil to government officials. Neither does the Constitution require obedience (although it does insist on nonviolence).

Somehow, the government keeps overlooking this important element in the equation.

WC: 1401


The White House and media was praying for the killer to be a white vigilante so they could advance their "white extremist" narrative.





I am angered and saddened by the horrific killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. While we await a full investigation, my prayers are with the victims families, and my Administration stands strongly with the Muslim community.



These hateful attacks have no place in America.  President Biden (@POTUS) August 7, 2022



Instead, it appears this is just another one of many interpersonal ethnic conflicts we've imported into our country in order to "make it stronger."



The media made sure to keep the suspect's name and picture out of their headlines.





A 51-year-old man has been charged in the killings of two Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and he is suspected of slaying two others. Officials announced the mans arrest earlier Tuesday. https://t.co/3Xtxx1IEhf  The Associated Press (@AP) August 9, 2022

BREAKING: Police detain suspect in killing of Muslim man, see story at https://t.co/EsxKz1RRUv pic.twitter.com/9kDWWN8Lf0  Albuquerque Journal (@ABQJournal) August 9, 2022

A 51-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection to the recent killings of two Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, police said. https://t.co/3vzm6oqqP9  CNN (@CNN) August 9, 2022

#BREAKING @ABQPOLICE announces arrest in the murders of Muslim men 51-year-old Muhammad Syed is the primary suspect in the recent killings. Detectives discovered evidence tying Syed to the shootings including evidence the suspect knew the victims. pic.twitter.com/NWhMElywNK  Ali Bradley (@AliBradleyTV) August 9, 2022



From ABC 7, "Afghan man Muhammad Syed charged in killing of 2 Muslims in Albuquerque, suspected in 2 others":

A 51-year-old man from Afghanistan was charged Tuesday with killing two Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and authorities said he is suspected in the slayings of two others whose deaths sparked fear in Muslim communities nationwide.



Officials announced the arrest of Muhammad Syed a day after he was taken into custody.



Police Chief Harold Medina made the announcement on Twitter, saying that authorities had tracked down a vehicle believed to be involved in one of the slayings in New Mexico's largest city.



"The driver was detained, and he is our primary suspect for the murders," the tweet said.



Investigators received tips from the city's Muslim community that pointed them toward Syed, who arrived in the U.S. sometime in the last several years, police said.

"Ahmad Assed, the president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, a mosque that at least three of the victims had attended, said the authorities told him that the suspect was a Sunni Muslim, and may have targeted the victims because he was angry over his daughter marrying a Shiite Muslim," the New York Times reported.



"He and the police cautioned that details remained sparse, and Mr. Assed noted that at least one of the victims was Sunni," the Times continued.



"Police officials said they were not yet sure if a dispute over a marriage was the sole motive, but said they were aware of it and had found evidence that an 'interpersonal conflict' may have led to the shootings."



Is Biden going to travel to Albuquerque to condemn "Muslim extremists" like he did with the "white extremist" shooting in Buffalo or is this another visit he's going to skip like we saw with Waukesha?







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Emails released as part of several open records requests and lawsuits provide a behind-the-scenes look at the level of collaboration between the U.S. government and Big Tech companies  including targeting The Last American Vagabonds Twitter account.

In July 2021, former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki acknowledged that the White House was working with social media companies to identify and counter so-called misinformation. Psaki stated that the White House was regularly making sure social media platforms are aware of the latest narratives, dangerous to public health that we and many other Americans are seeing across all of social and traditional media. And we work to engage with them to better understand the enforcement of social media platform policies.

Following these statements, Freedom of Information Act requests were filed to the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. The requests sought information related to the process by which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Biden Administration are designating content disinformation or misinformation.

The FOIA requests were submitted by an organization known as America First Legal (AFL). The AFL website says they are committed to fighting for all Americansregardless of race, color, religion, or creed and oppose the radical lefts anti-jobs, anti-freedom, anti-faith, anti-borders, anti-police, and anti-American crusade.



After the Biden Administration delayed the release of the requested documents, AFL sued the CDC to force the release of the relevant documents.

One year after Psakis statement, AFL has received 286 pages of emails between CDC and numerous Big Tech companies. America First Legal President Stephen Miller called the emails explosive smoking-gun documents.

Miller said the documents,

conclusively demonstrate that Big Tech has unlawfully colluded with the federal government to silence, censor, and suppress Americans free speech and violate their First Amendment rights. Miller also said the government is expressly prohibited from censoring competing or dissenting viewpoints or from silencing its political opponents whether it does so directly or whether it uses an outside corporation to achieve its draconian, totalitarian ends.

Most of the emails feature Carol Crawford, a Digital Media Chief in the Division of Public Affairs for the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. Crawford can be seen arranging Be On the Look Out BOLO meetings where the CDC shared information deemed misinformation with Big Tech companies, including Twitter, Facebook, and Google. Crawford helped arrange a slideshow claiming to identify examples of misinformation for the companies.

One email shows Twitter requesting help from the CDC to identify misinformation. Emails also highlight how the week Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was testifying to Congress, his employees were busy arranging meetings with the CDC where they would be instructed on what qualifies as vaccine misinformation.

The CDC also requested that Google modify their search results to better promote the CDCs new vaccine page. Another email shows the CDC directly making edits in Googles Knowledgebase.

Interestingly, one of the examples of alleged misinformation relates to claims that the Pfizer COVID-19 shot could damage sperm or potentially cause infertility. While these type of claims were singled out, and social media accounts banned for discussing said claims, recent studies are confirming what was labeled as misinformation by the U.S. government only 1 year ago.

The emails absolutely make it certain that companies believed to be private actually have an extensive, ongoing relationship with the U.S. government. They work hand in glove to identify and silence opinions and facts that do not align with whatever narrative is being propped up at the moment. More specifically, the government and Big Tech work to hide specific data from the American public that they fear may infect them with skepticism towards the narratives.

In fact, an email sent by Carol Crawford on May 10, 2021 states, we wanted to point out two issues we are seeing a great deal of misinfo about  vaccine shedding and microchips. The email shows a table which purports to highlight examples of misinformation.

Within that table is a tweet from Twitter account @YoureAllDunces, the account of Ryan Cristian, founder and editor of The Last American Vagabond. The tweet referenced above includes a title of a TLAV broadcast from April 30, 2021, COVID Vaccine Shedding, Evidence SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Can Alter Human Genes & VAERS Truth. The broadcast dealt with reports of womens menstrual cycles being affected by the shots, and other claims of adverse events following the injection. Once again, these claims have now been accepted by even the corporate mainstream press. Most importantly, and one of the focuses of the CDC email, was the topic of Vaccine Shedding or the shedding of the spike protein, a topic addressed by one of the leading experts on the topic.

This pretty definitively shows us that the CDC is taking part in the targeted censorship of verifiable facts, Cristian stated. In my case, the concept of spike protein shedding, a concept that was already shown to be happening at the time they targeted me for censorship. Knowingly suppressing important factual information about the risks of these injections is not only dangerous and criminal, it destroys any illusion of informed consent.

Cristians Twitter account @YoureAllDunces has since been suspended by Twitter. This account was itself a replacement account for @TLAVagabond which has also been suspended. Cristian has subsequently had several other accounts associated with his work banned, including @doodlebugeye, @tennesseepirate, @whackamole30001, and @piratevagabond. (These are not newly made accounts but rather the accounts of others, what Cristian calls pirate accounts. If you want to take part or learn more about this idea, here is a recent interview on this topic with James Corbett.)

While the emails do not specifically name The Last American Vagabond or Cristian, they clearly indicate that his reporting has grown to the level that CDC officials are writing emails about his tweets.

Interestingly, the email from Carol Crawford was addressed to Todd O Boyle, Twitters Senior Manager for Public Policy since September 2020. OBoyle has previously served as the Deputy Director of Next Century Cities, a national association of smart-city mayors. In 2018, he was one of 33 people invited to join the Energy Security Fellows Program of SAFE (Securing Americas Energy Future). The program promises to provide the next generation of energy, transportation and national security professionals with access to high-level programming and networking opportunities which will help them build relationships with individuals interested in advancing the national conversation on the future of American energy security.

O Boyles history working with national security professionals could bias him in his work for Twitter, choosing what information constitutes misinformation and what is acceptable opinion.



A Documented History of Collusion

This latest document dump is far from the first example of direct collusion between tech companies and government agencies regarding alleged misinformation. In July 2021, Judicial Watch announced they had received 2,469 pages of documents from the CDC relating to coordination between Facebook and the CDC regarding the COVID narrative and misinformation.



The documents were received in response to a FOIA lawsuit filed by Judicial Watch against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Judicial Watch was specifically seeking any and all records of communication between CDC officials and/or employees and employees, agents, and/or representatives of Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube concerning, regarding, or relating to COVID-19 related content on company platforms.

These documents show collusion between the CDC and Big Tech in similar ways to the emails released by the AFL, including regular communication between Big Tech and the U.S. government regarding acceptable messaging, claims of misinformation, and instructions on which content to promote and which to throttle.

There are currently other pending lawsuits seeking to gain access to similar documents in an attempt to further prove the true extent of collaboration between supposedly private companies and the U.S. government. One of these lawsuits was filed by attorneys general with Missouri and Louisiana on May 5th.

In early July, a federal court allowed Missouris attorney general to collect discovery documents from the U.S. government and social media companies as part of their lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses various Biden administration officials of colluding with Big Tech to suppress free speech by labeling it misinformation. Officials named in the lawsuit include Joe Biden, former Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the shuttered Department of Homeland Securitys Disinformation Governance Board Nina Jankowicz, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and others.

The lawsuit says these officials worked with Big Tech to censor free speech which led to the suppression and censorship of truthful information on several topics, including COVID-19. The complaint also outlines other examples of censorship, including the Hunter Biden laptop story immediately prior to the 2020 presidential election; content on the COVID-19 lab-leak theory; stories on the efficacy of masks and lockdowns; and speech about election integrity.

The AFL lawsuit will likely not be the last to document clear examples of the erosion of the separation between corporations and government which most Americans believe has existed in the United States since its founding. If theres any saving grace to these revelations of corporatocracy, perhaps it can be the shattering of the illusion that Big Tech was ever a truly private entity, separate from government influence and partnership.

The cold hard reality is that Big Tech companies like Google and Facebook have an extensive history of partnering with the U.S. government and intelligence community since their founding. The sooner we recognize these facts, the sooner we can recognize that America is not a representative democracy, nor a constitutional republic, but an authoritarian oligarchical corporatocracy.

In short, the United States is now the home of open coordination and suppression of unpopular views between government and corporations. Unless this incestuous relationship is dismantled we will continue to experience the incremental loss of privacy, freedom of speech, and bodily autonomy.

Source: The Last American Vagabond

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The World Health Organization (WHO) is moving ahead with plans to enact a new or revised international pandemic preparedness treaty, despite encountering setbacks earlier this summer after dozens of countries, primarily outside the Western world, objected to the plan.

A majority of WHO member states on July 21, during a meeting of WHOs Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), agreed to pursue a legally binding pandemic instrument that will contain both legally binding as well as non-legally binding elements.

STAT News described the agreement, which would create a new global framework for responding to pandemics, as the most transformative global health call to action since [the] WHO itself was formed as the first specialized United Nations agency in 1948.

Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum, African Union and World Bank  which created a $1 billion fund for disease surveillance and support against the current as well as future pandemics  are developing their own pandemic response mechanisms, including new cross-country vaccine passport frameworks.

WHOs pandemic treaty: whats been proposed and what would it mean?

Ongoing talks to formulate a new or revised pandemic treaty are building on the existing international framework for global pandemic response, the WHOs International Health Regulations (IHR), considered a binding instrument of international law.

On Dec. 1, 2021, in response to calls from various governments for a strengthened global pandemic strategy and signaling the urgency with which these entities are acting, the WHO formally launched the process of creating a new treaty or amending the IHR, during Special Session  only the second in the organizations history

During the meeting, held May 10-11, WHOs 194 member countries unanimously agreed to launch the process, which previously had been discussed only informally.

The member countries agreed to:

Kickstart a global process to draft and negotiate a convention, agreement or other international instrument under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The IHR, a relatively recent development, were first enacted in 2005, in the aftermath of SARS-CoV-1.

The IHR legal framework is one of only two binding treaties the WHO has achieved since its inception, the other being the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The IHR framework already allows the WHO director-general to declare a public health emergency in any country, without the consent of that countrys government, though the framework requires the two sides to first attempt to reach an agreement.

The proposals for a new or revised pandemic treaty, put forth at the special ministerial session of the WHO in May, would somewhat strengthen the WHOs pandemic-related powers, including establishing a Compliance Committee that would issue advisory recommendations for states.

However, according to the Daily Sceptic, while the IHR is already legally binding, the amendments proposed in May would not strengthen existing legal obligations or requirements:

The existing treaty regulations, like all (or most) international law, do not actually compel states to do anything other than talk to the WHO and listen to it, and neither do they specify sanctions for non-compliance; almost all their output is advice.

The proposed amendments dont alter that. They dont allow the WHO unilaterally to impose legally binding measures on or within countries.

The Daily Sceptic noted one of the risks stemming from the negotiations for a new or updated treaty include the potential codification of the new lockdown orthodoxy for future pandemics, which would replace the sound, science-based, pre-COVID recommendations previously in place.

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, such a treaty would grant the WHO absolute power over global biosecurity, such as the power to implement digital identities/vaccine passports, mandatory vaccinations, travel restrictions, standardized medical care and more.

Mercola also questioned a one-size-fits-all approach to pandemic response, pointing out that pandemic threats are not identical in all parts of the world. In his view, he said, the WHO is not qualified to make global health decisions.

Similar concerns contributed at least in part to opposition against the proposals presented at the special ministerial session, during which a bloc of mostly non-Western countries, including China, India, Russia and 47 African nations, prevented an agreement from being finalized.

Will opposition fade away?

Although no final agreement was achieved at the May meeting, consensus was reached to organize a new special ministerial session of the WHO later this year, possibly after the WHOs World Health Assembly, scheduled for Nov. 29 through Dec. 1, Reuters reported.

Mxolisi Nkosi, South Africas ambassador to the UN, told the WHOs annual ministerial assembly the new special session would consider the benefits for such a convention, agreement or other international instrument.

Nkosi added:

Probably the most important lesson COVID-19 has taught us is the need for stronger and more agile collective defences against health threats as well as for building resilience to address future potential pandemics.

A new pandemic treaty is central to this.

At the time, the U.K.s ambassador to the UN, Simon Manley, addressing the lack of an immediate agreement and the consensus to hold a new meeting, tweeted negotiations may take time, but this is a historic step towards global health security.

2 Second resolution  led by    with 60+ co-sponsors  calls for discussions on a #PandemicTreaty to start later this year. Negotiations may take time, but this is a historic step towards global health security. (3/4)  Simon Manley (@SimonManleyFCDO) May 25, 2021

The INB, at its meeting held in Geneva July 18-21, also agreed with this view, reaching a consensus that its members will work on finalizing a new legally binding international pandemic agreement by May 2024.

As part of this process, the INB will meet again in December and will deliver a progress report to the 76th World Health Assembly of the WHO in 2023.

According to the WHO, Any new agreement, if any when agreed by Member States, is drafted and negotiated by governments themselves, [which] will take any action in line with their sovereignty.

The WHO further claims that governments themselves will determine actions under the accord while considering their own national laws and regulations.

The Biden administration expressed broad support for a new or updated pandemic treaty, with the U.S. heading previous negotiations on this issue, along with the European Commission, via its president Ursula von der Leyen, who, as previously reported by The Defender, is also a strong proponent of vaccine passports and mandatory COVID-19 vaccination.

An analysis by the Alliance for Natural Health International speculated that any final agreement may simply strengthen the existing IHR or, alternatively, may involve an amendment to the WHOs constitution  or both.

Just two days after the July 21 INB agreement, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHOs director-general, tweeted:

Im pleased that alongside the process of negotiating a new [international] accord on pandemic preparedness & response, WHOs Member States are also considering targeted amendments to the [IHR], incl. ways to improve the process for declaring a [public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC].

Im pleased that alongside the process of negotiating a new intl accord on pandemic preparedness & response, WHOs Member States are also considering targeted amendments to the [IHR], incl. ways to improve the process for declaring a [PHEIC].-@DrTedros  World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 23, 2022

In the same Twitter thread, he also declared the ongoing monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, one that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners.

Notably, the WHO director-general overruled an expert panel that was divided over whether to classify the outbreak as a global public health emergency.

With this declaration, three global health emergencies are now in place, as determined by the WHO: COVID-19, monkeypox and polio.

Busy summer for vaccine passport proposals

While the WHO and global governments weigh plans for an updated or new pandemic treaty, other organizations are moving forward on vaccine passport technologies and partnerships.

On July 8, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), composed of many of the worlds industrialized nations, announced it would promote the unification of the different vaccine passport systems currently in use around the world.

Thirty-six countries and international organizations participated in a July meeting with the goal of creating a multilateral framework for establishing a global vaccine passport regime, according to Nick Corbishley of Naked Capitalism.

The development is a continuation of efforts involving the WHO to harmonize global vaccine passport regimes.

In February, the WHO selected Germanys T-Systems as an industry partner to develop the vaccination validation service, which would enable vaccination certificates to be checked across national borders.

T-Systems, an arm of Deutsche Telekom, was previously instrumental in developing the interoperability of vaccine passport systems in Europe.

Also in July, 21 African governments quietly embraced a vaccine passport system, which in turn would also be interlinked with other such systems globally.

On July 8, which is also Africa Integration Day, the African Union and the Africa Centers for Disease Control launched a digital vaccine passport valid throughout the African Union, describing it as the e-health backbone of Africas new health order.

This follows the development in 2021, of the Trusted Travel platform, now required by several African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Togo and Zimbabwe, and air carriers such as EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways, for both inbound and outbound travel.

Beyond Africa, Indonesia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the G20, is conducting pilot projects that would bring about the interoperability of the various digital vaccine passport systems currently in use globally. The project is expected to be completed by November, in time for the G20 Leaders Summit.

Naked Capitalism highlighted the role of South African company Cassava Fintech in the efforts to develop an interoperable vaccine passport for all of Africa.

A subsidiary of African telecommunication company Econet, Cassava initially developed the Sasail app, which the company described as Africas first global super app that combines social payments with the ability to send and receive money and pay bills, chat with others and play games.

Cassava and Econet entered into a strategic partnership with Mastercard, to advance digital inclusion across Africa and collaborate on a range of initiatives, including expansion of the Africa CDC TravelPass.

As previously reported by The Defender, Mastercard supports the Good Health Pass vaccine passport initiative that is also backed by the ID2020 alliance and endorsed by embattled former U.K. prime minister Tony Blair.

Mastercard has also promoted technology that can be embedded into the DO Card, a credit/debit card that keeps track of ones personal carbon allowance.

ID2020, founded in 2016, claims to support ethical, privacy-protecting approaches to digital ID. Its founding partners include Microsoft, the Rockefeller Foundation, Accenture, GAVI-The Vaccine Alliance (itself a core partner of the WHO), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank.

Mastercards top two stockholders are Vanguard and BlackRock, which hold significant stakes in dozens of companies that supported the development of vaccine passports or implemented vaccine mandates for their employees. The two investment firms also hold large stakes in vaccine manufacturers, including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Mastercard provides funding for the World Banks Identity for Development (ID4D) Program, which focuses on promoting digital identification systems to improve development outcomes while maintaining trust and privacy.

The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at the New York School of Law recently described the ID4D program, which touts its alignment with the UNs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , as one which could pave the way to a digital road to hell.

According to the center, this would occur through the prioritization of economic identity and the use of an infrastructure that has been linked to severe and large-scale human rights violations in several countries.

Mastercard is also active in Africa through its joint initiative with another fintech (financial technology) company, Paycode, to increase access to financial services and government assistance for remote communities across Africa via a biometric identity system containing the data of 30 million individuals.

World Bank, WHO promote pandemic preparedness and vaccine passports

The World Bank in late June announced the creation of a fund that will finance investments in strengthening the fight against pandemics and support prevention, preparedness and response  with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.

The fund was developed under the lead of the U.S., Italy and current G20 president Indonesia, with broad support from the G20, and will be active later this year.

It will provide more than $1 billion in funding for areas such as disease surveillance and support against the current as well as future pandemics.

The WHO is also a stakeholder in the project and will provide technical expertise, according to WHOs director-general.

The agreement follows a 2019 strategic partnership between the UN and the World Economic Forum, to accelerate the implementation of the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs.

Although the agreement has recently circulated on social media, it was announced in June 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It encompasses six areas of focus, including health and digital cooperation.

In terms of health, the agreement purports that it will support countries [sic] achieve good health and well-being for all, within the context of the 2030 Agenda, focusing on key emerging global health threats that require stronger multistakeholder partnership and action.

In turn, the digital cooperation promoted by the agreement will purportedly meet the needs of the Fourth Industrial Revolution while seeking to advance global analysis, dialogue and standards for digital governance and digital inclusiveness.

However, despite rhetoric preaching inclusiveness, individuals and entities that have refused to go along with applications such as vaccine passports have faced repercussions in their personal and professional lives.

Such was the example of a Canadian doctor who was fined $6,255 in June over her refusal to use the countrys ArriveCAN health information app  which is being investigated over privacy concerns  to enter the country.

Dr. Ann Gillies said she was fined when re-entering Canada after attending a conference in the U.S.

Andrew Bud, the CEO of biometric ID company iProove, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security contractor, described vaccine certificates as driving the whole field of digital ID in the future, adding they are not just about COVID [but] about something even bigger and that once adopted for COVID [they] will be rapidly used for everything else.
"Walgreens knew its system to detect and stop suspicious orders was nonexistent but continued to ship opioids at an alarming pace to increase profits," said an attorney for the alifornia city.

Pharmacy giant Walgreens "substantially contributed" to San Francisco's opioid crisis by shipping hundreds of thousands of "suspicious orders" of highly addictive prescription drugs as part of a profit-driven "fill, fill, fill culture," a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

"Walgreens pharmacies in San Francisco dispensed hundreds of thousands of red-flag opioid prescriptions without performing adequate due diligence."

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in the non-jury trial means that Walgreens can be held liable for much of the California city's opioid epidemic. Breyer said he will hold another trial to determine Walgreens' liability, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

"Walgreens pharmacies in San Francisco dispensed hundreds of thousands of red-flag opioid prescriptions without performing adequate due diligence," Breyer wrote in his ruling, which stems from the City and County of San Francisco v. Purdue Pharma casepopularly known as the Opioid Trialwhich is classified as a "bellwether case" by federal courts due to its potential nationwide implications. Walgreens was the only company that did not reach a settlement with the city.

"The evidence showed that Walgreens did not provide its pharmacists with sufficient time, staffing, or resources to perform due diligence on these prescriptions," wrote Breyer.

Peter Mougey, an attorney representing San Francisco and other municipalities in opioid lawsuits, told The Washington Post that "Walgreens has hidden, covered up, and run from the truth throughout the entirety of this five-year litigation."

"Walgreens knew its system to detect and stop suspicious orders was nonexistent but continued to ship opioids at an alarming pace to increase profits," added Mougey. "San Francisco is now one step closer to starting the healing process."

As the Post notes:

Opioid overdoses, including heroin and fentanyl, have skyrocketed in San Francisco, where there was a 478% increase in those deaths between 2015 and 2020, climbing to 584, according to data from the city. Opioid-related emergency room visits tripled at the same time, at nearly 3,000 in 2020... During the trial, city officials testified about the extent that the crisis infiltrated everyday life. Needles were removed from the city's parks "like changing out the toilet paper in the restrooms," a park ranger said. When paramedics respond to someone who has no pulse and is not breathing, they assume it's an opioid overdose.

According to the Chronicle:

Between 2006 and 2020, Walgreens distributed more than 100 million prescription opioid pills to pharmacies in San Francisco while failing to take actions to identify suspicious prescriptions or prevent their illegal and harmful use... San Francisco also sued seven drug manufacturers and distributors but settled its claims against them for $120 million. The companies are Allergan, Teva, Endo Pharmaceuticals, and Johnson & Johnson and its three distributors, McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen.

The San Francisco City Attorney's Office hailed Breyer's ruling as "a major victory." San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, a Democrat, said during a Wednesday press conference that "there is no amount of money that will bring back the lives lost. There's nothing that we're going to be able to do to reverse that tragedy, but our city continues to need resources to adequately address suffering on our streets and the tragedies that continue with that."

In an interview with The San Francisco Standard, Chiu noted that "this is the first bench trial that has found against Walgreens, and I think it's reflective [of] the fact that we put in the significant evidence that demonstrates their liability for creating the incredible public nuisance and tragedy that we're seeing on our city streets, as well as across America when it comes to the opioid crisis."

Paul Geller, who also represented San Francisco in the case, told the Post he hopes Breyer's ruling "is distributed as required reading in Big Pharma boardrooms throughout the country" because it "ought to be a wake-up call for companies [to] help ensure this never happens again."

Walgreens spokesperson Fraser Engerman told the Post the company will appeal the ruling, arguing that "we never manufactured or marketed opioids, nor did we distribute them to the 'pill mills' and internet pharmacies that fueled this crisis."

Wednesday's decision follows a $683 million opioid-related settlement between Walgreens and the state of Florida in May, as well as an Ohio jury's November 2021 conclusion that the nation's three largest pharmacy chainsCVS, Walgreens, and Walmartrecklessly distributed a deluge of pills in two of the state's counties.
YAOUNDE, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least two soldiers have been killed by separatist fighters in Cameroon's war-torn Anglophone region of Northwest, army sources said on Wednesday.

Separatist fighters ambushed and attacked the soldiers in Bamessing locality of the region on Tuesday, killing two on the spot and wounding another, according to two army officials who wish to remain anonymous in the region.

The attack was carried out by a group of separatist fighters who had earlier suffered casualties in a repelled attack by the military in the region.

Separatist fighters have been clashing with government forces in Cameroon's two English-speaking regions of Northwest and Southwest since 2017. 


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PHNOM PENH, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Trade volume between Cambodia and China was valued at 6.97 billion U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2022, up 15.6 percent year-on-year, according to the General Department of Customs and Excise's report released on Wednesday.

China remained the largest trading partner of Cambodia, followed by the United States, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore, the report said.

It added that trade with China accounted for 21 percent of Cambodia's total trade volume of 32.8 billion dollars during the January-July period.

The main products Cambodia shipped to China were milled rice, bananas, mangos, cassava, fishery and apparels, while it imported from China mostly garment raw materials, machinery, vehicles, foodstuffs, electronics and medicines, among others.

Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's undersecretary of state and spokesman Penn Sovicheat said trade cooperation between the two countries has been rising despite the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"China is a huge market for Cambodia, and despite the pandemic, our bilateral trade volume has steadily increased," he told Xinhua.

Sovicheat said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement and the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), both of which entered into force earlier this year, have been injecting new impetus into the trade relations between the two countries.

"Under the two free trade agreements, we're confident that our bilateral trade and investment volumes will continue to grow in the coming years," he said.

Senior economist Ky Sereyvath, director-general of the Institute of China Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, agreed that both pacts have given a big boost to the trade volume between the two Asian nations.

"Through RCEP and the CCFTA, I think Cambodia can be a hub-and-spoke model to distribute goods from China to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in the future," he told Xinhua.

RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. 
PHNOM PENH, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) on Wednesday expressed concern over a decline in purchase orders from Western countries for the second half of 2022.

GMAC Secretary-General Ken Loo said the unstable global situation and the likeliness of an economic downturn mainly in Western countries have raised "serious concern over the export situation for the second half of the year."

"Many members have informed the GMAC of the reduced /revised order situation and some have sought legal advice from GMAC legal team on the procedure for a possible partial production suspension," he said in a news release.

"The GMAC is conducting an extensive survey among all members to analyze the order situation more accurately," he added.

Amid this serious concern, Cambodia is going through a huge jump in labor-related costs after the government announced the implementation of pension fund contribution and annual minimum wage revision to take effect in January, he said.

"This double cost increase is serious enough to be worried, not to mention other issues like higher logistics cost and higher cost of compliance which is increasing every year due to buyers' demand," Loo said.

Looking forward, he suggested that Cambodia need to be proactive and cautious about things that would put more cost pressure on the companies.

The garment, footwear and travel goods industry is the largest foreign exchange earner for Cambodia. The sector consists of roughly 1,100 factories and branches, employing approximately 750,000 workers, mostly female.

According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, the Southeast Asian nation exported products totally worth 6.6 billion U.S. dollars during the first half of this year, up 40 percent from 4.72 billion dollars over the same period last year. 
QBE chief executive Andrew Horton says the pace of inflation will be a crucial influence on insurance premiums, which continue to surge as Australian insurers continue to deal with a deluge of disaster claims.

The global insurer became the latest in the industry to predict further increases in premiums, after it posted first-half profits to $US151 million, a sharp fall from $U$441 million last year. However, the result sparked a 3.6 per cent rally in QBEs share price to $12.58, as investors welcomed QBEs upbeat guidance for revenue from premiums and higher returns on its investment portfolio.

QBE said premium rates increased by an average of 9.1 per cent in its Australia Pacific business. Credit:Bloomberg

As markets debate whether inflation may have peaked in the United States, Horton said the speed at which insurance premiums were rising could slow, including in QBEs Australian business, where premiums jumped 9.1 in the latest half.

However, he said any slowdown in premium increases would depend on whether inflationary pressure eased over time, noting insurers were already having to cope with increased pressure in supplies of building materials and car parts, alongside a jump in disaster claims.

At the moment, inflation doesnt look as though its going to go away anytime soon, it may moderate a bit. Hopefully, its peaked and starts coming down a bit, Horton said. Im expecting the rate of [premium] rate change to start falling a bit, he said.

Read more here.
High-performing teachers would get financial bonuses, university fees for teaching degrees would be lowered and the use of employment-based degrees, where teaching students work in schools and earn while they learn, would be expanded under a series of proposals states will put forward to tackle the nations teacher shortage.

Australias education ministers will meet for the first time since the federal election on Friday and the nations unprecedented teacher shortage will dominate discussions.

Former secondary school teacher Stephanie Wescott left teaching after five years and says many of her teacher friends are also considering leaving. Credit:Penny Stephens

Victorian and NSW education ministers Natalie Hutchins and Sarah Mitchell will put forward several proposals to attract more people into teaching and reduce high attrition rates that the sector says have become worse as exhausted teachers left the profession in the pandemic.

The issue of heavy workloads, and how shifting expectations of a teachers role and responsibilities are undermining efforts to keep them in the classroom will also be raised at the meeting.
Nine News Perth power couple Michael Genovese and Jerrie Demasi have welcomed their first baby into the world.

On Thursday last week, their baby daughter Tommie was born, named after Demasis grandmother Thomai.

Michael Genovese and Jerrie Demasi have welcomed baby daughter Tommie into the world.

We had been lying in bed on Wednesday last week placing bets on when she would come and then my water broke, Demasi said.

She arrived two weeks early, after 24 hours of labour. I wanted to do things naturally but I wasnt dilating properly. It wasnt safe for me or the baby so I went in for an emergency C-section.
China has told Australians it reserves the right to use military force to seize control of Taiwan against the wishes of the islands 23 million people, deepening fears of war after days of Chinese missile launches and naval drills to lay claim to the territory.

The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, said on Wednesday the use of force was an option to achieve reunification so the people of Taiwan might have the correct understanding of China, after the state council in Beijing said it would use all necessary measures to achieve reunification.

Chinas ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, says Australians should use their imagination about whether it would use military force to seize control of Taiwan. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Speaking to the National Press Club, Xiao said Australia had a chance to reset relations with China to improve trade and clear the way for a meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping as soon as the G20 summit at the end of this year, but he said Canberra had to respect Chinas claim to Taiwan.

In a speech that sparked concern from Japan and others within hours, Xiao endorsed a state council paper issued on Wednesday that said China would not renounce the use of force to take Taiwan.
Matthew Guy has lost another team member after an internal battle involving the opposition leaders incoming chief of staff, just three months before the state election.

The Victorian Liberal Partys director of communications, Lee Anderson, quit today, a week after Guys former chief of staff, Mitch Catlin, was forced to resign.

Lee Anderson has resigned as the oppositions communications director.

Several Liberal sources said Anderson offered his resignation to Guys new chief of staff, Nick McGowan, who was appointed on Monday, after the pair clashed over the oppositions media strategy.

It was clear early on that they werent going to work well together, one Liberal source told The Age on the condition of anonymity.
Singapore: Chinas state council has proposed imposing Hong Kongs one country, two systems policy on Taiwan and said it would not renounce the use of force to take the island.

The proposals, contained within the first state council white paper on Taiwan in two decades, reveal Beijings long-term plans for the democratic island that it has vowed to unify with China.

Taiwanese soldiers salute during National Day celebrations in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei in October. Credit:AP

Describing one country, two systems as reflecting the Chinese wisdom of inclusiveness and tolerance, Chinas state council said that after unification, Taiwan would be allowed to implement a social system that was different from that of the mainland and continue to operate under a high degree of autonomy.

The same commitment was made to Hong Kong in 1997 but the semi-autonomous region has since had dozens of pro-democracy leaders thrown in jail, newspapers shut down, and patriotic education enforced through national security laws.
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China will resolutely make a fightback each time the United States makes a serious provocation that encroaches upon China's sovereignty and interferes in China's internal affairs, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"China will never allow its national sovereignty and territorial integrity to be wantonly trampled upon and undermined," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing, urging the United States to stop its attempt to contain China by using Taiwan.

Wang pointed out Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region is a major political provocation which upgrades exchanges between the United States and Taiwan.

Pelosi's visit violated relevant commitments by the U.S. side in the China-U.S. Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, the one-China principle widely accepted by the international community and confirmed in the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, and the principle in international law of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, which is enshrined in the UN Charter, he said.

Disregarding China's dissuasion and warnings concerning Pelosi's visit, the United States has chosen to pursue the wrong course of action, Wang said, noting that it is the United States, not China, who has reneged on commitments.

"It is the United States that infringed upon China's sovereignty, not China violating the sovereignty of the United States. It is the United States who connived at and supported 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities, not China conniving at and supporting separatist activities in the United States," Wang added.

Wang said the United States is going down the path of obscuring, hollowing out and distorting the one-China principle, while accusing China of changing the status quo.

"The United States carries out over a hundred military drills in China's adjacent waters every year, but accuses China of overacting," Wang added, "Neither China nor the international community will accept such a gangster logic."

If the United States truly hopes to abide by international law and uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries as it claims to, it should return to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, Wang said.

He urged the United States to refrain from reckless moves and stop attempting to use Taiwan to contain China and do right things and take concrete steps to facilitate the sound development of China-U.S. ties and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. 
Washington: An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former US national security adviser John Bolton in presumed retaliation for a US airstrike that killed the countrys most powerful general, offering $US300,000 ($423,000) to eliminate the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said.

Shahram Poursafi, identified by US officials as a member of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.

Former national security adviser John Bolton speaks at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington in 2019. Credit:AP

Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force and an architect of Tehrans proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike as he travelled from Baghdads international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.

The FBI believes that Poursafi was acting on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard when he sought to have Bolton killed, according to an affidavit unsealed on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). Law enforcement officials located photographs of him in fatigues and with posters of Iran and Soleimani in the background to back up their allegation that he is a uniformed Revolutionary Guard member.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has delivered $31 billion towards its Sustainability Funding Target (SFT) since June 2020, making strong progress towards its SFT of $70 billion in cumulative funding by 2030.

Over the past two years, CBA has created a dedicated sustainable finance and ESG team in the institutional banking and markets division, which resulted in a ramp up of activities across sustainable finance, with the team executing more 70 transactions during fiscal 2022  a near three-fold increase from the previous year.

This financial year, the group acted as joint lead manager on more ESG bond transactions in the Australian dollar market than any other bank, arranging $9.4 billion of Australian dollar ESG bonds across 17 issues, and $13.6 billion of ESG bonds globally. The bank was also joint lead manager on Queensland Treasury Corporations $3 billion green bond  the largest transaction of this kind in the Australian market.

CBA also backed a number of innovative transactions in its role as joint lead manager on University of Tasmanias $350 million green bond  the largest green issued by an Australian university and the first to solely fund assets targeting a reduction in embodied carbon. Other initiatives supported by the bank have included developing a range of successful sustainable finance products for institutional clients such as an ESG term deposit and green repurchase agreements.

CBA has also blazed a trail in the Australian loan market with several sustainable deals,

including the launch of the countrys first Green Development Loan to incentivise the construction of new green buildings.

The bank partnered with Charter Hall to achieve Climate Bond Initiative certification of its $202 million construction facility for a new development in Richmond, Victoria. It has also provided sustainability-linked inventory financing to support Australian grain company Viterra with a syndicated $800 million facility that will help with expanding a sustainably grown grain supply chain across the country.



CBAs strategy, in addition to considering the risks of climate change, seeks to harness the significant existing and emerging opportunities to help customers reduce their emissions, adapt to climate change, and drive positive social outcomes, the bank said in a media release. Playing a leading role in Australias recovery and transition is key to delivering on Commonwealth Banks purpose and helping to build a brighter future for all.
B2B SaaS platform CleverTap on Wednesday said it has signed agreements to raise USD 105 million, about Rs 834 core, in the fourth stage of its funding round led by global investment group CDPQ.

CDPQ has committed an investment of USD 75 million in the series D funding round.

IIFL AMC's Tech Fund, along with existing investors Tiger Global and Sequoia India, has also participated in the funding round, the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) firm said in a statement.

"The funds will be used to support CleverTap's global expansion and enhance the development of its world-class solutions and technology," the statement said.

CleverTap was founded in Mumbai in 2013 but it is headquartered in Mountain View, California.

CleverTap claims to have a customer base of 1,200 brands in 100 countries. Its client base represents 10,000 apps across industries, including fintech, e-commerce, subscription, on-demand and streaming media.

"The addition of long-term investors CDPQ and IIFL AMC Tech Fund to CleverTap's existing backers Sequoia India, Accel, Tiger Global, and Recruit Holdings is a great endorsement of the successful business we have built.

"The fresh funds will help fuel our plans to further strengthen our presence in key geographies and expand our teams," CleverTap co-founder and executive chairman Sunil Thomas said in the statement.

As part of the transaction, CDPQ will join CleverTap's board of directors upon closure of this funding round. IIFL AMC's investment is subject to approval from Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the statement said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
CleverTap, which helps brands to increase and retain customers, has raised $105 million in a funding round led by global investment group with participation from AMCs Tech Fund and existing Tiger Global and Sequoia India.

The B2B SaaS firm on Wednesday signed agreements for the Series D round. As part of the transaction, has committed $75 million funding and will join CleverTaps board of directors. AMCs investment is subject to approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The latest fundraise reaffirms customer and market belief in CleverTap and our growth potential. This fundraise will help us elevate our growth trajectory and further enable us to innovate better and faster while staying ahead of the curve, said Sidharth Malik, CleverTaps chief executive officer.

The paradigms of user engagement are changing, and as industry leaders, we are best positioned to help businesses adapt to this ever-evolving consumer landscape, Malik said.

CleverTap, which was founded in in 2013 and is headquartered in Mountain View, California, runs a cloud service that helps digital brands to increase customer retention. It assists 1,200 customers from its offices in Mumbai, Singapore, Sofia, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Amsterdam, Jakarta, and Dubai.

As consumer brands are increasingly focused on customer retention and prioritize tools offering a tangible return on investment, we believe CleverTap is well positioned to maintain its global growth trajectory and help more businesses enhance their customer experience, said Martin Laguerre, executive vice-president and head of at .

The funding announcement comes days after CleverTap acquired Leanplum, a multi channel customer engagement platform.
Billionaire Anil Agarwal, who is chairman of Vedanta, said on Wednesday that the company was targeting $100 billion in revenue by 2030 as it continued to diversify its operations across the natural resources spectrum.

The company closed 2021-22 (FY22) with a revenue of Rs 1.31 trillion (or nearly $17 billion)  up 51 per cent over the previous year. It has operations across sectors such as oil and gas, zinc, lead, silver, nickel, and copper in India, South Africa, and Namibia.

Addressing shareholders at the companys 57th annual general meeting, Agarwal said that had planned a capital expenditure of around $3 billion over the next two years for growth and vertical integration. Of this, $2 billion would be earmarked for the ongoing financial year (2022-23).

FY22 has been the best year for . We clocked record revenue and earnings before interest tax depreciation, and amortisation of Rs 45,319 crore  up 66 per cent year-on-year, said Agarwal.

Our strong cashflow places the company in a great position of growth. We have also put in place a robust capital allocation strategy that aims at deleveraging the balance sheet. We retain a track record of consistently rewarding shareholders with strong dividend payouts, he said.

Among growth plans, Agarwal pointed to the acquisition of Goa-based Nicomet (in December 2021), which has made the only producer of nickel in India.



This metal is high in demand for electric vehicles and batteries, he said.

We are also foraying into the manufacture of semiconductor and display units. Not only are semiconductors in short supply globally, India is also 100 per cent import-dependent. Vedanta has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Foxconn to set up an integrated semiconductor manufacturing facility in India. I truly hope this is only the beginning of the creation of a Silicon Valley in India, he said. Agarwal also made a strong case for the natural resources sector, which he said could play a pivotal role in Indias economic growth. The natural resources sector will play a key role in Indias growth and employment story as the nation strives to become atmanirbhar. Even small policy reforms can unleash the true potential of this sector, he said.

Agarwal also said that Vedanta had pledged $5 billion to reduce carbon emissions in operations to net zero by 2050  or sooner. He said the company had set targets to become water-positive by 2030 as well as use 2.5 gigawatt of renewable energy in its operations by the same period.

Agarwal also added that India was in a sweet spot in terms of drawing investment from global at a time when businesses across the world were looking at alternatives to China in terms of diversification.

The world is looking to adopt a China Plus One strategy. This is Indias moment, he said.

Indias pace of growth, estimated to be around 7 per cent, and its relative insulation from global economic challenges, were factors weighing in its favour, he added.
A court here has discharged six people from offences under IPC sections 395 (dacoity) and 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy houses) in connection with the 2020 north east Delhi riots, while remanding the matter to the metropolitan magistrate court for trying them under other offences.

According to the prosecution, the accused had committed offences under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon) 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 395, 454 (lurking house-trespass), 427 (committing mischief), 435 (mischief by explosive substance with intent to cause damage), 436, 380 (theft in dwelling house) and 34 (common intention).

In the last supplementary charge sheet, the prosecution said in respect of the offence under IPC section 436, there is no technical evidence or evidence in the nature of photographs and videos.

Apparently, the complainant was not present at his shop when this alleged incident of taking away his property without his consent took place. There is no allegation of extortion at all and at the most, it can be said to be a case of theft, Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said.

The judge further said, Though, in the supplementary statement, he (the complainant) came up with a modified version to show his presence somewhere outside his shop, but even in this statement, he did not make any such complaint or allegation, which could satisfy the criteria laid down under section 390 IPC (robbery), in order to make this theft, a robbery.

In these circumstances, I find that accused persons cannot be charged with offence under 395 IPC section because the requisite ingredients of dacoity are not satisfied from the allegations and statement made by the complainant or other witnesses herein, the judge said.

Pramachala also noted that from the complaint as well as photographs related to his shop, it was clear that his shop was not set on fire, rather the articles belonging to him were set on fire in front of his shop.

This alleged act would invite Section 435 of IPC rather than Section 436 IPC, the judge said.

Accused persons are hereby, discharged for offences punishable under 395 IPC as well as 436 IPC in this case. Since the other alleged offences are triable by metropolitan magistrate, therefore, case is remanded back to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (North East), Karkardooma courts, Delhi to proceed further in this case in accordance with law, the judge added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The on Wednesday granted bail on medical grounds to poet and activist P Varavara Rao in the Bhima Koregaon case.

A bench headed by Justice U U Lalit observed that the medical condition of the 82-year-old Rao, who is currently out on interim bail on health grounds, has not improved to such an extent that the relief granted earlier to him be withdrawn.

The top court noted that though the charge sheet in the case has been filed, some of the accused have not been apprehended yet and the matter has not been taken up for framing of charges against the accused who are before the court.

The bench, also comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, observed that various applications preferred by the accused seeking discharge are still pending consideration.

"The medical condition of the appellant (Rao) has not improved to such an extent over a period of time that the facility of bail which was granted earlier be withdrawn," the bench said.

"Considering the totality of circumstances, in our view, the appellant is entitled to the relief of bail on medical grounds," it said.

Rao, who is a Telugu poet, had challenged the Bombay High Court's April 13 order rejecting his plea for permanent bail on medical grounds.

The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.

The Pune Police had also claimed that the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the probe in the matter.

Rao was arrested on August 28, 2018 from his Hyderabad residence and is an under-trial in the case for which an FIR was lodged by the Pune Police on January 8, 2018 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

While granting bail to Rao, the apex court said he shall not leave the area of Greater Mumbai without the express permission from the trial court.

"The appellant shall not in any way misuse his liberty, nor shall he get in touch with any of the witnesses or try to influence the course of investigation," it said.

The bench made it clear that the benefit of bail is extended to Rao only on his medical condition and any observations made in the order shall not be taken to be a reflection on merits or rival contentions advanced by the parties.

During the arguments, senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for Rao, referred to his medical condition and said even charges have not been framed in the case.

Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the NIA, vehemently opposed the plea and argued that materials on record shows the involvement of Rao in a deep rooted conspiracy and he is not entitled to be granted the relief of bail.

He argued that the accused is allegedly involved in serious activities which are against the nation.

The top court had earlier observed that interim protection granted to Rao would continue till further orders.

In his plea filed against the April 13 order of the high court, Rao has said that he has undergone over two years of incarceration as an under-trial.

The plea submitted that "any further incarceration would ring the death knell for him as advancing age and deteriorating health are a fatal combination".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The has approved Biological Es Covid-19 Corbevax as the third shot after two doses of Covishield or Covaxin for all adults, clearing the decks for the first heterologous booster in India.

So far, India was using the same as the third dose or precaution shot (homologous boosting). Countries like the US and Canada have allowed mixing the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna for booster doses.

Government sources on Wednesday confirmed that Corbevax has been approved as the booster shot or third dose after two doses of Covishield (Covid-19 made by Serum Institute of India) and Covaxin (manufactured by Bharat Biotech). This is the first time India has allowed mixing vaccine types.

According to a source, Corbevax is to be administered as a booster six months after two doses of Covaxin or Covishield for all adults. Necessary changes to the Co-WIN portal are expected to be made within a weeks time.

The approval comes after recommendations made in recent weeks by the National Technical Advisory Group (NTAGI) that had reviewed data submitted by (BE).

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had okayed Corbevax as a heterologous booster on June 3.

Recently, BE has furnished its clinical trials data to the DCGI who, after a detailed evaluation and deliberations with Subject Experts Committee, granted approval for administering Corbevax vaccine as a heterologous booster dose to people who have already taken two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin. BEs clinical trial data showed that the Corbevax booster dose provided significant enhancement in immune response and excellent safety profile required for an effective booster, the company had said in June after it received the DCGI nod.

BE has conducted a multi-centre Phase III placebo-controlled heterologous booster clinical trial in 416 subjects aged 18 to 80 years, who had been vaccinated with two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin at least six months prior to the administration of Corbevax.

The company has claimed that the Corbevax booster dose increased the neutralising antibody titers in the Covishield and Covaxin groups significantly when compared to the placebo. There were no severe or adverse events of interest for three months of follow-up after the booster dose was administered, it added.

A subset of subjects evaluated for neutralising antibodies (nAb) against Omicron showed that the Corbevax booster shot resulted in a significant increase in the nAb titers against the coronavirus variant.

After the booster dose of Corbevax, Omicron nAbs were observed in 91 per cent and 75 per cent of subjects who had received primary vaccination by Covishield and Covaxin respectively, BE had said in June, adding that the Corbevax booster also resulted in enhanced cellular immune response.

The NTAGI was reviewing the data on immune response generated by this vaccine when administered after two doses of Covishield and Covaxin.

Corbevax is approved for children aged 12-14 years as part of Indias Covid-19 vaccination drive. Around 68.5 million doses have been administered to adolescents.

BE had supplied 100 million doses to the Centre till June. The company declined to share further production and supply plans.
Negative impact of forced labor in U.S. affects other countries: report

Xinhua) 09:21, August 10, 2022

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The appalling history and status quo of forced labor in the United States is so serious and long-standing that its spillover effect has impacted other countries, said a report released on Tuesday entitled "The United States' Practise of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts."

Multiple data and media reports have shown that the United States is an underperformer in the ratification and implementation of international labor conventions, which has caused serious transnational human trafficking and human rights violations in other countries, the report said.

Citing data from the U.S. Department of State, the report said that up to 100,000 people are trafficked to the United States annually and fall victim to forced labor. In the past five years, cases of forced labor and human trafficking were reported in all the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C.

Tighter U.S. immigration policies, combined with weak supervision at home, have exacerbated human smuggling and labor trafficking targeting immigrants, the report cited the 2021 Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States as saying.

Take an indictment released in 2021 by the U.S. Department of Justice. Dozens of workers from Mexico and Central American countries were smuggled to Georgia, where they were illegally imprisoned and forced to work under threat of guns and violence, with scandals involving deaths and sexual assaults.

Besides immigrants from U.S. neighboring countries, victims of labor trafficking also include Indian workers lured into the United States and workers of an American company's factory in Malaysia. They have been typically treated with harsh working conditions, cruel management, confiscation of personal documents and restrictions on their freedom.

Even children have fallen victim to forced labor by U.S. chocolate giants including Mars and Hershey, and coffee companies like Starbucks.

Media reports revealed that the number of affected children in West Africa and Guatemala working for the U.S. companies was more than two million, who earn less than 1 U.S. dollar a day and work over 40 hours a week.

As a matter of fact, the United States has been repeatedly criticized over the problem of forced labor not only by the international watchdog, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR), but also the UN special rapporteur in trafficking in persons.

Over the past decade, the CEACR has been urging the U.S. government to reverse its inappropriate practices and earnestly fulfill its obligations agreed upon in international documents.

In 2016, then UN Special Rapporteur in Trafficking in Persons Maria Grazia Giammarinaro also urged the country to engage in a more effective effort to detect trafficking for forced labor and labor exploitation.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Prime Minister on Wednesday said that the new second generation (2G) ethanol plant by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in Haryanas Panipat will reduce pollution due to stubble burning in Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) and Haryana. He added that more such plants across the country will bring in more green jobs and money into the hands of farmers.

In the last seven to eight years, the country has saved at least Rs 50,000 crore on foreign exchange due to the rise in blending and almost a similar amount has gone to farmers. This biofuel plant is a beginning and will help in reducing pollution in Delhi, NCR and the entire Haryana, Modi said.



He dedicated the Rs 900-crore IOC plant to the nation. In 2014, the share of ethanol blending in petrol was a mere 1.4 per cent.

Indias blending in petrol has increased to 10.16 per cent in 2022, much ahead of its target. The country has also set a target of achieving 20 per cent blending by 2025.

Stubble burning that used to be a loss will become a source of income for farmers. I am happy that in different parts of the country, many such green energy plants are coming up, Modi said.

Plants coming under the 2G technology include Bathinda, Punjab (HPCL); Bargarh, Odisha (BPCL); Numaligarh, Assam (Numaligarh Refinery); and Davanagere (MRPL).

Some years ago, we decided to go for 10 per cent blending. With farmer support, we achieved this before time. Eight years ago, we used to produce 400 million litres of and now we produce around 4 billion litres. This is bringing huge benefits for farmers, the Prime Minister said. He also highlighted the success of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and the change it made to the lives of below-poverty-line (BPCL) families.

In 2014, around 50 per cent of our population was affected by polluted kitchens. Now, we have achieved almost 100 per cent LPG coverage and around 90 million connections were given to poor families, he said.

He also added that the city gas networks reach increased from only 800 CNG stations to 4,500 stations now. Piped gas connections went from a few lakh families to around 10 million now.

On fuel prices, he said, Anybody can say we will give free petrol and diesel for selfish politics. Such selfish schemes will burden honest taxpayers. That will take away the rights of our children and stop the country from becoming atmanirbhar.
Chief Minister on Tuesday termed the next year's to be held in India an opportunity to introduce Brand UP to the world and exhorted officials to take advantage of the event to showcase the potential of "New of New India".

While reviewing various programmes for the overall development of the state, he gave guidelines to senior officials at a high-level meeting to make a comprehensive action plan in this matter, according to an official release.

"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is going to get an opportunity to preside over the G-20, a group of large nations of the world, from December 2022 to December 2023. This global event is full of immense potential for Uttar Pradesh," the chief minister was quoted as saying in the release.

He said it is a great platform to introduce Brand UP to the world.

"We should take advantage of this global function. To make the whole world aware of the potential of 'New of New India', we have to systematically present the cultural, spiritual, social, economic and industrial characteristics of the state. A better action plan should be prepared in this regard," he said.

The chief minister said that different programmes are proposed to be held in Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra and Greater Noida, ahead of the final summit.

According to the Indian spirit of 'Atithi Devo Bhava', preparations should be made to make the events grand in these districts, Adityanath said.

The Prime Minister has called India the 'Mother of Democracy'. Uttar Pradesh has a heritage of rich history. The ancient art, culture, history, archaeological features of the state should be compiled and presented on the G-20 platform. For this work, necessary research studies should be conducted by forming a group of historians, archaeologists, experts of art and culture as per the requirement, he said.

The chief minister said that on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in January 2023, the NRIs who migrate to different countries will gather. On this occasion, we should make efforts to connect the diaspora with the 'Uttar Pradesh Mathrubhumi Yojana'.

Many NRIs have shown interest in this scheme. This scheme is an easy way for the general public to become a direct participant in the development works, he said.

The chief minister said that "we should encourage cultural exchange with different states, taking forward the Prime Minister's vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat".

Cultural teams should be sent to acquaint other states with the cultural features of Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, cultural groups from other states should be invited to their state, he said.

While reviewing various programmes, Adityanath said courses related to technical and medical education should be prepared in mother tongue.

It should be ensured that the study material is of quality and also asked for preparing an action plan for expansion of telecom tower/optical fiber in every village to further improve digital connectivity, the said quoting the chief minister.

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Assembly on Tuesday passed the Code of Criminal Procedure ( Amendment) Bill, 2022.

According to the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill, "The condition of mandatory detention of the approver in custody till conclusion of trail in section 306 (4) (b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, is discriminatory and creates artificial classification between two types of persons willing to be approver--those who are already on bail and those who are not on bail".

"This classification has no rationale or connection with the object sought to be achieved. It also interferes with/restricts the discretion of the Magistrate/Court granting tender of pardon, works as a deterrent to the accused persons who are otherwise willing to turn approver and causes disadvantage to the investigating agencies," as per the Bill.

The Amendment bill now provides that every person who accepts a tender of pardon "may, in case he is already in custody, be detained in such custody for such period, as the Court may consider necessary for reasons to be recorded in writing, or be released on bail on such conditions as the Court may think fit for the purposes of this section".

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The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to BJP leader and his son in a case of alleged misappropriation of public money collected for the restoration decommissioned naval aircraft carrier Vikrant.

A single bench of Justice Bharati Dangre allowed the plea of Somaiyas for anticipatory bail in the case and made "absolute" the interim protection from arrest granted by the HC to the duo on April 13 this year.

An FIR was registered against the BJP leader and his son Neil Somaiya on April 6 at the Trombay police station in Mumbai following a complaint by an ex-Army person, who claimed that former BJP MP had collected Rs 57 crore from the public in 2013 for restoration of Vikrant.

The money was, however, never put to use or deposited with the governor's office, as per the initial plan, the complaint stated.

On Wednesday, senior counsel Shirish Gupte, who appeared for the prosecution, told the HC that the city police did not require Somaiya and his son's immediate custody.

Advocate Ashok Mundargi, who appeared for the Somaiyas, denied all allegations and told the high court that this was a highly "politicised matter."



Justice Dangre also noted that the allegations against the BJP leader and his son were "unsubstantiated."



"The allegation (against the duo) is of misappropriation of funds. Though the complaint alleged that a whopping sum of Rs 57 crore was collected, there was no evidence of misappropriation," the HC said while allowing the anticipatory bail plea.

"Specific statements (of the police) and the investigation do not lead to such an inference (of misappropriation)," the high court said.

The court also noted that the police had served a notice to and his son under section 41A of the Criminal Procedure Code, asking them to appear for questioning.

It directed the duo to abide by the terms of the notice and report to the police station concerned for questioning on August 17.

"The specific order granting interim protection is made absolute," the HC said.

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The newly expanded cabinet in approved an additional expenditure of Rs 10,269 crore for the mostly underground Line 3 project at its first meeting here on Wednesday, citing cost escalation.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made the announcement after the meeting. Speaking to reporters, he said, The cost (of Line 3) has increased on account of almost no construction undertaken in the last two years. Hardly any construction work was carried out (under the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government)." This was the first cabinet meeting after its expansion on Tuesday when 18 new members - nine each of the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister and the BJP - were inducted. He said, The cabinet approved an additional expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore for Line 3. The original cost of the project was Rs 23,136 crore, which has now gone up to Rs 33,405 crore (total rise Rs 10,269 crore). The state is going to request the Union government to contribute from its corpus for the completion of the project. Earlier, the state was supposed to spend Rs 2,402 crore which has now increased to Rs 3,699 crore. The cabinet instructed the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) to transfer Rs 1,297 crore (the difference in cost) to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation as part of the Rs 10,269 crore funding, he said. The Metro Line 3 is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which would now increase its contribution from Rs 13,235 crore to Rs 19,924 crore, the deputy CM said. The Cabinet cleared a proposal to make a fresh demand to JICA to increase its loan amount, Fadnavis said. The 33.5-km-long corridor running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ (starting in south Mumbai and ending in suburban Andheri) will have 26 underground stations and one at-grade. By 2031, some 17 lakh passengers will travel by the Metro Line 3 every day. People can travel from Colaba (in south Mumbai) to the international airport in suburban Mumbai in 50 minutes, he said. The tunnel work has been completed 98.6 per cent, while 82.6 per cent work on stations, too, has been done. Acquisition of 73.14 hectares of government land and another 2.56 hectares of private land has also been completed, he said. In another decision, the Cabinet cleared a proposal to be sent to the Union government seeking Rs 759 crore for including the Kanpa-Chimur-Warora broad gauge railway line in the ongoing Nagpur-Umred-Warora broad gauge project. The total cost of the rail project is Rs 1,518 crore and the state is demanding nearly 50 per cent from the Union government, Fadnavis said.

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Atleast five village panchayats in would fly the Khadi national flags exclusively produced by the Avvai Ashram of the Gandhigram Trust in Sivasailam, this .

Apparently inspired by the Centre's 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, the Gandhigram Trust, situated in Tamil Nadu's southern district of Tirunelveli, has embarked on a mission to churn out 5,000 Khadi flags. The flags would be distributed to the village panchayats for free to help the villagers fly the national tricolour atop their houses or on their premises. "We have trained 10 persons to stitch the and print the Ashoka chakra on them. They are working ceaselessly along with 5 others at our tailoring unit in Sivasailam," says K Shivakumar, managing trustee of Gandhigram Trust. They were trained about a fortnight ago and have been told to confine to the specifications stipulated by the Central government and also use only Khadi material, he said. On an average about 500 to 600 flags are made daily and the Gandhigram Trust hopes to complete the production by August 12 to facilitate the distribution of the flags to village panchayats, he told PTI. The workers, mostly women, have been trained under a livelihood programme of the trust. They would be provided employment all through the year. "Through this and many other initiatives we hope to ensure lasting income to the members of the Annaporna self help group (SHG) which we have formed," he said. "Gandhigram is proud that our unit in Sivasailam is actively involved in making the national flags to help the people celebrate the Independence Day, Shivakumar said.

Responding to a question, he said this is the first time the Sivasailam unit is producing the national flags.

Our government is encouraging people to hoist the flags in their houses, so we decided to participate in the campaign to help the people celebrate the 75th year of India's Independence in a grand manner. Incidentally, this is also the 75th year of our Gandhigram, the managing trustee said. Besides Gandhigram and Sivasailam, Chettiapatti, Thoppampatti and Alamarathupatti panchayats will receive the flags and in turn they would distribute the flags to the villagers. The relaxation in the flag code rules by the Central government permitting the public to hoist national flags as part of the Har Ghar Triranga is an opportunity for every citizen to carry home the national tricolour, says Lt Col N Thiagarajan, veteran, who had participated in the Kargil war. He hopes to distribute flags for free to the poor people and tribals and help them express their patriotism.

I have planned to plant 750 saplings at the CRPF training centre, Avadi, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Thiagarajan said.

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All-out efforts are being made to finish the remaining work of the new building so that the is held there, officials have said.

Handwoven cushioned carpets of Mirzapur and stones from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are being used in the new building. Teakwood furniture from Maharashtra has arrived while the work on the interiors and flooring has begun, they said.

Last week, the government told the Lok Sabha that 70 per cent of the physical progress of the new building project has been achieved and the targeted date of completion is November 2022.

There is no plan yet to extend the deadline considering the importance of this project, sources said.

"We are making all-out effort to ensure the is held in the new building," officials privy to the development told PTI.

They indicated that some portions of the new Parliament building may be functional around November 26 -- Constitution Day. However nothing has been finalised yet, official sources said.

The government has maintained that the of Parliament will be held in the new building being built under the Narendra Modi government's ambitious Central Vista redevelopment project.

In December 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new building. Last month, he unveiled the emblem cast on the roof of the building.

Tata Projects Ltd is constructing the new Parliament building which will have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.

The redevelopment of the Central Vista, the nation's power corridor, also envisages a common central secretariat, revamping of the 3-km Rajpath from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the India Gate, a new office and residence of the prime minister, and a new vice-president enclave.

Under the project, the government will also construct an Executive Enclave that will house a new Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Cabinet Secretariat, India House and Security Council Secretariat.

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Outgoing of India on Tuesday said the freebie culture has led to the deteriorating financial health of many states.

Addressing the Indian Information Service officers (IIS) of the 2018 and 2019 batches who came to call on him at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today, Naidu cautioned against the populist measures to garner votes by various political parties.

"The freebie culture has led to deteriorating financial health of many states. Government should definitely support the poor and needy, but at the same time should prioritize health, education and infrastructure development," he said.

Naidu emphasised the need for constant dialogue between the people and the governments for citizen-centric and responsive governance.

He said that policymaking and implementation should be a two-way process with people's participation at every stage.

"In a democracy, people need to be empowered through timely information on government's policies and initiatives in their mother tongues. On the other hand, governments also need to be apprised of people's expectations and aspirations in an objective and timely manner," he said.

Referring to the mass behavioural change campaign undertaken as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Naidu said that the success of any reform depends on cooperation from the people.

He further said that people will understand and support an initiative better when they have been involved in its planning and implementation strategy from the beginning.

Describing India as the largest Parliamentary democracy in the world, he said that the purpose of any reform process should be to make people's life happy and prosperous.

"Therefore, the focus of all government policy measures should be on bringing lasting happiness to people's lives," he told the officers, and at the same time, underscored the need to bear with "temporary pain for long-term gain".

Mentioning that the ICT revolution and the spread of the internet have fundamentally changed the way we consume news, he cautioned that this 'ease of information' comes with its associated risks.

"Misinformation, disinformation and fake news have emerged as new challenges which need to be promptly tackled by the government communicators round the clock," he added.

The also cautioned against the misuse of social media by certain anti-social elements, the called for curbing such tendencies at the earliest.

Drawing attention to the growing trend of 'instant journalism' triggered by the emergence of the Internet and social media expansion, Naidu expressed concerns about the erosion of journalistic norms and ethos due to this.

He emphasized the importance of neutrality and objectivity in media reporting and said that news should not be mixed with views.

"Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and its neutrality, objectivity and fairness is crucial for the survival of India's democratic ethos," he stressed.

The Vice President asked the young officers to bring forth many developmental stories from across the nation.

"You as government communicators should also make all efforts to ensure that the good work being done by various ministries and departments is covered adequately by the media," he told them.

Terming information and psychological warfare as an important dimension of modern-day wars, Naidu advised the IIS officers to develop expertise in these emerging and strategic areas.

Referring to the increasing frequency of extreme climatic events and erratic weather patterns across the globe, the Vice President asked the young officers to run a mass media campaign for nature conservation and environmental protection. "If you love nature, nature will protect you," he said.

In his address, his last as the Vice President of India, Shri Naidu said that "the key to my rise from an ordinary farmer's son to the second highest constitutional post in the country lies in sheer hard work, single-minded devotion and constant travel and interaction with the people in every part of the country." I have learned a lot by meeting and talking to the people, he said.

Congratulating the officer trainees for joining the prestigious Civil Services, he exhorted them to work for transforming the lives of people in the country.

It may be noted that the Indian Information Service (IIS) is a Central Group 'A' Service whose members work as the media managers of the Government of India.

The IIS officers, in their various capacities, act as a vital communication link between the Government and the people by way of disseminating information and communicating various Government policies and schemes to the public at large.

Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Dwivedi, Director General, IIMC, Ashish Goel, ADG, IIMC, Dr Rinku Pegu, Associate Professor IIMC and Training Coordinator for IIS officers, officers of Indian Information Service batches of 2018 and 2019 were present during the interaction. Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi also presented his book titled, "Bharat Bodh ka Naya Samay" to the Vice President on this occasion.

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New Delhi

The on Monday heard the EPF pension case and said the difference between Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees Pension Scheme(EPS) has to be determined to assess the amendment.

The pensioners had earlier informed the apex court that asking the employees to contribute 1.16% for salaries above Rs 15,000 as per the Employee's Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014 was against the Employees' Provident Funds And Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

The bench of Justices U U Lalit, Aniruddha Bose, and Sudhanshu Dhulia heard the appeals filed by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation challenging the Kerala, Rajasthan, and Delhi High Court judgments that had quashed the 2014 Amendment Scheme.

In 2018, the Kerala High Court had set aside the Employee's Pension (Amendment) Scheme, 2014. The amendment allowed paying pension in proportion to the salary above the threshold limit of Rs 15,000 per month.

The Court was informed that if an employee wants to contribute above the threshold limit of the base salary of Rs 15,000 then they can contribute 1.16% of the salary.

Earlier, under the EPS, the maximum pensionable salary cap was Rs 6,500. But members whose salaries exceeded this limit could opt, along with their employers, to contribute up to 8.33% of their actual salaries.

The amendments have raised the cap from Rs 6,500 to Rs 15,000. However, the catch is that employees who were already members of EPS as of September 1, 2014, could continue to contribute to the pension fund in accordance with their actual salaries. So, an employee who has become a member of EPS after September 1, 2014, would not get pension on a par with their actual salary.

The amendments also said members whose salary exceeded the Rs 15,000 cap had to contribute 1.16% of the salary besides their provident fund contribution.

The counsel for the pensioners said, "An employee putting in money for pension, is unheard of. For the first time, an imposition is placed on the employee to contribute 1.16%."

The court observed that for anything over Rs 15,000, the employee must contribute 1.16%. "Because you are going to contribute 1.16%. So, theoretically, 1.16 must come from your pocket. Therefore, you are accepting liability on your shoulders," it said.

Rebutting this, the counsel for pensioners said, To the Pension Fund, I am not expected to contribute. The government must contribute but I cannot be asked to contribute. If you ask the employee to contribute then the Act has to be amended."

The pensioners on Wednesday also said the matter was of great importance and a lot of senior citizens were affected.

The court was also informed last week that the right to opt for the scheme could not be barred by the cut-off date according to the amendment.

The court is likely to hear the matter again on Thursday.
The Centres recent move to impose on services rendered by the markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has rattled (FPIs). They fear the decision could result in on export of services, which is currently a zero-rated supply. Read more in our morning top headlines.

Tax conundrum: FPIs uneasy after 18% on regulatory services

The Centres recent move to impose Goods and Services Tax (GST) on services rendered by the markets regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has rattled (FPIs). They fear the decision could result in GST on export of services, which is currently a zero-rated supply. Read more



FPIs cut stake in two-thirds of 200 companies in June quarter

The Indian equity market has been dancing to the tune of (FPIs) for more than two decades now. Typically, when FPIs are net-buyers on Dalal Street (D-Street) and raise their ownership of Indian equities, the broader market rallies. Conversely, when FPIs turn net-sellers, the stock prices decline. Read more



In 75th year of Independence, India may shut down British India Corp

Once the iconic red-brick building of British India Corporation (BICL), which manufactured the popular Lal-Imli brand of woollen products, made Cawnpore (now Kanpur) the Manchester of the East. In the 75th year of independence, the government may finally pull the curtains on the century-old, now defunct public sector enterprise. Read more



India's Covid-19 fiscal stimulus was relatively small, say experts

The (IMF) said last week that to maintain external sector balance at a comfortable level over the medium term, India should gradually withdraw its fiscal and monetary policy stimulus. It must also develop export infrastructure and negotiate free-trade agreements with key trading partners to provide a sustainable boost to exports, it said. With the latest round of repo rate hike by the (RBI), all the pandemic rate cuts have now been reversed. Read more



100-year road map: eyes $400-billion turnover by 2047

In the 1970s, a defining decade for the Indian pharma industry, the size of the domestic market was about Rs 650 crore, with multinational drug firms dominating the space. In 2022, it has soared to Rs 1.67 trillion domestic markets for drugs, and over 90 per cent of this space is now captured by locally produced medicines. Read more



Centre asks IBA to ready EASE-like plan for regional rural banks

Similar to the Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE) for (PSBs), the Centre has asked the Indian Banks Association (IBA) to prepare a viability plan for (RRBs). The IBA has been asked to conduct workshops for discussing the issues regarding preparation of a viability plan for the regional banks, said an official. Read more
Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation has decided to cancel 152 across India on August 10 by 10 am (IST). While some have been cancelled, others have been rescheduled or have changed their source stations. According to the Train Enquiry System, 14 got rescheduled, 14 changed their source stations, and 11 got diverted. So, before you plan your commute to the railway station, check out all these lists as soon as possible. Also read | Rail passenger mobility at 70% of pre-Covid levels still shy of target

What is the reason behind trains being rescheduled or cancelled?

As the monsoon is unleashing its wrath in some parts of the country, flooding has been a major concern for . In general, heavy rains waterlogged railway tracks, making it difficult for to operate.

While waterlogging can be a primary reason for delayed operations, repair of traffic blocks and railway tracks are a few other reasons for cancelling, rescheduling and diverting trains.

Above all, train schedules often get affected to maintain law and order. Hence, it is important to keep track of train schedules before your next train journey.

Rescheduled trains today



In this list of rescheduled trains, a total of 14 trains are tagged till 10 am which includes Bareilly-Moradabad Special (04365) Puri-New Delhi Express (12801), Ahmedabad-Kolkata (19413), Chopan-Ranchi (18614) Lokmanya Tilak-Ballia Special (10025), Kanpur Central-Farrukhabad (04133). Check out the list given below for a better understanding.

Train Name (Source-Destination) Rescheduled Date Delay LOKMANYATILAK (LTT) - BALLIA (BUI) 8/10/2022 20:45 6:30 KANPUR CENTRAL (CNB) - FARRUKHABAD (FBD) 8/10/2022 15:45 2:35 BAREILLY(NR) (BE) - MORADABAD (MB) 8/10/2022 16:30 1:50 RAMESWARAM (RMM) - MADURAI JN (MDU) 8/10/2022 13:30 2:30 MADURAI JN (MDU) - RAMESWARAM (RMM) 8/10/2022 13:10 0:40 VILLUPURAM JN (VM) - MAYILADUTURAI JN (MV) 8/10/2022 14:45 0:20 COIMBATORE JN (CBE) - LOKMANYATILAK (LTT) 8/10/2022 14:00 5:10 PUNE JN (PUNE) - BHUSAVAL JN (BSL) 8/10/2022 16:40 5:00 SOLAPUR JN (SUR) - PUNE JN (PUNE) 8/10/2022 11:00 4:30 AZIMGANJ JN (AZ) - HOWRAH JN (HWH) 8/10/2022 9:55 2:00 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM CENTRAL (TVC) - SECUNDERABAD JN (SC) 8/10/2022 10:30 3:30 DHARMABAD (DAB) - MANMAD JN (MMR) 8/10/2022 5:00 1:00 LOKMANYATILAK (LTT) - VISAKHAPATNAM (VSKP) 8/10/2022 13:00 6:05 HAZRAT NIZAMUDDIN JN (NZM) - DURG (DURG) 8/10/2022 12:25 1:00

A total of 11 trains have been diverted, while 14 have changed their source. Check out the list of diverted trains.

Train (Source - Destination) Start Time Diverted from Diverted to 12687 MDU-CDG EXP - MADURAI JN (MDU) - CHANDIGARH (CDG) 23:35 KARUR [KRR] SALEM JN [SA] 12801 PURI-NDLS PURUSHOTTAM - PURI (PURI) - NEW DELHI (NDLS) 21:55 PURULIA JN. [PRR] NSC BOSE J GOMO [GMO] 13026 BHOPAL-HOWRAH EXPRESS - BHOPAL (BPL) - HOWRAH JN (HWH) 9:35 KATNI MURWARA [KMZ] GARWA ROAD [GHD] 13175 KANCHENJUNGHA EXP - SEALDAH (SDAH) - SILCHAR (SCL) 6:35 DUM DUM [DDJ] NEW FARAKKA JN [NFK] 16231 MV-MYS EXPRESS - MAYILADUTURAI JN (MV) - MYSORE JN (MYS) 17:55 KARUR [KRR] SALEM JN [SA] 16232 MYS-MV EXPRESS - MYSORE JN (MYS) - MAYILADUTURAI JN (MV) 16:30 SALEM JN [SA] KARUR [KRR] 16235 TN-MYS EXPRESS - TUTICORIN (TN) - MYSORE JN (MYS) 17:15 KARUR [KRR] SALEM JN [SA] 16236 MYS-TN EXPRESS - MYSORE JN (MYS) - TUTICORIN (TN) 18:20 SALEM JN [SA] KARUR [KRR] 17316 VLNK-VSG EXPRESS - VELLANKANNI (VLNK) - VASCO DA GAMA (VSG) 23:45 KARUR [KRR] SALEM JN [SA] 18614 CPU RNC EXPRESS - CHOPAN (CPU) - RANCHI (RNC) 8:10 TORI [TORI] RANCHI [RNC] 19413 ADI - KOAA EXPRESS - AHMEDABAD JN (ADI) - KOLKATTA TERMINAL (KOAA) 21:05 KATNI MURWARA [KMZ] GARWA ROAD [GHD]

How to check if your train is cancelled or not?

Since and National Train Enquiry System (NTES) release a list of the cancelled trains every day. You can check your train by its name and number on its official website. Today, there are 152 cancelled trains, and heres how you can check them.
In the past few years, different zoonotic have been discovered in China. Recently, the South Asian superpower got affected by 35 infections in the country's two eastern provinces: Shandong and Henan. The new type of Henipavirus is also quoted as Langya Henipavirus or the LayV.

Henipaviruses can cause severe illness in animals and humans, and currently, there are no licensed drugs or vaccines meant for humans. Hence, it is slightly incurable. Also read | New zoonotic virus hits China, 35 people infected, says report

What is the Langya virus?

The distinct Henipavirus named Langya transmits from animals to humans, so it is not as contagious as coronavirus. As of now, there's no reported human-to-human transmission.

However, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has not determined the contagiousness or whether the virus can transmit among humans. But, they have warned people to pay close attention to further updates about the virus.

According to a serological survey on domesticated animals, it was seen that 2 per cent of the tested goats and 5 per cent of the tested dogs were positive. The test results of 25 wild animal species indicated that the shrew might be a natural reservoir of the Langya henipavirus. The virus was found in 27 per cent of the shrew subjects, the Deputy DG of CDC stated.

How was the Langya virus discovered?

As believed, Langya was discovered in eastern during surveillance testing of fever-affected patients with a recent history of animal exposure. Later, it was identified and isolated from the swab sample of one of those patients. According to the New English Journal of Medicine study, 35 people with Langyavirus were found in Shandon and Henan provinces, out of 26 were only infected with this new virus and no other pathogen.

What are the symptoms of the Langya virus?

The study observed 26 patients with only LayV infection to identify the related symptoms.

While all 26 per cent had a fever, 54% reported fatigue, 50% complained of cough and 38% were affected by nostalgia.

Besides 35% of the 26 patients, complained of headaches and vomiting. The investigation found that 35% had impaired liver function, while 8% had affected kidney function. Further, the patients were accompanied by abnormalities of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and kidney and liver dysfunction.

Thrombocytopenia is low platelet count, whereas leukopenia means a fall in the white blood cell count, in turn decreasing the bodys immunity or disease-fighting capability

Where has the Langya virus come from?

The origin of the Langyavirus is still unclear. However, it is likely transmitted from animal to human. Since the LayV virus RNA has been predominantly found in shrews, that might be its natural hosts. The study aimed at shrews after conducting a serosurvey of domestic and wild animals. However, seropositivity was detected in dogs and goats, instead of shrews.

What about human-to-human transmission?

The contagiousness of the virus depends upon its spreadability and contagiousness. Till now, there are no answers about human-to-human transmission. The authors believe that the sample size of the investigation is too small to determine any transmission.

Meanwhile, they noted that among 35 patients of LayV, no close contact or common exposure history suggests that infection among humans was irregular. The study observed that contact tracing of nine patients with 15-close contact family members showed no close-contact LayV transmission.
An empowered group of ministers (GoM) tasked by the (GST) Council to look into taxation of online gaming, races and casinos is yet to reach a consensus about imposing 28 per cent levy on gross gaming revenue (GGR). The group may take one or two weeks to finalise the report, although it was expected to be submitted by Wednesday.

The panel headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma met in July-end to address concerns of the gaming industry and agreed to impose levy not on the net amount (after removal of prize money) but gross gaming revenue (GGR).

GGR is the total amount collected by casinos and companies before shelling out the money to the winners.

In the last meeting, the GoM deliberated on 28 per cent on the entire face value or bet amount in . However, there are some contentious issues with respect to tax treatment, particularly in case of casinos, and will require further deliberation, said a panel member.

He added that report was not yet finalised, as the panel was examining all inputs. The group is likely to meet next week.

Sources said the panel members also discussed whether to have different approaches or yardsticks, given that casinos and work on different fundamentals.

The GoM, in its first report, recommended that online gaming activities should be taxed at flat 28 per cent on the full value of consideration, without making any distinction between games of skill and chance.

It was argued that removing the prize payouts from the value of bets would result in effectively scrapping actionable claims from the value of supply, defeating the very legislative intent of bringing them within the purview of . If the tax has to be levied only on the platform fee, it will amount to taxing only the service component of the supply. Supply of actionable claims will remain untaxed.

The consideration given to services needs to be pragmatic, as casinos and online gaming work on completely different fundamentals. The revenue of an online gaming platform represents the element of service and any tax beyond that value will be subject to judicial review. In case of casinos, tax could be levied on a completely different principle as the player keeps adding to or subtracting from the total initial buyout of chips, said Abhishek Rastogi, who is arguing several writ petitions under and service tax for casinos and online gaming companies.

The panel is learnt to have considered the implications of the earlier proposal of taxing on face value and on gross revenue. It was argued that financial implications of subjecting GST on GGR (according to industry estimates) are substantial. Taxation of online gaming or casinos at GGR creates a huge distortion in terms of tax differential between lottery (face value taxation) and these activities.

In case of casinos, the GoM had earlier recommended charging the highest GST rate of 28 per cent on the full face value of chips or coins purchased by a player. The chips may be used for buying items such as food and beverages as well.

However, Goa objected to the proposal, following which the GST Council asked for the matter to be raised in the June meeting.

The Goa government has reiterated that the casino issue is specific to the western state and Sikkim. However, since it has wider implications, the panel should consider the fear that it may impact Goas economy, it argued.

It was also felt that if lottery, online gaming and horse racing attracted GST on the face value, the same should be extended to casinos. If casinos are uniformly taxed across India, Goa does not get any disadvantage vis-a-vis other states.

However, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the media on June 29 that the Goa government, while presenting its case, had sought an exception for its casinos. The GST Council, at its next meeting due in September, will take up the final report of the GoM.

The ministerial panel also deliberated on the suggestion of developing a methodology that would bridge the seemingly irreconcilable conflicts between maintaining consistency with the Supreme Courts ruling on lotteries; holding firm on its the principle of not making distinction of chance and skill while keeping GST revenues buoyant; and giving the industry relief by taxing only GGR, thereby improving the attractiveness of formal channels of betting and enabling volume growth.




The has decided to remove price caps for the domestic from August 31, giving airlines flexibility on passenger fares. Though airlines are expected to continue with the current level of fares given costlier fuel, there can be discounts on low-demand routes, flights with poor loads, and new routes, according to airline executives.

Caps on capacity and fares were introduced in May 2020 following the resumption of air travel after the nationwide lockdown. The government allowed 100 per cent capacity deployment in October last year, but it continued with the pricing regulation, citing an adverse cost environment.

After a review of the current status of scheduled domestic operations vis-a-vis passenger demand for air travel it has been decided to remove the fare bands notified from time to time regarding airfares with effect from August 31, 2022, Satyendra Kumar Mishra, joint secretary, civil aviation ministry, stated in his order on Wednesday.

Under the current policy, a cap on fares is applicable for tickets sold in 0-15 days on a rolling basis. Airlines are free to decide fares for journeys beyond fifteen days.

According to aviation executives, with the withdrawal of fare bands, airlines will have the flexibility to set prices based on demand-supply dynamics. Capacity addition and fuel price will also determine ticket pricing.

Akasa Air is expected to induct two aircraft each month and will have 18 planes by March 2023. In a post-result conference call last week, IndiGo management guided for a 70-80 per cent year-on-year capacity increase over the second quarter of FY22.

Currently load factors are between 75 per cent and 80 per cent.

Dropping fares may not result in a big increase in loads. Amid the current fuel environment, fares may remain similar to the current levels, said a senior industry executive.

Market leader IndiGo, which was pushing for the removal of fare bands, welcomed the decision. We are strongly supportive of this move as free-market economics is good for both our customers and investors, the airline said in a statement.

Airfares in July were 20-30 per cent higher than in January, owing to high fuel prices; overall fares have declined in August on account of various sale offers. Domestic traffic, too, dropped in July on a sequential basis.

Travel companies believe the government announcement shall give momentum to air travel because airlines will have the freedom to price tickets. Aloke Bajpai, co-founder and group CEO of ixigo, said airfares should gradually come down on routes having softer demand.

Airlines will be able to offer the benefit of lower pricing to customers on sectors/routes where flight loads are comparatively low. Certain flight routes -- for instance between the metros -- are likely to witness a surge in pricing, said Indiver Rastogi, president and head (global business travel), Thomas Cook India and SOTC.

We hope this announcement will help the industry gain momentum in terms of growth and scalability, said Bharatt Malik, senior vice-president (flights), Yatra.com.
The government on Wednesday accorded in-principle approval to 10 major industrial projects worth 74,620.18 crore, including Adani Enterprises Limited Alumina Refinery, which will generate employment opportunities for over 24,047 people in the state.

The projects which got the state government's nod at the High-Level Clearance Authority Committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, were mostly in green hydrogen and green ammonia, metal and metal downstream, and infrastructure sectors.

The 10 mega projects include Goutam Adani led Adani Enterprises Limited's plan to invest Rs 41,653 crore investment for setting up a 4.0 MTPA Alumina Refinery and 175 MW CPP Plant at Kashipur in Rayagada district. The project will generate employment opportunities for over 7,750 people.

The committee also approved the proposal of ReNew EFuels Private Limited (REFPL) to set up green hydrogen (capacity: 20 KTPA), green ammonia plant (capacity: 100 KTPA) in Paradip, Jagatsinghpur district, at an investment of Rs 2,000 crore which will generate employment opportunities for 2,000 persons.

The establishment of these plants will have a pragmatic environmental impact since they will create ammonia and hydrogen using renewable resources, which will cater to the demand of steel and fertiliser sector in Odisha, Industries secretary Hemant Sharma said.

The committee gave approval for setting up of 60,000 MT Industrial Structure and 6,000 MT Steel plant equipment facilities to Tata Steel Limited (Growth Shop) at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore with employment opportunities for over 2,451 people.

This would give a significant boost to Odisha's Vision 2030: Development of Downstream Units in Metal Sector; which offers short, medium, and long-term interventions to accelerate the business ecosystem for metal sector downstream units, the official said.

In addition, the panel also gave nod to set up 2.5 MTPA steel plant and 370 MW CPP in Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur district, by Orissa Alloy Steel Pvt Ltd at an investment of Rs 8,000 crore creating employment opportunities for 5,000 people.

A proposal of Sompuri Infrastructures Private Limited got the approval to set up a 24 MTPA Pellet plant and 6 MTPA of Filter Cake at Dhamra, in Bhadrak district, at an investment of Rs 7,811 crore, which will generate employment opportunities for over 684 people.

A 30 MTPA Beneficiation plant at Deojhar, in Keonjhar district and a 30 MTPA Slurry Pipeline connecting its proposed 30 MTPA Beneficiation plant at Deojhar, in Keonjhar district to the proposed Pellet plant at Dhamra, in Bhadrak district against investments of Rs 4,592.18 crore and Rs 3,674 crore which will create employment opportunities for 250 and 600 persons respectively.

Approval was also given to Aarti Steels Limited for expansion of steel plant by setting up 3,20,833 TPA SMS, 3,00,000 TPA Special Steel Bars and Rods (auto grade), 75,000 TPA Ferro Alloys, 2 MTPA Beneficiation, 1.2 MTPA pellet plant and 65 MW CPP at Athgarh, in Cuttack district at an investment of Rs 3,000 crore.

This proposed project will generate employment for over 3,587 people. This project will facilitate availability of raw materials to Auto component manufactures, the official said.

The committee also approved the proposal of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited for setting up a 6 MTPA Beneficiation Plant at Village Dalki and 12 MTPA Slurry Pipeline from proposed Beneficiation plant at Dalki to Dabuna Slurry pumping station unit in Dalki, Keonjhar district at an investment of Rs 1,490 crore generating employment opportunities for 600 persons.

A proposal of Rungta Metals Private Limited (RMPL) got the approval for setting up of 0.5 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant creating employment potential for 1,125 persons at an investment of Rs 1,400 crore in Rairangpur in Mayurbhanj district.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The much-awaited result for aspirants has been announced finally. The Institute of of India (ICAI) on Wednesday announced the result of CA June Session Foundation 2022 and candidates can check their on the official website- .org.

Earlier, announcing the date of the result, said, "The of the Foundation Examination held in June 2022 are likely to be declared on Wednesday, the 10th August, 2022 and the same can be accessed by candidates on the websiteicai.nic.in.

Candidates who appeared for the CA June Session Foundation exam, can follow these steps to check their scorecards:

Step 1: Visit ICAI's official website- icai.nic.in. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the link that reads CA Foundation Result 2022 Step 3: Enter your login details and click on submit Step 4: Your result will be displayed on the screen Step 5: After checking your result, download and take a printout of the same for future reference.

The CA Foundation exams for June session were conducted on June 24, 26, 28, and 30, 2022 in two shifts. Paper I and II were conducted in the first shift, i.e. 2pm to 5pm. Paper III and Paper IV were conducted in the second shift between 2pm and 4pm.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday cancelled the licence of the Co-operative Bank, saying the Pune-based lender does not have adequate capital, earning prospects and it does not comply with regulations.

Co-operative will cease to conduct business from September 22. Maharashtras Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies will issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator, the said.

The regulator said that upon liquidation every depositor of Co-operative would be entitled to an insurance claim of up to Rs 5 lakh in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation Act (DICGC).

As per the data submitted by the bank, more than 99% of the depositors are entitled to receive full amount of their deposits from DICGC. As on May 18, 2022, DICGC has already paid Rs 700.44 crore of the total insured deposits under the provisions of Section 18A of the DICGC Act, 1961 based on the willingness received from the concerned depositors of the bank, the said.

Rupee Co-operative would not be able to pay its depositors in full and would be detrimentally affected if it was allowed to carry on business, said the .

The RBI, in December 2021, granted Rupee Co-operative an extension for its banking licence from the RBI for three months. It was the 27th such extension for the company.

Sudhir Pandit, the banks administrator at that time, said Rupee Co-operative had recovered a total Rs 326.49 crore, earned operating profit aggregating to Rs 70.82 crore during the last five years and disbursed Rs 376.95 crore to 95,115 depositors under hardship withdrawal.

Rupee Co-operative had submitted several options for resolution, including a proposal for a merger.

In April 2022, reports said that the proposed merger of the bank with the Saraswat Cooperative Bank had met with hurdles as the latter expressed doubts about the viability of the amalgamation.

After submitting a proposal to the RBI in January 2022, Saraswat Bank had raised concerns about a potential loss of business as a sum of Rs 700 crore had been paid to the account holders of the Rupee Co-operative Bank under the provisions of the DICGC Act, the reports said.

In September 2021, the DICGC had said that it had taken a decision to pay depositors of 21 stressed co-operative a sum of Rs 5 lakh within 90 days.

Apart from Rupee Co-operative, other lenders on the list included Maharashtra-based such as Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank, Kapol Cooperative Bank, Cooperative Bank and .

The RBI said last month it has decided to adopt a four-tiered regulatory framework for urban co-operative (UCBs) based on size of deposits, with an aim to strengthen their financial soundness.
Countrys largest lender State Bank of India may look to raise funds worth Rs 4,000 crore through issuance of tier-II once it completes its planned sale of Rs 7,000 crore worth of additional tier-I (AT-1) at the end of this month, sources said.

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Japan's population totaled 125.93 million as of January 1, 2022, representing the largest drop in the overall number and by percentage since comparable data were recorded in 1950, the latest government data revealed on Wednesday.

As deaths exceeded births and Covid-19 border controls restrict the entry of foreigners, Japan's overall population fell to 125,927,902, down by 726,342 or 0.57 per cent from the previous year, Xinhua news agency reported citing the figures issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

According to the Ministry, the number of Japanese nationals reduced by 619,140 to 123,223,561 in 2021, with births at a record low of around 810,000, outstripped by a record high around 1.44 million deaths.

The number of resident foreigners in fell by 107,202 to 2,704,341, marking a drop for the second consecutive year, due to tighter border restrictions amid the pandemic.

The Ministry data also showed that the ratio of people aged 15 to 64, regarded as the working population, stood at a record low 58.99 per cent of the total population while people aged 65 and older accounted for a record high of 29 per cent.

--IANS

ksk/

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British Conservative peer and former party leader Lord Hague of Richmond has warned of the "danger of getting desensitised" to Russia's war in .

Amid the Tory leadership contest, the former Foreign Secretary described Russia's actions as the "main thing happening and the threat to everybody's security and economic prosperity".

He told Times Radio: "Imagine if there hadn't been a war, that if suddenly terrorists had taken over one of the biggest nuclear power plants in Europe and were stacking explosives around it and starting to shell people from it -- that would be the biggest news in the world, it would be what everybody in Europe would be talking about.

"We're getting so used to "oh, there's a war going on over there" that when that happens, the Russians are firing from around that plant, to put explosives and mines there, potentially, a potential nuclear catastrophe, in the view of the Atomic Energy Agency, it's not such big news any more, is it?"

"I mean, it is on the news, but it's not dominating things, so this sort of getting desensitised to the war is a dangerous thing, because it is the main thing happening and the threat to everybody's security and economic prosperity, in the end."

Lord Hague cautioned Europe against appeasement, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will come back for more," dpa news agency reported.

He added: "We won't solve anything in our own domestic situation if we lose the will to support a country that is struggling for its own democracy, fighting for its own territory. There's a danger here that some people might think (in) Britain or perhaps more so in Italy, Germany, France, that this problem can be bought off."

"Really, the point is it can't be bought off because if you buy it off, Putin will come back for more, and we have learnt through history that this can be a terrible error, appeasing a dictator."

"So we do have to -- I'm raising this argument because I think there is a danger of people forgetting the main thing that's happening and the dangers that it presents over the coming months."

According to UK Defence Intelligence, Russia's actions have "likely undermined the security and safety" of operations at Europe's largest nuclear power plant.

The Ministry of Defence earlier raised concerns regarding the Zaporizhzhia facility, which was taken over by Russian troops in March shortly after the February 24 invasion of . UN Nuclear Chief Rafael Grossi last week said the power plant in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Enerhodar is "completely out of control".

In a phone call on Tuesday afternoon, Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed the importance of not allowing "western war fatigue" to disrupt efforts to support Ukraine.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "On Ukraine, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President Macron both stressed the importance of the community continuing to support the people of Ukraine in their struggle.

"They agreed that UK and French efforts to train and equip Ukrainian troops were making a significant difference in the war, and that western war fatigue cannot be allowed to set in. President Macron praised the Prime Minister's leadership on Ukraine."

--IANS

int/khz/

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PRI GEN INT .LONDON FGN12 CHINA-US-TENSIONS-TRADE China-US tensions: how global trade began splitting into two blocs By ManMohan S Sodhi, Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management, City, University of London; and Christopher S Tang, Professor of Supply Chain Management, University of California, Los Angeles London/Los Angeles, Aug 10 (The Conversation) US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to has elicited a strong response from China: three days of simulated attack on with further drills announced, plus a withdrawal from critical ongoing conversations with the US on climate change and the military. This strong reaction was predictable. President Xi Jinping had earlier warned President Joe Biden not to play with fire. Of course, if Pelosi's visit hadn't gone ahead, the Biden administration would have faced a strong reaction from both parties in Congress for not standing up to China's threat to or human rights issues regarding Tibet and Xinjiang, not to mention Hong Kong. So where does it leave trade between the world's two leading powers? How business trumped ideology Consider the not-too-distant past. The US supported the Republic of against Japan in the Pacific war of 1941-45. When the Chinese leadership fled to Taiwan in 1949 following the victory of Mao Zedong's communists in the Chinese civil war, Washington continued to recognise the exiled regime as China's legitimate government, blocking the People's Republic of (PRC) from joining the United Nations. This shifted in 1972 following President Nixon's historic visit to (in a move to isolate the Soviets). The US now recognised the PRC as China's sole government and accepted its One China policy. It downgraded its Taiwan relations to merely informal, while affirming a peaceful settlement to the mainland communists' claim that this was a breakaway province that had to be assimilated. This opened US-China trade, ending a US trade embargo in place since the 1940s. Economic ties proliferated in the 1980s under Mao's eventual successor, Deng Xiaoping, helping the Chinese economy to multiply while the US enjoyed lower consumer prices and a stronger stock market. Western manufacturing firms either outsourced to Chinese firms or set up operations themselves. They benefited from cheaper production and for those outsourcing not having to own factories or deal with labour issues. In turn, the Chinese gained tremendous manufacturing capability. As China's middle class grew wealthier, the country became a major target consumer market for US firms such as Apple and GM. The Chinese authorities insisted this was done through local partner firms, transferring technology in the process and further enhancing the nation's manufacturing know-how. The growing Chinese threat China and the US captured more than half the growth in GDP across the world from 1980 to 2020. US GDP grew nearly five times from US$4.4 trillion (3.6 trillion) to US$20.9 trillion (17.3 trillion) in today's money, while China's grew from US$310 billion to US$14.7 trillion. China is now the second largest economy, although the IMF, World Bank and CIA consider it the largest once purchasing power is taken into account. The US is still well ahead on per capita income (US$69,231 vs US$12,359 in 2021), though China's is now that of a developed country, having lifted 800 million people out of poverty in the process. The US has become increasingly concerned about China's faster economic growth and the fact that the US buys much more from its rival than the other way around. This drove the big decline in US domestic manufacturing that famously helped Donald Trump to win the US presidency. Equally, the rivalry has extended to other areas as China has sought a leading role on the world stage. Both nations are nuclear powers, although the Chinese military has only 350 nuclear warheads to America's 5,500. China has a larger navy, with some 360 battle force ships compared to the US 297, although China's are mostly smaller only three aircraft carriers compared to America's 11, for example. The two countries are also competing in space to bring astronauts to the Moon and establish the first lunar base. All this has threatened American dominance, while President Xi has also been much more forthright both domestically and internationally than any Chinese leader since Mao. The US has gradually become more hostile, starting with President Obama's pivot towards other Asian nations in 2016 and then President Trump's public complaints and eventual sanctioning of China's unfair trade practices. Trump imposed extra tariffs on goods imported from China in 2018 and restricted China's access to various semiconductor manufacturing technologies in 2020, while the Chinese responded with countermeasures along the way. When President Biden took office in 2021, he began highlighting long-simmering complaints about human rights issues in Xinjiang and the threat to Taiwan (while still endorsing the One China Policy). He also imposed sanctions on certain Chinese companies of a kind not been seen since the Mao-era trade embargo. Biden also banned goods from China's Xinjiang region on the grounds of forced labour in 2022, affecting the purchasing of goods by many western companies. China reportedly moved workers to other parts of the country to enable western companies to keep purchasing. Bipolarity is back COVID-19 further increased the distance between the two countries. After China's zero COVID policy helped to disrupt supply chains and cause product shortages, the Biden administration began calling for reduced dependency on its rival. US firms have duly been restructuring their supply chains. In June, Apple moved some iPad production from China to Vietnam, albeit also because of growing demand in south-east Asia. Near-shoring to Mexico is gaining momentum. Apple manufacturers Foxconn and Pegatron are considering producing iPhones for North America in Mexico rather than China to take advantage of lower labour costs and the free-trade agreement between the US and Mexico. Two global blocs are increasingly emerging, with US treasury secretary Janet Yellen in April calling for friend-shoring with trusted partners, dividing countries into friends or foes. The Biden administration announced at the June G7 meeting a new Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. Aiming to mobilise US$600 billion in investments over five years, this is an overture to various developing countries already being courted by China under its similar Belt and Road Initiative. Days earlier, China had hosted the annual BRICS summit, which includes Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. It welcomed leaders from 13 other countries: Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Malaysia and Thailand. Xi urged the summit to build a global community of security based on multilateral cooperation. Iran and Argentina have since applied to join the bloc. We are already seeing what bipolarity will mean for vital components and commodities. In nanochips, the US is leading a chips 4 pact with Japan, Taiwan and possible South Korea to develop next-generation technologies and manufacturing capacity. China is investing US$1.4 trillion between 2020 and 2025 in a bid to become self-reliant in this technology. Another big issue is cobalt, which is essential for making lithium batteries for electric vehicles. To secure supply from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which produces 70% of world reserves, China has navigated Congolese politics, lobbying powerful politicians in mining regions. By 2020, Chinese firms owned or had a stake in 15 of the DRC's 19 cobalt-producing mines. As China hoards cobalt supplies, the US seeks alternatives. GM is developing its Ultium battery cell, which needs 70% less cobalt than today's batteries, while Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing a battery that doesn't need the metal at all. Silver linings As US-China relations have moved from building bridges in 1972 to building walls in 2022, countries will increasingly be forced to choose sides and companies will have to plan supply chains accordingly. Those seeking to trade in both blocs will need to divisionalise, running parallel operations. American companies wanting to serve Chinese consumers will still need to manufacture in China or other nations within that bloc, while Chinese companies will need to do the same in reverse. Interestingly, Chinese companies have been rapidly buying farmland and agriculture-based companies in the US and elsewhere. Yet though the new supply chains will almost certainly increase costs for western consumers and dampen China's growth, there will be benefits. Supply chains should be more resilient to future crises and also more transparent, while reduced transportation (and reliance on Chinese coal) should cut carbon emissions. This should help to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals on environmental and social sustainability. The cobalt and nanochips examples also show how the US-China rivalry is catalysing innovation. And importantly, global trade will continue growing as countries depend on each other, even as trade links change. It will certainly take time to find an equilibrium. It took years for the USSR and US to figure out how to co-exist without getting into direct military conflict. Hillary Clinton wrote in 2011 as Secretary of State that there is no handbook for the evolving US-China relationship, and that remains the case today. At any rate, the businesses that thrive in this new environment will likely be those that plan for a divided world with divisional supply chains. The recent Taiwan row will probably not lead to direct military conflict; rather it will reinforce a trend that has been gathering momentum for a decade or more. (The Conversation) SCY SCY 08100837 NNNN

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
invoked the Fifth Amendment and wouldn't answer questions under oath in the New York attorney general's long-running civil investigation into his business dealings, the former president said in a statement Wednesday.

Trump arrived at state Attorney General Letitia James' offices in a motorcade shortly before 9 a.m., announcing more than an hour later that he "declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the Constitution.

I once asked, If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?' Now I know the answer to that question, the statement said. When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors and the Fake News Media, you have no choice.

As vociferous as Trump has been in defending himself in written statements and on the rally stage, legal experts say the same strategy could have backfired in a deposition setting because anything he says could potentially be used in the criminal investigation.

His decision comes just days after FBI agents searched his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida as part of an unrelated federal probe into whether he took classified records when he left the White House.

The civil investigation, led by state Attorney General Letitia James, involves allegations that Trump's company, the Trump Organization, misstated the value of prized assets like golf courses and skyscrapers, misleading lenders and tax authorities.

My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides," Trump wrote beforehand on Truth Social, the social media platform he founded. "Banana Republic!



Messages seeking comment were left with James' office and with Trump's lawyer.

In May, James' office said that it was nearing the end of its probe and that investigators had amassed substantial evidence that could support legal action against Trump, his company or both. The Republican's deposition a legal term for sworn testimony that's not given in court was one of the few remaining missing pieces, the attorney general's office said.

Two of Trump's adult children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, testified in recent days, two people familiar with the matter said. The people were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity.

The three Trumps' testimony had initially been planned for last month but was delayed after the July 14 death of the former president's ex-wife, Ivana Trump, the mother of Ivanka, Donald Jr. and another son, Eric Trump, who sat for a deposition in James' investigation in 2020.

On Friday, the Trump Organization and its longtime finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, will be in court seeking dismissal of tax fraud charges brought against them last year in the Manhattan district attorney's parallel criminal probe spurred by evidence uncovered by James' office. Weisselberg and the company have pleaded not guilty.

James, a Democrat, has said in court filings that her office has uncovered significant evidence that Trump's company used fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions.

James alleges the Trump Organization exaggerated the value of its holdings to impress lenders or misstated what land was worth to slash its tax burden, pointing to annual financial statements given to banks to secure favorable loan terms and to financial magazines to justify Trump's place among the world's billionaires.

The company even exaggerated the size of Trump's Manhattan penthouse, saying it was nearly three times its actual size a difference in value of about $200 million, James' office said.

Trump has denied the allegations, explaining that seeking the best valuations is a common practice in the real estate industry. He says James' investigation is politically motivated and that her office is doing everything within their corrupt discretion to interfere with my business relationships, and with the political process. He's also accused James, who is Black, of racism in pursuing the investigation.

THERE IS NO CASE! Trump said in a February statement, after Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that James' office had the clear right to question Trump and other principals in his company.

Once her investigation wraps up, James could decide to bring a lawsuit and seek financial penalties against Trump or his company, or even a ban on them being involved in certain types of businesses.

Meanwhile, the Manhattan district attorney's office has long pursued a parallel criminal investigation. No former president has even been charged with a crime.

That probe had appeared to be progressing toward a possible criminal indictment of Trump himself, but slowed after a new district attorney, Alvin Bragg, took office in January: A grand jury that had been hearing evidence disbanded. The top prosecutor who had been handling the probe resigned after Bragg raised questions internally about the viability of the case.

Bragg has said his investigation is continuing, which means that Trump could invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and decline to answer questions from James' investigators during the deposition in a Manhattan office tower that has doubled as the headquarters of the fictional conglomerate Waystar Royco run by a character inspired partly by Trump on HBO's Succession.

In fighting to block the subpoenas, lawyers for the Trumps argued New York authorities were using the civil investigation to get information for the criminal probe and that the depositions were a ploy to avoid calling them before a criminal grand jury, where state law requires they be given immunity.

Weisselberg and Eric Trump each invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 500 times when questioned by James' lawyers during separate depositions in 2020, according to court papers.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
has agreed to allow Gotabaya to stay in the country temporarily during which the ousted Sri Lankan president will search for a third nation that will offer him permanent refuge, Prime Minister said on Wednesday.

Rajapaksa, who is currently in Singapore after fleeing in July amid mass anti-government protests, is seeking refuge in as his Singapore visa runs out on Thursday. After flying to the Maldives on July 13, then fled to Singapore, where he announced his resignation a day later after months of protests over the country's .

The prime minister of confirmed a temporary visit to Thailand by the 73-year-old embattled Sri Lankan leader for humanitarian reasons, and said he promised not to conduct political activities in the kingdom during his search for permanent asylum in another country.

"This is a humanitarian issue. We have made a promise that it's a temporary stay. No [political] activities are allowed, and this will help him find a country to take refuge in," Prayut was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post newspaper.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said the ousted president can stay in Thailand for 90 days as he is still a diplomatic passport holder, the report said.

Don said the Sri Lankan government did not oppose the visit and the Thai government would not make accommodation arrangements for him. The visit would not pose conflicts with Colombo as acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe had worked for him when he was in power, he added.

The minister said a condition for Rajapaksa's stay was that he should not cause problems for Thailand.

Thailand received a request from to enter the country, CNN quoted Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tanee Sangrat as saying on Wednesday.

Sangrat said that as a holder of a Sri Lankan diplomatic passport, Rajapaksa can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 90 days, emphasising the stay is temporary and he is not seeking political asylum.

Sangrat did not mention when Rajapaksa intended on traveling to Thailand, the report said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
had his own way of keeping records during his presidency: heaping documents in boxes, tearing up papers to signal a discussion was over, even flushing some notes down the White House toilet.



That unorthodox approach is drawing attention as authorities investigate whether Trump took classified materials from the White House upon leaving office, a probe that escalated with an extraordinary FBI search of his Florida estate on Monday.

All of a presidents official papers, no matter how trivial, are considered public property, not his alone, according to the Presidential Records Act of 1978. When the president leaves office, those papers go to the National Archives and later as part of a presidential library.



Also Read | No one above law: AG Garland on FBI's search of Trump's Florida estate

I never heard a single story from anyone about Clinton or Bush or Obama just randomly taking classified documents and walking around the residence with them, said David Priess, who used to deliver the classified Presidential Daily Briefing and has written a history of the practice. It probably happened. Presidents do paperwork in the residence, and sometimes take papers with them. But Ive been following this for 20 years and until Trump I had not heard members of the presidents own staff express concern.

Mondays hourslong FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, which Trump said included his safe, was related to a request from the National Archives and Records Administration to the Justice Department to look into the transfer of presidential documents to Mar-a-Lago, including classified materials.

The Archives in January retrieved 15 boxes of records from Mar-a-Lago. Trump turned those documents over only after facing possible legal action over their removal. Some of Trumps closest aides were unaware of the location of any safes at Mar-a-Lago, according to several people familiar with the matter.

It is unclear if the search involved any of the other potentially criminal investigations he faces. The and the Justice Department declined to comment on the search.

Throughout his presidency, Trump kept various papers -- including news clippings, mementos, and, on occasion, classified documents -- stored in separate piles. Some of those were among items boxed up and taken to Mar-a-Lago when he left office.

Trump would regularly signal he was done discussing a topic by ripping up related papers, including documents and newspapers, and throwing them on the floor.

We were always worried about documents, former Trump chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said in an interview with Bloomberg Radios Sound On.

If we had a document and we made a change to it, he might rip it in half and throw the one we werent using on the floor, Mulvaney said. And we would have someone come in and tape it back together and make a copy of it.

He also sometimes used toilets to dispose of handwritten notes, people familiar with his practices said, including those he wrote himself and those written by others. Aides at the time said they believed the notes were on trivial matters, including messages the president thought would be embarrassing if they became public, according to people familiar with the matter.

The people familiar with the matter said they had no reason to believe at the time that Trump had flushed any classified documents, but they remember general concerns that the president was violating the Presidential Records Act by flushing papers that should have been preserved.

Staff tried to preserve at least some of the paperwork retrieved from toilet bowls, people familiar with the process said. The torn pieces were bagged up, dried, reassembled and photographed.

Several top officials said they never heard complaints that Trump destroyed any important documents, but one concern was ensuring classified documents left with Trump were later retrieved.

Records Act



The Presidential Records Act covers all documents related to the job and exempts personal records like diaries, partisan activities or election campaign materials.

When the president leaves office, the records are transferred to the custody of the US archivist. From there, every president since Herbert Hoover has used those to create a library enshrining his legacy, but Trump has shown little interest in such an effort while he mulls another run for the White House.

Trump was never briefed after the election on what to take and what not to, according to people familiar with the matter. The transition from Trump to President was highly unusual because of Trumps refusal to concede his defeat, an act that triggers cooperation between the outgoing and incoming presidents.

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and his staff did issue guidance on the Presidential Records Act to the outer Oval Office staff. In fact, the counsels office had a lawyer on staff whose sole job was Presidential Records Act compliance.

The Presidential Records Act grew out of a 1974 law that applied specifically to former President Richard Nixon to prevent him from destroying 42 million pages of documents and 880 tape recordings from his presidency, including many related to the Watergate scandal.

Theft or destruction of federal records is a felony punishable by up to three years in prison -- and disqualification from federal office. But its unlikely that the law applies to the office of president, because those qualifications are set out in the Constitution.

Prosecutions are rare but not unheard of. In 2005, Sandy Berger, a National Security Advisor to former President Bill Clinton, was convicted and disbarred for removing classified records -- including some he stuffed down his pants -- from the National Archives concerning the Clinton administrations intelligence on terrorism that preceded the 9/11 attacks.
Demonstrations planned by Sri Lankan opposition parties and trade unions have fizzled out, with smaller crowds turning up to mark the fourth month of an anti-government campaign launched in the wake of the ongoing economic crisis.

In contrast to the tens of thousands who turned up for previous protests, less than 2,000 were at one of the main rally sites in Colombo on Tuesday, police said.

At a demonstration near the President's office, where people have been camped for the past four months, only about 150 people arrived, reports dpa news agency.

"The crackdown by the government and the arrest of anti-government protesters may have deterred people coming-out to show their dissent," one of the demonstrators said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has also taken the wind out of the protesters' sails by addressing shortages of gas and fuel, and restoring some sense of political stability, although remains under a state of emergency.

Wickremesinghe was elected to the post by a parliamentary vote on July 20 after former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country.

More than 100 protesters, including those who stormed the residences and offices of Sri Lanka's top leaders, have been arrested so far.

An unprecedented economic crisis, the worst since the country gained independence in 1948, led to unrest amid fuel, gas and food shortages.

Protesters began camping outside the President's office on April 9.

On May 9, former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa stepped down and on June 9 Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa resigned.

Protesters stormed the former President's official residence on July 9, forcing him to quit.

--IANS

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Germany's has been hit hard by soaring gas prices, according to a survey.

According to the report by the Munich-based ifo Institute for Economic Research published on Tuesday, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has "further exacerbated the tense situation in the industry". Business expectations fell to minus 44.4 points in July, compared to plus 11.8 points in the same month in 2021.

"High energy prices are causing production in to fall, while import pressure is increasing," Wolfgang Grosse Entrup, Managing Director of the country's association VCI, told Xinhua on Tuesday.

In Germany, 44 per cent of the energy consumption of the is covered by natural gas, while around 30 per cent of all chemical products require its use, Xinhua news agency reported.

in Europe are more than twice as high as before the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in late February. European TTF gas futures were trading at around 190 euros ($195) per megawatt hour on Tuesday.

Europe's biggest economy relies heavily on gas supplies from other countries. In 2021, 95 per cent of natural gas fed into Germany's grid was imported, according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

In the past, Russia was one of the main suppliers of natural gas to Germany; in May, natural gas and crude oil worth 1.9 billion euros were still being imported from Russia to .

However, at the end of July, Russia further reduced gas supplies to through the important Nord Stream 1 pipeline, to the current 20 per cent.

--IANS

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is likely to introduce an indoor mask mandate if there is a significant increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the upcoming autumn and winter months, health ministers said at a meeting, though they differed over possible exemptions.

The federal and state health ministers discussed draft legislation aiming to update regulations for dealing with the pandemic, dpa news agency reported.

"It is clear that mandatory masks indoors should be the rule in the event of a tense pandemic situation," said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

Last week, Lauterbach and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann presented new measures that would go into effect in the autumn.

Among other things, their draft calls for masks to remain compulsory on long-distance trains and planes nationwide, along with rules requiring masks to be worn in hospitals and care facilities.

State governments are to decide for themselves whether they will also require masks in publicly accessible indoor areas.

Some state ministers had criticized plans to make people exempt from the regulation if they had had a vaccination against Covid-19 within the past three months, for example, saying this is difficult to implement.

The Ministers also identified areas where further clarity is needed, for example on "who can be vaccinated, with which vaccine this is possible, and how long the protection lasts", said Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek.

The meeting came as Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control and prevention said the nation's seven-day incidence rate of cases per 100,000 was 381.5, although the number is thought to be higher.

The RKI said 170 people had died of Covid-19 in the past day.

--IANS

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Gaza's militant rulers issued sweeping new restrictions on journalists after the recent conflict there, but then rescinded them, a group representing foreign media in and the Palestinian territories said Tuesday.

Palestinians who work with foreign journalists were first informed of the new rules earlier this week in messages sent by the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. They were ordered not to report on Gazans killed by misfired Palestinian rockets or the military capabilities of Palestinian armed groups, and were told to blame for the recent escalation.

The Foreign Press Association, which represents media, including The Associated Press, said the guidelines were rescinded after discussions with authorities in .

The FPA said in a statement that "such a move would have constituted a severe, unacceptable and unjustifiable restriction on the freedom of the press, as well as the safety of our colleagues in Gaza,"



Salama Marouf, director of the government media office in Gaza, confirmed the reversal. There are no restrictions, he said. We welcome all foreign journalists and media into and we call on them to come.

The rules would have gone much further than existing restrictions. They appeared aimed at imposing the Islamic militant group's narrative on media coverage of the conflict by implicitly threatening Palestinian reporters and translators who live under its heavy-handed rule.

Even if the rules are officially withdrawn, has still signaled its expectations, which could have a chilling effect on critical coverage.

In the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, both sides have attempted to impose their narratives and limit negative coverage. Israel, which portrays itself as the only democracy in the Middle East, has a military censor who sometimes imposes gag orders. Israeli authorities also restrict media access to military activities and the country's nuclear program.

Hamas' attempt this week to muzzle the foreign media came after it sat out the latest conflict with . The decision to stay on the sidelines likely reflects Hamas' desire to preserve economic understandings with Israel that have somewhat eased a 15-year blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Hamas takeover.

After a cease-fire took hold Monday, following three days of fighting between Israel and Hamas' smaller sister group Islamic Jihad, the Interior Ministry distributed a written copy of the rules to Palestinians applying for entry permits on behalf of foreign media outlets, with instructions to communicate them to the foreign journalists in their own local way."



Hamas, which seized power in Gaza in 2007 from rival Palestinian forces, requires all visiting reporters to have a local sponsor usually a Palestinian or translator hired by the news outlet.

Under the now rescinded restrictions, sponsors were told they must accompany the journalists during their reporting and will be held responsible for what they produce. The sponsors were warned that they must "demonstrate national spirit, defend the Palestinian narrative and reject the foreigner's bias to the Israeli narrative.

They would have also been required to inform Hamas of any suspicious behavior or illogical questions outside the scope of journalistic work, and to submit a full report to Hamas of what the journalists did in Gaza, in addition to links to all published works.

The guidelines appeared to suggest that writing about forbidden topics like the rocket misfires or about the media guidelines themselves could have led to the revocation of local sponsorship. For a Palestinian in Gaza, that would have meant the loss of vital income in a blockaded territory where unemployment hovers around 50%.

In many respects, Gaza became a much safer place for reporters after the Hamas takeover, when the group imposed order and put an end to kidnappings and factional violence. But as Hamas consolidated control and went on to fight four wars and countless smaller battles with Israel it steadily imposed more and more restrictions on media.

In recent years, Hamas has required journalists to apply for advance approval to film in certain locations, such as the Gaza fishing port, the beach and the gold market.

Hamas has also barred Palestinians from working for Israeli media or providing services to them. Palestinians are also barred from giving interviews to Israeli outlets.

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Iranian negotiators in the nuclear talks have been ignoring "threats and empty deadlines" by the West in order to protect Iranian people's rights and the long-term interests of the country, an advisor to the Iranian team said.

The Iranian negotiators have pressed hard on the Americans and European governments to back down from their irrational positions, both in the Vienna talks and its contacts with the other negotiating parties, Mohammad Marandi was quoted by the official news agency IRNA as saying, before leaving the Austrian capital where the talks were held on Tuesday.

The Iranian team aimed to gain "key concessions" from the other side, said Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran.

He declined to make any statement on the text of a possible deal on reviving the 2015 nuclear pact, which was offered by the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, saying that "careful examination" will be held in Tehran, Xinhua news agency reported.

signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear programme in return for the removal of sanctions on the country. However, former US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact.

The talks on reviving the JCPOA began in April 2021 in Vienna but were suspended in March 2022 because of political differences between Tehran and Washington.

The latest round of talks, which began on Thursday following a five-month hiatus, ended on Monday without a breakthrough.

--IANS

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Microsoft has also slowed hiring in the Windows, Teams and Office groups.

Microsoft, which laid off 1 per cent or 1,800 employees in July, has asked around 200 more employees to go, this time from one of its customer-focused R&D projects, the media reported on Wednesday.

According to posts on Microsoft-owned LinkedIn, the recent layoffs have also impacted contracted recruiters across several locations.

A Business Insider report first mentioned that the additional job cuts were concentrated in Microsoft's Modern Life Experiences (MLX) group, which was put together in 2018 with the goal of "winning back consumers".

"Around 200 employees on the Modern Life Experiences team have been told to find another position at the company within 60 days, or take severance," the report claimed.

A company spokesperson declined to provide details to TechCrunch, but "didn't deny that the layoffs had occurred".

The Modern Life Experiences team was focused on "bringing consumer products directly to the people who need them, empowering families to learn, explore and connect in a fun and safe environment."

The MLS team later partnered Microsoft's Family Safety group to build the first version of the Family Safety apps for iOS and Android, according to reports.

In June 2020, the MLX group launched Money in Excel, a template that let users automatically connect bank, credit card, investment, and loan accounts to Excel.

"Money in Excel" is scheduled to shut down on June 30, 2023.

Last month, Satya Nadella-run became the first tech giant to lay off employees as part of a "realignment".

The layoffs at affected nearly 1 per cent of its 1,80,000-strong workforce across its offices and product divisions.

has also slowed hiring in the Windows, Teams and Office groups.

Other tech that have either laid off employees or slowed hiring in the current economic downturn include Google, Meta, Oracle, Twitter, Nvidia, Snap, Uber, Spotify, Intel and Salesforce, among others.

--IANS

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The World Health Organization expressed sorrow on Tuesday for the killing of monkeys in amid fears of contagion.

Brazilian news website G1 reported on Sunday that 10 monkeys had been poisoned in less than a week in the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, in Sao Paulo state.

Similar incidents were reported in other cities.

People have to know that the transmission we see now is among humans, said Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman, during a press conference in Geneva.

counts more than 1,700 cases of monkeypox, according to the WHO.

The country's health ministry confirmed one death related to the disease on July 29.

The victim was a was a man who had low immunity and comorbidities.

Contagion can take place from animals to humans, but the recent outbreak is related to human only contacts, according to Harris.

People certainly should not attack the animals, she said.

has a long register of attacks on monkeys during yellow fever outbreaks too.

Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 29,000 cases of .

The WHO classified the outbreak of the once-rare disease as an emergency in July.

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The Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) sees no immediate threat to nuclear safety following the shelling of Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhya, .

"Based on the information provided by Ukraine, IAEA experts assessed that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety as a result of Saturday's incident," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday.

He added that the Ukrainian authorities had informed the IAEA that there was damage but that radiation measurements were still at normal levels, dpa news agency reported.

--IANS

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Attempts to bully nations into taking sides in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war is unacceptable, a senior South African Minister has said, as she accused certain countries in Europe of taking a patronising attitude towards Africa.

South African Minister of Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor on Monday hosted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is on a three-nation Africa tour.

Blinken arrived in on Sunday, in what analysts describe is an attempt to counter the growing Chinese and Russian influence in the region, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Africa last month.

This is Blinken's second trip to the continent.

Pandor said she was glad that Blinken had confirmed that the US had not asked to choose sides (between Russia and Ukraine).

But she conceded that her government had experienced pressure from certain countries in Europe to align with their policy on Ukraine.

But in terms of our interaction with some of our partners in Europe and elsewhere, there has been a sense of a patronising bullying of you choose this or else', she said.

She also criticised a US bill, which she says could penalise African countries for not towing the line on the Ukraine conflict, known as the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act.

The recent legislation passed in the US House of Representatives we found (to be) a most unfortunate Bill. When we speak about freedom, it's freedom for everybody. You can't say because Africa is doing this, you will then be punished by the US. We hope the other House will not agree to such offensive legislation, Pandor said.

The minister said it was important for all to respect different opinions held by different nations.

We are after all, sovereign nations that are recognised as equal in terms of the UN Charter. We may differ in terms of economic power and economic ability to influence developments in different parts of the world, but what will make the world work is if we respect each other.

One thing I definitely dislike is being told: You choose this or else!, Pandor reaffirmed.

Relations between and the US have been strained after South Africa remained neutral over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The minister said Russia was a very negligible economic partner for South Africa.

Our trade with Russia is less than four billion dollars annually, compared to the USD 20 billion with the US. So, this fear that we exist under some putsch is a totally an unfounded belief of the relationship that we have with either country, Pandor asserted.

We have been quite clear in saying that we advocate for peace because we knew what would happen. We knew that there would be destruction, death and desolation; and that is what we are all seeing. Let us make every effort to get peace, Pandor said.

Blinken said that what happens in South Africa really does shape the world.

We believe that together we can deliver more progress for the people of our two countries and many across a whole range of issues that matters most to their lives and their futures, he explained.

Blinken cited health, climate, infrastructure and trade as the four main areas that the two countries would concentrate on.

We shared the concrete steps that we are going to take to deepen our cooperation. Our countries are poised together to drive progress in the region and around the world, he said.

Commenting on the US relations with the continent of Africa, Blinken said what the US wanted most was a true partnership between the US and Africa.

We don't want an imbalanced or transactional relationship, he said. Blinken said there was a narrative that Africa as a whole is the latest playing field between great powers.

That is fundamentally not how we see it. The truth is, South Africa is a powerful, dynamic country helping write the future of the region and the world, he added.

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President formally welcomed and joining the alliance Tuesday as he signed the instruments of ratification that delivered the U.S.'s formal backing of the Nordic nations entering the mutual defense pact, part of a reshaping of the European security posture after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In seeking to join NATO, and are making a sacred commitment that an attack against one is an attack against all," Biden said at the signing as he called the partnership the indispensable alliance.

The U.S. became the 23rd ally to approve membership for the two countries. Biden said he spoke with the heads of both nations before signing the ratification and urged the remaining members to finish their own ratification process as quickly as possible.

The Senate last week approved the two, once-neutral nations joining the alliance in a rare 95-1 vote that Biden said shows the world that "the of America can still do big things with a sense of political unity.

The countries sought out NATO membership earlier this year to guarantee their security in the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin's offensive in Ukraine. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's rules require the consent of all of its 30 existing members before and can officially accede into the alliance, which is expected in the coming months.

The candidacies of the two prosperous Northern European nations have won ratification from more than half of the NATO member nations in the roughly three months since the two applied. It marks the speediest expansion of the pact of mutual defense among the and democratic allies in Europe in its 73-year history.

U.S. State and Defense officials consider the two countries net security providers, strengthening NATO's defense posture in the Baltics in particular. Finland is expected to exceed NATO's 2% gross domestic product defense spending target in 2022, and Sweden has committed to meet the 2% goal.

Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May, setting aside their longstanding stance of military nonalignment. It was a major shift of security arrangements for the two countries after neighbouring Russia launched its war on Ukraine in late February. Biden encouraged their joining and welcomed the two countries' government heads to the White House in May, standing side by side with them in a display of U.S. backing.

The U.S. and its European allies have rallied with newfound partnership in the face of Putin's military invasion, as well as the Russian leader's sweeping statements this year condemning NATO, issuing veiled reminders of Russia's nuclear arsenal and asserting Russia's historical claims to territory of many of its neighbours.

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North Korea's ruling Workers' Party (WPK) sent a formal message to the Communist Party of denouncing US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to last week as a "shameless provocation", Pyongyang's state media reported Wednesday.

In the "solidarity letter" sent to the party's central committee the previous day, the WPK also called the US House of Representatives' trip a "serious infringement" of Beijing's sovereignty, according to Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The WPK then expressed "full support" for the CPC and the Chinese government in their "just and legitimate" steps to "resolutely repulse the US arbitrariness" and pledged to continue offering full support over the Taiwanese issue, Yonhap News Agency quoted the KCNA as saying in its report.

Last week, Pyongyang's foreign ministry was quick in responding to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, calling it an "impudent interference" into the internal affairs of another nation.

has recently stressed its strong ties with amid the heightening Washington-Beijing tensions.

--IANS

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Outraged Republican allies have demanded an explanation after federal agents conducted an unannounced raid at former US President Donald Trump's Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.

Monday's surprise search and seizure of documents at Mar-a-Lago elicited a forceful reaction from top Republican and conservative officials, many of whom condemned the federal law enforcement agencies, talked openly of retribution and even spoke of defunding them outright, reports dpa news agency.

"This should scare the living daylights out of American citizens, and say, we have got to change our federal government," said Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida, during an interview Tuesday on Fox Business.

"The way our federal government has gone, it's like what we thought about the Gestapo, people like that. They just go after people."

The response from Republicans risks putting the party at odds with its stated support for law-and-order policies, particularly as they continue to insist that Democrats want to defund police departments nationwide.

And although Republicans from top to bottom have been critical of the FBI's action, some party leaders have stopped short of blunt calls to censure the agency, while others have urged their grassroots activists to hold off on judgment until the reasons for the search warrant become more clear.

A source familiar with the matter said federal prosecutors have been investigating Trump on two fronts, including his handling of classified information and his potential role in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

A separate source close to the investigation said agents seized dozens of boxes of what could be classified materials, after establishing probable cause with a federal magistrate in West Palm Beach, Florida.

But most top Republicans, including House Leader Kevin McCarthy, accused the nation's top law enforcement agencies of carrying out a political agenda instead of serving justice.

The DOJ, McCarthy said in a statement, had "reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization".

"When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned," the California Republican said. "Attorney General (Merrick) Garland, preserve your documents and clear your calendar."

Other Republicans went even further, threatening to withhold funding from the nation's most well-known law enforcement agency.

"Defund the FBI," tweeted Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia.

Republicans have increased their criticism of the and Department of Justice since the start of Trump's presidency in 2017, after it was revealed the probe agency had investigated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible ties between the country and Trump's campaign.

Trump fired former director James Comey in 2017, less than halfway into his 10-year term.

The distrust deepened during the investigation into possible collusion between Trump and a foreign adversary by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which became a frequent target of the president while in office. Mueller's report, released in 2019, stopped short of recommending charges against the president or members of his campaign but has been derided by conservatives ever since.

"After years where FBI agents were found to be acting on political motivation during our administration, the appearance of continued partisanship by the Justice Department must be addressed," said Mike Pence, Trump's former Vice President.

But the criticism after Monday's search and seizure at Mar-a-Lago was often specific, offering not just a broad critique of the law enforcement agencies but proposing specific actions that Republicans would take if they win control of Congress during this year's midterm elections.

"At a minimum, Garland must resign or be impeached," Missouri Republican Senator Josh Hawley tweeted. "The search warrant must be published. (FBI Director) Christoper Wray must be removed. And the FBI reformed top to bottom."

Wray was appointed by Trump in 2017. Garland was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate last year.

Other Republicans, however issued a more measured response. Tim Scott, a Republican senator from South Carolina, urged people on Tuesday not to rush to judgment, saying he wasn't sure what the FBI is investigating or what it found.

"This is going to raise more questions, in my opinion," Scott told CBS News. "We need to let this play out and see exactly what happens."

Scott is seen as a possible 2024 Republican presidential candidate, though he has repeatedly praised Trump and his actions as president.

--IANS

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The UK government has submitted its argument in a case that could allow the Scottish Parliament to legislate for another independence referendum.

Scottish Advocate Dorothy Bain referred a prospective referendum bill to the Supreme Court last month to ascertain if it was within the powers of the Scottish Parliament, reports dpa news agency.

Oral arguments are due to be heard in the case in October, but the Advocate General for Lord Stewart submitted the case against the bill being within the legislative competence of Parliament at Holyrood on Tuesday.

It is understood that the UK government has asked for the court's permission to publish the submission.

A spokeswoman for the UK government said: "People across want both their governments to be working together on the issues that matter to them and their families, not talking about another independence referendum.

"We have today submitted our written case to the Supreme Court, in accordance with its timetable.

"On the question of legislative competence, the UK government's clear view remains that a bill legislating for a referendum on independence would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament."

In its submission to the court, submitted last month, the Scottish government leaned heavily on any future referendum not being "self-executing", meaning it would be purely advisory and only meant as a way to ascertain the views of the Scottish people.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has also made an attempt to intervene in the case, arguing that, as a public body, it would be "fair, just and reasonable" for it to make arguments to the court.

--IANS

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Ukraine's overseas creditors have backed its request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in bonds, according to a regulatory filing on Wednesday, a move that will allow the war-torn country to avoid a messy default.

With no sign of peace or a ceasefire on the horizon nearly six months after Russia's invasion began on Feb. 24, bondholders have agreed to postpone sovereign interest and capital payments for 13 Ukrainian sovereign bonds maturing between 2022 and 2033.

said it would save around $5 billion over the next 24 months as it manages its dwindling financial resources.

"The two-year freeze makes sense because even if the war ends soon, Ukraine's situation is not going to improve overnight," said Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist at London-based research firm Tellimer. "Creditors were even surprised that the country decided to be current on the bonds until now."

BlackRock Inc, Fidelity International, Amia Capital and Gemsstock Ltd are among the biggest holders of Ukraine's debt, whose value has slumped by more than 80% since a build-up of Russian troops on its borders began late in 2021.

" has received and accepted consents of around 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities," the filing said. It needed approval by the holders of at least two-thirds of all the bonds and more than 50% of each issue outstanding, documents for the consent solicitation showed.

A separate consent solicitation approved by creditors includes changes to about $2.6 billion of so-called GDP warrants, a derivative security that triggers payments linked to a country's gross domestic product.

Creditors of Ukravtodor and Ukrenergo, two state-owned firms that have government guarantees on their debt, have also approved separate solicitations similar to the one proposed by the sovereign.

relief



With facing an estimated economic contraction of as much as 45% in 2022, bilateral creditors including the United States, Britain and Japan had also backed a debt repayment delay and a group of governments in the Paris Club agreed to suspend payments until the end of 2023.

"This will improve the foreign currency cash flow for Ukraine, but by itself it's unlikely to be sufficient to stabilize FX reserves," said Carlos de Sousa, emerging markets debt portfolio manager at Vontobel Asset Management.

Ukraine's reserves fell from $28.1 billion in March to $22.4 billion as of the end of July.

A comprehensive debt restructuring is expected following the debt freeze, De Sousa said, as it is "unlikely" that Ukraine will be able to regain market access in two years.

Ukraine completed a $15 billion debt restructuring in late 2015 after an economic crisis linked to a Russian-backed insurgency in its industrial east. The deal left it with a large number of payments due annually between 2019 and 2027, and it returned to markets in 2017.

With a monthly fiscal shortfall of $5 billion, Ukraine is heavily reliant on foreign financing from Western allies and multilateral lenders including International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

It has so far received $12.7 billion in loans and grants, Finance Ministry data shows.

The United States said this week it would provide an additional $4.5 billion to Ukraine's government, bringing its total budgetary support since Moscow began what it calls a "special military operation" to $8.5 billion.

Ukraine also aims to agree a $15 billion-$20 billion IMF programme to help shore up its economy, its central bank governor Kyrylo Shevchenko said, and the government expects to receive this assistance before the year-end.

(Reporting by Jorgelina do Rosario, Rodrigo Campos and Karin Strohecker; additional reporting by Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk; Editing by Alexander Smith, Matthew Lewis and Mark Potter)

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On the 168th day of the burgeoning war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late on Tuesday demanded that Russia must withdraw from to mark the formal end of the conflict.

In his usual late-night video message, the embattled President recalled that the tussle between Moscow and Kyiv began with the "illegal annexation" of the Crimean Peninsula, adding that the occupation has posed a massive threat to European security.

He stressed that as long as Russia continued to reign over Crimean, many countries will be deprived of "lasting peace."

Meanwhile, the Group of Seven industrialised nations condemned Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and called on Moscow to immediately hand back full control of the plant to Ukraine.
US Special Envoy Envoy Jessica Stern will visit and to advance the of LGBTQI+ persons in each country, according to the statement released by State Department.

Stern will be visiting from August 10 to 14 and will travel to from August 23-27.

"During her visits, Special Envoy Stern will meet with government officials and other stakeholders to discuss advancing the of LGBTQI+ persons in each country and regionally," the statement reads.

Prior to joining the State Department, Jessica Stern was an executive director of OutRight Action International, based in New York. Stern specializes in gender, sexuality and globally, according to the White House.

At OutRight Action, she has supported the legal registration of LGBTIQ organizations globally, helped secure the mandate of the United Nations independent expert on sexual orientation and gender identity, expanded the General Assembly resolution to include gender identity, and co-founded the UN LGBTI Core Group.

"She has provided expert opinions to governments globally, regional human rights institutions, and UN mechanisms, including UN Women where she serves as a member of multiple leadership bodies," the statement reads.

Stern is frequently quoted by the media, including by The New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, BBC News, and The Guardian. She is an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University's School of and Public Affairs.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday released the for the Air Force Common Admission (AFCAT). Candidates who have applied for the can now download their admit cards from the official website  afcat.cdac.in.

The AFCAT examination will be conducted from August 26 to 28, 2022 in an online mode. The will be conducted in two shifts  the morning shift, which will begin at 7:30 am, and the afternoon shift will be held from 12:30 pm.

Here's a step by side guide to download AFCAT admit cards:

Step 1: Visit the official website of AFCAT 2022 at afcat.cdac.in Step 2: Click on the drop-down arrow button beside the Candidate Login menu. Step 3: Select AFCAT 01/2022  CYCLE. Step 4: Enter email ID, password, displayed text and then click on the Login button. Step 5: Scroll down the page and click on the Download Admit Card link Step 6: The will be displayed. Download and take a printout.

The examination will be held to fill 271 different air force posts, out of which 246 are for males and 25 is reserved for female candidates. The last date to apply for the recruitment was June 30.
made gained in July, but new dematerialised (demat) accounts did not see much growth.

About 1.8 million new accounts--needed for holding shares in an electronic format--were opened with two depositories, CDSL and NSDL, to take the total to 98.33 million. The number was slightly more than 1.77 million in June, but nearly 30 per cent lower than the average 2.7 million new accounts opened during the first half of calendar 2022.

The Nifty 50 index rallied 8.7 per cent in July, snapping three straight months of losses. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) who were net sellers since October turned buyers in July.

New demat account openings hit a high in October 2021, when the Sensex and the Nifty gained too. Since then the market trend has largely been downwards amid headwinds such as monetary tightening, the Russia-Ukraine war, rising commodity prices and fears of recession.

Trading volumes have slowed down as well. The average daily turnover for the cash segmentdominated by retail investors--was Rs 46,602 crore in July. The amount was up 4.5 per cent month-on-month (MoM), but 26 per cent lower than the 12-month average.

A moribund initial public offering (IPO) market is weighing on new account openings. There has not been a single offering since after May.

" have been magnets of sorts that attract new investors to the market. The recent not performing has affected sentiment. The sentiment towards the IPO market will only revive after a few issues do really well, Nitin Kamath, founder and chief executive officer of Zerodha.

E Prasanth Prabhakaran, managing director and CEO of Yes Securities, said the euphoria around for Life Insurance Corporations IPO contributed to new account openings last year.

"There was a slowdown in primary and secondary in the last few months. The IPO pipeline is large, but unless there is market stability, these won't come for a launch."

Total were expected to cross 100 million in July. However, given the drop in pace, the milestone is expected to be hit sometime this month. Last week, CDSL announced it had crossed 70 million . Drying of the IPO market and trading volumes has made brokerages scale back their promotional activities.

"Some of the new age brokerages have slowed down on their advertising and cut the incentives they gave for opening new accounts," said Kamath.

Brokers said retail investors are by nature bullish, and market volatility is discouraging investors. New and trading volumes are likely to remain stagnant till the rise consistently. Hence, the sharp rebound seen in the market from June lows is once again proving to be a bright spot for brokerages.

"The reaction to gain in markets is not immediate. In the last two weeks, the new Demat accounts openings is 20 per cent more than during the same time last month, said Kamath.

However, for the demat account opening tally to top last years mark will require the market to do consistently well.

"Unless volatility subsides, and there is a one-sided bull market, you won't see the kind of account openings we saw last year, said Prabhakaran.
Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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Bharti Airtel: The telecom major's consolidated net profit surged to Rs 1,606.9 crore in Q1 FY23 compared with net profit of Rs 283.5 crore in Q1 FY22. Revenue from operations jumped 22.16% to Rs 32,804.6 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 26,853.6 crore posted in the corresponding quarter previous year. The company said that that rise in revenue was backed by strong and consistent performance delivery across the portfolio.

Power Grid Corporation of India: On consolidated basis, Power Grid Corporation of India's net profit tumbled 36.6% to Rs 3,801.19 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 5,998.28 crore recorded in Q1 FY22. Consolidated revenue from operation stood at Rs 10,905.21 crore in Q1 FY23, rising 6.7% from Rs 10,218.58 crore posted in the corresponding quarter previous year.

HDFC: The housing finance major has hiked its Retail Prime Lending Rate (RPLR) on housing loans by 25 basis points, with effect from 9 August 2022.

JSW Steel: The steel major's standalone crude steel production in July 2022 stood at 15.69 lakh tonnes, registering a growth of 14% YoY. JSW Steel recorded crude steel production of 13.82 lakh tonnes in July 2021.

Tech Mahindra: The company has signed an agreement to acquire 49% equity shares in Tech Mahindra South Africa (Pty) Limited and 4% equity shares in Tech Mahindra Holdco Pty Ltd.

National Aluminium Company: National Aluminium Company reported 60.6% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 557.91 crore on a 52.9% increase in net sales to Rs 3783.32 crore in Q1 FY23 over Q1 FY22.

Torrent Power: On a consolidated basis, Torrent Power's net profit jumped 143% to Rs 502.11 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 206.59 crore posted in Q1 FY22. Revenue from operations surged 110.1% to Rs 6,510.31 crore in Q1 FY23 from Rs 3,098.91 crore posted in Q1 FY22.

Delhivery: Delhivery reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 399 crore in Q1 FY23 as against a net loss of Rs 130 crore recorded in Q1 FY22. The firm's total income rose to Rs 1,795 crore in Q1FY23 as compared to Rs 1,364 crore in Q1FY22.

Trident: On consolidated basis, Trident's net profit dropped 37.45% to Rs 129.35 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 206.81 crore recorded in Q1 FY22. Revenue from operations jumped 13.32% to Rs 1,679.9 crore in the quarter ended June 2022 from Rs 1,482.38 crore reported in the corresponding quarter previous year.

VST Tillers Tractors: VST Tillers Tractors' net profit declined 58.1% to Rs 10.05 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 24.01 crore posted in Q1 FY22. The company said that the net profit was impacted due to mark to market of investments. Net sales rose 21.9% year on year to Rs 235.98 crore in the quarter ended 30 June 2022.

Whirlpool of India: Whirlpool of India reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 84.58 crore in Q1 FY23, steeply higher than Rs 25.51 crore reported in Q1 FY22. Total revenue from operation climbed 55.2% to Rs 2,081 crore in Q1 FY23 as against Rs 1,340.61 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter previous year.

MRF: The tyre maker's consolidated net profit slipped 29% to Rs 119.46 crore despite of a 36.14% rise in net sales to Rs 5,695.93 crore in Q1 FY23 over Q1 FY22.

Narayana Hrudayalaya: Narayana Hrudayalaya recorded 45.1% growth in consolidated net profit to Rs 110.6 crore on a 20.2% increase in total operating income to Rs 1,033.4 crore in Q1 FY23 over Q1 FY22.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) vide its order dated 6 August 2022 has advised Chennai Petroleum Corporation to restrict the production to 75% of its regular production.

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JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar will be sworn-in as chief minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar today, 10 August 2022.

The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Raj Bhavan in Patna.

Governor Phagu Chauhan will administer oath to Nitish Kumar at 14:00 IST.

Nitish ended his alliance with the BJP on Tuesday (9 August 2022), resigned as the coalition chief minister, only to stake claim again hours later with Tejashwi as his deputy. This time Nitish Kumar will take oath as chief minister of Bihar for the eighth time while Tejaswi Yadav as Deputy Chief Minister for the second time.

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Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Piyush Goyal said that the world now sees India as an engine of economic growth. He was addressing the gathering at the VyapariUdyamiSammelan in New Delhi today. Stressing that India enjoyed the confidence of the world today, Shri Goyal said that developed countries very keen to sign trade deals with India now. Stressing upon the need for transparency and ease of doing business, the Minister assured traders and entrepreneurs that the Government will fully support traders who raise their voice against harassment by any authority. He called upon traders to work with the Government to reduce compliance burden of people and businesses, but asked that they strictly follow ethical trade practices. Unnecessary, cumbersome and counter-productive laws and regulations must be uprooted to improve ease of doing business, he added.

He asked traders to give priority to the quality of goods and services that India offered. He also underscored the need to encourage youngsters to come forward and lend a youthful energy to India's growth story with new ideas. The clarion call of 'vocal for local' given by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi must be taken up by the youth of the nation, the Minister said. He added that we must also encourage more and more women to become traders and entrepreneurs. The Minister also emphasized that traders and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) should benefit from demand of goods by beneficiaries of the Prime Minister's welfare schemes. He asked all traders, entrepreneurs, and businesses, both big and small, to take a collective resolve to work together to take forward the dream of a self-reliant India by promoting more and more Indian products.

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Theres an episode in that timeless American sitcom Friends in which Rachel, the ambitious fashion executive, decides to take up smoking. This momentous (and short-lived) life-choice is dictated by the habits of her boss and a colleague. Every day, both would head for the designated smoking area to hang out over a cigarette or two. Rachel, a committed non-smoker, finds herself excluded from this variant of the water cooler confab and decides to join the gals, as it were, by lighting up. Career-wise at least, it proves an eye-opening decision after she discovers during one of these sessions that her co-workers had been planning an overseas junket without her.

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital Editor
The on Wednesday granted bail to 82-year-old poet and activist P Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, on medical grounds.

The Investigation Agency (NIA) vehemently opposed Rao's plea in the apex court claiming that he is involved in "serious anti- activities".

The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city.

The Pune Police had also claimed that the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The NIA later took over the probe in the matter.

Rao was arrested on August 28, 2018, from his Hyderabad residence and is accused in the case for which an FIR was lodged by the Pune Police on January 8, 2018, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

While granting him bail, a bench headed by Justice U U Lalit noted that the medical condition of Rao, who is presently out on interim bail on medical grounds, has not improved to such an extent over a period that the facility of bail granted earlier to him be withdrawn.

The bench also observed that Rao is 82-year-old and has spent around two-and-a-half-year in custody.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, appearing for the NIA, argued before the bench that Rao is not an "ordinary criminal" and in certain cases, age cannot be a factor if the offences are serious and affect the nation.

The bench, also comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, noted that though the charge sheet in the case has been filed, some of the accused has not been apprehended yet and the matter has not been taken up for framing of charges against the accused who are before the court.

It observed that various applications preferred by the accused seeking discharge are still pending consideration.

"The medical condition of the appellant (Rao) has not improved to such an extent over a period of time that the facility of bail which was granted earlier be withdrawn," the bench said.

"Considering the totality of circumstances, in our view, the appellant is entitled to the relief of bail on medical grounds," it said.

The bench deleted the condition which was imposed in the February 22 last year order of the Bombay High Court which had limited the period of bail granted to Rao on the medical condition to six months.

Rao, who is a Telugu poet, had challenged the Bombay High Court's April 13 this year order rejecting his plea for permanent bail on medical grounds.

While granting bail to Rao, the apex court said he shall not leave the area of Greater Mumbai without express permission from the trial court.

"The appellant shall not in any way misuse his liberty, nor shall he get in touch with any of the witnesses or try to influence the course of the investigation," it said.

The bench said Rao shall be entitled to have the medical attention of his choice but shall keep the authorities in touch with any such developments, including the medical attention received by him.

The bench made it clear that the benefit of bail is extended to Rao only on his medical condition and any observations made in the order shall not be taken to be a reflection on merits or rival contentions advanced by the parties.

During the arguments, senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for Rao, referred to his medical condition and said that even charges have not been framed in the case.

Grover said Rao has been diagnosed with early Parkinson and the trial has not even commenced in the case.

He said how long should Rao be kept in jail and asked whether the prosecution wanted Rao to die like Stan Swamy, who passed away even before the trial could start.

The ASG argued that Rao's condition is stable now.

"The nature of activities this gentleman is doing is very serious and is very harmful for the nation," he said.

The bench asked the ASG when the case was handed over to the NIA.

When Raju said NIA took over the investigation in February 2020, the bench asked, "Why so much of a delay?".

The bench observed that the moment there is a charge under UAPA, the state is obliged to report to the Central government.

The bench observed that it has to take a holistic view of the matter.

"At the age of 82, he has certain issues. There are persons who are in the pink of their health even at the age of 82 or 90. Good luck to them. But normally persons are not, at this age," the bench observed.

It told the ASG that initially, the high court had granted bail to Rao for six months and it is not at all the case of the agency that he has misused the liberty.

Raju, who referred to section 43D (5) of the UAPA during the arguments, said age in certain cases cannot be a factor if the offence is serious.

"It is a very serious offence where they want to overthrow a democratically elected government of this country by arms," he said.

"He is not an ordinary criminal. He is a criminal who is involved in serious anti- activities and if he is out, it would cause serious prejudice," the ASG said.

He also referred to certain letters, which were part of the record, and said there was a deep-rooted conspiracy and the security forces have been ambushed in the past.

In his plea, Rao submitted that "any further incarceration would ring the death knell for him as advancing age and deteriorating health are a fatal combination".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The and on Tuesday rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that the will form the next government in .

During a visit to the state on Monday, the senior leader expressed confidence that the party will form government at the Centre and in after the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections respectively, which are due in 2024.

Before the 2019 Assembly polls, the saffron party had claimed that it would win more than 120 seats in the 147-member House. However, it finally bagged 23 seats. The and the Congress, on the other hand, secured 112 and nine seats respectively.

After Shah's claim, and leaders sought to remind him of his party's 120 plus mission in the previous Assembly election.

It is nothing but daydreaming. No party including the can come to power in as long as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik remains BJD president, said Sudam Marndi, senior leader of the state's ruling party.

Everybody knows what was the outcome of the BJP's 120 plus mission in Odisha, he said.

Odisha Pradesh Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattnayak claimed that the BJP will fare worse this time than its 2019 election performance due to the Centre's alleged anti-people policies.

The BJP has been speaking about the 120 plus mission. They should first make it clear whether the BJP alone will get 120 Assembly seats or the BJD and BJP together will achieve this number, Pattnayak said.

He asserted that the BJD and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. The BJD supports all policies of the BJP but pretends to be fighting with the saffron party, the Congress leader said.

The BJD had snapped its 11-year-old alliance with the BJP in 2009.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister on Wednesday launched a fresh broadside against Congress, terming its "black cloth" protest against price rise as 'black magic' that will not be able to win them the confidence of people again.

After dedicating to the nation the Rs 900 crore-second generation ethanol plant at Panipat, Modi also said that freebies are a spoke in India's effort to become self-reliant and also a burden on taxpayers.

Without naming Congress, he said some people out of frustration resorted to black magic on August 5.

"On August 5, we saw how some people tried to spread 'black magic'. These people think that by wearing black clothes they can end their despondency. But they do not know that by engaging in witchcraft, black magic and superstition, they cannot earn the trust of people again," Modi said.

The protested against price rise by wearing black clothes in Parliament and outside as part of a nationwide protest on August 5.

"Some people think wearing black cloths can ward off their pessimism and negativity but they don't know that they can resort to any such tactics but can't win back people's confidence," he said.

In an apparent reference to the Congress, Modi also said that "black magic cannot end your bad days".

The prime minister also attacked certain opposition parties for engaging in of freebies, saying such things would only do a disservice to the nation as it hampers investment in new technology.

He said that if there is selfishness in politics, then anybody can even promise free petrol and diesel.

"Such steps will amount to depriving our children of their due and prevent the country from becoming self sufficient. Such selfish policies will put more burden on honest tax payers of the country," Modi said Those who promise freebies will never will able to find resources for investment in new technologies, he said. "This is not a right policy but misleading one; this is not in interest but it is against the nation; this is not nation building but an effort to push back the country".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After taking the oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the eighth time, called for first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

In the meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, passed a proposal to call a special session of the Assembly on August 24 - for him to prove his majority - and the Legislative Council on August 25.

Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan has been intimated of the proposal and his approval is awaited.

Leaders of the Mahagathbandhan also brought in a no-confidence motion against Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha, of the BJP. Since he just has support of just 77 MLAs of his own party, it is most likely that he would resign from the post before motion.

RJD's Awadh Bihari Chaudhary is the front runner for the post.

On August 25, the Legislative Council will elect a new Chairman as well.

--IANS

ajk/vd

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Referring to the current political developments in the State and the Bharatiya Janata Party, the in a series of tweets took jibes at the government and said that the state appears set to see a third Chief Minister after Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Bengaluru last week.

The said that the Bommai government, which has not been able to conduct its first-anniversary "Janotsva", will soon see its end.

The said that it looks like Bommai is counting the hours to leave the chair and asked Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, "Dear Bommai, the 'sword fight' for the CM has been started. What is the reason for the change of CM, is it your administrative failure, a fight between leaders, or is it B.S. Yediyurappa's anger?"

These comments from Congress came a day after former MLA B. Suresh Gowda claimed that the party's top leadership was considering replacing Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. He had said, "The Chief Minister might get replaced before Independence Day. There have been talks in the party."

The Opposition Congress, taking a dig at Bommai, tweeted, "40% government is likely to see a third Chief Minister." In another tweet, the party said that "the puppet CM Bommai is on his way out."

The Congress also lashed out at the government for various scams such as recruitment of PSI, drug peddling, fake currency, and bitcoin and alleged that the Bommai government supported these scams.

"When the State is suffering, it is power-play for the . Instead of providing relief to the people suffering from floods at a war footing, the BJP in is looking at installing its third Chief Minister. Whenever the State is in distress, the BJP begins its power game," Congress tweeted.

Meanwhile, hitting back at the Congress, Health Minister K Sudhakar said that the grand old party was dreaming about CM-change.

"The BJP government is safe and stable under the efficient leadership of Mr. Bommai," Dr. Sudhakar remarked.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The is likely to get four ministerial berths in the new government in as JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP and joined hands with the RJD and its allies, sources have indicated.

Kumar will be administered the oath of office Wednesday.

They said Kumar spoke to both president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi soon after resigning as chief minister. He is also learnt to have thanked the leadership for extending support to the new government.

Besides the four ministerial berths, the Congress has also sought the post of Speaker of the state assembly, but Kumar is not keen on awarding that, the sources said.

The Congress has 19 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly while the JD(U) has 43, RJD 79, CPI(ML) 12, and CPI and CPI(M) each have two legislators. The BJP has 77 MLAs in while the Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) has four. The House has one Independent MLA while one seat is vacant.

Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha and the party's in-charge of Bihar affairs Bhakta Charan Das were present at the meeting of Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav and leaders of other parties.

All 19 legislators of the Congress later attended a dinner meeting at the residence of the Congress Legislature Party leader in Patna.

Top Congress leadership in Delhi, however, was silent on the developments in Bihar and talks over the new government formation.

Earlier, the Congress said it will be a part of the non-BJP alliance in Bihar to help strengthen secular forces.

The party said that like in Maharashtra where it helped stitch together the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government by supporting the Shiv Sena which was ideologically opposite, it will align with Kumar who has been with them in the past.

"Ours is an ideological battle and we are not fighting for power. The Congress will support any non-BJP government and help strengthen secular forces," Congress general secretary Tariq Anwar earlier told PTI.

"Because Nitish Kumar is leaving the BJP and coming over, we will support him," he said, adding the Congress will take whatever steps that are needed to strengthen secular forces and defeat the communal forces.

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, tweeted, "In March 2020, Modi sarkar postponed COVID-19 lockdown to engineer the fall of the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh. Now, it cuts short Parliament session knowing its coalition government in Bihar is going. What goes up must come down!"



A meeting of the RJD-led Grand Alliance, comprising the Left and the Congress, also took place at Rabri Devi's house, where all the MLAs are said to have signed a letter to support Kumar.

Nitish Kumar is understood to have told JD(U) legislators and MPs, at a meeting he convened at his official residence, that he had been driven against the wall by the BJP which tried to weaken his party, first by propping up Chirag Paswan's rebellion and later through its former president RCP Singh.

Relations between the BJP and the JD(U) had been worsening in the wake of disagreements over a host of issues including caste census, population control and the 'Agnipath' defence recruitment scheme.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aam Aadmi Party convener will visit on Wednesday and announce another "guarantee" to people of the state where elections are due later this year, a senior leader said.

The Delhi chief minister will hold a town hall meet in Ahmedabad during his day-long visit, AAP's joint general secretary Isudan Gadhvi told reporters on Tuesday.

The new 'guarantee' will be for the benefit of "2.5 crore people" of to be announced ahead of Rakshabandhan (to be celebrated on Thursday), Gadhvi said but did not elaborate further.

Kejriwal was in over the last weekend and has been frequently touring various districts as part of a strategy to position his party as a contender for power in the state where the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have been the dominant political forces.

"People are very much enthusiastic about the guarantee of free electricity announced by Kejriwal (during earlier visit). Even BJP workers are excited about this and are asking why the BJP government did not provide them (people of Gujarat) such a relief," Gadhvi said.

He claimed the BJP has become scared of such guarantees and therefore moved the Supreme Court against relief measures, referring to a petition filed in the SC on pre-poll announcements by political parties.

The chief had visited Jamnagar and Bodeli in Chhota Udepur during his two-day tour last Saturday and Sunday.

Kejriwal on Sunday announced guarantees for the tribals of Gujarat, which included implementation of the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act that gives special powers to gram sabhas (village councils) especially in management of natural resources.

He has also guaranteed jobs to the unemployed youth and Rs 3,000 per month allowance until they get a job.

The Delhi CM has promised to involve the trading community in the decision-making process of the government and end 'raid raj.'



In an announcement made in Surat last month, Kejriwal said his party will provide free electricity up to 300 units per month to the people of Gujarat if voted to power in the state.

This sop is already being provided to the people of Delhi and Punjab, both ruled by the .

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister on Wednesday wrote to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and demanded a CBI probe into the alleged toll tax scam of Rs 6,000 crore in the .

The development comes a day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) levelled allegations against the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that it collided with two toll tax companies and caused huge loss to the public exchequer.

I have written to the LG demanding a CBI probe into the toll tax scam of Rs 6,000 crore in Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The money collected from commercial vehicles coming to Delhi everyday was embezzled in connivance, Sisodia said in a tweet.

The AAP's in-charge and MLA, Durgesh Pathak had on Tuesday alleged that there was a large-scale scam in toll tax collection and that it was caused by BJP leaders who were then in power in the in connivance with two private firms.

He said every day 10 lakh commercial vehicles come to Delhi and tax was collected from those vehicles but it allegedly did not reach the MCD.

The MCD had termed the allegations as baseless and without facts.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
with 45 legislators in the 243-member Assembly took oath as the chief minister (CM) for an eighth time after dumping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and tying up with the Grand Alliance. His first remark to reporters was: Will those who came to power in 2014, be victorious in 2024? I would like all (Opposition) to be united for 2024, leaving no one in any doubt that the Opposition now had another aspirant for Indias top job. For his part however, the new CM said: I am not a contender for any such post (PM post).

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav was the only other appointment on Wednesday, sworn in as deputy CM, a position he had held earlier. The full complement of the portfolios he will hold is yet to be announced. The two men held a cabinet meeting later in the day. A visibly exultant Rabri Devi, Tejashwis mother, told reporters at the swearing in: It is because of you people that he (Tejashwi) has got this job, adding the the past is forgotten and forgiven. Hot words and slights were exchanged between Nitish and the younger Yadav in 2017 when the alliance between the and Nitish forged in 2015 crumbled. Nitish had sought the as an ally, charging that he could no longer tolerate the company of a corrupt person.

The boot was now on the other foot. No MLA was present at the swearing in, and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi said the was not invited. Modi also had dire predictions for the longevity of the government of the allies: "De facto CM is Tejashwi, Nitish is just the titular head of the government. They (RJD) have a strength of 80, and you (JDU) have 45-46. Everyone knows how Lalu Yadav works. Nitish will be CM for the show and the real CM will be Tejashwi," he told Business Standard. Modis argument was made possibly for the benefit of social and class groups that view the and OBCs as a threat to social stability.

He said the present government was a fraud on voters. In 2020, we got votes in the name of Narendra Modi. When it seemed enthusiasm for the alliance was flagging, Narendra Modi addressed 3 to 4 rallies in a day. The 2020 mandate was for Narendra Modi."

The prime minister himself interestingly hit out at a soft target, avoiding comment on a partner and ally who had just walked out of the BJP-led NDA. While inaugurating the Indian Oil 2G ethanol refinery in Panipat via videoconferencing, Narendra Modi took a jibe at the Congress. There are those in our country who are flailing in a pool of negative thinking. They are bitter in their disappointment. The people at large are not ready to believe their calumny. And things have come to such a pass that they now want to do black magic, wearing black clothes. I want to tell them that no matter how much superstition and black magic they try to do, the people of this country will not believe them.
on Wednesday was sworn in as Bihar's chief minister a day after quitting  ostensibly over a row with coalition partner BJP  and will now govern in alliance with his former rivals in RJD and Congress.

His deputy and RJD's leader was the only other minister sworn in by Governor Phagu Chauhan, in a no-frills ceremony at Raj Bhavan here as lists of ministers to be nominated by parties in the coalition and their berths were yet to be finalised.

Kumar who heads the JD(U) took oath for a record eighth time, as head of the Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) which it had dumped in 2015, to join hands with the BJP.

The change effected by the wily leader, has in the eyes of many analysts potentially pitted him against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

However, soon after the swearing in ceremony, Kumar while dismissing rumours that he may now eye the Prime Ministerial race in the next general election, asserted the Modi-led NDA government at the Centre does need to "worry" about its prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

They should remember 2014 (when BJP stormed to power at the centre) is past. They need to worry (chinta karni chahiye') about 2024, Kumar said.

Leaders of the BJP, which is the second largest party in the assembly with 77 MLAs, were conspicuous by their absence at the swearing-in ceremony.

We received no invitation. We would have, in any case, not liked to witness formation of a government which has been installed after betraying the people of Bihar, who voted for the NDA in the last assembly polls, BJP leader Sushil Modi told a press conference, adding that it was an insult to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who stuck to his promise of backing Kumar for another term, despite the JD(U)'s poor performance. The BJP leader who had been deputy chief minister to Kumar, also claimed that as the leader of the numerically bigger party will try to act as the de facto CM.

He also alleged that Chief Minister wanted to become the vice president and had parted ways with BJP after the party failed to accommodate his ambitions.

Modi maintained his former boss, Kumar, has a habit of ditching allies and that he would not be loyal to the RJD as well, and try to break that party taking advantage of Lalu Prasad's ill-health. Kumar however rubbished BJP's claim that the new government will not last its full term, and said his former ally "will be back where they were after the 2015 assembly polls" when the NDA could get less than 50 seats in the 243-strong assembly.

He however said BJP should have let its senior leader Sushil Kumar Modi occupy the top post after the 2020 Assembly polls instead of insisting that he run for another term in office. "He has been a dear friend. Why was he not made the CM? Had he been appointed to the post, things would not have reached this stage," he told reporters in reply to questions about Modi Kumar has given in a list of 164 MLAs who support him to the Governor including his party JD(U)'s 46 MLAs (45 party MLAs and 1 Independent), RJD's 79 legislators and Congress's 19. The CPI(ML) which has 12 MLAs, CPI  2 and CPI(M) are giving him support. The HAM party which 4 MLAs has also thrown in its lot with Kumar.

The CPIML (L) Wednesday said it is seeking a common minimum programme from the new government while promising outside support to it.

We are proposing that a common minimum programme of the new government be created, Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the CPIML (L) said at a press conference held Later in the day, JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, asserted that his party was not scared of ED and CBI being used against it by the BJP-led central government. The Centre has often been accused by the opposition of misusing investigating agencies to target political rivals.

The Congress exulted at the turn of events in after having seen a government in Maharashtra where it was part being pulled down by defections.

Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh, in a tweet, said that was no operation lotus'.

No cash caught. No ED raids. No Assam CM. No resort travel. All done in characteristic Bihar style, civilised & low-cost. CM gets support of largest party and others. In Maharashtra, BJP engineered defections. In Bihar, BJP was rejected and ejected, he wrote on the social media.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NCP chief on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of finishing off its regional allies gradually, and supported Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's decision to snap ties with the .

Speaking to reporters in Baramati town of Maharashtra's Pune district, Pawar claimed the was planning how to weaken the Shiv Sena and create a division in the party.

Pawar's party was a constituent of the previous Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government, which collapsed in June this year following a revolt by Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators.

had on Tuesday pulled the plug on his party JD(U)'s alliance with the and resigned, and followed it up by staking claim to form a new government in Bihar with support of the opposition Grand Alliance.

Notably, BJP president J P Nadda recently said in the times to come only an ideology-driven party like the BJP will survive, while others ruled by families will perish.

Pawar on Wednesday claimed that "the BJP president in his address said regional parties do not have a future and they will not exist. He said it is only their party which will exist in the country."



"From this statement, one thing is clear, which was also the complaint of Nitish Kumar, that the BJP finishes off its allies gradually," the NCP president said.

Citing an example, Pawar said a party like the Akali Dal was with them (BJP). "Its leader Prakash Singh Badal was with them, but today the party is nearly finished in Punjab," he said.

In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena and BJP were together for several years, he pointed out.

"Today, the BJP is planning how the Shiv Sena can be weakened by creating a division in the party, and (present Maharashtra CM) Eknath Shinde and others helped," he added.

In doing this, the Shiv Sena was attacked by the party which was once its ally, he said.

A similar picture was being seen in Bihar. Nitish Kumar, of the JD(U), and the BJP contested the last Assembly elections together, he said.

"One more speciality of the BJP is that it joins hands with a regional party at the time of elections, but ensures the ally wins fewer seats. It happened in Maharashtra also," Pawar claimed.

When a similar picture was being witnessed in Bihar, the CM of the state got cautious well in advance and took the decision to snap ties with the BJP, he said.

"No matter how much BJP leaders criticise Nitish Kumar, but he has taken a wise step. He took the decision anticipating the crisis the BJP was planning to bring on. I think he took a wise decision for his state and party," Pawar said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A day after the cabinet expansion, the claimed administering ministerial oath to rebels MLAs, whose disqualification pleas are pending before the Supreme Court, amounted to murder of and the .

By finally taking the ministerial oath, the rebels have taken a dip in the Ganga river. But will they be able to wash the sin of betrayal?" an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' asked on Wednesday.

The expression on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's face while administering the oath to ministers was as if he was doing a divine work, it quipped.

The Marathi daily also slammed Chief Minister for bowing before Delhi seven times by going to the capital before the cabinet expansion.

The CM had made seven visits to New Delhi in the last one month, and with every visit there was talk of the ministry expansion.

Shinde on Tuesday expanded his two-member ministry 41 days after taking oath as the CM by inducting 18 ministers, nine each from his rebel group and the BJP.

When the plea of disqualification is pending before the Supreme Court, administering oath to the rebel MLAs amounts to murder of and the Constitution, the editorial said.

The sword of disqualification hangs over Shinde and 39 rebels, it said.

but will those who betrayed (Uddhav Thackeray) and switched sides ever be satisfied? The blot of treachery will never be washed off, the Marathi publication said.

It asked why the cabinet expansion, delayed for so long, was done when the judgement day for the rebel MLAs is scheduled on August 12, a reference to pleas seeking their disqualification being heard by the .

Why were the rebel MLAs administered oath as ministers? it sought to know.

This means they don't have any fear of the judiciary. This shows their confidence that everything will happen according to their will, it said.

The editorial also slammed the BJP for the induction of Sanjay Rathod as minister.

Last year, the BJP had launched an offensive against Rathod, who was then a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government, after his name was linked to a woman's suicide.

Rathod was then forced to resign as minister.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday said he will examine if there was any emergency for re-promulgating several LDF government ordinances which stand lapsed for want of his approval by August 8.

Khan, speaking to reporters in Delhi, said that since the ordinances have come back to him again without being placed or tabled in the legislative assembly after he had signed them in February, he will have to apply his mind and see whether any emergency exists.

"If without placing it in the House, if an ordinance comes to me for a second time, I will have to apply my mind. I will have to see whether any emergency exists. I have to apply my mind and exercise my fair judgement and then only I can sign," he said.

"I have to see whether any emergency exists which justifies re-promulgation. For that I need to study it in detail. I cannot do that when the ordinances are placed before me on the day I am leaving for Delhi," he added.

To queries that there were allegations he was playing politics, Khan responded that people are free to criticise him and he was not going to join issues with anyone.

"When exercising my functions, I shall not be guided by anybody. I shall be guided only by my own judgement and conscience," he said.

He further said that he was being asked to sign and re-promulgate ordinances when an assembly session was held after he last signed them.

Khan, who is expected to arrive in Kerala later in the day, said the power to issue ordinances is to be used only when assembly is not in session, "it is not an absolute power".

"Once I sign an ordinance, it has to be tabled before the House. Now after signing the ordinance, six months later I am being asked to re-promulgate it. In between, the session of assembly has already been held. Immediacy means there is no session being held," he explained.

On Tuesday, the ruling LDF in Kerala said it was not going to adopt a confrontational or adversarial approach in connection with several of the state government's ordinances getting lapsed, at the end of the day on August 8, as the governor had not signed them owing to paucity of time to peruse them.

Among the ordinances that expired on August 8, the Kerala Lokayukta (Amendment) Ordinance was one which says the Governor, Chief Minister or the State government would be the competent authority and he or it may either accept or reject the declaration by the Lokayukta, after giving an opportunity of being heard.

The Congress-led UDF opposition was against the ordinance and had in February urged the Governor not to sign it.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samsung plans to start selling its premium Galaxy Z Fold 4 smartphone from September in India and it will be the most expensive handset from the company's stable in the country, according to company sources.

While the global launch price of USD 1,799 (around Rs 1.42 lakh) for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is the same as its previous version, Indian consumers would have to shell out more due to depreciation in the rupee and higher taxes.

Samsung Galaxy Fold 3 was launched in India in the price range of Rs 1.49- Rs 1.57 lakh apiece and Flip 3 in the price range of Rs 84,999- Rs 88,999 apiece but the new versions of the devices are expected to be priced higher.

"All the devices including Fold 4 will be available in India from early September. Fold4 is the most premium device that Samsung has launched till date. Indian consumers may have to pay a little more for the Fold4 because of depreciation in the value of rupee against US dollar," a company source told PTI.

The company unveiled a range of premium devices including Galaxy Z Flip 4 at a global price of around Rs 80,000 apiece, earbuds Galaxy Buds2 Pro for over Rs 18,000 apiece, smartwatch Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro at global price starting around Rs 22,000 and Rs 35,500 apiece respectively.

According to Counterpoint Research, Samsung captured 81 per cent market share in the Rs 1 lakh and above smartphone category in March 2022. Samsung's ultra-premium device Galaxy S22 Ultra accounted for around 74 per cent of the volume.

The company had launched the Galaxy S22 Ultra series in India in the price range of Rs 72,999 - Rs 1,18,999 apiece.

The company in the Buds2 Pro has introduced 24-bit sound which it claims will provide 256 times more details of the sound that people can hear compared to 16-bit sound devices that have been available in the market.

Samsung said that the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro will come with temperature sensors and higher accuracy on health parameters like blood pressure monitoring, ECG, heart rate, blood oxygen level, sleep monitoring etc compared to previous versions of the smartwatch.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid rising concerns over privacy and protection of user data, Meta-owned WhatsApp announced a slew of security features on Tuesday. Taking to Twitter, the messaging platform stated, " announces three new privacy features, to kick off a new WhatsApp privacy campaign! "

According to a media report, informed the users about three new features:



Exiting group chats without informing everyone.

Controlling who can see when you are online.

Preventing screenshots on messages that have been viewed just once.



Along with this, users will now be able to delete their messages even after two days of sending them.

According to Mark Zuckerberg's statement, "The new features "provide users more privacy, protection, and control." He added, "We'll keep building new ways to protect your messages and keep them as private and secure as face-to-face conversations".

The new privacy features of WhatsApp are expected to roll out this month onwards, said Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta CEO. The messaging platform is also kickstarting a campaign to educate individuals about the new privacy features. According to WhatsApp, "a privacy study found that most users prefer to stay hidden online. "72% of people said they value being able to speak in an honest, unfiltered way  but more than 47% are only comfortable doing this in a safe, private space."

Ami Vora, head of products at WhatsApp, said, "At WhatsApp, we're focused on building product features that empower people to have more control and privacy over their messages." He further added that the new global campaign to educate the people about its new privacy features would be kickstarted in the UK and India. In the campaign, the participants will also be made aware of how WhatsApp works to protect users' private conversations.

(With inputs from agencies)
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], August 10 (ANI/NewsVoir): Krisumi Corporation, India's first Indo-Japanese real estate joint-venture collaborated as a brand partner with IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Awards 2022, the grandest celebration of Indian cinema held at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Bollywood's superstars, electrifying performances, glittering regalia and indelible moments took this year's celebration to an unforgettable level!

The sponsorship has positioned Krisumi in front of IIFA's upscale fans online across GCC nations, Europe, Asia and America. Premiered recently on Indian televisions, the awards were held after the two-year hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Commenting upon the partnership Mohit Jain, Managing Director, Krisumi Corporation, said "Attending an event of such gargantuan magnitude with glitz and glamour was surreal. IIFA is truly India's most celebrated Bollywood night and over the years has offered the greatest unforgettable experiences for fans around the world. The star-studded gala event was splendid and we are beyond honoured & thrilled to be associated. This platform will help us in engaging with our clientele across the globe and shaping the global identity of our brand."

"Krisumi will continue to explore opportunities for strengthening its global brand imprint. We intend to connect with Indian diaspora abroad and effectively use premium lifestyle to become an integral part of the community," added Ashok Kapur, Chairman, Krisumi Corporation. He continued, "We have registered a sale of Rs. 847 crores in our maiden project Waterfall Residences, making us the most preferred residential address in NCR. This is truly a testimony to our product's strength and demonstrates the consumers' trust in us."

Ashok Kapur, Chairman, Krisumi Corporation and Mohit Jain, Managing Director, Krisumi Corporation were elated to meet the Chief Guest of this year's IIFA, His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Head of the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Social Development.

Krisumi is a joint venture between India's Krishna Group, an automotive behemoth, and Sumitomo Corporation, a Japanese conglomerate. Krisumi Waterfall Residences, Krisumi Corporation's flagship residential project, exemplifies the convergence of Japanese art and architecture with Indian aesthetics and is a popular choice among expatriates.

The magnificent Waterfall Residences have been designed in the Japanese style of art and architecture to provide long-term value to residents and are quickly becoming a popular choice among HNIs, UNIs, and NRIs. The Japanese landscape aesthetic and philosophical concept is to emphasise natural elements while avoiding artificial ornamentation.

An enterprising collaboration between Sumitomo Corporation, Japan and Krishna Group, India, Krisumi is a convergence of Kriya, meaning creation in Sanskrit, and Sumi, the Japanese word for fine living.

Our endeavour is to conceptualize, design and build homes which are characterized by the highest standards of Japanese craftsmanship, in sizes that complement today's ever-evolving way of life. By unifying Japanese design aesthetics with the warmth of Indian hospitality, we at Krisumi are giving shape to architectural masterpieces that are spectacular in form, and highly practical in function. Driven by a 400-year legacy of excellence and trust, and a commitment to deploying cutting-edge design and technology, Krisumi is where Sophistication is Simplified.

This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As recently as 2015, Indian brands like Micromax, Lava, Karbonn and Intex adored the shelves of phone shops across the country, and used to sell like hot cakes. But then, the Chinese phones started pushing the less-fascinating Indian handsets off the shelves, slowly but steadily.



Cut to 2022. Local firms have been decimated. Indian brands combined have a market share of less than 1 per cent in overall smartphone shipments from all brands, including Americas Apple and South Koreas Samsung. Meanwhile, the top four Chinese brands have a 63 per cent share.

While in the sub-10,000-rupees segment, the market share of Indian brands is around 3-4 per cent, while that of Chinese brands is almost 90 per cent.

Now, while discussions on the strategy for reviving the domestic mobile device industry are on, theres a growing consensus within the government around the idea that the lower end of the market should be reserved only for domestic players. Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Realme, Oppo, Vivo, and Transsion might have to exit the segment of India's mobile market that is made up of handsets priced below Rs 10,000.

Such a move would be part of the plan to create Indian champions in the sector, which is a key objective of the production-linked incentive scheme. The strategy could be executed either through an enabling framework or negotiations. One option is to encourage foreign OEMs to push electronic manufacturing services in India and co-develop and co-design affordable phones with home-grown brands. So who will fill the void if Chinese firms are barred?

Prachir Vardhan Singh, Senior Research Analyst, Counterpoint Research of Samsung has a dedicated supply chain and manufacturing base. Jio is in a prime position to leverage this with JioPhone Next. Capacities of non-Chinese brands may not fill the gap in short-term.

Due to government policies, Chinese companies have localised their production, making India the second biggest mobile manufacturer after China. In fact, nearly all the phones sold in India are manufactured domestically. In March, in a big boost to the PLI scheme, Apples vendors committed to a minimum incremental production of 25,000 crore rupees of mobile devices in FY23. This threefold jump in commitment over FY22 has been made possible by the Indian entry of Apples third contract manufacturer, Pegatron.

Domestic firms Lava, Micromax, Padget Electronics and UTL Neolyncs also participated in the PLI scheme for making mobile devices. However, their Chinese counterparts, who are allegedly on a subsidy binge, have out-competed them. Analysts say that they have also been unable to become contract manufacturers for mobile firms. Thus, their production levels aren't enough to take the incentives on offer.



Prachir Vardhan Singh of Counterpoint Research cant deny Chinese brands and Samsungs contribution to components ecosystem. Growth in local value addition is a gradual process. The potential ban will not be an inflection point for that.

This development comes at a time when the government is looking into cases of alleged tax evasion by Oppo, Vivo India, and Xiaomi. Investigation agencies are also looking into alleged money laundering violations by Chinese mobile makers.

Brands that will be affected if the ban is implemented are Realme, Xiaomi, Vivo, Tecno, Itel, and Infinix. Whenever it is launched, JioPhone 5G, which will be reportedly priced between Rs 9,000 and Rs 12,000, could benefit from such a ban. Meanwhile, other brands, including Indian ones, will have an opportunity to increase their capacity. However, that might not be possible in the short term, which might lead to a supply shortage.
At this months meeting of the NITI Aayogs Governing Council -- chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- chief ministers of some non-BJP ruled states reiterated their demand to extend the GST compensation cess regime for another five years.

According to a working paper by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, Punjab, Goa and Chhattisgarh may face the most revenue stress once the compensation regime ends.

But the Centre remained non-committal. There was no word on it even after the previous GST council meeting in June, which had coincided with the completion of five years of the GST regime. As many as 16 states spoke on the compensation, with some pitching for extension at least a few years, if not for five years. The GST compensation mechanism was designed to make up for the loss of states revenue on account of the regimes implementation five years ago. The five-year compensation period ended in June this year.

The goods and services tax (GST) collections have remained upbeat for the past few months, staying above Rs 1.4 trillion for five straight months ending July. In fact, Julys collection was the second-highest since the rollout of the indirect tax regime. The strong GST collections could weaken the states demand to extend the compensation beyond June 2022.

Former Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adia in a recent interview with a business daily said that if the compensation is continued for too long, it will act as a disincentive in increasing collections and lead to laxity of state bureaucracy. The Centre also said it had already cleared arrears worth Rs 85,000 crore and will front-load the remaining ones so that states dont face any cash flow problem.

Even if the compensation were to be extended, there is the question of how it would be funded. Though the GST compensation cess will be levied till 2026, it will only be used to repay the GST compensation cess shortfall that arose in the last two years due to pandemic. The Centre had borrowed Rs 1.1 trillion in 2020-21 and 1.59 trillion in 2021-22 in loans from the market to provide compensation to states.

According to MS Mani, Partner, Deloitte, GST collections are robust in the past few months. States may be in genuine need to have more funds at their disposal. The need for more funds may not necessitate the extension for compensation period

On the other hand, some states argue that their finances have not recovered yet from the pandemic. States revenue receipts declined by 0.6% in FY21 and a similar decline was seen in FY20. An report has recently highlighted that states fiscal positions deteriorated sharply in 2020 and there are warning signs of building stress. States relied on compensation to achieve 23% of the guaranteed revenue in 2019-20 and 36% in 2020-21.

Then there is also the question of whether the GST regime has helped in incremental revenue for states. According to an India Ratings report, the states GST on an average grew by 6.7% during FY18-FY21, lower than the 9.8% growth recorded by the taxes subsumed under GST during FY14-FY17.

During FY19-FY22, Odisha was the only state having average SGST collection exceeding 14%, with a total of 17 major states recording average SGST growth of below 10%, the report noted. The compensation was promised based on the assumption that the state's GST growth rate will be 14% in the base year of 2015-16. So, does this warrant for a compensation extension?

NR Bhanumurthy, Vice-Chancellor, Dr BR Ambedkar School of Economics University, says increase in GST collections may be largely due to buoyancy. Cessation of compensation may dent states fiscal position. There is a need for central government to handhold states at least for few more quarters

Clearly, experts say there is no case for extension of compensation for another five-year period, but states need some support at least for a few more months. In return, state tax officers also need to be vigilant to check evasions and further improve GST realisations to move away from compensation support once and for all.
Chinese envoy urges advancing two-state solution to address Palestinian issue

Xinhua) 09:37, August 10, 2022

Zhang Jun (C), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, chairs an emergency opening meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 8, 2022. Zhang urged the international community to take substantive steps to advance the two-state solution to settle the Palestinian issue at an early date. Monday's emergency meeting was convened at the request of China, the United Arab Emirates, France, Ireland and Norway, according to the Chinese UN mission. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy to the United Nations on Monday urged the international community to take substantive steps to advance the two-state solution to settle the Palestinian issue at an early date.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, chaired an emergency opening meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, in his capacity as council president for the month of August.

Speaking in his national capacity, Zhang said all the efforts for the cease-fire agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad on Sunday are highly appreciated by China.

Monday's emergency meeting was convened at the request of China, the United Arab Emirates, France, Ireland and Norway, according to the Chinese UN mission.

The current situation on the ground remains very fragile. Undoubtedly, the Security Council is duty-bound to pay close attention to the situation and to prevent its further escalation, Zhang said.

"Reaching a cease-fire agreement is only the beginning. The key to a cease-fire and stopping violence lies in the implementation," he said.

Relevant diplomatic efforts should continue, so that calm can be restored in Gaza as soon as possible, he said.

The root causes for the upheavals in the Palestinian and Israeli situation are that the Middle East peace process has deviated from the right track. The foundation of the two-state solution has been eroded. The UN resolutions have not been implemented effectively, and the Palestinian people's right to independence and statehood has been repeatedly violated, he said.

The international community must take a long-term perspective, tackle the root causes of the problem, conduct diplomatic efforts with a sense of urgency, reverse the negative trends on the ground, revive the peace process as soon as possible, and take substantive steps to advance the two-state solution, so that the Palestinian people can fully enjoy their rights, and a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question can be achieved at an early date, he said.

"The council should carefully heed the voices of the Palestinian people, adopt effective measures against all disruptions, and bring hope and justice back to the people of Palestine," said Zhang.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Nickelodeon Animation has hired Montreal and Paris-based Mikros Animation (Paw Patrol: The Movie, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie) to lead the cg efforts on the recently-titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, set for theatrical release on August 4, 2023. Nick is also farming out a smaller chunk of the film to Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank studio Cinesite Vancouver.

Details:

In addition to Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Image Comics, Nickelodeon Movies, and Paramount Pictures, Mutant Mayhem is produced by Point Grey Pictures Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and James Weaver. The film is directed by Jeff Rowe (co-director, The Mitchells vs. The Machines) and co-directed by Kyler Spears (director, Amphibia).

The Ninja Turtles franchise is edgy, offbeat, and humorous, and the Mikros Animation team is ensuring we were doing justice to bringing the beloved turtles to big screens, says Adrianna Cohen, global head of production at Mikros Animation. The filmmakers vision was to introduce the characters through modern animation that maintains the fine balance between visually appealing and realistic. Focusing not just on craft, but also performance, its our job to develop the unique personalities of each of these iconic characters, whilst staying true to the 1990s nostalgia that the franchise holds.

Cinesites chief animation operating officer Brad Wald added, We couldnt be more excited about our partnership with Nickelodeon and their trust in us as a leading animation studio to re-boot the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Were looking forward to welcoming A-class talent from across Canada and beyond to join our growing crew in Vancouver!

Both Mikros and Cinesite Vancouver are actively hiring artists for the TMNT film. Here are the open positions at Mikros and the open positions at Cinesite.

Last week saw the release of the Ant Ward and Andy Suriano-directed Nickelodeon Turtles feature on Netflix, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie. The Turtles are owned by Nickelodeons parent company Paramount.

A wall mural was revealed in New York City as part of Mutant Mayhems official title unveiling, exactly one year ahead of the August 4, 2023 theatrical release date.
Laos, a south-east Asian nation is at a high risk of default as the country has taken huge loans from China to build its large-scale infrastructure projects, giving new momentum to the 'debt trap' diplomacy.

Laos is at high risk as it is deeply indebted to China for large-scale infrastructure projects, financial experts said.

And the international rating agency Moody's downgraded Laos' credit rating to Caa3 in mid -June, citing "a very high debt burden and insufficient coverage of external debt maturities by (foreign exchange) reserves." The agency warned that Laos' default risk will remain high, The Singapore Post reported.

According to the report published by the World Bank in April, preliminary estimates indicated that Laos' total public and publicly guaranteed debt reached 88 per cent of gross domestic product in 2021. The debt is valued at 14.5 billion US dollars, about half of which is owed to China on loans to fund projects including the China-Laos railway.

The 418-km Laos-China railway is a joint venture between Beijing Railway group and two other Chinese government-owned companies with a 70 per cent stake and a Laotian state company with 30 per cent.

According to the website, in December 2021 when the Chinese railway build was launched, foreign experts raised questions about the potential benefits to Laos beyond serving as a channel for Chinese trade and that too at a heavy cost.

It also pointed out that the Kunming-Vientiane railway is a link in a possible future network to connect China with Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar,

Malaysia and Singapore. That would give southern China more access to ports and export markets. Laotian leaders hoped that the railway will energize their isolated economy by linking it to China and markets as far away as Europe

The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and others had cautioned that harnessing the full economic potential of the railway line will depend on the successful enactment of various changes genuinely linking the railway to the Lao economy at large.

People who were displaced from their homes to make way for the railway had complained they were paid too little. Environmentalists said that the construction damaged natural habitats and threatened endangered species in Laos, which already is a centre for wildlife trafficking.

The Laos-China railway has linked China's poor southwest to foreign markets but piled on potentially risky debt. Laos hoped that the railway would reduce transportation costs and boost exports and tourism.

According to news reports, Laos incurred a 1.9 billion US Dollars debt for the project, an additional obligation that may push Vientiane to seek some grace from Beijing on repayment.

The World Bank forecasts that Laos' economy will grow by 3.8 per cent this year but warns this will not be enough to generate the fiscal revenue needed for the government to pay its foreign debt.

(ANI)

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A man on Rotary Drive told police his ex-girlfriend had moved out and had contacted him regarding retrieving her possessions. The woman requested her items be placed outside on the porch. The man agreed and placed the items outside near his mailbox. The man showed police the text conversation between the two of them. The text showed the man telling the woman when the items were placed outside, as well as photographs of the exact location of the items. The man sent multiple texts giving the woman opportunity to retrieve her items. The woman said she would have her new boyfriend retrieve her items. The new boyfriend contacted the man the next day at 9 a.m. saying he didnt see the items. The man said the items were still near the mailbox at 11 a.m. The man said the items were gone when he returned home at 9 p.m., however the woman continues to ask for her items. The man said he is unsure of where her items are as he was away from his home most of that day. The items include but are not limited to: toilet, power tools, clothes, ladder, and misc. items.

* * *

A man on Cooley Street told police he had received email notifications that someone hacked into his email and Facebook account. He also received a notification from The CashApp that someone sent $100 from his account to another. He had posted a picture of his TN ID to a Facebook group called "Chattanooga Job Search" and he believes someone used that information to gain access to his accounts. Police told the man to monitor his credit through one of the three main credit bureau agencies to see if any inquires have taken place. He plans to go to the DMV and change his TN ID number. Police asked him to call back if any further suspicious activity takes place.

* * *

Police were called to a disorder at 2225 Gunbarrel Road where a man was in a verbal argument with his co-workers. The store manager told the man he needed to leave since he was upset. The man then became angry with the manager and began yelling at him. The man went outside to wait for his sister, but when she arrived he didnt want to leave. After police spoke with the man he agreed to leave with his sister. His sister said she would take him to her house for the night. Police spoke with the manager who said he didnt want the man trespassed, he just wanted him to leave for the night.

* * *

A woman on Tunnel Boulevard told police she and her boyfriend had been drinking all night and got into an argument. The woman said no physical altercation took place, but she was sick of arguing and wanted it to stop, which is why she called police. The boyfriend said the woman kept arguing and drinking while he was trying to sleep on the couch. Both agreed to stop arguing and that the boyfriend would sleep on the couch. Police noticed that intentions to stop arguing seemed genuine.

* * *

A woman at Hickory Valley Retirement Center at 6705 Ballard Dr. told police a black male driving a black Equinox had followed her to work. She observed the individual sitting at a gas station as she drove by. She said as she parked and got out of the vehicle, the man pulled up behind her and started asking her for her information. The woman reported she kindly told him she was not interested and began recording their interaction. The woman said he finally drove off. She believes her ex-husband, whom she is currently going through a heated divorce with, may have hired this person as a private investigator. The woman said she has been followed before and has had suspicious activities since filing for divorce. She has made other reports, specifically in Catoosa County, with a detective assigned to one.

* * *

A woman told police her car was broken into while parked at the Chattanooga Convention Centers parking garage at 1150 Carter St. The items stolen belonged to her son.

* * *

A man on Amin Drive told police he got into a verbal argument with an employee who works for him. The man said he wanted a report on file in case the employee attempts to sue him over anything.

* * *

While on routine patrol, police saw a white Mazda sedan parked in the corner of the parking garage at 305 Frazier Ave. The vehicle appeared to have front end damage to the bumper and dark window tint. The vehicle had a TN license plate that came back not on file. Upon running that same license plate on CarFax for police, it came back having previously been registered to a BMW. Police inspected the vehicle further, and in the front passenger floor was an Ohio license plate. The Ohio license plate came back registered to the vehicle that was on scene. The vehicle appeared to have been left in this spot for around two months due to parking stickers that were inside the windshield. At this time there is nothing in NCIC to show that the vehicle or license plates have been stolen.

* * *

The assistant manager of Amigos at 5874 Brainerd Road told police a woman was bothering customers and needed to leave. He said he wanted to criminally trespass the woman if police could locate her. The officer found the woman in the parking lot and informed her that she was officially trespassed from the location.

* * *

A woman at the Embassy Suites at 2321 Lifestyle Way told police someone slashed her rear driver side tire overnight.

* * *

A man called police and said he works at Stuart Heights Baptist Church at 1505 Cloverdale Dr. and he noticed damage on two church buses. One of the buses had damage to the catalytic converter as if someone attempted to cut it out and the other bus had damage to the passenger double door.

* * *

Police were dispatched to N. Hawthorne Street for a verbal disorder between a woman and a man. Both reported it was a verbal argument but the woman demanded the man leave. An officer spoke with another man who is the primary person on the lease who said both the man and woman live there with him and the argument was verbal only. Both agreed to separate for the night.

* * *

A man on Brainerd Road told police he couldn't get his phone to work to contact a rehab facility that had his money. An officer helped the man schedule a transfer through Walmart.

* * *

A man on Tunnel Boulevard told police someone had thrown a rock through his bedroom window. He said he had left home earlier in the day and returned to find his bedroom window broken and a rock on the floor. The man was unable to provide any suspect information or video footage of the incident.

* * *

A woman told police she had come to Elam Lane to walk her dogs. She had left her vehicle with the window down and the key under the floor mat. She said she saw her drive by and the man driving it was a homeless man she has seen hanging out around the Burlington department store where she works. She didnt know the mans name. Later the car was recovered by Putnam County Sheriff's Office in Cookeville. The owner was notified by dispatch and was clear on where to recover her car.
The Company Lab is showcasing two complementary pitch competitions during the third week of October, when Startup Week CHA typically takes place.

Will This Float?, presented by Double Cola, will focus on idea-to-early-stage businesses, and Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Unions Idea Leap rewards early stage companies that are looking to accelerate their growth.

As CO.LAB takes a season off from Startup Week CHA and how its been done traditionally, we wanted to refocus on a couple of really important and impactful events, CO.LAB CEO Tasia Malakasis said. Weve created opportunities for young entrepreneurs this year, adding even more value.

Double Cola + Will This Float?

This year, The Double Cola Co. is observing 100 years in business, and its centennial celebration culminates at the Will This Float? pitch competition, which will take place on Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

This pitch event, which will focus on consumer packaged goods, is a chance for entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of business to float their ideas to local judges and an audience.

There will be two pitch opportunities  one for adult founders and another for students.

Innovation has long been one of the hallmarks of the Chattanooga ethos, Double Cola CEO Alnoor Dhanani said. It is something we identify with, and it is an integral part of who we are. Thats why we are so proud to back CO.LAB and Will This Float."

Founders who win Will This Float? will win a $5,000-prize, quarterly consulting guidance, and free passes to next years 3686 Entrepreneurial Festival in Nashville.

Student participants will be awarded with consulting services from local experts, including Malakasis, who scaled and sold artisan goat cheese company Belle Chevre, as well as Double Colas top business leaders.

Find more information about Will This Float? here.

TVFCUs Idea Leap

On Oct. 18, Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union will host its annual Idea Leap Grant Pitch Competition which will culminate with five entrepreneurs winning a total of $100,000 in grant funds.

After pitching their business to a panel of local judges, these entrepreneurs will win one of this years grants  grand prize: $50,000, first place: $20,000, and three runners-up: $10,000 each  to expand their business and boost growth.

TVFCU received nearly 150 applications and narrowed them down to 23 quarter finalists in July. TVFCUs panel of community judges is in the process of selecting 10 semifinalists to move to the next stage of the competition.

TVFCUs Idea Leap Grant is an extension of the credit unions Idea Leap Loan initiative that was

created in 2016 to support early-stage small businesses.

To date, TVFCU has funded more than $4.2 million in loans to over 175 entrepreneurs through this program. Additionally, TVFCU has awarded nearly $200,000 in Idea Leap Grants to dozens of local businesses since the programs inception in 2018.

Past winners include The Hot Chocolatier, Hutton & Smith Brewing Company, Chatt Taste Food Tours, Locals Only Gifts & Goods and Mad Priest Coffee Roasters.

TVFCU has shown tremendous support for the regional small business community through Idea Leap Loans and the annual Idea Leap Grant program, said Tommy Nix, vice president of business and commercial services. Were excited to continually invest in the communities we serve."
The Tennessee Supreme Court has selected Jonathan Skrmetti to serve as the states next Attorney General and Reporter.

From 2018 to late 2021, attorney Skrmetti was the chief deputy attorney general in the Attorney Generals Office, where he managed approximately 160 attorneys in 15 litigating divisions and served as a negotiator in the $26 billion multi-state opioid settlement. Since December 2021, he has served as chief counsel to Governor Bill Lee.

Mr. Skrmetti has dedicated the majority of his career to public service and has the breadth of experience and vision necessary to lead the Attorney Generals office for the next eight years, Chief Justice Roger A. Page said. He is an accomplished attorney with a deep understanding of Tennessee government and our judicial system.

Over his career, attorney Skrmetti has worked extensively with the three branches of Tennessee state government, appearing before all levels of the judiciary, drafting language and advocating in support of legislation, and providing counsel to leadership throughout the executive branch.

"It will be a privilege to continue serving the people of Tennessee as their Attorney General and Reporter," attorney Skrmetti said. "I look forward to working with the dedicated public servants at the Attorney General's office to represent all three branches of Tennessee's government. I thank the Supreme Court for entrusting me with this responsibility and General Herbert Slatery for his eight years of distinguished leadership."

The Supreme Court formally interviewed six candidates during a public hearing earlier this week.

Prior to joining the Attorney Generals office, attorney Skrmetti was a partner at Butler Snow LLP in Memphis. From 2011 to 2014, he was an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of Tennessee, where he prosecuted federal crimes with an emphasis on human trafficking, official misconduct and hate crimes. He also spent five years as an Honors Program Trial Attorney in the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division/Criminal Section. During this time, he spent the vast majority of his time in West and Middle Tennessee and handled all phases of litigation. He also served as a law clerk for Judge Steven M. Colloton on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Attorney Skrmetti is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. He earned undergraduate degrees from both the University of Oxford (England) and George Washington University. He is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy, and the Memphis Bar Foundation. He was a part of Leadership Tennessee Signature Program Class VIII.

Attorney Skrmetti will be the 28th Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter. He lives in Franklin with his wife and four children. His family attends Harpeth Hills Church of Christ in Brentwood.

Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III issued the following statement on the Tennessee Supreme Courts selection of Jonathan Skrmetti as the 28th Tennessee Attorney General and Reporter.

The Court has made an excellent choice in Jonathan Skrmetti. The Justices recognized Jonathans dedication to public service, his hands-on leadership experience in this Office, and his outstanding legal pedigree. Significant matters like antitrust and opioids are complex and take many years to resolve. It will be gratifying to pass the baton to Jonathan, who as Chief Deputy saw the initiation of some of these cases, steer them toward resolution as Attorney General and Reporter."
I am so grateful that County Attorney Rheubin Taylor and others are honoring our former County Mayors Claude Ramsey and Dalton Roberts. It goes without saying that this is long overdue. I have seen the Bredesen-Ramsey interchange near Volkswagen Drive, but Claude certainly deserves additional recognition for his contributions to our county. As for Dalton, I have pushed for years to get something named for him, seemingly to no avail. So its good to see that Attorney Taylor has taken this project to completion.

All of us who knew Dalton have stories of his quiet generosity and his love for Hamilton County. He was mayor for 16 years during a time of considerable growth, and he should always be remembered and admired for his honesty, his common sense, and his hard work for all the residents of the county.

My only regret is that these honors were not awarded during their lifetimes. Im a strong believer in honoring the living. For the past several years, I have lobbied officials in Walker and Catoosa counties in Georgia, the cities of Rossville and Fort Oglethorpe, state representatives, and the directors of the Colonnade Theater to name something in honor of entertainer James Rogers. During his fifty-plus year career, James has raised countless thousands of dollars for local charities, and has performed all over the nation spreading the good word about north Georgia. He is most deserving of a permanent marker, whether it be on a stage, a theater, a building, or a highway. Why not honor him during his lifetime? If anyone reading this has any connections with important people in north Georgia, I hope youll help me get this done.

And James, if youre reading this, I hope Im not embarrassing you. I just want you to receive the recognition you deserve for your good citizenship and your amazing career. Your fans in Chattanooga, north Georgia and beyond are so proud of you.

David Carroll




During her time at UTC, Dr. Gretchen Potts activities include serving as the Faculty Senate president, a UTC Advisory Board member, chair of the Faculty Athletics Committee and a mentor for the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy.Very few faculty members are as visible around campus as she isas a fan of Mocs athletics, as a social media contributor and for just being involved, period.Whether its an athletic event, concert or some other activity, Dr. Potts will likely be in attendance.I support all students, but I enjoy athletics, she said.My brother was an athlete and I was a trainer in high school, so I really like watching sporting events and supporting our students.I will say that I personally believe student-athletes are some of the hardest working students on campus. Other students have full-time jobs or are very active in student government, but I am well awarebecause of my experience serving on the Faculty Athletics Committeeof the time that it involves being a student-athlete.Her involvement with athletics might be considered next-level. How many chemistry professors have been called on to sing the national anthem at sporting events?I cant tell you exactly how that started, Dr. Potts said. I feel like it was (retired chief of staff) Terry Denniston who kept suggesting I should sing. I remember that it was the first year John Shulman was the basketball coach.Coach Shulman was the Mocs mens basketball coach from 2004 to 2013.In the music realm, Ive been a performer all my life, Dr. Potts said. Ive always been in singing groups and people always tell me how they appreciate my rendition of the national anthem because its very traditional. Thats because I have a background in opera; my vocal teacher was an opera singer.I have performed the national anthem for volleyball, wrestling, softball and thenof coursemens and womens basketball.Dr. Potts was recently named the Biology, Geology and Environmental Science department head, after serving in an interim role during the 2021-2022 academic year.While her academic background is in chemistry, she has been involved in other areasstarting and developing the Universitys integrated studies programbefore moving into her current role.How is she able to transition from one subject to another?I am whats called an analytical chemist who identifies and counts things, she explained, and Im probably an ultra-analytical chemistwhere I like things very ordered. I think a lot of that has helped me in my other roles. My organizational skills have been applied to all the things that I do.Credential-wise, I am qualified in chemistry. Im not qualified to teach in biology, geology or environmental science, but because I have that science background, Im able to support the students and the faculty in the things that they need over here.She said she learned plenty of new things overseeing BGE as interim head over the last yearincluding the differences in lab times vs. what she was accustomed to in chemistry.For instance, when we were trying to do scheduling, I said, Well, we need to schedule 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. We need to try to do this. And faculty pointed out to me that we cant do evening labs because they go out in the field and its dark outside, Dr. Potts explained. Thats something we dont encounter in chemistry.Her ability to adapt to and observe how BGE faculty integrated across different disciplines is similaryet very differentfrom the position she had as director for the integrated studies program, a role that ended when she officially was named a department head.In Integrated Studies, Dr. Potts was responsible for program planning and assessment and developed the senior capstone course.Integrated Studies was a steep learning curve because that was definitely different, Dr. Potts said. What I did over 10 years there was become pretty knowledgeable about every degree on campus. When I talked to other department heads, I had to know what their program was so that our students could engage in their program and use those classes.Dr. Potts has learned a lot in her first 20 years on campus. What will the next 20 years bring?Hopefully, retirement, she said with a laugh. Ive been one of those very lucky and very fortunate people. I graduated with my doctorate when I was 26, which is younger than most people. Then I did a post-doc for two years, so Ive been here since I was 28.Twenty years from now, Ill be 68. That would be 40 years of teaching at UTC.
Imagine!, an arts education program created by ArtsBuild in 2010, gives students an early, systematic introduction to the arts and local arts organizations. Through the program, all public elementary schools in Hamilton County can send their students (grades K-fifth) on a field trip to experience the arts at no cost to families or the school.



"Last school year (2021-2022), ArtsBuild worked with our program partner arts organizations to offer a combination of in-person and virtual arts experiences for each grade level," officials said. "This allowed the program to serve Hamilton County teachers and students despite the ongoing uncertainty of field trip cancellations and temporary staffing shortages due to COVID-19 infection surges.



"The 2022-2023 school year will be the first full year that fifth grade has been added to the program. We expect about 14,000 students to participate in an Imagine! field trip this year."

Each grade level is paired with the following program partners:

 Kindergarten - Creative Discovery Museum

 First grade - Chattanooga Theatre Centre

 Second grade - Chattanooga Ballet

 Third grade - Chattanooga Symphony & Opera

 Fourth grade - SoLit Theatre Express

 Fifth grade - Sculpture Fields at Montague Park

 Fifth grade - Hunter Museum of American Art



"Teachers appreciate participating in the Imagine! program because the arts experiences integrate well with state standard curriculum to enhance learning in the classroom," officials said.

Kelly Shimel, fine arts coordinator for Hamilton County Schools, says, Arts education and programming helps students develop vital communication and problem-solving skills. Through the support of ArtsBuild, all Hamilton County School elementary school students have access to arts programming which provides equitable access to arts experiences that help our students thrive and experience a future without limits! We are also excited that field trips will resume this year, as nothing can quite replace experiencing the arts in a hands-on or physical performance setting.



More about ArtsBuild arts education initiatives:



 ArtsBuild will provide transportation for middle and high school students to see Americans and the Holocaust: A Traveling Exhibition for Libraries from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the American Library Association, an exhibit presented locally at the Chattanooga Public Library in January 2023.



 In 2020-2021, ArtsBuild worked with Lift Media to produce engaging and instructional video content for Imagine! that continues to be used by Chattanooga PBS affiliate WTCI as regular programming which is broadcast to homes in 35 counties in a 4-state region. The Imagine! videos are also accessible on ArtsBuilds YouTube Channel.



 ArtsBuild hosts professional teacher training workshops each year about arts integration, which many Hamilton County Schools teachers and local teaching artists participate in. The teaching sessions are funded by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and led by Kennedy Center certified teaching artists.



For more information about ArtsBuilds arts education programs and initiatives or questions about Imagine!, contact Programs Manager Amy Lowdermilk at amy@artsbuild.com.



Imagine! is made possible by ArtsBuild donors and private foundations including Beacon Foundation Charitable Trust, Hamico Foundation, George R. Johnson Family Foundation, Lillian L. Colby Foundation, Tucker Foundation, as well as the City of Chattanooga and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Tennessee football completed its first scrimmage of preseason camp on Tuesday morning in Neyland Stadium as the Volunteers worked multiple situations in nearly 100 plays.



An up-tempo offense was in full effect during the live, full-padded scrimmage that saw sixth-year senior quarterback Hendon Hooker toss multiple touchdowns, including one to tight end Jacob Warren .

"We were able to get a lot of real football, drive for the offense to be able to play with tempo and see how the communication and efficiency of movement between plays (looked)," head coach Josh Heupel said. "Defensively, we were able to get some of that work against tempo. Also, some situational football. Got some third and short, and actually did some overtime work with those guys again today."



Redshirt senior linebacker Jeremy Banks , coming off a 2021 season in which he ranked second in the SEC with 128 total tackles, continues to have an outstanding offseason and preseason. Banks intercepted a pass on Tuesday against the first-team offense.



" Jeremy Banks had a big pick out in the flat," Heupel said. "(He) did a really good job reading his keys, and then getting out there extremely quickly. Great with his eyes, made a really nice play, used his hands well on the play as well. Really, I think that was about it for turnovers during the course of the scrimmage."



Heupel liked what he has seen from the running backs this preseason led by junior Jabari Small and true freshmen Dylan Sampson and Justin Williams-Thomas .



"Jabari did a really good job today, ran extremely well," Heupel said. "I thought his keys took him to the right cut. He played with great in-and-out and pad level on contact. He probably got close to 25 or 30 reps today. Our young guys got a lot of work, Dylan (Sampson) and Justin (Williams-Thomas). Without going back and watching the tape, really pleased with how they functioned and played."



Tennessee will be off on Wednesday before going through four consecutive days of practices beginning on Thursday. The second full week of preseason camp culminates with the Volunteers' second scrimmage on Sunday morning.
The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners (BOC) is currently in the process of setting its 2022 millage rate. The BOC announces its intention to increase the 2022 property taxes it will levy this year by 15.71 percent over the rollback millage rate. Each year the Board of Tax Assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes in the county.

When the trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value, the Board of Tax Assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must be totaled that will produce the same total revenue on the current years digest that last years millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred.

Before setting the 2022 millage rate, public hearings will be held to allow the public an opportunity to provide comment on the subject.



The county has scheduled three public hearings and all residents are invited to attend and participate. The public hearings are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 18, at 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m., and the third public hearing, anticipating the adoption of the final millage rate for 2022, will be Friday, Aug. 26, at 12 p.m.

All public hearings and regular business meetings will be held in the BOC Meeting Room at the Whitfield County Courthouse located at 205 N. Selvidge Street, Dalton.


A man who was convicted of murder in Hamilton County and got a life prison term has been sentenced to a second life sentence for being a drug kingpin while in prison.

Charles Elsea, Jr., 44, a longtime inmate of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, was sentenced by Federal Judge J. Ronnie Greer at Greeneville, Tn.

Following a six-day jury trial in March 2022, Elsea was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

During sentencing, Judge Greer found that Elsea was responsible for distributing over 56.8 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Elsea was ordered to forfeit $1,263,490.00, which represented the illegal proceeds from distributing methamphetamine and money laundering.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Elsea was serving a prison sentence for first-degree murder for a 1996 homicide in Hamilton County when he rose through the ranks to become the state president of the Brotherhood Forever, a Tennessee-based prison gang.

Agents said Elsea led the drug trafficking organization from behind prison walls using smuggled cellphones to conduct his business on the outside. Elsea orchestrated multi-kilo methamphetamine deals that involved methamphetamine being transported from California and Arizona to Tennessee. Elsea and his coconspirators used the drug proceeds from the methamphetamine sales to create marijuana grow houses in and out of Tennessee. Elsea was also involved in starting two marijuana grow operations during the pendency of this case, utilizing the jails video system to speak to co-conspirators about the cultivation of marijuana.

The case was the result of a five-year investigation that began in the spring of 2017 by the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Other agencies involved with the investigation included the Tennessee Department of Correction Office of Investigations and Conduct; the Elizabethton and Carter County Joint Drug Task Force; the Huron Undercover Narcotic Team with the Michigan State Police; the Arkansas Highway Patrol; the Missouri Western Interdiction Task Force with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; and the California Visalia Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI Special Agent John Bulla.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez and J. Christian Lampe represented the United States at sentencing.

This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Services for residents of Signal Mountain and equipment for multiple departments in the town were given approval at the regular town council meeting Monday night.

The Signal Mountain water utility will soon be offering water leak insurance that will help individual customers with excessive bills when leaks cause unexpected water losses. The insurance will come from Water Leak Relief, LLC. Problems are usually found when a customer receives a much higher bill than usual, said Matt Justice, water utility director. Customers will automatically be signed up for the program at $1.99 each month for residential customers, but they will have the choice to opt out if desired. Benefits will also cover hidden leaks inside a house. To get coverage, the customer will have to stop the water loss within 10 days of discovering it. It may be difficult to find someone to help within that time frame, so Mayor Charles Poss suggested a change be made in writing to the contract before the council gives approval.

The public works department will be getting a new tractor with a boom arm that is used for mowing and trimming. A tractor from Hamilton County has been on loan to the town since its old one has been out of commission. The new equipment will be bought from a state of Tennessee purchasing cooperative contract for the amount of $169,495.

A contract extension was authorized with Big Woodys Tree Service for chipping brush. The cost is not to exceed $15,000 for a one-year period. The hourly rate is $350.

Both the police and fire departments will be getting needed equipment. Town Manager Elaine Brunelle was authorized to purchase 13 tablets for the amount of $37,440 to be used by the police department. The cost includes battery packs, storage and warranties.

Three new portable digital radios with related accessories will be bought for the use by the fire department. They will come from Motorola Solutions for the amount of $22,663.

A thorough review of town ordinances to ensure they are accurate and still relevant will be done by Municipal Technical Advisory Service on behalf of Signal Mountain. This organization provides assistance to municipalities in the state of Tennessee. Revising and codifying the towns ordinances will be done for the amount of $7,300.

A new social medial and internet posting policy for the town and its employees was also adopted at the meeting. This is to cultivate and maintain a positive presence on the internet. The conditions will apply to every employee whether they are on or off-duty. The policy was created with input from both City Manager Brunelle and Fire Captain/Training Officer Sam Guin.

Daily operation and management of the Mountain Arts Community Center is currently the responsibility of the Signal Mountain Education Preservation Fund. Previously, the facility was run by the MACC board, who all resigned and formed the SMEPF. Officials in the town wish to retain the MACC board but temporarily will suspend its function along with making no appointments during the suspension. This will give the town the assurance that it has some oversight of the MACC. The town wants to ensure that the MACC is being managed well and providing programming to benefit all citizens. The issue will be revisited in six months.

Employees of Signal Mountain will also be offered a new benefit of long-term disability insurance along with the short-term disability and life insurance they currently have.

An ordinance passed on the final reading that defines purchasing requirements for the town of Signal Mountain. Purchases less than $5,000 can be approved by a department head. Purchases between $5,000 and $15,000 have to be approved in advance by the town manager or recorder. From $15,000 to $25,000 must be approved by a majority of the town council and a purchase over $25,000 shall only be approved by the council after sealed bids have been obtained.

During the time in the meeting set aside for citizens comments, Grace Mynatt spoke of her concerns about the upcoming TDOT work on Highway 127, the main road coming up Signal Mountain. The houses on the low side of the highway have increasingly experienced damaging problems from stormwater runoff including rock slides. TDOT has scheduled an informational public meeting for Aug. 25 at Signal Mountain Middle/High School from 5-7 p.m. Although it has been advertised, she said, nobody is aware of the meeting, including the city council. This is the last opportunity that the public will be able to ask questions and to make sure that the work that will be done will collect and direct the stormwater away from her neighborhood, she said. The residents who are being negatively affected would like to have a big turnout and backing at the meeting to ask questions about the proposed changes, it was stated.

Here is info on the meeting:
A man fired a gun at the Cleveland Walmart on Tuesday afternoon, then officers had to use a taser on him and additional officers to get him into custody.

At 5:06 p.m., the Cleveland Police Department was dispatched to an armed subject/possible active shooter incident at Walmart, 2300 Treasury Dr. Deputies with the Bradley County Sheriffs Office responded as well to back up Cleveland Police officers.

A caller reported to 911 that the suspect was armed with a gun and making threats of violence at the store. He fired the gun into the air, then got into a white SUV in front of the grocery entrance of Walmart.

Other callers also reported to 911 that a gunshot was fired by the man in front of Walmart. Deputies from the Bradley County Sheriffs Office arrived on scene and located the man in a white SUV, parked in the fire lane, facing the grocery entrance.

The suspect still had the firearm in his hand when deputies arrived, but later put it on top of the SUV. He exited the vehicle, but refused all further commands from officers.

A physical altercation took place when deputies tried to detain him. A taser was deployed, but had little effect on the suspect. He was taken into custody after more officers arrived to help subdue him.

The suspect, Doyle R. Herron, is being charged with reckless endangerment, two counts of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and aggravated assault against a first responder.
In Seeking Sister Wife Season 4, Tosha Jones tells her mom, Teresa, about her husband Sidian Jones visiting his girlfriend, Arielle Jazmine Roque, in the Philippines. Toshas mom tells her daughter that she was responsible for helping groom her friend with the intention of her joining their polygamous cult.

Tosha Jones, Seeking Sister Wife Season 4 | TLC

Tosha knew Arielle before introducing her to Sidian

Earlier on Seeking Sister Wife, Tosha revealed she was friends with the potential new wife, Arielle, before introducing her to Sidian. Tosha said, Arielle is a friend I met at work, probably four or five years ago now. And I actually went on a work trip to the Philippines and spent a lot of time with her. TLC shared a clip from the episode on Instagram.

She continued, Ive brought up the idea with Arielle of just testing it out and trying to date Sidian. Because I just [have] grown to really adore her as a person. And when thinking about somebody Id want as a sister wife, she fits the bill.

Toshas mother thinks her daughter groomed Arielle to join her cult on Seeking Sister Wife

On the Aug. 8 episode of Seeking Sister Wife, Sidian is still on his trip to the Philippines with Arielle. Left back in Portland, Tosha goes to speak with her mother about her husbands new girlfriend. Teresa has been clear about her disapproval of her daughters polygamous lifestyle since day one.

Tosha Jones mom, Teresa, Seeking Sister Wife | TLC

Tosha drops the bombshell that theyve been dating Arielle, and her mom isnt feeling good about it. Teresa tells the cameras, Polygamy is something that Im not interested in.

Tosha explained to her mom that Arielle had slowly warmed up to the idea of polygamy after she began talking to her. Teresa tells her, So you brought her into the cult. Tosha denies it, Its not a cult. Her mom retorts, Thats how they groom them, Tosha.

Toshas mother theorizes why Tosha wants to be a polygamist

Teresa tells the cameras about her confusion regarding her daughters relationship choices. She says, You know, I dont understand why they want to live in a polygamous lifestyle. She admits to still needing time to accept it fully.

While Teresa doesnt understand her daughters motivation to be in a polygamous marriage, she believes she understands where this lifestyle choice came from.

She told the cameras, When Tosha was growing up, we did live in a family unit group. So I lived with my brother and his wife and their children. So I believe that polygamy is probably a lot similar to the lifestyle that Tosha grew up in. She concludes, I really think that that was where she got the core belief system that she has.

Whether or not Toshas mom is on board with her plans doesnt matter. Tosha and Sidian are getting serious about proposing to Arielle and bringing her to the United States on a K-1 (fiance) visa. Fans will have to tune in to find out how the Jones familys journey ends.

Seeking Sister Wife airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on TLC and discovery+.

RELATED: Seeking Sister Wife: Where To Follow the Season 4 Polygamist Families on Instagram
Christine Brown has made a lot of changes in the last 12 months. The Sister Wives star left her spiritual marriage to Kody Brown, sold her house in Flagstaff, Arizona, and purchased a new home in Murray, Utah. Now, the mother of six has cut one final tie to the Flagstaff area. Christine has officially sold her stake in Coyote Pass back to her ex-husband. She gave the property away for a steal.

The Brown family could never agree on what to do with Coyote Pass

Sister Wives fans have long suspected that moving from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Flagstaff, Arizona was the beginning of the end for the Browns polygamist lifestyle. The entire family wasnt completely onboard with the move, and purchasing an undeveloped piece of land only seemed to breed resentment.

It has been a long time since Kody Brown and his four wives have been on the same page about anything. The development of Coyote Pass has been their biggest battle. Christine Brown quickly nixed the idea of building one large home on the property. Her visceral reaction to the idea might have been the moment she realized she didnt want to be Kody Browns wife any longer.

Christine wasnt the only one who wasnt in agreement about the property. Meri Brown, Janelle Brown, and Robyn Brown have all had issues with the property at one point or another.

Christine Brown has officially sold her stake in the property

According to Us Weekly, the property sale went down in July, nearly 10 months after she moved to Murray, Utah, and set down roots close to where she lived when Sister Wives fans first met her. The Brown family purchased the undeveloped land in 2018 for $820,000. Later, they split the 12-acre property into separate parcels with plans to build individual homes on each parcel.

Coyote Pass, Sister Wives | TLC

The family has yet to build anything on the property. Christine wont be constructing anything on Coyote Pass anymore. She gifted Kody Brown and Robyn Brown her parcel of land for just $10. The land she sold to Robyn and Kody is valued at more than $200,000.

What does Christines decision mean for the future of Coyote Pass?

Christines decision to cut ties with Coyote Pass isnt surprising. Does her decision to gift the property to her former spiritual husband and his legal wife mean anything for the propertys future, though? In theory, the gift may require the Brown family to divide the acreage once again.

Robyn, Meri, Kody, Christine, and Janelle Brown, Sister Wives | TLC



In the original plan, Christines property was positioned next to Meri and Janelles parcels. Kodys property sits next to Janelle and Meris, while Robyns property is larger and off to the side, neighboring only Janelles swath of land. Because of where Christines property is situated, it would be impossible for Robyn or Kody to absorb the acreage that once belonged to Christine into their current parcels. As it stands, the Brown family has not developed Coyote Pass. They dont seem particularly motivated to do so, either, so it might not matter in the long run.

RELATED: Sister Wives: A Complete Timeline of the Breakdown of Christine and Kody Browns Marriage
HYDERABAD: Reputed city-based pulmonologist Dr B. Vijay Bhaskar, accused of sexually assaulting a woman at his clinic in Secunderabad in 2016, was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years. Dr Bhaskar was the first candidate to get a doctorate in pulmonary medicine in India.

Dr Bhaskar, who has been running Bhaskar's Chest Clinic opposite the Regional Passport Office in Secunderabad, committed the offence, when the victim, who was then 59, came to him for treatment. Stating that it was a part of the medical procedure, he assaulted the victim. The Xl additional metropolitan session court at Nampally relied on the victim's statement and medical and scientific evidence submitted by the prosecution and pronounced the verdict on Monday. The court also directed Dr Bhaskar to pay a fine of `5,000.

The victim was a regular patient of Dr Bhaskar. In May 2016, when she came to him for treatment, Dr Bhaskar touched her private parts saying that was part of the treatment. In October 2016 again, when she came to him for treatment, the victim noticed another young woman along with her mother inside the doctor's chamber quarrelling with him.

On inquiry, the woman informed the victim that the doctor had also touched the woman inappropriately and abused her sexually. The victim then lodged a complaint at the Gopalapuram police station, following which a case was booked against the doctor. He was arrested and sent to judicial remand.

After the police filed a chargesheet, the court took up the trial and heard the victim, other witnesses and the evidence submitted before it. The court found Dr Bhaskar guilty of the offences charged against him and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for 10 years.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon a year ago, five young women were asking God for two things regarding their husbands: that they might be permitted to contact the Auca Indians again, and that they might be protected. As we sat in our jungle homes here in Ecuador, two in Arajuno, one in Shandia and two in Shell Mera, we little dreamed of the answer God was then giving. He answered both of those prayers, but, as is often the case with him whose thoughts are as far above ours as the heavens are high above the earth, his answer far transcended what we had in mind.

Silence on a Sand Strip

The second contact was given. Probably at about two-thirty in the afternoon at least ten Aucas arrived at the strip of sand where the men had set up their little camp. Having seen them some time earlier from the airplane, approaching the beach, the pilot had reported to his wife the anticipated contact. We can imagine the five, then, as the forest rang with their praises. They sang hymns together, committed themselves to the Lord once more and eagerly prepared for their longed for visitors. It was not long before savage yells, instead of hymns of praise, echoed through the forest, polished wooden spears slashed through the air and five young men lay dead on the Rio Curaray. Silence closed once more over the stand strip, and those beloved Indians returned nonchalantly to their thatched homes, to recount another killing to their waiting families.

The asked-for contact had been given. But what about the protection?

Protection from Disobedience

When the Lord Jesus prayed to His Father, as recorded in the seventeenth chapter of John, he asked, too, for protection for those whom the Father had given him. For what purpose? . . . that they may be one, ...

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At four-thirty sharp Marj Saint eagerly switched on the radio receiver in Shell Mera. This was the moment when the big news would come. Had the men been invited to follow the Aucas to their houses? What further developments would Nate be able to report?

She looked at her watch again. Yes, it was at least four-thirty. No sound from Palm Beach. She and Olive hunched close to the radio. The atmosphere was not giving any interference. Perhaps Nates watch had run a little slow.

In Arajuno, Marilou and Barbara had their radio on, too. Silence. They waited a few minutes, then called Shell Mera.

Arajuno calling Shell Mera. Arajuno standing by for Shell Mera. Any word from Palm Beach, Marj? Over.

Shell Mera standing by. No, no word as yet. Well be standing by.

Not a crackle broke the silence.

Clinging To Little Hope

Were the men so preoccupied with entertaining their visitors that they had forgotten the planned contact? Five minutes  ten minutes  No, it was inconceivable that all five would forget. It was the first time since Nate had started jungle flying in 1948 that he and Marj had been out of contact even for an hour.

Butperhaps their radio was not functioning. It happened occasionally. The women clung to each little hope, refusing to entertain the thought of anythings really having gone wrong. Their suspense was the sharper because most of their missionary friends on the network were unaware that Operation Auca was in progress. In Arajuno, Barbara and little Beth Youderian had primped up a bit, since it had been planned that Roj would come to Arajuno that night, while Pete took a turn sleeping in the tree house. Surely the little plane would come winging over the ...

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Claude Atcho was shopping at Target when a display of James Baldwin books got him thinking: Who would read them? Or get lost trying? At that moment, Atchoa Charlottesville, Virginia, pastor who had taught African American literature at the collegiate levelwas inspired to write a guide for Christians on reading and discussing Black classics (like Baldwins Go Tell It on the Mountain). The result, Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just, applies a literary and theological lens to these classics. Journalist and mystery novelist Patricia Raybon spoke to Atcho about his invitation to readers.

What is a Black book? How do you define it?

For me, its those classic, canonical texts that look at African American experience, hope, and concern but alsoas literaturehave stood the test of time. Its not just about having an interesting plot; these books take up significant themes and ask important questions about human experience universally, but Black experience in particular.

Whats an example?

I remember reading Richard Wrights novel Native Son as an undergraduate and being just floored by the power of the writing and the portrayal of human existence it puts forth. It rocked my world. I just remember thinking: What does this story mean for me as a Christian? I felt this burning urge to talk about the book from a literary and religious perspectiveas a matter of theology and lived faith alike.

How can books like Native Sonor Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man, or Toni Morrisons Belovedmove readers to a deeper theological understanding of, say, the imago Dei?

With Invisible Man, for instance, you can ...

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'A Redemption Story': Sen. Tim Scott discusses America's quest for a 'more perfect union'

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scotts memoir, America, a Redemption Story, details stories of failure and rising above challenges from the senators own life to represent Americas constant search for identity and potential for redemption.

The 56-year-old South Carolina native assumed his senate position in 2013 and is on the ballot in the general election in November. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving South Carolinas first Congressional District from 2011 to 2013.

After then-Gov. Nikki Haley appointed the senator to serve the remainder of Sen. Jim DeMints term in 2013, Scott became the first African American senator to represent a southern state since Reconstruction.

Scott was later elected to the Senate in a 2014 special election.

The book takes readers through Scotts childhood in a single-parent household and growing up in poverty to his opening of a small business and eventual political career. Describing his struggles with racism  both from people who look like him and those who dont  the senator insists that America is redeemable, calling for people to overcome political differences and not allow things like race or politics to divide them.

The following is a lightly edited transcript of the senator's interview with The Christian Post:

CP: Now the title of your memoir is America, a Redemption Story. Can you explain how you come up with that title?

Scott: Two reasons for the title; number one is certainly in the story saying, as you can see, I think that faith and the Judeo Christian foundation that is ours as a country is incredibly important to this nation. The story of redemption, in my opinion, is so often the story of second chances. You don't go from being a good person, from a bad person to a good person; you go from being a dead person to alive. And so the story of redemption is a story of second chances. And the one thing I see woven throughout the story of America is this notion of second chances that we wrote a Constitution. We left me as three-fifths of a person, but then we went back and got it right through Civil War and through amending our Constitution.

Our birth certificate, or the Declaration of Independence, said that we were all created equal, basically, and given intrinsic value. That notion was right, even though our Constitution had it wrong. So again, you can see the importance of a second chance as a nation that we went through, whether it's the Jim Crow South or the hard times in the 1960s, that we've always had to overcome obstacles in our lives as a nation, rather, of the Black Monday in 1987 and then the Great Depression of the 1930s, economically speaking.

We had to rise above the occasion. We've gone through a couple of world wars where we, as Americans, gave the world a second chance because of our investment in World War II. So you see again and again that the story of redemption, the story of second chances, is woven into the fabric of who we are as Americans. I certainly have seen it play out in my life, not just my faith perspective but also in politics, where I lost a race but the voters of my state gave me a second chance. And as a freshman in high school, I basically failed four subjects, but people didn't see me as a failure. They gave me a second chance in the business. I felt I just can't fail.

I got a second chance. So I believe that all of us, within a generation or two, are just like each other. That the story of America is a story of pain, then promise, obstacles and opportunities, failures and success. That's who we are as a people. I want to remind us that the goodness of the American soul. I want us to be reminded that we are one American family, and to the extent that we can see ourselves through that prism, I believe we can heal our nation of some of the wounds that today divide us.

CP: One of the things youre very open about is some of the racism youve experienced throughout your life. For example, you talk about being pulled over in the 1980s and how, even today, there have been instances where youve been stopped by Capitol police officers while on your way to cast a vote. But you still argue that America is redeemable. How do we know if and when America can be redeemed?

Scott: I think we're being redeemed every day, so to speak. Let's be honest about the fabric that we're working with. It's called a human fabric. It's not American human fabric; it's just human fabric.

According to Jeremiah 17:9, "The depravity of the heart of the man is unknowable." It's unsearchable. So the truth is that we are the composite drawing of 300 million people who are all flawed. So, of course, we are going to strive toward that more perfect union because we care enough to get it right.

There are a lot of places, a lot of countries on this Earth, where it does not seem like they're striving for a more perfect union. I think we are the only country on Earth that I know of in my lifetime or in our lifetime as a country that fought a civil war to set the captives free, to free the slaves. So that notion of an internal struggle to righting wrong is what makes me say that America is not a racist country, though we still struggle with racial issues. We are working our way toward a more perfect union, and we are doing it imperfectly. That just means that we're even.

CP: Another thing you talk about in the book is how familial relationships and friendships have fallen apart over politics, but there is no reason for such relationships to end over political disagreements. What do you think are some of the key components of getting people to listen to one another and respect each other, even if they disagree?

Scott: One of the things that we have to recognize is that our ideology should not trump our family relations nor our friendships. The truth is that most of my life, I grew up with people who did not agree on politics. One of my mentors I talk about in the book is a guy named Ed Bryan, who is the head of the NAACP. He's a Democrat, but he is a great man with lots of integrity who, if your car is broken, you want Joe coming to fix it because he's going to fix it right, and he's going to charge you the least amount you can.

He is a person who has a philanthropic gene. And so, I have seen throughout my entire life the benefits of people who disagree ideologically but they continue to work hard. And it's one of the reasons why I love the statement that it is hard to hate when you know. Because the more time you spend together, the more likely you are to overcome the ideological differences.

Yes, I worked with James Lankford on something called Solution Sunday. Senator Lankford and I thought it would be helpful to have a meal with someone who doesn't look like you in your home, not in a restaurant. Bringing them into a place of intimacy. And intimacy also means to me, you see. And that was an opportunity for us to talk about what we've experienced together after the devastating and tragic shooting at Mother Emanuel Church.

People that came were James Lankford, who spent the night at my home, and Trey Gowdy, who drove down to Spartanburg, as well as Tulsi Gabbard, who doesn't even believe as I believe, but she was there for me. And so to see is the first group of people celebrating lives well lived and tragically at that is a part of why I'm so confident that we as a nation can get it right.

CP: Why did you feel it was important to get this memoir out there now?

Scott: I feel like, in many ways, we're living in very divided times. The perception of who we are as Americans seems to start with this tribal characteristic. As you watch the news, whether you're watching left news or right news and one thing you're watching is a news driven by division, driven by just polarization.

But when you walk through the neighborhoods, you see kids playing with kids that don't look like you. When you attend many of our schools, you see kids hanging out with kids that don't look like them. When you look at the marriages around the country, you see interracial marriages, and you see even in South Carolina, you see some of the strongest intermarryings between Clemson fans and Carolina fans. So you get a game dog and a tiger to fall in love and get married then all things are possible.

But the truth is, you literally see around the country this patchwork quilt that has been woven together by the thread of love and freedom and this thirst for liberty. The liberty to express yourself as an individual. We protect that. We insulate that. I just think that we have a lot more of that to do, and it's our responsibility to keep it alive for the next generation.

CP: You talk about it in the book, but could you expand on your experiences as a conservative senator who happens to be African-American and what that has been like for you?

Scott: It's one of the things I say is that being a living unicorn is a painful decision on my part. I've experienced the most forms of discrimination from people who look like me than from those who don't.

But the truth is that when I talk about that partisan dividing line as it relates to discrimination, it's really important for us to take note that the racism that we've hated as victims in one generation should be the same hate for discrimination that we are now seeing from a partisan perspective. I believe that while my faith defines me first, I think, at the very least, our collective citizenship as Americans should define us first and that if you want to find that common sense, it requires a common understanding of citizenship where our country is quite diverse, but we are one family. And unfortunately, a lot of those who oppose me politically have been more angry and hostile than those who I experienced in high school from a racial perspective.

CP:Some have speculated you may be considering a 2024 presidential run, while other reports have suggested you will support Donald Trump if he runs in 2024. What are your thoughts on 2024, and do you have any desire to run for the Republican nomination?

Scott: As you know in my story, which is a great book that you can find at timscottbook.com, one of the things you'll find in that book is the story of my love of football. When you have a game coming up on Friday night, you should spend all your time getting ready for the game on Friday night. I have a game in November on Friday night, so to speak, and so all of my attention is invested in winning this game before I start thinking about the next game. And so, there are lots of questions about what's going to happen in 2024, but I need to win the 2022 first.
18 students accuse Canadian Christian school of abuse, forced exorcisms School condemns actions of its previous leaders

Eighteen former students of a Christian academy in Canada have filed criminal abuse complaints against the school and an associated church, alleging that they were coerced into exorcisms and suffered corporal punishment.

Christian Centre Academy  which changed its name to Legacy Christian Academy in 2013  has been accused of engaging in forced exorcisms and other abuse.

Following a 12-month investigation, Saskatoon police transferred the case to Crown prosecutors in April to address if potential charges will result from the complaints, as stated in emails from police that were addressed to students.

"This was abuse. This was a hate crime," Coy Nolin, one of the former students, told CBC News when describing an alleged unwanted exorcism performed on him at his home in May 2004.

Nolin, who was 16 at the time, alleged that he was interrogated for hours in an office by the school's director after informants told the director Nolin identifies as gay.

Nolin claimed that the director not only wrongfully questioned him but also allegedly engaged in name-calling by labeling him "evil" and "an abomination."

In the culmination of the office visit, Nolin said he was suspended from the school and allegedly told they would try to "cure" him.

Three days later, according to Nolin, four educators visited him and his mother at home. Nolin claims they allegedly tried to perform an exorcism to cast out his "gay demons."

Nolin alleges that the school director was one of the four. The director is accused of bending Nolin over his lap and using a large wooden paddle to spank him, leaving bruises and a limp.

"That was one of the worst days of my life. Even now, just thinking about it, I go numb," said Nolin, who filed his complaint with Saskatoon police in July 2021.

Seventeen other students have filed complaints mentioning frequent paddlings, which reportedly occurred after Canada outlawed corporal punishment in schools.

"Every part of me wanted to walk to the police and simply pull down my pants and show them what was done to me," Sean Kotelmach, who attended the school from 1996 to 2008, told CBC.

"[But] I was scared. I was so scared. I worried my parents would get in trouble for sending me to that school."

In another complaint, a student named Christina Hutchinson told Global News about when she was an 8-year-old attending Christian Centre Academy and unwillingly endured alleged spankings and treatment which she said mirrored that of an "exorcism."

Hutchinson said she and other students were asked to recite a morning prayer in front of a school instructor. She said she refused to join because she was too nervous.

"The teacher at the time seemed to think that that meant I had a demon, so she would keep me in at break times and rock me in her lap while she spoke in tongues," Hutchinson was quoted as saying.

"It was an exorcism in the sense that she was trying to drive a demon out of me. I didn't know what she was doing, and I didn't have any control over it," she continued, mentioning that the teacher had labeled her "demon possessed."

The Christian Post reached out to Christian Centre Academy for a response to the allegations on multiple occasions. The school did not return comments by press time.

Christian Centre Academy and Mile Two Church, the congregation the school is tied to, sent a statement to Global News last week expressing heartbreak over the situation. Mile Two Church was previously known as the Saskatoon Christian Centre.

"We are all heartbroken to learn the stories of some former students about their experiences from over 15 years ago. The current staff and leadership are hearing some of these stories for the first time, and we condemn any acts of abuse that previous leaders committed," they stated.

The school and church also said that "the people that are accused of these actions are no longer here or affiliated with us in any way."

As the school continues to operate, some including the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party, have called on the academy to have its public funding frozen.

Saskatchewan's education ministry told Global News last week that it is aware of the allegations. Still, it noted that these incidents appeared to have occurred before the school began receiving public funds.

"It is our understanding, based (on) the accounts contained in the letter, that these allegations are in regards to incidents that took place in the 2000s," the government body said in a statement.

"Since LCA began receiving provincial funding, no complaints have been registered with the ministry against LCA and no irregularities have been found during routine inspections."

As the investigation remains pending, it's unknown when Crown prosecutors will make their final decision on each of the 18 complaints. A spokesperson would not make any official statements based on Crown's policy not to make statements on pending police investigations.

"While we can appreciate the desire for details regarding the situation, this remains an active investigation. In respecting that process, we are unable to offer you additional details at this time," a police spokesperson wrote in an email.

"In cases where police choose to seek an opinion from prosecutions related to an investigation, any advice provided is privileged communication."
Al Sharpton claims 'the Bible is about choice' when it comes to abortion

The Rev. Al Sharpton raised some theological eyebrows last week after he claimed that the Bible is about choice when it comes to the killing of pre-born babies.

In an appearance on MSNBCs Chris Jansing Reports, Sharpton was asked how Democrats should engage older black voters who have deeply held religious beliefs on the issue after a 2020 survey showed growing acceptance of abortion among African Americans.

Sharpton suggested Democrats must message it in a way that it is about choice. Its not about saying, Im voting that I support abortion or not.

The National Action Network president and "MSNBC Politics Nation" opinion host said the issue falls on whether theyre going to have a safe abortion.

We always had abortions, but we had these back alley, very risky abortions and were saying that rather than have people in those situations, they should be able to choose whether or not they want to do, even if it is something that I do not believe in, he added.

Sharpton then veered to an apparent theological argument.

The Bible, if youre using this as a religious argument, the Bible is about choice, he said. You can go to Heaven or Hell. Theres nowhere in the Bible that says you had to go to Heaven.

So where do we get this theology of forcing something when the reality is you cant even biblically base that? Its a question of choice. If you are a minister, as I am, you can preach to people to convert them; you do not make laws to compel them.

But David Closson, director of the Family Research Councils Center for Biblical Worldview, told The Christian Post that Sharpton could not be further from the truth.

The Bible affirms the personhood of the unborn from cover to cover. Lets just start with the Ten Commandments where it says thou shalt not kill, said Closson.

Its interesting to hear Sharptons comments that you cant compel anybody. Part of the nature of law is telling people what they can and cannot do, and from a Christian perspective, what people ought to do and what people ought not to do.

Closson pointed to several Bible passages that he said explicitly teach the value of preborn life, including Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Luke, where Elizabeth and Mary are both pregnant and John the Baptist leaps for joy when Jesus in utero enters the room.

Theres a reason that for 2,000 years, every major Christian theologian leader has affirmed the personhood of the unborn or opposed abortion, he added.

Closson also pushed back against the notion of having a safe abortion.

Theres no such thing as a safe abortion, Closson said. A so-called successful abortion is always going to have two victims, the dead unborn child and its going to scar that mother for the rest of her life.

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, Sharpton called the ruling a blatant attempt to bring us back to the dark ages.

Sharpton made other appearances on MSNBC in which he argued that the Bible is silent when it comes to the issue of abortion.

Speaking on MSBNCs Morning Joe, Sharpton said abortion is also not mentioned, as you know better than anybody, in the Bible. It's not mentioned in the New Testament; it's not mentioned in the Gospels, and it's not mentioned by Jesus. Not one time.

For Closson, such rhetoric isnt surprising coming from Sharpton.

Hes been saying these kinds of things for his entire career, but its important for all of us to realize it is out of step, most importantly with Scripture, but its also out of step with every major Christian denomination that believes the Bible is the authoritative Word of God, he said.
Nigeria arrests suspects for Pentecost Sunday massacre at Catholic church

Military officials say they have arrested the suspected gunmen charged with carrying out a massacre on a Catholic church service in southwestern Nigeria that killed over dozens on Pentecost Sunday.

Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Leo Irabor told local reporters that "those behind the dastardly act" that worshippers dead at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo in Ondo state in June have been taken into custody, according to The Daily Trust.

Further details were not released, but Irabor told The Associated Press that investigations remain ongoing.

"In due course, the world will see them and others who are behind other daring attacks in the country," the Nigerian general was quoted as saying.

The June 5 attack at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church left around 40 people killed and as many as 80 reportedly injured.

Bishop Jude Arogundade of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo told The Christian Post the massacre "left the entire community broken" and the "entire diocese shattered."

Arogundade told AP that the Catholic church has not been informed yet of the arrests. He added church officials will wait to receive further confirmation about "the motive because we are a peaceful organization, we don't get into politics or into controversial issues."

Arogundade described the southwestern portion of Nigeria where the diocese is located as a "stable part of Nigeria" and said it has "never had this kind of incident before."

"We're so shocked and surprised that anyone would come from far away  to attack us," he said.

In the 2022 Open Doors USA World Watch List of the countries where it is most challenging to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever.

Violence against Christians and Catholics in Nigeria has stepped up in recent months, including the murder of two Catholic priests in the Nigerian states of Kaduna and Edo in June.

Those murders came about a month after two other priests were slain in two other districts in the West African country.

In May, unidentified gunmen stormed a Catholic parish in northern Nigeria. They abducted two priests, Fr. Stephen Ojapa and Fr. Oliver Okpara, from the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. Vatican News reported at the time that two unidentified boys from St. Patrick Catholic Church in Gidan Maikambo area of Katsina state's Kafur Local Government Area were also abducted.

Open Doors USA, which monitors persecution in over 60 countries, reported that at least 4,650 Christians were killed between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, marking an increase from 3,530 the previous year.

During that same timeframe, more than 2,500 Christians were reportedly kidnapped, up from 990 a year earlier.
Teen charged for illegal abortion after Facebook surrenders chat messages; pro-life researcher reacts

A pro-life legal researcher does not believe a case in which Facebook had to turn over private chats between a mother and daughter to Nebraska police as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girls abortion could become common in a post-Roe world.

The investigation was launched in April before the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Mississippis 15-week abortion ban, overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the abortion issue to the states. According to court documents, Nebraska police obtained the Facebook chats after serving the social media website with a warrant.

Jessica Burgess, 41, and her daughter, Celeste, 18, were charged in July with allegedly removing, concealing, or abandoning a dead human body, concealing the death of another person and false reporting.

The mother was additionally charged with performing or attempting an abortion on a pregnancy at more than 20 weeks and performing an abortion as a non-licensed doctor.

Jessica Burgess reportedly ordered abortion pills in March to abort her teenage daughters pregnancy. According to a sworn affidavit from Detective Ben McBride of the Norfolk Police Investigations Unit, a woman claiming to be a friend of the daughter said she saw the teenager take the first abortion pill in April.

Abortion is illegal in Nebraska past 20 weeks post-fertilization. Celeste Burgess claimed she had a miscarriage at 23 weeks gestation.

McBride applied for a warrant in June, seizing six smartphones and seven laptops and ordering Facebook to turn over chats between the mother and daughter. The chats reportedly show Jessica Burgess referring to What i ordered last month and instructing her to take two pills 24 hours apart.

Pro-choice activist Olivia Julianna tweeted Tuesday that women should delete their Facebook accounts in response to the case, causing the hashtag #DeleteFacebook to trend.

A lot of people are missing the point here. Regardless of what is in those messages, they thought she had an abortion, she wrote.

They subpoenaed Facebook  who cooperated without any pushback  to find out more information. This precedent is dangerous. This will put people at risk.

Daniel Gump, a legal researcher and author of Criminal Abortion Laws Before the Fourteenth Amendment: A Timeline and Visual Review of Jurisprudence and Historical Milestones, argued in a Wednesday statement to The Christian Post that abortion proponents are misrepresenting the facts surrounding the case.

This is a case of someone illegally procuring a post-viability induced abortion for a minor, and three individuals then attempting to destroy and hide evidence that included human remains, he wrote.

The details of the crimes eventually leaked out, and that led to an investigation that included interviews and warrants to seize electronic devices and communication records on social media. Justice is being served.

As The Norfolk Daily News reported in July, the Madison County Attorneys Office alleges that the mother and daughter planned to bury the babys remains in a rural location. The teen and her mother allegedly buried the body three different times and also attempted to burn the body after the second exhumation.

Another individual, Tanner Barnhill, pleaded no contest to concealing a death for lending the Burgesses transportation to the burial sites. Barnhill is expected to be sentenced later this month. He faces up to 3 months in jail, a $500 fine, or both.

Jessica Burgess pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2, and she faces up to 8 years of imprisonment. Her daughter, whose pre-trial hearing is set for later this month, faces up to four years of imprisonment.

Both mother and daughter have pled not guilty to the charges.

Facebook's parent company, Meta, said in a statement shared with media outlets that "nothing in the valid warrants we received from local law enforcement in early June, prior to the Supreme Court decision, mentioned abortion."

"The warrants concerned charges related to a criminal investigation and court documents indicate that police at the time were investigating the case of a stillborn baby who was burned and buried, not a decision to have an abortion."
4 marks of spiritual revival: Lessons from the Jesus Revolution

What my generation called The Jesus Movement, TIME Magazine called The Jesus Revolution. They were right. Revolution involves a dramatic change, a return. The same can be said of revival. Simply put, a Christian revival is a return to New Testament Christianity  the way we who follow Jesus should always live.

We need another Jesus revolution, and I believe we will see one in our lifetime. But to experience revival, we must first wake from our sleep.

So many in the church today are spiritually asleep. They are settling for a watered-down form of the Christian faith. This is not the form of the Christian faith that changed the world in the first century  the faith that changed families, countries and cultures. As evangelist and Bible scholar G.Cambell Morgan once stated: Organized Christianity that fails to make a disturbance is dead.

But God has laid out a plan for our redemption: If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

As someone who lived through the The Jesus Movement and came to faith as a result of it, I can recall several earmarks of that time:

There was a sense of expectancy at every gathering



No one was ever late for church. If you were, you wouldnt find a seat. We were there consistently and punctually, knowing that the Holy Spirit would show up.

The Word of God was always taught



This consistency and commitment to the Bible gave us stability as we learned from Scripture. Like sponges, we soaked up everything and looked forward to the teaching each week. Verse by verse and chapter by chapter, my mentor and friend, the late Pastor Chuck Smith, brought the pages of the Bible to life.

People were open to the work of the Holy Spirit



We used cutting-edge technology (i.e., cassette tapes!) to share our hope. We took chances  I preached for the first time at Pirates Cove. (This may mean something to you if you're from California. If you have no idea what Im talking about, Google it.) We were careful to base all we did on the unshakable foundation of Scripture. In fact, my life was changed by the Jesus Freaks who took the time to tell me the truth about the hope I was searching for.

People invited non-believers to church and told them about Jesus

Because we believed Jesus could return at any time, we felt a sense of urgency in sharing his Good News. We invited people to church, and people came to know Jesus at every service. In Acts 2:47, we learn that the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. New believers were and still are the lifeblood of the Church. The Christian Church today has a choice to either evangelize or fossilize. If a Church does not have a constant flow of new believers, it will grow stagnant.

Gen Z is the loneliest generation, even more, depressed and despondent after a year of lockdowns. In April 2020, incidents of self-harm among 13- to 18-year-olds rose 99.8%, overdoses rose 119%, generalized anxiety rose 94% and major depressive disorders rose 84%. Our basic human desires, such as connection, love, acceptance, peace, and safety, never change. Thankfully, neither does Jesus (Hebrews 13:8). But as Apostle Paul asks, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14).

Despite all this, Millennials in the Church today tend to not share their faith with others. One study noted, Almost half of Millennial Christians (47%) agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share ones personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.

If we desire revival, then we need to encourage these younger generations to pick up the baton of the Gospel. We need to pray and prepare the ground for God to move by doing our part: teaching them, mentoring them, and loving them.

R.A. Torrey, founder of the Bible Institute Of Los Angeles (BIOLA), had a prescription for revival. He advised:

Let a few Christians (they need not be many) get thoroughly right with God. Let them commit themselves to pray for revival until God opens the windows of heaven and comes down. Let them put themselves at the disposal of God.

The Jesus Revolution of my time followed this formula and changed the world.

So, I pray: Lord, do it again.

Lord, may it begin with us.
Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan takes part in Gusadi dance to mark to mark the World Tribal Day at Osmania University in Hyderabad. (Photo by arrangement)

HYDERABAD: Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Tuesday said tribal communities were the first to revolt against the mighty British empire.

Addressing a programme organised by the Vanavasi Kalyan Parishad in Tagore Auditorium at Osmania University, the Governor said, Hundreds of years ago, the tribals fought against the British. They were the first ones to fight against British rulers, and as we recollect the stories of those tribal fighters, our blood boils.

Cultural programmes were held as part of the event wherein students performed tribal and traditional dances. Prof Laxmikanth Rathod, Vice Chancellor of Palamuru University, said, Tribal freedom fighters remained unsung heroes, their sacrifices remained unheard after the nation achieved freedom.

Appala Prasad, convener Samajika Samarasata Manch, and others were present.

Meanwhile, a day-long photo exhibition was held to commemorate the unsung tribal heroes who fought for Independence at Tagore Auditorium on Osmania University cam-pus on the World TribalDay on Tuesday.

Photos of around 40 freedom fighters with a brief history were on display at the exhibition including those of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Rani Ropuiliani of Mizoram, Matmur Jamoh of Arunachal Pradesh, Helen Lepchu of Sikkim, Sidhu Murmu, a Santhal rebellion leader, and Porsche Swuro, a member of Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses Azad Hind Fauj.

Sabavath Suman Naik, a student of MBA, said, This exhibition gave us more information. We came to know about many of our Tribal freedom fighters, who were key in bringing freedom to this nation.

Davender Rao, an alumnus of the university, said, This type of event will make students understand the sacrifices of their forefathers in making the nation free from colonialism.
One year later: Serving Afghan refugees

As this months anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan approaches, I am proud to look back on how our community has welcomed many Afghan evacuees over the past year.

I also know there is more our country can do, including offering resettled Afghans certainty about their future here.

I worked overseas for 21 years and knew what it was like to land in another culture. In China, I experienced the love and sacrifice of people who welcomed my family and helped us find friends, purchase an apartment, learn the language, and better understand the culture while we lived there.

We would not have survived without the care of the locals who were so kind to us. It motivated my husband and me to welcome and help international students, refugees, and immigrants here in America after we returned.

That is why I eagerly joined a group at my church and some of our friends to welcome Afghans who have recently arrived. My church is a non-denominational church outside Philadelphia that was built in the 1970s with a focus on missions. In 2018 a small group of us recruited volunteers to sponsor refugees.

Unfortunately, the doors closed to refugees at that time in America. But we found other ways to care for the displaced people around the world. Several of us went on short-term mission trips to Lebanon to serve Syrian refugees and Lesvos, Greece to help at the refugee camp there.

We were able to experience what beautiful people refugees are but also the incredible trauma they go through. We offered humanitarian aid as well as prayer and love. While some even wanted to know more about Jesus because of the love they saw in us, we served everyone, regardless of their faith or interest in Christianity.

Several in our group are Asian immigrants who understand the challenges of settling in a foreign country. One woman, Z, came as a Vietnamese refugee decades ago and remembers how an American Christian family took her family in and helped them through the many struggles refugees experience when they come here.

This family was not well off, but they welcomed us and fed and housed us for months, Z says. Z and her husband have passionately led our group as we have welcomed and cared for resettled Afghans in the past year.

Our government also can help the tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees our nation is welcoming, including these women, by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would give the evacuees a quicker path to permanent residence  than the current alternative of an asylum application process which takes years to gain residency. Such a measure will help our new Afghan neighbors integrate as quickly as possible and make their communities stronger.

We are so grateful that the doors are once again opening up in America for the body of Christ to bring Gods love to many thousands of refugees who are suffering around the world.

We desire to be the hands and feet of God to welcome people whoever they are and whatever their faith. We now have several people ready to welcome Afghan refugees.

I pray that the Afghan women we are helping experience the same kind of welcome and love that I experienced from the Chinese people I encountered. May America become a home they love and in which they feel welcomed. May they receive Gods blessing through us.
Pastor faces death threats in Uganda after leading dozens of Muslims to Christ

NAIROBI, Kenya  A month after a Christian was killed in Kiboga District, Uganda, a pastor in the same district fears for his life following death threats from Muslim extremists, he said.

Pastor Godfrey Ssemujju, who oversees 130 Elim Pentecostal churches in Kiboga district, 75 miles northwest of Kampala, said the lives of his family and church members are also in danger.

I am worried and very fearful, Pastor Ssemujju said.

He said that one of the text messages read, We warn you to stop converting our people to Christianity. If you continue doing this, then take note that [taking] your life is our Jannah [koranic paradise in the afterlife]. After killing you, our Allah will reward us with it.

Pastor Ssemujju has received such messages for three months, with the threats increasing after his preaching at open-air events and one-on-one conversations in June and July led to 70 Muslims turning to Christ, he said. Some of the converts are teachers in Muslim elementary schools.

His churches have undergone a series of attacks in the past few months. On July 25, assailants killed tens of head of livestock belonging to one of his church members; on July 6, Muslim extremists attacked Robert Bwenje, who succumbed to his injuries on July 10 at age 28, and assistant pastor Ambrose Mugisha, seriously wounding his head; and on June 26, Muslim extremists demolished a church building in Rwomuriro village and threatened to kill Pastor James Baingana.

Pastor Ssemujju said 14 Muslims have threatened his life.

Homeless

In eastern Uganda, a family of eight lost their home after leaving Islam to put their faith in Christ, sources said.

Muslim extremists and their relatives in Maumo village, Waibuga Sub-County, Luuka District, on July 23 went to the home of Musa Kasadha, Kasadha said.

Sheikh Huraira and his team, Ndiwo Huraira, Magulu Kassimu and Kapio Aramanzani, came to our home and inquired whether we had converted to Christianity, Kasadha told Morning Star News. We could not refuse but fearlessly told them that Christ has entered our lives, and that were new creatures. The attackers beat us badly.

George Mwandah, chairperson of the local council, said he heard wailing and mobilized seven other council members to go to their rescue.

Reaching the scene, we managed to rescue Musa and his wife, as well as the entire family who were being beaten badly and tortured, Mwandah said. A Muslim named Magulu Kassimu alleged that the Kasadha family had blasphemed the Islamic faith by converting to Christianity, and that hence they deserved to be killed.

The assailants set the familys home on fire, and they lost it and everything in it, he said.

The family needs assistance in terms of clothes and food, Mwandah said.

The attacks were the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Ugandas Constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.

This article was originally published by Morning Star News.
Contentment, not poverty, should be the goal for Christians

Solomon said, Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. (Proverbs 14:4 ESV)

That Proverb came to mind when I first heard of Andy Jones post, Why John Stott Lived with Less at The Gospel Coalition website. I certainly liked Jones conclusion:

Simplicity wont look the same for every Christian. The approach of a large family in a rural area will be different from a single man living in the city like Stott. This is a matter of liberty, and believers can do as their consciences dictate.

I agree with his final exhortation that we should ask ourselves, What can I reduce, eliminate, or limit in my lifestyle that would enable me to invest intentionally and sacrificially in the growth of Christs church? Though if we keep in mind the allowance for marriage and children, we should recognize that, for many the question will be, What can WE do?

This is not a small thing. The Apostle Paul wrote that if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8) The context of the Apostles' statement was the care for destitute widows. He insisted that if they had a support system then they should not receive from the church. Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. (1 Timothy 5:34 ESV)

This concern that families provide for their own was addressed by Jesus: And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, Honor your father and your mother, and, Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die. But you say, If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father. So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! (Matthew 15:37a ESV)

So, while it might be relatively simple to make do with less as a single individual, unmarried and childless (and whose parents do not need financial help), simplicity gets complicated quickly in a world where people are supposed to provide for the well-being of others. It is one thing to sacrifice oneself for others. It is quite another to sacrifice ones family for strangers. Scripture is clear that we should care for our own so that no one else is burdened. If I use my money for braces for my child, is my desire for straight teeth in my offspring a sinful temptation to be greedy and rob churches in poor countries with the money that could be donated to them instead? These issues care anything but simple.

The issue of showing generosity was so complicated that the Apostles failed to do it well, and had to appoint others to offices in the church (Acts 6). And the Bible warns that contentment tends to compile into wealth: Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich... Precious treasure and oil are in a wise mans dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. (Proverbs 21:17, 20 ESV) Be content so you can save and invest? If that is what you mean by simplicity, then I'm all for it. But I suspect most people would call such behavior more complicated than simple.

In fact, nothing in Jones arguments or Stotts as he relates them justify the motto of simplicity. He mentions contentment as a subsidiary part of simplicity, but I dont see it.

Contentment in all circumstances, including the circumstance of complicated abundance, is what the Bible calls for. Thats the word used by Jesus and Paul. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:1113 ESV)

And, for Paul, contentment in ones circumstances did not rule out looking for better opportunities: Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) (1 Corinthians 7:2021 ESV)

There is a major elephant in the room in reading about John Stott living with less. Living with less was never the most effective way Christian culture alleviated poverty. The global standard of living has risen dramatically because Christian culture produced bourgeois capitalism. As impious as many find it, the fact is that giving people authorization to work and save for their children without being subject to envy or confiscation has done far more for the poor around the world than the charity of Christians ever could. In fact, the only reason we can transfer so much wealth to other countries is because of the market system.

People should be generous, but generosity isnt possible without producing wealth to share.
Justin Welby agrees to meet with BBC host who says pastors are bigots for opposing gay marriage

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby says he is willing to meet with lesbian BBC host Sandi Toksvig, who criticized his recent declaration at the Lambeth Conference that the Anglican Communion still holds an official stance that homosexual sex is "incompatible with scripture."

"I would love to sit down over coffee talk with you," Welby wrote in a letter to Toksvig, who hosts "QI"on the BBC.

Toksvig wrote an open letter to the archbishop saying if they were friends, she "could persuade you that you have made a horrible mistake."

She wrote about "several credible death threats" she's faced over her sexuality.

"Each and every one of those threats has come from an evangelical Christian. Inevitably they have wanted to kill me on God's behalf because although he may be omnipotent apparently he's also very busy," Toksvig stated.

Welby replied that the "hatred and threats that you  and so many other LGBTQI+ people  have experienced in the name of Jesus Christ are a sin."

"I have absolutely no doubt about that and want you to be in no doubt of my position," he clarified. "The Church of England agrees with this view and vigorously opposes conversion therapy."

In her open letter, comedian and broadcaster Toksvig responded to Welby's statement at the Lambeth Conference, a meeting of 650 bishops that took place from July 26 through Aug. 8 in Canterbury, Kent. Leading up to the conference, there was a call to reaffirm a resolution passed at the 1998 Lambeth Conference to establish that "homosexual practices" are "incompatible with Scripture."

The call was titled the Lambeth Call on Human Dignity. The original draft of the resolution shared before the conference called for "a reaffirmation of Lambeth I.10 that upholds marriage as between a man and a woman and requires deeper work to uphold the dignity and witness of LGBTQ Anglicans."

After pushback by progressive members of the Anglican Communion, the text of the call was amended to eliminate language on the man-woman definition of marriage and to state that views on marriage within the communion are divided.

The Anglican Communion boasts nearly 100 million members worldwide. The Lambeth Conference, held once roughly every 10 years, is attended by bishops who represent autonomous member churches from 165 countries. This year's conference took place after a gap of 14 years, instead of 10 years, due to differences over controversial issues and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

In an address last Tuesday, Welby told Anglican bishops that "the validity of the (1998) resolution  is not in doubt." He said that the call "states as a fact that the vast majority of Anglicans in the large majority of Provinces and Dioceses do not believe that a change in teaching is right."

"Therefore, it is the case that the whole of Lambeth 1.10 1998 still exists. This Call does not in any way question the validity of that resolution," he said.

Toksvig, who is married to Debbie Toksvig, a psychotherapist, wrote: "It was a sin in 1998 and you just wanted to make clear in 2022 that no one in your finely frocked gang has moved on from that."

She questioned what punishment would be if a Church of England church married a same-sex couple.

"Apparently you feel you have balanced out this shocking statement of exclusion by saying you won't punish churches who conduct same sex marriages," she wrote. "What would this punishment be? Does the Church of England have a naughty step where loving priests sit before being allowed back at the bigot's table?"

Anglican Communion-affiliated denominations in some countries, including the U.S., Scotland, Wales, Canada and Brazil have backed same-sex marriage to some degree.

In his reply to Toksvig, Welby acknowledged: "The Anglican Communion is a complicated global group of churches."

"We can talk about this when we meet," Welby wrote. "There are deep differences in many areas. This week we have been honest about the differences and nevertheless, accept each other."
Deeply disturbed: Conservative Evangelical leaders denounce FBI raid on Trump home

Conservative Christian leaders have denounced the Federal Bureau of Investigation's raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, claiming the action was politically motivated.

FBI agents raided Trump's home on Monday, reportedly searching for classified documents that the former president was supposed to turn over to the National Archives. The former president announced the raid on his residence and safe, calling it an unfair action spurred by the Justice Department and Democrats to hurt his 2024 chances.

As Trump gained the support of many conservative Evangelical leaders during his presidency, many of whom were invited to the White House on several occasions, several Evangelicals pastors voiced their displeasure with the raid on social media.

Jentezen Franklin, a megachurch pastor and bestselling author, posted a statement on his Instagram page Tuesday saying he is "deeply disturbed over the raid of a former president's home."

"If the goal of the current administration was to further divide this country then that mission was accomplished with the weaponization of the DOJ and the FBI," Franklin, the pastor of the Free Chapel in Georgia, stated.

"The American people are not blind to political bias and injustice and they witnessed both with this unprecedented act of cowardice."

Franklin, who was among groups of pastors who attended events at the Trump White House, claimed that the raid was a "federal abuse of power" that only occurred because of Trump's "political ideologies and his opposition to woke policies and values."

"If you are like me, you cannot wait for November to vote this failed and incompetent leadership out of office all across the nation," he concluded.

Tony Perkins, a Baptist pastor and the president of the Washington, D.C.-based conservative Christian advocacy group the Family Research Council, took to his Twitter account to express his opposition to the Mar-a-Lago raid.

"Who trusts the FBI to pursue justice?" asked Perkins. "The agency has become so politicized that even if their actions were justified half the nation still would not trust them."

The Rev. Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, believes the FBI and DOJ risk losing credibility again.

Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, referenced the 1992 Ruby Ridge incident, in which an FBI sniper shot and killed the wife of a man believed to have been tied to violent white supremacists, sparking outrage.

"Thirty years ago the FBI lost a lot of credibility over the unfortunate events that surrounded Ruby Ridge. Last night as we watched the events that unfolded at Mar-a-Lago, I couldn't help but think that the FBI and DOJ are losing credibility and the trust of the American people again," Graham wrote.

"I have no idea what was in former President Trump's safe, but if the government thought there was something there that belonged to them, they certainly could have asked for it."

Graham insisted that "politics has entered into the FBI, the DOJ, and even the IRS," expressing concern over the recent news that the IRS is hiring around 87,000 new personnel.

"It is an issue of freedom  as Americans we are losing our freedoms. Our nation has become so corrupt politically and morally. We need to repent and turn from our sins and call on the name of God, asking for His forgiveness," he continued.

"We need changes in leadership. We need men and women who respect Biblical principles and values to run for office at the local, state, and national level."

Described by the Associated Press as "unprecedented," the raid was approved by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. The White House claims to have been unaware of the raid until after it had begun.

"The President learned about this just like you all did, through the public reports. And we learned about this just like the American people did," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing.

"This is a criminal investigation that the Department of Justice is independently running. We will leave it to them to speak to this."

In response to the claims of politicizing the FBI, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi noted that FBI Director Christopher A. Wray was appointed by Trump in 2017.

"The FBI director was appointed by Donald Trump," said Pelosi, as quoted by the AP. "Facts and truth, facts and law, that's what it's about."

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., stated that if Republicans take control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections, they will launch an investigation into the "weaponized politicization" of the Justice Department.

"I've seen enough. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization," McCarthy said. "When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned."

"Attorney General Garland, preserve your documents and clear your calendar," McCarthy added.

In his statement, Trump compared the raid on his residence to the 1972 Watergate scandal, "where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee."

"Hillary Clinton was allowed to delete and acid wash 33,000 E-mails AFTER they were subpoenaed by Congress. Absolutely nothing has happened to hold her accountable. She even took antique furniture, and other items from the White House," Trump added.

People familiar with the discussions surrounding the raid told The Washington Post Wednesday that federal authorities had grown increasingly concerned that Trump or his aides had not returned all documents and material that were government property.

According to the anonymous sources, officials were suspicious after Trump handed over 15 boxes to the National Archives seven months ago that either Trump or those close to him held onto important documents. According to two sources familiar with the situation who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity, National Archives made attempts to contact Trump's team to demand the return of documents believed to be covered by the Presidential Records Act.

A Trump lawyer confirmed that agents acting on a judge-approved warrant took about 12 more boxes of documents after conducting their search.
Immigration will fuel US population growth in next two decades amid projected fertility rate rise: report

A Congressional report suggests that net immigration will likely account for all of the United States' population growth in the next two decades, even as fertility rates are projected to increase slightly.

The Congressional Budget Office, which conducts a nonpartisan analysis of bills proposed by the U.S. Congress, released "The Demographic Outlook: 2022 to 2052" last month.

The report includes population projections for the next 30 years. The CBO contends that "the size of the U.S. population and its age and sex composition affect federal spending, revenues, deficits, debts, and the economy."

Over the next three decades, the report predicts the U.S. population will rise from 335 million today to 369 million in 2052. The CBO forecasts that by the year 2043, U.S. population growth will be driven entirely by net immigration as the number of deaths in the country will exceed the number of births beginning at that time.

The total fertility rate  the average number of children per woman  is expected to rise in the next three decades but will remain below the replacement rate, defined in the report as "the fertility rate required for a population to exactly replace itself in the absence of immigration."

Following a projected decline to 1.60 births per woman in 2021, the CBO estimates that the total fertility rate will rise to 1.75 births per woman in 2031 and remain steady over the next two decades. That figure fails to reach the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman.

Over the next three decades, women under 30 are expected to see their fertility rate decline, while women aged 30 or older will see their fertility rates increase. The CBO attributes this phenomenon to "trends of delayed childbearing and the rising average age of mothers."

"[T]he size of the working-age population affects the number of people employed; likewise, the size of the population age 65 or older affects the number of beneficiaries of Social Security and other federal programs," the report reads.

The size of the working-age population, specifically those between the ages of 25 and 54, is forecasted to grow at a slower rate than the population aged 65 and older.

The population of seniors is expected to grow at a 1.2% rate per year over the next 30 years, while the population between 25 and 54 will increase at a much slower rate of 0.2%. Meanwhile, the ratio of people between the ages of 25 and 54 to the elderly is slated to shrink from 2.3 to 1 in 2022 to 1.7 to 1 in 2052.

These statistics could have an impact on the U.S.'s ability to maintain its social safety net for older Americans, Medicare and Social Security, with the number of people working to fund those benefits decreasing in the face of increased demand for the programs caused by a rising number of seniors seeking to obtain the benefits.

A decreasing mortality rate and increasing life expectancy complicate concerns about the social safety net for seniors. Following a brief increase in the mortality rate due to the coronavirus pandemic, the mortality rate is expected to decrease over the course of the next three decades steadily. At the same time, the CBO projects that life expectancy will rise from 77.1 years in 2022 to 82.3 years in 2052.

The report forecasts net immigration  the number of immigrants who leave the U.S. in a given year subtracted from the number of immigrants who come to the country in that year  will grow from around 950,000 in the next decade to about 1.1 million in the final decade of the projection period.

In the next decade, an average of 800,000 lawful permanent residents will settle in the U.S., along with about 80,000 "foreign-born people without legal status" and another 80,000 legal temporary residents.

Lawful permanent residents are "authorized to work, liable to pay income taxes, and eligible for most federal programs." On the other hand, "foreign-born people without legal status" are "generally not eligible for federal programs," and legal temporary residents have limited eligibility for such programs.

By the final decade of the projection period, the number of lawful permanent residents settling in the U.S. per year will likely rise to 870,000 while the number of "foreign-born people without legal status" arriving in the U.S. every year will nearly double to 150,000. The number of legal temporary residents coming to the U.S. will remain steady at 80,000 if current projections hold.
Matt Chandler identifies 2 'non-negotiables' for pastors to lead well in 'increasingly hostile' culture

Village Church Pastor Matt Chandler identified two non-negotiables pastors must employ to lead their churches boldly post-COVID-19 and offered the reminder that though culture is growing increasingly hostile to the Body of Christ, the Church was made for this moment.

What I want to encourage the brothers and sisters to do is to make sure their eyes and hearts are oriented around Jesus and who He is and His promises to His bride, His promises to the Church, so that we might stand in the confidence of knowing that the gates of Hell will not prevail, that we might stand in the confidence of knowing that we are the bride, and He will not betray His bride, Chandler said during Exponential's Reset Summit on Wednesday

If we will orient our imaginations, our minds, our hearts, around being the Bride of Christ, what the Scriptures have said about the Bride of Christ, and consider the reign and rule of King Jesus lion and lamb, I think we can move forward in courage. If we use the old metrics, I think we're in a lot of trouble.

When it comes to leading a church with confidence post-COVID, Chandler, who also leads the Acts 29 church planting network, presented two non-negotiables for pastors. The first, he said, is to fight for unhurried time with Jesus.

It's one thing to kind of create space for, study your Bible or to write a sermon or to do deep work. It's another thing to say, I want to fight for, and I will want to find, unhurried space where I can just linger with Jesus, thanking, praising, asking for gratitude to be stirred up in my heart, remembering who I am in Him, remembering He called me into this ... so He won't betray me, He won't abandon me.' And just sit there and listen, and that will reveal all sorts of other things that are going on in your heart that then the Spirit of God can deal with that I think will really embolden and strengthen ministers of the Gospel.

The second non-negotiable is, I'm always going to fight for transparency with my inner circle," Chandler said, revealing that, for him, his inner circle are two close, trustworthy friends.

Those guys have seen my budget, they've seen my tax returns, they know when [my wife] Lauren and I are trying to navigate something, they know when I'm frustrated or concerned or worried about a kid, they know when I feel like I'm crushing it, and when I feel like I'm not. I will copy the select group of men  on emails that I'm in that seem to be growing hostile, so that they serve as a buffer for what the compulsion of my heart is versus how I probably need to behave as a pastor to a member.

I've been sustained by the Spirit of God simply by fighting for that unhurried time with Jesus, and then making sure that those closest to me know exactly what's going on in this head and heart of mine.

Coming out of a pandemic, Chandler said he wants to preach confidence back into the people of God. He stressed that though there is a growing hostility toward the Church, the Body of Christ was made for this moment.

God created us for this moment, let's step into it with all the zeal of those who understand how the story ends, he said.

If the Church believes it's over and we've lost, and it's over ... what an opportunity we just squandered, he said. People are more lonely, more desperate. Secularism has been exposed as lacking, our sexual ethics is starting to show the cracks in its ideology. What an opportunity to step in and be this plausibility structure that, life can be different than you see it, life can be different than you know it, and here's a group of people that embody that and believe it and pray and worship and love one another in a way that shows you there's something better than the life you're in.

Its inevitable that pastors are going to get beat on in todays culture, Chandler said, making it all the more important for people to know who they are in Christ.

It has been given to you to suffer and be misconstrued and be misrepresented and to be in some senses bullied and badgered, he emphasized. As it was given to Jesus so now it's given to you. I would try to reframe this as, what a privilege at this moment in history to endure as our Savior endured and bear the reproach, even from those who are in the household of faith.

You are not going to be able to lead in such a way where you're not misrepresented  that day is gone. You will be misrepresented, you will be misunderstood  I want you to reframe that as the blessing that Jesus said it was, he added.

What a privilege to endure hardship for the sake of the King, and then boldly step into the call to radical discipleship, the call to radical surrender that He's called us to that now comes with a cost  we will suffer, but through worship and prayer and fasting and confidence, we will overcome and conquer.
Texas megachurch with 14K members votes to leave UMC amid homosexuality schism

A Texas megachurch has voted to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church due to the mainline Protestant denominations ongoing debate over homosexuality as over 200 churches in the Lone Star State are considering disaffiliation.

The Woodlands Methodist Church, a congregation with approximately 14,200 members located in Woodlands, Texas, voted on Sunday to leave the UMC Texas Annual Conference.

According to an announcement from the church, about 3,000 members gathered at the church on Sunday and about 2,678 members  or 96.3% of those voting  supported disaffiliation.

Senior Pastor Mark Sorensen posted a video on the churchs website saying that the vote affirmed that we are united in one vision and one clear mission.

We are ready to move on past the division and the differences that have been an ongoing distraction in our denomination for far too long, said Sorensen. Remember, we are changing to stay the same. With this vote, we are preserving the ministry that we know and love.

Sorensen offered a blessing to those who wanted to remain in the UMC, suggesting it is time to bless one another, even as we go our separate ways.

In this there is no victory, in this there is no winner or loser, he added. We are called to pray for and lift up others in whatever ministry God has calling us to now and in the future.

According to the UMC Texas Annual Conference, more than 210 member congregations are considering disaffiliation from the denomination as of late July.

The conference will host a special session on Dec. 3 in Houston that will, among other things, include officially recognizing the departure of churches that have taken the necessary steps toward disaffiliation.

Woodlands is not the only congregation to disaffiliatee from the Texas Conference on Sunday. The 1,300-member Faithbridge of Spring, Texas, approved disaffiliation when all 549 members present for the vote supported leaving.

Im  realistic about where the denomination is heading, and so I have no second thoughts, said Faithbridge Senior Pastor Ken Werlein, as reported by UM News. Weve done the right thing, the smart thing, the wise thing to keep Faithbridge Faithbridge.

Over the past several years, the UMC has faced a polarizing debate and schism over whether the United States' second largest Protestant denomination should maintain its official stance banning the blessing of same-sex unions and the ordination of noncelibate homosexual clergy.

Although theological liberals within the denomination have failed to change the official rules, many of them in positions of leadership have refused to enforce the existing rules highlighted in the UMC Book of Discipline, causing much frustration among theological conservatives.

Across the United States, many congregations have left or are considering disaffiliating from the UMC. Many have joined the Global Methodist Church, a newly created conservative Methodist denomination.
FBI Raid On Trump's Mar-a-Lago Home, 3 Men Sentenced In Arbery Killing, Trump Wins Latest CPAC Election Poll

link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:43 07:43

A Christian school in Florida will retain access to a federal lunch program benefiting low- income students despite initial concerns that it would be barred considering LGBT discrimination policies enacted by the Biden administration.



A federal judge in Georgia has sentenced two men to life in prison and a third to 35 years for racially motivated federal hate crimes related to the 2020 murder of 25-year-old African American Ahmaud Arbery.



Former President Donald Trump won the 2024 primary campaign straw poll among attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference gathering in Texas over the weekend.



Outspoken civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton raised some theological eyebrows last week after claiming the Bible is about choice when it comes to the life of the unborn.



House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has denounced the FBI raid on the Mar-a-Lago home of former President Donald Trump.
Christian school will receive govt lunch funding despite concerns with Biden's LGBT policies

A Christian school in Florida will retain access to a federal lunch program benefiting low-income students despite initial concerns that it would be barred considering LGBT discrimination policies enacted by the Biden administration.

Grant Park Christian Academy of Tampa sued government officials last month to secure its access to the National School Lunch Program, which provided lunches to 56 low-income students enrolled at its school.

Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group representing Grant Park, announced the approval of the school's application to continue receiving funds on Monday.

The Biden administration and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried informed the school on Friday that "they intend to approve the schools application for funding," according to ADF.

ADF Legal Counsel Erica Steinmiller-Perdomo believes it "shouldn't have taken a lawsuit to get the government to respect religious freedom."

"Now, provided the government follows through and approves Grant Park Christian Academy's application and confirms its exemption, this private school can continue feeding dozens of children healthy meals every day," Steinmiller-Perdomo said in a statement.

"We will defend other public and private schools across the country who remain under the burden of this unlawful mandate that violates religious beliefs."

Last month, the ADF filed a lawsuit on behalf of Faith Action Ministry Alliance, Inc., which operates Grant Park, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.

Defendants named in the lawsuit included Fried, President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack.

At issue was the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food and Nutrition Service announcement in May interpreting the Title IX prohibition on discrimination based on sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

"As a result, state and local agencies, program operators and sponsors that receive funds from FNS must investigate allegations of discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation," stated the FNS.

"Those organizations must also update their non-discrimination policies and signage to include prohibitions against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation."

The FNS oversees the National School Lunch Program, which provides low-cost and free lunches to children at tens of thousands of public and nonprofit private schools nationwide.

The ADF lawsuit argued that such a policy would force Grant Park to abandon its gender-specific student dress code, allow biological males into girls' restrooms and force teachers to use students' preferred pronouns.

Late last month, 22 states filed suit over the Biden administration's announced anti-discrimination policy, arguing it would force Christian schools to adopt LGBT ideology or lose out on the program.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed that the new standard would "penalize states that have taken basic commonsense actions like just recognizing the importance of women's sports."

"They're threatening to take away lunch money from poor kids as punishment from us protecting women's sports. Think about how deranged that is," said DeSantis.

Fried, a Democrat candidate for governor of Florida and one of the defendants in the Grant Park lawsuit, denied the claim that the program was under threat from the federal government in a statement last week.

"The National School Lunch Program has nothing to do with bathrooms, locker rooms, or sports. Our department passed on nondiscrimination guidelines from the federal government  which only apply to the lunch line  saying that children can't be discriminated against by being denied meals at school. That's it. Nothing else," stated Fried.

Fried claimed that the lunch program controversy was "just another culture war" for DeSantis "to wage to score political points to run for president."

"The only people who are inappropriately imposing sexuality in schools are Republicans who seem to be obsessed with which bathrooms kids are using," she added.

"It's perverted and deeply inappropriate. Governor DeSantis should be ashamed of himself and parents should be concerned about why he and his administration seem to be intent on sexualizing every aspect of schooling in Florida."
HYDERABAD: TRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha, hitting out at the Centre, came out strongly against the recent trend of terming welfare schemes for the poor as freebies, while saying the term applied to the write-off of large debts of dupe agencies by the BJP government.

In a media statement on Tuesday, Kavitha said, The Telangana government implements 250 welfare schemes for the poor and needy. It is our responsibility as a government to keep the best interests of the poor in mind. We are against this trend (of terming schemes freebies).

Kavitha said that the Centre was putting pressure on the state government to stop these schemes. I believe a 'freebie' is what the BJP government at the Centre has done, that is writing off a `10 lakh crore debt, she said.

I request the intelligentsia of the country to oppose this atmosphere that is being generated, she said. India is such a diverse country, with people from all backgrounds. It is the government's responsibility to help the weaker communities to break the cycle of poverty and (ensure their) progress. State governments should work towards it and the Central government should not pose any hindrance to it.
Father, son sentenced to life in prison for hate crimes in Ahmaud Arbery murder; neighbor gets 35 years

A federal judge in Georgia has sentenced two men to life in prison and a third to 35 years for racially motivated federal hate crimes related to the 2020 murder of 25-year-old African American Ahmaud Arbery.

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood sentenced 36-year-old Travis McMichael to life in prison plus 10 years, his father, 66-year-old Gregory McMichael, to life in prison plus seven years and 52-year-old William Bryan to 35 years in prison.

The three men had already been convicted of murder in state criminal court in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison. They were found guilty of multiple counts of violating Arbery's federal civil rights in a trial in February, including using violence to intimidate and interfere with Arbery, attempted kidnapping and confinement.

Travis McMichael was found guilty of using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a shotgun, which added 10 years to his life sentence. Meanwhile, Gregory McMichael was found guilty of using, carrying and brandishing a .357 Magnum revolver, adding seven years to his life sentence.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division described the murder as "a brutal and abhorrent racially-motivated hate crime."

"The tragic murder of Mr. Arbery reminds us that hate-fueled violence targeting Black people remains a modern-day threat in our country, and we must use every tool available to hold perpetrators accountable," stated Clarke on Monday.

"We hope that this sentencing ends one painful chapter for the family of Ahmaud Arbery, the Brunswick community and the nation as a whole."

On Feb. 23, 2020, 25-year-old Arbery was shot to death in Santilla Shores after being chased by two armed white men.

A widely-shared video of the incident showed Arbery being chased by a pickup truck as he jogged through a neighborhood in Satilla Shores, with Arbery briefly going off-camera, a gunshot in the background.

Two more shots were heard as Arbery reappeared in the footage before falling to the ground. He had been unarmed and was dead by the time the police arrived at the crime scene.

The defense argued that Travis McMichael was trying to make a citizen's arrest of Arbery, suspecting him of burglary. The defense also claimed self-defense because Arbery was resisting McMichael's attempt at an arrest.

Last November, a mostly white jury found the three men guilty of murder, as well as a few lesser charges, following 10 hours of deliberation.

"It's been a long fight. It's been a hard fight. But God is good," said Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, as reported by The Associated Press. She said her son "will now rest in peace."

In January, Judge Timothy Walmsley sentenced the three men to life in prison.

"I think many people are seeking closure," he said.

"The mother, the father, the community, and maybe even parts of the nation, but closure is hard to define and is a granular concept. It's seen differently by all depending on their perspective and the prism of your lives."

"When I thought about this, I thought from a lot of different angles, and I kept coming back to the terror that must have been in the mind of the young man running through Satilla Shores," the judge added.
Biden visits flood-ravaged Kentucky as Christian charities step up to help survivors

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled to flood-ravaged Kentucky Monday to visit families affected by the recent devastating floods that killed at least 37 people and damaged hundreds of homes and businesses as Christian charities are on the ground to meet the needs of the victims.

According to the White House, the Bidens visited "families affected by the devastation from recent flooding and survey recovery efforts" at one of the region's Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery centers.

The flooding, which began July 28 and lasted for about a week, damaged hundreds of homes and displaced thousands in Knott County, Breathitt County, Perry County, Clay County and Letcher County, among others.

The Bidens landed in Lexington just after 10:30 a.m. and arrived in Chavies, Kentucky, just after 11:30 a.m. They were greeted by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and transported by SUV to the FEMA center at Marie Roberts-Caney Elementary School in Lost Creek.

"It's unfortunate. It's my second visit to Kentucky for a crisis," Biden said, according to a pool report.

"I promise you  as long as it takes, we're going to be here. We [the federal government] are committed. There's absolute 100% coverage of cost for the next few months."



"People don't realize those piles of heavy debris, it takes a lot of time, a lot of money to take it away," Biden added.

The president said he was saddened to see cars and buses washed into creeks as he flew over the state.

Beshear called the flooding "the most devastating and deadly flooding event certainly in my lifetime, unlike anything we've ever seen."

The governor said thousands of people are staying with friends and relatives, "but it's going to take us some time to stabilize people with needs for housing." He added that the National Guard airlifted 1,300 people while other agencies rescued thousands more.

"We've got power to everybody but about 200 homes. That is incredible. Water to more people than we ever thought was possible in this period of time," Beshear said. "Today is beautiful but the weather has not helped us out. It has either been raining or altogether too hot."

The Bidens departed the school at around 2 p.m. and stopped about three minutes later at Doran J. Hostetler Memorial Bridge. He spoke with locals recovering from the storm.

On the ground helping those impacted by the storm is the international Evangelical humanitarian organization Samaritan's Purse.

"I can't imagine what you all have gone through. We're praying for you," Edward Graham, vice president of operations at Samaritan's Purse, told a community during his visit to affected areas last week. "I'm so sorry for your loss. We're here, so please let us know if we can help."

Samaritan's Purse volunteer teams are working in Floyd and Breathitt Counties in eastern Kentucky, helping homeowners mud out their homes, remove debris and otherwise clean up properties.

The organization deployed volunteer teams after last year's flooding in the region and had only recently concluded its long-term rebuild effort. The teams had to return.

"Everywhere we go, there are people hurting. We want to come along and meet people's needs," Luther Harrison, vice president of North American ministries with Samaritan's Purse, said. "This is heartbreaking to see. We were here before. We just left two weeks ago and now to see that it's worse. This is a Christian commitment. We're back to help these people to get back dried out and to go forward again."

During the visit, Edward Graham was joined by Will Graham, vice president and associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

The Christian humanitarian and disaster relief organization Convoy of Hope is also responding to the floods in eastern Kentucky, sending supplies worth more than 300,000 pounds.

"This historic flooding was catastrophic for so many families," said Ethan Forhetz, national spokesperson for Convoy of Hope, in a statement. "In just moments, their lives were turned upside down. Convoy of Hope is working to bring relief and hope to people who are beginning to recover and is in daily communication about the needs of the area."

The group is working with a school system to get food and supplies to people who haven't yet been able to evacuate.
CCCU criticizes news article claiming biblical view of marriage is 'homophobic'

An association of Christian colleges and universities is taking issue with a news outlet describing faith-based educational institutions' hiring practices as "homophobic," maintaining that embracing biblical views of marriage "does not mean religious institutions are hostile to LGBTQ people."

Amanda Staggenborg, the chief communications officer for the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, wrote a letter to the editor of Inside Higher Ed Thursday titled "Christian College Policies Are Not 'Homophobic.'" CCCU advocates on behalf of the interests of its over 180 member Christians higher education institutions across the globe.

The letter addresses the content of an Aug. 1 article titled "Seattle Pacific Sues Washington AG."

The piece highlighted the litigation involving Seattle Pacific University, a Christian college based in Seattle, Washington, affiliated with the CCCU, and the state's Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

Seattle Pacific is suing Ferguson after the state opened an investigation into the institution's "employment policies and practices that permit or require discrimination based on sexual orientation, including by prohibiting same-sex marriage and activity."

"The article describes the hiring policies of SPU as 'homophobic,'" Staggenborg wrote. "We believe this mischaracterizes the university's Lifestyle Expectations and labels all Christian colleges and universities that follow a faith-filled mission in accordance with Biblical marriage standards unjustly."

The article, as it currently appears, contains one mention of "SPU's homophobic hiring policies." Staggenborg requested that the website "remove the word 'homophobic' from the article," expressing gratitude that "the title was already amended" to remove the term.

In a Google search result Monday, the article's headline read, "Seattle Pacific sues Washington to keep homophobic policies." The URL for the article includes the words "keep homophobic policies."

However, the earliest version of the piece captured by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine shows the current headline.

The Employee Lifestyle Expectations Staggenborg referred to in her letter explain that "SPU employees are asked to make behavioral and lifestyle choices consistent with moral integrity, social consciousness, and effective Christian witness."

The list of expectations identifies behaviors "university employees are expected to refrain from," including "sexual behavior that is inconsistent with the University's understanding of Biblical standards, including cohabitation, extramarital sexual activity, and same-sex sexual activity."

"The CCCU supports the religious mission of our member institutions and advocates for a robust understanding of religious freedom where the right to practice these beliefs includes the right to hire for mission. Our institutions uphold Biblical views of marriage as between one man and one woman. Following these views is a choice that each student, faculty member and employee makes when attending, teaching or working at a Christian institution," Staggenborg added.

Reiterating her belief that it was "incorrect and unfairly pejorative to label Biblical views of marriage as 'homophobic,'" she cited the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

"The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered."

"Homophobia, as used in the article, implies a hostility or fear of LGBTQ people that is dangerous and prejudicial," Staggenborg stated. "To be clear, LGBTQ people are welcome at Christian colleges and universities. Respecting the tradition of marriage in accordance with upstanding moral behavior is not homophobic. It is grounded in the Bible and a foundation for a moral society as lived throughout the mission and practices of each CCCU institution."

She stressed CCCU's belief that "all human beings, without exception, are invested with inherent worth and dignity" and that "in a pluralistic society, we must respect people with different views from ours."

"The words and tenor of this article did not show respect for constitutionally protected views that may differ from those of the author," she wrote. "[H]omophobia has no place in Christian colleges and universities" and "also should not appear when describing them."

In its lawsuit against Ferguson, Seattle Pacific University contends that the attorney general is "wielding state power to interfere with the religious beliefs of a religious university, and a church, whose beliefs he disagrees with."

SPU believes Ferguson's actions are "a blatant form of entanglement barred by both Religion Clauses of the First Amendment."

It also alleges that Ferguson is infringing on the university's rights to "decide matters of faith and doctrine, to hire employees who share its religious beliefs, and to select and retain ministers free from government interference."

As noted in the lawsuit, Seattle Pacific University's policies have gained attention due to a January 2021 lawsuit filed by "a faculty applicant alleging sexual orientation discrimination."

In the months following the complaint, faculty members and students called on the school's Board of Trustees to change its policy regarding human sexuality. When the Board declined to do so earlier this year, a group of students organized a protest and demanded that Ferguson take action against the school.

In the June 8 letter to Seattle Pacific University sent on behalf of Ferguson, Washington, Assistant Attorney General Daniel Jeon asked the institution to "identify and describe every instance in which the policies  have been applied in connection with a decision whether to hire, promote, discipline, and/or terminate any prospective, current, or former University faculty, staff, or administrator, as it relates to their sexual orientation or status of being in a same-sex marriage and/or intimate relationship."

Jeon suggested that the "possible discriminatory employment policies and practices by Seattle Pacific University" may "violate the Washington Law Against Discrimination."

The Washington Law Against Discrimination declares "The right to be free from discrimination because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, honorably discharged veteran or military status, [and] sexual orientation" as "a civil right" that includes the "right to obtain and hold employment without discrimination."
Everything is political  even 'Star Wars' apparently

Does watching a leftist activist dressed like an elf lecturing you about feminism for an hour sound like a good time? How about watching Star Wars dump on Donald Trump and the MAGA movement? If not, Id recommend avoiding TV for a while.

As much as it seems like parody, these are apparently plot points for two upcoming programs.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power and Star Wars spinoff Andor have both revealed they plan to revel in modern left-wing politics at the expense of good storytelling.

During a recent appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, a yearly convention celebrating all things nerdy, one of the actresses from Rings of Power claimed her character on the show was an activist and that the show writers were giving her the opportunity to be a female character with agency.

Nazanin Boniadi, who plays the character Bronwyn, is a prominent human rights activist focusing on womens rights in Iran. She has previously advocated for expanding government action on LGBT issues and reauthorizing the contentious Violence Against Women Act.

Boniadi told a group of gathered journalists at the convention, What I love about the writers on this show is that they have given every woman on the show, every female character, such agency.

In a later interview with Showbiz Junkies, Boniadi added, I call Bronwyn the fantastical version of myself because shes an activist; Im an activist. Shes a healer, I was premed. We have so much in common.

Keep in mind that Boniadis character is in Middle-earth, not 2022 San Francisco. Seems like she should be more concerned about orcs and Sauron than pushing radical feminism on TV.

Then we have Andor, focusing on lead character Cassian Andor as played by Diego Luna.

In addition to not being super creative (Andor is basically a cheap knockoff of Han Solo), the show is apparently going to be a Trump bash fest.

Actress Fiona Shaw, who plays a character named Maarva on the show, raved in an interview with Empire magazine that writer/director Tony Gilroy has written a great, scurrilous [take] on the Trumpian world.

Shaw adds, Our world is exploding in different places right now, peoples rights are disappearing, and Andor reflects that. [In the show,] the Empire is taking over, and it feels like the same thing is happening in reality, too.

Wow, what a new and creative take! Donald Trump is, like, actually evil. And hes basically Darth Vader.

This is garbage, pure and simple. But its a frustratingly familiar type of garbage.

Like a swarm of perpetually outraged locusts, the left devours cultural properties, including Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. The end result is always desiccated husk, devoid of any of the charm that attracted people to the show or movie in the first place.

Dogma replaces fun, and each piece of media regurgitates the same tired talking points.

And when fans of the original property are rightfully angry that their shows are being hijacked to disseminate propaganda, theyre accused of gatekeeping or bigotry.

But its not gatekeeping or bigoted to expect your show based on The Lord of the Rings to, you know, resemble The Lord of the Rings.

On that point specifically, the Rings of Power team has blatantly demonstrated it couldnt care less about Tolkiens story and is only interested in wearing the property like a skin suit.

Last month, Amazon fired preeminent Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey from his consulting gig on Rings of Power, reportedly for frequently telling the showrunners they were polluting [Tolkiens] lore.

Shippey isnt some nobody. His book The Road to Middle-Earth is widely considered to be the definitive work on Tolkien and his written worlds.

The radical left doesnt care about the lore; its window dressing to the main message, which is political zealotry wrapped in a thin veneer of pop culture.

None of this is to say that theres no place for politics in media. When done well, shows and movies can be elevated by tying their stories to political issues and reasoned social commentary.

Back in the 80s and 90s, Star Trek: The Next Generation deftly handled political issues by weaving them into the narrative. The show never got preachy, though, and USS Enterprise Captain Jean-Luc Picard was able to transmit a message or moral that resonated with viewers each week.

But thats not what modern shows are doing. Activists do not belong in Lord of the Rings, and attacks on Donald Trump definitely dont belong in Star Wars.

The popular internet adage go woke, go broke hopefully applies here, and companies will realize that killing a property for leftist adulation is not a recipe for success.

Middle-earth and a galaxy far, far away are not the places to stand on your political soapbox.

Originally published at The Daily Signal.
Why sin puts pressure on your soul

Health issues, relationship tensions, and financial struggles place tremendous pressure upon people. But one particular source of pressure is rooted even deeper within us. I am referring of course to the ever-present problem of sin. Needless to say, this little 3-letter word packs quite a punch.

Adam and Eve were perfect when God created them. They made the tragic choice to sin against their Creator, and the spiritual disease of sin has been passed down from parents to children ever since. When writing to Christians in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul described their spiritual condition prior to conversion.

You were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world (Ephesians 2:1-2).

My wife recently underwent surgery when it became necessary to remove and replace a herniated disc in the lower part of her neck. The C5-C6 disc was putting pressure on the nerve roots next to her spinal cord. Tammy felt this painful pressure for about a year and often held her right arm in the air to relieve the numbness she was feeling. After initial remedies failed to relieve the pain, we were blessed with a terrific surgeon and a successful surgery. The neck pain and pressure are now completely gone.

Sin does something similar by placing spiritual pressure upon the nerves of our soul. This real pressure can make us numb to the Lords will for our life. You see, we were not created to live for sin, but for the glory and honor of our Creator.

Sin means to miss the mark of Gods holy standard. We have all sinned in our thoughts, words and actions. And we have all felt the guilt and the pressure that sin produces within us.

There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

This inner restlessness applies to believers as well whenever we choose to engage in sin. It interrupts Gods peace in our souls and places considerable pressure upon our heart and mind. For example, David felt miserable after sinning against God by committing adultery and murder.

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer (Psalm 32:3-4).

It was only when David repented of his sin and confessed it to the Lord that the pressure was lifted from his soul.

Assemblies of God minister Edwin Louis Cole wrote: "Temptation can be tormenting, but remember: The torment of temptation to sin is nothing to compare with the torment of the consequences of sin.

When Cain was burning with anger toward his brother Abel, the Lord warned him: Sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it (Genesis 4:7).

Unfortunately, Cain refused to turn away from his evil intentions and charged right ahead and murdered his brother. The pressure of temptation was nothing compared to the pressures that followed.

The Lord said,

What have you done? Listen! Your brothers blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brothers blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth (Genesis 4:10-12)

If only Cain had obeyed God when sin was crouching at his door. If only he had heeded the Lords warning. Whenever we are planning to sin, we are on dangerous ground. Deliberate sin is even more damaging to our spiritual health than hasty sins, which are committed in the spur of the moment.

David wrote, Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression (Psalm 19:13).

The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. Without this much-needed conviction, we would never confess our sins to God and turn away from them.

Jesus said, When he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).

Apart from the Holy Spirits conviction, each one of us would remain lost in our sin. We would ultimately receive a sentence of eternal punishment for our sins. (Matthew 25:41,46; Mark 9:44-48)

It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

Thankfully, Jesus came to pay for our sins by his death on the cross and to deliver us from the guilt, power, and eternal penalty of sin.

Christ died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:15).

Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

What particular sins are placing pressure on your life today? God is willing to perform surgery on your soul and address those areas with his grace and power.

Pastor Erwin McManus said, I have so much confidence in the reality of Jesus that I feel no pressure to try to make people act or be a certain way. Im banking everything on the fact that God actually changes people."

There is only one way to have your sins washed away. Turn to the Lord today in repentance and faith, as you pray:

Forgive me Lord for my sins. I repent of them. Wash me, Jesus, with your precious blood. Empower me to live for you, and help me to stand strong and not open the door when temptation comes knocking. Amen."
Chipotle Mexican Grill has reached a $20 million settlement with New York City to resolve fair scheduling and sick leave violations affecting 13,000 current and former employees.

The deal - the largest of its kind in the United States, was announced Tuesday and affects anyone who worked for the fast-casual restaurant chain in the city from November 2017 to this past April. They are eligible for $50 for each week of work. Current employees will be sent checks, but those who left their positions before April 30 must file claims to collect. Chipotle also will pay $1 million in civil penalties.

New York Mayor Eric Adams said Chipotle violated the city's Fair Workweek Law, which took effect in November 2017. The measure requires employers to give workers their schedules 14 days in advance and pay premiums for schedule changes or shifts with less than 11 hours of rest between. It also requires large employers including Chipotle to offer 56 hours of paid leave each year.

It is the largest fair workweek settlement in the nation and the biggest labor protection settlement in the city's history, Adams said Tuesday.

In 2018, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection started an investigation of Chipotle's labor practices, after complaints were filed by 160 Chipotle employees and the 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The inquiry initially focused on Brooklyn locations over possible violations of the Fair Workweek Law, then expanded to encompass locations citywide in 2021 with nearly 600,000 alleged violations.

According to court filings, Chipotle capped workers at 24 hours of paid sick time. From November 2017 to September 2019, the chain maintained an irregular scheduling system where shifts varied each day or each week. To avoid paying the premium that the law requires, Chipotle created false documentations of "waivers," the investigation found.

"This almost feels unreal. When you're in the thick of it, like going to work each day and going through the motions, you think no one is paying attention," said Chipotle worker Yeral Martinez in an SEIU statement. "But this settlement proves that we're not invisible."

Chipotle's he chief restaurant officer, Scott Boatwright, noted that the company had raised wages across the country last year and introduced new policies.

"We have implemented a number of compliance initiatives, including additional management resources and adding new and improved time keeping technology, to help our restaurants and we look forward to continuing to promote the goals of predictable scheduling and access to work hours for those who want them," he said in a statement.

The company has come under scrutiny for its labor practices in the past. Last week, former workers in Augusta, Maine, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board after Chipotle permanently closed their store in the middle of a unionization drive. But the chief corporate affairs officer, Laurie Schalow, attributed the decision to "ongoing staffing challenges."

The lead organizer, Brandi McNease, told the Kennebec Journal that she was turned down for a position at another Chipotle location.

Meanwhile, a report by a private nonprofit advocacy group, National Consumers League, and 32BJ SEIU said that "working conditions at Chipotle drive away thousands of employees each year." Last year, the turnover rate for hourly employees was 194%, meaning that a restaurant with 20 crew members in January had to hire 39 workers throughout the year to remain fully staffed.

It also alleged that serving food quickly was prioritized over adhering to safety protocols, such as changing gloves and washing hands. "Chipotle cannot adequately ensure food safety without addressing the underlying issue of staff turnover," the authors wrote.

In response, Schalow told The Counter that said the company was "committed to a culture of food safety in our restaurants where employees are supported and heard."
Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of "Hamilton," is speaking out against a Texas church's illegal rendition of his Tony-award winning musical, which featured biblical references and ended with an anti-LGBTQ sermon.

Days after Hamilton's production company sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Door McAllen Church, Miranda took to Twitter Wednesday to express gratitude to his fans who notified him about the illegal show produced by RGV Productions and The Door Christian Fellowship. He also indicated that further legal action will be taken against the church.

"Grateful to all of you who reached out about this illegal, unauthorized production," Miranda wrote. "And always grateful to the @dramatistsguild who have the backs of writers everywhere, be it your first play or your fiftieth." Miranda attached a statement from the Dramatists Guild about the illegal production and notified writers that they can learn about their rights through the organization.

"No writer's work, whether they are a student who has written their first play, or Lin-Manuel Miranda, can be performed without their permission," reads the statement. "And it is never okay to change the words, lyrics, or notes without their express consent."

The statements come days after The Door received backlash on social media for its version of "Hamilton" that altered texts from the original play to feature biblical references and concluded with a 15-minute-long sermon likening homosexuality to addiction. In the sermon about redemption, a pastor states: "Maybe you struggle with alcohol, with drugs, with homosexuality, maybe you struggle with other things in your life, your finances, whatever. God can help you tonight. He wants to forgive you for your sins."

Other newly added lines include the character Eliza Schuyler Hamilton noting that "Jesus gives me the strength to pull through" and shows the titular character Alexander Hamilton being asked if he would like to pray and "receive Jesus Christ in your heart right now."

The church reportedly received a cease and desist letter following its Aug. 5 performance that was live-streamed on its YouTube channel. The Door Pastor Roman Gutierrez told the Dallas Morning News that the church had legal permission from the "Hamilton" team to produce the show. However, Shane Marshall Brown, a spokesperson for Hamilton in New York, issued a statement Monday denying that.

"'Hamilton' does not grant amateur or professional licenses for any stage productions and did not grant one to The Door Church," Brown said in an emailed statement. "We issued a cease-and-desist letter for the unauthorized use of Hamilton's intellectual property, demanding the immediate removal of all videos and images from previous productions from the Internet, including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, their own website, and elsewhere."

The church was given "limited permission" to perform its Aug. 6 show under the stipulation no videos or photos could be taken and posted online and all future performances would be canceled. The church has since removed the live-streamed production and its trailer from YouTube and scrubbed any mentions of the production on its social media pages.
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TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Houshang Ebtehaj, a distinguished Iranian poet whose small but influential body of work made him a major figure in his own country and in world literature, died on Wednesday in Cologne, Germany. He was 94.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, Yalda Ebtehaj, who said on Instagram that her father, known by his pen name Sayeh, or Shadow, had joined the other world. In the post, she quoted a verse written by her father in the style of the great mystic poet Rumi: Roam, roam roam ... There are strangers in this home, so you strangely roam."

The cause of death was kidney failure, according to Iran's semiofficial media. Ebtehaj had lived in Germany since the late 1980s.

He was born in 1928 in Iran's city of Rasht, some 240 kilometers (150 miles) northwest of Tehran, the capital. He began writing when he was young and published his first book of poetry when he was just 19. Throughout the 20th century, Ebtehaj contributed to the popularity of the ghazal  a traditional form of Persian poetry set to music that expresses the writers feelings, especially about love, with moving intensity.

Suffused with romance and melancholic longing, his body of work was not regarded as overly political. But socialist politics were central to Ebtehaj's identity. He sympathized with Iran's Communist Tudeh Party, and paid the price after the the overthrow of Irans secular Western-backed monarchy in 1979. During the young Islamic Republic's crackdown on leftists and liberals after the revolution, Ebtehaj landed in prison for nearly a year.

He was released in 1984, when a well-known Iranian poet appealed to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was then president, to secure Ebtehaj's freedom. The poet, Mohammad-Hossein Shahriar, wrote in a letter that Ebtehajs detention caused angels to weep on God's throne.

Across his 70-year career that traced Iran's tumultuous history, Ebtehaj became recognized for his innovative verses that built on the foundations of Rumi and the celebrated 14th-century Persian poet Hafez, combining traditional forms with modern social themes.

He was also a musicologist and scholar, lecturing at universities across Europe about the mystical lyrical poetry of Hafez. However, the international reach of his poetry remained limited, with only one collection translated into English.

Ebtehaj is survived by two sons and two daughters. His wife, Alma Maikial, died last year.

Condolences poured in from scores of Iranians on social media, as well as Iranian cultural institutions and embassies.

Iran's Embassy in Berlin said it was mourning with all the lovers of Persian culture and literature in the entire world.
Another bar bites the dust, this time in Spring, Texas, a suburb north of Houston. Jailhouse Saloon closed for business as of June and the building is now for sale, according to a LoopNet listing.

The dive bar and live music venue's name comes from the structure's rich history as the former jail and courtroom for the town's Sheriff's Department. The Houston Press reported that the old prison cells were converted into an office and storage space, and the iron bars on the doors were kept for effect. It opened as Jailhouse Saloon in 2008.

"Significant historic relevance could support application as a historical site to increase marketing value for location," the listing claims.

The property at 310 Preston Street is on sale for $447,600 for the 2,984-square-foot location. It has a large indoor space with a bar and stage, and an expansive patio. Public records show the building was built in 1950 and renovated in 2012. The entity 310 Preston Partners LLC has been the property owner since 2014 and Dena Wagner-McBride and Tommy McBride owned and operated the bar known as Jailhouse Saloon.

Jailhouse Saloon opened as a biker bar that began to focus on live music about six years ago. It has a classic dive-bar-meets-tavern feel. A vaulted ceiling of wooden beams towers over a pool table, turquoise walls, neon beer signs, quirky light fixtures and a large American flag posted near the stage, where many bands came to play on weekends. Jailhouse also had open-jam sessions on Sundays. "You never knew who was going to show up at one of our open jams and surprise us," said Wagner-McBride.

Courtesy of Dena Wagner

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wagner told Agence France Presse that she had lost $150,000 when the bar was forced to shut down between March and May 2020. It briefly reopened in June and then shut down again per Gov. Greg Abbott's orders. In August 2020, Jailhouse Saloon defied the shutdown and opened back up; the bar's liquor license was revoked for 30 days by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, a common punishment at the time for bars eschewing restrictions.

The bar's immediate surroundings are the adjoining train tracks and easements, but it's a couple blocks away from Old Town Spring, a historic district that has been recently revitalized with new shops and restaurants.

"It's a shame to see the Jailhouse close after so many years, especially after fighting our way through COVID and recharging the business, said Wagner-McBride. "We were hoping to find a buyer that would continue the Jailhouse traditions. Time will tell."

The bar's Facebook page has been renamed Jailhouse Saloon Promotions and is being repurposed as a live music promoter for local shows. Meanwhile, the building at 310 Preston is under contract and will soon be ready for its next chapter; stay tuned for more details.
Whether you're planning to spend the day or the weekend at the Kemah Boardwalk, the 20-mile trip from downtown Houston will be well worth your time.

The 60-acre Texas Gulf Coast theme park offers a plethora of fun for the entire family, including rides, shops, restaurants, hotels and seaside shows. Plus, its a regular site for great festivals, like Boo on the Boardwalk.

Plan your visit ahead of time by looking at the Boardwalk's calendar of eventsyou may also want to sync your trip with special events like the Sonoma County wine fest, car show or boat parade.

If you're planning a visit to the Kemah Boardwalk, let our guide help you make the most of your visit.

Kemah Boardwalk parking

The parking lots near the Kemah Boardwalk cost $8 per car with cash or card, however free parking is available a little farther away from the Boardwalk in the shuttle boat lots off Texas Avenue. The best way to get to the free lots is to turn right onto 6th Street after exiting Highway 146, before immediately turning left onto Texas Avenue. Youll see the lots as you drive down Texas Avenue.

Is it free to enter the Kemah Boardwalk?

The Kemah Boardwalk is free to enter. However, if you want to experience the rides and attractions you will need to purchase tickets.

Yelp/Aquarium Restaurant

Kemah Boardwalk restaurants

The restaurants at Kemah Boardwalk range from surf to turf, to pizza and sweets, with 14 places covering every budget.

Joes Crab Shack is one of its most popular eateries. Here, you can order coastal dishes including signature fish entrees, steam pots, creative cocktails and the kid-favorite Paint-A-Crab dessert. If youre looking for a sit-down meal that no one is likely to forget, Kemahs Aquarium Restaurant has its seating situated around a 50,000-gallon tank, so you can spot fish, sharks and stingrays as you dine.

Sean R. via Yelp

For those looking to spend a romantic evening strolling the Boardwalk and eating great seafood, The Flying Dutchman offers an oyster bar and Landrys Seafood House has some of the best waterfront views youll find in the area.

Theres plenty of quick, casual dining at Kemah Boardwalk, too, including the staples of Boardwalk food: funnel cakes (some are Oreo-stuffed), fried shrimp platters and burgers. Joes Burger Bar has a walk-up window and Sweet Scoops serves up ice cream in waffle cones and specialty sundaes like the Peanut Butter Blast.

Boardwalk Inn via Yelp

Kemah Boardwalk hotels

If youre planning an overnight stay at the Boardwalk, consider booking a room at the Kemah Boardwalk Inn. This boutique, waterfront hotel overlooks the Kemah Boardwalk and Galveston Bay. Private balconies are included with each of the 58 guest rooms, and its the only lodging youll find immediately on the Boardwalk.

Just south of the Boardwalk, the next closest hotels are the Courtyard by Marriott Houston Kemah, which is highly rated, and the Scottish Inns & Suites, which offers cheaper rates. Other hotels south of Kemah Boardwalk include the Days Inn by Wyndham and the Hotel Bliss Boardwalk, both of which also offer more affordable rates.

If you go slightly north of the Kemah Boardwalk, in Seabrook, additional hotel options include the well-rated SpringHill Suites, Best Western Plus Seabrook Suites, Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express.

Kemah Boardwalk via Yelp

Kemah Boardwalk shopping

Youre probably not exploring the Kemah Boardwalk specifically to shop til you drop, but several stores do offer retail therapy. You can start at the Treasure Chest Gift Shop, where you can pick up aquarium-themed souvenirs to commemorate your visit.

Kids will love stopping into the Build-A-Bear Workshop, and The Candy Box sells classic sweets, novelty treats and basically anything else your dentist wouldnt want you eating. For beachy apparel, check out Kemah Outfitters, while Style & Trend makes a great choice for browsing unique gifts that arent too pricey.

Melissa M. via Yelp

Kemah Boardwalk rides

If you're only planning to hit a few rides at the Kemah Boardwalk, you can pay individually for each ride. However, buying an all-day ride pass may make the most economical sense, especially if youre coming with little kids or teens who want to spend the majority of their time on the rides.

Passes cost $25.99 for those 48 inches (4 feet) and taller, and $19.99 for those under 48 inches. While the all-day ride pass does not include the Boardwalk Beast speedboat ride or Iron Eagle zipline, it does give you unlimited trips on 13 other rides like the Century Wheel and Boardwalk Bullet roller coaster.

Michael Paulsen/Houston Chronicle

Kemah Boardwalk rides included with an all-day ride pass

For those looking for a great view of the Kemah Boardwalk from abovebefore they come speeding down to the groundthe 140-foot Drop Zone freefall tower will do the trick. The Boardwalk Tower, which stands more than 200 feet tall, offers another way to see the Kemah Boardwalk and the bay for miles around without the thrilling fall.

If swinging high in the air is more your jam than a steep drop, youll want to get in line for the Aviator and Pharaohs Fury. The Aviator is the Boardwalks take on the classic swings ride, lifting you high above the ground as you soar in circles, while Pharaohs Fury is a pendulum ride that offers pretty intense thrills for anyone at least 48 inches tall.

Sid Karic/Getty Images/iStockphoto

For those who love to spin, the HypnoSpin is similar to the classic Tilt-A-Whirl, whipping riders around tight corners while their ride car spins on its own. For thrill seekers, the Kemah Boardwalk offers two roller coasters: The Flare which is a 73 foot tall looping coaster that soars 25 miles per hour as it rotates forward and backward, and the Boardwalk Bullet which is a wooden coaster that reaches speeds of over 51 miles per hour with a first drop thats a whopping 92 feet tall.

Yelp/Jess H.

Staying true to its classic Boardwalk roots, visitors will also find a pair of Ferris wheelsThe Century Wheel which stands at 65 feet tall and a smaller Wonder Wheelalong with a double-decker carousel loaded with sea monsters, dragons, unicorns and horses to sit upon.

For little kids, the Jungle Bounce ride lifts and drops riders several times, provided they are at least 36 inches tall, and the Rockin Rocket glides back and forth on a half-pipe-style track and spins. The C.P. Huntington Train is a popular family ride, as it takes guests on a leisurely trip in a replica of the 1863 steam locomotive for which it was named.

Yelp/Arie M.

Kemah Boardwalk rides not included with an all-day ride pass

There are two thrilling rides that are not included in the all-day Kemah Boardwalk ride pass, but are unique and worth paying the extra money for.

The Iron Eagle is a two-seat zip line that carries riders 100 feet over the Boardwalk and reaches speeds of 30 miles per hour. A ride costs $11 for a single or $16 for a pair. However, the price of a single rider does go down to $8 if you have the all-day ride pass.

Yelp/Christine T.

The Boardwalk Beast speedboat ride might be the most intense attraction at the Kemah Boardwalk. "The Beast," as it's commonly referred to, offers a 25-minute ride on a massive speedboat that shoots across Galveston Bay at 40 miles per hour. Tickets are $25 for anyone 13 and up and $20 for kids 12 and under. This ride only runs seasonally, so check the Boardwalk's website before going if you have your heart set on it.

Pet stingrays and see rainforest predators

If you've got kids who are into creepy crawlies, another Kemah Boardwalk attraction that you'll want to check out is the Stingray Reef & Rainforest Exhibit, located on the first floor of the Aquarium Restaurant. This costs an extra $5.25 per guest and lets you touch and feed live stingrays, as well as see piranhas, snakes, scorpions, tarantulas and more creatures from the rainforest.

Melissa M. via Yelp

The arcade, playground and splash pad

What would a boardwalk be without games? Classic midway games can be found on the Boardwalk behind the Lighthouse Buffet and arcade games are located adjacent to the Boardwalk Inn, next to retail stores on the second level. There is also a playground located on the Boardwalk behind the Flying Dutchman. This is a good place to sit while the kiddos burn off some energy for free. Just remember, kids playing here must be supervised by an adult. If you and your crew need to cool off during your visit, the dancing water fountains located in the center of the plaza, in front of the Boardwalk, are a perfect pit stop.

Can I fish at the Kemah Boardwalk?

Even though the Boardwalk is built entirely along the shores of Galveston Bay and Clear Lake, fishing is not permitted off any area of the Boardwalk.

Find it: 215 Kipp Ave., Kemah, TX 77565; 877-285-3624
Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar with Rashtriya Janata Dal leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap, in Patna, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Kumar, Tuesday submitted his resignation from the post of Bihar's CM to Governor Phagu Chauhan. (PTI Photo)

PATNA: JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar staked claim to form a Mahaghatbandhan (MGB) government comprising seven parties including the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress, hours after he met Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan and submitted his resignation shortly after snapping ties with NDA on Tuesday.

Kumar will be Chief Minister of Bihar for the eighth time. Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD accompanied him to the Governors house and submitted a list of 164 MLAs.

Earlier, following a meeting with JD(U) MPs and MLAs that he chaired at his official residence, Kumar met the Governor and submitted his resignation. The MPs and MLAs of my party met today and decided to snap ties with the NDA government. I met the governor and resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar, he said after submitting his resignation.

Next, Kumar called on RJD leader and former chief minister Rabri Devi where Congress and Party leaders and met earlier to discuss the formula to support the JD(U) in forming the Mahagathbandhan government.

Then, after holding a brief discussion with Mahagathbandhan leaders, Kumar met the Governor for the second time and staked claim to form government, accompanied by Tejashwi Yadav.

I have the support of seven political parties and 164 MLAs. The agenda of this government would be to work for the development of the state. There will be no compromise on corruption, Kumar said after meeting the Governor.

Tejashwi Yadav said, "History tells that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it forms an alliance. We have seen this happening elsewhere also."

Kumar said he would wait for the Governor to call him to form government.

Asked why he chose to end his ties with the NDA, Kumar said, The situation was being created to divide society which I did not like. There are many other things which didnt go well with my party leaders.

JD(U) leaders said that there have been many issues which triggered a conflict with the BJP. They said Kumar during the meeting said that the BJP tried to weaken his government on many occasions.

They said that the party was convinced that it was the BJP and Chirag Paswan, son of late Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Jantantrik Party (LJP) who was behind the JD(U)s poor show during the 2020 elections. The JD(U) was reduced to the third position with 45 seats.

Kumar was also upset when BJP dominated the Cabinet in 2020 and installed two deputy chief ministers. He also saw R.C.P. Singh as part of the BJPs conspiracy to cause a split in the JD(U).

Party leaders said that Nitish Kumar felt on many occasions that there wasnt enough support despite the double-engine government. He also found no support from the BJP when the Speaker raised questions about the law and order scenario. The situation got out of hand in March and resulted in a war of words between the two on the floor of the house.

As politics heated up after the NDA government collapsed, the BJP appeared on the back foot. It accused Kumar of betraying the people of Bihar by switching partners.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad who landed in Patna immediately after Kumar resigned said, he ended his ties with Mahagathbandhan on the issue of corruption now he has once again returned to their camp. This has been his habit to switch sides. Does he even remember what he used to say during elections? He has betrayed the people of Bihar and insulted the mandate by switching sides.
MEXICO CITY  When I last saw Jose Ruben Zamora, the owner and director of Guatemalas leading investigative newspaper, elPeriodico, in early June, he told me he suspected that the government was cooking up a case against him. His fears were not unfounded.

Seven weeks later, the government came for him. On the night of July 29, Guatemalan authorities raided his house as well as the newspapers headquarters. Some staff members were detained by the authorities for over 16 hours. Mr. Zamora was placed under arrest and taken to the Mariscal Zavala military prison. Then, over the weekend the newspapers bank accounts were frozen, which means he cannot even pay his staff.

Mr. Zamoras plight appears to be part of a crackdown by President Alejandro Giammattei of Guatemala on anti-corruption institutions and voices in the judicial system. Journalists or media outlets that investigate or criticize the government have increasingly been targeted for their reporting.

Guatemalans are warning that his arrest marks a significant escalation of the governments assault on democratic values. The United States is the countrys most powerful ally, economic supporter and trading partner outside Central America. Many Guatemalans say they are frustrated that the Biden administration hasnt had a more forceful response to the countrys slide into authoritarianism.

The situation wasnt always so dire. Until recently Guatemalas justice system stood as a beacon of hope in a region awash in authoritarian rule and state corruption. Beginning in 2006, the United Nations-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, known as CICIG, which comprises international and national prosecutors and works with the countrys public prosecutor, exposed crime groups embedded in government and brought charges against nearly 700 people, including the former president Otto Perez Molina.

CICIG received most of its funding from the United States and had full bipartisan support. But in 2018, Guatemalan politicians and business interests hired U.S. lobbyists to influence Republican lawmakers. The strategy paid off. That year, Senator Marco Rubio blocked funding to the commission, citing unsubstantiated claims that the Russian government had penetrated the commission.

Mr. Rubio claimed he was defending Guatemalan sovereignty from foreign interference. Yet a 2017 poll found that 70 percent of Guatemalans approved of the commission. As U.S. support and funding evaporated, Guatemalas president at the time, Jimmy Morales, who himself had fallen under CICIGs scrutiny, shuttered and expelled the anti-corruption body from the country. The Trump administration had a muted response.

The Biden administration promised to re-engage in the fight against corruption in Guatemala and has been vocal in supporting those leading the effort. But the judges and prosecutors the United States has tried to protect are usually those who have fled the country. Under the Morales and Giammattei governments some 24 Guatemalan anti-corruption judges and prosecutors have been forced into exile and about half as many have been jailed in Guatemala or await trial.

Guatemalas narco-kleptocracy has perfected a closed electoral system that rewards and empowers corrupt candidates and parties. Under Presidents Giammattei and Morales, Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras, considered a corrupt and anti-democratic actor by the United States, has blocked corruption investigations and weaponized the justice system against judicial officers.

The Guatemalan media, with at least a dozen independent print, radio and digital outlets, has been a defiant defender of democratic values. So it seemed inevitable that after hollowing out Guatemalas justice system, Mr. Giammattei and Ms. Porras would set their sights on the countrys pugnacious free press.

Rafael Curruchiche, the chief of the Public Ministrys Office of the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity  who is also on the U.S. State Department list of corrupt officials, and is cited specifically for making spurious accusations against prosecutors and attorneys  told news outlets that Mr. Zamoras arrest is not related to his activity as a journalist, and that he is charged with money laundering and extortion.

Mr. Zamora says he is a political prisoner and the victim of an orchestrated case by the president and attorney general.

It is clear that Mr. Zamoras arrest is part of a broader government pattern of singling out and attacking journalists for their work. Last October, the home of the reporter Juan Bautista Xol, was raided by soldiers and the police. In March, another prominent journalist, Juan Luis Font, fled the country amid accusations of money laundering.

A survey by the Guatemalan Press Association published this year, found that since Mr. Giammattei took office in 2020 the government has carried out 350 attacks against the press. As of July at least five Guatemalan journalists have gone into exile in the wake of criminal charges similar to those brought against Mr. Zamora, while others are facing similar charges.

Since a C.I.A.-backed coup in 1954 ended Guatemalas only decade of democratic rule, the United States has intervened and meddled in the countrys politics and supported the military dictatorships that plunged the country into a three-decades-long internal war that devastated Guatemalan society. The country is among the most unequal in the world, despite having the regions largest economy. The Trump administrations complicity in CICIGs expulsion led to the dismantling of Guatemalas anti-corruption justice institutions, and to its slide into authoritarianism.

In May, Mr. Giammattei reappointed Ms. Porras to a new term as attorney general, which prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to condemn the appointment in a tweet.

But the Biden administration owes the defenders of Guatemalas democracy more than tweets and lists of corrupt officials. It can and should speak forcefully and act strongly in defense of the countrys democracy. The United States could withhold economic and military aid unless the Guatemalan government shows that its not using the justice system as a tool for political persecution and does not interfere in free and competitive elections.

From here in Latin America, it can be hard to tell what, if anything, the United States believes in strongly enough to raise its voice in defense of those who are being silenced. No one should hold their breath that the military and economic powers behind Mr. Giammattei will be swayed. But as the Guatemalan opposition and civil society gear up for protest and resistance this week, they need to know that the United States will actively support them.

On Monday, Mr. Zamoras arraignment hearing went well into the night. Riot police, some of them in black balaclavas, surrounded him in the courtroom, in a show of force more appropriate for a hearing in the trial of a major narco capo. Human rights observers were barred from the courtroom. However, the press was allowed in, along with extreme right internet trolls from the Foundation Against Terrorism, who support the Giammattei government. Mr. Zamora insists the money the government accuses him of laundering was a loan to keep his newspaper afloat. If only we could feel confident that the truth will be enough to set him free.

Francisco Goldman is a novelist and journalist who has covered Guatemala for decades.This article originally appeared in the New York Times.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP)  Abortion will remain legal in Wyoming while a lawsuit that contests a ban on the procedure in nearly all cases moves ahead, a judge ruled Wednesday.

The lawsuit will likely succeed because the ban appears to violate the state constitution and is vague, Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens, in Jackson, wrote in granting the preliminary injunction.

In the meantime, the abortion ban would likely harm pregnant women, such as those with serious complications, and their doctors, who would risk prosecution by giving abortions in an attempt to help, Owens wrote.

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, a Republican, signed Wyoming's abortion trigger ban into law in March. The law was written to take effect if the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision, which happened June 24.

The new Wyoming law would ban abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to protect the mother's life or health, not including psychological condition. Those who violate the ban would be charged with a felony punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The ban took effect July 27. But within hours Owens granted a temporary restraining order suspending the law, finding it would harm pregnant women and their doctors. Her latest ruling keeps the law suspended after the restraining order expired Wednesday.

With both rulings, Owens sided with four women, including two obstetricians, and two nonprofits, including a planned Casper women's health care and abortion clinic that was firebombed in May, who sued to contest the law.

The ruling is an important victory for abortion access, Julie Burkhart, founder of the Wellspring Health Access clinic, said in a statement.

While we are heartened by todays outcome, we know the fight to keep abortion legal in Wyoming is far from over," Burkhart said.

Wyoming will continue to defend the law in court, Gordon spokesman Michael Pearlman said by email Wednesday.

Areas where the ban appears to violate the Wyoming constitution include a 2012 amendment guaranteeing the right to make one's own health care decisions, Owens wrote.

Voters passed the amendment amid resistance to the federal Affordable Care Act, which sought to expand health insurance coverage and lower health care costs nationwide. The amendment had nothing to do with abortion, Wyoming special assistant attorney general Jay Jerde said in a hearing in the case Tuesday.

Its just not within the facts that were kicking around at the time, Jerde said in court.

A judge can't assume that voters didn't understand the full effect of the constitutional amendment, Owens wrote in keeping the abortion law suspended.

The abortion ban also appears to violate the state constitution by discriminating against women, she wrote.

___

Follow Mead Gruver at https://twitter.com/meadgruver
PANCO, Ky. -- As the waters rose last month, Brad Stevens got a flurry of calls.

His congregants were trapped, desperate for help. Unprecedented rains had caused catastrophic flooding across eastern Kentucky, washing away homes, roads and bridges. At least 37 people died, according to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Many more have been trapped or left without access to food and water.

"For about five hours the water was so high that you couldn't do anything except sit back, wait and see what was going to be left behind, who made it through," said Stevens, 44, pastor of the Church of God Worship Center in Clay County.

The flooding left behind millions of dollars in damage. Roads and bridges will need to be rebuilt. Hundreds of houses have been damaged or destroyed. Town centers are decimated. But in the aftermath of the disaster, Stevens - a lifelong resident of Clay County - said the community has come together to rebuild, a sign of the deep roots neighbors share.

"Small towns are small towns," Stevens said. "When your back's against the wall, it's kind of like enemies become friends and all bets are off."

As soon as they could safely do so, Stevens and a group of volunteers traveled from hollow to hollow to deliver food and water to the families trapped in their homes. Stevens said their group came into contact with about 50 people on their first day out; all were trapped on their properties. It was tough work, especially since cell service was wiped out.

Now, Stevens and others are turning their focus from rescue to recovery. His church has become a hub for food, water and other donations, as well as an organizing center.

In other parts of the region, communities hosted impromptu benefits to raise money, like a concert that became a fundraiser, with all proceeds going to flood victims.

One of the largest challenges is reaching people in more remote parts of the county. Highway 11, which connects many of these communities to the outside world, has been jammed full of trucks packed with rock for rebuilding roads. Others tote food, water and cleaning supplies, along with donations.

Some communities are nearly impossible to reach, since all paths in and out have been washed out. So one of Stevens's many roles is working with government officials to navigate the logistics of road and bridge building.

Burley Sizemore Jr., 72, was born and raised in the area. Floodwaters carved out a crater in his front driveway and destroyed a bridge - his only link to the main road. "It's been nerve-racking," Sizemore said. "Besides all the pain you have to go through, it's just flat nerve-racking. This is the worst I've ever seen this place in my life."

With no other options, the Sizemore family - including Junior's partner, Ruthanne Sizemore, 71, and their son - texted Stevens for help last week. A few days later, he came with volunteers and tons of rocks given to him by the county. And together, they set to work rebuilding the bridge.

By the end of Friday, Burley Sizemore Jr.'s driveway was filled in and a temporary bridge had been installed. Sizemore had feared that his property would be forgotten, imperiling his family. When the bridge was completed, he wept.

Stevens predicts the need for these kinds of repairs will remain high in the months ahead, as thousands of people are in need. Soon, he predicts, he'll need to gather and distribute air compressors, nail guns and lumber as people began to repair their homes.

"Honestly, at this point, I think we are at a place to where, as far as taking water, taking initial rapid-response supplies, we are sort of getting beyond that," he said. "It's going to take work and money to get [communities] restored. Whether it's us or another group, that's what's going to be happening for a long time."

But Stevens and others know that no matter what, community members will be here for one another. In Clay County, Tim Parks - who normally serves as the tourism director for Manchester, Ky. - has been traveling the county with supplies for days. "In eastern Kentucky, we'll make more with less," Parks said. "It ain't about the money. Everybody's heart's in it."

That spirit has kept so many hopeful, even as they know the devastation will take months or years to repair.

"This community is full of people who just want to help," Stevens said. "Everybody is doing something different. It's not like we got together and planned that. That's why it's so amazing."

- - -

The Washington Post's Stephanie Kuzydym contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Alan Tudyk owes his teachers more than a few measly apples.

In school, he received sound career guidance from those who recognized his nascent talent. The result: The world lost an aspiring hotel manager and gained a versatile supporting actor, now reborn as a leading man in Resident Alien.

Tudyk shines in the unlikely showcase role of an emotionally conflicted alien invader on the science-fiction dramady, back at 10 p.m. EDT Wednesday for the latter half of its second season on the Syfy channel. (It will also stream on Peacock.)

His impressively varied, 100-plus film and TV credits range from the Western drama 3:10 to Yuma to the satire Arrested Development to genre fare including Firefly and Harley Quinn. Thats not to slight his voiceover body of work, which boasts Encanto and Wreck-It Ralph among many other kid favorites.

In Resident Alien, Tudyk's character is tasked with destroying all Earthlings. He takes the life and identity of Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle to appear human, if oh so awkwardly, as he pursues his mission. While he's begun to value his intended victims, it's an open question if that's enough to grant a reprieve.

Tudyks performance is reminiscent of silent film great Buster Keaton, he of the deadpan-yet-revealing expression, inventive body language and exquisite timing. Tudyk employs that comic trifecta to make Harry both jarringly bizarre and improbably endearing  with his choppy version of human speech a bonus.

Looking for a taste of Keaton's artistry? Check out Tudyk's Twitter feed.

As a youngster, Tudyk admired Sean Penn and Marlon Brando for their acting craft and used them as a benchmark for his own growth. But Tudyk's heart belongs to comedy and practitioners like Keaton  "one of the greatest clowns ever, he was just incredible  and Robin Williams.

The affable, low-key Tudyk responds modestly to a Keaton comparison: If there's anything that echoes his work, it's probably just that I love the discipline of clowning.

Resident Alien creator Chris Sheridan sings Tudyk's praises as Harry.

I thought I knew what the character was until Alan did his thing. Then I realized I was wrong because what Alan was doing was so clearly better than what I had imagined, Sheridan said in an email exchange. Not only was he hysterically funny, but he also brought so much humanity to the role" and made Harry someone to root for.

In a recent interview with The Associated Press, Tudyk discussed his path to acting, rhapsodized about clowning and assessed the baby alien on his show vs. another high-profile baby alien. Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.



AP: How and when did you get the acting bug?

Tudyk: My mother enrolled me in the Plano, Texas, community theater when I was in fifth grade going into sixth grade, so 10, 11 years old. I played the Jive Rabbit in The Fabulous Fable Factory, this fast-talking rabbit from the city. I definitely loved it. Then at 16, you could take a speech class, and I did a piece from the play. The teacher said, You dont belong in this class. Here's the name of the drama teacher.' That was really it. I was just so in love with it. But I never thought I'd do it as a career.

AP: Why did you resist the pull?

Tydyk: This sounds awful  I didn't want to be poor. I worked at a fast food restaurant and I thought, Im really good at this, I think I'm going to be a hotel manager.' I was very serious about pursuing that until my high school speech and drama teacher said, I heard youre going to be a hotel manager. You don't want to be an actor?' I said, Oh, I dont think I can make it.' She told me, You can do it. If you want it, you can have it.' From that moment on, I was 100% committed to do it.

AP: You've said that you left The Juilliard School because the emphasis was firmly on drama and you also wanted to study comedy. Was that the case?

Tudyk: Yes. I have an affinity for clowns and clowning. Theyre magic. I think if I had more integrity, I would have become a clown. Before this second season (of Resident Alien) I took a clowning class with the guy who taught me clowning at Juilliard. I wanted to get back into it. The way Christopher Bayes describes it, a clown is as if you have a child that's never told no. Theyre very curious. They give themselves permission to do whatever, they're mischievous.

AP: You were at Comic-Con recently. Did fans question putting a baby alien on Resident Alien when The Mandalorian already has Grogu, aka Baby Yoda?

Tudyk: No. But I offered up to them that in a bare-knuckle, head-to-head match, our alien could take Grogu any day of the week. Name a time, name a place. They werent too receptive, but Im calling them out  bring it.
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SRINAGAR, India (AP)  For decades, India has tried to thwart Pakistan in a protracted dispute over Kashmir, the achingly beautiful Himalayan territory claimed by both countries but divided between them.

That relentless competition made Pakistan always the focus of New Delhis foreign policy.

But in the last two years, since a deadly border clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Kashmir's Ladakh region, policy makers in New Delhi have been increasingly turning their focus to Beijing, a significant shift in policy as the nation celebrates 75 years of independence.

Indias ever-growing economy, which is now vastly larger than Pakistans, combined with Beijings increasingly assertive push for influence across Asia, mean that New Delhi has increasingly grown Beijing-centric, said Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, who from 2014 to 2016 headed Indian militarys Northern Command, which controls Kashmir, including Ladakh.

Kashmir has suffered insurgencies, lockdowns and political subterfuge since India and Pakistan gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, and has been at the heart of two of the four wars India has fought with Pakistan and China. The three countries' tense borders meet at the disputed territory, in the world's only three-way nuclear confrontation.

Starting in the 1960s, India was an active member of the Non-Aligned Movement, a grouping of over 100 countries that theoretically did not align with any major power during the Cold War. Despite disputes with neighboring Pakistan and China, India's nonaligned stance remained a bedrock of its foreign policy, with its diplomats focused mainly on upending Pakistans claim to Kashmir.

"Kashmir was in a way central to our foreign policy concerns, said Kanwal Sibal, a career diplomat who was Indias foreign secretary in 2002-2003.

But the current military standoff between India and China over their disputed border in Ladakh set off a grave escalation in tensions between the two Asian giants. Despite 17 rounds of diplomatic and military talks, the tense standoff continues.

For decades, India believed China did not represent a military threat, said Hooda, the former military commander. But that calculus changed in mid-2020 when a clash high in Karakoram mountains in Ladakhs Galwan Valley set off the military tensions.

Galwan represents a strategic inflection point, said Constantino Xavier, a fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based policy group. It helped create a new Indian consensus about the need to reset the entire relationship with China, and not just solve the boundary issue.

Soldiers from the two sides fought a medieval-style battle with stones, fists and clubs, leaving at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead.

The fighting came a year after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist-led government stripped Kashmir of its statehood, scrapped its semi-autonomy, and clamped down on local politicians, journalists and communications.

The government also split the Muslim-majority region into two federally administered territories  Ladakh and Jammu-Kashmir  and ended inherited protections on land and jobs.

The government insisted the moves involved only administrative changes, part of a long-held Hindu nationalist pledge to assimilate overwhelmingly Muslim Kashmir into the country.

Pakistan reacted with fury to Indias changes, asserting that Kashmir was an international dispute and any unilateral change in its status was a violation of international law and U.N. resolutions on the region.

But the main diplomatic challenge to New Delhis moves in Kashmir came from an unexpected rival: China.

Beijing scathingly criticized New Delhi and raised the issue at the United Nations Security Council, where the Kashmir dispute was debated -- again inconclusively -- for the first time in nearly five decades.

Indias line of argument remained consistent: To the international community it insisted that Kashmir was a bilateral issue with Pakistan. To Pakistan it reiterated that Kashmir was an Indian internal affair. And to critics on the ground, it stubbornly asserted that Kashmir was an issue of terrorism and law and order.

Initially, New Delhi had faced a largely peaceful anti-India movement in the portion of Kashmir it held. However, a crackdown on dissent led to a full-blown armed rebellion against Indian control in 1989. A protracted conflict since then has led to tens of thousands of deaths in the region.

Kashmir turned into a potential nuclear flashpoint as India and Pakistan became nuclear-armed states in 1998. Their standoff attracted global attention, with then-U.S. President Bill Clinton describing Kashmir as the most dangerous place in the world.

Many Indian foreign policy experts believe New Delhi was successful over the decades in blocking foreign pressure for change in Kashmir, despite deep sentiment against Indian rule in the region.

Now, New Delhi policymakers face the fundamental challenge of a China that is exerting more power in Asia and supporting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir.

Pakistan now operates in a more complicated political role as a partner of Chinese power, said Paul Staniland, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago. This gives it some clout and influence.

With geopolitical rivalries deepening in the extended region, Kashmiris have been largely silenced, with their civil liberties curbed, as India has displayed zero tolerance for any form of dissent.

Chinas rise as a global power has also pushed India closer to the U.S. and to the Quad, a new Indo-Pacific strategic alliance among the U.S., India, Australia and Japan that accuses Beijing of economic coercion and military maneuvering in the region upsetting the status quo.

Indias old nonaligned stance, rooted in the Cold War era when rivalries were playing out thousands of miles (kilometers) from its borders, has come to an end. The entire region has become a focus of geostrategic competition and great power rivalry close to Indias borders.

We recognize the need to hedge against China to curb its ambitions by making it known that there is a new line of security that is being built against any aggressiveness by China, which is at the core of the Quad, said Sibal, the former diplomat.

With the Quad now central to discussions among Indias strategic thinkers, New Delhi has massively ramped up infrastructure along its long, treacherous and undemarcated border with China. Beijing views the Quad as an attempt to contain its economic growth and influence.

This is how we are sending a signal to China that we are ready to join with others to curb you, Sibal said.

___

Follow Aijaz Hussain on Twitter at twitter.com/hussain_aijaz
President Joe Biden on Wednesday demanded that the Syrian government release freelance journalist and Washington Post contributor Austin Tice, saying that the United States knows "with certainty" that he is being held by their government 10 years after he was abducted.

"We know with certainty that he has been held by the Syrian regime," Biden said in a statement. "We have repeatedly asked the government of Syria to work with us so that we can bring Austin home."

This week marks a decade since Tice, who served in the United States Marine Corps and was also a journalist who had been working and covering the conflict in Syria, was abducted in Damascus on Aug. 14, 2012, days after his 31st birthday. He is one of the longest held American hostages.

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has not acknowledged that his government detained Tice, and other top Syrian officials have denied having custody or any information about him. But Biden made clear in his statement that the United States believes the Syrian government has Tice, and the ability to release him.

"I am calling on Syria to end this and help us bring him home," Biden said. "There is no higher priority in my Administration than the recovery and return of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. We must name them, keep them in our hearts and our minds, and make their recovery and return a priority."

In his statement, Biden alluded to a meeting he held in early May with Tice's parents, Marc and Debra, saying he pledged to them to try to secure their son's release.

"The Tice family deserves answers, and more importantly, they deserve to be swiftly reunited with Austin," Biden said. "We stand with Austin's many loved ones, and we will not rest until we bring Austin home. Ten years is far, far too long. So is every additional day."
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BEIJING (AP)  A Chinese court rejected an appeal Wednesday from a woman seeking an apology and damages in a high-profile case from the country's short-lived #MeToo movement.

The court in Beijing ruled after a closed-door hearing that evidence submitted by Zhou Xiaoxuan was insufficient to prove sexual harassment, upholding the initial judgment last September.

Zhou, a former intern at state broadcaster China Central Television, had accused CCTV host Zhu Jun of groping and forcibly kissing her in 2014. She reported the case to police in 2014 and went public about it in 2018, when other women began speaking out.

After flourishing briefly, the #MeToo movement was largely shut down. Activists found their online posts censored and faced pressure from authorities when trying to hold protests.

Police cordoned off the sidewalk outside the court building on Wednesday and told journalists not to film anything or gather, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zhou brought the suit against Zhu to counter a suit he had lodged against her. She sought a public apology and 50,000 yuan ($7,600) in damages. Zhu has denied the allegations.

In a video she posted online a day ahead of Wednesday's hearing, Zhou said she has no regrets that she pursued her case.

I really hope that people dont have to suffer in the future, she said. I hope things will be easier for the next victim who enters legal procedures.
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Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling Europe's largest nuclear power plant, stoking international fears of a catastrophe on the continent. A look at the plant and the situation around it:

EUROPE'S BIGGEST NUCLEAR PLANT

The Zaporizhzhia plant is in southern Ukraine, near the town of Enerhodar on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is one of the 10 biggest nuclear plants in the world.

Built during the Soviet era, it has six reactors with a total capacity of 5,700 megawatts. Three of the reactors are in operation.

Before the war, the plant accounted for about half of the electricity generated by nuclear power in Ukraine. The country has 15 reactors at four active plants, and also is home to the decommissioned Chernobyl plant, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

RUSSIANS TAKE CONTROL

Russian troops overran the plant shortly after invading Ukraine on Feb. 24.

During the fighting in early March, Russian and Ukrainian forces exchanged fire near the plant. The skirmishes resulted in a fire at its training complex.

The Russians have left the Ukrainian staff in place to keep the plant operating, and it has continued to supply electricity to government-controlled parts of Ukraine.

The fighting around the plant has fueled fears of a disaster like the one at Chernobyl, where a reactor exploded and spewed deadly radiation, contaminating a vast area in the world's worst nuclear accident.

Russian forces occupied the heavily contaminated Chernobyl site soon after the invasion but handed control back to the Ukrainians after withdrawing from the area at the end of March.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE TRADE ACCUSATIONS

Ukraine has accused Russia of storing troops and weapons at the plant and using its grounds to launch strikes against Ukrainian-controlled territory across the Dnieper. Ukrainian officials and military analysts say Moscow's forces have cynically employed the plant as a shield, knowing that the Ukrainians would be hesitant to fire back.

Russia has denied the accusations and, in turn, accused Ukrainian forces of repeatedly shelling the plant.

A series of attacks on the plant over the past few days has damaged some of its auxiliary equipment but not its reactors, and there has been no threat of a radiation leak, according to Russian authorities.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Ukrainian shelling of the plant on Sunday caused a power surge and smoke, triggering an emergency shutdown and forcing the staff to lower output from two of the reactors.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that the Ukrainian shelling of the plant is "fraught with catastrophic consequences for vast territories, for all of Europe, while the Russian Foreign Ministry has accused Ukraine of taking all of Europe hostage.

Ukrainian officials countered by accusing Russian forces of planting explosives at the plant in preparation for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive in the region. They also have accused Russia of launching attacks from the plant using Ukrainian workers there as human shields and shelling the place themselves.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian shelling and mining of the plant amount to nuclear blackmail.

Zaporizhzhia Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said that while the reactors are well protected by their thick concrete containment domes, it is impossible to guarantee their safe operation because of the Russian troops' presence. He noted, too, that the storage sites at the plant for spent nuclear fuel are not as well protected as the reactors.

Mark Wenman, a nuclear expert at Londons Imperial College, said the plants reactors are designed to protect against natural disasters and or man-made incidents such as aircraft crashes or reactor accidents.

I do not believe there would be a high probability of a breach of the containment building even if it was accidentally struck by an explosive shell, and even less likely the reactor itself could be damaged by such, he said. He added that the spent fuel is also stored in "very robust steel and concrete containers that are designed to withstand very high-energy impacts.

CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL MONITORING

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Associated Press last week that the situation surrounding the Zaporizhzhia plant is completely out of control, and he issued an urgent plea to Russia and Ukraine to allow experts to visit the complex to stabilize matters and avoid a nuclear accident.

Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated at the plant, Grossi said. What is at stake is extremely serious and extremely grave and dangerous.

Grossi said the supply chain of equipment and spare parts has been interrupted, so we are not sure the plant is getting all it needs. He noted that the IAEA also needs to perform highly important inspections to ensure that nuclear material is being safeguarded.

Grossi added that there have been instances of friction and reports of violence between the Russians and the Ukrainian staff.

When you put this together, you have a catalog of things that should never be happening in any nuclear facility, Grossi said.

RUSSIA AND UKRAINE CLASH OVER IAEA VISIT

The IAEA has sought in vain to send an inspection team to the plant for months.

Moscow has said it welcomes a visit to the plant by the IAEA, but it is unclear whether it is ready to actually help arrange such a trip.

Ukraine previously opposed Grossi's visit to the site for as long as it remains under Moscow's control, demanding the Russian military withdraw.

This week, however, Ukrainian officials appeared to warm up to such a trip, with Ukraines ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, urging the U.N. and IAEA to send a delegation to help completely demilitarize the territory and provide security guarantees to plant employees.

____

Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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GREENWICH  Greenwich Public Schools announced the appointment of two interim assistant principals, continuing a string of hiring decisions prior to the school years start.

Jenna Mazzilli, a former New Lebanon School educator, is returning to the school as interim assistant principal, effective Tuesday.

Erin Montague will serve as Western Middle Schools interim assistant principal, beginning Friday.

Jenna Mazzilli

Mazzilli is filling Lindsey Eisensteins role while Eisenstein leads the school as acting principal. (Principal Alexandra Michaelson is currently taking a leave of absence.)

We are thrilled to welcome back Jenna Mazzilli to New Lebanon School where she began her career, acting principal Eisenstein said in a news release. She has vast experience in curriculum and instruction that spans K-5 and has been a staple on various district-wide committees.

Her familiarity with the New Lebanon and the Byram community, along with her extensive knowledge of Greenwich Public Schools, will serve our students, staff, and families as we embark on the 2022-2023 school year, Eisenstein said.

Having grown up here in Greenwich, being able to continue my career as an administrator in our prestigious school system is an absolute dream. I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work with the New Lebanon community previously as a teacher and I look forward to working collaboratively with the staff, families, and students in a new capacity, Mazzilli said. I hope to continue to promote the positive school community they have created here and help our students grow.

Mazzilli joined Greenwich Public Schools in 2011 and has worked at New Lebanon, Parkway, Julian Curtiss and Hamilton Avenue schools.

She most recently taught third and fourth grade at Julian Curtiss School, where she also served as a member of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Leadership Committee, Teacher Evaluation and Professional Learning Committee and the School Data Team.

She has served as an assistant site supervisor and an elementary site supervisor during the past two summer school programs.

It is especially gratifying for us at Greenwich Public Schools to watch our own students become teachers and administrators in our district to serve their hometown community, Superintendent Toni Jones said. We are so proud and excited to have Jenna Mazzilli rejoin New Lebanon School as she continues to excel at GPS.

Mazzilli earned a bachelors degree in human development and family studies, early childhood development and education from the University of Connecticut. She holds a masters degree in teaching, childhood education, grades K-6 from Manhattanville College and a second masters in educational administration from Mercy College.

She also earned a professional certificate in childhood education, a provisional certificate for elementary, an initial certificate as a New York State building leader and an intermediate administration or supervision certification.

Erin Montague

Montague is taking on the duties of Kerry Gavin, who was recently appointed interim principal at Cos Cob School. She is no stranger to Western Middle School, for she has been a WMS Wildcat for eight years.

Ms. Montague is the consummate professional and I look forward to having her formally join our leadership team, principal Gordon Beinstein said. In her eight years as a school counselor at Western, she has proven herself to be a voice of reason and calmness for parents, a sounding board for staff and administration, and, most importantly, a rock for her students. Her skill set as a counselor and student advocate and the leadership experiences she pursued while at Western will translate well to the role of a school administrator.

Montague has worked as a school counselor at Western since 2014. Additionally, she co-chaired the WMS Systems Committee, was a Section 504 case manager and the AVID site coordinator.

In 2020, Greenwich Public Schools named Montague one of six Distinguished Teachers, and the district selected her to represent GPS for the Connecticut State Department of Educations 2021 Connecticut Teacher of the Year Program.

We are so pleased to appoint Erin Montague as the interim assistant principal at Western Middle School, Jones said. Her dedication and commitment to the entire Western community is a true testament of her devotion to her students and co-workers.

Montague earned a bachelors degree in psychology and human development and family studies from the University of Connecticut and a masters degree in school counseling from Fairfield University. She holds an administrator certification from Sacred Heart University and a sixth-year certificate from the University of La Verne.

I am overjoyed to accept this opportunity to stay at my home, Western Middle School, to join an amazing leadership team, and to continue to work alongside our dedicated and passionate staff, Montague said. I look forward to strengthening my connections with our wonderful students, families, and the greater Western community.

annelise.hanshaw@hearstmediact.com
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP)  Hundreds of Bulgarians took to the streets of the capital Sofia Wednesday, voicing fears that the country's caretaker government could break with the policies of its pro-Western predecessor and revert to close energy ties with Russia.

The second in a planned series of protests under the slogan #GAZwithme took place in front of the presidential building in Sofia and organizers said they want greater accountability from the caretaker cabinet.
CM will embark on district tours from August 14 and address public meetings. (Photo: File/ Twitter)

Hyderabad: The TRS is all set to start its campaign for the Munugode Assembly constituency byelection with a public meeting on August 25.

While the Congress has held a meeting in Chanduru in the constituency last week, the BJP has scheduled one on August 21, which will be attended by union home minister Amit Shah.

The TRS expected to declare its candidate after the August 25 public meeting.

Party sources said it is not clear whether party president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will address this meeting. However, he will be addressing meeting in a couple of districts, and they could be aimed at the Munugode.

Sources expect party working president K.T.Rama Rao and energy minister G. Jagadish Reddy, party incharge minister for Nalgonda district, to head the show.

For now, the TRS is adopting a low profile when compared with the BJP and Congress. The TRS leadership in Nalgonda district is quietly undertaking Operation Akarsh' by luring local constituency leaders and cadre of the BJP and the Congress into its fold.

Incharges have been appointed for each village and mandal to lure Opposition sarpanches, ward members in gram panchayats, MPTCs, ZPTCs into the TRS.

Party sources said the TRS is stronger in Munugode with a majority of the sarpanches, MPTCs and ZPTCs on its side.

For this reasons, the party leadership has decided to wait until BJP holds its public meeting and then mobilize more people to put up a bigger show.

Meanwhile, the CM will embark on district tours from August 14 and address public meetings. He will visit Vikarabad on August 14 to inaugurate the integrated collectorate complex and party's district office.

The CM will also meet warring factions in the party in Vikarabad and try to sort out matters. The party has been virtually split into two groups in Vikarabad by the political rivalry between Vikarabad MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy and MLC Patnam Mahender Reddy.

The CM will later visit the Medchal-Malkajgiri district to inaugurate the integrated collectorate complex and district office and address a public meeting later.

Party circles believe that the CM's public meetings will highlight the achievements of eight years of the TRS government and will indirectly contribute to the campaign for Munugode.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed the countrys most powerful general, offering $300,000 to eliminate the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Shahram Poursafi, identified by U.S. officials as a member of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.

Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force and an architect of Tehrans proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike as he traveled from Baghdads international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.

The FBI believes that Poursafi was acting on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard when he sought to have Bolton killed, according to an affidavit unsealed Wednesday. Law enforcement officials located photographs of Poursafi in fatigues and with posters of Iran and Soleimani in the background to back up their allegation that he is a uniformed Revolutionary Guard member.

The Justice Department traces the plot to the fall of 2021, when Poursafi, 45, an Iranian citizen who officials say has never visited the United States, asked an unidentified person he met through social media and who was living in the U.S. to take photographs of Bolton for a book he said he was writing.

The person introduced Poursafi to an associate that could take the requested photos and videos. After the two connected, Poursafi encouraged that person, who was actually a confidential source working with the FBI, to hire someone to kill Bolton and offered to pay $300,000 for the job. Poursafi told the person that he wanted the guy to be purged or eliminated.

Poursafi provided the person with Bolton's office address, including the name and contact information for someone who worked in the office, the FBI affidavit says.

This was not an idle threat, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Departments top national security official, said in a statement released by the department. And this is not the first time weve uncovered brazen acts by Iran to exact revenge against individuals in the U.S."

In 2011, for instance, the FBI and Justice Department revealed an Iranian government plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. while the ambassador was in the U.S.

A spokesman for Irans foreign ministry, Nasser Kanaani, called the latest accusations baseless and politically motivated, state-run media reported.

He said Iran reserves the right to take any action within the framework of international law to defend the rights of the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In his own statement, Bolton thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in developing the case and the Secret Service for providing protection.

While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Irans rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States, he said.

The unsealing of the complaint comes two days after negotiators seeking to revive the Iran nuclear accord in Vienna closed on a final text of an agreement, with parties now consulting in their capitals on whether to agree to it it.

The 2015 deal granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for tight curbs on its atomic program. Since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump, Iran has sped up its nuclear enrichment program. Bolton has been among the most hawkish critics of the deal and efforts by the Biden administration to rejoin it.

In his statement, Bolton said Irans nuclear-weapons and terrorist activities are two sides of the same coin and asserted that America re-entering the 2015 deal would be an "unparalleled self-inflicted wound, to ourselves and our closest Middle East allies."

The Justice Department described Poursafi as at-large abroad but did not elaborate on where he might be located. It is not clear when or if he will be taken into custody. He faces charges of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and attempting to provide transnational support to a murder plot.

The Revolutionary Guard is a paramilitary organization formed in the wake of Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution to defend its clerically overseen government. The Quds Force is the Guards expeditionary unit, responsible for operations abroad.

Soleimani was the head of that force, and the Defense Department said at the time of the January 2020 strike that it killed him because he was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.

____

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington, Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed to this report.
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  Human rights groups on Wednesday warned anxious Kenyans over rising levels of false or misleading information being shared on social media" as the country awaited results of a close presidential election. The electoral commission indicated it would be at least Thursday before a winner is declared.

High-profile supporters of the two leading candidates were tweeting claims of victory, citing counts based on more than 46,000 results forms posted online by the electoral commission in a gesture of transparency. Kenyan media raced to do their own tallies, but their differing, incomplete results added to confusion. The government-created Media Council of Kenya said it was consulting with editors for an urgent solution to ensure Kenyans receive synchronized results.

A day after Tuesday's election in which turnout was notably lower than in recent years, interest in the winner was sharpening in a country often held up as an example of a relatively strong democracy in Africa.

Amnesty International Kenya and other groups in a statement urged Kenyans to consider all results as provisional until the electoral commission announces the official results to reduce the risks of violence or claims of rigging. But tensions in some places were already high. In the Nairobi neighborhood of Mathare, an angry crowd formed after seals on a few ballot boxes at a tallying center were found broken.

This election is likely the final try by longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga, who on his fifth attempt is backed by former rival and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta. The other top contender is Deputy President William Ruto, who fell out with the president earlier in their decade in power.

Voters have expressed little hope of real change and frustration with rising prices and widespread corruption in East Africas economic hub.

The electoral commission said turnout was at least 65%, far lower than the 80% in the previous election in 2017. More than 22 million people were registered to vote, but some told The Associated Press they doubted they would bother, dispirited by economic challenges including high national debt and widespread unemployment.

Both top candidates are long known to Kenyans, Odinga as a democracy campaigner and former political detainee and Ruto as a wealthy populist who plays up his humble youth as a contrast to the dynasties that produced Odinga and Kenyatta.

The president's backing of Odinga cut across the usual ethnic lines that have long defined elections and contributed to violence. This time there is no candidate from Kenya's largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, though both top candidates chose Kikuyu running mates.

Official election results must be announced within a week of the vote. More than 99% of results forms had been electronically submitted by polling centers to the commission on Wednesday, but it still must verify them with the physical forms.

The issue of saying that we should declare results today (Wednesday), that will not happen today, commission chair Wafula Chebukati told journalists, but he said the aim is to conclude the process at the earliest possible time. He said polling went smoothly.

It's not done till it's done, Odinga's running mate Martha Karua tweeted, as other top candidates were publicly silent.

A runoff election will be held if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes.

On the eve of the vote, Kenya's government reminded people that this will be a CONTEST, not a FIGHT. A contest must have a winner, and a loser. In a fight, life can sometimes be lost.

More than 1,000 people were killed after 2007 election results were announced and Odinga alleged massive rigging. In 2017, the high court overturned the election results, a first in Africa, after Odinga alleged irregularities. He boycotted the fresh election and declared himself the people's president, drawing accusations of treason.

A handshake with Kenyatta calmed that crisis, set up their unusual alliance and angered Ruto, who still accuses the president of betrayal.

Both Odinga and Ruto have said they will accept the results as long as the vote is free and fair.

Already, reported troubles include the failure of about 200 voting kits out of the more than 46,000. The electoral commission called it not widespread and normal for technology to break down at times. But some local reports also cited people saying they were unable to vote when polling workers wouldn't use the paper voters' register as a backup, which was allowed.

Such frustrations occurred even after Kenya budgeted $347 million, or more than $15 per voter, for one of Africa's most expensive elections.

The wait for a winner was bringing anxiety and fatigue. Everybody is very exhausted, everybody is eager to give out the ballot boxes and go back home because we have not even slept for the past two days, said Loice Wanjiru, a deputy presiding officer at a tallying center in Nairobi.

Kenyans have a week from the announcement of official results to file any court challenges. The court has two weeks to rule. A fresh election would be held within 60 days.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday nominated Patricia Guerrero to be the state's next chief justice, picking the daughter of Mexican immigrants to lead the nation's largest judicial system.

Guerrero, 50, would replace Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who will step down once her term ends in January.

Guerrero made history earlier this year when she was the first Latina confirmed to the California Supreme Court. Now she's poised to do it again as the first Latina to lead the state's sprawling court system that includes about 2,175 judges across 58 trial courts and 105 justices on the Courts of Appeal.

Justice Guerrero has established herself as a widely respected jurist with a formidable intellect and command of the law and deep commitment to equal justice and public service, Newsom said in a news release announcing Guerreros nomination.

Unlike the U.S. Supreme Court, California judges are not confirmed by the Legislature and do not get lifetime appointments. Guerrero must first be confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, consisting of the chief justice, state Attorney General Rob Bonta, and Manuel Ramirez, the senior presiding justice of the state Court of Appeal.

After that, voters will decide in November whether to give Guerrero a 12-year term.

Guerrero's background makes her qualified as the judicial branch's chief executive, said David Ettinger, an appellate lawyer who writes a blog about the California Supreme Court. Guerrero has been a judge at all three levels of California's judicial system, and before that was a partner at Lantham & Watkins, one of the largest law firms in the world.

It's important to remember that the chief justice is called the chief justice of California, not the chief justice of the Supreme Court," Ettinger said. She leads not just the court, but the entire judicial branch.

Since taking office in 2019, Newsom has made diversity a priority with his judicial appointments. In 2020, he nominated Martin Jenkins as the first openly gay man and only the third Black man to serve on the state Supreme Court. Earlier this year, he nominated Guerrero as the court's first Latina member.

And on Wednesday, Newsom said he planned to nominate another LGBT member to the Supreme Court: Alameda Superior Court Judge Kelli Evans, who would take Guerrero's spot once she is elevated to chief justice.

A graduate of Stanford Law School, Guerrero was a superior court judge in San Diego County from 2013 to 2017. She joined the fourth District Court of Appeal in 2017 before being confirmed to the state Supreme Court in March.

Guerrero is a registered Democrat and will be paid a salary of $293,286. She grew up in the Imperial Valley, raised by her parents who immigrated from Mexico.

If confirmed, I look forward to continuing the strides the Court has made under Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye to expand equal access to justice and create a fairer justice system for all Californians, Guerrero said in a news release.

Evans, 53, is from Oakland and grew up in public housing. She attended Stanford University and got a law degree from the University of California, Davis School of Law. She was chief deputy legal affairs secretary for Newsom, where she helped him shape a moratorium on capital punishment that Newsom issued in 2019.

In a news release, Evans said she was truly honored at the opportunity to be on the state Supreme Court.

If confirmed, I look forward to furthering our state's work to ensure equal justice under the law for all Californians, Evans said.

Evans is a registered Democrat and would make $279,677.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)  Greater transparency is needed before Maryland settles on any eligibility requirements regarding who can serve on local police accountability boards, advocates for police reform in Maryland said Wednesday.

Advocates criticized regulations proposed by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission for police accountability boards and administrative charging committees  part of sweeping police reforms approved last year by the Maryland General Assembly.

Members of the Maryland Coalition for Justice and Police Accountability held a news conference in front of the State House to urge the legislature's Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review to call a public hearing to give the public to chance to comment. They're calling on lawmakers to further revise the proposed regulations before approval.

Yanet Amanuel, public policy director for the ACLU of Maryland, said that in the law approved last year, state lawmakers recognized the importance of allowing local communities to determine their own membership-criteria requirements. Amanuel said those requirements should not be left to unelected members of a statewide police commission.

The community should not be robbed of the opportunity to provide public comments on such critical regulations, and the members of the AELR should carefully consider these concerns and provide the public with an open and transparent process," Amanuel said.

The boards are intended to give residents a role in the review and investigation of police-misconduct allegations, but advocates for reform say the police training commission has revised regulations on who can serve on the boards to say that local governing bodies may impose qualifications.

In a letter sent to the AELR committee last month, the statewide coalition of advocates say a number of counties have already drafted or passed legislation with a range of membership criteria ranging from excluding or banning people with prior convictions from serving, to favoring people with academic and professional experience over members of a community or identity that is over-policed.

Lydia Walther-Rodriguez, the Baltimore and central Maryland regional director for CASA de Maryland, noted that officials in Maryland's largest city have heard in recent months from city residents who have demanded there were no limitations on memberships to police disciplinary boards that could exclude residents who are most likely to suffer from police misconduct.

We are here today to ensure that there is a public hearing and a transparent process that will allow community members and their voices to continue to be engaged," Walther-Rodriguez said.

Del. Samuel Rosenberg, a Baltimore Democrat who co-chairs the AELR committee, said the panel hasn't made a decision yet.

We will review the regulations appropriately," Rosenberg said.

A message was left with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission.

The police accountability boards were part of an extensive package of police reform legislation approved last year. The General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, prioritized reforms last year after nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
ATLANTA (AP)  Prosecutors in Atlanta said they need a special grand jury to hear from U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham because he may be able to provide insight into the extent of any coordinated efforts to influence the results of the 2020 general election in Georgia.

Fulton County Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Donald Wakeford made that argument Wednesday during a federal court hearing on a request by Graham to quash his subpoena. Brian Lea, an attorney for Graham, argued that Graham's position as a senator protects him from having to appear before the special grand jury in the investigation into whether former President Donald Trump and his allies committed crimes as they sought to overturn his narrow election loss in Georgia.

Grahams attorneys  including Don McGahn, who served as White House counsel under Trump  successfully moved the issue of whether the subpoena should be quashed from Fulton County Superior Court to federal court.

U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May said she hopes to issue a ruling Friday but that it may take her until Monday to decide whether Graham should have to testify.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opened her investigation early last year, and a special grand jury with subpoena power was seated in May at her request. The special grand jury began hearing from witnesses, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in June.

Willis indicated early on that she was interested in a phone call between Graham and Raffensperger in November 2020, shortly after the election. Raffensperger said at the time that Graham asked if he had the power to reject certain absentee ballots and that he interpreted that as a suggestion to toss out legally cast votes.

Willis wrote in a court filing last month that Graham made at least two telephone calls to Raffensperger and members of his staff in the weeks after the 2020 general election.

During those calls, he questioned Secretary Raffensperger and his staff about reexamining certain absentee ballots cast in Georgia in order to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome for former President Donald Trump, Willis wrote.

Graham also made reference to allegations of widespread voter fraud in the November 2020 election in Georgia, consistent with public statements made by known affiliates of the Trump Campaign, she wrote.

Lea argued that the U.S. Constitution provides absolute protection against Graham being questioned about legislative acts. He also said sovereign immunity protects a senator from being summoned by a state prosecutor and that Willis has not demonstrated extraordinary circumstances necessary to compel testimony from a high-ranking official.

Graham had to decide whether to vote to certify the votes from Georgia and also has since proposed election-related legislation, so the phone calls were part of his legislative duties, Lea argued.

Wakeford said that while Willis's team is interested in the phone calls, that is just a starting point. He also disputed the idea that the phone calls were solely about legislative issues, saying Graham was seeking to make some changes to the way Georgia handled absentee ballots ahead of January 2021 runoff elections.

May peppered both sides with questions during the two-hour hearing but cautioned the attorneys not to read too much into her questioning, explaining that's how she makes sure she understands the issue.

If May doesnt quash the subpoena entirely, Lea asked her to at least set guidelines for what Graham can be asked before the special grand jury. Wakeford asked her not to quash the subpoena and to send the matter back to Fulton County Superior Court. He said the two sides can negotiate which topics can be covered and any disputes based on federal principles can be brought back to May.

Wakeford's proposal mirrors what May ordered when U.S. Rep. Jody Hice challenged his subpoena to testify before the special grand jury. But May said she wouldn't necessarily do the same thing in this case, noting that Hice's attorneys had agreed to those terms.

A group of six former federal prosecutors, including former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, on Wednesday filed a friend of the court brief in the case opposing Grahams motion to quash his subpoena. They cite their collective decades of experience and expertise on the issues the senator raises.

The subpoena reflects a narrowly targeted inquiry for unique evidence that is highly relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation, rather than a fishing expedition or an intrusion on legislative conduct, their brief says.

May instructed Graham's attorneys to respond to that brief by Thursday at noon and told Willis's team to respond to Graham's response by 9 a.m. Friday.
TITUSVILLE, Fla. (AP)  A third candidate for public office has come to forward to say a sheriff on Florida's Space Coast offered help in getting a job in exchange for leaving a race and backing his favored candidate.

Kimberly Musselman, an assistant state attorney in Brevard County, told Florida Today she was asked by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey to bow out of her race for county judge and endorse a candidate backed by him. In exchange, the sheriff said he could use his influence to help her become the district's top prosecutor, she said.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  Law enforcement officers fatally shot a man who fled a traffic stop in Sioux Falls and fired a gun at a police officer and a sheriff's deputy, the city's police chief said Wednesday.

Chief Jon Thum said at a briefing that law enforcement stopped a car with four occupants in the parking lot of a Burger King restaurant about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday because some were wanted and on parole.

Three of the four individuals  a woman and three men  ran from the vehicle and the fourth drove away, officials said.

One of the men fired at officers as he tried to flee and was shot, Thum said. The man, who has not been identified, was pronounced dead at a hospital.

We came very close to losing an officer yesterday, possibly more than one, said Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead.

Police said they have arrested two who were in the vehicle. The person who drove away from the scene remains at large, the chief said.

The drive-thru restaurant was busy, but no bystanders or officers were injured, Thum said.

These people are trying to kill our officers, and thats something we are very concerned about, he said.

The police officer and sheriffs deputy who fired their weapons are on administrative leave as the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation works the case.

Witnesses said they heard about 10 to 12 gunshots. Investigators cordoned off the area around the restaurant with yellow police tape. Patrons waited in their vehicles to be cleared from the scene.

Steven Carrillo, who was inside the Burger King with his partner and three children and more than a dozen other customers, said his family hid in the bathroom when the gunfire rang out.

We were in there for like an hour, he said. We didnt even eat afterward.

I was mostly worried about my kids," Carrillo said, shaking his head. His children range in age from 4 to 9 years old.

Its the fifth police shooting in the city since the end of March, and the seventh since October 2021. Four of those seven have been fatal, according to Argus Leader.
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DALLAS (AP)  The nearly $50 million defamation verdict against Alex Jones for his years of lies about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre is far from a final reckoning.

Jones' attorneys plan to appeal and try to lower the price tag a Texas jury put on his false claim that the nations deadliest school shooting  which killed 20 students and six teachers  was a hoax. The conspiracy theorist faces bankruptcy and other defamation lawsuits. And the courtroom conduct of Jones and his lawyers has exposed the Infowars host to new legal perils, including possible sanctions, allegations of perjury and renewed scrutiny in the investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Here's a look at the fallout from the successful suit against Jones by the parents of one of the child victims in the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at the school in Newtown, Connecticut.

WILL JONES PAY AND HOW MUCH?

A Travis County jury last week ordered Jones to pay Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis $4.1 million in compensatory damages for the suffering he put them through by saying the shooting that killed their 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was staged to increase gun controls. The jurors also leveled $45.2 million in punitive damages against Jones, bringing the total fine to roughly a third of the $150 million the couple had sought.

It's the first time Jones has been held financially liable for repeatedly claiming the Sandy Hook shooting was faked. Lewis said after the trial that Jones had been held accountable. His lawyers plan to appeal and to seek to reduce the damages.

Legal experts say Jones probably won't pay the full amount.

In most civil cases, Texas law limits how much defendants have to pay in exemplary, or punitive, damages to twice the economic damages plus up to $750,000. But jurors are not told about this cap, and eye-popping verdicts are often hacked down by judges.

Russ Horton, an Austin attorney, said it's almost a surety that the damages against Jones will be cut to conform with the law, either by an appeals court or the trial judge.

A Virginia judge did just that in Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Under a cap similar to Texas' law, the judge in July cut the $10 million in compensatory damages that a jury awarded Depp to $350,000.

What Jones can afford is also disputed.

He testified that any award over $2 million would sink us, and Free Speech Systems  which is Infowars Austin-based parent company  filed for bankruptcy protection during the first week of the trial.

But economist Bernard Pettingill testified that Jones and his company are worth up to $270 million. He said Jones withdrew $62 million from the firm in 2021, when default judgments were issued in that case and two other Sandy Hook defamation suits.

Since the verdict, Jones has urged Infowars' supporters to buy the nutritional supplements, survival gear and other products he sells, saying he needs funds to continue the show and his legal fights.

"If we dont get solvent and get enough money to come out of this bankruptcy, theyll appoint a receiver and start selling off the equipment," he said Monday.

PERJURY?

There would be extensive court wrangling before the Infowars studio could be sold for parts. But Jones has more immediate risks and may see his legal bills mount.

Jones appeared to be caught in at least one lie while on the witness stand, when a lawyer for the parents suing him revealed he had digital copies of texts and other content from Jones' cellphone. The messages, including communications about Sandy Hook, were accidentally emailed to the plaintiffs' attorneys by one of Jones lawyers.

Jones sought to shrug the revelation off in cross-examination, ridiculing an opposing lawyer and denying that he lied. But legal experts say the episode could open Jones up to a possible perjury charge.

Criminal charges of perjury are rare and difficult to prove, but Jones' prominence may make him an attractive target, especially in liberal Austin.

It would be very hard to imagine a state prosecutor going after someone in a civil case for perjury, said Benson Varghese, an attorney in Fort Worth, Texas. The chance are slightly higher for Jones, given the high-profile case.

Aggravated perjury, the charge frequently brought in Texas for lies on the witness stand, is punishable with up to 10 years in prison.

A spokesman for the Travis County District Attorneys Office, which would handle a potential criminal case against Jones, declined to comment.

SANCTIONS?

Even if prosecutors never pursue a case, Jones could face further consequences from Judge Maya Guerra Gamble.

Before the trial, lawyers for the parents suing Jones filed a motion asking the judge to sanction him for failing to produce evidence. Gamble is set to take up that motion.

And in court, Gamble repeatedly admonished Jones to tell the truth.

At one point, she sent the jury out of the room and scolded him for telling jurors he complied with pretrial evidence gathering when he hadn't. And the judge scolded him further for testifying that he's bankrupt, which has not been determined by a court and prompted fury from the lawyers opposing Jones.

This is not your show, Gamble told Jones. Your beliefs do not make something true. You are under oath.

Judges have wide discretion to set sanctions  including fines, imprisonment and other punishments  but its rare to see them imposed.

Avi Moshenberg, a lawyer for the parents, declined to say whether they would seek other sanctions but said "there were certainly some troubling things that happened during trial.

Jones attorney, Andino Reynal, did not respond to a request for comment.

JONES AND THE JAN. 6 INVESTIGATION

Jones' lawyers accidentally handing over his text messages in the case also exposes him to further scrutiny from the U.S. House committee examining the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot that sought to overturn Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election.

The committee, which has spent months showing how former President Donald Trump relentlessly pushed his false claims of a rigged election, subpoenaed Jones to testify. And the panels chairman accused him of helping to organize a rally near the Capitol that preceded the insurrection.

Now, the lawmakers reportedly have Jones' texts.

An attorney for the parents suing Jones, Mark Bankston, gave the committee two years worth of Jones' messages, CNN reported Monday, citing an unnamed person familiar with the matter. Bankston told The Associated Press that he was cooperating with the committee" but did not comment further.

On his Tuesday show, Jones downplayed the significance of the messages. He showed a photo of his wife in a swimsuit that he had sent to Roger Stone, a Trump confidant who was also subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 committee, and said the messages didn't include anything past April 2020.

Its six months of limited texts, Jones said. Its a fraction of my phone."

OTHER CASES

Before the trial in Austin, Jones had already been found liable in a separate defamation lawsuit in Texas and another in Connecticut by relatives of some of the Sandy Hook victims.

The other Texas case was filed by Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah was killed in the shooting. The Connecticut case has the potential for a larger award because it consolidates three lawsuits filed by 15 plaintiffs, a former FBI agent who responded to the school and the relatives of nine Sandy Hook victims.

It will be up to a Connecticut jury to decide what, if any, damages Jones owes in that case, although law there could also limit what he would have to pay.

Trials for damages were scheduled to begin in both cases next month, but their progress has been complicated by Free Speech Systems' July filing for bankruptcy protection, a process that freezes pending litigation.

Horton, the Austin lawyer, said the cases could potentially proceed against Jones personally while Free Speech Systems is in bankruptcy court, and he warned that filing for Chapter 11 gives the bankruptcy court tremendous power to examine Jones finances.

Bankruptcy is not a place to hide out if you have anything to hide, Horton said.

___

Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut, and Tarm reported from Chicago. Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.

___

Find APs full coverage of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones
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LONDON (AP)  The number of coronavirus deaths fell by 9% in the last week while new cases remained relatively stable, according to the latest weekly pandemic report released by the World Health Organization Wednesday.

The U.N. health agency said there were more than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths in the last week and nearly 7 million new infections. The Western Pacific reported a 30% jump in cases while Africa reported a 46% drop. Cases also fell by more than 20% in the Americas and the Middle East.

The number of new deaths rose by 19% in the Middle East, while dropping by more than 70% in Africa, 15% in Europe and 10% in the Americas.

The WHO said that the omicron subvariant BA.5 remains dominant globally, accounting for nearly 70% of all virus sequences shared with the world's biggest publicly available virus database. The agency said other omicron subvariants, including BA.4 and BA.2, appear to be decreasing in prevalence as BA.5 takes over.

The WHO cautioned that its assessment of COVID-19 trends remains compromised by countries dropping many of their testing, surveillance and sequencing efforts as most countries have relaxed pandemic controls.

Still, Chinese authorities have announced new restrictions this week, after finding COVID-19 cases in the tourist island of Hainan and in Tibet. Earlier this week, the Chinese government shut down Lhasa's Potala Palace, the traditional home of the Dalai Lama, and also locked down Haikou, the capital of Hainan, in addition to several other cities including the beach resort Sanya.

About 80,000 tourists were stranded this week in Sanya after Chinese officials declared it a COVID-19 hot spot and required people to test negative five times within a week before being allowed to leave.

On Tuesday, the Chinese government sent a first planeload of 125 tourists out of Sanya and said other flights would be organized to fly out tourists in batches once they fulfilled the criteria to leave.

___

Follow APs coverage of the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 10, 2022

_____

AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY

Flood Advisory

National Weather Service Las Vegas NV

405 PM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022

...FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLASH FLOOD WARNING...

The threat of flooding continues and a Flash Flood Warning is now in

effect. Please refer to that bulletin for more information.

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Western Mohave County in northwestern Arizona...

San Bernardino County in southern California...

Southwestern Clark County in southern Nevada...

* Until 630 PM MST /630 PM PDT/.

* At 405 PM MST /405 PM PDT/, local law enforcement reported

thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash

flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. Flooding has

been reported along US 95 near Mile Marker 35.

HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Law enforcement reported.

IMPACT...Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water

crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Laughlin, Searchlight, Primm, Nipton Road Mile Marker 3, Nipton,

Cal-Nev-Ari, Nipton And Ivanpah Roads, Cottonwood Cove Campground,

Cottonwood Cove and Mountain Pass.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
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To challenge one-China principle is to change status quo across Taiwan Strait: China

(People's Daily App) 10:14, August 10, 2022

China said on Tuesday that to challenge the one-China principle is to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was responding at a regular press conference to remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that "the change to the status quo that's prevailed with regard to Taiwan for more than 40 years is coming from Beijing."

"What is the status quo across the Taiwan Strait?" Wang said. "The answer is crystal-clear, i.e., both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and Taiwan is part of China's territory. China's sovereignty and territorial integrity have never been split."

The one-China principle clearly defines the status quo across the strait, the ministry spokesperson said.

"To uphold this principle is to uphold the status quo," he said. "To violate and challenge this principle is to change the status quo."

(Subtitles by Li Peitian; Story compiled by Zhang Jian)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Digital transformation has continued to gain space across public and private sectors. As IT is the fuel for digitisation, enterprise technology leaders are increasingly being sought after by companies. CIO New Zealand consistently tracks the moves of IT leaders. Heres an update on the moves of New Zealands IT leaders starting from May 2022. If you want to share your next move with us message our A/NZ editor.

July 2022

Steve Faupel leads IT at The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ

Steve Faupel has joined not for profit The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ as group IT manager. Faupel had previously spent more than five years as the ICT manager for Auckland Kindergarten Association.

Ex-Salesforce Chris Robb lands at Suncorp

Chris Robb has joined Suncorp as executive general manager for technology in New Zealand. In this role, Robb is responsible for leading the direction and operational effectiveness of the financial institutions technology across New Zealand.

This is not Robbs first sting at Suncorp, back in 2018 he was executive general manager of insurance technology in Australia when, according to his LinkedIn profile, he led the technology strategy and delivery for Suncorp Groups core insurance platforms across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and India.

Robb joins Salesforce where hed been chief customer transformation officer for two years.

June 2022

Vocus CTO becomes 2degrees CIO

Previous Vocus CTO Stephen Kurzeja has been appointed as CIO at 2degrees, according to his LinkedIn profile. Kurzeja was CTO at Vocus Group for over three years and joined 2degrees following the merger between the two companies earlier this month.

2degrees confirmed Kurzejas CIO role is in addition to the CTO role held by Martin Sharrock since 2020.

Stuart Bloomfield appointed interim chief data and digital at Health NZ

Stuart Bloomfield, chief digital officer (CDO) of Waitemata and Counties Manukau District Health Boards (DHBs) has been appointed interim chief data and digital at Health NZ  the new organisation being established to run the health system across New Zealand. He will replace Shayne Hunter, who announced he was stepping down in May 2022.

According to Health Informatics New Zealand, in his new role, Bloomfield will provide the Health NZ executive leadership team and interim regional directors with a monthly progress report against all data and digital investments.

He had been at Waitemata DHB for over 12 years serving as CIO for more than five years before becoming CDO for both Waitemata and Counties Manukau DHB in 2018.

Christopher Laing promoted to CTO at Qrious

Qrious, Spark Business Groups AI and data analytics business, has promoted Christopher Laing to CTO. Laing was previously the companys director of AI and data science.

Qrious CEO Stephen Ponsford formerly held the CTO role until he became CEO earlier this year. Qrious said the CTO role has been shaped to leverage Laings experience and his software-and-systems-first approach which was an ideal fit for the next step in its journey as a data transformation company.

May 2022

Matthew Vaughan takes on CIO role at Tompkins Wake

Law firm Tompkins Wake has promoted Matthew Vaughan as its CIO. Vaughan had been the law firms IT manager for three years. Vaughan has led the organisation to continually improve its systems and invested in building its IT capability balancing in-house team with external providers, the company wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Ministry of Health loses Shayne Hunter

Shayne Hunter, deputy director-general data and digital at the Ministry of Health is said to have resigned, according to eHealthNews.nz. Hunter joined the ministry in 2019 and had a 15-year career in the health and disability sector. He previously worked as the CIO for Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs.
By: Stephanie Crawford, Solutions Marketing Manager at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company.

Recent discussion about hybrid work has centered around enabling employees to work remotely, but remote work is only half of the hybrid equation. Equally important is ensuring that the corporate office environment provides the workspace and the technology to support this new way of working. Naturally, the network infrastructure plays a big role.

As a key business tool and an enabler of a successful hybrid workplace, a modern, flexible network should provide:

Robust campus Wi-Fi that supports the traffic demands of bandwidth-hungry applications at scale

A platform for the increasing number of IoT devices used to support a fluctuating population of on-campus workers and a smart office setup

A consistent experience for workers, regardless of where they are when they log in

A unified infrastructure that simplifies network management and security for wireless, wired, and WAN infrastructure across campus, branch, remote, and data center locationswith acquisition, deployment, and management options to suit business needs

The evolution of the office

The way people work has changed, and the office has to adapt to meet their new needs. This means that although workers are returning to the office, it may no longer be the familiar place they remember. For example, the corporate campus may only be a part-time location for many full-time employees.

While knowledge workers have become adept at using home offices for independent work, the campus provides a better environment for face-to-face meetings and collaborative efforts. This subtle shift changes the requirements for both the office space and the corporate network.

Creating a collaborative campus with Wi-Fi 6

To support the campus as a collaborative space, companies are reworking floorplans to create more shared spaces in a variety of configurations. There are new video-enabled conference rooms, and cubicles are being cleared out in favor of wide-open spacesboth indoors and outthat are more conducive to conversation and impromptu collaboration. These common areas require robust, ubiquitous Wi-Fi to support an increased appetite for bandwidth-hungry, low-latency business applications such as video conferencing and Wi-Fi calling.

After all, these apps arent going away just because people are back in the office. A distributed work force, differing in-office schedules, and a reduced need for travel all mean meetings are going hybrid too, with a mix of in-person and remote participants. Hybrid employees are bringing their bandwidth-intense apps to the office with them, and if the infrastructure cant manage all that network traffic, it can negatively impact the business.

Fortunately, Arubas portfolio of AI-powered Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access points offers a perfect fit for these new demands, providing prioritized, high-bandwidth access in high density areas. These APs are equipped with Air Slice, application assurance that goes beyond device-based airtime fairness to identify and prioritize mission-critical applications, ensuring an excellent user experience. This is just one example of how the modern network, an essential enabler of hybrid work, delivers business (not just technology) outcomes.

APs as IoT platforms

With a more transient workforce comes even more opportunity to create smart spaces with IoT devices. Already in use within smart buildings, environmental sensors to control things like lighting, heating, and cooling can deliver even more savingswithout compromising safety or comfortin a hybrid setting where occupancy can vary significantly from one day to another. Todays offices may also take advantage of IoT devices to enable air quality monitoring, wayfinding, access, and door-locking systems, or even hot-desking or hoteling solutions used to book in-office workspaces.

Since Arubas Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E APs can be used as IoT platforms, those IoT devices can become part of the corporate networkno need for a separate IoT overlay network. While IoT devices have earned a reputation for lackluster security and for joining networks without the knowledge of or permission from IT, Aruba ESPs identity-based access control supports Zero Trust and SASE frameworks to ensure only authorized devices join the network. Meanwhile, AI-powered Client Insights, part of Aruba Centrals cloud-native network management, ensures those devices are all identified and governed by established policy enforcement rules to ensure traffic is segmented and each respective device can only access IT resources its entitled to access.

A consistent experience, wherever youre working

There are clearly differences between working on campus and working remotely, but the network experience shouldnt be among them. Although employees may work in multiple locations, they expect a consistent experience whether theyre logging on from their remote office or a corporate campusand Aruba EdgeConnect Microbranch delivers it. Role- and device-based security provide a consistent level of access, while policy-based routing intelligently routes cloud traffic, eliminating the need to direct all traffic through the data center for inspection. This improves performance while ensuring policies are applied universally, regardless of location.

Similarly, Aruba Central provides network administrators visibility and management for the whole networkwired, wireless, WAN, branch, and remote officesall from an AI-powered single pane of glass with deep visibility into total network and client health.

Network as a service for greater flexibility

Just as Aruba ESP provides a flexible, modern network, HPE GreenLake for Aruba provides a wide variety of flexible network as a service (NaaS) options to suit unique business needs. OpEx options allow customers to upgrade to the latest hardware when its available, rather than waiting for capital depreciation on existing hardware. Organizations can also opt for the flexibility to scale the network up or down according to business needs, and they can choose to manage the network in-house, outsource the management, or a combination of the twoall either ongoing or on a project basis. This allows businesses to get the network they need without the constraints of traditional acquisition, deployment, and management approaches.

Going back to something better

The way the work force works continues to evolve, and workplaces need to keep up. In order for a hybrid workforce to take full advantage of the benefits the on-campus experience can offer for better business outcomes, the network theyre going back to will likely need to be better than the one they left. Additional information can be found in these resources:
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The chief executive of Age Scotland, Brian Sloan, has announced he is stepping down after 10 years in post.

He joined the charity in 2011 as a director, and was promoted to chief executive a year later. Sloan will remain in post for a further six months while the charity looks for his successor. The recruitment process is being put in place, the charity has said.

Stuart Purdy, chair of Age Scotland, said: On behalf of the board and all of our team at Age Scotland, I thank Brian for his leadership, his commitment and the impact and results he and his team have delivered in support of older people. Brians leadership over the last ten years of his service sets him apart and he will be much missed by the whole team at Age Scotland and by our many supporters and partners.

Commenting on his departure, Sloan said he will always support Age Scotland but it is the right time for him to leave the charity.

He said: After ten wonderful years with Age Scotland, I have decided it is the right time for me to leave the organisation. Age Scotland is in the best place it has ever been, representing and supporting the older people of Scotland in its broadest sense whilst being financially secure.

The future has never looked brighter for the organisation and every single colleague, both past and present, should be immensely proud of the part they have played during my ten-year journey.

sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
In 2019, Josh Owens, a former video editor at Infowars, the conspiracy empire run by Alex Jones, wrote for the New York Times Magazine about how he came to work for Jones, and how he came to regret it. Owens said that he had fallen into Joness orbit as an angry young man in the late Bush era, seduced by Joness narratives in an era of war and financial crisis, and by the aesthetic of X-Files mystique in which he cloaked his conspiracies. Owens didnt believe everything Jones said, thoughthe notion that the Sandy Hook school shooting was staged to confiscate peoples guns, for instance, struck him as too farand, over time, he grew disillusioned with Jones and his erratic behavior. One time, Jones accidentally fired an AR-15 in Owenss direction and claimed hed done it on purpose, as a joke. On Election Day in 2016, Owens drove with Jones to a Texas polling place, streaming live on Facebook as the latter weaved through traffic and ranted about stolen elections, the scent of vodka wafting up from a cup on the console. Jones was, of course, barred from filming inside the polling place. He hoped to turn this into a spectacle, Owens wrote, an insult to him personally, another opportunity to play the self-aggrandizing victim.

Yesterday, Charlie Warzel, who writes a newsletter for The Atlantic, published a rare interview with Owens. Jones had recently gone on trial in Texas to determine how much he would have to pay the parents of Jesse Lewis, a six-year-old child who was shot and killed at Sandy Hook, after Jones suggested that they were actors in a government hoax, failed to comply with court orders in a subsequent defamation case, and was found guilty by default; Warzel wanted to know how Owens felt watching the damages trial, which was broadcast live and heavily covered in the media. There were some aw-shucks moments Jones tried to create where hed talk about not having any money and being unfairly persecuted. And I worried the jury might be swayed by his lies, Owens said. Its hard to explain this to people who only know him via his broadcast, but when youre face to face with Alex and he puts on the charm, he can, momentarily, come off as not so horrible. He can just turn on this charm. Thankfully, they didnt buy any of it.

ICYMI: What toilets say about the latest Trump news cycle

They certainly did not: late last week, the jury ordered Jones to pay Lewiss parents more than four million dollars in compensatory damages and more than forty-five million dollars in punitive damages. To any reasonable observer, the trial was a debacle for Jones from start to finish. He stayed away from court while Lewiss parents testified, but, seemingly inadvertently, returned before Lewiss mother finished speaking, allowing her to finally confront him face-to-face about the devastating impact of his lies. When she asked Jones if he thought she was an actress, Jones said he didnt; after Jones himself took the stand, he conceded that the Sandy Hook shooting was one hundred percent real and that he had been irresponsible to claim otherwise. The trials most viral moment came when Mark Bankston, the lawyer for Lewiss parents, informed Jones in court that his attorney had accidentally handed over two years worth of Joness texts, a cache that proved Jones was not telling the truth when he said he didnt have any Sandy Hook texts on his phone. You know what perjury is, right? Bankston asked. Jones said he did.

Joness trials are not over, in either a literal or figurative sense. He faces further damages proceedings in both Texas and Connecticut to determine how much hell have to pay other relatives of other Sandy Hook victims. Hes also a person of interest to the House committee investigating January 6: he was in DC that day, and helped organize the rally that preceded the insurrection. Jones already appeared before the panel, where he repeatedly pleaded the Fifth. Last week, Bankston said that the committee had asked him to hand over the texts provided by Joness lawyer; Joness lawyer tried to persuade the judge in the Sandy Hook case to block Bankston from doing so, but the judge declined to intervene. CNNs Oliver Darcy reported on Monday that the texts are now in the committees possession. The same day, Bankston said that the text trove included a nude photo of Joness wife that Jones sent to Roger Stone, the Trump consigliere. Joness wife told Insider that she had been unaware of the graphic text and was upset to learn of it. She added, somewhat cryptically, thats really the least of my problems right now.

Still, significant caveats apply to the legal jeopardy that Jones has brought upon himself. The text cache reportedly stops in mid-2020, and so doesnt cover the period that is most of interest to congressional investigators. During the recent damages trial, meanwhile, Jones put the parent company of Infowars into bankruptcy, a step various experts immediately decried as a gambit to delay the subsequent proceedings in Texas and Connecticut; sure enough, those have been delayed, though a bankruptcy judge will today hear a motion aimed at kick-starting jury selection in the Connecticut case. Despite Joness claims of impending ruin and his finances generally being murky, a forensic economist testified last week that Joness company has raked in cash in recent years, including by selling supplements and survivalist merchandise; it also has debt, though much of it seems to be owed to a shell company that lists Jones as a manager. (Joness lawyer has disputed this characterization.) And Jones seems unlikely to pay the full amount of punitive damages ordered against him due to a cap in Texas law. Questions have been raised as to the constitutionality of the cap, and Bankston plans to argue that it doesnt apply here, but experts doubt that he will get around it, and, even if he does, he may face other legal obstacles.

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One defamation lawyer told Reuters that even if the cap kicks in, the high initial amount of the award will persist as a deterrent against the spreading of disinformation in society more broadly, and Lewiss parents have said, for their part, that this is more important to them than the money. Others have echoed this analysis; Elizabeth Williamson, who wrote a book about Sandy Hook and covered the Jones trial for the New York Times, noted on the papers Daily podcast this week that while the outcome is unlikely to deter Alex Jones himself, there are a lot of other people who want to be the next Alex Jones but cant afford to pay out millions of dollars in damages. But there are obvious reasons to doubt that the Jones verdict will make a serious dent in Americas broader disinformation ecosystem, not least the fact that defamation law only applies to specific claims about people or companies, and not to ideaselection denialism, anti-vax propaganda, and so onthat are less individual-specific but can be no less harmful. (As NBCs Ben Collins put it, a concept cannot sue you.) Slates Dahlia Lithwick wrote that while it was important for Jones to be forced to confront his victims, the trial as a whole felt like an inadequate way to address the grievous harms done, the booming economics of grifting off lies, and the permanence of the problem of post-truth. The post-trial vibe is still very much yes but.

Lithwick continued that any expectation that any given legal proceedingsuch as the Mueller probe, Trumps two impeachments, and even the very effective Jan. 6 committee hearingsmight lift us out of the misinformation quagmire in which we find ourselves has proven again and again to be too fanciful. The fact that Jones has also been implicated in at least one of the matters Lithwick describes is a testament to the fact that, in the decade since Sandy Hook, he has only become a more relevant figure in American politics, as the poison he spreads has eaten ever closer to the heart of American public life. Jones, of course, is a consequential figure who deserves to be held individually accountable for spreading the poisonand it would be a consequential thing if his empire were to now collapse under the weight of that accountability. But that seems unlikely. Either way, the poison is out there now, and plenty of others are spreading it. The Daily referred to Jones this week as Americas most prominent conspiracy theorist. Warzel called him its second-most prominent conspiracy theorist. There is, at least, competition these days.

If reasonable observers saw the recent trial as a debacle for Jones, the problem is that plenty of unreasonable observers were also watching, including via Infowars, and will have seen not a humiliating comeuppance but yet another government conspiracy, with Jones playing the self-aggrandizing victim. Jones continued to broadcast during the trial, and to raise funds off of it; when he showed up at court, he wore a mock gag across his mouth with Save the 1st printed across it. One observer who eventually found reasonJosh Owensmay have been pleased by the verdict, but he was also wary of the platform the trial gave Jones to spread his narrative. When, several years ago, major social media platforms moved to ban Jones, he took this thing that wouldve crushed somebody else and made it into a selling point for his audience, Owens told Warzel. I think the question to ask now is, How is he going to use these three trials to boost himself, and how can it be stopped? (Again, Jones is not the only right-wing agitator to have played on such a dynamic in a recent trial. See also: Steve Bannon.)

Owens told Warzel that in speaking out about his past, he isnt trying to take Jones down; from my perspective, Owens said, thats a futile task. Rather, hes trying to reach people on the marginsthose, for example, who might still listen to Jones because they think hes entertaining, and dont yet believe everything he spouts. On the margins, the Jones verdict might also deter some would-be imitators from copying his rhetoric. If even one family is spared the pain Jones inflicted on Lewiss parents, thatll be worth something. Margins can really matterparticularly these days, when they seem so fine across the breadth of American political life. Ultimately, though, whats already bolted into the mainstream matters more.

Below, more on Alex Jones:

A horrifically meta turn of events: Last week, while the trial was ongoing, Anna Merlan, of Vice, tracked how Infowars was covering it. In most cases, the defendants in a civil case, especially ones for whom things seem to be going disastrously poorly, wouldnt immediately start talking about it on a live broadcast. Infowars has taken a different approach, Merlan wrote. As a parallel universe of the trial continued to play out on Infowars, and as Alex Jones weaves in and out of the courtroom to appear on air, Lewiss parents declined interviews and sat quietly in court, day in and day out.

Last week, while the trial was ongoing, Anna Merlan, of Vice, tracked how Infowars was covering it. In most cases, the defendants in a civil case, especially ones for whom things seem to be going disastrously poorly, wouldnt immediately start talking about it on a live broadcast. Infowars has taken a different approach, Merlan wrote. As a parallel universe of the trial continued to play out on Infowars, and as Alex Jones weaves in and out of the courtroom to appear on air, Lewiss parents declined interviews and sat quietly in court, day in and day out. He doesnt care: Also last week, Slates Aymann Ismail discussed the trial with Dan Friesen, who cohosts a podcast, called Knowledge Fight, where he spends hours upon hours chronicling Joness show and public statements, creating a dizzying ledger of what Americas foremost conspiracist is pumping out to his audience. Its more important to understand this case more from the plaintiffs perspective than Alexs, Friesen said. Were talking about years and years of suffering. How do you put a value on being able to speak your piece to someone who has caused you years and years of pain?

Also last week, Slates Aymann Ismail discussed the trial with Dan Friesen, who cohosts a podcast, called Knowledge Fight, where he spends hours upon hours chronicling Joness show and public statements, creating a dizzying ledger of what Americas foremost conspiracist is pumping out to his audience. Its more important to understand this case more from the plaintiffs perspective than Alexs, Friesen said. Were talking about years and years of suffering. How do you put a value on being able to speak your piece to someone who has caused you years and years of pain? Shitting himself? A source told Lachlan Cartwright, of the Daily Beast, that Tucker Carlson messages regularly with Jones and is shitting himself that highly embarrassing texts they have exchanged will be leaked from the cache that is now in the hands of the January 6 committee. Carlson and Jones have maintained a friendly relationship for years, Cartwright writes. Carlson has made multiple appearances on Infowars, gushed over Joness unhinged rhetoric, branded him more talented than I am, and supplied a fawning blurb for the bullshitting blowhards upcoming book.

A source told Lachlan Cartwright, of the Daily Beast, that Tucker Carlson messages regularly with Jones and is shitting himself that highly embarrassing texts they have exchanged will be leaked from the cache that is now in the hands of the January 6 committee. Carlson and Jones have maintained a friendly relationship for years, Cartwright writes. Carlson has made multiple appearances on Infowars, gushed over Joness unhinged rhetoric, branded him more talented than I am, and supplied a fawning blurb for the bullshitting blowhards upcoming book. Snake oil salesmen: LZ Granderson, a columnist at the LA Times, argues that we shouldnt describe Jones and his ilk as conspiracy theorists, and that snake oil salesmen would be a more accurate term. Theorists would be more like scientists. Building on knowledge with hypotheses, perhaps even testing them with research and experiments with controls, collecting data, Granderson writes. People like Jones are only interested in getting an audience to believe them.



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Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Ships exporting Ukraine grain through the Black Sea will be protected by a 10 nautical mile buffer zone, according to long-awaited procedures agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations on Monday and seen by Reuters.

The United Nations and Turkey brokered a deal last month after Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine halted grain exports, stoking a global food crisis that the United Nations says has pushed tens of millions more people into hunger.

Since then Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations have been working to hammer out written procedures in the hope that it will assure shipping and insurance companies enough to resume grain and fertilizer shipments from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhny.

We very much hope it will increase the traffic under this initiative, said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric after the procedures were agreed.

The initiative has been operating in a trial phase for the past two weeks. Ten ships  stuck in Ukraine since the war started  have departed with corn, soybeans and sunflower oil and meal. Two empty vessels have traveled to Ukraine to collect shipments.

The biggest ship yet, the Ocean Lion, is due to leave the port of Chornomorsk on Tuesday to deliver 64,720 metric tons of corn to South Korea, said the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) on Monday. The JCC in Istanbul oversees the deal and is made up of Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian and U.N. officials.

Commercial Operation

Ukraine, along with Russia, is a major global supplier of wheat and other foodstuffs. However, the first ship to depart Ukraine under the UN deal last week is now looking for another port to unload after the initial Lebanese buyer refused delivery, citing a more than five-month delay.

The United Nations has stressed that the export deal is a commercial  not humanitarian  operation that will be driven by the market. All ships are required to be inspected to allay Russian concerns they could be smuggling weapons in to Ukraine.

Neil Roberts, head of marine and aviation at Lloyds Market Association  which represents the interests of all underwriting businesses in the Lloyds of London insurance market  told Reuters that the industry could now play its part.

The successful exit of multiple vessels was beyond the imagining of most people only a few weeks ago and to have come this far is extraordinary, said Roberts. To actually achieve the goals of the UNs initiative would be something for historians to reflect on.

Protection Zone

The shipping and insurance industry wanted assurances of a secure journey with no threat of sea mines or attacks to their ships and crews. These are typically covered in standard operating procedures, which is what was agreed on Monday.

The parties will not undertake any attacks against merchant vessels or other civilian vessels and port facilities engaged in this initiative, according to the procedures for merchant vessels document.

One insurance industry source said the procedures read as a reassuring set of rules. But will all sides stick to it?.

Under the agreed procedures, the JCC will provide information on the planned movement of ships through the maritime humanitarian corridor, which will be shared with Russia, Ukraine and Turkeys military to prevent incidents.

Then as the vessel moves through the maritime humanitarian corridor it will be protected by a 10 nautical mile circle buffer zone around it.

No military vessel, aircraft or UAVs (drones) will close to within 10 nautical miles of a merchant vessel transiting the Maritime Humanitarian Corridor, excluding territorial seas of Ukraine, according to the document.

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said there was every chance the pace of exports could be maintained.

The key is how in the days to come our partners will prove able to prevent any attempts by Russia to disrupt exports and again further provoke a world food crisis, Zelenskiy said in a video address on Monday.

Russia has blamed Ukraine for stalling shipments by mining its port waters and rejects accusations Moscow is responsible for fueling the food crisis.
Beijing ordered launching Chinese Dongfeng ballistic missiles over Taiwan, which flew over its vaunted Patriot missile defense quickly without an interception.

The objective of the missile launch was to show how the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force could bombard the island, but the modern Patriot's inability to hit even a single one was a concern for some as the US advertises it as a capable system.

PLA Flaunts Its Ballistic Weapons

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) fired 11 Chinese ballistic missiles on August 4 into the coastal waters of the island's northern, southern, and eastern regions, reported EurAsian Times.

According to information from the Japanese Defense Ministry, four of these PLA rockets went over Taipei, and five of these ICBM missiles struck Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), noted Japan Times.

According to Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, the instability of the Indo-Pacific peace is a result of the People's Liberation Army's saber-rattling. The defense systems on the island were put on high alert, but the outcomes speak for themselves.

One question is whether the incident started an online debate on how the Taiwanese military activated the Patriot batteries to intercept the trajectory of the Chinese Dongfeng ballistic missile.

Read Also: US Army May Use These Futuristic Weapons to Face Adversaries in the Wars of Tomorrow

Missiles Shoot Over Taiwan Strait

The Patriot air defense system will fight in a cross-strait conflict as the only line of protection against Chinese missiles, per Army Technology.

Wang Li explained why Taipei did not try to shoot down these enemy ICBMs. He said that space begins at the Karman line, which is 100 km above the planet. When in position, these missiles are set to dive towards their target.

The Taiwan defense ministry said on August 4 that the Chinese ICBMs flew into space. Even flying over the island, it was not in the protected airspace. The question is whether the enclave's military can stop missiles at it.

One argument is that the Patriot III anti-ballistic missile defense system is not designed to defend against missiles diving from space but for lower altitude range interception.

One US-guided projectile costs NT$50 million, compared to NT$20 million for its Chinese adversary-two PLA rockets fire at one US missile.

Wang Li added that Beijing allows a chance to learn more about how their weapons behave for analysis. It speaks volumes of information to glean.

The boost phase of the Dongfeng occurs outside Taiwan, so it's far, but the midcourse stage is miles over the island, which Patriot defenses cannot hit.

Its terminal stage occurs far from the island's coast, which is too far from missile batteries. The Patriot will get a lock on if the missile nose cone is directed at the enclave.

Only when an attacking missile is close to the last position to strike, the nearest point that the American battery can only hit. Reservations if the counterfire hits these Chinese ICBMs.

Related Article: China Recently Deploys J-20 Stealth Fighter First Time on Active Combat Duty Into Taiwan ADIZ

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WASHINGTON, Ga. (AP)  A Georgia dairy farm has been fined after a release of food waste caused a fish kill, a rare instance of government getting involved with a practice that counties cant regulate despite chronic complaints from residents.

WAGA-TV reports the Georgia Environmental Protection Division fined McAvoy Farms, also known as Mar Leta Farms, $5,000 after nearly 1,700 fish died in the Little River in Wilkes County on June 16.

The division found that 1.2 million gallons of sludge and other food byproducts overflowed a lagoon into a farm pond and then to a creek over a six-week period.

Farmers accept the byproducts as whats called a soil amendment, which can be used in place of traditional fertilizer. But critics call it industrial waste because its made up of byproducts from poultry and other food processing plants, waste such as chicken blood or water used to rinse equipment.

Really, this is not to us a farm product, Wilkes County Commission Chairman Sam Moore told the television station. This is an industrial waste product that theyre really dumping on these rural counties.

Farmers are often paid to accept the byproducts. At McAvoy Farms, records show the waste came from Nestle Purinas pet food plant in Hartwell, where the liquid had been used to clean and rinse tanks and equipment.

Jeff Johnson, a Wilkes County neighbor of the dairy farm, said the smell is putrid, makes his eyes waters and has attracted a plague of flies.

Its like you washed out the bottom of a trash can, he said. A very foul trash can.

Johnson said its the first time hes had to put out fly traps and fly strips in the 23 years hes lived there.

State rules require a soil amendment be tilled under the soil within an hour of application, but Johnson said it was sprayed onto fields and left to run off.

If it had been plowed in, there wouldnt be much of an issue at all, he said. But it wasnt done that way from the very beginning.

The state ordered the farm to stop taking the material and remove all liquids and sludge from the tributaries on your property. The farm did not respond to a request for comment.

Moore and Oglethorpe County Commission Chairman Jay Paul said complaints about soil amendment are the top complaint they get from constituents in the neighboring counties east of Athens. They also say theyre worried because they dont know whats in the waste.

If this stuff has such value to it, why they having to truck it 60, 80, 100 miles away and a couple hours away and sometimes pay people to take it? asked Paul.

But local governments cant regulate where soil amendments are sprayed. Thats strictly a state matter.

A Department of Agriculture spokesperson said the state does not track locations, only which companies are allowed to provide the soil amendment.

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LOS ANGELES (AP)  The driver suspected of causing a fiery crash that killed five people and an 8 1/2-month-old fetus was charged Monday with murder.

Nicole Lorraine Linton was charged with six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, according to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.

She could face 90 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.

Linton, a 37-year-old traveling nurse from Houston, Texas, made her first court appearance Monday after being released from a hospital over the weekend. Linton, who appeared in a wheelchair, didnt enter a plea and her arraignment was continued to October. She was ordered held without bail pending a bail hearing next week.

Prosecutors said Lintons Mercedes-Benz was doing 90 mph (144 kph) last Thursday when it ran a red light and smashed into cars in a crowded intersection in unincorporated Windsor Hills about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. Several victims were thrown from the cars and several vehicles caught fire.

The crash killed 23-year-old Asherey Ryan, her 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero and her boyfriend, Reynold Lester, Shaseana Kerr said in a GoFundMe posting.

Lesters family told KABC-TV that the 24-year-old security guard was the father of Ryans 8 1/2-month-old unborn child. The family has said Ryan was on the way to a doctors appointment for a prenatal checkup when she was killed.

One murder charge  but not an additional charge of vehicular manslaughter  was filed for the fetus, who was identified by the coroners office as Armani Lester and listed as born on the same day he died.

A young family was destroyed in the blink of an eye, District Attorney George Gascon said at a news conference.

Two other women were also killed but their names werent made public as of Monday.

While the wreckage of this fiery crash at this intersection was removed and traffic eventually resumed, there is catastrophic damage to the families and friends of those killed and injured, Gascon said. It is not only a tremendous loss to the families but our entire community who learned of this incredible tragedy or have watched the now viral video of the collision, he said.

Authorities said they havent found any evidence that Linton was under the influence of alcohol but prosecutors said she did have a history of dangerous crashes and knew the threat posed by her driving behavior, the Los Angeles Times reported.

About the photo: A memorial cross is posted on a traffic pole as Los Angeles City Public Works technicians replace burned traffic lights and signs after crash involving multiple cars near a gas station in the unincorporated Windsor Hills in Los Angeles on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. A speeding car ran a red light and plowed into cars in a crowded intersection Thursday in a fiery crash that killed several people, including a baby, just outside of Los Angeles, authorities said. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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The White House is trying to win over Africa after successful inroads by Beijing and Moscow through diplomatic means to reach the leaders of the African Union.

This is evidenced by the AU, which signified its intent to join BRICS, but Joe Biden is attempting to sway them away; if it can be done.

America's Strategy To Convince Africa

Last Monday, Washington cobbled up a new strategy to win the hearts and minds of Sub-Saharan Africa. Trying to convince Beijing and Moscow to attempt to develop the continent are all doubtful activities, reported RT.

In addition to promoting vaccinations and climate change policy, President Joe Biden aims to convert the AU into a US democracy. It should be emphasized that several nations have not received such statements from the US.

How much the US will spend for its Africa strategy is not set; instead, the Biden administration outlines a general policy for the continent.

Expenditures for turning over Africa to the western side are not stated but included in the $600 billion 'Partnership for Global Infrastructure' plan with G7 partners.

US Gave No Specific Financial Details for Spending in Africa.

Instead, it highlights Washington's more expansive policy objectives for the continent, some of which are also covered by the $600 billion "Partnership for Global Infrastructure" plan unveiled by the G7 leaders in June, noted Azerbaycan 24.

Washington says it will promote everything necessary, including the Biden administration's signature climate policy it still intends to pursue.

Read Also: Donald Trump Children: What You Need to Know About the 5 Trump Kids

The rhetoric of the US is full of buzzwords trying to compete with a Chinese vision of Africa with money and investment, not just an outline or a general plan, citing Mass News.

According to Bloomberg's report from a week ago, trade between China and Africa increased by 35% to $254 billion in 2021. Launching the Belt and Road Initiative with 43 partner countries entails the construction of ports, roads, and infrastructure.

Between 2001 and 2018, the People's Republic of China lent $126 billion to African countries and spent $41 billion on foreign direct investment there.

However, the epidemic that hit in 2020 caused investment to slow down, according to data from the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a US-based organization (FPRI).

According to the FPRI, African leaders are likely to support China's position in UN votes, which the US believes lessens their standing.

Washington wants smaller countries to cooperate with conditions, but China is fostering real relationships and assisting less developed countries in need of a generous donor.

Moscow winning over African republics is called out by the US as unfairly influencing the AU; the loss of support for Ukraine is rankling Washington.

The White House winning over Africa will not be as easy as successful inroads with Beijing and Moscow; conducting trade, food, and energy security is something the recession-fraught US must contend with.

Related Article: Global Food Crisis Cause by US, EU Sanctions Benefits Moscow but Weakens the West

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Former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon and Lara Trump reacted to the FBI raiding former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home Monday, which both called a weaponization of America's justice system.

On Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight," Steve Bannon blasted the incident claiming that the FBI have "weaponized the Justice Department" in what he called "a political and ideological war."

"This had to go up through the chain of command, through Merrick Garland to Ron Klain, at least [FBI Director Christopher] Wray and these guys. This is about pure power politics. They're scared to death about Trump. They're absolutely petrified terrified that he'll announce in a couple of weeks, win the Republican nomination and win the White House," Bannon said.

The former Trump adviser added that a "full investigation" is needed "to get to the bottom" of the issue.

"The FBI is the Gestapo, whether it's out in Colorado, putting a gold star mother in chains, Peter Navarro in chains. It's absolutely obscene. This is insanity," Steve Bannon noted.

FBI Raid Shocks Donald Trump

Lara Trump said on "Tucker Carlson Tonight" that her father-in-law Donald Trump was "as shocked as anybody" following the FBI raid on the former president's Mar-a-Lago residence.

She said: "If this is what they're able to do to the former president of the United States, think about what they could do to you, to anybody in America. The bottom line here is that these documents that have been in question have been, everybody's been cooperating."

The former television producer added that the Mar-a-Lago Raid has to do with using the judicial system as a weapon against someone with an opposing political viewpoint.

Read Also: Joe Biden Unveils $1 Billion Weapons, Ammunition Package for Ukraine in War vs. Russia

Lara Trump also claimed that Donald Trump is despised by Democrats and the "general establishment" because "he doesn't play their game."

"They are terrified he's going to announce any day that he's running for president in 2024 and this is a very convenient way to just throw a little more mud on Donald Trump as though they haven't already done enough," she commented.

Former US President Donald Trump claimed that the FBI searched his Florida property and that a safe was forced open during the search.

Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, according to a statement from Mr. Trump, was "occupied by a large group of FBI agents."

According to reports, Monday's search was related to a probe into how Mr. Trump handled government documents.

In a statement, Donald Trump said: "These are dark times for our nation. Nothing like this has ever happened to a president of the United States before."

White House Denies Knowledge of the Raid Before It Happened

BBC reported that the Secret Service was informed just before the warrant was served, around 10:00 local time (14:00 GMT), according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to CBS News. The official also said that agents securing Mr. Trump assisted the FBI investigators.

The source stated that several boxes were confiscated and that no doors were kicked down during the raid, which was finished by late afternoon.

The White House claimed that it was unaware of the FBI's search before it occurred. Officials from the Justice Department declined to comment on any aspect of the search, including whether they had notified the White House beforehand, whether attorney general Merrick Garland had authorized the court-issued search warrant, or even if he had been informed about the raid.

According to The Guardian, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer noted that he was only aware of the information he had read in the media.

Related Article: Trump Supporters Rage on FBI's Mar-a-Lago Raid, Point to Contrast Treatment to Hillary Clinton Years Earlier

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Guerrilla fighters loyal to Kyiv are executing pro-Moscow figures, blowing up bridges and railways, and assisting the Ukrainian military by identifying vital targets as part of a mounting threat to Russia's control over the occupied areas of southeastern Ukraine.

The Kremlin's attempts to stage referendums in several cities as a step toward annexation by Russia have been threatened by the increasing resistance, which has weakened the Kremlin's influence over those regions.

One coordinator of the guerilla forces in the southern Kherson region named Andriy, 32, said their objective is "to make life unbearable for the Russian occupiers and use any means to derail their plans."

Andriy, a member of the Zhovta Strichka, or "Yellow Ribbon," resistance group, spoke to AP News under the condition that his full name not be published to prevent the Russians from catching him.

The guerilla group got its name from one of Ukraine's two national colors, and its members use ribbons in that shade to identify prospective targets.

According to Andriy, the aid of the rebels makes the new long-range weaponry, particularly HIMARS, even more devastating. The resistance forces are providing the Ukrainian military with precise coordinates of different targets.

"We are invisible behind the Russian lines, and this is our strength," he said.

Guerrilla operations have expanded as Ukrainian forces intensify their attacks in the area and take back some territory west of the Dnieper River.

The Crucial Role of Resistance Forces

They collaborate with the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian military, which aids in developing their methods and tactics. These forces also decide on targets and create a website with instructions on planning ambushes, organizing resistance, and avoiding capture. A network of weapons caches and covert lairs was built in occupied territories.

Explosives have been planted close to administrative structures, at the residences of officials, and even on their trips to work.

Vladimir Saldo, the head of the Russia-backed provisional government in the Kherson region, has been the target of numerous assassination attempts by resistance fighters who have offered a 1 million hryvnia ($25,000) bounty. Pavel Slobodchikov, his assistant, was shot dead inside his car, while Dmytry Savluchenko, another officer, was assassinated with the use of a car bomb.

Read Also: Israel Launches Another Military Operation in the West Bank, Leaving 3 Dead, 40 Injured

According to Saldo, Moscow sent anti-guerrilla battalions to Kherson in response to the strikes. In May and June, insurgents bombed two railway overpasses in Melitopol and derailed two Russian military trains.

In response, Russia increased patrols and carried out frequent sweeps for anyone thought to have insurgent connections. They search phones during these raids and detain individuals with Ukrainian emblems or images of relatives wearing uniforms.

The Conversation reported that it is challenging to accurately estimate the size of the Ukrainian resistance fighters in the occupied territories. There appears to be a place for everyone who wishes to defy invasion, in addition to the "partisan" troops that are specially prepared and trained to battle.

Holding the Line

According to Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov, pro-Moscow officials are conducting security searches, issuing Russian passports, and preparing for a potential vote on Melitopol and other occupied territories joining Russia.

"We will thwart the Russian referendum. We won't allow voting under Russian gun barrels," he said, adding that no more than 10% of the population sympathizes with Moscow, and a half has fled.

In other updates, Tuesday's blasts near a Russian air base in Crimea forced about 30 people to leave their houses, according to Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the region's governor.

Kryuchkov announced on his Telegram channel that a cordon perimeter had been established around the airfield's perimeter, as per a report from CNN.

The blasts resulted in at least five persons being wounded, according to Konstantin Skorupsky, the Crimean Republic's Minister of Health.

Related Article:Ukraine War: UN Chief Blasts Shelling of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Seeks End to Such 'Suicidal' Attacks

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"Dude, please stop reaching on the other side of the seat," Joseph William Peace said, according to his interview with police. "I said, 'I have a gun on me. And I dont want you to pull a gun on me because this is going to end up badly for both of us, one of us is going to get hurt. Like, please stop.' Im begging him to stop."
The Wasco County Board of commissioners split over whether to endorse the current draft of the Climate Change Action Plan presented to them by Columbia River Gorge Commission on Aug. 3, as the board and staff sought clarification of language implying restrictions on agriculture within Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
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Following a raid on former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo requested that the Department of Justice explain itself.

On Monday, Trump revealed that the FBI was raiding the Palm Beach, Florida site, with Republicans charging that the DOJ was being weaponized. Now, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is demanding that the Justice Department give evidence that this is not the case.

Republicans Criticize FBI's Mar-a-Lago Raid

Cuomo, who has clashed and collaborated with Trump during his presidency, appeared to be saying this not to defend Trump, but to ensure that his fellow Democrats do not lose credibility when they examine the former president's participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol demonstrations.

DOJ must immediately explain the reason for its raid & it must be more than a search for inconsequential archives or it will be viewed as a political tactic and undermine any future credible investigation & legitimacy of January 6 investigations.  Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) August 9, 2022

Trump stated that the raid was necessary or proper, and that he had been working with government agents. A number of other Republicans have already criticized the raid, or at least the manner in which it was carried out, according to Fox News.

Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated on Tuesday that "no one is above the law," implying that the FBI raid on Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate would have been lawful. Pelosi, who frequently clashed with Trump while she was a speaker and he was president, claimed she did not know about the Monday raid.

The raid was said to be part of an inquiry into whether the former president departed the White House with any secret materials. On Monday, FBI investigators raided Trump's Florida mansion and spent hours combing through his private office.

The raid was believed to be court-authorized, and the FBI provided early notification to US Secret Service personnel at Mar-a-Lago, who cooperated by allowing them access to the property. Biden's White House was unaware of the situation. Senior White House officials learned about it through Twitter.

According to the New York Times, the probe focuses on documents Trump carried with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving the White House, especially if he has classified information in his private possession, which would violate federal law.

Trump brought 15 boxes of paperwork with him when he departed Washington DC in January 2021. The boxes were returned to the National Archives a year later in January 2022, but investigators were seeking further presidential records or sensitive materials at Trump's South Florida resort on Monday.

Read Also: 'This Is Horrific': New York City Mayor Eric Slams Texas Governor Gregg Abbott for Using Migrants as 'Political Pawns'

Mike Pence Defends Trump Over FBI's Mar-a-Lago Raid

Former Vice President Mike Pence criticized the FBI and DOJ after agents searched Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Pence's remark came only hours after Mr. Trump announced the search at his Palm Beach, Florida, mansion on Monday night, saying: "Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is presently under siege, raided, and occupied by a big number of FBI agents."

As reported by The Independent, Trump was not present at the time of the raid, instead releasing a furious statement from Trump Tower in New York City. Many details of the raid remain unknown, including if Trump was informed in advance. He described the conduct as unannounced in his remark.

The Justice Department has not commented on the FBI's conduct, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Several media sites claimed that the raid was in response to an investigation into Trump's removal of sensitive materials from the White House, rather than the DOJ's ongoing inquiry into Trump's activities on January 6.

When the FBI's probes have gone close to major personalities in their respective parties, both Democrats and Republicans have slammed the agency. Democrats were outraged by former FBI Director James Comey's comments regarding the agency's decision not to prosecute Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for mishandling sensitive information by using a private email server, despite publicly declaring she was exceedingly irresponsible.

Comey held a news conference in July 2016, only four months before the presidential election, to make the remarks. Comey also notified members of Congress that the Clinton email probe had been reopened approximately two weeks before the 2016 election because new emails had been discovered on a laptop taken from Anthony Weiner, who was then married to key Clinton aide Huma Abedin.

Despite Comey's assurances to Congress that no new evidence had been discovered before election day, the reopening of the email probe over the last stretch of the campaign certainly helped Trump narrowly win the 2016 election, Daily Mail reported.

Then, two months into Trump's presidency, Comey acknowledged that the FBI was looking into whether members of Trump's 2016 campaign team collaborated with Russia, which meddled in the election.

Democrats were outraged once more that Comey kept the Trump-Russia investigation quiet in the run-up to the 2016 election while openly discussing the FBI's Clinton ties. Comey subsequently stated that he anticipated Clinton would win the election, which influenced how he handled the investigations.

Pence's partisanship complaints were most likely about the "FBI lovers" incident, which involved anti-Trump text messages sent between Peter Strzok and attorney Lisa Page, who were both working on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and having an affair.

Related Article: Trump Supporters Rage on FBI's Mar-a-Lago Raid, Point to Contrast Treatment to Hillary Clinton Years Earlier

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Microsoft has confirmed that a high-severity, zero-day security vulnerability is actively being exploited by threat actors and is advising all Windows and Windows Server users to apply its latest monthly Patch Tuesday update as soon as possible.

The vulnerability, known as CVE-2022-34713 or DogWalk, allows attackers to exploit a weakness in the Windows Microsoft Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT). By using social engineering or phishing, attackers can trick users into visiting a fake website or opening a malicious document or file and ultimately gain remote code execution on compromised systems.

DogWalk affects all Windows versions under support, including the latest client and server releases, Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022.

The vulnerability was first reported in January 2020 but at the time, Microsoft said it didnt consider the exploit to be a security issue. This is the second time in recent months that Microsoft has been forced to change its position on a known exploit, having initially rejected reports that another Windows MSDT zero-day, known as Follina, posed a security threat. A patch for that exploit was released in Junes Patch Tuesday update.

Charl van der Walt, head of security research at Orange Cyberdefense, said that although Microsoft could perhaps be criticised for failing to consider how frequently and easily files with apparently innocent extensions are used to deliver malicious payloads, also noted that with several thousand vulnerabilities reported each year, its to be expected that Microsofts risk-based triage approach to assessing vulnerabilities wont be infallible.

If everything is urgent, then nothing is urgent, he said. The security community has long stopped believing vulnerabilities and threats will be eradicated any time soon, so the challenge now becomes the development of a kind of agility that can perceive changes in the threat landscape and adapt accordingly.
President Joe Biden's legislative wins have directed to position the US to win the economic competition of the twenty-first century, but his investments to boost the nation's technology, infrastructure, and climate resilience over the next decade are set against a 90-day clock until the midterm elections.

From turbocharging the US computer chip business to transitioning the country to a greener economy, Biden's accomplishments will take years to materialize, reflecting the breadth of his objectives, which, when combined, place Biden among the most legislatively active presidents in recent memory.

Biden Signs CHIPS Act in Bid to Boost US Over China

Democrats are also betting that the quick pace of recent victories will persuade an electorate dissatisfied with the economy and the country's overall direction to vote in their favor. They believe it's especially important to show people what Democrats can achieve when they control the levers of power in Washington, even if energy costs don't fall immediately or a new bridge takes years to build.

The White House sees the legislative successes as interlocking parts of the puzzle that Biden put out when he campaigned for president in 2020, promising to help the US compete with a growing China. The policy ideas centered on tackling generational dangers and providing long-term possibilities, especially in light of what Biden saw as disturbing losses under the Trump administration.

Biden, a 50-year Washington veteran and former senator and vice president, also intended to avoid ruling by executive order, a presidential crutch for both parties when parliamentary instability is severe. Executive orders can be amended or revoked by a president's successors, and they are frequently limited in how much they can accomplish without the approval of Congress. According to White House officials, Biden's goal was not merely to change the country's track, but to maintain it on that trajectory, which required legislation rather than emergency declarations, AP News reported.

The Biden administration has previously stated that the measure, now known as the CHIPS and Science Act, is crucial to national security, competing with China, and lessening the United States' reliance on Taiwan and South Korea for critical technology.

The United States Department of Commerce has yet to develop rules for judging grant applications, and it is uncertain when projects will be funded.

Read Also: Biden Administration Ends Trump-Era 'Remain in Mexico' Policy Requiring Migrants To Wait for Asylum Hearings

US Companies Announce Billions in Investments

According to the White House, the signing was attended by the CEOs of Micron, Intel, Lockheed Martin, HP, and Advanced Micro Devices, as well as cabinet officials and auto industry and union leaders, including United Auto Workers President Ray Curry.

US semiconductor firms have begun to announce multibillion-dollar investments. Qualcomm has committed to spending $7.4 billion on acquisitions between now and 2028, after committing to purchase an additional $4.2 billion in semiconductor chips from GlobalFoundries' New York manufacturing site on Monday.

White House, Micron's announcement of a $40 billion investment in memory chip manufacturing will boost the US market share from 2% to 10%. Micron announced on Tuesday that its investments will create up to 40,000 jobs in manufacturing and construction and that it expects to receive cash from the semiconductor law.

Continuous chip shortage has influenced everything from automobiles to firearms, washing machines, and video games. Thousands of vehicles and trucks are stranded in southeast Michigan as the chip shortage continues to disrupt automakers, as per Aljazeera.

The administration has also consistently framed this law as a crucial component in combating the impact of a growing China and ensuring the United States maintains a competitive edge over Beijing, notably in semiconductor production. Multiple briefings for senators have been held by administration officials to flesh out the national security implications of this measure, and Biden mentioned during his speech Tuesday that the Chinese government had campaigned against the legislation.

Biden has booked numerous public appearances since recuperating from COVID-19, including a visit to flood-ravaged Kentucky on Monday and another signing event on Wednesday for legislation for veterans who have suffered from toxic burn pits. However, Biden looked to be suffering from some lingering effects, coughing loudly numerous times throughout his speech and apologized for it at one point, according to Fox5 Atlanta.

Related Article: Joe Biden Unveils $1 Billion Weapons, Ammunition Package for Ukraine in War vs. Russia

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United States Judge Bruce Reinhart, who approved the FBI's raid of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, allegedly donated thousands to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and had links to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The donation reportedly came a month after Reinhart left the local U.S. Attorney's office to rep employees of Epstein who had received immunity in the long-running sex-trafficking investigation of the financier.

Judge Bruce Reinhart

Anonymous sources said that the judge approved the warrant that enabled federal agents to converge on the palatial South Florida estate on Monday. However, the former president called the incident an "unannounced raid on my home."

Reinhart was previously elevated to a magistrate judge in March 2018 after serving 10 years in private practice. In November of that year, there were reports that he had represented several of Epstein's employees, including the disgraced financier's pilots, as per the New York Post.

He also represented Epstein's scheduler, Sarah Kellen, and Nadia Marcinkova, who Epstein described as his "Yugoslavian sex slave." Kellen and Marcinkova were among the disgraced financier's lieutenants who were given immunity as part of a controversial 2007 deal with federal prosecutors that allowed Epstein to plead guilty to state charges rather than federal crimes.

As a result, Epstein ended up serving only 13 months in county jail and was later granted work release. Based on court documents, Reinhart resigned from the South Florida U.S. Attorney's Office effective on New Year's Day 2008 and went to work for Epstein's cohorts the day after.

Read Also: Donald Trump Mar-a-Lago Raid: Nancy Pelosi Speaks Out, Andrew Cuomo Warns It Couldn't Undermine January 6 Investigations

According to Fox News, FBI agents executed a search warrant of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday evening. It was allegedly part of the Department of Justice's investigation into whether or not the former president took government materials from his time in office.

White House Records

Sources said that the FBI agents were able to confiscate 15 boxes of classified materials during the raid. In a statement on Monday, Trump said that nothing like that has ever happened to a POTUS before. He argued that after working and cooperating with the relevant government agencies, the "unannounced raid" was not necessary or appropriate.

On the other hand, many Republican lawmakers, conservative commentators, and some Democrats expressed serious concern that the raid was politically motivated. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy threatened to probe the DOJ over the raid if the GOP takes majority control after the November midterm elections.

The incident comes after in January, the National Archives and Records Administration discovered several classified materials at the residence. Reports also noted that some of the documents have been ripped up.

The Archives said that Trump was responsible for ripping up some of the presidential records that they received. However, the agency did not explain how officials knew that the Republican businessman was the one who ripped up the documents.

But authorities pointed to the previous reporting that White House records management staff had to tape together torn-up documents during Trump's presidency. In a statement, the Archives said, "These were turned over to the National Archives at the end of the Trump administration, along with a number of torn-up records that had not been reconstructed by the White House," CNN reported.

Related Article: Donald Trump Mar-a-Lago Raid: Ex-White House Adviser Steve Bannon, Lara Trump Blast FBI Attack on Former POTUS' Home

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ABUJA, Nigeria, August 10, 2022 (Morning Star News)  Suspected Muslim terrorists in northern Nigeria killed an 86-year-old Christian in his home on Aug. 2 and kidnapped two others who were later released, likely after ransom payments, sources said.

The gunmen killed Daniel Yatai at his home in predominantly Christian Manchok village, Kaduna state, shortly after 11 p.m., according to his son Philip Daniel Yatai, who said the assailants kidnapped his niece, 21-year-old Brenda Friday.

The terrorists forcefully broke into their home as they were already sleeping, shot our dad and kidnapped my niece, Yatai told Morning Star News. They phoned us on Wednesday morning [Aug. 3] asking for a ransom of 15 million naira [US$35,845] before my niece can be released.

While not disclosing whether a ransom was paid, Yatai on Aug. 5 confirmed that his niece had been released. Also kidnapped from his home in Manchok on Aug. 2 and held for ransom was Amos Magbon, rector of the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok, who was also released by Aug. 5, Magbons brother, Innocent Magbon, told local media.

Area residents said the assailants attacked the village in Kaura County, southern Kaduna, with gunfire before breaking into some homes. A daughter of the late Yatai, Christiana Yatai, reportedly said the gunmen ordered their door be opened, and when the five relatives in the home refused, the terrorists forced their way in.

One of the gunmen outside shot Daniel Yatai through a window, while the others who had broken into the home then entered his room and shot him again, Christiana Yatai told local media.

In mid-July in nearby Zangang village, three Christians were ambushed and shot, killing two of them, residents said. Area resident Isaac Gandu said the three Christians were workers at the Health Department of Kaura Local Government Council.

They had gone to some rural Christian communities to provide health services to them when they were ambushed by terrorists and shot at, Gandu told Morning Star News in a text message. Two of the victims, who are males, died at the spot they were ambushed, and the third victim, a lady, is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital here.

Kidnapped Christian Women

The attack followed Islamic militants kidnapping of 21 Christian women on June 21 in nearby Kasan Kogi village. The Rev. Ezekiel Garba, pastor of Chapel of Good News Church in Kasan Kogi village, told Christian Solidarity Internationals Nigeria Report that his wife was among those held captive.

They said they will marry off our women to their members if we dont pay 100 million naira (US$230,000) ransom within days, Pastor Garba told Nigeria Report. They said they will use them to produce children who will kill us in the future.

About 300 armed terrorists, hooded and clad in military fatigues, attacked Kasan Kogi, about 20 miles south of the city of Kaduna, on motorcyles, killing the Rev. Ezra Shamaki and another resident. They kidnapped Pastor Shamakis wife, one of the 21 females abducted along with six males, Pastor Garba told Nigeria Report.

The assailants went straight to the morning fellowship of a group of women meeting at the local Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) church, Pastor Garba said.

They came rushing into the village and split up, he told Nigeria Report. Some went to other parts of the town while others surrounded the church. They killed the pastor of the church and kidnapped his wife along with other women in the church.

The terrorists captured Pastor Garba, his wife Salama and their 21-year-old daughter as they tried to flee, he said.

They first grabbed my wife at a different corner and snatched my daughter as she was running close to me. When I saw she was crying helplessly, I stopped and submitted myself, Pastor Garba told Nigeria Report. They took us on their bikes to the outskirts of the village where they gathered all the other hostages before moving to the bush. But before then, they asked me to go and mobilize money for them. I pleaded for my daughter and wife, but they only released me and my daughter, who I told them was breastfeeding.

The assailants swore to eliminate all Christian villages in the area, he said.

Their leader identified himself as Akakkabe from Niger Republic, Pastor Garba told Nigeria Report. He said he left his former base in Sokoto to assist his fellow Muslims here. He warned me not to delay with his money.

Pastor Andrew Galva of the Chapel of Good News Church in Kasan Kogi was also kidnapped with his wife at a different location, and he too was released on the captors hope that he would raise ransom money, he said.

I pleaded that that was the second kidnapping this year in my family, and we didnt have any money, but they wouldnt accept it, Pastor Galva told Nigeria Report.

Jonathan Asake, president of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), told Nigeria Report that in previous raids the terrorists have forced kidnapped women into sexual slavery.

They kidnap women and turn them into sex slaves, Asake told Nigeria Report. Many of the women have returned traumatized, with many of them dying after being released.

Umar Barde, who represents Kajuru and Chikun constituencies in the Nigerian House of Representatives, confirmed the sex slavery.

Sexual violations by terrorists here are rampant, Barde told Nigeria Report. They rape both old and young women, even teenagers. But because of stigma, people are ashamed to say it. But if you ask men who may have been kidnapped along with the women, they will tell you they witnessed mass rapes in their camps.

Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith last year (Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021) at 4,650, up from 3,530 the previous year, according to Open Doors 2022 World Watch List report. The number of kidnapped Christians was also highest in Nigeria, at more than 2,500, up from 990 the previous year, according to the WWL report.

Nigeria trailed only China in the number of churches attacked, with 470 cases, according to the report.

In the 2022 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to seventh place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 9 the previous year.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.

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Albuquerque authorities have arrested a suspect in connection to the killings of four Muslim men since November of last year, arguing that the motivation for the attack was anger.

The man, who was of Afghan descent, was allegedly angry that his daughter had married a man from the other major branch of Islam. Police officers said that the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, would be charged with two of the killings.

Muslim Slayings

Furthermore, officials said that the man was a suspect in the other two deaths as the president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, Ahmad Assed, said that authorities told him the individual was a Sunni Muslim.

This means he may have targeted the victims because he was angry over his daughter's relationship with a Shiite Muslim. Assed and the police cautioned that details remained sparse regarding the incidents, and the former noted that at least one of the victims was Sunni.

Police also said they were not yet sure if a dispute over marriage was the sole motive for the crimes. However, they noted that they were aware of it and had found evidence that an "interpersonal conflict" may have led to the shootings, as per the New York Times.

Last Thursday, Albuquerque police disclosed that three killings between November and August could be linked to each other. A day after, a fourth Muslim man working as a truck driver was shot and killed inside his car, raising further alarms in a city where many refugees and immigrants said they had long felt safe.

Read Also: Biden Administration Ends Trump-Era 'Remain in Mexico' Policy Requiring Migrants To Wait for Asylum Hearings

As word of the attacks spread, authorities received tips about the suspect and a possible vehicle linked to one of the murders. As officers prepared to execute a search warrant at Syed's home on Monday, he drove away in that same vehicle, said police deputy commander Kyle Hartsock during a news conference.

According to The Hill, Hartsock noted that a search warrant executed on Syed's home found multiple firearms, with one firearm found inside the home and another discovered inside the car. Both weapons were linked to the shootings of Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaar Hussain, two of the four victims.

Interpersonal Conflict

Local and state police have teamed up with federal agents from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the investigation. In a press release, the Council for American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said that the suspect was targeting Shia Muslims.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said he was disturbed by the indications of a potential hate crime. "If this is true, it is completely unacceptable, and we encourage law enforcement to file any appropriate hate crime charges against the suspect," Awad said.

After authorities tracked down a vehicle believed to be involved in one of the slayings, Police Chief Harold Medina said that the driver was detained and was the primary suspect for the crimes. In a news release, police said that the offender knew the victims to some extent, the Associated Press reported.

Related Article: New Orleans Mom Stabs 4-Year-Old Daughter to Death, Another in Critical Condition; Incident Posted on Instagram

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Most cybersecurity professionals know that training employees to follow good cybersecurity practices, such as phishing simulations that find employees at fault for falling for convincing phony lures, is frequently a frustrating proposition. One recent experiment conducted at Baylor University found evidence that phishing tests can harm relationships between a company and its employees, causing feelings of betrayal and making them view cybersecurity as harmful.

Kyle Tobener, vice president, head of security and IT at Copado, thinks he has a better solution to helping organizations improve the cybersecurity posture of their employees: harm reduction. This week at Black Hat, Tobener will propose a framework for applying harm reduction to cybersecurity risks that he has been working on since 2020.

Applying a medical model to cybersecurity

The concept of harm reduction originated in the medical community, specifically in substance abuse treatment. The theory is to meet people "where they're at" and accept that certain behaviors can't be eliminated entirely. Instead, the goal is to minimize the harmful effects of the negative behaviors as much as possible.

The concept of harm reduction in cybersecurity is not a new one, although examples of its usage are sparse. For instance, Eva Galperin, cybersecurity director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, published a piece in March entitled "Telegram Harm Reduction for Users in Russia and Ukraine." In her article, Galperin guides users on how to more safely navigate the Telegram app, which is "certainly not the most secure messaging app on the market right now," she wrote.

The Cyberbullying Research Center also promotes harm reduction regarding sexting among young people, another kind of behavior that is likely unaffected by outright admonitions. "We spend all of our time and energy demanding that youth never send intimate pictures to anyone while creating a police state of sorts to try to ensure it doesn't happen (e.g., monitoring, spyware, etc.)," according to the Center.

Focus on reducing negative security consequences

Tobener said he learned about harm reduction when coping with a family member who struggled with addiction. "Once you learn about harm reduction and see people giving advice like 'don't do this,' and start to realize how ineffective that advice is, it really changes your way of thinking," he tells CSO. "In security, people give a lot of advice."

For example, he points to the Coinbase commercial during the Super Bowl earlier this year that enticed viewers to use a QR code to go to a Coinbase website. "A lot of security people immediately went to Twitter, went to blogs and whatever, and said, 'do not use random QR codes. This is so unsafe,'" Tobener says.

"That is terrible advice. QR codes and links are how the internet works. People are curious. They want to learn. So, when you give this advice, the person does it anyway. You've lost an opportunity to educate that person with maybe some information that could be helpful."

"Harm reduction teaches us that if you focus on reducing the negative consequences or the risky behaviors people might be taking, rather than just trying to reduce the amount of risk-taking people do, in the aggregate, over the long run, you're going to be giving more effective advice."

Three-step framework to tackle harm reduction

Tobener has developed a simple framework that he has distilled from a host of harm reduction materials in the healthcare arena. The first step in the framework is "to accept that risk-taking behaviors are here to stay," he says. "The medical research shows that despite all our best efforts to eliminate drugs and get rid of drinking, you don't get rid of risk-taking behavior behaviors."

The second step is to prioritize the reduction of negative consequences. "The core of harm reduction is focusing on the negative consequences and reducing those rather than trying just to reduce the behavior," says Tobener.

Tobener believes the third and most exciting piece of his framework is something he thinks most cybersecurity people don't focus on: embracing compassion while providing guidance. "Compassion is something you can have for someone such as a marketing person, who's doing something you might deem risky," he says. "There are ways to support them that don't cast a stigma on the things they're doing or shame them. But, unfortunately, a lot of security people think naming and shaming is actually a good idea."

Compassion can make security professionals more effective

Research shows that compassion can make security professionals more effective practitioners and reduce burnout because it causes people to listen to them more carefully. "And eventually, if you're compassionate with them, as has been shown in drug research, sometimes they come to the choice of stop using on their own because someone was nice to them and listened to them and helped them."

One study that Tobener cites shows that compassionate doctors, for example, achieve greater success in getting their diabetic patients to stick to guidance. "Patients with compassionate doctors showed increased adherence to guidance," he says. "They were 40% less likely to have complications and 80% more likely to control their blood sugar in an optimal way."

Tobener honed his understanding of the importance of compassion in a profoundly personal way. He originally planned to present his harm reduction framework at Black Hat in 2020. But before he could perfect his talk at the event, he received a cancer diagnosis. He subsequently underwent surgery and chemotherapy and is now cancer-free.

"My experience with the medical profession and the doctors that I had helped inform my research on kind of the compassion side of things," Tobener says, helping his framework get much better than when he first submitted it to Black Hat. "I experienced a lot of what I talk about firsthand."

Tobener emphasizes that telling people to stop engaging in unsafe practices is still OK. His framework doesn't eliminate telling people to stop engaging in risky behavior. "It's that, in addition to the advice of not to do something, just accept that some percentage of the population is going to do it anyway and figure out a way to care for those people as well."
Critical infrastructure cybersecurity vendor OPSWAT has announced new malware analysis capabilities for IT and operational technology (OT). Revealed at the Black Hat USA 2022 Conference, enhancements include OPSWAT Sandbox for OT with detection of malicious communications on OT network protocols and support for open-source third-party tools in OPSWATs MetaDefender Malware Analyzer platform, the firm stated. The release comes amid increasing cyberthreats surrounding OT networks in industrial control systems (ICS).

Enhancements map malware to the MITRE ATT&CK ICS framework

In a press release, OPSWAT noted that, with rising threats and growing concerns around propagation into OT networks within critical infrastructure environments, threat intelligence for both the IT and OT sides of businesses is essential in providing the necessary data and analysis capabilities to the entire organization. It has therefore enhanced OPSWAT MetaDefender Malware Analyzer to map malware detected via OPSWAT Sandbox to the MITRE ATT&CK Industrial Control Systems framework, enabling malware analysis teams to quickly understand malware tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) specifically targeting OT environments, it said.

As an automation and orchestration platform, MetaDefender Malware Analyzer orchestrates the process of receiving suspicious files and submitting them to different tools, aggregating results, before submitting those results to threat intelligence platforms, OPSWAT stated. Our malware analysis solution provides actionable IOCs and in-depth analysis using static and dynamic tools to enable faster and more targeted response to threats, Itay Bochner, director of malware analysis at OPSWAT, tells CSO. This is one of the first malware analysis solutions in the market with specific functionality for analyzing and detecting malware targeting ICS with the addition of ICS-specific Yara rule sets and MITRE ATT&CK ICS framework mapping, he says.

ICS, OT environments under increasing threat from attack

OT networks and ICS are facing growing cyberthreats and risks. A recent report commissioned by cloud security company Barracuda highlighted an uptick in major attacks on industrial IoT and OT systems while efforts to secure these systems lag behind. The firm surveyed 800 senior IT and security officers responsible for industrial systems, discovering that 94% of respondents experienced some form of attack on their industrial IoT or OT systems in the last 12 months. Whats more, 93% of those polled admitted that their organization had failed in their IIoT/OT security projects, often due to a lack of skills and tools. As many as 89% of respondents also said they are very or fairly concerned about nation-state-backed attacks on industrial systems linked to geopolitical tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine war.

In April this year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the FBI released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory to warn that advanced persistent threat (APT) actors have exhibited the capability to gain full system access to multiple ICS/supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) devices. The CSA pointed to three categories of devices vulnerable to the Incontroller malware that can interfere with ICS operations: Schneider Electric programmable logic controllers (PLCs), OMRON Sysmac NEX PLCs, and Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) servers.

Speaking to CSO in April, Rob Caldwell, director of ICS and OT at Mandiant, said the evolution of ICS malware to become more complex and dangerous is just evidence that OT attackers are gaining more skill, understanding, and function. Just like theyve done in the IT space, as time goes on their tools get more sophisticated.
EAST HARTFORD  Twenty-four young residents recently completed courses in crime scene investigation, shoot/dont shoot, search-and-rescue operations and other lessons designed to spark their interest in becoming first responders.

Partnering with the nonprofit educational organization, ReadyCT, local police officers and firefighters ledEast Hartford High School students and recent grads through the inaugural First Responders Youth Academy.

Each student was certified in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation upon graduation last week from the five-week academy. They also were introduced to marine operations on the Connecticut River and a ropes course in South Windsor.

The teens dusted for fingerprints with evidence specialist Detective Don Loehr and stepped into a mock traffic stop designed to simulate evaluation of a potentially drunk driver. At the police firing range, students faced shoot/dont shoot scenarios involving a mentally ill person who was either armed or unarmed, department spokesperson Officer Marc Caruso said.

It gave them a realistic look at what we do on a day-to-day basis and some of the really challenging decisions that we face, Caruso said.

Mayor Mike Walsh said the academy, which was funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act, checks off so many boxes in a positive way.

First, nationally, statewide, and locally, there are a shortage of first responder candidates, especially diverse candidates, and this program helps to fill that void, Walsh said.

Throughout the nation, the Associated Press reported this week killings and gun violence are rising at the same time officers worn out by the pandemic and disillusioned over calls to divest from policing are quitting or retiring faster than they can be replaced. Departments are scrambling to recruit in a tight labor market and also rethinking what services they can provide.

The East Hartford academy grew out of career-themed learning that ReadyCT supported in the public school district, ReadyCT spokesperson Sheryl S. McNamee said.

Walsh said East Hartford will benefit by offering young residents stable, good paying jobs that come with lifetime medical and pension benefits. He also noted that East Hartford is a diverse community, and when you begin to hire from the community, the workforce diversifies and that too benefits the community.

So this class is the first of many with so many tangible and intangible benefits, the mayor said.

Walsh said he hopes the inaugural class will eventually lead to the first homegrown police and fire chiefs in about 50 years.

Jesse.Leavenworth@hearstmediact.com
BRIDGEPORT - Fairfield police said Jairo Lopez-Bonillo admitting striking a motorcycle driver with his sports utility vehicle and then fleeing the scene earlier this month.

Jairo stated he imagined the (motorcyclist) was injured but (he) was surprised and nervous and left the scene, police stated in a report released Wednesday.

However, Lopez-Bonillos lawyer, Dennis Bradley, said he may challenge the alleged confession.

My client is Spanish speaking and many times things get lost in the translation, Bradley said.

The motorcyclist, 26-year-old Hazem Mohamed, of First Street, Fairfield, died shortly after the Aug. 2 crash at Bridgeport Hospital.

About a dozen members of his family filled the arraignment court Wednesday morning as Lopez-Bonillo made his first appearance before a judge. He is charged with negligent homicide and evading responsibility.

He is free after posting $250,000 bond.

Deputy Assistant States Attorney Peter Cunniff urged Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton to order Lopez-Bonillo not to drive while the case is pending, and to surrender his passport.

Cunniff told the judge that because Lopez-Bonillo is not a U.S. citizen he could be considered a flight risk.

The judge agreed to enter the orders and also ordered Lopez-Bonillo to undergo substance and mental health evaluation and treatment if necessary. She continued the case to Oct. 4.

We just wanted to ensure that justice is served, the victims sister, Mariam Mohamed, said later. My brother deserves justice.

Shortly after 7:15 p.m. on Aug. 2, police said they received a report of a collision at the intersection of Kings Highway East and Jennings Road between a motorcycle and a SUV.

When officers got to the scene they found the operator of the motorcycle, later identified as Mohamed, lying on his back in the roadway, still wearing his helmet. Police said the SUV involved in the crash had left the scene.

Police said witnesses told them that the motorcyclist had been traveling west on Kings Highway East and as it entered the intersection it was struck by the SUV which had been traveling eastbound and drove into the motorcycle. Police said the SUV had briefly slowed down after the collision but then had sped away north on Jennings Road, according to witnesses.

Officers viewed surveillance camera footage and were able to track the SUV to Pansy Road in Fairfield, police said. When they got there, police said they were told the SUV had been driven by Lopez-Bonillo who was working on the house at that address. But police said Lopez-Bonillo was not there.

Police said officers subsequently went to Lopez-Bonillos home on Norman Street in Bridgeport. When they got there they found Lopez-Bonillo sitting in the passengers seat of a car that was pulling out of the driveway.

The driver of the car, who identified herself as the defendants wife, yelled at the officers, We are headed to the police station now, police said.

Police said the woman then told officers that her husband had gotten into a collision with a motorcycle got scared and drove from the scene.
Brussels does not approve of Zelensky's ranting demands to the EU that they must ban Russian travels across the EU Border. Estonia and Finland have echoed the calls from Kyiv, and both nations are encouraging a ban that the bloc does not agree with.

Bloc Says No To Complete Ban

One insider told the Financial Times on Tuesday that the EU does not want to completely prohibit all Russian passengers, suggesting that Brussels is hesitant to block its borders to them, reported RT.

This came after Estonian and Finnish presidents made similar calls, mirroring Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Moscow slammed the measure as "irrational" and cautioned that enacting it would expose the EU's true colors.

Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians, wrote Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on social media. European travel is a privilege, not a basic human right. Given the impossibility of air travel, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland are left to manage to process all Schengen visas. They demanded a prohibition on travel from Russia, noted Azerbaycan 24.

Finnish PM Sanna Marin chimed in, speaking to a state broadcaster, remarking that Russians should not be allowed to travel in Europe and that it is incorrect.

Accusing Moscow of attacking Ukraine and Finland might institute its own ban on Russian travel and added that more states might do the same thing as well.

Kallas and Marin are both ardent backers of the Zelensky administration's demands, which Amnesty International accuses deploying citizens as human shields.

Read Also: Donald Trump Net Worth 2022: Did Trump Get Richer Since Leaving the US Presidency?

The Ukrainian president told the Washington Post on Monday that the sanctions imposed on Russia are inadequate. He proposed adding a travel restriction to the energy ban that is wreaking havoc on the EU to put even more pressure on Vladimir Putin. Brussels is not keen on the unreasonable request, per Empire Online News.

Bloc Officials Issue Statements

An unnamed EU source emphasized that it would not be wise to forbid Russians from entering the Union entirely. Those who disagree with the war have the freedom to travel elsewhere; it is wrong to restrict that right.

The EU's temporary suspension of the visa deal with Russia does not, for the time being, affect ordinary Russian citizens, according to Anita Hipper, the European Commission's spokeswoman for immigration issues, who responded to the Financial Times.

She cited the authority of bloc members to limit or suspend the granting of long-stay visas and residence permits and inclusion of additional conditions for granting visas, such as humanitarian situations, family members, journalists, or dissidents.

They are extremely disturbed, said the Kremlin, which previously derided those who call for a travel ban as insane and out of touch.

According to Dmitry Peskov, these individuals will finally see their foolishness. They expressed ideas from 80 years ago.

It would violate EU laws prohibiting nationality-based discrimination, said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry. It will damage the bloc's reputation.

Brussels blew over Zelensky's demands supported by a few EU states to ban Russian travel not in the plans, throwing Ukraine aside for its own good.

Related Article: Human Rights NGO Declares Ukrainian Forces Exposing Civilians To Undue Risk

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PARIS (AP)  A beluga whale that became a French celebrity after a wrong turn took it up the Seine River had to be euthanized Wednesday after experiencing health complications during an urgent rescue operation, authorities said.

The sparkling white marine mammal appeared deep inside France last week, having accidentally veered off the normal ocean migration route that takes belugas to and from Arctic waters.

Fearing the malnourished creature would not survive in the Seine much longer, a wildlife conservation group and veterinarians planned to move the lost whale to a saltwater port in Normandy, from where they hoped to return it to the open sea.

A team of 80 people assembled to try to save the animal's life, and it was successfully moved Tuesday night from a river lock in Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, west of Paris, into a refrigerated truck for the 160-kilometer (99-mile) journey to the port in Ouistreham.

But during the drive, the 4-meter-long (13-foot-long) whale started to breath with difficulty, according to Florence Ollivet Courtois, a French veterinarian who worked on the rescue operation.

During the journey, the veterinarians confirmed a worsening of its state, notably in its respiratory activities, and at the same time noticed the animal was in pain, not breathing enough, Courtois said.

The suffering was obvious for the animal, so it was important to release its tension, and so we had to proceed to euthanize it, she added.

Environmentalists had acknowledged the plan to move the beluga risked fatally stressing the mammal. But marine conservation group Sea Shepherd said that it couldnt have survived much longer in the Seines fresh water.

The group and veterinarians noted the whale had responded to a cocktail of antibiotics and vitamins over the last few days, making them hopeful it would recover once it was back in a saltwater environment.

A necropsy is planned on the whale, which weighed about about 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds).

Rescuers had hoped to spare the whale the fate of an orca that strayed into the Seine and died in May. In 2006, a bottlenose whale  nicknamed Willy  swam up the Thames River as far as London and died during a its attempted rescue.

Another complicating factor during the belugas rescue attempt was the extreme heat gripping France. Authorities tried to keep it cool and wet with soaked towels and moved it at nightfall when temperatures are at their lowest.

The sad end to a saga that gripped France in recent days came after experts determined the whale was too weakened to be put back into water, Guillaume Lericolais, the sub-prefect of Frances Calvados region, said.

Rescuers tried to feed the whale fish without success since Friday. Sea Shepherd France said veterinary exams after the belugas removal from the river showed it has no digestive activity.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  After an uneven start, Donald Trump's election-year tour of revenge succeeded in ousting Republican members of Congress, boosting Trump-backed America First candidates who beat back the establishment and strengthening his grip on the party.

Meanwhile, Ron Johnson, the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection, will take on Wisconsin's Democratic lieutenant governor in November in one of this year's most closely watched Senate contests.

And a member of the Squad of progressive lawmakers survived a tough primary challenge from a Democratic rival running on a pro-police platform, while voters in Vermont are poised to send a woman to Congress for the first time in the state's 231-year history.

Takeaways from election results Tuesday night:

TRUMP'S GRIP

As the midterm primary season reaches its final contests, Trump's grip on the Republican Party is strengthening.

In the spring and early summer, his endorsement record, a metric he touts as testament to his enduring popularity, was uneven. In Georgia, a fixation of Trump's after top Republican officials rejected his entreaties to overturn the 2020 election, most of the former president's hand-picked candidates were defeated at the ballot box.

But as the season ground on, his enduring sway is apparent.

Consider the following.

Trump opened August with his slate of vehement election-deniers beating establishment-backed candidates in Arizona.

By the time the race reached Wisconsin on Tuesday, Tim Michels, a wealthy Trump-backed businessman, won the Republican primary for Wisconsin governor. He defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, an establishment backed candidate.

And in Connecticut on Tuesday, Leora Levy surged to an unexpected victory over a more moderate rival in a liberal-leaning state that has historically drawn moderate GOP candidates. On Monday, just hours after the FBI searched his Florida estate, Trump held a tele-town hall rally for her. Another rival credited his late endorsement for her win.

Meanwhile, most of the 10 Republican members of Congress who voted to impeach him have either retired or lost. That includes Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer who lost his race last week along with Washington State Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who conceded on Tuesday. Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice chair of the House Jan. 6 committee investigating Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, will be on the Wyoming ballot next week and is widely expected to lose.

Those developments, combined with the rush of support from Republicans after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trumps Florida estate on Monday, were clear reminders of Trump looming presence.

___

SQUAD VICTORY

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omars detractors spent heavily to oust the divisive lawmaker and member of the progressive Squad.

They failed. Again.

Omar narrowly defeated her centrist challenger, former Minneapolis City Councilmember Don Samuels, all but guaranteeing her victory in November in an overwhelmingly Democratic district centered around Minneapolis. It was the second time a well-financed group had mobilized unsuccessfully against her.

Almost since her arrival in Congress, Omar has attracted bipartisan criticism. First, she drew condemnation after suggesting in 2019 that Israels supporters were pushing U.S. lawmakers to take a pledge of allegiance to a foreign country and claiming congressional support for Israel was all about the Benjamins, baby, which many saw as an antisemitic trope about Jews buying influence.

That drew a $2.5 million negative advertising blitz, which was financed by the pro-Israel lobby, attacking her ahead of the 2020 election.

This year, pro-police groups as well as a mysterious super PAC spent over $750,000 criticizing Omar and backing Samuels. His north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city, and he helped organize a campaign to stop sharp cuts in police funding pushed by progressive activists, including Omar, following the killing of George Floyd by police.

Other members of the Squad  Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan  had easier victories last week.

TOUGH FIGHT IN WISCONSIN SENATE RACE

If you take his word for it, Johnson shouldn't be running. The Wisconsin Republican had pledged to step down after two terms, only to reverse himself this year.

Now, after coasting to victory in his primary Tuesday, Johnson's reward will be a hard-fought campaign against Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes that could determine the balance of power in the narrowly divided U.S. Senate. It's also certain to saturate the airwaves as millions of political advertising dollars flood the state.

It will be the first time Johnson wont be running against former Sen. Russ Feingold, the Democrat he ousted from office and defeated again six years later. He's also the only Republican senator up for reelection in a state Joe Biden won in 2020.

The matchup offers a study in contrasts. Johnson, 67, is a multimillionaire businessman whose father was a corporate treasurer. At 35, Barnes is close to half his age and the product of a working-class Milwaukee family. He would be the first Black senator from Wisconsin if elected.

Johnson has the former president's backing. He has also been a major ally.

After the 2020 election, an aide to Johnson told then-Vice President Mike Pence's staff in a text message that he wanted to hand-deliver to Pence fake elector votes from his state and neighboring Michigan. Pence's staff rebuffed their request.

Johnson also met with Wisconsin lawmakers in 2021 and talked about dismantling the states bipartisan elections commission and having the GOP-controlled Legislature take over presidential and federal elections.

VERMONT'S GLASS CEILING

Vermont has been represented in Congress by white men ever since it became the 14th state to join the union in 1791.

That's poised to change after state Senate leader Becca Balint advanced from Tuesday's Democratic primary to face Republican Liam Madden in a general election contest that will determine who will be Vermont's next representative in the U.S. House.

Vermont is a liberal-leaning state and a Republican last won the seat in 1988, making Balint the overwhelming favorite in November. If she wins, Balint will not only be the first woman to represent Vermont in Congress, but the first openly gay person, too.

It may seem unusual that such a liberal-leaning state has not elected a woman to Congress. But there hasnt been much opportunity. As the second-least populated state, Vermont gets to send only one representative to the U.S. House.

Current Democratic Rep. Peter Welch has held the seat for the past 15 years, giving it up to run for the Senate. Current U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders had it the 15 years before that. And Republican Jim Jeffords also held the seat for 15 years before he was elected to the Senate.

Although the pace of turnover has moved at glacier speed, there is an upside for Balint: The seat offers a reliable springboard to the U.S. Senate. Sanders' term is up in 2024. So far, the 80-year-old has not said whether he intends to run again.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)  Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of two Republican members of Washington state's congressional delegation who voted to impeach Donald Trump, has conceded her reelection bid after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president.

Trump had targeted the six-term incumbent and endorsed Joe Kent, a former Green Beret, in the 3rd Congressional District contest. The district is in southwest Washington, across the border from Portland, Oregon.

Herrera Beutler, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2010, led Kent by about 4,700 votes on election night but her lead shrunk throughout last week, and updated returns put Kent ahead and into the No. 2 spot on Monday night.

Once Clark County, the district's largest, and Thurston Counties updated their tallies Tuesday, Kent was leading Herrera Beutler by 928 votes. The Associated Press has said the race for the second candidate to advance in the primary is still too early to call as it estimates about 10,000 votes are left to be counted.

Herrera Beutler conceded in an email shortly after the latest update, saying that since I was first elected to this seat I have done my very best to serve my home region and our country.

Though my campaign came up short this time, Im proud of all weve accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home, she wrote, saying that Im proud that I always told the truth, stuck to my principles, and did what I knew to be best for our country.

Under Washingtons primary system, the top two vote getters in each race Aug. 2 advance to the November election, regardless of party. Washington is a vote by mail state, and voters dont have to declare a party affiliation.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez had already advanced to the November ballot since she was the top vote getter after the Aug. 2 primary, with 31% of the vote.

According to the secretary of states office, the last incumbent member of Congress to lose in a primary in Washington state was Rep. John Miller, who lost to Ralph Horr in 1930.

Because Washington is a vote-by-mail state and ballots just need to be in by Election Day, it often takes days to learn final results in close races as ballots arrive at county election offices throughout the week.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said Tuesday that the votes in his office took longer to process than usual because a large number of voters held on to their ballots longer than in previous elections. Kimsey said that 92,300 ballots arrived between last Monday and Wednesday, compared to 49,000 over that same three-day period in 2018.

Herrera Beutler has said she has no regrets about her impeachment vote following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol  and has stood by her comments made both on the floor and on Twitter afterward  including her revelation that Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told her he spoke with Trump as rioters were storming the Capitol, and that according to McCarthy the president said: Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.

Kent is a regular on conservative cable shows who echoes the former presidents grievances about the 2020 election outcome, and on Steve Bannons podcast Monday, Kent criticized the state primary as not a transparent process and said that he had to remedy a signature issue with his own ballot that day.

Kimsey, the county's elections official, noted that signature verification is a crucial part of the process that ensures the security and integrity of the states vote-by-mail system.

In a statement issued Monday night after Kent pulled ahead, Gluesenkamp Perez pointed to Kent's comments about the state's elections, and said that the 3rd Congressional District race is going to be a national bellwether for the direction of the country, and for the future of our democracy.

Of the 10 House Republicans who voted for Trumps impeachment, four opted not to run for reelection. Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer was defeated in a primary last week by Trump-endorsed John Gibbs and Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina lost to a Trump-endorsed challenger in June. Rep. David Valadao of California  which has an open primary like Washington  survived a primary challenge. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming is bracing for defeat in her Aug. 16 primary against a Trump-backed rival.

Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse advanced to the general election in his Washington state primary last week, fending off a Trump-endorsed rival, and will appear on the November ballot with Democratic opponent Doug White.

Cornell Clayton, director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy at Washington State University, noted that the fact that three anti-Newhouse Republican candidates each had double digit percentages helped him survive his primary with just 25% of the vote.

But in the 3rd, where the only serious Republican challengers were Kent and Heidi St. John, It was close but there wasnt enough to fracture the anti-incumbent vote on the Republican side.

The Kent campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but campaign manager Ozzie Gonzalez said in an email last week that Kent would wait until the winner was certified. Counties have until Aug. 16 to finish their count and for canvassing boards to certify the results, followed by certification by the secretary of state by Aug. 19.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive Squad, eked out a closer-than-expected Democratic primary victory Tuesday against a centrist challenger who questioned the incumbent's support for the defund the police" movement.

The evening went far smoother for another progressive, Becca Balint, who won the Democratic House primary in Vermont  positioning her to become the first woman representing the state in Congress.

In Minnesota, a Republican was headed to Congress to serve the remaining months of the late Rep. Jim Hagedorn's term.

And a key race was unfolding in western Wisconsin, where Democratic Rep. Ron Kinds retirement after 26 years in office opens up a seat in a district that has been trending Republican. The GOP nominee vying to replace Kind is a former Navy SEAL who attended the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Some of the top elections:

OMAR SURVIVES TOUGH CHALLENGE

Omar, who represents Minneapolis and is one of the left's leading voices in Congress, has defended calls to redirect public safety funding more into community-based programs. She squared off with former City Councilmember Don Samuels, whose north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city.

Samuels argued that Omar is divisive and helped defeat a ballot question last year that sought to replace the city police department with a new public safety unit. He and others also successfully sued the city to force it to meet minimum police staffing levels called for in Minneapolis' charter.

Samuels said his narrow loss shows that Omar is beatable: If this was the general election, no doubt that we would have won this race." Omar countered, Tonights victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for.

Barb Atkinson, a 53-year-old part-time event planner for a radio station who supported Samuels, called Omar "too far to the left.

Although I respect Ilhan Omar and what shes done, I disagree with the defund the police. I really think that wording sends the wrong message, Atkinson said. She added, "We need our leaders to work together to solve this issue.

Omar, who is seeking her third term in the House, had crushed a similar primary challenge two years ago from a well-funded but lesser-known opponent.

Shes had a lot of adversity already and pushback. I dont think her work is done, said Kathy Ward, a 62-year-old property caretaker for an apartment building in Minneapolis who voted for Omar. Weve got to give her a chance.

Two other members of the Squad  Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri  won their Democratic primaries last week.

TWO ELECTIONS, ONE SEAT IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

Voters in southern Minnesota, meanwhile, were deciding two races related to the same seat vacated by Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died earlier this year from cancer.

Republican Brad Finstad, who served in the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Trump administration, won a special election to serve the remaining months of Hagedorn's term. Finstad defeated Democrat Jeff Ettinger, a former chief executive at Hormel Foods, in a race that was closer than anticipated in the Republican-leaning district. Both had won a May 24 special primary election to advance to Tuesday's contest.

Finstad and Ettinger will face off again in November for a full term in the district  it includes Rochester and Mankato  after each secured his party's nomination Tuesday. Ettinger faced minimal primary opposition, while Finstad had little trouble dispatching state Rep. Jeremy Munson. Munson said he doesn't think President Joe Biden's victory was legitimate  despite federal and state election officials, courts and Trumps own attorney general saying there was no credible evidence the 2020 presidential election was tainted.

REPLACING RON KIND

Republicans see a pickup opportunity in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, the seat being vacated by Democratic incumbent Kind.

The district covers a swath of counties along Wisconsin's western border with Minnesota and includes La Crosse and Eau Claire. Republican Derrick Van Orden was unopposed in his primary Tuesday and has Trump's endorsement.

Van Orden narrowly lost to Kind in the 2020 general election. He attended Trump's Stop the Steal rally near the White House but has said he never stepped foot on the grounds of the Capitol during the insurrection.

State Sen. Brad Pfaff topped three other Democrats to secure the party's nomination and will face Van Orden in the fall. Pfaff, a onetime state agriculture secretary, had previously worked for Kind and received his endorsement.

RARE VERMONT OPEN SENATE SEAT

Vermont is the last state in the country yet to add a female member to its congressional delegation. Balint, who immediately becomes the favorite in November's general election, would also be the first openly gay member of Congress from Vermont.

She was endorsed by some of the nations leading leaders on the left, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Vermont has chosen a bold, progressive vision for the future, and I will be proud to represent us in Congress, Balint said in a statement.

Balint is vying to fill the states lone House seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Peter Welch who is running for Senate and easily secured the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. Welch is trying to succeed Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Senates longest-serving member, who is retiring, creating Vermonts first open Senate seat since 2006, when Sanders succeeded Jim Jeffords.

Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, an ex-staffer for Welch and has been backed by Leahy and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. In November, she'll face Liam Madden, a Marine Corps veteran from Bellows Falls who secured the Republican nomination.

___

Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski, Doug Glass and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wis., and Wilson Ring in Montpelier, Vt., contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP for full coverage of the midterms at https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ap_politics.
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The heat wave in Connecticut is leading to more than just scorching conditions. New studies have reported that the high temperatures are creating an environment ripe for more disease-carrying ticks  and ticks that are more aggressive toward humans.

The EPA reported that studies provide evidence that climate change has contributed to the expanded range of ticks, increasing the potential risk of Lyme disease. Ticks that carry Lyme disease, known as deer ticks, thrive in hot and humid conditions like those found in Northeast summers.

Summers in Connecticut have been warming year after year, and Inside Climate News reports the Northeast is becoming the fastest warming region in the U.S. Under these conditions, Science.org says ticks are living longer and biting more people. A Mic.com 2020 report stated that ticks are twice as likely to latch on to humans when temperatures get warmer.

Contributed Photo / USDA/Contributed Photo

Not only are ticks thriving in areas they could not previously live, but areas that already had large ticks populations, like Connecticut, are seeing an increase in the bugs, as reported by the Hartford Courant. Hot and humid temperatures are leading to more and different kinds of ticks, like the American dog tick, the black-legged tick and the newest addition, the lone star tick. This means that there is now a wider variety of tick-related illnesses circulating in Connecticut. In fact, earlier this year, Connecticut reported two cases of the rare Powassan virus, a potentially fatal disease that comes from the deer tick. One woman in Connecticut died from the virus two weeks after she was bit by an infected tick; she was the second death from Powassan virus in the U.S.

And its not just the summers. Connecticuts warmer, shorter winters are giving ticks more opportunities to survive rather than die off from cold weather as they did years ago. A report from the National Library of Medicine said more people are being exposed to ticks because of this. Shorter winters allow people to get outside sooner for spring and summer activities, giving more time for exposure to tick habitats and leading to more tick-related illnesses.

The CDC says the majority of Lyme disease cases already occur in Connecticut, and it is urging residents to be aware of coming in contact with infected ticks. Dr. Goudarz Molaei of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station previously told Hearst that the Fairfield and New Haven areas specifically are seeing higher numbers of tick populations.

Molaei told Hearst when doing tick surveillance in some of these towns it takes maybe less than an hour for us to collect over 800 ticks.

With tick season now being virtually year-round, federal and local health agencies are telling Connecticut residents to protect themselves from tick bites and tick exposure. The Connecticut Department of Public Health recommends people take the follow steps to prevent tick-borne diseases:
The other day, a friend mentioned that she and her family were heading soon to Aruba.

Why, I asked, would you go to the Caribbean in August?

Its cheaper now! she chirped.

Well, yeah. And theres a good reason. Its even hotter there than here.

People pay very good money to rent homes in Westport for the summer. I understand (kind of) why someone would voluntarily leave for a bit: rental income can pay for a nice European jaunt. But Aruba right now? That logic leaves me cold.

There is plenty else I dont understand about the town Ive called home my entire life. The newly popular shirt - Keep Westport Weird - is not off base. Underneath the veneer of normality - handsome homes, stone walls, three Dunkins - this is not always a normal suburb.

For example: We have many sidewalks, and we build more all the time. They do a great job of protecting pedestrians from speeding, distracted and otherwise poor drivers. Yet the number of Westporters who stroll on the side of the road - ignoring a perfectly good sidewalk just a yard away - boggles the mind.

Interestingly, one of the major requests of First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, at neighborhood meetings this spring, was more sidewalks. If you build it though, they wont come.

Of course, not every Westporter wants to walk. We drive everywhere. Including - I am not making this up - 50 yards from our home to the kids bus stop at the beginning of the road.

We see them every day during the school year, in gorgeous weather as well as bad: a line of vehicles waiting for the Dattco bus that stops at every...single...street. Mom or Dad sits in the Range Rovers front seat, drinking coffee; young Parker or Emma is planted in the back, mesmerized by a device.

Its bad enough they cant walk to the bus stop themselves, and wait in the sunshine. But the isolation concerns me more. Without a gang of kids hanging out together how will the younger ones ever learn misinformation about the birds and the bees?

Perhaps the parents are just waiting (and keeping the car running) so they can scoot off to the gym. Where, I have seen, they circle the parking lot endlessly, searching hungrily for a spot to open up. Because obviously, when you are headed for a workout, you must park as close to the gym as possible.

So then your workout is over. Time to reward yourself with a Starbucks venti salted caramel mocha frappuccino with five pumps of frap roast, four pumps of caramel syrup, three pumps of toffee nut syrup, double blended with extra whipped cream.

You cant wait for that treat, right? Well, yes, you can, Because Starbucks offers a drive-thru line. And even though it would be a squintillion times easier to park, stroll inside, order, not tip and leave, you want the post-workout convenience of sitting for 20 minutes, inching forward one grande at a time, caring not one whit that the line youre part of has snaked far into the Post Road itself, causing inattentive, uncaffeinated drivers to suddenly brake as they come upon this coffee emergency.

Thats what some Westporters do when everyone is watching. When no one is, all bets are off. Walking a dog at Winslow Park, the Wakeman Fields, Haskins Preserve, Compo Beach - or any other open space in town - can be a wonderful, healthy, bonding experience. But, to paraphrase the delightful childrens book, everybodys dog poops. Nasty!

Im not sure which is worse: the folks who pretend they dont see Fidos mess, or those who do, and make a show of picking it up - but then deposit their plastic bag on a nearby bench, fence post or (this is particularly middle-fingerish) right next to a sign saying Please clean up after your pet. Because, hey, why should someone have to dispose of that yuck themselves, when some stranger can do it for them?

These may or may not be the same people who disregard another sign: Reserving tables is not allowed. You can see those words on every picnic table at Compo Beach. Well, you could see them, if they were not covered up by the tablecloths, rocks and beach paraphernalia of people who dump them on top, for the express act of reserving tables.

Sure, they come back a few hours later, with their picnics and actual human beings. Until then, theyre sent a clear message: This is my spot. Find another. How should I know I couldnt reserve the table, when the sign was all covered up?

What a shame. The beach is there for everyone to enjoy, all summer long.

Except the ones who have gone to Aruba.

Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com.
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When Connecticut needed a computer system for its planned health information network, it came up with a novel solution.

Instead of hiring consultants, the state tapped the University of Connecticut to develop the software for the network known as Connie. In 2017, the school created a new unit called UConn Analytics and Information Management Solutions  UConn AIMS for short  to do the work.

Providing the computer architecture for Connie, an electronic system allowing health care professionals and entities like hospitals and labs to access patient information statewide, was supposed to be just the beginning for UConn AIMS, director Alan Fontes said.

The Core Analytic Data System  CDAS for short  created for Connie had many other uses beyond health care, Fontes said.

It was bringing these resources into the state as state assets, Fontes said.

They would have had it as an asset instead of going out and hiring a lot of consultants.

Today, UConn AIMS is out of business, 20 people are out of jobs and the system developed for Connie at the cost of about $20 million has been discarded and dismantled.

Around the time of Connies launch in May 2021, the Office of Health Strategy (OHS), which was in charge of standing up the network, ended the funding and discarded the customized system UConn AIMS had spent four years developing. In its place, the agency purchased an existing system developed for Marylands health information network, whose annual cost will approach $1 million next year, Connie spokeswoman Jami Ouellette said.

Why UConn AIMS system was dumped and dismantled is unclear. Connie, an independent nonprofit, played no role in the decision, Ouellette said in an email.

The UConn AIMS contract was funded by OHS directly to UConn AIMS, she said. Connie has never had a contract with UConn AIMS, and therefore, did not have any authority regarding UConn AIMS contract decisions.

Former OHS Executive Director Vicki Veltri, who left the agency July 1, would only say that UConn AIMS federal funding ran out at the end of 2020. In an interview earlier this year, Veltri, who had high praise for the CDAS system in an August 2020 UConn Today article, said she consulted with UConn and the state Department of Social Services (DSS), and there was a combined decision to go in another direction.

They basically threw it away

But Stephanie Reitz, UConn spokeswoman and manager of media relations, said the school, which defends the system, only agreed to withdraw UConn AIMS system when it became evident that the funding would expire without other sources available to continue supporting it.

UConn is disappointed that Connie does not use the innovative system its unit spent years and millions of dollars developing, Reitz said.

UConn wishes the work of AIMS would have led to a different outcome, she said. The university entered into the endeavor with OHS to develop a novel data analytics solution better than products offered by private contractors and that could add value to the state and beyond. We believe that [UConn AIMS] product did exactly that.

The discarding of their system left three UConn AIMS team members, all of whom lost their jobs, so angry and frustrated that they filed a complaint late last year with the State Auditors of Public Accounts asking it to investigate. The auditors, per their policy of neither confirming nor denying investigations, declined comment.

They basically threw it away, former UConn AIMS Deputy Director Christopher Gracia told C-HIT. It hurts because we put a lot of time and money into it for the state. It hurts that the citizens, the residents of the state, arent going to experience what they could have had.

Assessment blindsides UConn AIMS

The effort to create a Connecticut health information network has a long and checkered history. Three attempts over nearly a decade ended in expensive failures. In 2017, the state decided to try again.

Connie, the latest attempt, was to have two purposes: enable medical personnel statewide to access a patients full medical history regardless of where the records are kept and analysis to improve care and reduce costs.

The legislature assigned the job of standing up Connie to OHS, which hired several consultants, including UConn AIMS. OHS ultimately paid the unit about $20 million, most of it federal funds, to develop Connies computer architecture and analytics.

In the summer of 2020, with the system ready to go and Connies launch approaching, OHS, in agreement with the Department of Social Services, decided to conduct an assessment. It assigned the task to another consultant on the project, Michigan-based Velatura Services LLC.

In October 2020, a month before Connie was scheduled to launch, Velatura issued a report concluding UConn AIMS system was flawed and recommending it be abandoned in favor of one from an outside contractor. Velatura did not recommend an outside vendor.

The assessment blindsided Fontes and Gracia. Fontes contested the findings and accused Velatura of bad faith, saying the firm didnt make it clear until late in the process that it was doing an assessment instead of seeking a demonstration. Velatura also never provided the parameters on which the system would be judged, they said.

Fontes said he was angry that the assessment slammed UConn AIMS for using simulated instead of real data to test its system when OHS was supposed to provide the real data but never did.

In addition, Fontes and Gracia accused Velatura of reneging on a promise to allow UConn AIMS to review the assessment and respond before it was designated final. Lisa Moon, who led Velaturas assessment team, initially told Fontes in emails that the report was final and not modifiable.

But under pressure from UConn AIMS, Allan Hackney, who was OHS health information technology officer at the time, returned the report to draft.

Hackney, who was in charge of the Connie project starting in 2017, resigned at the end of 2020. He did not respond to voicemails left on his phone or a message sent to his LinkedIn account seeking comment.

Factual errors, lack of transparency, omission of key factors

UConns administration backed Fontes and his team. Radenka Maric, who at the time was UConns vice president for research, innovation and entrepreneurship, sent Veltri and DSS Commissioner Deidre Gifford a seven-page letter dated Nov. 9, 2020, detailing shortcomings in Velaturas assessment.

Those shortcomings included factual errors, misrepresentation of scope and purpose, omission of key factors necessary for evaluation, and lack of transparency and engagement with key constituents during the evaluation and review process, wrote Maric, who has since become UConns interim president.

"UConn feels very stringently that serious flaws in this document prevent its consideration as part of a critical assessment of [the systems] functionality at this time, Maric wrote. She went on to note that good faith and clear objectives and evaluation criteria ... are lacking in the current draft report.

Reached via email, Velatura did not respond to questions about UConns criticisms of its assessment, instead sending a general four-sentence statement defending its work on the Connie project.

As a consultant to the state of Connecticut as they were standing up Connie, Velatura completed our contract deliverables to the full satisfaction of both parties, company spokeswoman Emily Mata said in the statement.

Fontes and Gracia said they heard nothing from OHS in the weeks following UConns letter.

No one communicated with me at all, Fontes said.

Then in late December, OHS sent UConn AIMS an order to stop working at the end of the year, saying its federal funding was running out.

Veltri said Velaturas assessment played no role in the funding cutoff. She said OHS had to stop providing money because it was unsure whether a new request for federal funds would be approved.

Meanwhile, the announced November 2020 launch of Connie was pushed forward to spring 2021. However, Fontes still had heard nothing from Connie or OHS about the assessment or whether UConn AIMS architecture would be used.

Veltri acknowledges concerns about assessment, shelves it

UConn AIMS managed to struggle along until its funding was restored in early 2021, Fontes said.

In mid-March 2021, Veltri wrote UConn a letter formally responding to UConns criticisms of the assessment that was sent more than four months before. Vetri reiterated that her office had not reviewed the report before it was circulated but said it had now done so.

As you know, we had concerns about the draft report, Veltri wrote in her March 16, 2021, letter. Because of these concerns, the report was not finalized or published, nor will it be."

In a May interview with C-HIT, however, Veltri denied that her decision constituted a withdrawal of the assessment. When pressed whether she agreed with the assessments conclusions, she said, I stand by the work product.

UConn, however, took Veltris letter as acknowledgment that the reports flaws were significant to the point of invalidating the draft [assessment] in its entirety, university spokeswoman Reitz said.

UConn AIMS terminated, architecture discarded

Even as Connie finally launched in May 2021, UConn AIMS heard little or nothing from OHS about the status of their system, Fontes said. With little to do and its staff shrinking, the office focused on fine-tuning what it had built, Fontes said.

We were in limbo, Gracia said.

In July 2021, OHS lowered the boom, informing Fontes that it would not use UConn AIMS system and terminating its contract. No reason was given, but Fontes said he believes it was because of Velaturas assessment.

That report was what they wanted to use to shut us down, he said. He still does not fully understand why.

In the meantime, OHS purchased an existing system from CRISP, Marylands health information network, Connie spokeswoman Ouellette said. The annual cost is close to $1million.

UConn AIMS cost per year would have been comparable, but Fontes and Gracia say their system, which had been specifically tailored to Connecticuts needs, would have been better.

UConn AIMS limped along for a few months, attempting to salvage pieces of what it had built and market them to other state agencies, but nothing came of it, Fontes said. At the end of September last year, Fontes let his last employees go.

Fontes stayed at UConn until he retired from the state in April. Gracia now works in the private sector.

It felt bad at first, Gracia said of UConn AIMS demise. But by the end, we were all glad to be out of the state. Its like a relief. It was just so chaotic and unorganized. They didnt have the right people managing the effort. They didnt have the right people managing the vendors. They didn't have the right people managing us. They just didnt have the right people.

This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team , a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting.
RIGA, Latvia (AP)  The U.S. will conduct more military exercises with Baltic nations such as Latvia, and look to provide increased training, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, saying the U.S. may bring in additional troops from America if needed to bolster the region against any possible threat from Russia.

Speaking at a press conference with Latvias Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, Austin said plans to do continuous rotations of forces into the Baltics will likely use troops from U.S. brigades in Romania and other parts of Europe, but we can also bring in forces from the United States.

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades, underscoring the increased importance of the Baltic nations, who sit at Russias western edge. They have watched Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fear that they could be the next victims of Moscows aggression. The Pentagon said the last defense chief to go to Latvia was William Perry in 1995.

Pabriks told reporters that his top priorities are to get more U.S. military enablers, adding that in order to defend his country, his troops need nitty gritty training on a daily basis. He added that Latvia also needs additional financial assistance from the U.S. in order to buy new military equipment, and to beef up its air defense and coastal defense.

In two days of meetings in this Baltic capital, just a few hours drive from the Russian border, Austin repeatedly re-enforced America's commitment to helping the region defend itself. He met with U.S. troops on Tuesday, including members of the Security Force Assistance Brigade that provides training to allies. He said Wednesday that he is looking to maintain use of the SFAB in the Baltic region going forward.

Austin's visit comes as the Russian war in Ukraine is in its sixth month, as Russia continues to make slow but incremental progress but has met growing counterattacks by Ukrainian forces in Russian-occupied areas of southern Ukraine. Ukraine has also been battling to hold off the Kremlins forces in the industrial Donbas region in the east.

In a possible escalation of the fighting, powerful explosions rocked a Russian air base in Crimea on Tuesday and sent towering clouds of smoke over the landscape. Russias Defense Ministry denied the Saki base on the Black Sea had been shelled and said instead that munitions had blown up there. But Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles.

In a rapid-fire series of meetings on Wednesday with top Latvian leaders, including President Egils Levits at Riga Castle, Austin pledged Americas steadfast commitment to stand with the Baltic region against any Russian aggression. The three Baltic nations - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - are all former Soviet republics, and were seized and annexed by Josef Stalin during World War II . They gained independence with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies.

We will enhance our rotational deployments in the region and intensify our training with our Baltic allies to further strengthen our combat credible posture in the region, Austin said, as the start of his meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday morning.

During the press conference, Pabriks acknowledged worries about the threat from neighboring Belarus, which is a Russian ally. He said he doesnt consider Belarus an independent nation and is instead just part of Russia. He said Latvia is routinely concerned about the threat along that border and watches it closely.

The U.S. has deployed an additional 20,000 U.S. troops to Europe -- for a total of about 100,000 --- in order to reassure NATO allies, beef up training and exercises and shift the focus of the forces to the alliances eastern flank. Of those, the U.S. now has about 500 troops in Latvia, an increase over the 100 that were in the country as of last December.

In March, shortly after Russias invasion of Ukraine, NATO began to explore how best to shore up the defense of the eastern flank, from Estonia in the north through Latvia, Lithuania and Poland down to Bulgaria and Romania on the Black Sea.

On land, our new posture should include substantially more forces in the eastern part of the Alliance, at higher readiness, with more prepositioned equipment and supplies, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, at the time. In the air, more allied air power, and strengthened integrated air and missile defense.

Austin first stopped first at Lielvarde Air Base where he and Pabriks met with U.S. and Latvian troops. Standing in a hangar in front of an Apache helicopter, Pabriks flatly told Austin and the service members that if something happens on the border  we are ready to die."

Austin assured Pabriks and the troops that if something happens, and ... the sovereign territory of Latvia is questioned or challenged, were gonna be here to work with our partners.

NATO only began stationing troops on its eastern flank after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Until late last year, only around 5,000 troops were deployed in the Baltic states and Poland on a rotational basis.

Now, NATO says, hundreds of thousands of troops are on heightened alert, with America's 100,000 troops in Europe, and 40,000 troops under direct NATO command, supported by around 150 ships and a similar number of aircraft.

Austin's visit also comes as Latvia moves to increase its own defenses, and the nation's president eyes a plan to reinstate national conscription for men, and for women on a voluntary basis. The draft could be reintroduced next year after a hiatus of over 15 years.

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said the country was working closely with the U.S. and boosting its defense budget in response to the looming Russian threat.

Now that Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine, the U.S. and we are united, working on strengthening NATO and providing support to Ukraine, Karins said, in comments published by the Baltic News Service, the regions main news agency.

___

Associated Press reporter Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

This story corrects that helicopter in the hangar was Apache, not Black Hawk, which was outside.

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BRIDGEPORT  State Sen. Dennis Bradley was in high spirits about an hour after polls closed in Tuesdays Democratic primary against the Democratic Town Committees endorsed candidate, Rev. Herron Gaston, an aide to Mayor Joe Ganim and Methodist pastor.

The incumbent, whose 23rd District includes parts of Bridgeport and Stratford, around 9 p.m. rolled into the parking lot of his election night party at Move Yacht Club behind the wheel of a Porsche convertible, stopping outside the entrance to beep the horn repeatedly before greeting supporters like former Mayor Bill Finch and City Councilman Ernie Newton.

Inside, Bradley, who lost Mays party convention to Gaston while under federal indictment for alleged campaign finance crimes related to his initial 2018 Senate bid, announced about 10 p.m. the unofficial primary results were looking good.

We took on the establishment, the party, the state, and we are victorious! said Bradley, who has denied wrongdoing as he awaits a continually-delayed trial for his 2021 arrest, as supporters cheered.

But less than an hour later, he was sitting on a guardrail in the parking lot conceding the race as small groups of supporters silently walked away from the club to their cars, some pausing briefly to offer condolences and encouragement.

Buoyed by mail-in or absentee ballots, Gaston won with 1,775 votes to Bradleys 1,628. In Democrat-dominated Bridgeport, primary wins typically pave a near certain path to victory in the November general elections.

I am grateful and deeply humbled at this opportunity to serve this great city I love, Gaston told an ebullient crowd of people Bradley would call the establishment. We have a lot of work ahead.

The victory celebration occurred in the backyard of another top Ganim aide, Tom Gaudett and Gaudetts fiance, Councilman Marcus Brown. The mayor, Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa, state Reps. Antonio Felipe, Chris Rosario and Steve Stafstrom, and City Council President Aidee Nieves, among others, celebrated not only Gastons victory but the end of a particularly bitter campaign in the ongoing civil war of Bridgeport politics.

Even as Bradley sought votes under the cloud of criminal charges, he and his allies fomented questions in the community about Gastons own past and ethics. In 2018 Gaston had a book published  The Darkest Night: An Incarceration Memoir, From Jail to Yale  which details his nine-month stint in the criminal justice system in Florida after being falsely accused of sexual assault.

Gastons opponents, like prominent Democratic leader Ralph Ford, began circulating some old information about those initial 2010 allegations to voters. Gaston, through an attorney, ordered Ford to cease and desist, saying in an interview Wednesday that the information was materially altered and false to fit the narrative of the opponent.

I think it is a grave disservice to the community when our so-called leaders weaponize traumatic situations out of desperation and political expediency to destroy someone's good name and reputation for an election, he said.

Gaston does not have a criminal record.

Ford on Wednesday said all he had been trying to do was to inform the community.

At Tuesdays victory celebration, Ganim credited Gaston for having to withstand an onslaught while the candidate himself, quoting the Bible, told the crowd his enemies stumbled and failed.

After learning of his loss Tuesday, Bradley acknowledged his indictment gave Gaston a pivotal issue and complained that his own legal woes unfairly drew more attention and media coverage than Gastons previous run-in with the law.

Everything was reported on the pending charges I have when youre supposed to have a presumption of innocence, Bradley said. Its unfortunate thats the way it was skewed but thats the way it is.

Ultimately having that case hanging over his head certainly didnt help him any, Ford said Wednesday of Bradley.

Even before the federal indictment, Bradley had a rocky relationship with some of the citys top Democrats. He prior to his arrest was being mentioned by people like Ford as a possible challenger to Ganim in 2023.

Gaston also had a monetary advantage over Bradley, whose alleged crimes disqualified him from taking advantage of the states so-called clean elections grant program, which requires participating candidates have a certain amount of small, individual contributions in exchange for campaign funds. Gaston was awarded a $99,000 grant in late June.

And as of Aug. 4, the most recent date for filing campaign finance reports with the state Elections Enforcement Commission, Gaston had raised $120,537 and had $21,516 left, while Bradley had $13,312 remaining out of a war chest totaling $53,410.

All you can do is congratulate your opponent on a well-fought fight. He won, Bradley said of the race. We hope he puts the people and not Joe Ganims administration at the forefront of what he does.

The people have voted and said thats their better choice and candidate, Bradley said. What can you do but accept thats the will of the people?

He brushed aside questions about his pending criminal charges and said he was motivated by a desire to see Bridgeport move forward, but said he had no firm plans regarding his future.

Gaston said he too is prepared to move forward and be the senator for those folks who voted for me and folks who voted for my opponent.

I want to move past this so we can call for calm and healing, he said. I extend an olive branch to any and all persons interested in the progression of our communities.
China releases white paper on Taiwan question, reunification in new era

Xinhua) 10:22, August 10, 2022

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" on Wednesday.

The white paper was released to reiterate the fact that Taiwan is part of China, to demonstrate the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people and their commitment to national reunification, and to emphasize the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era.

Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence, according to the white paper.

The UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is a political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide, says the white paper.

The one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community; it is consistent with the basic norms of international relations, says the white paper.

"We are one China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable," says the white paper.

The CPC is committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification. Under its resolute leadership, people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have worked together to de-escalate tension across the Straits. They have set out on a path of peaceful development and made many breakthroughs in improving cross-Straits relations, according to the white paper.

Under the guidance of the CPC, great progress has been made in cross-Straits relations over the past seven decades, especially since the estrangement between the two sides was ended. Increased exchanges, broader cooperation and closer interactions have brought tangible benefits to people across the Straits, especially of Taiwan. This fully demonstrates that cross-Straits amity and cooperation are mutually beneficial, says the white paper.

"The realization of complete national reunification is driven by the history and culture of the Chinese nation and determined by the momentum towards and circumstances surrounding our national rejuvenation. Never before have we been so close to, confident in, and capable of achieving the goal of national rejuvenation. The same is true when it comes to our goal of complete national reunification," says the white paper.

China's development and progress -- in particular, the great achievements over four decades of reform, opening up and modernization -- have had a profound impact on the historical process of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing complete national reunification, according to the white paper.

The actions of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have resulted in tension in cross-Straits relations, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and undermining the prospects and restricting the space for peaceful reunification. These are obstacles that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification, says the white paper.

External forces have encouraged and instigated provocative actions by the separatist forces; these have intensified cross-Straits tension and confrontation, and undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. This runs counter to the underlying global trends of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and goes against the wishes of the international community and the aspiration of all peoples, says the white paper.

Relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan's separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. The wheel of history rolls on towards national reunification, and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force, says the white paper.

Peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification. Embodying the Chinese wisdom -- we thrive by embracing each other -- they take full account of Taiwan's realities and are conducive to long-term stability in Taiwan after reunification, according to the white paper.

"To realize peaceful reunification, we must acknowledge that the mainland and Taiwan have their own distinct social systems and ideologies. The 'one country, two systems' principle is the most inclusive solution to this problem. It is an approach that is grounded in democratic principles, demonstrates good will, seeks peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question, and delivers mutual benefit. The differences in social system are neither an obstacle to reunification nor a justification for secessionism," says the white paper.

"We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification; but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form," it says.

"We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances," it adds.

The future of Taiwan lies in China's reunification, and the wellbeing of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "We will join hands with our fellow Chinese in Taiwan to strive for national reunification and rejuvenation," says the white paper.

Once peaceful reunification is achieved under "one country, two systems," it will lay new foundations for China to make further progress and achieve national rejuvenation. At the same time, it will create huge opportunities for social and economic development in Taiwan and bring tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan, it says.

Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole, says the white paper.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Hungarian oil and gas firm, MOL, will take on pipeline sanctions that hit the Druzhba to pay the incurred transit fees. The payment will cover both Russia's Transneft and the continuation of the pipeline operation.

Energy Ban Affects Several EU States

Last Tuesday, the Hungary-based MOL oil and gas company verified that the southern portion of the Druzhba pipeline had stopped working., reported RT.

As the bloc prepared for a harsh winter, discussions were taking place to assume the payor's role to permit the delivery of essential energy.

According to Transneft, a Russia-based firm that delivers oil to the EU through the Druzhba, a problem in paying Ukraine has been compounded by sanctions, noted Good Word News.

Ukraine has not responded, according to news site Origo, despite MOL's promise to pay Transneft's transit payments, citing Viuku.

The energy business stated that it is looking for a solution to the problem and that there is enough supply for several weeks. It has also begun consultations on how to take on the fee duty.

After Western sanctions made it difficult for Moscow to pay for the deliveries, the Russian oil company reported on August 4 that Ukraine had stopped pumping Russian oil to several regions in central Europe.

Based on the firms' explanations, the pipeline's sanction led to the inability to pump, which has an effect on Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

According to Transneft, alternative options for financing the transit of electricity are being considered, while Hungarian energy firm MOL will assume payment.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth?

The Druzhba is acknowledged as one of the world's longest pipelines to have ever been constructed. The route was created to transport crude oil across a distance of around 4,000 kilometers from the eastern region of European Russia to refineries in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia.

Transneft said the northern portion of the Druzhba pipeline traverses through Belarus, goes to Poland and Germany, and is still fully operational.

Sanctions Hinder Russia To Pay

Russian crude is no longer being pushed through the southern arm of the Druzhba system to the EU by Ukraine's state-owned oil pipeline company, Ukrtransnafta, according to RIA Novosti, referencing Transneft of Moscow.

Most of the current deliveries for Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are on hold because of the sanctions-related chaos. Spokesman Igor Demin, the president of Transneft, said the supply directed to Belarus, Poland, and Germany still transits.

Although the Ukrainian company demands 100% upfront payment for its oil transportation services, Demin explained that Russia is unable to pay for transit owing to EU sanctions. He remarked that when making a payment for transit through the territory of Ukraine, the funds were returned to the account of Transneft.

Gazprombank services the payments. It was informed during the process of paying that it was bounced back due to EU sanctions as part of its seventh imposition.

The Russian company emphasized that it has filed a request with Gazprombank and is working on other payment methods for oil mass transit through Ukraine. Following the news, oil reversed a prior fall, with the benchmark Brent futures rising as much as 1.6% to trade near $98 per barrel. WTI, the US benchmark, increased to about $92 per barrel.

Pipeline sanctions affecting the critical Druzhba line, which the Hungarian energy firm MOL is trying to work out a deal for payment to allow Transneft to continue the oil and gas deliveries to Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Related Article: Biden Promises Energy Shipments for Europe To Reduce Dependence on Russian Gas, Oil Supply

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There have been no confirmed cases of monkeypox in Connecticut children, but with some exposure among children in other states, state public health officials are preparing.

At the end of July, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky said there had been two cases of monkeypox identified in children. This month, a group of children in Illinois were exposed when a worker at a day care tested positive for monkeypox.

Connecticut has so far received 3,628 doses of monkeypox vaccine Jynneos, and while the vaccine is not approved for use in patients younger than 18, there are provisions being made.

In Illinois, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made individual exceptions for exposed children, and Department of Public Health spokesman Chris Boyle said that could happen in Connecticut, too.

Boyle said there are single patient emergency use authorizations available from the FDA, and the CDC is developing an expanded-access investigational new drug protocol to allow broader use of Jynneos in the pediatric population.

If a Connecticut resident under the age of 18 needs vaccination for post-exposure prophylaxis, DPH will work with partnering health care providers to complete the single-patient emergency use authorization from FDA, Boyle said. We have already been in touch with CDC and other stakeholders to ensure we are prepared.

University of Connecticut virologist Paolo Verardi said younger children are particularly at risk from monkeypox, as well as immunocompromised patients.

The types of people that are most susceptible are the ones that are very young and they have an underdeveloped immune system, he said. So, young children, anybody thats immunosuppressed, and you may be immunosuppressed because they may be taking a drug for an autoimmune disease.

Its not that children are more likely to contract monkeypox, Verardi explained, but that children, the elderly, and those that are immunosuppressed or immunocompromised are at the highest risk of developing more severe disease.

As of Monday, there have been 30,189 confirmed cases of monkeypox globally and 8,934 confirmed cases in the United States of which 48 are in Connecticut, according to the CDC.

The virus has, for the most part, been found among middle-aged men, but Verardi said it is transmissible by physical exposure to infected lesions, respiratory means and, though its less likely, indirect contact with infected surfaces.

That includes touching monkeypox lesions that sometimes can be hard to notice, or touching and using objects such as toys, clothes, and bedding of someone that is infected, he said.

The virus that causes monkeypox is very thermo-stable, which means the virus can stay in the environment without losing infectivity for quite some time, Verardi explained. Children are very active, social, and tactile, so spread in settings like schools and day care facilities is something we need to consider, particularly if the outbreak continues to evolve and infections become more widespread in diverse populations.

Boyle said the state will formally coordinate strategy with schools and child care centers on monkeypox mitigation, if and when the data demonstrates the necessity: The data dictates the response, right now we are not seeing a need to issue any additional guidance than what has already been released.

Though the U.S. declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency earlier this month, transmission levels in Connecticut are still low, Boyle said.

We are not at a state public health emergency level or pandemic level, he said. As we monitor the data, DPH  in collaboration with school districts and local health departments  will assess guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on educating school districts and daycares on monkeypox.

Though a formal guidance for schools is being formulated, Boyle said DPH is already coordinating with schools.

Many school nurse supervisors participate in a weekly Connecticut Department of Public Health/Local Health Department call already. DPH provides a weekly update on monkeypox on those calls, Boyle said. So, in effect we have been providing information to school districts already.

Verardi said that having protocols in place that allow for vaccination of patients under the age of 18 is important, its not the endgame.

We should have been better prepared in the first place when it comes to availability of vaccines, and we need to be ready for the possibility of needing to vaccinate our kids more widely and not just after known or potential exposure, he said.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media

A mail carrier pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing mail from residents on his route in Norwalk, according to federal prosecutors.

Umberto Pignataro, 46, of Bridgeport, faces up to five years in prison. He is released pending his sentencing on Nov. 17, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery said in a news release.
Under Connecticuts Senate and House Democratic majority, Connecticut is one of the most overtaxed and unaffordable states for everything from health care to housing.

As other states now grapple with proposed health insurance rate increases averaging 10 percent, Connecticut residents are facing increases averaging over 20 percent, twice the national average.

The solution to the states unaffordability is not more government, as suggested in Hugh Baileys recent column.

Republicans have offered for years a better way to reduce health insurance rates, address rising prescription drug costs, and increase access to quality health care. Unfortunately, legislative Democrats would rather argue about a government run public option health system than vote on real, achievable solutions.

A government-run health care system would mean lesser quality care, more taxes on working and middle class residents, and would jeopardize over 50,000 good-paying jobs in Connecticut.

Government-run health care programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid or the VA system, are not the gold standard. They involve uncertainty and a one-size-fits-all solution that picks winners and losers. Most people on Medicare need a private insurance supplement to obtain their needed level of care  supplements that could go away under a public option.

A public option could violate the protections of the Affordable Care Act by allowing discrimination against persons with preexisting conditions and theres no guarantee that you can keep your doctor.

Also in a government-run health system, state taxpayers are the backstop if premiums dont cover claims. Weve already seen this happen in Connecticut. When our states government-run Partnership Plan had years of multimillion-dollar deficits, it was taxpayers who had to bail out the program, multiple times.

With your help, we can make Connecticut more affordable and ease burdens on working- and middle-class families while at the same time reduce health care costs and increase access to quality care.

Together, lets focus on achievable solutions, solutions that work for Connecticut families; not imposing a one-size-fits-all Washington partisan approach.

State Sen. Paul Formica serves as Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore. He represents the 20th Senatorial District, which includes Bozrah, East Lyme, a portion of Montville, New London, Old Lyme, a portion of Old Saybrook, Salem, and Waterford.
Millions of Kenyans voted in the country's fiercely-contested race that some consider a test for democracy as citizens tensely await for results after the closing of polls.

A wave of relief flooded the nation on Tuesday as the presidential election passed largely peacefully after several months of bitter jostling and mud-slinging. Supporters feted one of the front-runners, Raila Odinga, at his Nairobi stronghold.

Kenya Presidential Election

On the other hand, his determined rival, William Ruto, praised the majesty of democracy after casting his vote before dawn. As the polls closed, the country's election shifted into a new and unpredictable phase that, if previous elections are any indication, could be rocky.

Previous elections gave way to periods of tense uncertainty involving accusations of vote-rigging, protracted courtroom dramas, bouts of street violence, and even a murder mystery. The situation could last for weeks, even months, before a new president is sworn in.

A factory manager, Charles Owuiti, said that people just do not trust the system, while he waited to cast his ballot in Nairobi, the line snaking through a crowded schoolyard. However, the ethnic divisions that framed previous votes have been dialed down, as per the New York Times.

In the scene of previous clashes, Rift Valley, fewer people than in the past fled their homes fearing they might be attacked. Instead, Kenyans streamed into polling stations across the nation, some in the predawn darkness, to choose their prescient, as well as parliamentarians and local leaders.

Read Also: US vs. China: Joe Biden Claims Future of Chip Industry Is 'Going To Be Made in America' Thanks to $280 Billion Boost

Odinga, who is among the four candidates for president, is a 77-year-old opposition leader running for the fifth time. Ruto, on the other hand, is the outgoing vice president and self-declared champion of Kenya's "hustler nation."

According to CNN, Odinga is a businessman and politician who served as the prime minister of Kenya for five years following the disputed presidential election of December 2007. He is part of the country's political dynasty with his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, being the first vice president of independent Kenya.

Fiercely-Contested Race

He earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering in East Germany in 1970 and was a one-time lecturer at the University of Nairobi after his studies abroad. He has pledged to set up social protection and a universal healthcare program called Babacare, due to him being known as "Baba" by Kenyans, for poor households.

The elections come as the cost of living, high unemployment, and rampant corruption have dominated the campaign season. While polls were scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. local time, there were reports of extended voting in some locations.

These include stations that opened late and where some biometric kits used to identify voters failed to work properly. In Gatundu in central Kenya, there were technical and logistical problems reported in several polling stations. However, overall, "voting went smoothly," said Catherine Soi.

Members of the Maasai community wore their traditional clothing as they waited patiently in line to vote for their chosen officials. Some analysts argued that Kenyans want politicians to focus on issues like the country's economy, Aljazeera reported.



Related Article: Growing Resistance Forces Challenge Russia's Control Over Seized Areas in Ukraine

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China has revealed designs for terrifying nuclear drone torpedoes capable of launching swarms of destructive torpedoes over the Pacific Ocean.

According to Beijing experts, the new torpedo could be mass-produced and fired from nearly any warship or submarine. The announcement follows a Russian state media warning to the United Kingdom of a "nuclear tsunami" 500 meters tall being deployed to wipe out the country because of its backing for Ukraine during the ongoing crisis.

China Proposes To Develop Its Own Version of Russia's Nuclear Weapon

Furthermore, Vladimir Putin's mouthpieces have advocated the idea of a nuclear attack on London and New York utilizing the dreaded multi-warhead SATAN II missile, capable of hypersonic speed and striking the UK in three minutes.

The United States, Russia, China, and North Korea have all been racing to develop hypersonic missiles capable of reaching anywhere in the Earth in recent years. The concept of a nuclear torpedo meant to cause a massive tidal wave is relatively new as governments strive to gain an advantage in the ever-warming global Cold War.

According to reports, a Chinese team has completed the conceptual design for a small, low-cost nuclear reactor capable of propelling a swarm of torpedoes across the Pacific Ocean in approximately a week. The announcements were made in a peer-reviewed study issued by China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, China's top naval contractor.

Chinese researchers are planning to build a tiny replica of Russia's Poseidon autonomous submarine, the world's first nuclear-powered underwater drone. Experts fear the weapons, which might travel great distances, would also endanger US interests in the Indo-Pacific. Poseidon, Russia's underwater counterpart of a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile, is intimidating in size and capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

While not as quick as an ICBM, the Poseidon and any Chinese version of the torpedo would be extremely difficult to detect and stop if launched into the immensity of the oceans, particularly the Pacific, according to Express.

Read Also: World War II-Era Bomb Safely Detonated in Drought-Stricken River in Italy After Over 3,000 Locals Evacuated

How Many Nuclear Weapons Does China Have?

The Belgorod, Vlad's 600 ft. "city killer" nuclear submarine, was claimed to be ready for war in January of this year. When the sub was launched for the first time in June of last year, it was heralded as a game-changer for Putin's military. However, unlike Russia's model, China asserts that its torpedo will be easier to construct and can be inserted in a normal torpedo tube rather than requiring a custom-designed tube.

According to the South China Morning Post, the Poseidon is too massive and powerful for widespread manufacturing and is only used as a strategic-level weapon with Russia's Belgorod special mission submarine. Russia's Poseidon was touted as being capable of flattening an entire city or larger area using its two-megaton nuclear weapon - around 100 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

But Chinese researchers claim such a weapon would spark a nuclear war that would destroy the world, making it unlikely to ever be developed, as per The Sun. In Asia, new war fears have been raised when China began shooting ballistic missiles near Taiwan in a display of military power. Tensions between the two countries have risen following Nancy Pelosi's recent travel to Taiwan as Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

China regards the island as a renegade province that will eventually be returned to Beijing's authority - by force if necessary - whereas Taiwan regards itself as an independent country. With global concerns mounting over increasingly strained relations between China, Taiwan, and the West, we examine China's nuclear arsenal.

China has the world's third-biggest nuclear arsenal, after only Russia and the United States, with an estimated 350 nuclear warheads. The country originally built nuclear weapons during the Cold War and is anticipated to continue building its nuclear arsenal, which has grown by 30 percent since 2020.

A Pentagon analysis released last November cautioned that China's nuclear arsenal was growing significantly faster than the US had expected a year before. The US is concerned that Beijing will have more than 1,000 weapons by 2030, Independent reported.

Related Article: Israel Launches Another Military Operation in the West Bank, Leaving 3 Dead, 40 Injured

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- Reviewed by Nick Cawleu, July 26, 2022

The London trading session accounts for around 35% of total average forex turnover*, the largest amount relative to its peers. The London forex session also overlaps with the New York session throughout the year.

Key talking points in this article:

What time does the London forex market open?

Top three things to know about the London trading session

What currency pairs are the best to trade?

How to trade breakouts during the London session.

What time does the London forex market open?

The London forex market hours are from 3:00 AM ET to 12:00 PM ET. The London forex market session sees the most forex volume of all the forex market sessions.

Time in ET.

Open 3:00 AM Close 12:00 PM Overlap with Asia session 3:00 AM  4:00 AM Overlap with New York session 8:00 AM  12:00 PM

Top 3 things to know about the London trading session

1. The London session is fast and active

The slower Tokyo market will lead into the London session, and as prices begin to move from liquidity providers based in the United Kingdom, traders can usually see increases in volatility.

As prices begin to come in from London, the average hourly move on many of the major currency pairs will often increase. Below is analysis on EUR/USD based on the time of day. Notice how much greater these moves are, on average, after the Asian session closes (Asia session closes at 3AM ET-blue dot):

Support and resistance may be broken much more easily than it would during the Asian session (when volatility is usually lower).

These concepts are central to the traders approach when speculating in the London Session, as traders can look to use this volatility to their advantage by trading breakouts. When trading breakouts, traders are looking for volatile moves that may continue for an extended period of time.

2. Look out for the overlap

The overlap is when the London and US sessions literally overlap each other (8AM ET to 12PM ET). These are the two largest market centers in the world, and during this four-hour period large and fast moves can be seen during the overlap as a large amount of liquidity enters the market.

As seen in the image above, the volatility increases to a maximum from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM ET - when the London forex session overlaps with the New York forex session. To trade the overlap, traders can use a break-out strategy which takes advantage of the increased volatility seen during the overlap.

3. High liquidity

The London forex session is one of the most liquid trading sessions. Due to the high volume of buying and selling, major currency pairs can trade at extremely low spreads. Day traders looking to target short moves may be interested in finding trends and breakouts to trade so as to reduce the cost they pay in spreads.

What currency pairs are the best to trade during the London session?

There are no best currency pairs to trade during London forex market hours, but there are currency pairs that will reduce in spread due to the high volume and allow traders cheaper spread costs.

These currencies include the major currency pairs like EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and USD/CHF. The major currency pairs trade in extremely high volumes during the London forex session.

Currency pairs that are most affected by the overlap include the EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USDdue to the inter-bank activities between the United States and Europe/London. If your trading strategy is better suited for volatility, then these are the trading pairs to watch because they will be flooded with liquidity and will move more on average during the overlap.

How to trade breakouts during the London Session

Trading breakouts during the London session using a London breakout strategy is much the same as trading breakouts during any other time of day, with the addition of the fact that traders may expect an onslaught of liquidity and volatility at the open.

When traders look to trade breakouts, they are often seeking firm support or resistance to plot their trades.

The chart below illustrates a rising wedge pattern, a trend line with a resistance level that is eventually broken- a breakout.

The big benefit of this setup is risk management. Traders can keep stops relatively tight, with their stop-losses trailing close to the trend line. If the support/trend line does break, losses are limited, and if the strategy does prevail it could lead to a positive risk-reward ratio.

The increase in liquidity during the London session coupled with the increase in volatility makes potential breakouts much more likely.

London session trading strategies and tips

Remember, when trading the London open volatility and liquidity rises, so be wary and utilize the appropriate leverage when trading. If youre new to forex trading, download our Forex for beginners trading guide to get to grips with the basics.

Like the London forex trading session, the New York session and Asian forex session also have unique characteristics that forex traders should be aware of.

Key tips:

Liquidity and volatility increase during the London session.

Breakouts could occur more frequently during the London session.

Remember to watch for the overlap between the London session and the New York session for increased volatility and liquidity.

Bank of International Settlements (BIS) Triennial Report from 2016*
After the FBI investigated former President Donald Trump's personal property at Mar-a-Lago, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) declared Tuesday that Attorney General Merrick Garland "must resign or be impeached."

On Monday, Trump issued a statement alleging that federal officials invaded his private property despite his cooperation with authorities for months in returning papers he allegedly stole from the White House after his tenure ended.

GOP Demands Transparency on FBI's Mar-a-Lago Raid

In January, the National Archives and Data Administration found 15 boxes of records, some of which were labeled secret national security material.

An inventory of unclassified items in the seized containers, according to a source, is 100 pages long. A cocktail napkin, a birthday dinner menu, a phone list, charts, slide decks, letters, notes, maps, talking points, calendars, and other papers were retrieved.

As per reports, the search warrant was issued in Palm Beach County and was signed by Bruce E. Reinhart, magistrate judge for the Southern District of Florida. Republican senators slammed the unusual raid on the residence of a former president. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has promised to conduct rapid monitoring of the Department of Justice if Republicans win the House majority in the 2022 midterm elections, Yahoo News reported.

Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland justify the FBI's raid on former President Donald Trump's home on 'Jesse Watters Primetime' on Tuesday. Graham, R-S.C., also demanded more information on the impetus for the raid during comments at an event with South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.

Graham also stated on Tuesday that the fact that the raid occurred just three months before a key midterm election is suspicious and that if anything similar happened to a Democrat, there would be widespread uproar. Graham said he doesn't have an issue with the FBI in general but believes it has a history of bad behavior against Trump, notably in its investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, which has been proven false.

Some members of the Senate Republican leadership have made sentiments similar to Graham's, seeking transparency regarding the search. When questioned about the raid on Tuesday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., declined to comment.

Read Also: Gabby Petito's Family Urges $50 Million in Claim, Announces Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Utah Police

Democrats Slam Republicans' Reactions

Meanwhile, high-ranking congressional Democrats have largely refrained from making specific remarks in the immediate aftermath of the raid. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., did, however, stress that law enforcement must meet a high evidentiary standard to get a search warrant.

During an interview on MSNBC Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, blasted the GOP reaction to the Trump raid, claiming many Republicans had "little respect for the rule of law." However, Schumer did not specifically address the FBI search. A spokeswoman for Schumer said the majority leader has no more comment on the raid at this time, as per Fox News.

Former Vice President Mike Pence said the FBI raid on Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property undermines Americans' trust in the judicial system and demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland explain fully why the search of the ex-residence president's was necessary.

The Justice Department's inspector general, Michael Horowitz, evaluated the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign, called Crossfire Hurricane, and discovered that the agency made several mistakes but did not identify any political prejudice, according to New York Post.

Related Article: Republicans Strip $35 Insulin Price Cap From Democratic Bill But Lay Blame on Senate Rules

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Although he never quite said it, former Labour prime minister James Callaghan is credited with returning from exotic climes in January 1979 during the winter of discontent to ask, Crisis? What Crisis? Four months later, he and his party were voted out of office.

People may differ about the seriousness of the problems that now face this country, but it is generally agreed that they are near to the end of the scale marked calamity. Almost every day brings fresh dire forecasts about the spiralling cost of living.

And yet we havent got a government as the word is normally understood. Boris Johnson has been booted out, though he loiters for the time being in No 10. Nobody believes that the recently installed Chancellor, Nadhim Zahawi, will be in office once a new Prime Minister has been chosen.

For their part, Liz and Rishi apparently disagree about the best way to help people confronted by soaring gas and electricity bills

Catastrophe

But that process wont be complete until September 5 almost another four weeks in this hot, seemingly endless summer. In the midst of the worst energy crisis of modern times, with several other severe problems mounting up, we have a Zombie government that is unable to act even if it wanted to.

Gordon Brown, the former Labour prime minister, has emerged from his Scottish eyrie to propose that Boris, plus would-be leaders Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, should get round a table and thrash out a solution to our tribulations. That is a very silly idea.

Mr Johnson cant be expected to propose policies for which he wont be responsible or accountable. For their part, Liz and Rishi apparently disagree about the best way to help people confronted by soaring gas and electricity bills. She wants to cut taxes immediately. He favours more targeted support, though exactly what form this would take is still not clear.

No, a pow-wow at No 10 is not a sensible way forward. Its not going to happen, as Gordon Brown, if he reflected for a moment, would realise. He loves drama, of course, and thinks back to the days after the 2008 financial crisis when, as he likes to see it, he summoned the political leaders of major countries and saved the world from catastrophe.

Mr Johnson cant be expected to propose policies for which he wont be responsible or accountable

But there is another way out of this mess  which is now to end a protracted Tory leadership contest that seems to have been dragging on for ever. We have had innumerable television debates, first with the wider group of candidates, and then with Rishi and Liz slugging it out.

For the past couple of weeks, Tory Party members have been treated to five hustings in various parts of the kingdom. They can attend seven more over the coming weeks should they have the stomach for it. The two rivals have also given newspaper interviews.

What is the point of waiting until the first week of September, given that both candidates have already been thoroughly examined, and been offered every conceivable opportunity to set out their political stalls? They have said as much as any politician could be expected to say. Im sure I cant be the only person who has heard more than enough.

In short, both Ms Truss and Mr Sunak have been exhaustively tested. It was admittedly regrettable that during the 2016 Tory leadership contest Andrea Leadsom withdrew before she and Theresa May had been grilled by the Tory rank-and-file. Mrs May became PM without having to give a full account of herself, though luckily, for all her faults, she was still preferable to Mrs Leadsom.

The present situation is entirely different because the two runners have been properly scrutinised, as they are well aware. Having emptied the bottom drawer, they have got to the point of trying to outdo each other just for the sake of it. Liz offers tax cuts, then so does Rishi, even though he has suggested that in present circumstances they are immoral. What will they be promising in three weeks time if this goes on?

Stronger

Im afraid that many onlookers will conclude that the Conservative Party, which has masterminded this interminable and sometimes tiresome process, is indulging in a fit of navel-gazing while everyone else in our leaderless country is fretting about the future.

In a perfect world, the Tory high command would realise that this drawn-out process cant be allowed to go on much longer, and would put us out of our misery by bringing it to a close. But the chances of such people agreeing to change the rules once the race has started lie somewhere between slim and non-existent.

Yet there is another way, which even self-obsessed Tory big-wigs could not frustrate. One of the two candidates could put up the white flag and withdraw. As Mr Sunak is languishing in whichever of the many polls you care to look at, it would have to be him.

You wont find a Tory MP in possession of his or her faculties and identifiable as trustworthy (a tall order, perhaps) who doubts that Liz Truss is going to win, and to do so handsomely

In fact, its not really true to say that he is languishing. A succession of polls have shown him falling further and further behind. You wont find a Tory MP in possession of his or her faculties and identifiable as trustworthy (a tall order, perhaps) who doubts that Liz Truss is going to win, and to do so handsomely.

Perhaps Mr Sunak and his backers still hope that in some way his opponent is going to stumble and fall flat on her face. But it hasnt happened yet. If anything, she grows stronger and more confident by the day.

Rishi neednt worry about appearing wimpish if he pulled out. On the contrary, I believe most people would salute him for his good sense and statesmanship. Rather than having subjected the country to several more weeks of pointless and repetitive debate, he would be hailed for behaving in a selfless way, and patriotically putting Britain first.

There is another consideration. Rishi Sunak is, after all, the chief architect of our present uncertainty since it was he who, more than anyone, precipitated Boris Johnsons ejection from power. If the former Chancellor were to fall on his sword, he would to some extent soften the impression he has given of being a self-serving assassin.

Mr Sunak is languishing in whichever of the many polls you care to look at

That could be a big bonus for him in his future political career, which he insisted the other day he has no intention of abandoning. I cant say whether he would increase his chances of getting a plum job in Liz Trusss Cabinet if he were now to step down. But I am certain he would enhance his battered reputation.

Vital

In normal circumstances, of course, there would be no great harm in seeing the thing through to the end. August tends to be a quiet month in which big events (excepting the outbreak of World War I) dont normally erupt.

But these arent normal circumstances. There are vital, pressing decisions to be made about the cost-of-living crisis, and there is no one to take them. There are other crises too. On Monday, Health Secretary Steve Barclay was reported as saying that the NHS faces a winter emergency, and it will be too late to avert disaster if action is delayed until a new Prime Minister is in post.

Stand aside, Rishi, for your own good and, far more important, for the good of the country. You cant win this and you know it. We need a functioning Prime Minister  and we need her now.
Governments and the police recently came up with a brilliant scheme for getting rid of crime. They would pretend that it was not happening.

This fantasy was beautifully summed up by Anthony Blair's 2007 farewell speech to Parliament, when he wafted off to become one of the super-rich. He had a great deal of nerve anyway. But his boast that day  that his was the only government since 1945 that could claim it had reduced crime  went beyond nerve. It was a ludicrous falsehood.

Of course, senior politicians can actually believe this sort of thing. They live such secluded lives, behind rows of bodyguards, that they have no idea what is going on in the great suburban wastelands where most of us live.

They never have to travel, late at night, on trains full of drunks. Their local convenience stores are not robbed by violent men, who are then not caught, or pillaged by shoplifters totally unafraid of the law. Even normal MPs, who are guarded at Westminster by regiments of police such as most of us never see, can have similar delusions.

And those who challenged the Blairite fantasy were for years derided as engaging in 'moral panic', or of inventing a problem that did not exist. Official statistics, we were told, revealed a country at peace, largely crime-free and safe.

When I said on the BBC Today programme in May 2012 that 'the reason why people disagree with these figures is that they see in their personal lives that life is getting less safe and more disorderly... many of the things they see don't get recorded', I was excoriated by Left-wingers.

Actually, even Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) had suggested in 2010 that there could be as many as 14 million anti-social behaviour incidents every year, based on the assumption that nearly three quarters of them went unreported.

Governments and the police recently came up with a brilliant scheme for getting rid of crime. They would pretend that it was not happening

In recent years, the lie that crime was under control has been increasingly exposed as such.

It was not just anti-social behaviour that went unrecorded. Solid crimes of violence or theft were also covered up.

In 2013, after a claim that recorded crime had fallen by at least 10 per cent in 19 out of 43 police force areas in England and Wales, I examined the facts with the invaluable aid of Dr Rodger Patrick, a former Chief Inspector in the West Midlands Police, since turned academic. He showed me the many ways in which figures can be massaged up, when police are campaigning for more funds, or down, when they are under political pressure to show they are winning the battle against crime.

Eventually the Commons public administration committee confirmed that this fiddling was going on. In November 2013, it heard astonishing accounts of how it was done, including credible allegations that serious offences such as rape, child sex abuse, robberies and burglary were disappearing 'in a puff of smoke'. Police were said to have downgraded crimes to less serious offences and even wiped them out by calling them accidents or errors.

But the fiddling of crime figures is not the only way in which we have fooled ourselves. Back in September 2010, HMIC, in a report called Anti-Social Behaviour: Stop the Rot, warned that police had become far too ready to 'define down' acts of anti-social behaviour, as we became more used to them.

Problems such as street rowdiness, noise, menace, graffiti, vandalism and intoxication by drink or drugs, are rightly regarded by the public as crimes. They can and do ruin people's lives. But they are often dismissed by the police and the courts.

And this is the direct result of a huge revolution in morality, law and culture, engineered by social liberals since the 1960s.

As the social historian Jose Harris has written: 'If late 20th-century standards of policing and sentencing had been applied in Edwardian Britain, then prisons would have been virtually empty; conversely, if Edwardian standards were applied in the 1990s, then most of the youth of Britain would be in jail.'

Problems such as street rowdiness, noise, menace, graffiti, vandalism and intoxication by drink or drugs, are rightly regarded by the public as crimes. They can and do ruin people's lives. But they are often dismissed by the police and the courts

The big change  a collapse in the idea of personal responsibility  came after the militant social liberal Roy Jenkins became Home Secretary in December 1965. Until his era, the official aim of prisons was still the Edwardian principle of 'the due punishment of responsible persons'. And the job of the police was the Victorian task of deterring crime and, where that failed, catching the criminal and bringing him before the courts. The job of the courts was to punish those they convicted. They did not necessarily expect to do the criminal any good, but to deter others from doing the same.

But after the liberal victory, both responsibility and punishment were regarded as obsolete relics. Wicked behaviour was blamed on poverty and bad housing, the supposed 'causes of crime'. So punishment was outmoded and cruel. The aim of prison was to rehabilitate, not punish.

And the police were there to control rather than prevent crime, like paramilitary social workers, neutral referees between offender and victim. One of their main tasks was to stop victims defending themselves. Rather than try to deter crime, they waited for it to happen and then intervened. The courts reflected this by being less and less willing to send people to prison early in their criminal careers.

Instead, they waited until they had run out of ignored cautions, unpaid fines, laughable community service, ineffectual probation and suspended sentences that were never activated. This meant the death of deterrence. And many more people committed many more crimes in the accurate belief that they would get away with it.

By the 1990s, there was so much crime that it was embarrassing to record it, so it was not recorded. And there were legions of habitual criminals  who had to be locked up in the end out of desperation, because they had committed so many crimes.

Perhaps if they had encountered deterrence and punishment early on, they might have avoided this, and so might we. Even though the prisons frequently release such criminals, often wearing tags, within weeks (so much for the fantasy of 'rehabilitation'), and even though judges strive to avoid custodial sentences with all their might, the jails remain horribly full. Which is how soft liberalism paradoxically led to over-full, bursting prisons, while tough conservatism kept prison numbers down.

How long can we continue in this unhinged state of affairs, where Labour and Tory governments, and police, refuse to recognise the utter failure of criminal justice in this country, while the public know only too well how badly they have been cheated?

The madness of weakness and self-deception goes on and on. This week, police were found to have failed to solve a single theft in more than eight out of ten neighbourhoods in England and Wales in the past three years. In a more detailed illustration of this, it emerged that nine in ten cases of bike theft and almost all those of theft from a vehicle were closed last year without a suspect having been identified. A total of almost two million cases were closed by police in the past year without a culprit having been identified.

How long can we continue in this unhinged state of affairs, where Labour and Tory governments, and police, refuse to recognise the utter failure of criminal justice in this country, while the public know only too well how badly they have been cheated?

If the political elite continue to deceive themselves, we have not long to go before we enter the Third World. Even the dimmest criminals must be beginning to grasp that they can rob, knife and mug pretty much as they wish without much realistic fear of detection or punishment. In such conditions, only the very wealthy can live in safety, with heavily defended homes and bodyguards, and everyone else has to suffer.

Look around the world and you will find that all too many societies have already settled for this horrible arrangement. For more than a century, we managed to escape it. We still have time to avoid it. But to do so, politicians are going to have to abandon dead cliches such as 'tough on crime' and 'crackdowns' and 'more bobbies on the beat' to fix it.

And they are going to have to stop believing and parroting duff, complacent statistics which conceal more than they reveal.

The liberal experiment has failed. It is time it was ended.

If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here.
Love it or hate the idea, there's no doubt roleplay is exactly what long-term couples need to get themselves out of the 'having sex with the same person for life' rut. Pretending you are other people works.

So why aren't we all doing it then?

Several reasons.

First, we worry we'll make fools of ourselves. The answer to that is  you will! But the more cliched the scenario, the more cringey the lines, the more fun it is.

Tracey Cox say that role playing is the ideal way for long-term partners to drage their routine sex lives out of a rut (stock image)

Second reason: What if our partner judges us when we suggest a scenario? This one I get, particularly in these very woke times.

But the whole point of most fantasises is that they are the things we wouldn't dream of doing in real life. Belgian super-therapist Esther Perel says the things that turn us on at night are the very things we'll march against the next morning. It's normal to fantasise about the unwoke stuff! Park the guilt and don't be judgemental of what your partner suggests either.

The third  and main reason  why couples don't role-play is that most wouldn't have a clue of how to do it.

And here's where I come in.

I've come up with two popular, classic roleplay scenarios already thought through for you, step-by-step  and a more humorous, slightly 'out there' idea, for those who fancy stepping outside the norm.

No excuses now!

Feel free to add your own twists and surprises along the way

Tracey writes: 'I've come up with two popular, classic roleplay scenarios already thought through for you, step-by-step...'

DEFLOWERING A VIRGIN

Why it appeals: It's a power game with both submissive and dominant roles, each with its pluses.

Men particularly like playing the virgin, after a lifetime of being the sexual persuader.

What you'll need: If she's doing the seducing, a 'sexy secretary' type outfit works well for this one: a body-skimming pencil skirt, shirt unbuttoned to show off a push-up bra, stockings, heels.

The action plan (her seducing him):

Get both of you a drink, then take him and the drinks into the lounge room. He sits on the couch, you sit on a chair opposite, crossing your legs and hiking your skirt high. He's not sure where to look.

Make general chit-chat to suit the scenario (he's the geeky guy who works at your coffee shop  you've invited him in to see your place) then make it saucier. Tell him you don't think he realises how attractive he is. Does he have a girlfriend? Does he think you're attractive? What bits of you does he like best? Why? Let him squirm as he tries to be politically correct  and hide the erection which is starting to happen. At which point you say

'You're looking a little uncomfortable? Let me help you'. And you move from the chair to sit beside him on the couch.

Loosen the first two buttons of his shirt, telling him he looks hot and bothered. As you do so, rub the back of your hand against his exposed chest saying 'Such soft skin. So unlike the other men I've been with'

As he squirms, you undo the top few buttons of your shirt, take his hand and place it on the underside of your breast. Ask him what it feels like and if he likes the feeling. Keep making small talk.

Ask him if he's ever made love to a woman before. He'll squeak 'No'. Ask him if he'd like to make love to you.It's ok, you won't tell and no-one's going to walk in on the two of you.

Ask him to take off your top and your bra. Tell him to touch your breasts and instruct him on how to do it. Make lots of moans and sighs but you're still the grown-up so not too out of control.

Ask him to stand up in front of you, unzip his pants and take out his (penis. Admire it, say how hard it is compared to men your age, then give him oral sex  stopping just short of orgasm. The idea is to bring him to a tantalising peak but not to the point of ejaculatory inevitability (when nothing, but nothing, could stop him orgasming).

Undress yourself  theatrically and maintaining eye contact throughout. Let his eyes caress your body but don't let him touch you. Leave on your high heels and stay-up stockings.

Pose provocatively and let your own hands caress your curves. Ask him if he likes what he sees and if he wants to touch you.

Undress him  kissing each bit of his flesh as it becomes exposed.

When you're both naked, lead him to the bed, with the promise that you are about to explain exactly how to make love to a woman to make her faint with pleasure.

Honour the promise. Each touch, kiss, fondle, thrust is his very first, remember. At first, he touches reverently, then he's lost in a frenzy of passion.

The fantasy ends when he loses control completely  which he will in about three minutes if you've played your part properly!

BEING EACH OTHERS' SEX SLAVE

THE BASIC RULES OF ROLE PLAY: From how to stop feeling self-conscious and knowing when to stop All games run smoother if there are some rules. Here's a few points to keep in mind. Agree on something you both fancy. You'll feel like self-conscious idiots the first time you try this. Make it easier by choosing a scenario where both of you are reasonably confident in the roles you've been assigned. Do you look the part? Roleplay works best if you give your partner an instant visual jolt when they see you. Seeing you dressed as someone else forces them to see you 'anew'  as if they don't know you. Wigs are fantastic for this. So is choosing a scenario where you dress or behave the opposite to how you normally do. (Buttoned up secretary if you're prone to wearing revealing clothes; the opposite if you're not.) Stop if it's seriously not working. Give it a chance but if you know it's not going to work for you, speak up. Also say something if it's starting to feel creepy or making you feel anxious or threatened. Revisit the fantasy. Use the names of the characters you adopted. If you were Jane/Jake during the roleplay, saying 'I bet Jane/Jake would love that' is your cue for both of you to go back into character. Advertisement

Why it appeals: Having someone under our complete and utter sexual command has obvious benefits. You don't have to worry about the 'no, you first honey' niceties of sex: it's all about YOUR pleasure and yours alone. Meanwhile, the 'slave' is 'forced' to perform acts they'd secretly love to but wouldn't dare to suggest themselves.

What you'll need to act it out: He's the master in this example so jeans and a leather jacket, undone over a naked chest, sets the scene nicely. You'll also need a blindfold, scarves or old stockings to tie her up and a wooden spoon or hairbrush. She's completely naked - helpless and vulnerable (just how you want her!)

The action plan (she's the slave):

Try to keep an expressionless face. No 'Are you OK?', 'Did I hurt you?', 'Are you sure you're enjoying this?'. This isn't about her, it's all about you!!! You're the master, she's the slave!

Start by ordering her to do small tasks  get you a drink, fluff up the pillows, give you a foot massage.

Don't ask, order. Make it clear you are the boss and she is not to misbehave or she'll be punished (spank her with the wooden spoon or back of the hairbrush.)

Once you're both nicely in character, order her to sit or lie down, face turned away from you, blindfold her and tie her hands behind her back.

Push her forward into a submissive position. She's now naked, bound and blindfolded  completely at your mercy!

Grab your wooden spoon or brush and administer a few short, sharp whacks on her bottom  even better if she begs you to stop.

Start caressing and stroking her bottom, her breasts, the back of her thighs and bottom. Reach in between her legs and gently stroke her until she's moaning for more thenstop.

Tell her it's up to you to decide what she gets and when  and she has to satisfy you first.

Turn her around and order her to do whatever you'd like, to whatever bits you fancy. She can use her tongue, untie her hands if you want her to use them but keep the blindfold on.

No matter how pleasurable, punctuate her stimulation of you by pushing her away when she seems to be enjoying doing it. Grab her hair, pull it back tightly and tell her she's been a bad girl. Administer a few more smacks on her bottom with the spoon.

Tease her: start to give her oral, then stop. Use your fingers, then stop when she's enjoying it too much.

If you're both into talking dirty, keep a running commentary on what's happening. If she's blindfolded, paint a picture of what you're seeing: 'Look at you, you're begging for it. I bet you'd love to be set free. But you're my slave, you must do every single thing I want you to. Do you understand me? Are you going to behave?..'

The fantasy ends by you announcing (dramatically) that she's now free from her slavery - to service you.

SOME OTHER CLASSIC ROLE-PLAY SCENARIOS What we secretly want to role-play often revolves around control. The amount of power we have in real life often dictates the fantasy that appeals to us. After a day of being the top decision maker, being bossed about in the bedroom could be a CEO's idea of power paradise. Someone's who's bullied relentlessly by superiors will usually opt for a rapturous role-reversal where they get to wield the whip (perhaps literally). Again, this isn't the time to be either 'woke' or judgemental. It's play-acting, so try not to have a knee-jerk reaction to the scenario your partner suggests. Boss and employee

Burglar surprises sleeping beauty

Handsome guard 'forces' prisoner to do naughty things

Picking up a sex worker

Cheerleader and football team

Doctors and nurses and patients

Firefighter rescues very grateful victim

Pimp and sex worker

Erotic massage therapist and client

Policeman's arrest (complete with hand cuffs)

Priest and nun

Stranger sex

The handyman who does more than fix the plumbing

Rock star and groupie

Headmaster/mistress with schoolgirl/boy Advertisement

BEING KIDNAPPED BY ALIENS

My husband thinks this one is seriously bonkers but it's actually quite a popular fantasy.

Why it appeals: Being kidnapped by (friendly) aliens and taken aboard their ship is an adventure fantasy lots of people indulge in. It's not too much of a leap to imagine having to explain to the creatures from outer space how a human's sexual system works.

This is also a safe fantasy to share with a partner, if you're concerned they'll get offended by something that's not entirely 'woke'. Not too many people will be outraged if you suggest this one: it's got a playful, innocent quality about it.

What you'll need to act it out: Let's assume you've opted to be the person from outer space. Since we don't know what aliens look like (yes, I know, just go along with it), the look you want to adopt is totally up to you! A head-to-toe-black Steve-Jobs style number would lend an authoritative air of anonymity; a simple white dress could also present that 'blank slate' vibe you're after.

The action plan:

Clear a space in a room, so you can pretend you're on a spacecraft. Decide on your character: Will you be a friendly alien, bursting with curiosity and personality? Or an abrupt, robot like version?

Explain to the 'human' that you need to understand everything there is to know about the human race. You know a lot about how they function and that they have sex for procreation. But you know nothing about the pleasure they derive from it. Your race populates without using their bodies and sexual pleasure is (literally) alien to you. You want to understand how it works. Will they show you?

The earthling must instruct you, very specifically, on what human erogenous zones are and how to touch each of them to arouse. You've never seen a human have sex before, never seen one naked, so every single thing is new to you.

Start at the top and work down, pointing at the body part you want the human to explain. Get them to tell you what it is first and then ask them to touch themselves to show how to stimulate each part.

Ask as many questions as you can come up with: Does this feel good? Why does it feel good?

Ask if you can also touch the area, mimicking whatever the human has demonstrated. (A great way to find out how your partner wants to be touched, by the way!) How does it feel? Should you go faster/slower/harder/softer?

Finally, ask them to tell you how they make themselves orgasm. You can either finish the role-play by letting them masturbate to climax for you, to illustrate the process. Or get them to instruct you, stroke by stroke or lick by lick, until they orgasm.

Check out traceycox.com to find Tracey's podcast, products, blog and books. Her Tracey Cox product ranges are available from lovehoney.
Nursing is recognized as one of the most demanding jobs a person can have- with low pay, long hours and 'abuse' from patients, so it's not surprising that medical staff have very strong opinions about the people they treat.

Nurses from all over the world have admitted on Whisper what they really think of their job, from patients 'treating them life waitstaff' to dates 'sexualizing their job'.

Another is 'tired of druggies coming in for pain medication and said she's tempted to give them sugar pills instead'.

One maternity nurse said new mothers are 'annoying' but babies are 'ok', while another sayid they 'love their patients but hate their families'.

And one admitted that they hate not being taken seriously because they are 'just a nurse' and not a doctor.

Here, FEMAIL reveals some of the most eye-opening confessions from nurses, that will make you think twice about how you interact with them if you are in hospital any time soon.

A New York nurse says they have little love for the family members of their patients, but love the patients themselves.

A nurse from Wellington, New Zealand, says she is tired of dates thinking that her job is titillating - and says there is 'nothing sexy' about what she does.

A taste of your own medicine: A nurse from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has had enough of 'druggies' coming in for pain medication and is tempted to replace the pain meds with sugar pills instead.

A nurse from Warsaw, Missouri, says that they don't really get any breaks while on shift and sarcastically calls it the 'best part'

A US nurse says that their patients think that they don't really feel, but has cried in the bathroom many times in secret, while showing a brave face on the wards

A maternity nurse from Hamilton might be in the wrong job! They admitted that they like babies but new mothers are a different story

One nurse from the UK said that they don't like seeing babies upset when they get their vaccines, even though they know it's for their benefit

Can I see a doctor please? A nurse from Beltra, County Sligo, claimed that people question their professionalism because they are not a doctor and 'disregard' their medical opinion

Would you like fries with your pain relief? A US based nurse says she feels less like a professional and more like a 'waitress and a punching bag'

A nurse who hates sick people, vomit and germs: A US nurse hates all the things that come as part of their job

A nurse from the US says they feel more like a 'butler' which seems to be a common theme among the secret confessions of many nurses

A 10/10 for lying: A UK nurse says that they 'hate' patients who eat, laugh and talk on the phone but claim to have a maximum rating for pain

Playing nurse: A US nurse says she thinks that guys she dates are 'immature and stupid' for linking her job to their 'fantasies' about nursing

Now where's my ice cream? A nurse from the US says that they saved a patient's life but another patient started to 'yell at them to get an ice cream'

A UK nurse says they are 'looked down on' for being empathetic to patients and that their colleagues 'ridicule' people for being in pain. Disturbing.

Baby talk: A UK nurse says that patients shouldn't be spoken to in a baby voice, and that patients are 'still people who deserve to be treated with respect'
A 76-year-old man has described feeling 'shell shocked' after he says he was refused entry to a Liverpool city centre bar for being 'too old'.

Anthony Severs, a retired shipbuilder from Vauxhall, Liverpool, was out drinking on July 25 on Mathew Street - an area he likes socialising in because he often bumps into people he knows.

After leaving The Grapes, as it was raining, he decided to head to Irish bar McCooley's to get out of the wet and enjoy a pint, he told the Liverpool Echo.

But when the grandfather tried to go into the bar, the bouncer denied him entry, Anthony says, claiming that the bouncer described him as being 'too old' to come in - a claim denied by a pub spokesperson, who said there may have been a 'miscommunication' on the night.

The experience left him 'shell shocked', he said, adding: 'I'd just come out of The Grapes - it was raining and I'd been soaked. I don't live far from town and without the buses (due to the ongoing Arriva strike ), I was walking home,' he said.

76-year-old grandfather Anthony Severs (pictured) from Liverpool was 'shell shocked' after he says he was refused entry to a pub - for being too old

McCooley's is an Irish bar in Liverpool. According to Anthony Severs, a security person working at the bar refused him entry, citing his age

'But because it was raining, I thought I'd go into McCooley's just to dry off and have a drink. I got up the stairs to go in, but a bouncer said I couldn't come in. I asked why and she said I was too old.'

According to the 76-year-old, he told the bouncer that what she said was 'discrimination', however, she remained silent, and he simply walked away.

Adding that he felt 'shocked', the pensioner said that while 'people might laugh', being told you are too old is 'not on'.

Following the incident, Anthony's daughter advised him to contact McCooley's to complain about his experience.

According to the 76-year-old, the bar advised him to contact the firm from which it hires security staff.

He said: 'When I got my head together, I went down to McCooley's and they said it wasn't down to them, it was down to the security firm.

'I said that I wanted a personal apology, because she kept me out personally.'

After the incident, Anthony (pictured) said his daughter advised him to contact the pub to complain, and they subsequently suggested he contact the firm which provides security staff

A spokesperson for McCooley's told MailOnline that while 'unfortunately Mr Severs wasnt allowed in after leaving The Grapes', his age was not a factor, adding that 'there may be a bit of miscommunication on the night'.

The spokesperson added: 'Most of our customers, especially midweek are older. Hes certainly allowed back at anytime.

'The security person who he wanted the personal apology from no longer works here unfortunately, but he has received an apology from the head of the door firm responsible for employing her - in person, about the issue.

'If he wants to come back well certainly make sure hes looked after.

'Hes refused to give his details to the security firm so we couldnt contact him ourselves.'

They added that managers first heard of the complaint after reading about the story in the media.
An Australian mum has shared her incredible bargain grocery haul and revealed the exact time she went to the supermarket to nab the deals.

The woman, from Wodonga, Victoria, managed to score $215.11 worth of goods for just $10.92 when she visited Coles at 8pm.

She bought 26 heavily-discounted items with a range of meats including kangaroo kebabs for just 47 cents, chicken breasts for $1.08 down from $20, bacon for 28 cents a pack and and eight-pack of beef chevaps for 32 cents.

A thrifty mum has shared how she bought $215 worth of groceries for just $10 by going to the supermarket at around 8pm

Also included in the stash was three litres of milk down to 32 cents, a nine-pack of vanilla cupcakes for 27 cents, ready-made spaghetti meals for just 32 cents each as well as lamington doughnuts, coleslaw mix, veggie mince, yoghurt, and cream.

The bargain hunter said she was 'absolutely stoked' with her impressive haul in a post to a popular Facebook group, Markdown Addicts Australia.

'Our freezer is now full which is a relief with rising prices,' she said in the comments.

The post received more than 1,700 'likes' and prompted a flurry of responses from fellow members wanting to know the mum's budget shopping secrets.

What's the best time to shop for discounts at a supermarket? In the morning - shoppers can save between 10 and 20% off goods about to expire Before dinner - shoppers can save up to 50% off goods about to expire Just before the store closes - shoppers can save up to 90% off goods about to expire * Markdowns are determined based on store policies and times and may vary Advertisement

'Score! Especially in the recent food cost hike. Jealous but stoked for you,' one woman commented.

'Price hikes have been insane!' the poster replied.

'So jealous I never score great bargains,' a second wrote to which the shopper said she 'happened to show up' as an employee was starting to mark down the items.

'We went down the aisles then would go back and pick up the bargains as he left,' she said adding she gave the worker space making sure not to crowd him.

'So you find these on one section OR do you go around the whole shop finding them?' another asked.

'Multiple sections - most meat was in a pile in the meat section, dairy usually put next the milk, cakes & bread together etc,' the mum answered.

The next evening, the bargain hunter returned to Coles at the same time and picked up $75.60 worth of items that had been discounted to just $3,95

Just a day later, the Wodonga mum picked up another markdown haul when she returned to the same Coles at the same time.

She spent just $3.95 on $75.60 worth of items including plant-based patties, bread, cupcakes, zucchini noodles, loaves of bread and bagels.

'After last night I wanted to see if I could back it up! Seems our store has decided 8pm is the time to start marking down!' she wrote in another post.

'Had to leave after meat but they seem to do bakery then meat, then the dairy fridges and around in a circle.'

Dozens of shoppers have been sharing their tips and tricks for nabbing bargains at the supermarkets amid the rising cost of living.

One woman came across a 500g pack of butter for just $1.88 marked down from $7.50 at her local Central Coast store and purchased the lot.

Shoppers have been sharing their tips for nabbing bargains at the supermarkets amid the riding cost of living including one mum who bought all the marked down butter on the shelf

She shared her find to the group dividing members with some impressed by the bargain while others said she should have left some for others.

The woman, who is a keen baker and uses a lot of butter, attracted more than 1,100 'likes' on her post and sparked a lively debate with dozens of comments.

The post was flooded with comments from disgruntled shoppers who say they 'would have left some' for others.

'I would have left some, as there are many people struggling, good find,' one person quipped.

Poll Do you think the mum should have left some marked-down butter for others? Yes No Do you think the mum should have left some marked-down butter for others? Yes 325 votes

No 210 votes Now share your opinion





'During these hard times and so many people doing it tough I would have left some for someone else. But that's just me,' another said.

'I left ALL the meat. Shelves and shelves of it. I bake ALOT so the butter is great for me,' the home baker responded.

However, not everyone was unhappy about the Lake Haven woman's butter haul with many jumping to her defence and complimenting her 'great score'

'I would have taken them all, I love a bargain and this is something that gets used daily in my house so you bet if I seen them I'd take em all too!,' one mum said.

Another Coles customer from Coomera in Queensland bought $170 of chicken as well as a some dairy and deli items for just $25 when she nipped into the store at 7pm on the way home from work for what was supposed to be a 'quick stop'.

'One happy house wife. Worth $169.94. Paid $25.20. My fam will start to grow feathers,' she wrote in a post with a photo of her budget shop.

Another savvy shopper picked up $170 worth of heavily discounted chicken and groceries for just over $25 however many warned against stockpiling meat close to its use-by date

She bought 21 packets of chicken and turkey including whole birds, wings, negs, legs and mince as well as an iced coffee, yoghurt and hummus at just a fraction of the price.

Why you shouldn't wash raw chicken Chicken: it's super tasty and a great source of protein. But it can also play host to nasty bacteria, and all food handlers must be careful preparing it. For starters, don't wash raw chicken. The bacteria on its surface can spread in tiny droplets that splash around your kitchen  contaminating surfaces, equipment and other food. Cooking chicken thoroughly kills the bacteria. Also, when you're preparing raw chicken remember to wash your hands before and after handling, and use separate chopping boards and utensils to avoid bacteria spreading to ready-to-eat food. Playing it safe with food only takes a few seconds. It's always worth it. Source: Healthier QLD Advertisement

Her post drew in hundreds of comments and prompted a debate among shoppers who cautioned against keeping meat close to its use-by date for too long even when it's been frozen.

'Great pick up especially with the cost of meat! But my anxiety would never let me eat it - discounted meat especially chicken is a no go,' one mum warned.

'Looks like they've been reduced twice, you might want to give it a quick sniff,' another recommended while a third wrote: 'I use the rule if it smells and is slimy THROW IT OUT. This applies to stuff in date by days or a day or 2 left and purchased on clearance.'.

'If you want to eat something that could make you very sick and call it a bargain well I suppose as long as your happy, I truly hope you don't get serious food poisoning,' a fifth quipped.

'Do some of y'all really think when the clock strikes midnight chicken is instantly riddled in salmonella? Like you know that's not how bacteria works right' argued another.

Others suggested opening, repackaging and even rinsing the discounted meat before freezing to check whether it's safe to eat.

'Clearance meat (not just chicken) is always opened, sniff, slimy test done, repackaged and frozen,' one shopper said.

'I remove from original packaging wash the juice, then portion them in freezer bags and freeze. Once I have got poisoned from was already marinated and cooked without washing,' a second explained.

Food safety experts however have said not to wash raw chicken as it can spread harmful bacteria around the kitchen.

According to the Queensland government initiative Healthier, washing chicken is not recommended as droplets of bacteria can splash around the kitchen and contaminate surfaces, equipment and other food causing illnesses like Salmonella.

Many of Coles chicken packages advised customers to store at or below 5C and if freezing, do so on the day of purchase and use within a month.

'Allow to fully thaw in the refrigerator prior to cooking and keep refrigerated until use. Use within 1 days of thawing. Once thawed do not refreeze,' the package reads.
US Census Bureau reports that Russian trade is plunging, including crucial nuclear fuel and palladium metals. It is the lowest trade between Russia and US in 18 years, as reported by the news outlet RBK last Tuesday.

US-Russia Trade

The number of Russian imports into the US in June was $661 million, the lowest amount since $653 million in February 2004. The amount decreased 1.7 times in a single month and was almost $5 billion less than the $2.5 billion monthly average of 2021, reported RT.

Census data reveals a perilous decline in uranium fuel, platinum metal, and fertilizers that the US needs. Less than $3 million worth of Russian nuclear fuel was imported into the US in June, compared to roughly $114 million in May.

Russian platinum group metal imports, which include palladium, dropped to $76.3 million in August versus $258.5 million in the prior month. Even though they are not on the list of prohibited commodities, the price of essential fertilizers has skyrocketed, reaching a low point of 88.8 million against $135.5 million in May.

Supplies of mineral fertilizers also plunged, even though Washington removed these from the list of sanctioned goods, falling to $88.8 million against $135.5 million in May.

With reciprocal trade turnover between the two nations in June being four times lower than their average monthly turnover in 2021, about $3 billion, exports to Russia reached a record low of $58 million, citing CSM Times.

Read Also: Xi Jinping: 5 Things To Know About China's President

The US was the fifth partner in trade with Russia, according to US Census Bureau, when the special operation of Russia kicked off in February.

After the beginning of Russia's campaign in Ukraine in late February, Washington halted imports of Russian seafood, diamonds, and other products, as well as oil and petroleum products, which made up nearly 60% of all Russian imports to the US; this includes nuclear fuel and palladium.

As a consequence of these sanctions and limits on transactions with Russian enterprises, the United States has lost a lot of ground to Turkey, whose exports with Russia surpassed $5.88 billion in June. Russia stopped releasing trade statistics in February.

China as the Next Biggest Trading Partner

Shipments climbed by more than 20% in dollar terms in July versus the previous year.

According to Bloomberg, Russia bought $6.7 billion in goods from China in July, increasing more than a third from the prior month, citing data from China's customs administration.

Chinese exports to Russia jumped by 22.2% in dollar terms in July compared to the previous year, outpacing a 17% fall in June. Based on the data published, Reuters calculated the first growth since March.

Imports from Russia surged by 49.3% in July, slower than the 56% growth in June and the 79.6% surge in May.

China-Russia bilateral trade reached $97.71 billion in the first seven months of 2022, a 29% yearly boost. Despite the prominent crash US-Russia trade, Beijing became Moscow's partner in trade.

The US Census Bureau revealed that nuclear fuel and palladium are important exports, along with fertilizer, and China is becoming a dependable partner.

Related Article: China Blocks Calls From Pentagon as Washington Expresses Concern Over Increased Military Drills in Taiwan

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A leading astrologer has revealed what Friday's Sturgeon super moon means for your star sign - and its timing alongside a meteor shower will 'impact the whole country'.

The full moon will grace Australian skies on August 12 and the three-day Perseid Meteor Shower will peak early the following morning on August 13th - this, Rose Smith says, will lead to the meteor shower 'fighting with the moon' for our attention.

'On a spiritual level the feminine energy of the moon is blocking out the visual sight or the masculine energy of the Perseids,' she told FEMAIL.

'The masculine energy won't go away; we just won't perceive it as much. This is a very female-empowering time - a lot of feminine rage is going to be released, and with this we can expect big changes like women finding their voices and speaking out moreso than usual.'

A leading astrologer has revealed what Friday's Sturgeon super moon means for your star sign - and its timing alongside a meteor shower will 'impact the whole country'

Why is it called the Sturgeon moon Every full moon has its own name based on the month or the season. In namesake, the Sturgeon Moon is related to the prehistoric fish once abundant this time of year in the Great Lakes region in America. Advertisement

Ms Smith said this was particularly relevant with Saturn's influence around any kind of structure, corporations and government  and we can expect controversial decisions.

'You can't stop progress and change. People might want to hold onto something that is in the past, but it's time to let some things go and move forward in life,' she said.

Ms Smith, who runs the largest psychic network based in the southern hemisphere, Absolute Soul Secrets, said while the spiritual effects of the super moon will be felt by everyone, Aquarians, Taureans, Leos and Scorpios can expect to experience its force most.

A super moon itself is bigger and brighter than a normal full moon, and this is the fourth and final one of the year and although it's not the brightest, it remains 'spiritually powerful'.

The supermoon will reach its peak at 11.35am AEST on Friday but as it is late morning it will probably not be visible, and you'll be best to see it in the night sky.

Aries (March 21 to April 19)

You probably feel sympathetic towards others now but don't sell yourself short, do what makes you feel happy rather than trying to fit in with others, especially friends or groups. Mars gives extra energy but also irritability and frustration, so take the edge of this by doing some movement to release tension. Do watch for incidents and accidents and be mindful of what you are doing physically in the present. Mars wants to catapult you to the future, so your mind may not really be paying attention when it should. Those in authority may not being playing your game just now, so be patient and sincere to help things turn around.

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)

It's a great time for working with the general public. You become more well-known, and your reputation precedes you in some way. You probably become more personally invested in your career or vocation but don't become critical or annoyed with yourself or others if there's some sort of glitch at work. The Aquarius moon indicates you may also care for others in the course of your career which is a fine thing to do providing you find the balance of taking care of yourself as well. Authority figures could expect quite a lot and you may think you're being backed into a corner to receive their approval, especially as you're sensitive to criticism. Privacy is your friend now, so take some R&R!

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)

Travelling might be on your mind now, either you think about past travels or you're thinking about future adventures. The far away and exotic is very appealing, and you might wish to make your life more exciting through 'foreign affairs'. It doesn't hurt to cut loose a bit from structures and work - a little bit of adventure is a good thing for you. Allow some 'wanderlust' - whatever that means to you. This will rejuvenate you and bring more passion and warmth into your life. Sometimes it can be difficult to express your deep emotions and a little newness or motivated fancy will help you get to the crux of those feelings, reinvigorating you further.

GEMINI: Travelling might be on your mind now, either you think about past travels or you're thinking about future adventures. he far away and exotic is very appealing, and you might wish to make your life more exciting through 'foreign affairs'

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)

Your sensitivity is being piqued by the Aquarius moon so watch this doesn't turn into 'oversensitivity'. Generally speaking, people are not 'out to get you' but rather, you are becoming more sensitive to energetic nuances. This is a good thing as it feeds your intuition and potential psychic ability. You may wish to become closer to someone, however your sensitivity can misread their intentions. Maybe trust is an issue? It's completely understandable, however if you can be patient with both yourself and others, you'll gain insight and be happier to boot! Shared resources such as real estate, wills, inheritances or perhaps even intimacy may be on your mind.

Poll What is your favourite star sign? Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces What is your favourite star sign? Aries 16 votes

Taurus 20 votes

Gemini 27 votes

Cancer 32 votes

Leo 44 votes

Virgo 30 votes

Libra 22 votes

Scorpio 37 votes

Sagittarius 23 votes

Capricorn 17 votes

Aquarius 33 votes

Pisces 27 votes Now share your opinion





Leo (July 23 to August 22)

Significant partners could become your major focus as you rely on them more - this may be for either physical or emotional support. Under the Aquarius Full moon, women could become even more important whether they be family or friends. This is ok but do watch for over-dependence on other people rather than standing up for yourself. This Full moon wants you to become more resourceful and independent, so you can be in relationships and be simultaneously uniquely yourself! Your intuition is trying to tell you something valuable about you! Listen for the best advice! Practice patience with yourself and others and your relationships will strengthen.

Virgo (August 23 to September 22)

You're likely to feel especially sympathetic to others now and you may wish to reach out to help them, especially at work. Just realise they have full autonomy over their own lives and may prefer to go down a different path. The Sun is bosom buddies with the Aquarius moon so inner insight about your work or health may come to light. You could also feel full of energy thanks to Mars, so go gently as you have more power than you realise now. If you're not grounded in practical reality, watch for incidents or accidents. The future comes soon enough, be patient and keep your mind on the present. Mars wants to quickly push you into the future but stand your ground now.

Libra (September 23 to October 22)

Your inner child may come out to play so it's a great time for leisure and pleasure, fun in the sun and romance! Take care of yourself now and have some good times. You're quite likely to be emotionally expressive and your inner world comes more to the surface now. Try to use your brain occasionally but not too much now as fun and happiness are sometimes more important than being logical. The Aquarius moon can also bring out your critical thinking, so do watch this especially with potential romantic partners. Allow more affection, warmth into your life! It's time to let your creativity shine brightly!

Scorpio (October 23 to November 21)

It's all about home and family now, you do need some personal space though. You may find yourself desiring privacy and inner reflection. Have some time out even if you feel you really want to help family members out in some way. You're quite likely to bond more strongly with your home and may set about some home improvements, wanting to make your sanctuary more comfortable and secure. The Aquarius full moon and Mars can bring up issues involving family, so best take a deep breath and not buy into unnecessary arguments or incidents. The Sun brings insight and awareness, so you'll start to understand more about how present situations have come to be.

SCORPIO: It's all about home and family now, you do need some personal space though. You may find yourself desiring privacy and inner reflection. Have some time out even if you feel you really want to help family members out in some way

Sagittarius (November 22 to December 21)

Your communications zone is alight with new information! Brilliant flashes of insight dart across the landscape of your mind with great alacrity! So, it's time to take a deep breath before expressing these ideas. You may take action because 'it feels right' which is fine, but this doesn't mean you shouldn't research or use logic to check out a certain situation first. Do make sure brain is fully in gear before putting mouth into drive! Study or short trips around your local area may be the order of the day and you could also do well with promotions or marketing. It's a chatty time with neighbours, locals and friends. Get some excitement into your life!

Capricorn (December 22nd to January 19)

You may be reassessing your relationship with money now. Questions of financial interest may occupy your mind. Perhaps possible fears about lack of financial means are coming up to be dealt with? If you have money fears, how old were you when they first appeared? Go back to this age and make new fresh decisions about your own worthiness to be financially secure. Your possessions or things that you value may also be your focus now. Venus is bringing sympathy for others, so keep this in balance with what you value. You may also change your mind about something and decide you have other priorities about what you value in life.

CAPRICORN: You may be reassessing your relationship with money now. Questions of financial interest may occupy your mind. Perhaps possible fears about lack of financial means are coming up to be dealt with?

Aquarius (January 20th to February 18)

The Aquarius full moon is calling you to become clearer about your identity and your belief systems. You may become a little confused about things you thought previously were true! That's ok, this is a time of reassessment of your real motivations and assumptions about life. You're going deeper into your own reality now and it's a good thing! Look at the beliefs of your parents, your peers, your family or your partner... are they correct for you? You could change your appearance - makeup, hair, clothes to better reflect who you really are. The time for change is now if you've been a little off track. The internal GPS known as intuition will set you free.

Pisces (February 19 to March 20)

It's quite a spiritual time for you now passionate Pisces! Keep an eye on your dreams and the small little intuitive flashes you may receive in the daytime. Pay attention to what's going on inside your head now because you could get some important Soul messages emanating from your subconscious. You need your own personal space so you can regain strength from solitude. At times you may seek the approval of fatherhood figures, but really you don't need it. You can learn to be your own authority figure now. Frustration and irritability could come from the outside world however, privacy and self-reflection will pay off handsomely and you'll become more independent.
A young woman who has spent the past five years cat sitting between Australia and the US was deported on her last visit over to the States - and has detailed the horrifying encounter with border security on her blog.

Madolline Gourley, from Brisbane, stopped over in Los Angeles on June 30 on her way to Canada for a holiday, where she planned to house-and-cat sit in exchange for accommodation.

But while in the airport, she was approached by US border officials and taken to a detention room where she was patted down, fingerprinted, photographed, and interrogated - including being asked if she was pregnant.

It started with Ms Gourley's decision to choose a flight that forced her to stop off at LAX Airport before transiting onto Montreal, which meant a visa check at immigration.

'The immigration officer who called me over started with the standard "Where are you going?" (Montreal) and "What are you doing there?" (holiday) questions,' she writes.

Madolline Gourley, from Brisbane , stopped over in Los Angeles on June 30 on her way to Canada for a holiday, where she planned to house-and-cat sit in exchange for accommodation

'He seemed annoyed I couldn't produce a boarding pass for Philadelphia or Montreal, and that's because I wasn't given one at Brisbane Airport.

'The Qantas worker who checked me in even called someone about it. Whatever information was relayed must've been OK'd by someone higher up because I was given my BNE-LAX boarding pass and baggage receipt, and sent on my way.'

Ms Gourley went to extreme lengths to prove her trip, showing the officer her Qantas baggage receipt and an email copy of the booking, but he wasn't interested, she claims.

She spent 75 days in the US in early 2022, which Ms Gourley sensed the officer was looking at as he questioned her: 'He started asking things like why I spent so long in the US, where did I go on that trip and why was I back again so soon'.

'I told him I was able to get around to so many places because I looked after people's cats - unpaid, of course, and through a legitimate house sitting website - in cities and towns I wanted to visit.'

Eventually Ms Gourley was told to 'step aside' and another officer would take her in for further questioning.

Eventually Ms Gourley was told to 'step aside' and another officer would take her in for further questioning

A copy of Ms Gourley's Qantas ticket and baggage receipt

'Twenty minutes later and I found myself dealing with a much younger immigration officer. He said he "got" I wasn't being paid, but house sitting went against what's permitted on an ESTA visa,' she said.

'He said something like cat owners would have to pay someone - I assume he meant an American - to look after their cat if it wasn't for me. He then asked me to detail what I do for work in Australia.

'He wanted to know how much cash I had on me, where I had intended to go on the trip, what I do on these trips, how long Id been doing this for etc.'

She showed him her bank statements during her previous trip and told her it was illegal to 'obtain employment' while on the visa she was on.

'I told the officer TrustedHousesitters operates on an exchange model where both parties pay an annual membership fee to use the platform,' she said.

'No money is given to the sitter, and my flights and transport aren't paid for by anyone other than myself.

'He laughed and said these websites can say whatever they want to get customers in. He'd clearly forgotten the part where I told him I've been using house and pet sitting websites for about five years.'

She showed him her bank statements during her previous trip and told her it was illegal to 'obtain employment' while on the visa she was on

The immigration officer proceeded to say she would need to speak to another person to have her matter heard, but first she was going to get a five-minute pat down by a female officer.

She was asked if she had recently had an abortion - twice - and if she was pregnant, whether she took any medication, what her parents' names are and if she has ever been arrested.

'It didn't take this guy long to tell me I was being refused entry to the United States. I remember thinking: Seriously? There was no point in arguing, or crying, or saying anything, because he wasn't going to change his mind,' Ms Gourley said.

Her fingerprints were taken alongside her height, weight, hair and eye colours before she was allowed to phone one friend before boarding a flight back to Brisbane via Sydney.

'I wasn't given any particulars about the journey home or what this all means for future travel to the United States of America. The second immigration officer didn't even tell me I was going home via Sydney,' she said.

'My passport - which could only be returned to me when the Sydney-bound flight was 10 minutes from touching down - was stamped with: Refused in accordance with INA section 217 R27038. That refusal stamp is the only "evidence" I have from this whole ordeal.'

A spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said under the visa waiver program, applications are banned from 'any type of employment or getting compensation for services rendered'.

Ms Gourley is currently investigating these turn of events with both the US and Australian border officials to uncover whether she is allowed back into the States again.

'Someone who read my story said anyone stamped with s217 in their passport is banned from ever entering the US on ESTA again,' she said.

'Someone who read my story said anyone stamped with s217 in their passport is banned from ever entering the US on ESTA again,' she said

In response to questions about Ms Gourley's treatment, a CBP spokesperson said 'the department regrets any inconvenience or unpleasantness a passenger may have experienced during his/her CBP processing'.

'We take allegations of unprofessional behaviour seriously,' the spokesperson said.

'CBP has standard procedures r handling allegations of misconduct. If we confirm employee misconduct, we will take firm and appropriate action to correct the situation.'

The alarming allegations come just weeks after Victorian student Jack Dunn, 23, was strip searched and placed in jail in the US for more than 30 hours after breaching a little-known travel rule.

The alarming allegations come just weeks after Victorian student Jack Dunn, 23, was strip searched and placed in jail in the US for more than 30 hours after breaching a little-known travel rule

Upon his arrival, Mr Dunn was asked by a CBP officer if he had a plane ticket to leave the US, which he didn't, as he planned to book his flights on the go.

After explaining his next flight was booked to Mexico, Mr Dunn was swiftly handcuffed and taken to the Federal Detention Centre in Honolulu after officers concluded he didn't meet the entry requirements.

The youth worker hadn't realised that under the Visa Waiver Program travellers must have another ticket out of the US to any other foreign port or place that is not a bordering country or an adjacent island.

He was ordered to catch the next flight to Sydney, which was the following day, meaning he was forced to stay overnight in a detention centre.
Patients will be forced to accept a virtual NHS appointment or face long waits as part of controversial plans to bring down waiting lists.

NHS bosses say the use of phone and video consultations will become much more common as part of a push to clear waits of more than 18 months by next April.

As part of the plans, trusts with the biggest backlog of outpatient appointments  like post-operation follow-ups  will be paired with hospitals with spare capacity.

But patients in England will be told they can see a doctor sooner if they accept a remote appointment.

Patients groups warned it was 'extremely dangerous' to 'palm people off' with virtual appointments. There are concerns remote consultations increase the risk of doctors missing signs of serious illnesses.

Campaigners say this is particularly true for some vulnerable patients, like those with dementia, who may struggle to communicate remotely.

The NHS backlog for routine treatment grew from 6.4million to 6.6million in May, the latest month with data, meaning one in eight people in England are now waiting for elective care, often in pain

In a bid to bring down the number of longest waiters, hospitals have also been told to prioritise first appointments over those waiting for routine second consultations.

Under the NHS' Covid recovery plan, 18-month waits are to be virtually eliminated by next spring and no patient will wait longer than one year by March 2025.

Nearly HALF of patients with 'red flag' cancer symptoms put off seeing GP for half a YEAR  even if they're coughing up blood Half of adults in the UK who have a possible cancer symptom do not contact their GP within six months of spotting a change to their body, a poll has revealed. And 45 per cent of people who experience a 'red flag' cancer symptom, including coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss and a new or unusual lump, did not contact their GP within half a year, according to a YouGov survey for Cancer Research UK. Being diagnosed early can help people survive cancer but the chances of this happening reduce significantly if people don't tell their doctor about unusual changes to their health or possible cancer symptoms. When bowel cancer is diagnosed at stage one, its earliest stage, more than nine in 10 people will survive it for five years or more, compared with one in 10 when diagnosed at stage four, the latest stage. Campaigner Dame Deborah James, who died from bowel cancer at the age of 40 in June, urged people to check their poo to help increase earlier diagnoses. The shocking figures come as people across the country continue to struggle to get GP appointments. A major NHS-backed survey last month found half of sick Britons have not seen a GP in a year, with most saying they find it too difficult to book an appointment. Critics described the lack of access as a 'ticking time bomb' that will lead to vital diagnoses being missed. Advertisement

Sir James Mackey, NHS England's elective recovery adviser, said a focus on digital will give options to those who face the longest waits.

Sir James told the Health Service Journal: 'We will be pairing up organisations so that organisations with capacity can help those with the biggest challenges, from a virtual outpatient perspective.'

Those waiting for their first outpatient appointments, such as advice and diagnosis, follow-up reviews after procedures and specialist advice for a long-term condition, are included in the NHS backlog, which stands at 6.6million.

But doctors say up to a fifth of their outpatient appointments didn't need to be seen in-person.

It comes as par of a wider move to digital to free up capacity.

The 2019 NHS Long Term plan set out that a third of face-to-face outpatient appointments would become digital by 2024 to save time and resources.

Sir Jim added: 'There still is a lot to work through [on virtual outpatients], we're going to be testing the concept We need to work through how all the wiring and plumbing needs to work.

'For example, what happens if the patient needs a diagnostic locally, having seen a clinician virtually in another part of the country?

'It would be great also to try and stimulate more of a consumer drive on this  encouraging patients to ask about virtual outpatients when the waits locally may be too long, so they don't just think they have to go to their local hospital.

'I think this could really help shift the model if we can get it right.'

Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, a campaign group for the over-sixties, told The Telegraph: 'I think it's extremely dangerous to try to palm people off with virtual appointments.

'You are talking here about people with serious conditions, whether that is suspected cancer, or in pain waiting for a hip operation, or a knee replacement.

'These are conditions where you need to see a specialist face-to-face, you need "hands on" medicine to examine the physical problem, to see the problems with mobility and so forth.'

He warned patients waiting for hospital appointments had a GP consultation so another virtual consultation further delayed their care.

After a patient has their first outpatient appointment, they are removed from the NHS waiting list.

So, the approach may be 'an attempt to massage the figures' to bring down the number of those waiting for appointments, Mr Reed said. But this risks 'forgetting what the patients actually need', he added.

Latest data shows a record 6.6million people in England are waiting for routine hospital appointments.

The figure spiralled from 4.2million in March 2020 as hospitals focused on treating the influx of Covid patients, battled staff absences and helped with the vaccine rollout.

NHS forecasting from February shows that the problem will get worse before it gets better. The figure is expected to peak at 10.7million in March 2024  at which point one in five people in England would be in the queue.
Top scientists have assured the public Langya virus is nothing like Covid after reports of the new pathogen in China sparked fears of a repeat of the 2020 pandemic.

Langya henipavirus  or LayV  was detected in 35 people in the country's eastern Henan and Shandong provinces between December 2018 and mid-2021.

This means the virus has only infected only a handful of people each year since it was first identified in a 53-year-old female farmer.

It was revealed for the first time last week in a research paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine, sparking fears about another mysterious flu-like virus.

But Professor Francis Balloux, an infectious disease expert at University College London, said the current data suggested the virus 'is not spreading fast in humans'.

He added there was little evidence LayV can spread easily between people, which means it has a low pandemic potential.

'At this stage, LayV doesn't look like a repeat of Covid-19 at all, but it is yet another reminder of the looming threat caused by the many pathogens circulating in populations of wild and domestic animals that have the potential to infect humans,' he tweeted.

This chart shows the time and location of people who contracted fever while only ill with LayV. The first case was detected in December 2018 with dozens more found in 2019 and 2021

British virus expert Professor Francis Balloux of University College London said the virus does not look like a repeat of Covid, which is also believed to have originated in animals

Chinese experts investigating the virus believe human cases are 'sporadic'. They are still trying to work out if it can spread from person to person.

Shrews, a small mouse-sized mole-like mammal are currently believed to the main animal carrier of the virus.

Scientists tracking Langya tested a variety of small wild animals for the virus and found shrews had the highest positive rate, 71 of the 262 tested, about one in four.

The virus was also spotted in a small percentage of domestic dogs (5 per cent) and goats (2 per cent).

Concerns over LayV were heightened because it belonging to group of pathogens called henipaviruses. Some members of this family of viruses kill up to 75 per cent of those they infect.

But the newly identified pathogen so far has only caused mild, flu-like symptoms in humans, such as fever, fatigue, cough, loss of appetite and muscle aches.

LayV sprung to international attention this week following a report of its discovery published by Chinese, Singaporean and Australian experts in the New England Journal of Medicine, published on August 4.

The virus has never been spotted in humans before and experts believe it was passed on by shrews (stock image)

Langya virus has been spotted in 35 people in China (pictured, an illustration of Nipah virus, a related virus)

What is Langya virus? What is Langya virus? Langya virus is a henipavirus that has been spotted in humans for the first time in China. It belongs to the same family as the Nipah virus, which is a deadly pathogen that is usually found in bats. Experts believe Langya was passed on to humans by shrews, a small, mole-like mammal. Where was it spotted? The virus has infected 35 people in Henan and Shandong provinces in the East of the country between December 2018 and mid-2021. What are the symptoms? The most common symptom suffered was fever, with all people infected coming down with a temperature. It was followed by fatigue (54 per cent), cough (50 percent), loss of appetite (50 per cent), muscle aches (46 per cent) and nausea (38 per cent). Should I be worried? None of the Langya cases have so far resulted in people dying, although patients have been left with flu-like symptoms. There has been no evidence of human-to-human spread so far, although Taiwanese authorities have set up new testing to monitor its transmission. The first cases were spotted before January 2019 and have only been sporadic since. Advertisement

Of the 35 patients with suspected infection, 26 (74 per cent), tested positive solely for the virus.

The rest were also infected with an additional virus that may have contributed to their symptoms.

The majority of confirmed patients were farm workers, with the remainder factory workers, and one student.

Writing in the study, they said: 'There was no close contact or common exposure history among the patients, which suggests that the infection in the human population may be sporadic.

'Contact tracing of nine patients with 15 close-contact family members revealed no close-contact LayV transmission.

'But our sample size was too small to determine the status of human-to-human transmission for LayV.'

The most common symptom suffered by Langya patients was fever, with all people infected coming down with a temperature.

It was followed by fatigue (54 per cent), cough (50 percent), loss of appetite (50 per cent), muscle aches (46 per cent), nausea (38 per cent), and vomiting (35 per cent).

Around 35 per cent suffered liver problems while 8 per cent saw a fall in kidney function.

International response to LayV has so far been muted but on Sunday, China's neighbor Taiwan announced it would start genome sequencing and strengthen surveillance measures for the virus, according to its national news agency.

Chuang Jen-hsiang, deputy director general at Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control, said they were researching potential routes of transmission.

He added they would also be working with the country's Council of Agriculture to investigate native Taiwanese animals for similar diseases.

Genetically, LayV is most closely related to the Mojiang virus, another hepinavirus discovered in southern China which was linked to the death of three miners in 2012 and found in animals which lived in the caves they were working in.

Other hepinavirus include the Nipah virus a deadly pathogen that is usually found in bats.

Like Covid, Nipah can spread through respiratory droplets. But it is far more deadly, killing up to three-quarters of people it infects.

It has been listed as one of the viruses most likely to cause the next pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The brain-swelling virus was first discovered in Malaysia and Singapore in 1999, when 300 cases led to 100 deaths.

There is currently no Nipah vaccine approved for humans  but at least eight are currently being tested on animals, including one made by Oxford University.
Simple heart scans may be able to predict your risk of being diagnosed dementia within a decade, a study suggests.

Researchers found elderly people with abnormalities in their left atrium were a third more likely to develop the disease  even if they showed no sign of heart problems.

It suggests scans normally only used for people with suspected heart disease or heart attack patients could help identify who is at highest risk of dementia.

The left atrium helps pump oxygenated blood to vital organs, including the brain. If the chamber is faulty, it can reduce blood flow to the brain  a risk for dementia.

Atrial cardiopathy is the term for a variety of conditions that can cause the left atrium not to work properly.

It can lead to strokes and an irregular heartbeat, two complications that have also been linked with dementia.

But the study of more than 5,000 American adults in their 70s concluded atrial cardiopathy was an 'independent risk factor'.

The researchers, led by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said it could help inform 'new interventional strategies'.

Researchers found elderly people with abnormalities in their left atrium are 35 per cent more likely to suffer with dementia. Graphic shows: The left atrium pumps freshly-oxygenated blood into the left ventricle, where it is taken out the heart by the aorta and sent to the brain via the carotid arteries

WHAT IS DEMENTIA? THE KILLER DISEASE THAT ROBS SUFFERERS OF THEIR MEMORIES A GLOBAL CONCERN Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders (those affecting the brain) which impact memory, thinking and behaviour. There are many different types of dementia, of which Alzheimers disease is the most common. Some people may have a combination of types of dementia. Regardless of which type is diagnosed, each person will experience their dementia in their own unique way. Dementia is a global concern but it is most often seen in wealthier countries, where people are likely to live into very old age. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED? The Alzheimer's Society reports there are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK today. This is projected to rise to 1.6million by 2040. Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed. In the US, it's estimated there are 5.5 million Alzheimer's sufferers. A similar percentage rise is expected in the coming years. As a persons age increases, so does the risk of them developing dementia. Rates of diagnosis are improving but many people with dementia are thought to still be undiagnosed. IS THERE A CURE? Currently there is no cure for dementia. But new drugs can slow down its progression and the earlier it is spotted the more effective treatments are. Source: Alzheimers Society Advertisement

Around 900,000 people are thought to be living with dementia in the UK, with rates expected to increase with an ageing population.

The figure is nearly seven times higher in the US, with 6.2million blighted by the memory-robbing condition.

There is no cure for the disease, meaning doctors can only prescribe drugs that lessen its symptoms.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, looked at 5,078 adults who didn't have dementia from North Carolina, Maryland and Mississippi.

They had an average age of 75 at the start of the study.

Participants' hearts were scanned between 2011 to 2013 using transthoracic echocardiograms  an ultrasound of the heart.

The scans are usually given to people who have had a heart attack or to diagnose heart valve problems or congenital heart disease.

Participants came back for second tests between 2016 and 2017 and third tests between 2018 to 2019 to measure their brain performance and look for dementia, as well as check their hearts again.

Doctors assessed their memory, reaction times, language and problem solving skills through a combination of cognitive tests in-person and on the phone, as well as interviewing patients' loved ones in some cases.

Doctors used the scores to diagnose them with dementia according to official criteria.

In total, 763 people had the brain disorder by 2019 - with those with atrial cardiopathy at a 35 per cent increased risk.

The risk remained even after accounting for other lifestyle factors like smoking and high blood pressure.

Writing in the paper, the researchers said: 'We found that the presence of atrial cardiopathy was significantly associated with an increased risk of dementia.

'We found that both [atrial fibrillation] and stroke mediated some of the effect between atrial cardiopathy and dementia, but that the relative contributions was [less than] 10 per cent.

'These findings reveal that a state of atrial cardiopathy, which precedes [atrial fibrillation] and stroke, contributes to the risk of dementia, independent of [atrial fibrillation] and stroke.

'We cautiously suggest that an understanding of this relationship might provide a basis for new interventional strategies to help thwart the development of dementia.'

Atrial cardiopathy is a term used to describe a range of disorders that affect the ability of the atria to pump blood through the heart.
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Nearly one million children under 10 in London will be offered an urgent polio booster vaccine after health chiefs confirmed the paralysis-causing virus is spreading in the capital.

In the first outbreak of polio in the UK in more than 40 years, the virus has been detected more than 100 times in sewage water in eight boroughs in the north and north-east of the city.

Parents and carers with children aged one to 10 will be contacted by their GP within the next month and offered a jab appointment.

While the virus is known to cause paralysis in up to one in 100 people it infects, there are particular concerns for young children who are at higher risk.

Health chiefs first declared a national incident in June after picking up on early fragment of the virus, which were thought to be linked to just one household in north east London in February.

But today the UK Health Security Agency announced it has now been detected 116 times in the capital, where vaccine uptake in children is as low as 55 per cent in some places.

No-one has officially been diagnosed with the virus by a doctor yet but experts believe it is transmitting unchecked in London because it has been repeatedly detected in waste water.

Health chiefs noted that the risk to the public is low because most people are already protected from vaccinations given in childhood.

However, uptake rates are some of the lowest in the country in the boroughs where the virus is spreading  Barnet, Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.

The level of the virus spotted and the diversity of the samples suggests the virus is transmitting in the population and has 'gone beyond a close network of a few individuals, the UKHSA said.

The map shows polio vaccine uptake rates among children aged five in England. Nationally, 84.6 per cent of the cohort were up-to-date with their jabs. But the rate plummets as low as 55 per cent in London boroughs. Among the eight parts of London where polio has been spotted, five are locations with the lowest uptake rate in the country

The above map, based on UKHSA data, looks at the share of Year 9s who had all three polio jabs in the 2020/2021 academic year. The final polio booster is offered to all children by the age of 14 as part of the NHS school vaccination programme

The polio vaccine is given at age eight, 12 and 16 weeks as part of the six-in-one vaccine and then again at three years as part of a pre-school booster. The final course is given at age 14. The World Health Organization has set the threshold of a successful school jabs programme at 95 per cent uptake, which England is failing to hit by all accounts

The virus was detected at the Beckton sewage treatment works, which covers a population of four million in north and east London

WHAT IS POLIO? Polio is a serious viral infection that used to be common all over the world. The virus lives in the throat and intestines for up to six weeks, with patients most infectious from seven to 10 days before and after the onset of symptoms. But it can spread to the spinal cord causing muscle weakness and paralysis. The virus is more common in infants and young children and occurs under conditions of poor hygiene. How deadly is it? Most people show no signs of infection at all but about one in 20 people have minor symptoms such as fever, muscle weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting. Around one in 50 patients develop severe muscle pain and stiffness in the neck and back. Less than one per cent of polio cases result in paralysis and one in 10 of those result in death. Of those who develop symptoms, these tend to appear three-to-21 days after infection and include: High temperature

Sore throat

Headache

Abdominal pain

Aching muscles

Nausea and vomiting How does it spread? People can catch polio via droplets in the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or if they come into contacted with the faeces of an infected person. This includes food, water, clothing or toys. Are there different strains? There are three strains of 'wild' polio, which has been largely eradicated throughout Europe, the Americas, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Types 2 and 3 were eliminated thanks to a global mass vaccine campaign, with the last cases detected in 1999 and 2012 respectively. The remaining, type 1, wild polio remains endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Wild polio has been eliminated in almost every country in the world thanks to vaccines. But the global rollout has spawned new types of strains known as vaccine-derived polioviruses. These are strains that were initially used in live vaccines but spilled out into the community and evolved to behave more like the wild version. Is polio still around in the UK? The last polio outbreak was in the 1970s. The last case of person-to-person transmission in the UK was in 1984, which also marked the last wild polio case. But there have been several dozen cases of vaccine-derived polioviruses, although they have been one-offs, with no onward transmission. Am I vaccinated against polio? The polio vaccine is offered as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme. It is given at age eight, 12 and 16 weeks as part of the six-in-one vaccine and then again at three years as part of a pre-school booster. The final course is given at age 14. Uptake has fallen slightly nationally during the Covid pandemic but remains above 90 per cent nationally. Rates are lower in London and in poor and ethnic minority communities. Just 86.7 per cent of one-year-olds in London have had their first dose dose of polio vaccine compared to the UK average of 92.6 per cent. There are concerns vaccine hesitancy has risen during the Covid crisis due to misinformation spread about jabs for that virus and school closures. Advertisement

It announced that the 900,000 one to nine-year-olds in Greater London will be offered a booster poliovirus vaccine within the next month to increase protection against paralysis and help reduce the spread.

On top of the polio samples confirmed in eight boroughs, health chiefs also spotted lower concentrations in sewage neighbouring boroughs.

But it is not yet clear if this means the virus has spread to more places or if infected people have simply travelled to other boroughs.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended a rapid booster campaign for children aged one to nine.

It said wider coverage will protect children from being infected and paralysed and also boost immunity rates, therefore preventing the virus from spreading.

Between one-in-100 and one-in-1,000 people develop paralysis after catching polio, with most cases in young children.

Parents have been told to take up the offer of a booster 'as soon as possible', even if their child is up-to-date with their jabs.

The programme will start in the areas where polio has been detected and vaccination rates are low, before being rolled out across London.

It comes amid another rollout, the NHS childhood vaccination catch-up campaign, which was launched across London in June to increase uptake among adults who had missed their childhood vaccines.

The NHS currently offers the polio jab as a six-in-one vaccination, which is given to babies when they are eight, 12 and 16 weeks old.

Top-up jabs are then given youngers before they go to school, as part of the four-in-one booster, and when they are 14, in the three-in-one teenage booster. All of the jabs are needed to be fully vaccinated against polio.

The World Health Organization's polio vaccination target is 95 per cent. But only three parts of England  Rutland, Country Durham and East Riding  meet this threshold.

Nationally, uptake is 84.6 per cent. But five of the boroughs where the virus has been detected  Hackney, Camden, Haringey, Enfield and Islington have the worst uptake rates in the country, with as few as 54.7 per cent of youngsters being up-to-date with their vaccines by the age of five.

The remaining three boroughs  Waltham Forest, Barnet and Brent  are in the bottom 30 authorities for jab uptake.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'No cases of polio have been reported and for the majority of the population, who are fully vaccinated, the risk is low.

'But we know the areas in London where the poliovirus is being transmitted have some of the lowest vaccination rates. This is why the virus is spreading in these communities and puts those residents not fully vaccinated at greater risk.'

She added: 'It is vital parents ensure their children are fully vaccinated for their age.

'Following JCVI advice all children aged one to nine years in London need to have a dose of polio vaccine now  whether it's an extra booster dose or just to catch up with their routine vaccinations.

'It will ensure a high level of protection from paralysis. This may also help stop the virus spreading further.'

Great Britain was declared clear of polio in 2003 with the last case coming in 1984, but experts find a handful of positive samples in sewage each year.

The latest outbreak has been traced back to a sample at Beckton Sewage Works, which covers 4million people in North East London in February.

The strain of polio spreading in London now is known as vaccine-derived poliovirus, which spill out into the community and evolve to behave more like the wild version. It can also cause paralysis.

Health chiefs say it may have emerged in a traveller, possibly from Pakistan, Afghanistan or Nigeria, where the live oral vaccine is still used.

Given via droplets to the mouth, the vaccine has not been used in the UK since 2004, when Europe was declared polio-free.

Britain uses an inactivated polio vaccine, which used a form of the virus that cannot cause illness or infect others.

Whereas those who receive the oral version shed a weakened version of polio in their stool.

Parents are being urged to ensure their children's polio vaccinations are up to date, particularly after the pandemic when school immunisation schemes were disrupted and uptake fell. Pictured, a girl gets her four-in-one pre-school jab offered by the NHS

How the world is STILL vulnerable to polio: Vaccine uptake map reveals how DOZENS of countries including US and UK are below key threshold needed to contain virus More than 100 countries fail to meet key polio vaccination uptake targets and are vulnerable to the paralysis-causing virus, official figures suggest. Data from the World Health Organization shows 114 of 160 nations have not hit its threshold of 95 per cent coverage in one-year-olds. UK health chiefs yesterday revealed that the country could be seeing a resurgence of the disease for the first time in decades after strains were detected in sewage. Experts deem having more than nine in 10 people in every community vaccinated crucial to prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading. Being vaccinated is even more important for children than adults because they are more likely to catch and therefore fall ill with the disease. While the majority will experience mild or no symptoms at all, for as many as one in 100, it can cause permanent paralysis or death. Among the vulnerable countries are the UK and US, where overall uptake nationally is as low as 93 per cent. But in parts of Africa, as few as four in 10 are immunised. And 35 nations, including France, Germany and Portugal, have not shared their polio uptake data  meaning even lower numbers could be protected in some places. Advertisement

UKHSA teams are now testing London sewage weekly and expanded the number of testing sites in the capital, as well as in other UK nations.

Jane Clegg, chief nurse for the NHS in London said: 'While the majority of Londoners are protected from polio, the NHS will shortly be contacting parents of eligible children aged one to nine years old to offer them a top-up dose to ensure they have maximum protection from the virus.

'We are already reaching out to parents and carers of children who aren't up to date with their routine vaccinations, who can book a catch-up appointment with their GP surgery now and for anyone not sure of their child's vaccination status, they can check their Red Book.'

Polio can be spread through poor hand hygiene, when an infected person dose not properly wash their hands after using the toilet, and then touching food or water that is consumed by others. It can also be transmitted through an infected person's coughs and sneezes.

The virus multiplies in the intestine and is passed in large quantities through faeces.

Most people will be asymptomatic and fight off the infection without knowing they had it.

A small number of people will have a flu-like illness that lasts for three to 21 days, including a fever, sore throat, headache, stomach pain, aching muscles and feeling and being sick.

But it can also attack the nerves in the spin and base of the brain, which can cause paralysis, usually in the legs, which develops over hours or days. If the paralysis spreads to the breathing muscles, it can kill.

Britons who develop paralysis symptoms  such as weak, flaccid or floppy limbs, especially the legs, head and neck  are advised to seek medical advice immediately.

Some sufferers recover movement in the following weeks and months but many people are left with long-term paralysis.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said parents and guardians 'will be concerned' about the detection of polio in London but noted that 'nobody has been diagnosed with the virus and the risk to the wider population is low'.

He said the rollout will start in 'the most impacted boroughs, so we can ensure they have the best possible protection and we reduce the chances of transmission'.

Mr Barclay said: 'We know many countries, including Belgium and Portugal, offer an additional dose as part of their childhood vaccination programme, and the JCVI has considered international data on safety and effectiveness in forming their recommendation, which I have accepted.

'Vaccines offer the best defence to children, and those around them, so I would encourage families to ensure they are up to date with their routine jabs, and to come forward for the polio booster as soon as they are contacted by the NHS.'

The UKHSA is working with health agencies in New York and Israel  where polio is also spreading  alongside the World Health Organization (WHO) to investigate the links between the viruses detected in each country.

Polio dates back to 1500 BC, crippled rulers in Ancient Egypt and paralysed thousands of children for decades before being almost entirely wiped out by a vaccine that used a weakened version of virus: The disease's history laid bare

You could be forgiven for thinking polio was a disease resigned to history.

The paralysis-causing disease was officially eradicated in the UK in 2003 and the last domestic outbreak was in the 1980s. But dwindling vaccination rates, in part due to complacency, appear to have allowed polio to creep back in decades later.

The archaic disease has existed as long as human civilisation itself, with the earliest records dating back to ancient Egypt.

But it was until the 1800s that outbreaks began to really take off.

Millions of Brits will remember the devastation polio caused in the early 1950s and why it was one of the most feared infections in the world. The UK was rocked by a series of polio epidemics in the mid-20th century that saw thousands crippled by the virus each year.

Mary Berry, the ex-Great British Bake Off judge, was hospitalised after contracting polio aged 13, leaving her with a twisted spine and damaged left hand.

Despite being eradicated in most of the world, it still spreads in two countries  Afghanistan and Pakistan  while parts of Africa suffer flare-ups of vaccine-derived versions of the virus.

Here, MailOnline takes a look at the history of the virus:

1500 BC

Polio epidemics, when the virus is constantly spreading within a community, did not start happening until the late 1800s.

But records suggest it dates back to as early as 1570 BC in ancient Egypt.

This is based on a drawing on a stele  a stone slab  which shows a priest with a withered leg and using a cane to help him walk.

And an Egyptian ruler called Siptah, who died in 1188 BC, is thought to have had polio based on his deformed left leg and foot, spotted by archaeologists who found his mummy in 1905.

1700s

But apart from these two incidents, polio largely vanished from the record books until it was logged in in 1789 by London-based Dr Michael Underwood.

He published the first clear description of polio in infants, who are particularly vulnerable to the disease, in a medical textbook, calling it 'debility of the lower extremities'.

Records show polio dates back to as early as 1570 BC in ancient Egypt. This is based on a drawing on a stele - a stone slab (pictured) - which shows a priest with a withered leg and using a cane to help him walk

1800s

In the early 1800s, a handful of polio cases were sporadically reported in medical journals.

But scientists believe people were commonly exposed to the virus in the typical unhygienic environments of the time, especially when they were young.

However, polioviruses started causing problems in Europe and North America at the end of the 1800s. This was, bizarrely, blamed on sanitation improving.

Polio spreads through consuming an infected person's faecal matter  which can happen as a result of poor hand hygiene.

While better water and sewage systems saw the demise of typhoid and cholera, outbreaks of polio became more common.

Three-quarter of those who become infected don't have symptoms. But around a quarter suffer a flu-like illness, including a sore throat, fever and tiredness.

Up to one in 200 will develop more serious symptoms that affect their brain and spinal cord, including paralysis.

Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at Reading University, explained the virus 'wasn't a problem until hygiene improved'.

Previously, low levels of infection would have given immunity to people but the unforeseen circumstance of better living conditions was that this declined and polio 'took off', he said.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline that although polio has been around for centuries or millennia, it was only during the early part of the 20th century that big epidemics of paralytic polio took off.

He explained: 'When every child got infected with poliovirus in the first couple of years of life you still saw some paralysis but it was only when infections were delayed until older age that such paralysis became more common.

'Young children who contract poliovirus infection generally suffer only mild symptoms, but delay those infections to teens and adulthood and paralysis becomes more common.'

The first epidemic struck more than a dozen people in Norway in 1868, while the second, which occurred 13 years later, caused a similar number of confirmed cases in Sweden. An outbreak in the US in 1894 saw 132 people infected.

Early 1900s

It was in 1916 that the first large-scale epidemic took hold in Brooklyn, New York, with more than 9,000 cases and 2,000 deaths.

The outbreak spread to the rest of the US and led to more than 27,000 cases and 6,000 polio deaths that year.

Newspapers published the names and addresses of infected people, 'keep out' notices were nailed to their doors and their families were quarantined.

Parents were urged to keep their children away from public spaces, such as swimming pools, parks and beaches, over virus fears.

The outbreak triggered concern across the world and sped up research into the illness.

Scientists had already made some progress in understanding and treating the virus.

In 1840, German orthopaedic Dr Jacob von Heine had become the first to produce a robust study on polio. He suggested that the disease may be contagious.

By 1908, Austrian physicians Karl Landsteiner and Erwin Popper said that polio may be caused by a virus.

Early treatments of the disease included tying the paralysed limbs of infected patients to splints, in a bid to stop their muscles from tightening.

But by 1928, an invention called the iron lung was rolled out to revolutionise how the disease was treated. The contraption  a respirator that resembled a 'coffin on legs'  was developed for patients whose lungs were so paralysed that they could no longer breathe unaided. Paul Alexander, 76, from Texas, is still in the machine today  70 years after contracting polio at the age of six in 1952

But by 1928, an invention called the iron lung was rolled out to revolutionise how the disease was treated.

The contraption  a respirator that resembled a 'coffin on legs'  was developed for patients whose lungs were so paralysed that they could no longer breathe unaided.

It was first used that decade to save an American child infected with the virus who needed help breathing. The majority patients stayed inside the chamber for short spells until their lungs recovered.

But some struck down by permanent paralysis stayed inside the machines for the rest of their lives.

Paul Alexander, 76, from Texas, is still in the machine today  70 years after getting polio at the age of six in 1952.

And by 1930, Elizabeth Kenny, a self-trained nurse from Queensland, Australia, developed a treatment applying hot packs to muscles and exercise to keep stimulating nerve cells and avoid long-term muscle damage. The methods are still used today.

As part of the increased focus on research, Australian virologists Sir Macfarlane Burnet and Dame Jean MacNamara identified for the first time that there were three types of the polio virus in 1931.

The fight against the virus was further boosted when a team of scientists at Harvard Medical School, led by Dr Jonas Salk, in the 1940s used blood samples of infected patients to extract and grow the virus in live cells.

Late 1900s

By 1955 the team, with the support of funds from the March of Dimes non-profit organisation, developed the first effective vaccine  an injectable inactive (killed) polio vaccine (IPV).

Nearly 2million children in the US were jabbed as part of the largest medical trials ever seen at the time.

They proved successful and 450million doses of the jab were dished out across the country. Cases subsequently fell from 18 per 100,000 people to two per 100,000.

The following decade, a team at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, led by medical researcher Dr Albert Sabin, developed a second vaccine using a live version of the virus that could be given in drops through the mouth.

This vaccine was much more effective and became the most popular throughout the world.

Politicians in the US didn't support Dr Sabin's oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV), so he tested it in the former Soviet Union.

The USSR rolled out the jab and polio subsequently declined. Drops in cases were also seen in nearby Eastern Europe and Japan.

The US licensed the jabbed in 1961 and it became the main vaccine used worldwide.

The fight against polio was further boosted when a team of scientists at Harvard Medical School, led by Dr Jonas Salk, in the 1940s used blood samples of infected patients to extract and grow the virus in live cells. Pictured: Dr Salk at the Municipal Hospital laboratory in April 1955 after announcement of the successful vaccine results

Great Britain was pronounced clear of polio in 2003 with the last case coming in 1984. A young girl is pictured getting her polio jab in May 1956

By 1955 researchers at Harvard Medical School, with the support of funds from the March of Dimes non-profit organisation, developed the first effective vaccine against polio  an injectable inactive (killed) polio vaccine (IPV). Pictured: children getting a lump of sugar while getting a polio vaccine at a mobile unit in Blackburn in Lancashire, England in 1965

Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist from the University of Nottingham, told MailOnline that polio had a 'devastating effect' worldwide and the introduction of the two jabs was 'immense'.

Studies throughout the 1970s and 1980s revealed the virus was widespread in many richer nations, which pushed leaders to introduce routine vaccination using the OPV in national immunisations programmes.

The jabs saw polio vanish in developed countries. In the UK, cases fell from a peak of 8,000 a year to just a few hundred before being eradicated.

In the US, infections dropped from a peak of 58,000 to zero just a few years after the jab was dished out.

Kathleen O'Reilly, an associate professor in statistics for infectious disease and expert in polio eradication, told MailOnline: 'After the second world war cases of paralytic polio in England and Wales rose considerably, reaching several thousand cases each year.

'Vaccines were developed in response to these worrying outbreaks, and were introduced in the late 1950s.

'The number of polio cases quickly declined, and since the 1970s only a small number of cases were reported each year. There has not been a single case of polio in the UK since 1984.'

But in poorer nations, where the virus caused fewer outbreaks, uptake was much lower.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched an worldwide immunisation rollout in 1974, in an attempt to vaccinate all children against polio.

By 1988, the UN health agency set the target of eradicating the virus globally by 2000. Two years later, a global virus surveillance system is set up to detect the virus.

The US logged its last case in 1991, in a three-year-old boy called Luis Fermin Tenorio living in Junin, northern Peru.

The WHO certified the region as polio-free three years later  the duration set by the agency before a nation can be deemed to have eradicated the virus.

A team at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, led by medical researcher Dr Albert Sabin, developed a second vaccine using a live version of the virus that could be given in drops through the mouth. This vaccine was much more effective than the inactivated one, and became the most popular throughout the world. Pictured: a health worker giving a oral polio vaccine to a child in Karachi, Pakistan

There was also success in ridding the world of two wild types of the virus, with type two eradicated in 2015 and type three stamped out by 2019. However, the WHO global goal of eradicating the virus by 2000 has still not been met. Polio is endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pictured: a child in Kabul, Afghanistan being given the oral vaccine in November 2021

2000

Nearly every country in the world used the oral polio vaccine in their rollout. But after infections were brought under control in the US and the UK, both countries stopped using this vaccine  in 2000 and 2004, respectively. Other nations followed suit.

While the oral version provides higher levels of protection against infection  meaning it is more effective at limiting spread in endemic countries  the weakened live virus in the vaccine can mutate on very rare occasions and cause paralysis.

It can also spread to others and cause an outbreak of vaccine-derived polio.

Professor Hunter explained that the live vaccine does a better job at stopping infection 'but can very rarely cause paralysis'.

Meanwhile, the inactivated vaccine 'doesn't cause infection and is still excellent at stopping paralysis but not quite as good at preventing infection', he said.

Only a handful still use the oral vaccine.

In 2002, Europe was certified as polio-free. Its final case was logged in a 33-month-old child in Turkey in 1999.

The Western Pacific was labelled polio-free in 2000, with the last confirmed infection being in a 15-month-old girl called Mum Chanty in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. And the WHO confirmed South East Asia is virus free in 2014.

There was also success in ridding the world of two wild types of the virus, with type two eradicated in 2015 and type three stamped out by 2019.

However, the WHO global goal of eradicating the virus by 2000 has still not been met. Polio is endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Travellers from these two nations frequently spread the virus to other countries.

2010

China lost its polio-free status in 2011 after the infection spread to the country from Pakistan. However, it regained it after the outbreak fizzled out.

Professor Ball explained: 'The live vaccine has proven to be incredibly effective at eliminating the virus.

'But on rare occasions it can revert to wild-type and cause the disease; that's why countries that do get rid of the virus switch to using killed vaccine to keep their populations safe.'

Professor Jones said the dilemma around polio is now around eradication. 'Is it worth the cost in terms of money and lives lost to eradicate the last few cases or is it better to maintain where we are?

'Lastly, another dilemma, if it is eradicated how long do you continue to vaccinate and with what?'

UK health chiefs revealed polio could be spreading in the community for the first time in four decades after the virus was spotted in sewage samples in parts of London on June 22, 2022. It is a vaccine-derived strain.

But there are signs it is spreading between people as officials have picked up several samples from different people, each with new mutations.

Professor Hunter added: 'Whilst most of the world has moved away from live attenuated vaccine some countries still use it and there is a risk that you can get secondary infections (generally a family member) which very rarely can be associated with paralysis in someone who has not been immunised.

'The concern here is that even a vaccine derived virus if it continues to spread could eventually recover its full virulence over a year or two and then cause an outbreak of paralytic polio in people who have not been vaccinated and that would be a disaster.

'So probably the current situation does not pose an immediate threat to public health but if transmission goes on long enough and the virus recovers its virulence it could become a public health disaster.'
The UK will run out of monkeypox vaccines within days  despite having one of the biggest outbreaks in the world.

An internal NHS England letter yesterday revealed there are just 8,300 doses of the two-dose jab, enough to vaccinate just over 4,000 people. Reports today suggest the number could now be as low as just 5,000.

There are fears that people who are at the highest risk of catching or becoming unwell with the disease will miss out.

Supply issues have left the country running short and an extra 100,000 doses aren't due until next month.

Britain has the fourth highest case numbers in the world, with 2,914 confirmed so far, after only the US, Germany and Spain.

The NHS letter, seen by the Financial Times, called for health bosses to 'urgently' draw up a plan to address the shortage that could last three to four weeks.

It stressed 'the urgency of reaching those at highest risk', adding: 'This is clearly all very difficult and very sensitive, and not a position that any of us would like to be in.'

Britain has ordered 150,000 doses of the Imvanex smallpox vaccine, which gives crossover protection against monkeypox.

But only around 50,000 doses have been delivered so far, with the rest not due until sometime in September.

Sky News today reported there are only 5,000 doses left, enough to vaccinate just 2,500 more individuals.

Claire Dewsnap, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said Britain is 'likely' to run out of vaccines in the next 10 to 20 days.

She told the Financial Times: 'It was thought the number needing vaccination would be lower than we are seeing in clinic and demand is high.'

Britain is currently dishing out the vaccine to healthcare workers who care for patients with monkeypox, gay and bisexual men 'at the highest risk of exposure' and close contacts of confirmed cases.

First doses are given within 14 days after contact, followed by a second dose 28 days later.

Officials are urging gay and bisexual men to be aware of new lesions, rashes or scabs and get in contact with a sexual health clinic

The infection often starts with small bumps that scab over and are contagious

Ian Green, chief executive of sexual health charity the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: 'There needs to be urgent action to salvage this situation. We know many gay and bisexual men will be worried by news of vaccine supplies running low and our advice to them is please do not panic.

'It's crucial we have transparency from the UKHSA about what's happened and when we can expect more doses to reach the country, as the vaccine programme is absolutely crucial to getting on top of the monekypox outbreak.

'The very limited doses of vaccine we have left in the country must now be prioritised for those most at risk in the places with the highest reported cases.

'That means ensuring sexual health services in places like Brighton, Manchester and Essex are given provision alongside London.

'It's high time we got a proper grip on the monkeypox response and for that we need to see this taken seriously at the highest level of Government.'

Dr Mary Ramsay of the UK Health Security Agency said: 'The rollout is continuing at pace, with the vaccine being offered to individuals at higher risk of coming into contact with monkeypox in order to offer them protection and to help contain the current outbreak.

'The remaining approximately 100,000 doses is expected to arrive in the UK in September.

'The thousands of vaccines administered by the NHS to date among those at highest risk of exposure should have a significant impact on the transmission of the virus.'

How DO you catch monkeypox and what are the symptoms? EVERYTHING you need to know about tropical virus

How do you catch monkeypox?

Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually spread by infected rodents  including rats, mice and even squirrels  in west and central Africa.

Humans can catch the illness  which comes from the same family as smallpox  if they're bitten by infected animals, touch their blood, bodily fluids, or scabs, or eat wild game or bush meat.

The orthopoxvirus, which causes monkeypox, can enter the body through broken skin  even if it's not visible, as well as the eyes, nose and mouth.

Despite being mainly spread by wild animals, it was known that monkeypox could be passed on between people. However, health chiefs insist it was very rare until the current outbreak.

Human-to-human spread can occur if someone touches clothing or bedding used by an infected person, or through direct contact with the virus' tell-tale scabs. The virus can also spread through coughs and sneezes.

In the ongoing surge in cases, experts think the virus is passing through skin-to-skin contact during sex  even though this exact mechanism has never been seen until now.

How deadly is it?

Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment.

Yet, the disease kills up to 10 per cent of cases. But this high rate is thought to be in part due to a historic lack of testing meaning that a tenth of known cases have died rather than a tenth of all infections.

However, with milder strains the fatality rate is closer to one in 100  similar to when Covid first hit.

The West African version of the virus, which is mild compared to the Central African strain, is behind the current spread. No deaths have been reported as part of the ongoing outbreak.

How is it tested for?

It can be difficult to diagnose monkeypox as it is often confused with other infections such as chickenpox.

Monkeypox is confirmed by a clinical assessment by a health professional and a test in the UK's specialist lab  the UKHSA's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory.

The test involves taking samples from skin lesions, such as part of the scab, fluid from the lesions or pieces of dry crusts.

What are the symptoms?

It can take up to three weeks for monkeypox-infected patients to develop any of its tell-tale symptoms.

Early signs of the virus include a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion  meaning it could, theoretically, be mistaken for other common illnesses.

But its most unusual feature is a rash that often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body, commonly the hands and feet.

The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

How long is someone contagious?

An individual is contagious from the point their rash appears until all the scabs have fallen off and there is intact skin underneath.

The scabs may also contain infectious virus material.

The infectious period is thought to last for three weeks but may vary between individuals.

What do I do if I have symptoms?

The UK Health Security Agency advises Britons to contact their sexual health clinic if they have a rash with blisters and have been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed monkeypox case or have been in West or Central Africa in the last three weeks.

Britons are asked to contact clinics ahead of their visit and avoid contact with others until they have been seen by a medic.

Gay and bisexual men have been asked to be especially alert to the symptoms as most of the cases have been detected in men who have sex with men.

What even is monkeypox?

Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research in 1958.

The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then.

Only a handful of cases have been reported outside of Africa and they were confined to people with travel links to the continent.

The UK, US, Israel and Singapore are the only countries which had detected the virus before May 2022.

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. The tropical disease is endemic in parts of Africa and is known for its rare and unusual rashes, bumps and lesions (file photo)

Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash or scabby lesions (like above)

Is it related to chickenpox?

Despite causing a similar rash, chickenpox is not related to monkeypox.

The infection, which usually strikes children, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

For comparison, monkeypox  like smallpox  is an orthopoxvirus. Because of this link, smallpox vaccines also provide protection against monkeypox.

Are young people more vulnerable?

Britons aged under 50 may be more susceptible to monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization.

This is because children in the UK were routinely offered the smallpox jab, which protects against monkeypox, until 1971.

The WHO also warns that the fatality rate has been higher among young children.

Does it spread as easily as Covid?

Leading experts insist we won't be seeing Covid-style levels of transmission in the monkeypox outbreak.

A World Health Organization report last year suggested the natural R rate of the virus  the number of people each patient would infect if they lived normally while sick  is two.

This is lower than the original Wuhan variant of Covid and about a third of the R rate of the Indian 'Delta' strain.

But the real rate is likely much lower because 'distinctive symptoms greatly aid in its early detection and containment,' the team said, meaning it's easy to spot cases and isolate them.

Covid is mainly spread through droplets an infected person releases whenever they breathe, speak, cough or sneeze.

How is the UK managing the outbreak?

MailOnline revealed monkeypox patients and their close contacts, including NHS workers, are being offered the Imvanex smallpox vaccine.

The strategy, known as ring vaccination, involves jabbing and monitoring anyone around an infected person to form a buffer of immune people to limit the spread of a disease.

Gay and bisexual men 'at the highest risk of exposure' are also offered a jab, with doctors or nurses advising whether they are eligible.

Vaccines are also being offered to contacts of people with confirmed cases of monkeypox. Doses are given between four and 14 days after the contact.

The Government said unprotected direct contact or high risk environmental contact includes living in the same house as someone with monkeypox, having sexual contact with them or even just changing their bedding 'without appropriate PPE'.

As with Covid, someone who has come within one metre of an infected person is classed as a monkeypox contact.

What if it continues to spread?

Experts told MailOnline they 'could see a role' for a wider targeted jab rollout to more NHS staff and female sex workers in the UK 'if this isn't brought under control quickly'.

Close contacts of the UK's known cases and some gay and bisexual men are already being offered the jab, which was originally designed for smallpox. The two rash-causing viruses are very similar.

A health source told MailOnline 'there would be a number of strategies we'd look at' if cases continued to rise.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London's public health regional director, said if the outbreak in the capital continues to grow then the rollout of vaccines and treatments could be broadened to more groups.

He said there are 'plans in place' to have more antivirals if the outbreak keeps growing.

What other countries have spotted cases?

More than 80 countries  including the US, Spain and Italy  have detected cases of monkeypox.

Most cases have been detected in the US, UK, Spain, Germany and France.

There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox, including the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January

Is there a vaccine for it?

The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses behind the illnesses are closely related.

Data shows it prevents around 85 per cent of cases, and has been used 'off-label' in the UK since 2018.

The jab, thought to cost 20 per dose, contains a modified vaccinia virus, which is similar to both smallpox and monkeypox, but does not cause disease in people.

Because of its similarity to the pox viruses, antibodies produced against this virus offer cross protection.

Are there any drugs to treat it?

There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox.

This includes the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January.

Tecovirimat prevents the virus from leaving an infected cell, hindering the spread of the virus within the body.

An injectable antiviral used to treat AIDS called cidofovir can be used to manage the infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It also works by stopping the growth of the virus.
A Georgia woman has revealed her experiences with monkeypox to the public - one of the few cases among a woman to have been recorded in the United States during the outbreak so far.

Camile Seaton, 20, first noticed bumps on her face on July 11 and assumed it was acne. By July 16, more bumps appeared and she went to the hospital for testing and was confirmed to have the virus. Now a month later, a few visible bumps remain on her face and her 3-year-old daughter is still living with family to protect her from catching the virus.

Seaton described the infection as incredibly painful, rating the pain as an '87' on a scale of 10 in a video posted on her TikTok page. Seaton also said painful lesions on her hands made it hard to hold her phone or even perform regular at-home tasks.

Seaton (pictured) described the pain of her monkeypox infection as being an 87 out of 10. It was so bad she had a hard time performing some household tasks.

Monkeypox cases have mostly been among gay and bisexual men since the start of the nation's outbreak in May. And some experts are warning the virus has already spread into other vulnerable populations.

So far, at least five pediatric cases have been confirmed in the US, with many others potentially being missed. As a result, some are calling for testing and vaccine availability to be expanded.

Federal officials are making moves to make monkeypox jabs more available in America, approving plans to split doses into fifths to make the short supply go further.

The move comes as America's monkeypox outbreak - the largest in the world so far - reaches 9,492 confirmed cases. New York makes up the largest portion of cases so far, with 2,104 in the state.

Seaton told People the bumps that initially formed on her face in mid-July quickly turned white, telling her that something was wrong, but she wasn't then familiar with monkeypox and its symptoms yet.

The mother-of-one went to a local hospital for testing days later and had her monkeypox case confirmed.

'I was touching a lot of money. The mask laws were lifted so we weren't wearing any masks. I wasn't wearing any gloves,' Seaton said. 'I just wasn't being careful and I touched my face and my body and I'm transferring a whole bunch of germs subconsciously.'

Her symptoms quickly escalated when she went back home. More lesions popped up around her body and she also suffered from a fever, rash, headaches and muscle and joint pain.

'It was uncomfortable. I was sanitizing everything, you know, like washing my hands every 15 minutes,' Seaton said.

'The lesions on my face were the first to pop up and the bumps stayed on my face for a whole week and a half. And when my face started healing, bumps started appearing on my body.'

The situation got so bad that she had trouble just going through her day-to-day life.

At first, Seaton thought she just had acne. She knew something was wrong when the lesions turned white. Slowly, they began to develop and more appeared

'I have a lot on my hands, so it was hard for me to do anything with my hands... I couldn't hold my phone. I couldn't do anything around the house. I couldn't even fold my clothes. It was extremely painful.'

Seaton sent her three-year-old daughter to live with family in a bid to protect her from catching the virus as well. She also stopped going to work. In an interview with CBS, she said she still has not returned to work and her daughter has not returned home.

'It really attacks you and takes a toll on you. It's very, very painful. I want people to know that it's here and it's spreading. It's not a joke,' she told People. 'I can do what I can for the scarsthey will fade but you will forever notice that they're there.'

Seaton is a rare case among a woman, but some fear cases in people who are not gay or bisexual men are largely being missed.

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the Food and Drug Administration and current board member at pharma-giant Pfizer, told CBS' Face the Nation on Sunday, that controlling the virus will only be possible if more people are tested.

'Theres a potential to get this back in the box but its going to be very difficult at this point,' Gottlieb said.

'Were continuing to look for cases in the community of men who have sex with men, its primarily spreading in that community, but there's no question it has spread outside that community at this point and I think we need to start looking for cases more broadly.

While exact federal data is not available, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a briefing last week that the group still make up a majority of cases.

In July, New York City officials revealed that 95 percent of cases in the Big Apple - the nation's monkeypox hotspot - affect men. At least three-in-five confirmed cases affected those who identified as gay, bisexual or lesbian.

Seaton said that she was not offered the Jynneos vaccine or any monkeypox or smallpox therapeutics when she presented a case.

America is facing a shortage of both testing and vaccines at the moment. Heretofore, they've been reserved for men who have sex with other men.

The CDC has greatly expanded its testing capacity in recent weeks, now being able to perform 80,000 per week across its own testing and agreements set up with private partners.

Last week, Walensky said only around 10 percent of America's testing capacity was being used, opening the door for significant expansions in the amount of people that should be tested.

This outbreak could soon get worse as well, experts fear. The new school year is set to begin at colleges and universities across the US in the coming weeks.

Young students are more likely to engage in careless sexual behavior, creating a perfect storm for potential monkeypox outbreaks around the nation.

'As we head into the fall, I'm concerned about outbreaks on college campuses as they are often a place where individuals engage in higher risk sexual activity and are in close contact with many different people,' Dr. Rachel Cox, an assistant professor in at the Mass General Health Institute of Health Professionals, told CNN.

'We need to make sure we're prepared to allocate resources like tests, vaccines, and antivirals to places that may become hotspots.'
Amazon is among three companies who have been warned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for selling unapproved over-the-counter skin and mole removal products.

The retail giant, alongside Ariella Naturals and Justified Laboratories, was issued a warning last week for selling products the agency says weren't tested for safety or quality of effectiveness. It said that selling these products interstate violates the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

What specific products being sold that violates these laws weren't specifically named.

'Safety is a top priority at Amazon,' an Amazon Spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations. The products in question have been investigated and removed.'

The FDA has warned Amazon that over-the-counter skincare treatments being sold on its website are not approved. The retail giant told DailyMail.com that it has removed the products from its marketplace (file photo)

'As we get older, we can develop new growths on our skin that we may consider unattractive. These lesions are parts of the skin that look abnormal and include moles, seborrheic keratoses (wart-like growths), and skin tags,' the FDA said in a statement.

'Removing them isnt a do-it-yourself project, and it can be dangerous to try. Please see a health care provider to have them evaluated and removed, if necessary.'

It notes there are no available over-the-counter treatments for mole or skin lesion removal that have been approved by the agency.

This means that any being sold directly to consumers without need for a prescription are doing so without a regulatory green-light.

These can includes creams, gels, ointments and other products that brand themselves as skin healers.

The FDA warns that using these unapproved, untested, products could lead to significant negative side effects.

'These risks include skin injuries, infection requiring antibiotics, scarring, and delayed skin cancer diagnosis and treatment,' it writes.

'In fact, the FDA has received reports about people who developed permanent skin injuries and infections after using products marketed as mole or skin tag removers.'

It also writes that many of these issues people are trying to solve are relatively harmless.

The FDA warns some of these treatment to remove moles and other lesions may cause more harm than the actual skin issue was (file photo)

Moles and skintags can be the sign of cancer or another issue, but sometimes will just form naturally.

If a person does fear that it is dangerous, or if it starts bleeding, is painful, or shows other bizarre symptoms, the FDA advises people to seek medical attention instead of self-treating.

'Do not treat the skin issue yourself. If you remove it or change how it looks, health care providers may have a harder time determining if it is skin cancer and coming up with an effective treatment plan,' the agency writes.

'If a skin cancer is not fully removed, it may continue to grow and possibly spread to other parts of your body. Dermatologists and other skin specialists are trained to identify suspicious lesions, examine them, and help patients decide the best treatment.'

It explains that many of these products use salicylic acid as an active ingredient, which may cause permanent damage when it removes a lesion. The FDA says that the resulting damage could be worse than the original issue itself.
At Money Mail, we take great pride in offering as many tips and tricks as we can find to help readers slash their bills.

It isn't often we are stumped there is always something you can do to make savings. But when it comes to tackling the ongoing energy crisis, some of the advice out there feels almost insulting.

With the average bill now tipped to hit 3,580 in October and 4,430 next April, who wants to hear that putting foil behind the radiators might claw back a few pennies?

Given the scale of the energy bill crisis, it seems inevitable the Government will have to intervene  soon, says Victoria Bischoff

And for thousands of vulnerable and elderly customers, turning down the heating is simply not an option  and won't protect them from soaring standing charges anyway, as you pay these fixed daily fees regardless of how much power you use.

It's little wonder, then, that the Don't Pay UK campaign is gaining worrying momentum.

Tens of thousands of people, including church figures and teachers, have signed up to the civil disobedience movement, which is encouraging households to cancel their energy direct debits on October 1  the day the price cap is set to soar. It's essentially an energy bill strike.

The group hopes to recruit one million members and believes there is safety in numbers. But the cold reality is that joining in could make a bad situation even worse.

Suppliers could appoint debt collectors or pursue unpaid bills through the courts. A county court judgment would be catastrophic for your credit score and may even prevent you from borrowing money in the future.

Firms can even obtain a warrant to enter your home and install a pre-payment meter, which could push up your bills even further.

Given the scale of this crisis, it seems inevitable the Government will have to intervene  soon.

In the meantime, households face the dilemma of whether to lock into sky-high fixed tariffs to protect against future price hikes.

While some of the quotes being bandied around by providers look ludicrously expensive, in light of the latest price cap predictions, many panicked customers will be wondering whether the deals will look quite so absurd come April.

However, as we reveal on Pages 33 and 34, you should be very cautious. Keep in mind that the cost of exiting fixed energy deals has also soared, so if wholesale prices do ease next year  as is hoped  getting out could be expensive.

It pays to haggle

While on the topic of bills, a pat on the back for Sky  and a reminder of why it always pays to ask for a better deal.

Money Mail reader Penny, from Christchurch, Dorset, says: 'I was paying 35 per month for the most basic broadband deal.

'When I phoned Sky to see if it could knock off a few pounds, I mentioned I was on pension credit. I was asked for my National Insurance number to verify this and now I pay just 20 a month.

'Not every company will do this but it's definitely worth asking. I'm absolutely delighted!'

If you've had success in bartering down your bills, I'd love to hear from you. Write to me at the email address below or Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London, W8 5TT.

TfL tap trap

I'm a little late to the party, but I've finally got the hang of this Apple Pay business.

Despite my initial concerns, it often feels safer paying with my smartphone than with a card because I'm required to approve each transaction using facial recognition technology.

The main downside seemed to be that my phone regularly ran out of battery. But I recently discovered another costly catch: I'd thought I could switch between using Apple Pay and my contactless card when taking the Tube or bus in London  I'm making the payment with the same card, after all  but it turns out this was a big mistake.

If you use different devices to pay, Transport for London will record each tap as a separate, incomplete journey because it can't see where you started. And that means you end up being charged the maximum fare.

Fortunately, I caught on sooner rather than later. But ouch!
Following a "seismic" public gaffe by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew prompted the Queen to intervene.

The Duke of York was the target of severe charges that threatened to tarnish the Royal Family's reputation. In reaction to Prince Andrew's very damaging television appearance, the monarch was compelled to move quickly to handle the scandal generated by her son.

Queen Elizabeth Acts To Protect the Firm From Prince Andrew's Interview

Queen Elizabeth is said to have intervened to shield the institution from the consequences of the Duke of York's interview. Valentine Low, the Times' royal journalist, presented his opinion of the Queen's conduct as the issue involving Prince Andrew swiftly escalated.

As the charges against Prince Andrew quickly gained public prominence, the Duke opted to participate in an interview with BBC Newsnight, leaving the Queen with no choice but to intervene. To reduce the royal public relations issue caused by the interview, the Queen intervened promptly, and Prince Andrew was suspended from public responsibilities just days afterward.

The Prince stated in the Newsnight interview that he had no recall of meeting Virginia Roberts Giuffre, the woman who had leveled the claims of sexual assault against the monarch. The Duke disputed the charges, explaining that he was at a restaurant in Woking with family members when the alleged event occurred. He also mentioned a medical problem that led him to be unable to sweat at the time as proof that the claims against him were incorrect.

He adamantly rejected the claim, and Prince Andrew agreed to pay Ms. Giuffre a substantial financial payment in February 2022 to settle an ongoing civil lawsuit against him - with no admission of guilt as a consequence.

Following the interview, Prince Andrew's military titles and patronages were revoked and returned to the Queen to be dispersed among other members of the Royal Family. Since being compelled to relinquish official royal duties, the Prince has stayed mainly out of the public spotlight, according to Express.

Read Also: 4 Pros And Cons Of Smoking Dabs

Prince Andrew Paid Lower Settlement to Accuser

According to recent accounts, Prince Andrew had paid off Virginia Roberts Giuffre to thy, and their February agreement contained no acknowledgment of defamation. If Prince Andrew truly only had to pay a quarter of the initially reported sum to his accuser, it could explain how his wife, Sarah Ferguson, was able to afford a new $6 million mansion in London.

The Duchess of York, who was once so poor that she had to borrow $19,000 from Jeffrey Epstein to pay off outstanding debt, has advertised juicers on QVC, and has now taken to ghost-writing romance novels for mass-market publisher Mills and Boone, has $6 million to spend on a fabulous Mayfair home.

Isabelle de Rouvre, the (relatively) unfortunate Swiss heiress who sold the Yorks her super-chalet in Verbier for about $20 million, is not impressed. Readers who have been paying attention will recall that the Yorks agreed to pay some of the money immediately and some in installments to the tune of $14.5 million. According to The Sun on Sunday, that sum is now far lower-between $3.6 million and $6 million.

It was widely assumed and publicized, that Virginia Giuffre received a settlement of 12 ($14.5) million from Andrew, a source told the Telegraph. It was much less, as low as $3.6 million. This, no doubt, impacted the terms of the arrangement she was willing to sign.

That implies the lesser sum Giuffre agreed to also allowed her to write a memoir about her experiences. Giuffre said that, when she was 17, Prince Andrew raped her three times while she was being sexually trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein, The Daily Beast reported.

Related Article: Queen Elizabeth II Cancels Traditional Balmoral Castle Welcome Amid Mobility Issues

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E.ON has posted profits of 4.1billion (3.5billion) for the first half of 2022 as household energy bills soared to record highs.

The German firm, which has nearly 4million UK customers, blamed milder weather, and increasing line loss costs in Sweden and East Central Europe for a 700million annual profit decline.

Profits were also hit by higher procurement costs in energy sales and the closure of three nuclear power plants as part of the German government's plan to wean the country off of nuclear power.

Profitability: E.ON declared first-half results today showing adjusted underlying earnings declined by 700million from the previous year to 4.1billion

E.ON also told investors on Wednesday it has slashed the value of its stake in the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline by more than half due to 'heightened uncertainty' resulting from the Ukraine war.

The firm, which is the third largest investor in the controversial project with a 15.5 per cent holding, said its stake was now worth 500million compared to 1.2billion back in March.

E.ON's first half results also revealed it had reduced its hefty net debt pile by 1.3billion, and the firm expects to post adjusted net income of between 2.3billion and 2.5billion this fiscal year.

Chief executive Leonhard Birnbaum said: 'The current energy crisis finally makes clear that Europe needs to transform its energy system.

'To be independent of Russian gas. To ensure supply security. To secure affordable energy for people in Europe. To provide green, climate-friendly energy.'

Asked if E.ON was considering a sale of its stake, Birnbaum said the company remained committed to the holding and was exercising its rights as a shareholder of the project.

Big project: Stretching 1,200 kilometres from western Russia to Germany's northeastern coast, Nord Stream 1 can transport around 27.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas each year

However, E.ON said Nord Stream 1's shareholder committee, which also includes majority owner Gazprom, France's Engie, Wintershall Dea and Dutch Gasunie, has not met so far this year.

E.ON had also said in March that a value adjustment to the pipeline stake would negatively impact pension provisions and net debt, but would not trigger liquidity issues.

Stretching 1,200 kilometres from western Russia to Germany's northeastern coast, Nord Stream 1 has the capacity to transport around 27.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas each year.

THIS IS MONEY PODCAST Will rates keep rising and are cash Isas a good option again? Savings special

Operational since 2011, Russian state-owned energy producer Gazprom holds a majority stake in the project, which has become a symbol of how reliant Germany - and much of Europe - is on securing energy from Russia.

Two months ago, Gazprom declared that it would cut the volume of gas deliveries it sends through the pipeline by three-quarters to about 40million cubic metres.

It then announced a fortnight ago that it would slash gas flows to Germany to about a fifth of the pipeline's usual capacity - 33 million cubic metres - following ten days of scheduled maintenance.

These measures have caused gas prices to climb even higher, having already skyrocketed prior to the Ukraine war's escalation due to high demand from Asia, low storage supplies in Europe and the loosening of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Five Texas college students are facing criminal charges following the 2019 death of a Texas Christian University freshman, after one allegedly pushed him off a boat while flirting.

Jack Elliott fell from the bow of a 22-foot boat while out on a Texas lake in October 2019 but mystery has surrounded the circumstances of how he came to end up in the water after the other teens who were present on the boat allegedly concocted a story to coverup the truth from authorities.

Jack, who was 19 at the time of the tragedy, was one of 12 teens from the university who were enjoying an afternoon of drinking and wakeboarding while on the open waters of Lake Travis, a manmade lake, northwest of Austin.

Almost all of the group had been enjoying vodka and beers while out on the boat.

The Elliot family filed a wrongful death suit in January 2020 against some of the teens onboard in the hope it would get them to tell the truth about the incident.

Jack Elliott, 19, a Texas Christian University freshman fell off a boat while out on a lake near Austin in October 2019 but the true story as to what led to his death has only just come out

Jack had been partying and drinking together with 11 other teens on the water when it appears he was pushed into the lake by another student. He was struck by the boat's propellor and died

Jack had been partying and drinking together with 11 other teens on the water when it appears he was pushed into the lake by another student, according to a report published by the Orange County Register, based on police records and sworn statements from the lawsuit brought by Jack's parents.

Student Elle Weber, was the only witness who had seen Jack sitting on the railings at the front of the boat with another student, Delany Brennan.

'Delany and Jack were at the front of the boat, flirting and kissing. She gave Jack a 'playful little shove' and he fell off the boat,' Elle detailed in a sworn statement.

Jack fell overboard and underneath the boat. He was struck by the boat's propellor and died.

'I was scared and in shock about what happened. I wish it had not happened and I wish I'd told police everything the first time,' Elle said in her statement.

Following the accident panic ensued with Delaney stating: 'He fell! I didn't mean to push him!'

Elle Weber had been behind the controls on the boat that day according to her sworn deposition. She had told Jack's parents that nobody had any clear idea how their fell overboard

Elle later wrote in a sworn deposition that she had in fact been the only eyewitness and saw another girl push Jack into the lake

In her own deposition, Delaney revealed how she had tattooed Jack's initials onto her wrist.

'I did that because I wanted to always have something to remember him by. When I looked down I wanted to remember how much he loved life and it kind of gave me a reminder to always live my life to the fullest and to do everything in life to basically live up to what he would have done.'

Posting onto social media, she wrote: 'I'm still messed up from this and my parents are here with me now, but we don't know much still. I just feel like guilty  and I don't think I have ever been this sad. I was the last person to touch him.'

Following the accident panic ensued with Delaney stating: 'He fell! I didn't mean to push him!'

The boating expedition in 2019 was led by Carson Neel whose dad, Billy, ran the Northshore Marina.

At the time, Carson told everyone where the life jackets were stowed but gave no further safety instructions to his friends, according to the Register.

The group spent their sunny fall afternoon drinking and dancing on the deck of the boat while occasionally dipping into the water for a swim or to go wake boarding.

When the boat ran out of beer, they sailed back to the marina to fetch another case before venturing out onto the water once again.

But about an hour-and-a-half after sunset, the boat shook as it appeared to rumble over something. Jack, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found onboard.

Carson turned the boat back and headed towards the spot where he believed Jack might have gone overboard.

In the panic, those onboard shone the lights from their cellphones into the water in desperate hope of finding Jack.

'A lot of people were freaking out and crying and not communicating well,' Carson said in a sworn affidavit seen by the OC Register. 'I tried to stay as calm as possible because I knew it was serious and freaking out would make it worse.'

Carson dived into the lake and checked the boats propeller as he searched for Jack.

With no sign of him, five minutes later, the group decided to head back to shore.

The boating expedition was led by Carson Neel whose dad, Billy, ran the Northshore Marina

Following Jack's disappearance, 'the teens hatched a plan to hide the truth from authorities and even Jack's family in Newport Beach,' reports the Orange County Register having seen police records.

On the way back to the marina, all of the alcohol that was remaining was immediately dumped overboard, the Register reported.

While Carson and another girl, Elle Weber, had been behind the controls on the boat that day, the group persuaded fellow student, Anthony Salazar, who had not been drinking because he was feeling unwell, to say that he had been behind the wheel at the time of the accident, according to reporting by the OC Register.

Jack's body was not recovered for another 10 days, found more than 100 feet below the surface.

Throughout legal proceedings, the teens invoked their Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate themselves, but rumors abounded and the story slowly but surely came out.

Once the group returned to dry land, Travis County Sheriff's Office investigators questioned the teens separately, although their stories did not match up, according to the Register.

Jack's parents, Amy and Brett Elliott were given a number of scenarios as to what may have happened to their son, the Register reported.

One tale suggested Jack did a back flip off the boat into the water. Another alleged how Jack fell in while vomiting over the side of the vessel.

Two days later, some of the group gathered in a hotel room in Fort Worth near Dallas where the teens called Jack's parents who were grieving at home in California.

Elle did most of the talking, according to the OC Register. She said that the group were sorry for their son's death and for 'all the stories you've heard.'

Texas Parks and Wildlife wrote in a report that Jack Elliott was pushed by Delaney Brennan

She acknowledged that nobody had any clear idea how Jack fell overboard, the Register reported.

'We don't know how Jack fell off the boat. We don't know if Jack stood up to change his position and he lost his balance or if he was fixing his hair, we don't know what he was doing.

'These are the most honest answers we can give you right now,' Elle said.

Soon after the phone call, Jack's parents were contacted by a father of one of the teens who was also in the room at the time of the call.

He told them how he had heard that Jack did not simply fall off the boat but was in fact pushed, the Register reported.

'My heart is broken into a million pieces,' Brett wrote on Jack's Facebook memorial. 'But, with each passing month, you give me more and more strength to keep pushing forward and fighting for TRUTH and ACCOUNTABILITY. I won't stop. You deserve it.'

The Elliott family filed a wrongful death suit in January 2020 against Carson, Delaney and Elle in the hope that it might force them to testify and reveal the true events leading to their son's death. The suit was settled privately and confidentially

Two months later, by December 2019, Texas Parks and Wildlife wrote a report that contradicted the teens' account.

Game warden Ben Echelson filed a report that contained details of what they believe really occurred.

It concluded that Jack Elliott was pushed by Delaney Brennan.

'Jack Elliott was pushed by Delaney Brennan from the front of a wakeboard boat  operated by Elle Weber under the supervision of Carson Neel.

'Jack Elliott was struck by the propeller multiple times and was killed  the alcohol on board was thrown overboard,' Echelson wrote.

'False statements were given to the officers responding to the accident concerning the events preceding the push and the manner in which Jack Elliott fell into the water.'

The Elliott family filed a wrongful death suit in January 2020 against Carson, Delaney and Elle in the hope that it might force them to testify and reveal the true events leading to their son's death. Jack is pictured with his dad, Brett

The January 2020 lawsuit was settled privately and confidentially but late last year a Travis County grand jury indicted the teens on various charges ranging from felonies to misdemeanors.

Delaney Brennan has since been indicted on a felony charge of tampering with evidence by aiding in the deletion of a cellphone video.

Carson Neel was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with physical evidence for allegedly dumping the alcohol overboard.

The pair could face up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Elle Weber has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to a police officer.

Another of the teens onboard the boat, Joshua Evans of Aliso Viejo, was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Anthony Salazar was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of perjury.

One of the fathers who attended the meeting days after the accident had some words of advice for the teens: 'If you don't tell the truth  it comes back to bite you in the ass.'
A frustrated ex-employee whose fury about Covid vaccine mandates drove him to politics has lost his legal battle against the company that fired him after a court found its policy was 'valid and fair'.

Victor Tey, the pastor at The Church in Liverpool in Sydney, launched his political career off the back of 'medical coercion' after he was dismissed from office supply company Winc for failing to comply with Covid vaccine mandates.

However, Mr Tey's unfair dismissal court fight came to a bitter end last week when the Fair Work Commission sided with Winc and its vaccine mandate.

Victor Tey (above) lost his legal battle against his former employer Winc's Covid vaccination policy that resulted in his termination

Mr Tey was working as a sales operation coordinator out of the company's Erskine Park office, in Sydney's west, when the business adopted a work from home policy in the wake of the Covid pandemic in March 2020.

However, his employment was terminated with the company after it unveiled its 'Winc Road Map to Returning to the Office' on October 14 in 2021, which required all of the company's workers to be fully vaccinated by December 15.

The only way to get out of the vaccination rule was to 'have been granted a medical exemption'.

Mr Tey, who started at the company in 2012, told his employer he would not get vaccinated and kicked off his quest for 'freedom'.

Mr Tey (pictured with his family) is a pastor at The Church in Liverpool in Sydney and began a political career under the Liberal Democratic Party following his termination at Winc

In an email on November 19, 2021, Mr Tey questioned why rapid antigen testing (RATs) was not offered as an alternative to vaccination and why religious exemptions were not accepted.

He also asked the company if they would accept liability for 'any vaccine injuries that may be incurred'.

Mr Tey also demanded to be provided with 'information or studies that were used by the company to determine that unvaccinated employees transmit the Covid virus to a higher degree'.

The company's HR manager responded on November 23, 2021, saying it was not aware of a religious exemption from Mr Tey and that RATs were insufficient to 'meet health and safety needs'.

'You are correct Covid is still able to be transmitted by vaccinated employees but as we understand the available medical evidence, potential impact of Covid for a vaccinated employee is a substantially lesser severity and therefore risk,' the HR manager said.

'Victor, if it is the case that you have made a personal decision not to be vaccinated, then this personal decision on your part will be respected by us. It will, unfortunately however, have consequences for your ongoing employment with Winc which would be disappointing for us.'

A Fair Work case against office supply company Winc (above) found the company's vaccination rules were 'valid and fair'

The following week, Mr Tey attempted to submit a religious exemption given to himself, by himself.

'I would like to request a religious exemption,' his email read.

'I pastor a Christian church and have had to provide a reference letter for religious exemptions to members who have required them.'

His exemption was not accepted and his job at Winc was terminated on December 15.

After his termination and back-and-forth with the company, Mr Tey launched a legal battle through Fair Work and started a political career focused on 'the loss of freedoms'.

During his campaign in May, Mr Tey said 'the biggest threat to our freedom is not a virus but authoritarian politicians in government' and claimed vaccine mandates are 'medical coercion'

During his May election campaign for the seat of Werriwa under the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr Tey said he would help 'end the vaccine mandates so people can get back to work and end the medical coercion so freedom of choice is respected'.

'Freedom was something I took for granted as an Australian-born citizen. But recent events have shown us that freedom is a fragile thing and the biggest threat to our freedom is not a virus, but authoritarian politicians in government,' he told Liverpool City Champion.

'Their heavy-handed approach to Covid has destroyed lives, ruined jobs, crippled businesses, separated families, divided the nation and increased our national debt for future generations.

'We can't let them do this to us again.'

Fair Work found Mr Tey's termination was fair because Covid was a significant occupational hazard and vaccines were the most effective way to minimise risk

Mr Tey received just 8,978 votes in the May election, losing to Labor candidate Anne Stanley who won with 40,108 votes.

Mr Tey was handed down another crippling blow last week when Fair Work found Winc's vaccine mandates for employees were 'valid and fair'.

The Fair Work Commission noted Covid was a significant occupational health and safety risk at the time and that vaccines were the most effective way to minimise that risk and ensure a safe workplace.

'My evaluative assessment is that the (Winc's) dismissal of the applicant was not harsh, unjust or unreasonable,' Deputy President Bryce Cross wrote.

'(Winc) had a valid reason for the dismissal, and it afforded procedural fairness to the Applicant prior to making the decision to bring his employment to an end.

'The application is dismissed.'

Mr Tey has been contacted for comment and Winc declined to comment.
A 'disgusting' new trend has emerged where young Australians are mocking McDonald's staff and uploading videos of their encounters to TikTok.

A tradie named Dylan posted a video of himself replacing the processed Filet-O-Fish hoki patty with a dead fish - before attempting to pass it off to McDonald's staff as their mistake.

The female worker dismisses the attempt, saying she was aware of the viral trend.

'Yeah, real funny guys. I've seen it on TikTok, not tonight,' she replies.

A disgusting new trend has emerged where young Australians are mocking McDonald's staff by replacing burger patties with fish

The clip shows the young man standing in a high-vis vest outside a McDonald's restaurant, opening the burger to reveal the dead fish inside.

Dylan then walks inside the chain and up to a staff member where he claims to have a complaint.

He again opens the burger for her, before she immediately recognises what he's doing.

A tradie named Dylan posted a video of himself replacing a fillet-o-fish protein with a dead fish - before attempting to pass it off to Maccas staff as their mistake

'That's funny guys, it didn't come from here,' she says.

'It's real funny, not tonight, we're busy.'

Australians weren't impressed with Dylan's attempted joke and stood up for the hospitality worker.

'Grow up mate, that's not funny,' a man replied.

In a response to Daily Mail Australia, a spokeswoman from McDonald's said: 'We can assure our customers, our Filet-O-Fish comes scaled, cooked and delicious.'
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive Squad, eked out a closer-than-expected Democratic primary victory Tuesday against a centrist challenger who questioned the incumbent's support for the 'defund the police' movement.

Omar, who represents Minneapolis and is one of the left's leading voices in Congress, has defended calls to redirect public safety funding more into community-based programs.

She squared off with former City Councilmember Don Samuels, whose north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city.

Samuels argued that Omar is divisive and helped defeat a ballot question last year that sought to replace the city police department with a new public safety unit. He and others also successfully sued the city to force it to meet minimum police staffing levels called for in Minneapolis' charter.

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar waves to passersby for support during a voter engagement event on the corner of Broadway and Central Avenues in Minneapolis, on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Omar faces a primary challenge from former city council member Don Samuels. (Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via AP)

Samuels said his narrow loss shows that Omar is beatable: 'If this was the general election, no doubt that we would have won this race.'

Omar countered, 'Tonight's victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for.'

Barb Atkinson, a 53-year-old part-time event planner for a radio station who supported Samuels, called Omar 'too far to the left.'

'Although I respect Ilhan Omar and what she's done, I disagree with the defund the police. I really think that wording sends the wrong message,' Atkinson said. She added, 'We need our leaders to work together to solve this issue.'

Omar squared off with former City Councilmember Don Samuels (pictured on Tuesday), whose north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city

Omar, who is seeking her third term in the House, had crushed a similar primary challenge two years ago from a well-funded but lesser-known opponent.

'She's had a lot of adversity already and pushback. I don't think her work is done,' said Kathy Ward, a 62-year-old property caretaker for an apartment building in Minneapolis who voted for Omar. 'We've got to give her a chance.'

The progressive Somali-American lawmaker was arrested outside the Supreme Court last month along with fellow squad member and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The two were part of a group of Democratic lawmakers protesting the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Two other members of the Squad - Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri - won their Democratic primaries last week.

Meanwhile, another progressive, Becca Balint, won the Democratic House primary in Vermont - positioning her to become the first woman representing the state in Congress.

A key race was unfolding in western Wisconsin, where Democratic Rep. Ron Kind's retirement after 26 years in office opens up a seat in a district that has been trending Republican.

The GOP nominee vying to replace Kind is a former Navy SEAL who attended the 'Stop the Steal' rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, which preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Two men described as leaders of a 2020 scheme to kidnap Michigan's governor are about to go on trial for a second time, presenting federal agents a second chance to get convictions after a jury couldn't deliver a unanimous verdict last spring.

After questions about guns, politics and COVID-19, a jury was selected Tuesday for the second trial of two men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer over their disgust with restrictions early in the pandemic.

The judge and lawyers finally settled on 18 people, including six alternates, to hear the case against Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr.

They're on trial again after a jury in April couldn't reach a verdict. Two co-defendants were acquitted and two more pleaded guilty earlier.

The result in April was a blow to federal prosecutors, who had set out to show that extremists were committed to snatching Whitmer and igniting a rebellion close to the election between Joe Biden and then-President Donald Trump.

Images show Barry Croft Jr., left, and Adam Fox, the two men charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 over their disgust with restrictions early in the Covid-19 pandemic

Gretchen Whitmer addresses the press in Detroit. Prosecutors are trying to prove to a jury that two men attempted to kidnap her over their disgust with restrictions early in the pandemic

US District Judge Robert Jonker repeatedly told prospective jurors that some familiarity with the case wouldn't mean exclusion.

'It's not disqualifying to have views one way or the other,' he said. 'It's disqualifying if the views become more important than what the law or the evidence is.'

The plot to kidnap the Democratic governor followed training in Wisconsin and Michigan and two trips to scout her second home in northern Michigan, according to evidence in the first trial.

Fox, 39, lived in the Grand Rapids area and Croft, 46, is from Bear, Delaware. They regularly communicated with other extremists who were angry with Whitmer and various public officials, evidence showed.

Convicting or acquitting the men can't be influenced by 'whether you like Governor Whitmer or dislike Governor Whitmer,' the judge told the jury pool.

'It's not if you think masking mandates or vaccine mandates or any other response was good or bad policy. It's not a proxy for any of those things.'

Some people were dismissed for health reasons or for political views they couldn't set aside.

One man, whose mother is an elected county clerk, was scratched after he said he has no tolerance for violence linked to politics.

'I don't think you would want me on the jury,' he told Fox's lawyer.

Jurors will see how undercover FBI agents and informants had infiltrated the Michigan group.

They will hear secretly recorded conversations and see text messages and social media posts favoring violence.

In response, defense attorneys again will argue that Fox and Croft were shielded by the First Amendment when they expressed malicious opinions about government and were entrapped every step of the way.

The undercover agents and informants fooled the group into thinking they were allies, the defense is expected to say.

A video of the four men training for the kidnapping scheme at Luther, Michigan, is being used against the conspirators

Evidence presented on the first trial included these drawings pointing towards the suggestion that the group was fully invested in plans to kidnap Michigan's governor

'The stakes are higher because the government has doubled down,' Matthew Schneider, a former US attorney in Detroit, said of the second trial.

'They're going to try this all over again, and the government's view is, "Were going to prevail."'

'Utter nonsense,' Fox's attorney, Christopher Gibbons, said in spring, referring to a kidnapping plan.

Ty Garbin, who pleaded guilty and testified against the men, said the goal was to get Whitmer before the election and create enough chaos to stop Joe Biden from winning the presidency.

Garbin and Kaleb Franks earlier pleaded guilty and will testify again against Fox and Croft.

In the first trial, the jury heard from the prosecution how the men had constructed a crude 'shoot house' in Luther, Michigan, to replicate Whitmers home and practiced going in and out with guns.

Federal prosecutors have shown jurors private chats from the group of four, including one where Harris, nicknamed as Beaker, suggests 'just cap her' referring to Whitmer

The FBI investigation began when Army veteran Dan Chappel joined a militia, the Wolverine Watchmen, to maintain his firearm skills.

Chappel testified that he was alarmed when he started hearing talk about attacking police and agreed to become an FBI informant.

But jurors got a different view from Fox's attorney, who presented Chappel as a paid government agent who talked to Fox almost daily for months, recording their conversations.

The defense accused the government of 'radicalization', suggesting Fox would not have been involved had he not been coerced by the government employee.

The defense said Fox was a hapless man living in the basement of a Grand Rapids-area vacuum shop, smoking marijuana whenever possible and totally incapable of leading the wild plot.

Two other men, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta, were found not guilty at the first trial.

Gov. Whitmer, who will not be called as a trial witness, she said she believes she was the target of an 'assassination plot,' not just a kidnapping.

'No one talks about it that way,' Whitmer told The Washington Post.
A man was buried alive in a freak beach accident when a sand dune collapsed on top of him as he was filming the sunrise in Florida.

The body of Sean Nagel, 35, was found in the sand on Rock Beach, Hutchinson Island, early on Monday, the Martin County Sheriff's Office said.

A passerby on the beach spotted a portion of the man's body protruding from the sand and called for help after he was encompassed by the falling sand dune.

Emergency services found Nagel's body just south of the House of Refuge Museum at around 9am after he was buried alive in the grim tragedy.

Tributes from the man's grieving family poured in after it was confirmed he had died in the 'tragic accident.'

Sean Alexander Nagel, 35, died in a freak accident when a sand dune he was laying under collapsed on top of him on Hutchinson Island

Nagel, from Stuart, apparently died from asphyxia as a result of being trapped underneath the sand

Nagel, from Stuart, was apparently resting beneath the dune while recording the sunrise when the hill of sand collapsed, detectives said.

'It appears that the man died hours earlier from asphyxia as a result of being trapped underneath the sand,' said the Sheriff's Office.

Detectives don't suspect foul play, but they are awaiting results of toxicology tests before concluding the case.

'Those test, however, are not likely to change the outcome of this incident being a tragic accident,' said the post.

Sand on unnatural dunes, common around Martin County beaches, are often unstable because of beach re-nourishment projects intended to stop shoreline erosion.

Investigators told TCPalm that a GoPro camera and plastic bag was found with Nagel, on Hutchinson Island, which is north of West Palm Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast.

'I am grief-stricken and still in disbelief to tell you all that my younger brother Sean Alexander Nagel is no longer with us on this earth,' said his brother on Facebook.

'Please remember to enjoy your life and dont take a single second for granted,' he added.

On Nagel's Facebook, he pays tribute to his son Tyler, writing: 'Your daddy loves you always and forever.'
Olivia Wilde has accused ex Jason Sudeikis of intentionally trying to 'embarrass' and 'threaten' her when she was awkwardly served with custody papers in April while on stage at a live event.

Court filings obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com have revealed the exes' once-amicable custody and co-parenting agreement has turned into a bitter dispute over Wilde's plans to relocate to London, where new boyfriend Harry Styles is based.

And on Wednesday, Wilde won the custody battle when a judge ruled that their children's home state is California, dismissing Sudeikis' petition for them to live in New York.

Sudeikis, 46, and Wilde, 38, began dating in 2011 and went on to have two children, son Otis, 8, and daughter Daisy, 5, before splitting in late 2020.

The actors had continued to co-parent and share custody of their kids since then, alternating one-week periods of 'parental access', while they both split their time between New York, Los Angeles, and London.

But those arrangements became no longer viable in April this year, when the pair had a disagreement about where they would be raising their children permanently, prompting Sudeikis to serve Wilde with a custody petition.

Olivia Wilde claims Jason Sudeikis intended to 'embarrass' and 'threaten her' by publicly serving her custody papers on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April

Wilde and Sudeikis began dating in November 2011 and got engaged in December 2012, before eventually splitting in November 2020. Wilde began dating Styles in January 2021,

They share two children together - eight-year-old son Otis and five-year-old daughter Daisy - and had continued co-parenting amicably after their split

In her motion to dismiss the action on May 17, Wilde said the two had initially agreed to send their kids back to school in Los Angeles for the upcoming school year since Sudeikis was due to wrap up the final season of Apple TV series Ted Lasso which had required him to be in London.

'Recently, however, Jason decided that he wanted to go to New York for the next year while he is not working, and wanted the children to be with him there during this time off,' the actress said in the filing.

'When I did not agree, since the children have not lived in New York for several years, Jason filed these papers.'

Wilde, who began dating Styles in January 2021, also filed a petition to 'determine parental relationship' in California, arguing that the children have spent most of the last four years in LA or in London, even attending schools in the two cities.

Sudeikis's initial case to keep the kids in New York has now been dismissed after a judge found that Brooklyn was not the children's home.

According to the latest legal filing, 'Judge Powell and this Referee agreed that New York was not the home state of the subject children; but rather California was the children's home state.

'Therefore, for the reasons stated on the record on July 15, 2022, respondent's motion to dismiss the custody petitions filed on October 21, 2021 is granted as this court finds that New York does not have jurisdiction to hear the custody petitions as New York is not the home state of the subject children.'

Wilde was infamously served the court documents, which were first filed in October, on April 26 as she spoke about her new movie on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

The Booksmart director was in the middle of a presentation for 4,100 film industry executives about her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling when she was awkwardly handed a manila envelope by a court process server.

The bizarre moment sparked furious speculation among attendees and reporters at the annual gathering of cinema owners and Hollywood studios about the envelope's contents.

Neither of the parties publicly addressed the incident, and a source close to Sudeikis later claimed that he did not know Wilde would be served the papers in such a public and humiliating way.

Wilde referenced the embarrassing incident for the first time in her court motion, slamming her ex for his 'outrageous legal tactics' and for delivering the documents 'mid-speech.'

'Jason's actions were clearly intended to threaten me and catch me off guard. He could have served me discreetly, but instead he chose to serve me in the most aggressive manner possible,' she said in the documents.

In an awkward moment that made headlines, Wilde was served the court documents on April 26 while speaking to a crowd about her new movie at CinemaCon in Las Vegas

The Hollywood star was in the middle of a presentation for 4,100 film industry executives about her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling when she was awkwardly handed a manila envelope by a court process server

The former couple had alternated one-week periods of 'parental access' with their children, as they both split their time between New York, Los Angeles, and London

'The fact that Jason would embarrass me professionally and put our personal conflict on public display in this manner is extremely contrary to our children's best interests.

'Since Jason has made it clear that we will not be able to work this out for our children's sake outside of the court system, I filed a petition for custody in Los Angeles.'

According to the court filings, Wilde and Sudeikis were largely based in New York for most of their relationship, with both of their kids being born in the city.

The two shared a home in Brooklyn after buying the property in 2014 for $6.5million, living there sporadically until 2019, when a mold issue made the house completely uninhabitable.

Throughout that timeframe, Sudeikis and Wilde also spent substantial periods of time in Los Angeles due to their work commitments, but - according to the actor - considered the Brooklyn home their main family residence.

In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July.

He said he hoped that his ex and their children would also return to New York so they could continue co-parenting under their current arrangement.

Sudeikis said he now believes those plans are 'unlikely to occur' after Wilde 'insisted upon' living with their kids in LA and asked him to join them during a discussion over custody in April.

Sudeikis admits he got spooked by the prospect of Wilde moving her kids to London, where new boyfriend Harry Styles is based. The pair are pictured together in London in March. Wilde began dating Styles in January 2021,

Sudeikis, meanwhile has spent a substantial amount of time in London due to his role in Apple TV series Ted Lasso

He argued that it was in their kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn

She also allegedly disclosed her future plans to move to London, where she has been living with former One Direction star Harry Styles, 28, at the end of next year.

'For better or worse, I am a New Yorker,' Sudeikis said, adding that it was in the kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn.

The star argued that Wilde's plans to move the children to LA would be offering them 'only short-term stability' because of her 'stated intention' to relocate to London.

'I am 100% committed to providing stability in the children's lives by, among other things, remaining in the [Brooklyn] home,' he said.

Sudeikis also claimed that he had been 'reluctant' to serve Wilde because he continues 'to care deeply for her', but said he was spooked by two particular statements during their conversation.

'First, Olivia said that if I did not reside full-time in Los Angeles, she would allow me to spend time with Otis and Daisy on weekends and during vacation periods - thus depriving me of my right to parent the children during important periods of their lives...,' Sudeikis said.

He continued: 'Second, Olivia said that she intended to relocate with the children to London following the close of school in 2023.'

Sudeikis, 'fearful' that she would 'take Otis and Daisy' from him, said he then asked his attorney in that moment to serve the summons and petition to Wilde knowing she was scheduled to travel to LA the next morning.

The actor claimed he had always hoped she would be served in a 'benign manner' and requested service take place at Heathrow Airport, rather than boyfriend Harry Styles's home, where she is currently living.

'I did not want service to take place at the home of Olivia's current partner because Otis and Daisy might be present. I did not want service to take place at the children's school because parents might be present,' Sudeikis said.

The actor went on to say that the process server was ultimately unable to serve Wilde at the intended location that day due to a series of logistical mishaps.

Wilde and Sudeikis are seen out and about in Los Angeles in 2012

In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July. He is pictured with the cast at the Emmy Awards in September

He said he would only learn Wilde would be ultimately served in public days later when the incident made headlines.

Sudeikis claimed he was 'deeply upset' at the turn of events and later found out that Wilde's whereabouts were tracked down thanks to a tweet speculating her appearance at CinemaCon.

An attempt was made to serve Wilde at her hotel in Las Vegas where the event was held, but after that failed, the server 'noticed Olivia at the Warner Brothers Panel and proceeded to serve the Summons and Petition upon Olivia.'

Sudeikis said he continues to 'feel great distress at the manner in which service was made.'

'I understand that the process server had only done her job; however, I deeply regret what happened. Olivia's talk was an important event for Olivia, both professionally and personally, and I am very, very sorry that the incident marred her special moment,' he added.
James A. Gagliano is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent and a doctoral candidate in Homeland Security at St. John's University. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund and as a CBS News Security and Law Enforcement Analyst.

President Joe Biden's Justice Department remains shockingly silent 48 hours after FBI agents executed a federal search warrant at former President Trump's Florida home.

Attorney General Merrick Garland must explain this unprecedented action  and now!

Simply hiding behind the DOJ's policy of not speaking publicly about ongoing investigative matters will not satisfy the public.

The American public has lost trust in what was once known as the world's premier law enforcement agency. And as a 25-year veteran of the FBI, it pains me to say it, but I don't blame them.

Committed partisan ideologues in the upper echelons of the FBI and DOJ view the 45th president as more than just a politician with whose policies they disagree with.

They see Trump as a direct threat to the republic and they are determined to stop him by any means necessary.

Attorney General Merrick Garland (above) must explain this unprecedented action  and now!

The FBI agents searching Mar-a-Lago were said to be seeking presidential documents in Trump's possession that belong in the National Archives. But a knock-and-announce warrant service to recover records is the enforcement equivalent of using a sledgehammer to kill a fly.

After the calamity of errors, missteps and downright partisan influence infecting the FBI's Russian collusion investigation and now this, there is a sense that government's instruments of power are being unleashed on political enemies.

Trump haters scream that no one is above the law, and they're right, but no one is below it either, and the politically-biased leadership in the FBI and DOJ only appear interested in applying the law in one direction  against Trump.

Just look at how other recent high-profile investigations have played out.

When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton utilized an unauthorized, private server to house all the emails that she didn't want on her government server, the FBI didn't knock on her door in Chappaqua, New York.

Clinton got the kid glove treatment.

Her top aides were granted immunity by the DOJ to spill the beans on the whole enterprise. And Clinton showed complete disregard for these under-subpoena emails (some of which contained classified material), as her staff was directed to destroy 33,000 emails and personal electronic devices with Bleachbit and hammers.

The partisan ideologues at Main Justice and the FBI  a select few, some of whom you may have heard of, and others who you have not yet  control the levers of power and they're using it for political ends (Above) FBI Director Christopher Wray on November 8, 2021 in Washington, DC.

There was no federal search warrant in this case, just an impotent acceptance of Clinton's feeble excuse that the missing emails were related to her daughter's wedding planning or yoga routines.

In the end, FBI Director James Comey announced that he wasn't pursuing charges in his infamous July 2016 news conference, during which he curiously outlined where she had run afoul of the law.

Even Comey himself got off easy for mishandling (leaking) sensitive documents.

Ironically, they were memos summarizing his encounters with President Trump.

The DOJ Inspector General concluded that Comey provided sensitive memorandums, some containing classified information, which his surrogate then shared with the media.

The Inspector General made a criminal referral to Trump's Justice Department for potential prosecution, but Attorney General William Barr declined to prosecute.

But if you were in the Trump White House watch out.

The FBI considered using the Logan Act against Trump National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

We've known that Trump was in possession of these materials for a year, but the search occurred nearly three months before what is certain to be a contentious, polarizing, and divisive midterm election. (Above) Secret Service agents stand outside Mar-a-Lago on Aug. 8, 2022

Even though the Logan Act, enacted in 1799 to criminalize unauthorized negotiations with foreign governments, had never been prosecuted.

The FBI ended up charging him with lying to the FBI.

During my nearly three decades in the FBI, I pleaded with U.S. Attorneys to allow us to charge drug dealers, murderers, rapists, and gang bangers, with lying to the FBI.

I got the greenlight exactly zero times!

Donald Trump was never to be treated like Secretary Clinton or Director Comey.

The hammer was the tool of choice.

The partisan ideologues at Main Justice and the FBI  a select few, some of whom you may have heard of, and others who you have not yet  control the levers of power and they're using it for political ends.

We've known that Trump was in possession of these materials for a year, but the search occurred nearly three months before what is certain to be a contentious, polarizing, and divisive midterm election.

When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (above) utilized an unauthorized, private server to house all the emails that she didn't want on her government server, the FBI didn't knock on her door in Chappaqua, New York.

Not to mention, one in which Trump has endorsed some of the cycle's most controversial candidates.

The DOJ has explicit rules that bar prosecutors from taking actions to purposefully influence an election or to advantage or disadvantage a particular candidate or a political party.

One can't possibly argue that this event wouldn't influence voters come November.

If Trump's candidates lose, it weakens him. And if Trump is convicted on low-level crimes that are seldom prosecuted and would probably not result in any jail time  he would still be barred from holding elected office ever again.

Goodbye aspirations for 2024.

For the committed ideologues  the republic would be safe again.

Legitimate questions continue to be raised as to whether our governmental institutions are as apolitical, impartial, and unbiased as we should expect.

Whether the warrant service was justified remains to be seen.

But if nothing comes of this unprecedented action, the complete erosion of the public's faith and trust in the Justice Department and the FBI will be timestamped '2022.'

We deserve an accounting  and now.
A 12-year-old entrepreneur has launched a desperate fight to stop his much-loved stall from being shut down.

Jesse Lane is the friendly face behind Jesse's Shop at Dunnington Reserve in the beachside Sydney suburb of Coogee.

The stall which operates on weekends and school holidays is a one stop shop for locals selling everything from cold drinks, bottled water and iceblocks to dog treats, sunscreen and Aeroguard.

Some of the proceeds are donated to the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation.

But not all residents are on board with several complaining to Randwick Council, calling for his enterprise to be shut down.

Jesse hopes to save his stall and has collected almost 4,000 signatures of support so far. He has also made a formal submission to the council.

Schoolboy Jesse Lane, 12, has launched a desperate fight to save his much-loved stall in Coogee, NSW

'It's fun chatting to people. There's a few regulars who come by,' the Bronte Public School Year Six student told Radio 2GB host Jim Wilson.

'I'm there every day from 8am-5pm weekends and holidays, unless it's raining.'

Jesse's Shop has been running for several years, after beginning as an honesty box selling herbs.

The stall originally started at the front of his house before one of his regulars suggested he would make more money by moving it to a beachside reserve down the road.

'He's been the one that's driven the whole thing,' Jesse's mum Catherine Tiney explained.

She's spoken to some of the locals who want to shut down the stall.

'One was asking whether it was right at his age to have a commercial venture like this and that does it give an unrealistic expectation,' Ms Tiney said.

'But it's so much better with him down at the park than his brother who's on the Xbox all day.'

'The thing is, everyone knows Jesse so he comes home telling us about the conversations he's had with everyone. It's big part of why he enjoys it.'

Open 8am-5pm on weekends and in the school holidays, the stall (pictured) is a one stop shop for Coogee locals

Ms Tiney hopes Jesse save his stall and admitted the council have been great in their dealings to date.

'I would love everyone to be on board,' she said.

'How can we make it work for everyone? Jesse has made a compromise by trimming back his hours.'

Regular customers have rallied behind Jesse in his fight to save his stall.

'It's so refreshing to see a kid of his age showing initiative and interacting with the community,' Coogee resident Melissa Archer told the Daily Telegraph.

'He brightens up peoples' days.'

'That's not encouraging future generations to think outside the box, and have a go,' she said.

Not everyone is on board with the stall selling a variety of cold drinks, as well as dog treats

Randwick Council first became aware of what it has described as a 'mini convenience store' late last year.

'While we admire the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of the young man, there are restrictions on commercial operations in public parks,' spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'We have received a number of complaints from people concerned about the precedent of commercialisation of the park as well as concern about the safety and welfare of a young boy trading and handling money in a public place

'Council has taken a very sensitive approach noting the boy's age and over the past months we have been speaking with the boy and his parents reminding them about the restrictions in place.

'Despite this, the practice has continued and we have now received a formal application from the boy seeking approval to operate the stand. Council staff are in the process of assessing the application.'

The family will accept the decision if Jesse's Shop is shut down.

'He's had fun and he's learned a lot from it,' Ms Tiney said.
Russia has launched an Iranian satellite into space amid U.S. concerns that it would be used by Moscow to spy over Ukraine to support its military decisions in the war.

Officials launched the satellite, which is called Khayyam, from the Russian-leased Baikonur launch facility located in Kazakhstan. Iran added that it will be used for environmental monitoring and will remain under Tehran's control.

Iranian Satellite

However, last week, U.S. officials said that they had concerns that the satellite could be used by Moscow to spy on troop movements in Ukraine. The situation comes as Russia has struggled to achieve military objectives in Ukraine and the Kremlin alleged that Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, told Tehran it planned to maintain control over the satellite "for several months or longer."

The unnamed sources that revealed this plan said that the satellite could give Iran and Russia "unprecedented capabilities" to almost continuously monitor troop movements and bases. However, Tehran rejected the accusations and emphasized that it will have full control and operation over the satellite starting from the day it is launched, as per BBC.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Iran said that the rumors that claim the satellite will be used to photograph Ukraine for military purposes are wrong. The satellite is fitted with a high-resolution camera and will be used mainly for agricultural programs and to monitor water resources and other environmental applications.

Reaed Also: US vs. China: Joe Biden Claims Future of Chip Industry Is 'Going To Be Made in America' Thanks to $280 Billion Boost

Irna, Iran's state news agency, said that Tehran's space agency had already received the first set of data from the satellite. The launch of the Khayyam comes only three weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.

According to Fox News, the incident comes as the recently appointed head of Russia's Roscosmos, Yuru Borisov, said last month that Moscow will leave the International Space Station in the next two years. He noted that Russia will still fulfill its partner commitments before leaving.

Spying on Ukraine

U.S. officials revealed last month that Iran had offered to supply its top-of-the-line surveillance drones to Russia to help with its war in Ukraine. In a report last year, Russia and Iran entered an agreement that would result in the building and launching of a remote-sensing satellite.

This would provide Iran with broad capabilities to conduct surveillance for military and civilian purposes. The Khayyam's high-resolution camera is far lower in quality achieved by U.S. spy satellites or high-end commercial satellite imagery providers but far better than Iran's current capabilities.

What was more concerning for others was Iran's ability to "task" the new satellite to conduct continuous surveillance on locations of its choosing. This could be anything from military facilities in Israel, to oil refineries, and other vital infrastructure in neighboring gulf states.

The prospect of an improved Iranian satellite has exacerbated anxieties among Iran's neighbors and adversaries. Furthermore, some military and intelligence officials from the United States have raised concerns over the satellite. Experts say that Iran could also share data with pro-Iranian militia groups across the region, the Washington Post reported.



Related Article: China Develops Nuclear-Powered 'Super Torpedo,' Matches Russia's Doomsday Poseidon Nuke as Moscow, Beijing Clash Against Ukraine, Taiwan

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Federal prosecutors are in the final stages of preparing an antitrust case against Google, according to a report, and aiming to file their case in September.

The Justice Department has been investigating the tech giant for several years.

In 2020 Google was sued both federally and by a coalition of state attorney generals for monopolizing the digital search market.

Google denied the charges, and is petitioning the judge to drop the case: a hearing is scheduled for later this month.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported that yet another case against Google could be filed next month - this time accusing them of monopolizing digital advertising.

Three sources told Bloomberg that investigators with the Justice Department's antitrust division are currently questioning online publishers, to finalize the details for the complaint.

The interviews are follow-ups to previous discussions, the sources said.

Google's headquarters are pictured in Mountain View, California. The company could be facing yet another antitrust lawsuit

Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google - whose company relies heavily on adverts for its revenue

They said it is unclear whether the case will be filed in Washington DC or in New York City, where other cases against Google are being held.

Google's spokesman said it was wrong to say the company had a monopoly, and pointed to 'enormous competition in online advertising'.

Peter Schottenfels also said that Google supported small businesses.

'Our advertising technologies help websites and apps fund their content, and enable small businesses to reach customers around the world,' said Schottenfels.

'The enormous competition in online advertising has made online ads more relevant, reduced ad tech fees, and expanded options for publishers and advertisers.'

Merrick Garland, the attorney general, is pictured on August 2. The DoJ has been investigating Google for several years

Google's ads are vital to the company's bottom line.

On July 26, Google's latest financial report showed that search ads lifted parent Alphabet Inc close to Wall Street sales expectations, sending shares up on relief that the world's biggest seller of online advertising may withstand a global recession better than smaller rivals.

A trio of Alphabet executives sounded caution on a call with investment analysts, using 'uncertain' or 'uncertainty' at least 13 times to describe the economy. YouTube ad sales grew at their slowest pace since disclosures began in 2018.

But investors focused elsewhere, notably on the fact that second-quarter sales from the company's biggest moneymaker - Google search - actually topped expectations.

Shares of Alphabet jumped 5.5% in after-hours trading following the results.

'Despite the underwhelming quarter, expectations were so low that investors blew a sigh of relief,' said Jesse Cohen, senior analyst at Investing.com.

By contrast, shares of Snap Inc fell more than 25% last week after the company missed sales expectations and warned of an ad market slowdown.

Alphabet executives said Google was not immune to the pullback, which has been brought on by clients facing product shortages, less demand and a variety of other factors.

Rising wages as well as rising prices of fuel and other items also have forced some ad buyers this year to pare marketing.

But Google has weathered storms better than social media companies. It brings in revenue through a greater variety of functions in the ad market, and search ads can be less expensive for customers to generate since they often include just text.

Clients sometimes prioritize search ads because the marketing is typically directed at people actively searching for related items, yielding better returns.
Ramsay has been charged with attempted murder for the Dover Heights attack

Builder who ran to help said the pair were on all-fours during alleged incident

Neighbours said they often saw Ramsay on the couple's Dover Heights street

Ramsay was best man at Walt's wedding to Helen and godfather to their children

A man who found out his wife had been allegedly stabbed by his best mate outside their Sydney mansion appears to be putting on a brave face for their two children, as he faced reporters for the first time since the harrowing ordeal.

Matthew Brian Ramsay, 46, has been charged with attempted murder over the alleged attack on Helen Coulston outside her cliffside Dover Heights home on Monday.

Mr Ramsay has been friends with Helen and her husband Walt for decades - he was the best man at their wedding, and is godfather to the couple's two children.

Despite the stressful few days, Mr Coulston was all smiles when he returned home with a sushi lunch for his kids on Tuesday.

The dad-of-two also made a bizarre comment to one of the journalists stationed outside their home, offering a quote in exchange for learning where her jacket was from.

'I've got to go give the kids lunch, sushi, they love it,' he said.

'I have to ask you where you got your jacket from everyone likes it, it's obviously the most important thing happening, so if you tell me that, I'll tell you something.'

The husband of a woman, who was allegedly stabbed at the doorstep of her Dover Heights home by a man known to her, has described the incident as "a bit weird".



A man has since been charged with intent to murder. #9News



MORE: https://t.co/N1z6TUSpVt pic.twitter.com/cT4gW781Ks  9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) August 9, 2022

Helen Coulston's husband Walt Coulston is pictured at the couples home on Wednesday morning

Mr Coulston is pictured casually standing at the front door in a pair of ugg loafers

Mr Coulston went on to say the incident was 'as you'd expect... a bit weird'.

'Could you imagine the person who was the best man at your wedding and the godfather to your daughter doing that?' Mr Coulston said.

Police allege Ramsay, 46, stabbed Mrs Coulston with a kitchen knife, before a wrestle ensued where she managed to pry the blade from him.

Matthew Brian Ramsay (pictured), 46, was reportedly battling personal issues when he allegedly stabbed Helen Coulston at her Dover Heights home

Helen Coulston was allegedly stabbed in the chest outside her Dover Heights home on Monday

Pictured: Matthew Ramsay (second man from the left) when he was best man at Helen and Walt Couston's wedding

Local residents said they had often seen Ramsay's car at the Dover Heights home.

Senior police sources revealed that there's no clear motive for the alleged attack at this stage.

The family had only been living in the $4000-per-week rental for a few months before the alleged attack took place.

Pictured: Matthew Brian Ramsay, who allegedly stabbed Helen Coulston, the wife of his best friend

Ramsay was denied bail in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday where he did not appear, remaining in the cells during the brief hearing.

He has also been charged with shoplifting $31 worth of snacks and flavoured milk from a petrol station.

His defence lawyer Andrew O'Brien did not apply for bail and sought an adjournment for both matters.

Mr O'Brien indicated he would look to have his shoplifting charge dealt with under the mental health act when the case returns to court on September 5.

The attempted murder charge will next return to court on October 19, with an interim apprehended violence order put in place with NSW Police naming Mrs Coulston as a person in need of protection.

Ramsay has been charged with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent to murder over the Dover Heights stabbing.

Matthew Brian Ramsay, 46, allegedly stabbed Helen Coulston when she answered the front door of her cliffside Dover Heights home (pictured)

Ramsey was a well respected figure in the real estate industry responsible for the sale of Channel Seven's Pyrmont building for $180 million and Channel Nine's iconic Willoughby headquarters for $147.5 million

Hero builder Peter Haramis, who ran to help, alleged to Daily Mail Australia that the 46-year-old mother was on 'all fours' with Ramsay as they allegedly fought for the knife.

According to his account - which is yet to be tested in court - Mr Haramis claimed she managed to toss the blade to the tradesman.

'He looked at me for a second and froze and that gave her the chance to get the knife,' he said.

'She threw the knife past me and I got it... I said (to the alleged attacker), "you're not getting the knife".'

Mr Haramis said Ramsay 'looked all ragged, with scruffy hair and an out of control beard' on Monday afternoon.

'He's a big bloke and he's wearing a dark grey tracksuit and he's put on weight since that photo,' Mr Haramis said, referring to professional photos of Mr Ramsay in a suit.

In his witness account, shared with police, the builder alleged the knife at the centre of the incident was about 'ten inches-long' (25cm), and that it was his interference that potentially saved Mrs Coulston.

Ramsay allegedly fled the scene, but footage showed the moment police caught up with him at a set of traffic lights in the middle Campbell Parade at Bondi Beach.

'Get down on the ground,' an officer yelled.

Ramsay slowly made his way to the ground, before a policeman pushed him onto the road, footage showed.

Police arrested the 46-year-old man, his white Audi has been towed and is to be forensically examined

Ramsay was a well-respected figure in the real estate industry with more than 20 years' experience and, according to an article by his former employer, Ray White, 'has had a pivotal role in brokering some of Australia's highest profile deals'.

He was responsible for the sale of Channel Seven's Pyrmont building for $180 million and Channel Nine's iconic Willoughby headquarters for $147.5 million.

The 46-year-old also used be the director of the CBRE Residential Development Sites and lead a team which made about $1billion in sales per annum.
Coalition senator Jacinta Price has urged Peter FitzSimons to release the tape of their phone interview in which she claims he was aggressive towards her.

The new senator for the Northern Territory wants the public to make up their own minds about her phone call with the left-wing author for a Sun-Herald article at the weekend.

In a Facebook post after the article about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Senator Price alleged FitzSimons 'accused me of giving racists a voice but that wasn't printed.'

Coalition senator Jacinta Price (left) has accused author Peter FitzSimons of being rude and aggressive to her. He denies the claims

FitzSimons (right with wife Lisa Wilkinson) is a prominent left-wing commentator and a leading figure in the campaign to ditch the monarchy

FitzSimons vehemently denies this.

Senator Price later deleted the post after receiving text messages from FitzSimons claiming her post was defamatory - but later told The Australian she felt FitzSimons was 'aggressive... condescending and rude' during their chat.

'I'm not a wilting violet but he's a very aggressive bloke, his interview style is very bloody aggressive, he doesn't need to launch in,' she told the newspaper.

'He loses the point completely.'

The Walpiri woman is opposed to the Voice, a group of Aboriginal people that would advise parliament.

She believes it 'peddles racial stereotypes of Indigenous Australians being an homogenous separate entity'.

FitzSimons strongly denied being aggressive and told Senator Price in one text 'every word [was] recorded, as I advised you'.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Senator Price urged FitzSimons to release the recording of their conversation.

'I'm quite happy for him to release the recordings if that will just settle things,' she said.

'It's been a bit of a drain and there's obviously a lot of more important issues that I want to focus on and get to work on as a new senator. It's been a not-so-welcome distraction.

'My idea of more respectful and effective journalism is to have conversations about issues without having the opinions of a journalist imposed upon you and being made to feel as though you're somehow wrong or incorrect.

Jacinta Price (pictured), a first term NT Senator, is against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and changing the date of Australia Day from January 26

Senator Price said it is wrong for journalists or commentators to be surprised when an Aboriginal person speaks out against the Voice to Parliament.

'There has been a racial stereotype created around how Aboriginal Australians think and act and behave and we don't generalise in that way about white Australians, or Italian Australians or Asia Australians,' she said.

'So why should we continually have that way of thinking imposed upon us as Indigenous Australians? Again it is a racial stereotype and I won't have a bar of it.'

Senator Price said people need to be more accepting of diverse views within the Aboriginal community.

'The narrative that we are a country of oppressed people and oppressors - we've got to get away from that. It's not helpful, it's not constructive,' she said.

'It provides for a very narrow view of how we are as a diverse bunch of Australians and we've got to take it back to basics of what it means to be human.'

Senator Price said the Voice the Parliament is a bad idea because it will entrench the idea that Aboriginal people are all victims.

'Enshrining it in the Constitution suggests that as a race we're forever going to be in need of special measures and as a race what somehow defines us is being marginalised,' she said.

Senator Price alleged author Peter FitzSimons (pictured with wife and The Project host Lisa Wilkinson) was 'aggressive... condescending and rude'. He denied the claims

'But it's not race that determines our marginalisation - there are those of us of Indigenous heritage who are doing really well, we're fine and have managed to take advantage of the modern world to live successful lives.'

In his text message to Senator Price, FitzSimons reportedly wrote: 'You have told The Australian we shouted at each other?

'Every word recorded, as I advised you. I urge you to withdraw these defamatory accusations, as you know it is nonsense...

'Not a single raised voice on either side, let alone shouting. This is a serious matter and you have defamed me.'

Senator Price later deleted her Facebook post.

FitzSimons said he only confronted Senator Price over 'mistruths' and that he gave her views a fair airing his column.

'What I sought to do was have her correct the record on the nature of our interview, which she partially did by deleting the post, and acknowledging to me I was not shouting...

'As to suggestions of bullying simply not true. The senator posted a complete and demonstrable untruth. I called her out on it, and she took down the post,' he said.

FitzSimons has not responded to Price's challenge.
The coronavirus app once dubbed our ticket out of lockdown has met a sad end, as the federal government announces it is wiping the controversial $21million COVIDSafe tracking program after just two years.

COVIDSafe users were notified on Tuesday night that the app was being decommissioned and were instructed to delete it from their phones.

'COVIDSafe is being decommissioned. The app is no longer being used in contact tracing,' the notification read.

The federal government has decommissioned its multi-million-dollar coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe after just over two years of use

Users of the COVIDSafe app received a notification on Tuesday night telling them to delete it from their devices

'This update removes functionality of the app so no information is stored or collected. This will enable the decommission process of COVIDSafe.'

The closure of the controversial app, brought in by Scott Morrison's government in an attempt to trace Covid cases after the pandemic hit in early 2020, was signed off by Health Minister Mark Butler at the end of July.

Mr Butler said the app cost taxpayers a whopping $21million but was only used to identify two positive Covid cases throughout the entire pandemic.

COVIDSafe was launched by the Morrison Government in April 2020 as a response to the early phases of the Covid pandemic

'This failed app was a colossal waste of more than $21 million of taxpayers money,' he said.

'This is a trademark of the former Government, which treated taxpayer's money like their own.

'The former prime minister said this app would be our "sunscreen" against Covid - all it did was burn through taxpayers' money.

'This failed app only found two unique positive COVID cases at the cost of more than $10 million each.'

Health Minister Mark Butler signed off on the COVIDSafe app's decommissioning in July, noting the app was 'no longer required to prevent or control; the entry, emergence, establishment or spread' of Covid

The COVIDSafe app faced heavy criticism when it was first launched, with people arguing an app designed to track the population's location was a breach of privacy.

There were also concerns the information collected could be accessed or sold to a third party.

However, as restrictions eased and stores removed their QR check-in codes the app was largely unused and forgotten about by most of the population.

The decommission comes almost a year after the app's last update.
Matthew Brian Ramsay was best man at Walt and Helen Coulston's wedding (pictured)

The family of a once high-flying property developer who allegedly knifed his best mate's wife in the chest with a 'ten-inch blade' have broken their silence on the chilling millionaire's row 'attack'.

Matthew Brian Ramsay, 46, was arrested on Monday and charged with stabbing Helen Coulston with intent to murder when she answered the door of her mansion in Dover Heights, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, at about 12.15pm.

Mrs Coulston, 46, was raced to St Vincent's hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

Ramsay was very close with the alleged victim's husband, Walt Coulston - the pair holidayed together in Greece in their 20s, he was best man at the Coulstons wedding and is godfather to their two children.

Mr Coulston spoke in scathing terms about the alleged attacker to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday - which could not be published for legal reasons.

On Wednesday, the one-time real estate agent's sister-in-law, Shailee Ramsay, told Daily Mail Australia the situation is 'hard' because she is also friends with Mr and Mrs Coulston.

'I can't say much because it's complicated and this is a really hard time because Walter and Helen are really good friends of ours too,' she said.

'So it's hard for everyone.'

Matthew Ramsay's sister-in-law, Shailee Ramsay (pictured), told Daily Mail Australia she is also close with the Coulstons

Matthew Ramsay is pictured, right, with his brother, Anthony, and their daughters - before Matthew's marriage broke down

When asked whether her family would support Ramsay throughout his legal battle, she replied: 'Yeah, we will be.'

He was denied bail in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday and will appear before a magistrate again on October 19.

Shailee, a former fitness model, married Ramsay's brother Anthony in 2015 and the trio have been pictured together at family gatherings numerous times over the years - mostly while Matthew was still happily married with an infant daughter.

His marriage broke down in 2016.

Mr Coulston, on the other hand, was all smiles on Tuesday after taking his kids out for sushi - despite his wife's alleged near-death experience.

He made a bizarre comment to one of the journalists stationed outside their home, offering a quote in exchange for learning where her jacket was from.

'I've got to go give the kids lunch, sushi, they love it,' he told 9 News.

Helen Coulston's husband Walt Coulston is pictured at the couple's home on Wednesday morning

Ramsay (pictured left) and Coulston (centre) had a long-standing friendship spanning at least 15 years

'I have to ask you where you got your jacket from... everyone likes it, it's obviously the most important thing happening, so if you tell me that, I'll tell you something.'

Mr Coulston went on to say the incident was 'as you'd expect ... a bit weird'.

'Could you imagine the person who was the best man at your wedding and the godfather to your daughter doing that?' he asked.

Builder Peter Haramis, who ran to help, alleged to Daily Mail Australia that the 46-year-old mother was on 'all fours' with Ramsay as they allegedly fought for the knife.

According to his account - which is yet to be tested in court - Mr Haramis claimed she managed to toss the blade to the tradesman: 'He looked at me for a second and froze and that gave her the chance to get the knife.'

'She threw the knife past me and I got it... I said (to the alleged attacker), "you're not getting the knife".'

Pictured: Matthew Ramsay (second man from the left) when he was best man at Helen and Walt Couston's wedding

Helen Coulston (pictured with her husband) was allegedly stabbed in the chest outside her Dover Heights home on Monday

Ramsay, who did not personally appear in court on Tuesday, was also charged with shoplifting $31 worth of snacks and flavoured milk from a petrol station.

His defence lawyer Andrew O'Brien did not apply for bail and sought an adjournment for both matters.

Mr O'Brien indicated he would look to have his shoplifting charge dealt with under the mental health act when the case returns to court on September 5.

The attempted murder charge will next return to court on October 19, with an interim apprehended violence order put in place with NSW Police naming Mrs Coulston as a person in need of protection.

Ramsay has been charged with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent to murder for the Dover Heights stabbing.

Matthew Brian Ramsay (pictured), 46, appeared in Waverley Local Court on Tuesday. He is a high-flying real estate agent

A hero builder, Peter Haramis (pictured), who ran to help Mrs Coulston alleged to Daily Mail Australia that the 46-year-old mother was on 'all fours' when he arrived on the scene

Neighbours said Ramsay's car was seen frequently in the street where the Coulstons and their children have been renting the house for several months.

The family had only been living in the $4,000-per-week rental for a few months before the alleged attack took place.

According to Ramsay's LinkedIn profile, he works in partner development for commercial real estate company, Stanton Hillier Parker.

However, a spokeswoman for the company said he hasn't worked there for at least 12 months and he had been repeatedly asked to amend his profile to reflect that.

'We've asked LinkedIn to remove it because it's not accurate and he doesn't work for us anymore,' the woman said.
The Trump-backed choice for Wisconsin governor, Tim Michels, beat the state's former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in a proxy race that pit the ex-president against his former Vice President Mike Pence.

At 11:35 p.m. EDT, the Associated Press called the race for Michels, who had been running several points ahead of Kleefisch for most of the night.

The two Republicans were neck-and-neck in the polls in the run-up to election day, with both Trump and Pence traveling to Wisconsin in the final week to campaign for their preferred candidate.

On Friday, Trump told a rally crowd that Kleefisch - who was supported by Pence and also the state's former GOP Gov. Scott Walker - was a 'handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the RINOs, the Washington swamp.'

'Rebecca Kleefisch does not have what it takes to beat Tony Evers,' Trump said, referencing the state's incumbent Democratic governor. 'He's going to win if he runs against Rebecca.'

Both Republican candidates had questioned the results of the 2020 election, but wouldn't go as far as a third candidate, Timothy Ramthun, who said he wanted to decertify the result, which isn't legal.

Still Michels, a construction magnate, was MAGA-approved.

Kleefisch conceded to Michels at an event in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

'I conceded this race to Tim Michels, and I urge you all to stay in the fight,' she said. 'The fight now is truly against Tony Evers, and the liberals who want to take away our way of life.'

Overall, voters in four states - Vermont, Connecticut, Wisconsin and Minnesota - headed to the polls Tuesday for another round of primary races.

PROXY FIGHT: Former President Donald Trump (right) picked Republican gubernatorial hopeful Tim Michels (left) to take on Wisconsin's Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He won the race over the state's former lieutenant governor

Former Vice President Mike Pence (right) campaigned for the state's former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (left). He appeared with her in Pewaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday

On the Democratic side in Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes easily won the primary for the party's Senate nomination.

Barnes will go up against incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, who is expecting a tough re-election fight in a state that went for President Joe Biden in the last election, though for Trump four years before.

Barnes, a progressive backed by Democrats like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, will have to pull moderates and independents in his corner to win against Johnson, a Trump-aligned conservative.

In Minnesota, 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar ended up in a tight primary against more moderate Democratic hopeful Don Samuels.

Omar, the incumbent, was running just a few points ahead as result trickled in late Tuesday night.

The race was finally called in her favor by the Associated Press at 11:47 p.m. EDT.

For Omar, a member of the progressive Squad, her Democratic primary victory was far closer-than-expected against a centrist challenger who questioned the incumbent's support for the 'defund the police' movement.

Omar, who represents Minneapolis and is one of the left's leading voices in Congress, has defended calls to redirect public safety funding more into community-based programs.

She squared off with former City Councilmember Don Samuels, whose north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city.

In Minnesota, 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar ended up in a tight primary against more moderate Democratic hopeful Don Samuels which she won

Samuels argued that Omar is divisive and helped defeat a ballot question last year that sought to replace the city police department with a new public safety unit. He and others also successfully sued the city to force it to meet minimum police staffing levels called for in Minneapolis' charter.

Samuels said his narrow loss shows that Omar is beatable: 'If this was the general election, no doubt that we would have won this race.' Omar countered, 'Tonights victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for.'

Minnesota 5th Congressional District candidate Don Samuels speaks at his primary election night watch party on Tuesday. He lost his race against 'squad' member Rep. Ilhan Omar

Barb Atkinson, a 53-year-old part-time event planner for a radio station who supported Samuels, called Omar 'too far to the left.'

'Although I respect Ilhan Omar and what shes done, I disagree with the defund the police. I really think that wording sends the wrong message,' Atkinson said. She added, 'We need our leaders to work together to solve this issue.'

Omar, who is seeking her third term in the House, had crushed a similar primary challenge two years ago from a well-funded but lesser-known opponent.

'She's had a lot of adversity already and pushback. I dont think her work is done,' said Kathy Ward, a 62-year-old property caretaker for an apartment building in Minneapolis who voted for Omar. 'We've got to give her a chance.'

Democrat Mandela Barnes (right) is expected to win his Wisconsin Senate primary to take on incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in the fall. Barnes, a progressive, has been endorsed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Also in the state there was a special election Tuesday to replace Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, who died in February.

Republican Brad Finstad, a former official with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, had a leg up over Democrat Jeff Ettinger, the former CEO of Hormel Foods, as the district is rated by the Cook Political Report as 'likely Republican.'

Ettinger ran a campaign based on how he has the experience to curb soaring food costs.

The race was called early Wednesday morning for Finstad, who beat Ettinger by about 5,000 votes.

Finstad will serve in the House through January, when Hagedorn's term was to end.

Ettinger and Finstad will then run against each other in November for the full two-year House term.

Before the special election was called, Finstad won his primary to appear on the November ballot against rival Jeremy Munson, who he beat by a slim margin in the May primary to compete in the election to fill Hagedorn's term.

Former Hormel CEO Jeff Ettinger (left), a Democrat, is the underdog in a Minnesota special election to replace the late Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn. He's on the ballot against Republican Brad Finstad, a Trump-era Ag Department official

Tuesday's races in New England were less dramatic.

In Vermont, Rep. Peter Welch quickly won his Democratic primary to replace retiring Sen. Patrick Leahy.

Additionally, the state's incumbent Gov. Phil Scott - a Republican - quickly won his primary. Democrat Brenda Siegel's gubernatorial primary was uncontested, though Scott - vying for a fourth term - is largely expected to win.

State Sen. Becca Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray in the Democratic primary for the state's at-large House seat, which is being vacated by Welch for his Senate run.

If Balint is elected in November - which is likely - she'll be the first woman and first openly gay person to represent Vermont in Congress.

Vermont is the last state in the country yet to add a female member to its congressional delegation. Balint, who immediately becomes the favorite in November's general election, would also be the first openly gay member of Congress from Vermont.

She was endorsed by some of the nations top leaders on the left, including Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Vermont state Sen. Becca Balint was seeking the Democratic Party nomination to run for Vermont's vacant U.S. House seat

Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, pictured, in the Democratic primary for the state's at-large House seat, which is being vacated by Welch for his Senate run

'Vermont has chosen a bold, progressive vision for the future, and I will be proud to represent us in Congress,' Balint said in a statement.

Balint is vying to fill the states lone House seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Peter Welch who is running for Senate and easily secured the Democratic nomination on Tuesday. Welch is trying to succeed Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Senates longest-serving member, who is retiring, creating Vermonts first open Senate seat since 2006, when Sanders succeeded Jim Jeffords.

Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, an ex-staffer for Welch and has been backed by Leahy and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. In November, she'll face Liam Madden, a Marine Corps veteran from Bellows Falls who secured the Republican nomination.

Leora Levy, a first-time political candidate who received a late endorsement from former President Donald Trump, won the Connecticut Republican primary for U.S. Senate

In Connecticut, three Republican hopefuls were running for the chance to take on incumbent Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

The Trump-backed candidate, Leora Levy, was running ahead of rivals Themis Klarides and Peter Lumaj shortly after polls closed, and went on to win the race.

Levy's win is something of an upset that could signal a shift for the state GOP after years of backing moderates.

A socially conservative member of the Republican National Committee, Levy defeated the party-endorsed candidate, former state House Minority Leader Klarides, a social moderate, and fellow conservative Lumaj.

She appeared stunned by the victory when she appeared before a cheering crowd of supporters in her hometown of Greenwich.

'We're making history here. It's really exciting,' she said. Levy thanked Trump for last week's endorsement, promising, 'I will not let you down. Thank you for having my back.'

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash conceded her race in Washington state's top two primary for the 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday night

Across the country in Washington State Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of two Republican members of Washington's congressional delegation who voted to impeach Donald Trump, conceded her reelection bid after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president.

Trump had targeted the six-term incumbent and endorsed Joe Kent, a former Green Beret, in the 3rd Congressional District contest. The district is in southwest Washington state, across the border from Portland, Oregon.

Herrera Beutler, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2010, lead Kent by about 4,700 votes on election night but her lead shrunk throughout last week, and updated returns put Kent ahead and into the No. 2 spot on Monday night.

Once Clark County, the district's largest, and Thurston Counties updated their tallies Tuesday, Kent led by 928 votes and 22.7% of the vote, and Herrera Beutler was in third place with 22.3% of the vote.

Herrera Beutler conceded in an email shortly after the latest update, saying that 'since I was first elected to this seat I have done my very best to serve my home region and our country.'

'Though my campaign came up short this time, I'm proud of all we've accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home,' she wrote, saying that 'I'm proud that I always told the truth, stuck to my principles, and did what I knew to be best for our country.'

Herrera Beutler has said she has no regrets about her impeachment vote following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol - and has stood by her comments made both on the floor and on Twitter afterward.

She revealed how Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told her he spoke with Trump as rioters were storming the Capitol, and that according to McCarthy the president said: '`Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'

Joe Kent, a Republican endorsed by Trump, will now advance to Nov 8 general election for the congressional seat in the 3rd Congressional District contest in Washington State

The former president was quick to congratulate Kent.

'Joe Kent just won an incredible race against all odds in Washington State. Importantly, he knocked out yet another impeacher, Jaime Herrera Beutler, who so stupidly played right into the hands of the Democrats.

'Joe is a wonderful guy, who bravely served our Country as a Green Beret. He has a truly bright future. Congratulations, Joe!' Trump stated.

Kent is a regular on conservative cable shows who echoes the former presidents grievances about the 2020 election outcome, and on Steve Bannon's podcast Monday, Kent criticized the state primary as 'not a transparent process' and said that he had to remedy a signature issue with his own ballot that day.

Under Washingtons primary system, the top two vote getters in each race August 2 advance to the November election, regardless of party.

Washington is a vote by mail state, and voters dont have to declare a party affiliation.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez had already advanced to the November ballot since she was the top vote getter after the August 2 primary, with 31% of the vote.
Republican Rep. Scott Perry says that the FBI confiscated his personal cellphone one day after FBI agents raided former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

'I'm outraged  though not surprised  that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garland's DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress,' Perry said in a statement to Fox News on Tuesday.

'My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the government's business.'

Perry said that while he and his family were traveling earlier Tuesday, he was approached by three FBI agents who handed him a warrant and seized his cellphone.

Republican Rep. Scott Perry says that the FBI confiscated his personal cellphone one day after FBI agents raided former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home

Perry, a loyal Trump ally, is an original member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and took over as the group's leader at the beginning of the year, Fox News reported

'They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish,' he said.

Perry, a loyal Trump ally, is an original member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and took over as the group's leader at the beginning of the year, Fox News reported.

The confiscation of Perry's phone comes just one day after FBI agents descended on Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida in what Perry called in his statement an 'unnecessary and aggressive action.'

'As with President Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys,' he stated.

'These kinds of banana republic tactics should concern every Citizen  especially considering the decision before Congress this week to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to further persecute law-abiding Citizens.'

The FBI raid on Monday was related to Trump's removal of classified documents from the White House and not the Department of Justice's investigation into January 6, The New York Times reported.

Mar-a-Lago, Trump said, 'is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.'

'After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate,' Trump said.

The confiscation of Perry's phone comes just one day after FBI agents descended on Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in what Perry called in his statement an 'unnecessary and aggressive action'

Trump later put out a campaign-style video warning that 'we are a nation that has weaponized its law enforcement against the opposing political party, like never before.'

Trump is mulling running for president again in 2024.

Politico reported Tuesday that Trumpworld is keeping tabs on the Republicans who are leaping to the ex-president's defense.

'They're going to drastically use this to rally their allies, GOP leaders on Capitol Hill and juice for his political agenda and run for 2024,' one source close to the former president told Politico.

'If there was a 99 percent chance it's 100 percent now. He makes it part of his platform  going after the FBI,' the source said of Trump's White House ambitions.

Leading members of the party including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, RNC chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel and House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik sent out furious statements about the raid.

McCarthy told Attorney General Merrick Garland via Twitter to 'preserve your documents and clear your calendar.'

'I've seen enough,' he wrote. 'The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization.

Former President Donald Trump was spotted leaving Trump Tower in New York on Monday night after announcing his Mar-a-Lago home had been raided by the FBI. He'll have dinner with a dozen House Republicans Tuesday night

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy called out US Attorney General Merrick Garland on Twitter, telling him 'preserve your documents and clear your calendar'

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called the raid 'rogue behavior of communist countries, NOT the United States of America!!!'

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a prominent member of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House of Representatives, called the raid 'rogue behavior of communist countries, NOT the United States of America!!!'

'These are the type of things that happen in countries during civil war. The political persecution MUST STOP!!!' she tweeted.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, another prominent member of the Republican Study Committee, tweeted that the DOJ 'must be held accountable.'

'Biden's FBI just raided the house of the man most likely to be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2024on top of all the other fake investigations into President Trump. Stop weaponizing federal agencies to distract from your own failed agenda!' Boebert said.

'The GOP must set up a Select Committee to investigate the FBI's politically-motivated raid on Mar-a-Lago and on ALL the fraudulent persecution of President Trump from our government,' she continued. This cannot wait. We are turning into a banana republic at record speed.'
The wife of a care worker who was left permanently brain damaged when he was savagely beaten by a group of youths has vowed to be the first person one of his attackers sees when he is released from prison.

Alan Willson, 47, was battered with a 3ft wooden log in a park on Easter Sunday last year following a row over a frisbee at a park in Worthing, West Sussex.

He suffered a shattered skull resulting in 'significant life-changing brain injuries', along with lung trauma and broken bones when he ran to protect an 11-year-old schoolboy from being bullied.

Mr Willson now requires permanent care and has been left unable to speak or play with his children.

Teenage brothers George and Archie Tilley, 13 and 14 at the time, were jailed for 12 years following the attack described by a judge as 'beyond the comprehension of most people'.

A third youth Harry Furlong, now 18, was jailed for 20 months for his part in the remorseless beating.

He is due to serve half of the sentence in custody, but could be released at the end of this month.

Mr Wilson's wife Annie, 51, told The Mirror that she is determined to sit face-to-face with Furlong.

She now wants to see a change in the law around serious crimes committed by youths, including naming defendants in the media to serve as a deterrent.

Alan Willson (pictured with wife Annie) was battered with a 3ft wooden log in a park on Easter Sunday last year

Harry Furlong (pictured), now 18, was jailed for 20 months for his part in the remorseless beating

Teenage brothers George and Archie Tilley (pictured), 13 and 14 at the time of the attack, were jailed for 12 years following the attack

Mr Willson has been left unable to speak or play with his children following the savage beating last year

Under current law, a defendant is granted automatic anonymity until the age of 18 - unless a judge decides to lift the reporting restriction if they deem it is in the public interest to so.

Annie said: 'When I sit and cry, and Alan sees my tears, he then begins to cry. But to get him to stop crying is a lot more effort than it is for me to stop.

'So I try not to cry. I worship the ground he walks on. He was the nicest man ever. He still is. I miss his stupid sense of humour, his high-pitched laugh, his constant I-love-yous.

'At the beginning, I was saying it would have been better if they had hit Alan one more time. Alan does not want to be a burden on anyone.'

Annie has asked Sussex Police for restorative justice, a scheme in which which brings those harmed by crime and those responsible it into communication.

Furlong has the option to refuse, but Annie says she will be outside the prison walls upon his release if he does.

She adds: 'When he walks out that jail, I want to be the first thing he sees. I need to face him for my own peace of mind. No judge, no jury, just me and him.

'I need that closure and to get all the truth out of him, as I'm sure he held things back. I can't believe he could be getting out so soon. It's sickening.'

She is now trying to gain closure following the horrific ordeal and has been to a police station to see the clothes her husband was wearing at the time of the attack - despite officers warning her that they are covered in blood.

A judge described the attack carried out by brothers Archie and George Tilley as 'beyond the comprehension of most people'.

Archie (left) and George Tilley (right) were jailed for 12 years each earlier this year for the beating of Mr Willson

The Tilley brothers pictured outside court earlier this year. They re-enacted the horrific attack at a local train station following the ordeal

Mrs Wilson said she has 'never seen so much blood', but needed to see them for closure.

She also drove to Goring train station to stand on the platform where CCTV played to Lewes Crown Court showed the teenagers re-enacting the attack.

Mrs Wilson revealed she hugged Furlong's mother following his sentencing in June, who apologised for what he had done.

She has had to quit her job to become a full-time carer for her husband.

Mr Willson was bleeding heavily from his ears and head when his wife found him lying on a park footpath near their home.

Mrs Willson was was told by doctors his injuries were catastrophic and they did not believe he would survive.

Furlong was convicted of grievous bodily harm by a majority of 11 to one. George and Archie Tilley were found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent by unanimous jury verdict

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'This was a horrific crime and our sympathies remain with Mr Will son and his family.

'Sentencing is a matter for independent judges and no decision has been made about whether Harry Furlong will be released on home detention curfew.

'Those who are released face strict conditions which, if broken, can mean they are recalled to prison.'
An Aussie man has found out the limitations of his insurance the hard way after his claim for $80,000 was denied by the travel company.

Appearing on SBS Insight on Tuesday night, Jordan Darney described his horrific ordeal while holidaying in Prague in the Czech Republic back in 2014 when he was 21.

Jordan, from Marcoola on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, had returned to his hotel room after a night out with friends, when he stepped out of a window to smoke a cigarette and fell four storeys to the ground.

'So we'd normally step outside and smoke on this flat roof surface...I went out the fourth window this night and I fell four storeys straight onto the ground,' Jordan said.

'My friends ran straight down, got an ambulance and I got taken to the Prague University Hospital.

'I smashed my pelvis, so like both sides were broken, I did (broke) my elbows, my ribs, lung, internal bleeding, my spleen and had a severe concussion.'

Jordan Darney (pictured) appeared on SBS Insight on Tuesday night, retelling the accident where he fell four storeys while holidaying in Prague back in 2014

Jordan (pictured) suffered a smashed pelvis, broken elbows and ribs, had internal bleeding and a severe concussion as a result of the fall

He woke up with little memory of the accident but it was later revealed he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.114.

That blood alcohol level was classified as 'moderate to medium.'

Due to his horror injuries, Jordan was unable to fly home because his insurance policy through Southern Cross Travel Insurance was voided when the company discovered he had been drinking before the incident.

When asked whether he thought that amount of alcohol could void a travel insurance policy, Jordan said, 'no not all, and nor did majority of anybody that I've spoken to'.

Jordan (pictured) woke up with little memory of the accident but it was later revealed he recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.114

'I think on my travel insurance maybe it was on page 53 of the fine print,' he said.

'When you go on holidays you don't go out to binge drink as such...but you go on holidays to relax and have a drink.

'You might have two drinks at dinner...so does that void your travel insurance?'

Jordan's mother Sue flew to Europe on the first available flight after her son called her and her husband Craig to tell them what had happened.

'Jordan rang from hospital and Sue answered and asked, "Is dad there with you?"' Craig told Daily Mail Australia back in 2014.

Jordan (pictured) had been prepped for surgery when he was informed that his insurance company was refusing to pay the medical bills because he had been drinking

'He told us both to sit down in a really low, horrible voice. I was assuming the worst, but then I realised that if he was ringing then he must be alright.

'After we got off the phone we broke down and tried to console each other and then it was a mad thing of "what do we do, ring the insurance company, get some flights".'

Jordan had been prepped for surgery when he was informed that his insurance company was refusing to pay the medical bills because he had been drinking.

'Sue had to max out her credit cards to get him the surgery, and since then it cost us $6000 a week just for him to stay in hospital,' Craig said.

Back in 2014, Craig said the family were worried about finding the money to keep Jordan in hospital.

'He's going to be there for at least another six or seven weeks, and I'm not sure where we're going to get the money from,' he said.

'Money doesn't mean anything to me. If I have to live in a hut for the rest of my life, I don't care. That's why you have kids. I just want Jordan home.'

His father Craig had quizzed Southern Cross Travel Insurance about their policy details

In order to get Jordan home, the family had to raise the $60,000 needed to pay for a specialised medical team to assist him on a flight home.

As a result of his injuries, Jordan was unable to sit up for take off or landing, and so had to lie on a stretcher throughout the flight.

His father Craig had quizzed Southern Cross Travel Insurance about their policy details.

'I posed a hypothetical question to them, and asked that "if I was overseas and shared a bottle of wine with my wife, and looked one way before crossing but forgot to look the other, and was hit by a car, would I be covered?"' he said.

'They couldn't answer me. But that's the same level alcohol as Jordan. I just don't know what the world is coming to.'
Detectives investigating the suspected gang stabbing of a 15-year-old in one of Londons most exclusive suburbs have been met with a wall of silence from youngsters.

The victim, who has been named as Deshaun Tuitt, pictured, was knifed when a brawl erupted last week in Highbury Fields, Islington  where Boris Johnson used to jog and play frisbee.

The teenager, who told police Im dying as he lay bleeding beside a playground, later died in hospital. A large group of youngsters were seen loitering in the park just hours before the killing.

Deshaun Tuitt, 15, was fatally stabbed when a brawl erupted last week in Highbury Fields, Islington

Chief Superintendent Andy Carter, Borough Commander for Camden and Islington, said: We know that there were lots of people in the park on Thursday evening, many of whom were young people who may be finding it difficult to come forward. I would urge you to think about Deshauns family who are looking for answers.

Gang violence was feared to be behind the killing of the teenager.

Notes left at the scene to pay tribute to Deshaun, also known as Huntz, included: Long live Huntz. You will be missed, but sleep tight beautiful boy.

Celebrities who have been known to have lived in the area include actress Emma Watson. Houses sell for as much as 5.5million  but sit cheek by jowl with some of Britains most deprived estates.

Chloe Hadjimatheou, 47, who was in the playground with her five-year-old son, told MyLondon: I didnt see the stabbing itself, I saw the young people running away and the guy on the ground. I didnt realise what was going on I didnt connect them at first, I thought he was drunk.

Within five minutes a big police van came down and then another two unmarked cars, they cordoned off the whole thing and still there was no ambulance.

It took a while to get there and the kid was in a lot of pain and at one point he was shouting Im dying and the police officer was saying you are going to be OK.

So I thought he would be OK. I was shocked to find out what happened this morning.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization that will change how the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine is administered in an attempt to stretch out supply amid high demand.

The decision made on Tuesday will allow the vaccine to be given to high-risk adults intradermally, which means between the layers of the skin, rather than subcutaneously, or under the skin. This would allow providers to get five doses out of a standard one-dose vial to increase "supply."

Monkeypox Vaccine Authorization

The new authorization will also allow subcutaneous vaccination in people under 18 years old who are at high risk of infection with monkeypox. The decision could increase the number of vaccine doses in the national stockpile from 441,000 to more than 2.2 million, said officials.

However, the EUA is not going to be a panacea as the monkeypox outbreak continues to grow and vaccine demand remains high. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that at least 1.5 million Americans are eligible for the two-dose vaccine, as per CNN.

The White House's assistant national response coordinator, Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, on Tuesday said, "I think we're going to see that we will likely still run out of vaccines before we run out of arms."

Read Also: Polio Virus Found in New York Wastewater Amid Mayor Eric Adams' State of Emergency Declaration Over Monkeypox Outbreak

In a report, the CDC revealed that 9,492 probably or confirmed monkeypox cases were reported in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia as of Tuesday evening. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said that in recent weeks, the monkeypox virus has continued to spread at an alarming rate.

According to CNBC, the Jynneos vaccine is the only FDA-approved monkeypox vaccine available in the United States. Typically, the shots are administered in two separate doses, 28 days apart.

Spreading Outbreak

Califf added that there was no data on how well the vaccine prevents disease because there were no smallpox cases and monkeypox outbreaks have been small in the past. The director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, added that the public health agency is launching various studies to collect real-world effectiveness data as the shots roll out across the country.

People in the U.S. have struggled to get appointments for monkeypox vaccine shots with long lines outside of clinics across the nation. The recent outbreak is the largest in the world and forced Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to declare the outbreak a public health emergency last week.

While monkeypox is rarely fatal and no deaths have been reported in the U.S., it can cause lesions that can be very painful for the victims. Some patients even require hospitalization to manage the pain they feel from the infection.

The situation comes after protesters demanded swifter actions from the government to address the monkeypox outbreak and the lack of vaccines available to people across the country. Demonstrators gathered on Monday afternoon outside San Francisco's Federal Building.

They chatted and carried signs that read "vaccine access now" and "TPOXX now" and were organized by groups including the HIV Action Network and the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club. The protest was meant to raise community awareness regarding the outbreak, CBS News reported.



Related Article: Monkeypox Outbreak Is Getting Problematic as US Cases Near 7000; Joe Biden Declares Public Health Emergency

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Harrowing details have emerged of how a young mother, grandmother and two children drank from puddles and used their vehicle's mirrors trying to get the attention of rescuers during their 48-hour ordeal lost in the outback.

Darian Aspinall, 27, her two children Winter Bellamy, 2, and Koda Bellamy, 4, and their grandmother Leah Gooding, 50, have been reunited with loved ones after they spent two days lost in far-west NSW.

The family travelled through the region on Sunday from Queensland on their way through to Adelaide, the final destination where they were moving.

They had planned to spend the night in the remote township of Packsaddle on Sunday night to meet with the children's father, but his family never arrived.

Ms Aspinall's distraught fiance Linny Bellamy desperately spent the last two days trying to find them, with police conducting a major land search across the region.

The family had run out of food and water when they were miraculously found safe and well by a rescue helicopter late Tuesday afternoon.

Police say Google maps took them off track onto a dirt road away from a sealed highway where they got bogged.

But with no phone reception, they were unable to call for help.

The family walked more than four hours to try and find help, but decided to return to their car where they stayed for 48 hours before they were found.

Darian Aspinall (left) was travelling with her children Winter Bellamy (left) and Koda Bellamy, four, and their 50-year-old grandmother when the family became stranded

'I'm beside myself that we ended up in this situation but couldn't have asked for a better outcome,' an emotional Mr Bellamy told Nine News.

'It was the best phone call I've ever had in my life after two days of horror, not knowing what to do.'

The family used the mirrors of their Hyundai Tucson in a desperate attempt to attract the attention of search aircraft.

They had spent the last two days surviving on water from a roadside puddle.

After capturing the attention of an air rescue crew, the family were checked at the scene by paramedics and airlifted to Tibooburra for further assessment before being reunited with loved ones on Tuesday night.

The family are reported to be tired but fine.

'I can't believe they managed to stay as strong as they did... they looked after each other and just tried to ration everything out,' Mr Bellamy told Seven News.

Linny Bellamy (pictured shortly before his family were found) has since been reunited with his fiancee and two children

Linny Bellamy (right) spent two days not knowing what had happened to his fiancee Darian Aspinall (left) and their two children. He had been travelling a few hours hours behind them

He later wrote on Facebook: 'My family has been found safe. They're being transported to hospital and back home to me.

'Thank you everyone for your messages and support. Could not feel more relief.'

It had been a much different story a few hours earlier with Mr Bellamy pacing outside his home and heartbreaking public appeal.

'We are doing everything we can to get this out so they're found safe,' he wrote.

'Every passing moment my heart breaks more and more.'

The couple and their two children had spent the last year living in Cairns in far north Queensland but recently decided to return to Adelaide, where they're originally from.

The couple have been together for six years and became engaged last November while Winter celebrated her second birthday just last month.
Australians will brace for even more rain this week as forecasters warn freezing temperatures, icy winds and cool mornings are here to stay until the weekend.

Those living between Southern Queensland and Tasmania shivered through temperatures 8C below the August average at the start of the week with Perth recording one of its coldest days of the year on Tuesday.

An icy cold front spreading over WA's southwest can be blamed for the drop in temperatures with Perth's main weather station hitting a measly 9C at midday.

Australians will brace for even more rain this week as forecasters warn freezing temperatures, icy winds and cool mornings are here to stay (pictured, pedestrians in Melbourne)

The latest cold front will bring widespread rain and the chance of storms from Thursday through to Saturday as it crosses from west of the country to the east

Weatherzone said it was equal to the city's average overnight minimum temperature at this time of year and 9C below its average August maximum temperature.

'If Perth fails to reach 14.2C before 9am on Wednesday, this will have been the city's coldest day so far this year,' the weather bureau said.

In a weather phenomenon that only happens once or twice a year, snow has fallen on Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range in southwest WA.

Dozens of locals headed out to catch a glimpse of the snow on Tuesday, which fell on a peak about as high as Blackheath in NSW's Blue Mountains.

In good news for WA residents, Weatherzone predicts temperatures will warm in coming days - however showers are forecast to fall over the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood warning for inland NSW and parts of northeast Victoria as the east coast prepares to be battered with rain.

In a weather phenomenon that only happens once or twice a year, snow fell on Bluff Knoll in the Stirling Range in southwest WA on Tuesday (pictured, locals flock to see the snow)

Weatherzone Meteorologist Joel Pippard told Daily Mail Australia the low pressure system - which has combined with a trough and a cold front - was to blame for the cooler weather being felt right around Australia this week (pictured, pedestrians in Brisbane)

'Rain is expected to return to southeast Australia later this week due to a front and low-pressure system moving across Australia,' the bureau stated.

A final flood warning was also issued for Gwydir River at Yarraman in northeast NSW.

'Forecast rainfall across the Gwydir catchment later this week may cause renewed river rises, the situation is being monitored closely,' BOM said.

The latest cold front will bring widespread rain and the chance of storms from Thursday through to Saturday as it crosses from west of the country to the east.

Weatherzone Meteorologist Joel Pippard told Daily Mail Australia the low pressure system - which has combined with a trough and a cold front - was to blame for the cooler weather being felt right around Australia this week.

'Rain is expected to return to southeast Australia later this week due to a front and low-pressure system moving across Australia,' the weather bureau stated

Light showers are expected over Sydney before clearing on Tuesday with downpours returning midweek (pictured, pedestrians walk in Melbourne)

The forecaster said 'basically everywhere but the Far North' would be impacted by the icy conditions including most of Central Australia.

He said large cloud bands, which form when cold and warm air combine, could be seen stretching all the way from Broome in WA, to Adelaide.

The system is expected to sweep across the country to the south-eastern states and bring showers and cool temperatures to northeast NSW and southwest Queensland.

A 1,800km blanket of frost is expected to hit Queensland this week, stretching between Stanthorpe and the state's far north.

Mr Pippard said it was unlikely the fresh round of rain would cause any new flooding events but could exacerbate existing floods.

The deluge is forecast to fall heaviest on Friday and Saturday before moving off-shore - with Tasmania to cop the brunt of the downpours.

Tasmania's east coast could experience minor flooding over the weekend, with a Tasman low likely to form and bring heavy rain.

'Temperatures will feel more mild in NSW and Queensland,' Mr Pippard said, adding those in the southern states were more likely to feel the 'core of the cold' due to their proximity to the low-pressure system.

The forecaster said there was no hard and fast answer to when temperatures will start to warm as the country transitioned from winter to spring.

'We'll start to see both cold and warm events in August and September,' he said,

'These low-pressure systems bring warm air ahead of them before the cold, which is especially felt on the east coast.'

The wet weather will begin to clear this weekend before a cool and dry week.


One of the founding Fox News Channel anchors, Uma Pemmaraju, has died at the age of 64.

Pemmaraju was behind the anchor desk when the cable news channel launched in October 1996.

At the time, she was one of the only Indian-American news anchors who had managed to make it to the national level.

'We are deeply saddened by the death of Uma Pemmaraju, who was one of Fox News Channel's founding anchors and was on the air the day we launched.

Her cause of death was not immediately made public.

Uma Pemmaraju, one of the first Fox News Channel anchors in 1996, has died at the age of 64

Uma Pemmaraju is pictured alongside her daughter, Kirina Alana Devi, right

'Uma was an incredibly talented journalist as well as a warm and lovely person, best known for her kindness to everyone she worked with. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her entire family,' said Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott.

Pemmaraju's first role at the news channel was anchoring Fox News Now and Fox On Trends.

She then left the network but rejoined once again in 2003 as an anchor fill-in host on the channel.

Pemmaraju also hosted other programs on the cable network including Fox News Live and The Fox Report interviewing many high-profile newsmakers, including the Dalai Lama.

Born in Rajahmundry, India, but raised in San Antonio, Texas, having moved there at the age of six, Pemmaraju learned her journalism skills working at local television stations in Dallas, Baltimore and then WBZ Boston.

In Baltimore she won an Emmy Award for a report about the rescue of a child who nearly drowned.

Pemmaraju learned her journalism skills working at local television stations in Dallas and then WBZ Boston, pictured above

Uma Pemmaraju, left, is pictured alongside her daughter, Kirina Alana Devi, center

She then moved to New York to help launch the Fox News Channel.

In a 1993 interview with the Boston Globe, Pemmaraju said that she tried to focus her reporting on stories about those who were disenfranchised.

'I'm a conduit to help other people. I don't want to sound too sentimental. But that's what I'm about. I want to use my celebrity to help people, to help bring about something that needs to be done.'

One memorable moment occurred while working in Boston in 1990.

Just as she was preparing to film a feature story at a convenience store, two masked men raced into the store and conducted a robbery.

Ive been sent out to crime locations before, but this was the first time one came to me, she told the Boston Globe.

Her interest in journalism began at a young age. Her grandfather was a newspaper publisher and as a child she would keep a diary writing about world news that she had seen on television.

As a teenager and throughout college she worked for a local newspaper and television station.

Pemmaraju received several Emmy awards during her career for reporting and investigative journalism.

When not in front of the lens, she also taught journalism at Emerson College in Boston and at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
An Albanian actor and his wife who hurtled from the sixth floor of their NYC apartment building may have struggled with each other before the fatal plunge.

Investigators are probing the possibility of a struggle between the couple, a high-ranking police source told the New York Post on Tuesday.

'There were signs in the apartment that indicated it wasn't all Kumbaya, like they didn't just decide to leave their kids behind and jump,' the source said.

Florind Belliu, 35, and Ornela Shehi, 28, were found in the courtyard of 2199 Cruger Avenue at Pelham Parkway South in Morris Park section of The Bronx about 9:15 a.m. Saturday, after plunging from the sixth floor.

Distressing video shows Shehi falling from the building's sixth floor and landing in the alleyway. Her husband landed seconds later.

The police source told The Post that a suicide note was not left behind.

The city's Medical Examiner's Office has not yet determined the cause of death for either Belliu or Shehi as it awaits 'additional investigative information.'

Investigators are probing whether there was a struggle between Bronx couple Florind Belliu, 35, and Ornela Shehi, 28, before they plunged to their deaths on Saturday

Belliu, who was an aspiring actor and screenwriter, had previously been reported to be 'emotionally disturbed' and missing in April, before police located him

Neighbors say they heard shouting just before the couple fell as investigators continued to look into the deadly incident as the tragic result of a possible fight between the pair.

The couple moved into the building with their two young sons about four months ago, neighbors said, and authorities never received reports of domestic violence, according to police sources.

Their young sons, ages 6 and 2, were inside the apartment at the time with one neighbor recalling hearing a child cry out, 'Mom! Mom!' after the tragic fall.

Neighbors told local media that the pair were a 'quiet couple' who 'kept to themselves,' but recall seeing Belliu in an angry state on Friday.

'I've seen them always buying things for the house, like every day together, with two kids together, we didn't recognize there was something wrong,' Shadie Perkaj, the wife of the building's super, told the Daily News, adding that Saturday was Belliu's birthday.

Belliu, who was an aspiring actor and screenwriter, was a graduate of the University of Arts in Tirana, Albania, and performed on TV and in the theater before moving to the US, according to EuroNews Albania.

Belliu's friend Elona Caslli mourned the loss on Facebook.

'What great pain made you [kill yourself]?!' Caslli wrote in Albanian. 'A multiple tragedy for which there is no word of consolation. God give strength to your children and parents.'

Family members and friends mourned outside the Bronx apartment building on Saturday. The New York Daily News reported that Belliu's devastated mother collapsed and could be seen sobbing in response to the news of her son's death.

Video reportedly shows Shehi plunging from the building's sixth floor first and landing in the alleyway, with Belliu following seconds later. They were pronounced dead at the scene

Police sources told the Post that Belliu had previously been reported to be 'emotionally disturbed' and missing in April, before police located him.

Neighbor Robert Sanchez described Belliu as someone who didn't have a friendly demeanor.

'When you would walk next to him he just didn't have a friendly demeanor so I would just keep it moving,' Sanchez said. 'They kept to themselves and were very isolated.'

An employee at Zymi, a nearby cafe, agreed with the sentiment.

'He was never in the right state of mind. He would come have a coffee or eat and would not interact with the fellow members of the community,' the employee said. 'The wife never really said anything. She was always quiet and isolated but they always seemed to have the kids (with them).'

Neighbors told local media that the pair were a 'quiet couple' who 'kept to themselves,' but recall seeing Belliu in an angry state on Friday. Their deaths are under investigation

Belliu graduated University of Arts in Tirana, Albania, and performed on TV and in the theater before moving to the US, where he was recently working on two books and a movie script

Friends and family mourned the couple's loss on social media while questioning why he allegedly hurled himself off the building

Friends and family mourned the couple's loss on social media while questioning why he allegedly hurled himself off the building.

'Why bro, why bro...did you choose this path? What was missing when you all had us in your arms and supported you? What made you to take a road without a beginning and an end?' Albanian actor Andi Llabuti posted.

'What do we say to [your] mother when she sees us on the street that we cannot protect you? Why didn't you think a little about your family, your mother and your sisters? We all knew your abilities and the values you had, but never this wisdom! You made us so sad that there is no explanation! May Allah have mercy on you!'

Albanian comedian Cela Irgen posted a tribute on Instagram stating that Belliu broke his heart.

'I can't believe I'm making this status for you,' he wrote in a Sunday post. 'You are embedded in my mind and my heart for all those beautiful memories we have together and the passion we shared for acting. May you both rest in peace my dear friend and may God give strength to both families in these difficult times.'
A thief who assaulted and stole thousands from a vulnerable neighbour has dodged jail because he is transitioning.

Despite his 'despicable offences', Kyle Jay Andrew, of Truro, Cornwall, was told he would not be sent to prison immediately.

Judge Robert Linford told Truro Crown Court the 'extremely unusual' decision was made because the 26-year-old would currently have to be held at a women's prison. Andrew's defence barrister argued this would affect his mental health and delay the process of his transition by months, if not years.

The court heard that Andrew had taken 3,000 in total from his neighbour - although he only pleaded guilty to having stolen 1,500, claiming the rest was 'legitimate gifts'.

A thief who assaulted and stole thousands from a vulnerable neighbour has dodged jail because he is transitioning

Despite his 'despicable offences', Kyle Jay Andrew, of Kemp Close, Truro, Cornwall, was told he would not be sent to prison immediately

Prosecutor Katie Churcher said Andrew came up with a litany of reasons why he needed the money from his neighbour, who was said to be vulnerable. These included needing a locksmith, a train fare, a medical emergency and moving to Manchester.

Andrew was actually funding a drug addiction, buying cannabis and cocaine, and settling debts with dealers.

In April last year the victim was in his flat in Truro when he got a phone call from Andrew who seemed very distressed. The neighbour met Andrew outside and the pair walked to Lloyds Bank in the city. Here, the neighbour withrew cash - but then he phoned the police.

On the following morning the neighbour was woken up by Andrew ringing his doorbell, attempting to enter his flat. Worried, he told Andrew to leave him alone.

But four days later, the neighbour was woken up again by noises in his flat and found Andrew in the hallway. He told the victim he needed 100 and would not leave until he received the money. He then tried to grab the neighbour's phone and his fist hit the neighbour's cheek in a scuffle.

Defending, Emily Cooke said Andrew had had a traumatic childhood, which had led to mental health issues and a drug habit.

Andrew was actually funding a drug addiction, buying cannabis and cocaine, and settling debts with dealers

Andrew was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary and six months for theft, with both suspended for two years and to run concurrently.

At the time of the offences, Andrew had been on cocaine and crack cocaine.

He also had issues with his gender, she said, and going to prison 'would deepen that significant psychological issue'.

Andrew has 'lived as a man since the age of 16', but a few years later he decided to make the transition.

However, he was turned away because of his poor mental health and his drug abuse.

Ms Cooke said Andrew was diagnosed with gender dysphoria last year and is about to start the process of freezing eggs and then taking hormones.

He was sentenced to two years in prison for burglary and six months for theft, with both suspended for two years and to run concurrently.

The judge made no separate penalty for assault but issued a restraining order preventing Andrew from contacting the victim in any way for the next five years.
Schools which only offer 'gender netural' toilets are acting unlawfully, the Attorney General has claimed.

Suella Braverman, the Government's chief legal advisor, has said schools have a duty of care to offer 'single-sex toilets' to students.

She has also hit out at schools 'transitioning children behind their parents' backs' and has labelled calling transgender children by their preferred pronouns a 'serious intervention'.

Ms Braverman made the remarks as she gets set to lay out the Government's advice on how schools should deal with transgender pupils in a speech later today at the Policy Exchange think tank.

Writing in today's Telegraph, the Attorney General said schools can 'refuse to allow a biologically and legally male child, who identifies as transgender, from using girls' toilets'.

Suella Braverman will lay out the Government's legal advice on how school's should deal with transgender children

She said: 'There is also a separate duty to provide single-sex toilets in schools, breach of which would be unlawful. The legislative background therefore means that biological male children are generally not permitted to use the female toilets in schools.

She added that schools which 'socially transition' children without the consent of their parents could be in breach of their duty of care and face lawsuits.

Ms Braverman is set to say that teachers referring to transgender children by their preferred pronoun should not be done unless a medical professional has advised them to do so.

Unisex or gender-neutral toilets in schools are 'unlawful' the Attorney General has warned

Earlier this year the then-Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch, who along with Ms Braverman entered the race for Conservative leader, said children 'avoid' using gender-neutral lavatories at school.

Women's rights groups have long argued that they are 'disadvantaged' by gender-neutral toilets that contain both urinals and cubicles.

The Home Office, BBC, Channel 4 offices all have gender-neutral facilities.

The Old Vic theatre also scrapped its men and women toilets and replaced them with 'self-selection' facilities that can be used by both genders in October 2019.

It has been reported that NHS hospitals have spent more than 800,000 on gender-neutral toilets in the past four years.

Data obtained by the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) showed nearly 740 new unisex toilets were either built or converted since 2018  including during the Covid pandemic.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, in Merseyside, alone spent more than 586,000 on 63 gender-neutral lavatories.

Last month it was announced the NHS's controversial child Tavistock transgender clinic will shut its doors after a damning report found it was 'not safe' for children.

The gender identity service at Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust will be replaced by regional centres at existing children's hospitals, which will provide more holistic care with 'strong links to mental health services'.

An ongoing review of Tavistock's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) clinic accused it of rushing children into life-altering treatment on puberty blockers.

It comes in response to an ongoing review led by senior paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, who warned the gender clinic was 'not a safe or viable long-term option'.

She found other mental health issues were 'overshadowed' in favour of gender identity issues when children were referred to Tavistock's Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).

The clinic has been accused of rushing children onto puberty blocking drugs by former patients who feel they weren't challenged enough.

Dr Cass has called for 'rapid' research on the use of the drugs after she found 'insufficient evidence' on their benefits.

NHS England said it would set up two new centres run by specialist children's hospitals in London and the North West.

They will take responsibility for all of Tavistock child trans patients and waiting lists with the aim to shut down the clinic by next spring.
Peter FitzSimons believes he is an expert on the identity of Indigenous people and what they want for themselves, as he once showed in a series of text messages to Daily Mail Australia.

Following publication of a story about his then latest book, a biography of British explorer James Cook, the columnist took time to object to one word used in a historical context.

'Great piece, thank you,' FitzSimons wrote on Australia Day, 2020. 'But your [sub-editors] need to change the word from "Aborigine" which is no longer used as a noun.'

He then offered an anecdote about an old conversation with fellow former Wallaby Glen Ella - one of three Indigenous brothers to play for the national rugby team.

'Meantime, 25 years ago I asked Gary Ella if he was an Aborigine or an Aboriginal,' FitzSimons wrote. 'He said, "I am not sure, but thank you for caring"!'

Peter FitzSimons believes he is an expert on the identity of Indigenous Australians and what they want for themselves. He once objected to the word 'Aborigine' in a Daily Mail Australia headline. FitzSimons is pictured with television presenter wife Lisa Wilkinson

FitzSimons cares a lot about words and gestures when it comes to Indigenous Australians, unlike his new nemesis, the newly installed senator Jacinta Price (pictured). FitzSimons and Price have been engaged in a war of words of an interview between the pair

FitzSimons cares a great deal about words and gestures when it comes to Aboriginal Australians - more so than Indigenous politician Jacinta Price, his new nemesis.

The pair has little in common beyond a passionate interest in Indigenous matters which they approach from positions informed by their own disparate backgrounds.

FitzSimons was raised at Peats Ridge on the New South Wales Central Coast and, when he wasn't boarding in Sydney at Knox College, played happily with his siblings in the family's orange orchard.

The 61-year-old attended Sydney University, pens think-pieces for Nine newspapers and has been married to television presenter Lisa Wilkinson for 30 years.

Jacinta Yangapi Nampijinpa Price is the daughter of a Warlpiri woman who served in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly and a father with Anglo-Celtic ancestry.

She was born in Darwin, grew up in Alice Springs, had her first child at 17 and has been a victim of domestic violence.

Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Price and grandmother Tess Napaljarri Ross are pictured after an Indigenous ceremony at Parliament House on July 27

FitzSimons is a multimillionaire author of books on Australian history and political leftie who is chair of the Australian Republican Movement and wants to change Australia Day from its longstanding date of January 26.

Price, the newly elected Country Liberal Party senator, is politically conservative and and does not want an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Voice is a proposed new taxpayer-funded assembly of appointed indigenous people who will be given power to influence and review all government policies that affect Aboriginal people.

She is more interested in action on real problems within Aboriginal communities, such as relatively poor health, education and living standards, than symbolic gestures such as changing Australia Day's date.

FitzSimons has been accused of epitomising white privilege, while Price is credited with having 'lived experience' as a black woman and witnessing Aboriginal disadvantage up close.

Columnist Janet Albrechtsen recently declared Price 'the very finest example of a voice for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians' and said she could imagine her as prime minister.

FitzSimons is a multi-millionaire author of books on Australian history and political leftie who is chair of the Australian Republican Movement and wants to change Australia Day from January 26. He is pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson

The pair has been engaged in a slanging match after FitzSimons interviewed Price for a 'Five Minutes with Fitz' column in the Sun-Herald - a conversation which apparently ran for an hour last Thursday.

In that piece published on Sunday in a question-and-answer format FitzSimons told Price he was gobsmacked she did not support changing Australia Day from the date the First Fleet of convicts and British authorities arrived in Sydney Harbour in 1788.

What is the Indigenous Voice to Parliament? Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants a body enshrined in the Constitution that would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide advice to the Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives. A referendum is needed to change the Constitution. The vote will need support from the majority of Australians in the majority of states to be successful. The question that could be put to Australians is: 'Do you support an alteration to the constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?' Advertisement

FitzSimons told Price she held positions 'completely at odds with much of what(is held by) the Indigenous community - and Indigenous supporters in wider Australia like my white self.'

Price responded that many Aboriginal people were proud to be part of broader Australia and did not view themselves as victims of history.

'My whole goal throughout is to show alternative narratives exist because I think it's become a racial stereotype that Indigenous Australians are somehow homogeneous,' she said.

Later, FitzSimons - who described himself as 'about as white as they come' - asked Price if she was 'misusing the platform you have and are actually hurting Indigenous causes'.

Price subsequently alleged in a Facebook post FitzSimons was 'aggressive... condescending and rude' and that he shouted at her during their chat.

In the since-deleted post Price claimed FitzSimons accused her of 'giving racists a voice' in the interview but that was not printed in the Sun-Herald piece.

FitzSimons has strenuously denied all Price's claims, saying they had a 'friendly' conversation and insisting he did not raise his voice at any point.

Price has since revealed FitzSimons sent her a series of late night texts demanding she withdraw 'nonsense' claims he was 'aggressive' to her when they spoke.

In the texts FitzSimons reminded Price he had recorded their conversation and Price has now urged him to publicly release the tape.

'I'm quite happy for him to release the recordings if that will just settle things,' Price told Daily Mail Australian on Wednesday.

'It's been a bit of a drain and there's obviously a lot of more important issues that I want to focus on and get to work on as a new senator. It's been a not-so-welcome distraction.'

Price said commentators should not assume all Aboriginal people think the same way, or be surprised that some did not support an Indigenous voice to parliament.

'Enshrining it in the constitution suggests that as a race we're forever going to be in need of special measures and as a race what somehow defines us is being marginalised,' she said.

'The narrative that we are a country of oppressed people and oppressors - we've got to get away from that. It's not helpful, it's not constructive.'

FitzSimons has publicly brawled in the past with other prominent Indigenous Australians who did not agree with everything he wrote or said.

Indigenous journalist Stan Grant once mocked Peter FitzSimons over the Australia Day barbeques he held at his multimillion-dollar home on Sydney's lower north shore. Grant is pictured with wife Tracey Holmes

For years he hosted an Australia Day barbecue at the multimillion-dollar harbourside home at Cremorne he shares with TV presenter wife Lisa Wilkinson.

ABC journalist and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant, who attended the gathering on a semi-regular basis, mocked FitzSimons in a satirical piece for The Australian in 2021.

'What a woke leftie love-in that was: journos, actors, writers, couple of ex-Wallabies (well it was the North Shore), a few washed up politicians,' he wrote.

'Everyone there voted yes for same-sex marriage - the year before last, they'd all tearily applauded their first gay married couple guests - they hated the Catholic Church and had cried when Kevin Rudd said sorry.'

Grant wrote that the hosts FitzSimons and Wilkinson: 'adored Indigenous culture'.

'There were dot paintings on the wall, a photo with their arms around Cathy Freeman at Sydney Olympic Stadium, and a framed copy of Paul Keating's Redfern Statement signed by the last great Australian prime minister himself.'

'Things did get a bit weird though when Fitzy excitedly gave her a copy of his latest book, a biography of Captain Cook.

Price alleged author FitzSimons (pictured with wife and The Project host Lisa Wilkinson) was 'aggressive... condescending and rude' in a telephone interview. FitzSimons labelled the allegations 'nonsense'

'Apparently Cookie was actually not a bad bloke once you got past his order to open fire on the blacks at Botany Bay. Nobody's perfect.'

A year earlier Grant had labelled Fitzsimons's depiction of Cook 'ludicrous', while the author defended his work as exhaustively researched.

FitzSimons responded to the Grant piece with a column in The Sydney Morning Herald in which he objected to its blend of fiction and fact.

'For the record, and contrary to what Stan wrote, I don't have a framed Redfern speech on my wall, nor a photo of me hugging Cathy Freeman, nor Indigenous paintings,' he wrote.

'We don't even have the party on Australia Day any more, having moved it to an Independence Day gathering the day before, for obvious reasons.'

EXCLUSIVE: Text bombshell in Peter FitzSimons vs. Jacinta Price saga as messages show what happened after Aboriginal senator attacked left-wing author - with BOTH claiming they have witnesses to controversial interview

By Charlie Moore, Political Reporter for Daily Mail Australia

Peter FitzSimons and Jacinta Price both furiously insisted they had witnesses backing their accounts of a phone interview in which the new senator claims the left-wing author was 'rude' and 'aggressive'.

Daily Mail Australia has obtained the furious text messages FitzSimons exchanged with the Country Liberals senator for the Northern Territory in the wake of the interview being published in the Sun Herald newspaper at the weekend.

Ms Price has gone public saying she felt FitzSimons - the husband of TV host Lisa Wilkinson - 'imposed' his view on her during their chat about the merits and faults of the Voice to Parliament.

In a Facebook post after the article was published, Senator Price alleged FitzSimons 'accused me of giving racists a voice but that wasn't printed' and later told media he was 'aggressive' and 'rude' and shouted at her.

Jacinta Price and Peter FitzSimons both furiously claimed they had witnesses to their phone call in a heated text exchange (pictured) after she accused him of being 'aggressive'

FitzSimons strongly denies her claims and swiftly texted asking her to remove the Facebook post, which she did.

The full text exchange between the pair shows they both claimed to have witnesses to the phone call as they argued over what happened.

'Senator, I urge you to withdraw these defamatory accusations, as you know it is nonsense,' FitzSimons wrote.

Senator Price hit back: 'We did yell at each other. I'd like a copy of the interview... you did accuse me of empowering racists.'

FitzSimons insisted there was 'not a single raised voice on either side' but she replied: 'I recall I had to yell, as did my chief of staff who was present while you were on speaker.'

The author responded by saying: 'I have a witness at my end as well. But it doesn't matter. It is all recorded.'

Jacinta Price (pictured), a first term NT Senator, is against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and changing the date of Australia Day from January 26

FitzSimons again asked her to withdraw her allegations before Senator Price ended the argument by replying: 'Please stop bullying me.

'I don't ever want to communicate with you again.'

Senator Price and FitzSimons originally chatted to discuss Anthony Albanese's proposal to change the constitution to establish a Voice to Parliament, a group of Aboriginal people that would advise politicians on policies for Indigenous people.

FitzSimons is in favour while Senator Price is against, believing it will not help improve the lives of Aboriginal people.

After FitzSimons denied being rude to Senator Price, she urged him to release the recording of the interview so the public could make up their own minds.

'I'm quite happy for him to release the recordings if that will just settle things,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's been a bit of a drain and there's obviously a lot of more important issues that I want to focus on and get to work on as a new senator. It's been a not-so-welcome distraction,' she said of their dispute.

Jacinta Price (in traditional headdress) is hugged by Labor senators Jana Stewart, Pat Dodson and Malarndirri McCarthy after making her maiden speech in Parliament on July 27

'My idea of more respectful and effective journalism is to have conversations about issues without having the opinions of a journalist imposed upon you and being made to feel as though you're somehow wrong or incorrect.

Senator Price said it is wrong for journalists or commentators to be surprised when an Aboriginal person speaks out against the Voice to Parliament.

'There has been a racial stereotype created around how Aboriginal Australians think and act and behave and we don't generalise in that way about white Australians, or Italian Australians or Asia Australians,' she said.

'So why should we continually have that way of thinking imposed upon us as Indigenous Australians? Again it is a racial stereotype and I won't have a bar of it.'

Senator Price said people need to be more accepting of diverse views within the Aboriginal community.

'The narrative that we are a country of oppressed people and oppressors - we've got to get away from that. It's not helpful, it's not constructive,' she said.

'It provides for a very narrow view of how we are as a diverse bunch of Australians and we've got to take it back to basics of what it means to be human.'

Australian Parliament's 11 Indigenous MPs JACINTA PRICE: Nationals senator for the Northern Territory MARION SCRYMGOUR: Labor member for Lingiari JANA STEWART: Labor senator for Victoria LIDIA THORPE: Greens senator for Victoria LINDA BURNEY: Labor Minister for Indigenous Australians PAT DODSON: Labor senator for Western Australia MALARNDIRRI McCARTHY: Labor Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians GORDON REID: Labor member for Robertson DORINDA COX: Greens senator for Western Australia KERRYNNE LIDDLE: Liberal senator for South Australia JACQUI LAMBIE: Independent senator for Tasmania Advertisement

Senator Price said the Voice the Parliament is a bad idea because it will entrench the idea that Aboriginal people are all victims.

'Enshrining it in the Constitution suggests that as a race we're forever going to be in need of special measures and as a race what somehow defines us is being marginalised,' she said.

'But it's not race that determines our marginalisation - there are those of us of Indigenous heritage who are doing really well, we're fine and have managed to take advantage of the modern world to live successful lives.'

FitzSimons said he only confronted Senator Price over 'mistruths' and that he gave her views a fair airing his column.

'What I sought to do was have her correct the record on the nature of our interview, which she partially did by deleting the post, and acknowledging to me I was not shouting...

'As to suggestions of bullying simply not true. The senator posted a complete and demonstrable untruth. I called her out on it, and she took down the post,' he said.

FitzSimons has not responded to Price's challenge to release the recordings.
The end of a 'race-based policy' which saw alcohol banned in indigenous communities for 15 years has resulted in an immediate spike in violence and booze related injuries.

In the first 48 hours after the Albanese Government lifted the ban on July 17, Alice Springs Police recorded 54 domestic-violence incidents with Aboriginal health advocates claiming 'things have not settled' in the three weeks since the restrictions were lifted.

The Northern Territory's Associations and Liquor Amendment Bill 2022 passed in May gave Indigenous communities the choice to 'opt-in' to a two-year extension of their alcohol-free status.

Alcohol related violence and injuries have spiked after the government lifted a 15-year-long ban which restricted the sale of alcohol in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory

But out of 215 homelands, 12 remote communities and 32 town camps, only seven Aboriginal communities opted for the two-year extension, including Bagot, a northern suburb of Darwin.

CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, Donna Ah Chee, said the decision to overturn the alcohol ban, which she labelled as 'positive discrimination', has caused an increase in severe alcohol-related injuries in some Indigenous communities.

'We think it was a positive discrimination because it was so effective in helping to close the gap for our people,' Ms Ah Chee told ABC RN on Wednesday.

'It actually protects the rights of women and children to be free from violence.

'Things have not settled. We're hearing from multiple sources that are telling us that the harms have gone up a lot and have stayed up.

'We understand there has been an increase in severe alcohol-related fractures requiring surgery.'

The 2012 Stronger Futures legislation which extended alcohol bans in Indigenous communities until July this year was dubbed a 'race-based policy'. Only seven communities 'opted-in' for a two-year extension of the alcohol ban, including the Aboriginal community of Bagot, Darwin (pictured)

Ms Ah Chee said anecdotal evidence from police, ambulance and hospital staff, as well as 'many community members', revealed all-night partying is at a much higher rate than before.

She has called for transparency from the Northern Territory government and urged for the introduction of monitoring groups that rely on community data to establish the effects of alcohol in remote communities.

'We're only hearing anecdotally, and that's why I think we need to get this data and make it available so we cannot have a 'she said he said' moment,' Ms Ah Chee said.

'We're hearing this on the ground which is being said differently in the higher levels of government so I think we need to have some transparency.

'If things are as the chief minister says, that things have gone back to normal, let's look at that because that's not what we're seeing on the ground.'

Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles defended the move to lift alcohol restrictions and argued Aboriginal communities have the right to make such decisions.

'The intervention caused significant harm to Indigenous Territorians - they literally had their rights taken from them overnight,' Ms Fyles said.

'In the last few weeks the conversation was almost as though the intervention was an amazing saviour but you're asking me to go back to a race-based policy.

'What I'm saying is that we have to find other ways to manage this and will do so with the Commonwealth government and Aboriginal leadership in the territory.'

CEO of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Donna Ah Chee (pictured) said the decision to overturn the policy, which she labelled as 'positive discrimination', has caused an increase in severe alcohol-related injuries

Aboriginal leaders warned alcohol related violence would spike in remote communities after the hasty removal of the ban.

Alice Springs-based Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women's Council board unanimously told Northern Territory ministers on May 13 that allowing the ban to lapse would endanger vulnerable women and children.

'We implore you to consider the vulnerable in these communities, in particular women and children who are most at risk of further harm and abuse if the current restrictions are eased,' the NPY board wrote in a letter obtained by The Australian.

Labor Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour said alcohol related issues were 'playing out as we all feared'.

'We have to call out and act on what is a level of dysfunction that is clearly a crisis issue on the ground in communities like Alice Springs,' Ms Scrymgour told the ABC.

'Yes, it may be legal, but it's a known fact that Aboriginal people and the impact of alcohol is one that creates a whole lot of dysfunction and problems.'

Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) chief executive John Paterson said the 'hasty' decision overlooked consultation with key members of the communities.

Labor Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour (pictured) said alcohol related issues were 'playing out as we all feared'

Mr Paterson said medical services were predicting an increase in emergency department admissions, alcohol-related injuries, domestic violence and child safety.

He claimed the lack of notice would have an 'enormous' impact and called for the implementation of 'good regulations' in the community.

'Withdraw it, pause it, until we get a good process, community engagement strategy in place and those negotiations and have the relevant stakeholders,' Mr Paterson said.

The alcohol ban first came into force 15 years ago in 2007 under the Howard government during its NT Emergency Response, known as the NT Intervention.

It was extended for 10 years under Labor with the Stronger Futures legislation introduced in 2012, which expired this year.

That meant alcohol restrictions covered by the NT Liquor Act will be the only ones to continue in the Territory.
Ex-PM and chancellor Gordon Brown recalls travelling to Paris after the Lehman Brothers collapse led to the 2007-2008 global financial crisis to meet French president Nicolas Sarkozy, German chancellor Angela Merkel, head of the European Union Jose Manuel Barroso and Italys leader Silvio Berlusconi. Hearing the latter grumble about amateurs, says Brown, we thought Berlusconi, businessman and politician, hes got the answer to the crisis. And then he said Dont you realise we have a press conference in one hour and none of them have brought a make-up artist with them? And that was his contribution. Are our current leaders any wiser?

Ex-PM and chancellor Gordon Brown recalled former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi's bizarre response to the 2007-2008 global financial crisis

Dame Vanessa Redgrave, citing exhaustion from Covid, exits from the last three weeks of the London Coliseums My Fair Lady, in which she had a small part. Vanilla Rednose, as the late Eric Morecambe called her, remains a grand figure despite her revolutionary socialist views. My source says: On the nights she did turn up at the Coliseum, her curtain call was impressive, milking the applause as if she was the lead star. In her goodbye note to fellow cast members, she modestly signs herself Vanessa Redgrave (Dame).

Olivia Newton-John, 73, was exasperated by 'woke' criticism of Grease

Grease star Olivia Newton-John, who has died aged 73, was exasperated by modern day woke criticism of the 1978 film. Responding to complaints that it wrongly celebrates a shy girl becoming sexy because she wants to be popular, she snapped in 2019: Oh, for goodness sake! Its just a movie. Noting the films tongue-in-cheek finale, pictured, she added: I mean  the car takes off at the end!

Recalling Boris Johnson struggling under the pressure during his first London mayoral election campaign, his former spokesman Will Walden tells Radio 4: We had a storage room which had lots of film props. When things got a bit too much for Boris hed slip out. Eventually someone found him hiding in a prop coffin.

Paying tribute to Peggy Woolley actress June Spencer, 103  retiring from Radio 4s The Archers after 72 years  wholesome TV property presenter Kirstie Allsopp enthuses: For Archers fans, Peggy is the Queen. I suspect HM may even feel the same. Steady on, Kirstie!

Arcade Fire musician Win Butler

Win Butler, of the award-winning band Arcade Fire, says theyll never play rich, white Switzerland again after finding the Montreux Jazz Festival audiences in July so dead we couldnt even antagonise them into booing us. Music legend Quincy Jones told him: Miles Davis played with his back to the audience

Matt Smith, who played Prince Philip in The Crown, is delighted to have landed a leading role in Game Of Thrones prequel House Of The Dragon. He muses: I think as an actor you are always trying to stretch yourself and play parts that are outside of your wheelhouse. Aye, aye, Captain!
Facebook turned over chats between a Nebraska mom and her 17-year-old daughter discussing preparations for the teen's at-home abortion.

Meta, the social media giant's parent company, turned over the direct messages as part of an investigation into the teen's illegal abortion, court documents show.

The investigation was launched in April, before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, after police received reports that Jessica Burgess obtained and administered abortion pills to her daughter, Celeste Burgess.

Celeste was 23 weeks when she terminated her pregnancy, a violation of state law. The mother-daughter duo then allegedly burned the fetus and buried it.

Meta 'regularly turns over user information that has been requested by US law enforcement,' Neama Rahmani, former federal prosecutor and president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told DailyMail.com, adding this practice was 'not unusual.'

Facebook claims 'nothing in the valid warrants received from local law enforcement mentioned abortion' and instead indicated officials were probing the 'case of a stillborn baby who was burned and buried.'

The case highlights the fears of pro-choice activists who, in wake of the Roe ruling, have expressed fear over the use of social media to prosecute women who seek abortions.

Facebook turned over chats between Nebraska mom Jessica Burgess, 41, (right) and her 17-year-old daughter discussing preparations for the teen's at-home abortion

Nebraska officials submitted a search warrant to Meta in June requesting all data the company had on the Burgesses, an affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com revealed.

The warrant stated that Norfolk police detective Ben McBride was investigating an alleged abortion after the Burgess family claimed Celeste had unexpectedly 'given birth prematurely supposedly to a stillborn child.'

The teen then 'enacted the help of her mother, Jessica Burgess, and the two of them buried the child together,' the affidavit states. Jessica and Celeste then reportedly told others 'they needed to dig the child's body up and then burn it.'

The document explicitly states that police exhumed the fetus. It stated 'exact cause [of death] was unknown but the lungs didn't indicate they'd ever contained any air.'

A final autopsy report concluded that 'cause of death was undetermined' and the findings were 'consistent with the fetus being stillborn.'

The report noted that 'the placement of the fetus into a plastic bag raise the possibility of asphyxia due to suffocation.' It also indicated the fetus showed signs of 'thermal injuries.'

Meta, the social media giant's parent company, turned over the direct messages as part of an investigation into the teen's illegal abortion, court documents show (File photo)

McBride, when seeking the warrant, said police needed evidence from the women's Facebook accounts to determine 'whether the baby was stillborn or asphyxiated.'

The search warrant was approved and Facebook complied with it, providing officials with messages where the pair seemingly discuss taking abortion medication.

'Are we starting it today?' Celeste, using an alternate surname on the social media site, messaged her mother.

'We can if u want the one will stop the hormones,' Jessica answered, to which Celeste said: 'Ok'

'Ya the 1 pill stops the hormones an rehn [sic] u gotta wait 24 HR 2 take the other' the mother explained.

'Ok,' Celeste replied, adding: 'Remember we burn the evidence'

In another thread Jessica confirms 'it came 2day' when talking about the apparent abortion pill.

The pair's Facebook chat was used as the main basis for a second search warrant which confiscated 13 laptops, smartphones and 24 gigabytes of data - including pictures, messages and web browsing history - from the family

The pair's Facebook chat was used as the main basis for a second search warrant which confiscated 13 laptops, smartphones and 24 gigabytes of data - including pictures, messages and web browsing history - from the family.

Jessica, 41, was hit with five felonies pertaining to the incident. Celeste, who is being tried as an adult, was charged with three. Both women have pleaded not guilty.

Meta, in a statement shared on Twitter, stated it was unaware that law enforcement was investigating an alleged illegal abortion.

'Nothing in the valid warrants we received from local law enforcement in early June, prior to the Supreme Court decision, mentioned abortion,' Meta spokesperson Andy Stone tweeted Tuesday night.

'The warrants concerned charges related to a criminal investigation and court documents indicate that police at the time were investigating the case of a stillborn baby who was burned and buried, not a decision to have an abortion.

'Both of these warrants were originally accompanied by non-disclosure orders, which prevented us from sharing any information about them. The orders have now been lifted.'

DailyMail.com asked Meta how often the company turns over user's data and messages to authorities, but was instead referred to Stone's statement.

Meta, in a statement shared on Twitter, stated it was unaware that law enforcement was investigating an alleged illegal abortion

Rahmani told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that Meta 'regularly turns over user information' when requested by authorities.

'The company provides information that does not have the content of a message in response to an administrative subpoena by law enforcement,' he said.

'This information may include a subscriber name, log in times, email and phone numbers. In response to a search warrant, the company will turn over the actual content of a message.'

Neama Rahmani told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that Meta 'regularly turns over user information' when requested by authorities. He noted that turning over chat information per a warrant is 'not unusual' but the alleged crime being a 'self-induced abortion' was

Rahmani argued that in the Burgess case, what is 'unusual' was not Meta's response but the fact that the alleged crime was 'a self-induced abortion.'

'Prior to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, it was extremely rare for any woman in the United States to be prosecuted for a self-induced abortion, so technology companies like Meta wouldn't have typically dealt with these types of issues,' he explained.

'Even though this case predates the Supreme Court decision, and it involves a case that might have involved a violation of Nebraska's existing ban on abortions after about the 20-week mark, it's an indication that tech companies will increasingly face pressure to comply with law enforcement requests that involve evidence of self-induced abortions.'

The legal expert cited Alphabet, Google's parent company, which has already stated it would 'try to remove digital records of their users' visits to places like abortion clinics or counseling centers from the company's database.'

Rahmani claimed this could allow Alphabet to 'avoid having to turn over some of this data to law enforcement.'

He added: 'It remains to be seen what Meta will do about these types of requests in the future, but it's clear they can expect a lot more of them.'

Celeste Burgess, 17, claims she had a stillbirth in the bathroom of her family's Nebraska home on April 22. Investigators say she allegedly took an abortion pill at 23 weeks pregnant

Norfolk police launched an investigation into the Burgess family in April after receiving a tip that Celeste had miscarried and buried the body.

Detectives obtained a copy of the teen's medical records and determined she was 23 weeks pregnant at the time of the alleged incident, with an expected due date of July 3.

When officials interviewed Celeste, she claimed she had a stillbirth in the shower on April 22 sometime after midnight, according to the affidavit.

Celeste told police she informed her mother of her miscarriage, placed the fetus in a bag and then inside a box in the back of a cargo van.

Jessica and Celeste drove to a property north of Norfolk, allegedly belonging to the parents of 22-year-old Tanner Barnhill, and buried the body.

The affidavit does not specify when the burial happened, but notes Barnhill helped with the task.

On April 29, Barnhill showed investigators where the fetus was buried and told authorities that Jessica and Celeste had tried to burn it before burying it.

When officials exhumed the body, it showed signs of 'thermal injuries.'

Barnhill was charged with helping the pair dispose of the fetus. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor and will be sentenced later this month.

During their investigation, officials also discovered Facebook messages between the mother-daughter duo in which they were discussing abortion pills. The messages revealed that Jessica advised her daughter on how to use the pills. Celeste reportedly stated that she couldn't wait to get the 'thing' out of her body

Celeste told police she informed her mother of her miscarriage, placed the fetus in a bag and then inside a box in the back of a cargo van. Jessica and Celeste drove to a property north of Norfolk, allegedly belonging to the parents of 22-year-old Tanner Barnhill, and buried the body

During their investigation, officials also discovered Facebook messages between the mother-daughter duo in which they were discussing abortion pills.

The messages - sent April 20, two days before the alleged stillbirth - revealed that Jessica advised her daughter on how to use the pills.

Celeste reportedly stated that she couldn't wait to get the 'thing' out of her body.

Jessica confirmed they would 'burn the evidence afterward.'

Both women were charged in June with removing, concealing or abandoning a dead human body - a felony. They were also hit with misdemeanor charges of concealing the death of another person and false reporting.

A month later, the Madison County Attorney added two more felonies against Jessica: performing or attempting abortion at more than 20 weeks and performing an abortion as a non-licensed doctor.

Prosecutor Joseph Smith said it was the first time in his 32-year career with the county that he filed those charges.

'I don't think I've ever had a case like this,' he told The Lincoln Journal Star on Friday. 'Usually, abortions are performed in hospitals, and doctors are involved, and it's not the type of stuff that occurred in this case.'

Both women have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Jessica was released from jail on June 27 after posting a $10,00 bond, NTV reported. She is scheduled to appear in court on September 2.

Celeste was released on July 21 after posting a $20,000 bond and is scheduled for court on August 29.

On April 29, Barnhill showed investigators where the fetus was buried and told authorities that Jessica and Celeste had tried to burn it before burying it. When officials exhumed the body, it showed signs of 'thermal injuries'

Nebraska currently allows abortions up to 20 weeks post-fertilization. Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts (pictured in 2017) considered calling a special session to further restrict abortion access, but on Monday said he lacked the votes to pass a 12-week abortion ban

Nebraska currently allows abortions up to 20 weeks post-fertilization.

Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts had expressed interest in calling a special session to further restrict abortion access, saying he would support a near-total ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.

But in a statement on Monday, the governor said only 30 state senators would support a ban on abortions past 12 weeks. The legislation requires 33 votes to pass.

Nebraska's state legislature is unicameral, meaning it only has one chamber, and is comprised of 32 Republicans and 17 Democrats.

'It is deeply saddening that only 30 Nebraska state senators are willing to come back to Lincoln this fall in order to protect innocent life,' Ricketts said.

'As Governor, I will continue doing whatever I can in my power to affirm the rights of pre-born babies and to support pregnant women, children, and families in need.'

Rickett's statement comes as several other Republican-led states have grappled in recent weeks with how far to go in restricting abortion access after Roe was overturned.

Indiana on Friday became the first state to pass a new abortion ban since Roe's overturn. The state's ban prohibits all abortions except when the life of the mother is endangered, the fetus develops a fatal abnormality or the pregnancy results from rape or incest but has not advanced beyond 10 weeks of gestation.

West Virginia's legislature, also led by Republicans, is on the verge of passing a near-total abortion ban during a special session this summer. But lawmakers disagree over whether doctors who perform abortions outside narrow exceptions should face prison time.

Protesters line the street around the front of the Nebraska State Capitol during an Abortion Rights Rally held on July 4, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska

An anti-abortion demonstrator stands outside of the Planned Parenthood Clinic for morning prayers on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska

Meantime, abortion rights activists and digital privacy experts have voiced concerns that digital communications, location data, period tracking apps and other private information could be used to criminalize abortion.

Mico Yuk, a data expert for Count, told DailyMail.com last month that although tracking menstrual cycle data is good, women still need to take precautions to protect their privacy.

Yuk, who has used a period tracker for six years, said period trackers follow 'overall health' and are collecting a lot data from users. Tracking apps can also trace sexual activity and whether or not women intend to become pregnant by user input.

She now recommends that women use encrypted trackers - like Period Plus or Natural Cycles - and to only use apps that explicitly state they will not sell users' data. She also recommends checking phone settings to see whether an app is encrypted.

Yuk also suggested that women use an alias account when using health tracking apps and searching for healthcare questions. But more importantly, she advises to avoid using any email address that is 'connected to a search engine,' she told said.
The United States believes that Russian officials have started receiving drone training in Iran over the past several weeks amid the war in Ukraine, another indication of Moscow's intention to purchase such sophisticated weapons.

Per the deal for the handover of UAVs from Iran to Russia, Russian officials have been training in Iran over the past few weeks, a US official informed CNN. The source claimed that the training-related information had just lately been made public.

When asked about the drones by reporters last month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that Russia had "no comments on the matter."

US sources said that on June 28, 2021, an Iranian Shahed-129 drone was on show at an IRGC aerospace fair in western Tehran. In June this year, Iran reportedly started showing off the Shahed-129 and Shahed-191 drone models to Russia.

Russian Officials Reportedly Visit Iran To Examine Drones

According to national security adviser Jake Sullivan and satellite images obtained by CNN, a Russian group has visited an airstrip in central Iran at least twice since June to check the weapons-capable Iranian drones USA officials reported that Iran started demonstrating the Shahed-191 and Shahed-129 drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), to Russia in June at Kashan Airfield south of Tehran. Both models are capable of bearing precision-guided missiles.

Sullivan's claimed in July, the US suspects Iran intends to provide Russia with hundreds of Iranian drones it can utilize in the Russia-Ukraine War .

The Russian military has been utilizing home-built Orlan-10 drones for electronic warfare and reconnaissance, whereas the Ukrainian military has mostly used Bayraktar UAVs developed in Turkey to strike Russian command posts, tanks, and surface-to-air missile systems.

However, the Russians reportedly have had trouble replenishing their stock, which has caused them to look to Iran for the hardware.

Read Also: China Develops Nuclear-Powered 'Super Torpedo,' Matches Russia's Doomsday Poseidon Nuke as Moscow, Beijing Clash Against Ukraine, Taiwan

Additionally, US officials have maintained that the strengthening ties between Iran and Russia give a valid reason for the USA to wield influence and presence in the Middle East.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called for "long-term cooperation" with Russia during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month, and Tehran has declined to join the global rejection of the Russia-Ukraine War per The Times of Israel.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has appealed to the US to deliver tougher armed drones like the Gray Eagle, but the US has been hesitant to do so out of concern that Russia may see it as an excessively escalating move.

Russia's Plan To Buy Drones Indicate Its Military Weakness

Last month, the chief of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) claimed that Russia's intention to purchase drones from Iran for its conflict in Ukraine implies the vulnerable situation of its military force as reported by Bloomberg.

CIA Director William Burns noted during a three-hour visit to the Rocky Mountain resort of Aspen, Colorado, "It's true that the Russians are reaching out to the Iranians to try to acquire armed drones."

Burns said: "They need each other, they don't really trust each other, in the sense that they're energy rivals and historical competitors. It's important to remind ourselves that it's a reflection, in some ways, of the deficiencies of Russia's defense industry today, and the difficulties they're having after significant losses so far in the war against Ukraine."

Related Article: Russia Launches Iranian Satellite Into Space Amid Concerns Moscow Would Use it To Spy on Ukraine

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A playground dubbed Australia's most dangerous has been the scene of another horrific injury that saw a three-year-old girl break her leg on the steep slide.

Boongaree Nature Play Park in Berry, on NSW's south coast, is the focus of a new petition started by furious dad Mitch Liddicoat after his three-year-old daughter Harlow broke her leg on the playground's infamous slide on Monday.

The playground has been the topic of hot debate for months after more than 40 young children seriously injured themselves on the slide alone since it opened in late January.

Three-year-old Harlow was left with a severe leg break and is facing surgery after going down the slide at Boongaree Nature Play Park in Berry, on NSW's south coast (pictured, Harlow in hospital following the incident on Monday)

The list of severely injured children includes Tisha Fleming's four-year-old daughter, whose legs were forced to the top of the slide as she rushed down and broke from hyperextension.

Mr Liddicoat told Daily Mail Australia he and his wife Tayla were excited to take their children to the park for some fresh air and fun before the day took a dramatic turn when Harlow asked to go on 'the big slide'.

'When we got up to the top she was waving down to mum and asked me to go down the slide with her,' he said.

The 'big slide' at Boongaree Nature Play Park in Berry (above) has been the site of more than 40 serious child injuries including one little girl who broke both her legs

'What we didn't know is there's a large kink in the slide that you can't really see from the outside' he said.

Mr Liddicoat said the force of the slide was enough to scare him and that he can't imagine how the slide is deemed safe for toddlers.

'It was very, very fast as we went down and we were being catapulted into all sides of the slide. It was like being in a tumble dryer,' he said.

'Harlow smacked her leg on the side of the slide and by the time we got down to the bottom she was screaming blue murder, just blood-curdling screams.

'I'm still struggling to get the sound out of my head, I'll never forget it.'

Other injuries at 'Australia's most dangerous park' include three broken collarbones, several head injuries, teeth dislodgements and a facial fracture (pictured, Boongaree Nature Play Park)

He said the family later saw a man go down the slide and were amazed as he was sent flying and landed 'flat on his back'.

'He got up and said 'wow, that's really dangerous',' Mr Liddicoat said.

'If it's not safe for a grown man then how is it safe for a three-year-old child?'

Little Harlow was rushed to hospital from the playground where specialists confirmed she had an 'extensive break' in her tibia.

Little three-year-old Harlow's leg has been plastered but she still faces the possibility of surgery due to the serious nature of her break (pictured, Harlow after the incident)

The three-year-old is now in a cast but is still facing the possibility of surgery due to the nature of her break.

'This whole thing has been quite traumatic for everyone, especially Harlow,' Mr Liddicoat said.

To help spread awareness of the dangers at the park and encourage council to remove the 'death trap' slide, Harlow's devastated family started an online petition.

'When we went to the park on Monday we were aware there had been injuries so we thought we were doing the right thing by supervising,' Mr Liddicoat said.

Harlow suffered a severe break in her tibia (above) after she was thrown around in the dangerous slide

'We want to let other parents know how dangerous this slide is. Over 40 children have been majorly injured, and that's just the parents that have reported it.

'At the end of the day some kid may not be able to go home with their family, all it takes is a bump to the head in the right spot.'

The serious injuries from the slide reportedly include a facial fracture, dislodged teeth, five broken legs, burnt skin, a black eye, a dislocated knee, three head injuries and a broken wrist.

Harlow's dad, Mitch Liddicoat, said the slide at Boongaree Nature Play Park has a large 'kink' in the middle (above) that is unable to be seen from outside

Other injuries from the park reportedly include three broken collarbones and a broken arm.

'If a kid hurts themselves parents think 'oh it's an accident' but if a child hurts themselves in a public space the council needs to know,' Mr Liddicoat said.

Harlow's family have urged anyone whose child is injured in a public park to contact the local council.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Shoalhaven City Council and Kidsafe Australia for comment.
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of two Republican members of Washingtons congressional delegation who voted to impeach Donald Trump, has conceded her reelection bid after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president.

Trump had targeted the six-term incumbent and endorsed Joe Kent, a former Green Beret, in the 3rd Congressional District contest. The district is in southwest Washington state, across the border from Portland, Oregon.

Herrera Beutler, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2010, lead Kent by about 4,700 votes on election night but her lead shrunk throughout last week, and updated returns put Kent ahead and into the No. 2 spot on Monday night.

Once Clark County, the district's largest, and Thurston Counties updated their tallies Tuesday, Kent led by 928 votes and 22.7% of the vote, and Herrera Beutler was in third place with 22.3% of the vote.

Herrera Beutler conceded in an email shortly after the latest update, saying that 'since I was first elected to this seat I have done my very best to serve my home region and our country.'

'Though my campaign came up short this time, Im proud of all weve accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home,' she wrote, saying that 'I'm proud that I always told the truth, stuck to my principles, and did what I knew to be best for our country.'

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash conceded her race in Washington state's top two primary for the 3rd Congressional District on Tuesday night

Joe Kent, a Republican endorsed by Trump, will now advance to Nov 8 general election for the congressional seat in the 3rd Congressional District contest in Washington State

The former president was quick to congratulate Kent.

'Joe Kent just won an incredible race against all odds in Washington State. Importantly, he knocked out yet another impeacher, Jaime Herrera Beutler, who so stupidly played right into the hands of the Democrats.

'Joe is a wonderful guy, who bravely served our Country as a Green Beret. He has a truly bright future. Congratulations, Joe!' Trump stated.

Under Washingtons primary system, the top two vote getters in each race August 2 advance to the November election, regardless of party.

Washington is a vote by mail state, and voters dont have to declare a party affiliation.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez had already advanced to the November ballot since she was the top vote getter after the August 2 primary, with 31% of the vote.

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez had already advanced to the November ballot since she was the top vote getter after the August 2 primary, with 31% of the vote

According to the secretary of states office, the last incumbent member of Congress to lose in a primary in Washington state was Rep. John Miller, who lost to Ralph Horr in 1930.

Because Washington is a vote-by-mail state and ballots just need to be in by Election Day. It often takes days to learn final results in close races as ballots arrive at county election offices throughout the week.

Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said Tuesday that the votes in his office took longer to process than usual because a large number of voters held on to their ballots longer than in previous elections.

Kimsey said that 92,300 ballots arrived between last Monday and Wednesday, compared to 49,000 over that same three-day period in 2018.

Herrera Beutler has said she has no regrets about her impeachment vote following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol - and has stood by her comments made both on the floor and on Twitter afterward.

Joe Kent is a regular on conservative cable shows who echoes the former president's grievances about the 2020 election outcome

She revealed how Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told her he spoke with Trump as rioters were storming the Capitol, and that according to McCarthy the president said: '`Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'

Kent is a regular on conservative cable shows who echoes the former presidents grievances about the 2020 election outcome, and on Steve Bannons podcast Monday, Kent criticized the state primary as 'not a transparent process' and said that he had to remedy a signature issue with his own ballot that day.

Kimsey, the county's elections official, noted that signature verification is a crucial part of the process that ensures the security and integrity of the states vote-by-mail system.

In a statement issued Monday night after Kent pulled ahead, Gluesenkamp Perez pointed to Kent's comments about the state's elections, and said that the 3rd Congressional District race 'is going to be a national bellwether for the direction of the country, and for the future of our democracy.'

Of the 10 House Republicans who voted for Trumps impeachment, four opted not to run for reelection.

Former Trump administration official John Gibbs beat anti-Trump Rep. Peter Meijer after a last-minute boost from House Democrats' campaign arm - which was hoping for a more polarizing candidate than Meijer to make the seat more competitive in November

Meijer was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump over the Capitol riot

Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer was defeated in a primary last week by Trump-endorsed John Gibbs and Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina lost to a Trump-endorsed challenger in June.

Rep. David Valadao of California - which has an open primary like Washington - survived a primary challenge. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming is bracing for defeat in her August 16 primary against a Trump-backed rival.

Washington Rep. Dan Newhouse advanced to the general election in his Washington state primary last week, fending off a Trump-endorsed rival, and will appear on the November ballot with Democratic opponent Doug White.

Cornell Clayton, director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy at Washington State University, noted that the fact that three anti-Newhouse Republican candidates each had double digit percentages helped him survive his primary with just 25% of the vote.

But in the 3rd, where the only serious Republican challengers were Kent and Heidi St. John, 'It was close but there wasnt enough to fracture the anti-incumbent vote on the Republican side.'

The Kent campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but campaign manager Ozzie Gonzalez said in an email last week that Kent would wait until the winner was certified.

Counties have until August 16 to finish their count and for canvassing boards to certify the results, followed by certification by the secretary of state by August 19.
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Donald Trump was pictured arriving at his Manhattan residence on Tuesday night as it emerged that the raid on his Florida home the previous day saw investigators ransack his office for several hours - even going so far as to search through Melania Trump's wardrobe.

Trump, 76, continued to vent his fury on Tuesday at the raid - which is believed to have been carried out to retrieve documents the former president took from the White House when he left.

By law, all presidential correspondence and documentation must be handed over to the National Archives, and since February it has been clear that Trump did not comply. Some documents were returned to the National Archives at the beginning of this year, but apparently not all.

FBI agents were inside the 128-room Florida estate for nine hours on Monday, with 30 agents roaming through the entire 3,000-square-foot private quarters.

The investigators searched the master bedroom, known as the Versailles Room, which Melania Trump renovated two years ago, The New York Post reported.

Donald Trump is seen on Tuesday evening arriving at Trump Tower, the day after the Mar-a-Lago raid

Trump was also in Manhattan on Monday, when the raid was carried out

The 76-year-old waved to the waiting press as he arrived back at Trump Tower

Trump reacted with fury to Monday's raid, calling it an abuse of power and FBI over-reach

Trump did not appear to be accompanied by anyone in his family as he strode into his home

Armed Secret Service agents stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, late Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump said in a lengthy statement that the FBI was conducting a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate and asserted that agents had broken open a safe

Their rummaging through Melania's wardrobe was not explained by the paper.

The agents also searched a separate office and safe, and a locked basement storage room in which 15 cardboard boxes of material from the White House were stored, the paper said.

The Justice Department has not commented on the raid, which analysts said would have needed to be approved at the highest level.

Sources told the Post that Trump's attorneys, led by Evan Corcoran, were 'cooperating fully' with federal authorities to arrange the return of the documents, with the process beginning in May 2021, when it was noticed that some records were missing.

In January 2022, some of the documents were returned, and in February of this year the news became public.

In early June, four top DOJ officials traveled to Mar-a-Lago to speak with the former president's attorneys about the documents.

The DOJ's counterintelligence and export control section chief, Jay Bratt, was reportedly among the group who sat down with Trump's lawyers.

Trump's team showed the government officials where Trump was storing documents - in a basement room. Investigators reportedly observed that some of the files there were marked as classified.

At one point the former president himself reportedly stopped in to say hello and 'make small talk' before leaving again, CNN reported.

Melania Trump was most recently seen on July 20, at the Manhattan funeral of Donald's first wife Ivana

The former first lady is seen leaving Trump Tower on June 1

The above timeline highlights just some of former president Donald Trump's battles with the National Archives since leaving office, including an unrelated court fight with the January 6 committee

Retired FBI Special Agent Michael Tabman told DailyMail.com it's likely an 'informant' revealed information to the FBI that led to the raid of Trump's home on Monday

Days after the investigators' visit, they reportedly sent a letter to Trump's staff asking them to secure the room where they observed the documents being stored.

Aides then padlocked the area, according to CNN.

It is unclear what transpired between June and this week to make the FBI decide to forcibly claim the documents.

But a former FBI agent told DailyMail.com that Monday's raid was likely sparked by new information from an 'informant' and a breakdown in cooperation between the agency and former president.

Retired FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Tabman, who served the agency for 24 years, said a raid of this level of sensitivity would need to be approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

'I think somebody gave them information indicating that these documents are there,' Tabman said, adding to hypothetical 'insider' revelations: 'You have not been told the truth about their existence. You're not getting them unless you come get them.'

'I think there was inside information  call it an informant if you want,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I believe either someone told them something or some other information was stumbled upon, which was kind of conclusive in their minds that they had to go now to get that or they're not getting it.'

Tabman claimed while there was cooperation between Trump and the FBI at one point, the agency may have gotten a sense that the former president and his team were 'telling you what they want to tell you with limited information.'

FBI agents with a search warrant raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida on Monday morning

Anti-media and pro-Trump protesters stands across the waterfront from Mar A Lago on Monday night

Trump supporters gathered in front of Mar-a-Lago on Monday night

'Biden KNEW... just like he knew all about Hunter's "deals"': Trump claims president was aware of Mar-a-Lago raid and calls it a coordinated attack by 'Radical Left Democrat AGs' - as pressure piles on DOJ to react Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed President Joe Biden knew about the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago in advance, something the White House has denied. 'Biden knew all about this, just like he knew all about Hunter's "deals,"' the ex-president posted to his Truth Social website. Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings have attracted controversy, though the president has denied being involved in them. Trump also pushed that the Mar-a-Lago raid was a continuation of politically motivated investigations against him. 'A horrible thing that took place yesterday at Mar-a-Lago,' he wrote. 'We are no better than a third world country, a banana republic.' 'It is a continuation of Russia, Russia, Russia, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax # 2, the no collusion Mueller Report, and more,' he continued. 'To make matters worse it is all, in my opinion, a coordinated attack with Radical Left Democrat state & local D.A.'s & A.G.'s,' the former president added. On Monday, Trump confirmed that FBI agents had raided Mar-a-Lago, after media reports said agents were spotted leaving the ex-president's Florida home and private club. It marks the first time in U.S. history the home of a former president has been raided. A number of public officials have called for an explanation. 'The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday,' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday night. 'Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.' Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed President Joe Biden knew about the FBI 's raid of Mar-a-Lago in advance, something the White House has denied 'Biden knew all about this, just like he knew all about Hunter's "deals,"' the ex-president posted to his Truth Social website Hunter Biden (left) and President Joe Biden (right) pose for a photo in 2016. Trump claimed that the president knew about the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago in advance, just like he knew about Hunter's "deals." Hunter Biden's foreign business deals have attracted controversy McConnell, who had a falling out with Trump over the ex-president's false election fraud claims, had previously not commented on the raid. McConnell waited until just over 24 hours to respond. Trump confirmed the raid in a statement Monday evening, saying the move represented 'dark times for our Nation,' pushing that the Biden administration was going after him as a political target. Trump is mulling a 2024 presidential run. A number of media outlets reported that the raid stemmed from an investigation into Trump removing classified documents from the White House and not the Department of Justice's current probe into January 6, which is also partially focused on Trump. The House select committee on January 6 is also investigating the January 6 Capitol attack and Trump's action surrounding it. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that the FBI hauled away 10 boxes of documents during the raid, after the National Archives retrieved more than a dozen boxes of documents from the Florida resort earlier this year. Additionally, the ex-president is facing potential legal problems in Georgia and New York. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating the scheme to run over the state's 2020 presidential election result. And in New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is looking into whether Trump's companies misrepresented the value of properties for loan and tax purposes. Eric Trump departs Trump Tower the day after his father, former President Donald Trump, said FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago home. Several news outlets reported that the raid had to do with the removal of classified material from the White House Additionally in New York, Letitia James, the New York state attorney general, is conducting a civil investigation into whether Trump's company inflated real estate values. In a campaign-style video Tuesday morning, Trump insisted that 'we are a nation that has weaponized its law enforcement against the opposing political party, like never before.' 'What took place yesterday, and long before, was an unprecedented infringement of the rights of every American citizen,' he said in a third Truth Social post Tuesday night. 'Scam after Scam, year after year, it is all the Radical Left Democrats really know, it is their lifeblood - they have no shame. Our Country is paying a very big price!!!' he added. The White House, however, has insisted its hands are clean. During Tuesday's press briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden 'was not briefed' ahead of the Monday raid. The president, she said, 'was not aware of it.' 'No one at the White House was given a heads up,' Jean-Pierre said. A number of Trump allies have called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to speak publicly about the raid. So far he hasn't commented. The Justice Department also wouldn't comment when asked if Garland personally authorized the search. Advertisement

FBI protocol, according to Tabman, is to move forward with seizing information once they feel that 'voluntarily' obtaining it is no longer viable.

'You know, everything could disappear,' Tabman said. 'You got evidence that you need to get before it disappears or it moves and you can't see it anymore.'

In order to obtain the warrant for a raid, the FBI would need to prove probable cause and conduct the search in a timely manner. Agents can't just 'poke around' someone's home in a case like this, Tabman said.

He also claimed the FBI could have gotten the sense that Trump was just no longer being 'fully cooperative' with the investigation  leading them to see the raid approval.

Tabman said that while it doesn't appear any protocols were broken in conducting the raid, it's still an 'unprecedented' move in the sense that the FBI has never raided a former president's home before.

'I can't think of this having happened to a former president,' Tabman noted.

'I don't see any protocols that were broken in any way,' the retired FBI special agent added. 'They must have obviously had probable cause.'

The ex-president was at Trump Tower in New York City when the FBI raided his Florida estate. His son Eric Trump told Fox News he informed his father of the raid.

Trump and his allies quickly sought to cast the search as a weaponization of the criminal justice system and a Democratic-driven effort to keep him from winning another term in 2024 - though the Biden White House said it had no prior knowledge and current FBI Director Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump five years ago.

Trump, disclosing the search in a lengthy statement late Monday, asserted that agents had opened a safe at his home, and he described their work as an 'unannounced raid' that he likened to 'prosecutorial misconduct.'

'These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,' Trump said through his Save America PAC,' he said.

'I stood up to America's bureaucratic corruption, I restored power to the people, and truly delivered for our Country, like we have never seen before.

'The establishment hated it.

'Now, as they watch my endorsed candidates win big victories, and see my dominance in all polls, they are trying to stop me, and the Republican Party, once more.

'The lawlessness, political persecution, and Witch Hunt must be exposed and stopped.'

Justice Department spokesperson Dena Iverson declined to comment on the search, including whether Garland had personally authorized it.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the West Wing first learned of the search from public media reports, and the White House had not been briefed in the run-up or aftermath.

'The Justice Department conducts investigations independently and we leave any law enforcement matters to them,' she said. 'We are not involved.'

About two dozen Trump supporters stood in protest at midmorning Tuesday in the Florida summer heat and sporadic light rain on a bridge near the former president's residence. One held a sign reading 'Democrats are Fascists' while others carried flags saying '2020 Was Rigged,' 'Trump 2024' and Biden's name with an obscenity. Some cars honked in support as they passed.

Trump's Vice President Mike Pence, a potential 2024 rival, said Tuesday that he was concerned about the FBI's raid - despite their 20-month estrangement.

'I share the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented search of the personal residence of President Trump,' Pence tweeted Tuesday afternoon. 'No former President of the United States has ever been subject to a raid of their personal residence in American history.'

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell echoed Pence, saying: 'Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.'

'The FBI director was appointed by Donald Trump,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when asked about GOP allegations that the raid showed the politicization of the Justice Department. She added, 'Facts and truth, facts and law, that's what it's about.'

Trump was meeting late Tuesday at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club with members of the Republican Study Committee, a group headed by Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana that says it is committed to putting forth his priorities in Congress.

The FBI reached out to the Secret Service shortly before serving a warrant, a third person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Secret Service agents contacted the Justice Department and were able to validate the warrant before facilitating access to the estate, the person said.

The Justice Department has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information since the National Archives and Records Administration said it had received from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of White House records, including documents containing classified information, earlier this year. The National Archives said Trump should have turned over that material upon leaving office, and it asked the Justice Department to investigate.

Christina Bobb, a lawyer for Trump, said in an interview that aired on Real America's Voice on Tuesday that investigators said they were 'looking for classified information that they think should not have been removed from the White House, as well as presidential records.'

There are multiple federal laws governing the handling of classified records and sensitive government documents, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such material and retain it at an unauthorized location. Though a search warrant does not necessarily mean criminal charges are near or even expected, federal officials looking to obtain one must first demonstrate to a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.

Two people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the search Monday was related to the records probe. Agents were also looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at the estate.

Trump has previously maintained that presidential records were turned over 'in an ordinary and routine process.' His son Eric said on Fox News on Monday night that he had spent the day with his father and that the search happened because 'the National Archives wanted to corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession.'

Trump himself, in a social media post Monday night, called the search a 'weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024.'

Trump took a different stance during the 2016 presidential campaign, frequently pointing to an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over whether she mishandled classified information via a private email server she used as secretary of state. The then-FBI Director James Comey concluded that Clinton had sent and received classified information, but the FBI did not recommend criminal charges.

Trump lambasted that decision and then stepped up his criticism of the FBI as agents began investigating whether his campaign had colluded with Russia to tip the 2016 election. He fired Comey during that probe, and though he appointed Wray months later, he repeatedly criticized him, too, as president.

The probe is hardly the only legal headache confronting Trump. A separate investigation related to efforts by him and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election - which led to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol - has also been intensifying in Washington. Several former White House officials have received grand jury subpoenas.

And a district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, is investigating whether Trump and his close associates sought to interfere in that state's election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden.

Mar-A-Linger: Day two of protests outside Trump's Florida residence draws raucous crowd of flag-waving, MAGA-supporting protestors as ex-president touts latest GOP win from Trump Tower

Trump fanatics of all colors and creeds, descended on Mar-a-Lago for a second night to send a defiant message to his political enemies: 'You'll never take down 45'.

The former president's backers included a raucous coalition of Proud Boys, Cuban exiles and African Americans sporting Blacks For Trump T-shirts.

Supporters honked horns, belted out rock anthems and waved flags and banners as they gathered at Trump's Florida residence one day after it was dramatically raided by the Feds.

Law enforcement kept the crowds from gathering directly outside the swank private club in Palm Beach, where Trump lives part-time from fall to spring.

But a hundred or so die-hards - with MAGA hats, US flags and Trump 2024 shirts - lined the nearby causeway instead to show their contempt for the FBI probe into allegations Trump took a stash of classified documents with him when he left office.

Trump, disclosing the search in a lengthy statement, claimed that agents had opened up a safe at his home and described their work as an 'unannounced raid' that he called 'prosecutorial misconduct.'

He accused the FBI of a double standard, claiming the bureau 'allowed' Hillary Clinton to 'acid wash' 33,000 emails from her time as secretary of state.

For the second consecutive day, irate Donald Trump supporters descended on his Mar-a-Lago home to protest the FBI raided as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to the Florida residence

DailyMail.com cameras saw tons of pro-Trump signs, along with a smattering of anti-Trump protesters near the gated estate on Tuesday after many came just hours after the ex-president himself announced the investigation.

Signs became more and more creative, with one even depicting the former president as John Rambo

Trump says he WILL meet Letitia James today to be grilled under oath over his business practices: Lashes out at 'racist' NY AG and slams probe as 'greatest witch hunt in U.S. history' Former President Donald Trump will be questioned under oath today in the New York attorney general's long-running civil investigation into his dealings as a real estate mogul, he confirmed in a post on his Truth Social account. The New York civil investigation, led by Attorney General Letitia James, involves allegations that Trump's company, the Trump Organization, misstated the value of prized assets like golf courses and skyscrapers, misleading lenders and tax authorities. Trump lashed out at James, saying she was 'racist' and the probe is the 'greatest witch hunt in U.S. history. 'In New York City tonight. Seeing racist N.Y.S. Attorney General tomorrow, for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in U.S. history!' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday night, invoking his oft-repeated claims about James, who is Black, and the investigation. 'My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides,' Trump added. 'Banana Republic!' Trump's testimony is happening at a critical point in James' investigation, midway through a pivotal week in his post-presidency. In May, James' office said that it was nearing the end of its probe and that investigators had amassed substantial evidence that could support legal action, such as a lawsuit, against Trump, his company or both. The Republican billionaire's deposition - a legal term for sworn testimony that's not given in court - is one of the few remaining missing pieces, the attorney generals office said. Two of Trump's adult children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, testified in the investigation in recent days, two people familiar with the matter said. The people were not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity. Messages seeking comment were left with James' office and with Trump's lawyer. The Trumps' testimony had initially been planned for last month but was delayed after the July 14 death of the former presidents ex-wife, Ivana Trump, the mother of Ivanka, Donald Jr. and another son, Eric Trump, who sat for a deposition in James investigation in 2020. On Friday, the Trump Organization and its longtime finance chief, Allen Weisselberg, will be in court seeking dismissal of tax fraud charges brought against them last year in the Manhattan district attorneys parallel criminal probe. James, a Democrat, has said in court filings that her office has uncovered 'significant' evidence that Trump's company 'used fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions.' James alleges the Trump Organization exaggerated the value of its holdings to impress lenders or misstated what land was worth to slash its tax burden, pointing to annual financial statements given to banks to secure favorable loan terms and to financial magazines to justify Trump's place among the worlds billionaires. The company even exaggerated the size of Trump's Manhattan penthouse, saying it was nearly three times its actual size - a difference in value of about $200 million, James' office said. Trump has denied the allegations, explaining that seeking the best valuations is a common practice in the real estate industry. He says James investigation is part of a politically motivated 'witch hunt' and that her office is 'doing everything within their corrupt discretion to interfere with my business relationships, and with the political process.' 'THERE IS NO CASE!' Trump said in a February statement, after Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that James office had 'the clear right' to question Trump and other principals in his company. While James has explored suing Trump or his company, the Manhattan district attorneys office has long pursued a parallel criminal investigation. That probe had appeared to be progressing toward a possible criminal indictment, but slowed after a new district attorney, Alvin Bragg, took office in January. A grand jury that had been hearing evidence disbanded. The top prosecutor who had been handling the probe resigned after Bragg raised questions internally about the viability of the case. Bragg has said his investigation is continuing, which means that Trump could invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and decline to answer questions from James investigators. According to the subpoena issued by James office, Trump was to appear in person at the attorney generals office, located in a Manhattan office tower that has doubled as the fictional conglomerate Waystar Roycos headquarters on HBOs 'Succession.' As vociferous as Trump has been in defending himself in written statements and on the rally stage, legal experts say the same strategy could backfire in a deposition setting because anything he says could potentially be used against him or his company in the criminal investigation. No former president has even been charged with a crime. In fighting to block the subpoenas, lawyers for the Trumps argued New York authorities were using the civil investigation to get information for the criminal probe and that the depositions were a ploy to avoid calling them before a criminal grand jury, where state law requires they be given immunity.

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'It's a bunch of bull***t. They are looking for anything they can find to stop him from running in 2024,' said Tank, a member of the Broward County Proud Boys chapter who declined to give his full name.

He told DailyMail.com around 20 Proud Boys were headed to Mar-a-Lago to peacefully support the former President.

'We have thinned out the bad actors, we don't condone violent behavior,' he insisted, swigging from a bottle of Stella Artois beer and making the controversial OK symbol with his fingers that some say is a white supremacist gesture.

'We are just here to support the future president,' he added. 'Trump will surprise a lot of people in 2024. There are going to be a lot of sad Democrats.'

His sentiments were echoed by Maurice Symonette, 63, a promoter and salesman who pulled into Palm Beach in a Rolls-Royce to protest with Blacks for Trump.

'Before he ran, Trump had the support of rappers, athletes and boxers, you can't call this guy a racist.

'It's Joe Biden who once said n***r in Congress,' he said, referring to Biden's 1985 use of the N-word when quoting someone else.

'This investigation is another feeble attempt to take Trump down. But they can't take down 45. The deplorables are taking over.'

Wheelchair-bound Ray Bulman, a retired firefighter, said he had left his home in Margate, Florida, just a handful of times in the past five years prior to making the hour-long trip to Mar-a-Lago.

'I have diabetes, PTSD, I rarely get out of the house. But I had to be here, someone has to stand up for this country,' Ray, 70, told DailyMail.com.

'They are after Trump because he likes to drain the swamp. He has thousands of lawyers but it's hard to beat the government and the lying media.'

DailyMail.com revealed earlier Tuesday that police were on high alert in case Trump backers brought guns to their protest.

But the mood was jubilant and more akin to a tailgate party until police lost patience and started to tow cars for illegally parking along Southern Boulevard, which links West Palm Beach to the exclusive Palm Beach island.

Accountant Joe Culhane came wielding a baseball bat for a flagpole and wearing a T-shirt declaring his support for Second Amendment rights.

He decided against bringing a firearm because he didn't want to make life difficult for the cops, he told DailyMail.com.

'It's difficult for them to know who the good guys are. I could be Antifa for all they know,' said 61-year-old Joe, of Lake Worth, Florida.

'He's got the Louisville Slugger if anyone comes at us,' joked his wife Dianna, 61, clutching a flag with Trump's head superimposed on Rambo's body.

'I was so shook up when I heard about the raid that I could not stop crying,' she added.

'I was standing next to a woman who escaped from China and she said this is the blueprint for what happened there. It's communism.'

Cuban exile Flordelis Grotesan, 52, knew first hand what it was like living under the Castro regime.

She made her feelings plain with a T-shirt that declared 'TRUMP 20/NOW' and 'anti communist.'

'I know what's going on because I was born a slave in Cuba, the Democratic Party is like a filtered version of the communist party there,' she told DailyMail.com through a translator.

Her 'F*** BIDEN' baseball hat needed no translation, however.

'Trump has done nothing wrong,' Floredis added. 'They are just looking for excuses to attack him.'

The former president spent much of the day posting to his TRUTH social media platform, both complaining about his treatment by the feds and celebrating primary victories for candidates he endorsed.

Trump wrote earlier Tuesday evening: 'We are no better than a third world country, a banana republic' echoing the words of many conservatives, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

He also celebrated the primary victory for Joe Kent over pro-impeachment Washington State Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler: 'Joe Kent just won an incredible race against all odds in Washington State. Importantly, he knocked out yet another impeacher, Jaime Herrera Beutler, who so stupidly played right into the hands of the Democrats'.

The raid on Trump's home intensifies the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in more than a dozen boxes located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year.

It occurs amid a separate grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and adds to the potential legal peril for Trump as he lays the groundwork for another run.

Familiar battle lines, forged during a four-year presidency shadowed by FBI and congressional investigations, quickly took shape again in the wake of Monday night.

Trump and his allies sought to cast the search as a weaponization of the criminal justice system and a Democratic-driven effort to keep him from winning another term in 2024 - even though the Biden White House said it had no prior knowledge of it, and the current FBI director, Christopher Wray, was appointed by Trump five years ago and served as a high-ranking official in a Republican-led Justice Department.

The defense serves as a fresh reminder of the former president's enduring grip on the GOP, as speculation remains as to whether he will run again in 2024.

'The sooner he kicks off his campaign, the better,' Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Banks, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, said in an interview.

Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City

Trump accused the FBI of a double standard, claiming the bureau 'allowed' Hillary Clinton to 'acid wash' 33,000 emails from her time as secretary of state

Those who support Trump said the raid was a clear attempt to thwart a potential 2024 presidential run

Tuesday, supporters brought more and more pro-Trump signs and were in general more organized and passionate, with groups like the far right Proud Boys and Blacks for Trump professing their support outside Mar-a-Lago

Pro former U.S. President Donald Trump decals sit on a supporter's car during a gathering outside his Mar-a-Lago home

Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump wave flags as they gather outside his Mar-a-Lago home

Supporters of former President Donald Trump walk down Southern Boulevard, Tuesday outside the estate

Wheelchair-bound Ray Bulman, a retired firefighter, said he had left his home in Margate, Florida just a handful of times in the past five years prior to making the hour-long trip to Mar-a-Lago

Maurice Symonette, 63, a promoter and salesman, pulled into Palm Beach in a Rolls-Royce to protest with Blacks for Trump

Tank, a member of the far-right Proud Boys and other protesters stands behind the Mar-a-Lago estate

EXCLUSIVE: Trump could be BANNED from holding public office if he is found guilty of mishandling classified White House records - and the legal saga will be a 'huge' development for his 2024 hopes, legal experts warn Former President Donald Trump could be banned from holding public office if he is found guilty of mishandling White House records. Federal law prohibits someone convicted of mishandling documents from holding any office in the US, legal experts have warned could be a 'huge' development for Trump's hopes to run for president in 2024. 'If Trump is convicted under this federal statute, he would be prohibited from holding any office including the office of the president,' former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told DailyMail.com. 'That would be huge.' Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida was raided by the FBI Monday, reportedly as part of an investigation into whether he took classified documents with him when he left presidential office. Trump, in his dramatic announcement of the raid, did not specifically say what the federal agents were looking for, just that his home was 'under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.' Trump could be facing 'significant criminal exposure' if the FBI raid determines he destroyed government records, Rahmani, who is president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, told DailyMail.com Monday night. He said Trump would likely be charged under US Code Title 18, Section 2071 which involves concealment or destruction of US government documents. The code states that anyone who 'willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record' could be fined and sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison. The provision also states that anyone convicted of records concealment or destruction 'shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.' 'His lawyers told him about the law requiring that he preserve White House documents, so he was on notice and that will bolster the case and help prove intent if prosecutors charge Trump.' Trump took 15 boxes of material with him in January 2021 after he left office. The boxes were returned to the National Archives a year later, in January 2022, but agents on Monday were reportedly looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at his South Florida estate. 'FBI agents, in an investigation like this, are not always going to find every missing document or even discover every instance where a paper went missing,' Rahmani warned. 'It's not hard to destroy documents and in some cases investigators will never find any evidence that a document even existed.' He added: 'In other instances, investigators can figure out something is missing, if for example they have testimony from a government official who says he was tasked with writing up a transcript and he did that, but the document can't be found anywhere. Then you know someone destroyed it. But figuring out who did that can be another mystery.' Rahmani noted the raid of Trump's home was likely carried out only by agents involved in searching for documents that should have been in the National Archives. He said the agents investigating the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol 'may have nothing to do with this operation.' 'But if evidence comes out from the raid that sheds light on Trump's involvement in the Capitol Riot, then that will absolutely become part of the Jan. 6 investigation,' the legal expert added. Advertisement

Banks was among about a dozen Republican lawmakers who spent several hours Tuesday evening with Trump at his summer home in Bedminster, New Jersey. During a meal that included steak, scallops, mashed potatoes, salad and a Trump cookie, the group talked about the upcoming midterm elections and the 2024 presidential race, Banks said.

The former president told the lawmakers 'his mind is made up' about a 2024 campaign and 'we'll all be happy with his decision.'

The FBI search seemed to trigger a shift among Trump's advisers, who had been privately urging him to wait until after the midterm elections to announce his intention to seek the presidency again. Suddenly, some of those same advisers were urging him to launch his campaign before the November elections.

Trump stoked such speculation in the hours after the search by posting a campaign-style video on social media. 'The best is yet to come,' he said.

He followed up with a fundraising appeal, making it personal by declaring 'it's important that you know that it wasn't just my home that was violated - it was the home of every patriotic American who I have been fighting for.'

In Columbia, South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he spoke with Trump and felt sure another campaign was coming.

'One thing I can tell you,' Graham said. 'I believed he was going to run before. I'm stronger in my belief now.'

As Republicans rallied behind Trump, Democrats pushed back against GOP claims of political interference, without evidence. Some accused the GOP of a departure from its longstanding commitment to 'law and order.'

'The FBI director was appointed by Donald Trump,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Asked if the raid might hurt Democrats in the November elections, she said: 'You're talking about if the Justice Department decides to have a warrant to go in because they suspect something is justified, its going to have an impact on the election? No, no, no, no, no.'

Some of Trump's most vocal Republican critics still shied away from embracing the former president. And it was unclear how rank-and-file Republican voters and independents frustrated by Trump's divisive leadership might be moved by the new developments.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor and one of many Republicans considering a 2024 presidential bid, noted Tuesday that a federal judge had to sign off on the warrant.

'The former president is presumed innocent,' Christie said in an interview. 'On the other hand, we can't immediately impugn the motives of the prosecutors just because they're from another political party.'

'It's an extraordinary action. And there better be some pretty extraordinary facts to underlie it. If there are, then they have every right to do it.'

And some other Republican officials seemed to express continued concerns about Trump by refusing to weigh in at all.

The relatively short list of those GOP leaders who remained silent Tuesday afternoon was led by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has privately encouraged his party to move past Trump. But the Kentucky Republican eventually weighed in, saying: 'The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday. Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.'

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is gearing up for a presidential run of his own, said he shared 'the deep concerns of millions of Americans' over the search of Trump's private residence.

He stopped short of attacking the FBI, however. Instead, he said Attorney General Merrick Garland should 'give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately.'

Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri aggressively condemned the Justice Department on Trump's behalf.

Hawley called the search 'an unprecedented assault on democratic norms and the rule of law.' He called for Garland's resignation or impeachment and the removal of FBI Director Wray.

Cotton said Garland had 'weaponized' the Justice Department against his political enemies. 'There will be consequences for this,' he warned.

Also from Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, still another Republican weighing a 2024 run, called the search 'unprecedented and alarming.' But like Pence, he added, 'We must see the probable cause affidavit before making a judgment.'

The search intensified the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in boxes of White House records located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. A separate grand jury is investigating efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Flordelis Grotesan, of Cuba, marches among the protesters and cars waving signs for the president

The former president spent much of the day posting to his TRUTH social media platform, both complaining about his treatment by the feds and celebrating primary victories for candidates he endorsed

One supporter bringing out a sign calling Democrats 'fascists' with snakes hidden marches Tuesday

Trump wrote earlier Tuesday evening: 'We are no better than a third world country, a banana republic' echoing the words of many conservatives, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

The raid on Trump's home intensifies the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in more than a dozen boxes located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year

A smattering of Anti-former U.S. President Donald Trump protestors hold signs as they gather outside his Mar-a-Lago home

A protester calling for Donald Trump's arrest holds a sign in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan

Trump did not elaborate on the basis for the search, but the Justice Department has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information after the National Archives and Records Administration said it had retrieved from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of records containing classified information earlier this year.

The National Archives said Trump should have turned over that material upon leaving office, and it asked the Justice Department to investigate.

There are multiple federal laws governing the handling of classified records and sensitive government documents, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such material and retain it at an unauthorized location.

Though a search warrant does not suggest that criminal charges are near or even expected, federal officials looking to obtain one must first demonstrate to a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.

Two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the search happened earlier Monday and was related to the records probe. Agents were also looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at the estate.

Trump has previously maintained that presidential records were turned over 'in an ordinary and routine process.'

His son Eric Trump, who was also spotted at Trump Tower on Monday, said he was the one that got the call on the raid and told his father about it.

'I was the guy who got the call this morning and I called my father and let him know it happened, and I was involved all day,' he told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

'Welcome to politics in the 2020s.'

'To have 30 FBI agents - actually more than that - descend on Mar-a-Lago, give absolutely, you know, no notice, go through the gates, start ransacking an office, ransacking a closet - you know, they broke into a safe.

'He didn't even have anything in the safe. I mean, give me a break.'

Asked how the documents ended up at Mar-a-Lago, Eric Trump said the boxes were among items that got moved out of the White House during 'six hours' on Inauguration Day, as the Bidens prepared to move into the building.

'My father always kept press clippings,' Eric Trump said.

'He had boxes, when he moved out of the White House.'

He charged President Joe Biden's White House as the force behind the raid.

'This didn't come from a local FBI field office in Palm Beach, Florida.

'You know this came from? This came from one place and one building, and that is the White House in Washington, D.C. They want to attack a guy who they view as his greatest threat, Biden's greatest threat,' Eric Trump said.

Biden's White House had no heads up on the matter. Senior White House officials found out about it via Twitter, The New York Times reported.

President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower in New York City on Monday night after he announced he FBI had raided his Florida home

'They even broke into my safe!' Trump complained of the raid in a statement he released on Monday

Trump took 15 boxes of material with him in January 2021 after he left Washington D.C. The boxes were returned to the National Archives a year later in January 2022 but agents on Monday were looking to see if Trump had additional material; above workers move boxes out of the Trump White House on January 14, 2021

Armed Secret Service agents stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on Monday night

Eric Trump is spotted leaving Trump Tower; he told Fox News that he was the one who got notice of the raid and told his father about it

What WERE FBI agents looking for at Mar-a-Lago? FBI agents who raided Donald Trump's Florida estate have been in discussions since June with his legal team about a trove of presidential documents on the property, it emerged on Monday night, as speculation continued to swirl about what exactly they were looking for. The raid was carried out on Monday, and confirmed by Trump himself. The White House is believed to have learnt of the raid when the rest of the world did, and was not informed in advance. In February it emerged that Trump had taken classified documents out of the White House when he left in January 2021, and some of those were handed over to the National Archives. Monday's raid is thought likely to be related to the remaining boxes of documents, although it remained unclear why the FBI decided to raid the estate. CNN reported on Monday evening that investigators were at Mar-a-Lago on June 8, meeting Trump's lawyers to discuss the documents. Trump was not questioned, the network reported, but stopped by and greeted the investigators and his two attorneys. The two attorneys then took the investigators to a basement room and showed them where the documents were stored. Five days later, Trump's attorneys received a letter asking them to enhance the security on the store room, and a padlock was then placed on the door. It's unclear why the FBI then decided to raid the property. Advertisement

Lara Trump told Fox News 'look, my father-in-law, as anybody knows, who's been around him a lot, loves to save things like newspaper clippings, magazine clippings, photographs, documents that he had every authority... to take from the White House.'

She called the raid an attempt to hurt him as her father-in-law may 'announce any day that he's running for president in 2024.'

Trump emerged from Trump Tower in New York City shortly before 8 p.m. and waved to bystanders before being driven away in an SUV.

In his first public remarks since news of the search surfaced, Trump made no mention of it during a tele-town hall on behalf of Leora Levy, the Connecticut Republican he has endorsed in Tuesday's U.S. Senate primary to pick a general election opponent against Democratic U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Trump gave his public backing to Levy late last week, calling her on Monday the best pick 'to replace Connecticut's joke of a senator.'

But in a social media post Monday night, he was much more unguarded, calling the search a 'weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024.'

Other Republicans echoed that message. GOP National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel denounced the search as 'outrageous' and said it was a reason for voters to turn out in November.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is considered a potential 2024 presidential candidate, said in a statement on Twitter that it was 'an escalation in the weaponization' of U.S. government agencies.'

Kevin McCarthy, the House Minority Leader, said in a tweet that the Justice Department 'has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization' and said that if Republicans win control of the U.S. House, they will investigate the department.

That Trump would become entangled in a probe into the handling of classified information is all the more striking given how he tried during the 2016 presidential election to exploit an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over whether she mishandled classified information via a private email server she used as secretary of state.

The then-FBI Director James Comey concluded that Clinton had sent and received classified information but the FBI did not recommend criminal charges because it determined that Clinton had not intended to break the law.

Trump lambasted that decision and then stepped up his criticism of the FBI as agents began investigating whether his campaign had colluded with Russia to tip the 2016 election. He fired Comey during that probe, and though he appointed Wray months later, he repeatedly criticized him, too, as president.

Thomas Schwartz, a Vanderbilt University history professor who studies and writes about the presidency, said there is no precedent for a former president facing an FBI raid - even going back to Watergate. President Richard Nixon wasn't allowed to take tapes or other materials from the White House when he resigned in 1974, Schwartz noted, and many of his papers remained in Washington for years before being transferred to his presidential library in California.

'This is different and it is a sign of how unique the Trump period was,' said Schwartz, author of 'Henry Kissinger and American Power: A Political Biography.' 'How his behavior was so unusual.'

The probe is hardly the only legal headache confronting Trump. A separate investigation related to efforts by Trump and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election - which led to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol - has also been intensifying in Washington. Several former White House officials have received grand jury subpoenas.

And a district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, is investigating whether Trump and his close associates sought to interfere in that state's election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden.

A padlocked basement full of documents in Mar-a-Lago, the DOJ's counterintelligence chief and boxes of classified files: How investigators 'met Trump lawyers in JUNE to ask about "missing" files in search that began last year'

Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida was raided by the FBI on Monday night, the former president revealed in a furious and lengthy statement.

The unannounced search was related to White House documents sought by the National Archives, his son Eric Trump told Fox News later that night.

Federal agents 'ransacked' his father's office, he said, and in his own statement the former president accused them of breaking into his safe.

But Trump's issues with the National Archives reportedly began before he even left office.

Politico reported in 2018 that aides were forced to follow the then-president around to tape back documents that he had shredded - a habit the Republican was known for during his prior life heading the Trump Organization - in fear of running afoul of record-keeping laws.

And late last year, Trump attempted to slow the release of presidential documents from the National Archives to the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack.

It's not clear what specifically is being investigated, but it's worth noting there are laws on the books against tampering and destruction of classified presidential records.

Below is a timeline piecing together reports of the former president's legal battle with the Capitol riot committee over his documents, which appeared to run parallel to the National Archives' own efforts to recover classified pages from Trump.

The New York Times reported on Tuesday afternoon that the two are not related.

Trump sues January 6 committee to block National Archives records

In October 2021, the former president launched a lawsuit against the Democrat-led House panel and the National Archives to block the release of White House records linked to last year's Capitol riot.

Trump's lawyers called the probe a 'fishing expedition' in a 26-page lawsuit filed in mid-October.

The attorneys had also requested that the National Archives send Trump's team any documents that could be relevant for review.

Trump lost the case along with two subsequent appeals later that year.

FBI agents with a search warrant raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Palm Beach, Florida on Monday morning

The above timeline highlights just some of former president Donald Trump's battles with the National Archives since leaving office, including an unrelated court fight with the January 6 committee

Supreme Court shuts down Trump's bid to block documents, National Archives says it will turn them over

The January 6 committee revealed on January 19 that it had begun receiving documents from the National Archives that Trump 'had hoped to keep hidden.'

It happened the same day as the Supreme Court rejecting Trump's last-ditch request to shield his records.

Nine justices voted against the former president, including three who he appointed to the bench.

Only Clarence Thomas, whose wife Ginni is now being investigated by the committee over her efforts to push Trump's election fraud claims, voted in Trump's favor.

In addition to his own documents, the tranche also included records belonging to White House legal counsel, ex-adviser Stephen Miller and ex-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, The Guardian reported.

National Archives reveals some Trump records were 'torn up'

The record-keeping body confirmed to the Washington Post on January 31 that the documents it handed to the January 6 committee 'included paper records that had been torn up by former President Trump.'

At this point the National Archives had reportedly handed more than 700 pages to the committee.

Anti-media and pro-Trump protesters stands across the waterfront from Mar A Lago. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate after it was raided by FBI agents on Monday

Not all of them had been taped back together at the time of the committee's receipt.

'These were turned over to the National Archives at the end of the Trump Administration, along with a number of torn-up records that had not been reconstructed by the White House,' the Archives reportedly said.

Trump's 15 boxes of sensitive White House documents

The next month, the National Archives revealed that Trump had taken 15 boxes full of White House records to his Mar-a-Lago retreat after leaving Washington, DC the year before.

Officials from the Archives and the Records Administration had to retrieve the boxes this past January.

It was first reported by the Washington Post on February 7.

Items that were improperly taken and had to be retrieved included what Trump called 'love letters' exchanged with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

A letter from then-outgoing President Barack Obama to Trump when he first took office was also among the trove.

National Archives asks Justice Department to probe Trump record-keeping

Two days after it was revealed that Trump took 15 boxes of White House documents to Mar-a-Lago, the National Archives stepped up its enforcement by asking the Justice Department to probe the ex-president's handling of the sensitive pages.

The Archives asked President Joe Biden's DOJ to investigate whether Trump violated the Presidential Records Act, a source told CNN on February 9.

The Washington Post reported the next day that some of the files in the 15 boxes the Archives had retrieved were marked as 'top secret' - spurring security concerns.

The former president was at Trump Tower in New York City when his home was raided, his son Eric Trump told Fox News that night

Trump released a lengthy statement claiming he was 'under siege' and that federal agents broke into his safe

At the time, Trump's spokesman Taylor Budowich said the records retrieving process was 'normal and routine' but was being 'weaponized by anonymous, politically motivated government sources to peddle Fake News.'

Report details months-long effort to retrieve Trump documents

It follows a June visit by DOJ official Jay Bratt and two others to Mar-a-Lago to inquire about the documents

While the controversy between the former president and government record-keepers only gained steam earlier this year, a February 13 CNN report reveals that the National Archives knew as early as May 2021 that documents had been missing.

National Archives counsel Gary Stern reportedly first contacted an official in the White House who had been named the point-person for records-keeping matters.

Stern apparently reached out to one of Trump's other lawyers after his efforts to get the records appeared to be slow-walked.

At the time of the February report, one person told CNN the matter had 'not been fully resolved' and the National Archives was still seeking more documents from Trump.

'Former President Trump's representatives have informed NARA that they are continuing to search for additional Presidential records that belong to the National Archives,' the Archives said in a statement.

Classified documents were among the 15 boxes Trump took, National Archives says

A week later, the National Archives confirmed an earlier Washington Post report that top secret documents were among the trove that Trump took to Mar-a-Lago with him.

The body said in a statement published on February 18 that it was 'in communication' with the DOJ on Trump-retrieved documents that were 'marked as classified national security information.'

In response to letters from the House Oversight Committee seeking more information on the matter, the Archives revealed the sensitive nature of the documents and added that social media and other online records from White House aides had not been properly stored.

The body said Trump aides had been warned about the matter previously.

DOJ summons grand jury in National Archives probe and grills Trump staffers

After months of silence, the Justice Department was revealed in May to be investigating whether Trump or others mishandled classified White House documents.

The DOJ convened a grand jury in the probe, the New York Times reported on May 12.

Prosecutors had subpoenaed the relevant documents from the National Archives, and CNN revealed they questioned Trump aides in April and May of this year.

Merrick Garland's top officials sit down with Trump lawyers in Mar-a-Lago

Four top DOJ officials traveled to Mar-a-Lago in early June to speak with the former president's attorneys about the documents, it was reported the day after the FBI raid.

In revealing the visit CNN noted how 'rare' in nature it was.

The DOJ's counterintelligence and export control section chief Jay Bratt was reportedly among the group who sat down with Trump's lawyers.

Trump's team had also shown the government officials where Trump were storing documents.

Investigators reportedly observed that some of the files there were marked as classified.

At one point the former president himself reportedly stopped in to say hello and 'make small talk' before leaving again.

Trump staffers padlock documents room in Mar-a-Lago

Days after the investigators' visit, they reportedly sent a letter to Trump's staff asking them to secure the room where they observed the documents being stored.

Aides padlocked the area, according to CNN.

Feds raid Mar-a-Lago on Monday morning

It was reported that the FBI's operation at Mar-a-Lago occurred in the early hours of Monday morning.

The ex-president had been at Trump Tower in New York City at the time. His son Eric Trump told Fox he informed his father of the raid.

CNN reported that federal agents' activity was exclusively kept to the portions of the club where Trump's office and residence are.

The former president claimed he was a victim of political persecution in a statement that revealed the unannounced search to the public.

'These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,' Trump said through his Save America PAC.

'I stood up to America s bureaucratic corruption, I restored power to the people, and truly delivered for our Country, like we have never seen before. The establishment hated it. Now, as they watch my endorsed candidates win big victories, and see my dominance in all polls, they are trying to stop me, and the Republican Party, once more. The lawlessness, political persecution, and Witch Hunt must be exposed and stopped.'
Peter FitzSimons and Jacinta Price both furiously insisted they had witnesses backing their accounts of a phone interview in which the new senator claims the left-wing author was 'rude' and 'aggressive' towards her.

Daily Mail Australia has obtained the furious text messages FitzSimons exchanged with the Country Liberals senator for the Northern Territory in the wake of the interview being published in the Nine's newspapers on Sunday.

Ms Price has gone public saying she felt FitzSimons - the husband of TV host Lisa Wilkinson - 'imposed' his view on her during their chat about the merits and faults of the Voice to Parliament.

In a Facebook post after the article was published, Senator Price alleged FitzSimons 'accused me of giving racists a voice but that wasn't printed' and later told media he was 'aggressive' and 'rude' and shouted at her.

Above is the beginning of the explosive text message exchange between Peter FitzSimons (words in grey) and Jacinta Price (words in blue)

Jacinta Price and Peter FitzSimons both furiously claimed they had witnesses to their phone call in a heated text exchange (pictured) after she accused him of being 'aggressive'

Jacinta Price (pictured), a first term NT Senator, is against an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and changing the date of Australia Day from January 26

FitzSimons strongly denies her claims - as does his boss, who tweeted that he had listened to the interview - with FitzSimons texting asking her to remove the Facebook post, which she did.

The full text exchange between the pair shows they both claimed to have witnesses to the phone call as they argued over what happened.

'Senator, I urge you to withdraw these defamatory accusations, as you know it is nonsense,' FitzSimons wrote.

Senator Price hit back: 'We did yell at each other. I'd like a copy of the interview... you did accuse me of empowering racists.'

FitzSimons insisted there was 'not a single raised voice on either side' but she replied: 'I recall I had to yell, as did my chief of staff who was present while you were on speaker.'

The author responded by saying: 'I have a witness at my end as well. But it doesn't matter. It is all recorded.'

FitzSimons again asked her to withdraw her allegations before Senator Price ended the argument by replying: 'Please stop bullying me.

'I don't ever want to communicate with you again.'

FitzSimons (right with wife Lisa Wilkinson) is a prominent left-wing commentator and a leading figure in the campaign to ditch the monarchy

Senator Price and FitzSimons originally chatted to discuss Anthony Albanese's proposal to change the constitution to establish a Voice to Parliament, a group of Aboriginal people that would advise politicians on policies for Indigenous people.

FitzSimons is in favour while Senator Price is against, believing it will not help improve the lives of Aboriginal people.

After FitzSimons denied being rude to Senator Price, she urged him to release the recording of the interview so the public could make up their own minds.

'I'm quite happy for him to release the recordings if that will just settle things,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's been a bit of a drain and there's obviously a lot of more important issues that I want to focus on and get to work on as a new senator. It's been a not-so-welcome distraction,' she said of their dispute.

'My idea of more respectful and effective journalism is to have conversations about issues without having the opinions of a journalist imposed upon you and being made to feel as though you're somehow wrong or incorrect.

Coalition senator Jacinta Price (left) has accused author Peter FitzSimons of being rude and aggressive to her. He denies the claims

Senator Price said it is wrong for journalists or commentators to be surprised when an Aboriginal person speaks out against the Voice to Parliament.

'There has been a racial stereotype created around how Aboriginal Australians think and act and behave and we don't generalise in that way about white Australians, or Italian Australians or Asia Australians,' she said.

'So why should we continually have that way of thinking imposed upon us as Indigenous Australians? Again it is a racial stereotype and I won't have a bar of it.'

Senator Price said people need to be more accepting of diverse views within the Aboriginal community.

'The narrative that we are a country of oppressed people and oppressors - we've got to get away from that. It's not helpful, it's not constructive,' she said.

'It provides for a very narrow view of how we are as a diverse bunch of Australians and we've got to take it back to basics of what it means to be human.'

Senator Price said the Voice the Parliament is a bad idea because it will entrench the idea that Aboriginal people are all victims.

'Enshrining it in the Constitution suggests that as a race we're forever going to be in need of special measures and as a race what somehow defines us is being marginalised,' she said.

Senator Price alleged author Peter FitzSimons (pictured with wife and The Project host Lisa Wilkinson) was 'aggressive... condescending and rude'. He denied the claims

'But it's not race that determines our marginalisation - there are those of us of Indigenous heritage who are doing really well, we're fine and have managed to take advantage of the modern world to live successful lives.'

FitzSimons said he only confronted Senator Price over 'mistruths' and that he gave her views a fair airing his column.

'What I sought to do was have her correct the record on the nature of our interview, which she partially did by deleting the post, and acknowledging to me I was not shouting...

'As to suggestions of bullying simply not true. The senator posted a complete and demonstrable untruth. I called her out on it, and she took down the post,' he said.

FitzSimons has not directly responded to Price's challenge to release the recordings.

However, his boss, Sydney Morning Herald editor Bevan Shields, said on Wednesday evening: I've listened to audio of the full interview between Peter FitzSimons and Senator Price. There was no yelling and no shouting from either participant.

'This was an interesting interview in which the senator's positions and views were tested.

'It's worth noting that Peter provided Senator Price with a transcript of what he proposed to publish in his column and she approved it.

'She also deleted her initial Facebook post about the interview. '

What is the Indigenous Voice to Parliament? Anthony Albanese wants a body enshrined in the Constitution that would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide advice to the Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives. A referendum is needed to change the Constitution. The vote will need support from the majority of Australians in the majority of states to be successful. The question that could be put to Australians is: 'Do you support an alteration to the constitution that establishes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?' Advertisement

One is a private school boy and Wallaby turned author from Sydney's north shore... the other an Alice Springs-raised daughter of a Warlpiri woman who may become PM: Why the backgrounds of Jacinta Price and Peter FitzSimons matter in their VERY public spat

By Stephen Gibbs for Daily Mail Australia

Peter FitzSimons believes he is an expert on the identity of Indigenous people and what they want for themselves, as he once showed in a series of text messages to Daily Mail Australia.

Following publication of a story about his then latest book, a biography of British explorer James Cook, the columnist took time to object to one word used in a historical context.

'Great piece, thank you,' FitzSimons wrote on Australia Day, 2020. 'But your [sub-editors] need to change the word from "Aborigine" which is no longer used as a noun.'

He then offered an anecdote about an old conversation with fellow former Wallaby Glen Ella - one of three Indigenous brothers to play for the national rugby team.

'Meantime, 25 years ago I asked Gary Ella if he was an Aborigine or an Aboriginal,' FitzSimons wrote. 'He said, "I am not sure, but thank you for caring"!'

FitzSimons cares a lot about words and gestures when it comes to Indigenous Australians, unlike his new nemesis, the newly installed senator Jacinta Price (pictured). FitzSimons and Price have been engaged in a war of words of an interview between the pair

FitzSimons cares a great deal about words and gestures when it comes to Aboriginal Australians - more so than Indigenous politician Jacinta Price, his new nemesis.

The pair has little in common beyond a passionate interest in Indigenous matters which they approach from positions informed by their own disparate backgrounds.

FitzSimons was raised at Peats Ridge on the New South Wales Central Coast and when he wasn't boarding in Sydney at Knox College played happily with his siblings in the family's orange orchard.

The 61-year-old attended Sydney University, pens think pieces for Nine newspapers and has been married to television presenter Lisa Wilkinson for 30 years.

Jacinta Yangapi Nampijinpa Price is the daughter of a Warlpiri woman who served in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly and a father with Anglo-Celtic ancestry.

She was born in Darwin, grew up in Alice Springs, had her first child at 17 and has been a victim of domestic violence.

FitzSimons is a multimillionaire author of books on Australian history and political leftie who is chair of the Australian Republican Movement and wants to change Australia Day from January 26.

Price, the newly elected Country Liberal Party senator, is politically conservative and and does not want an Indigenous Voice to parliament.

She is more interested in action on real problems within Aboriginal communities than symbolic gestures such as changing Australia Day's date.

FitzSimons has been accused of epitomising white privilege, while Price is credited with having 'lived experience' as a black woman and witnessing Aboriginal disadvantage up close.

Columnist Janet Albrechtsen recently declared Price 'the very finest example of a voice for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians' and said she could imagine her as prime minister.

FitzSimons is a multi-millionaire author of books on Australian history and political leftie who is chair of the Australian Republican Movement and wants to change Australia Day from January 26. He is pictured with wife Lisa Wilkinson

The pair has been engaged in a slanging match after FitzSimons interviewed Price for a 'Five Minutes with Fitz' column in the Sun-Herald which apparently ran for an hour last Thursday.

In that piece published on Sunday in a question-and-answer format FitzSimons told Price he was gobsmacked she did not support changing Australia Day from the date the First Fleet arrived in Sydney in 1788.

FitzSimons told Price she held positions 'completely at odds with much of what much of the Indigenous community - and Indigenous supporters in wider Australia like my white self.'

Price responded that many Aboriginal people were proud to be Australian and did not view themselves as victims of history.

'My whole goal throughout is to show alternative narratives exist because I think it's become a racial stereotype that Indigenous Australians are somehow homogenous,' she said.

Later, FitzSimons - who described himself as 'about as white as they come' - asked Price if she was 'misusing the platform you have and are actually hurting Indigenous causes'.

Price subsequently alleged in a Facebook post FitzSimons was 'aggressive... condescending and rude' and that he shouted at her during their chat.

In the since-deleted post Price claimed FitzSimons accused her of 'giving racists a voice' in the interview but that was not printed in the Sun-Herald piece.

FitzSimons has strenuously denied all Price's claims, saying they had a 'friendly' conversation and insisting he did not raise his voice at any point.

Price has since revealed FitzSimons sent her a series of late night texts demanding she withdraw 'nonsense' claims he was 'aggressive' to her when they spoke.

In the texts FitzSimons reminded Price he had recorded their conversation and Price has now urged him to publicly release the tape.

'I'm quite happy for him to release the recordings if that will just settle things,' Price told Daily Mail Australian on Wednesday.

'It's been a bit of a drain and there's obviously a lot of more important issues that I want to focus on and get to work on as a new senator. It's been a not-so-welcome distraction.'

Price said commentators should not assume all Aboriginal people think the same way, or be surprised that some did not support an Indigenous voice to parliament.

'Enshrining it in the constitution suggests that as a race we're forever going to be in need of special measures and as a race what somehow defines us is being marginalised,' she said.

'The narrative that we are a country of oppressed people and oppressors - we've got to get away from that. It's not helpful, it's not constructive.'

FitzSimons has publicly brawled in the past with other prominent Indigenous Australians who did not agree with everything he wrote or said.

Indigenous journalist Stan Grant once mocked Peter FitzSimons over the Australia Day barbeques he held at his multimillion-dollar home on Sydney's lower north shore. Grant is pictured with wife Tracey Holmes

For years he hosted an Australia Day barbecue at the multimillion-dollar harbourside home at Cremorne he shares with TV presenter wife Lisa Wilkinson.

ABC journalist and Wiradjuri man Stan Grant, who attended the gathering on a semi-regular basis, mocked FitzSimons in a satirical piece for The Australian in 2021.

'What a woke leftie love-in that was: journos, actors, writers, couple of ex-Wallabies (well it was the North Shore), a few washed up politicians,' he wrote.

'Everyone there voted yes for same-sex marriage - the year before last, they'd all tearily applauded their first gay married couple guests - they hated the Catholic Church and had cried when Kevin Rudd said sorry.'

Grant wrote that the hosts FitzSimons and Wilkinson: 'adored Indigenous culture'.

'There were dot paintings on the wall, a photo with their arms around Cathy Freeman at Sydney Olympic Stadium, and a framed copy of Paul Keating's Redfern Statement signed by the last great Australian prime minister himself.'

'Things did get a bit weird though when Fitzy excitedly gave her a copy of his latest book, a biography of Captain Cook.

'Apparently Cookie was actually not a bad bloke once you got past his order to open fire on the blacks at Botany Bay. Nobody's perfect.'

A year earlier Grant had labelled FitzSimons's depiction of Cook 'ludicrous', while the author defended his work as exhaustively researched.

FitzSimons responded to the Grant piece with a column in The Sydney Morning Herald in which he objected to its blend of fiction and fact.

'For the record, and contrary to what Stan wrote, I don't have a framed Redfern speech on my wall, nor a photo of me hugging Cathy Freeman, nor Indigenous paintings,' he wrote.

'We don't even have the party on Australia Day any more, having moved it to an Independence Day gathering the day before, for obvious reasons.'
A man accused of importing cocaine through Australia Post has had two homes, a Mercedes-Benz and six bank accounts, worth an estimated $4.4million, seized.

The 41-year-old, who allegedly brought in 2.1kg of cocaine last year, was arrested and charged with the unlawful importation of a border controlled drug in June 2021.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized his assets, including a house in Sydney's Connells Point and another property in Queensland, after court orders were made last Thursday.

Stephen Fry, AFP's Commander Criminal Assets Confiscation, said police are determined to stop criminals benefitting from their crimes.

The AFP has seized a house in Connells Point in Sydney (pictured) from a man accused of importing cocaine to Australia by post

'The AFP is relentless in pursuing every legal avenue to deprive criminals of their ill-gotten wealth, taking the profit out of their crimes and disrupting future criminal operations,' he said.

Commander Fry warned criminals the AFP will track down and seize their proceeds of crime.

'No person or criminal group is beyond the reach of the taskforce,' he said. 'The lavish criminal lifestyle is short-lived.

'We will take away the proceeds of your crimes, including your million-dollar properties, luxury vehicles and funds in any bank accounts.'

The man was arrested under Operation Ironside, an operation using the encrypted AN0M app which was covertly distributed to organised crime gangs while secretly being under surveillance by police.

The money raised through the sale of assets seized by police is managed by the Australian Financial Security Authority.

It is then distributed by the Attorney-general for use in crime prevention or other police programs.
Pet owners are on high alert after a spate of mysterious dog deaths at several popular beaches, sparking warnings from local vets and authorities.

Experts suspect poisonings have claimed the lives of at least five dogs in recent days while many others have been rushed to vet hospitals requiring lifesaving treatment on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

All dogs had visited either Buddina Beach or surrounding beaches Minyama, Point Cartwright and La Balsa prior to falling ill.

The RSPCA has declared the matter as a 'current priority investigation' and is working in partnership with Queensland Police and the local council.

At least five dogs have died after going for walks on beaches in Queensland (pictured is Billy the beagle)

Owners took their dogs for walks on Buddina Beach (pictured) and other nearby beaches on the Sunshine Coast including Minyama, Point Cartwright and La Balsa

North Coast Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care has issued a public warning for dog owners to 'use caution' when visiting identified areas with their furry friends and to keep a vigilant eye to ensure they don't drink or eat anything of which the origins are unknown.

'We unfortunately have had a series of patients presenting with alike symptoms that may suggest a toxicity by ingestion,' the clinic posted.

'Although we are unable to confirm the cause of these presentations the link to these patients is the area that they have walked within the 12 hours prior.

'Symptoms to look out for are gastrointestinal upsets, lethargy, or any change to your pets behaviour.'

'We have chosen to err on the side of caution and have made local authorities aware.'

A doggie day care centre also issued a similar warning as it expressed heartbreak over the death of Billy the beagle - one of it's much-loved clients.

'Our heart is broken. Our beautiful boy Billy seems to have been a victim of poisoning,' Doggie Adventure Playhouse wrote.

Rescue dog Sophie died after a suspected poisoning incident at Buddina beach, which left her owner 'absolutely heartbroken'

'Dogs are our hearts, our love, our companions and faithful cuddle buddies.

'Our loving thoughts and cuddles go out to Billy's beautiful and heartbroken parents.'

Billy's owners, Val and Peter Logan, told the ABC they took Billy for a walk to the beach and he returned home 'quite happily'.

Half-an-hour after bringing him back, the two-year-old pup began to vomit incessantly to the point Mr and Mrs Logan had to rush him to the emergency vet.

Billy died later that evening.

Silver Lining Pet Rescue Inc announced on Wednesday one of its rescue dogs Sophie died after a suspected poisoning incident at Buddina beach.

The owner was reportedly was 'absolutely heartbroken' by the tragic loss.

He, like Mr and Mrs Logan, had taken his dog for a walk on the beach on Friday afternoon.

But Sophie became severely ill at night and died.

The RSPCA confirmed its investigating with assistance of police and the local council.

The RSPCA has launched an investigation into the mysterious spate of deaths in conjunction with Queensland Police and the local council (stock image)

'The focus of investigation is to attempt to locate cause of recent spate of poisoning on the Sunshine Coast to determine if origin was intentional, accidental or environmental,' an RSPCA spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'Anyone who suspects their dog may have ingested something toxic are encouraged to seek immediate veterinary treatment.

'We're urging all dog walkers to remain vigilant and keep an eye on their pet so they don't drink or eat anything of which the origins are unknown. '

The council said the exact cause of the poisonings remains unclear.

'Sunshine Coast Council expresses our condolences to our community members who have lost their beloved pet as a result of the suspected poisonings,' a spokeswoman said.

'Council has taken precautionary measures to reduce the risk of animals drinking possibly contaminated water by emptying and sanitising all dog water bowls in the area.

'We are also working to remove any loose water bowls and seal any fixed bowls to prevent access.'

Pet owners to keep their dogs in sight at all times while in off leash areas and to ensure their dog is responsive to voice commands before letting them off leash so they can be called away from unknown food sources.

Pet owners should also watch out for signs of gastro, breathlessness or listlessness.

Dog owners who suspect their pet may have ingested something toxic are urged to report it to RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL or police.
A little girl has broken free from a masked man who walked into a primary school and tried to abduct her.

South Australian Police said the unknown man walked into Glenelg Primary School in Adelaide about 10am on Tuesday.

Witnesses said the child snatcher walked up the stairs and grabbed the Year Four student from a hallway.

The Year Four student was grabbed from a hallway at Glenelg Primary School in Adelaide

She was dragged downstairs, kicking and screaming - before thankfully managing to escape.

Police raced to the school but couldn't be found.

According to a statement, a man is described as being 180cm tall, bald and wearing a long, light blue shirt, black pants, a black face mask and carrying a beanie.
The Chinese ambassador to Australia has shut down suggestions the communist superpower wants 'world domination' as he faced heated questions from journalists about the nation's relationship with Australia.

And in a chilling warning, he said Beijing will seize Taiwan by 'all necessary means'.

'When necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means. As to what [that means]? You can use your imagination,' he said of China's designs on the thriving island democracy.

Xiao Qian, China's new ambassador to Australia, also used his landmark address at the National Press Club on Wednesday to declare that while Beijing supported improvements to the 'current international order' they will 'never seek to start a new one'.

'In more than 40 years of reforming and opening up to the outside world, tremendous changes have happened in China.

'China's comprehensive national stance has been significantly enhanced but Chinas diplomatic philosophy and China's foreign policy remains unchanged.

'China supports necessary reform and improvement to the current international order and system, but China never seeks to start a new one.'

However, during a question and answer session, Nine's political editor Chris Uhlmann was quick to challenge Qian's claims the China was a benevolent superpower - and listed the reason why Australians don't trust China.

TV reporter Chris Uhlmann (pictured) rattled off all the reasons Australians don't trust China at the National Press Club

Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian (pictured) shut down claims China wants world domination

Uhlmann list of why Australians remains wary of China included:

Beijing's decision to occupy and militarise the South China Sea in contravention of international law

Threatening an Australian Air Force aircraft flying over the South China Sea

Imprisoning Australian without basic rights to national justice.

Launch cyber attacks against private and public sector.

Interfered in Australian politics, universities and with the Australian-Chinese community

'Do you see why some Australians think when you talk about international law and positive policies, you do not do what you say?' Uhlmann asked.

Chinese anti-aircraft batteries take part in military drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan

In response, Qian defended the nation's actions in the South China Sea, saying claiming territories there were: 'Necessary measures we have to take to protect the security of the areas which belong to us.'

Xi Jinping (pictured) gave a speech in 2019 committing himself to 'reunifying' Taiwan, saying he would use force if necessary

China has been conducting its most provocative war games Taiwan Strait to coincide with US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island on August 3.

The drills involving land, air and sea forces have seen the island blocked from the outside world.

At the National Press Club on Wednesday Xiao Qian said China are prepared to take Taiwan by whatever means necessary.

'We can never rule out the option to use other means so when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means. As to what does it mean "all necessary means"? You can use your imagination,' Qian said.

'It's an issue of reunification, complete reunification, and an issue of Taiwan coming back to the motherland.

'As for our approach to the question of Taiwan - I think it's consistent, clear and pretty open.... that the people in the mainland, even in Taiwan, are Chinese,' he said.

China has also begun preparing to build a military base on the Solomon Islands, a nation less than 2000km from Australia's coast, and seen a vital point to launch an attack on the U.S.

Nancy Pelosi (left) meets with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (right) in Taipei on August 3, in a move that provoked fury in Beijing

State-run media in China announced in June that the nation had expanded military operations in the region.

This news was worrisome for Australia as hostile tensions continue to increase between China and the West, with the Communist nation asserting 'sovereignty' and 'jurisdiction' over the international waters of the Taiwan Strait.

However, during his National Press Club speech on Wednesday, Xiao Qian said China continued to seek a stable and cooperative relationship with Australia.

'No matter how China develops itself now or in the future, China will never seek hegemony or sphere of influence. The development of China-Australia relations is at a critical juncture,' he said.

'China's policy of friendship and cooperation to Australia remains unchanged. And objective and rational objective of Australia on China and a positive and pragmatic policy towards China are fundamentally significant for a long-term stable and predictable partnership between China and Australia.'
A leading Australian microbiologist said this year's war against Covid in Australia is approaching its end as cases plummet and the country moves towards warmer seasons.

Associate Professor James Wood, the NSW Government's leading modeller, forecasted the nation had seen the worst of the pandemic after cases dropped by nearly 10,000 in one week.

Last week Australia saw 35,659 new infections on Tuesday, but this week that figure was just 26,746 - about a 30 per cent drop.

Professor Peter Collignon, the country's most trusted voice through the Covid crisis, said he believes the modelling is 'likely to be right' and pointed to high rates of community transfer as the critical element.

'We've got high vaccination rates, but we've also had 70 to 80 per cent of the population infected in the last six months,' Professor Collignon told Sky News.

'I would think over the next four to five months, with spring and summer, unless there's a completely new variant to appear, and that doesn't look the case, we're in good shape.'

A leading Australian microbiologist said Australia's Covid war is approaching its end as cases plummet and the country moves towards the warmer season

There were fears new variants and subvariants could slip through vaccine protection and prolong the pandemic; however strong immunity from natural infection combined with booster shots appears to have combatted new strains.

Professor Collignon said 'hybrid immunity', the combination of vaccines and community infection, meant Australia had 'very good protection' against the current Covid climate.

'The trick will be to see what happens in the UK, US and Canada, what happens in their winter months.

'I think this will be a winter disease, so we'll see what happens there, but there'll be much, much less than what we've seen,' he told Sky.

The microbiologist said Australians were also getting second infections 'much less often' than their first, but those who did were experiencing milder symptoms.

'They do occur and will continue to, but overall they occur less,' Professor Collingnon said.

Last week Australia saw 35,659 new infections on Tuesday, but this week that figure was just 26,746 - about a 30 per cent drop

Vaccine manufacturers are pushing a fourth dose for countries experiencing high cases around the world, but the professor said there simply wasn't enough data to suggest whether another jab was necessary.

'Everybody needs their third dose, particularly if they've not had an infection. We just need to wait and see on the fourth,' he said.

'If you're a 30 or 40-year-old, you get protection for a few months. Your risk of getting serious diseases is already lower with the vaccine.

'For people over 65, your immune system doesn't work as a 30-year-old, but we'll have to wait and see on fourth shots.'
A 17-year-old has become the eighth person to be charged with murder over the death of a Melbourne teenager in March.

Detectives from the Homicide Squad arrested the youth at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday morning and charged him with murder.

The teenager briefly appeared in a children's court just before 1pm on Wednesday where he was formally charged with murder.

Declan Cutler, 16, was fatally assaulted and stabbed on a residential street in Reservoir, 12km north of Melbourne's CBD, on March 13.

On March 13 at Reservoir, 16-year-old Declan Cutler (pictured) was fatally stabbed

Detectives from the Homicide Squad arrested the youth at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday morning and charged him with murder (pictured, a stock image of AFP officers at the airport)

Emergency services were called to Elizabeth Street just before 2.30am after reports someone had been assaulted.

Declan was treated by paramedics and police but died at the scene.

The 16-year-old's death has been described by authorities as 'one of the most vicious and brutal attacks' police have seen.

Victoria's Chief Police Commissioner Shane Patton earlier this described the alleged murder as a 'horrendous attack'.

The eight teenagers allegedly pursued Declan in a dark sedan after he left a party in Coburg North following a confrontation.

It's believed the teen was attacked after becoming separated from his mates with police alleging he slipped and fell after being grabbed from behind.

Emergency services were called to Elizabeth Street just before 2.30am after reports someone had been assaulted (pictured, police at the scene in March)

A large kitchen knife and another blade were among the items found near the crime scene

'All eight offenders proceeded to stomp, kick, punch and stab the deceased,' Homicide Squad Detective Senior Constable Brendan Stack alleged in a written summary filed with a children's court in March.

It took Victoria Police just 10 days to lay charges against six of the alleged killers.

A 17-year-old Taylors Hill boy, 17-year-old Tarneit boy, 15-year-old Hoppers Crossing boy, 16-year-old Yarraville boy, 14-year-old Meadow Heights boy and a 13-year-old Meadow Heights boy have all been charged with murder.

Another teenager, a 17-year-old boy, was also charged with murder in April.

Prosecutors told a children's court on Tuesday that DNA evidence, CCTV footage and fingerprint analysis would form part of the evidence.

The court also head the teen's seven co-accused are due to face a contested committal hearing in October.

The 17-year-old made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to appear in court on September 13.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill said many experienced police saw the 'profoundly violent attack' as one of the most brutal they had ever come across.

Declan (pictured middle) was treated by paramedics and police but sadly died at the scene

A CCTV image shows what happened in the moments leading up to Declan's death

'It's every parent's worst nightmare, having their teenage child leave the house for a night out with friends and never returning, however this is exactly what happened on this occasion,' Mr Hill said.

'The senseless nature of this incident should not be lost on anyone  I know it has impacted our police.'

In March, Declan's mother Sam told 7News she felt 'broken' and and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

'His whole face just lit up my day - everything about him, his cheeky little ways,' she said. 'He was a very caring, loving and easy going person.'

Declan is survived by his parents and his four younger siblings.
Some of the top police authorities in the United States expressed grave concern about the recent number of law enforcement officers quitting their positions at a pace never seen before.

Patrick Yoes, President of the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), raised the alarm during the third annual Faith & Blue conference in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, attended by around 100 law enforcement officers and journalists.

Yoes told the audience: "We see law enforcement officers leave our profession at a rate we've never seen before. Our profession is dependent on the best and brightest stepping up and taking this job. And because of the actions, and because of the turmoil that has happened in the last two years, we have a crisis right now in manpower."

Top officials from 19 local, state, and federal police agencies, including U.S. Secretary of State Alejandro Mayorkas, attended. Tuesday's meeting of the Department of Homeland Security was used to make announcements about the National Faith & Blue Weekend in 2022, which will take place from October 7 to October 10, according to Fox News.

Some prominent names in law enforcement have backed the event because it promotes dialogue and communication between religious communities, law enforcement institutions, and local communities.

Rev. Markel Hutchins, CEO of MovementForward and the primary organizer of the event, said that law enforcement organizations "will not be able to recruit or retain or attract new talent if police officers continue to have to work under the circumstances and situations that they're working under now."

He noted that the "stresses and the anxiety that's caused by the tensions" drive the US Police Crisis.

"There is no way to reduce crime and there is no way to attract new talent in law enforcement if we don't change the discussion and shift the narrative again away from the points of conversation that divide us, " Rev. Hutchins remarked.

More Law Enforcers Killed In Line of Duty

Per the information supplied by the FOP earlier this month, more than 210 police and law enforcement officials have been shot in the line of duty as of July 31 - up 14% from the same period the previous year.

Data from the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund show the number of officers who died in the line of duty increased by 55% between 2020 and 2021, with COVID-19-related illnesses accounting for the vast majority of these deaths.

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Additionally, statistics from the Major Cities Chiefs Association reveal a 50% increase in homicides in major cities since 2019.

Killings and gun violence are increasing from Philadelphia to Portland to Los Angeles at the same time that officers are retiring or quitting faster than they can be replaced because they are worn out by the pandemic and disillusioned by the calls to abandon policing in the wake of George Floyd's murder, US News reported.

In addition to reexamining what services they can offer and what role police should perform in their communities, departments struggle to fill positions in a competitive labor market. To keep up with 911 calls, several have moved seasoned officers to patrol and dissolved specialized units that had been in place for years.

According to a poll conducted nationwide in June 2021 by the Police Executive Research Forum, 93% of budgeted positions were typically filled by police agencies nationwide.

The survey indicated that retirements are up 45% over the previous year, and resignations are up 18%.

Bureau of Justice Statistics data indicates that USA police must complete an average of 8 months of training before they are ready to patrol the streets on their own. As a result, it will take years for departments all over the country to fill job vacancies.

The Impact of the Shortage of US Law Enforcers

The reasons for the US Police Crisis are attributable to "multiple social, political, and According to a September 2019 poll by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, "economic forces" include generational differences, unfavorable attitudes toward policing, and the lengthy hiring procedures of many agencies, per CNN.

In addition, low pay and the "great resignation," in which people left their occupations willingly in previously unheard-of numbers after the pandemic, affected policing much as they did other professions.

The study indicates the impact of the issue on cities includes longer queues for service calls, fewer crimes solved, and exhausted on-duty officers that "threaten the quality of life in our communities."

Atlanta's Interim Police Chief Darin Schierbaum noted: "One of the challenges now is every ... police department is looking for the same group of talented motivated individuals that have the heart to serve."

Related Article: FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization To Stretch Out Supply of Monkeypox Vaccine Amid High Demand

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A massive water main break wreaked havoc on several New Jersey towns, leaving tens of thousands of residents - and a local trauma hospital - without running water, and trigged at least one car-swallowing sinkhole.

Water gushed for hours from the 72-inch, 140-year-old pipe that broke in Branch Brook Park on the border of Newark and neighboring Belleville around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

At one point during the day, a sinkhole opened swallowing an entire vehicle. Only a tire could be sticking out from the water. The driver told NBC that she saw water bubbling up in front of her on the street and made a quick escape from her car. She was not injured.

The water emergency forced the City of Newark to cancel summer school and prompted some area hospitals to divert patients as community residents and businesses were urged to conserve water.

Boil water advisories are in effect until further notice as a precaution for Newark and Belleville residents. The situation will be re-evaluated on Wednesday morning.

A massive water main break wreaked havoc on several New Jersey towns, leaving thousands of residents without running water, and trigged at least one car-swallowing sinkhole (pictured)

The water main break came amid the most recent heat wave that had already prompted a code red declaration from Newark - which had opened emergency shelters

Free cases of bottled water were distributed late into Tuesday evening in Belleville with a limit of one case per family limit, and proof of Belleville residency

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts video of a sinkhole that opened following the water main break, swallowing an entire vehicle. Only a tire could be sticking out from the water

About 100,000 people were impacted in Newark alone, according to Kareem Adeem, Director of the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities.

'Most of the infrastructure in the Northeast include Newark. Newark is the third-oldest major city in the country, might have infrastructure going back before Abe Lincoln was president,' Adeem said.

Newark, along with the nearby town Belleville, were without water, or were limited, on Tuesday, officials said, and the boil water advisory has been in effect for both communities.

Video posted to Facebook by Belleville's Mayor Michael Melham shows water gushing from the water main break as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle.

Anthony Iacono, Belleville's township manager told Gothamist: 'It literally absorbed the entire vehicle.'

Video posted to Facebook by Belleville's Mayor Michael Melham shows water gushing from the water main break as a sinkhole swallows a vehicle

Several area hospitals were forced to divert patients and officials suggesting residents refrain from coming to the hospital for non-emergency issues.

University Hospital, Newark's biggest hospital and the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region, implemented emergency water conservation and activated its emergency command center. Visitors were limited and all elective procedures were canceled.

'Until normal water operations resume, the community should refrain from coming to the hospital for non-emergency issues,' hospital officials said. 'University Hospital is always here to serve the healthcare needs of the community, and we appreciate everyone's patience during this temporary water emergency.'

Free cases of bottled water were distributed late into Tuesday evening in Belleville with a limit of one case per family limit, and proof of Belleville residency.

Newark city workers handed out more than 7,000 cases to residents, even going door to door in the stifling heat, CBS News reported.

Belleville Mayor Michael Melham posts videos of vehicles lining up to receive cases of water following a water main break with the caption: Our DPW stepping up, as always during a crisis!

Newark officials reported that there appear to have been two breaks with the primary one being in Branch Brook Park on Mill Street and a secondary break on Joralemon Street, both in Belleville, according to NBC4.

Utility officials identified six problematic valves, and all were closed by early afternoon, the outlet reported.

The water main break came amid the most recent heat wave that had already prompted a code red declaration from Newark - which had opened emergency shelters to provide overnight shelter to residents.
A young relief teacher who made headlines when she unwittingly landed in the middle of a bizarre teenage love triangle has had her child grooming charge dropped in court.

Ammy-Clara Singleton, 28, was arrested on December 23 last year in Port Augusta, South Australia, and charged with communicating with a child under 17 to 'engage in, or submit to, sexual activity'.

The town's local court heard in May that, between November 1 and 30 last year, Ms Singleton was contacted by a 16-year-old boy on Snapchat.

He was not one of her students and, according to her mother Sharon Platt, the young mum had never even met the teen - claiming the initial complaint came from the boy's jealous girlfriend.

However, in Port Augusta Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, prosecutors said the complainant did not wish to proceed with the matter.

Ammy-Clara Singleton (pictured) was cleared of all charges in Port Augusta Magistrate's Court on Wednesday

Relief teacher Ms Singleton (pictured outside court in July) was previously told that prosecutors were considering dropping charges

'Therefore we are withdrawing the charge,' the prosecutor said, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.

It comes just two weeks after the public prosecutor told Magistrate David McLeod that her case was being reviewed and 'may not proceed'.

Ms Singleton declined to comment outside court at the time.

She arrived with a crucifix around her neck, hiding her face with a black mask and sunglasses.

The mother-of-one was an accomplished netball player who was teaching at six schools when she was arrested last year.

She was subsequently stood down from all teaching roles.

When speaking with Daily Mail Australia earlier this year, Ms Platt wondered why her daughter's matter attracted so much attention when similar cases can largely go unnoticed.

Ms Singleton (pictured) has a young son and lives with her parents. Her mother was devastated about the charge against her

'Is it because she's beautiful?' Ms Singleton's mother Sharon Platt asked about why her daughter's case attracted so much attention. 'Is that her only crime?'

'Is it because she's beautiful?' Ms Platt asked, through tears. 'Is that her only crime?'

She continued to defend her daughter: 'Ammy doesn't even know the bloke.'

'She has done nothing. It's all because some other girl was sleeping with a boy and got jealous.'

Ms Platt said the young teacher was a 'doting mum' who lives with her parents and three-year-old son - having left her husband two years ago.

She explained when Ms Singleton goes out with her friends, she regularly calls home to ask how her little boy is doing with his grandparents - usually ending her evenings early to ensure she is there if her son wakes during the night.

Ms Singleton (pictured) sat in the witness box in July as the public prosecutor told Magistrate David McLeod that her case 'may not proceed'

Ms Platt said her daughter, who is an indigenous Australian, aspired to be a teacher because she wanted to support Aboriginal children at school.

'She wanted to be a teacher because kids weren't getting a fair go, and she's a black girl and she stands by her culture,' she said.

When speaking about Ms Singleton's future, the mother broke down - asking how her daughter will pay off her $80,000 university debt without a job.

Ms Platt couldn't hide her devastation when she said her daughter will 'never have a career again'.

'She will never have a life again, and she's never done a bad thing to anyone but she's guilty until proven innocent.'

'She'll have her day in court, but she will never get her life back and neither will we.'

Ms Singleton (pictured) taught at six schools around Port Augusta. She was stood down from all teaching roles following the charge

The family have lived in Port Augusta for decades, but Ms Platt said they planned to move when the case was over.

Ms Singleton graduated from UniSA with a Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle) in 2017, before returning to her hometown and becoming a full-time mum.

She then pursued work as a casual teacher at six schools, including Flinders View Primary School and Port Augusta West Primary School.

A former Flinders View student told The Advertiser that Ms Singleton was 'a nice teacher'.

The school's principal Anna Nayda sent a letter to parents to confirm the relief teacher worked there between February 2017 and April 2018, but that the allegations did not involve one of their students.
A California teacher who displayed an Antifa flag in his classroom and said he wanted to turn his students into 'revolutionaries' is receiving three years of salary in exchange for his resignation.

Parents at Inderkum High School in Sacramento had called on the district to fire AP Government teacher Gabriel Gipe after he was caught on video in September discussing the flag with Project Veritas.

'I have an Antifa flag on my [classroom] wall and a student complained about that  he said it made him feel uncomfortable. Well, this [Antifa flag] is meant to make fascists feel uncomfortable, so if you feel uncomfortable, I don't really know what to tell you,' Gipe said.

Gabriel Gipe, a California teacher who displayed an Antifa flag in his classroom and said he wanted to turn his students into 'revolutionaries' is receiving three years of salary in exchange for his resignation

Parents at Inderkum High School in Sacramento had called on the district to fire AP Government teacher Gabriel Gipe after he was caught on video in September discussing the flag with Project Veritas, a far-right media group

'I have 180 days to turn [students] into revolutionaries.'

At the time, he was put on unpaid leave and was set to be fired by the school district for 'clear violations of political activity.'

In January, about four months later, school district officials paid Gipe $190,000 to quit without a legal battle, according to KCRA 3.

Gabriel Gipe displayed an Antifa flag, left, and a poster of Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong in his classroom at Inderkum High School, in Sacramento, California

Gipe's annual salary was around $60,000. After taxes, he walked away from the job with about $100,000.

Natomas Unified School District said in a statement: 'We have put this behind us and have moved forward. What's most important right now is welcoming our students back to the start of a new school year.'

Garbriel Gipe was caught talking about his political ideology with Antifa and how he discusses it with students in a conversation with Project Veritas, a far-right media outlet

The teacher also had posters of Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong in the classroom and had offered extra-credit to students who attended protests, the New York Post reports.

Gipe also had stamps with images of Josef Stalin, Fidel Castro and Kim Jung Un to mark student's school work this year.

The Natomas Unified School District said that while it understood the context in which Gipe was interviewed by Project Veritas, steps were taken to remove the teacher from the district.

'Natomas Unified will be taking the legally required next steps to place the teacher on unpaid leave and fire the teacher.

'The actions and approaches taken by one teacher do not represent the overall staff, students and school community. To those who have felt uncomfortable at any time in the past 3 years, we apologize,' the district added.

The district also said Gipe's encouragements for students to attend protests for extra credit were both 'unprofessional and irresponsible.'

Gabriel Gipe, pictured wearing a derogatory shirt against police during a protest. The teacher offered his students extra credit if they attended protests, too

Project Veritas attempted a follow up interview with Gipe about the calls for him to be fired from his teaching job

Project Veritas has declined to release the full, unedited version of their interview with Gipe.

Gipe had said he was harassed by the media outlet when they did a follow up report on him, stopping him on the street as he was walking his dog.

The move to fire Gipe came after parents complained to the school district on Wednesday during a board meeting, urging the board to fire Gipe.

'The school district has failed in my opinion,' Luis Ortega, a resident of the district whose son recently graduated from Inderkum High School, told the NY Post.

'Everything has been brought to light and like everyone is saying, it doesn't end with Mr. Gabriel Gipe. There are some deep-rooted issues within the district.'

Gipe was put on unpaid leave from Inderkum High School, pictured, and despite initial calls for his firing, he was paid three years' salary in exchange for his resignation

Paizly Gomez, another parent in the district, said that Gipe crossed a line with what he was doing in the classroom.

'I'm all for freedom of speech,' Paizly Gomez, a concerned parent, told KCRA 3. 'I'm not going to deny that, but, when you are a teacher, your job is academics. You are not here for morals, values, political views -- anything like that is not welcome in the school unless it's a private school.'

In their investigation into the incident, the district said Gipe ultimately violated 2020 guidelines that prohibited teachers from certain political actions while in school.
Two of the four sets of human remains discovered in Lake Mead thanks to historically-low water levels could be from the same person, coroners said on Tuesday.

The bones and other fragments began emerging in May - first with a male body in a barrel. The person had been shot in the head, and a homicide investigation has been opened. It is believed the man was killed in the 1970s or 80s.

On May 7, a person believed to be aged between 23 and 38 was found at Callville Bay, and DNA samples were taken.

A man living in Spain, Todd Kolod, has said he is increasingly confident that set of remains is his father Daniel, who was killed in a speedboat accident on the lake in 1958, aged 22, and whose body was never recovered.

A third set of remains was found on July 26, at Swim Beach, and on Saturday a fourth set was unearthed at the same location.

'At this time, the investigation into these remains includes working to determine whether the two sets of remains are from the same person or not,' the coroner's office said in a statement Tuesday.

The fourth set of remains (pictured) was discovered on Saturday at Swim Beach in Lake Mead. On Tuesday, the coroner said it could be the same person as was discovered on July 25

This is the third set of human remains to have been discovered at Lake Mead, on July 26. No further details about the remains - including the gender of the person, and how long they were in the lake - have been disclosed. Coroners believe this could be the same person as the remains discovered on August 6

People are pictured at Swim Beach in Lake Mead on Sunday - the day after the fourth set was found. The coroner is investigating whether Saturday's remains belong to a person found on July 25

Two girls are seen at Lake Mead's Swim Beach on Sunday

Swim Beach is pictured on Sunday, with water levels at an 80-year low

Christopher Orozco told Fox 4 that he and his family were visiting the lake to go for a swim on Saturday, when they found the bones sticking out of the sand under shallow water.

He said he took photos and videos of the bones before reporting them to the National Park Service.

'We went in the water, one of my daughters said she saw something in the water she thought it was a bone,' said Orozco.

'I said okay let me go see. As I got closer I picked it up I noticed it was a bone like this big.'

The National Park Service confirmed that Orozco was the first person to report Saturday's discovery.

According to NASA, water levels in Lake Mead are their lowest level since 1937. As of July 18, 2022, the lake was filled to 27 percent capacity

The identification of all the remains could take months, if not years.

Some of those who perished in the lake may be untraceable, as DNA sampling is a relatively new invention.

Police in Las Vegas are trawling their records of unsolved missing person cases, and have taken DNA from several families to see if answers can be found.

Kolod, who is eager to learn whether the second set is indeed his father, said at the weekend that he is yet to be asked for DNA, although he is keen to assist.

The set included bones with missing teeth that appeared to align with a partial denture Daniel had in his mouth.

'With each clue, I always expect in my mind that it's going to put us farther away from our goal, but consistently each clue is putting us closer, and this is like a bullseye,' he told 8 News Now.

Kolod had hoped to identify his father by his teeth.

Daniel was in a car crash a few years before he drowned and lost his front teeth, so wore dentures.

Todd Kolod, pictured here with his father Daniel, was born in 1956, two years before his father died in Callville Bay

Todd Kolod thinks the second body may be that of his father Daniel Kolod, who fell from a speedboat that flipped when it struck by a wake during a fishing trip with a friend 64 years ago

A second body (pictured) was discovered in drought-hit Lake Mead reservoir a week after corpse was found in barrel exposed by lowest water levels

Teeth from a second body were discovered in drought-hit Lake Mead were discovered just a week after another body turned up in the reservoir

Journalists from 8 News Now took photos of the remains to Dr Deborah Staten, owner and dentist at Desert Hills Dental, who is certified in helping identify remains from dental records.

She said it is clear the skeleton is missing its front teeth, but she believes the person was missing other teeth before their death, suspecting some were recently removed.

Dental records have likely been destroyed in the intervening 60 years.

Kolod said he is keen to give a DNA sample as quickly as possible, to solve the mystery, but was frustrated at how long it was taking.

'The pace of being contacted about a DNA sample  I'm starting to lose hope a little bit,' he said.

'Maybe this new finding lights something up.'

Around 300 people have drowned in Lake Mead since the 1930s but that does not include those whose bodies were never recovered, including Daniel Kolod.

Human remains, as well as sunken boats, including a World War II landing craft, and other items have been discovered at lake over the summer as the water level declines.

The first body was discovered in a barrel (pictured). The coroner said her office was continuing work to identify the man whose body was found May 1 in a rusted barrel in the Hemenway Harbor area

Little information has been made public about the discoveries. Investigators are scouring missing persons reports in an attempt to identify the corpses

Officials from Clark County are shown creating a perimeter around where the latest gruesome discovery was made at Lake Mead

Graphic Warning: Park rangers and Clark County coroner investigating the body discovered at Lake Mead today. Info is limited but well have a live report coming up. A witness reported the human remains at Swim Beach/Boulder Beach around 4:30 p.m. today. pic.twitter.com/u9w5zLFa85  Brett Forrest (@brettforrest89) July 26, 2022

Coroner and medical personnel loading up the human remains found at Lake Mead today. The third set of human remains discovered since May 1. First was the body in a barrel, then remains half buried, and now these. All of them appear to have been discovered due to receding waters pic.twitter.com/RLFWcJLToH  Brett Forrest (@brettforrest89) July 26, 2022

Intake towers stand exposed in Lake Mead as water continues to dry up in the lake on the Arizona side of the Hoover Dam

According to NASA, water levels in Lake Mead are their lowest level since 1937

Lake Mead's water level is at the lowest it has been in over 85 years

A formerly sunken boat sits on cracked earth hundreds of feet from the shoreline of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on May 10, 2022

The Lake, including a marina in Boulder City, Nevada (pictured) is shrinking as water retreats

The discoveries have prompted speculation about long-unsolved missing person and murder cases dating back decades - to organized crime and the early days of Las Vegas, which is just a 30-minute drive from the lake.

The drop in the lake level comes while a vast majority of peer-reviewed science says the world is warming, mainly because of rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Scientists say the U.S. West, including the Colorado River basin, has become warmer and drier in the past 30 years.

About 40 million people rely on the Colorado River as their water supply, with Lake Mead and Lake Powell serving as the area's primary reservoirs.

According to NASA, water levels in Lake Mead are their lowest level since 1937. As of July 18, 2022, the lake was filled to 27 percent capacity.

In June, Ann Willis of the Center for Watershed Science told the Washington Post: 'In the last 1,200 years, we haven't seen a period as dry as right now.

'We're really hitting new lows in terms of how extreme the conditions are.'

Lake Mead once sat 1,200 feet above sea level.

But after more than two decades of drought, it was at only 1,040 feet above sea level in July - its lowest level since filling in the 1930s.

It is currently falling about 12 inches every week.
A mother whose six-year-old son was killed standing up to the Sandy Hook school shooter said his courage inspired her to confront Alex Jones in court.

Scarlett Lewis said she was 'standing up to my bully' when she addressed Jones from the witness stand and accused him of spreading lies about the shooting.

Lewis, whose son Jesse sacrificed his life to save nine classmates, said she stood up to the conservative conspiracy theorist 'just like my son had stood up to his bully.'

She and her son's father, Neil Heslin, sued Jones over false accusations he made of his Infowars show alleging the shooting was a 'hoax' and for targeting their family in a campaign of harassment related to the massacre.

A Texas jury awarded the parents $49.3 million total judgement on Friday, far less than the $150 million they had sought. Still, Lewis said that Jones had been 'held accountable' for his actions.

Scarlett Lewis (pictured Tuesday) said her the courage her son, Jesse, had when he confronted the Sandy Hook gunman inspired her to stand up to conspiracy theorist Alex Jones

Lewis said that she was nervous about confronting the conspiracy theorist Jones in court but kept her son in mind as means of staying strong

Lewis, who was nervous to confront Jones in court, said Jesse's bravery during the school shooting inspired her to spread a message of truth and take back the power Jones seemingly took from her.

'Jesse stood up to the shooter who came into his first grade classroom and saved nine of his classmates' lives,' Lewis told CBS Mornings on Tuesday.

'The shooter had just killed his principal and guidance counselor right outside the door. He turned into Jesse's classroom. His gun either jammed on ran out of bullets, and during the delay Jesse called for his friends to run. He's literally credited with saving nine of their lives.

'I'm sitting on the stand and thinking, you know, in comparison to what Jesse did, this is the easier job for sure, safeguarding truth in our country,' she explained.

I was standing up to my bully, just like my son had stood up to his bully: @ScarlettMLewis says testifying in front of Alex Jones reminded her of how her son saved several of his classmates from the Sandy Hook shooter.



In comparison to what Jesse did, this is the easier job. pic.twitter.com/3bEHDyOIWr  CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) August 9, 2022

Lewis shared how her attorney 'literally asked the jury to choose love over fear and hatred, and they did.'

She said she hopes their family's fight reminds Americans they have the ability to choose love instead of hate.

'I hope they take away the fact that our personal power as human beings is in our ability to choose, and any moment how we thoughtfully respond,' she said. And responding with love is the powerful choice.

'It feels good, and it's going to lead to a safer and more peaceful and loving world. It's all of our choice every single day from the moment we wake up.'

Scarlett Lewis (pictured August 2) said she was 'standing up to my bully' when she addressed Jones from the witness stand and accused him of spreading lies about the shooting

Lewis her son's father, Neil Heslin, sued Jones (pictured August 3) over false accusations he made of his Infowars show alleging the shooting was a 'hoax' and for targeting their family in a campaign of harassment related to the massacre

Although Lewis sued Jones for $150 million in damages, she alleges the trial was 'never about the money.'

'My goal was to send a message about the importance of truth,' she said, adding it was 'absolutely not' about compensation.

'I've been spreading a choose love movement for the past nine-and-a-half years with the focus of keeping kids safe,' she explained.

'To me everything Alex Jones was saying about the tragedy not even being real and 24 percent of the American public either doubting the facts around Sandy Hook or thinking it didn't happen was going directly my goal which is to keep kids safe.'

When she addressed Jones in court, Lewis pointed out that he had questioned the events of Sandy Hook but added: 'you know that's not true.'

'When you say those things, there's a fringe of society that believe you that are actually dangerous,' she told Jones, staring into his eyes from the witness stand.

'Alex, I want you to hear this. We're more polarized than ever as a country. Some of that is because of you.'

Addressing her remarks during Tuesday's interview, CBS asked Lewis if she saw any remorse in Jones' eyes as she spoke to him.

'I believe there was. I believe he knows Sandy Hook has happened and he's made bad choices,' she recalled. 'I believe that he could make different choices going forward. I think that he wants to. I think sometimes greed gets in the way.

'But, you know, we have one life, and we're here, really, to love and support one another, and I hope he makes that decision.'

She added: 'I hope he knows now it is a choice he can make.'

Lewis said Jesse's (pictured) bravery during the school shooting inspired her to spread a message of truth and take back the power Jones seemingly took from her. She told CBS: 'Jesse stood up to the shooter who came into his first grade classroom and saved nine of his classmates' lives'

Jones on Friday was ordered to pay Lewis and Heslin $45.2 million in punitive damages for falsely claiming that the deadly 2012 Sandy Hook elementary shooting was a 'hoax.'

However, that amount is likely to be reduced as Texas law caps punitive damages at $750,000 when economic losses are not involved, as in this case.

The punitive damages verdict came a day after the jury awarded the couple $4.1 million in compensatory damages for the emotional stress caused by Jones broadcasting falsehoods for years on his InfoWars online and radio talk shows.

After the jury issued its verdict, Lewis tweeted: 'Today the jury proved that most of America is ready to choose love over fear and I'll be forever grateful to them.'

The huge sum ordered from Jones, who for years gathered a sizable following for his often outlandish conspiracy claims, vindicated the lawsuits against him by families of some of the 20 schoolchildren and six adults killed by a 20-year-old man in one of the country's deadliest school shootings.

A Texas jury awarded the parents $49.3 million total judgement on Friday, far less than the $150 million they had sought. Still, Lewis said that Jones (pictured August 3) had been 'held accountable' for his actions

Jones, a vocal supporter of former president Donald Trump, claimed for years on InfoWars that the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, was 'staged' by gun control activists.

He has since acknowledged the massacre was '100 percent real,' but the Sandy Hook families maintained that his denialism, coupled with his ability to influence the beliefs of thousands of followers, caused real emotional trauma.

He was also accused of pulling in massive profits from harmful lies and disinformation.

The judgement is not likely the end of legal woes for the 48-year-old Jones, who is also facing another defamation suit in Connecticut.

He has been found liable in multiple defamation cases brought by parents of the Sandy Hook victims, and the Texas case was the first to reach the damages phase.

He is also under scrutiny for his participation in the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters.
A 23-year-old woman who was allegedly groped by a man who asked to be called 'daddy' at an Australian mining meeting has published her ordeal on the front page of a local paper.

Kalgoorlie Miner Deputy Editor Amber Lilley alleges she was groped and sexually propositioned by a man at an event in a crowded bar after the Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum held in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, last week.

Ms Lilley published the allegations on Tuesday on the front page of the newspaper, which is owned by The West Australian, writing that she felt 'vulnerable, shocked and disgusted'.

Kalgoorlie Miner Deputy Editor Amber Lilley (pictured) wrote an article detailing allegations that a man groped her and asked her to call him 'daddy' before following her through a crowded bar at an after-hours event following the Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum

'A man in mining told me he had a 'rager' over me because I was wearing R.M. Williams boots, and made an inappropriate gesture,' Ms Lilley wrote.

'He then proceeded to tell me to 'call him daddy' before groping me as I walked away through the crowd, and he followed.

'I was shocked and disgusted and felt vulnerable that this could happen in a room full of people, many of whom I knew or knew of.

A complaint against the man has been lodged with the man's company and West Australian police.

The 23-year-old noted she experienced the 'utmost professionalism' at the conference but noted misogynistic conduct ran rampant at after-hours events across the week.

Ms Lilley explained she experienced 'professionalism' at the conference but faced inappropriate behaviour and misogynistic comments at after-hour events (stock image of the Kalgoorlie Super Pit in Kalgoorlie Western Australia)

Ms Lilley explained men would use the phrase 'off the record' before making derogatory comments directed towards her and other women.

'Those comments included how great I looked in my outfit, how maybe I could do skimpy bar work, how grateful women should be for their current standing in the industry, and how there aren't many female industry leaders,' Ms Lilley wrote.

The young journalist called for an industry-wide reform, claiming it would take a 'relentless' effort to dig out a deeply embedded culture of misogyny in the mining sector.

It comes after a state-run inquiry into sexual misconduct against women in the FIFO (fly in fly out) mining industry revealed a culture of sexual assault and harassment.

The inquiry received almost 100 submissions and examined some of the state's biggest miners as well as government regulators.

It heard Rio Tinto had sacked at least 12 people in the last 12 months for sexual harassment or assault while BHP fired 48 workers for inappropriate conduct over a two-year period.

The 23-year-old woman called for an industry-wide reform claiming it would take a 'relentless' effort to dig out a deeply embedded culture of misogyny in the mining sector (stock image, aerial view of Super Pit goldmine in Kalgoorlie)

The inquiry's chair and Deputy Leader of the WA Liberal Party Ms Elizabeth Mettam told parliament 24 recommendations to protect female workers were given in the report titled 'Enough is Enough'.

'I was shocked and appalled well beyond expectation by the size and depth of the problem,' Ms Mettam wrote.

'This represents a failure of the industry to protect its workers and raises real questions about why government was not better across this safety issue.

'The only effective way to address this abhorrent behaviour is to bring it to the surface, to talk about it, point it out, expose it, rail against it, prosecute it and punish it.'

Included in the report are stories of several women, including one who was 'knocked unconscious in her donga and awoke to find her jeans and underpants around her ankles'.

Another woman, who had a near-miss incident with a haul truck she was driving, was told she would have to have sex with her supervisor if she wanted the safety investigation to 'go away'.

The same woman was told she would have to 'get on her knees' if she wanted to get 'her shirt' - a term used to describe a permanent job with a mining company.

A state-run inquiry into sexual misconduct against women in the mining industry revealed a culture of sexual assault and harassment. The report, titled 'Enough is Enough' said the mining sector failed to protect its workers (pictured, Western Australia school of Mines)

The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia on May 23 announced an industry-wide edict that limited workers to four alcoholic beverages and zero shots a day on accommodation sites in a bid to stamp out sexual harassment.

CME policy and advocacy director Rob Carruthers said the guideline reflected the sector's commitment to making work 'as safe as possible at all times'.

'It's also very important that there is industry-wide guidance that can be used at any operation, driving healthy behaviours that encourage a culture of moderation,' Mr Carruthers said.
Alex Jones will likely pay only a fraction of the $45 million in punitive damages awarded to the parents of a young boy killed in the Sandy Hook massacre.

The conservative conspiracy theorist could end up owing as little as 10 percent of the punitive damages that a Texas jury ordered him to pay Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis.

A jury handed down the punitive damages' verdict on Friday and awarded the parents $4.1 million in compensatory damages on Thursday after a two-week trial in Austin, where Jones' Infowars radio show and webcast is based.

The broadcaster was found last year to have defamed Heslin and Lewis, whose six-year-old son Jesse Lewis died in the Connecticut school shooting in 2012, by spreading lies that they were part of a government plot to stage the massacre.

An attorney for the parents believes the damages will likely be capped at $4.5 million, however Jones' lawyer predicts it could be even less.

Alex Jones (pictured August 2) will likely pay only a fraction of the $45 million in punitive damages awarded to the parents of a young boy killed in the Sandy Hook massacre

Attorney Federico Andino Reynal, who represented Jones, said in court Friday that he will seek to reduce the $45.2 million punitive damages award because it does not comply with Texas law.

While juries have broad discretion on awards, states law caps punitive damages at $750,000 when economic losses are not involved, as in this case.

Reynal confirmed on Monday that he plans to invoke the cap. According to the New York Times, he expects the punitive award to be reduced to $1.5 million.

Mark Bankston, an attorney for the parents, said Monday that because Jones and his company face three claims each, he estimates the cap would be $4.5 million.

Bankston said he will argue the damages cap does not apply, but declined to elaborate further.

Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, who presided over the case, must approve the final amount, a decision that is expected soon.

A Texas jury ordered Jones to pay Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis $45.2 million punitive damages and $4.1 million in compensatory damages. PICTURED: J.T. Lewis, Sophia Vetare, Mark Bankston, Bill Ogden, Neil Heslin, Kyle Farrar, Scarlett Lewis and Wesley Ball gather for a photo after jurors return a punitive damages verdict on Friday

Jones' lawyer Federico Andino Reynal (pictured Friday) said in court Friday that he will seek to reduce the $45.2 million punitive damages award because it does not comply with Texas law, which caps punitive damages at $750,000 when economic losses are not involved

Several defamation lawyers have said they were skeptical that the parents will be able to get around the cap.

'They're not going to collect it all - no way,' Texas defamation lawyer Chuck Sanders said.

The initial number will still be a lasting deterrent to spreading misinformation if the verdict is cut significantly, Sanders said.

Even if the parents can convince Judge Gamble that the cap should not apply, Texas Supreme Court precedent holds that the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages should rarely exceed four-to-one.

The jury's verdict in this case represents an 11-to-1 ratio.

In reaching their decision, the Texas justices cited a 2003 decision by the US Supreme Court, which said that the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages should only exceed single digits in rare cases.

Jones' company, Free Speech Systems LLC, filed for bankruptcy protection on July 29, pausing two other Sandy Hook cases against Jones.

An attorney for the parents believes the damages will likely be capped at $4.5 million, however Jones' lawyer predicts it could be around $1.5 million. Jones and Reynal are pictured outside the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, on July 26, 2022

Attorney Bill Ogden gives Scarlett Lewis, mother of 6-year-old shooting victim Jesse Lewis, a hug after jurors return a punitive damages verdict of $45.2 million against Alex Jones

Lawyers for Heslin and Lewis said they hoped a big-money verdict against Jones would serve as a deterrent to him and others who peddle misinformation for profit.

'I am asking you to take the bullhorn away from Alex Jones and all of the others who believe they can profit off of fear and misinformation,' attorney Wesley Ball said in his closing argument Friday.

'The gold rush of fear and misinformation must end, and it must end today.'

Jones, who has since acknowledged the Sandy Hook shooting was real, has claimed his statements about massacre were protected by the First Amendment. He even showed up to court with 'Save the 1st' scrawled on a piece of tape over his mouth.

But despite the public theatrics, Jones never got to make that argument in court. After he failed to comply with orders to hand over critical evidence, a judge entered a default judgment for the plaintiffs and skipped right to the punishment phase.

Reynal told the jury during closing arguments that a large judgment would have a chilling effect on people seeking to hold governments accountable.

'You've already sent a message. A message for the first time to a talk show host, to all talk show hosts, that their standard of care has to change,' Reynal told jurors.

As for Jones, Reynal said he isn't going away any time soon. He'll remain on the air while they appeal the verdict, one of the largest and highest-profile decisions in a defamation case in recent years.

Among others: a gadfly ordered in February to pay $50 million to a South Carolina mayor after accusing her in emails of committing a crime and being unfit for office; a former tenant ordered in 2016 to pay $38.3 million for posting a website accusing a real estate investor of running a Ponzi scheme; and a New Hampshire mortgage provider ordered in 2017 to pay $274 million to three businessmen after he posted billboards accusing them of drug dealing and extortion.
Ambassador Xian Qian told reporters: 'We are ready to use all necessary means'

The Chinese ambassador said Taiwan is part of the People's Republic of China

Chinese new ambassador to Australia has warned Beijing will take Taiwan by any means necessary as he declared the island is not independent and will always be part of the People's Republic of China.

Xiao Qian told the National Press Club on Wednesday that the communist superpower would 'not renounce the use of force and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures'.

Mr Xiao was asked to quell 'concerns' from Australians about the 'prospect of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan' and what would 'justify a use of force across the strait'.

In response, the ambassador said China was 'ready' to use any necessary force to 'reunify Taiwan' with the mainland.

'First, I would rather not use the word 'invasion' when we talk about China and Taiwan,' he said.

'Taiwan is different from any other scenario or situation.

'Taiwan is not an independent state. Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China.

'It's an issue of complete reunification, and the issue of Taiwan coming back to the motherland.'

China 's ambassador Xiao Qian (pictured) said, when necessary they are ready to 'use all necessary means' to reunify Taiwan to its motherland

Mr Xiao said China had been 'so patient' waiting to be reunified with Taiwan and urged those at the National Press Club to use their 'imagination' as to what the global superpower could do.

'That is one of the reasons why China has been so patient for several decades. We're waiting. We're waiting for a peaceful unification. But we cannot - we can never rule out the option to use other means ... when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means,' he said.

'As to what 'all necessary means?' You can use your imagination.'

Mr Xiao was then asked to give a 'yes or no' answer on if China had plans to 're-educate' Taiwan's 23 million people.

'Can you confirm with a yes or no - is that Chinese Government policy? Will China re-educate Taiwan's people to change their minds about the Chinese Communist Party,' a journalist asked.

'It is reasonable for us to understand that their perspective about China, their perspective about their motherland, might take somewhat different views,' he replied.

'I think my personal understanding is that once Taiwan is reunited, coming back to the motherland, there might be a process for the people in Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China about the motherland.'

China has attracted global criticism for its re-education camps in the province of Xinjiang.

The camps, first set up in 2017, have been used to indoctrinate Uyghurs and Muslims and horror stories of abuse and human rights' violations have emerged from them.

Mr Xiao said despite that, 'the last thing' China wanted to do was use force.

(Pictured) Uyghur detainees in a camp in Lop County, Xinjiang, in April 2017

Xi Jinping (pictured) gave a speech in 2019 committing himself to 'reunifying' Taiwan, saying he would use force if necessary

Earlier in his press club address, Mr Xiao said while China supported improvements to the 'current international order it would never seek to start a new one'.

'In the past more than 40 years of reforming and opening up to the outside world, tremendous changes have happened in China,' he said.

'China's comprehensive national stance has been significantly enhanced but China's diplomatic philosophy and China's foreign policy remains unchanged.

'China supports necessary reform and improvement to the current international order and system, but China never seeks to start a new one.'

Earlier this month China declared it would conduct a massive set of war games around Taiwan beginning on August 2 and lasting until August 8.

Nancy Pelosi (left) meets with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (right) in Taipei on August 3, in a move that provoked fury in Beijing

The military drills blockaded the island from the outside world and intruded into its territorial waters, and involved ground, air and sea forces carrying out live fire exercises in what was the largest threat to Taiwan's independence in decades.

The increased aggression from Beijing was sparked by US Speaker Nancy Pelosi - the third most senior politician in America - provocatively visiting the island on August 3.

Chinese anti-aircraft batteries take part in military drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan

Mr Xiao called the drills a 'legitimate and justified' response to Ms Pelosi's visit for violating China's territorial integrity.

'This is a reaction to the provocations from the US side, from the separatist movements in Taiwan Island, and the reaction is legitimate,' he said.

He also said China continues to seek a stable and cooperative relationship with Australia.

'No matter how China develops itself now or in the future, China will never seek hegemony or sphere of influence. The development of China-Australia relations is at a critical juncture,' the Chinese ambassador said.

'China's policy of friendship and cooperation to Australia remains unchanged. And objective and rational objective of Australia on China and a positive and pragmatic policy towards China are fundamentally significant for a long-term stable and predictable partnership between China and Australia.'

A Chinese Xian H-6 bomber is pictured in the skies over the Taiwan Strait, amid huge military drills that will effectively blockade the island

Xiao Qian speaking at the National Press Club on Wednesday about the reunification of Taiwan with China: 'When necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means. As to what? You can use your imagination'

Mr Xiao did however, says it was unlikely the Chinese president would meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Bali later this year.

'If you are talking bad about me, why should I meet you? You humiliated me publicly, why should I meet you to be humiliated again face-to-face?,' he said.

'Once we have a high-level meeting, we hope it is going to be helpful in developing a more positive relationship instead of making it worse.'
Elon Musk has sold nearly $7 billion worth of Tesla shares, according to legal filings published Tuesday, trying to avoid a fire sale if he is forced into buying Twitter in a court battle set for October.

The Tesla boss sold some 7.9 million shares between August 5 and 9, according to filings published on the Securities and Exchange Commission's website.

He now owns 155.04 million Tesla shares, or just under 15% of the automaker, according to Reuters.

'In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close and some equity partners don't come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock,' Musk, the world's richest man wrote on Twitter late Tuesday.

The cash could act as insurance in case Musk is forced into buying Twitter, a company he originally agreed to buy and then walked away from.

Musk, the richest man in the world, holds the majority of his wealth in car manufacturer Tesla - but if a court should rule against him, the stock price could plummet.

Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said investors will see the chances of a Twitter deal as 'more likely now.'

His dispute with Twitter started when Musk bought a 9.1% stake in the company, a move which may have violated security laws, then signed an agreement to buy the social media giant on April 25.

Musk said his recent decision to sell millions of Tesla shares is meant 'to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock'

But Musk in early July tore up his agreement to buy Twitter for $44 billion after tech stocks across the United States started to sink in price, including Tesla's.

Twitter then sued Musk to force him to complete the transaction, dismissing his claim that he was misled about the number of spam accounts on the social media platform as buyer's remorse in the wake of a plunge in technology stocks.

Musk has filed a countersuit, accusing Twitter of fraud and alleging the social media platform misled him about key aspects of its business before he agreed to a $44billion buyout.

The two sides are now locked in a legal battle over Musk's effort to walk away from the April agreement to buy the company, and a judge has ordered a trial to begin on October 17.

The move comes after Musk sold around $8.5 billion worth of shares in the electric carmaker in April as he was preparing to finance the Twitter deal.

He tweeted at the time: 'No further TSLA sales planned after today.'

Parag Agrawal, CEO of Twitter, is shown on July 6 in Sun Valley, Idaho.

But since then, legal experts suggested that if Musk is forced to complete the acquisition or settle the dispute with a stiff penalty, he was likely to sell more Tesla shares.

Tesla shares have risen nearly 15% since the automaker reported better-than-expected earnings on July 20, also helped by the Biden administration's climate bill that, if passed, would lift the cap on tax credits for electric vehicles.

Musk also teased on Tuesday that he could start his own social media platform. When asked by a Twitter user if he had thought about creating his own platform if the deal didn't close, he replied: 'X.com'
A woman is dead after waiting nine hours for a bed at Launceston General Hospital.

The woman aged in her 70s was taken to hospital by ambulance on Friday night but died about 9am Saturday after being ramped at the emergency department, the union representing Tasmanian paramedics said.

She could not receive appropriate care in what was a distressing situation for the patient, her family, and paramedics, Health and Community Services Union industrial manager Robbie Moore said.

A woman is dead after waiting nine hours for a bed at Launceston General Hospital (pictured, stock picture)

'I don't think any Tasmanian would be happy to hear that a person, an older Tasmanian, is not able to get a hospital bed when they need one,' Mr Moore told AAP.

'It's a reasonable expectation that we'd be able to access our health system. The government should absolutely be ashamed this is the situation they have let it get to.'

The Tasmanian Health Department told the ABC a formal review into the woman's death was underway.

AAP has contacted the department for comment.

The Tasmanian Greens said the woman's death showed the significant stress the state's hospitals were under.

'The lives of Tasmanians depend upon the Liberals taking action,' the party's health spokesperson Rosalie Woodruff said in a statement.

Mr Moore said ambulance ramping is an ongoing issue for the island state, with Tasmanians not receiving appropriate care and paramedics unable to respond to urgent jobs because they're stuck at hospitals.

The state government needs to open more hospital beds immediately, he said.

'In the longer term, they're meant to be negotiating with all their staff when it comes to their wages and conditions,' Mr Moore said.

Health and Community Union manager Robbie Moore said it was a 'distressing situation' for the patient, her family, and paramedics' (pictured, the Launceston General Hospital)

'We need them to pay competitive wages with the mainland to ensure that we have adequate staff to provide the health services that Tasmanians need.'

Meanwhile, the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation is continuing strike action on Wednesday over pay and conditions.

Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff last week offered a deal to the union in a bid to stop the strike but union members voted to continue the action.

'While the offer does provide positive measures for the medium to longer term, the main concern from members is that it doesn't provide tangible solutions immediately,' the federation's Tasmanian secretary Emily Shepherd said.
Chinese FM expresses condolences over torrential rain disaster in Seoul

Xinhua) 13:25, August 10, 2022

QINGDAO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed his condolences over the casualties caused by the heavy rains in Seoul and its surrounding regions.

Wang made the remarks during his talks with Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on Tuesday. In response, Park expressed his appreciation.

Eight people were killed while six others went missing as the ROK's metropolitan region was pounded by heavy rains, and the country's interior ministry has upgraded its flood damage watch level from "alert" to "serious."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
An ongoing cyberattack currently happening in Denmark is affecting one of the most popular convenience stores in the country.

7-Eleven stores in Denmark have recently shut down following a cyberattack disrupting their payment and checkout systems, per Bleeping Computer.

7-Eleven has yet to disclose the details of the attack and is working on the issue already, according to Security Week.

7-Eleven Cyberattack Details

7-Eleven mentioned in its official Twitter account that it has been exposed to a cyberattack on August 8, preventing its stores to use checkouts and/or receiving payment.

To be specific, the cyberattack is affecting 7-Eleven's Danish stores by having their cash registers malfunction all of a sudden, per Danish publication The Local.

7-Eleven Denmark CEO Jesper Ostergaard told Danish broadcaster DR that the malfunction has never happened before and that it is working hard to find out what exactly happened.

Due to the cyberattack's effects, the company has decided to keep its stores closed until further notice, with it hoping that it can open its stores soon.

Unfortunately, Ostergaard didn't mention when the stores will be open again as the company has no timescale.

"We will decide later what to do next, Ostergaard said to DR.

A now-deleted Reddit post has confirmed Ostergarrd's statement. the ongoing cyberattack and its resulting malfunction.

Read More: Anti-Trust Researchers, Data Privacy Experts Dub Amazon-iRobot Acquisition Deal 'The Dangerous Acquisition' in Its History

The employee, who is working at a store in Stroget, revealed in their Reddit post that all of the country's 176 7-Eleven stores run with the same system.

However, due to the cyberattack attacking the system, their checkout system does not work, forcing them to close their store.

7-Eleven did not confirm the involvement of ransomware, though shutting down the system is a common measure to prevent the spread of one, according to Techzine.

Bleeping Computer has reached out to 7-Eleven for more details to learn more about the attack, but was told that the company has nothing further to share outside of their original statement.

Not The Only One

Cyberattacks have become increasingly frequent over the past few days, with more than 100 Belgian and Dutch dental practices being forced to close their doors following a ransomware cyberattack on Colusseum Dental Benelux, according to the company's official website.

Unfortunately, the dentist company acquiesced to the cybercriminals behind the attack, with the company paying the criminals the required ransom in the pursuit of customer convenience.

"Only in this way were we able to minimize the risk for all those involved in shuch a short period of time and to restore practice relatively quickly," the company said in a statement.

Colosseum Dental Benelux has already reported the attack to the Dutch Data Protection Authority as required by law.

The rise of ransomware attacks in 2022 can be traced back to the LAPSUS$ attacks that took on the global tech industry earlier in 2022, affecting companies such as Ubisoft, NVIDIA, and even T-Mobile.

Related Article: BEWARE! Fake Copyright Infringement Email are Actually Infecting Devices with LockBit Ransomware
Explosive text messages reveal the reactions of public servants to John Barilaro's appointment to a plum US trade role as news filtered through to the government.

Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown texted colleagues a news article flagging that a parliamentary upper house inquiry would probe how Mr Barilaro landed the role as the state's senior trade commissioner to the Americas.

'This isn't great,' she wrote on June 20.

Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown said it was 'technically' her decision to appoint John Barilaro to a plum US trade role

Former NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro was appointed to the $500,000-a-year job in New York City - and now says he is a 'victim' of a political inquiry

'No, but utterly predictable,' Department of Premier and Cabinet Secretary Michael Coutts Trotter replied.

Ms Brown texted back: 'We should talk it through once I've pulled everything together. Technically it was my decision.'

Deputy Secretary, Community Engagement at the Department of Premier and Cabinet Kate Meagher replied: 'Happy to help Amy'.

'Of course,' Mr Coutts-Trotter said.

The texts, ordered as part of the upper house probe into Mr Barilaro's hiring, were published on Tuesday night.

Ms Brown has maintained it was her decision to appoint Mr Barilaro during her appearance at three upper house inquires.

However, she conceded she was somewhat influenced as the government sought to convert the roles to ministerial appointments.

In May, the month before Mr Barilaro's hiring was announced, Ms Brown texted Mr Coutts-Trotter to let him know she had the green light from Premier Dominic Perrottet to proceed with the contract.

'I've been told that premier and DP (Deputy Premier Paul Toole) are comfortable with the appointment of Barilaro ... and requested to get on with formalising the arrangements (which I'll do).'

Ms Brown previously told the inquiry she approached Mr Coutts-Trotter to discuss the appointment and told him she was nervous about it.

'He didn't say what he was going to do necessarily,' Ms Brown told the inquiry last Wednesday, noting she also did not receive a substantial answer.

Mr Coutts-Trotter was charged with running a separate inquiry into the hiring process by the premier, which is in fact being conducted by former public service commissioner Graeme Head to ensure confidence in the process.

Mr Head is being paid $73,500 for running the inquiry, not including costs he will be reimbursed for.

Another exchange shows Investment NSW Media Director Kristoff Clark texting another media director, Sophie Hull, who previously worked for former Investment Minister Stuart Ayres, discussing a June 17 media release announcing Mr Barilaro's appointment.

'Any aggro from anyone?' Mr Clark asked on the day of the announcement.

'A little but it has settled,' Ms Hull replied, with a blushing smile emoji.

'Wonder who Yoni heard from,' Mr Clark added.

'Not sure who told Yoni. Probably Barra (Mr Barilaro) himself,' Ms Hull replied, with the eye roll emoji.

The pair appear to be discussing a June 16 column by News Corp journalist Yoni Bashan, which reported Mr Barilaro was 'on the move', having resigned from his job at Coronation Property.

The report pipped the government's release by a day.

Mr Barilaro was told he was the successful candidate by Investment NSW managing director Kylie Bell on May 23.

'Texting to say congrats and we're thrilled you are our STIC for Americas,' Ms Bell said.

'Thank you Kylie,' Mr Barilaro replied.
Victoria Police refused repeated requests by Porsche driver Richard Pusey to see graphic images of dead and dying officers during a confrontation about pictures being shared online.

Pusey allegedly attached four photos from the fatal Eastern Freeway crash in 2020 to a complaint about a $2.2 million insurance claim in November last year.

But when interviewed about the allegation and later charged, officers refused to show Pusey the pictures they say were posted, saying they were too graphic.

Richard Pusey (pictured, being taken away from his Fitzroy property by police in Melbourne) allegedly attached four photos from the fatal Eastern Freeway crash in 2020 to a complaint about a $2.2 million insurance claim in November last year

Four police officers were killed in a horror crash involving a truck on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway

Pusey, who uses they/them pronouns, was charged in February this year with using a carriage service to cause offence over a complaint sent to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

They've also pleaded not guilty to the same charge over a profile picture allegedly used with a Google review of the Porsche Centre Melbourne in February this year, and to committing offences while on bail.

Four officers died when a truck crashed into them on the side of the freeway, where they had pulled over Pusey, who escaped injury.

The Google picture showed Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor on the roof of the Porsche.

The truck crash killed four Victoria Police officers with Pusey taking photos of the horrific aftermath

Pusey's interview was played during a contested hearing in Sunshine Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

During the interview Pusey, who is self-represented, repeatedly asked to be shown copies of the photos police allege they used.

'Show me what was sent. Show me what you claim I sent,' Pusey asked.

'How can I say anything if you won't show me the picture?'

Officers replied that the images were too graphic.

Pusey accused the officers of harassment, of playing games and refused to answer questions about their insurance.

Pusey faced court on Wednesday and repeatedly asked police to show him the images he sent

A claim against a Porsche Insurance policy was denied in March 2021, which police allege prompted Pusey to complain to AFCA that 'nobody wants to own the claim' and to seek $2.2 million in compensation.

'A truck mowed down four hero road safety officers ... it broke a black Porsche and now these c***s (the insurers) won't pay out,' they allege Pusey wrote.

Officers asked Pusey if they believed a reasonable person seeing those pictures would not find them offensive.

'I had to see it,' Pusey replied.

'Plenty of people took pictures, it's all over the internet, man. It's not my picture.'

An anonymous tip led police to the Google review, which says 'when you spend $330k to $550k on a car you expect to be able to extend the warranty on the car. Not here at Porsche Centre Melbourne'.

Pusey will get a chance to respond to the allegations when the hearing resumes before magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz in September.
Officials are reviewing whether to impose a total ban on food products being brought from Indonesia by travellers due to growing concerns over foot-and-mouth disease.

A Senate inquiry into Australia's response to the outbreak in Indonesia was told a total ban was possible should the situation worsen.

Travellers are already banned from bringing food products such as meat, while any other food items must be declared.

Officials are reviewing whether to impose a total ban on food products being brought from Indonesia amid growing foot and mouth disease fears (pictured, an infected cow in Indonesia)

Agriculture department secretary Andrew Metcalfe told the inquiry on Wednesday the situation with the disease was constantly evolving.

'There have been significant actions taken in relation to food being imported from Indonesia since the outbreak occurred, and many more categories of food unable to be imported,' he said.

'We are constantly reviewing the risk factors associated with any food imports and making changes accordingly.'

The impact on animal-based export products would be significant should foot-and-mouth disease be detected, the inquiry was told.

Australia has already introduced a range of foot-and-mouth disease prevention measures, including the use of sanitation mats to clean shoes at airports and agriculture events (pictured, the Royal Queensland Show in Brisbane)

While viral fragments of the disease have previously been found in pork products at a Melbourne retailer, Australia remains free of the disease with no live virus being found.

The comments come after the government in July announced a $14 million biosecurity package to bolster frontline measures, including funding for 18 new biosecurity officers at airports and mail centres.

But the new officers won't be deployed until the end of September, the inquiry was told, with 45 contractors hired to fill the gaps until recruitment is complete.

Detector dogs have also been put in place at all airports with incoming flights from Indonesia, except for Adelaide where they would be stationed by the end of August, the inquiry was told.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers (above) told reporters in Rockhampton that protection of the beef industry was at the forefront of border decisions

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the beef industry had to be protected from the threat of the disease.

'When it comes to foot-and-mouth disease, clearly we have had to act decisively as a new government to do what we can to minimise the risk,' he told reporters in Rockhampton.

Australia is set to supply Indonesia with one million doses of vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease, set to arrive later in August.

Mr Metcalfe also told the hearing there were no discussions with other departments about the possibility of closing the border with Indonesia due to the threat of the disease.

The agriculture department said it was first made aware of advice about foot-and-mouth disease on May 6.

Mr Metcalfe said former agriculture minister David Littleproud did not order additional foot-and-mouth disease prevention tools, like sanitation mats (above)

Mr Metcalfe said former agriculture minister David Littleproud did not ask the department to order more vaccines or foot mats to prevent the disease in Australia, following the advice being received.

However, the advice was received during the caretaker period before the federal election.

Mr Metcalfe said both Mr Littleproud and his then-opposition counterpart remained fully briefed at the time.

The risk of the highly contagious disease entering Australia in the next five years has been increased to 11.6 per cent after it spread to Bali.

The inquiry also examined the risk of varroa mites on Australia's bee population, with infestations at more than 80 premises in NSW.

As of Tuesday, there have been no new red zones or outbreak areas, with all 83 infested premises being near the original outbreak near Newcastle.

It's estimated 4,600 hives have been euthanised as a result of the varroa mite infestation.

Agriculture officials said while there have been multiple theories as to how the infestation originated, investigations were still ongoing into the exact cause.
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Ukraine's special forces were responsible for a series of deadly explosions which destroyed parts of a crucial Russian airbase in Crimea yesterday, killing one and injuring 14 according to a Ukrainian government official.

Up to ten Russian aircraft were destroyed in the attack, the Ukrainian air force said, which an anonymous official told the Washington Post had been carried out by special forces  despite claims yesterday that long-range missiles could have been used.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile vowed to 'liberate' the peninsula previously part of Ukraine but annexed by Russia in 2014 despite international condemnation.

Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation.'

The President's comments come as hordes of Russians seemingly began to fleeing the Crimea in the wake of the explosions which left one dead and 14 injured according to the latest reports.

The blasts rang out around 3:30pm local time yesterday afternoon at the Russian-held Novofedorivka military airbase in Western Crimea, which is located within sight of a popular beach.

Videos circulating yesterday on the Telegram messaging app showed dozens of shocked beachgoers watching trails of smoke snaking from the base before hastily evacuating the shore.

Other clips showed the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac destroyed in the devastating blasts.

Ukraine's air force neither confirmed nor denied its participation in the incident, but said it believed up to 10 Russian fighter jets were destroyed in the explosions (image of a decimated Russian jet involved in the blast)

Clips which emerged from the scene appeared to show the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac (pictured)

Several large explosions have rocked a military airbase in Russian-held Crimea this afternoon as an ominous mushroom cloud sent bathers fleeing from nearby beaches

Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation'

Rising smoke can be seen from the beach at Saky after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, Tuesday August 9

Huge explosions are seen in the background in Crimea as stunned civilians look on before jumping into their cars and fleeing

Massive traffic jam by the Kerch Strait Bridge as Russian tourists desperately try to leave Crimea

Shots taken from a dashcam show the road completely jammed in one direction while the oncoming lanes on the other side of the barrier are completely empty

Russia's Defence Ministry denied the base on the Black Sea had been attacked by Ukraine, instead declaring there had been a catastrophic aircraft munitions detonation, but editor-in-chief of Russian news outlet RT, Margarita Simonyan, tweeted that the explosions were caused by 'sabotage'.

Ukrainian social networks meanwhile were abuzz with speculation that the base was destroyed by long-range missiles fired by Ukraine's military after one Ukrainian official speaking on condition of anonymity told the New York Times that the nation's armed forces launched the attack.

'This was an air base from which [Russian] planes regularly took off for attacks against our forces in the southern theatre,' the official said, adding that 'a device exclusively of Ukrainian manufacture was used' to carry out the attack.

This sentiment was echoed by Viktor Andrusiv, a political scientist and former adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, who wrote on Telegram: 'As you can understand - missiles with a range of 200-300km are already in service with us and are being used in our country.

'The explosions... today at the airfield in Novofedorivka in Crimea, are public proof of this.'

US systems so-far supplied to Ukraine do not have the range to hit the airbase from territory occupied by Kyiv's forces. But some observers have speculated that the ATACMS missile system could be responsible for the strike.

The Biden administration has not officially supplied the system, which has a range of up to 190 miles.

Videos of Russians fleeing the site of the blasts came as the regional administrators of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, currently under Russian occupation, said Russian families there had 'started to panic' after Ukrainian armed forces attacked two key bridges used by Putin's troops as supply routes.

'Because of these events, the mass exodus of the families of the Russian military who lived in Kherson began,' the statement read.

A large mushroom cloud is seen rising from the scene of explosions at a Russian held airbase in Novofedorivka, Crimea

Ukraine has not yet officially claimed responsibility, but a Ukrainian military official speaking on condition of anonymity told the New York Times that the nation's armed forces launched the attack

If the airbase was in fact struck by the Ukrainians, it would mark the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and has occupied the territory ever since despite widespread condemnation from much of the international community.

If the airbase was in fact struck by the Ukrainians, it would mark the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, posted on Facebook: 'Today's explosions in Novofedorivka are another reminder of who is Crimea. Because it is Ukraine.'

But an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Ukraine is not taking responsibility for the explosions.

Mykhailo Podolyak, when asked by the Dozhd online television channel whether Kyiv was taking responsibility, replied: 'Of course not. What do we have to do with this?'

Novofedorivka is located more than 130 miles from the nearest part of mainland Ukraine not occupied by Putin's troops, and Ukrainian authorities have not officially taken responsibility for the blasts.

Russian's defence ministry denied the explosions were caused as a result of incoming missile fire, claiming: 'Aircraft ammunition detonated at the ''Saky'' airfield near the village of Novofedorivka at a rubble storage site.

'No aviation equipment at the airfield was damaged. Measures are being taken to extinguish the resulting fire and investigate the cause of the explosion.

'According to the report from the site, there was no fire impact on the collapsed ammunition storage area at the airfield.'

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, did post on Facebook, saying: 'Today's explosions in Novofedorivka are another reminder of who is Crimea. Because it is Ukraine.'

Russia claims the explosions were caused by detonating aircraft ammunition. Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the blasts

People seen resting and sunbathing on a beach as smoke and flames rise after explosions at a Russian military airbase, in Novofedorivka

Shocked beachgoers watched on as the smoke began billowing from the direction of the base, before being instructed to evacuate by police officers

Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, August 9

Russia's state news agency Tass quoted an unidentified ministry source as saying the explosions' primary cause appeared to be a 'violation of fire safety requirements.' The ministry said no warplanes were damaged.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry said sarcastically on Facebook: 'The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine cannot establish the cause of the fire, but once again recalls the rules of fire safety and the prohibition of smoking in unspecified places.'

The head of Crimea's health department yesterday said five people, including one child - believed to be a 13-year-old boy -, were injured in the explosions. The tally has since risen to 14 injured.

Russian governor of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov announced one person was killed.

'I express my most sincere condolences to the victim's family and friends. All necessary assistance will be provided,' he said via the Telegram messaging app.

Other reports claim that Russian firefighters were not allowed into the site but offered no explanation as to why.

Videos shared on the Telegram messaging app showed the aftermath of the explosions, with tourists fleeing from a nearby beach and police urging people to take cover.

One local said, according to the Sun, 'It slammed so loudly that we were deafened.'

Another was heard saying: 'Something is burning in Novofedorivka. There are some explosions as it burns.'

Local officials meanwhile reported that a 5km safety perimeter was erected around the airfield to prevent members of the public from accessing the area.

The airbase close to Saky and Novofedorivka is home to Russia's 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet.

A variety of Russian air force planes are stationed at the base, including Su-30SM, Su-24M and Su-24MP fighter jets and Tu-134 freight aircraft.

Crimea has so far been spared the intense bombardment and artillery combat that have taken place in other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine since Feb. 24, when President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian armed forces into Ukraine - including some based in the peninsula.

Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to governor Aksyonov, refused to speculate on the incident, telling Russia's RIA Novosti: 'So far, I can only confirm the fact that several explosions occurred in the Novofedorivka area.

'I ask everyone to wait for official messages and not to produce their own version of events.'

Satellite images of the airbase in Novofedorivka show a number of Russian fighter jets parked alongside the runway. The airbase close to Saky and Novofedorivka is home to Russia's 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet

Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka today

Emergency services from the nearby town of Saky were deployed to the blast site, the TASS news agency reported. A Russian defence source meanwhile denied the explosions were caused as a result of incoming missile fire

'I earnestly ask you to trust only official information. All necessary measures have been strengthened to ensure the safety of infrastructure and the population,' the governor of Crimea urged citizens following the blasts

Before admitting one person had been killed, Aksyonov earlier followers via Telegram he was en-route to the blast site and that 'circumstances are being clarified', before scrambling to assuage the locals' concerns.

'Ambulance crews and medical aviation are working on the spot, there are enough of them,' he said.

'It is too early to talk about the victims. Among the civilian population, no one has yet applied to medical institutions for help.

'I earnestly ask you to trust only official information. All necessary measures have been strengthened to ensure the safety of infrastructure and the population.'

The Tass news agency confirmed that emergency services from the nearby town of Saky were deployed to the blast site, citing the regional health ministry, while locals reported congestion on roads leading away from the coast as members of the public fled.

Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian officials that at least three Ukrainian civilians were killed and 23 wounded by Russian shelling in 24 hours, including an attack not far from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The Russians fired over 120 rockets at the town of Nikopol, which is across the Dnieper River from the plant, Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko said.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other in recent days of shelling the power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe, stoking international fears of a catastrophe.

In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invoked the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, which at the time was a Soviet republic. He called for new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of risking another nuclear disaster.

'We are actively informing the world about Russian nuclear blackmail,' he said.

The Kremlin claimed that Ukraine's military was attacking the plant and urged Western powers to force Kyiv to stop.
The victim of a teenage rape at a house party west of Sydney has called her attacker a monster who deserves to be behind bars.

The young woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, read out an emotional victim impact statement at a sentence hearing in Parramatta Children's Court on Wednesday in the presence of her rapist.

'I hate you for what you did to me. You don't deserve to be happy after the cruelty you've shown me,' she said.

'I've struggled every day since. So have my parents, my little sister, my friends and loved ones, and you continue to live your life without repercussions.'

A teenager raped at a house party in Sydney's west faced court on Wednesday and gave a powerful victim impact statement claiming her attacker was a monster who deserved to be behind bars (stock image)

The man, who also cannot be named, studied with the victim at Katoomba High School in the Blue Mountains. He was found guilty of six counts of sexual intercourse without consent and one count of choking.

The rape occurred at a house party on a mattress in the premises' living room, the magistrate heard.

The victim said she hoped her assaulter's family could live with the 'reality of the monster' he was.

She told the court the rape had destroyed her life, leaving her 'ashamed and irreversibly damaged' while giving her nightmares, psychological issues and low self-esteem.

'I don't know who I've become. I used to be so sure of what I was going to do with my life and now I'm so very lost,' she said.

'Now all I can do is pray that this magistrate decides to put you behind bars where you deserve to be.'

The accused's solicitor Brian Walker said a suspended control order was appropriate for the sexual assault.

'In my submission, it falls to the lower end of objective seriousness for offending of this kind,' he said.

The victim and the accused man both attended Katoomba High School (pictured) in the Blue Mountains

There was initial consent, and the incident was opportunistic, occurring in an open area around people, he told the court. The lawyer argued his client had not planned anything or lured the victim into an isolated spot.

The young man was now a person of good character and had a low probability of reoffending, being in a good job and a stable relationship, Mr Walker said.

However, the court heard the man had consistently denied the allegations of rape and had not shown any contrition or remorse for his actions.

The magistrate will hand down her sentence on August 25.
This was the dramatic moment a Russian nuclear sub was spotted off the coast of Norway after being shadowed by the RAFs submarine hunter, a Poseidon P-8 patrol aircraft.

The Akula (shark) class vessel was initially submerged as the British air patrol and a fleet of Norwegian naval warships kept track of its movements beneath the waves.

These remarkable photographs were taken by a British marine engineer working offshore on a Norwegian energy project.

He told MailOnline: On Sunday night we saw a British Poseidon P-8 and on Monday we saw all the NATO Navy vessels and the sub itself on the surface.

We could hear the radio chatter between the ships and the plane and there were definitely British accents.

The incident is one of many in recent months and military observers have noticed a sharp rise in the number of Putins underwater patrols being launched against the background of worsening relations between western nations and the Kremlin since the invasion of Ukraine.

The Akula (shark) class vessel (pictured) was initially submerged as the British air patrol and a fleet of Norwegian naval warships kept track of its movements beneath the waves

The Russian nuclear sub was spotted off the coast of Norway (pictured) after being shadowed by the RAFs submarine hunter, a Poseidon P-8 patrol aircraft

This particular tense stand-off came to an end when the Russian sub headed out into the North Sea.

The photographer, who we havent named, said he got the impression that the NATO ships forced the Russian sub to the surface, but a leading expert contacted by MailOnline doubted that.

Sidharth Kaushal , Research Fellow (Sea Power) at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) confirmed the vessel was an akula class nuclear attack submarine.

He said: I think thats very unlikely it was forced to the surface, as they can only really do that with depth charges.

Its a cat and mouse game between these submarine patrols and the countries they are passing.

Submarines quite often travel on the surface as it's safer to navigate that way. This one may have been part of the Russian Northern Fleet on its way back from the Navy Day parade in St Petersburg on July 31.

Sidharth Kaushal , Research Fellow (Sea Power) at the Royal United Services Institute said: NATO officials have said that Russian submarine activity is at levels that they haven't seen since the Cold War'

These remarkable photographs were taken by a British marine engineer working offshore on a Norwegian energy project

Whatever the Russian submarine was doing there, either simple transit or something more clandestine, the Norwegians would want to shadow it with help from other NATO assets.

NATO officials have said that Russian submarine activity is at levels that they haven't seen since the Cold War.

The Norwegian vessel appears to be a Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy involved in the operation surrounding this submarine.

Last month, a a Royal Navy warship tracked the movements of two Russian submarines as they sailed into the North Sea in a similar area.

The tense stand-off came to an end when the Russian sub (pictured) headed out into the North Sea

Its possible the akula submarine spotted last weekend was the same one on its return from the Navy Days event.

British submarine hunter HMS Portland spotted the cruise missile submarine Severodvinsk and Akula-class attack submarine Vepr made their underwater journey south along the Norwegian coast from the Arctic.

The Type 23 frigate shadowed the submarines as they surfaced separately in the North Sea, north-west of Bergen, Norway, on July 16 and 19, before NATO and Baltic forces took over duties as they continued to St Petersburg for Russian Navy Day celebrations on July 31.

Portland and her specialist Merlin helicopter  both equipped with cutting-edge sonars, sensors and torpedoes for submarine-hunting operations  reported on the movements of the Russian Northern Fleet vessels.

One of the RAFs P8 Poseidons, also worked closely with HMS Portland to hunt and track the submarines.

HMS Portland was pictured dropping anchor in Oslo last month after tracking the movements of the two Russian submarines

A close-up view of the huge vessel was tweeted by the UK embassy in Oslo

This operation came soon after HMS Portland took part in a major NATO submarine-hunting exercise.

HMS Portlands Commanding Officer, Commander Tim Leeder, said: Our success on operations marks the culmination of many months of specialist training and exercises. Critically, the cohesiveness of Royal Navy, RAF and our allies capabilities ensures that we are capable of conducting and sustaining these types of anti-submarine operations in the North Atlantic.

It is testament to my sailors dedication and professionalism, alongside that of our allies, that we are able to conduct this strategically crucial role.

Akula class submarines, first built in the 1980s with a crew of about 80, were popularised in the 1990 Hollywood movie The Hunt for Red October, in which Soviet sub commander Sean Connery wants to defect with his vessel as the two superpowers try to find him.

The MoD was contacted by MailOnline about the most recent operation.

A Ministry of Defence Spokesperson said: 'The UK Armed Forces and her allies regularly track vessels as they transit within international waters. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on specific assets or capabilities.
Leading Russian anti-war protester Marina Ovsyannikova was detained on Wednesday, with Moscow launching a criminal investigation into her after she denounced Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on live television earlier this year.

Ovsyannikova famously stormed the set of Channel One - Russia's most-watched news show - with a poster saying: 'They're lying to you here' and 'Stop the War!'

The arrest comes after officers raided her home in the early hours of this morning. Russian officials accuse Ukrainian-born Ovsyannikova of discrediting the army - an offence that could land her in prison for 15 years.

'A criminal case has been launched,' lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov said today, adding they were now waiting for investigators to decide on a pre-trial measure for the 44-year-old mother of three.

In a recent interview with AFP news agency, Ovsyannikova had expressed hope that authorities would not place her in pre-trial detention because she has two children.

Writing on messaging app Telegram earlier in the day, Ovsyannikova said that 10 members of law enforcement raided her home at 6:00 am.

'They scared my young daughter,' she added.

Marina Ovsyannikova - pictured being detained by police on July 17 - famously stormed the set of Russia's most-watched news show with a poster saying: 'They're lying to you here'

The TV journalist (pictured right) has been repeatedly targeted by Vladimir Putin's officers since her protest in March, and could face up to 15 years in prison for her dissent under new draconian laws aimed at stifling any criticism of the war in Ukraine

In March, Ovsyannikova, then an editor at Channel One, barged onto the set of its flagship Vremya (Time) evening news, holding a poster reading 'No War' in English.

In mid-July, Ovsyannikova also staged a one-woman protest near the Kremlin, holding a poster that read 'Putin is a murderer.'

Criticism of President Vladimir Putin's decision to send troops to Ukraine has been virtually outlawed in Russia, and her protest made headlines around the world.

The criminal probe against Ovsyannikova was launched after two Moscow courts ordered the journalist to pay fines for discrediting the Russian army.

Ovsyannikova said she had been accused of spreading 'fake' information about the Russian army.

She was fined 50,000 roubles (690) and this week another court fined her a further 40,000 roubles (550). She was detained on July 17, but later released.

Today, her home was raided under the law on 'dissemination of knowingly false information about the actions of the Russian armed forces,' Zakhvatov said.

Despite a request for Zakhvatov to be present for the raid, it was carried out in the early hours of Wednesday morning without him being there.

Pictured: Marina Ovsyannykova holds up a banner in Moscow protesting the war in Ukraine

The TV journalist has been repeatedly targeted by Vladimir Putin's officers since her protest in March, and could face up to 15 years in prison for her dissent under new draconian laws aimed at stifling any criticism of the war in Ukraine.

Through this law Putin has strong-armed independent media outlets into peddling Russian propaganda - referring to a 'special military operation' instead of a 'war' or 'invasion' while denying mass Russian casualties and war atrocities.

Ovsyannikova has bravely continued to protest the war despite the regular fines, and in early July, she announced that she was returning to Russia to settle a dispute over the custody of her two children - despite the risk of arrest.

'I go to the courts like I go to work,' she said this week.

Writing on Telegram on Wednesday, she said that more than 350 children had already died in Ukraine. 'How many children have to die before you stop?' she added.

Her latest fine was due to a Facebook post when she mocked Putin's 'greatness'.

'I could not express my gratitude to Putin on behalf of 30 million Russians who live in the 21st century without sewers and warm toilets,' she said.

'Any accusations against me are absurd and unacceptable.'

In April, she was hired by German media outlet Welt as a 'freelance correspondent' to report for the Welt newspaper as well as for Welt's TV news channel, including from Ukraine and Russia.

Welt is the respected flagship publication from the Axel Springer publishing group, with a daily circulation in Germany of around 180,000.

Welt Group editor-in-chief Ulf Porschardt said at the time that he was excited to be working with Ovsyannikova, adding that her on-air protest 'defended the most important journalistic ethics - despite the threat of state repression.'

'At a crucial moment, Marina Ovsyannikova had the courage to confront Russian viewers with an unembellished view of reality,' he went on to say.

After she made international headlines when she stormed the life broadcast, Ovsyannikova disappeared for a number of days with many fearing the worst for her.

In the end she was only handed a 227 fine by a Russian court - a mere fraction of the retaliation expected - sparking a number of theories about the true nature of her protest.

Ovsyannikova's status as a senior television editor at the Channel One station meant she was able to get access to the broadcasting centre to make her protest

Some of those theories range from Ovsyannikova being a plant by the Kremlin to her being a 'British spy' by the head of news at Channel One.

Ovsyannikova has remained in Russia after her arrest and fine, seeming to have dodged the worst of state retaliation, but she told Reuters in June that she was worried for her safety and hoped her protest would open Russians' eyes to propaganda.

She has continued to describe what Russia insists is a 'special operation' in Ukraine as a war and invasion.

In her first report for her new employers earlier this year, she spoke about petty persecution she has faced since the protest.

Her membership of a swimming pool was revoked, a pet shop refused to supply her with dog food, and she found her car with all four tyres deflated and a flat battery.

During an interview with American media, the journalist also said had turned down French President Emmanuel Macron's offer of asylum because 'she is a patriot' and wants to live in Russia.

'I want to say to everyone, the Russian people are really against the war,' Ovsyannikova told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's This Week. 'It's Putin's war, not Russian people's war.'

Last week Ovsyannikova - a mother of two - was fined 50,000 roubles (690) and this week another court fined her a further 40,000 roubles (550)

'[It] was a spontaneous decision for me to go out live on air, but dissatisfaction with the current situation has been accumulating for many years because the propaganda on our state channels was becoming more and more distorted,' she added.

'I came to work and, after a week of coverage of this situation, the atmosphere on the first channel was so unpleasant that I realized I could not go back there.'

Ovsyannikova said she thought of assisting an anti-war protest at Moscow's square - likely referring to the city's Red Square - but quickly realized being jailed was going to be 'rather useless.'

'I decided maybe I could do something else, something more meaningful where I could attract more attention and show to the rest of the world that Russians are against the war,' she said on Sunday.

'I could show the Russian people this is just propaganda, expose this propaganda for what it is and maybe stimulate some people to speak up against the war and I was hoping that my performance in a way would help people change their mind,' she added.
A manhunt is underway after an attempted abduction of a little girl at a primary school, as it's revealed the man had peered at her under a toilet stall.

South Australian Police said the unknown masked man walked into Glenelg Primary School in Adelaide about 10am on Tuesday.

Witnesses said the child snatcher walked up the stairs as classes were in progress and grabbed the Year Four student from a hallway.

The Year Four student was grabbed from a hallway at Glenelg Primary School (pictured) in Adelaide before she broke free

She was dragged downstairs, kicking and screaming - before she managed to escape.

Police raced to the school but the culprit couldn't be found.

According to a statement, the man is described as being 180cm tall, bald and wearing a long, light blue shirt, black pants, a black face mask and carrying a beanie.

Police are urgently asking anyone who might have seen the man near the Diagonal Rd school or was driving nearby and has dashcam footage to contact them so they can examine it.

A fellow student told The Adelaide Advertiser the man had looked at the girl under a toilet stall before he tried to grab her.

She said she had no clue who the man was and that she did not want to go back to the school because she was scared.

Security guards have been stationed outside the school as of Wednesday afternoon.

Glenelg Primary School principal Shane Misso wrote to parents on Wednesday informing them the matter was in the hands of SA Police and the SA Education Department.

The school said the matter was with SA Police in a letter to parents (pictured)

'We thank you for your concern, care, and patience as we work through the events of Tuesday, August 9, 2022,' Mr Misso said.

'Unfortunately at this point, we are not able to provide any further detail to the community.

'When we are informed we can, we will communicate with the wider school community.

'All communications are being provided through the Department of Education.

'All children are accounted for and safe. Additional resources and procedures are in place.'
A British Army veteran who was sworn at and called a 'stupid man' by police during a wrongful arrest in lockdown has won 30,000 in damages.

Desmond Acquah, 43, was driving home from a 12-hour shift as a key worker on the railways when a police van began to follow him home at about 2am on April 26, 2020.

When he pulled up to his block of flats in Portsmouth two officers, including one PC Thisby, got out of a marked police car, asked for his details and wrongly told him that he could arrested for contesting coronavirus rules if he didn't provide them.

When Mr Acquah said he was simply returning from work and wanted to go to bed and check on his pregnant girlfriend, the officers asked for his name.

Desmond Acquah (pictured), 43, was driving home from a 12-hour shift as a key worker on the railways when a police van began to follow him home at about 2am on April 26, 2020

Mr Acquah refused to give his name only to be put in handcuffs and pushed against a wall.

He eventually gave his name, even though he wasn't under any legal obligation to do so, but refused to give other details

He was then threatened with incapacitant spray before more officers arrived and searched him.

One officer said: 'You're behaving like a f****** idiot at the moment, shut up.'

And when Mr Acquah asked why he was being pushed against a wall another shouted: 'Because I don't want you spitting in my face when you're shouting you stupid man.'

He was eventually arrested under a public order offence and was forced to spend four hours in custody before a senior officer reviewed body worn camera footage and said he had been wrongfully arrested and released him.

Acquah then sued Hampshire Constabulary but offered to accept a lower settlement in exchange for a public apology. The chief constable of Hampshire, Olivia Pinkey (pictured), refused to give a public apology even though she admitted Mr Acquah had been wrongfully arrested

Acquah then sued Hampshire Constabulary but offered to accept a lower settlement in exchange for a public apology.

The chief constable of Hampshire, Olivia Pinkey, refused to give a public apology even though she admitted Mr Acquah had been wrongfully arrested.

The force then had to pay 30,000 plus legal costs.

Acquah's lawyer, Iain Gould, said that in a 'gross over-reach of power' the police behaved as if they were dealing with a suspected bank robber rather than a tired key worker who was just trying to get home.

Gould said: 'I am perplexed by the decision of the chief constable to refuse an apology letter and instead write out a bigger cheque from what is, at the end of the day, public funds.'

Acquah served in the army for almost 10 years including tours in Afghanistan.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire police told The Times: 'We know that we got it wrong and the arrest was not lawful. In the early stages of the pandemic, we were all adapting to quickly changing and unprecedented circumstances.

'When new regulations were issued, we worked hard to understand and apply these right across policing in order to help support and protect the NHS. However, on this day, the interpretation of the regulations was not correct and we understand the impact this has had on him.'
8kun has become an image board for conspiracy theorists and the far right

Ron Watkins is believed to be behind QAnon and is site administrator for 8kun

A prominent US conspiracy theorist rumoured to be behind the QAnon movement has been spotted in Australia with evidence he might be staying Down Under.

Ron Watkins is the site administrator of 8kun, formerly known as 8Chan, an internet image board that's become a base for conspiracy theories, the far right, white supremacy and Nazism.

The American, under the anonymous account name 'Q', played a major role in spreading the QAnon conspiracy theory that claims the world is controlled by Satan-worshipping cannibalistic child molesters on the websites 4chan, 8chan and 8kun.

Watkins also promoted misinformation about Covid-19 and the conspiracy theory that Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the 2020 US presidential election due to electoral fraud.

QAnon Anonymous podcast host Julian Feeld explained on Twitter that an anonymous source revealed to him that Ron Watkins (pictured) was seen in Sydney and intended to move on July 26th

The QAnon conspiracy theory claims the world is controlled by Satan-worshipping cannibalistic child molesters. Pictured: Images of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol where many QAnon believers stormed the government building

QAnon Anonymous podcast host Julian Feeld shared a post to his Twitter account on Wednesday alleging that Watkins was in Sydney and was intending to live in Australia.

Feeld, who has spent years researching and debunking conspiracy theories, says he got the information from a source that wished to remain anonymous.

'Ron Watkins was in Sydney, Australia with the apparent intention to settle there on July 26th,' he wrote.

The strange coincidence about Watkins being spotted on July 26th was that he was in the middle of running for the GOP nomination for the Congress in Arizona.

Watkins came last out of seven Republican candidates, which was announced a week after he was allegedly in Sydney.

Feeld noted this in his tweet, saying it explained the conspiracy theorist's 'recent absence' in the US.

US conspiracy theorist Ron Watkins (pictured) is believed to be behind the QAnon movement. It is claimed he is now living in Australia after travelling from the US

Watkins has previously made posts on Telegram - an online messaging service with enhanced encryption and privacy settings - complaining about Australia's response to Covid-19, targeting Australia's state lockdowns, vaccine mandates and gun laws.

But Feeld added that Watkins had since deleted 'multiple posts referencing Australia' from Telegram after it was reported that he was in Sydney.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Julian Feeld for comment.

QAnon started out as a fringe group on a 4chan internet forum in 2017 but grew into a global movement that propagated wild conspiracies.

Conspiracy theorist QAnon demonstrators protest during a rally to re-open California and against Stay-At-Home directives on May 1, 2020 in San Diego

Watkins has denied that he posts under the anonymous account 'Q' on internet forums, but has supported QAnon conspiracy theories.

QAnon followers were part of the group of insurgents who stormed the US Capitol Building on January 6 to stop the certification of the 2020 Presidential Election results.

In March, followers of the 'Q' account promoted the theory that a speech by President Joe Biden on the Russian threat to cybersecurity was a call for corporations to solidify a 'new world order' with a 'shadow government'

Other QAnon followers believed that John F. Kennedy Jr, who died in a plane crash in 1999, had faked his death and would come back to lead the country after Donald Trump.

A poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute last year found that 15 percent of all Americans believe the basic tenets of QAnon.

The FBI has labelled the movement a terror threat.

Watkins has denied that he posts under the anonymous account 'Q' on internet forums, but has supported QAnon conspiracy theories. Pictured: QAnon believers are seen at a Trump rally in 2020
On Tuesday, WhatsApp announced three new privacy features, and one of it will allow you to "quietly" leave the group chat without alerting everyone, as per CNET.

According to the Meta-owned company, it will roll out a feature that will let you leave groups silently. With this, administrators will still get a notification however, everyone else in a group chat will not be alerted.

The new feature could be particularly useful for larger group chats. For example, you may want to exit a group chat that themed around an event, or a hyperactive chat that you find tiring already.

Privacy Features Will Roll Out Later This Month

Another new privacy feature that WhatsApp will release soon will allow you to hide your active online status from specific people. When you enable this feature, the app will hide to those you selected the exact moments when you are available in the app.

The current setting of WhatsApp shows to other users when you are online. Anyone who can view your profile can see your status.

Another thing about WhatsApp is it shows to other users when you were last active. With the new privacy feature, you can already hide that information from other people through the app's privacy settings.

The third feature, which is currently in testing, will block others users from taking screenshots of messages that are intended to be viewed once only.

The ability to screenshot a message has been a major issue for apps that encourage ephemeral messaging like Snapchat. Previously, they have combatted the issue through sending a notification when a screenshot of the message was made.

While the new feature that WhatsApp plans to roll out is going to be useful, a user can still capture an ephemeral message using a separate device. Therefore, users should still be careful in sending sensitive material.

The new privacy features will roll out on WhatsApp later this month, as per The Verge.

Read Also: WhatsApp Data Breach 2021 Could Expose 2 Billion Users: Update Now on Android, iOS to Fix Security Risk

WhatsApp Works to Keep Conversations in the Platform Safe and Private

According to WhatsApp, the new privacy features aimed to continue improving the privacy around online conversations within the platform, as per The Independent.

However, as per The Independent, there are some campaigners who have reacted on the end-to-end encryption that is being used on WhatsApp and some other platforms. They claimed that it lets criminals escape detection.

Meanwhile, in the post that announced the WhatsApp update, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said: "We'll keep building new ways to protect your messages and keep them as private and secure as face-to-face conversations."

According to Ami Vora, WhatsApp's head of product, the platform was leaning on creating features that "empower people to have more control and privacy over their messages".

She said that over the years, WhatsApp has been adding interlocking layers of protection to help keep their conversations safe. The new features that they are adding this month is another way to keep their commitment to keep messages private.

She reiterated their belief that WhatsApp is the most secure place to conduct a private conversation.

Thus, to inform others about the new features, WhatsApp is starting a global campaign, starting with the UK and India. The campaign will be focused on educating people how the platform is protecting their private conversations.

Related Article: WhatsApp Might Let Users Leave Group Chats 'Silently' in a Future Update
An intruder who broke into a monkey enclosure to fish coins out of a moat may have contracted a deadly form of herpes.

The female intruder leaped the fence on Tuesday night to steal money which visitors throw into the water for good luck at the City Park facility in Launceston, Tasmania.

Authorities are concerned the woman may have contracted a potentially fatal strain of herpes B virus which monkeys can shed in the water.

Japanese macaques, also known as snow monkeys, have long been a popular feature of the zoo.

An intruder who broke into a monkey enclosure to fish coins out of a moat may have contracted a deadly form of herpes

'The virus can be asymptomatically shed by the monkeys through bodily fluids and 'fomites'  that is, any material that has come into contact with the virus, which includes the water in the enclosure,' Launceston mayor Albert Van Zetten said.

'The virus is not considered a risk to the monkeys, and exhibits symptoms similar to that of cold sores in humans.

'However, it is potentially fatal to humans, with more than 30 known deaths recorded worldwide, with only one confirmed case of human-to-human transmission.'

'The majority of macaques around the world carry the virus and there is signage at the enclosure stating that the monkeys are infected.'

Common symptoms of the virus include: blistering, pain, numbness near the infection point, flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue), respiratory distress, encephalitis and neurological dysfunction.

The intruder who was captured on CCTV has been urged to seek medical attention immediately.

The female intruder leaped the fence on Tuesday night to stole money which visitors throw into the water for good luck at the City Park facility in Launceston, Tasmania

The snow monkeys were a gift to Launceston from their sister Japanese city Ikeda in 1980

Mr Van Zetten said Tasmania Police and the Tasmanian Department of Health 'have been advised of the break-in'.

'We ask that anyone with information regarding the break-in contact Tasmania Police immediately,' he said.

The 20 macaques were given to Launceston in 1980 by Japanese sister city Ikeda and they were sent 20 wallabies in return.

Council had considered putting the monkeys down in 2000 when 11 of them were infected with herpes B but the community backlash put a stop to that idea.

It was decided the risk to humans was low and so the much-beloved monkeys were left to get on with their business.
Motorists have been making 50-mile journeys to fill up their vehicles at Britain's cheapest petrol station for just 1.58 per litre of petrol and 1.68 for diesel.

Dale Head Community Garage in Hawes, North Yorkshire, keeps its prices low as it runs as a non-for-profit community enterprise, as well as getting a 5p per litre government rebate because of its isolated location.

The petrol price of 1.58 is compared to the national average of 1.80, and its 1.68 diesel sits below the UK's average of 1.90.

Motorists said they didn't mind queuing up if it meant they saved so much on filling up the tank.

Motorists have been making 50-mile journeys to fill up their vehicles at Dale Head Community Garage in Hawes, North Yorkshire, pictured, where it currently costs just 1.58 per litre of petrol and 1.68 for diesel

Drivers were hit by a record hike in unleaded prices in June as the average cost of a litre rose by 16.6p to 191.4p.

The surge in prices, which is the highest monthly increase in records dating back to 2000, added more than 9 to the cost of filling a typical 55-litre family petrol car.

Average diesel prices rose by 15.6p per litre, ending last month at 199.1p.

Harry Wallace, 72, from Manchester, told The Sun: 'I thought there was a mistake on the sign when I drove past. I just wish I lived a bit closer.'

Abbie Rhodes, who is general manager at the garage run by Upper Dales Community Partnership, said: 'It's been a bit chaotic.

The petrol price of 1.58 is compared to the national average of 1.80, and its 1.68 diesel sits below the UK's average of 1.90

'Everyone has become so used to paying ridiculous prices that there's been a real rush to come here, often from miles around.

'The more we sell the cheaper we can sell it for.'

Another motorist, Andrew Jackson, 34, also told the newspaper: 'I've only come ten miles but word has spread right across the area.

'It's the talk of the Dales.'

The UK still has a higher average petrol price of 186p a litre than all European Union members except Finland (190p) and Denmark (186p), with drivers in France paying around 23p a litre less than those in the UK.

Fuel prices were already rising before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, but the impact of the war has exacerbated the situation.

A reduction in the use of Russian oil has increased demand from other producers, resulting in higher prices.
French police officers shot and killed a man who brandished a knife at the Charles de Gaulle airport outside Paris on Wednesday, police and airport sources said.

Officers encountered the man, who was reportedly homeless, near the busy airport's 2F terminal early this morning while on patrol.

According to French radio station RTL, the knifeman showed 'signs of aggression', refused to obey police orders, and allegedly ran towards police.

A police officer opened fire on the knifeman, who was treated by emergency services, RTL said. He was rushed from the scene, but succumbed to his injuries.

'This morning officers neutralised a threatening individual in possession of a knife at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport,' the Paris police department said on Twitter.

Officials are not treating it as a terrorist incident, according to reports.

Police officers shot and killed a man who brandished a knife at the Charles de Gaulle airport (pictured, file photo) outside Paris on Wednesday, police and airport sources said. Officers were called to the scene near the airport's 2F terminal early this morning

An airport source said the incident occurred at the busy Terminal 2F at around 8:20 am (0620 GMT), when 'a homeless man started bothering security agents and border police were called in to remove him'.

Initially the man left while yelling curses but he soon returned and brought out a knife, when one of the officers fired his weapon.

An AFP new agency photographer who witnessed the scene said he saw a large person 'brandished something that looked like a knife at the police'. 'He was ordered to stop but kept advancing toward them, and an officer fired a single shot,' he said.

The man was quickly put on a stretcher and evacuated, the photographer said.

However, it was later confirmed that he succumbed to his injuries.

Paris-based newspaper Le Parisien reported that border agents came across the homeless man while patrolling the airport in the early hours of the morning.

Citing sources, the publication said the man tried to punch one of the officials, before fetching a knife and again trying to strike one of the officers.

The police officer responded by firing his weapon, striking the man in the abdomen.

Le Parisien said the man, believed to be in his 40s, had been seen in the area 'for a long time'. Lately, he had reportedly been showing increasing signs of aggression.

Security forces in France have been on high alert for terrorist attacks since a wave of jihadist killings that have killed more than 250 people since 2015, often by so-called 'lone wolves' who often target police.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow...

A police officer opened fire on the knifeman, who was treated by emergency services, French RTL radio said. He was rushed from the scene, but succumbed to his injuries. Pictured: An armed officer is seen at Charles-de-Gaulle airport (file photo)

The deadliest single terrorist attack ever in the country came in November 2015 when 130 innocent people were killed in Paris.

Suicide bombers pledging allegiance to ISIS targeted the Stade de France, cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan music venue, where 90 died.

Earlier in the year, two Paris-born gunmen linked to Al-Qaeda broke into the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, leaving 17 people dead inside and three outside.

In July 2016, 86 people were called and more than 400 injured when a 19-tonne truck was deliberately driven into crowds on the seafront promenade at Nice, which is just 20 miles from Cannes.

The terrorist turned out to be a Tunisian immigrant who was shot dead by police.

During the same month, two Isis terrorists murdered an 86-year-old Catholic priest during a church service in Normandy.

And in October 2020, three people were stabbed to death by a Tunisian immigrant in the Notre Dame basilica in Nice.

There have also been frequent knife attacks on the forces of law and order, leading to the deaths of serving police.
Horrifying footage shows the moment a shopkeeper was held at gunpoint by a masked thug.

The armed robber is on the run after taking off with $2000 from the Foodworks supermarket in Claymore, near Campbelltown in western Sydney, on Tuesday.

The gunman, in a balaclava and dressed in all black first picked up a can of Red Bull and an ice cream before pulling out the firearm.

He casually moved towards the counter and threatened the worker.

The terrified woman handed over $2000 to the thug after he demanded she empty the tills.

'He showed me the gun and said to put the money in the bag,' the shop attendant told 9News.

'I was scared, I just wanted him out of the store as soon as possible and away from me.'

The woman handed over $2000 to the thug at gunpoint after he demanded she empty the tills

The gunman, in a balaclava and dressed in all black first picked up a can of Red Bull and an ice cream before pulling out the firearm

The armed robber is on the run after taking off with $2000 from the Foodworks supermarket in Claymore, near Campbelltown in western Sydney

She called the police after the man left and officers rushed to the scene.

The man is still on the loose, though police officers discovered fingerprints on a freezer at the store.

The brave shopkeeper returned to the work just a day later, earning her boss's praise.
Drivers are using loophole to avoid demerit points by using foreign licence

New South Wales will close a loophole that has allowed drivers to use foreign licences on Australia's roads while escaping fines and demerit point penalties.

Holders of temporary working or student visas have been able to use their overseas licences indefinitely but from November they will have to swap to a local permit if they have lived in the state for more than three months.

New rules will also mean motorists from 'unrecognised' countries such as China, India and Nepal will soon need to sit a test if they want to get behind the wheel.

Those with driving qualifications from 'recognised' countries such as the UK or Germany will be able to transfer to a NSW licence automatically.

New South Wales will close a loophole that has allowed drivers to use foreign licences on Australia's roads while escaping fines and demerit point penalties

From November NSW residents who have lived in the state for more than three months will be required to change their foreign driving licences into a local one

The change will be welcomed by the Heffernan family who last year launched a petition to get the state to change its laws after a fatal crash involving a student visa holder who was driving on a Nigerian licence.

Father-of-three Trent Heffernan, 42, was killed behind the wheel of his Toyota Corolla on Wakefield Road at Ryhope in the Hunter region of NSW after colliding with another vehicle on November 29, 2020.

Police accused the driver of the second vehicle, Innocent Oliver Idokoh, of drifting onto the wrong side of the road.

Mr Heffernan's sister Peita Heffernan last year started a petition seeking to ensure foreign drivers obtain a NSW licence rather than rely on a permit from their country of origin.

She recently told Daily Mail Australia that foreign drivers, particularly students, needed to understand local driving rules.

'You can't get angry, you just have to find a solution,' she said. 'It can't be that hard.

'My point is they've come here to learn so we should harness that desire and give them another opportunity to learn something else.

Former NRL star Sam Burgess was found to have racked up more than 30 driving offences in NSW while using his UK licence

Trent Heffernan was killed in a collision with a Nigerian student driving on his foreign licence. His family began campaigning for changes to laws which allow visa holders to drive indefinitely without obtaining a local licence. Mr Heffernan is pictured with daughter Matilda

'We're not only letting Australians down, we're letting those people down as well.'

Ms Heffernan stated in her petition that Australian authorities could not track the offences a driver might have occurred on a international licence.

She also asked whether those who don't understand English would be able to comprehend safety signals.

'If a person is of a non English-speaking background how can they be expected to read and understand our road signs?' she wrote.

Professional driving education pioneer Ian Luff applauded to the move to test some foreign licence holders saying that some nations did not meet Australia's standard of driver preparation.

'Training standards from many overseas countries is very very poor,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

'In places like India for example, road carnage is absolutely disastrous, because of the number of people, and the amount of motorcycles, cars, trucks  safety standards are virtually non-existent.'

Potentially 120,000 of the 220,000 eligible visa holders in NSW would have to undergo driver tests, although they would not have to keep the driving log of 120 hours that locals do to get a full licence.

More than 2000 overseas drivers have been ordered off the roads in NSW since 2020 for unacceptable behaviour behind the wheel.

Trent Heffernan's sister Peita Heffernan (left) started a petition seeking to ensure foreign drivers obtain a NSW licence rather than rely on a permit from their country of origin. Ms Heffernan is pictured with her brother

Complicating this is that authorities have difficulty keeping track of demerit points issued to visitors driving on foreign licences, which in some cases have accrued for years without any action being taken.

Former NRL star Sam Burgess managed to register than 30 driving offences in NSW while using his UK licence, despite the fact that as a permanent resident he should have been using a NSW one.

The tally only came to light when he was charged for drug driving, to which he pleaded guilty, after being pulled up in unregistered BMW last year.

In Victoria and the Northern Territory a time limit of six months and three months respectively has been introduced for overseas drivers to convert their permit to a local licence.

Australia is a signatory to the UN Convention on Road Traffic, whereby countries agree to allow international visitors holding valid overseas driver licences to drive on their roads without further testing or assessment.

The same agreement allows Australians to drive overseas on their Australian licences without further assessment.
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A 66-year-old retired bank worker is the last person living on a housing estate which is due to be demolished - but he is refusing to move out despite multiple attempts by the council to buy him out.

Nick Wisniewski has had no neighbours living beside him in the 128 flats on Stanhope Place, which sits in Gowkthrapple's housing estate in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, since the last of around 200 residents moved out in December.

The eight blocks of flats and other homes on Stanhope Place are all scheduled for demolition - but Nick refuses to leave despite the council's attempts to buy him out.

North Lanarkshire Council want to demolish Stanhope Place and redevelop the area - leading officials to offer Mr Wisniewski 35,000 plus two years' rent somewhere else if he moves, he claims.

But the retired TSB bank worker who lives there with his 35-year-old son refuses to leave as he claims the offer would not be enough to buy somewhere else, adding that he is also too old to get a mortgage.

Nick, who bought the home in 2017, told MailOnline that he won't leave his home until he gets a better offer of around 80,000 or if there was a compulsory purchase order put in place.

Retired bank worker Nick Wisniewski, 66, (pictured) has had no neighbours living beside him in the 128 flats on Stanhope Place housing estate in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, since the last of around 200 residents moved out in December

The eight blocks of flats and other homes on Stanhope Place (pictured) are all due to be demolished - but Nick refuses to leave until he gets an offer of at least 80,000 from North Lanarkshire council

The retired TSB bank worker refuses to leave as he claims the offer would not be enough to buy somewhere else, adding that he is also too old to get a mortgage

North Lanarkshire Council want to demolish Stanhope Place and redevelop the area - leading officials to offer Mr Wisniewski 35,000 plus two years' rent somewhere else if he moves, he claims

Nick said: 'The last person left in December, it's like a ghost town now. It's so quiet and strange being the only person living here.

'I'm used to it now, but it can get lonely, there is no one to speak to.

'There are eight blocks each with 16 flats in them - there used to roughly be 200 people here and you would struggle to get a parking space.

'Now I am the only one left.'

Nick bought his flat in 2017 under the Right to Buy scheme which helped council tenants buy their homes at a discounted price.

Council chiefs offered Nick alternative accommodation in a terraced house for two years rent free which he turned down.

He said he is worried he doesn't know where he will end up living - but doesn't want to leave his home.

The Stanhope Place housing estate is believed to be made up of system-built houses and is estimated to have been built in the 1960s or 70s.

They are comprised of factory-made concrete panels and only have a design life of around 60 years, and have been noted as poorly insulated and expensive to maintain.

Nick, pictured, said it would be 'so hard' to leave his home, and says he is worried about where he is going to end up living

Council chiefs offered Nick alternative accommodation in a terraced house for two years rent free which he turned down. Pictured, the empty flats in Stanhope Place

Nick bought his flat in 2017 under the Right to Buy scheme which helped council tenants buy their homes at a discounted price

The windows of Stanhope Place housing estate, pictured, are boarded up or have been smashed in. Mr Wisniewski has no neighbours and has been the only person living there since December

The 66-year-old thinks the council are 'leaving it unkept to annoy me or in the hope I get fed up and leave' and has denied multiple attempts to buy him out. Pictured, boarded up doors on the estate

It is not clear if this is one of the contributing reasons for the demolition of the estate.

The Gowkthrapple area has had its 'fair share of troubles', North Lanarkshire Council has said, citing poor quality environment, vacant and derelict land, anti-social spaces, social isolation and a fast road as contributions to the redevelopment plans.

'Other people in my block were renting so they had to move. My neighbours started moving out about a year ago,' Nick said.

'I spoke to my upstairs neighbour who was about the second to last person to leave and he was upset he had to go.

'They had offered him a house he didnt want but said he knew he wasnt going to get anything better so just took it, even though he didnt want to leave.

The estate pictured in the late 1990s. It has since become a 'ghost town' as all residents but one have moved out due to plans to redevelop the area

'Another neighbour who had lived there for eight years, said he had always paid his rent in advance and didnt want to leave. But he knew he would have too eventually.

'I dont know when the compulsory purchase order would come into play, but I think its a last resort. I think I will still be here at Christmas time.'

Nick, who retired last year, said that people left they dumped old cookers, mattresses and washing machines outside, describing his housing area as a 'mess'.

'The council just left the flats lying empty after people moved out,' he said.

'There is no security and people could get into the empty flats and lots of windows have been broken. Thankfully I haven't had any trouble. The grass is badly overgrown, it's ridiculous.

'I think the council are leaving it unkept to annoy me or in the hope I get fed up and leave. They offered me 35,000 for my flat and two years' rent free somewhere else.

'But I am not prepared to start paying rent again and 35,000 is not enough to buy somewhere new. You're talking 80,000 to 100,000 to get somewhere new.

'I'm worried that I don't know where I am going to end up living.

'I didn't work all my life to have my home taken from me when I am too old to get a mortgage on something else. It would be so hard to leave my home.'

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: 'We fully understand this is a sensitive issue and are working closely with the resident.

'It would not be appropriate to discuss the specific financial details, but we are working in accordance with our policies to ensure the resident receives a fair deal and to support him so that he finds suitable alternative accommodation.'
A mother of two who says she was gang raped by four men has revealed how lost 17st in a year.

Personal trainer and nutritionist Andreina De Sousa, from Twickenham in West London, weighed 27 stone after she said she used eating 'as a form of suicide' following the attack.

But the 36-year-old has now lost 17 stone in just over a year and gone from a UK dress size of 26 to a slim size eight.

Ms De Sousa did not struggle with her weight growing up and it was not until a traumatic event occurred in Southall, West London, in 2014 that she lost control of her eating habits.

Andreina De Sousa has lost 17 stone in just over a year and gone from a UK dress size of 26 to a slim size eight. The pictured on the left is from October 2021 and the one on the right from June 25 2022

'I wasn't always fat, I was curvy and a Zumba instructor as-well-as teaching pilates. I was fit and healthy,' said Ms De Sousa.

'But after the rape I turned to food for emotional support because at that same time I was raped I became homeless and my kids were taken from me.

'I had no time to sit there and reflect on my emotions because everything was happening all at once, and due to blocking things out I became cold, I became a version of me I never want back.

'I turned to food for support, because I could mask it as a form of suicide, the more ate the fatter I got the more I didn't recognise the woman staring back at me in the mirror.

'I was content with that because I always thought I got raped because of the way looked, I thought it was my fault. Fast foods were my Kryptonite, takeaways mostly fried or Chinese, the smell of Indian food still triggers me to this day so I stay clear of it as the rape was done by Punjabi men.'

Ms De Sousa - who says her attackers were never brought to justice - reached a dangerous 27 stone and doctors told her if she continued with this lifestyle she would not be around to watch her two children grow up.

She knew her eating habits were out of control and because she had not been overweight before she felt she needed some assistance to lose the weight.

She decided on a gastric sleeve to help her to control her binge eating.

Ms De Sousa did not struggle with her weight growing up and it was not until a traumatic event occurred in Southall, West London that she lost control of her eating habits (pictured: Ms De Sousa before (right) and after (left) her weight loss. Pictured: November 2021 (left) and April 2022 (right)

Ms De Sousa had to travel to the Czech Republic alone and she had quite severe reactions to the medications they gave her.

She was also separated from her support network of family and friends for 16 days during one of the most trying periods of her life.

Born and raised in Venezuela, Ms De Sousa moved to the UK in 1996 with her mother, father and four siblings.

She now has two children of her own, including a daughter, Jessica, who was born in Venezuela in 2007. When Ms De Sousa told him she was pregnant he left her.

She also has a son, Alex, born in the UK in 2010 with a different man. Alex sees his dad regularly but Ms De Souza and Alex's father are no longer together.

'All of it was settled in court and even though he put me through hell I would never stop him from raising his son,' said Ms De Sousa.

'The issues were between me and him, not me, him and our son. He plays a huge part in Alex's life and I'm happy with that, I would never stop him from seeing Alex.'

Ms De Sousa was able to try to move on with her life and eventually was able to start a new relationship six years after she was raped.

'Fast forward a few years I got into a serious relationship, and he was the man that helped break free from the darkness I lived in,' she said.

'We aren't together anymore because through the years we were together he cheated, and this made me lose so much confidence in myself.

'But I got over it. I fought for myself, my health and my kids every single day - I focused on me.

On July 13, 2021 Ms De Souza got gastric sleeve surgery at the Ivy Clinic in Brno Czech Republic

'Now I do not let trauma and fear control my every move, I strive from my past. I see success from my trauma experience. I am a better person today.

'This is all mostly thanks to my sister Linda she has been my rock, my teacher, my inspiration, my emotional support through every step in my life it's almost hard to believe she's my little sister because I look up to her every single day she inspires me to be a better version of myself.

On July 13, 2021 Ms De Souza got gastric sleeve surgery at the Ivy Clinic in Brno Czech Republic. The procedure including flights and accommodation cost her 7,000.

'On the day of the surgery, I let fear take over me. I thought the worst case scenarios that I was never going to wake up or that I'll enter into a coma and never see my kids or family again or that my heart would stop.. The fact that I was in a foreign country by myself made it even worse.

'We were still mid-pandemic so I had to leave for 16 days as quarantine was ten-days.

'When I had all my pre-op checks, I knew things were getting real and slowly that version of me that got raped started to crawl back into my head I started to think no I can't do this.

'But with every force in my being I pushed those thoughts out and replaced them with my kids.

'I wanted to live longer for them. I wanted to be able to do so many activities with them that I could never do as a bigger person. I could take walks with them and play with them.

'Once I had the operation and came around the pain was out of this world. I had the worst reaction to omeprazole and DVT injections and the only thing that played in my head was why did I do this? I'm going to fail at it like I have everything else.

'This weightless journey has not only been just for my body but it has been for my mind too, the clarity I have gotten the mental peace and stability is a breath of fresh air.

'I learned that I am a go-getter, I am a badass that when I set my mind and time into something, it can be done.'

Asked for her advice for other women looking to lose weight, Ms De Sousa said: 'Focus on yourself one small achievement at a time.

'The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on the old but on building the new you.

'Have the discipline to do what you know should be done even when you don't feel like doing it.

'Most importantly it's not about perfection its about effort and when you bring that effort every single day that's where transformation happens.'

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.
Mark McGowan was ambushed during a press conference about electric vehicles by a university student who demanded to know why abortions aren't free in Western Australia.

The Labor Premier was at the University of Western Australia in Perth announcing 98 new charging stations for the state's 'electric highway' project on Wednesday when the female student walked up to him.

'I'm a student here at UWA and I just wanted to know if you were planning to make abortion free in WA,' the woman said, stopping a metre away from Mr McGowan.

The 54-year-old's security team weren't taking any chances after multiple people threatened him harm in the last 12 months over his Covid vaccine mandate stance.

It was so serious that in October bodyguards whisked him out of a friend's wedding and back to his house in Rockingham after security staff identified a 'breach'.

The woman walked right up to Mr McGowan at the press conference (pictured)

As the student approached, one large man stepped between the Premier and the student placing his hand on her arms.

The woman appeared to argue with the bodyguard and a female member of Mr McGowan's team about why they were telling her to step back.

'I just, I don't understand why Mr McGowan can't just answer my question,' she said.

'I'm just a student at UWA and I want to know if abortion will be made free?'

The woman was then ushered back across the lawn as another burly security staffer stepped in and away from the press conference.

The Premier did not respond directly to the student, remaining silent during the encounter, but did address her question later in the press conference.

He said he understood abortions were covered under the Medicare system.

This is somewhat correct, according to the government's Healthdirect website, with the procedure bulk billed or partially Medicare funded except when done at a private hospital or clinic.

The Premier said his government is 'reviewing the law in relation to abortion reform as to whether or not further reforms need to be put in place to make it nationally consistent with other states'.

'You may not know but I was in the Parliament (in the 1990s) when abortion was made legal in Western Australia. I'm one of the few members still left from that period and I voted in favour of it,' he said.

She asked her question and was quickly ushered away burly security guards (pictured)

Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said in June WA's that abortion laws were being looked at and possibly updated and that 'cost was an issue'.

She said the there were only two private clinics in the state that did the procedure and that was driving up costs and waiting lists.

In WA, women who seek an abortion after 20 weeks must face an 'ethics panel' of six doctors with at least two having to agree the mother or fetus has a condition that justifies the procedure.

Similar rules exist in other states and territories.

Mr McGowan said the review into abortion laws would be completed by December.

'It's obviously come into more focus recently with the Supreme Court decision in America and we're looking at what we need to do to make it more nationally consistent and if there are anomalies that make it difficult for women in certain circumstances,' he said.

In June the US Supreme Court reversed the famous Roe v. Wade ruling from 1973 which made abortion a constitutional right.

The decision resulted in widespread protests as abortion rights in nearly half of the 50 US states were rolled back immediately with more restrictions likely to follow.

WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured with his wife Sarah in September 2021) has had several security threats since 2020

Mr McGowan has had a beefed up security team since last year after threats were made toward him when he mandated that 75 per cent of WA workforce will need to be fully-vaccinated for Covid or risk getting the sack.

A 42-year-old Perth man posted death threats against him which landed him in court, while two young men were charged after leaving a death threat on his voicemail.

In a separate incident a 49-year-old man kicked in the front door to his electorate office in Rockingham - which was also inundated with aggressive calls over the vaccine rules.

In October his house was placed under heavy guard when WA Police officers identified a 'security breach'.
Two US Army soldiers based at Fort Benning, Ga., died and three others were injured in a weather-related incident Tuesday during training on a mountain in the northern part of the state, Army officials said.

An Army spokesperson told WAGA-TV that the deceased soldiers, whose names have not yet been released, were at Yonah Mountain for a training program at the Maneuver Center of Excellence.

The injured soldiers were treated by Army personnel before being transported to a hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available.

Details about what happened have not been released.

An Army spokesperson told WAGA-TV that the deceased soldiers, whose names have not yet been released, were at Yonah Mountain (file image) for a training program at the Maneuver Center of Excellence

The Army conducts training on Yonah Mountain including the Ranger School's Mountain Phase. Soldiers who train on the mountain typically will report out of Camp Merrill in the northern part of the state.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the area around the mountain by the National Weather Service on Tuesday afternoon that could lead to hail and 60mph winds, WAGA-TV reported.

Yonah Mountain is about 70 miles (110 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta and 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of Fort Benning.

Two US Army soldiers based at Fort Benning, Ga., died and three others were injured in a weather-related incident Tuesday during training on Yonah Mountain in the northern part of the state, Army officials said

This is the second deadly incident involving soldiers stationed in Georgia in the past month.

In late July, Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Clark was killed by a lightning strike at Fort Gordon near Augusta. Nine other soldiers were also injured in the incident.

Clark served four tours of Iraq and Afghanistan during his 22 years on active duty and as a 'valuable member' of the Army Reserve team.

His colleagues say he will be remembered for his 'devotion to his family' and the 'immeasurable love' he had for his fellow soldiers.

Soldiers from the 933rd were visiting Fort Gordon for an annual training exercise for medical units to improve their skills in the field when a bolt of lightning struck the area.
Heart-stopping footage of children dangling from a railway bridge and dancing in front of an oncoming train have been released in a series of safety campaign videos.

British Transport Police have urged parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing near train lines following these worrying incidents in the East Midlands this summer.

In one clip, a group of teens shuffle across a narrow ledge of a bridge just feet away from the 25,000 volt overhead power lines.

One boy can then be seen dangling from the ledge over the tracks and inches away from the live wires.

A group of teens (pictured) squeeze through the spiked fence to climb along the bridge ledge. One boy in a black top is even seen grabbing on to the top of the bridge and leaning back.

Three more boys then squeeze through the gap in the spiked fence to join in.

Another clip from last month shows three children walking across a pedestrian crossing before stopping in the middle of the track.

Two girls hop off the path just inches from the live rails where they dance as a train approaches, sprinting off moments later.

BTP Nottingham Inspector Ellis Turner said: 'Unfortunately we have seen too many times the tragic and life changing consequences of young people ignoring the warnings about trespassing on the railway.

Two young girls (pictured) hop off the pedestrian crossing and begin dancing, inches away from the live tracks.

'This summer holidays it is essential that young people know the dangers of being trackside.

'Education and following a good example from parents and guardians is vital in ensuring the safety of young people, understanding where they are and what they are up to and by discouraging dangerous activities.

'A common misconception is that you must touch the cable to be electrocuted but physical contact with the cable doesnt need to happen, 25,000 volts of electricity can jump from the overhead lines.'

BTP, Network Rail and EMR are running a hard-hitting safety campaign called You Vs Train to tackle the problem during the summer holidays.

Alan Colclough, East Midlands Operations Risk Advisor at Network Rail said: 'The reckless behaviour weve seen in recent months is deeply concerning.

British Transport Police have urged parents to warn their children of the dangers of playing near rail lines in a bid to prevent more young people from risking their lives

'The railway is not a playground and you never know when the next train is approaching.

'The railway is also full of hidden hazards, and on the parts which have overhead electric power lines the electricity is always on.

'I strongly urge parents to have a conversation about railway safety with their children, especially during the summer holidays.'

Passengers and the public are asked to report any concerns or incidents by texting BTP on 61016 or calling 0800 405040.
Oppo and its sub-brand, OnePlus, can no longer sell their devices in Germany in the meantime.

The Chinese smartphone maker is temporarily prohibited from selling any of its smartphones and devices in Germany following its loss in a patent lawsuit filed by Finnish telecom giant Nokia, per The Verge.

The lawsuit may be the first patent lawsuit won against a Chinese company since the European Union (EU) filed a lawsuit against China to protect European companies' telecom tech patents from China's restrictions.

Details On Nokia Telecom's Lawsuit Against Oppo

Nokia Telecom's lawsuit against Oppo stated it found the latter company using its patented technology for processing 4G and 5G signals without paying for a license, according to European patent new site Juve Patent.

As such, Nokia had argued in court that the company's sales should be prohibited until the issue was corrected.

The German court in Munich handling the case ruled that Oppo had indeed failed to pay for a license to Nokia to use their technology. Georg Werner, the presiding judge of Nokia Telecom's case against Oppo, found the latter company had infringed two Nokia Telecom standard-essential patents (SEPs). This ruling allows Nokia Telecom to sue Oppo for infringement of two SEPS: EP 35 57 917 and EP 20 80 193.

EP 193 protects an improved pitch lag estimation in audio signals for audio recording, while EP 917 provides flexible resource allocation with UE "keep awake messages" in discontinuous communications.

Werner's ruling means that Oppo will need to either pay Nokia Telecom for using its patented technology to legally sell phones in Germany or remove the technology from future phones instead of paying, per Android Authority.

Read More: Do the Current EVs in the Market Qualify for the Newly Expanded Tax Credits for Electric Vehicles?

However, Oppo was found unwilling to pay for a license and has opted to pull its products from Germany - an act that may have been pre-emptively enforced.

Spenser Blank, OnePlus' director of communications, and an Oppo spokesperson confirmed that the companies had halted sales of its devices in Germany, adding that they were forced to do what it did due to Nokia Telecom's "unreasonably high fee" for patents.

Currently, Oppo's website doesn't mention any hardware device, including phones and smartwatches. On the other hand, OnePlus' website is still showing the devices it was selling prior to the court's ruling. However, clicking the "Buy Now" button doesn't bring you to the site's online store.

Oppo and OnePlus are "actively working" with the relevant parties to resolve the legal matter to allow them to sell their devices in Germany.

The Fight To Protect Tech Patents

Nokia Telecom's victory over Oppo and OnePlus could be the first successful lawsuit a Europan telecom made against a Chinese company since the EU filed a lawsuit against China.

You may remember that the EU filed a lawsuit against China in Mid-February to protect European telecoms' tech patents from China's restrictions.

Previously, China was able to get away with copyright infringement in the EU through four "anti-suit injuctions" or heavy fines to benefit from cheaper or even free access to European technology.

Meanwhile, companies that do contest China's restrictions find themselves under pressure to settle for licensing fees below market rates.

The EU has notified China several times about the problem to find a solution, but no reply was sent back. This led the EU to call China's actions "inconsistent with the WTO agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights."

Related Article: Oppo Find N Becomes First Foldable Phone To Run Android 13  But There's a Catch
Jeremy Corbyn sparked fury today after backing Nicola Sturgeon's drive for a new Scottish independence vote.

The former Labour leader used an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe to claim that a new vote was ''absolutely the right thing to do'.

And the 73-year-old, currently ostracized from the Labour parliamentary party in a row over anti-Semitism, attacked Boris Johnson for refusing to permit it.

Mr Corbyn, who sits as an independent MP, told an even in the Scottish capital it was 'not right' for politicians at Westminster to tell Scotland what it could do.

Ms Sturgeon, the SNP First minister, wants to hold a new vote in October next year, nine years after Scotland last voted to remain in the UK.

Mr Corbyn said 'If the people of Scotland [and] the Scottish Parliament demand a referendum then that's absolutely the right thing to do....

'I don't think it's right for the Westminster government to say ''no you cannot have a choice''. You have to have a choice.'

He was blasted during his disastrous time in charge of Labour for his failure to stand up for the union. And his latest outburst provoked anger among supporters of Scotland remaining in the UK.

Sharon Dowey, the Scottish Tory culture spokeswoman, said: 'Now we know that if he had been handed the keys to Downing Street he would have rolled over to Nicola Sturgeon's demands for another divisive independence referendum.

The former Labour leader used an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe to claim that a new vote was ''absolutely the right thing to do'.

Ms Sturgeon, the SNP First minister, wants to hold a new vote in October next year, nine years after Scotland last voted to remain in the UK.

'It beggars belief that he has rowed in behind Nicola Sturgeon's plans at a time when Scots are struggling with ever increasing bills and the NHS is in crisis.

'Those Labour MSPs who still support Corbyn's toxic brand of politics need to urgently clarify whether they also support his views on another independence referendum.'

Scottish Labour distanced itself from his remarks, saying that as a 'private citizen' he was entitled to hold views on 'a range of subjects'.

Yesterday the Government has submitted its legal argument against allowing the Scottish Parliament to legislate for another independence referendum.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC referred a prospective referendum Bill to the Supreme Court last month to ascertain if it was within the powers of Holyrood.

Oral arguments are due to be heard in the case in October, but the Advocate General for Scotland Lord Stewart QC submitted the case against the Bill being within the legislative competence of Holyrood on Tuesday.

It is understood the UK Government has asked for the Court's permission to publish the submission.

A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: 'People across Scotland want both their governments to be working together on the issues that matter to them and their families, not talking about another independence referendum.

'We have today submitted our written case to the Supreme Court, in accordance with its timetable.

'On the question of legislative competence, the UK Government's clear view remains that a Bill legislating for a referendum on independence would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.'

In its submission to the court, submitted last month, the Scottish Government leaned heavily on any future referendum not being 'self-executing', meaning it would be purely advisory and only meant as a way to ascertain the views of the Scottish people.

The SNP have also made an attempt to intervene in the case, arguing that - as a public body - it would be 'fair, just and reasonable' for the party to make arguments to the Court.

Mr Corbyn also claimed a 'radical, hopeful alternative' is needed to defeat the Tories at the next general election.

The Islington North MP, who led Labour to humilitaion at the 2019 election, also told the audience at the Edinburgh Fringe the public were supportive of rail workers striking for a pay increase.

During the event at the New Town Theatre, he was asked what he thought of his successor as Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, and his approach to the rail workers' dispute.

Mr Corbyn said he did not want to get into 'personal politics' but added that rail workers had experienced 10 years of frozen pay and many were not well paid.

Mr Corbyn said: 'I've been outside the major stations with the RMT, and the travelling public who cannot travel come up and say: 'I''m with you because you're fighting my battle as well.''

'There's a wholly different atmosphere around. And anyone that thinks you're going to make yourself deeply unpopular because you're supporting people who are merely trying to protect their living standards needs to think again.'
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has accused the European Union of 'imperialistic' behaviour towards smaller member states in a scathing op-ed published yesterday.

In the article shared via Germany's Welt news website, Morawiecki claimed the most powerful EU nations sit behind a guise of democracy and instead rule the European bloc as members of an 'oligarchy'.

'Political practice has shown that the positions of Germany and France count more than all the others... So we are dealing with a formal democracy and a de facto oligarchy in which the strongest hold power,' he declared.

The prime minister, whose nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government has clashed repeatedly with Brussels over rule of law issues, also said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had thrown a spotlight on the EU's shortcomings.

In a similar article published in The Spectator, Morawiecki argued that Russia would have already conquered Ukraine and would be using gas supply to threaten the whole of Europe had other EU member states mirrored the behaviour of Germany.

'If all of Europe followed Germany's voice... the continent's dependence on Russian gas  which today serves Putin as a blackmail tool against Europe  would be almost irreversible,' he said.

'If Europe had sent weapons to Ukraine on the same scale, and at the same pace, as Germany, the war would have ended long ago: with Russia's absolute victory.'

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has accused the European Union of 'imperialistic' behaviour towards smaller member states in a scathing op-ed published yesterday

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen poses with Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki prior to a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 1, 2022

EC chief Ursula von der Leyen is restricting pandemic recovery payments to Poland amid what the commission sees as problematic judicial reforms

Tensions between Poland and the European bloc have escalated in recent weeks after EU lawmakers restricted pandemic recovery payments to Warsaw.

Morawiecki's government was set to receive more than 35 billion euros (30 billion) of Covid-19 recovery grants and loans earlier this summer, but the EU has not yet executed the payment as it believes new Polish judiciary reforms subvert democratic standards.

Poland adopted a law in May that replaced a controversial disciplinary chamber for judges with a new body, and on Tuesday the nation's Supreme Court drew candidates to the new chamber from among its judges.

The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party said the reforms are designed to make the judicial system more efficient and denied meddling with the courts for political gain.

But European Commission (EC) chief Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview at the end of July that the new law did not give judges the right to question judicial appointments without facing disciplinary proceedings, an issue which she said needs to be solved before funds can be accessed.

She also reasoned that the functions of Poland's minister of justice and the prosecutor general should be split.

Currently, Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro also serves as national prosecutor, a dual-role that the EC believe could create a conflict of interest.

The EC's decision angered members of the PiS party, several of whom threatened to hit back at the European bloc, without specifying what actions would be taken.

'If there is an attempt to block the payment... and the European Commission tries to pressure us, then we have no choice but to pull out all the cannons in our arsenal and respond with barrage fire,' Krzysztof Sobolewski, PiS secretary general told Polish public radio.

'If all of Europe followed Germany's voice... the continent's dependence on Russian gas  which today serves Putin as a blackmail tool against Europe  would be almost irreversible,' Morawiecki said (Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline used by Germany to import Russian gas is pictured)

Currently, Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro (pictured here in July) also serves as national prosecutor, a dual-role that the EC believe could create a conflict of interest

Morawiecki meanwhile called on the EU to initiate 'profound reform that puts the common good and equality back at the forefront of the union's principles' in yesterday's article, and argued larger EU members should not be able to exercise their lawmaking clout to 'dominate' smaller states.

'The EU faces increasing deficiencies in respecting the freedom and equality of all member states,' he wrote.

'We hear more and more that it is not unanimity but the majority that should decide the future of the entire community. Moving away from the principle of unanimity in subsequent spheres of EU activity brings us closer to a model in which the stronger and bigger dominate the weaker and smaller.'

The EU has however granted Poland an considerable support package of 144.6 million designed to help the nation bear the brunt of a mass exodus of Ukrainian refugees amid the conflict with Russia.

More than 2 million Ukrainians are thought to have moved indefinitely into Poland since February 24, including more than 1.2 million who have officially registered for protection - more than double any other country in the EU.

A UN investigator on the human rights of migrants, Felipe Gonzalez Morales, last month praised Poland's government for its welcoming of Ukrainian migrants.

'I am impressed by the Government of Poland for providing significant support to a huge number of refugees fleeing Ukraine in such an intense period,' he said.

'Over 2 million refugees currently stay in Poland and most of them are hosted as guests in private homes by Polish people.'
Boris Johnson's hopes of a farewell visit to Poland have been dashed after the country's prime minister told Downing Street he was too busy, it has emerged.

In what was due to be part of a series of valedictory visits and phone calls with world leaders, Mr Johnson was set to meet with Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw.

But Number 10's efforts to organise the trip have now fallen through, with Mr Morawiecki's office reported to pulled out of a meeting provisionally scheduled for this Monday.

They are also said to have told Downing Street that it's unlikely the Polish PM will be able to find the time to meet Mr Johnson before he leaves Downing Street in early September.

Boris Johnson was set to meet with Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw - but the Polish PM has now told Downing Street he is too busy

Previous plans for Mr Johnson to visit Poland fell through due to the PM's attendance at the funeral of David Trimble

British and Polish officials had initially been scheduled to meet on 11th July.

But Mr Morawiecki's office revealed yesterday these had been cancelled at Number 10's request after Mr Johnson announced his resignation as PM after a revolt by Tory MPs.

The talks are now due to be held after either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak is elected as new Tory leader and Mr Johnson's successor.

Plans were also made for Mr Johnson to visit Warsaw on 1st August, but these fell through due to the PM's attendance at the funeral of David Trimble, the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

According to Bloomberg, a provisionally agreed meeting on 8th August also failed to come to fruition.

And the website reported that Mr Morawieckis office told Number 10 that - as well as no longer being able to make 8th August meeting - it was now unlikely the Polish leader would be able to find time to welcome Mr Johnson before he leaves Downing Street.

It was also claimed that Number 10 and the White House have yet to find a time for a final phone call between Mr Johnson and US President Joe Biden.

Yesterday, the PM spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron as he holds his final conversations with world leaders while still in office.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson and Mr Macron discussed efforts to end the Channel migrants crisis, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and China's actions over Taiwan.

Should he have made a visit to Warsaw, the PM would have been expected to again hail British efforts in supporting Ukraine - which, along with Brexit, are set to be his lasting legacy of his time in Number 10.

After a meeting with Mr Morawiecki in Warsaw in March, in the early days of Russia's invasion, Mr Johnson used a press conference in the Polish capital to declare that Vladimir Putin was 'doomed to fail'.

The PM also faced an emotional plea from a Ukrainian activist to help establish a no-fly zone above the skies of her homeland.
Liberal leader Peter Dutton has a reputation as a political hardman but he showed off his softer side as he tucked into a Dagwood dog at a family fair.

The former police officer and defence minister, enjoyed the tomato-sauce covered sausage at Ekka in Brisbane as he visited the Royal Queensland Show on Wednesday.

He was snapped holding three of the famous snacks before wolfing into one and heading off to play carnival games.

Peter Dutton eats a Dagwood dog during a visit to the Royal Queensland Show at Brisbane Showgrounds

Mr Dutton, a former cop and defence minister, enjoyed the sausage at Ekka in Brisbane as he visited the Royal Queensland Show

Mr Dutton is just the latest politician to be pictured eating in front of the cameras.

Ex-PM Malcom Turnbull was famously captured eating a meat pie with a knife and fork while Tony Abbott was seen biting into a raw onion.

Mr Dutton previously revealed he will show a softer, more caring side to his personality after taking the reigns of the Liberals in the wake the party's disastrous election loss in May.

He said that while the public had grown accustomed to seeing him in 'tough portfolios' like defence and home affairs, he hoped to show them he's also a family man.

'I hope now, in moving from such tough portfolios, the Australian public can see the rest of my character, the side my family, friends and colleagues see,' he said recently.

'The side my community sees where they have elected me eight times. I come from the suburbs and I have never changed my values or forgotten where I have come from.'

Ex-PM Malcom Turnbull was famously pictured eating a meat pie with a knife

Bill Shorten and his wife Chloe eat a sausage after casting their votes at Moonee Ponds West Primary school in Melbourne in 2019

Ex-PM Tony Abbott eats a sausage on bread at a community barbeque in August 2010

His wife Kirilly, a successful businesswoman, gave her insight into him, revealing that he has a 'great sense of humour'.

She said he was incredibly compassionate, especially when it came to the protection of women and children.

'He hides a lot of his emotion from the public but he gets most upset at reports of children or women being sexually abused or harmed. It obviously stems from his time as a policeman working in that area, but it's also from being the eldest of five kids growing up in the suburbs,' she said.

The couple have two sons, Harry, 17, and Tom, 16, and Mr Dutton also has a daughter Rebecca, 20, from his first marriage.

Mrs Dutton said he is an 'amazing father and the kids adore him'.
'Terrified' thrill seekers made a lucky escape after a ride at the UK's oldest theme park 'suddenly smashed to the ground'.

Young children and adrenaline junkies were left frantically trying to clamber free as the Shipwrecked ride, at Blackgang Chine theme park on the Isle of Wight, tipped onto its side and collapsed.

Spectators at the amusement park rushed to help those trapped as people stuck on the ride started to hysterically scream.

Two men were taken to hospital with leg and shoulder injuries, but neither were seriously harmed.

Samantha Downham, who was on the ride at the time, said: 'It started going really slowly and then all of a sudden it just tipped to one side.

'We thought it was part of the ride, and then a lady started screaming because I think her arm was in between the side of the ride and the barrier.

'Then, a load of people started coming over and others started trying to climb out and get down.'

The park, near Ventnor, remained closed for the rest of the day on Monday and reopened yesterday morning.

The Shipwrecked ride will remain closed while an investigation is underway.

Video footage shows onlookers running onto the ride to help free those who were stuck.

Onlookers rushed to the scene after the Shipwrecked ride, at Blackgang Chine theme park on the Isle of Wight, suddenly collapsed. Two men were taken to St Mary's hospital in Newport with minor injuries.

Ellie Westlake's two brother-in-laws were hurt on the flying carpet styled attraction.

She said: 'My family, which includes a three-year-old, were on the ride and it began to make an odd sound.

'It then collapsed, which caused them all to go to one side and be squished.'

Blackgang Chine is the UK's oldest theme park. 'Terrified' children and adult were forced to scramble free while witnesses tried to free those who were trapped. The ride will now remain closed until the investigation has concluded.

Miss Westlake, from Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset added: 'My partner ran to grab my nephew and ended up pulling everyone else off the ride.

'After everyone was off, we noticed my brother-in-law, who is 20 hurt his leg and was unable to move it, or feel anything in his left leg.

'My other brother-in-law has done something to his shoulder.'

Blackgang Chine first opened in 1843. A spokesperson said that 'safe performance' of the rides at the park is a priority.

The two men were then taken to St Mary's hospital in Newport.

Mark Duncan, from Aylesbury, whose wife, daughter and grandson had been on the ride 20 minutes prior, also witnessed the panic.

He said: 'The ride was at its peak height when it smashed to the ground on its right side making a really loud noise.

'Everybody on the ride was immediately thrown to their left side and appeared to be really tightly scrunched together.

 Slide me  The Shipwrecked ride operating normally (left) and after the collapse (right). Children were among those on the ride when it suddenly 'smashed to the ground'. The Shipwrecked is a magic-carpet-styled attraction.

'There were lots of terrified screams and one girl was completely hysterical even after her feet were on solid ground.'

The 179-year-old amusement park first opened in 1843 and quickly became a popular attraction for the Victorians.

The park's first attraction was a giant whale skeleton that brought a lot of curiosity to the site.

Blackgang Chine theme park calls itself the 'land of imagination'. It has over 13 different attractions including a magical pet shop and the Isle of Wight's biggest waterslide.

Ten years after opening it received the royal seal of approval after a visit from Queen Victoria.

Descendants of the creator, Alexander Dabell, still own and run the park which has over 13 different attractions including a magical pet shop and the Isle of Wight's biggest waterslide.

The theme park posted a statement to its Facebook page on Monday afternoon after the ride collapsed. It said that the park would remain closed for the rest of day.

A Blackgang Chine spokesperson said: 'Here at Blackgang Chine we experienced an incident with our Shipwrecked ride on Monday.

'Our team have quickly responded to the incident and all guests were quickly and safely evacuated.

'The safe performance of our rides is key to what we do, and we would like to reassure all guests that we have stringent safety control procedures in place that we were able to instantly deploy.

'We can confirm that no serious injuries were sustained, and an NHS Ambulance attended the scene.'

An Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance spokesperson said: 'Two people were taken to hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.'
Canadian punk rock guitarist Gord Lewis has been found dead in his Ontario home after he was allegedly murdered by his 41-year-old son.

Gord, 65, the co-founding member of the punk rock band Teenage Head, was found dead at his apartment in Hamilton, Ontario, by police officers on Sunday.

His son, Jonathon Lewis, 41, has since been arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

Police indicated that Gord had been dead for two or three days before he was found by officers because they were not able to identify him initially because of the 'level of decomposition' to the body, reports CBC Hamilton.

Hamilton Detective Sara Beck said police had attended Gord's apartment after they had been told that a number of emails had been sent to a series of media outlets with information about a dead person.

The emails were sent on Sunday to local news outlet CBC Hamilton by Jonathon Lewis stating that his father was dead, according to the site.

Gord co-founded Teenage Head with his bandmates Frankie Venom, who died in 2008, Steve Mahon and Nick Stipanitz. The band found fame in Canada during the early 1980s.

Gord Lewis, 65, the co-founding member of the punk rock band Teenage Head, was found dead at his apartment in Hamilton, Ontario, by police officers on Sunday

Gord co-founded Teenage Head with his bandmates Frankie Venom, who died in 2008, Steve Mahon and Nick Stipanitz. The band found fame in Canada during the early 1980s. Pictured: Canadian punk band Teenage Head backstage at a club in Toronto, Canada, summer 1977. Steve Mahon (Bass), Gord Lewis (Guitar) Nick Stipanitz (Drums), Frankie Venom (Vocals)

Gord's brother Brian told CBC that the family is 'devastated and conflicted' by his death.

'It's the loss of a beloved brother and a very complicated situation,' he said. Brian described Gord as 'gentle, artistic, musically inspirational, loving and loyal'.

Police said it appeared that Gord and Jonathon had been living together.

'Jonathon was arrested shortly after police arrived at the apartment building, Beck said, adding that he lived at the apartment but it belonged to Gord.

Beck said the incident was 'isolated' and police are not looking for additional suspects, reports the Hamilton Spectator.

Beck said police discovered Lewis' body inside his home and said he had 'injuries consistent with foul play'.

'We are continuing to seek out witnesses and reviewing video in the area,' Beck added.

Beck said police believe they know the victim's identity, but they must carry out an autopsy for a 'positive confirmation' due to the 'level of decomposition'.

Gord's death was confirmed by the band on Monday, who said they were 'heartbroken'.

Gord's death was confirmed by the band on Monday, who said they were 'heartbroken'

Canadian punk rock guitarist Gord Lewis has been found dead in his Ontario home after he was allegedly murdered by his 41-year-old son

'We are heartbroken and still trying to process the loss of our friend, bandmate and brother Gord Lewis,' the band said in a post on Instagram.

'Our hearts are with his family and all that knew him and loved him. Gord was a force and an inspiration to many. You were taken from us far too soon.'

Teenage Head was formed in 1975 and reached fame in Canada with their songs including 'Let's Shake' and 'Some Kinda Fun'.
How do you catch monkeypox?

Until this worldwide outbreak, monkeypox was usually spread by infected rodents  including rats, mice and even squirrels  in west and central Africa.

Humans can catch the illness  which comes from the same family as smallpox  if they're bitten by infected animals, touch their blood, bodily fluids, or scabs, or eat wild game or bush meat.

The orthopoxvirus, which causes monkeypox, can enter the body through broken skin  even if it's not visible, as well as the eyes, nose and mouth.

Despite being mainly spread by wild animals, it was known that monkeypox could be passed on between people. However, health chiefs insist it was very rare until the current outbreak.

Human-to-human spread can occur if someone touches clothing or bedding used by an infected person, or through direct contact with the virus' tell-tale scabs. The virus can also spread through coughs and sneezes.

In the ongoing surge in cases, experts think the virus is passing through skin-to-skin contact during sex  even though this exact mechanism has never been seen until now.

How deadly is it?

Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment.

Yet, the disease kills up to 10 per cent of cases. But this high rate is thought to be in part due to a historic lack of testing meaning that a tenth of known cases have died rather than a tenth of all infections.

However, with milder strains the fatality rate is closer to one in 100  similar to when Covid first hit.

The West African version of the virus, which is mild compared to the Central African strain, is behind the current spread. No deaths have been reported as part of the ongoing outbreak.

How is it tested for?

It can be difficult to diagnose monkeypox as it is often confused with other infections such as chickenpox.

Monkeypox is confirmed by a clinical assessment by a health professional and a test in the UK's specialist lab  the UKHSA's Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory.

The test involves taking samples from skin lesions, such as part of the scab, fluid from the lesions or pieces of dry crusts.

What are the symptoms?

It can take up to three weeks for monkeypox-infected patients to develop any of its tell-tale symptoms.

Early signs of the virus include a fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion  meaning it could, theoretically, be mistaken for other common illnesses.

But its most unusual feature is a rash that often begins on the face, then spreads to other parts of the body, commonly the hands and feet.

The rash changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off.

How long is someone contagious?

An individual is contagious from the point their rash appears until all the scabs have fallen off and there is intact skin underneath.

The scabs may also contain infectious virus material.

The infectious period is thought to last for three weeks but may vary between individuals.

What do I do if I have symptoms?

The UK Health Security Agency advises Britons to contact their sexual health clinic if they have a rash with blisters and have been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed monkeypox case or have been in West or Central Africa in the last three weeks.

Britons are asked to contact clinics ahead of their visit and avoid contact with others until they have been seen by a medic.

Gay and bisexual men have been asked to be especially alert to the symptoms as most of the cases have been detected in men who have sex with men.

What even is monkeypox?

Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research in 1958.

The first human case was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the infection has been reported in a number of central and western African countries since then.

Only a handful of cases have been reported outside of Africa and they were confined to people with travel links to the continent.

The UK, US, Israel and Singapore are the only countries which had detected the virus before May 2022.

Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which kills up to one in ten of those infected but does not spread easily between people. The tropical disease is endemic in parts of Africa and is known for its rare and unusual rashes, bumps and lesions (file photo)

Nurses and doctors are being advised to stay 'alert' to patients who present with a new rash or scabby lesions (like above)

Is it related to chickenpox?

Despite causing a similar rash, chickenpox is not related to monkeypox.

The infection, which usually strikes children, is caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

For comparison, monkeypox  like smallpox  is an orthopoxvirus. Because of this link, smallpox vaccines also provide protection against monkeypox.

Are young people more vulnerable?

Britons aged under 50 may be more susceptible to monkeypox, according to the World Health Organization.

This is because children in the UK were routinely offered the smallpox jab, which protects against monkeypox, until 1971.

The WHO also warns that the fatality rate has been higher among young children.

Does it spread as easily as Covid?

Leading experts insist we won't be seeing Covid-style levels of transmission in the monkeypox outbreak.

A World Health Organization report last year suggested the natural R rate of the virus  the number of people each patient would infect if they lived normally while sick  is two.

This is lower than the original Wuhan variant of Covid and about a third of the R rate of the Indian 'Delta' strain.

But the real rate is likely much lower because 'distinctive symptoms greatly aid in its early detection and containment,' the team said, meaning it's easy to spot cases and isolate them.

Covid is mainly spread through droplets an infected person releases whenever they breathe, speak, cough or sneeze.

How is the UK managing the outbreak?

MailOnline revealed monkeypox patients and their close contacts, including NHS workers, are being offered the Imvanex smallpox vaccine.

The strategy, known as ring vaccination, involves jabbing and monitoring anyone around an infected person to form a buffer of immune people to limit the spread of a disease.

Additionally, close contacts of those with a confirmed monkeypox infection are being told to stay at home for 21 days and avoid contact under-12s, immunosuppressed people and pregnant women.

The Government said unprotected direct contact or high risk environmental contact includes living in the same house as someone with monkeypox, having sexual contact with them or even just changing their bedding 'without appropriate PPE'.

As with Covid, someone who has come within one metre of an infected person is classed as a monkeypox contact.

This lower category of contact, which also includes sitting next to a person with monkeypox on a plane, means a tracer will call the person every day for three weeks and they will be advised to stay off work for 21 days if their job involves children or immuno-suppressed colleagues.

The UK has stopped short of requiring people by law to quarantine if they develop monkeypox, but ministers are considering a public health campaign to alert gay and bisexual men, because of the number of cases in this group.

What if it continues to spread?

Experts told MailOnline they 'could see a role' for a targeted jab rollout to gay men in the UK 'if this isn't brought under control quickly'.

Close contacts of the UK's known cases are already being offered the jab, which was originally designed for smallpox. The two rash-causing viruses are very similar.

A health source told MailOnline 'there would be a number of strategies we'd look at' if cases continued to rise.

Professor Kevin Fenton, London's public health regional director, said if the outbreak in the capital continues to grow then the rollout of vaccines and treatments could be broadened to more groups.

He said there are 'plans in place' to have more antivirals if the outbreak keeps growing.

What other countries have spotted cases?

More than 40 countries  including the US, Spain and Italy  have detected cases of monkeypox.

The most cases have been detected in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Canada and Germany.

There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox, including the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January

Is there a vaccine for it?

The smallpox vaccine, called Imvanex in the UK and Jynneos in the US, can protect against monkeypox because the viruses behind the illnesses are closely related.

Data shows it prevents around 85 per cent of cases, and has been used 'off-label' in the UK since 2018.

The jab, thought to cost 20 per dose, contains a modified vaccinia virus, which is similar to both smallpox and monkeypox, but does not cause disease in people.

Because of its similarity to the pox viruses, antibodies produced against this virus offer cross protection.

Are there any drugs to treat it?

There are a handful of antivirals and therapies for smallpox that appear to work on monkeypox.

This includes the drug tecovirimat, which was approved for monkeypox in the EU in January.

Tecovirimat prevents the virus from leaving an infected cell, hindering the spread of the virus within the body.

An injectable antiviral used to treat AIDS called cidofovir can be used to manage the infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It also works by stopping the growth of the virus.
Seven in 10 UK sponsors of Ukrainian refugees say their ability to provide support has been hindered by the cost-of-living crisis, new figures have suggested.

Some 21 per cent of people who have or are currently hosting Ukrainians in their homes said the rising cost of living has affected their ability to provide support 'quite a lot', the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

A further nine per cent said it affected their ability to help 'very much' while 41 per cent said it had been affected 'a little'.

However, 26 per cent said it had not affected their ability to help at all while three per cent replied 'don't know'.

Pictured: Maxim and wife Olga Hyryk (centre), part of a refugee family of nine who escaped war-torn Ukraine for Britain. The family were evicted by their hosts who lived next door after just one month and without being given a reason

It is the first time the ONS has published data on sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and it cautioned that the figures are experimental.

The Homes for Ukraine sponsorship scheme has allowed Ukrainian nationals and their relatives to come to the UK if they have a sponsor who can provide accommodation for at least six months.

The body surveyed all UK adults registered with the scheme as of July 7 in collaboration with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).

A total of 17,702 people responded, with almost three-quarters (74%) currently hosting, four per cent having previously hosted, 18 per cent with their first guests due to move in in the coming weeks and three per cent planning to host in future.

One-third (33%) of those with current or previous guests reported meeting them through social media while 23 per cent used a matching service.

More than half (56%) of registered sponsors were female and the most common age range was between 50 to 69 years.

The report found that 43 per cent of registered sponsors were working full-time while 21 per cent were retired.

Almost all (99%) of current or previous sponsors said they have regularly provided extra support to their guests, such as food, childcare, taking them to appointments and financial help.

The same proportion said they have incurred extra costs due to hosting.

These include higher water, gas and electricity costs (91%), additional food spending (73%), costs of purchasing bedding and toiletries for their guests (71%) and extra transport costs (66%).

Roughly 10 per cent of the hosts said their guests had contributed financially, with nine per cent saying this was towards food or groceries.

The survey identified variation around how long current sponsors want to continue hosting - six per cent said they want the arrangement to last less than six months, almost a fifth (19%) expected it to last six months, while 23 per cent intended to provide a home for longer than a year.

Of current sponsors who want the arrangement to last six months or less, 23 per cent said they did not plan to continue hosting because of the rising cost of living or because they cannot afford it.

More than half (58%) said they had only intended to provide short-term accommodation.

Of those who planned to provide accommodation for between six and 12 months, 70 per cent said a continued 350 'thank you' payment each month would encourage them to host for longer.

When asked what originally encouraged them to apply for the scheme, most people (94%) said they wanted to help people fleeing a war zone.

A minority (10%) said they were motivated by the monthly 350 thank you payments.

Refugees minister Lord (Richard) Harrington said: 'These latest ONS stats show the vast majority of sponsors say they want to provide support for longer than six months, which is testament to the goodwill the British public has shown the people of Ukraine since tanks first rolled across the border.

'They will, of course, continue to receive monthly 'thank you' payments for up to 12 months to help with the associated costs of opening up your home.

'We initially asked sponsors to host for a minimum of six months and we are working closely with councils to ensure Ukrainians have a safe place to live if they decide to move on.

'We are contacting sponsors directly to outline next steps and the support available to them and the Ukrainians they are sponsoring.'

The Local Government Association (LGA) called for the Government to consider increasing the monthly thank you payments for those who continue hosting for longer than six months.

Councils are concerned about the number of hosts who have indicated they do not want to continue.

LGA chairman James Jamieson said: 'Councils, sponsors and Ukrainian guests all need to know what the options are at the end of the six-month initial placement period so they can start planning now.

'We hope a number of Homes for Ukraine sponsors continue to house Ukrainian refugees with them and we are talking to Government about how we might encourage that; for instance, increasing the thank you payment to a higher amount so the sponsors can be sure it's not costing them.

'There is a significant risk that - even if rematching is available - many Ukrainian families may need to present as homeless because of a lack of sponsors or other options.'
A Scottish family who were set to be deported from Australia today after living there for a decade were told they can stay as they were preparing to leave for the airport.

The one month temporary visa granted to Mark Green, 44, and his family came as new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles - who took the position after Labor won the election in May - stepped in.

Mr Green, an electrical expert, was headhunted for his specialist solar installation skills in 2012 and flown to Australia with his wife Kelly, 45, and daughter Rebecca, 19.

But repeated broken promises by his employers to sponsor their permanent residency meant they were set to be deported from Australia at 10pm (1pm UK time) today.

The Greens (pictured on Australian TV news) were told on Wednesday at 7pm (10am UK time) just three hours before their 10pm (1pm UK time) deportation that they have been granted a temporary reprieve to stay in Australia

The Green family hugging on Australian TV news after sharing the news that they have been granted a temporary visa and will 'fight' to get permanent residency

Relocating to the UK will force them to leave their beloved pet dog Maisie (pictured with Kelly Green, left, and daughter Rebecca Green, right) behind because of prohibitive $35,000 (around 20,160) flights and quarantine fees

The Green family had packed up their lives, sold their furniture and were preparing to head to the airport for a flight out of the country.

But after consulting with a specialist immigration barrister they were advised they have grounds to appeal the deportation and decided to 'stay and fight'.

The family were informed at about 7pm (10am UK time) that the new federal Immigration Minister has personally stepped in to grant them a temporary visa for one month.

The reprieve from Labor's Andrew Giles will allow the Greens to work through their new legal submission in the hopes they can be granted permanent residency.

Labor Immigration Minister Scullin Andrew Giles (left) intervened to give the Green family a one-month temporary visa. 'Forcing a family to leave a country they've called home for 10 years simply to return to their country of origin to re-apply to return to Oz seems pointless and ridiculous,' Mr Pangallo said Adelaide politician Frank Pangallo (right)

How does Australia's immigration system work? Australia has a number of different immigration systems, all of which are tightly controlled. One popular method is to be sponsored by an Australian company. Employers must select a role that needs to be filled from the Government's list of skilled occupations. Once a role is selected, immigration authorities evaluate the nomination and determine if it meets their criteria. Applicants are assessed on a number of different factors, including age, English language ability, training, health, character and what the market salary rates are. In recent years Australia has also relaxed its visas for low-skilled workers - including visas aimed specifically at agriculture and fishing - amid a global demand for people to fill low-skilled labour. Advertisement

South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas also became involved in the case on Wednesday and personally called to let the family know they could stay.

'We've been in contact with our lawyer and he's told us that we should stay and fight, so we've got together and decided that's what we're going to do,' Mr Green said on Australian TV news programme A Current Affair this evening.

'We feel like we've been let down terribly through the process of all this - even by the Australian government and we're just hoping to rectify the situation.

'We've had so many comments and we're just overwhelmed by the amount of people that have supported us through this and we can't thank everyone enough.'

South Australian politician Frank Pangallo from the SA Best party originally brought the family's story to public awareness and was with them on Wednesday night.

He said SA Premier Peter Malinauskas 'has just called me and said the Immigration Minister has granted a visa for another month to allow the family to work through their new submission'.

He joked to the Greens that they can now legitimately stay and fight their deportation and they 'won't be illegal tomorrow'.

The Greens said they were ecstatic to be returning to work tomorrow in Australia, with Mark adding his bosses 'can't wait' to get him back.

The Greens moved to their new home in Adelaide in 2012 with the promise of their permanent residency being sponsored by the company flying him in.

But every time he's been eligible, the employers have folded before the paperwork could be completed - and it's now happened seven times to the devastated family.

They are now being facing deported from their home back to the UK even although they've followed all the rules.

Moving back to the UK has cost the Green family $60,000 - around 34,560.

They would be forced to leave behind beloved pet dog Maisie and 12-year-old pet rabbit Marmaduke because of the prohibitive $35,000 (around 20,160) cost of flights and quarantine fees.

The Greens have already spent more than $150,000 on immigration lawyers and visa and residency applications but were told they had to leave Australia before attempting again.

Mr Green previously told Daily Mail Australia that the family had 'sold it all' to come out to Australia and 'started again'.

'And now we're having to sell it all, to go back to Scotland, to try and apply to come back again, to restart again. For the third time.

'I'm nearly 50. We can't go through this anymore. There's nothing for us back in Scotland now.'

He added: 'This is where I live. This is where my heart is. It'll never change. Even if I go back to Scotland, here is where I will class as home.'

After consulting with a specialist immigration barrister the Greens were advised they have grounds to appeal the deportation and decided to 'stay and fight'. Pictured: Scottish family Mark Green (right), 44, his wife Kelly (middle), 45, and daughter Rebecca (left), 19 were to be deported from Australia at 10pm (1pm UK time)

Electrical expert Mark Green, 44, was headhunted for his specialist solar installation skills in 2012 and flown out to Australia with his wife Kelly, 45, and daughter Rebecca, 19

Mr Green's former employer in Australia advised him that he had submitted the paperwork to renew his visa but, as it turns out, he did not and the company then went into liquidation.

As a result under Australia's strict immigration rules he can no longer stay in the country and was ordered to leave.

The family is asking the Immigration Minister to change their bridging visa E-type to a bridging visa C-type to allow the family to apply again without having to leave the country.

An online petition to keep the Green family in Australia has more than 20,000 signatures.

The Greens will have to find a new home for Maisie (pictured) if they are forced out of Australia

Mark Green (left) and his wife Kelly Green (right) moved 10,000 miles from Scotland to South Australia's coastal capital Adelaide, with their permanent residency supposed to be sponsored by his employer

Mr Green (pictured) is an electrical expert and was headhunted for his specialist solar installation skills in 2012 and flown to Australia from Scotland

Frank Pangallo has slammed both the previous Immigration Minister Alex Hawke of the Liberal party (the country's main centre-right party) and the newly appointed Andrew Giles, saying both had been notified of the family's visa situation and chose to do nothing.

'Forcing a family to leave a country they've called home for 10 years simply to return to their country of origin to re-apply to return to Oz seems pointless and ridiculous,' Mr Pangallo said.

'And this is all happening while governments grapple with changes to the country's skilled migration program due to massive shortages across the country.

'If you want skilled migrants to come into this country, you better give them an undertaking they'll be able to stay here and not be booted out when it suits you.'
An Australian man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was beaten with a steel bar and stabbed multiple times by two armed intruders in Greece.

Charlie Kathopoulis, 43, who is from Darwin in the Northern Territory, was in Rhodes finishing his national service for the Greek military and assisting with the settlement of his late father's estate when he was viciously attacked by the two thugs in late May.

He suffered 'horrific injuries' including 'major head trauma, skull fractures, an explosive fracture to the jaw, a critically damaged windpipe, a broken collarbone and punctured lungs'.

He has been in the ICU ward of Rhodes General Hospital for more than two months as family members desperately raise funds to medivac him back to Australia.

The 43-year-old was beaten over the head with a steel bar and stabbed in the chest and throat multiple times by two men who broke into his residence

Charlie's sister Michelle, 45, said that two intruders, who she referred to as 'beggars', broke into his residence on the night of May 30.

They beat him in the head with the weapon and knifed him multiple times in the throat and chest while he was in his bedroom.

She claimed the intruders were high on drugs and attempting to steal items outside the home when her brother told them to leave.

'There was a blood trail to his bedroom and the bed and pillows are completely sodden in blood. This is where Charlie's phone was,' his sister told News.com.au.

'He called the neighbour to call the police. The ambulance arrived and paramedics applied pressure to the stab wounds to the neck to reduce the amount of blood loss. We were told that this saved his life.'

Mr Kathopoulis was rushed to the emergency emergency department and was 'non-responsive' upon arrival.

He had immediate surgery for his head injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma for 35 days.

Charlie Kathopoulis (pictured second from left with his sisters) has been in hospital for more than two months after he sustained 'horrific injuries' during a brutal attack by two men in Greece

Ms Kathopoulis said doctors 'performed a tracheostomy through a stab wound' to her brother's throat and that the medical staff were still figuring out how damaged his brain, vocal cords and windpipe were.

She added that the two men who beat and stabbed her brother have been arrested and will likely be charged with attempted murder.

Ms Kathopoulis, with her sisters Jacqui, Maria and mother Denise, flew to Rhodes almost immediately after they heard about the attack.

They jetted over in early June and have been by Mr Kathopoulis' side ever since.

Ms Kathopoulis said the recovery process has been 'long' and that since early August her brother has been awake, responsive and able to 'breathe on his own, with oxygen support'.

He is unable to talk because of the tracheostomy and tubes in his windpipe and communicates with his family by moving his eyes or squeezing their hands.

The family are now looking to medivac Charlie home to Australia after they were informed by the Rhodes General Hospital that doctors were unable to do anything further for Mr Kathopoulis and that he'd be moved from ICU to the general ward.

The Kathopoulis family (pictured) almost immediately flew to Greece after hearing the news about Chris (left) and have been by his side in hospital since. They are now raising money to medivac him to Australia, which is estimated to cost between $300,000 to $400,000

Ms Kathopoulis explained that the family have now resorted to getting quotes to medivac her brother back home to Australia after futile attempts to contact 'local and federal members of parliament' and 'ongoing dialogue with the Australian embassy'.

She has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise the estimated $300,000 to $400,000 she has been given to get Mr Kathopoulis to Australia for treatment.

'We believe that by bringing him home to Australia he will be looked after, and we can begin the long process of surgeries and rehabilitation that he so urgently needs to heal,' she wrote.

'We understand how very tough things are for everyone right now, and it is only in this deeply humbled and desperate state we find ourselves, that we ask you with the utmost respect, to give even the smallest amount if you are able.'

The Kathopoulis family have raised more than $70,000 so far.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.
Perhaps one of the most unforgettable event in history is when the atomic bomb "Fat Man" was dropped in Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. The incident did not only led to Japan's surrender but it also ultimately ended the World War II.

But did you know that the plane carrying the bomb was not originally targeting Nagasaki? And Nagasaki was not even included in the list of cities where the atomic bomb would be dropped?

In this article, let us explore then things that you probably didn't know about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.

1. The Code Name for The Bomb Were Taken From the Movie 'The Maltese Falcon'

The design of the bomb that hit Nagasaki was created by Robert Serber who selected the codenames according to the design shapes of the bombs, as per Learnodo-Newtonic website. It was called "Fat Man" because it was round and fat. It was named after Sydney Greenstreet's "Kasper Gutman" character in "The Maltese Falcon."

2. The Bomb Dropped in Nagasaki was a Plutonium Implosion-Type Bomb

The bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki was a plutonium implosion-type atomic bomb. The bomb used the explosive power of dynamite to create pressure on a ball of Plutonium in the weapon's center. This reaction squeezed the atoms closer together to achieve a nuclear fission.

3. Fat Man is a Fission Bomb

Fat Man is an atomic bomb or fission bomb, which set off a chain reaction of nuclear fission. Different elements were created when the atomic nuclei of radioactive materials were split. This releases a large amount of energy further splitting more atoms, thus, producing a destructive explosion.

4. The Fat Man has a Core of Plutonium-239

The Fat Man made use of plutonium-239 core. It was ignited using thousands of pounds of conventional explosives, that set off a chain reaction of nuclear fission.

5. Nagasaki was Not on the Initial Target List

Five targets were listed including Kokura, Hiroshima, Yokohama, Niigata and Kyoto. But Henry L. Stimson, the then Secretary of War, admired Kyoto because previously he had spent his honeymoon there. Thus, he was adamant to remove Kyoto from the list. On July 25, Nagasaki replaced Kyoto on the target list.

Read Also: Google Files Lawsuits Against Sonos Over Patents Violation

6. Nagasaki was Not the Target for the Second Bombing

The second bombing was actually scheduled on August 11, in Kokura. However, due to forecast of bad weather, it was moved by two days ahead. Kokura was obscured due to clouds, and smoke because of a firebombing nearby. Therefore, with the plane running low in fuel, it was then decided to bomb the secondary target, Nagasaki.

7. Tsutomu Yamaguchi Survived Both Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings

Yamaguchi was 3 kilometers away when 'Little Boy' hit Hiroshima. While the explosion ruptured his eardrums and caused him severe burns, he went to Nagasaki the next day. He was again 3 kilometers away when 'Fat Man' hit Nagasaki. He was unhurt this time.

8. Before the atomic attacks, the US Air Force dropped pamphlets in Japan

The pamphlets didn't particularly warn of a possible nuclear attack on either Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Instead, the pamphlets only cautioned about "prompt and utter destruction" and asked civilians to flee according to History Hit.

9. The Airplane that Dropped Fat Man was Named "Bockscar"

The bomb that hit Nagasaki was dropped by a USAAF B-29 airplane named "Bockscar", after its commander, Frederick Bock. The plane took off from Tinian Island, piloted by U.S. Army Air Force Major Charles Sweeney.

10. Fat Man is 40 Percent More Powerful than Little Boy

Fat Man was dropped at Nagasaki on August 9,1945. It detonated at an altitude of 1,650 feet over the city with a yield of 21 kilotons. It is said to be about 40 percent more powerful than Little Boy, according to National WW2 Museum website.

Related Article: High-Tech Weapons of World War III
A family is suing a Brooklyn funeral home for improperly preserving the body of their daughter who was so poorly cared for that a maggot came crawling out of one of her eyes.

Regina Christophe, 42, died of natural causes on June 24.

Her body wasn't collected from the Medical Examiner by undertakers from the McManus Funeral Home until June 28, and her funeral was not held until July 9.

The delay was to allow relatives from Florida to travel to New York City to attend.

Regina Christophe, 42, died of natural causes on June 24. Her body wasn't collected from the Medical Examiner by undertakers from the McManus Funeral Home home until June 28, and her funeral was not held until July 9

By the time Regina came to be buried on July 9, her family says her face had 'melted'. Above, the dirty clothes she was placed in can be shown. DailyMail.com has chosen not to show the woman's face

But by the time the service took place, her body had decomposed so badly that her mother says her face had 'melted' and a maggot crawled out of one of her eyes.

Regina's mother, Chantel Jean, says her daughter looked like a 'monster' by the time she died

The family is now suing McManus Funeral Home, claiming its staff failed to perform the services they were paid for when they were hired.

In an interview with News 12, Regina's mother Chantel said her daughter looked like a 'monster' when it came time to bury her.

'Her face looked like it was caved in. Actually, looks like it was burned as fake skin was like melting off her face, one eye maggot came out of her eye.

'The last image I saw was a monster in the casket.

'An animal deserves a better funeral than what my daughter received,' she added.

She alleges that the first time she tried to see her daughter, the funeral home told her she couldn't because they had not dressed her.

The next time she tried, Jean claims the home told her no because she hadn't been embalmed.

McManus Funeral Home in Brooklyn, New York, said it did 'the best they could' to preserve the woman's corpse

She says she didn't see her daughter until the day of the funeral service.

Graphic photos shared by the family show her stained shirt and poorly maintained face.

The owner of McManus Funeral Home told News 12 that he believed his staff gave the family ample 'warning' of how she would look.

'I thought I gave them fair warning...we did the best we could,' he said.

Family attorney Kurt Robertson said the family deserved better.

'Without question there should be an investigation. I have never see anything like this.'
A furious mother has called for an overhaul to youth justice laws after her 15-year-old daughter was brutally bashed in a planned assault that was filmed and uploaded to social media.

The sickening footage shows the moment the teen is set upon by another high school student at Beenleigh train station in Logan in south-east Queensland.

After being taunted about something said in 'English class', a girl in a school uniform still wearing her backpack rains down savage blows on the victim as onlookers standby and film.

Neither party can be named for legal reasons.

The beaten schoolgirl was taken to taken to Logan Hospital, where she was treated for concussion, swelling and cuts.

A 15-year-old schoolgirl was brutally bashed at a Queensland train station while onlookers videoed the attack

'It was quite confronting and disgusting and you know to be a parent and think your child can go on public transport and has always gone on public transport,' the girl's mother told Nine News.

'It just makes you sick to the guts.'

When the woman gave a statement to police she said officers assured her they would 'throw the book' at the assailant and accomplices.

However, the offender was just given a warning and no charges were laid.

Queensland Police said they investigated the incident and issued a warning, which is in keeping with the 'diversion first' approach of the state's Youth Justice Act.

The mother said this was not sufficient justice and she believed an adult would have been charged.

Following the attack the schoolgirl was taken to hospital where she was treated for concussion, swelling and cuts

The victim's mother has called for a change to juvenile justice laws that saw her daughter's alleged attackers receive only a warning with no charges being laid

'That there would be justice served and it turned out (with) the juvenile system it's just a caution,' she said.

'As a parent it's hard to comprehend that someone could do such an act of violence and that's all they get'

The mother maintained a warning was not enough of a deterrent to stop such acts from happening again.

'The next person might not be so lucky and that's what needs to stop: all these one-punches, all this assaulting people. There's no need for it,' the mum said.

She said the incident would have lasting effects on her family.

'Physical scars heal but emotional ones don't and there's no timeline,' she said.

'This could be with me forever and it's definitely impacted me as a parent.'
Fake speed cameras put up by villagers furious with 80mph drivers have been removed.

Locals in Shurdington, Gloucestershire said the fake cameras had made a noticeable difference to dangerous speeding in their area.

Cars have been recorded travelling at up to 80mph (128kmph) on Shurdington Road - which cuts through the middle of the quiet village and has a 30mph speed limit.

Village volunteers monitoring the speed of cars passing by recorded more than 1,600 cases of excessive speeding in the last year.

Although crudely made, villagers said the 'cameras' made a noticeable difference to people speeding through Shurdington in Gloucestershire

The local parish council did not endorse the use of the fake cameras, adding that '[a camera is] only any good if it has film in it and it is enforced'

The cheeky 'cameras' appeared on Saturday (August 6) - crudely painted black and yellow cardboard boxes.

However, the homemade boxes seemed to have an effect on drivers passing by at speed.

The 'cameras' have since been removed, but the local parish council said it was not clear who had put them up or taken them down.

Fake speed cameras are not illegal in the UK but are discouraged by police.

Individuals erecting fake cameras could find themselves facing a civil lawsuit in severe cases for misusing council property.

Despite this danger, people frustrated with speeding cars are often known to use inventive objects like yellow and black boxes to slow traffic.

A Shurdington Parish Council spokesperson said they do not endorse the action but are 'thrilled' people are reacting to the problem of speeding.

County councillor Robert Vines said speeding was an ongoing issue, and suggested speed cameras could be effective if they were enforced.

Cars have been recorded travelling at up to 80mph (128kmph) on Shurdington Road -well over the 30mph speed limit

He said: 'There's no easy answer to the problem.

'Some people might suggest speed humps or speed cameras.

'[A camera is] only any good if it has film in it and it is enforced,'

A Gloucestershire Constabulary spokesperson said just driving a few miles per hour over the speed limit can be the difference between life and death.

The spokesperson said: 'Speeding is one of the "fatal four" causes of road deaths and injury in the county along with using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt and drink or drug driving.

'Driving within the set limit allows you to stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear providing time to react and avoid a collision with another road user.

'Speed limits are set for a reason and exceeding them is illegal.

'The minimum penalty for speeding is 100 fine and three points added to your licence. Receiving 12 or more points within three years may disqualify you from driving.'

Police say members of the public should contact local police online if they are worried about speeding in their area.
Over 350 sham marriage couples have escaped prosecution and been allowed to stay in the UK.

A total of 365 wedding scammers exploited a post-Brexit scheme that let EU citizens and their other halves the right to remain.

But despite this none of them have been removed in the past two years, with the last prosecution some four years ago.

The last criminal case was in 2018 and saw nine people convicted and four not allowed to stay in the UK.

Details of the new numbers were uncovered by Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by the BBC.

In response to the findings, the Home Office said there were less investigations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The EU Settlement Scheme - which was set up in 2018 - let European Union citizens and their families stay in the UK after the country left the EU.

It was conditional on them being resident by December 2020 and applying for permission to stay.

Justyna Sobieraj recruited brides to take part in sham marriages so immigrants could remain in the UK

Nationals from 60 countries were involved but the most were from Albania with 146 taking part

BBC News said it discovered couples tried to exploit the scheme by entering into a sham marriage.

It saw an EU national extend their residency rights to their non-EU pretend partner.

The FOI requests showed between March 2018 and the end of September 2021, 365 sham marriages happened between an EU and a non-EU national.

Nationals from 60 countries were involved but the most were from Albania with 146 taking part.

The Home Office said it took sham marriages very seriously and were determined to stop them

Dr Ervin Muco, in Albania, told the BBC 'These networks know how to cheat the system and they are making money from people who are prepared to pay.

'In recent years, most Albanian men who have left this country have gone to Italy or Greece - but some of them haven't been able to get citizenship in these countries.

'So some do try to find women from European countries they can marry.

'They can have all the benefits of being a European citizen.

'And because Britain was an EU member, many Albanians have been attracted to the UK.'

The Home Office said it took sham marriages very seriously.

A spokesman said: 'As the public rightly expects, we take abuse of the spouse-and-partner immigration routes very seriously - and to suggest otherwise is wrong.

'We will not hesitate to take enforcement action against individuals found to be in a sham marriage or civil partnership, including cancelling their leave and removing them from the UK.'
Two more buses carrying illegal immigrants arrived in the Big Apple on Wednesday, just one day after Mayor Eric Adams threatened to send New Yorkers to Texas in an effort to unseat its Republican governor.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending buses of undocumented immigrants to New York City last week in protest of President Joe Biden's plan to end a pandemic-era program that allowed border agents to more easily thwart crossings.

He has already bused in thousands of people from Texas, and on Wednesday two more buses pulled into the Port Authority at around 7.45am carrying 95 people each. At least five of the incoming migrants were women, one of whom was pictured carrying two young children.

City officials said Abbott did not provide them with any warning about when the migrants would come, but they were prepared at the scene to offer medical evaluations and other services as they decide what to do with these new arrivals.

And as the new migrants stepped off the bus into the City that Never Sleeps on Wednesday, they were greeted by protesters who claimed the mayor has no plan to deal with the onslaught of new migrants.

Others, though, handed the new migrants $20 bills in an effort to help them get started with their new lives as hundreds roam the streets looking for shelter.

A young girl stepped off one of the buses that arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal waving to the crowd on Wednesday morning

The immigrants who arrived on Wednesday carried brown envelopes in their hand containing their documentation status

One man exited the bus carrying all of his belongings in a clear trash bag

John Torres, who migrated from Columbia as a child, said he drove up from Maryland to greet the new arrivals with $200 in cash to give away 'because it's the right thing to do.

'It's something that somebody would do for me if I'm in poverty, if I'm starting out, someone would do that for me,' Torres told the New York Post, explaining that he empathized with the migrants.

'You know, if I'm coming in a bus, if I'm scared, I don't know where I'm going, I don't know what's going on or nothing, at least you know, if someone gives me something for breakfast, at least I could start out that way and then buy me a shirt, buy me clothes and then, I don't know figure it out from there.'

One of the immigrants, Jairo Gamardo, also told the Post how he started his trek from Venezuela to the United States on July 8, claiming he used to work for the military in Venezuela and was seeking political asylum in the U.S.

He said he crossed into the US via Texas, and spent two days being processed by immigration officials before he was brought to a church, from where he boarded a bus headed directly to the Big Apple  stopping only for bathroom breaks.

Gamardo noted the trip was provided to him and other immigrants for free.

When asked why he wanted to come to New York, he said simply: 'It's a beautiful city.'

New York City police escorted undocumented immigrants who arrived in the Big Apple from Texas on Wednesday

The third bus of undocumented immigrants from Texas arrived on Wednesday

Social workers on the scene tried to help those who arrived on Wednesday

But city officials have said they are not prepared for the onslaught of new migrants to the city.

They claim that Abbott hired a charter bus company to transport the migrants across the country  but the bus company signed a non-disclosure agreement preventing the city from obtaining details of its itineraries.

As a result, city officials have been left scrambling as the migrants flooded New York City shelters, with the City Council holding a special hearing Tuesday night focusing on the growing problem.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has now called for federal intervention, and said in a news conference he has 'called all of my friends in Texas and told them how to cast their vote' in Texas' upcoming gubernatorial election, in which Abbott will face off against Democrat Beto O'Rourke.

'I am deeply contemplating taking a busload of New Yorkers to go to Texas and do some good old fashion door knocking, because for the good of America we have to get him out of office.'

In response, Abbott's campaign spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'It sounds like the Mayor of New York has taken on the additional role of political director for the Beto ORourke campaign.'

While waiting for the migrants to get off the buses on Wednesday, New York City Immigration Commissioner Manuel Castro railed against Abbott's plans to send migrants to New York City and Washington DC.

He accused a 'morally corrupt' Abbott of using the buses as a 'political ploy' to 'foment anti-immigrant sentiment.

'You cannot take the words of Gov. Abbott seriously,' Castro said outside the New York Times building early Wednesday morning, according to FOX News. 'He's demonstrated his moral character with these actions, and they're disgusting.

'We do know that people are arriving with a great amount of needs because of the treatment they've received in the state of Texas,' Castro continued. 'Again, this must be condemned. This must be looked into.

'And our federal government will... take steps to hold them accountable.

'No one is blaming them,' Castro said of the incoming migrants. 'But we are condemning this Gov Abbott's treatment.

'If he wanted to help, he would be busing them to the actual locations that they need to. But he's not, he's transporting people to Washington DC and to New York City without any communication with us, with the intent of forcing as much harm as possible to our cities.'

His remarks echoed those of the New York City Mayor, who called for more federal funding to deal with the influx of new migrants.

The onslaught of new immigrants comes just one day after New York City Mayor Eric Adams threatened to send New Yorkers to Texas in an effort to unseat Gov Greg Abbott

Texas Governor Greg Abbott tore into NYC Mayor Eric Adams on Monday after he said busing migrants to the Big Apple from border communities flooded with illegal immigration is 'horrific'

In his news conference on Tuesday, Adams announced that the city's shelter system has been overwhelmed by 4,000 immigrants who have flooded into the city looking for shelter and work.

The city's daily shelter census is now running over 50,000 people a day, which is about 10 percent higher than normal, NBC 4 New York reports.

But hundreds of other people who arrived in the city over the past few weeks are now wandering the streets after being directed to shelters that do not exist.

According to NBC 4 New York, the immigrants had paperwork containing erroneous or outright bogues addresses and phone numbers for New York City shelters.

In at least one case that is now under federal investigation, an asylum seeker was sent to the Big Apple with paperwork that bore a fake address  which a officer signed off on, using a smiley face with its tongue sticking out.

Federal officials have insisted that the immigrants themselves are providing the bad addresses, but aid groups insist it's federal agents and officers giving the migrants these phony directions.

Still, Adams has said, all of the migrants arriving to the city are being brought to shelters in accordance with the city's right-to-shelter laws, and those who want to go elsewhere are getting help from aid groups.

Staff for the New York City Mayor's Office waited for the buses to arrive early Wednesday morning. They have said they did not receive any communication from Texas officials about when and where the buses would arrive

Miguel Santan, the chief of staff for the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, spoke to reporters outside the Port Authority as people behind him protested what they deemed to be the mayor's lack of a plan to deal with the immigrants

Adams has called Abbott's program 'irresponsible' for using human beings for a 'political ploy.'

He claimed that the migrants did not necessarily want to come to the Big Apple but were 'not allowed to do so.

'They were forced on the bus with the understanding they were going to other locations that they wanted to go to,' he claimed, 'and when they tried to explain they were not allowed to do so.

'It's unimaginable to come to this country and your first visit here and someone trying to throw you out as the Governor of Texas is doing,' he continued.

'I think he's irresponsible. I don't think he's accomplishing anything. There's a reason the Statue of Liberty is there. We all came from somewhere... I don't think he's accomplishing anything except exposing the type of individual that he is.'

Adams' press office said that they could not speak to the mayor's threat to send New Yorkers to Texas to vote against Abbott, but said it is something the mayor is contemplating.

In the meantime, the New York City Council held an emergency meeting to figure out how to deal with the growing problem, at which Adrienne Adams, chair of the Committee on General Welfare, called for more transparency and accountability, ABC News reports.

'While there may be a rise in those seeking asylum in New York City, this does not mean they are to blame for issues that have historically plagued our system,' she said.

Ninety five migrants stepped off a bus in New York City to protesters on Wednesday

Two more buses arrived in the Big Apple on Wednesday after Texas Gov Greg Abbott already sent thousands of migrants to the city

Meanwhile, Abbott has called the New York City mayor a 'hypocrite' for denouncing the influx of migrants to the city.

He had previously invited Adams and Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to the state to see the immigration crisis first hand, but Adams refused.

'Mayor Adams is hypocritically upset about welcoming a few dozen into his sanctuary city,' the governor said Monday.

'What's horrific is the thousands of illegal immigrants overrunning and overwhelming our border communities with populations smaller than a New York City borough.'

He has also vowed to 'keep sending these buses' until leaders in the northeast understand what is happening in Texas 'and most importantly  until the Biden administration does its job to enforce the laws concerning the border.'

Abbott has found Adams to be a useful foil to show Texas voters that he's tough on immigration.

New York has considered itself a sanctuary city for undocumented migrants and does not cooperate with immigration enforcement officers on deportation or detention matters.

Adams, who New Yorkers have criticized for trying to roll back criminal justice reform, has been using the spat with to prove his Democratic bona fides.

O'Rourke, the governor's political rival, won just under a million votes in the Democratic primary in March. Abbott won 1.3 million votes.
A 'flirty' great-grandmother who told her daughter she wanted a 'hunky man' for her 106th had her wish granted when a young man arrived at her care home wearing nothing but a bow tie and apron.

Usually reserved to hen dos, Norah Shaw's gift from her daughter was a naked butler - whose hairless chest left the birthday girl particularly 'impressed'.

Toasting staff at her East Midlands care home, Norah, who has lived through two world wars, 18 US presidents and 20 Prime Ministers, admitted it was the first time she had ever seen a butler in the buff.

Norah was all smiles as she was served by Eddy Betteridge, 32, but was not sure whether Eddy was naked under the apron and had to check by asking him to fetch her snacks.

She said: 'I was very shocked when he turned around, because he had no underwear on. It was quite amusing.'

'I had to keep checking, so I asked him to get some sandwiches.'

Norah Shaw, 106, was all smiles as she was served by butler in the buff Eddy Betteridge, 32

Spontaneous: Norah said she was not expecting the treat despite asking for a 'hunky man' for her birthday

'It was spontaneous, to say the least,' Norah said on Saturday. 'I have had an absolutely wonderful day, it's been marvellous all the way through.'

The feast was a birthday present from her daughter Gill Shaw, 67, a retired parish clerk and solicitor, after she joked to care home staff that she wanted a 'hunky man' on her big day - and Eddy did not disappoint.

The 106-year-old posing with a birthday gift at Tennyson Wharf Care Home in Lincoln

'Eddy was tall, had nice eyes and was very attractive. He had no hair on his chest at all, which impressed me. I had never seen anything like it,' she said.

Eddy, who works for the Butlers in the Buff agency, provided Norah with sandwiches, scones and fizz for her birthday on Saturday August 6. The agency offered their services for free on the day to make Norah's wishes come true

The mum-of-three, who has seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, said: 'It's been a grown-up birthday. It's been a very special birthday. It's not every day you turn 21 - and a little bit.'

The centenarian has received over 200 birthday cards from members of the public across the UK.

Norah, who was born in Manchester and lived independently until she moved to the East Midlands at the age of 105, was joined by family members and fellow residents for the adult rated afternoon tea.

'Quite amusing': Norah chuckles as butler Eddy serves her fizz while wearing nothing but an apron, bowtie and face mask

Norah opening up one of her 200-plus birthday cards from people across the UK on Saturday

The pensioner, who was a full-time mum, has been a resident at Tennyson Wharf Care Home in Lincoln since last year.

Norah was so excited about her birthday that she woke at 5.30am, hours ahead of her fabulous feast.

Reflecting on her long life, she said: 'I can't reveal the secret of how I lived so long or it won't be a secret!'

Born in Manchester on August 6, 1916, Norah's parents owned a launderette and she often told her daughter Gill how she would wrap freshly laundered items in brown paper and string and take them to customers using a horse cart.

She was 'bright, clever and independent' according to Gill, and got her first job aged 15 working for a textile department store.

Gill said: 'She's a walking and talking history book. She has seen and been through everything.

'Cars can drive themselves now and no one had cars when she was born. So much has changed in her life and she has taken it all in her stride.'

Norah met her late husband Harry Shaw, a bookkeeper, at a dance hall in Manchester in 1939, just before the Second World War broke out, and they were married.

They had three children, Kenneth Shaw in 1943, Pamela Ingleby in 1952, and Gill in 1955 but, sadly, he passed away from a melanoma, or skin cancer, in 1994, aged 84.

Norah met her late husband Harry Shaw, a bookkeeper, at a dance hall in Manchester in 1939

Norah never remarried after her husband Harry, pictured in 1984, passed away aged 84 in 1994

Gill added: 'My mum never remarried as she said she didn't want to wash anyone else's socks!

'Growing up, she was very busy looking after us. Once we grew up, she enjoyed bridge and bowls.

'She loved knitting. She just loved being around people. And even today, she's a bit fun and flirty.

'She's a little bit cheeky, she's got a twinkle in her eye and she's always game for a laugh. '

Norah remained fiercely independent, living alone but also following Gill around the UK - moving to Scotland, Hertfordshire, Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and finally to Lincoln - so they could remain close.

Norah and Gill enjoying afternoon tea at another of her birthdays

Fearing they would not be able to share many more birthdays, Gill began to pull out all of the stops after Norah's 85th birthday, when she hired a yellow Rolls Royce and took her on a day out in the Cotswolds.

For Norah's 90th birthday, the inseparable mother and daughter travelled to London for afternoon tea at posh Claridge's.

And for her 98th, they travelled to the Ritz in London in a stretch limo to enjoy tea and biscuits.

Gill said: 'I'm so proud of her. When she was 85, I thought we were not going to have many more birthdays, so I started doing special things for her.

'Here we are 21 years later, still celebrating.

'She's been so supportive of me during my life and I think this is the least I can do for her.

'Our lives are very intertwined and I couldn't live without her.'

Gill is inspired by her mum's resilience each day as, despite her great age she has remained remarkably healthy and even has 'incredible,' skin which she envies.

Norah had 'never been in hospital' until she was 95, when she had surgery at Warwick Hospital after being diagnosed with bowel cancer to remove her tumours - going on to make a full recovery.

Supportive mum: Norah, pictured with two of her children in 1955, has inspired her daughter with her resilience

Norah, pictured with her son Kenneth in 1973, was a full-time mum to her three kids

Even after she caught Covid earlier this year, she only had a 'cough for a day.'

Gill said: 'She is amazing and unique. She only uses soap and water but her skin has remained incredible - even at 106.

'My mum had never been in hospital until she was 95 when she had bowel cancer, and the only reason they said they would operate was because she walked herself to hospital.

'This year she has had Covid and had a cough for a day - that was it.

'All she's on is water tablets, no other medication. She's amazing. She's healthier than me.

'She was the eldest of four and she outlived all her siblings by many, many years.'

Now Norah is living life to the full, thanks to the staff at her care home.

The active centenarian playing ping pong in her residential home last year

The residential home's kitchen put on a spread for Norah's birthday, including cupcakes spelling out 106

Gill said: 'They have on such a wonderful day for her. I can't express enough how grateful I am. She really lights up when she's happy.

'She loved it and was bemused by the sheer amount of cards she received.'

Zoe Sheridon, activities coordinator, Christine Harding, activities assistant, and Sonia Fairhurst, General Manager at the care home, enlisted the help of Butlers in the Buff.

The home's chef put on a delicious spread for her, including cupcakes in the shape of 106 and a chocolate birthday cake for Norah.

They said: 'We want people here to enjoy their lives. We want them to have the best time they can.'
Two people were arrested and three officers injured in a protest that erupted as the Los Angeles City Council approved a ban on homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers.

The 11-3 final vote on Tuesday, which applies to public and private schools, came after the meeting was recessed due to dozens of protesters shouting their opposition while police cleared the council chamber.

The standoff with officers was triggered after one woman began cursing at the council and suddenly stepped past the benches towards the city leaders, causing officers to immediately intervene as demonstrators yelled at them.

While police tried to arrest the unidentified woman, officials said members of the crowd surrounded the cops, with activist Ricci Sergienko directly interfering and allowing the woman to temporarily get away.

During the incident, one sergeant and two Security Service Division officers who were responsible for public safety of City Hall were injured.

The incident comes a week after a similar protest interrupted the initial vote of the bill, which must be signed by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti before it takes effect.

A protests erupted during an LA City Council meeting on Tuesday after a woman stepped over the benches to approach the city leaders voting on a ban against homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers

Officers quickly intervened to stop the woman, who was hurling insults at the city council

The woman was able to temporarily get away after activist, including Ricci Sergienko, surrounded the officers and intervened. Pictured, police arresting Sergienko

The crowd was thrown into a frenzy during the incident, forcing police to clear out the chambers so the city council meeting could resume. Activist Tanesha Hynes (left) cried, 'I just want to help' as she protested the leaders' vote

At the center of the demonstration was the ordinance meant to crackdown on public vagrancy in the city, but opponents claim the law would effectively make it illegal to be homeless

The woman who incited the chaos in City Hall took to the podium and addressed City Council President Nury Martinez in a flurry of insults.

'You're a piece of sh**,' she said. 'You're a piece of sh**, and how dare you say that the people who are here are not un-housed. How f***ing dare you?'

The woman proceeded to try to move a bolted benched separating the crowd from the city council, then hopped over it as she walked toward the leaders before police quickly intervened.

'B***h, you don't know me,' the woman yells. 'I live on the f***ing streets.'

City Councilman Paul Krekorian condemned the protest and called it an attack on democracy, noting that one of the arrests happened near his own desk.

'In yet another attack on constitutional democracy, for the second time in a week, a small mob of extremists today again shut down a public meeting of the City Council,' Krekorian said in a statement.

'In the process, they breached a security barrier, physically threatened the Council, and attacked police officers. One of them was arrested two feet from my desk.

'There can never be any excuse or rationalization for this kind of anarchic lawlessness,' he added. 'The people of our nation cannot tolerate raging extremists entering public buildings and threatening public officials with the intent to shut down the government, no matter what their viewpoints may be.'

City Council President Nury Martinez, who received a slur of insults from the arrested woman after telling the protesters to 'grow up,' likened the incident to the deadly January 6 Capitol riot.

'We cannot legislate in fear,' Martinez said once the voting resumed. 'I certainly won't.'

10:47 AM:



Ricci is arrested. pic.twitter.com/PBALnZ7dJb  Film The Police LA (@FilmThePoliceLA) August 9, 2022

City Council President Nury Martinez likened the incident to the deadly January 6 Capitol riot

The woman who incited the chaos in City Hall tried to move a bolted benched separating the crowd from the city council, then hopped over it as she walked toward the leaders before police quickly intervened and arrested her

As police tried to take the woman away, the crowd yelled at them to let her go and moved to surround the officers in the chaos

Police said Ricci Sergienko, a vocal opponent of the homeless ban, directly interfered in the arrest, leading the officers to take him into custody

There was a heavy police presence at the meeting given the previous protest last week

Protesters shouted for police to release the two detainees as the called out the city council

As the chaos grew, officers worked to clear City Hall so the council could resume its vote

City Councilman Paul Krekorian condemned the protest and called it an attack on democracy

Supporters of the blanket ban said homeless camps pose health and safety threats to school children, especially because of the disruptive presence of people with drug addictions or mental illness.

'This is something to protect kids in our city,' Councilmember Paul Koretz said before voting for the measure. He said 'asking folks in an encampment to move a couple hundred feet' should be be an easy decision if it means children have a safer walk to and from school.

About 750 public school sites are within the city limits, Los Angeles Unified School District officials told the Los Angeles Times, which said nearly 1,000 commercial day-care businesses are registered with the city. The next public school year starts on August 15.

Last week, Martha Alvarez, of the LA Unified School District, told the city council that there have been 120 schools with homeless encampments identified near them over the last year.

Los Angeles is among many cities struggling to deal with a surge in homelessness and large encampments scattered along sidewalks that have sparked public outcry.

Supporters of the blanket ban said homeless camps pose health and safety threats to kids

The LA Unified School District said there have been 120 schools with homeless encampments identified near them over the last year

Pictured: Activist opposing a clean up of the large encampment in Toriumi Plaza in March

Despite the city's clean up efforts, homeless camps persist throughout Los Angeles

Opponents, including homeless advocates, said the measure would further criminalize homelessness and threaten an already vulnerable population

Opponents, including homeless advocates, said the measure would further criminalize homelessness.

Homeless residents are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators, the nonprofit People Assisting The Homeless, or PATH, said in a statement opposing the measure.

'Enforcement of anti-camping ordinances, then, only displaces people and makes it harder for trained outreach staff to establish trust again,' the group said.

Residents of cleared encampments, unless connected to stable permanent housing through a trauma-informed case management process, often return to unsheltered homelessness.'

The ban comes as several hotels are set to end their involvement in the government's Project Roomkey, which paid them to provide hundreds of rooms to unsheltered people.

The debate over the bill comes as crime continues to rise in LA, with many of the high profile incidents involving vagrants attacking law-abiding residents.

Robbery's have skyrocketed in the city, rising from 4,753 cases so far last year to 5,705 in 2022, a 20 percent increase.

Assaults have also gone up by 1.6 percent, and the number of shooting victims rose by nearly 1 percent.

Although homicides and rapes have seen a decrease so far this year, overall violent crime is up 5.7 percent.

Billionaire real estate tycoon Rcik Caruso, left, is running against career politician Bass, right, for LA mayor. He criticized her for being soft on vagrancy and crime

Last week, billionaire LA Mayoral hopeful Rick Caruso slammed his opponent Karen Bass for her 'failing record' on tackling homelessness and safety in the city.

He is running on a platform of cracking down on crime and disorder in the increasingly lawless city, and wants to bring an end to the famously left-wing leaders who he says are to blame for the current state of affairs.

Among them, he says, is Bass - who has served as the Democratic congresswoman for California's 37th District since 2011.

After Biden and Harris endorsed her, Caruso tweeted: 'No endorsement will hide the fact that Karen Bass has a track record of failing to address LA's homelessness, public safety, and corruption.

'These endorsements have absolutely nothing to do with what this campaign is really about.

'After 20 years of representation from Karen Bass, LA needs fresh leadership who can take our city in a positive direction and make it more livable.

'The same old from establishment politicians won't stop this city from sliding into an even more desperate situation,' he said.
Oxford University medical students have been accused of cheating in one of their end of year exams, forcing the entire year to resit it.

All the marks from the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations have been erased after students were alleged to have passed critical information around before the test.

The exam, which sees medical students having to interact with actors as though they are real patients, will have to be resat by the entire group of students entering their sixth and final year.

All the marks from the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations have been erased after students were alleged to have passed critical information around before the test. Stock picture

In the meantime the university will rank students based on marks from all other exams which saw no allegations of cheating.

Chair of Examiners Dr Sanja Thompson said, in a letter seen by student newspaper Cherwell, that it was 'impossible' to work out how many students cheated.

The university will not provide any details about the allegations due to its ongoing investigation into the matter.

Students will need to resit the exam in the autumn although an official date has not yet been set.

The exam, which sees medical students having to interact with actors as though they are real patients, will have to be resat by the entire group of students entering their sixth and final year. Stock picture

A university spokesman said: 'The Year 5/ GE3 Objective Structured Clinical Examination was referred to the Proctors Office following allegations about student conduct and the suspected sharing of information.

'The University of Oxford takes such concerns incredibly seriously. Consequently, the decision has been taken to void the examination, with a new sitting scheduled for the autumn.

'We recognise the uncertainty and anxiety that this will cause for students and are in ongoing contact with those affected to offer pastoral and assessment support and provide forums through which students questions and feedback can be addressed.'
Liz Truss has hauled in China's ambassador to Britain for a dressing down over what she said was Beijing's increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric' towards Taiwan.

Zheng Zeguang has been summoned to he Foreign Office for a chat about the wide-ranging military drills around the island by the People's National Liberation Army last week.

The Communist regime reacted explosively to a visit to Taiwan - which is claimed by China by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In a statement today Ms Truss said the war games and threats endangered regional stability.

'The UK and partners have condemned in the strongest terms China's escalation in the region around Taiwan, as seen through our recent G7 statement,' she said.

'I instructed officials to summon the Chinese ambassador to explain his country's actions.

'We have seen increasingly aggressive behaviour and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, which threaten peace and stability in the region.

'The United Kingdom urges China to resolve any differences by peaceful means, without the threat or use of force or coercion.'

Zheng Zeguang has been summoned to he Foreign Office for a chat about the wide-ranging military drills around the island by the People's National Liberation Army last week.

In a statement today Ms Truss said the war games and threats were a threat to regional stability.

China held six days of military drills around Taiwan that will cross into its territorial waters in what Taipei called a serious breach of international norms

The drills were announced in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting the island, becoming the most-senior US politician to do so since 1997

When pelosi visited Taipei last week, Mr Zheng vowed 'severe consequences' if British politicians did the same.

At a press conference he warned Britain not to 'follow the US's footsteps'.

Responding to remarks about China by Mr Sunak and Ms Truss, he also urged British politicians to 'be realistic' about the fundamentals of bilateral relations.

The Truss leadership campaign has previously highlighted her role as Foreign Secretary in helping 'lead the international response to increased Chinese aggression' and 'this will only continue when she becomes prime minister'.

And today a source said: 'Liz is the candidate who will keep Britain safe, take a tough line with dictators and ensure we play a leading role on the world stage.'
The unborn baby killed in a horror car crash in Los Angeles last week was nearly full-term and was ripped from his mother's uterus when a 'mentally ill' ICU nurse plowed into their vehicle at ferocious speed.

Asherey Ryan was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her second son, Armani Lester, when she was killed along with Armani and her one-year-old son, Alonzo, on August 4.

Armani's father, Reynold Lester, was also killed in the crash, along with two women in a different vehicle who are yet to be named.

ICU nurse Nicole Linton was filmed by surveillance cameras plowing her vehicle at high speed through a red light and into the busy intersection.

It immediately split the other family's vehicle in half. Alonzo was sent flying through the air in his car seat.

His body was found separated from his mother's, the LA County Medical Examiner Office confirms.

Asherey Ryan was eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her second son, Armani Lester, when she was killed along with Armani and her one-year-old son, Alonzo, on August 4

The horror crash last Thursday killed six people including the pregnant woman, her unborn son, her one-year-old son and her boyfriend

ICU nurse Nicole Linton has been charged with six counts of murder

Linton, 37, has been charged with six counts of murder including one for the death of the unborn baby.

His body was found separate from hers, a spokesman for the Medical Examiner's Office told DailyMail.com.

Luis Quintero, Alonzo's father, shared his grief on Monday.

'He was full of joy, very excited.

'I loved when he gripped his hands, when he would kick his legs from excitement... now I'll never see him again.'

He said he wants Linton - who prosecutors say was involved in 13 prior crashes - to be brought to justice.

'I want to see that justice is made. Something for her, payback for what she's done.

'Maybe then I can forgive her. But not now. She took my son away from me. And I will never see him.'

The family is now raising money for funeral services on a GoFundMe page. They have raised more than $163,000 so far.

Linton's attorney said her mental health would have contributed to the crash, and asked for her arraignment to be delayed until October.

She did not have drugs or alcohol in her system, and her motive for running the red light and ploughing through the intersection remains unclear.

Linton on the side of the road after the crash. Her attorney told the court she had 'profound' mental health problem

One-year-old Alonzo was also killed in the crash. His father Luis Quintero is now mourning his loss

Luis Quintero, one-year-old Alonzo's father, said he'll never be able to forgive the nurse

Prosecutors also revealed in court that Linton was involved in 13 prior road accidents, including one in 2020 in which two vehicles were totaled.

DailyMail.com obtained crash records from two incidents in Texas - one in 2013 and one in 2016.

In both cases, another driver rear-ended her vehicle.

The California Highway Patrol declined to provide further details of any of the crashes.

It remains unclear why Linton was able to work in healthcare, let alone in the ICU, with the extensive mental health problems as her attorney described. She held as many as six nursing jobs across five states in the last two years.

Linton is from Houston, Texas, and was in Los Angeles working as a contractor at the Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Hospital. She was working for the nursing contractor group AMN Healthcare, which she joined in October 2020.

The aftermath of the fiery crash in Los Angeles last Thursday

Tributes at the scene of the crash in Windsor Hills, Los Angeles, last week

AMN Healthcare refused to comment on what kind of background checks were performed when she was first given a job with them.

'At this time, we are not able to comment on an active criminal investigation. Any further questions should be forwarded to law enforcement authorities,' a spokesman said.

Until 2009, Linton was working as a sales manager for General Motors, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She began working in healthcare in 2010 as an 'extern' at NYU, despite not completing her nursing degree in 2015.

Asherey, Renald, and little Alonzo were on their way to a doctor's appointment for a pregnancy check-up when Linton smashed into the car they were traveling in. Their car was ripped in two on impact.

'A young family was destroyed in the blink of an eye,' Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said Monday.

'Theres catastrophic damage to the families and friends of those killed and injured.

'Its not only a tremendous loss to their families, but to our entire community, who learned of this incredible tragedy who watched the now viral video of the collision.'

Two other women remain unidentified. No one from Linton's family has yet spoken out.
NASA gets to stay inside the International Space Station (ISS) until 2030.

President Joe Biden has officially signed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) Act into law, along with the NASA Authorization bill that allows NASA to participate in the ISS until 2030, per Space.com.

The NASA Authorization bill is the first signed authorization for the space agency in years, with former President Donald Trump signing the 2017 authorization act for NASA in 2017, per NASA.

CHIPS Act's Impact On NASA

President Biden signed the CHIPS Act into law on August 9, allowing the government to commit $53 billion to boost the country's semiconductor industry and allowing NASA to continue participating in the ISS until 2030.

Specifically, the authorization bill included in the CHIPS Act allows NASA to continue its operations in the ISS through September 2030, granting the space agency a six-year extension.

The CHIPS Act previously passed Congress in late July, an act that NASA administrator Bill Nelson described as a demonstration of continued bipartisan support for NASA's many missions.

The Act's signing also means that Blue Origin, Nanoracks, and Northrop Grumman will have enough time to further develop the commercial space stations that will serve as the ISS' replacement when it is retired by the end of the 2020s.

You may remember that NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have raised concerns about the progress of the commercial space stations.

Both parties are worried that the three commercial space stations developed by the companies NASA commissioned won't be ready in time to replace the ISS.

Read More: WhatsApp Will Roll Out a New Privacy Feature That Lets You Quietly Leave Group Chats

However, NASA and the three companies assured both parties and the public that they were on schedule. They also mentioned that the ASAP and OIG were wrong to compare the space stations' development with more traditional government programs as the commissioned companies are being pushed to be the first to launch their space station.

However, there is a catch to NASA's continued presence in the ISS. Although the US has given the extension NASA needs, the program's other partner agencies, such as the space agencies of Canada, Japan, Europe, and Russia, must agree to the extension as well, per a separate Space.com article.

While the Canadian, European, and Japanese space agencies are likely to approve, Russia's approval may be tricky to get as it already announced its intention to withdraw from the ISS after 2024.

However, there is reason to count on Russian support as the country's space station won't be up and running until 2028 at the earliest, meaning that they are likely to remain in the ISS until then.

Other Benefits of the CHIPS Act's signing

Aside from giving time to the companies, NASA commissioned to create commercial space stations, the signing of the CHIPS Act also means that the government will be supporting NASA's crewed forays to the moon and Mars through the Artemis missions.

Frank Slazer, the president and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, said that the signing of the CHIPS Act shows that Congress and the White House acknowledge the importance of space in the US' competitiveness and support for NASA's goals in space.

He also added that such a level of trust would facilitate the necessary environment for America and its international partners to reach Mars in the late 2030s or early 2040s.

Related Article: NASA's Participation in the International Space Station Has Been Extended by Congress to 2030
Nicola Sturgeon reignited a war of words with Liz Truss today over being branded an 'attention seeker' today - claiming that the only time they have met the Foreign Secretary wanted advice on being featured in Vogue.

The First Minister told an Edinburgh Festival event today that Ms Truss made the remark at Cop26, the environmental summit held in Glasgow last year.

It took place weeks after Ms Sturgeon had appeared in a glamorous photoshoot in the fashion Bible.

Last week Ms Truss adopted an aggressive stance towards the SNP leader's demand for a new Scottish independence referendum .

The Tory leadership favourite last week branded her an 'attention seeker' and said the best thing to do is 'ignore her' - sparking fury with the SNP who said they and the Scottish people were 'insulted'.

Speaking to LBC radio today in the Scottish capital, Ms Sturgeon said she had first thought the comments were a 'spoof'.

She recounted a conversation they had at Cop 26, saying: 'That was the main thing she wanted to talk to me about, she wanted to know how she could get into Vogue - and she calls me an attention-seeker...

'I said to her they came and asked me. I didn't really mean to do this, but I said to her it hadn't actually been my first time in Vogue, it had been my second time.

'It looked a little bit as if she'd swallowed a wasp. I'm sure she'll be in Vogue before too long.'

She also branded Boris Johnson 'a disgrace to the office' of prime minister'.

The First Minister told an Edinburgh Festival event today that Ms Truss made the remark at Cop26, the environmental summit held in Glasgow last year.

The Tory leadership favourite last week branded Sturgeon an 'attention seeker' and said the best thing to do is 'ignore her' - sparking fury with the SNP who said they and the Scottish people were 'insulted'.

Jeremy Corbyn: Sturgeon RIGHT to demand new Scottish independence vote Jeremy Corbyn sparked fury today after backing Nicola Sturgeon's drive for a new Scottish independence vote. The former Labour leader used an appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe to claim that a new vote was ''absolutely the right thing to do'. And the 73-year-old, currently ostracized from the Labour parliamentary party in a row over anti-Semitism, attacked Boris Johnson for refusing to permit it. Mr Corbyn, who sits as an independent MP, told an even in the Scottish capital it was 'not right' for politicians at Westminster to tell Scotland what it could do. Ms Sturgeon, the SNP First minister, wants to hold a new vote in October next year, nine years after Scotland last voted to remain in the UK. Mr Corbyn said 'If the people of Scotland [and] the Scottish Parliament demand a referendum then that's absolutely the right thing to do.... 'I don't think it's right for the Westminster government to say ''no you cannot have a choice''. You have to have a choice.' He was blasted during his disastrous time in charge of Labour for his failure to stand up for the union. And his latest outburst provoked anger among supporters of Scotland remaining in the UK. Sharon Dowey, the Scottish Tory culture spokeswoman, said: 'Now we know that if he had been handed the keys to Downing Street he would have rolled over to Nicola Sturgeon's demands for another divisive independence referendum. Advertisement

Comparing him to his predecessor, she said: 'I think perhaps uncharitably I described my conversations with Theresa May when she was Prime Minister, as being soul destroying.

'I look back somewhat fondly now on that.'

Ms Sturgeon said she and Ms May 'differed massively' in their political beliefs but the former Prime Minister 'took the job seriously'.

In contrast, she said her interactions with Boris Johnson were 'one long bluster'.

She continued: 'You know, he was a third Prime Minister I've dealt with as First Minister.

'It was literally like nothing I've ever dealt with before in terms of any senior politician

'You know, I'm going to be blunt here, he was a disgrace to the office of Prime Minister.'

Ms Truss made the comments at a Conservative hustings in Exeter and was swiftly backed by Jacob Rees-Mogg, who declared that Ms Sturgeon 'waffles on endlessly', is 'very often wrong', and is 'always moaning'.

But Depute First Minister John Swinney said her comments were 'deeply troubling and concerning', adding that people in Scotland, regardless of political opinion, will be 'really concerned, and in many cases, insulted'.

He said: 'Nicola Sturgeon has far more democratic legitimacy than Liz Truss is going to have if she becomes the prime minister, and I think Liz Truss has absolutely no right or foundation to make these remarks.'

Ms Sturgeon, the SNP First minister, wants to hold a new independence vote in October next year, nine years after Scotland last voted to remain in the UK.

Yesterday the Government submitted its legal argument against allowing the Scottish Parliament to legislate for another independence referendum.

Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC referred a prospective referendum Bill to the Supreme Court last month to ascertain if it was within the powers of Holyrood.

Oral arguments are due to be heard in the case in October, but the Advocate General for Scotland Lord Stewart QC submitted the case against the Bill being within the legislative competence of Holyrood on Tuesday.

It is understood the UK Government has asked for the Court's permission to publish the submission.

A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: 'People across Scotland want both their governments to be working together on the issues that matter to them and their families, not talking about another independence referendum.

'We have today submitted our written case to the Supreme Court, in accordance with its timetable.

'On the question of legislative competence, the UK Government's clear view remains that a Bill legislating for a referendum on independence would be outside the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament.'

In its submission to the court, submitted last month, the Scottish Government leaned heavily on any future referendum not being 'self-executing', meaning it would be purely advisory and only meant as a way to ascertain the views of the Scottish people.

The SNP have also made an attempt to intervene in the case, arguing that - as a public body - it would be 'fair, just and reasonable' for the party to make arguments to the Court.
BBC bosses are sidelining older 'baby-boomer' DJs such as Paul O'Grady and Steve Wright in favour of faces like Scott Mills and RuPaul Drag Race's Michelle Visage so they can woo 'Gen Z' and attract younger listeners, experts have claimed.

Furious fans accused the corporation of ageism after O'Grady, 67, announced he was quitting Radio 2 following a shake-up that saw him split his Sunday evening show with comic Rob Beckett.

PR experts have suggested that the reshuffle is all part of an attempt by bosses to effectively rebrand the station by replacing the 'old guard' - which includes Tony Blackburn and Craig Charles - with younger talent such as former Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, 48.

They pointed out that the BBC was giving celebrities who might appeal to the so-called 'Instagram generation', such as Visage, 53, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin, 46, and DJ Spoony, 52, a shot at running popular slots on Friday and Saturday nights.

But they warned that the shake-up could 'alienate' older listeners and push them towards Radio 2's competitors, such as Smooth, Heart and Gold, which are all owned by Global.

BBC insiders previously claimed that the corporation has been specifically targeting women between the ages of 35 and 45 as a key demographic, having previously given them the title 'mood mums'. They claimed Radio 2 was trying to get DJs to play fewer songs from the 1960s and 70s in a bid to attract a younger audience.

PR expert Rochelle White told MailOnline: 'There will be a bit of a backlash to these changes. No one really copes well with change, do they?

'I think this is all about getting rid of the old blood and bringing in the new. It looks like this is an attempt to tap into the Millennials and Gen Z, and get them on board, and they might be trying to do that by giving personalities who are popular on social media better slots.

'There's also Michelle Visage from RuPaul - maybe that's just the BBC swapping out one model for a newer one.

'I also wonder how much of this is about the licence fee and the row that the BBC has had with the Government recently. Plus the BBC's had bad press over impartiality and so on.

'Perhaps they're tying to get young people on the hook to show them why they should stick with the BBC, and then turn around to the Government and say: ''See, we're popular and we provide value for the licence fee. There's no need to change it''. Maybe there's some of that going on too.'

Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism after Paul O'Grady quit the station today. He is the latest in a string of older DJs to step back, including Steve Wright, Graham Norton and Simon Mayo. The 'changing of the guard' brings with it younger talent, including ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul's Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road's Angela Griffin, and DJ Spoony

Paul O'Grady and Steve Wright have both quit their Radio 2 shows in recent weeks

REVEALED: Clive Myrie, Nick Robinson and Huw Edwards got more than 10,000 on top of their salaries for work outside BBC between April and June Four BBC broadcasters got more than 10,000 on top of their salaries for work outside the corporation between April and June, new data shows. On-air talent and senior leaders have had to publicly declare their paid outside work, including public speaking engagements, appearances or writing commitments, since January 2021. Clive Myrie, Nick Robinson, Huw Edwards and Katya Adler were paid undisclosed sums of more than 10,000 in the three months, according to the BBC's external events register. Mastermind host Myrie was paid to be a moderator at an event by SCC on May 19, while Robinson, a presenter of Radio 4's Today programme, received his payment for speaking at an event organised by law firm Mishcon de Reya on May 5. In the BBC's 2021/2022 annual report, Myrie was listed as having a salary of between 255,000-259,999, while Robinson was paid between 270,000-274,999. Europe editor Adler, meanwhile, was paid for a speech for the Futures Industry Association on June 7. And News at Ten presenter Edwards was paid for hosting an event for The British Insurance Brokers' Association on May 11. According to the BBC annual report, Adler earned between 215,000-219,999 in 2021/2022, while Edwards earned between 410,000-414,999. The register classes payments in four categories - below 1,000, 1,000-5,000, 5,000-10,000, and more than 10,000. Thirteen BBC journalists, including Fiona Bruce and Naga Munchetty, were paid between 5,000-10,000 for outside work. Kirsty Wark, Newsnight's longest-serving presenter, undertook two pieces of work that fell into that pay bracket - hosting an event for World Skills UK and for interview work with law firm Akin Gump. Myrie was paid between 5,000-10,000 on two occasions - for serving as a host for PR Week and speaking for the Association of Investment Companies. Other journalists who featured in the bracket included Faisal Islam, Spencer Kelly and Robinson. Staff must seek written approval from a divisional head of department before signing up to any external engagements. Director-general Tim Davie announced the move in October 2020 as part of a series of measures aimed at ensuring the broadcaster's impartiality. Advertisement

In the past three years, BBC Radio has also lost big-hitters Graham Norton, who quit the station just before Christmas in 2020 but whose talk show is broadcast on BBC One, and Simon Mayo.

The shake-up has provoked a backlash, with one furious listener tweeting: 'Steve Wright, Tony Blackburn, Craig Charles and now Paul O'Grady all shafted. What is wrong with the muppets that control Radio 2? Smacks of ageism somewhat'.

Another said: 'What is the management doing to Radio 2? First Simon Mayo, then Graham Norton, Steve Wright, Paul O'Grady. Who next, Ken Bruce? Liza Tarbuck? We're losing the best. I don't want a 90s obsessed Radio 2 full of ex R1 DJs'.

A third added: 'Another DJ quits... I rarely ever listen now, as it's become too woke. Seems that @BBCRadio2 is really falling apart and going down the pan! The BBC is certainly not what it used to be!'.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'It was Paul's decision to leave his Sunday afternoon show on Radio 2. Radio 2 remains committed to its multi-generational appeal that serves a 35+ audience, a target which hasn't changed in decades, and we're thrilled over 14.5 million listeners are tuning in each week to our brilliant range of programmes, hosted by some of the UK's best loved presenters.

'As listeners know, we continue to play a wide variety of the best music from the past seven decades, including from the 60s and 70s.'

It comes amid a wider 'brain drain' after journalists Dan Walker, Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Andrew Marr all ditched the corporation for high-paid jobs at rival broadcasters including LBC and Channel 5, where they are not bound by the BBC's strict impartiality rules.

O'Grady hosted the Sunday evening 5-7pm slot since 2009 before a shake-up saw him regularly swapping with comic Rob Beckett, each for 13 weeks at a time.

His last programme on the station will be on Sunday August 14, when his current cycle ends.

O'Grady said: 'I've loved doing my Sunday afternoon show for the last 14 years and I'm going to miss my listeners as well as the fun I've had with my producer Malcolm Prince, but I feel that now is the right time to go.'

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, added: 'I'd like to thank Paul for so many years of his brilliant Sunday afternoon show.

'I'm sorry to see him go, but I wish Paul the very best of luck for the future and hope to work with him again as the door is always open to him here at Radio 2.'

The star launched his weekly Sunday afternoon show in 2009, and for many years Paul 'The Grinch' O'Grady has hosted his Christmas Day special on the network featuring messages and dedications from listeners all over the world, as well as an eclectic seasonal playlist.

In February, after the schedule change prompted an unhappy response from listeners, the BBC said plans 'evolve over time'.

O'Grady, also known by his drag queen persona Lily Savage, had told his Instagram followers: 'There's a new regime now... which is nothing to do with me as it's a management decision.'

His final show will feature his regular features, including Lost TV Theme, the Thank You Letter Of The Week and an unexpected playlist.

The BBC confirmed Beckett will return for at least another 13 weeks of shows from Sunday August 21.

It comes after Radio 2 fans deplored the BBC's decision to replace popular DJ Steve Wright with Radio 1's Scott Mills as the corporation seeks to 'try something different'.

As he exited Wogan House in July, donning a purple shirt, red striped tie and suit jacket, Wright told reporters it was 'nice of you to come over', adding: 'That's the way it goes... You know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don't.

'Sometimes they want to make changes, give you another offer, and that's okay, I understand that, I really understand that.'

In announcing his departure, Wright said he will have his final show in September and that the BBC has 'always been fair and kind' to him.

He will continue working for the broadcaster, promising 'new projects' in October. He will also still present Love Songs on Sunday mornings.

Fans of the DJ, who has been with the corporation for more than 40 years after joining in 1980 to present a Radio 1 Saturday night show, said they will stop listening to the afternoon slot when he leaves.

One called it a 'diabolical' decision, with another Tweeting: 'Ending his show is a terrible mistake BBC. There goes your audience.'

Another listener said: 'His show is honestly what gets me through my work each day. Once he's gone, the radio will be turned off for good.'

'He should've had his job for life,' another added. Others called it a 'big mistake' and a 'sad and bad move' from the BBC.

Twitter users accused the BBC of ageism, as O'Grady's departure is the latest in a string of changes to the Radio schedule with several older presenters including Steve Wright, Tony Blackburn and Craig Charles all having lost their favoured slots in recent months

However, the decision was also met with praise, with listeners saying that it was time for a change of host.

Also in July, Vanessa Feltz quit her early morning breakfast show after nearly 20 years on air.

Feltz said she had to step down 'to catch up on a much-needed decade's deficit of beauty sleep' and use her 'energy-boosting shut-eye' to 'frolic with her fiance Ben Ofoedu 'who irritatingly remains 10 years younger than me.'

Breaking down on her show as she announced the news to her listeners, the star said she would 'try not to cry'.

She said: 'I have something to tell you, and I know you already know that I love you - oh I knew I was going to cry but I'm going to try not too... It has been an honour to share the early hours with you.'

In June, Tony Blackburn attacked the BBC for its 'strange' decision to move his Radio 2 show.

The 79-year-old DJ appeared to blame the decision on ageism, saying in a post on social media 'there's a lot of it about'.

Blackburn learned that from mid-July his Golden Hour show would be moved from 7pm on Fridays to the same time on Sunday.

Blackburn criticised the 'wacky' decision on Twitter, and fans of the show flocked to support the former Radio 1 DJ. One commented that the BBC was 'making a lot of mistakes' by changing up the scheduling.

The Golden Hour move is part of wider changes to Radio 2 scheduling that sees Craig Charles' Saturday House Party axed.

The channel will host new shows from RuPaul's Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin and DJ Spoony.

An insider said there were 'a lot of unhappy DJs at the moment as a result'.

At the same time as BBC bosses try to remain popular with younger audiences, the corporation has also been beset by a host of big name departures over the past year.

In an unforeseen exit, veteran broadcaster Andrew Marr last winter revealed that he was leaving the BBC after 21 years, including 16 years fronting his own Sunday morning political programme, to join LBC and Classic FM.

He said he was 'keen to get my own voice back' and would now focus on presenting political and cultural radio shows and writing for newspapers.

Marr was swiftly followed by Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, who also joined LBC.

The veteran journalists caused disarray at Broadcasting House after deciding to join Leicester Square-based Global, which is also home to Nick Ferrari, Eddie Mair, Shelagh Fogarty and James O'Brien.

Maitlis, who hosted Newsnight and became a household name after her astonishing interview with Prince Andrew about his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, has had a series of impartiality complaints against her because of her tweets and on-air comments about the pandemic, the Tory Government and Boris Johnson's former chief aide Dominic Cummings.

And in April, BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker revealed he was leaving his 295,000-a-year role after six years to be lead anchor at Channel 5's revamped news team.

His former Breakfast co-star Louise Minchin also left last year as she looked to spent more quality time with her family.
A homeless man has been charged with rape after an attack on an American tourist in the heart of Paris.

The man, who is 23 and originally from North Africa, is said to have approached the woman, 27, in a public toilet opposite Notre Dame Cathedral, and by the Louis-Philippe bridge.

Neither the assailant nor his victim can be identified for legal reasons, but Paris prosecutors said the attack happened in the early hours of last Sunday morning.

The American woman was walking along the bank of the Seine at the end of a Saturday night out with her partner, when she entered the toilet block, said an investigating source.

A 27-year-old tourist was allegedly raped by a homeless man originally from North Africa in the public restrooms in Paris by the Louis-Philippe bridge

The location of the public toilets where the woman was attacked is pictured

It is well lit, and there were plenty of people around, but the womans partner became concerned when she remained inside for a long time.

When he entered the toilets, he heard the woman crying, and then realised she was being attacked in a cubicle.

The victim managed to flee herself, and then her partner and other women in the toilet managed to trap the alleged rapist in a cubicle.

Police then arrived and managed to arrest the man. Following questioning he was charged with rape.

He denied any wrongdoing, saying he had a consensual arrangement with the woman, but was remanded in custody.

The woman was taken to the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital in eastern Paris, where she was treated for injuries.

The attack happened in the early hours of last Sunday morning close to Notre Dame

She has since returned to the USA with her partner, but is keeping in touch with French police and prosecutors.

The area where the attack happened is always packed with tourists, and includes Paris Plage  the urban beach full of holiday attractions.

There are frequent complaints about lawlessness, however, and especially about aggressive youths threatening passers-by.
A former grammar schoolgirl has been jailed for 14 months for attacking police officers during the Bristol 'Kill The Bill' riot.

Rose Lazarus was captured on camera attacking the line of officers outside Bridewell Police Station on March 21 last year, pushing and hitting their shields and forcefully kicking on multiple occasions.

The 21-year-old was also seen throwing missiles at police vehicles, some of which were later torched by rioters.

Lazarus, of Beverley Road, denied a charge of riot but pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Bristol Crown Court, where she appeared for sentence on Monday (August 8).

Rose Lazarus (pictured), of Beverley Road, denied a charge of riot but pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Bristol Crown Court

Ellen McAnaw, prosecuting, told the court that Lazarus was at the front of the protestors for a considerable amount of time which was filmed on camera.

'She pushed other people into police,' she said. 'She swore at police, she joined in anti-police chanting and she contributed to the atmosphere.'

Helen Law, who defended Lazarus, said her client had attended the protest mindful of the Sarah Everard case, in which 33-year-old Sarah was raped and murdered by Metropolitan Police Officer Wayne Couzens.

She told the court her client was struggling with her mental health at the time of the riot.

'She has remorse and disgust at her own behaviour. She was struggling from mental illness, struggling from a deeply traumatic life event,' Miss Law told the court.

'She does recognize the error of her ways and the shame because of it.'

The court heard that Lazarus, who previously attended South Wiltshire Grammar School For Girls, has been undergoing therapy to help her engage with issues and confront them.

The court also heard that Lazarus had stated a degree at Bristol University but that she left the course in February 2021 after her support network dwindled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Miss Law said her client had gone on to study psychology and sociology at the University of the West of England.

The riot left 20 police officers injured - with one officer seriously wounded with a collapsed lung in hospital after being stamped on in the melee

Lazarus, 21, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after she attacked the line of officers over a sustained period of time during the Bristol 'Kill The Bill' riot

'She is less likely to reoffend if she has the opportunity to continue therapy rather than have her future derailed by one evening in which she acted entirely out of character,' Miss Law added.

Sentencing her to 14 months in prison, Judge James Patrick said: 'This was two hours of active offending and encouragement of physical violence towards police.

'Significant violence was going on around you. You had ample opportunity to leave the scene but you didn't.'

Christopher Hind, 38, pleaded guilty to violent disorder at the same incident. His case was adjourned pending a probation report, for sentence of September 8.

Last Friday (August 5) Sidney Barnes, 22, from Sussex, admitted a charge of assaulting an emergency worker and was sentenced to a 12-month community order, 870 hours of unpaid work and 250 costs.

To date, 20 people have been jailed for a combined total of 75 years and 11 months for their role in the riot.

To date, 20 people have been jailed for a combined total of 75 years and 11 months for their role in the riot

Detectives launched appeals to find what they believed to be a 'hardcore of serious criminals' who infiltrated 3,000 legitimate demonstrators last year

The local Bridewell police station was trashed, 12 police vans were set on fire or damaged, windows were smashed with graffiti sprayed across walls and buildings

Images shared online and by police were released to help identify those who had taken part

Last year, police drew up a list of up to 500 people wanted in connection with the incident

Police and other 999 vehicles were damaged during the chaos in Bristol last year

Police are still searching for people who took part in the riot held in March last year

Detective Superintendent James Riccio said: 'Three more people have now ultimately admitted their behaviour on the night of 21 March last year was criminal.

'Their admissions of guilt may well be a result of the compelling evidence investigators have gathered against them, but I also hope it is because they have come to realise their actions went too far.

'We fully respect the fundamental democratic right to peaceful protest but aggression and violence are unacceptable.'

Last year, police drew up a list of up to 500 people wanted in connection with the incident.

Detectives launched appeals to find what they believed to be a 'hardcore of serious criminals' who infiltrated 3,000 legitimate demonstrators protesting the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Among the thousands who massed at the city's College Green were members of known anarchist groups, and those hostile to law enforcement.

The riot left 20 police officers injured - with one officer seriously wounded with a collapsed lung in hospital after being stamped on in the melee.

The local Bridewell police station was also trashed, 12 police vans were set on fire or damaged, windows were smashed with graffiti sprayed across walls and buildings.
A police officer has been sacked after he sent a full-length naked selfie to the victim of a sex assault and told her he wanted to handcuff her to a bed.

As the victim reported the sex assault the officer also confessed he was so aroused by her short skirt he would have sexually assaulted her himself.

Now Sergeant Rob Adams, 39, a divorced father-of-two with 16 years service, can finally be identified after an anonymity order preventing him being named or pictured was lifted.

The officer was hauled before a disciplinary panel on charges of gross misconduct where he was found guilty of 'persistent predatory behaviour' with 'malign intent'.

Sergeant Rob Adams (pictured) has been found guilty of 'persistent predatory behaviour' with 'malign intent' after telling a sexual assault victim he wanted to handcuff her to his bed

But an order preventing the media from naming him was imposed last month by the independent chair of the disciplinary panel, Harry Ireland. The order was opposed by the media who were supported by Sussex Police.

It led to fury from rape and sexual abuse charities who accused the panel of prioritising the reputation of an officer over the safety of women and girls.

Now it can also be revealed that in 2017 Sergeant Adams sent a female police community support officer (PCSO) a full-length naked selfie of himself and conducted an inappropriate relationship with her.

And in 2020 the officer was handed a final written warning after he stuck a photo of a female colleague's face on to a pornographic picture and sent it as a Secret Santa gift.

He has been banned from ever serving as a police officer again after the latest case against him was proven.

The hearing was told the alleged incident happened in March 2014 when the woman - known as Miss A - and her two sisters were enjoying a night out in Hastings, East Sussex.

They were drinking in Yates bar when Miss A was groped by a man who put his hand up her skirt.

The man was evicted from the bar and the victim reported the attack to Sergeant Adams, who was on patrol in the town centre that night. The man was arrested and taken to Hastings police station.

But as the victim sat in his patrol car to give an official police statement Sergeant Adams, who was married with a baby at the time, began making inappropriate comments to her.

Sgt Adams, who has been banned from serving as a police officer again, had his identity revealed after a controversial anonymity order was lifted

Miss A told the hearing: 'He said he was getting aroused when I told him about my encounter with that guy in the bar.

'He asked if I liked him. It was just weird. He was creepy. I was shocked. He was a police officer in uniform.'

Culture of sex at Hasting's police station Detective Constable Damien Cotgreave from Hastings station was sacked after sending hundreds of obscene and graphic text messages to the women while on duty. He bunked off work for two hours to visit one woman at her home and gave her an intimate back massage and sent pornographic selfies of himself to other women taken while he was on duty. In one incident he took a lewd photo of himself in a crown court toilet while he was attending a drugs trial. In December 2020 Sergeant Rob Adams of Hastings Station was handed a final written warning for sticking a photo of a female officer onto a pornographic image of a naked model. In the same month Detective Sergeant Paul Elrick also from Hastings Station received a final written warning for pinging a ruler across the bottom of a female colleague and sending her obscene messages. In 2016 PC Daniel Moss of also of Hastings station was sacked after advertising himself as a male prostitute while off sick from work. The force said he was moonlighting as a male escort on an adult website after reporting off sick with a stress-related illness. He was sacked for gross misconduct and later took his own life. In 2015 Inspector Lee Lyons, of Hasting station, was sacked after he admitted contacting prostitutes for sex, even arranging a location and fee for one woman, 'Natalie', services for after his shift ended. Chief Superintendent Tanya Jones said work to weed out sex pests on the force was taken very seriously. 'When there are officers and staff who behave in a way the force deems to be inappropriate, rest assured that action is taken.' Advertisement

The victim said: 'Then the officer said he wanted to use his handcuffs on me, to take me home and handcuff me to my bed.'

She said she thought she was reporting a sexual assault to someone she could 'trust' and was meant to 'protect' her.

She said: 'I dont even remember how it ended but I think I tried to laugh it off because it was an awkward situation really.'

The victim told the hearing that just hours later she received a naked selfie from the same officer.

She said: 'The following morning I had a picture message on my phone of the sergeant naked. It showed him naked in a full-length mirror.

'I was a bit shocked. My sister said: "You need to report it" but he was a police officer.'

The victim said she didnt report the officer because he was a serving officer and 'a man of power'.

Months later she bumped into the officer again in court when the sex offender went on trial and was convicted for the sexual assault against her.

The hearing was told the victim did not report her dealings with the sergeant because she had deleted evidence from her phone, including the naked selfie and the flirtatious comments.

She also told the hearing she was scared and worried about making a formal complaint against a serving officer.

Miss A only reported the incident after the officers name cropped up press reports about the written warning he received for his behaviour in 2020.

Harry Ireland, chair of the disciplinary panel, said Sergeant Adams was guilty of 'deliberate, persistent predatory behaviour' with 'malign intent'.

He said the panel was left with no choice but to dismiss the officer with immediate effect and ban him from ever serving in a police force again.

Sussex Police has been plagued by series of sex pest scandal and was forced to launch an probe into the behaviour of male officers.

Hastings police station was branded the 'the most sexist station in Britain' after a wave of pervert PCs were hauled before disciplinary hearings.

As well as conducting affairs with each other while on duty and viewing and exchanging pornographic pictures, officers also moonlighted as prostitutes, had sex with prostitutes while on duty and sent pornographic selfies to members of the public.

Some officers have been sacked from the force while others have been handed final written warnings.

Sources say a major crackdown on lad culture at the Hastings station was launched after complaints by several female officers and members of the public.

Whatsapp and Facebook groups used to exchange explicit sexual messages and images have been shut down, rowdy behaviour has been banned and officers have been sent for retraining.

Chief Superintendent Lisa Bell from the Professional Standards Department said: 'Police officers must behave in a manner that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence, whether on or off duty.

'All staff are aware of appropriate professional boundaries and the serious consequences of any abuses of position.

'The victim in this case came forward to report a sexual assault and should have received a professional and compassionate response. Instead, she was met with seriously inappropriate and unprofessional comments.

'The decision to dismiss this officer is fully supported as there can be no place in the service for those that make sexual advances to any member of the public.'

Sergeant Adams was based at Eastbourne at the time of the incident but later transferred to Hastings.
WWE was forced to reveal former CEO Vince McMahon made two additional hush-money payments worth $5 million to women in 2007 and 2009 in a revised SEC filing.

The sum brings the total amount paid by McMahon to allegedly silence women who accused him of sexual misconduct to $19.5 million.

The billionaire boss publicly announced his retirement as CEO on July 22 and was replaced by his daughter, Stephanie, after an 'investigation into alleged misconduct' of McMahon and John Laurinaitis, head of talent relations at WWE.

WWE confirmed the payments 'were or will be paid by Mr. McMahon personally,' who retired from WWE with $3.4 billion in his pocket. It's unclear how his retirement will affect the investigation.

Hush money payments made by Vince McMahon, right, to silence women he allegedly had sexual relations with has now totaled $19.5 million. McMahon retired in July and was replaced by his daughter, Stephanie

In a securities filing on Tuesday, WWE said: 'The Company has evaluated the unrecorded expenses and has determined that such amounts should have been recorded as expenses in each of the periods in which they became probable and estimable.'

The WWE also confirmed it 'has also received, and may receive in the future, regulatory, investigative and enforcement inquiries, subpoenas or demands arising from, related to, or in connection with these matters.'

The investigation followed a story by the Wall Street Journal in June implicating McMahon in several instances of misconduct, including an affair with a paralegal that resulted in him doubling the womans salary from $100,000 to $200,000 when it began.

A friend of the paralegal says the former CEO then 'passed her like a toy' to John Laurinaitis, then head of talent at WWE.

He is alleged to have coerced a female wrestler to give him oral sex before demoting her and declining to renew her contract; she was subsequently paid roughly $7.5 million in 2018 to keep quiet about the incidents

McMahon also allegedly paid a WWE contractor around $1 million after she came to the company with unsolicited nude pictures of McMahon that were sent to her by him.

An unnamed paralegal said McMahon hired her on a salary of $100,000, then doubled that salary after they began having sex. She alleges he then 'passed her like a toy' to John Laurinaitis, the head of talent at WWE

McMahon is married to Trump aide Linda McMahon, who served as the head of the Small Business Administration during Trump's presidency. He commented on the misconduct allegations for the first time Friday in a statement from the WWE board of directors

The investigation resurfaced a decades-old claim that McMahon raped Rita Chatterton, the WWE's first female referee, in his limousine in 1986.

Her allegation was recently corroborated by former wrestler Leonard Inzitari, who says he saw Chatterton after the alleged attack.

He said he kept it a secret for decades in fear of being marginalized by McMahon and his family, who control the industry.

Inzitari, who went by the wrestling alias Mario Mancini, told Intelligencer: 'I remember it like it was yesterday. She was a wreck. She was shaking. She was crying.'

Inzitari said Chatterton told him through sobs how McMahon 'took his penis out,' forced her to perform oral sex on him, then forced himself 'inside' of her.

He sued her and Rivera, alleging they were trying to bring him down and were spurred on by his enemies. The lawsuit was discontinued without either side winning.

McMahon's wife, Linda, with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2019. She now works at America First Institute

In a statement announcing his retirement, McMahon said 'throughout the years, its been a privilege to help WWE bring you joy, inspire you, thrill you, surprise you and always entertain you.'

Stephanie, who had a career as wrestler herself and is married to promotion star Triple H, added: I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company.'

McMahon, 76, is married to former Trump administration official Linda McMahon. The pair have two adult children, Shane and Stephanie.

'I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,' McMahon previously said.

'I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.'

McMahon has yet to respond to any of the accusations against him.
Pictured: An artistic impression of Carl 'Charles' Webb, dubbed The Somerton Man

The 'Somerton man', who was found dead on an Adelaide Beach in 1948, was the youngest of six siblings, had German roots and might've been wearing US clothes from his brother-in-law when he died, according to new research.

It comes after Adelaide University researcher Derek Abbott successfully identified the mystery man as Carl 'Charles' Webb in July - 74 years after his body was discovered.

Strange details in the case sparked wild theories about who he was and how he came to be on Somerton Park Beach.

Bizarrely, he had an unlit cigarette resting on his chest, a coded note in his pocket and a book of Persian poems with him.

He was dressed in a perfectly-pressed double-breasted suit and tie and his shoes were freshly shined.

The fact he was never claimed and the way he was found led many to speculate he was a Cold War-era spy. Others believed he may have died at the hands of a scorned ex lover.

A post-mortem examination ruled he was poisoned, but he was never identified because no family members came forward to claim him.

But Mr Webb was actually a 43-year-old electrical engineer and instrument maker from Footscray in Melbourne.

Now Professor Abbott has uncovered information about the Webb family after looking through records, articles and reaching out to distant relatives.

He managed to gain further material from Mr Webb's oldest brother.

The 'Somerton man' was identified as Carl 'Charles' Webb (pictured), a 43-year-old electrical engineer and instrument maker from Footscray in Melbourne

Carl 'Charles' Webb was born in Melbourne in 1905 and was the youngest of six siblings, according to Professor Abbott, who provided details to The Advertiser.

He had two brothers - Richard Russell Webb and Roy Webb - and three sisters - Freda Grace Webb, Gladys May Webb, Doris Maud Webb.

The family had German roots as their father, Richard August Webb, had moved to Australia from Hamburg, Germany.

He married Eliza Amelia Morris Grace in 1892 and opened a bakery in Springvale, Victoria.

Mr Webb and his two brothers Richard and Roy both worked at their family's bakery.

Professor Abbott also shed some light on why the 'Somerton Man' may have been wearing American clothing at the time of his death.

He revealed that Mr Webb's oldest sister, Freda Grace Webb, was married to Thomas Gerald Keane, who went by Gerald.

The couple's son, John Keane, died in the World War II in 1943, which was the same year Mr Webb's brother Roy died in battle.

John Keane's possessions included items such as a map of Chicago and some American coins, which implies he resided in the US at some point.

'Therefore, the hand-me-downs that (Carl) Charles Webb received from his brother-in-law might likely have included clothing of his nephew, explaining why a number of items in the Somerton Man's possessions appeared to be of US origin,' Professor Webb added.

It also gave a further clue as to why Mr Webb had the word 'Keane' labelled on his tie when his body was found.

Mr Webb had five siblings including two brothers and three sisters (pictured, older sister Doris Maud Webb)

Mr Webb's older brother Roy (pictured) worked with him at the family bakery. Roy died in World War II in 1943

Adelaide University researcher Derek Abbott (pictured) successfully identified the 'Somerton man' weeks ago and has now uncovered more details about the mystery man

Documents revealed Webb suffered unspeakable tragedy in the years leading up to his death in 1948, with four of his close relatives dying in a seven-year stretch.

His father Richard died in 1939, his brother Roy and brother-in-law John Keane died in the war in 1943 and his mother died in 1946.

There was also the breakdown of his marriage to Dorothy Jean, which led to the couple's split in April, 1947.

The man's body (pictured) was found on Somerton Beach on December 1, 1948

'If he lost he would be sullen and rude to me, or anyone else, if he lost at cards, he would become unpleasant to everyone,' Mrs Webb said in documents.

She described him as living a quiet life and being in bed by 7pm each night and that he sometimes 'refused' to speak to her.

Records obtained by The Advertiser show she applied for a divorce on June 5, 1951 on the grounds of 'desertion' - nearly three years after her husband's body was found.

But four months after applying for a divorce, she placed an advertisement addressed to him in the Missing Friends section of The Age newspaper in Melbourne.

It was a formal notice to make him aware of divorce proceedings, and read 'Unless you enter an appearance in the Prothonotary's Office of the Supreme Court at Melbourne on or before the 29th day of October 1951, the case may proceed in your absence.'

She was granted a divorce in April 1952.

Renowned American genealogist Dr Colleen Fitzpatrick, an expert with Identifiers International, who helped identify 'Somerton Man', said Mrs Webb's claims are only half the story.

'In a divorce, you talk to each party, and if they're in that frame of mind they're going to really decimate the other person,' she said.

The victim, known as the 'Somerton Man', was found on Somerton Park Beach in South Australia on December 1948 with a coded message in his jacket (pictured)

Pictured: The burial of the mysterious Somerton Man on June 14, 1949

Dr Fitzpatrick suspected Mr Webb had mental health issues and would 'spiral down'.

When 'Somerton Man' was found his body remained unclaimed and unidentified for 74 years until Professor Abbott used DNA analysis to determine his identity.

Professor Abbott, who has been working alongside Ms Fitzpatrick, used hair from a plaster mask police made in the 1940s to construct a DNA profile.

After building a family tree of around 4,000 people, Abbott and Fitzpatrick had a breakthrough on Saturday - successfully matching the DNA from the hair to samples from Webb's distant relatives.

'By filling out this tree, we managed to find a first cousin three times removed on his mother's side,' Abbott told CNN. 'It just felt like I climbed and I was at the top of Mount Everest.'

Forensic Science SA staff, South Australia Police, major crime detectives and staff from the West Terrace cemetery are seen during the exhumation

Pictured: Adelaide Cemetery Authority pall bearers carry the body of the exhumed Somerton Man on May 19, 2021
A 15-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman have been arrested after a teenager was stabbed to death in front of families in a busy London park.

The 15-year-old victim, who has been named as Deshaun Tuitt, was knifed when a brawl erupted last week in Highbury Fields, Islington  an exclusive suburb in the capital where Boris Johnson used to jog and play frisbee.

The schoolboy, who told police 'I'm dying' as he lay bleeding beside a playground, later died in hospital. A large group of youngsters were seen loitering in the park just hours before the killing.

Metropolitan Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy this morning on suspicion of murder while a woman, 34, was held on suspicion of assisting an offender.

They were taken to north London police stations for questioning.

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, of the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Despite these arrests we are still very keen to hear from anyone who has information or footage relating to this incident.

A 15-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman have been arrested after Deshaun Tuitt, 15, (pictured) was stabbed to death in front of families in a busy London park

'We are working hard to piece together a timeline of events that led to Deshaun's murder and I urge anyone who saw something, or captured footage, to get in touch without delay.'

She added: 'Deshaun's devastated loved ones are asking why this happened.

'If you have information please get in touch and help us to give them the answers they so desperately need.'

Officers were called to the park just before 9pm last Thursday and found the schoolboy with stab wounds next to a bin off Highbury Place.

Celebrities who have been known to have lived in the area include actress Emma Watson. Houses sell for as much as 5.5million  but sit cheek by jowl with some of Britain's most deprived estates.

Chloe Hadjimatheou, 47, who was in the playground with her five-year-old son, told MyLondon: 'I didn't see the stabbing itself, I saw the young people running away and the guy on the ground. I didn't realise what was going on I didn't connect them at first, I thought he was drunk.

Tuitt, was knifed when a brawl erupted last week in Highbury Fields, Islington (pictured)  an exclusive suburb in the capital where Boris Johnson used to jog and play frisbee

'Within five minutes a big police van came down and then another two unmarked cars, they cordoned off the whole thing and still there was no ambulance.

'It took a while to get there and the kid was in a lot of pain and at one point he was shouting 'I'm dying' and the police officer was saying 'you are going to be OK'.

'So I thought he would be OK. I was shocked to find out what happened this morning.'

He was treated at the scene, but died in hospital shortly after arrival. A post-mortem found the cause of death to have been a stab wound, shock and haemorrhage.

Deshuan was the eighth teenager to be murdered in the capital this year.

Ghulam Sadiq, 18, became the ninth when he was fatally stabbed in Leytonstone, east London, last Saturday afternoon.

Last year 30 teenagers, a post-war record, were murdered in London.
A quick-thinking police officer grabbed a farmer and his boat to rescue a fisherman in the nick of time before the capsized craft he was clinging to sunk to the bottom of the ocean off southern Western Australia.

Rescue services scrambled to reach the man who called triple-0 from his mobile phone and set off a distress beacon after his boat began sinking in Wilson Inlet just after 9am on Wednesday.

A police officer from the town of Denmark called on a local farmer who fetched his boat and the two set out to get the desperate man who was clinging to his the upturned vessel about 1.5km from shore.

Navigating the choppy conditions, the men sped to rescue the fisherman who they feared would be exposed to the cold water and chilling winds.

Denmark police Acting Sgt Chris MacAulay said the 24-year-old from Albury had been fortunate that the farmer was well equipped to help make the rescue.

'Police responded to the incident immediately and an officer went to a farm next to the Hay River and a farmer there had a boat and knows the area well,' Sgt MacAulay said.

'They have gone out into the inlet, approximately 1-1.5km south of the Hay River. As they arrived they found a young male clinging on to the boat, which was pretty much submerged, and he had a lifejacket on.'

The man, who had been fishing alone, had clung to his boat for about 30 minutes before help arrived.

The capsized vessel sunk shortly after the man was picked up.

He was shaken but came through otherwise unscathed.

Sgt MacAulay said the fisherman had been well prepared with safety gear, including the distress beacon.

Shortly after the man was pulled to safety his capsized vessel sunk to the bottom of the ocean

The 24-year-old man who clung to his vessel for 30 minutes was shaken but uninjured by the ordeal

'He was brought back to shore and checked over but didn't receive any injuries,' Sgt MacAulay told Perth Now.

'It was quite cold this morning so we were worried about hypothermia but luckily he was OK.

'He had all the equipment and has done everything he could to notify us.

'His call helped us locate him quickly.

'We are very lucky the farmer was there with his boat and knows the area well, because if it wasn't for the quick response of that farmer it could have been a lot worse.'

Other regional services also responded to the man's distress calls including Volunteer Marine Rescue, surf lifesavers, a helicopter, a police drone and additional police officers from Albany.
President Joe Biden thanked comedian Jon Stewart on Wednesday as he signed into law new benefits and protections for service members exposed to toxic burn pits.

The issue is deeply personal to Biden, who again expressed belief that his son Beau's death from brain cancer was linked to breathing fumes from burning trash.

After signing the 'PACT Act' into law he spent time hugging relatives of service men and women who had died, and thanking members of Congress who had made it possible.

But he reserved particularly thanks for Stewart.

'What you've done, John, matters,' he said. 'And you know it does.

'You should know it really, really matters.

'You refused to let anybody forget, refused to let them forget and we owe you big, man.'

President Joe Biden thanked comedian Jon Stewart on Wednesday as he signed into law new benefits and protections for service members exposed to toxic burn pits

Biden headed straight for his grandson Hunter - the son of Beau, whose death the president linked to toxic burn pits in Iraq

After signing the new law, Biden handed his pen to Brielle Robinson. The legislation is named for her father Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who died of cancer two years ago

Stewart joined protesters at the Capitol earlier this month as the Senate voted on the bill

He joked that he wanted to join Stewart on the steps of Congress during protests there.

'The Secret Service said that would be a pain in the neck and wouldn't let me do it,' he said.

Toxic burn pits have been a personal issue for Biden. He made a family link during his speech, pointing out his grandson Hunter as he directly addressed Brielle Robinson, The legislation is named for her father Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who died of cancer two years ago.

'Lots of times when you have hard decisions to make you're gonna wonder what Daddy wants you to do,' said Biden. 'He's gonna be there. He's gonna be there for you.

'You see the little guy you're sitting right next to that's my grandson. His daddy lost to the same burn pits. And he knows what you're going through.'

He said that for too long veterans had struggled to get the care they needed, and described the impact of clouds from choking fires as garbage was burned.

'It was it was there all the time ... toxic smoke thick with poisons spreading through the air and into the lungs of our troops.

'When they came home many of the fittest and best warriors that we sent to war were not the same: Headaches, nausea, dizziness, cancer.

'My son Beau was one of them.

Biden made a beeline for Hunter after he finished his speech and gave him a bearhug.

Beau Biden died of a brain tumor in 2015. He served a year-long stint in Iraq from 2008-2009

Master Sgt. Darryl Sterling, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron equipment manager, tosses unserviceable uniform items into a burn pit, March 10

He also shook hands with Stewart and spent time talking with members of Congress who backed the bill, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

After the event, Stewart told reporters that the day had been a long time coming.

'It's a relief but not a celebration,' he said.

And he added that service personnel had to be better protected.

'You can armor a Humvee, he said, 'but if you don't protect your troops from all of this lunacy then what are you really doing?'

The law expands benefits for veterans exposed to such toxins and who develop illnesses years later.

'These realities can make it difficult for veterans to establish a direct connection between their service and disabilities resulting from military environmental exposures such as burn pits  a necessary step to ensure they receive the health care they earned,' the White House said.

Biden signed the legislation shortly before leaving for a vacation in South Carolina.

It comes at the end of one of the most successful periods of his turbulent time in office.

His legislative successes include a bill he signed a day earlier that is intended to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry, helping push his approval rating to 40 percent, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Tuesday - his highest level in two months.

But none of his victories is more personal than his win for veterans.

Members of Congress and families of affected service men and women gathered in the East Room of the White House for the signing ceremony on Wednesday morning

He raised the issue during his State of the Union address in March, when he described military personnel struck by cancer after breathing in toxic smoke from burning trash.

'One of those soldiers was my son Maj. Beau Biden,' he said.

Burn pits were used in Iraq and Afghanistan to dispose of chemicals, cans, tires, plastics, medical equipment and human waste.

But some 70 percent of disability claims involving exposure to the pits were denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The legislation will direct officials to assume that certain respiratory illnesses and cancers were related to burn pit exposure, helping veterans get disability payments without having to prove the illness was the result of their service.

'Veterans who have been sickened to the point of being unable to work, unable to take care of their families, won't have to spend that time fighting the government to get the healthcare they earned,' Jeremy Butler, head of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

'This is monumental.'
Microsoft has breathed new life into its OneDrive app with its recent redesign.

The Washington-based tech giant released a revamped version of its OneDrive app that is said to make people's experience at work much less stressful on the app's 15th anniversary.

Microsoft mentioned that the redesign is its way of showing its gratitude to its customers for their support and feedback that helped it make "sharing and collaborating" in OneDrive the best possible experience.

Revamped Microsoft OneDrive Details

Microsoft mentioned in its announcement that the redesigned Microsoft OneDrive, OneDrive Home, would allow people to resume their work easily and catch up with what they missed while they're away from work.

This promise is evidenced in the app's new features, of which the first noticeable difference is in the dashboard. OneDrive Home's new Home page resembles the dashboard in the online version of Microsoft Office.

Additionally, It has a filter by file type function that allows people using OneDrive to search for specific file types only - a function originally found in the Office web app, according to The Verge.

Microsoft mentioned that the filter by file type function will provide more efficiency to people during their time at work.

The new OneDrive Home has new features original to its redesign as well. For example, OneDrive Home's "Recent" view will now ensure that people will find the files they need to work on first.

The redesign also introduces a new feature called the "Activity Column" which allows people to look at threaded comments, @mentions, real-time coauthoring, and highlighted changes at a glance.

The new Activity Column appears can be found in OneDrive Home's "My Files" view.

Read More: Blizzard Confirms Overwatch 2 Loot Boxes Are Ending Soon  Here's When and Why

In addition to the Activity Column, Microsoft has added a Quick Access section that can be found in the left navigation of the app. It contains shortcuts that allow people to find and access the places they continually work along with document libraries.

Microsoft has also added a "familiar, consistent experience" across all files by delivering a more intuitive sharing experience across Office apps, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams.

This "experience" is expected to provide a quick, robust way for people to grant others access to information, set granular sharing controls, see everyone they've shared files with, and manage access settings across individuals and groups.

The company also developed a "familiar files experience" with OneDrive Home so people can quickly locate the files they've worked on a regular basis and share them with their co-workers.

OneDrive isn't all about work. OneDrive Home now has "OneDrive Photo Story" that brings people's memories into a "private, invitation-only feed" that can be shared with family and friends. It even acts like a social media platform wherein people can comment, react, and be notified about a shared memory to "spur authentic interactions through photos that people care about."

OneDrive Home Availability And Price

Although there is no word about the price of OneDrive's revamped version, Microsoft did disclose that OneDrive Home is not yet available at the moment, with the app being scheduled for release in the coming months.

The same is somewhat true with OneDrive Photo Story. The feature is already available in Australis on the OnDrive mobile app for Android, iOS, and on web browsers. However, the US may have to wait until later this year to experience Photo Story.

Related Article: Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Update That Fixes App Crashes, Slow File Copying
Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan has been spotted out and about for the first time in over a year as he ran errands in his crime and homeless-ridden Los Angeles neighborhood.

The reclusive Australian-born actor wearing jeans and a denim shirt looked gaunt as he pumped gas and washed his windows last month in his Venice neighborhood that has been overrun by vagrants.

The last time Hogan, 82, was photographed in public was last May when he was thought to be pinning up an angry note to vagrants camped outside his $3.5million Venice mansion.

Hogan denied writing the sign that read, 'THIS IS MY HOUSE NOT YOURS,' despite being pictured holding a red marker near the note. He claimed he was carrying the red marker near the sign because he was leaving instructions for an electrician.

Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan was seen last month running errands in his Venice, Los Angeles, neighborhood

The 82-year-old wore an all-denim outfit as he pumped gas into his black SUV

The last time Hogan, 82, was photographed in public was last year when he was thought to be pinning up an angry note to vagrants camped outside his $3.5million Venice mansion

Hogan denied writing the sign that read, 'THIS IS MY HOUSE NOT YOURS,' despite being pictured holding a red marker near the note

Hogan is best know for depicting heartthrob adventurer Mick Dundee in the 1986 romantic adventure classic

Hogan is best know for depicting heartthrob adventurer Mick Dundee in the 1986 romantic adventure classic.

He moved to Los Angeles in 2005 with his then-love interest and former co-star Linda Kozlowski, who he met on the set of Crocodile Dundee.

He left his first wife Noelene to pursue a love affair with much-younger Linda, now 64, and they wed in 1990.

In 2014 she filed for divorce but they are said to still be on good terms and live in the same neighborhood while co-parenting their son Chance, 24.

In an interview with Sunrise last year, Hogan said he was 'desperate' to return to Australia and leave his life in America behind.

'I am desperately homesick,' he said.

Hogan moved to Los Angeles in 2005 with his then love interest and former co-star Linda Kozlowski

Hogan wore dark black shades and black sneakers while he ran his errands on a Thursday afternoon

Despite yearning to come back to Australia, Paul said he would remain living in Venice to be a part of his son Chance's life. Pictured in December 2016. Chance is now 24

His home is in the once-elite beachside suburb of Venice, where a vast increase in homelessness has seen hundreds of tents line the beach's famous boardwalk and a sharp increase in crime.

'I'm living in LA County, which is 10 million people and half of them have got Covid. So am I homesick? You bet your life,' Hogan complained.

When asked how he was coping with Los Angeles' crime wave, Hogan simply said he 'doesn't go anywhere.'

'[I'm] bored in lockdown, and the minute I can get on the plane without being locked in a hotel for two weeks, I'm back,' he said in 2021.

Despite yearning to go back to Australia, Hogan said he would remain living in Venice to be a part of his son's life.

'Where Paul lives is hell on earth,' Hogan's neighbor Tyler Proctor, a local politician, said last year. 'His house is like a fortress and it needs to be. I can see why [he] wants to move out.'

The actor lives in the once-elite beachside suburb of Venice, where an increase in homelessness has resulted in a terrifying crime wave

'Where Paul lives is hell on earth,' Hogan's neighbor Tyler Proctor, a local politician, said last year. 'His house is like a fortress and it needs to be. I can see why [he] wants to move out.' The outside of Hogan's home is pictured

Hogan isn't the only Venice resident who is fed up with the homelessness. DailyMail.com revealed last month that Hunter Biden moved out of a $25,000-per-month rented canal-front home in Venice. Hunter's former home is pictured left

Photos show tents, umbrellas, trash bags, camping chairs, blankets and shopping carts piled up, filling the width of the sidewalk and stretching down the Venice street

Hogan isn't the only Venice resident who is fed up with the homelessness.

Hunter Biden's former neighbors in Venice, California, are outraged that their neighborhood has turned into a 'tent city' since he left

DailyMail.com revealed last month that Hunter Biden moved out of a $25,000-per-month rented canal-front home in Venice.

The First Son's trendy digs came with a 24-hour Secret Service protection, and mysteriously coincided with the disappearance of any homeless encampments from the street, neighbors said.

But since Hunter up and moved to Malibu, a 'tent city' of homeless people camping out on the sidewalk has sprung up again, prompting outrage among residents.

Tents, umbrellas, trash bags, camping chairs, blankets and shopping carts were seen piled up, filling the width of the sidewalk and stretching down the Venice street where Hunter's former home sits.

His former neighbors are now incensed that their street has turned into a 'tent city' since he left  with no more Secret Service agents to move homeless people along.
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Eric Trump revealed FBI agents refused to hand over the search warrant for their raid on Mar-a-Lago and kicked an attorney off the property in a new, incisive account of the Monday operation at the Florida estate.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, the former president's son said the 30 agents who arrived at the property asked staff to turn security cameras off  but they refused.

He also said that the attorney was forced to stand at the end of the Mar-a-Lago driveway while the team searched inside - and allegedly used safe crackers to break into his father's safe.

He called the raid another 'coordinated attack' on his father Donald Trump and insisted there is no way President Joe Biden was kept in the dark about the search.

The latest explosive account comes with the Department of Justice facing mounting pressure to explain what grounds they had for the search.

Eric said that his father's lawyer Christina Bobb was forced to stand at the end of the Mar-a-Lago driveway throughout the raid.

'There's 30 agents there,' he recalled of the Monday search in a phone call with DailyMail.com. 'They told our lawyer you have to leave the property right now. Turn off all security cameras.'

'They would not give her the search warrant,' he claimed. 'So they showed it to her from about 10 feet away. They would not give her a copy of the search warrant.'

Eric Trump recounted the events of the Monday raid of Mar-a-Lago in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com

Eric said lawyer Christina Bobb was forced to wait at the end of a driveway during the search. Pictured: Armed Secret Service agents stand outside an entrance to former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, late Monday, August 8 in Palm Beach, Florida

He said that Bobb was confused why a lawyer for the person's home being raided by the FBI was not able to see or obtain a copy of the search warrant.

Eric said he would be 'thrilled' to find out if there was a valid search warrant.

The FBI declined to comment to DailyMail.com on the raid and Eric's claim no search warrant was handed over to Trump's legal team.

Bobb also told Real America News on Tuesday that she was able to see the warrant, but claimed that it was partly sealed, making it impossible for her to see what the probable cause was that compelled a judge to approve the raid. She also did not suggest she had received a physical copy.

'When I arrived and kind of announced myself as the legal representation for President Trump. I asked to see a copy of the warrant,' the Trump lawyer detailed of the events the day prior.

'Initially they refused and said, 'You know, we don't have to show it to you.' And there was a little bit of an exchange about whether it was appropriate to withhold the warrant when you're searching the residence of the former president, who's likely to be the Republican nominee in the next election, though they conceded and let me see it, they did not give me a copy of it right away, but they did let me see it,' added Bobb, who once was a host on far-right One America News Network.

'Biden KNEW... just like he knew all about Hunter's 'deals'': Trump claims president was aware of Mar-a-Lago raid and calls it a coordinated attack by 'Radical Left Democrat AGs' - as pressure piles on DOJ to react Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed President Joe Biden knew about the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago in advance, something the White House has denied. 'Biden knew all about this, just like he knew all about Hunter's 'deals,'' the ex-president posted to his Truth Social website. Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings have attracted controversy, though the president has denied being involved in them. Trump also pushed that the Mar-a-Lago raid was a continuation of politically motivated investigations against him. 'A horrible thing that took place yesterday at Mar-a-Lago,' he wrote. 'We are no better than a third world country, a banana republic.' 'It is a continuation of Russia, Russia, Russia, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax # 2, the no collusion Mueller Report, and more,' he continued. 'To make matters worse it is all, in my opinion, a coordinated attack with Radical Left Democrat state & local D.A.'s & A.G.'s,' the former president added. On Monday, Trump confirmed that FBI agents had raided Mar-a-Lago, after media reports said agents were spotted leaving the ex-president's Florida home and private club. It marks the first time in U.S. history the home of a former president has been raided. A number of public officials have called for an explanation. 'The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday,' said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday night. 'Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.' Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed President Joe Biden knew about the FBI 's raid of Mar-a-Lago in advance, something the White House has denied 'Biden knew all about this, just like he knew all about Hunter's 'deals,'' the ex-president posted to his Truth Social website Hunter Biden (left) and President Joe Biden (right) pose for a photo in 2016. Trump claimed that the president knew about the FBI's raid of Mar-a-Lago in advance, just like he knew about Hunter's 'deals.' Hunter Biden's foreign business deals have attracted controversy McConnell, who had a falling out with Trump over the ex-president's false election fraud claims, had previously not commented on the raid. McConnell waited until just over 24 hours to respond. Trump confirmed the raid in a statement Monday evening, saying the move represented 'dark times for our Nation,' pushing that the Biden administration was going after him as a political target. Trump is mulling a 2024 presidential run. A number of media outlets reported that the raid stemmed from an investigation into Trump removing classified documents from the White House and not the Department of Justice's current probe into January 6, which is also partially focused on Trump. The House select committee on January 6 is also investigating the January 6 Capitol attack and Trump's action surrounding it. The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night that the FBI hauled away 10 boxes of documents during the raid, after the National Archives retrieved more than a dozen boxes of documents from the Florida resort earlier this year. Additionally, the ex-president is facing potential legal problems in Georgia and New York. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is investigating the scheme to run over the state's 2020 presidential election result. And in New York, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is looking into whether Trump's companies misrepresented the value of properties for loan and tax purposes. Eric Trump departs Trump Tower the day after his father, former President Donald Trump, said FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago home. Several news outlets reported that the raid had to do with the removal of classified material from the White House Additionally in New York, Letitia James, the New York state attorney general, is conducting a civil investigation into whether Trump's company inflated real estate values. In a campaign-style video Tuesday morning, Trump insisted that 'we are a nation that has weaponized its law enforcement against the opposing political party, like never before.' 'What took place yesterday, and long before, was an unprecedented infringement of the rights of every American citizen,' he said in a third Truth Social post Tuesday night. 'Scam after Scam, year after year, it is all the Radical Left Democrats really know, it is their lifeblood - they have no shame. Our Country is paying a very big price!!!' he added. The White House, however, has insisted its hands are clean. During Tuesday's press briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden 'was not briefed' ahead of the Monday raid. The president, she said, 'was not aware of it.' 'No one at the White House was given a heads up,' Jean-Pierre said. A number of Trump allies have called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to speak publicly about the raid. So far he hasn't commented. The Justice Department also wouldn't comment when asked if Garland personally authorized the search. Advertisement

'It was very, I would say, thin,' she said of the document.

'And as you can tell from public records, the affidavit, the supporting documentation of what the probable cause was to obtain the warrant has been sealed.'

Eric insisted to DailyMail.com that the raid was approved by President Biden, saying Wednesday: 'It's all a coordinated attack with the FBI.

'Do you think that the FBI director is going to raid the former president's house, especially a house as you know, kind of world renowned as Mar Lago is in a place as public as Mar Lago is without getting the approval of President [Biden]?' Eric questioned.

By not turning off the security cameras, Eric said they saw the FBI raiding areas of the property that they 'shouldn't have been.'

Donald Trump lamented Wednesday that the FBI blocked his lawyers from the property during the raid at his Palm Beach, Florida residence and suggested that agents may have 'planted' evidence.

The fallout from the raid comes as Trump confirmed on his alternative social media site Tuesday evening that he will be deposed Wednesday in questioning part of the New York attorney general's civil investigation into his family's real estate business.

The New York probe is just one of many the former president is facing, including the one that led to the raid on Monday involving the reported removal of official documents from the White House when he left office last year.

'The FBI and others from the Federal Government would not let anyone, including my lawyers, be anywhere near the areas that were rummaged and otherwise looked at during the raid on Mar-a-Lago,' Trump posted to his Truth Social page on Wednesday morning.

'Everyone was asked to leave the premises, they wanted to be left alone, without any witnesses to see what they were doing, taking or, hopefully not, 'planting,'' he continued while placing doubt that the raid was conducted properly.

Trump, 76, questioned: 'Why did they STRONGLY insist on having nobody watching them, everybody out? Obama and Clinton were never 'raided,' despite big disputes!'

Christina Bobb, a Trump lawyer, told Real America's Voice on Tuesday that the raid was a 'weird flex' and repeated Trump's suspicions that the RBI might have planted something during the search.

'No, there is no security that something wasn't planted,' the 37-year-old lawyer said. 'I'm not saying that's what they did.'

'This was a completely unnecessary power flex. It was a weird flex,' Bobb added. 'It's quite honestly sad to see what they have done to our country.'

Even though Palm Beach reached a sweltering 91 degrees with high humidity on Monday, Trump's lawyers were left outside near a parking lot and were not allowed inside the air conditioned building where the raid was happening.

The former president was spotted arriving back at his Manhattan residence in Trump Tower on Tuesday night.

The raid on his Florida home the previous day saw investigators ransack his office for several hours.

Trump continued to vent his fury on Tuesday at the raid - which is believed to have been carried out to retrieve documents the former president took from the White House when he left.

By law, all presidential correspondence and documentation must be handed over to the National Archives, and since February it has been clear that Trump did not comply. Some documents were returned to the National Archives at the beginning of this year, but apparently not all.

FBI agents were inside the 128-room Florida estate for nine hours on Monday, with 30 agents roaming through the entire 3,000-square-foot private quarters.

The investigators searched the master bedroom, known as the Versailles Room, which Melania Trump renovated two years ago.

They rummaged through the former first lady's wardrobe and searched through clothing, according to The New York Post.

The agents also searched a separate office and safe, and a locked basement storage room in which 15 cardboard boxes of material from the White House were stored, the paper said.

The Justice Department has not commented on the raid, which analysts said would have needed to be approved at the highest level.

Sources told the Post that Trump's attorneys, led by Evan Corcoran, were 'cooperating fully' with federal authorities to arrange the return of the documents, with the process beginning in May 2021 when it was noticed that some records were missing.

In January 2022, some of the documents were returned, and in February this year the news became public.

In early June, four top DOJ officials traveled to Mar-a-Lago to speak with the former president's attorneys about the documents.

The DOJ's counterintelligence and export control section chief Jay Bratt was reportedly among the group who sat down with Trump's lawyers.

Trump's team showed the government officials where Trump was storing documents - in a basement room. Investigators reportedly observed that some of the files there were marked as classified.

At one point the former president himself reportedly stopped in to say hello and 'make small talk' before leaving again, CNN reported.

Days after the investigators' visit, they reportedly sent a letter to Trump's staff asking them to secure the room where they observed the documents being stored.

Aides then padlocked the area, according to CNN.

It is unclear what transpired between June and this week to make the FBI decide to forcibly claim the documents.

But a former FBI agent told DailyMail.com that Monday's raid was likely sparked by new information from an 'informant' and a breakdown in cooperation between the agency and former president.

Retired FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Tabman, who served the agency for 24 years, said a raid of this level of sensitivity would need to be approved by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

'I think somebody gave them information indicating that these documents are there,' Tabman said, adding two hypothetical 'insider' revelations: 'You have not been told the truth about their existence. You're not getting them unless you come get them.'

'I think there was inside information  call it an informant if you want,' he told DailyMail.com. 'I believe either someone told them something or some other information was stumbled upon, which was kind of conclusive in their minds that they had to go now to get that or they're not getting it.'

Tabman claimed while there was cooperation between Trump and the FBI at one point, the agency may have gotten a sense that the former president and his team were 'telling you what they want to tell you with limited information.'

FBI protocol, according to Tabman, is to move forward with seizing information once they feel that 'voluntarily' obtaining it is no longer viable.

'You know, everything could disappear,' Tabman said. 'You got evidence that you need to get before it disappears or it moves and you can't see it anymore.'

In order to obtain the warrant for a raid, the FBI would need to prove probable cause and conduct the search in a timely manner. Agents can't just 'poke around' someone's home in a case like this, Tabman said.

He also claimed the FBI could have gotten the sense that Trump was just no longer being 'fully cooperative' with the investigation  leading them to see the raid approval.

Tabman said that while it doesn't appear any protocols were broken in conducting the raid, it's still an 'unprecedented' move in the sense that the FBI has never raided a former president's home before.

'I can't think of this having happened to a former president,' Tabman noted.

'I don't see any protocols that were broken in any way,' the retired FBI special agent added. 'They must have obviously had probable cause.'

The ex-president was at Trump Tower in New York City when the FBI raided his Florida estate. Eric Trump told Fox News he informed his father of the raid.

Trump and his allies quickly sought to cast the search as a weaponization of the criminal justice system and a Democratic-driven effort to keep him from winning another term in 2024 - though the Biden White House said it had no prior knowledge and current FBI Director Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump five years ago.

Eric lamented that the FBI searched areas of the property that they 'shouldn't have been', and the new york Post said they through former first lady Melania Trump's wardrobe. Melania was most recently seen on July 20 at the Manhattan funeral of Donald's first wife Ivana

The above timeline highlights just some of former President Donald Trump's battles with the National Archives since leaving office, including an unrelated court fight with the January 6 committee

Trump, disclosing the search in a lengthy statement late Monday, asserted that agents had opened a safe at his home, and he described their work as an 'unannounced raid' that he likened to 'prosecutorial misconduct.'

'These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,' Trump said through his Save America PAC,' he said.

'I stood up to America's bureaucratic corruption, I restored power to the people, and truly delivered for our Country, like we have never seen before.

'The establishment hated it.

'Now, as they watch my endorsed candidates win big victories, and see my dominance in all polls, they are trying to stop me, and the Republican Party, once more.

'The lawlessness, political persecution, and Witch Hunt must be exposed and stopped.'

Retired FBI Special Agent Michael Tabman told DailyMail.com it's likely an 'informant' revealed information to the FBI that led to the raid of Trump's home on Monday

Justice Department spokesperson Dena Iverson declined to comment on the search, including whether Garland had personally authorized it.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the West Wing first learned of the search from public media reports and the White House had not been briefed in the run-up or aftermath.

'The Justice Department conducts investigations independently and we leave any law enforcement matters to them,' she said. 'We are not involved.'

About two dozen Trump supporters stood in protest at midmorning Tuesday in the Florida summer heat and sporadic light rain on a bridge near the former president's residence. One held a sign reading 'Democrats are Fascists' while others carried flags saying '2020 Was Rigged,' 'Trump 2024' and Biden's name with an obscenity. Some cars honked in support as they passed.

Trump's Vice President Mike Pence, a potential 2024 rival, said Tuesday that he was concerned about the FBI 's raid - despite their 20-month estrangement.

'I share the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented search of the personal residence of President Trump,' Pence tweeted Tuesday afternoon. 'No former President of the United States has ever been subject to a raid of their personal residence in American history.'

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell echoed Pence, saying: 'Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.'

'The FBI director was appointed by Donald Trump,' said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., when asked about GOP allegations that the raid showed the politicization of the Justice Department. She added, 'Facts and truth, facts and law, that's what it's about.'

Trump was meeting late Tuesday at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club with members of the Republican Study Committee, a group headed by Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana that says it is committed to putting forth his priorities in Congress.

The FBI reached out to the Secret Service shortly before serving a warrant, a third person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Secret Service agents contacted the Justice Department and were able to validate the warrant before facilitating access to the estate, the person said.

The Justice Department has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information since the National Archives and Records Administration said it had received from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of White House records, including documents containing classified information, earlier this year. The National Archives said Trump should have turned over that material upon leaving office, and it asked the Justice Department to investigate.

Bobb said to Real America's Voice on Tuesday that investigators said they were 'looking for classified information that they think should not have been removed from the White House, as well as presidential records.'

There are multiple federal laws governing the handling of classified records and sensitive government documents, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such material and retain it at an unauthorized location. Though a search warrant does not necessarily mean criminal charges are near or even expected, federal officials looking to obtain one must first demonstrate to a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.

Two people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the search Monday was related to the records probe. Agents were also looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at the estate.

Trump has previously maintained that presidential records were turned over 'in an ordinary and routine process.' His son Eric said on Fox News on Monday night that he had spent the day with his father and that the search happened because 'the National Archives wanted to corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession.'

Trump himself, in a social media post Monday night, called the search a 'weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024.'

The probe is hardly the only legal headache confronting Trump. A separate investigation related to efforts by him and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election - which led to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol - has also been intensifying in Washington. Several former White House officials have received grand jury subpoenas.

And a district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, is investigating whether Trump and his close associates sought to interfere in that state's election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden.
A man has died and three other people have been injured after a gun rampage in the Scottish Highlands today.

The 47-year-old man was found dead at a property on the Isle of Skye this morning, less than an hour after officers were called to reports of a seriously injured woman at a nearby property.

Police later found a man and a woman hurt at an address in Dornie, which is a 40- minute drive away on the Scottish mainland, and have said they believe all incidents are linked.

Did you witness any of the incidents? Email tips@dailymail.com and matthew.lodge@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incidents and has also been taken to hospital.

Police have not confirmed the nature of the incidents, although the local MP said they had been told 'guns and knives' were involved.

Dozens of police cars and the force helicopter were deployed to the remote Scottish region, which is a tourist hotspot, this morning after reports were made of an injured woman at a property in the Tarskavaig area of the island at 9am.

Inside they found a 32-year-old woman who was seriously injured and airlifted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for treatment.

Officers were then called to a property in nearby Teangue at around 9.30am, after reports a firearm had been discharged.

On arrival they found a 47-year-old man who was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police van at the scene of one of the incidents on the Isle of Skye this morning. One man has died and three other people were injured

An air ambulance pictured at the scene of one of the incidents in the Scottish Highlands this morning

Police say there were three linked incidents on Skye and the Scottish mainland which have led to the arrest of a39-year-old man

Despite the police presence in Dornie (pictured) on Skye, Police Scotland says there is no further risk to the community

Emergency services then went to a property in the Dornie area in Wester Ross, on the Scottish mainland, after another firearm discharge.

A man was found seriously injured and taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, while a woman was taken to Broadford Hospital on the Isle of Skye.

How this morning's rampage unfolded Just before 9am Police were called to a property in the Tarskavaig area, a remote region in southern part of the Isle of Skye, after reports of an injured woman. Officers found a 32-year-old woman seriously injured, and she is airlifted to hospital in Glasgow for treatment. 9.30am Emergency services were then called to a property in Teangue, which is less than a 20 minute drive from Tarskavaig, after reports a firearm had been discharged. On arrival they found a 47-year-old man, who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Later on Wednesday morning Police were then called to a property in the Dornie area in Wester Ross after reports of a firearm being discharged. On arrival they found a man seriously injured and an injured woman. The man was airlifted to hospital in Inverness, while the woman was taken to a hospital on Skye. Arrest is made Officers later arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with all three incidents. He was taken to hospital in Inverness for treatment on unspecified injuries. Advertisement

Police say a 39-year-old man who has been arrested in relation to all three incidents has also been taken to Raigmore Hospital.

Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett, local policing commander for Highlands and Islands Division, said: 'Incidents such as this are thankfully extremely rare but I understand that this will have a significant effect on the local community in these rural areas.

'I would like to reassure people that we are treating these incidents as contained with no wider threat to the public.

'There will a significant police presence in the area over the coming days and we will be working with partners to provide support to the local community. I would like to thank people for their co-operation as our investigation progresses.'

Earlier today Ian Blackford, the SNP MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said he has been told 'there is one fatality'.

He said: 'This is dreadful and shocking news - especially for a place like Skye and Lochalsh.

'I have been kept informed of the events and I understand a firearm and knives were involved. I have been told that there is one fatality and three injured.

'Firearm regulations are there for a reason and there must be a review of this incident to ensure if any lessons can be learned from it.

'I want to pay tribute to the emergency services, including the police and Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as the local authority. I understand the situation is under control.'

Mr Blackford later told Radio Forth News: 'We don't have an awful lot of crime in these areas.

'For people to hear the news of these incidents that have taken place in three separate occasions, I think it's really shocked the place to the core, it's shocked people that this sort of thing can happen.

'It's a terrible, terrible day that these things have come to Skye and Lochalsh.'

Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch described the news as 'one of the worst days that I can recall in the history of Skye and Lochalsh.'

She said: 'I cannot begin to imagine what the family and friends of those who have lost a loved one are going through, and they should be in all our thoughts and prayers right now.

'West Highland communities are close-knit, we are warm and welcoming, and this will shatter us to the core.

'It feels like our very heart has been ripped apart. I, and I am sure many others, never thought we would see such an awful day.'

An ambulance at the scene of one of the incidents on the Isle of Skye this morning. A total of three people were injured and one man killed earlier today

A Scottish Charity Air Ambulance flies overhead as emergency services deal with the fallout of the incidents on Skye and in Dornie today

A dozen police cars including armed response units and the force helicopter were deployed to the scene on Wednesday morning.

Locals have reported that the suspect is believed to have used a knife and firearm in a series of attacks, however this hasn't yet been confirmed by police.

One resident said at the time of the incident: 'Stabbing in Sleat, then shotgun was used in Dornie. The victim is on the way to hospital.

'This is from a Dornie resident. Don't know if the perpetrator is caught yet.'

Following the man's arrest, police have described the situation as 'contained'.

Speaking this afternoon, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'We were made aware of a woman injured at a property in the Tarskavaig area on Skye shortly before 9am on Wednesday, August 10.

'Police are also attending two further incidents in Teangue on Skye and Dornie which are being linked.

'A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incidents. At this stage we believe the situation is contained and there is no risk to the wider community.

'Enquiries are ongoing.'

Police were first alerted after they were called to reports of an injured woman in the Tarskavaig area of Skye (pictured)

Officers were then alerted to a second incident in nearby Teangue, which is also on the Isle of Skye (pictured)

Convener of the Highland Council, Bill Lobban added: 'We are thankful to our emergency services colleagues for bringing this very serious and shocking incident to a close.

'We will be providing support to the communities and our partners in every way possible.

'The communities of Skye and Dornie will be shocked and saddened by these incidents and our thoughts are with the individuals affected.'

Skye attracts 500,000 visitors-a-year with such natural features as The Fairy Pools and The Old Man of Storr.

Dornie is separated from Skye by the island's famous bridge.
A PhD student has published a research paper in which he details how he masturbated for three months extreme Japanese comics featuring young boys.

Karl Andersson is researching subcultural Japanese comics at the University of Manchester but is now being investigated after publishing a paper in which he began masturbating after 'hitting a wall' in his studies.

So the student claims to have embarked on a three-month stint of masturbating to the same subject matter as his 'research participants' and make notes on each session - shunning regular pornography and sex.

He said: 'I happened to live alone during this experiment, and I had newly become single after a long relationship - these factors probably contributed to my willingness and eagerness to explore this method.'

However Karl's own thesis describes the material - known as shota - as a genre of self-published erotic comics that feature 'young boy characters in a cute or, most often, sexually explicit way'.

After publishing his 4,000-word paper in April, the piece has been subsequently been discovered by horrified social media users and shared on Mumsnet, where it has been branded a 'PhD in w***ing'.

Karl Andersson (pictured) is researching subcultural Japanese comics at the University of Manchester but is now being investigated after publishing a paper in which he began masturbating after 'hitting a wall' in his studies

Outraged mothers questioned how the visual anthropologist's 'sickening' material had got past the university's ethics process and even been funded by the university.

One excerpt notes how he felt while masturbating to a comic which depicted a boy and his friend masturbating together.

However Karl's study even thanks his PhD supervisor Dr Sharon Kinsella - who herself specialises in 'Lolita complex subcultures' at the university - for 'always encouraging him to go where his research takes him'.

Some parents were unable to even finish the study's introduction and described the contents 'unspeakably grim' as it documents pleasuring himself in great detail while discussing 'pubescent boys' and 'the period of puberty'.

The University of Manchester said they had had 'significant complaints' that they were 'taking very seriously' and confirmed they were conducting a detailed investigation into the individual's work.

Visual anthropologist Karl claims after conducting interviews and carrying out surveys, his research hit a wall and he decided to copy his participants by only masturbating to shota comics and noting down his thoughts and feelings.

He says he did this for three months and also had a ban on any other type of porn, sex or any other 'sexual relief'.

Karl has published the academic article thesis titled 'I am not alone - we are all alone: Using masturbation as an ethnographic method in research on shota subculture in Japan' in the Journal of Qualitative Research.

So the student (pictured) claims to have embarked on a three-month stint of masturbating to the same subject matter as his 'research participants' and make notes on each session - shunning regular pornography and sex

Karl wrote: 'I therefore started reading the comics in the same way as my research participants had told me that they did it: while masturbating.

'In this research note, I will recount how I set up an experimental method of masturbating to shota comics, and how this participant observation of my own desire not only gave me a more embodied understanding of the topic for my research but also made me think about loneliness and ways to combat it as driving forces of the culture of self-published erotic comics.'

Karl writes that he'd just come out of a long-term relationship when he began the experiment which contributed to his 'eagerness'.

He wrote: 'For a period of three months, I would masturbate only to shota comics. For this purpose, I would use d*jinshi and commercial volumes that I have bought or been given during fieldwork in Japan.

'In short: I would masturbate in the same way that my research participants did it. After each masturbation session I would write down my thoughts and feelings - a kind of critical self-reflection - in a notebook, as well as details about which material I had used, where I had done it, at what time, and for how long.

'I would not be allowed to have any other sexual relief during this 'fieldwork' in my own sexuality: no regular porn, no sex with another person, no fantasies or memories - it had to be shota every time.

'I happened to live alone during this experiment, and I had newly become single after a long relationship - these factors probably contributed to my willingness and eagerness to explore this method.'

Karl argues that the research gave him 'not only gave me a more embodied understanding of the topic for my research but also made me think about loneliness and ways to combat it as driving forces of the culture of self-published erotic comics'.

Social media users were quick to point out that his PhD is based on 'w*nking' and one described it as 'hugely disturbing'.

One commentor wrote: 'This is pushing the limits of my commitment to academic freedom.'

Another said: 'In all seriousness, how do we permanently cancel these kinds of people? How do we eliminate them from universities and screen them from ever entering again?

'Obviously, many universities have failed to uphold the requirements for serious scholarship, so what action can we take now?'

Another wrote: 'How did this get past Manchester University's ethics process? Masturbating to images of children and writing it up for public consumption does not seem ethical to me. This is hugely disturbing.'

One wrote: 'I literally can't think of anything to say beyond registering my outrage. Is there any way to challenge the funding for this?'

One said: 'Is there a professor of w*nking studies yet? If not, I'd apply myself but I'd probably be over qualified.'

Karl's website states he has a background in journalism and publishing and an MA in visual and media anthropology and a BA in linguistics.

It says he is 'particularly fascinated by ideals and how we relate to them, as can be seen in the title of my master's thesis: Unreal Boys: An experience-led exploration of desire towards fictional characters among fans of shotacon manga in Japan'.

His own Twitter account boasts he is a student at and 'funded by' the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures at The University of Manchester.

Karl claims that when surveying and interviewing participants about 'their relation to shota comics, what kind of shota they like, how they see themselves in relation to the story, how they engage with shota concretely (how they read or draw it), what shota gives them and so on', he realised that almost all of them said they'd masturbated to it.

He says when he tried to question participants about it, the conversation would stall and he eventually hit a wall.

Karl wrote: 'I tried to inquire about the details of these masturbation sessions, but it was hard to know what to ask, and the conversation sometimes stalled.

'In addition, it would have been impossible for me to grasp how the intellectual reasoning, for example, of entering an alternative past, was connected to the bodily sensation of masturbation without me 'doing it' myself.'

Karl has also made a film on the subject named Unreal Boys, that explores the 'controversial phenomenon that blurs the borders of actual and virtual realities' and claims the filmmaker 'participates actively in the shota culture'.

His website claims the award-winning film is 'based on extensive fieldwork and part of a master's thesis in visual anthropology'.

A University of Manchester spokesperson said: 'The recent publication in Qualitative Research of the work of a student, now registered for a PhD, has raised significant concerns and complaints which we are taking very seriously.

'We are currently undertaking a detailed investigation into all aspects of their work, the processes around it and other questions raised. It is very important that we look at the issues in-depth.

'While that investigation is ongoing, it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time '

Karl Andersson was contacted for comment but failed to respond [contacted since Tuesday midday on email, Twitter and Facebook and chased repeatedly. Called on number we believe to be his and sent message. Asked uni press office to pass on our request for comment to him too].

PhD supervisor Dr Sharon Kinsella was contacted for comment.
It comes as another blast was reported this afternoon in the northern Chongar region at one of the only bridges providing a way off the peninsula

But now many Russians living there are fleeing after deadly explosions yesterday

'I don't want to leave Crimea at all, we lived here like its our home!' she cried

The woman was seen in floods of tears as she complained about having to leave

Weeping Russians have complained about having to evacuate from Crimea after an airbase close to a popular beach exploded yesterday in what is suspected to be a Ukrainian attack.

One woman was filmed in floods of tears as she was driven away from the peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, following the purported attack.

'I don't want to leave Crimea at all... it's so amazing here. We were living here like its our home, everything is wonderful. It feels like home!' she cried in a clip circulating on social media.

Ukrainian interior ministry adviser Anton Gerashchenko gleefully shared the footage on Twitter, commenting: 'Do you think Russians will finally begin to understand that it's really a war?'

The demographics of the peninsula's population changed rapidly following its 2014 annexation.

Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars - an ethnic group indigenous to the peninsula - moved out of Crimea amid complaints of intimidation and poor treatment under a pro-Russian government.

Others who renounced Russian citizenship were classified as foreign citizens and were not permitted to spent more than 180 days per year in Crimea and were subject to strict migration legislation which meant they could be forcibly deported.

Many more ethnic Russians immigrated to the region, particularly as Russia's military set about reinforcing its presence there and establishing the headquarters of its prized Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.

However, after the explosions yesterday at the Novofedorivka military airbase killed one, injured 14 and destroyed 10 Russian aircraft, Crimea's highways were backed up by huge traffic jams as fearful residents attempted to evacuate.

Gerashchenko today claimed the jams stretched up to 100km (62 miles).

It comes amid reports that more blasts have rung out in Crimea today, this time at a key bridge in the northern Chongar region constituting one of very few routes out of the peninsula and into Russian-controlled southeastern Ukraine.

It is unclear whether the explosion came as part of an attack, but Ukraine's armed forces have targeted several bridges in the southwestern Kherson region of Ukraine in an attempt to destroy key Russian supply routes.

Massive traffic jam by the Kerch Strait Bridge as Russian tourists desperately try to leave Crimea

Several large explosions have rocked a military airbase in Russian-held Crimea as an ominous mushroom cloud sent bathers fleeing from nearby beaches

Ukraine's air force neither confirmed nor denied its participation in the incident, but said it believed up to 10 Russian fighter jets were destroyed in the explosions (image of a decimated Russian jet involved in the blast)

Clips which emerged from the scene appeared to show the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac (pictured)

More blasts have rung out in Crimea today, this time at a key bridge in the northern Chongar region constituting one of very few routes out of the peninsula and into Russian-controlled southeastern Ukraine

An anonymous official told the Washington Post yesterday's blasts came as the result of a special forces operation, despite claims that long-range missiles could have been used.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile vowed to 'liberate' the peninsula previously part of Ukraine but annexed by Russia in 2014 despite international condemnation.

Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation.'

The blasts rang out around 3:30pm local time yesterday afternoon at the Russian-held Novofedorivka military airbase in Western Crimea, which is located within sight of a popular beach.

Videos circulating yesterday on the Telegram messaging app showed dozens of shocked beachgoers watching trails of smoke snaking from the base before hastily evacuating the shore.

Other clips showed the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac destroyed in the devastating explosions.

Huge explosions are seen in the background in Crimea as stunned civilians look on before jumping into their cars and fleeing

Shocked beachgoers watched on as the smoke began billowing from the direction of the base, before being instructed to evacuate by police officers

Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation'

Russia's Defence Ministry denied the base on the Black Sea had been attacked by Ukraine, instead declaring there had been a catastrophic aircraft munitions detonation, but editor-in-chief of Russian news outlet RT, Margarita Simonyan, tweeted that the explosions were caused by 'sabotage'.

Ukrainian social networks meanwhile were abuzz with speculation that the base was destroyed by long-range missiles fired by Ukraine's military after one Ukrainian official speaking on condition of anonymity told the New York Times that the nation's armed forces launched the attack.

'This was an air base from which [Russian] planes regularly took off for attacks against our forces in the southern theatre,' the official said, adding that 'a device exclusively of Ukrainian manufacture was used' to carry out the attack.

This sentiment was echoed by Viktor Andrusiv, a political scientist and former adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, who wrote on Telegram: 'As you can understand - missiles with a range of 200-300km are already in service with us and are being used in our country.

'The explosions... today at the airfield in Novofedorivka in Crimea, are public proof of this.'

US systems so-far supplied to Ukraine do not have the range to hit the airbase from territory occupied by Kyiv's forces. But some observers have speculated that the ATACMS missile system could be responsible for the strike.

The Biden administration has not officially supplied the system, which has a range of up to 190 miles.

Videos of Russians fleeing the site of the blasts came as the regional administrators of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, currently under Russian occupation, said Russian families there had 'started to panic' after Ukrainian armed forces attacked two key bridges used by Putin's troops as supply routes.

'Because of these events, the mass exodus of the families of the Russian military who lived in Kherson began,' the statement read.

Both the Kakhovka and Antonivka bridges - two large crossings east of the occupied centre of Kherson which traverse the Dnieper river and allow Putin's troops in Kherson to receive vital supplies - were badly damaged in a series of Ukrainian strikes.

Rising smoke can be seen from the beach at Saky after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, Tuesday August 9

A large mushroom cloud is seen rising from the scene of explosions at a Russian held airbase in Novofedorivka, Crimea

Ukraine has not yet officially claimed responsibility, but a Ukrainian military official speaking on condition of anonymity told the New York Times that the nation's armed forces launched the attack

If the airbase was in fact struck by the Ukrainians, it would mark the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, did post on Facebook, saying: 'Today's explosions in Novofedorivka are another reminder of who is Crimea. Because it is Ukraine.'

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and has occupied the territory ever since despite widespread condemnation from much of the international community.

If the airbase was in fact struck by the Ukrainians, it would mark the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, posted on Facebook: 'Today's explosions in Novofedorivka are another reminder of who is Crimea. Because it is Ukraine.'

But an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Ukraine is not taking responsibility for the explosions.

Mykhailo Podolyak, when asked by the Dozhd online television channel whether Kyiv was taking responsibility, replied: 'Of course not. What do we have to do with this?'

Novofedorivka is located more than 130 miles from the nearest part of mainland Ukraine not occupied by Putin's troops, and Ukrainian authorities have not officially taken responsibility for the blasts.

Russian's defence ministry denied the explosions were caused as a result of incoming missile fire, claiming: 'Aircraft ammunition detonated at the ''Saky'' airfield near the village of Novofedorivka at a rubble storage site.

'No aviation equipment at the airfield was damaged. Measures are being taken to extinguish the resulting fire and investigate the cause of the explosion.

'According to the report from the site, there was no fire impact on the collapsed ammunition storage area at the airfield.'

Russia claims the explosions were caused by detonating aircraft ammunition. Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the blasts

People seen resting and sunbathing on a beach as smoke and flames rise after explosions at a Russian military airbase, in Novofedorivka

Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, August 9
Sesame Place have cancelled character Rosita by banning her from meet and greets and the daily parade after a family launched a $25million lawsuit against the park.

DailyMail.com can reveal that the bilingual Muppet, from Mexico, is slowly being erased from the theme park in Philadelphia, with staff claiming she has been removed in the wake of the controversy.

A mother slammed the character as racist after filming Rosita seemingly ignoring her daughter and niece as they reached out to the character during the parade last month.

The two little girls eagerly reached out to the blue character, who was introduced to expand the diversity of Sesame Street, who was seen shaking their finger at them, before allegedly hugging the little white girl next to them.

Multiple buildings with the costume characters face on them have reportedly remained closed since the incident in July, with staff claiming she has been 'cancelled'.

Rositas Cocina restaurant has reportedly been closed for weeks despite the busy summer period.

Rosita was one of the only characters who was not included in the daily parade, with staff members adding that the performers were now being told to remain on the floats

One staff member told DailyMail.com: With recent events Rosita hasnt been around much anymore.

Shes been taken off the parade entirely since the racism allegations.

None of the characters walk the street in the parade any more, and any meet and greets for her have been called off.

That is all because of the allegations, they dont want anyone potentially making the same claims.

Essentially, Rosita has been cancelled and I dont think shell be back any time soon.

The Rosita character has been cancelled by Sesame Place after the racism allegations came to light. Two little girls were seen reaching up to the character who waved a hand in a 'no' gesture, with the parents claiming it is because the girls were black

Rosita's Cocina, a Mexican themed restaurant at the park, has remained closed since the incident with staff telling DailyMail.com that it is unlikely to open again for a while

Other stands with the characters face on it were also not open during a visit by DailyMail.com, with staff confirming that Rosita had also been removed from the parade

Another said: The Rosita restaurant has been closed for the last few weeks.

There hasn't been a real explanation as to why, but staff are assuming it could be to do with the accusations.

The meet and greets have also changed recently but that could also be because of the heat with some other characters.

The character has not been removed from the latest series of the TV show, which premiered on HBO Max in November last year.

Other staff members claimed that the characters were on rotation for meet and greets, and not all of the characters appear on the parade - including Big Bird.

But on the Sesame Place app any events with Rosita can be found by actively searching her name, with only Meet and Greets for certain characters appearing.

Rosita was one of the only characters who was not included in the daily parade, with staff members adding that the performers were now being told to remain on the floats after the allegations.

Other images of the character have been hidden by the park, with Rosita and Big Bird both being covered with a large purple structure close to a dining hall in the theme park.

Stores selling merchandise of Sesame Street also appeared to have either removed items featuring the character or having less out on display.

An empty basked in one of the stores appeared to be where Rosita figures had been but were now empty.

Mugs and other items also did not feature the character, but it is not clear if she was just not part of the main 2022 branding before the incident.

T-shirts, plush toys and various other items were also all on display for the other characters of Sesame Street, but none of the stores had a Rosita section.

Sesame Place did not respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com regarding the removal of Rosita, but did confirm a new 'series of initiatives'.

Multiple characters merchandise was available throughout the theme park, but it appeared that Rosita had been reduced in the stores - with other characters taking more precedence

A structure had also been put in place in front of a board showing Rosita, in the middle of Big Bird and Cookie Monster, near the dining hall in the theme park

Some of the stores had a few items of Rosita merchandise, but she did not have her own section in any of the shops. Other characters such as Abby, Elmo and the Cookie Monster were all readily available

The park said they will be including a comprehensive racial equity assessment, and developing and implementing an anti-bias training and education program.

By the end of September 2022 they say that all employees will have received the training to 'address bias, promote inclusion, prevent discrimination, and ensure all guests and employees feel safe and welcome'.

All new employees will also undergo the training, and the assessment will include engagement with both internal and external stakeholders.

In a previous statement the company on Sunday, theme park officials called the now viral moment a 'misunderstanding,' saying the mascot likely did not see the girls due to limited vision in the costume's unwieldy mask.

They said: 'Our brand, our park and our employees stand for inclusivity and equality in all forms.

'That is what Sesame Place is all about and we do not tolerate any behaviors in our parks that are contrary to that commitment.

'We also are, and always have been, committed to making sure every family and every child has the best possible experience at our parks and we are incredibly disappointed when that does not happen.'

'We spoke to the family and extended our apologies and invited them back for a special meet-and-greet opportunity with our characters.

The park said the actor portraying Rosita - who was not named - 'did not intentionally ignore the girls and is devastated about the misunderstanding.'

The statement alleged Rosita was gesturing 'no' to another guest who had requested they hold hold their child for a photo, 'which is not permitted.'

The park also said the mascot likely did not see the girls due to limited vision in the costume's unwieldy mask, which 'sometimes make it difficult to see at lower levels' leading actors to occasionally 'miss hug requests from guests.'

LaMarr, the family attorney, said that the family is appalled and disturbed by the incident and 'the injuries propagated to their children'

One of the young girls, Nylah Brown, stood silent at a press conference this week with her cousin reportedly in 'isolation' after the incident

Sesame Workshop - which was careful to explain that Sesame Place is a licensed partner - posted another statement on its social media regarding the incident

Sesame Place confirmed the incident occurred in a statement posted to Instagram on Saturday, but said it was a 'misunderstanding'

B'Ivory Lamarr, the attorney for the family who have launched a $25million lawsuit against eth Philadelphia based theme park, previously rejected the firms explanation.

During a press conference he called the reason that the actor couldnt see as bogus, adding this is not about money.

They are calling for the performed to be terminated, saying it is the only acceptable action that the company can take.

Lamarr noted he has received evidence from 25 to 30 other black families of similar incidents at the Sesame Street-based theme park over the years.

Jodi Brown, the mum who filmed the incident, says that her daughter Skylar, 6, has been forced to isolate with her grandmother after the incident which caused her great distress.

The theme park has apologized about the incident since the video was posted over the weekend by Brown - who took her daughter Skylar and niece Nylah, both 6, to the park.

The family is also said to be looking to get the two girls therapy to help them cope with the apparent snub.

Sesame Workshop - which was careful to explain that Sesame Place is a licensed partner - then posted another statement on its social media Monday night.

They wrote: 'What these children experienced is unacceptable.

'We have been in contact with Sesame Place, our licensed park partner, and they have assured us that they will conduct bias training and a thorough review of the ways in which they engage with families and guests.

'We will continue working with our long-term partner Sesame Place to ensure that appropriate actions are taken and that incidents like this do not happen in the future.'
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Many people turned to exploring local nature paths for their daily exercise when lockdown closed gyms and group sports took a hiatus amid the pandemic.

Amateur photographers who captured stunning images of animals in their natural habitat were quick to submit their snaps to Weekend magazine's annual Wildlife Photography Challenge in the hopes of winning a package worth over 1,000.

The entrants were split into five categories - Birds; Mammals; Insects; Under-18s; and Reptiles, Fish, Amphibians & Molluscs.

While each category winner received a Nikon mirrorless digital camera kit and a year's subscription to Nikon Owner magazine, the overall winner also received a trip to the Camargue with wildlife photographer Simon Stafford, courtesy of Create Away, for a four-night masterclass in photographing the region's wild horses, flamingos and bulls.

Judges David Suchet, Clare Balding, Lucy Cooke, Steve Brown, Kelly Brook and Michael Eleftheriades were impressed with Lee O'dwyer, 67, a retired engineer from Lancashire, who was awarded the overall winner for his shot of a long-tailed tit.

These runner-up snaps taken by talented amateur photographers prove choosing an overall winner was a tough decision...

BIRDS

PUFFIN: Taken by Joseph Bristow, 23, a retail supervisor from Llantwit Major. 'Arriving at 3am and queueing for the 6am ticket office to open. First in line I caught the boat over to Skomer Island. With only a few hours permitted on the island I had no time to waste. Surrounded by the Puffins was an amazing spectacle and allowed me to capture some amazing photos. I found this one puffin who seemed very tame and loved posing for the camera. As he stared down the barrel of my lens I took my shot and was pleased with the result. I found the black background really provides a provocative and striking image highlight the vibrant colour of the Puffins.'

KESTREL CHICKS: Taken by Jayne Kirkby, 20, from Braintree, Essex. 'Beautiful pair of Kestrel chicks, taken at Wrabness on 20th June 2020.'

KINGFISHER: Tim Clifton, a 59-year-old from, St Leonards on Sea, snapped this captivating photo of a kingfisher hunting for small fish

MALLARD: William Watson, 64, a semi retired HGV driver from East Dunbartonshire. 'Taken on the Forth & Clyde canal (December '19') Bishopbriggs, As I went to take this photo of this female Mallard it stretched creating a nice reflection....'

INSECTS

BUTTERFLY: Adam Lane, a 27-year-old host at Legoland, from Slough, captured a butterfly perched on a purple flower in specular detail

WASP: Shelia Moth took this captivating photo of a wasp on a thistle, capturing the insect and plant in immense detail

SPIDER: Taken by Geoffrey Wells, 67, a maintenance caretaker from North Yorkshire. 'This picture was taken in my back garden during the recent lockdown.'

REPTILES

MATING FROGS: Taken by Steve Jellett, 64, from Essex, who is retired. 'Taken in small garden pond when 21 frogs descended to mate.'

MAMMALS

ROE DEER: Tim Cliffton, a 75-year-old from St Leonards on sea, took a photograph of two roe deer spotted in a field

MOUSE: Taken by Cameron Parfitt, 20, a student at the University of Brighton, from Worthing. 'I would love to highlight that even in your back garden there are images to be had. This image is of a cheeky wood mouse that keeps stealing food from what we have now dubbed the mouse feeder. It's not unheard of for this little guy to be found inside the feeder without a care in the world stuffing himself with the bird seed.'

JUNIORS

FOX CUB: Billy Evans-Freke, 15, a secondary school student from East Sussex. 'It wasn't a long wait in the hide before the first fox cub woke up from its nap and came out into the open. It was soon followed by another cub. At first they stayed in the shadows of the bushes near the den. But once they gained their confidence they started coming closer. This cub in particular was very curious and came very close to the hide.'
A serving Metropolitan Police officer will stand trial next year after denying groping a woman by grabbing her breast in a London nightclub.

PC Emeri Ratucoko, 37, allegedly grabbed the complainant's breast at a nightclub in Kingston, south-west London, on February 7.

Prosecutors said he then became involved in an altercation with the bar manager.

Ratucoko appeared at Kingston Crown Court today where he pleaded not guilty to sexual assault.

PC Emeri Ratucoko (pictured) allegedly grabbed the complainant's breast while in a nightclub in Kingston, south west London, on February 7 this year

Prosecutors said Ratucoko then became involved in an altercation with the bar manager

In charges read out to him, the defendant was accused of intentionally touching the woman in a sexual way.

Ratucoko, of Wandsworth, south-west London, is alleged to have 'not believed she reasonably consented'.

Last month he chose to have a jury trial, as opposed to a trial in a magistrates court, which is set to take place from August 29 next year.

He was granted unconditional bail until then.

The Met previously said the officer, who was off duty at the time of the incident, has been placed on restricted duties and has no face-to-face contact with the public and no involvement in the investigation of sexual offences.
The United Arab Emirates today overturned a three-year prison sentence for an American lawyer who had represented slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Instead, Virginia-based lawyer Asim Ghafoor will be fined $1.36 million and deported from the UAE, one of his lawyers said.

Ghafoor, who had represented Khashoggi before he was killed at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul in 2018, had been convicted in absentia in the UAE on murky charges that included money laundering and tax evasion.

Authorities have not released specifics about the case, saying only that it involved illegal money transfers through the UAE banking system.

Last month, Ghafoor's supporters say Emirati security agents arrested him upon landing at Dubai International Airport and sent him to a detention facility in Abu Dhabi, where he was sentenced to three years in prison followed by deportation.

Virginia-based lawyer Asim Ghafoor will be fined $1.36 million and deported from the UAE, one of his lawyers said

Ghafoor's lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to disrupt the proceedings as his client was still in the UAE. He said Ghafoor was ordered to pay the $1.36 million fine before he could leave the country.

There was no immediate acknowledgement from Emirati officials. The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not respond to request for comment.

Ghafoor, who helped set up a human rights group with Khashoggi, had been transiting through Dubai en route to Istanbul for a family wedding. His supporters say he had no idea the UAE had convicted him at some point in the past.

Emirati authorities claim they had investigated Ghafoor at the request of the United States. The State Department, however, said Washington had not ordered Ghafoor's detention. The Justice Department has declined to comment.

Ghafoor's lawyer rejected the charges of tax evasion and illegal money transfers. His supporters insist he had no opportunity to defend himself against the charges and describe his trial and conviction as unjust.

The in absentia trial and his detention on July 14 while U.S. President Joe Biden was visiting the region had drawn criticism from rights groups and some members of Congress.

The United States has not confirmed it requested the Emirati investigation and said Ghafoor was not detained at Washington's request.

Asim Ghafoor was lawyer to Jamal Khashoggi (pictured)  the dissident Saudi journalist who was killed at Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul in 2018

Ghafoor's supporters have said he was not aware of the charges, with some U.S. lawmakers suggesting the arrest may be political and mentioning his ties to Khashoggi, who was murdered by Saudi agents in Turkey in 2018.

Ghafoor serves on the board of Washington-based human rights watchdog Democracy for the Arab World Now, DAWN, which is highly critical of human rights abuses in the autocratic UAE.

Ghafoor's connection to Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist who was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in Turkey in 2018, has raised the profile of the case.

However, the State Department said there was no indication Ghafoor's detention was related to his association with Khashoggi.

UAE authorities have consistently described the case as strictly one of financial crimes; they did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters on Tuesday for comment on the accusation Ghafoor's links to Khashoggi may have been a factor.

U.S. intelligence says Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the operation in which Khashoggi was killed. The prince has denied involvement. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are close allies.

According to Ghafoor's website, Ghafoor helped Khashoggi incorporate U.S.-based rights group Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) in 2018 and is a member of its board.

DAWN had called for his immediate release, saying the May conviction was obtained without due process, a criticism that has been taken up by members of the U.S. Congress.

The UAE Embassy said Ghafoor has received due process since his arrest, local legal counsel and regular contact with his family and with U.S. consular officials. It said his request for bail was denied in a previous court hearing pending appeal.

Many foreigners have landed in prison in the UAE after falling foul of the federation's strict legal system based on Islamic law. Even the smallest debts can lead to years in prison. The federation of seven sheikhdoms also outlaws political parties.
Spain has imposed harsh limits on air conditioning in public buildings to save energy amid the country's second heatwave of the summer.

With temperatures exceeding 102F today, under the new government decree, air conditioning must now not exceed 80F (27 degrees Celsius).

The rules affect public transport, shops, offices, theatres and cinemas and come as part of an EU-wide effort to reduce reliance on Russian energy.

Tires lie on the cracked ground of La Vinuela reservoir during a severe drought in La Vinuela, near Malaga

A woman adjusts the temperature to 27 degrees in one of the rooms of the Parador de Alcala de Henares in Madrid

The legislation also affects heating in winter, when temperatures can be set no higher than 66F (19C).

'The plan's aim is to save gas for the winter in case Putin decides to cut off gas supplies to Europe as a result of sanctions... which could make this winter very difficult,' Joan Groizard, head of the Energy Savings and Diversification Institute at Spain's ecology ministry, told public television.

Adopted last week, the legislation also requires that from 10pm, shops switch off window-display lighting in a move also affecting the illumination of public buildings.

By the end of September, any air-conditioned or heated premises must have an automatic door-closing mechanism installed to avoid energy waste.

Aerial view of La Sorrueda reservoir in Santa Lucia de Tirajana at 10 per cent of its capacity, in the island of Gran Canaria

People walk around the remains of the church of Sant Roma de Sau as it emerges from the low waters of the Sau Reservoir, north of Barcelona

A young man adjusts the temperature to 27 degrees at a pizzeria in Pamplona, Spain

However, the law does not lay out any specific penalties and has left the task of monitoring compliance to Spain's 17 regions, some of which have been highly critical of the move, notably those run by the right-wing opposition People's Party.

Among the most critical has been Madrid's regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso, who has vowed to take the measure to Spain's Constitutional Court.

The government unveiled details of the plan in May as part of an EU-wide effort to cut dependence on Russia for oil and gas following its February invasion of Ukraine.

The European Commission is planning to cut EU dependency on Russian gas by two-thirds this year and end its reliance on Russian supplies of the fuel before 2030.

An EU-wide plan to cut gas consumption came into effect on Tuesday with the aim of member states cutting back by 'at least 15 percent' between August and March 2023 based on their average use over the past five years.

A sheep drinks water from the dried bed of the Guadiana river during a severe drought in the Cijara reservoir, in Villarta de los Montes, Spain

The remains of the Royal Site of La Isabela bathhouse emerge from the low waters of the Buendia reservoir, in Sacedon, Spain

Given the unique position of Spain and Portugal and their limited connection with the European energy market, Brussels has allowed both countries to adopt a reduced target of 7.0 per cent.

The overriding aim is to bolster gas reserves in time for what is likely to be a very tough winter, with European households and businesses already squeezed by skyrocketing energy prices.

A prolonged dry spell and extreme heat made July the hottest month in Spain since at least 1961.

Spanish reservoirs are at just 40 per cent of capacity on average in early August, well below the ten-year average of around 60 per cent, official data shows.

The Cijara reservoir in central Spain is now fully exposed as the reservoir is 84 per cent empty after a severe drought.

A sheep looks for something to graze during a severe drought in the Cijara reservoir, in Villarta de los Montes, Spain

In Andalusia, one of Europe's hottest and driest regions, paddle-boats and waterslides lie abandoned on the cracked bed of Vinuela reservoir, remnants of a rental business gone with the water, now at a critical level of 13 per cent.

A nearby restaurant fears a similar fate.

'The situation is quite dramatic in the sense that it's been several years without rain and we're hitting rock bottom,' said owner Francisco Bazaga, 52. 'If it doesn't rain, unless they find some alternative water supply, the future is very, very dark.'

The dry, hot weather is likely to continue into the autumn, Spain's meteorological service AEMET said in a recent report, putting further strain on Europe's largest network of dammed reservoirs with a holding capacity of 5.6 billion cubic metres.

'We are in a particularly dry year, a very difficult year that confirms what climate change scenarios have been highlighting,' Energy Minister Teresa Ribera told a news conference on Monday, also highlighting that the drought was leading to devastating wildfires.
A murder suspect has been arrested after investigators used DNA technology to identify him in case from 1982.

A case that had been stalled for 40 years has now been solved thanks to DNA technology. Investigators in Sunnydale, California have arrested a suspect in the September 1982 murder of a 15 year old student Karen Stitt of Palo Alto High School.

After 40 years of searching, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Detectives finally identified Gary Gene Ramirez, now 75, as the primary suspect in Stitt's murder. The 15 year old California girl was taken in a Northern California bus stop before she was raped and killed, ABC News reported.

Stitt was waiting for a bus in Sunnyvale when she was taken during the early hours of September 3, 1982. Her naked, lifeless body was later found by a delivery truck driver among bushes 91 meters away from the bus stop where she disappeared.

How DNA Technology Help Identify and Apprehend the Suspect in the 40 Year Old Cold Case

The advanced DNA technology of more recent years was instrumental in the identification of the suspect in the 40 year old cold case murder of Stitt. CBS News reported that in 2000, a DNA profile was taken from physical evidence at the crime scene and run through the FBI's Combined DNA Index System or CODIS.

CODIS is made up of three levels of information, namely the Local DNA Index Systems (LDIS) where DNA profiles are stored, the State DNA Index Systems (SDIS) that enables laboratories across states to share information, and the National DNA Index System (NDIS) that supports laboratories in comparing DNA information with each other.

At the time, the DNA profile did not match any information in the FBI's CODIS national database. But using a new investigative technique called forensic genealogy, detectives were able to identify Ramirez as the primary suspect.

Rob Baker, who works at the Cold Case Unit within the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, explained that investigators and genealogists would have to build a family tree using just a DNA sample. From just the sample, they were able to build the family tree and identify Ramirez.

Three years ago, Sunnyvale police Detective Matt Hutchison worked with a genealogist to narrow down the DNA to four brothers. The detective sought out one of Ramirez's children and collected a DNA sample, which later showed a high probability that the suspect they were looking for was in fact their father.

Following the discovery, authorities used a search warrant to get Ramirez's DNA sample, which the crime lab confirmed was a match for the DNA found in the crime scene.

Read Also: NEC Working On Suitcase-Sized DNA Analyzer To Process Samples In 25 Minutes

Investigators Take One Step Closure in Bringing Justice to the Stitt Family

Ramirez was arrested in his current residence in Maui, Hawaii on August 2 after his DNA matched the blood from Stitt's leather jacket and the four-foot cinder block wall where she was left after being stabbed 59 times. Ramirez is currently incarcerated in a Maui jail pending an extradition hearing on Wednesday to deliver him to California.

Now, Hutchinson is more determined than ever to solve similar cases. He said, "The violent nature of this crime has always led me to believe that there could be other victims out there either before this case or after this case. And so that's my focus now."

DNA technology used to bring justice to Stitt and her family is the same process used in the 2018 arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., also known as the Golden State Killer in 2018, a former police officer who killed at least 13 people in California between 1974 and 1986.

Related Article: New Encoding Technology Can Store All World's Data In One Room
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Motorists are queuing up outside of Britain's cheapest petrol station in droves where filling your tank up is as little as 1.58 per litre - as locals in the remote Yorkshire town say they livid about bargain-hunters blocking their roads.

Dale Head Community Garage in Hawes, North Yorkshire, keeps its prices so low despite the rising cost of living as it runs as a non-for-profit community enterprise which sees any surplus get put back into the local area. It also gets a 5p-per-litre government rebate because of its isolated location.

While some are said to be delighted with the cheap fuel, with reports of people making 50-mile round trips to fill up their tanks, not everyone is happy with the influx of bargain-hunting motorists.

Local roads are being blocked by drivers queueing outside the remote Yorkshire Dales garage, with residents telling MailOnline how 'livid' and 'concerned' they are about delays on the surrounding roads in the case of an emergency.

Drivers were hit by a record hike in unleaded prices in June as the average cost of a litre rose by 16.6p to 191.4p.

The surge in prices, which is the highest monthly increase in records dating back to 2000, added more than 9 to the cost of filling a typical 55-litre family petrol car.

Dale Head Community Garage's 1.58 per litre price tag means a family car can be filled up with petrol for 86.90, compared to the national average of 1.80 per litre, leaving others across the country to pay 12 more at 99 for a full tank.

The garage's 1.68 diesel sits below the UK's average of 1.90, meaning a fill-up would cost 92 at Dale Head compared to 104.50 elsewhere.

Motorists have been making 50-mile journeys to fill up their vehicles at Dale Head Community Garage in Hawes, North Yorkshire, pictured, where it currently costs just 1.58 per litre of petrol and 1.68 for diesel

Helene Iveson-Purcival, 50, has lived in the village for 33 years and is 'concerned' about the queues of traffic in the village. She told MailOnline that she is f*****g livid'

The Wensleydale Creamery Flagship Cheese Experience and Visitor Centre is only three minutes away from the Dale Head Community Garage

The Wensleydale Creamery is located in the Yorkshire Dales' national park

Average diesel prices rose by 15.6p per litre, ending last month at 199.1p.

Helene Iveson-Purcival, 50, has lived in the village for 33 years and is 'concerned' about the queues of traffic in the village.

She told MailOnline: 'I'm f*****g livid. Local people can't get on with their day, it has been four weeks now. The other day, the junction was backed up for 15 minutes.

'I live behind the petrol station, what if I need to get my children or grandchildren across the road in an emergency?

'The petrol station was built for local people, by local people - it is not built to accommodate this.

'We often have wagons and tractors coming down the road, but they are getting blocked. It has never ever been this bad before.'

Her son, Max Purcival, 18, said: 'I work for a boiler company, and a hotel had an emergency so we had to rush there.

'We needed petrol, but couldn't fill up here because they were queuing, so we had to go to the motorway to get some. Luckily we didn't break down.'

Market town Hawes only has an estimated population of more than 1,100, and sits at the head of Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales - famous for its production of Wensleydale Cheese.

The Wensleydale Creamery Flagship Cheese Experience and Visitor Centre is only three minutes away from the Dale Head Community Garage.

Terry Thornhill, 57 (pictured), and his wife, live in their campervan full time, and their daughter lives around the corner from the garage, who they say has been blocked in her house

Judith Forsit, 71, left, and husband Terry Thornhill, who live in their caravan, pictured on Wednesday getting some of the cheap petrol at Dale Head Community Garage

The petrol station is the nearest one to celebrated tourist spot The Wensleydale Creamery, which is just three miles away

Local Kathleen Martin, 79, pictured, always fills up at the petrol station and thinks it is 'fantastic' that the prices are so low

The petrol price of 1.58 is compared to the national average of 1.80, and its 1.68 diesel sits below the UK's average of 1.90

Abbie Rhodes, 45, the general manager of the petrol station, said: 'Some of the local people find it inconvenient, but I think they are enjoying the prices. The queues should be gone when there's no more winter tourists.'

Chris Yelling, 47, was visiting the area from Sussex, and was 'quite surprised' at how cheap the fuel is.

He said: 'It was 188.0p a litre when we left Sussex, so it is a nice bonus coming up here. We've come up here for our holiday for years, and it has never been this cheap.'

Local Kathleen Martin, 79, always fills up at the petrol station and thinks it is 'fantastic'.

She said: 'Lots of people are travelling to come here, and you need to think is it really that economical. I have been driving 62 years, and have always filled up here.'

The garage, located in Hawes, a remote part of the Yorkshire Dales, has seen some people making a 50-mile round trip to take advantage of the cheap fuel prices

Abbie Rhodes, 45, the general manager of the petrol station, pictured, said: 'Some of the local people find it inconvenient, but I think they are enjoying the prices. The queues should be gone when there's no more winter tourists'

Nelly, 65, and Derrick Walker, 75, were passing through the village from their holiday in Scotland to their home in Great Yarmouth when they slammed on the brakes to fill up their tank.

Derrick said: 'We saw it as we were passing, saw the prices and just put my foot on the break. It is too good not to stop, when we left home it was 197p a litre.'

Judith Forsit, 71, and Terry Thornhill, 57, live in their campervan full time, and their daughter lives around the corner.

Judith said: 'Yes the system isn't perfect, but we are glad we have been able to fill up with the prices here.

'But my daughter has had lots of different problems, with people blocking her junction and she can't always get out of her house.'

The UK still has a higher average petrol price of 186p a litre than all European Union members except Finland (190p) and Denmark (186p), with drivers in France paying around 23p a litre less than those in the UK. But this station in the Yorkshire Dales is an exception with 158p per litre

Carl Kay, 56, from New Zealand, pictured left, is currently travelling around the UK in his campervan but was not as impressed with the prices. Pictured right, Chris Yelling, 47, a tourist from Sussex, said the low prices were a 'nice bonus' during his holiday

Carl Kay, 56, is currently travelling around the UK in his campervan but was not as impressed with the prices. He said: 'Back home in New Zealand, it is pretty cheap and it's not at their prices just yet.

'We can't control the price though but I'm still going to fill up, even though my tank is three quarters full.'

The UK still has a higher average petrol price of 186p a litre than all European Union members except Finland (190p) and Denmark (186p), with drivers in France paying around 23p a litre less than those in the UK.

Fuel prices were already rising before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, but the impact of the war has exacerbated the situation.

A reduction in the use of Russian oil has increased demand from other producers, resulting in higher prices.
A father has accused a Kansas City water park of racism after it abruptly called off the birthday party for his son when 500 people allegedly arrived and made staff feel 'uncomfortable.'

Chris Evans said he signed a $2,000 contract with Summit Waves Aquatic Facility in Lee's Summit to host 250 people for his 17-year-old son's birthday party on Saturday, but officials said a crowd twice the size appeared.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Evans said his family was told 'this event doesn't represent Lee's Summit Waves' and that his reservation was canceled because a park official was 'uncomfortable.'

A video of the heated argument with the Evans family and a park employee shows the family demanding an answer, with the official not giving a clear response as she's flanked by police officers.

'If this was a large group of white folks, there wouldn't be a problem,' a family member tells the employee, who shakes her head no as the park denies the allegations.

Evans says: 'I know you don't know us, I just want to know why you're uncomfortable with us.'

Chris Evans claimed his family was discriminated because of their race when the Summit Waves Aquatic Facility in Lee's Summit, Missouri, canceled his son's birthday party

Chris Evans and his wife (left) confronted a Park employee (right) about the cancelation on Saturday. Evans signed a $2,000 contract to host 250 people, but officials said it failed to properly prepare and that it was uncomfortable with an alleged crowd of 500 people

Park officials claimed that a crowd twice the size of what was agreed on came for the birthday party, accusing the family of promoting the event on social media

Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation Department, which operates the water park, said in a statement issued Tuesday that it apologized to the Evans family because of miscommunication and missed processes that led to the cancellation.

The statement said its investigation found the department failed to arrange additional security for the party, which Evans paid for as part of his contract.

Parks officials said the family also promoted the event on social media despite the contract stating that would not happen.

Park department officials said up to 500 people showed up in the parking lot for the party, with the park having a size capacity limit of 600.

But Evans claimed the event was canceled before the teenagers arrived and there was 'never anything close to 500 kids in the parking lot.'

'My kids were heartbroken that the party was canceled,' he said. 'They are good kids who make good grades, have bright futures and do not deserve to be treated like this. And that goes for all the kids at the park that day.'

'It appears to have been canceled simply because the park staff was uncomfortable with a group of Black teenagers having a pool party to enjoy the end of the summer,' Evans said during Tuesday's conference.

Officials said they grew worried about the event after other parents called asking about party details and safety concerns due to the size.

After several unsuccessful efforts to reach the Evans prior to their arrival, the department decided to cancel the party, according to the statement.

'Safety pertaining to the anticipated crowd size and the potential impact it might have on party guests and the staff was the sole reason for the cancellation,' the statement said.

Evans said the party was for his son, Isaiah, 17, (left) who organized the party with is brother, Noah (right). The two had saved up money to hold the party with friends

An investigation by Parks and Rec officials found that the park failed to arrange extra security for the event, which Evans had paid for. Officials issued an apology to the family

Pictured: Several teens waiting outside Summit Waves Aquatic Facility

The employee arguing with parents repeatedly apologized for the incident and refuted claims of racism. The city's mayor said another employee had posted 'disturbing' comments on social media about the incident, leading to an apology for the family

Lee's Summit Mayor William Baird on Tuesday criticized the department's handling of the incident and denounced 'appalling' statements he said a park employee made on social media after the incident.

'We must intentionally embrace a culture that is welcoming and inclusive, and we must continually denounce any urge or impulse to exclude,' he said.

The parks department's statement on Tuesday said its administrator apologized to the Evans family for 'the inappropriate and insensitive language' used by staff and said appropriate actions would be taken.

The department said it would review its rental processes, including communication, and improve training to align with the city's diversity and inclusion efforts.

'A sincere apology is owed to the Evans family and our Lee's Summit community,' Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation said in a statement. 'LSPR strives to be a respectful and inclusive organization where all members of our community feel welcome and appreciated.

'Inappropriate language, social media posts and behavior are not acceptable and will not be tolerated.'

The incident comes amid backlash against Sesame Street's themes park and Chuck E. Cheese, where black parents claimed their children were snubbed by costumed mascots due to their race.

As Cheese approaches, ecstasy ensues. But the mouse leaves the two-year-old hanging and walks off

A video, shared widely on social media, shows two other black girls from New York apparently being snubbed by a costumed employee during a parade at the Sesame Street theme park in Langhorne, outside Philadelphia

Earlier this week, Naney D. Muhammad told TMZ she was unimpressed by an apology she was given by Chuck E. Cheese corporate and that she planned to litigate to find some resolution against a chain in Wayne, New Jersey.

In it, Cheese could be seen handing out a hearty helping of high fives to a stage full of white children, before seemingly completely ignoring the ebullient and jubilant black two-year-old at his feet.

'My 2-year-old was racially discriminated against,' Muhammed wrote with the video, 'As you can see, he gives all of the yt kids hi-5s and PURPOSELY ignored my black baby.'

The latest lawsuit announcement comes after the family of the two girls who were seemingly snubbed by a character at a Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, revealed they were suing the park for $25million.

'Just looking at her face, it makes me want to cry every time I see it,' the girls' father Quinton Burns said during a press conference announcing the suit.

In that video, the two black girls from New York were passed over by the character Rosita, who had just moved on from interacting with a number of white children.

Sesame Place apologized in a statement for that incident and explained that the actor inside the costume simply couldn't see the girls due to the actor's limited field of vison.
The Department of Justice said Wednesday that it had charged a 45-year-old Iranian national who's a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for plotting to murder former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

The DOJ said that Shahram Poursafi, who also goes by the name Mehdi Rezayi, attempted to pay individuals in the United States $300,000 to carry out the murder in Washington, D.C. or Maryland.

The plot was likely in retaliation for the January 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani, the leader of the Quds Force, a division of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.

Former President Donald Trump ordered the airstrike that killed Soleimani, which took place outside the Baghdad airport in Iraq, while Bolton was serving as his national security adviser.

The Department of Justice said Wednesday that it had charged a 45-year-old Iranian national who's a member of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for plotting to murder former National Security Advisor John Bolton (pictured)

A wanted by the FBI poster that shows photographs of 45-year-old Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps member Shahram Poursafe, who tried to have John Bolton killed, according to the DOJ

Bolton thanked U.S. authorities Wednesday after the plot was publicized. He added that Iran's leaders are 'liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States,' and spoke out against the U.S. rejoining the 2015 Iran nuclear deal

Bolton cheered the death of Soleimani at the time.

'Congratulations to all involved in eliminating Qassem Soleimani. Long in the making, this was a decisive blow against Irans malign Quds Force activities worldwide,' Bolton said. 'Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.'

Bolton thanked U.S. authorities Wednesday after the plot was publicized.

'I wish to thank the Justice Dept for initiating the criminal proceeding unsealed today; the FBI for its diligence in discovering and tracking the Iranian regimes criminal threat to American citizens; and the Secret Service for providing protection against Tehrans efforts,' the former national security adviser tweeted.

He added that Iran's leaders are 'liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States.'

Bolton argued against Biden administration efforts to rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

The current National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan commended the efforts of the DOJ and FBI in a Wednesday afternoon statement.

'We have said this before and we will say it again: the Biden Administration will not waiver in protecting and defending all Americans against threats of violence and terrorism,' Sullivan said. 'Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences.'

'We will continue to bring to bear the full resources of the U.S. Government to protect Americans,' Sullivan added.

Poursafi was charged with 'use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and with providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot,' the DOJ said.

In October, Poursafi reached out to an 'Individual A,' a U.S. resident who the Iranian had previously met online, and asked the individual to take photographs of Bolton.

Poursafi claimed that the photographs were for a book he was writing.

The individual told Poursafi he could introduce him to another person who could take the photographs for a fee of between $5,000 and $10,000.

Individual A later introduced Poursafi to a person referred to in court documents as 'confidential human source' or 'CHS.'

On November 9, 2021, Poursafi contacted CHS using an encrypted messaging app and directed the individual to another encrypted app for further communication.

Poursafi then offered the individual $250,000 to hire someone to 'eliminate' Bolton.

The amount was later negotiated to $300,000.

Poursafi added that there would be an additional 'job' and he would be willing to pay $1 million.

A July intelligence report from the National Counter Terrorism Center said that Iran may be plotting to assassinate top former United States officials over Soleimani's death, including Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former CENTCOM Commander General Kenneth McKenzie.

Poursafi told the CHS to open a cryptocurrency currency for payment, but told the individual he or she wouldn't be paid until the murder was carried out.

Poursafi also warned his 'group' would be angry if the individual was paid and the Bolton wasn't murdered.

He never denied being a part of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.

On November 14, 2021, CHS asked Poursafi for help locating Bolton.

Poursafi subsequently gave the individual Bolton's work address in Washington and provided CHS with screenshots of a street view of the building - which said it was '10,162 km away' from Poursafi's location, the distance between D.C. and Tehran.

Five days later, Poursafi told CHS that it didn't matter how the murder was carried out, but his 'group' would require video confirmation of Bolton's death.

CHS asked what would happen if the killing was attributed to Iran.

Poursafi told CHS not to worry and that his 'group' would take care of it.

He also advised CHS to talk about the murder plot in construction terms.

'For example, when the CHS asked Poursafi to specify how the murder was to be carried out, Poursafi told the CHS that he only asked the CHS to build a structure, but the method of construction was up to the CHS,' the DOJ said.

Through December and January, Poursafi urged CHS to complete the task.

On December 22, he sent a photograph of the individual's name and a stack of money.

On December 29, Poursafi asked CHS when the murder would be carried out, explaining his 'group' wanted it done quickly.

On January 3, Poursafi said 'his people' were eager to see it done.

CHS responded and asked how many people were involved, with Poursafi replying that he only had to report to one person, but there was a chain of command to whom his superior reported.

Poursafi also expressed regret that the assassination wouldn't be carried out in time to mark the anniversary of Soleimani's death.

Soleimani was killed on January 3.

Poursafi also warned CHS if the murder wasn't carried out soon, the job would be taken away from them.

Poursafi also told CHS that if he or she used a 'small weapon' he or she would have to get close to the target, but a 'large weapon' could be used, so the individual could stay further away.

On January 18, the two individuals had a back-and-forth about whether Bolton was traveling outside of Washington, D.C., during the time Poursafi wanted CHS to carry out the murder.

Poursafi told CHS that he needed to 'check something,' and within the hour determined that Bolton wasn't traveling at that time.

He then provided CHS with details about Bolton's schedule that appeared to not be publicly available.

Three days later, Poursafi told CHS that after successful completion of the first 'job' a second job was available to CHS.

Poursafi revealed that surveillance of the second target was complete, explaining that the information was gathered 'from the United States' and 'not Google,' an indication that the Iranians had an American source on the ground.

On February 1, Poursafi told CHS that if he or she didn't eliminate the target within two weeks, the job would be taken away.

Poursafi also informed the individual that someone checked the area around Bolton's home and found a security detail wasn't present - so CHS should be able to 'finish the job,' the DOJ said.

The job was never completed.

In March, Poursafi and CHS's communication seemed to reveal that the Bolton job had been taken away from them.

Poursafi told CHS he had another assassination job for CHS, encouraging the individual to take the offer and if it was done successfully, the 'group' would allow them to go after Bolton again.

In later April, CHS said he would no longer do work for Poursafi without being paid.

Poursafi sent the individual two payments that equaled $100.

The DOJ said that if Poursafi is convicted he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

The second charge, attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot, could equal 15 years in prison and fine up to $250,000.

Poursafi remains at-large abroad.
Five Texas college students are facing criminal charges following the 2019 death of a Texas Christian University freshman, after one allegedly pushed him off a boat while they were flirting.

A witness claims she saw Jack Elliot fall from the bow of a 22-foot boat after Delaney Brennan, 21, pushed him while flirting out on the waters of Lake Travis, a manmade lake, northwest of Austin, in October 2019.

Delaney and Jack, 19, had been 'kissing' when she gave him a 'playful shove' that left him overboard before hitting a propeller and drowning in the water at around 8.30pm.

But teens who were present on the boat attempted to conceal the truth by lying to officials, pleading ignorance to Jack's family, and dumping their booze bottles off the side of the boat.

The true circumstances were only revealed in a wrongful death lawsuit launched by Elliot's grieving family in 2020.

Elle Weber, another teen on the boat, detailed in a sworn statement in the suit: 'Delaney and Jack were at the front of the boat, flirting and kissing.

'She gave Jack a "playful little shove" and he fell off the boat.'

Weber admitted she had not told the police the full story. She said: 'I was scared and in shock about what happened.

'I wish it had not happened and I wish I'd told police everything the first time.'

In an affidavit, another teen said panicked Delaney kept repeating: 'He fell! I didn't mean to push him' after the ordeal.

Fashion student Delaney, now 21, also revealed in her own deposition that she got a tattoo of Jack's initials on her wrist after the tragedy so that she can remember how much 'he loved life.'

She said: 'I did that because I wanted to always have something to remember him by.

'When I looked down I wanted to remember how much he loved life and it kind of gave me a reminder to always live my life to the fullest and to do everything in life to basically live up to what he would have done.'

However, she is now one of five students facing criminal charges after the justice system weighed in and concluded they have a case to answer for - mainly concerning the alleged story cover-up.

Delaney Brennan was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with evidence by aiding in the deletion of a cellphone video. She could face up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

She will appear for a pre-trial at the Travis County Criminal Court on August 17.

Jack and Delaney, both Texas Christian University attendees, were allegedly kissing and flirting when she pushed him off the boat in October 2019

Jack Elliott, 19, a Texas Christian University freshman, was allegedly pushed off a boat while out on a lake near Austin in October 2019. He was struck by the boat's propeller and died

In an affidavit, another teen said panicked Delaney kept repeating: 'He fell! I didn't mean to push him' after the ordeal. Despite the lawsuit being settled privately, Delaney Brennan was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with evidence by aiding in the deletion of a cellphone video. She could face up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine

Posting onto social media, Delaney (pictured) wrote: 'I'm still messed up from this and my parents are here with me now, but we don't know much still. I just feel like guilty  and I don't think I have ever been this sad. I was the last person to touch him'

Delaney Brennan (far left) allegedly pushed Jack (far right) into the water while flirting with him at the front of a boat in October 2019

Jack, who was 19 at the time, had been partying and drinking together with 11 other teens on the waters of Lake Travis, a manmade lake, northwest of Austin.

Jack's body was found 10 days after he drowned more than 100 feet below the surface. Earlier on in the investigation, witnesses on the boat attempted to coverup what really happened

Mystery surrounded the circumstances of how Jack came to end up in the water after the witnesses 'concocted' a story to coverup the truth from authorities.

A total of 12 students from the university were enjoying an afternoon of drinking and wakeboarding when the tragedy struck - but Jack's heartbroken family were forced to fight to reveal what happened to their son.

Posting onto social media and writing to friends, Delaney said: 'I'm still messed up from this and my parents are here with me now, but we don't know much still.

'I just feel like guilty  and I don't think I have ever been this sad. I was the last person to touch him.'

Following Jack's death in October 2019, Brennan also posted a tribute to him on her Instagram.

She wrote: 'Jack Elliot was one of the best people I've ever met.

'He never failed to put a smile on my face, no matter the situation, and after only being best friends with him for two months, we formed such a special bond/friendship that I will cherish forever.'

She continued, 'I love you endlessly with my whole heart and miss you so so so much.'

The lawsuit, lodged by Elliott's family in a bid to get finite answers from the teens, was settled privately and confidentially.





Jack, 19, (pictured) had been 'kissing' the girl he was flirting with when she gave him a 'playful shove' that left him overboard before hitting a propeller and drowning in the water at around 8.30pm. The group were on Lake Travis, a manmade lake, northwest of Austin, in October 2019

Texas Parks and Wildlife wrote in a report that Jack Elliott was pushed by Delaney Brennan (pictured)

In her own deposition, Texas Christian University fashion student Delaney revealed how she had tattooed Jack's initials onto her wrist

The boating expedition in 2019 - which turned fatal - was led by Carson Neel whose dad, Billy, ran the Northshore Marina.

According to reports by the Orange County Register, Carson told everyone where the life jackets were stowed but gave no further safety instructions to his friends.

The group spent their sunny fall afternoon drinking and dancing on the deck of the boat while occasionally dipping into the water for a swim or to go wake boarding.

When the boat ran out of beer, they sailed back to the marina to fetch another case before venturing out onto the water once again.

But about an hour-and-a-half after sunset, the boat shook as it appeared to rumble over something. Jack, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found onboard.

Carson turned the boat back and headed towards the spot where he believed Jack might have gone overboard.

In the panic, those onboard shone the lights from their cellphones into the water in desperate hope of finding Jack.

'A lot of people were freaking out and crying and not communicating well,' Carson said in a sworn affidavit seen by the OC Register. 'I tried to stay as calm as possible because I knew it was serious and freaking out would make it worse.'

Carson dived into the lake and checked the boats propeller as he searched for Jack.

With no sign of him, five minutes later, the group decided to head back to shore.

The boating expedition was led by Carson Neel whose dad, Billy, ran the Northshore Marina

Elle called 911 - and gave her name to police as 'Elle Macpherson,' believed to be one of the first inconsistencies in the case.

She later said during a sworn deposition that she did not know the name she gave was one of a famous supermodel and actress.

As they sailed back to shore, the group allegedly dumped their alcohol bottles - including beers, White Claws, and vodka - in the water, a Texas Parks and Wildlife report wrote.

In a social media tribute post following the incident, Carson remembered Jack and his 'crazy dance moves.'

'One minute you're having the time of your life and the next one you're grieving the loss of a good friend,' Carson wrote.

He continued, 'Don't think it will ever feel right without you here man. I wish I coulda gotten closer to you but God's got a plan.'

Following Jack's disappearance, 'the teens hatched a plan to hide the truth from authorities and even Jack's family in Newport Beach,' according to police records.

While Carson and Elle Weber had been behind the controls on the boat that day, the group persuaded fellow student, Anthony Salazar, who had not been drinking because he was feeling unwell, to say that he had been behind the wheel at the time of the accident, according to reporting by the OC Register.

Jack's body was not recovered for another 10 days, found more than 100 feet below the surface.

Police searched for Jack's body after the group of teens on the boat the night of the incident failed to locate him

Jack's body was found near where he disappeared. He was found ten days later more than 100 feet below the surface.

Jack's body was found in the waters of Lake Travis (above), a manmade lake, northwest of Austin

Lake Travis is a popular tourist spot that covers nearly 19,000 acres and is 63.75 miles long

The lake is one of the most visited freshwater recreational destinations in Texas, according to laketravis.com

Throughout legal proceedings, the teens invoked their Fifth Amendment right to not incriminate themselves, but rumors abounded and the story slowly but surely came out.

Once the group returned to dry land, Travis County Sheriff's Office investigators questioned the teens separately, although their stories did not match up.

Jack's parents, Amy and Brett Elliott were given a number of scenarios as to what may have happened to their son.

One tale suggested Jack did a back flip off the boat into the water. Another alleged how Jack fell in while vomiting over the side of the vessel.

Two days later, some of the group gathered in a hotel room in Fort Worth near Dallas where the teens called Jack's parents who were grieving at home in California.

Elle did most of the talking, according to the OC Register. She said that the group were sorry for their son's death and for 'all the stories you've heard.'

Elle Weber (pictured) had been behind the controls on the boat that day according to her sworn deposition. She originally had told Jack's parents that nobody had any clear idea how their fell overboard - but her answer changed after a 2020 lawsuit. Elle later wrote in a sworn deposition that she had in fact been the only eyewitness and saw another girl push Jack into the lake

She acknowledged that nobody had any clear idea how Jack fell overboard.

'We don't know how Jack fell off the boat. We don't know if Jack stood up to change his position and he lost his balance or if he was fixing his hair, we don't know what he was doing.

'These are the most honest answers we can give you right now,' Elle said.

Soon after the phone call, Jack's parents were contacted by a father of one of the teens who was also in the room at the time of the call.

He told them how he had heard that Jack did not simply fall off the boat but was in fact pushed.

'My heart is broken into a million pieces,' Brett wrote on Jack's Facebook memorial.

'But, with each passing month, you give me more and more strength to keep pushing forward and fighting for TRUTH and ACCOUNTABILITY. I won't stop. You deserve it.'

Two months later, by December 2019, Ben Echelson, a Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden filed a report that contained details of what they believe really occurred.

'Jack Elliott was pushed by Delaney Brennan from the front of a wakeboard boat  operated by Elle Weber under the supervision of Carson Neel.

'Jack Elliott was struck by the propeller multiple times and was killed  the alcohol on board was thrown overboard,' Echelson wrote.

'False statements were given to the officers responding to the accident concerning the events preceding the push and the manner in which Jack Elliott fell into the water.'

The January 2020 lawsuit then confirmed to the family by witnesses how their son was nudged by his lover Delaney - ultimately plummeting to his death.

The Elliott family filed a wrongful death suit in January 2020 against Carson, Delaney and Elle in the hope that it might force them to testify and reveal the true events leading to their son's death. The suit was settled privately and confidentially

The Elliott family filed a wrongful death suit in January 2020 against Carson, Delaney and Elle in the hope that it might force them to testify and reveal the true events leading to their son's death. Jack is pictured with his dad, Brett

Despite the privately-settled lawsuit drawing to a close, the teens again found themselves in hot water in late 2021.

A Travis County grand jury decided that those involved had a criminal case to answer - particularly in respects to any alleged cover-up. Each of the five with undergo a pre-trial.

As well as Delaney Brennan's indicted felony charge, Carson Neel was also indicted on a felony charge of tampering with physical evidence for allegedly dumping the alcohol overboard.

Like Delaney, Carson could also face up to 10 years in jail and a $10,000 fine. Carson appeared in Travis County Criminal Courts on August 2.

Elle Weber has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to a police officer. She is set to appear in court on August 16.

Another of the teens onboard the boat, Josh Evans of Aliso Viejo, was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor. Evans appeared in court on August 7.

Anthony Salazar was indicted on a misdemeanor charge of perjury. He appeared in court on August 2.

One of the fathers who attended the meeting days after the accident had some words of advice for the teens: 'If you don't tell the truth  it comes back to bite you in the a**.'
A former Boston high school dean who lived a double life as a member of the notorious Latin Kings gang may soon face even more jail time after he pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal racketeering charge.

Shaun Harrison, 63, was already serving 26 years in state prison for attempting to kill one of his students at The English High School when he pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of 'conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity.'

Authorities say that as a member of the gang, Harrison used his position as the dean of The English School to recruit at-risk students to run drugs for him, but eventually shot one of the students out of fear he would expose Harrison's true nature.

Then when he was behind bars for the shooting, prosecutors say, he worked with fellow gang members to try to identify a police informant in his case and identify the people who contributed to his 2018 conviction, the Boston Globe reports.

All the while, Latin Kings would continue to funnel money into his prison accounts.

Harrison now faces up to 18 years in federal prison  in addition to the time he is serving in state prison for the attempted homicide of then 17-year-old Luis 'Angel' Rodriguez.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on the racketeering charge on November 15.

Shaun Harrison, 63, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal racketeering charge after he worked with fellow members of the Latin Kings to find a police informant in his case and identify the people who convicted him of attempted murder in 2018

Harrison was hired by Boston Public Schools in 2015 as a dean of The English School, where he was supposed to act as a mediator between students and teachers, work with at-risk teens, and run an anger-management for 10 students after school.

He portrayed himself as an anti-violence activist and mentor for troubled teens, who would call him 'Rev' out of respect.

But unbeknownst to the Boston government at the time, Harrison was secretly a member of the Latin Kings, and he would use his position at the school to recruit new members.

Harrison would then get the high schoolers to sell marijuana and other drugs he provided them, and bring the money back to him.

Eventually, though, he began suspecting that one of the students he recruited had stolen money from him, was no longer interested in selling drugs and might tell police about his double life.

So on March 3, 2015, Harrison met Rodriguez, then 17, at a local McDonalds, where he pulled out a gun and shot the teen point-blank in the back of the head.

The bullet broke the teen's jawbone and just missed his carotid artery.

Rodriguez was only able to survive after he flagged down a motorist, the Globe reports, and he was later able to tell police about Harrison's criminal activities.

Harrison was then convicted of assault and attempted homicide in 2018 and was sentenced to more than 25 years in state prison.

There, he continued to associate with Latin King members, discussing the identities of confidential informants in his case and making other attempts to identify the people who contributed to his conviction, the Boston Globe reports.

All the while, Latin Kings poured money into Harrison's jail accounts and provided other support during his incarceration, as they discussed loyalty to the gang and ensured he would not implicate others in his crimes.

But by 2019, Harrison was among over 60 members of the gang charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and gun charges after FBI officials spent four years infiltrating the group, according to Boston.com.

Court documents from the time detailed years of gang members conspiring to kill 'snitches,' organizing for prisoners to be attacked in coded letters and running a robust drug trafficking ring.

Federal prosecutors say Harrison is the 60th defendant to plead guilty in the massive Latin Kings case stemming from an investigation dubbed 'Operation Throne Down.' Two defendants are still wanted on federal arrest warrants, authorities say.

In a statement on Tuesday, Massachusetts US Attorney Rachael Rollins said Harrison exploited 'his position of trust to corrupt and coerce vulnerable and at-risk children into a world of criminal activity.'

'He used his position of trust to find his victims and groom them. It is truly disgusting,' she said.

An attorney representing Harrison in the federal case declined on Wednesday to comment.

Harrison was previously sentenced to 25 years in state prison for the attempted murder of one of his students at The English School

Harrison's guilty plea comes just one week after a federal judge ruled that he had to pay $10 million in damages to Rodriguez.

The default judgment against Harrison includes $7.5 million in damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress; $2.5 million in punitive damages; and more than $80,000 for the victims medical bills.

In a 2019 filing, Rodriguez claimed that following the shooting he had to undergo two surgeries, had his jaw wired shut for nine months, and continues to suffer from facial neuropathy with half of his face paralyzed.

He also claims he suffered hearing loss and now requires weights on his eyelids to help him open and shut his eyes.

And, Rodriguez argued, he continues to experience pain from the bullet that is still lodged in his head. He even developed an addiction to opioids prescribed for the pain, he said.

'This was a terrible and heinous act by Harrison,' US District Judge Leo Sorokin wrote in his six-page order on Friday.

'Harrison abused a position of trust, responsibility, and authority.'

Boston Public Schools was also named as a defendant in Rodriguez's civil case, claiming it was negligent in hiring Harrison as a dean, but Sorokin dismissed the claims against the system.

Rodriguez's lawyer, John T Martin, said his client is now seeking to appeal that ruling.

'Boston Public Schools was absolutely dismissive of student safety and grossly negligent when it allowed a predator to have a position of trust and authority at that school after multiple incidents that should have resulted in his termination,' he said in a statement to the Associated Press.
She pledges to push through Bill of Rights to reduce influence of ECHR on Britain

Foreign Secretary vows to see through Rwanda scheme and 'deal with' judges

Liz Truss vows to be 'robust' with French in response to Channel migrant crisis

Tory leadership favourite Liz Truss tonight promised to be 'robust' with the French and 'to deal with' European judges in order to solve the Channel migrant crisis.

The Foreign Secretary vowed to see through the Government's Rwanda scheme, if she becomes prime minister, as a means of stemming the numbers arriving on British shores in small boats.

She also reiterated her pledge to expand the scheme to more countries, which could see those who arrive in the UK illegally sent to various other locations - as well as Rwanda.

Ms Truss said this would help other nations 'build their economy' and avoid a 'brain drain of people' across their borders.

The Foreign Secretary said she would push through a proposed 'Bill of Rights' to reduce the influence of the European Court of Human Rights, which has previously put a legal block on migrants being sent from Britain to Rwanda.

Ms Truss promised action on the Channel migrant crisis as she answered questions, including from Daily Mail readers, while appearing on GB News.

Liz Truss spoke to 'Red Wall' voters in Leigh, Greater Manchester, during an appearance on GB News

The Foreign Secretary vowed to see through the Government's Rwanda scheme as a means of stemming the numbers arriving on British shores in small boats

Speaking to 'Red Wall' voters in Leigh, Greater Manchester, she was challenged by one audience member about the 'completely uncooperative' French Government.

'You don't say!,' Ms Truss responded, before she pointed to her record in dealing with French counterparts in her role as Foreign Secretary.

'I did have a very tough conversation with the French foreign minister two weeks ago, because the French are not putting enough staff on the borders at Dover to deal with the long backlogs,' she said.

'I will be very clear and robust in my negotiations with the French.

'I think you've seen on the Northern Ireland Protocol, that when we didn't get what we needed to change the Protocol and restore peace and stability in Northern Ireland, I got the Protocol Bill through Whitehall and I got it through the House of Commons.

'So I am prepared to take robust action with the French and with the EU to get things done.'

Addressing the current problems with getting the Rwanda scheme up and running, the Foreign Secretary added: 'The issue is, at the moment, what is happening is people are getting on the phone to their lawyers when they're just about to take off.

'And they're using the European Court of Human Rights to stop it, so that is the issue we need to deal with.'

Ms Truss promised to legislate to put ministers 'in control of our own policy' and make sure 'we can't be overruled by the ECHR'.

As she described how she wanted to expand the Rwanda scheme to other countries, Ms Truss said: 'What is really important is that countries like Rwanda want citizens in their country helping build their economy.

'They dont want a massive brain drain of people, but we need to work with them to make that happen and ensure there is somewhere for the illegal immigrants to go.'

Ms Truss answered questions on a series of topics during her hour-long appearance on GB News.

She all but confirmed that Kemi Badenoch - who was a surprise leadership contender earlier in the Tory contest - would be given a senior role in Government if she becomes PM.

Hailing Ms Badenoch as 'absolutely brilliant', the Foreign Secretary added: 'I would definitely want her as part of my team if I am successful.'

Ms Truss also revealed she wanted a 'leaner' operation in 10 Downing Street if she takes office.

'What I can promise is a leaner No 10, because I dont believe in micromanagement,' she said. 'I think No 10 has become a bit too presidential.'

The Tory leadership contest has this week been dominated by the cost-of-living crisis.

Ms Truss faced a grilling on what help she would provide for households by one audience member who revealed he was currently looking for a second job so that he could afford to pay his energy bill.

The Foreign Secretary said would do 'everything I can' to support families in the face of soaring bills, but suggested the answer was not to 'give out more benefits'.

'If the only answer to everything is to whack up taxes and give out more benefits then the country is going to run into trouble,' she said.

'We are predicted to have a recession. It is important we grow the economy.

'I will do everything I can to support working families who work hard and do the right thing.

'If I am elected as your prime minister I will make sure the chancellor has an emergency budget and looks at this issue in the round and sorts this issue out.'

Earlier in the day, Ms Truss appeared to soften her opposition to offering direct payments to Britain's poorest to help with their energy bills

On a visit to a life sciences laboratory in Manchester, Ms Truss insisted she was not ruling out further payments to help struggling families

Ms Truss and her rival, Rishi Sunak, clashed over the cost-of-living crisis during a hustings event in Darlington last night

Mr Sunak has pledged - if he becomes PM - that households would receive 'a few hundred pounds more' of help over the coming months

Earlier in the day, Ms Truss had appeared to soften her opposition to offering direct payments to Britain's poorest to help with their energy bills.

With energy bills for typical households forecast to soar to more than 4,200 next year, both Tory leadership contenders have faced calls to pledge further support for struggling families.

Ms Truss has previously steered away from promising more 'handouts' to ease the cost-of-living crisis, saying she would rather provide help through tax cuts and a focus on economic growth.

But - amid fierce criticism of her plans from leadership rival Rishi Sunak and Money Saving Expert guru Martin Lews - she today appeared to change tack.

The Foreign Secretary said keeping taxes low was 'vitally important for growing our economy and avoiding a recession' and remains her 'priority'.

But, asked on a visit to a life sciences laboratory in Manchester whether she was ruling out cash payments in 'whatever form' - and would only help people through tax cuts - she insisted: 'That's not what I said.

'What I said is my priority is making sure we're not taking money off people and then giving it back to them later on.

'I believe in people keeping their own money and I believe in a low tax economy.

'I can assure people that we will do all we can to make sure that energy is affordable and we can get through the winter.'

Ms Truss's campaign team later issued a statement in which the Foreign Secretary vowed she would 'do all that I can to help struggling households' if she was elected PM.

Last night, at a hustings event in Darlington, the Foreign Secretary told Tory members that 'handouts' were 'Gordon Brown economics' in a slapdown aimed at her rival Mr Sunak.

In seeking to draw a distinction between his approach to the cost-of-living crisis and Ms Truss's, the ex-chancellor has pledged - if he becomes PM - that households would receive 'a few hundred pounds more' of help over the coming months.

Ms Truss's remarks today prompted an accusation from Mr Sunak's campaign that his rival's economic policy was 'as clear as mud'.

A spokeswoman said: 'This is starting to look like another major U-turn, after she abandoned plans to cut the pay of nurses and teachers outside London last week.

'She now urgently needs to clear up her position. She needs to be honest with the millions of people concerned about how they will pay their bills, and confirm whether or not they can expect direct support from her.'

Boris Johnson is steering clear of taking further action on the cost-of-living crisis while he remains as caretaker PM while his successor is chosen.

But one of Ms Truss's leading backers today revealed the Government is working up a package of cost-of-living support that the next PM can consider when they take office.

In a series of tweets, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke said it was 'absolutely right to consider these options in the round' when the new leader takes the reins, rather than announce 'new uncosted policies' during the Tory leadership contest.

Mr Clarke said he had 'no doubt' that Ms Truss, who he is supporting, would do the 'responsible and honest thing' if elected, by 'making decisions in light of all the facts and the options'.
A 75-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the 40-year-old cold-case murder of a 15-year-old girl who was raped and stabbed 59 times in Palo Alto, California, after police matched his DNA to blood found on the victim's leather jacket.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced on Tuesday that Gary Gene Ramirez had been arrested in Hawaii in connection with the grisly murder of Karen Stitt, the teen who was raped and stabbed at a Northern California bus stop.

Ramirez was arrested at his home in Makawao, Maui, on August 2 and will be arraigned on charges of murder, kidnapping and rape once he is extradited to Santa Clara County.

His next court date in the extradition process is on Wednesday; if convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Stitt was murdered on the night of September 2, 1982, near a bus stop in Sunnyvale. She was last seen by her teenage boyfriend near the stop after they took a walk together.

Karen Stitt was 15-years-old and visiting her boyfriend when she was brutally murdered at a California bus stop late at night

Gary Gene Ramirez, pictured above, approximately 40 years ago, has been arrested in connection with the killing and charged with murder, kidnapping, and rape

Stitt had been visiting her 17-year-old boyfriend in Sunnyvale after taking the bus from her home in Palo Alto. The two took a casual stroll through his neighborhood before parting ways.

Stitt's boyfriend said he was worried about being grounded for missing his midnight curfew, so he headed home after seeing her walk toward the bus stop.

Her body was left naked behind a blood-stained cinderblock wall and was found the next morning by truck driver Steven Bound; Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety was eventually called.

Officers responding to the scene found Stitt naked with her wrists bound behind her back with her shirt and her jacket tied around her ankle.

Medical Examiner Dr. Angelo Ozoa concluded she had been violently stabbed 59 times across her neck, chest, abdomen and back.

According to the report, Stitt was stabbed 18 times in the heart, had 10 stab wounds on her lungs, wounds to her neck punctured her larynx, trachea and esophagus.

Kicked leaves and disturbances in the dirt at the scene indicated Stitt was still alive when her body was left at the scene.

A current view of the corner in Sunnyvale, Calif., where Karen Stitt was murdered in 1982

Though the killer's blood and bodily fluid was found on Stitt's body, police had no leads on who the killer may be for decades -- until receiving a tip in 2021 on the killer's identity.

Detective Matt Hutchison used the tip to determine Karen's killer was one of four brothers from Fresno, located about a three hours drive from Sunnyvale.

'In 2021, the genealogist identified the perpetrator as one of four brothers, but couldnt say which one. That's when the detective began traditional investigative work to figure out which of the four brothers was the source of the crime scene evidence,' Deputy District Attorney Robert Baker said.

That traditional investigative work resulted in Hutchison locating Ramirez's family members through obituaries, social media posts and databases.

Ramirez was caught after a 2021 tip led detectives to his family, which then allowed authorities to obtain a DNA sample and match it to the blood found at the crime scene

He eventually used Facebook to find the grandchild of one of the brothers, and on April 8 of this year, Hutchison was able to obtain a sample of that grandchild's DNA.

The DNA sample led to Ramirez being identified as the killer after there was a match for the blood and bodily fluid left on crime scene in 1982.

Hutchison said when he arrested Ramirez, the man was so shocked he could barely say more than just 'Oh my gosh.'

Ramirez grew up in Fresno and frequently visited or lived in different areas along the west coast, including the Bay Area, San Diego, Colorado and Hawaii.

Ramirez, a former bug exterminator, had no previous criminal record according to police.

Stitt was stabbed 18 times in the heart, had 10 stab wounds on her lungs and the wounds to her neck had punctured her larynx, trachea and esophagus

His brother, Rudy Ramirez, told PaloAltoOnline that he was shocked at his brothers arrest, and said 'I can't believe he would do that. It's unbelievable this has all come about.'

'Ive never seen him violent or get angry ever,' Ramirezs brother said. 'He wouldnt hurt a fly.'

'Behind every old murder file in every major police department, there is a person, heartbreak, and a mystery,' District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement.

'The mystery of Karen's death has been solved thanks to advances in forensic science and a detective that would never, ever give up,' he continued.

Hutchison said when he opened the email containing the DNA match to the killer, he 'wanted to scream, but I cant because I didnt want to wake up the hotel.'

The detective said he then opened up a picture of Stitt and told her 'we did it.'
Anyone with information is urged to call Placer County Sheriff's Office on 530-886-5375

Police say they have received more than 100 tips so far and have assigned 77 personnel to the case who are working alongside more than 150 volunteers

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Police searching for Kiely Rodni, 16, released a surveillance image showing the missing California teen hours before she vanished at a nearby campground.

The image shows Rodni at 6:08pm Friday at business in Truckee, California, about ten minutes south of the Prosser Family Camp Ground where she was last seen at 12:30am later that night.

'Kiely last seen wearing black spaghetti strap bodysuit, green Dickies pants w/ black grommet belt&black Vans,' the Placer Sheriff's department wrote in a tweet releasing the image.

Police have said they have no evidence to suggest she was abducted and are focusing on a search and rescue investigation instead.

Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show cops have set up a forensic tent at the bottom of a boat ramp that is accessed from the Prosser Family Camp Ground. A small submarine with a camera attached was also seen being pulled from the water.

Kiely was last seen at an end of high school party at the campground where friends said she appeared very drunk.

Police released a statement saying as of yesterday they had received 300 tips since Rodni was reported missing on Saturday. They also noted they had assigned 265 personnel to the search and logged a collective 4,600 hours.

In addition to the boats and dive teams combing the reservoir, authorities have deployed helicopters to conduct aerial searches for the missing teen.

Authorities will hold a press conference this afternoon at 2pm PST.

The Placer Sheriff's department released a surveillance image (above, right) showing Kiely Rodni, 16, at 6:08pm Friday at business in Truckee, California, ten minutes from the camp she vanished from later that night

Sheriff's deputies set up a forensics tent on a ramp into Prosser Creek Reservoir and launched mini-submarines fitted with cameras in a bid to find Kiely's SUV

Detective Sergeant Scott Alford, who is leading the operation, said yesterday that no stone would be left unturned and pleaded with teens who attended the party to come forward.

This is a search and rescue operation focused on the area where Kiely was last seen and the search has expanded from there,' he said.

Right now, we have no evidence that supports an abduction but we are not ruling it out.

This is being investigated as a missing persons case and a search and rescue, not as an abduction.

Police boats and helicopters spent Tuesday searching the reservoir  a 760-acre lake that lies directly beneath the camp ground where Kiely was last seen.

More than 100 cops were combing the area near the campground where she was last seen, with police boats and divers scouring the 73ft deep Prosser Creek Reservoir which sits directly below.

Police have blocked access roads leading to the reservoir and are believed to be working on the theory that Kiely, 16, accidentally drove her silver Honda SUV into the water.

A dive team from the Nevada County Sheriff's Department was also on site early Tuesday morning and was seen setting up in a spot next to the reservoir, southwest of the camping area and accessible by a dirt trail.

Blonde Kiely was last seen at a party at the Prosser Family Camp Ground in Truckee, California, in the early hours of Saturday morning at a party for high school students.

Police said the party was attended by more than 100 teenagers  some from as far away as the Bay area of San Francisco and Reno, Nevada.

Police dive teams have now joined the search for Kiely and exclusive DailyMail.com photos show boats searching the Prosser Creek Reservoir, which is a 760-acre stretch of water

A dive team from the Nevada County Sheriff's Department was on site early Tuesday morning and was seen setting up in a spot next to the reservoir, southwest of the camping area and accessible by a dirt trail

Police say they have received more than 100 tips so far and have assigned 77 personnel to the case who are working alongside more than 150 volunteers

The Placer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement: 'We are trying to obtain as much information as possible  our focus is getting Kiely home safely'

A search and rescue helicopter is seen Tuesday circling the camp site where Kiely was last seen

An RV with flyers and information about Kiely is seen at the search and rescue site. The tip line is 530-581-6320. A website has also been set up: findkiely.com

The search and rescue party for Kiely is pictured near the area where she went missing in Truckee, California. Kiely's mother said that authorities had deemed this an abduction case although they are now believed to be working on the theory she may have accidentally driven into the lake

Friends have said that Kiely had been drinking and they were worried about her attempting to drive home.

Kiely's friends and family have issued a plea for teenagers with any information to come forward but family friend Abby, who asked not to give her last name, told DailyMail.com that it is proving difficult.

She said: 'They don't want to come forward  I think because of underage drinking and things like that.

'We're trying to tell them that we don't care about alcohol  we're just looking for any information that will help us find Kiely.'

The Placer County Sheriff's Office has made a similar appeal and said in a statement: 'We are trying to obtain as much information as possible  our focus is getting Kiely home safely.

'We urge anyone who may have any information about Kiely to please contact our tip line. You can remain anonymous.'

Police say they have received more than 100 tips so far and have assigned 77 personnel to the case who are working alongside more than 150 volunteers.

Cops have also been using license plate technology in the search and have been checking cars as far away as Reno, Nevada, but are yet to find any sign of Kiely's vehicle.

But while authorities explore all avenues the epicenter of the search is now at the lake

Kiely was last seen at 12.30am on Saturday at the Prosser Family Camp Ground, 10 minutes north of Truckee and a short drive from the hotel her family owns.

The teenager sent her mother Lindsey, 42, a text message saying she planned to leave in 45 minutes at approximately 11.30pm.

She had been due to meet friends at a local Starbucks at 9am ahead of a camping trip but failed to show up  prompting her mother to sound the alarm.

Kiely was at a party at the Prosser Family Campground, along with 100 other kids. The police say there were teens from multiple states there. She was driving her Honda but neither she nor the vehicle have been located

Cops have been using license plate technology in the search and have been checking cars as far away as Reno, Nevada, but are yet to find any sign of Kiely's silver Honda SUV

Kiely was last seen at 12.30am on Saturday morning about 10 minutes north of Truckee and a short drive from her family's hotel

Dirt bikes, along with Land Rovers, helicopters and boats are all being used in the search of the 16-year-old

Kiely had been due to meet friends at a local Starbucks at 9am ahead of a camping trip but failed to show up  prompting her mother to sound the alarm

Speaking to DailyMail.com on Monday, Lindsey said she believed her daughter has been abducted and begged the alleged kidnapper to bring her home.

She said: 'I am terrified. My mind reels and my sleep is plagued with nightmares... thoughts that I just can't get out of my head.'

'I last saw her on Friday morning, she was going to meet us to go to a vintage car show but then she changed her mind and wanted to go to this party instead.

'I extended her curfew. I had done it before and felt safe. She texted me at 11.30pm to say she would be leaving at 12.15am to come home.

'She said ''I love you, mom.'' That was the last I heard from her'.

Lindsey said she is sure that her daughter would not have run away. 'My daughter is not the runaway type  not to stigmatize kids who are  but my daughter is not. She had the resources to run away and would have done if she wanted to.'

Friends said Kiely had appeared very drunk at the party and said they believe she has been taken because her Honda CRV SUV still hasn't been found

Friends said Kiely had appeared very drunk at the party and said they believe she has been taken because her SUV still hasn't been found.

Family friend Anna Larson said: 'She wasn't in a state where she could have driven very far. She was inebriated.

'We did a thorough search of the woods where the party was and now we're going to smaller towns. We believe she was taken.

'Nobody we know left with her, nobody else is missing from the party. We don't know if it was someone who was attending the party or a predator.

'We also don't know if there's someone she planned to go and meet who we don't know about yet. It is a nightmare.'
An M&S worker who was sacked for taking time off sick over 'traumatic' confrontation with a shopper who refused to wear a mask has won 15,000 in compensation.

Deborah Daisy was verbally abused by the 'aggressive' man while working for the retail giant at Oatlands Harrogate Simply Food store in November 2020, an employment tribunal heard.

The hearing was told it affected her mental health and brought back her previous experiences of armed robbery and her chasing a shoplifter out of the shop to a bus stop.

Mrs Daisy had not received training in dealing with crime, the panel was told, and she went off sick for five months with anxiety and depression caused by safety at work fears.

She complained about M&S' 'lack of action' said she felt 'vulnerable' being in the store and as sacked after the retail giant said no adjustments would be made.

The judge expressed 'surprise' at M&S' failure to explore resolving her problems given it is a 'well-resourced retailer' and she won her unfair dismissal claim.

The panel concluded she should have been told the outcome of investigations into her personal safety issues and the company hid behind GDPR constraints. She has now been awarded a total of 15,004.41 at a further hearing.

Deborah Daisy was verbally abused by the 'aggressive' man while working for the retail giant at Oatlands Harrogate Simply Food store (pictured) in November 2020, an employment tribunal heard

'Loyal and hardworking' Mrs Daisy joined the firm in April 2015 and worked part time as a customer assistant at the Teesside Park branch, Stockton-on-Tees.

The tribunal, held in Leeds, was told she went off work due to 'high levels' of anxiety and 'severe' depression in January 2021 after she confronted a shopper who refused to wear a mask.

During an ill-health meeting the following month, the panel heard Mrs Daisy's anxiety and depression were caused by the pandemic in general but referred to that specific incident. Adjustments were discussed to facilitate her coming back.

The tribunal was told two occupational health reports were made and she was deemed unfit to work, with her return unlikely in the foreseeable future.

Deborah Daisy successfully sued M&S for sacking her when she went off sick for five months after confronting a maskless shopper at the store where she worked in Oatlands Harrogate

The panel heard: 'Her history would suggest that she could be revisiting distressing thoughts and feelings from the armed robbery or other incidents where she felt under threat.

'This is likely to be impacting on why she doesn't currently feel safe in work despite strict Covid preventions measures in place.

'It is likely the anxiety around Covid safety is exacerbated by some unresolved issues from the past and could include the armed robbery and issues she alluded to in the past.'

The panel heard investigations were carried out by M&S into Mrs Daisy's concerns, however she was not told of the result due to 'vague' GDPR reasons.

In April, Mrs Daisy was warned her continued absence could result in her being sacked if she was incapable to return to work, the tribunal was told.

Matters had not improved by the following month, as the panel heard thinking about work sent her anxiety 'through the roof' and she felt 'vulnerable in store'.

The tribunal was also told that in a meeting about her absence, Mrs Daisy said she felt M&S had not 'acted and dealt with abusive customers appropriately'.

Mrs Daisy said the confrontation with a maskless shopper was 'traumatic'. Pictured: Shoppers wearing face masks. There is no suggestion that any of those pictured confronted Mrs Daisy

'Most of the fourth consultation was taken up by [Mrs Daisy] complaining about the lack of action over the incidents she had referred to previously as happening to her at the store and making her feel vulnerable,' the tribunal said.

'It is clear from the content of the discussion at the fourth consultation that these are the matters that [she] is stating are preventing her from returning to work.'

In June that year she was fired, which she unsuccessfully appealed.

Mrs Daisy then took M&S to the employment tribunal which found she should have been told the result of the investigations and that M&S had only shared the information with her after she was sacked.

Employment Judge Timothy Knowles concluded: 'It was in my conclusion outside of the band of reasonable responses which might have been adopted by an employer acting reasonably to dismiss without sharing the findings about the issues she had raised in relation to her personal safety and engaging with [Mrs Daisy] about how her personal safety fears may be addressed in future.

'I am surprised that those matters were not explored with [her] given that [Marks and Spencer Plc] is a well-resourced retailer in the UK and given that the plight of shopworkers and the abuse they suffer at work is generally well known.'

The tribunal ruled that she would receive less compensation than otherwise, as it was likely she would have eventually been dismissed in any event.
Seven men have been charged with gang-raping eight models including a teenager in a crime that has shocked South Africa.

The models and crew, the youngest of whom was 19 and the eldest 37, were allegedly raped up to ten times each over several hours close to a mine near Johannesburg.

The women say the 'horrible' attack happened when heavily-armed men burst into the filming of a gospel music video at a mine dump in the township of West Village, near Krugersdorp on July 28.

The BBC was told by officials that the men who appeared in court alongside 60 suspects facing immigration and firearms charges are illegal miners who dig for gold from disused shafts.

The suspects are believed to be illegal migrants and were identified during a police line-up by the women.

Police said they were investigating 32 counts of rape as well as robbery and believe after DNA tests are concluded the number charged could be raised.

Last week, around 80 men were arrested amid a backlash against illegal miners in South Africa and a call from the president to find the suspects.

Seven men have been charged with gang-raping eight models including a teenager in a crime that has shocked South Africa. Pictured: Police seen searching the area

The BBC was told by officials that the men who appeared in court alongside 60 suspects facing immigration and firearms charges are illegal miners who dig for gold from disused shafts. Pictured: Illegal miners search for gold in an abandoned mine west of Johannesburg, South Africa on August 5

One of the victims also told the BBC they are seeking 'justice for all the girls that went through this [] for the countless number of women who've been raped in this country'.

Several political parties and civil society groups protested outside the court saying the men should be denied bail.

Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: 'These horrible acts of brutality are an affront to the right of women and girls to live and work in freedom and safety.

'We call upon communities to work with the police to ensure that these criminals are apprehended and prosecuted.'

South Africa's Minister for Women Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said: 'We find ourselves in a moment of crisis where we need to act collectively to defend the democratic gains that the women of 1956 have worked so hard to achieve.'

One of the teenagers who was among the eight models viscously gang-raped described the attack and told how she and her sister had their virginity 'stolen' by the men.

Nombosino, 19, whose name has been changed, and her 21-year-old sister had accepted a 15 a day job to model in a gospel music video when they were ambushed by the gang near an abandoned gold mine close to Krugersdorp on July 28.

The teenager told how the men raped the black and Indian women but left the three white women who were among the 22-strong production crew alone.

The models and crew, the youngest of whom was 19 and the eldest 37, were raped up to ten times each over several hours by the criminals.

Nombosino told local newspaper City Press: 'We were excited when a local girl who runs a modelling agency told us about the photoshoot and promised us R300 each (15) at a farm in Krugersdorp.

'Then it was decided to shoot another part at a mine and the place was beautiful then as we were about to film the last scene men began running at us firing gunshots in the air.

'They ordered everyone to lie down and more men came running out and they all had guns and they started searching us taking our phones and clothes and cameras.

'During the search they began touching our private parts and one forced me into a car and that was when the first man raped me. I started bleeding as a second man came.

'He saw the blood but raped me anyway and I asked him to tell the others not to rape me and had to lie and say I had just lost my baby as they picked is off one by one'.

Nomboniso said her sister, 21, who has not been named, was then put in the car with her.

Nomboniso said she sat on her sister's lap to try and protect her but two men took her out the car and dragged her to a hole in the ground.

The 21-year-old sister told City Press: 'The two men started raping me. They had guns and threatened to kill me if I didn't do as they said. I started bleeding and that helped me.

'It was a very traumatic experience which lasted about four hours for all the girls and one of the ladies was raped in front of us'.

The backlash against illegal miners in South Africa is gathering pace as local residents formed mobs to beat them and destroy their camps in retaliation for the.

Miners' camps were torched and roads around the townships of Munsieville and Bekkersdal outside the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, were barricaded with rocks and burning tires as residents protested against the presence of illegal miners.

Protesters carry placards, as more than 80 men suspected of gang raping eight women and carrying out an armed robbery of a television crew appear in court in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, South Africa

Many of the miners are migrants from other African countries, and the reaction has raised concerns over xenophobia, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday condemning the violence.

Local residents enraged at the incident torched illegal miners' camps in the neighboring Kagiso township on Thursday, and attacked miners whom they stripped naked and beat before handing them over to the police.

'We need to distinguish between legitimate protest and criminality, addressing the concerns and grievances of communities while acting to prevent loss of life and destruction of property,' Ramaphosa said.

'We can all understand the public outrage in Kagiso sparked by the gang rape of eight young women last week and we all deeply and sincerely share in the pain of the victims, their families and the neighboring communities,' he added.

Kopanang Africa, an advocacy group against xenophobia in South Africa, has warned that the recent events in Krugersdorp were dangerously fueling anti-migrant sentiment.

'Unfortunately, because some of [...] the illegal miners would be undocumented migrants, this has created an element of xenophobic politics where people say all illegal immigrants must go and all foreigners must leave the country,' said Kopanang Africa spokesman Dale McKinley.

He said some people were taking advantage of the legitimate concerns of the community to further their own agendas.

'When the protests started, we started seeing political formations that have clear xenophobic policies taking advantage and making irresponsible and immature statements for their own purposes,' he said.

The women say they were raped up to ten times each on July 28 near Krugersdorp during the filming of a gospel music video at a mine dump in the township of West Village was attacked by heavily-armed men

Researcher and analyst Ziyanda Stuurman told The Associated Press that communities' frustration at the deterioration of policing and their living conditions contributed to their anger.

South Africa suffers from rising poverty levels, 35 per cent unemployment, an electricity crisis, stagnant economic growth and the third highest crime rate in the world.

'People are living in incredibly tough economic conditions and they feel desperately unsafe, and an issue like this sparks those emotions that have been there for a very long time,' Stuurman said.

She likened the situation to the social unrest and riots in South Africa in July last year, where more than 400 people in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces died.

The zama zamas, as the illegal miners are known, illegally venture into old, closed-down mines where they burrow into the rock to try gold ore and other precious metals.

Many die when long-disused tunnels collapse, and others who strike gold are often murdered by jealous rivals.

A resident of Krugersdorp speaking on condition of anonymity told News 24 that news of the sexual violence last week came as no surprise.

She said: '[Zama zamas] have long terrorised residents and we hear gunshots at night. It's not something new. It is an old and ongoing problem that petrifies us all.

'Women have previously been raped and dragged into the bush. The zama zamas are an old problem, but now we're at a place where it's destructive and dangerous.'

South Africa has the third highest crime rate in the world, according to World Population Review, having 'notably high rates of assaults, rape, homicides, and other violent crimes.'
Expect a jam-packed event as the Walt Disney Company put its biggest show of the year this September, the D23 Expo, as per Gizmodo.

According to ComicBook, Disney just released the complete panel schedule so now you have an idea of what to expect in the upcoming event. D23 Expo will start on Friday, September 9 and will continue until September 11.

While D23 Expo tickets are already sold out, you'll never miss out on anything as the io9 will bring you the latest happenings from the event.

September 9 Highlights

The Disney100 will kick off at D23 Expo. There will be a presentation that will feature Disney CEO Bob Chapek. Visionaries and artists who have made significant contributions to the Disney legacy will be honored at the Disney Legends Ceremony.

As day one continues, enjoy a chat with the cast and creatives of "The Simpsons" at the Premiere Stage.

Join the celebration of Marvel storytelling. Variety's Jon Burlingame will host Disney For Scores Podcast live. Composers of some of your favorite Marvel series and films will be interviewed.

Be part of Disney Studios event, which will showcase the what's coming up in theaters and on Disney+ from Disney's iconic Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios.

At the event, guests will have first looks, and sneak peeks at the surprises and announcements regarding upcoming theatrical and Disney+ titles. Get the inside scoop from the studio head, filmmakers, and cast members.

At 6 p.m. on day one, the D23 Expo Mousequerade 2022 will be held. It's an Ultimate Disney Costume Contest to be hosted by Nina West. Guest judges are Yvette Nicole Brown, Ashley Eckstein and Ally Maki.

Read Also: 'I Am Groot' Animated Series on Disney Plus to Release Ahead of Marvel's 'She-Hulk'

September 10 Events

On the second day, be ready to join the "multiversal, intergalactic, and world-spanning adventurers" as filmmakers, celebrity talents and surprise guests from Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, and 20th Century Studios gather on stage.

Join the cast and creative team of the "Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur" as they give guests an exclusive sneak peek of the much awaited series before its launch on Disney Channel and Disney+.

Enjoy a lively panel discussion with the Emmy Award-winning animated series "Bob's Burgers" and "The Bob's Burgers Movie!" The cast and creators will be on stage to break news to the guests.

Join the celebration of 60 spectacular years of Spider-Man! Listen to executive Spider-Editor Nick Lowe and editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski as they track the comics history of the web-head for six decades.

Surprises await as the team behind the Academy Award-winning Walt Disney Animation Studios' hit Encanto gather on stage for stories from the making of the film.

Be the first one to take a sneak peek at the newest animated series "Zootopia+" which is coming to Disney+ from Disney Animation with directors Josie Trinidad and Trent Correy.

September 11 Happenings

Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D'Amaro will give guests a tour at Disney's boundless future. Guests will have a peek at the behind-the-scenes look of the big dreams of Disney Imagineers.

Enjoy the look back at "Tron," which will feature artwork, footage, and photographs of the digital frontier. Listen to behind-the-scenes stories as talent, artists, and filmmakers, gather together to tell how the film came to life.

Take part in the discussion with Disney's Imagineers as they talk about the core elements of storytelling and innovation that bring dreams to life.

Legendary designers, artists, and stylists gather together on stage to talk about how they create the iconic looks of the "American Horror Story" characters. Guests will be able to get inside information on how the show all comes together.

Related Article: Marvel Reveals Disney World Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Roller Coaster Villain
A mourning family at a funeral of an elderly woman got slammed into by vehicle driven by an uninvited family member at a Northern California cemetery on Saturday.

The uninvited attendee, who may be the son of the deceased woman, was allegedly fighting with his sister at Rolling Hills Memorial Park the time of the incident.

The son then got into his car and attempted to hit his sister. Instead the unidentified man hit another funeral attendee who suffered injuries.

'It appeared to be family drama,' a Richmond Police Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com. 'The suspect was hit with a cane... [Then] the suspects gets into a car and damages the grave site and also damages a water main that flooded the area,' a Richmond Police Department spokesperson said.

'He was doing that to try to hit the person he was fighting with his car and ended up hitting another family member and injuring them.'

The person hit with the car was taken to a local hospital and has since been released.

An uninvited funeral attendee plowed his way through a group of mourners at his mothers funeral at Rolling Hills Memorial Park after getting into a fight with his sister, police say

The unidentified suspect attempted to hit his sister but instead hit another attendee. The suspect caused $20,000 in damage after he hit multiple grave stones and bursted a water main

Richmond Police Department Sgt. Aaron Pomeroy told reporters that the person the suspect had a stun gun and was punched by the sister's boyfriend before getting into his car.

The suspect punched the sister's boyfriend before fleeing to his car, running over many tombstones, dropping the casket of the deceased to the ground, hitting a mourner, and hitting a water main.

The water main burst which resulted in flooding around the area, including inside the empty grave.

About $20,000 in damage was reported.

The director of the Rolling Hills park reassured the incident doesn't reflect the operations of the cemetery, according to Mercury News.
A four-year-old British boy has been reported missing after travelling to Turkey with his mother.

George Jack Temperley-Wells is believed to have travelled from Darlington to the Antalya area with his mother, Brogan Elizabeth Temperley, on June 29 this year.

They are likely to have spent time with his father, 41-year-old Scott Nigel Wells, while in Turkey.

George has red hair, a pale complexion, and dark eyes.

George Jack Temperley-Wells is believed to have travelled from Darlington to the Antalya area with his mother, Brogan Elizabeth Temperley, on June 29 this year

His mother, Brogan, is 28 and described as slim build with long, dark hair and dark eyes

They are likely to have spent time with the four-year-old's father, 41-year-old Scott Nigel Wells, while in Turkey

His mother, Brogan, is 28 and described as slim build with long, dark hair and dark eyes.

George was last seen in the Marina area of Antalya, in Turkey, where two of these pictures were taken.

Police have serious concerns for his welfare and need to urgently locate George and speak with his mother.

Anyone who is in contact with her is asked to encourage her to contact the authorities in Turkey or the UK immediately to confirm her whereabouts and/or seek assistance to return home.

If you are in the United Kingdom, please call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 325 of June 30.

If you are in Turkey, please either attend a local police station or call their emergency number on 112 / 115.
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Ezra Miller was spotted in their mother's Vermont home for the first time since it was revealed The Flash actor reshot scenes for the superhero film and a day after their third arrest so far this year.

The scandal-plagued, non-binary star, was seen relaxing with their mother, Marta, and another woman out on the porch of the Stamford farm home.

Miller, 29, now sporting a full mustache and longer hair, was wearing a white T-shirt and necklace as they were busy on their phone. Their mother wore a red, floral patterned dress.

The sighting comes just a day after Miller was arrested and charged with felony burglary after police claim the actor broke into an area home and stole bottles of liquor in May.

Despite the latest in a long-line of charges filed against Miller, it was revealed that they had reshot scenes for the upcoming Flash film in between their two arrests in Hawaii in the spring, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Ezra Miller was spotted in their mother's Vermont home for the first time since their back-to-back arrests in Hawaii

Miller, 29, now sporting a full mustache and longer hair, was wearing a white T-shirt and necklace as they were busy on their phone while out on the porch

The scandal-plagued actor was seen enjoying the outside air with their mother, Marta (left)

Miller's mother wore a red, floral patterned dress. Another woman was seen accompanying the pair

The sighting at the Stamford farm home (pictured) comes a day after Miller was arrested and charged with felony burglary after police claim the actor broke into an area home and stole bottles of liquor in May

While Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav axed the premier of the new $90 million Batgirl film as he looks to save money, the embattled leader said the company will be sticking by The Flash film, along with other DC projects.

'We've seen them. We think they are terrific, and we think we can make them even better,' Zaslav said of the movies.

While insiders told THR that the studio is still considering their options over the film, neither DC nor Zaslav have indicated The Flash will move from its June 2023 release date.

The future of the franchise has been potentially muddied by Miller's controversies, with yesterday's incident becoming the third time the actor was arrested this years.

Vermont State Police said they received a complaint that Miller had burglarized an empty home in early May.

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage of the area and took statements from witnesses before charging the actor.

Miller was first arrested on March 28, for disorderly conduct at a bar in Hawaii

The actor was yelling at officers during the incident (pictured), which was followed by another arrest in April. Miller was been arrested three times this year

Despite the growing controversies surrounding Miller, Warner Bros. Discovery and DC said they are still on board to release The Flash film next summer

Rolling Stone previously reported in June that the Fantastic Beasts star had a 25-year-old mother and three young children living on their farm, where firearms were reportedly left lying around.

One person interviewed for the story claimed that a one-year-old on Miller's property  which is allegedly an unlicensed cannabis farm  had been found with a stray bullet in their mouth.

Miller has been the subject of numerous controversies in recent months, and they have been accused of disturbing and violent behavior going back to at least 2020.

That year, a video circulated that allegedly showed the actor choking a woman while at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland.

A source told Variety the incident took place after 'pushy fans' approached Miller and the actor lost their temper.

Miller has never publicly addressed the incident.

A woman claimed to Variety that in March 2020, Miller became belligerent and harassed her in her Berlin apartment after she told them that they could not smoke indoors.

'That just set them off,' said the woman, who was identified only by her first name, Nadia. 'I asked them to leave about 20 times, maybe more. They started insulting me. Im a "transphobic piece of s***." Im a "Nazi."

'It became so, so stressful for me. They were going around my house, looking at everything, touching everything, spreading tobacco leaves on the floor. It felt disgusting and very intrusive.'

Amid the recent scandal, a video resurfaced on Twitter of Miller appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland

She was only able to get Miller to leave after a half-hour confrontation when she finally called the police, and the incident left her feeling 'unsafe.'

It was reported last month that the investigation had been dropped due to Miller no longer being in the country.

Miller also made headlines in January when they posted a now-deleted video on Instagram threatening members of the Ku Klux Klan operating in Beulaville, North Carolina.

Miller was seen telling members of the Klan to kill themselves with their own guns, otherwise 'we'll do it for you if that's what you want.'

The troubled actor has been arrested twice in Hawaii this year, once for disorderly conduct and harassment and another time for second-degree assault.

Miller was arrested In March at the Margarita Village bar for allegedly harassing a number of patrons with belligerent behavior and was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment.

The incident started when Miller was reportedly hurling obscenities at a 23-year-old woman singing karaoke. The actor also tried to grab the microphone from her mid-song.

Then later on the same night, Miller lunged at a 32-year-old man who was playing darts at the bar. Police were eventually called in to deal with the out-of-control star.

Miller is shown being arrested in Hilo, Hawaii, on March 28 after allegedly spitting in someone's face and pulling a microphone away from another person as they tried to sing karaoke

A Nerf gun owned by Miller was filmed being put into an evidence bag during their arrest

Bodycam footage of the encounter with law shows the furious actor complaining that they were the real victim of assault, before demanding to know the police officers' full names and badge numbers.

'I've been assaulted for NFT crypto art,' Ezra yelled. 'What's your name and your badge number?'

Miller was referring to NFTs - digital images or videos which can be sold as pieces of artwork in their original formats.

'Tell me your name and your badge number! Full name!

'Tell me your name and your badge number! Tell me your name and your badge number now!

Weeks after that incident, Miller faced a second arrest in Hawaii over claims the actor threw a chair at a woman's head after the star refused to leave her home when asked.

The woman suffered a scar on her forehead, and Miller was charged with second-degree assault.

The We Need To Talk About Kevin actor was also recently accused of sheltering the teenage runaway Tokata Iron Eyes, whose parents filed a restraining order against the star.

Miller has been accused of 'grooming' and 'brainwashing' Tokata Iron Eyes, 18 (backseat), who is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. They are pictured together in a car

The actor also allegedly tried to get into bed with the teen  a member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe  during a trip to London when Iron Eyes was just 14, DailyMail.com reported.

Tokata's mother Dr. Sara Jumping Eagle said she and her lawyer husband Chase Iron Eyes have 'no idea' where 18-year-old is  after lodging legal papers for a protection order against Miller on behalf of their activist child.

The mother said she last saw Tokata in Santa Monica on May 29 in a harrowing street encounter after she and Chase flew from their home in North Dakota following a tip that the teen was in California with the Flash star.

Miller and Tokata jumped in a taxi after being confronted and sped off, she said.

Unable to hold back tears, Sara told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview: 'I would say to her now what I said to her then as she was going down the road away from me: "I love you and that I want you to be safe."'

The parents claim in a lawsuit that the actor plied their underage child with drugs including LSD and disrupted their Massachusetts private schooling to such an extent that they dropped out from Bard College at Simon's Rock in December.

When they flew to Miller's home in Stamford, Vermont, in January to retrieve Tokata, they allegedly found bruises on their child's body. Tokata also no longer had a driver's license, car keys or a bank card.
The California doctor who claims he became gravely ill and nearly died when his wife spiked his hot lemonade with liquid Drano has described his daily torture - including the one time he denied her a massage and said, 'she stepped on my head until I did it.'

The violent act was allegedly the start of years of emotional, and verbal torment Dr. Jack Chen, 53, endured from his dermatologist wife Yue 'Emily' Yu, 45, according to court documents and Chen's attorney Steven Hittelman who spoke with DailyMail.com.

According to Hittelman, Chen planted a Nanny cam in the kitchen of their Irvine, California, home after he grew suspicious that his wife of 11 years was poisoning him with a toxic, chemical substance used to unclog drains.

The lawyer said that Chen was the first person he told and he urged him to report the heinous act to the authorities.

Hittelman said the first time he spoke with Chen was sometime after July 18 when Chen told him that his wife tried to poison him and handed him video evidence of the act.

After watching the shocking video Hittleman described Yu as 'very methodical,' and said it was 'just unnerving to actually see it.'

'It is very intimate to commit murder to know what her husband's patterns and preferences are and seamlessly introduce poison into his routine,' he said.

Dr. Jack Chen planted a nanny cam in the kitchen of their Irvine, California home in hopes of catching his wife, Yue 'Emily' Yu, 45, of 11 years in the heinous act

On August 4 Yue 'Emily' Yu was arrested by Irvine Police Department. Before posting the $30,000 bail, she was served with divorce papers and a domestic violence restraining order

Hittelman said Chen called him last month to share video evidence that his wife and mother of this two children tried to spike his hot lemonade with Drano, the chemical substance typically used to rid clogs in drains

Chen, a radiologist, said that he and Yu started dating in 2011 and married a year later and had two children, a daughter, now 8 and a son, 7.

It was early into their courtship when he saw his wife's alleged rage and erratic behavior begin to emerge.

'After the children were born I became concerned about Emily's behavior. Not only was she was very demanding of me that I give her massages, one time when I could not because I was sick she stepped on my head until I did it,' according to the court documents.

He added: '[She] also began hiding money from me.'

Chen said, Yu along with his mother-in-law, Yuqin 'Amy' Gu, started abusing their children named Lauren and Ryan, when they were as young as two-years-old.

He claims the children were screamed at, slapped, insulted and deprived of sleep, and locked in their rooms.

Yu would allegedly commonly use a Chinese phrase towards the kids that means 'go die!'

She would tell the children, according to court documents 'your head is sick,' 'go f*** yourself,' 'stupid a*******,' and 'get the f*** out of my way,' 'f****** idiot.'

He said the children learned early on that 'Emily's rule is everything.'

'Emily's parenting if you could call it that revolves around yelling, insulting, verbally abusing, hitting, pushing, pulling and being emotionally abusive,' he wrote.

Chen said that Yu tried to turn the children against him. 'If our children let Emily know that they enjoyed spending time with me, or showed affection toward me then Emily would put them in their room and yell at them until they assured her they would not show affection toward me,' he said.

He said his mother-in-law was in on it too. 'She'd tell me 'I act like a thug,' and 'I don't act like a man,'' he shared in the court documents.

'Emily would called me a f****** a******, and other insults,' he said. 'Currently she minimizes my existence by telling the children in front of me 'tell him' to do something for them without addressing me. She would have the children do menial tasks for her like getting a piece of tissue for her.'

He said she would frequently interrogate their children and call them 'dumb' 'f****** stupid,' court documents reveal.

Chen added that when the children attended preschool the school was 'concerned' with how 'rough' the grandmother acted towards her grandchildren.

He said that his mother-in-law created a scene after learning what school officials thought and that she doesn't speak English, the court documents reveal.

Other issues emerged at the school between Yu and the children's grandmother, according to the court documents.

Both mother and daughter started 'bad mouthing one of the teachers, and then withdrew both children from the school.'

Chen said when they started at a the new school, a Chinese emersion school, school officials observed Ryan starting to beat up other children, the documents reveal.

The children play piano were verbally abused by Yu, and he cited a recent example that took place on July 13.

'Emily was so unhappy with Ryan's piano playing that she kept yelling at him, calling him a f******* idiot!' She yelled so loud and so close to Ryan that she was spitting on him and made him cry.'

Despite the taunting and abuse, Chen said that the children were 'supposed to put on a 'happy face' around their mother and grandmother.

'They are not allowed to express their feelings and even if they are feeling down both Emily and Amy will yell at them saying, 'you are so ugly, you look like a pig,' or tell Ryan 'you are a sissy.''

Chen explained in the court documents that his children never had any socialization or playdates because their mother would pack their schedules with activities.

'The kids are not allowed to have much contact with friends. Amy would bad mouth the kid's friend. She bad-mouthed my own family so the kids do not want to got to my family functions. They have virtually no contact with their cousins.'

He added: 'The kids are isolated in their own little bubble with only four family members: Emily, Amy, Lauren and Ryan,' he wrote. 'I am ignored and not recognized as a family member. When the kids wrote letters to Santa they excluded my name for fear that Emily would get mad.'

Then things allegedly grew increasingly worse.

In July, Chen grew suspicious that Yu may be poisoning him.

Hittelman said that he set up a nanny camera in the kitchen and caught his wife pouring Drano into his hot lemonade.

The lawyer called Yu's actions very 'methodical.'

'She knew his morning routine,' he said.

'On July 11 the first time video he caught her pouring the liquid Drano into his hot lemonade that was the day [Chen] stopped eating and drinking anything that was left unattended.'

'He wasn't satisfied with the first video since the cutting board was in the way and caught her again on July 18 and again on July 25th pouring the Drano into his hot tea.'

At one point Chen placed a piece of Saran Wrap over his beverage left it in the kitchen counter and walked out of the room and in the video Yu is seen peeling off the Saran Wrap holding the container of Drano and pouring it into his beverage.'

Chen said around March-April he started noticing an odd chemical taste in his mouth.

When he started feeling very sick, early summer he went to the doctor and was diagnosed with esophageal, gastritis and stomach ulcers.

The lawyer was not sure if Chen was given a blood test to detect any poison in his bloodstream.

'We don't know how far back Mr. Chen had been ingesting the Drano,' the lawyer said.

During the month of July, Chen collected surveillance footage of Yu, while alone in their kitchen, surreptitiously opening the plastic container of liquid Drano in the kitchen and pouring the poison into his cup of hot lemonade.

Hittelman said Chen called him last month to share video evidence that his wife of 11 years spiked his hot lemonade with Drano, the chemical substance typically used to rid clogs in drains.

The three dates he captured the alleged criminal act on camera was July 11, July 18 and July 25.

'Chen approached me sometime after July 18 the second time she tried to poison him. He put two and two together and started recording his wife after suspecting something,' he said.

'Chen hadn't gone to the authorities yet so I urged him to go to the police,' Hittelman said.

Despite the harrowing ordeal, Hittelman said Chen appeared remarkably composed and was just very concerned for the welfare and safety of his two children.

On August 4, Yu was arrested by the Irvine Police Department. Before posting the $30,000 bail, Hittelman served Chen's wife with divorce papers and a domestic violence restraining order.

When he handed Yu the papers, Yu asked her husband's attorney: 'What is this about?'

Hittleman said: ' This is about you poisoning Mr. Chen.'

She said: 'I deny that.'

'It had no affect on her whatsoever,' the lawyer said. 'She did not express any emotion. She didn't appear scared had no fear she was in jail.'

Hittelman said that before Chen suspected his wife was poisoning him, he said their relationship was ongoing. Their was no mention of divorce until, he said, Chen caught her poisoning him.

A copy of the domestic violence restraining order that was issued to Yu on August 5

The Spanish style home Chen shared with his wife and two children in Irvine, California. Yu has a domestic violence restraining order against her and is not permitted near their home Chen, their children, Chen's place of work, the children's school, and a second property they own

Hittelman said that, 'Dr. Chen said the domestic violence was going on for years and this [the poisoning] was the tipping point to get protections for himself and his children.'

He described Yu as 'very methodical,' and he said when viewing the video that Chen handed over to him he told DailyMail.com it was 'just very unnerving,' to watch.

The restraining order prevents Yu from coming between 100 yards of him and their children, their home, Chen's place of employment, the children's school and a second property they own in Newport Beach.

Chen also asked the judge to grant him control of their two vehicles, a 2020 Mercedes Benz and 2017 Volvo.

The lawyer said that Yu is currently living in another location in California.

'If [Yu] she breaks the restraining order, Chen will call 911 and have her arrested,' he said.

Hittelman told DailyMail.com their next court date is August 18 which will determine if the court will keep the restraining order in effect for up to five years.

Kimberly Edds, the public information officer with the Orange County District Attorney's Office told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that Yu's arraignment is November 3 at Orange County Superior Court.

The court hearing is only based on the suspicion of poisoning not on domestic violence, she said.

'We don't have any charges filed against Ms. Yu,' Ebbs said, 'Orange County prosecutors are reviewing the evidence to see if there are sufficient facts to file criminal charges against her. At that point she will plead guilty or not guilty.'

Hittleman said that in his years of working with victims of domestic abuse many are led to believe that there is no escape out of the relationship after being brow beaten and manipulated.

'I have had university professors, engineers, doctors, high end real estate agents who are mortified that they allowed themselves to be victims of domestic violence. They will suffer through years of horrific treatment because they have been manipulated to believe there is no way out.'

He explained 'there is no approach that works unless the victim is ready to leave the abusive relationship.'

In Chen's case, Chen is hoping to get sole custody of their two children, the lawyer said.

He told DailyMail.com that we have a saying in family law: 'You can't write this.'
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to be honored along with their Archewell Foundation for their work advocating for Afghan refugees.

The couple, who will not receive the award in person, are also being thanked for their generous donation to the Human First Coalition.

Archewell Foundation Executive Director James Holt will be receiving the Partner Organization Award on their behalf at an event next week in New York.

The couple visited the city last month after Harry was announced as a keynote speaker at the UN, giving a politically charged speech.

He criticized SCOTUS for its decision to remove federal abortion protections, before the couple were seen dining out at Robert DeNiros Tribeca restaurant.

As well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, US Sen Richard Blumenthal will also be receiving the Haji Abdul Rauf Service Award for advocating on behalf of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.

The event will feature traditional Afgan food, music, performances and a bazaar with tickets costing $100 being donated to the organization.

Harry and Meghan are set to be given the award at an event for the Human First Coalition in New York City next week. It is understood the couple will not attend in person, but will send a representative from their Archewell Foundation

Said Rauf, President of the Human First Coalition, set up the organization after he and his brother Anees Khalil were taken prisoner in December as they worked to help people flee Afghanistan's hardline rulers

As part of a holiday message in 2021 the couple chose the organization as one of a handful they had decided to donate to which they said honored and protected families.

The couple used the announcement to wish the world a Happy Holidays in 2021, and also picture their daughter Lilibet Diana for the first time since she was born.

They said: 'This year we welcomed out daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a "Mama and Papa" and Lili made us a family.

'As we look forward to 2022 we have made donations on your behalf to several organizations that honor and protect families - from those being relocated from Afghanistan to American families in need of paid parental leave.'

James Holt, Executive Director of Archewell Foundation added: Its an honor to be recognized by Human First Coalition, whose steadfast work in Afghanistan has played a critical role in delivering much needed aid and resulted in the successful evacuation and resettlement of thousands globally.

We share a commitment to supporting families and veterans and are grateful for their partnership.

The Sussexes, who are currently residing in a $14.7million mansion in Montecito, released the card (pictured) to announce they've made a donation to several charities, including an organization that supports Afghan families left behind after the US withdrawal

Biden announced a full withdrawal in May. Above, the president delivers remarks on August 26 after 13 troops were killed at an airport in Kabul

Said Rauf, President of the Human First Coalition, said: Both Sen. Blumenthal and the Archewell Foundation were instrumental in assisting us as we organized efforts to assist Afghans who were left behind when the Taliban took Kabul.

'We cannot thank them enough for their support.

Rauf, a Navy reservist, and his brother Anees Khalil were taken prisoner in December as they worked to help people flee Afghanistan's hardline rulers.

After spending 105 days in Taliban captivity Rauf and his brother were released in April following months of negotiations by the Biden administration.

They founded the Human First Coalition, which worked with the Digital Dunkirk movement to rescue those at risk of Taliban persecution.

His organization was involved in aiding the escape of the Afghan translator who helped rescue Joe Biden from a remote valley in Afghanistan in 2008.

Aman Khalili  who assisted US troops who rescue Biden after his helicopter made an emergency landing during a snow storm back when he was a US senator visiting the country  made it out after a harrowing journey involving multiple safe houses, Taliban checkpoints, and tense moments where he nearly turned back.

Current and former US officials say the role of the US as a reliable partner in international security has been tainted by this year's withdrawal from Afghanistan, which saw 13 soldiers killed and the country returned to Taliban rule.

The War in Afghanistan is the longest war in US history, starting in 2001 by the Bush administration.

The US accused the Taliban-ruled country of being a safe haven for al-Qaeda, which perpetrated the September 11 attacks.

Ground operations have been winding down for years, but President Joe Biden announced the drawdown of all remaining troops in the country in April.
A nursery worker died after catching hepatitis and Covid-19 while waiting for a liver transplant, an inquest heard.

Katie Horne, 21, died on April 11 2020, just over a month after she first visited the Princess Royal Hospital in West Sussex with jaundice, dark urine, tiredness and cramps.

She was later transferred to King's College Hospital in London with the aim of having a liver transplant, but tested positive for Covid-19, meaning she was prevented from receiving a transplant due to the medical guidance in place at the time.

Senior Coroner Andrew Harris, who drew a short-form conclusion of natural causes, said the combination of liver failure, the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on hospitals and Ms Horne contracting Covid-19 led to her death.

He said there was 'no evidence' that either hospital had provided inappropriate care to Ms Horne, but raised concerns about the delay in receiving results and involving a gastroenterologist in her care.

Katie Horne, 21, died on April 11 2020, just over a month after she first visited the Princess Royal Hospital in West Sussex with jaundice, dark urine, tiredness and cramps

During an inquest at Inner London South Coroner's Court on Wednesday, the court heard that Ms Horne, who had a history of autoimmune illnesses in her family, faced a delay in receiving her blood test results determining what type of hepatitis she had due to a 'backlog' at the lab as a result of the pandemic.

Consultant Tatyana Viner, who saw Ms Horne two days after she first presented at hospital with symptoms on March 1, told the inquest there were no gastroenterologists available on site when she first visited the hospital.

Questioned if Ms Viner chased the lab results when Ms Horne saw her on March 3, she said she presumed a junior doctor would have done so.

Asked why she didn't, she replied: 'I was busy.'

Ms Horne returned to hospital a further two times before receiving her results, and then met with gastroenterologist Dr Nick Parnell on March 16, 15 days after she first went to hospital.

Questioned by the coroner as to why the gastroenterologist was not approached after he said there would have been one on site, Dr Parnell said: 'I do not know why their advice was not sought.'

He described Ms Horne's condition, which was later confirmed to be acute autoimmune hepatitis resulting in acute liver failure, as 'rare' and 'aggressive'.

On March 18, Ms Horne was admitted to the Princess Royal as an inpatient and began receiving steroid treatment on March 20.

The inquest heard that if Dr Parnell was involved earlier, she could have started being treated 10 days earlier than she did.

Ms Horne was later transferred to King's College Hospital, in London, on March 24 and was placed under the care of Dr Varuna Aluvihare.

But she tested positive for Covid-19 four days later - which was contracted prior to her admission to King's - meaning she was no longer eligible for a transplant.

During an inquest at Inner London South Coroner's Court on Wednesday, the court heard that Ms Horne, who had a history of autoimmune illnesses in her family, faced a delay in receiving her blood test results determining what type of hepatitis she had due to a 'backlog' at the lab as a result of the pandemic

Ms Horne was then moved to intensive care on April 5 after 'deteriorating quickly' and died on April 11.

Both Dr Parnell and Dr Aluvihare agreed that if she had received treatment sooner it would have had a 'better outcome', but they were unable to say if she would have survived.

Mr Harris said he would provide a prevention of future deaths report as the Princess Royal had not undertaken an internal investigation following Miss Horne's death.

He told the inquest: 'The trust has not made any attempt to find any evidence over the last two years [as to why there was a delay with the results and her meeting a gastroenterologist]. This is not very reassuring for the family.'

He added: 'None of us could move into the shoes of the family and think what it is like to lose a child at the beginning of her life. It is unthinkable.

'Nothing will be able to mend their lives from this devastating loss.'

Following the verdict, Tony Horne, her father, said: 'It's taken two years and four months to get here. Katie was just starting her life, she was 21 years old.

'She just started a new job, she was loving her position. The nursery loved her, the kids loved her. That's been taken away. That hurts the most for us.

'We always felt there were things missed. We just want people to learn the lessons so that nobody else is in this position again.'

Dr Rob Haigh, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Sussex, said: 'On behalf of University Hospitals Sussex, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of Katie for their loss.

'We look forward to hearing from the coroner, and are committed to making any changes which will further improve patient care.'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the U.S.'s unofficial relationship with Taiwan remained unchanged after her visit but the U.S. would not allow China to 'isolate' the island nation.

'We will not allow China to isolate Taiwan,' Pelosi said at a news conference, flanked by members of the congressional delegation she brought with her. 'They're not keeping us from going to Taiwan ...That was our purpose, to salute this thriving democracy.'

Pelosi defended the trip that has provoked Chinese ire and a slew of threats and military drills: 'Our purpose in going to Taiwan was to say that we have this strong relationship built on the status quo, which we support.'

'They say we're trying to upset - no, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 ... established the terms of our relationship.'

'There's no departure from that,' she added.

The Taiwan Relations Act began the U.S.'s policy of strategic ambiguity, establishing an unofficial diplomatic and economic pathway between the U.S. and Taiwan. It acknowledged China's 'One China principle' but neither supported nor criticized it. The U.S. has not publicly said whether it would come to Taiwan's aid if China invaded, but has urged the PRC against doing so.

Pelosi also told reporters that she doesn't 'remember' the military telling her not to go to Taiwan. Ahead of the trip, Biden told reporters 'The military thinks it's not a good idea.'

'We are very proud of our military. Their preparation actually, I think, minimized the impact of the Chinese on our trip. So they took very good care of us,' Pelosi said.

Asked if Biden was too cautious on Taiwan, Pelosi declined to comment.

'We follow the lead of the president,' on a strong Asia-Pacific initiative, Pelosi said. 'It was a remarkable trip.'

Pelosi's delegation also made stops in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.

Pelosi defended the trip that has provoked Chinese ire and a slew of threats and military drills: 'Our purpose in going to Taiwan was to say that we have this strong relationship built on the status quo, which we support'

The speaker confirmed that her son, Paul Pelosi Jr., joined the trip with her. 'His role was to be my escort,' she said. Asked if he had any 'business dealings' throughout the trip, the speaker said, 'No he did not. Of course he did not.'

Paul is on the board of two lithium mining companies - St. George's Eco-Mining and Altair International Corp. Asian nations produce around 75 percent of the world's lithium batteries.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said 250,000 people were lined up to greet the American lawmakers when they landed in Taipei.

'They want to know that we are there, they want to see our soft power,' he said.

The New York Democrat blamed provocations squarely on China.

'It's not us that wants to change the status quo, you see that coming from Beijing.'

Another member who joined the trip said the U.S. would not be controlled by China's threats.

If the cost of avoiding these types of provocative measures is to cede control of Taiwan to the Peoples Republic of China, or to cede control of our travel schedules in Congress to the Peoples Republic of China, that is not a price we are going to pay, said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).

Meanwhile the Biden administration has vowed to continue sailing warships through the Taiwan Strait and conducting air operations in the region in response to ramped-up Chinese military drills after Pelosi's visit, according to a New York Times report.

American and Taiwanese officials worry that China will use the trip as an excuse to bully Taiwan for months or years to come. They worry it could possibly speed up the timetable of a full-scale Chinese invasion and takeover, just as China took over Hong Kong.

China on Tuesday ended a week-long series of live-fire drills around Taiwan but signaled it intended to continue regular patrols of the disputed waters between the two countries.

Pelosi, center, walks with Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, left, as she arrives in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022

The army of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducts long-range live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait, Aug. 4, 2022

Eastern Theater Command of China's army released this image on Aug. 9 of fighter jets during a military drill

A Kang Ding-class frigate Di Hua of Taiwan Navy leaves a port for monitoring a Navy Force vessel of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), at an undisclosed location in Taiwan August 8, 2022

Taiwanese officials have claimed China sent 17 fighter jets across the median line in the Taiwan Strait. Both sides have understood for decades that crossing the median line would mean serious escalation.

Meanwhile Taiwan launched its own anti-invasion drills this week.

'In the face of military intimidation created by China, Taiwan will not be afraid nor back down, and will more firmly defend its sovereignty, national security, and free and democratic way of life,' Taiwan's foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday, according to Reuters.
A British student who was paralysed after a 2,000lb bison gored her and tossed her 15ft in the air may be left stranded in the US after her health insurance said it will withdraw support.

Amelia Dean - known as Mia - was travelling in South Dakota during a gap year road trip when the beast tore the femoral artery in her left thigh during the shocking attack on June 16.

While she was fighting for her life in hospital, her parents Matthew and Jacqueline launched a GoFundMe to raise 140,000 ($171,000) to transfer their daughter to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

They had hoped to raise enough money for the extensive, specialist treatment the 19-year-old required in the US after her insurance provider only funded Mia's initial care.

However, shocking healthcare insurance rules mean Mia and her family have been faced with a grim decision after her provider let them know they plan to withdraw support.

'The insurance company has given us an ultimatum: to fly Mia home by air ambulance this weekend, after which they will withdraw funding for her case,' they wrote on her gofundme page.

The decision before the family is to either fly home to Brockham in Surrey on an insurance-funded air ambulance this weekend, with no doctors giving her the green light for such a journey.

Alternatively, she can stay in the US where she will receive 'world-class specialist treatment in the peripheral nerve field', but without health insurance and dependent upon donations to fund her care.

Amelia 'Mia' Dean, 19, from Brockham, Surrey, has been told by her health care insurer that she must fly home this weekend before they withdraw funding for her case

19-year-old Amelia 'Mia' Dean from Brockham, Surrey, is paralysed after a 2,000lb bison tore the femoral artery in her left thigh during a shocking attack in South Dakota

Although Miss Dean and her friend had spotted the animal (pictured) 100 feet away, she was 'shocked into stillness' as it charged towards her

The cost of the air ambulance has been put at 100,000 ($121,000), which insurance will cover only this weekend coming.

For the family, the chances of their daughter, an avid dancer, of making a full recovery is greater in the US. But it hard to know if they will be able to raise the funds to cover her specialist care and the transport costs to bring her home afterwards.

Mia's parents said the health insurance had already paid for the femoral artery bypass, but will not pay for the initial examination of her nerve injury by the specialist at the Mayo Clinic.

Mia was in critical condition as the bison completely severed her femoral artery and caused catastrophic damage to her tibial and peroneal nerves.

She has been under the American healthcare system since the attack on June 16.

Her parents said: 'Since launching this fundraiser, Mia's situation has changed and we have had to make some difficult decisions.

'Our daughter's health is our top priority and we want to get her home as safely as possible.

'Now the insurance company has given us an ultimatum: to fly Mia home by air ambulance this weekend, after which they will withdraw funding for her case.'

Fundraising has so far raised 60,000 of their 140,000 target.

Mia's parents initially wanted the money to cover testing at a specialist clinic but have now discovered the air ambulance home will cost more than 100,000.

They are hoping to fly her back to the UK this weekend via air ambulance.

As Mia, from Brockham, Surrey, lay bleeding and injured at the 71,000 acre Custer State Park, the wild beast - one of 1,500 in the reserve - stood directly next to her head before her friend bravely led it away. Pictured after the attack

Amelia, 19, is pictured being taken away by an ambulance after the attack. Her parents are trying to raise 140,000 for her medical treatment in the US

Mis Dean and her friend encountered a lone 2,000Ib bison while walking a trail in Custer State Park in South Dakota (Pictured: file photo of a bison)

They added: 'If we choose to stay in the US and follow this route we are then potentially left stranded.

'With so many unknowns for her future treatment needs, we feel we have little choice but to cancel Mia's appointments at the Mayo Clinic next week.

'We may have to consider coming back to the Mayo Clinic, should it become necessary.

'It's gutting, but we have to do what is best for Mia's recovery with so little hard information available.'

Mia will need complex nerve grafts and potentially a number of surgeries to help her recover.

She came face-to-face with the beast on a walking trail in Custer State Park on the second day of her road trip.

As the pair headed along the picturesque route with a dog, they noticed the large male bison blocking their path.

They skirted around the beast - which can weigh up to a whopping 2,000lb - while it grazed.

It initially seemed unfazed by the walkers before it stopped grazing to examine them. Suddenly, it charged at a terrified Mia.

She was 'shocked into stillness' before the beast surged its horn into her thigh and launched her 15 feet into the air.

The horn puncture was so severe that it punctured straight through her thigh and 'came out the other end'.

Mia (pictured) will need complex nerve grafts and potentially a number of surgeries to help her recover

Amelia's parents, pictured, have made an appeal for their fundraising efforts: 'Mia is English and while her travel insurance has paid so far for the femoral artery bypass, they are refusing to pay for even the initial examination by the specialist of her nerve injury'

Mia was then left battered and in agonising pain on the ground while the bison towered over her - one of 1,500 in the reserve - and stood directly next to her head before her friend bravely led it away and called for help.

Her wound was gushing with blood with an injury that usually kills within two and eight minutes, leading her parents to say she is lucky to be alive.

The horrifying ordeal only came to an end when Mia's brave friend led the beast away and called for help.

Her parents said: 'We are beyond fortunate that our daughter is still breathing, as she should have bled out in two to eight minutes after the severed artery and the ambulance didn't arrive for 20 minutes.

'It is a miracle that she is alive today. We believe that God put a veil of protection over Mia.'

Speaking from her hospital bed, she told KOTA TV: 'I remember feeling the pressure on my hip, my hip being pushed back and I remember the sensation of flying in the air and going head over heels.

'It's a surreal enough experience let alone the fact that we weren't doing anything that really warranted it. We were just having a walk in the park.'

'It's a miracle I even lived until the ambulance got there, let alone kept my life and my leg.

The keen dancer is now paralysed from the knee down and says she has 'no movement' in her foot.

'I can't walk without a walker or crutches. I can't walk very far. About 20 metres and I'm done, for a long time.'

Miss Dean was on just the second day of her US trip when the attack occurred and she had been accepted on a course at the University of Edinburgh.
Britain's top al-Qaeda chief, who headed a three-man cell preparing to commit mass murder, will remain behind bars after being denied parole.

Rangzieb Ahmed, 47 - once said to be Osama bin Laden's top European operative - was the first person to be convicted in the UK of directing terrorism.

The Rochdale-born Muslim was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years in 2008 for heading a three-man al-Qaeda cell planning mass attacks.

In its written decision, the Parole Board said that while Ahmed had engaged with an accredited programme to address extremist offending, as well as with religious leaders, concerns had been raised about his 'attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour' in custody.

Rochdale-born Muslim Rangzieb Ahmed was jailed for life with a minimum of 10 years in 2008 for heading a three-man al-Qaeda cell planning mass attacks

The 47-year-old - once said to be Osama bin Laden's top European operative - was the first person to be convicted in the UK of directing terrorism

Ahmed, 47, will be eligible for another parole hearing in future

The Parole Board panel considered evidence from Ahmed's probation officers, prison officials, psychologists, a former police officer, a professor of Arabic, and Ahmed himself.

The panel also examined a proposal for Ahmed to live in 'designated accommodation' with strict limitations placed on his contacts, movements, and activities.

However, they decided that the plan was not 'robust' enough to manage Ahmed in the community.

He will be eligible for another parole hearing in future.

At Ahmed's 2008 trial, the jury heard how he headed a three-man al Qaida cell which was preparing to commit mass murder.

Counter-terrorism chiefs were not sure where Ahmed was planning to strike, but were convinced an attack was imminent, his trial heard.

His scheme was revealed with the discovery of three diaries, which were found to contain details and phone numbers of key al Qaida operatives written in invisible ink.

He later sued MI5 and MI6 for alleged collusion in his torture by Pakistani intelligence, but last year had his damages claim thrown out by the High Court.

Ahmed had claimed he was tortured at the hands of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency while detained between 2006 and 2007, before being deported to the UK and charged with terrorism offences.
President Joe Biden demanded Wednesday that Syria release journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 10 years ago as he covered the country's bitter civil war.

No one has ever claimed responsibility for his abduction and the Syrian government has not admitted holding the 40-year-old.

On the 10th anniversary of his disappearance and the day before his birthday, Biden said he knew the government of Bashar al-Assad had been holding Tice.

'He is a son, he is a brother, and he is an investigative journalist who put the truth above himself and traveled to Syria to show the world the real cost of war,' said the president.

'We know with certainty that he has been held by the Syrian regime.

'We have repeatedly asked the government of Syria to work with us so that we can bring Austin home.

'On the tenth anniversary of his abduction, I am calling on Syria to end this and help us bring him home.'

President Joe Biden accused Syria of holding missing journalist Austin Tice. He was last seen 10 years ago after being snatched while covering the country's civil war

Tice worked for CBS News, The Washington Post and McClatchy among others

Austin Tice's mother Debra said she had never wavered in her determination to bring her son home. She and her husband met Biden in May

Tice, a freelance journalist for several news organizations including CBS News, The Washington Post and McClatchy, went missing at a checkpoint in a contested area west of the capital Damascus.

A video released by supporters of Assad later showed him blindfolded and distressed, surrounded by captors.

He could be heard saying: 'Oh, Jesus.'

Nothing more has been seen of him since.

However, officials have repeatedly suggested that they believe he is still alive.

Four years ago, U.S. envoy to Syria James Jeffrey said he believed Tice as being held hostage, but offered no further information.

Two years ago, Trump administration officials traveled to Syria to secure his release but returned empty handed. Officials in Damascus reportedly said there could no negotiations about any prisoners so long as U.S. troops were in the country.

And in May a Lebanese security officials met with Biden administration officials in Washington as part of an effort to free Tice.

Throughout the ups and downs, the missing journalist's parents have kept up a campaign to bring him home.

'I've never wavered. I'm not wavering now,' his mother Debra told CBS News in an interview earlier this week.

'There's no reason not to believe that he's waiting and hoping and dreaming and planning to walk free.'

Tice is from Houston, Texas, and traveled to Syria to report on the brutal conflict that erupted in 2011 during the Arab Spring

Tice is from Houston, Texas, and traveled to Syria to report on the brutal conflict that erupted in 2011 during the Arab Spring.

In May, Biden met with Tice's parents and promised that he would use every tool available to secure 'Austin's long overdue return to his family.'

On Wednesday, the president reiterated his promise.

'The Tice family deserves answers, and more importantly, they deserve to be swiftly reunited with Austin,' he said.

'We stand with Austins many loved ones, and we will not rest until we bring Austin home.

'Ten years is far, far too long. So is every additional day.'

Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded that Damascus admit its role.

We continue to demand that Syrian officials fulfill their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to acknowledge the detention of Austin and every other U.S. national held in Syria, a responsibility under international law and an important step in securing their release,' he said.
Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that a former employee of Twitter who had been accused of espionage for Saudi Arabia had been found guilty. A jury also found the employee, a resident of the U.S. named Ahmad Abouammo, guilty of money laundering, fabricating records, and conspiring to commit wire fraud.

Abouammo could receive a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.

He Allegedly Spy for Saudi Arabia

Abouammo formerly managed media partnerships for Twitter and assisted well-known individuals in the Middle East and North Africa with the promotion of their accounts.

However, he used his position to gain access to people who were critical of the Saudi government's email addresses, phone numbers, and dates of birth. Between November 2014 and May 2015, Abouammo gave that information to Saudi officials in exchange for gifts, according to The Verge.

He and another Twitter employee, Ali Alzabarah, were allegedly approached by the Saudi government, which offered them money and luxury items in exchange for their aid in acquiring personal information about Twitter users of interest.

TechCrunch reported that the Department of Justice accused Abouammo and Alzabarah of spying in 2019. Later, in 2020, the agency increased the charges to include a third person, Ahmed Almutairi, who is accused of orchestrating the plot. Both Almutairi and Alzabarah are still looked after by the U.S. government.

Abouammo Was Accused To Be Working With an Aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman

TechCrunch said that according to Bloomberg, Abouammo was charged with conspiring to suppress dissenters alongside an aide to Mohammed bin Salman, who now serves as Saudi Arabia's crown prince. Abouammo allegedly asserted that he was merely carrying out his duties and blamed Twitter for failing to protect user data.

The prosecution said during the trial that a prominent official in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's administration asked Abouammo for assistance in looking into his enemies.

In the course of that cooperation, Abouammo allegedly gathered personal data from Saudi government critics, such as birth dates, email addresses, and phone numbers, and forwarded it to his friends there.

Meanwhile, according to Abouammo's defense, he only had access to the data while doing his regular job tasks at Twitter.

Read More: Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Suffers Broken Back During a Hard Landing

Twitter Warned Users That Their Accounts Might Have Been Targeted by State-Sponsored Actors

Twitter warned several users that their accounts had been targeted by state-sponsored actors in 2015 because of Abouammo's ties to the Saudi government.

A separate TechCrunch report cited The New York Times, which said that a small number of users received warnings from Twitter saying that their accounts "may have been targeted by state-sponsored actors."

"As a precaution, we are alerting you that your Twitter account is one of a small group of accounts that may have been targeted by state-sponsored actors," said Twitter in the email to affected users.

Some questioned the connection between the impacted accounts as Twitter at the time declined to explain what had caused the email warning.

Meanwhile, in the event of alleged state-sponsored hacking or attacks, Facebook and Google also have similar notifications set up.

Related Article: Saudi Arabia Now Has a 5% Stake in Nintendo
A new documentary featuring Armie Hammer's aunt and a pair of his accusers delves into the embattled actor's alleged violent sexual fantasies and dark family history.

In the new trailer for House of Hammer, accusers Courtney Vucekovich and Julia Morrison describe their allegedly violent relationships with Hammer in harrowing detail.

'I am here to talk about what happened with my relationship with Armie Hammer,' Vucekovich says at the outset of the trailer - after taking deep breaths and nervously adjusting her jacket.

She and Morrison then go on to show text messages they say Hammer, 35, sent describing violent sexual fantasies he wanted them to play out - including the infamous 'I'm 100% a cannibal' text.

'I haven't really digested this one,' Morrison says flipping through her phone and reading aloud a text from Hammer, 'I have a fantasy of having someone prove their love and devotion and tying them up in a public place at night making their body free use. And seeing if they will f*** strangers for me.'

The three part series was co-produced by Armie's own aunt, Casey Hammer, and is to be released on Discovery+ on Wednesday. She also appeared in the trailer and said she wasn't surprised to learn about the accusations against her nephew, saying darkness is a Hammer family tradition.

'When all this came out about Armie, I was not shocked. You just don't wake up and become this dark controller, abuser. This behavior, it's deep rooted.'

The documentary is the latest chapter in the unravelling of the former Hollywood A-lister whose career was felled in 2021 by sexual assault allegations and an ensuing investigation from the Los Angeles police department. He was recently spotted working as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands after a rehab stint.

Armie Hammer was spotted in Los Angeles in July after he was seen selling timeshares in the Cayman Islands

In the documentary, accusers Courtney Vucekovich and Julia Morrison describe their allegedly violent relationships with Hammer in harrowing detail, while Hammer's own aunt, Casey Hammer, describes a family steeped in generations of violent behavior

In the documentary Armie Hammer's own aunt, Casey Hammer, describes a family steeped in generations of violent behavior

In the trailer, Vucekovich and Mirron both said their relationship with Hammer started out idyllic.

'In the beginning I felt like this was all prefect, this was amazing,' Vucekovich said, 'How could you be this beautiful, this smart, so funny. But then things changed. He pushes your boundaries a little bit at a time. You're his, completely.'

She said things began to escalate rapidly after Armie left her a handwritten note that said 'I am going to bite the f*** out of you,' describing being so violently bound by Hammer during sex that she closed her eyes to shut it out.

'He just like acted mad. The ropes were around your neck, your wrist, your ankles, you're like completely immobilized. I'm just closing my eyes until it ended,' she said, sharing a photo of five coils of rope Hammer allegedly sent her.

'I mean, he said, I'm 100% a cannibals. I'm freaking out.'

Morrison said her relationship with Hammer started with him saying' god you're so perfect, its like you were made for me,' but by the end his violent kinks were 'all he wanted ever to talk about.'

The trailer also plays a voice memo allegedly recorded by Hammer saying 'My bet was going to involve showing up at your place and completely tying you up and incapacitating you and being able to do whatever I wanted to every single hole in your body until I was done with you.'

A pair of texts Armie Hammer allegedly sent to Courtney Vucekovich, revealed in the documentary

A series of texts Armie sent to one of his accusers. It was anonymously shared in 2021 when he was first accused. It is unclear who he sent it to

Casey, the sister of Armie's father who became estranged after she was mostly ignored by in her grandfather's multi-million-dollar will in 1990 - reported to be worth about $800million - said violence runs in the family.

'On the outside we were a perfect family. But magnify Succession a million times, and it as my family,' she said, 'If you believe about making deals with the devil, the Hammers are top of the totem pole.'

Armie's great-grandfather and namesake, Armand Hammer, made millions in the oil industry but left his family deeply divided in his 1990 will which favored some and slighted others.

Violence and scandal has plagued the family throughout its stories history, with Armie's great-great-grandfather being convicted of manslaughter in 1920 over a botched abortion he tried to administer, and Armie's grandfather killing a man in 1955 over a gambling debt. He dodged those charges by claiming self defense.

A 2021 report in Vanity Fair detailed the bizarre sexual proclivities Armie's father, Michael Hammer, claiming the 65-year-old 'has the mindset of a teenage boy', and keeps a 'sex throne' in the Armand Hammer Foundation headquarters.

'I know my grandfather had a dark side, but I saw my fathers dark side firsthand,' Casey said, 'And I've seen my brother's dark side. It was like a monster unleashed. Now it's Armie Hammer.'

'Every generation in my family has been involved in dark misdeeds, and it just gets worse and worse and worse.'

Casey - who told Vanity Fair she had $100 in her savings account and was working at Home Depot after receiving $250,000 from her grandfather's will - co-produced the documentary, according to Variety, and signed onto the project before it was picked up by Discovery+.

'My name is Casey hammer and I'm about to reveal the dark twisted secrets of the Hammer family.'

Accuser Courtney Vucekovich appears in the documentary. She said her relationship with Hammer started out idyllic but went suddenly south

Armie Hammer in Los Angeles in July after returning from the Cayman Islands, where he was living to be closer to his kids and estranged wife

Armie's life as thrown into disarray last year after a number of women claimed that he has been sexually abusive to them in the service of several of his alleged violent sexual kinks, which reportedly included rape and cannibalism fantasies.

Two women - including Vucekovich - said he told them he wanted to remove their ribs, barbecue them and eat them, and one accused him of slicing the letter 'A' into one her thigh before sucking the blood out of her fresh wound.

After the accusations were made public, the actor was dropped by his agency, WME, and was subsequently let go from various film projects, including Paramount Plus series The Offer, Jennifer Lopez's Shotgun Wedding, as well as the thriller Billion Dollar Spy.

He and his wife Elizabeth Chambers, 39, had announced their split a few months before the allegations surfaced.

Hammer checked into a rehabilitation center to treat sex, drugs and alcohol problems, where he stayed from May through December 2021.

Armie Hammer working as a timeshare salesman while he was living in the Cayman Islands earlier this year

A brochure featuring Hammer as a concierge at the Morritt's resort in Grand Cayman. Hammer has said the brochure is fake

The rehab stint was reportedly funded by friend and fellow actor Downey Jr., who himself has dealt with and climbed back from career shattering substance abuse problems.

Hammer trying to close a deal while selling timeshares in Grand Cayman earlier this year

A source told Variety that Downey Jr. was providing 'financial assistance until he [Hammer] gets back on his feet.'

The source also confirmed the rumors surrounding viral photos that showed Hammer walking into the Morritt's Resort office in a staff uniform, despite his lawyer previously denying claims that he'd taken up a new career there.

The shots were followed by photos of Hammer taken inside of the office on another day, once again wearing a similar blue polo shirt while reportedly going over pricing for a unit with a couple of potential buyers.

TMZ reported at the time that during the pitch Hammer offered the potential buyers a timeshare for $2,020 per week or, 'only about $21,000 for ten years of vacations.'

Earlier in July, his attorney denied that the disgraced star was working at the establishment, following a viral Tweet with another image that that showed his face on a pamphlet as concierge for the hotel.

The since-deleted tweet's caption read: 'My friend's parents went on vacation in the Cayman Islands and Armie Hammer was their concierge.'

The pamphlet included discount vouchers and advertised that Hammer would take guests to swim 'with wild turtles' and point them to the 'best snorkeling and diving spots.'

Armie Hammer as a child being held by his great grandfather Armand Hammer. His father, Michael Hammer, crouches to the right

Armie Hammer with his father Michael Hammer. Vanity Fair reported in 2021 that Michael had his own unique sexual proclivities

The source told Variety Hammer was working the job because he was 'broke.'

'He is working at the resort and selling timeshares. He is working at a cubicle,' the source said, 'The reality is he's totally broke, and is trying to fill the days and earn money to support his family.'

According to the source Hammer 'is not on the family payroll' and has been forced to work a regular job after his Hollywood downfall.

The insider also shared that Hammer previously managed an apartment complex in the Cayman Islands, too.
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Ben Wallace dismissed Moscow's explanation for a series of deadly explosions which destroyed parts of a crucial Russian airbase in Crimea yesterday as Ukraine said its special forces were responsible.

The Defence Secretary has said it is 'clear' explosions at a Russian air base in Crimea were not caused by 'someone dropping a cigarette' as the Kremlin maintained that no aircraft has been damaged, or that an attack took place.

Mr Wallace said it was 'very early days' and the UK would 'see what information comes out' after reports that one person was killed, and 14 were injured in the attack at the Saki air base.

An anonymous official from the Ukrainian air force told the Washington Post the destruction of up to ten Russian aircraft had been carried out by special forces  despite claims yesterday that long-range missiles could have been used.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meanwhile vowed to 'liberate' the peninsula previously part of Ukraine but annexed by Russia in 2014 despite international condemnation after hordes of Russians seemingly began to fleeing the Crimea in the wake of the explosions

Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation.'

Mr Wallace also said today he believes anyone's 'manual of war' would deem the site on the Crimean peninsula a 'legitimate target' for Ukraine to strike.

The explosions which rang out around 3:30pm local time yesterday afternoon at the Russian-held Novofedorivka military airbase in Western Crimea, which is located within sight of a popular beach.

Videos circulating yesterday on the Telegram messaging app showed dozens of shocked beachgoers watching trails of smoke snaking from the base before hastily evacuating the shore.

Other clips showed the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac destroyed in the devastating blasts.

Rising smoke can be seen from the beach at Saky after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, Tuesday August 9

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured today at a news conference about the support for Ukraine in Copenhagen) has said it is 'clear' explosions at a Russian air base in Crimea were not caused by 'someone dropping a cigarette', as he dismissed Moscow's 'excuses' for the blasts

Ukraine's air force neither confirmed nor denied its participation in the incident, but said it believed up to 10 Russian fighter jets were destroyed in the explosions (image of a decimated Russian jet involved in the blast)

Clips which emerged from the scene appeared to show the charred remains of a Russian fighter jet and the smouldering wreckage of several cars on torn up tarmac (pictured)

Several large explosions have rocked a military airbase in Russian-held Crimea this afternoon as an ominous mushroom cloud sent bathers fleeing from nearby beaches

Zelensky did not directly mention yesterday's explosions, the cause of which has not yet been officially confirmed, but spoke with conviction as he declared: 'Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up... The Russian war against Ukraine and the whole of free Europe must end with Crimea and its liberation'

Huge explosions are seen in the background in Crimea as stunned civilians look on before jumping into their cars and fleeing

Massive traffic jam by the Kerch Strait Bridge as Russian tourists desperately try to leave Crimea

Shots taken from a dashcam show the road completely jammed in one direction while the oncoming lanes on the other side of the barrier are completely empty

Russia's Defence Ministry denied the base on the Black Sea had been attacked by Ukraine, instead declaring there had been a catastrophic aircraft munitions detonation, but editor-in-chief of Russian news outlet RT, Margarita Simonyan, tweeted that the explosions were caused by 'sabotage'.

Mr Wallace told the BBC: 'We've pretty much dismissed most of the Russian, I think, excuses - everything from a cigarette butt, I think was one of them, that might have set off two simultaneous large explosions.

'I think when you just look at the footage of two simultaneous explosions not quite next to each other, and some of the reported damage even by the Russian authorities, I think it's clear that that's not something that happens by someone dropping a cigarette.'

Russia's state news agency Tass cited an unnamed defence ministry source as saying the key cause of the blasts seemed to be 'violations of fire safety rules'.

Asked if the base was a legitimate target for the Ukrainians to strike, Mr Wallace said: 'First and foremost, Russia has illegally invaded, not just in 2014, but now Ukrainian territory.

'Ukraine, under United Nations articles, is perfectly entitled to defend its territory and take what action it needs to against an invading force.

'So, is it legitimate? It's absolutely legitimate for Ukraine to take lethal force, if necessary, but take force in order to regain not only its territory, but also to push back its invader.

'And that air force base has been used by Russian air forces to bomb Ukrainian targets. So I think in anybody's sort of manual of war it would be a legitimate target.'

Ukrainian social networks meanwhile were abuzz with speculation that the base was destroyed by long-range missiles fired by Ukraine's military after one Ukrainian official speaking on condition of anonymity told the New York Times that the nation's armed forces launched the attack.

'This was an air base from which [Russian] planes regularly took off for attacks against our forces in the southern theatre,' the official said, adding that 'a device exclusively of Ukrainian manufacture was used' to carry out the attack.

This sentiment was echoed by Viktor Andrusiv, a political scientist and former adviser to Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, who wrote on Telegram: 'As you can understand - missiles with a range of 200-300km are already in service with us and are being used in our country.

'The explosions... today at the airfield in Novofedorivka in Crimea, are public proof of this.'

US systems so-far supplied to Ukraine do not have the range to hit the airbase from territory occupied by Kyiv's forces. But some observers have speculated that the ATACMS missile system could be responsible for the strike.

The Biden administration has not officially supplied the system, which has a range of up to 190 miles.

Videos of Russians fleeing the site of the blasts came as the regional administrators of Ukraine's southern Kherson region, currently under Russian occupation, said Russian families there had 'started to panic' after Ukrainian armed forces attacked two key bridges used by Putin's troops as supply routes.

'Because of these events, the mass exodus of the families of the Russian military who lived in Kherson began,' the statement read.

A large mushroom cloud is seen rising from the scene of explosions at a Russian held airbase in Novofedorivka, Crimea

Ukraine has not yet officially claimed responsibility, but a Ukrainian military official speaking on condition of anonymity told the New York Times that the nation's armed forces launched the attack

If the airbase was in fact struck by the Ukrainians, it would mark the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and has occupied the territory ever since despite widespread condemnation from much of the international community.

If the airbase was in fact struck by the Ukrainians, it would mark the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea since Putin's forces invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, posted on Facebook: 'Today's explosions in Novofedorivka are another reminder of who is Crimea. Because it is Ukraine.'

But an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Ukraine is not taking responsibility for the explosions.

Mykhailo Podolyak, when asked by the Dozhd online television channel whether Kyiv was taking responsibility, replied: 'Of course not. What do we have to do with this?'

Novofedorivka is located more than 130 miles from the nearest part of mainland Ukraine not occupied by Putin's troops, and Ukrainian authorities have not officially taken responsibility for the blasts.

Russian's defence ministry denied the explosions were caused as a result of incoming missile fire, claiming: 'Aircraft ammunition detonated at the ''Saky'' airfield near the village of Novofedorivka at a rubble storage site.

'No aviation equipment at the airfield was damaged. Measures are being taken to extinguish the resulting fire and investigate the cause of the explosion.

'According to the report from the site, there was no fire impact on the collapsed ammunition storage area at the airfield.'

Iryna Vereshchuk, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, did post on Facebook, saying: 'Today's explosions in Novofedorivka are another reminder of who is Crimea. Because it is Ukraine.'

Russia claims the explosions were caused by detonating aircraft ammunition. Ukraine has not yet officially commented on the blasts

People seen resting and sunbathing on a beach as smoke and flames rise after explosions at a Russian military airbase, in Novofedorivka

Shocked beachgoers watched on as the smoke began billowing from the direction of the base, before being instructed to evacuate by police officers

Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea, August 9

Russia's state news agency Tass quoted an unidentified ministry source as saying the explosions' primary cause appeared to be a 'violation of fire safety requirements.' The ministry said no warplanes were damaged.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry said sarcastically on Facebook: 'The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine cannot establish the cause of the fire, but once again recalls the rules of fire safety and the prohibition of smoking in unspecified places.'

The head of Crimea's health department yesterday said five people, including one child - believed to be a 13-year-old boy -, were injured in the explosions. The tally has since risen to 14 injured.

Russian governor of Crimea Sergei Aksyonov announced one person was killed.

'I express my most sincere condolences to the victim's family and friends. All necessary assistance will be provided,' he said via the Telegram messaging app.

Other reports claim that Russian firefighters were not allowed into the site but offered no explanation as to why.

Videos shared on the Telegram messaging app showed the aftermath of the explosions, with tourists fleeing from a nearby beach and police urging people to take cover.

One local said, according to the Sun, 'It slammed so loudly that we were deafened.'

Another was heard saying: 'Something is burning in Novofedorivka. There are some explosions as it burns.'

Local officials meanwhile reported that a 5km safety perimeter was erected around the airfield to prevent members of the public from accessing the area.

The airbase close to Saky and Novofedorivka is home to Russia's 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet.

A variety of Russian air force planes are stationed at the base, including Su-30SM, Su-24M and Su-24MP fighter jets and Tu-134 freight aircraft.

Crimea has so far been spared the intense bombardment and artillery combat that have taken place in other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine since Feb. 24, when President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian armed forces into Ukraine - including some based in the peninsula.

Oleg Kryuchkov, an advisor to governor Aksyonov, refused to speculate on the incident, telling Russia's RIA Novosti: 'So far, I can only confirm the fact that several explosions occurred in the Novofedorivka area.

'I ask everyone to wait for official messages and not to produce their own version of events.'

Satellite images of the airbase in Novofedorivka show a number of Russian fighter jets parked alongside the runway. The airbase close to Saky and Novofedorivka is home to Russia's 43rd Separate Naval Assault Aviation Regiment of the Black Sea Fleet

Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka today

Emergency services from the nearby town of Saky were deployed to the blast site, the TASS news agency reported. A Russian defence source meanwhile denied the explosions were caused as a result of incoming missile fire

'I earnestly ask you to trust only official information. All necessary measures have been strengthened to ensure the safety of infrastructure and the population,' the governor of Crimea urged citizens following the blasts

Before admitting one person had been killed, Aksyonov earlier followers via Telegram he was en-route to the blast site and that 'circumstances are being clarified', before scrambling to assuage the locals' concerns.

'Ambulance crews and medical aviation are working on the spot, there are enough of them,' he said.

'It is too early to talk about the victims. Among the civilian population, no one has yet applied to medical institutions for help.

'I earnestly ask you to trust only official information. All necessary measures have been strengthened to ensure the safety of infrastructure and the population.'

The Tass news agency confirmed that emergency services from the nearby town of Saky were deployed to the blast site, citing the regional health ministry, while locals reported congestion on roads leading away from the coast as members of the public fled.

Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian officials that at least three Ukrainian civilians were killed and 23 wounded by Russian shelling in 24 hours, including an attack not far from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The Russians fired over 120 rockets at the town of Nikopol, which is across the Dnieper River from the plant, Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko said.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other in recent days of shelling the power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe, stoking international fears of a catastrophe.

In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invoked the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, which at the time was a Soviet republic. He called for new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of risking another nuclear disaster.

'We are actively informing the world about Russian nuclear blackmail,' he said.

The Kremlin claimed that Ukraine's military was attacking the plant and urged Western powers to force Kyiv to stop.
The body of a naked swimmer that washed ashore in the Hamptons has been identified as a Juilliard-educated New York City Opera worker.

Keith Viagas, 63, was spotted by two kayakers lying face down in the water off the exclusive Sag Harbor Cove on Monday morning.

He was undressed apart from a black shirt that had been tied around his neck and black socks, witnesses said.

Cops said his cause of death has not been established but that they do not suspect foul play.

Keith Viagas (shown in what is believed to be the last picture of him), 63, was spotted by two kayakers lying face down in the water off the exclusive Sag Harbor Cove on Monday morning

He was naked apart from a black shirt that had been tied around his neck and black socks, witnesses said. Pictured: His beachfront home in the Hamptons

A witness told Page Six: 'He was nude apart from a black shirt around his neck, black socks or swim booties on.'

They added: 'It was a ghastly sight to stumble across on a beautiful August summer morning.'

Viagas studied music theory and composition at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City after attending Stony Brook University on Long Island.

His Facebook page says he worked at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts before becoming director of artistic planning at the New York City Opera.

Cops said his cause of death has not been established but that they do not suspect foul play

He was understood to have lived in a quant house at the end of a quiet road overlooking the harbor

He was understood to have lived in a quant house at the end of a quiet road overlooking the harbor.

Viagas' friend Bryan Downey shared what he believes to be the last photograph of him on social media on Monday.

He wrote: 'From graduating at Juilliard, working in the Lincoln Center with the New York opera.

'I was probably the last person to see him smile and also take his last photograph on Long Beach. RIP Keith Viagas.'

A woman commented on the post saying: 'Oh No! You're Naked Swimming Friend! That's Terrible News.'

Another added: 'I'm sure you were a bright light in his last days. I'll bet the connection really meant something to him to feel seen and appreciated.'

Southampton Police Lt Susan C. Ralph said: 'He's a long-term resident but he was not reported missing because he would commonly go away for a couple of days then return.'

Viagas' (pictured) friend Bryan Downey shared what he believes to be the last photograph of him on social media on Monday

Cops do not suspect foul play and Suffolk County Medical Examiner's are yet to released a cause of death.

Sag Harbor is rife with celebrities including Richard Gere, Billy Joel, The View's Joy Behar and Real Housewives Jill Zarin and Luann de Lesseps.

Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian also rented a mansion nearby for their Kourtney & Khloe Take the Hamptons in 2014.

The sprawling property was also later rented by Rihanna for an eye-watering $415,000 a month.
Residents living in San Antonio, Texas, were shaken from their sleep and rattled by loud explosions and low flying helicopters on Tuesday as the US military conducts training exercises in America's seventh largest city through Friday.

The training sessions are taking place for four days this week from 6pm until 3am, and they include air and ground mobility operations, and close-quarter combat training in a dark and realistic environment, San Antonio police shared on Facebook.

'The meetings and planning for this training event began months ago,' SAPD Police Chief William McManus said in a press release.

'Being that San Antonio is known as Military City, USA, we have a long history and strong relationship with the U.S. military, and we're honored to be able to provide support to the U.S. Army as they conduct this critical training in our city.,' he added.

Safety precautions were set in place to protect participants and residents, along with planning considerations to minimize impact to the community and private property.

San Antonio Police said it will also be on-site to ensure the safety of both citizens and participants.

Low-flying helicopters were seen all over San Antonio on Monday night as the America's seventh largest city is hosting military operations from Tuesday until Friday from 6pm until 3am every night

Josh Tovar, 19, told the San Antonio Express-News he felt his couch shake while he was playing popular war game Call of Duty, which prompted him to go outside, only to see two helicopters flying not far from his home on Hays Street

The training sessions will contain air and ground mobility operations, as well as close-quarter combat training in a dark and realistic environment

However, footage shared on Twitter from local inhabitants shows loud noises of low-flying helicopters, mimicked gunfire and contained explosions at night that have unsettled several of the city's neighborhoods.

Josh Tovar, 19, told the San Antonio Express-News he felt his couch shake while he was playing the popular war game Call of Duty, which prompted him to go outside, only to notice two helicopters flying not far from his home on Hays Street.

The sound of two explosions near the Alamodome before six gunshots were fired came soon after at around 9.45pm.

The Express-News also reported four UH-60 Blackhawks circulating around the area, as well as four MH-6M Little Bird helicopters, both of which are part of the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.

With word spreading around 'Alamo City' that the U.S. military is in town, city officials shared notice with residents on Sunday, although some locals would have preferred to have been warned earlier.

'Of course I would have liked to hear about it sooner,' San Antonio District 1 councilman Mario Bravo told the Express-News.

Residents were awoken by explosions and low flying military helicopters through the first evening of the training exercises on Monday

Some residents panicked upon seeing helicopters flying just above ground, with one person telling neighbors: 'Beware: The Exercise is not Military. Lock your Doors. And be vigilant'

He added that he had found out about the training exercise only on Sunday and through local news.

'To me, it makes a lot of sense that we would have given much more advanced notice,' Bravo further said.

Nextdoor, an app designed for neighbors to communicate, apparently blew up as people described their first-hand experiences of noticing military personnel and aircraft in the area.

On Facebook, Michelle Morgan asked nearby residents why military helicopters were circulating in Dignowity Hill, in San Antonio's East Side neighborhood, the Express-News reported.

On TikTok, a downtown resident shared a video mentioning three helicopters had passed over her house three times, rattling the windows.

Another resident reported the military to police, while one person warned his neighbors: 'Beware: The Exercise is not Military. Lock your Doors. And be vigilant.'

San Antonio Police, however, said flyers were also sent out and distributed in all of the city's neighborhoods, although some residents complained that they didn't have any contact information for inquiries.

City authorities and law enforcement agencies were warned in advance about the training exercise.

'I would have liked to have known more about it so that I could prepare,' Bravo told the Express-News.

Two helicopters were spotted through the midnight sky by residents on Monday evening due to their red and white lights

District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, who represents residents living in the city's East Side neighborhoods near the Alamodome, said his office hadn't received complaints regarding the military exercise, although he would have appreciated to have been warned more ahead of time.

'I do wish we were given more advanced notice, so we could coordinate and conduct community outreach sooner,' he told the Express-News.

On Tuesday afternoon, before the second of military operations took place, city officials left voicemails on residents phones warning them about potentially louder military activity in the area throughout the night.

People who sign up for alerts from the San Antonio Police Department and the AlertSA Program notification systems also received notices about the operation.

People signed up to receive alerts and notifications from the San Antonio Police Department and the AlertSA Program have been receiving updates about the military's presence.

Assistant City Manager Jeff Coyle told Mayor Ron Nirenberg and city council members through email that the citys 311-call center had not received any complaints about the training on Tuesday afternoon.

SAPD dispatchers had also not received any 911 calls from residents, nor did the departments non-emergency line.
Donald Trump on Wednesday seemed to confirm a June meeting at Mar-a-Lago between Justice Department officials and his legal team which preceded Monday's bombshell FBI raid on the ex-president's property.

Federal officials conducted an unannounced search of the former commander-in-chief's private residence in Palm Beach, Florida over documents sought by the National Archives, his son Eric Trump said this week.

It comes amid a new Newsweek report that an FBI informant within the ex-president's circle tipped the feds off to what classified documents Trump had and where.

Trump fumed in a recent post on his Truth Social app that federal agents broke a padlock they allegedly asked him to put on the room where the documents were kept.

'In early June, the DOJ and FBI asked my legal representatives to put an extra lock on the door leading to the place where boxes were stored in Mar-a-Lago - We Agreed,' the ex-president wrote.

They were shown the secured area, and the boxes themselves. Then on Monday, with no notification or warning, an army of agents broke into Mar-a-Lago, went to the same storage area, and ripped open the lock that they had asked to be installed.

He finished, 'A surprise attack, POLITICS, and all the while out Country is going to HELL!'

Earlier this year the National Archives and Records Administration said it took 15 boxes of records out of Mar-a-Lago, roughly 12 months after Trump left office. Some of those files were apparently labeled 'classified.'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower to meet with New York Attorney General Letitia James for a civil investigation on August 10, 2022 in New York City

It was after his deposition that Trump seemed to confirm an earlier CNN report that Justice Department officials inquired about the documents that were seized by the FBI in-person at Mar-a-Lago in June

The National Archives had asked the Justice Department to look into the ex-president's potential mishandling of top secret documents, it was reported in May.

Trump's social media outrage appears to confirm an account published in CNN on Tuesday that detailed the months-long back-and-forth between the National Archives and Trump's lawyers about recovering files that they believed were still in his possession.

Four top DOJ officials traveled to Mar-a-Lago in early June to speak with the former president's attorneys about the documents, it was reported by CNN the day after the FBI raid.

The DOJ's counterintelligence and export control section chief Jay Bratt was reportedly among the group who sat down with Trump's lawyers.

Trump's team had also shown the government officials where Trump were storing documents. Investigators reportedly observed that some of the files there were marked as classified.

At one point the former president himself reportedly stopped in to say hello and 'make small talk' before leaving again.

Days after the investigators' visit, they reportedly sent a letter to Trump's staff on June 8 asking them to secure the room where they observed the documents being stored.

It was then that the padlock was reportedly placed on the door.

Trump's Palm Beach, Florida club was raided while he was in New York City on Monday

But Newsweek's report claims that the FBI was instead tipped off by an informant about the files.

The informant also reportedly helped feds time the raid for when Trump was away to avoid giving him an opportunity to use it as a political opportunity.

A government source told the outlet that agents were 'seeking to avoid any media circus' with the unannounced search.

'So even though everything made sense bureaucratically and the FBI feared that the documents might be destroyed, they also created the very firestorm they sought to avoid, in ignoring the fallout,' the person reportedly said.

Trump sounded off on Truth Social just as he was wrapping a an interview with prosecutors from the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The former president bragged earlier about invoking the Fifth Amendment during his deposition - despite years ago suggesting it's something people guilty of crimes do.

James' office confirmed Trump's deposition in an emailed statement and that he invoked his right against self-incrimination.

'Attorney General Letitia James took part in the deposition during which Mr. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination,' a spokesperson for the attorney general's office said.

'Attorney General James will pursue the facts and the law wherever they may lead. Our investigation continues.'

New York prosecutors are investigating whether to bring civil charges against the former president and the Trump Organization over allegedly using fraudulent financial statements to obtain favorable deals and tax rates.

His two eldest children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, also spoke with James' team in recent weeks. Neither reportedly hid behind the Fifth Amendment.
A man armed with a gun and knife was fatally shot outside the remote Space Force station in New Hampshire after he approached the gate, but the circumstances to why he was there are still being investigated, officials said.

The man identified as Michael Foley, 33, was 'killed by a single gunshot' around 11:30 pm on May 13 on Galaxy Way, an access road that leads to New Boston Space Force Station (NBSFS).

New Hampshire's Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg called the manner of Foley's death a 'homicide,' Military.com reported.

Two men identified as New Boston police officer Shane Morton, and Peter White, a contracted security member with the company, Lockwood Hills, had discharged their firearms shooting Foley dead.

Michael Garrity, Director of Communications for the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office told DailyMail.com on Thursday that there are no charges being filed against Morton and White at this time.

'We are continuing to still actively investigate and review the incident of the officer involved shooting,' he said. 'A report will be released when our review is completed.'

Man shot dead outside remote Space Force station in New Hampshire approached the gate while armed with a gun and a knife, investigation finds

An overlook provides a hillside view of New Boston Air Force Station, New Hampshire, home of the 23rd Space Operations Squadron April 9, 2018. The 23rd SOPS is one of the 50th Space Wing's Geographically Separated Units. The 50th SW Inspector General's Office and other wing leadership visited New Boston AFS to strengthen bonds with the GSU, engaging with the 23rd SOPS Airmen in a broader effort to review and assess the wing's GSU programs

Foley reportedly made threatening gestures towards a contracted police officer when he approached the NBSFS gate armed with a knife and gun, Stephen Brady, a spokesman for the Space Force's Peterson-Schriever Garrison, which oversees New Boston Space Force Station, said Military.com reported.

Brady added that Foley also 'had a gas can and propane tank in his vehicle, which was deemed a potential threat.'

The details were based on an investigation that was concluded by the Air Force on Monday.

A locator map showing the precise location where the May 13 shooting took place at New Boston Space Force Station

The May shooting was reviewed by a Use of Force Review Board that is compromised of Department of Defense representatives from security force, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the judge advocate office, and other experts.

Contractor Peter White had 'acted within the scope of authority, current policy, and current procedures regarding the use of force,' the Space Force's Peterson-Schriever Garrison spokesperson said.

New Boston Police Officer Shane Morton, who was also involved in the shooting, has been an officer for the past five years, a report said.

Both men had fired their weapons, but it was not clear which individual fired the shot that killed Foley.

New Boston is home to the 23rd Space Operations Squadron, which provides satellite capabilities to 'more than 190 Department of Defense, national and civilian satellites performing intelligence, weather, navigation, early-warning and communications operations,' according to the Space Force website.
Actress Olivia Wilde has won the New York custody battle against her ex Jason Sudeikis on Wednesday after a judge ruled that California is her children's home state.

Sudeikis, 46, had filed the suit against his ex in New York City Family Court over their two children in October 2021. He had wanted his two children with Wilde to live with him in Brooklyn.

Wilde, however, wanted them to stay with her in Los Angeles, and possibly relocate to London, where her boyfriend Harry Styles lives.

She has accused the Ted Lasso star of serving her custody papers 'in the most aggressive way possible,' DailyMail.com exclusively revealed.

And on Wednesday, a New York judge dismissed the case.

Sudeikis, 46, and Wilde, 38, began dating in 2011 and went on to have two children, son Otis, 8, and daughter Daisy, 5, before splitting in late 2020.

Actress Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis share two children together- eight-year-old son Otis and five-year-old daughter Daisy - and had continued co-parenting amicably after their split

The Hollywood star was in the middle of a presentation for 4,100 film industry executives about her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling when she was awkwardly handed a manila envelope by a court process server

The judge, in a legal filing signed August 5, ruled 'New York was not the home state of the subject children' and that rather 'California was the childrens home state.'

'Therefore, for the reasons stated on the record on July 15, 2022, respondents motion to dismiss the custody petitions filed on October 21, 2021 is granted,' the filing, which was reviewed by Page Six, stated.

The court determined 'New York does not have jurisdiction to hear the custody petitions' because it is not Otis and Daisy's home state.

Wilde filed a petition to 'determine parental relationship in Superior Court of California, in LA' on May, the filing noted. Her legal team moved to legally dismiss Sudekis' custody case on May 18.

The custody battle will now have to be tried in California, so the 'whole thing will start over' in court there, legal experts allege.

Holly Davis, a family law attorney at Texas-based Kirker Davis LLP with extensive experience in high-net-worth divorce cases, said it is also very unlikely that Wilde will be permitted to take the children to London.

'It is highly unlikely that Olivia can move to the UK due to the principle that family courts hold to, which is to keep parents together generally near their children while they are divorcing,' Davis told DailyMail.com on Tuesday.

'It is possible that at the end of a hearing and after evidence and argument are made, one parent could move. But it is not a unilateral decision that gets made by one parent.'

She added: 'Celebrities and influential people have a hard time with this concept, especially when it pertains to their children and family, but it is an important concept in family law cases all across the country.'

If Wilde and Sudeikis cannot reach an agreement about their children's residency, a judge will decide, Davis explained.

The former couple had alternated one-week periods of 'parental access' with their children, as they both split their time between New York, Los Angeles, and London

Jason Sudeikis, Otis Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde attend Golden State Warriors Vs. Brooklyn Nets game at Barclays Center on December 22, 2016

Jason Sudeikis, Olivia Wilde and their son Otis are pictured on a Disneyland ride. The photo was shared three years ago when Sudeikis guest hosted The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Court filings obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com Wednesday revealed the exes' once-amicable custody and co-parenting agreement turned into a bitter dispute over Wilde's plans to relocate to London.

In Wilde's motion to dismiss the action, the actress claimed she and Sudeikis had initially agreed to send their kids back to school in Los Angeles for the upcoming school year since Sudeikis was due to wrap up the final season of Apple TV series Ted Lasso which had required him to be in London.

'Recently, however, Jason decided that he wanted to go to New York for the next year while he is not working, and wanted the children to be with him there during this time off,' the actress said in the filing.

'When I did not agree, since the children have not lived in New York for several years, Jason filed these papers.'

Wilde, who began dating Styles in January 2021, argued that the children have spent most of the last four years in LA or in London, even attending schools in the two cities.

She was infamously served the court documents on April 26 as she spoke about her new movie on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Olivia Wilde claims Jason Sudeikis intended to 'embarrass' and 'threaten her' by publicly serving her custody papers on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas in April

In an awkward moment that made headlines, Wilde was served the court documents on April 26 while speaking to a crowd about her new movie at CinemaCon in Las Vegas

The Hollywood star was in the middle of a presentation for 4,100 film industry executives about her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling when she was awkwardly handed a manila envelope by a court process server.

The bizarre moment sparked furious speculation among attendees and reporters at the annual gathering of cinema owners and Hollywood studios about the envelope's contents.

Neither of the parties publicly addressed the incident, and a source close to Sudeikis later claimed that he did not know Wilde would be served the papers in such a public and humiliating way.

Wilde referenced the embarrassing incident for the first time in her court motion, slamming her ex for his 'outrageous legal tactics' and delivering the documents 'mid-speech.'

'Jason's actions were clearly intended to threaten me and catch me off guard. He could have served me discreetly, but instead he chose to serve me in the most aggressive manner possible,' she said in the documents.

'The fact that Jason would embarrass me professionally and put our personal conflict on public display in this manner is extremely contrary to our children's best interests.

'Since Jason has made it clear that we will not be able to work this out for our children's sake outside of the court system, I filed a petition for custody in Los Angeles.'

Olivia Wilde, Daisy Josephine Sudeikis and Otis Sudeikis attend a Harlem Globetrotters game in Los Angeles on February 16, 2020

Wilde and Sudeikis began dating in November 2011 and got engaged in December 2012, before eventually splitting in November 2020. Wilde began dating Styles in January 2021,

Harry Styles and girlfriend Olivia Wilde looked all loved up on Monday while strolling through the streets of Los Feliz after grabbing a bite with friends at All Time Restaurant

According to the court filings, Wilde and Sudeikis were largely based in New York for most of their relationship, with both of their kids being born in the city.

The two shared a home in Brooklyn after buying the property in 2014 for $6.5million and lived there sporadically until 2019, when a mold issue made the house completely uninhabitable.

Throughout that timeframe, Sudeikis and Wilde also spent substantial periods of time in Los Angeles due to their work commitments, but - according to the actor - considered the Brooklyn home their main family residence.

In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July.

He said he hoped that his ex and their children would also return to New York so they could continue their current custody arrangement.

Sudeikis said he now believes those plans are 'unlikely to occur' after Wilde 'insisted upon' living with their kids in LA and asked him to join them during a discussion over custody in April.

She also disclosed her future plans to move to London - where she has been living with former One Direction star Styles, 28 - at the end of next year.

'For better or worse, I am a New Yorker,' Sudeikis said, adding that it was in the kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn.

Sudeikis admits he got spooked by the prospect of Wilde moving her kids to London, where new boyfriend Harry Styles is based. The pair are pictured together in London in March. Wilde began dating Styles in January 2021

Sudeikis, meanwhile has spent a substantial amount of time in London due to his role in Apple TV series Ted Lasso. He is pictured alongside Brendan Hunt in season two of the show

Sudekis argued that it was in their kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn. He is pictured with Wilde and their children in Los Angeles in February 2020

He also claimed he had been 'reluctant' to serve Wilde with papers because he continues 'to care deeply for her', but said he was spooked by two particular statements during their conversation.

'First, Olivia said that if I did not reside full-time in Los Angeles, she would allow me to spend time with Otis and Daisy on weekends and during vacation periods - thus depriving me of my right to parent the children during important periods of their lives...,' Sudeikis said.

He continued: 'Second, Olivia said that she intended to relocate with the children to London following the close of school in 2023.'

Sudeikis, 'fearful' that she would 'take Otis and Daisy' from him, said he then asked his attorney in that moment to serve the summons and petition to Wilde knowing she was scheduled to travel to LA the next morning.

The actor claimed he had always hoped she would be served in a 'benign manner' and requested service take place at Heathrow Airport, rather than at Styles' home.

'I did not want service to take place at the home of Olivia's current partner because Otis and Daisy might be present. I did not want service to take place at the children's school because parents might be present,' Sudeikis said.

Wilde and Sudeikis are seen out and about in Los Angeles in 2012

In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July. He is pictured with the cast at the Emmy Awards in September

The actor goes on to say that the process server was ultimately unable to serve Wilde at the intended location that day due to a series of logistical mishaps.

He said he would only learn Wilde would be ultimately served in public days later when the incident made headlines.

Sudeikis claimed he was 'deeply upset' at the turn of events and later found out that Wilde's whereabouts were tracked down thanks to a tweet speculating her appearance at CinemaCon.

An attempt was made to serve Wilde at her hotel in Las Vegas where the event was held, but after that failed, the server 'noticed Olivia at the Warner Brothers Panel and proceeded to serve the Summons and Petition upon Olivia.'

Sudeikis said he continues to 'feel great distress at the manner in which service was made.'

'I understand that the process server had only done her job; however, I deeply regret what happened. Olivia's talk was an important event for Olivia, both professionally and personally, and I am very, very sorry that the incident marred her special moment,' he added.
BY JESSICA GREEN FOR MAILONLINE

After six years of marriage, Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall are to divorce, leaving the Texan model single again at 65.

Hall has never been short of admirers since she burst onto the fashion scene after being discovered sunbathing in the south of France in the 1970s, however her love life has been anything but plain sailing.

She tied the knot with the Rolling Stones frontman, who she met in 1976, on a beach in Bali in 1990, however, their supposed marriage was deemed void by the UK high court following their split.

It was another humiliation for Hall, after putting up with the rocker's notorious philandering for years, admitting she 'forgave, and forgave, and forgave' to an 'unhealthy' extent.

Her union with Mick wasn't her first star-studded relationship, with the Texas native dating singer Bryan Ferry before her relationship with Jagger and appeared on the cover of his 1975 album Siren.

The couple became engaged, but she was wooed away from Ferry by Jagger.

Friends of the 91-year-old media tycoon Murdoch and 65-year-old model, who wed in March 2016, were left 'surprised' by their sudden split, The New York Times said.

The union was the fourth marriage for Murdoch, who is worth an estimated $17 billion, while it was technically Hall's first marriage after her 22-year relationship  and four children  with Sir Mick Jagger.

Here, FEMAIL takes a look back at Hall's varied loved life.

Bryan Ferry and Jerry Hall posed together in the Amstel Hotel in 1976 in Amsterdam

BRYAN FERRY: 1975 - 1977

Hall is best known for her relationship with Jagger - however, she had a star-studded relationship history long before meeting him.

She moved to Paris as a model in the 70s and in 1975, in the guise of a mermaid, Hall appeared on the cover of her boyfriend Bryan Ferry's latest record album, Roxy Music's Siren.

Despite the age difference - Hall was 19 and Ferry was 30 - they started dating.

Five months later, the lead singer proposed to Hall and their professional and personal relationship continued, with her appearing in the video for Ferry's 1976 solo hit, Let's Stick Together.

By now, Hall was one of the most photographed models of her era, truly one of the first to gain the status of 'supermodel' and from the front covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan magazines to the social pages of every publication, a woman instantly synonymous with glamour.

The girl from Texas was also earning a daily fee of $1000. The gossip columns would say that Hall met Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger at a dinner party in Manhattan and left Bryan Ferry for him.

But as Hall later revealed in her 2010 autobiography, Tall Tales, Jagger pursued her while she was still a teenager and engaged to Ferry, eventually seducing her in 1977.

Together, Jagger and Hall partied at the notable nightclubs of the day, Studio 54 and 21 Club in New York. Ferry would later write the song Kiss and Tell about Hall's infidelity.

MICK JAGGER: 1977 - 1999

Hall was previously in a long-term relationship with Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger, with whom she shares four children - Elizabeth, 38, James, 36, Georgia May, 30, and Gabriel, 24.

However the two parents, who met in 1976, never officially tied the knot during their 22-year relationship together.

While Hall's marriage to Murdoch marked her first official walk down the aisle - she and Jagger did have an unofficial marriage ceremony in Bali in 1990, however that was deemed void by the UK high court following their split.

They went through a legal battle over whether or not their 1990 Bali wedding service had been official after she filed for divorce in 1999. Her split from Jagger left her with an estimated settlement of up to $22 million.

The former supermodel, who was born in Texas, said she had thought that the marriage was 'valid' and that - as a result - the pair would need to go through official divorce proceedings.

However, a high court judge in the UK declared that the ceremony was not valid under British or Indonesian law and he therefore declared the marriage null and void.

Hall tied the knot with the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger (pictured left together in 1992) on a beach in Bali in 1990, however that was deemed void by the UK high court following their split. Hall is pictured right in traditional costume on the day of the ceremony

In 2005, Hall opened up about her feelings over Jagger's alleged womanizing during their relationship.

She told the Evening Standard that she 'forgave, and forgave, and forgave and forgave to the point where it wasn't very healthy at all', adding: 'Sure, he wasn't a great husband, and I could gripe and grouse, but I think that's old hat.'

She also confessed at the time that she 'still loved' Jagger, but that their relationship had been so 'unhealthy', it had left her 'so depressed' and 'unhappy'.

'I still love him. But it made me so unhappy. I was unable to do anything because I felt so depressed,' she said. 'If you're in an unhealthy relationship, it's bad for your self-esteem. You have so many ups and downs that you can't be consistent...'

In 2008, Hall insisted she would never want her daughters to date a man like Jagger in an interview with Psychologies magazine.

She said: 'No, never. But I don't think they would. They have far more confidence than I did, and they have great boundaries. It took me longer to learn those.'

Hall shares four children - Elizabeth, 38, James, 36, Georgia May, 30, and Gabriel, 24 - with Jagger (pictured together in the '80s)

Hall conceded she had put up with the star's behavior for too long.

She said: 'I always thought he would change, and that was my big mistake. People don't change, unless they really want to, and you can't make them.

'I probably stayed with him for longer than I should have done. All I can say is that I really loved him, and he really loved me, in spite of all the other women.'

At the time of Hall and Murdoch's wedding in 2016, sources reported that Jagger was 'seething' over the union, with one friend saying that the rocker 'had a real problem' with the idea of the Australian media tycoon becoming a part of his family.

'This means that Rupert Murdoch is going to become a part of his extended family, and Mick has a real problem with that,' the insider claimed.

Hall reportedly ended things with Jagger after he had a child with Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez, but the former couple remain close friends.

Sangster was married to Susan Sangster (pictured) at the time. In 2015, Hall revealed to Radio Times that she embarked on an affair of her own with wealthy horse breeder Robert Sangster in order to give Jagger a taste of his own medicine in 1982

ROBERT SANGSTER: 1982

In 2015, Hall revealed to Radio Times that she embarked on an affair of her own with wealthy horse breeder Robert Sangster in order to give Jagger a taste of his own medicine in 1982.

Although her retaliation initially worked, in the end she was forced to realize Jagger would never change.

Commenting on his philandering and the incessant lies he told her, Jerry was asked if she ever sought revenge at which point she re-opened the story of her dalliance.

'I did [want revenge]. At one point I went off and had an affair with somebody else. Robert Sangster. So lovely. Horse breeder. Then Mick would beg me back.'

She admitted the fling, which she claimed only lasted a couple of weeks, made her feel good; empowered, and was the only one during her 22-year relationship with the rockstar.

'The only big time. I thought Mick would eventually change, but he didn't,' she said.

Hall's 1982 affair with Sangster, who passed away aged 67 from cancer in 2004, was well-publicized and one she is reported to have described as a 'disaster'.

However her interview with the Radio Times was believed to be the first time she admitted she was motivated by a desire to seek revenge.

She added: 'He [Jagger] never annoyed me. Not little things. I mean his actions with other women were pretty bad but that was the only thing that annoyed me. Not little things.

'I mean his actions with other women were pretty bad but that was the only thing that annoyed me. He didn't annoy me day-to-day.

'He denied everything [the affairs] to the last. Well, I think most men do. He eventually had a baby with somebody else.'

Her relationship with Sangster started when she found out Jagger was cheating on her with Italian model Carla Bruni.

She had intercepted a fax from Miss Bruni to Jagger which read 'Let's spend the night together' and was naturally furious.

She went off travelling with Sangster, who was married to Susan Sangster at the time, in an apparent attempt to make her man jealous.

Her plan worked. Within a year Jagger and Jerry, soon pregnant with their first child, Elizabeth, were back together.

Jerry dated Paramount film producer George Waud for two years after her split from Mick Jagger

GEORGE WAUD: 2000 - 2001

He was 11 years her junior and four inches shorter, but Hall, then 44, wasn't shy about gushing over her romance with film producer George Waud, who she dated for nearly two years after splitting from Mick.

'He is way, way, way too young for me, but there it is,' she said at the time. 'Go with the flow. He's gorgeous, he's smart, he's single. And he thinks he isn't good-looking which makes him all the more attractive.'

She met Waud in August 1999, just after she had received a 10million parting settlement from Jagger.

He's the son of millionaire Guy Pierre D'Abzac Waud, a former member of the council of the Distressed Gentle-folk's Association and a consultant to the American School in Cobham, Surrey.

Waud, who read Fine Arts at Oxford, was a film producer with Paramount when he and Hall started dating, and used to go out with Cecilia Peck, daughter of the Hollywood star, Gregory.

The couple split in the summer of 2001.

A few months after her split from Waud, Hall moved on with another toyboy - albeit a less diminutive one. Then 45, she met London banker Tim Attias, 35, through the Kabbalah, an offshoot of Judaism to which she is devoted

TIM ATTIAS: 2001 - 2002

A few months after her split from Waud, Hall moved on with another toyboy - albeit a less diminutive one.

Then 45, she met London banker Tim Attias, 35, through the Kabbalah, an offshoot of Judaism to which she is devoted.

The confirmed bachelor had a formidable reputation as a ladies' man and friends said it was not uncommon for him to have up to five women on the go at once.

A keen polo player, he ran a team from Lord Cowdray's estate in West Sussex, costing him up to 500,000 a year - which was not a problem with bonuses from his job with investment bankers ABN Amro said to be in the region of 2million.

During their 'intense fling' he whisked Hall off to Mustique and invited her to parties at his 1.5million Notting Hill home in West London.

Friends said he was besotted, with one adding: 'It is all Tim can talk about.'

However, it was reportedly Hall who ended things, saying she wasn't ready to commit to a serious relationship again.

Hall met Warwick Hemsley in Perth, Australia, in September 2010 while starring in The Graduate, in which she played seductress Mrs Robinson

WARWICK HEMSLEY: 2010 - 2012

Hall met Warwick Hemsley in Perth, Australia, in September 2010 while starring in The Graduate, in which she played seductress Mrs Robinson.

The property tycoon, thought to be worth 30million at the time, followed her back to London when the 21-performance run of The Graduate ended.

He crossed to the other side of the world and even moved in with her in October 2010, just weeks after they met and fell for each other.

Ive never seen her so relaxed, a member of the West London ladies-who-lunch set, of which Hall was a fixture, previously told The Daily Mail.

Her relationship with Warwick has played a huge part in how contented she is these days. Shes finally ready to settle into middle age.

Those close to her at the time suggested Hall was seriously considering marriage.

The same friend said: When one of her friends made a remark about how they could see her marrying again, Jerry would always laugh it off, but recently shes stopped being so coy.

In fact, shes been saying quite openly that she likes the idea. Its quite a surprise  I never thought she would find anyone who could live up to Mick, in her mind.

Hall was romantically linked to New Zealand-born Armand Leroi, then 49, from January 2014 until a year later

ARMAND LEROI: 2014 - 2015

Hall was romantically linked to New Zealand-born Armand Leroi, then 49, from January 2014 until a year later.

The diplomats son came with impressive credentials - best known for the Channel 4 documentary series Human Mutants, he is Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology at Imperial College London.

Friends said at the time he was the perfect companion for Jerry. He is good looking, well-read and sophisticated, a chum told The Daily Mail.

The son of Dutch diplomats, Armand comes from a family that is both jet-setting and intellectual. His twin sister Marie-France is an eminent lawyer in Canada, while another sister, Iracema, is a leading authority on Alzheimers disease.

Armand took his BSc degree at Dalhousie in Halifax, Canada, in 1989, then a PhD at the University of California.

He moved to Britain in 1996 to be a lecturer at Imperial College London, where in 2001 he was appointed Reader in Evolutionary Developmental Biology.

His emergence as a media star began with the publication of his book Mutants: On The Form, Varieties And Errors Of The Human Body, in 2004. It was widely lauded, won an award and was turned into a documentary series on Channel 4, which he wrote and presented.

Another Channel 4 series  What Makes Us Human  followed in 2006, then in 2009 came a BBC4 documentary called What Darwin Didnt Know. He presented Aristotles Lagoon for BBC4 in 2010 and followed up with a book of the same title in 2014. All were greeted with acclaim and his profile rose.

RUPERT MURDOCH: 2015 - 2022

Murdoch and Hall tied the knot in London in March 2016 in a very low-key ceremony at Spencer House, which overlooks Green Park, after a whirlwind five-month romance.

At the time, the media tycoon expressed his joy over the union, tweeting shortly after the ceremony concluded that he would be taking a break from social media in order to enjoy newlywed life.

Murdoch and Hall (pictured in 2019) began quietly dating in 2015, with The Mail on Sunday revealing in October of that year that they had begun their romance after being introduced in Australia by one of Murdoch's sisters and his niece

'No more tweets for ten days or ever!' he wrote. 'Feel like the luckiest AND happiest man in world.'

One day after their official ceremony, the couple - whose unlikely romance made headlines the world over - hosted a more lavish affair, which was attended by all ten of their children.

Hall's two daughters and Murdoch's two youngest daughters acted as bridesmaids, while the media mogul's son Lachlan was understood to have presided over the pair's first ceremony.

Following the wedding celebrations, Hall shared a photo of the then-newlyweds posing with all of their kids, writing alongside it: 'My beautiful family!'

Murdoch and Hall began quietly dating in 2015, with The Mail on Sunday revealing in October of that year that they had begun their romance after being introduced in Australia by one of Murdoch's sisters and his niece.

The couple made their relationship public on October 31 when they were seen for the first time together at the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham in London.

They then attended the Golden Globes in Los Angeles in January 2016 - days before Murdoch announced that the pair were engaged.

Murdoch popped the question with a 10-carat marquise diamond engagement ring that was said to be worth up to $3.5 million.

In December 2021, just seven months before the news of their impending divorce was reported, Hall and Murdoch purchased a $200 million cattle ranch - called Beaverhead - in Montana, which was previously owned by oil baron Fred Koch and his children.

The purchase of the 340,000-acre ranch, which is located close to Yellowstone National Park, was the priciest ranch sale in Montana history.

At the time, Murdoch told the Wall Street Journal of his new home: 'This is a profound responsibility.

'We feel privileged to assume ownership of this beautiful land and look forward to continually enhancing both the commercial cattle business and the conservation assets across the ranch.'

A spokesperson added to the publication that Hall and Murdoch were planning to spend time together on the ranch, having spent a year looking for the perfect place to snap up in the area.

In addition to the newly-purchased ranch, Murdoch also owns a $28.8 million estate and winery in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles, a ranch in California, a four-story penthouse in New York City that is believed to be worth around $72 million, and a 25,000-acre sheep and cattle farm, called Cavan Station, in his native Australia.

Forbes also reported last year that Murdoch had at one point owned two properties in the UK: an 11-bedroom mansion in Oxfordshire, and an apartment in London.
A man accused of being a terrorist was arrested by counter-terrorism police at Luton Airport last night.

Aine Davis arrived in the UK on a flight from Turkey, according to the BBC.

The 38-year-old, from Hammersmith has been arrested on suspicion of breaching sections 15, 17 and 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

This means he is being held on suspicion of fundraising, funding arrangements and possession of articles for terrorist purposes..

In a statement the Met Police said: 'Officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command have today, Wednesday 10 August, arrested a man at Luton airport.

'The 38-year-old man was arrested this evening after he arrived into the UK on a flight from Turkey.

Aine Davis was allegedly arrested by counter terrorism police earlier toda

'He was arrested in relation to offences under sections 15, 17 and 57 of the Terrorism Act, 2000 and was taken to a south London police station, where he currently remains in police custody.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We will always ensure the safety and security of the UK, and will not allow anything to jeopardise this.'

'We can confirm that a British national has been deported from Turkey to the UK, but it would be inappropriate to comment further while police enquiries are ongoing.'
The FBI director and staff have seen a surge in threats and are considering steps to improve their security following the raid on Mar-a-Lago, according to sources.

Allies of Donald Trump have heaped abuse on the FBI and the Department of Justice ever since it emerged that agents had arrived at former president's Florida home on Monday.

Authorities monitoring social media posts are reporting a significant rise in death threats directed at FBI agents, its director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, according to Fox News.

Both officials already travel with armed security guards. But there are discussions to step up protections as violent rhetoric circulates online.

Reports suggest a surge in online death threats against Attorney General Merrick Garland (left) and FBI Director Christopher Wray after agents searched Mar-a-Lago

The search was reportedly related to the National Archives and Records Administration, which is charged with safeguarding presidential records that belong to the public

Mar-a-Lago is closed for the summer. Its well-heeled members generally leave Florida for cooler locations, only returning for the winter. Trump was in New York on Monday

It comes as extremists on the right step up claims that the country is already mired in civil war.

Extremism researcher Caroline Orr Bueno put together a collection of violence abuse posted on Twitter.

'Civil war! Pick up arms, people!' said one commenter.

Elsewhere, senior conservatives also stepped up their abuse of federal agencies.

'I will support a complete dismantling and elimination of the democrat brown shirts known as the FBI,' wrote Republican Rep. Paul Gosar, of Arizona, comparing federal agents with the Nazi party.

'This is too much for our republic to withstand.'

The unprecedented search marked a significant escalation of the federal investigation into whether Trump illegally removed records from the White House as he was leaving office in January 2021. Trump continues to flirt publicly with running again for president in 2024 but has not said clearly whether he will do so.

The warrant was related to the National Archives and Records Administration, which is charged with safeguarding presidential records that belong to the public, and whether there were classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The person said the FBI took about 10 boxes of papers, but that a safe that was searched was empty.

Since then, Trump's team has bombarded people on its mailing list with requests for donations.

They have used fiery rhetoric and accusations of a conspiracy against Trump to solicit cash.

'Nothing like this has ever happened to a president of the United States before, and its important that you know that it wasn't just my home that was violated - it was the home of every patriotic American who I have been fighting for since that iconic moment I came down the Golden Escalators in 2015,' said Trump in one fundraising email.

'I stood up to the radical lefts corruption. I restored power to the people and truly delivered for our country like we have never seen before. The establishment hated it.

'Now, as they watch my endorsed candidates win big victories and see my dominance in all polls, they are trying to stop the Republican Party and me once more.'
From left, director Kim Jin-woo, actors Jung Woo, Yoon Jin-seo, Park Ji-yeon, and Park Hee-soon pose during a press conference for the new crime series, "A Model Family," held in Dongdaemun District, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Netflix



By Lee Gyu-lee



Director Kim Jin-woo, who is known for leading the 2013 medical series, "Good Doctor," and Netflix's "Love Alarm 2" (2021), is set to roll out a new suspense-filled, crime series called "A Model Family," which will be released on the platform this Friday.



The 10-part series revolves around a cash-strapped patriarch, Dong-ha (Jung Woo), who is a part-time lecturer at a college. His life is on the verge of falling apart. He fails to get tenure and his wife Eun-ju (Yoon Jin-seo) asks for a divorce, while he lost the money for his sick son's surgery.



One day, he comes across a pile of cash next to a dead body and unwittingly steals it without knowing it belongs to a drug cartel. With both police and the cartel's second-in-command, Gwang-cheol (Park Hee-soon), after him, the lecturer finds the only way to save his family is by working as a drug courier.



"The word, 'model,' is usually used to refer to someone else, rather than to oneself. But the reality is different. A person, looking in from the outside, might call them a model family, but when you take a closer look inside, there could be a paradox in whether you can truly say they are ideal," the director said during a press conference for the series, held at a hotel in central Seoul, Tuesday.



"'Family' holds a sense of uniqueness in Korean culture. Building on that value, the series is about a story that asks the question, 'Were we a model family?'" he said.



Jung shared that he took the lead in the series as he was intrigued by the nail-biting story and the run-of-the-mill, yet multi-layered character.



"When I started reading the script, I couldn't put it down. It was in such detail that I could picture (the story) clearly in my head," he said. "This wasn't a type of role I've ever played before. I've played characters that were normal people, but (in this series), this normal person turns into a monster as he gets pushed to the edge. And there's trauma from his past that brings out a different side of him, which I felt made the character intriguing."



Park, who played a powerful crime boss in Netflix's action series, "My Name," last year, has once again taken on the role of a crime ring member.



The actor said that he felt overwhelmed taking on a similar role to his previous work, but nevertheless felt strongly that he wanted to take part in the series.



"I got the script when I was filming 'My Name.' It was very interesting but I did feel a little overwhelmed because (the characters in both series) were in the same field," he said. "But when I met the director, I felt confident in distinguishing the two characters. I didn't want to let this piece pass me by."


A new poll shows that 59 percent of Americans are 'concerned' about President Joe Biden's mental health, as questions linger over whether the 79-year-old should run for a second term.

An I&I/TIPP poll released Monday found that 36 percent of respondents were 'very concerned' about mental health, with an additional 23 percent saying they were somewhat concerned.

Pollsters found that 18 percent were not very concerned, with 21 percent saying they had no concerns at all.

Another 2 percent of respondents said they weren't sure.

Party ideology played into people's perceptions of the Democratic president.

Among Democrats, 39 percent said they were worried about Biden's mental condition, versus 82 percent of Republicans and 56 percent of independents who agreed.

Pollsters noted that while the Democratic number is smaller, 39 percent is still 'statistically high.'

A new poll shows that 59 percent of Americans are 'concerned' about President Joe Biden's mental health, as questions linger over whether the 79-year-old should run for a second term

An I&I/TIPP poll released Monday found that 36 percent of respondents were 'very concerned' about mental health, with an additional 23 percent saying they were somewhat concerned

On the flipside, 58 percent of Democrats said they're not concerned about Biden's mental health.

Meanwhile, just 17 percent of Republicans and 39 percent of independents agreed.

While party preference skewed Americans' opinions, usual factors like gender, race and age mostly did not.

Fifty-nine percent of both men and women said they were concerned about Biden's mental health.

Among those who said they were not concerned, 39 percent were men and 38 percent were women.

Whites and Latinos expressed concern in about equal number.

Sixty-three percent of whites said they were concerned, while 61 percent of Latinos agreed.

Black Americans were more confident in Biden, with 53 percent saying they weren't worried about the president's mental state, versus 44 percent who said they were.

When breaking down survey results for age, pollsters found that 59 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds were concerned, 62 percent of 25 to 44-year-old, 57 percent of 45 to 64-year-old and 56 percent of those 65 and older.

'The fact is, based on these polling data, there is genuine concern among virtually all groups over Bidens cognitive health,' Issues & Insights Terry Jones said. 'It has taken on political urgency with the looming 2022 midterm elections, which, if Republicans prevail, could well turn Biden into a lame duck.'

Biden has been known for being a gaffe-prone politician throughout his career, but Republicans - and even some Democrats too - have pointed out recent verbal stumbles and physical stumbles, like his Rehoboth Beach bike fall, suggesting the near-octogenarian should be done after one term.

The poll was conducted online from August 2 to August 4, with 1,335 U.S. adults surveyed.

The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.
Liz Truss will consider removing VAT from energy bills as officials work up a cost of living package for the new prime minister.

The Foreign Secretary said she would act as soon as possible with an emergency budget and was determined to help people across this country through what will be a very difficult winter.

Asked if she would consider removing VAT from energy bills, saving families around 210, she said: There will be a budget on an urgent basis to deal with the issues we face. All of these issues need to be under consideration.

Miss Truss declined to go into detail about how much support she would hand out, but repeated her pledge to let people keep more of their own money through lower taxes.

Liz Truss will consider removing VAT from energy bills as officials work up a cost of living package for the new prime minister

Families are braced for energy bills to hit 3,582 per year from October, rising to more than 4,200 in the new year.

Rishi Sunak  who has promised support worth hundreds of pounds per household  hit back, saying her offer of targeted support was a massive U-turn.

Treasury officials were tasked a few weeks ago with coming up with a detailed suite of options to offer to the new administration, a source said yesterday.

The Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and the Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng have summoned energy bosses to Whitehall to knock heads on household prices and their massive profits.

In tomorrow's meeting, energy executives will be asked to submit breakdowns of their expected profits and their investment plans for the next three years.

There has been anger at Shell, BP and British Gas owner Centrica announcing bumper financial results as households struggle.

Mr Zahawi said: Its important we all get round the table. I want to challenge them  to say are you making the investment? How can you help your customers? What more can we do together?

Treasury sources suggested the meeting could lead to a toughening up of the 5billion windfall tax on energy producers, although this is opposed by leadership frontrunner Miss Truss.

Education secretary James Cleverly added: The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Business Secretary are actually calling in the leaders of those big energy companies to knock some heads together and basically hold them to account about what theyre going to do with those profits.

Mr Zahawi also said the Treasury had begun preparing options for the next prime minister to consider when they take up their post on September 5.

Government sources said the aim is to have a detailed suite of options ready to go quite swiftly, including handing out cash through the benefits system or via rebates on bills and council tax.

Yesterday Miss Truss was challenged by a GB News viewer who was terrified over how she will keep her 73-year-old mother warm this winter. Another said he had to take a second job at the weekend after his bills soared from 180 per month to over 500 in October.

Miss Truss said: I will make sure we reverse the National Insurance rise, that we have a moratorium on the green energy levy and immediately save on fuel bills.

Mr Sunak had promised hundreds of pounds more for households energy bills and has pledged to cut bills by 210 by removing VAT on fuel. Leaked Government plans for a reasonable worst case scenario revealed blackouts in January if gas supply falls
Liz Truss last night vowed to protect the Rwanda immigration scheme with UK laws in a bid to block challenges to the controversial plan.

The Foreign Secretary used a TV interview to cement her lead over Rishi Sunak by promising to take Britains immigration policies back into the governments hands.

She also pledged to strike Rwanda-style deals with more countries and to take a hard line on the French, who she said were not doing enough to stop migrants at the borders.

In the one-hour programme  The Peoples Forum on the GB News TV channel  Miss Truss fielded questions from a live studio audience, Daily Mail readers and viewers on subjects including slashing VAT, the cost-of-living squeeze, education and housing.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss last night vowed to take back control of Britain's immigration system if she is elected leader of the Conservative party by its 160,000 members

During the interview in Leigh, Greater Manchester, Miss Truss took aim at those attempting to stop the Rwanda scheme from going ahead  and pledged to keep Britains borders safe

She said she would bolster the current policy and ensure Britain can no longer be overruled by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR

During the interview in Leigh, Greater Manchester, Miss Truss took aim at those attempting to stop the Rwanda scheme from going ahead  and pledged to keep Britains borders safe.

She said she would bolster the current policy and ensure Britain can no longer be overruled by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Asked by an audience member about her plans for immigration if she became prime minister, Miss Truss condemned the appalling criminal operation by people traffickers in the Channel.

What I would do if Im elected as your prime minister is make the Rwanda policy work through the British Bill of Rights, ensuring that we cant be overruled by the ECHR because we know thats been a problem ... and that stopped the policy going ahead.

So, I would make sure we legislate for Britain, that we are in control of our own policy, and we cant be overwhelmed by the ECHR.

She added: I would also work with other countries to get new deals to find new locations. Britain has paid 120million up front to Rwanda as part of a deal in which migrants who cross the Channel in small boats are flown to the country. But the first flights have been grounded until late autumn at the earliest after European judges upheld a legal block.

The Strasbourg-based ECHR has said removals cannot take place until UK courts have conducted a full judicial review of the policy.

The Bill of Rights, which is currently going through Parliament, says no account is to be taken of any interim measure issued by the ECHR. Rishi Sunak has vowed to keep Boris Johnsons flagship policy, despite sources claiming he tried to block the scheme when he was chancellor.

An audience member described the French government as completely uncooperative on immigration, to which Miss Truss replied: You dont say. She later responded to Daily Mail reader, Penny, by saying: The French are not putting enough staff on the borders at Dover to deal with the long backlogs and I will be very clear and robust in my negotiations with the French.

Questioned over the growing cost-of-living crunch, Miss Truss said she was willing to launch an emergency budget to ensure that the public got the right support as soon as possible, pledging to do everything I can to support hard-pressed families.

Although the Foreign Secretary was clear that she believes it is essential to keep taxes low, she did not rule out giving struggling Britons further cash payments to help with winter energy bills.

Miss Truss also pledged to make the housing market more accessible for young first-time buyers, crack down on grooming gangs  and said she would ensure police do not spend more time monitoring social media than the streets.

Notably, she said she didnt want her Cabinet to spend their time briefing the press and talking to the press, a possible dig at Mr Sunak following claims he stabbed Mr Johnson in the back.
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New aerial video shows the scale of devastation caused by an explosion at a house in southern Indiana on Wednesday that killed at least three people and damaged as many as 39 homes.

The blast was reported around 1pm in the 1000 block of North Weinbach Avenue in Evansville and had a 100-foot blast radius, officials said, which completely leveled one house where the explosion occurred, split another in half and heavily damaged dozens of others.

Resident Drew Slader, who lived nearby, told local news outlets that he was sitting on his couch when the force of the blast threw him several feet. He shared video from inside his damaged home that showed broken window frames and kitchen cabinets hanging from the wall.

A total of 39 houses were damaged by the explosion, but Evansville Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly said the department has not confirmed how many of the houses were occupied when the explosion happened because 'some were too unstable to enter.'

At least 11 of the 39 homes damaged in the explosion are 'uninhabitable,' Connelly told the Evansville Courier & Press.

New aerial video shows the scale of devastation caused by an explosion at a house in southern Indiana on Wednesday morning that killed at least three people and damaged as many as 39 homes

Drew Strader captured video of the destruction following the blast where a home has been reduced to complete rubble, and adjacent home was split in half

Slader told local news outlets that he was sitting down when the forced of the blast threw him off the couch

He shared video from inside his damaged home that show broken window frames and kitchen cabinets hanging from the wall

Another look at the N Weinbach explosion in #Evansville. This one is of the actual site of the blast. The home has been reduced to complete rubble. You can see an adjacent home split in half.



: Drew Strader



Warning: Language pic.twitter.com/JGYM01hgQ8  Valerie Lyons (@VLyonsTV) August 10, 2022

Drew Strader, a resident of the area shows in a video the damage the blast did to his house in Evansville, Indiana. He was at home during the time of the N Weinbach Ave explosion

'Debris is strewn over a 100-foot radius,' including 'typical construction materials' such as wooden boards, window glass and insulation, Connelly said.

Authorities are continuing their search of area, but Connelly warned there could be more victims.

The identities of the people who died would not be released until the next of kin has been notified, David Anson, chief deputy coroner for Vanderburgh County, told The Associated Press.

Evansville Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray said at least one other injury was reported and that victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating.

Evansville Fire Department personnel examine the scene after a house explosion at 1010 North Weinbach Avenue in Evansville, Indiana killed three people and damaged at least 39 homes

Three people were killed Wednesday when a house exploded in the southern Indiana city of Evansville, authorities said

Aerial video posted on social media shows damage in a residential neighborhood with police and fire vehicles on the scene in Evansville, on the Kentucky border.

CenterPoint Energy, the local gas utility, was last called to the home in January 2018, Connelly said. CenterPoint issued a statement saying it 'worked with first responders to secure the area.'

'CenterPoint Energy is working closely with the Evansville Fire Department, State Fire Marshal and other agencies as the investigation of this incident continues,' the utility said.

Photos posted by the Mayor Lloyd Winnecke shows the destruction of the explosion with pieces of homes scattered across the neighborhood and emergency workers sifting through the debris.

Photos posted by the mayor show damage in a residential neighborhood with police and fire vehicles on the scene in Evansville, on the Kentucky border

Emergency workers were on the scene of the house explosion on Wednesday in Evansville, Indiana

Ron Ryan carries his Chihuahuas, Molly, 14, left, and Fifi, 13, to his partner, Patty Hite, after a house explosion occurred in the 1000 block of Weinbach Avenue. The dogs were trapped in the home for more than three hours before they were allowed to retrieve them as well as their guinea pig

A blue house was destroyed when another nearby exploded. At least 11 of the 39 homes damaged in the explosion are 'uninhabitable,' Connelly told the Evansville Courier & Press

Jacki Baumgart, an office manager at Award World Trophies about two and a half blocks from the site of the explosion, said she and other employees in their building panicked when they heard the loud blast and saw smoke.

'We thought a tree fell on the building or a car ran into the place,' Baumgart said. 'Debris from the ceiling came down.'

She continued: 'Everybody here immediately ran out of the building. We thought the building was going to come down.'

Evansville Police Department posted to Facebook a plea for footage of the incident.

'Our thoughts are with those closely involved with the explosion that happened on N. Weinbach this afternoon,' they wrote.

'As more information becomes available the respective agencies investigating will be able to provide more information.

N. Weinbach between Columbia and Oak Hill will be shut down for the foreseeable future, please plan an alternate route.

If anyone has footage of the incident, please forward a copy of the video to our Detectives Unit at whunt@evansvillepolice.com.'

Emergency crews respond to a house explosion in Evansville, Ind., Wednesday afternoon

People gather at an intersection as emergency crews respond to a house explosion in the 1000 block of North Weinbach Avenue in Evansville, Indiana on Wednesday

Emergency works sift through the debris of an explosion that killed three people and destroyed at least 39 houses

At least 39 houses were damaged in the massive explosion that was caught on camera

Debris covered the ground and streets throughout the neighborhood after a house explosion on Wednesday

The explosion on Wednesday was the second house explosion in the area in just over five years. A house explosion on June 27, 2017, killed two people and injured three others.

Five people were inside a home at 1717 Hercules Avenue when the structure exploded and rocked the neighborhood.

Three people made it out, but Sharon Mand and Kathleen Woolems died of smoke inhalation, TriState homepage reported.

Officials said the explosion 'blew the roof up, blew the walls out, and then everything comes down around on top of it' and that there were 'parts of the building that were across the street and several hundred feet away.'

The cause of the explosion was suspected to be a gas leak, according to officials, but said it was undetermined, 'because we never could really pin down exactly the cause of that leak.'
Illegal weapons are being sold on online stores including Amazon and eBay for as little as 49p, an investigation has revealed.

Zombie knives, knuckledusters and even swords are among the items available through third-party sellers on the websites, consumer group Which? found.

The probe  which also looked at the Wish and AliExpress retail sites  has sparked concern over how internet stores monitor weapon listings amid a knife crime epidemic in Britain.

Under UK laws, it is illegal to sell or possess most weapons, with adults facing up to four years in prison and an unlimited fine if they are caught carrying one.

Yet Which? researchers found dozens of banned weapons listed online. On Amazon, the group found dangerous friction lock batons listed as 'trekking poles' or with letters missing from the name  in what were thought to be attempts to get around checks.

On Wish, researchers found a large number of illegal flick knives and butterfly knives  blades that fold out into a point

On AliExpress, the watchdog found a flick knife for just 2.83

On eBay, the group found a 23-inch steel zombie knife for 27 and a 27-inch zombie blade for 32.

One seller was even offering a karambit blade  a curved knife  and a 'paralysing spray' in a combo deal for 13.99.

Which? said none of these weapons should be for sale at all under eBay's terms and conditions.

The widest selection of weapons was found on AliExpress, which is based in China, and the US site Wish. Searches of the terms 'flick knife', 'automatic opening knife' and 'spring assisted knives' returned dozens of results  many priced at less than 10.

On Wish, researchers found a large number of illegal flick knives and butterfly knives  blades that fold out into a point.

On AliExpress, the watchdog found a flick knife for just 2.83 and a 'self-defence ring'  which is designed to be worn as a knuckleduster  costing only 49p.

Researchers said the algorithms on all four websites recommended more banned weapons following their initial searches.

Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, called on platforms to 'take more responsibility and prevent illegal weapons appearing on their sites'.

She added: 'It is disturbing that our latest investigation has uncovered illegal weapons being sold on online marketplaces at extraordinarily cheap prices and that these tech firms are also pushing additional dangerous items to people.

'This raises big question marks over the checks and monitoring being done by these platforms.'

One seller was even offering a karambit blade  a curved knife  and a 'paralysing spray' in a combo deal for 13.99

Richard Carr, a policing lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, said: 'I'm surprised from a moral perspective that websites are selling these types of products. When weapons of this nature get into the hands of people who have criminal intent, then the outcome can be catastrophic.'

Last year the Office for National Statistics recorded 41,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in England and Wales. London also saw a record 30 teenage murders, most from knifings.

Amazon, eBay and AliExpress, said they had removed all the listings reported to them by Which? Wish said it is in the process of removing items highlighted by the consumer group.

AliExpress said they have 'strict guidelines' regarding the sale of knives such as age verification checks. A spokesman for eBay said it was investigating why customers were not 'blocked' from buying the weapons.

Wish said that some merchants had 'identified a way to circumvent' existing safety systems and Amazon added that it was 'taking appropriate enforcement against the bad actors in question'.
A man who shot dead a notorious criminal in cold blood before turning the gun on himself had 'begged' police to arrest him before taking the law into his own hands.

Travis Cashmore was reportedly fed up with Warrnambool thug Kevin Knowles tormenting his friend's family when he shot him and his mate Benjamin Ray dead on July 22.

Knowles had already been jailed earlier this year over threats to kill Cashmore's mate and his family.

Travis Cashmore's mate had been under threat by Kevin Knowles when he armed himself with a shotgun and shot him and his associate Ben Ray dead

Kevin Knowles was among two shot dead in Kirkstall on July 22. He was a career criminal and suspected killer himself

Emergency services on Kirkstall-Koroit Road, Kirkstall after Travis Cashmore shot dead Knowles and Ben Ray

Knowles and his acquaintance Benjamin Ray were gunned down in broad daylight a few kilometres from Knowles home in Kirkstall, north-west of Warrnambool.

Cashmore's body was found at his home down the road after he turned his gun on himself after dispatching the pair.

Just days after the killings, Cashmore's father Ron Cashmore told a local ABC reporter his son's concerns about Knowles were dismissed by police and no action was taken.

Mr Cashmore claimed his son had filmed Knowles breaching an intervention order against his mate just two days before his violent rampage.

Knowles had been jailed in January after lobbing up at Cashmore's mate's house armed with a knife, the Warrnambool Standard reported.

The notorious brute had visited Cashmores friends home with Mr Ray, who hid behind bushes.

Mr Ray reportedly claimed to have been previously threatened by Cashmore's mate.

Cashmore had been at his friends home at the time and filmed the incident, in which Knowles brandished a silver kitchen knife.

'Im going to kill you and your kids. Your days are numbers,' Knowles reportedly said.

Knowles had been due to face intervention order breach charges allegedly related to the harassment of Cashmore's friend when he was killed.

Travis Cashmore, 45, armed himself with a shotgun and blasted Knowles and his associate

Benjamin Ray was run down and then shot by Travis Cashmore

A witness told police she heard at least two gunshots and the sound of a vehicle speeding off shortly before the grim discovery (pictured, police vehicle on Kirkstall-Koroit Road)

Knowles had also threatened to kill Cashmore, his father told the ABC.

So paranoid was Cashmore he had security lights and cameras installed outside his home, which was just a kilometre down the road from Knowles.

'What he did to Travis was out of this world, you wouldn't believe it. He terrorised and harassed him,' Mr Cashmore Snr said.

'Knowles would stand in Travis's yard, he'd ask for money, he knew where he hid his keys ... Travis began to think he had cameras on him. He became paranoid.'

Ray - a father of three - would be run down on Scotts North Road by Cashmore's car before being blasted at near point blank range with a shotgun.

The Standard, claimed Knowles was shot in the back of the head execution style.

Days after Cashmore's killing spree, a sign was erected outside his property.

It read: 'Free. Trav! You and the Kirkstall community are now free from Kevin Knowles. RIP.'

Kirkstall, a small town 275km south-west of Melbourne with a population of less than 400 people, is known as a peaceful farming community.

But word of Knowles' bloody execution was greeted largely with relief within the wider Warrnambool community.

'He was a standover man, woman bashing oxygen thief and that's putting it nicely,' one local posted to social media upon learning of Knowles' demise.

'Hope he seen it coming. Pity that Travis didn't plan it better. The pub literally sold out celebrating.'

Travis Cashmore is believed to have taken the law into his own hands when he executed two men

Cashman was found dead at a property nearby on Chamberlain Street shortly after the shooting (pictured, emergency services on Kirkstall-Koroit Road)

At the time of Knowles' death his criminal record filled more than 50 pages.

He was also suspected of committing at least two murders, including that of his long suffering partner Amanda Bourke, 44.

Knowles had routinely bashed Ms Bourke, whom he had snatched away from her partner while he was in jail.

When Warrnambool man Stephen Johnston was bashed to death on December 8, 2016, a Victorian coroner found Knowles was responsible for it despite him never being charged.

Johnston had made the mistake of mentioning Knowles' 'grass cutting' to him during a drunken binge in his backyard.

When Knowles wound up dead in July, detectives initially suspected it was Ms Bourke's former jailbird lover who did the deed.

Ms Bourke would die under mysterious circumstances in January 2018 while Knowles was still under investigation over Mr Johnston's death.

A coroner in 2018 found Ms Bourke drowned after she agreed to go on a swim with Knowles in a notorious stretch of water halfway between Warrnambool and Port Fairy.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria Police and Ron Cashmore for comment.
Forget the hosepipe bans - busy beavers are helping to fight the drought in the UK by building dams that maintain wetland areas.

The rodents enjoy deeper water, so when they notice their habitat is getting too dry they get to work damming, creating ponds and excavating waterways.

This helps areas become more resilient to climate change by cooling the surrounding lands and air, as well as through flood prevention.

Land managers have noticed that wetlands where beavers have been introduced are not drying out during the current spate of hot weather in the country.

This includes the Holnicote Estate, a National Trust site in Somerset where two pairs of the animal engineers were introduced in an enclosure in 2020.

Beavers at the Knepp estate in Horsham have transformed what was once a small stream into a network of ponds and channels with lush green plants

Two Eurasian beavers were introduced to the Holnicote Estate, a National Trust site near Minehead in Somerset, in an enclosure in 2020. Pictured is what is believed to be the first beaver dam on Exmoor for over 400 years

Watering holes at Knepp are drying up as a result of the heatwaves in the UK this summer (left), but the beavers have managed to maintain a series of deep ponds throughout (right)

HOW DO BEAVERS MAKE LANDSCAPES MORE RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE? Beavers build dams that create series of ponds connected by waterways. The resulting wetlands help strengthen environments against climate change in a number of ways; Providing water for wildlife - This includes drinking water for large mammals, habitats for insects and allowing the growth of plants.

- This includes drinking water for large mammals, habitats for insects and allowing the growth of plants. Cooling the land - The deeper water is the cooler it tends to be, thus their ponds help lower the water temperature. When this colder water spills over into the environment it cools the land.

- The deeper water is the cooler it tends to be, thus their ponds help lower the water temperature. When this colder water spills over into the environment it cools the land. Cooling the air - The ponds have a large surface area which allows for faster evaporation of the water, that acts like an air conditioning.

- The ponds have a large surface area which allows for faster evaporation of the water, that acts like an air conditioning. Flood prevention - As well as physically holding onto rainwater, the pond network help slows the flow of water during periods of heavy rainfall, thus allowing for the ground to absorb more of it.

- As well as physically holding onto rainwater, the pond network help slows the flow of water during periods of heavy rainfall, thus allowing for the ground to absorb more of it. Maintaining wetlands through droughts - The areas of deep water caused by the dams helps prevent wetland areas drying out. Advertisement

Beavers were once native in Britain, but were hunted to extinction in the 16th century, both as vermin as well as for their meat, fur and pelts.

However they have since made a return to the wild in some parts of the country, including in Scotland and a small number on the River Otter in Devon.

At Holnicote, on the edge of Exmoor, two pairs were released into two woodland enclosures in 2020 to help manage the landscape and habitats.

Ben Eardley, the project manager for the site, told The Times that the nearby River Aller is very low as a result of Britain's recent heatwaves.

Without their beavers, Grylls and Yogi and their son Rashford, he said areas of the estate 'would just be just muddy puddles', but are instead 'brimful of water'.

Mr Eardley added: 'The multiple dam complexes created by Grylls and Yogi and Rashford over the last two years have helped slow the flow of water through the catchment, creating ponds and new channels to hold more water in the landscape.'

At a second site at the Minehead estate, another beaver couple has created channels of flowing waters that have brought in an influx of fish, amphibians and dragonflies.

Parts of the UK are experiencing the driest conditions since the drought of 1976, and this is especially felt in the South East where temperatures have exceeded 40C.

While some counties like Kent and Sussex have implemented hosepipe bans to cope with the lack of rain, two Eurasian beavers are actively reversing the drought's damage.

The animals were installed on the Knepp estate in Horsham in February, as part of a licenced trial with the rewilding project Knepp Wildland.

Since their arrival, they have transformed what was once a small stream into a network of ponds and channels with lush green plants.

It is currently illegal to release beavers into the wild, so the two rodents are confined to a two-hectare enclosure.

However, the pen has not managed to stop the standing water and moist soils from spilling out into the surrounding landscape.

Penny Green, resident ecologist at Knepp Wildland, said: 'We've seen really amazing results just in the five months they've been here. The beavers have already made a little network of ponds from the damming that they've done, they've been chewing back some of the vegetation in the ponds and we've got little beaver lawns'

To build a dam, beavers first create a scaffolding by driving branches into the ground and piling up sticks and organic matter. They then coat the structure with mud that they pat down with their strong, flat tails, and continue to extend it outwards to encourage more water

Beavers are found throughout the UK. The animals live as far north as Bamff, Scotland and as south as Nankilly Water in Cornwall

BEAVERS: 'FRIENDS' OR 'FOES'? There is some contention as to whether Beavers should have been released into the wild. This is why the illegal rewilding happened in Scotland, over concerns the government wouldn't back an official project. The points on either side of the argument include the following: FOR REINTRODUCTION The UK's wetland fauna and flora evolved alongside beavers. They reduce siltation, which can pollute waterways with silt and clay. Their dam-like habitats help to reduce downstream flooding after heavy rain. Beavers make ponds, which are needed by two-thirds of UK wildlife. The public is in favour of restoring the animals to the wild. AGAINST REINTRODUCTION UK rivers have changed dramatically since beavers went extinct. British waterways are in poor health, potentially putting beavers at risk. Beavers can spread a foreign tapeworm to both humans and dogs. They can damage both infrastructure and local forests. Dams can sometimes exacerbate, rather than prevent, flooding. Advertisement

Penny Green, resident ecologist at Knepp Wildland, told the Natural History Museum: 'We've seen really amazing results just in the five months they've been here.

'The beavers have already made a little network of ponds from the damming that they've done, they've been chewing back some of the vegetation in the ponds and we've got little beaver lawns.

'But the most interesting thing for us at the moment is that even though we're in a huge drought year, and most of the little streams either side of the enclosure are running dry, here in the beaver pen it is the most amazing wetland oasis all around us.'

Beavers maintain wetlands by building dams that direct flowing water into their habitat, forming ponds that allow access to more plants, leaves and bark for eating.

To build a dam, they first create a scaffolding by driving branches into the ground and piling up sticks and organic matter.

They then coat the structure with mud that they pat down with their strong, flat tails, and continue to extend it outwards to encourage more and more water to flood in.

As time passes, the branches of the dam take root and begin to grow, creating a living ecosystem that attracts other wildlife like birds, insects and bats.

Outside of the enclosure, the backed up water has created further wetlands where large mammals, such as deer, pigs and cows, can drink.

The dams support the environment through droughts because of the small holes the beavers leave in them.

These allow water to trickle through all year round, even during long periods of particularly low rainfall in the summer.

The ponds that form as a result of the beavers' work also help lower the water temperature, as deeper water is often kept cooler.

When the water spills out into the surrounding environment, as a result of the leaky dams or groundwater seepage, it further cools the land.

Consultations are still ongoing about whether beavers will be able to be released in the UK in the future, as they are currently only allowed in enclosed areas. Pictured: One of an adult pair of Eurasian beavers being released on the Holnicote Estate in January 2020

The large surface area of the ponds also encourages evaporation, which additionally helps to cool the air itself.

The 60-pound engineers do not just help during particularly hot weather, but their dams also help to alleviate flooding during heavy rainfall.

They hold onto water and slow down its flow, giving the ground and vegetation time to absorb more of the rain.

While it is currently illegal to release beavers into the wild, the UK government have given them legal protection which will initiate from October 1.

This makes it a criminal offence to deliberately capture, kill or injure beavers, or damage their lodges or dams.

Consultations are still ongoing about whether they will be able to be released in the country in the future.
With parts of Britain expected to hit 93F (33.8C) today, many Brits will find relief from the heat in the form of a delicious ice cream.

But which ice cream is the best at keeping you cool amid the UK heatwave?

While you might think it would be a refreshing ice lolly, a new study suggests that ice creams with a hard chocolate coating actually fare the best in hot weather.

This is because the external shell offers an extra layer of protection to the soft interior, according to the researchers.

Which ice cream is the best at keeping you cool amid the UK heatwave? While you might think it would be a refreshing ice lolly, a new study suggests that ice creams with a hard chocolate coating actually fare the best in hot weather

Dr Edward Breeds put 10 different icy treats to the test by replicating summer conditions in the lab and measuring their consistency, shape, size and melt rate.

What temperature can your favourite withstand? Vimto Twist lollies - 17C

Capri-Sun Freezies - 21C

Ice Breakers - 22C

Swizzels Love Hearts Giant Cherry & Orange Creamy Ice Lollies - 22C

Iceland's Solo Exotic Burst Lollies - 26C

Slush Puppie Original Strawberry and Blue Fusion Lollies - 28C

Iceland's Strawberry & Vanilla Cones - 28C

Belgian Milk Chocolate Majestics - 30C Advertisement

In the study, which was commissioned by Iceland, Dr Edward Breeds, Principal Lecturer in Physics at Nottingham Trent University, set out to uncover the best types of ice creams to eat during heatwaves.

'Whilst a little melting is crucial to create an optimal licking experience, choosing an ice cream or lolly carefully to suit the great British weather of the day will ensure that no-one ends up with sticky hands from a dripping dessert,' Dr Breeds said.

The researcher put 10 different icy treats to the test by replicating summer conditions in the lab and measuring their consistency, shape, size and melt rate.

'The temperature, as well as weather factors such as wind and humidity, all play their part when it comes to ensuring our chosen ice cream or lolly remains in its optimum state the longest,' he explained.

'The shape and size of our chosen dessert also has an influence, as the surface area to volume ratio affects how energy is transferred from our surroundings and ourselves to the ice cream or lolly.'

His assessment suggests that chocolate-covered ice creams are the best overall, with the hard shell's higher melting point offering a layer of protection to their soft interior.

'The temperature, as well as weather factors such as wind and humidity, all play their part when it comes to ensuring our chosen ice cream or lolly remains in its optimum state the longest,' he explained

These ice creams were found to withstand temperatures exceeding 30C.

However, cone-shaped ice creams were also found to be effective on hot days, according to Dr Breeds.

Their shape limits exposure to heat from our hands, meaning they can withstand temperatures of 28C degrees for as long as 40 minutes without melting.

At the other end of the scale, Vimto Twist lollies were found to be the least effective in a heatwave.

The treat's cylindrical shape means they have a high surface area to volume ratio, meaning they begin melting at just 17C.

'I'd personally encourage people to consider a chocolate coated ice cream for a hot summer's day, as its external shell has a higher melting point, providing the perfect barrier to keep an ice cream cool,' Dr Breeds explained.

'As we all know, though, the weather can often turn a little cooler, and ice creams with a smooth and silky texture are probably best reserved for enjoyment then.'

The study comes as the Met Office has issued an amber extreme heat warning for the next four days, while the UK Health and Security Agency put the UK on a level three heat-health alert, and the AA warned the searing heat could cause tyres to blow out on the motorways.

Families enjoying their summer holidays will see tropical temperatures from today as London is expected to reach 86F (30C) ahead of the Met Office's amber warning which comes into force from tomorrow until midnight on Sunday, with temperatures expected to climb to 97F (36C) in some places.
An ice sheet that holds about 80 per cent of the world's glacier ice has the potential to cause global sea levels to rise by up to 16 feet (five metres) by 2500.

Scientists have predicted that melting of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) will result in this increase if temperatures continue to rise at the current rate.

This warming of about 0.32F (0.18C) per decade is the result of humanity's increase in greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution.

Researchers from Durham University modelled the effects different temperatures and levels of emissions would have on the ice sheet in the next few centuries.

If no change is made to slow the warming, the EAIS could contribute up to ten feet (three metres) to global sea levels by 2300.

The melting could be limited significantly if emissions targets are met that see global temperature rise limited to 3.6F (2C) above pre-industrial levels.

The EAIS could then only contribute about 0.8 inches (two centimetres) of sea level rise by 2100, and 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) by 2500.

Thickness of ice in Antarctica, showing the location of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (red outline), which holds the equivalent of 52 metres of sea level rise (alongside the UK and Ireland at the same scale). Wilkes Land (highlighted) has been referred to as East Antarcticas weak underbelly, where some glaciers appear to be thinning, retreating and losing mass due to warm ocean currents

Scientists have predicted that melting of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) will result in this increase if temperatures continue to rise at the current rate. Pictured: Ice cliff at the terminus of Vanderford Glacier, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica

WHY IS CURRENT GLOBAL WARMING DIFFERENT TO HOTTER PERIODS IN HISTORY? Previous periods of warming, that are similar to what the Earth is experiencing today, occurred over hundreds of thousands of years. About 300,000 years ago, during the mid-Pliocene, temperatures were only between 1.3F and 3.6F (2C and 4C) higher than present. This period of warming occurred gradually over 300,000 years and is thought to have been caused by changes in the way the Earth orbits the sun. However, evidence of today's global warming indicates it just under 200 years ago. The Earth's average surface temperature has increased rapidly by about 1.8F (1.0C) since the late 1800s. This can be explained by the increase in our greenhouse gas emissions since the industrial revolution. Advertisement

Lead author Professor Chris Stokes said: 'We used to think East Antarctica was much less vulnerable to climate change, compared to the ice sheets in West Antarctica or Greenland, but we now know there are some areas of East Antarctica that are already showing signs of ice loss.

'Satellite observations have revealed evidence of thinning and retreating, especially where glaciers draining the main ice sheet come into contact with warm ocean currents.

'This ice sheet is by far the largest on the planet, containing the equivalent of 52 metres of sea level and it's really important that we do not awaken this sleeping giant.'

Ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica were already predicted to lose ice in the centuries to come.

Greenland is far away from the North Pole so is exposed to warm air, and West Antarctica is affected by warm ocean currents as it sits below sea level.

However the EAIS is home to the staggeringly cold South Pole, and it is located on land that shields it from the sea's warmth, so it was widely assumed to be more solid.

But in 2020, evidence was found that a part of the EAIS retreated 435 miles (700 km) inland just 400,000 years ago - not that long ago on geological timescales.

This was in response to only 1.8-3.6F (1-2C) of warming.

In the study, published today in Nature, researchers from the UK, Australia, France and the USA examined how the EAIS responded to periods of warmth and high carbon dioxide concentrations in the past.

Around three million years ago, during the mid-Pliocene, temperatures were only between 3.6F and 7.2F (2C and 4C) higher than present.

This range of temperature change is one we could experience later this century.

However, global sea levels in the mid-Pliocene were between 33 and 82 feet (10 and 25 metres) higher than they are now.

Evidence from sea-floor sediments around East Antarctica indicates that part of the ice sheet collapsed and contributed several metres to this.

Carbon dioxide concentrations in that period also only slightly exceeded the current value of 417 parts per million.

This period of warming occurred over a very long timescale - about 300,000 years according to NASA - and is thought to have been caused by changes in the way the Earth orbits the sun.

However current global warming has only been felt for the last few decades, which can only be explained by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity.

Next, the team analysed computer simulations made by previous studies to examine what effects different levels of emissions and temperatures would have on the ice sheet.

If warming continues at its current rate, sustained by high greenhouse gas emissions, the EAIS could contribute nearly half a metre to sea levels by 2100.

Additionally, if it continues beyond 2100, it could contribute around three to ten feet (one to three metres) to global sea levels by 2300, and 7 to 16 feet (two to five metres) by 2500.

This would add to the substantial contributions from Greenland and West Antarctica and thermal expansion of the ocean, threatening millions of people worldwide who live in coastal areas.

In 2020, evidence was found that a part of the EAIS retreated 435 miles (700 km) inland just 400,000 years ago - not that long ago on geological timescales. This finding suggested it was at risk to retreating further as a result of current climate change. Pictured: Scientists drilling a shallow ice core at the surface of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet

Professor Nerilie Abram, from the Australian National University, said: 'We now have a very small window of opportunity to rapidly lower our greenhouse gas emissions, limit the rise in global temperatures and preserve the East Antarctic Ice Sheet

However, in 2015 new targets were agreed upon by world leaders that attended the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.

They agreed to limit global warming to well below 3.6F (2C) and pursue efforts to limit the rise to 2.7F (1.5C) by reducing their countries' greenhouse gas emissions.

The international researchers found that, if these targets are met, the worst effects of global warming on the world's largest ice sheet could be avoided.

The EAIS might be thus expected to contribute only about 0.8 inches (two centimetres) of sea level rise by 2100 and 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) by 2500.

Some research shows that snowfall has increased over East Antarctica in the last few decades and, if this continues, it will offset some of the expected ice losses over the next century.

However the researchers say sea levels will still rise due to unstoppable ice losses from Greenland or West Antarctica.

If the Paris Agreement targets for global temperature increase are met, the worst effects on the world's largest ice sheet could be avoided. The EAIS might be thus expected to contribute only about 0.8 inches (two centimetres) of sea level rise by 2100 and 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) by 2500. Pictured: Iceberg towers from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet

Professor Nerilie Abram, a co-author of the study from the Australian National University in Canberra, said: 'A key lesson from the past is that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to even relatively modest warming scenarios. It isn't as stable and protected as we once thought.

'We now have a very small window of opportunity to rapidly lower our greenhouse gas emissions, limit the rise in global temperatures and preserve the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

'Taking such action would not only protect the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, but also slow the melting of other major ice sheets such as Greenland and West Antarctica, which are more vulnerable and at higher risk.

'Therefore, it's vitally important that countries achieve and strengthen their commitments to the Paris Agreement.'

Professor Stokes added: 'A key conclusion from our analysis is that the fate of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet remains very much in our hands.'
Manchester United have abandoned their pursuit of Marko Arnautovic in the face of a backlash from fans, but are close to signing Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot in a 19.5million deal.

Arnautovic emerged as a shock target for United over the weekend as new manager Erik ten Hag looks to strengthen his attack before the transfer window ends.

United saw Arnautovic as a cut-price option but decided not to meet Bolognas demands for the Austria striker after having an initial 7.5m bid rejected.

Manchester United have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Marko Arnautovic (pictured)

But new manager Erik ten Hag (pictured) will now have to turn to alternative striking targets

Its understood the decision was also influenced by the negative reaction from supporters who were dismayed to see United pursuing a 33-year-old who played in China after leaving the Premier League three years ago.

Arnautovic has also had disciplinary problems, including being hit by a one-match ban from UEFA at Euro 2020 last summer for aiming an anti-Albanian slur at North Macedonia player Ezgjan Alioski. The former West Ham and Stoke striker, who played under Ten Hag and his United No 2 Steve McClaren at FC Twente 12 years ago, later denied he was a racist.

United will now look elsewhere for a new forward and have been linked with a move for PSV Eindhovens 35m-rated winger Cody Gakpo.

The 33-year-old Austrian (right) caught the eye after 14 goals in 33 appearances last campaign

The 23-year-old Holand international scored 21 goals for PSV last season. Gakpo is a cheaper option than Ajax winger Antony, who played under Ten Hag in Holland .

United have also been watching Stuttgart target man Sasa Kalajdzic having considered Red Bull Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko and Ajax forward Brian Brobbey.

Ten Hags other priority position following Sundays shock home defeat by Brighton is defensive midfield, and United are progressing with a deal to sign Rabiot. A fee of 15m rising to 19.5m has been agreed with Juventus, and United are in talks with Rabiots agent and mother over personal terms.

Its understood that Ten Hag spoke to the 27-year-old on Monday and he is keen on a move to Old Trafford which could go through before Uniteds second game at Brentford on Saturday.

United sources insist Rabiot has been on their wish list all summer and that signing the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder does not rule out landing Ten Hags No 1 target Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona.

Rabiots arrival could hasten James Garners departure from Old Trafford. Nottingham Forest are keen to sign Garner in a permanent deal after having the 21-year-old on loan last season.

Meanwhile, former United striker Javier Hernandez says the club must let Ten Hag run it his way free of comparison with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Hernandez, who was a part of Fergusons last two title-winning teams in 2011 and 2013, now plays for LA Galaxy in the MLS.

United need to get over the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson has gone, he said. To substitute a man like that is not easy. It is like winning the lottery. So United have to adapt and allow the next manager to do it in his own way.
China launches 16 new satellites

Xinhua) 14:23, August 10, 2022

TAIYUAN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday sent 16 new satellites into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.

The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched by a Long March-6 carrier rocket at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time and entered the planned orbit successfully.

The new batch of satellites is mainly used in the fields such as commercial remote sensing and atmospheric imaging.

This launch marked the 432nd mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Actress Lee Jung-hyun in a scene from the film, "Limit" / Courtesy of JNC Media Group



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Lee Jung-hyun has shown the ability to play all kinds of characters in any manner of film. She has appeared in both solid films with serious topics such as "Alice in Earnestland" (2015) and spectacular films like "Peninsula" (2020).



"Limit" stars Lee as So-eun, a police detective who, at one time, was the best among her peers in hunting down criminals. But a traumatic experience that left a victim dead in one case made her step back and just take emergency calls or patrol the neighborhood  that is, until one day the police get a call from a couple whose child has been kidnapped.



So-eun goes undercover to help the parents locate their abducted child. However, the kidnappers soon find out that So-eun is not the child's real mother. Infuriated by the fact that Soe-un has been fooling them, they kidnap her own son, too. So-eun then finds herself in a tense psychological battle with the abductors and goes on a solo mission to get her son back.



The crime thriller is directed by Lee Seung-jun, best known for "The Spy: Undercover Operation" (2013), and is based on a script by the late Hisashi Nozawa, the Japanese screenwriter and mystery novelist.



"Limit" follows some familiar aspects of a typical thriller film. There is a tight script that focuses on the abduction and the cat-and-mouse game between So-eun and the kidnappers as she tries to figure out the location of her son and the identity of the kidnappers.



The plot is underscored by the critical issue of missing children. It explores how trafficking occurs in pediatric surgical settings. In this way, the film is pretty narrow in its focus. But it mostly works because Lee is able to carry her time on screen.



"Like every mother would do, So-eun moves from a place of instinct and cannot stop until she saves her son. I always got cuts and bruises during the filming because I did most of the stunts. I filmed the fight scene on the mountain for about three days," actress Lee said.



"I also wore minimal makeup and drew freckles on my face. I purposefully tried to look as ugly as possible," she added.



There are other notable cast members in "Limit." Jin Seo-yeon stars as the woman whose daughter is kidnapped. She plays the part well, looking terrified but hiding something. And then there is Moon Jeong-hee as Hye-jin, the woman doing the kidnapping with her henchmen.



Although the story is just plausible enough to keep the viewer engaged, it is not a "must-see in theaters" type of film because it is not so visually spectacular or inventive. The henchmen, played by Park Myung-hoon and Park Kyung-hye, appear too weird and obscure and that may leave the audience wondering if their roles were necessary for the film.



"Limit" will hit local theaters on Aug. 31.


Manchester City are still negotiating over a fee for Anderlecht left-back Sergio Gomez.

The Belgian side want around 12m for the highly-rated 21-year-old.

City missed out on Marc Cucurella, their initial target for the left back position after Oleksandr Zinchenko was sold to Arsenal, to Chelsea with the club deeming his eventual 60m price tag too expensive.

Manchester City and Anderlecht continue to negotiate over the transfer of Sergio Gomez

Pep Guardiola 's side had been in pole position to sign the Spanish full-back, but after failing to meet the 50million valuation, the Blues hijacked a move for the 24-year-old.

Attention then turned to Gomez, a significantly cheaper option for the club to fill what has proven to be a problem position for the champions.

City travelled to West Ham United on Sunday with just two full-backs after letting Zinchenko leave for Arsenal earlier this summer.

City missed out on Marc Cucurella after they were reluctant to meet Brighton's valuation

Although talks are underway to sign Gomez, who is represented by Pere Guardiola's - Pep Guardiola's brother - agency, to bolster their options at full-backs with Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo the only options at present.

Gomez is a product of Barcelona's academy, who moved to Borussia Dortmund, before heading to Belgium where he worked with former City captain and now Burnley manager Vincent Kompany.

The 21-year-old, who is known for his energy and assist record, made 49 appearances last season, scoring seven goals and assisting on 15 occasions, as he helped Anderlecht finish third in the league.

Gomez worked with former City captain and now Burnley boss Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht

Leeds United and Arsenal have also watched the Spain under-21 international closely in recent months.

Brighton eventually grew tired of City's attempts to sign the Spaniard Cucurella, with the Seagulls becoming frustrated at the nature of the champions' approach.

Having been told that they would not negotiate unless the 50m valuation mark was met, City sought to increase their original bid incrementally which Brighton deemed unacceptable.
Arsenal are set to have a 33million bid for Villarreal winger Yeremy Pino accepted, despite bidding less than half of his release clause, according to reports.

Mikel Arteta's side have launched an ambitious offer for the 19-year-old, with the Spain international having a release clause of 67.5m.

Pino is one of the LaLiga's most exciting prospects and Liverpool were also interested in the youngster, but Arsenal are the first club to make a move.

Arsenal are set to have a 33m offer accepted for Villarreal's Yeremy Pino, according to AS

Mikel Arteta wants to add another attacking asset to provide further cover and competition

According to Spanish outlet AS, Villarreal are likely to accept Arsenal's lower offer, at a value of less than half Pino's release clause, in order to solve 'economic problems' at the club.

Unai Emery's side need to sell a prized asset in order to bring in players this window

The Gunners are keen to add another attacking asset to provide further cover and competition, especially after missing out on a deal for Raphinha following a brief pursuit of the Barcelona winger earlier in the transfer window.

The key factor over whether Pino moves to the Emirates is now dependent on his desire for the transfer.

He enjoyed a breakout campaign for the Spanish side last year, scoring six goals and adding four assists in 21 starts, while he also featured seven times as Unai Emery's side reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Villarreal had been expecting big offers for prized assets such as Arnaut Danjuma and Pau Torres this summer but deals have not yet materialised, so Pino could now be sold instead, with the club needing to offload at least one big name for Emery to bring in players this window.

Arsenal have enjoyed a strong summer, adding Manchester City pair Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, along with Fabio Vieira, who joined from Porto.

They began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace on Friday evening.
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With the simple click of a shutter, these photographers have captured the extraordinary beauty of Planet Earth.

Their pictures have been named as winners and runners-up in the Nature TTL Photographer of the Year 2022 awards, a prestigious annual photography contest that 'celebrates the natural world'.

Competing for the 1,500 grand prize, nature photographers from all over the world collectively submitted over 8,000 images to the competition this year. Pictures that have won over the judges include a shot of a 'majestic' elephant blowing dust from its trunk, a stunning image of a rainbow and the Northern Lights over an Icelandic waterfall and a photograph of an enormous bear with frozen fur in the Canadian wilderness.

However, they're trumped by a shocking photograph of a blood-soaked flamingo in the jaws of a caracal wild cat in Tanzania, captured by American photographer Dennis Stogsdill, who has been named the overall winner of the contest.

Praising Stogsdill's work, Will Nicholls, Founder of Nature TTL, says: 'This is nature at its most raw. The caracal is soaked from chasing the flamingos through the waters, but has come out on top. The contrasting colours against the dark surroundings really make this image pop. A wonderful scene to have been able to observe no doubt, let alone capture exquisitely on camera.'

Below are the spellbinding winning images - scroll down to the very bottom to see the photograph that takes the gold medal...

This hypnotising portrait of a lion in the Moremi Game Reserve on the eastern side of Botswana's Okavango Delta tops the podium in the 'Wild Portraits' category. Sharing the rather nerve-wracking story behind the shot, Polish photographer Tomasz Szpila explains: 'When a huge lion looks you right in the eyes, you immediately forget that you are sitting safely in the car. Instinctively, you cower and slowly retreat deeper inside the car so as not to provoke a predator. Fortunately, he and his brothers were busy consuming the young buffalo that had been hunted several minutes earlier'

The mountains of the Ladakh Range, which lie on the western end of the Himalayas in northern India, were the setting for this mesmerising shot of a snow leopard. It was captured by German photographer Sascha Fonseca, who says: 'Thick snow blankets the ground, but the big cats dense coat and furry footpads keep it warm.' He continues: 'I captured this image during a three-year camera trap project in the Indian Himalayas. Challenges were many: High altitude, low oxygen, luna-esque terrain, finding productive locations, getting the equipment in place, and maintaining it over long periods of time.' The picture has been named a runner-up in the 'Camera Traps' category

'After wallowing in the mud, this majestic African elephant was walking towards our safari vehicle in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, Africa,' says Australian photographer Michael Snedic of this stunning shot, which is a runner-up in the 'Animal Behaviour' category. He continues: 'It sucked up some dust in its trunk and before long, it turned its trunk upwards and released a huge puff of dust. My camera was set to continuous shutter and I was clicking away like crazy - an exhilarating moment!'

Northern Iceland's Godafoss waterfall, which spans 12m (39ft) in height and 30m (98ft) in width, is the subject of this enchanting picture. Italian photographer Mauro Tronto, who captured the image, says: 'This shot is [a] mixture of magical elements: the light of the moon whose incidence at the right angle generated a magnificent rainbow; the beautiful Northern Lights shot just above the lunar rainbow; finally Godafoss, a spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. All elements are real and occurring at the same time.' The picture bags a runner-up accolade in the 'Night Sky' category

Swiss photographer Matt Engelmann was behind the lens for this captivating shot, which was snared in the mountains of Graubunden in eastern Switzerland. Detailing the build-up to the photograph, Matt says: 'Since I cautiously observed the fox for a month, I noticed that this place was well used as a marking spot.' He adds that the picture is taken with a remote shutter release, so as not to disturb the fox. Impressing the judges, the shot is a runner-up in the 'Wild Portraits' category

Behold, the winner of the 'Camera Traps' category. Showing a 'large grizzly bear' passing in front of a camera trap in the area around the village of Klukshu in Yukon, Canada, it was snared by Frenchman Geoffrey Reynaud. He says: 'In the Yukon... a unique phenomenon happens every year. The bears will freeze their fur and stay out until the month of December, despite the temperature reaching as low as -30 degrees Celsius [-22 degrees Farenheit]. This picture was taken by a camera trap set up along the river about two days before a snowstorm. The temperature was starting to drop to -15 degrees Celsius [five degrees Farenheit], and the bear was only starting to become an "ice bear"'

This impressive shot claims the top spot in the 'Under 16' category. Captured by Indian photographer Achintya Murthy, who is just 13 years of age, it shows a pair of Malabar parakeets (also known as blue-winged parakeets) in the town of Hosanagara, in the Indian state of Karnataka. Murthy, who describes these birds as 'wonderful creatures', says: 'They usually flock together and are seen in huge numbers... it was my privilege to shoot this image from a bird hide.' Murthy notes that the birds are fighting over a tree stump

Reigning victorious in the 'Urban Wildlife' category is this shot of a hare in the German city of Kassel, taken by native photographer Jan Piecha. 'During the daytime, this place on the outskirts is totally crowded with people going about their daily business. But at night, it belongs to the animals that come out to play under the streetlights,' says the photographer

Feast your eyes on the winner of the 'Underwater' category. It was snared at the 'Tuna Factory' dive site close to Male, the capital of the Maldives, and shows a pink whipray (a species of stingray) 'splitting' a school of reef bannerfish. Swiss photographer Andy Schmid was scuba diving while he took the dynamic shot, and notes that it was captured against the setting sun

LEFT: This magical picture comes top in the 'Night Sky' category. It's the handiwork of French photographer Josselin Cornou, and was taken during a trip to the highest point in Australia - Mount Kosciusko in New South Wales. It shows stars in the sky over Seaman's Hut, an alpine hut on the trail to the mountain that was built as a memorial to two skiers who died in 1928. Cornou notes that Mount Kosciusko is 'one of the best places to capture the Milky Way, in part thanks to the dark skies.' RIGHT: This is yet another breathtaking shot by Cornou, this time taken in the Australian town of Helensburgh. Shedding light on the picture, which is a runner-up in the 'Urban Wildlife' category, he says: 'A city of glow worms are populating this old train station, providing beautiful lights on rainy days. This place was an old railway, which is now abandoned. The railway was closed at the beginning of the 20th century. Then, nature started to populate this place. In this photo, millions of glowworms can be seen. To make this photo happen, I had to travel to the location during a storm, as an ephemeral waterfall would start to appear.' The photographer adds that a day after this photo was taken, the tunnel was flooded

This fascinating picture - a runner-up in the 'Small World' category - portrays a 'micro-moth (Micropterix calthella) covered in golden balls of pollen from a creeping buttercup flower'. It was taken in Mutter's Moor, a walking route near Sidmouth in Devon, England. Titled 'Pretty in Pollen', it's the handiwork of British photographer Tim Crabb, who notes that the final image is a 'compilation' of pictures

Describing this poignant shot, South African photographer Bertus Hanekom says: 'A thunderstorm passes over a sunflower which, against the odds, has managed to survive on a rubbish dump in the semi-arid Karoo region of South Africa.' The picture, titled 'Nature Fights Back', is the overall winner in the 'Landscapes' category

This intriguing picture of a male eastern gobbleguts - a species of ray-finned fish - carrying eggs in its mouth was taken in Chowder Bay in Sydney, Australia. Detailing the breeding process of the fish, Australian photographer Talia Greis says: 'When the female is ready to make the [egg] transfer, the male opens his mouth near her cloaca orifice [a reproductive and digestive opening], as she pushes the eggs out in a cone-like manner. The male uses the tip wedged in his throat to keep them in position, while still allowing himself to feed, and protect the precious eggs. He will continue to hold the eggs for a month before hatching occurs'

The gold medal in the 'Small World' category goes to this atmospheric shot of a moth at dusk in the summertime. It was snared in Orsegi National Park in Western Hungary, with Hungarian photographer Tibor Litauszki behind the lens. Litauszki says: 'To keep track of the [moth's] flight, I used an LED headlight, and I lit the moth with a flash'
Rebel Wilson showed off her slimmed-down figure in flesh-flashing workout gear while heading to the gym in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The actress, 42, bared her toned midriff in a sporty crop top and skintight leggings as she stepped out into the sun, warding off the California rays with a visor and shades.

The Australian screen star's latest outing comes after she shared that the late Olivia Newton-John 'tried to teach me about health years before I took it seriously'.

Work it: Rebel Wilson showed off her slimmed-down figure in flesh-flashing workout gear while heading to the gym in Los Angeles on Tuesday

Olivia died Monday at the age of 73 surrounded by family at her California ranch after withdrawing from the public eye as her health deteriorated.

She had a roller-coaster 30-year battle with breast cancer, which she was first diagnosed with in 1992 and which came back in 2013 and 2017.

During her life she was an enthusiastic advocate for breast cancer research, even trekking over 228kms along the Great Wall Of China as a fundraiser to build a cancer and wellness center in Melbourne, where she was largely raised.

In 2020 Rebel embarked on a Year Of Health and lost almost 80lbs - nearly a decade after she starred with Olivia in the Australian comedy A Few Best Men.

Work it! The actress, 42, bared her toned midriff in a sporty crop top and skintight leggings as she stepped out into the sun, warding off the California rays with a visor and shades

Weight loss: The Australian screen star's latest outing comes after she shared that the late Olivia Newton-John 'tried to teach me about health years before I took it seriously'

After news of Olivia's death spread around the world, Rebel, her fellow Australian, shared a touching Instagram post in memory of her.

She wrote to Olivia: 'You were the most gorgeous lady inside and out, you are a true Aussie icon and to play your daughter on screen in A FEW BEST MEN was beyond an honour.

'Seeing you star in the huge Hollywood blockbuster GREASE with your natural accent was so instrumental to me as a little girl, helping me to believe that it was possible for an Aussie girl to star in huge international musicals.'

Rebel went on to star in major Hollywood musicals herself when she became a scene-stealing presence in the Pitch Perfect films.

In her post about Olivia she recalled: 'You were the reason I auditioned for my high school production of GREASE at 15 - I was only in the chorus, but it was a start!'

'Love and Light': Rebel shared on Instagram that Olivia was 'a true Aussie icon and to play your daughter on screen in A FEW BEST MEN was beyond an honour'

Rebel added: 'You tried to teach me about health years before I took it seriously. You were so kind to me and it was such a blessing to know you Olivia.

'I'll never forget us singing at the piano in our lunch break on set together - what a complete legend you are! I am so sad you are gone Love and Light always to you ONJ, Rebel xoxo'.

Earlier this year Rebel revealed that her staggering 80lbs weight loss was inspired by her desire to eventually become a mother.

For years she has been candid about the fact that she was looking at the prospect of freezing her eggs, which was an influence on her decision to slim down.

Covering People this May, Rebel revealed that a fertility specialist 'looked me up and down and said: 'You'd do much better if you were healthier.''

Although her reflex response was to think he was 'so rude,' she eventually came to the conclusion the doctor 'was right. I was carrying around a lot of excess weight.'

She has insisted her fitness journey 'wasn't a goal to get to a certain weight. It was just being the healthiest version of myself.'

Rebel, who is 5'3', has previously credited Vivamayr, a luxury medical center and holistic retreat in Lake Altaussee, Austria, for her astonishing weight loss journey.

Now she has revealed that the process of improving her health involved 'dealing with the emotional issues that caused me to emotionally eat, and that's a process. You cry a lot, analyze things. I'd never done that before.'
KIIS FM radio star Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed she recently had a wild sex dream about Aussie actor Hugh Sheridan.

Speaking on her radio show on Wednesday, the 47-year-old detailed her dream to her shocked co-host Kyle Sandilands.

The single mother-of-one said she fantasised about sleeping with Hugh, 37, on a yacht, before they gave her a strip tease in the KIIS FM studios.

Jackie O's racy sex dream confession: KIIS FM star revealed on her radio show on Wednesday her WILD fantasy with actor Hugh Sheridan

'Remember I had a sex dream about Hugh Sheridan?' Jackie O began.

'I was on a boat with him and he was really good.'

'And then you guys surprised me the next day by bringing him in and he did a strip tease for me and he was so up in my face, top off,' she added.

The single mother-of-one said she fantasized about herself sleeping with Hugh, 37, on a yacht, before they gave her a strip tease in the KIIS FM studios

'Was there any romance before this dream and what does his penis look like?' Kyle asked Jackie.

She quipped back: 'The dream didn't start from the beginning!'

Sheridan came out as sexually fluid back in late 2020 after years of grappling with their personal identity.

Sheridan came out as sexually fluid back in late 2020 after years of grappling with his personal identity

In June meanwhile, Jackie revealed she was back on the dating scene following her split from her British husband, Lee Henderson.

Speaking on her radio show, Jackie said she had set up an online dating profile and was inspired to get back into the dating scene after watching an episode of The Real Housewives of New York.

'I was watching some old episodes of The Real Housewives - the New York one - and they all just date guys left right and centre! Dating, dating, every night they're on dates,' she told Kyle Sandilands.

In June meanwhile, Jackie revealed she was back on the dating scene following her split from her British husband, Lee Henderson

'I was watching it going, "That kinda looks fun. Maybe I should go out on some dates. It might be time now."'

Jackie then explained that she'd downloaded the dating app Hinge, because her fellow KISS FM radio host Woody Whitelaw - who got engaged to fiancee Mimi Gibbs in April - met his partner on the app.

'And so I thought, "yeah, let's create a Hinge profile and just see",' she added.

Jackie added that she never actually set her account live because she feels like her profile's 'captions need more work.'

Jackie met Lee in 2000 before tying the knot in 2003, before announcing their split in October 2018.

Lee is now believed to be dating martial arts enthusiast Gabriella Motta.
Supermodel Miranda Kerr has revealed she walks barefoot on the grass to help 'reconnect' after a long flight.

The runway star, 39, spoke to Porter about the ritual which she says 'rebalances' herself.

'I like to go for a walk outside when I arrive and, if possible, go barefoot on the grass to reconnect, ground myself and have a bit of time to rebalance,' she said.

Supermodel Miranda Kerr, 39, (pictured) has revealed the unusual way she copes with jet lag and 'rebalances' herself after a long flight to Porter Magazine this week

Miranda added she also takes sleeping aid Melatonin to help with time zone differences.

The Australian model, who is married to Snapchat billionaire Evan Spiegel, went on to say how important it is to slow down for family life.

'I like to go for a walk outside when I arrive and, if possible, go barefoot on the grass to reconnect, ground myself and have a bit of time to rebalance,' Miranda said. Here with Evan

'As a mother of three boys, life goes by so quickly. Embrace your time together while you can because life gets busy,' she said.

'I think it's important for our children to see how important work ethic is  but it's equally important for them to see how much we value quality time as a family.'

Miranda and Evan share two sons together, Hart, four, and Myles, two. Miranda also has a third son, Flynn, 11, who she shares with ex-husband Orlando Bloom.

'As a mother of three boys, life goes by so quickly. Embrace your time together while you can because life gets busy,' Miranda said of family life with Evan (left)

In the August issue of Vogue Australia she discussed co-parenting Flynn with British actor Orlando, 45, and his American pop star fiance, Katy Perry, 37.

'Co-parenting with Orlando and Katy is something that I feel really happy about,' Miranda said.

'From day one when Orlando and I decided to separate, I said, "Listen, whatever we do, we have to put Flynn's needs first, not our own."

Miranda and Evan have, Hart, four, and Myles, two, together. She also has a third son, Flynn, 11, who she shares with ex-husband Orlando Bloom. Miranda and Orlando here in 2013

'That's the way we make our decisions. Family is my number-one priority, then work, then my company, which is like another baby, and then, unfortunately, my friends, but it's not going to be like that forever.'

Miranda previously told LuisaViaRoma's LVR magazine that she only has only kind things to say about her ex and his new love.

'I adore Katy and am grateful Orlando found someone he is happy with. Now Flynn has four happy parents who get along,' she said.
Candice Brown looked as chic as ever on Tuesday as she attended the LEGO flagship store re-opening party in London's Leicester Square.

The Great British Bake Off star, 37, looked lovely in a coral pink playsuit as she posed alongside her boyfriend Nicky Mercer.

Candice put on a confident display in the one-piece which featured a plunging neckline and laser cut-out detailing on the top.

Outing: Candice Brown looked as chic as ever on Tuesday as she attended the LEGO flagship store re-opening party in London's Leicester Square

She happily showcased her toned pins in the thigh-skinning number, while she further drew emphasis to her legs by donning a towering pair of tan heels.

The beauty swept her brunette locks back off her face and finished off her look with plum lipstick on her famous pout.

Meanwhile, Nicky looked smart on a white shirt and black trousers which he teamed with white trainers.

Candice, who won the seventh series of the show in 2016, is dating the sportsman and TUI regional pilot manager a year after splitting from her husband Liam Macauley.

Stylish couple: The Great British Bake Off star, 37, looked lovely in a coral pink playsuit as she posed alongside her boyfriend Nicky Mercer

The pair went public with their romance last July when they were seen stepping out for a dog walk together.

The outing comes after Candice opened up about how her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis has affected her mental health.

Speaking on Vicky Pattison's The Secret To podcast, she said: 'It is so much worse now. My mental health has taken a huge dip the last couple of years.

Flaunt: She happily showcased her toned pins in the thigh-skinning number, while she further drew emphasis to her legs by donning a towering pair of tan heels

'People are sort of saying at the moment, "We know you're quite bad because we're struggling to be with you."

'One of the things with me and the ADHD and the anxiety, and when they battle  and they fight against each other. It's just a whole minefield but I'm working on it.'

Candice revealed one of her biggest downfalls is procrastinating, a problem she only seems to combat when under pressure.

She said: 'Give me four hours to do something and I'll take 10.

Gorgeous: The beauty swept her brunette locks back off her face and finished off her look with plum lipstick on her famous pout

'Give me four hours to do something and people watching and pressure, like Bake Off  when I have no choice but to do it  I do it. I've always been called icy but that's genuinely me trying to focus.'

Despite enjoying success after winning the popular baking show, Candice has faced a backlash from some online trolls following her victory.

She said: 'I worked so hard because I knew I had to. But that wasn't enough for people, it had to be another reason. What has the world come to?'
Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova looked incredible on Tuesday as she attended the LEGO Flagship Store re-opening party in London's Leicester Square.

The Ukrainian-Slovenian dancer, 32, showed off her chic sense of style in a cream crop top and matching trousers.

She boosted her height in a pair of white heels while posing for a sizzling snap at the fun event.

Stunning: Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova looked incredible on Tuesday as she attended the LEGO Flagship Store re-opening party in London's Leicester Square

Nadiya looked radiant as she sported a natural dewy makeup look, while styling her blonde locks poker straight.

She was without her Strictly beau Kai Widdrington who she has been dating since January, following her split from ex-fiance Matija Skarabot, 34, in 2021, with whom she shares her daughter Mila, five

It comes after Nadiya revealed she plans to rescue her family members from war-torn Ukraine as soon as she gets the opportunity.

Beaming: The Ukrainian-Slovenian dancer, 32, showed off her chic sense of style in a cream crop top and matching trousers

After months of tensions between Moscow and Kyiv, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine by land, air and sea on February 24.

The Strictly dancer, who was joined by her boyfriend Kai at the National Reality Television Awards at Porchester Hall Thursday night - spoke exclusively to Mail Online at about her war-ravaged country.

'I think were all affected by it,' she said. 'I still have my father there and my grandparents, a lot of friends, its a very tough subject to talk about. Its so difficult.'

'The war has been going on since 2014 when my family was involved all the time so its been very long for me.'

Gorgeous: Nadiya looked radiant as she sported a natural dewy makeup look, while styling her blonde locks poker straight

She added: 'Im in touch with them and I help as much as I can. I couldnt get my father and my grandmother anywhere close to me but theyre there and theyre safe at the moment so as soon as I will get the chance to get them Ill do that.'

There was better news on the night for Nadiya as she took home a much sought after award on the night.

The professional dancer looked a vision in a light blue chiffon gown, featuring an elegant trail.

The dress also featured a belt element round the waist, drawing in her petite frame.

Meanwhile, Kai cut a dapper figure in a black suit while dressing up the look with a grey tie.
Lisa Rinna and her daughter Amelia Gray Hamlin were twinning on Tuesday.

The Real Housewives of Beverly hills star, 59, and the model, 21, sported matching black leather bodysuits and futuristic sunglasses from the Yeezy Gap collection.

Both Rinna and Hamlin shared the nearly-identical snaps to their respective Instagram accounts with the simple caption 'YZYGAP.'

Futuristic: Lisa Rinna and her daughter Amelia Gray Hamlin were twinning on Tuesday while sporting matching black bodysuits and futuristic sunglasses from the Yeezy Gap collection

Rinna shared three different images of the look to the profile, including a snap of her laying on the floor as she showed off her long legs.

In another image she was seen taking a selfie from up above.

The star wore her short brunette tresses in her usual shaggy style and sported a touch of pink gloss on her pout.

Twins: Both Rinna, 59, and Hamlin, 21, shared the nearly-identical snaps to their respective Instagram accounts with the simple caption 'YZYGAP'

Stunner: Rinna shared three different images of the look to the profile, including a snap of her laying on the floor as she showed off her long legs

Meanwhile her daughter followed and also snapped a selfie of herself from high up, showing off her toned arms in the process.

Scott Disick's ex-girlfriend wore her silky raven tresses parted in the middle and gently falling down her shoulders.

Amelia received a black heart emoji from her famous mom in the comments section underneath the photos.

It seems that she'd taken a liking to the brand, as last week Hamlin also sported a grey pair of Adidas x Yeezy 'Foam Runner' shoes as she headed to Pilates class in West Hollywood.

Iconic look: The star wore her short brunette tresses in her usual shaggy style and sported a touch of pink gloss on her pout

Toned: Meanwhile her daughter followed and also snapped a selfie of herself from high up, showing off her toned arms in the process

It's not yet known when the massive silver shades or the bodysuits will be available for sale, but it appears that it might be soon as several celebrities have posted promotional images in similar outfits, including Kanye West's ex wife Kim Kardashian.

The reality TV star, 41, modeled the look on Instagram last week with the help of the couple's daughter Chicago, four.

Kim's caption offered some specifics about the particular product she and North were hawking - the YR 3022 YEEZY SHDZ.
Radio star Fifi Box became the victim of an awkward 'First Dates' style prank by her co-stars at a local bar in Melbourne on Friday night.

The mother-of-two, 45, was tricked into flirting with a paid actor who was wired-up to capture their intimate conversation.

Fifi even swapped numbers with the handsome stranger.

Radio star Fifi Box became the victim of an awkward 'First Dates' style prank by her co-stars at a local bar in Melbourne on Friday night

The well-dressed man, who introduced himself as Dave O'Neill, came over to Fifi and her friends and confidently struck up a conversation with the ladies.

'We're just here with work. We're not working. We work together,' Fifi said, jumbling her words while dressed-up for the evening.

The mother-of-two, 45, was tricked into flirting with a paid actor who was wired-up to capture their intimate conversation

Dave happily made more conversation as Fifi explained she was drinking a 'pornstar martini'.

'I'm probably drinking it a little too fast. You've caught me off-guard,' she added.

Fifi told her producer pals that Dave was 'too handsome' but the egged her on.

The well-dressed man, who introduced himself as Dave O'Neill, came over to Fifi and her friends and confidently struck up a conversation with the ladies

She nervously went on to tell Dave she had forgotten his name before admitting she 'doesn't go out much'.

'I'm struggling. I may have to go to bed after this,' she said.

But the mood started heating up as the pair swapped numbers.

'You give me your number. Dave I don't do this often,' Fifi said, while putting his number into her phone.

She nervously went on to tell Dave she had forgotten his name before admitting she 'doesn't go out much'

'Lovely to meet you by the way. Gorgeous,' he added. 'You're not bad yourself,' Fifi replied to Dave.

Fifi has two children including Trixie, eight, who she shares with ex-partner Grant Kenny. She also has Daisy-Belle, two, who she had with a donor.

Speaking to Stellar magazine, Fifi said that she's proud to have her media platform to show diverse families to everyday Aussies.

Speaking to Stellar magazine last year, Fifi said that she's proud to have her media platform to show diverse families to everyday Aussies

'It's important to point out and educate that families come in all different shapes and sizes,' the radio personality said.

'Because I'm in the media and have a profile and platform, I'm able to shape and shift that, but it is frustrating,' she added.

She recently released a children's book titled Minty Mae Gray and the Strangely Good Day, which she dedicated to her daughters.
Director-writer Jung Byung-gil / Courtesy of Netflix



Netflix's latest Korean original film "Carter" starts with a 20-minute single-take action scene where Carter (Joo Won), an amnesiac agent on a hostage rescue mission, has a bloody dogfight  almost naked  with a hundred faceless people in a public bath.



The agent is ordered to bring a girl to North Korea to serve as an antidote for a pandemic that hit the Korean Peninsula.



Its director-writer Jung Byung-gil said Wednesday he created the heart-pounding opening scene filled with astounding hand-to-hand combat and shootouts to hook capricious viewers of the streaming service from the beginning.



"The film's initial script had a different opener. As 'Carter' is not a film for theatrical release, I wanted to capture the eyes of viewers with stronger visual images from the start," Jung said in an online media interview. "People would watch this show via smartphones or laptops. I wanted to give them a far more powerful impression from the beginning to stay tuned," said the director, well-known for a motorcycle fight scene shot from a first-person point of view in the opening of his female assassin movie "The Villainess" (2017).



The director said that he also cared about the sound design of his first Netflix original film for those watching his movie at home, not at a movie theater with big horn speakers. The movie had to offer average normal sound and audio wherever and whenever viewers turn on the show via any device, he added.



"Each viewer has different levels of speakers. Some watch content through TVs, smartphones or laptops. So I made the film able to be heard similarly on every occasion," Jung said. "If this film has audio for a theater release, people would have had to control the volume scene after scene because it's too loud for a laptop or a phone."



But he still wishes to see his action-packed thriller on the big screen with better cinema sound, although he had a special preview event for the first 20 minutes of "Carter" at a local movie theater last month.



"That was my first time seeing 'Carter' on the big screen even though it was just 20 minutes. It was good. I felt 'Carter' goes well with cinema," he said. "But I think it's attractive enough for a filmmaker to share his movie with many people around the world at the same time."





A scene from "Carter" / Courtesy of Netflix
She's no stranger to showcasing her enviable physique on social media.

And once again Georgia Steel put on a peachy display as she posed from all angles in a revealing ensemble for a slew of sizzling Instagram snap.

The former Love Islander, 24, oozed confidence in a summer pink striped bikini, while accessorising with a gold belly chain.

Wow! Georgia Steel put on a very peachy display as she posed from all angles in a revealing ensemble for a slew of sizzling Instagram snap

Georgia sported a glam makeup look with a nude lip, while allowing her brunette locks to blow naturally in the wind while posing in front of a rocky background.

Sharing the throwback pictures with her 1.6 million Instagram followers, she wrote: 'Count down is on till Im next in a bikini.'

It comes as Georgia and Love Island's Tasha Ghouri were reportedly 'inseparable' best friends at school before they had a 'bad fall out'.

Stylish: The former Love Islander, 24, oozed confidence in a summer pink striped bikini, while accessorising with a gold belly chain

Beauty: Georgia sported a glam makeup look with a nude lip, while allowing her brunette locks to blow naturally in the wind while posing in front of a rocky background

Tasha, 23, and Georgia - who appeared on the fourth series of Love Island - both attended Thirsk Secondary School in Yorkshire and a local dance troupe together.

However, it is claimed they never spoke again after a bust-up, when things turned sour as they both headed off to separate performing arts colleges.

'Tasha and Georgia were honestly inseparable and just best friends throughout school,' a pal told The Sun.

Former pals: Love Island's Tasha Ghouri (pictured) and former show star Georgia were reportedly 'inseparable' best friends before they had a 'bad fall out'

'Things got a bit competitive towards Year 11 and then when Tasha got accepted into a better dance college than Georgia things turned bad.'

They added: 'Stuff happens when you're young but we hope they patch it up because they could be a huge support for each other.'

Tasha attended CAPA College after school and later graduated from the Creative Academy with a 1st class honours degree in Dance Performance in 2019.

Friendship end: It is claimed they never spoke again after the bust-up, when things turned sour as they both headed off to separate performing arts colleges (Tasha pictured)

Georgia studied at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts. She is a trained dancer and completed her training as an actress at St Mary's University in London in 2019.

TV personality Georgia has certainly thrived since leaving the dating show and purchased her dream home back in June 2021.

MailOnline contacted representatives for Georgia and Tasha for comment at the time.
While DC fans are still reeling from the news that HBO Max's Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace is being completely scrapped - despite being completely finished - there are still some DC projects in the works at the streaming service.

The streaming service's Green Lantern TV series from Arrowverse producer Greg Berlanti with Finn Wittrock and Jeremy Irvine set to star, is still in development, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

That same report also reveals that another DC project - Strange Adventures - has been scrapped, though TV Line adds that a Black Canary spin-off movie starring Jurnee Smollett is still in development too.

Still happening: While DC fans are still reeling from the news that HBO Max's Batgirl movie starring Leslie Grace is being completely scrapped - despite being completely finished - there are still some DC projects in the works at the streaming service

Finn: The streaming service's Green Lantern TV series from Arrowverse producer Greg Berlanti with Finn Wittrock and Jeremy Irvine set to star, is still in development, according to The Hollywood Reporter

Greg Berlanti is behind both Green Lantern and Strange Adventures, which were both announced for HBO Max back in October 2019.

Green Lantern has been much farther in its development, though, with Finn Wittrock signing on in April 2021 to play Guy Gardner and Jeremy Irvine playing Alan Scott.

The series will follow multiple Green Lantern characters, which was written by Marc Guggenheim and Seth Grahame-Smith.

Jeremy: Green Lantern has been much farther in its development, though, with Finn Wittrock signing on in April 2021 to play Guy Gardner and Jeremy Irvine playing Alan Scott

Berlanti - who wrote the screenplay for the much-maligned 2011 Green Lantern movie before creating the Arrowverse on The CW Network - serving as a producer, with Lee Toland Krieger set to direct the first two episodes.

Sources tell THR that everyone involved is 'taking their time' and that it will be an 'effects-heavy show' that they all want to get right.

The Black Canary spin-off movie was first announced in 2021, with Jurnee Smollett reprising her role from 2020's Birds of Prey movie.

Lantern movie: Berlanti - who wrote the screenplay for the much-maligned 2011 Green Lantern movie before creating the Arrowverse on The CW Network - serving as a producer, with Lee Toland Krieger set to direct the first two episodes

Spin-off: The Black Canary spin-off movie was first announced in 2021, with Jurnee Smollett reprising her role from 2020's Birds of Prey movie

Misha Green (Lovecraft Country) is writing the script for HBO Max, though no director is attached at this time.

While the project is still in development, there is no word when it may move into production, or when a release date may be announced.

The news of Strange Adventures getting the axe came from one of the show's writers, Kevin Smith, who revealed the news on his Hollywood Babble-On podcast.

Project: While the project is still in development, there is no word when it may move into production, or when a release date may be announced

Smith was slated to direct and co-write an episode of the series with Eric Carrasco, who he had previously collaborated with on The CW's Supergirl.

He revealed on the episode that the episode was centering on the DC character Bizzarro and Jimmy Olsen, adding they were pursuing Nicolas Cage for Bizzarro.

'[Dropping Strange Adventures] kind of made sense to me  nobody necessarily knows these characters, and it sounded like an expensive show,' Smith revealed on the podcast.

Kevin reveals: Smith was slated to direct and co-write an episode of the series with Eric Carrasco, who he had previously collaborated with on The CW's Supergirl
Cryptocurrency: Has The Bubble Burst?

Rating:

Secrets Of The Spies

Rating:

Why isn't this stuff taught in schools? Why, instead of those tangents and cosines, don't children learn every get-rich-quick scheme in history was a con-trick?

The answer is that half the class would take the teacher's warning as further proof that 'the Government' is lying to them and 'Boris Johnson' wants them to be poor.

Social media has addled the brains of a generation, as gullible presenter Ade Adepitan was all too eager to demonstrate in Cryptocurrency: Has The Bubble Burst? (C4).

Ade greedily threw his own money into delusionary internet scams including Bitcoin and Ethereum, the made-up money markets.

He did this despite an explicit warning from a former City trader that Bitcoin, which is not legal tender in the UK, was 'a pyramid scheme  it's fool's gold and it's dangerous'.

Social media has addled the brains of a generation, as gullible presenter Ade Adepitan was all too eager to demonstrate in Cryptocurrency: Has The Bubble Burst? (C4)

This man spent his career in the financial sector. But Ade preferred to listen to a 23-year-old rapper with no financial experience, who rattled off lyrics about how wealthy he was going to be.

A bloke who ran a pest control business extolled the reliability of an electronic currency he set up online himself, called Koda. It's one of an estimated 18,000 e-coins worldwide, the internet equivalent of Monopoly money.

Some might wonder whether invisible banknotes invented by a ratcatcher are a safe investment. Not Ade. He was dreaming of the profits he'd make in this digital gold rush.

The pity of it is that history books are littered with similar financial hallucinations. Most get forgotten. Around 1720, for instance, a Scottish chancer called John Law bankrupted the French aristocracy with a fake scheme selling shares in trade with America's deep South  the Mississippi Scheme.

Law was besieged by French noblewomen, desperate to be permitted to invest. One had her footmen overturn her carriage in the street to get his attention.

But Ade's investigations didn't include any history. All his attention was on a man in a Lamborghini, who claimed to have made so much money speculating in cryptocurrencies that he now regarded a 1 million investment not as gambling but as a philosophical experiment. Yeah, right.

More confidence tricks with international implications were revealed in Secrets Of The Spies (ITV), a lightweight but amusing browse through the annals of espionage.

Kim Philby, the MI6 chief who was really a Russian mole, looked as slippery as a buttered haddock, in a 1955 TV interview

It's always fun to see how keen old spies are to tell all. From KGB defectors to Al-Qaeda double agents, they queued up to reveal their deceptions.

They're so thrilled to have an audience, it's a wonder they ever managed to conceal their secret identities. Perhaps they weren't as good at lying as they thought. Kim Philby, the MI6 chief who was really a Russian mole, looked as slippery as a buttered haddock, in a 1955 TV interview.

He smirked, he stuck his tongue in his cheek, he stared down the camera lens with contempt. Philby's claims of innocence were so unbelievable, he might as well have announced, like Prince Andrew, that he couldn't sweat.

A far more convincing double agent wasn't uncovered until she was 87. Melita Norwood, a former secretary at Britain's atomic research project, was a top KGB asset. By sending files on nuclear weapons to Moscow, she did untold damage to our defences.

The old girl's appearance gave nothing away. Even when she was unmasked, living in retirement in Bexleyheath, South London, she seemed so harmless that the MoD couldn't bring itself to prosecute her.

One wag dubbed her The Spy Who Came In From The Co-Op. How many others like her were never caught, I wonder?

Big cat of the week: Beryl the Longleat lioness was low on confidence, until keepers let her feed first at mealtimes. Now the lion pride, seen as Animal Park (BBC1) returned, regard her as their alpha female. It's been a great summer for lionesses.
Vincent D'Onofrio was snapped Monday in Atlanta on the set of Echo, a spinoff of Hawkeye from Marvel Studios.

The 63-year-old actor was clad in a cloud gray suit with an off-white vest and a black collared shirt with black shoes as he was seen on the set of the production.

The Emmy-nominated star, who plays the role of Kingpin/Wilson Fisk on the series, told Comicbook.com that he was contacted by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige last year about playing the role in Hawkeye.

The latest: Vincent D'Onofrio, 63, was snapped Monday in Atlanta on the set of Echo, a spinoff of Hawkeye from Marvel Studios

'Kevin called me and of course I said, "Hell yeah,"' the Bensonhurst, New York native said. 'I was told from my representatives that he wanted my phone number and he called me directly.'

He continued: 'My first thought was "Wow, maybe he's gonna invite me to the MCU," and that's what he did immediately. He started talking about Hawkeye.'

Echo will also star Alaqua Cox in the titular role as well as her alter ego Maya Lopez; Zahn McClarnon as William Lopez; Devery Jacobs as Julie; and Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock.

According to a Marvel synopsis of the series, the storyline focuses on Maya Lopez as she 'must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.'

D'Onofrio was seen removing his coat in between takes on the set of the Marvel project

D'Onofrio initially played the role of Kingpin/Wilson Fisk on the former series Daredevil, which ran on Netflix from 2015-2018. He was pictured in NYC last year

D'Onofrio initially played the role on the former series Daredevil, which ran on Netflix from 2015-2018.

The actor spoke about the role in an interview with TV Line last December, when he said the history of his character from Daredevil had continuity with what was depicted in Hawkeye.

'Thats how I played him in that,' he said, adding, 'I think that was the general idea.'

He said of the character: 'Obviously in the show hes physically stronger and can take more physical abuse, but emotionally and as far as the history was discussed about whats been going on, was done with connecting as many dots to Daredevil to Hawkeye as possible.

'There are obviously things we cant connect; as far as how I play him and the history that I carry myself from, and into Hawkeye, he is the same guy.'

The veteran actor said of playing Kingpin/Wilson Fisk: 'Theres many facets of the character that could be explored'

Asked about the creative changes to his character, including the use of a cane, the actor said, 'Im a huge fan of this stuff, so you know like all the fans out there and so it was great, I mean it all made sense to me, because the last time you see me in Daredevil, theres a pretty brutal fight between him and Daredevil - and so the cane made sense to me.'

He said of his character's interactions with the character Maya Lopez, 'The thing about Wilson Fisk is that people are always suspect what hes actually thinking and thats whats cool about it - theres a way to play that character where you just dont know if hes really feeling anything but his own narcissism.'

D'Onofrio said of the character's long-term prospects: 'There is hopes that I have that he continues - well for selfish reasons because I love playing the character so much - but I also think story wise theres many facets of the character that could be explored.'

The series is slated to debut on Disney+ in the summer of 2023.
Olivia Newton-John is best known for her roles in the blockbuster musicals Grease and Xanadu.

But some fans of the late entertainer have been fondly remembering one of her lesser known films, the 1990 holiday film a Mom for Christmas.

The Disney production was Olivia's first ever made-for-TV movie and left a profound mark on children who grew up in the '90s.

Fans have fondly remembered Olivia Newton-John's 1990 holiday film A Mom For Christmas. Olivia pictured with co-stars Juliet Sorci and Doug Sheehan

'Just thinking about how A Mom For Christmas is going to make me sob this year,' tweeted one heartbroken fan.

'A Mom for Christmas  where ONJ plays a living mannequin  was one of my fave holiday films growing up,' gushed Rolling Stone editor Angie Martoccio.

'While most consider "Grease" or "Xanadu" as her most memorable films, mine is easily "A Mom for Christmas", a 1990 Disney Made-for-TV film where she played a department store mannequin who magically comes to life,' added another.

The Disney production was Olivia's first ever made-for-TV movie and left a profound mark on children who grew up in the '90s. Olivia pictured in 2016

'Oh, this is sad. Olivia was a huge part of my childhood. And not because of Grease. Most vivid memory is from A Mom For Christmas, a mannequin turned stepmom family movie from 1990,' tweeted another fan.

Following Olivia's death this week, Rolling Stone spoke to actress Juliet Sorci Duncan, who played Olivia's daughter Jess in the film.

In the interview, she recalled the Grease star's immense 'generosity and kindness', which extended to the cast, crew, and her fans.

'We filmed A Mom for Christmas in Ohio and it was Halloween, so Olivia took her daughter, Chloe [Lattanzi], and I trick-or-treating. People would recognize her and invite us in for apple cider. She would accept so graciously, she took so much time to talk to everyone,' Jessica shared.

Tweets poured in on social media from fans who reminisced about the memorable movie

'After we wrapped she made a point to not lose contact. She was the type of person that called to tell me she had breast cancer so I wouldnt find out in the press,' she continued.

'When I had to undergo surgery years later, Olivia was my first visitor. She was so busy but she took the time to be there. There are endless stories like this. She truly had the biggest heart and I am so grateful I got to know her.'

Olivia's death was announced by her husband John Easterling on Monday on her social media pages.

Easterling said his wife died at her Southern California home surrounded by family and friends.

Juliet Sorci, who played Olivia's daughter in the film, recalled the Grease star's immense 'generosity and kindness' on set during a new interview this week. Juliet pictured

'Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends,' he wrote.

'We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.

'Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.

'Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer,' he added.

Olivia's death was announced by her husband John Easterling on Monday on her social media pages. Easterling said his wife died at her Southern California home surrounded by family and friends. Oliva pictured in 2020

The family asked for donations to be made to her cancer organization, the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, instead of flowers.

She is survived by her 36-year-old daughter, Chloe Lattanzi, 36.

The actress famously beat breast cancer twice but was diagnosed again in 2017.

She spent the last few years at home, campaigning for animals' rights and raising money for her charity online.
A new sizzling hot farmer has been unveiled for the upcoming season of Farmer Wants A Wife.

Channel Seven revealed fourth-generation crop farmer Will, 27, who hails from Victoria, is on a quest to find love.

'I didn't come here to find a girlfriend. I didn't come here to kiss everyone. I came here to find my wife,' he says in his promo trailer.

A new sizzling hot farmer has been unveiled for the upcoming season of Farmer Wants A Wife. Channel Seven revealed fourth-generation crop farmer Will, 27, who hails from Victoria, is on a quest to find love

'There's a bit of flutter in the chest, shaking and sweaty palms,' Will admits as he is seen meeting his suitors.

'I really do think I could find a wife out of this. I think I'm a bit smitten.'

The newest sneak peek shows the eligible bachelor sharing a steamy kiss with one of the women trying to steal his heart as they swam in a dam.

'I didn't come here to find a girlfriend. I didn't come here to kiss everyone. I came here to find my wife,' he says in his promo trailer

In a following scene, he says 'I really am falling in love with you' to someone who wasn't shown.

It comes after Sam Armytage was revealed as a guest on the show, alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski, following her dramatic departure from Sunrise.

The former breakfast star, 45, was seen in another trailer with her own wedding ring on full display as she spoke of helping the lovelorn singles to find a match.

The newest sneak peek shows the eligible bachelor sharing a steamy kiss with one of the women trying to steal his heart as they swam in a dam

'I fell in love with a farmer myself, so I can't wait to help them find the one,' Sam told viewers in the preview.

Elsewhere in the trailer, a number of other farmers were introduced alongside Will as they set off on their quest to find love.

They included Farmer Ben, 28, and Benjamin, 33, who hail from New South Wales, with another Victorian farmer named Harry, 24, made an appearance too.

In a following scene, he says 'I really am falling in love with you' to someone who wasn't shown

Meanwhile, a female farmer called Paige, 28, who also comes from New South Wales has her sights firmly set on finding love as well.

'I know my guy is out there. I just haven't met him yet,' she said in the trailer.

Romances look to heat-up this season as a trailer saw a number of the farmers smiling and laughing after meeting their suitors.

Farmer Wants A Wife will return soon to Channel Seven and 7Plus.

It comes after Sam Armytage, 45, (pictured) was revealed as a guest on the show, alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski, following her dramatic departure from Sunrise
Gogglebox star Adam Densten has fallen prey to an insidious scam that saw his identity stolen and used to commit tax fraud.

The reality TV star shared his terrifying experience on The Adam and Symon show podcast this week, telling his co-host Symon Lovett: 'I have had my identity stolen.'

Densten explained he received a call from the Australian Tax Office asking him to provide a range of personal details.

Gogglebox star Adam Densten (pictured) has fallen prey to an insidious scam that saw his identity stolen and used to commit tax fraud

While the call initially appeared suspicious, it turned out the caller was genuinely from the ATO.

In fact, the information he discovered during the phone call alerted him to a sickening scam in which criminals used his name to steal from the government.

'My phone rang. No caller ID. So I answer, and she goes: "Hi, it's Linda from the Australian tax office, is that Adam?" I said, "How do I know you're from the tax office, Linda?''' he explained.

The reality TV star shared his terrifying experience on The Adam and Symon show podcast this week, gravely telling his co-host Symon Lovett (left): 'I have had my identity stolen'

Densten explained that he received a call from the Australian Tax Office asking him to provide a range of personal details

'She goes, "I get this all the time. Here's the number. Google it, find that it's the official ATO website then call this number. It'll send you straight back to me, I guarantee.''' she continued.

Densten admitted he 'wasn't convinced' Linda was from the ATO, but decided to share details such as his home address and BSB anyway.

He continued: 'I gave up my [bank] account number, and she goes: "That's not the account we have registered. Have you got a big refund in your account from the tax office? About 10 grand?" And I was like, 'No...''.

Densten said: 'Somebody has registered an Australian business number in my name, claimed tax credits of GST of about 10-20 grand in March and in June. And then taken $25 thousand from the tax office illegally to an address and stolen the money under my name.'

It was at that moment Densten realised he'd become the victim of a tax scam.

'Oh my god!' Lovett gasped.

Densten replied: 'Somebody has registered an Australian business number in my name, claimed tax credits of GST of about 10-20 grand in March and in June. And then taken $25 thousand from the tax office illegally to an address and stolen the money under my name.'

'Well, that's because you keep giving your details over the phone. Makes perfect sense!' Lovett scolded, sending Densten into a fit of laughter.
Love Island's Adam Collard has responded to Jacque's O'Neill's savage dig over his relationship with Paige Thorne.

In a recent Instagram live, rugby player Jacques, 23, made reference to Paige's mother - who recently admitted she's 'not buying' the romance - joking about Adam's frosty introduction to her on the show.

He jibed to former castmates Luca Bish and Dami Hope, 'Well, her mum seems to love him doesn't she? He's in there with the fam!'

Retort: Love Island's Adam Collard has responded to Jacque's O'Neill's savage dig over his relationship with Paige Thorne

After sarcastically mocking Adam's romance with Paige amid her mother's disapproval, it wasn't long before Adam hit back with a sharp retort of his own.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Adam retweeted the clip of Jacque's comments, before sarcastically writing: 'Humble in defeat our kid, chin up x', referencing the fact that he won Paige's heart following her split with Jacques.

Love Island fans were left stunned after Paige's mum expressed doubt over her daughter's romance with Adam.

'Her mum seems to love him!' Jacques made a savage dig at his ex Paige and her new love Adam during an Instagram Live over the weekend

The Meet The Parents episode saw the paramedic's mum and dad enter the Majorcan villa for their happy reunion.

The awkward moment came before Adam broke down in tears in the Beach Hut speaking about his true feelings for the paramedic saying how much she had 'changed' him.

However, things took a turn for the worse when Paige's mum Samantha shared her honest thoughts about Adam  not long before the two were dumped from the villa.

Response: After sarcastically mocking Adam's romance with Paige amid her mother's disapproval, it wasn't long before Adam hit back with a sharp retort of his own

Shock: The rugby player, 23, quit the ITV2 series last month when Adam (pictured) was drafted in to the current series by producers and quickly began flirting with Paige

When the islander asked for her opinion, Samantha whispered: 'I'm not buying it.'

She then explained to her daughter: 'The way you was with Jacques was completely different, you were a lot of more you and bouncy and full of personality, with Adam it seems a lot more different.'

But Paige argued: 'With Jacques, he did bring out a different side of me, bubbly and all that but there were some bits that really weren't okay.'

'Ummmm', she said after an awkward pause, before Paige is heard in the Beach Hut saying: 'My mum and her savage comments, I knew she would be I was just like 'Oh for God's sake!'

Eek! He jibed to former castmates Luca Bish and Dami Hope, 'Well, her mum seems to love him doesn't she? He's in there with the fam!'

Awkward: And making reference to the brunette beauty's mother, who recently admitted she's 'not buying' the romance, he joked about Adam's frosty introduction on the show

It comes as Remi Lambert has revealed his mother took her own life while struggling with mental health issues, as he explained why he's taking 'bullying' so seriously in a now-deleted Instagram Story.

Doubling down on claims Jacques and Luca 'bullied' him during his time in the villa, it comes just hours after he accused his fellow contestants of targeting him in a Tuesday post on the social media platform.

The 22-year-old's strong words for Luca and Jacques, both 23, came after the pair took part in an Instagram Live where they mocked Remi's rapping skills - the same Instagram live in which Jacques mocked Adam.

He shared a fan's sympathetic tweet, along with the message: 'Didn't want to bring this up but mental health is serious.'

'Mental health is serious': Love Island's Remi Lambert (pictured, right, with brother Jordan, left) has revealed his mum previously took her own life while doubling down on claims Jacques and Luca Bish 'bullied' him

The supporter had written: 'Just found out Remi from love island lost his mom to suicide as she was struggling with mental health.

'This is so sad as he was being bullied in and out the villa. We need to do better, and hold the bullies accountable. #Loveisland.'

Worried fans soon wrote on Twitter that that they were 'worried' for the model as he ended his post with a 'suicidal tone'.

They penned: 'Remis mother committed suicide due to her mental health do you want to see the same happen to Remi?'

Oh dear: The 22-year-old's strong words for Luca and Jacques, both 23, come after the pair took part in an Instagram Live where they mocked Remi's rapping skills

'The last paragraph in Remi statement make me genuinely worried for the guy especially after knowing that his mother committed suicide and dealt with mental health issues, someone please check up on him. #LoveIsland.'

'Remi from #loveisland has suffered directly from the impact of suicide (sadly losing his mum), now hes being bullied/mocked by 2 islanders who have a) 2 of the most followings & b) have consistently used mental health to not face consequences. Vile humans Luca + Jacques.'

'Why is not one mentioning the fact that Remi statement ended with a suicidal tone?! He was bullied so bad he thought of suicide? #TALKSWITHASH.'

Remi previously shared a photo with his late mother and brother Jordan alongside the caption, '03/08/2018.'

Tragic: He shared a fan's sympathetic tweet, along with the message: 'Didn't want to bring this up but mental health is serious'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Love Island, Jacques and Luca for comment.

Jacques was also the only castmember of the 2022 series to avoid the reunion show on Thursday.

The series eight stars came together for the first time outside of the villa to film the annual reunion show, which was shown on Sunday night on ITV2.

A source told The Sun: 'Unfortunately Jacques has decided he's just not ready to see Paige quite yet and especially not with Adam.

'He's made the decision to wait for a more suitable moment to talk to her again after everything he's been through.'

MailOnline contacted Jacques' representatives for comment at the time.

Hours before the reunion was due to be filmed he appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss life after the dating show, admitting he 'just wanted my mum' after his traumatic experience.

Uh-oh: Jacques was also the only castmember of the 2022 series to avoid the reunion show on Thursday (pictured with Paige)

Host Kate Garraway started by asking Jacques: 'How do you feel now being out because the episode you left was emotional to watch'

Jacques responded: 'When I first came out it was very different for me, I was scared of life and what was to come next for me.

'When I was in the holding villa I just wanted my mum. We were getting death threats. I thought to myself I'm going to delete social media'

The reality personality decided to remove himself following the arrival of Adam as he declared: 'Love Island was the worst decision of my life.'
Stan Original series Bali 2002 will make its world premiere on the streaming giant on September 25.

The four-part series, co-produced with Channel 9, is a dramatisation of the terrorist attack in Bali in October 2002 that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Starring Aussie favourites Rachel Griffiths and Richard Roxburgh, the story delves into the lives of the everyday heroes who were touched by the tragic event.

Stan Stan Original series Bali 2002 will make its world premiere on the streaming giant on September 25. Pictured: A scene from the mini-series

The cast includes Bridgerton star Claudia Jessie, Sean Keenan from the award-winning feature film Nitram and new comers Srisacd Sacdpraseuth (Mystery Road) and Sri Ayu Jati Kartika.

Bali 2002 has been developed in consultation with those directly impacted by the tragedy, which saw attacks on tourist hotspots.

The Bali terror attacks took place on October 12, 2002, with two of Kuta Beach's busiest nightclubs left decimated by explosions.

The four-part series, co-produced with Channel 9, is a dramatisation of the terrorist attack in Bali in October 2002 that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians

In the aftermath, Balinese locals teamed up with Australian and British tourists to rescue those injured in the blasts.

Amid this chaos, heroes arose from the most unlikely places and cultures united in the search for healing, justice and meaning.

A new trailer has just been released that gives viewers a teaser of what what they can expect from the powerful drama.

A dramatic scene from the new teaser trailer for Bali 2002 shows Rachel Griffiths playing burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood - the story delves into the lives of the everyday heroes who were touched by the tragic event

The preview begins in chilling fashion with a female character working into a scene chaos amidst flaming debris, burning cars and injured civilians.

Other scenes show smiling tourists and gorgeous jungle and beach vistas, before the bombings.

In one dramatic moment, Rachel Griffiths who plays burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood, suffering under the strain of the tragedy that she must face.

A scene from the series showing the grim aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings

Other scenes show the devastation after the bombing, with rows of burnt out cars crowding a Bali street, that would normally be crowded with tourists.

In another moment in the trailer Richard Roxburgh who plays Australian Federal Police Commander Graham Ashton is seen grimly investigating the tragedy.

The cast also features Gloaming star Ewen Leslie, Sophia Forest from the ABC surf drama Barons, Aka Das from the upcoming Stan film, The Portable Door and Anthony Wong from Stan's The Commons.

Bali 2002 was written in consultation with with Balinese writer, actor and musician Ketut Yuliarsa (Janggan). The screenwriting team includes Justin Monjo (Storm Boy), Kris Wyld (Pulse), Marcia Gardner (Wentworth) and emerging screenwriter Michael Toisuta.

Veteran Australian TV filmmaker Peter Andrikidis (Stan Original Series Eden) shares directing chores on the mini-series with Katrina Irawati Graham.

The Stan Original series Bali 2002 premieres September 25 only on Stan.
Production on the latest Mad Max instalment Furiosa has been shut down in Sydney after legendary director George Miller caught Covid.

The Daily Mail Australia can reveal the production, which has been under way in a number of locations in and around Sydney since June, has been suspended for a week with all on-screen filming halted until at least August 15.

It's understood Miller, 77, tested positive to Covid early this week and has been forced to isolate at his Sydney home.

The multi-million dollar production, which is currently based on location in Kurnell just south of Sydney, will resume filming next week.

George Miller (centre) is isolating with Covid at his Sydney home

Chris Hemsworth seen on set of Furiosa on location in Kurnell back in early July

Furiosa producers have been contacted for comment.

The setback echoes Miller's infamous shoot for Mad Max: Fury Road back in 2012 which was plagued by a number of costly delays and production issues.

The shoot initially began in Namibia but encountered some public relations hiccups after the Namibian Conservation Coast and Management Project accused the producers of damaging a number of plant and animal species in a leaked draft.

The filmmakers later dismissed these reports as 'rhetoric'.

Re-shoots later took place in Potts Hill and Penrith Lakes in Western Sydney but poor weather led to a number of delays.

Years later it was also revealed that tensions between Mad Max: Fury Road stars Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy also led to major disruptions on set, with Theron later admitting she demanded protection from Hardy at one point.

Charlize Theron on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road which was beset by several costly delays

George Miller with Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy at the premiere of Mad Max: Fury Road after the pair clashed regularly on set

Speaking to writer Kyle Buchanan for his book Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road, Theron said Hardy's lateness on set caused tension which almost derailed the film entirely.

After Hardy arrived to set several hours late one day, Theron asked the British actor; 'How disrespectful are you?' and said the producers should 'fine the f------ c--- a hundred thousand dollars for every minute that hes held up this crew'.

Hardy responded by 'charging up to her' and saying: 'What did you say to me?'

The Oscar winning actress later confirmed the pair had 'settled' their differences.

The film went on to gross almost $400million globally and won six Oscars.

Anya Taylor-Joy is set to star as Furiosa for the Fury Road prequel which has gone into shutdown in Sydney

Furiosa is a prequel to Fury Road with Anya Taylor-Joy playing a younger Theron in the tititular role to headline the post-apocalyptic blockbuster.

Taylor-Joy and co-star Chris Hemsworth were snapped for the first time on set just prior to the current shutdown, with both donning red wigs for their roles.

Details of Hemsworth's character in the film have been kept under wraps by Miller and insiders at studio Warner Bros, with his role officially defined as 'unspecified'.




North Korea's ruling Workers' Party (WPK) sent a formal message to the Communist Party of China denouncing Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan as a "shameless provocation," Pyongyang's state media reported Wednesday.







In the "solidarity letter" sent to the party's central committee the previous day, the WPK also called the U.S. House of Representatives' trip a "serious infringement" of Beijing's sovereignty, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).







"The WPK Central Committee said in the letter that the public junket to Taiwan, made by an incumbent U.S. high-ranking official despite China's strong protest and solemn warning and the universal opposition of the international community, was a serious infringement on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and an unpardonable political provocation aimed to defame the authority of the CPC and disturb the successful holding of its 20th Congress," the KCNA said.







The party "bitterly denounces the U.S. shameless provocation as a grave challenge to the socialist cause of China" and "ruthless interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state," it added.







The WPK then expressed "full support" for the CPC and the Chinese government in their "just and legitimate" steps to "resolutely repulse the U.S. arbitrariness" and pledged to continue offering full support over the Taiwanese issue.







It also condemned Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy as a "strategic scheme" to isolate and stifle socialism of North Korea and China.







Last week, Pyongyang's foreign ministry was quick in responding to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, calling it an "impudent interference" into the internal affairs of another nation. North Korea has recently stressed its strong ties with China amid a growing Sino-U.S. rivalry. (Yonhap)


Ryan Reynolds oozed confidence as he arrived at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood ahead of his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old actor strolled towards the studio in a pink checkered print button-up layered over a classic white tee.

He completed the casual-cool look with some khaki trousers and a pair of lace-up white sneakers.

Confident: Ryan Reynolds oozed confidence as he arrived at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood ahead of his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday. The 45-year-old actor strolled towards the studio in a pink checkered print button-up layered over a classic white tee

For an added pop of color, the Free Guy star threw on some aqua toned socks.

Ryan wore his brunette hair slicked back and he shielded his eyes from the harsh SoCal sun with a pair of stylish brown sunglasses.

He was accompanied by several members of his entourage, as well as a pair of security guards.

Finishing touches: He completed the casual-cool look with some khaki trousers and a pair of lace-up white sneakers

Before heading inside for the taping, Ryan was captured offering a friendly wave in the direction of fans waiting in the wings.

He will be interviewed by Always Sunny In Philadelphia star Rob McElhenney, who is serving as guest host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the second night this week.

The official Jimmy Kimmel Live! Instagram account shared a snapshot of Ryan hanging out backstage.

Suave: Ryan wore his brunette hair slicked back and he shielded his eyes from the harsh SoCal sun with a pair of stylish brown sunglasses

Entourage: He was accompanied by several members of his entourage, as well as a pair of security guards. Before heading inside for the taping, Ryan was captured offering a friendly wave in the direction of fans waiting in the wings

Ryan's appearance comes after it was revealed that he's currently getting in superhero shape for Deadpool 3.

Fans of the foul-mouthed mercenary rejoiced when Ryan's trainer, Don Saladino, posted a couple of pre-workout photos with the actor on Instagram Wednesday, writing, '(red circle emoji)  and so it begins #suitupwithdon.'

Followers chimed in with all kinds of flame and muscle emojis, while others posted their excitement writing, 'Oh, lord. This means trouble (laughing emoji)' and 'Deadpool omgod its happening (flame emoji.)'

Backstage: The official Jimmy Kimmel Live! Instagram account shared a snapshot of Ryan hanging out backstage

The latest chapter in the Deadpool franchise was not included when the Multiverse Saga slate was revealed by Marvel Studios last month at San Diego Comic-Con, so fans were uncertain as to when the production would begin.

The first Deadpool earned more than $782 million when it was released in 2016 and the 2018 sequel, Deadpool 2, pulled in an equally astounding $785 million.

The storyline focused on wise-cracking gun for hire Wade Wilson who becomes disfigured after receiving super abilities.

And so it begins: Ryan Reynolds is getting in superhero shape for Deadpool 3. Ryan's trainer, Don Saladino, posted a couple of pre-workout photos with the actor, 45, on Instagram Wednesday

Excited: Deadpool fans posted their excitement about the photos, writing, 'Oh, lord. This means trouble (laughing emoji)' and 'Deadpool omgod its happening (flame emoji)'

The third film has been in development for sometime now.

Shawn Levy, who directed Ryan in The Adam Project and Free Guy will be at the helm.

Leslie Uggams, 79, has been signed to reprise her role at Blind Al, but no other cast members have been announced.

Third time: Deadpool 3 has been in development for sometime. Ryan will reprise his role as the foul-mouthed mercenary. Leslie Uggams, 79, will return as Blind Al. No other cast have been announced

No timeline has been announced for when the film will begin production, nor when it is expected to be completed.

Until then, fans can look forward to seeing Ryan later this year in the holiday themed Spirited, in which he stars as Ebenezer Scrooge in a musical based on the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

Will Ferrell and Octavia Spencer will co-star.
Sofia Vergara looked glamorous as ever while arriving to America's Got Talent studio on Tuesday.

The actress - who celebrated her 50th birthday last month - donned a black camisole with a frilly collar tucked into a pair of chic wide leg linen white pants.

The stylish beauty finalized her sunny day outfit with a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses and added extra height to her frame with white high heels.

Glamorous gal: Sofia Vergara looked glamorous as ever while arriving to America's Got Talent studio on Tuesday

The Modern Family star accessorized with a large chic Christian Dior tote, and wore her brunette tresses parted on the side and styled straight.

The Colombian beauty sported a dark shade of red lipstick that matched her red pedicure.

She appeared to be in good spirits for the outing and flashed a smile at photographers.

Chic: The actress donned a black camisole with a frilly collar tucked into a pair of chic wide leg linen white pants

She also took to her Instagram and shared a snap with her co-host Heidi Klum, 49, who looked fantastic in a bright pink dress.

The German beauty wore her platinum blonde tresses down and accessorized with light green earrings.

'The show its about to start!!!!' Sofia captioned the snap.

She also took to her Stories with a quick clip of her and Heidi sitting at the judge's table and waving to the cameras.

Details: The stylish beauty finalized her sunny day outfit with a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses and added extra height to her frame with white high heels

In another snap she used a cute tiger filter while posing with a gal pal, with the audience behind them.

'Back to work!!!!! The live shows!' She captioned yet another selfie where she wore a black robe while waiting backstage.

Vergara is back to work after celebrating her 50th birthday last month. The star shared various pictures from her special day, including a sweet snap of her husband actor Joe Manganiello, 45, kissing her on the temple.

Back to work: She also took to her Instagram with a selfie of her wearing a black robe while waiting backstage with the caption, 'Back to work!!!!! The live shows!'

Pop of color: In another snap she posed with her co-host Heidi Klum, 49, who looked fantastic in a bright pink dress

Having fun together: She also took to her Stories with a quick clip of her and Heidi sitting at the judge's table and waving to the cameras

Cute: In another snap she used a cute tiger filter while posing with a gal pal, with the audience behind them

The couple have been married since 2015, after becoming engaged on Christmas Day 2014 following a six-month courtship.

Vergara remains thriving in her career, as she plays late Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in the forthcoming Netflix miniseries Griselda.

The show will follow Blanco's rise as a drug trafficker from Colombia to Miami, where she was a key player in the Medellin Cartel amid the infamous Cocaine Cowboy Wars in South Florida.
Amy Poehler and Aubrey Plaza relived the good old days of starring together on their popular comedy series Parks And Recreation when they reunited on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old Saturday Night Live alumna was supporting her 38-year-old former costar at a screening of Aubrey's upcoming crime drama Emily The Criminal, which will be released on August 12.

She stars in the film  which she also produced  as the title character, who takes part in a credit card scam in hopes of getting out from massive debts weighing her down.

Together again: Aubrey Plaza, 38, reunited with her old friend and Parks And Recreation costar Amy Poehler, 50, at a screening of her new crime drama Emily The Criminal in New York City on Tuesday

Emily The Criminal, which includes a healthy dose of social commentary and black comedy, was widely acclaimed by critics after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Amy supported her friend and kept the spotlight off herself by wearing a muted all-black ensemble.

Her dark blouse was tied off, revealing a hint of her midriff, and she complemented it with loose-fitting black pants with a drawstring around her waist.

The comedy star wore low-key black sandals and let her blond hair frame her face in delicate waves.

Back in black: Amy supported her friend and kept the spotlight off herself by wearing a muted all-black ensemble with a tied-off blouse and baggy pants

Woman in white: Aubrey was a vision in her short white dress, which showcased her long, toned legs. The Ingrid Goes West star's sleeveless outfit featured a green design over her chest. She elevated her 5ft6in stature with a set of black platform heels with clear straps

Aubrey was a vision in her short white dress, which showcased her long, toned legs. The Ingrid Goes West star's sleeveless outfit featured a green design over her chest.

She elevated her 5ft6in stature with a set of black platform heels with clear straps.

The actress styled her voluminous shoulder-length raven tresses in thick waves, which framed her infectious smile.

Monochrome: Aubrey's costar Theo Rossi looked effortlessly cool in a grayblue polo shirt and matching trousers. He spiced up the look with striking gray suede boots

The boss: John Patton Ford, the director, looked low key in a black T-shirt and gray pants with white trainers. Many of Emily The Criminal's positive reviews singled out his stylish direction

Aubrey's costar Theo Rossi looked effortlessly cool in a grayblue polo shirt and matching trousers.

He spiced up the look with striking gray suede boots.

John Patton Ford, the film's director, looked low key in a black T-shirt and gray pants with white trainers.

Discussion: Earlier in the day, Aubrey and her co-stars Theo and Eric attended a panel for the film that was hosted by SAG-AFTRA Foundation

Look two! For the intimate conversation, Aubrey stunned in a smocked off white bra top and matching maxi skirt

Many of Emily The Criminal's positive reviews singled out his stylish direction on the movie, which is his feature directorial debut.

Earlier in the day, Aubrey and her co-stars Theo and Eric attended a panel for the film that was hosted by SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

For the intimate conversation, Aubrey stunned in a smocked off white bra top and matching maxi skirt.

Emily The Criminal will enter limited release in theaters starting on August 12.
The Block host Scott Cam dropped a major bombshell on contestants this week.

The 59-year-old said the teams now have the chance to win a massive $250,000 prize if they win this week's bathroom challenge.

The prize will be in the form of appliances to be used during upcoming kitchen week.

The Block surprise twist: Host Scotty Cam shocked contestants on the show this week as he announced a HUGE $250,000 prize that's set to cause chaos on the work site

The announcement caused the contestants to become competitive, with Elle Ferguson's replacement Rachel saying: 'How funny is it that we're all best friends now, but when they mention $250,000 I'm like, 'f**k you lot, I'm outta here!'

'It's a very good chance at winning the block,' contestant Tom added.

'Next week you're meeting the team from Freedom to design your kitchens. We have Winning Appliances on board and they want to give a team a kitchen upgrade,' Scotty explained.

Scott explained the prize will be in the form of appliances to be used during upcoming kitchen week

'The kitchen upgrade consists of V-ZUG and The Galley, and they are some of the world's best brands to have landed in Australia and are exclusive to Winning Appliances.'

He added: 'How much is it worth?? $250,000, a quarter of a million bucks!'

The new season of The Block, The Block: Tree Change, premiered on Sunday.

The announcement caused the contestants to become competitive, with Elle Ferguson's replacement Rachel saying: 'How funny is it that we're all best friends now, but when they mention $250,000 I'm like, 'f**k you lot, I'm outta here!'

On Monday night, viewers finally got to see the moment The Block host Scott Cam tell the stunned Blockheads that fellow contestants Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull decided to quit the show.

The host, 59, was pulled aside by two executive producers who revealed to him the glamourous influencers decided to leave after just 48 hours of being on-set.

After being told the astonishing news, Scott informed the other contestants about Elle and Joel's decision to leave.

'Last night I gave you all an opportunity - an out - if you thought you couldn't cut it on the show that you could leave if you wanted to,' the fuming host began.

On Monday night, viewers finally got to see the moment The Block host Scott Cam tell the stunned Blockheads that fellow contestants Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull decided to quit the show

'I didn't think anyone would drop an opportunity like this, but I've just found out that Joel and Elle are on their way to the airport.'

He added: 'They have left their show. They didn't say goodbye, they didn't say thanks for having us. They just left.'

'Apparently The Block is not on brand for them.'

The pair reportedly left after Joel's mother broke her coccyx and fractured her wrist during a fall at her home in Adelaide.

Following their exit, Elle, 36, shared a photo to Instagram of the pair's suitcases at Melbourne Airport.

'Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, family always comes first,' she captioned the image.
Idris Elba looked handsome as ever while greeting fans in New York City on Tuesday.

The Luther star, 49, showed off his impressive biceps in a form-fitting black T-shirt and matching pants, ahead of his appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.

The English actor finalized his look with a pair of trendy green, black, and white Nike sneakers and black shades.

Fit: Idris Elba looked handsome as ever while greeting fans in New York City on Tuesday, as he showed off his impressive biceps in a form-fitting black T-shirt and matching pants

He further accessorized the look with a silver watch and a number of gold rings on his fingers.

The talented musician sported neatly trimmed facial hair and wore his hair in his usual closely shaved style.

Earlier in the day Idris took to his Instagram to promote his upcoming movie Beast with a funny video featuring Khabane Lame - a Senegalese-Italian social media personality known for his silent TikTok videos.

Trendy: The Luther star, 49, finalized his look with a pair of trendy green, black and white Nike sneakers and black shades

The clip began with Idris walking to a car, while Lame walked nearby, watching Beast on his cellphone.

Upon recognizing Idris he followed him and got into the same car as the actor.

'This is my car,' Idris said, confused as to why Lame got in, but the other man just shrugged.

'You okay?' Idris proceeded to ask to which Lame simply showed him a scene from the movie on his phone, where the actor gets attacked by a lion outside of his car.

Clever: Earlier in the day Idris took to his Instagram to promote his upcoming movie Beast with a funny video featuring Khabane Lame - a social media personality known for his silent TikToks

Confused: The clip start off with with Lame following Idris into his car, and showing him a clip of Beast on his cellphone

What's going on! 'You okay?' Idris proceeded to ask, not understanding why the other man got into his vehicle

Lame then went on to show the actor that he should have simply locked his car door to avoid the situation.

'No, no,' Idris replied, as the scene appeared to repeat itself in real life, with him desperately trying to reach to close the door before the lion attacked them.

'Thankfully my insurance covers the damage' he joked in the caption of the post.

Elba plays Dr. Nate Samuels in the upcoming action-packed adventure film. Samuels is a man who brings his two daughters to Africa, where he first met his late wife, when their lives are turned upside down.

Smart: Lame specifically shows him a scene in which Idris gets attacked by a lion, and silently questions why the actor didn't simply lock his car door to avoid the situation

Funny: 'No, no,' Idris replied, as the scene appeared to repeat itself in real life, with him desperately trying to reach to close the door before the lion attacked them

'It's about a family that go back to a small village in West Africa to mourn the death of a loved one, my ex-wife and my childrens' mother,' he explained during a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

'We find out that the village is like empty and it's been ravaged by something or someone and it's terrible,' he said.

The predator turns out to be a massive rogue lion. 'Basically, they find themselves cornered by a rogue lion who has been sort of broken by poachers.'

'We based that lion in the movie on a lion that's been extinct for a long time, it's called a Barbary lion. It was a huge lion, much bigger than the average lion, so for the film we just amplified the fact that this was really big,' he added.

Beast - directed by Baltasar Kormakur - is set to premiere in cinemas on August 19th.
Kris Jenner took to social media on Tuesday to shower her friend Melanie Griffith with birthday love.

The 66-year-old marketing maven shared a photo album of the two as she paid tribute to the Hollywood vet on her 65th birthday.

She started the caption, 'Happy birthday to my girl @melaniegriffith!!' and called her 'the most amazing friend.'

Thoughtful: Kris Jenner took to social media on Tuesday to shower her friend Melanie Griffith with birthday love

Jenner uploaded a slew of snapshots, including several black and white ones taken of the two.

The Kardashian-Jenner matriarch gushed about her gal pal, 'You are the most amazing friend, mother, daughter, and sister, and you are so sweet, thoughtful, kind, creative, talented generous and GORGEOUS!!'

The pair wore smiles on their faces in each throwback image, displaying their special bond.

The caption was wrapped up as the mother-of-six wrote, 'You are beautiful inside and out and I'm so blessed to have you in my life!! I love you madly xoxo.'

Friendship: The 66-year-old marketing maven shared a photo album of the two as she paid tribute to the Hollywood vet

Sweet: She started the caption, 'Happy birthday to my girl @melaniegriffith!!' and called her 'the most amazing friend'

Two of the photos were snapped in a photo booth from Jenner's daughter Khloe Kardashian's birthday party.

Melanie wore a black leather jacket over a black crewneck shirt, accessorizing with a diamond-encrusted necklace with a cross pendant.

Kris was in black as well, typically stylish with her signature pixie haircut and a pair of large hoop earrings.

They embraced each other tightly in one outtake, demonstrating their sisterly relationship.

Memories: Jenner uploaded a slew of snapshots, including several black and white ones taken of the two

Appreciative: The Kardashian-Jenner matriarch gushed about her gal pal, 'You are the most amazing friend, mother, daughter, and sister, and you are so sweet, thoughtful, kind, creative, talented generous and GORGEOUS!!'

Years ago the two stars bonded as they went through painful divorces, which were both finalized in 2015.

Melanie ended her marriage to Antonio Banderas, 61, after 19 years while Kris called it quits with with her spouse of 25 years, Bruce Jenner. Later that year, Bruce came out as a trans woman and now goes by Caitlyn.

Melanie shares daughter Dakota, 32, with her ex-husband Don Johnson, 72, who she married twice.

The pair's first marriage, when Griffith was just 18, in 1976 only lasted for six months and she went on to marry Steven Bauer.

Close friends: The pair wore smiles on their faces in each throwback image, displaying their special bond

Peas in a pod: Years ago the two stars bonded as they went through painful divorces, which were both finalized in 2015

The Body Double star and Bauer had a son, Alexander, 35, and divorced in 1989.

She reconciled with Johnson and they tied the knot again in 1989, with Melanie giving birth to Dakota later that year.

Griffith separated from Don in 1995 and began a romance with Antonio after they starred together in the romantic comedy Two Much.

Banderas and his first wife Ana Leza split in 1996 and he wed Melanie after their divorces from their respective spouses were finalized. The pair welcomed daughter Stella, now 25, in September 1996.
The Block's Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull have suffered an intense social media backlash after quitting the show.

And the pair looked far from impressed on Wednesday when they were spotted returning to their home in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

The Insta-famous couple both wore all-black ensembles for their outing, and donned faces of fury when they were snapped by a waiting photographer.

Suddenly shy? The Block quitters Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull had faces of fury on Wednesday when they were spotted returning to their eastern suburbs home in Sydney

Elle kept her look stylish in a pair of tights and a long black overcoat as she shuffled behind her fiance, appearing to carry takeout.

She accessorised her look with tanned ugg bots and a Lady Dior handbag which can retail for up to $7000.

Meanwhile, Joel opted for a T-shirt, denim jacket and jeans combo as he carried what appeared to be a suit bag.

He finished his look with a pair of dark sunglasses to shield his eyes and wore his hair fashionably messy.

Elle kept her look stylish in a pair of tights and a long black overcoat as she shuffled behind her fiance, appearing to carry takeout. Meanwhile, Joel opted for a T-shirt, denim jacket and jeans combo as he carried what appeared to be a suit bag

Elle was accused of 'deleting negative comments' on Tuesday, amid social media backlash from quitting the show after just 48 hours into filming

Elle was accused of 'deleting negative comments' on Tuesday, amid social media backlash from quitting the show after just 48 hours into filming.

Fans accused the Bondi influencer of going into damage control after her and fiance Joel shock exit was aired.

'Gotta respect not turning the comments off,' one of her followers wrote, only for another to reply: 'They're just being deleted.'

While many fans took aim at the couple for leaving the abruptly leaving show, others offered a gentler take of the fiasco.

Fans accused the Bondi influencer of going into damage control after her and fiance Joel shock exit was aired

'It's her page. Why would you want rude ignorant people who's biggest concern is a couple leaving the Block leaving disgusting messages.'

Others joined in the chorus to defend the couple.

'Ignore the negativity. You're worked hard for what you have...you're clearly not a quitter! If only all of the Insta-trolls could walk a mile in your (fabulous) shoes,' one wrote.

On Monday night, viewers finally got to see the moment Scott Cam told the stunned Blockheads that Elle and the former AFL star decided to quit the show

On Monday night, viewers finally got to see the moment Scott Cam told the stunned Blockheads that Elle and the former AFL star decided to quit the show.

During the episode, the host, 59, was pulled aside by two executive producers who revealed the glam influencers decided to leave after just 48 hours of being on-set.

'Last night I gave you all an opportunity - an out - if you thought you couldn't cut it on the show that you could leave if you wanted to,' the fuming host began.

During the episode, the host, 59, was pulled aside by two executive producers who revealed the glam influencers decided to leave after just 48 hours of being on-set

'I didn't think anyone would drop an opportunity like this, but I've just found out that Joel and Elle are on their way to the airport.'

He added: 'They have left their show. They didn't say goodbye, they didn't say thanks for having us. They just left.'

Scott previously said at the Logie Awards that Elle and Joel giving up so soon into the competition was 'unAustralian' and 'p**s poor'.
They have been close pals for years and have often been seen lunching and attending glamorous events together.

So it's no surprise Eva Longoria was in attendance at Melanie Griffith's 65th birthday party on Tuesday evening at San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood.

The actress, 47, cut a glamorous figure in a long satin dress as she left the dinner alongside her husband Jose Baston.

Celeb pals: Eva Longoria was in attendance at Melanie Griffith's 65th birthday party on Tuesday evening at San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood

Eva's strappy floor-length dress was a metallic bronze colour and she teamed it with a delicate gold necklace and hoop earrings.

The Desperate Housewives alum wore her brunette locks in a loose wavy style and enhanced her pretty features with a natural coat of make-up.

Eva carried a doggy bag out of the restaurant while her husband was holding a floral arrangement.

Heading home: The actress, 47, cut a glamorous figure in a long satin dress as she left the dinner alongside her husband Jose Baston

Mexican businessman, 54, looked dapper in a pair of chinos with a checked blazer, which he kept casual with a pair of trainers.

Eva's outing comes as it was revealed she is set to star in Apple TV+'s upcoming drama comedy Land of Women, based on Sandra Barneda's bestselling novel of the same name, alongside Carmen Maura.

The six-episode series will centre around her character, Gala, who is 'a New York empty nester whose life is turned upside down when her husband implicates the family in financial improprieties,' according to Variety.

Gala, her mother (Maura) and daughter attempt to avoid 'dangerous criminals' chasing her 'now vanished husband' by hiding in Northern Spain as they attempt to 'start anew and hope their identities will remain unknown.'

Latest project: Eva's outing comes as it was revealed she is set to star in Apple TV+'s upcoming drama comedy Land of Women

Still, 'gossip in the small town quickly spreads, unravelling their deepest family secrets and truths.'

The show, which will be shot in English and Spanish, is currently in pre-production in Spain.

At the moment she is still in the midst of post-production on Flamin' Hot, the biopic she is directing about Cheetos inventor Richard Montanez.

Quinceanera star Jesse Garcia is playing the lead amid a cast that includes Veep actor Matt Walsh and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Tony Shalhoub.

After shooting wrapped, Eva told Variety: 'I'm so honoured to have led this team in telling a beautiful story where people can see themselves in these characters and are inspired by the endless beauty and talent that is so rich in our community.'

'Every day we were on set, I was reminded again and again by our amazing cast and crew that our community is smart, creative and endlessly talented', she continued.
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Vogue Williams looked sensational as she displayed her jaw-dropping figure in a pink bikini while enjoying a fun-filled family day at the beach with her husband Spencer Matthews and three adorable children on Tuesday.

The DJ and presenter, 37, who jetted out to Ibiza last week, turned heads in the one shoulder shimmery two-piece while her entrepreneur beau Spencer, 34, showed off his ripped physique in a pair of polka dot swim shorts.

Vogue, who welcomed the couple's third child Otto just four months ago, showed off her toned physique in the stylish swimwear as she confidently strolled along the sand with her husband of four years.

Beach babe: Vogue Williams looked sensational as she displayed her jaw-dropping figure in a pink bikini while enjoying a fun-filled family day at the beach with her husband Spencer Matthews and three adorable children on Tuesday

So sweet: The couple looked as though they were having a ball as they took a dip in the Mediterranean Sea with Gigi, two

Looking as stylish as ever, the model kept the sun at bay with a dusk pink straw hat and accessorised with oversized sunglasses and layered gold necklaces.

Former Made In Chelsea star Spencer looked ripped as he showcased his toned six-pack while walking along the beach with his stunning wife.

The couple looked as though they were having a ball as they took a dip in the Mediterranean Sea with their two oldest children, Theodore, three, and Gigi, two.

Gigi looked thrilled as her mother held her in her arms while the waves crashed against them.

Life's a beach: The DJ and presenter, 37, who jetted out to Ibiza last week, turned heads in the one shoulder shimmery two-piece while her entrepreneur beau Spencer, 34, showed off his ripped physique in a pair of polka dot swim shorts

Flying high! Vogue could be seen playing with her children as she dried off on her sun lounger, sweeping the both of them in the air while they looked blissfully happy

Family fun: Theodore and Gigi whooped with delight as their fun mum lifted them up into the air with her legs while playing a game of aeroplanes

Beach day: Looking as stylish as ever, the model kept the sun at bay with a dusk pink straw hat and accessorised with oversized sunglasses and layered gold necklaces

Theodore - who has been taking swimming lessons over the last couple of months looked thrilled to be in the water as he dived in unaided.

Later in the day, Vogue could be seen playing with her children as she dried off on her sun lounger, sweeping the both of them in the air while they looked blissfully happy.

Theodore and Gigi whooped with delight as their fun mum lifted them up into the air with her legs while playing a game of aeroplanes.

Bombshell: Vogue, who welcomed the couple's third child Otto just four months ago, showed off her toned physique in the stylish swimwear as she confidently strolled along the sand with her husband of four years

No dad bods here! Former Made In Chelsea star Spencer looked ripped as he showcased his toned six-pack while walking along the beach with his stunning wife

Making sure they cooled down in the soaring temperatures, Vogue and Spencer quenched their thirst with cans of Fanta.

The loved-up couple got to enjoy some downtime later in the day as they worked on their tans.

Vogue, Spencer and their three children are currently enjoying a holiday on the Balearic island with Vogue's extended family.

Pretty in pink: The mother-of-three looked incredible as she showcased her holiday tan on the beach

So stylish: The Irish TV personality accessorised her look with a fuchsia clutch bag as she headed to a beach bar

The reality star shared a series of images from the family's Ibiza break on Monday, displaying her jaw-dropping figure in a leopard print bikini.

The model wowed in the two-piece while enjoying a day on board a speed boat in Ibiza as she cuddled her adorable daughter Gigi.

Vogue and former Made In Chelsea star Spencer looked more loved-up than ever as he planted a big kiss on her cheek while relaxing on the beach.

Soaking up the sun: The loved-up couple got to enjoy some downtime later in the day as they worked on their tans

Loved-up: Vogue and Spencer have been together since meeting while competing in Channel 4 celebrity ski competition, The Jump, in early 2017

The TV personality grinned towards the camera as she called husband Spencer her 'bestie'.

The trip away comes after Vogue shared plans to have a fourth child with former Made In Chelsea star Spencer.

The presenter told MailOnline she would be happy with a fourth addition to her family after breezing through her labour with son Otto James in April.

In an exclusive interview, Vogue said: 'I would have a million kids, I love having children around us and having a big family.

Happy days: Vogue, Spencer and their three children are currently enjoying a holiday on the Balearic island with Vogue's extended family

Expanding the family soon? The presenter told MailOnline she would be happy with a fourth addition to her family after breezing through her labour with son Otto James in April

'I hate the thought of never having a baby again because I love the whole newborn phase. Being a mum is literally my favourite thing in the world.

'I would like to think that we'd have one more but right now I need to see how we get on as a family of five. I had a lovely labour with Otto.

'I had a great day with Spencer. I loved the whole day. I walked into the hospital and thought I'd do this as a job if I could just give birth for other people  and not be pregnant  I would happily do it.

Fun in the sun: Vogue and her daughter Gigi enjoyed some mother-daughter bonding on the day

Wild thing: The reality star shared a series of images from the family's Ibiza break on Monday, displaying her jaw-dropping figure in a leopard print bikini

'We were lucky because I know it's not the same for everybody. It's painful, the gas and air was great fun, and I did that and had an epidural at the end, which was very much needed.'

Vogue and Spencer have been together since meeting while competing in Channel 4 celebrity ski competition, The Jump, in early 2017.

The couple announced their engagement in February 2018 and got married in June 2018 in a secret ceremony in the Scottish Highlands at Spencer's family's 30,000-acre estate.
Jane Seymour has claimed Olivia Newton-John 'defied all of the odds' before she died following a long battle with cancer aged 73 earlier this week.

The actress, 71, reflected on her close friendship with the Australian star as she recalled her final visits with Olivia prior to her death.

Bond girl Jane, who starred in Live and Let Die, told how her 'unique' friend wasn't afraid to die but simply didn't want to miss out on life.

Olivia, who shot to fame as the star of the hit movie Grease in 1978, died on Monday morning surrounded by family at her home in southern California following a long battle with breast cancer.

Close bond: Jane Seymour has claimed Olivia Newton-John 'defied all of the odds' before she died following a long battle with cancer aged 73 earlier this week (pictured in 1992)

Jane told how Olivia made a 'huge effort' to see her and her sisters in February earlier this year, when she 'should have stayed in bed' resting.

The British-American actress, revealed to Fox News: 'I remember looking at her and just thinking this could easily be the last time I see her. But I felt that before, several years before when she was incredibly frail and on a lot of pain meds and I just thought, oh my gosh, she, she was barely eating. She looked so frail.

'We were all surprised. She pulled it all back together again and had a quality of life again. It was amazing. She defied all the odds, really.'

Tragic news: Olivia, who shot to fame as the star of the hit movie Grease in 1978, died on Monday morning surrounded by family at her home in southern California following a long battle with breast cancer

Jane described Olivia has 'fiercely adamant' to do things for herself as long as she could and refused to lose her independence.

The star, who knew Olivia had been in decline for some time, said she had spent the past few days 'crying her eyes out' as she thought about their 50-year friendship.

Of their friendship, she said: 'I realised that she was a unique friend. I have friends, but not like her in my life. 'I just remember so clearly our conversations and the smile on her face. And then the fact that she wasn't afraid, I don't think, to pass. She just didn't want to miss out on life.'

Long-term pals: The actress, 71, reflected on her close friendship with the Australian star as she recalled her final visits with Olivia prior to her death (pictured in 2019)

Olivia, who shot to fame as the star of the hit movie Grease in 1978, died on Monday morning surrounded by family at her home in southern California following a long battle with breast cancer.

Jane said the day before the superstar died she had been spending time with mutual friends she shared with the mother of one.

She said: 'We were talking about her, and how [Olivia] had not been answering our texts. We all knew something was happening.'

Jane said Olivia's legacy was her talent, authenticity and her 'ability to share, care and make a difference in the world...especially in the world of cancer.'

Jane said that Olivia could be 'the full-package.'

'She showed you could be a good wife, a could be a good mother, you could be an amazing superstar and you could be an icon of philanthropy.'

The news comes after Olivia's husband John Easterling said the star requested donations to be made to her charity, the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, in her memory instead of flowers.

Announcing the Xanadu star's death on Facebook on Tuesday, John wrote: 'Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.

'Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.'

Strong lady: Jane said Olivia's legacy was her talent, authenticity and her 'ability to share, care and make a difference in the world...especially in the world of cancer'

Olivia's battle with breast cancer first began in 1992 when she was just 44 years old.

She was very open about her diagnosis and treatment, which famously included the use of medical marijuana.

Her cancer returned in 2013 and again in 2017.

Despite the cruel toll the disease was taking her life - including crippling her for a period - Olivia kept performing, including touring the US in 2018




Special envoys of South Korea and the United States on North Korea met Tuesday to discuss ways to counter illicit cyber activities by North Korean actors, the state department said.







The meeting between U.S. Deputy Special Representative for North Korea Jung Pak and her South Korean counterpart, Lee Tae-woo, came one day after the U.S. imposed sanctions on a virtual currency mixer for laundering virtual currency stolen by a North Korean hacker group, Lazarus.







A department spokesperson said the two discussed the "increasing" cyberthreat posed by North Korea.







"The meeting addressed the dangers posed by the DPRK cyber program and focused on strategies to combat Pyongyang's ongoing attempts to generate revenue for its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs through malicious cyber activity," the spokesperson said in a press release, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.







The U.S. Department of Treasury said on Monday that cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash helped launder more than $455 million stolen by the Lazarus Group.







Tornado Cash was the second virtual currency mixer to be designated by the U.S.







Washington imposed sanctions on Blender.io in May for laundering some $20.5 million out of nearly $620 million stolen by the Lazarus Group from online game Axie Infinity earlier this year.







The U.S. has said Pyongyang is increasingly engaging in illicit cyber activities to help fund its illegal weapons programs amid strong U.S. and international sanctions that many believe have blocked nearly all sources of hard currency for the impoverished North.







The department spokesperson said Tuesday's meeting highlighted U.S. commitment to "working closely with like-minded countries to focus attention on and counter disruptive, destructive or otherwise destabilizing behaviors in cyberspace."







"Deputy Special Representative Pak reiterated the U.S. commitment to continue close cooperation with the Yoon administration on addressing the cyberthreat posed by the DPRK," the official added. (Yonhap)






He's famed for his ripped body and tough workout regimen.

But Chris Hemsworth proved he does indulge in fast food as he picked up a Mexican takeaway from Guzman y Gomez near his home in Byron Bay, New South Wales.

The Thor star, 38, was joined by his twins sons Sasha and Tristan, eight, as they picked up dinner.

Dig in: Chris Hemsworth proved he does indulge in fast food as he picked up a Mexican takeaway from Guzman y Gomez near his home in Byron Bay, New South Wales

Dinner: The Thor star, 38, was joined by his son Sasha, eight, as they picked up dinner

The father-of-three kept it casual in a brown cap and grey jumper which he paired with black jeans.

Keeping in true Aussie style, the actor completed the look in a pair of Uggs, while son Sasha went barefoot in tracksuits bottoms and a T-shirt.

It comes as production on the latest Mad Max instalment Furiosa, starring Hemsworth, has been shut down in Sydney after legendary director George Miller caught Covid.

Feeding time: Chris took a second to share his food with his twin boys

Aussie chic: The father-of-three kept it casual in a brown cap and grey jumper which he paired with black jeans

Casual cool: Keeping in true Aussie style, the actor completed the look in a pair of Uggs, while son Sasha went barefoot in tracksuits bottoms and a T-shirt

The Daily Mail Australia revealed the production, which has been under way in a number of locations in and around Sydney since June, has been suspended for a week with all on-screen filming halted until at least August 15.

It's understood Miller, 77, tested positive to Covid early this week and has been forced to isolate at his Sydney home.

The multi-million dollar production, which is currently based on location in Kurnell just south of Sydney, will resume filming next week.

Protection: Chris shielded his eyes from the sun in a cap and sunglasses while son Tristan opted for Hugo Boss trainers

Family time: It comes as production on the latest Mad Max instalment Furiosa, starring Hemsworth, has been shut down in Sydney after legendary director George Miller caught Covid

Taking a break: The multi-million dollar production, which is currently based on location in Kurnell just south of Sydney, will resume filming next week

Furiosa producers have been contacted for comment.

The setback echoes Miller's infamous shoot for Mad Max: Fury Road back in 2012 which was plagued by a number of costly delays and production issues.

The shoot initially began in Namibia but encountered some public relations hiccups after the Namibian Conservation Coast and Management Project accused the producers of damaging a number of plant and animal species in a leaked draft.

It comes after Chris revealed that his younger brother Liam was almost cast as Thor. 'My little brother almost got cast as Thor,' the 38-year-old told website Mensxp

Chris previously revealed that he blew his original audition for Thor, before Liam came in to test for the same part, and got much further in the process. That motivated Chris to ask for his manager to get him a callback to have another go, with the role ultimately going to him, not Liam, as a result

Burrito bite: Chris appeared to bite into his burrito as he headed out of the fast food store

The filmmakers later dismissed these reports as 'rhetoric'.

Re-shoots later took place in Potts Hill and Penrith Lakes in Western Sydney but poor weather led to a number of delays.

Years later it was also revealed that tensions between Mad Max: Fury Road stars Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy also led to major disruptions on set, with Theron later admitting she demanded protection from Hardy at one point.

Fast food: The middle Hemsworth brother was joined by sons Tristan and Sasha, both eight

Loving it: The twin boys clearly share their father's appetite tucking into food

Furiosa is a prequel to Fury Road with Anya Taylor-Joy playing a younger Theron in the titular role to headline the post-apocalyptic blockbuster.

Taylor-Joy and co-star Chris Hemsworth were snapped for the first time on set just prior to the current shutdown, with both donning red wigs for their roles.

Details of Hemsworth's character in the film have been kept under wraps by Miller and insiders at studio Warner Bros, with his role officially defined as 'unspecified'.

Dad duty: Chris looked effortlessly cool as he picked up the Mexican food

Casual: The father-of-three looked effortlessly cool as he picked up the burritos

Chris headed to pick up smoothies after enjoying the burritos with his two sons

It comes as Chris's brothers, Liam, 32, and Luke, 41, were spotted chatting on the street in Byron Bay's CBD.

Both casually dressed for the outing, Liam wore a plain white T-shirt and beige cargo pants.

It comes after Chris revealed that his younger brother Liam was almost cast as Thor.

'My little brother almost got cast as Thor,' the 38-year-old told website Mensxp.

Chris, pictured with his sons, has previously revealed that he blew his original audition for Thor, before Liam came in to test for the same part, and got much further in the process. That motivated Chris to ask for his manager to get him a callback to have another go

'He was one of the first people who got right down to the wire on getting the part so I could cross paths with him. That will be fun.'

Chris previously revealed that he blew his original audition for Thor, before Liam came in to test for the same part, and got much further in the process.

That motivated Chris to ask for his manager to get him a callback to have another go, with the role ultimately going to him, not Liam, as a result.

'I came in kind of with a little, I guess, motivation and maybe frustration that my little brother had gotten further than me,' he told W Magazine.

'It's a little family, sibling rivalry sort of kicked up in me. Then it moved pretty quick from there. It was cool.'

Chris is often seen in and around Byron Bay with his family - including wife Elsa Pataky

Picking up: Sasha also appeared to study the soft drinks section while picking up the dinner

Byron Bay style: Chris donned sunglasses for the outing

Easy style: Chris walked around the NSW town after picking up his children from school
Jazmine Nichol has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery.

The Love Island star, 21, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night where she revealed that she had undergone an operation after becoming 'really unwell' with a mystery illness

The nightclub manager - who shot to fame as a Casa Amor bombshell - shared a black-and-white snap of herself hooked up to a drip while lying on a hospital bed.

Oh no! Love Island bombshell Jazmine Nichol, 21, has been rushed to hospital for emergency surgery, after becoming 'really unwell' with a mystery illness

Alongside the concerning photograph, she wrote: 'Update for you all. I've taken really unwell so I'll be off my phone and not shooting any content for a while till I've recovered from surgery. I'm in good hands though.'

MailOnline has contacted Jazmine Nichol's representatives for comment.

The reality star was last spotted enjoying a day out at PrettyLittleThing's We Are FSTVL at Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Essex on Sunday.

Jazmine looked happy and healthy as she posed in a skimpy green bikini top and matching mini skirt.

TV star: The reality star took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night where she revealed that she had undergone an operation

Having fun: The reality star was last spotted enjoying a day out at PrettyLittleThing's We Are FSTVL at Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Essex on Sunday

Last month, Jazmine slammed Love Island bosses for failing to 'show her on screen'.

After leaving the Spanish villa, she told her social media followers: 'Hi guys, it's Jaz, I'm back. Just want to say a huge thank you for all of the love and support I've seen so far.

'I'm so overwhelmed with all the lovely messages I've seen and the funny memes!'

She continued: 'I'm excited for all of you to see my personality that was not shown on screen and the Jaz that the villa saw, this is only the start.'

Love Islander: Jazmine entered Love Island as one of the six Casa Amor bombshells

Bombshell! Following her stint, Jazmine shockingly revealed she shared a connection with Andrew Le Page which wasn't aired on the show

Jazmine entered the show alongside EastEnders extra Summer Bowte, 22, who had her eyes on Dami; graphic designer and ring girl Coco Lodge, 27, who was hoping to steal Andrew Le Paige from Tasha.

As always, the Islanders had to coupled up in order to secure their place in the villa, with those who stayed single finding themselves dumped from the island.

And following her stint in Love Island, Jazmine shockingly revealed she shared a connection with Andrew Le Page which wasn't aired on the show.

The nightclub manager claimed that Andrew was interested in her but it wasn't shown during the one-hour long episodes.

Appearing on a podcast after being dumped from the island, Jazmine told how Andrew called her the 'girl of his dreams' and they enjoyed a day of flirting, as she declared: 'I thought I was coming out with a boyfriend'.
She is 28 weeks pregnant with her first child, a baby girl.

And Charlotte Crosby showed off her bump in mint bikini as she soaked up the sun on a romantic babymoon at the lavish five-star Shangri-La Le Touessrok resort in Mauritius with her boyfriend Jake Ankers on Wednesday.

The Geordie Shore star, 32, looked relaxed during her 'last holiday' before the couple's bundle of joy arrives, but bemoaned suffering from intimate pains as she nears her due date.

Beautiful bump: Charlotte Crosby showed off her bump in mint bikini as she soaked up the sun on a romantic babymoon in Mauritius with her boyfriend Jake Ankers on Wednesday

Charlotte looked gorgeous in her swimwear in photos she shared of her romantic day to Instagram.

The reality star covered her shoulders from the sun with a cream floral shirt as she posed for the snaps.

The beauty appeared to go makeup free for the natural shot as she beamed at the camera.

Charlotte told her fans how pain in her 'vagina started last night' after many were asking if the pregnancy symptom had started yet.

Strike a pose: The Geordie Shor e star, 32, looked relaxed during her 'last holiday' before her bundle of joy arrives while soaking up the sun at the five-star Shangri-La Le Touessrok resort

Candid: Charlotte told her fans how the pain in her 'vagina started last night' after many were asking if the pregnancy symptom had started yet

Charlotte wrote: 'Keeping you safe in my belly until I can keep you safe in my arms. Im growing bigger and bigger what feels like every day!

'And the pain in the vagina started last night! Like just this strange pain when I walk so many of you I meet say "have you got the pain in the vagina yet?" Hahahahahhaha well that arrived last night LOL vaginal bone pain is real.

'Last holiday me and my jakey! In the most BEAUTIFUL AMAZING SETTING thanks to @trendingtravel.co.uk for helping us find the most perfect setting.' (sic)

It comes after Charlotte recalled her emotional first baby scan with boyfriend Jake in in a recent podcast episode, after suffering a previous ectopic pregnancy in 2016 left her feeling worried.

Pregnant! 'At the end of the day I lost half of my reproductive system' said Charlotte of her fears when she found out she was expecting again following her ectopic pregnancy

She also opened up about her split from her ex Liam Beaumont, branding him 'amazing' and admitting she's 'grateful' for him and all that he taught her.

Speaking on her Charlotte Crosby Always On podcast, the reality star announced elatedly: 'There's a brand new boyfriend now and this one is the one, hence why I am up the duff.'

Discussing her journey to parenthood, Charlotte admitted: 'I've always wanted to have kids. I'd love to be a mother. It's such an important thing to me. And he was on the same page, he wanted all of that too.

'With the ectopic pregnancy, I worried, "Is this gonna be a hard process?" You have it in the back of your head.

'At the end of the day I lost half of my reproductive system and you're always gonna think is it gonna be easy? Is it gonna be hard? Is it gonna take a couple of years? Is it not gonna happen straight away? Is is gonna happen at all?

'That is a worry. It is a worry. It's always at the back of your head. For me, being in relationships where they didn't wanna talk about children and having this worry as well, I I didn't think it was ever gonna happen for us.'

Praise: Charlotte said of Jake: 'It's so lovely to see a man who is so in tune with his emotions. When we went to our first baby scan together we were both in tears holding each other'

Charlotte insisted: 'Even if I couldn't have had kids, I would have adopted. There are so many options out there It wasn't the end of the world because there's always other options.

'But it was a worry. As a woman you have a biological clock that starts clicking as soon as you get into your thirties.'

Jake and Charlotte decided to start trying in December, not long after they started dating.

She explained: 'At this age there's not really wasting any time. January came around and I got my period and it was a really sad day. I just cried, I cried and cried on the toilet. I told Jake and he was really gutted about it.'

The couple then decided to stop trying, realising it was quite soon into their romance to welcome a child, and bought ovulation sticks to refrain from having sex on her fertile days.

But then in February on Valentine's Day, Charlotte found it strange when she wasn't in the mood to drink or have sex during a surprise romantic getaway to a swanky London hotel. And then her period was late.

Charlotte recalled: 'Lo and behold I was pregnant. Obviously I was over the moon but I was shocked and I was scared. I was like "uh oh" and went into this state of panic.

'Am I gonna be a good mother? My whole body is about to change. My whole life is about to change? Will this change our relationship? My whole freedom's gone, my life's gone... All of a sudden I'm freaking out.'
Julie Bishop was all smiles on Wednesday night when she stepped out for her first public appearance following her dramatic split with David Panton.

The former foreign minister, 66, put on a brave face as she posed for photographers at the David Jones Spring/Summer Fashion Launch in Sydney.

Miss Bishop turned heads in a $3750 Balmain metallic jacquard long sleeve mini dress, which she teamed with black heels and matching stockings.

Julie Bishop, 66, turned heads in a $3750 Balmain mini dress on Wednesday when she stepped out for her first public appearance following her split from David Panton

She accessorised her look with a chic black designer bag and a pair of eye-catching hoop earrings.

The glamourous former politician wore her blonde bob side-swept, and her makeup palette consisted of a smokey eye and lashings of mascara.

Ms Bishop's ex allegedly dumped her over dinner in Sydney in July, putting an end to their eight-year relationship.

During their partnership, Ms Bishop took Mr Panton to the United Nations to meet world leaders, Buckingham Palace to hobnob with British royalty and to the White House where he met Donald and Melania Trump.

The former foreign minister, 66, put on a brave face as she posed for photographers at the David Jones Spring/Summer Fashion Launch in Sydney

The pair first stepped out publicly in 2014, and were pictured at countless celebrity events over the years including the 2018 wedding of Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough.

They had appeared to be going strong when they recently visited St James' Palace in London for an event honouring Prince Charles' charity.

Ms Bishop was understood to have been 'blindsided' by the sudden breakdown of her relationship, sources close to the former politician said.

Miss Bishop turned heads in a $3750 Balmain metallic jacquard long sleeve mini dress, which she teamed with black heels and matching stockings

She accessorised her look with a chic black designer bag and a pair of eye-catching hoop earrings. The glamourous former politician wore her blonde bob side-swept, and her makeup palette consisted of a smokey eye and lashings of mascara

Daily Mail Australia understands she had been finding more ways to be in Sydney with Mr Panton.

Ms Bishop emerged for the first time since the split smiling happily for photos at a Perth mining conference on July 11, although insiders said she was hurting in the wake of the bust-up and was shocked at the way he'd pulled the pin so suddenly.

Another source close to Ms Bishop was slightly less diplomatic about the sudden end to the affair, hinting that Mr Panton's presence in her inner circle 'divided' some of her friends and colleagues.

But 'JBish', as she was referred to in Canberra, remained smitten.

Panton allegedly dumped Ms Bishop, 66, over dinner in Sydney just weeks ago after an eight-year relationship

'Let's just say a there are a few who might be relieved that it's over,' said one, adding: 'His personality didn't always gel with everyone.'

Mr Panton met Ms Bishop while she was in the midst of her political career, serving as Australia's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The pair maintained a long-distance relationship for years, with Ms Bishop based in Perth while he lived in Sydney.
Carol Vorderman looked incredible as she showed off her toned abs while taking a break from her intense fitness programme in Portugal.

The TV presenter, 61, who is currently staying at the exclusive Juice Master retreat took to her Instagram account to share the results of her hard work over the past seven days.

Taking to her Instagram account on Wednesday, the former Countdown star told her followers how she was 'loving' her time at the resort - however, she was struggling to cope with the heat.

Ab-tastic: Carol Vorderman, 61, looked incredible in her latest Instagram post on Wednesday as she showed off her toned abs while taking a break from her fitness programme in Portugal

'Into week 2 here at @juicemasterretreats @jasonvale.....the vibe's kicked in now..... loving it,' Carol began in the caption of her social media post.

'So so hot here tho....Guess it's like at home. Nearly 40C every day which is way too hot for me BUT it's all good and cooling down in a few days.

'Most time spent on yoga, gym, swimming and paddleboarding and chilling out.

She concluded: 'BOOOMMMMM. SENDING LOVE BACK HOME X .'

Trim: Showing off the results of her dedication to the programme, Carol's slim waist was also evident as she donned a pair of Stronger high waisted leggings

Showing off the results of her dedication to the programme, Carol's slim waist was also evident as she donned a pair of Stronger high waisted leggings.

The media personality was glowing as she went make-up free in the snaps and let her blonde hair fall over her face in a fuss-free tousled style.

She wore a pair of oversized leopard print sunglasses as she beamed for the fitness selfies.

Flawless: The media personality was glowing as she went make-up free in the snaps and let her blonde hair fall over her face in a fuss-free tousled style

Loving life: Carol updated her 233,000 followers during her retreat

The post comes after Carol flaunted her stunning curves in a stylish ensemble as she told her Instagram followers about a shopping trip last month.

The TV favourite looked incredible in skin-tight leopard-print leggings and a cropped white zip-up.

The smiling blonde beauty showed off her natural good looks as she flaunted a yellow Selfridges bag.

New phone!: Carol showed off her stunning curves in a new Instagram snap last month as she updated followers on a brand new purchase

Updates: Keeping her fans in the loop, Carol wrote: 'She's always been a @officialselfridges girl...Just bought an iPhone 13....hopefully picture quality improves from the usual tat I put out...'

Keeping her fans in the loop, Carol wrote: 'She's always been a @officialselfridges girl...Just bought an iPhone 13....hopefully picture quality improves from the usual tat I put out...'

Elsewhere, the maths whiz on took to her Instagram Stories the following day as she documented her voyage as she set off for Portugal.

The star filmed herself at Heathrow airport, looking chic and travel ready in a khaki button-up ensemble.

Stunner: Elsewhere the maths whiz took to her Instagram Stories the following day as she documented her voyage abroad (Pictured in May)

'Happy holidays': The star filmed herself at Heathrow airport, looking chic and travel ready in a khaki button-up ensemble

Carol enjoyed some tea at the terminal and then posted a selfie from Portugal, looking to be in full holiday mode in some shades.

She had her platinum blonde tresses down in relaxed waves.

'Landed. Excited,' she penned.
A bucket of cold water, please, for actress Nicola Walker who appears smitten by the manly charms of Sean Bean  her on-screen husband in upcoming BBC One drama Marriage.

Asked what was her best moment during filming, the Spooks and Unforgotten actress, 52, (pictured with Bean) told Daily Mail's Richard Eden: 'Applying cream to Sean Bean's thigh area. Ian [his screen character] has a nasty rash and it's a beautiful moment. That was a tremendous day in my professional career.'

Let's hope Nicola's real-life husband, actor Barnaby Kay, 53, approves

A bucket of cold water, please, for actress Nicola Walker who appears smitten by the manly charms of Sean Bean  her on-screen husband in upcoming BBC One drama Marriage

Funnily enough, Nicola recently said she is not an advocate for tying the knot, ahead of her starring turn in the new drama with Bean, 63.

The actress remarked on her marriage to Barnaby who she wed in 2006 after a 20 year relationship, as she promoted the series in a new interview,

The Spooks star told the Radio Times: 'Me and my husband, because we both lost a parent young, we thought, after we had a child, we ought to get married, in case one of us dies, so that the legalities are clear.

'Which is not the most romantic reason to get married but is probably the only thing that would have got me to sign a piece of paper.

'I'm not a great advocate of marriage in real life.'

Husband: The actress, 52, remarked on her marriage to Barnaby Kay, 53, who she wed in 2006 after a 20 year relationship, as she promoted the series in a new interview (pictured 2016)

So happy: Sean has finally settled with his fifth wife, former actress Ashley Moore, (pictured together in 2017)

As she prepares for her role in the BBC drama alongside veteran actor Sean Bean, to air, she pondered her co-star's five marriages.

'I've only got one, so Sean brings up the average [between the duo],' the stalwart of screen said.

Nicola added that she considered it to be impolite to ask Game of Thrones star Sean what it was like to marry so many times.

Sean is currently married to former actress Ashley Moore.

The celebrated actor exchanged vows with Moore, who at 33 is 26-years his junior, in 2017 after a five-year relationship that began with 'a chance meeting' in his favourite North London pub.

The full interview with Nicola Walker can be found in this week's edition of Radio Times

Bean's first marriage to school sweetheart Debra James, a hairdresser, came in 1981, when he was just 21.

However it crumbled soon after he moved to London a short time later to study at RADA, where fell in love with fellow student Melanie Hill.

The actress, who starred in the classic sitcom Bread, became his second wife in 1990. The couple have two daughters together, Lorna and Molly.

Their marriage lasted seven years and soon after their split, the star confirmed he was dating actress Abigail Cruttenden, who he met on the set of ITV series Sharpe.

The couple married in November 1997 and their daughter Evie was born the following year; however, they split when their baby was only a few months old.

He married for the fourth time, to actress Georgina Sutcliffe at Marylebone Register Office in February 2008 but their marriage lasted for just two years.

In the BBC drama which airs on Sunday August 14, Walker and Bean look at the pitfalls of a long relationship between characters Emma and Ian - who are bonded by a terrible event that they seldom refer to.

Walked mused: 'Their daughter keeps saying, 'We need to talk', and they just won't. Because most people don't.

'We don't carry the past blazing around in the present because we couldn't get up and make our breakfast if it was in the forefront of our mind all the time. Emma can't talk about this thing that has happened because it's too big.

Career-forming: Nicola got her start on the popular long-running BBC drama Spooks

'When she lets even a squeak out of it, it's followed by a complete emotional breakdown. It's embedded in their relationship, but they can't talk about it.'

Remarking on the loss of her parent which spurred her on to marry her partner of 27 years, Nicola added: 'I feel that about grief. When I lost my mum  a long time ago now  there was a month or six-week period when I felt that someone had pulled back the curtain in The Wizard of Oz and I really felt I saw the world for what it was: a very frightening place.

'Then, slowly, the curtain comes across again because you can't live at the sharp end of grief. And that's what Ian and Emma have had to achieve.'

During the filming, Nicola found that an old piece of advice was particularly helpful.

After being told by director Ivo van Hove to 'do what you would do in your kitchen' when acting, Nicola found herself filming many scenes for Marriage in a kitchen.

But this naturalistic setting came with notoriously meticulous director Stefan Golazewski.

Nicola recounted: 'Stefan had to really calm me down early on, because he said he did a lot of takes and suspected I wasn't used to that.

'In all the telly I've done, if you're not hitting the scene within three takes, you know you're doing it wrong and wasting time.

She added: 'With Stefan, 12, 13, 14, 16 takes is not unusual.'

Remarking on her most famous role in Spooks, she revealed that the BBC drama is still what she is recognised for, saying: 'In terms of the public, Spooks was the one, and still is, as it's streamed a lot. But the Spooks audience is so witty.

'The first time I realised, I was in my local supermarket and someone sidled up and said, 'The condor has landed; the geese fly tonight', and wandered off down frozen foods. It was never just a run-of-the-mill 'I love the show'.'

'After Marriage, will people come up to her at the fresh fruit and tell her how awful their spouse is? 'I hope they do.' She's sure, though, there won't be a sequel called Divorce. 'Ian and Emma would never split up. That's the point.'

Marriage is a four-part drama on the BBC which begins airing this Sunday.

The full interview with Nicola Walker can be found in this week's edition of Radio Times
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EastEnders star Michelle Collins has tied the knot with her toyboy lover Mike Davidson at Islington Town Hall on Wednesday.

The 60-year-old soap star, best known for playing Cindy Beale, looked incredible in a white jumpsuit as she said 'I do' to her long-term love, before kissing one another outside on the street while clutching glasses of champagne.

The happy couple were covered in confetti as they exited the town hall, with Michelle wearing a floral garland atop her head. Mike mirrored her style in a white jacket which he wore over a black shirt and trousers.

EastEnders star Michelle Collins is MARRIED! Cindy Beale actress, 60, wore a white jumpsuit to tie the knot with toyboy Mike Davidson, 38, at Islington Town Hall on Wednesday

All white: Michelle, best known for playing Cindy Beale, looked incredible in a white jumpsuit as she said 'I do' to her long-term love, before kissing one another outside on the street while clutching glasses of champagne

The couple left to start married life in a classic white convertible which had been decorated in ribbon.

Michelle and Mike began dating in late 2012, after they were set up by Michelles niece, who is said to have worked for Mike at a retail store.

Michelle's former co-star Adam Woodyatt, who played Cindy's ex-husband on EastEnders, was also in attendance but looked fairly casual in blue trousers and a striped shirt.

The pair's characters were fairly acrimonious on EastEnders. Cindy famously died in childbirth while in prison.

She had been sent down after being sent down for hiring a hitman to kill Ian when he says he will take her to court over custody of their children, in a storyline that aired in 1998.

Long-term love: Michelle revealed on social media in April that Mike had popped the question on a hike up Temescal Canyon in Los Angeles  a decade after the pair first met

Familiar: Michelle's former co-star Adam Woodyatt, who played Cindy's ex-husband on EastEnders, was also in attendance but looked a little too casual in blue trousers and a striped shirt and trainers

A look back: Cindy had been sent down after being sent down for hiring a hitman to kill Ian when he says he will take her to court over custody of their children, in a storyline that aired in 1998, (pictured)

Also present on the day was Lord Michael Cashman - who is better known for his political career than his acting ability these days. He found fame on EastEnders 36 years ago as Colin Russell and returned to the show in 2016 for a brief stint.

The former Labour MEP appeared on the programme for three years from 1986 and hit the headlines when his character shared the first gay kiss in a British soap opera.

The star used the platform EastEnders gave him to raise awareness for LGBT rights, founding charity Stonewall in 1989. He was an MEP for the West Midlands from 1999 until 2014, when he was appointed to the House of Lords.

Youthful beauty: Michelle looked incredible as she flashed a smile outside the venue with her bouquet of flowers in hand

Making memories: The happy couple posed for pictures in the sunshine, with Mike placing his arms around his new bride's waist

Nice wheels: The couple left to start married life in a classic white convertible which had been decorated in ribbon

Soap star Michelle confirmed her engagement to Mike in April by sharing an image from a friend's account on her Instagram Stories.

The snap showed the screen star sipping champagne with the caption: 'The bride to be @michellecollins.'

According to The Sun, a source said Michelle told pals: 'We know it's late notice, but we've been together for 10 years and what's the point in waiting.

Pucker up: The couple couldn't stop kissing one another as they put on their wedding bands for the first time

Hot out there: Michelle removed her jacket after the ceremony as she stood out in the sunshine

Absolutely stunning: Her bridal jumpsuit had a glamorous train which her friends held out for her

Wedding bells: Michelle in a throwback picture with Mike taken shortly after their engagement

'We thought life is too short and we want to see all of our friends and celebrate.'

It is claimed that after the ceremony, guests will be hosted at a reception in a split-level private bar in North London, which features a pub with a Venetian chandelier and heated roof terrace.

Michelle revealed on social media in April that Mike had popped the question on a hike up Temescal Canyon in Los Angeles  a decade after the pair first met.

She told her Instagram followers: 'So this happened in #la he got down on bended knee while we were on top of #temescalcanyon basically no one else around just us.

Special day: The couple looked blissfully happy as they stood alongside one another

Former colleagues: A host of family and friends were pictured outside the venue, including Lord Michael Cashman, (centre) - who is better known for his political career than his acting ability these days

Role: Cashman found fame on EastEnders 36 years ago as Colin Russell, (right) and returned to the show in 2016 for a brief stint (left) - the former Labour MEP appeared on the programme for three years from 1986

Where's your suit? Adam might have put on a shirt but his look was a little underdressed for a wedding

'It's #beautfiul and I'm #happy #10years this April about time I think (sic).'

The actress previously hit out at critics of the 22-year age gap between the duo and was frustrated to be branded as a 'cougar'.

Michelle  who has also appeared in Coronation Street and Doctor Who  said in 2018: 'Mike is 22 years younger than me and I'm regarded as a predator. It drives me mad. People call him my toyboy beau. He's nearly 35, for God's sake.

'He turned to me the other day and said, 'Surely I'm not still your toyboy, am I?'

'I laugh about it now but it is annoying. And I hate that word cougar. I can't stand it. I find it so demeaning. A cougar is a predator going around looking for young flesh. I'm certainly not like that.'

Michelle shares daughter Maia, 24, with ex partner Fabrizio Tassalini.

All the details: Michelle's jacket had pearls going down the sleeves as her husband picked up her train

I did it! Michelle punched the air as she climbed into her car as a married woman

Happy: She beamed from ear to ear as she arrived at the town hall earlier that day

Posing up a storm: She had some snaps taken with a friend on the steps of the town hall
Olivia Newton-John secretly visited a grieving girl in hospital after she was injured in a car crash that killed her mother, it has been revealed.

The Australian icon died peacefully at her home in southern California, surrounded by family and friends on Monday.

Now a former hospital worker has revealed the touching tale, who was known for many selfless acts in her lifetime.

Olivia Newton-John secretly visited a grieving girl in hospital after she was injured in a car crash that killed her mother, it has been revealed

Emily Barker was only 11 and in critical condition in Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth after a car crash killed her 39-year-old mother Catherine in 2003.

Their car had hit a truck in the Perth suburb of Beechboro after lightning hit traffic lights.

While in hospital, Emily's father Ron contacted Newton-John's label - knowing she was in Peth for a gig - and tried to arrange a visit to the hospital.

Emily Barker (pictured) was only 11 and in critical condition in Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth after a car crash killed her 39-year-old mother Catherine in 2003.

The Grease star did not hesitate, but asked that her visit remain a secret.

'It was such a tragic story and Olivia was very aware of what she was up against,' MJ Wallace, the then public relations officer of Princess Margaret Hospital, told The West Australian on Wednesday.

'She still came in and sat on the bed and held Emily's hand for such a long time, it was just lovely.

'Olivia was soft and gentle and so naturally giving of her time and the father talked to me about how wonderful it was a lot of times after that.'

Just days before her death, Olivia Newton-John posted a heartwarming photo to Instagram with her husband John Easterling

Newton-John's husband announced her death on her Facebook page on Monday. She was 73

Olivia's husband John Easterling broke the news of the star's death in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Monday morning, following her brave and extraordinarily decades-long battle with cancer.

'Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends,' Mr Easterling wrote.

'We ask that everyone please respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.

'Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer.

'Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer.'

The actress famously beat breast cancer twice but was diagnosed again in 2017.
They embarked on a romance 14 months ago.

And Amy Childs and her First Dates boyfriend Billy Delbosq proved their love is still going strong as they got his and hers tattoos of each other's names on Sunday.

The couple each penned one another's names which were then inked onto their bodies.

Steamy: Amy Childs and her First Dates boyfriend Billy Delbosq proved their love is still going strong as they got his and hers tattoos together on Sunday

However, proving they are more loved-up than ever, reality star Amy took to her Instagram to share a video of the couple's new artwork.

In the video, 37-year-old Billy can be seen with 'Amy' tattooed on him, while she opted for 'Billy', which each tattoo ending with a small heart.

She captioned the video: 'WE DID IT , something we have both wanting for so long MATCHING TATOOS with each others handwriting  I love you @billydelbosq8 my first ever tattoo.'

Permanent fixture: Amy opted for 'Billy' as her new inking as she declared her love for her businessman beau

Devoted: In the video, 37-year-old Billy can be seen with 'Amy' tattooed on him

The couple also gave followers a glimpse into their passionate relationship, as businessman Billy snapped a bedroom selfie with his arms wrapped around Amy as she cuddled up to him.

Amy also uploaded an image of the pair on the London Eye as they toasted their relationship together.

Looking glamorous in a baby blue midi dress, Amy packed on the PDA with Billy as they kissed while getting a 360 view of the capital.

She captioned the snap: '14 months of loving you love you @billydelbosq8.'



Kiss: Amy and beau Billy toasted their 14 month anniversary in the capital on Wednesday on the London Eye

Amy captioned the snap: '14 months of loving you love you @billydelbosq8'

The couple have been an item since October last year, just two months after the mum-of-two split from her ex-boyfriend Tim following 14-months together.

In a recent Instagram Q&A session, Amy  who is mum to Polly, four, and Ritchie Jr, two  said she would consider having children with Billy in the future.

'I always said I would like two and that's it, but since meeting Billy, I feel completely different - 100 per cent in the future,' she said.
She's enjoying a sundrenched getaway with her husband.

And on Tuesday, Lisa Faulkner, 50, showed off her enviable curves in a plunging leopard print bikini while holidaying with John Torode, 57.

The celebrity chef took to Instagram where she uploaded a sizzling shot of herself relaxing against a wall with one leg bent, while in the animal print swimwear set.

Sensational! On Tuesday, Lisa Faulkner, 50, showed off her enviable curves in a plunging leopard print bikini while holidaying with John Torode, 57

Lisa wrote alongside her snap: 'The sunshine and the sea is the best isnt it?! I love how we brits live for and love our holidays, the whole build up and deciding what to pack only to spend the majority of our time in our favourite bikini and oldest kaftan!

'So grateful for every minute. All of my love to you ps bikini is one of @myleeneklass for @nextofficial that I bought and love.'

Last month, Lisa looked sensational in the same plunging leopard print bikini as she joined her 'wonderful' husband for a romantic holiday in Menorca.

Taking to Instagram, the TV personality showed off her incredible figure as she lounged by the pool during their 'beautiful break'.

Summer style: Lisa also shared a gorgeous selfie to her Instagram Stories

Loved up: She also uploaded a shot of her husband looking happy during their break

It comes after John and Lisa opened up about their romance and navigating their blended family.

The celebrity chefs wed in 2019 - the second time for them both after their first marriages collapsed.

And in a new interview with The Sunday Times, the culinary duo got candid about their first encounter, cooking and family, with John admitting there has been a 'black mark' about when the pair met.

The Australian explained how in his version of events, they'd met when Lisa was a contestant on Celebrity MasterChef back in 2010.

Yet unearthed footage from This Morning back in 1996 showed John being introduced as the new chef, while his now-wife was being interviewed on the sofa.

Sun-soaked: Last month, Lisa looked sensational in the same plunging leopard print bikini with 'wonderful' husband John Torode during a 'beautiful break' in Menorca

For London-born Lisa, their initial meet on the ITV daytime show had not escaped her memory, as she recalled complimenting one of his dishes and his brusque reply.

She regaled that she thought he was arrogant, but that soon changed when their soon-found friendship after MasterChef developed into something more.

Of how he'd been encouraged to ask the Brookside actress on a date, John divulged: 'I'd separated from my wife [Jessica] which was awful, and I was reluctant to approach Lisa face to face as I didn't fancy the prospect of her saying no, so I wrote her a letter.

'If I'd got no response, it wouldn't matter. Cowardly? S***, yeah. I'm as cowardly as they get.'

John explained that she'd agreed to a date and from there, everything fell into place, gushing that 'we just really, really like each other.'
National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, right, poses with former Romanian Ambassador to Korea Izidor Urian, center, during Kim's visit to Bucharest, Monday. Left is Rim Kap-soo, Korea's ambassador to Romania. Courtesy of the National Assembly Speaker's office



By Kwon Mee-yoo



National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo met former Romanian Ambassador to South Korea Izidor Urian during his visit to the southeastern European country, Monday (local time).



Urian, 88, is an expert on the Korean Peninsula and has served at the Romanian embassies in both Koreas.



Urian, who first went to Pyongyang in 1948, studied at Kim Il Sung University and earned a degree in the Korean language there.



He worked for the Romanian Embassy in North Korea in the 1960s and 70s. He picked interpreting between former Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu and former North Korean leader Kim Il-sung when Ceausescu visited Pyongyang in 1978 as one of the most memorable events of his time in North Korea.



He also contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Romania and served as the first Romanian ambassador to South Korea from 1990 to 1994.



Kim thanked Urian for bridging Korea and Romania and for continuing to wish for peace on the Korean Peninsula.



Urian said he still studies the Korean language and closely watches news on the Koreas as Korea is part of his life and he considers Korea his second home.



Urian showed photos of his days in the two Koreas, from his visit to Kim Il-sung's birthplace, to Ceausescu's visit to Pyongyang, to submitting his credentials as the Romanian ambassador to South Korea to former President Roh Tae-woo and receiving an honor from the South Korean government.



Having experienced both North and South Korea, Urian expressed regrets over the division of the Korean Peninsula.



"It is regrettable that the same ethnic group is divided into two countries. Especially those dispersed families who live on one side and family members on another side, it is a big tragedy," Urian said.



"Many of the separated families died without seeing the unification of Korea and it is heartbreaking. Unification will come when the tide serves. People with the same language and history cannot live divided forever. Germany was united and Vietnam was united. The time will come for the Korean Peninsula as well," he said.


Brooke Burke showed off her incredibly fit figure on Instagram on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old cover girl - who is a mother to four kids - was seen working out while in a gray bra and undies set. 'Pick your program! We have a full carousel of Beach BURNs. Lets take it outside this week,' she said as she plugged her app Brooke Burke Body which can be found on the Apple App Store.

Burke has been known for staying in great shape all year round no matter what. 'I am a year round wellness person,' the star told DailyMail.com earlier this year. 'People want to ramp up their workouts for summer so they can look good in a bikini but I create a lifestyle for all year round.'

Burn it: Brooke Burke showed off her incredibly fit figure on Instagram on Tuesday. The 50-year-old cover girl - who is a mother to four kids - was seen working out while in a gray bra and undies set

She added that she works out constantly not just to look good, but also to feel good.

'It's about how you feel, it's about body confidence, and not so much about how you look in a swimsuit. When you look better outside, you feel better inside,' the star told DailyMail.com exclusively.

'What's scary is the other side of not working out,' added the former Playboy cover girl.

She also has been taking Tru Niagen for the past five years. It increases cellular metabolism.

'There is so much in one capsule,' said Brooke. 'It's the one supplement I never skip because it makes me feel good, and it supports my journey with healthy aging.'

Tru Niagen increases levels of NAD+, which is critical to generating energy within the trillions of cells throughout your body, according to the website.

She doesn't take the winter off: Burke has been known for staying in great shape all year round no matter what. 'I am a year round wellness person,' the star told DailyMail.com earlier this year. 'People want to ramp up their workouts for summer so they can look good in a bikini but I create a lifestyle for all year round'

Feel good: She added that she works out constantly not just to look good, but also to feel good. 'It's about how you feel, it's about body confidence, and not so much about how you look in a swimsuit. When you look better outside, you feel better inside,' the star told DailyMail.com exclusively

'These levels decline not only with age but also with physiological stress on your body. Without NAD+, your cells can't function properly, and neither can you,' it was added.

And there is also Tru Niagen Immune which has immune-boosting ingredients such as vitamin D, C, and zinc and NAD+ support for the optimal maintenance and function of aging cells. NAD+ is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme central to cellular metabolism.

Brooke is engaged to businessman Scott Rigsby and they are planning a 2023 wedding.

The Wild On! host has four kids: Neriah, 22, and Sierra, 20, with ex-husband Garth Fisher, a plastic surgeon, and Heaven, 15, Shaya, 14, with ex-husband Dave Charvet of Baywatch fame.

She also told DailyMail.com her five minute workouts that have helped her stay toned.

The Dancing With The Stars winner explained that if one does five minutes workouts six times a day, that is a 30 minute workout per day which certainly is better than nothing.

'It sounds like a joke but time is our biggest demon,' shared the mother of four.

Chipping away at her curves: 'It sounds like a joke but time is our biggest demon,' she shared. 'If you do a five minute workout six times a day, you have a 30 minute workout under your belt which does make a difference'

Red hot workout: 'One of the first things you can do is stretch in bed after you wake up,' offered the Malibu resident. 'Once you open your eyes just stretch your arms and legs out. Then turn your legs from side to side. After five minutes of this your are getting the blood flowing and have more mobility.'

5 MINUTE WORKOUTS 'If you do a five minute workout six times a day, you have a 30 minute workout under your belt,' said Burke. - stretch in bed after waking up - do lunges by a desk at work - sculpt arms by lift light weights while watching TV - strengthen calf muscles by flexing when talking on a cell phone - crisscross arms, giving them a 20-second tug on each side when in line at the grocery store - reach up arms and stretch from side to side when waiting for the microwave Advertisement

'If you do a five minute workout six times a day, you have a 30 minute workout under your belt which does make a difference.'

The brunette bombshell - who is the spokesperson for Tru Niagen which increases NAD+, a coenzyme central to cellular metabolism - also shared how a five minute workout looks and when to squeeze one in.

'One of the first things you can do is stretch in bed after you wake up,' offered the Malibu resident.

'Once you open your eyes just stretch your arms and legs out. Then turn your legs from side to side. After five minutes of this your are getting the blood flowing and have more mobility.'

Another five minute workout can be done at a desk.

'So many people work at desks for 10 hours a day, and it can make your stiff,' Burke began.

'It's good to get up from your chair and just do a few lunges, reach up above your head, do a squat. After five minutes of that your mood will improve.'

And another tip is to get off that sofa when watching TV at home.

'It's so easy to get up and do a few stretches when you are taking in your favorite show. Just move around, stretch your arms out, do a lunge, it will wake you up a bit.

'Even just walking in place while lifting light dumbbells is energizing.'

Other places to do those quick five minute stretches is when in line at the grocery store, when waiting for the microwave to do its job, and also when talking to a friend on the phone.
Oprah Winfrey's company Harpo Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the creators of the Oprahdemics podcast, claiming that the program misleads listeners into thinking she sponsored or approved it.

In a complaint filed late Tuesday in Manhattan Federal Court, Winfrey's Harpo Inc said it is neither seeking profits or damages from Oprahdemics creators Kellie Carter Jackson and Leah Wright Rigueur, nor trying to stop the podcast.

Instead, it wants a name change, saying the podcast and related live events dilute Harpo's Oprah and O trademarks, and wrongly capitalize on the goodwill that Winfrey has spent decades building.

The latest: Oprah Winfrey's company has filed a lawsuit against the creators of the Oprahdemics podcast, claiming that the program misleads listeners into thinking she sponsored or approved it. Winfrey, 68, was pictured in 2019 in NYC

Harpo, which is Oprah spelled backward, said simply being associated with the Oprah brand often causes an 'exponential' jump in sales, known as 'The Oprah Effect' or 'The O Factor.'

The Oprahdemics website describes Jackson and Rigueur as historians and friends who break down iconic episodes of Winfrey's talk show and discuss the cultural impact of the 'Queen of Talk.'

Oprahdemics was launched by Roulette Productions this past March, and concluded its initial season at June's Tribeca Film Festival.

In a statement, co-producer Jody Avirgan, whose company Roulette Productions is also a defendant, called Oprahdemics a 'journalistic exploration by history professors and sincere, longtime fans of Oprah Winfrey.'

Winfrey was pictured at her father's funeral in Nashville last month

In the suit, Winfrey's company is requesting a name change, saying the podcast and related live events dilute Harpo's Oprah and O trademarks, and wrongly capitalize on the goodwill that Winfrey has spent decades building. She was pictured in 2020

Avirgan continued: 'As independent producers, we feel its important to have fun, approachable, and educational conversations about the cultural impact of Ms. Winfrey. This comes from a place of both deep admiration and critical thinking. Kellie and Leah are remarkable hosts.'

Avirgan said Roulette 'has been engaged with the team at Harpo for some time - while genuinely surprised by this, we hope to resolve it.'

In an April interview with NPR, Rigueur called Winfrey an institution.

'This is a woman, a Black woman, who has dominated multiple spaces and arenas' since the 1980s, she said. 'I say that in a way that doesn't absolve her of ... constructive criticism or feedback or anything like that, but instead as recognition of ... the institution of Oprah Winfrey and the Oprah Winfrey brand.'

Winfrey, 68, is also an actress and philanthropist who parlayed her namesake Chicago television talk show, which ran nationally from 1986 to 2011, into a media and business empire. She is worth $2.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

The case is Harpo Inc v Jackson et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-06787.
Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio showed plenty of skin while posing for pinup snaps during her recent Brazilian holiday.

Wearing a pale gray terrycloth bralette top and itty bitty matching shorts, the model flaunted her tight tummy and strong lean legs while posing on the balcony of a luxurious concept hotel in her native country, Brazil.

In a series of images that comprised the flawless model's five-image carousel, Ambrosio leveraged the beautiful scenery as a backdrop to show off her stunning physique and select pieces from her GAL Floripa FEELINGS collection.

A boa vida: Alessandra Ambrosio appeared to be living the good life in Brazil on Monday

Gaze into my eyes: The catwalk expert served major beach casual glam in this image

Ambrosio, 41, took a page out of her former Victoria's Secret modeling handbook and captured both the beauty that surrounded her and her effortlessly gorgeous casual look.

The flattering bra top enhanced the model's decolletage as she basked in the Brazilian sun.

Thoughtfully folding over her sporty gray shorts to ensure they sat low on her hips, Ambrosio put her perfect and tan obliques of full display.

Taking it all in: The leggy lady looked peaceful and happy in Brazil

Having had a busy beginning of August, Ambrosio - a mother of two and fashion entrepreneur - took a timeout from the collaborative photoshoot between her swimsuit brand and the concept hotel.

She captioned the post in Portuguese, 'Ilha da Magia' or 'Magic Island' and the images prove it is nothing short of that.

Ambrosio included pictures of her swinging on an oversized basket chair with her legs elongated and exuding nothing but positive vibes.

R & R: The Vogue cover girl enjoyed the sights and sounds of the sea

Laid back and casual, the model exemplified simple holiday style.

Accessorizing the sporty loungewear look, she wore a dainty beaded anklet and matching necklace.

The brunette beauty's loose beachy hair gently framed her perfect face as she posed for the camera.

Last week she wore a neon green outfit as she posed with Selling Sunset star Heather Rae Young at a party thrown for Kylie Jenner's pal Stassie Baby.
Kanye West has gotten some new ink.

The rapper, 45, showcased the matching arm tattoo he received with Lil Uzi Vert, 27, and Steve Lacy, 24, in a photo posted Tuesday.

'We here forever technically,' the new ink declared.

New ink! Kanye West got a new arm tattoo alongside Lil Uzi Vert and Steve Lacy

In the photo, which was posted by tattoo artist Meza Afram and Lacy, Kanye stretched out his arm as he posed alongside Uzi and Steve.

The rapper gazed down at his fresh ink whilst clad in a tattered black top.

The latest ink comes after Kanye came under fire again for taking another swipe at Kim Kardashian's now ex-boyfriend Pete Davidson.

The rapper posted a mock-up of a fake New York Times newspaper page announcing Pete's 'death', just two days after his split from Kanye's ex-wife Kim.

Sending a message: The Instagram account Donda's Place posted a close-up shot of the design the trio had tatted onto their arms

At it again: West took another swipe at Pete Davidson following his split from Kim Kardashian last week

'Skete Davidson dead at age 28,' the headline read. The newspaper had Monday's date and also a tagline which read: 'Kid Cudi meant to play funeral but fearful of bottle throwers.'

That was in reference to Kid Cudi, 38, cutting his headline set at Rolling Loud short on July 22 due to people throwing bottles at him. He filled in for Kanye at the last minute but then Kanye turned up later anyway and performed.

Kim subsequently slammed the 'appalling' meme on Instagram, and demanded he take it down. The post was removed from his account.

Splitsville: Davidson and Kardashian called it quits after nine months together last week; pictured May 2022

The way they were: Kim pictured with her then-husband Kanye in 2016

A source close to the star told DailyMail.com: 'Kim won't stand for this. She is demanding that Kanye take the post down, but he won't.

'She has been vigorously defending Pete. She'll never get back together with Kanye over the way he's treated the people she loves and respects.

'She has tried incredibly hard to have a good co-parenting situation for the children.

'She won't stand for this type of behavior from him.'

The reality TV star, 41, split with Pete, 28, last week after first being linked in October when Kim made her hosting debut on Saturday Night Live.

After less than a year together the pair decided to just be friends, because of the long distance and clashing schedules  with Kim based in the US while Pete is filming in Australia.
She's currently in Mallorca on a romantic getaway.

And on Wednesday, Love Islands Francesca Allen displayed her incredible figure in a white triangle bikini as she soaked up the sun with her fiance Ed Crossan.

The 26-year-old reality star took to Instagram where she posed up a storm showcasing her slim frame in the chic two-piece.

Stunning: On Wednesday, Love Islands Francesca Allen displayed her incredible figure in a white triangle bikini as she soaked up the sun with her fiance Ed Crossan

The ITV2 star styled her brunette tresses in luxurious waves as she swept them over to one side while staring into the camera.

She opted for a radiant palette of makeup including a pink lipstick and mascara as she posed on a balcony looking out to sea.

Later that day Francesca took to her Instagram Stories and shared several stunning snaps in a black bikini.

Looking good: The 26-year-old reality star took to Instagram where she posed up a storm showcasing her slim frame in the chic two-piece

Stylish: Later that day Francesca took to her Instagram Stories and shared several stunning snaps in a black bikini

The beauty beamed as she held the camera high displaying her amazing figure as she sat cross legged on a sun lounger.

The Love Islander kept cool under a large woven hat as she listen to music through her headphones.

The reality star also shared her stunning dinner view over looking the ocean as she held a cocktail up while the sunset.

Wow: The beauty beamed as she held the camera high displaying her amazing figure as she sat cross legged on a sun lounger wearing a large woven sun hat

Dining: The reality star also shared her stunning dinner view over looking the ocean as she held a cocktail up while the sunset

Couple: Francesca posed for a glamorous selfie with fiance Ed as the couple shielded from the sun behind sunglasses

She posed for a glamorous selfie with fiance Ed as the couple shielded from the sun behind sunglasses.

Francesca looked chic in a lace white dress which donned a V-neckline and she swept her dark tresses back in a glam up-do from a centre parting.

Meanwhile Ed cut a casual figure in a grey T-shirt as Francesca penned: ''It's hot out hereeee. I got a sulippp'.

Swimming: Earlier this week Francesca documented her getaway on Instagram for fans as she shared snaps of her morning swim, and of her shirtless future-husband as he readied himself for a snorkel

Sensational: The reality star took to Instagram where she showed off her sensational physique in the floral two-piece South Beach swimwear set

Earlier this week Francesca documented her getaway on Instagram for fans as she shared snaps of her morning swim, and of her shirtless future-husband as he readied himself for a snorkel.

The Love Islander and her man have been celebrating his birthday during their Spanish getaway, with Francesca posting a tribute to Ed alongside sweet couple photographs.

Branding him her 'one and only', Francesca looked happier than ever as she adventured with Ed, while dressed in a white Broderie Anglaise dress.

Morning swim: Francesca shared a snap of her shirtless future-husband as he readied himself for a snorkel

The reality star got engaged to businessman Ed in December after a year of dating, and she is planning to make some of her closest Love Island pals from her stint on the ITV2 dating show part of her bridal party.

At the end of July, she told OK! Online: '[My friends from Love Island are] 100 per cent going to be part of my wedding. I'm considering a few of them as bridesmaids to be fair, so they'll definitely be part of my special day.'

The fashion influencer was close to Yewande Biala, Joanna Chimonides and Amy Hart on the fifth series of Love Island.

Fashionista: Francesca also posted a shot of herself dressed in a nude pair of bikini bottoms and a white crop top, while posing with a woven hat covering her face

Francesca is set on having her wedding abroad and is heading to Italy to check out some venues after deciding against party central, Ibiza.

She said: 'I've been really chill [about wedding plans] and I haven't really started anything yet. Ed keeps asking me 'So any thoughts?' I definitely think I want it to be abroad; I looked at Ibiza but that wasn't really for me.'

She added: 'I'm going to go to Italy and have a look around there. There's a couple of places that I really like there. I just need to get the feel! Once I have the place, then I can get rolling.'

Francesca said she feels an affinity for 'beautiful' Italian because of the Italian blood in her family, adding that she's a huge fan of the local food.

Birthday trip: The Love Islander and her man have been celebrating his birthday during their Spanish getaway, with Francesca posting a tribute to Ed alongside sweet couple photographs

Loving life: Branding him her 'one and only', Francesca looked happier than ever as she adventured with Ed, while dressed in a white Broderie Anglaise dress

Francesca was briefly coupled-up with former fireman Michael Griffiths on the 2019 season of Love Island.

She shared the happy news she was engaged to Ed in an Instagram post in December last year as she gushed it was the 'best Christmas present a girl could ask for'.

It came just seven weeks after Francesca went Instagram official with her fiance.

Sharing snaps of her beau popping the question, Francesca penned: 'The best Christmas present a girl could ask for  I'm marrying my best friend!!!!! I still can't believe it.'

Happiness! Francesca showed off her giant diamond ring when she got engaged in December last year just two months after revealing her romance with Ed
Jason Sudeikis was seen filming Ted Lasso in London on Wednesday - hours before his ex Olivia Wilde won the New York custody battle against him after a judge ruled that California is her children's home state.

Court filings obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com have revealed the exes' once-amicable custody and co-parenting agreement has turned into a bitter dispute over Wilde's plans to relocate to London, where new boyfriend Harry Styles is based.

Sudeikis, 46, had filed the suit against his ex in New York City Family Court over their two children in October 2021. He had wanted his two children with Wilde, 38, to live with him in Brooklyn.

Wilde, however, wanted them to stay with her in Los Angeles, and possibly relocate to London, where her boyfriend Harry Styles lives.

Sighting: Jason Sudeikis was seen filming Ted Lasso in London on Wednesday - hours before his ex Olivia Wilde won the New York custody battle against him after a judge ruled that California is her children's home state

A New York judge dismisssed the case on Wednesday - with Jason seen filming scenes for the for the show's third season - after it emerged Olivia had accused him of intentionally trying to 'embarrass' and 'threaten' her with the serving of the custody papers in April.

Jason wore a green shirt, flat cap and joggers as he chatted with crew members outside a Greek taverna, before filming new scenes.

Jason was also seen looking pensive as he threw himself into character for the drama.

Sudeikis and Wilde began dating in 2011 and went on to have two children, son Otis, 8, and daughter Daisy, 5, before splitting in late 2020.

Revealed: Olivia, 38, claims Jason intended to 'embarrass' and 'threaten her' by publicly serving her custody papers on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas

Wilde and Sudeikis began dating in November 2011 and got engaged in December 2012, before eventually splitting in November 2020. Wilde began dating Styles in January 2021,

The judge, in a legal filing signed August 5, ruled 'New York was not the home state of the subject children' and that rather 'California was the childrens home state.'

'Therefore, for the reasons stated on the record on July 15, 2022, respondents motion to dismiss the custody petitions filed on October 21, 2021 is granted,' the filing, which was reviewed by Page Six, stated.

The court determined 'New York does not have jurisdiction to hear the custody petitions' because it is not Otis and Daisy's home state.

Wilde filed a petition to 'determine parental relationship in Superior Court of California, in LA' on May, the filing noted. Her legal team moved to legally dismiss Sudekis' custody case on May 18.

The custody battle is now likely to continue to California, experts allege.

The actors had continued to co-parent and share custody of their kids since then, alternating one-week periods of 'parental access', while they both split their time between New York, Los Angeles, and London.

Drama: Jason wore a green shirt, flat cap and joggers as he chatted with crew members outside a Greek taverna, before filming new scenes

But those arrangements became no longer viable in April this year, when the pair had a disagreement about where they would be raising their children permanently, prompting Sudeikis to file a custody petition.

Court filings obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com on Wednesday revealed the exes' once-amicable custody and co-parenting agreement turned into a bitter dispute over Wilde's plans to relocate to London.

In Wilde's motion to dismiss the action, the actress claimed she and Sudeikis had initially agreed to send their kids back to school in Los Angeles for the upcoming school year since Sudeikis was due to wrap up the final season of Apple TV series Ted Lasso which had required him to be in London.

Scenes: Jason was also seen looking pensive as he threw himself into character for the drama

'Recently, however, Jason decided that he wanted to go to New York for the next year while he is not working, and wanted the children to be with him there during this time off,' the actress said in the filing.

'When I did not agree, since the children have not lived in New York for several years, Jason filed these papers.'

Wilde, who began dating Styles in January 2021, argued that the children have spent most of the last four years in LA or in London, even attending schools in the two cities.

Wilde was infamously served the court documents on April 26 as she spoke about her new movie on stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.

Family: They share two children together - eight-year-old son Otis and five-year-old daughter Daisy - and had continued co-parenting amicably after their split

The Hollywood star was in the middle of a presentation for 4,100 film industry executives about her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling when she was awkwardly handed a manila envelope by a court process server.

The bizarre moment sparked furious speculation among attendees and reporters at the annual gathering of cinema owners and Hollywood studios about the envelope's contents.

Neither of the parties publicly addressed the incident, and a source close to Sudeikis later claimed that he did not know Wilde would be served the papers in such a public and humiliating way.

Wilde referenced the embarrassing incident for the first time in her court motion, slamming her ex for his 'outrageous legal tactics' and delivering the documents 'mid-speech.'

'Jason's actions were clearly intended to threaten me and catch me off guard. He could have served me discreetly, but instead he chose to serve me in the most aggressive manner possible,' she said in the documents.

In an awkward moment that made headlines, Wilde was served the court documents on April 26 while speaking to a crowd about her new movie at CinemaCon in Las Vegas

The Hollywood star was in the middle of a presentation for 4,100 film industry executives about her upcoming thriller Don't Worry Darling when she was awkwardly handed a manila envelope by a court process server

The former couple had alternated one-week periods of 'parental access' with their children, as they both split their time between New York, Los Angeles, and London

'The fact that Jason would embarrass me professionally and put our personal conflict on public display in this manner is extremely contrary to our children's best interests.

'Since Jason has made it clear that we will not be able to work this out for our children's sake outside of the court system, I filed a petition for custody in Los Angeles.'

According to the court filings, Wilde and Sudeikis were largely based in New York for most of their relationship, with both of their kids being born in the city.

The two shared a home in Brooklyn after buying the property in 2014 for $6.5million, living there sporadically until 2019, when a mold issue made the house completely uninhabitable.

Throughout that timeframe, Sudeikis and Wilde also spent substantial periods of time in Los Angeles due to their work commitments, but - according to the actor - considered the Brooklyn home their main family residence.

In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July.

He said he hoped that his ex and their children would also return to New York so they could continue their current custody arrangement.

Sudeikis said he now believes those plans are 'unlikely to occur' after Wilde 'insisted upon' living with their kids in LA and asked him to join them during a discussion over custody in April.

She also disclosed her future plans to move to London, where she has been living with former One Direction star Harry Styles, 28, at the end of next year.

'For better or worse, I am a New Yorker,' Sudeikis said, adding that it was in the kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn.

Sudeikis admits he got spooked by the prospect of Wilde moving her kids to London, where new boyfriend Harry Styles is based. The pair are pictured together in London in March. Wilde began dating Styles in January 2021,

Sudeikis, meanwhile has spent a substantial amount of time in London due to his role in Apple TV series Ted Lasso

He argued that it was in their kids' best interests to grow up in Brooklyn

He also claimed he had been 'reluctant' to serve Wilde because he continues 'to care deeply for her', but said he was spooked by two particular statements during their conversation.

'First, Olivia said that if I did not reside full-time in Los Angeles, she would allow me to spend time with Otis and Daisy on weekends and during vacation periods - thus depriving me of my right to parent the children during important periods of their lives...,' Sudeikis said.

He continued: 'Second, Olivia said that she intended to relocate with the children to London following the close of school in 2023.'

Sudeikis, 'fearful' that she would 'take Otis and Daisy' from him, said he then asked his attorney in that moment to serve the summons and petition to Wilde knowing shew was scheduled to travel to LA the next morning.

The actor claimed he had always hoped she would be served in a 'benign manner' and requested service take place at Heathrow Airport, rather than boyfriend Harry Styles's home, where she is currently living.

'I did not want service to take place at the home of Olivia's current partner because Otis and Daisy might be present. I did not want service to take place at the children's school because parents might be present,' Sudeikis said.

The actor goes on to say that the process server was ultimately unable to serve Wilde at the intended location that day due to a series of logistical mishaps.

He said he would only learn Wilde would be ultimately served in public days later when the incident made headlines.

Wilde and Sudeikis are seen out and about in Los Angeles in 2012

In his declaration to the court, Sudeikis said that while he, Wilde, and their two kids had been living in London since December 2021, he intended to return to his 'permanent home' in Brooklyn when filming for Ted Lasso concluded in July. He is pictured with the cast at the Emmy Awards in September

Sudeikis claimed he was 'deeply upset' at the turn of events and later found out that Wilde's whereabouts were tracked down thanks to a tweet speculating her appearance at CinemaCon.

An attempt was made to serve Wilde at her hotel in Las Vegas where the event was held, but after that failed, the server 'noticed Olivia at the Warner Brothers Panel and proceeded to serve the Summons and Petition upon Olivia.'

Sudeikis said he continues to 'feel great distress at the manner in which service was made.'

'I understand that the process server had only done her job; however, I deeply regret what happened. Olivia's talk was an important event for Olivia, both professionally and personally, and I am very, very sorry that the incident marred her special moment,' he added.
Former Bachelorette star Georgia Love has hit out at trolls after she was told she looked like a 'grandmother' in her favourite floral swimsuits while holidaying in Greece.

The 33-year-old posted a picture of herself in a black retro-style swimsuit with high-waisted bottoms.

Georgia directly addressed the backlash she had received in recent weeks, writing: 'Palming off the negativity from people saying I look like a grandma for not wearing string bikinis.'

Former Bachelorette star Georgia Love has hit out at trolls after she was told she looked like a 'grandmother' in her favourite floral swimsuits while holidaying in Greece

She added hashtags including: 'Haters gonna hate'.

Georgia's stylish two-piece featured a frilly one-shoulder top and high-waisted bottoms.

She showed off a golden tan and had her dark locks tied off her face.

Georgia and her plumber husband Lee Elliott, who she met on The Bachelor back in 2016, are holidaying in Santorini, Greece

'Just jealous people with nothing better to do with their time,' one follower commented underneath.

Georgia and her plumber husband Lee Elliott, who she met on The Bachelor back in 2016, are currently holidaying in Santorini, Greece.

Before getting to Greece, the pair travelled to Italy with friends.

Before getting to Greece, the pair travelled to Italy with friends

Georgia was body-shamed on Friday when a man said she needed 'a more flattering bathing suit' when she shared a photo of herself in a yellow swimsuit

Georgia was body-shamed on Friday when a man said she needed 'a more flattering bathing suit' when she shared a photo of herself in a yellow swimsuit.

He wrote: 'Omg, get some nice bathing suits. You look like my 94-year-old grandmother.'

'You need a more flattering bathing suit,' he added.

Not one to have her confidence rattled, Georgia shared the vile message with her Instagram followers and fired back: 'Imagine getting trolled for wearing one pieces.

'Also, remind me when I'm 94 if I still look like this, I'm f**king killing it.'
Kyle Sandilands abruptly left his radio show on Thursday morning as his fiancee Tegan Kynaston went into labour.

Just seconds into the show, father-to-be Kyle, 50, told his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson he had to leave and rush Tegan, 36, to the hospital.

'Guys, I am broadcasting from home for a reason, and that reason seems to have raised its head now,' he said, before turning to his pregnant partner and asking her, 'It's all happening?'

Kyle Sandilands abruptly left his radio show on Thursday morning as his fiancee Tegan Kynaston went into labour

Turning back to the microphone, Kyle continued: 'Guys, I think it might have to leave the show and go to the hospital.'

'It's time? Oh, it's time!' an excited Jackie exclaimed, prompting a rousing applause form the entire radio studio.

Shedding his usual calm demeanour, Kyle seemed rather flustered as he told his colleagues: 'Guys I'm so sorry. I feel very unprepared, I don't...'

Just seconds into the show, father-to-be Kyle told his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson that he had to leave and rush to the hospital

'Guys, I am broadcasting from home for a reason, and that reason seems to have raised its head now,' he said, before turning to his pregnant parter and asking her, 'It's all happening?'

'It's time? Oh, it's time!' Jackie exclaimed, prompting a rousing applause form the entire radio studio

Jackie assured him everything was fine, before inviting producer Pedro Vitola to host the show in Kyle's absence.

Kyle could then be heard removing his headphones and rushing out the door.

The high-profile couple announced they were expecting their first child in February. Their baby boy will be named Otto.

The high-profile couple announced they were expecting their first child in February. Their baby boy will be named Otto

KIIS FM shared this post on social media documenting the exact moment Kyle realised his baby was on the way

'We're having a baby! We are having a friggin' baby. I couldn't be happier,' Kyle said on his KIIS FM breakfast show at the time

'We're having a baby! We are having a friggin' baby. I couldn't be happier,' Kyle said on his KIIS FM breakfast show at the time.

Tegan said on air that Kyle had been 'very emotional' since finding out he was going to be a first-time father.

Tegan and Kyle found out the sex of their baby at an elaborate gender reveal party held on Sydney Harbour later in February.

Tegan and Kyle found out the sex of their baby at an elaborate gender reveal party held on Sydney Harbour later in February

They hired a superyacht for the occasion and arranged for planes flying overhead to release blue smoke, revealing they're having a baby boy.

Kyle and Tegan also became engaged in Port Douglas, Queensland, over the Christmas holidays.

Before dating Tegan, Kyle was with ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony for eight years until they called it quits in 2019.
Kyle Sandilands is officially a father.

The radio host, 51, and his fiancee Tegan Kynaston, 36, welcomed their baby boy Otto on Thursday morning.

Kyle's co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson announced the happy news on air and Kyle's manager Bruno Bouchet told Daily Mail Australia : 'Little Otto was born this morning. Mum and bub both doing well.'

Kyle Sandilands, 51, (left) has welcomed his first child - a baby boy called Otto - with fiancee Tegan Kynaston, 36 (right)

'Kyle's beyond excited. Kyle will be back on tomorrow's radio show to chat all things Otto,' he added.

Jackie, who is Otto's godmother, shed tears of joy as she declared: 'Otto has been born!'

Kyle later gave a rather graphic update about the birth, telling 'Intern' Peter Deppeler live in the hospital car park: 'Otto's born, Otto's fabulous. I cut the cord, I didn't realise it was like tough calamari and blood spurted out.'

Kyle's co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) announced the happy news on air and Kyle's manager Bruno Bouchet told Daily Mail Australia : 'Little Otto was born this morning. Mum and bub both doing well'

Dressed in blue scrubs, the elated new father said: 'I was the first person to touch him, he sh*t himself, poo was oozing out.'

Deppeler also recorded a comedic video of Kyle indulging in a cooler bag full of snacks in the hospital.

'The baby's feeding. Then I thought, well if you're eating, I will too,' he declared.

Jackie, who is Otto's godmother, shed tears of joy as she declared: 'Otto has been born!'

Kyle gave a rather graphic update about the birth, telling 'Intern' Peter Deppeler live in the hospital car park: 'Otto's born, Otto's fabulous. I cut the cord, I didn't realise it was like tough calamari and blood spurted out'

While the KIIS FM team weren't able to broadcast from the birthing suite, they did contribute a personal touch to Tegan's and Kyle's big day by creating a baby-themed playlist for them to play while she gave birth.

Among the songs on the list was Guy Sebastian's 2003 hit single Angels Brought Me Here.

Guy himself called into the show to send his well-wishes, revealing that he'd been made aware of the birth after a stranger stopped him on the street to share the news.

Dressed in blue scrubs, the elated new father said: 'I was the first person to touch him, he sh*t himself, poo was oozing out'

TV presenter Beau Ryan also called into the show, jokingly telling Jackie: 'I never thought I'd see this day while I was alive.'

Also sending his best wishes was Kyle's idol, veteran radio host John Laws, who mused: 'Does the child look like me?'

Elsewhere, baby Otto's uncle Chris Sandilands called into the show to share his joy.

While the KIIS FM team weren't able to broadcast from the birthing suite, they did contribute a personal touch to Tegan's and Kyle's big day by creating a baby-themed playlist for them to play while she gave birth

Chris said he was thrilled by the arrival, revealing that he was unable to attend the birth due to hospital Covid restrictions but was looking forward to meeting his nephew once they return home.

'This kid is born into luxury. What a lucky little bugger!' he joked.

Just an hour earlier, at around 7am, Kyle abruptly left his radio show on as his Tegan went into labour.

Baby Otto's uncle Chris Sandilands (pictured) also called into the show to share his joy

Seconds into the show, father-to-be Kyle, 51, told his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson he had to leave and rush Tegan, 36, to the hospital.

'Guys, I am broadcasting from home for a reason, and that reason seems to have raised its head now,' he said, before turning to his pregnant partner and asking her, 'It's all happening?'

Turning back to the microphone, Kyle continued: 'Guys, I think it might have to leave the show and go to the hospital.'

Just an hour earlier Kyle abruptly left his radio show on as his Tegan went into labour

'Guys, I am broadcasting from home for a reason, and that reason seems to have raised its head now,' he said, before turning to his pregnant parter and asking her, 'It's all happening?'

'It's time? Oh, it's time!' Jackie exclaimed, prompting a rousing applause form the entire radio studio

'It's time? Oh, it's time!' an excited Jackie exclaimed, prompting a rousing applause form the entire radio studio.

'Calm down, we don't want the kid coming too soon,' Kyle joked.

Shedding his usual calm demeanour, Kyle seemed rather flustered as he told his colleagues: 'Guys I'm so sorry. I feel very unprepared, I don't... I've got to run... I feel like I'm abandoning you, but I'm there for my child.'

Jackie assured him everything was fine, before inviting producer Pedro Vitola to host the show in Kyle's absence.

KIIS FM shared this post on social media documenting the exact moment Kyle realised his baby was on the way

The high-profile couple announced they were expecting their first child in February

Kyle could then be heard removing his headphones and rushing out the door.

'We're so used to seeing everything happen in life  I wish there was a way that he could Facetime us so we could all watch  or do a live Facebook or a live Instagram,' Jackie said.

'Oh, how exciting! I'm freaking out.'

'We're so used to seeing everything happen in life  I wish there was a way that he could Facetime us so we could all watch  or do a live Facebook or a live Instagram,' Jackie said

Jackie later updated fans on the big news, telling listeners: 'If you've just tuned in, little Otto has been born. It's so hectic, I feel like I can't think straight!'

The high-profile couple announced they were expecting their first child in February. Their baby boy will be named Otto.

'We're having a baby! We are having a friggin' baby. I couldn't be happier,' Kyle said on his KIIS FM breakfast show at the time.

'We're having a baby! We are having a friggin' baby. I couldn't be happier,' Kyle said on his KIIS FM breakfast show at the time

Tegan and Kyle found out the sex of their baby at an elaborate gender reveal party held on Sydney Harbour later in February

Tegan said on air that Kyle had been 'very emotional' since finding out he was going to be a first-time father.

Tegan and Kyle found out the sex of their baby at an elaborate gender reveal party held on Sydney Harbour later in February.

They hired a superyacht for the occasion and arranged for planes flying overhead to release blue smoke, revealing they're having a baby boy.

Kyle and Tegan also became engaged in Port Douglas, Queensland, over the Christmas holidays

Kyle and Tegan also became engaged in Port Douglas, Queensland, over the Christmas holidays.

In June it was reported that Kyle had purchased a $13.8 million mansion in Sydney's elite Bellevue Hill to make room for their growing family.

The four-storey sprawling property boasts five bedrooms, six bathrooms, an internal life and a wine cellar.

Before dating Tegan, Kyle was with ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony for eight years until they called it quits in 2019.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin's most powerful Republican narrowly survived being targeted by Donald Trump in Tuesday's primary, then said his win proved that lawmakers "don't have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says."

Robin Vos, the longest-serving speaker in the state's history, overcame intense criticism from Trump and others that he hadn't pursued decertifying the 2020 election won by President Joe Biden.

But the narrow margin of his win over Adam Steen, a landlord and political newcomer, suggested the power Trump still holds over many conservative voters.

Soon after his victory, Vos lashed out at former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, whom he hired to investigate the 2020 election results under pressure from Trump. Vos has had a testy relationship with Gableman, who ended up endorsing Steen and campaigned for him, including appearing at a Friday rally that included Trump.

Vos called Gableman "an embarrassment to the state" and said "he embarrassed himself." Vos said Assembly Republicans would meet next week to discuss Gablemans investigation and what to do next. Five lawsuits are pending related to the investigation, which has cost taxpayers more than $1.1 million and which Vos put on hold earlier this year.

Asked if he regretted hiring Gableman, Vos paused, then said, "Im going to have to think about that."

FILE - Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos talks to reporters March 16, 2022, in Madison, Wis. Vos defeated a little-known Donald Trump-endorsed challenger in the Republican primary Tuesday, Aug. 8, overcoming intense criticism from Trump and others that he hadn't pursued decertifying the 2020 election won by President Joe Biden. (AP Photo Scott Bauer, File)

Vos was first elected in 2004 and rose to become speaker in 2013. Vos has had a hand in every major Republican initiative over the last decade. Unofficial results show Vos beat Steen by just 260 votes, or less than 3 percentage points. No Democrats are running for the seat.

Vos, and the Republican agenda, has been largely blocked by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers the past two years. Vos fell out of favor with Trump after he refused to push to decertify Bidens win in Wisconsin. Vos, citing legal experts, said decertification was unconstitutional.

Steen ran on the platform of decertifying the election. Days before the primary, he touted his support for banning all birth control.

"This election was only about one topic. It was only about whether or not we could decertify the last election and overturn it," Vos said. "This was only a referendum on overturning the election, which is unconstitutional."

Vos' win comes in the face of Trump-aligned challengers who have been defeating Republican incumbents across the country. Last week, Arizonas Republican House speaker, Rusty Bowers, lost his bid for a state Senate seat after refusing then-President Trumps pleas to help overturn the 2020 results and testifying before Congress about the efforts.
Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks during a press conference in Qingdao, China, Wednesday. Yonhap





By Kang Seung-woo







Foreign Minister Park Jin reaffirmed, Wednesday, that the so-called "Three Nos" policy concerning the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea is not a commitment to China amid growing pressure from Beijing over the U.S. anti-missile defense system.







"I made it clear to the Chinese side that the THAAD deployment is a matter of our security and sovereignty against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," Park said during a press conference in Qingdao, China.







Park and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, held talks, Tuesday, where they exchanged views on the THAAD issue, according to the both countries' foreign ministries.






Nacogdoches, TX (75965)

Today

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
GreekFest is back! Full festival the weekend after Labor Day - live music/dancing, amazing vendors, beautifully crafted Greek pastries and much more!

2022 Dayton GreekFest In Person/Live

Please join Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Dayton, Ohio as we celebrate our annual Greek Festival the weekend after Labor Day.

The Dayton Greek Festival is celebrated annually the weekend after Labor Day. A Greek tradition for both the young and old, our festival brings together people of all backgrounds and cultures to celebrate all things Greek. The 2022 live/in-person schedule is as follows:

Friday September 9 (11am-10pm)

Saturday September 10 (11am-10pm )

Sunday September 11 (12pm-4pm)

The festival has several Greek good options, live music/dancing, amazing vendors and beautifully crafted Greek pastries. Food may include Greek Salad / Souvlaki Dinner / Traditional Gyro / Chicken Gyro / Veggie Gyro / Dolmathes / Tiropita (Cheese Pie) / Spanakopita (Spinach Pie) + more. Desserts may include Baklava / Chocolate Baklava / Koulouria / Kourambiethes / Chocolate Almond Rolls / Pecan Blosson / Apricot Pasta Flora / Strawberry Pasta Flora / Walnut Rolls / Tsoureki Bread + more.
Victims of Japan's wartime forced labor hold a rally to denounce the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, Aug. 2, claiming the ministry submitted its opinion to the Supreme Court to postpone the court's decision to liquidate the assets of Japanese companies involved in forced labor. Newsis





By Nam Hyun-woo







A government-led consultative body consisting of authorities, experts and victims of Japan's wartime forced labor is dangerously close to running aground, as the victims have pulled themselves out of its meetings in protest against the government's stance of prioritizing diplomatic benefits over their hopes and aims.







Current negotiations are widely seen as the basis for the Yoon administration's efforts to improve relations, which soured after Tokyo tightened export controls against Seoul in protest after a court ruling here ordered Japanese companies to compensate the victims of forced labor.







As Seoul's Supreme Court is poised to make a decision on whether to liquidate the remaining assets of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Korea to compensate the victims, which Japan has been claiming as a "red line" that should not be crossed, as early as Aug. 19, the stalled negotiations are casting a gloomy outlook on governmental efforts to swiftly mend ties with Tokyo.







According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consultative body held its third round of meetings, Tuesday, and participants have developed ideas for settling related disputes based on prior discussions.







Unlike two earlier meetings, however, victims and their legal representatives did not participate in the latest meeting, saying "the trust between the government and the victims has already been destroyed."







The Center for Historical Truth and Justice, a civic group representing the victims, claimed the foreign ministry had submitted its opinion to the Supreme Court on July 26 with "an intention to ask the court to postpone its decision" without any notice given to the victims. The foreign ministry said the opinion is not a subject to be disclosed, but added it does not contain any sensitive content.







The absence of the victims deals a hefty blow to one of the most likely scenarios that the government has been considering in order to resolve the issue  the Korean government pays for the compensation instead of the Japanese government and collects the amount from the Japanese side.







According to sources, members of the consultative body explored ideas on this plan during the second meeting, which took place about a month ago. Since then, participants have reviewed the legal possibility of such a plan but come into deadlock over a question regarding whether the government can push forward with this plan even though some of the victims oppose it.







Against this backdrop, Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min has triggered a backlash from the victims due to his remarks on Monday that "the liquidation (of the Japanese companies' assets here) should be frozen" for the sake of Korea-Japan relations.







"We strongly condemn Yun's comments, which snubbed the rights of the victims," the civic group said in a statement, demanding Yun step down from the post.







With the situation becoming further aggravated, an official at the foreign ministry said, "It will be difficult for the body to hold additional meetings before Aug. 19," adding that "the ministry will make efforts to communicate with the victims."







"The approach should have been very delicate, considering the sentiment of the victims, but the government appears to have handled this matter with a bureaucratic approach," Choi Eun-mi, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, who is a member of the consultative body.







"The consultative body was launched in full awareness that negative responses may follow. However, it is a necessary process. The issue of forced labor is not confined to the victims and the companies. It is a matter that affects the relations between Korea and Japan. Due to this, there is a necessity to continue efforts to listen to various opinions from victims, businesses affected by the soured bilateral relations, researchers and the government."







Choi noted that if the Supreme Court hands down a liquidation order, the frayed bilateral relations will further worsen and the government will have no choice but to make "a certain decision" at some point to prevent this.







"There is an idealism and realism in handling Korea-Japan relations," she said. "The previous (Moon Jae-in) government tilted toward idealism by doing nothing to soothe Japan when the court ordered Japanese firms to compensate forced labor victims.  On the contrary, the consultative body is an effort to seek a grey area between the realistic goal of mending ties with Japan and the ideal goal of getting Japan's apology. In this process, the top priority should be taking a cautious stance not to bring further harm to the victims."


The government has sent out circulars to revenue and agricultural officials instructing them to find landowners and farmers engaging in ganja cultivation and stop their government incentives like Rythu Bandhu.(Photo: Representational/Pixabay)

Hyderabad: Ganja (marijuana) cultivation is quickly turning into opium for farmers who are lured by the quick money the sale of narcotics brings.

Despite the government's warnings to farmers not to grow ganja, cultivation has surged in some districts' interior areas like Asifabad, Bhadradri, Mancherial, Bhupalpally, Hanumakonda and Adilabad. Officials said the Covid-19 induced lockdown had led to an upsurge in ganja cultivation.

Due to a lack of coordination among police, revenue, and agriculture department officials, the police have been unable to stop ganja cultivation.

During a video conference, senior officials instructed all district police officers to be vigilant on ganja cultivation. Consequently, the district police have obtained reports from each village and they were shocked to learn that people in rural areas, particularly hilly tracts, heavily depended on ganja cultivation.

Under the Rythu Bandhu scheme, the government offers each farmer a financial incentive of `10,000 per acre each year towards crop investment. The government has sent out circulars to revenue and agricultural officials instructing them to find landowners and farmers engaging in ganja cultivation and stop their government incentives like Rythu Bandhu.

The Suryapet police recently arrested nine people at various locations, including the police limits of Munagala, Palakaveedu, and Chilukuru and seized 300 kg of marijuana worth more than `30 lakh from them. The police said they had that suggested that people from other states transported marijuana, and they purportedly have information that people were involved in growing marijuana.

"When police raid ganja plantations, the revenue authorities fail to hold panchanama with witnesses over the seized evidence. When revenue officials attend the panchanamas, there are disputes and confusion over the origin of ganja saplings. The agricultural department staff often failed to authenticate the seized items, said a senior police officer of the Mancherial district.
PATNA: The JD(U) on Tuesday hailed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, its de facto leader, for assuming the leadership of a new coalition, while Left iterated its support for him in a coalition sans BJP.

JD(U) parliamentary board president Upendra Kushwaha wrote a post to this effect on Twitter, ahead of Kumar's meeting with Governor Fagu Chauhan later in the day.

Congratulations to Nitish Kumar ji for assuming leadership of a new coalition, in a new form, tweeted Kushwaha referring to the opposition Grand Alliance's support to the JD(U) leader.

March ahead Nitish ji. The country is waiting for you, Kushwaha added cryptically. Meanwhile, the CPI(ML), a major alliance partner of the Grand Alliance, also praised Kumar for snapping ties with the BJP.

Nitish Kumar deserves to be commended for breaking away with the BJP. We will support him as Chief Minister when he stakes claim to form a new government, the Left party's secretary general Dipankar told PTI-Bhasha over phone. The Communist leader had on Monday too promised help if JD(U) broke with the saffron party.

Dipankar, whose party has 12 MLAs in the assembly which has an effective strength of 242, however added we are a mass movement oriented party, not keen on joining any government. But right now we are keeping a close watch on the CM's meeting with the Governor.

CPI(M) state secretary Awadhesh Kumar, whose party is also a Grand Alliance partner with two MLAs, also posted a one line message, praising the JD(U) leader, on his Facebook page.
Bengaluru: Accusing the opposition Congress of unnecessarily raking up the issue of Karnataka Chief Minister replacement, to cover up the rift within, senior BJP leader and Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Wednesday challenged the grand old party to name its CM candidate for 2023 assembly polls.

Ruling out Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's replacement, he said BJP's top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have already said that the election will be under Bommai's leadership and the party will abide by it.

The Minister was reacting to Congress' series of tweets on Tuesday speculating about Chief Minister Bommai being replaced and even calling him a "Puppet CM".

"To cover up their infighting that has come on to the streets, Congress is spreading false information that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be replaced. Congress has no base in the country, what rights do they have to speak about BJP's leadership and CM change," Ashoka said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, Congress have not been able to appoint their party's national president, and are today talking about Chief Minister change in the BJP government.

"Did Amit Shah or the Prime Minister tell you (about CM change)? Things have rotten within your own party because of your infighting, clear it first.....There will be neither CM change nor will BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel be replaced, we will go to polls under their leadership," he added.

There has been some buzz on and off within the state BJP in recent times, regarding some kind of an overhaul including at the top level, especially after the recent visit of Amit Shah to the State.

Ashoka, further challenging the Congress party said, "Our Chief Minister is Basavaraj Bommai, if you have guts, courage and morality will you be able to tell who is your Chief Minister candidate? Question yourself about it, you don't have courage to announce, but you want to speak about others."

He also said that Congress fears getting split on making such an announcement into- Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar Congress.

Ashoka noted that the internal rift been Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara and M B Patil, has come out in open after the Siddaramaiah's 75th birthday event at Davangere. To counter Siddaramaiah's event, Shivakumar is organising a march in the name of 75th independence day, to prove his strength, he said.

"It has also come to our notice that the native Congress leaders have held a meeting expressing their displeasure about Siddaramaiah's birthday event ," he said, adding that instead of going to flood affected areas Congress leaders are involved in such things.

Former BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda's recent statement indicating some changes that the high command will take a call on replacing the Chief Minister and other matters in the interest of the party and to win the elections in future, had added to the speculations.

However, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel rejected it by stating that Bommai would complete his tenure.
New Delhi: The Opposition forces across India got a major shot in the arm with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar snapping ties with the BJP on Tuesday.

With Trinamul Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee reeling under a cash scam scandal, Mr Kumar is all set to emerge as the Oppositions face for the 2024 general election.

A CPI(M) leader claimed that, unlike Ms Banerjee, Mr Kumar has a pan-India image. While Ms Banerjee has been struggling to expand her influence outside West Bengal, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Kumar is the only leader who has the ability to influence politics in the Hindi heartland. As for caste-based electoral politics, both Mr Kumar and Mr Modi belong to the OBC category. And even though he was an ally of the BJP, Mr Kumar has somehow managed to largely steer clear of Hindutva politics and has been soft on the minority community in Bihar. He apparently enjoys the support of Bihars Pasmanda Muslims as well.

Mr Kumar is also a major draw for the Opposition leaders because of his clean image. A JD(U) leader noted that Mr Kumar is perhaps the only non-BJP leader with no corruption charges against him.

It is also felt that, unlike Ms Banerjee, the JD(U) leader was a more reliable ally and acceptable to all the non-Congress and non-BJP outfits, particularly the Left parties. Therefore a Mahagathbandhan of the JD(U), RJD, Samajwadi Party and Left parties could counter the BJPs politics of social engineering and muscular nationalism in the BJPs key bastion -- the Hindi heartland, an Opposition leader felt.

Besides his clean image. The Opposition parties can also bank on Mr Kumars track record of good governance. In Bihar, Mr Kumar has gained a lot of popularity for ushering in development across the state and this may hold currency at the national level, a JD(U) leader observed.

It was also being felt that even though the BJP is the second largest party in the state, with 77 MLAs after RJD with 79 seats, it was Mr Kumars image which went on to help the NDA alliance during the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections. The JD(U) had managed to win only 45 Assembly seats.

Regardless of Mr Kumars recent disenchantment with the BJP, sources said that the JD(U) chief had always been nurturing his ambition to be at the helm of national politics. In 2015, Mr Kumar left the BJP and formed the Grand Alliance. The entire Opposition had started looking at him as the face to challenge Mr Modi. But then, at the last moment, Mr Kumar walked out of the Grand Alliance to return to the saffron fold.

After the 2020 state elections, the BJP started calling the shots and the chief minister apparently felt slighted on many occasions. The BJP also broke the JD(U) in Nagaland and merged its MLAs with the BJP. JD(U) sources said that over the past few months, Mr Kumar had not only opened a back channel with the RJD but was also in touch with other Opposition leaders, particularly Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

As for the electoral arithmetic, the JD(U) has units in over 26 states and has fought Assembly elections in Karnataka and Gujarat without any tie-ups with the BJP. The JD(U) has been working to expand and strengthen its state units, according to a party leader. Party sources revealed that Mr Kumars first and major obstacle in emerging as a national face was the RJD. However, now that he has crossed the hurdle, Mr Kumar will begin his parleys with other regional players.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav during their swearing-in ceremony the at Raj Bhavan in Patna, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Nitish Kumar took oath as the Bihar Chief Minister for the eighth time. (Photo: PTI)

PATNA: Nitish Kumar on Wednesday took oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the eighth time, forming his alliance with RJD-led Mahagathbandhan. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took oath as his deputy in a ceremony at the governor's house in Patna.

A larger cabinet expansion is expected within a week. Sources said that RJD being the largest party in the Mahagathbandhan has demanded 19 seats in the Bihar cabinet and the list is to be finalised by party chief Lalu Yadav. Nitish Kumars JD(U) is speculated to get 13 seats, the Congress 4 and Jitan Ram Manjhi 1 seat.

Talking to reporters after his oath, Nitish Kumar questioned the BJP for claiming that the newly formed grand alliance would not last its full term. He said, Staging protest and making false claims is the only work left for them. Let them say what they want but I assure you that this government will continue and work hard for the development of Bihar.

He also threw a challenge to the BJP by saying that it needs to worry about its prospects in 2024. He also used the occasion to urge all the opposition parties in the country to unite against the BJP-led NDA.

I have no aspirations for any post. I dont know where I will be in 2024 but the questions which need to be asked whether the person who came in 2014 will return in 2024, Nitish Kumar said after taking oath as Chief Minister for the eighth time.

Top leaders in JD(U) have been projecting Nitish Kumar as the oppositions face for the 2024 general elections. Leaders in the JD(U) including Upendra Kushwaha have been saying that no leader in the country has an image like Nitish Kumar and he can be made the PM's face in 2024.

Nitish Kumar ended his ties with the BJP-led NDA on Tuesday and announced a grand alliance with seven political parties in Bihar. Addressing the media after his oath Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, The party was not comfortable with the NDA and took a decision to quit the alliance.

He also cited a conspiracy to split the JD(U) as one of the main reasons behind snapping ties with the BJP.

Sources said that after the oath Nitish Kumar called Lalu Yadav and briefed him about the political scenario in the state. Sources said that after the cabinet expansion Nitish Kumar may also visit New Delhi to meet Lalu Yadav and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss future strategies.

According to RJD leaders here, people were not happy with the agenda of the BJP. Bihar will grow under the leadership of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav.
Poster pasted by the followers of the Errabelli Pradeep Rao challenging Warangal East MLA Nannanpuneni Narendar to a bypoll, in Warangal.  DC

Warangal: Amid the political developments in Munugode in the run-up to the Assembly elections next year, a curious trend of politicians challenging their local rivals to debates is on the rise.

The tendency seems to be especially acute among TRS members, who seem to be taken with the debate route to prove their supremacy  or innocence  over allegations of corruption and misgovernance.

In one such instance, Warangal East MLA Nannanpuneni Narendar came down heavily on Errabelli Pradeep Rao, who recently quit the TRS, over his comments against the party. Narendar dared Rao to a debate and said that none who challenge the party will be spared.

Pradeep Rao retaliated by challenging Narendar to resign as MLA and face him in a bypoll. If he wins, I am ready to quit politics and will never contest again, he said.

On the same lines, Jangaon MLA Muttireddy Yadagiri Reddy challenged BJPs Bandi Sanjay, whose padayatra is scheduled to wind its way to Jangaon, to a debate to prove that the Niti Aayog had recommended that the Centre allot Rs 24,000 crore for Mission Bhagiratha and Mission Kakatiya of the state government.

If Bandi Sanjay proves me wrong, then I am ready to resign from my MLA post, Reddy said.

Sanjay seems to be a target not only for the TRS but also the Congress, with former MP Ponnam Prabhakar challenging him to a debate on developmental works undertaken in his Lok Sabha segment and funds procured from the Centre for Karimnagar.

TRSs former MP Boinpally Vinod Kumar also piled on the pressure for a debate, but Sanjay did not respond to their challenges.

Ramagundam TRS MLA Korakanti Chander Patel  facing allegations of corruption of `45 crore for providing jobs in Ramagundam Fertiliser Company Limited (RFCL)  challenged his political rivals to an open debate.

BJP district president Somarapu Satyanarayana and Congress Assembly segment incharges Tagore Makkan Singh and Teenmaar Mallanna accepted the challenge, but were detained by the police at the venue.

BJPs Etala Rajendar has been targeted by the TRS, with MLC Padi Koushil Reddy challenging him to a debate and outdoing him in the next years polls. However, Rajender dismissed the challenge saying he did not wish to interact with those who attacked Telangana activists during the statehood struggle.




South Korea's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup instructed his ministry and affiliated agencies Wednesday to prioritize investing in building a key deterrence system, his office said, as Seoul seeks to bolster defense amid evolving North Korean security threats.







Lee gave the instruction during a session of the ministry's task force charged with developing the Defense Reform 4.0 initiative aimed at nurturing a sturdier military based on cutting-edge technologies, like artificial intelligence and robots.







He stressed that the nation's defense investment should first be channeled into the construction of the three-axis deterrence system and a combat platform consisting of both manned and unmanned military assets.







Aimed at countering the North's nuclear and missile threats, the three-pronged system consists of the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform; the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR); and the Korea Air and Missile Defense system (KAMD).







In pushing for the reform initiative, Lee called for "bold" improvement in national defense.







"Without bold systemic enhancement in our defense, it would be difficult for us to overcome challenges, including current and future threats, technological competition and the population cliff," Lee said, referring to concerns about prospects of the shrinking population caused by the nation's low birthrate.







At the session, participants discussed details about key elements of the defense reform initiative, including research and development, new military strategies and concepts, the optimization of the military command structure and the procurement of high-tech equipment.







To flesh out the initiative, Lee called on officials to draw up short-, mid- and long-term plans in detail with a focus on the implementation of near-term tasks, according to his office.







Vice Defense Minister Shin Beom-chul and related officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and all armed services also attended it.







Later in the day, Lee met with a visiting delegation of U.S. experts on Korean Peninsula issues. The delegation included Joseph R. DeTrani, a former American nuclear negotiator, and congresswoman Beth Van Duyne.







Lee told the group that the strengthening of the South Korea-U.S. alliance is at the core of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's security and foreign policy, while stressing his ministry's "utmost" efforts to further solidify the alliance. (Yonhap)






The TRS government is meeting pending promises to the Munugode Assembly constituency in a rush, ahead of the byelection. (Representational Image/ DC File)

Hyderabad: The TRS government is meeting pending promises to the Munugode Assembly constituency in a rush, ahead of the byelection,

During the Nagarjunasagar Assembly bypoll in Nalgonda district in April 2021, TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had promised Rs 20 lakh to each gram panchayat and Rs 30 lakh to each mandal. Munugode in Nalgonda district did not receive funds as it was represented by Congress MLA Rajgopal Reddy till recently.

The Munugode constituency have are over 800 gram panchayats and seven mandals. As per CM's promise, the government has to release nearly Rs 35 crore for development works in gram panchayats and mandal headquarters.

As per norms, the MLAs have to submit development works proposals pertaining to mandals and gram panchayats in their constituencies, to the district incharge minister.

Due to the political rivalry between the TRS and the Congress, Rajgopal Reddy could not submit proposals to incharge minister G. Jagadish Reddy.

He met officials several times seeking funds but they said they were helplessness was it was for the minister to approve the proposals and forward them for funds.

Except Munugode, all the other Assembly constituencies in Nalgonda district are represented by the TRS. While these MLAs secured funds, Munugode was excluded due to the presence of the Congress MLA.

With bypolls round the corner, minister Jagadish Reddy has sent development proposals to district officials which were referred to finance department on priority. The finance department is expected to issue government orders sanctioning funds in a day or two.

Proposals worth several hundreds of crores to complete pending works pertaining to irrigation projects, roads, internal roads, community halls, drainage system etc were also referred to government for approval.
The recent killing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawhiri in a CIA drone strike in Kabul, at an address evidently linked to Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, is very bad optics for the regime. It raises complex questions about the Taliban, and requires us to ponder how India should proceed in Afghanistan.

New Delhi may have to cautiously re-visit its modulated approach to the Taliban to check for roadworthiness. In a low-key operation in June, it reopened its mission in Kabul which had been closed after the Taliban takeover, underlining Indias Taliban-wariness over its past terrorist acts against Indian interests.

The declared purpose of restoring representation is to coordinate the substantial Indian food and medical relief -- to ensure it reaches needy Afghan people now in a near-famine situation. Indias overture, besides emphasising our deep friendship with the Afghan people, may be seen as cautious pre-positioning for the day the US and others eventually settle down to confer legitimacy on Taliban rule.

Crucially, this depends on the Taliban cutting all terror links, especially groups with an international jihadist outlook like Al-Qaeda, and upon the insurgents paving the way for a government that accommodates all political interests in Afghanistan, besides treating women on an equal footing with men. The Zawahiri killing is a decided setback. It recalls Pakistans double-dealing being exposed when Osama bin Laden, whom Zawahiri succeeded as Al-Qaeda chief, was killed by US special forces in Pakistan.

After the Zawahiri assassination, US secretary of state Antony Blinken has justly accused the Taliban of grossly violating the Doha peace accord, under which the Taliban pledged not to harbour terrorists or allow terrorist attacks to be launched against other countries from Afghan soil. For the US, revenge for the 9/11 attacks is now complete as Zawahiri was the brains behind that tragic event. But this is strictly for US domestic politics.

For the rest of the world, once the US brought the Taliban back from the cold after battling it militarily for two decades, and then signed a peace agreement with it, bypassing the then Afghan government, it seems inconceivable that Washington would once again seek to freeze the group out. Doing so may mean that the countries with real influence and leverage with the Taliban are China and Pakistan.

Afghanistan may then lapse into a state like that existed before the US invasion in 2001, which led to the Talibans ouster. The Haqqani faction -- given its proximity to Pakistan -- may then become the most powerful politico-military entity.

With the Mullah Omar era ending after the Taliban founders death, by natural causes or engineered by the Talibans Pakistan controllers, the Haqqanis have pulled the most weight in the group, being the closest to Islamabad. The Kandhar and Doha groups have had to kowtow.

Geography has much to do with the Haqqani power base, making it the most influential Taliban faction -- a factor that has received inadequate attention in understanding intra-Taliban power dynamics. The clan is from the virtually ungoverned, rugged, tribal region that falls between Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan which has attracted and sheltered jihadist fighters from far afield, including Arabs, Uighurs, Uzbeks, Tajiks and Pakistanis. It has strong social and matrimonial ties with foreign groups and fighters since the days of the anti-Soviet jihad, which was overseen by Pakistan. Pakistan is their overall warlord in that sense.

Now that the Taliban are back in the saddle in Kabul, and the country is in dire straits, it faces a dilemma. It is desperate to gain international recognition in order to attract foreign assistance in every conceivable field to avoid economic and political instability, else it could meet with serious internal challenges, including from Taliban factions. But in order to be a normal country, it must cut off links with terror groups, many of whom may now be family or close associates, regardless of nationality.

This is a possible explanation why Zawahiri came to be sheltered by the Haqqani outfit. After Bin Ladens death, Al-Qaeda was rendered a spent force except in parts of West Asia and the Sahel in Africa. Zawahiri was without charisma. He had no followers. He was living out his last days as a retired terrorist and was shorn of value, living practically on charity. Vanda Fellab-Brown, in a recent well-argued Brookings paper, sheds light on many aspects of the Taliban relationship -- especially that of the Haqqanis -- with foreign fighters and groups. She asks some questions: Would Zawahiri be able to do anything without the Haqqanis finding out; and whether Zawahiri, finding harbour with the Taliban, would do anything (like engineering a terrorist strike) that would jeopardise his hosts?

So, who was in a position to betray Zawahiri? Two sets of people, really. The first are those seeking to curry favour with the Americans -- such as Pakistan, which is in a poor way and can do with all-round US help in getting financial aid and escaping the FATF (UNs terrorism roster); and of course the Haqqanis themselves, partly to cement their own position within Afghanistan and possibly to get rid of the Al-Qaeda connection in a clever, secret manoeuvre. The other set are those who calculate they might benefit if the Haqqanis are exposed as helping Al-Qaeda. In this group can be other Taliban factions or even non-Taliban Afghans.

While castigating the Haqqanis for the Al-Qaeda link, we should bear in mind that the Islamic State of Khorasan (ISIS-K) has gained in Afghanistan and is challenging the Taliban, mounting terrorist attacks across the country. They are not a Taliban creation. Conjecture places their provenance with Pakistans secret agencies and sometimes even with the dark side of American operations.

Compared to ISIS-K, Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan is small beer.

The question is why should any of this worry us. The answer isnt complex. If Taliban returns to being its pre-2001 self with withdrawal of Western -- and Indian -- help, India can be seriously impacted on terrorism. Two, Afghanistan -- along with Iran -- plays an important part in delineating our strategic interests in Central Asia. If we walk away now, we would have ceded all leverage to China and Pakistan in Afghanistan. That would help complete Indias encirclement to the north and the west.

Afghanistan is a society and polity in transition. The Hamid Karzai years, for all their negatives, did produce the outlines of a new Afghanistan. The system in power today is undergoing a churn. The Zawahiri incident could well trigger certain unexpected happenings. We need to stand by the Afghan people in this extraordinary moment.
Sri Lanka's ousted president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday, seeking temporary shelter in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, two sources said.

Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on July 14, via the Maldives, following unprecedented unrest triggered by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in seven decades and days after thousands of protesters stormed the president's official residence and office.

The retired military officer then resigned from the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan president to quit mid-term.

Read | Sri Lanka buckles under pressure from India, asks China to defer visit of PLA recon ship

The former president is expected to leave Singapore and go to Thailand's capital Bangkok on Thursday, two sources said, asking not to be named.

Sri Lanka's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Thai government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek told Reuters no comment.

Rajapaksa has not made any public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka, and Singapore's government said this month that the city-state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity.

A member of the influential Rajapaksa family, the 73-year-old served in the Sri Lankan military and later as defence secretary.

During his time as defence secretary government forces finally defeated Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 to end the Sri Lankan civil war. Some rights groups now want accusations that Rajapaksa committed war crimes to be investigated. Rajapaksa has previously strenuously denied the allegations.

Some critics and protesters also accuse Rajapaksa and his family of mishandling the economy during his term as president, leading to the country's worst financial crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

Also Read | Sri Lanka: How the crisis unfolded

His elder brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, is a former president and prime minister. Their younger sibling, Basil Rajapaksa, served as finance minister till earlier this year.

Rajapaksa's successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has previously indicated that the former president should refrain from returning to Sri Lanka in the near future.

"I don't believe it's the time for him to return," Wickremesinghe told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on July 31. "I have no indication of him returning soon."

If Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka, he might not be protected under law if any charges were filed against him, legal experts have said.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 hit northern Japan early on Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Soya region of the northern island of Hokkaido, and at a depth of 3 kilometres, the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Reliance (NIED) said.

No tsunami warning had been issued, broadcaster NHK said. There were no immediate reports of damage.
Simranjit Singh Mann, a proponent for a separate Sikh homeland and SAD (Amritsar) MP from Sangrur, has kicked up a row by asking people to hoist 'kesari' or Sikh religious flags atop their houses on Independence Day in place of the national flag as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign.

In a message, Mann appealed to the people to hoist saffron flags and Nishan Sahib on their houses on August 14 and 15.

The Nishan Sahib flag is a symbol of Sikh religion.

Earlier this week, Mann had tweeted, "Best tribute to the 75th anniversary of Independence would be to liberate Ladakh from China rather than fluttering flags. Besides, provide food and shelter to the poor. If Nancy Pelosi could do it, so can the politicos and generals. Facta Non Verba."

Mann's statement on flags has evoked strong reactions from different political parties.

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has criticised a section of radical leadership for trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Reacting to a call by these leaders, including by Mann, who recently took an oath under the Constitution, Warring said such actions are clearly meant to vitiate the hard-earned peace in Punjab.

He said the tricolour is a national symbol and every Indian should respect it.

"Nobody stops anyone from displaying 'kesari' flag atop their houses and every Sikh is and should be proud of the 'kesari' colour as it is the symbol of the ever great and glorious spirit of Khalsa," Warring said.

The tricolour is the national symbol of India's Independence and it deserves to be respected and honoured, he added.

"Tens of thousands of people, most of them Punjabis and Sikhs, have laid down their lives to safeguard the honour of the tricolour and those trying to disrespect it are disrespecting our own martyrs and their martyrdom," Warring said.

Reacting to Mann's statement, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the country has been freed from the British after sacrifices made by "our forefathers".

"Those opposing the tricolour have taken oath under the Constitution," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a swipe at the Congress over its recent black clothes protest against price rise, saying resorting to 'black magic' cannot end the opposition party's "bad days" and help it earn the trust of people again.

Dedicating to the nation a Rs 900 crore second generation ethanol plant at Panipat in Haryana, Modi also renewed his attack on the culture of freebies for votes, and said they are a spoke in India's effort to become self-reliant and a burden on taxpayers.

Without naming Congress, he said some out of frustration resorted to 'black magic' on August 5.

"On August 5, we saw how some people tried to spread 'black magic'. These people think that by wearing black clothes they can end their despondency. But they do not know that by engaging in witchcraft, black magic and superstition, they cannot earn the trust of people again," Modi said.

Also Read | Message from Bihar: Modi neither unstoppable nor unbeatable

The Congress staged nationwide protests against rising prices on August 5 with its leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi wearing black clothes in Parliament and outside.

"Some people think wearing black clothes can ward off their pessimism and negativity but they don't know that they can resort to any such tactics but can't win back people's confidence," he said.

In an apparent reference to the Congress, Modi also said that "black magic cannot end your bad days".

The Congress hit back at the prime minister over his 'kala jadu'(black magic) remark, saying while the country wants him to talk about their problems but "jumlajeevi" keeps saying just anything.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh shared a picture of Modi in black clothes and said he is making a pointless issue about black clothes.

"They could not do anything to bring black money, now they are making a pointless issue about black clothes. The country wants the prime minister to talk about their problems, but 'Jumlajeevi' keeps saying anything," Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi.

In his speech, the prime minister also attacked certain opposition parties for engaging in politics of freebies, saying such things would only do a disservice to the nation as it hampers investment in new technology.

He said that if there is selfishness in politics, then anybody can even promise free petrol and diesel.

"Such steps will amount to depriving our children of their due and prevent the country from becoming self sufficient. Such selfish policies will put more burden on honest tax payers of the country," Modi added.

Those who promise freebies will never will able to find resources for investment in new technologies, he said. "This is not a right policy but misleading one; this is not in national interest but it is against the nation; this is not nation building but an effort to push back the country".

The prime minister further said that people who have a tendency to avoid problems by adopting shortcuts for political selfishness can never solve the problems permanently.

Those adopting short-cuts may get applause for some time, and may gain political advantage, but that does not solve the problem, he said.

Adopting a short-cut will definitely result in a short-circuit, he said, adding that instead of following short-cuts, our government is engaged in permanent solutions to the problems.

The Supreme Court had on August 3 also asked stakeholders like the Centre, Niti Aayog, Finance Commission and the RBI to brainstorm on the "serious" issue of freebies announced during elections and put forth constructive suggestions to tackle this practice, saying no political party will oppose such handouts or like to debate it in Parliament.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday also cautioned against announcement of populist measures by political parties on the eve of elections, and said the "freebie culture" has led to deteriorating financial health of many states.

However, parties like the Telangana Rashtra Samithi(TRS) and the Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) have said welfare of poorer sections of society is not a freebie and welfare measures taken by governments should continue.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred the probe into multiple FIRs lodged against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma over her remarks on Prophet Mohammed made during a TV debate on May 26, to Delhi Police, while rejecting a plea by the West Bengal government for a court-monitored probe into the matter.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala also granted her liberty to approach Delhi High Court for quashing of the FIRs lodged in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir and other States.

The court also declared that the protection granted to Sharma from any coercive action in those FIRs, on July 19 would continue to operate till the conclusion of the investigation. It also ordered that all future FIRs would also stand transferred to the Delhi police.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Sharma, asked the top court to pass similar protection to her as was granted in the case of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing the West Bengal government, objected to the plea for the transfer of FIRs to Delhi by saying that the first case against her was registered in Mumbai. Maintaining that the accused cannot be allowed to pick the jurisdiction, she claimed the maximum impact of her statement was felt in West Bengal, so the state police should also be roped in during the probe.

The top court, however, noted Delhi FIR has been registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police, which is a specialized agency and it should be allowed to carry out the investigation.

On July 19, the court had ordered that no coercive action can be taken against Sharma in FIRs registered so far and also in cases, which could be lodged in future in connection with her remarks.

The order by the top court, which had earlier on July 1 declined to consider her similar plea saying her remark has set the entire country on fire, came as her counsel had submitted that she faced a "grave and imminent" threat to her life and liberty.
As Nitish Kumar takes another u-turn, there is scepticism and suspicion among his new friends about the JD(U) supremo but they are willing to overcome a trust deficit due to his past action in order not to waste any opportunity to corner the BJP.

They are jubilant too as they find it as revenge served not cold but instant in Bihar for what the ruling BJP did in Maharashtra by dismantling Uddhav Thackerays government and his hold over Shiv Sena. The predominant theme was that the BJP needs to be rebuffed and shown that the Opposition has not surrendered its mojo.

Also Read: Why didn't BJP try to stop Bihar CM Nitish Kumar from leaving NDA alliance?

The unravelling of the JD(U)-led government in Bihar was a work in progress for some time with JD(U) and RJD carefully scripting it with Nitish meeting Lalu Prasad at a hospital, Tejaswi Yadav halting his missiles at the Chief Minister and Nitish stepping up his anti-BJP rhetoric while all agreeing on the JD(U) chief continuing at the helm in the new arrangement.

At the moment, the Opposition leaders are not worried or bothered about what Nitish would do after a year or two, as they identify their primary objective is to contain the BJP, which they believe could do whatever in its power to ensure that the Opposition not getting to the power corridors.

Where is the question of reliability? Times are different. With everybody, there is a problem. These are not normal times and we cannot go with magnifying glasses, a top Opposition leader shot back when asked how they could rely on Nitish who had changed sides at unexpected times.

The leaders point out how the RJD, the single-largest party in Bihar Assembly, is ready to play second fiddle to Nitish despite the latter using CBI cases against Lalus wife Rabri Devi and son Tejaswi to walk out of the Grand Alliance in 2017. Defeating BJP is the primary objective. All other things are secondary, the leader said.

Also Read: Could Nitish Kumar be Opposition PM candidate in 2024? Many wary of his 'U-turns'

For his new allies, what Nitish intends to do in future is not clear but they believe that the latest development would be a signal to the current and future allies. Nitish also kept his cards close to the chest as he instructed his MPs and MLAs to vote in favour of NDA in Presidential and Vice Presidential elections though he was subtly sending a message by boycotting a number of meetings called by Modi and the Union government.

The Opposition parties are also keeping a close watch at the political developments as they fear that the BJP could delay the government formation. We can say with finality only when it is on paper. They are capable of engineering defections or imposing Presidents Rule, a second Opposition leader said.

Till the last minute many in the Opposition were not sure whether Nitish would bite the bullet or use it as a bargaining chip to manoeuvre more space in the NDA and on Monday, a senior Congress leader said, wait till he puts in his papers. He can do anything. All, but, were willing to forget the unpleasant past but the question still remains hanging  at what cost.

Nitishs friends and foes  which interchanges as he changes political colours  havent forgotten what he did in 2013 to NDA when he walked out over making Narendra Modi the Prime Ministerial candidate.

It repeated in 2017 when he used the CBI cases against Tejaswi to come out of the Grand Alliance while alleged attempts by the BJP now to wean away JD(U) MLAs in a repeat of Maharashtra episode has prompted him to once again change his tracks.
The treatment of the family of Noah Donohue by the British Secretary of State Shailesh Vara has been branded "a disgrace".

Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Maeve O'Neill (People Before Profit) said: "The treatment of the family of Noah Donohue by the Tory Secretary of State Shailesh Vara and the PSNI is a disgrace.

"The speed at which Vara was willing to sign-up to the PSNI demand for a Public Interest Immunity (PII) Certificate in order to lock away files related to the death of Noah is yet another example of the contempt all Tories have for everyone here, of all backgrounds.

"There has been serious questions about the PSNI's investigation into Noah's disappearance and death from the very beginning. The attempt to deny the Donohoe family access to all files containing information compounds suspicions the PSNI are not being upfront.

"The PSNI's contempt for people and social justice reappears over and over, from the racist crackdown on Black Lives Matter protests, the unilateral decision to use spit hoods, the refusal to defend violent policing in Creggan including towards children to Derry and Strabane Council, harassment of striking workers and intimidation of Palestine solidarity campaigners," said Cllr O'Neill.

Cllr O'Neill said the bahaviour of the PSNI had extended to the circulation of suicide images.

She added: "[We also have] report after report of racist, sectarian and sexist actions and abuse by police officers and its continuing efforts to cover-up collusion.

"Big parties on the Policing Board tell us this how they hold the PSNI to account. But where is PSNI accountability?

"For good reason multiple progressive organisations called for the PSNI to be excluded from participation in Belfast Pride. The PSNI are not on the side of transparency, accountability or social justice. They never have been and never will be.

"The PII Certificate should be withdrawn. Political parties should resign from the Policing Board.

"We encourage all who can make it to join the Justice for Noah protest at Belfast City Hall 1pm Saturday August 13."


























The K2 Black Panther / Courtesy of Hyundai Rotem



Ukraine war raises interest in Korean weapons suppliers to help upgrade aging Eastern European ordnance



By Jung Min-ho





Bruce Bennett

South Korea's recent arms deals with Poland demonstrate its potential in the global military procurement market and it may well lead to greater opportunities, particularly in Eastern Europe, according to an expert.



"The Ukraine experience suggests that countries don't have to have top-of-the-line weapons to defeat parts of the Russian forces," Bruce Bennett, a senior defense analyst at the Rand Corporation, a U.S.-based policy think tank, told The Korea Times. "One of the challenges for the Eastern European countries is to have weapons good enough to be able to fight and defeat Russian aggression  So I expect that they will look across the lines at their forces."



In South Korea's biggest arms export deal, the Polish government announced last month that it will buy 48 FA-50s, a light combat jet co-developed by Korea Aerospace Industries and Lockheed Martin, 980 K2 battle tanks, manufactured by Hyundai Rotem, and 648 K9 howitzers made by Hanwha Defense.



If finalized, it would be the country's first major contract to sell weapons to a NATO member at a time when many Eastern European nations, still armed largely with Soviet-era weapons, are keen to enhance their defense capabilities amid Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine.



"In many cases, their priorities will depend on the status of existing weapons, which are so old that they need to be replaced, probably because they have become difficult and costly to maintain when you can't get parts and supplies from Russia," Bennett said.



South Korean weapons may not be the world's most advanced, but they are still competitive and could thrive in the market against more costly competitors.



"They offer a niche opportunity for export to other countries that can't afford to modernize fully with top-of-the-line weapons (which means most countries). Of course, some weapons the ROK (South Korea) is developing are top-of-the-line or close to it," Bennett added. "The ROK has done a great job of identifying this kind of niche relative to the U.S. and European countries and filling it with lower cost ROK systems."





A crowd looks at a damaged Russian tank on display in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this May 23 file photo. AP-Yonhap
The NI International Air Show makes a welcome return the North coast on September 10 and 11 with two new joint title sponsors on board.

The support of Spirit AeroSystems and Thales, leading names in the global aerospace engineering sector, marks an exciting development for the flagship event as the seaside resort counts down to hosting Irelands largest air show once again.

Thousands of visitors are expected to enjoy the two-day spectacular, with all the action set to take-off in a new location along the three-mile coast road between Portrush and Portstewart.

Prepare yourself for the best panoramic views and a chance to get even closer to skyward attractions which so far include a headline performance from the Red Arrows (Saturday September 10 only), the iconic Battle of Britain Memorial Flight featuring the Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire, the RAFs Typhoon and Tutor, the World War II Warbirds Hawker Fury and Me109 (Buchon) along with the Calidus Autogyro, the American-made OV-10 Bronco and mesmerising formation aerobatic displays from Team Raven.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Councillor Ivor Wallace said: The NI International Air Show is the pinnacle of Councils Platinum Jubilee programme, and we are setting the scene for a weekend to remember in Portrush.

The flying schedule is looking impressive so far, and work is ongoing to secure further aircraft for the enjoyment of our visitors.

The air attractions combined with everything thats on offer on the ground including static displays, the STEM village, and artisan market make this a must-see attraction.

The Air Show is a fantastic showcase for the aerospace industry, and I am delighted to see this reflected in the calibre of our new joint title sponsors this year.

Spirit AeroSystems and Thales are leaders in their field, and I want to thank them, along with Tourism NI and our other sponsors and supporters, as we prepare to stage this inspiring aviation celebration.

Sir Michael J Ryan CBE, Vice President, European Space and Defence, Government Affairs, and Chairman Spirit AeroSystems UK, added: Spirit AeroSystems is delighted to support the Northern Ireland International Air Show, a staple in the Northern Ireland aerospace calendar.

As a leading designer and manufacturer of complex aerostructures for both commercial and defence applications, we recognise the importance of events like this which serve to connect people within the industry and the community, but more importantly to inspire and engage a new generation to pursue an exciting career in aerospace.

Alana Colenso, Head of HR, Strategic Partner at Thales said: We are really glad to see the Air Show back for 2022 and proud to be a joint title sponsor of such a fantastic event.

We are particularly looking forward to returning to the STEM village this year with some new activities to share.

Promoting STEM within Northern Ireland is extremely important to us to ensure we grow the skills of tomorrow.

Thales are growing significantly over the coming years and retaining those skills within Northern Ireland is of strategic importance to us.

Alongside the title sponsors, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is pleased to confirm that Pulsar, who work to promote diversity in science and technology skills and careers across Northern Ireland, are the sponsor of the STEM Village where visitors can enjoy a range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics themed displays and exhibitors.

The Business Engagement Day, which takes place on the first day of the Air Show, is sponsored by Denroy Plastics Ltd with support from Invest NI.

In the aerial programme, The Honourable The Irish Society are sponsoring The Red Arrows aircraft display with Portrush Atlantic Hotel sponsoring the RAF Typhoon Aircraft Display.

If you would like your business or organisation to get involved please contact us to discuss sponsorship opportunities by emailing kimportrush@ gmail.com.

You can keep up to date with all the latest news and announcements by visiting www.airshowni.com or follow @NIairshow on Facebook.
We could see the launch of the next generation of Samsung foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4 today. The devices could be revealed at the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event that will take place at 6:30 PM. The event will also be streamed live on the official Samsung YouTube channel as well as the official Samsung website. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and Galaxy Watch 5 series are also tipped to be introduced at the event.

Heres how you can watch the Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event

If youre interested, you can catch the live stream of the event on the Samsung Newsroom Youtube channel, or you can head on over to the official Samsung website and catch it there. As mentioned above, the event will start at 6:30 PM Indian Standard time.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip 4 expected pricing

According to various reports floating around, the Fold 4 could be priced at around 1,46,400 for the 256Gb variant. The 512GB storage variant could be priced at EUR 1,919. On the other hand, The Galaxy Z Flip 4 could cost EUR 1,109 for the 128GB variant and EUR 1,169 (roughly Rs. 95,100) for the 256GB variant.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 could be priced at EUR 299 for the 40mm screen and EUR 349 for the 4G variant. The Galaxy Watch 5 (44mm) could be priced at EUR 329 for the Bluetooth variant and EUR 379 for the 4G model.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro could be priced at $230 as well.
Parametrix

Schwager

Tad Schwager has joined Parametrix as a senior scientist based in Seattle He has over 15 years of experience working in the marine, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest and across North America.

Schwager joins Parametrix from Tetra Tech where he served as a Senior Fisheries Scientist. His expertise includes salmonid ecology, natural resource management, stream restoration, instream flow studies, and environmental permitting. He has worked with clients such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), United States Forest Service, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Port of Everett, City of Edmonds, King County, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and other public agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest.




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SEATTLE (AP)  Washington State Ferries will receive $38 million from the Federal Highway Administration to improve its ferry service.

Eight other Washington ferry providers  including the King County Department of Transportation  will receive around $4 million in federal money. That means $42.4 million for the state.





. . .




An appeals court on Wednesday handed down a reduced jail sentence of 15 years to a man in his 60s for murdering his wife and attempting to kill himself afterward.







The husband, whose identity has been withheld, was previously sentenced to 24 years behind bars for murdering his wife in September after an argument over financial trouble.







The man then attempted suicide but failed and turned himself in, court documents showed.







The Seoul High Court upheld most of the lower court's conviction of the husband but reduced the sentence, saying that it was an "impulsive crime" with regular motives, such as a grudge and family trouble.







The court also took into consideration that the husband turned himself in to the police right after the crime, and showed remorse. (Yonhap)


Page Content

The Iranian Studies Unit of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies will hold its second annual conference from 22-23 August 2022. The topic of this years conference will be Iran: The Raisi Presidency One Year On.

In an election with the lowest voter turnout of any presidential election to date, Ebrahim Raisi, Irans former head of the judiciary, became the eighth president of the Islamic Republic of Iran in June 2021. The new president came to office amid a wave of voter apathy, poor economic performance, and general disillusionment with the political system. Raisis election represents the first time in post-Khomeini Iran when the presidents ideological dispositions and priorities are aligned with those of the velayat-e faqih.

Summer 2022 marks the first anniversary of Raisis inauguration. The two-day conference, featuring a selection of scholars of Iran, will analyse the first year of Raisis presidency by examining the continuities and changes in politics and policies. The conference covers the following topics:

Iranian foreign policy, especially Irans relations with the great powers; Iran and the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); Iran and non-state actors; nuclear negotiations and the JCPOA; and Iran in the Caucasus;

Domestic politics, including the role of the various political institutions; the legitimacy of the system; treatment of activists; media freedoms, the future of the velayat-e faqih; the religious establishment; labor issues and activism; protests; cyber activism and restrictions;

The Iranian economy, with a focus on the impact of sanctions; cryptocurrency; workforce and employment; income inequality; industrial manufacturing and production; agricultural production;

Public policy, including the states approach to the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare, demographic shifts and developments, refugees, climate change and environmental challenges, and cyberspace.

The conference will address these topics in 15 papers distributed among seven panels, in addition to a public lecture titled Iranian Foreign Policy and the Raisi Presidency, delivered by Seyed Hossein Mousavian, former spokesman for Iran in its nuclear negotiations with the international community and a Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist at Princeton Universitys School of Public and International Affairs.

Conference participants include a number of prominent scholars, among them Hamid Ahmadi, Leen Al-Rabbat, Hassan Muzaffar Al-Razzo, Omair Anas, Gawdat Bahgat, Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, Abdolrasool Divsallar, Javad Heiran-Nia, Bernard Hourcade, Nikolay Kozhanov, Eric Lob, Amir Mahdavi, Rovshan Mammadli, Ilkhom Mirzoev, Mahmood Monshipouri, Mahmoud Muhareb, and Mahjoob Zweiri.

The conference will be held in-person at the Arab Center in Doha.

*** Conference Booklet and Agenda.


A young boy born in Malinbeg could never have foretold a future that would see him travel to the edge of the Nubian desert, where local tribes built homes similar to nests turned upside down, helping Ethiopian refugees fleeing to Sudan and meeting his wife where the two Niles meet.

It was at national school in Malinbeg that Conal McIntyre first began to show signs of creativity. He sketched on the white paper that the Donegal Democrat newspapers arrived in at the local shop.

The two-teacher school stood in one of the most scenic areas in Donegal - located near the famous Silver Strand beach.

Conals teacher, Eilish Doherty often asked her young pupil to design posters and pictures for school events. He went on to win a scholarship and attended St Eunans College in Letterkenny.

The draw of art

Following his tenure in the cathedral town, Conal went onto work as an air traffic controller in Shannon. However, at night he would find himself drawing and sketching and it wasnt long before Conal found himself sitting at a desk at a Limerick Art School.

For two years, I went to art school and allowed the two to operate together, he recalled.

After I finished in the art school, I came to Donegal and I had an exhibition with Kenneth King and it was there I met artists from county Down.

The meeting would prove to be something that would dictate Conals path in life for years to come.

The talented young artist went to County Down to live with the artists. While there he noticed their dry stone wall had fallen. He rolled his sleeves up and got to work, fixing the wall.

The artists were amazed at Conals work and encouraged him to use his talents as a means to generate income. Uncertain of whether his enterprise would work or not Conal designed a sign and left it outside the County Down cottage and soon work started coming his way. He soon found that people from all backgrounds and areas were coming to him, seeking his services to fix and build dry stone walls - a welcome boost for the aspiring young artist.

People began to stop and soon I had to buy a notebook and ended up taking a lot of jobs and working for a number of different people. The last person I worked for was the head of a major international auction house, he said.





Project in Africa

Conal continued with his enterprise until he met a man who was coming through Northern Ireland and who was trying to raise interest in a project in Africa. He was fascinated and listened as the man described a location on the edge of the Nubian Desert where the Beja tribe lived. The Beja people are an ethnic group which inhabit Sudan, Egypt and Eritrea. Conal decided to go and help where he could. Soon he found himself working hard to help build a medical centre in warm and dry conditions.

We made blocks ourselves out of sand. We had a deep well there and pulled up loads of water and you often found camel dung dancing on the top of it. The dry camel dung would blow into the well when there was a breeze, he said.

The artist said there were no roads to travel on, no medical workers to attend if you were sick but he enjoyed it and rose to all the challenges reprsented. As they made their journeys, they would fill goatskin with water and hang it on the side of the truck and as the water bled through the wind would cool the liquid. Later Conal taught at an American school in Khartoum where no expense seemed to be spared. Conal remembers walking into the air-conditioned school.

At the end of the day, Conal would watch expensive cars pull out of the grounds while he jumped on a rickety old yellow bus on his journey home.

Home and children

After that, Conal flew back to England where he got involved with a Christian group who were trying to help Ethiopian refugees who were fleeing into Sudan.

Conal was familiar with Khartoum and soon found himself back doing all he could to help those who were suffering and at their lowest ebb.

It was during this time Conal met his wife, Heather: We met where the two Niles meet, he said.

After they married, Conal spent two years in Jordan learning Arabic.

He later returned to teach art in a British school. Heather and Conal are parents to two children who were born while on holidays in Donegal.

Our kids came along then and we came home. We would be taking them out to Sudan before that where often there was no electricity and the fan used to break down, Conal said.

On his return home, Conal renovated an old house and used a nearby shed as his studio.

Commissioning

Inspired by the stunning Donegal landscape Conal enjoys his trade. He works in pen and ink drawings, representational landscapes, semi abstract work and many other areas.

He takes commissions and can be contacted at hclaghill@gmail.com
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said he cannot yet commit to the value of the Governments one-off cost-of-living package due to be revealed next month.

Budget 2023 is to include measures worth a total of 6.7 billion euros.

A cost-of-living package of one-off measures is also to be announced, which the Government has said will be announced alongside but separate to the Budget.

Im not yet in a position to indicate what would be the scale of, or nature of, the one-off measures, Mr Donohoe told reporters in Dublin on Wednesday.

I would anticipate that it will be far later in September before the Government reaches agreement on what will be the scale of those measures or what will be the nature.

Mr Donohoe added that an important ingredient in deciding those measures would be the states tax receipts in August.

The Government announced a surplus of five billion euros in the first half of the year, compared with what was expected at the start of the year.

This compares with a five billion euro deficit at the same time last year.

Warning once again about Irelands overreliance on corporate tax income streams, Mr Donohoe said that three billion of this surplus came from corporate tax, due to a very strong overperformance versus the expectations we had at the start of the year.

He added: If you look at changes that will happen that I know are going to happen regarding global corporate tax reform, I know that in the coming years we will see Ireland collect less corporate tax than we would have expected to in the absence of those reforms happening  and they are going to happen.

The Government hasnt yet considered how we would use, what our response back is to that higher level of corporate tax that we are collecting at the moment. I will engage with the party leaders and my Cabinet colleagues on that in September.

But I think we need to take great care regarding how we use money that we may not have in the future again.

In relation to whether energy supplies would need to be limited this winter, Mr Donohoe said: Based on the updates that I have received in relation to energy supply for our country, and certainty of energy supply, we dont believe any additional measures are currently merited to conserve energy.

But this is a really, really dynamic situation. It is changing very quickly with regard to the supply of energy into Europe, he said, adding that it was under continuous review by the Government, particularly as winter approaches.
Photography exhibitions are being launched at two train stations to mark the 75th anniversary of the flagship Belfast-Dublin Enterprise train service.

In 1947, at 10.30am on August 11, a seven-carriage steam train left Belfast and headed to Dublin, bringing about a new era in cross-border travel.

The cross-border railway service would feature in the islands history: including being the subject of bomb threats during the Troubles, leading to the establishment of the Peace Train Organisation in 1989; and the Contraceptive Train event organised by the Irish Womens Liberation Movement in May 1971.

In its first year in service, one train travelled in each direction. Seventy-five years later, the Enterprise service has eight daily departures in each direction, and Translink says passenger demand is on course to reach an all-time high.

The photographic exhibits will launch in Lanyon Place Station in Belfast and Connolly Station in Dublin on Thursday.

The 1947 inaugural train was operated by the Great Northern Railway company; it is now jointly operated by Translink NI Railways and Iarnrod Eireann.

Translink Group chief executive Chris Conway said that the event was to celebrate the service, staff and customers.

He added: Whatever your reason for travel, Enterprise has been there to connect us to family, friends and opportunity, evolving with the times and better connecting Belfast and Dublin.

Iarnrod Eireann chief executive Jim Meade said that the service has a rich and evocative history.

He added: I am certain that our customers will very much enjoy the exhibition that is now on display at Lanyon Place and Connolly.

The Enterprise train is a key economic and social connector for the people of Dublin, Belfast and the stations in between and we look forward to another 75 years of its successful operation.
Stranded tourists join anti-epidemic fight in Sanya

Xinhua) 16:28, August 10, 2022

SANYA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Donning a hazmat suit, Lai Yuming began his volunteer work to help with the nucleic acid testing at a hotel in Sanya, a coastal resort city in south China's Hainan Province.

Lai, a physician at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in central China's Hunan Province, came to Sanya for a trip with his colleagues.

But their travel plan was disrupted by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, and they were stranded with more than 3,000 other tourists at the airport as their return flights were canceled.

Local authorities later made arrangements for their temporary stay in 11 hotels.

But, instead of staying at the hotel and waiting, Lai and his colleagues decided to volunteer to aid the local anti-epidemic fight.

"The local government and hotel staff have done a lot for us, and we hope to do as much as possible to help Sanya," Lai said.

Lai's colleague, Liu Meifang, also joined the volunteer work. "We're grateful for the arrangement made by the Sanya government," Liu said.

Between Aug. 1 and 9, over 2,400 COVID-19 infections were reported in Hainan, of which about 1,900 cases were detected in Sanya.

More than 8,500 people from 18 provincial regions across China have been drafted in to help Hainan in fighting the latest COVID-19 resurgence. Liu said that even if she had not been on vacation in Sanya, she would have still come to the city to actively support Hainan's anti-epidemic work during this critical time.

When cluster infections began to emerge, about 80,000 tourists were stranded in Sanya, a key tourist destination in Hainan, and many of them have voluntarily thrown themselves into the local anti-epidemic efforts.

In a warehouse in Sanya's Tianya District, Chen Yi, from east China's Zhejiang Province, is busy moving medical supplies with other volunteers.

Chen, who runs a trade company in Wenzhou City, fell in love with Sanya after visiting the city for the first time in 2008. Sanya has hence become his ideal vacation destination and he visits the city multiple times every year.

"I love Sanya so much that I want to do a small part to help the city recover soon," Chen said.

Thanks to the concerted efforts and swift response measures, the first batch of 125 stranded tourists embarked on their journey home Tuesday afternoon, and arrangements will soon be made for the remaining tourists.

"This is my first visit to Sanya. It's a really beautiful city, but I didn't have enough time to enjoy the trip. I will definitely come again in the future," Lai said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Kim Soo-ah, left, and Kim Seong-soo, 13-year-old representatives of last year's event, preside over the opening ceremony of the 19th Korea National Children's Congress at the Hi Seoul Youth Hostel in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Korea Association of Children's Organizations





By Lee Hae-rin







Youth representatives aged between 10 and 17 came together to discuss social issues related to children's rights at the 19th Korea National Children's Congress and deliver their adopted resolution to the government. The three-day event kicked off, Tuesday.







A total of 120 youth representatives joining this year's event were elected by 690 children who participated in regional assemblies in 17 cities and provinces in June and July.







Throughout the event, the selected representatives have been meeting online to discuss social issues related to children's participation rights, which is one of the four main pillars of children's rights in the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child, along with rights to survival, protection and development. Last year's representatives selected the theme.







Korea National Children's Congress started in 2004, when the children's representatives who attended the 2002 U.N. Children's Special General Assembly proposed holding a similar event with teenagers upon their return to the country. The general assembly is held every year, jointly organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Children's Rights Agency and the Korea Association of Children's Organizations.







"Korea National Children's Congress is an event of the children, by the children, for the children, under the premise that children's voices must be heard when discussing policies and social issues related to children," Park Min-joo, one of last year's assembly representatives, said during the opening ceremony.







The opening ceremony of the 19th National Children's Congress was held at Hi Seoul Youth Hostel in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Tuesday. About 40 children's representatives and organizing officials attended the ceremony, while the rest of the child representatives joined online.







"We have gathered here today to speak up about social issues ourselves together and to demonstrate that we the children are true bearers of children's rights," Ryu Sae-bom, 15, the chairperson of last year's assembly, said during the opening ceremony.







Due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, all discussions and the adoption of resolutions will be held online. The opening and closing ceremonies are being held with a limited number of people and broadcast live on YouTube.







Based on the three days of discussions, the teenage participants will draw a resolution and deliver it to the government, where ministries will review and organize policy implementation. The result of the implementation will be heard at the Child Policy Coordinating Committee led by the prime minister.







According to the health ministry, a total of 167 tasks have been proposed to the government by the assembly, influencing several policies. Thirteen out of 14 policies from last year's resolution have been adopted or implemented, including: media literacy education, an extension of after-school activities and hands-on programs, and controlling heavy vehicle access to school zones.


RTE has unveiled content to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins that will be available on television, radio and online.

Asking difficult questions and using contemporary scientific analysis, former State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy fronts Cold Case Collins, a television docu-drama that re-opens the case of the assassination of Michael Collins broadcasting on RTE One on Wednesday August 24 at 9.35pm.

His killing is one of the most contested events in Irish history, igniting acrimonious arguments that have endured ever since.

In this formatted one-off, Cold Case Collins imagines the investigation that never happened, with an interrogation room set to uncover what happened in Beal na Blath on August 22, 1922.

The former State Pathologist, Professor Marie Cassidy will chair a 21st century cold case comprising forensic scientists, criminal investigators, military strategists, archaeologists, archivists and historians.

As viewers, we eavesdrop on the experts as they sift and filter through the evidence old and new, looking for answers to the questions that have ignited bar brawls for decades.

To mark the centenary of the assassination of Collins, RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland will broadcast from the Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon on Friday August 19, formerly Lees Hotel, where Michael Collins was photographed alive for the last time, 30 minutes before he was killed in the ambush at Beal na Blath.

This special Morning Ireland will have an extended broadcast on the RTE digital news channel.

Former State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy

Detailing what we know of his death, Nationwide on August 17 [RTE One Television] will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins who, despite dying at the age of 32, helped alter the course of modern Irish history. Donal Byrne looks at Collins's early life and influences and hears how he became a master political strategist and organiser.

On Monday August 22, Nationwide marks another pivotal date in Irish history: the 100th anniversary of An Garda Siochana.

Born out of revolution and war, An Garda Siochana has evolved from being a force that, for many years, dealt with little very serious crime to an organisation that has had to adjust to dealing with organised crime and the complexities of modern Irish life.

Online, RTE.ie/history will continue to host a wide range of content relevant to this period.

One of the most significant upcoming sections will feature the death of Michael Collins replete with interactive maps that trace the story of Collins's last journey and assassination.

This project is the product of a partnership between RTE History, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and The Atlas of the Irish Revolution edited by John Crowley, Donal O Drisceoil, Mike Murphy and John Borgonovo and published by the Cork University Press.

A spread of essays, written by expert historians from Ireland and elsewhere, have long provided readers with accessible resources.

A catalogue of history-based drama and documentary is available on RTE Player, among it the award-winning Bloody Sunday, 1920, The Irish Revolution and 74 Days: The Hunger Strike of Terence MacSwiney.

All future Decade of Centenaries programming will also be available live and on-demand on RTE Player.
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One of two Seoul residents who went missing after being sucked into a manhole in southern Seoul early this week amid heavy downpours was found dead inside the underground facility, rescue officials said Wednesday.







The deceased, known only as a man in his 40s, disappeared into the manhole in the Seocho district, along with his elder sister in her 50s, on Wednesday night after its metal cover was opened apparently by water pressure from underground amid heavy torrential rains.







The two were among the 16 people killed or left missing in the aftermath of the heaviest rainfall to hit the capital in 115 years.







Rescue officials had earlier presumed the missing people may have been swept away into the Han River that runs through Seoul.







"One missing person was found inside the manhole during a search operation. We're now trying to find the exact location," an official said.







Police plan to conduct an autopsy on the body. (Yonhap)






Rep. Park Hong-keun, floor leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, speaks at a party meeting at the National Assembly, Wednesday. Yonhap



The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea rapped President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday for remaining at home when massive rainfall caused serious flooding in Seoul and elsewhere earlier this week, moking him as an invisible "stealth" jet.



Presidential aides have said that Yoon oversaw anti-disaster efforts from home via telephone when record downpours, believed to be the heaviest in 115 years, triggered widespread flooding in southern Seoul on Monday night.



But critics, including the DPK, have stressed that Yoon should have shown up at the disaster control center, instead of staying at home, to better direct efforts to bring the situation under control in the downpours that left 16 people dead or missing.



"The president was nowhere to be seen in the pandemonium," DPK floor leader Park Hong-keun told a party meeting. "This means that while the people were exposed to danger all night long, the country's crisis management control tower was not functioning.










Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada invests $3 million for animal welfare and tracking

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced in an organisational release it will invest $3 million across three national organizations to improve animal welfare and tracking in Canada.

With funding under the AgriAssurance Program, the organisations will use new research to update industry standards for the care and handling of animals. The organisations will also evaluate technology to trace farm animals more efficiently in the production system in the event of a disease outbreak.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is hoping this work will support the highest standards in farm animal care. The recipients include:

- Animal Health Canada, located in Elora, Ontario, will receive up to $2.9 million to update national codes of practice for the livestock sector, including the code for the safe and humane transportation of livestock. It has also developed and introduced a code of practice for the aquaculture sector covering farmed salmon, trout and arctic char;

- The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, located in Calgary, Alberta, will receive up to $52,140 to evaluate the use of ultra-high frequency (UHF) scanners to read cattle identification tags as part of Canada's commitment to the international community to quickly trace the movement of animals in the event of a disease outbreak. Tag readings are recorded in a database that makes it possible for government and industry to rapidly contain the scope of a potential outbreak, protecting animal and human health;

- The Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council (CPEPC), located in Ottawa, Ontario, will receive up to $35,750 to update its animal welfare programme for hatcheries to meet the requirements of the National Farm Animal Care Council's Code of Practice for the care and handling of hatching eggs, breeders, chickens and turkeys.

"We're pleased to continue working collaboratively with industry, government, veterinary, and animal welfare professionals to continue in developing the Codes of Practice through the National Farm Animal Care Council, a division of Animal Health Canada," said Melanie Barham, executive director of Animal Health Canada, in the release. "Evidence-based co-development is a cornerstone of how the codes are created and updated and we are excited to lead this project into its final year of funding."

Jean-Michel Laurin, president and chief executive officer of CPEPC, stated in the release: "This important financial contribution allowed CPEPC to convene a group representing poultry producers, breeders, hatcheries, veterinarians, academics, retailers and animal welfare association representatives. Together, this group reviewed Canadian hatcheries' animal care programme, ensure it alignment with the code of practice and foster compliance across Canada's hatchery sector."

- DVM360.com




Australia's financial package to help Indonesia fight FMD and lumpy skin disease

Australia has announced a new $10 million biosecurity cooperation package to assist Indonesia as it responds to the outbreaks of both foot and mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD).

The package announced by Australia's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt, at the National Press Club on August 9, will see Australia supply additional vaccinations, as well as technical and advisory support to strengthen Indonesia's biosecurity measures.

Australia will deliver personal protective equipment and disinfectants, train staff on the ground and provide biosecurity expertise to tackle these outbreaks.

Watt said one of the ways to prevent any outbreak in Australia was to assist the Indonesian government in their efforts to stop the spread of FMD.

"This package includes $4 million for the purchase of both FMD and LSD vaccines," Watt said. "This is on top of support already announced for Indonesia, which included one million doses of FMD vaccine and almost half a million doses of LSD vaccine already committed by the Australian government.

"The Indonesian government will direct these vaccines to the areas of the country that need them the most. We've also included seed funding so Indonesia can get a livestock identification system up and running."

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said the package was another demonstration of the close partnership between Australia and Indonesia.

"Indonesia is one of our closest neighbours and partners in the region and the Australian government wants to offer whatever help we can at this time," Wong said. "Safeguarding the biosecurity of our region is a shared concern and this package will build on our longstanding health cooperation including through the Australia Indonesia Health Security Partnership.

"We are committed to working together to respond to this common threat."

- Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)




Sabah, Malaysia sets aside funds to drive productivity agricultural products

The local government of Sabah, Malaysia, has allocated RM561.81 million (US$126 million) under its 2022 Budget to ensure the sustained productivity and quality of its agricultural products.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the budget was also to ensure that Sabah's self-sufficiency level (SSL) increases annually through various modernisation initiatives. He said the agriculture sector, which covers crops, livestock and fisheries, is one of the three main economic sectors of the five-year Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan from 2021.

Economic growth, he said, will be driven by a faster-than-expected recovery in consumer demand, greater investor confidence and consequently, a more robust recovery in domestic economic activity.

Hajiji was speaking at the launch of the 12th edition of the Livestock, Aquaculture and Agriculture (LAA Sabah) Exhibition at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here.

The chief minister's speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan.

Hajiji said Sabah was among the main exporters of fresh fish produce in Malaysia, contributing RM2.03 billion (US$449 million) or about 15.7% annually to the state's gross domestic product (GDP).

"The state government is focusing on downstream processing for its capture fishery into high-quality products," Hajiji said. "With the federal empowerment on deep sea fishing to the Fisheries Department of Sabah, there is huge potential for investors to venture into deep sea fishing and related downstream industries."

Hajiji said the prospect remained bright for the livestock sector as further expansion and effective improvement in key strategic enablers were in sight and could enhance the value chain systems of the entire industry.

"By 2030, the population of buffalo and cattle will be 26,248 heads and 148,305 heads, respectively," he said. "The SSL for beef is projected to increase throughout the period until it reaches 21.3% by 2030.

"The agriculture industry is an important contributor to the Malaysian economy by providing rural employment, uplifting rural income and ensuring national food security.

"It also acts as a catalyst and is a key pillar to the country's export. This is also an opportune time as East Malaysia itself is a growth market for the agriculture, livestock and fishery and aquaculture."

Hajiji added that Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan had a total combined population of six million in 2021.

Sabah's agriculture sector alone contributed 15.9% to the state's GDP in 2021, the third highest contribution after its services sector at 47% and mining and quarrying at 26%, he said.

On the LAA Sabah, held concurrently with the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture & Agrotourism (MAHA 2022), Hajiji believed it would serve as an invaluable platform for participants to develop business partnerships, build new networks and to catch up on the latest industry trends.

With the commitment and efforts of the government in transforming this sector, coupled wit the rapid development of information technology and communication, he said the agriculture sector still shows promises despite some issues and challenges.



- New Straits Times




President Yoon Suk-yeol plans to meet with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates next week, the presidential office said Wednesday.







Gates will visit South Korea from next Monday for three days, and the planned meeting between Yoon and Gates will take place Tuesday afternoon, Yoon's office said.







Gates will visit the National Assembly to meet with Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and address the parliamentary budget committee about global health cooperation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.







Gates, who co-chairs the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, is expected to touch on the importance of international cooperation and how South Korea can play a role in this process.







In June, Yoon spoke by phone with Gates and discussed their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)






Indonesia assures FMD vaccine has no adverse impact

Indonesia's Ministry of Agriculture has assured that the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine is safe for farm animals and did not cause significant side effects.

"Farmers do not need to be worried about FMD vaccination," said Elise Wieke, an official from the Veterinary Authority in Bandung City, West Java, during a recent online discussion on the protocol and implementation of animal mobility to reduce the spread of FMD in Indonesia. "As of now, there have been no significant side effects. The vaccine is actually for protection."

According to Wieke, no cases were reported of side effects of the FMD vaccine in livestock based on the evaluations conducted several days after animals were vaccinated.

She affirmed that the government continues to intensify the dissemination of information and education to eliminate the concerns of farmers regarding the side effects after their livestock were vaccinated against FMD.

Wieke also explained that the FMD vaccine is administered after the officers, under the FMD Handling Task Force, collected data on healthy farm animals that are at risk of FMD infection. Officers on the field are required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimise the spread of the disease through contact during interactions between humans and sick and healthy animals.

"The animals are examined first, especially their (body) temperature. After being declared healthy, we will vaccinate them," she stated.

Based on data from the FMD Handling Task Force, as of August 3, as many as 800 thousand doses of FMD vaccine were distributed, and most of them were administered to livestock for the first phase of vaccination.

Furthermore, as many as 2.2 million doses are currently being distributed and administered to the targeted animals.

- Antara
President Yoon Suk-yeol presides over an emergency meeting at the government complex in Seoul, Wednesday, to check countermeasures against record torrential rain in Seoul and surrounding areas. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk-yeol apologized to the nation on Wednesday for inconveniences caused by this week's heavy rains.



Yoon offered the apology during a government meeting on the response to the flooding in Seoul and surrounding areas, which left nine people dead and seven missing.



"I pray for the victims and apologize on behalf of the government to the people who suffered inconveniences," he said.



At a separate government meeting earlier Wednesday, Yoon instructed officials to ensure the weak and the vulnerable are protected against damage from this week's record rainfall.



"Those who struggle financially or with physical difficulties are bound to be more vulnerable to natural disasters," he said, noting that the country is safe only when these people are safe.






Disney+ isn't done raising prices. As part of its third quarter earnings report, Disney revealed that it's hiking the price of the ad-free service in the US to $11 per month, $3 more than today, on December 8th. If you want to keep the same price, you'll have to subscribe to the ad-supported tier launching the same day. In other words, the ad-backed plan won't really be cheaper  you'll just have to pay more to keep the uninterrupted experience you already have.

The media giant also said it would raise the price of ad-free Hulu by $2 to $15 per month on October 10th. If you can accept ads, you'll also pay $8 per month instead of today's $7. A $10 monthly outlay provides both Disney+ and Hulu with ads. A bundle offering ad-free Disney+, ad-supported ESPN+ and its Hulu counterpart is climbing by a dollar to $15 per month, but you'll dip to $13 per month if you're willing to tolerate commercials across all three. You'll have to pay $20 per month to get the trio without any sales pitches.

Disney wasn't shy about the reason for the price hikes. Although it added 14.4 million Disney+ subscribers during the quarter (for a total of 221 million across all services), the operating losses for its streaming-oriented division surged from $293 million a year ago to nearly $1.1 billion. The production costs for Disney+ and Hulu are soaring, and Disney wants to make that money back.

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The performance contrasts sharply with a key rival. While Netflix is prepping its own ad-driven plan, it's currently losing customers  it's counting on advertising to return growth where Disney is simply hoping to make a profit. As rough as its finances might be, Disney+ is in a stronger position.
Facebook's crackdown on hate speech apparently has room for improvement. As The Washington Post explains, the non-profit watchdog Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has published a study indicating that white supremacist groups still have a significant presence on the social network. Over 80 of these racist organizations have a presence on Facebook, some of which the company has already labeled as "dangerous organizations" it normally bans. Researchers found 119 pages and 20 groups, including 24 pages Facebook auto-generated when users listed white supremacist groups as employers or interests.

Searches were also problematic, according to the watchdog. Facebook displayed ads next to searches for white supremacist groups, even when those outfits were on the social site's blocklist. Recommendations steered visitors to other hate pages, and Facebook's tactic of redirecting users to pro-tolerance groups was only effective for 14 percent out of 226 searches. Some searches for supremacists displayed ads for Black churches. This could effectively identify targets for extremists, TTP said.

In a statement to Engadget, Meta said it "immediately" began removing ads from searches linked to banned groups. It also said it was fixing the issue with a "small number" of auto-generated pages. The company further vowed to keep working with outside experts to "stay ahead" of hate and other extremist content. You can read the full statement below.

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The survival of these groups on Facebook isn't completely surprising. University of Michigan associate professor Libby Hemphill told The Post that hate groups are increasingly aware of how to dodge content restrictions. Online platforms are frequently scrambling to adapt, and the TTP study suggests they're not always successful.

Even so, the findings add to Meta's headaches. They come just weeks after GLAAD accused Meta brands of doing too little to protect LGBTQ users, and relatively soon after whistleblower Frances Haugen said Facebook's algorithmic content filtering only caught a "tiny minority" of hate speech. There's plenty of pressure to ramp up anti-hate measures, and it's not yet clear how well the latest fixes will help.

"All 270 groups that Meta has designated as white supremacist organizations are banned from our platform. We invest extensively in technology, people, and research to keep our platforms safe. We immediately resolved an issue where ads were appearing in searches for terms related to banned organizations and we are also working to fix an auto generation issue, which incorrectly impacted a small number of pages. We will continue to work with outside experts and organizations in an effort to stay ahead of violent, hateful, and terrorism-related content and remove such content from our platforms."
Samsung typically reveals a new set of true wireless earbuds alongside its latest phones, and today is no different. In addition to the Galaxy Fold 4, Galaxy Flip 4 and new watches, the company is debuting the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, the follow-up to the Galaxy Buds Pro that debuted early last year. While not a complete redesign, this new model offers enough of an overhaul with smaller buds, improved active noise cancellation (ANC), retooled audio and a host of other handy features. All of the upgrades will cost you though: the Buds 2 Pro are $30 more than their predecessor.

In terms of design, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are 15 percent smaller than the Galaxy Buds Pro. Samsung says the "new compact, ergonomic design" is built to offer a secure fit that won't move around in your ear, even during workouts. The design should also relieve pressure, thanks to a vent and nozzle grille that facilitate air flow. So while the buds may look similar to the previous model, they are indeed different. The case, on the other hand, appears to be mostly unchanged. Like the previous model, the Buds 2 Pro are IPX7 rated for water and sweat resistance, although Samsung made it clear the same protection doesn't apply to the case. Should you lose an earbud, the Buds 2 Pro can be located with SmartThings Find either in the case or out.

Inside the Buds 2 Pro, two-way speakers (woofers and tweeters) handle the sound. In addition to 360 Audio (Dolby Atmos) that debuted on the Buds Pro, this model also offers 24-bit HiFi audio via Samsung's Seamless Codec (the buds also support AAC and SBC). The company says this produces 256 times "richer sound" than 16-bit audio. When it comes to canceling noise, Samsung explains that three high new mics are capable of blocking subtle and high-pitched sounds with three more decibels of overall reduction.

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Gallery: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro | 48 Photos





























































































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There's ambient sound and a new Voice Detect feature on board as well. With Voice Detect, the Buds 2 Pro can determine when you're speaking. The tool temporarily changes to ambient sound mode and lowers the volume so you can have a quick convo without removing the earbuds. Sony has offered something similar with its buds and headphones for a while now, but its Speak-to-Chat tool fully pauses the audio when you talk. And yes, Bixby handles voice control on the Buds 2 Pro, a feature that works across Samsung's phones, tablets and even its newer TVs. The company also says LE Audio will debut on the earbuds later this year, a tool that allows you to capture 360 environmental sounds if you're streaming or recording.

Unfortunately, battery life is unchanged from the Galaxy Buds Pro. You can expect up to five hours of use with ANC on (18 hours including the case) or eight hours with it off (29 hours with the case). If you were hoping Samsung would reinstate iOS compatibility with this model, you're going to be disappointed. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will work with those devices, but with Bluetooth only  there's no companion app to unlock the full suite of features. Those are reserved for Android (Galaxy Wearable app), PC (Galaxy Buds app) and Samsung's 2022 TVs. Speaking of TVs, the company has added those to its compatible devices for audio switching. Basically, you can quickly change between Galaxy phones, tablets and TVs via the Auto Switch feature without having to enter pairing mode.

When it comes to first impressions, Engadget Deputy Editor Cherlynn Low "loved the fit" and noted that the ANC worked well too. UK Bureau Chief Mat Smith explained that the smaller size is indeed more comfortable and the Buds 2 Pro feel "less obtrusive." He also said Voice Detect worked well, but it could be duped by coughs and humming since it relies on a voice pickup unit to detect vibrations. For what it's worth, this is also a downside to Sony's automatic-pausing speech detection.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are available for pre-order starting today in graphite, white and Bora Purple for $230 from Samsung, Amazon and other retailers. General availability begins 26th. Both the Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds 2 will remain in Samsung's true wireless lineup if you prefer open wear or more affordable options, respectively.

Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
This photo shows landslides triggered by the heavy rain near a high school in Dongjak District, Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap



Yoon orders new measures to cope with extreme weather



By Lee Hyo-jin



After Seoul and its surrounding areas were battered by record-breaking downpours over the last two days, experts are calling for preemptive mitigation and prevention efforts, warning that the country may witness more extreme weather events caused by climate change.



Nine people were killed in the torrential rainfall as of Wednesday  five in Seoul, three in surrounding Gyeonggi Province and one in Gangwon Province, while seven people went missing, according to the Central Disaster Safety and Countermeasures Headquarters. The authorities said 2,600 homes and residential buildings were destroyed, leaving at least 600 people displaced.



The accumulated rainfall across Seoul stood at 525 millimeters as of 11 a.m., while some parts of Gyeonggi Province were drenched with 532.5 millimeters of rain.



Presiding over a flood response meeting, President Yoon Suk-yeol offered an apology to the public for the inconveniences caused by the heavy rainfall, while ordering relevant ministries to take immediate measures for a swift recovery.



"We can no longer call such extreme weather abnormal. We may see record-breaking levels again at any time," he said, stressing that the country must map out new measures to cope with worse-than-expected scenarios.



Unusual rainfall





Pedestrians walk on a battered sidewalk in Dongjak District, Seoul, on Tuesday following Monday's heavy rain. Yonhap



"Dongjak District saw the highest amount of rainfall since the country began tracking precipitation levels in 1907," an official at the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) told The Korea Times. "But we have not included the figure in the official record since the data came from Dongjak District and not from the official weather observation center in Jongno District."









The state weather agency viewed that the latest rainfall was somewhat unusual, considering that Korea's annual rainy season occurs from late June through the end of July.



"The heavy downpour was brought by a rain band caused by a collision between dry, cold air from the north and a warm, humid air band from the south forming in the central region of Korea," the official explained.



But he was cautious to link the extreme precipitation to climate change caused by global warming, saying that more data should be gathered to find a direct correlation between the two.



"However, they are not completely irrelevant. The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere is increasing due to global warming, leading to a rise in ocean surface temperatures. And this could have some effect on the formation of precipitation in the summer monsoon season as well as on the formation of stationary fronts," he said.



Seoul city urged to improve drainage system





People wade through waist-deep water near Daechi Station in Gangnam District amid torrential rainfall, Monday. Yonhap
Its hard to believe how far Samsung has come with the Galaxy Z series. Just three years ago when it launched the original Galaxy Fold, the idea of a functioning phone-tablet-hybrid with a bendable screen felt like a pipe dream. Yet, despite a rocky launch and durability issues, Samsung is today launching the fourth generation of its flagship foldable. After ironing out most of its kinks and adding fan-favorite features like S Pen support to last years model, the company has become the reigning king of foldables, keeping competition from companies like Motorola, Huawei and Oppo at bay.

In fact, Samsung has achieved so much with the category that its not surprising that this years updates are mostly minor hardware tweaks and software additions. The biggest differences this time are improved cameras, and Android 12L  an interface designed for larger and foldable displays.

But just because most of the changes are small doesnt mind theyre not welcome, and many of them do bring meaningful benefits. The Fold 4 has a slightly wider aspect ratio and a stronger display panel, as well as a relocated taskbar and new touchpad interface.

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From our brief hands-on at Samsungs recent demo event in New York, I wasnt able to tell if these tweaks will make for a substantial improvement in long-term use. But I can say that the Fold 4 feels less awkward to use in one hand, thanks to its slightly wider shape.

Its 7.6-inch internal display now has a 21.6:18 aspect ratio, compared to the Fold 3s 22.5:18, while the external screen has a 23.1:9 format instead of last years 24.5:9. The difference is pretty minimal, but I felt like it was easier to stretch my thumb across the Cover Display and tap apps that would previously be slightly out of reach.

Another update that could make the Fold 4 more pleasant to use with one hand is its weight. Its just 8 grams (or 0.28 ounces) lighter than its predecessor, and though I didnt really notice the difference when I held a Fold 3 next to the new phone at Samsungs event, I imagine even the littlest reduction will go a long way in the real world.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

More importantly, the company said the Fold 4s internal display is now 45 percent stronger than the last generation. This should offer greater peace of mind to those who worry about scratching their expensive foldables fragile panel, though from my coworker Sam Rutherfords long-term experience with a Fold 3, it seems like you might need to be more concerned about the durability of the screen protector. Samsung told Engadget that though the material of the protector hasnt changed, it did use stronger adhesive and improved how thats applied. A company rep said that it should help minimize some of the peeling issues that our users were faced with six, seven months after launch.

The demo units I spent hands-on time with all appeared pristine, which is to be expected, and well have to wait till we have a sample for real-world testing to better evaluate the more-durable display.

Samsung said the new Fold had a slimmer hinge and bezels, but honestly, even when I placed a Fold 3 and 4 next to each other, I could barely tell that any of the borders around the internal screens were any different. Our video producer Brian Oh said it seemed like the bottom bezel on the latest device might be slightly thinner, but if the company hadnt pointed out this tweak, neither of us would have noticed a thing.

The same goes for the Fold 4s under-display camera (UDC), which Samsung said is better camouflaged and less visible thanks to a new scatter-type subpixel arrangement. But again, even with a side by side comparison at the hands-on, I didnt notice any difference. The lack of discernible improvement isnt a huge deal, though. What matters more is that, when I watched a fullscreen video on the Fold 4, I wasnt distracted by the UDC. Samsung also said this would make for better selfies taken with the camera.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

As usual, Samsung served up a gorgeous display here, with the AMOLED panels on both the inside and outside of the Fold 4 delivering sumptuous blacks and rich colors. I wish the 6.2-inch cover display was a little sharper, since it runs at a relatively low resolution of 2,316 x 904. But the company doesnt seem to expect people to use the outer display that much, anyway.

In fact, most of the improvements to the Fold 4 are about enhancing the big-screen experience and making it better for multitasking. The most obvious change here is the relocated taskbar, which Samsung has moved to the bottom of the page instead of the sides. This takes the row of icons at the bottom of your Android home page and turns it into a Windows-esque bar that appears whenever you open an app. Go back home, and this bar goes away.

Not only can you find your recent and most frequently used apps on this row, but youll also see shortcuts to find all apps, return home or go back at the bottom right. You can drag and drop icons from this bar to launch apps in split-screen or full-screen views, and be able to run up to three apps side by side. Fans of Samsungs floating Edge panel will still be able to enable it, and itll dock to the left or right of the display and offer additional shortcuts.

The company also updated Flex Mode, which cuts the screen into half when the phone is slightly folded, and turns the bottom part into a control panel of sorts for the top of the display. This year, Samsung added a touchpad tool so you can control a cursor up top by swiping and tapping on the bottom panel. Its meant to make the Fold 4 feel more like a laptop when you fold it and prop it up on a table, but honestly, even in my brief hands-on session, it was just so much easier to actually tap whats on the screen instead of trying to move a cursor over and click. This might be more useful when youre using one hand to navigate a document, perhaps, but if you are able to poke at the screen, this touchpad feature is pretty useless.

Samsungs also been working with developers to help third-party apps make better use of the larger canvas, and that, in addition to the fact that the Fold 4 uses Android 12L, presents a promising premise. Theoretically, the Fold 4s interior display will feature content thats better laid out  like a two-column notifications shade or, like Samsung showed us at its demo, resizable columns in Microsofts Outlook app. Unfortunately, I didnt get to spend much time with Android 12L or even try the Outlook app during my hands-on, so I cant judge how much more productive Id be on the Fold 4 yet. This is also something that we can better evaluate in a review, where wed have more time to gauge how useful small interface tweaks would be.

Cherlynn Low / Engadget

Other things that wed need to test in the real world include battery life, charging, performance and camera quality. The Fold 4 has a 4,400mAh cell like its predecessor, and supports both fast wireless charging and Wireless Powershare so you can use the foldable to juice up your Galaxy Watch or Buds. It uses a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and comes with a respectable 12GB of RAM. Also like last years model, the Fold 4 supports input from the S Pen Pro and S Pen Fold Edition on its inside screen.

One final area that got a serious upgrade is the Fold 4s rear camera system. Instead of last years trio of 12-megapixel sensors, the new model has a 50-MP primary sensor, a 12-MP ultrawide and 10-MP telephoto camera. The UDC and selfie camera up front (where the cover display is) are the same 4-MP and 10-MP setups respectively.

With the new imaging hardware, Samsung was able to bring a combined 30x zoom to the Fold 4, thanks to a 3x optical zoom via its telephoto lens. There wasnt a lot of room at the demo space for me to truly judge the quality of zoomed-in pictures taken with the Fold 4, but I was indeed able to get super close to somewhat distant subjects like hapless Samsung reps hovering near us. The company said it also improved its portrait mode and "nightography" to deliver clearer pictures in low light, and while it was hard to find a dim spot in our brightly lit space, the photos I took of a relatively dark corner did come out bright and crisp.

Like I said before, though, camera performance is one of the features Id rather test in the real world. If youre already sold on the Fold 4 though, you can already pre-order one for $1,800 from Samsung, Amazon or other retailers. Its available in black, gray-green and an oddly boring beige color. Check out our guide to pre-ordering the Fold 4 to secure the best deals from Samsung or your preferred carrier. As always, though, Id recommend waiting till we get a review unit to put the Fold 4 through its paces before actually buying one.

Follow all of the news from Samsung's Unpacked event right here!
At least one former Twitter employee is facing prison time for allegedly helping Saudi Arabia spy on critics. Bloomberg reports a jury in San Francisco has convicted US resident Ahmad Abouammo of serving as an agent for Saudi Arabia, as well as falsifying records, money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to prosecutors, Abouammo took bribes in 2015 from a key aide to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Bader Al Asaker, in return for sensitive account info that could be used to track and silence dissidents.

The one-time media partnership manager said that he was only doing his job. However, the prosecution showed evidence that Abouammo received $300,000 and a $20,000 Hublot watch from the aide.

Abouammo will be sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison. He and his legal team have declined to comment. However, defense attorney Angela Chuang argued in court that the conviction is a consolation prize meant to "save face" for government officials and Twitter. The US supposedly let its main target, former Twitter engineer Ali Alzabarah, flee to Saudi Arabia. A third suspect outside of Twitter, Ahmed Almutairi, is believed to have acted as a go-between before he left for Saudi Arabia.

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The case highlights concerns about the potential for staff at social media companies to abuse account information. Twitter previously said it limited data access to vetted employees and had "tools in place" to protect privacy, but those safeguards clearly failed. There are still concerns internet firms may need to further tighten security to prevent similar misuses.
Google may soon be facing its second antitrust lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice. According to Bloomberg, the DOJ is gearing up to sue the tech giant as soon as September after a year of looking into whether it's been using its dominant position to illegally control the digital ad market. The Justice Department's lawyers have reportedly been conducting another round of interviews to glean additional information that could help make their case stronger. These new interviews are expected to build on previous ones conducted much earlier on in the investigation.

The Justice Department first filed an antitrust lawsuit against the company back in 2020, accusing it of having an unfair monopoly over search and search-related advertising. For that particular case, the agency argued that forcing Android phone manufacturers to set Google as the default search engine prevents rivals from gaining traction and ensures that the company will earn an enormous amount of money from search-related advertising.

In the same year, Texas filed a multi-state lawsuit against Google, with the state's Attorney General accusing the company of using its "monopolistic power to control" ad pricing. The company's ad practices are under scrutiny not just in the US but in other parts of the world: The European Commission also opened a probe to look into whether Google limits rival services' access to user data for ad purposes last year. As a concession to the EU's concerns, Reuters reported in June that Google may let rival ad platforms run ads on YouTube.

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While the DOJ has yet to officially file its case, Google spokesperson Peter Schottenfels defended the company's ad business in a statement to Bloomberg, which says: "Our advertising technologies help websites and apps fund their content, and enable small businesses to reach customers around the world. The enormous competition in online advertising has made online ads more relevant, reduced ad tech fees, and expanded options for publishers and advertisers."
Former President Donald Trump said FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago estate and broke into his safe, in what his son acknowledged was part of an investigation into Trump's removal of official presidential records from the White House to his Florida resort.
Plymouth, MIMia's Odyssey: Taking Back My Soul, by Mia Odeh, won an International Book Impact Award in the Female Empowerment category, which follows on the heels of wining first place in the Firebird Book Award in the Women's Issues category. Written with Mike Ball, Mia Odeh revisits her life story, beginning in Palestine at age sixteen, where she was forced into an arranged marriage. After being brought to the United States, Mia realizes that her marriage is not only unwanted but unsafe as she experiences almost daily sexual and physical assault.

Mia's Odyssey shines an unflinching light on the horrors of domestic abuse and reveals how a survivor with enough determination can find the resources to forge a path to freedom.

Imprisoned in an abusive marriage, how can a woman whose culture emphasizes female submission escape the clutches of her husband? After being forced to depend on this kind of violent and untrustworthy man, can she learn to be independent? In the wake of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, what does it take to recover, heal, and gain stability? How does the love of a mother for her children keep her going in even the darkest moments? Mia Odeh shares her journey to answer these questions in her revealing new memoir, Mia's Odyssey: Taking Back My Soul.

"You know, sometimes you have to get a little distance from something before you can really see it," says Mia. "From the time I was sixteen years my husband surrounded me like a putrid fog, permeating every minute of every day and completely blocking the sun from entering my life. When my husband left us behind in Arizona and moved to Michigan for work I began to see him as he really was, nothing more than a small, evil, isolated creature. I made it my goal to keep my children pure, to keep them from ever becoming like their father."

Watch the book trailer at https://bit.ly/MiasOdysseyBookTrailer





"Mia's Odyssey is a compelling, uplifting book that can be difficult to emotionally digest it is also rewarding because her will to survive is strong, her ability to bend but not break is admirable, her love for the children more powerful than the abuser's muscles." Brad Butler, Author, 5-Stars

"One night, I told my husband that something he had said was unfair. As soon as the words left my mouth I knew I'd made a mistake," recalls Mia. "This made him believe I was becoming independent, like American women, and he made plans to send me and the children back overseas. Suddenly, I knew that I could not take my children back to that place, where all my choices would be gone. All of their choices would be gone. That place where my daughters would grow up to become slaves to their husbands. That place where my boys would be taught to believe that they deserved to have wives who were nothing more than slaves. I knew that, for the first time in my life, I had to fight back."

"Heartbreaking and rich with hope, Mia's Odyssey reveals the resilience of the human spirit in the midst of the darkest situations. This story draws attention to issues of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence, and shows the critical role neighbors, police, and safe houses can play in helping women and children to escape such desperate situations." Jessica Tofino, Educator and Writer, 5-Stars

"It has taken me a long time, a lot of hard work, and help from others to achieve stability for myself and my children. A few years after leaving my husband, a nice family came to our aid, providing a home for us for five years. These wonderful people made us all feel like we had found a family at last," says Mia. "Eventually I found a mentor who took an interest in my future and the future of my family."

"Though not for the faint of heart, Mia's Odyssey is life-affirming and shows the reader that love can conquer even in the worst situations. This book will inspire any woman trapped in seemingly hopeless circumstances, and give hope for an independent life. It will stay with you long after you've finished reading and warm your heart with its promising ending. Highly recommended." John Kelly, Detroit Free Press, 5-Stars

"To this day I still struggle with insecurity, afraid that the life I have now is too good to be true. After thirty years of abuse and uncertainty, I can't help wondering when this bubble will burst," shares Mia. Then I look around me and realize that I really have emerged from that long nightmare to become the woman that God meant me to be. I will always be grateful to the people who stepped up to help me at key times during all those difficult years. I hope that telling my life story in this book can help others in need find the courage to fight back and escape whatever situation they might be in."

Mia's Odyssey: Taking Back My Soul, ISBN: 979-8-9864056-0-5, ASIN: B0B46V571M, $3.99 Kindle, $14.95 paperback, 232 pages, Simon Publishing Ventures, June 2022. Available at the author's website at http://www.MiasOdyssey.com or on Amazon.

About Mia Odeh: Mia Odeh was born in Palestine, became a child bride at age 16, and was brought to Phoenix, Arizona by her husband. She endured years of abuse, bore five children, and was forced to move from Arizona to Qatar, back to Arizona, and eventually to Michigan. Despite the cruelties she suffered, Mia never stopped dreaming of a different life for herself and her children. After fleeing her abusive marriage, with the help of neighbors and police, Mia and her children found a new beginning.

This came with many ups and downs, including a time of being homeless with five kids and pregnant with her sixth. With relentless tenacity, Mia worked hard to gain stability for her family, working low paying jobs and moving frequently. Eventually, with the generosity of a family that gave them a place to live, Mia was able to find some more solid footing. She is now completing a degree in criminal justice, holds a job in senior management, and has purchased her own home. From the depths of abuse, Mia and her children have risen to achieve amazing levels of success.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Mia's Odyssey: Taking Back My Soul or to arrange an interview with Mia Odeh, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Reach Lorenz on Twitter @abookpublicist
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Pearl developer Silver Ventures is pursuing a partial tax break for apartments it plans to build across the San Antonio River from the mixed-use development as it expands its footprint.

The seven-story, $80.9 million complex at 1126 E. Elmira St. would include about 263 market-rate apartments, commercial space and a parking garage.

There would be a restaurant on the ground floor and parking slots for residents as well as the public in the garage, said Omar Gonzalez, director of development at Pearl Build, a subsidiary of Silver Ventures.

I think this idea of work, live, play is absolutely the future, Gonzalez told Bexar County commissioners at their meeting Tuesday.

The 10-year, 40 percent abatement of county property taxes is valued at an estimated $596,875.

On ExpressNews.com: Opportunities to fly: The Pearls division into 3 companies begins new era of growth

The development costs are substantial and the tax abatement will help the projects below-market return on costs, executives wrote in an application.

Commissioners gave the go-ahead to negotiate an agreement with Broadway SA Investors GP LLC, an affiliate of Silver Ventures. They will vote on a final deal at a later date.

A decision on the item had been delayed previously because of concerns the complex would not have affordable apartments.

Commissioner Tommy Calvert said he is comfortable supporting the abatement because the county is also allocating $20 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for affordable housing initiatives.

What the community is really calling for is balance, said Calvert, whose Precinct 4 includes Pearl.

The abatement is a relatively small part of Silver Ventures investment, he added.

Silver Ventures also is is set to receive a 10-year tax increment reimbursement grant and San Antonio Water System fee waivers worth a combined $3.6 million through the citys now-defunct Center City Housing Incentive Policy as well.

The firm will contribute $1 million to the citys affordable housing fund as a condition of the CCHIP program.

S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff.

Executives have previously said they were concerned about the viability of the apartment project because of rising construction costs and labor shortages

On ExpressNews.com: Pearl owner wants to turn Samuels Glass building into market with restaurants

The cost environment today is just awful, Bill Shown, CEO of Pearl Build, said in a recent interview. Every time we go to price something, it comes in higher and higher and higher, so we scramble to try to figure out, OK, how do we react to this? The commodities prices go through the roof.

Were going to be able to get (the Elmira project) under control, but my God, its been a horrible journey, he said. Thats the wrong word to use  its been extremely challenging.

The complex would increase the total number of apartments Silver Ventures has built at Pearl to more than 900.

Other projects are also underway there. The wedge-shaped Samuels Glass Co. building at 221 Newell Ave. is slated to be turned into a market with restaurants, offices and storage and the Pearl Stable is being converted into a concert venue.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Texans who use a phone should expect to pay more for that service, thanks to a startling rate increase adopted by the Public Utility Commission of Texas last month.

Commissioners in July voted to increase a longstanding surcharge assessed on telecommunications providers receipts for voice services to 24 percent from 3.3 percent. The new rate, which took effect Aug. 1, will add couple of dollars a month for a consumer with a typical individual cell phone plan, and potentially several times that for customers with family plans, or those who pay for calls on a per-minute basis.

Its unprecedented, said Rusty Moore, COO of BBT Telecom, a provider headquartered in Alpine, and board president of the Texas Telephone Association.

The move came after a court ordered the PUC to restore $200 million in overdue money to the Texas Universal Service Fund, which provides support to the states rural telecoms, which serve some 4 million customers across Texas. Federal and state rules invoke a standard of universal service, meaning that all Americans should have access to basic communications services, but the low population density of rural areas means that service providers struggle to turn a profit without charging exorbitant rates. The Texas Universal Service Funds financing mechanism was established in 1987, by state law, to shore up this system.

The PUC stopped meeting those statutory obligations in January 2021 by failing to make sufficient payments from the universal fund to rural telecoms. The Texas Telephone Association, which represents 43 rural telecoms, sued.

It is the lifeblood of rural communications, thats for sure, Moore said of the Universal Service Fund.. If you look at the large land mass and low density, it provides a mechanism to keep the rates in parity with rates in urban areas.

He explained that BBT, for example, has some 7,000 customers scattered across 18,000 square miles of rugged terrain, including nearly 500 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border as well as Big Bend National Park.

On HoustonChronicle.com: The digital divide is causing major economic problems for rural Texas. What now?

Some TTA members had said they were at risk of closing, after the PUC stopped making payments in full.

The PUC, in a statement, said the increased fees were imposed on the telecom companies, and they are not required to pass on the costs onto residential and business customers. But in practice, telecommunications providers typically choose to do so, the agency explains in a separate Universal Service Fund fact sheet.

T-Mobile, for example, has begun notifying customers that increased fees will show up on their bills starting this month. The exact increase will depend on the customers plan.

The change will remain in effect for months, if not longer. Rich Parsons, the agencys spokesman, said the PUC plans to reduce the fee in about a year as the fund is replenished. But, he added, the rate may not drop back to its previous level of 3.3 percent unless the commissioners vote accordingly.

It is too soon to know how much the rate will be reduced, he said.

While the Texas Telephone Association heralded the initial court victory, Moore explained that the PUCs approach to covering the gap is really not what the organization had in mind, or considers best. In 2021, TTA had backed legislation that would have extended the universal service fee to voice over internet protocol service providers  which allow users to make phone calls over the internet as well as traditional providers. The bill passed the Texas Legislature with overwhelming support but was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott.

S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff.

It would be better, Moore argued, to have a much longer glide path to restoring the funding with more modest rate increases over a longer period..

This is not what we advocated for in any way, shape, or form, he said.

Moores company, BBT, reckons higher cost residential consumers approximately $4.61 per month, and business customers $6.21.

The company plans to cover the increase itself this month, at least, while it encourages PUC to consider an alternative approach to making up the funding gap.

You cant forget about the consumer, Moore added. Theyre very important in this.

erica.grieder@chron.com
San Antonios Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc. has been hit with a proposed class-action lawsuit over a February data breach that allegedly compromised current and former employees and customers personal information.

The lawsuit was filed by a former employee who accuses Pape-Dawson of negligence for failing to safeguard its computer systems.

Richard Charitat of Richmond is suing on behalf of 850 current employees, as well as former employees, but the complaint says more than 10,000 individuals are believed to have had their private information exposed. The action, filed Monday in San Antonio federal court, seeks more than $5 million in damages.

In June, Pape-Dawson publicly disclosed it became aware of suspicious activity on its computer servers Feb. 21. It took steps to secure its network and deployed countermeasures to contain the event with assistance from cybersecurity specialists.

The companys investigation found an unauthorized actor potentially gained access to certain systems and certain information from Feb. 21 to Feb. 25.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios CaptureRx agrees to pay $4.75 million to settle lawsuits over data breach

After finishing its investigation, Pape-Dawson said it conducted a review of the potentially impacted data to identify individuals with information potentially at risk.

It said that review was completed April 28, finding no indication of any misuse of personal information.

Nonetheless, it gave notice to individuals who may have been affected. The form letter Charitat received didnt specifically identify what personal information of his had been compromised, his lawsuit says.

The suit accuses Pape-Dawson of failing to properly implement basic data security practices.

The complaint adds theres a strong probability that entire batches of stolen information has been or will be dumped on the black market. Private sensitive information can sell for $363 per record, the suit says, citing a 2015 report on Infosec Institute Inc.s website.

The plaintiff and proposed class members are at an increased risk of fraud and identity theft for many years into the future, the suit says. As a result, they will have to vigilantly monitor their financial and medical accounts for many years to come.

Pape-Dawson has offered credit monitoring and identity theft protection services through Experian at no cost to those affected. Charitat says he has spent about $150 for additional credit monitoring.

SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

Charitat, who worked at Pape-Dawson until 2016, adds hes already has been notified by Experian that his personal information had been published on the dark web.

His suit adds Pape-Dawson has does nothing to compensate those affected for the damages incurred and the time spent dealing with the data breach.

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In addition to the negligence claim, Charitat has sued for invasion of privacy, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of implied contract and unjust enrichment.

The suit demands that Pape-Dawson, among other things, educate class members on the threats they face as a result of the loss of their confidential personal identifying information to third parties.

The engineering firm has had a hand in San Antonios biggest developments including SeaWorld San Antonio, the AT&T Center, the Rim and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. The company has done a lot of work for the city of San Antonio; a city spokeswoman said it has not been affected by the breach.

Earlier this year, San Antonio health care technology company CaptureRx agreed to pay $4.75 million to settle class-action litigation over a data breach that affected more than 2 million people.

The CEO of CaptureRxs parent company, NEC Networks, said in a court filing that it would strongly consider filing for bankruptcyif the settlement wasnt finalized. A San Antonio federal judge gave final approval to the settlement in June.

A Pape-Dawson spokeswoman and a lawyer for Charitat didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

pdanner@express-news.net
The molcajete, a hefty mortar and pestle typically crafted from a hunk of volcanic rock, is one of the oldest and most essential tools in kitchens across Mexico and Texas alike.

These must-have devices have been used for centuries to grind spices, chiles, seeds, nuts and more. Examples of molcajetes  the term is derived from the Nahuatl word "molcaxitl"  have been found in ancient Aztec and Mayan archaeological sites, according to the University of Texas at San Antonio's Institute of Texan Cultures

Thanks to their rustic looks, dramatic heft and dominating presence, molcajetes are also a fixture at restaurants across San Antonio. They star in tableside guacamole preparations, get stuffed with tangy and refreshing ceviche or overflow with a sizzling mixture of seafood and other ingredients in a bubbling broth.

While molcajetes, which are labor-intensive to use and require plenty of elbow grease to achieve smooth results, may seem old-school in this era of food processors and high speed blenders, theyre definitely finding a foothold in that most modern of places: the internet. Dozens of videos showing food prepared and served in them have been shared in recent months on social media platforms, garnering millions of views. In June, a video depicting a bubbling surf-and-turf molcajete from an Austin food truck drew more than 140,000 likes.

Molcajetes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, from massive vessels holding enough food to feed a family of four to petite bowls containing a spicy pool of salsa. In many restaurants, they're presented with the food placed in a steel bowl tucked inside the molcajete, preventing ingredients from coming into contact with the porous surface. Others use molcajetes made from dishwasher-friendly metal or synthetic materials.

If you have concerns about the sanitation of molcajetes where food is served directly in the porous stone bowl, fret not. They're easy to clean and don't present a health risk if handled properly. Molcajetes (and other porous containers made from materials such as unglazed pottery) simply require a good scrubbing in hot water to remove food debris. Soap is not recommended when cleaning molcajetes, as they can absorb chemicals and odors. The most important step is letting them (and other items made from porous materials, including wooden cutting boards) dry thoroughly, which will prevent mold and bacterial growth.

On ExpressNews.com: Busting the myth that wood cutting boards are less sanitary than plastic cutting boards

If you're ready to literally rock on and enjoy a feast served in a molcajete, any of these six restaurants have options sure to satisfy.

210 Ceviche

Paul Stephen/Staff

Creatures from the air, sea and land all star in the Molcajete Cielo, Mar y Tierra at this restaurant near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Wurzbach Road. Inside the scalding-hot molcajete, chicken, beef, shrimp, whole green onions, a griddled nopal cactus pad, slabs of queso fresco and more marry in an indulgent and savory feast.

The unsung hero of this dish is the incredibly flavorful broth all that protein and vegetables are swimming in. It has a flavor similar to the restaurant's chile and tomato salsa thinned out with briny seafood broth, and it's is good enough to eat on its own.

210 Ceviche, 9502 Interstate 10, 210-593-9300, 210ceviche.com, Facebook: @210ceviche

El Bucanero

Mike Sutter /Staff

Seafood is king at this popular eatery with several locations across San Antonio. And the restaurant's signature Molcajete El Bucanero looks like aquatic royalty with a crown of spiny crab legs popping out of the dish.

This molcajete is a massive undertaking. It holds enough fried fish, grilled fish, crab legs, octopus and shrimp three ways  fried, grilled and wrapped in bacon  to easily feed four or more diners. If you want to sample about half of El Bucanero's menu in a single dish, this is the way to do it.

El Bucanero, 16505 Blanco Road, 210-408-9297; 13802 Embassy Road, 210-333-0909; 8300 Marbach Road, 210-645-7337; el-bucanero.com, Facebook: @elbucaneroblanco

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Mexican seafood restaurant showdown

La Gloria

Paul Stephen/Staff

Celebrated chef Johnny Hernandez features two types of molcajetes at the Pearl and Dominion locations of his flagship restaurant. The Arrachera en Adobo molcajete is unlike any other sampled for this story. It arrives in a screaming-hot molcajete crafted of aluminum instead of the more common volcanic rock.

In this unique dish, La Gloria presents tender chunks of skirt steak stewed in a robust, complex and aromatic sauce based on pasilla chiles and earthy spices, all topped with sauteed onions and gooey, molten cheese.

La Gloria, 100 E. Grayson St. at the Pearl, 210-267-9040; 211819 Interstate 10, 210-265-3315, lagloria.com, Facebook: @lagloriapearl

La Perla del Pacifico

Paul Stephen/Staff

This restaurant near the intersection of Culebra Road and Loop 410 specializes in seafood, and that's reflected in the selections of molcajetes offered on the menu. There are options featuring cooked seafood in spicy chile-based broths, but for the most refreshing option, try the Molcajete Puerto Vallarta.

True to the popular Mexican coastal city that inspired the dish's name, this molcajete is loaded with raw and cooked shrimp, octopus and diced mahi-mahi marinated in a bright sauce of chile, tomato and citrus juice. The whole affair is dressed with a showy fan of avocado slices, cucumbers, red onions and a drizzle of hot sauce.

La Perla del Pacifico, 7911 Culebra Road, 210-973-7600, Facebook: @laperladelpacificorestaurant

La Taqueria de Monterrey

Paul Stephen/Staff file photo

You'll only find one molcajete on the menu at this taqueria, which has locations near the intersection of Hillcrest Drive and Babcock roads and a second Babcock spot near the intersection with De Zavala Road. It's a must-try if you're a fan of crispy, fried pork.

Listed on the menu as the Molkjete Chicharron, this meal begins with a bed of lettuce and pico de gallo topped with creamy guacamole. Above that you'll find oodles of cubed pork that have been fried to perfection with tender, juicy meat and crackling skin still attached.

La Taqueria de Monterrey, 2715 Hillcrest Drive, 210-994-8686; 6565 Babcock Road, Suite 26, 210-688-4802, lataqueriademonterrey.com, Facebook: @LaTaqueriaDeMonterrey

On ExpressNews.com: 7 San Antonio restaurants for a great Mexican hamburguesa or salchiburger

Los Cabos

Paul Stephen/Staff

It's easy to get overwhelmed with the molcajete options at this Marbach Road restaurant near John Jay High School. The menu features molcajetes stuffed with everything from seafood to poultry to beef and beyond.

The restaurant's namesake Molcajete los Cabos is a good starting point. This flashy seafood fest delivers bacon-wrapped shrimp and jalapeno chiles, mussels, diced fish, octopus, avocado slices, a slab of seared cheese and more, all swimming in a vibrant, deeply savory and piping-hot chile-based sauce.

Los Cabos, 7310 Marbach Road, 210-592-8027, Facebook: Los Cabos Seafood.




Residents in the central provinces of Chungcheong are bracing for heavy downpours, as a powerful rain front that delivered the heaviest rainfall in 115 years to the Seoul metropolitan area this week was moving south Wednesday.







The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued a heavy rain warning for the Chungcheong provinces and parts of the southwestern province of North Jeolla and the southeastern province of North Gyeongsang as of 2 p.m., forecasting the daily precipitation may reach up to 300 mm in some of the regions until Thursday morning.







Chungcheong, in particular, is expected to be pounded by strong torrential rains of about 50 to 80 mm per hour, accompanied by gusty winds, thunder and lightning, the KMA noted.







The unusual rain front, created by cold air from the north and hot air from the south, has already dumped 525 mm of rain in the capital area from Monday to early Wednesday morning, leaving 16 people dead or missing and submerging more than 2,500 homes and buildings.







The KMA forecast that the rain front moved south to the Chungcheong regions but is expected to move north back to the capital area later this week.







In response to the heavy rain warning, civil servants of the central city of Daejeon and adjacent South and North Chungcheong provinces have been placed on emergency footing since early Wednesday morning and are taking various preventive measures to minimize downpours and flood damage.







As of late Wednesday morning, some districts of Daejeon had received rainfall of up to 148.5 mm for one day, the KMA said. (Yonhap)






July marked the 13-year anniversary of one of San Antonio's most horrific crimes.

On July 26, 2009, San Antonio police found the mutilated body of a 4-week-old baby named Scott "Baby Scotty" Buchholz. The child's mother, Otty Sanchez, was accused of beheading and dismembering the infant and told police the devil made her do it. Police said she also ate parts of the baby's body.

The crime was so gruesome, SAPD provided counseling services for the officers who entered the home.

Sanchez had recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and told police she was hearing voices who instructed her to kill her child in order to prevent an apocalypse.

TRUE CRIME: Texas man beat, stabbed his grandmother 50 times before robbing her 34 years ago, police say

Sanchez's cousin, Priscilla Garcia, called 911 after finding the child beheaded and dismembered. In the 911 recording, Sanchez can be heard in the background yelling "I loved him" and I didn't mean to do it. He told me to.

Sanchez had been living with her mother and Garcia in their Wayside Drive home at the time.

Courtesy Photo

Police said Sanchez used a steak knife and two swords to kill the child before mutilating the corpse and eating body parts that included the brain, nose and toes, the Express-News said. Her attorney, Ed Camara, said the woman thought it was necessary to kill her child to prevent an apocalypse.

TRUE CRIME: 'The Railroad Killer' began his 13-year killing spree 36 years ago in San Antonio

She was arrested that day and charged with capital murder. She was eventually found not guilty by reason of insanity and was admitted to the North Texas State Hospital Vernon facility, a maximum-security mental institution.

Her mental competency is reviewed annually by a judge, but officials don't believe she will ever be released. Camara, told reporters in 2010 that he didn't think "realistically this is ever the type of thing that can be cured."

taylor.pettaway@express-news.net
Sonic is bringing back two menu items featuring pickles, as the "Pickle Juice Slush" and "Big Dill Cheeseburger" return to drive-thru menus for three weeks this month, good news for a San Antonio market that loves its pickles.

The promotion, which started Monday, sees the return of the two former menu items as well as Sonic's pickle fries, which are dill pickle spears cut into a fry shape and then fried. The promotion will run through Aug. 28, while supplies last.

The Pickle Juice Slush was first released temporarily in June 2018 and the Big Dill Cheeseburger was first released in April of this year before selling out, Sonic wrote. The Pickle Juice Slush is one of the "most frequently requested menu items on social media," the Oklahoma City-based chain wrote.

The Pickle Juice Slush can be ordered for half price any time a customer orders on the Sonic app and pickle juice flavoring can be added to any other beverages for an additional charge. Sonic says that the slush combines the "flavor of a salty dill pickle with a sweet slush." The slush costs $2.79 for a medium-sized drink.

Handout | SONIC

The Big Dill Cheeseburger comes with pickle fries, crinkle-cut pickle slices and ranch on a beef patty with chopped lettuce and American cheese. The Big Dill Cheeseburger costs $4.49 while the pickle fries are offered at $1.89.

On ExpressNews.com: 7 San Antonio shops selling great raspas

"Our pickle-forward menu innovations have become some of our most popular," Mackenzie Gibson, vice president of culinary and menu innovation at Sonic, said in a statement. "They've often sold out quicker than we anticipated."

"The Pickle Juice Slush and Big Dill Cheeseburger are perfect for those who can't get enough pickles this summer," Gibson continued.

Sonic has multiple locations around San Antonio, which can be found at Sonic's website. A portion of proceeds from each drink sale is given to support local public schools through the "Limeades for Learning" program.

shepard.price@express-news.net | @shepardgprice
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A forum about immigration started with the grim reality many who try to enter the country face at some point in their journey: a 911 call.

We need help, a man says in Spanish, shouting in a winded voice.

I need the directions, the operator replies, also in Spanish.

The recording continues with a brief, inaudible response, then the mans voice goes quiet, and the call ends with the sound of a busy signal.

The message set the tone for Monday evenings town hall meeting, which was organized by Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and led entirely in Spanish by hosts Antonio Guillen with Univision and Jessica Montoya of Telemundo. The two stations that dominate Spanish-language news in San Antonio hosted the forum out of the University of Texas at San Antonios downtown campus and streamed footage of it on their respective social media pages.

In the blue hue of the stage lights at the Buena Vista Theater downtown, the panelists sat in black chairs as the hosts tossed the panelists questions prepared both beforehand and taken from members of the audience. The crowd of more than 100 people included both political figures and candidates, as well as people who wanted to learn more about efforts to help immigrants.

And much like the nations long-running immigration debate, it also included vocal opponents.

People critical of illegal immigration heckled the hosts. One woman who kept interrupting the panelists was escorted from the room by a deputy.

An hour later, more people who said that English should be spoken because this is America engaged in a few brief, hushed arguments with other attendees who were interested in hearing what the panelists had to say.

The rabble-rousers left the hall to the sound of applause and cheers from other attendees.

County Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores detailed efforts by the county to help undocumented immigrants facing deportation. She said that although the county does not have the authority to set its own laws and policies regarding immigration, the commissioners voted last month on a $1 million immigrant defense fund to help organizations that offer legal and other services.

Later in the forum, an audience member confronted Clay-Flores over the efforts put into helping people who come to the country illegally.

The commissioner was firm in her response.

How easy its been for you to forget that this is a country of immigrants, she said, saying that many in the audience have blood of immigrants running through their veins.

She said the defense fund might seem like a lot of money, but its only a drop in the bucket compared to the $2.8 billion budget approved in the Commissioners Court last year.

She jousted momentarily with an audience member who said his parents came to the United States legally.

Clay-Flores, who is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, asked, What kind of misery are people fleeing that they risk dying in a trailer?

She was referencing the deadly smuggling incident that left 53 migrants from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras dead in June in South Bexar County, one of the many horrific incidents undocumented immigrants have faced that also spurred Monday nights discussion.

She recalled a 13-year-old boy as the youngest who died among the migrants, saying that children dont understand the risks of coming to the U.S.

For me, its a humanitarian issue, she said.

The commissioner also reiterated a portion from one panelist, Erica B. Schommer, a law professor at St. Marys University, saying that there are racist laws, such as those in Africa and the Caribbean, that prevent people from obtaining a legal visa.

Schommer earlier said its difficult for refugees to seek political asylum as people have to demonstrate that their lives were in danger from religious, political or LGBT persecution. That process takes years.

Asylum seekers may also ask for a work permit in the meantime, but that can be complicated and time-consuming, too, she said.

The professor said the U.S. has not seen any changes in immigration laws for many years, and that theres a lot of injustice in the process itself.

The reality in San Antonio is totally different now than what it was when the current immigration laws were passed, Schommer said. We need to make changes so there can be an appropriate response to what the international situation is now.

State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, fielded a question from Guillen, who said that immigrants are being sent to Washington and New York, shifting responsibilities to other communities. He asked Menendez whether Gov. Greg Abbott has the authority to do so.

Menendez said Abbott, when he was Texas attorney general, used to complain about how the federal government would butt into state affairs, and now hes pushing state issues back onto Washington.

Hes doing it for political reasons, he said in Spanish. He wants political recognition for doing this; hes not helping anybody.

While attempting to detail efforts his office makes with Catholic Charities to help migrants, the senator was interrupted by hecklers asking for the forum to continue in English.

He later said that people living in the shadows would love to pay their fair share of taxes just to live a normal life.

One migrant interviewed by Telemundo on video said they dont have the time or money they need to get to where theyre going. Theyre held for three days until theyre deported to another state.

J. Antonio Fernandez, CEO of Catholic Charities, said they are trying to find a way the city can help buy tickets for them to get to where they need to go.

Its not fair for them to be here and having nothing to do, he said. They dont have any notice of where theyre going to go or how theyre going to get there.

jbeltran@express-news.net
Lets try something different this week.

Lets not knee-jerk our way into a set of pat, partisan responses. Lets not feign certainty over matters we dont yet know very much about.

Of course, in our clickbait culture, its tempting to come roaring out of the gate with exclamation points when it comes to Mondays FBI search of former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas Republicans dine with Trump the day after Mar-a-Lago FBI raid

If youre a Democrat, its hard to resist the urge to gloat and paint mental pictures of Trump in an orange jumpsuit.

If youre a Republican, its equally hard to refrain from denouncing the search as the latest and darkest demonstration of a Deep State conspiracy to destroy Trump.

Neither response would be justified at this point, given how little we know about what prompted the search.

Sources have indicated that the investigation is related to Trumps removal of government documents  including some classified material  from the White House when he left office in January 2021.

On ExpressNews.com: FBIs search of Trump's Florida estate: Why now?

Trumps actions potentially put him in violation of the Presidential Records Act, a 1978 law created in reaction to Richard Nixons post-Watergate attempts to destroy his presidential records.

Its natural to question whether it was necessary for the FBI to execute a search of Trumps property to recover any missing presidential records.

What we dont know is the nature of the material sought by federal agents. Were they looking for documents related to the House Select Committee investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection by Trump loyalists who believed his false claims that the 2020 election had been stolen from him? Were the agents searching for sensitive documents involving national security?

We dont know. And its foolish to come out with brash pronouncements about it.

But there are a few certainties in this story that are worth considering.

While Trump and his political allies have blasted the Mar-a-Lago search as an abuse of power by Democratic President Joe Biden, we might want to remember that the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, was selected by Trump.

On ExpressNews.com: Texas Republicans lash out at Biden over FBI search of Trumps home

On June 7, 2017, Trump announced Wrays nomination by describing him as a man of impeccable credentials.

We should also consider the legal hoops that had to be cleared for the Mar-a-Lago search to happen.

The Department of Justice had to submit an application for a search warrant establishing probable cause that a crime had been committed and specifying the nature of that crime. A federal judge had to approve the application.

We should be wary of any politician who relentlessly tells us how much they support law enforcement, but then immediately goes on the attack against our nations preeminent law-enforcement organization as soon as an investigation is directed at someone from their own political party.

Consider the double talk weve heard from Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Trumps former press secretary and the current Republican nominee for governor of Arkansas.

On Nov. 3, 2016, Sanders had this to say about a then-current FBI investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server for government communications. Clinton was Trumps opponent in the 2016 presidential election.

When youre attacking FBI agents because youre under criminal investigation, youre losing, Sanders said then.

Monday night, in light of an FBI investigation of her former boss, Sanders sang a different tune: If youre not appalled by the total abuse of power from Democrats in Washington, youre not paying attention.

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., tweeted, DEFUND THE FBI.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the FBI search weaponizes power to squelch dissent.

If youre a Republican, you have every right to raise questions about the Mar-a-Lago search.

If, however, you were one of the people chanting Lock her up in 2016 whenever Trump mentioned Hillary Clintons name, you dont have much credibility when it comes to presidential abuses of power.

If your chief concern is that the Biden administration might be using its authority to target a political rival, you should think back to Oct. 9, 2016.

That was the night of the second presidential debate between Trump and Clinton. Trump threatened to have her imprisoned.

If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your (email) situation, Trump said.

When Clinton said she was glad Trump wasnt in charge of the country, he shot back, Because youd be in jail.

If you cheered Trump on that night, you might want to sit this one out.

ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones sent conservative political operative and former Donald Trump adviser Roger Stone an intimate photo of his wife, the attorney representing families of Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre victims revealed, noting that he is unsure whether she gave consent to send the picture.

The alleged photo was mistakenly included in a cache of text messages and emails sent to the legal team that successfully sued Jones for defamation earlier this month, attorney Mark Bankston, the recipient of the leak, said on the progressive news commentary show the Young Turks this week.

In case you missed it: Alex Jones cellphone records mistakenly shared by attorney with Sandy Hook legal team, lawyer says

Bankston said he was concerned that Jones wife, Erika Wulff Jones, didnt give her husband permission to send the photograph.

I dont know if it was consensual, said Bankston, who recently won nearly $50 million in damages for the parents of a child killed in the 2012 school shooting, which for years Jones called a hoax.

And if it wasnt consensual, Mrs. Wulff-Jones should know about that, and there might be something that needs to be done about that, Bankston said in the interview.

Briana Sanchez/Associated Press

Wulff-Jones told Insider on Tuesday that she was unaware her husband sent a nude photograph of her to Stone. She appeared uninterested in pursuing charges against her husband, Insider reported.

I am upset that he took (the) privilege to send the image to someone without my knowledge, Wulff-Jones, who married Jones in 2017, told Insider.

She added: Honestly, I was unaware that this occurred. Im sure this was some type of brag exchange, look how hot my wife is type thing.

You might also like: What's next for Alex Jones after $49M Sandy Hook verdict?

Before Bankston appeared on the Young Turks on Monday, Jones had gone on a rant about the text messages shared by his attorneys on his show "Infowars." Jones complained that those suing him had a nude photograph of his wife but did not say that he sent the image to Stone, who received a pardon from Trump that swept away his sentence related to Russias interference in the 2016 election.

Last week, a Texas jury ordered Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, the parents whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was among the 20 children and six educators killed in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut.

During the trial, Bankston revealed that Jones lawyers may have mistakenly sent a digital copy of his personal cellphone containing years worth of emails and text messages to his legal team. The text messages were important, Bankston said, because they showed that Jones perjured himself because they contradicted statements he made under oath that he did not discuss the Sandy Hook shooting on his cellphone.

During the trial, Bankston also said that he was prepared to make newsworthy messages public, adding that he would keep the most intimate messages out of the public eye and out of his own sense of morality.

The Jan. 6 House Committee has reportedly requested Jones text messages and emails as part of its investigation into the insurrection, according to Rolling Stone. The committee subpoenaed Jones last year over his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the deadly Capitol riot.

Also included in the trove of text messages were sexually explicit photographs of Jones and messages from Infowars employees that claimed to have a back channel to Ted Cruz that allowed them to get information directly into the hands of the U.S. Senator from Texas.

timothy.fanning@express-news.net
As a junior high student in 1974, I watched President Richard Nixon announce his resignation after the release of the smoking gun tape imploded his presidency in the wake of Watergate.

The FBIs search of former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence Monday, the anniversary of Nixons resignation, has a certain serendipitous irony to it.

Trump compared the search to Watergate, saying, What is the difference between this and Watergate, where operatives broke into the Democrat National Committee? Here, in reverse, Democrats broke into the home of the 45th President of the United States.

Well, theres a big difference. Democrats didnt break into his home. This was a lawful search pursuant to a federal judge believing there was probable cause that evidence of a crime would be found at Mar-a-Lago.

Watergate was a burglary carried out by men hired by the Nixon White House and Nixons re-election campaign and operating outside the law.

Watergate was a crime. This search was to uncover a potential crime.

Trumps claim that this was somehow an assault that could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries is ludicrous. If theres probable reason to find the evidence for a crime at his home, then, yes, it can happen to him just as it could to any other American. Its called the rule of law. Trump isnt above the law. Federal law enforcement officials did what they were supposed to do.

Keep in mind that the probable cause standard for a federal search warrant is quite high, even more so for such a politically sensitive search. The FBI was looking for documents related to national security and appears to have known exactly where to find them.

For those screaming about a deep state conspiracy, the search warrant was issued by a federal magistrate from a Republican-majority federal judicial district in Florida. It was executed by a Trump-appointed FBI director, Christopher Wray, who is a registered Republican, served with Brett Kavanaugh, now a Supreme Court justice, in the George W. Bush administration and is a member of the Federalist Society. The FBI director was approved by a Republican-controlled Senate.

So much for the nonsensical claims by Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. Greg Abbott that the Biden administration has somehow weaponized an FBI headed by a Republican.

If Trump illegally took national security-classified documents and hid them in his Florida mansion  and especially if he shared them with outsiders  he was likely in violation of the Presidential Records Act of 1978, and he may have put all of us in danger.

The Presidential Records Act of 1978 was passed in response to Nixons effort to take his presidential tapes and papers with him to California, where they could have been destroyed. The law requires that all types of presidential documents be preserved. Legally, they cant be destroyed just because a current or former president feels like it. They also cant be taken, sold or given away when a president leaves office.

We have never seen anything like this in our nations history. (We might have, had President Gerald Ford not pardoned Nixon.) Its astonishing there was enough evidence to convince a federal judge to issue a search warrant on the residence of a former American president.

This is one of the most historically significant, legally delicate and politically sensitive actions that the Justice Department and FBI have ever undertaken. Its unprecedented.

But lets be clear. There are no gray areas here. There are no both sides. Its not about the right or the left, Democrat or Republican. Its about the rule of law.

Jon Taylor is a professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
It lasted 187 minutes, but the peril did not end when the rioters left the U.S. Capitol, their anger and defiance about the 2020 presidential election unsated. The threat of that day lingers, and while the target is the same  democracy  the battleground has broadened, moving to state legislatures, where voting rights have been diminished, and toward potentially exploiting the Electoral Colleges vulnerabilities.

To bolster the Electoral College, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican, and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a Democrat, have introduced a bill that includes key reforms.

While its not the sweeping voting rights legislation we would prefer Congress enact, it is a necessary and needed response to the threat that then-President Donald Trump and his supporters posed on Jan. 6, 2021, and it deserves passage before the midterm election.

The legislation seeks to fortify what Trump and his followers tried to tear down.

Provoked by the Big Lie that Joe Biden won the 2020 election through fraud, the insurrectionists attacked the Capitol, but the real target was democracy, and the bulls-eye was the Electoral College system.

The rioters tried to threaten Vice President Mike Pence into refusing to certify the vote, chanting, Hang Mike Pence. It was a sentiment that Trump, watching on television, endorsed.

Following months of bipartisan negotiations, the bill would reform the Electoral Count Act of 1887, regarded by many experts as weak and vague. The bill would make clear the vice president has no power to certify results but would have only a ministerial role in the process.

With the vice president removed from the proceedings, the legislation would require one-fifth of both the Senate and House membership to lodge any objection to state electors.

Under the existing law, just one member of the House and one member of the Senate are needed to raise an objection, a paltry threshold that has the potential to cast doubt on an election outcome and throw the nation into a frenzy.

We have before us an historic opportunity to modernize and strengthen our system of certifying and counting the electoral votes for president and vice president, Collins said in a statement.

The reforms also offer a three-judge panel, with an expedited path to the U.S. Supreme Court, as a way for presidential candidates to raise election concerns, and it seeks to make clear that state electors represent the popular vote. This is in response to part of an 1845 law that allows state lawmakers to declare a failed election and override the will of voters, which, of course, has fueled the push for rogue electors.

After participating in the negotiations, prominent Republican senators  including Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina  are expected to vote for the measure as it advances through the Senate.

While this is welcome news, passage is not guaranteed. And yet we see these reforms as the most basic response to the Jan. 6 insurrection and the sticky persistence of the Big Lie of voter fraud.

It does nothing to address voter access concerns. Lets also remember that state legislatures across the country, including in Texas, have passed laws to limit Americans access to voting, particularly the use of mail-in ballots and ballot drop boxes.

The push to limit voting rights is also a very real response to the falsehood of widespread voter fraud. Coupled with extreme gerrymandering, it has the effect of diluting the voting power of minorities. It is a quieter assault on our democracy.

The midterm election will soon be upon us, setting the stage for the 2024 presidential election, a race that will be fraught with tension reflecting our national fault lines.

Given the persistence of the Big Lie and the possibility of continued assaults on our democracy, it is paramount Congress bolster the Electoral College before the upcoming election.
Seth Wenig, STF / Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Just a day after FBI agents searched former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago home, Texas Republicans were dining with Trump at his golf club in New Jersey on Tuesday night.

With our great President! The FBI Hierarchy & DOJ & the White House should be ashamed! U.S. Rep. Randy Weber of Friendswood tweeted with a picture of Trump seated at a table topped with bread baskets, beverages and his signature red hats.
Tom Burr doesnt keep much of an office. As leader of the environmental division of Raba Kistner, a San Antonio-based engineering firm, he spends much of his time on the road, traveling between the firms offices sprawled across Texas or visiting clients at project sites.

Though hes based in Austin, his work might take him to a petrochemical facility in Houston that requires environmental permits or to an adaptive reuse project such as Pearl in San Antonio, where soil assessments are needed to determine whether pollution from past land uses is present.

Locally, his division has performed archaeological work at the Alamo and in conjunction with the construction of San Pedro Creek Culture Park, where it helped identify and preserve the remains of the late-1860s St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church.

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Founded in 1968 in San Antonio, Raba Kistner has grown rapidly in recent years, in part by acquiring companies to expand its slate of services. The firm has taken on more of a national presence, doing work in states such as Florida, Virginia and Arizona, Burr said.

At the start of last year, Gary Raba stepped down as president to be replaced by Chris Schultz, marking the first time the firm has been led by someone outside the Raba family. Schultz is looking to expand through further acquisitions, Burr said.

Meanwhile, the firm has had ownership changes of its own: In 2019, it was bought by an Australian engineering firm, only to be bought again last year by Kiwa, a company based in the Netherlands.

Weve been bought a couple times because these guys recognize that were a great company with a great suite of services and were growing like crazy, Burr said. A lot of people want access to that North American market, and where in the market do they want to go first? Typically, its Texas.

After growing up in Seattle, Burr earned a bachelors degree in biology from the University of Oregon and a masters in environmental science from Baylor University. Before joining Raba Kistner, he worked for the Angelina & Neches River Authority in Lufkin and at the engineering firm Chicago Bridge & Iron.

He recently sat to discuss Raba Kistners expansion, San Antonios cultural regulations and the environmental threat posed by Texas rapid population growth. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Q: You majored in biology as an undergraduate. How did you become interested in that field?

A: Ive always been interested in the sciences, even when I was a kid. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and my parents had a trailer and we always camped. I grew up just camping all over  Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, all over the place. I just love being outdoors, love the natural resources.

Q: What are your favorite places to camp in Texas?

A: We went to Inks Lake quite a bit. Our kids just love that area; we can canoe, and then theyve got the cliffs you can jump off, the rope swings. I spent a few years in East Texas, and we would camp along the shores of Lake Sam Rayburn. You get more of the piney woods, which is nice. We dont have a lot a lot of pines here, but if you grew up the Pacific Northwest, theres all these pine trees.

Q: Is environmental cleanup work typically for urban development projects, where there used to be something different there?

A: Yeah, like an auto shop, gas station, dry cleaner. Could have been a former manufacturing site theyve decided to repurpose. The greenfield sites, where nothings been built before, not so much. Well do what we call the phase one environmental site assessment on all of them, but with the greenfield sites, well get photos back to the 1940s. We can look at aerial photos and kind of understand what its been, if theres ever been any underground storage tanks or above-ground storage tanks and fuels, those types of things.

Q: I would imagine you help your clients with federal and state environmental regulations.

A: Yeah  federal, state and local as well. You know, San Antonio has got its own requirements. San Antonio is kind of unique in terms of how it really, really goes out of its way to help protect and preserve the cultural resources. San Antonio does a lot to protect their historical property.

Q: Beyond the historic aspect, there are regulations regarding the Edwards Aquifer, right?

A: Right, protecting the groundwater. But really, in San Antonio, whats unique is (that Raba Kistner has) a full-service cultural resources department, archaeology. Theyre based in San Antonio, but we do work throughout the Texas triangle. San Antonio has got its own ordinance that basically dictates that with any kind of city- or county-funded project down there, youve got to do cultural resources reviews. You can do a phase one where you assess the property through kind of a document literature review, to see if there might be any cultural deposits there. If not, then you can go to the next phase, and you can start to do some trenching and digging in select locations to see if you find cultural deposits. And then we go so far as, if there are cultural deposits, well go down with the fine brushes and well pull them out, well date them, and well curate them and save them for future reference.

Q: As Texas grows so fast, does that pose a big threat to the environment? Is the state adequately addressing that?

A: The states (population is) going to potentially double by 2050. Thats going to put a strain on a lot of things, natural resources being one. But with that population growth, weve got to have infrastructure. You have to figure out where to put all that, how to expand roadways. Weve got to be smart about how we do it, how we develop. Maybe minimize the greenfield that we do and repurpose as much as possible to control that footprint.

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You know, were getting $35 billion from the infrastructure bill coming to Texas. So weve got a lot of money coming. I think thats gonna go a long way to help us build out and preserve what weve got in play.

Q: What do you do when you find unexpected archaeological remains, like on the San Pedro Creek project?

A: Weve got a gentleman in San Antonio, Steve Tomka, that runs that cultural resources group. Fantastic guy. The first thing weve got to do, obviously, is notify the client. Then weve got to figure out, well, what is it? Whats the age? Then theres a lot of conversations around, OK, how do we preserve that structure? What do we do? What are the construction constraints we need to think about now? Do we leave it in place? Do we protect it, or leave it like it is? Do we put protections around it, or do we remove it and curate it?

Its a significant undertaking because its going to impact the progression of the construction project. Theres a lot of dollar and scheduling things around that. Weve got to act quickly.

Q: What are some areas the firm is expanding in?

A: Outside of San Antonio, weve grown a tremendous amount in Houston and Dallas in terms of our stormwater permitting. We have got a stronghold of solid waste facilities, the people that are picking up your garbage in your house, those landfills, transfer stations; we do a ton of stormwater work there, and weve grown that tremendously throughout Texas in the last few years. Weve actually developed a proprietary software to help folks comply with the industrial stormwater permit for those applications. If you dont want to have the cost of us coming to your site to do all the work for you and do all the sampling and the monitoring, you can utilize this software and allow you to manage your own sites stormwater permit.

Q: Do you find that your clients are concerned about climate change? And do you advise them to think about that?

A: We do. We have so many different clients, from a small mom-and-pop shop all the way up to multinational global corporations. The larger-scale clients, theyre concerned about greenhouse gas. They follow it, and they know the current administration is very focused on greenhouse gas and climate change. Now, what does that mean? I mean, theres very little actual federal regulation on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions you can emit.

Q: Do you have an opinion as to whether were doing enough in Texas to reduce our greenhouse gases and to prepare for a future of more extreme weather?

A: I think we are. I think the state is ready to do more. You know, weve got $35 billion coming from the infrastructure fund. Theres a large chunk of that for disaster recovery and mitigating against climate change impacts. I think the states going to do what it needs to do in terms of hardening the coastal assets, improving infrastructure. I think theres always more you can do.

Q: At the start of last year, Chris Schultz took over as CEO from Gary Raba. Has he led the company in a new direction?

A: Hes going to be very aggressive on the inorganic growth, the acquisition side. Hes got some great ideas on where we want to go in terms of growing services, growing geographies, and growing market sectors. Im excited about it. Gary was a fantastic guy, and the Raba family obviously built the business since 1968. Garys still around and helping out, but Chris is gonna be really good. Hes got new, fresh ideas, and hes going to be great from an acquisition perspective.
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A man who self-claims to be "commander-in-chief of the children's liberation army," front, walks down a mountain path holding the schoolbags of children who follow him, in an episode of the ENA drama, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." Courtesy of ENA



By Kim Rahn





In the ninth episode of the hit series, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," a man appears who calls himself "commander-in-chief of the children's liberation army."



The man (actor Koo Kyo-hwan), who officially changed his name on his resident registration into "Bang Gu-ppong" (meaning "fart sound"), takes 12 children  third to fourth graders  to a mountain on a hagwon (private academy) bus. He then lets them play games such as hide-and-seek, explore nature by picking up acorns and eat snacks, for about half a day. Bang, as their self-claimed commander-in-chief, leads them in a chant: "First, children must play right now. Second, children must be healthy right now. Third, children must be happy right now."



But these hours of play with the children get him charged with kidnapping.



Bang is actually the son of the head of the hagwon. The hagwon is sought after by parents due to its "locked classroom," where the students, after school, are forced to stay until 10 p.m. (the legally permitted closing time for hagwons in Seoul and several cities according to regional authorities' ordinances) without having dinner and with a limit on the number of times they are permitted to go to the bathroom.



Due to being locked up in the classroom, the 12 children suffer from a lack of sleep, proper dinner and, of course, time to play. The third to fourth graders are studying differentials and integral calculus, which is from the high school curriculum.



The episode is in some ways a dramatic exaggeration, but some of the hagwon scenes actually do take place in real life in Korea, where the zeal for a good education and the competition to enter prestigious universities are at the world's highest levels.



In Mok-dong and Daechi-dong, the two Seoul districts called the "meccas of private education" for the top private academies gathered there, elementary schoolchildren  or even preschoolers  attend two to three institutes a day after their regular schooling until late evening. At around 10 p.m., it is common to see the double-parked cars of parents waiting to pick up their children.



Some say times have changed and that such rote learning of math, Korean literature and English studies does not work anymore. However, when the importance of other fields emerges along with the changing times, hagwon teaching in such new fields pops up, as evidenced by the mushrooming of computer coding academies since several years ago. There are even hagwons that claim to teach creativity.



This reality is the reason that the vast majority of citizens oppose the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's recent announcement seeking to lower the age of children starting elementary school from the current six to five years old.



The government plan is based on the belief that having children start in the public school system at an earlier age would address inequality in education and reduce parents' private education expenses  a belief many people do not agree with.





Parents hold a rally near the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Aug. 3, to protest against the government's plan to lower the age to start school from six to five. The signs read: "Children must play right now" and "Immediately withdraw the plan." Yonhap
Route followed by a band of Nez Perce (or, in their language, Nimiipu or Nee-Me-Poo) in 1877. A band of 800 men, women, and childrenplus almost 2,000 horsesleft their homeland in what is now Oregon and Idaho pursued by the U.S. Army. The group crossed through Yellowstone National Park in their attempt to reach Canada, and they were ultimately captured by U.S. Army forces in northern Montana. Courtesy of the National park Service Yellowstone Spatial Analysis Center (https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/historyculture/flightnezperce.htm).

Throughout its history, Yellowstone has been frequented by numerous indigenous tribes. All of these groups have a unique and cherished tale bonding them with the land upon which Yellowstone sits, but perhaps one of the most harrowing and tragic recent stories is that of the Nez Perce (Nimiipu).

In the summer of 1877, the gold rush and a series of treaty miscommunications resulted in the Nez Perce being driven from their homeland of the Wallowa Mountains in Oregon. A group of about 800 Nez Perce decided to refuse relocation to the newly established reservation, instead opting to seek a new home, led by their soft-spoken and stoic leader, Hinmatoowyalahtqit (also known as Chief Joseph). The voyage was meant to be peaceful, but skirmishes with settlers inevitably ensued, often times manifesting as back-and-forth revenge for killings committed during prior encounters. As a result, the Nez Perces trek to discover a new home, safe from the relentless encroachment of an ever-growing nation, became marked by fear and bloodshed.

After an initial skirmish in Idaho, the U.S. Army began to pursue the band of Nez Perce on their march east from the Wallowa Mountains, first making contact at White Bird Battlefield in western Idaho on June 17, 1877. While the U.S. Army was being greeted by a six-person peace party of Nez Perce carrying a while flag, a civilian volunteer opened fire, sparking a battle which resulted in heavy casualties and ignited the flight of the Nez Perce toward Canada. The Nez Perce would continue to encounter the U.S. Army on numerous occasions during their journey, including at the Clearwater Battlefield (northeastern Idaho) and the Big Hole Battlefield (western Montana), before the group entered Yellowstone National Park on August 23, 1877.

Stinging from their loses at the 1876 Battle of Greasy Grass, or as it also known, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and determined to punish the Nez Perce to discourage other indigenous tribes who might consider rebelling against the rule of the United States, the Nez Perce were pursued by more than 2,000 U.S. Army soldiers. Yellowstone was not foreign country to the Nez Perce, who often visited the park in pursuit of its abundant resources and wild game. While within the park, the Nez Perce encountered 25 tourists, and looting of supplies and multiple revenge killings occurred.

Today, you can follow the path of the Nez Perce through Yellowstone National Park along park roads near Nez Perce Creek, Otter Creek, Nez Perce Ford, and Indian Pond. The Nez Perce forded the Yellowstone River at Nez Perce Ford, traveled through Pelican Valley and Hoodoo Basin, and passed over the Absaroka Mountains, finally exiting Yellowstone National Park to head north towards the Canadian border, where they hoped to find safety. Before they could reach their destination, the Nez Perce were stopped by the U.S. Army once more in the foothills of the Bears Paw Mountains of northern Montana, only 40 miles away from Canada.

This epic journey of the Nez Perce covered more than 1,170 miles across four states and multiple mountain ranges, and about 250 Nez Perce warriors held off the pursuing U.S. Army troops in 18 battles, skirmishes and engagements. Ultimately, hundreds of U.S. soldiers and Nez Perce (including women and children) were killed in these conflicts before the Nez Perce surrendered, and Chief Josephone of the last surviving chiefs of the bandgave the now-famous speech in which he said, From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.

Some of the Nez Perce were able to reach Canada, but the rest, including Chief Joseph, accepted resettlement in numerous reservations throughout the American northwest. Chief Joseph would die in 1904 at the age of 64 on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington of a broken heart, words taken directly from his doctors account. He is buried near the village of Nespelem.

Yellowstone National Park is a place of wonder, beauty, and almost spiritual significance to all who look upon its enchanting landscape. But long before western society encroached upon its borders, indigenous people revered this land for its resources and cultural importance. The next time you find yourself driving along Wyoming Highway 296, also known as the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, on your way to visit Yellowstone National Park, remember the flight, and plight, of the Nez Perce, who walked the very trail upon which you drive.

You can visit numerous Nez Perce Commemorative Sites of Nez Perce National Historical Park along the 1,170-mile Nez Perce National Historic Trail, stretching from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, to the Bears Paw Mountains, Montana. For more details, see https://www.nps.gov/nepe/ index.htm.

Speech of Chief Joseph

Tell General Howard I know his heart. What he told me before, I have it in my heart. I am tired of fighting. Our Chiefs are killed; Looking Glass is dead, Ta Hool Hool Shute is dead. The old men are all dead. It is the young men who say yes or no. He who led on the young men is dead. It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. My people, some of them, have run away to the hills, and have no blankets, no food. No one knows where they are  perhaps freezing to death. I want to have time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever.

[/infobox]

Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This weeks contribution is from Cole Messa, Ph.D. student and Professor Ken Sims, both in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming.

The post The flight of the Nez Perce through Yellowstone National Park appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Farmers and landowners are being encouraged to apply for a share of 25 million in funding to support woodland creation and tree planting.

The money is available in the year ahead after it was announced the England Woodland Creation Offer will become part of the Local Nature Recovery scheme  one of the new post-Brexit environmental schemes  from 2025.

As part of the offer, landowners and farmers could get a one-off payment of 8,500 per hectare followed by annual maintenance payments of 300 per hectare for 10 years.

Higher payment rates are also available which offers thousands more for schemes that provide additional public benefits.

Proponents of woodlands on farms say they can boost productivity through healthy soil and water by reducing erosion and nutrient loss from surface run-off whilst improving drought and flood resilience.

Woodlands also support ecosystems through habitat creation and can benefit animal welfare by providing shelter in adverse weather and provide additional fodder for livestock, as well as diversification opportunities through firewood and timber.

Richard Stanford, the Forestry Commissions chief executive, said farmers now have the confidence to grow trees under the England Woodland Creation Offer.

"They will be able to easily transition into the Local Nature Recovery scheme in the future, and without the worry that future schemes will be significantly different."

He added: Trees play an important role in providing shade and shelter for livestock, and reducing soil and nutrient loss.

"Given the recent hot dry weather its vital our farmers and land managers plan for the future to build in resilience to climate change and take advantage of the woodland creation incentives available today.

The Forestry Commission says the majority of new applications for woodland creation payments from 2025 will be made through the Local Nature Recovery scheme.

The body expects existing England Woodland Creation Offer agreement holders will have the opportunity to transition their maintenance payments into the Local Nature Recovery scheme from 2026.

Over 25m is available in 2022/23 as continued funding to support woodland creation proposals through the England Woodland Creation Offer.

This builds upon the 15 million which was available last year.
Farmers and keepers with rare breeds of livestock have been told to register pedigree animals as it could be crucial to securing an exemption from culling in the event of a future disease outbreak.

For breeds with low population numbers or limited geographical dispersal, farmers must always be on their guard for the impacts of a possible notifiable animal disease outbreak, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) said.

In a scenario where a cull is activated to control disease spread, the government will consider sparing the breeds listed on its 'at risk' list to preserve their genetic resource.

In such an instance, decisions to spare are made on a case-by-case basis but government will liaise with breed societies and require an up-to-date list of breeders with registered pedigree stock to be available.

The call by RBST follows suspicions of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth or Swine Vesicular Disease in Norfolk earlier this summer.

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, which remains in force across Great Britain, is another stark reminder.

RBST chief executive, Christopher Price said: As well as following the recommended biosecurity advice, one of the most important actions for farmers and keepers with rare breeds of livestock and equines is to ensure that pedigree animals are officially registered.

"This will allow applications for rare breed animals to be spared in the event of a cull.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) recommends that owners send a completed animal breeds at risk registration form, which requires inclusion of details of breed society herd/flock numbers.

The RBST said that ensuring pedigree animals were registered was also fundamental to the work to ensure a future for the UK's rare breeds.

Mr Price added: "Registrations enable RBST and breed societies to determine an accurate picture for breed numbers and geographic distribution.

"This analysis informs our conservation programmes, UK Gene Bank decisions and categorisations on the RBST Watchlist.

Registered animals are recorded in the relevant flock book, herd book or stud book, and some receive certificates.

Progeny of unregistered animals cannot be registered, so one missed registration can interrupt a bloodline that has survived for generations.

Many breeds allow online registration through the Grassroots system or the Cloudlines platform.

Paper applications can also be sent directly to the relevant breed society.
Producers calving in a block this autumn and now turning their attention to sire selection will find the Autumn Calving Index (ACI) highlights sires most suited to their needs.

At the top of this ranking, published on Tuesday (9 August) by AHDB Dairy, is Bomaz Monument-P, who makes his debut as a proven sire.

Also leading in the separate Profitable Lifetime Index (PLI) ranking for year-round calving herds, he shows what a strong contender he is across a range of UK farming systems.

In particular, he offers high milk fat, long daughter lifespans and good calf survival, all of which are requirements of any successful dairy enterprise.

Monument-Ps ACI of 661 is 15 points ahead of second placed Progenesis Wimbledon (ACI 646) who is also the leader in this months Spring Calving Index (SCI) ranking.

In third place is the UK-bred Holstein, Boghill Glamour Persuade (ACI 637). With 10 milking daughters contributing to his index, he just qualifies for these daughter-proven rankings on early data.

VH River Ramsey moves up to fourth position, with an ACI of 634, transmitting good udder health in particular.

In joint fifth position are ABS Sassafras and VH Bosman Bahrain (ACI 626), Sassafras transmitting the better milk components, while Bahrain is higher for milk volume.

Westcoast Yamaska, who led the rankings previously, is now in seventh position (ACI 616). He now has almost 1,200 UK milking daughters confirming his high fat and protein transmission.

A second UK-bred sire, Stowey Magician, now ranks in eighth position (ACI 610) and demonstrates strong daughter fertility ratings.

And rounding off the top 10 are Peak AltaKlaebo who climbs to ninth position (ACI 604), and the strong lifespan transmitter, Melarry Frazz Arrowhead, now ranking 10th (ACI 592).

Holstein sire Progenesis Wimbledon takes the lead in the SCI rankings, thanks to high fat and protein percentage transmission and a significant improvement in his daughter Fertility Index.

He now has an SCI of 557 and will shorten his calves gestation length  a feature often beneficial to tight block calving herds.

This pushes the previous Jersey frontrunner, VJ Ravninggaard Huus Hamlet (SCI 548) into second position.

Moving up to take third place is another Jersey in the shape of VJ Groenbjerg Lobo Lobster. His SCI of 542 reflects his daughters high milk solids and good lifespans.

The Holstein sire, ABS Sassafras gains a few places and now ranks fourth (SCI 539), transmitting a higher milk volume than the three bulls ranking above him.

Danish Jersey VJ Zummit retains his fifth position (SCI 523), while the new Holstein ACI and PLI frontrunner, Bomaz Monument-P, makes his appearance in joint sixth position (SCI 522) and is one of the higher production sires in this list.

Level-pegging VH Balisto Brixton has the best Lameness Advantage of the top bulls.

Another new entry in eighth place is the UK-bred Holstein, Boghill Glamour Persuade (SCI 519). VH Bosman Bahrain (SCI 515) moves up to ninth and the final new entry in the top 10 is the New Zealand-bred Jersey, Shelby Integ Labyrinth (SCI 513).

Marco Winters, head of animal genetics for AHDB said: These rankings allow those who wish to assess the strengths and weaknesses of bulls from different breeds to make ready comparisons, which is especially useful for those with crossbred herds.

However, its important to note that because the figures are expressed against an across-breed average, they must not be compared with any breed-specific PLI lists.
The RSPCA has renewed its calls for a ban on exporting non-stunned meat from the UK, as new figures show that such exports have increased.

While there has been a reduction in the number of animals slaughtered without stunning, the proportion of those being exported to other countries is on the rise.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) figures released shows there has been a major reduction in the number of animals slaughtered without pre-stunning, from a predicted 94 million in 2018 to 25.4 million in 2022.

However, the RSPCA, which has long-called for an end to non-stun slaughter, said nearly half a million animals were slaughtered without stunning every single week.

The charity has renewed its calls on banning non-stunned meat exports from the UK, adding that an end to non-stun slaughter as a change in the law would make an 'enormous difference' to the welfare of millions of farmed animals.

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: We acknowledge that religious beliefs and practices should be respected.

"However, all animals should be treated humanely at the time of killing and therefore be stunned prior to slaughter as not doing so seriously compromises their welfare.

We would also like to see a ban on exporting non stunned meat from the UK which we believe breaks the tenet if not the wording in our slaughter legislation.

It is worrying to see that, according to the FSA figures, we are still exporting the equivalent of 800,000 sheep that have not been stunned despite the law only giving an exemption for this if it is for the local religious community.

"Countries like New Zealand have shown you can have a vibrant export trade in stunned meat for overseas religious communities and we expect the UK to follow their example.

Legislation in the UK requires all farm animals to be stunned before they're slaughtered. Stunning ensures animals are unconscious at the time of slaughter, so they cannot feel pain or suffer.

However, laws in UK nations, inherited from the EU, contain exemptions that permit the slaughter of sheep, goats, cattle and birds without pre-stunning.

This exemption is made when the slaughter is for religious purposes, i.e. Halal and Kosher meat for Muslim and Jewish communities, respectively.

It can be considered permissible under Islamic law for the animals to be pre-stunned. In fact, around 87% of animals slaughtered in the UK by the Halal method are stunned first, a rise from 84% in 2018.

It is likely there will be amendments proposed to the UK governments Kept Animals Bill, which has been stalled since October, aimed at banning the export of non-stunned meat and to introduce a slaughter to order system in England.

This would mean England could no longer export this meat to other countries and the number of animals slaughtered in this way would only be for the number of people in domestic communities that need it.

In Wales, Senedd Members are likely to vote on whether rules within the Kept Animals Bill should apply to Wales - meaning such a system has the potential to also extend to Wales.
Rural campaigners have called for the BBC to create 'rural programming for the countryside, not just about the countryside' following an impartiality survey.

In a survey of 3,400 people- run by the Countryside Alliance- almost 77% of those taking part said that the licence fee was not value for money, while 68% felt that it should be scrapped altogether.

Almost half of those who took part, who came from rural areas across the UK, were over the age of 65. The largest proportion - 80% - still largely watched the BBC on TV.

Springwatch and Autumnwatch were deemed to be among the worst shows for representing rural issues, with more than 90% of respondents saying that they did not do so adequately.

The BBCs national news was also found by 92 percent of respondents to be failing to represent rural issues.

It was closely followed by Countryfile, which 89% of viewers surveyed did not feel adequately covered the issues that mattered to them.

Even Radio 4s The Archers, which bills itself as an everyday story of country folk, was deemed not to reflect country life properly by 79% of respondents.

Farming Today only performed slightly better, with just under half believing it properly covered the issues that mattered to them.

The survey results come after both candidates to be the next prime minister questioned the current arrangements surrounding the licence fee.

Liz Truss has suggested that she would review legal punishments for failing to pay the 159 fee, while Rishi Sunak has hinted he would consider scrapping it all together.

The Countryside Alliance said it would submit the findings of the survey to BBC management as part of a rural impartiality dossier and have urged them not to sweep the findings under the rug.

Tim Boner, chief executive of the rural group said: The BBC must appreciate that the minority rural audience does not feel fully represented.

"Rural programming should not only take into account what urban viewers may find of interest and it needs to showcase the value of important rural activities like farming, shooting, hunting and angling.

The impartiality of Countryfile is reportedly already under scrutiny as part of a BBC review into editorial standards.

The show has received complaints about its stance on Brexit, farming, hunting and environmental issues.

Mr Bonner has called for the corporation to go one step further and extend a crackdown on outspoken presenters - announced last year as part of director general Tim Davies drive to improve impartiality - to be extended to all BBC employees.

The public does not differentiate between BBC presenters on the basis of their contracts, Mr Bonner said.

This might make for difficult internal discussions, but ultimately, if the BBC are to enjoy the support of rural viewers it needs to make robust decisions about whether to employ controversial presenters with an overt and aggressive campaigning agenda.

In response to The Telegraph, a BBC spokesman said: We always welcome feedback and were very proud of the range of programming we provide.

"Programmes such as Countryfile and Farming Today cover a range of topics and views when reporting on farming and rural life across the UK as well as within our news coverage.

As part of ongoing work to ensure the highest editorial standards across all our output, Countryfile is one of many programmes to be reviewed - it has not been selected because of any particular impartiality concerns.
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Samsung Electronics's management and its union signed an annual wage deal Wednesday, the first of its kind since the company's foundation more than five decades ago.







The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker and its union reached an agreement on a 9 percent pay raise for 2022 and other benefits, including bigger incentives for working on the Chuseok and Lunar New Year holidays.







The two sides also agreed on forming a task force to improve working conditions and its peak wage policy, which gradually reduces salaries for senior workers several years before retirement.







"We expect the two parties to build a constructive future together through communication and cooperation," Choi Wan-woo, head of human resources at Samsung's device solutions division, said during a signing ceremony held at the company's Giheung Campus, about 40 kilometers south of Seoul.







Samsung employees initially demanded an annual wage hike of more than 15 percent. But both sides reached a compromise, given the unfriendly macroeconomic environment.







The tech giant, which was founded in 1969, had been widely criticized for its attempt to prevent workers from forming a labor union.







The company's first labor union was created in 2018, and labor activities have gained ground since May 2020, when Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the group's de facto leader, vowed to promote workers' fundamental right to unionize and defend their interests.







Lee, who has been standing trial over a controversial merger of two of Samsung's affiliates, suspected of being illegally designed to help him gain bigger control of the conglomerate, made the comments after the group's independent compliance committee urged him to improve Samsung's compliance culture in three areas: managerial succession, labor unions and communication with civil society.







Currently there are four labor unions, with the biggest one having approximately 6,000 members, or 5.3 percent of the tech giant's total workforce of 112,868 in Korea.







Sohn Woo-mok, vice chairman of Samsung's biggest labor union, said he expected the deal to help "consolidate mutual trust between the management and labor." (Yonhap)






From left, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.



By Kim Hyun-bin



Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft and co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been invited to speak at the National Assembly during his stay in Korea on Aug. 15-17, but all eyes are on whether he will meet with key business leaders during his visit, according to industry officials, Wednesday.



Gates will visit the Assembly at 10 a.m. on Aug. 16 and meet with Speaker Kim Jin-pyo. At 10:40 a.m., he will give a speech on the topic of "The importance of international cooperation and Korea's leadership for coping with and preparing for COVID-19 and future infectious diseases" at the plenary session of the Special Committee on Budget and Settlement of the National Assembly.



This is Gates's first visit to the National Assembly since 2013. Back then, he gave a lecture on the topic of "Smart Aid: Innovation for a Better World and a Stronger Korea" at the National Assembly at the invitation of then-Saenuri Party (currently known as the People Power Party) member Chung Mong-joon.



Afterward, Gates met up with key businesspeople during his past visits to Korea and all eyes are on whom he will meet this time around.



"Whenever Bill Gates visited Korea (in the past), he met with key business people and had meaningful conversations, so this time will be no different. It is highly likely that he will meet with them during his upcoming visit," an industry official said.



In 2013, then-Chairman of Microsoft Gates met with Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong at the Samsung Electronics office building in Seoul and had dinner for about two and a half hours, where the two exchanged opinions on IT issues.



There is a possibility Gates will meet with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. In May, Chairman Chey signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tera Power, a next-generation small module reactor design company established in 2008 by Gates, and began cooperation on the development and commercialization of joint technologies.



During Chairman Chey's visit to the U.S. last month, there were expectations that he was to meet with Gates, but a meeting did not occur.



"Any major company chiefs would want to meet key business leaders like Bill Gates. I believe major corporations are trying to schedule meetings with Gates during his visit to Korea," another industry official said.


Theby the US continues to grow at high rate and it rose by 30.97 per cent to $66.308 billion in the first six months of 2022, compared to $50.626 billion in the same period of 2021. With 26.80 per cent shareand clothing to the US, followed by Vietnam with 13.87 per cent.

Apparel constituted the bulk of textiles and garments imported by the US in January-June 2022, and were valued at $49.578 billion, while non-apparel imports accounted for $16.729 billion, according to the latest Major Shippers Report, released by the US department of commerce.

Segment-wise, among the top ten apparel suppliers to the US, imports from Bangladesh and Indonesia shot up by 60.30 per cent and 60.27 per cent year-on-year respectively. Imports from India and Cambodia too grew 57.27 per cent and 52.52 per cent respectively. Additionally, imports from Pakistan, which is among the top 10 suppliers, registered a growth of 49.99 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year.

The import of textiles and apparel by the US continues to grow at high rate and it rose by 30.97 per cent to $66.308 billion in the first six months of 2022, compared to $50.626 billion in the same period of 2021. With 26.80 per cent share China continues to be the largest supplier of textiles and clothing to the US, followed by Vietnam with 13.87 per cent.

In the non-apparel category, among the top ten suppliers, imports from Cambodia soared by 73.09 per cent year-on-year. Imports from Vietnam and Italy too climbed 29.02 per cent and 27.54 per cent respectively. On the other hand, imports from Turkey dipped by 8 per cent.

Of the total US textile and apparel imports of $66.308 billion during the period under review, cotton products were worth $29.541 billion, while man-made fibre products accounted for $33.396 billion, followed by $1648.531 million of wool products, and $1721.557 million of products from silk and vegetable fibres.

In 2020, the US textile and apparel imports had decreased sharply, mainly on account of the COVID-19 pandemic induced disruption, to $89.596 billion compared to imports of $111.033 billion in 2019. But imports rebounded again in 2021 to surpass pre-pandemic level and ended at $113.938 billion.

The latest import figures indicate that US economy is witnessing fast recovery, and the worlds largest economy is continuing to support economic recovery in developing countries.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
China's new energy sector is likely to see more growth potential this year amid efforts to achieve dual carbon goals as construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power bases accelerates. Apart from boosting energy supply capacity, firms plan to raise investments in projects, including ultra-high voltage, to improve new energy consumption efficiency.

The promotion of new energy bases will significantly spur the development of the new energy industry, experts believe. The new energy sector will continue fast expansion in the second half, said Su Xinyi, an analyst with China Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute.

China Huadian Corporation is constructing a wind power and photovoltaic base in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a total installed capacity of a million kilowatts.

China's new energy sector is likely to see more growth potential this year amid efforts to achieve 'dual carbon' goals as construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power bases accelerates. Apart from boosting energy supply capacity, firms plan to raise investments in projects, including ultra-high voltage, to improve new energy consumption efficiency

The projectamong the first batch of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power bases approved by the government, is expected to generate 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of green electricity while saving consumption of 830,000 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon emissions of 2.1 million tonnes after completion, an official news agency reported.

The second batch of such projects includes bases planned in Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Qinghai and Gansu.

China's installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power added 12.94 million kilowatts and 30.88 million kilowatts, accounting for 18.7 per cent and 44.7 per cent of total new capacity respectively in the first half of 2022, according to data from the National Energy Administration.

China's newly installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power for the entire year is expected to exceed 100 million kilowatts, while the consumption of power produced by the two energy sources is estimated to reach over 12.2 per cent of total power consumption, Su said.

The State Grid Corporation of China plans to inject 2.4 trillion yuan ($354.53 billion) into the power grid during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period (2021-2025) to advance the building of a new energy consumption system.

This year, the China Southern Power Grid plans a fixed-asset investment of 125 billion yuan, which partly will be directed to building supporting power grid projects for new energy transmission and pumped-storage hydroelectric projects.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
have attracted investment worth over $100 billion over the past 30 years and created jobs for more than 4 million labourers, according to the ministry of planning and investment (MPI), which is drafting a government resolution on measures to increase the efficiency of IPs and EZs.

Though IPs and EZs account for half of the countrys total export value, the ministry said these face several problems, including unsustainable development in different aspects. Living conditions of local communities where the zones are located have not witnessed remarkable improvement as well.

The ministry suggested formulation of a law on IPs and EZs this year in the draft resolution and a decree from the prime minister on the coordination mechanism among ministries, sectors and localities in managing these parks and zones, according to Vietnamese media reports.

Industrial parks (IPs) and economic zones (EZs) in Vietnam have attracted investment worth over $100 billion over the past 30 years and created jobs for more than 4 million labourers, according to the ministry of planning and investment (MPI), which is drafting a government resolution on measures to increase the efficiency of IPs and EZs.

The draft also suggests stipulating the maximum acreage of an IP and an EZ; defining orientations in investment attraction to match the advantages of each region and locality; and creation of a cooperation mechanism between the government and the private sector in developing sector-specific IPs and EZs.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 9, 2022 / St. Anthony Gold Corp. ("St. Anthony" or the "Company") (CSE:STAG)(Frankfurt: M1N)(OTC PINK:MTEHF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a right of exclusivity agreement (the "ROE") to acquire the Mallay Mine in Peru.

The Mallay Mine is located five hours drive north of Lima and three kilometers from the community of Mallay. The 10,562 hectare Tres Cerros Au-Ag Project, mine and processing plant are currently in care and maintenance mode. The existing 600 tpd plant was constructed in 2010.

The Mallay Mine was developed, capitalized and permitted by the multi-billion dollar, globally recognized mining company Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A. (NYSE: BVN), a company that adheres to the highest of industry standards. Buenaventura sold the property to the third party with whom the ROE was entered into with. As part of the ROE, the Company lent to the arms-length third party $200,000 as a demand loan at 8%.

Peter Wilson, CEO stated "The opportunity to acquire such an advanced asset that provides this level of depth in investment [cg1] and optionality, in my view, is unparalleled. The market is aggressively searching for projects quick to cash flow with district scale mineral potential in globally recognized jurisdictions."

The Company intends to conduct a thorough review of the existing resource base and mine development plan to bring the historical resources and reserves into current estimate status under National Instrument 43-101 and create a new mine plan that will incorporate bulk tonnage underground mining methods.

During the 90 days exclusivity period the Company shall complete further due diligence on the project and, if satisfied, negotiate terms of a definitive purchase agreement.

Additionally, the Company announces that Mr. Chris Foster has been appointed as chief financial officer. Mr. Foster is a consultant providing accounting and financial management services for both public and private companies across a broad spectrum of industries. Mr. Foster is the current chief financial officer for DGTL Holdings Inc, former chief financial officer for Perpetua Resources Corp, former controller for the Ivanhoe Group's Global Mining Management Corporation and Peregrine Diamonds Ltd, former controller for Roca Mines Inc and former accountant at Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Mr. Foster is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada).

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SEE THE COMPANY'S WEB SITE AT

https://stanthonygoldcorp.com

Email to info@stanthonygoldcorp.com

Contact: Peter Wilson CEO - 604-649-0945

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile.

Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" 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 Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is 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.

[cg1] Want to quantify that by mentioning the $US$120 million in capitalized expenditures?

SOURCE: St. Anthony Gold Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711480/St-Anthony-Gold-Enters-Exclusivity-Agreement
GENEVA, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SELUTION SLR, MedAlliance's novel sirolimus-eluting balloon, has received conditional FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval to initiate its pivotal clinical trial for the treatment of occlusive disease of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

This comes only a few months after the company received IDE approval for SELUTION SLR in the treatment of below-the-knee (BTK) indications (May 2022).

Enrollment will begin in the SELUTION SLR IDE SFA study later this year. It will be conducted at over 20 centers in the US and an additional 20 centers around the world. This study will enroll 300 patients to demonstrate superiority over balloon angioplasty (POBA). The Principal Investigator of this study is Dr George Adams, Director, Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Research; Rex Hospital Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.

"We are very excited that US patients suffering from PAD will have the opportunity to receive this novel sirolimus drug coated balloon technology. This is yet another advancement in the field of treating vascular disease and we are confident that this study will enroll quickly," Dr Adams commented.

"This is a significant milestone for MedAlliance: we are the first non-paclitaxel drug coated balloon to receive IDE approval, and now the first to have two applications approved. This is the culmination of a multi-year R&D program to provide the comprehensive non-clinical data required to satisfy the very high standards expected by the US FDA," added Jeffrey B. Jump, MedAlliance Chairman and CEO. "We are very pleased with the rapid level of sales growth we are experiencing in Europe, Asia and South America and very much look forward to entering the US market."

SELUTION SLR was awarded CE Mark Approval for the treatment of peripheral artery disease in February 2020 and for the treatment of coronary artery disease in May 2020. The US FDA has awarded SELUTION SLR with four breakthrough designations: for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in native coronary arteries; coronary in-stent restenosis; peripheral below-the-knee and AV-Fistula indications.

In August 2021, the first of over 3,000 patients was enrolled in a ground-breaking coronary randomized controlled study comparing SELUTION SLR with any limus drug-eluting stent [DES]. This is the largest DEB study ever initiated and has the potential to change medical practice.

MedAlliance's DEB technology involves unique MicroReservoirs made from biodegradable polymer intermixed with the anti-restenotic drug sirolimus. These MicroReservoirs provide controlled and sustained release of the drug for up to 90 days1. Extended release of sirolimus from stents has been proven highly efficacious in both coronary and peripheral vasculatures. MedAlliance's proprietary CAT (Cell Adherent Technology) enables the MicroReservoirs to be coated onto balloons and adhere to the vessel lumen when delivered via an angioplasty balloon.

SELUTION SLR is available in Europe and all other countries where the CE Mark is recognized.

Media Contact:

Richard Kenyon

rkenyon@medalliance.com

+44 7831 569940

About MedAlliance

MedAlliance is a privately-owned medical technology company. It is headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, with offices in Germany, Singapore, UK and USA. MedAlliance specializes in the development of ground-breaking technology and commercialization of advanced drug device combination products for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease. For further information visit: www.medalliance.com

1. Drug concentration evident in MicroReservoirs and tissue - Data on file at M.A. Med Alliance SA

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1196864/MedAlliance_Logo.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875120/MedAlliance_SELUTION.jpg
Aquamaster Water Treatment has been awarded a commercial well water purification contract in Cambridgeshire. The contract covers the installation of a commercial reverse osmosis system, UV sterilization system, storage tank, and other critical water purification infrastructure.

March, Cambridgeshire--(Newsfile Corp. - August 9, 2022) - Aquamaster Water Treatment Ltd. announced that it has won a prestigious contract to supply and install a bespoke water purification & filtration system to a beverage company located on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Essex, UK.

For more information about the company and its services, visit https://www.aquamasterwater.co.uk





Chris Camp

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Chris Camp, the Owner and MD of Aquamaster Water Treatment, is proud to have the opportunity to be engaged in this new water treatment purification project. The new contract was awarded on the merits of the company's track record of maintaining and repairing commercial water purification systems across the UK.

As part of the contract briefing, the client outlined their broad goal of reducing the cost of having to buy water every day, as mains water was not an option at the factory location. As a result, they had a well/borehole drilled. Laboratory test results following the drilling of a well concluded that the water was unsuitable for use without first having an appropriate water treatment and purification system installed, leading to the contract with Aquamaster Water Treatment Ltd. The company was contracted to install a system capable of meeting the factory's daily requirement of 25 cubic metres (25,000 litres) of water for daily operations.

Having been awarded the contract, Aquamaster Water Treatment provided a purification system comprising a 400-litre pressure accumulator to control the well water pump and a 750-litre break tank with a variable booster pump system.

Under the new contract, Aquamaster Water Treatment has facilitated the supply of purified water through a reverse osmosis backwash flow rate commercial reverse osmosis system, Clack duplex water softener, 3000-litre storage tank, ultraviolet sterilisation system, and the booster delivery pump from the 3000-litre storage tank which provides water to the factory facility.

For more information about the well water purification contract in Cambridge, visit https://www.aquamasterwater.co.uk

Contact Info:

Name: Chris Camp

Email: aquamaster1st@yahoo.com

Organization: Aquamaster Water Treatment Ltd

Address: 8 The Paddocks Wimblington, March, Cambridgeshire PE15 0RX, United Kingdom

Phone: +44-1354-740896

Website: https://www.aquamasterwater.co.uk

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133220
Internet City, Dubai--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - As a world class digital asset exchange, LBank continues to focus on providing its users quality projects to participate in. Here is a weekly report made by LBank Exchange presenting this week's exciting new listings and a summary of the ones listed last week, offering users more information to help better understand these unique opportunities.

New Listings on LBank Exchange

Scheduled this week starting on 8th August.

For a more complete list please follow our Twitter @LBank_Exchange

Project: LKD

Listing date: 8th August

Key words: DeFi, Listed in pancake, BSC

Official Website: https://linkdao.network/

About:

LinkDao Network is a DeFi's, Cross-Chain Liquidity enabler network that allows its users to earn compound interest on their crypto holdings.

Through a set of investment strategies secured and enforced by smart contracts, LinkDao network automatically maximizes the user rewards from various liquidity pools (LPs), automated market making (AMM) projects, and other yield farming opportunities in the DeFi ecosystem.

The main product offered by LinkDao network are the 'Vaults' in which users stake crypto tokens. Despite the name 'Vault' suggests, funds are never locked in any vault on LinkDao network: users can always withdraw at any moment in time.

Project: CAUSE

Listing date: 8th August

Key words: DEFI, DAO, Listed on pancake, BSC

Official Website: https://worldcausecoin.com

About:

World Causecoin (CAUSE) is a BEP20 token built on the concept of Cause Capitalism. Cause Capitalism was founded by an American Businessman, Steve Down, and is defined as 'where a for-profit chooses as its partner a non-profit, not as a gimmick but as its true sustainable partner.' The way it works is that a for-profit company makes charitable donations a part of its business model so that a percentage of its revenues are given to the non-profit partner right from the start, not only when there is profit, but as part of the business model. The World Causecoin has adopted this concept where it seeks to leverage cryptocurrency for peer-to-peer financing of cause projects across the world. The non-profit project that World Causecoin seeks to support is maternal and children's healthcare with its flagship partnership with Africa Maternity and Children Hospitals to be built across Africa. The goal is to build 1000 maternity and children's hospitals across the world in 20 years. Africa has the highest infant mortality rate according to data from the United Nations, with some countries having a rate as high as 80%. There are several other non-profit causes that companies that adopt Cause Capitalism can support. World Causecoin is building a DAO that will make it possible for different companies including cryptocurrency and non-crypto projects to support not-for-profit causes peer-to-peer as part of their business model. World Causecoin will become the governance token in the DAO and also the main transactional currency for the peer-to-peer financing of various causes.

Project: FND

Listing date: 9th August

Key words: DEFI, NFT, Charity, Crowdfunding, Listed on pancake, bilaxy, BSC

Official Website: https://securedoffers.com/

About:

The first end-to-end crowdfunding platform in blockchain.

Rare FND provides a platform for charities and startups to launch crowdfunding campaigns to raise funds.

Using FND as the fundraising token, Rare FND is able to help crowdfunding campaigns reach their target quicker through automated staking upon donation to a charity or contribution to a startup.

Once a crowdfunding campaign hits their target the funds are vested as per the project plan submitted during the crowdfunding campaign application. This ensures that FND token is not sold in one go having a negative impact on the price.

Project: DRIVECRYPTO

Listing date: 9th August

Key words: DEFI, GAMEFI, OTHER, Initial listing, BSC

Official Website: https://drivecrypto.io/

About:

The first project gathers mobility rewards (Drive2Earn) , Gamefiand environmental mindset. Drive2Earn - monetizing habits through an app - launch in 30 days. Users need to buy NFTs, connect, and drive. Users can swap their DriveCrypto to NFTs - access: store.drivecrypto.io

Project: CHEQ

Listing date: 10th August

Key words: Public Chain (Layer One), Listed onGate, Bitmart, Osmosi, ERC20

Official Website: https://www.cheqd.io/

About:

cheqd is a market-leading technology company enabling individuals and organisations to take full control of their own data. With this, their vision is to become the de-facto payment mechanism for trusted (authentic) data. This is all in service of a much greater mission: to give people and organisations the ability to control and understand the value of their own data.

Summary of Last Week's Listings - August 1st to August 7th, 2022

Name: LCP

Official Website: https://livecryptoparty.com/

Trade here: https://www.lbank.info/exchange/lcp/usdt/inno

Name: NOAH

Weekly gain: 54%

Official Website: http://noahtechcoin.com/

Trade here: https://www.lbank.info/exchange/noah/usdt/inno

Name: SUA

Official Website: https://www.suacoin.com/

Trade here: https://www.lbank.info/exchange/sua/usdt/usd

Name: SQUIDGROW

Official Website: https://squidgrow.wtf/

Trade here: https://www.lbank.info/exchange/squidgrow/usdt/inno





Figure 1

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About LBank Exchange

LBank Exchange, founded in 2015, is an innovative global trading platform for various crypto assets. LBank Exchange provides its users with safe crypto trading, specialized financial derivatives, and professional asset management services. It has become one of the most popular and trusted crypto trading platforms with over 7 million users from more than 210 regions around the world.

Start Trading Now:

lbank.info

Visit Our Social Media:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Join Our Community:

Telegram

Contact Details:

For business cooperation, please contact:

business@lbank.info

For marketing cooperation, please contact:

marketing@lbank.info

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133225
Near Me Business Directory has launched their guide to the best roofing companies in Albuquerque so that customers can quickly find a contractor to meet their needs.

Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - 'Near Me' has launched Top 10 Roofers as one of their many location-specific business guides for the roofing industry. Albuquerque joins over 50 cities that are already served by 'Near Me', meaning that area residents can now rely on this guide to choose their roofing provider without scouring Yelp or Google Reviews.

More details can be found at https://nearme.vip/top-10/best-roofers-in-albuquerque-new-mexico





'Near Me' Top 10 Roofing Companies Albuquerque Help Reduce Repair Costs

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With the latest announcement, 'Near Me' offers instant access to trusted roofing contractors in and around Albuquerque.

This includes businesses like Right Way Roofing which began operations in 1983 and has won the trust of the business community with its services recognized by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. Another such roofing repair company is Flat Roof Pros which has impressive credentials with multiple certifications such as GAF and GE Momentive.

Albuquerque residents can approach Alvarado Roofing for easy-to-understand, accurate quotes with clear communication about the scope of repairs or the need to take upon more elaborate repairs. Rhino Roofing is well networked across the local communities in and around Albuquerque, supporting many social causes apart from providing top-notch roofing services.

Property managers looking for roofing service providers with experience in industrial roofing can consider Everguard Roofing. Homeowners worried about neglectful evaluations leading to expensive roof replacements can approach RoofCARE for cost-effective solutions that help to better manage roofing assets, ensuring that roof replacements are the last resort.

Sunwest Roofing addresses the roofing repair needs of Albuquerque homeowners who seek nearby, family-owned service providers and the freedom to choose from a wider variety of roofing materials. A BBB accredited business, Territorial Roofing has impressive credentials, serving the local community for more than three decades and a history of providing detailed, free consultations.

Ready for typical Albuquerque roofing challenges, All Seasons Roofing Company has the distinction of being recognized as the Platinum Preferred Contractor with Owens Corning and stands apart as one of the biggest roofing supplies distributors in the nation.

Whether it is any of these local roofing companies or other, trusted service providers in the neighboring areas, like Doyle Roof Masters, locating nearby businesses on online directories like 'Near Me Business Directory' is a smart way to get the type of professional help needed.

The new guide is a compilation of all the necessary contact and review information that customers might need to make an informed decision about which roofing contractor to hire. The entries are presented in no particular order and link to the website of each company so that customers can compare each service.

On top of their guide service, 'Near Me' also provides video summaries for each company that customers can watch to quickly get an idea of what each company has to offer. These videos are compiled on their YouTube channel and are available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4lhuP-D3yH8Fr6tw4fYmYOzbaPf6pR7F

The guide combines factual listings with testimonial information and a short FAQ that may help customers choose a company that best suits them. The material they have provided is crucial to understanding each entry and what to look for in an ideal contractor, depending on the magnitude and duration of each job.

The entries in this directory have been pre-vetted for quality and trustworthiness by its proprietors, though they encourage customers to do their own research before committing to any one company. The guide is designed to assist in this process by bringing the most popular contractors to the forefront.

'Near Me' has helped thousands find roofing contractors nationwide, and they intend to continue expanding to more cities in the future.

Interested parties can find out more by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zV1v_zhJ_g

Contact Info:

Name: Tony Peacock

Email: tony@nearme.vip

Organization: LinkDaddy DBA Near Me Business Directory

Address: 1065 SW 8th St PMB 622, Miami, Florida 33130, United States

Website: https://nearme.vip

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133351
Best Life at Large has released a new article informing what the top 3 black coffees in the market are today. It is aimed primarily at coffee lovers. More information about the report can be found below.

Sheridan, Wyoming--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - The recently released report titled "Best 3 Coffees to Drink Black" provides details on newly reviewed products. The article is the first of several planned publications that will be featured on the official company blog. Those interested in learning further can do so by visiting BestLifeatLarge/Blog.





Best Life at Large Top 3 Coffees to Drink Black Report Released.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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According to the report, Best Life at Large picked the top 3 black coffees that appeal to coffee lovers interested in consuming robust, flavorful coffee. Brands like Death Wish Coffee Co, Kicking Horse Coffee, and Koffee Kult are described in detail, highlighting their flavor and aroma, among many other benefits of drinking black coffee.

One of the article's most critical pieces of information is a buyer's guide to choosing the best black coffee. Quality, freshness, and freshly ground beans are things to consider when choosing the perfect black coffee. In addition, the report summarizes some of the most frequently asked questions regarding black coffee and provides exclusive industry information.

In discussing the article, Shaun Lowe, Founder/CEO at Best Life At Large, said:

"Best Life At Large is proud to present this opportunity for readers to learn about new products. On this occasion, as the company knows, it can be hard to figure out the best black coffee because there are so many different coffee brands and blends. Furthermore, at Best Living at large, the company decided to create a guide to help people choose the best black coffee on the market.

"Regular readers of Best Life at Large will notice the article takes a familiar tone, described as 'cutting-edge and professional."

Best Life At Large now welcomes comments and questions from readers concerning the article, as they intend to enlighten the audience about the best coffee bean products available on the market today.

Those interested in learning more can do so on the website at https://www.bestlifeatlarge.com/

The complete article is available to view in full at BestLifeatLarge/Blog.

Contact Info:

Name: Shaun Lowe

Email: oceanbluecommerce@gmail.com

Organization: Best Life at Large - Blu-E-Commerce LLC

Address: 30 North Gould Street, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801, United States

Website: https://www.bestlifeatlarge.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133349
Chinese PLA is prepared no matter how US forces transit the Taiwan Straits: experts

By Guo Yuandan (Global Times) 16:50, August 10, 2022

A People's Liberation Army soldier looks around with a telescope on August 5, 2022, as the Navy of the PLA Eastern Theater Command continues drills the waters around the island of Taiwan. Photo: Xinhua

A US Pentagon official on Monday claimed that the US forces will continue to undertake Taiwan Straits transits in the coming weeks and exercise freedom of navigation operations elsewhere in the region to show their support for allies and partners, to indicate their commitment "to maintain the status quo of a free and open Indo-pacific." Experts believe that the probability of the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier transiting the Taiwan Straits is low, but no matter how the US military wants to show its presence, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is ready.

USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier strike group hovered around the Western Pacific, moving about 200 nautical miles northeast from Monday to Tuesday noon, farther away from the Taiwan Straits, according to the latest satellite images on Tuesday.

If the US warships sail through the Taiwan Straits normally, the PLA can keep a close watch without actions, but the possibility of interception in a close distance by the PLA is not excluded if the US conducts any threatening actions, Song Zhongping, a military expert noted.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, in total disregard of the firm opposition and repeated representations of China and with the condoning and even arrangement of the US government, went ahead with the visit to China's Taiwan region, seriously jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

However, the US is throwing mud at China claiming that it is trying to "coerce" the island of Taiwan and the international community.

I think you should expect that we will continue to do Taiwan Straits "transits," as we have in the past, in the coming weeks  It's important to make sure that China understands that the US forces in the region will "continue to operate, to fly, to sail wherever international waters allows," including the Taiwan Straits, Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy said during a press conference on Monday.

The US will conduct "standard air and maritime transits" through the Taiwan Straits in the next few weeks, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communication John Kirby said at a press briefing on August 4.

Kirby also noted that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has directed that the US Navy's Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and the ships in its strike group remain on station to "monitor the situation."

What is certain is that the US will not abandon the "pawn" of Taiwan island which it is using to ferment crisis in areas surrounding China, to achieve the goal of damaging China's internal and external development environment, an expert told the Global Times on the condition of anonymity.

The US will show its presence and will not give up sending warships through the Taiwan Straits, the expert said.

Unlike Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region, "it would be the decision of the Biden administration to send an aircraft carrier, which has repeatedly stressed the need to build 'guardrails' between China and the US. If the US sends the aircraft carrier to the Taiwan Straits to demonstrate its freedom of navigation, it is bound to further increase the confrontation between China and the US," the expert noted.

Zhang Xuefeng, a military expert told the Global Times that if the US sends the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its fleet through the Taiwan Straits, it would send a significant signal of threat and provocation that is completely unmatched by the transiting of one or two destroyers.

However, after the announcement of the PLA drills, the US aircraft carrier left the relevant waters to "lay low," sending a signal that the US military did not want to make a big deal of the events, Zhang said.

Unlike during the "Taiwan Straits crisis" in the mid-1990s, the PLA's strength today has been raised a lot. "The PLA has a variety of anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles that can cover the waters and airspace across the Taiwan Straits, and even rocket launchers that can cover the Taiwan Straits. The US aircraft carrier crew surely does not want to feel a rocket shell whizzing over their heads," Zhang said.

Zhou Bo, a researcher at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University told the Global Times on Tuesday that China took strong countermeasures against Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region from political, military and economic aspects. The PLA, for example, will conduct regular drills, which the US does not want to accept, according to Zhou.

So there is bound to be some strong actions for the US to demonstrate its voice, even if it is symbolic, it wants to demonstrate its security commitment to allies and partners, said Zhou.

According to relevant international law, the Taiwan Straits is originally an international strait through which each country's warships can transit. Over the years, warships of many countries, including the US, have also passed through the Taiwan Straits without incident, their freedom of navigation has never been impeded, Tian Shichen, founder of the Global Governance Institution and director of the International Center for the Law of Military Operations told the Global Times.

The US has hyped this to prop up "Taiwan independence" forces and to express security commitments to allies through a sense of presence, Tian said.

Whether the US will follow the usual practice of sending a destroyer for navigation purposes, or will play some additional tricks to show a strong presence in the Taiwan Straits to send a wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" forces? Zhang said it means little to the US military in terms of numbers of destroyers transiting the Taiwan Straits, but if the US choose to transit during the PLA drills, the message would be very different, and seen as "more confrontational."

It is likely that the US military will update their tactics for transiting the Taiwan Straits, said experts.

On August 27, 2021, the US guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd and the US Coast Guard cutter Munro sailed across the Taiwan Straits, which was the first time in nearly two years that the US coast guard joined in the operation across the Taiwan Straits.

US Navy destroyer USS Dewey and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg sailed through the Taiwan Straits on October 15, 2021, which was the first time in recent years that the US military joined with another country in sailing through the Taiwan Straits.

Hu Bo, director of the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative said that the US military has run out of tricks, and it is likely to send through warships and aircraft together, which has not happened before.

Song Zhongping said that judging from the movements of USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, the US military has been assessing whether or not to send the aircraft carrier through the Taiwan Straits due to the possible consequence triggered by it. "The US military may also adopt a compromise approach, that is to send the carrier fleet of destroyers, escorts to carry out missions, showing the US presence."

But no matter which way the US military chooses to act, the PLA is prepared and ready for it, Song said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)




President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed U.S. ratification of bids by Finland and Sweden to enter NATO, taking expansion of the Western alliance in response to Russia's Ukraine invasion one step closer.







Biden said the two northern European countries would become "strong, reliable highly capable new allies" by making the "sacred commitment" to mutual defense in the U.S.-led transatlantic alliance.







Earlier this month, the Senate voted 95-1 in favor of the Nordic states' accession, making the United States the 23rd of the 30 NATO countries to give formal endorsement. Unanimous support is needed for new membership.







Biden, who has made restoring traditional U.S. alliances a cornerstone of his administration after Donald Trump's move to upend ties around the world, praised NATO as "the foundation of American security."







"The United States is committed to the transatlantic alliance."







Biden also praised Finland and Sweden, saying both have "strong democratic institutions, strong militaries and strong and transparent economies" that would now bolster NATO.







President Vladimir Putin's Russia "shattered peace and security in Europe" by invading Ukraine, Biden said. "Putin thought he could break us apart.... Instead, he is getting exactly what he did not want."







The White House said that ahead of the signing ceremony, Biden talked by telephone with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Finland's President Sauli Niinisto.







"President Biden congratulated them on the U.S. Senate's swift, bipartisan ratification of their NATO accession protocols, and welcomed Finland and Sweden moving one step closer to becoming NATO Allies," the White House said.







While the process plays out, "President Biden affirmed that the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against any threats to our shared security, and to deter and confront aggression or threat of aggression," the statement said. (AFP)


Installation of 30 HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX machines will improve security and passenger experience

Smiths Detection, a global leader in threat detection and security inspection technologies, announces that it has begun installing 30 HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX carry-on baggage screening systems at Leonardo di Vinci International Airport in Rome. The installation of this world-leading technology reflects the airport's high standards for passenger service excellence and process automation, having recently been awarded the ACI Best Airport in Europe for the fourth time in the last five years.

Smiths Detection's HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX is a computed tomography (CT) X-ray scanner producing high-resolution volumetric 3D images for quicker and deeper baggage assessment and low false-alarm rates. The scanners allow for electronics and liquids to remain in bags, speeding up passenger screening and reducing touchpoints.

The combination of the CT X-ray scanners, alongside 45 already supplied Smiths Detection IONSCAN 600 trace detectors, will further improve security and operational efficiency. The IONSCAN 600 is a highly sensitive, non-radioactive, lightweight, portable desktop system that detects and identifies trace amounts of explosives and narcotics.

The HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX can be equipped with Smiths Detection's object recognition software, iCMORE, which uses advanced algorithms to reduce the burden on operators and potential errors by automating the detection process for prohibited items.

Stefano Scardigli, Senior Key Account, Smiths Detection said"We are delighted to supply Leonardo di Vinci Rome International Airport with 30 HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX scanners. Utilising 3D imagery, our scanners offer the advanced screening of carry-on baggage, enhancing security and improving operational efficiency. Being able to leave electronics and liquids in carry-on baggage will help expedite the screening process, especially in light of the well documented staffing pressures at airports around the world."

Marco Stramaccioni, Chief Executive Officer of ADR Security for Leonardo da Vinci Rome International Airport said "Aeroporti di Roma looks forward to be a frontrunner for passenger experience and security at Leonardo di Vinci Rome International Airport. As passenger numbers increase, we will be well placed to efficiently screen passengers, reducing the burden on our operators. By harnessing the power of CT technology, we have futureproofed our security checkpoints."

Smiths Detection's HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX is certified by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) under the Accessible Property Screening System (APSS) program to detection standard 6.2, Level 1, permitting the scanner to operate at an enhanced level with lower false alarm rates, as well as ECAC and STAC EDS CB C3 approval.

About the Products

HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX: https://www.smithsdetection.com/products/hi-scan-6040-ctix/

IONSCAN 600: https://www.smithsdetection.com/products/ionscan-600/

iCMORE: https://www.smithsdetection.com/products/icmore/

About Smiths Detection

Smiths Detection, a division of Smiths Group, is a global leader in inspection and detection technologies for the air transport, ports and borders, armed forces and urban security markets. With more than 70 years of experience in the field, we offer the necessary solutions to protect society from the threats posed by explosives, prohibited weapons, contraband, toxic chemical agents and narcotics.

Our mission is simple: to ensure the security, peace of mind and freedom of movement on which the world depends.

Please visit http://www.smithsdetection.com/ for further information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220808005455/en/

Contacts:

FTI Consulting:

Tom Hufton/Georgina Reeves/Zoe Williams

sc.smithsdetection@fticonsulting.com

+44 (0)20 3727 1000

Smiths Detection:

Sophie Mills, Head of Corporate Communications

sophie.mills@smithsdetection.com

+44 (0)73 8423 6474
Latest Move Marks Continued Expansion of European Footprint in Growing Medical Cannabis Market

Curaleaf International (the "Company") part of Curaleaf Holdings (CNSX:CURA), Europe's largest vertically integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce the successful registration of the Company's cannabis based medicines as extract in Poland, with local partner CanPoland S.A.. Poland is one of the largest medical cannabis markets in Europe by patient population1, with a market size expected to be worth at least 2 billion by 20282

The licensed product is part of the Company's product range being manufactured to meet the growing demand for high quality medical cannabis products across Europe. The licensed product, 100%-European sourced from plant to manufacture, is part of Curaleaf International's proprietary product range that has now launched in five key European markets, including the UK and Germany.

In addition to the Polish licence, Curaleaf International has previously announced registrations of products in Malta as well as being the first company to register a THC cannabis extract Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient ("API") in Italy. This positive news, taken together with the opening of the Swiss medical cannabis market and Curaleaf International's renewing of its GDP licence in Switzerland is another example of where the Company is ideally positioned to capitalise on positive market movements across Europe.

Commenting on this landmark registration, Curaleaf International President Miles Worne said: "This licence in Poland is another sign of Curaleaf International's strong momentum in Europe. The medical cannabis market in Europe continues to expand rapidly, as regulation opens up and access for patients improves. Since the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2017, Poland has become one of the largest European importers of dried flower and is an excellent addition to Curaleaf International's expansion, given its fast-growing patient numbers and significant addressable market. Curaleaf International is driving growth in existing key markets, with the UK in particular witnessing a huge increase in patient numbers, whilst continuing to drive expansion into new markets across Europe."

1 https://prohibitionpartners.com/2022/01/28/poland-legislative-reform-is-lacking-for-one-of-europes-largest-medical-cannabis-markets/

2 https://hygrovest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The_Poland_Cannabis_White_Paper.pdf

- Ends -

About Curaleaf International

Curaleaf International (formerly EMMAC Life Sciences Group) is Europe's largest vertically integrated cannabis company, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. With a unique supply and distribution network throughout Europe, Curaleaf International's vision is to bring the life-enhancing potential of cannabis to the people who need it. EMMAC Life Sciences was acquired by Curaleaf Holdings in March 2021.

For more information about Curaleaf International, please visit:

https://www.curaleafinternational.com/

About Curaleaf Holdings

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company provides industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. In the United States, Curaleaf currently operates in 22 states with 136 dispensaries, 26 cultivation sites, and employs over 5,700 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential values, the future plans and objectives of Curaleaf International. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, achievable or recognisable in the near term. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Curaleaf International assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220809005785/en/

Contacts:

Buchanan

Henry Harrison-Topham Jamie Hooper Ariadna Peretz

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

curaleafint@buchanan.uk.com

www.buchanan.uk.com
Markus Henne, CEO of Genesis Motor China, has been awarded 'Most Innovative CEO of the Automotive Industry in Mainland China' for 2022.

LONDON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Brand Awards is an annual event held by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), an international publication headquartered in the UK. The Global Brand Awards aim to recognize and reward companies and titans of industry for their exceptional performances. Genesis Motor China , under Markus Henne's leadership, was evaluated on several factors in the automobile industry and performed exceedingly well in the field of innovation.

Commenting on Markus Henne winning the awards, ShivKumar (CEO) of Global Brands Magazine said, "In a market known for its high competitiveness, Genesis Motor China sets new trends and easily distinguishes itself from the competition. Genesis Motor China has successfully positioned itself as a brand with a new vision for the luxury automobile segment. The high customer satisfaction rate is a testament to the well-structured strategies that they have adopted under the leadership of Markus, who has been monumental in the growth of the company."

Commenting on winning the awards, Markus Henne (CEO) said,

"I am honored to earn this year's award of 'Most Innovative CEO in the Automotive Industry in Mainland China.' This award from Global Brands Magazine is an indication of Genesis' progress in the Chinese market, and being recognized for innovation represents a lot of what we set out to do when we began from our blank sheet of paper. The one-of-a-kind opportunity to introduce a new type of luxury brand to the market needed us to be audacious and forward-thinking - traits of not only our young brand but also of myself.

First and foremost, I see this recognition as a result of Genesis' entry into China last year, as well as having an outstanding team working with me with enthusiasm, devotion, and an innovative mindset that we value as cornerstones of our company culture.

At Genesis Motor China, innovation is at the heart of all we do, including our all-new China-tailored business model, which employs an omnichannel sales strategy focused on direct sales.

We will continue to share our unique Genesis Experience to help us build authentic relationships with more customers and, with our award-winning product range, challenge industry norms to deliver a new vision of automotive luxury as we expand our presence in the country and deepen our commitment to the market."

About Global Brands Magazine

Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on "best in class" brands.

About Global Brand Awards

Global Brand Awards honors brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight the accomplishments of organizations that have performed remarkably well in their respective industries.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1764747/GBM_2022_Logo.jpg
Pensana Plc

("Pensana" or the "Company")

10 August 2022

Issue of Equity

Further to the announcement dated 5 August 2022 in respect of the US$10.0 million investment in the Company by Fundo Soberano de Angola (FSDEA), the Angolan Sovereign Wealth Fund, by the subscription of 12,331,334 Ordinary Shares of 0.001 each ("Subscription Shares"), Pensana announces that the Board has today issued a total of 9,979,710 Subscription Shares.

Accordingly, application has been made for 9,979,710 Subscription Shares to be admitted to the Official List and to trading on the Main Market of the LSE and Admission is expected to occur on the LSE on or about 08:00 on 11 August 2022. The Subscription Shares will rank pari passu with the existing Ordinary Shares in issue.

Following this issue, the Company's issued share capital consists of 245,579,249 Ordinary Shares. No shares are held in treasury. Therefore, the total number of voting rights of the Company is 245,579,249.

The above figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

The issue of the Subscription Shares will increase FSDEA's equity holding in the Company to 23.69%

The balance of 2,351,624 Subscription Shares will be issued to FSDEA, conditional upon Admission of those shares to the Official List and the LSE's Main Market for listed securities in due course, following which the FSDEA's equity holding in the Company will increase to 24.42%

The information contained within this announcement is considered by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information will be considered to be in the public domain. The person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Paul Atherley (Chairman).

~Ends~

For further information, please contact:

Shareholder/analyst enquiries:

Pensana Plc

Paul Atherley, Chairman IR@pensana.co.uk

Tim George, Chief Executive Officer

Rob Kaplan, Chief Financial Officer

About Pensana Plc

The electrification of motive power is by far the most important part of the energy transition and one of the biggest energy transitions in history. Magnet metal rare earths are central to the transition away from internal combustion engines and critical to electric vehicles and offshore wind turbines.

Pensana plans to establish Saltend as an independent and sustainable processing hub supplying the key magnet metal oxides to a market which is currently dominated by China. The US$195 million Saltend facility is being designed to produce 12,500 tonnes per annum of rare earth oxides, of which 4,500-5,000 tonnes will be neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), representing over 5% of the world market in 2025.

Pensana's plug and play facility is located within the world class Saltend Chemicals Park, a cluster of leading chemicals and renewable energy businesses in the Humber Freeport and will create over 500 jobs during construction and over 125 direct jobs once in production.

It will be the first major separation facility to be established in over a decade and will become one of only three major producers located outside China.

Pensana is aiming to establish Saltend as an attractive alternative for mining companies who may otherwise be limited to selling their products to China, having designed the facility to be easily adapted to cater for a range of rare earth feedstocks.

www.pensana.co.uk
One of America's Top Bone Marrow Transplant and Oncology Doctors Joins Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals as Medical Director

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc (LSE:HEMO), the biopharmaceutical group developing new therapies and treatments for blood diseases, announces the appointment of Dr Koen van Besien as Medical Director.

Dr van Besien is Chief of the Division of Hematology and head of the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, a cellular therapy facility that generates CAR-T and CAR-NK among other cell therapies. He has been associated with the Company as a scientific adviser from its founding and, now that the Company is moving close to clinical trials, we are delighted that he is able to step up to a position where he will be actively engaged in refining the protocol for the trials and its implementation.

Dr van Besien is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Leukemia and Lymphoma and a member of the editorial boards of several journals including Bone Marrow Transplantation and Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. He has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers.

Most recently, Dr van Besien was Director of the Stem Cell Transplant Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and a professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dr van Besien graduated from Medical School at the University of Leuven, Belgium and holds a PhD from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He completed his hematology/oncology fellowship at Indiana University and in Bruges, Belgium. Dr van Besien has served on the faculty of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He also directed transplant programs at the University of Illinois for four years and at the University of Chicago for a decade.

Dr Vladislav Sandler, CEO & Co-Founder of Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals, commented:

"We are excited to welcome Dr Koen van Besien as Medical Director. Koen's rich experience and deep insight into the cutting-edge treatments of patients suffering from blood cancers will undoubtedly help to accelerate Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals' product candidates, and specifically in the short term the transition into the clinic of HEMO-CAR-T, our lead product candidate."

Dr Koen Van Besien, Medical Director of Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals, commented:

"I have been privileged to work with Hemogenyx since its founding. It is great to see their research efforts come to fruition and I am committed to helping bring their first product to the clinic."

Enquiries:

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc https://hemogenyx.com Dr Vladislav Sandler, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder headquarters@hemogenyx.com Peter Redmond, Director peter.redmond@hemogenyx.com SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470 Matthew Johnson, Vadim Alexandre, Adam Cowl Peterhouse Capital Limited Tel: +44 (0)20 7469 0930 Lucy Williams, Duncan Vasey, Charles Goodfellow

About Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals plc

Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is a publicly traded company (LSE: HEMO) headquartered in London, with its US operating subsidiaries, Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals LLC and Immugenyx LLC, located in New York City at its state-of-the-art research facility.

The Company is a pre-clinical stage biopharmaceutical group developing new medicines and treatments to treat blood and autoimmune disease and to bring the curative power of bone marrow transplantation to a greater number of patients suffering from otherwise incurable life-threatening diseases. Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals is developing several distinct and complementary product candidates, as well as platform technologies that it uses as engines for novel product development.

For more than 50 years, bone marrow transplantation has been used to save the lives of patients suffering from blood diseases. The risks of toxicity and death that are associated with bone marrow transplantation, however, have meant that the procedure is restricted to use only as a last resort. The Company's technology has the potential to enable many more patients suffering from devastating blood diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, as well as severe autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, aplastic anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus), to benefit from bone marrow transplantation.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711519/Hemogenyx-Pharmaceuticals-PLC-Announces-Appointment-of-Medical-Director
LONDON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Polestar, the independent corporate finance advisor to private businesses and shareholders, has been appointed by the owners of the best-in-category artisanal Italian food brand Seggiano to investigate their options for the business.

Seggiano, headquartered in the UK with offices in the US, is an established brand of 25+ years primarily serving the B2B market with a growing D2C presence. The business has an award-winning, worldwide range of 170 products, including pasta, pesto and extra-virgin olive oils, in 4,000+ stores.

The owners are keen for Seggiano to be developed further in its existing markets, such as Europe, North America, and the Middle East, whilst adhering to their core values of creating authentic, delicious Italian food.

So far interest has been shown from the UK, US and Europe.

David Harrison, co-owner of the business, said "having seen FY21 revenue grow by 44%, and with significant opportunities to expand in international markets, we have appointed Polestar to help us identify the best partner to fully exploit the strength of our brands."

About Italian Realfoods

Italian Realfoods owns the Seggiano and Lunaio brands, providing the market with an authentic range of 170 best-in-category Italian foods. The company champions organic, vegan and gluten-free options while sourcing from long-standing, hand-picked Italian suppliers, utilising the finest ingredients and advanced production methods.

Contact info:

Company: Polestar

Charlie Whelan: chwhelan@polestarcf.com

Conor Barrett: cbarrett@polestarcf.com

+44 (0) 7551 662 199
32 percent of manufacturing companies have achieved cloud leader status, compared to 18 percent across all other industries

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading technology services and consulting company, today released a report entitled, Redefining Manufacturing for The Digital Era, published by Wipro FullStride Cloud Services. According to the findings of the report, the manufacturing industry is leading all other industries in cloud adoption, with 32 percent of manufacturers having achieved "cloud leader" status. Further, the report indicates that cloud-based technologies are the driving force behind the rapid business transformation in the European manufacturing industry.

However, cloud adoption across European-based manufacturers has not been even, according to the report. Those who are in the early stages of cloud adoption (27 percent), are lagging in moving products to market faster, making risk management more effective, and bolstering shareholder value. In fact, the report reveals that manufacturers that are cloud leaders receive almost double the payoff from their investments in cloud, achieving a return on investment of 42 percent, compared with 24 percent for beginners.

"Shifts in the global economy are reshaping the manufacturing industry in Europe," said Srinivasaa HG, Europe Business Head of Integrated Digital Engineering Application Services (iDEAS) at Wipro Limited. "The pandemic led to a massive uptake in adoption of cloud technologies. Now, as business leaders in Europe face an uncertain economic environment, they are tapping into the power of the cloud to quickly deploy advanced technologies to enhance resiliency across their operations and better manage future risks and supply chain shocks."

"Cloud is increasingly acting as the foundation for business, enabling manufacturers to use artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, data management warehousing and other emerging technologies. Going forward, cloud will be the bedrock upon which the sector will build the smart factory of the future."

Among the other findings of the report are:

1. Manufacturers are using cloud to modernise their production processes to become future-ready:

40 percent of European manufacturers made significant progress in key activities by using cloud, including improvements in IT management, production, planning, procurement, and supply chain operations.

56 percent of all manufacturers have reported improved productivity thanks to cloud adoption.

Overall, 51 percent of manufacturers across all stages of cloud adoption reported improved planning and decision-making.

2. Business leaders believe that cloud is making manufacturing more effective by supporting the transformation of key operations:

79 percent of European manufacturers say cloud has made quality control more effective by centralizing, standardizing and bringing transparency to the relevant data.

49 percent of manufacturers expect to increase their investments in cloud-based quality control in the near future, helping to achieve a faster time to market, new markets and better market position.

3. Protecting investments into cloud and ensuring safety is a key priority for European manufacturers:

Protecting cloud investments provides a foundation for improved customer service and cybersecurity. One of the top benefits discovered by 58 percent of leaders is decreased costs.

49 percent of all European manufacturers have benefitted from increased revenue thanks to their cloud investments.

61 percent of cloud leaders say developing cybersecurity teams and skills is the number-one step they are taking to protect their cloud investments, thus ensuring their move to cloud is effective and vital operations powered by cloud are safeguarded.

"Our report shows that manufacturers who have adopted cloud expect the technology to expand into every single area of their business within two years," added HG. "This is no surprise given that cloud's benefits go beyond increasing competitiveness and productivity. Cloud-enabled businesses can drive increased revenue, enhance reputation, and better manage their carbon footprint. All of this will be incredibly important as we move into Industry 5.0 and create future-proof businesses."

Wipro surveyed 93 C-level executives and key decision-makers at manufacturers in four European countries: France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK on how cloud is helping the industry prepare for the future.

For a complimentary copy of the report and more details, please click here

About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading technology services and consulting company focused on building innovative solutions that address clients' most complex digital transformation needs. Leveraging our holistic portfolio of capabilities in consulting, design, engineering, and operations, we help clients realize their boldest ambitions and build future-ready, sustainable businesses. With over 250,000 employees and business partners across 66 countries, we deliver on the promise of helping our customers, colleagues, and communities thrive in an ever-changing world.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry.

Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005352/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Sanuber Grohe

Wipro Limited

sanuber.grohe@wipro.com
STOCKHOLM (dpa-AFX) - Sweden's industrial production declined in June, after rebounding in the previous month, data from Statistics Sweden showed on Wednesday. Industrial production fell a calendar-adjusted 0.5 percent year-over-year in June, reversing a 0.3 percent rise in May. The most recent downward trend was driven primarily by the automobile industry, which fell 19.8 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, construction output grew 2.7 percent annually in June, slower than the 5.8 percent gain in the previous month. Services growth, excluding financial and insurance services, rose 8.0 percent in June, following a 9.1 percent increase in May. On a monthly basis, industrial production climbed a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent in June, after a 0.7 percent rise in the prior month. Separate data from the statistical office showed that industrial orders fell 1.7 percent annually in June, slower than the 5.1 percent decrease in May. Domestic demand grew 10.5 percent, while foreign orders contracted 10.3 percent. On a monthly basis, industrial orders increased a seasonally adjusted 1.3 percent in June. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Scientists in the Netherlands have developed a model to forecast the energy yield of a PV system. It is able to take into account factors such as partial shading and multiple module orientations. Tested against a reference cell and pyranometer, the model showed less than 5% error, and the scientists claim their approach is up to three orders of magnitude faster than more common approaches using complex ray tracing.Accurate calculation of how much energy a PV system will produce in a given location is essential for proving value to investors and ensuring the optimal use of the technology. Growth ...

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.
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.
Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower the day after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City, U.S., Aug. 9. Reuters-Yonhap



The year was 2016, the presidential candidate under investigation was Hillary Clinton and the FBI director at the time, James Comey, laid out the factors the Justice Department weighs in deciding whether to charge someone with mishandling classified records.



Fast forward to 2022 and that tutorial proves instructive as another candidate from that election, Donald Trump, is entangled in an FBI probe related to sensitive government documents.



Whether an FBI search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence is a prelude to criminal charges is unknown. The action Monday nonetheless focuses attention on the thicket of statutes that govern the handling of government records, though the department's own history of prosecutorial discretion  some high-profile investigations have ended without charges or in misdemeanor plea deals  makes it hard to forecast with certainty what might happen this time.



''These are statutes that have historically not been enforced to the fullest extent,'' said University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck.



Much remains uncertain about Monday's search, including precisely what documents the FBI was looking for  Trump says agents opened a safe  or why it acted when it did. But people familiar with the matter say it relates to an ongoing Justice Department investigation into the discovery of classified material in boxes of White House records the National Archives and Records Administration recovered from Mar-A-Lago earlier this year.



To obtain a search warrant, the Justice Department would have had to persuade a judge that probable cause existed that a crime was committed, though what statute officials think may have been violated is unclear.



Multiple federal laws require the safekeeping of government secrets. One potentially relevant statute makes it a crime to remove classified information and retain it an unauthorized location. Another makes it illegal to mishandle national defense information, including maps, photographs and documents, or transmit it to a person not authorized to receive it.



But if past is any precedent, the mere mishandling of classified information isn't always enough for a felony conviction  or any charges at all.



''It often comes down to whether there are aggravating factors in these cases,'' said David Laufman, a Washington lawyer who as head of the Justice Department's counterintelligence and export control section oversaw the Hillary Clinton investigation.



Those include, he said, how much classified information was mishandled, the extent to which the person knew they were in possession of classified information and how sensitive the material was and whether its exposure placed at risk U.S. national security.



The FBI said as much in 2016 when it closed without recommending charges an investigation into whether Clinton mishandled classified information via a private email server she used as secretary of state. Comey said agents had determined that she had sent and received emails containing classified information but that there was no indication she had intended to break the law. He said no reasonable prosecutor would have brought such a case.



To prove his point, he said a review of past Justice Department cases established that each prosecution involved some combination of: an intentional mishandling of classified records; the vast exposure of materials in a way that suggested willful misconduct, disloyalty to the U.S. or obstruction of justice.



In another notable case, former CIA Director David Petraeus was permitted in 2015 to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of the unauthorized removal and retention of classified information, avoiding prison as he admitted sharing notebooks containing government secrets with his biographer. That resolution came two years after an FBI search of his home and despite an acknowledgment by Petraeus that he knew the information he was sharing was classified.



It remains to be seen what arguments Trump might raise as the investigation progresses. His lengthy statement disclosing the search did not address the substance of the probe, complaining instead that the FBI's action was a ''weaponization of the Justice System and an attack by Radical Left Democrats.''



Christina Bobb, a lawyer for Trump, said in an interview that aired on Real America's Voice on Tuesday that supporting documentation for the warrant remained sealed and that she had not seen it. But she said investigators said they were ''looking for classified information that they think should not have been removed from the White House, as well as presidential records.''



She asserted that the president himself gets to decide what is a presidential record, and it is true that Trump could argue that as president until Jan. 20, 2021, he was the original classification authority and had declassified on his own the classified material recovered from Mar-a-Lago.



But, law professor Vladeck said, it would be a ''pretty stunning'' argument by Trump to claim as his defense that he had ''declassified all of our crown jewels'' and, by doing so, effectively admit that he was a ''threat to our national security.''



And, Laufman said, ''The fact that he has legal authority doesn't mean...that anything he might have chosen to take from the White House and squirrel away at Mar-a-Lago is declassified. The declassification process does not exist in Donald Trump's head. It's not self-executing.''



It is also possible he might say he was unaware of the content of the boxes as they were being packed. His son Eric told Fox News that boxes were among items that got moved out of the White House during ''six hours'' on Inauguration Day. But even if that's the case, he would still have had a legal obligation once he learned of the presence of classified information to return it, Laufman said.



There are other statutes that could come into play that don't explicitly concern classified information. One particular law makes it a felony for someone in possession of government records to willfully mutilate, obliterate or destroy them. That law is punishable by up to three years in prison and says that anyone convicted of it is disqualified from holding future office, though the qualifications of who can run for president are established by the Constitution.



In any event, key unanswered questions remain, including whether the investigative focus is on ''the act of keeping all this material at Mar-a-Lago'' or on what the material actually is, Vladeck said.

Given that mystery, he said, ''We won't know for sure until we know for sure.'' (AP)


New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - On July 25, 2022, the Round One Judging of "Industrial Digitalization: Service and Marketing Specialty Category" of the 2022 Effie Awards Greater China was successfully held online. The organizing committee invited 12 digital marketing experts from brands in the sectors such as B2B, smart home, digital and intelligent finance, pharmaceuticals, and drinks retailing, as well as domestic and foreign Internet platforms and international 4A & consulting agencies to serve as juries of the event. Based on Effie's practical judging system, the juries provided appropriate and professional comments for entries, in a bid to screen out excellent cases with digital innovative features to inspire industrial development.

Juries of Round One Judging of "Industrial Digitalization: Service and Marketing Specialty Category" of the 2022 Effie Awards Greater China

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"Industrial Digitalization: Service and Marketing Specialty Category" is jointly created by Effie Awards Greater China and Tencent Qidian to guide the trend of market digitalization, inspire industrial innovations and commend exemplary cases in the tides of industrial digitalization. According to the data of the Call for Entry as of July 13, the entries of the category ranked the first in terms of year-on-year growth rate among all Strategic categories for the year 2021 to 2022.

Alex Xu, President of Effie Greater China, Senior EVP of Effie Worldwide said upon the commencement of the event, "Amid the post-pandemic era when business pattern has undergone massive changes, it has become inevitable for enterprises to drive the growth of business value by data, explore new potentials for growth by technology and undertake digital transformation. We hope to see more excellent cases, explore new marketing channels reinforced by digital technology, demonstrate the charm of digitalization and constantly drive the growth of business value for brands."

Monique Gao, Head of Growth, Tencent Qidian said, "Industrial digitalization requires both regional and industrial efforts and is dependent on win-win cooperation between industrial partners. On the one hand, Tencent will open and share its resources and provide comprehensive corporate services including expert diagnosis, one-stop services and all-scenario connections. On the other hand, we hope to join hands with our partners through the category of industrial digitalization jointly created with Effie Awards Greater China to drive the upgrade of service and marketing."

Before the judging, Effie's working group elaborated on the setting of categories and specific rules for judging so as to facilitate professional judgment based on the clarified understanding of relevant rules and mechanisms in this regard.

The Round One Judging involves 9 cases in total. The juries will discuss for 10 minutes after every 3 cases so as to fully explore relevant marketing innovations and issues found during the judging, and provide professional comments and suggestions for improvement.

In the tide of digitalization, all industries are actively exploring new marketing methods with more practical effects. However, with the change of consumption forms and the arrival of the era of experience economy, customers will be given more power of speech and initiative in the process of consumption. Focusing on customers, and utilizing digital technology to analyze customer needs, optimize service processes, make plans for marketing strategies and improve customer experience will become the only way to drive the sustainable development of enterprises and build an interactive, mutually-assisted and win-win relation with customers.

Upon detailed judging of the cases, the juries agreed unanimously that there were many marketing cases with digital, intelligent and technical features, demonstrating the changes and promotion of industrial digitalization to the marketing methods of enterprises. They believe that, based on the constant empowerment and accumulation of Effie Awards Greater China in "Industrial Digitalization: Service and Marketing Specialty Category", more reference will certainly be provided for the development of relevant sectors.

The Round One Judging of "Industrial Digitalization: Service and Marketing Specialty Category" jointly held by the 2022 Effie Awards Greater China and Tencent Qidian was successfully concluded. We appreciate the great support of all attending juries and hope that all participating units can achieve good results.

2022 Effie Awards Greater China

Juries of Round One Judging of "Industrial Digitalization: Service and Marketing Specialty Category"

In no particular order:

Monique Gao

Head of Growth, Tencent Qidian

Jasmine Yu

General Manager of Commercialization, Tencent Qidian

Karen Ding

Former Head of Project Management, Marketing Department, Honeywell Asia Pacific Region

Yana Gan

Head of Brand Marketing, Midea Group

Grace Huang

Head of B2B Marketing, Yahoo Taiwan

Gabrielle Kong

Vice President for Strategy, EssenceMediacom

JK Shen

Managing Director, Accenture

Smile Sun

Brand Operation Director of Digital Life, ZhongAn Insurance

Peng Wu

Partner & Vice President, Dreame

Nicole Yang

Head of User Interaction, Pernod Ricard

Nina Yuan

Head of Employer Brand, Pfizer

Contact Details:

Company Name: Effie Greater China

Contact Person: Alex Xu

Email: alex_xu@greaterchinaeffie.org

Website: http://www.effie-greaterchina.cn

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133360
SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 8, S'Young Group Co., Ltd. (S'Young, the Company) (300740.SZ) ( below referred to as S'Young) completed its investment in the French luxury brand PIER AUGE and acquired its Chinese business. The team and strategic direction of PIER AUGE will remain unchanged, and S'YOUNG will carry out more in-depth cooperation with PIER AUGE.

As the preferred China partner for global beauty brands, S'Young is committed to building mutually beneficial and win-win relationships with overseas brands to share the long-term value of China's market growth. Through its original "CP" cooperation model (China Partner + Couple), S'Young has empowered PIER AUGE with all-dimensional and omni-channel capabilities, helping the brand develop from 0 to 1 in the Chinese market and establish a niche and unique brand image. This investment marks a reinforcement of the "CP' model, which can provide a higher level of cooperation in equity acquisition, investment, and strategic collaboration according to the wishes and needs of the overseas brand.

Founded in 1961, PIER AUGE is a niche French luxury skincare brand with a 61-year history. It has a factory in Paris and is a beloved brand among well-known celebrities such as former French President Francois Hollande, and has received a letter of thanks from former U.S. First Lady Hillary.

In 2020, PIER AUGE ended the cooperation with its previous distributor and chose S'Young as the exclusive partner in China, who successfully helped the brand to quickly pervaded the Chinese market within six months. With comprehensive capabilities to empower overseas brands, S'Young has helped PIER AUGE achieve a soaring performance in the Chinese market by establishing an official flagship store with brand characteristics, formulating product positioning in line with the beauty trends in the Chinese market, and leveraging its strong social media influence. Besides, S'Young has helped PIER AUGE develop an effective brand and marketing strategy for the Chinese market, which has contributed to the long-term positive development of the brand in China. PIER AUGE opened its first flagship store on Tmall Global in 2021, and its hero product -- Resourcing Treatment Mask DOUCE AURA -- is now ranked TOP 7 of Tmall's Imported Smear Mask Repurchase List.

As a preferred China partner for global beauty brands, S'Young has cooperated with more than 30 overseas brands, covering skin care, make-up, personal care, fragrance, health care, and men's grooming. The cooperative brands cover many countries and regions from North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including the French cutting-edge laboratory brand LIERAC, the Italian make-up brand KIKO MILANO, the Finnish national skin care brand LUMENE, and the prestige perfume brand AMOUAGE, etc., a testament to S'Young 's strength in diversification and international operation. In 2019, S'Young reached a strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson to fully undertake the e-commerce business of 14 brands under Johnson & Johnson in the Chinese market, which turned out to be a great success for Dr. Ci:Labo, Listerine and many others.

Regarding this investment and acquisition, Charles DUPONT, General Manager of PIER AUGE, stated that "The desire of our new partner is not only to deploy the brand in their domestic market but also to make PIER AUGE a global player. Due to this excellent start to 2022, we have revised our objectives upwards, and this partnership also accelerates our investment plan with the aim of conquering main markets before 2026."

This strategic investment in PIER AUGE marks another milestone in S'Young's deep collaboration with overseas brand. With its original CP model, S'Young provides brands with diversified and personalized ways of cooperation, while having a perfect and higher level full-path cooperation model, constantly exploring new areas and opening up new heights of cooperation between overseas brands and the Chinese market.
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - BluMetric Environmental Inc. (TSXV: BLM) ("BluMetric" or the "Company"), a full-service environmental consulting and engineering cleantech firm, is pleased to announce that it has been retained by Linde Canada (formerly Praxair) to complete an environmental remediation plan for an industrial property in Montreal East. This remediation plan has been approved by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change ("MELCC"). BluMetric will be overseeing the management and removal of contaminated soils, concrete, and water with work having to be completed over a very tight schedule through the month of September.

The Company will be responsible for removing an estimated 4,681m of contaminated soil from the site, in addition to replacing and relocating another 9,085m of clean soil. The total value of the contract is approximately $1.4 million with margins inline with similar, historical contracts.

BluMetric's Chief Executive Officer Scott MacFabe commented, "We are honoured to be working with a company like Linde who are aligned with BluMetric's philosophy of being good corporate citizens. Today's announcement is the direct result of the strategic decision that the Company recently made to diversify and grow its mining and industrial business through key senior staff additions in key geographies. We view Quebec as a very attractive market and look to continue to grow our business deeper in that province."

About BluMetric Environmental Inc.

BluMetric Environmental Inc. is a publicly traded environmental consulting and engineering company with expertise across professional and trade disciplines and technologies that allow for the design, fabrication and delivery of sustainable solutions to environmental and water challenges. BluMetric has more than 160 employees operating in ten offices and over 40 years of expertise. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, BluMetric's team of industry experts serves Commercial and Industrial, Military, Mining and Government clients in Canada and the United States.

For more information, visit www.blumetric.ca or please contact:

Scott MacFabe, CEO

BluMetric Environmental Inc.

Tel: 613.839.3053

Email: smacfabe@blumetric.ca

Graham Farrell, Investor Relations

Harbor Access

Tel: 416.842.9003

Email: ir@blumetric.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release, including those relating to the Company's quarterly and annual results, future products, opportunities and cost initiatives, strategies, and other statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, or that include words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations of the Company. These statements are not historical facts but instead represent only the Company's expectations, estimates, and projections regarding future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133361
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Goldshore Resources Inc. (TSXV: GSHR) (OTCQB: GSHRF) (FSE: 8X00) ("Goldshore" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce assay results from its ongoing 100,000-meter drill program at the Moss Lake Project in Northwest Ontario, Canada (the "Moss Lake Gold Project").

Highlights:

Four holes drilled to evaluate the eastern extension of the Southwest Zone have confirmed gold mineralization within anastomosing shears in altered diorite with intercepts of:



39.75m @ 1.18 g/t Au from 44.25m depth in MMD-22-023, including 14.60m @ 2.65 g/t Au from 462.2m



11.65m @ 1.05 g/t Au from 37.35m depth, and 18.70m @ 1.37 g/t Au from 151.1m in MMD-22-031



10.00m @ 1.05 g/t Au from 290.0m in MMD-22-035

with intercepts of:

President and CEO Brett Richards stated: "We are excited to continue to deliver consistent drilling results. I am encouraged about the high-grade sections we are seeing and have shared previously with the market, as this will provide optionality when we model the resource later in the year and start to look at economic pit shells. With this step out hole from historically drilled areas at Moss Lake, it will further increase the optionality."

Technical Overview

Table 1 shows the significant intercepts. Table 2 and Figure 1 show the drill hole locations.

Table 1: Significant downhole gold intercept

HOLE ID FROM

TO



LENGTH

(m)



TRUE

WIDTH (m)

CUT

GRADE

(g/t Au)

UNCUT

GRADE

(g/t Au) MMD-22-023 375.95 379.30 3.35 2.5 0.37 0.37 440.25 502.10 61.85 49.4 0.84 0.88 Including 440.25 480.00 39.75 31.7 1.18 1.24 Including 462.20 476.80 14.60 11.7 2.65 2.83 and 490.35 502.10 11.75 9.6 0.32 0.32 527.00 529.00 2.00 1.7 0.36 0.36 565.40 584.35 18.95 16.2 0.32 0.32 MMD-22-027 22.80 28.00 5.20 3.3 0.76 0.76 42.00 48.00 6.00 3.9 0.54 0.54 58.60 82.00 23.40 15.7 0.37 0.37 95.10 220.00 124.90 91.3 0.48 0.48 including 171.50 175.45 3.95 2.9 2.60 2.60 and 207.00 210.65 3.65 2.8 3.26 3.26 260.00 262.70 2.70 2.2 0.46 0.46 305.65 314.00 8.35 6.9 0.42 0.42 336.10 351.20 15.10 12.9 0.47 0.47 375.15 379.55 4.40 3.9 0.32 0.32 386.00 394.00 8.00 7.1 0.56 0.56 MMD-22-031 15.50 64.30 48.80 33.3 0.61 0.61 including 25.00 29.00 4.00 2.7 1.43 1.43 and 37.35 49.00 11.65 7.9 1.05 1.05 74.45 80.00 5.55 3.9 1.76 1.76 91.95 174.45 82.50 60.3 0.66 0.66 including 106.80 112.80 6.00 4.3 1.30 1.30 and 151.10 169.80 18.70 13.9 1.37 1.37 193.00 200.00 7.00 5.4 0.38 0.38 212.00 231.60 19.60 15.4 0.37 0.37 including 214.00 216.00 2.00 1.6 1.91 1.91 273.00 275.10 2.10 1.7 0.49 0.49 MMD-22-035 83.30 87.00 3.70 2.5 0.38 0.38 92.00 111.00 19.00 13.0 0.49 0.49 135.80 138.00 2.20 1.5 0.61 0.61 156.00 166.00 10.00 7.3 0.56 0.56 184.75 322.40 137.65 109.9 0.37 0.37 including 196.00 201.00 5.00 3.8 1.30 1.30 and 290.00 300.00 10.00 8.3 1.05 1.05 332.85 355.55 22.70 19.7 0.47 0.47 including 332.85 338.00 5.15 4.4 1.37 1.37 366.00 375.55 9.55 8.4 0.35 0.35 415.00 435.00 20.00 18.1 0.46 0.46 470.00 476.10 6.10 5.7 1.03 1.03 498.25 514.95 16.70 15.8 0.40 0.40 538.00 542.00 4.00 3.8 0.83 0.83 including 540.00 542.00 2.00 1.9 1.23 1.23 Intersections calculated above a 0.3 g/t Au cut off with a top cut of 30 g/t Au and a maximum internal waste interval of 10 metres. Shaded intervals are intersections calculated above a 1.0 g/t Au cut off. Intervals in bold are those with a grade thickness factor exceeding 20 gram x metres / tonne gold. True widths are approximate and assume a subvertical body. The fact that cut and uncut assays are the same, shows that all samples assayed less than the 30 g/t Au top cut.





Figure 1: Drill plan showing the drill holes relative to the 2013 resource model and the new parallel zones

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Table 2: Location of drill holes in this press release

HOLE EAST NORTH RL AZIMUTH DIP EOH MMD-22-023 668300 5378663 433 135 -50 643.8m MMD-22-027 668475 5378300 438 150 -50 494.0m MMD-22-031 668500 5378300 439 120 -50 521.0m MMD-22-035 668400 5378387 479 150 -50 623.05m Approximate collar coordinates in NAD 83, Zone 15N

Results have been received for four holes that have tested the previously undrilled eastern extension of the Southwest Zone. They show that mineralization is continuous in several structurally-controlled zones. The Southwest Zone remains open in both the east and west directions.

These holes intersected several broad zones of low-grade mineralization within the altered diorite intrusion host. Examples include 61.85m @ 0.84 g/t Au from 440.25m in MMD-22-023; 124.9m @ 0.48 g/t Au from 95.1m in MMD-22-027; 64.3m @ 0.61 g/t Au from 15.5m and 82.5m @ 0.66 g/t Au from 91.95m in MMD-22-031; and 137.65m @ 0.37 g/t Au from 184.75m in MMD-22-035 among several 10-20 meter wide zones of low-grade gold mineralization throughout all holes.

All of these low-grade zones occur as envelopes to higher-grade structures. An analysis of oriented core by structural geologist, Dr. Brett Davis, confirmed that these form a three-dimensional, anastomosing shear network that has developed in response to strain on the altered diorite intrusion. Results include the broad zones of +1 g/t Au mineralization shown in the highlights (e.g., 39.75m @ 1.18 g/t Au from 440.25m in MMD-22-023) and several narrow high-grade intervals, including 0.8m @ 33.3 g/t Au from 462.2m in MMD-22-023; 0.3m @ 14.3 g/t Au from 172.3m in MMD-22-027; and 0.65m @ 15.5 g/t Au from 167.35m in MMD-22-031.

Pete Flindell, VP Exploration for Goldshore, said, "These drill results confirm the potential of the Moss Lake Gold Project. Drilling to test potential expansions to these parallel zones of mineralization will continue into the end of the year."

Analytical and QA/QC Procedures

All samples were sent to ALS Geochemistry in Thunder Bay for preparation and analysis was performed in the ALS Vancouver analytical facility. ALS is accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for the Accreditation of Mineral Analysis Testing Laboratories and CAN-P-4E ISO/IEC 17025. Samples were analyzed for gold via fire assay with an AA finish ("Au-AA23") and 48 pathfinder elements via ICP-MS after four-acid digestion ("ME-MS61"). Samples that assayed over 10 ppm Au were re-run via fire assay with a gravimetric finish ("Au-GRA21").

In addition to ALS quality assurance / quality control ("QA/QC") protocols, Goldshore has implemented a quality control program for all samples collected through the drilling program. The quality control program was designed by a qualified and independent third party, with a focus on the quality of analytical results for gold. Analytical results are received, imported to our secure on-line database and evaluated to meet our established guidelines to ensure that all sample batches pass industry best practice for analytical quality control. Certified reference materials are considered acceptable if values returned are within three standard deviations of the certified value reported by the manufacture of the material. In addition to the certified reference material, certified blank material is included in the sample stream to monitor contamination during sample preparation. Blank material results are assessed based on the returned gold result being less than ten times the quoted lower detection limit of the analytical method. The results of the on-going analytical quality control program are evaluated and reported to Goldshore by Orix Geoscience Inc.

About Goldshore

Goldshore is an emerging junior gold development company, and owns the Moss Lake Gold Project located in Ontario. Wesdome is currently a large shareholder of Goldshore with an approximate 27% equity position in the Company. Well-financed and supported by an industry-leading management group, board of directors and advisory board, Goldshore is positioned to advance the Moss Lake Gold Project through the next stages of exploration and development.

About the Moss Lake Gold Project

The Moss Lake Gold Project is located approximately 100 km west of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is accessed via Highway 11 which passes within 1 km of the property boundary to the north. The Moss Lake Gold Project covers 14,292 hectares and consists of 282 unpatented and patented mining claims.

The Moss Lake Gold Project hosts a number of gold and base metal rich deposits including the Moss Lake Deposit, the East Coldstream Deposit (Table 3), the historically producing North Coldstream Mine (Table 4), and the Hamlin Zone, all of which occur over a mineralized trend exceeding 20 km in length. A historical preliminary economic assessment (the "Moss Lake Historical Estimate") was completed on the Moss Lake Gold Project in 2013 and published by Moss Lake Gold Mines Ltd. ("Moss Lake Gold Mines")1,3. A historical mineral resource estimate (the "East Coldstream Historical Estimate") was completed on the East Coldstream Deposit in 2011 by Foundation Resources Inc.2,3 In addition to these zones, the Moss Lake Gold Project also hosts a number of under-explored mineral occurrences which are reported to exist both at surface and in historically drilled holes. The Moss Lake Deposit is a shear-hosted disseminated-style gold deposit which outcrops at surface. It has been drilled over a 2.5 km length and to depths of 300 m with 376 holes completed between 1983 and 2017. The last drilling program conducted in 2016 and 2017 by Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. ("Wesdome"), which consisted of widely spaced holes along the strike extension of the deposit was successful in expanding the mineralized footprint and hydrothermal system 1.6 km to the northeast. Additionally, the deposit remains largely open to depth. In 2017, Wesdome completed an induced polarization survey which traced the potential extensions of pyrite mineralization associated with the Moss Lake Deposit over a total strike length of 8 km and spanning the entire extent of the survey grids.

The East Coldstream Deposit is a shear-hosted disseminated-style gold deposit which locally outcrops at surface. It has been drilled over a 1.3 km length and to depths of 200 m with 138 holes completed between 1988 and 2017. The deposit remains largely open at depth and may have the potential for expansion along strike. Historic drill hole highlights from the East Coldstream Deposit include 4.86 g/t Au over 27.3 m in C-10-15.

The historically producing North Coldstream Mine is reported to have produced significant amounts of copper, gold and silver4 from mineralization with potential iron-oxide-copper-gold deposit style affinity. The exploration potential immediately surrounding the historic mining area is not currently well understood and historic data compilation is required.

The Hamlin Zone is a significant occurrence of copper and gold mineralization, and also of potential iron-oxide-copper-gold deposit style affinity. Between 2008 and 2011, Glencore tested Hamlin with 24 drill holes which successfully outlined a broad and intermittently mineralized zone over a strike length of 900 m. Historic drill hole highlights from the Hamlin Zone include 0.9 g/t Au and 0.35% Cu over 150.7 m in HAM-11-75.

The Moss Lake, East Coldstream and North Coldstream deposits sit on a mineral trend marked by a regionally significant deformation zone locally referred to as the Wawiag Fault Zone in the area of the Moss Lake Deposit. This deformation zone occurs over a length of approximately 20 km on the Moss Lake Gold Project and there is an area spanning approximately 7 km between the Moss Lake and East Coldstream deposits that is significantly underexplored.

Table 3: Historical Mineral Resources1,2,3

INDICATED INFERRED Deposit Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Moss Lake Historical Estimate Open Pit Potential 39,795,000 1.1 1,377,300 48,904,000 1.0 1,616,300 Underground Potential - - - 1,461,100 2.9 135,400 Moss Lake Total 39,795,000 1.1 1,377,300 50,364,000 1.1 1,751,600

East Coldstream Historical Estimate East Coldstream Total 3,516,700 0.85 96,400 30,533,000 0.78 763,276

Combined Total 43,311,700 1.08 1,473,700 80,897,000 0.98 2,514,876



Notes:

(1) Source: Poirier, S., Patrick, G.A., Richard, P.L., and Palich, J. "Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Moss Lake Project", prepared for Moss Lake Gold Mines Ltd. The qualified persons for the Moss Lake Historical Estimate are Pierre-Luc Richard, MSc, PGeo (InnovExplo Inc), and Carl Pelletier, BSc, PGeo (InnovExplo Inc), and the effective date of the Moss Lake Historical Estimate is February 8, 2013. In-Pit results are presented undiluted and in situ, within Whittle-optimized pit shells. Underground results are presented undiluted and in situ, outside Whittle-optimized pit shells. The Moss Lake Historical Estimate includes 18 gold-bearing zones and 1 envelope containing isolated gold intercepts. Whittle parameters: mining cost = C$2.28; pit slope angle = 50.0 degrees; production cost = C$9.55; mining Dilution = 5%; mining recovery = 95%; processing recovery = 80% to 85%; gold price = C$1,500. In-Pit and Underground resources were compiled at cut-off grades from 0.3 to 5.0 g/t Au (for sensitivity characterization). A cut-off grade of 0.5 g/t Au was selected as the official in-pit cut-off grade and a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t Au was selected as the official underground cut-off grade. The Moss Lake Historical Estimate is based on 352 diamond drill holes (90,978 m) drilled from 1983 and 2008. A fixed density of 2.78 g/cm3 was used. A minimum true thickness of 5.0 m was applied, using the grade of the adjacent material when assayed or a value of zero when not assayed. Capping was established at 35 g/t Au, supported by statistical analysis and the high grade distribution within the deposit. Compositing was done on drill hole sections falling within the mineralized zone solids (composite = 1 m). Resources were evaluated from drill hole samples using the ID2 interpolation method in a multi-folder percent block model using Gems version 6.4. Based on geostatistics, the ellipse range for interpolation was 75m x 67.5m x 40m. The Indicated category is defined by combining the blocks within the two main zones and various statistical criteria, such as average distance to composites, distance to closest composite, quantity of drill holes within the search area. Ounce (troy) = metric tons x grade / 31.10348. Calculations used metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). The number of metric tonnes was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations in NI 43-101.

(2) Source: McCracken, T. "Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Osmani Gold Deposit, Coldstream Property, Northwestern Ontario", prepared for Foundation Resources Inc. and Alto Ventures Ltd. The East Coldstream Historical Estimate is based on a 0.4 g/t Au cut-off grade. The qualified persons for the East Coldstream Historical Estimate are Todd McCracken, P.Geo. (Tetratech Wardrop), and Jeff Wilson, Ph.D., P.Geo. (Tetratech Wardrop), and the effective date of the East Coldstream Historical Estimate is December 12, 2011. Resources are presented unconstrained, undiluted and in situ. The East Coldstream Historical Estimate includes 2 gold-bearing zones. A cut-off grade of 0.4 g/t Au was selected as the official resource cut-off grade. The East Coldstream Historical Estimate is based on 116 diamond drill holes drilled from 1986 to 2011. A fixed density of 2.78 g/cm3 was used. Capping was established at 5.89 g/t Au and 5.70 g/t Au for domains EC-1 and EC-2, respectively. This is supported by statistical analysis and the high grade distribution within the deposit. Compositing was done on drill hole sections falling within the mineralized zone solids (composite = 1 m). Resources were evaluated from drill hole samples using the ID2 interpolation method in a multi-folder percent block model using Datamine Studio 3 version 3.20.5321.0. Recource categorization is based on spatial continuity based from the variography of the assays within the drillholes. Ounce (troy) = metric tons x grade / 31.10348. Calculations used metric units (metres, tonnes and g/t). The number of metric tonnes was rounded to the nearest thousand. Any discrepancies in the totals are due to rounding effects; rounding followed the recommendations in NI 43-101.

(3) The reader is cautioned that the Moss Lake Historical Estimate East and the East Coldstream Historical Estimate (the "Historical Estimates") are considered historical in nature and as such is based on prior data and reports prepared by previous property owners. The reader is cautioned not to treat them, or any part of them, as current mineral resources or reserves. The Company has determined these historical resources are reliable, and relevant to be included here in that they demonstrate simply the mineral potential of the Moss Lake Gold Project. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the Historical Estimates as current resources and Goldshore is not treating the Historical Estimates as current resources. Significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the Historical Estimates can be classified as a current resource. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resources, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Even if classified as a current resource, there is no certainty as to whether further exploration will result in any inferred mineral resources being upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource category. The Historical Estimates relating to inferred mineral resources were calculated using prior mining industry standard definitions and practices for estimating mineral resource and mineral reserves. Such prior definitions and practices were utilized prior to the implementation of the current standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining for mineral resource estimation, and have a lower level of confidence.

Table 4: Reported Historical Production from the North Coldstream Deposit4

Deposit Tonnes Cu % Au g/t Ag Cu lbs Au oz Ag oz Historical Production 2,700,0000 1.89 0.56 5.59 102,000,000 44,000 440,000



Note:

(4) Source: Schlanka, R., 1969. Copper, Nickel, Lead and Zinc Deposits of Ontario, Mineral Resources Circular No. 12, Ontario Geological Survey, pp. 314-316.

Peter Flindell, P.Geo., MAusIMM, MAIG, Vice President - Exploration of the Company, a qualified person under NI 43-101 has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For More Information - Please Contact:

Brett A. Richards

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Goldshore Resources Inc.

P. +1 604 288 4416

M. +1 905 449 1500

E. brichards@goldshoreresources.com

W. www.goldshoreresources.com

Facebook: GoldShoreRes |Twitter: GoldShoreRes | LinkedIn: goldshoreres

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such 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.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to expectations regarding the exploration and development of the Moss Lake Gold Project, and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance; and the impact of COVID-19.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. 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.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133310
Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Fancamp Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: FNC) ("Fancamp") and KWG Resources Inc. (CSE: KWG) (CSE: KWG.A) (FSE: KW6) ("KWG") are pleased to announce that Bold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: BOL) ("Bold") has delivered a signed waiver in respect of its right of first refusal to acquire Fancamp interests in the four Koper Lake-McFaulds mining claims that contain the Black Horse chromite discovery, which KWG has offered to acquire from Fancamp as previously announced (the "Proposed Transaction"). The receipt of Bold's waiver will enable Fancamp and KWG to proceed with the Proposed Transaction, which is currently scheduled for closing on or prior to August 31, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions, including any regulatory approvals or filings. For more details on the Proposed Transaction, please refer to the joint news release of Fancamp and KWG dated July 21, 2022.

About Fancamp Exploration Ltd.

Fancamp is a growing Canadian mineral exploration corporation dedicated to its value-added strategy of advancing its priority mineral properties through exploration and innovative development. Fancamp owns numerous mineral resource properties in Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick, including chromium, strategic rare-earth metals, gold, zinc, titanium and more. Fancamp's chromium properties in the highly sought-after Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario are strategically located. Its rare earth element properties in Quebec are a special focus. Fancamp has investments in an existing iron ore operation in the Quebec-Labrador Trough, in addition to an investment in a zinc mine planned to be restarted in Nova Scotia. Fancamp is developing energy reduction technology with its advanced Titanium extraction strategy. Fancamp is managed by a focused leadership team with decades of mining, exploration and complementary technology experience.

About KWG Resources Inc.

KWG is the Operator of the Black Horse chromite project after acquiring a vested 50% interest through Bold Ventures Inc. which is carried for 10% (20% of KWG's equity in the JV) by KWG funding all exploration expenditures. KWG holds a 50% vested interest in the McFaulds Lake copper/zinc project and a vested 30% interest in the Big Daddy chromite project. KWG also owns 100% of CCC which staked mining claims between Aroland, Ontario (near Nakina) and the Ring of Fire. CCC has conducted a surveying and soil testing program to assess the prospects for the engineering and construction of a railroad along that route between the Ring of Fire and Aroland, Ontario. CCC engaged Cormorant Utilities and Rail-Veyor Technologies for Engineering Proposals for the construction of a transportation and utility corridor within the route and has received those proposals. KWG has also acquired intellectual property interests, including a method for the direct reduction of chromite to metalized iron and chrome using natural gas. KWG subsidiary Muketi Metallurgical LP has acquired two chromite-refining patents in Canada and one in the USA and in South Africa and is prosecuting an application in Turkey.

For further information, please contact:

(a) on behalf of Fancamp:

Rajesh Sharma

President and Chief Executive Officer

+1 (604) 434 8829

info@fancamp.ca

Debra Chapman

Chief Financial Officer

+1 (604) 434 8829

info@fancamp.ca

(b) on behalf of KWG:

Bruce Hodgman

Vice-President

416-642-3575

info@kwgresources.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Fancamp or KWG. 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 are events or conditions that "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. Examples of forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, the completion of the Proposed Transaction and the anticipated timing thereon.

Although Fancamp and KWG believe that the material factors, expectations and assumptions informing such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available to them on the date such statements were made, no assurances can be given as to future results of such statements.

Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. These risks include, among others: (a) the risk that the closing conditions for completion of the Proposed Transaction are not satisfied or waived; (b) risks relating to general economic, market and business conditions; and (c) unforeseen delays in the timelines for any of the transactions or events described in this news release.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Statements including forward-looking statements are made as of the date they are given and, except as required by applicable securities laws, Fancamp and KWG disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133332
SARASOTA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Planet Resource Recovery (OTC PINK:PRRY) recently acquired the intellectual property and tooling associated with the MAX Amphibious ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) product line (www.maxatvs.com). The company is gearing up to recommence manufacturing of MAX ATVs, which were originally manufactured by Recreatives Industries Inc., between 1969-2013 in Buffalo, New York.

President Galen Reich stated: "Our mission is to offer extraordinary off-road mobility to both consumer and commercial markets by manufacturing off-road vehicles with unique design features that give them the exceptional capability to traverse terrain that is impassable to most other types of off-road vehicles." The company's initial focus is on relaunching the recreational/light utility MAX all-terrain vehicle product line using tried-and-true designs to help rebuild the supply chain and achieve acceptance more quickly in the larger global ATV industry, which is still expanding at a rate of over 1,010,000 units per year.

The company's new MAX parts website will soon go live, which will firmly establish PRRY as the official supplier of genuine OEM MAX parts and accessories. The company believes this is a major step in reviving the MAX brand as well as reawakening the customer base; building, refining, and establishing a sales infrastructure; and eventually becoming a significant revenue generating department.

The Company acknowledges that it is crucial to source the production of proprietary MAX components before commencing vehicle manufacturing since this will energize the supply chain and feed the assembly line for the new MAX vehicles that will enter production in 2023.

Visit PRRY's corporate website at www.recreatives.com for upcoming announcements and filings from the company on a timely basis.

About Planet Resource Recovery Inc.

PLANET RESOURCE RECOVERY, INC. ("PRRY") is a Nevada-based company that has recently acquired the intellectual property and tooling associated with the MAX ATV (all-terrain vehicle) product line and will begin manufacturing MAX ATVs (originally manufactured by Recreatives Industries Inc. between 1970-2013) in New York state. The Company's management has a collective of 56-plus years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, business management, eCommerce, and finance, and the company President was General Manager of Recreatives Industries for more than 20 years. PRRY will capitalize on MAX's brand legacy of 52 years as well as the proven product design embedded in all the intellectual property developed over decades and now exclusive to PRRY. The company will initially focus on building the recreational/light utility MAX all-terrain vehicle (ATV) product line from existing, proven designs, which will serve to re-build the supply chain and re-gain acceptance more rapidly into the broader global ATV market which continues to grow at over 1,010,000 units per year. Once the supply infrastructure, assembly line, and sales channels have all been re-activated and developed for the MAX ATV product line, PRRY has forward-looking plans to diversify its product portfolio by investing heavily in focused R&D to bring pragmatic new vehicles and accessories to market in a compressed timeframe.

Disclosure:

Information in this news release may contain statements about future expectations, plans, prospects or performance of PRRY that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Safe Harbor Provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words or phrases "can be", "expects", "may affect", "believed", "estimate", "project" and similar words and phrases are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. PRRY cautions you that any forward-looking information provided by or on behalf of PRRY is not a guarantee of future performance. None of the information in this press release constitutes or is intended as an offer to sell securities or investment advice of any kind PRRY's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, some of which are beyond PRRY's control. In addition to those discussed in PRRY's press releases, public filings, and statements by PRRY's management, including, but not limited to, PRRY's estimate of the sufficiency of its existing capital resources, PRRY's ability to raise additional capital to fund future operations, PRRY's ability to repay its existing indebtedness, the uncertainties involved in estimating market opportunities, and in identifying contracts which match PRRY's capability to be awarded contracts. All such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date on which such statements were made. PRRY does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which any such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

CONTACT:

Planet Resource Recovery, Inc.

561-402-8025

www.recreatives.com

SOURCE: Planet Resource Recovery, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711494/Planet-Resource-Recovery-Inc-OTCPRRY-ATV-Manufacturer-Business-Development-Update
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Fabled Copper Corp. ("Fabled Copper" or the "Company") (CSE:FABL)(FSE:XZ7) announces additional results of 2021 surface field work on its Muskwa Copper Project. See Figure 1 below.

Figure 1 - General Property Location

The Muskwa Project is comprised of the Neil Property, the Toro Property and the Bronson Property located in northern British Columbia. See Figure 2 below.

Figure 2 - Location Map

Peter Hawley, President, CEO reports; " The Bronson property comprises 4 mineral tenures covering approximately 2,524.6 hectares and to date we have reported on the Book 6 UAV drone mission and related surface sampling, geophysical survey, property wide structural survey and ASTER compilation. In addition, we have reported on the Book 9 and 10 which may be the southern extent of the Book 6, the sampling on the 428 central ,the 428 South, which again maybe the same mineralized unit and now the PJ 100 and PJ 105 copper occurrences. See Figure 3 below."

Figure 3 - Bronson Property, PJ 100, PJ 105 Locations

PJ 105 Copper Occurrence

On September 3, 2021, the area containing the PJ 105 Occurrence was prospected and a total of 7 samples were collected. On anorth facing slope at elevations of 1,656 & 1,668 meters across the valley, ~600 meters south of the exposure of the 428 South Vein, 2veins were sampled (D-723529-532).

Grab sample D-723529, of the 120-degree striking & 0.6-meter-wide western vein, contained abundant malachite and assayed 0.35%Cu. Eighty meters to the east, a flatly dipping (40 degrees to the west), a 1.5 meter wide, vein strikes 140 degrees in shearedsediments.

Chip sample D-723531, across the 1.5 meters of vein, contained a Cu content of 0.03%. A higher-grade grab sample (D-723532) ofthe vein contained 3% chalcopyrite and assayed 0.67% Cu. Sheared sediments, west of the vein, were also sampled (grab sample D-723530). The sediments contained 5% pyrite and had a low Cu content of 0.03%. See Photo1, Table 1 below.

Photo 1 - Bronson Property, PJ 105 Copper Occurrence

Downslope to the north, the area south of the creek flowing east through the valley was prospected. Three 3 examples mineralized float (up to 50% chalcopyrite and 8% bornite) were collected at elevations of 1,558-1,616 meters. Samples D723526-528 assayed 22.9, 9.34 and 2.42% Cu.

Table 1 - Bronson Property PJ 105 Copper Occurrence Samples

Sample Number Elevation (meters) Sample Type Width (meters) Copper % D - 723529 1,685 Grab 0.35 D - 723530 1,656 Grab 0.03 D - 723531 1,668 Chip 1.50 0.03 D - 723532 1,668 Grab 0.67 D - 723526 1,578 Float 22.90 D - 723527 1,616 Float 9.34 D - 723528 1,598 Float 2.42

PJ 100 Occurrence

Three veins representing part of the PJ 100 were observed outcropping on a ridge at elevations 1,910-1,939 meters. The exposures lie near the intersection of 2 steep slopes that trend south-southeast and east. From the helicopter landing point, 2 of the veins were sampled.

Chip sample D-723524, assaying 4.6% Cu across 0.3 meters and was collected from a 020 degrees striking and sub-vertically dipping vein mineralized with 5-7% chalcopyrite. See Photo 2, Table 2 below.

Photo 2 - Bronson Property, PJ 100 Copper Occurrence

On the steep south-southeast trending slope, about 30 m. to the east, a vein mineralized with 6% chalcopyrite was sampled. This grab sample, D723525, contained a Cu assay of 2.95%.

Also, a flat lying (45-degree dip), 115-degree striking vein was discovered ~ 200 meters to the south, at an elevation of 1,777 meters. The vein was not mineralized and grab sample D723168 collected there, assayed low in Cu (0.02%).

Table 2 - Bronson Property PJ 100 Copper Occurrence Samples

Sample Number Elevation (meters) Sample Type Width (meters) Copper % D - 723524 1,939 Chip 0.30 4.60 D - 723525 1,910 Grab 2.95 D - 723168 1,899 Grab 0.02

All samples taken were photographic and a GPS location taken, plus a metal sample tag left in place for future reference if required. All this data plus the assay results were geotagged and placed in a .kml /.kmz file for use such as google earth for easy reference. See Photo 3 below.

Photo 3 - Bronson Property, PJ 100, 105 Geotagged data

QA QC Procedure

Analytical results of sampling reported by Fabled Copper Corp represent rock samples submitted by Fabled Copper Corp staff directly to ALS Chemex, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. Samples were crushed, split, and pulverized as per ALS Chemex method PREP-31, then analyzed for ME-ICP61 33 element package by four acid digestion with ICP-AES Finish. ME-GRA21 method for Au and Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish, 30g nominal sample weight.

Over Limit Methods

For samples triggering precious metal over-limit thresholds of 10 g/t Au or 100 g/t Ag, the following is being used:

Au-GRA21 Au by fire assay and gravimetric finish with 30 g sample.

Ag-GRA21 Ag by fire assay and gravimetric finish.

Fabled Copper Corp. monitors QA/QC using commercially sourced standards and locally sourced blank materials inserted within the sample sequence at regular intervals.

About Fabled Copper Corp.

Fabled Copper is a junior mining exploration company. Its current focus is to creating value for stakeholders through the exploration and development of its existing copper properties located in northern British Columbia. The Muskwa Project comprises a total of 76 claims in two non-contiguous blocks and totals over 8,064.9 hectares, located in the Liard Mining Division in northern British Columbia.

Mr. Peter J. Hawley, President and C.E.O.

Fabled Copper Corp.

Phone: (819) 316-0919

peter@fabledcopper.org

For further information please contact:

info@fabledcopper.org

The technical information contained in this news release has been approved by Peter J. Hawley, P.Geo. President and C.E.O. of Fabled, who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions, including, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that the Company obtains any required regulatory approvals.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: impacts from the coronavirus or other epidemics, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; industry conditions, including fluctuations in commodity prices; governmental regulation of the mining industry, including environmental regulation; geological, technical and drilling problems; unanticipated operating events; competition for and/or inability to retain drilling rigs and other services; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility; volatility in market prices for commodities; liabilities inherent in mining operations; changes in tax laws and incentive programs relating to the mining industry; as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Fabled Copper Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711517/Fabled-Surface-Sampling-on-PJ-100-105-Copper-Occurrences-Reports-460-and-2290-Copper-Respectively
PHOENIX and LONDON and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 10, 2022and its group entities ("Lakemore"), a leading private credit investment firm primarily investing in control CLO equity, today announced it has appointed Paul Gyra as the independent Chair of the Lakemore Partners Audit Committee. Mr. Gyra is a seasoned business executive with over three decades of experience in investment banking and asset management.



"We are thrilled to have appointed Paul as Chair of our Audit Committee," said Ahmed Farid, Chairman and President of Lakemore. "Paul's deep understanding of our firm's culture and years of expertise spearheading cross-border strategies will serve Lakemore well as we further establish and maintain longstanding partnerships with our clients and top-tier CLO collateral managers across the world."

In addition to his roles at Lakemore, Mr. Gyra also serves as Managing Partner at the Thompson Family Office, where he helps to execute on the development of Smart, Sustainable City outside of Washington, DC, and development of direct investment programs with like-minded Family Office Partners that have a social and environmental impact. Previously, Mr. Gyra served as Managing Partner at Global Investment Bank Limited, where he was responsible for cross-border transactions and business development. Prior to that, Mr. Gyra was the Chief Operating Officer, Head of Strategy and Managing Partner at Safanad Limited, where he was responsible for the principal investment firm's business operations and strategy across its Dubai, New York and London offices. Mr. Gyra also held CEO positions at ING Alternative Asset Management in New York, and Baring Asset Management - North America.

"I am confident that my familiarity with the firm will serve me well in this new role," said Mr. Gyra. "I look forward to continuing to work closely with the team and Board to provide Lakemore's global clientele of institutional investors with best-in-class service."

Mr. Gyra is a CPA and received his BS Summa Cum Laude from Providence College, and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

About Lakemore Partners

Lakemore is a leading private credit investment firm primarily investing in control CLO equity. Serving as a partner of choice for global top-tier collateral managers in the CLO market who are aligned to the firm's portfolio management style and risk appetite, Lakemore aims to deliver attractive returns by leveraging the extensive expertise of its dedicated team and by investing within its well-defined framework of cycle-aligned risk allocation. Founded in 2016, Lakemore has offices in Phoenix, London and Dubai. Lakemore's mission focuses on providing sustainable and reliable income, with the firm currently managing US$1.3 billion in credit assets under management, the majority of which is from institutional clients. For more information, please visit www.lakemore.com .

Lakemore Partners Ltd. is the group parent and is domiciled in the Cayman Islands. Lakemore Partners Management US LLC and Lakemore Partners (UK) Ltd. are registered with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission as investment advisers (RIA). Lakemore Partners (UK) Ltd. (FRN: 837603) is also an appointed representative of Kroll Securities Ltd. (FRN: 466588), which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Lakemore Partners (DIFC) Ltd. is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Lakemore Partners Management US LLC, Lakemore Partners (UK) Ltd., and Lakemore Partners (DIFC) Ltd. are wholly owned subsidiaries of Lakemore Partners Ltd.
Company announces $10,000,000 Equity Offering and first of its kind Metaverse Portal

MIAMI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fun Wine Company announces today that it is commencing a common share offering to finance global expansion of its unique and refreshingly delicious, flavored, 5.5% ABV, sparkling wine cocktails. In the past year, the company raised $10,000,000 in private placements of equity and convertible notes with private equity investors. Now, the company is raising an additional $10,000,000 with 2,500,000 common shares at $4.00 a share, in parallel offerings: One in the US, strictly to accredited investors; the other strictly overseas, to non-US investors. To invest, visit https://www.manhattanstreetcapital.com/fun-wine.

On the marketing front, newly appointed Chief Culture Officer Christina Aguilera confirms that the company is working with an innovative technology platform to create a Fun Wine Metaverse with online and offline components. The highly interactive virtual world will provide Fun Wine aficionados a 3-D experience that will enhance the brand's presence in a way that's entertaining and uniquely engaging. The company expects to introduce the Fun Wine Metaverse this fall. "This is one of the most exciting marketing concepts I have seen in my career," said Joe Peleg, Founder & CEO of Fun Wine. "The possibilities are endless! We look forward to working with the best-in-class leaders to create an amazing experience for our followers." Aguilera is also working alongside the company's Founder & CEO, Joe Peleg, to help Fun Wine with marketing activities in the US, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

About Fun Wine

Fun Wine is a Miami born, flavor first and gluten free wine cocktail that packs a punch with only 5.5% alcohol and 59 calories per 5 oz pour. The all-natural, tantalizing flavors are sweetened with zero calorie Monk Fruit Juice, the first ever in wine. Our Hard Bubbly Collection includes Strawberry Rose Moscato, Peach Passion Moscato, Coconut Pineapple Chardonnay, and Sangria. The one-of-a-kind coffee flavored wine cocktails - Expresso Cabernet? and Cappuccino Chardonnay?, make up the Cafe Graffiti Collection. Fun Wine is sold in 750 ml glass and unique 330 ml aluminum bottles at select locations across the globe or online at http://shop.funwine.com. Stay up to date with the latest news and social content by following the conversation at Funwine.com or @funwineofficial

Media Contact: IMPACT Brokers

Ryan Stender, Email: rstender@impact-brokers.com

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Ukraine on Wednesday accused Russia of rocket strikes that killed 13 civilians in areas near a Russian-held power plant, where renewed fighting has raised fears of a nuclear disaster.







The overnight strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine also injured 11 people, with five reported to be in a serious condition.







"It was a terrible night, regional governor Valentin Reznichenko wrote on Telegram, urging residents to shelter when they hear air raid sirens.







"I am asking and begging you... Don't let the Russians kill you," he wrote, adding that Russia had fired a total of 80 rockets at the area.







Most of the casualties were in the town of Marganets, just across the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe's biggest.







Regional council head Mykola Lukashuk said the strikes had hit a local power line, leaving thousands of people without electricity.







Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of recent shelling around the plant itself.







Ukraine says Russia has stationed hundreds of troops and stored ammunition at the plant.







The tensions have brought back memories of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in then Soviet Ukraine, which killed hundreds of people and spread radioactive contamination over much of Europe.







The plant was captured by Russian troops on March 4 after a battle with Ukrainian forces.







The strikes came a day after major blasts at the Saki airfield, a key military base on the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula.







Dramatic amateur footage on social media appeared to show panicked holidaymakers fleeing a Crimean beach with young children, as ballooning clouds of grey smoke rose over the horizon.







Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and has used the region as a staging ground for its attacks, but it has rarely been a target for Ukrainian forces.







Moscow insisted that the explosions were caused by detonating ammunition rather than Ukrainian fire.







Ukraine's army, which for months pleaded for long-range artillery from Western allies, has been hitting targets deeper in Russian-held territory since some started arriving in recent weeks.







Kyiv has also taken credit for several acts of sabotage inside Russian-held territory. (AFP)






VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Goodbody Health Inc. (CSE:GDBY) (OTCQB:GDBYF) ("Goodbody" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the results of the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting of the shareholders held on August 09, 2022 (the "Meeting"). At the Meeting there were 77,050,554 shares represented in person or by proxy and voted, representing 21% of the total shares issued and outstanding. A majority of the shares were voted to accept the financial statements for the 2021 fiscal year. The shareholders unanimously voted to set the number of directors at six. The management nominations for directors, namely, Geremy Thomas, Marc Howells, Anne Tew, George Thomas, Clive Standish, and Mark Blower accepted their respective nominations as Directors of the Company. There were no nominations for directors from the floor. On the election of the directors, the percentage of votes cast for each director were as follows:

Geremy Thomas - 99%

Marc Howells - 99%

Anne Tew - 99%

George Thomas - 99%

Clive Standish - 99%

Mark Blower - 98%

In addition to the above, given the 99% approval from the shareholders that were represented at the Meeting, the vote exceeded the special resolution threshold of the required two-thirds of the outstanding shares of our common stock represented at the Meeting. As a result, the Company is pleased to announce its change of corporate jurisdiction to Guernsey from the Province of British Columbia, Canada by means of a process called a "continuation" under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) has been approved and will be proceeded with. The Company will now file the required documents in Guernsey and British Columbia. Upon receipt of a certificate of continuation from the Registrar of Companies of British Columbia, the Company will no longer be a British Columbia corporation and will be governed by the laws of Guernsey. The change of corporate jurisdiction will not result in any material change to the business and will not have any effect on the relative equity or voting interests of shareholders. Each previously outstanding share of common stock will become one ordinary share of the Guernsey corporation. The continuation is currently anticipated to be effective on or about the 23rd of August 2022.

The Company intends to delist from the CSE on or about Tuesday 16th August 2022 and trading is expected to be temporarily suspended on the AQSE on the same day. The 1 for 10 consolidation is expected to occur on or about Monday 22nd August. Trading is planned to resume on the AQSE on or about Tuesday 23rd August 2022 following the continuation.

The Company has published Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in regards to the information contained in the circular and the continuation procedures relevant to shareholders on its website to be found at https://goodbodyhealth.com/agm-proposed-re-domiciliation/

Further information regarding the Company, including the Annual General and Special Meeting information circular, can be found at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. These statements are identified by the use of the words "project," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "contemplate," "foresee," "would," "could," "plan," and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which are generally not historical in nature. These forward- looking statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on Goodbody. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Goodbody will be those that are anticipated. All comments concerning the Company's expectations for future revenues and operating results are based on the Company's estimates for its existing operations and do not include the potential impact of any future acquisitions. Goodbody's forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond Goodbody's control) and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Goodbody's historical experience and present expectations or projections. Known material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: the re-domicile may not be approved by shareholders; the Board of Directors may choose to postpone or abandon the re-domicile at any time, including after shareholder approval; changes in Canadian or U.K. laws, including tax laws, that could effectively preclude Goodbody from completing the re-domicile or reduce or eliminate the benefits expected to be achieved from the re-domicile; an inability to realize expected benefits from the re-domicile or the occurrence of difficulties in connection with the re- domicile; and costs related to the re-domicile, which could be greater than expected. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements also are affected by the risk factors described in Goodbody's filings with the British Columbia Securities Commission. Goodbody undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information:

Marc Howells Chief Executive Officer +44 (0)20 7971 1255 enquiries@goodbodyhealth.com www.goodbodyhealth.com Anne Tew Chief Financial Officer 832-308-4975 enquiries@goodbodyhealth.comwww.goodbodyhealth.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Goodbody Health Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711537/Goodbody-Health-Inc-Provides-Annual-General-and-Special-Meeting-of-Shareholders-Update
KnowBe4 celebrates twelfth anniversary with projects to improve the environment

TAMPA BAY, FL / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Employees of KnowBe4, provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, knew what they wanted for their company's birthday: less garbage, and more bees. So, to celebrate its twelfth anniversary, the company will donate to clean up 12,000 pounds of garbage from the ocean and will sponsor 12 beehives in Pinellas County, adding somewhere around 400,000 honey bees to the region.

The beehives have become a new tradition for the company; for its eleventh anniversary KnowBe4, located in Clearwater, FL, donated funds to the Pinellas Beekeeper's Association to purchase and maintain 11 full honeybee hives. (For its tenth anniversary the company had 10,000 trees planted worldwide to mitigate environmental threats.)

The honeybees are not just cute. Bees pollinate approximately 130 agricultural crops and add approximately $14 billion annually to improved crop yield and quality. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more than half of North America's 4,000 native bee species are in decline, with one in four species at risk of extinction.

Then there's the fish and the turtles. Working through Ocean Voyages Institute in Sausalito, CA., KnowBe4 is sponsoring the cost of removing 6 tons (12,000 pounds) of garbage from the Great Pacific Ocean Patch (GPGP), the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world's oceans. Located halfway between Hawaii and California, the patch measures an estimated one million square miles, or 1.6 million square kilometers. Its depth is unknown.

The GPGP is composed of an estimated 3.6 trillion pieces of plastic. Some, including plastic bottles and plastic bags, will live for 1,000 years, breaking down into smaller and smaller particles, if they are not removed. Because plastic is less dense than water it floats and looks like food to many marine creatures. As it is indigestible, it will kill them.

Everything removed by Ocean Voyages Institute is recycled, repurposed and upcycled, so that nothing ends up in a landfill or back in the ocean.

"As a group we mark these milestones in the company with something we will all remember," said Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4's CEO. "And we have fun doing it. All year our employees can check in on our projects and see what they have accomplished. It's a little thing we can all be proud of."

Other KnowBe4 philanthropy projects have included local drives for school supplies, builds with Habitat for Humanity, and blood drives that the company says have saved 66 lives to date. In March they launched two new $10,000 scholarship funds, for Black Americans in Cybersecurity, and a separate scholarship for women in cybersecurity.

About KnowBe4

KnowBe4, the provider of the world's largest security awareness training and simulated phishing platform, is used by more than 52,000 organizations around the globe. Founded by IT and data security specialist Stu Sjouwerman, KnowBe4 helps organizations address the human element of security by raising awareness about ransomware, CEO fraud and other social engineering tactics through a new-school approach to awareness training on security. Kevin Mitnick, an internationally recognized cybersecurity specialist and KnowBe4's Chief Hacking Officer, helped design the KnowBe4 training based on his well-documented social engineering tactics. Tens of thousands of organizations rely on KnowBe4 to mobilize their end users as their last line of defense.

Media Contact:

Kathy Wattman

Public Relations

PR@KnowBe4.com

(727) 474-9950

SOURCE: KnowBe4

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711271/KnowBe4-Giving-Back-and-Having-Fun-Doing-It
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - PRUDENT MINERALS CORP. (CSE: PRUD) ("Prudent" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has entered into an interim agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Berlin Precious Metals Corp. ("Berlin") has the exclusive right to earn 100% of the ABE Gold Project ("ABE"), located 70-km south of the city of Medellin, Colombia, which consists of five concession applications covering 4,512ha, and a 110ha mining concession that's covers the Purimac gold mine (together, the "Berlin Properties" - refer to Transaction section).

ABE Gold is located in NW Colombia where a number of under-explored and well-endowed mineral districts host a multitude of world class gold deposits including La Colosa (+ 28 Moz), Marmato (+17 Moz), Buritica (+11 Moz) and the Segovia district (+3 Moz) (refer to Figure 1). Gold mineralization at ABE is hosted in quartz veins in an orogenic/mesothermal setting, analogous to the past producing Berlin Gold Deposit (413,000 oz from 1936 to 1946 - see references section). The Berlin Gold Deposit is located 150 km to the north of ABE in an identical geological setting. Prudent cautions investors the presence of significant gold mineralization on each of the above referenced deposits is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization on the Berlin Properties and the foregoing are provided for context only.

ABE covers the long active Purimac mine, dating back to the colonial period. The quartz vein-hosted mineralization is located along a 30m wide structural corridor that has been traced for over 2-km and mined underground over 17 levels and 2-km along strike; mineralization remains open in all directions. The mined mineralized shoots averaged a grade of 26g/t ton, with highlight muck grab samples of 96g/t Au. Grab samples are not necessary representative of mineralization.

Exploration by Berlin over the last 20 months includes: mapping at the Purimac mine, LIDAR over 20-km, and geochemistry over 119ha within the ABE mining concession identifying gold targets in parallel and sub-parallel geologic structures and 17 historical gold mines. Highlight gold values of 3.4g/t in surface soil samples and 6.61 g/t in accessible historical mines have been recorded. Additionally, ground magnetics were completed over 137ha. Further, 27-line-km of IP surveying at 100m and 200m line spacing is nearing completion.

"Prudent believes ABE has the large-scale potential, and initial modern exploration only commenced in late 2020," commented Prudent President, Brett Matich.

"Prudent plans to complete modelling and field work for drill delineation and permitting," he concluded.





Figure 1. ABE Gold Project location

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_002full.jpg





Figure 2. ABE Gold area, ground magnetics

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_003full.jpg

First modern exploration activities commenced in November 2020:

Mapping of the +1500m of working in the Purimac mine is well in progress. The main level has 700m of advances in multiple veins. Shafts and stopes account for another 800m of workings. These workings connect to even older historical mine workings dating back to the year 1751. The Purimac mine contains four shoots of mineralization. Three Shoots have been intensely mined above the main level and are virgin below the main level. The newly discovered Shoot 4 is open above, below, and to the north of the currently advancing drift.

Mapping of historical mines indicates an association with an intense multi-directional quartz vein systems within the Purimac Shear Zone ("PSZ"). The vein mineralization is associated with schists and intrusive rocks that comprise the footwall and hanging wall units.





Figure 3. Typical mine-rock. Coarse gold from panning

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_004full.jpg





Figure 4. Typical vein width averages 2m

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_005full.jpg

A LIDAR survey (Light Detection and Ranging with 12cm topography accuracy) covering 20-km square was carried out in late 2021 along the strike of the PSZ. Using LIDAR, structural geologic mapping was made from interpretations along with detailed structural mapping of underground exposures. LIDAR is also used for geologic logistics and will be used for drill planning.

A Laser 3D model of the Purimac Mine was completed in early 2022, as a laser mapping activity of the active underground Purimac workings. At the time of the laser mine mapping, there were three known shoots of mineralization with stopes and shafts in multiple veins. The result from the 3D mine model gave the geologic model the plunge and dip of the Shoots, therefore the geologic team is able to project the vein system to depth and strike length, thus creating drill targets. Shoot 4 in the Purimac Mine was undiscovered at the time of laser mapping. Additional shoots are expected to be regularly spaced along the strike of the PSZ.





Figure 5. Long Section of the Purimac mine

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_006full.jpg





Figure 6. Geologic model with IP geophysics

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_007full.jpg

The Purimac mine has at least 1500m of accessible workings. The mine includes three extensively mined high grade mineralized shoots which are open to depth, and one newly discovered Shoot 4 open 250m above, and open to depth, and to the north. The mine is currently testing the north principal front at 400m inside the mountain.

Soil Geochemistry covering 119ha was completed over the Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone with highly positive results for gold. The soil geochemistry combined with other associated elements, indicate that there are multiple parallel gold mineralized structures to the east and west of the known Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone (refer to Figure 2).





Figure 7

To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_008full.jpg





Figure 8

To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8979/133350_f440ed0a54d9bb30_009full.jpg

A Ground Magnetic Survey covering 137ha was done in 2022 and indicates a strong correlation between gold mineralization and magnetic highs. The historical mines and Purimac mine, all correlate to the magnetic highs. The Magnetic Survey also indicates more potential area to the south along the projected strike length of the Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone.

A Ground Induced Polarisation ("IP") Geophysics Survey is in progress and has been showing a southern strike length extension of the known Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone. The survey consists of 27-line-km with lines spaced 100m and 200m apart. The projection of the multiple veins set hosted in the Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone correlated with the chargeable IP geophysics. The current IP survey will cover the historical mines and Purimac mine hosted in the Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone. IP geophysics will be combined with magnetic geophysics, soil geochemistry, and mine mapping to create high potential drill targets.

A Long Section of the Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone mine workings was undertaken to show how historical mining has only scratched the surface of the mountain. The long section clearly shows that gold mineralization is open below, above, and to the north within the mountain.

Geologic model is always ongoing and becoming more detailed as exploration work gives the geologic team more information. The geologic model indicated that the Purimac Mineralized Shear Zone contains multiple veins. The veins contain high grade mineralized shoots. The geologic model will be used to pick high potential drill targets.

The ABE Gold Project has established good social relationships with local landowners and the community. The project area is accessible by public roads. The project area also is a very safe area to explore and contains excellent infrastructure such as high voltage electricity, hydroelectric stations, good communication, and water. The local mayor and community leaders support our efforts of exploration.

References

La Colosa (+ 28Moz) https://www.aga-reports.com/21/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/AGA-RR21.pdf Marmato (+17 Moz) www.arisgold.com Buritica (+11 Moz) https://www.continentalgold.com/continental-gold-announces-an-updated-mineral-resource-estimate-for-the-buritica-project-colombia-2/ Segovia district (+3 Moz) www.gcm-mining.com Berlin gold deposit (historical 413,000oz 1936-46) https://www.continentalgold.com/projects/berlin/

Transaction

Subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive option agreement, Prudent shall have the exclusive right to acquire 100% of the issued shares of Berlin a Canadian corporation in exchange for issuing 8,000,000 common shares (escrowed for 2-years) and 8,000,000 common share purchase warrants with an exercise price of $0.50 per share exercisable for a period of 5 years. Berlin has the exclusive rights to five wholly owned concession applications covering approximately 4,512ha adjacent/nearby the Purimac gold mine and exclusive rights to earn 100% of the Purimac gold mine concession covering 110ha for payments of US$75,000 on receiving drilling permit to earn 10%; and US$125,000 on first anniversary to earn additional 10%; and US$300,000 on second anniversary to earn additional 10%; and US$1,400,000 on third anniversary to earn additional 70% for a total of 100%.

Following the first anniversary payments referred to above, Berlin has a one-time right to pay US$1,400,000 for the then outstanding interest of 80% for total of 100% interest. Vendors will hold an underlying 2% NSR over the ABE Gold project.

Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43:101.

About Prudent Minerals Corp.

Prudent Minerals Corp. is a Canadian publicly listed company conducting exploration on its SAT Property in British Colombia, Canada. On April 18, 2022, Prudent commenced trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE: PRUD) as a national resource company engaged in primarily acquisition, exploration and, if warranted, development of mineral properties.

For more information visit: https://www.prudentminerals.com/

For additional information contact:

E. info@prudentminerals.com

P. (+1) 604 365 1522

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed or approved the content of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Except for statements of historic 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates 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 statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the Canadian Securities Exchange There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Prudent Minerals Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133350
-- Transformational precision gene delivery company launched out of Versant's Ridgeline Discovery Engine -

-- Vector developing platform for precisely targeted delivery of high-capacity genetic payloads --

Versant Ventures today announced the debut of Vector BioPharma AG, a biopharmaceutical company developing a precision gene delivery platform that is devoid of viral genes. Versant has made a $30 million Series A commitment to Vector, which is the most recent company to be launched out of the firm's Ridgeline Discovery Engine based in Basel, Switzerland.

Vector's platform overcomes the three main obstacles faced by other technologies in the gene delivery field: issues with tissue-specific delivery of payloads, limitations on the size of genetic cargo that can be packaged, and challenges associated with adverse immunogenic reactions.

"Our platform has significant advantages thanks to the unprecedented size of cargo that can be delivered, our proprietary capsid shielding technology and our ability to precisely target virtually any cell surface epitope," said CEO Lorenz Mayr, Ph.D. "We are confident that our approach will offer patients therapies with improved safety, efficacy and specificity."

A differentiated gene delivery platform

Vector's platform was developed in the laboratory of Andreas Pluckthun, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field of protein engineering and professor at the University of Zurich. There, he engineered a virus-like particle to achieve cell- and tissue-specific delivery of large genetic cargo with high specificity.

The platform combines high-capacity virus-like particles with designed, exogenous, high-avidity adapter proteins. The vectors are devoid of viral genes and thus offer reduced immunogenicity, while the adapters precisely direct delivery of DNA-encoding therapeutics to defined epitopes on target cells or tissues.

Finally, the viral capsid is engineered and shielded from the immune system, providing a safe and stable delivery system that carries complex and multiple gene cassettes with a large genome packaging capacity of up to 36 kb. This compares favorably with conventional viral gene delivery technologies such as AAV that are only capable of packaging 4.7 kb. The use of DNA for delivery enables tunable and regulatable expression of single or multiple genes in the same delivery vehicle.

Collectively, Vector's platform technology has the potential to transform the safety, efficacy, and specificity of biologics, cell and gene therapies.

"It is gratifying to see the work that started 10 years ago is now being translated into new therapies," said Dr. Pluckthun. "I look forward to working closely with the Vector team to bring these treatments to patients."

"Versant has made several important investments in genetic medicine, including founding Crispr Therapeutics, and we believe that Vector represents a new wave of innovation in this space," said Markus Enzelberger, Ph.D., Partner at Versant and a Vector board member.

"We're thrilled to be working with Lorenz, Andreas and the team to advance Vector's rationally designed gene delivery technology," said Alex Mayweg, Ph.D., Managing Director at Versant and a Vector board member. "With its platform and growing pipeline, the company is positioned to fundamentally advance the field of genetic medicine and treat important diseases."

Leadership and Operating Plans

Vector has built a strong leadership team and a diverse, international workforce of experts from a broad range of disciplines.

Lorenz Mayr, Ph.D., CEO. Dr. Mayr is an experienced executive from Bayer, Novartis, AstraZeneca and GE Healthcare, where he led a 2,000 member-strong R&D organization. Additionally, he holds Board positions at Phoremost, Mogrify and at Fraunhofer Institutes Stuttgart and Leipzig.

Nicholas Barbet, Ph.D., Head of Operations. Dr. Barbet previously was Head of Operations at Corlieve Therapeutics, which focused on AAV-mediated delivery of gene therapies for epilepsy, and prior to that held roles of increasing responsibility at Roche, most recently as Head of Business Operations and Project Leadership in the Neurosciences and Rare Diseases therapeutic area.

Sheena Smith, Ph.D., Head of Program Management. Dr. Smith was a post-doctoral student in the laboratory of Dr. Pluckthun where she played a leading role in the development of Vector's platform.

Vector is located in Basel, Switzerland and has a 40-member staff that is expected to increase as the company expands its platform and pipeline of therapeutic candidates. This year, the company plans to have technical proof-of-concept data in key focus areas such as immuno-oncology and genome editing. In the first half of 2023, Vector expects to have in vivo data for its lead pipeline programs.

About Vector BioPharma

Vector BioPharma is a biopharmaceutical company aiming to transform the safety, efficacy, and specificity of drug delivery, to improve treatments for patients. Incorporating cutting-edge platform technologies, from world-class academic research at the University of Zurich, Vector BioPharma uses engineered virus-like particles to achieve cell- and tissue-specific delivery and tunable expression of genes and regulators with unprecedented precision. The company is backed by Versant Ventures. For more information, please visit www.vectorbiopharma.com.

About Versant Ventures

Versant Ventures is a leading healthcare venture capital firm committed to helping exceptional entrepreneurs build the next generation of great companies. The firm's emphasis is on biotechnology companies that are discovering and developing novel therapeutics. With $4.2 billion under management and offices in the U.S., Canada and Europe, Versant has built a team with deep investment, operating and R&D expertise that enables a hands-on approach to company building. Since the firm's founding in 1999, more than 85 Versant companies have achieved successful acquisitions or IPOs. For more information, please visit www.versantventures.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005124/en/

Contacts:

Steve Edelson

sedelson@versantventures.com

415-801-8088
Sen. Hassan toured the company's U.S. headquarters in Portsmouth before meeting and speaking with employees

On Tuesday, Aug. 9, U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (NH) joined members of Novocure's leadership team to tour the company's U.S. headquarters in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and learn more about Novocure's groundbreaking work to extend patient survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer.

Following the tour, Sen. Hassan met with Novocure employees to answer questions and provide an update on her work in Washington. In her remarks, Sen. Hassan spoke about the importance of expanding patient access to innovative medical technologies as well as Novocure's impact as an innovative job creator in New Hampshire.

"It was great visiting Novocure to learn more about the innovative work being done here for the health and well-being of Granite Staters and Americans," said Sen. Hassan. "I am focused on working across the aisle in order to improve our health care services and technology so that companies like Novocure can continue their critical work. I appreciated the opportunity to speak with Novocure and their staff about how we can keep working together to strengthen health care and support innovative technology to improve health care outcomes."

"We thank Sen. Hassan for her continued leadership and dedication to ensuring that patients are afforded timely access to the most revolutionary cancer-treating therapies on the market," said Bill Doyle, Novocure's Executive Chairman. "Novocure is proud to have Sen. Hassan representing New Hampshire on Capitol Hill, where she continues to champion the needs of patients everywhere. We were honored to host Sen. Hassan here to share more about Novocure's patient-forward culture of growth and our commitment to bringing more high-quality jobs to the Granite State. We look forward to having her back in Portsmouth for another visit soon."

About Novocure:

Novocure is a global oncology company working to extend survival in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer through the development and commercialization of its innovative therapy, Tumor Treating Fields. Novocure's commercialized products are approved in certain countries for the treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma and in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Novocure has ongoing or completed clinical trials investigating Tumor Treating Fields in brain metastases, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer.

Headquartered in Root, Switzerland and with a growing global footprint, Novocure has regional operating centers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Tokyo, as well as a research center in Haifa, Israel. For additional information about the company, please visit Novocure.com and follow @Novocure on LinkedIn and Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005449/en/

Contacts:

INVESTORS:

Ingrid Goldberg

investorinfo@novocure.com

610-723-7427

MEDIA:

Leigh Labrie

media@novocure.com

610-723-7428
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at NuraLogix, a global leader in HealthTech AI, announced today that they have developed AI models that can predict a person's risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertriglyceridemia and Hypertension. This is important because it will someday allow people to screen themselves using any device with a video camera such as a smartphone or tablet.

Researchers at the company trained their machine learning based models on the facial blood flow patterns of tens of thousands of subjects who had been diagnosed with the above conditions. All of the models predicted with a minimum AUC > 0.80. Compare this with the classic Framingham model for predicting cardiovascular disease which had an AUC in the range of 0.70.

"This technology is a disruptive tool for population health," said Dr. Keith Thompson, Primary Care Physician of over 30 years, and Chief Medical Officer at NuraLogix, "We live in an Era where 1/2 of the globe is without access to health care, and in both developed and underdeveloped countries, there are shortages of Human Health resources. Traditional medical encounters are time consuming and costly for most people. Tools like this allow us to democratize NCD screening globally to regions in need by moving away from traditional physician face to face encounters and laboratory services, by allowing screening through the ubiquitous technology of smart phones. Given the vast majority of people with metabolic risk factors are unaware they have a condition and may not have access to screening in its current forms, the technology from NuraLogix can literally change the global course of human health history."

"Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertriglyceridemia, Hypercholesterolemia, and Hypertension have commonalities which are often associated with metabolic syndrome. However, each of the above conditions have distinct characteristics of their own," said Dr. Naresh Vempala, Director of Research at NuraLogix, "What makes our touchless technology seminal is that our classifier models can extract hidden and unique information about each of these health risks through facial blood flow patterns and predict them with a high degree of accuracy. This is unprecedented in health AI."

About NuraLogix

NuraLogix are the creators of the world's first contactless blood pressure measurement technology. The company's patented technology can measure 30+ health and wellness parameters using Transdermal Optical Imaging (TOI), a patented technique developed by the company in which a conventional video camera is used to extract facial blood flow information from the human face. This is demonstrated in the company's groundbreaking app Anura and Anura Lite.

Disclaimers:

Note: In the United States, this product is for Investigational Use only. The performance characteristics of this product have not been established.

For Media Inquiries: Chris Lin, Chief Marketing Officer, ChrisLin@nuralogix.ai

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875398/NuraLogix_Corporation_NuraLogix_researchers_announce_AI_models_t.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875301/NuraLogix_Corporation_NuraLogix_researchers_announce_AI_models_t.jpg
**Chameleon's intelligent data engineering assures the fastest gathering of relevant training data for AI vision systems**

**Part three of Mindtech guide on synthetic data, providing practical tips for data engineers and real-world use cases for data training**

Mindtech Global, developer of the world's leading platform for the creation of synthetic data for training AI, has today revealed their key to efficiently supplying machine vision systems developers with enough accurate and relevant images to train their network-a process they call "intelligent data engineering".

In part three of Mindtech's synthetic data guide aimed at tackling visual AI's training problems, Chris Longstaff, VP Product Management, Mindtech Global, defines intelligent data engineering as the "rapid, automation-assisted generation of relevant and accurate data".

In this process, a synthetic data creation platform-like Mindtech's own Chameleon platform-generates lifelike images of a specific scenario that engineers can turn into training data. Longstaff explains platforms like these are a vast improvement on the alternative: wading through real-world content (videos, photos) to find images that will successfully teach an AI how to act-a process that's time-consuming and fraught with challenges.

In the guide, Longstaff explains why efficiency is key:

"Developers of AI based vision systems are dealing with hundreds of thousands of images, making manual review and selection impossible. Creating datasets by intelligent data engineering is the only scalable approach."

You can read the full guide on Intelligent Engineering and how to eliminate irrelevant training data here:https://medium.com/mindtechglobal/how-to-boot-out-irrelevant-training-data-from-visual-ai-intelligent-data-engineering-bba3cdeb7bb2

Ends.

Mindtech Global www.mindtech.global

Mindtech Global is the developer of the world's leading end-to-end 'synthetic' data creation platform for the training of AI vision systems. The company's Chameleon platform is a step change in the way AI vision systems are trained, helping computers understand and predict human interactions in applications ranging across retail, smart home, healthcare and smart city.

Mindtech is headquartered in the UK, with operations across the US and Far East and is funded by investors including Mercia, Deeptech Labs, In-Q-Tel and Appen.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005382/en/

Contacts:

Cat Lenheim, cat@thoughtldr.com

+44 203 417 0717 +44 7511 117587
RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American:BMTX) (the "Company"), one of the largest digital banking platforms and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers in the country, will host a live webcast to discuss its second quarter 2022 earnings on August 16, 2022 at 9:00am ET.

The live webcast of the call can be accessed at 2Q22 Webcast Link as well as on the company's investor relations website at https://ir.bmtxinc.com/events-and-presentations/events-calendar/default.aspx

About BM Technologies, Inc.

BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American:BMTX)-formerly known as BankMobile-is among the most prominent digital banking platforms and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers in the country, providing access to checking and savings accounts, personal loans, credit cards, and financial wellness. It is focused on technology, innovation, easy-to-use products, and education with the mission to financially empower millions of Americans by providing a more affordable, transparent, and consumer-friendly banking experience. The BM Technologies (BMTX) digital banking platform employs a multi-partner distribution model, known as "Banking-as-a-Service" (BaaS), that enables the acquisition of customers at higher volumes and substantially lower expenses than traditional banks while providing significant benefits to its customers, partners, and business. BM Technologies (BMTX) currently has approximately two million accounts and provides disbursement services at about 750 college and university campuses (covering one out of every three college students in the U.S.). BM Technologies, Inc. (BMTX) is a technology company and is not a bank, which means it provides banking services through its partner bank. More information can be found at www.bmtx.com.

BMTX has signed a definitive agreement to merge with First Sound Bank, a Seattle, Washington-based business bank. The combined company will be a fintech-based bank focused on serving customers digitally nationwide. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

Contact Information

Investors:

Bob Ramsey, CFA

BM Technologies, Inc.

571-236-8851

rramsey@bmtx.com

Media Inquiries:

Brigit Hennaman

Rubenstein Public Relations, Inc.

212-805-3005

Bhennaman@rubensteinpr.com

SOURCE: BM Technologies

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711506/BM-Technologies-to-Announce-Q2-2022-Earnings-and-Host-Webcast
Europe to Vanguard the Sales in Palm Oil Market; Germany, Spain, & Italy to Lead the Rally

The palm oil market analysis offered by Fact.MR scrutinizes key growth factors that are impacting sales in the market. The report provides in-depth insights covering key factors such as drivers, opportunities, key players' strategies, and demand outlook. In addition to this, the study analyzes latest trends across various segments such as product type, end user, and distribution channel across key regions.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global palm oil market is likely to reach US$ 50 billion in revenues by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5% during the assessment period (2021-2031).

Demand for palm oil will be driven by its multi-functional properties along with its potential to substitute petrol & diesel. Rising awareness about the health benefits of palm oil such as prevention to cancer, cholesterol, and treating malaria is anticipated to facilitate the demand over the forecast period.

As per Fact.MR's analysis, demand for palm oil is likely to be influenced by evolving regulations in Europe and North America. Palm oil is extensively produced in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Malaysia among the top exporters.

However, in the recent past, many European countries, including France and Germany have passed laws and regulations on use of palm oil. This has led to a decline in demand in these countries. As per a report, the French Government has banned the use of palm oil as a biofuel, which has led to challenges for market players.

Key concerns regarding the use of palm oil as biofuel is that its production involves large scale deforestation. As environmental conservation is one of the key aspects of a fuel being categorized as biofuel, the deforestation concerns has led many European countries to rethink the use of palm oil as a biofuel.

For Critical Insights on this Market, Get A Sample Report!

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=109

As per Fact.MR's analysis, while regulations and laws related to the use of palm oil and biofuel will lead to a decline in demand in Europe, strong demand in Asia Pacific is likely to provide an impetus to the market. Further, palm oil is used extensively in cosmetics and food industries across the globe, and demand is likely to surge during the forecast period.

Palm oil is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E and it has been used to halt the progression of brain lesions, according to studies. Use of palm oil in the retail industry is also likely to boost its demand in the next decade.

Palm oil is used widely in a variety of packaged products such as deodorant, shampoo, and lipsticks. The expansion of retail industry around the world will augur well for the sales of palm oil in the future.

Key Takeaways

Despite growing regulations, Europe palm oil market is likely to grow at 4% CAGR between 2021 and 2031

palm oil market is likely to grow at 4% CAGR between 2021 and 2031 India is likely to be the most remunerative palm oil market owing to its use as cooking oil and also in retail industry.

is likely to be the most remunerative palm oil market owing to its use as cooking oil and also in retail industry. The India palm oil market is likely to grow at 4% CAGR during the forecast period

palm oil market is likely to grow at 4% CAGR during the forecast period The U.S. palm oil market was valued at US$ 12 billion in 2021, holding nearly 27% market share

in 2021, holding nearly 27% market share Demand in China palm oil market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 8% during the assessment period

palm oil market is anticipated to increase at a CAGR of 8% during the assessment period Processed palm oil demand will be higher than virgin palm oil, with the former accounting for nearly 75% market share during the assessment period

Use of palm oil in foodservice and food processing industry is likely to remain strong, collectively accounting for US$ 22 billion market value in 2022

Growth Drivers:

Potential of palm oil as a substitute for petrol and diesel is driving the demand in the market

Use of palm oil in cooking, especially in India and China is likely to improve the sales in Asia Pacific

and is likely to improve the sales in Growing demand for palm oil from the retail industry for the application in cosmetics products is anticipated to boost the market

Restraints:

Production of palm oil involves large-scale deforestation due to which many countries have put bans or enacted regulations for its use as biofuel

To Gain In-depth Insights into Palm Oil Market, Request Methodology at,

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=109

Competitive Landscape:

Palm oil manufacturers are focusing on adopting more sustainable methods of production as end-users are becoming increasingly conscious about environmental conservation. Further, in wake of regulations in European countries, palm oil manufacturers are eyeing the market in Asia Pacific where regulations are not so strict. These leading players are also focusing on developing hybrid palm oil seeds that lead to increase productivity.

For instance,

In August 2022 , 3F Oil Palm announced that it is importing hybrid seed sprout from Malaysia and Costa Rica that is likely to increase oil palm yields significantly

, 3F Oil Palm announced that it is importing hybrid seed sprout from and that is likely to increase oil palm yields significantly India's leading company Patanjali announced it will start cultivation of palm oil in Northeast states to boost total production

Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR

Cargill Inc.

American Vegetable Oils, Inc

Grief Inc. (Olympic Oils Limited)

Bunge Limited

Fuji Oil Holdings Inc

Ruchi Soya Industries Limited

Associated British Foods plc

More Valuable Insights on Palm Oil Market

In the latest study, Fact.MR offers a detailed study on palm oil market for the forecast period of 2021 to 2031. This study also highlights key drivers promoting the sales of palm oil with analysis across below segments:

By Product Type:

Processed Palm Oil

Virgin Palm Oil

By End User:

Foodservices

Food Processing Industries

Retailers

By Distribution Channel:

Modern Trade Channels

Franchise Outlets

Specialty Stores

Online Channels

By Region:

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

Key Questions Covered in the Palm Oil Market:

What is the projected value of the palm oil market in 2021?

At what rate will the global palm oil market grow until 2031?

Which are the factors hampering the growth in the palm oil market?

Which region is expected to lead in the global palm oil market during 2021-2031?

Which are the factors driving the palm oil market during the forecast period?

What is the expected market value of the palm oil market during the forecast period?

Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Food & Beverage Domain

Soybean Oil Market: The soybean oil market is valued at US$ 21 billion in 2022. The demand for soybean oil is likely to grow at 5% CAGR to reach US$ 33 billion by 2031. Rising application of soybean oil in retail industry is one of the key factors driving the growth in the market.

Cooking Oil Market: The global cooking oil market is set to reach 250 million tons in volume by the end of 2026. Increasing awareness about health and wellness along is influencing cooking oil market players to offer low-cholesterol offerings.

Argan Oil Market: The global argan oil market is set to grow at over 7% CAGR during the assessment period 2021-2031. Demand for cosmetic grade argan oil is the highest, with this segment accounting for nearly 80% market share through 2031. High demand from cosmetics industry is likely to drive demand for argan oil globally.

Avocado Oil Market: Extra-Virgin Oil Expected to Hold More than 44% of the Avocado Oil Market Share in the Forecast Period. Avocado oil market is expected to grow with a CAGR of ~ 8% in the forecast period.

Fish Oil Market: A recent market study published by Fact.MR on the fish oil offers a global industry analysis for 2016-2020 and opportunity assessment for 2021-2031. Consumption Analysis of Fish Oil from 2016 to 2020 vs. Market Outlook for 2021 to 2031

Check it Out More Reports by Fact.MR on Food & Beverage Industry

https://www.factmr.com/industry/food-and-beverage

About Fact.MR

Fact.MR is a market research and consulting agency with deep expertise in emerging market intelligence. Spanning a wide range - from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare, technology, chemical and materials, to even the most niche categories. We are committed to deliver insights that help businesses gain deeper understanding of their target markets. We understand that making sense of the vast labyrinth of data can be overwhelming for businesses. That's why focus on offering insights that can actually make a difference to bottom-lines.

Specialties: Competition Tracking, Customized Research, Syndicated Research, Investment Research, Social Media Research, Business Intelligence, Industry Analysis, Thought Leadership.

Explore All the Industries Reports Here

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COLUMBUS (dpa-AFX) - American Electric Power (AEP) said that it has appointed Julie Sloat as president and chief financial officer, effective immediately. She has been elected chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2023. She is currently executive vice president and chief financial officer. The company expects to name a new chief financial officer before January 1. The company noted that its chairman, president and chief executive officer, Nicholas Akins, will step down as president as part of AEP's executive succession plan and will end his term as CEO on December 31. He will become executive chair of the AEP Board and will remain an executive and officer of the company. He has been president and CEO since 2011 and chairman since 2014. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.




Princess Mako isn't your typical royal  much like Princess Diana, although their lives are somewhat different, of course.



Mako's story went viral when news broke of her leaving behind her royal Japanese title to marry her "commoner" university sweetheart, Kei Komuro. She's now settled in New York with her husband, yet continues to be a hot topic as fans remain intrigued with the life of the former princess.





Japan's former princess Mako Komuro, the elder daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, and her husband Kei Komuro walk to their departure gate for their flight to New York at Tokyo's Haneda international airport, Nov., 2021. SCMP



Her idolization harks back to the days of Princess Diana who, although her time was before this age of technology, holds a high internet status to this day.



So just how similar are they?



Street style





Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, leaves Chelsea Harbour Club, London, in this 1995 file photo. SCMP



Princess Diana was widely known as a trendsetter in fashion, particularly in streetwear. She was often seen sporting an oversized crew neck and biker shorts, which quickly became an iconic outfit of hers  and the look is still mimicked to this day. This princess clearly knew how to keep up with and set fashion movements, and we can see the same in Princess Mako today.





Kei Komuro and Princess Mako out and about in New York City / SCMP



Although Princess Mako's fashion sense is slightly different to that of Diana's, she is also often seen wearing slightly oversized clothing  whether it's her outerwear, maxi skirts or loose-fitting jeans, which are trending in the fashion world today.



Artists at heart





Diana, Princess of Wales, with ballerinas from the English National Ballet after they gave a gala performance of Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in London, in this 1997 file photo / SCMP



Besides being recognized on the internet for their street style, both princesses are renowned creatives. Princess Diana had a passion for dancing and studied all forms of the art including jazz, ballet and tap dancing. According to Vogue, she even performed a duet once at the Royal Opera House.





Princess Mako of Akishino receives her master of arts degree in art museum and gallery studies. SCMP



Princess Mako, on the other hand, is more interested in art, and graduated with a degree in art and cultural heritage from Tokyo's International Christian University. She later pursued art history at the University of Edinburgh as well. As she currently lives in New York, she's working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as an assistant curator for their Asian art collection.



Their camaraderie and communion





Diana, Princess of Wales, with Sandra Tigica, 13, at the orthopaedic workshop in Neves Mendinha, near Launda, Angola, in this 1997 file photo / SCMP



However, their strongest similarity that makes them both so beloved is their community spirit. Princess Diana was known to interact often with the public and participate in social welfare activities. According to multiple sources, she was president or patron to over 100 charities, particularly invested in assisting others during the Aids epidemic.





Princess Mako has volunteered for multiple notable causes including the aftermath of the devastating Tohoku earthquake. SCMP



Princess Mako shares the same graciousness, which we can see from her previously anonymous volunteer work in 2011 in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake, which she did so without revealing her identity during her time working there, reported Tokyo Weekender. And, of course, we can also see this mindset reflected in the story that made her go viral: giving up royalty for love.





Diana Princess of Wales opens a community center in 1982 in Deptford, London, for her last official engagement before the birth of Prince William. SCMP



Princess Diana has gone down in history as one of the most loved princesses of all time. Her current status as an online icon, for her fashion sense and good works, carries this legacy on.





Japan's Princess Mako arrives before a meeting with Paraguay's President Horacio Cartes at the presidential residence in Asuncion, Paraguay, in this 2016 file photo. SCMP
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Following the release of U.S. CPI for July at 8.30 am ET Wednesday, the greenback declined further against its major counterparts. The greenback was trading at 132.99 against the yen, 1.0312 against the euro, 1.2217 against the pound and 0.9422 against the franc around 8:32 am ET. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
FAIRFAX, VA / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY), the innovative technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) specializing in Identity and Access Management (IAM), Telecommunications and Managed Mobility Services (MMS), Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS), and IT as a Service (ITaaS), announced that its subsidiary IT Authorities (ITA) has been awarded a new Managed Service Provider (MSP) contract by a leading U.S. beverage bottler. The contract is for three years with a total contract value of $2.6 million.

Jason Caras, CEO of IT Authorities, stated: "ITA has been working on a month-to-month basis with this bottler for a long time. This new three year Managed Services contract award is a result of our past performance of superior service delivery, and the ability for ITA to offer expanded services through WidePoint. We are honored to work with this industry leader."

Jin Kang, WidePoint's CEO, stated, "When WidePoint acquired ITA in October 2021, we did so knowing that the synergies between the companies would combine to create new opportunities. This high margin contract award reflects the types of opportunities in our expanded pipeline in the managed services, cloud, and cybersecurity markets. We look forward to working with this client on other important security and manageability initiatives."

About WidePoint

WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY) is a leading technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) dedicated to securing and protecting the mobile workforce and enterprise landscape. WidePoint is recognized for pioneering technology solutions that include Identity and Access Management (IAM), Mobility Managed Services (MMS), Telecom Management, Information Technology as a Service (ITaaS), Cloud Security, and Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS). For more information, visit widepoint.com.

WidePoint Investor Relations:

Gateway Group, Inc.

Matt Glover or John Yi

949-574-3860

WYY@gatewayir.com

SOURCE: WidePoint Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711490/WidePoints-Subsidiary-IT-Authorities-Awarded-Three-Year-Managed-Service-Provider-Contract-Valued-at-26-Million
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / (CSE:ROO) (OTC PINK:JNCCF) (Frankfurt:5VHA) RooGold Inc. ("RooGold" or the "Issuer") is pleased to report that high-grade gold and silver assays have been returned from its preliminary rock chip sampling program at its 100% held Arthurs Seat Project (Exploration Licence 9144) in the highly prospective New England Orogen in New South Wales, Australia.

Highlights

9 samples > 400 g/t Ag at mullock heaps and shafts at Murray and Co Mine, including 4 samples > 1,000 g/t Ag 5 samples > 1 g/t Au and 1 sample > 5 g/t Au

9 samples > 1,000 ppm Cu including 1 sample at 1.1% Cu

Rock assays confirm historic assays at the Murray and Co Mine and McDonalds prospects

Land access established at Castlerag Silver Project, EL 9141, with historic production grades of 1,200 g/t Ag & > 20% Pb. Sampling of these workings is imminent.

Carlos Espinosa, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of RooGold commented, "Our first past rock chip sampling program at Arthurs Seat has returned high-grade gold-silver assays. These results confirm the historic assays of known prospects and are highly encouraging for follow up work. Additionally, our field team has recently received access to our high-grade Castlerag, EL 9141 Silver Project and sampling will commence as soon as practicable."

Rock Chip Sampling Program

A total of 274 rock chip samples collected at the Arthurs Seat Project (EL 9144) to confirm the results of historical sampling. Field work was targeted at sampling mullock dumps and shafts at the Murray and Co mine and McDonalds Prospect, as well as sampling along the N-S fault and the greisen altered granite contact at the Arthurs Seat Prospect. Key results are described below.

Murray and Co Mine

Twenty seven (27) rock samples were collected from the Murray and Co Mine mullock heaps and historic shafts. Highly anomalous gold and silver assays were returned over 40 m strike length at the Murray and Co Mine, Figure 1. The Murray and Co Mine is located within a zone of quartz veined metasediment approximately 350 m in E-W strike length.

The highest gold value of 6.27 g/t Au and 1,385 g/t Ag (R00249) was returned from the westerly most shaft from a brecciated and silicified metasediment containing multiple quartz veins. Table 1 shows significant assay results from the rock chip sampling at Murray and Co Mine. Very little historic work has been done at Murray and Co Mine. These gold assays are the first to be reported at this prospect.

Figure 1: High grade sampling results from Murray and Co Mine coloured by Ag g/t. Highest gold result of 6.27 g/t Au and 1,725 g/t Ag in 40 m zone of historic shafts.

Other assays surrounding Murray and Co Mine include 16 samples graded between 0.2 g/t - 0.01 g/t Ag.

Table 1: Significant assay results from rock chip sampling program at the Murray and Co Mine (>100 g/t Ag, > 0.09g/t Au) from Arthurs Seat Project, EL 9144. Listed in order of sample number.

McDonalds Mine Prospects

Fourty seven (47) rock samples were collected at the McDonalds prospect and returned anomalous gold and silver assays over an area 600 m x 350 m. Visual observations of some samples included massive stibnite and returned antimony (Sb) values up to 12.75% Sb.

These results are highly encouraging and show the potential for a polymetallic precious and base metal deposit along strike from the high grade silver values at the Murray and Co Mine located 2.75 km to its west.

Table 2: Significant assay results from rock sampling program at the McDonalds prospect (>0.1g/t Au and >20g/t Ag) from Arthurs Seat Project, EL 9144. Listed in order of sample number, rounded to 2 decimal places.

Castlerag Silver Project

Roo Gold has been granted access to the key high grade workings at the Castlerag Project (EL 9141), located 6 km from Deepwater in northern NSW.

Historic production at the Castlerag mine is estimated at 4000 t at average grades of 1,200 g/t Ag & > 20% Pb.

Sampling of historic workings is imminent.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) and Assay Procedures

A minimum of 3 kg per rock chip sample collected in sealed calico bags by the RooGold field team. Five calicos containing rock chips placed in polyweave bags and each zip tied to ensure security. A total of 23 green bags were placed on heavy duty pallet, wrapped in heavy duty plastic wrap to ensure security and sent to ALS Geochemistry Labs (ALS) in Perth, Australia for assay testing. ALS is independent of RooGold and is certified to international quality standards through ISO/IEC 17025:2017 including ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9002 specifications. At ALS, rock chips underwent coarse crushing before fine crushing to 70% less than 2mm then riffle split off 1kg, followed by a pulverise split to better than 85% passing <75m. Gold was measured by Fire Assay of 50g sample and AAS finish. Samples were also tested using a ME-ICP61 for 33 element suite by 4 acid digest, HCl leach and ICP-AES. Field blanks were inserted every 25 samples. Certified gold and base metal reference standards (CRM's) were inserted every 13 samples. Assay results from certified standards received from the laboratory are required to be within 3 from their Certified Reference Value. RooGold noted no issues with the CRM results, which met acceptable values.

Data Verification

Alexandra Bonner has verified the scientific and technical data disclosed in this news release including the rock chip locations, sampling procedures, and analytical data underlying the technical information disclosed. Specifically, Alexandra Bonner reviewed the original certified assay results from ALS and verified the assay summary table produced for these rock chip samples. RooGold and Alexandra Bonner do not recognize any significant factors of sampling or recovery that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the rock chip assay data disclosed in this news release.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared and approved by Alexandra Bonner, Vice President Exploration, who is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101.

About RooGold Inc.

ROOGOLD is a Canadian based junior venture mineral exploration issuer which is uniquely positioned to be a dominant player in New South Wales, Australia, through a growth strategy focused on the consolidation and exploration of high potential, mineralized precious metals properties in this prolific region of Australia. Through its announced acquisitions of Southern Precious Metals Ltd., RooGold Ltd. and Aussie Precious Metals Corp. properties, RooGold commands a portfolio of 14 high-grade potential gold (10) and silver (4) concessions covering 2,696 km 2 which have 139 historic mines and prospects.

For further information please contact:

Carlos Espinosa, CEO

cespinosa@roogoldinc.com

Ryan Bilodeau

(416) 910-1440

info@roogoldinc.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan","expect", "project", "intend","believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similarwords, or statements that certain eventsor conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Issuer believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, therecan be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subjectto risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTSRESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE: RooGold Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711493/High-Grade-Rock-Chip-Assays-Returned-From-Arthurs-Seat-Gold-Silver-Project-New-South-Wales
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (TSX: ELEF) (OTCQX: SILEF) (FSE: 1P2) ("Silver Elephant" or the "Company") announces the following management appointments:

Qualified Person: Joaqiun Merino, P.Geo who was previously the Company's Vice-President of South America Operations, replacing Daniel Oosterman who tendered his resignation as the Company's Vice-President of Exploration

Corporate Secretary: Nadia Traversa, replacing Cindy Waterman.

Corporate Solicitor: MLT Aikins. Ryan Coombes tendered his resignation as Chief Legal Officer.

About Silver Elephant

Silver Elephant Mining Corp. is a premier silver mining and exploration company which also owns 100% of Mega Coal and 39% of Battery Metals Royalties Corp.

Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com

SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"John Lee"

Executive Chairman



For more information about Silver Elephant, please contact Investor Relations:

+1.604.569.3661 ext. 101

ir@silverelef.com www.silverelef.com



Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. 3 These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133336
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. ("Nevada Vanadium" or the "Company") announces the following management appointments:

CFO: Zula Kropivnitski (CPA, CGA and ACCA) replacing Irina Plavutska.

Corporate Secretary: Nadia Traversa, replacing Cindy Waterman.

Corporate Solicitor: MLT Aikins. Ryan Coombes tendered his resignation as Chief Legal Officer.

Vice-President Exploration: Danniel Oosterman tendered his resignation as Vice-President Exploration.

To find out more about Nevada Vanadium, visit www.nevadavanadium.com

NEVADA VANADIUM MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Ron Espell"

CEO

For more information about Nevada Vanadium, please contact Investor Relations: info@nevadavanadium.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133338
Ermenegildo Zegna N.V. (NYSE: ZGN) ("Zegna Group" or "the Company") today announced that it will report its financial results for the first half of 2022 on Friday, August 26, 2022, at approximately 6:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. CET). On the same day, at 8:00 a.m. ET (2:00 p.m. CET), the Company plans to host a webcast and conference call to discuss its financial results, trends and guidance for 2022.

Management will refer to a slide presentation during the call, which will be made available on the day of the call. To view the presentation, please visit the "Events Presentations" tab on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's website at ir.zegnagroup.com.

To participate in the call, please dial:

United States (Local): 1 646 664 1960

Italy (Local): +39 06 9450 1060

United Kingdom (Local): 020 3936 2999

All other locations: +44 20 3936 2999

Access Code: 565995

An online archive of the broadcast will be available on the website shortly after the live call and will be available for twelve months.

About Ermenegildo Zegna Group

Founded in 1910 in Trivero, Italy by Ermenegildo Zegna, the Zegna Group designs, creates and distributes luxury menswear and accessories under the Zegna brand, as well as womenswear, menswear and accessories under the Thom Browne brand. Through its Luxury Textile Laboratory Platform which works to preserve artisanal mills producing the finest Italian fabrics the Zegna Group manufactures and distributes the highest quality fabrics and textiles. Group products are sold through over 500 stores in 80 countries around the world, of which 295 are directly operated by the Group as of March 31, 2022 (244 Zegna stores and 51 Thom Browne stores). Over the decades, Zegna Group has charted Our Road: a unique path that winds itself through era-defining milestones that have seen the Group grow from a producer of superior wool fabric to a global luxury group. Our Road has led us to New York, where the Group has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since December 20, 2021. And while we continue to progress on Our Road to tomorrow, we remain committed to upholding our founder's legacy one that is based upon the principle that a business's activities should help the environment. Today, the Zegna Group is creating a lifestyle that marches to the rhythm of modern times while continuing to nurture bonds with the natural world and with our communities that create a better present and future.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005480/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Francesca Di Pasquantonio

francesca.dipasquantonio@zegna.com

+39 335 5837669



Media

Ermenegildo Zegna Group

Domenico Galluccio

domenico.galluccio@zegna.com

+39 335 538 7288



Brunswick Group

Brendan Riley Alessandro Iozzia Marie Jensen

briley@brunswickgroup.com aiozzia@brunswickgroup.com mjensen@brunswickgroup.com

+1 (917) 755-1454 +39 335 718 7205 +33 (0) 6 49 09 39 54
PGIM Quantitative Solutions (PQS), the quantitative and multi-asset solutions specialist of PGIM, has strengthened its London based team with the appointment of Dr. Apostolos Katsaris as senior client portfolio manager for the PGIM Wadhwani investment platform, effective immediately. PGIM is the US$1.3 trillion global investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005224/en/

Dr. Apostolos Katsaris, Senior Client Portfolio Manager, PGIM Wadhwani (Photo: Business Wire)

Based in London, Dr. Katsaris reports to Dr. Sushil Wadhwani, chief investment officer for PGIM Wadhwani. In this newly created role, Dr. Katsaris will enhance relationships with clients and prospects on behalf of the firm.

Dr. Wadhwani comments: "We are delighted to welcome Apostolos to the team, his deep expertise in diversifying, quantitative, investment solutions means he is well-positioned to guide our clients around the world through this challenging market environment, aiming to help add ballast to their portfolios. I look forward to working with him closely as we continue to grow the business."

Dr. Katsaris joins from London-based CdR Capital, where he was group chief investment officer and oversaw the investment process for their wealth business and the multi-asset systematic fund of CdR Asset Management. Prior to this, he was partner and head of Dynamic Beta at Albourne Partners, a leading independent investment consultant for alternatives; head of Quantitative Research at Caliburn Capital Partners; and consultant, Risk Management, Fund of Hedge Funds at Schroders. Before joining the industry he was an academic with his research focusing on speculative bubbles and financial crashes.

Dr. Katsaris comments: "This is an exciting time to join PGIM Wadhwani. I look forward to working with the team as we continue to build our global client relationships."

ABOUT PGIM QUANTITATIVE SOLUTIONS PGIM WADHWANI

As the quantitative equity and multi-asset solutions specialist of PGIM, PGIM Quantitative Solutions seeks to help solve complex investment problems with custom systematic solutions across the risk/return spectrum. Our modular portfolio construction simplifies our design of client-specific solutions. We can customize down to the stock level for portfolio considerations, with product offerings that range from core solutions and systematic macro to multi-asset portfolios and overlays. All of our options can be harnessed to provide stable return streams uncorrelated with existing strategies.

PGIM Quantitative Solutions manages portfolios for a worldwide institutional client base, including corporate and public pension plans, endowments and foundations, multiemployer pension plans, and subadvisory accounts for other financial services companies. As of June 30, 2022, PGIM Quantitative Solutions had approximately US$91.5 billion in assets under management.

PGIM Wadhwani LLP was founded in October 2002 as Wadhwani Asset Management (WAM) by Dr. Sushil Wadhwani, CBE. Investment operations commenced in January 2003. PGIM Wadhwani is a London-based asset management company, authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (219900), which specializes in systematic/quantitative macro investing. The diversifying strategies offered aim to do well during periods when equity markets are struggling.

ABOUT PGIM

PGIM is the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a leading global investment manager with nearly US$1.3 trillion in assets under management as of 30 June 2022. With offices in 17 countries, PGIM's businesses offer a range of investment solutions for retail and institutional investors around the world across a broad range of asset classes, including public fixed income, private fixed income, fundamental equity, quantitative equity, real estate and alternatives. For more information about PGIM, visit pgim.com.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

In the United Kingdom, information is issued by PGIM Limited with registered office: Grand Buildings, 1-3 Strand, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5HR. PGIM Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") of the United Kingdom (Firm Reference Number 193418). In the European Economic Area ("EEA"), information is issued by PGIM Netherlands B.V. with registered office: Gustav Mahlerlaan 1212, 1081 LA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. PGIM Netherlands B.V. is authorised by the Autoriteit Financiele Markten ("AFM") in the Netherlands (Registration number 15003620) and operating on the basis of a European passport. In certain EEA countries, information is, where permitted, presented by PGIM Limited in reliance of provisions, exemptions or licenses available to PGIM Limited under temporary permission arrangements following the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. These materials are issued by PGIM Limited and/or PGIM Netherlands B.V. to persons who are professional clients as defined under the rules of the FCA and/or to persons who are professional clients as defined in the relevant local implementation of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II).

PGIM, PGIM Quantitative Solutions logo and the Rock design are service marks of PFI and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

2022 PGIM Quantitative Solutions. All Rights Reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005224/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA

Sharan Kaur

+44 (0)7866154772

Sharan.Kaur@pgim.com

CONNECT WITH US:

Visit pgim.com

Join the conversation

@PGIM
Brampton, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. (CSE: SNA) (CSE: SNA.CN) ("Star" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Safe Air Company ("Safe Air") and Brent Global ("Brent"), Kenya to purchase seven (7) units of the STAR-ISMS. (In-Flight Safety Monitoring System) for seven (7) of their aircraft.

Safe Air is a leading cargo airline based in Nairobi, Kenya where it provides commercial air transport business to commercial clients in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In addition, it is also entrusted to deliver humanitarian assistance to remote locations in the East, Central and South of Africa.

Safe Air operates three (3) B727 freighters and also provides passenger flight services between Dubai, Djibouti, Cairo, Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Nairobi and Mombasa.

Mr. Cliff Mwachola, Chief Operating Officer of Safe Air stated "The incorporation of Star's STAR-ISMS into our operations will provide S.A.C. with the kinds of operational efficiencies and safety standards that we could only dream of until we discovered Star. We are happy to be working with them and look forward to growing with them for many years to come.'

Brent Global is a specialist aviation service provider offering private charter, VIP charter, private jet services and cargo logistics management. In doing so, Brent operates a Gulfstream Business Jet and a King Air 90.

The Brent Cargo Division specialises in transport to, from and within Africa via a fleet that includes aircraft for small-size cargo, up to the Boeing 737-400.

Mr. Richard Kubo, Chairman of Brent Global stated "As a leading provider of private and VIP charter jet services in and around Africa, providing peace of mind to our discerning clients is of utmost importance to Brent Global. The integration of ISMS allows us to deliver our clients with predictive safety analytics that can not be offered by even some of the leading such providers in the world, gives us an invaluable competitive advantage both today and for years to come."

STAR NAVIGATION CONTINUES TO EXPAND GLOBAL SALES SUCCESS IN 2022

Over the past few months Star has announced the following,

JUNE 13 - Sales Agreement with Astral Aviation Nairobi Kenya for the Purchase of the STAR-ISMS ("In-Flight Safety Monitoring Systems") for 7 Cargo Aircraft

JUNE 9 - Letter of Intent with Fly540 for the STAR-ISMS In-Flight Safety Monitoring Systems for 3 Aircraft in Kenya

APRIL 28 - LOI With Pinnacle Air for the Purchase of the STAR-ISMS Of In-Flight Safety Monitoring Systems for 5 Charter Jets in India

APRIL 5 - $2.9 Million Order from Swiss Aviation Group AG For Nine (9) Star A.D.S  Units, To Be Delivered To Four Different Airlines.

Amir Bhatti, Chief Executive Officer of Star stated "After embarking on our direct sales and marketing efforts via international air shows and even our own major conference in Africa, Star has delivered consistent results that also serves to confirm what we have known all along - our solutions for the international airline industry are amongst the best in the world. Far from resting on our laurels, we are now leveraging this success with our continued sales and marketing efforts to deliver what we expect to be even more and bigger agreements for our shareholders."

This News Release is available on the company's official Verified Discussion Forum On AGORACOM, a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.

About Safe Air Company

S.A.C is a leading airline offering cargo services based in Nairobi, Kenya. They provide top quality cargo service in the commercial air transport business to commercial clients in Africa, Europe, Asia, UAE and the Middle East.

Headquartered in Nairobi and operating from Jomo Kenyatta International Safe Air also delivers humanitarian assistance to remote locations in the East, Central and South Africa. Our unique understanding of these regions allows us to deliver competitively priced services and value to our clients. Safe Air operates three (3) B727 freighters, tough and reliable equipment for their cargo operations.

About Brent Global

Brent Global is a specialist aviation service provider offering private charter, VIP charter, private jet services and cargo logistics management. Our team has over 30 years combined experience in the relevant fields and are available to discuss your specific needs. Brent is based out of Jomo Kenyatta Airport and operates two (2) B737 freighters and two more on options.

About Star Navigation Systems www.star-navigation.com

Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. manufactures the In-flight Safety Monitoring System, STAR-ISMS, the heart of the STAR-A.D.S. System. The STAR-A.D.S. System has real-time capability of tracking, performance trends and predicting incident-occurrences which enhances aviation safety and improves fleet management while reducing costs for the operator. Star's MMI Division designs and manufactures high performance, mission critical, flight deck flat panel displays for defence and commercial aviation industries worldwide.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that address or discuss activities, events or developments that Star expects or anticipates may occur in the future. When used in this news release, words such as "estimates", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "projects", "will", "believes", "intends" "should", "could", "may" and other similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations and beliefs of Star's management. Because forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, actual results, performance or achievements of Star or the industry may be materially different from those implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such forward-looking information that may be contained in this news release include statements regarding; growth and future prospects of our business; our perceptions of the industry and markets in which we operate and anticipated trends in such markets; expectations regarding the operation of our app; and our future revenues.

Material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making an estimate set out in the forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, our ability to execute on our business plan, increase visibility amongst consumers and convert users to revenue producing subscribers and the success of the business of our partners. Forward-looking statements involve significant uncertainties, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or not such results will be achieved.

The risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the airline industry are real and substantial but cannot be defined or measured in any meaningful way at this time.

Should one or more of these factors or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying upon forward-looking statements and Star undertakes no obligation to publicly revise them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law.

NEITHER CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Please visit www.star-navigation.com or contact

Mr. Amir Bhatti, CEO at 1-416-252-2889 #230

amir.bhatti@star-navigation.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133381
MADRID, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first six months of 2022, Spanish quoted corporation Lleida.net (BME: LLN) (EPA: ALLLN) (OTCQX: LLEIF) posted a 27 percent increase in sales to more than 10.5 million euros, an all-time high.

Sales of all of the company's business lines grew in the first six months of the year.

International turnover and the group's global expansion accounted for 55 percent of total sales, boosted by an increase in commercial activity in Western Europe and Latin America.

Lleida.net's activity is directly linked to economic ups and downs. As was the case during the pandemic, the current energy crisis and the increase in non-payments has boosted the use of registered electronic notification services, like the rest of SaaS.

Both the number of the company's customers and the average ticket has grown significantly in the period.

In the first six months of the year, gross margin grew by a comparative 26% to 5.3 million euros.

The new investments have implied a drop in the company's EBITDA of 24 percent in the first half of the year, which still reached 910,000 euros in the half year.

Lleida.net management has been working since the beginning of the year to prepare the company for a significant commercial and strategic expansion in the period 2022-2027.

These preparations have entailed an increase in personnel expenses (the company already has 181 employees), new presence in Peru, Colombia and new investments in the innovation team.

The company, founded in 1995 and listed on BME Growth, Euronext Growth and OTCQX, has demonstrated in recent years its ability to grow counter-cyclically and the effectiveness of its services to support economic sectors in complex times.

"The investments we are making to accelerate growth and return over the next five years have affected the result in the short term, but as in the past, they are going to be the key to leapfrogging internationally in the next five years," explained CEO Sisco Sapena.

Download the Earnings Presentation

https://investors.lleida.net/docs/en/20220810_HRelev.pdf

Learn more about Lleida.net at investors.lleida.net
Valuedynamx, the Omnichannel Purchase Rewards Provider, Launches Globally, with 400 Million Marketable Consumers, 50,000 Retail and Travel Partners, and 400,000 Rewards

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Valuedynamx , the leading global provider of curated, data-driven, omnichannel purchase rewards, officially launches for brands and brand marketers. Developed by Collinson, Valuedynamx has been created to help brands become more relevant to their customers through its global rewards commerce ecosystem, providing curated customer offers, backed by a unique network of international and national commerce partners.

Consumer expectations have evolved dramatically in the past few years with incentives and rewards tied to transactional relationships becoming sought out by consumers who want to be rewarded when they spend. The past three years have demonstrated how critical it is for brands to differentiate by delivering meaningful offers at the right time, in the right place to drive customer loyalty, and compete for new customers. Marketers now seek to deliver the tailored experiences customers want, that let them flexibly earn and spend rewards, react to changing economic conditions, and generate a healthy return on investment.

Valuedynamx with its marketable base of 400 million consumers, 50,000 retail and travel partners, and more than 400,000 rewards across a global footprint quickly positions brands for success, engaging customers to create lasting relationships.

"Consumers' expectations have changed in recent years, due in part to COVID-19, economic fluctuations, and technology and data advancements. They expect to engage with brands where and when they want, and to have access to uniquely relevant rewards and offers - earning or redeeming rewards through their everyday purchases. When this is met, they are much more likely to become more engaged over the long term," said Colin Evans, Chairman, and Founder of Collinson and Valuedynamx. "This is where Valuedynamx shines - in making brands more relevant to more customers, more of the time."

In addition to being agile and offering a full range of relevant customer solutions, Valuedynamx exceeds others with regard to:

Global network -With more than 50,000 retail and travel partners providing greater customer choice and relevance to customers in 180 countries, Valuedynamx solutions are easily and seamlessly integrated with our client programs and customers are rewarded every time they transact.

-With more than 50,000 retail and travel partners providing greater customer choice and relevance to customers in 180 countries, Valuedynamx solutions are easily and seamlessly integrated with our client programs and customers are rewarded every time they transact. Data capabilities - Valuedynamx meets and exceeds customer expectations by quickly and easily integrating into a brand's existing digital capabilities. Innovative technology enables Valuedynamx to generate unique and valuable insights into customer behavior and trends, delivering the most relevant offers. Understanding a brand or a program's desired outcomes helps to deliver optimized rewards and offers, which encourages repeat engagement, and grows both brand loyalty and customer lifetime value.

- Valuedynamx meets and exceeds customer expectations by quickly and easily integrating into a brand's existing digital capabilities. Innovative technology enables Valuedynamx to generate unique and valuable insights into customer behavior and trends, delivering the most relevant offers. Understanding a brand or a program's desired outcomes helps to deliver optimized rewards and offers, which encourages repeat engagement, and grows both brand loyalty and customer lifetime value. Unrivaled buying power - Valuedynamx can source the most relevant offers and rewards by leveraging our global network to achieve the best value for our customers at competitive rates while delivering maximum commercial returns.

Valuedynamx is already enhancing customer loyalty and driving transactional engagement for some of the world's largest airlines, financial institutions, and hotel groups, across the US, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

"It's exciting to see Valuedynamx in the merchant-funded rewards space and committed to delivering 'total customer relevance.' Valuedynamx is making all the right investments to be global leaders in curated data-driven omnichannel purchase rewards," said Dan Currell, Digital Commerce Alliance, CEO.

For additional information, please see case studies, including Asia Miles, Flying Blue, IAG Loyalty and Virgin Red. If you are interested in joining the Valuedynamx global network of programs, partners and merchants, contact us at valuedynamx.com

About Valuedynamx

Valuedynamx is a leading global provider of curated data-driven omnichannel purchase rewards. The company is owned by Collinson, acknowledged for delivering the world's most valued travel ecosystem. Collinson has more than 30 years of loyalty and customer engagement experience and more than 10 years of experience delivering loyalty commerce solutions for some of the World's leading brands. The Group has been at the forefront of loyalty innovation, continually evolving and building capability to meet the changing needs of clients and their customers. Valuedynamx was created to leverage Collinson's expertise across payments, card-linking, affiliate marketing, earning, and redemption to bring them under a single entity to deliver more relevant and engaging solutions for clients. Valuedynamx enhances customer loyalty and drives transactional engagement for some of the world's largest airlines, banks, financial institutions, and hotel groups.

Media Contact:

Escalate PR for Valuedynamx

valuedynamx@escalatepr.com

SOURCE: Valuedynamx

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711485/Collinson-Launches-New-Valuedynamx-Brand
Driven by demand for Amagi's best-in-breed SaaS technology and Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) partnerships, Amagi reports accelerating growth in Q1

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amagi , a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV, today announced over 100% revenue growth Y-O-Y for the quarter ending June 2022 (Q1), propelled by the global surge in demand for connected TV devices and the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) viewing experience. In Q1, Amagi's growth continued to accelerate supported by an increase in customer acquisition, a rise in ad impressions and employee headcount investment.

The company's strong all-around performance is a result of impressive traction for its innovative streaming TV solutions. As the rise of CTV and FAST streaming channels alter the TV landscape - with FAST penetration among households having more than doubled year over year in 2021 - Amagi has kept shifting viewership patterns at the center of its innovations, making the broadcast workflow cost efficient and supporting the growth of the FAST phenomenon. What's more, Amagi has the most extensive FAST TV platform partnerships across the world, enabling content owners and advertisers to capture new audience segments through wider distribution.

With such robust market demand, Amagi experienced a number of key milestones in Q1. Winning new customers including Cox Media Group and Banjiay Rights, Amagi has expanded its growing global operations and entered new regions - most recently, South Korea and Australia. At the same time, the company has seen a growing demand for its products in the U.S., leading to a notable increase in U.S. sales. To serve customers in these regions better, Amagi has invested in sales, account management, and customer support teams, adding over 50 employees in the U.S. alone to its workforce.

Amagi has also continued to expand its leadership team, appointing industry veterans James Smith as EVP of Global Ads Sales & Programmatic, Daniel Marshall as EVP of Global SaaS Sales, Marco Di Giacomo as Chief Marketing Officer, and Prasad Menon as Chief People Officer. In addition, the company announced a new, enhanced version of its premium live orchestration platform, Amagi LIVE - enabling content owners to orchestrate broadcast-grade live events on the go - as well as new automation and AI-driven personalization capabilities for Amagi PLANNER, its content planning and scheduling platform.

"Amagi's strong performance this quarter reflects our ability to stay ahead of the technological curve, enabling our customers to capture viewer attention and grow their audience in this ever-evolving market," said Baskar Subramanian, CEO and Co-founder, Amagi. "With CTV and FAST clearly becoming the future for the streaming industry, Amagi will continue to build cutting-edge solutions to harness this rising consumer demand and power growth opportunities for content owners, advertisers and streamers throughout the TV ecosystem."

Amagi provides a complete suite of solutions for content creation, distribution and monetization, and is a frontrunner in enabling content distribution to Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) platforms around the world. Amagi currently has 50+ platform partners of premium brands including The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, VIZIO, LG Channels, Tubi, TCL, Sling TV, Rakuten TV, and more.

The company also has a state-of-the-art cloud broadcast operations center that can support 1000+ live linear channels. Amagi clients include content and media companies ABS-CBN, A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, CuriosityStream, Discovery Networks, Fox Networks, Fremantle, Gusto TV, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, Tegna, USA Today, Vice Media and Warner Media, among others.

For more information about Amagi and its streaming TV solutions, visit www.amagi.com .

About Amagi

Amagi is a next-generation media technology company that provides cloud broadcast and targeted advertising solutions to broadcast TV and streaming TV platforms. Amagi enables content owners to launch, distribute and monetize live linear channels on Free Ad-supported Streaming TV and video services platforms. Amagi also offers 24x7 cloud-managed services bringing simplicity, advanced automation, and transparency to the entire broadcast operations. Overall, Amagi supports 700+ content brands, 800+ playout chains, and over 2000 channel deliveries on its platform in over 40 countries. Amagi has a presence in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Paris, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, broadcast operations in New Delhi, and an innovation center in Bangalore.

Contact:



BOCA Communications for Amagi

amagi@bocacommunications.com

Amagi Contact:

Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

Vice President - Corporate Marketing

Email: sanjay@amagi.com

India PR Contact:

Gayatri Binu

The PRactice

Email: gayatri@the-practice.net

Europe PR Contact:

AxiCom PR

Email: amagiPR.france@axicom.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSXV:CMB) (Frankfurt:ZM5P) (OTC PINK:CMCXF) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce encouraging results from the gravity survey on our Silverknife Property in northern British Columbia. The gravity survey was recently completed by McKeown Exploration Services ("MES"), a specialist in gravity surveys, and results interpreted by Dr. Chris Hale and Mr. John Gilliatt of Intelligent Exploration ("IE") who are the Company's geophysical consultants.

Approximately 15.4 line-kilometers of gravity survey were completed in the northern part of the Property to evaluate significant conductors (see Figure 1) identified by the airborne SkyTEM survey (see CMC Press Release of July 13, 2022). A gravity anomaly coincides with the northern conductivity target (Figure 2) and a second, stronger gravity anomaly is centred about 300m farther south (see Figures 2 and 3). Both of these targets are covered by quaternary alluvium so their geophysical anomalies are new discoveries. The survey also identified a local increase in gravity in the vicinity of the historical drilling. IE noted that the deep anomaly in the northern portion of the Silverknife Property is a good drill target and that the coincidence between the gravity and conductivity anomalies north of the Tootsee River is remarkable.

The eastern boundary of the Silverknife Property is approximately 1.1 kilometers from the Silvertip Mine owned by Coeur Mining Inc. ("Couer"). Silvertip is one of the highest-grade underground silver-lead-zinc CRD style mines in the world and is located within the emerging highly prospective Rancheria Silver District that extends from northern British Columbia into south-central Yukon. CMC is actively exploring the Rancheria Silver District for CRD, skarn, and high-grade silver-lead-zinc vein style deposits on its five properties including the flagship Silver Hart Property and Blue Heaven claims in Yukon, and Silverknife, Amy and Rancheria South which are all in close proximity to the SilverTip mine in northern British Columbia.

Figure 1: Model Conductivity at Silverknife Property at an elevation of approximately 950 meters (250-350 meters below surface elevation) from the 2021 SkyTEM Survey data.

Figure 2: Terrain corrected Bouguer Gravity for the Silverknife property showing a distinct gravity high centered on the conductivity anomaly in the northern part of the Property. A stronger gravity peak is located just south of the Tootsee River.

Figure 3: SkyTEM conductivity anomaly (dashed oval) and Bouguer gravity contours on a color grid showing the Total Magnetic Intensity ("TMI"). A peak in TMI indicates either an intrusion or secondary magnetite or pyrrhotite developed in a skarn adjacent to an intrusion. The gravity and conductivity anomalies occur outside the TMI peak in an area where limestone likely occurs at depth.

Recent news by Coeur Mining Inc. on the neighboring Silvertip mine claims to the Company's Silverknife Property and their perspectives on the potential of the Rancheria Silver District are also extremely encouraging as they add to the prospectivity of Silverknife. Coeur's exploration at the recently discovered Camp Creek West zone is approaching the Company boundary claim. In addition, Coeur's new Senior Vice President of Exploration, Ms. Aoife McGrath recently noted that their "Silvertip project is at a very exciting stagedrilling continues to show the robustness of the deposit." Coeur's perspectives on the potential of the southern portion of the Rancheria Silver District clearly align with CMC's understanding and knowledge of the potential of the region beyond the Silvertip claims. Of particular significance Ms. McGrath noted that:

The resources at Silvertip defined to date are now considered to be a "likely small part of a larger mineralizing system" in the "context of a hub and spoke CRD deposit modeltheir is evidence that the resources outlined to date are only one of several potential mineralizing spokes and also with the geophysical data there are indicators of the location of the porphyry source"; and

The 2022 exploration program is expanding on the Silvertip claims area and is also going to include a testing of the "regional package with the aim of vectoring towards the mineralizing sourcewe firmly believe Silvertip has the possibility to be a much larger resource and be a future source of high growth for the Company."

Mr. Kevin Brewer, President and CEO of CMC Metals Ltd. noted that:

"Gravity anomalies coincident with previously known airborne conductors and geochemical anomalies in the right geological setting for CRD's all significantly improve the prospectivity of the Silverknife Property. Elongation of the gravity anomalies towards the northeast reflects faults that are likely key control mechanisms for mineral deposition. Coeur recently announced that some of the best grade intersections on their Silvertip Property occur at the Camp Creek West fault zone where exploration is approaching CMC's Silverknife claim boundary. CMC's positive survey results and Coeur's success drilling their SkyTEM anomalies greatly enhances the likelihood of a discovery at Silverknife. Furthermore, recent comments by Coeur clearly reflect that properties such as Silverknife are potentially within a larger mineral system in what we consider to be an emerging silver district at the Rancheria area."

Mr. John Bossio, Chairman noted:

"Our field crew has had a very productive exploration season to date. Our Newfoundland properties are showing potential for gold-polymetallic deposits particularly at Bridal Veil, and our significant land position within the Rancheria Silver District holds significant promise. We are pleased that results are expected to add value to our diversified portfolio of projects in Newfoundland, Yukon and British Columbia. This recent news at Silverknife and the identified potential of the region by a mid-tier producer is particularly exciting to our Board and for our shareholders."

Qualified Person

Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data.

About CMC Metals Ltd.

CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland. Our polymetallic silver-lead-zinc CRD prospects include the Silver Hart Deposit and Blue Heaven claims (the "Silver Hart Project") and Rancheria South, Amy and Silverknife claims (the "Rancheria South Project"). Our polymetallic projects with potential for copper-silver-gold and other metals include Bridal Veil, Terra Nova and Rodney Pond (central Newfoundland).

On behalf of the Board:

"John Bossio"

John Bossio

Chairman

CMC METALS LTD.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc.(Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Tel: (709) 327 8013

kbrewer80@hotmail.com

Suite 1000-409 Granville St.

Vancouver, BC

V6C 1T2

To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to info@cmcmetals.ca or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer directly.

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 certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711523/Positive-Gravity-Survey-Results-Strengthen-Targets-at-the-Silverknife-Property-Northern-British-Columbia
BH Macro Limited - Notice of AGM

BH Macro Limited

(a closed-ended collective investment scheme established as a company with limited liability under the laws of Guernsey with registration number 46235)

(The "Company")

LEI Number: 549300ZOFF0Z2CM87C29

10 August 2022

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey on 9 September 2022 at 11.00am.

The Notice of AGM has been posted to shareholders on 10 August 2022.

In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.3, the Notice of Annual General Meeting, proxy form and accounts have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism

Enquiries:

Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited

The Company Secretary

Trafalgar Court

Les Banques

St Peter Port

Guernsey

GY1 3QL

Tel: 01481 745001
Partners Group / Key word(s): Investment/Mergers & Acquisitions

Partners Group to expand the shareholder base of USIC, the leading North American provider of utility location services; Kohlberg & Company to acquire a 50% stake



10.08.2022 / 16:00





New York, US; 10 August 2022

Partners Group will retain a 50% co-lead interest in USIC

Together, Partners Group and Kohlberg will implement new value creation initiatives

The transaction values USIC at an enterprise value of USD 4.1 billion

Partners Group, a leading global private markets firm, is, on behalf of its clients, expanding the shareholder base of United States Infrastructure Corporation ("USIC" or "the Company"), the leading North American provider of utility location services. Kohlberg & Company ("Kohlberg") is acquiring a 50% stake in USIC and Partners Group will retain a 50% co-lead interest. Kohlberg was joined in this investment by a group of new partners that includes funds managed by Neuberger Berman. The transaction values USIC at an enterprise value of USD 4.1 billion.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Indianapolis, USIC is a leading provider of outsourced "utility locate" services, which involve locating, identifying, and marking sub-surface utility infrastructure such as pipes, cables, and fiber. These services are provided on behalf of public utilities that are required by law to ensure underground infrastructure is marked correctly before ground is broken on any new project. USIC currently serves over 1,300 customers in the US and Canada across six utility markets: cable, telecom, electric, gas, water, and sewer. It has a workforce of 9,000 technicians that perform 80 million locates each year. The demand for USIC's services is set to rise due to higher excavation activity following President Biden's Infrastructure Bill, new 5G densification initiatives, increased awareness of the importance of conducting locates, and a shift to outsourcing on the part of utilities.

Since acquiring USIC in 2017, Partners Group has installed an entrepreneurial Board that has helped transform the Company and drive strong organic growth, with EBITDA increasing 77% in the last five years. Key value creation initiatives have included investing in technician training, launching new tools to improve productivity and operational performance, and capturing pricing adjustments and improved contract terms. Partners Group also introduced a program to improve USIC's approach to health & safety, which has led to technician motor vehicle accidents falling by a third and field injuries and lost-time incident rates halving. Partners Group and Kohlberg will implement new value creation initiatives to further build on these foundations, including investing in sales and digital capabilities.

Mike Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, USIC, comments: "Underlying excavation demand has remained stable for decades, driven by routine infrastructure maintenance as well as commercial and residential construction, and we are now looking ahead to a new period of market growth. USIC's national scale, fast response times, and reputation for quality positions us well to capitalize on this growth. Partners Group has been instrumental in transforming USIC's services and we are delighted to continue working with the firm, while welcoming Kohlberg on board."

Joel Schwartz, Partner, Co-Head Private Equity Services Industry Vertical, Partners Group, says: "USIC has a strong, resilient business model that is underpinned by consistent demand from a blue-chip customer base and long-term contracted cashflows. Our thematic research shows the locating services market is experiencing growth tailwinds and we have conviction in USIC's future prospects, as demonstrated by our ongoing commitment to the business. Given the success of our previous value creation initiatives, we also have a deep understanding of what levers can be pulled to further transform USIC."

Benjamin Mao, Partner, Head of Infrastructure Services, Kohlberg & Company, says: "We are honored to have the opportunity to work alongside Partners Group to support Mike and the USIC management team in its exciting next chapter of growth. USIC is uniquely positioned as a leading provider of mission-critical safety services to utilities and telecommunications customers, who are undergoing periods of significant growth and transformation driven by grid modernization, continued technological innovation, and further accelerated by infrastructure stimulus."

Partners Group was advised by Harris Williams, Bank of America Corporation, and Ropes & Gray LLP. Kohlberg was advised by Goldman Sachs, Houlihan Lokey, and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.

About Partners Group

Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested USD 185 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt, and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group seeks to generate strong returns through capitalizing on thematic growth trends and transforming attractive businesses and assets into market leaders. The firm is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create sustainable returns with lasting, positive impact for all its stakeholders. With USD 131 billion in assets under management as of 30 June 2022, Partners Group provides an innovative range of bespoke client solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,600 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

About Kohlberg & Company

Kohlberg is a leading private equity firm based in Mount Kisco, New York. Since its inception in 1987, the company has organized nine private equity funds, through which it has raised $12 billion of committed equity capital. Over its 35-year history, Kohlberg has completed 91 platform investments and nearly 250 add-on acquisitions, with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $40 billion. For more information, please visit www.kohlberg.com.

Partners Group US media relations contact

Prosek Partners

Email: Pro-PartnersGroup@prosek.com

End of Media Release


Ridgewood, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - NFT-TiX, a New Jersey-based company specializing in blockchain-based ticketing solutions, announces a partnership with United Music Events.

This partnership will allow NFT-TiX to power the ticketing system for United Music Events' major concerts and festivals, including Hardmission and Techmission, which are scheduled to be held in November.

Founded in Prague, the Czech Republic, in 2005, United Music Events is a major organizer of electronic music events in Central and Eastern Europe, where it says it has held more than 100 events to date.

NFT-TiX and United Music Events have announced a partnership that will allow NFT-TiX to power the ticketing system for United Music Events' major concerts and festivals.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8721/133230_ume1en.jpg

The two new events, Hardmission and Techmission, will be held in Prague in November. While Hardmission is characterized by hardstyle and hardcore music, Techmission will feature melodic techno. United Music describes both events as having exceptional production values designed to provide attendees with an immersive experience.

"We could not be more excited to be working with United Music Events," said NFT-TiX Founder and CEO Emil Ljesnjanin. "This partnership will allow us to showcase our technology on a large scale and prove that NFT-based ticketing is the wave of the future."

Ljesnjanin explained that one of the main advantages of NFT-based ticketing is that it is much more secure than traditional paper tickets.

"With traditional tickets, it is relatively easy for people to copy and sell fake tickets. This can lead to big losses for event organizers, as they may end up selling more tickets than there are actually available," he said.

"Another problem is scalability. With traditional ticketing systems, it can be very difficult to sell tickets on a large scale. This is because there is often a limited number of outlets that sell tickets, and these outlets can quickly become overwhelmed when demand is high," he added.

With NFT-TiX, Ljesnjanin says these problems have become a thing of the past. The tickets are stored on the blockchain, meaning that it's virtually impossible to copy and sell fake tickets, as each ticket is unique. And because the system is decentralized, it can handle a large number of transactions without any issues.

"We believe that this partnership will be a major step forward for both our company and the event industry as a whole," said Ljesnjanin. "This is sure to revolutionize the way events are organized and run in the future."

About NFT-TiX

NFT-TiX is a New Jersey-based company that specializes in blockchain-based ticketing solutions. It allows event organizers to create and sell NFT tickets directly to fans without intermediaries. NFT-TiX says no knowledge of coding is required.

For more information, please visit: https://www.nft-tix.com/

Press Contact:

Emil Ljesnjanin

pr@nft-tix.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133230


HELSINKI (dpa-AFX) - The United States has become the 23rd Ally to approve Sweden and Finland's NATO membership bid after President Joe Biden signed the U.S. Instruments of Ratifications of the two Baltic countries' Accession Protocols to the defense alliance.



The Senate had overwhelmingly endorsed the NATO Accession Protocols last week.



The North Atlantic Council's approval of the applications for NATO membership requires ratification by the parliaments of all the countries of the 30-member bloc.



Speaking ahead of the signing at the White House, Biden urged the remaining seven Allies to complete their own ratification progress as quickly as possible.



He said Sweden and Finland have strong democratic institutions, strong militaries, and strong and transparent economies. He added that Washington is confident that they will meet every NATO requirement and make the Alliance stronger, and it will make America and the American people safer in the process.



'In a moment when Putin's Russia has shattered peace and security in Europe, when autocrats are challenging the very foundations of a rule-based order, the strength of the transatlantic alliance and America's commitment to NATO is more important than it has ever been,' Biden said.



'The only time in history Article 5 has been invoked was on 9/11, when the United States was attacked and all our Allies rallied to our side. The United States will never forget that, and we will never fail in our pledge to defend every, every, every inch of NATO,' he added..



NATO leaders took a historic decision to invite Finland and Sweden to become members of the Alliance at their summit in Madrid in June.



The Protocols were signed on behalf of the United States and other Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty on July 5 in Brussels.



Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which outlines NATO's Open Door policy, is part of the doctrinal foundation of the Alliance.



The defense alliance currently has 30 members. A potential expansion of the defense bloc with the addition of these two countries is seen as a big political challenge by Russian President Vladimir Putin as his war to conquer Ukraine grinds ahead.







Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. State Department has pledged $89 million of FY 2022 funding to help the Government of Ukraine address the urgent humanitarian challenges posed by explosive remnants of arms and ammunitions created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The five months old war has littered massive swaths of the country with landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices. The grotesque use of improvised explosive devices in Ukraine by Russian forces was previously only associated with ISIS in Syria. These explosive hazards block access to fertile farmland, delay reconstruction efforts, prevent displaced communities from returning to their homes, and continue to kill and maim innocent Ukrainian civilians. The Government of Ukraine estimates that 160,000 square kilometers of its land, which is roughly the size of Virginia, Maryland, and Connecticut combined, may be contaminated. U.S. funding will deploy approximately 100 demining teams and will support a large-scale train and equip project to strengthen the Ukraine Government's demining and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) capacity. Since 1993, the United States has invested more than $4.2 billion for the safe clearance of landmines and explosive weapons of war (ERW) as well as the securing and safe disposal of excess small arms and light weapons (SA/LW) and munitions in more than 100 countries and territories. The United States is the world's single largest financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Company Re-Brands as Record Gold Corp

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Silk Road Energy Inc. (TSXV: SLK), the "Company" doing business under the name of "Record Gold", reports it has acquired new gold exploration properties in the Kirkland Lake Mining camp in Ontario consisting of eleven claim cells known as Kenogami East.

The new name, Record Gold, reflects the company's transition to a TSX Venture Exchange Tier 2 Mining Issuer, and is to be ratified as the official, legal name of the corporation at the company's upcoming AGM, this fall.

Kenogami East is located at the eastern margin of the company's Grenfell-Four Nations gold property and 8.5 kilometres west of Agnico Eagle's Macassa Mine. (see April 19, 2022 news release). Kenogami East is adjacent to and in some cases overlaps the company's Grenfell-Four-Nations property.

The Company acquired the property by issuing one million of its shares and by agreeing to make a cash payment in twenty-four months of $50,000.

"What our work has revealed so far is that Kenogami East and our Grenfell-Four-Nations properties are situated in an area that is highly prospective for significant gold mineralization," said Michael C. Judson, Chairman and CEO of Record Gold. "Prospecting there is challenging: out-crop in the region is scarce and mineralized zones are complex. Yet, there are widespread occurrences of gold-bearing zones with good grades and widths coupled with the occasional high-grade lodes."

"The style of gold mineralization found on Kenogami East closely resembles the gold mineral- ization on which gold mines were built in the Larder-Victoria Lake and Val d'Or mining camps," said Judson. "There has been a substantial amount of work completed in the area and this is reflected in the excerpts of historical geological reports paraphrased below. What seems to have been missing is an accurate understanding of the structure of the mineralization and the absence of any drilling to depths greater than 150 metres."

The following geological data is paraphrased from historical geological reports filed with the Ontario's Government and is not considered 43-101 compliant:

Exploration activities at Kenogami East started in 1917 and identified a gold- bearing zone with an average width of 2.5 metres and 91 metre strike length. Reported assays averaged 7.55 grams per tonne in quartz and quartz-pyrite veins. A shaft was sunk to 7.6 metres to mine the vein. No records from this mining activity are available. During the 1927 to 1928 the shaft was deepened to 164 metres and included production drifts at the two upper levels (the 25 level and 125 level) and exploration drifts at the lower three drifts (the 250 level, 375 level and 500 level drifts).

During 1933 to1934, surface mapping, stripping and trenching along with the development of additional underground exploration drifts and drilling were undertaken to trace the extensions of the veining system. During 1963 to 1965, 12 drill holes for a total of 2,026 metres were completed on the property to test the down-dip extension of the surface veins.

Drilling in the vicinity of the Grenfell-Four Nations shaft confirmed the presence of a shear zone in the vicinity but the geometry of the zone did not correlate with the shear zone exposed at the 500-foot level. Other structures were noted in the remaining drill-core but these could not be spatially correlated to the vein structures mapped at surface.

Later it was found that most of the 1960's drill holes were not correctly located relative to the sampled trenches. More importantly, it was discovered that the east-northeast trending veins were not vertical as previously inferred from surface data but dipped 70-80 degrees to the south. As a consequence, these drill holes stopped short and did not intersect nor test the gold-bearing veins exposed in trenches at the surface.

The gold-bearing vein zone underlying the property consists of several sub-parallel lenticular grey quartz and less commonly quartz-carbonate veins. These mineralized zones contain assay values averaging 7.5 to 8.6 grams per tonne over widths averaging 2.5 metres.

Gold values occur both "within well-developed quartz veins and within the altered, quartz- stringered wall rocks" (P.T. George 1986). Mineralized zones vary from half a metre to three metres in width. The altered host rock adjacent to the vein structures vary in width from 1.5 to 6 metres.

It has been reported by P.T. George (1986) that veins discovered to date, contained "significant gold mineralization" averaging 7.6 grams per tonne over average width of 2.5 metres" and it "would be feasible to mine economically" if a "sufficient tonnage of material" were to be established.

Furthermore, he concluded that the results from exploration drilling to date failed to test mineralization at depths below 100 meters due to mislocation of drill holes and incorrect interpretation of structures controlling the vein development.

Field sampling and the drill results, however, were successful at verifying the 1930's trenched assay data and "have demonstrated that the target vein zone has potential for significant vertical continuity" (P.T. George 1986).

Anconia Resources Corp. again in 2014 re-examined the various mineralized zones exposed in trenches and took grab-samples from the different vein systems. Assay results based on these samples confirmed earlier results with grades up to 18.80 grams per tonne.

Similarly to the west on the Grenfell-Four Nations gold property several mineralized zones have been mapped and explored with widths that range from less than1 metre to 2 to 5 metres and strike lengths varying from approximately 10 metres up to 100 metres. Although most gold assay values across these mineralized zones are modest (0.05 to 2 grams per tonne), they are extensive.

At the south-western margin of the property, for example, grab samples taken from a trenched vein yielded assays "ranging up to 95 grams per tonne and channel samples assaying 8.7 grams per tonne over average widths of 0.8 metres and over a strike length of 60 metres" (F.R. Ploeger 1997).

These veins closely resemble those discovered on the Kenogami East property. These trenched showings also have average grades that could be economically viable if these zones can be extended into mineralizing centers. The company reports that it is closing its previously announced financing, raising proceeds of $29,000 by issuing 483,333 common shares at $0.06 per share and 483,333 share purchase warrants exercisable at $0.12 per share for one year. No finder's fee is payable. The company reports that, following this financing, it will have 28,076,104 shares outstanding. This financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange, regulatory and board approvals.

For more information please contact:

Michael C. Judson, Chairman & CEO,

Record Gold Corp.

T. +1-514-865-5496

Website: www.recordgoldcorp.com

Cautionary Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes", an or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would" , "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: approval of the Private Placement and obtaining a full revocation order. This forward-looking information reflects the Company's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions the Company believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the market acceptance of the Private Placement; the ability of the Company to obtain a full revocation order and the receipt of all required approvals in connection with the foregoing. 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 the Company 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: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market price for securities; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder, court or regulatory approvals. 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 or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law the Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change.

The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

The Units and the securities comprising the Units have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities nor shall there be any sale of securities in the Unites States, or any other jurisdiction, in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133397
MaaT Pharma (EURONEXT: MAAT the "Company"), a French clinical-stage biotech and a pioneer in the development of Microbiome Ecosystem TherapiesTM (MET) dedicated to improving survival outcomes for patients with cancer, today announced that it received a communication from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA" or "the Agency") related to the Company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application filed in June 2021 to initiate in the U.S. an open-label, single-arm Phase 3 clinical trial of the Company's drug candidate, MaaT013, in patients with steroid-resistant acute Graft-versus-Host Disease (aGvHD). Following questions raised by the FDA in August 2021 on this application in a clinical hold letter, the Company had previously submitted a request for a Type A meeting, as well as detailed responses to the Agency's questions.

A response letter was received in the evening on August 8th, 2022, Central European Time (CET). It indicates that the Agency maintains the clinical hold on MaaT013 in the U.S. and details the FDA's position on the clinical trial. The Agency acknowledged that it received satisfactory answers from the Company on multiple clinical and manufacturing-related questions that the Agency had initially raised. However, the Agency requires additional information, notably regarding the safety and efficacy of the Company's "pooling" approach (i.e. mixing donations from multiple donors to achieve higher richness, diversity and better standardization of the product). The Company is also evaluating additional recommendations made by the Agency regarding the trial design.

"We value the FDA's continued engagement as we seek to extend the Phase 3 clinical trial of MaaT013 to the U.S. and we intend to work with the Agency to resolve the issues raised in the communication, while implementing a defined strategic plan to continue to deliver on our key milestones," saidHerve Affagard, CEO and co-founder of MaaT Pharma. "To date, data gathered from more than 120 patients with aGvHD who received MaaT013 in Europe as part of our early access program in France and our completed Phase 2 trial in Europe, indicated a positive safety and efficacy profile for MaaT013. We remain focused on bringing innovative and safe microbiome therapies to patients with refractory aGvHD."

MaaT Pharma is now in the process of preparing the next steps in the interaction with the FDA, potentially including a Type A meeting dedicated to discussing the remaining questions. In parallel and in line with its goal to reach patients globally, the Company will continue the development of MaaT013 in Europe and expand European recruitment for its ongoing Phase 3 trial evaluating MaaT013 in 75 patients. There are currently 19 active clinical sites in France, Germany, and Spain and the Company has submitted clinical trial applications in three additional European countries. The overall expected timelines for the Phase 3 trial and, if approved, commercialization of MaaT013 in Europe remain unchanged.

In parallel, the Company continues to prepare for the initiation of a Phase 2/3 trial in Europe to evaluate its second native (donor-derived) asset, MaaT033, in patients with blood cancers receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This clinical study is expected to start in Q4 2022.

The Company also continues to prepare a first-in-human trial of its first co-fermented MaaT03X candidate in both Europe and the U.S. This new class of drug candidates aims to improve the anti-cancer efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with a yet undisclosed solid tumor having a high unmet need.

About MaaT Pharma

MaaT Pharma, a clinical stage biotechnology company, has established a complete approach to restoring patient-microbiome symbiosis in oncology. Committed to treating cancer and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation, MaaT Pharma has launched, in March 2022 in Europe, a Phase 3 clinical trial for patients with acute GvHD, following the achievement of its proof of concept in a Phase 2 trial. Its powerful discovery and analysis platform, gutPrint, supports the development and expansion of its pipeline by determining novel disease targets, evaluating drug candidates, and identifying biomarkers for microbiome-related conditions. The company's Microbiome Ecosystem Therapies are produced through a standardized cGMP manufacturing and quality control process to safely deliver the full diversity of the microbiome, in liquid and oral formulations. MaaT Pharma benefits from the commitment of world-leading scientists and established relationships with regulators to support the integration of the use of microbiome therapies in clinical practice.

MaaT Pharma is the first company developing microbiome-based therapies listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: MAAT).

Forward-looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release about future events are subject to (i) change without notice and (ii) factors beyond the Company's control. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as "target," "believe," "expect," "aim," "intend," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "plan," "project," "will," "can have," "likely," "should," "would," "could" and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that could cause the Company's actual results or performance to be materially different from the expected results or performance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005587/en/

Contacts:

MaaT Pharma Investor Relations

Herve AFFAGARD

Co-Founder and CEO

Sian Crouzet, COO/ CFO

+33 4 28 29 14 00

invest@maat-pharma.com

MaaT Pharma Media Relations

Pauline RICHAUD

Senior PR Corporate Communications Manager

+33 6 07 55 25 36

prichaud@maat-pharma.com

Trophic Communications Corporate and Medical Communications

Jacob VERGHESE or

Gretchen SCHWEITZER

+49 89 2070 89831

maat@trophic.eu
10 August 2022

Rightmove plc

Share buy-back programme

Rightmove plc - Transaction in own shares

Rightmove plc ('Rightmove') announces that today it purchased 147,000 of its 0.1p ordinary shares at a volume weighted average price paid per share of 637.857p. The highest price paid per share was 653.600p and the lowest price paid per share was 624.400p. Rightmove purchased these shares through Numis Securities Limited.

The number of shares purchased represented 0.0176% of the voting rights attributable to the total ordinary shares in issue prior to such purchase. The purchased shares will be cancelled.

Since announcing a share buy-back programme on 28 December 2007, Rightmove has purchased in aggregate 470,177,229 ordinary shares.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) following this announcement is 836,501,799. Rightmove holds 12,375,052 shares in treasury.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as amended by The Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (the "UK MAR"), the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the buyback programme.

Contact: Sandra Odell, Company Secretary CompanySecretary@rightmove.co.uk

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions
Eric Mower continues as Chairman and CEO

SYRACUSE, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Mower, one of the leading independent marketing communications agencies in the U.S., today announced that Chairman and CEO Eric Mower has transferred 100% ownership of the company to employees via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Mr. Mower, who began his career at the agency in 1968, will remain in his current position as will other senior Mower executives.

The news was shared with Mower employees at special gatherings hosted in Syracuse, NY, the city in which the agency began, and Greenville, SC, a central location for employees from the agency's Charlotte and Atlanta hubs. Employees traveled from a total of 12 cities around the country to learn about the future of Mower and their pivotal role as new employee owners.

The ESOP will benefit employees for their contributions to the success of Mower, making about 150 employees new "employee owners" of the agency at no cost to them, with equity in the business and an additional retirement benefit. It also provides the agency a smooth ownership transition into the years to come with a continuation of strong leadership by Mower's executive team, including President and Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Crockett; Vice Chairman - Chief Brand Officer Doug Bean; Chief Administrative Officer Chris Steenstra; Chief Financial Officer Cheryl Duggan; Chief Creative Officer Doug Kamp; and Executive Vice President, Managing Director, Public Relations and Public Affairs Rick Lyke.

Eric Mower commented, "The ESOP allows Mower to remain independent, to maintain our professional standards and practices and for our employees to know that their future is in their hands. The ideas and energy of this committed team of next generation employee owners, all dedicated to collaboration, creativity and problem solving, will prove a powerful force for growth, as well as a powerful tool to attract and retain talent. I look forward to seeing our new employee owners maintain their fierce friendships while doing great work that supports the success of our clients."

Added Stephanie Crockett, "The ESOP will have meaningful benefits to our business, positively impacting our clients as well. We know talented advertising, marketing and public relations professionals are attracted to the idea of employee ownership, and the model is shown to inspire longer tenures for executives. Just as many of us at Mower have made this business a home for our careers - I'm celebrating 18 years - we want to inspire others to invest their time and talent into the agency, and reap the rewards for that investment, too."

Mower is a digitally integrated marketing, advertising and public relations company, recently named Association of National Advertisers' B2B Midsize Agency of the Year. Mower is also a three-time winner of the Ad Age Best Places to Work and five-time winner of the PR News Top Places to Work awards. Clients span both B2B and B2C, with specialties in a variety of industries like energy and sustainability, healthcare, technology, travel and tourism, financial services, building and construction, and cars and trucks. Companies like National Grid, FirstEnergy, 84.51, FedEx, ABB, Prysmian Group, Northwest Bank, Turning Stone Resort Casino, Pebble Beach Resorts and Ford Dealers are among Mower's clients. The company's employee owners are based across the U.S., including New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Miami, Charlotte, Cincinnati, and four major cities within New York State, Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and Syracuse.

About Mower

Mower is a digitally integrated independent marketing, advertising and public relations agency with professional staff in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Miami, Charlotte, Cincinnati, and Buffalo, Albany, Rochester and Syracuse, NY. Mower delivers strategic insights and counsel, digital solutions, smart creative and award-winning results to clients in a wide range of industries and service sectors. It has earned top industry accolades from Clio, Cannes and ANA B2 awards and is the only full-service agency ranked in Ad Age, B2B Marketing, PRWeek and Chief Marketer. Mower is part of two global agency networks - thenetworkone and IPREX - as well as the 4A's.

Contact:

Trish Nugent

Mower

212-284-9935

pnugent@mower.com

SOURCE: Mower

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711473/Independent-Mower-Agency-Becomes-100-Employee-Owned
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Banxa Holdings Inc. (TSXV: BNXA) (OTCQX: BNXAF) (FSE: AC00) today announced that Domenic Carosa, Founder and Chairman will be attending the Q3 Virtual Investor Summit. Banxa is the leading global Web3 on/off ramp solution. Through its extensive network of local payment solutions paired with the required regulatory licences, Banxa gives its partners and projects access to global audiences with less friction and higher conversions.

Event: Q3 Investor Summit Date: August 16 & 17th, 2022 Presentation: August 16 @ 4:15 p.m. ET Location: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-2ZqcCvhT0eyHdZfhXrCYg

 1x1s will be available for qualified investors

 The conference is completely complementary to qualified investors. Please register at

Complimentary Investor Registration



Company Description

Banxa's mission is to accelerate the world to Web3 with its leading global on-and-off ramp solution. Through its extensive network of local payment solutions paired with the required crypto licences, Banxa gives its partners and projects access to global audiences with less friction and higher conversions. Banxa has a global team of Web3 natives - with operating headquarters in the USA, Europe and APAC regions.

For further information go to www.banxa.com.

Contact

MZ North America

Brian M. Prenoveau, CFA

BNXA@mzgroup.us

561-489-5315

About Investor Summit Group

The Investor Summit (formerly MicroCap Conference) is an exclusive, independent conference dedicated to connecting smallcap and microcap companies with qualified investors. The Q3 Investor Summit will take place virtually, featuring 90+ companies and over 500 investors comprising institutional investors, family offices, and high net worth investors. Sectors Participating: Biotech, Communication Services, Consumer, Energy, Energy/Tech, Financial, Healthcare, Industrials, Materials, Real Estate, Technology, and Tech/Crypt. Contact: info@investorsummitgroup.com

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133402
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / The Power Play by The Market Herald has announced the release of new interviews with Conifex Timber, Hero Innovation Group, NextSource Materials, High Tide Resources, and Talon Metals on their latest news.

The Power Play by The Market Herald provides investors with a quick snapshot of what they need to know about the company's latest press release through exclusive insights and interviews with company executives.

Conifex Timber (TSX:CFF) announces Q2 2022 results and NCIB



Conifex Timber (CFF) has reported financial and operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. Lumber production in the second quarter of 2022 totaled approximately 51.4 million board feet. Chairman of the Board Ken Shields sat down with Daniella Atkinson to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Ken Shields and to learn more about Conifex Timber, click here

Hero Innovation Group (CSE:HRO) introduces Hero Financials



Hero Innovation Group (HRO) has introduced Hero Financials, a full-service alternative-to-banking solution designed for young Canadian youth and GenZers. Its product offerings are highly customizable and designed to address the unmet financial needs of Canadian kids, teens, GenZers, and their parents. Peter MacKay, CEO of Hero Group, sat down with Daniella Atkinson to discuss the launch.

For the full interview with Peter MacKay and to learn more about Hero Innovation Group, click here

NextSource Materials (TSX:NEXT) provides update on Molo Graphite Mine in Madagascar



NextSource Materials (NEXT) has provided a progress update for Phase 1 of the Molo Graphite Mine in Madagascar. Commissioning of the mine is on schedule for the fall of 2022 making NextSource's Molo mine the only graphite project to come into production this year outside of China. Brent Nykoliation, Executive Vice President of NextSource, sat down with Daniella Atkinson to discuss the news.

For the full interview with Brent Nykoliation and to learn more about NextSource Materials, click here

High Tide Resources (CSE:HTRC) reports assay results from its flagship Labrador West Iron Project



High Tide Resources Corp. (HTRC) has reported assay results from the 2022 drilling program at its flagship Labrador West Iron Project. The project is located 20 km northeast and adjacent to IOC/Rio Tinto's Carol Lake Mine complex in Labrador City, Newfoundland. Steve Roebuck, Director, President & Interim CEO of High Tide sat down with Daniella Atkinson to discuss the results.

For the full interview with Steve Roebuck and to learn more about High Tide Resources, click here

Talon Metals (TSX:TLO) acquires exploration rights for Henry Ford land package



Talon (TLO) has acquired exploration rights from Sweetwater Royalties for the Henry Ford land package. The Michigan property spans 400,000 acres of a highly prospective nickel district hosting the only operating high-grade nickel mine in the U.S. Todd Malan, Chief External Affairs Officer, spoke with Daniella Atkinson about the agreement.

For the full interview with Todd Malan and to learn more about Talon Metals, click here



Interviews for The Power Play by The Market Herald are released daily. To learn more about the companies featured in The Power Play or to explore our other interviews visit The Power Play by The Market Herald.

About The Market Herald

The Market Herald Canada is the leading source of authoritative breaking stock market news for self-directed investors. Our team of Canadian markets reporters, editors and technologists covers the entire listed company universe in Canada. We cover over 3,985 businesses, their people, their investors, and their customers. We write the stories that move the Canadian capital markets.

DISCLAIMER: Report Card Canada Media Ltd. ("Report Card") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market Herald Limited, an Australian company ("Market Herald"). Report Card is not an advisory service, and does not offer, buy, sell, or provide any other rating, analysis or opinion on the securities we discuss. We are retained and compensated by the companies that we provide information on to assist them with making information available to the public. All information available on themarketherald.ca and/or this press release should be considered as commercial advertisement and not an endorsement, offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities. Report Card is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority in any province or territory of Canada, will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies and do not provide nor claim to provide investment advice or recommendations to any visitor of this site or readers of any content on or originating from themarketherald.ca. Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees may from time to time acquire, hold or sell securities and/or commodities and/or commodity futures contracts in certain underlying companies mentioned in this site and which may also be clients of Market Herald's affiliates. In such instances, Market Herald and/or its affiliates and/or their respective officers, directors or employees will use all reasonable efforts to avoid engaging in activities that would lead to conflicts of interest and Market Herald and/or its affiliates will use all reasonable efforts to comply with conflicts of interest disclosures and regulations to minimize any conflict. All the information on this document and/or the website - themarketherald.ca - is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. Report Card does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this document and/or website (themarketherald.ca) is strictly at your own risk. Report Card will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website. From our website, you can visit other websites by following hyperlinks to such external sites. While we strive to provide only quality links to useful and ethical websites, we have no control over the content and nature of these sites. These links to other websites do not imply a recommendation for all the content found on these sites. Site owners and content may change without notice and may occur before we have the opportunity to remove a link which may have gone 'bad'. Please be also aware that when you leave our website, other sites may have different privacy policies and terms which are beyond our control. Please be sure to check the Privacy Policies of these sites as well as their "Terms of Service" before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

CONTACT:

The Market Herald

Charity Robertson

charity.robertson@themarketherald.ca

themarketherald.ca

SOURCE: The Market Herald

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711619/The-Power-Play-by-The-Market-Herald-Releases-New-Interviews-with-Conifex-Timber-Hero-Innovation-Group-NextSource-Materials-High-Tide-Resources-and-Talon-Metals
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Investor.Events would like to invite the Investment Community to Indiva's Quarterly Investor Presentation next Wednesday, August 17 at 1pm (PT) 4pm (ET). Indiva Shareholders, Individual Investors, Institutional Investors, Advisors, and Analysts are invited to register now to attend the presentation.

Indiva Quarterly Investor Presentation - Q3 2022 | (TSXV: NDVA) (OTCQX: NDVAF)

Wednesday, August 17 at 1:00pm (PDT) | 4:00pm (EDT) | 9:00pm (GMT)

Live Presentation by Niel Marotta (President, CEO & Director) followed by Q & A

President & CEO, Director, Co-Founder, Niel Marotta, will provide a corporate update to shareholders and the investment community the next day after reporting Q2 results. The corporate update will highlight new data within the corporate presentation, discuss new product launches and what to expect in the second half of 2022. The presentation will last approximately 20 minutes, followed by a live interactive Q & A session.

REGISTER NOW AT: https://app.livestorm.co/investorevents/indiva-quarterly-investor-presentation-q3-2022

QUARTER RESULTS + CONFERENCE CALL - Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. (EST):

Indiva Limited will report its results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 pre-market on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 and will host a conference call to discuss its results on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. (EST). Interested participants can join by dialing 416-764-8658 or 1-888-886-7786. The conference ID number is 34309929.

A recording of the conference call will be available for replay following the call. To access the recording please dial 416-764-8691 or 1-877-674-6060. The replay ID is 309929#. The recording will remain available until Friday, September 16, 2022.

About Indiva Limited (TSXV: NDVA) (OTCQX: NDVAF)

Indiva sets the standard for quality and innovation in cannabis. As a Canadian licensed producer, Indiva produces and distributes award-winning cannabis products nationally, including Bhang Chocolate, Wana Sour Gummies, Jewels Cannabis Tarts, Gron edibles, Dime Industries vape products, as well as capsules, edibles, extracts, pre-rolls and premium flower under the INDIVA, Indiva Life and Artisan Batch brands.

REGISTER NOW AT: https://app.livestorm.co/investorevents/indiva-quarterly-investor-presentation-q3-2022

About Investor.Events

Investor.Events hosts virtual investor presentations & in-person events for Pre-Public & Publicly Listed Companies.

Contact:

Neil Lock,

neil@investor.events

604-380-0181

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133417
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Zimtu Capital Corp. (TSXv:ZC)(FSE:ZCT1) (the "Company" or "Zimtu") is pleased to announce that the Company's Zimtu Advantage Program (https://www.zimtu.com/zimtu-advantage/), a co-operative marketing and awareness program designed to provide opportunities, guidance, cost savings and assistance to clients covering multiple aspects of being a public company, is now available a la carte to all TSX.V and CSE companies.

The individual services of the Zimtu Advantage program include the following: Zoom with Zimtu; Zimtu Connect - all major news/events/important updates sent to email distribution list, Lead Generation campaigns; Blog Posts; Digital Awareness campaigns; Influencer Marketing; Social Media Distribution of company news/important updates through Zimtu accounts including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube & Instagram; Rockstone Reports & Distribution; Video News Releases - major news releases will be translated to video format, which will be distributed on all social media platforms and to Zimtu Connect subscribers; and Zimtu Question Period.

Additionally, Zimtu Capital is also pleased to announce that the Company is planning to renew the Zimtu European bus-trip this coming fall and that all TSX.V and CSE companies are invited to participate, either a la carte or as part of a fully executed 1-year Zimtu Advantage agreement. Please note that this year special emphasis is being made to accommodate brokers and dealmakers on the bus-trip. An extensive marketing program will be put on to attract Europeans to open a Canadian brokerage account.

"Between 2011 and 2016 Zimtu Capital hosted an annual bus-trip to Europe, with stops scheduled in Germany and Switzerland," enthused Dave Hodge, President of Zimtu Capital Corp. "The European bus-trip featured investor meetings, scheduled company presentations to retail investors, family offices and other institutional representatives, and provided networking and other business opportunities for participants at each stop, Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland, and Frankfurt and Munich in Germany. The stop in Munich will overlap with the 2022 in-person Internationale Edelmetall & Rohstoffmesse, scheduled for November 4th and 5th. If you are interested in building awareness for your company in Europe, the Zimtu bus-trip is a must-attend!"

In addition to the opportunities available to participating public companies, the 2022 Zimtu European bus-trip will encourage Europeans participating at the scheduled stops to open a Canadian brokerage account and meet face-to-face with brokers, as well as dealmakers. Individual marketing campaigns, including targeted LinkedIn and Facebook ads, will be prepared and managed for each participating broker.

If you are interested in participating in the 2022 Zimtu European bus-trip, as either a company, broker or dealmaker, please call Zimtu Capital at 1 (604) 681 1568. Those considering participating in the 2022 European bus-trip are also invited to attend Zimtu's upcoming information session on Wednesday September 7th, either in-person starting at 1:00 PM PDT in the Zimtu Boardroom or via Zoom at 1:30 PM PDT. Please RSVP via https://event.zimtu.com.

About Zimtu Capital Corp.

Zimtu Capital Corp. is a public investment issuer that aspires to achieve long-term capital appreciation for its shareholders. Zimtu Capital companies may operate in the fields of mineral exploration, mining, technology, life sciences or investment. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ZC" and Frankfurt under symbol "ZCT1". For more information, please visit www.zimtu.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

ZIMTU CAPITAL CORP.

"David Hodge"

David Hodge

President & Director

Phone: 604.681.1568

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE 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.

SOURCE: Zimtu Capital Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711632/Zimtu-Capital-Corp-Announces-Zimtu-Advantage-Now-Available-A-La-Carte-to-All-TSXV-and-CSE-Companies-European-Bus-Trip-Now-Also-Available
MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - The US Department of Justice is reportedly planning to file a lawsuit against Google over its dominance in the online advertising market. According to Bloomberg, DoJ could file the lawsuit as soon as next month. The report, which cites three unnamed sources, said that the Justice Department is engaged in a round of interviews with publishers to gather more information for its complaint. Some of the interviews have already taken place and others are scheduled in the coming weeks. They build on previous interrogations conducted during an earlier stage of the long-running investigation, the people said. In 2020, the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google for its dominance in the search market and its alleged efforts to suppress competition in search. The lawsuit is still pending. The report adds that DoJ have not yet decided whether to file the case in federal court in Washington, where the search case is pending, or in New York, where state attorneys general have their own antitrust case related to Google's ad tech business. 'Our advertising technologies help websites and apps fund their content, and enable small businesses to reach customers around the world,' said Google spokesperson Peter Schottenfels told Bloomberg. 'The enormous competition in online advertising has made online ads more relevant, reduced ad tech fees, and expanded options for publishers and advertisers.' Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Boeing (BA) on Wednesday delivered its first 787 Dreamliner in more than a year, thus bringing to an end a pause on the handing over of the jetliners, which was brought about by a series of manufacturing flaws.



In an Instagram post, American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom shared the news of the first new delivery from Boeing's 787 factory in South Carolina.



The delivery is an important step ahead for Boeing as the planes are an important source of cash for the manufacturer, and the bulk of an aircraft's price is paid upon delivery. This, even though the company needed to compensate customers for the delays.



Deliveries have been stopped for most of the last two years. Boeing had said earlier this year that the production defects and a drop in output during the delivery hold will come to the tune of $5.5 billion.



Dreamliner customers like American and United Airlines have had to go without their new planes, which are often used for long-haul international routes, during a resurgence in demand for such trips this year.



Among the issues discovered with the plane was tiny, incorrect spacing in some parts of the fuselage.



Stan Deal, CEO of Boeing's commercial airplanes unit, wrote in a note to staff on Wednesday, 'Every action and decision influences our customers' trust in Boeing. We build trust one airplane at a time. We'll continue to take the time needed to ensure each one meets our highest quality standards.'



The Federal Aviation Administration or FAA had earlier this week given the green signal to Boeing to start deliveries, which will begin next week.



FAA's acting administrator, Billy Nolen, visited the 787 Dreamliner factory last Thursday and met with FAA safety inspectors to know about steps to improve production quality, the agency said earlier this week.







Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

BOEING-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American:BMTX) (the "Company"), one of the largest digital banking platforms and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers, announced today its participation at the Needham FinTech & Digital Transformation 1x1 Conference, being held on August 17th- 18th, 2022.

Luvleen Sidhu, Chair, CEO, and Founder and Bob Ramsey, CFO of BMTX will be hosting 1x1 meetings during the conference. To receive additional information or to schedule a one-on-one meeting, please contact conferences@needhamco.com or BMTX's investor relations team at BMTXIR@bmtx.com.

About BM Technologies, Inc.

BM Technologies, Inc. (NYSE American:BMTX)-formerly known as BankMobile-is among the largest digital banking platforms and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) providers in the country, providing access to checking and savings accounts, personal loans, credit cards, and financial wellness. It is focused on technology, innovation, easy-to-use products, and education with the mission to financially empower millions of Americans by providing a more affordable, transparent, and consumer-friendly banking experience. The BM Technologies (BMTX) digital banking platform employs a multi-partner distribution model, known as "Banking-as-a-Service" (BaaS), that enables the acquisition of customers at higher volumes and substantially lower expenses than traditional banks while providing significant benefits to its customers, partners, and business. BM Technologies (BMTX) currently has approximately two million accounts and provides disbursement services at approximately 750 college and university campuses (covering one out of every three college students in the U.S.). BM Technologies, Inc. (BMTX) is a technology company and is not a bank, which means it provides banking services through its partner bank. More information can be found at www.bmtx.com.

BMTX has signed a definitive agreement to merge with First Sound Bank, a Seattle, Washington-based business bank. The combined company will be a fintech-based bank focused on serving customers digitally nationwide. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the second half of 2022.

Contact Information

Investors:

Bob Ramsey, CFA

BM Technologies, Inc.

571-236-8851

rramsey@bmtx.com

Media Inquiries:

Brigit Hennaman

Rubenstein Public Relations, Inc.

212-805-3005

Bhennaman@rubensteinpr.com

SOURCE: BM Technologies

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711629/BM-Technologies-BMTX-to-Participate-in-Needham-FinTech-Digital-Transformation-1x1-Conference
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc. (TSXV: LPC) ("LPCP") is pleased to announce that it has closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") offering of 415,000 common shares ("Shares") at a price of $1.45 per Share for the aggregate principal amount of $601,750.

It is expected that the proceeds of the Placement will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. Shares issued pursuant to the Placement are subject to a statutory four month and one day hold period ending December 11, 2022. The Placement remains subject to final acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV").

About Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc.

LPCP was created to bring together boutique investment management and wealth advisory firms in order to deliver robust, cost effective investment solutions to affluent investors, foundations, estates and trusts. LPCP's unique strategy creates better alignment between investment managers and wealth advisors while providing them with additional resources to accelerate their growth.

For further information, please contact:

Robert Sewell

Chief Executive Officer

Lorne Park Capital Partners Inc.

investor.relations@lpcp.ca

(905) 337-2227

Cautionary Notes

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", "plan", and other similar expressions. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, regulatory approvals and LPCP's objectives, goals and future plans. Forward-looking information addresses possible future events, conditions and financial performance based upon management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. In particular, the forward-looking information contained in this news release reflects assumptions about the timing and results of regulatory approval of the Placement. Management of LPCP considers the assumptions on which the forward-looking information contained herein are based to be reasonable. However, by its very nature, forward-looking information inherently involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information. Such risks include, without limitation, failure to obtain regulatory approvals. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. LPCP disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES, ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAW/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133384
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Pacific Booker Minerals Inc (TSXV: BKM) (OTC Pink: PBMLF) held its Annual General Meeting on July 28, 2022 in the Company's corporate office in Vancouver. A total of 77 shareholders were represented in person or by proxy, representing 26.63% of our issued and outstanding shares. All nominated directors were re-elected to the board and all resolutions passed with more than 90% of the voting "for" the resolutions.

On July 7th, PBM's legal counsel sent a letter to the legal counsel for the Lake Babine Nation outlining some ideas for discussion and stating that PBM is open to any additional items that are a concern for the LBN, included ideas regarding re-design of the project site; enhancement/protection of the salmon and their waterways; and benefits of an economic and related nature for the LBN and its members.

On July 21st, Kent Zehr, PBM's independent consultant sent a letter to the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change Strategy; Energy, Mines and Carbon Innovation; and Land, Water and Resource Stewardship and Minister Responsible for Fisheries.

Some of the proposed concepts include Salmon Enhancement including a Spawning Channel Addition; Environmental Baseline Extension including the establishment of a Steering Committee; Sharing the Benefits with local Hiring and contributions to a Scholarship Fund; and Project Design Modernization reflecting the mining and milling science changes developed since the original design was done.

If you would like to be added to or removed from our email newsgroup, please send your request by email to info@pacificbooker.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

"John Plourde"

John Plourde

President/CEO & Director

No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained in this news release. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future production, reserve potential, exploration drilling, exploitation activities and events or developments that the Company expects are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133429
In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used.

This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly.

The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. However, without providing us with your personal data, you will be unable to (as appropriate): contact us; subscribe to our mailing list; subscribe to any of our publications; or receive information about In Defence of Marxism.

We collect information about you:

(1) When you give it to us DIRECTLY

You may give us your personal data in order to subscribe to a newsletter or publication, when you contact us by phone, email or post, when you sign a petition / statement, and/or when you donate money to us.

(2) When you give it to us INDIRECTLY

Your information will also be provided to us when you follow us or otherwise interact with on or via Twitter, when you like and/or join our page on Facebook or interact with us in other ways on or via Facebook.

(3) When you give permission to OTHER ORGANISATIONS to share it or it is AVAILABLE PUBLICLY

We may combine information you provide to us with information available from external publicly available sources. Depending on your privacy settings for social media services, we may also access information from those accounts or services. We use this information to gain a better understanding of you and to improve our communications and fundraising activities.

(4) When you visit our WEBSITE

We use cookies to identify you when you visit our website. Please refer to our Cookies Policy for details on the way our use of cookies affects your personal data.

What information do we collect?

We may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal data:

(1) We will typically hold your name and contact details, including telephone number, location, and e-mail address. However, we may request other information where it is appropriate and relevant, for example:

Your bank details or debit/credit card details (if making a donation).

(2) any communication preferences you give;

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(4) any other information shared with us as per clause 1.

Do we process sensitive personal information?

Applicable law recognises certain categories of personal information as sensitive and therefore requiring more protection, including political opinions and trade union membership. In limited cases, we may collect sensitive personal data about you. We would only collect sensitive personal data if there is a clear reason for doing so; and will only do so with your explicit consent.

How and why will we use your personal data?

Personal data, however provided to us, will be used for the purposes specified in this Policy or in relevant parts of the website.

We may use your personal information to:

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(8) Deal with enquiries and complaints made by you relating to the website or us in general;

(9) Make petition submissions to third parties, where you have signed a petition and the third party is a target of the campaign to which the petition relates; and/or

(10) Audit and/or administer our accounts.

Supporter Analysis

Google Analytics

We may use some of your personal information to analyse our digital performance, for example to see how our website can be improved to help us achieve the purposes set out in section 9 below, to record how you are using our website or to assess the popularity of different articles / campaigns.

For more information on how we use your personal information in relation to Google Analytics, please view our cookie policy by clicking this link cookies policy



You can opt-out of the collection of information for such purposes here: http://www.aboutads.info/choices

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All financial transactions carried out on our website are handled through either:

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GoCardless Ltd (GoCardless), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read GoCardlesss privacy policy (available at https://www.gocardless.com/legal/privacy) prior to effecting any transactions with us through GoCardless.

We will provide your personal data to PayPal / GoCardless only to the extent necessary for the purposes of processing payments for transactions you enter into with us. We do not store your financial details.

Childrens data

We do not knowingly process data of any person under the age of 16. If we come to discover, or have reason to believe, that you are 15 and under and we are holding your personal information, we will delete that information within a reasonable period and withhold our services accordingly.

Security of and access to your personal data

We endeavour to ensure that there are appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to prevent the loss, destruction, misuse, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or of access to your personal information.

Your information is only accessible by appropriately trained staff and volunteers.

We may also use agencies and/or suppliers to process data on our behalf. We may also merge or partner with other organisations and in so doing transfer and/or acquire personal data.

Please note that some countries outside of the EEA have a lower standard of protection for personal data, including lower security requirements and fewer rights for individuals. We may transfer and/or store personal data collected from you to and/or at a destination outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Such personal data may be processed by agencies and/or suppliers operating outside the EEA. If we transfer and/or store your personal data outside the EEA we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient implements appropriate measures to protect your personal data.

Otherwise than as set out in this Privacy Policy, we will only ever share your data with your informed consent.

Your rights

Where we rely on your consent to use your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This includes the right to ask us to stop using your personal information for direct marketing purposes or to be unsubscribed from our email list at any time. You also have the following rights:

(1) Right to be informed  you have the right to be told how your personal information will be used. This Policy and any other policies and statements used on our website and in our communications are intended to provide you with a clear and transparent description of how your personal information may be used.

(2) Right of access  you can write to us to ask for confirmation of what information we hold on you and to request a copy of that information. Provided we are satisfied that you are entitled to see the information requested and we have successfully confirmed your identity, we have 30 days to comply.

(3) Right of erasure  as from 25 May 2018, you can ask us for your personal information to be deleted from our records.

(4) Right of rectification  if you believe our records of your personal information are inaccurate, you have the right to ask for those records to be updated.

(5) Right to restrict processing  you have the right to ask for processing of your personal data to be restricted if there is disagreement about its accuracy or legitimate usage.

(6) Right to data portability  to the extent required by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) where we are processing your personal information (i) under your consent, (ii) because such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are party or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contact or (iii) by automated means, you may ask us to provide it to you  or another service provider  in a machine-readable format.

To exercise these rights, please send a description of the personal information in question using the contact details in section 15 below. You can also unsubscribe from our email list by sending a blank email to news-unsubscribe@marxist.com

Where we consider that the information with which you have provided us does not enable us to identify the personal information in question, we reserve the right to ask for (i) personal identification and/or (ii) further information.

Lawful processing

We are required to have one or more lawful grounds to process your personal information. Only 4 of these are relevant to us:

Personal information is processed on the basis of a persons consent Personal information is processed on the basis of a contractual relationship Personal information is processed on the basis of legal obligations Personal information is processed on the basis of legitimate interests

(1) Consent

We will ask for your consent to use your information to send you electronic communications such as newsletters and and fundraising emails, and if you ever share sensitive personal information with us.

(2) Contractual relationships

Most of our interactions with supporters are voluntary and not contractual. However, sometimes it will be necessary to process personal information so that we can enter contractual relationships with people. For example, if you subscribe to one of our publications, or purchase merchandise online.

(3) Legal obligations

Sometimes we will be obliged to process your personal information due to legal obligations which are binding on us. We will only ever do so when strictly necessary.

(4) Legitimate interests

Applicable law allows personal information to be collected and used if it is reasonably necessary for our legitimate activities (as long as its use is fair, balanced and does not unduly impact individuals rights).

We will rely on this ground to process your personal data when it is not practical or appropriate to ask for consent.

Achieving our purposes

These include (but are not limited to) promoting socialist policies

Governance

Internal and external audit for financial or regulatory compliance purposes

Statutory reporting

Publicity and income generation

Conventional direct marketing and other forms of marketing, publicity or advertisement

Unsolicited messages, including campaigns, newsletters, and fundraising appeals

Analysis, targeting and segmentation to develop and promote or strategy and improve communication efficiency

Personalisation used to tailor and enhance your experience of our communications

Operational Management

Maintenance of suppression files

Processing for historical, scientific or statistical purpose

Purely administrative purposes

Responding to enquiries

Delivery of requested products or information

Communications designed to administer existing services including subscriptions, administration of petitions and financial transactions

Thank you communications and receipts

Maintaining a supporter database and suppression lists

Financial Management and control

Processing financial transactions and maintaining financial controls

Prevention of fraud, misuse of services, or money laundering

Enforcement of legal claims

Reporting criminal acts and compliance with law enforcement agencies

When we use your personal information, we will consider if it is fair and balanced to do so and if it is within your reasonable expectations. We will balance your rights and our legitimate interests to ensure that we use your personal information in ways that are not unduly intrusive or unfair in other ways.

Data retention

The length of time each category of data will be retained will vary depending on how long we need to process it for, the reason it was collected, and in line with any statutory requirements. After this point the data will either be deleted, or we may retain a secure anonymised record for research and analytical purposes.

In the event that you ask us to stop sending you direct marketing/fundraising/other electronic communications, we will keep your name on our internal suppression list to ensure that you are not contacted again.

Policy amendments

We keep this Privacy Policy under regular review and reserve the right to update from time-to-time by posting an updated version on our website, not least because of changes in applicable law. We recommend that you check this Privacy Policy occasionally to ensure you remain happy with it. We may also notify you of changes to our privacy policy by email.

Third party websites

We link our website directly to other sites. This Privacy Policy does not cover external websites and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external websites you visit via links on our website.

Updating information

You can check the personal data we hold about you, and ask us to update it where necessary, by emailing us at webmaster@marxist.com

Contact

We are not required by law to have a Data Protection Officer  however we have a Data Protection Manager.

Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com
DOVER, DE / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Pacific Green Technologies, Inc. (the "Company" or "Pacific Green", (OTCQB:PGTK)) announces that it has successfully completed its first milestone in the process of diversifying and regularizing its income streams. Pacific Green is transitioning from a single technology equipment provider in the marine sector to an asset-driven "build-own-operate" renewable energy and battery energy storage system ("BESS") development company, led by the financial close in June 2022 of its first 99.98 MW project at Richborough Energy Park, as part of Pacific Green's 1.1 GW pipeline of BESS developments in the UK. In summary:

Successfully executed transition to renewable energy company with recurring income model from self-developed energy assets

FY22 results impacted by COVID related slowdown to marine business

99.98 MW Richborough Battery Energy Park asset in construction, with projected commercial operations via the National Grid in June 2023

Financial restatement reflects change in timing of milestone recognition. No impact on cash flows.

As part of this transition, along with tighter fuel spreads and COVID-19 pandemic logistical issues for the Company's clients and suppliers in the marine sector, revenues have been reduced for the year ending March 31, 2022 to $15.44 million (FY21 revenue: $52.62 million) with a net loss for the year of US$10.75 million (FY21 net loss: US$1.81 million).

Within the stated losses includes a one-off, non-cash write-down of combined goodwill and intangible assets, totaling US$7.06 million against Chinese subsidiary Pacific Green Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. (formally Shanghai Engin Digital Technology Co. Ltd.) and Pacific Green Innoergy Technologies Ltd., acquired in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The restatement of past financials noted in the Company's year end filing reflects a change in the accounting treatment of the timing of revenue and expense recognition only, with no impact to cash flows, balances or the Company's ability to undertake business development in the energy storage sector.

Over the past six months, the spread between high-sulphur and low-sulphur fuel oils has rebounded to exceed US$200 per ton. Pacific Green has witnessed a significant increase in new enquiries for its emissions control systems, commonly known as "scrubbers", leading to further sales of the Company's technology in the past months.

The Company has built out its BESS division, recruiting a world-class team of experts to create an industry leading platform to deliver its 1.1 GW pipeline in the UK and is now looking to expand the platform geographically.

Pacific Green has invested in its first 99.98 MW BESS project at Richborough Energy Park in the UK, supported by the Company's 50% project equity partner, Green Power Reserves Limited, senior debt provided by Close Leasing Limited and energy optimization by Shell Energy Europe Limited. The development, Richborough Energy Park Limited, is currently in construction, with projected commercial operations commencing in June 2023.

During this period, the Company has funded the deposit to secure its second BESS development of 249 MW in the UK as part of the 1.1 GW pipeline.

About Pacific Green Technologies, Inc.:

Pacific Green Technologies, Inc. is focused on addressing the world's need for cleaner and more sustainable energy. The Company offers Battery Energy Storage Systems and Concentrated Solar Power energy solutions to compliment its marine environmental technologies division.

For more information, visit Pacific Green's website:

www.pacificgreentechnologies.com

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the construction of the 99.98 MW BESS the Company is to develop in Kent; and any potential business developments in the UK and future interest in the Company's battery, solar and emissions control technologies.

Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, general economic and political conditions, the continuation of the construction of the 99.98 MW BESS, the sales of retrofit emissions control technologies and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Scott Poulter, Chairman & CEO

Pacific Green Technologies

T: +1 (302) 601-4659

SOURCE: Pacific Green Technologies, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711627/Pacific-Green-Successfully-Executes-Its-Transition-to-Renewable-Energy-Recurring-Income-Model-and-Announces-Its-Annual-Report-for-Year-Ending-March-31-2022
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / The Board of Directors of Computer Modelling Group Ltd. ("CMG" or the "Company") announces a dividend of $0.05 per Common Share on CMG's Common Shares. The dividend will be paid on September 15, 2022 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 7, 2022.

Computer Modelling Group Ltd. is a computer software technology and consulting company serving the energy industry. The Company is a leading supplier of advanced process reservoir modelling software, with a diverse customer base of international oil companies and technology centers in approximately 60 countries. CMG's existing technology has differentiating capabilities built into its software products that can also be directly applied to the energy transition needs of its customers. CMG has sales and technical support services based in Calgary, Houston, London, Dubai, Bogota and Kuala Lumpur. The Company's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CMG."

All dividends paid by Computer Modelling Group Ltd. to holders of Common Shares in the capital of Computer Modelling Group Ltd. will be treated as eligible dividends within the meaning of such term in section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), unless otherwise indicated.

For further information, please contact:

Pramod Jain

Chief Executive Officer

(403) 531-1300

pramod.jain@cmgl.ca

or

Sandra Balic

Vice President, Finance & CFO

(403) 531-1300 sandra.balic@cmgl.ca www.cmgl.ca

SOURCE: Computer Modelling Group Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711652/Computer-Modelling-Group-Declares-Quarterly-Dividend
All matters approved by shareholders

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Voyager Metals Inc. (TSXV:VONE) ("Voyager" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the voting results of the Company's 2022 Annual and Special Shareholders' Meeting (the "Meeting") held on August 10, 2022, in Toronto, Ontario.

A total of 10,653,127 common shares were voted at the Meeting, representing 11.608% of the votes attached to all outstanding common shares of the Company. All matters presented for shareholder approval at the Meeting were duly authorized and approved, as follows.

Number of Directors to be Elected

The resolution to set the number of directors to be elected at the meeting at six (6) was approved. The following votes were cast by proxy:

Total Votes % of Votes Cast Votes in Favour 10,651,627 99.986% Votes Against 1,500 0.014% Total Votes Cast 10,653,127 100%

Election of Directors

Shareholders elected each of the six nominees listed in the Company's Management Proxy Circular. Details of the voting results are as follows:

Name Votes in Favour % Votes Withheld % Mark Brennan 10,624,851 99.735% 28,276 0.265% Cliff Hale-Sanders 10,624,851 99.735% 28,276 0.265% Maria Virginia Anzola 10,588,627 99.395% 64,500 0.605% Casper Groenewald 10,651,627 99.986% 1,500 0.014% Dennis Moore 10,649,851 99.969% 3,276 0.031% W. John Priestner 10,649,851 99.969% 3,276 0.031%

Appointment of Auditors

Wasserman Ramsay LLP was appointed auditor of the Corporation and the directors of the Corporation were authorized to fix the auditor's remuneration. Details of the voting results are as follows:

Total Votes % of Votes Cast Votes in Favour 10,588,627 99.395% Votes Withheld 64,500 0.605% Total Votes Cast 10,653,127 100%

10% Rolling Stock Option Plan

Shareholders approved the resolution to renew the Company's 10% "rolling" stock option plan with amendments thereto, as more particularly described in the Company's management information circular. The following votes were cast by proxy:

Total Votes % of Votes Cast Votes in Favour 10,586,851 99.378% Votes Against 66,276 0.622% Total Votes Cast 10,653,127 100%

About Voyager Metals Inc.

Voyager Metals Inc is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its Mont Sorcier, Vanadium-rich, Magnetite Iron Ore Project, located just outside of Chibougamau, Quebec.

At Mont Sorcier, Voyager is rapidly advancing the project towards Feasibility and permitting The project currently has Indicated Resources of 679M tonnes grading 27.8% magnetite and 0.20% V2O5, with the potential to produce 195M tonnes of magnetite concentrate grading at least 65% Fe and 0.52% vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and a further Inferred Resource estimated at 547M tonnes grading 26.1% magnetite and 0.17% V2O5, with the potential to produce 148M tonnes of magnetite concentrate grading at least 65% Fe and 0.52% vanadium pentoxide (V2O5).

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VOYAGER METALS INC.

Cliff Hale-Sanders,

President and CEO

Tel: +1-416-819-8558

csanders@voyagermetals.com

David Ball

Vice President, Corporate Development

Tel: +1-647-796-0068

dball@voyagermetals.com

info@voyagermetals.com

www.voyagermetals.com

SOURCE: Voyager Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/711651/Voyager-Metals-Inc-Announces-Results-of-Annual-and-Special-Meeting-of-Shareholders
Expedock, a San Francisco, CA-based international freight software provider, raised $13.5m in Series A funding.

The round, which brought the total amount raised to $18m, was led by Insight Partners, with participation from VMG Catalyst as well as existing investors Pear and Neo and executives from Project 44, Salesforce, Meta, eBay, and Clearmetal.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its team to allow supply chain businesses to more understand and operationalize their data at scale.

Expedock uses AI to transform paper documents into data, quickly classify them, and bring them into existing freight forwarder tools. The automation of invoices and statement of accounts, including their entry, reconciliation and posting, ensures on-time payment to vendors while also bringing accurate visibility to margins when billing shippers. Rather than spending half the day manually reviewing paperwork, supply chain experts can now focus on moving goods. The right automation partner will drive efficiency and profitability, reduce labor costs and keep up with todays global shipper.

Led by King Alandy Dy, CEO, Expedock provides an AI-powered automation service that enables players in the global supply chain to move tens of thousands of freight containers every week through technology that eliminates inefficiencies by automating the manual processes and connects all physical and digital data sources into one platform.

The company works with some of the largest brands in the global supply chain, including Wayfair, ClearFreight, JUSDA, and Ascent, a subsidiary of Roadrunner Freight.

FinSMEs

10/08/2022
Nanopath, a Cambridge, MA-based molecular diagnostics company, raised $10M in Series A funding.

The round was led by Norwest Venture Partners and the Medtech Convergence Fund, with participation from Gingerbread Capital and Green D Ventures. Jeff Crowe, senior managing partner at Norwest Venture Partners, and Aaron Sandoski, founding partner at SV Health Investors Medtech Convergence Fund, joined Nanopaths board in tandem with this funding round.

The company intends to use the funds to support development and commercialization of its biosensing platform.

Led by CEO Amogha Tadimety, and CTO Alison Burklund, Ph.D., Nanopath is dedicated to improving health equity worldwide, starting with womens health. Its proprietary molecular diagnostic test leverages novel biosensing technology, which aims to improve how womens pelvic and gynecologic infections are diagnosed, and enable fast, high-complexity tests to be performed in minutes and at the point-of-care.

Nanopaths proprietary biosensing technology utilizes ultrasensitive optical detection to identify DNAs and RNAs, without the need for nucleic acid amplification. This amplification-free approach minimizes reagents, lowers costs and reduces user steps that are ubiquitous across molecular diagnostics.

The company is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., at LabCentral, the premier launchpad for high-potential life sciences and biotech start-ups. Nanopath was spun out of Dartmouth College in 2019 in partnership with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

FinSMEs

10/08/2022
H.E. Mr. Chen Daojiang, Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica, together with the Prime Minister of Jamaica Andrew Holness and Deputy Prime Minister Horace Chang, attended the Ground-Breaking Ceremony of Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project in Montego Bay on 16 July, 2022.

Ambassador Chen made remarks during the ceremony as follow:

I am very happy to come here to witness the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Montego Bay Perimeter Road Project. First, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese government, to congratulate you on the ground breaking of this project. It is very meaningful to make my first English speech in Jamaica here.

There is a saying in China  To be rich, build a road. Infrastructure investment is important to the socio-economic development of a country. This is the valuable lesson we learned from Chinas fast development since the Reform and Opening up 40 years ago. The Belt and Road Cooperation is to improve the connectivity of more countries. It will help us achieve common development and build a community with a shared future for mankind. I am very happy to see that our two countries share the same vision on this. I believe, the Montego Bay Perimeter Road will be a road that improves the conditions of the west and leads to convenience, but also a road that promotes the socio-economic development of Jamaica and leads to prosperity. More importantly, it is a road that shows the shared goals of our two countries and leads to the long-lasting friendship.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Jamaicas independence and its way to reignite a nation for greatness. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and Jamaica. Two countries face new development opportunities. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative last year, which put connectivity one of the most important areas. China wish to take this chance to deepen practical cooperation including infrastructure with Jamaica. The two countries could implement the GDI together and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to carry the China-Jamaica strategic partnership to a new level.

CHEC is one of the first Chinese companies that enter Jamaica. The North-South High way it built has been a good example of bilateral cooperation. We will witness the signing ceremony between CHEC and HEART, the Jamaican official training organization. China will deepen cooperation with Jamaica in infrastructure development and training talents. I believe, with its rich experience and professionalism, CHEC will build Montego Bay Perimeter Road with high quality and finish the project on time. This project would be another benchmark of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

I wish this project a complete success.

Thank you.
Feature: The man behind the world's largest hanging paper lantern

Xinhua) 16:55, August 10, 2022

HONG KONG, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At the heart of Central, the bustling business district in Hong Kong surrounded by skyscrapers, an unusual "building" has attracted the attention of many locals.

Made mainly of bamboo, iron wires and fabrics, a brightly colored, four-story-high lantern has set a new Guinness World Record for the highest hanging paper lantern in the world. The lantern will be on display from the beginning of July to mid-October, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The creator behind the traditional Chinese paper lantern is Ha Chung Kin, also known as the "king of paper crafting" in Hong Kong. Having worked as a paper craftsman for more than 40 years, the 61-year-old has witnessed both the glorious and difficult times of paper crafting, now recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong.

BREAKING RECORD

It was not the first time that Ha has set a world record. Back in 2017, he made a paper lantern above nine meters high, taking home a Guinness record for the world's largest hanging paper lantern. But the record was soon broken by the Japanese.

"The paper crafting technique has been developed and handed down by our Chinese ancestors. We can't lose to others," Ha said.

To win the record back, a lantern must be of a height of 13 meters or higher, and that would require a significant amount of experience from the craftsmen.

This time, Ha took the role as the teacher, or "master", in guiding his students and some disadvantaged groups in making the lantern. In two years, master Ha and his students worked together on the components of the lantern, and every substandard part would be carefully fixed.

On the first day the lantern was completed, Hong Kong was hit by a typhoon.

"My phone kept ringing and people kept asking if the lantern would be destructed by the wind. I assured them it would be okay," Ha said.

The typhoon was gone, and the lantern was just as good. Ha said that since he knew from the very beginning that the lantern would be displayed outdoors for three months, he had already taken into account factors like typhoons in the design, and used the best fabrics and other raw materials.

The colorful lantern also attracted John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who paid a visit there and took a selfie.

"It is very exciting to see another world record made through an extraordinary display of skill," he said.

PRESERVING TRADITION

Paper crafting is a technique that embodies the history and culture of different ethnic groups and carries significant social and cultural values. Ancient Chinese people used simple materials such as bamboo splints, rice paper strips as well as paper to make all kinds of crafted products, including lanterns, dragons, lions and paper offerings.

Back in the early 20th century, the industry was booming in Hong Kong, with large-scale paper crafting workshops making substantial profits. In the 1960s, hand-made lanterns were popular even outside China, and craftsmen can make a sound living exporting their products overseas.

However, as traditions give way to the modern city lifestyle, the technique of paper crafting also risks losing its successor. Ha remembered his workshop has some 20 paper crafting "masters" during the 1980s, but there are only four now, including himself and his son.

"The young people would rather make quick money in finance than spend a whole day here facing the same bunch of people," Ha said.

In 2017, the paper crafting technique was put on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. Under government support, Ha and other craftsmen started to teach citizens and students the technique through various workshops.

At a local primary school, Ha teaches the students how to make a fish-shaped paper lantern for holiday celebrations. He makes the body of the fish, while the kids are responsible for the scales.

"Every day after school they would make one fish scale to put on the lantern. It will be done in more than one month, just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival," he said.

REMEMBERING ROOTS

In his career as a professional craftsman, Ha has made thousands of artworks, but there is a single creation that he is most proud of.

The requirement from the client was simple: Ha could make any papercraft he wants as long as the artwork could be understood by viewers instantly.

Ha spent several days brainstorming, but with no luck. The TV was on and news came that Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei came back safe from China's first human spaceflight mission.

"The idea struck me instantly that I should make a craft that speaks the spirit of Chinese astronauts," he said.

In 15 minutes, he drew up the script for the paper craft, which featured astronauts, rockets and astronomical objects nearby. The project was displayed in a park, where many citizens came by to take photos.

For Ha, the Chinese mainland is both his source of inspiration and his roots.

As the youngest son of the renowned lion dance master Ha Kwok Cheung, Ha grew a deep passion for traditional Chinese culture from a young age. His grandfather was a martial arts master from Guangdong Province, who developed Kung Fu skills both on the mainland and in Hong Kong.

Ha also traveled to Guangdong Province on a regular basis to find sparks for paper crafting, and exchanged ideas with locals on how to better protect cultural heritages.

In Dongguan of Guangdong, Ha has a factory with more than 300 workers making different kinds of paper crafts.

"Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland must work together for the paper crafting technique to survive and develop," he said.

Ha is confident that the demand for paper crafts always exists.

"We Chinese like to put on lanterns or perform lion dances during festivals and on big occasions. Wherever Chinese are, there is always a demand for paper crafts," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Alameda, California, July 12, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natel Energy and leading research institution Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), concluded a series of scientific studies that affirm an average of >99% safe passage of key migratory fish species through Natels unique turbine design, setting a new benchmark for fish safety in the hydropower industry and making significant headway in the fight to preserve biodiversity while advancing renewable energy production.

To keep global warming under 1.5 degrees C, the amount of power generated by water must double by 2050. But in the U.S. and around the world, hydropower plants have impaired river connectivity, causing fish and river ecosystems to suffer, and sparking controversy around the net environmental effects of hydroelectricity. Three tests conducted by Natel and PNNL have demonstrated that a novel turbine design is revolutionizing the relationship between hydropower and fish safety  enabling efficient renewable energy generation, while ensuring safe downstream passage across fish species and sizes.

The team at Natel is driven to find innovative ways to mitigate the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss; so, we built the Restoration Hydro Turbine (RHT) to generate clean energy and allow for safe downstream passage for the fish that inhabit our waters, said Gia Schneider, co-founder and CEO, Natel Energy. To move the needle on climate change, hydropower must be part of the solution. Our studies with PNNL conclude that hydropower can preserve fish species that are critical to societal and ecological health while helping the planet reach net zero emissions.

Latest scientific study findings  setting new industry precedent

The most recent Natel/PNNL test of 186 large rainbow trout measuring up to 500 mm (19. 7 inches) in length, found no meaningful difference between the fish passed through Natels 1.9 meter (roughly 6 feet) in diameter turbine and the control group, indicating that the RHT allows safe passage of some of the largest fish ever successfully passed through a compact hydro turbine.

Watch: Reserchers from Natel and PNNL conduct a revolutionary test of large rainbow trout at the Monroe Hydro Plant.

Earlier tests of smaller rainbow trout passed through Natels turbine demonstrated 100% survival, as did tests of 174 American eels, many of which were longer than the turbine diameter. The successful safe passage of American eels (listed as endangered by the IUCN) through a compact hydro turbine is unparalleled in the industry, and Natels study is the first-ever to capture video footage of eels passing through a turbine.

The problem between fish survival and conventional hydropower is real

According to NOAA Fisheries, in the US, over two million dams block fish from migrating each year, including the two species tested. The status quo for fish passage has been to exclude fish from hydro turbines using screens to direct fish to alternate routes downstream, which can delay migrations and expose fish to predators. However, many fish still enter turbines where they are subject to traumatic injuries or death and cannot continue their lifecycle.

While some hydropower plants have demonstrated safe through-turbine fish passage, no existing solution can yet be applied broadly. One approach is to use slowly-rotating equipment that is easy for fish to navigate, but this technology is limited to plants producing less than 1 MW of power. At the few large-scale (>50 MW) plants that strive for fish-friendliness, turbine diameters measure over 6 m while safe passage has only been demonstrated for small fish ~200 mm in length. Natels RHT is the first in the industry to enable safe fish passage for large fish through small turbines, while also offering turbine configurations that support a wide range of power outputs suitable for both small and large hydro plants.

The opportunity for fish-safe turbines

Weve designed Natels turbines for fish inclusion, which means fish can safely follow a rivers flow directly through hydropower turbines without needing to be excluded from them with fine screens and enduring delays in migration while navigating to downstream bypass systems, said Natel co-founder and CTO, Abe Schneider. Fish inclusion may be the simplest and most cost-effective way to ensure safe downstream passage of fish, while allowing hydropower plants to operate normally and without the high costs imposed by fish exclusion screens and periodic shutdowns during migratory periods. The studies weve conducted with PNNL have helped validate the fish safety of our unique turbine design, highlighting its potential to upgrade existing hydro plants that block downstream migrations, and to develop new plants that maintain downstream river connectivity.

Beyond its positive impact on fish population health, Natels turbine can boost project economics with up to 20% improved efficiency through modernization upgrades and can reduce installation costs by up to 10%. The combined results of Natels three studies with PNNL lay a foundation for a new era of fish-safe hydropower that can accelerate the transition to a renewable grid while maintaining aquatic biodiversity.

For more on Natel and their ongoing efforts to support an evolved, fish-safe approach to hydropower, please contact press@natelenergy.com.

About Natel Energy

Natel Energy, Inc., provides water, energy and environmental intelligence solutions for the changing climate. An independent power producer, Natel acquires and upgrades operating hydropower plants and develops new, low-impact hydro installations that are fish-safe, enhance river connectivity and deliver reliable renewable energy. Natels work is guided by techniques from river restoration and complemented by monitoring and forecasting software from Upstream Tech, a company that Natel acquired in 2017. Natels proprietary hardware and software portfolio and nature-based approach are revolutionizing the hydro and environmental intelligence landscapes. Natel is a privately held company located in Alameda, California in the United States. Visit www.natelenergy.com for more information.

Attachments
9 August 2022, Limassol Cyprus



In reference to the 28/29 July 2022 press releases, stating that Green Energy Group (SBX Plc, or "the Company") has completed a private placement and the disclosure of large shareholders, the Board of Directors has invited Mr Odd Sondre Helsing, representing MH Capital AS, to join the Board of Directors as an independent observer. The Board of Directors also states that the objective is to appoint Mr Helsing as a Director of the Board at the next General Meeting.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held 08.08.2022 at 11:00 Cyprus time. The minutes from the AGM are enclosed.





Attachment
Washington, DC, Aug. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ALERT

International Summit in South Korea

Toward Peace on the Korean Peninsula: Toward a World Culture of Peace





The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is hosting Summit 2022 and Leadership Conference, a five-day international summit with related peace events at the Jamsil Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, beginning this week.



World leaders from dozens of countries are gathering from August 11-15, 2022, to address paths to global peace, with a special emphasis on Africa, the Asia Pacific Region and reconciliation between North and South Korea.



A highlight of the August 12 opening ceremony is a presentation of a resolution to propose the development of a Peace Charter, which follows on the foundation of the Seoul Resolution signed at World Summit 2022 (February 2022) in Seoul by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.



Prominent international speakers will include: Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister (2006-2015); Hon. Newt Gingrich, US House Speaker (1995-1999); Hon. Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State (2018-2021); Hon. Dan Burton, US Congressman (1983-2013); and H.E. Brigi Rafini, Executive General, Community of Sahel-Saharan States and Prime Minister (2011-2021), Niger.



Later that same day, participants will hear about a recent UPF Fact-Finding Delegation for Peace on the Korean Peninsula from experts on Korea, including Gen. Walter Sharp, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and US Forces Korea (2008-2011); Amb. Harry Harris, US Ambassador to Korea (2018-2021); and Amb. Joseph DeTrani, Special Envoy, Six-Party Talks with DPRK (2003-2006). In addition, a special program will feature The Washington Times, now celebrating its 40th anniversary.



Multiple sessions will cover peace efforts in Africa, and feature a Resolution endorsed by African Religious Representatives and led by Imboni Prophet Radebe, founder of The Revelation Spiritual Home in South Africa.



Afternoon sessions will include presentations on threats to religious freedom across the globe that features Pastor Paula White-Cain, Senior Pastor, City of Destiny Church in the US; Hon. Jan Figel, European Union Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion (2016-2019); and Dr. Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director, Center for Studies on New Religions, Italy.



On Saturday, August 13, symposia will be held around themes of unified Korea, a peaceful world, harmonizing science and religion, the womens movement, youth character education, and the role of the media and economics in the 21st century.



On Sunday, August 14, participants will travel to the HJ Global Arts Center in Seorak, outside of Seoul, for a special program hosted by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon honoring her late husband and UPF co-founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his lifelong efforts to establish peace around the world.



In addition to UPF International Chair Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, the summits dozens of speakers will include Sheikh Mansour Diouf, Senegal; Hon. Ibrahim Natatou, Minister of Education, Niger; Hon. Hamza Said Hamza, Minister of Youth and Sports, Somalia; Hon. Adi Koila Nailitikau, First Lady (2009-2015), Fiji; Hon. Mwaba Tony, Minister of Higher Education, DR Congo; Hon. Neziha Labidi, Minister of Women, Family and Children (2016-2020), Tunisia; H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, Chairman, Asian Vision Institute, Cambodia; Jim Rogers, Chairman of Beeland Interests, Inc.; Bishop Don Meares, Senior Pastor, Evangel Cathedral, USA; H.E. Callista Mutharika, First Lady (2010-2012), Malawi; Dr. Song Yong-cheon, Chair, Sunhak Foundation; Dr. Hwang Sun-jo, President, Sun Moon University; and Dr. Yun Young Ho, Director General, FFWPU International.



UPF is an NGO with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It has been hosting dozens of forums and events that promote peacebuilding with leaders of 157 nations that have diplomatic ties to North and/or South Korea, in an effort to explore prospects for the peaceful reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. The Royal Government of Cambodia has been a co-host to some of these events.



The August 11-15 events will have in-person speakers and participants, as well as a large global audience who will join digitally via a high-tech hybrid format.



UPFs works through a set of peacebuilding associations segmented into seven field-based organizations:

International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) and the International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP)

International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP)

Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD)

International Association for Peace and Economic Development (IAED)

International Media Association for Peace (IMAP)

International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP)

International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP)

For media inquiries, please contact:

William P. Selig | Communications Director, Universal Peace Federation

Ph: 240-274-1744 | Email: wselig@upf.org | Web: www.upf.org

Attachment
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 15, 2022 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Unilever PLC (NYSE: UL), if they purchased the Companys American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) between September 2, 2020 and July 21, 2021, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.



What You May Do

If you purchased ADRs of Unilever as above and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-ul/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 15, 2022 .

About the Lawsuit

Unilever and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On July 19, 2021, the Companys wholly owned subsidiary, Ben & Jerrys, announced a resolution to end sales of its ice cream in Occupied Palestinian Territory upon the expiration of the current licensing agreement by which its products had been distributed in Israel for decades. Then, on July 22, 2021, media sources reported that the states of Texas and Florida were investigating Ben & Jerrys actions for possible violations of the states Anti-BDS (boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel) legislation.

On this news, ADRs of Unilever fell $3.19 per share, or approximately 5.4%.

The case is City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System v. Unilever PLC, et al., No. 22-cv-05011.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises F45 Training Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: FXLV) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud and may file a class action on behalf of investors. F45 investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

The investigation focuses on F45s statements leading up to and after the company July 2021 IPO.

Specifically, in connection with F45s IPO the company promoted the rapid scalability of its business model as helping to promote the success of its franchisees. In addition, as recently as May 16, 2022, F45 Training assured investors that it had secured a $250 million line of credit that it could extend to franchisees to secure its target of 1,000 new studio openings in 2022.

Doubts about F45s representations emerged on July 26, 2022, when F45 announced that: (1) 2022 net studio openings would be more than 50% less that promised (i.e. between 350 and 450 vs. 1,000); (2) the $250 million credit line will not be available, (3) its CEO (Adam Gilchrist) left his position more than a month beforehand (on June 24, 2022); and, (4) it is firing approximately 110 employees.

This news sent the price of F45 shares crashing 61% lower on July 27, 2022.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises MINISO Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: MNSO) investors that the firm has initiated an investigation into possible securities fraud and may file a class action on behalf of investors. MINISO investors that lost money on their investment are encouraged to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 844-767-8529 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

The investigation focuses on MINISOs statements about its core business model and use of its IPO proceeds.

More specifically, MINISO has repeatedly attributed its fast growth to its MINISO Retail Partner model and claimed the model is an asset-light, high-margin network of thousands of allegedly independent franchise stores who shoulder capital expenditures and operating expenses while selling company-branded products.

The companys claims came into serious question on July 26, 2022, when analyst Blue Orca Capital published a scathing report accusing MINISO of lying about the model. In contrast to MINISOs claims, Blue Orca determined that the company itself owns and operates about 40% of MINISO stores and, in addition, hundreds of stores are registered to company executives or persons connected to its Chairman. Blue Orca attributed MINISOs secret ownership and operation of stores to years of declining store revenues and profits and its slashed franchise fee, together indicating a retail brand in stark decline.

Blue Orca also concluded that, shortly after MINISO completed its $600 million IPO in October 2020 that MINISOs chairman, Ye Guofu, bilked hundreds of millions of freshly raised capital from public investors through a series of crooked transactions revolving around the purchase and construction of a massive headquarters in China.

This news sent the price of MINISO American Depositary Shares sharply lower on July 26, 2022.

Most recently, on July 29, 2022 Blue Orca responded to MINISOs purported July 28 rebuttal, and observed in part that the company (1) simply ignored Blue Orcas finding that the company owns and operates about 40% of MINISO stores, and (2) admitted its chairman Ye Guofu did not contribute funds to the RMB 346 million deposit to purchase land for MINISOs headquarters.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

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Dublin, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on China's Nicorandil Market, 2022-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The analyst survey data show that from 2017 to 2021, the sales value of nicorandil in the Chinese market kept increasing year by year. Even in the face of COVID-19, the sales value still achieved growth in 2021, reaching CNY618 million (USD92.7 million), with a CAGR of 72.4% from 2017 to 2021. The dosage forms of nicorandil sold in China include tablets and injection, with the latter already occupying the major market share in terms of sales value.



The analyst that from 2022 to 2031, the number of patients with coronary heart disease and angina will continue to rise in China, and the demand for nicorandil in the Chinese market will keep growing.



In China, the crude incidence rate of hypertension among residents over the age of 18 is close to 30%, and the most common hazard of hypertension is coronary heart disease. By the end of 2021, it is estimated that the number of patients with coronary heart disease in China exceeded 11 million, and that number keeps rising due to environmental pollution and poor lifestyle habits.



Clinically, WHO classifies coronary heart disease into five types: asymptomatic myocardial ischemia (occult coronary heart disease), angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart failure (ischemic heart disease), and sudden death.



Angina is a clinical syndrome caused by acute, temporary ischemia and hypoxia of the myocardium due to insufficient blood supply to the coronary arteries. Population-based studies show that the incidence of angina increases with age, with the prevalence increasing from 5%-7% in women aged 45-64 years to 10%-12% in women aged 65-84 years, and from 4%-7% in men aged 45-64 years to 12%-14% in men aged 65-84 years.



The rising number of patients with coronary heart disease in China has contributed to the growth of the related drug market.



Nicorandil is an anti-anginal drug that both relieves angina symptoms and improves the prognosis of coronary artery disease, with both nitrate-like effects and ATP-sensitive potassium channel-opening effects. It can both dilate large coronary arteries and diastole coronary microcirculatory resistance vessels, increasing coronary blood flow and myocardial oxygen supply while decreasing myocardial oxygen consumption, which effectively relieve angina pectoris. Several global medication guidelines have made high-level recommendations for Nicorandil.



Nicorandil was developed by Chugai with SIGMART as its trade name. Nicorandil tablets were launched in Japan in 1984 as an anti-anginal drug while the injection was put into clinical use for unstable angina in 1993 and acute heart failure in 2007. Nicorandil from Chugai entered the Chinese market in 2009, and generic drugs from local Chinese companies have been marketed since then. In 2017, Nicorandil became reimbursable under the Chinese medical insurance.



Topics Covered:

The Impact of COVID-19 on China's Nicorandil Market

Development Environment of Nicorandil in China

Sales Volume and value of Nicorandil in China

Sales Volume and Value of Nicorandil in China by Region

Major Nicorandil Manufacturers in China and Their Market Share

Sales Price of Nicorandil in China

Prospects of China's Nicorandil Market, 2022-2031

Key Topics Covered:



1 Relevant Concepts of Nicorandil

1.1 Indications of Nicorandil

1.2 Development of China's Nicorandil Market

1.3 Governmental Approval of Nicorandil in China

1.4 The Impact of COVID-19 on China's Nicorandil Market



2 Sales of Nicorandil in China, 2017-2021

2.1 Sales Value

2.1.1 Sales Value in China

2.1.2 Sales Value in China by Region

2.2 Sales Volume

2.2.1 Sales Volume in China

2.2.2 Sales Volume in China by Region

2.3 Sales of Nicorandil in China by Dosage Form, 2017-2021

2.3.1 Injection

2.3.2 Tablets



3 Analysis of Major Nicorandil Manufacturers in China, 2017-2021

3.1 Analysis of Market Share

3.1.1 Market Share of Manufacturers by Sales Value

3.1.2 Market Share of Manufacturers by Sales Volume

3.2 Beijing Sihuan Kebao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

3.2.1 Company Profile

3.2.2 Sales of Nicorandil in China

3.3 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

3.4 Xi'an Hanfeng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

3.5 Henan Topfond Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

3.6 Shanxi Xin Yu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.



4 Sales Price of Nicorandil of Different Companies in China, 2021-2022

4.1 Beijing Sihuan Kebao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (RuiKeXi)

4.2 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (SIGMART)

4.3 Xi'an Hanfeng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (XinDiPin)

4.4 Henan Topfond Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TianFang)

4.5 Shanxi Xin Yu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (YiWanKang)



5 Prospects of China's Nicorandil Market, 2022-2031

5.1 Influencing Factors for the Market Development

5.1.1 The Impact of COVID-19 on the Market

5.1.2 Market Drivers and Opportunities

5.1.3 Market Threats and Challenges

5.2 Forecast on Market Size

5.3 Forecast on Market Trend

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qv0psv

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Dublin, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on Vietnam's Rice Industry 2022-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Vietnam is rich in rice, tropical crops and aquatic products and is a major exporter of agricultural products in Southeast Asia, and the third largest exporter of rice in the world.



According to the analyst's analysis, Vietnam's rice export value reached USD3.133 billion in 2021, and rice has become a bright spot in Vietnam's agricultural products exports. This is a remarkable achievement of the rice industry for many years, especially in the context of natural disasters and COVID-19 epidemic that hit Vietnam's agriculture in 2020 in terms of production and export.



In 2021, Vietnam's total rice production was about 44 million tons, meeting the demand for domestic consumption, processing, poultry and livestock feed, and export, etc. In 2020, its rice exports grew against the backdrop of a decline in exports of many of Vietnam's long-dominant agricultural products due to the COVID-19 epidemic. In 2021, rice exports increased from 5.28 million tons to 6.57 million tons.



In terms of price, the average price of Vietnam's rice exports in 2021 dropped 3.83 percent year on year to $477 per ton. At the beginning of 2021, Vietnamese rice prices still maintained the highest position. On March 25th, Vietnamese rice with a 5% breakage rate rose to $515-520 per ton, Thai rice of the same variety to $500-518 per ton and Indian rice to $398-403. In January 2021, Vietnam's rice export price reached $551.7 per ton.



Since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) came into force on August 1, 2020, rice exports have rapidly seen an upturn. According to EVFTA, the EU provides Vietnam with 80,000 tons of rice for export at 0% tax rate annually (including 30,000 tons of milled rice, 20,000 tons of unmilled rice and 30,000 tons of aromatic rice).



For rice from Vietnam, the EU will reduce the import duty rate to zero in the coming years. Taking advantage of the above, from September 2020, Vietnam started to sell rice to the EU at a much higher price than before. Specifically, before EVFTA came into effect, the prices of ST20 rice and Jasmine rice exported to the EU were USD800 and USD520 per ton, respectively, while now the prices are over USD1,000 and USD600, respectively.



According to the analyst's analysis, there are three reasons for the rise in Vietnam's rice prices. Firstly, the government issued an agricultural restructuring proposal, by which the rice structure has been strongly adjusted, changing the rice cultivation protocols, i.e., paying more attention to improving rice quality rather than increasing production.



In 2015, Vietnam's quality rice seeds accounted for only 35%-40% of the total seeds, while in 2020 the Chart reached 75%-80%, and even in some places, the usage rate of quality rice seeds is as high as 90%.



Secondly, Vietnam has signed many FTAs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Europe-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) with many countries, which creates conditions for a breakthrough in Vietnam's rice exports. Third, many industries were affected by the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, but the market demand for food has not decreased.



According to the analyst's analysis, the Jiulong River Plain is the center of rice cultivation in Vietnam, contributing 50% of rice production and 95% of rice exports to Vietnam's agriculture.



In 2020, the Jiulong River Plain cultivated more than 1.5 million hectares of rice per season, with an average yield of 6 tons per hectare and an annual rice production of more than 24 million tons. Furthermore, its winter-spring rice production is expected to reach 10 million tons from 2020 to 2021.



The analyst reports that Vietnam's rice exports are to continue to rise in both volume and value in 2022-2031.

Topics covered:

Overview of Vietnam's Rice Industry

Economic and Policy Environment of Vietnam's Rice Industry

What is the Impact of COVID-19 on Vietnam's Rice Industry?

Imports volumes and values of Vietnam's Rice, 2016-2021

Forecast on Imports volumes and values of Vietnam's Rice, 2022-2031

Analysis of Major Rice Companies in Vietnam

Key Drivers and Market Opportunities in Vietnam's Rice Industry

What are the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities for the rice industry in Vietnam during 2022-2031?

What is the expected revenue of the Vietnam rice market during 2022-2031?

What are the strategies adopted by the key players in the market to increase their market share in the industry?

Which segment of Vietnam's rice market is expected to dominate the market in 2031?

What are the major adverse factors facing the rice industry in Vietnam?

Key Topics Covered:



1 Overview of Vietnam

1.1 Geographical Situation

1.2 Demographic Structure of Vietnam

1.3 Economy of Vietnam

1.4 Minimum Wage in Vietnam, 2011-2022

1.5 Impact of COVID-19 on the Rice Industry in Vietnam



2 Development Environment of Vietnam's Rice Industry

2.1 Brief History of Vietnam's Rice Industry

2.2 Types of Vietnam's Rice industry

2.3 Policy Environment of Vietnam's Rice Industry



3 Supply and Demand Situation of Vietnam's Rice Industry

3.1 Supply Situation

3.2 Demand Situation



4 Import and Export Situation of Vietnam's Rice Industry

4.1 Import Situation

4.1.1 Import Volume and Import Value

4.1.2 Main Import Sources

4.2 Export Situation

4.2.1 Export Volume and Value

4.2.2 Main Export Destinations



5 Market Competition in Vietnam's Rice Industry

5.1 Barriers to Entry in Vietnam's Rice Industry

5.1.1 Brand barrier

5.1.2 Quality Barrier

5.1.3 Capital Barrier

5.2 Competitive Structure of Vietnam's Rice Industry

5.2.1 Bargaining Power of Rice Suppliers

5.2.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers

5.2.3 Competition in Vietnam's Rice Industry

5.2.4 Potential Entrants in the Rice Industry

5.2.5 Substitutes for Rice



6 Analysis of Major Rice Brand Companies in Vietnam

6.1 Vilaconic Joint Stock Company

6.1.1 Development History of Vilaconic Joint Stock Company

6.1.2 Main Products of Vilaconic Joint Stock Company

6.1.3 Operating Model of Vilaconic Joint Stock Company

6.2 Vu Phat International Co., Ltd

6.3 Cam Nguyen Rice Trading And Processing Limited Company

6.4 Khanh Tam Company Limited

6.5 Hoa Lua Rice Trading Company Limited

6.6 SUNRISE INS Company Limited

6.7 Khue Star Import Export Trading Company Limited

6.8 Robert & Partners International Limited

6.9 Hanfimex Group

6.10 Gia Son Phat Trading and Service Co.



7 Outlook on Vietnam's Rice Industry, 2021-2031

7.1 Analysis of Vietnam's Rice Industry Development Factors

7.1.1 Drivers and Development Opportunities for Vietnam's Rice Industry

7.1.2 Threats and Challenges Facing Vietnam's Rice Industry

7.2 Forecast on Vietnam's Rice Supply

7.3 Forecast on Vietnam's Rice Market Demand

7.4 Forecast on Import and Export of Vietnam's Rice Industry

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mn5zer

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Dublin, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on Vietnam's Steel Industry 2022-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

In 2021, the growth rate of Vietnam's GDP is 2.6%. Vietnam's economy has been increasing rapidly for many years, but wages of manufacturing are still at a low level, which were less than 50% in China and far below that of the developed countries in 2021.



According to the analysis, as Vietnam's economy develops and the living standards of residents rise, the demand for steel in the industries such as construction, automobiles and home appliances is also going up. The rapid development of steel demand has attracted many steel enterprises to build new steel capacity in Vietnam.



As the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam has been effectively controlled, the steel industry in Vietnam will not be greatly affected in 2020. Overall, Vietnam's steel industry is still growing, and homemade steel cannot meet the needs of the domestic market.



According to the analysis, in 2021, the production volume of crude steel in Vietnam reached 26.15 million tons, representing a CAGR of 32.7% from 2013 to 2021.



Based on the analyst's analysis, seeing the huge potential of the steel market in Vietnam and even Southeast Asia, many enterprises have invested in Vietnam's steel industry in recent years. The largest investment case is Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS), which is a joint venture by Formosa Plastic Group, China Steel Corporation and Japan's JFE Holdings, with a first-phase investment of more than USD 10 billion.



Due to the rapid increase in production capacity of the steel industry in recent years, the supply of some types of steel in Vietnam has exceeded the demand, including concrete iron or steel for construction, cold-rolled steel coil products, etc. In order to reduce large quantities of imports such as hot-rolled steel coils and electromagnetic steel sheets, the Vietnam government is actively attracting foreign investors to establish positions in the country.



At present, the Vietnamese government has not formulated nationwide policies for foreign investment in the steel industry. However, steel companies have been set up in many industrial parks in Vietnam, which are granted with preferential policies in taxation and other aspects.



In addition, as Vietnam's manufacturing and construction industries develop rapidly, the demand for steel will continue to increase. It is estimated that, during 2022-2031, Vietnam's roads, airports and other infrastructure, housing construction, automobile, home appliances and other industries will all maintain a high growth rate.



On the whole, most domestic steel manufacturers are extremely low in production capacity (no more than 1 million tons a year), with outdated equipment. Foreign-funded enterprises have seen great market prospects in investing in the steel industry of Vietnam, especially to establish one-stop businesses from the production of crude steel to the processing of various kinds of steel.



For one thing, these steel enterprises can market in Vietnam. For another, they can export products to the Southeast Asian market with a total population of nearly 700 million, and even to the Asia-Pacific market with a population of more than 2 billion.



The analyst reports that the Vietnam steel market will become one of the fastest growing markets in the world from 2022 to 2031. Meanwhile, the CAGR of the production volume of crude steel is projected to exceed 15%. By 2024, Vietnam will become a net exporter of steel.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Development Environment of Vietnam Steel Industry



2 Market Status of Vietnam Steel Industry, 2015-2021



3 Analysis on Import and Export of Steel in Vietnam, 2015-2021

4 Major Steel Manufacturers in Vietnam, 2019-2021



5 Prospect of Vietnam Steel Market, 2022-2031



Companies Mentioned

HOA PHAT Steel

HOA SEN Group

VIET NAM Steel Corporation

SMC Steel Company Limited

VSC - Posco Steel Corporation (VPS)

Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lp6ws9

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Galilee, Israel, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archeologists from Kinneret College in Israel and Nyack College, NY, led by Prof. Mordechai Aviam and Prof. Steven Notley, have uncovered a large Greek inscription during excavations of what is being called the "Church of the Apostles," a Byzantine period basilica at el Araj/Beit haBek believed to be built over the Apostles Peter's and Andrew's home. The inscription was translated by Prof. Leah Di Segni (Hebrew University) and Prof. Yaakov Ashkenazi (Kinneret College). It references a donor, "Constantine, the servant of Christ," and continues with a petition for intercession by St. Peter, "chief and commander of the heavenly apostles." Framed with a round medallion made of two lines of black tesserae, the inscription forms part of a larger mosaic floor in the church's diaconion (sacristy) that is partly decorated with floral patterns. The el Araj/Beit haBek site is located in the Beteiha nature preserve, and assistance was made by the Israel National Parks Authority. The El Araj Excavation Project is a joint project of the Kinneret Institute for Galilee Archeology at Kinneret College and Nyack College. The excavation is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins (CSAJCO), the Museum of the Bible, the Lanier Theological Library Foundation, and HaDavar Yeshiva (HK).

The title "chief and commander of the apostles" is routinely used by Byzantine Christian writers to refer to the Apostle Peter. "This discovery is our strongest indicator that Peter had a special association with the basilica, and it was likely dedicated to him. Since Byzantine Christian tradition routinely identified Peter's home in Bethsaida, and not in Capernaum as is often thought today, it seems likely that the basilica commemorates his house," said Steven Notley, academic director of the dig.

This discovery also bolsters the basilica's identification with the church described by the 8th century bishop of Eichstatt, Willibald, who reported that it was built over the house of Peter and Andrew.

"One of the goals of this dig was to check whether we have at the site a layer from the 1st century, which will allow us to suggest a better candidate for the identification of Biblical Bethsaida. Not only did we find significant remains from this period, but we also found this important church and the monastery around it," says archaeologist Mordechai Aviam, archaeological director of the excavation.

The Roman remains that have been excavated bear witness to the testimony of Flavius Josephus (Jewish Antiquities 18:28) that the village became a small polis called Julias that existed until the 3rd century CE. Altogether, these finds continue to strengthen the identification of el Araj/Beit haBek with the ancient Jewish village of Bethsaida.

Excavations will resume in October when the cleaning of the entire church will be completed with the aim to answer the question of its different phases and perhaps uncover additional inscriptions.

To learn more about the dig, or join in the excavations next season, click here.

BACKGROUND ON THE DIG:

During this season, students from Kinneret College, as well as volunteers from the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Slovakia, Brazil, and the UK participated in the excavation. Efforts were concentrated on the area in and around the church, which was named by the excavators, "the Church of the Apostles," due to Willibald's description of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While traveling from Capernaum to Kursi he stayed overnight at a place he was told, "is Bethsaida from which came Peter and Andrew. There is now a church where previously was their house." Simon Peter was the first to declare the messiahship of Jesus (Matthew 16:16) and so was considered chief of the Apostles. His prominence is demonstrated by the church of St. Peter in Rome that was built over his grave. It seems his home was likewise commemorated in Bethsaida.

Contact: Dr. R. Steven Notley, notley@gmail.com, 845-300-5797

Related Images











Image 1: Inscription from Church of the Apostles





credit: Zachary Wong

















Image 2: Prod. Mordechai Aviam cleaning the inscription.





credit: Zachary Wong









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Dublin, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Latin America Data Center Storage Market - Industry Analysis and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Latin America data center storage market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.94% from 2022 to 2027.



The data center storage market comprises several products such as hard disk drives, solid-state drives, storage networking, and other infrastructure. This infrastructure is critical for effective data center storage.

The Latin American data center market has witnessed strong growth over the last five years. Especially after the outbreak of COVID-19, the demand for cloud and colocation services has skyrocketed in the market. In 2021, Brazil continued to dominate the data center storage space, whereas Mexico and Chile were upcoming destinations for storage spending in Latin America.

The market is also dominated by expansion by global and local cloud service providers across the region. In addition, the demand is driven by government digitalization initiatives to support the growing consumption of online content by consumers in the region.



KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The Latin American data center storage market is driven by increasing digitalization, accelerated data center investments, especially by cloud service providers, and the adoption of advanced storage technology, like NVMe and software-defined storage.

Cloud service providers are the main contributors to Latin America's data center storage market. Expanding cloud presence through establishing multiple cloud regions across countries like Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina will drive high-performance storage adoption in the market.

In 2021, all-flash and hybrid storage systems contributed to around 65% of the market revenue, whereas traditional HDD-based systems dominated in terms of capacity

The contribution to the storage spending by enterprises across other countries is mostly restricted to on-premises deployment. The leading countries have witnessed strong growth in data center outsourcing services, especially colocation and managed services.

Most investments will come from telecommunication service providers across several countries in Latin America, as they continue to invest in improving connectivity and offering IT services to end-users.

Edge data center deployments and the establishment of cloud regions at the edge by hyperscale operators will significantly boost the market growth.

SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

Storage architecture/topology, Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems dominate the market adoption, followed by Storage Area Networking (SAN) and Direct Attached Systems (DAS).

Adopting technologies such as big data and IoT via digitalization initiatives by local enterprises will boost the procurement of all-flash and hybrid array systems.

In Latin America, cloud, IT, and telecom segments are expected to witness the fastest growth in terms of data center storage, owing to factors such as the adoption of cloud by enterprises, development of edge data centers due to 5G deployments, and initiatives such as the pay-as-you-go model for cloud storage.

KEY MARKET TRENDS

Increasing Innovation in Data Center Storage

Innovations in storage media expected to impact the Latin American storage market include adopting DNA and holographic storage.

Tape storage is also returning to the storage market, with companies such as Quantum (LTO-9, LTO-8, and LTO-7 tape drives) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (LTO Ultrium) offering tape storage in the market.

ADOPTION OF SOFTWARE-DEFINED STORAGE

Software-defined storage is expected to increasingly be used in data centers over the next few years, mainly due to over 80% of the data generated is unstructured, which makes it more difficult to store in a traditional storage system.

Though the use cases of software-defined storage are currently minimal in the Latin American market, the adoption will grow, along with hyper-converged platforms/rack-level architecture being adopted, even in on-premise deployments in Latin America.

GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

Brazil contributed around 40% to storage spending in 2021. It is expected that Mexico and Chile will flourish during 2022-2023, following Colombia and Argentina during 2024-2026.

Around 25% of large enterprises in Brazil have adopted AI and machine learning technologies, contributing to the strong growth of high-performance storage systems in the market.

In other Latin American countries, currently, there is a meager presence of third-party data center services, which is expected to grow via investments by technological firms and cloud service providers, further contributing to the storage market growth.

VENDOR ANALYSIS

In Latin America, the data center storage market is very competitive, especially with the advent of ODM infrastructure being procured by hyperscale operators for their storage needs.

The major procurement of storage infrastructure in Latin America is being carried out by cloud service providers involved in rapid expansions across the region with additional cloud regions. These operators are involved in the procurement of storage systems, ranging from low to high-performance storage solutions.

Storage infrastructure vendors such as Huawei, Fujitsu, IBM, HPE, NetApp, Pure Storage, and Dell Technologies have a strong presence in the region, either directly or through reseller/distribution partners.

Prominent Vendors

Dell Technologies

Fujitsu

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)

Hitachi Vantara

Huawei

IBM

Intel

Kingston Technology

Lenovo

NEC

NetApp

Oracle

Pure Storage

Samsung Electronics

Seagate Technology

Solidigm

Toshiba

Western Digital

Wistron (WIWYNN)

Key Topics Covered:



1 Research Methodology



2 Research Objectives



3 Research Process



4 Scope & Coverage

4.1 Market Definition

4.2 Base Year

4.3 Scope of the Study



5 Report Assumptions & Caveats

5.1 Key Caveats

5.2 Currency Conversion

5.3 Market Derivation



6 Market at a Glance



7 Premium Insights



8 Market Opportunities & Trends

8.1 5G & Edge Data Center Deployments

8.2 Adoption of NVME Storage

8.3 Adoption of Software-Defined Storage

8.4 Adoption of Tape Storage

8.5 Innovations in Storage Media



9 Market Growth Enablers

9.1 Impact of Covid-19

9.2 IoT and Big Data Processing

9.3 Growing Deployment of Flash Storage

9.4 Increasing Adoption of Ai & Ml Workloads

9.5 Cloud Adoption Dominating Storage Spending

9.6 Increasing Colocation Data Center Investments Across the Region



10 Market Restraints

10.1 Supply Shortages

10.2 Lack of a Skilled Workforce

10.3 Cybersecurity Concerns



11 Market Landscape

11.1 Market Overview

11.2 Market Size & Forecast

11.3 Five Forces Analysis



12 Storage Architecture

12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2 Nas

12.3 San

12.4 Das



13 System

13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2 Traditional Storage

13.3 All-Flash Storage

13.4 Hybrid Storage



14 Industry

14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2 Bfsi

14.3 Government

14.4 Cloud/It

14.5 Others

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tc47a
Dublin, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Brazil Elevator and Escalator - Market Size and Growth Forecast 2022-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Brazil's Elevator and Escalator market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6% during 2022-2028



Rapid urbanization, with about 85% of the population residing in urban areas and various socio-economic development projects in the pipeline, entails the creation of more opportunities for the elevator and escalator market. The incremental growth for the installed base of the Brazil elevator market will be recorded at 186,518 units during 2021-2028.



INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM & PRO RAIL PROGRAM TO PROPEL INVESTMENTS ACROSS BRAZILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE

Loan approval of USD 97 million for the Sao Paulo Aricanduva BRT Corridor project to finance the construction of a high-quality Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Bus system on the 14-kilometer corridor, including BRT stations, bicycle paths, and innovative signaling systems with public transport priority was granted by World bank.

From 2012 to 2015, the AFD (French Development Agency) supported Rio de Janeiro's urban mobility policies, and it is now collaborating with the Ile-de-France Transport Authority (STIF), involving governance and urban integration for public transportation projects, extending the city's public transportation provider, and consolidating the integrated single ticket fare system.

The Sao Paulo Metro Line 6 is the largest public-private infrastructure project under construction in Latin America with an investment of BRL 15 billion; it will include 15 metro stations running along with a total of 15 kilometers. The main focus is to improve the travel time of commuters, relieve traffic jams on particularly congested roads, and, in general, decarbonize the transport sector in Sao Paulo.

The 172 km-long southern section between Sao Simao and Estrela Doeste of the North-South railway line will reduce the travel time and costs and allow better services to transport agricultural products from Central-west Brazil to the Port of Santos. According to the National Agency of Land Transportation (ANTT), the line has the potential to attract 22.73 million tons by 2055

Major international groups are planning to open their branch in Brazil; Kempinski hotels are renovating the old hotel Laje de Pedra in Canela, located in the Rio Grande do Sul, and is expected to launch its first hotel in Latin America in 2024. Radisson hotel construction has already begun at the coral resort.

GREEN BUILDING PENETRATION FOCUSES ON THE RESIDENTIAL SECTOR TO BOOST THE INSTALLATION OF ENERGY-EFFICIENT ELEVATORS IN BRAZIL

The International Finance Cooperation (IFC) partnered with Brazilian Chamber For the construction Industry (CBIC) to decarbonize the already established buildings in Brazil using EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification. The partnership was announced in June 2021. To obtain EDGE Certification, a building construction project should save 20% of energy compared to a conventional building.

As a part of green economic recovery and create green economic opportunities mitigating changes caused due to urbanization on society and environment. Brazil is a potential market for green buildings with an estimated USD 24.7 trillion by 2030.

The Government of Sao Paulo state, concerning Public, private partnership (PPP), has initiated the Julio Prestes social housing project, which aims to provide 1,200 apartments for lower-income families as part of green housing for all vision. This project is EDGE certified; living in resource and energy-efficient buildings will likely reduce energy and water bills. People generally spend 20% of their income on utilities; based on the building unit, the residents at Julio Prestes can save up to 26% on utility bills.

'Green and Yellow House' is a program initiated to build 12 million housing units, out of which 384,000 units were given to a socially vulnerable population of around 1.5 million.

INCREASED NEW INSTALLATIONS FUELLED BY SMART CITY PROJECTS & INVESTMENTS ACROSS PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

The smart cities trend has been considerably growing over the years. The Connected Smart Cities platform accelerates the development of intelligent cities in Brazil. Belo Horizonte, Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Vitoria, and Rio de Janeiro are considered the top 5 smart cities by the Connected, intelligent city platform, considering various factors.

About 15% of the Brazilian population lives in rural areas. To provide the rural population access to all sections of society, the National Regional Development Policy (NRDP) and the National Urban Development Policy (NUDP) have taken a combined initiative named the Brazilian Charter Community for Smart Cities.

In 2021, escalators used in the commercial sector accounted for the largest share of around 38.7% in the Brazil escalator market, due to the surge in smart city projects and other infrastructure development projects in the pipeline.

The urban shift project in Brazil was accomplished by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Innovation (MCII) which UNEP implemented. Urban Shift's goal is to assist Brazilian metropolitan areas lessening GHG emissions, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing all residents' quality of existence. The capital cost for this project will be USD 12.6 million.

THE MAINTENANCE MARKET IS PUSHED BY BRAZIL EQUIPMENT STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

Brazilian Association of elevator companies (ABEEL) introduced a digital seal to distinguish companies based on meeting current standards, quality of products, commitment, and services to customers to ensure the elevator's safety and proper functioning. Companies now focus on providing quality services driving the maintenance market.

Elevators and escalators account for 94.3% and 5.7% of the modernization market.

According to ABEEL (Brazilian association of elevator companies), modernization of elevators leads to secondary consequences (reduced maintenance costs of elevators), stabilizing the economy for condominiums. Old elevators that require extra attention and additional charges lead to an increase in buildings' costs.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS IN THE REPORT

Elevator Expo is an important event for the vertical transport industry in Latin America; the 8th Edition of the Expo Elevador 2023 will be held in Brazil, targeting professionals, engineers, and architects in the sector (focusing on service providers companies) and students. This interactive platform brings together companies across the globe and might invest and expand in the nation.

With over 1,400 green building certification projects, Brazil will be South America's leading green building market by 2018. Until May 2022, there are 816 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified activities with a LEED-certified area of 175.3million square feet.

In 2017, the Government launched the National Tourism Plan 2018-2022 to increase annual international visitor arrivals from 6.6 million to 12 million, provide 2 million jobs, and encourage 40 million residents to travel domestically. The critical objective of tourism development is to create quality Brazilian tourism products. Furthermore, considering the country's regional culture and natural differences, strategies have been established to stimulate and facilitate the consumption of Brazilian tourism products in domestic and international markets.

With support from the strategic partnership of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, with the Ministry of Communications and ANDUS Project in aid to the National Sustainable Urban Development Agenda in Brazil. The ANDUS Project is the cooperative result of Brazil-Germany and is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur International Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

Otis, Schindler, and TKE are Brazil's top 3 manufacturers of elevators and escalators.

Atlas Schindler, in September 2019, expanded its factory with an increase of 7,200 m2 built area; this expansion of its manufacturing unit remains the largest firm in the nation. Atlas Schindler also supplies 25% of its production to Chile, Columbia, and Mexico.

Key Vendors

OTIS

Schindler

TK Elevator

Hitachi

Hyundai Elevator

Fujitec

Other Prominent Vendors

Wittur

GMV Elevator

Vega Lifts

Schmersal

Draka Elevator

Giovenzana

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1dijhr
CONCORD, Mass., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abode Energy Management (Abode), a leading provider of utility solutions to reduce residential carbon emissions, is partnering with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) as Home Decarbonization Advisor on MassCEC's Decarbonization Pathways Pilot. MassCEC enlisted Abode's expertise in July 2021 to assist with developing an innovative pilot protocol, customer report, and resources to remove fossil fuels and improve energy efficiency in Massachusetts homes. In May, MassCEC contracted with Abode to perform the field implementation portion of the pilot. As the Decarbonization Advisor, Abode will begin testing the pilot protocol in select single-family homes and select triple-deckers.

The Decarbonization Pathways Pilot will provide participants with a home decarbonization assessment that will evaluate all potential areas to reduce carbon emissions including energy efficiency, electrical upgrades, heating and cooling, hot water, appliances, personal transportation, and lawn care. The goal is to provide homeowners with a personalized, comprehensive decarbonization action plan.

"Abode is excited to collaborate with MassCEC and other industry partners to move this pilot into the implementation phase. Successfully decarbonizing Massachusetts' homes is needed now and we're pleased to be at the leading edge of this effort," said Dave Boettcher CEO and founder. "We are eager to get into people's homes to get this important work started."

Abode and MassCEC aim to build a program that can be scaled for homes and residents to help achieve Massachusetts' decarbonization targets as mandated by An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy. The Decarbonization Pathways Pilot is taking on this challenge by creating a test model for comprehensive consumer engagement and an actionable roadmap to help homeowners transition to a carbon-free footprint.

"MassCEC is excited to launch the Decarbonization Pathways pilot to help existing homes transition to clean energy. Abode has been a strong partner in developing an approach that meets homeowners where they are and provides the necessary support to homeowners throughout the process. We look forward to our continuing work with them," said Peter McPhee, MassCEC's Director of High-Performance Buildings.

To learn more about Decarbonization Pathways, visit masscec.com/program/decarbonization-pathways-pilot.

Abode manages multiple programs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut supporting homeowners and contractors as they transition to cold climate heat pump technology and adopt energy efficiency solutions. Services include technical consulting with homeowners, quote comparison analysis, quality assurance, and contractor management.

About Abode Energy Management

Abode Energy Management is an energy management and consulting services firm based in Concord, Massachusetts. We're focused on creating innovative solutionsbacked by years of experienceto drive energy efficiency and carbon reduction for residential buildings.

About MassCEC

MassCEC is dedicated to accelerating the success of clean energy technologies, companies, and projects in the Commonwealthwhile creating high-quality jobs and long-term economic growth for the people of Massachusetts.

Media Contact

Kristin Dupre, Vice President of Strategy and Development, Abode Energy Management

Email: kristin.dupre@AbodeEM.com

Phone: 339-210-4243

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Blue Serenity brings science and compassion together, will cement Thomas Hartles legacy as a Canadian psychedelic icon



Optimi and Hartle to host press conference today at 1:00 PM EST

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN) (Optimi or the Company), a Canadian-based company licensed by Health Canada to produce natural, scalable, and accessible psychedelic and functional mushrooms, as well as synthetic formulations for transformational human experiences, is celebrating the launch of Blue Serenity, Canadas first natural therapeutic psilocybin product, in collaboration with psilocybin patient advocate Thomas Hartle.

Blue Serenity is standardized to contain a total of 25 milligrams of natural psilocybin in the form of EU-GMP biomass grown as Panaeolus cyanescens mushrooms cultivated at Optimi Labs Inc. in Princeton, British Columbia. Optimis Chief Science Officer, Justin Kirkland, and Head of Cultivation, Todd Henderson, collaborated with Hartle to breed a specific genetic strain based on Hartles previous therapeutic experiences.

Once approved by health authorities under Canadas Special Access Program (SAP) or an authorized clinical trial, patients, doctors, and researchers will receive Blue Serenity in blister packs of eight (8) psilocybin capsules. Blue Serenity is packaged according to current regulations and guidelines governing the manufacture and commercial distribution of medical/pharmaceutical products (EU-GMP).

Optimi CEO, Bill Ciprick, says the launch of Blue Serenity is a moment to pause and reflect on Thomass enormous contributions to a world beyond psychedelics.

Anyone who has entered the psychedelics space in the last two years will tell you that Thomas Hartles story of compassion and kindness inspired them in some way to want to make a difference, said Ciprick. We are tremendously excited to be partnering with Thomas to become the first Canadian company to launch a natural psilocybin product specifically to help patients seeking relief through the Special Access Program, he added.

Further, Ciprick confirmed that proceeds from the sale of Blue Serenity will directly benefit psilocybin patients through Hartles new charity, a venture that will provide access to psilocybin therapy for underserved adults. Optimi will also make a $5,000 monetary donation to the charity in commemoration of the two-year anniversary of Mr. Hartles Health Canada approval to undergo psilocybin-assisted therapy.

Its an excellent opportunity for Optimi to give back to those in need, while helping to build a network of trust between business, advocacy, patients, and doctors, that we hope will further the framework for compliant access and increase the overall confidence of practitioners in this medicine, Ciprick added.

Hartles choice of the name Blue Serenity touches on the emotional and visual aspect of his psilocybin experience, specifically in how he was able to redefine the inner sense of peace his therapy brought him.

Blue Serenity was born from an experience that took me from a state of extreme anxiety to a feeling of calm that I never knew existed, said Hartle. Knowing that my journey will live on in a natural substance that others will be able to access goes to the core of everything that is right about psychedelic therapy, and that in itself is an incredibly moving experience for me, added Hartle.

Research shows that up to 80 percent of patients with advanced cancer are likely to suffer distressing thoughts around death and up to 50 percent of patients with generally incurable conditions are likely to have psychiatric diagnoses.

Blue Serenity will be available upon request to all legal psilocybin patients whose access has been approved by Health Canada under legal mechanisms such as the SAP and Section 56 Exemptions to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as well as authorized researchers interested in standardized dosages of natural psilocybin.

Optimi Health will be hosting a press conference with Thomas Hartle at 1:00 PM EST today (Wednesday, August 10th, 2022) to provide more details on the launch of Blue Serenity.

To access todays 1:00 PM EST press conference, please click here.

For more details or to request an interview, please contact:

Michael Kydd

michael@kyddergroup.com

902.880.6121

ABOUT OPTIMI (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN)

Optimi Health Corp. is a Canadian-based company licensed by Health Canada to produce and supply natural, EU-GMP grade psilocybin and synthetic psychedelic substances, as well as functional mushrooms that focus on the health and wellness markets. Built with the purpose of producing scalable psychedelic formulations for transformational human experiences, the Companys goal is to be the number one trusted, compassionate supplier of safe drug products throughout the world. Optimis products are grown at its two facilities comprising a total of 20,000 square feet in Princeton, British Columbia, making it the largest psilocybin cultivator in North America.

ABOUT THOMAS HARTLE

Thomas Hartle is a 54-year-old husband, father, and IT professional who was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in 2016. Faced with the typical outcome of stage 4 cancer, Thomas experienced a debilitating level of anxiety over his future, as well as that of his family. This anxiety prompted him to explore new potential options for his treatment-resistant condition. In August of 2020, Thomas became the first Canadian to legally receive psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy.

Since that time, Thomas has experienced a substantial improvement in both his emotional wellbeing and his overall ability to once again enjoy the time he has with his family. He is currently advocating the use of this therapy while undergoing his regular cancer treatment regime.

FOR INTERVIEW REQUESTS OR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Investor Relations

Email: investors@optimihealth.ca

Phone: +1 (902) 880 6121

Web: www.optimihealth.ca

FORWARDLOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, forwardlooking statements) that relate to Optimis current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as will likely result, are expected to, expects, will continue, is anticipated, anticipates, believes, estimated, intends, plans, forecast, projection, strategy, objective, and outlook) are not historical facts and may be forwardlooking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forwardlooking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. In particular and without limitation, this news release contains forward looking statements pertaining to activities proposed to be conducted under the Companys dealers license and associated business related to Psilocybin and Psilocin and Optimis plans, focus and objectives.

Forwardlooking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimis control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forwardlooking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact and progression of the COVID19 pandemic and other factors set forth under ForwardLooking Statements and Risk Factors in the Companys Annual information Form dated January 12, 2022, and other continuous disclosure filings available under Optimis profile at www.sedar.com. Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forwardlooking statement.

Any forwardlooking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a37f9f1c-c100-4e5b-a133-e1494ba7148c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7ea1098e-ebbc-4ca7-98f0-67c7ca97fef8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e60eadb4-124e-447f-9f22-04ebf41c1930

A PDF accompanying this announcement is available at

http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/22ca4cc0-03ff-43cc-99a4-17ccd78d7ce3
New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Conductive Inks Market Research Report by Product, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06305859/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Conductive Inks Market size was estimated at USD 3,248.44 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 3,377.07 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 4.21% to reach USD 4,161.54 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Conductive Inks to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the market was studied across Carbon / Graphene, Carbon Nanotube Inks, Copper Flakes, Copper Nanoparticles, Others (Copper Oxide Nanoparticle Inks, Conductive Polymer Ink), Silver Coated Copper Nanoparticles, Silver Flakes, Silver Nanoparticles, and Silver Nanowire.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Automotive, Bio-sensors, Displays, Membrane Switches, Others, Photovoltaics, Printed Circuit Boards, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Thermal Heating.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Conductive Inks market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Conductive Inks Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Conductive Inks Market, including Applied Ink Solutions, Applied Nanotech Inc., Conductive Compounds Inc., Creative Materials Inc., Dongguan City Betterly New Materials Co., Ltd., DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Dycotec Materials Ltd., Fujikura Ltd., Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Heraeus Holding GmbH, Johnson Matthey, Merck KGaA, NovaCentrix, Parker Chromerics, Inc., Pchem Associates Inc., Poly-Ink, PPG Industries Inc., Sonoplot, Inc., Sun Chemical Corporation, and Vorbeck Materials Corporation.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Conductive Inks Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Conductive Inks Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Conductive Inks Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Conductive Inks Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Conductive Inks Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Conductive Inks Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Conductive Inks Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06305859/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Phoenix, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new poll from Center Street PAC (www.centerstreetpac.com), a non-partisan political action committee, shows Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has 14% margin over venture capitalist Blake Masters in the race for Arizonas U.S. Senate seat. Kelly leads 54% to 40% among Likely Voters, with only 7% undecided. The data follows the recent polling trend in Ohio and Pennsylvania U.S. Senate races, where Democratic candidates have significant leads over Republicans who were expected to be favorites.

Youd think this would be an easy win for Masters. Arizona is deep red and not exactly hostile to populist extremists, but we have another state where its reversed, said Center Street Co-Founder Matt OBrien.

While Masters is well behind Kelly in Preference, he has opportunity to pick up votes among a high percentage of undecided voters expected to break for him. Also, Masters Favorability numbers are not as bleak as Ozs.

Weve said it before and well say it again: once voters get to know these MAGA candidates, they dont like them, said Center Street Co-Founder Jacob Perry. Once more Arizona voters get to know Masters and see what an extremist he is, we think Arizona will go blue, in this race at least.

Masters also benefits from an advantage in voter enthusiasm, with 62% who say they are excited to vote for Masters against 57% for Kelly.

Republican voters still outpace Democrats in voter motivation, not only in Arizona, but in almost every state weve polled. The only time weve seen Democrats with the advantage was in Ohio last week, said Dr. Jetta.

While 46% of Arizona voters view Kelly Somewhat Favorably or Very Favorably (20%/26%), only 30% hold that view for Masters. Of those, only 13% view Master Very Favorably. Meanwhile, 44% of voters have a Somewhat Unfavorable (14%) or Very Unfavorable (30%) view of Masters versus 38% Unfavorable (13%/25%) for Kelly.

Kellys favorability among Democrats is extremely high, with 77% viewing him favorably, and 50% of those view him Very Favorably. Independents also like Kelly, with 42% viewing him favorably versus 21% who have an unfavorable view. By contrast, only 18% of independents view Masters favorably, with 8% at Very Favorable. Among Republicans, 51% view Masters Somewhat or Very Favorable (28%/23%). Interestingly, while only 12% of Democrats have an unfavorable view of Kelly, 24% of Republicans say Masters is unfavorable.

The Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania races are remarkably similar. In all races, three experienced Democrats have commanding leads against three MAGA neophytes with high Unfavorable scores, said Center Street Chief Analytics Officer Dr. Kurt Jetta. The only real difference between Masters and his counterparts in Ohio and Pennsylvania is that he has lower name recognition than Vance and Oz.

While Oz and Vances respective Awareness scores are in the mid-to-high 80s with Pennsylvania and Ohio voters, respectively, only 78% of Arizona voters recognize Masters name.

There are still plenty of persuadable voters in Arizona. With so many similarities among the Arizona, Ohio and Pennsylvania races, it will be interesting to see how Masters proceeds, said OBrien. Will he stay on the sidelines and let his opponent define him, like Vance did in Ohio? Or will Masters engage? And as the voters get to know him, will they like what they see?

Center Street has developed an unparalleled data set, led by Dr. Jetta. A 30-year innovator in consumer analytics and former CEO of TABS Analytics, Dr. Jetta applies his consumer analysis developments to political analysis, allowing Center Street to determine and choose a select number of winnable races. Crosstabs of the polling data are available by request.

Center Street is a nonpartisan super PAC designed to combat the destructive tribalism threatening democracy by supporting credible candidates, regardless of political party, against extremist challengers and incumbents. Founded by former Republican strategist Jacob Perry and private businessman Matt OBrien, Center Street advocates for the election of candidates who demonstrate stable and effective governing policies.

Methodology: Between Aug. 4-8, 2022, 1,107 adults 18+ were surveyed, with 877 Registered Voters and 512 Likely Voters. Results weighted to age/gender of U.S. Census and then by 2020 Presidential vote preference. Source: Center Street PAC via Momentive AI.

###

About Center Street PAC

Center Street (www.centerstreetpac.com) is a nonpartisan political action committee designed to combat the destructive tribalism that threatens our democracy. Center Street is focused on beating the extremist incumbents and challengers who divide us by supporting rational political candidates who promote stable and effective governing policies. Center Streets candidates are Democrats & Republicans who have shown political courage and a willingness to put the country above a partys interests.

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NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- ILUS International Inc (OTC: ILUS) (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc) is a Mergers and Acquisitions company focused on acquiring and developing public safety technology-based companies across the globe. The company recently joined forces with the worlds leading haptic suit manufacturer to produce the ILUS Suit for defense and emergency response training and monitoring. Following record second quarter revenue announced yesterday, ILUS is also in the final stages of due diligence for five further acquisitions, adding additional manufacturing capability, patented technology, and substantial revenue to the group.



At the ILUS Annual Shareholder Meeting held earlier this year, the company spoke of its vision for wearable technology to be used in firefighting and emergency response. Following through on this vision, ILUS has officially launched its wearable technology project with the goal of utilizing big data and the latest in artificial intelligence to train and protect first responders and warfighters. The company is entering into a Joint Venture with what it believes is the world's leading haptic suit manufacturer and will be launching the ILUS Suit.

The software technology for the specific scenarios in which the suit will be used is currently being developed by the existing ILUS acquisition, KurveXR. The company is initially focusing on software development for the defense and firefighting sectors. In training scenarios, the haptic suits provide real world feedback and monitoring capability. In a virtual reality training scenario using the suit, the trainee can feel heat, cold, rain and realistic real-life stimuli as well as haptic feedback that realistically mimics weapon recoil or the kick from a firefighting nozzle. The suits sensors capture and record motion for performance monitoring which is so vital in defense and emergency response settings. It also monitors the users physical state through its biometry system. The cardiorespiratory system is monitored to give feedback on the users oxygen saturation levels, heart rate and pulse rate variability. Although this is only a snapshot of the suits capability, the data it provides enables KurveXR to develop personalized Virtual and Augmented Reality content for military and firefighting training, as well as related applications. In addition to training, the solution is also being developed for use during live missions or incidents to monitor performance, collect and analyze data, as well as provide dynamic situational information to its users.

When deployed properly, the training of warfighters and first responders in a virtual, simulated environment means that trainees can complete training at multiple locations simultaneously. Simulation is also safer and more cost effective. This does not mean that virtual reality training should replace live training exercises and the ideal solution can be found in the deployment of both virtual and live environment training. Therefore, the ILUS suit is being designed for use in both virtual and live environments.

The virtual reality training market for defense alone is expected to exceed $5 billion by 2026. Several companies and organizations are already interested in the ILUS suit for their specific applications. Plans are in place to conduct specific prototype testing with the interested parties towards the end of 2022. ILUS then plans to demonstrate the ILUS suits capability at the Intersec Exhibition in Dubai from 17-19 January 2023.

Regarding acquisitions, ILUS and its subsidiaries are in the final stages of due diligence for five acquisitions where Letters of Intent have been signed and the company hopes to close at least two of these acquisitions soon. Final stages of due diligence are underway for the acquisition of two wildfire equipment manufacturers, a US based fire protection installation company, and two defense technology manufacturers, one of which includes a drone division with existing product and revenues. In total, ILUS is currently at various stages of negotiation with thirteen potential acquisitions and is confident that it will achieve its 2022 and 2023 revenue goals.

ILUS Managing Director, John-Paul Backwell, commented: Having recently had the opportunity to test what will become the ILUS suit, I was absolutely stunned by how immersive and realistic the technology is. I am pleased that we are working closely with the worlds leading haptic suit manufacturer which holds several technology patents and I believe we are ahead of the curve regarding what we are developing for the defense and firefighting sectors. On the acquisition front, we are moving forward as planned towards exciting announcements. Added to that, we now also have several much larger acquisitions in negotiation.

For further information on the companies, please see their communication channels:

Website: https://ilus-group.com

Twitter: @ILUS_INTL

Email: IR@Ilus-Group.com

Source: ILUS

Related Links

https://ilus-group.com

Forward-Looking Statement

Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such 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. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, 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 reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") has provided guidance to issuers regarding the use of social media to disclose material non-public information. In this regard, investors and others should note that we announce material financial information via official Press Releases, in addition to SEC filings, press releases, Questions & Answers sessions, public conference calls and webcastsalso may take time from time to time. We use these channels as well as social media to communicate with the public about our company, our services, and other issues. It is possible that the information we post on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, considering the SEC's guidance, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in our company to review the information we post on the following social &media channels:

website: https://ilus-group.com Twitter: OTC_ILUS

Note: ILUS Coin does not sit within ILUS International Inc (Ilustrato Pictures International Inc), so the public are recommended to follow the correct Media Channels relating to the public company OTC: ILUS.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Villyge, the most comprehensive employee support platform, announces its partnership with college admissions and application counseling platform, Collegewise.

Villyge works with employers to improve the employee experience. Their proprietary platform provides managers with automated "nudges" to help them lead with empathy during employees' personal life events and employees with the support they need to juggle their goals - personally and professionally. Villyge Experts provide 1:1 personalized assistance for career growth, family building, caregiving, and more. Effective immediately, that support includes college counseling to assist employees, and their children, with the college admission process.

Villyge's holistic approach to supporting employees, leaders and culture boosts productivity, increases retention and activates talent to deliver a measurable return on investment (ROI) for employers. What's more, Villyge provides tangible proof that employers care.

"The college admission process has become increasingly difficult to navigate, with families spending thousands of dollars on college guidance counselors in the hopes of increasing their children's chances of admission," says Villyge Founder and CEO, Debi Yadegari. "Villyge can ease the financial burden and mental load of families entering this next chapter."

College planning is notably one of the most stressful times for parents. A recent survey shows that 90% of employees report college planning benefits reduce stress and allows them to focus on their work. Employees estimate that every hour they work with a college advisor saves them 5 to 10 hours of their own time.

"The college application process continues to be a shifting landscape. Collegewise stays on top of the changing requirements and trends to ensure families have the support they need to navigate changes and lighten their load during an immensely stressful time," says Anjali Bhatia, Collegewise's CEO. "We are thrilled to partner with Villyge and contribute to their mission of improving the employee experience."

The addition of Collegewise to Villyge's platform will provide employees with an even greater level of support, and just in time, as the college process begins in August.

About Collegewise

The first nationwide admissions consulting firm in the U.S., Collegewise has worked with more than 26,000 students, 97% of which have received acceptance to one of their top three schools and have averaged more than $135,000 in scholarships and aid. Collegewise sessions are designed to be effective for working families, enabling counselors to address questions around summer planning, list building, essay brainstorming, and more.

About Villyge

Villyge is a total population solution, offering a holistic approach to keep companies and careers moving forward by supporting employees, leadership and culture. In addition to providing the guidance needed to bring empathy into the workplace, Villyge provides personalized resources to help employees navigate careers, family planning, leave, parenting, eldercare, and more. Villyge cuts attrition, boosts productivity and improves culture, saving the average client $2,000 per employee.

To learn more, visit www.villyge.com and follow Villyge on social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).

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WOOSTER, Ohio, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wayne Savings Community Bank, a full-service financial institution with branch locations in six Ohio counties, is pleased to announce the promotion of Sean A. Fitzsimmons to Agricultural and Commercial Lender. Wayne Savings is excited to welcome Sean to a team of seven agricultural and commercial lenders with more than 165 years of combined service. The expertise and customer service skills of our lenders are just two of the many reasons Wayne Savings is one of the fastest growing community banks in Ohio, stated James R. VanSickle II, President and CEO. Sean will help individuals, small businesses and farms reach their financial goals and realize their dreams.



Sean has five years of community banking experience, including commercial and agricultural lending. He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and has held leadership positions in several agricultural organizations including 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He is responsible for supporting local farmers and local business owners by combining one on one customer service with the unique lending programs offered by Wayne Savings.

I am excited to help my neighbors obtain financing for their farms and businesses," said Fitzsimmons. "Being born and raised in this community and now having the opportunity to help my neighbors and friends is really a dream come true for me."

To learn more about Wayne Savings and the products and services offered, please visit waynesavings.com. Established in 1899, Wayne Savings Community Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc., has twelve full-service banking locations in the communities of Wooster, Ashland, Millersburg, Rittman, Lodi, North Canton, Creston, Fredericksburg, and Washingtonville, Ohio. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

Contact Information:

James R. VanSickle II

President and Chief Executive Officer

330-264-5767

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1a354866-9a28-4ec6-a6a0-54cc99bac6ad
LONDON, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plutus is a London-based FinTech providing industry-leading crypto reward rates and 20+ Perks such as 100% back on Netflix, Spotify, and Prime. Its user base has experienced 20.4% Month-on-Month (MoM) growth due to the value customers get from its rewards programme.

Currently, Plutus is available in the United Kingdom (UK) and European Economic Area (EEA). In Q1 2023, Plutus will launch its finance app and card in the United States (US), the largest crypto market in the world.

Plutus has partnered with Prepaid Ventures (PPV), one of the leading debit card solutions in the United States, to issue its Plutus-branded Visa debit cards to US residents.

Danial Daychopan, CEO & Co-founder, comments on the announcement:

"This is a major milestone. Soon, a population of 330m will be able to earn substantial amounts of crypto simply for living their lives to the fullest! We know there is a huge demand for our services and we have full intentions to become a dominant player in the U.S. neo-banking sector."

Andrew Siden, CEO at Prepaid Ventures, comments on the partnership:

"We are very excited to have been chosen by Plutus, an industry leader in the crypto distribution space. As both an innovator and a market leader, Plutus has carved out a considerable share of the crypto market. At PPV, we are perfectly built to support Plutus in bringing its solutions to the US and providing its customers with a dynamic and reliable platform customized to match Plutus' offering in the EU."

"Our missions are well aligned and we look forward to a successful partnership with the Plutus team."

Plutus recently experienced a huge surplus of card orders, issuing 6-months' worth of card stock in less than 6 days and ultimately running out of card stock. Now, 50,000+ users are signed up on a waitlist until cards return in stock.

Join United States waitlist: www.plutus.it/unitedstates-waitlist

www.plutus.it/unitedstates-waitlist Join UK/EEA waitlist: https://dex.plutus.it/info/download-apps

For exclusive details, commentary, or interviews, contact press@plutus.it

About Plutus

Founded in 2015, Plutus disrupted the rewards card industry by creating the world's first crypto rewards token, Pluton (PLU).

Customers earn 3-8% crypto rewards on all purchases and select up to 8 in-app Perks such as 100% back on Netflix, Spotify, and Prime - rewards come in the form of PLU. An accompanying bank-like app allows users to track their rewards and fiat balances.

Plutus has converted 47% of MAU to paid subscription tiers due to the value of its rewards programme.

Website: Plutus.it

Email: press@plutus.it

-------

Twitter: https://twitter.com/plutus

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Image 1: Plutus Card









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New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Offshore Wind Power Market Research Report by Component, Location, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301575/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Offshore Wind Power Market size was estimated at USD 40.61 billion in 2021 and expected to reach USD 46.11 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 13.71% to reach USD 87.83 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Offshore Wind Power to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Component, the market was studied across Electrical Infrastructure, Substructure, and Turbine. The Substructure is further studied across Jacket and Gravity Based and Monopile. The Turbine is further studied across Nacelle, Rotors and Blades, and Tower.



Based on Location, the market was studied across Deep Water (> 60m Depth), Shallow Water (< 30m Depth), and Transitional Water (30m  60m Depth).



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Offshore Wind Power market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Offshore Wind Power Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Offshore Wind Power Market, including Bard Service GmbH, Clipper Windpower, LLC, Deutsche Windtechnik AG, Eew Group, Engie SA, GE Renewable Energy, Goldwind, Hitachi, Ltd., MHI Vestas Offshore Wind A/S, Nexans S.A., Senvion S.A., Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd., Sinovel Wind Group Co., Ltd., Suzlon Energy Limited, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, and XEMC Windpower CO. LTD..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Offshore Wind Power Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Offshore Wind Power Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Offshore Wind Power Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Offshore Wind Power Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Offshore Wind Power Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Offshore Wind Power Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Offshore Wind Power Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301575/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
CHICAGO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Strategies Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with Goldstein Financial Group, LLC ("GFG"), an independent life insurance brokerage and consulting firm based in Chicago, Illinois. Capital Strategies is an M Financial affiliated insurance firm serving high-net-worth families and businesses throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Allan Goldstein, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GFG, is a seasoned life insurance industry entrepreneur with four decades of experience providing education and solutions for high-net-worth individuals and their advisors. In addition to Mr. Goldstein, Andrea Lechner, GFG's Director of New Business and Operations, with 20 years of service to its clients, will join Capital Strategies in its Chicago office.

"Working with Capital Strategies provides a natural succession plan for GFG, its clients, and the advisors with whom we work," stated Allan Goldstein. "We came to the decision to combine forces, bringing together the GFG relationships in our local market coupled with the depth and strength provided by Capital Strategies," he added. Mr. Goldstein is also a Principal of M Financial Group, the leading life insurance distribution, service, and product organization serving high-net-worth individuals, executives, and Fortune 1000 companies.

"Allan, who started his career in the actuarial field, has distinguished himself as an industry leader through his unique ability to bring an analytical approach to clients and advisors. This aptitude coupled with his established decades-long reputation in the Chicago market are invaluable. Allan and his team are a true asset for Capital Strategies," stated David F. Byers Jr., J.D., LL.M, Managing Principal of Capital Strategies.

Throughout his career, Mr. Goldstein has been a featured speaker at leading industry events and to professional firms across the country. He has collaborated with trust and estate attorneys, wealth management firms, and trust companies. He has been published in the National Law Journal, Worth Magazine, and other publications.

With this alliance, Birmingham, Alabama-based Capital Strategies has further expanded its footprint into the Chicago market. In addition to Mr. Goldstein, Capital Strategies' expansion into Chicago will be led by Mr. Byers; T. Hudson Williams, J.D., LL.M.; and William A. Worrell Jr.

As Managing Principal of Capital Strategies, Mr. Byers is an expert in tax planning, with over 25 years of experience. He is past President of FINSECA (formerly the Association of Advanced Life Underwriters, AALU), and he currently serves as Chair of its Estate Tax Working Group. Mr. Byers also serves as Chairman of the Board of M Financial. He is a frequent speaker for estate planning and CLE courses involving tax, insurance, and estate planning issues, including the Notre Dame Tax Institute and the Tulane Estate Planning Institute. Mr. Byers has authored articles in various tax publications, including Trusts & Estates Magazine.

As Tax Counsel for Capital Strategies, Mr. Williams works directly with clients' estate planning attorneys to tailor the funding and ownership of life insurance contracts on the most tax-efficient basis. He often speaks on current issues intersecting tax and life insurance, and he co-authored "Switch Dollar and the Power of Deferral," published in Trusts & Estates, with Mr. Byers and Lawrence Brody.

Mr. Worrell has been with Capital Strategies for over 23 years. As Senior Analyst, he specializes in working with wealth transfer clients. His areas of specialization include product design/analysis and economic modeling, along with managing and maintaining close client relationships. He holds the Series 7 and 63 securities licenses. He is a long-standing member of the Estate Planning Council of Birmingham.

...

For more information about Allan Goldstein, CLU, ChFC, RHU, please read his biography here.

For more information about Andrea Lechner, please read her biography here.

For more information about David F. Byers Jr., J.D., LL.M., please read his biography here.

For more information about T. Hudson Williams, J.D., LL.M., please read his biography here.

For more information about William A. Worrell Jr., please read his biography here.

...

ABOUT CAPITAL STRATEGIES GROUP, INC.

Founded in 1989, Capital Strategies is a wealth preservation-focused insurance firm serving ultra-high-net-worth families and businesses. Through a concierge insurance experience, the firm specializes in helping to minimize income and estate-tax liabilities by planning tax-efficient insurance strategies, facilitating contract placement, and performing timely reviews. As a shareholder firm of M Financial Group, Capital Strategies provides proprietary, differentiated insurance strategies that feature preferential pricing, custom design, and greater protection for clients. For more information about Capital Strategies Group, please visit www.CapitalStrategies.net.

BIRMINGHAM: 850 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 300, Birmingham, Alabama 35209

CHICAGO: 740 Waukegan Road, Suite 310, Deerfield, Illinois 60015

...

DISCLOSURES

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc., A Registered Broker/Dealer and Investment Adviser, Member FINRA and SIPC. Capital Strategies Group, Inc. is independently owned and operated. Capital Strategies Group, Inc. is a member of M Financial Group. For further details regarding this relationship, please view our Disclosure Statement. Check the background of this Firm and/or Investment Professional on FINRA's Broker Check. For important information related to M Securities, refer to the M Securities' Client Relationship Summary (Form CRS) by navigating to https://mfin.com/m-securities. File #: 4877591.1

...

MEDIA CONTACT - Cami Gueguen | CAMIO PR | 512.215.4745 | cami@camiopr.com

Related Files

CSG_Press Release_CSG and GFG Final_ISSUED 8 10 2022.pdf

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Senior Advisor to Capital Strategies Group

















Image 2: Capital Strategies Group, Inc.









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New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced the arrival of a four-person insurance corporate regulatory team, comprised of partner Robert Romano, counsel Jonathan Bank and insurance specialists Al Bottalico and Stewart Keir. Joining from Locke Lord, Romano and Keir will practice in Norton Rose Fulbrights New York office, and Bank and Bottalico will be based in the firms Los Angeles office.

The team joins Norton Rose Fulbrights renowned global insurance practice, with leading practices in the UK, Australia, Singapore and South Africa as well as continental Europe. The team expands the firms longstanding work in the US on contentious matters to include all types of noncontentious mandates and the full range of regulatory advice.

Romano has extensive experience with insurance regulatory and corporate matters. He has assisted clients in numerous M&A, corporate finance and restructuring transactions, with special attention to methods of entry into new and specialty markets for domestic and international insurers. Romano spent two years in the London office of a prior law firm assisting the Corporation of Lloyds and clients in the Lloyds and company markets. He frequently attends meetings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and has recently contributed to rule-making deliberations on reinsurance reform, Insurance Business Transfers and Corporate Divisions. Romano is the third US lateral partner to join the corporate, M&A and securities practice in the past month, following Rajiv Khanna and Eric Rauch.

Banks practice focuses on reinsurance/insurance matters, insurance company restructuring and regulatory related matters (credit for reinsurance/collateral) for both the domestic and foreign/alien as well as captive insurance markets. He spent three years employed by UK market participants, including one of the major accountancy firms, working on a number of major UK insurer liquidations. He is actively involved in the run-off industry, involving both Corporate Division and Insurance Business Transfer statutes.

Keir and Bottalico are non-lawyer insurance financial and regulatory specialists. They both served in senior positions in insurance regulatory agencies in the US. Keir, who is also a chartered property and casualty underwriter (CPCU), served for 32 years in the New York Insurance Department (now the Insurance Division of the New York Department of Financial Services), his last position being that of Assistant Deputy Superintendent and Chief Insurance Examiner. Bottalico served for 38 years in the California Insurance Department ending his service as Deputy Insurance Commissioner of the Financial Surveillance Branch. They assist clients with all aspects of insurance regulation and analysis, including statutory accounting, auditing, compliance and liaising with state insurance regulators.

Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, said:

Robert, Jonathan, Al and Stewart are all seasoned professionals in insurance law who are also highly regarded in the regulatory community. Their practices blend well with our existing insurance capabilities and also supplement our overall strength in the financial institutions sector in the US and globally.

Scarlet McNellie, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities, said:

The regulatory landscape is everchanging, and insurers rely on our global team to advise them on complex issues. Robert, Jonathan, Al and Stewart have impressive experience which expands Norton Rose Fulbrights service offerings for our insurance industry clients, especially in the highly-regulated US insurance market.

Romano, who has extensive experience in the Brazilian market, said:

Norton Rose Fulbright has an unmatched global reach that will greatly benefit my international practice, especially in Brazil. Im excited to join the US insurance regulatory team and get a chance to expand our practice with colleagues across the globe.

Bank, who worked for Chadbourne & Parke before its 2017 combination with Norton Rose Fulbright, said:

I have practiced together with many lawyers at Norton Rose Fulbright for a long time, and moving our practice to this world-class firm is a great opportunity for our team and our clients.

Both Romano and Bank are licensed in New York, and Bank is also licensed in California. Romano earned his law degree from New York University School of Law and his bachelors degree cum laude from Harvard College. Bank earned his law degree from Creighton University School of Law and his bachelors degree from the University of Oklahoma. Bottalico received his bachelors degree from California State University, Fullerton and Kier earned his bachelors degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

For further information, please contact:

Dan McKenna, US Director and Global Head of PR and Communications

Tel: +1 713 651 3576

dan.mckenna@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright provides the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. With more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg.

Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its industry focus across all of the key sectors: financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; transport; technology; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Operating in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright aims to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.

Law around the world

nortonrosefulbright.com

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New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Pea Processed Ingredients Market Research Report by Type, Source, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301239/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market size was estimated at USD 291.23 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 314.73 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8.32% to reach USD 470.55 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Pea Processed Ingredients to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Fiber, Flour, Protein, and Starch.



Based on Source, the market was studied across Chickpeas, Lentils, and Yellow split peas.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Beverage, Food, and Others. The Food is further studied across Bakery, Confectionery, Functional Foods, Meat & Meat Substitutes, Others, Performance Nutrition, and Snacks.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Pea Processed Ingredients market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Pea Processed Ingredients Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market, including AGT Food and Ingredients, AM Nutrition, Axiom Foods, Inc, Cargill Incorporated, COSUCRA Groupe Warcoing SA, DuPont de Nemours, Inc., Emsland Group, Ingredion Incorporated, Kerry Foods, Meelunie B.V., Norben Company, Parrheim Foods, Puris Foods, Roquette Freres, and Vestkorn Milling AS.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Pea Processed Ingredients Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301239/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
English French

Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, has launched a number of social projects in Brazil promoting local development and social dialogue with the different populations



Voltalia is developing large-scale renewable projects in Brazil with wind, solar, hydro and hybrid clusters totalling 821 megawatts in operation and 701.2 megawatts under construction: the Sao Miguel do Gostoso farm in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (108 megawatts, in operation); the Oiapoque hybrid projects in the state of Amapa (23.5 megawatts, of which 7.5 megawatts under construction); the Canudos wind farms in Bahia State (99 megawatts under construction); and the large Serra Branca wind and solar cluster in Rio Grande do Norte State (688 megawatts of wind and solar plants in operation, plus 507 megawatts of solar capacity under construction). Serra Branca, with a potential of 2.4 gigawatts, is the largest wind and solar cluster in the world. This development of renewable energies continues with over 5 gigawatts of project pipeline under development.

The company is committed to ensuring that each project contributes to the development of the region by creating jobs, sustainable infrastructure, and by deploying social projects for the benefit of local communities. This commitment is at the heart of Voltalia's mission and what it has committed to by becoming a "Mission-driven Company" through its second mission objective: to contribute with the inhabitants to the sustainable development of the regions.

In Brazil, more than 170 social actions and projects have been carried out since 2014 and more than 2 million in investments have been made. For example, 40% of the workforce recruited during the construction phase are local employees, coming from the same city or town close to the renewable power plants.

In addition, Voltalia has created two initiatives to support its ambitious social projects. The first is a unique programme in Brazil: "Transformando com Energia" ("Transforming with Energy"). It aims to support the development of local workforce skills by financing free training for people living in the regions where the company operates. This initiative helps to increase the long-term employability of local communities. The courses offered are certified and pay particular attention to occupational health and safety.

The second is a place dedicated to dialogue with the stakeholders in Serra do Mel: Casa Voltalia. Territorial dialogue officers are present and are responsible for monitoring and steering the local consultation process, working on communication and social action, and establishing Voltalia as a key player in the territory for the development of social projects. Casa Voltalia has, for example, implemented preventive measures throughout the Covid period. On an ongoing basis, Casa Voltalia works to bring stakeholders together (town hall, association, etc.) and acts as a logistical base for land regularisation processes.

Social projects in Brazil implemented in 2022

In April 2022, Voltalia carried out an educational action with the students of the municipal network of Canudos. Students from the first to the fifth grade of the Nossa Senhora do Rosario municipal school, in the community of Rosario, Canudos, are made aware of the value of wind energy: the wind is a partner in the search for a more sustainable planet. To teach the production of wind energy and its benefits in a fun way, Voltalia distributed the educational material "Energy from the wind" to the students, with the support of the municipal education department. The action was marked by moments of learning: the storyteller used a wooden miniature of a wind generator and showed how wind turbines and their blades work in practice, transforming this natural asset, so abundant in the state of Bahia, into electricity.

Every month Voltalia and the Brazilian Institute of Social Expeditions (IBES) provide medical assistance in various specialties such as general medicine, occupational therapy, dentistry, physiotherapy, among others, as well as minor surgeries, laboratory tests and complementary examinations. The May edition took place from 16 to 22 May in the communities of Raso, Bom Jardim, Rosario, Risca Faca, Rio do Suturno and Sao Bento. To date, over 1,500 health and social actions have been carried out in different communities in the region. The next expedition will happen later this month from 17 to 24 August. Through this project, Voltalia, which supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is putting into practice SDG 3, which calls for ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all people of all ages.

At the Oiapoque site, 70 local people have taken part in training courses sponsored by Voltalia. Courses in masonry, structural steelwork, electrical installation, welding and carpentry were offered as part of the "Transformado com Energia" project. In total, five training courses were organised for the trades of electrician, carpenter and bricklayer. It should be noted that more than 20% of the registered participants were women, which contributes to the empowerment of women in the choice of the profession they wish, but also to their growing presence in fields previously dominated by men.

Next on the agenda: First half 2022 results, on September 28, 2022 (before market opening)

About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com) Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector. The Group produces and sells electricity generated from wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities that it owns and operates. Voltalia has generating capacity in operation and under construction of more than 2 GW and a portfolio of projects under development representing total capacity of 11.1 GW.



Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its investor clients in renewable energy projects during all phases, from design to operation and maintenance.



As a pioneer in the corporate market, Voltalia provides a global offer to private companies, ranging from the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to the local production of their own electricity.



The Group has more than 1,400 employees and is present in 20 countries on 3 continents and is able to act worldwide on behalf of its clients.



Voltalia is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, compartment B (FR0011995588  VLTSA) and is part of the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the Gaia-Index, an index for socially responsible midcaps. Loan Duong, Head of Communications & Investor relations

Email: invest@voltalia.com

T. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 Actifin

Press Contact: Jennifer Jullia

jjullia@actifin.fr . T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11

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English French

Clichy  France - August 10, 2022

BIC strengthens its R&D Capabilities in Digital Expression with the acquisition of AMI (Advanced Magnetic Interaction)

Clichy-France  August 10th, 2022 - BIC announces today that it has signed an agreement to acquire the share capital of AMI (Advanced Magnetic Interaction), a small French company specializing in augmented interaction technology and the creator of the ISKN Repaper digital tablet, which allows users to capture paper writing and drawing in an electronic format. The completion of the acquisition is contingent upon certain closing conditions. The closing is expected before the end of Q3 2022.

Created in 2014 by Jean-Luc Vallejo, Tristan Hautson, and Timothee Jobert, AMI uniquely leverages magnetometric technology to enable highly accurate, real-time position tracking without the need for embedded electronics in devices, addressing the increasing consumer need for user-friendly, sustainable, and secure digital accessories.

This acquisition strengthens BIC's R&D capabilities in Digital Expression, one of the pillars of BIC's Horizon strategic plan, and will accelerate the deployment of AMI's patented technology, notably through B2B activity in Digital Creative and Consumer Electronics applications.

# #

CONTACTS

Sophie Palliez-Capian

VP, Corporate Stakeholder Engagement

+33 1 45 19 55 28

+ 33 6 87 89 33 51

Sophie.palliez@bicworld.com



Michele Ventura

Senior Manager, Investor Relations

+ 33 1 45 19 52 98

Michele.ventura@bicworld.com Albane de La Tour dArtaise

Senior Manager, Institutional Press Relations

+ 33 1 45 19 51 51

+ 33 7 85 88 19 48

Albane.DeLaTourDArtaise@bicworld.com







Romain Griere

Image 7

+ 33 7 86 53 17 29

rgriere@image7.fr

ABOUT BIC

A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello, Djeep, Lucky Stationery, Rocketbook, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Us. TM, Wite-Out, Inkbox and more. In 2021, BIC Net Sales were 1,831.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris"," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.

Find more about BIC's Horizon Plan in our Investor Insights Newsletters, and dig further into our Raw Materials, Flame For Life strategy, Skin Creative business, and Distribution Networks.

2022/2023 AGENDA - ALL DATES TO BE CONFIRMED

3rd Quarter 2022 Results October 27, 2022 4th Quarter and Full-Year 2022 Results February 14, 2023 1st Quarter 2023 Results April 25, 2023

This document contains forward-looking statements. Although BIC believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties. A description of the risks borne by BIC appears in the section, "Risks Management" in BIC's 2021 Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial markets authority (AMF) on March 25, 2022.

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Kalispell, Montana, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As summer lovin comes to a close, its time to start planning your fall adventure. With fewer visitors, cooler temperatures and beautiful fall foliage in every direction, Kalispell, Montana may be the next best place to put on your fall travel itinerary.

Late summer and fall are two of the best times to visit Kalispell, said Diane Medler, Executive Director, Discover Kalispell  the Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau. Summer traffic begins to taper off, and visitors can experience cooler weather with beautiful fall colors in the Flathead Valley and nearby Glacier National Park.

Whether youre looking to hike, bike or just take a drive, theres so much to experience in Montanas Flathead Valley. Here are five ways to experience fall in and around Kalispell, Montana.

1. Stay two nights, get a $75 gas card.

Take advantage of Discover Kalispells Montana Road Trip Campaign. When you book two nights at a participating Kalispell hotel, youll receive a $75 gas card thats valid at any Town Pump location in Montana. Valid for reservations between August 10  September 30, 2022.

2. Going-to-the Sun Road.

The air always seems cleaner and quieter in the mountains of Montana, which is why Kalispell is the perfect getaway spot, especially in fall. The gateway to Glacier National Park, Kalispell is a scenic 32 miles from the parks west entrance. As an added bonus, after September 11, 2022, no vehicle reservations are needed for the park. Time your visit to come in mid-September before the full closure of the Going-to-the-Sun Road from Apgar to Lake McDonald Lodge, which is set for October 1, 2022 - May 26, 2023.

3. Day trip around Flathead Lake.

From Kalispell, its an easy 10-minute drive to Flathead Lake. Begin your trip south along the west side of the lake on U.S. Highway 93 and make a full loop tour, returning on Montana Highway 35. As you travel around the lake, you will be greeted with stunning views, charming small towns, colorful fall foliage and abundant Montana scenery.

4. Take a hike.

While hiking in Glacier National Park is always a good idea, the Flathead National Forest  just outside of Kalispell  is full of endless terrain that is prime for hiking, biking, fishing and camping. A local favorite, Jewel Basin is filled with so much to explore, including 20 lakes that provide incredible fishing opportunities for any type of angler. During the summer, this is a heavily visited area, which is why fall is the perfect time to visit. Additional nearby trails include Lone Pine State Park and Herron Park.

5. Explore Kalispells cozy downtown.

Before you leave Kalispell, be sure to spend a day downtown where youll find tree-lined avenues, historic colorful buildings and some of the best food in Montana. Youll also discover breweries, shops, restaurants, art galleries and more. Dont forget to grab yourself a scoop (or two) of ice cream at Sweet Peaks and catch some live music to liven up the night.

Want more? Find places to stay and more fall travel ideas at DiscoverKalispell.com.

# # #

About Discover Kalispell

Discover Kalispell, the Kalispell Convention & Visitor Bureau, is the designated marketing organization for the city of Kalispell and is a division of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. The organization is funded by the state accommodations tax and the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) fee. Anchoring the Flathead Valley, Kalispell is a destination that combines accessible amenities, touchable history and a charming downtown with Montanas wide-open spaces and endless outdoor recreation. Its also located within minutes of Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake, the Jewel Basin and many public parks and trail systems. More information can be found at DiscoverKalispell.com or on social media at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as #DiscoverKalispell.

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Anne Arundel County, MD, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Every day in Maryland, thousands of drivers fail to stop for school buses and put the lives of children at risk. Anne Arundel County Public Schools hopes to halt dangerous driving around its school buses beginning this fall with the launch of a new safety initiative in partnership with the Anne Arundel County Government, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, and BusPatrol.

As part of the initiative, the entire AACPS bus fleet of approximately 750 school buses, including those owned by contractors, is being upgraded with advanced safety technology that features AI-powered stop-arm cameras to detect violations and capture the license plates of drivers that illegally pass school buses. This video evidence is shared with local law enforcement for review and validation before a citation is issued.

There is no bigger cornerstone in the foundation of educational success than the ability to transport students safely to and from our school buildings, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark T. Bedell said. This partnership is another step in accomplishing that, and we are grateful to those who have invested time, resources, and energy in it. I urge everyone who utilizes our countys roads to do so in cautious manner so that we do not put our children at risk.

The partnership aligns with Anne Arundel County's recent commitment to Vision Zero, a global movement to reduce traffic-related deaths and injuries to zero.

This program will protect our children, make our roads safer, and give parents some peace of mind, County Executive Steuart Pittman said. It is yet another collaboration between our school system, county government, and the private sector that will benefit everyone.

The program will launch on October 1, 2022, following a warning period and public awareness campaign that will begin with the start of classes on August 29.

Richard Hetherington, Director of Program Management at BusPatrol, said: "In recent years, we have seen an increase in dangerous driving habits with more accidents and tragedies which could have been prevented. The safety program will significantly change driver behavior around school buses in Anne Arundel. Once the program goes live, motorists quickly learn to slow down and respect the yellow bus. After all, it carries our most precious cargo."

AACPS is the latest Maryland district to implement the BusPatrol Student Safety Platform across its entire fleet. School systems in Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Prince Georges, and Queen Annes counties are also operating stop-arm safety programs to tackle the issue of illegal passing. In some communities, the program has reduced violations by as much as 30 percent.

In addition to stop-arm cameras, AACPS has also outfitted its buses with additional safety features such as 360-degree safety cameras for a complete view of activity inside and outside the bus, GPS tracking, and emergency response solutions.

The technology, installation, and maintenance of the School Bus Safety Program are funded by violation revenue over a five-year term.

According to state law, vehicles approaching in either direction must stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing. Motorists may not proceed until the school vehicle resumes motion or the flashing red lights are deactivated. This does not apply to vehicles approaching on a different roadway or a divided highway.

In addition to enforcement from county police, AACPS will run an awareness campaign to educate motorists, especially new drivers, about school bus safety laws and teach school children how to get on and off the bus as safely as possible.

BusPatrol is a safety technology company with the mission of making the journey to and from school safer for children. More information about the companys programs can be found at www.buspatrol.com.

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NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Unilever PLC (Unilever or the Company) (NYSE: UL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether Unilever and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Unilever is a British multinational consumer goods company which sells more than 400 products in over 190 countries, including Ben & Jerrys ice cream, which they acquired in 2000. In an attempt to preserve Ben & Jerrys longstanding Social Mission, Unilevers acquisition of Ben & Jerrys included allowing for an independent board of directors, which was given primary responsibility for preserving and enhancing the objectives of the companys Social Mission (the B&J Board).

More than 20 years after the acquisition, Ben & Jerrys remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Unilever with an independent board addressing the companys Social Mission. Since the acquisition, the B&J Board continued its Social Mission by engaging in promotions and advocacy across a host of issues concerning the environment, voter turnout, fair trade, and genetically modified organisms. Today, the B&J Board, chaired by Anuradha Mittal (Mittal), consists primarily of social activists who joined long after Unilevers acquisition.

The B&J Board passed a resolution in July 2020 to end sales of Ben & Jerrys products in areas that the B&J Board considers to be Palestinian territories illegally occupied by Israel. According to Mittal, Ben & Jerrys CEO Matthew McCarthy (McCarthy) chose not to operationalize the resolution immediately, thus temporarily thwarting the B&J Boards decision. During the morning of July 19, 2021, Unilever and its hand-picked CEO McCarthy operationalized the B&J Boards resolution to boycott Israel. Ben & Jerrys announced on its website and through its Twitter account that, upon the expiration of the current licensing agreement by which its products had been distributed in Israel for decades, Ben & Jerrys would end sales of its ice cream in Occupied Palestinian Territory, but Ben & Jerrys would purportedly continue to sell its products in Israel.

The decision by the B&J Board appeared to arise out of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement. The BDS movement is a pro-Palestinian movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. The BDS movements objective is to coerce Israel into making concessions to the Palestinians by using boycotts and the like to exert economic and political pressure. Additionally, and of particular significance here, 35 U.S. states have adopted laws, executive orders, or resolutions aimed at discouraging boycotts, divestment, and sanctions of Israel (Anti-BDS Legislation).

During the morning of July 22, 2021, CNBC reported that the states of Texas and Florida were examining Ben & Jerrys actions in connection with the states Anti-BDS Legislation. In addition to condemnation of Ben & Jerrys boycott by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, CNBC reported that Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who controls billions of dollars in assets for Texas public pension funds, had already told his office to take action. Similarly, the state of Floridas CFO Jimmy Patronis (Patronis), who controls Floridas public pension funds, told CNBC that his office was already discussing the issue. In a letter reportedly sent to Ben & Jerrys CEO, Patronis wrote: It is my belief that Ben & Jerrys brazen refusal to do business in Israel will result in your placement on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List. The letter also stated that Florida would then be prohibited from investing in Ben & Jerrys or its parent company, Unilever. Being added to the list also meant that Unilever would not be able to enter or renew contracts with the state or any municipality in Florida.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com
Code gamers use advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and virtual reality to build solutions of the future

New York - Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL), a leading global provider of expert solutions, insights, and services for professionals, celebrates the 9th Annual Code Games innovation tournament. Learn more about how we solve our customers most complex problems.

In a competition that spans the globe, over 1,100 Wolters Kluwer employees in hundreds of locations participated in the 9th annual Code Games competition. The Code Games provide an opportunity for employees to explore new applications for advanced technologies with the goal of expanding the pipeline for Wolters Kluwer next generation solutions.

Its been so rewarding to see the Code Games grow and evolve over the years. Innovation is the key to delivering solutions that help our customers make their most critical decisions, said Karen Abramson, Chief Executive Officer of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. It requires that we step out of our day-to-day routine and think bigger to solve our clients most complex problems.

Expert solutions originating in this years Code Games are moving into the pipeline for customers as varied as lawyers, regulators, accountants, risk and safety managers, physicians and medical students.

Solutions generated and enhanced at past Code Games include:

CCH Axcess, the tax professions only modular cloud-based solution;

Kleos, the leading cloud-based legal practice management software in Europe;

OneSumX for FRR, an integrated solution suite for finance, risk and regulatory reporting;

Ovid Synthesis, an evidence-based practice (EBP) workflow solution that accelerates clinical research to drive healthcare improvement.

Code Games is a highly anticipated event at Wolters Kluwer. This enthusiasm illustrates our innovative culture, high employee engagement, and drives our overall goal to accelerate expert solutions.

To explore a career at Wolters Kluwer, please go to Careers@Wolters Kluwer.

For more information about Wolters Kluwer, please visit www.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.



About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the healthcare; tax and accounting; governance, risk and compliance; and legal and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2021 annual revenues of 4.8 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,800 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer shares are listed on Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices. Wolters Kluwer has a sponsored Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program. The ADRs are traded on the over-the-counter market in the U.S. (WTKWY).

Media contact:



Erica Glass

Wolters Kluwer

erica.glass@wolterskluwer.com

Office/Mobile: 516 238 2280
VANCOUVER, Wash., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Papa Murphys Take n Bake Pizza announced today the winners of the first ever Bake Outside the Lines contestPapa Murphys search for the most inventive, clever, and original pizza hacks in America. The contest kicked-off earlier this summer at CMA Fest with a thrilling routine from superstar magician, Justin Willman, where he invited the public to submit their favorite and unique pizza creations for a chance at a major cash prize and Free Papa Murphys Pizza for an entire year.



During the month of June, participants submitted their pizza hacks for the judges to evaluate their creativity, originality, feasibility, storytelling, and category fit. All Bake Outside the Lines submissions were placed into one of three categories: Mealtime Anytime, Outside the Oven, and Perfect for Parties. Out of more than 7,000 entries, six imaginative hacks were chosen as finalists and moved on to the public voting round.

Last week, the public voted on Instagram and Twitter and chose their favorite hack from each category. See below for the three grand prize-winning hacks:

Mealtime Anytime: Pizza Salad Bowls by Mary Beth D. from Fredonia, WI. Where pizza meets salad! A fresh Papa Murphys original crust pizza baked into the shape of a bowl and filled to the brim with your favorite salad. Fill it with different salad combinations for a meal that youll want to keep as a dinnertime staple! Outside the Oven: Waffle Up by Tammy R. from Nampa, ID: Pizza, grilled cheese, and waffles all in one! Two slices of your favorite Papa Murphys pizza, cooked inside of a waffle iron and brushed with olive oil. In just a matter of minutes, youve taken mouthwatering pizza and turned it into the king of all waffles. Perfect for Parties: Smores Avalanche Ice Cream Cake by Jacob M. from Oak Creek, WI: Get ready for your party guests to be asking for smore. Take two Papa Murphys Smores Bars and sandwich them with rich, creamy vanilla ice cream in between, and top it all off with gooey chocolate sauce and marshmallows. Perfect for parties or even an after-dinner treat your call!







We are thrilled to announce the winners of our first Bake Outside the Lines campaign, designed to highlight the creativity, customization and versatility that is only achievable with Papa Murphys products, said Tracey Ayres, Vice President Brand & Innovation. Our three winners have demonstrated originality by transforming Papa Murphys products into something entirely unique. We encourage everyone to be creative and Bake Outside the Lines all year round.

All three winners will take home a $25,000 prize and Free Pizza for a Year. For more information on each of these winning hacks, visit http://www.bakeoutsidethelines.com

About Papa Murphys

Papa Murphy's Holdings, Inc. ("Papa Murphy's") is a franchisor and operator of the largest Take 'n' Bake pizza brand in the United States, with a mission to "Change The Way You Pizza." Papa Murphy's exists to enrich every day with unconventional moments of happiness, not only because our take n bake pizzas are made-to-order daily using only the freshest ingredients, but also providing exceptional service at over 1,250 franchised and corporate-owned locations across the U.Splus locations in Canada and the UAE. With the core values of Quality, Service, Integrity, Teamwork as our guide, Papa Murphy's offers guests a convenient, unparalleled experience for creating the best at-home meal experience. Along with fresh pizzas, Papa Murphy's offers hand-crafted salads, sides, and desserts to complete your meal and please your palate. Order online at papamurphys.com or from our official Papa Murphy's app everywhere, and find us on your favorite delivery apps in select markets.

For more information:

Alexis Diltz

communications@papamurphys.com

360-449-4001

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2ee450d5-bb5b-44fa-955c-178bc273db27


SAN DIEGO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP ( www.JohnsonFistel.com ) is investigating whether Avaya Holdings Corp. (Avaya or the Company) (NYSE: AVYA), any of its executive officers, or others violated securities laws by misrepresenting or failing to timely disclose material, adverse information to investors. The investigation focus on investors' losses and whether they may be recovered under the federal securities laws.



What if I purchased Avaya common stock? If you purchased Avaya common stock and suffered significant losses on your investment, join our investigation now:

Click or paste the following web address into your browser to submit your losses: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/avaya-forecast-stock-avya-class-action



Or for more information, contact Jim Baker at jimb@johnsonfistel.com or (619) 814-4471

There is no cost or obligation to you.

What is Johnson Fistel investigating? On August 9, 2022, the Wall Street Journal published an article disclosing information to investors. The article stated that Avaya had cut its earnings forecast by more than 60% just weeks after borrowing $600 million from institutional investors through deals arranged by Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase. The article also stated that the company provided no explanation for the earnings miss and the Audit Committee opened an internal investigation following the most recent quarter and a whistleblower letter.

What if I have relevant nonpublic information? Individuals with nonpublic information regarding the company should consider whether to assist our investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the SEC program, whistleblowers who provide original information may, under certain circumstances, receive rewards totaling up to thirty percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, contact Jim Baker at (619) 814-4471 or jimb@johnsonfistel.com .
WAR veteran Margaret Dongo says the story of sexual abuse of women ex-combatants by their commanders during the armed struggle in the military camps is yet to be told fully.

Dongo lifted the lid on the sexual abuses during an interview with Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) chairman Trevor Ncube on his weekly programme, In Conversation with Trevor whose excerpts are set to be published in our sister paper, The Standard.

The truth has never been told about the history of the struggle, vis-a-vis women. I hope that one day, we will have some people who will be bold enough to stand up and talk about it, she said.

Its a pity that very little is going to come from women themselves because they have been marginalised intentionally to make sure that they are not able to speak for themselves.

Some people were abused by the bosses themselves. They (bosses) could have more than three or four girlfriends. When he (boss) comes from Maputo, he said: Go and get me a girl from the camp.

We used to have female commanders at the camp that could blow the whistle calling women for a parade to look for a girl for the bosses. You were paraded not because they wanted all of us, but one. Those, who knew that they would be victims, would run away.

Dongo said there were camps where pregnant women and those with babies were dumped after the abuse.

Women lived under a terrible environment. They (women) ended up with babies not because they wanted to, they were raped. We used to have a camp called Osibhisa, where you were dumped when you got pregnant.

If there were any attacks, you needed to have your baby, gun, and run away. Those women suffered and there was no special food for those children. They could get the feed here and there.

In 2006, former Education minister Fay Chung published a book titled Reliving the Second Chimurenga that exposed some of the abuses by the guerilla war commanders.

In her book, Chung fingered late Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army commander Josiah Tongogara in the abuse of women at Pungwe III, a military camp on the banks of Pungwe River in Mozambique. Newsday
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The international brand exhibition Hot Expo 2022  Hello Vancouver, elaborately curated by Access Brand Management (ABM), came to a successful conclusion at the Shipyards District, North Vancouver on July 18. By staging a trendy two-day brand carnival at The Pipe Shop, ABM, the global brand intelligent distribution platform under the Access Corporate Group, presented Canada with 10 cutting-edge brands from Australia, New Zealand and the United States in wellness, beauty and lifestyle industries. The event attracted over 2,500 attendees from the Greater Vancouver Area, including buyers, self-media, entrepreneurs and influencers whose lists of online followers exceeds 10 million. It is believed to be the largest celebrity brand-selection event in Canada in 2022 attracting thousands of attendees.



The 10 pioneering brands participating in the Hot Expo cover wellness, lifestyle, beauty, baby care and other fields that consumers have great affinity for. They include SRW, the pioneer of technology to improve cellular age; MitoQ, leader of the cellular wellness revolution; Vida Glow, the worlds top-selling ingestible beauty brand; Thorne, the exclusive supplement provider for the U.S. National Team, and 6 other cutting-edge brands.

Access Brand Management is an important promoter in the global wellness field. We are very honored to cooperate with ABM with such depth to expand the global market and help more wellness-conscious consumers to improve their quality of life, said Greg Macpherson, founder and CEO of SRW, commenting from the Hot Expo.

In addition to assembling a group of innovative brands to land in Canada, another highlight of the Hot Expo was the lineup of guest speakers. At the event, over 10 brand founders, scientists, nutritionists, and 10 top-tier online influencers in North America attended the event to convey the concepts of wellness, beauty and quality of life to the audience through keynote speeches and live demonstrations. The event also invited key opinion leaders, professional buyers and self-media from the Greater Vancouver Area to share their entrepreneurial journey and discuss the latest trends in the industry.

As the organizer of this event, ABM has successfully navigated through its fifth year. In the past five years, ABM has not only created a new business model as well as empowered individual entrepreneurs to realize their dreams, but also brought worldwide impressive products to consumers and never stopped fulfilling the mission of "Everyday Better Life". The Hot Expo in Vancouver is the debut of the newly upgraded ABM international brand intelligent distribution platform in North America. In addition to serving traditional dealers with global high-quality products that can be distributed and a full range of digital tools, the newly upgraded ABM will help online netizens, such as bloggers and self-media, to expand their monetization channels and deliver international high-quality commodities to more consumers. High-quality selection is undoubtedly the core value of the platform, and it will remain unchanged throughout ABM's next five-year development.

Choosing a suitable business monetization model is a topic that all content creators are concerned about, and it is also the most difficult step in the entrepreneurial experience, said JZ, a Canadian influencer who has 300,000 followers on the Little Red Book (Xiaohongshu), The new upgrade of ABM has subtlety bridged the communication and cooperation gap between influencers and brands. Now influencers can obtain one-stop services from ABM, including product selection, logistics, accounting and after-sales, and thereby develop a high-efficiency and low-cost business model.

Its no coincidence that Hot Expo chose the Greater Vancouver area to be its debut location. We have always believed that consumers in Vancouver are among the most discerning groups in the world, said Livia Wang, one of the founding members and the Chief Brand Officer of Access Corporate Group, Vancouver enjoys a unique natural environment and is one of the most livable cities worldwide. Local residents here believe in advanced wellness concepts, which is exactly what Access advocates: healthy and beautiful quality of life.

On the first day of the event, the Hot Expo attracted more than 1,000 local consumers to enter and interact with each other. Each brand had their own featured interactive activities in their booth and brand representatives onsite spared no effort in learning attendees needs. Each brand booth was also equipped with a large number of trial packs for consumers who came to the exhibition. "The Hot Expo is the largest brand event in term of attendees that I have participated in. The organizers are very attentive. Each brand booth has a plethora of interesting interactive sessions. I also waited in line to check in at each brand booth, praised Vicky Ye, a popular Vancouver blogger with 400,000 followers, I dont think their success is accidental. I have been personally moved by the stories and products of these brands.

After the Hot Expo in Vancouver, ABM will further promote its brands nationwide across Canada while attracting the cooperation of more popular influencers, and through their reach, more consumers will be able to gain access to the internationally prominent brands and products selected by ABM. Livia Wang is full of confidence in ABM's expansion in the North American market.

The brands we distribute at ABM are products that have been certified and loved by tens of millions of consumers around the world. I have always believed that good products can impress consumers. Today's hot brand exhibition has confirmed this. I hope that the newly upgraded ABM can join hands with the online influencers and professional buyers attending today, to promote these technology-empowered products, ahead of mainstream and cutting-edge brands expanding to more consumers in North America. At the same time, we will further explore more high-quality brands in the North American market and pass them on to consumers in other global markets through ABM.

For media inquiries please contact:

Kelvin Yeung

Director of Media Relations

kelvin@hamazakiwong.com

778.998-9234

Ian Zhu

Manager of Media Relations

ian@hamazakiwong.com

604.669-8282 x110

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8f69565-f446-46d9-9071-9368b15f274b
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chalice Brands Ltd. (CSE: CHAL) (OTCQB: CHALF) (the Company or Chalice Brands), a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in retail, production, processing, wholesale, and distribution, today announces that it has changed its auditor to M&K CPAS, PLLC ("Successor Auditor") from Baker Tilly US, LLP ("Former Auditor") due to the delays in completing the Companys 2021 fiscal audit. The Company has requested that the Former Auditor resign as the auditor of the Company effective August 10, 2022. The Board of Directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the Companys auditor effective August 10, 2022, to be effective until the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.



In accordance with National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102"), the Company will file a Change of Auditor Notice (the Notice) on SEDAR, together with letters from both the Former Auditor and Successor Auditor, with each letter confirming agreement with the statements contained in the Notice, as applicable.

The Former Auditor had not issued any audit report to date and therefore there were no reservations in the Former Auditor's reports on any of the Company's audited financial statements. There are no reportable events between the Company and the Former Auditor.

M&K CPAS, PLLC is a Houston based professional accounting Limited Liability Partnership specializing in public company audits. The firm provides comprehensive incorporation, accounting, tax and consulting services to businesses of all sizes with their financial compliance and advisory needs.

About Chalice Brands Ltd.

Chalice Brands is a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in production, processing, wholesale, distribution and retail, with 12 owned and 6 managed dispensaries in and around Portland, Oregon. The Company is committed to developing a dynamic portfolio built around the recognized brands of Chalice Brands, including Chalice Farms, Left Coast Connection, Homegrown Oregon and Cannabliss & Co., with a focus on health and wellness. Chalice operates nationally through Fifth & Root and has operations in Oregon and California. Visit investors.chalicebrandsltd.com/ for regular updates.

Investor Relations:

John Varghese

Executive Chairman

Chalice Brands Ltd

971-371-2685

ir@chalicebrandsltd.com

Neither the Canadian Securities 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 release.

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys future business operations, the opinions or beliefs of management and future business goals. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks include but are not limited to general business, economic and competitive uncertainties, regulatory risks, market risks, risks inherent in manufacturing and retail operations such as unforeseen costs and production shutdowns, difficulties in maintaining brand loyalty, and other risks of the cannabis industry. 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 or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of presenting information about managements current expectations relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purpose. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration or an exemption from registration.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of GSK plc (GSK or the Company) (NYSE: GSK). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.



The investigation concerns whether GSK and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 9, 2022, Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Vir), GSKs development partner for the proposed COVID-19 treatment sotrovimab, issued a press release disclosing that that Vir and GSK do not plan to file a Biologics License Application for sotrovimab at this time and do not intend to pursue the US-based Phase 3 COMET-STAR prophylaxis trial. Discussions with the FDA remain ongoing regarding the appropriate path forward for sotrovimab in the US. On this news, GSKs American Depositary Receipt price fell $1.73 per share or 4.32% percent, to close at $38.30 per share on August 10, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

rswilloughby@pomlaw.com

888-476-6529 ext. 7980
BOULDER, COLORADO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In crypto trades, arbitrage trading brings very thin and limited opportunities. Traders are required to decide in a very short period, sometimes in a few seconds, which eventually affects the success rate.

Robot.Trade brings a straightforward and easy solution by developing Best crypto trading bot. For traders who wish to jump into the arbitrage market, the company has established a platform where excessive robot utilization allows traders to relax from trading tasks and watch their profits increase daily.

The platform brings inbuilt Crypto trading software with a super easy-to-use customer panel that allows traders/users to trade with robots and boost their succession rates. Moreover, it helps traders stay vigilant to seize any thin margin profit that may be present in several markets without facing any technical issues.

Crypto trading software are developed and registered by Robot Trade LLC. is a completely automated platform, which means it is based on automated crypto-trading bots and not on a manual trading setting. That is why, despite the market swings, traders can instantly get their risk-free profits daily.

In contrast to the stock market, the cryptocurrency trading market is open around-the-clock, which means there is always an opportunity to profit. Given this, the best crypto trading bot by Robot.Trade offer profitable trading opportunities 24/7. Its robotic trading helps traders avoid missing out on any buy-low, sell-high opportunities.

Arbitrage, on the other hand, provides a safe trading environment that works with all exchanges. The AI-based technology enables traders to conduct profitable trades and submit automated orders to well-known exchanges. Besides a safe and secure trading opportunity, the platform offers its users 24/7 expert support. Any trader or user stuck in any trading problem can contact the expert, no matter what time of the day or night it is.

The company is pleased to share a $200 savings discount offer for prospective traders wanting to sign up for an account on the platform for using the Auto trading software. Traders can start trading in the arbitrage market right now by applying for the lifetime installment package, which costs $2000 today.

Users can click here to signup and apply for the lifetime instalment (one-time payment) plan.

Robot.Trade is a Boulder-based automated crypto-trading platform developed by ROBOT.TRADE LLC Limited Liability Company. Using the platform's robotic trading capabilities, traders may simply trade in the arbitrage market without missing out on any profitable opportunities.

To know more about the working of Auto trading software, potential users or traders can visit the website here


STOCKBRIDGE  Ty Bodden won the Wisconsin State Assembly District 59 Republican primary election over Vinny Egle to move on to the Nov. 8 general election, on Tuesday. But, with no challenger from the Democratic party Bodden is poised to become the next District 59 representative.

I thought I would be more excited, I am excited. I look forward to representing the people, said Bodden. But, theres just so much to get done, and this is something Im going to take seriously.

Bodden received 3,301 votes in Washington County, 62.73 percent, and Egle received 1,961 votes, 37.27 percent.

Stay up-to-date on all the latest Washington County news with a subscription: Click here

According to Bodden, winning the election hasnt hit him yet. Right now his focus is on getting to know more people and businesses in the district before he heads to Madison.

Im going to start doing some more campaigning. Still trying to meet some voters, even though I dont have a general election. No Democrat, but Im still planning on going to work with businesses, talk with business in the district and reach out to as many as I can to see what their needs are, and what needs to get done.

Bodden also said that he will also be helping campaign for a Republican to be elected governor in Wisconsin.

We really need to start focussing on electing a Republican governor. Not sure who it is going to be yet, but we need to elect a Republican governor, said Bodden. And, we need to tackle election integrity issues right away.

Bodden thanked the voters of Washington County for their support in the primary election, adding that he enjoyed the time he has spent campaigning in the county.

Im so thankful for their support. Thats where I spent most of my time, said Bodden. Knocking on doors in Washington County and talking to people  the results tonight show that the hard work paid off. Im just so thankful for the people there. The people of Washington County are just some of the greatest people.

Bodden will now represent residents of District 59 living in Washington, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Camulet counties in the Wisconsin State Assembly, a district that he hopes he can represent well.

Im going to be listening to the people and be meeting with constituent regularly, said Bodden. Im hoping I can represent the people, follow what they need and Im going to be responsive to all of their needs. If they reach out to my office you can expect a call with me, or a call back from me within 24 to 48 hours. Im not sure how it is going to be transitioning right away, but my goal is to be completely transparent and very easy to communicate with.

All election results are unofficial until certified.

Votes - Washington County # of votes % of votes Ty Bodden 3,301 62.7% Vinny Egle 1,961 37.3% Total Votes 5,262

<< Back to main election results page
WAUKESHA  Republican Nik Rettinger won the primary race on Tuesday ahead of challenger Pat Goldammer to represent Assembly District 83.

Incumbent State Rep. Chuck Wichgers is running for the 82nd Assembly District seat. Rettinger will face Chaz Self in the general election on Nov. 8.

Stay up-to-date on all the latest Waukesha County news with a subscription: Click here

In Waukesha County, Rettinger received 4,927 votes, or 62.2%, followed by Pat Goldammer, who garnered 2,985 votes, 37.7%.

District 83 represents Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties.

Rettinger said he has a decade of experience fighting in the GOP grassroots for the conservative cause. He said he ran because he and his wife firmly believe in the idea of service and giving back to the community you live in.

With so many of my friends and neighbors struggling under the current leadership of this state and country, I know we need to go in a different direction. I am looking to step up to serve and lead us back towards reforms and limited government to usher in a new age of prosperity, safety, and freedoms, he said.

Rettinger also said officials must get to work on regulatory and licensure reform.

Far too many people have their American Dream pulled out of reach due to red tape or an unwillingness to recognize the professional licensure of other states. Whether a hairdresser or plumber, the government shouldnt be pushing people out of careers and picking the winners or losers in an economy, Rettinger said.

Results are unofficial until canvassed.

Candidate # of votes % of votes Pat Goldammer 1,831 39.2% Nik Rettinger 2,827 60.6% Write in 7 0.2% Total Votes 4,665

<< Back to main election results page


Kenyans are waiting for the results of a close but calm presidential election in which the turnout was lower than usual.

Tuesdays election was likely the final try by longtime opposition leader Raila Odinga, who on his fifth attempt was backed by former rival and outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta. The other top contender is Deputy President William Ruto, who fell out with the president earlier in their decade in power.

Voters have expressed little hope of real change and frustration with rising prices and widespread corruption in East Africas economic hub. Both top candidates are long known to Kenyans, Odinga as a democracy campaigner and former political detainee and Ruto as a wealthy populist who plays up his humble youth as a contrast to dynasties that produced Odinga and Kenyatta.

The presidents backing of Odinga cut across the usual ethnic lines that have long defined elections and contributed to violence. This time there is no candidate from Kenyas largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, though both top candidates chose Kikuyu running mates.

Official election results must be announced within a week of the vote, but theres some anticipation a winner might be known Wednesday. The electoral commission still must verify results forms coming from across the country. More than 92% of results forms from the over 46,000 polling centers had been sent to the commission Wednesday morning.

A runoff election will be held if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes.

The commission has said it expected turnout to be above 60%, far lower than the 80% in the previous election in 2017. More than 22 million people were registered to vote, but some told The Associated Press they doubted they would bother, dispirited by economic challenges including high national debt and widespread unemployment.

A relatively uneventful election might be welcome. On the eve of the vote, Kenyas government reminded people that this will be a CONTEST, not a FIGHT. A contest must have a winner, and a loser. In a fight, life can sometimes be lost.

Kenyans tend to say elections are calm and troubles come later. More than 1,000 people were killed after 2007 election results were announced and Odinga alleged massive rigging. In 2017, the high court overturned the election results, a first in Africa, after Odinga alleged irregularities. He boycotted the fresh election and declared himself the peoples president, drawing accusations of treason.

A handshake with Kenyatta calmed that crisis, set up their unusual alliance and angered Ruto, who still accuses the president of betrayal.

Both Odinga and Ruto have said they will accept the results as long as the vote is free and fair.

Already, reported troubles include the failure of about 200 voting kits out of more than 46,000 across the country. The electoral commission called it not widespread and normal for technology to break down at times.

Kenyans have a week from the announcement of official results to file any court challenges. The court has two weeks to rule. A fresh election would be held within 60 days. AP


THE Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC), an umbrella body for local civic society group, plans to host a prayer rally at Africa Unity Square on Friday to raise awareness on increasing human rights violations.

The CiZC said it would submit a petition to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) and Parliament after the event.

There has been a recent rise in political tensions in Zimbabwe, which has been accompanied by an upsurge in incidents of political violence at least since the run-up to and holding of the March 26, 2022 by-elections. The situation has also seen the concomitant arrest and persecution of human rights defenders and their unfair treatment by law enforcement agents and the courts, CiZC said in a concept note seen by NewsDay.

Yet, despite the existence of Chapter 12 institutions, notably the ZHRC as well as Parliament, these institutions have seemingly continued to give a blind eye to the continued denial of fundamental rights and freedoms.

A number of human rights and opposition activists, including legislators Job Sikhala (Zengeza West) and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North) are languishing in remand prison facing various charges.

In a correspondence sent to affiliates on Monday, CiZC chairperson Peter Mutasa said only 400 people will be allowed at the prayer event.

To ensure that we conform to the conditions set for the prayer rally, we are requesting that you forward 40 people to participate at the rally. A representative from your organisation will also be invited to give a solidarity speech, Mutasa wrote.

The coalition has notified the Zimbabwe Republic Police of this event as provided for under section 7 of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act [Chapter 11:23]. Pursuant to this, the coalition has also held consultations and negotiations with the Zimbabwe Republic Police over this event as provided for under section 8 of the same Act.

Recently, police banned a planned CiCZ march where its members plan to protest the countrys worsening human rights situation. Newsday
Pelosis visit to Taiwan tramples on international law, marks another debacle of US credibility

16:59, August 10, 2022 By Ye Zhu ( People's Daily Online

Cartoon by Ma Hongliang.

On Aug. 2, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi made a provocative visit to Chinas Taiwan region, regardless of the U.S. commitment to not engage in any official interactions with Chinas Taiwan region. Pelosis visit, which has infringed on international law and norms governing international relations, is undoubtedly a political farce.

Taiwan has been an inseparable part of Chinas territory for 1,800 years. The Cairo Declaration issued by China, the U.S. and the U.K. in 1943 stated that all of the territories Japan had stolen from China, including Taiwan, should be restored to China.

The Potsdam Proclamation signed in 1945 reiterated that the terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recognized that the representatives of the government of the Peoples Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations.

In 1972, the U.S. stated clearly in the Shanghai Communique that the United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position.

In 1978, the U.S. clearly pledged in the China-US Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations that the United States of America recognizes the Government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China and acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.

In 1982, the US clearly promised in the Joint Communique of the People's Republic of China and the United States of America that the United States of America recognized the Government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, and it acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China, and that the United States Government...reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, or interfering in Chinas internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of two Chinas or one China, one Taiwan.

The three joint communiques constituted the political foundation of stable China-US relations during the past more than four decades.

Pelosi is the third-highest ranking political figure in the U.S. government. Her visit to Taiwan, serving the interests of her own family and her political party, and financed by U.S. taxpayers money, has exposed the hypocrisy and ugly nature of Washington and is another debacle of U.S. credibility.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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GREENWICH  Fresh from the triumph of the Senate approval of the Inflation Reduction Act, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy came to Greenwich for a roundtable discussion on how that money could be used to shore up the local coastline.

In addition to addressing priorities such as prescription drug costs, the act also includes $2.6 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Those funds can go to state and municipal governments as well as nonprofit organizations for efforts to conserve, restore and protect the shoreline

The impact on shorelines is going to be overlooked by a lot of the policy that is dominating the headlines like the impact on health care costs and broader energy reform and corporate tax policy, said Murphy, D-Conn., who led the discussion held at Bruce Museums Seaside Center at Greenwich Point.

We are running out of time to do our part to stem the change in the Earths climate. As weve seen just over the past several months, the pace of storms and wildfires and droughts is escalating at a rate we cant keep up with, he said.

The Senate passed the bill 51-50, with all Democratic votes and the tie-breaker from Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday. It now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is expected to approve the measure later this week, with President Joe Biden then set to sign it.

Murphy called the Greenwich meeting on Monday a sort of whetting of our appetites until the acts final passage and a determination of how and where the money will be spent.

This is going to move fast, and when we have more information well share it, Murphy said.

The meeting included representatives from state and local government as well as Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, Save the Sound, the Maritime Aquarium, SoundWaters and the Bruces Seaside Center.

Katie Dykes, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, helped lead the meeting, saying she was very excited about the bill and what could be done in Connecticut with those federal dollars.

Its going to take everyone working together to get these dollars from Washington and get them to work, Dykes said.

The state is already on overdrive, Dykes said, from funds coming to Connecticut in the major infrastructure bill passed last year by Congress.

The infrastructure bill included $3 billion for similar efforts to support coastal resiliency and climate change mitigation.

In about a 12-month span you have seen us going from very little federal money going to coastal protection rehabilitation to nearly $6 billion. Murphy said.

Connecticut needs to be ready for the competition among the states to gain access to the funds, he said.

James ODonnell, executive director of the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, said the group is focused on project readiness when it comes to setting priorities.

We want things that will be ready in the next six months, ODonnell said.

First Selectman Fred Camillo discussed what could be done in Greenwich, focusing on the towns infrastructure, particularly when it comes to flooding from major storms.

To redo the whole infrastructure in Greenwich would probably be $600 million, and we dont have the money. Were trying to fix sections we can now, Camillo said.

We have a lot of projects but were worried about impervious surfaces being added. Unfortunately (the town Planning and Zoning Commission) allowed houses to be built 40 and 50 years ago that never should have been built, he said.

Also, Camillo said he is set to meet with the Army Corps of Engineers this week to discuss flood mitigation efforts on the Byram River along the Greenwich/Port Chester border and said the town would take any help we can get.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-36, and town Director of Environmental Affairs Pat Sesto also attended, along with state Sen. Christine Cohen, D-12, chair of the legislatures Environmental Committee and a co-chair of its Coastal Caucus.

Fazio asked Murphy what coastal communities such as Greenwich and Stamford, both of which are in his district, could do to access the money for needed projects.

Right now that is somewhat unknown, but it is important that we as a state make decisions on how we want that process to look, Murphy said.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
GREENWICH  Chabad Lubavitch of Greenwich is looking to expand its interior learning space and make its facilities in central Greenwich more efficient.

Under an application recently submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission, the non-profit religious and educational organization would add a kindergarten classroom to the second floor. The students are currently instructed on the first floor and lower level. Storage space would be placed on the third floor, under the application. Both upper floors are currently used as residential space.

The operation at 75 Mason St. is allowed to have 40 pre-school students.

In addition to the new space for learning on the second floor, Chabad is looking to relocate a playground which is now very close to Mason Street to the rear of the building at 6 Lincoln Ave., which was described in the application as a safety improvement. No expansion of the facilities are being proposed.

The proposal would also merge the two Chabad preschool properties at 75 Mason and 6 Lincoln and create a one-way entrance and exit driveway.

The configuration will result in a more efficient pick up and drop off process than currently exists, noted Thomas Heagney, the lawyer representing the project.

Site-plan approval is needed for the expanded interior learning space, the new playground and the traffic reconfiguration.

The planning commission allowed Chabad to put up a large tent at its facilities this year.

Plans by Chabad to develop a new school on Lake Avenue with middle grades have not advanced after a number of legal complications and neighborhood opposition arose.

An earlier proposal by Chabad, which has been looking to upgrade its facilities for years, sought to expand its operations into the Greenwich Armory on lower Mason Street, but that concept did not materialize in 2019.

The application has not yet been scheduled for review at the planning commission.
Motorola published extensive details for the upcoming Moto Razr 2022 and Moto X30 Pro (and not so much for the Moto S30 Pro, which is also on the way). Today, the General Manager of Lenovos Mobile division in China revealed the price of the Razr  CNY 6,000 (which converts to $888/870/70,500). The company describes this price tag as the sweet spot for foldables.



The Motorola Moto Razr 2022 will cost CNY 6,000

This is the price for the 8/128GB base model, the phone will also be available in 8/256GB and 12/512GB configurations. To be clear, the phones arent officially official yet  the actual reveal will happen at 14:00 tomorrow (China time), the phones will become available for offline and online sale just hours later at 20:00.

A quick summary on the Moto Razr 2022: it is the first foldable with a 144Hz display (all 6.7 of it), it has a larger 2.7 cover display, the hinge design leaves no gap when closed, the phone boasts a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a 50MP 1/1.55 main sensor with OIS and a 13MP ultra wide camera.

The Moto S30 Pro is still kept mostly under wraps, but the GM posted this teaser image  can you figure out what the numbers mean? The 1.55 most likely refers to a 1/1.55 sensor, same as the Razr. The rest will take some guessing, especially since some digits are blanked out with an x.



Moto S30 Pro teaser

TENAA already let it slip that the phone will have a 6.55 display, which explains the first number on the second row. 7.xx is likely the thickness in millimeters. 4.0 could refer to the latest version of Motorolas My UX, but we will find out for sure tomorrow.

As for the Moto X30 Pro  the first phone with a 200MP camera - here is what it looks like in white. The camera is based on the Samsung ISOCELL HP1 sensor (1/1.22), which looks like this outside of a phone:



Moto X30 Pro  The impressive 200MP ISOCELL HP1 sensor

The phone will be able to snap full resolution 200MP shots  they will take up a lot of storage, but will let you zoom in to your hearts delight:

Check back tomorrow for the prices of the Moto X30 Pro and S30 Pro.

Source 1 | Source 2 (in Chinese)
Last week alongside the 10T launch OnePlus officially unveiled the next version of its Android skin, OxygenOS 13, based on Android 13. And now the company is already out with the first Open Beta build of OxygenOS 13, for the OnePlus 10 Pro.

As this is the first publicly available beta, expect to see a lot of bugs and issues, so definitely refrain from installing this on your main device. If, however, you have a spare OnePlus 10 Pro around for testing purposes, you can install OxygenOS 13 Open Beta 1 by following the instructions from the Source linked below.

Note that at this time the new software is only available for OnePlus 10 Pro units sold in North America and India, with European units promised to see it soon.

The changelog mentions a new animation engine, with more natural and intuitive results, optimized fonts, a more seamless experience for earphone connectivity, more Bitmoji always-on display animations, more personalized AOD settings, automatic pixelation of profile pictures and display names for chat screenshots, regular clearing of clipboard data for privacy purposes, a new Kid Space, optimized Dolby sound effects, and HyperBoost GPA 4.0 for gaming.

Known issues include problems with logging, a dot displaying abnormally when pairing Bluetooth, photos could be blurred when taking multiple shots of people with Ultra Dark mode and zoom out at the same time, screen freezing when recording videos, pictures not saving if shooting people at 3.3x zoom, black screens and freezes in the camera app, green videos when shooting in Film mode, and black pictures when shooting in the dark with Night Mode.

Source
Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 are here and while they may look similar to their predecessors, they bring a number of key updates.

Last year was all about making the foldable an everyday smartphone and not a device you had to baby and protect. Samsung made two leaps in technical innovation by water-proofing its foldables to the IPX8 standard (resistance to water for up to 30 minutes in as much as a meter and a half of freshwater), and making the Galaxy Z Fold3 compatible with the S Pen - those are two unique traits for any folding phone even in 2022. Samsung also reinforced the hinge and overall construction to make sure they fare better in the long run.

This year, its all about bringing Samsung foldables' cameras up to speed. Last years Galaxy Z Fold3 had a 12MP main camera dating back to the Galaxy S20 from 2020, while the Flip3 was left with a 12MP sensor we first saw back on the infamous Galaxy Note7 in 2016 - ancient in smartphone terms. So this year, Samsung did the right thing and gave both sets of cameras some major updates.

So the Galaxy Z Fold4 now has a 50MP main camera and the 10MP 3x zoom sensor from the Galaxy S22 series. The ultrawide, sadly, is still fixed-focus. The Galaxy Z Flip4 got the main camera from last years Galaxy Z Fold3 - a 12MP 1/1.76 sensor with 1.8m pixels (up from 1.4m on the Flip3), thats a 65% increase in light-gathering. The ultrawide is of the fixed focus flavor and there's no telephoto, but it's still a far more competent setup than last year.

An arguably equally important improvement to the Galaxy Z Flip4 is the battery. Its now 400mAh bigger at 3,700mAh, which, Samsung claims, lets it stream videos for 3 hours longer. Even better, the Galaxy Z Flip4 got a much-needed bump in charging speed - the phone now tops up at 25W, compared to the paltry 15W of its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 specs at a glance:

Body: 155.1x130.0x6.3mm, 263g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame; IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Armour aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised), Stylus support.

155.1x130.0x6.3mm, 263g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame; IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Armour aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised), Stylus support. Display: 7.60" Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak), 1812x2176px resolution, 10.81:9 aspect ratio, 373ppi; Cover display:, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels, 23.1:9 ratio.

7.60" Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak), 1812x2176px resolution, 10.81:9 aspect ratio, 373ppi; Cover display:, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+, 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels, 23.1:9 ratio. Chipset: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.

Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730. Memory: 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1.

256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1. OS/Software: Android 12L, One UI 4.1.1.

Android 12L, One UI 4.1.1. Rear camera: Wide (main) : 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1.0m, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; Telephoto : 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm, 1.0m, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle : 12 MP, f/2.2, 123, 12mm, 1.12m.

: 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1.0m, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; : 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm, 1.0m, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; : 12 MP, f/2.2, 123, 12mm, 1.12m. Front camera: Inner under-display camera : 4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 2.0m; Cover camera : 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm, 1/3", 1.22m.

: 4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 2.0m; : 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm, 1/3", 1.22m. Video capture: Rear camera : 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+; Front camera : 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS.

: 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+; : 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS. Battery: 4400mAh; Fast charging 25W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W.

4400mAh; Fast charging 25W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W. Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); NFC; stereo speakers; Bixby natural language commands and dictation, Samsung DeX (desktop experience support), Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified), Ultra Wideband (UWB) support.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 specs at a glance:

Body: 165.2x71.9x6.9mm, 187g; Plastic front (opened), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame; IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Armour aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised).

165.2x71.9x6.9mm, 187g; Plastic front (opened), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame; IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins), Armour aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised). Display: 6.70" Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak), 1080x2640px resolution, 22:9 aspect ratio, 426ppi; Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+).

6.70" Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak), 1080x2640px resolution, 22:9 aspect ratio, 426ppi; Cover display: Super AMOLED, 1.9 inches, 260 x 512 pixels (Gorilla Glass Victus+). Chipset: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730.

Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730. Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1.

128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1. OS/Software: Android 12, One UI 4.1.1.

Android 12, One UI 4.1.1. Rear camera: Wide (main) : 12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1.8m, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle : 12 MP, f/2.2, 123, 1.12m.

: 12 MP, f/1.8, 24mm, 1.8m, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; : 12 MP, f/2.2, 123, 1.12m. Front camera: 10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22m.

10 MP, f/2.4, 26mm (wide), 1.22m. Video capture: Rear camera : 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+; Front camera : 4K@30fps.

: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR10+; : 4K@30fps. Battery: 3700mAh; Fast charging 25W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W.

3700mAh; Fast charging 25W, 50% in 30 min (advertised), Fast wireless charging 15W, Reverse wireless charging 4.5W. Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); NFC; stereo speakers; Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified).

Samsung did refine its foldables this year as well. The Galaxy Z Fold4 is lighter than its predecessor (8g) and brings slightly bigger displays at the expense of slimmer bezels. The cover display is 2.7mm wider, while the inner screen grew 3mm, at the same body width as the Galaxy Z Fold3.

The Galaxy Z Fold4 is also 3.1mm shorter than its predecessor and while many hoped for an even bigger reduction it's definitely a good step in the right direction.

The Galaxy Z Flip4 got leaner as well - the hinge is thinner by 1.2mm, the phone is 1.5mm shorter when closed, and the frame is flatter, which played a role in fitting the bigger battery. The Galaxy Z Flip4's main display also got a bezel reduction, though the cover display stayed essentially the same.

Samsung made both its foldables better this year in important ways. Battery life and camera improvements are welcome, especially when everything else is pretty much sorted. The Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 are alone at the foldable party as the competition is yet to deliver anything but limited production China-only phones in the segment.

Lets take a closer look at the two new phones now, staring with the Galaxy Fold4 on the next page.
In January of this year, Christina Tina Shimizu Chung was back home at a special Mass for her parents, Frank and Fermina Meming Shimizu.

She estimates about 250 people  mostly from the Shimizu, Gumataotao and San Nicholas clans, including her husband and five children  filled the pews at Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral, in Hagatna.

They were all there to celebrate her parents 60th wedding anniversary at the same church where they said their marriage vows in 1962.

My parents just celebrated 60 years and we got to be a part of it, helping to make it a really memorable and wonderful celebration, Chung said. I told myself, Put yourself aside, your parents are alive and healthy. They have endured and persevered and by golly 60 years later, those two still like each other. That is amazing. I told my mom were gonna celebrate all year, were going to cherish their anniversary.

Its a lovely yet bittersweet sentiment that belies her personal journey as a rebellious teen growing up on Guam, finding independence in San Francisco, her love story with her husband, her devotion to her children, and a decadeslong struggle finding a balance between her wants and needs, and the CHamoru parental and familial obligations, expectations and demands.

I have this yearning

Its complicated, but at the heart of the matter, its her parents desire to have all their children living on island together versus her fierce autonomy and living the life she wants with her husband and children in California.

All my four brothers live on Guam. I am the only one away and its kind of a big deal that Im the only one thats not there, Chung said.

I tried three times to move back to Guam. That is the depth, how deep our CHamoru goes in us, she said. I have this yearning to live there, but when I get there I feel trapped and suffocated.

This dichotomy and the accompanying heartache, trauma and drama that Chung has gone through is relatable to others who have migrated from the island.

For Chung and other CHamorus stateside, beyond the mahalang and the yearning to be back home is the adage  albeit with denials: You cant go back home again.

Having to work through my own issues was a really big thing, and I am emotional because its been a lot of hard work, she said of the guilt, pride, shame and anger she is learning to let go of. Because holding on to that baggage and holding on to those things, you lose out on so much.

Trusting the process

My relationship with my parents has absolutely evolved. Its been a yo-yo effect for many years. Were getting along dealing with each other. Not getting along, getting along, not getting along, Chung said of her parents, who are in their 80s. It is a love-hate relationship, but Ive grown to love it.

The way things stand now is that her parents have eased up on wanting her and her family to move back to Guam, instead opting to spend more time traveling to visit them or having them visit the island more often.

Now, Chung said it has moved from trying to appease to now honoring them.

Its good to reflect every once in a while. Its good to see how far youve come and how life experiences dictate or take you to different points within your life, she said.

This is the beginning of the end of Chungs sanlagu journey of rebellion, reconciliation and reclamation. Trusting the process, she shares the journey that got her to this point.

Growing up a Shimizu

Christina Shimizu Chung grew up in Mongmong-Toto-Maite. She is the youngest and only girl of five children born to Fermina Meming Diaz Gumataotao Shimizu of Sumai and Frank San Nicholas Shimizu, familian Bocho of Hagatna.

Her grandfather, Ambrosio Torres Shimizu, was a co-founder of Ambros Inc. in the late 1940s. In 1973, her father and his brother Joe Shimizu took over the operation of the wholesale distributor of beverage and consumer products Guam-based company. His brother Paul joined the company in 1979, according to Guampedia.

Growing up being the only girl, my mom tried so hard to make me the girly girl. She put me in John Robert Powers, ballet, hula, whatever she could think of that could enrich my life and maybe make me be more girly, Chung said.

And I just wanted to play with the little matchbox cars my brothers are playing with. I just wanted to go off-roading and her whole thing was, No, you cannot go because youre gonna ruin your legs and then whos gonna like you after that?

Learning CHamoru

At 11, she decided to learn CHamoru to understand the gossip of my mom and her sisters gathered around my grandmother Totos dining table.

Also about the same time she asked to help feed her elderly grandfather, Ambrosio Shimizu.

I decided one day Im going to try to speak to him in CHamoru because maybe hell look at me, she remembered. Malago hao chocho, baba pachot mu, little CHamoru phrases, and he was laughing. And at first, I took it personally, but I just persevered, and I kept going. And now hes smiling, saying i adai Christina, baby Tina.

It was great. I finally got closer to my CHamoru heritage because now Im speaking it and hes responding positively to me, she added. Im connecting relationally with him, and I yearn for that.

Growing up she would spend time at the old Ambros building in Anigua at her fathers office, tidying up and organizing things.

I have a lot of influence from my dad. He twiddles his thumbs, I twiddle my thumbs. Hes a note taker, Im a note taker, she said. I have to justify every expense and give a reason for why I felt strongly that I should buy this or pay for this, or why I made this decision. He ingrained that in me many, many years ago.

One time I wanted a bicycle and Uncle Paul fronted me the money, like $50, she said. It meant a lot to me to earn money and pay him back. That was the ethics that my dad taught me; he never gave us a free ride.

From her mother she learned hospitality, cooking and serving. Mom and her Gumataotao sisters, that gift of hospitality I get from her, she added. It took me leaving to appreciate her.

My mom and I are two similar women with strong personalities and weve clashed all our lives, she added. Were both super strong-willed and we both want to be in control. I wish I had half her physical strength. She may be a slow walker, but damn she is so physically strong.

I asked her if she realized that she is just like her mother. Realizing and admitting out loud are two different things. I realized it much sooner than actually verbalizing it and admitting it, she added.

Rebellious teen

So I had separated from my family during my senior year of high school, and I was content, because of my circumstances, to just go to UOG, she said of the rebellious streak in her youth. The spring of my senior year, I was able to reconcile with my parents, and moved back in and graduated high school, which they thought was a miracle.

Three weeks later her parents flew to California with their youngest daughter and dropped her off at the University of San Francisco dorms.

I came to San Francisco and I love it here. It represented freedom to me in so many ways. I loved what I was doing. I love my autonomy, my independence, she said. The people that knew me, they knew me for being Tina. Not Frank Shimizus only daughter, not Tina from Ambros. Theres an expectation of what my life is supposed to have been like, and how I should be living my life because I am Franks daughter. Thats how I grew up.

In 1995, she graduated from USF with a degree in international business and got two job offers in the city. She was at her job for six months when she reconnected with Howard Chung. My childhood friend came back into my life and that completely changed my direction.

A love story

She was 11 with her family in Hawaii when she met 12-year-old Howard Chung and his older brother Bernard. The boys were neighbors with her Uncle Pauls then-girlfriend and now wife, Jenny, in a Honolulu apartment complex.

They would spend summers on the beach or the apartment complex pool.

So now fast forward, Im 17 and its my junior year of high school and I am in Hawaii for spring break, she said. Im going to go shopping and buy a dress to wear to prom, no date no nothing. Im just going to go. And my Auntie Jen kept nudging me, and finally got it out of my system that I would love to go with Howard. She couldnt believe it. Oh my gosh, wait till I tell your Uncle Paul.

Her grandmother, Ruth Shimizu, approached his mother and asked permission to bring him to Guam to go to the 1990 Academy of our Lady of Guam junior/senior prom with her granddaughter. Can you imagine, my own grandmother is mamaisen saina for us.

Now my mom knows Howard is gonna go with me. And one day she picked me up and said, I found this dress at Marianas Boutique at the old Julale Shopping Center, she added. I went oh my gosh, it fits perfectly. Like a little ballerina dress. It just fits perfectly.

She said their prom photos look like wedding pictures.

After that prom date, they kept in touch, but eventually drifted apart, with her in San Francisco and him in Japan. In January 1996, he was visiting his brother in San Francisco and she went to meet him.

When Howard and I saw each other it was love at first sight, she remembered.

I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. I wanted a big family and Howard was up for the task, Tina Chung said. He was like, great T. I cant promise you that were gonna have a lot of money, or that were even gonna be homeowners. But I can promise you that Ill love you and Ill work hard for us. And thats all I needed.

Eleven months later in November, they got married on Guam.

You know, my family, my one brother in particular, had said, you know, you guys should move back to Guam, she said. We were on the high of our wedding and honeymoon and stuff, and we went back to San Francisco and gave our two-week notice and we moved to Guam in January of 1997.

Back and forth

In December 1997, she gave birth to their oldest, Tristan, and the following month they left Guam and moved back to San Francisco.

I couldnt handle being there. I was losing who I was. I let family obligation, this self-imposed obligation take over my life, she said. I was a young wife who was having a baby and I just couldnt do it. And we left.

It was a natural thing for us to come back to San Francisco, and we moved back in January of 1998.

The mahalang and lure of family would reel the couple and their growing family back to Guam two more times, in 2001 and again in 2011.

In 2011, Howard Chungs company had to downsize, and he was looking for work and the family had grown to five children.

A job opportunity opened up on Guam and the parents get all excited, she said. Were gonna get Tina back home and our family is going to be complete. Were all going to be on Guam together.

But with three kids in private schools and her staying home with 2-year-old twin boys, the family was struggling to make ends meet.

Howard was (in) a dead-end job and the only way for him to move up is for the guy to retire. And that guy wasnt going to be retired for 10 more years, she said. And we were drowning in bills with three in private school. We cant even afford a second car.

We were just like, becoming more and more financially dependent on my parents, and it was never what we ever wanted to do, she added. And now we have to tell them, were moving back. And thats what we did. My brothers were pissed. My parents were like, Oh, my gosh, what just happened to us.

Best decision ever

Back in California, her husband turned a contract gig into a job he really loves as a broadcast engineer for Pac-12 TV Networks. That was the best decision ever. My husband loves his job. He thrives in it. Hes excited about it. Ten years later, he still likes it, she said.

So we are both two islanders coming together. And we raised our children here in Northern California, mainly in Walnut Creek, California, but we are holding on to this culture, and exposing them to it as much as we can in our daily life, she said.

Part of our culture is housing, you know, multigenerational living. When my parents come they stay with us. And I make my kids be together in one room.

Since her parents 60th wedding Mass in January, they have seen Tina and Howard and the grandkids every month.

The trips have included an extended family reunion in Pasadena in February, a trip to Guam in April, attending Tristan and Carlinas college graduations in June, and the 13-year-old twin boys, Caleb and Nalu, spent July on Guam. There are more trips and get-togethers planned for the rest of the year.

My husband is my biggest advocate in relating to my parents and my children are my biggest motivators, she added. Because I had the privilege of knowing all four of my grandparents. And that family connection was really important to me.
As Guams public school students returned to classes, their first day, by most accounts, seems to have gone smoothly.

Students and parents of Jose Rios Middle School in Piti were greeted by faculty, staff and Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on their first day back.

I think face-to-face learning is one of the most impactful ways of teaching, and we worked very hard to get to this point, said Leon Guerrero. This is just another sign for us as a community that we are returning to some normalcy in our lives.

Guam Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Joe Sanchez also joined the governor to welcome students.

Sanchez, noting the challenges the pandemic brought for the schools, said teachers and students alike are excited for this school year to be back to in-person instruction.

We asked students over the summer about whether or not they want to go back online, and really the overwhelming response was no because they wanted to see their teachers and their classmates, Sanchez said.

Principal Mariann Lujan said the first day went well.

It was an excellent start of the day, it was pretty smooth. We had parents coming in to drop their students off, we had our buses on time, our personnel, we had a lot of support from our central office and our other agencies to help make sure students had a great start.

Wettengel Elementary

At Wettengel Elementary in Dededo, educators, administrators and school staff were full of smiles as they welcomed and assisted parents and students through the drop and go line with temperature checks in full effect.

The expectations were given out to the parents, and they know the routines from the past two years, said Principal Evangeline Iglesias.

Ive been here for quite a while now, Im very familiar with a lot of our parents.  Basically how we are managing the first day of school is the communication and allowing the parents to understand that were here to support their kids, and they will be well taken care of, Iglesias said.

Concerns

Some parents were nervous about the first day.

I just hope that they will be safe because, actually my first grader, its her first time to go face-to-face, said mother Jonalyn Ocampo. They have to learn, and its better to learn face-to-face than online, but I just hope they will be safe.

Leidee Pagcu, who has children at Wettengel Elementary, said parents have to have faith in the schools and the staff members.

Im trying to convince myself that they really need to go out and they still have to learn inside the classroom, she said. Thats (the teachers) profession, to assist, to take care of the kids inside the classroom, teach them well, and I know theyre doing great jobs.

Sanchez High

Simon Sanchez High School Principal Carla Masnayon said that overall, the first day went well.

Masnayon offered some tips for parents to help ease their children back into school life: Talk to your kids, monitor your children  especially if they are not feeling well, Masnayon said. Keep them home if theyre sick and call the school so we can make adjustments.
First responders will be holding a search and rescue exercise in Tumon Bay on Thursday, according to a news release from the Coast Guard.

Participants will establish an incident command post near Matapang Beach at 11 a.m., and the post will be set up for the duration of the event.

Access to the beach park may be temporarily limited by the presence of responders. On the water, activity will occur and be visible from shore about a half mile beyond the reef line.

This year, the annual exercise will entail a coordinated response to an overdue vessel.

It will include the deployment of floating mannequins and data marker buoys to simulate people in distress.

Organizers are asking people who are on the water to stay clear of the boating area involved during the exercise, avoiding the mannequins, boats and activity in the area. They are also asking people to refrain from disturbing the figures.

The drill began on Wednesday with planning, safety and communication meetings and a tabletop exercise. It will be followed by the full-scale open-water phase.

Participants

Participants in this year's exercise include:

Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam Joint Sub-Center Center and response personnel

USCGC Frederick Hatch and crew

Coast Guard Station Apra Harbor 45-foot response boat-medium and crew

Guam Fire Department rescue boat and crew

Guam Police Department personnel

Naval Base Guam Fire and Emergency Services

U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 MH-60S Knighthawk and crew

The Coast Guard holds search and rescue exercises in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Compact of Free Association States.

Purpose

The exercises help emergency officials evaluate notification and response procedures and identify shortfalls in communication and coordination of response.

Coast Guard response capabilities will not be affected by the exercise, according to the release.
Federated States of Micronesia Vice President Yosiwo P. George remains hospitalized with COVID-19, and officials have expressed concern about his condition.

The vice presidents special assistant described that the vice president is allegedly receiving nutritional assistance through a tube as he is not able to eat or drink, President David W. Paneulos spokesman, Richard Clark, stated in an email. Other officials familiar with the vice presidents health status describe deep worry for his condition and suggest that it is worsening.

George, 81, became ill from the virus shortly after the community outbreak began on July 19. He was first reported hospitalized on July 24, and has been in and out of the hospital since then.

The FSM has had 7,125 cases of COVID-19, with 18 deaths. Clark said:

One out of every three deaths involved people who were unvaccinated or partially vaccinated.

All deaths in the FSM involved people who had comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity.

No deaths involved people who received therapeutics such as Paxlovid or EvuSheld.

Under new guidelines for entry to the FSM, vaccines are not mandatory for children under 5 traveling to any state. In addition, COVID-19 testing is not required for travel to any state with community transmission.

People going to Pohnpei and Kosrae do not need tests, but travelers to Chuuk and Yap do.
The Government of Guam is collecting much more money than projected, and that trend is expected to continue through next fiscal year.

Lawmakers Wednesday afternoon started debating the governments fiscal 2023 budget, beginning with a revenue presentation by the Legislatures Office of Finance and Budget.

Senators rejected a motion by Sen. Telo Taitague to postpone the budget session until Monday. Taitague asked for a delay to give the public a chance to review the most recent version of the budget.

If the bill passes in its current form, lawmakers will have an additional $124 million in general fund revenue to spend on government operations next year, compared to this years budget.

Since the beginning of FY 2022, revenue collections in the general fund major categories have exceeded projected revenues for the first nine months of the fiscal year, said Steve Guerrero, director of the Office of Finance and Budget. Continuing these trends, year-end projections will have the general fund exceeding FY 22 revenue projections at this point by $99.5 million.

The OFB has projected $1.022 billion in total revenue for fiscal 2023, including $713,256,152 from the general fund, $199,594,151 in special funds, and $109,468,286 in federal grants.

Revenue from corporate and individual income taxes was projected at $387 million this fiscal year, and the Legislatures budget office estimates it will increase to $422.6 million during fiscal 2023.

Guerrero said federal pandemic relief funding and ongoing military construction projects helped mitigate revenue losses, in the public and private sectors.

The pandemic funding eventually will end, Guerrero said, but the government has made financial advancements over the past two-and-a-half years, since the start of the pandemic, to achieve financial stability.

The Legislatures current version of the budget bill states of the $1.022 billion in total revenue, about $747 million is available for lawmakers to budget for government operations.

The current years budget projected $937 million in total general fund revenue, of which $623.5 million is available for appropriation.

We see no reason for any discomfort in adopting the revenue levels that are contained in the substitute bill, Bureau of Budget and Management Research Director Lester Carlson told lawmakers. We see them as being well thought out and thoroughly achievable.
A 40-year-old man was charged Wednesday in the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl, according to a magistrates report filed in the Superior Court of Guam.

On Monday, the girl told police that Jarrett William Atoigue sexually assaulted her on Aug. 2 while she was watching television.

The girl specifically said Atoigue used one hand to grab her breast and the other to touch her genital area, the complaint stated.

The girl attempted to push Atoigue away, but he pushed her hand away and continued the assault, the complaint stated. Atoigue also told the girl not to tell anyone what happened.

The girl said on July 31, she woke up to Atoigue rubbing her feet, thighs and inner thighs while she was wearing shorts. The girl then turned to her side hoping Atoigue would stop, but he rubbed her back, according to the complaint.

After being told to stop by the girl, Atoigue left, and the girl told the police.

Atoigue was charged with three counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct as a third-degree felony.
Sixth- to eighth-grade students on Guam will learn culturally relevant strategies for avoiding substance use through a new program developed by a team at the University of Guam Cancer Research Center.

The Fuetsan Manhoben Youth Substance Use Prevention Program is based on surveys of Guam middle school students to determine the factors that influence tobacco, electronic cigarette and betel nut use, according to a news release from the university.

The teams previous research, published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, suggests that e-cigarette and tobacco product use among Guams middle schoolers may be four to five times higher than the U.S. national average.

Our curriculum uses realistic videos that show scenarios in which local students are exposed to drinking, smoking and vaping at bus stops, family parties and schools, said Francis Dalisay, co-project leader and an associate professor at UOG with a doctorate in communication.

The project is conducted under the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity, a National Cancer Institutefunded grant between the UOG Cancer Research Center and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. It is one of the largest research grants being carried out at UOG, totaling $14 million over five years.

With Fuetsan Manhoben referring to the power within youth in CHamoru, the videos weave in values central to CHamoru and other cultures on Guam. The lessons guide students to draw on these values to remain drug-free and healthy.

In their prior surveys of students attending Guam Department of Education middle schools, the research team examined risk and protective factors for tobacco, e-cigarette and betel nut use, along with student use of these substances. They also conducted focus groups to examine common scenarios students find themselves in. Findings from their prior work have been published in several peer-reviewed journals.

The team then produced four videos that depict realistic situations in which substances are offered to middle schoolers as well as culturally relevant strategies for kids to respond.

Tim C. Dela Cruz, a co-investigator on the project and an extension agent at UOG with a doctorate in human services, said the curriculum takes a unique approach in that it is centered on cultural and social contexts on Guam.

At the same time, each lesson is inclusive as it encourages students of all backgrounds to think about drug-resistance strategies that they feel comfortable with, Dela Cruz said. In this way, students will be better equipped to navigate their way out of difficult situations and to protect their future.

This fall, the teams research associates will deliver the curriculum, which aligns with Guam DOEs health content standards for grades 68, in selected Guam DOE middle schools. They plan to present these videos, facilitate discussions and teach resistance strategies through interactive activities.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





The allies of "400 Mawozo" are getting stronger

The allies of the "400 Mawozo" gang are particularly strong in Tabarre, Torcel and Petion-ville (to the north).



Protestant Federation quits Montana Aggrement

The Protestant Federation of Haiti, representative body of the Reformed Cults in Haiti has officially notified the Montana Agreement Monitoring Office of its withdrawal from the agreement.



Me Robinson Pierre Louis hearded

At the beginning of the week Me Robinson Pierre Louis Secretary General of the Bar of Port-au-Prince was heard this Monday, August 8, 2022, by the examining magistrate Walther Wesser Voltaire in the context of the case of the shipment of arms and ammunition seized at the beginning of July in Port-de-Paix. Accused of corruption, influence peddling and forfeiture in this case, the lawyer was arrested on July 22 and then imprisoned. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37253-haiti-arms-trafficking-me-robinson-pierre-louis-at-the-national-penitentiary.html



Delmas 33 : Doctors at La Paix hospital on strike

On Monday August 8, the resident doctors of La Paix University Hospital in Delmas 33 went on strike to demand, among other things, the payment of 11 months of salary arrears...



Joseph Lambert meets Eric W Stromayer

"Monday, August 8, Joseph Lambert, the President of the Senate met with Eric W Stromayer, Deputy Head of Mission at the United States Embassy in Port-au-Prince, where he assumes the role of Charge d'Affaires a.i. "With him, the exchanges were clear on the great misfortunes of Haiti. What is not done, what is poorly done and what is urgently needed for the country. I heard the American position and Mr. Stromayer understood the meaning of my attachment to the necessary consensus which should enable Haiti to emerge from this deadly crisis," declared Senator Lambert.



186 Haitians repatriated by the US Coast Guard

Tuesday, August 9, 2022, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Forward repatriated to Cap-Haitien, 186 Haitians in an irregular migratory situation whose overloaded sailboat had failed Saturday, August 6 at the end of the afternoon, near the closed community of "Ocean Reef Club" (North Key Largo, Florida) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37339-haiti-social-a-sailboat-with-113-haitian-boat-people-fails-near-ocean-reef-club.html . Homeland Security Investigations and its partners are investigating two suspected smugglers who have been arrested.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping recently replied to a letter from teachers and students of the China Corner of St. Margaret College Secondary School in Malta, encouraging more Maltese youth to actively participate in people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

In his letter, Xi said thanks to efforts from both sides, the China Corner of the school has contributed positively to increasing knowledge about China among the Maltese youth and promoting the China-Malta friendship.

Xi wished the China Corner even greater success in the future, and welcomed faculty members and students to China for exchanges and study.

Peace and harmony amongst all states has been a long-held wonderful aspiration of the Chinese nation for the human society, Xi said, adding that it is also the cultural root of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

"We live in a world where history and reality meet, where opportunities and challenges coexist, and where humanity as a whole rise or fall together. Countries must assist each other in times of need and choose win-win cooperation if we are to share in the fruits of development," he noted.

Xi said for the purpose of tackling global development and international security challenges, China has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Security Initiative.

It is a concrete step on the part of China to galvanize consensus and strength to put the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into action, Xi added.
Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world's largest hotel groups, is delighted to announce the signing of Radisson Biratnagar in Nepal, in partnership with The Centurion Hotel Private Limited, which will further strengthen its leading position in South Asia with over 100 hotels in operation.

The 145-room Radisson Biratnagar is expected to open in Q3, 2024, and is in Biratnagar, the industrial and fastest growing provincial capital of the country that shares its borders with the Indian states of Bihar and West Bengal. Strategically located just 10 minutes from Biratnagar Airport, 15 minutes from the India border, and Jogbani Railway Station in Bihar, the hotel will offer close connectivity for guests traveling for business or leisure. Furthermore, rapid development in the city's infrastructure such as roads, airports, community projects, and public amenities is set to position Biratnagar as an upcoming destination. Radisson Biratnagar will play an important role in welcoming local and international tourists to experience a new phase of hospitality in Nepal.

Radisson Biratnagar is set to become the new landmark of the city with its state-of-the-art facilities and strategic location. When open, guests will have access to comfortable and spacious rooms along with amenities including a swimming pool, fitness center, spa, specialty restaurants, and a 10,000 sq ft of banquet area.

The signing of Radisson Biratnagar is a continuation of Radisson Hotel Group's strong expansion across the South Asia region where it's set to more than double its footprint with 148 hotels and resorts to be added by 2025.

Hotel website
Rocket Hotels, a Houston-based hotel developer and operator, today announced that the SpringHill Suites Raleigh Apex is now open for business. The 94-suite hotel located 1100 Marco Drive is located in the quaint town of Apex which was founded in 1860 and is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

Situated 19 miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport and just short drive from the cities of Raleigh and Cary, the six-story hotel offers guests convenient access to Salem Street in downtown Apex, offering numerous shopping and dining options, historic Apex Union Depot and Research Triangle Park. The SpringHill Suites Raleigh Apex is nearby the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Meredith College, Shaw University, William Peace University, North Carolina Central University, Campbell University and North Carolina State University, and the perfect place to stay when visiting the area schools.

Ideal for business and leisure travelers alike, the hotel offers extra space with suites larger than a typical hotel room. Separate living, working and sleeping spaces provide guests with flexibility and functionality. The hotel offers comfortable beds, soft linens and plush pillows to allow for an optimum night's sleep. Each suite also features a signature West Elm trundle bed, microwave, mini-fridge and a flat-screen television with the latest in-room technology.

The pet-friendly hotel features a well-equipped fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, a lobby bar, electric-car charging stations, 500 square-feet of adaptable meeting space, guest laundry, a complimentary breakfast with a variety of options and a 24-hour Market.

Hotel website
Born and raised in Newcastle, Claire Good, Travelodge Chief Operating Officer returned home and was joined by her parents David and Sylvia Jones who live in Chapel Park and Hexham's Mayor, David Kennedy to officially open Travelodge's first new-build budget luxe hotel in the north of England - in Hexham.

Hexham Travelodge is the second hotel the group has opened in the North East region within the last seven months. In December 2021, the hotel chain opened the first budget hotel at Europe's biggest business park, Newcastle Cobalt Business Park.

At the Hexham Travelodge official opening ceremony, the hotel chain announced that the North East remains a key growth area and they are actively looking for a further 16 hotel sites across the region. This expansion programme could represent an investment of around 160 million for third party investors and create 400 new jobs.

Hexham Travelodge, a 69 room hotel is the town's first branded hotel, it is the group's 597th Travelodge and its 23rd property in the North East. The hotel represents a multi-million investment for the landlord. It is located in the town centre, close to the railway station and has created 27 new jobs within the community. The hotel is being managed by Jonathan Dunn who brings a wealth of twenty years of experience of working within the hospitality sector. Rooms are available from 32 and can be booked at www.travelodge.co.uk.

Earlier this year, Travelodge announced it is evolving its core brand product to a new budget-luxe premium look and feel design - whilst maintaining its great value price proposition. This new design has been created on the success of the group's budget chic hotel format, TravelodgePLUS with feedback from the company's largest consumer study - which surveyed around 5,000 UK business and leisure travellers to find the psychographics of the modern budget traveller. Key findings revealed that modern travellers crave style, choice and little homely touches to make it easier to work, rest and relax both inside and outside of the room.

The new budget-luxe design includes all the low cost efficiencies you would expect from Travelodge but with the added benefit of thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches throughout its interiors.

This is underpinned by the introduction of a new signature rich navy blue brand colour which pays homage to the first iconic Travelodge blue brand colour- chosen for its calming and uplifting qualities. In essence all the key essentials that matter to modern business and leisure travellers.

The new Travelodge budget-luxe design includes a timeless classic, elegant style reception which is the hub of the hotel. A next generation room which has been smartly devised to create a multi-dimensional space by utilising the new luxurious signature Travelodge navy blue colour for the R&R (resting and relaxing) section of the room and a serene colour palette for the functional and energising side of the room to work and get ready. Plus a contemporary designed restaurant called the Bar Cafe - that features spaces for guests to work, relax and socialise.

The Travelodge budget-luxe design also includes a number of sustainable initiatives. This includes the new carpet being made from recycled fishing nets which are part of a project supporting clean ocean initiatives, tackling over 640k tonnes of discarded fishing nets currently impacting marine life. The carpet backing is also made of old plastic bottles. Every ten of these bottles which are recycled rather than being sent to landfill saves enough energy to power a laptop for 25 hours. The other features include low energy lighting, motion sensing controls and aerated showers and taps.

The new Travelodge budget-luxe design features

A new hub of the hotel - a redesigned elegant reception

The new reception area has been designed in a warm timeless classic style featuring a decorative panel design, soft low LED lighting, stylish leather bench seating and wooden style flooring. The new colour palette includes the new warm Travelodge signature navy blue shade complemented against a palette of fresh tranquil neutral shades - creating a big warm welcome from Travelodge.

The next generation multi-dimensional Travelodge room

The new chic Travelodge room offers everything a business or leisure guest needs for a comfortable, relaxing stay and most importantly a good night's sleep. The room has been smartly decorated to create a multi-dimensional space by utilising the new luxurious signature Travelodge navy blue colour for the R&R (Resting and Relaxing) section of the room and a serene colour palette for the functional and energising side of the room where you need to work and get ready.

The bespoke luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer bed remains the king of the room and is dressed with crisp white bed linen which includes a cosy 10.5 tog duvet and comfy pillows. The bed sits within a light box bed frame that emanates a soft, warm glow to aid relaxation and features bedside reading lights and USB charging points. Located above the bed is a bespoke piece of artwork commissioned by Travelodge which has been inspired by classic lullabies, with clever use of playful and discoverable elements to help you drift off to sleep.

The en-suite bathroom also features a new brilliant white complementary design and decor with complimentary hand, hair and body wash.

Other key features of the new room include:

A spacious desk and a stylish desk chair

A cosy statement armchair where you can kick back and curl up to read your book or watch TV

Blackout curtains to create a dark space for a good night's sleep

Complimentary tea & coffee making facilities

A TV with Freeview

LED lighting in the room and bathroom

Complimentary WIFI for 30 mins 3 for 24 hours

A stylish on-site restaurant with a statement bar called the 'Bar Cafe'

The stylish Bar Cafe features a well-designed space for guests to work, relax and socialise. The restaurant features a contemporary design, with key statement features and a warm relaxing ambiance. The restaurant offers distinctive zones designed to suit the needs of business and leisure travellers. These include counter seating with built-in USB and laptop power for those working outside the room, dining zones with intimate booths and dining benches for groups. Situated in the heart of the Bar Cafe is a stylish statement bar which offers a selection of wines, popular spirits and a range of ales.

Hotel website
With more than twelve years of hotel operations and management specializing in food and beverage, Kristi is a passionate and highly motivated hospitality professional. Before joining Four Seasons, she was the director of food and beverage and director of quality improvement providing strategic oversight to various operational departments at several luxury hotels. Honing in on her leadership skills, Kristi moved on to fulfil the role of regional head of learning and development where she was based in Dubai and responsible for 15 hotels in 10 countries across the Americas, the Middle East, Europe, and India. Post-pandemic, Kristi returned to Toronto, where she was appointed the area director of operational service excellence, americas.

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

Toronto, Ontario

Canada Website
As of 2019, there were over 700,000 resorts and hotels worldwide. And, the count hasnt been lowered in the past three years. So, it is evident that every new small hotel business is about to compete with many other hotels in their city, state, and nation. Amidst all of that competition, it becomes really important for them to stand out and run their business on profitable grounds. A website is the primary necessity of any hotel business. Following that, you need to decide what content goes into your website to increase hotel guest engagement. You need a proper system to create, monitor and manage your website's contents, such as images, text, videos, and pages. And a hotel Content Management System (CMS) helps you achieve that purpose by giving you control over your hotel website content.

Why is Content Management System Important for Hoteliers?

A hotel content management system (CMS) is a tool that gives you the flexibility to add engaging elements to your website. With such a tool, you dont have to write code to integrate plug-ins or aesthetic elements into your sales channel. You can use the pre-created templates or plug-ins to quickly build the websites contents.

Whether you choose WordPress or any custom CMS will help your hotel business with an interactive website that will drive your brand reputation and increase direct bookings.

With access to a proficient CMS, you can make changes to your website on the go. You dont have to run to a developer to look after your hotel website in case of any sudden changes or trend upgrades you want to make.

Moreover, a small hotel business wants to save money in every possible aspect. One area where they can cut down on their management costs and take the effort into their own hands is their website.

Your website needs to be updated with the latest content, service offers of your brand, and new informative blogs as per the trend. This can be expensive if you run to website developers or professional agencies whenever you need a change.

You can use a CMS to have the authorized ID to make those changes from your central dashboard. It helps the hoteliers cut down the outsourcing cost for the management of hotel websites and keeps them maintained and attractive simultaneously.

Benefits of Using a CMS for your Hotel Business

Some practical benefits of using a CMS for your hotel business are that it helps your brand get more exposure and increases the guest engagement ratio. The benefits include:

Ease of Use

Hoteliers dont have to invest much time in training to use a hotel content management system. It comes with an easy interface and pre-set templates for you to understand the functionality easily.

Over time, you can try different templates to add a unique touch to your hotel website. Moreover, you can also tweak some functions within a particular template without the fear of breaking the code.

If you have a blog section on the hotel website, you can post new informative blog content on the dedicated page in just a few clicks.

Faster deployment

Any changes you make to your website through the CMS portal are updated within a few minutes. It reduces the deployment and publishing time for the contents. The quicker you publish your content across the website, the more value you will earn for your business.

With proper utilization of CMS, you can get rid of the old data or information on the website. It will help you keep your customers checking the latest offers and brand information only.

Mobile Friendly

As a hotel business owner, you might be urged to make changes to your website at any time. You might not have access to the system or laptop at all times. Therefore an optimal CMS solution will give you accessibility to manage your hotel website from your mobile phone.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

A CMS provider will take care of your website's loading speed and will check your web pages' optimization. But to rank on Google or other search engines, you need to fulfil the algorithm set by them.

CMS allows you to keep your website updated with SEO measures. Google likes to crawl through websites that add fresh content on a periodic interval and ranks them on the top results.

With CMS integrated into your website, you can publish new blogs and offer content to the hotel website over time. As a result, your hotel brand will maintain the SEO rankings on Google and be found more frequently by potential leads.

Integration with Booking Engine

The CMS vendor you hire should offer you a feasible integration with your hotel booking engine. In this way, the potential guests can check the availability of rooms and reservations in your hotel to proceed with direct bookings.

How Can You Choose the Best CMS for your Hotel Website?

Now that you know the potential of CMS for your hotel business, you must be aware of the consideration factors before choosing one. Consider these factors below to get assistance in making a decision:

Evaluate What you Need

You must be clear about what you need from a content management system for your hotel business website. Some of the things you should consider for the same are:

The integrations that you might need for running and managing your hotel operations for increased revenue.

The level of analytics integration you need for your content management system.

system. The amount of user engagement you expect to gain after integrating your website with CMS.

Determine all such necessities and expectations to find yourself a good CMS to integrate your website.

Calculate your Budget to Invest in CMS

Running a hotel business demands a lot of capital investment. So, you need a proper plan to invest funds in your website and CMS. Prepare a CMS hotel website budget by considering the below aspects:

Choose between a custom or templated website design.

Does your website need a developer in the long run?

Do you have to hire someone to change the website on CMS?

Is there a need for new videos and photos?

Even with the CMS service costs, you might have to spend a little more on organizing the overall elements for streamlining your website management. So, plan out a complete budget on what you intend to spend on your website and CMS tool.

Compare the Efficacies of Various Content Management Systems

Pick some of the best options, such as WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, or any custom CMS provider, and compare their service features to determine the best option for your business.

Parting Words

CMS is a modern way of managing the website for growing your hotel business. You will have better control over what your target audience sees and responds to on your website and its contents.

It is time you think about advancing your business from an online marketing approach rather than focusing on improving your services. Initially, you will build the business, so it is time for you to be versatile and improve your brands online exposure with an efficient CMS

AxisRooms Editorial Desk

AxisRooms, a software suite provider for the hospitality industry, is committed to aiding your business growth, not just with our state-of-the-art products and services, but also with the latest updates from the travel and hospitality industry. Got something to say? Write to us at: [email protected]
Expedia Group Media Solutions, the global travel advertising platform connecting marketers with millions of travelers across the Expedia Group brands, today released its Q2 2022 Traveler Insights Report. The quarterly report combines Expedia Group first-party data and custom research with actionable insights and industry examples to support travel marketers on their continued journey toward rebuilding.

Despite a variety of industry and economic headwinds during Q2, people still found a way to travel, and in many cases, went further afield, said Jennifer Andre, Global Vice President, Media Solutions. The return of long-haul and international family travel, higher hotel average daily rates and higher average ticket prices in Q2, are just a few positive indicators for what we hope will be a strong second half of 2022. Our latest report provides valuable data and insights to help marketers effectively reach and engage potential travelers and capture sustained traveler demand.

Key findings from the Q2 2022 Traveler Insights Report include:

Travel Searches Hold Steady

Following a 25% quarter-over-quarter surge in searches globally between Q4 2021 and Q1 2022 across the Expedia Group branded sites, search volumes held steady in Q2, indicating sustained interest and enthusiasm to travel. Asia P acific (APAC) saw strong double-digit growth between Q1 and Q2 (30%), followed by Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) at 10%.

Week-over-week global search volume fluctuated throughout Q2, with the strongest gains during the week of June 6. Week-over-week searches globally increased 10% following the June 10 announcement that the U.S. would no longer require COVID-19 testing for international travelers.

Search Windows Still Shorter

Seasonal holidays and a palpable desire to travel in the near term, coupled with economic and pandemic-related concerns and regional instability, contributed to growth in shorter search windows during Q1. Global share of searches in the 0- to 90day window increased more than 5% quarter-over-quarter, with the 61- to 90day window seeing the largest quarter-over-quarter lift at 15%.

In Q2, the majority of global domestic searches fell within the 0- to 30day window, while the share of searches in th e 91- to 180+ day window decreased quarter-over-quarter. The continued easing of travel restrictions and testing requirements contributed to a double-digit quarter-over-quarter lift in international searches globally in the 0- to 90day window, with the strongest growth in the 61- to 90day window. This indicates that even though travelers have reverted to planning for the near term, they are still considering international trips. Destinations and travel brands should ensure international travelers are part of the audience targeting mix, and leverage search window and destination insights to further bolster their marketing strategy.

Long-Haul Destinations Returning

As with prior quarters, major cities and beach destinations around the world remained popular with travelers in Q2, but London and Paris had particularly strong showings. On the global top 10 list of booked destinations in Q2, London took the No. 3 spot, and made the top 10 list of booked destinations across all regions. London was the No. 1 booked destination by travelers from APAC and EMEA and made new appearances on the top 10 lists for travelers from Latin America (LATAM) and North America (NORAM).

Q2 also saw a significant increase in demand for long-haul flights  flights with a duration of 4+ hours  as travelers look to go further afield. There was more than a 50% year-over-year increase in global traveler demand for long-haul flights. Further illustrating the rise in long-haul flights, Q2 delivered more than 100% year-over-year growth in traveler demand for flights from the U.S. to Europe.

Demand Stays Strong Despite Rising Costs

Q2 continued the growth momentum from Q1, with lodging bookings at the highest in Expedia Group history. A prior-year comparison shows total gross bookings were up by double digits, as travel demand further improved. Lodging demand increased quarter-over-quarter in Q2, with APAC seeing the strongest growth. With sustained demand globally, average daily rates (ADR) in Q2 increased quarter-over-quarter and even more so compared to Q2 2019, while room night cancellation rates globally declined by double digits compared to Q2 2019.

Strong demand, rising fuel costs, and an increase in longer-distance flights booked drove a quarter-over-quarter increase in the global average ticket price during Q2. Compared to Q2 2019, the global average ticket price was up double-digits in Q2 2022, led by EMEA and APAC.

Growing Interest in Inclusive Travel

People around the world are increasingly seeking ways to have more meaningful and conscientious travel experiences. According to our recent Inclusive Travel Insights Report, 92% of consumers think it is important for travel providers to meet the accessibility needs of all travelers, yet only half of consumers have seen options that are accessible to all abilities when they are searching for and booking a trip.

These insights point to the gap in accessible and inclusive options in the travel marketplace, as well as the opportunities for travel brands to improve offerings and make travel accessible to all travelers, everywhere.

Consumers are also paying attention to a travel brands commitment to inclusion, diversity, and accessibility, and these commitments are influencing purchasing decisions. In fact, 78% of consumers said they have made a travel choice based on promotions or ads that they felt represented them through messaging or visuals, while 7 in 10 consumers would choose a destination, lodging, or transportation option that is more inclusive of all types of travelers, even if its more expensive.

More Q2 2022 Traveler Insights

For more data and insights from more than 70 petabytes of exclusive global Expedia Group travel intent and demand data, download the full Q2 2022 Traveler Insights Report here. Subscribe to the Media Solutions blog and connect on Twitter and LinkedIn for more traveler trends and regional insights for marketers.

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
Lifelong learning is about developing your full potential, skill development and growth via self-actualization, which is the highest need described by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Traditional education has a beginning and an end that culminates in taking examinations, and by comparison, feels like a reductive conclusion to a process that should, in fact, be an evolving journey. Why Lifelong learning is important? Because it means signing up to an endless possibility of discovery, skills and rewards, both professionally and personally.

How to be a Lifelong Learner

Lifelong learning is a type of self-directed education centered on personal growth. While there is no conventional definition of lifelong learning, it is commonly understood to relate to learning outside a traditional educational institution, such as a school, university, or corporate training. However, lifelong learning does not have to be limited to informal learning. It is best defined as voluntary and aimed towards reaching personal contentment.

Developing an attitude of continuous learning is one of the best ways to prosper in today's changing world. There is so much technology available for helping the process of studying throughout one's life. As such, you may pursue your interest in culinary arts, hone your service management skills, and even create a mobile app utilizing internet resources.

Types of Lifelong Learning

Whether you choose to become a lifelong learner for personal or professional reasons, the final result provides many advantages. Are you a professional in the hospitality industry who wants to pursue lifelong learning? We recommend that you examine your learning requirements first before sketching out the path you wish to pursue to attain your job objectives.

If you genuinely want to engage in lifelong learning, the options are limitless. Your demands and goals entirely determine the strategy you use. The following are some examples:

Formal learning

If you choose formal learning, there are a few points to note. This method follows a set schedule and takes place in a monitored sequence. It occurs within an organized and structured context, and is often part of a scheduled and monitored sequence of coursework explicitly designed as learning. Formal learning may sometimes lead to formal recognition in degree, e.g., bachelor's, post-graduate, or professional certification.

You may wonder if engaging in a lifelong learning process is worth it in terms of the investment. Yes, it is. While your long-term goal is adopting lifelong learning, you may earn undergraduate credits for your prior learning experiences to give you a jump-start toward earning a degree if that's your goal.

Self-directed learning

Hospitality professionals may also choose to engage in a self-directed form of the continuous learning process. In this case, a professional decides to manage the speed and direction of their entire learning process. Examples of this type of learning include:

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). They provide free, large-scale, interactive participation and open web-based access to courses built on learners' engagement who self-organize their participation. The best part is they are aligned to their individual learning goals, prior knowledge and skill levels and shared interests. Some but not all of these courses provide college credits.

You can also choose online learning platforms to guide your continuous learning process. They offer fee-based courses on hospitality, service management, business, technology skills, and other topics to help individuals achieve their personal and professional goals.

Professional learning

Professional learning is the type of continuous learning that occurs at a workplace or a professional front. If you are a professional in the hospitality arena, you could choose to incorporate this type. This learning on the job is tied to career passion and professional development, and occurs through skill acquisition and training.

It is usually tied to an occupational field or position and encompasses a broad array of learning methodologies such as:

Professional development opportunities provided by an employer (including on-the-job training as well as skills acquisition learning experiences and workshops),

Training, workshops and conferences sponsored by professional associations

Experiential learning activities aimed at expanding your knowledge and provide opportunities to develop skills such as volunteerism, new projects, cross-functional teams, task forces in the workplace, leadership roles in a professional association, etc.

YouTube, podcasts, journals, articles, books and blogs associated with the hospitality field.

Networking with other professionals to stay informed about the trends impacting the hospitality industry

It might also be indirect, personal, or informal. On a personal level, you seize any opportunity to study outside of the office. It is a pastime or a particular interest that the learner wants to pursue independently, and it can be either formal or informal learning.

Informally, it is the learning that people choose to accomplish throughout their lives by trial and error, and informal methods such as viewing a video, reading lifelong learning articles from a peer, chatting to a professional, or just watching a television show.

Indirectly, it is the learning that occurs without any prior planning or preparation. Adopting lifelong learning means you learn from interactions with people, travel, and exposure to various settings.

The advantages of lifelong learning

The benefits of continual learning extend well beyond the individual learner. Learning is the cornerstone of organizational excellence, continual improvement, innovation, and increased productivity and innovation boost our economy.

Consequently, whether you're a long-tenured employee or new to the profession, employers look for:

Workers with the knowledge, skills, and capacity to do the job successfully.

Staff committed to continuing growth and development throughout their careers.

Some of us engage in lifelong learning simply because we want to. It satisfies our inquisitive nature and our need to "be better." Nonetheless, lifelong learning is a fundamental requirement for every one of us.

Furthermore, continuous learning is regarded as an economic imperative. The hospitality business, which relies heavily on quickly expanding technology and is known for its ever-changing job landscape, demands employees who can adapt to and compete in today's world.

Indeed, research studies anticipate that technological advancement will abolish almost half of today's occupations by 2025. Artificial intelligence, automation and outsourcing trends will continue to drive continual changes in how labor is done. And navigating the ever-changing world of work necessitates lifelong learning, continuous skill improvement and mastery of new technology.

Without a doubt, LLL gives opportunities to improve or broaden one's skill set. However, "keeping up with the Joneses" is not the sole incentive to engage in lifelong learning. There are several other advantages for doing so.

Employability

In today's work environment, it's common for people to change jobs 10 to 15 times throughout their careers. Workers who grow their knowledge and skills in alignment with employer needs are better positioned to keep their jobs as the associated work tasks and requirements evolve over time and are more likely to get promotions and bigger pay checks.

Increased confidence and adaptability

You may be questioning if you're up to the effort of acquiring new abilities because of the unpredictability of change. You are; you already do it a lot. Following the pandemic, we are more aware than ever of the need to improve our ability and agility via a lifelong learning attitude.

Consider the previous year, the previous month, or even the previous week. What are your thoughts on incorporating AI and robots into a hotel brand's identity rather than merely using them in operational operations such as cleaning? This might be the deciding factor between you and other candidates for that high-level employment you desire.

So, while learning new things and breaking out of old habits may seem scary at first, continuous learning helps you grow confidence, boost self-esteem and adjust to changes more quickly. Learning allows you to understand better who you are, what you have to contribute and what you are capable of doing.

Practicality

We're becoming a do-it-yourself (DIY) culture, thanks in large part to the digital age. Along with many other benefits, the Internet has enabled us to gain information on-demand and learn how to perform thousands of things  at any time and from any location!

Social awareness and perspective

It is critical to seek out different ideas to truly comprehend and empathize with people, enhance social awareness, and create good interpersonal connections. Improving the talents that have a favorable influence on emotional intelligence may lead to even more pleasure and success, personally and professionally.

Life enrichment and improved health

The ability to learn is essential for motivation and human happiness. Curiosity and learning, whether directed toward issues of personal interest or professional advancement, may lead to a more rewarding and multidimensional existence. Furthermore, health research studies reveal that an active and curious mind helps to avoid age-related memory loss and cognitive decline.

Perhaps intuitively, when someone goes back to school, the bottom line is to better themselves, but it has more to do with enriching their life other than simply advancing their education. The decision to engage in lifelong learning is more of a habit that embeds itself in yourself so that you become more active, curious and feel more satisfied with your life.

By now, you must have got the answer to the question of what lifelong learning is. The reality is that every human being is a lifelong learner as he/she continuously gains knowledge irrespective of whether they are consciously seeking it.

About EHL Group

EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector.

With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com

Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

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CHICAGO - First Hospitality, national hotel operations and development company, announces the official move of its headquarters from the Chicagoland suburbs to a state-of-the-art space in downtown Chicago to accommodate the companys growing dynamic hybrid workforce.

First Hospitality will leverage its new office space to support its fast-growing portfolio and offer the increased efficiencies the central downtown location provides. The new offices provide First Hospitality employees with state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, technology, and amenities that will enhance productivity, growth, and collaboration.

We could not be more excited to relocate to our new office space in downtown Chicago, said David Duncan, president and CEO of First Hospitality. This move is reflective of our overall portfolio growth and commitment to providing the best service and experience for our associates and clients.

The new office building, commonly known as The Franklin offers employees an array of amenities including a tenant-only sky bar, five different in-house food options including a food hall, is convenient to public transportation and the interstate, and is just steps from the Willis Tower and other popular Chicago attractions. First Hospitality commemorated the move with a Grand Opening celebration followed up with activities throughout the month to acquaint associates to the new building and neighborhood.

First Hospitalitys new office address as of Tuesday, May 31 is:

222 West Adams Suite #400

Chicago, Il 60606

Phone: (312) 6382300

Email: [email protected]

First Hospitalitys exponential growth was supported through the expansion of their associate base, hiring 1,150 new associates in 2021 including key appointments in the development and people services areas. The management company also expanded their extensive branded roster adding several additions to their Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt portfolios, including a lifestyle Curio Collection property. The company added five more hotels totaling 1,053 rooms to the roster and 1,117 keys in development.

Early in 2022, First Hospitality also took over management of the 250-key lifestyle independent Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. First Hospitality continues to pursue additional third-party management projects in medium and large lifestyle full-service, independent, and premium select-service segments. The company is targeting primary and secondary markets throughout the United States.

About First Hospitality

First Hospitality is a nationally recognized hospitality development and third-party operating company. The company operates a large, multi-branded, and independent portfolio of properties throughout the United States. First Hospitality, founded in 1985, credits its success to its people-focused culture, which delivers outstanding guest experiences, high associate engagement, and superior financial performance. Recognized as industry leaders and sought after by investors and guests alike, the company ranks among top management companies and operates acclaimed hotels and restaurants, including numerous AAA Four Diamond properties. First Hospitality redefines industry standards; its vertically integrated platform provides immersive hotel and food and beverage experiences and world-class investment, development, and third-party operations services. For more information, visit www.firsthospitality.com.
Housed in one of the magnificent palaces built by the knights of the Order of St John, Osborne Hotel, a 3-star luxury property in Valletta, has strongly recommended RateTiger as its technology partner of choice for hotel rate shopping, channel management and online distribution.

The property has experienced significant improvement in their operational efficiency by leveraging RateTigers cloud-based channel manager and on-demand shopping tool. They have been leveraging the 2-way XML connectivity with global and regional OTAs, and niche channels to drive more bookings.

RateTigers pooled inventory model allows the revenue management team to continuously distribute its live rates and inventory to multiple booking channels and deliver updates back into its property management system (PMS) in real-time, without worrying about overbooking. The in-built booking trends and business analytics data combined with competitor benchmarking reports give them key market insights to make informed decisions.

With summer travel in full swing across Europe, hotels are spreading their inventory across multiple distribution touch-points and creating attractive packages & promotions and RateTiger provides the platform to make this easy.

"We have been using RateTiger for the past 7 years and are extremely satisfied with it and we highly recommend RateTiger to other hoteliers. RateTiger helps us increase revenue through OTAs. It is very easy to use, especially updating rates and availability. We have a dedicated Account Manager, and the technical support team is highly efficient. The team always try to resolve problems efficiently and as quickly as possible. Thanks to RateTiger, in this competitive market, their solution is helping us greatly to recover our business after the difficult time in the last 2 years," commented Brian Caruana, General Manager, Osborne Hotel.

Malta is one of our key markets in Europe and we are happy to win this strong recommendation from Osborne Hotel. We strive to help hotels by making online distribution management easy and seamless while assisting with revenue maximization. We have invested in building stable connectivity with over 450 OTAs and technology providers. Our solutions simplify operations, improve efficiencies, and give hoteliers time to focus on strategy. Backed by real-time data and analytics, hoteliers can respond to market dynamics more efficiently, and optimize online revenue, said Trupti Mokal, Regional Sales Head, RateTiger.

The 63-room hotel is set amongst Vallettas 320 monuments, is the perfect place to stay, for families & business travelers, to discover one of the most concentrated historic centres in the world. RateTiger provides channel management, booking engine, rate shopping, website development and online distribution solutions to hotels worldwide.

About RateTiger

RateTiger by eRevMax is a market leader in hotel technology and provides Channel Manager, Rate Shopper, Booking Engine, Website Design, Digital Marketing services as well as GDS and Metasearch Distribution solutions to large hotel chains and resorts, mid-scale groups as well as independent boutique properties worldwide.

RateTiger connects to over 450 distribution and technology partners. It has deep two-way integration with distribution channels as well as leading PMS, RMS, CRS, Booking Engine and other hotel technology systems for a seamless online distribution experience. Data security and privacy is a key aspect for RateTiger  it is ISO and PCI certified as well as GDPR compliant. RateTiger is known for its stable solutions with 99.9% product uptime and provides 24x7 multilingual customer support to hotels globally to assist in revenue generation objectives.

For more details, please visit www.ratetiger.com or contact us on [email protected].
Today, we live in a world of technology, and everything around us is being empowered by technology. Technological advancements have impacted different industries, including the hotel industry. These advancements have brought about practicality to our lives and made our lives a lot easier.

These days, we are immersed in technological advances of all kinds, and we have reached such an extent that we cannot even think of a day without using technology. Almost everything about our lives is being driven by rapid advancements in digitalization and technology.

As far as the hotel industry is concerned, its management technologies have left a massive mark on efficiency, convenience, security, and sustainability. This has led to a new era in the global hotel industry, which is just the beginning.

The evolution of smart hotel energy management technology has been quite life-changing. It is an extremely powerful technological advancement and has left us all awestruck.

Smart energy management technology is making a huge impact in the hotel industry. It is completely revolutionizing the way the hotel industry would traditionally work.

What Is Smart Hotel Energy Management Technology All About?

Smart technology is a kind of technology in which the devices are connected to the internet. These devices are capable of collecting and transmitting data to a central system. The devices come in the form of sensors and receivers, and they can show how much energy is being used in a particular hotel.

This smart hotel technology has made a huge impact in recent times and will help you see where the energy is being used the most so that you can make changes to your system accordingly.

Smart hotel energy management technologies are designed to reduce energy consumption in hotels. They have made our lives easy and added versatility to our lives. This technology is centered around efficiency and convenience and leads us one step ahead towards modernization.

This technologys core lies in the gradual shift toward sustainable energy utilization in commercial buildings like hotels. Considering the total size of the hotel and the number of visitors staying in it each year, it does require a huge amount of energy to function properly.

With smart hotel energy management technologies, this energy consumption can be reduced by up to 30%. This can be a massive number, and it helps us move towards a cleaner and more sustainable planet.

The smart energy management systems will assist the hotels in operating more sustainably. They will also help the hotels increase their profitability while simultaneously reducing operational costs. This can be a benefit to the hotel industry and will allow the hotel industry to rise to a huge extent.

Because of this technology, hotels from all around the globe are making use of this technology to reduce their functional cost. This can also help in making the world a better place to meet.

Various Advantages Of Smart Energy Management Technology

The technological era that surrounds us today is an era that is a lot more aware of sustainability than before. Practically every aspect of life has been altered because of the massive development in technology, and the global hotel industry has also become an integral part of it.

Here we have listed some of the major benefits of smart energy management systems:

1. Real-Time Monitoring

By using smart technology, you can have a continuous view of the energy used within your hotel. The data is collected by the sensor and displayed on a central dashboard at any time. This will help you see a complete picture of the energy usage across your hotel. You will not have to wait for your energy bills to understand energy consumption.

2. It Helps To Save A Lot Of Money

As you will be able to see everything in one central dashboard, you will be able to implement changes to reduce energy consumption. This may involve simple activities like shutting down the machines that are left running even when they are not being used. It can also solve complicated issues like identifying equipment and machinery that are not performing well. Overall, this can reduce hotel operating costs and also save energy.

3. It Can Help To Reduce Downtime

By continuously monitoring the energy flow, you will be able to identify potential defects before they take a massive shape. The system of continuous energy monitoring will allow you to prevent certain fluctuations in power supply.

This can also reduce downtime caused because of equipment failure. You will also be able to take care of your machinery at regular intervals.

Certain smart products can also do things like automatically shut off your HVAC when guests leave the balcony door open, to help save you not only energy consumption, but also from having to replace your hotel decor due to mold from condensation.

4. It Allows You To Plan For The Future

By continuously monitoring the energy usage trends, you will be able to set targets for the future. The detailed data will help you look at the machinery and the rooms and plan for energy reduction. This can also help in staff engagement.

You will also be able to introduce new ways to reduce energy usage. You can also develop an energy management strategy for your hotel.

SensorFlows solutions, for example, collects extensive data from its sensors and offers monthly reports for hotels which include detailed insights on energy saving for hotels, HVAC system performance, room humidity, guest trends and behaviors.

By leveraging on actionable insights from these reports, hotel management can then develop advanced data-driven strategies to maximize its operational productivity and resource efficiency, enhance their guests experience and improve their overall sustainability.

5. It Reduces Carbon Emissions

By using a smart hotel energy management system, you will be able to reduce carbon emissions to a great extent. This will pave the way toward a cleaner planet. You will also be able to remain compliant with the rules and regulations of the country. You can also play your part toward sustainable development.

Plenty of smart hotel energy management systems also partner up with environmental bodies such as One Tree Planted which can plant one tree for every product or service sold, or through carbon emissions saved.

Smart Hotel Energy Management For All Hotels

With smart hotel energy management technology, the hotel industry has risen to a great extent. They have also heightened in terms of efficiency and convenience.

So, if you are managing a hotel and are thinking of ways to reduce the operational cost of your business, you can get in touch with us, and we will help you out by providing you with a feasible solution to your problems.

About SensorFlow

SensorFlow Pte. Ltd. is an award-winning Singapore-based, proptech startup combining the use of smart wireless IoT solutions and AI to help buildings monitor, analyse and automate energy consumption for better productivity, sustainability and energy efficiency. It was founded in 2016 by Saikrishnan Ranganathan and Max Pagel in response to the pressing need for energy optimisation worldwide.

In addition to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) management, SensorFlow's solution offers real-time data insights on energy consumption, occupancy trends and guest behaviours. These can be used to enhance the overall guest experience at the room and create better management at the property and portfolio levels as building managers get prompt alerts on faulty equipment. Housekeeping routes can also be optimised in real-time based on room occupancy data.

SensorFlow's retrofit solution, which comprises sensors and proprietary networks, are quick and easy to install in less than 5 minutes per room and with no operational disruptions. Its Pay-As-You-Save model means there are no upfront costs. Alternative agreements can also be provided with a one-time upfront payment for increased savings over time. Hotels are expected to save up to 30 percent in total energy savings and up to 40 percent in maintenance costs.

For more information, please visit: www.sensorflow.co

Keira Mokhtar

Marketing Manager

+6531637201

SensorFlow Pte Ltd.

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Pipeline companies Plains All American and Copperhead Pipeline will pay $1.75 million to settle claims they subjected employees to racial epithets, harassment and fired them after they complained, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Monday.

The commission reached the agreement, a consent decree, with the companies Friday, settling a lawsuit filed in 2019. According to the civil rights complaint filed by the agency on behalf of the workers, more than a dozen employees at work sites in the Permian Basin worked in a hostile environment in which workers were harassed verbally and physically.

This type of harassment once tolerated in the oilfield as boys being boys, has no place in any work environment, said Jeff Lee, an EEOC trial attorney who handled the case, noting such behavior is particularly dangerous in a hazardous environment such as working on oil and gas pipelines.

The companies deny the allegations in the complaint, according to the consent decree. Plains said in a statement that the employees worked for Copperhead (which could not be reached for comment) and denied the EEOCs determination that it was a joint employer.

HOUSTON HOW-TO: Know your rights as a Texas worker

Furthermore, our interests are aligned with the EEOC in ensuring that our employees fully understand that harassment and retaliation are not tolerated at Plains, the company said.

Claims in the suit include frequent derogatory and unwelcome name calling and almost daily references to racist words used to describe Black workers. Hispanic workers and Native American workers were also the subject of frequent racist name calling, the suit said.

The complaint against Plains and Copperhead also said workers who were Black, Hispanic, Native American and biracial experienced frequent abuse that included pinching, pushing, shoving, kneeing, and kicking.

Plains and Copperhead will be required to train their employees on harassment and to update their discrimination and retaliation policies as part of the settlement. The companies also agreed to fire the alleged harasser and discipline supervisors who retaliated.

Of the $1.75 million, Plains will pay $1.4 million and Copperhead will pay $350,000.

No one should have to put up with insults or derogatory remarks about their race or national origin just to earn a living, said EEOC Chairwoman Charlotte A. Burrows. But that has been the experience for many Black, Native American and Hispanic workers in high-risk, infrastructure jobs, and its way past time for that to end. This settlement helps brings justice to the individuals who suffered demeaning and dangerous harassment, and also secures real changes that will promote equal employment opportunities for all employees in these workplaces.

amanda.drane@chron.com
Michael Wyke / Contributor

Huntsman Corp. said Tuesday it agreed to sell its textile business to Swiss specialty chemical maker Archroma as Huntsman works to refine its portfolio.

The Woodlands chemical company said the deal, valued at $718 million, ends a seven-month review of its textile division.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A fear of attacks that had rippled through Muslim communities nationwide after the fatal shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque gave way to shock and sadness when it turned out the suspect in the killings is one of their own.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was arrested late Monday after a traffic stop more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from his Albuquerque home. The Afghan immigrant denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community.

In court documents, in fact, he told police that he was so unnerved by the slayings that he was driving to Houston to find a new home for his family, which includes six children.

But investigators said they have ample evidence to prove his guilt, though they have yet to uncover the motive for the ambush-style killings, the first of which was in November and then three between July 26 and last Friday.

According to the criminal complaint, police determined that bullet casings found in Syeds vehicle matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at the crime scenes were linked to guns found at Syeds home and in his vehicle.

Of the more than 200 tips police received, it was one from the Muslim community that led them to the Syed family, authorities said, noting that Syed knew the victims and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings.

The news of Syed's arrest stunned Muslims in Albuquerque.

I wanted a little closure for the community, as we saw it going out of hand and people were really panicking. But, Ill be honest with you, I was shocked, said Samia Assed, a community organizer and member of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. She said she did not want these heinous crimes to be in any way, in any capacity used to divide a community.

Salim Ansari, president of the Afghan Society of New Mexico, said he felt relief at the news that an arrest had been made. But he was especially taken back because he knew Syed through social gatherings and was dumbfounded to learn the accusations against him and that court documents showed three domestic violence cases against the man.

We never knew," he said.

Ansari said he first met Syed and the family when he was invited into their home in 2020 to tell them about the local Afghan community and the group that he heads. The couple ended up joining the society as members. As recently as last month, Syed and his family brought food and joined a potluck gathering, Ansari said.

I dont know what happened, he said.

On Wednesday, Syed made his first court appearance during a virtual arraignment. He was shackled and in a jumpsuit that said HIGH RISK on the back. His case was transferred to state District Court, where a judge will consider a motion by prosecutors to keep him detained without bond pending trial.

He is a very dangerous person, and the only way to protect the community is to hold the defendant in custody, prosecutors said in court documents.

Syed, through an interpreter, asked for permission to speak, but his attorney asked that the court not take any statements from him. He was not asked to enter a plea.

Syed has lived in the United States for about five years. When interviewed by detectives, Syed said he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, according to a criminal complaint filed late Tuesday.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

In the complaint, authorities said a 9mm handgun was seized from his vehicle, and they found an AK-47-style rifle and a pistol of the same caliber at the family home while serving a search warrant. Syed bought the rifle and his son Shaheen Syed purchased the pistol at a local gun shop.

On Wednesday, Shaheen Syed was charged by federal prosecutors with providing a false Florida address when he bought two rifles last year. He has denied any role in the killings and has not been charged in connection with them. He and another brother were interviewed by police on Monday.

The first of the four people fatally shot was Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, an immigrant from from Afghanistan. Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, said he was a generous, kind, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us forever.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases. Albuquerque police said Wednesday that as long as the suspect is detained, homicide detectives will not rush the case.

Police say they are looking at a number of possible motives. When asked at a news conference Tuesday if Muhammad Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

CNN interviewed Syeds daughter shortly before the announcement of his arrest. She said her husband was friends with two of the men who were killed. She also acknowledged her father initially was upset about her 2018 marriage but recently had been more accepting.

My father is not a person who can kill somebody, the woman told CNN, which did not disclose her identity to protect her safety. My father has always talked about peace. Thats why we are here in the United States. We came from Afghanistan, from fighting, from shooting.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syeds daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents. The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges. Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen OToole said the crimes Syed is suspected of carrying out fit the definition of a serial killer even though Albuquerque police have not classified him as such. She said serial killers often have red flags like domestic violence or sexual assaults in their past that precede the killings.

People dont wake up one morning and just become a serial killer, she said. We would go back and we would look at other crimes that were occurring in the area before the serial murders occurred. Because theres periods of time where they have to practice being violent. And that practice can begin at home.

OToole said motives for the four killings may have varied from victim to victim. OToole said she would want to know what prompted three killings in quick succession eight months after the first.

This behavior that were seeing in this case is cold-blooded, pre-meditated, and it involves hunting behavior  actually hunting human beings  which is probably as cold as it can get, she said.

___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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LOS ANGELES (AP)  The driver suspected of causing a fiery crash that killed five people, including a pregnant woman, was charged Monday with murder.

Nicole Lorraine Linton was charged with six counts of murder and five counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. One murder charge was filed for the pregnant woman's unborn child.

She could face 90 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges.

Linton, a 37-year-old traveling nurse from Houston, Texas, made her first court appearance Monday after being released from a hospital over the weekend. Linton, who appeared in a wheelchair, didn't enter a plea and her arraignment was continued to October. She was ordered held without bail pending a bail hearing next week.

Prosecutors said Linton's Mercedes-Benz was doing 90 mph (144 kph) last Thursday when it ran a red light and smashed into cars in a crowded intersection in unincorporated Windsor Hills about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of downtown Los Angeles. Several victims were thrown from the cars and several vehicles caught fire.

The crash killed 23-year-old Asherey Ryan, her 11-month-old son Alonzo Quintero and her boyfriend, Reynold Lester, Shaseana Kerr said in a GoFundMe posting.

Lesters family told KABC-TV that the 24-year-old security guard was the father of Ryans 8 1/2-month-old unborn child. The family has said Ryan was on the way to a doctors appointment for a prenatal checkup when she was killed.

One murder charge  but not an additional charge of vehicular manslaughter  was filed for the fetus, who was identified by the coroners office as Armani Lester and listed as born on the same day he died.

A young family was destroyed in the blink of an eye, District Attorney George Gascon said at a news conference.

Two other women were also killed but their names werent made public as of Monday.

While the wreckage of this fiery crash at this intersection was removed and traffic eventually resumed, there is catastrophic damage to the families and friends of those killed and injured," Gascon said. It is not only a tremendous loss to the families but our entire community who learned of this incredible tragedy or have watched the now viral video of the collision," he said.

In court, Linton's lawyer, Halim Dhanidina, said his client has an out-of-state history of profound mental health issues that might be linked to the crash but didnt specify, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Authorities said they haven't found any evidence that Linton was under the influence of alcohol but prosecutors said she had at least 13 previous crashes  including a 2020 injury accident that totaled two cars  and knew the threat posed by her driving behavior, the Times said.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP)  The U.S. Coast Guard was searching for a man who was reported missing from a cruise ship late Monday near Juneau and believed to have gone overboard.

A statement from Holland America Line Tuesday said the man was a crew member on the vessel Koningsdam and reported missing shortly after the ship had left Juneau.

A review of closed-circuit TV footage indicated the man likely went overboard intentionally, the statement said.

The U.S. Coast Guard was notified and began searching with the help of another ship, the Eurodam, the statement said. Both ships remained in the area for several hours as the search continued before being released by the Coast Guard in the early hours of the morning, the statement said.

All of us at Holland America Line are deeply saddened by this incident and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time, the statement said. We are offering counseling services to team members and guests who may have been affected by this incident.

The Coast Guard said Tuesday afternoon that it had suspended its search. The Coast Guard said the missing man is 31 years old. The agency, in a statement, also said the cause of the incident is under investigation.

The Coast Guard said it was notified late Monday by crew from the Eurodam who reported hearing shouting coming from the water.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday denied parole to an inmate accused of killing three people during his last release from prison.

The board, as expected, denied parole to Jimmy O'Neil Spencer whose previous release from prison drew outrage and a move to restrict paroles in the state.
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Clark D. Cunningham, Georgia State University

(THE CONVERSATION) The FBIs raid of former President Donald Trumps estate on Aug. 8, 2022, caught Trump by surprise  and prompted immediate speculation about exactly why and how the law enforcement agency secured a search warrant.

My beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.  They even broke into my safe! Trump said in a statement released through his political action committee, Save America.

Trump brought 15 boxes of classified materials with him to Mar-a-Lago when he left the White House, and delayed returning the materials to National Archives officials for months.

The FBI and the Department of Justice have not commented on the raid, but the Justice Department is known to be investigating how Trump possibly mishandled government secrets. Trump is also facing other potential charges from the state of Georgia stemming from his alleged interference with the 2020 elections.

Georgia State University legal scholar Clark D. Cunningham, an expert on search warrants and the criminal investigations of interference in the 2020 election, explains what could have led to the raid and what the raid tells us about the state of the federal investigation into Trumps activities.

1. There are legal hurdles to getting a search warrant

The U.S. Constitution requires that all search warrants particularly describe the place to be searched and the  things to be seized.

This requirement can be traced in part to a famous British case from the 1760s when agents of King George III searched the house of John Wilkes, an opposition member of Parliament, for incriminating papers. The warrant they used was condemned by the courts as a general warrant because it did not specifically name Wilkes, his house or the seized papers.

Courts and commentators also criticized the Wilkes warrant because it was based on mere suspicion. The U.S. founders looked to the Wilkes warrant as an example of what the Constitution should prevent and added the Fourth Amendment  requiring that search warrants only be issued upon probable cause, supported by Oath.

Criminal procedure laws help enforce these constitutional requirements by requiring search warrants to particularly describe evidence of a crime  or other items illegally possessed.

Only judges can issue search warrants, and they must find, based on sworn testimony, that there is probable cause that such evidence or items will be found in the location described in the warrant.

This means that a judge must have found that there was probable cause that either a crime had been committed, or that Trump was illegally possessing items taken from the White House. The FBIs request for a search warrant might also have indicated concern that these documents would either be destroyed or moved off of the premises.

2. There are also potential policy hurdles

In February 2020, then-Attorney General William Barr announced new restrictions that require the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to get permission from the Attorney General before investigating presidential candidates or their staff.

Barrs successor, Attorney General Merrick Garland, has kept this policy in place  keeping in line with general Justice Department guidelines that try to prevent politically charged investigations.

This means that this search would not have taken place without Garlands approval. Given the generally strong tradition of political independence at the Justice Department, it is not surprising that President Joe Biden and his aides were not informed in advance of the raid and found out on Twitter.

3. The FBI might have found more than it was looking for

The Supreme Court ruled in a 1990 case that police executing a warrant that authorized searching for the proceeds of a robbery could also lawfully seize weapons that were in plain view.

Assuming that the FBIs warrant authorized only searching for classified documents taken from the White House, if the FBI found in plain view other evidence of crimes related to the 2020 election or Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, they likely could have taken that, as well.

4. There may be a connection with Trumps possible election interference

A federal grand jury, requested by the Justice Department, has been investigating the presence of potentially classified documents at Mar-a-Lago since at least early May 2022. It seems likely that something has happened recently to cause this urgent search. One possibility is that the search warrant was issued based on information gathered in one or more of the criminal investigations involving 2020 election interference.

In particular, the Department of Justice on July 12, 2022, obtained a warrant to search the cellphone of John Eastman, Trumps former lawyer. As hearings by the Jan. 6 House committee have revealed, Eastman was a primary architect of the plan to block Congress from certifying Bidens victory.

There seems little doubt that the Justice Department had compelling, perhaps overwhelming, legal justifications for conducting this unprecedented search of a former presidents home. However, the secrecy required for Justice Department investigations and grand jury proceedings means that the country will have to be patient  the justifications for the search may become public only if and when criminal charges are filed.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/why-searching-an-ex-presidents-estate-is-not-easily-done-4-important-things-to-know-about-the-fbis-search-of-mar-a-lago-188438.
Houston Chronicle

A small fire-fighting airplane crashed in Lake Livingston on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.

The plane, a Fire Boss Single Engine Air Tanker/Scooper crashed at about 5 p.m., according to the forest service. The plane was helping fight wildfires in Polk County.
Courtest/Houston Police Department

A man died Tuesday night after being shot by a store clerk in a northeast Houston convenience store, according to the Houston Police Department.

The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. at a convenience store in the 8000 block of Lavender, according to the police department.
Police have charged a 21-year-old man with murder in a June 30 shooting of a man and wounding of a woman on Buffalo Speedway in Southwest Houston.

Jerel R. Banks is accused of killing 25-year-old Blake Deion Davenport and wounding a 23-year-old woman, a city news release read. He is charged with murder and tampering with evidence in 262nd State District Court.
New federal guidance will allow Houston and Harris County to expand monkeypox vaccine capacity, but public health leaders say they are still working to implement the changes.

The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a plan to stretch the limited national stockpile by changing the injection method. Aiming the needle under the top layers of skin rather than the deeper layers of fat allows officials to inject one-fifth of the original dosage. Federal officials say the change would not compromise safety or efficacy of the JYNNEOS vaccine, the only FDA-approved vaccine for monkeypox prevention in the country.

TRACKING MONEYPOX: See where the virus is spreading in Texas

The Houston Health Department says it is waiting on additional guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin using the new method. Both health departments will need to retrain healthcare workers  a process that could take days  and obtain different syringes to administer the proper dosage.

During a Wednesday Q&A session, Dr. David Persse, Houstons chief medical officer, said a nationwide scramble for the same type of syringe could lead to supply issues. But at this point, were not anticipating that, he said.

Were doing the homework, finding out what we have in inventory and the training, he said. Thats certainly going to take us a number of days but hopefully not more than a week to get straightened out.

The United States last week declared monkeypox a public health emergency. The number of cases in the Houston area continues to rise steadily, with 223 reported Monday in the city and unincorporated parts of the county. More than 90 percent of cases are among men who have sex with men, Persse said, though infections have already begun to hit other groups nationwide.

MORE FROM JULIAN GILL: UTMB president Ben Raimer put on administrative leave

The city last week received a shipment of 6,740 monkeypox vaccines and is expected to receive an additional 10,000 doses in the coming weeks. About 30 percent will go to Harris County.

The dosing changes are not expected to affect the timing or availability of vaccine appointments. Porfirio Villarreal, spokesman for the Houston Health Department, said as of Wednesday there were about 270 appointments available through the city. New appointments also are available through the county, said Dr. Ericka Brown, local health authority at Harris County Public Health.

The change we will make in terms of dosing is going to be a behind the scenes change, Brown said. It will not affect our ability to schedule and to serve the community with regard to vaccine administration.a

In light of the new dosing rules, officials are considering whether to expand the current eligibility criteria, which prioritizes people considered at high risk of contracting the virus. People who are eligible can scheduled appointments through the city by calling (832)-393-4220 and through the county at (832)-927-0707.

The amount of vaccine in the community is so tiny compared to the desire, Persse said. Were trying to thread the needle.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of monkeypox vaccine doses expected to arrive in Houston in the coming weeks. The city is expected to receive about 10,000 doses.

julin.gill@chron.com
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Moving a nearly 200-year-old house would be an expensive and time-consuming process, but for the director of the Klein Historical Foundation, it was worth it to ensure a piece of local history could be restored and displayed for the community.

The Frank House, built in the 1840s, finally found a new home Tuesday after it was lifted from its foundations, loaded onto a truck and hauled down Spring Cypress Road in Klein to nearby Wunderlich Farm, where KHF director Steve Baird hopes generations of future schoolchildren will get to see what life was like in the area all those years ago.

The addition of the house widens the scope of history the museum covers by decades and offers even more insight into Kleins past.

This building allows us to extend our story a little bit further, Baird said. This gives us another piece to the puzzle.

Wunderlich Farm, built in the early 1890s, opened to the public in 1995 and has since served as a window into Kleins rural past at the turn of the century. Every year, tens of thousands of museum-goers, including 4,000 Klein ISD fourth graders on field trips, visit the farm for hands-on tours and demonstrations.

Baird, who began fundraising for the non-profit he leads in March 2021 and raised $95,000 for the relocation, is no stranger to moving buildings. The Wunderlich Farm grounds house a half dozen other historical homes and structures, including a once-segregated two-room schoolhouse that closed in 1966.

To move the Frank House, Baird contracted K. Nelson Services, the company he has used before to transport Wunderlich Farms other historic buildings.

The relocation involved splitting the house into thirds and lugging the parts down the road to the farm-turned-museum. Its complicated, Baird said, but he trusts the movers.

Once I have the money and Im ready to pull the trigger I just leave it to them, he said.

In a way, the Frank House perhaps symbolizes much of Kleins history in just one home.

The wooden house was built by a Scottish family, rented by a French family and then bought by a German family in the 1880s. The three nationalities are discussed extensively at Wunderlich Farm as some of the first European American settlers of the area in the first half of the 19th century.

The Frank family moved there in the 1880s and gave the house its name.

Although it's finally at Wunderlich Farm, Baird predicts it could take six months for the house to be walkable and another two or three years for it to be fully integrated into the museum.

With Houston weather the way it is, we knew it was only a matter of time until it completely fell apart, Baird said.

Extensive repairs will be needed to preserve the houses unique features and architecture, he added. Much of the house's wood panels and floorboards, some ridden with termites, will need to be either replaced or preserved. A new roof will also be installed.

The price tag for the top-to-bottom restoration? At least another $100,000, which Baird said he will begin fundraising soon. Erratic lumber prices could change that figure.

Just like the relocation, he believes the cost is worth it.

We want there to be a big to-do about it, Baird said. We want to make sure its all done right.

jhair.romero@chron.com
COTTAGE GROVE, Minn.  Sheletta Brundidge never thought she would be thankful for a 9-year-old daughter who talked back and gave her sass. But sitting in the backyard of her home just outside St. Paul, Sheletta finds herself giddy.

Her daughter, Cameron, was making clever arguments to open a package addressed to her brother that had arrived at their front door  even though Sheletta said she couldnt.

Four years ago, Cameron was put in a classroom for deaf children because she couldnt speak a single word. She wasnt potty trained. She didnt understand how to play with toys.

Now, she can take visitors on a tour of the familys five-bedroom home. She can politely order a blue and red popsicle from an ice cream truck and pay with exact change.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Cameron, 9, was drawing on her driveway with sidewalk chalk last month when she and her siblings saw an ice cream truck coming down their street in Cottage Grove, Minn. Before her mother, Sheletta, moved the family from Texas to Minnesota to access better intellectual and developmental disability services, Cameron's autism was so severe she couldn't communicate. Now, she's tested out of services.

Cameron and her brother, Brandon, 10, were diagnosed with autism while the family was living in Houston  and Daniel, 7, was showing the telltale signs of the developmental disability.

Sheletta, a native Houstonian, tried to get them services through the state of Texas. She was told it would be, at a minimum, a 10-year wait.

So, Sheletta, 50, did the only thing she could think to give her children a chance  she and her now ex-husband, Shawn, moved to Minnesota, leaving behind generations of family members and close friends.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The Houston Chronicle interviewed half a dozen families who, like the Brundidges, have made the difficult decision to leave the state in order to get their children help.

Most never wanted to leave. They didnt feel they had a choice.

I was born and raised and ready to die in Houston, Sheletta said. But I told Shawn, We have to get out of here.

Although experts estimate there are 500,000 Texans living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, a Houston Chronicle investigation found that the state has the capacity to serve barely a fifth of those individuals.

IN CRISIS: The Houston Chronicle has spent almost three years investigating how Texas treats mentally ill children and adults.

That means nearly 200,000 people are waiting for care, some for nearly 20 years.

Lawmakers in recent years have invested some money into alleviating the waitlist, but experts say it's not enough to make a dent. Stakeholders are now recommending that the Legislature eliminate the current waitlist by 2033.

It's been six years since the Brundidge family moved, and Shelettas children are now holding conversations. They can play with each other. They can read and write.

Cameron tested out of services three years ago. Brandon followed suit the next year. Their paperwork now reads a history of autism.

Sheletta knows this never would have happened in Texas  in fact, shed likely still be waiting for services.

Now Playing: Sheletta Brundidge's daughter, Cameron, celebrates testing out of services in 2019 Video: Houston Chronicle

It is hard to track how many families have left Texas in search of services, but experts say families are taking extreme measures to get their loved ones help as the waitlist continues to grow.

Ashley Ford, an intellectual and developmental disability advocate, said she hears from a lot of families who have opted to leave the state because their loved ones arent receiving the care they can get elsewhere.

Its people that the state of Texas wants  it's people who are in important industries  and so for them to leave the state, its a loss, said Ford, the director of public policy and advocacy for The Arc of Texas, an organization that advocates for the rights of intellectually and developmentally disabled Texans.

Ford even discourages people from moving to Texas if they call The Arc asking for help signing up for services similar to what theyre receiving in their current state.

At every crossroads where you could probably set a person (with disabilities) up to be successful, the state of Texas is really dropping the ball, Ford said.

A 10-year wait

Sheletta and Shawn Brundidge always wanted a truckload of kids  so much so that they named their babies in alphabetical order.

Their A baby was Andrew, a brilliant boy who was reading at age 1. About six years later, they had their next three in quick succession: Brandon, Cameron and Daniel.

They had already picked out their E name, Ezekiel, when they noticed Brandon struggling.

He didnt say his first word until he was a year old. By 18 months, he had stopped using words entirely.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Instead of playing with his Sonic the Hedgehog action figures, he would line them up on the windowsill of their Houston home and just stare at them.

Sheletta knew something wasnt right, even as her family members told her to wait it out. He would catch up eventually, they said.

Did she really want to put another label on her Black son?

But she knew it was the only way to get him help.

Brandon was diagnosed with autism in 2014. Between Shawns job as a consultant for medical clinics and her work as an assignments editor at ABC13, the couple was able to put Brandon in a private school  to get him behavioral and speech therapy.

But just as Brandon was making progress, the couple started noticing similar signs in Cameron.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

She wouldnt look anyone in the eye. She wouldnt talk. She opened and closed empty pill bottles all day long.

The Brundidges enrolled Cameron in the same private school as Brandon. They got her in speech therapy.

Though she hadnt been diagnosed yet, they had the blueprint for care. But Sheletta knew they couldnt afford to keep two kids in private school for very long.

And then Daniel started showing the telltale signs of autism.

Why are you punishing me, Lord? Sheletta asked herself. What did I do to deserve this?

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

FOR HELP: Here are the six Medicaid waiver programs available to disabled Texans

Sheletta started calling around to see what services were available to her children in Texas. She learned about the states Medicaid waiver programs, which use state and federal funds to get people care in the community instead of in an institution, available to Texans with disabilities.

But when Sheletta tried to add Brandon to the list, she was told it would likely be a 10-year wait.

What do you mean? Sheletta asked the representative on the other end of the line. I thought early intervention was key?

The representative didnt have a good answer for her. There just wasnt enough money to go around.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees intellectual and developmental disabilities services for the state, did not start compiling summary reports on the waiver waitlists until January 2015, eight months after Brandon was diagnosed.

By then, there were more than 100,000 people waiting for care through one of the states Medicaid waiver programs. At the time, some residents were waiting 12 to 14 years for services.

Meanwhile, the safety net services such as therapies, independent living skills training and day habilitation  meant to serve as a stop gap for individuals waiting for Medicaid waiver programs  were decimated by a 2011 budget cut from the Legislature.

As of 2015, there were more than 2,000 people waiting for those programs. The state does not track how long people are forced to wait.

Sheletta was at a loss.

Her children needed help.

And Texas couldnt provide it.

So I thought, This is it, Sheletta said. Im gonna have grown adult children in here, and theyre never gonna live the life I imagined they would. Theyre never gonna be the people that I thought they would be.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Leaving Houston

Sheletta had stopped sleeping. She stopped eating.

The only things that went into her body were coffee and vodka  not necessarily in that order.

She was trying her best to raise three special-needs kids without state support. And it was breaking her.

Because someone had to stay at home during the day, Sheletta worked the night shift at ABC13, coming home at 4 a.m. and sleeping in the car in the driveway for two hours so as not to wake her kids.

If she was lucky, she would get another two hours of sleep around 5 p.m. when Shawn got off work. She often wasnt lucky.

Sheletta was down to 98 pounds when a friend from Minnesota  where the Brundidges lived when Andrew was born  told her about a program that paid parents to stay at home with their special-needs kids.

Sheletta thought it was a joke.

Girl, there aint no way no f------ body gonna pay you to take care of your own mother f------ kids, Sheletta said. Thats not possible.

But it was. And as she did more research, Minnesota kept coming out on top for autism services. When Shawns friend told him about an opening at a medical clinic he ran in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, the couple knew it was an opportunity they couldnt squander.

Still, the thought of leaving Houston was heartbreaking.

Sheletta was born and raised in Fifth Ward, surrounded by cousins, aunties and grandparents. She wanted the same for her children.

So did her family and friends, who begged them not to leave.

Danita Davidson, Shelettas aunt, cried and cried and cried some more.

She was certain that the Brundidges could get services in Houston if they waited long enough.

It just hurt my feelings, said Davidson, a 63-year-old resident of Humble.

But the Brundidges had to do what was best for their family.

Texas didnt leave them any choice.

Shawn took the job and moved to Minnesota in March 2015. Sheletta put her kids on waitlists for services in Minnesota and stayed behind in Houston.

About a year later  not long after Cameron was diagnosed with autism  Sheletta and her four kids joined Shawn at the home he had purchased in Cottage Grove.

Daniel, her youngest, was diagnosed with autism shortly after the family arrived  the most severely impacted of the three.

Sheletta was able to get paid to stay at home with her kids. Daniel secured a Medicaid waiver, known as the Developmental Disabilities waiver, which helped pay for a fence and special door locks so he didnt wander.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

She enrolled them in a school with an excellent autism program nearby, and secured speech, behavioral and occupational therapy.

She was even able to get respite care, which provides short term relief to caregivers.

And she didnt have to pay a dime, she said.

Sheletta started to have hope.

Making it work in Minnesota

Texas waitlist for intellectual and developmental disability services has been quitely growing for years  as of March, there were about 170,000 people waiting for a Medicaid waiver and 18,300 people waiting for safety net services.

Last month, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission  the agency that oversees disability services  said it has taken steps to ease the waitlist, including expanding services through the waiver programs and the community. The agency is also gathering more information through a questionnaire about the needs of individuals on the waitlists, which the state describes as interest lists.

But at the end of the day, much of it comes down to funding from the Legislature.

In recent years, lawmakers have taken steps to address this problem.

Theyve directed stakeholders to create a statewide strategic plan. Last year, they invested $77 million in general revenue funds to address the list. HHSC added 1,549 slots.

They mandated a multi-state study to look at how other states were doing this well.

Minnesota was one of those states.

In 2015, the Minnesota Department of Human Services began implementing reforms to its developmental disabilities waiver waitlist based on goals set up the year prior.

At the time, there were 3,000 people waiting for services provided through that waiver, said Natasha Merz, director of the departments disability services division.

Minnesota divided the people on its waitlist into three categories: those with immediate needs, those who will need services within a year of assessment and those currently residing in an institution who would rather live in a community setting.

The people determined to have needs in the future were taken off the waitlist and placed on a registry to be assessed later.

To help reduce the waitlist, counties in Minnesota also were tasked with beefing up their services. Brandon and Cameron, for example, receive county services rather than a Medicaid waiver, Sheletta said.

As of March, 93 people were waiting for care  and 96 percent of the people waiting were those determined to need services within a year of their assessment.

On average, Minnesotans waited 94 days to receive funding approval for the waiver.

The state has three other waivers for disabled residents. None of them have a waitlist.

Stakeholders in Texas are pushing the state to eliminate its waitlist as well.

Last month, a committee created to advise HHSC on how to implement services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities approved its legislative recommendations for next years session.

That committee, known as the Intellectual and Developmental Disability System Redesign Advisory Committee, approved a report that urged lawmakers to ensure all individuals currently on the waitlist receive services by Aug. 31, 2033. At a minimum, their report says, the list should be reduced by 10 percent each year.

The rate of slot allocation is not meeting the needs of persons requesting those waivers, said committee member Sheri Talbot at the meeting approving the report last month. Talbot is the authority director of intellectual and developmental disability services at Texana Center, the local intellectual and developmental disability authority based in Rosenberg.

Additionally, the report directs the Legislature to keep the time waiting on the list to 10 years or fewer.

Future funding considerations  should take into account population growth and increased needs, the report states.

Until then, families with means will continue to move for care.

Families like the Snedekers, who moved to Texas in 2018 to be closer to loved ones.

Courtesy of family

Just unfathomable

Carol Snedeker and her autistic son, Jeremy, were living in Iowa when his stepdad died suddenly in 2015.

The two were inseparable  they played Wii and Playstation together. They loved watching NASCAR. They went on picnics and hikes.

Jeremy was absolutely heartbroken.

Every time they went to the grave, Jeremy would start screaming and scrabbling at the dirt.

He cant breathe down there, mom! Jeremy would scream. He cant eat!

Though Jeremy was receiving services in Iowa, Carol knew her son needed to be around more family.

So they moved in 2018 to La Porte, where his sister, Amanda, and her husband lived.

She thought she could get Jeremy similar services. She was wrong.

The county told her he would have to go on a waitlist, and it would be, at a minimum, a 10-year wait.

Jeremy was already 30 years old.

Carol tried to make it work  she organized respite care on her own and found him day habilitation.

But after three years, Carol gave up. She and Jeremy moved to New Jersey, where she says he immediately received services.

They can never come back.

Judith Ursitti is a sixth-generation Texan.

She grew up in Geronimo and intended to live and die in Texas, like her ancestors before her.

But then in 2005, her 2-year-old son, Jack, was diagnosed with autism.

He couldnt speak. He couldnt gesture. He couldnt even nod his head yes or no.

Fellow special-needs parents told her about the Medicaid waiver programs  and that she should sign him up soon if she wanted him to ever get services.

She was told it was a 15-year wait. They couldnt wait that long.

Courtesy of family

Two years later, Judith and her husband, Andy, moved Jack and his sister, Amy, from their home in Southlake near Dallas to Massachusetts. She says they walked into services immediately.

Jack is now 18 and still getting ample amounts of services  so much so that Judith has been able to go back to work.

But Judith and her family now celebrate every holiday alone. She had to leave behind her twin sister. Her kids didnt get to grow up around their cousins, aunts and uncles  something she desperately wanted for them because thats what she had.

It really shouldnt matter where you live, this is America, Judith said. But when you think about having to wait 10 to 15 years for services, it's just unfathomable. But somehow, somewhere, someone decided that was acceptable.

Like a different kid

Cameron Brundidge walked down her schools hallway in March 2019, the sound of rustling pom-poms and her moms cheers bringing a grin to her face.

Today was supposed to be Camerons yearly special education meeting, where they determined what services the 5-year-old would need for the coming school year.

Instead, it was a celebration: Cameron no longer qualified for services. She was testing at or above her peers.

Sheletta never thought this day would come.

Its a party for you, Cameron! Sheletta said, shaking her bright blue pom-poms, a perfect match to her party hat. Youre doing such a good job in school!

The girl who couldnt look anyone in the eye  couldnt communicate  wandered around the room high-fiving her teachers and therapists, giggling gleefully at her moms exuberance. She smiled at the camera and asked people questions.

It was like a different kid.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Its a miracle. The answer to a prayer, Sheletta said. I need other parents to know its possible.

Brandon tested out of services the following year, during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Their skills have progressed, where people may not pick up on it, but the diagnosis did not go away, said Jana Smith, a speech therapist manager at the Family Achievement Center.

Now, Sheletta simply has to watch for signs of regression. If she sees anything, the kids therapists are just a call away.

Daniel still needs services. But hes made leaps and bounds since he was diagnosed in 2016.

On a recent morning in Cottage Grove, Minn., Daniel, 7, raced into the kitchen with tears in his eyes.

Mommy, I hurt my elbow! Mommy, it hurts!

Daniel cuddles up on Shelettas lap, fat tears falling down his cheeks and onto her dress.

She strokes his hair, whispering soothing words into his ear.

Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

It was only a few years ago that Daniel fell off a dresser and shattered his foot. He was sobbing, but couldnt tell Sheletta and Shawn what was wrong. The autism made it impossible for him to articulate where he was hurt.

Sheletta cant believe hes come so far.

Neither can her family members, who now understand why Sheletta made the decision she did six years ago.

Shes happier I can tell and that I can really tell you is because of such a big change in her kids  theyre self-sufficient now, Danita Davidson, Shelettas aunt said. I really wanted her to come back to Texas but after seeing the great work going on with her kids, why would she come back?

They all know that if the family had stayed in Texas, Daniel still wouldnt be able to speak.

Brandon still would be lining his toys up on the windowsill and staring at them.

Cameron still would be crying when people looked at her.

I pray other families will consider moving for services for their kids, Sheletta said. Just like they move for jobs or after they get married, for love.

Feeling appropriately soothed, Daniel jumps up from his moms lap and sprints down the hall, shouting at Brandon to play with him.

A household that was once filled with silent children who were unable to communicate is now filled with laughter, chatter and love.

alex.stuckey@chron.com
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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed a bill expanding health care to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits when they were deployed overseas, offering long-awaited help for the likely tens of thousands of Texans now battling health issues including cancer.

Biden, whose son Beau died from cancer that the president has attributed to his exposure to burn pits in Afghanistan, urged veterans to quickly sign up for benefits and vowed that his administration would move quickly to get the applications approved.

We owe you, Biden said at a signing event at the White House. Youre the backbone, youre the steel and the sinew  youre the very fiber that makes this country what it is.

THE LONG ROAD HERE: Veterans exposed to battlefield burn pits press VA for care and compensation

The president also thanked advocates at the signing event who have pushed for the legislation for years, including retired Army Capt. Le Roy Torres and his wife, Rosie Torres, co-founders of Burn Pits 360, a Texas-based national advocacy group.

You never gave up the fight, you never quit. You didnt stop, no matter what you were told, Biden said. Think about how distant this looked five years ago, seven years ago.

Potentially millions of soldiers were exposed to toxic substances at military camps in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, where open-air pits were used to burn chemicals, weapons, munitions, metals, plastics and more.

Thousands have since developed serious health issues including cancer, chronic asthma and other respiratory illnesses. At least 321,000 veterans and service members have signed up for the VAs Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry, over 35,000 of whom were in Texas as of March. They could be eligible for VA benefits from $100 a month to about $3,000 a month for the most serious cases.

The new law opens up roughly $280 billion for health care and makes it so veterans no longer need to prove they were exposed to burn pits to receive care from the Department of Veterans Affairs if they are suffering from certain symptoms.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

The signing marked a major personal and political victory for the president, who has long pushed for such legislation. Biden used part of his State of the Union speech earlier this year to call on Congress to pass the law. He made a trip to Texas in March to advocate for the legislation, as well.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Regarding Editorial: Trumps paradise lost? American justice comes to Mar-a-Lago, (Aug. 9): What the DOJ and FBI did last night in raiding former President Trumps home in Florida is not only a national disgrace but sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations that could eventually destroy our nation. This action, coming during one of the worst administrations in American history. If the Democrats think this was a smart move they are sadly mistaken and will pay a huge price come November. No former president, not even Richard Nixon, had his home raided by the FBI. Nor did Hillary Clinton suffer an FBI raid. All Americans, regardless of party affiliation, should be extremely worried now about the future political stability of this country. We are now in a political and ideological war. The Democrats have crossed the Rubicon and theres no turning back. I think faith in the justice system is now gone.

Eric Johnson, Houston

Many on the right, to include several of our own Texas congressmen and both senators, have swooned with the vapors asserting that the search of former President Donald Trumps Florida residence was politically motivated. The fact of the matter, however, is that it was Mr. Trumps own decision to make public that a search had occurred. The search  we since have learned  began in the morning. It was conducted by FBI agents, some of which, its been alleged by Trumps lawyer, were notably unadorned with their typical FBI emblazoned shirts or jackets. They conducted the search and quietly left the property. No one from the FBI, the Department of Justice, nor the White House made any public statement before the search, during the search or even after the search. It is solely because Trump, much later in the afternoon, chose to issue a statement claiming the FBI had raided his resort home that we, the public, would learn that a search had indeed occurred.

The truth of the matter is the FBI and DOJ did their job quietly and professionally. It is Trump and Trump alone who has chosen to make the search political.

James R. Cato, Kingwood

I find it laughable that Republicans are outraged about a perfectly legal execution of a search warrant at Trumps estate in light of his many abuses of power. Hes had a year and a half to turn over documents to the National Archives as had been requested and apparently was not cooperating or acting in good faith to comply with those requests. End of story. Anyone else would be in jail instead of only experiencing the indignity of a search of their residence by the FBI.

David Kelly, Spring

Your sanctimonious editorial relishing the completely unjustified FBI raid on Trumps residence was a classic example of your biased opinions. So no one is above the law, you say, parroting Nancy Pelosi, whose potentially illegal insider trading tips to her husband have made them millions. You also conveniently choose to ignore Hillary Clintons destruction of about 30,000 emails, some of which were classified, that she stored on her home server and Hunter Bidens corrupt dealings with our greatest adversaries. This raid was a simple act of political persecution more suited to a fascist regime.

Jon Elmendorf, Houston

Trump supporters are up in arms over the raid on Trumps Florida compound, even calling for civil war. I think it is entirely reasonable for the government to forcibly seize these documents. Consider the following. Some of these could be classified documents that belong to the United States government; theyre not Trumps property. He likely broke the law when he removed them from the White House. There are pictures showing potential evidence of him destroying other classified documents and flushing them down the toilet. Perhaps this is the fate of the missing White House phone log from Jan. 6. Trump is facing multiple criminal and civil investigations (such as for fraud, theft, defamation related to several sexual harassment and assault allegations ) and he is a proven liar. There are at least two known instances of Trumps administration sharing information with officials of the Russian government (once in the White House when Trump provided classfied information to the Russian ambassador, and once through Paul Manafort, whose associate shared confidential polling data with a Russian oligarch with suspected ties to Russian intelligence). In my opinion, Trump is a criminal and any classified information he has in his possession might as well be on Putins desk.

Mark Schreiner, Houston

Kudos to the FBI for raiding Mar-a-Lago. Now we will find out what Trump has stolen from the American people.

Patricia Roberts, Bellaire
Regarding Senate Democrats pass budget package, a victory for Biden, (Aug. 7): Now that Joe Bidens Inflation Reduction Act has passed the Senate, I guess Bill Gates and George Soros and other fat cats might finally have to pay more in taxes than they have in the past. Dont forget, though, the very wealthy now includes your favorite sports professionals, many of whom make more than a million dollars per month. So lots of folks, but not us, will be paying  so they say.

Thats all well and good. But the other fun part of this bill is that some of the big, bad corporations are going to be required to pay higher taxes also; they will be the other ones, besides the wealthy, furnishing all these goodies. This part has lots of people, including columnists and TV talking heads who should know better, rubbing their hands together in anticipation. To be sure the corporations will be the ones writing the big checks at the end of the year but you and I will be the ones actually footing the bill in the end. There will likely be increases in prices for the goods and services sold by these good folks to offset this added tax expense.

Grab your wallets. The pilfering is about to begin.

Kent Marshall, Sugar Land

So, all the news broadcasts are touting this new bill as a win for the Democrats. When the Republicans were in the majority, the bills that passed were said to be a win for the Republicans. My question is: were any of these bills a win for America? Or are they simply a means to keep one party or the other in power? Where are the statesmen who fought for the good of the country, not just the good of their party?

Margie Adamson, Spring

Compassion

Regarding the article, Opinion: Listen up lawmakers, Texans are united behind support services for pregnant women and babies, (Aug. 4): The article quoted research stating that nine out of 10 Texans support expanding and improving foster care, providing newborn care classes, increasing adoption services and offering prenatal care. Eight out of 10 Texans support increasing support services for pregnant women and young children, and seven out of 10 support expanding Medicaid coverage for pregnant women.

While it is heartwarming to know that the majority of Texans are compassionate people who want to help those who need it, the reality is that the state Legislature and governor are the ones who will decide whether or not to implement those programs, and for many years now the majority of Texans have consistently elected state legislators and governors whose primary objective is cutting taxes, no matter who gets hurt in the process. If we really wanted to see these programs come into existence, we would vote for legislators and governors who support them more than they support cutting taxes.
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, August 9, 2022

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Southeastern Inyo County in south central California...

San Bernardino County in southern California...

West Central Clark County in southern Nevada...

* Until 445 PM PDT.

* At 145 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or

expected to begin shortly across southwestern Clark, northeastern

San Bernardino, and far southeastern Inyo counties.

HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water

crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Pahrump, Jean, Primm, Spring Mountains, Sandy Valley, Goodsprings,

Mountain Springs, Mountain Pass, Nipton And Ivanpah Roads, Lovell

Canyon Campground and Mt. Potosi.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
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Community Development Director Michael Nuvallie explains to the City Council the need for easements for the Brayton Safe Routes to School project.

North Adams Council OKs Easements for Brayton Safe Routes Project

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The City Council on Tuesday approved to purchase or take by eminent domain several small parcels for the Safe Routes to School project at Brayton Hill Apartments.

The $740,000 project is being largely funded by a grant through the Federal Highway Administration. The use of federal funds requires the city to go "over and above" the usual rights of way process.

"This order is written in in a couple of ways. It's written in the sense that we want to have a friendly agreement with the abutters," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "But we also want to have a secondary route that if, indeed, they don't want to accept our offer or donate this property that we would take a temporary or permanent easement through eminent domain.

"I hate the word eminent domain and that's not the route we want to take but we need to T ourselves up so we can continue with this project and work that needs to be done."

Michael Nuvallie, director of community development, said the four private parcels had been appraised by independent appraisers WSP USA Inc. The property owners were notified in December of the project and offers were delivered on July 1. He had not yet heard back from them.

There are three pieces owned by Brayton Hill Apartments that will include two temporary easements of 255 and 2,313 square feet and a permanent easement of at 82 square feet. The price for all three is set at $1,875. The fourth piece is a temporary easement of Francis G. Girard III at 70 State Road for 275 square feet for $145.

The three-year easements will allow for work to proceed on new sidewalks and crosswalks and the reconfiguration of the crossing from the Brayton Hill Apartments to the west side of Brayton School by the Northern Berkshire Family YMCA.

"This is a very critical piece that must be approved," said Nuvallie. "If it's approved, then the project can be put out to bid for construction, which would be by the end of August. So construction, if we get a good batch of bids, will take place next spring."

The project will also include four temporary and one permanent easements on parcels already owned by the city.

"When the work starts, we enter into what's called the right of entry," he said. "We give ourselves permission to build on our own land."

In response to questions, Nikki Peters, with the state Department of Transportation's Right of Way Bureau, said the easement on the Girard property was needed to allow work to occur around the sidewalk area such as grading and loaming.

"With this particular type of project, we need to make sure the property owners' rights are protected and they're compensated appropriately," she said.

Pamela Marquis, a compliance administrator for the bureau, explained that the use of federal monies requires at least a minimum of a three-year easement filed with the Registry of Deeds.

This is to ensure coverage in case of project delays and timing for restoring and reseeding areas.

"We just want to make sure we're not running into any issues with doing the campaign at the appropriate time of year and so that we can leave the property in better shape than when we found it," Marquis said.

Councilor Wayne Wilkinson, a professional appraiser, said he had looked over WSP's valuations and they were "great."

"They're very good in the way they calculated just compensation," he said.

Councilor Ashley Shade thought it was a "wonderful" project but could not vote for the order because she could "not in good conscience ever vote in favor of using" eminent domain.

Councilor Keith Bona said he has not supported eminent domain in the past if property owners had objected but in this case the owner has not come forward and the size of the parcel at 82 square feet seemed minor. Councilor Bryan Sapienza said since it was not taking a home, he could support it.

The vote was 7-1 with Shade the lone no vote and Councilor Marie T. Harpin absent. A two-thirds vote was needed for it to pass.

"I think it's an important project and I'm glad that we're doing it," said Council President Lisa Blackmer, who also thanked Nuvallie and Superintendent Barbara Malkas for their work on the project.

In other business:

 The council confirmed the appointments of Andrew Kawczak, Jason Canales and Jennifer Dunning to the Conservation Commission for terms to expire Aug. 1, 2025.

 Wilkinson made a point of saying how difficult it was to find people to volunteer on boards and commissions and the council's swift approval shouldn't be read as indifferent.

"It's not that we're just saying yeah, OK. It's because these people deserve to be here and be honest with you, I'm glad that they're serving," he said.

 The council confirmed the list of election wardens and inspectors through Aug. 31, 2023: Mary Ann Abuisi, Deborah Brown, Eric Buddington, Cody Chamberlain, Shari Collins, Sue Columbus, Bernadette Eastman, Mary Ellen Faustini, Carol Field, Debbie Forgea, George Forgea, Maria Greig-Williams, Gloria Hiser, Andrew Kawczak, Diana Kawczak, MaryBeth Kennedy, Patricia Labendz, Lisa Lamb, Janet Lanoue, Pat LeClair, James Lipa, Angie Lora, Kathy Mancini, Mark Mancini, Ed Marino, Karen Marino, Vanda Monzo, Judy Nimmons, Laura Lee 0'Neil, Paula Orlando, Geraldine Pedercini, Joe Santelli, Susan Spooner, Elena Sprague, Barbara Tassone, Joan Wise, Mary Willey and Marcia Wright.
Pittsfield Board of Health Considers Subcommittees

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The Board of Health is considering developing subcommittees to take a deeper dive into topics within its purview.



Last week, the board's newest member, Dr. Jeffrey Leppo, a cardiologist, suggested the implementation of subcommittees for topics such as housing, opioid settlement, RF radiation, and community health.



It will be on the agenda for the board's next meeting and members are expected to bring ideas for possible subcommittees.



Leppo suggested the subcommittees because more than two members cannot discuss agenda items out of session due to the Open Meeting Law. Subcommittees with one or two board members would be a good resource.



"I think it would be helpful for the group to have more input into stuff that is going on on a regular basis," he explained.



He pointed out that it would also help inform members of the board before they are expected to take a formal vote and take some of the pressure off Director of Public Health Andy Cambi.



"I'm very open to it, like I said, it's not about dictating what the staff do, but more just having that collaboration or having that resource," Cambi said. "Because we all think all the board members are very valuable with their expertise."



Chair Bobbie Orsi recalled that the board previously used an ad hoc model -- which takes issues as needed -- and put that forward as an option.



"Subcommittees are only as good as the topics that you have because they can die real quickly," member Brad Gordon said, adding that he has seen higher productivity in ad hoc committees.



Leppo pointed out that the panels would report back to the board for a final decision. He described the proposal as "information gathering."



Member Kim Loring said it would be preferable to have two members of the board present on subcommittees to avoid bias.



With the mention of RF, or radio frequency, radiation, Orsi gave an update on the cell tower at 877 South St.



Late last month, residents of the Shacktown neighborhood filed a civil action suit in Berkshire Superior Court against Mayor Linda Tyer, City Solicitor Stephen Pagnotta, Pittsfield Cellular Telephone Co. (Verizon Wireless,) and the Board of Health.

The ART is a coalition of organizations that push back against 5G.



"My wife and I have traveled here tonight to give special recognition to the Pittsfield Board of Health for the actions that you've taken to protect the health and safety of the residents of Pittsfield," he said.



"Your situation has not been an easy one to endure and you certainly deserve the appreciation of tens of thousands of Americans across the country who are suffering from involuntary exposure to radiofrequency RF radiation."



In other news, the board discussed various suggestions for fine-tuning its tobacco regulations after being presented with them at its last meeting.



The two main suggestions address products that slip through the state's bans and "smoking bars." No decisions were made but the board suggested holding off on a new policy decision to regulate the sale of flavored rolling papers that do not have tobacco or nicotine in them and another regulation for "smoking bars."



The matter will also be on the next meeting's agenda and there will be a public hearing for the proposed changes in October.




iciHaiti - Internet : 2 Haitian researchers in the spotlight at the regional competition Lideres 2.0 of LACNIC





Raphel Belizaire and Debora Emmanuela Toussaint are the two Haitians on the honor roll of researchers selected for their project, as part of the regional competition "Lideres 2.0" of the "Latin America and Caribbean Network Information Center" (LACNIC).



Selected Haitian researchers :



Raphel Belizaire :

Belizaire intends to work on the impact of internet quality on the productivity of remote workers in Haiti in a descriptive study. For him, many professionals in Haiti now rely on a good internet connection to work efficiently, so the quality of the internet directly affects the lives of Haitians.



Debora Emmanuela Toussaint :

Ms Toussaint is more focused on a project she intends to carry out to train young people in the Internet and web skills while creating an environment and conditions conducive to the development of their ability to seize opportunities related to mobile technology. She believes that we must prioritize improving, expanding and increasing the level of digital literacy in response to the changing needs of young people everywhere.



The members of the Association the "Internet Society" Haiti Chapter, did not hide their pride because they are also members of ACNIC.







"Lideres 2.0" will provide vital support to local Internet Governance communities to conduct research on their selected topics through grants and mentorships.



IH/ iciHaiti


















Russian journalist Marina Ovsiannikova was officially charged with spreading false information about the army on Wednesday 10 August. She was arrested today and will spend the night in pre-trial detention in Moscow. She faces up to ten years in prison under a new article of the Russian Criminal Code, introduced after the start of the war in Ukraine. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) have condemned the judicial harassment of the journalist and demanded her immediate release.

Marina Ovsiannikova is famous for having interrupted a Russian state TV news programme and has already received two administrative fines for her anti-war stance in Ukraine. She is now facing criminal charges.

The former journalist of Russias first public television channel had spent three months working for the daily Die Welt in Germany before returning to Moscow at the beginning of July.

She was arrested on August 10 at her Moscow home following a 6 am search by ten investigative committee officers, who seized several phones and a computer. The Russian authorities are blaming her for a demonstration in front of the Kremlin on 15 July, during which she accused Vladimir Putin of being a murderer. She also mentioned the dead children in Ukraine. More than 350 dead children in Ukraine, are they fake? she maintained. How many more children have to die for you to stop?

"Marina Ovsiannikova deserves all possible protection. She is a journalist trying to tell the truth and fulfilling the public's right to know about the situation in Ukraine. She should not be subject to Russian authorities' intimidation practices. We stand by her, ask for her immediate release and a free press in Russia", said IFJ President Dominique Pradalie

We strongly condemn the judicial harassment of Marina Ovsiannikova and all Russian citizens who dare to speak the truth about the war in Ukraine, said EFJ President Maja Sever. The EFJ denounces the regime of censorship and repression that is creating terror in Russia. We demand the immediate release of the journalist and the thousands of citizens persecuted for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression.

The Russian NGO OVD-Info has already documented more than 16,000 arrests of Russian citizens, since 24 February, for simply showing their opposition to the war in Ukraine.
WION news correspondent, Anas Mallick, and his crew were abducted and assaulted while covering a story in Kabul to mark the one-year anniversary of the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the attack and urges the Taliban to immediately end its persecution of Afghan journalists and media workers.

Anas Mallick speaks to WION news after he and his crew were assaulted and abducted in Kabul on August 4. Credit: WION News / Facebook

On August 4, Mallick and his crew were abducted by the Taliban, despite receiving permission from Afghanistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs to cover news stories in the country.

Speaking to his network affiliate, WION, Mallick said that his car had been intercepted by Taliban authorities who proceeded to physically assault him and his crew, confiscating the groups phones and press credentials before transporting them to the Grand Directory of Intelligence (GDI) to be interrogated.

The group were asked a range of personal questions by authorities, including the purpose of their visit to Kabul. During the attack, the media workers were injured and reportedly experienced significant emotional trauma as a result of the abduction, which lasted 21 hours for Mallick and 42 hours for his crew. The groups press credentials were not returned to them.

Mallick, a reporter for Indian multinational news outlet WION in Afghanistan, was in Kabul to film a retrospective on the first year of Taliban rule. The abduction occurred shortly after he covered the alleged killing of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

According to reports, Mallick stated that he did not expect to face issues while reporting in Afghanistan as the group had been covering stories in Kabul since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, and had attended multiple press conferences and briefings prior to the incident.

In Afghanistan, increasingly strict media censorship under Taliban rule has been accompanied by a rising number of incidents of violence against journalists.

On July 22, Australian reporter Lynne ODonnell was threatened by Taliban intelligence agents and forced to retract stories written during her visit to Afghanistan. Dost Radio presenter, Selagi Ehsaas was kidnapped by Taliban officials on July 27. In June, journalist Abdul Hanan Mohammadi was declared missing, while reporters Farhad Amiri and Maiwand Wafa were both detained.

The IFJ said: The use of violence against Afghan journalists and media workers in the field constitutes a clear violation of press freedom and human rights. The IFJ strongly condemns the assault and abduction of Anas Mallick and his crew and calls on the Taliban to immediately cease its persecution of the media.
Following the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus on 9 August 2020, journalists have faced hundreds of arrests and detentions. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) join their Belarusian affiliate, the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), in condemning the indiscriminate repression by the regime of dictator Alexander Lukashenko. The IFJ/EFJ and BAJ demand the immediate release of the 30 journalists and media workers currently imprisoned in Belarus.

August 9, 2022 marks the second anniversary of the most recent presidential election in the Republic of Belarus. Two years ago, instead of recognizing the democratic choice, the authorities overturned it through the use of violence, as well as the harsh suppression of democratic forces and freedom of expression. The regime has now jeopardized the independence of the country itself by supporting the Kremlins war of aggression against Ukraine.

Over the past two years, Belarusian media have faced unprecedented pressure from the State, which has the sole purpose of destroying independent journalism in Belarus. Imposed measures included the tightening of the legal regulation of media, the labeling of many independent media outlets as extremist formations and their publications as extremist materials, restrictions on free access to independent media websites, and the closures of independent media outlets, as well as creating obstacles to the distribution of printed media; these are only small examples of the large-scale repressive policy deployed by the authorities.

Moreover, media workers faced mass arbitrary detentions (480 cases in 2020, 113 cases in 2021), often accompanied by physical and psychological violence, as well as the damage or seizure of professional equipment, along with prosecution in the form of administrative arrests and fines. Such actions have also become part of the toolset in the fight against independent journalists. One of the most egregious forms of persecution was the initiation of politically motivated criminal cases against individual representatives of mass media. Currently, 30 media workers are behind bars in Belarus.

Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of any democratic society. BAJ, the largest democratic association of media representatives in Belarus has carried on with its activities to protect media freedom and freedom of expression despite the pressure from the authorities. The IFJ, the EFJ and BAJ are convinced that the international community should not turn a blind eye to the repression of the independent media sector and the flagrant violations of human rights against media representatives in Belarus.

The IFJ and EFJ join BAJ in calling on journalists around the world and journalistic and human rights organizations to appeal to the Belarusian authorities to stop repressing the media and citizens for expressing their opinions. The federation urge their affiliates to appeal to their governments to use their political influence on the Belarusian authorities to restore freedom of expression in Belarus, which is not only a fundamental freedom but also a criterion for exercising all other civil and political rights.

The IFJ and EFJ call for the immediate release of the 30 journalists and media workers detained in Belarus, namely:
An executive of Pakistani broadcaster ARY News was arrested on sedition charges on August 10, with several more media workers named in First Information Reports (FIRs), following the interruption of the stations broadcast on August 9. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), call on the Pakistani authorities to immediately cease all legal action against the ARY News employees and withdraw the transmission suspension orders.

According to the PFUJ, Ammad Yousaf, Senior Executive Vice President of ARY News, was arrested on sedition charges on August 10. Sources close to the detained said Yousaf was arrested without a warrant by plain-clothed officers.

Police forcibly entered Yousafs home, removing licensed weapons and recordings of CCTV footage. The arrest has been strongly condemned by media associations and press clubs across Pakistan, with Yousafs current well-being unknown.

Four other ARY News employees were also booked under sedition charges, including President and CEO Salman Iqbal, and television anchors Arshad Sharif and Khawar Ghuman. Producer Adeel Raja was also named in an FIR registered at Karachis Memon Goth police station.

Representatives of ARY News said the broadcaster had attempted to contact the provincial Government of Sindh about the charges, but no response had been given.

On August 9, The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued instructions to cable providers to suspend the ARY News broadcast but failed to release a formal notification.

According to reports, the suspension, which impacted viewers across India and Pakistan, came hours after the media organisation stated that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had initiated a media campaign to portray the Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) and its leader, Imran Khan, as anti-armed forces.

PEMRA claimed the material aired was seditious and represented a clear and present threat to national security". Shahbaz Gill, senior PTI leader, was arrested shortly after ARY News was taken off air and was charged with inciting violence against state institutions.

The station has previously said that the PML-Ns strategic media unit, created on June 27, is advancing a narrative that portrays Imran Khan as an anti-army politician. ARY is one of Pakistans most popular media channels and has been suspended on multiple occasions following coverage of the PTI party and criticism of the ruling PML government.

PFUJ President GM Jamali and Secretary General Rana Azeem said: If somebody has done something unlawful, a legal notice may be served; otherwise, journalists' jobs may be jeopardised. If the suspension orders are not lifted, the PFUJ will protest throughout Pakistan.

The IFJ said: PEMRAs suspension of ARY News transmission, the arrest of Ammad Yousaf and the registering of FIRs against several ARY News employees are blatant acts of legal harassment and censorship against Pakistans media. The IFJ urges the Pakistani government to safeguard the rights of all journalists and media workers and ensure freedom of expression and freedom of the press are maintained in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.
Kaspersky experts have uncovered new attacks by Andariel, an advanced persistent threat (APT) subgroup of Lazarus, known for its campaigns in South Korea. The attacks involved modifications of the well-known malware, DTrack, as well as the use of a brand-new Maui ransomware. They targeted high-profile organizations in the USA, Japan, India, Vietnam, and Russia.

Andariel has operated for over a decade within the infamous Lazarus group, and Kaspersky researchers identified an interesting incident in Japan involving a never-before-seen Maui ransomware. However, in 2022, the group continued expanding its malware arsenal and the geography of its attacks. As CISA reported in July 2022, Andariel affected public and healthcare organizations with the Maui ransomware. Following their research, Kaspersky experts have revealed a thorough analysis of the APT group.

It shows that Andariel deploys a well-known DTrack malware, which executes an embedded shellcode, loading a final Windows in-memory payload. According to Kaspersky Threat Attribution Engine, this spyware was reportedly created by the Lazarus Group and is being used to upload and download files to victims systems, record keystrokes and conduct other actions typical of a malicious remote administration tool (RAT). DTrack collects system information and browser history via Windows commands. Interestingly, dwell time within target networks can last for months prior to activity.

The novel malware used by Andariel in 2021 and 2022 has been dubbed Maui ransomware. Kaspersky experts identified its launch after DTrack was deployed within an organization. Maui has been employed for attacks on multiple occasions, primarily targeting companies in the USA and Japan. Kaspersky researchers have assessed that the actor is opportunistic and may compromise any company around the world regardless of their category of business, instead focusing on their good financial standing.

Weve been tracking the Andariel APT group for years and see that their attacks are constantly evolving. What requires special attention is that the group has started deploying ransomware on a global scale, demonstrating ongoing financial motivations and interest, comments Kurt Baumgartner, a security expert at Kaspersky.

To learn more about Maui ransomware and other malware used by Andariel, read the report on Securelist.com

To protect yourself and your business from ransomware attacks, consider following these Kaspersky recommendations:
Global technology brand OPPO today announced its participation in SIGGRAPH 2022. During the conference, OPPO will showcase its latest industry-leading innovations in ray tracing, heterogeneous computing, AR, and digital humans, offering visitors hands-on experiences with these technologies.

OPPO Ray Tracing

OPPO first unveiled its plans for ray tracing technology at ODC 2021. During SIGGRAPH 2022, OPPO will announce the launch of new open-source ray tracing technology in its Physray Engine 1.0, enabling a new generation of visual experiences with global partners. Meanwhile, the world's first mobile, real-time ray tracing system application created by OPPO, the ColorOS Ray Tracing 3D Wallpaper, will receive an upgrade that OPPO users can download through the OPPO App Store. Users can experience the physics engine-powered wallpapers co-developed by OPPO and Tai Chi for the amazing effects.

OPPO will also demonstrate its latest technical progress in ray tracing with the Physray Engine 2.0. The new engine integrates more advanced ray tracing capabilities, including OPPO-exclusive ray tracing effects, a global rendering pipeline, and full path tracing. These new capabilities will also be available to all developers soon. At the show, OPPO will also showcase War Zone, a large action game scene based on the Physray Engine 2.0, and an animation demonstrating full path tracing capabilities on mobile.

OPPO Heterogeneous Computing System

OPPO has long been investing in heterogeneous computing technology to explore heterogeneous software applications using different processing cores. OPPOs heterogeneous computing technology is designed for performance and power optimization, helping developers solve application performance problems and develop programs that run faster and more efficiently.

At SIGGRAPH 2022, OPPO will showcase the latest gaming demos that run on its heterogeneous computing system. It migrates all 2D rendering from the GPU to the DSP, reducing power consumption while optimizing system load. In terms of high-performance computing, OPPO will also introduce its self-developed lightweight and efficient inference framework and demonstrate a video format conversion tool based on the technology.

OPPO Digital Human

The OPPO Digital Human is OPPOs self-developed hyper-realistic digital human technology. The technology provides a realistic and unique interactive experience thanks to its lifelike appearance and personality built on AI capabilities such as semantic recognition, feature recognition, voice synthesis, lip syncing, and dynamic expressions.

The OPPO Digital Human has been designed to continually improve its intelligence through ongoing AI training, allowing it to one day undertake roles currently only performed by humans, such as customer service roles.

OPPO AR Glass 2021

First introduced at OPPO INNO Day 2020, OPPO AR Glass 2021 is the companys second AR glasses concept product. It features a split design, nearly 75 percent lighter than its predecessor, making it more comfortable to wear for extended periods. It incorporates a unique Birdbath optical solution, which increases contrast by 53 percent, brightness uniformity by 98 percent, and pixels per degree by 40 percent compared with its predecessor, delivering sharper and more refined images.

OPPO AR Glass 2021 offers the industrys first end-to-end AR language translation feature powered by a range of patented computer vision technologies, supporting translations between languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean.

The quality of mobile graphics rendering is on the verge of taking off, said Dr. Hongyu Sun, Head of the OPPO Seattle Engineering Team. The new generation of mobile hardware and various advanced rendering technologies will bring unprecedented fidelity for mobile graphics in the next few years. OPPO is investing heavily in this territory, and we would like to share our latest progress with SIGGRAPH audiences this year. I hope you will enjoy the ray tracing, heterogeneous computing platform, path tracing, AR glass, and physical rendering demos we prepared for SIGGRAPH.
It's time to get serious about making accommodations for your future, potentially disabled, workforce.

Organizations on the whole have been trying for years to piecemeal together solutions to support individuals with disabilities. But most companies don't have a system in place and accommodations are handled on a person-by-person basis. This can lead to misplaced paperwork, misconduct, confusion, and a potential lawsuit on your hands. And disability claims are ticking up.

More than a third (36.1 percent) of all charges from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the 2020 fiscal year qualified as disability claims. The number of lawsuits filed under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) in federal court soared to an all-time high last year, according to data compiled by Chicago-based law firm Seyfarth Shaw, which represents defendants in these cases. With a downturn looming, these cases are only likely to rise. During the last recession, beginning in 2008, private sector discrimination filings with the EEOC swelled by a staggering 15 percent, the biggest jump in the federal agency's 44-year history.

Another reason for the rise may be due to serial plaintiffs filing dozens or hundreds of cases using the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act to extract tens of thousands of dollars in settlements, according to The Washington Post.

All companies should be ADA compliant, but small-businesses owners are most at risk. Not only are they often unaware of violations and don't have systems set up to handle accommodation requests, but fixes may be expensive and physically difficult to make, especially if the company is located in an older building. Luckily, there are tools businesses can use to ensure they comply with the ADA on all measures and provide individuals with disabilities the care they need. Here are a few.

Consider a middleman.

Under the ADA, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment, unless doing so would cause undue hardship. In general, the ADA defines an accommodation as "any change in the work environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables an individual with a disability to enjoy equal employment opportunities." This can include a variety of changes, such as making existing facilities accessible, altering work schedules, providing interpreters, and modifying current equipment.

To meet these obligations for its more than 13,000-person workforce, the San Francisco-based delivery company Gopuff is weighing whether to use Disclo. The latter company, which is based in Austin, offers to collect, verify, and manage reasonable accommodation requests with a secure health disclosure system. Employees submit a description of their disability and desired accommodation to their employer on the platform. The platform then verifies that disability through a health care provider, ensuring that the individual who made the request does in fact have a disability that requires an accommodation.

Gopuff is still considering its options, but doing something is essential, says Pete Lawson, head of talent acquisition at Gopuff. He notes that utilizing a service can help keep record-keeping issues at bay as well as provide a buffer between companies and employees. "It really does not put the employer in the middle when it comes to deciding whether an employee's personal situation meets the criteria for administering accommodations or support," says Lawson.

Call in reinforcements when necessary.

If employees have a disability for which they suddenly request time off, there are services you can use to fill those positions part time easily without needing to make another full-time hire. Some services, like Handoff, which launched earlier this year, use software to enable job-sharing, or two employees who work to cover one full-time role. The ability for employees to shift their hours as needed without having to worry about slacking on work may help employees, especially those with disabilities, who may hide their disability out of fear of negative consequences.

Similar services are geared toward the hospitality industry specifically. Qwick, the software platform, helps hiring managers at bars, restaurants, and hotels order up staff similar to the way one orders an Uber. The service charges a 40 percent fee on top of each worker's pay, which is often cheaper than most temp agencies. Using services like these can also help bring on potential full-time employees, while allowing those who currently work more flexible hours.

Designate an intermediary.

Most companies are aware of the steps that need to be taken to make the workplace more accessible to employees with physical disabilities. But there are many chronic illnesses and disabilities that aren't visible, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression. Employees may hesitate to contact HR in these situations lest they risk undermining an employer's trust in their ability to do their job. In these cases, designated staff there to assist can make all the difference.

At Flyhi, an Aurora, Colorado-based cannabis delivery service, a "first aider" is available to work with those who have psychological issues such as stress or anxiety. That person is available to chat with other employees securely on messaging platform Signal and makes appointments for video calls as well. The aider doesn't need a psychology degree necessarily, but can work as a buffer between employees and management to advocate for those who may not feel comfortable asking for an accommodation or time off themselves.

"Employers need to accept that everyone has their challenges, and just because you can't see what's going on with someone like you would if they were in a wheelchair or blind, that doesn't mean that they don't need accommodations made for them," says Ashley Chubin, COO of Flyhi.

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India supports linking the Chabahar Port with the INSTC so it can become a transit hub for trade with countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States. This was recently highlighted by government representatives on Chabahar Day, observed July 31. The INSTC is also receiving renewed interest from New Delhi as it will enable an increase in India-Russia overland trade. Western-led sanctions on Russia followed by the retreat of several MNCs from the country have created an economic vacuum that India is competing to fill.

Whats at stake

India considers the Chabahar Port to be a strategically located facility that can improve trade connectivity between Central and South Asia and rationalize logistics costs. New Delhi is thus keen to include the port within the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) although the proposal has not received much support.

The INSTC is an ambitious regional connectivity undertaking and will speed up the time taken for trade shipments headed to markets in Russia, Europe, and Central Asia.

For India, the INSTC offers shorter trade routes with Iran, Russia, and beyond to Europe. It also creates newfound opportunities for economic engagement and direct trade with untapped markets in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The CIS countries include erstwhile members of the Soviet Union and are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Eight out of nine CIS countries are part of the INSTC, along with Oman, Syria, and Bulgaria, noted a senior Commerce Department official speaking to Indian media. Indias exports to Central Asia amount to about US$678 million but there are huge prospects for growth. India mostly exports pharmaceuticals, machinery, coffee, tea, and spices. Moreover, India could diversify its sourcing networks for energy and minerals if it had better access to the region.

Most recently, on July 28, India and Uzbekistan agreed to a pilot container cargo shipment from Tashkent to India through a hybrid land-sea route via the Chabahar Port  to be executed in the following 15-20 days. The shipment would dock at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) at Navi Mumbai. India and Uzbekistan are currently working to increase bilateral trade by two times  to over US$1 billion and have arranged frequent high-level visits. In 2021-22, India-Uzbekistan bilateral trade stood at US$342 million. The INSTC would create a multimodal transport corridor to facilitate this trade push.

INSTC corridors make use of several thousand kilometers of all-weather highways from the city of Chabahar in the south through to Azerbaijan in the north and onwards to Russia and Europe.

Both Iran and India are now interested in using the INSTC to increase their overland trade with Russia, which was discussed during a recent visit to Delhi by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Indias exports to Russia in 2021-22 amounted to US$3.24 billion while imports rose to US$9.86 billion, including US$5.25 billion worth imports of crude oil, processed petroleum, and coal. Indias imports pre-pandemic stood at US$7 billion (2019-20) and exports US$3 billion.

It is reported that about 40 countries have imposed different types of sanctions on Russia, representing more than half the global economy, followed by the retreat of more than 1000 companies from the country. The subsequent economic vacuum has opened up robust opportunities for Indian businesses in multiple sectors, especially in retail and export trade. Both India and Russia are clearing up bottlenecks to smoothen supply chain movement from the regions. The Economic Times reports that the Russian government is making changes to improve the countrys ease of doing business, such as streamlining regulatory compliance and waiving various fees.

Indias role in Chabahar

India has heavily invested in the Chabahar Port, which will provide it with sea-land access to Afghanistan and Central Asia through Iran, bypassing Pakistan. This investment is key to Indias strategic ambitions in the region as well as to bolster trade and economic linkages. The Iranian port, once completed, will rival the Gwadar Port, about 80km away, in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.

India has helped develop two terminals at the Chabahar port, which is Irans only ocean port, including the Shahid Beheshti complex. Under an agreement with Iran, India will run the terminal for 10 years. Since December 2018, an Indian company, Indian Ports Global Limited (IPGL), has been managing the ports operations. IPGL acquired Chabahar Port through its subsidiary India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ).

The current loading and unloading capacity of Shahid Beheshti terminal at the Chabhar Port is 8.5 million tons and will be enhanced to 15 million tons on completion of Phase I of the project, as per the Indian government. According to reporting by the Financial Tribune, an Iranian English economic daily, the Chabahar Port handled 1.55 million tons of goods in the initial four months of the 2022-23 Iranian fiscal year, March 21 to July 22, which was a 33.8 percent rise when compared to the same period last year. Essential goods imported via Chabahar port during this period included sugar, rice, wheat, and animal feed  amounting to more than 580,000 tons and showing a 7.7 percent year-on-year rise. The jump in port business, however, can likely be attributed to normalization of operations after the pandemic.

Meanwhile, according to Indian media, Iran and India are expected to take administrative steps to resolve certain issues affecting the Shahid Beheshti terminal of the Chahbahar Port.

India and Iran have improved their relations in recent years. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting of foreign ministers on July 29, Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar welcomed the expansion of the body to include Iran next year.

Diplomatic overtures

The Indian government introduced a Chabahar Day, observed July 31, to mark the beginning of INSTC  an Indian vision to economize movement of cargo between India and Central Asia.

Speaking at an event organized in association with the IPGL, the Indian Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said: Chabahar Port links the rich Central Asian region with the South Asian markets. It has emerged as significant for trade, economic collaborations and connecting people between the two geographies. Owing to the potential of the Central Asian markets, the India-led connectivity has provided a secure and commercially viable access to the Indian Ocean region for Central Asian countries. This link will not only provide connectivity, but also drive investments further supporting our cultural and political ties, he added. It will additionally develop the transit and transport potential of the Central Asian Region and improve their logistic network, he added. Chabahar Port will lead to promoting a joint initiative to create a regional and international transport corridor over there.

Sonowal urged Central Asian countries to use the Chabahar Port for trade logistics as it provides a shorter, faster, and more reliable route between India and the region.

Another government representative at the event, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Tourism Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, said that developments in the Shahid Beheshti Port would support the faster growth of business and raise standards of living in the region. This infrastructural linkage would lead to expansion of trade and investment prospects in the region and growth in the maritime sector.

Back in 2016, India had agreed to make US$8 billion investments in the port and industries in the Chabahar Special Economic Zone. However, the natural economic growth potential of the port has been frustrated due to ongoing US government sanctions.

Trade routes under the International North South Transport Corridor

Launched in 2000 with India, Russia, and Iran as its founding members, work on actualizing the International North South Transport Corridor began in 2002. The INSTC is a 7,200 km-long multimodal transportation network encompassing sea, road, and rail. Its routes link the Indian Ocean to the Caspian Sea via the Persian Gulf and onwards into Russia and Northern Europe. Plans have been proposed to extend INSTC corridors to reach the Baltic, Nordic, and Arctic regions.

The INSTC can lower the carriage cost between India and Russia by about 30 percent and bring down transit time by more than half.

The infrastructure incorporated by the INSTC spirals across the following geographical corridors:
1) About the business

Engineering and design firm Syrma SGS Technology provides comprehensive electronics manufacturing services (EMS). It specializes in precision manufacturing for a variety of end-use sectors, including the IT, automotive, healthcare, consumer items, and industrial appliance sectors.



Printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA), radio frequency identification (RFID) goods, electromagnetic and electromechanical parts, motherboards, DRAM modules, solid state drives, USB drives, and other memory products are among the products the company offers to a variety of industries.



The company presently conducts business out of 11 manufacturing facilities located in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. The company also has one research and development facility in Germany and three dedicated facilities in India.

TVS Motor Company, A O Smith India Water Products, Robert Bosch Engineering, Business Solution, and Eureka are some of its most notable clients.

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2) Financials

The company served more than 200 customers in the previous fiscal year, 16 of whom have been a part of the business for more than ten years. This contributed to proforma revenue of Rs. 262.8 crores in FY22, while exports accounted for 44% of proforma revenue in FY22 compared to 53% in FY21.

3) Key shareholders

At the time of submitting the RHP, promoters Sandeep Tandon, Jasbir Singh Gujral, Veena Kumari Tandon, and Tancom Electronics held a combined 61.47% of the company's shares, or a 57.12% equity ownership. Holdings LLC, Malabar Select Fund, and South Asia Growth Fund II are among the investors with 7.53% and 1.22% stakes in the business, respectively.

4) Management

The company's Executive Chairman is Sandeep Tandon, and its Managing Director is Jasbir Singh Gujral.



The Non-Executive Directors on the board are Jaideep Tandon, Jayesh Doshi, and Sridhar Narayan, while the Independent Directors are Kunal Shah, Anil Nair, Hetal Gandhi, and Smita Jatia, and Bharat Anand.



Sreeram Srinivasan, who has over 20 years of experience in business operations, is the company's Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he held positions as Vice President (operations) at Rane Engine Valves, President and Executive Director at Shanti Gears, Managing Director at Saint Gobain Sekurit India, and CEO of MTAR Technologies.



The company's Chief Financial Officer is Bijay Kumar Agrawal. He has about 16 years of financial and business strategy experience.

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5) Date of listing and allotment of IPO shares

By August 23, the company will finalize the basis for the share allocation, and by August 24, it will start initiating reimbursements for unsuccessful investors. By August 25, qualifying investors' demat accounts will receive credit for their equity shares.



Finally, equity share trading will begin on the BSE and NSE starting on August 26.

6) Allocation of shares to investors and lot size

50% of the issue size is set aside for accredited institutional investors, including anchor book;15% of the offer is allocated to non-institutional investors, and the remaining 35% is set aside for retail investors.



Investors may make a minimum offer of 68 equity shares and a maximum offer in multiples of 68 equity shares. Therefore, since they are permitted to spend up to Rs2 lakh, the lowest investment by retail investors at the upper end of the pricing range will be Rs14,960 per lot, and the maximum investment against 13 lots will be Rs1,94,480.



7) IPO size

The initial public offering consists of a new Rs766 crore issuance and a 33.69 lakh equity share offer for sale.



The company will have raised a total of Rs840 crore at the top of the price range.



Before publishing the red herring prospectus, the company had already raised Rs110 crore through the pre-IPO placement of 37.93 lakh shares. The aforementioned capital raising was conducted at a share price of Rs290, a 32% premium to the issue price of Rs220.



8) IPO date

The offer's subscription period will begin on August 12 and end on August 18, 2018. On August 11, the anchor book will be accessible for a day.

9) Price band

The price range for the offer has been set by the business at Rs209 and Rs220 per share.



10) Deployment of IPO funds

Syrma will use the proceeds from its recent offering to pay for the capital requirements for building out its R&D center. In addition to general corporate purposes, the money will be used for working capital requirements, manufacturing facility expansion or establishment, and other related activities. The selling promoter will receive the offer for sale money.
Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors.

KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary.

No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account."

www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others.
"Darlings," directed by Jasmeet K Reen and starring Alia Bhatt, Shefali Shah, and Vijay Varma, is a dark comedy about an abusive marriage and how a mother-daughter duo traverses it.

Darlings/ Screengrab

Darlings is a refreshing watch in many ways. Whether it's the portrayal of domestic violence and toxicity in relationships or the outstanding performances by the cast that remain loyal to the film in every frameDarlings is an essential film in today's time.



Netflix/Eternal Sunshine/Red Chillies

Cinema fans are praising Alia Bhatt-Vijay Varma and Shefali Shah's darling and more so because of the way it highlights gaslighting in relationships.

"Been there, done that: We all have been in a relationship where we were tricked into believing the toxicity was love. But was it?

Darlings offers us to two women, Alia Bhatt as Badrunissa Shaikh (Badru) and Shefali Shah as Shamshunnisa Anzari (Shamshu). Badru lives with her government employee husband, Hamza Shaikh (Vijay Varma), who beats her every night for any little reason.

The next day, he would attempt to make amends with Badru by blaming his fury and violence on his drunkenness and proclaiming his love.



While he repeatedly hurts Badru, he makes up for the violence by making false promises.

Darlings

Praising the entire Darlings team for finally showcasing how it feels to be trapped in a toxic relationship, fans have praised the film for staying true to its intent.

The way darlings has painted how the abuser behaves after the abuse has happened, the manipulation, the gaslighting, the blame game...so far it's so on point. I have to take a break constantly coz it's just that chilling  Disgruntled Pelican  (@ThisisLLN) August 5, 2022

Gaslighting 

Darlings has a scene where Alia's Badru is at the police station, about to lodge a complaint of domestic violence against Vijay Verma's Hamza. A conversation ensues b/w the two. I watched this scene in rapt attention, where Hamza is apologizing to Badru.  Manjiri (@ManjiriIndurkar) August 6, 2022

Chances are that if youve been or are in a toxic relationship, #Darlings will leave you triggered (as it did me).



But I just want to point out that the way theyve shown the abusers demeanour after the abuse & gaslighting has taken place is absolutely spot on  Tanu D (@TDogra) August 7, 2022

I'm so glad Darlings highlights manipulative behaviour and gaslighting as well. So many times people miss out on the red flags because of "Lou". Very good movie!  Kri (@criticallytired) August 7, 2022

Darlings on Netflix is a fantastic film on gaslighting and abuse It really made want to kill the bastard husband. Its also done with tasteful comedy not ruining the original plot lines. Netflix did it right with this one 8.5/10 #DarlingsOnNetflix  Laxus (@laxusxtanjiro) August 8, 2022

I loves the whole concept of the movie, the story, the plot , the acting by all of the actors, the manipulation, the gaslighting , the pain, the badru's urge to believe that hamza will change, the 'its not alcohol it was just him'. @NetflixIndia #Darlings  Nashra (@heytherenashra) August 9, 2022

Gaslighting being the overarching theme - after watching this movie it struck me how gaslighting isnt just another gender neutral manipulative tactic that we talk about in relationships (2/3) #Darlings #DarlingsReview #ViolenceAgainstWomen  Misimi (@misimi27) August 9, 2022

Darlings, specially the first half, is an accurate representation of trauma-bond, gaslighting and manipulation and how it makes leaving soo hard.(4/4)  Kritika (@KritikaRages) August 10, 2022

While many films have addressed the brutality of domestic violence, including Provoked, Saat Khoon Maaf, etc., Darlings has made us all realize how gaslighting is often camouflaged under the false pretext of love claims.

(To get the latest updates from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment)


Raksha Bandhan is celebrated with much aplomb across the country and the festival defines everything that is sacred between a brother and sister. The festival falls on Purnima Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Sawan, which typically falls in August. This year, Raksha Bandhan will be celebrated on two dates i.e. August 11 and 12.

Happy Raksha Bandhan 2022 /iStock

The Rakhi tied on this day represents a profound unspoken pledge between siblings - from helping each other get out of sticky situations to elder siblings doing damage control for a misdemeanour by the younger one. Its a day to be eternally grateful for each others presence in life.

This year Raksha Bandhan is on August 11. However, according to the Hindu calendar, it can be celebrated on two dates- both August 11 and August 12. This year, the Purnima (full moon day) tithi will begin at 10.38 am on August 11, 2022, and end at 7.05 am on August 12, 2022.

Purnima Tithi starts at 10:38 am on Thursday, August 11.

Purnima Tithi ends at 07:05 am on Friday, August 12.

Bhadra Time starts at 10:38 am on Thursday, August 11.

Bhadra End time- 08:11 PM

As Raksha Bandhan 2022 is around the corner, make your brother-sister bond stronger by choosing the right rakhi colour according to your brother's zodiac sign as it is believed to be more auspicious.

Happy Raksha Bandhan 2022 | ET

Aries

Planet Mars rules the Lord of Aries. If your brother belongs to this sun sign, then you can choose red colour Rakhi for him on Raksha Bandhan 2022. The other Rakhi colours that will suit him based on his zodiac sign are orange or yellow. It is believed that it will infuse them with good energy.

Taurus

On the occasion of Rakshabandhan 2022, a white coloured rakhi along with white sweets will be perfect for them as Venus is the ruling planet. The other Rakhi colours that can be considered for a Taurus brother are silver and blue. Wearing this Rakhi on the wrists will yield good results.

Gemini

Planet Mercury rules the zodiac of Gemini. So, this Raksha Bandhan a green-coloured Rakhi will be the best pick for your brother. This will bless him with joy, prosperity and long life.

Canva

Cancer

A Yellow coloured rakhi must be tied by a sister to the brother's wrist on this Raksha Bandhan as the Moon is the ruling planet of the Cancer zodiac sign people. This will bring stability and bliss in your relationship. You can also feed your brother yellow sweets.

Leo

As Sun rules the zodiac sign of Leo, brothers with this sun sign should wear yellow, red, orange, golden, or pink Rakhi on their wrists. This will work like magic in their life and their life will be filled with happiness.

Virgo

The Lord of Virgo zodiac sign is Mercury. Therefore, sisters must pick a green or white coloured Rakhi, or silk thread Rakhi for their brothers. Another Rakhi colour that suits the person with this zodiac is white.

Libra

A White coloured rakhi will be auspicious for your brother since Venus is the ruling planet here. This will ensure that your brother will have peace and happiness in his life.

Happy Raksha Bandhan 2022 | File Photo

Scorpio

Planet Mars governs the zodiac of Scorpio. Hence, a red or pink Rakhi is the best for sisters with the Scorpion brothers.

Sagittarius

The planet of wisdom, Jupiter, rules this zodiac sign. Therefore, a yellow or golden coloured Rakhi is the best for your Sagittarian brother on this Raksha Bandhan.

Capricorn

Sisters can choose a dark blue on the wrist of their brothers as Lord Shani is believed to govern the Capricorn zodiac.

Aquarius

Aquarians are also governed by Lord Shani. A Rudraksha Rakhi or a dark-coloured Rakhi will be suitable for your brother with this sun sign. When a dark-coloured Raksha Sutra is tied to his wrist, your bond with him will get strengthened.

Pisces

This Raksha Bandhan a Yellow coloured rakhi is good for your brother as Jupiter is the ruling planet here. This will make them cheerful and add happiness to their life.

We wish you a happy and healthy bond between your brothers and sisters. Happy Raksha Bandhan 2022!

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Authorities in Anhui province recently ruled that academic disciplines taught at colleges and universities will be suspended if they fail to result in a sufficient number of graduates landing jobs or entering further studies. Disciplines in which less than 60 percent of graduates enter employment or continue education for three consecutive years will be liable to suspension or even revocation, according to a guideline released by the provincial government in mid-July. The new regulation has drawn a great deal of national attention since it was reported in the media. "It is not possible for the graduation destination fulfillment rate of an academic discipline to remain low for three years, and so the policy's orientation is very clear," said an expert from a local college in Anhui who gave his surname as He. "The new employment-oriented policy will push local colleges toward supply-side reform, so that we are better able to meet the need for talent," said the man, who is responsible for graduate employment at the college. The term "graduation destination fulfillment rate", coined last year by the Ministry of Education in a bid to better evaluate graduate employment, replaces the previously used term "employment rate", according to Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute. The new statistical parameters include not only graduates that are employed, but also those with startups, and those pursuing further education or flexible employment, Xiong wrote in an article in Guangming Daily. In addition to suspending or revoking 1,400 existing courses, provincial authorities have vowed to add a further 1,000 academic disciplines at the undergraduate and vocational levels over the next three years, according to the guideline. By then, over 70 percent of remaining academic disciplines will be targeted toward serving the province's 10 strategic emerging industries, which require some two million graduates. Anhui has listed 10 sectors as strategic emerging industries, among them new-generation information technology, new energy vehicles and intelligent and connected vehicles, and artificial intelligence. Experts have said these emerging industries have contributed greatly to the province's rapid economic growth in recent years. Anhui University, which is located in the provincial capital of Hefei, has so far revoked 12 academic disciplines considered to be of low societal need and has suspended four more believed to possess insufficiently distinctive characteristics, according to Kuang Guangli, president of the university. The regulation has been criticized from the perspective that ensuring a high employment rate should not be a college's primary purpose. "The creation of academic disciplines should not be employment oriented, as this will deliver the misleading message that students should be unnecessarily burdened by the decision over what to major in," said one comment on Rednet.cn, a news website in Hunan province. Zhang Haoran contributed to this story.
IAG found that, on average, between 65% and 72% of the total economic impact from the Townsville floods in 2019 and black summer bushfires in 2019-2020 were attributed to small businesses. Specifically, the Townsville floods' economic impact was a $2.5 billion reduction in GDP, with the impact on small businesses estimated at $1.5 billion. Meanwhile, the black summer bushfires' economic impact was around a $2.7 billion reduction in GDP, impacting businesses in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (VIC), South Australia (SA), and Queensland.

Read more: IAG on addressing climate challenges

As Australia remains vulnerable to extreme weather events, how can we make small businesses  considered the country's largest employer engaging over 4.7 million people  more resilient?

The report recommends the following:

The government must prioritise and invest in mitigation strategies to reduce natural disasters' impacts on regional and rural Australia;

Small businesses must conduct a thorough disaster risk analysis to understand location hazards and natural peril risks and insure accordingly;

Households must increase understanding of risks, regularly assess dangers to their environment, and acquire insurance to meet their specific needs; and

Governments must inform and educate communities on the increasing risks of natural disasters and articulate the need for small businesses and households to be adequately insured to expedite immediate and long-term economic recovery.

Damien Gallagher, executive general manager at IAG brand CGU, said the report recognised that small businesses are at greater economic risk when faced with natural disasters.

We know natural disasters will continue to increase in prevalence due to a warming climate, he said. Research shows that a dollar spent on mitigation can save at least two in recovery and reconstruction costs. It's critical that we now see governments identify and invest in mitigation activities, as well as stronger building codes and improved land use planning.

Find out more about IAG's sustainability goals and initiatives in an Insurance Business TV (IBTV) interview with IAG executive general manager (safer communities) Ramana James.
We can see that Insurance Store is poised for growth, and that excites us, said Shawn DeSantis, president and CEO of Navacord. Their entrepreneurial spirit and belief in their brand, practice, and community resonate with our vision of providing local touch service with national strength.

Jamie Mingay, president of Insurance Store, commented: It's a great time to lead the Insurance Store team. Navacord understands what it is to be a broker and has the resources and capacity to help us build. I look forward to the entire team collaborating across Navacord  it's great synergy.

With five locations in Ontario, Insurance Store is considered Navacord's most substantial partnership this year. The deal follows the brokerage's 15th partnership and 10th acquisition of the year.
While a terrorism policy is geared around property damage and interruption, active assailant cover is designed to provide cover for victim and organization support costs and crisis management costs, as well as the insureds legal liabilities, Tuttlebee said.

Loss of attraction cover is also included in an active assailant policy, to help the insured recover from any prolonged impact to revenue, according to Tuttlebee.

Experts described active assailant insurance as a newer cover and put its worldwide age at between six and 10 years old, having developed out of terrorism and political violence practices. For comparisons sake  cyber insurance, another line often seen to be young or evolving, came on to the Canadian market in the early 2000s.

Read more: What is cyber insurance?

Active assailant cover is heavily concentrated in North America, with the US taking up around 95% of the global market, broker and insurer sources also told Insurance Business. One of its original enduring names is active shooter insurance.

In terms of gun violence, Canada has not faced the same levels as its North American neighbour. The US has seen at least 389 mass shooting events so far this year alone at the time of writing, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

That is not to say, though, that there have not been times that Canadian communities have been rocked by firearms-related incidents.

In new rules mooted this year, the country is set to see a freeze on handguns from the fall, and from August 19 imports will be banned. The federal government has also moved to increase criminal penalties for gun smuggling and for the removal of licenses from those seen to be at risk of perpetrating violence.

This April 18 and 19, the Canadian public was urged to come together for a moment of silence on the second anniversary of one gunmans Nova Scotia rampage that left 22 dead  marking the deadliest mass shooting event in Canadas recent history.

Read more: Manulife to donate $100,000 to support NS communities affected by active shooter event

Gun violence has continued to disrupt neighborhoods. On Monday, August 1, six people were wounded after shots were fired in a Dams Foods parking lot in Ajax, Southern Ontario, according to Durham Police. In an earlier, separate, incident, two victims and the suspected gunman were declared dead by police after a July 25 shooting in Langley, British Columbia.

We need only look south of the border to know that if we do not take action, firmly and rapidly, it gets worse and worse and more difficult to counter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly said on announcing the new policies.

Its not just guns that get used as weapons, with attackers in cases in Europe and North America having used vehicles, explosive devices, or other deadly instruments.

Read more: Tackling active shooters  how organizations are getting it wrong

In Canada, Nathaniel Veltman faces trial for his alleged actions on June 6, 2021, in London, Ontario. The 21-year-old is accused of having deliberately driven a pickup truck into pedestrians in an Islamophobic attack, killing four members of a family.

The insurance cover has evolved over the years to adapt to additional methods of causing harm. This means that despite the original active shooter moniker, it has evolved to encompass more areas than gun violence. It typically provides indemnity for events that may involve other weapons, which could include vehicles.

Active Assailant policies shouldnt restrict what can be considered a weapon, according to Tuttlebee.

A comprehensive policy should cover against any instrument or weapon used in a way to purposely kill or injure people such as a vehicle or explosive devices.
With James transitioning into his new role, we have asked Christa Davies to expand her portfolio to include responsibility for Aon Business Services, said Aon chief executive Greg Case.

Together, we are excited to welcome Mindy Simon to the firm. Mindy brings a unique combination of global business services experience, technology expertise, and client service success to the chief operating officer role.

Meanwhile Platt, as chief digital officer, will oversee Aons Digital Client Solutions. He has been with the company since September 2014. Platts previous posts include Aon Inpoint CEO, Aon Risk Solutions data & analytics head, as well as various COO functions within the group.

Case commented: Aons Digital Client Solutions are powering our ability to reach underserved segments of our client base in ways that were not possible only a few years ago.

James is the right leader to further accelerate the great work our team is doing across digital channels. Our clients want more efficient access to innovative digital solutions, and were doubling down to address that need.

Platt is based in London, reporting to Aon president Eric Andersen, while Simon will report to Davies while situated in Nebraska. The incoming executive committee member is making the shift from food company Conagra Brands where she is currently chief information officer.

Simon stated: Im excited to be joining a high-performing firm with a commitment to exceptional client service. Aon recognizes the importance global business services plays in delivering differentiated value to clients.

I admire the scale and sophistication of Aon Business Services and look forward to working with the team to build on the significant impact they already have on operating performance.
Triple-I pointed out that homeowners in Florida pay the highest average property insurance premium in America at $4,231  almost three times the national average of $1,544.

The institute also said that the net underwriting losses for Floridas domestic property companies exceeded $1 billion in both 2020 and 2021, which has led to insurers either having their ratings downgraded or being placed into insolvency. Triple-I also noted that several of the insurers that were able to withstand these negative trends chose to reduce their exposure to the states market, either by issuing non-renewal notices or restricting the writing of new business.

Although two major hurricanes made landfall in Florida in 2017 (Hurricane Irma) and 2018 (Hurricane Michael), the past three hurricane seasons have been relatively uneventful for the state, said Triple-I. Despite this, insurers operating in the state are experiencing net underwriting losses, as Florida is where 79% of all US homeowners insurance lawsuits over claims are filed, the institute said, citing data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. It was also noted that Floridas home insurers receive only 9% of all US property insurance claims.

Litigation activity is expected to pick up, as Triple-I said that an estimated 130,000 property claim lawsuits will be filed in 2022, according to Floridians For Lawsuit Reform.

"Florida has one of the most generous attorney-fee mechanisms in the countrysometimes resulting in insurer payment of plaintiff attorney fees far greater than the damage awards given to the policyholders who are the plaintiffs themselves," the institutes brief said. "A 2017 state Supreme Court decision allows courts to award plaintiffs' attorneys 2-2.5 times their hourly billing rate when courts rule in favor of policyholders. These contingency fee multipliers can result in attorneys receiving several hundred thousand dollars for a simple lawsuit."

Triple-Is brief also put a spotlight on unethical roofing contractors, who ask home insurance policyholders to sign assignment of benefits (AOB) forms or direction to pay agreements. These forms allow the contractor the right to collect payments directly from the insurer and file a lawsuit without the knowledge or consent of the policyholder.

These two factors have not only put insurers on the rope but have also led Citizens Property Insurance  Floridas state-run insurer of last resort  to dangerously swell, Triple-I stated.

Citizens had 931,357 policies in force as of June 30, 2022, up from 638,263 policies in June 2021 and 474,630 policies in June 2020. Citizens could spend as much as $100 million this year on litigation expenses, the institute said.
The underlying component [to hail losses] is climate change. Were seeing more storms that are more catastrophic, said Randy Ishikawa, director of home insurance solutions at LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The rising cost of materials and limited availability due to supply chain disruptions add to insurers claims headaches.

Read more: Catastrophic weather caused 39% of all home insurance claims in 2020  report

States in the so-called hail alley, such as Wyoming, South Dakota, Texas, and Oklahoma, see the most hail events yearly, so properties in those areas are deemed riskier. But location is only one factor: the structure of a home also impacts its risk profile.

Newer homes and roofs are less likely to incur damage, depending on the hail size. Steep roofs perform better than flat roofs, for instance, though theyre also more expensive to replace, Ishikawa told Insurance Business.

In general, average size hail is less than one inch and shouldnt cause damage to a newer roof. But youll probably see some damage with an older roof with compromised shingles that may have some curling.

Better roof inspections

An accurate assessment is key to getting meaningful risk information, helping carriers avoid putting damaged roofs on their books. But typical roof assessments, called drive-by inspections, offer a limited view of roofs and possible damage.

Inspectors literally drive by to look at the roofs overall condition. But they can only see the front side of the roof, not the back of it. They cant see the top part of the house or the ridge of the roof itself. Thats where aerial imagery comes into play, said Ishikawa.

To optimize roof inspections, LexisNexis developed a tool called Rooftop that generates a risk score based on data insights, including image analytics, claims history, and weather data.

By taking an orthogonal or downward view image of the house and roof and harvesting data from that through artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, [Rooftop] provides the insurance carrier a score indicating the propensity for damages.

You take the geospatial information, and then you factor in weather forensics: how many storms occurred in that area? When did they occur? How big were the storms themselves? Ishikawa asked.

Leveraging data insights

Image analytics consider a houses structure, including its roof shape and pitch, the materials used, and other physical characteristics. But other types of data can give clues to pre-existing roof damage.

Ishikawa illustrated: If a storm occurred in an area and this house did not turn in a claim, but all the neighboring homes turned in claims, whats the probability that that house has some roof damage that the homeowner doesnt know about yet? When another storm comes by, the damages [could] become even greater. Technology can help the insurance carriers with mitigating the risk.

Claims patterns reveal a lot of information about hail exposure. Ishikawa said they looked at clusters of auto claims, for instance, because they develop much faster than property claims after an extreme weather event.

We factor all of that to come up with a score from one to 100. The higher the score, the greater the propensity of having a claim on that property, Ishikawa summed up. Each carrier will have a different approach to the scores, depending on their risk appetite and underwriting strategy. But with the right data, carriers can better prepare themselves for covering hail risk.

Most carriers will look at something and say: We can accommodate that [risk]. We can pull an underwriting lever and give them a higher deductible to help mitigate the risk, or we can provide actual cash value on the roof and not a full replacement cost. Its a balance for the insurance carrier, Ishikawa continued.

Hail season in the US typically starts in May and trails off around the end of August. For Ishikawa, the time is ripe for carriers to start preparing for the next season.

At this point, many carriers cant do a lot about the risks on their books. But it does behove them to look at their books, especially in those areas where theyve seen a significant amount of hail losses, so they can help mitigate that risk before the next hail season comes, Ishikawa said.
This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync.

If theres one thing your insurance business can do to improve both employee and client satisfaction, its finding a way to cut down delays and lag times in your internal and client-facing processes. More often than not, the right technology is a significant part of the answer.

The importance of moving quickly in todays world

Speed is no longer a luxury or a differentiator. Its a baseline expectation most consumers prioritize and are even willing to pay extra for. That means if your business isnt offering a speedy customer experience, you can be certain your competitors are, and that spells lost business.

Speed drives satisfaction in insurance

People dont like to wait. Even putting a customer on hold for a few minutes can cause customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores to take a nosedive. It shouldnt surprise you to learn that, when it comes to customer experience with insurance companies, getting claims resolved quickly is a large component of client satisfaction and retention.

A recent study by insurance industry SMS messaging provider Hi Marley found that the highest performing and highest rated claims adjusters also had the lowest time to first contact (TTFC). These high-performing insurance employees reached out to their clients in as little as three minutes, making 80 percent of their first contacts within the first three and a half hours. On the other hand, the lowest performing claims adjusters took upward of two days to make initial contact with their customers.

Its not earth-shattering to learn that the claimants who received responses within a few hours were happier with the service they received than their multi-day-response-time counterparts. But seeing how dramatic a difference this speed can make, not just in customer satisfaction but also in profitability, is newsworthy. The Hi Marley study found that the top-performing claims adjusters were able to close out claims 10 percent faster than the lowest performing adjusters, on average, that translated to completing a claim three days quicker.

When you think about shaving off three days, or 10 percent, from any of your business processes, think about the ripple effect that could have on everything from employee satisfaction to profitability. Whether its the same number of people doing more in less time, or being able to grow your volume of business without increasing headcount, removing delays in your processes tends to make everyone happier with the work theyre doing and the service theyre receiving.

Insurance has a speed problem

A 2018 PwC study found a vast majority of global survey respondents (nearly 80 percent) ranked speed, convenience, knowledgeable help, and friendly service as key drivers of a great customer experience. The same study found an 18-point delta between respondents ranking of the importance of customer experience in the insurance industry and their actual level of satisfaction with their insurance industry experience.

Given what we know about the slow nature of the insurance industry as a whole, plus the Hi Marley data about claims speed and satisfaction, we can extrapolate that at least some portion of the less-than-ideal customer experience insurance consumers report is based on speed, or lack thereof.

Additional evidence of the tie between speed and satisfaction in the insurance industry is exemplified by record-high levels of customer satisfaction with auto claims in 2020 as COVID decreased the number of claims and processing times sped up. A J.D. Power study found that the lower number of auto claims reported during the pandemic helped insurers reduce the average (repairable) auto claim cycle from 12.6 days to 10.3 days. This correlated with a four-point increase in auto insurance customers who planned to renew their current policy compared to the prior year.

All in all, it seems clear that the insurance industrys speed problem directly relates to its customer experience gap. But does this impact other areas outside of client retention? Short answer: You bet it does!

A smooth and fast experience matters to insurance producers and compliance staff too

Working at an insurance carrier, agency, or MGA/MGU, you can easily see the impact that quick communication and seamless processes can have on your clients satisfaction. The same is also true for your licensed agents and insurance producers, along with other operational and compliance staff.

A faster experience during onboarding means your producers are ready to sell faster. An easier (and faster) process for appointments and license renewals is less burdensome for administrative and compliance teams. Helping your staff do their jobs faster, including but not limited to enabling producers to be ready to sell sooner, helps you build a reputation as an insurance carrier or agency thats easy to do business at, for, and ultimately with. Whether its your reputation among your in-house staff or your downstream distribution channel partners, being known for creating an exceptional experience helps everything from producer recruitment and retention to lowering operational costs.

Increasing speed with modern insurance technology

Insurance companies found a dramatic increase in customer satisfaction when claims adjusters used SMS technology to rapidly communicate with policyholders. Similarly, technology can hold the key for insurance carriers and agencies looking to reap the rewards of speeding things up in other areas of the business.

If your insurance agency, carrier, or MGA is suffering the consequences of slow, manual, and tedious producer onboarding, wasted money in unused carrier appointments, or delays caused by data and workflow silos (among many other issues), see how adding AgentSync can improve speed and satisfaction at every stage of the distribution lifecycle.

Topics Market
This post is part of a series sponsored by IAT Insurance Group.

Workplace disability claims were the most commonly reported type of discrimination in 2020, with 24,324 claims filed. During that year alone, companies within the United States paid out $120 million in disability discrimination claims.[1]

The challenge is that this type of discrimination isnt always as obvious as you think.

For example, an auto dealership worker disclosed her need for handicap parking to her new employer during onboarding. The dealership took care of this but failed to be proactive beyond onboarding in asking if she needed additional accommodations. Months later, when the dealership fired her for poor performance, she sued them because of this lack of proactivity, a key feature of employer onus under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In another case, a company disbanded a department and then changed its mind, inadvertently rehiring everyone but the woman on maternity leave. Though they didnt intend to discriminate against her, thats how it appeared. Ultimately, they settled out of court, but had the case gone to trial, the award could have easily been 10X the settlement.

5 tips to reduce your risk of a disability discrimination claim

While claims of disability discrimination loom large for unknowing businesses, there are five things you can do to reduce your risk.

1. Know the ADA requires an interactive process.

Best practices requires more than just accommodating employees with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires companies to engage in an interactive process with disabled employees, periodically checking in with them to ensure accommodations are working and adjust if necessary.[2]

TIP: This national rule applies across states, so consider having a champion from your human resources department who can lead the process for disability requests. If you dont have an HR person, consider outsourcing the task.

2. Be flexible with rules.

Companies that are rigid with their rules can get burned in disability discrimination lawsuits.

For example, Walmart was hit with a $100 million verdict last year because they wouldnt change the work schedule of an employee with Down Syndrome to accommodate her bus schedule.[3] Walmart was so focused on their shift assignment rules that they didnt respond to a reasonable request from someone with a disability, and it cost them $125 million.

TIP: Adapt company rules to meet a disabled persons needs whenever possible and document these conversations to reduce ambiguity.

3. Know the rules for disability disclosure.

Sometimes making an accommodation for a disability requires making others aware of the issue. However, there are discretionary rules about who you can tell and how much they can know.

Start by asking yourself who needs to know, and how much they need to know. Perhaps only a direct supervisor needs to know the details. Other employees may not need to know anything, or perhaps theyll know the team member needs accommodation but not any details.

Once you decide the minimum amount of information that can be shared to grant the accommodation, and who it must be shared with, its time to talk to the requesting employee. Ask permission to share that information and explain why its necessary. Once you get permission, you can move forward with the accommodation.

TIP: Discretion is essential and not every disability is obvious. Hidden disabilities may also require accommodation. As you listen to your employees, try to pick up on non-verbal cues that may indicate the employee needs additional accommodations.

4. Document your interactive process.

Most companies understand that its important to document certain processes, like corrective action. However, they often overlook documenting an employee-related issue such as a disability accommodation process.

Because the law requires an interactive process for disability accommodation, its important to document every step within the accommodation process, including all conversations about the concern.

TIP: Have a clearly documented disability accommodation process and ensure everyone follows it. Document and date all conversations with employees and accommodations made.

5. Check with a lawyer before terminating.

If you need to terminate someone with a disclosed disability, tread carefully. That doesnt mean you cant release them, but you might need to be more diligent about documenting your reasoning. You also need to prove that you fully accommodated the individuals disability.

Organizations should also consider the timing of the termination related to the disability disclosure. If they are close together, theres a higher risk you will face a lawsuit. Consider hiring a temp worker to fill a gap if someone is on extended leave, for example, instead of firing them to hire a new employee.

TIP: Consult with a lawyer before terminating a disabled employee. They can help cover all bases.

Is your company properly protected against the ADA risks you face? Contact a member of the IAT team today.

By Tom Rizzuto and Angela Roberts

[1] U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission Charge Statistics (Charges filed with EEOC) FY 1997 Through FY 2021, 2022.

[2] SHRM, ADA: Reasonable Accommodation/Interactive Process.

[3] The Guardian Walmart told to pay woman with Downs syndrome $125m for unfair dismissal, July 2021.

Topics Claims
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Pennsylvania officials have identified three dozen employers that are currently not carrying workers compensation insurance as required by state law.

Pennsylvanias Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) released lists of employers that have violated one or more of the labor laws, misclassified their workers, owe unemployment compensation back taxes or have failed to carry requisite workers compensation insurance.

L&I updates the list each Tuesday.

Among employers that had failed to carry workers compensation, officials said six have resolved liens and 11 have established repayment agreements  for a total of nearly $600,000 collected or scheduled to be paid under repayment agreements. Those firms have been removed from the non-compliance list.

Created in October 2021 by an executive order by Gov. Tom Wolf, the lists were first published six months ago. Since then, the L&I said it has resolved about 1,300 liens and collected more than $8.3 million from more than 900 employers that had owed unemployment compensation back taxes.

In just six months, we have seen a significant number of employers come forward to resolve their unpaid UC taxes and failure to carry workers compensation insurance. Through the power of transparency, this project compels employers to meet their obligations to their workers and compete on a level playing field with other employers that were already following the rules, Berrier said. L&I stands ready to assist employers who have fallen behind on their obligations before their name appears on the non-compliance list. Likewise, we want to see more employers take the steps necessary to resolve their obligations so we can remove them from this public list.

Employers are removed from the list after they pay their liens in full, enter bankruptcy proceedings, or enter into payment plan agreements with the department.

Firms can make payments and set up payment plans by contacting the Bureau of Workers Compensation.

Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Pennsylvania
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A laborer who fell and was injured after he stood on an inverted bucket to reach a cable has nobody to blame but himself under New York law.

The worker, Angel Morales, did not need to use a bucket, ladder or any device to raise himself to reach the cable atop a washer/dryer unit he was installing. To grab the cable, he could have simply wheeled out the appliance as he had done many times in installing similar units, according to a new ruling.

A state appellate court dismissed his claims of common law negligence and violations of the states Labor Law against the Brooklyn apartment complex owners who hired him to install washer/dryer units. The appellate court upheld the ruling of a lower court in favor of the owners, 50 North First Partners and Bayport Construction Corp.

The court concluded that [t]he extraordinary protections of the states Labor Law extend only to a narrow class of special hazards, and do not encompass any and all perils that may be connected in some tangential way with the effects of gravity.

According to Morales, he was standing on an inverted bucket in order to reach a power cable for a stacked washer/dryer unit that he had just pushed into the closet before he had plugged in the power cable. He contended that the power cable was resting on top of the dryer and was out of reach, and that the washer/dryer unit, although on wheels, was difficult to move. So he stood on an inverted bucket to reach the power cable. The bucket slipped out from under him and he fell and was injured.

But the defendants established that a ladder  or bucketwas not necessary for the work. The plaintiff acknowledged he had installed approximately 20 stacked washer/dryer units without using a ladder. Each of the units was on wheels and not secured within the closet in which they were being installed. In order to reach the power cable, Morales could have moved the stacked washer and dryer out of the closet rather than stand on an inverted bucket, but he chose not to do so.

The apartment owner defendants were able to established that the plaintiff was the sole proximate cause of his injuries because he engaged in conduct that unnecessarily exposed him to an elevation-related risk.

Liability under the Labor Law will not attach where the record demonstrates that the plaintiff did not need protection from the effects of gravity in order to perform his or her work, the court concluded.

Topics New York
KUALA LUMPUR  Former workers at Malaysian rubber glove maker Brightway Holdings filed a lawsuit in the United States against Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Ansell Ltd., accusing them of knowingly profiting from the alleged use of forced labor at the supplier, according to the complaint seen by Reuters.

The workers  all Bangladeshi citizens  say Kimberly-Clark and Ansell were aware of the alleged labor abuses through public reports on Brightway and other Malaysian glove makers, and violations found by labor audits, according to the complaint filed late on Tuesday in the United States.

Kimberly-Clark did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of regular U.S. business hours.

Ansell and Brightway said they did not have an immediate comment.

Malaysia, which depends on millions of migrant workers from South Asian countries, has faced allegations of exploitation across key export-oriented industries over the years. Eight Malaysian firms, including six glove makers, have been banned by the United States in the last three years.

In the lawsuit filed late on Tuesday in the United States, the 13 former Brightway workers say they paid high recruitment fees to middlemen that resulted in debt bondage, worked long hours with few or no rest days, and had their passports taken by the company.

They are seeking damages from Kimberly-Clark, a U.S. personal care company that owns the Kleenex brand, and Australian personal protective equipment supplier Ansell in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia.

These companies cannot deny that they had knowledge of forced labor at Brightway, said Terrence Collingsworth, a lawyer from International Rights Advocates representing the workers.

Collingsworth said he had first proposed mediation with Kimberly-Clark and Ansell to obtain compensation for the workers, but both companies declined.

The United States banned Brightway products from entering the country in December 2021 over suspected forced labor practices, saying it had found 10 of 11 International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor.

Allegations of misconduct at Brightway had been public for at least a year before that.

In December 2020, Malaysian officials found Brightway workers living in shipping containers, and a minister likened the squalid conditions as modern slavery after a raid.

Reuters reported in May 2021 that labor audits of Brightway had detailed 61 violations of global ethical standards and 50 violations of Malaysian labor laws, even though the auditors concluded that they did not find forced labor.

Ansell told Reuters at the time that the audits, when it inspected them, had revealed several non-compliances with labor standards.

Both companies then said Brightway had fixed some of these problems since the government raid in December.

Buyers such as Kimberly-Clark and Ansell use labor audits to monitor their supply chain.

Andy Hall, an independent labor activist who has investigated Brightway, said factories should not be the only players penalized for labor violations.

Brands and buyers fail to comply with their stated commitments to conduct more adequate due diligence to prevent modern slavery conditions We need adequate remediation from them too, and from investors and public procurers, Hall said.

(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; editing by Gerry Doyle)

Topics Lawsuits
Financiers are helping to fuel a rise in U.S.-style class-action lawsuits in the UK courts, lured by the promise of big payouts.

The British litigation finance industry  which pays legal fees upfront and shares in any eventual payout  has almost doubled the size of its UK assets over the past three years, with as much as 2.2 billion ($2.7 billion) filling up balance sheets, according to data from law firm RPC. That war chest is being used to fund a growing number of lawsuits that are going after the likes of Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc. and BT Group Plc.

Opt-out class action style lawsuits, where someone impacted doesnt have to be aware of the case to be included, are being tipped as a good bet for investors as they offer the prospect of huge payouts if successful.

Class actions have the potential for big rewards, Charlotte Henschen, a lawyer at RPC, said. Funders like class action type disputes because there is an opportunity for funders to get in at the beginning. Its also an attractive group to represent for sheer reach and volume.

The UKs opt-out class action regime, known as collective proceedings, finally started to gain traction last year. Not a single claim was allowed to go ahead in the five years since it began in 2015, but 2021 saw four claims given the green light. There are now nine claims certified at the Competition Appeal Tribunal with many more waiting in the wings.

The system currently only allows claims related to competition law and this year has seen cases filed over a power cable cartel and Metas alleged misuse of personal data.

Recent Cases Filed Funder Date Gutmann v Apple Balance Legal Capital 2022 Spottiswoode v Nexans France Burford Capital 2022 Sciallis v Fender Musical Instruments North Wall Capital 2022 Gormsen v Meta Innsworth 2022 Gutmann v Govia Thameslink Railway Woodsford 2021 Home Insurance Consumer Action v BGL Augusta Ventures 2021 Coll v Alphabet Vannin Capital (Fortress) 2021 Boyle & Vermeer v Govia Thameslink Railway Litigation Capital Management 2021 Kent v Apple Vannin Capital (Fortress) 2021 Consumers Association v Qualcomm Augusta Ventures 2021 Le Patourel v BT Group Harbour Litigation Funding 2021

Two of the largest cases, a foreign exchange spot trading cartel and a truck cartel, are now pulling in as much as 50 million ($59.1 million) in funding when measured with potential funding for adverse costs, according to a report by consultancy Brattle.

If funding didnt exist tomorrow the CAT would be empty and there would be no cases being pursued there, said Susan Dunn, founder of Harbour Litigation Funding and the chair of industry body The Association of Litigation Funders.

But the relationship between the funders and the people who run the cases hasnt been without tension.

Walter Merricks, the representative of the UKs largest opt-out class action against Mastercard, ran into difficulty when Burford Capital Ltd dropped out of funding his case after it was denied certification by the CAT in 2017. It later found a new investor, Innsworth, and appealed to both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court  which it won.

A spokesman for Burford said it did not comment on the decision-making over its investments.

How much the funders can win for these sorts of claims will vary, with agreements dependent on the size and budget with rates usually increasing over time.

A reasonable assumption is that a funder will charge 30% to 40% of the proceeds in return for its non-recourse funding, which will be completely lost if the case is not successful, Harbours Dunn said.

Photograph: The Royal Courts of Justice in London. Photographer: Niklas Hallen/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
President Joe Biden approved Governor Mike Parsons request August 8 for a major disaster declaration for Missouri in response to the severe flooding that impacted the St. Louis region from July 25 to July 28. The disaster declaration makes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)s Individual Assistance program available to eligible residents in the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Individual Assistance allows eligible residents to seek federal assistance with temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles, and other qualifying expenses as a result of the flooding and storms.

This was historic, devastating flash flooding that has impacted thousands of people in the St. Louis region, Governor Parson said. As weve seen at the assistance center events last week, there is tremendous need to support the families that have been so severely impacted by the record flash flooding. I appreciate the President acting swiftly to get Missourians the assistance they need. We will continue to work closely with our federal and local partners, along with the voluntary organizations that are already working hard to help.

The federal disaster declaration also makes FEMAs Public Assistance program available to the City of St. Louis and St. Louis, St. Charles, and Montgomery counties. The Public Assistance program allow local governments and qualifying nonprofit agencies to seek federal assistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including repair and replacement costs for damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure.

The deadline for most individual assistance programs is 60 days following the Presidents major disaster declaration. Disaster assistance to eligible individuals generally falls into the following categories:

Housing Assistance may be available for up to 18 months for displaced persons whose residences were heavily damaged or destroyed. Funding also can be provided for housing repairs and replacement of damaged items to make homes habitable.

Disaster Grants, which are available to help meet other serious disaster related needs and necessary expenses not covered by insurance and other aid programs. These may include replacement of personal property, and transportation, medical, dental, and funeral expenses.

Low-Interest Disaster Loans are available after a disaster for homeowners and renters from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to cover uninsured property losses. Loans may be available for repair or replacement of homes, automobiles, clothing, or other damaged personal property.

Other Disaster Aid Programs include crisis counseling, disaster-related unemployment assistance, legal aid and assistance with income tax, Social Security, and veterans benefits.

The flooding resulted in major damage to more than 750 homes, over 130 businesses and led to at least $35 million in damage to uninsured infrastructure and emergency response costs. The Governor made the disaster declaration request to the President on Thursday following joint Preliminary Damage Assessments conducted by the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, and local emergency managers.

A state of emergency was declared in Missouri on July 26 as record flash flooding impacted the St. Louis region. The Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan also was activated, allowing state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions to provide emergency services.

Source: Office of Governor Mike Parson

Topics Flood
An Ohio law set to go into effect next month amends workers compensation benefit requirements for employees who sustain an injury while working from home.

House Bill 447 states than a work-from-home employees injury is compensable under Ohios workers compensation system only if the injury arises out of the employees employment; was caused by a special hazard of the employees employment activity; or is sustained in the course of an activity undertaken by the employee for the exclusive benefit of the employer.

The bill restricts the definition of injury for employees who work from home. Previously, a remote workers injury was compensable as long as it was it sustained in the course of, and arising out of their employment.

Philip Fulton, a Columbus-based injured workers attorney, consulted with the Ohio House Chamber to craft the legislation. He said the bill is meant to codify the limitations of work-from-home injury claims.

The concern was, lets say I have an office at home and I have my desk and I trip over my chair. Thats obviously a special hazard of my employment activity, said Fulton. Versus I go downstairs to feed my dog and I trip over the kitchen table. Obviously, that would disqualify me here. I dont think they were trying to be tricky with with us at all.

Fulton said he has not seen any claims from work-from-home employees.

Now at least its in the statute and I have a blueprint of what I need to prove for a claim to be compensable, said Fulton.

The bill, approved unanimously by the House and Senate and signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine, takes effect on September 23.

Topics Workers' Compensation Ohio
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Boston-based insurtech Corvus Insurance said Madhu Tadikonda will take over immediately as CEO, replacing founding CEO Phil Edmundson.

Edmundson will assume the new role of executive chair and chair of the board of Corvus. In this full-time role, Edmundson will focus on supporting the growth of the company as it expands its international footprint and doubles down on its unique technology and risk capital capabilities.

Since its launch in 2017, Corvus  a specialty insurance MGA offering Smart Cyber Insurance products powered by AI-driven risk data  has doubled its premium and revenue every year, more than doubled its headcount since 2020 to 300, and has expanded internationally into both the UK and German markets, with plans for further global expansion in 2023, the company said.

We are entering a new era of insurtech 2.0, where success is derived from smart risk-taking, combining insurance expertise with advanced data and technology. Corvus, which has scaled rapidly since its founding, is perfectly positioned to accelerate its growth moving forward, said Tadikonda. We remain hyper-focused on our most important goal: tackling cyber risk. Our advanced data-driven underwriting and policyholder engagement have generated industry-leading results for our risk capital partners and other stakeholders.

Tadikonda, who joined Corvus as president one year ago, has spent the past year collaborating with reinsurers, brokers and policyholders to face and mitigate the rapidly evolving threats and cyber risks to the core digital assets and online operations of todays businesses. Prior to joining Corvus, he served as global chief underwriting officer at AIG, and earlier led data science efforts for AIGs Commercial Insurance. He also co-founded Archipelago, a risk data platform that uses AI to digitize risk for large owners of commercial property.

Tadikonda will join the Corvus Board of Directors and will report directly to the board.

Last month Corvus announced an expanded strategic partnership with SiriusPoint Ltd., the global specialty insurer and reinsurer, and R&Q Accredited, the leading program management solution provider. The latest multi-year investment from SiriusPoint and R&Q Accredited adds an additional $100MM to the existing program and will allow Corvus to build upon its Smart Cyber Insurance offerings.

Im extremely thrilled with Corvus achievements and I am excited to continue that growth trajectory. Madhus background, with deep experience in both insurance and cutting-edge data science, is a perfect fit for the next phase of Corvus scaling. Since Madhu joined Corvus, he has brought an acute eye and passion for demonstrating value for our risk capital partners, brokers and policyholders alike, said Edmundson. Im excited for whats ahead, and I look forward to continuing to support our companys next phase and working to bring our Safer World mission to more brokers and policyholders.

SOURCE: Corvus

Topics Cyber Insurance Wholesale
An employee fired for unsolicitedly sleepwalking into a colleagues hotel room during an out-of-town conference has no disability discrimination claim, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last month.

Jennifer Harkey, a sales specialist for NextGen Healthcare, attended an employer-run conference in St. Louis, Missouri in 2018. On the evening of October 10, Harkey had dinner and a few drinks with a female co-worker, then headed to her room and fell asleep.

Around midnight, another NextGen employee, Scott ODonnell, heard a knock at his door. ODonnell had just returned to his room from the hotel bar. Suspecting that the person at his door was one of the men who he had just seen at the bar, he opened the door without peering through the peephole.

Harkey, wearing only a black cotton robe, entered the room without looking at ODonnell. ODonnell, who did not recognize Harkey, told her to leave the room. She said nothing and walked over to a made bed, got in it, and pulled the sheets all the way up to her face.

ODonnell called his supervisor to the room, who also did not recognize Harkey as a NextGen employee. The supervisor contacted the director of Human Relations for NextGen, Jill Burke, who was also attending the conference. Burke eventually woke up Harkey.

Harkey was disoriented when waking up and was very apologetic and embarrassed. Burke described her as smelling of alcohol and exposing skin. ODonnells supervisor testified that he did not smell alcohol and that her robe fully covered her, so that no personal parts were exposed.

The next morning, Harkey went downstairs for breakfast and business. Sometime that morning, she was asked to go to a conference room where she met with Burke. Harkey was told she was in very big trouble and needed to be concerned. Harkey told Burke she had sleepwalked throughout her childhood but that it rarely happens.

Burke told Harkey to pack her bags and that she was suspended on paid leave. Burke also told Harkey to get in touch with a doctor.

On October 16, Harkey sent Burke an e-mail that she had been able to get an appointment with a diagnostician for the following week. Later that same day she sent that e-mail, Harkey was fired.

Harkeys doctor diagnosed her condition as somnambulism, known as sleep walking disorder.

In September 2019, Harkey sued NextGen in state court under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act. The lawsuit was removed to federal court, where the district court granted summary judgment for NextGen. The district court concluded that Harkey failed to show evidence that she was subject to an adverse employment decision because of her sleepwalking.

The district court also held that NextGen fired Harkey for misconduct, and that Harkey could not demonstrate that this was pretext.

The 5th Circuit affirmed the district courts decision, concluding that Harkey has not shown she was fired because she had a sleepwalking disorder, she was fired because of what she did when she was sleepwalking.

The panel drew a comparison to two cases involving workers who were fired for violating company policy despite their behavior being caused by post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.

The ADA does not give employees license to act with impunity, the panel wrote.

Topics Commercial Lines Business Insurance
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The IMA Group, a provider of independent medical examinations and case management in workers compensation, continues to expand with its acquisition of Florida-based Mollie Kallen Case Management.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed. IMA, headquartered in Tarrytown, New York, said in a press release that this is its fourth acquisition this year and allows IMA to expand its programs in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

MKCM, which also has seen significant growth in recent years, said its case managers have years in the business and are supervised by a panel of experts.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions
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A Miami woman now living in North Carolina is awaiting sentencing after she was convicted of paying kickbacks and defrauding insurers of more than $34 million for physical therapy services that were never provided.

A federal jury in Miami last week convicted Jaroslava Ruiz, 50, of health care fraud and wire fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice said. Ruiz, who helped manage four clinics in the Miami area, paid kickbacks and bribes to patient recruiters and to patients with private health insurance. The clinics used the information to bill the insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and United Health Group, for services from 2016 to 2020 that were not done, prosecutors said in a news release.

The release did not make it clear if the clinics billed any workers compensation carriers. The Raleigh News & Observer newspaper reported that the scheme also filed fraudulent claims with employer-offered Administrative Services Only insurance plans.

Ruiz and her co-conspirators falsified medical records to give the impression that the physical therapy services were medically necessary, prescribed by a doctor, and actually rendered, the DOJ statement said. In truth and fact, none or virtually none of the purported services had been provided.

The insurers paid almost $8 million of the $34.4 million that they were billed for.

Ruiz was an office administrator for Jesus Porras, who operated Ramirez Rehab Center, Long Life Medical Services, AA Ortiz Medical Center and Perez Medical Center. Porras is now on the lam, authorities said. Two more defendants, Anisley Gomez Anuez and Lidia Rodriguez Oviedo, also worked as office administrators and have been convicted or entered pleas. Their sentencings are set for September.

Ruiz sentencing is scheduled for October. She could face more than 30 years in prison, the DOJ said. She is listed as the manager of several other businesses in Florida, according to Florida Secretary of State records.

Topics Fraud
PCF Insurance Services acquired A Insurance Agencies in Utah.

A Insurance is a personal lines insurance provider specializing in life, home, auto, and business. The firm has offices in Syracuse, Kaysville, and Marriott-Slaterville.

Lehi, Utah-based PCF is a consultant and insurance brokerage firm offering a broad array of commercial, life and health, employee benefits, and workers compensation services.

Topics Mergers & Acquisitions
European private equity firm Waterland is to commit up to 100m as part of its investment and growth strategy for Irish businesses over the next 12 to 18 months, with a focus on the Munster region.

The fund will be aimed at companies to them deliver significant scale across Europe and at a global level.

This is the latest stage of its overall plans to support Irish-headquartered companies, with a particular focus on the Munster region, to launch and expand its export channels in local and international markets.

Set up 23 years ago in Holland with over 9bn in assets under management, the group acts as an active shareholder in its portfolio companies, working in partnership with management to drive strategic development, performance and growth trajectory.

Over the past 23 years, it has invested in more than 850 companies  including more than 75 this year.

Waterland launched in Ireland in 2019, aiming to take advantage of our geography, culture and access to global networks across different sectors.

It is targeting Munster businesses with plans to launch and scale on the European and international markets  while maintaining its headquarters in Ireland. It typically invests in successful companies, making between 2.5m and 50m in earnings.

Its portfolio includes the Silver Stream Healthcare Group, which provides residential care for older people in Ireland, increasing its number of nursing homes by four this year.

The newly developed homes are in Riverstick, Dundalk, and Duleek in Meath, with the creation of up to 500 new jobs.

It also includes the addition of Ballincurrig Care Centre in Cork and brings the total number of nursing homes within the group to 11.

Waterland most recently partnered with MTM Engineering, a Meath-based firm providing cable installation and termination services. The company, which is headquartered in Slane, currently employs over 400 people and has completed large-scale industrial and renewable projects in Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Austria and UK.

"Its exciting to see the potential this investment commitment can deliver for Irish companies and their teams," Laura Dillon, managing director and principal at Waterland Private Equity, said.

"At Waterland, our fundamental partnership model is about backing strong founders and management teams to realise their full ambitions, support accelerated growth strategies and reach their targeted goals.

"Were looking forward to the next steps in our partnership strategy as we pursue further opportunities to support the growing confidence and capabilities of Irish companies to launch and scale across wider markets into Europe and internationally.
The Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands is to meet on Bere Island in Co Cork next month to discuss the challenges facing islanders.

Well, we are making a little bit of history anyway in dispatching the committee to Bere Island, said Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, after the move was approved in the Dail.

While visiting Bere last year, Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys remotely attended a Cabinet meeting from the island.

She said later that remote working was now a reality the length and breadth of the country, including on offshore islands.

I was really pleased to avail of the excellent and secure facilities here on Bere Island. These facilities allow local people to avail of online services without the need to travel to the mainland.

They also allow young people to study within their own community and are an important facility for visitors like me today, she said.

Bere Island, located about 1.5km off Castletownbere in Bantry Bay, has a population of over 200 people and is about 9.5km long by 3km wide.

The meeting of the 14-member Oireachtas committee, chaired by independent TD Denis Naughten, is to take place there in September on a date to be decided.

Ms Humphreys, replying to a recent Dail questions from Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane, said there was a strong commitment across Government to support the islands, where there has been much development.

Significant consultation has been undertaken with island communities, she said, adding she hopes to have a policy document for consideration by the end of the summer.
Amid a huge increase in awareness and knowledge, and a shift to establishing further acceptance and accommodation in wider society, the conversation around neurodivergence including autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia will inevitably grow louder as diagnoses continue across the age spectrum, along with demand on services and assistance.

One organisation putting together a bottom line of support on a non-profit basis is ADHD Ireland, involved in creating awareness, spreading information, providing support groups and training, as well as accrediting public institutions like primary schools for ADHD-friendliness. The groups Cork Services Development Manager, Martin Finn  whose own ADHD presents as inattentive  talks about their work.

The mission statement is to support people affected by ADHD, and that's all the demographics, from young children to the elderly. We create awareness by providing information on the website, and directly to schools, businesses and individuals. Every possible avenue, really to get the word out there, is what we do.

But awareness simply isn't enough anymore. People can be aware, but there's the stigma there, if we can get to acceptance, then that's the ultimate goal. We run support meetings online and in person, for ADHD adults, parents of primary school children, parents of secondary school children, for men, separately, for women, for couples... there's so many different angles that you can take with it.

We have a school accreditation program, which we're rolling out at the moment in Cork, the idea being that the right information is given to principals, teachers, and SNAs, so that they can identify the issue in school, identify someone who might have it and put the supports in place and get them on the road to diagnosis.

There's also regular campaigns for getting the word out to employers, so that ADHD people in the workplace can have the accommodations they need, because it falls under the Disability Act 2010.

In providing that one-stop shop for advice, information and support, the organisations support groups see a wide variety of people presenting with ADHD, making evident the variety of needs that fall within the remit.

You get so many different people with so many different presentations of ADHD, it's hugely complex. You might have some people, and their physical hyperactivity is the main issue, some people present as completely calm but cannot finish a task, they cannot get out to work in the morning. What's really surprising to me is that these people actually cannot do [a task], they really want to do it, have the best intentions, but they physically cannot get to it.

That's where it's a real eye opener  they talk to people like themselves, feel better that they're in the same boat, then start to meet others who are a little further down the road, who have found workarounds that have changed their lives. And then they can start to get proper help and support.

Following the success of a trial in-person support group for primary school parents at the Clayton Hotel in Cork, the organisation is currently seeking Leeside premises to facilitate local advocacy and support  and theres plenty of call for it, says Finn.

That event was a real eye-opener because of the relief and joy that parents expressed, so happy that there was an independent voice, an independent service able to provide the services that have always been in Dublin for a long time. With open arms, we're being embraced here, anyway.

The second I put up a Cork Facebook page, I had teachers from all over wanting information and trying to sign up for the school accreditation programme. People want the service, which is a big help.

For more information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and ADHD Irelands work, visit adhdireland.ie.

For more information on upcoming events for adults and families in Dublin, Cork and online, visit adhdireland.ie/adhd-events.

What is ADHD?

(Attention Deficity Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, though theres a question mark over the term disorder these days. Its physiological in nature, which a lot of people dont understand  there are physical things in the brain that make ADHD people the way they are. There are issues with the way dopamine and noradrenaline is processed, basically, which causes people to constantly need novelty, a lack of focus.

Its characterised by difficulty with organisation, difficulty with completing tasks, issues with schoolwork and homework for young people, and in the workplace for adults. Its quite invisible, in that its not really apparent to someone who doesnt have ADHD. Ive actually come to think of it as a condition of extremes, because its extremely invisible, extremely common, at 5% of people, and extremely treatable, actually, when its noticed, and people get an assessment.

- Martin Finn, Cork Service Development Manager, ADHD Ireland
The RS6 might not have been Audis first RS model, but its arguably the one thats stirred the most interest in the brand over the years.

First launched in 2002, the RS6 is now marking 20 years of being Audis all-wheel-drive performance estate and saloon icon.

Proving to be a perfect blend of performance and everyday practicality over four generations, it continues to be as coveted as ever.

To mark the milestone, heres a look back over 20 years of the Audi RS6

:: The first hit  the 2002 C5

The only RS6 that actually went factory racing, the C5 could be had as both a saloon and Avant estate, with the latter proving the most popular.

Following the success of the Audi RS4, the German firms performance arm was tasked with creating another sporty renovation of an existing model, and it was Audis larger A6 saloon and estate that was selected.

Far from being just an A6 with a larger engine, its suspension, transmission and even the appearance were tweaked  growing in length and width. This was predominantly to accommodate its 444bhp 4.2-litre V8 engine, which was actually developed and tuned in the UK by Cosworth, and at the time was Audis most powerful model.

The only RS6 that actually went factory racing, the C5 could be had as both a saloon and Avant estate, with the latter proving the most popular. At the end of the production run, Audi launched a limited-run Plus model, which saw its power increase to 469bhp, while the speed limiter was raised from 155mph to 174mph.

:: The 10-cylinder icon  the 2008 C6

The RS6s styling was very subdued, not being much wider and more aggressive to look at than a regular A6

As if a V8 engine wasnt enough, Audi increased the cylinder count to 10 for the second-generation RS6, with a 5.0-litre unit being selected and producing a huge 572bhp  a power figure that even exceeded the firms R8 supercar at the time.

It was a huge engine, weighing close to 300kg on its own, and a major engineering feat that had to use lots of motorsport know-how to tune. Again offered as a saloon or estate, the former was able to accelerate from 0-60mph in just 4.3 seconds, while ceramic brakes were an option for the first time.

But despite the performance, the RS6s styling was very subdued, not being much wider and more aggressive to look at than a regular A6, which all added to its appeal at the time.

:: Making more from less  the 2013 C7

The saloon version of the RS6 was discontinued with this generation but was indirectly replaced by the RS7 Sportback, while adaptive air suspension was introduced to maximise ride comfort.

This phrase, making more from less, was how Audi justified the use of a smaller engine and moving away from the legendary V10 powerplant. In fact, launched in 2013, the C7 generations 4.0-litre V8 engine was actually the smallest in RS6 history.

Power even dipped slightly to 552bhp, although thanks to an extensive use of aluminium, Audi managed to shave 120kg from the model, making it much better to drive.

The saloon version of the RS6 was discontinued with this generation but was indirectly replaced by the RS7 Sportback, while adaptive air suspension was introduced to maximise ride comfort  something Audis customers had been asking for.

Other practical touches included a tow bar that could be specified for the first time, while the popularity of the RS6 really grew with this generation.

Towards the end of the C7s life, Audi introduced a hotter Performance model, which saw power increase to a huge 597bhp. In fact, it remains the most powerful RS6 to date, with a 0-60mph time of just 3.7 seconds.

:: The tech giant  the 2020 C8

Responding to demand for bolder-looking performance models, this latest RS6 is the most aggressive-looking version yet.

In early 2020, Audis fourth-generation RS6 started to arrive in showrooms and brought a whole range of advances.

Retaining the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine from its predecessor, power stood at 592bhp, although its 3.4-second 0-60mph time makes it the fastest-accelerating version of this wagon to date. It even ushered in light electrification, with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system to enhance efficiency.

Responding to demand for bolder-looking performance models, this latest RS6 is the most aggressive-looking version yet, riding on huge 21-inch alloy wheels as standard, while its extended bodykit makes it three inches wider than the regular A6.

In fact, the only panels carried over from the standard A6 Avant are the roof, front doors and tailgate. For the first time, the RS6 also rolls off the main production line, rather than receiving alterations in a specific hall like its predecessors do.

The first RS6 to be sold in the US, the C8 also brims with the latest technology, from its rear-wheel steering system to a cabin dominated by screens to give it a particularly modern feel.
The heatwave is here, and Munster and Leinster are due to see the highest temperatures today, as some isolated spots will surpass 26C.

Met Eireann says that today is expected to be "dry, warm and sunny," with light winds, and a sea breeze developing in the afternoon.

Tonight, temperatures will drop to between 9C and 13C, as we are due a dry and clear evening.

Tomorrow will be even hotter with temperatures rising to 28C and 29C in some areas. The day will be dry, hot, and sunny with a light sea breeze.

Large crowds pictured enjoying the sunshine and good weather on Brittas Bay beach in Wicklow. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov / RollingNews.ie

The high temperatures are expected to hold up through to the weekend, when temperatures are once again expected to hit 29C, although some light rain showers will break up the heat on Friday and Saturday.

Rain could then become heavy on Sunday, and temperatures are expected to fall back to the average for this time of year on Monday, with rain showers being brought in by low pressure taking over.

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow high-temperature warning for Munster and Leinster

Linda Hughes from Met Eireann has said it is unlikely that this warning will be upgraded any higher but some counties - particularly in south Connaught - could be added at a later point.

A weather advisory is currently in place for the entire country and will remain in effect until midnight on Monday.

A status orange forest fire risk is in place until next Tuesday.

It has been issued by the Department of Agriculture due to the current weather conditions and expected level of risk over the coming days.

Advice to prevent wildfires is to not use barbeques in woodland, and if you see a fire report it to the emergency services.

Meanwhile, Ireland's electricity system is experiencing "tight margins", according to EirGrid, due to low wind, limited electricity imports, and forced outages at a number of generators.

EirGrid issued a system alert (previously known as an amber alert) warning for the potential for temporary electricity supply issues.

Irish Water has also warned that it is watching closely to see if water restrictions will be needed as the hot spell continues.

Interventions are currently underway at 13 water supplies to ensure that they do not run dry, while 60 others across Ireland are on a watch list amid concern they will reach critical levels and may need to be restricted.

Joanna Donnelly, a meteorologist with Met Eireann, said it was particularly important that the vulnerable take precautions during the hot weather.

Were just not acclimatised to those sorts of temperatures here in Ireland.

There are vulnerable people in society that need that extra caution overnight especially, she said.

Ms Donnelly advised people to stay hydrated, close curtains and windows throughout the day and try to keep the temperature in the bedroom as low as possible.

Such prolonged periods of hot weather are unusual in Ireland as the weather alert is to remain in place until Sunday.

An anticyclone just moved up over the country and its warm air circulating around, just getting warmer and warmer each day because it hasnt changed, it hasnt moved off yet, Ms Donnelly told Newstalk Breakfast.

We are actually getting some warmer air moving up over the country from later on today adding to the heat that weve been building over the last few days.

Heatwaves are sweeping the rest of Europe as well, as Climatologist John Sweeney has warned the world was effectively reaping the rewards of inaction on climate change.

People enjoy the hot weather on Primrose Hill in London where the grass is dry due to lack of water. The Met Office has issued an amber warning for extreme heat covering four days from Thursday to Sunday for parts of England and Wales as a new heatwave looms. Picture: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire

Recent heatwaves in Europe were a consequence of the lack of action, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

We're seeing a more marked intensification of heatwaves, a more marked intensification of the frequency and intensity of them by three to four times the average for this part of the middle latitudes.

It's something that we have been telling people about for many years now but certainly this has been a brutal summer in much of Europe. We know now for example that the heatwave last month in the UK was ten times more likely as a consequence of what we've been doing to climate.

So, we're effectively reaping the rewards of much of the inaction that the globe has had on this topic over many years now and that consequence is coming home to roost big time in Europe.

Professor Sweeney said that river flows had dramatically reduced over much of the continent. The River Rhine was down to less than 50 centimetres in depth near Koblenz, effectively cutting off that artery of transport and freight.

The River Po in Northern Italy was down to about 10 percent of its average flow at this time of year, while Spain had suffered more than most European countries from the whole sequence of heatwaves this summer, he added.

Europe was running out of water and heatwaves were now being named in an effort to sensitise people in the same way the public was sensitised to winter storms and to hurricanes.

It's an example of Europe going down this road of increasing extremes and increasing hardship and not just in terms of consequences but in terms of mortality. The official statistics from Spain and Portugal are showing now that over 1,000 people died in that spike in temperatures last month. We can expect to see that happening in many other parts of Europe as the data comes out.

Heatwaves have consequences for us all," he said.

In Ireland, the public is urged to take care during the hot spell as UV levels will be high, especially under clear skies.

There will be a risk of heat stress, particularly among the more vulnerable in our communities.
In the courtyard of one student accommodation village in Cork, the grass is battered and trampled to a crisp. Not by tank tracks or any kind of war machine that plagues Ukraine today, but by children.

There is no war at the student village, and the distant shelling of their homes seems light years away, as children race about on bikes and little tractors and kick footballs on the grass  or what is left of it after some serious playtime was had this summer.

Parents sit on steps watching their children enjoy the summer weather. They have come a long way to find this small community on the Carrigrohane Rd, just west of the city centre. And though mothers can be seen beaming with joy as their children live free, there is worry behind the smiles.

On August 21, the student village, which has been rented by the Government for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of their homeland, must be cleared out for students to begin the college term. The contracts have long been signed and must be fulfilled.

More than 4,200 refugees who fled the war in Ukraine are housed in student accommodation around the country and must be rehoused in the coming weeks.

After fleeing their homes and meandering across Europe in the hope of finding temporary homes, the families found shelter in Ireland. Many spent weeks between Dublin Airport and Citywest, Co Dublin, as well as other hotels and B&Bs, before finding this small slice of paradise in Cork.

Ukrainian refugees Viktoria Tymoshchuk, Hanna Stolbova, and Maria Pavlova who are staying at the student village in Cork. Picture: David Creedon

However, they once again face uncertainty.

They will be matched up with Irish families who have pledged to take in Ukrainians fleeing war, if both parties agree. But for those with large families, it's more difficult to find them a home that will take them. Amid delays in the Garda vetting system, its a race to get as many families housed as possible in the coming weeks, as those left behind will likely be bound for emergency accommodation.

Liam ODwyer, secretary general at the Irish Red Cross, warned that the accommodation situation is in a grave crisis and there will be a significant problem if the number of refugees arriving in Ireland continues to increase.

The Red Cross is now urging families who pledged to take in refugees to complete their Garda vetting to speed up the matching process and is encouraging others to come forward and accept Ukrainians into their homes. As an incentive, the Government is paying 400 per month for every property that hosts Ukrainians in recognition of this contribution to the effort.

More than 3,000 vacant houses and 6,800 shared houses have been pledged by the public to house Ukrainians; however, around 35% of these have been filled so far.

More than 6,000 Ukrainians currently work in Ireland, and all receive EU benefits and protections as they are under the temporary protection directive activated by the EU earlier this year. More than 7,000 children are also enrolled in schools across the country.

Busloads came from all across Ireland at the end of May and start of June, says Gavin ODriscoll, who is part of the team managing the student village, which his father and uncle own.

He says Blarney GAA donated clothes, toys, bikes, and cots for the families when they arrived at the student village. After they dispersed the donated goods, he asked each family what they needed and then went back to Blarney GAA which had everything within a week.

Cork educational board has also worked with the YMCA to organise activities for the children, such as digital workshops, art and music classes, and boat trips, creating a community feel for families who have lost everything.

Mothers

As we approach six months since the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the stories of mothers and their children who have travelled so far are all too familiar. More than 12m have left their homes and 5m have left for other countries such as Ireland.

Its like life stopped on February 24, said Yuliia Maltseva, who left Sumy with a two-month-old baby after bomb shrapnel damaged her home. Her husband, who is a surgeon, stayed behind like most men between the ages of 18 and 60. After driving a van through Europe with her sister and their two young children, she arrived in Ireland on St Patricks Day.

Many are worried about where they will go on August 21 and say that they need time to organise jobs and childcare before the move. But as the date fast approaches, they grow weary of being resettled outside of Cork and starting again.

We just want to be a useful part of society, get jobs, pay taxes, open businesses, and get childcare, she says.

A Russian missile hit Liudmyla Anzubors home in Kharkiv, leaving her nowhere to return. She stayed in the eastern city for two weeks while enemy soldiers fought on streets in her neighbourhood, before making a break for it with her family. After some time in Romania, amid difficulties in obtaining a job and childcare, she came to Ireland. An accountant, she hopes to continue her English classes and get a job in Cork soon.

Ukrainian refugees Alina Khrystych, Olena Tkactuk, Katia Kovalova, Oksana Miller, Yuliia Kudinova, and Mila Ansebor who are staying at the student village in Cork. Picture: David Creedon

Polina Movchan left Kyiv the day after the invasion began. She travelled west to Lviv while two months pregnant and waited in lines for 18 hours to get out of the country. After living in Poland for a short time, she came to Ireland at the end of April, spending time in Citywest and in a house with 10 people while sleeping on the floor. She then spent time near Kanturk, Co Cork, before moving to the student village.

Since leaving Kyiv, Polinas life has been plagued with uncertainties, and she worries about moving to rural Ireland where she might not get to a hospital in time for the birth of her first child.

We are very worried and anxious, says Yuliia Kudinova.

Most of us have children, and children have to go to school. We have to plan where to go, what uniform to buy, what to do next. Its very important to stay in the city to find a proper school and job.

She contacted the Taoiseach, ministers Simon Coveney and Roderic OGorman, and the Ukrainian Embassy, but none could give them clarity on where and when they would move.

The members of the group lack the basic English language skills to manage their affairs were they to be moved out of the accommodation, presumably to some distant, rural location, where transport will be a much greater issue than it is compared to living in a city, and where food shopping, access to medical facilities, etc, for mothers and our children will be much more difficult than it is now, she says.

She said families have already made arrangements to send their children to schools in Cork City and as mothers, we are desperate to ensure after two years of pandemic-related interruptions that their education goes ahead as soon as possible.

If we are obliged to leave our accommodation in late August, literally days before the schools are due to return, it is impossible to imagine that, in the short time available, similar preparations could be put in place to assist them in schools elsewhere, she says.

Many who have already obtained jobs would not be able to maintain them if moved out of the city, she says.

Viktoria Tymoshchuk says they need a permanent address in order to hold down jobs and keep their childrens lives structured.

Staying with families wont solve the problem, she says.

People should know that there isnt enough space for Ukrainians, close the border if they cant accommodate us.

She said the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM), which is collecting information about each family to pair them with pledges made by families to the Red Cross, is not asking Ukrainians what they want and where they would like to be. IOM said that it undertakes a detailed vulnerability and needs assessment on every family/individual that we match and transfer. It said it offers suitable pledges for Ukrainian families to consider.

Uncertainty

As the clock ticks down, when will these families learn of their next destination? A spokesperson for IOM said it has contacted pledgers to ascertain their availability to support this cohort and based on their availabilities and criteria will be matching families from the student village before the deadline but could not give a firm date to the families.

Notice will be provided to those impacted on where they are moving to when this is known, said a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The Department would not comment on individual cases, but said it is not possible to provide accommodation in response to individual requests for specific locations.

The spokesperson said it is challenging trying to source accommodation as many continue to arrive.

The State is providing accommodation for 33,000 people who have fled to Ireland, the vast majority in hotels. More than 3,000 have entered pledged accommodation with Irish families.

A small group of Ukrainian children who are staying at the student village. Picture: David Creedon

The Government has also approved the construction of 500 modular units to house up to 2,000 Ukrainians in locations in Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Cavan, and Tipperary, with a hope to be ready for November. Tented emergency accommodation is also set to expand further at a Defence Forces site in Gormanston, Co Meath, a type of accommodation many Ukrainians in the student village in Cork fear returning to.

Its going to be a difficult day when they all move out, says Mr ODriscoll.

We know all of them and have a very strong personal relationship with each family. We would love to keep them but have to honour the contracts with students. I think its just now we see how much they appreciated it all because they all really dont want to leave.

A brief sanctuary during their time in Ireland, this place is their closest thing to home, for now. Mothers watch on at the student village as their children play in the sunshine. Goals are scored, hair is braided, and little ones take their first steps, unaware of the stress their mothers endure as they fight for their futures  whatever may come of it.
There are days when tuning into the news makes you feel like the world is going to hell in a handcart.

To name a few issues: the housing crisis, cost of living pressures, rising inflation, and the increased need for food banks. Globally: climate change and how we respond ; the threat of nuclear war from several quarters; China, and America scrapping; Russian continuing with its brutal invasion of Ukraine; and, if that wasnt enough to contend with, a question mark over the fate of western liberal democracy.

In June, Hilary Clinton said, were standing on the precipice of losing our democracy. Joe Biden told a senior Democrat, I certainly hope [my presidency] works out. If it doesnt Im not sure were going to have a country.

Last week, an article on Nancy Pelosis controversial visit to Taiwan which has stoked Chinese anger contained the throwaway line even as American democracy crumbles internally.

In this paper, Fergus Finlay wrote that if the Democrats dont read the writing on the wall and find somebody to take on Trump in the next election, then democracy as we know it will begin to die.

A recently published book by New York Times reporters, Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns, This Will not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for Americas Future, suggests the democrats elderly leaders are incapable of grasping the brutal political forces swirling around them.

A school of thought says that global liberty and democracy depend on what happens to America.

No week passes without mention of the growing cancer of authoritarianism, and the threat posed by the rise of so-called strong men: Putin, President Xi Jinping in China, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Viktor Orban in Hungary, and Trump who may enter the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

As one columnist put it last week, there is a booming trade in apocalyptic visions of the near future. We are now in the midst of the most sustained global assault on liberal democratic values since the 1930s, Gideon Rachman writes in The Age of the Strongman.

And contemporary liberal democracy is under attack from the right and the left.

Broadly speaking, the right thinks democracy is being undermined by identity politics and the overconcentration of power in minority groups and woke witch trials, with a permissive culture and moral laxity eroding the foundations of society.

The left thinks democracy has been hollowed out by the concentration of power in the hands of political, cultural, and economic elites who tolerate inequality and are too slow to respond to the needs and demands of citizens.

Self-fulfilling prophecy?

Dr Lawrence Davis of UCCS Department of Government and Politics believes liberal democracy may be waning, but it is unclear what is emerging to take its place.

Contemporary political scientists commonly speak about a global crisis of democracy, meaning widespread public disenchantment with the politics of representative democracy, reflected in declining voter turnout, membership of political parties, trust in politicians, and interest in mainstream electoral politics, he says.

But he asks an important question, does the constant repetition of a Hobbesian narrative that we are or soon will be engaged in a war of all against all become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

So, with that in mind, here are some democratic green shoots, showing citizens participating in political decisions and policies that affect their lives and questioning what it means to live in a democracy.

Green shoots

Last week, an astonishing turnout in Kansas (a hotbed of sometimes violent anti-abortion activity) saw 62% of voters vote to preserve abortion rights after the Supreme Court struck down Roe. As the editorial in this paper pointed out, 900, 000 Kansans voted, compared with 473, 438 who turned out for a similar poll in 2018.

Whats interesting is rural Republicans joined suburban Democrats in a broad coalition in a strong ballot-box reflection of their views, maybe not on abortion, but possibly of their dislike of government interference in their lives.

In July, AIB abandoned plans to go cashless in 70 branches. Small beer maybe given we bailed them out in 2009 but the U-turn followed a backlash from business groups, consumers, farmers, and rural organisations, showing the people were heard.

An interesting development, democratically speaking, is a proposal recently announced by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to legislate for 100m Safe Access Zones around facilities providing abortion services which the Minister since said now requires further legal consideration.

Balance of rights

Critics say these exclusion zones go against fair democratic procedures infringing the constitutional rights of protesters to freedom of speech, freedom of association, and assembly which might preclude as one columnist put it someone praying with rosary beads within 100m of a hospital.

In any legal case testing the constitutionality of legislation, these rights would be balanced with a womans constitutional rights to privacy, bodily integrity, and dignity in accessing abortion services.

Because the right to protest is being curbed rather than removed, the extent of the curb would be central with the principle of proportionality coming into play. Incidentally, we ban canvassing at polling stations; a limitation of free speech.

A second criticism is that The Together for Safety campaign groups input in informing the development of legislative proposals was disproportionate exposing the unhealthy influences of small NGOs on our democracy.

Together for Safety, a group of reproductive rights advocates, has said that barristers, constitutional law experts, doctors, nurses, unions, gardai, human rights and womens advocacy organizations, abortion rights groups, activists and TDs, Senators, and Councillors from across the political spectrum worked on the proposal.

The Department of Health will seek observations on the heads of bill (the bill is yet to be drafted) from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Human Rights, and Equality Commission, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The key question democratically is when taken as a totality does the collection of individuals with input into the bill represent the wider population so that the promise of democracy that each individual has a say is fulfilled?

Grassroots movements

Dr Davis has described a long history of popular movements from below working together to resist regimes of domination and develop progressive and sustainable alternatives to them.

He cites the 2020 Bernie Sanders presidential campaign as speaking to millions of Americans who envisaged people getting organised and mobilised in grassroots social movements to contest power and forge participatory alternatives to elite democracy outside as well as inside the framework of elections.

Last week, a cheering article in this paper reported about a new iteration of meitheal, the ancient tradition of communities working together. Voluntary co-operative groups in rural Ireland are opening community centres and coffee shops.

These enterprises owned by local people and operated on a not-for-profit basis are aimed at meeting the social and economic needs of a community in counties Cork, Tipperary, Sligo, Waterford, Clare, and Kilkenny.

Humble maybe but progressive grassroots movements like these are closer to the root ancient Greek understanding of democracy as a form of popular power. They are also the antithesis of the rabid destabilising capitalism which has led us to this rocky pass.

They potentially block attempts to fill the vacuum caused by discontent with contemporary liberal democracy to sow what Davis terms the seeds of hatred and intolerance.

We are particularly attuned to negative news in these tumultuous times but there may well be life yet in the democratic old dog.
Burma Arakan Army Detains Myanmar Junta Ally in Rakhine State

Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin. / ALP

The leaders of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) have vowed to take revenge for the detention of one of their senior members by the Arakan Army (AA).

The powerful Rakhine ethnic armed organization seized Lieutenant Colonel Khaing Paw Lin, a key figure in the ALP, on August 2 from his house in Narzi Ward in Sittwe, the Rakhine State capital, said the ALP.

The ALP and its armed wing the Arakan Liberation Army are an ethnic Rakhine revolutionary group formed in 1967 to fight for equality. They are based along Myanmars border with Bangladesh and India. The ALP signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in 2015.

On Sunday, the ALP detained a resident of Narzi Ward, Ko Aye Ko, in connection with the AAs abduction of Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin. Another man, Ko Kanache, escaped arrest, ALP spokesperson Khaing Kyaw Soe told The Irrawaddy.

A group of people from Narzi Ward are responsible for the arrest of Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin. We learned that they were assigned by the United League of Arakan [the political wing of the AA]. They arrested Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin and handed him over to the AA. We have detained the people who are involved in the arrest. We have strong evidence. We cant tolerate anymore. We will also arrest other accomplices, said the ALP spokesperson.

The ALP had opened an office in Narzi Ward and Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin was helping rehabilitate former drug users, said ALP leaders.

Junta soldiers were involved in the arrest of Ko Aye Ko, who the ALP accuse of being involved in the Lt-Cols detention. Ko Kanache was injured in his leg after regime troops opened fire as they attempted to arrest him, but still managed to escape, said locals.

Around 20 people were involved in the arrest. Some of them were speaking Burmese. It appears that Ko Kanache resisted arrest. I heard gunshots. Maybe they fired shots at him as he ran away, said a Narzi resident.

ALP spokesman Khaing Kyaw Soe denied that shots were fired or that regime soldiers were involved in the arrest.

U Myat Tun from the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association said: It panicked residents when the ALP made an arrest in the ward. As the ALP is a NCA signatory, it should not engage in acts that frighten the people.

Along with ALP leader Daw Saw Mra Razar Lin, Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin attended the peace talks staged by the military regime in June in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw.

The AA has previously detained at least ten ALP members, all of whom it is still holding, said ALP central executive committee member Khaing Aung Soe Than.

On August 3, the ALP released a statement calling for the release of Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lin, saying his arrest could harm the unity of the Rakhine people and Rakhine groups marching toward the same goal of equality for Rakhine people.

However, the AA has remained silent about Lt-Col Khaing Paw Lins detention.
Burma At least Eight Civilians Killed as Myanmar Junta Launches Airstrikes in Kachin and Kayah States

Children take cover in a ditch as regime jet fighters bomb Dawpapar Village in Loikaw Township, Kayah State on Tuesday. / KNDF

Almost the entire village of Sezin in Hpakant Township, Kachin State was burned down on Tuesday after being bombed and torched by military regime jets and junta troops.

Several dozen villagers were reportedly killed and wounded in the attacks, which destroyed between 400 and 500 homes. However, the exact number of casualties is unknown, according to residents and Kachin media outlets.

But five villagers were confirmed killed by the junta airstrikes, a resident told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

The airstrikes and arson attacks came after a combined force of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Kachin Regional Peoples Defense Force (PDF) raided and seized a military base outside Sezin Village and a pro-junta militia camp in nearby Shwe Pyi Myint Village on early Monday morning.

Fierce clashes continued in Sezin Village on Tuesday as the KIA and the local PDF attacked regime troops and militia from the pro-junta Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), who were defending the police station in the center of the village.

During the firefight, regime jet fighters bombarded the residential area around the police station twice, while junta reinforcements were airlifted in by helicopters, said a resident.

Regime jets launched three more airstrikes on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. After the airstrikes, SNA militia torched almost all the houses still standing.

Regime forces also opened fire on villagers who were trying to put out the fires, added the resident.

At least two villagers were gunned down by junta forces while trying to extinguish the fires, according to the resident.

On Wednesday morning some residents fled the village, but many others are still trapped in the village or its monastery, said local media and residents.

Villagers sheltering at the monastery have been threatened by regime forces that they will be shot if they go outside.

They [regime forces] violate all military codes of conduct and all laws as they have even killed prisoners of war, children and civilians across the country. They are burning down villages. They also conduct indiscriminate killings since they regard all civilians as their enemies, said the Sezin resident.

He added: They [regime forces] dont follow any military rules and regulations and international laws as they are not soldiers anymore. They are just murderers.

Clashes between resistance forces and the junta soldiers continued until Wednesday morning.

In mid-July, several days of intense fighting between regime soldiers and a combined force of the KIA and PDFs took place in the area. The regime launched airstrikes after suffering heavy losses in the clashes.

Amid near-daily attacks from PDFs and ethnic armed organizations, regime forces across the country have relentlessly committed atrocities including the arbitrary killings of civilians, extrajudicial killings of resistance detainees, burning people alive, using civilians as human shields, air and artillery strikes on residential areas, looting and burning houses and acts of sexual violence.

Junta airstrikes in Kayah State

A civilian was killed and two others wounded on Tuesday when regime jets bombed residential areas of Loikaw District in southeast Myanmars Kayah State.

On Tuesday morning, the jets conducted three airstrikes on Dawpapar Village outside Loilin Lay, a town in Loikaw District, without any provocation, said the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).

One civilian was killed and two injured in the bombing, while a medical clinic and house were destroyed.

After the airstrike, the juntas artillery battalion 250, which is based in Loikaw, shelled Dawpapar Village many times, added the KNDF.

The KNDF said that the military regime is brazenly committing war crimes by conducting deliberate air and artillery strikes on civilian targets for no reason.
Burma Japanese-Trained Myanmar Army General Involved in Massacre, HRW Says

Burnt vehicles are seen after a regime attack on Dec. 24, 2021 in Hpruso Township, Kayah State. / KNDF

A Japanese-trained Myanmar army general was found to be involved in a massacre of civilians his soldiers committed in Kayah State on Christmas Eve last year, in which 35 civilians including children, women and two members of the international humanitarian group Save the Children were burned alive.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Wednesday that Brigadier General Tin Soe was deployed at the regimes Eastern Command headquarters, which oversees operations in southern Shan State and Kayah State, from August 2021 to July 2022.

The massacre of at least 35 people happened on Dec. 24, 2021.

Light Infantry Battalion 531, which operates under the Eastern Command, was implicated in the massacre, as was Light Infantry Division (LID) 66. A LID 66 commander told Amnesty International that all ground operations in Kayah State were overseen by the Eastern Command.

The then-Colonel Tin Soe received training at Japans Ground Self Defense Force Staff College from August 2016 to March 2017, based on information from the All Japan Defense Association and a Defense Ministry document, HRW said.

Tin Soe served as military attache at the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo from 2019 to 2021, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, and state media reports. Two sources said Tin Soe left Japan after the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar and was appointed a brigadier general. He was deployed to the Eastern Command headquarters in Shan States Taunggyi in August 2021. In July 2022, Tin Soe was relocated to Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw, a source said.

Since 2015, the Japanese government has accepted cadets and officers from Myanmar under Article 100 of Japans Self-Defense Forces Act, which permits training and educating foreign nationals in Defense Ministry facilities with the defense ministers approval.

It attracted condemnation, especially from rights groups, after its acceptance of two Myanmar military cadets after the coup in 2021. In 2022, Japan again accepted two cadets and two officers from Myanmar for training.

Making matters worse, some officers who received training in Japan have been found to be involved in the regimes attack on civilians.

In May, the HRW and Justice for Myanmar, a group of covert activists campaigning for justice and accountability, said air force Lieutenant Colonel Hlwan Moe, who was trained in Japan, flew bombing missions over Magwe Region, an anti-regime stronghold. He is reportedly a deputy commander of Magwes air base.

Following Brig-Gen Tin Soes case, HRWs Asian program officer Teppei Kasai said the longer the Japanese government continued to train Myanmar soldiers and officers, the more harm it did to its own international reputation, as well as the lives of Myanmar people.

As a country that wants to be recognized for promoting human rights, Japan should stand up for the rights of Myanmars people and cut defense ties with the junta, Kasai said.

Since 2021, the rights group has urged the Japanese government to immediately suspend the training program because it risks making Japan complicit in military atrocities.
Burma Myanmar Junta Chief Among Key Suspects Identified in Rohingya Genocide Case

(From left to right) Brigadier General Thura San Lwin, chief of the Border Guard Police, military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Major General Maung Maung Soe, chief of the Western Command of the Myanmar military 2016 to 2017.

Some 20 key suspects, including junta chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and senior Myanmar military generals, have been identified as being responsible for a clearance campaign against the Rohingya ethnic minority in Rakhine State that is now the subject of a genocide case at the United Nations (UN) highest court.

The investigation by the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA), an independent war crimes investigator, also reveals that the Myanmar military planned the brutal purge of the Rohingya years in advance.

Its execution in 2017 forced over 700,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. Those who fled said that the Rohingya were subjected to extrajudicial killings, rapes and arson attacks by security forces. UN investigators said that the operation had genocidal intent.

In its report released last Thursday, the CIJA said that during its four-year investigation it focused on looking for evidence of high-level criminal responsibility so that the perpetrators can be held accountable before the UN court in The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands.

The key with a complex international criminal investigation isnt to establish the crimes, but establishing the individual criminal responsibility for those crimes. Were not interested in the low-level perpetrators. Were interested in the generals, the leading politicians who initiated this criminal operation, said Bill Wiley, Executive Director of the CIJA, in the report.

The report named the militarys chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Major General Maung Maung Soe, chief of the militarys Western Command from 2016 to 2017, and Brigadier General Thura San Lwin, chief of the Border Guard Police (BGP), as being among 20 high level suspects responsible for the clearance operation that is the subject of the genocide case at the UNs International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague.

Maj-Gen Maung Maung Soe and Brig-Gen Thura San Lwin were among the few senior military officers to lose their jobs after the clearance operation, for failing to provide adequate support and management of the army and police in Rakhine.

A photo of Brig-Gen Maung Maung was wrongly identified as Maj-Gen Maung Maung Soe in the CIJAs report. Brig-Gen Maung Maung was the leader of the military-appointed lawmakers in Myanmars parliament, and a hostile opponent of then ruling National League for Democracys (NLD) attempted reforms.

The CIJA said that document after document it obtained during its investigation revealed the intensely bureaucratic nature of the Myanmar military, with senior commanders maintaining detailed awareness of all their subordinates activity and controlling every aspect of decision making and operating procedures.

Lower-level commanders were not trusted to make decisions on their own in the field, meaning that their actions were always approved by the highest echelons of the military, said the CIJA.

The documents showed that senior commanders met frequently with their subordinates, where they would propose, discuss, adopt and assign security measures as part of the clearance operations, as well as disciplining subordinates who disobeyed such orders, and so the senior ranks were well-informed about the actions and results of operations, added the CIJA report.

The CIJA said a number of senior individuals from the military, police, the General Administration Department and government ministries were among those responsible for the crimes committed against Rohingya. But the report didnt identify all the suspects by name as it has begun handing its material over to prosecutors at the ICJ.

However, it seems highly likely that the military-appointed defense minister Lieutenant General Sein Win, home affairs minister Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe, border affairs minister Lieutenant General Ye Aung and deputy commander of the military Vice Senior General Soe Win will be on the list.

Planned removal

Government documents going back years show plans and measures to control, monitor oppress and direct violence at the Rohingya, with the aim to compel them to leave Myanmar and, as time went on, to realize their physical destruction, the CIJA stated.

Plans included instituting extensive surveillance programs of Rohingya communities, it said.

Covert intelligence officers were deployed from the BGP under the guise of a new healthcare program. They were joined by an increasing number of civilian informants, including Rohingya, recruited as spies and underlings to obtain fresh news alongside the majority Bamar population, the CIJA said.

Numerous other documents refer to the role that civilian groups could play in instigating violence, drawing on ultra-nationalist anti-Muslim Buddhist movements, who were to be unified and rallied to form militias within the villages of each district, it added.

Referring to statements from well-placed witnesses, the CIJA said that the military leadership communicated to subordinates during the 2017 clearance operations that Rakhine State was designated a black area, meaning that anyone in the area was to be shot and killed without warning.

Another witness describes how military and police personnel worked alongside non-Rohingya locals to enter Rohingya villages and burn them down. With the help of government forces, those locals also captured and threw Rohingya elderly and children into the fires they started, the report stated.

One of the documents the CIJA attached to the report was a slide from the Myanmar military that was shown in officer training on the UNs Responsibility to Protect (RSP) commitment, which was endorsed by all UN member states in 2005.

The slide said that although the UN and international community will continue to pressure the military regarding the issue of northern Rakhine and demand that the Myanmar government accept Bengali refugees, there is no likelihood of R2P being enforced and breaching Myanmars sovereignty.

In late July, the ICJ ruled that the genocide case accusing military-ruled Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya can go ahead, throwing out all of the juntas objections to the case filed by the west African nation of Gambia.

The case opened against Myanmar by Gambia at the ICJ in 2019 has been complicated by last years coup that ousted civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her NLD government, triggering mass protests, bloody crackdowns and armed resistance to the military regime.

Suu Kyi, who faced criticism from rights groups for representing Myanmar at the ICJ in the Rohingya case, has been in detention since the coup and has been put on trial on a number of charges by the same generals she defended at the ICJ in The Hague.
Analysis Myanmar Juntas Peoples Security Groups Exposed as Fraud Intended to Divide People

The junta arms Pyu Saw Htee members in Maha Aungmyay Township, Mandalay on July 30, 2022.

Apart from physically fighting the resistance forces, the Myanmar military regime, which seized power from a democratically elected government in a coup last year, is also waging psychological warfare against the people in its bid to maintain its grip on power.

To the juntas dismay, one of its schemes to drive a wedge between people was foiled recently.

A few months ago, the regime announced that it would form peoples security groups comprising people who want to serve the interests of their region in order, it said, to protect civilians against the Peoples Defense Force.

Such a group was reportedly formed in Hinthada, Ayeyarwady Region in June. A list of members of the Hinthada peoples security supervisory group was leaked on social media on June 26, causing a commotion among locals.

One of the familiar names on the list was U Win Zaw, a prominent businessman in the town who runs hotels and gold shops. U Win Zaw and his family members came under fire after local media outlets reported about his new role.

The following day, U Win Zaw said he did not know he was included in the group, and that he had resigned from it.

My father was abroad to receive treatment for his eyes when the group was formed. We did not know about it at all, and we have sent a notification of resignation to the district general administration office, wrote U Win Zaws son on social media. He also posted medical records of his father and the resignation letter.

The social media post exposed the lie the regime has told at its press briefings in Naypyitaw about the so-called public security groups, which the regime claims are formed at the request of local people, by local people and for local people.

It is their scheme to make people kill each other. The regime has spread propaganda that the groups are formed by the people themselves. It will be very dangerous if simple rural folk take it at face value. People are fortunate that the lie was exposed publicly, said a Hinthada resident.

Nefarious scheme

At a press conference on April 27 in Naypyitaw, junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun announced the regimes plan to form public security groups.

He said the State Administration Council, the governing body of the regime, was implementing a public security system that involves civilians, adding that the system would help end violence swiftly and vowing to provide necessities for the groups.

The regime had long prepared secretly to form such groups, said a district-level administrative official who asked for anonymity.

The regime started recruiting group members at the ward and township levels in March. According to leaked documents, a junta security meeting on March 3 issued a secret instruction to form 20-member groups on a trial basis in every ward and village by recruiting police, war veterans, militias, Red Cross members, firefighters, those wishing to serve the interests of their regions, and pro-military members of the Young Mens Buddhist Association.

The regime then rushed to activate public security groups at the township level. But the case in Hinthada showed that the groups are only intended to sow discord among local people. People from other parts of the country also reported that their names were included in lists of group members without their knowledge and consent.

Pyu Saw Htee

Pyu Saw Htee is a term used to refer to pro-military supporters trained and armed by the regime to fight the resistance groups that have mushroomed across the country since May last year, collectively known as the Peoples Defense Force (PDF).

Other junta-affiliated institutions such as police, Border Guard forces, Border Guard Police and ethnic militia groups are also fighting alongside the regime. But the Pyu Saw Htee are the strongest among these forces, the PDFs say.

Apart from fighting, Pyu Saw Htee have been involved in torching and looting villages in central Myanmar, the resistance stronghold, as pro-military locals know the terrain.

There have been cases, however, in which residents were included without their knowledge in Pyu Saw Htee and public security groups. Some have officially explained the situation to local people, as in the case of U Win Zaw. But others have fled, fearing pressure from the regime.

I was forced to join a Pyu Saw Htee as an auxiliary. Then I was chosen by lot to go to the front line, said a man who deserted and surrendered to a PDF group in Sagaing. The Defense Ministry of the parallel National Unity Government (NUG) has provided shelter for him.

Three villages between Magwes Gangaw and Sagaings KaleKyauk Pyote, Taung U Pyintha and Hanthawaddyare notorious in Myanmar as Pyu Saw Htee villages. Despite this reputation, however, some who fled the area said that in fact only a small percentage of the local population are real Pyu Saw Htee.

Our village has as many as a thousand of people, but there are only 44 Pyu Saw Htee. The rest are intimidated [by them], said a resident of Hanthawaddy Village.

While locals fear Pyu Saw Htee leaders because of their arms, Pyu Saw Htee leaders are also concerned that villagers might rise up against them.

Pyu Saw Htee leaders are afraid now. They force villagers to keep watch overnight for their security. Young men who fall asleep while keeping watch are beaten, said a resident of Taung U Pyinthar Village.

Locals said Pyu Saw Htee are refusing to go to battlefields in Kale, despite the fact that the regime is offering 200,000 kyats (US$95) each to those who fight.

The regime is not providing medical treatment for Pyu Saw Htee members injured in battle. Meanwhile, some Pyu Saw Htee have hurt themselves to avoid going to the frontline, said a resident of Kyauk Pyote who fled his village.

As it cant rely much on Pyu Saw Htee, the regime is attempting to form public security groups under the cover of the military-drafted constitution, said legal experts.

Public security groups will become the stooges of the regime, like the Pyu Saw Htee of the Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League [AFPFL] government. The regime will make people kill each other. Those groups are very dangerous, said a lawyer who is in hiding after the regime opened a case against him.

He was referring to the Pyu Saw Htee vigilante group formed in the 1950s. Amid instability and insurgency during the rule of the AFPFL government, the idea of forming a vigilante group to help restore law and order was presented at a conference held by the Myanmar military on Sept. 14, 1955.

The idea led to the Pyu Saw Htee scheme, named after a semi-legendary king of the Bagan period, and launched with the approval of the National Defense Council chaired by then Prime Minister U Nu.

Widely viewed as stooges of the AFPFL, the group committed every crime in the book, from kidnapping and robbery to rape and murder, not to mention assassinating politicians of opposition parties in broad daylight. It was later disbanded.

Though the groups of today bear the same name, there is no direct link between them and the group formed in the 1950s.

The regime denied any link with Pyu Saw Htee groups at its press conference on July 26. At the same time, it repeated its idea of forming public security groups.

Like Pyu Saw Htee, the public security groups will be mainly made up of members of the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party and supporters of ultranationalist group Ma Ba Tha, said veteran lawyer U Kyee Myint.

Never was a group formed by authoritiesparticularly the militaryformed because of faith. Those that join those groups only join for benefits. They are just a bunch of 5,000-kyat earners [paid a daily wage of 5,000 kyats by the military], nothing more than that, U Kyee Myint remarked.

NUGs response

The NUG is taking action to thwart the threat posed by the public security groups being formed by the regime.

In May, it warned that it would treat those involved in public security groups as enemy targets. The NUGs Defense Ministry said it had acquired lists of people involved in public security groups and evidence of their involvement.

The NUG also urged people to report to local PDFs if they are pressured into joining public security groups.

With the regime finding itself in a tight corner and having trouble finding new recruits, it will definitely deploy tactics to make the people fight each other, said Shein Htang, the commander of the Chinland Defense Force (Kanpetlet).

It will make people fight each other. It is the last bullet of the enemy. And we must be extremely cautious about it, Shein Htang warned.
Guest Column Min Aung Hlaing Is Destroying the Myanmar Military

Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing during the armed forces day parade in Naypyitaw in March 2022 / Cincds

Last weeks decision to execute four political prisoners has not had the effect Senior General Min Aung Hlaing no doubt hoped for. Far from cowing the population, it touched off another round of protests and international condemnations and re-energized his opponents. When the general staged his coup last year, some predicted that it would be the end of the Myanmar military in its current form. Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is doing his best to prove them correct. His leadership has been cruel, immoral and devastatingly inept. The coup has brought terror, death and economic devastation to Myanmars population. It has also been a disaster for his own institutionthe Myanmar military. The peoples opposition has only increased. The members of the Myanmar military need to wake up to the disaster of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings leadership.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is a classic example of Machiavellis warning against rulers overusing fear as the primary means to control people. Under any circumstances, the Myanmar people would have opposed the coup and overturning of the election. But it was Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings decision to turn guns on peaceful protesters that pushed tens of thousands of people to take up arms. His exclusive reliance on firepower and hard power to terrorize people into accepting his rule has had the opposite effect. His orders to systematically and indiscriminately kill, torture, pillage, rob, steal, rape and terrorize unarmed civilians have hardened the people against the military as a whole. His poor leadership characteristics and exclusive focus on maintaining his personal power have consistently clouded his judgement. He is unable to grasp that the people will fight until he is removed.

In hanging on to the power he seized for himself, he is taking the military down with him. Under him the military, once known by the term of veneration, the Tatmadaw, is now reviled across the country. He has turned the national military into his own personal army to rob the power from the people.

He has inducted hardened and violent criminals into his military organization to fill the shortfall of recruits. As such, he has turned the Myanmar military into an organized criminal gang. The military under his command has experienced an unprecedented level of defections and desertions, while many still within the ranks shirk when they can. Morale has plummeted. Drug use is rampant. Chains of command and discipline are in tatters as hungry soldiers roam the countryside killing civilians. Or simply looking for food. Moreover because of the enormous popular support for those willing to fight against Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, the once mighty military is now losing. It is suffering its heaviest battlefield casualties in decades. On any given day, the military is losing five to 10 times as many soldiers as its opponents. Soldiers are the single largest group of dead in the wake of Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings coup. Somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 soldiers have been killed. And for what? To defend one mans claim to power against a population that despises him?

Internationally, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has fared no better. ASEAN wants no part of him. The bloc has broken with its own policy of noninterference to exclude him from meetings. China is not impressed. Russia is going to get tired of him as it realizes he can no longer pay for weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to meet him during his trips to Russia in 2021 and 2022. Instead, he got to meet the leader of Tatarstan. Furthermore, whether Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing admits it or not, everyone knows he is running out of moneyand fast. International financial sanctions have bitten hard and deep. International financial institutions suspended payments in February 2021. One after another the biggest foreign companies and foreign investors have left the country. Gems and jade sales have suffered a complete collapse. There is virtually no foreign exchange entering the country. Min Aung Hlaing has dug deep into foreign exchange reserves, which have plummeted from US$7.7 billion at the time of the coup to an estimated $2.5 billion now. How does he intend to continue paying for fuel or medicine? No one will take the kyats he is so busy printing? The desperate measures, like banning car imports, ordering businesses to default on dollar loans and forcing businesses and banks to immediately exchange dollars for kyats, are simply not going to work.

When Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing ordered his troops to shoot unarmed protesters in the head, he also put a noose around the neck of the Myanmar military. His orders were in clear violation of his soldiers Professional Code of Conduct. When he ordered his followers to hang the political prisoners, he also tightened the noose around the neck of the Myanmar military even further. Every time he has had a chance to exercise leadership and solve this political crisis of his own making in a smart way, he has instead chosen to use violence and brutality. Every step of the way, he has misread the operational environment and miscalculated. His latest action of executing the political prisoners was a perfect example of his ineptitude as a military and political strategist. This action awakened and reenergized everyone.

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaings poor decisions have no doubt been driven by inaccurate information and his personal isolation. People around him are unable or unwilling to provide information that is contrary to what he believes and what he wants to hear. This is a problem of his own making. As he continues to pull Myanmar further into isolation, he is also increasingly isolating himself within the walls of Naypyitaw. This increased isolation will cause him to make more detrimental decisions for the country and the Myanmar military.

Dr. Miemie Winn Byrd is a professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) in Hawaii, and a retired US Army officer. The views expressed here are her own and do not represent those of APCSS or the US government or Department of Defense.
Fifty percent of travellers use public Wi-Fi while on the road. However, only 20% of them use a VPN to protect themselves while being connected to a public network, according to a NordVPN survey.

Travellers connect to public Wi-Fi in airports, cafes, parks, and trains. Some even use public computers to print their visa information or flight tickets. A virtual private network (VPN) in those cases is crucial if you want to make sure that your vacation will not be ruined by cybercriminals. Nobody wants to lose access to their device or their bank account during a trip to a foreign country, said NordVPN cybersecurity expert Daniel Markuson.

As International VPN Day (19 August) is just around the corner, Markuson lists all the benefits offered by the service.

Enhanced online security

The main purpose of a VPN is to keep its users online connection secure even when they are away from home. Hackers can set up fake hotspots or access unsecured public routers and this way monitor users online activity.

Once a user is connected, criminals can intercept their internet traffic, infect the device with malware, and steal their victims personal information, according to Markuson.

When authenticating themselves on public Wi-Fi, users often need to type in their email address or phone number. However, if a user has accidentally connected to a hackers hotspot, they could be exposing themselves to danger.

A VPN hides users IP address and encrypts their online activity. That means that, even if a user is using a malicious hotspot, the hacker behind it wont be able to monitor their activity.

Therefore, getting a VPN for travel abroad is essential if you want to stay secure and private online.

Access blocked websites

Imagine the user is visiting the Great Wall of China and they want to update their social media or check the news while exploring.

Suddenly, they encounter another kind of wall: Chinas Great Firewall. This phrase refers to the countrys wide-ranging internet restrictions, which ban access to Western media and websites, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Netflix, Twitter.

China is not alone: Iran, Vietnam, Russia, Cuba, Indonesia, and many other countries censor the internet and decide what their citizens can access.

With a VPN enabled, users can change your IP address, bypass censorship, and browse the internet freely. If they happen to work, study, or travel in one of these countries, a VPN is a vital tool.

Depending on the country users are located, the prices for airline tickets, car reservations, and hotels might vary. Thats because businesses know that people in different countries can and will pay higher amounts for certain products and services.

If travellers use VPN for travel, they can hop between servers in different countries and find the best deals available.

Make the best of additional VPN features

As the industry is evolving, many VPN providers add new features to make their users experience even more wholesome.

NordVPN added the Meshnet feature that lets travellers connect to other devices directly no matter where in the world they are. This enables users to form a remote connection with their home or office PC from anywhere in the world to share files or for other uses.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 9 August 2022.
COMPANY NEWS: Nozomi Networks, the leader in OT & IoT security, has announced its MSSP partner program has added nine new members. In addition to a solid bench of global MSSP elite partners, the program has expanded to include MSSP focus partners who are distinguished by service offerings tailored to address regional needs and requirements.

The globally focused MSSP elite partner program has now grown to 10 members including new members ABS Consulting, Intelligent Buildings and Telefonica Tech.

Regionally focused MSSP focus partners include CyberCX, Deloitte, Gemina, NRI Secure Technologies, 2TS and TI Safe.

"MSSPs are filling a critical role as CISOs look for cost-effective ways to strengthen their security postures across IT and OT while juggling resource limitations and skills gaps," said Nozomi Networks senior vice president of business development and alliances Chet Namboodri. "Nozomi Networks' MSSP program allows us to work with our partners to address a growing requirement to include advanced OT and IoT security solutions and maximise value for our mutual customers."

Launched in August 2021, Nozomi Networks MSSP partner program is the industry's first complete program for OT and IoT managed security services. The program fully equips industry leading MSSPs with Nozomi Networks' award-winning OT and IoT cybersecurity solutions, expertise and selling resources. The program enables MSSPs to generate additional revenue through new lines of business while giving customers the flexibility and maximum value they need when it comes to strengthening their OT and IoT security postures while balancing resource requirements. Today a strong bench of MSSP elite and MSSP focus partners are helping their customers strengthen their OT and IoT security and resilience, with solutions from Nozomi Networks.

Nozomi Networks' MSSP program goes beyond basic OT and IoT security integrations to support partners with the resources they need to effectively integrate, sell and support Nozomi Networks' solutions as part of a full managed services offering for the customer.

 Specialised training and certifications ensure partners are fully qualified to support customers with deep network visibility, advanced monitoring, and actionable intelligence for the best possible incident response.

 Partners have access to an MSSP framework to further develop their industrial security expertise, grow their MSSP practice, expand their portfolio of services, and increase customer satisfaction.

 Partners can incorporate Nozomi Networks' full suite of cloud-based and on premises solutions and manage them on behalf of their customers. Many of Nozomi Networks MSSP partners own Vantage licenses to provide private label services through Vantage's multi-tenant and MSSP-oriented licensing capabilities.

New MSSP partner quotes

CyberCX

"When it comes to OT and IoT security services, our customers have come to expect advanced purpose-built technologies and deep expertise. Partnering with Nozomi Networks allows us to deliver superior OT and IoT managed security services that ensures we always deliver excellent service and value to our customers as their requirements evolve."  Mark Hofman, CTO, at CyberCX, Nozomi Networks MSSP focus partner, Australia

NRI Secure Technologies

"We are honoured to work with Nozomi Networks as they are utilised in OT and IoT security across a wide range of industries. Nozomi Networks' solutions easily integrates with our managed security services to give customers more visibility across their network, better threat detection, and actionable intelligence to defend their OT and IoT environments."  Kotaro Kando, division manager of DX security consulting business division at NRI Secure Technologies, Nozomi Networks MSSP focus partner, Japan

ABS Group

"We have entered a paradigm shift in the world of cyber attacks and the general hacking landscape. Threat actors have new priorities - they've gone from stealing data to compromising public safety by interrupting operational technology throughout critical infrastructure globally. Now is the time for organisations to shift their priorities to OT cybersecurity and empower their security teams to face these new threats. Working with Nozomi Networks allows our clients access to OT-specific managed services, including 24/7 monitoring as well as asset and vulnerability management."  Ian Bramson, global head of industrial cybersecurity at ABS Consulting, a Nozomi Networks MSSP certified elite partner

Intelligent Buildings

"While automation and digital transformation are improving efficiencies, sustainability and occupant experience for real estate environments including corporate, commercial, healthcare, retail and industrial, it also requires protecting those environments. Nozomi Networks' innovative technology solutions are an essential tool to protect and monitor intelligent building environments. As an MSSP utilising Nozomi Networks as part of our real estate focused managed service, we provide world-class cybersecurity analysis to our customers, reducing their risk and providing them valuable insights into the state of their networks and devices across their global portfolios."  Darryl Benson, vice president of managed services and development, Intelligent Buildings, a Nozomi Networks MSSP elite partner

Telefonica Tech

"Our service based on Nozomi Networks' technology enhances the ability of our SOCs to monitor the security of companies operating in industrial environments and critical infrastructures and helps accelerate the digital transformation of these businesses. Expanding our services allows us to be at the forefront and offer the most innovative solutions to our customers."  Rames Sarwat, product and innovation director at Telefonica Tech, a Nozomi Networks MSSP certified elite partner

Deloitte

"As threats become more frequent, sophisticated and impactful, leading organisations are considering creative, divergent approaches that meet attackers where they are, while simultaneously fortifying the defences around their most important assets. But, the cost and complexity of consolidating, building and maintaining such cybersecurity infrastructure in-house can be high. Partnering with Nozomi Networks gives Deloitte's Managed Extended Detection and Response clients access to a broad suite of industry-leading capabilities that align with their current and future cyber needs."  Francesco Tozzi, director at Deloitte Cyber Risk Services, a Nozomi Networks MSSP focus partner, Europe

Gemina Threat Intelligence

"The alliance between Gemina and Nozomi Networks has brought us new business opportunities. We combine our multidisciplinary team including chemists, engineers, and data protection experts with technical and cyber security expertise to ensure customers choose the right solution in the long term. In a short time, we have already conquered large critical infrastructure customers in Brazil, and we are on the way to new projects."  Ricardo Tavares, managing partner at Gemina, a Nozomi Networks MSSP focus partner, Brazil

2TS

"There was no need for OT cyber security in the past because the OT systems operated offline. This meant that they had no vulnerability to attacks from outside. However, as the demand for digital innovation (DI) grew, and IT/OT networks merged, companies started to jump on the bandwagon of different point solutions to solve specific problems. With increased connectivity of industrial systems added to legacy equipment, safety standards and compliance regulations, the vulnerability of these systems to outside threats also exponentially increases. Partnering with Nozomi Networks, gives 2TS clients access to a broad suite of industry-leading capabilities that align with their current and future cyber needs as part of our IMMUNE strategy."  Charl van Niekerk, CEO at 2TS, a Nozomi Networks MSSP focus partner, South Africa

TI Safe

"We are excited about this partnership and focused on applying our expertise in offering complete solutions by Nozomi Networks to new segments that need to adapt to strict compliance standards for the safety of industrial environments. With this, we expand our operations and both companies grow together, opening new ways to support the cyber security particularities of critical infrastructure companies in Brazil, including smaller ones."  Marcelo Branquinho, CEO at TI Safe, a Nozomi Networks MSSP focus partner, Brazil
SnapLogic, a leader in intelligent integration and enterprise automation, announces its newest pioneer partnership with meetmagic, the online Australian platform that combines business and philanthropy, forming what may be its most impactful connection yet.

SnapLogic has been working with meetmagic over the last six months, and on 8 July 2022, it decided to take the next step, becoming an official pioneer partner. Through its investment in this partnership, SnapLogic is helping to create magical moments for the children who need it most. Its impact, so far, has been felt across four distinct meetmagic charitable organisation partnerships, including:

Camp Quality: SnapLogic enabled the delivery of laughter and essential distraction via a one-to-one, tailored puppet digital playdate to 20 children who are isolated by cancer.

Cure Kids (New Zealand): Five SnapLogic meetings supported essential research into childhood diseases.

Miracle Babies Foundation: So far, 10 families navigating their NICU journey have been helped thanks to SnapLogics contribution.

Starlight Childrens Foundation Australia: Thanks to this partnership, 10 SnapLogic meetings turned into 126 smiles delivered via a Starlight Express Room experience to seriously ill children in hospital.

Carl Gough, meetmagics Founder, couldnt be more thrilled to have SnapLogic onboard. As far as partnerships go, this one has been a breath of fresh air, he says. We are excited to have SnapLogic as a meetmagic pioneer member, representing an alignment of values in action.

The SnapLogic Intelligent Integration Platform is fundamental when accelerating digital transformation. Now, not only are they solving difficult integration challenges, but they have also committed to making an impact in the world through our connections. Their support means the world to me and the team.

SnapLogics new team member Uma Dubey, APAC Head of Channel/Alliance, played an integral role in getting the partnership sealed. For Uma, it was important to connect with the community and make a difference while growing SnapLogics presence in the APAC region. To that, meetmagic presented as the perfect opportunity.

With SnapLogics strategic decision to expand in APAC with ANZ as a base, it was crucial to build a partner strategy to help us meet our growth aspirations. We were looking at the right mix of partners to be able to do that. When we first came across Carl and the meetmagic team and their offering, the whole idea was very appealing from not only an efficacy perspective but also the philanthropic nature of it. At SnapLogic, we are suckers for good human values, and we were sold right away. We started working with Carl and Rebecca to make it official, says Dubey.

Typically, a tech company leans towards its tech and SI partnerships, but this is going to be arguably one of our most important partnerships for the quality it promises to deliver. Considering our tenure in the ANZ market, the potential it offers us is hard to replicate across any other platform.

Founded in 2015, meetmagic is on a mission to donate $250 million to charity by 2030 in an effort to significantly shift the dial on the UN Sustainable Development Goals by changing the way the world meets. Its platform empowers organisational growth and social change in a cost-effective, purposeful and scalable way by curating focused business meetings that generate funds for charities.

About meetmagic

Established in 2017 in Sydney, Australia, meetmagic is grounded in the desire to empower charities to create sustainable fundraising streams. meetmagic delivers organisational growth by curating meetings that create meaningful connections and help to solve current and future business problems. Members make a contribution to meet with business leaders who in turn donate their time for the meeting. Upon completion of the meeting, 70% of the meeting revenue is donated directly to the business leaders chosen charity. Since its inception, meetmagic has raised over $1 million for childrens charities, providing support to over 25,000 seriously ill children. With ambitions to donate $250 million to charities by 2030, meetmagic can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom, supporting charities such as Starlight Childrens Foundation in Australia and the UK, Camp Quality, Miracle Babies Foundation, Thread Together, Cure Kids, Compass for Life and Club Rainbow (Singapore).

About SnapLogic



SnapLogic powers the automated enterprise. The companys self-service, AI-powered integration platform helps organisations connect applications and data sources, automate common workflows and business processes, and deliver exceptional experiences for customers, partners, and employees. Thousands of enterprises around the world rely on the SnapLogic platform to integrate, automate, and transform their business. Learn more at snaplogic.com.

Connect with SnapLogic via its Blog, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.
GUEST OPINION: 2022 is fast recharging economic and business activity globally, with data and analytics playing a key role in helping organisations build resiliency and thrive in this uncertain landscape.

But according to Sisenses Future of Data Analytics Report 2022 - Asia Pacific Edition, data transmission, analysis, and risk management remain top concerns holding back wider adoption of data analytics.

Almost two-thirds (61%) of respondents say they are concerned about data transmission. Furthermore, respondents also shared that effective analysis of data (58%) and inadequate systems in place to manage risk (58%) are also a concern.

So what can organisations do to overcome these barriers to adoption?

I recently unpacked this question in a panel discussion, which celebrated the release of Sisenses Future of Data Analytics Report 2022 - Asia Pacific Edition alongside Abhishek Singh, Chief Information Officer at UNICEF Australia, Patrick Hill, Chief Product Officer at Propic and Annette Slunjski Managing Director at the Institute of Analytics Professionals of Australia (IAPA).

Entrust your partners

In the non-profit space, Abhishek believes these concerns are eased by working with trusted partners. We have to depend on external providers to support us with few of our data-related outcomes, he says.

You start with cleaning and curating your data, and you start building trust with the rest of the organisation. Its about creating an ecosystem of trust. There will always be an element of risk. Thats why its vital to have the right contractual agreements in place, making sure that in the privacy world, there are controls in place to protect peoples data.

Lack of control = lack of action

Annette points out that lack of control is likely a key reason for this lack of action. Executives like to be in control; thats where theyre comfortable, she says. However, pushed outside of their comfort zones, theyre likely to push back.

You have to take them on the journey with you. Executives need to feel as though they have enough understanding about data initiatives so they can feel in control of the direction and outcomes. If they dont feel that, then youre not going to get very far, Annette adds.

You need to have a holistic approach in terms of education and skills, as well as tools like dashboards that allow executives to monitor and control. Something they can look at and know that everythings going exactly as they wanted it to, or push a lever to adjust the trajectory.

Budget barriers

Then theres the B word, budget, which can act as a hurdle to an organisations digital transformation efforts. Sisenses report reveals that around two-thirds (60%) of APAC businesses want better AI and predictive tools, more accurate data, and real-time analytics.

When it comes to investing in AI and BI, there are also some serious barriers. Budget and executive buy-in, for example, were the top barriers to data delivery, with respondents listing budget limitations (46%) and securing executive buy-in (28%) as the top two barriers to improving data delivery to customers.

Patrick says AI can be utilised to actually save organisations time and money. In property management, we could automate maintenance services and lease management, releasing 80% of the mundane, repetitive work from your people, so they can get out and grow high-value relationships, he says. These are all visceral benefits of AI that tie back to business objectives.

Opportunities and next steps

Its important to enlist the entire organisation, banding them together to make it through any and all challenges that may arise. According to the report, skills, training, and data literacy remain top priorities.

To improve organisational data strategies, 40% of respondents agree that its important for employees to become data literate and adopt business intelligence tools as part of their daily workflows. While it would be nice to simply wave a magic wand to accomplish this; the truth is, it takes patience and commitment.

Concluding the conversation, Abhishek says its just as vital to knock down organisational silos. If you dont, youll have a very disjointed effort. Everyone needs to derive functions that support each other in relation to the strategy.

Bring awareness and let your people share their input on what they want to do with data. Everyone must be on board. Otherwise, youll be creating something that nobody in your organisation even knows about.

Read the full report here.

About Sisense

Sisense goes beyond traditional business intelligence by providing organisations with the ability to infuse analytics everywhere, embedded in both customer and employee applications and workflows. Sisense customers are breaking through the barriers of analytics adoption by going beyond the dashboard with Sisense Fusion  the highly customisable, AI-driven analytics cloud platform, that infuses intelligence at the right place and the right time, every time. More than 2,000 global companies rely on Sisense to innovate, disrupt markets and drive meaningful change in the world. Ranked as the No. 1 Business Intelligence company in terms of customer success, Sisense has also been named one of Forbes Cloud 100, The Worlds Best Cloud Companies, six years in a row. Visit us at www.sisense.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
Paul Budde: "They have predicted year after year that ARPU would move towards $52. This is the clearest indication that we have a problem with affordability."

The NBN Co continues to have a problem with the affordability of its network, independent telecommunications consultant Paul Budde says following the company's announced of its FY22 results on Tuesday.

Budde told iTWire in response to a query that the results were not in any way a surprise. The NBN Co said its revenue had risen by 10%, but it still reported losses of $1.46 billion for the year.

Budde said the key to the NBN Co's problem in becoming profitable was the fact that the average revenue per user (ARPU) had hardly moved. The figure was $45 at the end of FY21 and improved to $46 by the end of the first six months of 2021-22.

"They have predicted year after year that ARPU would move towards $52. This is the clearest indication that we have a problem with affordability," he pointed out.

"People are not prepared to spend more on broadband. This is also an indication that government intervention is needed to break through this vicious cycle.

"Like the other telcos, you need to bring costs down to stay financially viable."

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland and Finance Minister Senator Katy Gallagher said the new Labor government welcomed the results.

In a joint statement, they said the results showed that many Australians had moved to higher speeds in order to make it easier to study and work from home.

The NBN was announced in 2009 as a key investment in the nations future and since then has had a profound impact on Australias capacity to connect with the world and with each other," Rowland said.



Its great to see so many Australians benefitting from their connection to the NBN, embracing higher speed services in this increasingly digital society.



NBN Co is working on options to address the Albanese Governments election commitment to fix the NBN and the government will provide further updates in due course.

Senator Gallagher said: "These strong results demonstrate NBN Cos capacity to deliver Internet to Australian homes and businesses at a time when high-quality, reliable broadband is required more than ever, with 76% of customers on 50Mbps speed plans or higher.



The Albanese Government will support NBN Co to continue to meet increased demand for high-speed connections and will continue to invest in the network to deliver the governments broadband policy objectives in line with the fixing the NBN commitment.
Mobile virtual network operator and Internet provider Mate wants to be your best mate with a high value mobile plan, using the Telstra network, with great inclusions and low prices that will surely be very tempting to a lot of smartphone users.

Mate. The company in an Australian owned Internet, NBN and mobile virrtual network operator of note, and it could very easily become your best Mate for quality, service and pricing!

I previously video interviewed Mate GM Mark Fazio nearly a year ago, and learned what a great Internet and mobile provider the company is, with really competitive pricing, "mates rates" on various goods and services, Australian customer service and more, and I've been happy to follow the company's impressive progress.

Now comes news of Mate's latest date with destiny, with the launch of an excellent value postpaid 5G plan, with no contracts, continuing its track record of providing top-notch service at a fantastic price for its Aussie customers.

Indeed, Mate says its new 5G plan "is the best value 5G plan on the market using the Telmatestra Wholesale mobile network."

This plan has 60GB of data, a data bank rollover feature that lets you store up to 500GB of unused monthly data, the inclusion of the global music streaming platform Tidal, unlimited national talk and text to standard Aussie numbers, and even unlimited international calls and SMS to 15 selected countries, which include Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA and Vietnam.

Even better still, this is all for the low-cost introductory offer of $40 per month  and when Mate says its possibly the best in the market overall, it certainly will be hard to beat.

Image credit: Mate's 5G $40 plan details

It reminds me of when Amaysim, now owned by Optus, launched what was a game changing plan a decade ago, when it offered unlimited calls and text to Australian numbers, and a then whopping 4GB. There were no included calls to overseas numbers, there were no data bank options, but at the time, it was a great deal.

Fast forward to 2022, and we have the modern equivalent. The Telstra Wholesale cap on 5G speeds is 250Mbps, and while those directly on the Telstra network can get faster 5G speeds, a 250Mbps cap is still much faster than the 4G peak speed of 100Mbps, so those with a 5G-capable phone but who have been stuck on a 4G plan will certainly feel the difference.

Even those on a 5G plan directly with one of the three major carriers is unlikely to notice any differences.

As Mate notes, "5G also provides Aussies with greater bandwidth, so users can look forward to taking advantage of their data. From seamless 4K video calls to being able to download a movie in seconds, the 5G plan offers an exceptionally high-performance experience no matter what your mobile needs are."

Mark Fazio, Co-CEO of MATE, noted his pleasure at Mate being able to continue bringing its unique brand of local telco services at fantastic prices to the community, and stated: "The 5G mobile network gives Australians the speed and performance theyre looking for with even less lag time than ever before. Were thrilled to be able to offer Aussie consumers this great result at a price thats more affordable than ever.:

Mate is also proud to note its use of the Telstra Wholesale network, which uses parts of Telstras 5G, 4G and 3G mobile networks in providing services to customers.

Currently, 5G coverage reaches at least 75% of the Australian population, which is a huge boost, with the entire Telstra mobile coverage footprint covers more than 1.6 million square kilometres and reaches more than 98.8% of the Australian population.

Mark concludes: "Weve been apart for too long. Our new soul mates 5G plan will help families and friends stay in touch whether theyre here in Australia or overseas. And its not going to cost them an arm and leg to do that. With the current economic situation, we feel good about that."

Now, I had some questions, which included what the time limit was on the introductory pricing, whether the current 100GB 4G plan will move to 5G at some point, and whether Mate's service allowed users to have the same number added to their Apple Watch, which is something that is only reserved for the main carriers themselves.

The answers I received were as follows:

"The introductory price does not currently have an end date and the team doesn't have a set price that it will move to. Any customers on the $40 per month plan will continue to pay $40 even if the offer ends.

"4G and 5G Plans are separate and the 100GB wont become 5G. They may at some point have a 100GB 5G plan however they have no set date for this. In the future, all plans will be 5G capable.

"The 5G plan is not an eSIM plan. They are looking at plan and bundle options around eSim which would enable devices such as smartwatches and tablets to have a data plan without a physical SIM card. This would also allow eligible handsets to have a second phone number via eSim in addition to a physical SIM."

So, if you have an Apple Watch and want it to have the same number as your iPhone, you'll be forced to stick with Telstra, Optus or Vodafone direct, and you can't connect the Mate 5G service to an eSIM plan.

Hopefully, those are just limitations for now, and will one day be removed, but they're things currently beyond Mate's control.

The plan puts up a great fight against Boost Mobile, another great MVNO on the Telstra network, and the full 4G network at that, which would be greater coverage than Mate, but for most living in the cities, extra regional coverage won't make much of a difference. Boost also doesn't yet offer 5G.

Another difference is that Boost lets you call any country, with a limit of 300 minutes of international calls and texts, as opposed to full unlimited to the 15 countries listed above its Mate.

Boost doesn't offer data banking either, which is certainly a consideration for some.

So, Mate's new 5G mobile plan is definitely competitive, and an excellent deal for those who want access to the Telstra network without having to pay Telstra prices, while data banking up to a whopping 500GB.

It's great, mate!
Security company ParaFlare has appointed Mandy Ross and Dr Marcus Thompson to its board as non-executive directors.

Ross is also chief information and digital officer at Super Retail Group, digital and technology board committee member at yourtown, and board director of GIVIT.org.au.

She was previously chief digital officer at Griffith University, CIO at Tabcorp, CTO at Intrepica, CIO at Wotif.

Earlier in her career Ross was a consultant at Clickstream and Deloitte.

She holds a bachelor's degree in IT from the University of Queensland and an MBA from Queensland University of Technology.

"ParaFlare, as a sovereign Australian business with a deep heritage in the Australian Defence Force, is uniquely positioned to defend and empower their customers. The human-centred approach, combined with the team's tech and cyber know-how, were compelling reasons for me to join the board," said Ross.

"I am highly motivated by the pace of all things cyber, digital and tech. I am always learning from my teams and industry peers, and genuinely get a kick out of helping organisations to become future-fit, to manage the risk that comes with digital transformation and digital business models, and ultimately to deliver commercial outcomes."

Thompson has been a strategic advisor to ParaFlare since 2020, and is also director of Cyber Compass, chair of Penten, advisor to Macquarie Telecom, and a director of Engineers Australia.

He had a 33 year career with the Australian Army, rising to the rank of Major General and serving as the ADF's first head of information warfare.

Thompson holds a bachelor's degrees in electrical and electronic engineering from the University of New South Wales and in business from RMIT; master's degrees in defence studies from the University of Canberra and strategic studies from Deakin University; and a PhD in cybersecurity from the University of New South Wales.

"We continue to see an alarming increase in cyber-attacks against Australian businesses and interests. As this trend continues, I want every Australian business and organisation to be actively thinking about their cyber security," he said.

"ParaFlare specialises in active cyber defence  where highly-trained cyber operators seek out, contain and eliminate threats that make it past a businesses' first line of defence. This is a sovereign Australian capability built by national security experts, and one I'm proud to be part of."
Australias forest industries have a huge role to play in emissions reduction according to federal government Minister responsible for the industries , Senator Murray Watt.

The Minister made the comment when delivering a speech on Australias agriculture sector to the National Rural Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.

Of course, the forestry industry has a huge role to play in our emissions reduction task. If we get the right investment framework and the right regulation we can create the carbon sinks that well need to help remove carbon from our atmosphere, Miinister Watt said..

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity and Im really looking forward to working with all in the sector to realise it.

Senator Watts comments have been welcomed by the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Chief Executive Officer, Ross Hampton.

All of us who work across forest industries know the great work our sector does harnessing carbon from the atmosphere and locking it into essential and renewable timber and fibre products., Hampton said.

It was good to hear Minister Watt formally acknowledge this, and the opportunities for the sector with respect to Australias emissions reduction.
This Week in Review

A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more.
"Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist" episode 3 showcases a team-up between Kim Min Jae and Kim Hyang Gi as they probe into the alleged gumiho lurking around the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the historical-mystery series sees a slight dip in viewership rating.

'Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist' Viewership Rating

As noted by Nielsen Korea, the latest episode of Kim Min Jae's new drama "Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist" garnered an average rating of 4.3 percent.

The figure is a slight decrease from its previous viewership rating and its personal best with a nationwide average of 5.1 percent.

'Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist' Episode 3 Recap

The third episode began with Seo Eun Woo seeing a familiar face at a gathering.

"Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist" episode 3 introduced Jo Shin Woo, the supervisor at Sorak who will play a significant role in the two murder cases in their neighborhood.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist' Episode 1: Kim Min Jae Victimized by Royal Conspiracy

After being introduced to Yoo Se Poong, Jo Shin Woo reminded Eun Woo that it is not proper for a widow to be seen with another man, especially at night.

To defend Eun Woo, Se Poong mentioned that a physician should look after his patient and in his case, it is Eun Woo.

However, it seems like Jo Shin Woo will play a big part in Yoon Se Poong's life as he is after Yoo Se Yeop, the former royal's physician who was dismissed at the palace after the death of the King.

He is in the town to look for Yoo Se Yeop after being instructed by the royal's right hand.

The Attack of Gumiho

The quiet town was disturbed by news regarding an alleged gumiho who killed two influential people.

The primary suspect was a teen named Yeon Hee, who is suffering from a sleeping disorder.

The father was advised by physician Kye Ji Han to lock all the doors to prevent Yeon Hee from sleepwalking.

However, the culprit used her sickness to frame the poor girl for the crime. Villagers believe that it was Yeon Hee who killed two men after she was caught red-handed. The girl was alone in the woods and drenched in blood.

At the ministry's court, Yeon Hee admitted the crime since she was also lost and couldn't remember the night of the incident.

Due to her confession, she was locked in a cell but Yoon Se Poong and Seo Eun Woo pointed out that she should be treated.

While at their clinic, the two believe that Yeon Hee couldn't do such crime and says that she was framed by the real culprit.

With this, Se Poong investigated by looking at the patients who were on the day and time that Yeon Hee was at the clinic and ended up with Seo Eun Woo's brother-in-law as the prime suspect.

In addition, Eun Woo noted the marking on his hand, similar to what Yeon Hee described as the killer.

The Real Culprit was Revealed

"Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist" episode 3 not only showcased uncovering the truth behind the murder, but also Seo Eun Woo cutting ties with her husband's family.

It came after Seo Eun Woo discovered that her brother-in-law was the man behind the murders and used Yeon Hee to cover up the crime.

With this, Eun Woo took the opportunity to detach herself from the Lee clan after the brother-in-law attempted to kill her.

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Besides local fans, international viewers and not to mention Hollywood personalities look forward to watch Jung Woo Sung and Lee Jung Jae's movie "Hunt."

Interestingly, Jung Woo Sung received a surprising DM from a rapper asking about the upcoming film.

Snoop Dogg DMed Jung Woo Sung About 'Hunt' Release

In his recent Instagram story, the lead star shared a message sent by award-winning rapper Snoop Dogg, expressing his excitement to see "Hunt."

Jung Woo Sung's Instagram featured a screenshot of their conversation with the "Drop it Like It's Hot" hitmaker saying "I need to see that movie 'Hunt'!!" to which the South Korean star replied, "Fosho... working on the U.S. release now!"

Officially premiered in the non-competition Midnight Screening section at the Cannes Film festival 2022, "Hunt" is Lee Jung Jae's directorial debut.

Following the positive response and not to mention a standing ovation at the festival, the espionage action movie will have its theatrical release on August 10.

With this, Megabox Plus M, the distribution company behind the film, announced that the "Hunt'' is sold to 144 countries. It includes Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, and more.

However, according to Jung Woo Sung, they are dealing with the possible release of the movie in the United States.

"Hunt" follows the story of two skilled National Intelligence Service (NIS) agents, who are set on a mission to chase after a North Korean spy director.

However, amid their investigation, they were accused of being the mole and soon uncovered a hidden truth.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Jung Woo Sung Talks About Unique Nickname For BTS' Jin

The action-packed movie is Jung Woo Sung and Lee Jung Jae's reunion project, 24 years after they filmed "City of the Rising Sun."

Joining the two lead stars are Jeon Hye Jin, "Squid Game" villain Heo Sung Tae and Go Yoon Jung from "Alchemy of Souls."

Jung Woo Sung in Search of the Fan Amid the Viral 'Mentos Theft' Incident

While fans wait for the highly anticipated reunion between the two renowned South Korean stars, a video of Jung Woo Sung went viral after a fan posted her experience during the "Hunt" press conference.

As noted by media outlets, the post titled "Jung Woo-sung took my Mentos" shared how the actor took her candy during the meet and greet.

"Today, I went to the stage to greet them. On my way home from work, Mentos was in my pocket," the person wrote, adding "While shaking hands with Jung Woo Sung, I held it in my hand, but he took it."

With this, netizens hilariously dubbed Jung Woo Sung as the "mentos theft" but the actor's agency, Artist Company released a video, with the lead star apologizing for the incident.

In a short clip, he expressed his apology and says that they are in search of the owner of Mentos.

"Anyone who knows or is the owner, please do get in touch with Artist Company via Instagram DM or comments," he said in the clip.

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
NANJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) continued its joint combat exercises and training on Tuesday in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island.

The exercises mainly focused on joint blockade and joint support operations.

The air force under the theater command deployed multiple batches of warplanes, including early warning aircraft, fighter jets, aerial refueling aircraft and jamming aircraft, to conduct drills on airspace control operations, air-to-air refueling and air-to-sea support.

Drills were also conducted for joint search and rescue, ammunition and materials supply, equipment repairs, and rescue and transfer of the injured. 
President Xi Jinping has underlined the importance of mutual assistance and win-win cooperation in enabling all mankind to share the results of human development, saying that China has taken concrete actions to promote the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi made the remarks in a letter of reply to students and teachers at a secondary school in Malta that was made public on Tuesday. The president said in the letter that seeking the common interests of all and promoting peace among all nations has been a long-held aspiration of the Chinese nation for human society, adding that it is also the cultural root of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind. "We live in a world where history and reality meet, where opportunities and challenges coexist, and where humanity as a whole rises or falls together. Countries must assist each other in times of need and choose win-win cooperation if we are to share in the fruits of development," he added. China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative in order to build up consensus and strength in solving global challenges for growth and security, he added. In a letter to Xi recently, the students and teachers of St Margaret College Secondary School in Malta, who participated in an initiative known as the China Corner, expressed their fondness for Chinese culture and spoke positively of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the BRI. Through cooperation with the China Cultural Center in Malta and with the support of the Education Ministry of Malta, Maltese teacher Martin Azzopardi set up a China Corner in his classroom at the school in 2010 and the initiative has been going on since then. The China Corner has been teaching science, through the introduction of Chinese culture to students by creating a bridge between scientific knowledge and Chinese culture, science and technology. In his letter, Xi commended the initiative for bolstering the understanding of young people in Malta about China and promoting bilateral friendship. He expressed his hope that the initiative can attain greater success and he welcomed the students and teachers to visit China for study and exchanges. He noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malta, and these ties have become a model for friendship between countries with different histories and cultures. The president called on more young people from the country to promote mutual learning and friendship between the two nations.
The pending removal of all tariffs on Canadian-grown cherries sold in South Korea is good news for Sukhpaul Bal, a Kelowna orchardist, and other members of the B.C. Cherry Association.
An ambulance is parked at the emergency department at the Lakeridge Health hospital in Bowmanville, Ont. on Wednesday January 12, 2022. Ontarios health minister would not rule out further privatization in health care among a number of possibilities being considered as the province deals with major staff shortages in hospitals.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Doug Ives
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Suppose youre getting ready to send your young adult off to college for the first time. In that case, youve likely been spending the summer getting college dorm and apartment essentials lined up: bedding, storage cubes, first aid kit, extension cords, dry erase board and other room necessities. But have you thought about what could happen should they get ensnarled in a health crisis away from home?

Its a hard truth, but some new college students find themselves in scary medical situations their first time away from home. Risks come from excessive drinking, car accidents, or a mental health crisis. As much as one-third of college freshmen account for all college-aged serious illnesses or deaths.

Whether your child is only going to be a couple of hours away from home or moving across the country, youll want the peace of mind to know that medical wishes have been discussed and documented. Having an advance directive for your college-bound student can help.

Im so glad that I was able to talk to my boys about their medical wishes before they left home, said April Brumm, a Georgia mom of two young men. We used the Five Wishes advance directive to make sure that I had peace of mind sending my two boys off to college.

I sat down with them, and it was such a wonderful opportunity to talk about what matters most to them and talk about the future and about what it means to be responsible, continued Brumm.

The first step in documenting medical preferences is to pick a health care advocate. Someone that can be the voice for your child should they not be able to speak for themselves, even temporarily. Youll want that person to be able to make critical medical decisions as they arise. If no one is selected, you dont want to lose valuable time while your child is in crisis.

Choosing a health care advocate

Most health care advocates are parents (or spouses), but they dont have to be. It can be your childs friend if thats their preference. They just need to have their best interest in mind and someone who will be there for them when needed.

A good health care advocate is someone with good communication skills, empathy, and good in a crisis.

Its helpful if theyve got the ability to get along with a variety of people, which could come in handy if they need to deal with a medical team and different personalities.

Completing an advance directive

Once youve helped your child choose their health care advocate and an alternate, the next step is to decide what kind of medical intervention they want or dont want.

Include the health care advocate in your discussion so they know your childs preferences for medical care. The advocate needs to feel comfortable knowing what kind of treatment has been selected so they can follow the instructions.

Make sure the advocate knows the name and contact information of your childs primary doctor and any other medical providers they see.

Give them a copy of the advance directive, so its handy.

Documenting personal and spiritual wishes

An advance directive will take care of your childs medical and legal needs, but what about how theyd like to be treated during care? Some people like a lot of attention; some dont. Having their preferences documented will be helpful for everyone.

Five Wishes is one type of advance directive you may consider. It is the only one that meets the legal requirements in all 50 states  which is important if your student is traveling across state lines. The Five Wishes booklet is broken down into five wishes. The first two wishes are both legal documents and will take care of completing the advance directive. Wishes 3 to 5 are unique because they address matters of comfort care, spirituality, forgiveness, and final wishes. Its where you get to decide how comfortable you want to be, how you want to be treated, and how youd like to be remembered. Five Wishes is often called the living will with heart and soul because it deals with individuals holistically and not just medically.

Why advance directives are important

Completing an advance directive is important for everyone, even those just starting adulthood and heading to college. Four of the most famous cases regarding health care decision-making all involved young people in their twenties: Karen Ann Quinlan, Terri Schiavo, Nancy Cruzan, and Christine Busalacchi.

No one can anticipate an accident or medical crisis, but you can be prepared for one. Having your childs medical wishes documented in advance will give everyone peace of mind of knowing that you wont have to guess their wishes in the middle of a crisis. Plus, it saves time communicating with the medical providers because everything has been decided. It allows you the most precious gift of all  time to focus on your young-adult children.

Joanne Eason is an advance care planning expert.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Artist and illustrator Ross Stewart has a new series of organic and evocative landscapes currently on show as part of Thomastown Creative Arts Festival. Ross' painting style is semi-abstract, based on drawn studies but developed organically focusing on mood and atmosphere rather than purely representational form.



His highly textured mixed media paintings suggest wide open expanses of bog or moor, solitary trees or natural forms with vivid intricate details submerged under glazes of earthy colours. The effect is dreamy, calming and meditative. Ross has exhibited across both Ireland and the UK during his career and his work is held in both public and private collections.

Ross combines his passion for painting with a career as an animator with Cartoon Saloon where he co-directed Wolfwalkers with Tomm Moore in 2020 and also worked on The Secret Of Kells, ParaNorman and Song of the Sea.

Ross elaborates: This exhibition is a collection of recent work alongside various pieces selected from my studio, made over the last 15 years. After taking a break from painting to focus on making the feature film Wolfwalkers, the newer work has been a journey to find my style of painting again and redefine it. I hope that by showing them side by side, the change and progress after the break can be seen - the similarities and differences.



All of these artworks are part of a continuation of my explorations of composition and linear abstractions of landscape and natural elements. I am interested in taking elements of landscape studies and reducing down to simple shapes, whilst keeping a level of atmosphere and mood of the original study.



I work in animation and am always struggling with keeping traditional media approaches to an ultimately digital end-product. This ties in perfectly with my painting which is predominantly as organic as possible  probably as a reaction against the constraints of animation. The creative process involved was spontaneous and very intuitive  In my work I tend to let the environment set the mood of my painting. I react to the place, the atmosphere, the mood and create from that.



For Ross, combining the expressive fluidity of his personal art with the discipline of his animation allows him to escape into a parallel yet complimentary form of expression:

I have always tried to balance the two artforms, animation and painting. Animation by its very nature is structured and team based - it has to be for the production of a movie or TV series. It is not individualistic. There are artistic directions which everyone must follow so that the show or film looks consistent; drawn by the same hand. This can be a huge learning opportunity for any artist and is sure to make anyone in the animation industry highly skilled and adaptable. It is also a fantastic work environment to be surrounded by so many talented people, all working towards the same end goal.



But I have always found that I need the space to allow my own art to flow, without any constraints and in an open, unfettered creative environment. I love going into my studio and deciding there and then what I will work on and without any production staff telling me what deadlines must be met. It is hugely therapeutic to get lost in the process of creation without boundaries and any end goals and I recommend it to anyone who is tempted. I have tried to balance animation and painting so that I enjoy the two equally; the best times with the week being split between the animation studio and my painting studio. Due to the production schedule of animated films though, I have at times had to give up paintings for a couple of years, most recently for our film Wolfwalkers.



Especially as a director a lot of time is spent in meetings or reviews looking at others artwork and not creating any art yourself! Those times are tough as the need to put paint to canvas goes unfulfilled. After a break like that it is hard to get straight back into it - I find those times it's best to try to find the fun in the process and expect most artworks to end up in the bin.



It is similar to a child making art just for the fun of it and I find that as adults, we put too much pressure on ourselves - that we must be serious about our art, our job and what we create must be worthy of hanging on a wall; if we do not, it would be a waste of precious time. But I've found that by not having that pressure, I have been happy to explore the process of creation and that eventually artwork will evolve that can be framed - that need not be the purpose of art though.



Between the structured artform of animation and the free, messy jumble of painting I can find a nice equilibrium and I hope to continue balancing the two.

Ross Stewart's open studio exhibition runs at Seomra4 Artist Studios, Marshes St, Thomastown until August 15 from 10-6pm daily. Explore more at www.rossstewart.net.
The citizen initiative petition reached the sufficient signature count in six of eight districts from Missouri's previous Congressional district map.
Uvalde police chief Pete Arredondo speaks at a press conference following the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on May 24. The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District is searching for an interim police chief as Chief Pete Arredondo is on unpaid leave while he awaits a termination hearing.
By Reza Aslan



Aug. 5 is the 116th anniversary of the Persian Constitutional Revolution, the first democratic revolution in the Middle East. And the protest culture spawned by that revolution is alive and well in Iran today.



In recent months, Iranians have taken to the streets over President Ebrahim Raisi's cuts to food subsidies, which have resulted in price hikes of as much as 300 percent. Small businesses in the country have temporarily shut down to declare their objection to a sudden jump in sales tax. Iranian women have risked arrest by publicly removing their hijabs, demonstrating against the government's required Islamic dress code.



Actions like these have their roots in 1906, when, after years of boycotts, strikes and bloody street protests, a band of young Iranian revolutionaries forced the ailing monarch, Muzaffar ad-Din Shah, to sign the country's first constitution, establishing the rule of law and severely limiting his unchecked powers. The Persian Constitutional Revolution was the first of its kind in any Muslim majority state. Its fundamental goal was to marry traditional Islamic principles with modern concepts such as individual rights and popular sovereignty.



While the revolutionaries lifted some of their language and ideas from Europe and the United States, the movement itself was firmly grounded in more than a century of Persian political thought. The result was a truly indigenous democratic movement, one that led to a freely elected independent parliament and a constitution guaranteeing basic rights for all Iranians.



The ties between the events of the Persian Constitutional Revolution and the U.S. would go beyond language. In 1907, not long after the constitution was signed, a young American missionary from Nebraska named Howard Baskerville arrived in the northwestern city of Tabriz. Baskerville was there to teach English and preach the gospel.



But when Muzaffar ad-Din Shah died shortly after signing the constitution, his young son Mohammed Ali ascended the throne. The new Shah tore up the constitution and attacked the parliament building with the parliamentarians still inside. He then sent his troops to besiege the last bastion of the revolution: the city of Tabriz, where Baskerville resided. Baskerville was caught in the middle of a civil war.



Spurred by the suffering of the people around him, Baskerville gave up his missionary post, surrendered his U.S. citizenship and joined the revolution. On April 20, 1909, he led a force comprising his own students on an ill-fated mission to break through the Shah's siege and get food to the starving inhabitants of the city. During the attempt, he was shot in the heart and killed.



Baskerville's death galvanized the revolutionaries. They eventually broke the siege, marched to Tehran and removed Mohammed Ali Shah from his throne. The Persian constitution was reestablished and a new parliament elected. Its first act was to pay homage to the young American missionary who died defending Iran from tyranny.



Of course, Iran's experiment in constitutional democracy did not last. In 1921, a military commander named Reza Khan marched his troops into Tehran and, with the full backing of the British government, declared a military coup. Iran was transformed once again into an absolute monarchy.



Reza Shah's Pahlavi Dynasty would itself be overthrown in 1979 by yet another popular revolution  this one replacing 2,500 years of monarchy with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a different form of autocracy that remains in power today.



It is tempting to conclude that the Constitutional Revolution was an abject failure  that there is, in effect, nothing to celebrate on its anniversary. But that would be shortsighted and naive.



The Persian Constitutional Revolution may not have transformed Iran into a real democracy. But it set the precedent for the exercise of people power in Iran, creating one of the most robust protest cultures in the world.



Other recent protests in Iran have seen retirees demanding an increase of pensions and farmers, factory workers, teachers and merchants going on strike to demonstrate against deteriorating living conditions.



While most of these latest protests are fueled by social and economic issues, demonstrators have increasingly been emboldened to march through the streets calling for the fall of the regime. Beneath the current economic grievances is long-simmering frustration over the same issues that compelled Baskerville to join his Iranian students on the battlefield more than a century ago: That people should be masters of their own fate, should be free to act and think without coercion and should have a say in the decisions that rule their lives.



Today, this vibrant people's movement has yet to achieve the freedom that all Iranians deserve. But that is not because the people are too weak or the government too strong. It is because the country remains, to this day, a pawn in the hands of global powers. A tyrant stays in power by isolating his people from the rest of the world. In the case of Iran, four decades of sanctions, containment and global isolation imposed by world powers have done the tyrant's work for him.



The legacy of the Persian Constitutional Revolution can be seen in the Iranians who have never stopped beating on freedom's door. Now that door is cracking ever so slightly, as a government whose chief duty is to feed and protect its citizens has proved utterly incapable of doing either. Perhaps with just a little more nudging, the door will break open, and the Iranian people will again gain power, as they first did in 1906.





Reza Aslan is a professor of creative writing at UC Riverside. His forthcoming book is "An American Martyr in Persia: The Epic Life and Tragic Death of Howard Baskerville." This article was published in the Los Angeles Times and distributed by Tribune Content Agency.




(The Center Square)  Indiana has sent two teams of specialists to assist Kentuckians in search and rescue operations following record flooding in the state

Indiana Task Force 1, is an urban search and rescue group jointly sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. TF1 deployed two 16-member Mission Ready Package Water teams to Southeastern Kentucky. The teams are specialists in top water and swift water rescue.

Heavy rains have caused flooding throughout eastern Kentucky. Power outages are widespread.

This is an ongoing, natural disaster. We are in the midst of it and for some places, it is going to continue through tonight with the possibility of more rain in the days to come, Kentucky Gov. Beshear said in a statement. We urge everyone to continue to take precautions to keep yourself and others safe.

Beshear added, Unfortunately, we expect the fatality number to rise to double-digits, which is heartbreaking and something we rarely see. This is going to take time.

This deployment of Task Force 1 includes 31 firefighters and one police officer. The team is equipped with two aluminum boats with outboard motors and two inflatable boats, among other gear, according to the TF1 Twitter page.

The task force will join other rescue resources already deployed, including UH-60 Black Hawks from the Kentucky National Guard that are performing rooftop rescues, and zodiac boats provided by the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources.

The team was expected to arrive in Kentucky late Thursday. A timetable for their return has not been announced.

Previous deployments of the task force have included rescue efforts after the Champlain Tower apartment building collapse in Florida and the collapse of a candle factory following a tornado in Kentucky, both in 2021.

The task force also responded in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the World Trade Center attack in 2001 and tornado events in Lafayette, Evansville, Henryville and Indianapolis.

Information on the length and cost of the deployment was not immediately available from FEMA.
China has released the first national draft guideline on the use of self-driving vehicles for public transport, a key move in accelerating the large-scale commercialization of autonomous driving technology and encouraging local authorities to formulate the relevant management policies, industry experts said. The country will encourage the use of self-driving vehicles such as buses in an enclosed Bus Rapid Transit or BRT system, and allow autonomous vehicles to offer taxi services under simple and relatively controllable scenarios, according to draft rules published by the Ministry of Transport on Monday. The authorities are asking for public opinion or reactions to the guideline through Sept 7. "The national draft rules on self-driving vehicles are expected to better regulate the whole industry, providing a reference and guidance for local authorities that have yet to issue similar guidelines," said Zhang Xiang, a researcher at the Automobile Industry Innovation Research Center at North China University of Technology in Beijing. The draft regulation classified autonomous vehicles into three types: conditionally, highly and fully autonomous vehicles, depending on the degree of their autonomous capacity. The guideline said that conditionally and highly autonomous vehicles should have human drivers. Remote drivers or safety supervisors should be required for fully autonomous vehicles. In addition, safety should be the top priority in the management of self-driving vehicles, it said. The draft guideline also stipulates that the routes of autonomous vehicles should be far away from densely populated areas such as schools, hospitals and large shopping malls. The move came after local governments in Wuhan and Chongqing's Yongchuan district granted tech giant Baidu the country's first permits to offer fully driverless commercial robotaxi services to the public on open roads. Apollo Go, the name of Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service, is authorized to charge fares for robotaxi services completely without human drivers and safety supervisors in the car in designated areas. Noting that China has taken the lead in the research and development as well as application of autonomous driving technologies, Zhang said the latest move will encourage self-driving companies to carry out road tests and commercial operations of robotaxi services in more cities, speeding up the large-scale commercial use of autonomous vehicles across the nation. Some local governments have already rolled out a series of supportive policies to promote the commercialization of autonomous driving technology. For instance, the southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen has allowed fully autonomous vehicles without human drivers to run on certain roads since Aug 1, when a local regulation on smart and internet-connected vehicles came into effect. In July, Beijing launched China's first pilot area for commercial autonomous driving vehicle services. Baidu and self-driving startup Pony.ai are the first enterprises granted permission, and they will offer paid robotaxi services, without a safety operator behind the steering wheel, within a 60-square-kilometer area in Yizhuang, a southern suburb of Beijing. However, a supervisor will still sit in the front passenger seat to ensure safety. "Currently, only a few countries, including China and Germany, have rolled out policies at the national level that support the development of autonomous vehicles," said Lyu Jinghong, an intelligent-mobility analyst at research firm BloombergNEF. Lyu added that clear regulations at the national level will encourage local governments and autonomous driving companies to speed up the application of self-driving technology, which is crucial to achieving the commercialization target.


For a family-owned business to reach a centennial milestone over the span of four generations is a monumental achievement.

To do so in the hyper-competitive grocery business is particularly noteworthy, as such well-respected and once ubiquitous names as Milwaukee-based Kohls Food Stores, national supermarket giant A&P and Chicago-based National Tea have all been winnowed from the marketplace into the history books.

Sentry-affiliated, family-owned Daniels Foods, operator of full service supermarkets at 681 Kenosha St. in Walworth and 2501 W. Court St. in Janesville, is not only surviving but thriving as its marks its 100th anniversary.

Its a milestone that very few family companies enjoy, said third generation owner Terry Daniels, company president. As you go through the generations, there are more family businesses that fail than succeed after the second, third, fourth generation. Weve been very fortunate to continue to grow and have new family members come along and run the business.

Daniels Foods will be celebrating the centennial anniversary from Aug. 11-17 with a gala celebration thats slated to include special sales, in-store giveaways and raffle prizes.

Special customers appreciation brat and hot dog cookouts, served up by Terry Daniels and sons Blake and Tyler, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12 at the Janesville store and Saturday, Aug 13 at the Walworth Store.

The iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile (https://khcmobiletour.com/wienermobile) will make a special appearance at Daniels Foods in Walworth on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We want to give our thanks to our great, loyal customers and our communities, Tyler said of the anniversary celebrations, including a super-hot ad in todays edition of the Lake Geneva Regional News featuring a lot of very desirable ad items.

Added Blake, Were very proud of our stores in Walworth and Janesville.

Centennial memories

Celebrating a century of providing quality service and groceries to its customers, family-owned Daniels Foods has built a rich legacy across four generations.

Daniels Foods traces its beginnings to namesake Lawrence E. Daniels, who opened a store in Springfield with business partner Alain Vos in 1922.

Lawrence E. Daniels, founder of Daniels Foods Daniels Foods, today operating full service supermarkets in Walworth and Janesville, traces its history back 100 years to founder Lawrence E. 

Daniels and Vos sold the Springfield store and purchased the Cox-Bennett General Store in Kansasville in 1923, with Vos selling his interest in the Kansasville store to Daniels in 1941. The Racine County store affiliated with Chicago-based IGA in 1932. Sons Jack and Robert Daniels took over ownership of the store in 1949, with Jack buying out Roberts ownership interest in the store in 1956.

Jack Daniels sold the Kansasville store and purchased the Baldwin IGA Food Market, 541 Kenosha St. in Walworth, in January 1960, with the business becoming known as Daniels Sentry Foods beginning that May. Daniels Foods affiliation with Sentry, a Wisconsin-based chain of 11 independently owned and operated supermarkets, continues to this day.

Terry Daniels said his parents were attracted to relocate to Walworth by the opportunity presented to expand and grow the multi-generational family grocery business, noting the owner of Baldwin IGA was looking to retire and Sentry Foods was looking to expand its Wisconsin store footprint.

The store in Kansasville was seven, eight thousand square feet, a small store, probably 10,000 at best, Terry recalled. We had the opportunity to buy a store in Walworth where Community Chiropractic Center is now. Sentry was looking to expand, so they contacted my dad and said the Walworth store was available and wanted to know if he wanted to come to Walworth and take over the store.

Growing and evolving to meet the West Ends grocery needs, Jack and Kay Daniels opened a new 16,000-square-foot Walworth location, their second, in November 1965 at 525 Kenosha St., today home to Aurora Health Center and the Walworth Public Library.

Daniels Sentry Foods was remodeled and expanded in 1974, 1983 and 1988, eventually growing into a 34,000-square-foot facility.

The current 52,000-square-foot flagship Daniels Foods store at 681 Kenosha St., opened by third generation owners Terry and Debi Daniels in March 1999, earned Green Grocer Certification for energy efficiency upgrades in February 2010, one of the first awarded in Wisconsin. A Daniels Express gas station and convenience store was opened at Daniels Foods in June 2008.

The Walworth supermarket underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade and renovation in 2020-2021. The store, along with the Janesville location, were also concurrently rebranded from Sentry Foods to Daniels Foods for a more hometown feel, even though the stores remain affiliated with Sentry.

We built this store in 1999 and by 2022 weve basically replaced every piece of equipment in the store, Terry said. We bought new signs and repainted the buildings. We gave them a whole fresh new look in preparation for our 100-year anniversary.

Over the years, the family has also operated Sentry grocery stores in Janesville, Elkhorn, Brodhead and Belleville. The 31,000-square-foot store on Janesvilles west side opened in 1979.

Sentry-affiliated Daniels Foods today operates two full service supermarkets  681 Kenosha St. in Walworth and 2501 W. Court St. in Janesville.

Lawrence Daniels grandson, Terry Daniels, joined the family business in 1978, with great-grandsons Blake and Tyler Daniels, joining in 2009 and 2010 respectively, a business legacy now spanning four generations.

They oversee both operations and are store directors for each of the stores, Terry said of Blake, 40, and Tyler, 37, both alumni of Reek Elementary School in the Town of Linn and Big Foot High School in Walworth. They both share in different responsibilities for the stores. Tyler does a lot of wine and liquor buying and Blake is much more involved in the deli and the meat departments.

Wine Reserve at Daniels Foods, 681 Kenosha St. in Walworth The Wine Reserve at Daniels Foods, 681 Kenosha St. in Walworth, is one of the amenities that make the 52,000-square-foot Sentry-affiliated sup

Both are proud to be the next generation stepping into the stewardship of the century-old, fourth generation business.

Were going to do our best to keep the tradition going and, God willing, our children will fill in our footsteps, Blake said. Its surreal. Its hard to wrap your head around sometimes. Were blessed and thankful for the continued support and success of this business. Its been a great ride. Im very thankful to be a part of the family business and close to the family. I didnt always know this was where I was gonna end up. I traveled the country for a time, lived other places, and found out that home was here and I wouldnt have it any other way.

Said Tyler of his own feelings, Im honored and blessed to be a part of the ride. Its been a great experience learning the business from both my father and grandfather, learning different traits and attributes from both of them. I hope to continue to fill their shoes and pass it on.

Particularly important are the family ties.

Were both grateful to have a tight-knit family, Blake said. Were all close, weve always gotten along. Were very fortunate to be able to work alongside one another and have it go smoothly. When you see so much separation and indifference in the world, its kind of nice to have the family still together and stronger than ever.

A recipe for success

Terry credits Daniels Foods longstanding success and growth, in part, to its independent status, which allows the company operate more nimbly than its corporate competitors.

What has allowed us to be successful is that even though we are part of a group, Sentry, we are also very independently-thinking and always looking to do whats best for us and our markets, he explained.

Also helpful, he said, have been successful new ideas brought in by his sons, including the addition of sushi and premium Boars Head meats and cheeses in the deli, and the installation of self-checkouts now used by 30% of Daniels Foods customers.

Were trying to stay ahead of our competition and have our customer enjoy the shopping experience, drawing people in and making this a desirable spot, a destination spot, for people to come shop, Tyler said, citing Daniels Foods emphasis on quality perishable departments and a great center store. We all know you can buy groceries anywhere.

Another key to success, Terry said, is Daniels Foods longtime community involvement in a variety of organizations and causes.

Weve been part of this community since 1960 and have been very involved, he said. If theres a need, were here to help, and I think thats true for a lot of our local businesses. Weve been very supportive of the community and the communitys been very supportive of us. Theres a lot to be said for that.

Also contributing to Daniels Foods success is noteworthy levels of employee retention in an industry known for its high rates of employee turnover.

We have a lot of longtime employees, Terry said, himself with the family-owned company since he was a young kid, noting Walworth store manager Bill Melson grew up with Daniels Foods, starting in the grocery business when he was 15. We have a lot of long-term employees that are very loyal, which is what really makes the difference, I think. Long-term is having people that will stay with you and grow with you. We always try to promote within the store and weve had a lot of people move up the ranks as they started with us and continued with us.

Blake and Tyler agreed.

We have a great core group of employees that have gotten us through thick and thin, Tyler said.

Among them is Melson, who has logged 32 years with Daniels Foods, coming on board part-time in 1990 and full-time in 1994.

For me, its been a great experience, Melson said of his career with Daniels Foods. Ive had opportunities throughout the years. I started off stocking shelves and pushing carts and then I moved to a grocery manager position, then I was co-store manager and now store manager. Theyve treated me very, very well over the years. I couldnt be more happy with how theyve treated me and all their associates here. Theyre always looking to promote from within and give individuals opportunities.

Other longtime employees include Bob Kellner, who started with Daniels Foods in 1997 and moved to the Janesville store when he became its manager in December 2019. Ken Riley, Daniels Foods general manager, has been with the company 52 years, joining in 1970.

Blake said its important to have a good rapport with employees  keeping up with their lives, knowing them on a first-name basis and checking in with them daily.

Treating everyone like theyre a part of the family and letting every voice be heard, thats something thats rare these days, he noted. Having that one-on-one contact with staff and keeping it run like a giant family and feeling of home goes a long way.

Service with a smile at Daniels Foods in Walworth with cashier Margaret Nevala Self-described "hometown girl" Margaret Nevala, of Walworth, provides service with a smile in her role as cashier at Daniels Foods, 681 Kenosh

Longevity at Daniels Foods starts at the top. Terry graduated from college in 1974 and worked four years for Arthur Anderson as a certified public accountant before coming back to Walworth and joining the family business in 1978. Named Walworth store manager and vice president of Daniels Foods in 1979, Terry became president in 1989 and owner in 1992 when his dad retired.

Terry said the grocery industry has changed dramatically over the years, particularly with the rise of big box stores like Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart, which surrounds the Walworth store at Harvard, Ill., Lake Geneva and Delavan, and the large Walmart, Target, Festival Foods, Sams Club and Woodmans stores that compete with Daniels Foods store in Janesville, where a 100,000-square-foot HyVee is currently being built.

Terry said Daniels Foods deftly competes with the big gorilla big box operators by offering a different shopping experience based on an old fashioned emphasis full service deli, meat and bakery departments and local touch friendly, attentive customer service among other key differentiators, including a deep and longstanding commitment to community involvement that he calls building a marketplace where youre really a part of the community.

High marks

Daniels Foods flagship full-service supermarket in Walworth is a favorite with area residents and visitors alike.

Customer John Shay of Evanston, Ill., visiting his parents in Fontana, stopped at Daniels Foods recently to pick up a variety of fixings to make a fun taco bar.

I love it, he said of the store. Ive been coming here since it was Sentry way back in the late 1980s. The layouts really clean. Great selection. The produce section is wonderful. You can find stuff here that youre not gonna find at Walmart or Aldi. And everyone who works here seems to know where everything is anytime I have a question. Shopping here has always been a great experience.

Shay also likes the stores emphasis on sourcing local foods whenever possible, calling it vital in importance.

Im sure you can get stuff shipped in from just about anywhere else in the country these days, he said. The fact you can get local meat, local produce, local dairy  you cant beat that.

A perennial family favorite, he said, are the stores homemade Daniels Kitchen pizzas.

The homemade pizzas have always been a hit from way back in the day, Shay noted. Whenever I head over here I always get bombed for requests.

Jennifer Krisch of Lake Geneva is among Daniels Foods newer customers, making it her store of choice for the past two years.

I like how everything is always really fresh and that the store is really organized, clean and tidy, and close to home, she said. Everybodys really friendly and helpful. Especially here at the deli, theyre very kind and patient.

The Daniels Foods Difference

Terry Daniels, a firm believer in The Daniels Foods Difference, said the Walworth and Janesville supermarkets have been a huge success, in large part because of their mission emphasis on providing customers with quality, service and value through plentiful selections of competitively-priced top brands, high-quality fresh meat and produce, friendly and attentive customer service, and full-service meat, bakery and deli departments.

In an era where pre-packaged foods have become the norm in the grocery industry, Daniels Foods differentiates itself from the competition with its old fashioned full service deli, bakery and meat departments.

Most grocery stores today, the meats all come in pre-packaged, he noted. We still cut our own meat. Same thing in the deli  we prepare a majority of our salads, slice our own meats and cheeses. And we bake a lot of things in the bakery.

Daniels Foods, known for the Best Meat in Town, offers its customers the highest quality and freshest seafood around, including a full-service fresh seafood counter at the Walworth store and the capability of getting fresh fish daily. Experienced butchers will personally cut and trim meats to a customers specific needs. And butchers at both stores also make fresh homemade Italian sausage and a wide variety of Sheboygan-styled bratwursts.

The Daniels Foods produce departments offer a wide array of the best fruits and vegetables available, including organic selections that are growing in popularity with shoppers. The stores also offer a convenience selection of cut fruit and vegetables. And for special events, Daniels Foods offers made-to-order fruit baskets and bouquets.

Floral department at Daniels Foods, 681 Kenosha St. in Walworth The colorful fresh floral department at Daniels Foods, 681 Kenosha St. in Walworth, is one of the amenities that make the 52,000-square-foot S

The Daniels Kitchen delicatessen at the flagship store in Walworth offers cut-to-order premium Boars Head deli meats and cheeses, sushi, rotisserie chicken, hot food and salad bars, and a variety of homemade pizzas, sandwiches and paninis. Daniels Kitchen in Walworth also offers deli platters and catering services.

Online shopping options

Keeping up-to-date with the latest in grocery shopping trends, both Daniels Foods stores offer convenient online shopping options that provide customers a faster, simpler way to shop.

A lot of people are shopping online, Terry said. Onlines become a big, big part of the business. We have our own employees picking the groceries and theyre very particular about getting the right produce, the right meats, the right deli products. At the end of the day, thats been very successful because the consumer is very happy with the product they get at home.

The Walworth store offers a Click & Pick service where customers shop online for groceries and select their pickup time and payment method. To pick up their groceries, customers park in the designated Click & Pick drive through, and their order is brought out to them. Orders can now also be delivered as well and Click & Pick partnered with DoorDash.

Daniels Foods Janesville location, meanwhile, now offers its customers on-demand grocery delivery through the EatStreet food delivery app with no delivery fee and the convenience of delivery in as little as an hour.

Learn more

Daniels Foods operates full-service Sentry-affiliated supermarkets at 681 Kenosha St. in Walworth and 2501 W. Court St. in Janesville. Both locations are open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, call the Walworth store at 262-275-0458 or the Janesville store at 608-752-0501, or visit online at https://www.danielsfoods.com.

The website includes links to online versions of each stores weekly Thursday-Wednesday sales flyer.
MOUNT PLEASANT  In the closest election he has ever faced in state politics, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos staved off a challenge from the right in the form of Adam Steen. With the victory, Vos staved off a surge in efforts to decertify the 2020 presidential election.

Steen, a newcomer to District 63, focused much of his campaign on decertification and was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Vos fell out of Trumps favor as Vos has refused to support efforts to decertify the 2020 election  something Vos, election law experts and the legislatures own attorneys say is a legal impossibility, despite Trumps continued baseless claims he won in 2020.

According to unofficial results tallied Tuesday night, Vos received 5,084 votes to Steens 4,824 in the primary election. Vos is all but assured to win the general election, as the Democrats dont have a candidate running in the district.

Since first being elected to the state Assembly in 2005, no challenger to Vos had come within 16 points of ousting him. But those closest challenges came from Democrats, not from another Republican in solidly conservative District 63. Steen came within three points.

District 63 comprises most of the southern half of Racine County west of Highway 31.

After the unofficial results were tallied Tuesday night, indicating that Steen had lost, Steens supporters bent their heads in prayer during their watch party in Burlington. In a speech delivered just before 11:00 p.m., Steen did not concede. He said and his wife would go home, sleep, then pray and consider what to do next in the morning.

In the 6-minute speech, he opened by thanking Trump for his endorsement, and thanked him several times thereafter.

The voters of this district have made a decision tonight; they have told us that election integrity matters. What were looking at is a race, a David and Goliath race, Steen said.

By Trump endorsing him, as the former president has endorsed hundreds of candidates nationwide since leaving office, Steen said what I believe Donald Trump did ... was focus in on this election, and what it did was expose the real problems that were seeing...

With 260 votes, thats the difference that were dealing with out of 10,000 votes. The people have spoken. That is very, very important to all of us ... As Donald Trump said, the government needs to return to the people. And this race is going to determine the 2024 election cycle.

Steen still has not conceded. His supporters are considering a write-in campaign in the November final election.

In a statement late Wednesday, Steen said "After much prayer and reflection, because of the closeness of the reported unofficial results, fueled by massive late momentum due to President Trump's endorsement, Hannah and I will wait for the official results before deciding next steps that will benefit the 63rd District and Wisconsin. We both remain grateful to God, President Trump and our supports for making our tremendous success possible."

Vos: Gableman is an embarrassment to this state

The tone of the campaigns between the two Republicans was vitriolic, with both running mudslinging campaigns and accusing the other of spreading lies.

Michael Gableman, the former state Supreme Court justice who Vos hired to investigate allegations of fraud in the 2020 election, turned on Vos and endorsed Steen in the final days of the campaign.

In a last-minute audio advertisement for Steen, Gableman claimed that Vos never wanted a real investigation into the 2020 election in Wisconsin as Gableman has continued claiming he uncovered fraud and a stolen election, despite no substantial evidence of either.

In response, after declaring victory Tuesday night and before being doused in celebratory champagne at the Staybridge Suites hotel in Mount Pleasant, Vos said Mike Gableman is an embarrassment to this state.

That statement is a complete flip from Vos, who, under pressure from Trump, hired Gableman in the first place to investigate alleged irregularities in the 2020 presidential election.

Multiple recounts and nonpartisan reviews have affirmed Joe Biden defeated Trump by more than 20,000 votes in 2020 in Wisconsin.

Vos said he plans to meet with the Assemblys Republican caucus in the upcoming week and discuss officially ending the investigation led by Gableman. The investigation has cost Wisconsin taxpayers more than $1 million so far, with multiple legal battles still ongoing and Gableman continuing to receive a salary of $5,500 per month.

Vos said Tuesday he plans to continue looking forward to the future of Wisconsin and stop looking back to the past of the 2020 election  as he has accused Steen, Gableman and Trump of doing.

For Vos, looking forward includes election reforms that Democrats say will make it harder to vote but Republicans say are necessary to ensure fraud-free elections.

Asked if he regretted hiring Gableman, Vos paused, then said, Im going to have to think about that.

Under Vos leadership, the Republican legislature passed multiple election reform bills, among them limiting drop boxes and requiring voter ID be shown for all absentee ballot requests. Those bills were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who has vowed to not sign any bill that could make it harder to vote.

Reporting from Scott Bauer of the Associated Press and Alex Rodriguez of The Journal Times is included in this report.
Rep. Tyler August will get the chance to try to keep his seat in the November election, representing the 32nd Assembly District.

August was challenged by newcomer Bart Williams in the Republican primary.

According to unofficial initial results, with all precincts reporting as of 11 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, August had 6,201 votes to Williams 2,097 votes.

Williams campaigned on decertifying the 2020 election, among other issues. August said there were issues in the 2020 election that needed to be addressed, but said decertifying the 2020 election is not legal.

The 32nd Assembly District seat now represents the area all around Geneva Lake, including the west end that was previously part of the 31st Assembly District.

The district includes Lake Geneva as well as Williams Bay, Fontana, Linn, Walworth, Delavan, Bloomfield, Genoa City and Sharon.

The Republican winner of the primary will go on to face Democrat Adam Jaramillo, a member of the Williams Bay Village Board, in the Nov. 8 election.

While anything could happen, the county has typically voted Republican, likely meaning August would win re-election.

August thanked those who voted for him and supported him, but said he doesnt take anything for granted going into the election.

In a statement, Williams said, My career politician opponent had a lot of establishment advantages. I do not concede because Dominion Voting Systems are in use here. Dominion has a documented history of being very unreliable and subject to manipulation, as was proven in Antrim County, Michigan, and in Georgia in the Nov. 3, 2020 election and more recently in Colorado. This just shows how urgently real election integrity measures are neededsomething my opponent has repeatedly failed to deliver on. I will continue to fight for election integrity as the most basic of our many precious freedoms because without it, we will be reduced to slaves under tyrannical, totalitarian rule. Look at all the bad things that have happened just since the criminally stolen 11/3/2020 election.

He went on to say, I sincerely thank all my Assembly District 32 neighbors and others who supported me during our campaign.

August, who lives in the City of Lake Geneva and serves as the speaker pro tempore for the Assembly, is a 2001 Big Foot High School graduate. He was critical of Williams, who still owned a home in West Bend and was renting an apartment in Delavan while running for office. Williams said he was actively looking to buy a house in Walworth County, but he hadnt yet.

August continues to stress the importance of Wisconsin electing a Republican governor in November so that conservative legislation could get signed into law.

We passed over a dozen election reform bills for the problems that we found in our two separate investigations that we did. The issue is we have a liberal governor who has no interest in election integrity and he vetoed all that legislation. We need to put those bills on the desk of a Republican governor and get those signed so everyone on both sides of the aisle can have confidence in our elections, August said.
DECATUR  A Decatur mom is accused of murder after police said she drove the getaway car used by her son after he killed the man who had, barely an hour earlier, snapped a happy family Christmas portrait of the son and his girlfriend.

Kiona L. Cliff, 37, has yet to enter formal pleas on three alternate murder charges. She is due Aug. 18 in Macon County Circuit Court after being granted time to hire private defense counsel.

An arrest warrant filed by Decatur police details how the photographer and victim, Efrem O. Jones, 31, was cut down by six bullets on the afternoon of Christmas Eve in 2021. Cliffs son, Jatrevius O. Jarrett, 19, was arrested on murder charges in January of this year.

Jones ran a photography business from his apartment in the 500 block of South Church Street. The affidavit, signed by Detective Benjamin Massey, said he had just left his building when he was confronted by Jarrett and a male accomplice and then shot to death.

The arrest warrant and an earlier affidavit say Jarrett was seeking revenge after being jumped and attacked by several assailants just as he stepped outside from Joness studio following the portrait session. Cliff is described as being with him during that assault and, like her son, getting blasted with pepper spray in her eyes.

Massey quotes witnesses as saying both Jarrett and Cliff believed the physical assault after the Christmas picture-taking session had to have been set up by Jones the photographer.

One female witness is quoted as telling police: ...Jatrevius said he was going to go right back and said he was going to kill this (expletive), according to the sworn statement.

Police accuse Cliff of driving him over there in a car full of other people, including a baby, so he could carry out the killing. The same female witness is quoted in the arrest warrant as saying: ...Kiona sat in the car and Jatrevius got out and told her to open the trunk

...He got the bag out (which police say held the gun) and then started charging towards Efrem when he got out. Jarrett is then described as dashing back to the car before his mother fled the scene.

Jarrett denies the murder charges and, in a previous court appearance, said another unidentified man with him had fired the fatal shots in the confrontation with Jones. Jarrett remains held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $1.5 million.

His mother also remains jailed with her bail set at $1 million.
When you crack open a cold beer, you can be pretty confident whats in it. Its regulated. There are nutritional facts on the side of the case; you know that fentanyl will not be in there.

Alcohol is dangerous. Prescription drugs are dangerous. Having guns around is dangerous. Marijuana is dangerous too. But three of those things are pretty much completely legal in the United States. One of them isnt in most states and remains criminalized in Wisconsin, even though the majority of Wisconsinites think it should be legal  61%, according to a February poll from Marquette Law School.

Until recently, all marijuana users  some of whom are using THC to address pain, PTSD and other ailments that regulated medicines have failed to treat  have had to purchase it through the black market in the Badger State. Since December 2019 and January 2020, respectively, Wisconsin residents could go across the border to Michigan or Illinois to buy marijuana legally, even if bringing it back home is a crime.

After Prohibition became law under the 18th Amendment initiated in 1920, per capita alcohol consumption in the U.S. only fell by around 10-30%. Legality didnt have a massive effect on usage, and thus it didnt have much of an effect on safety.

Instead, keeping marijuana illegal in Wisconsin is affecting safety. In Illinois or Michigan  or any of the 19 states with legal recreational marijuana and 37 states with legal medicinal marijuana  the supply lines of the drug can be tightly controlled by health departments to make sure the product isnt being tainted with something actually deadly.

Throughout Wisconsin this summer, officials have reported a spike in local drug overdoses and law enforcement have reported recovering marijuana that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl.

People are not dying from marijuana alone. But they could die from marijuana laced with fentanyl.

Your 21-year-old nephew could be trying to have a relaxing night in with friends and end up on a morgue slab. Your 83-year-old great-aunt battling debilitating multiple sclerosis could die sooner than she should just because she wants the pain to stop, but theres nothing doctors can do for her besides prescribing highly addictive opioids. A 58-year-old combat veteran with intense anxiety every day seeking relief cant get it quickly without severe side effects because she lives in Wisconsin and doesnt want to leave her home state for a place where she can use the drug she believes can work.

If marijuana is legalized, lives could and would be saved and a lot fewer people would end up behind bars for what are minor offenses compared to violent crimes.

Pulled over with a small amount of weed in your car? As long as you arent actively high, the cop wont care in states where weed is legal. That could lead to fewer dangerous police chases too.

Like with alcohol, youths should still be prevented from using marijuana until they reach adulthood.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Early exposure to cannabinoids in adolescent rodents decreases the reactivity of brain dopamine reward centers later in adulthood. To the extent that these findings generalize to humans, this could help explain the increased vulnerability for addiction to other substances of misuse later in life that most epidemiological studies have reported for people who begin marijuana use early in life.

The minimum age to purchase weed should be the same as alcohol, and there should be restrictions on advertising similar to how there are limits on advertising booze and cigarettes.

In addition to making marijuana safer, it can also be a revenue generator for the state to pay for things like more school funding or cracking down on more serious drugs.

When other states were just starting to sell legal marijuana it made sense for Wisconsin to wait and see what happened. Its been a few years now and the sky is not falling.

People are using marijuana. Wisconsin might as well regulate it to make it safer and get the revenue from it.
Geneva [Switzerland], August 10 (ANI/PRNewswire): SELUTION SLR, MedAlliance's novel sirolimus-eluting balloon, has received conditional FDA Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval to initiate its pivotal clinical trial for the treatment of occlusive disease of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

This comes only a few months after the company received IDE approval for SELUTION SLR in the treatment of below-the-knee (BTK) indications (May 2022).

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Enrollment will begin in the SELUTION SLR IDE SFA study later this year. It will be conducted at over 20 centres in the US and an additional 20 centres around the world. This study will enrol 300 patients to demonstrate superiority over balloon angioplasty (POBA). The Principal Investigator of this study is Dr George Adams, Director, Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Research; Rex Hospital Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.

"We are very excited that US patients suffering from PAD will have the opportunity to receive this novel sirolimus drug-coated balloon technology. This is yet another advancement in the field of treating vascular disease and we are confident that this study will enrol quickly," Dr Adams commented.

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"This is a significant milestone for MedAlliance: we are the first non-paclitaxel drug-coated balloon to receive IDE approval, and now the first to have two applications approved. This is the culmination of a multi-year R&D program to provide the comprehensive non-clinical data required to satisfy the very high standards expected by the US FDA," added Jeffrey B. Jump, MedAlliance Chairman and CEO. "We are very pleased with the rapid level of sales growth we are experiencing in Europe, Asia and South America and very much look forward to entering the US market."

SELUTION SLR was awarded CE Mark Approval for the treatment of peripheral artery disease in February 2020 and for the treatment of coronary artery disease in May 2020. The US FDA has awarded SELUTION SLR with four breakthrough designations: for the treatment of atherosclerotic lesions in native coronary arteries; coronary in-stent restenosis; peripheral below-the-knee and AV-Fistula indications.

In August 2021, the first of over 3,000 patients was enrolled in a ground-breaking coronary randomized controlled study comparing SELUTION SLR with any limus drug-eluting stent [DES]. This is the largest DEB study ever initiated and has the potential to change medical practice.

MedAlliance's DEB technology involves unique MicroReservoirs made from biodegradable polymer intermixed with the anti-restenotic drug sirolimus. These MicroReservoirs provide controlled and sustained release of the drug for up to 90 days1. Extended release of sirolimus from stents has been proven highly efficacious in both coronary and peripheral vasculatures. MedAlliance's proprietary CAT (Cell Adherent Technology) enables the MicroReservoirs to be coated onto balloons and adhere to the vessel lumen when delivered via an angioplasty balloon.

SELUTION SLR is available in Europe and all other countries where the CE Mark is recognized.

Media Contact:

Richard Kenyon rkenyon@medalliance.com +44 7831 569940

MedAlliance is a privately-owned medical technology company. It is headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, with offices in Germany, Singapore, UK and USA. MedAlliance specializes in the development of ground-breaking technology and commercialization of advanced drug device combination products for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease. For further information visit: www.medalliance.com

1. Drug concentration evident in MicroReservoirs and tissue - Data on file at M.A. Med Alliance SA

This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Budgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 10 (ANI): The security forces on Wednesday trapped terrorists of proscribed terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF)/Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said that terrorist Lateef Rather, who was involved in several civilian killings including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat is also trapped.

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"03 terrorists of terror outfit LeT(TRF) including terrorist Lateef Rather trapped in the ongoing encounter. Terrorist Lateef is involved in several #civilian #killings including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet quoting Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir.

Chadoora Tehsil Office employee Rahul Bhat was shot dead by terrorists on May 12 in his office while Kashmiri TV actor Amreen Bhat was killed by unidentified terrorists in Budgam's Chadoora area on May 26.

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The encounter broke out in Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday between terrorists and security forces, said police.

"Encounter has started at Waterhail area of Budgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.

Further details are awaited.

Earlier on Sunday, a 'hybrid' terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been arrested by the Indian Army's 34 RR unit in the Budgam area.

The accused arrested has been identified as Arshid Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Sangam Budgam.

The arrests were made by a joint team of Srinagar Police and 2RR at Lawaypura.

The officials also seized incriminating materials which include 5 pistols, 5 magazines, 50 rounds. Two hand grenades were also recovered from the terrorist. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Aug 10 (PTI) A day after the Maharashtra cabinet expansion, the Shiv Sena claimed administering ministerial oath to rebels MLAs, whose disqualification pleas are pending before the Supreme Court, amounted to murder of democracy and the Constitution.

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By finally taking the ministerial oath, the rebels have taken a dip in the Ganga river. But will they be able to wash the sin of betrayal?" an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' asked on Wednesday.

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The expression on Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's face while administering the oath to ministers was as if he was doing a divine work, it quipped.

The Marathi daily also slammed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for bowing before Delhi seven times by going to the national capital before the cabinet expansion.

The CM had made seven visits to New Delhi in the last one month, and with every visit there was talk of the ministry expansion.

Shinde on Tuesday expanded his two-member ministry 41 days after taking oath as the CM by inducting 18 ministers, nine each from his rebel Shiv Sena group and the BJP.

When the plea of disqualification is pending before the Supreme Court, administering oath to the rebel MLAs amounts to murder of democracy and the Constitution, the editorial said.

The sword of disqualification hangs over Shinde and 39 rebels, it said.

but will those who betrayed (Uddhav Thackeray) and switched sides ever be satisfied? The blot of treachery will never be washed off, the Marathi publication said.

It asked why the cabinet expansion, delayed for so long, was done when the judgement day for the rebel MLAs is scheduled on August 12, a reference to pleas seeking their disqualification being heard by the Supreme Court.

Why were the rebel MLAs administered oath as ministers? it sought to know.

This means they don't have any fear of the judiciary. This shows their confidence that everything will happen according to their will, it said.

The editorial also slammed the BJP for the induction of Sanjay Rathod as minister.

Last year, the BJP had launched an offensive against Rathod, who was then a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led state government, after his name was linked to a woman's suicide.

Rathod was then forced to resign as minister.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the signing of a pact with Australia that would allow private, quasi-government or government agencies to enter into contracts to produce films together.

The Audio Visual Co-Production Treaty between India and Australia will boost ties and lead to exchange of art and culture, generation of employment among artistic, technical as well as non-technical personnel engaged in audio-visual co-production including production and post-production work, and showcase India as a soft power, officials said.

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So far, India has signed 15 audio-visual co-production treaties with foreign countries.

Australia has emerged as a preferred destination for shooting Indian films, while India is fast emerging as a major content hub for filmmakers looking for new projects.

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"India has abundance of exotic locations, talent pool, relatively cheaper cost of production and post-production, making it a favoured destination of foreign filmmakers," the officials said.

As per the co-production treaty, the respective contributions of the producers of the two countries may vary from 20 per cent to 80 per cent of the final cost of the co-production work, they said.

The utilisation of India's locales increases its prospects as a preferred film shooting destination and will help generate inflow of foreign exchange into the country, they said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Centre has urged the states to actively encourage the people to put up the national flag atop their houses on Independence Day under 'Har Ghar Tiranga' as a mark of gratitude to national heroes.

In his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had noted that under the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' programme to mark the 75th anniversary of India's Independence, a special campaign 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is being organised between August 13 and 15.

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He had urged people to hoist or display the national flag at their homes during the campaign.

The Union Home Ministry conveyed to the states that the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign has been launched to encourage the people to hoist the national flag in their homes. It said the move is aimed to instill a feeling of patriotism in the hearts of people and reminisce the contribution of those who tirelessly worked for nation-building.

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"It is envisaged that all citizens should be encouraged to hoist the 'Tiranga' in their homes during the period from August 13 to 15. In light of the above, the endeavour should be to actively encourage the citizens to put up the national flag at the rooftops of their houses on Independence Day to mark gratitude to our freedom fighters and national heroes under the theme 'Har Ghar Tiranga'," the ministry said in a letter to the states and Union Territories.

It said on the lines of the Republic Day ceremony 2022, food and cultural events should be planned in state capitals and UTs on the occasion of Independence Day under the 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme.

A state and a UT should invite participation from five other states and UTs for their Independence Day ceremony. These guest states may send their contingent for food and cultural events etc to promote engagement among people of different states and UTs and enhance mutual understanding and bonding, the ministry said.

Efforts should be made by the states and the UTs for propagating the patriotic and national integration messages and songs through speeches of the dignitaries, social media platforms etc for 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat', it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Outgoing Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on his last day in office on Wednesday said he is leaving satisfied with his work and urged the members of the house to make judicious use of rules and instruments to raise various issues.

In a meeting with the secretary general and other senior officials of the Secretariat this morning, Naidu said, "During the last five years I have done my best as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha and I am leaving this office satisfied."

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Sources said he referred to the reversal during the last three years of the declining trend of productivity of Rajya Sabha since 1995 and various initiatives taken to enable effective functioning of the House and the Secretariat.

Naidu complimented the senior officials of the Secretariat for their commitment and hard work and assistance extended to him during the last five years. He urged them to identify deficiencies, if any in the system and to strive to remove the same.

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Later, in a meeting with some members of Rajya Sabha, recourse to various rules by the MPs to raise issues was discussed at length.

Naidu voiced concern over invoking Rule 267 seeking suspension of all other rules for taking up certain issues of importance as felt by some sections of the House.

"The Rule 267 should be resorted to in the rarest of the rare cases that justifies suspension of other rules of the House. It should not be taken lightly. Different Members giving notices under this Rule on different issues on the same day is another issue impacting the perceived priorities for the day," a source quoting him said.

Naidu is learnt to have told them that he acted tough on some occasions as warranted by the rules of the House and it was in the larger interest of the functioning of the House.

Despite the limitations imposed on the Chair in the matter of allocation of time to different parties and MPs, Naidu told the members that he did his best to give more time to members of small parties represented in the House.

Referring to the importance of the department related parliamentary standing committees and their bipartisan working and near unanimous presentation of reports, the chairman urged members to make best use of the meetings of the committees through better attendance and longer duration of meetings, the sources add.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI): Five minors stabbed a 21-year-old man to death in the Mayur Vihar area of the national capital, said police on Tuesday.

The deceased has been identified as Tushar.

Also Read | Bihar: Nitish Kumar Making False Allegations Against BJP, Says Sushil Modi.

According to Delhi Police, the incident took place in Mayur Vihar on August 8 after an argument. Three of the accused have been apprehended by police officials.

Mayur Vihar Police Station received a call about the reported stabbing at 16 Block Trilokpuri. Upon reaching the spot, it was found that the injured had already been shifted to LBS Hospital.

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However, at LBS Hospital, it was revealed that the victim was declared brought dead.

"The dead body of the deceased was preserved in the mortuary. The place of occurrence was got inspected by Crime and exhibits were lifted from the spot," said police.

A case under Section 302 and 34 Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered and an investigation was taken up.

During the investigation, on the basis of examination of eye witnesses and analysis of CCTV footages, five persons, who all are minors have been identified and three of them have been apprehended.

"Initial examination has revealed that both the victims and assailants were known amongst them. Yesterday they had an altercation over some issue and during the altercation, they stabbed the victim," it added.

Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], August 10 (ANI): An eight-year-old boy who fell into an open drain in Gurugram's Gadoli Khurd while playing outside his house on August 7, is still missing.

After receiving information about the incident, police and a fire brigade team reached the spot and launched a search operation. An operation to trace him is still underway.

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National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) divers are also searching for the boy but he hasn't been found yet.

"We have searched 15-16 km of the area, but are still unable to find him. It is suspected that because of the heavy water flow in the drain, he has been swept away," said NDRF officials. Many swimmers are also searching for the boy, but could not find him till now.

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"The search operation started around 48 hours ago, but we've not found him, we're trying our best," said Gaurav Patel, NDRF Officer.

The boy, Dishant was playing outside his house on Sunday at around 4 in the evening when he slipped and fell into the drain that flows in front of his house. People tried to save him but failed.

Following the incident, the villagers demonstrated against the administration and blocked the Gurugram-Pataudi road on Monday. Villagers blamed the administration for the incident because they claimed that the drain is uncovered for the last 14 years.

They said that we have complained to the administration several times, but always there was negligence by the district administration and civic body officials.

The drain is almost 25 km long that flows through the village and further merges with Nazafgarh drain. Due to being uncovered for so long, it has been very dirty and so the search teams are facing difficulties in the operation.

It has been reported that the day, Dishant fell into the drain, there was heavy rain.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Vishram Kumar Meena, reached the spot. The villagers demanded to him that efforts to trace Dishant be sped up and the drain be covered to prevent any further incident.

However, the ADC could only assure them about tracing the boy. The search operation is still underway. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) The Income Tax Department has seized "undeclared assets" worth more than Rs 9 crore after it recently raided a Madhya Pradesh-based business group engaged in mining and manufacture of liquor, the CBDT said on Wednesday.

The raids were launched on July 14 on the premises of the group located in the state and some in Mumbai.

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The CBDT statement said analysis of seized data of sand mining business shows that the group has been "indulging in tax evasion by not recording sales in the regular books of account".

"The comparison of actual sales as per digital evidence vis-a-vis accounted sales of contemporary months clearly exhibits regular large-scale suppression of sales exceeding Rs 70 crore," it said.

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The Central Board of Direct Taxes, which frames policy for the I-T department, did not name the group searched, but added that the "key person" of the group occupies a political position.

The department also detected "non-payment of royalty on unaccounted sales".

"A sum of more than Rs 10 crore has been found to be paid in cash by the group to other business associates, which is outside the regular books of account," it alleged.

In the case of the sugar manufacturing business, issues pertaining to stock difference have been detected, it said.

"Some benamidars (in whose name a benami property is standing) have been made partners in a firm doing the sand mining business and were also found to be declaring profits in their income tax returns.

"However, the money was actually being transferred by them to the beneficial owner of the group," the statement said.

During the search, one such benamidar, in his statement, admitted to being merely a salaried employee, having neither any knowledge of the affairs of the business nor having received any profits from such business, it said.

"So far, the search action has led to seizure of undeclared assets exceeding Rs 9 crore," it said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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New Delhi, August 10: On the occasion of World Lion Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed those working on protecting the majestic lions.

"On #WorldLionDay, I applaud all those who are working on protecting the majestic lions. India will always be a vibrant home for the grand Asiatic Lion," he said in a tweet. International Tiger Day 2022: PM Narendra Modi Lauds Conservationists Working To Protect Tigers.

World Lion Day is observed globally on August 10. The day aims to spread awareness about lions and stress the urgent need to strive toward their conservation.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 10 (ANI): A large number of students took part in a painting competition held under the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign organized by Hamdaniya Mission High School Pampore in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

The competition was held on Tuesday by the Zonal physical education office Pulwama in collaboration with the school.

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'Har Ghar Tiranga' is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India's independence. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

Various activities are being conducted by different departments and schools across Kashmir Valley and the painting competition was part of this initiative.

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While speaking to ANI, Physical education Officer Pampore, Mehraj Andrabi Zonal said, "Under the directions of district administration Pulwama, we have organized painting competition at Hamdaniya Mission High School Pampore and we are happy that students were thrilled about this event and the theme of this painting competition was Dandi March and Jallianwala Bagh."

The students lauded this initiative by the school and other departments. They made sketches of the National Flag, Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters.

"This is the first event after COVID in which we are participating. I hope this type of programme will be held every year because we learn a lot through these activities," said a student, Syed Imran.

The Principal of the school, Nisar Ahmad said, "This completion aims to tell the students the importance of the National Flag and these types of activities are then chain through which the students connect with their nation. This will surely motivate them."

The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mohatsav is a big hit in Jammu and Kashmir with a large number of people joining the celebrations to mark the 75 years of India's Independence.

In Pulwama, the campaign has gained momentum as students, besides taking active part in essay, painting and singing competitions, are also participating in Tiranga rallies in all educational institutions in the district.

PM Modi had earlier called upon all citizens to turn the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign into a mass movement by hoisting or displaying the national flag at their homes and using the 'Tiranga' as a display picture on their social media accounts between August 2 and August 15 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India's Independence."

"Under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, from the 13th to the 15th of August, a special movement - 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is being organized. Let us further this movement by hoisting the National Flag at our homes," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday while addressing the monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'.

The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme envisages inspiring Indians everywhere to hoist the national flag at their home. The aim of the programme is to make the relationship with the national flag a more personal one rather than just keeping it formal or institutional. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Bihar is no stranger to being at the centre of a tectonic shift in national politics fuelled by turbulent regional forces.

On Tuesday, a day filled with high drama, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar severed ties with ally BJP and embraced the Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance, bringing the spotlight on Bihar and its complex matrix of politics.

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From the landmark Bihar movement led by students in 1970s that emanated from Patna to stopping of Lal Krishna Advani's Ayodhya rath yatra by then chief minister Lalu Yadav in Samastipur, these events have set off a chain of reactions that resulted in major ruptures in the realm of nation politics, throwing ruling parties out of seats of power or leading to rise of unexpected and at times unstable alliances.

The Bihar movement, which eventually came to be known as the JP movement as veteran socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan spearheaded it, had a ripple effect from Patna to Delhi and the echoes of his fiery speeches at Gandhi Maidan in the Bihar capital had reverberations in Ramlila Maidan in the national capital.

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Narayan's Bihar movement during the turbulent 70s eventually led to the Emergency from 1975-77. He exhorted college and university students in the state to throw themselves into what he had envisaged as a massive churn of Indian politics against corruption.

Under the firebrand JP, the agitation in Bihar took the shape of a Sampoorna Kranti or total revolution and the initial demand for resignation of the then Ghafoor government in the state ultimately turned into a larger demand for dismissal of Indira Gandhi government.

After the Emergency was over and general elections were held, Congress was ousted and a Janata Party-led government came into power with Morarji Desai as the prime minister.

The JP movement has had such personal and emotional impact on many that Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav, Sushil Kumar Modi and Sharad Yadav, all of whom were engrossed in students politics back then, often describe themselves as "product of JP movement".

Both Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar, who perhaps bonded during the student movement, have had 'friend-turned-foe-turned-friend' moments in their careers, which also has impacted both regional and in turn national politics.

RJD and JD(U), both descendants of the Janata Dal party, play a crucial role when it comes to stitching power alliances to form a government.

And as Kumar returns to the Mahagathbandhan, from which he had walked out of in 2017 post the 2015 elections, many have also begun to speculate if the move will have ramifications on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Many student leaders in Patna, PTI spoke to, concurred that "this type of political crisis being seen currently is not new to Bihar" and "this instability" has impacted both regional and national politics.

Aman Lal, student activist from Patna University and a member of All India Student Federation which will mark its 86th foundation day on August 12, said, "leaving aside the tenure of Sri Krishna Singh in the initial days (till 1961) in Bihar after Independence, the chief ministers who succeeded him, could not complete their terms. Only Lalu Prasad in 90s could complete his term, and then Nitish Kumar is the longest-serving CM of Bihar since 2005."

Experts feel that big political leaders from Bihar have had a national aura largely, and that is also perhaps a factor due to which "what happens in Bihar, impacts India". Besides, Jayaprakash Narayan, K B Sahay, Karpoori Thakur, Daroga Prasad Rai, B P Mandal, all of these were state leaders but also national leaders.

Mandal Commission set up in 1979, and chaired by B P Mandal, who briefly served as chief minister of Bihar in late 1960s, had a massive impact throughout India, and protests were held, and many even attempted self-immolation.

But, perhaps the event that led to stopping of the rath yatra by Advani in 1990 is one of key moments in political history of both Bihar and India at large, given the significance and sensitivity of the Ram Temple issue.

The BJP patriarch had started the yatra from Somnath in Gujarat and was to culminate at Ayodhya. His swanky vehicle entered Bihar through areas which now fall in Jharkhand, amid chants of 'Mandir wahin banayege'.

Sensing it might trigger disturbance in communal harmony, then chief minister Lalu Yadav ordered IAS officer R K Singh to arrest Advani.

BJP was then propping up the V P Singh government and arresting Advani could have led to its fall and set off a chain of violence.

Singh halted the rath yatra in Samastipur in north Bihar and arrested Advani, prompting the BJP to withdraw support to V P Singh's National Front government and resulting in its collapse.

The event paved the way for the emergence of the saffron party as a formidable force on the country's political firmament. Ironically, he later became a joint secretary in the union home ministry when Advani headed it.

Kumar on Wednesday took oath as Bihar chief minister for the record eighth time at a no-frills ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Patna. Soon after being sworn in, he asserted that the NDA government at the Centre led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to "worry" about its prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

He also rubbished the BJP's claim that the new government will not last its full term and said his former ally "will be back where they were after the 2015 assembly polls".

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor in Patna told TV channels that Kumar was not comfortable in the alliance with the BJP and that is why he moved from one political formation to the other.

How the current state of affairs in Bihar will play out in the long run, only time will tell.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bengaluru, Aug 10 (PTI) Accusing the opposition Congress of unnecessarily raking up the issue of Karnataka Chief Minister replacement, to cover up the rift within, senior BJP leader and Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Wednesday challenged the grand old party to name its CM candidate for 2023 assembly polls.

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Ruling out Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's replacement, he said BJP's top leadership including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have already said that the election will be under Bommai's leadership and the party will abide by it.

Also Read | Har Ghar Tiranga: BJP MP Varun Gandhi Says 'Shameful To Extract Price of Tiranga by Snatching the Poor's Food'.

The Minister was reacting to Congress' series of tweets on Tuesday speculating about Chief Minister Bommai being replaced and even calling him a "Puppet CM".

"To cover up their infighting that has come on to the streets, Congress is spreading false information that Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be replaced. Congress has no base in the country, what rights do they have to speak about BJP's leadership and CM change," Ashoka said.

Speaking to reporters, he said, Congress have not been able to appoint their party's national president, and are today talking about Chief Minister change in the BJP government.

"Did Amit Shah or the Prime Minister tell you (about CM change)? Things have rotten within your own party because of your infighting, clear it first.....There will be neither CM change nor will BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel be replaced, we will go to polls under their leadership," he added.

There has been some buzz on and off within the state BJP in recent times, regarding some kind of an overhaul including at the top level, especially after the recent visit of Amit Shah to the State.

Ashoka, further challenging the Congress party said, "Our Chief Minister is Basavaraj Bommai, if you have guts, courage and morality will you be able to tell who is your Chief Minister candidate? Question yourself about it, you don't have courage to announce, but you want to speak about others."

He also said that Congress fears getting split on making such an announcement into- Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar Congress.

Ashoka noted that the internal rift been Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara and M B Patil, has come out in open after the Siddaramaiah's 75th birthday event at Davangere. To counter Siddaramaiah's event, Shivakumar is organising a march in the name of 75th independence day, to prove his strength, he said.

"It has also come to our notice that the native Congress leaders have held a meeting expressing their displeasure about Siddaramaiah's birthday event ," he said, adding that instead of going to flood affected areas Congress leaders are involved in such things.

Former BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda's recent statement indicating some changes that the high command will take a call on replacing the Chief Minister and other matters in the interest of the party and to win the elections in future, had added to the speculations.

However, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel rejected it by stating that Bommai would complete his tenure.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kochi (Kerala) [India], August 10 (ANI): Kerala High Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition filed by Solar Scam accused Saritha S Nair seeking a copy of the statement given by Swapna Suresh, prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case to a lower court under Section 164 of CrPC.

The statement was given by Swapna Suresh regarding the gold smuggling case earlier before the sessions court.

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Saritha S Nair had earlier approached the sessions court for a copy of Swapna's statement, but the court rejected it. After that, she approached the High Court.

The single bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath rejected the plea on Wednesday.

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The High Court dismissed the petition based on the report submitted by the Amicus Curiae who was earlier appointed by the High Court to examine whether a statement under 164 of CrPC is a public document or not.

Amicus Curie submitted that the 164 statement becomes a public document only after cognizance is taken by the court and the copy of that statement could not be handed over to anyone, including the accused, before the filing of the chargesheet.

Saritha S Nair contended that certain allegations may have been brought on record against her in the statement given by Swapna Suresh. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal, Aug 10 (PTI) Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday recorded 178 new cases of coronavirus, taking the overall count to 10,51,737, while one more patient succumbed to the infection in the state, a health department official said.

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The COVID-19 death toll increased by one to reach 10,763, he added.

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At least 231 patients recovered from the respiratory disease during the day, taking their cumulative count to 10,39,731 and leaving the state with 1,243 active cases, the official said.

The state's coronavirus positivity rate, or cases detected per 100 tests, stood at 2.6 per cent.

As many as 6,612 swab samples were examined during the day, taking the number of tests conducted in the state so far to 2,97,90,585, the official said.

As per a government release, 12,65,52,449 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 1,00,659 on Wednesday.

Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,51,737, new cases 178, death toll 10,763, recoveries 10,39,731, active cases 1,243, total tests 2,97,90,585.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI)The Supreme Court Wednesday said offences under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985, are a "menace" to society and no leniency should be shown to those convicted under it.

The apex court, which upheld the conviction of a woman for the offences under the Act, reduced the sentence to 12 years rigorous imprisonment while considering her old age and that she was a poor and illiterate lady, "completely unaware" of the consequences.

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A bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and C T Ravikumar delivered its verdict on an appeal filed by the woman who had challenged the February 2018 judgement of the Chhattisgarh High Court which had upheld her conviction and 15 years jail term for the offence under the NDPS Act.

"We are of the considered view that the offences under the NDPS Act are very serious in nature and against the society at large and no discretion is to be exercised in favour of such accused who are indulged in such offences under the Act," the bench said.

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"It is a menace to the society, no leniency should be shown to the accused persons who are found guilty under the NDPS Act," the top court said.

The bench noted that the appellant was a senior citizen at the time of the incident in January 2011 when Cannabis was recovered from her residence.

It observed that the minimum sentence prescribed under the Act for the offence, for which the appellant has been convicted, is 10 years which may extend to 20 years along with a fine which may extend up to Rs two lakh.

The bench noted that the appellant was an illiterate senior citizen on the date of the incident having no criminal record and she was from a rural background, completely unknown to the law and unaware of what was happening surrounding her.

It said all these incidental facts have not been considered by the trial court while awarding the sentence to the appellant.

"In the given facts and circumstances, while upholding the conviction of the appellant, and considering the old age of the accused-appellant, who is a poor illiterate lady completely unaware of the consequences, we consider it appropriate that the sentence of the accused-appellant be reduced to 12 years rigorous imprisonment.," the bench said.

According to the prosecution, the woman, along with others, was charged with the offence under the provision of the NDPS Act for allegedly having joint possession of a commercial quantity of cannabis.

The trial court had framed charges against five persons, including the woman, in the case, and later, held her guilty. The other four accused were acquitted of all charges.

The trial court had sentenced her to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh.

The apex court noted that the order of acquittal against the four co-accused was never a matter of challenge at the instance of the prosecution and the woman had preferred an appeal before the high court.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], August 10 (ANI): The High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) headed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved 10 industrial projects worth Rs 74,620.18 crore that would generate employment opportunities for over 24,047 people in the state.

Green Hydrogen and Green Ammonia, Metal & Metal Downstream, and Infrastructure are among the ten industrial projects approved by the HLCA committee of the Government of Odisha.

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The committee approved the proposal of ReNew EFuels Private Limited (REFPL) to set up a Green Hydrogen (Capacity: 20 KTPA) & Green Ammonia Plant (Capacity: 100 KTPA) in Paradip, Jagatsinghpur district, against an investment of Rs 2,000 crore which will generate employment opportunities for 2,000 persons. The establishment of these plants will have a pragmatic environmental impact since they will create ammonia and hydrogen using renewable resources, which will cater to the demand for steel and fertiliser sector in Odisha.

The committee gave approval for setting up of 60,000 MT Industrial Structure and 6,000 MT Steel plant equipment facilities to Tata Steel Limited (Growth Shop) against an investment of Rs 1,000 crore with employment opportunities for over 2,451 people. This would give a significant boost to the Government of Odisha's "Vision 2030: Development of Downstream Units in Metal Sector," which offers short, medium, and long-term interventions to accelerate the business ecosystem for metal sector downstream units.

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The HLCA gave a nod to Adani Enterprises Limited to set up a 4.0 MTPA Alumina Refinery and 175 MW CPP Plant in Kashipur, Rayagada district, against an investment of Rs 41,653 crore, which will generate employment opportunities for over 7,750 people.

In addition, the panel gave a nod to set up a 2.5 MTPA steel plant and 370 MW CPP in Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur district, by Orissa Alloy Steel Pvt Ltd against an investment of Rs 8,000 crore creating employment opportunities for 5,000 people.

Sompuri Infrastructures Private Limited got the approval to set up a 24 MTPA Pellet plant & 6 MTPA of Filter Cake at Dhamra, in Bhadrak district, at an investment of Rs 7811 crore, which will generate employment opportunities for over 684 people, a 30 MTPA Beneficiation plant at Deojhar, in Keonjhar district and a 30 MTPA Slurry Pipeline connecting its proposed 30 MTPA Beneficiation plant at Deojhar, in Keonjhar district to the proposed Pellet plant at Dhamra, in Bhadrak district against investments of Rs 4592.18 crore and Rs 3674 crore which will create employment opportunities for 250 and 600 persons respectively.

Approval was also given to Aarti Steels Limited for the expansion of the steel plant by setting up 3,20,833 TPA SMS, 3,00,000 TPA Special Steel Bars and Rods (auto-grade), 75,000 TPA Ferro Alloys, 2 MTPA Beneficiation, 1.2 MTPA pellet plant and 65 MW CPP at Athgarh, in Cuttack district at an investment of Rs 3000 crore, which will generate employment for over 3587 people. This project will facilitate the availability of raw materials to Auto component manufacturers.

The committee approved the proposal of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited for setting up a 6 MTPA Beneficiation Plant at Village Dalki and 12 MTPA Slurry Pipeline from the proposed Beneficiation plant at Dalki to Dabuna Slurry pumping station unit in Dalki, Keonjhar district against an investment of Rs 1490 crore generating employment opportunities for 600 persons.

Rungta Metals Private Limited (RMPL) got the approval for setting up of 0.5 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant creating employment potential for 1125 persons against an investment of Rs 1400 crore in Rairangpur in the district of Mayurbhanj.

One of the government's key focus areas has been on employment-intensive sectors such as metal and metal downstream; the state is considered India's mineral hub, with reserves of 92 per cent chromite, 92 per cent nickel, 52 per cent bauxite, 44 per cent manganese, 33 per cent iron ore, and 24 per cent coal. Odisha produces over half of the country's iron ore, making it an attractive site for establishing steel plants. These sectors provide a wide range of prospects in a single package. Given the vast trained workforce in this sector, such industries contribute significantly to the state's employment. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI): A Public Internet Litigation (PIL) has been moved in the Delhi High Court seeking direction to disqualify Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Satyendar Jain for being the Member of the Legislative Assembly and apparently the Minister in Government of NCT of Delhi.

The plea stated that Satyendar Jain, a cabinet minister in the Delhi Government, also a member of Legislative Assembly from Shakur Basti Assembly constituency himself declared that he lost his memory before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the same has also been informed to the trial court by the Additional Solicitor General.

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The plea submitted that the Delhi Government is clearly violating the Provisions of the Constitution of India under Article 191 (1)(b) which clearly states 'a Person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of State if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court'.

The petitioner Ashish Kumar Srivastava through Advocate Rudra Vikram Singh sought direction to Delhi Government to declare all the decisions taken by him null and void after he suffered from Covid and consequently lost his memory.

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The petitioner also sought direction to the Centre to constitute a Medical Board to analyse the mental condition of Satyendar Jain.

The petition further stated that Satyender Jain is handling many important portfolios in the Government of NCT of Delhi and every day he has to take a lot of decisions and sign many documents/ orders, but as he himself declared his memory loss hence anyone can take the advantage of his illness and ultimately the voters of Delhi will suffer.

The matter will be heard by the Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice of Delhi on August 16, 2022.

Delhi's Cabinet Minister Satyendar Jain last week withdrew his interim bail plea filed on medical grounds. Jain was on May 30 arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. The trial noted that Satender Jain is getting discharged from the hospital and wished to withdraw the application for interim bail.

The ED had filed a prosecution complaint (charge sheet) naming Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain and others in a money laundering case. The ED prosecution complaint has named Satyendar Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, Vaibhav Jain, Ankush Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain and Sunil Jain, including four private firms as accused. The above-mentioned accused in the prosecution complaint are accused of violations under the sections of the money laundering Act.

The ED on June 6 had claimed to have seized 2.85 crores of cash and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg from Satyendrer Jain's aides during its day-long raid conducted at various places across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The agency had also seized various incriminating documents and digital records during these raids.

The ED had initiated a money-laundering investigation on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 24 August 2017 under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Satyendar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain.

The CBI had also filed a chargesheet on 3 December 2018 against Satyendar Jain and others. The chargesheet mentioned that Satyendar Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi, during the period from 14 February 14 to 31 May 2017, had acquired assets which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The CBI has accused Satyendar Jain and others of the commission of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday described Home Minister Amit Shah as "nepathya ke nayak" (backstage hero) who has worked without any desire for credit and stuck to his duties despite bittersweet experiences in life.

Releasing the book "Shabdansh", a collection of Shah's speeches on a variety of issues, Singh said Shah combines the rare mix of politics and spirituality and added that the range of his study will surprise many people.

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"It will not be an exaggeration to say Shah is a backstage hero. He has no desire for credit. He remains in background and does so many big works for the government and the party and still gets time to study so much," the senior BJP leader said about his colleague.

Shah's life has been a laboratory and has had its share of bittersweet memories, Singh said, noting that the Gujarat leader had to spend several months in jail, a reference to the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case in which he was later acquitted by the court of all charges.

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Investigation agencies harassed him so much, he said, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, was also targeted, a reference to the Gujarat riots case in which the SIT gave him the clean chit later. Shah had faith that truth will come out which it did, he added.

"Shah went wherever probe agencies summoned him and never raised a hue and cry or launched an agitation," Singh said, in an apparent swipe at the Congress for its protests over the questioning of its leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi by the Enforcement Directorate in the National Herald case. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power when the two BJP leaders were investigated by federal agencies.

Singh said, "Every challenge made him (Shah) stronger. Without being concerned about acclaim or ignominy, he walked the path of his duties. Rarely do we get an amalgamation of politics and spirituality but it is in him."

Politics is meant to put the society on the right path but the term has lost its meaning and people look at it and politicians in a negative light, he said, adding that Shah is working to restore its true goal.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 10 (ANI): Shrikant Tyagi, who was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly abusing and assaulting a woman in Noida, on Tuesday said that woman was like her sister and that a conspiracy was hatched to "politically decimate" him.

Surajpur court sent Tyagi to 14-day judicial custody in connection with assaulting & abusing a woman at Grand Omaxe society in Noida

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However, speaking to media persons while being taken from the court, Tyagi said the woman whom he assaulted was like his sister and claimed that the incident was political adding that it was done to politically decimate him.

"I express my regret on the incident. She is like my sister, the incident is political and was done to politically decimate me," said Tyagi while being taken from the court.

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Earlier, the Noida Police said that Tyagi was using an MLA sticker on his car which was allegedly given by Uttar Pradesh MLC Swami Prasad Maurya who revealed this during police interrogation as the matter is being probed.

Noida Police Commissioner Alok Singh shared the information on Tuesday evening.

Tyagi initially wanted to go to Lucknow. Till now, it is not been disclosed that he was in touch with a politician, the police said.

During a press conference, Commissioner of Police Alok Singh said Tyagi has been arrested near Meerut. His three associates also have been arrested. These accused persons have been arrested in connection with a case related to the Omaxe Society of Sector 93 of Noida.

Noida Police have lodged a case of outraging the modesty of a woman against Tyagi and others.

CP Alok Singh said that the video of the said incident of August 5, 2022, came to light through the social media monitoring team. However, the matter was not reported to the police by the victim. The victim was contacted by the police. Then a case was lodged and a search for the accused was started.

Initially, eight teams were constituted to apprehend Shrikant Tyagi. But he could not be traced as he was changing his locations and mobile devices.

A massive team effort was launched. The number of teams was increased to 12. He was continuously being chased, the police said.

Tyagi was constantly changing his locations and mobile devices. He went to Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar and Rishikesh.

After a massive search operation, Tyagi was arrested along with the people harbouring him during these 3-4 days.

While talking about the reason behind the dispute, the Commissioner of Police said that the dispute was related to the use of the common area in society, which started three years back in 2019.

"There is a zero-tolerance policy against crime against women and children," the top cop said.

"Tyagi had first tried to go to the airport but by the time the video was viral. Then he went to Meerut. He spent the night changing his device," he added.

"Then he went to Haridwar and Rishikesh. After spending some time there, he again entered UP. Then again he changed his device," he stated.

CP Alok Singh also said that Shrikant Tyagi was using a VIP number series 001 of Lucknow transport authority. These numbers were acquired through bidding of not less than Rs 1 lakh each.

Police have recovered five vehicles used by Shrikant Tyagi including two Fortuners, two Safaris and one Honda Civic.

The police said that his driver got a painted state emblem on the number plate of his car to show influence.

The CP said," We are invoking the Gangster Act against Tyagi."

Earlier on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh police arrested Srikant Tyagi, who was recently seen in a viral video assaulting and abusing a woman at Grand Omaxe in Noida's Sector 93 and was on the run ever since.

He was arrested by police near Meerut.

Tyagi, who claims to be a member of Bharatiya Janata Party's Kishan Morcha, has been accused of allegedly abusing and pushing a woman who is a resident of Grand Omaxe society in Noida's Sector 93B, during an argument.

Noida Police had said that IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) have been added to the FIR registered on Friday. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Switzerland's Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer on Wednesday held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, focusing on bilateral economic ties and India's upcoming presidency of G20 grouping.

Maurer is currently on a visit to India.

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"He took the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral finance topics and to position Switzerland as a reliable partner in the context of India's G20 presidency next year," a Swiss government statement said.

It said during his discussions with Sitharaman, Maurer highlighted Switzerland's expertise in sustainable finance and the services it can offer in this area.

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In addition, Maurer promoted open markets and emphasised that stronger trade has a positive impact on a country's prosperity in the long term, the statement said.

It said he also advocated rapidly completing the negotiations on an EFTA free trade agreement with India.

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a regional trade organisation and free trade area consisting of four European states -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

"The meeting with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar centred around identifying potential ways for the two countries to cooperate more closely in the future, and learning more about the Indian financial market, especially in the area of sustainable or green infrastructure and fintech," the Swiss statement said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 10 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Tuesday arrested a terrorist with Islamic State (ISIS) links from Mubarakpur in Azamgarh, who was planning an IED blast on Independence Day.

According to an official release, the man has been identified as Sabauddin Azmi alias Dilawar Khan alias Bairam Khan alias Azar, a member of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). He is a resident of the Amilo area of Azamgarh district.

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Subauddin used to lure people to join it and also propagated about ISIS on social media platforms.

A case has been registered against Sabauddin in Lucknow under sections 121A, 122, 123 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act.

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"We received information that a person in Mubarakpur of Azamgarh district, who is influenced by the ISIS ideology through his associates, is spreading the jihadi ideology through WhatsApp and other social media applications. He is also encouraging others to join the terrorist organization," the statement reads.

The accused was brought to the ATS headquarters in Lucknow for interrogation, where, after questioning and scanning his mobile data, it came to the fore that he joined the Telegram channel "Al-Saqr Media" created by ISIS to brainwash Muslim youth for terror and violence.

During the interrogation, it was also revealed that Sabauddin connected on Facebook with a person named Bilal in 2018. Bilal used to talk to Sabauddin about jihad and the action being taken on the Mujahids in Kashmir. Bilal gave the number of Musa alias Khattab Kashmiri who is a member of ISIS, following which he came in touch with the terrorist group.

"In relation to the plan to avenge the atrocities on the Muslims in Kashmir, Musa gave the number of ISIS's Abu Bakr al-Shami, who is currently in Syria. After coming in contact with Abu Bakr al-Shami through social media, Sabauddin learned about the retaliation of the action on Mujahideen, the formation of an Islamic organization in India like ISIS and also how to make IEDs," it added.

According to the ATS, Shami told Sabauddin about the method and necessary material to make IEDs and he was contacted by ISIS recruiter Abu Umar, who is a resident of Mauritania.

ATS further said that Sabauddin received training of hand grenades, bombs and IEDs by Abu Umar through social media apps.

"Following this, the Mujahideen started working on the plan to establish Islamic State in India and to implement Islamic rule and Sharia law in India," said the ATS.

Sabauddin was working on a plan to target the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members for which the accused created a fake e-mail ID and Facebook account using RSS name.

The ATS also recovered illegal weapons and cartridges along with materials used in making bombs from his possession.

Searches were also conducted at his residence. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Ranchi, Aug 10 (PTI) A 26-year-old woman was on Wednesday found hanging in her house in Ranchi district after writing a suicide note on the walls of her room using lipstick, police said.

The deceased was identified as Chanda Devi of Dakra village, around 40 km from the state capital Ranchi. She was a mother of two children. In her suicide note, she held her husband identified as Dilip Chouhan and in-laws "responsible for her extreme step", police said.

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Chanda had a love marriage with Dilip in 2019. Since marriage, Chanda was allegedly being harassed repeatedly by her husband and in-laws for dowry, her family members alleged.

Khalari deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Animesh Naithani told PTI that they received information that a woman committed suicide in her house on Wednesday morning.

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As per the information, police reached the spot and found that she had written the story of her harassment on the walls of the house by using lipstick or kind of red dye. She wrote the names of her husband and in-laws on the walls. She wrote that she was fed up, the officer said.

In her suicide note, she alleged that she was beaten up and abused. She also said in the note that her husband should not be allowed to touch her body after her death, police said.

Nathani said an FIR is being lodged by the family members of Chanda.

Ranchi Superintendent of Police (Rural) Naushad Alam said that the accused in the case have been detained.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday reported a 31 per cent decline in its consolidated net profit at Rs 211 crore for the first quarter ended June on account of sales dip in domestic and US markets.

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The company had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 306 crore in the April-June quarter of the previous fiscal.

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Revenue from operations declined to Rs 2,777 crore in the June quarter as compared with Rs 2,965 crore in the year-ago period.

"We delivered a strong double digit growth in our base business during the quarter excluding the impact of COVID-related products," Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Chairman and Managing Director Glenn Saldanha said in a regulatory filing.

Europe and ROW markets performed well despite the challenging macro-economic environment, and the India base business also recorded strong growth, he added.

"Our goal is to continue growing our base business through new product launches in our key focus areas of respiratory, dermatology and oncology," Saldanha noted.

Shares of the Mumbai-based drug firm settled 1.02 per cent up at Rs 375.7 apiece on BSE.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing, Aug 10 (PTI) China on Wednesday announced that it has "successfully completed" its week-long and unprecedented military drills that have essentially encircled Taiwan in retaliation to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island and warned that Beijing will organise regular combat patrols as a new normal to enforce its one-China policy.

Initially, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) announced the war games in the busy Taiwan Strait from August 4 to 7, the day after Pelosi who is the highest-ranking US leader to have visited Taiwan in 25 years, left Taipei after high-level meetings. It later kept extending them, keeping the breakaway island on tenterhooks.

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The Chinese military exercises involved hundreds of warplanes, dozens of naval ships, including an aircraft carrier group with nuclear submarine in tow, amid assertions by the official media here that such war games in the busy Taiwan Strait will be a new normal.

The PLA's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement on Wednesday that the joint military operations around the Taiwan island have been completed successfully.

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But the PLA will organise regular combat patrols in the Taiwan region and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity after successfully completing its recent training exercises around Taiwan, Senior Colonel Shi Yi said.

The state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Shi as saying that the Eastern Command will keep a close eye on the changing situation in the Taiwan Straits, carry out training and war preparation, regularly organise combat-ready police patrols across the Taiwan Straits, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The drills involved forces drawn from all wings of the PLA in the Taiwan Strait virtually laying siege to the breakaway island which Beijing claims as part of its mainland, sparking global concerns of possible military assault by China to annex Taiwan.

It now appears that the PLA will organise the drills periodically which the official media reports here say is an apparent change in the status quo of maintaining peace and tranquility in the Taiwan Strait which separates the mainland from Taiwan.

Despite its claims over Taiwan in the past, China had not militarised the Taiwan Strait, resulting in its flourishing with massive industrialisation and emerging as a major business hub, so much so, that Taiwan's trade with China is far bigger than its trade with the US.

Many large Taiwanese companies in high-tech industries such as the world's biggest chipmaker - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, operate factories in mainland China.

Twenty-five per cent of Taiwan's USD 448 billion exports went to China in 2021, and the breakaway island was the dominant trade partner holding USD 134 billion trade balance with China, demonstrating its high-end development.

After Pelosi's visit, China has imposed only token trade sanctions against Taiwan, banning the imports of certain fruits and fish products from Taiwan and export of sand but conspicuously avoided items like semiconductor chips for which Beijing heavily relied on Taipei.

In response to Pelosi's visit, China suspended a range of defence and military exchanges with the US besides imposing sanctions on Pelosi as part of a slew of countermeasures to protest against her trip to Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday that infuriated Beijing, which saw it as a violation of the one-China policy.

The countermeasures were necessary warning against the provocations made by the US and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, the Chinese Ministry of National Defence said on Monday.

China's foreign ministry has reiterated that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the country's territory.

Pelosi's visit has worsened the US-China ties which deteriorated in recent years. After she left, China took retaliatory actions and announcing sanctions against her and her immediate family members and cancelled talks with Washington on defence, climate change and a range of other issues.

For its part beleaguered Taiwan went on on offensive, holding its military drills while its Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu alleged that Beijing bracing for the invasion of the island.

Although China seems to be targeting Taiwan now, its activities around the world have shown that its motivation is far beyond Taiwan including South Asia, he said.

China is now determined to link the East and South China Seas through the Taiwan Strait so that this entire area becomes its internal waters, Wu said.

Meanwhile, China on Wednesday released a White Paper on Taiwan in which for reunification, it proposed the 'One country, Two systems' formula which was applied earlier to Hong Kong without much success.

To realise peaceful reunification, we must acknowledge that the mainland and Taiwan have their own distinct social systems and ideologies. The One Country, Two Systems principle is the most inclusive solution to this problem it said.

The lengthy document, presented in five sections, repeats Beijing's firm determination to reunite with the island.

"We will tolerate no foreign interference in Taiwan, we will thwart any attempt to divide our country, and we will combine as a mighty force for national reunification and rejuvenation. The historic goal of reuniting our motherland must be realised and will be realised," it said.

It also underlined that China will "not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan, it said.

We will only be forced to take drastic measures to respond to the provocation of separatist elements or external forces should they ever cross our red lines, it added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Beijing [China], August 10 (ANI): Concerned over Uyghur rights violations and the presence of Chinese-owned surveillance systems at the Department of Defence and police forces that has undermined national security, the British government has replaced security equipment provided by Chinese-owned tech companies at key government offices, media reports said.

Other rights groups are campaigning for Hikvision and Dahua to be banned in the UK due to the companies' involvement in the Chinese state's repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. Hikvision and Dahua cameras are used in concentration camps throughout the Uyghur region, Asian Lite reported.

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This comes as the British MPs alleged that the Chinese government is persecuting minorities and intruding on governmental departments and research centres worldwide. They also accused China of violating the territorial integrity of neighbouring countries.

Among the Chinese companies are Hikvision and Dahua. Offices belonging to the Home Office, Department of Health & Social Care, Department of Work and Pensions, and Department of Justice have replaced the Chinese-made security equipment.

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While speaking to the media portal, Asian Lite Sampson Sampson asserted that an investigation into the security equipment is necessary.

Welcoming the move, Prof. Fraser Sampson, Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material and Surveillance Camera Commissioner, said that other government departments would review their existing systems and will consider the clauses suggested by him in procuring surveillance and security equipment.

Sampson is an expert in criminal justice and national chair of the Association of Police and Crime Chief Executives. He said that the market is flooded with privately owned and unregulated recording devices like dash cams, mobile phones, and video doorbells etc.

"We don't need these many CCTV cameras in our public places. We simply need a system to compile the content and edit to make it useful for the security purpose," he said.

In his 2021 report, Prof. Sampson urged the government to consider the supplier's human rights records in the procurement process.

Xinjiang's Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang have been subjected to severe human rights abuses, torture and forced labor, as well as the eradication of their linguistic, cultural and religious traditions in what the United States and several Western parliaments have called genocide and crimes against humanity.

Other rights groups are campaigning for Hikvision and Dahua to be banned in the UK due to the companies' involvement in the Chinese state's repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China. Hikvision and Dahua cameras are used in concentration camps throughout the Uyghur region. Both companies have contracts worth at least $1.2 billion for 11 separate, large-scale surveillance projects across the region.

Chinese authorities have detained up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in internment camps since 2017, according to numerous investigative reports by researchers, think tanks and foreign media.

However, China has always declined the charges levelled by the international community and it claimed the camps were vocational training centers meant to deter religious extremism and terrorism, reported Radio Free Asia.

The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim minority Turkic ethnic group, whose origins can be traced to Central and East Asia. Their native region is considered to be the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China.

Xinjiang is technically an autonomous region within China. The Uyghurs are Muslim, they don't speak Mandarin as their native language, and their ethnicity and culture is different from that of mainland China. Over the past few decades, as economic prosperity has come to Xinjiang, it has brought with it a large number of the majority of Han Chinese, who have cornered the better jobs, and left the Uyghurs feeling their livelihoods and identity are under threat.

This led to sporadic violence, in 2009 culminating in riots that killed 200 people, mostly Han Chinese, in the region's capital Urumqi.

According to reports, since 2016, over a million Uyghur Muslims have been detained in Xinjiang re-education camps by the Chinese Government. The main purpose of these re-education camps was to ensure adherence to the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party.

Chinese authorities have been accused of imposing forced labour, systematic forced birth control and torture, and separating children from incarcerated parents.

Several countries, including the US, Canada and the Netherlands, have accused China of committing genocide - defined by international convention as the "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group".

China has been forcibly mass sterilising Uyghur women to suppress the population, separating children from their families, and attempting to break the cultural traditions of the group.

China denies all allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, claiming its system of "re-education" camps is there to combat separatism and Islamist militancy in the region. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Dubai, Aug 10 (AP) The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday overturned a three-year prison sentence for an American citizen who had represented slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, one of his lawyers said, instead punishing him with a fine of USD 1.36 million and deportation.

The U.S. citizen, Virginia-based lawyer Asim Ghafoor, had been convicted in absentia in the UAE on murky charges that included money laundering and tax evasion.

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Authorities have not released specifics about the case, saying only that it involved illegal money transfers through the UAE banking system.

Last month, Ghafoor's supporters say Emirati security agents arrested him upon landing at Dubai International Airport and sent him to a detention facility in Abu Dhabi, where he was sentenced to three years in prison followed by deportation.

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Ghafoor's lawyer spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to disrupt the proceedings as his client was still in the UAE. He said Ghafoor was ordered to pay the USD 1.36 million fine before he could leave the country.

There was no immediate acknowledgement from Emirati officials. The U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not respond to request for comment.

Ghafoor had been transiting through Dubai en route to Istanbul for a family wedding. His supporters say he had no idea the UAE had convicted him at some point in the past.

Emirati authorities claim they had investigated Ghafoor at the request of the United States. The State Department, however, said Washington had not ordered Ghafoor's detention. The Justice Department has declined to comment.

Ghafoor's lawyer rejected the charges of tax evasion and illegal money transfers. His supporters insist he had no opportunity to defend himself against the charges and describe his trial and conviction as unjust.

Ghafoor serves on the board of Washington-based human rights watchdog Democracy for the Arab World Now, DAWN, which is highly critical of human rights abuses in the autocratic UAE.

Ghafoor's connection to Khashoggi, the Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist who was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in Turkey in 2018, has raised the profile of the case. However, the State Department said there was no indication Ghafoor's detention was related to his association with Khashoggi.

Many foreigners have landed in prison in the UAE after falling foul of the federation's strict legal system based on Islamic law. Even the smallest debts can lead to years in prison. The federation of seven sheikhdoms also outlaws political parties. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI): Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday demanding the creation of an institutional mechanism to deal with domestic abuse abroad following the tragic suicide of an Indian-origin woman Mandeep Kaur in New York.

Kaur, who was allegedly tortured by her husband, committed suicide on August 3 after she posted an online video in which she spoke about years of traumatic domestic abuse by her husband Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu.

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The distressing video went viral and sparked a massive outrage across India and abroad.

In a letter to minister Jaishankar, Chaturvedi requested the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to look into the issue of protection of Indian women facing domestic violence abroad, and take necessary actions in that regard.

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"In my letter to MEA and WCD highlighted the recent suicide of Mandeep Kaur in NYC due to continued domestic violence and abuse by the husband. From 2017-19, Indian Missions have received over 3955 complaints from married women of Indian citizenship of domestic violence and harassment," she tweeted.

The Shiv Sena MP said there is an urgent need for the MEA and Ministry of Women and Child Development to develop a sound oversight mechanism to not only provide counselling but also protection to the women in distress abroad.

"Between the years 2017 to 2019, Indian Missions and Posts have received more than 3955 complaints from married women of Indian citizenship of domestic violence, harassment, and other matrimonial disputes. However, these figures are only representative of the cases directly reported to the Indian government," she wrote.

Priyanka Chaturvedi stressed that it is of utmost importance that sufficient awareness is created to promote the consular helpline and put an institutional mechanisms in place.

"Further recommendations of Standing Committee on the Registration of Marriage of Non-Resident Indian Bill, 2019 may be accepted and the Bill be passed by the Hon'ble Parliament at the earliest for statutory safeguards for the same," she said.

Earlier, the Indian consulate in New York City expressed grief over her demise.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Mandeep Kaur in Queens, New York under most tragic circumstances. We are in touch with the US authorities at the Federal and local levels as well as the community. We stand ready to render all assistance," it had tweeted.

Before ending her life, Kaur released a heart-rending video, narrating the excruciatingly painful details of the torture she faced at the hands of her husband following which a massive storm took over social media. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi will pay an official visit to Norway, Iceland and Malta next week, according to the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday.

As per the statement, the minister will visit Norway on August 16-18, Iceland on August 19-20 and Malta on August 21-23.

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During her visit to Oslo, Meenakashi Lekhi will meet Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt. She will also participate in a panel discussion on India-Norway Green Energy Cooperation together with Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Climate and Environment in Arendal.

While in Reykjavik, she will have discussions with Thordis Kolbrun Gylfadottir, Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as Lilja Alfredsdottir, Minister of Culture & Business Affairs.

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Moreover, she will also pay a courtesy call on Birgir Armannsson, Speaker of the Parliament, as per MEA.

In Valletta, Meenakashi Lekhi will pay a courtesy call on George Vella, President of Malta and will have discussions with Ian Borg, Minister for Foreign & European Affairs and Trade. She will also meet the Minister of Tourism as well as the Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government.

In addition to bilateral meetings, Lekhi will interact with a cross-section of members of the Indian diaspora and participate in cultural/yoga events as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations in the three countries.

The visit will further the momentum of the high-level exchanges, and provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the three countries bilaterally and in the multilateral fora. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Tel Aviv [Israel], August 10 (ANI): A Palestinian teen was killed and two others were wounded on Tuesday during the clash with the Israel Defence Forces in the West Bank city of Hebron.

The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry identified the victim as 17-year-old Moemen Yassin Jaber, who was taken to hospital after taking a bullet to the chest. The victim succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter, the Times of Israel reported.

Also Read | Shocking! Florida Man Filming Sunrise Over Atlantic Ocean Gets Killed After Sand Dune Collapses on Top of Him.

Among the other two injured victims, one of them is identified as a 15-year-old teen and another unidentified individual was wounded during the clashes. The report did not specify whether the casualties were armed.

The Hebron clashes came hours after three armed Palestinians were killed during an Israeli counterterrorism raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. During that operation, a wanted Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades operative was killed.

Also Read | Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates Funding Massive Treasure Hunt in Greenland.

According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, three Palestinians were killed and 40 were wounded and at least four were in critical condition. The ministry identified the dead as Nabulsi, Islam Subuh, and Hassin Jamal Taha.

Thousands of Palestinians attended the funeral held later in the day for the gunmen, according to the Times of Israel.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades is a coalition of armed groups associated with the Palestinian Authority's ruling Fatah party. The terror group has carried out joint attacks with Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank.

The operation came within 48 hours after Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) reached a ceasefire after three days of armed conflict in and around the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, the US on Monday welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated his country's commitment to Israel's security.

On Sunday, the PIJ active in the Gaza Strip announced that it had reached a cease-fire agreement with Israel. Israel also confirmed the Egyptian-brokered deal that ends the Israeli airstrikes and the barrage of Palestinian rockets.

US President Joe Biden also welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza-based militants after three days of hostilities, the worst incident between the two since the 11 days of war last year.

Biden said the US has worked with officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and others throughout the region to encourage a swift resolution to the conflict.

Crossings into Gaza have been closed and power shortages are affecting essential facilities and supplies. Hundreds of buildings and homes have been destroyed or damaged, leaving thousands of Palestinians homeless, said the spokesperson. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kyiv [Ukraine], August 10 (ANI): Amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the second commercial ship is set to load grain and has been docked at Chornomorsk port in Ukraine, said Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov in a statement today.

"OSPREY S is ready to export 30,000 tons of corn. Lets keep working!," the Infrastructure Minister wrote on Twitter, Al Jazeera reported.

Also Read | Russian Authorities Raid Journalist Marina Ovsyannikova's Home for Discrediting Army.

Since the start of Russia's invasion, OSPREY S is the second bulk carrier that has arrived at the port of Chornomorsk to export 30,000 thousand tons of corn, Ukraine's infrastructure minister has said.

The first shipment with grain left the Ukrainian port of Odessa on August 1.

Also Read | China Again Threatens To Take Taiwan by Force if Necessary.

Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements in Istanbul in July with Turkey and the United Nations to resume grain shipments to international markets via the Black Sea.

The agreement has ended a wartime standoff that had threatened food security in several countries and cleared the way for exporting tons of Ukrainian grains.

The deal will enable Ukraine to export 22 million tons of grain and other agricultural products that have been stuck in Black Sea ports due to the war.

Notably, the deal will create provisions for the safe passage of ships. Moreover, a control centre will be established in Istanbul, staffed by UN, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian officials, to run and coordinate the process and the ships would undergo inspections to ensure they are not carrying weapons.

Ukraine is regarded as the "breadbasket of Europe" supplying 10 per cent of the world's wheat, 12-17 per cent of the world's maize and half of the world's sunflower oil. Twenty-five million tonnes of corn and wheat - the entire annual consumption of all the least developed countries.

The West accused that Russia's actions have driven up prices in countries like the UK and the ongoing blockade has placed 47 million people around the world on the brink of humanitarian disaster.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war, security experts say one of Moscow's earliest strategic aims quickly became apparent as its armoured columns advanced along the coast in an effort to seize Ukraine's coastline. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Islamabad [Pakistan], August 10 (ANI): Islamist militant outfit Haqqani network which is long known to be a terrorist proxy of Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI, was involved in Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's movements and his stay in Kabul is a clear indication of Pakistani complicity, a think tank report said.

Notably, key 9/11 plotter, Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan by a US drone on the morning of 31 July.

Also Read | US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Provide Citizenship to Afghan Refugees.

The prospect of Pakistani involvement in Zawahiri's targeting, meanwhile, has emerged as a contentious issue, even if neither the US nor Pakistan has so far publicly acknowledged such a role.

It is worthwhile to point out that Zawahiri was reported to be living in Pakistan till the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, probably under the protection of the Pakistani intelligence agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), reported European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS).

Also Read | Langya Henipavirus Hits China, 35 People Infected: Report.

The think tank while quoting a report by the New York Times said that for many years it was believed that Zawahiri was hiding in the border area of Pakistan and it remains unclear why he returned to Afghanistan.

Following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, it is believed that Zawahiri's family returned to the safe house in Kabul.

Reports quoting top intelligence sources have also claimed that Zawahiri was being sheltered in Karachi and that sometime after the Taliban takeover he was moved to Kabul through the Chaman border by the Haqqani network.

Relations between the ISI and the Haqqanis have been so symbiotic that the then chief of the ISI, Faiz Hameed, had openly visited Kabul on multiple occasions after the Taliban takeover to weigh in for key ministries for the Haqqani network in the government that the Taliban was then engaged in negotiating and forming.

Over the role of Pakistan in Zawahiri's killing, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Michael Rubin said that he is convinced that Pakistan had a role in Zawahiri's killing.

He underlined that "Pakistan's economy is in danger, and the country is in danger of collapse. It was in this context that, Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to Washington to seek U.S. help to expedite the dispersal of a USD 1.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund."

Pakistan needs the cash now to avoid default as its foreign reserves stand only at $9 billion, and its currency crashes. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Amaravati, August 10: A man in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district stole bus of state-owned APSRTC to reach home. The stolen bus belonging to Palakonda depot of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) was found in Kandisa village on Tuesday after several hours of search by the police along with Corporation officials.

The students' special bus was stolen from Vangara mandal headquarters on Monday night after the driver had parked the vehicle. According to police, the bus had come to the village from Rajam and after dropping students, driver, Peela Bujji, left it in front of Vangara police station.

The next morning the driver was shocked to find the bus missing. He alerted the depot officials, who searched for the vehicle in the area but found no trace of it. Jammu and Kashmir: 30 Kg IED Recovered in Pulwama Ahead of 75th Independence Day, Police Say 'Major Tragedy Averted' (Watch Video).

The APSRTC officials then lodged a complaint with the Vangara police. The police officials with the help of APSRTC staff began the search in surrounding villages. After frantic search for several hours, they received the information that the bus was found in Meesala Dolapeta in Regidi Amadalavalasa mandal (block).

The police officials from Vangara reached there and after collecting fingerprints and completing the formalities brought the bus to Vangara. A few suspects were rounded up by the police. During questioning, one Chowdary Suresh confessed that he had stolen the bus.

He told the police that after reaching Vangara by another bus from Rajam, he did not find any transport to reach his village. He found a bus parked there and took it away to reach home. He committed the theft in an inebriated condition. A police officer said the man has been booked for theft.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2022 11:21 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that his government will provide free travel to women above 60 years of age in the government buses. In a tweet, the chief minister made this announcement on Wednesday.
Russian authorities raided the home of journalist Marina Ovsyannikova for allegedly discrediting the country's army.
Rakhi or Raksha Bandhan is the most awaited Hindu festival which is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm and pomp. It celebrates the bond of brother and sister and symbolizes the love and compassion.
#NorthKorea's ruling Workers' Party sent a formal message to the Communist Party of China denouncing US House Speaker #NancyPelosi's (@SpeakerPelosi) visit to #Taiwan last week as a "shameless provocation", Pyongyang's state media reported. pic.twitter.com/FUFyzFl84y IANS (@ians_india) August 10, 2022

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Donald Trump's controversial "Remain in Mexico" policy is now dead after a judge lifted the order following a Supreme Court decision that the Biden administration had the power to end the said policy. After the judge lifted the order, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) quickly moved to announce it was officially over.

According to Fox News, the DHS released an official statement saying that it will end "in a quick and orderly manner." The department also said that it would process migrants already enrolled in the program and allow them to continue their asylum cases on U.S. soil. They also urged asylum seekers to rely on official information from the government and not believe human smugglers, who have been giving false information to migrants through word of mouth or social media.

The "Remain in Mexico" policy was a controversial policy that forced migrants seeking asylum to wait it out in Mexico as their cases played out. However, these migrants were forced into harsh, squalid, and unsafe conditions as they waited for the U.S. to hear their cases.

Biden Administration Waited for Judge to Lift the Order To Act

With the policy now officially over, the ending of the Trump-era rule was seen as one of the latest in a series of victories for the Biden administration. However, before this was lifted, the Biden administration faced harsh criticisms from various rights groups for not immediately lifting the policy after the Supreme Court ruling in June.

Trump-appointed judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, first ruled that the Biden administration unlawfully ended the policy. This came after several Republican states, including Texas, sued Biden's Day One lifting of the controversial rule.

It took several months for Judge Kacsmaryk to lift his ruling which allowed the administration to finally lift it. According to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the Supreme Court still needed to communicate to the lower court that the Biden administration can now legally end the policy. A week later, the judge finally did.

READ NEXT: Remain in Mexico Policy: Joe Biden Gets Power To End Donald Trump-Era Rule

Thousands of People Affected by the 'Remain in Mexico' Policy

CBS News reported that U.S. border officials have now suspended those Trump-era rules that required certain migrants to wait for their asylum hearings in Mexico. However, this may have a limited impact on current U.S. border policy. This is mainly because a very small percentage of migrants have been enrolled in the asylum program.

Since the TPP was reinstated last December after Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling, 5,764 migrants have been returned to Mexico. According to the Associated Press, Nicaraguans make up the largest number, with many others seeking asylum from Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela. All these countries are currently experiencing deep political unrest.

Since Trump introduced the policy in January 2019, around 70,000 migrants were subjected to the controversial rule. He made it a centerpiece of his border enforcement policy. However, human rights groups have called the policy inhumane because the migrants were subjected to harsh conditions. The migrants were also exposed to gang violence, as well as the groups seeking to hunt them down.

READ MORE: Supreme Court Junks Donald Trump's Controversial Remain in Mexico Policy

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Biden administration says 'Remain in Mexico' policy is over - CBS 8 San Diego
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday suggested busing New Yorkers to Texas to unseat Governor Greg Abbott, who is responsible for busing illegal migrants into the Big Apple.

The NYC mayor made his comments during his news conference on Tuesday, claiming that he had already called his friends in Texas and told them about how to cast their votes, per Fox News.

Eric Adams says he is "deeply contemplating taking a busload of New Yorkers to Texas" to campaign against Greg Abbott in response to him busing 4,000 illegal migrants to his city. pic.twitter.com/0VqmQkREfM  Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 9, 2022

"I am deeply contemplating taking a busload of New Yorkers to go to Texas and do some good old fashion doorknocking, because for the good of America we have to get him out of office," Adams underscored.

Abbott's campaign spokesman responded to the comments of the New York City mayor, telling the Daily Mail on Tuesday that Adams was an addition to those who side with Beto O'Rourke, who will face the current governor of Texas in the upcoming gubernatorial elections.

"It sounds like the Mayor of New York has taken on the additional role of political director for the Beto O' Rourke campaign," Abbott's campaign speaker highlighted.

READ NEXT: Texas: Why Is Gov. Greg Abbott Sending Migrants to New York?

New York City Mayor Eric Adams Blasts Texas Gov, Greg Abbott for Busing Migrants

Two days before Adams made the suggestion of busing New Yorkers to Texas, the NYC mayor had also blasted the Texas governor after the second bus of migrants from the Lone Star State arrived in the Big Apple. On Sunday, Adams greeted the second bus with 40 migrants onboard, only 14 of whom disembarked in New York City.

In his remarks, the mayor called Abbott's move "horrific." The mayor noted that they found out that some of the illegal migrants bused to New York City that day wanted to go to other locations, but the authorities from Texas did not allow them to do so.

"They were forced on the bus with the understanding that they were going to other locations that they wanted to go to, and when they tried to explain they were not allowed to do so," Adams underscored.

.@GregAbbott_TX used innocent people as political pawns to manufacture a crisis. New Yorkers are stepping up to fix it  thats our citys values.



But we need the federal governments help  money, technical assistance and more. pic.twitter.com/cOdXrULpcC  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 7, 2022

Adams also took to Twitter on Sunday to announce that New Yorkers would step up to fix the crisis of Abbott making the illegal migrants his political pawns. However, he underscored that they need the help of the federal government, such as money and technical assistance.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Busing Migrants to New York City

Abbott began busing migrants to New York City from Texas last week. According to reports, the Lone Star State has bused about 100 people to the Big Apple over the weekend.

Abbott said in a statement on Friday that New York City is also an ideal destination for illegal immigrants, contending that they can receive an abundance of the city's service and housing that was boasted by Adams.

Abbott has also invited Eric Adams and DC mayor Muriel Bowser to Texas and see what the border crisis looks like firsthand.

On Monday, Abbott called Adams a "hypocrite" for being upset about welcoming "few dozen" migrants into New York City.

Adams fired back on Tuesday, calling Abbott irresponsible, adding that he thinks the Texas governor is not accomplishing anything except "exposing the type of individual that he is."

READ NEXT: Mexico: Underwater Drone To Be Used in Rescue Efforts for 10 Miners Trapped in Coahuila

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: 2nd bus carrying migrants arrives in New York City from Texas - From ABC News
Brazilians are now attacking monkeys, as fears are rising in the country due to Monkeypox. This comes after 10 monkeys were poisoned in less than a week in the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, in Sao Paulo state. There are also similar cases in other cities in Brazil as well.

According to the Associated Press, this is not the first time that Brazilians attacked monkeys because of an outbreak of disease. The country has had a long history of people attacking monkeys during outbreaks of yellow fever.

The attacks come as Brazilians fear that monkeys transmit the disease to humans. However, WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris spoke at a press conference in Geneva and reiterated that the transmissions being seen now were spread among humans and not monkeys. She also said that "People certainly should not attack the animals."

Brazilian Environmental Police Stepping Up to Stop These Attacks on Monkeys

According to Brazilian news outlet G1, these misguided attacks are a result of a rise in monkeypox cases in Brazil. The government has tried informing people that the transmissions mainly occur from contact between humans, and not monkeys. However, misinformation is still prevalent.

The monkeys around where the attacks took place, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, have been described as capuchins and have been living free and healthy lives. However, the attacks on them have caught the attention of Brazilian environmental police, who are now placing the monkeys under intense surveillance to stop more of these attacks from happening.

Lieutenant Fabio Leme of the Brazilian Environmental Police released a statement saying that the population must be informed that these animals are not the transmitters of monkeypox.

Unfortunately, videos taken from a nearby ecological reserve show monkeys are getting sick. that several capuchins were getting sick. Cases of stoning, poisoning, and persecution of monkeys are also rising around Brazil. Authorities are stressing that local Brazilian monkeys such as capuchins do not pose any threat to humans since they do not have the new smallpox virus known as monkeypox.

Eight monkeys have been rescued by the environmental police, though one of them has already died and seven are showing signs of possible poisoning. They were taken to a local city zoo, but four more died, with only three managing to survive. It is still unknown what substance was used in the poisoning attempt.

READ MORE: Monkeypox Cases: Track Virus Outbreak in California, Florida, New Mexico and the US Here

Eight More Monkeypox Cases Recorded in Brazil, 15 Suspected Cases Being Investigated

Brazil is now facing rising cases of monkeypox, as 15 more cases have been recorded around the country. The largest spike in cases was recorded in the state of Para with eight, according to Globo 1.

The Brazilian Department of Public Health also reported that 15 more possible cases are being investigated in other states. The state with the most possible cases is Parauapebas with six, followed by Santarem with four and Ananindeua with two.

Para was the 17th state in Brazil with a confirmed case of Monkeypox. Currently, there are no efforts in mass vaccination for the disease in the country. However, the country's health ministry has been negotiating with the Pan American Health Organization in acquiring the vaccines.

Brazil, along with Spain, were the first countries to record monkeypox-related deaths outside of Africa.

READ MORE: CDC Releases Bizarre Tips on How to Have Sex With People Infected With Monkeypox

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: First monkeypox deaths reported outside Africa - BBC News
The search for the 16-year-old teenager from California, Kiely Rodni, intensified on Tuesday after the police did not rule out the possibility of the teen being abducted.

Rodni began missing on Friday last week, after a campground party in Northern California, according to CNN.

According to KCRA, the authorities are treating Rodni's case as possible abduction because officials have not yet located the vehicle she used when she went to the party.

TIP LINE SET UP FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO 16-YEAR-OLD KIELY RODNIAnyone with any information can call (530) 581-6320 Option 7. You can remain anonymous.

Details on Kielys disappearance: https://t.co/JTkI79p4xy pic.twitter.com/DT9XH4fUEJ  Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) August 8, 2022

Placer County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Angela Musallam echoed the outlet's report.

Rodni's 2013 Hondo CRV is being located by the authorities aside from the teenager. Officials noted that her phone has been out of service since the party at the campground.

Another spokesperson told Fox News on Tuesday that the investigators were still "exploring all possibilities" in the California teen's case.

"There is no evidence that supports an abduction, but we are not ruling anything out... We won't rule anything out. This is a missing persons case, a search and rescue case," Placer County Sheriff Troy Sander said on Tuesday.

The sheriff's office confirmed that multiple agencies are now part of the missing teen's probe.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office is now coordinating with the California Highway Patrol, Truckee Police, FBI, and the Nevada Sheriff's Office.

READ NEXT: Texas vs New York City: Eric Adams Suggests Busing New Yorkers to Lone Star State to Unseat Greg Abbott

California Missing Teen Kiely Rodney

Kiely Rodni went missing o Friday night after she attended a party at the Prosser Family Campground.

Musallam said in a statement on Tuesday that there were between 200 and 200 juveniles at the party, which is located in a wooded area.

Rodni was last seen around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Reports also claimed that the teenagers were using alcohol and drugs at the party.

Rodni's friend and another recent graduate claimed that Kiely had enough drinks at the party to become drunk. She noted that she believes the California teen would have driven under the circumstance.

Smith noted that she thought Rodni would stay at the campground since it was late and everybody would stay for the night. Smith reportedly departed the venue a few minutes before the California teen went missing.

"I remember we were partying together. She was having fun. She seemed really happy - she was like normal, just on an adrenaline rush. Saying 'Hi' to everybody," Smith recalled.

Musallam urged anyone who was at the party to come forward, as they seek more information regarding Rodni's case.

California Missing Teen: Kiely Rodni's Mom Reveals Text Message With Her Daughter Before She Went Missing

The mother of the missing California teen, Kiely Rodni, revealed the last text message exchange she had with the teen before she went missing.

According to Lindsey Rodni-Nieman, her daughter texted her on late Friday notifying her that she was about to leave the party in 45 minutes, and would be coming "Straight home."

The mother said that she told Rodni to be safe and she loved her, with her daughter replying: "OK, mom, I love you too."

The mother claimed that she realized something went wrong when she woke up and her daughter was not yet home and her car was missing from their driveway.

"My head is all over the place and I'm terrified. Bad thoughts are very strong and hard to keep at bay," Rodni-Nieman said, adding that she is still hoping that they will find the missing California teen and that she will come home.

READ NEXT: Roger Goodell Gets Brutally Honest on Seeking 1-Year Suspension for Deshaun Watson: 'It Was Predatory Behavior'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Surveillance Image Released of Kiely Rodni From Night She Vanished - From KCRA News
The bribery case surrounding former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez is moving forward after former FBI agent Mark Rossini turned himself in. Rossini is involved in the bribery scandal surrounding the former governor of the U.S. territory and was also indicted along with Vazquez and several others.

Rossini turned himself into federal authorities in Puerto Rico last Tuesday. They have now charged Rossini with conspiracy, federal program bribery, and honest services wire fraud, according to the Associated Press.

During a brief court appearance, he entered a "not guilty" plea. This led to the judge authorizing the former FBI agent to be able to live on the U.S. mainland. However, the ruling also stated that he could not live in Spain where he is reportedly getting his cancer treatment. The judge did allow Mr. Rossini to travel to Spain for treatment.

His attorneys could not be reached for comment. However, federal officials have been seeking Rossini since former Governor Vazquez was arrested last week. He was staying in Spain for his cancer treatment before traveling back to Puerto Rico to turn himself in.

Who is Mark Rossini?

Rossini served as an agent for the FBI from 1991 to 2008, according to US News. However, he was caught up in a different scandal after he pleaded guilty to accessing a sensitive FBI database for personal purposes.

Most of his searches involved infamous private detective Anthony Pellicano, who was charged with illegally wiretapping celebrities and bribing a police officer. This led to Rossini resigning as part of his plea deal.

Rossini provided consulting services in the years that followed. This led him to lending his services to an Italian-Venezuelan banker Julio Herrera Velutini, the founder of Bancredito International Bank & Trust.

Herrera-Velutini is one of the people caught up in the bribery scandal, as he promised to support Vazquez's 2020 gubernatorial election campaign in exchange for her dismissing the commissioner of Puerto Rico's Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions. This allowed Herrera Velutini to then choose and place a suitable replacement friendly to his interests.

The Italian-Venezuelan banker is also facing charges of conspiracy, bribery, and fraud.

READ MORE: Former Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vazquez Arrested on Corruption Charges

Julio Herrera Velutini's Bank Being Liquidated

The Washington Post notes that he is believed to currently be in the United Kingdom. Suspicious financial transactions led to his bank getting scrutinized by authorities.

According to reports, Vazquez accepted the bribe offer and demanded the resignation of the commissioner. After Herrera Velutini had a new commissioner installed. he paid over $300,000 to political consultants in support of Vazquez's campaign.

Unfortunately for the three, Vazquez lost her reelection bid to current Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi. The banker also tried bribing Pierluisi to end an audit into his bank, but his representative who met with the bank president's intermediaries were acting under FBI orders.

Now, Herrera Velutini's Bancredito International Bank & Trust, which was one of the oldest international banks operating in Puerto Rico, is now voluntarily being liquidated.

Commissioner Natalia Zequeira said in a statement that it began as a routine examination in 2019. Now, it has reached its final chapter. She added that the process could take up to six months, but her office will work to ensure it will fulfill its obligations to all clients. The bank was also ordered to pay $250,000 in sanctions.

READ NEXT: Ricky Martin's Nephew Withdraws Sexual Abuse Case | Puerto Rican Singer Has a Message to His Accuser

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez Arrested - One Caribbean News
Ex-Twitter worker Ahmad Abouammo was found guilty of spying for Saudi Arabia, including releasing Twitter user data of those who criticized the Saudi government in exchange for large amounts of money.

The 44-year-old former Twitter worker was an engineer at the social media platform, gaining him access to confidential data about users such as email addresses, phone numbers, and IP addresses, which can reveal their location, according to a Daily Mail report.

Prosecutors then noted that he passes Twitter user data to an official connected to the Saudi royal family, giving him a luxury watch and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Abouammo was found guilty of being an illegal agent of a foreign government, money laundering, falsification of records, and one count of wire fraud. Meanwhile, he was found innocent on five other counts of wire fraud.

Prosecutors claimed that the Twitter engineer was recruited into the spying plot in 2014 by Bader Al-Asaker, also known as Bader Binasaker, who is an aide to former Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

READ NEXT: Twitter to Hand Over Internal Data to Elon Musk Over Fake Accounts, Spam

Former Twitter Worker Spying for Saudi Arabia

A 2019 Federal Bureau Investigation complaint named a Saudi citizen, Ali Alzabarah, along with Abouammo, for using their positions in Twitter to access confidential Twitter user data.

A third man was also named in the complaint. He was a Saudi citizen, Ahmed Al-Mutairi, who was alleged to have worked with the Saudi royal family as an intermediary.

User data of over 6,000 Twitter accounts were accessed, including at least 33 usernames for which Saudi law enforcement agencies had submitted emergency disclosure requests to Twitter.

The two men that were accomplices of Abouammo are still listed by the FBI as wanted, as reported by ABC News Go.

Abouammo's trial ended on Thursday with a jury of six men and five women taking 17 hours to conclude a verdict.

Prosecutors and Abouammo's lawyers allowed 11 jurors to decide the case after the 12th member of the jury had been excused for testing positive for COVID-19.

The New York Times reported that one juror told Abouammo's lawyers that she wished Twitter had "a little more responsibility for this."

A Twitter spokeswoman noted that the social media platform had cooperated with law enforcement during the trial.

The spokeswoman added that they had notified users who might have been affected.

U.S. and Saudi Arabia

In July, U.S. President Joe Biden met with leaders of Saudi Arabia in Jeddah.

The White House press release noted that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia finalized a number of international bilateral agreements in a meeting with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The results of the meeting include removing peacekeepers from Tiran Island.

The two parties also agreed to open Saudi Airspace to Civilian Aircraft Flying to and from Israel. It also included sustaining the U.N.-mediated truce in Yemen.

The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to help Saudi Arabia defend and protect its territory and people from all external attacks.

The two nations' leaders also talked about new cooperation on energy security among others.

READ MORE: Twitter Net Worth 2022: How Much Is Twitter Valued After Elon Musk Made $43 Billion Offer?

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Former Twitter employees accused of spying on accounts for Saudi Arabia - from CBS Evening News


After five days of battling intense fires, Cuban authorities reported that firefighters have now controlled the Matanzas oil fire.

It has been described as the worst fire in Cuba's history and has had some long-term effects on a country already struggling with an energy crisis.

Authorities reported that the fire had destroyed 40% of Cuba's main fuel storage facility. It has caused even more massive blackouts in the already-fuel-strapped nation.

According to Reuters, witnesses said the flames have already died down in the ravaged four-tank segment of the Matanzas super tanker depot. The plumes of thick black smoke have also diminished around the area.

Mexican and Venezuelan Firefighters Helped Combat the Blaze in Cuba With Specialized Equipment

Before the fire was contained, the blaze engulfed a fourth tank. Mexico and Venezuela helped out in containing the fire with specialized equipment.

Firefighters from the two countries brought boats, planes, and helicopters that sprayed foam on those burning tanks. While the blaze was mostly contained already, there are areas where fires are still burning.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said crews have taken control of these areas and have already taken steps to quell it. However, he admitted that this was still not an easy task.

One firefighter had been found dead, with 17 more still missing, A total of 125 were injured in the blaze, and 20 remained hospitalized. A total of 4,946 people from around the nearby Dubrocq neighborhood have also been evacuated.

READ NEXT: Cuba Oil Tank Fire Spreads; 1 Dead, 17 Missing, 125 Others Injured as Firefighters Struggle to Contain Flames

Fears That Fuel Situation Will Worsen in Cuba

Before the fire began, Cuba had already suffered a huge fuel shortage. Thanks to U.S. sanctions.

It forced frequent blackouts around the country and made Cubans use cars even less. According to CNN, Matanzas is Cuba's largest port, regularly receiving crude oil and fuel imports abroad.

It primarily stores Cuban heavy crude and diesel in its 10 super tanks, which were used to generate electricity around the island. With the fire engulfing four of the 10 tanks, concerns about Cuba's deepening energy crisis were rising.

Firefighter Rafael Perez Garriga spoke to Reuters and said he was worried that the fire would impact the ongoing power situation in Cuba.

He noted that the situation in the country was "going to be more difficult." He said the thermoelectric plants were supplied with the oil inside those tanks, and with electricity affected, it will soon affect everything.

Cuba is currently in a tense situation because of the energy crisis. It sparked historic unrest last July. The country is reportedly all but bankrupt due to heavy U.S. sanctions.

The Associated Press reported that officials have not yet provided an estimate of the total amount of damage to the facility. It caught fire last Friday night after lightning struck one of the fuel tanks.

Reports indicated that the first tank was only 50% capacity and contained nearly 883,000 cubic feet of fuel. However, the second tank was full, which might further blow Cuba's overall energy woes.

READ MORE: Cuba: Latin Grammy Winner and Dissident Artist Sentenced to Prison

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Cuba Explosion: Video Shows Explosion at Fuel Depot - From KHOU 11
Gustavo Petro was recently sworn in as the new president of Colombia, making him the first left-wing leader of the Andean country.

During the campaign, Petro was constantly joined by his wife, Veronica Alcocer. At the time, Alcocer said she was on a personal project "trying to build a name," according to CNN Espanol.

Petro and Alcocer first met in early 2000 when he traveled to Sincelejo to give a lecture at the Caribbean University Corporation.

Alcocer was studying law at the time after several attempts that she never completed. The first lady of Colombia earlier told Blu Radio that there was no exchange of words between them. She said Petro just threw a compliment and went on his way.

Alcocer was from a conservative family, which became the biggest challenge for the couple. Alcocer's father, Jorge Emilio Alcocer, was a great admirer of the conservative politician, Alvaro Gomez.

On the other hand, Gustavo Petro was a former member of the M-19 guerilla group.

READ NEXT: Colombia: Gustavo Petro, New President, Calls for New Strategy to Combat Drug Trafficking; Says War on Drugs a 'Failure'

Gustavo Petro and Veronica Alcocer Marriage

Veronica Alcocer was born in Sincelejo and studied law at the Caribbean University Corporation in her hometown.

Gustavo Petro and Veronica Alcocer were married in 2003 and then had a son named Nicholas. It was followed by two daughters, Sofia and Antonella, as World Stock Market reported.

Petro has several children from his previous marriages. The couple has been together for almost 20 years.

Alcocer has dedicated herself to taking care of their family. Colombia's first lady said she did not marry Petro "because of politics, but because I fell in love."

El Pais reported that Alcocer had a traditional Catholic education and was in a school of Franciscan nuns. Alcocer once said she wanted to be a nun when she was 15.

She added that Petro's life has been a life of service and was the best example of a "Christian person."

Veronica Alcocer said she loves it as it was connected to what she lived as a young woman.

Veronica Alcocer as Colombia's First Lady

Veronica Alcocer noted that as a first lady, she wants to be with people and "not encapsulated at parties."

She said she wanted to be where she was needed, whether on the street or in the neighborhood.

Alcocer noted that she wanted to be for everyone, from the one who has the least to the one who has the most, as everyone suffers violence.

Alcocer said she admires former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama "for her closeness and simplicity." She also cited the wife of former President Cesar Gaviria, Ana Millena Munoz, for her connectedness to the area of culture.

She also mentioned Princess Diana and Mother Teresa of Calcutta as two figures she admires.

Veronica Alcocer recently stole the spotlight during her husband's inauguration after she broke protocol and started dancing in her white dress.

She was then joined by other people on the dance floor and started to dance.

READ MORE: Colombia's Most-Wanted Drug Lord Dairo Antonio Usuga Arrested; Pres. Ivan Duque Likened It to Capture of Pablo Escobar

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Veronica Alcocer Esposa De Petro: Colombia Sufre Hambre, Violencia, Desigualdad - From CNN en Espanol




Texas lawmakers are urging Governor Greg Abbott to fund the state's juvenile prison system amid its ongoing systemic crisis, in which more than 600 incarcerated children were detained in "cruel" living conditions.

The Texas Juvenile Justice Department is put under the microscope as federal investigations are now taking place because of allegations of battery and mistreatment.

Aside from this, the problems of recruitment and understaffing continue to plague the juvenile prison system in the state, with statistics indicating that it is nearing total collapse.

Texas Juvenile Prison System Nearing Collapse

According to The Texas Tribune, the Texas juvenile prison system needs extra funding to sustain its operations and overall maintenance.

House Democrats are urging Texas Governor Gregg Abbott to call for a special legislative meeting to address the need of the vulnerable institution.

In a letter sent on Monday, Texas State Representative James Talarico said waiting for the next session to take place before acting on the emergency would guarantee a death sentence for the incarcerated children.

Currently, the Texas juvenile prison system has been "dangerously understaffed," and the turnover rate for detention officers has already hit more than 70% since last year.

New hires are reportedly leaving within six months. The letter includes discussing the additional funding directed towards higher compensation for staff and addresses the root cause of staff turnover.

Texas Juvenile Justice Interim Director Shonda Carter said in a recent committee meeting that a further increase in compensation would be a necessary first step to address the department's chronic problems.

READ NEXT: Texas Dad Beats, Kills Newborn Son Because He Was Jealous of the Attention He Received

Texas Juvenile Prison System Cruel Living Conditions

Aside from the understaffed facilities and cases of battery and mistreatment, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department is also under investigation for its long history of sexual abuse.

According to James Talarico, he had received accounts from concerned parents in which their children were detained in one of the five lockups in the state.

Detained children were already using water bottles as makeshift toilets to urinate, while others were locked in windowless cells for 23 hours a day. There were also reports that most of the children locked up in these cells were placed on suicide watch.

According to El Paso Times, the state youth prison is not accepting any more children from already crowded county facilities in fear of not protecting the over 600 prisoners they could not even protect in the first place.

Abbott's spokesperson said last week that the governor will support the Texas Justice Juvenile department's plea to increase salaries next session.

However, the next session will only begin in January 2023, and budgetary decisions will only take effect in September 2023. It is well within Greg Abbott's power to call for a special legislative session to address the pressing emergency.

READ MORE: Texas vs New York City: Eric Adams Suggests Busing New Yorkers to Lone Star State to Unseat Greg Abbott

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ivan Korrs

WATCH: Lawmakers Call for Immediate Action for Collapsing Texas Juvenile Prison System - From KXAN
A Pennsylvania mom of six was found dead in a passenger seat of a minivan, riddled with stab wounds.

Ashley Lockhart, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene. According to People, the Philadelphia Police Department said Lockhart was stabbed multiple times in the arms and neck.

Police found Lockhart in the passenger seat of the Honda Odyssey minivan left on the 5300 block of Chestnut Street on Saturday morning.

Pennsylvania Mom's Fiance Arrested, Denied Bail

Police have arrested Ashley Lockhart's fiance, Raymond Thompson. He was the lead suspect in her death, and the victim previously filed a restraining order against him.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office Chief of Homicide Joanne Pescatore said the Pennsylvania mom did the right thing in filing that restraining order, but it seemed not enough.

Despite the restraining order, Pescatore noted that the suspect still managed to get Lockhart into his car. Authorities are investigating how that happened.

Reports said Thompson went to a convenience store, returned to the vehicle, and stabbed the Pennsylvania mom in broad daylight.

According to Law & Crime, police said the motive might have been jealousy. Thompson told investigators that he stabbed Lockhart because he believed she had cheated on him.

Thompson reportedly took a train to the Kensington neighborhood and used heroin before he called the cops to turn himself in.

Court documents revealed that the suspect was denied bail and was appointed an attorney named Douglas Lee Dolfman.

Authorities charged Thompson with murder and possessing instruments of crime. His prior convictions include drug offenses.

He also previously pleaded guilty to resisting arrest during an arrest in a drug case. He reportedly jumped onto railroad tracks to escape the police.

READ NEXT: Florida Refuses to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines for Kids Under 5, but State Doctors Can

Cousin and Pastor Say Pennsylvania Mom Loved by All

Ashley Lockhart's brutal stabbing at the hands of her former fiance has left her family in mourning.

The Pennsylvania mom leaves behind six young daughters, the youngest only five months old. She called them her "six charms."

The news devastated her other family members as well. Her first cousin, Senior Pastor William Brownlee, spoke to Fox 29 and said he received the devastating news as he got offstage during an anti-violence event in Germantown.

The pastor said he was shocked, adding that Lockhart was "loved by everyone." Brownlee further noted that the Pennsylvania mom loved Thompson unconditionally despite having reported protection from abuse against him.

He said Lockhart fought for Thompson, and she was the one who loved the children. The pastor admitted they were all mad at Thompson, but he still asked for forgiveness for the suspect.

Brownlee noted that he needs the family to fight the "curse of division" as Thompson is still the father of the six girls. He said he will pray instead of retaliation and wanted to have a reconciliation.

The pastor is asking the city of Philadelphia to develop a plan to help those suffering from abuse and help those with protection orders like Lockhart.

A GoFundMe Page has been launched to help support the Pennsylvania mom's six daughters. It was not clear if the suspect was the father of any of the children.

READ MORE: CDC Releases Bizarre Tips on How to Have Sex With People Infected With Monkeypox

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Man Charged After Mother of 6 Was Fatally Stabbed in Van in West Philadelphia, Officials Say - From FOX 29
Ismael Zambada Imperial, also known as "El Mayito Gordo," son of Sinaloa cartel boss Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, was recently released from a California prison after serving a nine-year sentence.

Instead of asserting his right to be repatriated to Mexico, El Mayito Gordo agreed to stay in California, where he remains on parole and subject to the instructions of parole authorities for three years, according to Borderland Beat.

U.S. Marshals sources said El Mayo's son is at a Southern California address that only officials from the state probation office know.

The U.S. Marshals, some members of his family, and the lawyers who represent him also know his current location.

It was still unclear if, at some point, El Mayito Gordo would change his mind about serving his three-year probation sentence in the U.S. and assert his right as a Mexican and be repatriated to Mexico.

According to Riodoce, the release of El Mayo's son has prompted a series of rumors regarding his next whereabouts, with some videos even spreading of alleged parties celebrating his return to Mexico.

Reports said El Mayito Gordo left the San Diego Metropolitan Detention Center, a medium-security prison in California, on July 21.

READ NEXT: Like El Chapo, Guadalajara Cartel Founder Rafael Caro Quintero Also Complains of 'Torture' in Mexico Altiplano Prison

Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Mayo's Son 'El Mayito Gordo' Pleads Guilty

Ismael Zambada Imperial was imprisoned in Mexico on gun charges before he was extradited to San Diego in December 2019.

The indictment against El Mayo's son alleged that he conspired to transport drugs and laundered and transferred drug proceeds to Mexico "for the benefit of members of the Sinaloa Cartel and their associates."

In April last year, he agreed to plead guilty. In his plea agreement, El Mayito Gordo admitted to being one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel and importing and distributing tons of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from Mexico into the U.S.

El Mayo's son admitted to having exported at least 450 kilograms of cocaine and 90 kilograms of heroin. He also admitted to ordering acts of violence for the benefit of the Sinaloa Cartel business. El Mayito Gordo also agreed to forfeit $5 million.

Last June, Judge Danna Sabraw of the federal court of the Southern District of California in San Diego sentenced El Mayo's son to 108 months in prison.

The judge believed that the sentence was already sufficient. El Mayito Gordo was reportedly credited with the years served since his capture in November 2014.

Release of Sinaloa Cartel Boss El Mayo's Son 'Conditional'

Ismael Zambada Imperial's release came with several conditions. El Mayo's son was on a three-year supervised release.

According to the sentencing document, El Mayito Gordo must comply with a series of guidelines as soon as he is released from prison. It includes the standard supervision for a defendant of his level.

Once released, he has 72 hours to report to the appropriate parole offices, who will give him instructions. Among his restrictions include the fact that he can only live in an approved location and must always report to the officer supervising him when he leaves the area.

El Mayito Gordo was prohibited from possessing or using illegal drugs, firearms, or any destructive object. He also needs to provide his DNA.

He was also prohibited from making any arrangement with a law enforcement agency to act as a confidential source or informant without first obtaining permission from the court.

El Mayo's son must also look for a stable and legal job. He must work at least 30 hours a week in a job that the Parole Department will also supervise.

He was also prohibited from communicating with someone involved in illegal activities like his father or brothers. According to reports, two of El Mayo's other sons have also been convicted in the U.S.

Vicente Zambada Niebla, who was prosecuted in Chicago, has testified against another Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, during his New York trial. He was sentenced in 2019 to 15 years in prison but is now free.

His younger brother Serafin Zambada Ortiz was also charged in San Diego, but he has already completed his five and a half years prison sentence.

Last April, Ortiz got involved in a fatal car accident in Sonora, Mexico. His girlfriend died during the crash.

Their father has never been imprisoned. El Mayo has been wanted in Mexico since 1998. The U.S. State Department has already increased its offer from $5 million to $15 million for information that will result in the arrest of the Sinaloa Cartel boss.

El Mayo and El Chapo were among the people who established the Sinaloa Cartel. After El Chapo was arrested and extradited to the U.S., El Mayo and El Chapo's four sons, known as "Los Chapitos," were reportedly left in command of one of Mexico's largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Wife Emma Coronel Could Dismantle Sinaloa Cartel by Cutting Deal With U.S.: Report

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: The Sinaloa Cartel Is Alive And Thriving Without El Chapo - From VICE News
President Joe Biden continued his travel commitments after he tested negative for COVID-19 on Sunday. However, many people have seemed to notice something unusual despite his recovery.

During a White House press conference about passing the CHIPS bill Tuesday, netizens expressed concern and discomfort over Biden's excessive coughing, a known COVID-19 symptom.

Joe Biden ended his COVID-19 isolation on Sunday after a rare occurrence of rebound positivity while on treatment for Paxlovid, an aggressive anti-viral drug to treat the virus.

Joe Biden Health Condition Update: Is the President Still Exhibiting COVID-19 Symptoms?

Joe Biden's health sparked worry on Twitter after exhibiting some worrying signs on live television. Many were worried that the president had been excessively coughing throughout his speech and then shaking hands with several lawmakers afterward, Fox News reported.

The Washington Free Beacon Twitter account has posted videos of the president repeatedly coughing in his speech and touching his glasses and face afterward. Reports said he could barely talk properly as he was coughing so much during his speech.

Biden, who recently had Covid, repeatedly coughs into his hand and then touches his face pic.twitter.com/6K2LlWUwUY  Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) August 9, 2022

"President Joe Biden sounds like his lungs are gonna come out of his chest he's coughing so much," conservative commentator Carmine Sabia said.

The comments did not solely come from the right wing. Even known Democratic journalist Aaron Rupar noted that Joe Biden should have shortened his speech because of the coughing.

To make matters even more worrying, others had vocally expressed their concerns online when the president seemed mentally disoriented after the speech.

READ NEXT: Is Joe Biden Still COVID-19 Positive?

Is Joe Biden's Health Deteriorating?

Joe Biden's health goes under the microscope as netizens notice his mental disorientation.

After covering his mouth with his hands while coughing during the entire speech, Biden proceeded to shake hands with Democratic leaders using his unsanitized hands, which experts claim might be a way to spread the virus.

After the speech, the president shook New York Senator Chuck Schumer's hand. Moments later, he extended his hand again to Schumer, attempting another handshake.

Many were confused with Biden's strange behavior after the speech, even pointing out that he was lost at the moment.

"Biden is completely lost and forgets where he is AGAIN," The New York Times columnist Tim Young quipped.

Tea Party Patriots Action, the organization calling for Biden's impeachment, dropped a heavier allegation of his health condition.

The group said Biden was not mentally fit to serve as president after Biden shook Schumer's hands and then forgot that he just shook hands with Schumer seconds later.

Joe Biden is not mentally fit to serve as President of the United States. https://t.co/4oYotp5mjB  Tea Party Patriots (@TPPatriots) August 9, 2022

On Sunday, Presidential Physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor said Biden can "safely return to public engagement and presidential travel," guaranteeing he was safe from the virus.

Biden tested positive for the COVID-19 twice since late July. The president was isolated in the White House and took a five-day Paxlovid treatment course.

Joe Biden tested negative after the treatment but tested positive again soon after. The president then continued to test positive for the virus until getting those two straight negative results.

O'Connor said the Paxlovid treatment is possible for "rebound positivity," as some patients who take Paxlovid can test positive again after finishing the treatment.

However, while there are risks of a "Paxlovid rebound," he noted that the treatment drastically lowers the risk of hospitalization.

READ MORE: Joe Biden, Homeland Security Take Big Step to End Donald Trump's Remain-in-Mexico Policy

WATCH: President Joe Biden Signs Chips Act Into Law - From CNBC Television


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Funding has been granted for improvement works to a number of walking trails across Laois.

Minister Sean Fleming has confirmed that nine walking trails in Laois will share 18,200 in funding to support maintenance and improvement works.

Trails in Abbeyleix, Cullohill, Durrow and Dysart have been allocated the grants provided by the Government as part of Our Rural Future.

The funding can be used towards the cost of purchasing equipment, small scale maintenance and promotion of the trail.

Grant funding of 1,000 was available for trails less than 5km, 2,800 for trails between 5km and under 20km and 3,000 for trails over 20km.

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Minister Fleming said: Well done to the community groups, landowners and all involved and I would encourage people to take the opportunity to visit and enjoy these great walking trails in Laois.

He noted that walking and outdoor activities is good for people of all ages both for their physical and general wellbeing.

Welcoming the funding, Laois Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan said: Trail walking is a great activity for families in Laois to enjoy the great outdoors and explore our hidden gems this summer. These trails also attract visitors to small businesses in our rural towns.

The community groups receiving the grant in Laois can use it to maintain, improve and promote its use to locals and visitors. This vital work is done by the groups which are known as Community Trail Management Organisations.

Community Trail Management Organisations are registered with Sport Ireland and work in conjunction with Laois County Council, Coillte and the Local Development Company (LDC) in maintaining their local trails.

Deputy Flanagan said: This new initiative was announced today in conjunction with Sport Ireland is about keeping these trails in top condition and supporting their use by both domestic and international visitors.

With the sunshine set to continue this week, I would encourage everybody, young and old, to get active and enjoy the wonderful walking trails we have all across the county, Deputy Flanagan concluded.

Details of Funding are as follows:

Laois Walks Festival Committee: Abbeyleix Loops - Collins Bog loop 1,000

Laois Walks Festival Committee: Abbeyleix Loops - Killamuck Bog loop 2,800

Cullohill Rural Development Association: Cullohill - Heathy Way Loop Walk 2,800

Cullohill Rural Development Association: Cullohill - Binnianea Loop 2,800

Durrow Development Forum: Durrow Leafy Loops : Dunmore Woods loop 2,800

Durrow Development Forum: Durrow Leafy Loops : Leafy loop 3,000

Carrigmeal Trails Committee: Carrigmeal/Dysart Woodlands Loops : Milo's Circuit 1,000

Carrigmeal Trails Committee: Carrigmeal/Dysart Woodlands Loops : Tir na nOg 1,000

Carrigmeal Trails Committee: Carrigmeal/Dysart Woodlands Loops : Sheep's Walk Trail 1,000
Woohoo, Electric Picnic 2022 is hotting up every day with new announcements.

This Wednesday the Comedy Tent lineup has been announced and it's full of cracking comedians coming to the Laois countryside.

The Comedy Tent is set in a new location this year but with the very best of top-class comics from Ireland

Headlining on Saturday night is the amazing Dylan Moran, a comedian, actor, writer who co-wrote and starred in the hit Channel 4 sitcom Black Books (that won him two BAFTA awards) as well as starring alongside Simon Pegg in Shaun Of The Dead, in Good Vibrations and Pixie. Currently in scintillating form, its hard to beat the brilliant wit of Moran in full flow!

The London Evening Standard described David ODoherty as a beautiful mix of acute observation and startling invention. A delightfully soft focus from a mild superhero. The crown prince of the Comedy Stage returns to claim his rightful throne at Stradbally, with what is sure to be a barnstorming set on Sunday night.

The biggest selling comedian ever at the Edinburgh Fringe Jason Byrnes inspired original brand of high-energy ensures he is one of the most exciting live comedy performers in the world  unmatched for his ebullient energy and regulated chaos! No comedy weekend in Laois would be complete without the maestro.

Neil Delamere is a permanent panellist on BBC NIs Blame Game; however, no TV camera could accurately measure the lightning speed of his wit, he is a banter bomb, primed to make you explode with laughter. Simply put he is a master that will light the fuse of the Comedy Tent when he takes to the stage.

Our friends in the North have deigned to loan us two of Ulsters biggest stars; Diona Doherty has played a Ukrainian student in an episode of Channel 4s Derry Girls and is the only female permanent panellist on the aforementioned Blame Game, smart, sassy and with a devilish glint in her eye, Diona will delight Picnickers as she makes her Electric Picnic debut. Also appearing for the first time is Hollywoods (no not that one... the Co. Down one) Shane Todd, described by the Belfast Telegraph as a modern day king of comedy. Make sure you bag a seat as he has just announced another run of sold-out shows at Belfasts SSE Arena.

Hardly ever off the telly these days, comedys darling Deirdre OKane is a sure-fire hit, an instantly charismatic stage presence and her brand of day-to-day anarchism dazzles any audience from start to finish. And using his trademark blend of audience interaction and razor-sharp improvisation, Abandoman will take you on a magical journey, transforming the audiences likes, loathes and daydreams into hit songs and captivating tales.

Recent years have seen the emergence of a much-maligned genre of comedy, the so-called internet comics, however, Electric Picnic will play host to four of the best of these, with proof positive that they do possess the comedy skills to cut it and are already huge on the live circuit. Killian Sundermann is a sketch and stand-up comedian whose comedy videos went viral during 2020 and his humorous take on Irish culture has become a staple on social media.

Enya Martin is creator of the hilarious comedy Facebook page, Giz A Laugh, her comedy is high energy, her key observational eye of her madcap life growing up in a madcap part of Dublin.

Martin Beanz Ward is from Tuam, Co. Galway and is also a member of the Irish Traveller Community. His unique style sees him meandering through his stories of growing up as a gay traveller to interacting with live audiences at his shows.

With over one hundred thousand online followers and ten million views, Bernard Casey is the man behind such videos as the Polish/Irish barman, the Irish Listening Test and his hugely popular characters: The Local Gossip and The Nephew.

Theres plenty of circuit stalwarts for your delectation with experienced comics like John Colleary (possibly Irelands most underrated comedian), Barry Murphy (the Godfather of Irish Comedy), Irish Man Abroad Podcaster Jarlath Regan, Irelands hardest working comedian Danny OBrien and presenter of RTE2s Clear History Kevin McGahern, heartthrob John Lynn, Corks finest Chris Kent and the creator of Youre Grounded podcast Emma Doran all set to tickle your funny bones over the weekend.

Expect strong sets from Zig and Zag Show roving reporter Sinead Quinlan, Egyptian American comedian Dalia Malek, adopted Australian Damian Clarke, King of the one-liners Paul Marsh and So You Think Youre Funny runner-up Shane Daniel Byrne. Part of Electric Picnics Comedy Tents ethos is to encourage and present new talent and to that end they are delighted to welcome Anna Clifford, Mike Morgan, Justine Stafford, Ian Burke, Andrew Ryan, Martin Angolo, Michael Fry and Ryan Cullen.

Your MC for the weekend is Bingo Loco frontman, the human dynamo that is Adam Burke. The Comedy Tent awaits you on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th of September.
Laois residents are being urged to be vigilant as the Department of Agriculture has issued a Condition Orange High Fire Risk warning.

The warning came into effect from noon today and is in place throughout the weekend until noon on Tuesday, August 16.

The Departments said: Arising from current weather patterns a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.

A high-pressure system currently positioned over Ireland will influence high air temperatures,

low daytime humidity and light windspeeds during the rest of this week and into the weekend.

It noted that:  Recent similar hot weather phases have seen fire activity firmly associated with public recreation activities. Members of the public intending to visit forests and other recreational sites are reminded to adhere to regulations regarding fire use. Forest visitors should not use barbeques or open fires at any stage. Vehicles must not be parked at site entrances or impede emergency service access to forest roads."

According to the Department, the Fire risk is expected to peak over the coming weekend August 13/14.

https://www.ireland-live.ie/news/laois-live/871826/interest-in-joining-laois-fire-service-dwindled-greatly.html

Where fires occur, fire behaviour is likely to be influenced by light windspeeds in the 5-10kmh region. Higher windspeeds may be experienced at times in coastal areas. Fire behaviour will be moderated by live fuel availability however live fuel moisture levels in key fuels may degrade over time, the Department stated.

People are being asked to follow this advice:

1. Do not light fires in and around forests or open land.

2. Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances.

3. Gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire.

4. Telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location.

5. Evacuate if instructed to do so, and cooperate with all Emergency Service Instructions.

Further advice can be found on the Department's website at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/01773-fire-management/
Kildare Gardai are investigating incidents in which a number of cars were stolen on one day.

The thefts happened in Maynooth and Leixlip last week.

On August 5 last at 1.30am a white Toyota Corolla estate was taken outside a home in the Cluain Aoibhinn estate in Maynooth.

At 2.05am, a 2009 red Mazda hatchback was stolen from a property in Parson's Hall in Maynooth.

Gardai said both vehicles were later abandoned in north Dublin.

Two men were also seen trying to break into a car in the Carton Court area in Maynooth after 2am but they were disturbed and fled.

At 7.05am on Friday, a 2007 beige Toyota Landcruiser was taken from the Rinawade estate in Leixlip.

Anybody with any information, including CCTV or dash cam footage of these incidents is asked to make it available to Gardai.
Thousands of Euro worth of Dunnes Stores vouchers have been distributed to over 650 Ukrainian refugees currently residing in temporary accommodation in Maynooth University.

The first distribution day in the university, which is run by Irish Red Cross (IRC) volunteers, commenced last week, but another drive took place earlier today between 10am and 12pm.

The vouchers from earlier today were provided by the IRC's Ukraine Appeal funds, which were donated by the Irish people.

Rosemarie Hayden, the IRC Area Director of Units in Kildare, was among those onsite helping refugees with their needs.

Ms Hayden, who has been volunteering for the IRC for the past 32 years (starting at 11 years old), told the Leinster Leader: "It's such a buzz to know that you are helping people in a very real and immediate way here."

File Photograph: Maynooth University, which is currently hosting over 650 Ukrainian refugees

She also said that 841 spaces have yet to be filled at the campus until September 5.

Ms Hayden said that this timeframe has caused a 'huge anxiety' for both the refugees and those who are working with them, and said that 'all options are on the table' regarding arranging new accommodation for the refugees.

"All of us want a longer-term home for all of them," she said: "But as everyone is well aware, there is a housing crisis in Ireland, and it has been percolating onto the surface, and this addition of 44,000 people does add pressure on the (housing) system.

"However, there is great freedom in not having any choice; people need a roof over their head, so we are trying to make sure that the roof is a longer-term home, and that we can give them enough time to be able to get a job, build up their funds and lay down a deposit so that they can rent.

"Six months of staying in someone's home could facilitate that."

Ukrainian refugees waiting in line to receive much-needed vouchers

Ms Hayden encouraged anyone with free time or to join the IRC, saying: "My mum, who also volunteered with the Red Cross, once said to me, 'you always get more than you give', and I definitely found that (was the case)... at the end of each day, I feel energised for it."

She further urged anyone who can do so to pledge accommodation for refugees, and to donate things that would make travel convenient for refugees, such as bicycyles.

"The IRC will also have an Information Road Show event in the Glenroyal Hotel tomorrow night," she added.

When asked about the importance of the event, she said: "This drive allows us to take donations from the Irish public and turn them into vouchers and give them back the agency and the dignity to choose what they need.

"We're not just giving aid, we want to ensure that these peoples' own dignity is protected as well", she concluded.

The IRC was assisted on the day by lawyers from the Ukraine Irish Legal Alliance, who provided legal information to refugees.

IRC volunteers consulting with Ukrainian refugees in order to help them with any issues they may have

A HSE SafetyNet Medical clinic was also held on the university campus, where a doctor and nurse was available to see people with urgent medical issues.

In addition, toys donated by Lego and Smyths Toys Superstores were also provided for Ukrainian children, and bottles of water were being handed out to all refugees waiting in the heat.

To date, 38 million has been donated by the Irish public and corporates to the IRC since the start of the Ukraine invasion and this goes towards three different areas of spending.

15.2 million has already gone to help emergency needs, practical and medical supports in Ukraine and its surrounding countries, while a further 3m is being used to support refugees needs in Ireland with over 400,000 of that having been spent so far and this spending is set to accelerate over the coming weeks.

The Ukraine Crisis Appeal by the IRC can be accessed here.
Community groups responsible for managing walking trails in Counties Leitrim, Roscommon, and Sligo will receive grants of between 1,000 and 3,000 under new funding announced today. Leitrim groups will receive 14,600, while groups in Roscommon are set to receive 23,000 and Sligo 2,000.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, confirmed that funding of almost 1m will support and improve some 446 walking trails across the country, including local counties here in the North West.

Welcoming the news, Minister of State and local TD, Frank Feighan said: Trail walking is a great activity for families in Roscommon, Sligo and Leitrim to enjoy the great outdoors and explore our hidden gems this summer. These trails also attract visitors to small businesses in our rural towns. The community groups receiving the grant in these local counties can use it to maintain, improve and promote its use to locals and visitors. This vital work is done by the groups which are known as Community Trail Management Organisations.

Minister Heather Humphreys added, This new initiative which I am announcing today in conjunction with Sport Ireland is all about keeping these trails in top condition and supporting their use by both domestic and international visitors.

With the sunshine set to continue this week, I would encourage everybody, young and old, to get active and enjoy the wonderful walking trails we have all across rural Ireland, Minister Humphreys concluded.
Veterinarians take care of a beluga whale that was stranded in the River Seine at Notre Dame de la-Garenne, northern France, on August 9, 2022. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

An ailing Beluga whale that strayed into France's River Seine has died during a last-ditch rescue attempt, experts having decided to put the animal down to prevent further suffering, local officials said Wednesday.

The fate of the animal has captured the hearts of people across the world since it was first spotted in the highly unusual habitat of the river that flows through Paris, far from its usual Arctic waters.

Rescuers had overnight winched the male out of the River Seine for transfer to a saltwater pen, in a delicate final effort to save the life of the ailing mammal, which was no longer eating.

"Despite an unprecedented rescue operation, we must announce with sadness that the cetacean has died," the authorities in the Normandy region of Calvados tweeted, adding that the whale had to be put down during transport.

Read more Beluga successfully removed from Seine river during rescue attempt

After nearly six hours of work by dozens of divers and rescuers, the 800-kilogram cetacean was lifted from the river by a net and crane at around 4 am and placed on a barge under the immediate care of a dozen veterinarians.

The beluga was then given a health check and driven in a refrigerated truck at a deliberately slow speed to the coastal town of Ouistreham to the north where experts decided to end its suffering.

"During the journey the vets noted a worsening of his health and in particular the breathing," said Florence Ollivet-Courtois, a vet for the local emergency services, in a video posted on social media.

"The animal was not getting enough air and suffering visibly. We therefore decided that it made no sense to set it free and proceeded to euthanasia."

'Tragic outcome'

"The transfer was risky, but essential to give an otherwise doomed animal a chance," added the Sea Shepherd NGO, which has been assisting in the rescue, on Twitter.

"Following the deterioration of his condition, the vets took the decision to euthanise him. We are devastated by this tragic outcome that we knew was very likely," it said.

Upon arrival, the beluga was to have been be installed in a seawater pen enclosed by a lock at Ouistreham pending release back into the wild.

"The beluga is a male who does not show any sign of infectious disease but who no longer has any digestive activity, which explains why he is no longer eating," said the Sea Shepherd NGO

The four-metre (13-foot) whale was spotted more than a week ago heading towards Paris and was stranded about 130 kilometres (80 miles) inland from the Channel at Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne in Normandy.

Since Friday, the animal's movement inland had been blocked by a lock at Saint-Pierre-la-Garenne, 70 kilometres (44 miles) northwest of Paris, and its health deteriorated after it refused to eat.

Read more Beluga whale spotted in Seine

While belugas migrate south in the autumn to feed as ice forms in their native Arctic waters, they rarely venture so far.

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According to France's Pelagis Observatory, which specialises in sea mammals, the nearest beluga population is off the Svalbard archipelago, north of Norway, 3,000 kilometres from the Seine.

The trapped whale is only the second beluga ever sighted in France. The first was pulled out of the Loire estuary in a fisherman's net in 1948.

Le Monde with AFP
Rescuers pull up a net as they rescue a beluga whale stranded in the River Seine at Notre Dame de la-Garenne, northern France, on August 9, 2022. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

The beluga whale stranded in the river Seine in northern France was removed from the water early Wednesday, August 10, in the first stage of an ambitious rescue operation, an Agence France Presse (AFP) journalist said.

The beluga, a protected species usually found in cold Arctic waters, will next be placed in a refrigerated truck and transported to the coast, Isabelle Dorliat-Pouzet, secretary general of the Eure prefecture, said ahead of the rescue operation.

The four-meter whale was spotted more than a week ago heading towards Paris and was stranded some 130 kilometers inland from the Channel at Saint-Pierre-La-Garenne in Normandy.

Since Friday, the animal's movement inland has been blocked by a lock at Saint-Pierre-La-Garenne, 70 kilometers northwest of Paris, and its health had deteriorated after it refused to eat.

But its condition was "satisfactory," Isabelle Brasseur of the Marineland sea animal park in southern France, Europe's biggest, told AFP earlier on Tuesday.

Le beluga a ete sorti de leau apres de longues heures de preparation et defforts. Bravo aux equipes impliquees d https://t.co/Cj2biRH4Yb  SeaShepherdFran (@Sea Shepherd France)

'Exceptional' operation

A seawater basin at a lock in the Channel port of Ouistreham has been readied for the animal, which will spend three days there under observation in preparation for its release.

The "exceptional" operation to return it to the sea is not without risk for the whale, which is already weakened and stressed, said Brasseur, part of a Marineland team sent to assist with the rescue, alongside the NGO Sea Shepherd France.

"It could be that he dies now, during the handling, during the journey or at point B," in Ouistreham, she said.

The 24 divers involved in the operation and the rescuers handling the ropes had to try several times between 10 pm and 4 am to lure the animal into the nets to be lifted out of the water.

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A handful of curious people remained on the bank all night to observe the operation.

Read more French experts consider plan to transport beluga back to sea

Le Monde with AFP
Policemen of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), patrol in front on the Great Mosque in Timbuktu, on December 8, 2021. FLORENT VERGNES / AFP

Mali on Tuesday, August 9, received five military jets and a combat helicopter from Russia, which has become a close ally in its fight against a long-running jihadist insurgency, an AFP journalist saw.

The head of the military junta, Assimi Goita, joined Russian diplomats at a ceremony for the handover of five L-39 and Sukhoi-25 jets and an helicopter. The Soviet-era warplanes are the latest batch of deliveries under close ties that have been forged since the Sahel state underwent a coup in August 2020.

Read more The threat of jihad in Mali is now getting closer to Bamako

In a speech, Defence Minister Sadio Camara paid tribute to what he called Mali's "win-win partnership with the Russian Federation". The new deliveries "strengthen our reconnaissance and attack capabilities", he said.

"Today's ceremony is historic, both in kind and quality as well as in the volume of what you are handing over," Mr. Camara said. "We are just showing a part of (Russian arms deliveries), the rest of course is being used in operations as these ceremonies unfold."

Russian aid rhymes with French retreat

The regime has brought in Russian paramilitaries  described by Bamako as military instructors but by Western nations as mercenaries  to support the beleaguered armed forces. Their deployment was a key factor in prompting France, Mali's former colonial power and traditional ally, to pull its military forces out of the country. The withdrawal is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Previous Russian arms deliveries disclosed this year have been two Mi-24P helicopters and surveillance radars, which was announced in April, and two helicopters and mobile radar systems in March.

Read more Subscribers only Before French soldiers leave Mali, Paris seeks to redefine its strategy in Africa

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The helicopters were Mi-35P attack aircraft, an export version of the Mi-24P, according to the specialist newsletter Africa Intelligence. Four Mi-171 choppers, a model used for troop transport, arrived last October, according to the authorities. There have been no details about the terms under which Mali has acquired the weapons.

One of the poorest nations in the world, Mali has been battered by a jihadist campaign that began in the north of the country in 2012. The attacks have spread to the centre and south of Mali and into Niger and Burkina Faso. Across the region, thousands of people have died and more than two million have fled their homes.

Le Monde with AFP
WHEN Limerick gardai hailed a taxi they were looking for more than a lift.

Limerick Circuit Court heard they had been following the vehicle travelling down from Dublin.

Prosecuting barrister, John OSullivan, instructed by state solicitor Padraig Mawe, said gardai had information that there was a significant amount of cocaine in the taxi.

They stopped the taxi near the Mackey Roundabout, Lisnagry, on June 11, 2020. Detective Garda Declan OHalloran uncovered 69,000 of cocaine under a doormat in a footwell.

A passenger - Jonathan Fitzgerald, aged 24, of Ballycannon Heights, Meelick, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to the possession of drugs for sale or supply. Mr OSullivan said during garda interviews the defendant said two men knocked on his door and told him if he didnt go to Dublin his house would be burned down.

He owed a drug debt of 1,200. He lives at home and was worried about his mothers wellbeing. He said he had no choice but to run the errand. He thought it was cannabis, said Mr OSullivan.

The barrister said Mr Fitzgerald told gardai that the taxi called to his mothers house and brought him to Dublin where the taxi driver got a phone call to go to a location. The cocaine was then placed in the taxi and they returned to Limerick. Det Garda OHalloran said the taxi driver was arrested, questioned and denied all knowledge.

The court heard Mr Fitzgerald has 20 previous convictions including three for possession and one for sale or supply of drugs.

Mark Nicholas SC, who represented Mr Fitzgerald, said his client pleaded guilty and made admissions.

Due to a debt from drug use, pressure was put on him to do the run. He had a good upbringing and is very sorry to put his mother through this. He is going to school in prison and believes he can change, said Mr Nicholas.

Judge Tom ODonnell said if a person gets involved in the sale or supply of drugs they have to bear responsibility for their actions. The judge imposed a three year prison sentence backdated to April, 2022.
A viable device has been found following a security alert in Belfast.

Police and ammunition technical officers attended the scene in Norglen Parade in the west of the city after a suspicious object was discovered.

The alert has now ended and a PSNI spokesman said a viable device has been taken away for further examination.

Cordons have been lifted and residents who were evacuated from their homes have been able to return.

The spokesman said: We would like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding during this time.

Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information about the incident, or who may be able to help with the investigation, is asked to call police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1536 of August 9.

SDLP west Belfast representative Paul Doherty said: I cannot understand what would motivate anyone to place a viable device in a residential area where a large number of people live.

Given the proximity of this device to homes, we are lucky that it didnt go off and cause serious harm or injury to anyone.

I would urge anyone involved in these kinds of incidents to cease at once.

This security alert led to residents having to evacuate their homes, during a very warm spell of weather and caused significant disruption to the local community who just want to go about their lives.

Those behind this act need to think about the impact they are having on people.

I received a number of calls last night from asylum seeker and refugee families who were frightened by what happened and the resulting large police operation in the area.

I would urge anyone with any information in connection with this device to come forward to police and help them with their investigation.

We need to see an end to these kind of incidents in our community before it has tragic consequences.
The Irish governments tax advisory group has published papers that indicate a third income tax band could see up to a million taxpayers take home an extra 500 or 1,000 euro a year.

Middle and high-income earners would see a direct increase in their net income if such a measure were introduced, while low and modest-income earners would not directly benefit from this proposal, the group said.

In the tax strategy group papers published on Wednesday, as part of preparations for Budget 2023, the civil servant group advised on possible changes to income tax rates.

There are currently two rates of tax in Ireland, one at 20% and a higher rate of 40% for earnings over 36,800 euro for individuals, and 45,800 euro for married earners in one-income households.

In its income tax paper published on Wednesday, the group said that it is generally considered that the entry point for the higher rate of income tax in Ireland is low by international standards.

If adding a third band, the group outlines two options: income taxed at 30% for those earning 36,800-41,800 euro, which would cost the Exchequer 525 million euro a year.

This would see individuals and married couples with one earner take home an extra 500 euro a year.

The second option would be to set the 30% tax rate at incomes between 36,800-46,800 euro, which would cost 945 million euro for a full year.

Individuals and married single-income couples would take home an extra 1,000 a year under this 10,000-euro band.

The extra tax band could see up to one million taxpayer units benefit, which is around 35% of all taxpayers.

The group warns, however, that the complex change would necessitate big alterations to Revenues systems as well as changes for payroll providers, to ensure the feasibility and operability of the new structure.

The current two-rate structure of income tax has been in place since the early 1990s.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said that the effectiveness of any changes to the tax band structure would have to be considered alongside one-off cost-of-living measures that may be taken later this year.

You have to look at our budget in the context of everything that will be in it. And, in addition to changes that we will make in personal taxation, the government has also indicated that we will bring forward with other measures that will be one-off in nature regarding the cost of living.

The key thing is that, in Budget 2023, we will put in place measures that continue to help workers get the higher income and higher wages that they are receiving due to their work. We want to protect that.

When asked whether the third band of tax could be introduced in the upcoming Budget, the Finance Minister said it is probably more difficult to make changes in relation to taxation any earlier than we normally do because of the amount of payroll systems that need to take change across our country.

And the fact that we need every employer in the country to update their payrolls and update the level of tax that they are charging their employees means that it takes a little longer to implement tax changes than it does other policy changes the budget will have.

Speaking at an event in Dublin, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said: Today, the tax strategy group papers were published, they set out different options for Government to consider, set out the pros and cons, set out the cost, its important to emphasise the government hasnt decided to do anything at all contained in the papers.

They are just options for government to consider between now and budget day and there are lots to consider, the Enterprise Minister said.

The possibility of 30% tax rate, middle tax rate for middle-income people is under consideration and the papers set out about a million workers will benefit from that and what potential costs will be.

I think the most important thing to emphasise in relation to the budget, which is now only just a month away, is that it will contain a substantial income tax package that will reduce income tax for low-income workers, middle-income workers and high-income workers but a particular emphasis on middle-income workers.

The exact detail as to how that is achieved is to be worked out between now and Budget Day but what is agreed is the principle that we will see a very substantial income tax reduction package in the budget.

Almost all workers will benefit from that and it is necessary because it is one of the ways that we can help people with the rising cost of living.

The Tax Strategy Group has published a dozen papers relating to tax matters on Wednesday, ahead of the unveiling of Budget 2023 on September 27.

The group is not a decision-making body; these papers list the options to be considered as part of the Budgetary process.

The Tax Strategy Group is chaired by the Department of Finance, with membership comprising senior officials and political advisers from various departments.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market was valued at USD 58. 15 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 271. 48 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 31. 45% during the forecast period 2022  2027, in a recent report by ReportLinker.

Here at LiveMint, with our research team, we see the investment trends moving towards companies in the AI industry. Today, we received news that Solidus AI Tech (AI-Tech.io), the company behind the worlds first artificial intelligence utility token  AITECH, announced that notable blockchain industry venture capital fund The Bitcoin Man has invested a substantial, undisclosed amount into the company, and the founder of the VC fund, Herbert Sim himself will be joining the company as an advisor.

Speaking to LiveMint about the investment and appointment, Solidus AI Tech founder Paul Farhi said: Herbert Sim will be a great asset to the team. He brings with him an astonishing wealth of knowledge in the crypto space, and he is a true champion of bitcoin and its underlying technology- Blockchain. Hes a laser-sharp, pragmatic businessman and visionary who has a deep respect for what were trying to achieve here at Solidus AI Tech. Hes also a philanthropist. And those are just some of the reasons why he is so highly respected in our industry. Were very pleased to have him on board, and I have no doubt he will very soon have a significant impact here."

Speaking about the investment, The Bitcoin Man founder Herbert Sim said: Solidus AI Tech eco-friendly High Performance Computing (HPC) data centre and its Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platform where Governmental Authorities, Megacorps, SMEs, Professionals, Metaverse and Play2Earn projects will be able to purchase Artificial Intelligence services and High Performance Computing Power seamlessly with the AITECH token, is something that I foresee being widely received. The HPC infrastructure platform will power and address challenges, such as cost, speed, power consumption and security for trending technologies such as the metaverse world, and Play2Earn games. The company is also set to launch its very own Meta BattleBots NFT collection (metabattlebots.com) for their currently under development Play2Earn Metaverse game built on Unitys latest Unreal Engine 5 which will be powered by our high performance computing data centre. An exciting roadmap and journey ahead."

Sims pedigree is impressive: a public, verified blue tick figure across all major social media platforms  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (by the handle of @HerbertRsim) in the Blockchain industry, Sim was global operations director at HUOBI, one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the world (in 2018, the company became a publicly listed Hong Kong company) and he was also Chief Marketing Officer of Russian digital asset trading platform - Cryptology. Sim led the business development team at Hong Kong-based Broctagon Fintech Group, which provides end-to-end blockchain solutions (including enterprise protocol development, crypto exchange setup and token listing services), deep institutional liquidity and comprehensive system security testing.

In addition to his numerous philanthropic and professional achievements, Sim has an MBA from the University of Wolverhampton, UK, and a BA in Mass Communications from Oklahoma City University, USA.

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 contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein.

The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.

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 views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice.
Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on 8 August said that Mathura and Vrindavan will be connected with a cruise service by developing waterways on the Yamuna river to promote religious tourism.

Adding more, the minister was of the view that the experience of travelling by cruise will allure tourists visiting Agra also to come to Mathura.

Gokul, Mathura and Vrindavan would be connected by developing waterways on the Yamuna," Sonowal said at an event at Shankaracharya Ashram, Govardhan. He also added that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently met him over this scheme.

ALSO READ: Govt plans to make all major ports fully self-sustainable on electricity by 2030

Earlier in 22 July, the Union Minister informed the Parliament that the government is committed to reducing emissions from the shipping sector and all the major ports will be made fully self-sustainable on electricity by 2030.

According to the minister, as a part of the Sagarmala Programme, more than 800 projects at an estimated cost of around 5.5 lakh crore have been identified for implementation from 2015 to 2035 across all coastal states.

Further, he said under the holistic development of coastal districts, a total of 567 projects with an estimated cost of around 58,000 crore have been identified.

With PTI inputs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a Tiranga Yatra in Surat via video conferencing on Wednesday described the national flag as a reflection of the pride of India's past, commitment to the present and dreams of the future. He said that our flag stands for the country's unity, integrity and diversity.

Noting the role of indigenous textile industry, he said that the tricolour has been a symbol of khadi (a hand-spun and hand-woven fabric) and self-reliance.

Addressing Tiranga Yatra in Surat, Gujarat. https://t.co/Y7mmK9jt8Y  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 10, 2022

Speaking about contribution of Gujarat in India's independence, PM Modi said, Gujarat led India's freedom struggle in the form of Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi), and gave the country personalities like 'Iron Man' Sardar Patel, who laid the foundation of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, great India) post-Independence. The message that the Bardoli movement and the Dandi Yatra gave, united the entire country.

Addressing the Tiranga Yatra Modi evoked the eternal spirit of the Indian flag by telling about the motivation it gave to our freedom fighters and the consciousness it will impart for our future endeavours.

He said, "Our fighters saw the future of the country, its dream in the tricolour and never let it bow down by any means. When today, after 75 years of Independence, we are beginning the journey of a new India, the tricolour is once again representing the unity and consciousness of India."

PM while speaking about the diversity of people who came together in the Tiranga Yatra at Surat said, "In a way, a mini India is being seen People from all sections of the society are involved in this together. There is a garment seller, shopkeeper, somebody is a craftsman of looms, someone is involved in sewing and embroidery work, another one engaged in transportation or jewellery. The entire textile industry...people of Surat have made the event grand."

Promoting the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, PM said from August 13 to 15, tricolour will be hoisted in every house of India and people from every section of the society, every caste and creed are spontaneously coming together with only one identity. This is the identity of the conscientious citizen of India.

He added, "Many poor people, weavers and handloom workers are also getting additional income due to the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign...These campaigns of public participation will strengthen the foundation of New India."
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged scam of 6,000 crore in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

This comes a day after the Delhi government accused the Delhi MCD of colliding with two toll tax companies, resulting in a huge loss to the public exchequer.

I have written to the LG demanding a CBI probe into the toll tax scam of 6,000 crore in Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The money collected from commercial vehicles coming to Delhi every day was embezzled in connivance," Manish Sisodia said in a tweet.

    6000  -    CBI      LG     .



      10            .  Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) August 10, 2022

On Tuesday, AAP MLA and MCD in charge Durgesh Pathak had alleged that a large scam is caused by BJP leaders in toll tax collections. The BJP leaders were alleged to be in connivance with two private firms.

He alleged that the tax collected from around 10 lakh commercial vehicles that enter Delhi every day never reached the MCD.

The Delhi MCD has denied the charges and termed them baseless" and without facts".

This comes days after the Lieutenant Governor suspended 11 officials of the excise department including former Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna for serious lapses" in the implementation of the controversial excise policy of the Delhi Government.

With Inputs from ANI.
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Presented at Locarnos Cineasti del Presente competition, the first feature film of Brazilian filmmaker and curator Ana Vaz portrays the battle between the urban expansion of Brasilia and the misplacement of its local fauna.

It reprises some of the artists obsessions as well as questioning the urban identity of Brazils capital, denouncing both its institutional role and the artificiality of its architecture. The production has been possible thanks to an Italian, French and Brazilian collaboration carried out by Fondazione In Between Art Film and Spectre Films.

This dark 16 mm avant-garde documentary begins with a series of long fixed shots and pans that ses us in the twilight that haunts Brasilia, whose frenetic distinctiveness drowns us into the deep shadows of an urban setting. Vaz refers to her feature debut as a film that comes off the dark, a piece that thinks and trembles with the dark.

It is Night in America images travel through twilight, dawns and shadows, but never full sunlight. To be more precise, Vaz explains that she employed a day-by-night shoot technique  well known in the early days of filmmaking and that reached its peak during the heyday of the Western, Day By Night. This technique part contributed to the films particular blue tones.

For Vaz, this political fable is a kind of encounter with the Western itself, a genre that inspires her films from their very concept given Westerns frequent focus on settlement. Western is the genre of what happens during the process of settlement, says Vaz. There is also this imaginary conversation with the history of cinema, through the very materiality of the images youve seen, she adds.

In the films main plot, the parallel montage of 16 mm shots is the main narrative tool used to present the struggle of animal life in Brasilia: On one hand, we patiently observe the images of several fauna, agent and vigilant; on the other, frames highlight urban constructions.

None of the animals were trained in any way, nor are they there to act as extras, they are only on the streets, because they have been expelled from their habitat, Vaz says. The gaze of modernity doesnt take them in very often; these presences are kind of invisible.

My use of 16mm film its not only an aesthetic choice, but rather an insistence on the materiality of the image, Vaz adds. The artist also speaks about filming with expired film stock to express this catastrophic drama of species that are in process of extinction. Were dealing with two processes of extinction that are happening in the film in one way or another. The extinction of the image itself, and the extinction of these beings.

Vaz devotes a brief space to historical context: The construction of Brasilia as a political project during the government of Juscelino Kubitschek (1956-1961). We see recordings of animals being removed during the transfer of the Brazils capital from Rio de Janeiro to the new city in a construction project that promised to accomplish 50 years of development in five.

These mistakes left hostages to fortune, even down to the present day; Its a historical crisis, we know very much that the return of the ghosts that were dealing with today are coming from the heritage of the military dictatorship, which is only a modern way to bring colonialism into a contemporary age. We are never leaving the past, the past never passes, she emphasizes.

Ana Vazs first appearance at Locarno comes after her appearance at the Berlinale in 2020, where she screened Apiyemiyeki? to large applause at the Forum Expanded.

It is Night in America world premiered at the Locarno Film Festival on Aug. 9. Further festival appearances are expected to be announced soon.

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Next years edition of German metal festival Wacken Open Air sold out in six hours, according to organizers.

The entire ticket allocation was sold out during the pre-sale, Variety understands.

Headlined by Iron Maiden, Wacken Open Air is set to take place from Aug. 2-5 2023, officially expanding from three days to four for the first time. The Dropkick Murphys, Megadeth and Wardruna are also on the line-up.

The festival is one of Germanys largest open air festivals and one of the largest metal festivals in the world, welcoming around 85,000 people to the village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein each year.

We absolutely cannnot believe what just happened: The Wacken Open Air 2023 is completely sold out after a record time of 6 hours  all tickets are sold out! the organizers said a statement. Thanks for your incredible loyalty, support and the trust you give us! You are the best fans in the world! So we cant wait to celebrate another superlative metal party with you next year. Look forward to many more great bands and a festival with which we will take you back to the age of the Vikings  officially on four days instead of three!

The latest edition of Wacken  the first to take place since 2019 due to the pandemic  took place last weekend. Slipknot headlined alongside acts including Judas Priest, Limp Bizkit and Lacuna Coil.

For those still hoping to attend next year, all is not lost: there is a waiting list in operation, official travel partners still have some tickets and individual tickets may still come up on the ticket page occasionally.

But organizers warned fans not to buy tickets from third parties.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph didn't plan on preaching today. But how else can you describe what the veteran actress is doing from her Southern California backyard via Zoom? Sure, Ralph is just talking, peeling back the layers of her decades-long career and delighting in her first Emmy nomination at 65 for her role in "Abbott Elementary." But she does not simply speak. She emotes. She inspires. She preaches.

"I'm here to enjoy my life. I am here to respect the journey," said the actress, looking prototypically regal in athleisure and a ball cap emblazoned with the Jamaican flag. "When people say, 'Oh, this whole Emmy [nomination] should have happened much earlier'? No, it was supposed to happen right here, right now, at this time," she added, slapping her patio table as if it were a pulpit.

"As far as I can see the sky is the limit," she continued. "Better days are ahead and everything will work out for me just the way they are supposed to. Because nothing that is for you will miss you. It just will not."

For those who've been captivated by Ralph since her 1981 Tony-nominated Broadway debut in the musical "Dreamgirls," gobbling up her steady work in television ("Designing Women," "Moesha," "Ray Donovan") and film ("The Distinguished Gentlemen," "Sister Act 2"), it's hard not to imagine Ralph with a different career - one marked with little golden statues and the phrase EGOT (an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner) trailing her name. But the actress banishes that type of thinking.

"That doesn't enter the chat. If I was supposed to be EGOT, I would have been. And just because I'm not EGOT now doesn't mean I won't be later," she said.

Awards are nice but not the point. And yet when the news of her Emmy nomination came last month - delivered while she was on vacation in her late mother's native Jamaica - "all of a sudden, my whole career shot in front of me," Ralph said.

With more than 100 credits to her name, a handful of roles stand out.

Barbara Howard is the one you're probably most familiar with. The queenly kindergarten teacher played with Ralph's signature diva-come-down-to-earth aplomb on "Abbott Elementary" seems tailor-made for the actress but it wasn't.

Quinta Brunson, creator and star of the hit ABC mockumentary, said she knew she wanted an actress who had the feeling of "requiring respect that wasn't mean or harsh," someone who simply got what they deserved.

"I needed the essence first," Brunson said. "Sheryl had that, and on top of that she's a fantastic actress. That's something I felt like the world had forgotten. She's beloved and she's in our hearts - and she's also a fire-a-- actor."

Which is why Ralph's genuine disbelief when receiving accolades for best supporting actress for the role was both gratifying and grating; it was a career milestone that was both well-deserved and long overdue for an actress with her experience and reputation.

"I am the performer that can tell you about an actor's true journey. What it is like to hold on to my peace. What it is like to hold on to my confidence. What it is like to come up the rough side of the mountain and know that better days are still ahead. Oh, yeah," she said with the timbre of a minister.

Ralph's fans in the industry said her legacy, despite still being very much in progress, is one of staying power.

"Sheryl makes her opportunities," said Sara Finney Johnson, co-creator of the '90s sitcom "Moesha," which co-starred Ralph. "It wasn't about awards, it was about the work. She should have had all these things long ago, but I don't think that was her concern - it was just keep grinding. She deserves every flower and that Emmy."

The role she considers "one of the greatest" of her career came 45 years ago. It was the mid-'70s and Sidney Poitier cast a 20-year-old Ralph in his buddy comedy "A Piece of the Action," co-starring Bill Cosby. In her first movie, Ralph plays Barbara Hanley, a disaffected teen living in a rough part of Chicago who has had, in the character's own words, enough with all the "bourgeoisie bull----." Barbara delivers a scathing monologue midway through the film that wannabe actors still perform.

"That was a performance I didn't know that I had and it showed me that I could do this," she said. "My father saw it and said, 'I know you're an actress because I don't know who that little girl is.' "

It was a watershed moment. But the advice Poitier gave the budding star after the project wrapped could have easily made her quit the business: "I am so sorry this industry has nothing more to offer you, because you deserve it."

The Oscar winner knew Hollywood wouldn't be a hospitable place for a girl like Ralph - young, Black and talented. But instead of letting that deflate her, she used it as fuel.

"My mother and my father were very instrumental in preparing me for life," she said. "They were always letting me know that there are hurdles and you've got to be ready to jump. Just because 'no' is no today doesn't mean it won't be 'yes' tomorrow. Going to Hollywood, I was just like, wow, now I see what this was all for. It was rough."

Robert De Niro would echo the same sentiment 15 years later on the set of the 1992 comedy "Mistress," about a screenwriter forced to put his financiers' girlfriends in his picture. Ralph plays De Niro's girl, Beverly, an actress with actual talent. By then, Ralph had already experienced the whiplash of being the toast of Broadway and being told by La La Land casting directors that she was either too Black or not Black enough. The actors were in between takes when the "Raging Bull" star turned to her and said, "You are good. You're like, really, really good. You better climb that mountain and wave the red flag because they are not looking for you. They are not looking for the Black girl, and you should be seen."

She never switched to the white flag of surrender. Ralph became known for playing women with a distinct type of dignity - Barbaras and Beverlys who were poised no matter what happened around them - crumbling schools, unruly stepchildren, wizened gangsters - delivering an "above-it-all" air minus the disdain.

"It's a rare when an actor knows how to both be a diva and also play against that and normalize herself," explained David Hollander, showrunner for the Showtime series "Ray Donovan." Ralph starred in several episodes as Claudette, the longtime love of "retired" gangster Mickey Donovan (played by Jon Voight). "What makes Sheryl so compelling to watch, in my opinion, is that she can walk that line between her power and formality."

Hollander was looking for a "funny, powerful, alluring" actress to play Claudette. "We also needed an actor who could be raw, believably hold the history of her own complicated backstory, and who had the talent to come and play with Jon Voight and the rest of the spectacular cast," he said. "So, Sheryl Lee Ralph."

"So, Sheryl Lee Ralph": the increasingly obvious answer to the question of who can play a layered character with equal parts authenticity and aspiration.

"I don't think people in positions - I don't think their eyes were open enough to be able to see you, much less see your talent or see what it is you have to offer to the industry," Ralph said of the Hollywood bigwigs who were gatekeeping when she first arrived. "Now I guess people have awakened to being able to see Black people and that's a shift in the industry, a good one."

The actress could barely keep count the number of successful projects she appeared in that were promptly dismissed as "flukes." "No, it wasn't a fluke," she said. "It was success, it was excellence, it was talent. But people just could not see it."

Now, thanks to "Abbott Elementary," people finally are.

"No matter what, I thought she deserved Emmy-worthy television material," said writer-producer Brunson. "It made me really confident in myself for being able to deliver on something I said I would do. It made me trust myself."

Brunson herself is part of the legacy that Ralph, who has a track record of working with young Black women on the rise (Brandy in "Moesha," Lauryn Hill in "Sister Act 2"), is actively building. If she'd quit all those years ago, then where would they be?

"I was never going to give up because somebody was trying to tell me how valuable I was not," Ralph said of her early years. "Obviously they did not know me and they didn't know my people and they didn't know where I come from. So they got it all wrong."

Ralph, who didn't come here to preach today, is preaching again nonetheless. "Give up? Are you kidding me? They might not get it now, but they will see. Oh, yeah, they will see. I always believed that. Always."
CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australias recent change of government was a chance to reset its troubled relationship with China, but the new administration must handle the Taiwan question with caution, a Chinese envoy said on Wednesday.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said he was surprised that Australia had signed a statement with the United States and Japan that condemned Chinas firing of missiles into Japanese waters in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan last week.

We hope that the Australian side could take China-Australia relations with serious attitude. Take the One China principle seriously, handle the Taiwan question with caution, Xiao told the National Press Club.

Xiao would not say when the live-fire military exercises near Taiwan might end. He said an announcement would be made at a proper time.

China wanted a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a self-governing province, but Xiao did not rule out use of force.

We can never rule out the option to use other means. So when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means, Xiao said. As to what does it mean by all necessary means? You can use your imagination.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin this week said Australia had wantonly criticized Chinas legitimate, justified and lawful measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Wang urged Australia to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

In the past few years, China-Australia relations have experienced serious difficulties for reasons caused by the Australian side, Wang said.

Beijing has eased a ban on minister-to-minister contacts with Australia since Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government was elected in May. The two countries defense and foreign ministers have since had face-to-face meetings.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wrote to congratulate Albanese on his election and Albanese had replied.

China would discuss with Australia whether conditions were right for a meeting between Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November when the leaders are in Indonesia for a Group of 20 summit.

As ambassador, Im hoping for the best and Im going to try to make all my efforts toward that direction, Xiao said.

Xiao said the new Australian government had made a good start to its relationship with China after a difficult time for a couple of years.

But its a good start only. Theres a lot to be done to really reset this relationship, Xiao said.

Albanese has urged China to demonstrate good faith toward the new government by lifting a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that is costing Australian exporters tens of billions of dollars.

Xiao defended the barriers and pointed to the economic damage Australia had caused Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei by banning it from rolling out the countrys 5G network due to security concerns.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is filling in while Albanese is on vacation this week, was undeterred by the hostile Chinese reaction to Australias criticisms of the military response to Pelosis visit.

China is going to say what China says. We control our end of this equation. And in describing that end, its this: We will engage with the world with respect, with professionalism, with sobriety, with a faith in diplomacy, Marles said Wednesday.

And we will continue to do that. While the government has changed, our national interest hasnt. We will also speak to our national interest and we will speak to it with vigor, Marles added.
After two years, the Feria de Nuevo Laredo, Expomex 2022, is returning to the border city this coming Sept. 2 to Oct. 2.

After a new fair, Feria de San Valentin, this past February, where El Teatro del Pueblo, rides, game activities and some snack stands were available, the Expomex Facebook page just released a flier announcing the return of the regular event that includes several restaurants and vendors that visit the sister city of Nuevo Laredo, which was suspended years before due to the COVID pandemic.

However, the organization Feria y Exposicion Fronteriza de Nuevo LaredoA.C., which usually hosts these events annually, will not be in charge of Expomex this year. Juegos Manzo, a Mexican company from Monterrey will now be the organizer of this emblematic event of the City of Nuevo Laredo.

According to staff from Feria y Exposicion Fronteriza de Nuevo Laredo, Expomex will continue to have the same attractions for the public, from the exhibitions of buying and selling cattle, to amusement rides and restaurants, but they will not be responsible of this event.

On Facebook, the announcement post showed many who seemed to be upset regarding the tickets being too expensive for the community.

It is speculated to the price of entrance to be 200 pesos (about $10) with access to all rides, but some are discontented due to that some people doesnt go to the rides but only attend to have dinner and enjoy of the shows and bars.

Not all people want to get on the rides, many people go to buy, eat and enjoy the exhibitions. There should be the option of paying a cheaper ticket, without the right to games and then everyone decides, which option to pay. My humble opinion! said local Lauris Aguilera.

Others are excited for the rides such as Humberto Guajardo, who expressed on the post to be hoping Expomex could bring good amusement rides this year.

karol.garcia@lmtonline.com
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NEW YORK (AP)  For much of the year, small cracks in Donald Trump's political support have been growing.

Dissatisfied Republican primary voters began to consider new presidential prospects. GOP donors grappled with damaging revelations uncovered by the Jan. 6 committee. S everal party leaders pondered challenging Trump for the party's 2024 nomination.

But after the FBI executed a search warrant at his Florida estate, the Republican Party unified swiftly behind the former president.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who likely represents Trump's strongest potential primary challenger, described the Biden administration as a regime and called Monday's Mar-a-Lago search for improperly taken classified documents another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regimes political opponents.

The GOP push to portray Trump as the victim of a politicized Justice Department ignored the potential criminal misconduct that justified the search in the eyes of a federal judge. It overlooked Trump's role in hiring now-vilified FBI Director Chris Wray, who also served as a high-ranking official in a Republican-led Justice Department. The Biden White House, meanwhile, said it had no prior knowledge of the search.

But the robust defense serves as a fresh reminder of the former president's enduring grip on the GOP, driven by an ability to use a sense of grievance among many Republican voters toward government and other institutions. Trump tapped into that animosity to overcome two impeachments and the fallout from an insurrection. His allies said Tuesday that the FBI search would only strengthen his position again.

The sooner he kicks off his campaign, the better," Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Banks, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, said in an interview.

Banks was among about a dozen Republican lawmakers who spent several hours Tuesday evening with Trump at his summer home in Bedminster, New Jersey. During a meal that included steak, scallops, mashed potatoes, salad and a Trump cookie, the group talked about the upcoming midterm elections and the 2024 presidential race, Banks said.

The former president told the lawmakers his mind is made up about a 2024 campaign and we'll all be happy with his decision."

The FBI search seemed to trigger a shift among Trump's advisers, who had been privately urging him to wait until after the midterm elections to announce his intention to seek the presidency again. Suddenly, some of those same advisers were urging him to launch his campaign before the November elections.

Trump stoked such speculation in the hours after the search by posting a campaign-style video on social media. The best is yet to come, he said.

He followed up with a fundraising appeal, making it personal by declaring "its important that you know that it wasnt just my home that was violated  it was the home of every patriotic American who I have been fighting for.

In Columbia, South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he spoke with Trump and felt sure another campaign was coming.

One thing I can tell you, Graham said. I believed he was going to run before. Im stronger in my belief now.

As Republicans rallied behind Trump, Democrats pushed back against GOP claims of political interference, without evidence. Some accused the GOP of a departure from its longstanding commitment to law and order."

The FBI director was appointed by Donald Trump, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Asked if the raid might hurt Democrats in the November elections, she said: Youre talking about if the Justice Department decides to have a warrant to go in because they suspect something is justified, its going to have an impact on the election? No, no, no, no, no.

Some of Trump's most vocal Republican critics still shied away from embracing the former president. And it was unclear how rank-and-file Republican voters and independents frustrated by Trump's divisive leadership might be moved by the new developments.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor and one of many Republicans considering a 2024 presidential bid, noted Tuesday that a federal judge had to sign off on the warrant.

The former president is presumed innocent, Christie said in an interview. On the other hand, we cant immediately impugn the motives of the prosecutors just because theyre from another political party.

Its an extraordinary action. And there better be some pretty extraordinary facts to underlie it. If there are, then they have every right to do it.

And some other Republican officials seemed to express continued concerns about Trump by refusing to weigh in at all.

The relatively short list of those GOP leaders who remained silent Tuesday afternoon was led by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has privately encouraged his party to move past Trump. But the Kentucky Republican eventually weighed in, saying: The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday. Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.

The overwhelming majority  from House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to DeSantis, accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department and ignored any potential wrongdoing by Trump.

The GOP now fully embraces the notion that Trump should, indeed, be above the law, and that Trump 2.0 will be a bonfire of vengeance, wrote Republican commentator Charlie Sykes, a frequent Trump critic.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is gearing up for a presidential run of his own, said he shared the deep concerns of millions of Americans over the search of Trump's private residence.

He stopped short of attacking the FBI, however. Instead, he said Attorney General Merrick Garland should give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately.

Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri aggressively condemned the Justice Department on Trump's behalf.

Hawley called the search an unprecedented assault on democratic norms and the rule of law. He called for Garland's resignation or impeachment and the removal of FBI Director Wray.

Cotton said Garland had weaponized the Justice Department against his political enemies. There will be consequences for this," he warned.

Also from Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, still another Republican weighing a 2024 run, called the search unprecedented and alarming. But like Pence, he added, We must see the probable cause affidavit before making a judgment.

The search intensified the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in boxes of White House records located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. A separate grand jury is investigating efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

In late June, long before the latest development, 48% of U.S. adults said that Trump should be charged with a crime for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Views on Trumps criminal liability broke down predictably along party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans saying Trump should be charged. Still, the fact that nearly half the country believed he should be prosecuted represents a remarkable position for the former president, pointing to the difficulties he could face in another White House run.

Former Trump adviser Sam Nunberg said Monday's FBI search would almost certainly strengthen Trump's standing among Republican primary voters, especially those Republicans who had begun to lean toward DeSantis or another fresh face. But if Trump is ultimately indicted for a federal crime related to the search, as Nunberg said he expects, the former president's ability to win over a broader group of voters in the 2024 general election could take a major hit.

Despite the fantasies of everyone from Sean Hannity to Steve Bannon, I can promise you that someone under indictment isnt going to get elected president of the United States, Nunberg said.

But on Tuesday, at least, the Republican Party was squarely behind Trump, its undisputed leader.

One of Trump's most vocal supporters in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, almost seemed to thank the Justice Department for bringing her party together.

Ive talked a lot about the civil war in the GOP and I lean into it because America needs fearless & effective Republicans to finally put America First, she tweeted. Last nights tyrannical FBI raid at MAR is unifying us in ways I havent seen.

___

AP writers Jill Colvin, Meg Kinnard, Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
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Nixon High School cosmetology and barbering students offered free haircuts to Lamar Middle School students at the Nixon High School Vocational Building on Monday, Aug. 8, 2022.

Students from 12th grade put their abilities learned in class into practice by supporting the community and providing free haircuts to middle school students.

This event is part of the initiatives for going back to school.

Cosmetology educator Marti Rodriguez expressed that this is a helpful chance for parents to get their sons and daughters ready to return to class.

Some parents even told him this has made their life easier and save time and money.

Everyone has been very happy; the parents are very happy because they had never thought about this. A mother came to me early and told me, I liked it very much because I always go to beauty salons and it is always very crowded, and I like it here because I live nearby. Now I can take advantage of this.

He also shared that these are opportunities that not only benefit the community, it also helps the students since they are being able to practice their skills and getting used to clients.

Students were telling me they really liked it, Rodriguez said. One told me he was very happy. He said, I am gaining experience. I am losing my fear, because it is not the same with the mannequin than with human hair. It is something very nice for them.

Rodriguez also alented students that are called by the beauty industry to try the program.

This is a good career, and it is very well paid, he said. At the same time, it is a career that offers many opportunities; they can become beauty salon owners, salon manager and they can even their own a school if they like.

This service will continue to be offered throughout the year for LISD students.

Cindy Dominguez  College, Career and Military Readiness Coordinator  echoed Rodriguez, and she added that this alleviates families with expenses from back to school.

It's been difficult times, especially with the expenses of going back to school and everything that we've been through with the pandemic, so this is a way that the students can give back and help save families a little bit of money, Dominguez said. It is a win for everyone and they want to give back to the community so that the community wins, and they also get their hours.

All students who are providing haircuts are about to receive their licenses, and they are collecting service hours requirement to fill a requirement to be ready to graduate.

By offering their services to the community, students get to gain practice and experience with clients.

Dominguez explained that the pandemic has brought many challenges as the program was on and off, and the students began on the end of 11th grade but many improvements in their learning have been seen since then.

Progressively you see them grow their confidence. The more they practice, they get the better they get more confidence.

The students are using new facilities and equipment, since it was in October that the program was moved to the Vocational Building at Nixon High School.

The program is of the two-year variety, and students graduate high school with a diploma and a license in cosmetology or barbering without having to spend money and time after graduating to go into that field.

It's a blessing, and we appreciate that the other trustees and Dr Sylvia Rios approved programs, Dominguez said. The support that we have from the instructors with the experience, they are from the community that became LISD teachers.

Services such as nails, facials, haircuts and more are open to the community. To schedule an appointment, call Marti Rodriguez at 956-273-7471.

karol.garcia@lmtonline.com
The Laredo Independent School District Police Department held a swearing in ceremony for the districts newest police officers and ranking officers during a ceremony held at the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts Auditorium. Two new officers, two sergeants and two lieutenants took their oath and received their badges.

LISD Police Chief Doreen Hale administered the Oath to the officers while each were pinned by family members.
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PARIS (AP)  French environmentalists prepared Tuesday to move a beluga whale that strayed into the Seine River last week to a saltwater basin in Normandy, hoping to save the life of the dangerously thin marine mammal.

A medical team plans to transport the 4-meter-long (13-foot-long) whale to a coastal spot in the northeastern French port town of Ouistreham for a period of care, according to Lamya Essemlali, president of the conservation group Sea Shepherd France.

Experts think the whale is sick and in a race against time for survival, she said.

The whale would remain in its temporary saltwater home for two to three days of surveillance and treatment before being towed out to sea, according to Isabelle Dorliat Pouzet, deputy prefect of the town of Evreux.

Then, nature will take its course, Pouzet said. We have to be optimistic... the work has been painstakingly prepared.

A team of some 80 people, including veterinarians and environmentalists, gathered Tuesday near a Seine River lock in the Eure region to plot the exodus of the new local celebrity.

Conservations groups said it would take 24 people to load the beluga into a refrigerated truck for the approximately 160-kilometer (99-mile) trip to Ouistreham, describing the the saltwater transfer as an enormous operation.

Because the region is experiencing extreme heat, the team plans to wait until nightfall before moving the ethereal white creature. It weighs about 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds).

Rescuers hope to spare the whale the fate of an orca that strayed into the Seine and died in May.

Authorities said that while the move carries its own mortality risk because of the stress on the animal, the whale cant survive much longer in the Seines freshwater habitat.

They remain hopeful it will survive after it responded to a cocktail of antibiotics and vitamins administered in the last few days and rubbed itself on the locks wall to remove patches that had appeared on its back.

Sea Shepherd's Essemlali said medical surveillance at the saltwater basin would help establish whether whale is suffering from something we can help it with or from an incurable illness.

Drone footage shot by French fire services last week showed the whale meandering into a stretch of the Seine between Paris and the Normandy city of Rouen that is far inland from the sea.

Conservationists have tried unsuccessfully since Friday to feed fish to the beluga. Sea Shepherd fears the whale is slowly starving in the waterway.
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Russian authorities detained a former state TV journalist who quit after staging an on-air protest against Moscows war in Ukraine and charged her Wednesday with spreading false information about Russias armed forces, according to her lawyer.

Marina Ovsyannikova was charged over a separate street protest last month, when she held up a banner that said (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists. 352 children have been killed (in Ukraine). How many more children should die for you to stop?

If tried and convicted, Ovsyannikova faces up to 10 years in prison under a new law that penalizes statements against the military and that was enacted shortly after Russian troops moved into Ukraine, her lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, said in a Telegram post.

Ovsyannikovas home was raided Wednesday and she was taken for questioning. Zakhvatov said the former producer for Russian state-funded Channel One would spend the night in a holding cell at Moscow police headquarters.

Speaking to journalists outside the investigators' office, the lawyer said Ovsyannikova was holding up well. He said the new law, which allows people to be detained for picketing, showed that Russia's judicial system was in complete default.

Ovsyannikova made international headlines on March 14, when she appeared behind the anchor of an evening news broadcast holding a poster that said Stop the war, dont believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here. She was charged with disparaging the Russian military and fined 30,000 rubles ($270 at the time).

After quitting her job, Ovsyannikova became somewhat of an activist, staging antiwar pickets and speaking out publicly against the conflict.

She was fined two more times in recent weeks for disparaging the military in a critical Facebook post and in comments she made at the court where opposition figure Ilya Yashin was remanded into custody pending trial, also accused of spreading false information about the military.

According to Net Freedoms, a legal aid group focusing on free speech cases, as of Wednesday there were 79 criminal cases on charges of spreading false information about the military and up to 4,000 administrative cases on charges of disparaging the armed forces.

Independent journalists in Russia have come under particular Kremlin scrutiny. A Moscow court on Wednesday fined the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta 350,000 rubles ($5,700) for abusing the freedom of mass information. It was unclear what the newspaper was accused of doing wrong.

Since Putin came to power more than two decades ago, nearly two dozen journalists have been killed, including at least four who had worked for Novaya Gazeta. The newspaper shut down in March.

Its editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. In June, he auctioned off his prize to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees. The gold medal sold for $103.5 million.
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PRAGUE (AP)  Oil shipments from Russia through a critical pipeline to several European countries resumed after a problem over payments for transit was resolved, Slovakias Economy Minister Richard Sulik said on Wednesday.

Oil is already on Slovakia territory, Sulik said on Facebook. He gave no further details.

But no oil has reached the neighboring Czech Republic yet, the countrys Mero pipeline operator said, and Hungary also was still to receive deliveries by Wednesday evening.

Russian state pipeline operator Transneft said Tuesday it halted shipments through the southern branch of the Druzhba, or Friendship, pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The northern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus to Poland and Germany, was unaffected, Transneft said.

Transneft cited complications due to European Union sanctions for its action on Aug. 4, saying its payment to the companys Ukrainian counterpart was refused.

Earlier Wednesday, Sulik said the payments would be made by Slovak refiner Slovnaft after both the Russian and Ukrainian sides agreed to the solution. Slovnaft is owned by Hungarys MOL energy group.

MOL confirmed the money has been transferred. But Slovnaft spokesman Anton Molnar said the deal covered only shipments to Slovakia and Hungary and not to the Czech Republic.

Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela said his country has joined forces with Polish authorities to look for options to resume oil shipments to the Czech Republic. Two Czech oil refiners, including the one in Litvinov that processes Russian oil, are owned by Polands oil and energy giant PKN Orlen.

Sikela didnt provide more details.

Slovakia receives practically all its oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Sulik said the payment is worth some 910 million euros (up to $10.2 million).

He said his country would work on a long-term solution to the problem which he said was caused by the refusal of an unnamed bank in Western Europe to transfer the money due to the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

I wouldnt look for a political context behind it, theres none, Sulik said.

However, Simone Tagliapietra, an energy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, said Russia has weaponized natural gas heading to Europe by claiming technical issues, and this opens questions on whether it might now do the same with oil.

Russia has blamed equipment repairs for its decision to slash flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, whose government has called it a political move to sow uncertainty and push up prices amid the war in Ukraine.

EU leaders agreed in May to embargo most Russian oil imports by the end of the year as part of the blocs sanctions over Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The embargo covers Russian oil brought in by sea, but allowed temporary Druzhba pipeline shipments to Hungary and certain other landlocked countries in central Europe, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

These countries are very dependent on Russian oil and as such they might face shortages in the short term should the interruption be lasting, Tagliapietra said.

Some drivers in Hungary were anticipating that on Wednesday, prompting MOL to appeal to the public asking customers to reduce their petrol purchases.

For now, I keep trying to keep my cars tank topped up, so I dont run out of fuel. And then well see, said Erzsebet Kovacs.

___

Courtney Bonnell in London and video journalist Bela Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary, contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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Longtime Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette has won his Democratic primary, advancing to a general election in which Republicans hope to win back the seat and give it power over elections.

And in Minnesota, Republican Kim Crockett  who has called the 2020 election rigged and campaigned on rolling back changes that have made it easier to vote  has advanced to the November election against Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat seeking his third term. Primaries were also held Tuesday in Connecticut and Vermont.

This year, races for secretary of state have drawn tremendous interest and money largely because of the 2020 election, when voting systems and processes came under attack by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. There is no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation of voting systems occurring in the 2020 election.

In Wisconsin, state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck defeated two primary opponents to advance to the November election against La Follette, a Democrat first elected in 1974.

Unlike many states, the Wisconsin secretary of state is not the top elections official and the offices only duties are to sit on a state timber board and verify certain travel documents. But Loudenbeck and other Republicans have said they want to change that and dismantle the Wisconsin Elections Commission, an agency established just six years ago with bipartisan support.

Loudenbeck and her primary opponents have echoed Trumps false claims that fraud cost him the 2020 election and sharply criticized decisions made by the commission heading into the 2020 election, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought major challenges to running elections. They had argued that empowering the secretary of state would allow voters to hold someone accountable for important election-related decisions.

Wisconsin voters have taken the first step forward in the effort to restore purpose and respect to the Office of Secretary of State," Loudenbeck said in a statement Tuesday night.

To accomplish their goal, Republicans also would need to defeat Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who would block such a move, in November.

La Follette, 81, said he didnt think primary voters were focused on the issue of who runs elections, but they will be.

Thats what the election is all about now,  La Follette said Tuesday in a phone interview. My message is simple and very clear: I think we in Wisconsin want to keep partisan politics out of the election process the way we have for 50 years."

At a polling location in Ozaukee County's Thiensville, Wisconsin GOP primary voter Franklin Szpot, 42, who works in marketing and sales, said he felt more confident in elections this year.

I think its secure right now. Im hoping that there isnt any nonsense that happens," Szpot said. After Trump lost, I had lost a lot of faith in that, and now I feel its kind of coming back with some of these candidates that are on the ballot.

In Minnesota, Crockett has also called the 2020 election a train wreck and accused state election officials of using the pandemic as cover to change how we vote, but also how the vote is counted. Simon has defended the state's actions, calling the 2020 election fundamentally fair, honest, accurate and secure.

Simon, in a statement Wednesday, described Crockett as a hyper-partisan extremist who embraces bizarre conspiracy theories and traffics in bigotry and said she was unfit to serve. Following the state convention in May, Crockett had been criticized for showing a video there attacking three prominent Jewish Democrats, including Simon.

My opponent has a dark, divisive, and dangerous vision, Simon said.

Crockett, in a statement Wednesday, said her goal was to restore everyone's confidence in Minnesota's elections" and pledged to work with state lawmakers and local election officials. She accused Simon of attempting to circumvent the Legislature with changes to voting procedures during the pandemic and said the office should be a nonpartisan operation.

There is no evidence to support Trumps claims of a stolen election in 2020 or to suggest widespread fraud or tampering with voting machines or ballot drop boxes. Dozens of legal claims made by Trump and his allies after the election were rejected by judges, including ones appointed by Trump.

Indira Neill, 36, of Moorhead, Minnesota, said after casting her primary ballot Tuesday that she was more concerned about voters being manipulated than ballots being miscounted.

My greater concern is generally things like disinformation campaigns and the spread of disinformation through social media, said Neill, a college professor who supported Simon. We know this happened in the 2016 election, and there is no reason to believe these campaigns have stopped.

Races in Connecticut and Vermont were noteworthy because it was the first time in more than a decade that the seats were open. Both longtime Democratic secretaries of state opted not to seek reelection this year.

In Connecticut, GOP primary voters selected Dominic Rapini and Democratic primary voters nominated state Rep. Stephanie Thomas. Rapini is the former board chairman of a group called Fight Voter Fraud Inc. and has called for tightening ID requirements and cleaning the states voter rolls. Thomas opposes additional ID requirements.

I would like to appeal right now  today  and to all unaffiliated voters, Republican voters who are looking for an alternative to conspiracy theories and the sowing of misinformation, who believe that its time to invest in our democracy and make sure that we have the infrastructure to run clean elections, Thomas said in a speech Tuesday night.

In a statement, Rapini touted his campaign's focus on safe and secure elections and pointed to unspecified systemic failures in the primary. While there were isolated equipment troubles, there were no reports of any major issues on Tuesday.

Political insiders like Stephanie Thomas wont fix these problems  she pretends that they dont even exist, Rapini said. Plainly stated, she is a fraud denier.

In Vermont's Democratic primary, state Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas defeated two opponents who had experience overseeing elections: Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters and Montpelier City Clerk John Odum.

Hanzas had co-sponsored legislation last year expanding voter access in the state. Under the new law, general election ballots will be mailed to all registered voters, although people can still opt to vote in person on Election Day.

On the Republican side, perennial candidate H. Brooke Paige was the lone person on the ballot for secretary of state, and advanced to the November election. Paige also ran unopposed in the Republican primary for state treasurer, auditor and attorney general.

___

Cassidy reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Todd Richmond and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; Wilson Ring in Montpelier, Vermont; Gretchen Ehlke in Thiensville, Wisconsin; and Dave Kolpack in Moorhead, Minnesota, contributed to this report.
Photo: GT

By Lu Shaye

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese side and visited the island of Taiwan. It was a trip of provocation and flames-fanning, exposing to the world the US ill-intentioned attempts of changing the status quo of the Taiwan Straits and hallowing the one-China principle.

The G7 and EU did not have the courage to condemn the US, but rather colluded with it to issue a statement which sought to shift the blame for escalating the cross-Straits tensions on China and put "applicable conditions" on the one-China principle. All these words have exposed the arrogance and hypocrisy of Western countries.

In recent years, some European countries have been constantly changing positions on the Taiwan question. It is especially true when it comes to certain anti-China politicians. On the one hand, those political elites have been influenced, shaped and manipulated by the US for a long period of time. The Ukraine crisis since the beginning of this year has made Europe "vulnerable" in an unprecedented way, which has also made it easier for the US to "manipulate Europe through Russia."

It has become politically correct for most European countries to follow the suit of the US and the anti-China political virus has quickly spread to Europe. Some European politicians have since stepped up efforts in playing the Taiwan card to chase their own interests, attract public attention and gamble for votes.

On the other hand, the mainstream media and scholars in Europe also bear the responsibility for such tactics of manipulating the Taiwan question. Some so-called experts on China and some journalists always play the role of delivering the US stance and observing China through a negative filter. No matter whether it is a major issue or a small one, Europe would speak or act in favor of the US while opposing to China whenever it could. In terms of the historical context of the Taiwan question and the fact that the Chinese mainland and the island of Taiwan belong to one China, some people pretend they don't understand or deliberately distort it out of their ideological bias toward China. The political sphere colludes with public opinion and media, which fueled the negative remarks and actions over the Taiwan question.

From a boarder and deeper perspective, China-Europe relations have entered a historical period of restructuring, and some setbacks are becoming unavoidable. The political consensus between the two sides on the Taiwan question has been affected as well. The essential problem is that some European countries have severe cognitive distortion. The three definitions of China - a partner for cooperation and negotiation, an economic competitor and a systemic rival - by the EU contradict with each other.

The world is changing in an unprecedented way. But some European countries have not woken up from "the old dream" about a Western-led world and do not have an objective and rational understanding of China. The EU is walking away from its self-proclaimed strategic independence and is being strategically hijacked by the US hegemony.

There are certain groups of people whose mindsets still remain in the last century even though their bodies moved into the 21st century. The spread of information in Western society is not as transparent and smooth as it claims. In essence, it is a one-way output dominated by Western media and elite groups.

Secessionist Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been brainwashing the people in Taiwan with "Taiwan independence" and "de-Sinicization" ideas. In Western society, some people are also brainwashed and thus have a negative understanding about China. To a larger extent, the West has consciously rejected the real situation in China, and has selected, amplified and transmitted negative information about China to their own people. Even positive information would be distorted. Over time, the image of China in the eyes of the European people has been demonized, which then disturbs normal exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Once a negative impression is formed, people will intuitively interpret all policies of China from a negative angle.

The most important means to expose lies and fallacies and eliminate misunderstandings and prejudices is to strengthen communication. For years, we have strived to introduce a real China to France and to European society. We fight for our own interests, set things right, make friends and enhance mutual understanding. And we received a lot of support and encouragement. On the Taiwan question, we explain it from the angles of historical context and the international law. We reveal that the history of the island as part of China is much longer than the histories of many European countries, including France. And we use the example of Corsica as a territorial collectivity of France to guide the public's understanding of the Taiwan question.

This is information that the French people do not access from their own media channels. A netizen once left a message on the social media account of the Chinese Embassy in France, saying that he had finally understood what Taiwan means to China, which is just like what Corsica means to France and Catalonia to Spain. We will continue to do this work and actively guide the French and European people to "rethink" on China-related issues.

The People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China. This is the basic norm governing international relations adopted by the resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly of 1971, and it is also the official position of European countries with diplomatic relations with China, including France. On Pelosi's visit, some French political figures and scholars such as Jean-Luc Melenchon who leads La France Insoumise (a left-wing political party in France) voiced support for the one-China principle, saying that Taiwan is part of China and condemning Pelosi's provocative and dangerous move.

At the same time, some anti-China forces and individuals in certain European countries are also hyping on the Taiwan question, mulling on challenging China's red line, which deserves our vigilance. The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-EU relations and a red line and bottom line that can't be crossed.

We call on European side not to underestimate the firm will and strong ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and not to blindly follow the US in playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Instead, they should take concrete actions and stand on the right side of history.

As the world's two major powers, markets and civilizations, China and Europe share responsibilities in boosting peace and world development, and both should inject stability for the world amid the turbulences. China-France relations are one of the most stable major-power relations in the world today. China, France and Europe have a thousand reasons to improve relations, but no reason to damage their ties.

We attach importance to the China-France and China-Europe relations like we always do. Only by staying true to our original aspiration and making an independent and sober judgment on our own interests, can China-France and China- Europe relations continue to develop and correct the course when needed.

The author is China's Ambassador to France.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
A Mississippi grand jury declines to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham, the White woman whose accusations led to the brutal death of 14-year-old Emmett Till. The teen is pictured here with his mother at home in Chicago. TNS/ABACA via Reuters
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A defendant arrested in the Czech Republic on foot of a European Arrest Warrant was refused bail by Judge Deirdre Gearty at a sitting of Longford District Court.

Ismaeil Abdelkhalik (65) whose charge sheet address was 23 Derravarra, Mullingar, Westmeath was arrested on the morning of the court sitting.

Garda David Meade told the court he arrested the defendant at Dublin Airport on foot of 33 European Arrest Warrants. Prior to his Longford District Court hearing the defendant spent two months in custody in the Czech Republic.

The officer said the charges faced by Mr Abdelkhalik related to a Section 92 breach of the Trademark Act. The Garda told Judge Gearty the defendant made no reply to the charges and said the State was looking to have the defendant remanded in custody.

Garda Meade objected to bail under O'Callaghan ruled. He put forward the belief that this was covered by the strength of the evidence and suggested Mr Abdelkhalik no longer had ties to the State.

The Garda said the breach of the trademark act related to counterfeit items seized at locations connected with Mr Abdelkhalik.

Though a Norwegian and Egyptian citizen, the defendant now lives in Birmingham, but lived in Mullingar for a seven year period up to 2017.

Garda Meade stated that the DPP was seeking trial on indictment, but needed time to prepare the book of evidence.

The defendant's solicitor, Louis Kiernan, said his client co-operated fully with the investigation. The defendant was first interviewed about the matter in 2016 and was unaware that the prosecution had progressed. Mr Abdelkhalik did not know the EAW was in place until he was arrested in the Czech Republic.

Mr Kiernan said his client travelled extensively in the last number of years, but his arrest two months ago was the first time he became aware of the arrest warrant. The solicitor described Mr Abdelkhalik as a market trader who runs an enamel sign company in Birmingham. He told the court the defendant frequently travels to his native Egypt where his wife is undergoing cancer treatment.

Mr Kiernan suggested his client is willing to make a substantial cash lodgement and the defendant's brother travelled from Belfast with 8,000 and 2,000. Garda Meade confirmed Mr Abdelkhalik surrendered both his Norwegian and Egyptian passports.

In the witness box the defendant gave an undertaking to attend every court sitting and described having a very bad time while in custody in the Czech Republic.

Judge Gearty said she could not accede to the bail request. The judge said the threshold of the O'Callaghan rules had been met by the State in the case. She adjourned the matter to August 11 for the preparation of the Book of Evidence and directed that the defendant appear before the sitting of Mullingar District court on that day by video link.
The Tanaiste said the Government is considering all options to find accommodation for Ukrainian refugees as thousands will be moved out of student campuses over the coming weeks.

Leo Varadkar said the government is doing its best to accommodate Ukrainian refugees, with Ireland taking in around 1% of Ukrainians who have fled the war.

There are more than 4,000 refugees staying in student accommodation across the country.

Asked what the government is doing to secure housing and rooms for those who will be moved out in the coming weeks, Mr Varadkar said it is looking at all options.

We shouldnt lose sight of the bigger picture here, Mr Varadkar added.

Europe is at war. Theres a terrible war happening on our continent.

Five million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes.

Thats roughly the entire population of the state and theyve now been dispersed across Europe, and roughly 1% of them have come to Ireland.

I believe weve an obligation to do our part and to do the best we can to accommodate those people as best we can.

There isnt a country in Europe that had 50,000 or 100,000 vacant properties in case of war happened.

Thats just not how the world works.

Were doing the best we can to accommodate people as best we can in all sorts of different settings, whether its rented accommodation, whether its hotels and B&Bs, whether its modular accommodation, or whether its in peoples homes, and thats what well continue to do.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar also said that the target of ending the direct provision system by the end of 2024 remains in place.

The system, set up more than 20 years ago, provides accommodation centres for asylum seekers and is run by for-profit companies.

It has been heavily criticised by organisations including the UN, Amnesty International and the Council of Europe in that time.

In February last year, the Government published its White Paper to replace the centres with an international protection system by 2024.

Mr Varadkar said the system is currently full and has been for a long time.

There are actually a lot of people now in direct provision that have status in Ireland, but continued to live in direct provision because they havent moved out yet, they havent found somewhere to rent, Mr Varadkar said.

Thats part of the difficulty, and also it is important to bear in mind always that direct provision is not compulsory.

Lots of people come to the country who claim asylum, now work, provide their own accommodation, stay with friends.

Its a service that the government offers.

Were trying to improve the quality of that all the time.

The target remains to get to the situation where we replace direct provision with own-door accommodation in all cases, but thats going to be difficult to achieve.

Thats the truth of it.

The fact that weve accommodated 40,000 or so people from Ukraine in the past few months, many more likely to come, makes it more difficult.

If there is a country in the world thats able to provide own-door self-catering accommodation for everyone who arrives within a few weeks, I dont know where that country is.

Its a very difficult thing to achieve.
Man Arrested for More Than a Dozen Commercial Burglaries

Crime, Local Experts

By Chris Boyle Published: August 09 2022

Suffolk County Police today arrested a Kings Park man for burglarizing more than a dozen businesses throughout the county since May.

Suffolk County Police today arrested a Kings Park man for burglarizing more than a dozen businesses throughout the county since May.

Robert Porter was sitting in an abandoned vehicle on First Avenue in Bay Shore at approximately 4 a.m. when Third Precinct Anti-Crime Officers Jeremy Reichling and John Tighe observed him in possession of cocaine.

Following an investigation by Third Squad detectives, along with First and Fifth Squad detectives, Porter was charged with burglarizing the following businesses:

The Hero Joint, 182 West Main St., Bay Shore, on May 23 at approximately 1 a.m.

Tequila Sunrise Wine and Liquor, 1752 Sunrise Highway, Bay Shore, on May 25 at approximately 10:30 p.m.

DMS Smoke Shop, 190 Islip Ave., Islip, on June 19 at approximately 1:25 a.m.

DMS Smoke Shop, 190 Islip Ave., Islip, on June 26 at approximately 11:30 p.m.

USA Gas, 225 Higbie Lane, West Islip, on June 29 at approximately 1:55 a.m.

Parkway Express Gas, 1490 Brentwood Road, Bay Shore, on June 29 at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Shell, 4576 Sunrise Highway, Oakdale, on July 18 at approximately 12:55 a.m.

D & B Beer & Smoke, 4509 Sunrise Highway North Service Road, Bohemia, on July 21 at approximately 1:30 a.m.

Lindenhurst Smoke Shop, 50 West Montauk Highway, Lindenhurst, on July 22 at 2 a.m.

Shell, 4576 Sunrise Highway, Oakdale, on July 25 at 4 a.m.

D & B Beer & Smoke, 4509 Sunrise Highway North Service Road, Bohemia, on July 26 at approximately 12:45 a.m.

Hersheys Ice Cream Shop, 470 Union Blvd., West Islip, on July 31 at approximately 3:30 a.m.

Bang Bang Burritos, 464 Union Blvd., West Islip, on July 31 at approximately 3:35 a.m.

Le Belle Nail & Spa, 1201 Sunrise Highway North Service Road, Bay Shore, on August 2 at approximately 5 a.m.

During the burglaries, Porter stole cash, liquor, cigarettes, vaping products and lottery tickets.

Porter, 55, was charged with 14 counts of Burglary 3rd Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th Degree. He will be held overnight at the Third Precinct and arraigned on August 10 at First District Court in Central Islip.
TransGlobe Energy Corp - Calgary, Canada-based oil explorer and producer - Says second quarter sales average 12,609 barrels of oil equivalent per day at average realised price of USD95.37 per barrel, up 69% on a year before. Petroleum and natural gas sales for quarter total USD109.4 million, up 29% on a year before. Net earnings soar to USD32.1 million from USD7.7 million. "Production for the quarter was below full year 2022 guidance of 12,400 to 13,400 boe/d and 3% lower than the previous quarter. The decrease was primarily due to planned maintenance at a third-party processing facility in Canada, partially offset by an increase in production in the Eastern desert from the ongoing drilling program. It is expected that annual production will be within full-year 2022 production guidance," it says.

Current stock price: 265.00 pence

12-month change: up sharply from 116p

By Lucy Heming; lucyheming@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The UK Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has claimed he will challenge energy bosses to do more to help their customers cope with soaring prices at a crunch meeting on Thursday.

Zahawi acknowledged that more is needed to be done to help people with the spike in the cost of living ahead of winter, but suggested that rolling blackouts were unlikely.

Zahawi and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will ask gas and electricity utilities company executives to submit a breakdown of expected profits and payouts as well as investment plans for the next three years.

Analysts at Cornwall Insight have predicted bills are set to soar to around GBP3,582 in October, from GBP1,971 previously, before rising even further in the new year.

Leaked government documents have warned a "reasonable worst-case scenario" could see outages for homes and businesses in January if there is a combination of below-average temperatures and a drop in gas imports, according to reports.

Zahawi told reporters in Belfast: "I think it's important we all get round the table, I will continue to do the work I need to do as chancellor, but I also want to challenge them, to say are you making the investment? How can you help your customers? What more can we do together? That's the reason for the meeting."

He also said: "What I want to do tomorrow is understand better how they're committed to that investment in gas, because whatever happens we need energy security and we've got a strong strategy that Kwasi and I will continue to push hard.

"The other area I want to look at is some of the energy producers, if you look at the renewable energy producers, the amount that they get paid is linked to gas prices.

"So, they haven't changed anything they're doing, they haven't had any increase in their input costs at all, but they're getting a much higher return because of the unusually high gas price because of Putin.

"I want to understand what they can do for their customers, what more they can do, because they're clearly in a place now where they're making very large profits because of that peg to the gas price."

The chancellor also said the Treasury has been preparing "options" for the next prime minister on what further support could be given to people this winter.

But he suggested he does not believe there will be blackouts due to preparations taking place for the winter, telling reporters: "As we did with the pandemic, we looked at reasonable worst-case scenarios, which were extreme, which never materialised.

"Why? Because we contingency plan for every outcome."

Zahawi said it would be "irresponsible" of a government not to look at all matters, adding: "It's a responsible government that plans for these things, this is a difficult moment in our history, there is war on our continent."

Education Secretary James Cleverly earlier confirmed the meeting, telling ITV's Good Morning Britain that it was a chance to "knock some heads together and basically hold them to account about what they're going to do with those profits".

Greg Jackson, founder of energy company Octopus Energy, suggested households are "safe" from possible blackouts this winter following news of the leaked documents.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think the reality is that domestic supply is safe and that industry, from time to time  sometimes driven by prices, by the way  voluntarily reduce their energy usage.

"So we have a terrible price crisis, but I think the UK is more fortunate than many of our European neighbours that we've got more resilient supply."

Consumer champion Martin Lewis called on the two Conservative leadership candidates to set out how they will tackle the energy crisis to alleviate the "mental health damage" facing millions in the UK.

Tory leadership frontrunner Liz Truss hit out at "bizarre" proposals to agree support for rising energy bills with the government and her rival Rishi Sunak before the contest is over.

Lewis said: "I accept the point that Boris Johnson is running a zombie government and can't do much, but the two candidates  one of them will be our prime minister  they need to get together in the national interest to tell us the bare minimum of what they will do.

"What we need to hear now  because the mental health damage for millions of people who are panicked about this is manifest  is we need to hear accurate plans."

By David Lynch, Richard Wheeler and Elizabeth Arnold, PA Political Staff

source: PA

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Hello there everyone and welcome in to our latest MARCA In English transfer market live blog this Wednesday, August 10.

There are just a few weeks remaining in the 2022 summer transfer window and, with several leagues having already started, sporting directors across Europe are in a rush to get deals over the line.

Each day there are more and more confirmed transfers, while the rumour mill continues to throw up surprises.

We'll bring you all these latest details on this transfer market live blog, where updates follow below and where the most recent ones are those nearest the top.

Transfer Market: Rumours and Breaking News on Wednesday, August 10

Update narration See full narration

This, then, is our MARCA In English transfer market live blog. Throughout the summer, we have been providing updates on the latest transfer news right here in this space.

Each day, we'll have all the latest information as Barcelona continue to work on a couple more deals and as Atletico and Real Madrid try to keep up.

We don't just report on the Spanish teams, though. We'll also bring you news for the Premier League giants like Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, in addition to the teams of Serie A, Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and beyond.

If there is a big confirmed deal or contract renewal at any point this summer, then we'll bring you the details here and explain who is going where or staying where.

If there is an interesting transfer market rumour, we will bring that to your attention as well and break down how likely or not it is to actually come to fruition.

So, follow along with us this Wednesday and every day over this final month of the window if you want to stay up to date with the latest transfer market developments.
The Office of Academic Advising & Support is responsible for advising about the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Through this credit by examination program students are able to receive college credit for prior knowledge that can be applied to core and department requirements or elective credit. The College Level Examination Program, sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board, provides standardized tests across a diverse array of college-level courses. For each CLEP examination that awards 3 or 6 credits, MCLA requires a minimum score of 50, representing the mean test score of students who earn a C in the corresponding college level course. For students seeking 12 credits in foreign language, the following scores are required. French 62, German 63, Spanish 66. For a complete list of the exams and each exam description, visit www.collegeboard.com/clep.

Pass a CLEP Examination and show your college that you know your stuff.

CLEP Tests/Credit Level Equivalent @ MCLA



As College Board would say:

Get credit for what you already know, shorten the time it takes to earn a degree, save tuition dollars, place out of a graduation requirement or an introductory course.

Visit http://www.clepexampracticetests.com

Visit http://www.cleptestquestions.com/

Students who would like more information should stop by Academic Advising & Support in Mark Hopkins.
Credit for Learning Experiences Outside of College

MCLA recognizes that significant learning may occur outside of formal academic experiences, such as professional employment, community activities, military service. Students may receive credit for such experiences through programs detailed below. Advising is available to assist students in determining which option would be best suited for seeking credit for their previous experiences.

To initiate the process of portfolio development for Credit for Prior Learning, students must contact the Associate Dean of Graduate & Continuing Education (DGCE) for consultation on the application process at Paul.Petrities@mcla.edu. Please note that credits awarded through AP, IB, CLEP and Prior Learning portfolio are not included in the 45 credits that must be taken at MCLA to earn a degree from the college.

options for prior learning credit

1. Standardized Tests - Academic credit may be awarded to students who achieve specific standards on the following assessments:

Advanced Placement (AP) Program , sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), offers students the opportunity to earn college credits. The standardized AP exam is usually taken upon completion of a specific course of study in high school. An AP score of 3 or higher is required to receive credit. An official copy of the CEEB report should be sent to MCLA Office of Admission for evaluation at admissions@mcla.edu.

, sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB), offers students the opportunity to earn college credits. The standardized AP exam is usually taken upon completion of a specific course of study in high school. An AP score of 3 or higher is required to receive credit. An official copy of the CEEB report should be sent to MCLA Office of Admission for evaluation at admissions@mcla.edu. International Baccalaureate (IB) Program , offered through a number of high schools, offers pre-university courses in a variety of subject areas. Students must earn a score of 4 or higher for MCLA to award IB credit. An official copy of the IB score report should be sent to the MCLA Office of Admission for evaluation at admissions@mcla.edu.

, offered through a number of high schools, offers pre-university courses in a variety of subject areas. Students must earn a score of 4 or higher for MCLA to award IB credit. An official copy of the IB score report should be sent to the MCLA Office of Admission for evaluation at admissions@mcla.edu. College Level Examination Program (CLEP), also sponsored by the CEEB, provides standardized tests across a diverse array of college-level courses. For each CLEP examination that awards 3 or 6 credits, MCLA requires a minimum score of 50, representing the mean test score of students who earn a C in the corresponding college level course. For students seeking 12 credits in foreign language, the following scores are required. French 62, German 63, Spanish 66. Advising maintains a list of the MCLA course equivalents (core and departmental) for many of the CLEP exams. For more information contact advising@mcla.edu.

2. Credit for Prior Learning (PLC) Portfolio - Portfolio development provides students with opportunities to document professional and life experiences as substitutes for some courses at MCLA. Professional and life experiences must match specific course outcomes from MCLA's course catalog.



Steps & Policy: Credit for Prior Learning Portfolio development

credit for prior learning - faq

Will the credit appear on my transcript?

Yes. All credits awarded for prior learning will appear on your official transcript.

Do these credits count toward my residency requirement?

No. prior learning credits do not count toward the residency requirement of 45 credits at MCLA.

Must I be matriculated to MCLA to receive prior learning credit?

Yes. In order to participate you must be matriculated (admitted and enrolled in a degree program) at MCLA.

When should I begin the prior learning process?

Any student seeking credit for prior learning via PLC portfolio should initiate planning no later than achieving 60 credits

towards graduation at MCLA. The student should plan to submit the PLC portfolio for credit review no later than achieving 90 credits towards graduation.

Is credit available to me outside of my major?

Yes. Prior Learning credit may be granted for learning experiences of all kinds, not just those in your major.

What is the cost for prior learning credit?

The fee for PLC portfolios is $100 per credit. The student must submit the completed portfolio to the Associate Dean for DGCE. The non-refundable, per-credit fee is due at the time the portfolio is submitted for review.

What are the due dates for the Credit for Prior Learning portfolio?

The due date for fall submission of the PLC portfolio is November 1. Spring submission due date is April 1.

How do I get started?
MCLA offers a variety of academic Supports

Check out the trailblazer Peer Tutor Program or cruise the academic support success zone

Submit a tutorial request right from your MCLA portal. Peer led group tutorials are students helping students achieve success! Join an open tutorial by submitting a tutor request form or request a tutor for ANY course you would like additional support in!

The SUCCESS ZONE Is FULL of tips and resources that are crucial for your academic success. Available to you 24/7 online!

Do you ever feel like your study skills and habits just aren't cutting it?

Students who want to become more aware of their own study skills and learning strategies can take the Learning and Study Skills Inventory (LASSI). The LASSI is a 10-scale, 80-item online assessment of students' awareness and use of learning and study strategies. The LASSI takes about 15-20 minutes to complete and provides the student with immediate results.

Please email Cassie Rochelo for the LASSI login information to get started. Once you have completed your LASSI, please make an appointment with the Office of Academic Advising & Support @ 662-5314 to review your results and get started on your goals! Take the LASSI Now

Modern Language Placement Test

Disability Resources administers the modern language placement test for students interested in placing into an upper level language course or waiving the modern language requirement as required by the college. Students must contact Donna Poulton in Disability Resources to request access to the placement site in Canvas. She will need your name and A #. Once the course has been added to your Canvas site, you can take the placement test in Spanish, French, or Italian. Each test consists of 50 multiple choice questions.

A score of 31 or higher will waive the modern language requirement. If you score between 0 and 15, you will be placed in the beginner (101) level of the language. If you score between 16 and 30, you will be placed in the second half (102) of the beginner level. Please email Donna once you have completed the test so she can check the score. The college allows two attempts for placement; please also contact Donna if you wish to have the test reset for a second attempt.

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Academic ADVISING & Support

Mark Hopkins, first floor 413.662.5314

We are available to meet with students or answer any questions via email, phone or virtually through Microsoft Teams. Schedule an appointment with Cassie Rochelo, Academic Support Coordinator here.

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Monday through Friday, 8:30 - 4:45
Broadcast from LV18 lightship in Harwich

Alan Pennington writes on the BDXC club newsgroup:

Carillon Wellbeing Radio (Coalville, Leics) 1476 kHz will again relay a broadcast from the LV18 in Harwich on the weekend 13-14 August according to this:



"It is with great excitement that the trustees of the Lightvessel 18 announce our radio broadcast for Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August 2022.

We will be broadcasting live online at https://carillonradio.com/ and in some areas on 1476 AM Medium Wave.

Similar to last year, we will have 24/7 broadcasting with a variety of DJs including a Sunday show (Sunday 10am to 12pm) by Stephen Foster (formally of BBC Suffolk and now a regular Radio Caroline presenter) and two shows (Saturday 12-2pm and Sunday 2-4pm) by Keith Skues. They will both be broadcasting live from the LV18. Keith will also be around for a meet and greet and book signing from about 11am till 1pm on the Sunday.

As the LV18 is a charity, admission will be charged at 4 for adults, 2 for children under 16 and 10 for families.

The LV18's Postcode is CO123HH It would be great to see as many of you as possible."



(Anon on Keith Skues Fan Group Facebook group, 7 Aug)



Schedule on CWR's website shows programmes from the LV18 actually start at 2000 BST Friday 12th August: https://carillonradio.com/schedule/



(CWR on 1476 kHz is well heard after dark in UK and even Europe - I could hear the final hour from Radio Mi Amigo aboard the LV18 light ship on the same weekend last year down here in Caversham on 1476 - Alan)
RTTY turns 100

On August 9, 1922 a text was typed in an airplane and simultaneously printed out at a ground station



A translation of the DARC post reads:



With this experiment, the US Navy Department gave the telex procedure wings - exactly 100 years ago. From now on it was possible to transmit texts wirelessly at a speed of up to 100 words per minute. The ministry immediately pushed for messages to be made available in the opposite direction, namely from the ground to the plane. It was the birth of radio telex - "RTTY".



After the Second World War, the first telexes came into the hands of radio amateurs in the USA, who then modified their transmitters for frequency shift keying (FSK). RTTY had now also arrived in the amateur radio service.



With the advent of personal computers at the beginning of the 1980s, they replaced the previously widespread electromechanically generated RTTY with very simple RTTY programs. With the introduction of digital technology and the development of new types of transmission such as PSK31 and later FT8, RTTY has lost its previous importance in amateur radio. It's different in the maritime radio service: Despite modern and fast digital processes, RTTY transmissions still have their place there, e.g. to warn of dangers or to transmit current sea weather reports to the skippers.



An image in the Library of Congress shows the teleprinter radio used by the US Navy Department in August 1922 to receive typed radio messages from a naval aircraft, see

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2002697173/



Source https://darc.de/
Despite getting regular information from RAW, IB, and other agencies, the DGMI did not submit analyses that may have aided IPKF operations. Similarly, the headquarters of the Southern Command failed to give relevant analyses or inputs.

by Lt Col Manoj K Channan

Indias engagement in Sri Lanka in July 1987 was the countrys first foreign deployment outside of the UN charter since independence. When this operation is analyzed, several problems in the planning and execution are still apparent.

Suppose war is the continuation of politics via other methods. In that case, it is critical first to establish the political objectives flowing into a national security policy before considering any successful use of force. Our Indian misadventure in Sri Lanka demonstrates a lack of defined political and military objectives and effective military measures.

J N Dixit. Indian Ambassador to Sri Lanka during Operation Pawan.

Image: Special Arrangement.

Consequently, it is sad that India still lacks a specified national security plan more than seven decades after independence. Only such a strategy can identify the sorts of situations that the military is expected to confront, leading to the development of relevant military plans, doctrines, and capabilities that would define the structures required for the conduct of synergized Operations with the requisite communications and training requirements.

There was no consolidated national security organization in 1987 to make informed choices on national security problems. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) was the sole venue to carry out this responsibility. During the operations in Sri Lanka, a Core Group was created to handle day-to-day difficulties. This empowered group was led by the Minister of State for External Affairs and, in his absence, the Cabinet Secretary. Similarly, the Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) was the only palliative capable of meeting the demands of Joint Services operations. It is worth noting that the Military Operations and Military Intelligence Directorates lacked specialized desks for Sri Lanka.

Armed forces fought conflicts in 1965 and 1971 with identical decision-making frameworks, most likely with flaws. However, because it was undertaken outside of India, Indias action in Sri Lanka stood apart. The Indian military in Sri Lanka was drawn into a confrontation that was neither anticipated nor prepared.

Intelligence Set Up

The MI Directorate was formerly the biggest Directorate at Army Headquarters, with around 24 Sections and approximately 74 All Arms officers. Six of these sections were for counterintelligence, while the remainder were for operations. The Intelligence Corps officers manned the CI sections, while other weapons officers operated the operational sections. In one part, Sri Lanka was included with Indian Ocean nations, ASEAN, and Bangladesh. No officer in the Intelligence Corps could be described as a country specialist in Sri Lanka.

Sinhala language lessons for military personnel began in the 1990s. It is the only Corps of the Indian Army whose strength was lowered after the recommendations of the Gen Krishna Rao Committee were followed. Before the IPKF operations began in 1987, the Intelligence Corps had a total strength of little more than 2500 all ranks. As a small corps, Military Intelligence has typically been used primarily for security and combat intelligence, with limited intelligence planning and battlefield collection skills. Until 1980, when it was given the mission of obtaining limited trans-border intelligence, Military Intelligence had no mandate or specific capabilities to do so.

The security focus of India was mostly on Pakistan. As a result, Sri Lanka was not one of Military Intelligences priority regions. Operation Brass Tacks had only ended in May 1987, two months before the Army was required to send a task force to Sri Lanka in response to the signing of the India-Sri Lanka Accord (ISLA) in July 1987.

R&AW

R&AW was the primary agency in equipping and training the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). It had infiltrated the other militant organizations and served as the coordinator for all negotiations before the induction of the IPKF and throughout the deployment.

While the IPKF was conducting operations, the involvement of Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) and its continued collaboration with the LTTE and other terrorist groups would be remembered as a tragic chapter.

The incapacity of R&AW and those involved at the macro level to predict the LTTE turning wild. Having fostered LTTE, it failed to give a complete intelligence picture and a SWOT analysis of its brainchild.

Any intelligence exchange, if any, was done on a personal level rather than through an organized/structured distribution to the Formation HQs.

Intelligence Bureau

Throughout the IPKF operation, the Q Branch of the Tamil Nadu State Police and the Joint Directorate of the IB in Chennai gave no information. They possessed a wealth of information about the LTTE and its tendrils in Tamil Nadu that may have aided us in our anti-LTTE operations. Such information, however, was never delivered. This was mostly owing to the absence of formal directives from the state administration, which had taken a politically antagonistic stance towards IPKF activities. The IB would frequently dismiss our requests by claiming they only had political intelligence, even though in counter-insurgency, political information was also essential for military operations. The Jayalalitha government had prohibited the Q Branch from assisting the MI or the IPKF in general. Even contractors found it difficult to obtain supplies for the IPKF in TN and had to incur additional fees to get them from neighbouring states.

Military Intelligence Resources

Around May 1987, prior to the signing of ISLA, an intelligence team of one officer and six NCOs was transferred to Chennai from the parent unit in Gorakhpur to collect intelligence from Sri Lanka. This was the sole specialized intelligence resource available to the DGMI until the end of the IPKF operations. It was afterwards transformed into an intelligence unit.

A detachment from the Southern Command Liaison Unit was stationed at Headquarters Southern Command in Chennai. Despite the fact that the LU was a counterintelligence unit, the LU team served as an interface between the Command Headquarters and the state and central intelligence agencies in Chennai throughout the IPKF operations.

Following the entry of the 54 Infantry Division in Sri Lanka in the first week of August 1987, a few Tamil-speaking Intelligence Corps officers and NCOs were assigned to the OFC HQ in Chennai. On August 5, 2007, the intelligence personnel were despatched to Palali with no functional resources other than the attached individuals.

The teams two MI officers reactivated their relationships with Sri Lankan Tamils to make monthly updates to the DGMI.

When the situation with the LTTE grew hazy in September 1987, 57 Mtn Div Int & FS Coy with roughly 60 soldiers were sent to Palali. Its OC was promoted to the rank of Lt Col. This intelligence unit remained under the command of HQ OFC, which caused some unnecessary confusion in HQ 54 Infantry Division. Its intelligence officers were strictly forbidden from participating in any Div HQ discussions. They were told not to communicate with the LTTE during the political talks.

As the Jaffna operation began and soldiers were quickly inducted, the OC 57 Div Int & FS Coy was instructed to brief the troops before their operational induction. Similarly, the unit was tasked to interrogate all and sundry rounded up in the first flush of operations.

Intelligence resources of the Advance HQ OFC

However, by the time two additional divisions were integrated into Sri Lanka and the organization of the OFCs Advance HQ was codified, an intelligence unit expressly designed for IPKF operations known as the Ad Hoc Liaison Unit had been established. The team was capable of both intelligence gathering and questioning. The unit, led by a Lieutenant Colonel, had its headquarters in Chennai with teams in Vavuniya, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. It also has three rehabilitation centres for the three divisions (each with one interrogator). It had 12 officers and nearly 100 other ranks in all. One Sinhala-speaking officer was also assigned towards the end of 1988.

The EWCP provided communication intelligence. It worked closely with the troops and provided accurate real-time information.

MI Performance: Positives

In its evaluation to the DGMI in September 1987, the MI detachment stated that if the IPKF went to war, it would take three years to reduce it to manageable proportions. This prediction almost came true. Military Intelligence made efforts to recruit Tamils who spoke Sinhala.

MI personnel had built some helpful contacts in Jaffna and Trincomalee, both within the LTTE and among pro-LTTE civilians. They provided valuable input on the LTTEs political moves as well as key issues such as the LTTEs contact with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), which was carrying out its insurgency in Sinhala areas, the LTTEs procurement of MANPADS, and contacts between Sri Lanka President Premadasa and the LTTE leadership.

In two incidents, we got conclusive proof of complicity between Sri Lankan army forces and the LTTE in the form of images and wiretaps. These helped us grasp the depth of the Sri Lankan governments collaboration with the LTTE.

In Sri Lankas National Intelligence Bureau, useful contacts were established.

MI Performance: Negatives

The DGMIs failure to provide MI resources before the operation resulted in the absence of intelligence assets in Sri Lanka. This hampered the MIs initial inability to give 54 Inf Div with timely and meaningful intelligence.

Despite getting regular information from RAW, IB, and other agencies, the DGMI did not submit analyses that may have aided IPKF operations. Similarly, the headquarters of the Southern Command failed to give relevant analyses or inputs.

In Tamil Nadu, there was limited MI input on LTTE operations. This was mostly owing to the Tamil Nadu governments wholly hostile stance, which resulted in the total restriction of access to material on the LTTE held by state intelligence.

Throughout the operations, the LTTE operated with impunity throughout Tamil Nadu, exposing the forces to possible LTTE threats. This produced a tremendous uneasiness among our Tamil contacts, who believed we were not taking the LTTE seriously.

When they were admitted, the majority of the MI officers had minimal understanding of Sri Lanka or its environs. Building regional experts is a prerequisite for MI officers throughout their careers.

Intelligence NCOs performance was substantially below standard. They were unable to conduct basic interrogations. Officers and NCOs both were prone to accepting unverified information from untrustworthy sources. The intelligence staffing in formation headquarters was inadequate. At one point, the GSO1 (Int) were low medical category officers in three of the four divisions; a handful of them had no intelligence experience. Because intelligence had few committed personnel resources, putting them in divisions was a bad idea.

The frontline soldiers understanding of managing captives, isolating them for detailed interrogation, and so on was weak. The Command HQ was in the greatest position to remedy such gaps by providing rotating short-term training to officers and NCOs from all arms. This was most likely not even considered, even though it had been done previously in 1971.

There was almost no information from Air or Naval Intelligence sources. This was remarkable because commercial ship officers in Colombo reported witnessing fishing boats flashing LTTE in semaphore signals in the Gulf of Mannar, indicating frequent transit of boats supplying the LTTE from Tamil Nadu.

Due to a lack of staff, the Tamil media in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka was rich in open-source material that remained unexplored. Similarly, there was insufficient interaction with Indian journalists who had travelled inside LTTE territory, either discreetly or publicly. This valuable resource was also underutilized.

The Sri Lankan officers taking courses at our Training Institutions are another great source of intelligence. They must be groomed as assets that can confirm intelligence inputs gathered over time.

Intelligence collection is a continual activity that experts must address attentively.
With no national force with the vision and power to offer an emancipatory alternative to the poisonous politics, sometimes with fascist elements, that turns neighbours against each other, the country is on a knife edge.

by Richard Pithouse

Xenophobia is a global crisis, but in South Africa, it takes a particularly violent form. The day-to-day accumulation of insults and harassment from within the state and society periodically mutates into open-street violence in which people are beaten, hacked and burned to death. If there is a useful point of global comparison, it may be with the communal riots that rip Indian cities apart from time to time.

Women hold signs during a civil society groups march against the recent rise of xenophobic attacks in South Africa in2019, in Johannesburgs Central Business District.

The state has tended to stand down while a neighbourhood is roiled with xenophobic violence. When it does move in, after the destruction, removal of people from their homes and killing have stopped, it usually arrives to arrest migrants rather than the perpetrators of the attacks. It is overwhelmingly impoverished and working-class African and Asian migrants who must face this pincer movement from the mob and the police.

The severity of the situation in South Africa first came to global attention in May 2008 when xenophobic violence, sometimes intersecting with the ethnic sentiment, took 62 lives. At the time, the country was ruled by Thabo Mbeki, a man with deep and genuine Pan-African commitments. But by the end of 2007, Jacob Zumas path to the presidency was clear, and the ethnic chauvinism he had introduced into the public sphere was rampant. The limited social support offered by the state was increasingly understood to be tied to identities such as ethnicity, nationality and claims to be part of long-established communities.

By the time that Zuma took the presidency in May 2009, it was common for party officials in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal to tell impoverished people that they had not received houses, or other entitlements, because of an influx of foreigners or people from other provincesa euphemism for ethnic identity. There were cases where people, seeking the approval of political authority, began to clean their communities themselves.

Now, almost 15 years since the 2008 attacks, the situation is much worse. Most South Africans have lived in a state of permanent crisis since the colonial capture of land, cattle, and autonomy. But for most young people, that permanent crisis no longer takes the form of the ruthless exploitation of labour under racial capitalism. Last year, youth unemployment hit 77.4 percent, the highest out of all G20 countries. As Achille Mbembe, the Cameroonian philosopher who writes from Johannesburg, argued in 2011, the intersection of race and capitalism has rendered people as waste.

The pain of young lives lived in permanent suspension is often turned inward. There is a massive heroin epidemic, depression and anxiety are pervasive, and rates of violence, much of it gendered, are terrifying.

In this crisis of sustained social abandonment, there are attempts, sometimes extraordinarily courageous, to build forms of politics around the affirmation of human dignity. They have often met serious repression, including assassination. But unsurprisingly, there are also attempts to build forms of popular politics around xenophobia, some of them with fascistic elements. Young people, mostly men, are summoned to the authority of a demagogic leader, given a rudimentary uniform in the form of a T-shirt and the opportunity to exercise some power in the name of cleaning society. Perversity is dressed up as virtue.

At the same time, all the major political parties, including the ruling African National Congress (ANC), have moved sharply to the right and have become increasingly xenophobic. In government, the ANC has always run a highly exclusionary migration regime and is now moving to end the permits, established more than 10 years ago, that gave around 178,000 Zimbabweans the right to live, work and study in South Africa.

Its rhetoric has also moved sharply to the right. The partys spokesperson, Pule Mabe, recently declared open season on all illegal foreign nationals, adding, we can no longer guarantee their safety. The partys policy conference in early August proposed a well-coordinated strategy for tracking down illegal foreigners. That strategy explicitly included the recommendation that ANC branches must take the lead in this regard.

Many analysts take the view that the ANC, which has already lost control of many of South Africas major cities, will not be able to win the next national election in 2024. As the party faces the prospect of losing power for the first time since the end of apartheid, the temptation to scapegoat migrants for its failures is escalating. Alarmingly, the new parties taking the political space opened by the rapid decline in support for the ANC are more or less uniformly forms of authoritarian populism centrally organized around xenophobia.

Former business mogul turned politician Herman Mashabas ActionSA party, which is making rapid electoral advances, mixes hardcore neoliberalism with xenophobia. In 2018, Mashaba staged a citizens arrest of a migrant and then tweeted, We are [not] going to sit back and allow people like you to bring us Ebolas in the name of small business. Health of our people first. Our health facilities are already stretched to the limit. This conflation of a vulnerable minority with disease evokes the horrors of historical forms of fascist mobilization.

Public speech from the state, government and most political parties routinely conflates documented and undocumented migrants as illegal foreigners, illegal foreigners with criminals, and, in recent days, following a horrific gang rape on the outskirts of a decaying mining town, rapists. When the police come under pressure to respond to concern about criminality, they frequently arrest migrants, often including people with papers rather than perpetrators of actual crimes.

The mass-based organizations of the left, with political identities rooted, to a significant extent, in the factory, the mine or the land occupation have often opposed the turn to xenophobia, and it is common for migrants to hold positions of leadership in these kinds of organizations. But while they can provide nodes of refuge, they lack the power to effectively oppose the rapidly worsening situation at the national level.

With no national force with the vision and power to offer an emancipatory alternative to the poisonous politics, sometimes with fascist elements, that turns neighbours against each other, the country is on a knife edge.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

Richard Pithouse is an academic and journalist in South Africa. He is the coordinator of the Johannesburg, South Africa, office of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research; the director of the Forge, a cultural space; and the editor-at-large of Inkani Books.
The Huron County Board of Commissioners voted 4-3 Tuesday to add a millage request for E911 and central dispatch Millage to the general election ballot in November.

The millage, if approved by voters, would levy 0.4 mills ($0.40 per $1,000) for the county-wide E911/central dispatch system, which would raise $1,030,848 in the first year. The commissioners had extensive discussion on the topic.

Commissioner Steve Vaughan spoke up about wanting to add a sunset date."

I think it is excessive, said Vaughan. I think a sunset date in it so we dont levy four-tenths of a mill every year, because that is what will happen. An accumulation of money places an extra burden on the taxpayer's back.

Chairman Sami Khoury then asked when they would be able to back off if they were able to.

I want to remind the board that our radio system cost $1.2 million when we put it in seven years ago, said Emergency Services Director Randy Miller. "It is probably three times that right now. Those are the future costs we are looking at right now. We do have a lot of projects coming up. We need to replace our (uninterruptable power system) and our generator. Technology costs are reoccurring now. You dont buy anymore, you rent it, which is another issue. There is a comfort level, but we need the money, which is why I recommended the four-tenths.

As the board discussion went on the details of the millage. Commissioner Todd Talaski reminded everyone that the vote was to put it on the ballot, not to decide if it is approved.

I think it should be dropped to three-tenths of a mill and sunset it for two years, said Vaughan, eventually adding, I have to live within my means.

After some of the comments were made Miller spoke up again to address the board.

I am a little offended by the living within our means remark, said Miller. We have lived within our means. We have cut staff; we have done everything everyone else in the county hasnt done. Its a little offensive. We have lived within our means. This board is responsible for 75% of our budget.

Vaughan apologized for the comments made immediately after Miller addressed his grievance, adding that he did not mean offense.

Commissioner and finance committee Chair Mary Babcock then spoke more on what the millage would do and why it was based on the recommendation of Miller.

If in five years we need to replace our phone system and our radio system, that is another million dollars right there," Babcock said. "People are going with prepaid phones and consumer cellular; all those products do not contribute to 911. That is why we are in the problem that we are in  911 funds are decreasing.

The board approved the resolution with a 4-3 vote with Commissioners John Bodis, Michael Meissner and Vaughan dissenting, with Commissioners Joe Murphy, Babcock, Khoury and Talaski voting to add it to the ballot. The millage will be on the general election ballot for Huron County on Nov. 8.

In other business, Ann Schultz addressed the board about the child care budget for the fiscal year 2023, updating the board on grants for the department and programs that have launched this year. Schultz also talked about the shortages in and difficulties dealing with behavioral and mental health situations due to the lack of beds in facilities and lack of staff.

Placements that are available are not long-term but for stabilization only, which is a very scary environment, not only for the youth, but for our community, said Schultz

Additionally, Murphy who is the chair of the legislative committee, announced that there are three board vacancies. The application deadline at 5 p.m. on Sept 7. The openings are listed below.
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LUDINGTON  People living in and vacationing in northwest Michigan have a new place to shop for all of their meat and barbecue needs, as Ludington Meat Company is officially open for business.

The 14,600 square-foot meat company operated by brothers Alec and Corey Sanders is located at 3815 U.S. 10 in Ludington.

"It offers a premier meat market, butcher block, deli, smokehouse, barbecue and bar  serving as both a convenience for local shoppers and a culinary destination for visitors to west and northern Michigan," reads a news release in part.

However, the business doesnt just sell meat  it manufactures, processes, smokes and prepares it all on site.

We are thrilled to bring a new brand of quality meat products to this part of Michigan to serve our community and those who visit, said co-owner Corey Sanders in a news release. We are more than a meat store  were a meat manufacturer. Were constantly keeping up with the latest meat trends in the industry. We currently have over 60 flavors of bratwursts. Our goal is to be that one-stop-shop with everything you need for a perfect meal or special occasion.

Ludington Meat Company offers a variety of fresh and smoked beef, pork, poultry, fish and seafood. It also serves as a specialty grocer, offering grilling accompaniments like spices, sauces, marinades and condiments; charcuterie boards, dips and cheeses; and fine wine plus craft and domestic beer.

"A unique twist on a traditional meat market is the addition of the in-house grill and taproom  offering a full menu of hot items for dine-in, outdoor seating or takeout, in addition to group catering via in-store pickup," a news release reads.

Menu items include gourmet sandwiches, wraps and tacos featuring in-house smoked meats, and smoked meats and cheeses. A full bar features specialty cocktails like Blueberry Smash, Smokehouse Manhattan and Prickly Pear Gin Buck; eight local beers on tap; and wine, which customers can drink there or sip and shop.

Indoor seating accommodates 30 people between table and bar seating, while the outdoor area seats 40.

The reception we have already received from customers since our opening has been absolutely incredible, said co-owner Alec Sanders in a news release. People come in and are blown away by the size, scope and attractiveness of our business  not to mention the quality, large variety and competitive price points for all of our products.

Future plans include a venison processing center, specializing in a large selection of sausages with convenient vacuum-seal packaging. Meat bundles also will allow customers to buy meat in bulk in a variety of sizes.

Local business partners and Mason County natives Corey Sanders, Alec Sanders and Matt Urka teamed up to make their business dream a reality, along with Coreys wife, Laura, and Alecs wife, Jessica. Brothers Alec and Corey Sanders grew up in the meat industry with decades of experience and knowledge in meat slaughtering, processing, cutting, curing, smoking and packaging.

It has always been our lifelong dream to open a premier meat market destination in our beautiful hometown of Ludington, said Corey Sanders.

Ludington Meat Company employs approximately 40 staff in a combination of full-time and part-time positions.

Ludington Meat Company is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at ludingtonmeatcompany.com.
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National Book Lovers Day is Aug. 9, but really, dont people love books all year long?

The Manistee County Library hopes readers spent the day in a quiet spot, enjoying a favorite author or trying something new.

Manistee County Library has new titles for patrons to browse, and staff have been refreshing some of the collections. Check out the new sections, travel, fishing and language.

Adults

 Travel back to the 1970s in Mustique Island by Sarah McCoy. Visit the island where royalty and rock stars play. Wille May does just that when she escapes to the island paradise with her daughters after a messy divorce and the death of her ex-husband.

 The first book in the Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries, Thief of Souls by Brian Kingborg takes the reader to a small town in northern China. When a major crime disrupts the usual peace and quiet, Lu Fei finds himself working the case despite orders from above to wrap it up as the trail leads to a possible serial killer.

 Riley Sagers The House Across the Lake finds Casey, a widowed actress, spending her time watching her neighbors across the lake with the help of binoculars and alcohol. After saving her life, Casey befriends Katherine and realizes things are not as they appear. When her friend disappears, Casey must confront her actions if she wants to discover the truth.

 Two women, one with a past shed rather stay hidden and the other with an unhappy present, connect with each other but find that their past choices will not allow them to be together in Yerba Buena by Nina Lacour.

 Id Like to Play Alone, Please by Tom Segura has been on the New York Times bestseller list for seven weeks. The comedian and podcaster gives his take on parenting, parents, travel and a host of other topics in these hilarious essays.

 David Kertzers The Pope at War: the Secret History of Pius XII, Mussolini, and Hitler is based on fascinating files recently opened at the Vatican, and other countries' archives. Pope Pius XII worked to protect the Vatican and his flock during the Holocaust, aiding Hitler and Mussolini with his silence.

Submitted photo/Manistee County Library

Children

 Potatoes dont make good pets. They really cant do anything. When his pet begins to rot, Albert buries it and gets a wonderful surprise! The Pet Potato by Josh Lacey is an enchanting story about friendship in unlikely places.

 Bryan Colliers Music is a Rainbow will fill your heart as a young boy uses music to recall memories of his parents.

 A call for help from his friends helps Little Tractor overcome his fear after an accident in Little Tractor is Brave by Natalie Quintart.

 What Does Little Crocodile Say at the Park? by Eva Montanari follows a toddler through a busy day at the park with all of its sounds and escapades.

 Being unique makes it difficult for Eva to make friends. While staying at her uncles house, she meets Silvie, and the two are inseparable. Silvie helps Eva work through her fears until the day she disappears. Now Eva must find Silvie by herself in The Midnighters by Hana Tooke.

Submitted photo/Manistee County Library

 Duet by Elise Broach brings together a goldfinch who loves to sing, a boy who doesnt want to play the piano, and a mystery to solve. Along with their friend Emily, Michael and Mirabelle follow clues involving a lost piano and three historical figures.

 In the follow up to Wolf Hollow, Annabelle confronts a former enemy, makes new friends and follows her own path while searching for her brothers missing dog. My Own Lightning by Lauren Wold is a historical novel set in World War II.

 Children will enjoy learning about earth science and climate patterns with How to Make a Mountain: in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years by Amy Huntington.

 Go beyond hopscotch with The Chalk Art Handbook by David Zinn! This fun and informative book provides techniques, tools and inspiration for making your sidewalk come alive.

For all ages

 Manistee County Library has joined with Backstage Hobbies and Games this summer to provide an opportunity for teens and tweens to play Dungeons and Dragons.

 But its not just for kids. The library recently added the Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide and Players Handbook to the young adult collection to keep the fun going.

 Warriors and Weapons: a Young Adventurers Guide and Beasts and Behemoths: a Young Adventurers Guide are available in the juvenile collection.

 More gatherings are planned for October, November and December. Information will be available at a future date. That will be shared on the librarys website and social media pages.
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BRETHREN  United Way of Manistee County will be bringing the Feeding America mobile food pantry to Brethren next week.

The truck is scheduled to visit the Lakeview Church of the Brethren, located at 14049 Coates Hwy. in Brethren, at 11 a.m. on Aug. 19.
BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Tuesday warned that Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities will receive "more severe blows" if they continue banking on external forces to seek "Taiwan independence."

The recent visit to China's Taiwan region by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, showed that it was the DPP authorities who made provocations, said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

He made the comment in response to the recent remarks by Taiwan politician Joseph Wu claiming that the Chinese mainland tried to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait by military means.

Ma said the DPP authorities have attempted to fulfill their political intents by betraying the interests of the Chinese nation and relying on external anti-China forces, especially by relying on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence."

While the mainland adopted a series of countermeasures, the DPP authorities, instead of reflecting on their own actions, distorted the facts to dress themselves up as "victims" and cover up their nature and behavior of seeking "Taiwan independence," said the spokesperson.

"The DPP's chicanery cannot deceive Taiwan people and the international community," he said.
These 'best' state attractions may cause debate Some may come off as obvious and others may leave you scratching your head, but nonetheless...

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BIG RAPIDS  Officers with the Big Rapids Department of Public Safety responded to the following calls. All calls may not be reported. All suspects are assumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

 An assault in a motor vehicle was reported near Perry and Water Tower. Suspect allegedly slapped a female in the vehicle after bad mouthing the suspects new friend she met in Grand Rapids. Suspect was gone upon officers arrival. Contact was later made with her over the phone, who alleged the victim was in her face and wouldn't get back. Case will be forwarded for review.

 A civil dispute was reported in the 800 block of North Fourth. One male wanted another male kicked out of his apartment. He stated he allowed the male to live there. He was advised to seek eviction.

 Malicious destruction of property was reported in the 300 block of North Warren. While locking up, graffiti was found in the mens bathroom.

 Police responded to the 1100 block of Catherine for a check wellbeing request. A female was given a ride to the ER for mental health evaluation.

 A suspicious situation was reported in the 300 block of Maple Street. Homeowner had an audible alarm within the residence and requested law enforcement to check it out. Nothing suspicious was observed, and the house was secure. Homeowner did not want officers to go inside.

Saturday, Aug. 6

 Lost property was reported in the 200 block of Woodward Avenue. Caller reported losing his wallet somewhere in the city limits. Unknown where.

 Police responded to the 1100 block of Catherine Street for an assault complaint between a male and a female. The male claimed the female allegedly hit him in the face. The witness of the event said he did not see any assault and could not say if an assault happened or not. The complaint is to be sent for review.

Later, the police responded back for a civil complaint involving all three subjects. The caller was trying to kick everyone out of the residence and was advised that he needed to go through the court process.

Sunday, Aug. 7

 Officers responded to a dog at large complaint in the 1100 block of Catherine Street and cited the resident for his dog running loose and chasing a child.

 A suspicious situation was reported in the 1100 block of Platt Avenue. Complainant reported his vehicle stolen. According to police, the vehicle had been taken back by grandma because he allegedly had not put insurance on the vehicle, and she did not want to be cited.

 Police responded to the the 600 block of Oak for a disorderly patient in the ER.

 Police responded to the 900 block of Colburn. A male allegedly sent photos of several pills to his mother, stating he was going to kill himself. He was transported to ER for voluntary evaluation.

 Police were dispatched to Hemlock Park for a disorderly male, who allegedly was intoxicated and had urinated in public. Contact was made with the male who, according to police, was highly intoxicated, and in violation of his parole conditions. He was arrested for parole violation. The case will be forwarded to City Attorney for review on additional charges.

 Police responded to the 400 block of South Third Street for a report of a disorderly resident. The resident allegedly had become upset with staff after not being allowed to sit next to a male friend during a movie. She left for the evening with said friend.

Monday, Aug. 8

 Officers responded to check on the well-being of children in the 1100 block of Fuller Avenue. They were located with the mother and appeared not in distress.

 A civil dispute was reported in the 400 block Second Avenue. Officers responded to the ongoing civil issues between two residents. One reported being yelled at by the other.

 A property damage accident was reported near Clark Street and Perry Avenue.

 An assault was reported in the 400 block of South Third Avenue. Caller reported being assaulted by another resident during a verbal disagreement. Case to be submitted for review.

 Police responded to the 500 block of North Warren Avenue to assist in finding a juveniles parents and coordinating a ride home from the lunch program.

 Police executed a warrant arrest in the 400 block of South Third Avenue. While on another call, a male was found to have two failure to appear warrants from Kent and Newaygo counties.

 Criminal sexual conduct was reported in the 400 block of South Third Avenue. Victim reported being touched inappropriately by a male. Case is under investigation

 A missing juvenile was reported in the 1100 block of Catherine. A mother reported her preschool-aged son missing about 45 minutes after he was last seen. After searching area, the boy was located under a pile of clothes in a closet.
Congressman John Moolenaar announced Monday that FEMA was awarding the Village of Sanford $1.6 million for their 24-acre park that the municipality is currently rebuilding.

"This funding will help Sanford restore its outstanding park and reimburse the village for many of the expenses it has already incurred,Moolenaar said in a press release. In Congress, I was a strong advocate for increasing federal cost-sharing for disasters because the funding will help our communities save millions of dollars.

In May, the Daily News reported that Sanford was originally awarded $873,000 from FEMA for the rebuilding of Village Park, a park destroyed after the dam breach in May 2020. Then Sandfrod Village President Dolores Porte, along with former Sanford village manager Jake Cole and Three Rivers Corporation, appealed the award. This resulted in a higher FEMA award of $2.7 million in April. Porte said the appeal was made due to market price changes and finding more damage than was first assessed.

Porte said the overall FEMA award will be closer to $2.4 million after deductions are made due to other awarded grants, such as the Department of Natural Resources grant.

On Tuesday, Congressman Dan Kildee, Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, applauded the $1.6 million in new federal funding to help the village of Sanford recover from recent flooding. He said the $1,616,753 from FEMA will help the village of Sanford repairs their park and recreation facilities that were severely damaged in May 2020.

Porte said the construction started in June using money that was announced in April. Contractors are presently grading the park area and doing the dirt work.

We are in the process of buying equipment for the playground, fencing and pavilion equipment, Porte said.

She said the park represents multiple communities coming together and a place for children to play.

This is where its all going to come together; The last remnant of the past destruction, she added. We will be able to see the transformation in the park and remove the last monstrosity of destruction. The hope, enthusiasm for the last frontier is contagious.

Also in April, FEMA announced that state and local governments affected by major disasters in 2020 and 2021 would receive 90 percent federal cost-sharing support from the federal government. Previously, the federal government was responsible for 75% of the costs, and state and local governments were responsible for 25%. This new cost-sharing ratio will apply to mid-Michigan communities who received federal support in response to the May 2020 flooding and dam failures.

Porte said the village expects to have the park completed by June 2023, with the ball fields being the priority.

Three Rivers bid $3,596,000 for the rebuild, with an option for the village to renegotiate later if funding becomes an issue. The rebuild includes multiple ball diamonds, including two tee-ball, one softball and five little league diamonds. Other amenities include a sledding hill, horseshoe pits, two pavilions, two playgrounds and a boat launch.

Porte said the village is still working to raise money to host all the hoped-for amenities. She said they are working with foundations and possible sponsors for this endeavor. If the village doesnt raise the needed funds, it will have to scale back or nix some of the plans.
If you like spending time outside or opening the doors of your house to allow cool evening air inside, youve probably waged a battle or three with mosquitoes. Along with biting flies, no-see-ums, and gnats, these insect pests can prevent you from enjoying your yard and your day. If they manage to get inside  through an open window, door, or damaged screen  they can wreak all kinds of havoc; or at the very least be extremely annoying.

Thankfully, there is no shortage of mosquito traps available for both indoor and outdoor use. Flying insect-killing devices work in a variety of ways though most employ ultraviolet light to attract mosquitoes to them. Once ensnared, the blood-sucking insects are eliminated by the use of electricity, sticky glue paper, or a high-speed whirring fan.

Heres a mosquito trap roundup to help you choose the best device to keep biting insects from overrunning both your yard and your house.

Dynatrap DT1050-TUNSR Mosquito, Beetle & flying Insect Trap

Attracted by the ultraviolet light, flying insects, like mosquitoes, no-see-ums, biting flies, and others gravitate toward the Dynatrap, which is also coated with TiO2 (titanium dioxide) that reacts with the UV rays to release carbon dioxide, mimicking the scent of a human. Once the pests fly into the trap they are sucked into their death by the fan. Position the trap three to six feet off the ground and 20 to 40 feet away from people. And make sure to empty the insect carcasses from the catch basket regularly.

According to the manufacturer, the Dynatrap protects up to a half-acre. Amazon reviewers point out that it can take about a week of running the Dynatrap continuously to experience significant results.

Faicuk WS108 Wall Sconce Fly Light Trap

This wall-sconce flying insect trap is simply a fancy housing for those old, ugly (and rather disgusting) hanging glue strips. The Faicuk light comes with replaceable sticky boards that mosquitoes and other flying pests end up stuck on after they are lured in by the UV light. Change the glue board every 30 days for best results.

These are not recommended for outdoor spaces. They work well in places like kitchens, restaurants, basements, and schools. The well-designed sconce shape of the device blends well with a variety of decor.

Katchy Indoor Insect and Flying Bugs Trap

This trap by Katchy is another indoor, non-zapping, quiet, mosquito eliminator that uses UV light and a glue board. It has a small 2-speed fan at the top that draws in flying insects when they come near, spinning them to their demise on a super sticky round board. Replacement boards are available in a four or eight-pack.

The Katchy does not work on house flies and works best at night when there is not another strong light source nearby. Place one next to your garbage, sink drain, and/or fruit bowl.

Neatmaster Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

While Amazon reviewers in general purport that these ultrasonic repellers work, there doesnt seem to be any real science behind it. I did find one study that even showed that the ultrasonic noise resulted in more mosquito activity. Nevertheless, since these devices are not very expensive, and are non-toxic and easy to use (simply plug into a wall outlet), theyre certainly worth a try if you have a pest problem in your house.

The Neatmaster has three functions, or settings: green for a light infestation, blue for a middle infestation, and red for a terrible one. Ultrasonic repellers can take three to four weeks to produce results.

Tysonir Electric Bug Zapper

The Tysonair bug zapper attracts mosquitoes with ultraviolet light and then electrocutes them with a 4200-volt grid. The bottom tray unscrews so you can dispose of all the insect bodies collected. This bug zapper is waterproof and can be used indoors or outdoors. It also has a protective plastic shell so you dont accidentally zap yourself. For best results, turn off any other bright lights when using.

Mosquito Magnet MM4200B Patriot Plus Mosquito Trap

At $375, this mosquito trap is much more expensive than all the others included. It works by burning propane which produces CO2 to attract mosquitoes. As the mosquitoes fly near the trap they are sucked inside where they die. The device, which needs to be plugged in via a 50-foot cord, covers a full acre.

There are three different attractant packs, or lures, available: octenol, r-octenal, or lurex3, though the lurex is no longer manufactured. The company recommends using Aktrakta pods as a replacement. Both the lure and the propane tank (not included) last about 21 days, after which youll need to replace them.

Mosquitoes have been on Earth for millions of years with evidence suggesting that they date back to the Jurassic period. Not all species of mosquitoes bite humans but the ones that do are believed to have evolved in areas with long, intense dry seasons. Female mosquitoes need blood and water to hatch their eggs and humans, conveniently, have both. The fact that these insects have been around for so long suggests that they certainly arent going away anytime soon  from Earth that is. Using one or more of the above mosquito traps, though will at least keep them from your own tiny piece of Earth, otherwise known as your yard and home.
Lisa Nichols/Hearst CT Media

This years BEST OF CONNECTICUT picks are positively popping with Nutmeg State goodness, all picked by you and our distinguished panel of Connecticut experts. From food and drink, to activities and entertainment, to shopping and services, its a celebration of the great things our state has to offer.

Below are our Editors' Picks for the best in bakeries, followed by the winners and runners-up from our Readers' Choice survey.
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BRIDGEPORT  A recount will decide the 127th District Democratic primary between City Councilman Marcus Brown and state Rep. Jack Hennessy after unofficial election results showed the two candidates separated by just five votes.

Amid low turnout, Brown, 31, appeared to capture 579 votes while Hennessy, 71, the Park Citys current longest serving state lawmaker, won 574, according to unofficial figures reported by the Connecticut Secretary of the State.

Democratic Registrar Patricia Howard said Wednesday the razor-thin margin has triggered a state-mandated recount that must begin within five business days of the primary. She said the recount has not yet been scheduled.

A spokesperson for the Hennessy campaign said the veteran and former truck driver does not plan to concede and will participate in the upcoming recount. Under state law, recounts must take place if the margin is within 0.5 percent or less than 20 votes. With 1,153 ballots cast in the race, the five-vote gap represents a 0.43 percent margin.

Despite the pending recount, Brown declared victory over his nine-term opponent on Tuesday evening. He said he felt really humbled, especially after his loss to state Sen. Marilyn Moore in a previous election, which he said set the pace for Tuesdays win.

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and tonight we eliminated that weakest link, Brown said.

Brown, a City Council leader who was backed by the town committee and key party leaders, sought to cast himself as a fresh face eager to find solutions to some of Bridgeports biggest challenges in the Connecticut General Assembly.

He celebrated his win Tuesday night at his home, with numerous city and state officials in attendance, including fiance Tom Gaudett, Mayor Joe Ganim, Democratic Town Committee Chairman Mario Testa, City Council President Aidee Nieves and state Reps. Steve Stafstrom, Chris Rosario and Antonio Felipe, among others.

Also in attendance was Rev. Herron Gaston, who beat state Sen. Dennis Bradley for the 23rd Senate District seat in another primary Tuesday.

Testa said he was proud of what the party nominees had accomplished.

This is a reflection of next years election, he said, indicating that if the non-party nominees would have won Tuesday it would have posed difficulties for the town committee in next years mayoral and council elections.

The two-term council member is now all but guaranteed a seat in the state House. In Democratic-dominated Bridgeport, the primary often determines the outcome of Novembers general election.

Through the race, Brown argued that the city deserves more state funding to cover growing education costs and to help pay for infrastructure projects. He also suggested Hennessy was ineffective as a legislator and should be replaced.

As proof of Hennessys ineffectiveness, Brown pointed to the decision by Speaker of the House Matt Ritter to strip Hennessy of his deputy speaker role and his seat on the Public Health Committee over his opposition to mandatory vaccinations for children.

The dispute helped convince Democratic delegates to endorse Brown over Hennessy in a local party meeting earlier this year, giving Browns upstart campaign a boost.

Brown, who has close ties to Mayor Joe Ganims administration, previously challenged state Sen. Marilyn Moore, but came up short in the contest. Like Tuesdays race, he also had the partys support in that primary.

Without a major office on the ballot, party leaders had anticipated low turnout Tuesday. Prior to Election Day, more than 400 people voted in the race by absentee ballot, according to data shared by local elections officials.

As voters traveled to the polls, the two candidates tried one last time to win supporters. In front of Blackham School, Brown shared his pitch with voters and used the ailing school building to convince them the local schools need more funding.

I went to school at this very school right here, he said, pointing at the nearly 60-year-old building. I can tell you that it looked exactly like this when I went there.

Hennessy spent much of the day greeting voters outside John Winthrop Elementary School, which also served as a polling place for the district. Before the results were announced, he said he anticipated low turnout, but expressed confidence in turning out his supporters.

Primaries don't have super high turnout, he said. But at the end of the day, it's the campaign that has the best get-out-the-vote operation that wins.

richard.chumney@hearstmediact.com
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A Connecticut judge said on Wednesday that she was gravely concerned over the possible release of private medical records of several Sandy Hook family members by attorneys representing the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis of Waterbury ordered Norm Pattis, one of Jones many attorneys, to explain how, exactly, those medical records wound up in the hands of Jones attorney in Texas. Pattis is expected to explain what happened during a hearing that will likely take place next week, amid a series of lawsuits pitting Jones against the families he repeatedly defamed by claiming that the Sandy Hook massacre was a hoax.

Pattis must also explain what actions he and other attorneys representing Jones in his hometown of Austin took to protect the confidentiality of the records of several of the plaintiffs who are suing Jones, Bellis said.

The possibility that those records had been mishandled was revealed last week, when an attorney representing two Sandy Hook parents stunned a Texas courtroom by announcing that Jones attorneys had mistakenly sent a cache of documents to him that included medical records and the entire contents of Jones cellphone.

I am clearly gravely concerned about what I have to hear in headlines on the news, Bellis said during a remote hearing to discuss the matter on Wednesday. It was never reported to me by counsel that there were any issues, but just what I read in the news.

Pattis, a New Haven attorney, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday following the hearing, where he was represented by attorney Wesley Mead.

Mead requested that any future hearings be held privately to protect Pattis from potential damage to his reputation and character, but Judge Bellis denied that request.

The hearing nominally occurred as part of a case in which eight family members of Sandy Hook victims and an FBI agent who responded to the scene are suing Jones for defamation. Judge Bellis, however, said that potential release of the families medical records was an issue between the court and Attorney Pattis.

Bellis noted that it is not the first time that Pattis and other attorneys representing Jones have been accused of misconduct, calling the number of disciplinary cases to stem from the lawsuit unprecedented.

Andino Reynal, the Texas attorney who was accused of mistakenly releasing the records, may also have to appear before Bellis court in Connecticut to explain his actions, the judge said.

Bellis said she was not sure that Reynal was even allowed to possess the records after being granted permission to sit in with Jones' legal team in Connecticut  without actively trying the case.

Mark Bankston, an attorney for the families suing Jones in Texas, told reporters last week that Reynal mistakenly shared the medical and cell phone records with him as part of what appeared to be an effort to disclose records relevant to Jones then-looming trial in Austin, where he was ultimately found liable for nearly $50 million in damages.

Upon discovering the error, Bankston said he ordered his staff to immediately destroy the medical records of the Connecticut plaintiffs. He said he also notified Reynal, who he said responded by simply telling him to disregard the document dump.

Instead, after waiting the requisite 10-day period to allow Reynal to file a formal request to return any records covered by attorney-client privilege, Bankston said he and his staff began combing through Jones emails and text messages, which were later presented at Jones trial to impeach his credibility.

Bankston also provided a copy of Jones cell phone records to the Congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, according to the New York Times.

In Connecticut, however, Judge Bellis said she was solely concerned with the documents relating to medical records of the plaintiffs in Jones case, not his personal texts and email records.

Bellis ordered Pattis and his attorney to coordinate with Brian B. Staines, the chief disciplinary counsel for the Connecticut Judiciary, to schedule a date for an in-person hearing during which Pattis can explain his actions relating the the release of any private medical records.
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MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP)  The leader of Vermont's state Senate, Becca Balint, won the Democratic Party primary on Tuesday for Vermont's lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, meaning she could become the first woman and the first openly gay person to represent the state in Congress.

In deep-blue Vermont, its likely the Democratic candidate will also clinch the general election in November. A win by Balint, who is white, would help erase what some consider to be the blot on the liberal states reputation of only being represented by white men.

Balint garnered support from the progressive wing of the state party, including the independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, and national progressive leaders such as Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Balint had campaigned with Sanders late last month.

Balint defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, a more centrist candidate who was supported by the states Democratic establishment, including retiring U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and former governors Howard Dean and Madeleine Kunin.

In a statement, Balint thanked her opponents in the primary and said she was "humbled and honored by this victory."

Tonight is a big step forward for our state. Vermont has chosen a bold, progressive vision for the future, and I will be proud to represent us in Congress," Balint said. We can preserve democracy, tackle climate change, bridge inequality, and make the health care system work for all of us. I know that we will.

In a concession speech, Gray said she'd called Balint to congratulate her on the win.

While my disappointment is profound, so too is my gratitude for his opportunity, Gray said. This was a tough race with deeply qualified candidates making their case to Vermonters.

Vermont voters also chose Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch to replace Leahy, who has held the seat since 1975 and was the last of Congresss so-called Watergate babies. Welchs decision to run for the Senate seat opened up his seat in the House, the first time since 2006 that there have been any openings in Vermonts three-member congressional delegation.

Welch easily defeated two little-known candidates to move on to the general election in November. During his years in Congress, Welch has been one of Vermonts top vote-getters and would be an odds-on favorite to win the general election.

Welch will face retired U.S. Army officer Gerald Malloy, who defeated former U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan in Tuesday's Republican primary for the Senate seat. Malloy says he believes he can win in November, although no Republican has represented the state in Washington since 2001 when the late Sen. Jim Jeffords left the GOP to become an independent, switching control of the Senate from Republican to Democratic.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Phil Scott also cruised to his partys primary victory, defeating two candidates as he seeks a fourth term. The lone candidate for the Democratic nomination is activist Brenda Siegel, of Newfane. Last fall she spent 27 nights sleeping on the steps of the Vermont Statehouse to highlight the states homelessness challenge.

Liam Madden, a Marine Corps veteran who describes himself as a non-traditional candidate, won the GOP primary, defeating Ericka Redic of Burlington and Anya Tynio of Charletson.

Madden says he's an independent, and has said he considered declining the nomination if he won  until he learned that would allow the party to choose a replacement for the November ballot.
An Air Force veteran who was tired of having his pointed Facebook comments deleted on the service's senior enlisted leader's official page took the noncommissioned officer to court over being blocked online and won.

Richard Lee Rynearson III, a retired Air Force major, filed a lawsuit in August 2021 with the Center for Individual Rights -- a nonprofit legal firm based in Washington, D.C. -- and reached a settlement last week with the Air Force, changing the service's social media policy.

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass' official Facebook page now has a new disclaimer: "Posts will not be removed, and users will not be banned, based on the viewpoint expressed in any comments."

Read Next: Space Force's Wearable Fitness Tech Plan May Have Punitive Consequences After All

The lawsuit sets a new precedent for the military's official social media accounts and serves as yet another example of the complications the Air Force faces with developing policies to determine what is considered unacceptable behavior online for officials and the public.

Rynearson's lawsuit stems from a Nov. 22, 2020, incident, when Bass' page posted a message around Thanksgiving that said, "... there's not a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for each of YOU. The people, Airmen and families, that make up the strongest Air Force in the world."

Rynearson began lamenting that the Air Force was too focused on making sure "nobody is offended or feels like a victim."

He also responded with an image of a Care Bears cartoon with the phrase, "I am thankful the phrase 'air power' has now been replaced with #CarePower."

Rynearson was blocked shortly after he posted his comments. His lawsuit from the Center for Individual Rights followed a year later.

Rynearson is a decorated veteran and received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "V" for a 2003 mission in which he served as the co-pilot of an AC-130U while supporting special operations forces, according to the award citation.

After leaving the service, Rynearson has engaged in legal battles with the U.S. Border Patrol and Washington State regarding free speech and individual rights.

As part of the Aug. 3 settlement, Rynearson's access to the chief master sergeant's Facebook page was reinstated.

"Though the government is free to use big-tech platforms, it is not free to adopt big-tech's policy of silencing speech that it finds objectionable," the Center for Individual Rights said in a press release. "It is more important than ever to ensure that social media remains a place of free and open debate regardless of political viewpoint."

While the new language on Bass' Facebook page says comments won't be removed because of the opinions they voice, it does allow removal of posts "that contain obscenity, epithets, or threats, advocate or incite violence or other criminal conduct, or constitute harassment or cyberstalking."

The Air Force's official social media policy and guidelines, which were shared by a service spokesperson, do not show the amended comment language yet.

"The CMSAF Facebook page comment policy has been revised and the details are posted on the CMSAF Facebook page," the service said in a statement to Military.com. "Air Force leaders are committed to engaging in online forums to aid the understanding, trust and support of the U.S. population, allies and partners while also acting to deter, dissuade and otherwise influence adversaries."

The service did not respond to a question asking whether it believes the new policy will embolden social media trolls.

Late last year, the Department of Defense issued updated guidance on social media in an effort to weed out extremist views from the ranks. That policy articulated that service members who have been found posting, liking or sharing materials that are associated with extremist views could be punished by their commanders.

Previous Pentagon guidance prohibited service members from being members of extremist groups, but did not tackle the issue of advocating those views online. However, the line between acceptable opinions and extremist viewpoints posted online still hasn't been clearly defined by service leaders.

Maj. Holly Giroux, an Air Force intelligence officer, published an academic article about social media use in the military for Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, in late 2021.

In her research, Giroux noted that since "social media is integral to everyday life and it is unrealistic to forbid its usage, more training and education is needed amongst the officer corps regarding the gravity of partisan rhetoric on the various platforms."

But she added that guidance and policies from the services are often unclear.

"While the DOD and each individual service have released additional guidance regarding social media usage ... it is subjective and not always clear what consequences will come from violating social media guidelines," Giroux wrote.

Bass' legal battle is the latest high-profile case in which a public official's social media censorship has been scrutinized by the courts.

In 2019, a federal court in New York ruled that then-President Donald Trump's frequent blocking of critics on Twitter violated the First Amendment.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Air Force Nominee Backtracks on Automated Monitoring of Troops for Extremist Social Media Posts
The Navy's latest efforts to get sailors to head back to sea are focused on senior enlisted members. The sea service rolled out a new program Friday that offers promotions to senior and master chief petty officers in exchange for orders to specific ships -- like the USS George Washington.

According to a spokeswoman from the Navy's personnel office, while programs like this are being rolled out to deal with shortfalls in manning, they also signal the future of how the service hopes to promote sailors and staff its ships.

The latest program, which the Navy is calling Senior Enlisted Advance to Position, or SEA2P, is "designed to keep deploying units mission-ready by aggressively filling critical at-sea leadership billets," according to the message that announced its creation. It will allow chief petty officers who are eligible for promotion to either senior chief or master chief to agree to orders on ships with the Nimitz Strike Group, stationed on the West Coast, or the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group on the East Coast in exchange for a guaranteed advancement.

Read Next: Air Force Allows Facebook Comments Criticizing the Service Online After Veteran's Lawsuit

The message notes that, in addition to the two, broad groups that are participating in the program, the pilot also will specifically include the USS George Washington. The aircraft carrier's inclusion by name is notable because the ship has received significant coverage over a string of suicides that has occurred there in the last year, as well as the tough living conditions sailors have reported having to endure.

Since Military.com broke the story of the suicides on the aircraft carrier, the Navy has taken steps to improve quality of life aboard the George Washington, including allowing sailors to move off ship while its undergoing repairs, and several sailors have since said conditions have improved. However, its inclusion in this incentive program suggests that the Navy is still having issues staffing the beleaguered ship.

For years, the George Washington has had a reputation among sailors of being a difficult command at which to be stationed. According to those on the crew, the fact that the ship has been in the shipyard for years as part of a complex overhaul and refueling -- made worse by growing delays -- as well as a recent push to force junior sailors to live aboard the ship have made life much more difficult for sailors.

After news of the suicides broke, Rear Adm. John Meier, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, told reporters that, while the ship had about 95% of its junior sailors aboard, it had only about 65% of its senior enlisted.

The new program also underscores the fact that the Navy is having to expend more effort across the fleet to keep ships fully manned and ready to sail.

Lt. Rachel Maul, a spokeswoman for the Chief of Naval Personnel, told Military.com in an email that the two ship groups and the George Washington "were chosen as priority to increase readiness."

"Closing gaps at sea is a Chief of Naval Personnel priority, and teams are using all available options," she added.

All told, the Navy is looking to fill about 75 senior chief and master chief spots in the first round of the new pilot program, Maul said, noting that the second round will be determined after selections are made in this initial batch.

The new initiative also follows the rollout of a similar program -- the Detailing Marketplace Assignment Policy, or DMAP -- that rewards junior sailors in key jobs for staying at sea with more pay and promotions.

Maul explained that "billet-based advancement programs" like SEA2P and DMAP likely signal the Navy's future rather than a temporary measure to deal with current shortfalls.

"The Navy's enlisted advancement systems are not currently aligned with the Navy's distribution systems," which, according to Maul, leads to senior sailors filling jobs meant for more junior sailors and, in turn, leaving spots meant for them unfilled.

"In time, billet-based advancement is expected to become the standard for all enlisted Sailors in the Navy," she said. This would move sailors away from the current system that revolves around a biannual exam and evaluations to determine eligibility for promotion.

These measures are the latest in a series of programs aimed at keeping sailors at sea. The Navy has also offered money to sailors to stay at forward-deployed locations and, more recently, to fight shortages in manning caused by COVID-19.

-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: Navy Canceling Early Discharges and Offering Extensions to Keep More Sailors in Uniform
A rat infestation has forced about two dozen Phoenix veterans, including a 106-year-old, from a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility, Arizona officials reported.

"There's been no interactions, no bites, no infections," Mike Welsh, interim VA medical director for Phoenix, told KNXV.

Residents at the community living center located next to a VA medical center have been moved to other facilities while workers battle the rats, AZ Family reported. The infestation came to light in July when workers discovered chewed-up ceiling tiles.

Rats also were found in an unused part of the second floor, KPNX reported. Welsh told the station that officials believe recent monsoon storms drove the rats indoors.

The relocated veterans range in age from their 70s to 106 years old, according to the station.

Officials don't know how long it will take to get rid of the rats, AZ Family reported.

"Our office has been briefed on this horrible situation and is in contact with the Phoenix VA leadership," a spokesperson for Democratic U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema told KNXV. "We'll continue holding the VA accountable to make this right and ensure veterans receive the care they've earned in a safe and clean environment."

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CONCORD, N.H.  A jury on Tuesday acquitted a commercial truck driver of causing the deaths of seven motorcyclists in a horrific head-on collision in northern New Hampshire that exposed fatal flaws in the processing of license revocations across states.

Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 26, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, was found innocent on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct in connection with the June 21, 2019, crash in Randolph. Jailed since the crash, he appeared to wipe away tears as the verdict was read and briefly raised his index finger skyward before leaving the courtroom.

Jurors deliberated for less than three hours after a two-week trial during which prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy, who had taken heroin, fentanyl and cocaine that day, repeatedly swerved back and forth before the head-on crash and told police he caused it. But a judge dismissed eight charges related to whether he was impaired, and his attorneys blamed the lead biker, Albert Woody Mazza Jr., saying he was drunk and not looking where he was going when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of Zhukovskyys truck.

Our hearts go out to the victims and their families. Our trial team did an excellent job and we firmly believe that the State proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt," New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella said in a statement.

Zhukovskyys family, some of whom attended the trial, said in a statement they were grateful to God, the court and the defense attorneys for an honest and fair trial.

Our family expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends affected by this tragedy," the family said. Our son and brother are very honest and kind man. He would never have done anything to hurt anyone.

Zhukovskyy, who was born in Ukraine, remained jailed as of late Tuesday afternoon. It is unclear when he might be released. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued an immigration detainer on him after the crash and that was served on him following the verdict, said Ben Champagne, the superintendent at the Coos County Department of Corrections. He said ICE now has 48 hours to detain Zhukovskyy. A spokesman for ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

All seven motorcyclists killed were members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club. After the verdict, a member of the Marine group reached through Facebook declined to comment. Mazza's father, also named Albert, said he was stunned.

Killing seven people and he gets off. That is unbelievable, said Mazza. He described his son as a good man who devoted much of his time to charity, and said it was wrong to pin blame on him.

It doesnt make much sense," he said. "There are seven people dead. There are seven families affected. It's strange that he didnt get something.

The motorcyclists who died were from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and ranged in age from 42 to 62. They were part of a larger group that had just left a motel along U.S. Route 2 in Randolph.

Killed were Mazza, of Lee, New Hampshire; Edward and Jo-Ann Corr, a couple from Lakeville, Massachusetts; Michael Ferazzi, of Contoocook, New Hampshire; Desma Oakes, of Concord, New Hampshire; Daniel Pereira, of Riverside, Rhode Island; and Aaron Perry, of Farmington, New Hampshire.

In closing statements Tuesday morning, the two sides raised questions about who was more all over the place: the trucker accused of swerving back and forth across the road or the eyewitnesses accused of contradicting each other.

Those witnesses were all over the place about what they recalled and what they claimed to have seen, said defense attorney Jay Duguay.

Duguay also accused prosecutors of ignoring that their own accident reconstruction unit contradicted their theory that Zhukovskyy crossed into the oncoming lane. An expert hired by the defense, meanwhile, testified that the crash happened on the center line of the road and would have occurred even if the truck was in the middle of its lane because Mazzas motorcycle was heading in that direction.

From the beginning of this investigation, the state had made up their mind about what had happened, evidence be damned, said Duguay, who also highlighted inconsistencies between witness accounts or when witnesses contradicted themselves.

In particular, Duguay suggested that the bikers shaded their accounts to protect Mazza and the club. Prosecutor Scott Chase acknowledged some inconsistencies, but asked jurors to remember the circumstances.

People were covering the dead, trying to save the barely living, comforting the dying. This wasnt story time, he said. They were up here talking about some of the most unimaginable chaos, trauma, death and carnage that we can even imagine three years later. They were talking about hell broke open.

Witnesses were consistent, he argued, in describing the truck as weaving back and forth before the crash. That behavior continued until he killed people, Chase said.

Thats what stopped him. Its not that he made some responsible decision to start paying attention or do the right thing, he said. The only thing that stopped him was an embankment after he tore through a group of motorcycles.

Chase called the attempt to blame Mazza a fanciful story and frivolous distraction, while reminding jurors that Zhukovskyy, who didnt testify at trial, told investigators Obviously, I caused the crash.

He was crystal clear from the very beginning that he caused this crash, Chase said. That is what he said, because that is what happened.

Zhukovskyys commercial driving license should have been revoked in Massachusetts at the time of the crash because of a drunken driving arrest in Connecticut about two months earlier.

Connecticut officials alerted the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, but Zhukovkskyys license wasnt suspended due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses. In a review, federal investigators found similar backlog problems in Rhode Island, New Hampshire and at least six other jurisdictions.

Associated Press writers Michael Casey and Kathy McCormack contributed to this report.
The man who was shot and killed outside of a remote Space Force station in New Hampshire arrived at the front gate with a gun and a knife, according to investigators.

Michael Foley, 33, was fatally shot on Galaxy Way, an access road that leads to New Boston Space Force Station -- NBSFS -- on May 13.

The Air Force concluded an investigation Aug. 8 and told Military.com in an email that Foley was shot "when he approached the NBSFS gate armed with a knife and gun and made threatening gestures toward a NBSFS contracted police officer," according to Stephen Brady -- a spokesman for the Space Force's Peterson-Schriever Garrison, which oversees New Boston Space Force Station.

Read Next: Florida Man Accused of Driving to Space Force Base in Stolen Truck to Warn of Aliens

Foley also "had a gas can and propane tank in his vehicle, which was deemed a potential threat," Brady added.

He was killed at the scene by a "single gunshot wound" and the "manner of death is homicide," New Hampshire's Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Mitchell Weinberg said in a press release.

A Use of Force Review Board followed the May shooting and was made up of Department of Defense representatives from security forces, the judge advocate office, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and other experts.

Military contractor Peter White -- who works with security company Lockwood Hills and was identified by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office -- "acted within the scope of authority, current policy, and current procedures regarding the use of force," Brady said.

New Boston police officer Shane Morton, who has served in law enforcement for five years, was also involved in the shooting.

Both Morton and White fired their weapons, Brady said. It's still not clear who fired the fatal round.

The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office is undertaking a second investigation into the incident, because it involved a local police officer. Those findings are supposed to be released sometime next month.

New Boston is home to the 23rd Space Operations Squadron, which provides satellite capabilities to "more than 190 Department of Defense, national and civilian satellites performing intelligence, weather, navigation, early-warning and communications operations," according to the Space Force.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Man Killed Outside of New Boston Space Force Station in Shooting Involving Military Contractor
Just minutes after President Joe Biden signed legislation that gives thousands of sick post-9/11 veterans better access to health care and disability benefits, Sri Benson worked his way to the commander in chief and slipped him a Ziploc baggie containing a note and a photo of an Army soldier.

That soldier, Sri's wife Katie, died July 9 at age 36 of mesothelioma, believed to be tied to her military service in Kuwait. Biden took the bag, embraced Sri and whispered in his ear.

"I told him my wife's final words, and he gave me his son's," Benson said in an interview following the signing of the Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act, Wednesday at the White House. "It was special."

Inside the story: Burn Pits and the Fight to Get Help

For veterans, advocates and loved ones of service members who died of exposure-related illnesses, the signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House marked the culmination of decades of work to attain recognition, health care and benefits for troops sickened by burn pits, pollution, radiation, chemicals and other deployment-related health hazards.

Biden said the bill fulfills a promise he made when he took office, meeting a "sacred obligation" to get veterans needed benefits and care.

"These conditions have already taken such a toll on so many veterans and their families," Biden said, referring to 23 illnesses that the new law designates as service-connected diagnoses, making those afflicted eligible for expedited health care and disability compensation.

The legislation is the most significant expansion of veterans health care and benefits since approval of the Agent Orange Act more than 30 years ago.

During the ceremony, veterans who were exposed to burn pits and their survivors packed the room, including Danielle and Brielle Robinson, wife and daughter of Heath Robinson, the bill's namesake.

Robinson died in 2020 at age 39 of burn pit-related lung cancer. His widow, who also attended this year's State of the Union Address with first lady Jill Biden, had the honor of introducing the president Wednesday.

But once Biden took the podium, he didn't launch directly into his speech; instead, he spoke directly to 9-year-old Brielle, touching on why the legislation is as personal to the Biden family as it is to the Robinsons.

"I know you miss your daddy, but he's with you all the time," Biden told the little girl. "He's inside you. He's going to whisper in your ear when you have hard decisions to make. ... Do you see that little guy you are sitting next to? That's my grandson. His daddy lost to the same burn pit. He knows what you are going through."

Biden was referring to his son Beau Biden, who deployed to Iraq in 2008 and was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013. He died in 2015 at age 46.

"When they came home, many of the fittest and best warriors that we sent to war were not the same. Headaches, numbness, dizziness, cancer," Biden said. "My son Beau was one of them."

In addition to designating 23 illnesses as service-connected for post-9/11 veterans, the PACT Act extends coverage to Vietnam veterans diagnosed with hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance; expands Agent Orange benefits for Vietnam-era veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos; allows veterans to file claims against the federal government for illnesses related to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and improves benefits for veterans exposed to radiation during cleanups of nuclear waste sites.

"It's another step. It's a step for the Agent Orange [vets]. ... It's a step for the burn pits vets, all those who suffer from the invisible wounds of war that we have to address much more effectively," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said in an interview after the ceremony. "We have a lot of work to do."

With the $279 billion bill signed into law, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said the VA is ready to serve the up to 3.5 million veterans who may have been exposed to burn pits or other airborne pollutants while serving.

"We at VA will stop at nothing to make sure that every veteran and every survivor gets the PACT Act-related care and benefits they deserve," McDonough said during the ceremony.

The last several weeks have been tumultuous for supporters of the legislation, who watched the bill pass the Senate 84-14 in June. But as a result of a procedural glitch, it required a second vote in the chamber, which then failed to garner enough votes for advancement.

Ultimately, the Senate passed the legislation in an 86-11 vote last week, after veterans and advocates spent six days camping out on the Senate steps in summer heat and thunderstorms to pressure senators to act.

The U.S. military used burn pits in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere to dispose of garbage, hospital waste, batteries, spare tires, metal and other discarded items. The one at Joint Base Balad in Iraq was more than 10 acres wide and burned up to 147 tons of refuse a day.

In 2006, a bioenvironmental flight commander at the base, Air Force Lt. Col. Darrin Curtis, expressed concern that the pits, which wafted black smoke over the installation 24 hours a day, were an acute health hazard; he warned of the "possibility for chronic health hazards associated with the smoke."

Curtis' observations, as well as the concerns of troops who returned home from deployment with respiratory issues that included asthma, black phlegm, wheezing, malaise and, in some cases, cancer, were reported in 2008 by Military Times.

Since then, an unknown number of veterans have died. The advocacy group Burn Pits 360 estimates the number to be in the thousands.

Just over a decade after the first reporting on burn pits, Army Capt. Peter Antioho was diagnosed with glioblastoma -- the same cancer that killed Beau Biden. He died at age 34. His widow, Amy Antioho, spent the last year of her husband's life fighting with the VA for health services and benefits for her stricken husband.

On Wednesday, she brought the couple's six-year-old son, Mark, to the White House to witness the signing. After the event, she told reporters that she was there to support the families who will now receive benefits as a result of the law. To them, she had this advice:

"Don't give up. Don't take no for an answer. If you get no for an answer, talk to someone else. If you find yourself hitting a wall, turn the corner because there's always a way."

The bill is intended to eliminate roadblocks for veterans to receive health care and services. Antioho said that it should "always have been that way."

"We shouldn't have had to be here," she said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Veterans Can Start Filing New Claims Now for 23 Illnesses Covered Under New Law
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukraine's air force said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea that appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian attack, which would represent a significant escalation in the war.

Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday's blasts  or that any attack took place. But satellite photos clearly showed at least seven fighter planes at the base had been blown up and others probably damaged.

Ukrainian officials stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while mocking Russias explanation that a careless smoker might have caused ammunition at the Saki air base to catch fire and blow up. Analysts also said that explanation doesnt make sense and that the Ukrainians could have used anti-ship missiles to strike the base.

If Ukrainian forces were, in fact, responsible for the blasts, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site on the Crimean Peninsula, which was seized from Ukraine by the Kremlin in 2014. Russian warplanes have used Saki to strike areas in Ukraines south.

Crimea holds huge strategic and symbolic significance for both sides. The Kremlins demand that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia has been one of its key conditions for ending the fighting, while Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians from the peninsula and all other occupied territories.

The explosions, which killed one person and wounded 14, sent tourists fleeing in panic as plumes of smoke rose over the coastline nearby. Video showed shattered windows and holes in the brickwork of some buildings.

One tourist, Natalia Lipovaya, said that the earth was gone from under my feet after the powerful blasts. "I was so scared, she said.

Sergey Milochinsky, a local resident, recalled hearing a roar and seeing a mushroom cloud from his window. "Everything began to fall around, collapse, he said.

Crimeas regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said some 250 residents were moved to temporary housing after dozens of apartment buildings were damaged.

But Russian authorities sought to downplay the explosions on Wednesday, saying all hotels and beaches were unaffected on the peninsula, which is a popular tourist destination for many Russians.

A Ukrainian presidential adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, cryptically said that the blasts were either caused by Ukrainian-made long-range weapons or the work of Ukrainian guerrillas operating in Crimea.

A Ukrainian parliament member, Oleksandr Zavitnevich, said the airfield was rendered unusable. He reported on Facebook that it housed fighter jets, tactical reconnaissance aircraft and military transport planes.

Satellite photos dated Wednesday issued by Planet Labs PBC showed wreckage in spots on the airfield where the company's photos a day earlier showed numerous warplanes.

Official Kyiv has kept mum about it, but unofficially the military acknowledges that it was a Ukrainian strike, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said.

The base is at least 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) from the closest Ukrainian position. Zhdanov suggested that Ukrainian forces could have struck it with Ukrainian or Western-supplied anti-ship missiles that have the necessary range.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said it couldnt independently determine what caused the explosions but noted that simultaneous blasts in two places at the base probably rule out an accidental fire but not sabotage or a missile attack.

But it added: The Kremlin has little incentive to accuse Ukraine of conducting strikes that caused the damage since such strikes would demonstrate the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems.

During the war, the Kremlin has reported numerous fires and explosions on Russian territory near the Ukrainian border, blaming some of them on Ukrainian strikes. Ukrainian authorities have mostly kept silent about the incidents, preferring to keep the world guessing.

Neither side has released much information about their own casualties. In his nightly video address Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed nearly 43,000 Russian soldiers had been killed.

Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, estimated Monday that Russian forces have sustained up to 80,000 deaths and injuries in the fighting. He did not break down the figure with an estimate of forces killed or provide a Ukrainian casualty count.

In other developments, Russian forces shelled areas across Ukraine on Tuesday night into Wednesday, including the central region of Dnipropetrovsk, where 13 people were killed, according to the regions governor, Valentyn Reznichenko.

Reznichenko said the Russians fired at the city of Marganets and a nearby village. Dozens of residential buildings, two schools and several administrative buildings were damaged.

It was a terrible night, Reznichenko said. It's very hard to take bodies from under debris. We are facing a cruel enemy who engages in daily terror against our cities and villages.

In Ukraine's east, where fighting has raged for eight years, a Russian attack on the center of the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region killed seven, wounded six and damaged stores, homes and apartment buildings, setting off fires, Ukraine's prosecutor general said on Telegram. Bakhmut is a key target for Russian forces as they advance on regional hubs.

Two residents of the village of Staryi Saltiv in the Kharkiv region in the northeast were killed Wednesday in Russian shelling, police reported.

In the country's southeast, Moscow's forces continued shelling the city of Nikopol across the Dnieper River from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling it, stoking international fears of a catastrophe.

On Wednesday, foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies demanded that Russia immediately hand back full control of the plant to Ukraine. They said they are profoundly concerned about the risk of a nuclear accident with far-reaching consequences.

Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.
The Warthog, Hawgs, Thunderbolt II -- whatever you call it, it's the Air Force's flying tank. It's both beloved by ground forces and often resented by the Air Force brass. Read on to find out why.

Developed during the Cold War to tear through Soviet tanks trying to make their way through the Fulda Gap between East and West Germany, the A-10 was a vital component of the AirLand Battle doctrine. The idea was to maintain the balance of forces, use technology to overcome the Warsaw Pact's numerical superiority and be an effective deterrent to aggression.

Failing that, the U.S. should quickly win the first battle of the next war. The means to do that was creating a low-flying tank killer to work in tandem with ground troops and disrupt enemy formations at the front while the rest of the Air Force hit the reserves and supply lines in the rear.

Read: A-10 'Warthog' Thunderbolt II

The A-10 "Warthog" Gun

Even before the plane's design really began, planners built the A-10 Thunderbolt II around its main armament, the GAU-8 Avenger. The Avenger is a powerful seven-barrel, hydraulic-driven gatling gun that fires PGU-14/B Incendiary rounds with a depleted uranium armor piercing core or PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary rounds, each longer than 11 inches. It fires the projectiles at a rate of 2,100 to 4,200 rounds per minute.

The gun is roughly 16% of the aircraft's body weight, so when it's removed, the A-10 needs to be counterbalanced to keep it from tipping over. The ammo drum is the largest part of the gun, and features a chute system that not only keeps the ammo flowing, but also keeps the expended shells from having to shoot out and potentially damage the plane.

How Much Does an A-10 "Warthog" Cost?

The A-10 was built to be inexpensive and take a lot of damage. Because of this, the Air Force knew parts had to be easily obtainable. The result of that kind of engineering made for a plane that cost $1.4 million per unit in 1970 (just under $10.1 million today). That may not sound cheap, but compared to other aircraft with close-air support capabilities, like the F-35 Lightning II ($101 million) or F-15EX Eagle II ($87.7 million), it seems more like a bargain.

In terms of cost per hour of flying time, the Warthog seems even cheaper. Flying an A-10 for an hour costs taxpayers a mere $19,000 while the F-35 costs $44,000 per flight hour. The A-10, of course, isn't designed for stealth or air superiority, so it is also more susceptible to incoming enemy aircraft. You get what you pay for.

A-10 Warthog Sound: The BRRRRRT

It's a sound that's become so iconic, it's now an internet meme. Few things are more satisfying than watching a target getting demolished to the sound of the "BRRRRRT." The sound comes from the GAU-8 Avenger, which is so powerful that the plane was actually designed around its recoil.

The gun sits in the middle of the plane so that the Avenger's recoil has a minimal effect on the plane's flight path. The A-10's engine and tail design were intended to keep the aircraft stable when firing the massive cannon in its nose. Despite these considerations, firing the BRRRRRT decreases its forward thrust by half.

A-10 Warthog Top Speed

Most new aircraft in the past few years have been supersonic fighters, capable of 1.6 Mach (F-35C), 1.5 Mach (F-22 Raptor) or Mach 2.5 (F-15EX). Meanwhile, the A-10 Warthog's top speed is just 420 mph, a fraction of those incredible speeds. Close-air support like the kind the A-10 was supposed to provide meant the Warthog needed to be protected while fighting close to the enemy's small arms.

This means the A-10 needs to be able to fly low and slow, so supersonic speeds make little sense for its mission. Often, it also means getting close enough to the action that it takes a powerful amount of damage from the ground, which it was also designed for.

The aircraft is so survivable, it can land without its gear down, without hydraulic assistance to the pilot (who sits in a titanium tub) and its fuel tanks are protected by a layer of foam to prevent explosives.

A-10 Warthog Replacement

The Air Force argues that such a slow-moving and single-role aircraft is not necessary for today's battlefields. The A-10 wasn't built to fly against today's air superiority fighters like China's J-20. The Air Force would much prefer to free up the funds used to maintain 45-year-old fighters like the A-10 to use on its newer aircraft, airframes it believes has a much bigger role in the long run.

In 2019, the Air Force finished a congressionally mandated evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II's ability to take over the A-10's close-air support mission. The beloved A-10 Thunderbolt II will be gradually decommissioned beginning in 2023, as the F-35 and F-16 Fighting Falcon take on its support role.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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Opinionated Kumawood filmmaker, Nana Ofori Agyemang, widely known as Oboy Siki, has taken swipe at Ghanaians who supported Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo to become President for the second time.

In particular, he blamed those who were chanting the "4 more for Nana" campaign slogan during the 2020 electioneering campaigns.

He claimed they all deserved to be whipped in hell fire for imposing someone on Ghanaians who would did nothing good except to inflict economic hardship on Ghanaians.

All the hardship we are currently experiencing is because of 4 more 4 Nana. And to those who said 4 more 4 Nana should God come today for his judgment anyone who opened his mouth and endorsed 4 more 4Nana should be judged and thrown into hell. Look at how just 4 more 4 Nana has made us suffer, Oboy Siki said as quoted by the Pulse.

According to the ferocious actor, the biggest mistake to have happened in the history of Ghanas political history is Akufo-Addo becoming President in 2020.

He said the President shouldn't have run for re-election after his first tenure.

I dont know who ever thought Nana Addo that quotation from the Bible which he succeeded in deceiving Ghanaians while he (Akufo-Addo) wasnt a Christian. All he got was to be on the seat for four years. He even didnt deserve to rule us but mistakenly it happened, he expressed.

The outspoken actor chastised Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah for always predicting victory for Nana Akufo-Addo.

Instead of you (Rev Owusu Bempah) leaving him to go after the four years, you went ahead making prophecies that he will win," he said.
In most Ghanaian communities, particularly the deprived ones, young ladies enter intimate relationships with men to help them survive their financial difficulties.

Some, not also deprived but got pregnant by mistake.

Speaking on the issue, Ghanaian ace actor, Yvonne Nelson, advised them to put a stop to that and keep the baby for the blessings that come with childbearing.

The movie producer in a tweet today, August 10, spotted by Modernghana News urged young ladies to protect themselves if they think they aren't ready for pregnancy.

Abortion? Dont do it. If you get pregnant, have the baby. If you arent ready to be a parent, protect yourself. It's a blessing to conceive.. Ill tell you guys a story soon, Yvonne Nelson preached in her tweet.
Yvonne Nelson, a veteran Ghanaian actress and film producer, has advised the country's youth to be patient in life.

She advises them not to rush for success in life, because the right time will come when they will have plenty of the money they seek for.

The entertainer recalled her childhood desire for materialistic and wealthy things, and how she would frequently disturb her mother to obtain some of the items her wealthy colleagues possessed.

She inspired young people in a tweet today, August 10, by using her current situation as an example. I used to cry to my mum to take me abroad in primary school, my classmates will always come back to school with new bags etc I craved for same.now Im on flights filming. Im sleepy kraa, but Camera dey my front abrotsre over me. liiiiiife

After a long period of hustling in life, many people become dissatisfied and even turn to foul means to make wealth.

The end result is usually disastrous, as they either end up in prison or die prematurely.
10.08.2022 LISTEN

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has taken the lead amongst all transport unions in the country to launch its much-anticipated Oya App to drive its digitalisation agenda.

The launch of the pace-setting App was held at the forecourt of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Accra on Tuesday, August 9.

The bus tracking and digital payment app is the biggest technological reform introduced by the GPRTU in the last three decades of operations.

Oya is in line with the Unions vision of providing safe transportation through digitalization. Primarily, the app will improve road safety, enhance passenger security, ensure convenience and motivate drivers.

The Oya App has been introduced by the GPRTU to bring solutions to vehicle manifest database, digital payment of transport fares, luggage tagging and ticket printing among others.

The app will also help passengers to alert over-speeding, report bad driving and also call for emergency services when needed.

Delivering an address at the launch event today, Nana Nimako Bresiama who is the National Chairman of GPRTU explained that in a digitalised age, his outfit has decided it will not lag behind.

He said as a union, it has decided to go digital to help address critical issues of transport while exhibiting professionalism at the highest level.

We dont just want to be common drivers. We want to be professional with our work and that is why we are going digital.

We want our drivers to exhibit top most professionalism to reduce accidents on our roads. Lets all come together and help. The GPRTU of yesterday is not the same today, Nana Nimako Bresiama stressed.

Adding to that, General Secretary of the GPRTU, Godfred Abulbire emphasised that the union intends to become more marketable for passengers to feel safe when using the services of members.

He further disclosed that the GPRTU is set to introduce a towing system that will see to the swift removal of cars that break down on roads to help reduce accidents.

Today we are proud to announce that we have gone further to adapt a towing service. We will make sure all our members subscribe to it so that whenever a car is damaged we will get it towed at a highly subsidized fee which will be paid once a year.

Our image is highly dented but after discussions with road safety, we want to rebrand by having stickers that will distinguish us from other transport unions. Very soon all GPRTU vehicles nationwide will be embossed with our stickers, Godfred Abulbire shared.

The GPRTU General Secretary added, We forge ahead after todays launch to make sure the manifest system and the towing policy are fully enforced.

Impressed with the introduction of the Oya App, Acting Director General of the National Road Safety Authority, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng applauded GPRTU for taking the bold step.

He urged other unions not to fold their hands and allow the digitalisation train to move and leave them behind.

In his view, going digital as demonstrated by GPRTU is the way to go.

We at the Road Safety Authority are happy and we salute you for putting in the work for this dream to come to life.

We must salute GPRTU for the good work they keep doing to help deal with accidents in the country.

If you stay and you dont join the digitization train you will stay and rot. I must be frank, GPRTU you have taken the lead in this race, Ing. David Osafo Adonteng said.

Representatives from the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Roads and Highways who graced the launch of the Oya App applauded the GPRTU for setting the pace and admonished the union to continue coming up with initiatives that will not only make the transport sector better but help reduce accidents involving commercial vehicles drastically.

At the launch of the app, the GPRTU disclosed that it has decided to do in-service training for all drivers to promote professionalism.

The 'Oya App' is already available for download on the Apple Store and Play store for IOS and Android devices respectively.
President Akufo Addo, has commissioned the ultra-modern Tono Water Treatment Plant, at Tono, a suburb of Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality, as part of his activities as he paid a one-day working visit to the Upper East Region.

The water project which started in 2018 was expected to have been completed in 36 months, according to information that was given at the sod-cutting ceremony.

Over 350, 000 households in over 30 communities located in the Kassena-Nankana and Bolgatanga Municipalities, as well as the Kassena-Nankana West and Bolgatanga East Districts are expected to benefit directly from this project which has the capacity to treat and distribute a total volume of about four and half million gallons of water a day.

Prior to the commissioning, many communities in these beneficiary municipalities and districts have been faced with severe water challenges, which caused many women and children to walk over long distances to fetch water to drink and to handle some domestic chores.

The Tono Water Treatment Plant which will draw most of its water support from the Tono Irrigation Dam, was constructed by Denys Engineers and some sub-contractors at the cost of 37,683,226.00 Euros. The fund is a loan facility from the ING Bank of Belgium and the Dutch government through the ORIO funding.

President Akufo-Addo was impressed with the work done and very happy that the water challenge that confronted many of the beneficiary communities will be a thing of the past, as the project will bring water closer to them.

He said his government is committed to addressing the water challenge in many communities in Northern Ghana, as well as the rest of the country, to either reduce or curb the difficulties people go through to get potable water for their families.

The project, once commissioned and handed over, will be under the Ghana Water Company Limited to ensure effective management and continuous distribution of good water for the beneficiary households and individuals.

President Akufo-Addo called on consumers to always pay their water bills to enable Ghana Water Company to manage the facility efficiently.

Present at the event were, Minister for Water Resource, Madam Cecilia Dapaah, the Managing Director GWCL, Ing. Dr. Clifford Brimah, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, the Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area,Pe Dennis Aneakwoa Belinia Adda Asagpaare II.
The controversy surrounding the renovation of 'Asomdwe Park', the final resting place of the late Professor JEA Mills is unfortunate. Ironically, "Asomdwe Park literary means 'Peace Park'. As to why a peace park has become the source of anger and acrimony, arrogance, partisan politics and the lack of absolute love for one another can only be the reasons

Professor JEA Mills, a humble and peaceful man who led a blameless life seems to be having the unfortunate experience of his resting place being a source of confusion and quarrel. What a reversal of fortune. He is a man of peace for Christ's sake!

The idea to renovate the park to fit the legacy of prof. in all sincerity is a great one and even whilst the government has committed the unforgivable offence of not involving the family (as rumours have it), we need to commend the government for the initiative. If the rumours are true, why did the government fail to involve the family? The culture and norms of Ghana demand that at least. Nevertheless, the government has done a great job and needs to be commended.

The issue of Koku Anyidoho is an interesting one. The Koku Anyidoho equation seems to be the part that the government and the family are disagreeing on. Well, I think that showing loyalty and love to the greatest benefactor in your life, like Prof. Mills has done to Koku and Koku to Mills is not bad. As to the differences between Koku on one hand and the family and the NDC on the other, it boils down to our stinking politics. A politics of no principles and ideas. A nauseating politics characterised by greed, selfishness and parochial interest.

Prof. Mills is a man of peace, and if Koku Anyidoho, the family, and NDC really claim to love him, they will all smoke the peace pipe as Prof. would have wished. Let's call a spade a spade and not a big spoon.

#scrapexgratia

Benjamin Kwame Amankwa

Communication & Media Expert

Email:[email protected]
This portal has learnt that the President, Nana Akufo Addo was disappointed with the level of work done on the District Hospital project being constructed in the Bolgatanga East District in the Upper East Region.

The project is among a number of health facilities being built across the Upper East Region and other parts of the country, under the government's Agenda 111 initiative, which aims at providing hospitals for districts that do not have befitting health facilities.

While on his one-day working tour of the Upper East Region on August 5, 2022, he was taken to the site where the Bolgatanga East District Hospital is being constructed, unfortunately the president was not impressed with the level of work, considering the fact that others are closer to completion.

The District Chief Executive for Bolgatanga East District in the Upper East Region, David Amoah, is reported to have confirmed that indeed President Akufo Addo, was highly angry and dissatisfied with the slow pace of the construction works on the project in the district.

President Akufo Addo has thus issued a strongly worded advice to the management of the construction firm to speed to meet the deadline given, or risk losing the contract to another firm.

It is not clear what has caused the delay in the construction of the Bolgatanga East District Hospital, but some residents who spoke to the Daily Guide in separate interviews called on the contractor to speed up with the project, if the needed funds have been given.

Others called on the government to release the needed funds to the construction company if it has not been given already, to enable the company to fast-track work on the project and be able to meet the deadline given.

If the construction of the Agenda 111 health facility in the Bolgatanga East District goes as described, then it will serve as a referral hospital for other smaller health facilities in the district and nearby ones.

---DGN online
Former President John Dramani Mahamas aide, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, expects the economy to take another hit if the government does not heed the National Democratic Congress calls for a national dialogue.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Ofosu said the NDCs previous warnings had been proven right after Ghana eventually turned to the IMF for support.

They arrogantly rebuffed our call. In the end, they went to the IMF almost two years late, by which time the economy had been so badly damaged that we are not going to get an IMF programme as quickly as we should.

If they had listened and gone to the IMF right after the elections in 2020, we would not be in this mess, Mr. Ofosu added.

He was speaking after Mr. Mahama had called for an immediate national dialogue to tackle Ghana's worsening fiscal situation.

This was reinforced by Standard and Poor's (S&P) downgrade of Ghana's foreign and local credit ratings from B-B' to CCC+C with a negative economic outlook.

Ahead of Ghana turning to the IMF for support, Fitch had downgraded Ghana's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B-' from 'B' and the outlook was negative.

Moody's Investors Service (Moody's) downgraded Ghana's long-term issuer and senior unsecured debt ratings to Caa1 from B3 and changed the outlook to stable from negative.

This notwithstanding, Mr. Ofosu said there was still time to salvage the situation.

It is clear that our advice that a national economic dialogue be convened is in the right direction, and the earlier the government listens the better for all of us, he added.

citinewsroom
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has assigned reasons President Akufo-Addo is refusing to reshuffle his ministers.

He claimed the refusal of the President to reshuffle or dismiss his underperforming ministers is the work of evil spirits possessing the Presidents.

General Mosquito, as he is affectionately known in politics, told the host of Accra-based Neat FM's morning show, Ghana Montie, which was monitored by Modernghana News.

He said the situation is so dire that he (Akufo-Addo) no longer cares about the nation's economic progress.

Something is controlling the President [Nana Akufo-Addo]. Some combined spiritual forces have entered his [President Nana Addo's] head. He is being manipulated and not bothered to do the right thing to save this country, he stated.

The NDCs chief scribe was reacting to President Akufo-Addos recent rejection of calls for a ministerial reshuffle in an interview on North Star Radio in Tamale on Monday, August 8.

The president explained that those making the calls are opposition NDC members who are attempting to destabilize his government.

Many of them for me have done outstanding work. Their output has been considerable, and that is what I look at.

If the output measures expectations, then I dont have any strong reasons to heed the call. The calls come for all kinds of reasons; NDC wanting to destabilise the government is one. There are people who are also looking for jobs, the President stated.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), has reiterated the party's position on Ghana Card being the only required document for voter registration exercise.

He denied knowledge of such development, despite the Electoral Commission (EC) claiming to have consulted all parties, including the NDC.

The chief scribe stated in an exclusive interview on Accra-based Joy News' PM Express, monitored by Modernghana News on Tuesday, August 9, that the NDC will never support such decisions.

He explained that millions of Ghanaians still do not have the Ghana card and may be disenfranchised.

NDC was not consulted on the issue. All we got was a legal draft and were asked to send a representative to the legal committee that will work on the draft.

We are opposed to the fact that it has not been a complete process because not every Ghanaian have a Ghana card. If we all had, we would have supported it, he said.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia stressed, We are urging the committee to throw it (the ECs CI) out or add another document to it.

This comes after the EC presented to Parliament a draft CI titled Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2021 to regulate voter registration.

The ECs bill, if passed into law by Parliament will allow the Ghana Card as the sole requirement for eligible voters to register.

The decision to make the Ghana card the sole requirement for voters' registration, according to the EC, was taken at an Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting with representatives of all political parties, in which the NDC was represented.

But the opposition has denied knowledge of such meeting.
10.08.2022 LISTEN

In an interview on North Star Radio in Tamale on Monday, August 8, President Akufo-Addo rejected calls to reshuffle cabinet ministers.

In the last year, there have been increasing calls for the President to reshuffle and fire underperforming ministers.

President Akufo-Addo has dismissed such calls claiming his ministers have performed well.

He said those making the calls are attempts by the opposition NDC to destabilize his government.

Many of them for me have done outstanding work. Their output has been considerable, and that is what I look at.

If the output measures expectations, then I dont have any strong reasons to heed the call. The calls come for all kinds of reasons; NDC wanting to destabilise the government is one. There are people who are also looking for jobs, the President started.

Reacting to this, some Ghanaians on social media, particularly on Twitter, say they are just waiting to do the 'reshuffle' themselves in the coming 2024 general elections.

Their reason is that politicians have become insensitive to their cries no matter how urgent it's, but only become humble when elections are approaching.

One Netizen wrote, Ah, what do you mean? The driver is comfortable with the conductors. If you have anything to say, please wait till December 2024. That's the only period politicians listen. Just chill, bruv.

Another adds What is RESHUFFLE? It should be firing rather instead of reshuffling. If it's bad it's bad. No need for reshuffling but FIRING."

But others also believe that a ministerial reshuffle is not needed because the value of whatever service they're giving us would still be the same after the reshuffle, so it is a good thing the president has decided not to waste our time.

Check the full reactions by some Ghanaians on Twitter as shown below;
President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo has rubbished rumours accusing him of endorsing Nigerian Presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Some faceless persons, according to the President, have been forging a social media message purporting to be coming from him to one Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, an All Progressives Congress presidential candidate (APC) in Nigeria.

The content of the message, as revealed by President Akufo-Addo, asks the APC's candidate to take care of his health and make way for Peter Obi of the opposition Labour Party (LP) to succeed outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a tweet spotted by Modernghana News on Tuesday, August 9, the President described the message as false and mischievous.

My attention has been drawn to a disturbing post making the rounds on social media, where it is alleged I have written to the 2023 presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to give Peter Obi a chance and seek treatment for his health.

This is completely false and mischievous, with no iota of truth whatsoever in it, he said.

He explained that, given Ghana and Nigeria's growing peace and unity, such a message would never cross his mind.

I have written no such letter to the APC leader, and it will not occur to me to do so. Ghana and Nigeria boast of decades of cordial, strong and brotherly relations, and I am not going to be the one to interfere in the internal affairs and politics of Nigeria, President Akufo-Addos post ends.

Nigeria will soon elect a new president and other government officials as the current Buhari-led APC administration expires in March 2023.

The election, scheduled for February 23, 2023, pitches the leader of the opposition party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi against the leader of the ruling party (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
A political science lecturer with the University of Ghana (UG), Dr. Abdul Jalid Ateku has described as unfortunate the President's decision not to reshuffle his ministers anytime soon.

Dr. Abdul Jalid Ateku who particularly called for the removal of the Finance Minister and the reorganizing of the economic management team said the country's current economic situation is dire and needs to be revived.

Speaking to Citi News, Dr. Abdul Jalid Ateku advised the president to consider reshuffling his ministers, as that will instil confidence and give hope to Ghanaians.

I find the comments unfortunate because reshuffles are used to serve a particular purpose. So in the current situation, we are talking about the economic situation and standard of living.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said he has no intention to reshuffle his ministers any time soon, insisting that his appointees were meeting his expectations .

While President Akufo-Addo said he evaluates the work of his ministers consistently, he feels many of them for me have done outstanding work. Their output has been considerable, and that is what I look at.

If the output measures expectations, then I don't have any strong reasons to heed the call, President Akufo-Addo added.

The President also believes calls for a reshuffle sometimes have ulterior motives.

The calls come for all kinds of reasons; NDC wanting to destabilise the government is one. There are people who are also looking for jobs.

But Dr. Abdul Jalid Ateku thinks otherwise. So when you have issues like this, I think when you reshuffle, it gives some kind of credibility to the government, but to say people who are calling for reshuffling want jobs or want to destabilise the government, I do not think so. If the President listens and reshuffles, that will bring some hope. I will expect the President to reshuffle, particularly, the Minister of Finance and also the Economic Management Team.

President Akufo-Addos only ministerial reshuffle was during his first term, in August 2018.

Since then, he made some changes to his ministers and dropped some portfolios after criticism that his government was bloated.

President Akufo-Addo also recently revoked the appointment of Sarah Adwoa Safo, who has been absent from work for an extended period.

She was the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

President Akufo-Addo nominated her deputy, the Member of Parliament for Walewale, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, to replace her.

The President also nominated Member of Parliament for Kwabre East, Francisca Oteng Mensah as Deputy Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

citinewsroom
The Paramount Chief of Manya Krobo Traditional Area, in the Eastern Region, Nene Sakite, has warned residents to stop threatening and attacking officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) from working in the area.

According to the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, One of the reasons why we are in darkness is that even if ECG makes up their mind to give us light and they go round to test the transformers, some people at Manya Kpongunor threatened them with stones and verbal threats. We can't be doing so as a people. If you do that to them, what do you expect from them?

Nene Sakite reaction follows the darkness residents are experiencing for the past 13 days warning them to stop intimidating the ECG Staff when he addressed a presser at his palace.

We should try not to be intimidating people who come to fix the light for us. I don't want to hear people inciting people. That's a threat to our democracy and it has to stop.

He expressed worry that the livelihoods are being lost while essential service providers struggle to store drugs and vaccines.

Nene Sakite said: For the past couple of weeks, we have been in the dark. It had been bothering me. My children are losing their livelihoods. Artisans, cold store operators, tailors and even our hospitals. Although we are all feeling the pain, this is their livelihoods. The hospital drugs are being messed up, it's a big problem.

Nene Sakite cautioned residents to desist from threatening staff of the ECG and pelting stones at them, adding that the recent cutting of a power pole was unacceptable.

The Paramount Chief assured that talks were ongoing to get the light back and called for calm heads.

We have been over-billed. We talked to them about it. They went back and tell us that there has been a faulty software giving us the over-billing, they are fixing it. They said anyone with a questionable statement should come to them. That issue is being solved, we would get to the bottom of it.

He added: What I want to tell my people is that ECG says they have prepaid. They won't come to houses to read metres anymore. So that just like phones, you buy credit and use. And I think that's much better and we have to embrace that.

The ECG staff have cut electricity to the area to demand safety for their workers.

Several road map decisions for an amicable end to the impasse hang as both the ECG and residents take entrenched positions.

The ECG in a press statement asked residents to pay old bills from 2018 in a space of five years whiles ringfencing bills from 2014.

The installation of prepaid meters has been successful in the Yilo Krobo Municipality, but some residents in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality are resisting the exercise for fear of being deducted old bills they are still contesting.

 DGN online
Frank Asare, the Ghanaian who petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to look into Labianca Company Limited over tax evasion allegations has welcomed the report of the investigations.

On Monday, the OSP announced that it has found owner of the company and Member of the Council of State, Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh guilty of using her influence to reduce the amount her company pays as import duties.

The OSP also confirmed that it has succeeded in recovering over GHS1 million in unpaid import duties from the company.

Having read the report of the OSP, petitioner Frank Asare says he is elated he has been vindicated of the allegations he made against Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh and her company.

I wish to commend the Office of the Special Prosecutor(OSP) for the thorough investigation into my complaint, the findings and recommendations of which does not only indicate the company but contain far-reaching directives for strengthening the administration of revenue mobilization at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, part of a release from Frank Asare has said.

Despite expressing satisfaction with the investigations of the OSP, the petitioner wants the owner of Labianca Company Limited removed from her position as Council of State member.

He also wants the prosecution of all custom officials who connived with the underfire Council of State member to dupe the state of huge sums of money.

Tax evasion is criminal under our various Tax Laws and anyone who abets same must face criminal charges under section 20(1) of the Criminal & Other Offences Act (as variously amended), Act 29.

In that respect, all officials of the Custom Division who enabled this rot must also be charged and prosecuted, Frank Asare insists in his release.

Below is a copy of the release from the petitioner:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10/08/22

RE: OSP REPORT ON CORRUPTION AND CORRUPTION RELATED OFFENCES INVOLVING LA BIANCA GROUP OF COMPANIES & THE CUSTOM DIVISION OF THE GHANA REVENUE AUTHORITY- PETITIONER COMMENDS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, CALLS FOR FULL SCALE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF PERSONS INVOLVED.

I have studied the 12 page Report of Investigation into Alleged Commission of Corruption and Corruption-Related Offences involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor on 3rd August, 2022.

I wish to commend the Office of the Special Prosecutor(OSP) for the thorough investigation into my complaint, the findings and recommendations of which does not only indicte the company but contain far-reaching directives for strengthening the administration of revenue mobilization at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

The report vindicates my position that Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, a known financier of President Akufo-Addo, a Council of State member and an appointee of the President on GPHA Board has been evading taxes from 2017 with the connivance of top Custom officials due to her influence in the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.

While I commend the OSP for the findings on the dealings of the Labianca company at the Ports, I disagree with aspects of the directives as stated in the report.

The Report in point 5.0 states that the OSP orderered La Bianca to pay to the State an amount of One Million Seventy-Four Thousand cedis Six Hundred and Twenty-Seven cedis Fifteen pesewas (GHC1,074,627.15), representing the short collection or shortfall of revenue arising from the issuance of the unlawful customs advance ruling by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. It further states in 5.1 that this directive has been complied with since March 31, 2022.

It is my considered view that the refunds ordered are grossly understated. Given the length of time (2017-2022) that these underhand dealings has gone on between the company and the Customs Division of GRA, theres strong evidence to suggest that the state has lost far more in revenue than the company has been made to refund.

Also, even though a prima facie case has been made against the Chief Executive of the company in respect of her peddling her influence as a Board member of GPHA and a member of the Council of State to rob the State of millions in taxes, the Report in point 4.32 reckons that the circumstances of the case, as yet, does not warrants an application to the Court for lifting the veil of incorporation of these companies. With due deference to the OSP, the Petitioner strongly disagrees with this conclusion and believes that a case has been made for piercing the veil of the companies involved and going after their beneficial owner.

While it is commendable that the Report directs a full scale investigation into the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdown of benchmark values between July 2017 and December 2021, petitioner believes that such an investigation only goes to uncovering the full extent of the rot and not whether or not theres a substantive case for criminal prosecution in respect of the adverse findings made on this Petition.

Indeed the Report correctly asserts in point 4.33 that the only basis for which the Customs Division seems to have issued the Advance Custom Ruling which reduced the benchmark value for import taxes by La Bianca, was that Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh had used her influence as Board member of GPHA and member of the Council of State to procure same.

A strong case therefore exist for prosecution by the OSP under section 3(1)(a) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

Tax evasion is criminal under our various Tax Laws and anyone who abets same must face criminal charges under section 20(1) of the Criminal & Other Offences Act (as variously amended), Act 29.

In that respect, all officials of the Custom Division who enabled this rot must also be charged and prosecuted.

In Republic v Philip Assibit & Abuga Pele (Suit No. FTRM 122/14) it was affirmed that by writing letters, recommending and approving payment of over GHc3 million in support of fraudulent claims, the 2nd accused had facilitated the commission of the crime of defrauding by false and was therefore convicted for abetment. The circumstances of this case and the findings of this Report lends itself to a criminal syndicate who have acted to deprive the State of huge sums of revenue in taxes.

Members of the Council of State are supposed to exhibit high levels of integrity. By using her influence as a Member of such a prominent State institution for corrupt influences, the indicted member cannot continue being on the Council of State.

In the coming days, the petitioner will petition the appropriate bodies for her removal from the Council of State.

Petitioner concludes by commending and thanking the Office of the Special Prosecutor for giving due attention to his Petition.

The silver linen is that the shady deals between Labianca, a known financeer of Akufo-Addo and Customs, which have occasioned huge revenue losses to the state since 2017, has for now been exposed and halted.

Signed,

Frank Asare
Wildfires continue to rage in south-western France, destroying at least 16 houses, burning 6,000 hectares of land and forcing the evacuation of almost 6,000 people. Scientists blame the extreme weather on a "double jet stream" meteorological event that has trapped warm air over western Europe.

France, like the rest of Europe, is coping with a series of rolling heatwaves and an ongoing drought that has triggered multiple wildfires across the continent in recent months.

Authorities in the wine-growing Gironde department said in a statement: "The fire is rampant and has now spread to the Landes department," adding that 500 firefighters were mobilised.

The Gironde was hit by two wildfires in July that destroyed more than 20,000 hectares of forest and led to the evacuation of almost 40,000 people.

Fires were also raging on Tuesday in other parts of the country, including the southern departments of Lozere and Aveyron, where close to 700 hectares have already burnt and where Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin is due to visit later in the day.

Third extreme weather event in two months

Another fire is spreading in the Maine et Loire department in western France, where 650 hectares have been scorched and 500 are threatened, according to local authorities.

France is experiencing an "historic" drought exacerbated by a third extreme heatwave this summer with water restrictions ordered in nearly all its 96 mainland departments.

More than 47,000 hectares have already burnt in France this year, including a record amount in July alone, according to the European Union's satellite monitoring service EFFIS.

'Double jet stream' phenomenon

Meteorologists say the recent heat waves are the result of a specific meteorological event, called a "double jet stream", which favours rising temperatures.

Scientists say that France is caught in a so-called "heat dome" between two corridors of the powerful jet stream winds to the north and south, which trap warm air over Western Europe.

Due to climate change, this extreme weather phenomenon is expected to expose western Europe to high temperatures in the years to come.
10.08.2022 LISTEN

THE SAGES say no matter how much you dislike the pig, you must give it credit for its prowess in lovemaking. Mr. John Mahama has been making some statements which are very true but some Ghanaians did not understand him. He once said Ghanaians are forgetful and short sighted which to me is very true. How could Ghanaians so soon forget the atrocities visited on them when the PNDC, led by the late Flt. Lt. Rawlings, the founder of the NDC, was in power?. The caning of women between their thighs, the slapping and drilling of respected chiefs in public, the forceful disappearances of more than two hundred and sixty full-blooded Ghanaians and the 1983 famine, etc., have all been forgotten by Ghanaians.

In the run-up to the 2020 general election, Mr. Mahama told the people of the Volta Region that 'when it comes to unleashing violence, no one can match the NDC because the party has a track record of violence'. And that too, is very correct. The NDC, which is an offshoot of the PNDC, was born out of a violent revolution and the tradition goes on. The truth is that the NDC has no room for any intellectual brainstorming on issues. They result to violence to settle matters and the spilling of innocent blood is what makes them happy.

A few months ago, Mr. Mahama went to Techiman in the Bono East Region to visit and console family members of the three NDC supporters who were killed when the NDC stormed the Bonokyempem Hall where the results of the Parliamentary Election were being collated. The NDC leadership in Techiman had gone to a local FM station to call on the supporters of the party to arm themselves and storm the collation center because they had the belief that the EC was going to change the results. The NDC supporters, mainly from the Techiman Zongo, armed themselves to the teeth and stormed the center and in the ensuing violence, three of them were alleged to have been shot by the security forces in self defence.

When Mr. Mahama went to Techiman to commiserate with the bereaved family, one thought he could have acted like a statesman, having been the Vice President and President of Mother Ghana before. But Mr. Mahama did not show any conduct comparable to that. Rather, after visiting the family members of the fallen supporters of the NDC, he seized the opportunity to speak on the same radio station where the leadership of the party in Techiman had gone to invite the supporters to storm the collation center to broadcast to the people of Techiman, and for that matter Ghanaians. Listen to him: The NPP should be warned that the 2024 General Election is not going to be child's play. It is going to be do or die affair and we are ready for that. Nobody should take the NDC for granted, the Osama Bin Laden of Ghana politics has spoken and so shall it come to pass.

Last week, a group of NDC supporters organised a press conference to express their displeasure at the way the incumbent Bono East Regional Chairman of the party was undermining the immediate Parliamentary candidate of the 2020 elections. Another group of the same party also organised themselves to confront the first group with machetes, cuddles and some sharp implements. The result was a bloodbath. Skulls were crushed and limps were cut like the way the butcher cuts cow meat. As at the time of filing this piece, one person was still in coma following a very serious cutlass wounds he sustained during the madness. Coming events cast their shadows. The rehearsal of the 'do or die' mantra has just started. Thankfully, it started from the home of the NDC and that is good. Call it a taste of their own bitter medicine and you will not be far from right.

Ghanaians are asking: How do we confront this 'do or die' threat to the relative peace and tranquility that we are enjoying? A political party which professes to be a democratic congress is calling for violence to settle issues concerning election and on the prowl. What Ghanaians should remember is that the NDC supporters are the heirs of the revolutionary cadres who held the country at ransom years ago. Their ideology is to sacrifice human life to serve their radical visions. The revolutionaries who served the Rawlings junta killed people not to only end lives but to disrupt and end a way of live. Many of these cadres who killed, maimed and destroyed the lives of many Ghanaians are still alive and serving the NDC. With every atrocity they commit, they hope that Ghanaians will grow fearful and succumb to their whims and caprices.

They stand against majority of Ghanaians because a greater number of Ghanaians stand in their way. By abandoning every value except the will to power, they will continue to follow that path till they achieve their aim to misrule the country again. They did it to Ghanaians for eleven good years. They promised Ghanaians probity and accountability but at the end of the day, they never accounted to anyone and neither did they probe their regime which milked the nation dry. They have perfected in the art of bullying the citizenry to achieve their aim. We must not be deceived by their pretences to being democrats. The 'do or die' mantra should serve as a notice to all Ghanaians. We are not safe with Mahama and his desperate goons lurking in the bush. The watchword should be vigilance. This is my story. This is my song. Those who have ears should listen.

BY Eric Bawah
10.08.2022 LISTEN

A politician cannot necessarily be a leader due to several reasons which will be explained in the article. It is often true that the best person is the one who combines leadership and political acumen. You can be a good leader but if you are a bad politician, you won't get the people to see your vision. It is rare to get a good leader who is also an astute politician.

What then is the difference between a good leader and a politician? Great leaders who have been observed throughout history are not politicians. It doesn't normally happen, but it is likely to have a good politician who is a great leader. Personally, I have observed certain differences between a politician and a leader. I can stick out my head and affirm that the most distinctive person who was a great leader was the late Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

A politician always aligns with popular public opinions while a leader aligns with proven principles and values even when they are not in line with public sentiment. Politicians campaign for elections purely for their selfish motives and ambitions, while a leader is raising support to advance a worthy cause or to advance their nation's development. Again, a politician thinks mostly about his prosperity, but a leader is thinking about posterity and the total welfare of the people.

The total welfare of the people is not the supreme concern of the politician. That is why people complain and demonstrate a lot in Ghana and Africa as a whole. Politicians tend to divide mankind into two: tools and enemies. According to Friedrich Nietzsche, the politician very often considers his opponent as an enemy. A leader on the other hand sees everyone as potential partners to work with. A politician doesn't have permanent friends and allies. They are more loyal to their parties than the country, with the view to achieving their interest. A leader is open and transparent and always defends the truth.

A true leader thinks politics is a dirty game. A leader feels it is his duty to say the truth and to an extent of fulfilling all his dreams and the projects he has planned for the country. Politicians lie about big promises that are seldom achieved. A leader comes with a clear course of action and takes responsibility for helping everyone including children's welfare. A politician always seeks to avoid responsibility for errors and assumes he is smart.

In Ghana we have produced many politicians but not leaders. We should never believe that politicians are leaders because the system or the set-up in Ghana produces only politicians. Politicians only think about the next elections, but leaders think about the next generation. Politicians in Ghana know nothing about leadership. Politicians expose themselves more when they campaign for elections. Just ask a politician about the vision he has for your children. He will never be able to answer that question satisfactorily until he leaves your presence.

When you get the chance to enter the office of a politician, like an MCE, be bold and ask him, "Please, Sir, what is your passion?" He will tell you he will be constructing road and bridges, having completely deviated from the question.

Not until politicians avoid giving promises that cannot be fulfilled, there is no way these politicians can be called leaders. Our country is dying slowly. When will Ghana get an effective leader to change things for Ghanaians, their children and children yet unborn?

Asem ooo.

Columnist: Stephen Atta Owusu

Author: Dark Faces at Crossroads

Email: [email protected]
Presidential Aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon Joe Ghartey has said the country should do all it can to continue to attract foreign investment.

Hon. Ghartey who is the author of Ghanas leading legal text on foreign investment, 'Doing Business and Investing in Ghana' said he had successful meetings with business leaders interested in a wide range of business.

He used the occasion to brief the business leaders on the legal framework for doing business and investing in Ghana. For those interested in the petrochemical sector, Joe Ghartey informed the potential investors of recent developments in the petrochemical industry in Ghana including the establishment of an institutional framework for the sector which is seeking to create a petrochemical hub.

Other areas investors showed interest in were large scale mining, ICT, education and renewable energy.

The investors asked about Ghanas economic situation but after discussions, it was agreed that the current situation would not last forever and should not influence medium to long-term investments.

Joe Ghartey returned to Ghana on the 8th of August after a week of successful business promotion in the United Kingdom.
Kinshasa, August 9, 2022Congolese authorities should thoroughly investigate the recent attacks on journalists Daniel Aloterembi and Fify Kibwana and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.

On July 28, a group of police officers at a court in Kinshasa, the capital, attacked and seized two phones belonging to Aloterembi, a reporter with the privately owned Mediacongo.net news website, and threatened him with arrest, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ over the phone, and a report by his outlet, which is owned by Congo-press.com (MCP).

Aloterembi was covering a hearing involving opposition politician Jean-Marc Kabund when officers chased and punched him, stopped him for around five minutes on the street, and then let him go after seizing his phones and the equivalent of US$3 in cash, according to those sources.

Separately, on August 2, unidentified men in Kinshasa attacked Kibwana, a reporter with the privately owned Vert Paturages television broadcaster, as she interviewed people outside the same court during another hearing involving Kabund, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ over the phone, a video of the attack that CPJ reviewed, and a report by the local press freedom group African Press Freedom Observatory (OLPA).

Unidentified men pushed Fify Kibwana, a reporter with Vert Paturages, pulled her scarf, and verbally threatened her outside a court in the capital Kinshasa on August 2, 2022, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. (Photo: Cea Mbamvu)

Those menwho identified themselves as supporters of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS), the political party of President Felix Tshisekedipushed her, pulled her scarf, and verbally threatened her for conducting interviews with activists who supported Kabund and criticized Tshisekedi, the journalist told CPJ.

Congolese authorities should thoroughly investigate the recent attacks on journalists Daniel Aloterembi and Fify Kibwana and hold those responsible to account, said Muthoki Mumo, CPJs sub-Saharan Africa representative, in Nairobi. When journalists are attacked by security forces or political activists, it sends a chilling message to reporters seeking to cover newsworthy events. Such attacks are part of an alarming trend in the DRC.

Police shot tear gas canisters at journalists and Kabunds supporters while Aloterembi was covering the court, but the journalist told CPJ he was not injured by the gas.

Aloterembi told CPJ that he wore a press jacket with the Mediacongo.netlogo and his press identification around his neck. After officers stopped him, Aloterembi told police that he was a journalist who came to cover the hearing and showed them his press card. In response, the officers said that they knew he was a journalist, but if he refused to give up his belongings we will take you in the [police] jeep.

Aloterembi said he did not sustain serious injuries when police punched him, and said his phones and money had not been returned as of August 9.

Sylvano Kasongo, the Kinshasa police commissioner, told CPJ over the phone that an investigation was underway to identify the officers responsible for attacking Aloterembi.

Kibwana said the men who attacked her followed her as she sought refuge in her car, and that she was only able to escape and hide in a nearby church with the help of her camera operator. She was not injured in the attack, she said.

CPJ repeatedly called UDPS Secretary-General Augustin Kabuya for comment, but he did not answer.
10.08.2022 LISTEN

The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a tentative date for the organization of polls to elect national officers to steer the affairs of the party ahead of the 2024 general elections.

The party has set November 2022 for the organization of the polls.

Mr. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, the Director of Elections for the party made this announcement while speaking on the Ghana Yensom morning show hosted by Odieshieba Kofi Essuman on Accra 100.5 FM on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

He, however, stated that the party is yet to consider a specific day in November for the rollout of the national executive elections.

According to him, the party is yet to complete the mopping-up exercise for the first and second phases of the branch elections.

He noted that after the third phase of the branch elections, a date will be announced somewhere in September for the constituency elections and later regional elections.

He said the party has become attractive, therefore, a lot more people are seeking to contest.

"These are people who are focused and purposeful, for the first time in the history of the party, aspirants are printing posters for branch elections indicating how attractive the party has become," he claimed.

"Now you have doctors, lawyers as well as lecturers contesting for various branch positions in the party," he added.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Outstanding claims of compensation from the massacre of 34 workers at a South African platinum mine a decade ago are likely to be settled this month, an official said on Wednesday.

Police gunned down 34 mineworkers and injured 78 others as they repressed a wildcat strike that had turned violent at the Marikana mine northwest of Johannesburg on August 16, 2012.

The massacre was the worst act of police violence since the end of apartheid, which had been legally dismantled 11 years earlier.

Solicitor-General Fhedzisani Pandelani announced that the last civil claims against the government were on track to be resolved before the end of August.

Forty-eight claims remain, Pandelani told a press briefing in the capital Pretoria.

"I can also give the assurance that to the extent that is possible, we could in fact be in a position to resolve all of those matters within this month," he said.

Pandelani said the last cases hinged on the extent of personal injuries, medical examinations or actuarial calculations.

Compensation claims directly related to miners who were killed had already been settled last year, with the state paying almost 76 million rand ($4.6 million) to the victims' families, he said.

He added it was "regrettable" it took so long to bring the cases to a close.

South Africa marks the 10th anniversary of the massacre that shocked the nation on August 16.
An inter-school quiz competition has been held for six Junior High Schools (JHS) in the Northern Region as part of efforts to encourage learning amongst students to enable them to climb the academic ladder.

The competition, which focused on subjects such as English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, and current affairs, was also to engender healthy competition amongst students to exhibit their intellectual prowess as well as build their confidence to be assertive to get what they deserved in life.

The participating schools included Katariga M/A JHS, Garizegu R/C JHS, Zagyuri Anglican JHS, Nangbagu M/A JHS, and Gbanyamli Methodist JHS in the Sagnarigu Municipality and Bognaayili D/A JHS in the Kumbungu District, and they were each represented by three students.

After four rounds of the competition, Katariga M/A JHS emerged winners with 69 points, followed by Gbanyamli Methodist JHS with 44 points, Zagyuri Anglican JHS came third with 42 points whilst Nangbagu M/A JHS, Bognaayili D/A JHS and Garizegu R/C JHS secured 35, 32 and 22 points in that order.

Each of the students, who represented the participating schools, took home a school bag, a mathematical set, and exercise books whilst Katariga M/A JHS also received 16 textbooks (four each in English Language, Mathematics, Social Studies and Integrated Science) Gbanyamli Methodist JHS received 12 textbooks (three each in the four subjects) and Zagyuri Anglican JHS took 8 textbooks (two each in the four subjects).

The three students, who represented Katariga M/A JHS received a bicycle each in addition to a school bag, a mathematical set, and exercise books, whilst each of the about 42 students from all the six schools, who attended the event, also received mathematical sets and exercise books.

The competition was organised by Markaz Al-Bishara Child Development Programme, a non-governmental organisation, with funding support from Children Believe, an international non-governmental organisation.

Reverend Johnson Asare, Executive Director of Markaz Al-Bishara, who spoke during the competition, congratulated the participating schools and students for their excellent performance, which showed that their teachers were doing well.

Madam Bernedette Kafari, Kumbungu District Director of Education, whose speech was read on her behalf, lauded the competition saying it would go a long way to improve the learning ability of children for improved academic performance.

She added that it would also help to build the confidence of the children to be able to speak in public advising the children to continue learning to improve their performance in school.

She expressed appreciation to Markaz Al-Bishara and Children Believe for organising the competition as well as their continued support for infrastructural development at the schools in the district, which was ensuring conducive environment for improved teaching and learning.

Mr Alhassan Alidu Junior, Sagnarigu District Director of Education, whose speech was read on his behalf, expressed delight that the participating schools were selected from peri-urban communities, which was important in motivating the children for better performance.

He commended teachers for their hard work preparing the students to be able to deliver well during the competition.

Martha Tiernye Tieyiri, Programme Officer, Education at Children Believe was happy that girls were also amongst the competitors advising them to continue learning and building their confidence to attain their potentials.

The participating pupils and their teachers were happy at the opportunity saying it would help to improve performance in their schools.

Markaz Al-Bishara has been working in parts of the Northern Region for about 30 years now focusing on improving access and quality education especially Early Childhood Education (ECE), and supporting the Ghana Education Service to improve supervision at schools.

Aside education, Markaz Al-Bishara also works in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, strengthening institutions and community organisations, sustainable livelihoods developments, health and nutrition, child protection and gender equality.
10.08.2022 LISTEN

The Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has revealed that 1,443 lives were lost in road crashes between the period of January and July, 2022.

According to the MTTD, the police service received reports of 886 road crashes during that period.

Speaking to Citi News after the launch of the GPRTU App, Director of Operations for MTTD, Supt. Dr. Samuel Sasu Mensah said the number of road crashes will reduce should motorists drive cautiously.

From January to July 2022, we had 886 cases being reported to the police and out of this, those who were killed were 1,443 and those who got injured were 9,218. However, we have a marginal decrease in both fatalities and injuries. So as we progress in the year, we hope that, through good practices by the drivers, road crashes being recorded in the country will be reduced.

---citinewsroom
10.08.2022 LISTEN

The Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, has made changes within the high command of the Ghana Police Service.

In the current reshuffle, the Accra Regional Police Commander, DCOP Iddi Seidu has been moved to the National Patrols Department to serve as deputy to the Director General, COP Paul Awuni.

Citi News sources revealed that the office of the Accra Regional Police Commander will be occupied by DCOP Dr. Sayibu Gariba, the immediate past Upper East Regional Police Commander.

The head of the Anti-Landguard Unit at the police headquarters, Superintendent Atulub Karimu has been moved to the Western Region to be in charge of Operations.

Citi News understands that other officers have also been moved.

---citinewsroom
The Senior Staff Association of the Universities of Ghana, Ghana Association of University Administrators, and the Tertiary Education Workers Union of Ghana, have declared an indefinite strike against the management of the University of Development Studies, Tamale.

They said they have not been paid their July 2022 salaries.

We wish to inform all our cherished and loyal Members of the University for Development Studies, Tamale, of our immediate declaration of an indefinite industrial strike against management of our institution, with effect from today, August 10, 2022.

1. Failure to pay July 2022, Salaries of Staff on time without any communication to staff which is the best Managerial practice of true and fair Leadership.

2. Failure to widely engage all the relevant Stakeholders (Unions) in what is believed and considered to be an ambush Migration of the Salaries of Staff to the Controller and Accountant General Mechanized Payroll system without any agreed document (MOU) from Controller as agreed in previous engagements.

3. The persistent disregard for prudent administrative procedures that naturally affects unity, transparency, and a peaceful institutional environment to propel the attainment of the UDS Vision and Mission, Staff welfare, and Institutional wellbeing.

4. The penchant of leadership for disrespect and apparent dislike and disinterest in working with Labour Unions to drive the developmental agenda of our Institution, and many more administrative and academic practices that put UDS at a very high-risk position.

---3news.com
The family of the late Professor Mills has marked the 10th anniversary of his death at the Asomdwe park in Accra, today, Wednesday, August 10.

Addressing the family, a former aide to the late President, Koku Anyidoho reiterated that the tomb of the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills had not been tampered with.

He pleaded with the family to forgive him for any wrong done.

This is what weve done. We havent tampered with the grave. This is what government has done. Who would tamper with the grave when National Security is guarding the place? There are padlocks, there are gates here, who would tamper with the grave.

This is just to ensure a beautiful resting place for our father. If this is what I did, and did the wrong thing, what I did isnt good, then forgive me, Mr Anyidoho told the family.

He also introduced to the family the National Security Officer in charge of the Asomdwe Park and assured the family of 24-hour surveillance of the resting place of the late President.

Reacting to Mr Anyidohos apology, head of the Odomnaa family, which is the former Presidents maternal family, Nana Kwabena Biney noted that they were getting ready to invite Mr Anyidoho to Ekumfi for allegedly tempering with the remains of the late President.

He noted that they, however, heard his plea in the media adding that in refurbishing the park, the family should have been notified.

We understood from the ceremony that it was an inauguration of the refurbished park, not the family ceremony. Secondly, we knew nothing about that ceremony.

Also, according to Fanti custom, we observe the anniversary on the day when the person was buried. So according to our calculation, that day falls on this day thats why were here as a family for this ceremony, the family head explained.

The family also commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for the refurbishment of the Asomdwe park.

In attendance at the ceremony was Queen Mother Ekumfi Asaman/Otuam Nana Ennymfua III.

The late Prof Mills brother, Cadman Mills accused Mr Anyidoho of tempering with the remains of his brother, an accusation Mr Anyidoho has denied.

Mr Anyidoho said all he did was to call on the government to renovate the park to beautify the final resting place of his late boss.

Source: classfmonline.com
The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, Mr. John Allotey, has visited and inspected a refuse dump site at Bosofuor, close to the Offin Forest Reserve in Mampong in the Ashanti Region where 8,011 tree seedlings were dumped.

The visit was to ascertain the circumstances under which the seedlings were dumped at the site, what has been done to the seedlings and inspect the success rate of seedlings planted on Green Ghana Day 2022 in the Ashanti Mampong District.

Addressing the media, Mr. Allotey said We cant confirm or conclude that the seedlings were part of the ones raised for this years Green Ghana Day.

The District Manager of the Forest Services Division, Mampong, Mr. Seth Owusu Abrokwah, briefing the Chief Executive, said out of the 8,011 seedlings found at the dumpsite, 5,891 seedlings were alive whiles 2,120 seedlings were dead. The live seedlings were planted in the Offin Forest Reserve while the dead seedlings were taken back to the nursery for the soil and poly bags to be reused.

He added that the incident has been reported to the Mampong District Police Station. To confirm this, the Chief Executive together with the media visited the District Police Station for confirmation.

The Mampong District Police Commander, ACP/Mr. David Amoako, confirmed the report and said investigations were ongoing.

The Chief Executive was accompanied by the Director of RMSC, Mr. Kofi Affum Baffoe; Ashanti Regional Manager, FSD, Mr. Clement Omari; Deputy Regional Manager, Mr. Kwasi Frimpong; District Manager at the Regional Office, Mr. Alfred Yabepone; and the District Manager of Mampong, Mr. Seth Owusu Abrokwah.

Source: Classfmonline.com
The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Linda Ofori-Kwarfo has asked President to do more in fighting the corruption menace in the country.

She explained that although activists have been playing their role through advocacy to ensure the practice is nipped in the bud, the President has the power and the resources to ensure that corruption is reduced.

Her comments come after the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) recovered over GHC1 million GHC1,074, 627.15) from Labianca Foods in unpaid import duties, a scandal involving a company belong to a Council of State member.

The OSP has also called for wider investigations into Customs Division of the GRA and demanded for a copy of Integrity plans to prevent corruption.

The OSP investigated alleged corruption and corruption related offences in the context of evasion and valuation of duties on frozen and processed food products imported into Ghana between 2017-2021.

The case, according to the OSP involved some high-ranking officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

In its report on the investigations, the OSP said Labianca Company Limited commenced operations in 2014 and it is wholly owned and controlled by Ms. Asomah-Hinneh on all practical and legal considerations. The company, it appears, imports about two hundred (200) forty (40) footer shipping containers of frozen chicken parts, fish, pork and fries monthly primarily from Europe and the United States of America . It enjoys a substantial market share in the imported frozen foods industry.

There was not much engagement with the Customs Division in the first three (3) years of the company's operations beyond the settlement of standard customs duty and other tax obligations until 2017 when the company actively commenced applications to the Customs Division for the acceptance by the latter of the values of frozen foods it intended to import.

By the time the company commenced the applications, Ms. Asomah-Hinneh had been elected a member of the Council of State representing the Western Region and appointed a member of the governing board of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority  positions she held at all material times. On this reckoning, Ms. Asomah-Hinneh is a politically exposed person as defined under section 79 of Act 959.

Speaking on this matter on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 with Alfred Ocansey, Tuesday August 9, Madam Linda Ofori-Kwafo who is also Board Chair of the OSP said We have always been making the advocacy and calling on the executive to actually do more in fighting corruption. The reason being, he has so much much powers that some of us do not have, so we will continue to do the advocacy in calling for such to happen.

But as I said, there is the need for stakeholders to equally play their role. So in as much as we have called enough for there to be more efforts or commitment, political will on the part of executive and other state agencies with the mandate to fight corruption with all the resources at their disposals to do so and also sending the right signals at the any opportunity they get, there is also the need for every person to play a critical role.

In this particular instance, I am sure many Ghanaians wouldnt have expected a person who is a member of the Council of State to have actually allowed his company to be involved in such a deal.

She further called on the President to deal with the Council of State member allegedly involved in this matter.

I think it will be very appropriate for the appointing authority of the Council of State members to take special interest in this matter as well and see whether their rules and code of conduct governing the members have any kind of punishments or that has to go with such a conduct which the OSP has found to be untoward, for which necessary steps have been taken to recover moneys that were due the state.

In that particular instance, I'm sure the President should be interested in this matter, take special interest in in the matter, consult the office of the Special Prosecutor and then know what actions there would be to be taken so far as as the person involved being part of the Council of state is concerned, she said.

---3news.com
10.08.2022 LISTEN

Col Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has descended on the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng following a recent corruption report.

He said the Special Prosecutor is scheming to destroy his image in an audio intercepted by ModernGhana News.

The report, which was released by the Office of the Special Prosecutor exposes some corrupt deals involving a Council of State Member Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, the owner of Labianca Company Limited and some officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at the Tema port.

The OSP investigated alleged corruption and corruption-related offences in the context of evasion and valuation of duties on frozen and processed food products imported into Ghana between 2017-2021.

The case, according to the OSP involved some high-ranking officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Interestingly, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) managed to recover over GHC1 million GHC1,074, 627.15 from Labianca Foods in unpaid import duties.

The OSP has also called for wider investigations into Customs Division of the GRA and demanded a copy of Integrity plans to prevent corruption.

It was based on these revelations, Col K. Damoah (Rtd), the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is describing the Special Prosecutor as a 'small boy' who cannot destroy him.

"Since three days ago what has been happening? A report purporting to be coming from the Special Prosecutor trying to indict the deputy commissioner of operations and myself. If anybody has read that report very well, you will know the basis of that and luckily for me, God is always on my side. Before that report came, that person has made a statement to some people who had come to them.

"He was going to publish something that will discredit me and he will do that. I even send people to go and tell him that he is a small boy. I'm older than him. I've lived a meaningful life. If he attempts to destroy me, it won't be easy for him. People have tried and I've survived and this one I'll survive," he said at a staff durbar in Kumasi today Wednesday, August 10.

According to him, the report is nothing but an attempt by the Special Prosecutor to get at him for refusing to allow one Mr Akudugu to be seconded to his (Kissi Agyebeng's) office.

"All that happened, one of the reasons was because of Mr. Akudugu. He wanted Mr Akudugu to be seconded to his office and I said 'no'. Mr Akudugu is a customs officer primarily employed to do customs work and he is to partner Mr. Akoto Sekyin in his office on Africa Continental Free Trade Area. He deals with tariffs and evaluation and therefore I cannot second him to the Office of the Special Prosecutor because he has a primary role to play in customs," he stated.
The Chiefs and residents of Mampongten in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region have expressed their disappointment over the lack of development in the area.

The youth in the area hit the streets to protest the deplorable state of the road networks, stalled market projects and the absence of hospitals among many others in the area on Tuesday, August 9 2022.

The residents of Mampongten both the young and the old, clad in red and black attire marched on the street to angrily express their displeasure with the government over what they described as neglect.

The Mampongten in the Kwabre East has been a safe seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti region as residents demand a fair share of the national cake in terms of development.

According to the aggrieved Chief and residents, the constituency has been deprived of basic social amenities such as good roads, markets and hospital facilities.

They claim not a single road in the area has been tarred.

Work on a market project which started in 2012 has been left to rot whilst traders ply their activities on the floor under high tension poles.

Addressing the media at the "BONIAYE KAI", the Chief of Mampongten, Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II, questioned why the government has taken them for granted despite being loyal to the NPP for several years.

Our state of development remains a major scar, a worrying narrative and an affront to our collective dignity to exercise our right to some basic development projects fundamental to the comfort, security and survival of our people.

A sod-cutting event in October 2019 by H.E. Nana Addo for the commencement of a 5.5km town roads project for Mampongten was immediately abandoned by the contractor after the fanfare and excitement that greeted the ceremony.

What wrong have we done to the government to deserve this punishment?, Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II questioned at a press briefing.

The Mampongten chief, Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II was also worried over the neglect of the jubilee market that has been abandoned for years.

The Mampongten market was established about 200years ago and once described as the food basket of Ashanti Region, has suffered perpetual neglect with dire consequences for the stability and security of Mampongten. The Jubilee market project was initiated in 2012 to transform the market into an ultra-modern state as a major trading centre in the region. It has been discontinued since 2013.

"This project led to the evacuation of the traders and its halt has resulted in plying trade at unauthorized places. We are no longer going to accept our current status as voting electorate and basket for the ruling party in the Ashanti region. We are now shifting from voting electorates to policy electorate for meaningful development engagement for the Municipality. Moreover, meaningful developments would now determine our voting pattern, he stated.

On health, the chief noted that the only facility serving the Mampongten township was built through the benevolence of the late Nana Adu Tutu II, uncle of their traditional leader. The facility has not witnessed any significant upgrading to accommodate the increasing population for the past 35 years.

The angry residents have threatened to stage multiple protests if government refuse to give them their share of the national cake in developments.
The Greater Accra Second Vice Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Eric Nartey Yeboah has urged members of the NPP to desist from tagging parliamentary and presidential hopefuls in the party as 'incoming'.

The NPP stalwart who is also famously known as 'Chairman Dollar' made these comments on his Facebook page on Tuesday, August 10, 2022, in reaction to what he observed to be a growing trend within the rank and file of the party.

He expressed worry about the tendency of such remarks to divide the ranks of the party ahead of the 2024 general elections.

He further urged the party faithfuls to support their elected representatives and President Akufo-Addo to deliver on their mandate.

It is my humble plea that we suspend our allegiances for now and rally behind all NPP MPs and President Nana Addo as they work to transform Ghana.

When the primaries come, we will democratically express different opinions but will remain one in spirit, united in our collective and ultimate goal of Breaking the 8, he concluded.

Source: Classfmonline.com
Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang has said the GhanaCard will save the state pensions body several millions of dollars in the long term if properly synced to capture the bio-data of Ghanaians working and their survivors.

According to him, only 2 million of the estimated 10 million working Ghanaians in both the formal and informal sectors are active SSNIT contributors and have been issued with biometric identity cards, while efforts are being made to get the other 8 million on board.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 2022 TUC/SSNIT Regional Engagement programme at Kumasi in the Ashanti region on Tuesday, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang emphasized the importance of the GhanaCard, which has effectively replaced the SSNITs own SSNIT Card which were being printed at the cost of $7 per issue since 2014.

Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang said up to $126 million dollars could be saved in the long term if all the 10 million working Ghanaians with at least one survivor each are registered and integrated into the SSNIT system using their national ID cards.

We have been able to issue only 2 million SSNIT Cards to our contributors; this means that we will save some $56 million now that the GhanaCard is the sole biometric card to be used to register the remaining 8 million working Ghanaians onto the SSNIT system; that aside, about $70 million would be saved if each survivor of the 10 million potential contributors uses the GhanaCard. This would save SSNIT $126 million overall, in the long term, the SSNIT boss explained.

Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang added, I think this is the point that the Vice President was trying to make, so it should not be taken out of context. If you think progressively about the benefits of the GhanaCard to SSNIT in the long term, you would appreciate that what the Vice President said was apt.

Since July 1, 2022, the GhanaCard has been the only identification recognized by SSNIT in compliance with Regulation 7(1) of the National Identity Register Regulations, 2022, L.I 2111 which requires the use of the GhanaCard as identification for transactions pertaining to individuals in respect of pensions and transactions that have social security implications.

Members of the trust have had to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers to be able to access pensions and other social security related services. Employers are now required to use only the NIA numbers of their workers to process contribution reports and make payments.

Voluntary contributors must also pay their contributions using their NIA numbers only.
The Supreme Courts recent rulings on abortions and guns shook the American body politic. As Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in his concurrence, the courts decision to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion was "a serious jolt to the legal system. In another systemic jolt the same week, the court struck down New York gun regulations during a national emergency of gun violence.

The courts critics have been scathing. A "rogue" Supreme Court, many say, has warped the constitution and pitted America's legal system against public opinion. Writing in The New York Times, Jamelle Bouie asserts that a reckless, reactionary and power-hungry Supreme Court isn't supposed to exist above the constitutional system. And The Economist laments that a less exceptional America now has a set of federal laws that do not reflect what Americans actually want. Even Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who dissented in both cases, warns that if the court loses all connection with the public and the public sentiment, thats a dangerous thing for democracy.

Concerns run deep. But the fact that some of the courts constitutional rulings deviate from national public opinion is neither new nor surprising. The constitution, in fact, emphatically rejects the idea of majoritarian rule.

The Bill of Rights, for example, enumerates fundamental rights that protect minorities against the majority. The First Amendment prevents the government from abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press. This provision broadly protects citizens' free expression, including the most controversial and least popular forms of speech. The Fourth Amendment likewise protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. No matter how unpopular a defendant is, therefore, the accused has protections in court against evidence improperly seized by law enforcement.

Basic principles of federalism also run counter to the notion of majoritarian control. If a minority of states have unpopular preferenceseven one among fiftythose preferences control within their borders unless the constitution affirmatively says otherwise. We are, after all, a nation of individual states united by a limited federal constitution. As the Tenth Amendment requires: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

The framers logic here was sound. Local communities usually (but not always) have a better handle on what their government should be doing than distant federal officials-even when local sentiments diverge from the national consensus.

The Supreme Court, moreover, in 1803 in Marbury v. Madison held that unelected federal judges, rather than democratically elected officials, define the constitution and federal statutes. As then-Chief Justice John Marshall wrote for the court: It is emphatically the duty of the Judicial Department to say what the law is.

The framers, in fact, specifically addressed this question in the constitution: Lifetime appointments insulate the justices from the vagaries and pressures of majority opinion.

So, no, the court straying from public opinioneven dramaticallyis neither unprecedented nor improper.

Whats really going on, instead, is that some people get mad when the court rejects majority viewpoints they happen to favor. The court starts to get dangerous and reactionary when this happens. Yet those same people often cheer when the court rejects majority opinions they disfavor.

It's of course fine to strongly disagree with the court. There are sound legal arguments against what the court did in both cases. And there are compelling prudential arguments against the court being so proactive given the fragile state of American democracy. But going against public opinion in big cases doesn't mean the court has gone rogue. And there's nothing illegitimate about the court sometimes siding with the minority view.

That is, indeed, how the system is designed to work.

William Cooper is an attorney and the author of Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and San Francisco Chronicle, among others.
Col Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)

10.08.2022 LISTEN

Col Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) says he is being targeted for refusing to heed the demand of the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.

He is crying wolf that the recent corruption report by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) was an attempt by Kissi Agyebeng to destroy him.

Col Kwadwo Damoah said it all happened when he refused to allow one Mr Akudugu to be seconded to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in an audio intercepted by ModernGhana News.

"One of the reasons was because of Mr. Akudugu. He wanted Mr Akudugu to be seconded to his office and I said 'no'. Mr Akudugu is a customs officer employed to do customs work and he is to partner Mr. Akoto Sekyin in his office on Africa Continental Free Trade Area. He deals with tariffs and evaluation and therefore I cannot second him to the Office of the Special Prosecutor because he has a primary role to play in customs," he said at a staff durbar in Kumasi today Wednesday, August 10.

Describing the report which exposes some corrupt deals involving a Council of State Member Ms. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, the owner of Labianca Company Limited and some officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority at the Tema port as hollow, he also described the Special Prosecutor as a 'small boy' who cannot destroy him.

"He is a small boy. I'm older than him. I've lived a meaningful life," He fumes, warning Mr Agyebeng to tread cautiously otherwise it won't be easy for him.

"Since three days ago what has been happening? A report purporting to be coming from the Special Prosecutor trying to indict the deputy commissioner of operations and myself. If anybody has read that report very well, you will know the basis of that and luckily for me, God is always on my side. Before that report came, that person has made a statement to some people who had come to them.

"He was going to publish something that will discredit me and he will do that. I even send people to go and tell him that he is a small boy. I'm older than him. I've lived a meaningful life. If he attempts to destroy me, it won't be easy for him. People have tried and I've survived and this one I'll survive," he stressed.

Background

The OSP investigated alleged corruption and corruption-related offences in the context of evasion and valuation of duties on frozen and processed food products imported into Ghana between 2017-2021.

The case, according to the OSP involved some high-ranking officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Interestingly, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) managed to recover over GHC1 million GHC1,074, 627.15 from Labianca Foods in unpaid import duties.

The OSP has also called for wider investigations into Customs Division of the GRA and demanded a copy of Integrity plans to prevent corruption.

Listen to audio here:
The people of Mamponteng in the Kwabre East Constituency of the Ashanti Region are likely to vote against the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the next general election.

This follows an expression of disappointment in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by the Chief of Mamponteng, Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II.

Six years into the two terms of the President, Traditional leaders in the Kwabre East Constituency of the Ashanti region are unhappy over the lack of development.

Addressing a press conference dubbed: Boniaye Kai at the Mamponteng palace, Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II lamented how roads in the Constituency have deteriorated in the last few years.

He accused the ruling government of neglect and sounded caution that his people have now opened their eyes.

According to him, voting in the next general election will be done based on development.

What sin have we committed against the NPP for denying us development despite voting massively for the party?

From now onwards, we will vote based on development, Barima Saasi Ayeboafo II stressed.

Just like most parts of the Ashanti Region, communities in Kwabre East Constituency contributed to the huge number of votes the NPP secured from the region in the last two general elections in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

Their traditional leaders have now made it clear they are disappointed.
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Wednesday, August 10, granted bail to Evans Oppong Kyekyeku, the Netherlands-based Ghanaian businessman who allegedly took his daughter to a native priest at Oyibi Kom, in Accra for ritual purposes.

The court granted the businessman a bail of GHS500,000 with two sureties, to be justified.

The court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh also directed the businessman to report to the investigator every Tuesday, until the final determination of the case.

The duplicate case docket has also been forward to the Attorney General (AG).

The businessman has been provisionally charged with Preparation to commit a crime to wit; Murder.

His plea has however been reserved.

The 42-year-old businessman had sought the help of a herbalist, Nana Adu-Boafo, for the sacrificial job.

However, the herbalist alerted the police and caused his arrest.

The herbalist, who recorded the entire arrest as it unfolded, is heard in the video saying: The girls father came to see me; he told me he just landed in the country after staying overseas for a while and it hasnt been easy for him.

He told me he is a father of 12 and is offering two of them for money rituals.

He offered me GHS 10,000 and other good surprises when the job is done. Sadly, he had just picked the daughter up during school hours and told her he was going to get her a new dress, the herbalist narrated.

Yes, I am a herbalist but I am also a military man. I am very disciplined. I dont engage in any sinister activities. I want to prove to the world that herbalists are not as evil as they are painted. We are not killers as is portrayed in movies, we are healers. I have the little girl he brought for me to kill.

Source: classfmonline.com
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama has reiterated what it will take for power to be restored to Kroboland.

For the past two weeks, both lower and manya Krobo have been plunged into darkness, bringing to a standstill a lot of businesses.

Amid efforts by traditional leaders to get the ECG to restore electricity to Kroboland, the utility company says it is ready to make that a possibility.

Speaking to Asempa FM on Wednesday during an engagement on the Ekosii sen programme, Samuel Dubik Masubir Mahama stressed that once the people of Kroboland agree to accept the installation of prepaid meters, power will be restored.

Electricity becomes a right when you are paying. There's a debt of about GHS168 million in the Krobo enclave.

The problem in the Kroboland must be resolved as soon as possible. It cannot be a lingering issue.

We're ready to restore power in the Kroboland but must be ready to take prepaid meters, the ECG Managing Director shared.

He explained that since ECG is a commercial business, it needs resources to stay in business and grow.

He said it is why his outfit can no longer continue to supply power to people who are not ready to pay.

He further emphasised that he sees the challenges in Kroboland as a nice opportunity to work hard to do a very good job during his time at the ECG.
The Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahene has advised President Akufo-Addo to heed calls to reshuffle his cabinet.

He explained that the President should heed the many calls in order for the party to easily 'break the 8.'

Contributing to a discussion on the topic, Justifying calls for Ministerial reshuffle on the Accra-based Joy News 'Upfront' show today, Wednesday, August 10, Nana Obiri Boahene said we want to break the 8 and you need the support of every activist and sympathizer of the party. Some of these may be groundless but you still have to listen.

Concerning the opposition NDC's calls, he described them as "constant behaviour that does not necessarily reflect the issue on the ground."

He stressed since the birth of the NPP, there has never been a step we have taken that they have congratulated us. The government and Finance Minister have delivered.

President Akufo-Addo in a recent interview on North Star Radio in Tamale on Monday, August 8 rejected calls to reshuffle cabinet ministers.

He described the performance of his ministers as outstanding.

The President indicated that those making the calls are attempts by the opposition NDC to destabilize his government.

Many of them for me have done outstanding work. Their output has been considerable, and that is what I look at.

If the output measures expectations, then I dont have any strong reasons to heed the call. The calls come for all kinds of reasons; NDC wanting to destabilise the government is one. There are people who are also looking for jobs, the President started.
UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 -- China's Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song delivered a keynote speech at the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) on August 8, expounding Chinas position and proposition on nuclear non-proliferation issues in an all-round manner, resolutely opposing the AUKUS (a security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines, and warning Japan and related countries not to replicate nuclear sharing in the Asia-Pacific region.

Li Song said that the NPT is the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation system. Any act of utilizing nuclear proliferation to serve narrow geopolitical self-interests runs counter to the original purpose of the treaty on non-proliferation and seriously undermines the effectiveness and authority of the treaty. The US has engaged in bloc politics and camp confrontation, piecing together exclusive small circles and groups, having instigated incidents and made trouble in the Asia-Pacific region, posing new impacts and challenges to the international nuclear non-proliferation system. The AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation and the nuclear sharing argument in the Asia-Pacific region are two major new issues facing the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Li Song stressed that the unprecedented AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation is a textbook case of nuclear proliferation. The geo-strategic intention of the three countries is obvious and well known to all. The US and UK, as depositors of the NPT and counties possessing nuclear weapons, brazenly decided to transfer nuclear submarine power reactors and tons of weapons-grade highly-enriched uranium to non-nuclear-weapon states, posing a serious proliferation risk, and fully exposing their double standards. The AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation is bound to threaten the security of Asia-Pacific countries, provoke camp confrontations and arms races, and thus cause serious damage to the Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones in South Pacific and Southeast Asia. It is a blatant violation of the purposes of the NPT. China urges the three countries to change course, revoking the decision to carry out the nuclear submarine cooperation mentioned above, and instead doing something good to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Li also said that the nuclear sharing runs counter to the purposes and principles of the NPT, and is itself nuclear proliferation. China urges the US to abolish the nuclear sharing policy and withdraw all nuclear weapons deployed abroad. It is worth noting that there are signs indicating nuclear sharing has been spreading to the Asia-Pacific region. There have been repeated voices from Japan and other countries seeking nuclear sharing with the US. In Japans report to this Review Conference, the Three Non-Nuclear Principles mentioned in previous reports have been deleted. Does this mean that Japans nuclear non-proliferation policy has undergone a major adjustment? The Japanese side owes a clear explanation to the State Parties and the international community.

As stressed by Li, any attempt to replicate the nuclear sharing model in the Asia-Pacific region is blatant nuclear proliferation, which will surely be firmly opposed by countries in the region or severely countered when necessary.
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HAVANA (AP)  A deadly fire that consumed at least half of a large oil storage facility in western Cuba and threatened to bring more power failures to the islands already fragile electricity system was largely controlled Wednesday after nearly five days, authorities said.

Flames that recently consumed the fourth tank in the eight-tank facility in Matanzas were almost quelled, although the third tank remained on fire and surrounded by smoke, officials said.

Col. Daniel Chavez, second in command at Cubas firefighting department, said the fire could keep burning for the next couple of days, but he did not expect it to spread further. He said the next step is to cool the area.

The blaze killed at least one person and injured 128 others, with 14 firefighters still reported missing and 20 people hospitalized. The fire also forced officials to evacuate more than 4,900 people and shut down a key thermoelectric plant after it ran out of water, raising concerns about a new round of blackouts in addition to the ones the government announced last week for Havana.

Arturo Lopez-Levy, a politics and international relations professor at Holy Names University in California, said the fire will complicate an already difficult scenario in Cuba.

I think any realistic forecast would point to more blackouts and more difficulty in carrying out the minimum economic activity in the country, he said.

Lopez-Levy also warned that it would be difficult to lift up this country after this triple tragedy, referring to the U.S. sanctions, the pandemic and now the fire.

Some Cubans worry the blaze could lead to more planned power outages as the government grapples with a fuel shortage.

That gives way to more justification of blackouts that are going to occur, said Pedro Pozo, a state worker.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel praised the work by local firefighters and special teams sent byt Mexico and Venezuela that employed boats, planes and helicopters to fight the blaze whose billowing, toxic smoke could be seen from the capital of Havana.

(Tuesday) was a victory day, but we cannot be overconfident, the president tweeted Wednesday as he warned about a possible switch in the wind direction. Danger is lurking.

The fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base began Friday when lightning struck the key infrastructure, which operates an oil pipeline that receives Cuban crude oil that powers thermoelectric plants. It also serves as the unloading and transshipment center for imported crude oil, fuel oil and diesel.

The government has not provided an estimate of damages or said how much it has lost overall in key fuel supplies. The first tank was at 50% capacity and contained nearly 883,000 cubic feet (25,000 cubic meters) of fuel. The second tank was full.

___

Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP)  Two anti-government extremists sought to spark a second American revolution by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday, as the government tried for a second time to get convictions in an alleged plot to shock the country into chaos before the 2020 election.

Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. are on trial again, four months after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict while acquitting two other men.

The jury heard competing themes during opening statements. Prosecutors will present angry, profanity-filled conversations, text messages and social media posts to show that a band of homegrown rebels was serious about snatching the Democratic governor.

The steps included gun drills in a handmade shoot house, two rides to see Whitmer's northern Michigan home and a stop at a nearby bridge where an explosive might be placed, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher OConnor said.

Defense attorneys, however, attacked the tactics of undercover FBI agents and informants who had infiltrated the group and built the investigation. They argued that government operatives were embedded at every critical turn, even supplying a pen and paper for Fox to make a crude map of Elk Rapids.

No conspiracy, no crime, Christopher Gibbons told jurors, adding that Fox was poor, lonely, practically homeless and incapable of leading anything.

Its not a crime to not like your governor or your president or anybody else who sits in elective office. ... Its not a crime to be a big talker, an empty talker, no matter how ugly or offensive the subject matter is to you personally or anyone else, Gibbons said.

Fox and Croft are charged with two counts of conspiracy. Croft faces a third weapons-related charge.

Fox, 39, lived under a vacuum shop in the Grand Rapids area, and Croft, 46, is from Bear, Delaware. They regularly communicated with other extremists who were disgusted with Whitmer and various public officials over COVID-19 restrictions.

But O'Connor said seeds were planted ahead of the pandemic and prior to the FBI getting involved.

They called for a second American revolution, he told jurors. They wanted to violently overthrow elected government officials because they believed those officials were tyrants who were constantly violating their rights.

The first witness, FBI agent Todd Reineck, introduced social media posts and audio messages, starting in 2019. Croft, complaining about efforts at gun control, said brute force was the only way to protect rights. Fox referred to organizing an army to take real action.

Its a new game out here. I dont think you understand the patriot movement has a role, Croft said in 2020. We understand exactly the enemy that confronts us, and we aint playing with it anymore.

Prosecutors displayed a photo of Croft in a tri-cornered hat with Expect Us tattooed on his arm, a contrast to his appearance in court wearing a suit and tie. Fox, too, wore a dress shirt. Roughly a dozen people were in the gallery, mostly reporters.

In remarks to the jury, defense attorney Joshua Blanchard repeated an argument that he vigorously made in the first trial, accusing the FBI of targeting Croft and pulling him in because he had encouraged violence and protest.

Blanchard played an audio clip of an agent telling an informant: A saying we have in my office is, Dont let the facts get in the way of a good story.' Right?

He didn't offer jurors any context to the sound bite.

Because they weren't willing to let the facts get in the way of a good story they wanted to tell, Barry has been sitting in jail for the last 672 days waiting for you to tell the FBI that the facts do matter," Blanchard said.

Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were found not guilty in April. Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and will testify again for prosecutors.

Whitmer has blamed then-President Donald Trump for stoking mistrust and fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn hate groups and right-wing extremists like those charged in the plot.

Trump referred to Whitmer last weekend during a speech in Texas.

Gretchen Whitmer was in less danger than the people sitting in this room right now, it seems to me, said Trump, who called the plot a fake deal.

___

White reported from Detroit. Cappelletti is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

___

Find APs full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
A Maryland man described by the FBI as a self-professed white supremacist was sentenced on Wednesday to four months of incarceration for storming the U.S. Capitol while wearing a court-mandated device that tracked his movements, court records show.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly also sentenced Bryan Betancur to one year of supervised release after his term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay $500 in restitution.

Betancur, 22, was on probation for a 2019 burglary conviction when he traveled from the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland, and joined the mob that attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. A GPS-enabled monitoring device that he was wearing under the terms of his probation showed that he spent roughly three hours in or around the Capitol that afternoon.

Betancur climbed scaffolding outside the Capitol before helping other rioters remove furniture from a conference room, prosecutors said. They added the rioters likely used pieces of the furniture as weapons and projectiles during a clash with police officers in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace.

Betancur pleaded guilty in May to one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of one year behind bars. Prosecutors recommended sentencing Betancur to six months of incarceration, 12 months of supervised release, 60 hours of community service and $500 in restitution.

Approximately 850 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. Over 350 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors, and over 230 have been sentenced. Dozens of Capitol riot defendants who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to five months.

Betancur lied to the FBI during an interview after his guilty plea, falsely stating that he only entered the Capitol for his safety, according to prosecutors. He told the FBI agent who interviewed him that he heard law enforcement planned the Capitol riot and that it was an inside job, a prosecutor said.

Then-President Donald Trump spoke to a crowd of his supporters at the Stop the Steal rally before many of them walked over to the Capitol, where Congress was preparing to certify President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

"Betancur also emphatically claimed that the 2020 election was stolen, Justice Department prosecutor Maria Fedor wrote in a court filing.

Betancur flashed an OK hand sign  a gesture that many far-right extremists have adopted as a trolling tactic or a genuine hate symbol  as he left his interview with an FBI agent in July 2022.

The FBI believes Betancur aspired to join the far-right Proud Boys extremist group but wasn't an official member. He wore a Proud Boys shirt under his jacket on Jan. 6 and met with members of the group before he walked over to the Capitol.

Images recovered from his cellphone showed him in Washington with Proud Boys members on Dec. 12, 2020. Probation officers gave Betancur permission to visit the city that day and on Jan. 6, both times under the pretense that he was traveling with Gideon International to distribute Bibles.

Betancur told law enforcement officers that he was a member of several white supremacy groups and said he wanted to run people over with a vehicle and kill people in a church, an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit.

Betancur has voiced homicidal ideations, made comments about conducting a school shooting, and has researched mass shootings, the affidavit said.

During the riot, he posed for a photograph with a Confederate battle flag while standing on the scaffolding outside the Capitol.

In June 2022, a rider on a Metro train in the Washington area reported that Betancur harassed other passengers, yelling racial slurs and making racist statements about Black people, according to prosecutors. They said the rider also reported that Betancur held a folding knife as he left a Metro station. Police officers stopped Betancur but didn't arrest him, prosecutors said.

"Betancur has clearly demonstrated his inability to refrain from harassing, hostile, threatening, and uncooperative behavior both with law enforcement and the public at large," Fedor wrote.

Defense attorney Ubong Akpan said Betancur no longer belongs to any extremist group and shouldn't be punished for his political beliefs.

He should only be judged for his conduct in this case. He accepted responsibility and is remorseful for his conduct, Akpan wrote, requesting a sentence of one month in jail for Betancur.

Earlier Wednesday, a man who pleaded guilty to the same riot-related offense as Betancur was sentenced to two months of imprisonment. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan also sentenced Benjamin Larocca, 28, of Seabrook, Texas, to one year of supervised release and ordered him to perform 60 hours of community service and to pay a $2,000 fine.

Prosecutors recommended three months of imprisonment for Larocca. They said he took videos and photographs that showed his extreme indifference to the chaos and violence around him on Jan. 6.

It has to be made clear that there are consequences for taking part in that violent riot on Jan. 6, Chutkan said.
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BEIJING (AP)  The top South Korean and Chinese diplomats pledged Tuesday to develop closer relations and maintain stable industrial supply chains at a time of deepening rivalry between Beijing and Washington.

South Korea, a longtime U.S. ally, is struggling to strike a balance between Washington and the increasingly assertive foreign policy of Chinese President Xi Jinpings government. U.S.-Chinese conflict over Taiwan has added to complications for governments that want amicable ties with both sides.

Foreign Ministers Park Jin and Wang Yi, in separate statements from their meeting in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao, called for the development of relations based on three decades of successful commercial ties.

Parks ministry said the countries agreed to increase high-level communication over supply chain issues, climate change cooperation and facilitating cultural exchanges. It said the countries agreed to pursue two-plus-two talks by vice ministerial-level officials of foreign affairs and defense within this year.

Park and Wang gave no indication they discussed tensions over last weeks visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to self-ruled Taiwan, which the mainlands ruling Communist Party claims is Chinese territory. Beijing reacted to her visit by conducting military drills to intimidate the island and called off dialogue with Washington on climate change and other issues.

Pelosi visited South Korea last week, but South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was on vacation, talked to her by phone instead of face to face. His critics accused him of avoiding seeing her to protect relations with China.

Yoon, who took office in May, wants to strengthen security cooperation with Washington and Japan in response to North Korean nuclear threats. China, North Koreas main ally, sees Japan as a strategic rival but also is South Koreas biggest export market.

South Koreas pursuit of closer ties with Washington could possibly complicate relations with China. South Korea is weighing whether to participate in a U.S.-led semiconductor alliance involving Taiwan and Japan, which China sees as an economic threat.

Yoon's stated desire to install more U.S. anti-missile systems to cope with growing North Korean threats is also concerning for China, which insists such systems could be reconfigured to peep into its territory.

Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency said Wang and Park had an in-depth exchange of views over South Koreas deployment of the U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, and both expressed hope that the issue wouldnt become a stumbling block in relations.

Bilateral ties took a significant hit when South Korea installed its first THAAD battery in 2017 as Beijing retaliated by suspending Chinese group tours to South Korea and obliterating the China business of South Korean supermarket giant Lotte, which had provided land for the missile system. Yoon during his presidential campaign has called for additional deployment of THAAD to better protect capital Seoul from North Korean missile threats.

Park and Wang called for maintaining stable industry supply chains, a possible reference to fears that Chinese technology policy and U.S. security controls might split the world into separate markets with incompatible standards and products, slowing innovation and raising costs.

Park expressed hope the two sides will increase cooperation based on universal values and standards. He said they should overcome new challenges posed by a great transition in international society but gave no details.

Park appealed to Beijing to help persuade North Korea to return to talks on its nuclear weapons program, which he called an unprecedented threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Park stressed that the U.N.-led international community should respond to major North Korean provocations with stern and unified measures and urged closer consultation between Seoul and Beijing over the Norths accelerating efforts to expand its arsenal, according to his ministry.

China and Russia recently vetoed U.S.-sponsored resolutions at the U.N. Security Council that would have increased sanctions on the North over some of its ballistic missile testing this year, underscoring division between the councils permanent members that deepened over Russias war on Ukraine.

Wangs statement didnt mention the nuclear issue and gave no indication whether he said what Beijing might do. The South Korean Foreign Ministry said Wang told Park that China will continue to make possible efforts for peace in the Korean Peninsula.

Park also expressed hope that Xi, the Chinese leader, would visit South Korea.
Jenny Cudd will protest the FBI on Friday.

The former mayoral candidate and Midland businesswoman promoted on her Twitter page Tuesday night that there will be an Abolish the FBI Protest at noon Friday outside its local office, which is located at 1004 N. Big Spring St.

Midland, TX protest against this tyrannical government. Please share, Cudd wrote on her Twitter page.

Cudd expressed her displeasure with the FBIs raid of former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago, Florida, home. The Associated Press stated in a report Tuesday that the search was part of an investigation into whether Trump took classified records from the White House to his Florida residence, according to people familiar with the matter.

The weaponized Department of Injustice/FBI just raided President Trumps house! Cudd tweeted. This is an illegitimate government in every aspect, & I highly suggest no longer abiding anything from them at all. Taxes, regulations, anything. We have a duty to stop it.

Cudd pleaded guilty in October to one misdemeanor charge related to her participation in riots at the U.S. Capitol building as part of a plea deal with the federal government. She was sentenced to two months of probation and a $5,000 fine.
Frankie Eliptico, Northern Marianas College vice president for administration and advancement, center, was awarded the University of Guams Milayan Presidenten or The Presidents Medal by UOG President Dr. Thomas W. Krise at the Saipan Rotary Clubs meeting on Tuesday, August 10, 2022. In photo with Eliptico from left are Rotarians Dave Sablan and Mario Valentino, Rotary Club President Wendell Posadas, Rotarian Joann Aquino, UOG President Dr. Thomas W. Krise, Rotarian Jessy Loomis, NMC Board of Regents Chairperson and Rotarian Charles V. Cepeda, and NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD.
stockcam/Getty Images

Anne Frances Becker of Jacksonville has been named to the spring semester dean's honor roll at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

To be named to the dean's honor roll, a student must earn a 3.5 or higher grade point average.
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KINSHASA, Congo (AP)  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said he was concerned about reports of the detention of an opposition political leader in Congo.

On the second day of his visit to the central African nation, Blinken said his delegation was trying to get more facts about the opposition figure's detention which he said had happened in the last 24 hours. Blinken said his delegation had raised the issue with Congos government and he called it a possible setback in establishing the right environment for elections.

We have full respect for the laws of the DRC (Congo) but we are concerned about any steps taken that could actually reduce the political space, especially as the country heads into elections, Blinken said.

The secretary of state was speaking at an event promoting democracy in Congo's capital, Kinshasa, as part of his three-nation African tour.

Jean-Marc Kabund, the former vice president of the National Assembly and former ally of President Felix Tshisekedi, was placed under provisional detention Tuesday following his interrogation by the prosecutor general, according to his lawyer. He is being investigated for making public insults and harmful accusations that were of offense to the president, local reports said.

Kabund has was ousted as vice president of the National Assembly and head of Tshisekedis party earlier this year for criticizing the president. Kabund then formed his own party.

Also on Wednesday, Blinken met with Congos Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde for discussions that included Congo's security, economy and environment.

Blinken also hosted guests including Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege at the U.S. Embassy.

Before leaving for Rwanda, his third and final stop in Africa, Blinken reiterated the United States' willingness and availability to work with Congo on the issues discussed.

The agenda that we have on various topics, whether its food security issues, whether its climate preservation issues, whether its the work we do together to support democracy, to help to restore peace and security in (Congo's) East ... All these subjects demonstrate both the depth and the importance of our relations. We are delighted to be able to work together, Blinken said.

While Blinken was in Congo, the U.S. State Department announced the allocation of up to $23.75 million to support the country's general elections scheduled for 2023. The funding is to support the electoral system, improve civic and voter education, and help marginalized communities to understand and participate in the political process, said a statement.
CARROLLTON  Carrollton Police Department will be hosting its "Chillin with the Police" event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Carrollton Community Pool.

The free events will include ice cream for those 16 or younger.
Karen Raschke, a retired attorney in New York, started getting her groceries delivered early in the pandemic. Each delivery cost $30 in fees and tips, but it was worth it to avoid the store.

Then, earlier this spring, Raschke learned her rent was increasing by $617 a month. Delivery was one of the first things she cut from her budget. Now, the 75-year-old walks four blocks to the grocery several times a week. She only uses delivery on rare occasions, like during a recent heat wave.

"To do it every week is not sustainable," she said.

Raschke isn't alone. U.S. demand for grocery delivery is cooling as prices for food and other necessities rise. Some are shifting to pickup  a less expensive alternative where shoppers pull up curbside or go into the store to collect their already-bagged groceries  while others say they're comfortable doing the shopping themselves.

Grocery delivery saw tremendous growth during the first year of the pandemic. In August 2019  a typical pre-pandemic month  Americans spent $500 million on grocery delivery. By June 2020, it had ballooned to a $3.4 billion business, according to Brick Meets Click, a market research company.

Companies rushed to fill that demand. DoorDash and Uber Eats began offering grocery delivery. Kroger  the nation's largest grocer  opened automated warehouses to fulfill delivery orders. Amazon opened a handful of Amazon Fresh groceries, which provide free delivery to Prime members. Hyper-fast grocery delivery companies like Jokr and Buyk expanded into U.S. cities.

But as the pandemic eased, demand softened. In June 2022, Americans spent $2.5 billion on grocery delivery  down 26% from 2020. For comparison, they spent $3.4 billion on grocery pickup, which saw demand drop 10.5% from its pandemic highs.

That's causing some turmoil in the industry.

Buyk filed for bankruptcy in March; Jokr pulled out of the U.S. in June. Instacart  the U.S. market leader in grocery delivery  slashed its own valuation by 40% to $24 billion in March ahead of a potential IPO. Kroger said its digital sales  which include pickup and delivery  dropped 6% in the first quarter of this year.

Some think delivery demand could drop further. Chase Design, a consulting firm, says its surveys show the number of U.S. shoppers who plan to use grocery delivery "all the time" has fallen by half since 2021.

Cost is the biggest reason. Peter Cloutier, the growth and commercial strategy lead at Chase Design, said it's difficult to get groceries to a customer's door for less than a $10 premium, which covers labor and transportation. Often, that cost is higher.

Consider a basket of eight staples from Target, including a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs and a pound of ground beef. In store, the order would ring up at $35.12. Target offers curbside pickup for free. Delivery costs $9.99, not including a tip.

DoorDash also offers delivery from Target, but it charges more for each item on its website. The cart rings up at $39.90 from DoorDash, which then adds $12.18 in taxes and delivery fees. If the consumer adds a $10 tip, that totals $62.08.

Both DoorDash and Target offer free delivery through subscriptions, but those come with a monthly or yearly fee.

The premiums are tough to swallow on top of skyrocketing food prices. In June, U.S. grocery food prices were up 12.2% over the past 12 months, the largest increase since April 1979, according to government data.

Cynthia Carrasco White, an attorney for a nonprofit in Los Angeles, got accustomed to grocery delivery during the pandemic. She still prefers it, since her youngest child isn't fully vaccinated and it saves time.

But earlier this summer, as gas prices approached $7 and a box of strawberries neared $9, she got serious about cutting costs.

White now toggles between Instacart, Uber Eats, Walmart and others, using whichever has the best offers and coupons. She will sometimes spend two hours filling a delivery cart and then wait to see if more promotions are posted before she finishes her order. And she has cut back on the amount she tips drivers.

"The economy has definitely taken the wind out of our sails," she said. "It's just this endless pressure."

Retailers are responding by varying delivery prices by time of day. On a recent morning, Walmart offered to deliver a $35 order within two hours for $17.95; that dropped to $7.95 if the order could be delivered between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

But cost isn't the only reason some consumers are moving away from delivery. Cloutier says many customers are wary of the quality of items selected by workers.

"There's a trust gap between what the shopper wants to get and what the retailer fulfills," Cloutier said.

Delivery companies are trying to improve that. Last month, Uber Eats announced upgrades to its online grocery offering, including the ability for consumers to see the products as workers scan them.

But even that may not entice some shoppers.

Diane Kovacs, a college lecturer in Brunswick, Ohio, has been using curbside pickup for nearly a decade. It saves her money, she says, because she doesn't get sucked into impulse buys inside the grocery.

She got her groceries delivered briefly during the pandemic and she didn't mind paying $10 or $15 a week for the service. But she still prefers pickup. She likes driving her dogs to the store and chatting with the employees.

"I think that people are not using delivery because they want to get the heck out of the house," she said.

True demand for grocery delivery is tough to calculate. Usage can swing wildly when COVID cases rise or companies offer discounts, said David Bishop, a partner at Brick Meets Click.

But he sees some patterns emerging. Households with young children and people with mobility issues are sticking with delivery. People over 60 generally have gone back to shopping in person.

Bishop says delivery saw five years of growth in the first three months of the pandemic, and demand is probably still elevated. Eventually, he expects delivery sales to settle into more regular growth of about 10% a year. But delivery won't go away, he said.

"I don't see it moving all the way back to pre-COVID levels. That can has been opened up," he said.
Research that analyzed social media posts finds that hateful references to gays, lesbians and other LGBTQ people surged online after Florida passed a law that bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

References to pedophiles and  grooming  rose by more than 400 percent in the month after Florida's Don't Say Gay measure was approved, according to a report released Wednesday by the Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy groups, and the Center for Countering Digital Hate, a nonprofit group that tracks online extremism.

The measure, passed by the Florida Legislature on March 8 and signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on March 28, says school teachers cannot discuss gender identity or sexual orientation with their young students. Supporters have said decisions about talking about sexual orientation should be left to parents, not teachers.

Critics have said the law sends a hateful message about LGBTQ people.

The researchers who compiled the report found that the 500 most-viewed tweets that mentioned grooming were viewed more than 72 million times between January and July.

Influential conservatives drove much of the increase, the researchers found, through their own posts or by liking or forwarding posts from others. They include U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and DeSantis' press secretary, Christina Pushaw, who was criticized for a social media post in March that compared criticism of the bill to pedophilia itself.

If youre against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are probably a groomer or at least you dont denounce the grooming, Pushaw tweeted.

In response to questions about the report, Pushaw said the Human Rights Campaign and other critics of Florida's new law are the ones linking it to LGBTQ people.

There are groomers of all sexual orientations and gender identities. My tweets did not mention LGBTQ people at all, she wrote in an emailed statement.

The authors of the report warn that the increased anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is inciting hatred that could lead to violence. They say social media platforms must do more to enforce their own policies on hate speech. Researchers said they reported 100 of the most hateful tweets they saw to Twitter. Only one was removed.

Online hate and lies reflect and reinforce offline violence and hate," said Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The normalization of anti-LGBTQ+ narratives in digital spaces puts LGBTQ+ people in danger.

Messages left with Twitter, Boebert and Greene were not immediately returned.
Jed Jacobsohn/AP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A former Twitter employee has been convicted of failing to register as an agent for Saudi Arabia and other charges after accessing private data on users critical of the kingdoms government in a spy case that spanned from Silicon Valley to the Middle East.

Ahmad Abouammo, a U.S. citizen and former media partnership manager for Twitters Middle East region, was charged in 2019 with acting as an agent of Saudi Arabia without registering with the U.S. government. A jury found him guilty on six counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The jury acquitted him on another five charges involving wire fraud.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  Greek authorities conducted a major search and rescue operation Wednesday for dozens of people believed missing at sea east of the island of Karpathos after a boat reportedly carrying up to 80 migrants towards Italy sank during the night.

The coast guard said 29 men were rescued 33 nautical miles (38 miles, 61 kilometers) off Karpathos, a southeastern island between Rhodes and Crete.

Two were plucked from the waves by an air force helicopter and flown to Karpathos, while the other 27 were picked up by a passing tanker ship and taken to the island of Kos.

The survivors were from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, and told authorities there had been 60 to 80 people on the vessel, the coast guard said. No further survivors had been located by late Wednesday, although the search was continuing.

Those rescued said the boat had departed the Antalya area on the southern Turkish coast for Italy when it ran into trouble during the night.

Strong winds and rough seas were complicating search and rescue efforts involving an air force helicopter, two navy ships, a coast guard vessel and three merchant ships.

The search is continuing with unreduced intensity, said Shipping and Island Policy Minister Giannis Plakiotakis, under whose jurisdiction the coast guard lies. The protection of human life is our daily concern and absolute priority, he said, adding that more than 6,000 people had been rescued in 145 search and rescue operations over the past two years.

The most common sea route for asylum-seekers from the Middle East, Asia and Africa has been from Turkey to the nearby Greek islands. But with Greek authorities increasing patrols in the Aegean, and facing persistent reports of summarily deporting new arrivals to Turkey without allowing them to apply for asylum, many are now attempting the much longer, and more dangerous, route directly to Italy. Greek authorities deny they carry out illegal summary deportations of asylum-seekers.

In a separate incident in northern Greece, a key entry point for people crossing illegally from Turkey by land, a police officer was charged Wednesday with attempted manslaughter with intent after two members of a group of migrants fleeing arrest were shot and injured.

The 52-year-old suspect was arrested late Tuesday following the shooting near the town of Kavala, and is in custody pending an initial court appearance Thursday.

Police said a patrol car came upon about 30 migrants getting out of a van on a highway. When they tried to run away, the patrol car gave chase, with the officer in the passenger seat saying he fired in the air for intimidation.

Nine of the vans passengers  seven Syrian men, one Syrian woman and an Egyptian man  were arrested. Two of the Syrian men, aged 20 and 26, suffered bullet wounds, one in the shoulder and the other in the forearm.

They were taken to hospital, where one was treated and released and the other remained for surgery, police said.

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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Police announced a breakthrough Tuesday in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, charging a man from Afghanistan  himself a Muslim  with two of the slayings and identifying him as a prime suspect in the other killings that put the entire community on edge.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was taken into custody a day earlier after a traffic stop more than 100 miles away, authorities said.

Three of the four ambush shootings happened in the last two weeks. Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes or serial killings or both.

Investigators received a tip from the city's Muslim community that pointed toward Syed, who has lived in the U.S. for about five years, police said.

Police were looking into possible motives, including an unspecified interpersonal conflict."

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, acknowledged that "there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of the suspect, who he said attended the centers mosque from time to time.

Knowing where we were, you know, a few days ago to where we are today is an incredible sigh of relief that were breathing, he said. Lives have been turned upside down.

The exact nature of the relationships between Syed and the victims  and the victims to one another  remained unclear. But police said they continue to investigate how they crossed paths before the shootings.

The slayings drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who said such attacks "have no place in America." They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

When told about the arrest before the suspect's identity was made public, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, brother of one of the victims, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, said he felt relieved but needed to know more about the assailant and the motive.

"This gives us hope that we will have (the) truth come out, he said. We need to know why.

It was not immediately clear whether Syed had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed Friday night. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

The earliest case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

For now, Syed is charged in the killings of Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain because bullet casings found at the crime scenes were linked to a gun found at his home, authorities said.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

Officers followed him to Santa Rosa, about 110 miles east of Albuquerque, where they pulled him over. Multiple firearms were recovered from his home and car, police said.

Syeds sons were questioned and released, according to authorities.

Prosecutors expect to file murder charges in state court and are considering adding a federal case, authorities said.

Shiites make up the second largest branch in Islam after Sunnis.

Aneela Abad, general secretary at the Islamic center, said the two Muslim communities in New Mexico enjoy warm ties.

Our Shiite community has always been there for us and we, Sunnis, have always been there for them, she said.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussain had worked as a field organizer for Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansburys campaign.

Muhammad was kind, hopeful, optimistic," she said, describing him as a city planner "who believed in democracy and social change, and who believed that we could, in fact, build a brighter future for our communities and for our world. ___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in LA also contributed to this report.
Sir,



Recent events must surely make those fellow compatriots who walk blind-folded through the maze of life reconsider their positions, especially when it comes to the polity of this kingdom, unless of course they are in deliberate denial simply because they are beneficiaries of the tinkhundla political system. Like all serious-minded and concerned citizens, I am always befuddled by the thinking that those demanding political plurality have been christened with all kinds of names, the favourite among these being termed enemies of the State.

Leadership

No one in authority has sobered up enough to try and put a human face to these fellow compatriots so that they are able to listen hard enough to their disgruntled voices before accusing them of being enemies of the State. Perhaps that is because this is not necessary ostensibly because the leadership knows the truth but is in denial because the truth does not serve its machinations. However, the truth is that the real enemies of the State are within the ruling class and blind followers of the countrys political system. The truth is that those holding the reins of political power are afraid to expose the ruse that the obtaining political system is. Hence, it cannot compete with other systems because of the fear that this may open the eyes of even those presently blinded by the largesse accruing from the excesses of the current political status quo to the limitations and transgressions of the tinkhundla system.

Truth

The truth is that once the ruse is removed, they are afraid what the people might see could be the beginning of the end of an era and the ushering in of a new political and social epoch anchored on the pillar of equality before the law and social justice for all. Ironically but conveniently so, the so-called enemies of the state, a majority of which are within the labour movement  not forgetting the huge army of unemployed youth  are only good for their taxes that are an essential lubricant to the state machinery. A typical end-game scenario from the perspective of those holding the political reins is that they should be allowed to use, anyhow, the tax from the taxpayer without necessarily being accountable to the people at large.

The sin of the so-called enemies of the State is threatening the livelihoods of the political elites and their blind followers engendered by the sub-culture of entitlement by calling for the decentralisation of political power from the clutches of a minority to the people in order to ensure transparency, accountability, social justice, etc, the sum total of which is good governance that is all foreign to the obtaining political system.

Reality

So, in all reality, who is or are the enemies of the State in these circumstances? It certainly cannot be the people calling for a just society underpinned by social justice for all. The enemies of the State are those presiding over the systematic breakdown of the rule of law that has culminated in the rape of moral values and civil decency. The enemies of the State are those riding rough shod over the Constitution by acting contrary to the dictates of the supreme law of the land.



Babe Dlamini
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP)  For the first time in his life, Gift Livingstone Sango, 65, saw a painting by his father depicting Jesus as a Black man.

My father used to draw Jesus as Black because God is for all of us. He is not a God of color, said Sango.

The painting done by his late father in the 1940s is part of a historic exhibit, The Stars are Bright, now at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe for the first time since the collection left the country more than 70 years ago.

A photograph of Sangos father, Livingstone, as a young boy hangs next to the painting.

We never knew our father was such a great artist but after 70 years we are seeing these pictures. We are being called," said Sango. "Some of these pictures we had never seen before. I am seeing my father as a boy.

Sango's father went on to become an accomplished taxidermist working for the National Museum in Bulawayo.

The compelling exhibit at the National Gallery until the end of October is of paintings done in the 1940s and 1950s by young Black students at Cyrene Mission School, the first to teach art to Black students in what was then white minority-ruled Rhodesia.

Using bold strokes and bright, lush colors filling the entire canvases, the students depicted African life in dance, household chores and hunting wildlife alongside the emerging modern world of railroads and electricity lines. The paintings vividly depict tales of African folklore as well as Bible stories in an arresting intersection of African tradition, history and the Christianity introduced by western settlers.

The paintings quickly won admirers, including Britain's King George VI, who visited the school in 1947. A collection of the work created at Cyrene school between 1940 and 1947 was sent overseas to be shown in London, Paris and New York. Many paintings were sold and helped to fund the school.

Later the paintings were stored in the basement of St. Michaels and All Angels Church in London and over time they were forgotten. The artworks were rediscovered by a Zimbabwean who recognized the name Cyrene on the boxes when the church was being deconsecrated, according to a press release by organizers of the exhibition in Harare. He brought the paintings to the attention of others who recognized that a treasure trove lay in the basement.

The Stars are Bright exhibition has returned the paintings to the country, where many Zimbabweans will see them for the first time. Photographs of many of the artists as young boys are displayed alongside the paintings.

It was a very difficult time in the 1940s. It was the height of World War II and it was the height of colonialism in Zimbabwe," Lisa Masterson, curator of the exhibition, said. She said the school's founder Edward Paterson was far-sighted to make art a compulsory subject. For a white Anglican priest to empower young black students with new skills and belief in themselves was completely revolutionary in those days, she said.

Paterson was a true believer that art could unite people. And that no matter what people saw in an artwork, it didnt matter what color you were, or where you came from or what tribe you were from, art was a unifying factor, said Masterson.

Many students from Cyrene school went on to become artists, teachers and professionals, despite the restrictions of white-minority-ruled Rhodesia.

In 2020, The Stars Are Bright exhibit showcased the works at the Theatre Courtyard Gallery in London. Now, the artworks have come back home to acclaim. Some of the paintings have already been exhibited in the scenic Honde Valley in the eastern Manicaland province in late 2021 and in the western city of Bulawayo in April this year. Now the full exhibit is on show in Harare.

Today, after having spent 70 years away from their homeland, these astonishing works are finally back home to be viewed, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa said this week after viewing the paintings.

Coming amid growing calls for the repatriation of African art to the continent, some say the Cyrene paintings should return to Zimbabwe permanently.

It is very important for this heritage to speak to its own people, Raphael Chikukwa, the executive director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, told The Associated Press. The families of these artists can have their children and grandchildren look at this collection, to be able to speak to this collection and to admire it. Because at the end of the day if the collection returns to the U.K., they are unlikely to have any further connection with it.

The organizers say they are negotiating with the Curtain Foundation, owners of the collection, for the permanent repatriation of the works.

This art being brought back home is what we want," said Sango. "The heritage must be brought back home. This will dry our tears.
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Benjamin L. Clinton, 37, of 609 E. Independence Ave. was arrested at 1:01 a.m. Tuesday on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he tried to engage in a fight with his roommate.

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 Multiple bicycles were stolen from a residence in the 200 block of West Beecher Avenue, according to a report filed at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday.

OTHER REPORTS

 An officer stopped two people who were carrying a casket about 2:22 p.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of West State Street. They told police they found the casket in a Dumpster.

Pike County

Sheriff

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Keith L. Arenz, 58, of Union, Missouri, was booked into Pike County Jail at 3:13 p.m. Aug. 2 on charges of probable cause possession of methamphetamine, unlawful transportation of cannabis by a driver and failing to signal when turning.

 Jon D. Humke, 47, of Springfield was booked into Pike County Jail at 2:33 p.m. July 25 on a charge of driving under the influence.

 Cory L. Culp, 28, of New London, Missouri, was booked into Pike County Jail at 5:47 p.m. July 25 on a petition to revoke probation.

 Lawrence E. Nowlan, 66, of New Canton was booked into Pike County Jail at 10:50 a.m. Aug. 1 on a charge of aggravated battery involving great bodily harm.

 Samantha L. Appelberg, 38, of Lewistown was booked into Pike County Jail at 9:10 a.m. Aug. 1 on an obstructing justice charge.

 William H. Morton, 29, of Frankford, Missouri, was booked into Pike County Jail at 4:40 p.m. July 28 on a petition to revoke probation.

 Dalton W. Whitlock, 30, of Eldred was booked into Pike County Jail at 3:56 p.m. July 27 on a retail theft charge.

 Kelly D. Adams, 36, of Baylis was booked into Pike County Jail at 3:47 p.m. July 26 on a charge of possession of methamphetamine.

 Denton T. Bowen, 36, of Barry was booked into Pike County Jail at 10:01 a.m. Aug. 2 on a warrant accusing him of violating bail bond.

Pittsfield Police



ARRESTS, CITATIONS

 Josheem D. Leavell, 20, of Springfield was booked into Pike County Jail at 9:44 p.m. July 30 on a charge of driving while license is revoked or suspended.

 Timothy R. Walker, 27, of Pleasant Hill was booked into Pike County Jail at 8:08 a.m. Saturday on a charge of driving under the influence.

 Enrique Lopez, 40, of Decatur was booked into Pike County Jail at 8:41 p.m. July 29 on a charge of operating a vehicle with revoked or suspended registration.

 Elijah A. Hoover, 31, of Milton was booked into Pike County Jail at 12:39 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under the influence and failing to stop from a private drive.
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DALLAS (AP)  A man accused of shooting three Asian American women at a hair salon was indicted Tuesday on multiple counts, including committing a hate crime.

The Dallas County District Attorneys Office announced the indictment Tuesday of Jeremy Terrence Smith, 37, for the May 11 shooting at a salon in Dallas Koreatown. It alleges Smith entered the salon and fired 13 shots from a .22-caliber rifle, wounding three women and endangering four others.

Smith is alleged to have intentionally selected the complainants because of his bias or prejudice against Asian Americans, according to the statement.

According to a police affidavit, Smiths girlfriend told police detectives that he had been delusional about Asian Americans since being involved in a car crash two years ago with a man of Asian descent. She said he had been admitted to several mental health facilities because of the delusions.

Whenever Smith is around an Asian American, he begins having delusions that the Asian mob is after him or attempting to harm him, his girlfriend told police. She said he was fired for verbally attacking his boss, who was of Asian descent.

The indictment charges Smith with seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, each with a hate-crime enhancement. Each count is punishable by from five to 99 years in prison.

Smith remains in the Dallas County jail with bonds totaling $700,000. A message to his attorney seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Anti-Asian violence has risen sharply in recent years. Last year, six women of Asian descent were among the eight killed in a shooting at massage businesses in and near Atlanta, heightening anger and fear among Asian Americans. And a West Texas man was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month for attacking an Asian family outside a Midland, Texas, department store in 2020 because he thought they were Chinese and therefore responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suppawat Subcharoensuk /EyeEm/Getty Images

PETERSBURG  Theatre in the Park will wrap up its 2022 season by bringing Inherit the Wind to the TIP stage in Kelso Hollow at Lincolns New Salem State Historic Site.

Considered one of the truly great American dramas, Inherit the Wind is a fictionalized account of the so-called Scopes Monkey Trial, in which high school science teacher John Thomas Scopes was accused of teaching evolution in violation of a Tennessee law.

The law made it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine to teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.
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KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukraine said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea that appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian attack, which would represent a significant escalation in the war.

Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday's blasts  or that any attack took place. But satellite photos clearly showed at least seven fighter planes at the base had been blown up and others probably damaged.

Ukrainian officials stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions, while mocking Russias explanation that a careless smoker might have caused ammunition at the Saki air base to catch fire and blow up. Analysts also said that explanation doesnt make sense and that the Ukrainians could have used anti-ship missiles to strike the base.

If Ukrainian forces were, in fact, responsible for the blasts, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site on the Crimean Peninsula, which was seized from Ukraine by the Kremlin in 2014. Russian warplanes have used Saki to strike areas in Ukraines south.

Crimea holds huge strategic and symbolic significance for both sides. The Kremlins demand that Ukraine recognize Crimea as part of Russia has been one of its key conditions for ending the fighting, while Ukraine has vowed to drive the Russians from the peninsula and all other occupied territories.

The explosions, which killed one person and wounded 14, sent tourists fleeing in panic as plumes of smoke rose over the coastline nearby. Video showed shattered windows and holes in the brickwork of some buildings.

One tourist, Natalia Lipovaya, said that the earth was gone from under my feet after the powerful blasts. "I was so scared, she said.

Sergey Milochinsky, a local resident, recalled hearing a roar and seeing a mushroom cloud from his window. "Everything began to fall around, collapse, he said.

Crimeas regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said some 250 residents were moved to temporary housing after dozens of apartment buildings were damaged.

Russian authorities sought to downplay the explosions, saying Wednesday that all hotels and beaches were unaffected on the peninsula, which is a popular tourist destination for many Russians. But video posted on social media showed long lines of slowly moving cars on the road to Russia as tourists headed for home.

A Ukrainian presidential adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, cryptically said that the blasts were either caused by Ukrainian-made long-range weapons or the work of Ukrainian guerrillas operating in Crimea.

A Ukrainian parliament member, Oleksandr Zavitnevich, said the airfield was rendered unusable. He reported on Facebook that it housed fighter jets, tactical reconnaissance aircraft and military transport planes.

Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC taken at midafternoon Wednesday showed some 2 square kilometers (0.75 square mile) of grassland burned at the Saki base. Several craters marked the ground near the tarmac  typically the sign of a powerful explosion. The two runways bore no apparent damage and appeared to still be operational. Some of the fighter jets on the flight line had been moved farther down the runway, compared to images taken Tuesday before the blast.

The base has been home to the Russian 43rd Independent Naval Assault Air Squadron since Moscow seized Crimea. The squadron flies Sukhoi Su-24s and Sukhoi Su-30s. The base also includes a number of earth-covered bunkers and hangars around its periphery  typically used to house munitions in case of a fire. None appeared damaged.

Official Kyiv has kept mum about it, but unofficially the military acknowledges that it was a Ukrainian strike, Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said.

The base is at least 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) from the closest Ukrainian position. Zhdanov suggested that Ukrainian forces could have struck it with Ukrainian or Western-supplied anti-ship missiles that have the necessary range.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said it couldnt independently determine what caused the explosions but noted that simultaneous blasts in two places at the base probably rule out an accidental fire but not sabotage or a missile attack.

It added: The Kremlin has little incentive to accuse Ukraine of conducting strikes that caused the damage since such strikes would demonstrate the ineffectiveness of Russian air defense systems.

During the war, the Kremlin has reported numerous fires and explosions on Russian territory near the Ukrainian border, blaming some of them on Ukrainian strikes. Ukrainian authorities have mostly kept silent about the incidents, preferring to keep the world guessing.

Neither side has released much information about their own casualties. In his nightly video address Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed nearly 43,000 Russian soldiers had been killed.

Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, estimated Monday that Russian forces have sustained up to 80,000 deaths and injuries in the fighting. He did not break down the figure with an estimate of forces killed or provide a Ukrainian casualty count.

In other developments, Russian forces shelled areas across Ukraine on Tuesday night into Wednesday, including the central region of Dnipropetrovsk, where 13 people were killed, according to the regions governor, Valentyn Reznichenko.

Reznichenko said the Russians fired at the city of Marganets and a nearby village. Dozens of residential buildings, two schools and several administrative buildings were damaged.

It was a terrible night, Reznichenko said. It's very hard to take bodies from under debris. We are facing a cruel enemy who engages in daily terror against our cities and villages.

In Ukraine's east, where fighting has raged for eight years, a Russian attack on the center of the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region killed seven, wounded six and damaged stores, homes and apartment buildings, setting off fires, Ukraine's prosecutor general said on Telegram. Bakhmut is a key target for Russian forces as they advance on regional hubs.

In the city of Donetsk, which has been under the control of Russia-backed separatists since 2014, Ukrainian shelling hit a brewery, killing one person and wounding two, the separatists emergency service said. It said the shelling late Wednesday caused a leak of toxic ammonia and warned people to stay inside and breathe through cotton gauze.

Two residents of the village of Staryi Saltiv in the Kharkiv region in the northeast were killed Wednesday in Russian shelling, police reported.

In the country's southeast, Moscow's forces continued shelling the city of Nikopol across the Dnieper River from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling it, stoking international fears of a catastrophe.

On Wednesday, foreign ministers of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies demanded that Russia immediately hand back full control of the plant to Ukraine. They said they are profoundly concerned about the risk of a nuclear accident with far-reaching consequences.

The U.N. Security Council scheduled an open meeting Thursday at Russia's request on what it claims were Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia plant. Rafael Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency chief who said last week that the situation at the plant is completely out of control," was expected to brief the council.

___

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Michael Biesecker in Washington and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 9 a.m., noon, Jacksonville Food Center, 316 E. State St. Free | For Morgan County residents.

Story Time: 10 a.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College Ave. Free | Stories and a craft. For more information, call 217-243-5435 or email clangdon@jaxpl.org.

Blood Drive: 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Jacksonville Police Department, 200 W. Douglas Ave. | To donate, contact Courtney Glass at 217-479-4630 or go to bloodcenter.org and use code 60161 to locate the drive.

Free Noon Meal: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. | Meals in to-go containers can be picked up at side door.

Walking for Wellness: 12:30-3 p.m., First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. Free | Indoor walking program offered year-round Monday-Thursday. For more information, call 217-243-6445.

African American History Museum Tours: 1-4 p.m., African American History Museum, 859 Grove St. Suggested donation $5 for adults, $3 for students, free for children ages 5 and under. | Open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday through September, or by appointment.

Commodity Food Distribution: 1:15 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. Free | For income-eligible residents of Morgan County. Bring proof of residence and a box for food.

Drive-up Food Giveaway: 2 p.m., Cass County Health Clinic, 8590 St. Lukes Drive, Beardstown. Free | While supplies last.

Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen: 3:30-4 p.m., Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, 105 E. Dunlap St. Free | Serving meals to go for anyone in need.

Community Walking Group: 3:30 p.m., Boyd Hospital Wellness Center, Eighth and School streets, Carrollton. Free for wellness center members, $1 for non-members. | For more information and to sign up, all Dawn at 217-942-6946, extension 1352.

County Line Dance Club Class: 6:30 p.m., The Hangout Bar & Grill, 901 W. Superior Ave. $5.

Thursday

Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-noon, Pathway Plaza, 1905 W. Morton Ave. Prices vary. | Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Oct. 31. Link cards accepted.

Produce and Bakery Giveaway: 9 a.m.-noon, Jacksonville Food Center, 316 E. State St. Free | For Morgan County residents.

Free Noon Meal: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m., The Salvation Army, 331 W. Douglas Ave. | Meals in to-go containers can be picked up at side door.

Walking for Wellness: 12:30-3 p.m., First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. Free | Indoor walking program offered year-round Monday-Thursday. For more information, call 217-243-6445.

African American History Museum Tours: 1-4 p.m., African American History Museum, 859 Grove St. Suggested donation $5 for adults, $3 for students, free for children ages 5 and under. | Open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday through September, or by appointment.

Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen: 3:30-4 p.m., Spirit of Faith Soup Kitchen, 105 E. Dunlap St. Free | Serving meals to go for anyone in need.

Gallery Opening Reception Making Our History: Artists Render Lincolns Legacies: 4:30-7 p.m., Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. Sixth St., Springfield. | Runs through Sept. 18. For more information, go to uis.edu/visual-arts or call 217-206-6506. Other times and locations include: 5-7:30 p.m., Springfield Art Association M.G. Nelson Family Gallery, 700 N. Fourth St., Springfield; 5:30-8 p.m., UIS Visual Arts Gallery, UIS HSB 201, Springfield.

To submit items to the calendar, go to myjournalcourier.com and select calendar, or email jjcsocial@myjournalcourier.com. Items must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Wisconsin's most powerful Republican narrowly survived being targeted by Donald Trump in Tuesday's primary, then said his win proved that lawmakers don't have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

Robin Vos, the longest-serving speaker in the state's history, overcame intense criticism from Trump and others that he hadn't pursued decertifying the 2020 election won by President Joe Biden.

But the narrow margin of his win over Adam Steen, a landlord and political newcomer, suggested the power Trump still holds over many conservative voters.

Soon after his victory, Vos lashed out at former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, whom he hired to investigate the 2020 election results under pressure from Trump. Vos has had a testy relationship with Gableman, who ended up endorsing Steen and campaigned for him, including appearing at a Friday rally that included Trump.

Vos called Gableman an embarrassment to the state and said he embarrassed himself. Vos said Assembly Republicans would meet next week to discuss Gablemans investigation and what to do next. Five lawsuits are pending related to the investigation, which has cost taxpayers more than $1.1 million and which Vos put on hold earlier this year.

Asked if he regretted hiring Gableman, Vos paused, then said, Im going to have to think about that.

Vos was first elected in 2004 and rose to become speaker in 2013. Vos has had a hand in every major Republican initiative over the last decade. Unofficial results show Vos beat Steen by just 260 votes, or less than 3 percentage points. No Democrats are running for the seat.

Vos, and the Republican agenda, has been largely blocked by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers the past two years. Vos fell out of favor with Trump after he refused to push to decertify Bidens win in Wisconsin. Vos, citing legal experts, said decertification was unconstitutional.

Steen ran on the platform of decertifying the election. Days before the primary, he touted his support for banning all birth control.

This election was only about one topic. It was only about whether or not we could decertify the last election and overturn it, Vos said. This was only a referendum on overturning the election, which is unconstitutional.

Vos' win comes in the face of Trump-aligned challengers who have been defeating Republican incumbents across the country. Last week, Arizonas Republican House speaker, Rusty Bowers, lost his bid for a state Senate seat after refusing then-President Trumps pleas to help overturn the 2020 results and testifying before Congress about the efforts.
In an ideal world, the landmark compromise on climate change, Medicare, and energy spending that Senate Democrats announced would barely require a second glance.

Thats not to diminish the magnitude of the agreement that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer struck with the chambers Dr. No, West Virginias Joe Manchin. The Democrats-only deal that averts a Republican filibuster will have a transformative effect on efforts to fight climate change.

But such is the state of the Senate these days, and our politics in general, that its breaking news that two guys who belong to the same party, and who largely believe in the same things, managed to strike a deal on stuff they largely agree on already.

The deal is a badly needed win for both congressional Democrats, who are looking to hold  and possibly expand  their majorities on Capitol Hill, and for President Joe Biden, whose administration has been taking on water for much of the last year after scoring some pretty significant early wins.

The spending package will be the most important investment  not hyperbole  the most important investment weve ever made in our energy security and developing cost-saving and job-creating, clean-energy solutions for the future, said Biden, who endorsed the deal and called for its approval. Big deal.

A big deal, indeed. But as a new poll makes clear, American voters would rather see more of this kind of cooperation from their leaders, and not less.

With the midterm elections just about months away, U.S. voters are expressing a higher level of concern than ever over the level of polarization in the country, according to the Institute of Politics and Public Civility at Georgetown University.

Two-thirds of the polls 1,000 registered voter respondents said they were more likely to vote for a candidate who was willing to compromise with others, as opposed to a candidate who consistently fought for his values.

But how do you get to yes at a time when both partisan divides and intra-party disagreements are the two biggest impediments to progress?

Theres a case to be made that, post-Jan. 6, the gaps separating broad swathes of the Big Two parties are as deep and as unbridgeable as theyve been since the run-up to the Civil War. Republicans still trying to downplay the violence or rationalize it away significantly narrows the possibility of the kind of across-the-aisle cooperation that voters say they want to see from their elected leaders.

Fire-breathing tactics by some progressives also are a problem, and they have managed to convince voters in the countrys vast middle that the party that once vigorously defended the working class no longer cares about them.

That goes some distance toward explaining the increased tribalism in our politics, and our culture more broadly. Broad majorities of the polls respondents said they and their friends share the same political beliefs, vote for the same candidates, and are members of the same political party. The same holds true for memberships in the same religious groups; ethnic identities, and economic classes, the poll found.

That kind of homogeneity, in short, makes compromise nearly impossible.

Speaking to MSNBC about the results, Mo Elleithee, the veteran Democratic operative who founded and now serves as the executive director of the Georgetown institute, said the intra-party squabbles that have hobbled Bidens agenda and tanked his approval ratings also are a turnoff for voters.

A big part of closing that gap requires reframing both the narrative of our politics, and the way that its covered in the press, both of which are too often conflict-focused. Both are to the detriment of the underreported and far less glamorous grunt work that gets bills over the goal line.

Thats not to say that government officials should get a hall pass, or that undemocratic and illegal efforts to topple elections should not be confronted, but for our system to work, there has to be that middle ground.

Sure, its not great TV. But it would yield something better: A strong and vigorous democracy thats sharp-elbowed when needed, but still solves problems, and leaves no American behind.

Thats American democracy at its best.
SOPA Images/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

Theres nothing people love sinking their teeth into more than a delicious new snack, and Blue Diamond has one at Costco right now that has everyone talking (when their mouths arent full).

The smash hit: Chili-and-lime-flavored almonds that seem to be mildly addictive, judging by peoples reactions on social media. Theyre sold in 2.8-lb. bags for $15.59.
Sir,



Contrary to the popular economic view that Eswatini should strive to reduce dependency on Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts, I suggest all economic activity should be aligned towards maximising our share from the SACU revenue. Given that in the 2020/21 budget, SACU receipts covered close to the total cost of government wages and salaries and about half of the wage bill in 2021/22, Eswatini having received about E2.1 billion from the golden cow in January 2021, it is obvious that a fatter cheque from this arrangement could solve many of the financial challenges faced by the country.

Silence

A fatter cheque from SACU could put to rest the protracted CoLA rigmarole and silence much of the hullabaloo surrounding drugs shortages in health facilities, shortage of teachers and nurses, hiring freeze, insufficient scholarship funds, free education, and grants for elderly and people with disabilities. Recently, it was reported that The Kingdom of Eswatini assumed chairmanship of the SACU Summit, Council of Ministers and Commission, from July 15, 2022 to July 14, 2023. Eswatini took over from Botswana, who held the SACU chair from July 15, 2021 to July 14, 2022, with the chairmanship rotating among the member States in alphabetical order. This latest rotation means that the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, is the chairperson of the SACU Council of Ministers, while the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Finance, Sizakele Dlamini, chairperson of the SACU Commission. This is our year. Eswatini has indeed laid its hands on the golden goose.

Source

According to the minister of Finance, SACU receipts remain an essential, though very unstable source of revenue as at half-year of the 2020/21 financial year, the country had received E4.1 billion from SACU compared to the E3.16 billion in 2019/20, a 32 per cent increase in SACU receipts. To achieve higher growth rates in the SACU revenue source, some short-term measures were applied including reducing the age restriction of second-hand motor vehicles from outside SACU and minimising as far as possible the importation of petroleum products from outside SACU. Why not find more creative ways, such as the revival of the mining sector and establishment of a pharmaceutical plant, to milk this golden cow for more.



Ambition



Given that His Majesty the King is the current chairman of SACU and has recently expressed his ambition of bringing programmes, including industrialisation, which will make the union strong and develop its member States, Eswatini is in pole position to maximise benefits from this golden goose. Even the revenue sharing formula is now set and clear, according to the chairman. Therefore, it is my view that all economic effort in Eswatini be directed towards milking this cash cow for all its worth.

KS Mnguni
Chinese envoy tells Australia to show caution over Taiwan View Photo

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Australias recent change of government was a chance to reset its troubled relationship with China, but the new administration must handle the Taiwan question with caution, a Chinese envoy said on Wednesday.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said he was surprised that Australia had signed a statement with the United States and Japan that condemned Chinas firing of missiles into Japanese waters in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan last week.

We hope that the Australian side could take China-Australia relations with serious attitude. Take the One China principle seriously, handle the Taiwan question with caution, Xiao told the National Press Club.

Xiao would not say when the live-fire military exercises near Taiwan might end. He said an announcement would be made at a proper time.

China wanted a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a self-governing province, but Xiao did not rule out use of force.

We can never rule out the option to use other means. So when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means, Xiao said. As to what does it mean by all necessary means? You can use your imagination.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin this week said Australia had wantonly criticized Chinas legitimate, justified and lawful measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Wang urged Australia to stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs.

In the past few years, China-Australia relations have experienced serious difficulties for reasons caused by the Australian side, Wang said.

Beijing has eased a ban on minister-to-minister contacts with Australia since Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses government was elected in May. The two countries defense and foreign ministers have since had face-to-face meetings.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang wrote to congratulate Albanese on his election and Albanese had replied.

China would discuss with Australia whether conditions were right for a meeting between Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November when the leaders are in Indonesia for a Group of 20 summit.

As ambassador, Im hoping for the best and Im going to try to make all my efforts toward that direction, Xiao said.

Xiao said the new Australian government had made a good start to its relationship with China after a difficult time for a couple of years.

But its a good start only. Theres a lot to be done to really reset this relationship, Xiao said.

Albanese has urged China to demonstrate good faith toward the new government by lifting a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that is costing Australian exporters tens of billions of dollars.

Xiao defended the barriers and pointed to the economic damage Australia had caused Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei by banning it from rolling out the countrys 5G network due to security concerns.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is filling in while Albanese is on vacation this week, was undeterred by the hostile Chinese reaction to Australias criticisms of the military response to Pelosis visit.

China is going to say what China says. We control our end of this equation. And in describing that end, its this: We will engage with the world with respect, with professionalism, with sobriety, with a faith in diplomacy, Marles said Wednesday.

And we will continue to do that. While the government has changed, our national interest hasnt. We will also speak to our national interest and we will speak to it with vigor, Marles added.

By ROD McGUIRK

Associated Press
Halted shipments of Russian oil resume to Slovakia View Photo

PRAGUE (AP)  Oil shipments from Russia through a critical pipeline to several European countries resumed after a problem over payments for transit was resolved, Slovakias Economy Minister Richard Sulik said on Wednesday.

Oil is already on Slovakia territory, Sulik said on Facebook. He gave no further details.

But no oil has reached the neighboring Czech Republic yet, the countrys Mero pipeline operator said, and Hungary also was still to receive deliveries by Wednesday evening.

Russian state pipeline operator Transneft said Tuesday it halted shipments through the southern branch of the Druzhba, or Friendship, pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The northern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus to Poland and Germany, was unaffected, Transneft said.

Transneft cited complications due to European Union sanctions for its action on Aug. 4, saying its payment to the companys Ukrainian counterpart was refused.

Earlier Wednesday, Sulik said the payments would be made by Slovak refiner Slovnaft after both the Russian and Ukrainian sides agreed to the solution. Slovnaft is owned by Hungarys MOL energy group.

MOL confirmed the money has been transferred. But Slovnaft spokesman Anton Molnar said the deal covered only shipments to Slovakia and Hungary and not to the Czech Republic.

Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela said his country has joined forces with Polish authorities to look for options to resume oil shipments to the Czech Republic. Two Czech oil refiners, including the one in Litvinov that processes Russian oil, are owned by Polands oil and energy giant PKN Orlen.

Sikela didnt provide more details.

Slovakia receives practically all its oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Sulik said the payment is worth some 910 million euros (up to $10.2 million).

He said his country would work on a long-term solution to the problem which he said was caused by the refusal of an unnamed bank in Western Europe to transfer the money due to the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

I wouldnt look for a political context behind it, theres none, Sulik said.

However, Simone Tagliapietra, an energy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, said Russia has weaponized natural gas heading to Europe by claiming technical issues, and this opens questions on whether it might now do the same with oil.

Russia has blamed equipment repairs for its decision to slash flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, whose government has called it a political move to sow uncertainty and push up prices amid the war in Ukraine.

EU leaders agreed in May to embargo most Russian oil imports by the end of the year as part of the blocs sanctions over Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The embargo covers Russian oil brought in by sea, but allowed temporary Druzhba pipeline shipments to Hungary and certain other landlocked countries in central Europe, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

These countries are very dependent on Russian oil and as such they might face shortages in the short term should the interruption be lasting, Tagliapietra said.

Some drivers in Hungary were anticipating that on Wednesday, prompting MOL to appeal to the public asking customers to reduce their petrol purchases.

For now, I keep trying to keep my cars tank topped up, so I dont run out of fuel. And then well see, said Erzsebet Kovacs.

___

Courtney Bonnell in London and video journalist Bela Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary, contributed.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

By KAREL JANICEK

Associated Press
SAO PAULO (AP)  The World Health Organization expressed sorrow on Tuesday for the killing of monkeys in Brazil amid fears of monkeypox contagion.

Brazilian news website G1 reported on Sunday that 10 monkeys had been poisoned in less than a week in the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto, in Sao Paulo state. Similar incidents were reported in other cities.

People have to know that the transmission we see now is among humans, said Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman, during a press conference in Geneva.

Brazil counts more than 1,700 cases of monkeypox, according to the WHO.

The countrys health ministry confirmed one death related to the disease on July 29. The victim was a was a man who had low immunity and comorbidities.

Contagion can take place from animals to humans, but the recent outbreak is related to human only contacts, according to Harris.

People certainly should not attack the animals, she said.

Brazil has a long register of attacks on monkeys during yellow fever outbreaks too.

Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 29,000 cases of monkeypox. The WHO classified the outbreak of the once-rare disease as an international emergency in July.

By MAURICIO SAVARESE

Associated Press
Sonora, CA  A witness called 911 in the early morning hours, reporting a female trying to set ablaze the former Tuolumne General Hospital in Sonora.

The call came into Sonora Police dispatch around 2 a.m. recently from a concerned citizen that a person was attempting to burn down the former Tuolumne General Hospital building on Hospital Road, between Mono Way and South Washington Street. When officers arrived on the scene, they noticed a woman in the area and approached her. She was identified as 56-year-old Sheri Beebe.

During the investigation, officers learned that Beebe had intentionally set the fire. She was taken into custody without incident for arson and unlawful burning. Beebe was placed on $30,000 bail.
Afghan man charged in killing of 2 Muslims in Albuquerque View Photo

Police announced a breakthrough Tuesday in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, charging a man from Afghanistan  himself a Muslim  with two of the slayings and identifying him as a prime suspect in the other killings that put the entire community on edge.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was taken into custody a day earlier after a traffic stop more than 100 miles away, authorities said.

Three of the four ambush shootings happened in the last two weeks. Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes or serial killings or both.

Investigators received a tip from the citys Muslim community that pointed toward Syed, who has lived in the U.S. for about five years, police said.

Police were looking into possible motives, including an unspecified interpersonal conflict.

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, acknowledged that there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of the suspect, who he said attended the centers mosque from time to time.

Knowing where we were, you know, a few days ago to where we are today is an incredible sigh of relief that were breathing, he said. Lives have been turned upside down.

The exact nature of the relationships between Syed and the victims  and the victims to one another  remained unclear. But police said they continue to investigate how they crossed paths before the shootings.

The slayings drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who said such attacks have no place in America. They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

When told about the arrest before the suspects identity was made public, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, brother of one of the victims, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, said he felt relieved but needed to know more about the assailant and the motive.

This gives us hope that we will have (the) truth come out, he said. We need to know why.

It was not immediately clear whether Syed had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed Friday night. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

The earliest case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

For now, Syed is charged in the killings of Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain because bullet casings found at the crime scenes were linked to a gun found at his home, authorities said.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

Officers followed him to Santa Rosa, about 110 miles east of Albuquerque, where they pulled him over. Multiple firearms were recovered from his home and car, police said.

Syeds sons were questioned and released, according to authorities.

Prosecutors expect to file murder charges in state court and are considering adding a federal case, authorities said.

Shiites make up the second largest branch in Islam after Sunnis.

Aneela Abad, general secretary at the Islamic center, said the two Muslim communities in New Mexico enjoy warm ties.

Our Shiite community has always been there for us and we, Sunnis, have always been there for them, she said.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussain had worked as a field organizer for Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansburys campaign.

Muhammad was kind, hopeful, optimistic, she said, describing him as a city planner who believed in democracy and social change, and who believed that we could, in fact, build a brighter future for our communities and for our world. ___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in LA also contributed to this report.

By STEFANIE DAZIO and MARIAM FAM

Associated Press
MBABANE  Had the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development conducted enough engagements with the populace, the country would not have had any political unrest.

This was a submission made by Senator Mkhululi Dlamini, who minced no words when telling Minister David Cruiser Ngcamphalala, that his ministry had let down the country in terms of avoiding the political unrest that saw over 40 people losing their lives, hundreds injured and millions worth of property destroyed last year. Dlamini put it to the minister and his delegation that their presentation was not reflecting the prevailing political situation at the different tinkhundla centres across the country, during the debate of the ministrys portfolio committee performance report for the first quarter of the financial year 2022/2023.

Report

I report yenu yinhle kepha umsebenti wenu mubi, sitawucala kudvumisa masekubuye live, he said in vernacular, which can be loosely translated to mean; Your report is good but your work is bad. We will start heaping praises once the country is back to normal. Dlamini wondered why the ministry was so quiet on the issues of politics because the violence emanating from the political unrest would have been avoided. Which direction do you want the political situation to take until you do something about it? he questioned the minister. Dlamini was supported by Senator Isaac Magagula, who highlighted the issue of the anonymous commander who, through an audio, advised security forces to withdraw their services in defending the Tinkhundla System of Government while also making a litany of threats, which cannot be repeated given their nature.

Not specifically mentioning what the ministry could have done to avoid such, Magagula wondered why one man could dream and wake up to announce his dream to the whole nation and have it come true without any consequences. In his response, Ngcamphalala mentioned that he was not really sure whether the senators were unpacking their anger onto the relevant ministry but did say that it was the responsibility of every liSwati to protect and conserve what was rightfully theirs, be it life, property or anything else there is in the country. Different government ministries and stakeholders have intervened in this matter but it all comes down to each and every individual to act responsibly, because violence has never been the solution, he said.

The minister also revealed that the ministry had engaged with the people at different tinkhundla centres, it was only nine that have not been visited thus far. He stated that they were asked a lot of questions by the populace, including the issue of politics. On the same note, the senators lamented that the ministry was not selling the Tinkhundla System of Government to the international community so much that even citizens of Eswatini who were now residing in other countries and popularly known as diaspora, were making fun of our governance. Senator Magagula said it was very embarrassing to see citizens of the country speaking ill of the Tinkhundla System of Government yet the ministry was not investing in advertising and marketing the system.

Senator Prince Mphatfwa, emphasised that the system should be included in schools curriculum from lower grades up to higher education, something that had been suggested before to the ministry but not yet implemented. The ministrys mandate is to create an enabling environment for effective service delivery at regional and tinkhundla level and to enforce good governance practices, inclusive development and balanced regional development.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iranian authorities granted a furlough for a French-Iranian academic who was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly spreading propaganda, Iranian media reported Tuesday.

The semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Fariba Adelkhahs attorney, Hojjat Kermani, as saying Adelkhah was on leave for five days but hoped that would be extended.

In January, Iranian justice officials ordered the re-imprisonment of Adelkhah, who was arrested in 2019. Adelkhah for a time had been allowed to serve a five-year prison sentence under house arrest.

She had been accused of propaganda against the Islamic Republics political system and collusion to undermine national security.

Another French citizen, Benjamin Briere, was arrested in May 2020 and Iran upheld the eight-year prison sentence of the French tourist for taking photos in a prohibited area and asking questions about Irans obligatory Islamic hijab for women.

Tehran wants a major prisoner swap as part of ongoing negotiations over the reinstatement of Irans nuclear deal with world powers in Vienna. A similar swap accompanied the 2015 deal.

Adelkhah is among Western prisoners in Iran who are dual nationals. Iran does not recognize the status of dual nationals, recognizing them only as Iranian citizens. Western nations have urged Iran to release dual nationals and others, alleging they are used as bargaining chips in negotiations.
Iranian operative charged in plot to murder John Bolton View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed the countrys most powerful general, offering $300,000 to eliminate the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Shahram Poursafi, identified by U.S. officials as a member of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.

Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards elite Quds Force and an architect of Tehrans proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike as he traveled from Baghdads international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran.

The FBI believes that Poursafi was acting on behalf of the Revolutionary Guard when he sought to have Bolton killed, according to an affidavit unsealed Wednesday. Law enforcement officials located photographs of Poursafi in fatigues and with posters of Iran and Soleimani in the background to back up their allegation that he is a uniformed Revolutionary Guard member.

The Justice Department traces the plot to the fall of 2021, when Poursafi, 45, an Iranian citizen who officials say has never visited the United States, asked an unidentified person he met through social media and who was living in the U.S. to take photographs of Bolton for a book he said he was writing.

The person introduced Poursafi to an associate that could take the requested photos and videos. After the two connected, Poursafi encouraged that person, who was actually a confidential source working with the FBI, to hire someone to kill Bolton and offered to pay $300,000 for the job. Poursafi told the person that he wanted the guy to be purged or eliminated.

Poursafi provided the person with Boltons office address, including the name and contact information for someone who worked in the office, the FBI affidavit says.

This was not an idle threat, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Departments top national security official, said in a statement released by the department. And this is not the first time weve uncovered brazen acts by Iran to exact revenge against individuals in the U.S.

In 2011, for instance, the FBI and Justice Department revealed an Iranian government plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. while the ambassador was in the U.S.

A spokesman for Irans foreign ministry, Nasser Kanaani, called the latest accusations baseless and politically motivated, state-run media reported.

He said Iran reserves the right to take any action within the framework of international law to defend the rights of the government and citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In his own statement, Bolton thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in developing the case and the Secret Service for providing protection.

While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Irans rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States, he said.

The unsealing of the complaint comes two days after negotiators seeking to revive the Iran nuclear accord in Vienna closed on a final text of an agreement, with parties now consulting in their capitals on whether to agree to it it.

The 2015 deal granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for tight curbs on its atomic program. Since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump, Iran has sped up its nuclear enrichment program. Bolton has been among the most hawkish critics of the deal and efforts by the Biden administration to rejoin it.

In his statement, Bolton said Irans nuclear-weapons and terrorist activities are two sides of the same coin and asserted that America re-entering the 2015 deal would be an unparalleled self-inflicted wound, to ourselves and our closest Middle East allies.

The Justice Department described Poursafi as at-large abroad but did not elaborate on where he might be located. It is not clear when or if he will be taken into custody. He faces charges of using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire and attempting to provide transnational support to a murder plot.

The Revolutionary Guard is a paramilitary organization formed in the wake of Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution to defend its clerically overseen government. The Quds Force is the Guards expeditionary unit, responsible for operations abroad.

Soleimani was the head of that force, and the Defense Department said at the time of the January 2020 strike that it killed him because he was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.

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Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington, Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Amir Vahdat in Tehran contributed to this report.

By ERIC TUCKER

Associated Press
New Mexicos Muslim community reels from arrest in killings View Photo

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A fear of attacks that had rippled through Muslim communities nationwide after the fatal shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque gave way to shock and sadness when it turned out the suspect in the killings is one of their own.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was arrested late Monday after a traffic stop more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from his Albuquerque home. The Afghan immigrant denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community.

In court documents, in fact, he told police that he was so unnerved by the slayings that he was driving to Houston to find a new home for his family, which includes six children.

But investigators said they have ample evidence to prove his guilt, though they have yet to uncover the motive for the ambush-style killings, the first of which was in November and then three between July 26 and last Friday.

According to the criminal complaint, police determined that bullet casings found in Syeds vehicle matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at the crime scenes were linked to guns found at Syeds home and in his vehicle.

Of the more than 200 tips police received, it was one from the Muslim community that led them to the Syed family, authorities said, noting that Syed knew the victims and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings.

The news of Syeds arrest stunned Muslims in Albuquerque.

I wanted a little closure for the community, as we saw it going out of hand and people were really panicking. But, Ill be honest with you, I was shocked, said Samia Assed, a community organizer and member of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. She said she did not want these heinous crimes to be in any way, in any capacity used to divide a community.

Salim Ansari, president of the Afghan Society of New Mexico, said he felt relief at the news that an arrest had been made. But he was especially taken back because he knew Syed through social gatherings and was dumbfounded to learn the accusations against him and that court documents showed three domestic violence cases against the man.

We never knew, he said.

Ansari said he first met Syed and the family when he was invited into their home in 2020 to tell them about the local Afghan community and the group that he heads. The couple ended up joining the society as members. As recently as last month, Syed and his family brought food and joined a potluck gathering, Ansari said.

I dont know what happened, he said.

On Wednesday, Syed made his first court appearance during a virtual arraignment. He was shackled and in a jumpsuit that said HIGH RISK on the back. His case was transferred to state District Court, where a judge will consider a motion by prosecutors to keep him detained without bond pending trial.

He is a very dangerous person, and the only way to protect the community is to hold the defendant in custody, prosecutors said in court documents.

Syed, through an interpreter, asked for permission to speak, but his attorney asked that the court not take any statements from him. He was not asked to enter a plea.

Syed has lived in the United States for about five years. When interviewed by detectives, Syed said he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, according to a criminal complaint filed late Tuesday.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

In the complaint, authorities said a 9mm handgun was seized from his vehicle, and they found an AK-47-style rifle and a pistol of the same caliber at the family home while serving a search warrant. Syed bought the rifle and his son Shaheen Syed purchased the pistol at a local gun shop.

On Wednesday, Shaheen Syed was charged by federal prosecutors with providing a false Florida address when he bought two rifles last year. He has denied any role in the killings and has not been charged in connection with them. He and another brother were interviewed by police on Monday.

The first of the four people fatally shot was Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, an immigrant from from Afghanistan. Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, said he was a generous, kind, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us forever.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases. Albuquerque police said Wednesday that as long as the suspect is detained, homicide detectives will not rush the case.

Police say they are looking at a number of possible motives. When asked at a news conference Tuesday if Muhammad Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

CNN interviewed Syeds daughter shortly before the announcement of his arrest. She said her husband was friends with two of the men who were killed. She also acknowledged her father initially was upset about her 2018 marriage but recently had been more accepting.

My father is not a person who can kill somebody, the woman told CNN, which did not disclose her identity to protect her safety. My father has always talked about peace. Thats why we are here in the United States. We came from Afghanistan, from fighting, from shooting.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syeds daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents. The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges. Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen OToole said the crimes Syed is suspected of carrying out fit the definition of a serial killer even though Albuquerque police have not classified him as such. She said serial killers often have red flags like domestic violence or sexual assaults in their past that precede the killings.

People dont wake up one morning and just become a serial killer, she said. We would go back and we would look at other crimes that were occurring in the area before the serial murders occurred. Because theres periods of time where they have to practice being violent. And that practice can begin at home.

OToole said motives for the four killings may have varied from victim to victim. OToole said she would want to know what prompted three killings in quick succession eight months after the first.

This behavior that were seeing in this case is cold-blooded, pre-meditated, and it involves hunting behavior  actually hunting human beings  which is probably as cold as it can get, she said.

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Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN, STEFANIE DAZIO and MARIAM FAM

Associated Press
Michels wins Wisconsin GOP governor primary, will face Evers View Photo

MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Tim Michels, a wealthy businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for Wisconsin governor on Tuesday and will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a contest that could reshape elections in the marquee battleground.

Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence and had backing from establishment Republicans, including ex-Gov. Scott Walker.

In his victory speech, Michels promised to focus on jobs and the economy and said he would stand up for people who have been left behind by the Democratic Party that just wants to focus on the social issues.

As governor, my number one priority is to take care of the hardworking people of Wisconsin, Michels said.

Evers campaign called Michels the most extreme and divisive nominee possible, one that will tell Donald Trump anything just to keep his endorsement.

Both Michels and Kleefisch falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was rigged, a lie Trump has pushed in an effort to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Michels said decertifying the results of the 2020 contest was not a priority but said everything will be on the table. He supports other changes to voting and elections, including dismantling the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections.

The governors race was the latest proxy war between Trump and Pence, one-time partners who have backed opposing candidates in other swing states as they try to push the GOP in different directions. The results Tuesday added to Trumps record of wins, following victories for his preferred candidates last week in closely watched races for governor and Senate in Arizona.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who supported Trumps second impeachment, conceded defeat in her Washington state congressional district after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president. And in next Tuesdays slate of contests, Rep. Liz Cheney, who also backed Trumps impeachment and is the vice chair of the House panel probing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, faces a challenging primary race.

Those developments, combined with the rush of support from Republicans after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trumps Florida estate on Monday, were fresh reminders of the former presidents enduring grip on the GOP.

Back in Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won the Democratic nomination to face Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, one of Trumps most vocal supporters. The matchup is among the last to be set before the November general election, when control of the currently 50-50 split Senate is up for grabs, and Democrats see Wisconsin as one of their best opportunities to flip a seat.

Wisconsins most powerful Republican, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, held off a Trump-backed challenger. Trump endorsed Adam Steen after Vos rejected the former presidents pressure to decertify the 2020 results. Vos said his victory showed you dont have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

Tuesdays outcomes have far-reaching consequences beyond Wisconsin, a state that is almost evenly split between Republicans and Democrats and where 2022 will be seen as a bellwether for the 2024 presidential race. The person elected governor this fall will be in office for the presidential election and will be able to sign or veto changes to election laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The next governor and U.S. senator also may sway decisions on issues from abortion to education and taxes.

Were a 50-50 state and so every race in Wisconsin, just by definition, is going to be decided by a few percentage points one way or another, said former Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. And those few percentage points in Wisconsin may well determine what the course of the nation is in the coming years.

Elsewhere Tuesday, a Trump-backed candidate won the GOP primary for Senate in Connecticut, a state thats long been home to the Republican establishment. Republican National Committee member Leora Levy, whom Trump endorsed last week, will face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal after she defeated former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, who had support from the state party.

Voters in Vermont  the only state to never have a woman in its congressional delegation  chose a woman, Becca Balint, as the Democratic nominee for the states lone House seat. She is favored in the race to replace Rep. Peter Welch, who won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat long held by Patrick Leahy, who is retiring. And Minnesota Republicans chose Dr. Scott Jensen, a COVID-19 vaccine skeptic endorsed by the state GOP, to face Gov. Tim Walz.

But the most-watched races were in Wisconsin, where Trump has kept up his pressure campaign to cancel Bidens 2020 victory. Biden won the state by nearly 21,000 votes, four years after Trump narrowly won the state by roughly the same margin. The 2020 outcome has been upheld in two partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a review by a conservative law firm and multiple lawsuits.

Evers has made voting and elections a focus of his own campaign, telling voters hes the only candidate who will defend democracy and we are that close to not having our vote count in the state of Wisconsin.

Both Michels and Kleefisch said overturning the 2020 election results was not a priority. But they said they would dismantle the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections and would support prohibitions on voters having someone else turn in their absentee ballots, as well as ballot drop boxes located anywhere other than staffed clerk offices.

Michels is co-owner of Wisconsins largest construction company and has touted his work to build his familys business. He lost the 2004 Senate race to Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, and has been a major donor to GOP politicians.

At a rally on Friday, Trump praised Michels as an incredible success story. He criticized Kleefisch as part of the failed establishment and also took aim at Vos. He told supporters that Michels was the better choice to defeat Evers.

Michels pledged that we are going to have election integrity here in Wisconsin. He also said he will bring law and order back to Wisconsin, criticized Evers handling of schools and blamed Biden for rising prices.

GOP state Rep. Tim Ramthun also made a long-shot bid for governor.

In her concession speech, Kleefisch said, The fight now is truly against Tony Evers and the liberals who want to take away our way of life.

Barnes, in his victory speech in Milwaukee, emphasized his middle-class background and upbringing while casting Johnson as self-serving and an out-of-touch politician who cares only about special interests and wealthy donors.

It is time for a change, everybody, said Barnes, who would be Wisconsins first Black senator if elected. Its time for us to be represented by somebody who shares our experiences.

Johnson called Barnes the most radical left candidate Democrats could have chosen.

This is a contest between radical left socialism versus freedom and prosperity, he said.

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Burnett reported from Chicago. Reporter Gretchen Ehlke contributed from Thiensville, Wis.

By SARA BURNETT and SCOTT BAUER

Associated Press
GOP rallies around Trump following FBI search of his estate View Photo

NEW YORK (AP)  For much of the year, small cracks in Donald Trumps political support have been growing.

Dissatisfied Republican primary voters began to consider new presidential prospects. GOP donors grappled with damaging revelations uncovered by the Jan. 6 committee. S everal party leaders pondered challenging Trump for the partys 2024 nomination.

But after the FBI executed a search warrant at his Florida estate, the Republican Party unified swiftly behind the former president.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who likely represents Trumps strongest potential primary challenger, described the Biden administration as a regime and called Mondays Mar-a-Lago search for improperly taken classified documents another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regimes political opponents.

The GOP push to portray Trump as the victim of a politicized Justice Department ignored the potential criminal misconduct that justified the search in the eyes of a federal judge. It overlooked Trumps role in hiring now-vilified FBI Director Chris Wray, who also served as a high-ranking official in a Republican-led Justice Department. The Biden White House, meanwhile, said it had no prior knowledge of the search.

But the robust defense serves as a fresh reminder of the former presidents enduring grip on the GOP, driven by an ability to use a sense of grievance among many Republican voters toward government and other institutions. Trump tapped into that animosity to overcome two impeachments and the fallout from an insurrection. His allies said Tuesday that the FBI search would only strengthen his position again.

The sooner he kicks off his campaign, the better, Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Banks, the chair of the Republican Study Committee, said in an interview.

Banks was among about a dozen Republican lawmakers who spent several hours Tuesday evening with Trump at his summer home in Bedminster, New Jersey. During a meal that included steak, scallops, mashed potatoes, salad and a Trump cookie, the group talked about the upcoming midterm elections and the 2024 presidential race, Banks said.

The former president told the lawmakers his mind is made up about a 2024 campaign and well all be happy with his decision.

The FBI search seemed to trigger a shift among Trumps advisers, who had been privately urging him to wait until after the midterm elections to announce his intention to seek the presidency again. Suddenly, some of those same advisers were urging him to launch his campaign before the November elections.

Trump stoked such speculation in the hours after the search by posting a campaign-style video on social media. The best is yet to come, he said.

He followed up with a fundraising appeal, making it personal by declaring its important that you know that it wasnt just my home that was violated  it was the home of every patriotic American who I have been fighting for.

In Columbia, South Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham said he spoke with Trump and felt sure another campaign was coming.

One thing I can tell you, Graham said. I believed he was going to run before. Im stronger in my belief now.

As Republicans rallied behind Trump, Democrats pushed back against GOP claims of political interference, without evidence. Some accused the GOP of a departure from its longstanding commitment to law and order.

The FBI director was appointed by Donald Trump, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Asked if the raid might hurt Democrats in the November elections, she said: Youre talking about if the Justice Department decides to have a warrant to go in because they suspect something is justified, its going to have an impact on the election? No, no, no, no, no.

Some of Trumps most vocal Republican critics still shied away from embracing the former president. And it was unclear how rank-and-file Republican voters and independents frustrated by Trumps divisive leadership might be moved by the new developments.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a former federal prosecutor and one of many Republicans considering a 2024 presidential bid, noted Tuesday that a federal judge had to sign off on the warrant.

The former president is presumed innocent, Christie said in an interview. On the other hand, we cant immediately impugn the motives of the prosecutors just because theyre from another political party.

Its an extraordinary action. And there better be some pretty extraordinary facts to underlie it. If there are, then they have every right to do it.

And some other Republican officials seemed to express continued concerns about Trump by refusing to weigh in at all.

The relatively short list of those GOP leaders who remained silent Tuesday afternoon was led by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who has privately encouraged his party to move past Trump. But the Kentucky Republican eventually weighed in, saying: The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday. Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.

The overwhelming majority  from House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to DeSantis, accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the Justice Department and ignored any potential wrongdoing by Trump.

The GOP now fully embraces the notion that Trump should, indeed, be above the law, and that Trump 2.0 will be a bonfire of vengeance, wrote Republican commentator Charlie Sykes, a frequent Trump critic.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who is gearing up for a presidential run of his own, said he shared the deep concerns of millions of Americans over the search of Trumps private residence.

He stopped short of attacking the FBI, however. Instead, he said Attorney General Merrick Garland should give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately.

Republican Sens. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Josh Hawley of Missouri aggressively condemned the Justice Department on Trumps behalf.

Hawley called the search an unprecedented assault on democratic norms and the rule of law. He called for Garlands resignation or impeachment and the removal of FBI Director Wray.

Cotton said Garland had weaponized the Justice Department against his political enemies. There will be consequences for this, he warned.

Also from Arkansas, Gov. Asa Hutchinson, still another Republican weighing a 2024 run, called the search unprecedented and alarming. But like Pence, he added, We must see the probable cause affidavit before making a judgment.

The search intensified the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in boxes of White House records located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. A separate grand jury is investigating efforts by Trump and allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

In late June, long before the latest development, 48% of U.S. adults said that Trump should be charged with a crime for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Views on Trumps criminal liability broke down predictably along party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans saying Trump should be charged. Still, the fact that nearly half the country believed he should be prosecuted represents a remarkable position for the former president, pointing to the difficulties he could face in another White House run.

Former Trump adviser Sam Nunberg said Mondays FBI search would almost certainly strengthen Trumps standing among Republican primary voters, especially those Republicans who had begun to lean toward DeSantis or another fresh face. But if Trump is ultimately indicted for a federal crime related to the search, as Nunberg said he expects, the former presidents ability to win over a broader group of voters in the 2024 general election could take a major hit.

Despite the fantasies of everyone from Sean Hannity to Steve Bannon, I can promise you that someone under indictment isnt going to get elected president of the United States, Nunberg said.

But on Tuesday, at least, the Republican Party was squarely behind Trump, its undisputed leader.

One of Trumps most vocal supporters in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, almost seemed to thank the Justice Department for bringing her party together.

Ive talked a lot about the civil war in the GOP and I lean into it because America needs fearless & effective Republicans to finally put America First, she tweeted. Last nights tyrannical FBI raid at MAR is unifying us in ways I havent seen.

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AP writers Jill Colvin, Meg Kinnard, Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

By STEVE PEOPLES

AP National Politics Writer
Judge: Walgreens contributed to San Francisco opioid crisis View Photo

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Walgreens can be held responsible for contributing to San Franciscos opioid crisis for over-dispensing highly addictive drugs for years without proper oversight and failing to identify and report suspicious orders as required by law.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said the pharmacy chain continually violated what they were required to do under the federal Controlled Substances Act, failing to track opioid prescriptions, preventing pharmacists from vetting prescriptions and nor did they see the many red flags of physicians and others who were dramatically over-prescribing.

Pharmacists were pressured to fill, fill, fill, he said, and as a result, Walgreens filled our streets with opioids.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer wrote in his decision that from 2006 to 2020, Walgreens pharmacies in San Francisco dispensed hundreds of thousands of red flag opioid prescriptions without performing adequate due diligence. Tens of thousands of these prescriptions were written by doctors with suspect prescribing patterns. The evidence showed that Walgreens did not provide its pharmacists with sufficient time, staffing, or resources to perform due diligence on these prescriptions.

He said the large volume of illegitimate opioid prescriptions contributed to the citys hospitals being overwhelmed with opioid patients, libraries being forced to close because of syringe-clogged toilets, and syringes littering childrens playgrounds in San Francisco.

A Walgreens spokesman said the chain is disappointed in the outcome, which he said is not supported by the facts and the law.

As we have said throughout this process, we never manufactured or marketed opioids, nor did we distribute them to the pill mills and internet pharmacies that fueled this crisis, spokesman Fraser Engerman said in a statement. The plaintiffs attempt to resolve the opioid crisis with an unprecedented expansion of public nuisance law is misguided and unsustainable. We look forward to the opportunity to address these issues on appeal.

San Francisco in 2018 sued Walgreens and drug manufacturers and distributors over the citys worsening opioid epidemic, saying they created a public nuisance by flooding the city with prescription opioids. All the other defendants previously settled with the city for a total of $114 million, including $54 million that opioid makers Allergan and Teva agreed to pay on the eve of closing arguments in the trial, leaving Walgreens as the sole defendant.

Wednesdays ruling did not include a ruling on monetary damages, which will be determined in a future trial.

The opioid epidemic has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past two decades, counting those from prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and generic oxycodone as well as illicit drugs such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.

The surge in deaths has led to more than 3,000 lawsuits filed by state and local governments, Native American tribes, unions, hospitals and other entities in state and federal courts over the toll of opioids. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency last year in the Tenderloin neighborhood, saying something had to be done about the high concentration of drug dealers and people consuming drugs in public.

The city attorneys office says San Francisco saw a nearly 500% increase in opioid-related overdose deaths between 2015 and 2020 and that on a typical day, roughly a quarter of visits at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Emergency Department are opioid-related.

In 2020, 712 people died of drug overdoses, compared with 257 people who died of COVID-19, according to the city health department.

A high percentage of an estimated 7,800 homeless people in San Francisco  many of whom pitch tents in the Tenderloin  are struggling with chronic addiction or severe mental illness, often both. Some people rant in the streets, nude and in need of medical help.

Pharmacy chains have been sued less often than opioid makers or wholesalers that distribute pharmaceuticals more broadly. In one groundbreaking case, a federal jury in Ohio last year found CVS, Walgreens and Walmart recklessly distributed massive amounts of pain pills in two Ohio counties.

In May, Walgreens reached a $683 million settlement with the state of Florida in a lawsuit accusing the company of improperly dispensing millions of painkillers that contributed to the opioid crisis. Walgreens did not admit wrongdoing in its agreement with Florida and will make payments to the state over 18 years.

The company also faces litigation in Alabama, Michigan and New Mexico, among other states.

Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. runs a network of around 9,000 drugstores in the United States. Walgreens and other prescription drug distributors have faced a slew of lawsuits over the opioid crisis.

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Associated Press writer Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report.

By JULIET WILLIAMS

Associated Press
Producer Owned Beef will be building a new meat processing plant in Amarillo, creating over 1,500 jobs in the area and generating $670 million in capital investments, a release from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said. The company will sell beef and beef byproducts across Texas and the U.S. from 3,000 cattle harvested everyday, the release said.

The meat processing plant will join a $1.5 billion rare-earth minerals refinery also coming to the Texas Panhandle city. The 540-acre facility will be home to up to 2,500 employees.

"'Made in Texas' is a powerful global brand and continues to attract investment from companies serving crucial industries," Abbott said in the release. "Producer Owned Beef's selection of Amarillo for its new beef processing plant further reinforces the Panhandle as a leader in U.S. beef and beef production and will create over 1,500 new jobs and millions in investment for the region. We welcome Producer Owned Beef to Amarillo and look forward to working with the company to keep Texas the economic engine of the nation."

Producer Owned Beef is the countrys only producer-owned beef processor, the companys website says. The companys majority equity owners are cattle ranchers and feeders, who will receive a percentage of the wholesale beef price for cattle they supply, as well as a share of the Amarillo plants profits, Yahoo Finance reported.

"We are excited about the continued momentum of Producer Owned Beef with the Governor's support through the Texas Enterprise Fund, Producer Owned Beef CEO Casey Cameron said in the governors release. This further reinforces the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation and the City of Amarillo's commitment to building our new beef processing plant in Amarillo.

Producer Owned Beef is expecting to have an annual payroll of $121 million, Yahoo Finance reported. The companys facility is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2023 and start operating by the end of 2025. The plant will be located on more than 1,100 acres on Jack Rabbit Road (Spur 228) between I-40 and Hwy. 287. The facility will receive a $12.2 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant, as well as an $8,000 Veteran Created Job Bonus, the governor's release said.
BEIJING (AP)  China on Wednesday repeated military threats against Taiwan while appearing to wind down wargames near the self-governing island it claims as its own territory that have raised tensions between the two sides to their highest level in years.

The message in a lengthy policy statement issued by the Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office and its news department followed almost a week of missile firings and incursions into Taiwanese waters and airspace by Chinese warships and air force planes.

The actions disrupted flights and shipping in a region crucial to global supply chains, prompting strong condemnation from the U.S., Japan and others.

An English-language version of the Chinese statement said Beijing would work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification."

But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities," it said.

We will always be ready to respond with the use of force or other necessary means to interference by external forces or radical action by separatist elements. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the prospects of Chinas peaceful reunification and advance this process," it said.

China says its threatening moves were prompted by a visit to Taiwan last week by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but Taiwan says such visits are routine and that China used her trip merely as a pretext to up its threats.

In an additional response to Pelosis visit, China said it was cutting off dialogue on issues from maritime security to climate change with the U.S., Taiwans chief military and political backer.

Taiwan's foreign minister warned Tuesday that the Chinese military drills reflect ambitions to control large swaths of the western Pacific, while Taipei conducted its own exercises to underscore its readiness to defend itself.

Beijing's strategy would include controlling the East and South China seas via the Taiwan Strait and imposing a blockade to prevent the U.S. and its allies from aiding Taiwan in the event of an attack, Joseph Wu told a news conference in Taipei.

Beijing extended the ongoing exercises without announcing when they would end, although they appeared to have run their course for the time being.

Chinas Defense Ministry and its Eastern Theater Command both issued statements saying the exercises had achieved their targets of sending a warning to those favoring Taiwans formal independence and their foreign backers.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party administration are pushing Taiwan into the abyss of disaster and sooner or later will be nailed to the pillar of historical shame!" Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei was quoted as saying in a statement on the ministry's website.

Troops taking part in the exercises had effectively tested integrated joint combat capabilities," the Eastern Theater Command said on its Twitter-like Weixin microblog.

The theater troops will monitor changes in the situation in the Taiwan Strait, continue to conduct military training and preparations, organize regular combat readiness patrols in the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," spokesperson Col. Shi Yi was quoted as saying.

Taiwan split with the mainland amid civil war in 1949, and its 23 million people overwhelmingly oppose political unification with China while preferring to maintain close economic links and de facto independence.

Through its maneuvers, China has pushed closer to Taiwans borders and may be seeking to establish a new normal in which it could eventually control access to the islands ports and airspace.

Along with lobbing missiles into the Taiwan Strait, the nearly week-long drills saw Chinese ships and planes crossing the center line in the strait that has long been seen as a buffer against outright conflict.

The U.S., Taipeis main backer, has also shown itself to be willing to face down China's threats. Washington has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan in deference to Beijing, but is legally bound to ensure the island can defend itself and to treat all threats against it as matters of grave concern.

That leaves open the question of whether Washington would dispatch forces if China attacked Taiwan. U.S. President Joe Biden has said repeatedly the U.S. is bound to do so  but staff members have quickly walked back those comments.

Beyond the geopolitical risks, an extended crisis in the Taiwan Strait  a significant thoroughfare for global trade  could have major implications for international supply chains at a time when the world is already facing disruptions and uncertainty in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

In particular, Taiwan is a crucial provider of computer chips for the global economy, including Chinas high-tech sector.

In response to the drills, Taiwan has put its forces on alert, but has so far refrained from taking active countermeasures.

On Tuesday, its military held live-fire artillery drills in Pingtung County on its southeastern coast.

Australias recent change of government is a chance to reset its troubled relationship with China, but the new administration must handle the Taiwan question with caution, a Chinese envoy said Wednesday.

China has brushed aside foreign criticism of its actions, and its ambassador to Australia said he was surprised that Australia had signed a statement with the United States and Japan that condemned Chinas firing of missiles into Japanese waters in response to Pelosis visit.

Xiao Qian told the National Press Club that China wanted to resolve the situation peacefully, but we can never rule out the option to use other means."

So when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means, Xiao said. As to what does it mean by all necessary means? You can use your imagination.

In London, the British government summoned Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang to the Foreign Office on Wednesday to demand an explanation of Beijings aggressive and wide-ranging escalation against Taiwan following Pelosis visit.

We have seen increasingly aggressive behavior and rhetoric from Beijing in recent months, which threaten peace and stability in the region, said Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. The United Kingdom urges China to resolve any differences by peaceful means, without the threat or use of force or coercion.

___

Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
Tom Werner/Getty Images

The Lubbock-Cooper ISD Board of Trustees was one of five selected as a 2022 Honor School Board by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), a press release from TASA said. The award recognizes outstanding schools boards in the Lone Star State that have made a positive impact on their local public school students. The school board was previously awarded the honor in 1997.

The honor is granted by a committee of Texas school superintendents. The committee was impressed by the boards ability to navigate divisive issues and stand by their decisions, their development of a community-based accountability system for their students and the board being a regional leader in teaching other districts in the area about what they have learned from their experiences, the release said.
MBABANE  The Kingdom of Eswatini and Mozambique have entered into a groundbreaking railway deal that will see cargo between the two countries triple in the next twelve months.

The agreement was signed in Maputo over the past weekend. Central to this agreement is the cancellation of the train border at Goba crossing, which will immediately increase the amount of coal being ferried between the two countries from 3 600 tonnes a day to 7 200 tonnes. In upcoming months, the transportation of sugar and fuel is expected to increase exponentially too, with an increase in the number of cargo trains servicing the route from two trains to four per day.

Agreement

At the signing of the agreement at Port of Maputo in Mozambique, Eswatini was represented by the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Eswatini Railways, Nixon Dlamini, Chairman of Eswatini Railways Board of Director, Alex Mngomezulu and other officials. Mozambique was represented by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala and his delegation. The Mozambicans addressed the agreement as the direct train connections, an instrument that would strengthen the circulation of goods, particularly coal, through the Goba border.

Eswatini Railways Corporate Communications Manager Sive Manana said coal exports would multiply immediately. He said this would be followed by an increase in the amount of sugar and fuel, as these were two key commodities that were traded between the two countries. We already move bulk sugar from Mlawula (along the road to Simunye in the Lubombo Region) to Maputo port, and also import fuel from Maputo to distributors in Matsapha. Those are the main commodities which we hope will increase significantly in the coming months, over and above coal exports, he said.

Speaking to Mozambiques press, the Mozambique Minister of Transport and Communications, Magala, confirmed that the circulation of trains from one country to the other would now be made without the mandatory stop at the Goba border crossing, which linked Mozambique and Eswatini. The volume of coal transported will increase from 3 600 tonnes to 7 200 tonnes a day. A total of 190 000 tonnes of cargo from Eswatini was transported last year via the Goba railway, and this year we expect that 788 000 tonnes will be transported, he told daily newspaper, Noticias.

Completion

Magala implored that this agreement between his country and Eswatini represented the first steps towards the completion of the African Free Trade Area (AFTA) as proposed. The agreement, in principle, is between railway companies Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mocambique (Mozambique) and Eswatini Railways. The groundbreaking agreement is expected to allow for the seamless transfer of goods between the two countries. The Matsapha-Maputo rail link is the oldest in the country, having been established in 1964.The line was handed over to Mozambique Railways administration until 1978. Shortly after the expiry of the concession, a new 90km line was opened from a junction at Phuzumoya (Siphofaneni) to Golela on the South African border, where it connected with South African Railways. This was effectively the second rail link to be operated by Eswatini Railways.
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Armie Hammer, the embattled actor who was accused of sexual abuse in early 2021, is the focus of a forthcoming Discovery+ docuseries, which also delves into his family history.

The three-part series, House of Hammer, investigates accusations against Hammer  which he has emphatically and repeatedly denied through lawyers  including messages that he allegedly sent to women about his cannibalistic fantasies and sexual fetishes, which his accusers say were abusive.

An explosive trailer, released on Wednesday by Discovery, includes two of Hammers alleged victims giving on-camera interviews and sharing screenshots of messages and audio of voice memos they claim to have received from the actor.

I have a fantasy about having someone prove their love and devotion and tying them up in a public place at night and making their body free use, one alleged message from Hammer says.

Hammer is also alleged to have said in a voice memo, which is played in the trailer, My bet was going to involve showing up at your place and completely tying you up and incapacitating you and being able to do whatever I wanted to every single hole in your body until I was done with you.

The docuseries also shows a message in which Hammer allegedly wrote to a woman he is 100% a cannibal, and a handwritten note that reads, I am going to bite the fuck out of you.

The doc was produced in tandem with Casey Hammer, who is Armie Hammers aunt and granddaughter of Armand Hammer, the businessman who made the family fortune in the oil business. Casey Hammer signed a deal prior to the project being shopped around town, before it ultimately landed at Discoverys streaming service. She officially served as a consultant, alongside directors Elli Hakami and Julian P. Hobbs.

Im about to reveal the dark, twisted secrets of the Hammer family, Casey Hammer says in the trailer.

Armie Hammers recent headline-grabbing controversy is not the only one to plague the notable family. In 1920, the actors great-great grandfather, Julius Hammer, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter after a jury found him guilty when the wife of a Russian diplomat to whom he gave an abortion died. In 1955, Julian Hammer, the son of Armand Hammer, killed a man inside his Los Angeles home over a gambling debt, but claimed self defense and the charges were dismissed.

In 2015, Casey Hammer self published a book, Surviving My Birthright, in which she alleged that her father, Julian, sexually abused her when she was a child.

As for Hammer, the actors fall from grace came during the pandemic when alleged messages he had sent to women surfaced on social media and then escalated into a continuous media story. He was first accused of sexual abuse in early 2021 through screenshots of messages in which he allegedly described his cannibalistic fetishes. One woman, who is represented by attorney Gloria Allred, accused Hammer of rape, prompting the LAPD to conduct an investigation.

Hammer has strongly denied all allegations of sexual abuse, stating that all interactions with the women were consensual. At the time of the rape allegation, Hammers attorney, Andrew Brettler, said in a statement to Variety, From day one, Mr. Hammer has maintained that all of his interactions with every sexual partner have been completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory.

The allegations caused Hammers Hollywood career to nosedive with the actor dropped from his agency, WME, after being cut from a series of projects, including Jennifer Lopezs romantic comedy, Shotgun Wedding; the thriller Billion Dollar Spy; the Broadway play, The Minutes; and the Paramount Plus series The Offer about the making of The Godfather. Hammer, who rose to fame with The Social Network and Call Me By Your Name, was most recently seen in Disneys Death on the Nile, which he wrapped prior to the scandal.

With no projects on the horizon, he was spotted earlier this summer selling timeshares at a resort in the Cayman Islands where he has been residing close to his estranged wife and two young children for much of the pandemic. A source has told Variety that Hammer had completed a stay in rehab. Last month, Vanity Fair, which previously published an expose on the Hammer family, reported that Robert Downey Jr., who has been through recovery himself, has been supporting Hammer and paid for his six-months in rehab. (At the time, a rep for Downey Jr. did not respond to Variety, regarding that report.)

In a statement, a Discovery exec teases disturbing details and sinister secrets that will come forth in the docuseries.

The accusations of rape and abuse brought against Armie Hammer in the last few years are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Hammer family, said Jason Sarlanis, president of crime and investigative content, linear and streaming. With House of Hammer, we witness truly disturbing details and sinister secrets that money and power couldnt hide forever. This documentary provides an important platform for the incredibly courageous women who came forward to share their stories, and we hope their courage inspires others to continue meaningful conversations around abuse in our society.

House of Hammer premieres on Discovery+ on Sept. 2.

Watch the full trailer below:

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Harvey Weinstein will face one fewer witness at his Los Angeles trial in October, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

Prosecutors had previously been granted the right to call five prior bad acts witnesses to testify against the disgraced producer, in support of five other women whose claims form the basis of the charges in the case.

But one of those witnesses  known in court only as Miss I.  has since decided she does not want to testify. On Wednesday, prosecutors asked the courts permission to replace her with another witness. But Judge Lisa Lench denied that request, saying the womans testimony would be too similar to the accounts of the other witnesses.

Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 counts of rape and sexual assault pertaining to the five alleged victims. He is already serving a 23-year sentence after being convicted in New York of rape and sexual assault in February 2020.

One of the four supporting witnesses is Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, the Italian model and actress who first reported Weinstein to the New York Police Department in 2015. She alleged that Weinstein groped her and tried to stick his hand up her skirt.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office chose not to prosecute Weinstein for that incident, leading to widespread criticism after the Weinstein scandal finally broke two years later. The Los Angeles trial will be her first opportunity to testify about the incident.

Prosecutors had also hoped to call Lauren S.  a reference to Lauren Sivan  who has alleged that Weinstein masturbated in front of her in a New York restaurant. But Lench ruled on Wednesday that her testimony would closely parallel the allegations of three other accusers, and would therefore be superfluous.

The judge denied a request from Weinsteins lawyers to hold a pre-trial evidentiary hearing with testimony from each of the prior bad acts witnesses  none of whom testified before the grand jury. The judge also rejected a defense request for communications between the witnesses and law enforcement, saying the prosecution was not legally obligated to turn over that material.

Weinstein is due back in court on Aug. 29. The trial is set to begin on Oct. 10.

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B. Kay Richter for MySA

San Antonio's popular Dia de los Muertos festival, the largest in Texas and one of the most notable in the nation, is returning to Hemisfair this fall, on October 29 and October 30. Guests will enjoy two days of free music, activities, dancing, processions, and more.

This year, in honor of the event's 10-year anniversary, local and national observers who can't attend the festival will be able to watch a two-hour evening special on October 30 on ABC and KSAT 12.
Charlie Blalock/ Contributor

San Antonio says that it "successfully" hosted military training operations by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command on Monday night, August 8. The training, which had people posting videos of low-flying helicopters over their homes on the Eastside, will continue into Friday, August 12, according to a news release.

The news release from the city says that people in central and downtown San Antonio can expect to hear more "helicopters, simulated gunfire and controlled explosions" from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., the same things most people were told they would hear on Monday. Despite the noises, San Antonio said it had no calls to 311 or 911 related to the training.
San Antonio students are returning back to school this month while some are still enjoying the last few days of freedom. While students have often dreaded heading back to school because theyd rather have a longer summer break, the reality of school shootings and the emotions they bring has only added to those feelings.

Thankfully, there are ways that parents can address these feelings with their children.

Psychiatrist Dr. Giancarlo Ferruzzi of UT Health San Antonio says parents concerns can range from safety within schools, especially in light of school shootings, to whether their childs needs are being met within their education. There are ways to determine whether a students school experience can be improved.

Certainly in each time there is a sentinel event like [school shootings], certainly since Columbine in the late 90s to Sandy Hook and most recently Uvalde, there understandably becomes heightened concern, anxiety, fear, worry, he says.

MoMo Productions/Getty Images

Ferruzzi says these emotions are more common in parents themselves, but that children, depending on their age, can experience them as well.

We have both the recent Uvalde shooting, which happened just toward the end of the school year, and some months before that the school closures and continuing to live in a pandemic, he says.

Ferruzzi says the real world truths like mass shootings and a worldwide pandemic can not only induce anxiety, but also potentially impact a childs development.

Jennifer Cobb agrees. A school counselor at Gillette Elementary School within Harlandale ISD, Cobb says the length and solidarity of the COVID-19 pandemic brought on a rise of concerning mental health issues within students.

The lack of social interaction that the pandemic brought caused delayed understanding of social graces, and in many cases, symptoms of depression and anxiety, she says.

Parents are likely to notice those symptoms and should intervene by instilling routines that calm anxieties and allow various forms of expression to relieve stress.

If a child is usually outgoing and suddenly becomes quiet, there should be concern. If a child usually has a healthy appetite, and suddenly doesn't want to eat, the parents should be concerned, Cobb points out. Parents can look for behaviors such as significant changes in sleep, difficulty concentrating, angry outbursts, clinginess, separation anxiety, and/or significant changes in eating habits.

Whether there are concerns or not, Feruzzi recommends that parents simply talk it out with their children.

What I typically recommend to parents is having a discussion with their children before the beginning of the school year, he says. Instead of directly getting into wanting to get a finger on their pulse of how comfortable they are, recap their experiences of summer. Make it an interaction.

Ferruzzi says talking about memories and experiences from the summer break can help get the conversation started, one that will give parents an indication of how their children are feeling. By observing their facial expression, tone of voice, and mood, parents can get a sense of how their kids are handling the return to school.

Children can be anxious with the beginning of school for other things as well, he says. In talking with your children about this coming school year, ask what theyre looking forward to the most.

He says questions like these allow them to generally answer what is easier for them to answer, helping them open up to the more serious points of conversation.

It may have to do with the recent school shooting, it may have to do with normal developmentally appropriate concerns, he says. Performance worries or fears, it could be a number of things.

Ferruzzi says its important that parents dont avoid scary topics out of fear that it will instill something in their children. He says its important for parents to address these topics and let their children know that they are there to support them, which can actually reduce anxiety.

Both Ferruzzi and Cobb agree that children, no matter their age, are perceptive enough to notice when adults avoid or have a mood change in regards to topics like these.

Its important to take a step back to realize how you, the adult, are responding to the shooting, Cobb says. Be careful not to watch too much of the news with your child around. They hear everything, even when you don't think they do.

Parents should also be mindful of the age of their children when having tough conversations. Its normal for adolescents and teenagers to not be as communicative with their parents and more with their friends. Ferruzzi says its a bigger concern if elementary-age kids dont share their feelings as much or are avoiding their parents in any way.

Ferruzzi also recommends that families, both parents and students, have open communication with teachers. He says its informative for parents to know what teachers observe in their childs behavior at school.

Teachers themselves may also have a lot of anxiety about the return to school, Ferruzzi adds. Whatever environment they hope to foster in the classroom, teachers will also need to incorporate the requirements of safety drills and emergency exercises with the rise of school lockdowns and mass shootings.

Cobb, who is starting her eighth year at Gillette, recommends that parents review safety practices with their children if such measures have been put into place at their campus.

Children need to feel empowered, she says. The more they know about what safety measures are in place at their school, the more empowered they will feel.
Courtesy, Staff

Update: 12:49 p.m., Wednesday, August 10: North East Independent School District said its elementary school was placed in secure status during the incident nearby where a man pointed what was believed to be a gun at two different people. San Antonio Police Department initially said Oak Grove Elementary School was placed on lockdown.

According to the district, a school is placed under secure status when there is criminal activity in the area. Students and staff are brought inside. No going in or out. Inside the school, it will be business as usual, but situational awareness should be higher. The doors also stay locked.
Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

Videos posted to TikTok have gone viral this week showing San Antonio police efforts, or lack thereof, during a three-day standoff at Stone Oak-area apartments that ended on Saturday, August 6. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said last Friday, August 5, that officers were waiting out Sone Quintero Rojas, and it appears in some of these TikTok videos that is exactly what they did.

The videos, posted on an account called facelessunited, appears to be a resident at the 1207 Agora Palms Drive, at one point responding to a comment from someone who said they live there with "Hello neighbor." The San Antonio Police Department presented the "active situation" as dangerous, telling people on Thursday, August 4, to avoid the area. Rojas held a woman hostage before releasing her.
Suriyo Hmun Kaew / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

Texans who use phones, whether they are land lines in your home or a cell phone in your pocket, will see phone bills increase after the Public Utility Commission of Texas took aim at telecommunications providers last month.

The PUC voted to raise rates on a surcharge assessed on service providers receipts for voice services. The surcharge increased from its longstanding rate of 3.3% up to 24%. The new rate went into effect on August 1 and will reportedly "add a couple of dollars" per month per phone on bills. The surcharge will add up for customers with family plans, for people who pay for calls on a per-minute basis or landline customers with high long-distance bills, according to the Texas Telephone Association.
Photo courtesy of Shoot2Sell Photography

An "affordable" home in Bexar County - affordable compared to nearby ranches in the area - has hit the market. The listing is for a 4.4-acre Spanish revival retreat costing $1.4 million north of San Antonio with quick access to Bulverde, according to Claudia Berteaux with Phyllis Browning Company.

Photo courtesy of Shoot2Sell Photography

The property, built in 1995, includes a main house with a formal dining room, kitchen with a breakfast area, living room with a wood burning fireplace, and a den with a wet bar, according to the listing. A guest suite on the first floor has its own private outdoor access.
Costco

As one of the largest warehouse wholesale retailers in the country, finding a good deal at Costco isnt uncommon. But when those deals mean pretty much free money for Costco members, then its really worth taking a look at. And if you like to travel and have plans to fly anytime soon, then this is the deal for you.

Right now through Costcos website, members can buy a $500 Southwest Airlines eGift card for just $449.99. Thats essentially getting $50 in free travel to use with Southwest! As an eGift card, it will be delivered via email soon after purchase, so make sure your account email address is valid!
MANZINI  A Circular, which allows qualifying civil servants to get the three per cent cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA), has been handed over to the ministry of Finance.

This follows that last month; the three per cent CoLA and once-off payment of one per cent of their annual basic salary, was not implemented due to technicalities. The technicalities included that a Circular instructing the Ministry of Finance to effect the reviewed scale for un-unionisable civil servants was not submitted on time. Also, the Ministry of Public Service said unlike in previous years, wherein the adjustments were received by all civil servants on governments payroll, this time they had to separate them as not all had signed a collective agreement.

In light of the technicalities experienced last month, this publication sought comment from the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Finance, Setsabile Dlamini, on whether they had received the instrument instructing them to modify the remuneration scales. She confirmed that the ministry had received the Circular from the ministry of Public Service with the new salary scales. The circular, she said, was directed to the Treasury Department. Yes, we have received the circular, she said.

Affected

According to impeccable sources at the Treasury Department, the submission of the Circular means it is likely that when the payroll is run, the new scale will be effected. The sources said this was a sign that there was a new remuneration structure. Also, the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Public Service, Hlobisile Vilakati, said: The Ministry has issued a Circular implementing CoLA. This was after Vilakati had been sought for information on whether the three per cent CoLA and once-off one per cent of annual salary across the board for managers and non-unionisable civil servants would be effected this month. This is also subsequent to a previous comment by the Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry of Public Service, Sipho Tsabedze, who informed this publication last month that the qualifying civil servants were guaranteed to get their money next week. He said: The work (to upload the CoLA) needs time as it is unlike on previous instances where it was applied to every person on the payroll; hence, it could not be implemented last month.

Tsabedze said the exclusion of some civil servants was the reason the remuneration at the improved rate was stalled. He said the ministry also received the circular authorising the implementation of the three per cent CoLA and once-off payment of one per cent of their annual basic salary after the date of running the payroll. It is worth noting that the deadline for running salaries at the Treasury Department is usually five working days before the remuneration of civil servants. For this month, it was gathered that the process had already started.
Yves here. This headline may seem a little dog-bites-man-ish, since when arent employers trying to block union formation, routinely with illegal threats and impediments. This post outlines some of the examples of thuggish behavior by companies that are clearly profitable enough to pay workers better. But despite the aggressive corporate sabotage efforts, organizers are becoming more effective at countering these tactics.

I encourage readers to boycott anti union shops like Starbucks, Amazon and Trader Joes, or at least cut back on your patronage.

By Tom Conway, the international president of the United Steelworkers Union (USW). Produced by the Independent Media Institute

Robert B. Bull Bulman and his coworkers at the FreightCar America plant in Cherokee, Alabama, only wanted decent pay and a safe work environment.

But when they tried to form a union to achieve these basic goals a few years ago, the company declared war on them. It bullied union supporters, threatened to move the plant to Mexico and heaped extra abuse on Bulman, one of the leading activists, telling him he couldnt leave his workstation, even to use the restroom, without permission.

As more and more Americans exercise their right to unionize, greedy employers are stooping ever lower into the gutter and pulling every dirty stunt imaginable to try to thwart them.

Chipotle, Amys Kitchen and other employers closed worksites where workers opted to unionize, preferring to turn their backs on customers rather than give those toiling on the front lines a seat at the table. Amazon and other employers have fired or otherwise retaliated against union organizers, just like FreightCar America did to Bulman, even though this kind of misconduct breaks federal law.

And companies like Apple and Trader Joes continue to wage scorched-earth campaigns in which they flood worksites with anti-union propaganda and force workers into captive audience meetings where they disparage organized labor, belittle union supporters and threaten their families well-being. Companies spend billions on union avoidance consultants to oversee these meetings and other union-busting efforts, then write off the expenses at tax time.

It boils down to one thingcorporate greed, observed Bulman, who experienced the advantages of USW membership when he worked at a paper mill and knew that a union also would benefit workers at FreightCar America.

They cant stand to lose control. They want to keep the little man as little as possible. Theyll do whatever it takeslie, cheat, steal, added Bulman, recalling how FreightCar America inflicted such misery on workers that they voted against the union.

But now, in the wake of a pandemic that showed Americans how much they need the protections unions provide, a growing number of workers are fighting back and proving union-busting to be a losing game. Unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against employers skyrocketed 14 percent during the first six months of this fiscal year compared to the same period last year, according to the National Labor Relations Board, reflecting not only managements increasing desperation to thwart unions but also workers growing determination to hold bosses accountable for illegal interference in union drives.

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, for example, has said that hed never accept a union. But baristas across America and Canada are showing him he has no choice.

So far, baristas have persisted in organizing about 200 stores, despite retaliation that includes the closure of unionized locations, the firing of union activists and the companys withholding of pay raises for union workers. Instead of caving in to Starbucks bullying, workers filed ULP charges for these violations.

Workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York also organized, despite the companys rollout of an actual playbook to thwart union drives. In addition to holding captive audience meetings and plastering even the restrooms with anti-union messages, the companys tactics include hiring vulnerable students to dilute pro-union sentiment and schmoozing politicians to burnish the companys reputation.

Bulman knows how essential it is for union supporters to sustain their momentum because, as he and his coworkers learned at FreightCar America, only a union can bring lasting improvements to a workplace.

They do a 180 and go back to what they were doing after you vote no, he said, noting that companies may temporarily improve conditions to derail organizing efforts.

Theyre not going to tell the truth, Bulman continued, noting FreightCar America moved the plant to Mexico even after workers voted down the union. Youve got to stick together and stand strong against them.

As public approval of unions soars, corporations can feel the tide turning against them.

With President Joe Bidens support, the House passed bipartisan legislationthe Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Actthat would ban captive audience meetings, impose financial penalties on executives who block union drives and stop companies from stalling negotiations for a first contract.

The bill, not yet taken up in the Senate, also would fast-track legal proceedings for workers illegally suspended or fired for union activity, and it would give workers the right to sue employers for violating their labor rights.

It would definitely level the playing field, noted Mario Smith, recalling the heavy odds workers at Kumho Tire in Macon, Georgia, overcame to join the USW in 2021.

Kumho fired Smith, a leader of the organizing drive, amid a vicious union-busting campaign that included fearmongering, captive audience meetings, bullying of individual employees and anti-union videos running on an endless loop.

It was indescribable, Smith, who now works at a USW-represented paper mill, said of the toxic environment Kumho created to avoid giving workers a voice.

While denying workers a voice, however, hypocritical corporations exploit the tax code and force ordinary Americans to subsidize their hectoring and intimidation campaigns.

The No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act, recently introduced in Congress, would change that. No longer would corporations be able to write off the costs of ad campaigns, union avoidance consultants and other anti-union activities.

Corporations shouldnt be interfering with workers right to organize, Senator Bob Casey said in announcing the bill. They certainly shouldnt be able to write off anti-unionization campaigns as a business expense.

After deciding against organizing, Bulman said, his colleagues at FreightCar America quickly realized that theyd been duped by the companys lies about unions and manipulated by bosses who stoked their concerns about the plants future.

As it turned out, safety issues and other problems plagued the workers right up until the time the company abandoned the facility and shifted the jobs south of the border.

They scared everybody into voting no, Bulman recalled. Fear is a great motivator. Thats exactly how they operate.
Yves here. Please give a warm welcome Conor Gallagher, who will be writing for NC every other week, alternating with KLG.

Conor has been a professional journalist for years, at small outfits in the US and as an editor/producer at CCTV News in Beijing and TRT World in Istanbul. As this post suggests, Conor has also worked in Italy. Hes also experienced many of the degradations of neoliberalism first hand, including toiling in the gig economy, struggling with student debt, and fighting with the US health care system to get treatments for his mother, suffering from a terminal illness.

Conor is also keen about NCs esteemed commentariat and looks forward to sharing information and perspectives with you.

By Conor Gallagher, a relapsed journalist living in the southwestern US

The media is predictably up in arms over the fascist Brothers of Italy Party (Fratelli dItalia or FdI) that looks set to lead the countrys next government after the Sept. 25 election.

While the party does not yet meet the qualifications for Fascism, it is fiercely anti-immigrant and nationalistic. The Brothers are expected to join forces with the anti-immigrant, pro-business League Party and Silvio Berlusconis catch-all party Forza Italia to form a coalition government.

For the legions of dissatisfied Italian voters the Brothers are their latest hope. It will be the 14th government since the turn of the century, and from the voters perspective there is a recurring theme: the decades-long decline in Italians standard of living.

Annual net income of the Italian household, which was 27,499 (at constant 2010 prices) in 1991, declined to 23,277 in 2016a drop in median living standards of 15%. Mean net household income fell by 3,108 between 1991 and 2016 or by about 10%. Italy is the only major Eurozone country that, in the past 27 years, suffered not stagnation but decline.

Not surprisingly, distrust, pessimism, and frustration with the government have remained widespread throughout the previous 13 ruling coalitions. Despite the frequent changing from center-left to right to center-right, Italians have a harder time getting by, and the post-WWII welfare state, chronically underfunded, continues to crumble like the ruins of Pompeii.

So how to continue to sell the austerity policies prescribed by the EU? Italian governments in recent years have either embraced neoliberal reforms or been handcuffed by Brussels.

In 2011, at the height of the Eurozone crisis, Berlusconi resigned after he claimed he came under heavy pressure from the EU and the US. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner denied this in his book Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises writing:

as helpful as it would have been to have better leadership in Europe, we couldnt get involved in a scheme like that. We cant have his blood on our hands.

Either way, after months of tension on financial markets led to fears that investors could refuse to buy Italian bonds, the crisis was used as an excuse to institute a heavy dose of Neoliberal shock therapy under a technocratic executive. Former EU Commissioner Mario Monti was installed as PM (after some serious bending of the Italian Constitution) and imposed a series of austerity measures which predictably failed to halt a steep rise in Italys public debt or restore growth.

And Italians were none too happy about it, despite the technocrats assurances it was being done to restore the countrys credibility for financial markets.

In 2014, leader of the Democratic Party Matteo Renzi was the change candidate. Largely supported by the PMC, businesses, and identity liberals. He proceeded to lead a weakening of worker rights and push corporate-style management of schools. Renzi bowed out after his constitutional referendum that would have allowed further fast tracking of neoliberal policies crashed and burned.

The Five Star Movement, which railed against the establishment and its austerity policies, took power in 2018. It vowed to reverse the countrys long standard-of-living decline and provide concrete benefits to working class Italians. Meanwhile its government partner, Lega, focused on its own raison detre: beating back the tide of immigrants.

Five Stars draft budget plan called for an increase in the public deficit, a tax amnesty for lower incomes, pension reform allowing early retirement, and a basic income for citizens.

The EU, to put it mildly, was not a fan and threatened Italy with the dreaded excessive deficit procedure. Therein lies the rub: how do you appeal to a wide swath of the Italian electorate by reversing the decline in their living standards while remaining inside the straitjacket of EU rules? The Brothers of Italy Party and its leader Giorgia Meloni appear likely to get their shot.

After another technocratic government led by former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi lasted for the past year, polls show Meloni as the favorite to become the next prime minister.

Despite all the media panic over the resurrection of Mussolini, Meloni and the Brothers are focusing primarily on anti-immigration efforts coupled with piecemeal financial assistance.

The economic proposals dont go nearly as far as Five Stars in 2018, but they do include the creation of free nurseries and the introduction of 400 per month for families with children under 6 years old in an effort to boost the countrys birth rate. It remains to be seen, however, if the budget can absorb such line items without drawing the ire of Brussels.

Meloni and company are already softening their stances on abortion, swearing allegiance to the EU and NATO, and are toeing the company line on Russia.

Instead of another March on Rome, the situation is more reminiscent of Poland and its Law and Justice Party, which took power in 2015 (and has remained there ever since) on a platform similar to the Brothers of Italy. Poland had also been grappling with decades of neoliberal policies and a steep drop in quality of life.

Despite criticism of its conservative social policies, the Law and Justice Party enjoys widespread support from the working class due to its popular programs, including an increase in pension payments, subsidizing childrens school supplies and monthly payments to families per child, from the second child onward.

Much like the Law and Justice Party, the Brothers of Italy may be on the verge of offering a mixture of nationalistic conservatism that co-opts particular social forces to accept the promotion of neoliberalism.

But if they offer too much in the way of benefits to the working class and the EU steps in or if they go too small and lose support, there will likely be new faces after the next election to ensure the neoliberal story will remain the same.
Yves here. The press and commentators, along with NC readers, often and correctly complain about the political gerontocracy in the US, particularly with Team Dem. Even thought this article is a New York City vignette, it describes many of the forces that keeps these old farts in their elected positions. Admittedly, seats in districts where both parties have to duke it out, unlike the five borough monoculture, might find voters to more amenable to generational ceiling-breaking.

By Shantel Destra. Originally published at THE CITY on August 9, 2022

Congressional District 12 Democratic candidates Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Suraj Patel and Rep. Jerrold Nadler. Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY, Suraj Patel for New York/Facebook

With 75-year-old Upper West Side institution Rep. Jerrold Nadler and 76-year-old Upper East Side institution Rep. Carolyn Maloney neck and neck as the two longtime members of Congress face off in the same newly redrawn district, their main challenger wants to make the race about age and new blood.

The Democratic primary for New Yorks 12th Congressional District is just two weeks away. Potential voters in Manhattan told THE CITY that, while theyre open to the call for generational change, they just dont know enough about third-time candidate Suraj Patel, 38, to make the leap.

When the candidates met in a debate last week, Patel ripped into both Maloney  who has been in Congress since 1993 and chairs the House Oversight Committee  and Nadler  whos been in Congress since 1992 and chairs the House Judiciary Committee  arguing its time for new representation.

Democrats lead best when we lead with new ideas, energy, and a new generation of leadership, said Patel. Invoking the name of the Senate minority leader, he added, 1990s Democrats have lost almost every major battle to Mitch McConnell and the Republicans.

Patel, a lawyer by training who worked on President Barack Obamas campaigns, challenged Maloney in the 2018 and 2020 primaries, coming within three points of victory in 2020  when the district also included a swath of western Queens from which he drew significant voter support.

But older voters in the solely Manhattan neighborhoods now encompassed by NY12, many of whom have been voting for either Nadler or Maloney for 30 years, told THE CITY they arent ready to turn the page. And younger voters were even less likely to know the status of the election.

Joyce Stillman, a longtime resident of the Upper East Side, said that while Patel makes a good point about the need for generational change, she also feels the two incumbents in the race know the ropes, and that experience is helpful in Congress. Stillman, 83, said she plans to vote for Maloney.

I do appreciate the younger view. But I dont know about him, she said of Patel. I dont know what he stands for. I do know what Maloney stands for and what shes done.

Similarly, Sharon Mosse, whos lived on the Upper East Side for over 30 years, underscored that people shes talked to dont know who Patel is or what he stands for. She even wondered if Patel had done any campaign marketing.

Young blood and new blood is always a good thing, but I dont know his policies at all, Mosse said.

Winston Wright, 66, did believe it was time for at least one of the incumbents to step aside.

Im sorry to say it, but I agree that Nadler is old school. I do think its time for fresh thinking in Washington, said Wright, who has lived on the Upper West Side for 15 years. But he also admitted he didnt know much about Patel.

Laurie Scheck, 60, said she hadnt been following the race closely but shes tired of elected officials not delivering on promises.

I heard Nadler and Maloney were on TV and Nadler couldnt even remember what he was trying to say, said Scheck. I think theyre too old.

Meanwhile, Upper East Sider Ronald Morenzi, 63, has supported Maloney before and wants her to stay.

I think experience and longevity mean something, he said. Shes done a good job, otherwise she wouldnt be there.

Turnout Key

While the primary contests in June for statewide races and Assembly districts saw extremely low turnout across the state, the Aug. 23 primary for House of Representatives and State Senate seats is expected to be even worse for several reasons: It was added at the last minute; there are no state-wide races on the ballot, and many New Yorkers are out of town in late summer.

Like most districts, the bulk of the old NY 12 population are residents under the age of 65, according to Census Bureau data based on the previous lines. Nadlers old 10th Congressional District, which has mostly been incorporated into the new 12th, had similar stats.

Still, senior voters may sway the race. Older people typically show up at the polls in larger proportions, and several younger people THE CITY spoke to in the district and didnt want to be quoted said they had not paid enough attention to the contest to comment on it and hadnt planned to vote.

One youngish voter, 43-year-old Brian Van Nieuwenhoven, said hes lived Maloneys district for the last 13 years and sees the new-blood argument. Democrats would benefit from boosting younger elected officials, he said.

The two incumbents are of retirement age. I do appreciate their energy for public service but, for a younger voter, something is lost in perspective when Congress is full of people 30 to 40 years your senior,  said Nieuwenhoven.

But, he added, he believes the race will come down to Maloney and Nadler, so while he agrees with Patels call for generational change, Nieuwenhoven doesnt see him as right for the role.

Seniority Is Power

Ester Fuchs, an urban politics professor at Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs, highlighted the idea that the congressional race is between the incumbents  referring to them as two iconic figures in New York City politics.

She believes a political upset  with Patel securing the Democratic nomination  is unlikely given that many of the progressive voters and supporters Patel had in Queens have been cut out. Fuchs said Patel doesnt offer anything politically to District 12 voters that cant be found in the two incumbents that have been representing them for decades.

I dont get the sense that being young is sufficient enough to get rid of one of two senior legislators when people understand that seniority in Congress actually gives you power, said Fuchs.

Fuchs also pointed to another obstacle hindering Patel from securing the nomination in August: He doesnt have key support from the progressive Working Families Party or the support of star New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens/The Bronx), which Fuchs said could bring young voters to the polls.

Other experts agree the likelihood of a Patel nomination in the primary is unlikely. Douglas Muzzio, professor of Political Science at Baruch College, said that if Democrats lose majority control of the House in November, keeping Nadler or Maloney in control will allow either to serve as ranking members of their respective committees.

New York City clout will be minimized with the election of Patel, said Muzzio. Hes going to be a backbencher, said Muzzio.

The Gourmet Deli at the intersection of 1st Avenue and East 90th Street had a Suraj Patel for Congress poster hanging in its storefront window  one of the few signs of him running in the district.

When asked about the sign, the workers told THE CITY they had no idea who that guy is or how the poster got on the window.

A fourth, long-shot candidate in the NY12 race, Ashmi Sheth, didnt get to appear in last weeks debate because she didnt meet fundraising benchmarks. At 28, shes even younger than Patel.

It is absolutely time for new representation in NY-12. 32 years in the same seat is not democracy, Sheth told THE CITY on Tuesday.

She also believes its important to consider what the new representation will look like. If its the same way of doing politics in a younger body, then we cant achieve the structural changes that actually make politics more inclusive, she said.

Maloney, Patel, and Nadler will meet once again on the debate stage at Hunter College Tuesday night at 8 p.m. The hour-long event will be hosted by City & State New York and broadcast on WPIX-11.
My Nashville Post role has evolved since 2000 when I joined the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister publication in 2008 (when I began doing some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have been managing editor of the Post since late 2011.

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Local rich guys Bill Haslam and Gov. Bill Lee dropped a video on Saturday encouraging Tennesseans to vote in favor of adding a right-to-work amendment to the state constitution, enshrining the anti-union policy into the law of the land. Haslam, a former governor and current billionaire, insists that the state's right-to-work law, which allows workers to opt out of unions and their dues even if they benefit from the organization's collective bargaining, has helped Tennessee grow into an attractive place for employers and employees alike. You can check the video below, with the Bougie Bills encouraging you to "vote yes on 1" in November.

Labor rights advocates have been blasting the amendment, calling the term "right-to-work" misleading and saying that it diminishes the bargaining power of workers. (There's an old adage that "right-to-work" really means "the right to work for less.") The Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council tells Tennessee Lookout that the policy is "an attack on working families." In addition to the AFL-CIO, a coalition of pro-labor advocates has formed the Tennessee Workers' Defense Network to encourage voters to strike down the amendment.

The Scene covered the history of right-to-work laws in Tennessee in a two-part cover story last year that also looked at the current state of unions in the Volunteer State. Check it out below if you're interested in learning more about local labor laws, or more about the unions and worker organizers fighting to improve conditions for working Tennesseans.

+2 State of the Union: Right-to-Work Policy Makes Its Way to the State Constitution This article is part of a two-story cover package on labor in Tennessee. See also: "The State of Labor in Tennessee: Speaking with workers ri
(Natural News) Beyond the obvious analysis of the FBI / DOJ / Biden terror crusade against President Trump and We the People, what Ive pointed out in the Situation Update podcast below are three critical points to understand:

One of the goals of the raid on Mar-A-Lago is to try to provoke an armed civil war uprising among the American people so that the DOJ and FBI can label all Trump supporters as violent extremists. The brazen nature of the raid on Trumps private residence is strong evidence that the deep state plans a major disruption or false flag that would suspend the mid-term elections. Its clear they are not afraid to violate the rule of law and anger the American people, since they believe they will never again have to answer to the people anyway. The Democrats now believe they have so much power that they no longer need to even pretend to be the good guys. Now, they are just brazenly carrying out acts of terrorism against the American people, with no regard for any blow back because, as stated above, they do not believe they will ever have to answer voters ever again (because there will never be fair and free elections in America as long as they remain in power).

So we are now living under a lawless, tyrannical terrorism regime thats pretending to be a legitimately elected democratic government but is nothing of the kind.

Essentially, this means that no state, no state governor and no American is obliged to recognize the authority of any branch of the federal government under this regime, as the regime is utterly lawless and despotic and has abandoned every mechanism of due process and the rule of law. This regime now rules by force and coercion, not by the consent of the governed. Thus, America has transitioned from a nation of good will and a reasonable social contract of governance to an authoritarian regime that wields its political power as a weapon to destroy the political opposition, media opposition and election integrity.

The Biden regime is now actively engaged in straight up treason against the United States of America, and the American people are slowly waking up to this horrifying fact.

They no longer care what you think, since your vote and opinions no longer matter to the tyrants in charge

The intention of this regime is to cancel or control all elections, online speech, media publications and all three branches of government from this day forward, establishing a unipolar political monstrosity that eliminates all opposition from any sector of society. They are very close to having achieved this outcome following the rigging of the 2020 election and the cooperation with communist China to weaponize SARS-CoV-2 and unleash a biological weapon against the American people in order to destroy the economy and control the masses. Even now, 70% of US adults have taken at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine, according to the CDC and reported by Reuters. This means that nearly three out of four Americans have been injected with a depopulation death jab, and some significant percentage of those people will be dead from the vaccine before the end of 2030.

Technically, thats over 231 million Americans who have been injected with a death shot. If just 20% of those die in the next decade, thats 46 million Americans who will be victims in this vaccine holocaust pushed by both Trump and Biden. (Yes, Trump started it and handed the baton to Biden in a tag-team effort.) Are you beginning to see the bigger picture yet?

Violence is what the regime wants and thats why we must not resort to violence

The truth is, the American people have been targeted for extermination by the regime. And if the people rise up, they will be deemed extremists and subjected to a domestic military response, likely coupled with a nationwide gun confiscation effort and a declared emergency that will attempt to suspend all elections. This is why it is crucial that the American people do not resort to a violent uprising to escape this tyranny. Peaceful methods must be employed so that the authoritarian regime isnt handed a justification to increase their level of violence and tyranny against the American people. Furthermore, we must not give the regime an excuse to declare a state of emergency before the mid-term elections.

As we get closer to the elections in November, we fully expect the regime to become increasingly desperate, and we believe they are likely to do something truly extreme such as setting off a dirty bomb, detonating a nuclear bomb in a US city, taking down the power grid and blaming Russia, freezing the banking system with an engineered liquidity freeze, launching an EMP weapon against the US to blame China or North Korea, igniting World War III with China or Russia, unleashing a hemorrhagic fever virus against the population or igniting a civil war in some region of the country. There is nothing the regime wont do to stay in power and terrorize the American people.

Do not be suckered into violence. Thats what the regime wants.

At the same time, do not give in to tyranny. Support pro-America candidates like Kari Lake and Blake Masters. Continue your preparedness efforts to survive after the chaos is unleashed. Have backup comms, food, emergency medicine and systems of off grid money such as precious metals or barter items. Voice your opinions to your representatives in Congress, and demand they take action to investigate the regime for its tyranny and lawlessness. Contact your state governor and demand they nullify the FBI, DOJ, ATF and IRS. It is now perfectly clear that America is going to be plunged into a horrific scenario of strife and collapse, and only those who are prepared and determined will survive the onslaught.

Learn more in todays Situation Update podcast via Brighteon.com: (note  Brighteon is still not properly counting video views due to a caching issue that emerged after our recent platform migration, so video views are only showing about 1/20th of actual, and this bug applies to ALL video views since Monday of this week)

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(Natural News) Washington, D.C. is feeling the pinch of the influx of illegal immigrants and it could not expect immediate help from the Joe Biden administration.

This became evident after the Biden administration rejected Washington Mayor Muriel Bowsers request for the deployment of 150 National Guard personnel to check the entry of illegals to the United States capital city and the District of Columbia.

The number of illegal aliens in Washington swelled after the authorities in Texas and Arizona got fed up with the inaction or the failure of the Biden government to check the unabated incursions of border-crossers to their states. (Related: Texas sues Biden for letting in coronavirus-infected illegal immigrants.)

Saying they can no longer allocate additional funding and resources to deal with the illegals, the Texas and Arizona leaders decided to give the national leadership a dose of their own medicine. They offered free bus rides to Washington for those illegal migrants freed by federal officials.

Muriel sought help as the capitals non-governmental organizations can hardly cope with the surge. Additional personnel are also needed to shuttle the immigrants from settlement areas to their final destinations in the country.

To absolve Biden of any involvement, a military spokesman told the Epoch Times in an email that it was Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who turned down Muriels request. Austin, of course, is a Biden appointee and couldnt be expected to contradict the administrations decision.

We have determined providing this support would negatively impact the readiness of the DCNG [D.C. National Guard] and have negative effects on the organization and members. We understand SAMU First Response has received grant funding through FEMAs [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and has indicated that sufficient EFSP [Emergency Food and Shelter Program] funds exist at this point to provide migrant assistance, the spokesman stated.

Although disappointed by the rejection, Bowser said in a separate press conference that he intends to send an amended request for assistance on behalf of the city.

When the mayor of the district says she needs or he needs, in the past or in the future, the D.C. National Guard to support the safe operation of our city, we expect a fair consideration, Bowser said. So having just looked at their letter, they appear to say that [a] more specified request would help them understand our needs.

Only Biden has the authority to authorize National Guard deployment in Washington, and he can only do so after receiving a request from local officials.

Abbott: Nobody is to blame other than Biden for the invasion of illegals

While Washington was the first to take the hit, New York City (NYC) has also experienced the invasion of illegals. And it isnt far-fetched, the busloads of aliens would soon invade other major cities as well. Less than a day after the federal government denied Bowsers request, Texas dropped its first busload of illegals in NYC.

For Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, nobody is to blame other than Biden.

Because of President Bidens continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the State of Texas has had to take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe, Abbott said in a statement.

In addition to Washington, D.C., New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city. I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief, added Abbott, who also initiated the move to transport the illegals to Washington.

While Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey are sending a clear message to the Biden administration, the sound is annoying New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Bowser, who dont conform to their transfer of illegal immigrants to the East Coast.

Visit OpenBorders.news for more news related to illegal immigrants.

Watch the video below showing the arrival of a busload of illegal immigrants in New York City sent by Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

First busload of ILLEGAL ALIENS from Texas arrives in DC, passengers dropped off near Capitol.

More Texas counties declare INVASION at the southern border.

Texas SUES Biden administrations DHS over interim rule on asylum seekers.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

MSN.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Even illegal immigrants, who have fled from the instability and dangers of their home countries, fear the rampant crime wave thats flooding New York City.

(Article by Amber Crawford republished from 100PercentFedUp.com)

On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his plan to send the illegal immigrants flooding his border to New York City, a sanctuary city. Yesterday, a bus of immigrants arrived in NYC, carrying less than half the amount of passengers expected. Democrat Mayor Eric Adams suggested that these immigrants got off the bus early because they feared the citys ongoing crime problem.

At a press conference on Sunday, Adams welcomed the busload of migrants who were arriving from Texas. When he learned that most of the passengers departed before reaching NYC, a shocked Adams said, We were led to believe about 40 people should have been on that bus. Only 14 got off.

Because of the fear that something was going to happen to them if they came to this location, people got off earlier, the mayor theorized. And we are concerned about that because we dont want people being dropped off [just] anywhere.

A City Hall spokeswoman later insisted that the mayor was not referring to the citys abysmal crime stats in his comments. However, she did not offer an alternative explanation of what the migrants may have feared when arriving in the city.

NYC has been suffering from a crime rate that spiked almost 40% this year compared to 2021, according to statistics released by the NYPD.

Hate crime rates are up 13.3%, and transit crime waves are up a major 53% compared to the same period last year.

No wonder the border-crossers are afraid to live in this city.

As the remaining migrants got off the bus, they were put into cabs and taken away to the citys shelters, which are already overburdened.

This small group joined the 50 migrants that arrived on the first bus to NYC on Friday.

Read more at: 100PercentFedUp.com
MANZINI  It will be business as usual today, says Public Sector Unions (PSUs) of Swaziland.

After a two-day break from work, civil servants unions said they would resume work today. This was communicated by the President of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), Mbongwa Dlamini. On Monday, the government machinery came to a grinding halt following an audio clip purporting to be an announcement by an anonymous commander. The audio advised security services to withdraw their services in defending the Tinkhundla System of Government, while also making a litany of threats, which cannot be repeated given their nature. Yesterday, the SNAT president said they had assessed the situation and they were convinced that it would be safe to resume duties today. Dlamini was asked if their resumption of work was motivated by the circulating audio clip of the said commander, who had initially issued the threats stopping them from executing their duties.

Assessed

He said: Yes, the threats had come from the commander and weve also assessed the situation. National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) President Oscar Nkambule, said in the past, they had heeded to governments instruction, that civil servants would be safe in the face of threats; but they (public service workers) were not. He said there was an instance in Piggs Peak wherein a tear gas canister was aimed and fired at civil servants who were within their duty station. Nkambule claimed that when the issue was brought up, it was said it would be investigated and the investigation was yet to yield any outcome. Some of our members had to rush through staircases in their stilettos, which resulted in them spraining their ankles. This happened when we were told that wed be safe; so Im sorry if government feels otherwise when we dont trust what they say, Nkambule said.

When informed that the employer had emphasized that security was provided to ensure they executed their duties without any disturbance and given that they had not pitched for work, disciplinary action and also the no-work, no-pay rule would be effected, Nkambule said: We dont believe that adequate security was availed, given our past experience. We shall also challenge the no-work, no-pay rule. Also, the Swaziland National Association of Government Accounting Personnel (SNAGAP) President, Dumile Dlamini, said they would report for work today.
(Natural News) The United States Navy is now offering to pay up to $65,000 in student loan relief for new recruits who are able to ship out by Sept. 30. This is on top of the additional $50,000 the Navy is offering as an enlistment bonus.

This is according to a service memo released by the service branch on Thursday, Aug. 4, which pointed out that the student loan relief payment and the enlistment bonus are not mutually exclusive.

So, if a future sailor maximizes both, that adds up to a life-altering $115,000, and the opportunity to serve in the worlds finest Navy, said Rear Adm. Lex Walker, commander of Navy Recruiting Command, in the memo. (Related: Americans are refusing to join the military despite generous enlistment incentives.)

If you are a sailor, Marine, airman, soldier, guardian or Coast-Guardsman who recently separated, this is an opportunity without precedent, Walker added. And if you have student loan debt, you could be eligible for the Loan Repayment Program if you ship in any month of any fiscal year while the program remains active.

All prospective Navy recruits who are interested in qualifying for the Loan Repayment Program must be ready to ship out by the end of September.

Veterans of the Navy or any other service branch who wish to sign back up must be willing to reenter active duty at or below the E-4 paygrade. This means they must be willing to earn a maximum of $2,905.5 per month, depending on how long they have served. Veterans also cant qualify if they received an enlistment bonus in their first time serving.

Military becoming increasingly desperate to recruit enough people

This new enlistment incentive comes just six months after the Navy raised its maximum enlistment bonus from $40,000 to the current $50,000, citing a competitive labor market. The Loan Repayment Program is meant to help the branch meet its recruiting requirements for specific job roles needed to ensure fleet readiness, according to Walkers Navy Recruiting Command memo. These additional bonuses are apparently not enough to fill the Navys personnel needs.

There are certain variations regarding how much a potential recruit can get from the enlistment bonus. Those that qualify to become special warfare boat operators and hospital corpsmen are eligible for a $36,000 bonus. Air rescue swimmers can qualify for up to $38,000. High-demand jobs, such as specialized electronics technicians and people with knowledge about nuclear energy, are eligible for the maximum bonus of $50,000.

During periods of greater need, Navy recruiters can be less picky about how much a recruit gets as an enlistment bonus. For example, back in April, the Navy was offering a $25,000 enlistment bonus for any recruit who was willing to ship out before summer.

This is not a problem solely for the Navy. Other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces  the Army, the Air Force, the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps and even the Space Force  are having difficulty retaining and bringing on new talent. Like the Navy, many other branches of the Armed Forces have been ramping up various enlistment bonuses to try and get people to sign up and quickly deploy to boot camp.

According to the Department of Defenses recent estimate, only about one percent of Americans between the ages of 17 to 24 are both eligible and inclined to enter military service. About 77 percent of people in this age group were immediately disqualified, either due to obesity or other health issues, drug use or past criminal records. Most of the remaining 23 percent of people who are eligible have no interest in joining the military.

Furthermore, according to a 2019 Pentagon study, more than 17 percent of active-duty military personnel are considered obese. The Navy has the highest obesity rate among all branches at 22 percent, or more than one-fifth of all servicemen and women.

Watch this clip from Live from the Lair as host Terrence Popp discusses how military recruitment is down to 40 percent of typical levels.

This video is from the Redonkulas.com Productions channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Biden transformation of U.S. military into full-on left-wing force aimed at quashing conservatives takes huge step forward.

Biden bans conservatives and Christians from the military.

Woke ad for U.S. Army focuses on LGBTQ issues, lesbian mothers, while Russia focuses on recruiting manly men.

US Army accelerating recruitment of young soldiers who are willing to violate the Constitution.

Junk food nation unable to defend itself against invasion; one-third of young U.S. adults too fat for duty.

Sources include:

RT.com

DefenseCommunities.org

TaskAndPurpose.com

MilitaryOneSource.mil

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Mainstream media outlet Reuters claims that the so-called climate change caused the deaths of three people in Washington, D.C. when they were struck by lightning.

On Thursday, Aug. 4, two men and two women were struck by lightning while visiting Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., just north of the White House. The bolt struck the ground near a tree just yards away from the fence surrounding the White House and offices across from the square. This area is often crowded with tourists, especially during the summer months.

All four victims sustained critical, life-threatening injuries and were immediately taken to area hospitals. Two of them died soon after the incident, and the next day the third of the four victims passed away.

We are saddened by the tragic loss of life, said the White House in a statement on Friday, Aug. 5, before the third victim passed away. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives.

The first two victims who died were James Mueller, 76, and his wife Donna, 75, from Janesville, Wisconsin. They took a trip to the capital to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary.

The third victim was identified as 29-year-old Brooks Lambertson, the vice president of City National Bank in Los Angeles. Brooks was an incredible young man who will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and unwavering positivity, said the bank in a statement. His sudden loss is devastating for all who knew him, and his family, friends and colleagues appreciate the thoughts and prayers that have poured in from around the country.

Gloria Dickie, who wrote the article for Reuters, claimed that climate change is increasing the likelihood of fatal lightning strikes in the United States.

Dickie pointed out that for lightning to strike, heat and moisture are needed, which is why most lightning strikes occur during the summer, with the subtropical state of Florida receiving the most lightning strikes each year. (Related: Stop your propaganda! MSM says Zoe becomes the worlds first named heat wave, but we already had Apocalypse 4800 in Italy and Lucifer in 2021 across Europe.)

The hot, humid conditions in Washington, D.C. on Thursday were primed for electricity, she wrote. Air temperatures topped out at 94 degrees Fahrenheit  or 5 F higher than the 30-year normal maximum temperature for Aug. 4, according to the National Weather Service.

More heat can draw more moisture into the atmosphere, while also encouraging rapid updraft  two key factors for charged particles, which lead to lightning, she added.

She further claimed that for each one degree Celsius (1.8 F) of global warming, the number of lightning strikes will increase by 12 percent.

Reuters claim about lightning strikes not supported by any evidence

What Reuters and Dickie failed to take into consideration is the fact that the number of fatal lightning strikes in the United States has been declining for the past century.

Chris Enloe, writing for the Blaze, pointed out that Dickie did not cite any actual scientists to support her claim regarding lightning strikes and climate change.

Scientists believe that lightning has existed for billions of years at least, he wrote. One thus wonders how lightning is connected to climate change if it has always existed on Earth, or how the frequency of lightning can be evidence of climate change when lightning has not been tracked for most of Earths history.

Furthermore, Dickie herself pointed out that being hit by lightning is still a very extremely rare occurrence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 40 million lightning bolts touch down in the United States every year. The odds of being struck by one are less than one in a million.

Dying from getting struck by lightning is even rarer. Between 2006 and 2021, only about 10 percent of those struck by lightning died.

Learn more about the climate change hoax at ClimateAlarmism.news.

Watch this interview of Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, on InfoWars as he and Alex Jones talk about how President Joe Bidens climate emergency declaration will crush America.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

Globalist climate cult pushers express frustration that their efforts to brainwash world are failing.

Greenhouse gas effect does not exist, a Swiss physicist challenges global warming climate orthodoxy.

Matrixxx Grooove with Jeff and Shady: Climate tyranny is the biggest heist and the biggest conspiracy against America  Brighteon.TV.

Energy expert Alex Epstein: Fossil fuels allow humans to deal with natural disasters.

Farmers all over the world are BEING THREATENED by Deep State-controlled governments and corporations.

Sources include:

ClimateDepot.com

Reuters.com

MEAWW.com

TheBlaze.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Thailand is set to lower the disease classification of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) beginning October, according to its Ministry of Public Health (MOPH).

The MOPH said in a statement that COVID-19 will be downgraded from a dangerous communicable disease to one that needs monitoring. Under the kingdoms disease classification, diseases deemed as dangerous include plague and smallpox. Influenza and dengue fever, meanwhile, fall under diseases that need monitoring.

According to Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the decision to downgrade COVID-19 sought to reflect the reality of the situation  with Thailands COVID-19 situation starting to stabilize. Earlier, health authorities said the kingdom should start seeing a decline in severe cases and deaths by mid-August.

Anutin added in a statement that the MOPHs move reflects the readiness of the Thai health system, appropriate self-protection behavior of the Thai people and the availability of COVID-19 treatments in the kingdom.

He added that Thailand will also adjust its post-pandemic management plan. This will allow private hospitals to start directly procuring antiviral drugs soon, instead of going through government channels.

The Southeast Asian kingdom lifted all COVID-19 travel restrictions and the outdoor mask mandate on July 1. According to the Bangkok Post, COVID-19 lockdowns and business closures were lifted on the same day. Domestic and international travel bans were also rescinded, it added.

Gen. Somsak Roongsita, the secretary-general of Thailands Office of the National Security Council (ONSC), compared the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions to a complete reopening. He added that officials would be drafting measures to aid with the reopening of the kingdoms economy.

Authorities will have serious discussions because after the emergency decree ends, other laws will be used instead, said Somsak.

Thailand already lowered COVID-19 alert level in early 2022

According to figures from Johns Hopkins University, Thailand has a total of 4.6 million COVID-19 cases and 31,630 deaths as of writing.

The decision to downgrade COVID-19 to needs monitoring followed the kingdom lowering its COVID-19 alert level early this year. Anutin confirmed the decision on Jan. 18, adding that they were considering other measures to boost the Thai economy. The relaxed alert level, he explained, was in response to a lower infection rate. (Related: Southeast Asian governments are reopening their economies that were devastated by lockdowns.)

Thailand lowered its COVID-19 alert level from level four to level three, following Bangkoks five-tier alert system. Despite the relaxation, the health minister clarified that nightclubs, pubs and bars would remain closed.

One of the measures proposed by Anutin was the creation of sandbox areas for tourists. Under the scheme established to rebuild Thailands hard-hit tourism sector, tourists can skip quarantine if they stay in specified areas for seven days and undergo two COVID-19 tests.

The sandbox scheme is currently in place in the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Koh Samui. According to Anutin, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Khon Kaen and Samut Prakan provinces may also also be included.

Furthermore, the health minister proposed the return of a test-and-go scheme for tourists. If passed, tourists would only need to test negative for COVID-19 on arrival to Thailand.

Pandemic.news has more stories about how Thailand and other countries respond to COVID-19.

Watch Swedish biostatistician Martin Kulldorf below argue that COVID-19 would have been endemic like the flu if not for lockdowns.

This video is from the Excellent PODCASTS & Real NEWS channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Surge of new COVID-19 cases in Laos coincides with lockdown.

Thailand shelled out $45 million for COVID vaccine injury claims.

Thai government approves green chiretta herb as treatment for covid.

Thailand suspends mass vaccinations with AstraZeneca jab, in wake of blood clot deaths.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

BangkokPost.com

Coronavirus.JHU.edu

ChannelNewsAsia.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A documentary-like video titled mRNA vaccine Genocide 2021-2022: Testimonies from the Victims and Medical Staff came out a few months ago. It narrates the stories of people around the world who have been injured by the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines.

The COVID vaccine is the most lethal drug in the history of modern medicine. These risks were foretold by many esteemed doctors and scientists whose voices were suppressed. Many people have no direct contact with the victims of the COVID-19 injections. The video clips will help people understand how morally disgraceful these injections are.

Online campaign raises awareness on COVID-19 vaccine injuries

There is also worldwide online campaign to raise awareness and break the silence around COVID vaccine injuries. The founders of the campaign, #CanWeTalkAboutIt, are encouraging people who have been injured by the jab to share their personal stories everywhere they can.

The campaign also seeks to help people injured by the vaccines network and locate resources and information in their own countries and communities, the Defender reported.

To participate, people can post on their social media network a black-and-white photo with their right sleeve rolled up and a Band-Aid on the injection site. People need to write the #CanWeTalkAboutIt hashtag, along with a short description of the injuries they experienced.

Many factors support the thousands of personal stories shared on social media, including the soaring hospitalizations and disability claims; high number of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) cases; hundreds of sudden deaths among competitive athletes; and an increasing all-cause mortality.

COVID-19 vaccine victims deserve to be recognized

The victims of these experimental, gene-editing vaccines deserve to be seen to help people better understand the wicked bioweapon that has been released on helpless individuals.

The struggle, pain, and deaths of people deserve to be recognized for what they are, which is the result of medical crime, administrative corruption and social mass formation insanity motivated by media fearmongering and absolute lies. (Related: Media absurdly insists COVID shots are safe and effective as vaccine injuries and deaths mount.)

Celebrities, politicians, health agency officials, news anchors, doctors, nurses, academics and innumerable other individuals pushed, shamed and threatened as many people as they could into getting the shot, and everyone now needs to see the consequence of their action and how these unsuspecting people around the globe have suffered.

A common theme in all these stories is the constant dismissal from the medical community.

Even doctors who suspect a COVID injection injury still have no idea how the symptoms are triggered or how to treat the victims who are just sent home. There are also very rarely successful treatments.

The COVID Genocide documentary video producer Greg Reese said: They want to destroy the world, Reese said, alluding to the globalists who are the planners or orchestrators of this worldwide medical genocide.

They believe they will get away with it by ignoring the evidence and censoring anyone who claims to have been injured, or anyone who openly grieves the death of a loved one who was killed by the shot. We cannot let that happen. Theyre like a wildfire that needs to be put out. We need some serious war crime tribunals, Reese added.

Follow VaccineInjuryNews.com for more news about the injuries caused by COVID-19 vaccines.

Watch the video below to know more about the vaccine injured who are uniting against the COVID vaccines.

This video is from the The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Global campaign aims to break silence around COVID vaccine injuries.

VAERS was designed from the start to UNDERCOUNT vaccine injuries and deaths, yet its already sounding alarm bells over covid vaccine injuries and deaths.

Cover up: DOD silent after whistleblowers expose COVID vaccine injuries in military.

TRUE CONSPIRACY: Biden ordered OSHA to hide employer reports of COVID vaccine injuries and side effects.

Josh Yoder tells Dr. Bryan Ardis: Issue of COVID vaccine injuries is going to get worse  Brighteon.TV.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) President Joe Biden has taken the antiviral drug Paxlovid following his Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Despite the fact that the drug is to blame for his rebound infection, his administration still pushes for its use.

According to the Independent Sentinel, the Biden regime spent $10.6 billion for the development of this ineffective drug. Big Pharma firm Pfizer, which manufactures Paxlovid, said back in July that the antiviral medication cut COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths by 90 percent.

However, recent analyses debunked Pfizers claim about Paxlovid. One study involving 1,153 patients out of a group of 2,246 COVID-19 patients showed that it only reduced risk by a non-significant 51 percent. Another sub-group analysis, this time involving 721 vaccinated adults with at least one risk factor for progression to severe COVID-19, showed a non-significant relative risk reduction in hospitalization or death.

Even the 79-year-old Biden himself was not spared of Paxlovids risks. An Aug. 2 memorandum by White House Chief Physician Dr. Kevin OConnor said the chief executive reported a rebound infection on July 30. This prompted a return to isolation, with OConnor noting that Bidens antigen test on the morning of Aug. 2 returned a positive result.

[Biden] continues to feel well, though he is experiencing a bit of a return of a loose cough, the physician to the president wrote. Despite this, OConnor pointed out that Biden doesnt need to undergo another round of Paxlovid treatment after his rebound infection. (Related: White House chief doctor: Biden has loose cough, continues to be COVID-positive.)

Aside from Biden, White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci also experienced the so-called rebound infection from Paxlovid. The 81-year-old infectious disease expert caught COVID-19 in June despite being injected with four doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. He was prescribed a regimen of the antiviral drug and subsequently tested negative after the five-day course.

However, Fauci tested positive again, just four days after finishing the Paxlovid regimen.

Doctors speak out against Paxlovid, warn that it causes mutations

Several COVID-19 patients who took the Paxlovid oral treatment have also reported the same rebound infections as the two officials. They tested positive days after finishing a five-day course of the drug, which is a combination of two antiviral drugs  nirmatrelvir and ritonavir.

Given this, several experts spoke out against the antiviral medication and warned that it could cause more harm than good.

Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious diseases specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, said: The hypothesis is that the immune system did not have a chance to see the full extent of the virus, since Paxlovid suppressed replication early in the disease.

Dr. Marty Makary, an author and health care expert at Johns Hopkins University, pointed out that the drug was only studied in people with no immune system. He warned: It has a 50 percent rebound [infection] rate, and prolongs symptoms and length of contagion. On a population level, it drives mutations.

Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of mRNA vaccine technology, wrote in an article on his Substack page that the word rebound to describe infections is a misnomer. He argued that the SARS-CoV-2 virus has never left Bidens body and is still circulating, [albeit] at a fairly undetectable level for a while.

Once a patient begins taking Paxlovid, the drug keeps many of the viruses from reproducing. Some viruses survive and develop a certain resistance to the drug, which causes them to evolve while in the patients body.

When a patient is immunosuppressed and doesnt clear the virus, as seems to be happening with Paxlovid, then this evolution has a longer runway to evolve before the virus is cleared by the body. These new strains are then spread throughout the population. Other people can contract the escape mutant resistant lineage and a new variant is born, Malone explained.

Viruses resistant to Paxlovid are spawned, the virus population explodes, and then the rebound effect is observed  only this time with Paxlovid resistant strains.

Visit DangerousMedicine.com for more stories about the dangers of Paxlovid.

Watch Dr. Pierre Kory, president of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, discuss the dangers of Paxlovid on The HighWire with Del Bigtree.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FDA admits Pfizer antiviral oral drug paxlovid causes life-threatening reactions when taken with common medicines.

Pfizer CEO expects more people will need COVID pills in future, essentially admitting vaccines dont work.

How Pfizer profited from the pandemic.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

IndependentSentinel.com

WhiteHouse.gov [PDF]

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Trading was disrupted and shipments were delayed as China conducted live-fire military exercises in Taiwan Strait. The military exercises were Chinas response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis controversial visit to the Taiwan.

It was bad news for cargo shippers as delays would extend shipping time and reduce effective vessel capacity, which in turn could increase freight costs.

The Taiwan Strait is one of the busiest straits in the world, said Maersk CEO Soren Skou. If it were to close, Skou noted that it would have a dramatic impact on shipping capacity as everybody would have to divert around Taiwan, adding to the length of the voyages.

That would absorb significant capacity. But I have to say that there seems to be no suggestion that this is where were going, he said.

Peter Williams, a trade flow analyst at VesselsValue, a market intelligence service for the maritime and offshore sectors, said: With China conducting significant military drills and military tests around Taiwan, there is potential for substantial disruption to trade in the region.

According to Bloomberg, almost half of the worlds container ships and 88 percent of larger container ships transited the Taiwan Strait this year. Additionally, some liquefied natural gas carriers have already rerouted or slowed speed in response to the coming military exercises.

Maritime insurer Swedish Club said the live-fire exercises are very close to Taiwans major commercial ports, including Keelung, Su-ao, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Anping, Hoping and Hualien.

Aftermath of Pelosis high-profile visit to Taiwan is not looking good

The pending disruption of commercial trade due to the military firing exercise in the trade-busy strait could drastically cause the countrys economic collapse. All of this is due to the highly controversial visit of U.S. Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. (Related: China surges forces toward Taiwan, conducts live-fire drills as Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits.)

Her trip was not officially sanctioned by the Biden Administration, but he did not publicly dissuade her from going.

China frequently reacts vehemently over foreign visits to Taiwan, which it claims is a Chinese territory that it will soon retake.

The Guardian reported that its countermeasures rarely exceed some Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) jets flying in and out of Taiwans large air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Analysts warned that this time looked different. Beijings protests were louder and more threatening and gave little room for either it or the U.S. to retreat without losing credibility. This time, it would have to follow through with something bigger, the report said.

Shelley Rigger, a professor of political science at Davidson College, said the key takeaway from Pelosis visit is that it was ultimately about U.S. domestic politics and Peoples Republic of China domestic politics, and Taiwan was the pawn caught in the middle.

Initially, Pelosis goal was almost certainly to do a little cheerleading for Taiwan, show that the U.S. cares about it, that we are paying attention, and that it is an important friend and partner  that kind of thing, Rigger said.

She added that this does not benefit Taiwan, probably does harm to Taiwans security and has insured that U.S.-China relations are worse than they were before.

We may have a much more difficult time recovering than we thought three weeks ago, she noted.

Pelosi addressed the Taiwanese parliament and met the president, senior ministers, dignitaries and other officials on August 3. The following day, there were multiple Chinese warplane incursions into the ADIZ and cyberattacks targeting the websites of Taiwans ministries of foreign affairs and defense.

Signboards at railway stations and in-store screens at 7-Eleven were also hacked, displaying messages calling Pelosi a warmonger in the simplified Chinese text language.

The PLA then fired almost a dozen Dongfeng ballistic missiles the same day and made dozens of incursions over the highly symbolic median line. Japan said at least five missiles landed within its exclusive economic zone, and some had flown over Taiwans main island, just south of Taipei.

Taiwan sent navy vessels to the median line to drive away the PLA, and deployed jets and land-based missile systems to monitor the situation. The countrys President Tsai Ing-wen called for international condemnation.

Watch the below video that talks about Pelosis reckless Taiwan junket.

This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

China flies fighter jets into Taiwanese airspace, escalating tension following Pelosi visit.

REVEALED: Pelosi-linked lobbyists are pushing Chinas social credit system for American citizens.

ANALYSIS: Why China LOSES any escalation involving Taiwan and the United States Navy.

Sources include:

FreightWaves.com

TheGuardian.com

NewYorker.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Against his better judgment and wishes, the wife of a Canadian father recently brought their seven-year-old son to a local pharmacy to get vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), which immediately triggered myocarditis in the child. After his son was admitted to the hospital for the condition, the angry father proceeded to call the pharmacist and unleash hell against her for permanently harming his child.

The man started out calmly explaining what happened to the foreign-sounding pharmacist on the other end of the line, to which she almost immediately admitted that parents are not being told about the potential side effects of the injections for their children.

The level of anger/rage which is going to be pouring out when the scale of what has unfolded comes into mainstream conscious awareness Lets get prepared. Were going to need to be strong containers to hold whats coming. pic.twitter.com/izyH2LFNAA  ?Antonio Tweets ? (@AntonioTweets2) August 6, 2022

When asked to explain why the full list of side effects, and especially the most common ones, are not being divulged, the pharmacist on the phone proceeded to explain that many parents might forego the shots if they are made aware of the risk of injury or death.

In other words, pharmacists are deliberately withholding information about the shots that might scare parents into skipping them. As a result, at least one little boy will never be healthy again, and could very likely die within the next five years as this is a common occurrence with myocarditis.

Check out the following episode of the Health Ranger Report with Mike Adams to hear his take on the growing number of parents, including this one, who are coming to the realization that their childrens lives were destroyed by Fauci Flu shots:

Dont get your child jabbed for covid unless you want him to die

It is not as though myocarditis is some rare occurrence post-injection for the Fauci Flu. Back in April, as one example, a large-scale study out of Nordic Europe (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) found that getting injected for Chinese Germs massively increases ones risk of myocarditis.

There are also tens of thousands of both children and adults in the United States alone who now suffer from heart and other health problems as a result of the jabs, to which the pharmacist the Canadian father spoke to had nothing to say because she personally profits every time she administers another shot.

Frustrated by the situation as the conversation progressed, the angry father became increasingly angrier as the pharmacist had nothing to say back to him  probably because she knows full well that the jabs are killing kids. Towards the end of the call  viewers beware  the man started lobbing insults and vulgarity at the pharmacist because his childs life is now ruined.

At this point, I think litigation is the only thing that is going to prevent this from happening again, wrote one commenter about the fathers threat against the pharmacist that he recorded the call and publicly released it in order to sue the pharmacy that harmed his child.

If the people who were dishonest, or did not do their jobs as required, are not held severely responsible, you wont ever be able to trust your doctor or any drug again.

I hope the lawyers are quiet now because they are collecting data and names to add to their massive lawsuits. This is probably the biggest opportunity the legal profession has or will ever have to benefit mankind.

More of the latest news about Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Democrats are desperate to win in November and they are taking the United States down the drain in order to forcefully impose their will, also known as the Great Reset. On the approaching 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Democrats are toying with what will most likely end in a civil war and the destruction of the United States. Never in the entire history of the United States has a former president been indicted for any criminal conduct. This has not been because there was never such an incident. Most importantly, the historic precedent is that post-term indictment is NOT legally allowed.

(Article by Martin Armstrong republished from ArmstrongEconomics.com)

Americans dont like the idea of criminalizing politics. Just look at Ukraine. In January 2022, Ukraines former president, Petro Poroshenko, landed in Kyiv and was charged with Treason by Zelensky in a case that illustrates the danger of criminalizing politics. So many other banana republics do the same. Once one party gets a hold of power, they try to prosecute the opposition.

Up until now, both political parties, as well as the public, see the prospect of post-term immunity as a guarantee that the countrys politics will remain civil and that power will transition peacefully from one party to the other. All of that is now crumbling before our eyes. That very precedent is what drove President Gerald Ford to pardon Richard Nixon. It was also the reason why the Office of the Independent Counsel decided not to indict former President Bill Clinton for perjury.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, was being raided by FBI agents. After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate, Trump announced in a statement.

NEVER in the history of the United States has the FBI ever carried out such a raid. Trump publicly stated that his home was under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents. He also said that: They even broke into my safe.

Our computer has warned that 2022 would be a Panic Cycle in Politics and 2023 will be a violent year for civil unrest and war. The computer pinpoints these events in a way that we cannot even begin to imagine the fundamentals behind them. But the Democrats have crossed the line. They are now trying to transform the United States into a banana republic of oppression and a direct assault on the very foundation of democracy. The nation has been polarized to the extreme. This is just going to put it over the top.

Read more at: ArmstrongEconomics.com
(Natural News) Companies in France may need to cut back on their natural gas usage as shortages are likely to hit in the winter.

Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said Frances strategic gas reserves were 80 percent full at the moment, which means that they could reach 100 percent capacity before November. Yet, she insisted later on that full stocks may not be enough to avoid gas cuts as the government continues to seek alternative sources.

Its not so simple. We might have a particularly cold day and because of the size of the pipelines, we cant pump all of the gas we have, she said.

Government agencies and businesses must also reduce their consumption electricity because it is often produced based on natural gas.

France relies on natural gas to get through the winter season, and households and businesses use it as a major fuel source to heat their buildings. It is less reliant on Russian gas compared to other European Union (EU) countries, but it still warns of shortages. France generates around three-quarters of its electricity from nuclear power, and nuclear plants have been recently shut down for maintenance and checks.

The unusually hot weather also affected power generation as the nations largest utility, Electricite de France, indicated that some of its power stations will likely produce less electricity in the coming days due to high water temperatures in rivers, which are restricting its ability to cool the plants.

The repairs to some of the companys nuclear reactors are set to plunge electricity output to the lowest level in over three decades. EDFs outgoing head, Jean-Bernard Levy, warned that the winter could bring energy rationing to Europe.

EU receiving significantly lower amounts of natural gas from Russia

The EU has been receiving significantly lower amounts of natural gas from Russia in the past weeks. Being the EUs largest supplier, this has triggered fears that the flow might stop completely as the bloc is preparing for the upcoming heating season.

With most of Europe unwilling to pay in rubles for their natural gas, Russia has cut off supplies. (Related: UK unable to pay for Russian gas after imposing sanctions on Russias Gazprombank.)

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Europe must prepare for the possibility of Russian gas deliveries being shut off entirely in retaliation for the sanctions that the EU put on the Kremlin.

Lets prepare ourselves for a total cutoff of Russian gas, Le Maire said at an economic conference in June. Thats the most likely scenario today.

France must be very careful in its energy consumption and build up gas stockpiles, reduce red tape that is slowing the development of renewable energies and accelerate its program to build new nuclear reactors, the finance minister said back then, adding that the country must also make plans to curtail energy usage company by company and region by region to ensure that businesses are spared from irreversible damage.

Le Maire also said the government is trying to do everything that is required to avoid the expected energy shortages. Due to the energy crisis, due to the war in Ukraine, we could have to face a difficult time, which means that we need to be prepared.

Even French President Emmanuel Macron warned people to prepare for a total cutoff of Russian natural gas. The president urged citizens to support alternatives and save electricity by having public lights switched off at night and engaging in a period of nationwide energy sobriety.

Visit EnergySupply.news for more news about the energy crisis in Europe.

Watch the video below for more information about the continued surge of gas prices in Europe.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Natural gas prices expected to TRIPLE in Germany as Western Europe cuts off its own energy supply from Russia.

Russias Gazprom has cut natural gas flows to Germany by 60%  Western Europe is about to get the green energy nightmare it always wanted.

European gas prices shoot up as Russia reduces supply to top buyers across the EU.

Germany, Austria move closer to rationing gas supplies

Russias Gazprom HALTS gas flows to Poland and Germany; Europe in PANIC as rolling blackouts are inevitable unless Europe finds RUBLES.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

NDTV.com

News24.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) The corporate-controlled media is warning that people everywhere are catching the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) a second or even third time  even though most, if not all, of them are fully vaccinated.

They are calling it long covid, a term that has been in use for a while now to describe people who get and stay sick with covid for very long periods of time, despite obeying the governments mask and jab guidelines.

Supposedly, the omicron (anagram for moronic) variant continues to mutate and spread among people who rolled up their sleeves for the injections, including booster shots that were supposed to be safe and effective.

The additive [sic] risk is really not trivial, not insignificant, claims Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis and chief of research and development at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System.

Al-Aly helped lead a recently published study that says getting infected twice or more times with the Fauci Flu contributes to additional risks of all-cause mortality, hospitalization and adverse health outcomes in the bodys organ systems, as well as increase the risk of diabetes, chronic fatigue and mental health disorders.

Reinfection absolutely adds risk, he claims, noting that people who catch Chinese Germs a second time are 250 percent more likely to develop a heart or lung disease, as well as blood clotting issues. Many of them will also die, he says.

Los Angeles already using Al-Alys preprint study as evidence that indoor mask mandates need to be reinstated

Al-Alys claims are refuted by a recent study out of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), which found that long covid is not actually a real thing.

The reality is that so-called long covid is just a code name for jab-related adverse events, which are many. Al-Aly and others like him seem to want to ignore the jab component to all this pain and suffering and instead blame covid, but it is clear at this point to anyone actually paying attention that the injections are to blame.

The corporate-controlled media, on the other hand, wants you to believe that covid is still flying around in the air waiting to strike. This is why Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer is already calling for another round of indoor mask mandates to stop it.

They also saw that those with repeat infections had a higher risk of gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, musculoskeletal and neurologic disorders, as well as diabetes, Ferrer said about Al-Alys preprint study.

Moreover, the risk of developing a long-term health problem increased further with each reinfection. The risk of having long-term health conditions was three times higher for those infected compared to those who were uninfected.

The Los Angeles Times admitted in a recent story that the so-called vaccines for covid are basically failing, which is why people are still getting sick. What it failed to do, however, is pinpoint the jabs as the cause of all this sickness.

You see, what the fake news media constantly does with this issue is shroud the culprit and make it seem like the jabs are merely not effective enough to fight all the so-called variants and subvariants of the WuFlu. They then use this as evidence to call for more medical fascism in the form of mask mandates.

Many people are no longer buying it  thank God!  but the media, the medical establishment and certain political leaders like Ferrer are still desperately trying.

The latest news about what happens when you get injected for the Wuhan Wheeze can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Yahoo.com

NaturalNews.com
MBABANE  After slightly more than a year Hosea MP Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza was arrested, yesterday he took to the accused dock for the first time to defend himself against the charges levelled against him.

In his four-and-a-half hour submission, he, among other things, narrated the reason behind the call for an elected prime minister. He also outlined his duties, which included being chair of chairs and monitoring the operations of the prime minister and ministers, as well as disciplining and punishing them if they flouted procedure. The MP, who was arrested on July 25, 2021, informed the court that when they took a decision unanimously in the House on a particular issue, the prime minister would go to the King to consult and upon return, the MPs would be informed that what they had agreed upon had changed.

Accused

The MP was in the accused dock giving his evidence-in-chief during his trial with Ngwempisi MP Mthandeni Dube. They are accused of committing acts of terrorism among other offences. MP Mabuza denied committing acts of terrorism which warranted their arrest. His and MP Dubes representative, Advocate Jacobus Van Vuuren, had asked MP Mabuza what he did on March 5, 2021 in Parliament. MP Mabuza narrated that Lobamba Lomdzala Constituency MP Marwick Khumalo raised a motion about a concern to the effect that COVID-19 restrictions had not been relaxed for some time. He said during the debate that was ongoing, almost all the MPs were deeply concerned and complained to him (MP Mabuza) about the frustration caused on businesses and members of the public due to the non-relaxation of the COVID-19 restrictions.

MP Mabuza said, after about 30 MPs had made their submissions, his turn came and he took the opportunity to request that Section 67 (1) of the Constitution be amended, because their work in Parliament involved the King, which caused difficulty for them. The King, according to MP Mabuza, was never in Parliament and the prime minister requested for some time to go and consult with the His Majesty when there was a matter they had agreed upon. It becomes difficult because even when Parliament agrees on an issue as the majority, the prime minister goes to consult the King and when he returns from the King, what we had agreed on changes, said MP Mabuza. He said Section 67 (1) of the Constitution gave the King powers to appoint a prime minister.

The accused told the court that if an elected prime minister went to the King, he would try by all means to influence him to agree with the MPs. By so doing, he would be accountable to the people since his term of office would end after five years and he would be expected to explain to the people how far he went on what he had promised to deliver when they elected him, he added. The advocate asked the MP about the response of the other MPs. Mabuza stated that there was complete silence in the House when he raised this issue. He said while debating, another MP, Prince Jomo, stood up and said he did not understand what he had said and requested him to clarify. MP Mabuza stated that he explained himself and sat down. He said hardly 10 minutes later, an online publication reported that he had requested for democracy and the report was also spiced up. He said after the sitting, journalists who were in Parliament, wanted to interview him to explain how he had arrived at the idea of an elected prime minister. He said he told them that he was not ready at the time for an interview and requested them to take what he had said inside the House.

Raised

When I raised the motion (Cabinet was not properly constituted), the House was adjourned sine die. The Speaker and libandla went to consult the King since Cabinet was not compliant. They reported that the King said it would be looked into the issue. MP Mabuza told the court that there was a serious clash between him and the Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, after the motion (for an elected PM) and he requested to see me in his office. He stated that, according to Parliament procedure, once one raised an issue to bring about change, lobbying was the next step. He said that happened and other MPs approached him to say the issue should be debated. As an issue that was already in Parliament, we discussed how to lobby for it. It could happen even along corridors and meetings outside Parliament. We held such meetings extensively and reached a decision. As per procedure, the one who raises the debate chairs the meetings and that was me.

According to MP Mabuza, the number of MPs who supported the call for an elected PM reached 28 and we were lobbying it openly. Other motions were raised while they were lobbying, said MP Mabuza, which allowed other MPs to show what their interest was; whether they were happy or not about the motion. Due to the tension between him and the speaker, submitted MP Mabuza, he could not get enough opportunity to lobby and during other debates in the House, because the former allegedly blocked him. He informed the court that since the matter was already being discussed, other MPs requested the Speaker to allow him the platform to debate and MP Dube strongly spoke against what the Speaker was allegedly doing and asked him to give me the platform to debate. There was a big clash between MP Mthandeni and the Speaker during those debates, MP Mabuza said. Former Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane then declared openly that he was in support of their proposal, said MP Mabuza. He mentioned other MPs such as Marwick Khumalo of Lobamba Lomdzala Inkhundla, Dumisani Mbhamali of Somntongo Inkhundla and Manzi Zwane of Nhlambeni Inkhundla and others who advised the Speaker not to pick and choose debates for the House.

Petitions

On June 21, 2022, according to MP Mabuza, when petitions were being delivered, the Speaker allegedly informed the House that the delivery of petitions was unSwazi. Half of the MPs stood up and this indicates that one wants to say something. He gave two MPs a chance to speak ahead of me. He pointed at me after four or five MPs and I asked him to clarify the remark that the delivery of petitions was unSwazi and that he must tell us what was Swazi because we had seen petitions being delivered to Parliament. I was asking so that we may go back to the people who elected us because they would ask us about it. He did not answer. I also pointed out that in the petitions, the people mentioned that they wanted an elected PM, which was an issue we had raised in Parliament and asked which was the Swazi way of doing things? It became tense in the House, said the MP.

MP Marwick, Small Joe, Big Boi Mamba of Ngudzeni and others, rose after me. While I was on my feet, the DPM tried to rise to counter my submission. Fortunately, I was done and I took my seat. Small Joe spoke sternly and the situation became tense and there was a proposal that the issue be dealt with during a caucus, said MP Mabuza. The house works in three ways, publicly, caucus - where media and strangers are ordered to leave, and lastly, we take the matter before a committee of seven MPs led by a chairperson on behalf of the House.
(Natural News) The establishments constant tiptoeing around the fact that monkeypox (aka pridepox) is primarily a homosexual and bisexual male disease is more than likely responsible for it gaining a foothold as a global emergency  and possibly soon another plandemic.

Had public health authorities called a spade a spade from the very beginning without fear of offending the so-called gay community, pridepox could have been nipped in the bud  and maybe still can be, though it has now had a much longer time to fester and spread thanks to political correctness.

Back in May, them.us, an LGBT publication run by Conde Nast, ran a piece that went well out of its way to detach pridepox from LGBTs. While admitting that a large faction of those infected are, in fact, gay men, them.us claimed at the time that there is no correlation between the identity and the illness.

Blaming the gay community or gay behavior is not sound public health, the article declared, effectively encouraging LGBTs to continue their disease-spreading perversions unabated.

Several months have since passed and the number of pridepox cases has increased from 100 at that time to more than 18,000 today. Whether or not the disease is actually a threat is irrelevant because the powers that be have already seized the narrative and are sure to push the world towards another plandemic if they can get away with it.

Political correctness kills

To make matters even worse, remember that in the very beginning of all this, the claim was that monkeypox is spreading through simple skin contact as opposed to sexual contact.

Being in close proximity to one another, such as at an LGBT festival or parade filled with debauchery, is how pridepox spreads, we were told. That alone would have, in a non-clown world, warranted an immediate halt to all LGBT events in the interest of public safety.

Instead, public health officials tried to pretend as though gay men are not the culprits spreading pridepox. And all that pretending is probably why pridepox continues to spread.

The unwillingness of woke media and nervous health authorities to make this link clear is a disgrace, wrote David Kaufman in an op-ed for the New York Post. Their political correctness likely helped spread the disease.

Numerous left-leaning media outlets, including The Independent (UK), Slate, and Scientific American have kept busy publishing articles against the notion that gay men are in any way responsible for pridepox. All of them continue to urge readers not to make that connection so as to avoid creating stigma.

Even the United Nations has chimed in with the chorus of denial, blasting the message through its Programme on HIV / AIDS that some media reporting and commentary was reinforcing homophobic and racist stereotypes about pridepox.

Few things are more predictable than progressives blaming racism and homophobia for a public ill, but the monkeypox outbreak takes this to confounding new levels, Kaufman says.

Just as with other woke obsessions such as gun violence or the transgender debate, the insistence on placing politics above data and science has led to confused messaging  and very few solutions.

Now that pridepox is supposedly out of control, the same voices that denied its link to the Cult of LGBT are suddenly calling it a queer disease. They are also calling the governments earlier denial of that link a public health failure.

While monkeypox is not usually fatal (it leads to an unsightly rash and fever), it has this much in common with AIDS: political correctness may have hastened its status as a global health emergency, Kaufman adds.

The latest news about the governments pridepox narrative can be found at Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

NYPost.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) New York City (NYC) Mayor Eric Adams admitted that more than half of illegal immigrants transported by bus avoid the Big Apple as they fear rampant crime there.

The Democratic mayor made this admission during an Aug. 7 press conference, where he welcomed a busload of illegal aliens transported from Texas. Two days earlier, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his plan to send illegals that enter the U.S. through the Lone Star States border to NYC  a so-called sanctuary city.

When the bus from Texas arrived at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, it only carried less than half of its 40 passengers as most of the illegal aliens disembarked before reaching the Big Apple.

We were led to believe about 40 people should have been on that bus, [but] only 14 got off, a shocked Adams remarked.

Because of the fear that something was going to happen to them if they came to this location, people got off earlier. We are concerned about that, because we dont want people being dropped off [just] anywhere.

As for the 14 illegals, they were put into cabs and taken away to the citys already-overburdened shelters. This group joined the initial 50 migrants that arrived on the first NYC-bound bus on Aug. 5  bringing the total number to 64 as of writing.

A spokeswoman for Adams office later clarified that the mayor did not refer to crime statistics in his comments during the press conference. However, she did not offer an alternative explanation as to why migrants may have feared disembarking at the city.

According to figures released by the New York City Police Department, the Big Apple has been suffering from an almost 40 percent spike in crime. It also found that hate crimes have increased by 13.3 percent and transit crimes  those committed on public transportation  have risen by 53 percent compared to the same period last year.

Adams calls TX, AZ governors cowards for sending illegals to DC

The waves of bused migrants stemmed from the Biden administrations inaction toward border security. Abbott first announced his plans to transport illegal aliens to Washington, D.C. back in April 2022. The Grand Canyon State followed suit, with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announcing an initial busload of migrants bound to the federal capital in May 2022.

During a July 2021 press conference, Adams called the Republican governors cowards for busing illegals to Washington, D.C. and insinuated that they lied about not sending migrants to NYC.

Our country is [the land] of the free and [the home] of the brave. We do not become cowards and send people away who are looking for help, said the NYC mayor. They sent people out of their state. People who are seeking refuge in our country  they sent them away. (Related: Eric Adams calls Texas, Arizona Govs. cowards for sending migrants to DC, says schools, healthcare going to be impacted.)

All of us came from somewhere. Even from Texas, they came from somewhere. And so, they should not have sent people away that [were] seeking refuge.

According to Adams, the GOP governors sent the illegal aliens to the federal capital so they could do a layover and then come to [NYC]. He added: They were wrong. They ended up here because they didnt get the support there.

However, a spokesperson for the Lone Star States governor pointed out that the Biden administration  not Texas  is to blame for the influx of illegal immigrants in the Big Apple.

Mayor Adams should check with President [Joe] Biden if his administration is the one dumping migrants in his city, as theyve been doing to Texas border towns for months, said Renae Eze, press secretary and senior communications advisor for Abbott.

Watch this video about NYC Mayor Eric Adams admission that the Big Apple is overburdened by the influx of illegal aliens.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hypocrite Dem mayor complaining about illegal migrants, wants National Guard called in to deal with them.

First busload of ILLEGAL ALIENS from Texas arrives in DC, passengers dropped off near Capitol.

Report: Arizona follows Texas lead and starts busing illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C.

SECOND bus from Texas loaded with ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS arrives in Washington, DC.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

NYPost.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Judge Bruce Reinhart  who is reportedly the most likely judge behind the warrant authorizing a raid on former President Donald Trumps Mar A Lago estate  is a former attorney who represented employees of convicted sex offender and notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, The National Pulse can reveal.

(Article by Natalie Winters republished from TheNationalPulse.com)

The National Pulse can also reveal that Judge Reinhart has donated to the campaigns of former President Barack Obama and to the establishment opponents of Donald J. Trump during the 2016 election, including Jeb Bush.

Politico  the news outlet closest linked to the establishment in Washington, D.C.  named Reinhart in their morning playbook e-mail on Tuesday, 9th August 2022:

As reported by the Miami Herald, Judge Reinhart began representing Epsteins employees on January 2nd, 2008, just one day after departing the U.S. Attorneys Office where he served as an assistant U.S. attorney closely involved on the convicted pedophiles case.

Accused of leveraging inside information about Epsteins investigation to curry favor with Epstein, in 2011, he was named as a prosecutor who allegedly violated the rights of an underage girl whom Epstein solicited sex from in the Crime Victims Rights Act lawsuit.

Reinhart appears to have exploited his role in the U.S. Attorneys Office to launch a private criminal defense practice, according to the Miami Herald:

On Oct 23, 2007, as federal prosecutors in South Florida were in the midst of tense negotiations to finalize a plea deal with accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, a senior prosecutor in their office was quietly laying out plans to leave the U.S. attorneys office after 11 years. On that date, as emails were flying between Epsteins lawyers and federal prosecutors, Bruce E. Reinhart, now a federal magistrate, opened a limited liability company in Florida that established what would become his new criminal defense practice.

Reinhart insisted that he never represented Epstein himself  only Epsteins pilots; his scheduler, Sarah Kellen; and Nadia Marcinkova, described by some victims as Epsteins sex slave.

Read more at: TheNationalPulse.com
(Natural News) South Africa is seeking to put in place tyrannical health mandates  such as required tests, compulsory vaccination and indefinite quarantine  that undermine individual liberty and bodily integrity.

The mandates come in the form of proposed amendments to the countrys National Health Act (NHA) regulations. South African Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla introduced the proposed measures in May. The official sought to change regulations added to the NHA in 2017, instead of outright changing the law, which would require the consent of the South African Parliament in Cape Town.

Pretoria News outlined some of Phaahlas proposed amendments:

All individuals entering or exiting South Africa during a public health emergency of international concern will be required to either present a negative Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) test result or get the COVID-19 vaccine on the spot.

People who are deemed to be positive cases, suspects or contacts can be detained indefinitely. They will be subjected to any medical examination and treatment the government wishes to impose  including forced vaccination  without their informed consent.

Any person suspected of being sick with an infectious disease can be intercepted while departing the country, detained in a state-run quarantine facility against their will and forced to undergo a medical examination. The government will have total control of how and when quarantined individuals will be released.

Wakes and after-funeral gatherings for deceased individuals will be prohibited.

Any activity on any premises determined as a danger to human health or an environmental nuisance could be deemed unlawful.

In summary, Phaahla will have the power to declare a pandemic, shut down the whole country or certain regions, forcefully quarantine people and enforce vaccines or other drugs without soliciting consent from people. Anyone opposing these measures could either face prison time of up to 10 years, or given vaccines or medical treatments against their will at a quarantine facility. (Related: Protesters in South Africa burn masks in opposition to coronavirus vaccine experimentation.)

People speaking out against South Africas medical tyranny

One South African spoke out against the health ministers proposed measures, calling on his compatriots in a video to stand up against this affront to health freedom.

Advocate Sibelo Sibanda remarked that the draft provisions make the state of disaster and regulations that stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic permanent. According to the lawyer, the proposed mandates take away an individuals ability to refuse medical treatments, including vaccines, and their right to move freely.

So now, the country of South Africa will be under a permanent state of disaster. Masking will be permanent, social distancing [will be] permanent  [and so are] control of people at gatherings  [and] the entry in and out of the country, warned Sibanda.

You are now subjected to such draconian laws, and it is a way by which, in the name of health, peoples freedoms are being taken away.

Media specialist Mogomotsi Mogodiri also denounced the proposed mandates, saying that they went against [South Africas] democratic ethos.

By introducing these regulations while sidestepping Parliament, the government is attempting  by stealth  to obliterate our rights and freedoms of choice, religion and bodily integrity.

Mogodiri also urged South Africans to submit their objections to the proposed revisions to the NHA.

Through submitting their objections to these amendments, the public will be doing their patriotic duty [by] ensuring that human rights are not violated or taken away [on a] whim and that the government remains true to its obligation of protecting, defending and preserving [the South African] Constitution.

The media specialist ultimately exhorted Phaahla to abandon these amendments, as refusing to do so will only point at the mischief of a government that has dictatorial inclinations.

Visit MedicalTyranny.com for more stories about draconian mandates imposed under the veil of public health.

Listen to Health Ranger Mike Adams argue that the medical police state seen in South Africa is now in the United States.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Medical police state: British government to require covid vaccines everywhere, and for any job.

Medical police state: FBI and HHS raid medical spa treating coronavirus patients with intravenous vitamin C.

The medical police state has arrived in California: Mother threatened with ARREST for refusing to vaccinate her children.

MEDICAL POLICE STATE TYRANNY: Australian police smash down the door of a man and violently arrest him for mentioning anti-lockdown protest.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) One of the most prevalent research papers on Alzheimers is likely a result of fraud. Years of research and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars may have been wasted on findings based on falsehoods.

The 2006 study was published in Nature and was written by Sylvain Lesne from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMN). This study has dominated the scientific community as a basis for other research on Alzheimers and has been cited repeatedly.

It supports a controversial hypothesis about Alzheimers: the amyloid hypothesis. The hypothesis suggests that protein amyloid beta clumps, called plaques, are a primary cause of Alzheimers when it exists in brain tissue.

However, Vanderbilt University neuroscientist and physician Matthew Schrag noticed that the images didnt exactly match up. It appears that the photos used to support the study were actually composites from various other experiments, pieced together to form a single image. The images did not even appear to be from the study at all.

A six-month investigation by Science provided strong support for Schrags suspicions. Science reported that a leading independent image analyst and several top Alzheimers researchers reviewed most of Schrags findings at Sciences request. It was concluded that Lesnes research was, at the very least, tainted.

Top molecular biologist and forensic image consultant Elisabeth Bik pointed out that it appeared the authors of the study pieced together various parts of different photos from different experiments and passed them off as original and new, exclusive to their own study.

The obtained experimental results might not have been the desired results, and that data might have been changed to better fit a hypothesis, she said.

Dennis Selkoe, a neurologic diseases professor at the Harvard Medical School, also reviewed the images and found 12 to 15 images that had been intentionally doctored. He called these very worrisome as he used to advocate for Lesnes research.

Colleague: It is devastating that Lesne altered the images in 2006 study

The controversial study came from the lab of UMN physician and neuroscientist Karen Ashe. In an e-mail she sent to StarTribune, she said it is devastating that a colleague might have doctored images. However, she still defended the authenticity of her groundbreaking work on the origins of Alzheimers disease.

Ashe did not comment about the scandal on the veracity of studies led by Lesne. However, she slammed the article on Science.

According to Ashe, the article exaggerated the effect of the said research on downstream drug development to treat Alzheimers-related dementia. (Related: University scientist accused of doctoring Alzheimers research results to promote new drug.)

Having worked for decades to understand the cause of Alzheimers disease, so that better treatments can be found for patients, it is devastating to discover that a co-worker may have misled the scientific community and me through the doctoring of images, Ashe said in the email. It is, however, additionally distressing to find that a major scientific journal has flagrantly misrepresented the implications of my work.

Analysts say that Ashe seems to be portraying herself as a victim in the scandal. Before the study was even published, she should have checked the accuracy of her colleagues work. She has co-authored as many as 10 papers with Lesne, and some of these may also include imagery that has been manipulated or duplicated to inflate the role of a protein in the onset of Alzheimers.

Lesne received several National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants amounting to $774,000 from 2008 through 2012. He was also awarded more than $7 million in additional NIH grants related to the origins of Alzheimers.

Visit Alzheimers.news for more news related to Alzheimers disease.

Watch the below video that talks about natural treatment for Alzheimers disease.

This video is from the Holistic Herbalist channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Olive oil consumption found to reduce risk of death due to cancer, heart disease and Alzheimers.

Study: Strawberries can help protect against brain inflammation and Alzheimers.

The link between sleep deprivation and Alzheimers.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

Nature.com

Science.org

DailyWire.com 1

12ft.io

DailyWire.com 2

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Contracts that the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) signed with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and two other communist Chinese labs contained fraudulent terms, the school now reluctantly admits.

UTMB says it may have broken numerous state laws by forging agreements with WIV and the others that allowed those entities to censor or destroy secret files and other incriminating information related to their collaboration.

The party is entitled to ask the other to destroy and / or return the secret files, materials, and equipment without any backups, reads a 2017 memorandum that UTMB signed with WIV. (Related: Read more about how Tony Fauci is directly involved in these crimes).

Every five years, this broad confidentiality agreement can be renewed. It applies to all cooperation and exchange documents, data, details and materials, according to its explicitly stated terms.

Since WIV is believed to be the source of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), this makes UTMB a complicit party in what is shaping up to be a massive bioweapons operation coverup.

UTMB blames oversight for its fraudulent relationships with communist China

Rather than fully fess up to the crimes it clearly committed, UTMB is still playing dumb, acting as though a simple oversight caused these fraudulent documents and agreements to be forced.

UTMB insists the contracts were not intentionally fraudulent but rather poorly drafted.

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) takes responsibility for the oversight in allowing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to include a poorly drafted confidentiality provision in potential conflict with applicable state laws, a university spokesperson is quoted as saying.

Upon learning about the error, the school says it immediately terminated the affected contracts containing language that conflicts with law and policy.

A review of processes and practices at UTMB is underway, and new levels of oversight for procedures are being implemented, the spokesperson added.

As to when the school learned of the error, it would not say. And even though the contracts are now terminated, their confidentiality terms are apparently still in force, which makes those terminations toothless.

Whatever secrets are hiding between UTMB and its communist Chinese partners remain a mystery. And it is unclear whether or not the school will be held criminally liable, seeing as how it is blaming the whole thing on an oversight.

Ignorance of the law never flies in court for ordinary people. When you are a major Chinese-backed university, however, there are apparently no rules of enforcement for crimes against humanity.

UTMB confirms no documents or confidential information has been destroyed, nor was there ever any request that any documents be destroyed, the school spokesperson further claimed.

There was no financial engagement with any of the Chinese institutions in question or collaboration with Chinese scientists concerning coronavirus research.

Edward Hammond, a biosafety activist who continues to call for greater transparency at the Galveston lab, says UTMBs statements are a joke.

It is mystifying to me that this could have happened at all, he is quoted as saying. Is it sloppiness, as UTMB suggests, or is something else going on?

All three contracts, by the way, were signed by James LeDuc, who directed the lab at the time. LeDuc had been directly communicating with communist Chinese researchers who were working on, you guessed it: bat coronaviruses.

American universities only care about money and trans people, joked someone who reads The Epoch Times, which covered the issue at length. They will do business with the devil, then blame poor oversight as they sell out the American taxpayer.

LeDuc was also in contact with bat lady Shi Zhengli, the deputy director at WIV.

More of the latest news about the Chinese Virus can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Doug Hagman lamented the apparent subjugation of the United States federal government to the World Economic Forum and other globalist organizations.

Its amazing to me that foreign countries own millions of acres of farmland in this country  and youre looking at China, Iran and Russia as some of our worst enemies, Hagmann said during the July 28 episode of The Hagmann Report.

He noted that some are very close to sensitive locations.

For example, a wind farm in Texas owned by a Chinese businessman with close ties to the communist regime in China is near the Air Forces largest pilot training base.

The more than 130,000 acres of Texas ranch land was sold in 2018 to China-based Guanghui Energy Co. Sun Guangxin, the founder of Guanghui, is a former Chinese military officer and the richest person in the western Xinjiang region.

Of course, Xinjiang is home to internment camps where more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are allegedly held without charge.

According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) records, foreign land ownership has been reported in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. But foreign investors have their holdings concentrated in particular states, with the greatest shares in Texas, Maine and Alabama, as these states have no restrictions on foreign land ownership.

Foreign investors own over 35 million acres of US farmland as of 2019

USDA data revealed that foreign investors owned at least 35.2 million acres of U.S. agricultural land in 2019, which is equivalent to 2.7 percent of farmland in the country and an area almost the size of Iowa.

Canadian investors held the largest share of foreign-owned land, but Congress has also become increasingly concerned about Chinese land purchases.

Foreign entities usually buy these agricultural lands for a variety of reasons, such as food production, wind farming, carbon offsets or speculative investments.

Around 49 percent of reported foreign-held land in the United States is forest land, 25 percent is cropland, 24 percent is for pasture and other agricultural uses and two percent for non-agricultural uses such as roads and homesteads.

Large land purchases always present various localized concerns in places when they occur. For instance, in water-scarce regions like the Southwest, outsiders using freshwater resources could affect availability for local farms and communities.

These issues are also magnified when theres an ongoing food crisis.

The only federal law that governs transactions regarding foreign-held land ownership is the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) of 1978, which requires foreign entities to report transactions of farmland to the USDA, with steep penalties for failure to do so.

However, this has rarely been enforced, with the last fine imposed being back in 2014. (Related: How BLM sells out Americas land to foreign interests.)

The USDA claims that the goal is to monitor foreign ownership of land, not exact penalties. However, the AFIDA data are entirely reliant on self-reporting, and the USDA does not check it for completeness or accuracy, which means that the public does not have a complete picture of which foreign entities own how much of the U.S. farmlands, or what these lands are being used for.

Watch more of Doug Hagmanns commentary about foreign land ownership in the video below.

This video is from the Steve Quayle channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Trump admin grants foreign company eminent domain approval to seize private American land for natural gas pipeline.

Republican congressman Chip Roy submits bill to ban CCP members from buying land in the USA.

Billionaires preparing for doomsday with huge purchases of land in Texas, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

DontBlowItTexas.org

CSIS.org
Scientists are surprised to learn that marine animals fertilize algae and plants. Pollination may have existed in the water millions of years before terrestrial plants first arose, contrary to what was once believed to be a land-only process.

Looking Back Ten Years Ago

In a research published in the little magazine Inter-Research Science Publisher in 2012, Solis-Weiss and her coworkers proposed that organisms could play a part in ocean pollination.

Pollinators have a well-established function on Earth. Thousands of kinds of blooming plants rely on animals and insects for reproduction. The pollinators help the plants reproduce sexually while the plants offer nectar or the prospect of food. But until recently, it was thought to be a phenomenon that happened solely on land and not in the sea.

Emma Lavaut, a marine biologist at Roscoff Marine Station of the Sorbonne University in France, reported that many marine species discharge their sperm and eggs into the ocean, where the currents fertilize them. Lavaut's research shows how intricate these partnerships are and how they benefit both parties.

Also Read: Massive Brown Seaweeds May Wash Ashore this Summer, Experts Warn Beachgoers to Stay Cautious

Seagrass and Weeds

The Solis-Weiss team built seagrass Thalassia testudinum study fields on the ocean's edge and aquariums to document the pollination process and support their theory whenever the male flowers of T. testudinum bloom at dusk, worms and other invertebrates cluster around them as they open, coating themselves with pollen.

The pollen they get from the masculine flowers attaches to their bodies, so they travel to the feminine blossoms to leave the pollen there, according to research done by Solis-Weiss. This was the first study to show pollination in the water, and the team published their findings in the journal Nature in 2016, along with images of pollen-covered marine worms.

Lavaut was the next to notice a comparable occurrence while she researched for her Ph.D. thesis on the mysterious reproduction of G. gracilis. The female alga stores its eggs inside its funnel-shaped filaments, known as thalli, instead of spewing them into the waves like much other marine life. The males release the small cells but lack the tails necessary to swim to the female plants and enter the filaments.

The taxonomic group to which red algae belong developed around 1 billion years ago; therefore, this apparent disadvantage does not affect the seaweed's ability to reproduce. Lavaut wanted to know how these species reproduced, and her adviser Myriam Valero, a population geneticist at the CNRS, was also interested in this.

Valero observed that most fertilization occurs at low tide, when there is little water, throughout the years of observing the algae in the tidepools around Europe. Idotea balthica, crustaceans resembling a cross between a shrimp and a pill bug, are in large swarms swimming inside the algae then. Valero and her colleagues questioned if they were carrying sperm on their bodies.

Both creatures are supporting one another in this instance. Algae offer protection and nourishment for the isopods in the form of an algal biofilm that covers G. gracilis. These red algae can photosynthesize thanks to cleaning.

Prehistoric Underwater Plants

Evolutionary biologists and pollination ecologists point out that although two teams identified a behavior that appears identical, the two studies had significant variances.

Despite having similar names, seaweed and seagrass are two highly distinct creatures with quite different evolutionary histories.

Seagrasses originated from terrestrial plants that migrated to the sea while retaining certain characteristics of the land. According to Ollerton, seaweeds have only a tenuous connection to plants and are a subspecies of algae. They are very old animals that went through evolution long before land plants emerged from the water.

According to the new research, animals may be more susceptible due to their significant and previously unrecognized interactions with water plants and algae. For red algae, for instance, most pollination occurs in shallow tide pools, where development, climatic change, and pollution may disturb the delicate dance between animals and the plants they pollinate.

Related Article: Seaweed and Chalk May Help Combat the Ocean's Plastic Pollution

For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
Turin, ITALY: A view of the bridge Vittorio Emmanuele on River Po 16 February 2006, during the Winter Olympics in Turin. (Photo : Photo credit should read JEAN-PIERRE CLATOT/AFP via Getty Images)

Summer in Europe brought record-breaking heatwaves and scorched fields - contributing greatly to water decline in lakes and rivers.

One of the continent's worst drought-stricken waters is Po, the longest river in Italy. The river ran so low it revealed a previously submerged, unexploded World War II Bomb, BBC reported. According to military experts, the 450kg (1,000 pound) bomb was discovered by fishermen on July 25 on the banks of the river, near the northern village of Borgo Virgilio.

Army official Colonel Marco Nasi said that River Po revealed the bomb due to decrease in water levels caused by drought which dried up large sections of the 650km (400 mile) river.

The Italian military officials defused and carried out a controlled explosion on Sunday, which was "no easy task" to contain the unexploded device. Some 3,000 nearby residents were evacuated for the disposal operation, the area's airspace was shut down, and navigation along the waterway as well as traffic on the railway were halted.

"At first, some of the inhabitants said they would not move, but in the last few days we think we have persuaded everyone," local mayor Francesco Apori said.

Italy's Worst Drought

According to CNBC, Italy declared a state of emergency on Monday in five regions due to extreme drought caused by unusual lack of rain and rising temperatures.

"For the Po basin, this is the most serious water crisis of the last 70 years, according to analysis by the Po River District Basin Authority," Prime Minister Mario Draghi told the Italian Government. Italy is sending $37.5 million in relief funds to regions that have been especially hard hit - Emilia-Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lombardy, Piedmont and Veneto.

The prime minister says there is no doubt that "climate change is having an effect" in Italy's water shortages due to hot weather and low rainfall levels. "The crisis comes from three years of drought and warmer temperatures," Draghi said.

Also read: Casper the Friendly Ghostly Octopus Found in the Depths

Water Crisis in Po

Italy's Po River runs east across the northern part of the country from the Pian del Re of Monte Viso to the Adriatic Sea near Venice, where 17 million people, or one-third of the total population reside in its basin.

The water crisis in Po has two categories of causes, as per Draghi, one is the rainfall deficit of the last three years, and the general rise in temperatures caused by climate change. He also said that Italy is losing water from the Po River because of structural causes which mean "poor maintenance of the basins, and poor network maintenance."

Annual satellite images of the Po this year show expanding patches of dried-up riverbed as a result of extreme drought, and slowing current. Farmers in the Po Valley say salty seawater is now seeping into the river and destroying crops, wiping out 30% of the total harvest, according to a statement Sunday from Coldiretti, an agricultural organization in the European Union.

This came at an "especially painful time" for the industry as seed planting already decreased by 10,000 hectares due to a "record increase in production costs" caused by the war in Ukraine, Coldiretti added.

Related article: Strip Mining Aggravated the Deadly Kentucky Flooding in Late July: US Mining Authorities
Over 46 initiatives that would simultaneously help people and the environment have been identified through an analysis of scholarly literature. "Win-win" notions for lowering human infectious disease burdens and achieving conservation goals were reviewed after thoroughly evaluating scholarly articles and reports.

Searching for Win-Win Solutions

These solutions may now be examined on a publicly accessible website. The study identifies several diversified areas of progress where there may be chances to protect ecological and human health concurrently.

The study published in The Lancet Planetary Health involved over 30 researchers from the United States and abroad. Academic researchers, governmental and nonprofit organizations professionals, and veterinarians made up the multidisciplinary team.

The study's co-author and associate professor of applied ecology at NC State, Skylar Hopkins, said the interdisciplinary team spent four years developing this synthesis. They diligently combed through the available academic literature for prospective solutions before creating a brand-new method for determining whether a certain "win-win" option is secure, workable, and economical.

They discovered that the ideas had varying degrees of success proof; some have significant backing already, while others are ready for more research. Hopkins, though, claimed that assessing some of the suggested remedies wasn't simple.

Also Read: Overexploitation Largely Undermined an Underestimated, Says Experts

Urgency of the Situation

Only one of the 46 remedies on the list has "strong" evidence for both beneficial effects on human health and conservation. That is vaccination of dogs to lessen the spread of rabies to both people and animals. As disease reservoirs, household cats and dogs are emphasized in some remedies.

Every time you vaccinate your dogs or raise your cat to be walked on a leash instead of running loose, you're implementing one of the 46 offered remedies, according to Hopkins. Some solutions are carried out in enormous quantities by national or international governments.

Partnership and Incentives

The Science for Nature and People Partnership provided funding for the working group after several team members spent years researching human schistosomiasis in Africa, a crippling condition brought on by coming into touch with water tainted with parasites from snails. When a river was blocked and prawns, which devoured the snails, couldn't move, the snail population surged. The possible answer is? Prawns should be reintroduced to the river.

Uncertain of whether they would uncover many or few further instances of potential win-win solutions, the team set out to locate them. Except for Antarctica, they discovered that the 46 probable solutions include six of the world's seven continents. They also contain many of the most significant known diseases and routes of disease transmission around the globe. The solutions also deal with the majority of the world's most urgent environmental issues, such as invasive species, urbanization, resource extraction, and changes in land use brought on by agriculture.

27 of the solutions are centered on conservation initiatives that improve human health; many involve controlling species, such as the snail parasites that pollute village water supplies.

Six of the options incorporate conservation-friendly public health initiatives.

Thirteen of the solutions apply to both the conservation and human health fields. The researchers suggest using cleaner stoves instead of wood-burning ones to lessen deforestation and illnesses brought on by smoke.

"We hope this study brings those efforts to life with real-world examples," Hopkins said. "Policymakers are looking for opportunities to simultaneously advance multiple sustainable development goals, like 'ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all and 'conserving life on land and below water.' That's important work, but it can feel abstract or intangible."

Related Article: Earth Day 2022: Celebrating the Planet Amidst Various Environmental Crisis

For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
BEIJING, Aug. 10 -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently carried out a series of joint military operations involving troops of multiple services and arms in the waters and airspace off the Taiwan Island, with all tasks accomplished and the troops' combat capabilities in integrated joint operations effectively verified, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), in a written statement released on Wednesday.

He also stated that the troops under the PLA Eastern Theater Command will pay close attention to the evolution of situations across the Taiwan Strait, continue to carry out military training for war preparedness, organize normalized combat-readiness security patrol in the Taiwan Strait, resolutely safeguarding Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Bahrains gourmands are in for a treat with the debut of Gyuto, a brand-new Japanese restaurant, recently inaugurated at Al Liwan, Seef Properties latest open-air mixed-use development in Hamala.

Building on the success of its sister restaurant, Wakame, at Downtown Dubai, Gyuto offers an innovative dining experience by suffusing a contemporary touch to classic Japanese cuisine, said a statement.

Gyutos interiors feature picturesque traditional Japanese murals that promise to add a distinctive ambiance, says Gyuto co-owner Alawi Al Braik.

A selection of novel dishes from Gyutos menu includes Black Cod & Prawn Dim Sum served with lemongrass, sesame oil and ponzu garlic; Crispy Lobster Bao; Japanese Yellowtail Sashimi served with jalapeno salsa, citrus soy and orange jelly; and Firecracker Roses Maki with salmon roses, chopped spicy salmon and tempura crumb.

Vegetarians havent been excluded either, with a special menu comprising the decadent Truffle Miso Mushroom, Mushroom Tempura Hotpot, and five specialty maki dishes, to just name a few.

Desserts have also been given a contemporary Japanese twist, with dishes including Miso Caramel Cheesecake and Chocolate Matcha Fondant.

Al Braik commented: With Gyuto, our endeavour is to introduce true quality and innovative Japanese fine-dining to Bahrain, and we look forward to offering citizens, residents and tourists a unique Asian hospitality experience that will surely be appreciated by everyone.

I hope that Gyuto will become as well-liked as Wakame is in Dubai, and it will become a spot where family and friends can bond over their shared gastronomic experience, he added.

Seef Properties CEO Ahmed Yusuf stated: We are happy that a restaurant with the pedigree of Gyuto has opened at Al Liwan. The restaurants distinctive experience reflects the exceptional features of the project and qualifies it to become one of the Kingdoms main tourist attractions in the near future. - TradeArabia News Service
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: An Anhinga kills a fish in the early morning hours at the Wakodahatchee Wetlands on March 11, 2020 in Delray Beach, Florida. (Photo : Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Birds, despite their image as breathing fossils, had made significant progress after the T. Rex and his pals.

The fanged rostrum has been substituted with the relatively recognized mouth. Their bones, as well as their sharp claws, had also evolved to allow them to fly. Apparently their pelvic has been contorted together into form that their extra primitive forefathers might have struggled to identify.

These modifications were not sudden neither total. For just a little while initially in their growth, birds of any kinds obtain a pelvis which wouldn't appear out of position in a petrified dinosaur's bones.

Possibly Resemblance of Birds to Living Dinosaurs

Specialists from throughout the United States studied the embryonic maturation of crocodilian and feathered bones as component of an extensive examination into how closest living relatives of reptiles, avian, as well as dinosaurs gained their unique traits throughout the ages, as per Science Alert.

The growing fetus transforms in a manner that replicates how they altered in development, changing from appearing the same as an ancient dinosaur to resembling such a contemporary bird in just two days.

Scientists discovered that the bird-like alterations of the pelvic major body structure developed considerably longer in growth than predicted, originating from elements that seemed perfectly at home in a dinosaur's anatomy.

According to Christopher Griffin, an environmental scientist at Yale University who specializes in vertebrate origins, it was surprising to discover these initial phases of bird maturation appear remarkably like the pelvis of an ancient reptile.

To accommodate alterations in their action pattern, their ilium (the hip bones) expands closer against their chest as well as bum, bearing the majority of their bodies; their pelvic skeleton leans reverse instead of forwards, leaving the posterior aspect bone fragments ajar.

More so, as shown in the recent update from Flipboard, the scientists traced the variations in appearance from prenatal embryogenesis until emergence by employing Diagnostic tests to generate 3D reconstructions of the developing skeletons, tendons, synapses, as well as fibrous tissue.

Experts in the field employed fluorescence emission immune cells to emphasize bone structure in fetuses of numerous bird types, notably conventional poultry, budgerigar parakeets, even amphibians.

Also read: Dolphins Save British Swimmer from Shark by Forming Protective Circle Around Him Off New Zealand Coast

The Connection Between Dinosaurs and Birds

Considering that the musculature as well as ligaments of the pelvis must both mature simultaneously in order to function properly, it is not unexpected that they do so.

Observing how a developing creature constructs its anatomy from the ground up provides reveal information into how development may tamper with a descendant's blueprints to improvise.

The scientists claim that there are likely to be more occurrences of endpoint relation worthwhile to look for throughout vast populations of animals, and that it might even be prevalent throughout primary biological changes. Bird femurs, for instance, are much more perpendicular than those of other dinosaur, permitting their calf muscles to sustain their motion.

While Yale animal geologist Bhart-Anjan S. Bhullar explains that each single bird has this dinosaurian morphology in its formative years.

Experts discovered that the pelvis is an indication of a final insertion, which is a feature that begins astonishingly preserved, mimicking a shape linked with their progenitors, until changing to an increasingly innovative morphology subsequently in an adolescent's life, posted in Nature.

Related article: Iguanas That Went Instinct 200 Years Ago, Has Been Found by a Team of Conversationalists
Tibet is a region holding one of the world's largest carbon sinks through one of its continental glaciers called the Laohugou Glacier No. 12. However, scientists in their new study recently discovered the unprecedented high carbon losses in the glacier located in Nepal's Tibetan Plateau on the northern part of the Himalayas Mountain region.

The scientific team arrived at their conclusion by analyzing soil bacterial community structure in the said glaciers, described to be in dry conditions with low temperature compared to their counterparts in the polar continents of the Arctic and Antarctica.

The carbon loss findings are based on the depletion of carbon dioxide in the icy structure's carbon sink, considered by the new research to be closely related to microbial activities and soil developments along the glacier forelands.

Acting as natural reservoirs of the environment-damaging greenhouse gas, carbon sinks around the world have been deemed by climate scientists to accelerate climate change and global warming. Recent research suggests that ice melting could release an insurmountable content of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, acceleration the greenhouse effect and heating of the planet.

A Warming Planet

In recent years, related losses of carbon stored in ice sheets and permafrost soils have been reported in the Arctic and Antarctica, located both at Earth's most extreme ends. Previous studies have shown the brunt of the ongoing climate crisis have affected the northern and southern icy continent.

The new discovery sheds light of the warming planet's expanding impact, which is taking a toll event in areas leaning towards the equator. The invisible line around the center of the Earth includes countries and regions, Tibetan Plateau, where the climate is relatively warmer.

The new paper published in ISME Communications on Tuesday, August 9, highlight this emerging threat, which has been decades in the making.

This trend is also supported by various research in the past, attributing the crisis is worsened by human-related activities such as greenhouse gas emissions and burning of fossil fuels.

Also Read: Can Weight Loss Really Contribute to Carbon Emissions?

Laohugou Glacier No. 12

The new study was led by scientists from China, including researchers at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.

The research team discovered that soil organic carbon decreased from 22.21 g kg-1 to 10.77 g kg-1 after receding for 50 years.

Carbon Loss

In a separate yet related global study led by Yale University published in the journal Nature, researchers found warming temperatures can lead to soil carbon loss by the year 2050, as cited by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

The Yale University study claims carbon losses will be greatest in the colder regions of the world, especially in high latitudes where vast amounts of the greenhouse gas are stored.

The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) emphasizes the process of carbon losses are hastened when humans burn fossil fuels and cut down forests, which disturbs the balance currently in place in the environment.

Related Article: Carbon Loss from Soil Accelerating Climate Change
On western federal lands, experts from Oregon State University are recommending management measures that, in their opinion, will increase the number of wolves and beavers and restore biological processes.

William Ripple, co-lead author of the study "Rewilding the American West," and 19 other authors recommend establishing a network based on prospective habitat for the gray wolf, an apex predator capable of causing strong, broad ecological effects, on sections of federal lands in 11 states.

More wolves and beavers in the western US

The authors found regions of federally controlled property in those states that are continuous and are at least 5,000 square kilometers large and have ideal wolf habitat, as per ScienceDaily.

The planned Western Rewilding Network includes the following states: Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

It would span an area of about 500,000 square kilometers.

It's an ambitious plan, but according to Ripple, a distinguished professor of ecology in the OSU College of Forestry, the American West is currently experiencing an unprecedented period of converging crises, including extended drought and water scarcity, extreme heat waves, massive fires, and the loss of biodiversity.

Gray wolves were driven to almost extinction in the West, but beginning in the 1990s, the Endangered Species Act made it feasible to restore them to some areas of the northern Rocky Mountains and the Southwest.

However, just 14% of the gray wolf's historical range is now present in those 11 states, according to co-author and postdoctoral fellow Christopher Wolf from the College of Forestry.

There may only be 3,500 wolves left in the entire West today, down from their former numbers of in the tens of thousands.

The authors claimed that because beaver populations in many streams have completely disappeared after a 90% drop during settler colonialism, environmental services are not being given.

Similarly, the authors claimed that wolf restoration provides important ecological advantages by aiding in the natural management of native ungulates like elk.

According to them, wolves help vegetation species like aspen, which supports a variety of plant and animal populations and is in decline in the West, to recover.

In the study, 92 vulnerable and endangered plant and animal species are listed, along with an analysis of the hazards presented by human activities to each species.

At least 10% of these species' ranges are located within the planned Western Rewilding Network.

The authors came to the conclusion that livestock grazing was the most frequent hazard.

According to the authors, livestock grazing can degrade streams and wetland habitats, alter fire patterns, and hinder the ability of woody species, particularly willow, to rebound.

Federal grazing permits contribute to around 2% of the nation's beef supply, the article adds.

Also Read: New System Can Identify Individual Wolf Howls with 100 Percent Accuracy

Ecological balance

According to a number of online dictionaries, the ecological balance is "a state of dynamic equilibrium within a community of organisms in which genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity remain relatively stable, subject to gradual changes through natural succession," as well as "a stable balance in the numbers of each species in an ecosystem."

The fundamental consideration is the preservation of an ecosystem's natural equilibrium.

Due to the introduction of new species, the rapid extinction of certain species, natural disasters, or man-made causes, this equilibrium may be upset, as per WWF.

There are real-life examples all around the world that may be used to learn how human population growth and increased development activities influence the ecosystem.

One such instance of how the ecology is being impacted by rising population and development activities is Armenia.

Human influences on the environment have grown over the past 1,000 years, mostly as a result of increased pasture usage and deforestation.

Due to extraordinary population development and urbanization after 1920, these issues have gotten worse in recent years, having a negative influence on not just specific species but also entire ecosystems.

By reading the essay on this website, you will deliberately become aware of the potential damage that unrestrained urbanization and industrial expansion might do to your area.

Related article: Due to Illegal Rewilding, Wild Beavers Across Scotland Suddenly Increased to 1,000
An entire woolly mammoth tusk's worth of CT images were successfully obtained by researchers. Using a more recent clinical CT scanner, scientists could scan the tusk completely.

The new technology eliminates the need for numerous partial scans and enables large-scale imaging.

Woolly Mammoth

The extinct woolly mammoth inhabited North America and Eurasia and measured the size of an African elephant in the present day.

They are a member of the same order as modern elephants along with other extinct mammoths, mastodons, and gomphotheres.

Mammoths had small, fur-covered ears and a tail to prevent frostbite. They also had tusks, which they employed for fighting, digging for food, and removing bark from trees.

Scanning inside the woolly mammoth tusk

According to Tilo Niemann, M.D., head of CT, cardiac, and thoracic radiology in the Department of Radiology at Kantonsspital Baden in Baden, Switzerland, working with priceless fossils is difficult because it's crucial not to harm or destroy the specimen, as per ScienceDaily.

Even though there are many imaging techniques to assess the internal structure, it was not possible to scan an entire tusk without fragmenting it or at the very least having to conduct numerous scans that had to be meticulously put together.

The ring or cylinder that a patient, or in this case, the tusk, is positioned into on more recent CT scanners has larger gantries.

The tusk that the researchers looked at was unearthed by the Canton Zug's office of heritage and archaeology in central Switzerland.

The tusk measures 206 centimeters in total or almost 7 feet. Its basal diameter, or size at the base, is 16 cm, or just over 6 inches. When the object's helical, or spiral, curvature is considered, the overall diameter is 80 cm or slightly more than 2.5 feet.

Cementum, a substance resembling bone, and dentin, which lies beneath the cementum and makes up most of the tusk's mass, are the two main types of material that makeup tusks.

The base of the tusk has a cone that was most recently formed, just before the mammoth died.

The first cone a mammoth makes forms the tip of the tusk.

The intermediate cones develop over the course of the mammoth's existence.

Also Read: Mammoth Teeth from 200,000 Years Ago May Contain the Oldest Mammoth DNA in the UK and Europe

Mammoth tusk used for weaving rope

A mysterious instrument made of the mammoth tusk was carved by a stone-age toolmaker forty thousand years ago. The ivory strip is twenty centimeters long and has four predrilled holes in it, each of which is lined with a carefully cut spiral incision.

When this unusual device was found in the Hohle Fels cave in southwest Germany several years ago, its function was unknown, as per The Guardian.

However, researchers now believe it to be the oldest known method of making rope, and it would have had a revolutionary effect.

The resulting ropes might have been used to create clothing, food containers, bows and arrows, snares and traps, fishing nets, and more.

Heavy items like sleds could be pulled by ropes, and spear points could be fastened to poles.

These were developed by some of the earliest Homo sapiens to leave Africa and arrive in Europe about 60,000 years ago.

Their artwork's complexity provides insight into how advanced our ancestors had become.

A Paleolithic materials specialist from the University of Liege in Belgium, Veerle Rots, fed raw plant fibers through the holes in a bronze replica of an ivory instrument and also was able to create four distinct twisted strands that could be combined to form a rope.

Related Article: Perfectly Preserved Mummified Baby Mammoth from 30,000 Years Ago Discovered by a Gold Miner
Say Samal, the minister of the environment, praised a Cambodian company that makes straws out of rice and vegetable matter instead of plastic, which he claimed is overused worldwide.

During the forecast period of 2021-2028, the edible straws market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.14%, from its documented value of USD 209.03 million in 2020 to USD 446.96 million in 2028.

Fruit and Vegetable straw substitute for plastic

Straws made from plant-based ingredients like rice, wheat, fruits, vegetables, sugar, and corn are known as edible straws.

They are biodegradable devices used for drinking beverages, as per Fresh Plaza.

According to Tith Sokhom, owner of the company TK&D Manufacturing, the straws are made from natural materials like rice, corn, potatoes, and pandan leaves and come in a variety of colors.

The business, which was launched in September of last year, is the first of its kind in the Kingdom.

The businessman started to consider whether Cambodia could take action to lessen its use of plastic after observing the production of environmentally friendly goods in other nations.

She and her husband decided to start their business after a little deliberation. Utilizing imported machinery, TK & D creates straws from rice flour that are combined with other goods.

Sotheara, who works for the General Department of Taxation, told The Post that they are very effective and last long enough to drink a large drink.

Although the straws are made out of rice flour, using them won't cause them to dissolve.

She advised eating the straw after finishing your drink. If you don't want to do that, you can dispose of it; it will quickly decompose into dust.

According to the business's owner, TK&D can produce more than 100 boxes of straws per day in the Krakor district of Pursat province, where it employs more than 100 villagers.

The business is gradually entering new markets, such as Sna Dai Me Market and Makro Supermarkets.

Although these are not the first green straws to be sold in Cambodia, all of the others are imports.

Finding these products seems challenging because the market is small, the supply is low, and the demand for such kinds of products is not as high as it ought to be.

The cost of a box of 50 TK&D rice, potato, corn, or carrot straws is only 10,000 riel. Sokhon expressed his gratitude for the environment minister's observation, saying it was encouraging to hear he had seen them.

Also Read: Edible Food Wrapper Made from Milk the Answer to Plastic Pollution?

Marketing edible straws

The food service sector, which includes hotels, restaurants, and cafes, has developed as the main market for these goods.

These eateries use edible straws with a variety of drinks, including milk- and coffee-based drinks, fruit juices, cocktails, and cold drinks, as per Data Intelligence.

The market is highly fragmented, with numerous suppliers offering a wide variety of goods to serve customers all over the world.

These producers are concentrating on creating new flavors and using new, more affordable, sustainable raw materials that provide superior features without sacrificing the consumer experience.

In terms of material, rice and wheat emerged as the top two categories, with 60% and 20% of the market's overall revenue, respectively, in 2020.

Due to the importance of rice in Asian cuisines, Asia Pacific markets like South Korea, China, and Vietnam are leading the market in the consumption and production of rice-based straws.

Another important factor that will probably change the market environment over the forecast period is the growing trend toward gluten-free products.

Due to the high nutritional composition of wheat, consumer interest in edible straws is declining.

The most important factors in purchasing edible straws are taste and durability.

Related Article: How Edible Fungi Plays a Role in Transition to Net-zero Emission
According to a PR published by SeeByte on August 9, 2022, the leader of smart software solutions for Uncrewed Maritime Systems (UMS), is delighted to announce the renewal of licenses to the Belgian Navy to assist their fleet of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and the Belgian - Netherlands Naval mine warfare school, EGUERMIN.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Screenshot of the Control System SeeTrack v4 (Picture source: SeeByte)

The renewal of the contract includes the most recent version of SeeBytes Multi-domain control system SeeTrack v4, and the Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) system.

SeeByte also provides the Belgian Navy with operational support and training, allowing everyone from the students to the operators to benefit from SeeTrack v4s capabilities.

SeeTrack v4 allows for more efficient mission planning, monitoring, and post-mission analysis whilst providing the navy with the ability to manage multiple sensors and platforms at one time, therefore maximizing the capabilities of their UMS.

Additionally, SeeTrack v4 maintains operator control and situational awareness in potentially dangerous situations, such as mine countermeasure missions (MCM), as the software is able to highlight relevant UMS sensor data to the operator.

SeeTrack's additional modules provide specialist analysis, processing, and training designed to significantly reduce operational timelines, errors and false alarms.
According to information published by the U.S. DoD on August 3, 2022, the U.S. Navy delivered the first of three Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) CN-235 military transport aircraft converted to a maritime patrol platform. This comes just three-and-a-half years after the U.S. signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance to begin increasing the capability and interoperability of U.S. and Malaysian forces.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Malaysian CN-235 aircraft (Picture source: U.S.DoD)

The effort was facilitated by the U.S. Navys Building Partner Capacity program, aligned with the U.S. governments Maritime Security Initiative, which is intended to assist the Malaysian government in increasing maritime security and maritime domain awareness within the Malaysian Exclusive Economic Zone.

The project to integrate an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) upgrade into the aircraft was undertaken by the RMAF in cooperation with the Naval Air Systems Commands Security Cooperation Office and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) AIRWorks.

The upgrade includes a maritime surveillance mission suite, maritime surveillance radar, an electro-optical infrared turret, line-of-sight datalink and a roll-on/roll-off mission system operator station. Compatible mobile and fixed ground stations are also being delivered to increase the RMAFs ISR capability.

The projects CN-235s were flown to Indonesia for completion and testing in Sept. 2020 amid COVID-19 restrictions and first flight took place in Oct. 2021. Work on the two remaining CN-235 aircraft and multiple ground stations continues and is expected to be completed in 2022.

The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engine transport aircraft originally manufactured by Indonesian aerospace company Perseroan Terbatas Dirgantara Indonesia and Construcciones Aeronauticas SA of Spain.

Able to carry up to six tonnes / 13,200lb of payload, or up to 51 personnel, the CN235 has gained vast experience in daily airlift missions, in the deployment and logistic support of peacekeeping forces and in disaster relief operations or any other civic missions for the benefit of society.

Six underwing hardpoints allow the carriage of antishipping missiles such as Exocet and Harpoon. MPA can be armed with two Mk 46 torpedoes.
China-Taiwan relations at crossroads

Beijing, Aug 10 (UNI) The relations between China and Taiwan have two possible outcomes and the Taiwan administration has to make the right choice, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said on Wednesday.

"At present, cross-strait relations are once again faced with two choices for the future and the authorities of Taiwan must make the right choice as to where to go," Kefei said in a statement released by the defense ministry.

The Chinese army's Eastern Theater Command said on Wednesday that it had successfully completed the tasks set as part of the military exercises near Taiwan.
Kolkata, Aug 10 (UNI) To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence, GO FIRST (formerly known as GoAir) on Wednesday launched a limited period Independence Day sale with astounding fares starting at INR 1,508 (inclusive of taxes) for travel on its domestic network.



Passengers can book across all domestic sectors operated by GO FIRST for the travel period

starting from September 1, 2022 until March 31, 2023. The four-day booking period will commence on Wednesday and will conclude on the August 13.



The sale will enable customers to plan a vacation well in advance at extremely affordable pricing. In addition to convenience and affordable flying experience, GO FIRST has been consistent in providing flight options and flexibility to their customers with value driven initiatives.



Tickets for this sale can be booked on GO FIRST website (www.FlyGoFirst.com), or via GO FIRST official Mobile App.Tickets under this offer are refundable, though changeable with a change fee and fare difference.



Kaushik Khona, Chief Executive Officer, GO FIRST, said, It is a joyful occasion for us as we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence. On this celebratory day, we take immense pride in our freedom, and we want to celebrate it with our passengers this year. GO FIRST remains firm to its commitment to excellence in customer centricity, and this service is yet another initiative to offer optimal customer delight making this the best time for travellers to book flight tickets and plan their travel.



GO FIRST provides an on-time, courteous, safe, and hassle-free experience at affordable fares and has introduced several passenger-friendly services aimed at providing a seamless experience. This offer is an extension of its ongoing customer-centricity.

UNI BM KK
Growing up, my kids were always active in 4-H and FFA. The kids have continued in my footsteps showing, and I hope the next generation of showmen will continue with our grandchildren.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government that is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
SAD MP demands remission of Bilkis Bano case convicts 17 Aug 2022 | 10:21 PM New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Wednesday said the remission of 11 convicts of the Bilkis Bano case should be revoked, and called their release a 'sad day for democracy'. see more..

72 pc of new ministers in Bihar have criminal cases: Report 17 Aug 2022 | 7:39 PM New Delhi, Aug 17 (UNI) Seventy two per cent of the newly sworn-in ministers in the 'Mahagathbandhan' government-led by Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have criminal cases against them, data showed. see more..

Rohingya illegal foreigners, no housing provided : MHA 17 Aug 2022 | 7:38 PM New Delhi, August 17 (UNI) The Home Ministry on Wednesday said Rohingya are illegal foreigners who will be deported, hours after Housing Minister Hardeep Puri said accommodation was being provided to them, and lauded the government's move. see more..

Cabinet okays Rs 50,000 cr credit support to hospitality sector 17 Aug 2022 | 6:46 PM New Delhi, August 17 (UNI) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the enhancement in the limit of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) by Rs 50,000 crore from Rs 4.5 Lakh crore to Rs 5 Lakh crore, with the additional amount being earmarked exclusively for enterprises in hospitality and related sectors. see more..
AP

Ukraine says that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in a deadly string of explosions at an air base in Crimea that appeared to be the result of a Ukrainian attack
AP

Donald Trump 'took the Fifth.' What does it actually mean?

Former President Donald Trump has shown up for questioning under oath in New Yorks civil investigation into his business practices
In a recent study published on the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers assess the sensitivity of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.2.75 sublineage to neutralization.

Study: Neutralization sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 sublineage. Image Credit: gan chaonan / Shutterstock.com

Background

On July 15, 2022, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) categorized the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 sublineage as a variant of interest (VOI). The genetic surveillance of BA.2.75 indicated that this variant was responsible for a rapid increase in the number of sequenced infections.

As compared to the Omicron BA.2 sublineage, the spike protein of BA.2.75 varied by nine amino acid residues from the N-terminal domain and the receptor-binding domain (RBD). These mutations have led to a significant reduction in viral susceptibility to neutralization by antibodies.

About the study

In the present study, researchers examine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 spike mutations on monoclonal and polyclonal antibody activity by assessing the neutralization sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75.

Herein, the researchers collected serum samples from two longitudinal cohorts consisting of healthcare workers (HCWs) and elderly individuals who were eligible for Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination.

All collected serum samples were tested to verify the absence of any antibodies that targeted the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein, as this would suggest a history of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants who had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or tested positive on the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test were excluded from the study.

The researchers estimated 50% serum inhibitory dilutions (ID 50s ) in samples that were collected four weeks after the administration of the BNT162b2 booster vaccination in a group of 30 HCWs and elderly participants. All eligible participants had a history of previous vaccination with two doses of BNT162b2 with no incidence of intermittent SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Additionally, the activity of 17 different monoclonal antibodies that were authorized to treat SARS-CoV-2 infections was examined by estimating their 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC 50s ).

Study findings

Although the neutralizing activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages was significantly lower than the B.1 sublineage, variations between the individual Omicron sublineages were less remarkable. The geometric mean ID 50 values were 6,429, 1,725, 615, 1,052, and 1,203 against the B.1, BA.2, BA.4/5, BA.2.12.1, and BA.2.75 sublineages, respectively. As compared to other Omicron sublineages, the anti-BA.2.75 serum activity was notably lower as compared to BA.2 and higher than that against BA.4/5.

Neutralization sensitivity of the BA.2.75 sublineage. (A) Fifty-percent inhibitory dilutions (ID50s) against SARS-CoV-2 variants in samples collected four weeks after a BNT162b2 booster vaccination (n=30) determined by pseudovirus neutralization assay. Circles indicate average ID50s of two experiments for each variant and individual participant. Bars and numbers indicate geometric mean ID50s. Solid lines indicate 95% confidence intervals and the dashed line shows the lower limit of quantification. (B) Fifty-percent inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants determined by pseudovirus neutralization assay (average IC50 of two experiments for each variant).

Most of the 17 monoclonal antibodies could not effectively neutralize BA.2.12.1, BA.2, or BA.4/5.; however, most of these antibodies exhibited significant activity against BA.2.75. For example, antibodies like regdanvimab and tixagevimab, which are authorized for SARS-CoV-2 treatment and prevention in South Korea, showed undetectable and poor activity, respectively, against Omicron sublineages. Nevertheless, these antibodies exhibited potent neutralization against BA.2.75.

Similarly, bebtelovimab also exhibited significantly potent neutralization activity against BA.2.75. Taken together, 30-35% of the antibodies effectively neutralized BA.2.12.1, BA.2, or BA.4/5 sublineages, while 59% of the antibodies neutralized BA.2.75.

Monoclonal antibody neutralizing activity. Fitted SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus neutralization curves of monoclonal antibodies. Circles and bars represent average values from two experiments (each performed with technical duplicates) and standard deviation. Dotted lines indicate 50% neutralization.

Conclusions

The study findings indicate that mutations detected in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 sublineage spike protein reduced viral susceptibility to neutralizing activity induced by COVID-19 vaccines as compared to BA.2. Moreover, BA.2.75 was more sensitive to SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, including those that are currently approved to treat COVID-19.

*Important notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
About 53% of lung cancers in females are not attributable to smoking worldwide and a new model presented today at the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer may allow clinicians the ability to assess and stratify lung cancer risk in female non-smokers in China.

Lanwei Guo, Henan Cancer Hospital, China examined data from 151,834 patients in Henan province, China, from October 2013 to October 2019 from the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China (CanSPUC).

The aim was to develop and validate a simple and non-invasive model which could assess and stratify lung cancer risk in female non-smokers in China.

Patients were randomly divided into the training (75,917) and validation (75,917) sets. Elder age, history of chronic respiratory disease, first-degree family history of lung cancer, menopause, and history of benign breast disease were the independent risk factors for lung cancer.

Using these five variables, Dr. Guo and colleagues platted one-year, three-year, and five-year lung cancer risk prediction nomograms. The area under the curve was 0.762, 0.718, and 0.703 for the one-, three- and five-year lung cancer risk in the training set, respectively. In the validation set, the model showed a good predictive discrimination, with the area under the curve was 0.646, 0.658, and 0.650 for the one-, three- and five-year lung cancer risk.

Related risk factors were identified through multivariable Cox regression analysis, followed by establishment of risk prediction nomogram. Discrimination [area under the curve (AUC)] and calibration were further performed to assess the validation of risk prediction nomogram in the training set, and then validated by the validation set.
Young adults living with Down syndrome have high aspirations and a great zest for life according to an Australian first study by researchers from The University of Queensland.

A team led by Associate Professor Rhonda Faragher and Dr Janette Lloyd from UQ's School of Education conducted interviews and focus groups around the country, exploring the quality of life of Gen Z's with Down syndrome.

UQ's Down Syndrome Research Program has been going for 40 years and we were curious about what life was like for those just finishing school and how their lives might be different to previous generations. We had a sense that new technologies, inclusive schooling and community engagement would have had an impact on the experiences of the new generation of young adults." Dr. Rhonda Faragher, Associate Professor

Four research assistants  all with Down syndrome  were employed by UQ to conduct interviews and focus groups around the country.

"They were invaluable because they helped us see things in a different way, like choosing words and pictures to make the information more easily understood by the study participants," Dr Faragher said.

"We were learning as much from them as they were from us!"

The team interviewed 26 people aged between 18 to 30, to gather data to inform national and international policy and practice.

"In Australia, families are routinely given false and outdated information about Down syndrome," Professor Faragher said.

"This has implications for decisions parents are asked to make in a range of contexts like prenatal testing, education and health care."

The study found that rather than a poor quality of life, Gen Z respondents had big hopes and dreams for jobs and hobbies, as well as joy and satisfaction in their relationships with family and friends.

"They're engaged with technology in really quite clever ways, even people who had limited communication were using their devices to find things that interested them online, as well as text and FaceTime," Dr Faragher said.

The study also found the participants were highly aware of their limitations and disliked being treated differently.

Dr Faragher said young people with Down syndrome expect to be treated with respect and dignity, but the study findings suggest low expectations and perceptions of incompetence persist.

"One participant said police officers approached her after a sporting event to ask if she was OK when she was just booking herself an Uber," she said.

"Although the police had good intentions, they could have simply asked if she'd enjoyed the match to find out if she was OK without singling her out."
Researchers have discovered that the manner of walking, or gait, of Japanese children develops differently from that of children in other countries.

Gait is a complex, unconscious motor pattern, essential for most daily activities. It comprises a sequence of movements that involve the hip, knee, and foot. From a medical point of view, a person's gait is critical to measuring their quality of life and health status. Researchers seek to understand the forces involved in gait to help treat people with movement disorders. However, in Japan, data on age-related gait parameters among children are limited.

A group of researchers, including Tadashi Ito and Hideshi Sugiura in the Department of Integrated Health Sciences at Nagoya University, and Koji Noritake and Nobuhiko Ochi at the Aichi Prefectural Mikawa Aoitori Medical and Rehabilitation Center for Developmental Disabilities, determined the normative gait pattern of Japanese children. They used a 3D gait analysis system to investigate age-related differences in lower limb movements during walking. Reporting their findings in Scientific Reports, the group found that the recorded gait of Japanese elementary school children differed by age. Although the gait patterns and gait parameters of typical Japanese children aged 6-12 are similar to those of children in other developed countries, their development differs.

Dr. Ito and his colleagues found four important differences among age groups. First, there was an increase in cadence, the number of steps performed in one minute, among children in the 1112-year-old group compared to the 6-8 year group. Second, there was also a decrease in step and stride length among children aged 1112 years compared to those aged 910 years. Third, children 11-12 years had less range of motion of the knee during the gait cycle. Fourth, as children aged, a higher plantarflexion moment was observed, which is the motion when you point your toes at the start of the walking movement.

We believe that differences in lifestyle, build, and cultural factors all affect Japanese children's gait. This is not likely to affect the health of Japanese children. But it does indicate characteristics different from those of children in other countries. These results provide an important tool for assessing normal and pathological gait and can determine the effectiveness of orthopedic treatment and rehabilitation for gait disorders." Dr. Tadashi Ito, Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University
Mount Sinai is leading a team of lung cancer researchers that has been awarded a three-year, $500,000 grant from Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) to explore therapeutic approaches to lung tumors with mutations in the KRAS gene, an undertaking that could have a significant impact for a large population of cancer patients who currently lack effective treatment options.

KRAS mutations are among the most common observed in lung cancer and are found in approximately 30 percent of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). NSCLCs with KRAS mutations are associated with a 35 percent higher risk of death than other NSCLCs. Although there has been marked improvement in treatment options for patients with these tumors, most patients either do not respond to these therapeutics or develop early resistance. Thus, there is still a need for curative therapeutic options.

Typically, when patients with advanced NSCLC with a KRAS mutation receive therapeutics, there is a period of regression and then the cancer recurs, which is the paradigm in lung cancer more generally. The idea behind our proposal is to explore whether we can use a targeted therapeutic agent called a RAF inhibitor to silence that pathway in these tumors and whether that creates a vulnerability that we can exploit to kill the cancer by using another therapeutic agent." Fred R. Hirsch, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator, Executive Director of the Center for Thoracic Oncology, and the Joe Lowe and Louis Price Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

One reason for the higher risk of cancer-related death among patients with KRAS-mutant lung cancers is an inability to effectively silence tumor survival signaling through direct targeting of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which plays a key role in the development and growth of tumors.

Through the SU2C Catalyst grant, Mount Sinai researchers will partner with Kwok-Kin Wong, MD, PhD, co-Principal investigator and Anne Murnick Cogan and David H. Cogan Professor of Oncology in the Department of Medicine and director of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at NYU Langone's Perlmutter Cancer Center, to identify potential therapeutic combinations that build on the impact of JZP-815, a novel pan-RAF inhibitor that has been shown to enhance the effect of other therapeutic agents in treating KRAS-mutant NSCLC.

"With this collaborative grant, we have the impetus and ability to bring together Mount Sinai's diverse patient population and expertise in organoid modeling with NYU's extensive background in mouse modeling to explore questions we would not have been able to investigate independently," said co-lead investigator Benjamin D. Hopkins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, and Oncological Sciences, at Icahn Mount Sinai, and co-leader of the Functional Genomics Pipeline at The Tisch Cancer Institute. "Together, we have the potential to develop new treatment strategies for KRAS-mutant lung cancer patients who are in critical need of improved clinical options. We are grateful to Stand Up To Cancer for making this undertaking possible."

Drawing on Mount Sinai's functional genomics pipeline, researchers will use genetically engineered KRAS-mutant mouse-derived cell lines to identify JZP-815-related changes that result in vulnerabilities that can then be exploited with other therapeutic agents to effectively kill the tumor.

The researchers will then validate these therapeutic combinations using both patient-derived organoids-;three-dimensional cultures of tumor cells-;and mouse models to further assess their impact on tumor growth and development. They will also validate potential biomarkers that will help identify patients who are likely to respond favorably to a particular therapeutic combination, thus increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes.

"The goal for all cancer researchers is to improve patient care by identifying therapeutic agents that either are curative or deliver better results than the standard of care," Dr. Wong said. "We are excited to work toward this goal for a cancer that is more aggressive and is associated with a poorer prognosis than other lung cancers."

Stand Up To Cancer raises funds to accelerate the pace of cancer research to get new therapies to patients quickly to save lives now. SU2C Catalyst grants provide funding for collaborative signal-finding clinical trials supported by industry leaders. This grant is made possible with support from Jazz Pharmaceuticals. For more information about these grants, visit https://progress.standuptocancer.org/catalyst.
Not everyone who qualifies for health insurance signs up for it. Consider Medicaid, the national health insurance plan for low-income people. Across the U.S., about 14 percent of eligible adults and 7 percent of eligible children are not enrolled in Medicaid.

As it happens, when adults do enroll in Medicaid, some of them sign up their eligible children for it, too. This is an example of a "woodwork effect," as policy analysts have termed it -; sometimes, people eligible for social programs may come out of the woodwork, as it were, to claim benefits.

A new study led by an MIT economist quantifies this effect, using Oregon as a case study. The research shows that for every nine adults who gained access to Medicaid in Oregon due to a special enrollment lottery, one previously eligible child was added to the Medicaid rolls as well.

But while the findings show that woodwork effects exist in social insurance, in Oregon the effect was not large enough to create major pressures on its Medicaid system, which is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. Most of the eligible children who were not already enrolled in Medicaid remained unenrolled; only about 6 percent of those who could have become enrolled were signed up when an adult in their household won the Oregon lottery.

"We find evidence of these woodwork effects," says Amy Finkelstein, a professor in MIT's Department of Economics and co-author of a new paper detailing the results. "We reject the hypothesis that these types of spillovers don't occur. On the other hand, relative to claims in the media and in some previous work about potentially large woodwork effects, in excess of half of the direct effect  our effects are quantitatively much smaller than what was conjectured."

The paper, "Out of the Woodwork: Enrollment Spillovers in the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment," appears in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. The paper's co-authors are Adam Sacarny PhD '14, an assistant professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Katherine Baicker, the dean and the Emmett Dedmon Professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy; and Finkelstein, the John and Jennie S. MacDonald Professor of Economics at MIT.

Winning the insurance lottery

To conduct the research, the scholars used data from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment of 2008, a unique project conducted by the state of Oregon. Given enough funding to allow some Medicaid expansion to low-income, uninsured adults, Oregon ran a lottery for new Medicaid entry, receiving about 90,000 applications for 10,000 new slots.

That formed the basis of a useful experiment: Because those who win and lose the lottery do so at random, scholars can compare what subsequently happens to those who do and do not win the lottery to determine the effects of obtaining health insurance. Finkelstein, Baicker, and other colleagues have published several studies based on the Oregon lottery, showing that having Medicaid increases health care use, reduces out-of-pocket spending and medical debt, and lowers incidence of depression, among other things.

Because the children of the adults who participated in the lottery in Oregon were already eligible for Medicaid, the lottery allowed the researchers to ask: If adults obtain Medicaid, does that make them more likely to enroll their children, too?

This enabled us to look at the question of what happens to children of adults who win the lottery, compared to children of adults who don't win the lottery. We were just trying to get a sense of whether there were impacts on the children, and how large these effects were." Amy Finkelstein, Professor in MIT's Department of Economics

The effect was real, but modest in size and shrank over time. A year onward from the lottery, the enrollment difference among children from lottery-winning and lottery-losing households was about one-third its initial size; some lottery-winning adults saw the enrollment status of their children lapse, while some children of adults who lost the lottery ended up eventually enrolling in Medicaid.

"The magnitude of the effect is economically and practically meaningful, but the effect is fairly short-lived," Sacarny observes.

The findings add information to a public discussion that arose after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. The ACA allowed states to expand Medicaid to additional low-income adults, although many states did not. Some observers suggested that woodwork effects on children's enrollment might greatly increase the taxpayer cost of the adult Medicaid expansion. The current study suggests these costs may be modest.

As Finkelstein notes, however, the current study is simply intended to inform the public discussion over Medicaid and woodwork effects, and to produce better estimates about insurance expansion.

"Whether you think previously eligible children enrolling in Medicaid when their parents become eligible is an extra benefit or an add-on cost of adult Medicaid expansion depends on your views of the costs and benefits of public health insurance," Finkelstein says. In any case, Finkelstein observes, the cost of covering children through Medicaid is roughly four times smaller than the cost of covering adults.

"From a budget perspective, children tend to be much cheaper to cover than adults," Finkelstein says. "They have lower health expenditures."

Understanding the barriers to enrollment

The current paper also adds to an existing literature about the barriers to enrollment for health insurance and other social programs. There are a variety of reasons why people who are eligible for social programs may not enroll: They may not know they are eligible, may find the process too complicated, or may feel there is a stigma associated with such programs.

Finkelstein, for her part, has studied this issue too. Along with MIT economics colleagues Abhijit Banerjee and Benjamin Olken, among other scholars, she co-authored a paper last year about an experiment designed to encourage people to enroll people in Indonesia's national health insurance program. The study found some benefit from subsidies and enrollment assistance, but no apparent benefit to the simple provision of information to people.

Scholars who have studied the societal impact of Medicaid offer praise for the study. Sarah Miller, an assistant professor of business economics and public policy at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, calls the research "a fantastic new analysis from the landmark Oregon Health Insurance Experiment. The experimental design gives us the opportunity to learn in a very compelling way about how parental Medicaid eligibility affects enrollment for kids."

Miller also observes that, by identifying one mechanism that can spur a limited amount of new enrollment, the research indicates we have more to learn about the reasons why families still leave eligible children unenrolled in Medicaid: "This study tells us that making their parents eligible won't move the needle very much, but more research is needed to know exactly why," she says.

As Sacarny points out, the present study also demonstrates the many ways that randomized trials, like Oregon's, can be used to generate further findings. Given a valid experiment, scholars can think creatively about how to identify its effects, and keep leveraging that experiment to produce rigorous results.

"This research highlights the value of conducting further secondary studies of randomized trials," Sacarny says. "What we're showing here is that when you link trials with additional administrative data, you can use them to study additional, potentially really important questions for economic and social policy."

The current paper may also be the last one Finkelstein works on that derives from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment of 2008; she has co-authored at least eight other refereed papers exploring the effects of Medicaid enrollment on people, work that has gained wide attention and helped inform the public discussion about health insurance.

"For me, it's a bit of an end of an era," Finkelstein says. However, she and her colleagues have developed a public use data file so that other researchers can dig into all the data from Oregon, and potentially surface additional findings as well.

The study was supported, in part, by the National Institute on Aging.
In a recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers investigate the pharmacokinetics and safety of L9LS, a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to prevent malaria.

Study: Low-Dose Subcutaneous or Intravenous Monoclonal Antibody to Prevent Malaria. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock.com

Background

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites. Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate burden of malaria, with deaths among children aged five or younger accounting for 80% of malaria-associated deaths in this region.

Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the Mosquirix (RTS, S/AS01) vaccine for widespread use in infants, it is only partially protective, with a reported efficacy of 36.3%.

Despite the progress in vaccine development, there remains an urgent need for additional strategies to reduce the incidence of malaria and its associated mortality. Reports suggest that mAbs prevent malaria by P. falciparum at the pre-erythrocytic stage by binding to the parasite's circumsporozoite protein (CSP), thereby neutralizing infecting sporozoites. It has also been speculated that anti-CSP mAbs could be broadly protective against circulating parasite strains.

Previously, researchers determined the safety and effectiveness of a potent mAb, CIS43LS, that targets the junctional region of the P. falciparum CSP. To this end, CIS43LS conferred protection against malaria to participants after intravenous dosing, followed by controlled infection. No safety concerns were identified.

Improving the potency and lowering the volume of mAbs are critical to limit costs and allow for their subcutaneous administration.

About the study

In the present study, researchers evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of L9LS, a next-generation mAb, in Phase I clinical trial.

The primary objectives were to assess the safety and side-effect profiles of L9LS. The secondary objectives included pharmacokinetic and efficacy analysis after a controlled infection with the malarial parasite two to six weeks post-administration of the mAb.

L9LS, a human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) mAb, was administered intravenously at a dose of 1, 5, or 20 mg/kg of body weight. Those administered subcutaneously received a dose of 5 mg/kg in one or two injections.

Any adverse events were recorded for four weeks after mAb administration and controlled infection. Serious adverse events and new medical conditions were recorded throughout the trial.

Participants were exposed to Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes infected with P. falciparum for controlled malaria infection. Patients were then contacted twice in the first week and received follow-up care during in-clinic visits until 17 days post-infection (dpi).

At 21 dpi, parasitemia was assessed by performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Participants were considered to be protected if no parasitemia was evident. Standard treatment was initiated for all subjects upon detection of parasitemia or from 21 dpi for three consecutive days.

Study findings

Twenty-seven individuals were enrolled in the trial, 18 of whom received the antibody and nine who did not receive L9LS and served as controls.

Twenty-three subjects, which consisted of 17 L9LS recipients and six controls, underwent controlled malarial infection. Ten participants were challenged within four weeks of L9LS administration and seven after five to six weeks.

No serious adverse events or infusion-related reactions were recorded. One L9LS recipient experienced mild cervical lymphadenopathy after nine days, which was attributed to L9LS administration; however, it was resolved by 29 days without intervention. Pharmacokinetic assessments were performed in all mAb recipients with at least eight weeks of data.

The highest average maximum serum concentration (C max ) of L9LS was 914.2 g/ml in those who received the 20 mg/kg dose intravenously. The lowest mean C max was 41.5 g among those with 1 mg/kg intravenous dosing.

The mean C max was 164 g among the recipients of an intravenous dose of 5 mg/kg and 68.9 g for those with a subcutaneous dose of 5 mg/kg.

The time of maximum concentration (T max ) occurred six days after subcutaneous injection, with serum concentrations exceeding 10 g/ml within one day post-subcutaneous administration. The overall clearance rate was 46.1 ml/day, the half-life was 56 days, the volume of distribution was 3.67 liters, and the subcutaneous bioavailability was 69%.

Parasitemia developed in two L9LS recipients and all controls. One of the L9LS recipients received 1 mg/kg L9LS intravenously, whereas the other received 5 mg/kg subcutaneously. Parasitemia was not detected in any subject who received 5 or 20 mg/kg intravenously.

Conclusions

L9LS was protective against controlled infection in this small trial with no safety concerns. A favorable safety profile was recorded, with no infusion-related reactions reported after intravenous injection.

Subcutaneous administration also had a similar safety profile with mild/moderate reactogenicity that resolved shortly after L9LS administration. The estimated half-life of 56 days indicated that the protection against malaria was sustained.

Protection against infection occurred even at a low serum concentration of 9.2 g/ml. Notably, pharmacokinetic modeling indicated that participants who received 5 mg/kg subcutaneously would retain 5-11 g/ml of L9LS in circulation at six months.

Overall, the current trial showed that a next-generation mAb could prevent malaria. Further investigations are required to define the potential of the subcutaneous regimen of a single low dose of L9LS.
Kolkata, Aug 10 (UNI) Microsoft has partnered with Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Capacity Building Commission (CBC) to empower Indias civil servants with future-ready skills.

The partnership under the project Capacity Building by MSDE in Microsoft Digital Productivity Skills aims to enhance the functional computer literacy of nearly 2.5 million civil servants of Government of India (GoI).

The project will digitally empower them to provide efficient and effective citizen centric services to the vulnerable and underprivileged sections of the society. It will enable them to deliver last mile social welfare services.



The MoU was signed and exchanged in the presence of Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary MSDE; Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, CBC; Praveen Pardeshi, Member Admin, CBC and Ashutosh Chadha, Group Head & Director, Government Affairs, Microsoft India.



Within the project, the training will include job roles such as Section Officers, Assistant Section Officers, Clerks, Upper Division Clerks, Lower Division Clerks, Under Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, and equivalent officers at senior, junior and supporting levels in the central government entities. CBC has undertaken the capacity building plans for the ministries of Defence, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Expenditure, Finance, Social Justice, Civil Aviation, Ports and Shipping, and Labour.

One of the major competency gaps identified among these job roles was the lack of digital productivity application skills needed while working on Microsoft Office tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint presentation, at a professional level. Therefore, training programs under the partnership will be enabled for the officials to upgrade their digital productivity skills, so that they can fulfil their roles effectively in various ministries.



Lauding the partnership, Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, MSDE, expressed Todays collaboration is in line with the initiative envisioned by our Honble Prime Minister- Mission Karmayogi, it is aligned towards the development of our civil servants. By emphasising on programmes that drive digital literacy, we will be able to provide hassle free services to our citizens and bring transparency into day-to-day business. Our aim is to develop citizen-friendly and business-friendly policies. Technology has become an integral part of our everyday lives, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint are now an essential component of our work life. Therefore, it is imperative that our workforce is trained in these programmes, and I am certain that with this alliance, we will be able to make Mission Karmayogi, a successful scheme.

Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, CBC, stated, Honorable PMs vision of Mission Karmayogi is to strengthen the capability of each and every civil servant. One of the key capabilities is being competent in various digital technologies for day-to-day work. The collaboration with MSDE and Microsoft will allow civil servants to be trained digitally at a time of their own choosing. It will enhance their capabilities and allow them to be more effective



Ashutosh Chadha, Group Head & Director, Government Affairs, Microsoft India, said, Every job will increasingly require digital skills and we are committed to creating more skilling opportunities in the country. We are privileged to partner with Capacity Building Commission (CBC) and Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE). Through this programme, we are aiming to empower central government employees on key digital skills and amplify the vision of Digital India. This initiative will not only drive more productivity but will also enable ease of doing business with more digital solutions.

As part of the collaboration, Microsoft will develop an online, self-paced learning course on Microsoft Office 365 digital productivity suite offerings for MSDE, that would enable MSDE to provide digital skills training to the officials in central government ministries and departments. The courses will be created under two categories - Beginners and Advanced courses of 12 hours duration each and the learners would be enabled with access to Advanced course after receiving the certificate of completion in Beginners course. Microsoft would host the course content on Microsoft Community Training portal (MCT) which the learner can easily access.



MSDE and CBC would enable free access to the developed course content from Microsoft to officials from various central government organisations and departments in collaboration with CBC through MCT. MSDE would play a vital role in cooperation and collaboration between the parties towards successful deployment of the online self-paced training program for the government officers through MCT. In addition, MSDE would monitor the project progress and keep track on the training outcomes.



It would also encourage all the Ministries, Departments and Organisations (MDOs) to make it mandatory for all the Section Officers and Assistant Section Officers to be certified in digital productivity skills from the project for their career progression, as per the National Training Policy.

UNI SJC KK
Chemists from Scripps Research and the University of California, Los Angeles, have developed methods for the precise, flexible modification of a broad class of chemical compounds called bicyclic aza-arenes, which are commonly used to build drug molecules.

The landmark achievement, reported August 9, 2022, in Nature, reflects a powerful new approach that generally offers much easier and more flexible molecular design, enabling chemists to synthesize innumerable chemical products-;including potential blockbuster drugs-;that were previously out of reach.

These new methods effectively give chemists a unified, practical, late-stage 'molecular editing' toolkit for modifying bicyclic aza-arenes at desired sites in any desired order-;greatly expanding the diversity of drugs and other useful molecules that could be built from these popular starting compounds." Jin-Quan Yu, PhD, study co-leader, the Bristol Myers Squibb Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Frank and Bertha Hupp Professor of Chemistry at Scripps Research

Yu and his lab collaborated on the research with the lab of Kendall Houk, PhD, Distinguished Research Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA. The first authors of the study were postdoctoral researchers Zhoulong Fan, PhD, and Xiangyang Chen, PhD, of the Yu and Houk labs respectively.

Building organic molecules with laboratory chemistry techniques, a practice known as organic synthesis, has always been more challenging than building things at macro scale. Down at the molecular scale, how sets of atoms move and bond to each other is governed by a highly complex mix of forces. Although chemists have developed hundreds of reactions that can transform starting compounds into other compounds, they have lacked toolkits for modifying widespread carbon centers containing carbon-hydrogen bonds only.

The ambitious goal, or "Holy Grail," of many synthetic chemists has been to develop flexible and universal molecular editing methods that modify as many carbon atoms as possible at any site by breaking carbon-hydrogen bonds in the starting molecules. Specifically, synthetic chemists have wanted to, in a streamlined and easy way, modify the atom of their choice-;typically carbon-;on the backbone of a given organic molecule, and to modify more than one of these carbon atoms on the molecule, and in any order. This ability would make the construction of new molecules as straightforward as creating a sentence by changing individual words at will. But the difficulty of devising reactions that can direct a modification to one specific atom, and not others that may be virtually identical in traditional chemical terms, has tended to make the concept of molecular editing seem like an impossible dream.

The new method has turned this dream into reality, at least with respect to one of the most common classes of starting molecule used by pharmaceutical chemists. Bicyclic aza-arenes are relatively simple organic molecules that include two ring-like backbones, mostly made of carbon atoms but with at least one nitrogen atom. Myriad existing drugs and medically relevant natural compounds are built from bicyclic aza-arene scaffolds.

The new methods allow chemists to selectively modify multiple carbon atoms, when they are bound to simple hydrogen atoms, at various sites on bicyclic aza-arenes. The flexible modification of these sites permits novel, potentially pharmaceutically relevant structures that were previously difficult to synthesize.

The new methods are variants of an approach called CH (carbon-hydrogen) functionalization: removing a standard hydrogen atom from a carbon atom and replacing it with a more complex set of atoms. CH functionalization is conceptually the most straightforward way of adding complexity to a starting molecule, and the Yu laboratory is known for its many innovations in this field. The new methods employ specially designed helper molecules called directing templates that become reversibly anchored to the starting molecule, and, like construction cranes, efficiently direct CH functionalization at the desired sites. The templates are considered "catalytic" because they direct the reactions but are not consumed by them, and thus continue to work without the need for constant replenishment.

"A key aspect of our new approach is that the templates direct CH functionalization not based on traditional electronic criteria, but instead on the distance and geometry of the path to the target," Yu says.

The new set of techniques should be easy for chemists to use, and should be adopted rapidly by the pharma industry and other chemistry-based industries, he adds.

"We also expect soon to broaden this approach to other classes of starting compounds," Yu says.
A fruit fly walks on a rolling ball.

As it meanders, Kevin Daly, biology professor at West Virginia University, looks deep into its brain through a specialized microscope.

He's studying how the brain coordinates movement and sensory function in animals, which may lead to a better understanding of how the different senses -; sight, touch, smell, etc. -; are integrated by the nervous system in humans.

The National Science Foundation awarded $1.6 million to Daly and collaborator Andrew Dacks, associate professor of biology, to expand on this area of research. Its practical applications could shed light on human disease and human performance, topics of interest to the U.S. Department of Defense and federal health agencies, which have worked with Daly previously.

Daly noted that every behavior a human or animal makes can affect one or more of its sensory systems, which is why they are interlocked with motor systems, working together to move a being through the world.

You can't make a move without one or more of your sensory systems being affected," Kevin Daly, biology professor at West Virginia University

Daly is studying corollary discharge circuits, a type of brain circuit that allows animals, including humans, to distinguish external sensory signals from self-generated ones. In simple terms, corollary discharge helps the brain determine whether an image on the retina of the eye is moving across the retina because the eyeball is moving in the socket or something in the environment is moving across the eye's field of view.

He likens the effect of this mechanism to watching a movie filmed with stabilizers on an otherwise shaky, hand-held camera. Corollary discharge allows the brain to create the perception of a stabilized scene while the body is moving.

"It's why you can look around a screen just by darting your eyes around and you don't get the sense of the world spinning as you do it," he said. "So, it's essentially a way of coordinating sensory systems with motor systems so that they're constantly interlocked."

The brain's sensory side and motor side are reciprocally connected. This can be seen when a hiker is walking across a log. As the motor system directs the legs to walk forward, the sensory system ensures the foot lands in the right place and compensates for slippery spots.

"There's lots of updating that has to occur," Daly said. "These neurons are presumably integrating all of that information. It takes care of the discrepancy between goals and the practicality of moving through an environment."

Daly uses fruit flies to study corollary discharge, as they have a simpler nervous system than humans do. In his lab, he monitors neurons in specific parts of the insects' brains as they walk on an air-suspended treadmill ball.

"As the animal walks, we're watching the brain actively do what it does, but we're only watching neurons of interest," he said. "What we can do, essentially, is simultaneously watch brain and behavior in the same animal."

The data collected on corollary discharge circuits in fruit flies will help researchers understand the corresponding processes in human brains.

Although Daly is still collecting data in the lab, he's aware of its potential applications.

"While this is basic research, at some level we're using the data as a model to understand ourselves," he said.

One such avenue looks at the profound failures of a corollary discharge circuit. The result of their failure is the neural basis of sensory hallucinations, such as those experienced by patients suffering from diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, but also from extreme fatigue.

"All of the research funding that I have gotten has centered around understanding the neural basis of human disease and also the basis of human performance," Daly said. "The Air Force was very interested in understanding these neural circuits because they're sending people into battle spaces, and sometimes those people are in charge of multimillion dollar weapons. You don't want them to make mistakes."

Fighter pilots, for example, must coordinate with each other effectively, and a failure to do so -; perhaps due to fatigue -; can be catastrophic.

To study corollary discharge and the fruit flies' neurons of interest, Daly and his colleagues use two-photon microscopy, which utilize high-powered infrared lasers to monitor deep parts of the insects' brain for long periods of time. This technology is relatively new to WVU, and it's both expensive and challenging to put together a system. Daly built four two-photon microscopes with Department of Defense grants and funding from the Office of Sponsored Programs, the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biology. He did so with the intention of building an undergraduate research training facility, one that would do more than pure research.

"We're trying to have a broader impact by training students to use this technology," Daly said, adding that his is the first facility of its type where undergraduates can take a capstone course that will train them in this technology. That training could put WVU students in the front running for a graduate degree program or a post-doctoral training program.

"The idea is that we've made available for students a very hi-tech technology that will give them an edge when they're looking for employment," he said. "It's really one-of-a-kind in that sense."
In a recent study published in Med, researchers monitored the remarkably rapid Omicron BA.1 to BA.2 sublineage dominance transition in the Swedish population in early 2022 on a day-to-day basis using a customized lineage-typing reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay.

Background

In January 2022, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) new variant of concern (VOC) Omicron caused around 50 million infections worldwide daily, far exceeding the peak of 14 million Delta VOC cases during April 2021. The figures signify an unprecedented level of Omicron transmission worldwide.

In late December 2021, amid the Omicron BA.1 wave in Sweden, the Omicron sublineage BA.2 (B.1.1.529.2) rapidly spread through the Swedish population. Swedish health authorities used an RT-PCR assay capable of genotyping Omicron BA.1 cases directly in primary SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests, enabling day-to-day tracking of the BA.1 cases at the population scale.

About the study

In the present study, researchers analyzed 174,933 clinical upper airway samples, including throat swabs, nose swabs, and saliva collected in Sweden from January to March 2022 using an RT-PCR assay directly classifying SARS-CoV-2 sublineage status. They demonstrated how the Omicron BA.1 sub-variant was consistently outcompeted by BA.2.

The team developed a modified version of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay. They designed combinatorial S BA1 -primer-probe sets, matching CDC N1 properties but with minimal amplicon length to attain a multiplex assay of high sensitivity and specificity. This modified assay was apt for RNA-extraction-free RT-PCR on heat-inactivated samples used in mass testing. Furthermore, it simultaneously detected general SARS-CoV-2 infection status, human RNaseP sample integrity (RP-HEX), and Omicron BA.1-lineage status (S BA1 -Cy5) leveraging BA.1-specific mutations in the spike (S) gene.

Furthermore, the researchers obtained the first in vitro expanded Omicron BA.1 inoculate in Sweden from the global initiative on sharing avian flu data (GISAID) database. They used 185 clinical upper airway samples of known SARS-CoV-2-infection status to validate that the addition of S BA1 -Cy5 probes did not affect nucleocapsid (N)1 cycle thresholds (C T ) values and the sensitivity to detect general SARS-CoV-2 infection in primary RT-PCR. The C28311T substitution at the third base position of the N1 probe had a negligible effect on C T values by tests using CDC N1 and custom Omicron N1 probes.

Study findings

The authors observed that the detection sensitivity and log-linear C T range were similar for both the N1 and S BA1 sets in the assay conditions. Parallel genotyping of SARS-CoV-2-positive samples using SARS-CoV-2 mutation panel assay and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provided Omicron-BA.1-case classification that was 100% consistent with the study used direct RT-PCR assay.

The authors also observed that the predominant Omicron BA.1 lineage was gradually and consistently outcompeted by Omicron BA.2 across nine Swedish healthcare districts. The study data also showed that BA.2 cases presented nearly double the levels of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the upper airways compared to BA.1 cases, suggesting that a higher viral load most likely contributes to the BA.2 lineages increased transmissibility. Given SARS-CoV-2 droplet and aerosol transmission, these results validated the notion that an elevated viral load contributes to increased transmissibility of BA.2, as immune evasion of both the sub-variants was similar.

Conclusions

The study demonstrated the viability and usefulness of lineage typing of select SARS-CoV-2 lineages or variants for population monitoring directly in the primary SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, without burdening the clinical laboratory with separate genotyping RT-PCR assays. Backtracking viral RNA levels after obtaining WGS results biases sample inclusion towards strongly positive samples. The current study showed a way to avoid the time-lag and logistic bottlenecks of genotyping by WGS sequencing.

The direct Omicron BA.1-typing assay used in the current study appeared like a compatible addition to the well-established extraction-free SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR. Therefore, it could easily be deployed for instant monitoring of the Omicron BA.1/BA.2 transition and lineage assignment. Also, it could quantify viral RNA levels in all the samples of a large population. Importantly, it used a novel S BA1 -Cy5 primer-probe set that could readily be replaced to target and monitor other SARS-CoV-2 variants and adapted to other viruses in the future.
In a recent study published in Current Research in Immunology, researchers analyzed the characteristics of coronaviruses (CoVs) and novel CoV vaccine candidates.

Background

CoVs are a group of positive-strand, enveloped ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses belonging to the Nidovirales order. There are four genera within the Orthocoronavirinae subfamily: Beta, Alpha, Delta, and GammaCoV. These four genera of viruses can infect numerous birds and mammals, even humans, and cause various clinical signs according to the affected organ and tissue.

Seven known CoVs can infect humans. Among these CoVs, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-229E, HCoV-HUK1, and HCoV-NL63 produce mild infections comparable to common colds. The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), and the SARS-CoV-2, on the other hand, produce potentially lethal severe respiratory infections. Moreover, the death rates and transmissibility of the three significantly pathogenic human CoVs vary.

About the study

In the current review, the researchers summarized the key CoV biology concepts that affect the establishment of antiviral approaches, like viral RNA synthesis and source. In addition, they reviewed new CoV vaccine candidate methods based on RNA replicons generated from CoV.

Replication, transcription of CoVs, and their genome's stability

The CoV polyproteins like polyprotein 1a (pp1a) are co- and post-translationally converted into 16 nonstructural proteins (nsps). Besides, most CoV nsps are responsible for subgenomic messenger RNA (sgmRNA) production and viral genome replication. While CoV genome replication necessitates continuous RNA synthesis, transcription was a discontinuous procedure during sgmRNAs synthesis, which is peculiar among RNA viruses.

Transcription comprises a template-switching during the subgenomic negative-strand RNA synthesis to incorporate a replica of the leader sequence into the developing negative RNA. Factors such as high-order RNA-RNA contacts and viral and cell protein-RNA adhesion play a role in the regulation of CoV transcription.

Additionally, the CoV RNA genome's variability is increased significantly by the discontinuous synthesis. Furthermore, copy-choice RNA recombination with high frequency and similarity assistance were analogous to CoV transcription.

Origin of human CoVs

The three fatal CoVs that affect humans have zoonotic origins, including the SARS-CoV-2. These CoVs have bats as their natural reservoir, and an intermediary host transmits the virus to humans. Humans have contracted the MERS-CoV from camels and SARS-CoV from civet cats. Further, SARS-CoV-2 was most probably transmitted from raccoons to humans since a virus with a 99.998% sequence similarity to SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in the raccoon excrement found in the metal cages of the Huanan market, Wuhan. The threat of the emergence of novel pathogenic variants increases when the animal-adapted SARS-CoV-2 can infect humans and traverse species barriers, as it did with minks.

MERS-CoV vaccine candidate based on RNA replicon

The authors' laboratory has previously developed CoV-derived propagation-defective and replication-competent RNA replicons as potential platforms for vaccine development. Compared to traditional messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccinations, these replicons used an RNA dose that was 60 times lower.

The first method for engineering CoV genomes was created by cloning a copy of the CoV complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) into bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). This method has proved crucial for generating self-replicating RNAs from CoV RNA genomes by deleting a group of genes.

The team found that in the absence of the complementation of the envelope (E) protein, virus-like particles (VLPs) carrying recombinant MERS-CoV-E (rMERS-CoV-E) RNA replicons were not contagious. These VLPs were artificially liberated from infected cells through freeze-thawing and stayed non-infectious, confirming their safety. A single rMERS-CoV-E replicon immunization safeguarded the highly vulnerable keratin 18-human dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (K18-hDPP4) transgenic mice from a deadly viral infection.

Deleting about five separate genes in a mouse-adapted virus context (rMERS-MA30-[4a, 3, 4b, E, 5]) improved the safety of the RNA replicon based on rMERS-CoV-E. The likelihood of recombination with other human CoVs, like HCoV-229-E, was decreased by deleting other non-essential genes in the RNA, such as 5 and 3. The team discovered that in hDPP4-knock-in (KI) mice, the rMERS-MA30-[4a, 3, 4b, E, 5] replicon caused immunity against a lethal MERS-MA30 virus dose and advanced sterilizing immunity with high neutralizing antibody levels.

Next generation SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates based on safe and efficient propagation-defective replication-competent RNA replicons

The authors sought to totally or partially delete non-replicase and replicase genes located at distal genome domains to boost the biosafety of the SARS-CoV-2-stemmed replicon to avoid the possibility that a single recombination incident with circulating CoVs could reestablish virus virulence and the potential of dissemination. The generation of VLPs from packaging cell lines trans-complementing RNA replicons with the proteins necessary for replicon propagation was the most effective method for producing a SARS-CoV-2-stemmed RNA replicon.

SARS-CoV-2 VLPs offered complete protection from virus infections, as demonstrated by the evaluation of the SARS-CoV-2-stemmed RNA replicon vaccine option in humanized K18-human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) transgenic mice immunized intranasally. To further verify the safety and efficacy of the RNA replicon vaccine candidate, the scientists assessed it in non-human primate animals and hamster models.

Conclusions

Overall, in the present manuscript, the authors stated that CoVs possess the broadest genomes across RNA viruses and can store a significant amount of data without integrating their genomes while replicating in the cell cytoplasm. The transcription of the CoV sgmRNAs, which involves a template switch and mimics a high-frequency recombination strategy that may promote the virus genome variability, was a discontinuous procedure in contrast to continuous virus replication.

The three lethal human CoVs, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and SARS-CoV, originated through zoonotic transmission. The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 contains a furine proteolytic area facilitating the virus activation in any tissue, enabling this CoV strain to be substantially pathogenic and polytropic.

By eliminating the E protein gene required for virulence and vital viral morphogenesis and accessory genes 4a, 3, 5, and 4b accountable for innate immunity antagonism, a propagation-deficient RNA replicon was synthesized utilizing MERS-CoV as a template to weaken MERS-CoV-[4a, 3, 5, 4b, E]. This RNA replicon was a viable vaccine prospect for this virus and an intriguing platform for vector-based vaccine generation because it was strongly damped and induced sterilizing immunity following a single immunization via the intranasal route in transgenic mice harboring the MERS-CoV receptor.

Moreover, the team noted the possibility of developing an approach for designing RNA replicon vaccines targeting other CoVs pathogenic to humans.
The intake pumps that once drew 6 million gallons of water a day from the Oostanaula River now sit mostly dormant in this northwestern Georgia city.

Local officials contend that years of contamination miles upstream sent toxic perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, into Rome's water supply, rendering it potentially dangerous for the city's roughly 37,000 residents. A water source switch from the Oostanaula and added treatment have reduced the traces of the chemicals running through residents' taps, but they have not eliminated PFAS from the community's water supply.

Test results that found contamination in Rome have echoed in communities across the country as researchers and regulators grapple with concerns over the implications of consuming the ubiquitous chemicals. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency is accelerating the debate. In June, the EPA issued new advisories on PFAS in drinking water that slash the level that regulators consider safe for four chemicals in the family, including two of the most common, PFOA and PFOS.

The EPA health advisories are not legally enforceable. But the agency this year is expected to propose new limits on PFAS in public water systems. If those drinking water regulations mirror the EPA's latest advisories, water system operators nationwide will need to act to address the presence of those chemicals.

"It's quite an important message," said Dr. Philippe Grandjean, a PFAS expert and an adjunct environmental health professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "This stuff is everywhere.''

The Environmental Working Group, a research and advocacy organization that tracks PFAS, said it has logged more than 2,800 sites in the U.S. that have PFAS contamination. Public records show the chemicals have turned up in water samples collected from home water wells, churches, schools, military bases, nursing homes, and municipal water supplies in small towns like Rome and big cities like Chicago.

They also are present in nearly every American's blood, according to studies. And some PFAS compounds bioaccumulate  meaning that chemical concentrations are not easily cleared in the body and instead increase over time as people consume trace amounts each day.

In July, a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine said PFAS testing should be offered to people who have likely been exposed to high levels through their jobs or those living in areas with known PFAS contamination. Grandjean, who helped review the report for the National Academies, said the committee concluded that "people have a right to know their exposure level and to be offered proper health care follow-up." He said that doing so is "very important and, in my mind, necessary."

Both the EPA advisories and the National Academies' report follow steady grassroots efforts to curb PFAS chemicals, which have been used in consumer products for decades. Since their invention in the 1940s, the compounds  known by the moniker "forever chemicals" because they don't break down quickly  have been widely applied to household and industrial products, including carpet, waterproof clothes, and nonstick cookware.

PFAS' presence in firefighting foam, food packaging, and even dental floss poses an ongoing challenge. And efforts to reduce PFAS resemble the often-frustrating, decades-long campaign to eliminate another environmental hazard  lead  from homes, soil, and water.

"There has been a dramatic increase in advocacy and public awareness about PFAS," said Alissa Cordner, an expert on the chemicals and an environmental sociology professor at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.

In their report, researchers for the National Academies said they found links between exposure to PFAS and four health conditions: decreased immune response, elevated cholesterol, decreased infant and fetal growth, and increased risk of kidney cancer. The report also found a possible association between the chemicals and breast cancer, changes in liver enzymes, increased risk of testicular cancer, and thyroid disease.

And EPA officials said the agency's latest advisories are based on new science and account for indications "that some negative health effects may occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero."

Most states don't regulate PFAS, though.

That makes the EPA advisories important, said Jamie DeWitt, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at East Carolina University. "The message from the EPA is that if these PFAS can be detected in drinking water, they pose health risks," she said.

The American Chemistry Council, an industry trade group, pushed back against the advisories and recently asked a federal court to vacate them, saying that the agency process was "scientifically flawed and procedurally improper" and set "impossibly low standards for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water." In a June statement, the council said PFAS have important uses, including in renewable energy efforts and medical supplies.

One producer of PFAS, 3M, said in a statement that the company "acted responsibly in connection with products containing PFAS and will vigorously defend its record of environmental stewardship."

The compounds' development took off with initial hits in Teflon and later Scotchgard. There are 12,000 variations of them now, but only about 150 are being studied by scientists and government agencies, DeWitt said.

U.S. manufacturers voluntarily phased out PFOS and PFOA, the two most extensively produced, but they're still found in drinking water. The city of Rome is among 10 North Georgia communities where PFOS or PFOA have been found in drinking water supplies at higher levels than the EPA advisories declare is safe, the state's environmental regulatory agency said.

Six years ago, officials in Rome were forced to switch the city's water supply from the Oostanaula to the nearby Etowah River, a brownish tributary that merges with the Oostanaula near a downtown bridge. Years of chemical contamination in the Oostanaula that Rome officials said begins dozens of miles upstream in Dalton made the water potentially dangerous. They said that in Dalton, the epicenter of U.S. carpet manufacturing, industrial waste containing PFAS has leached into the Conasauga River, which flows into the Oostanaula.

Officials in Rome plan to build a $100 million reverse-osmosis filtering system to remove the chemicals from the city's water supply. Ratepayers will foot the bill, although a lawsuit filed by the city against carpet manufacturers and their chemical suppliers aims to recover those costs. A separate lawsuit filed by a Rome resident and ratepayer levies similar accusations against the upstream companies. Defendants in the two Rome-based suits have denied the allegations.

The EPA announced $1 billion in grant funding so states can address PFAS and other contaminants in drinking water. But modifications to public water systems nationwide will likely outstrip that allocation quickly.

Downstream from Rome, officials in the Alabama cities of Centre and Gadsden have reported high levels of PFAS in the Coosa River and filed lawsuits against carpet makers. The Gadsden lawsuit is expected to go to trial in October.

The chemicals have drawn a flurry of litigation over the past two decades. A Bloomberg Law analysis found more than 6,400 PFAS-related lawsuits filed in federal courts between July 2005 and March 2022.

Substantial payouts have followed. DuPont and Chemours, which made PFAS products for decades, settled more than 3,500 lawsuits in 2017 for more than $670 million. Both companies denied wrongdoing. And 3M settled a lawsuit from the state of Minnesota for $850 million. The same company settled litigation in the Decatur, Alabama, area for $98 million.

The EPA now should cast a broader net to consider the wide variety of the chemicals, Cordner said. "The persistence of PFAS means we'll be dealing with this for a long time," she said. "Because of their sheer quantity, we need to treat PFAS as a class. We can't go chemical by chemical."

EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll said in an email to KHN that the agency is working to divide the large class of PFAS into smaller categories based on similarities such as chemical structure, physical and chemical properties, and toxicological properties. That work, he said, would "accelerate the effectiveness of regulations, enforcement actions, and the tools and technologies needed to remove PFAS from air, land, and water."

In the meantime, some companies and the military have moved to stop using the chemicals.

The Green Science Policy Institute, an environmental advocacy group, has developed a list of PFAS-free products, including rain gear and apparel, shoes, baby products, cosmetics, and dental floss.

Two years ago, Home Depot and Lowe's said they wouldn't sell carpets or rugs with PFAS in them. This year, the textile manufacturer Milliken said it would eliminate all PFAS from its facilities by the end of 2022.

A handful of flooring companies have followed suit. Dalton-based Shaw Industries, a defendant in the Rome lawsuits, said it has stopped using PFAS in soil and stain treatments for residential and commercial carpet products.

The Coosa River Basin Initiative, a Rome-based environmental advocacy organization, has been tracking the PFAS issue closely. Its executive director, Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, said the EPA has moved "at lightning speed'' on PFAS, compared with other agency actions.

But unless the eventual regulations are sweeping and the cleanups extensive, he said, "we the people will be guinea pigs for PFAS-related health problems."
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers found that myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) was common in long coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Background

Although most patients recover from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection within weeks, some present debilitating symptoms that linger beyond the acute phase. The overall prevalence of the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is estimated at 0.43%.

The post-COVID-19 conditions are increasingly detected even in asymptomatic cases or those with mild disease. PASC is characterized by post-exertional malaise, brain fog, headaches, sleep disturbance, dyspnea, and chest pain. In a multinational survey of more than 3,700 participants, post-exertional malaise, fatigue, and brain fog were reported most frequently six months after COVID-19.

These symptoms share similar features with ME/CFS, another disease that is often debilitating. In two small cohort studies of COVID-19 patients, nearly 45% of subjects met the diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.

The pathobiological features of ME/CFS are poorly defined, and many PASC patients with ME/CFS features might allow for better characterization of both conditions.

About the study

In the current study, researchers characterized a clinical cohort of PASC patients and determined the prevalence of ME/CFS phenotype in long COVID based on the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2015 criteria. One hundred and forty adults with a history of COVID-19 were referred to the multidisciplinary Stanford PACS clinic from May 18, 2021, to February 1, 2022.

Data about persistent symptoms from all patients were obtained via a questionnaire seven days before the visit and from electronic health records (EHRs). The questionnaire captured information on a) 29 symptoms commonly reported during acute COVID-19, b) severity of symptoms on the Likert scale, c) vaccination status, and d) post-COVID-19 functional status scale (FSS).

Data on demographics and radiology, laboratory results, vital signs, oxygen saturation, body mass index (BMI), heart rate measurements, and orthostatic blood pressure were obtained from EHR. Additionally, each patient was sent an identical questionnaire before their scheduled visit.

For patients whose clinic visits occurred more than six months after COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms were analyzed to see if they fulfilled the IOM 2015 criteria for ME/CFS. Patients were excluded from the study if they had previously experienced ME/CFS or other condition(s) explaining pre-COVID-19 fatigue.

Findings

Six of the 140 patients referred to the clinic were excluded due to incomplete questionnaires or the lack of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test results. The median age of the remaining patients was 47 years. Most were females (59%) and White (49.3%). Seventeen patients were hospitalized during acute COVID-19; two required intensive care. Sixty-two patients had comorbidities predisposing them to severe COVID-19.

Functional limitations were noted in 109 patients, including 45 subjects with significantly compromised wellbeing. The median duration of symptoms at the initial clinic visit was 285.5 days, and the median number of symptoms was 12 per patient. Fatigue, post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, brain fog, and sleepiness during the day were common.

Notably, the median number of symptoms was greater in females than males, with fatigue, dysgeusia, and insomnia being more frequent among females. The authors found a significant correlation between the severity and frequency of symptoms. Principal component analysis revealed that fatigue, post-exertional malaise, brain fog, daytime sleepiness, and unrefreshing sleep were more likely to co-occur.

Symptoms persisted longer than six months for 105 patients, with fatigue, brain fog, post-exertional malaise, insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and unrefreshing sleep being the most common and severe. Forty-eight patients met the IOM criteria, and the final ME/CFS cohort (after exclusions) comprised 45 patients. Most patients in this cohort were females, healthy, and non-hospitalized (during acute COVID-19), with obesity as the most common comorbidity. More than half of the cohort had a significant decrease in their functionality.

Conclusions

Most patients referred to the PASC clinic had not been hospitalized or supported with oxygen during acute COVID-19. Females had significantly more symptoms than males. In conclusion, 43% of patients with PASC and symptoms for longer than six months met the criteria for ME/CFS. The ME/CFS-PASC phenotype, like ME/CFS, was more prevalent in non-hospitalized females.

The clinical similarities between ME/CFS-PASC and ME/CFS suggest common pathobiology. Notably, these findings are from a single clinic in Northern California with a bias towards specific populations and a lower proportion of minority populations. Thus, large multicenter studies with a diverse population are required to corroborate the results.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Gavin Newsom is fed up with Republicans for attacking abortion rights and blocking gun regulations  and with his own Democratic Party for failing to boldly and brashly take on the conservative right and push a progressive agenda.

And as California's first-term governor positions himself as the national Democratic Party pit bull, no other issue is defining his political rise like health care.

"Where the hell is my party?" Newsom fumed in May as it became clear that the U.S. Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. "Why aren't we standing up more firmly?" He later took out a television ad accusing Florida's Republican leaders of "criminalizing women and doctors."

Over the past year, Newsom has lobbed multiple attacks against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a possible presidential candidate, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott  both Republicans  for their positions on guns and abortion. He has taken to national TV and social media to dub California an abortion sanctuary state that welcomes women from around the country  and is boasting about a November ballot initiative that would enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. And he's framing gun violence as a public health crisis, saying that Democrats need to more aggressively challenge Republicans to enact sweeping gun safety laws.

"It's time to put them on the defense  we're sick and tired of being on the defense," Newsom said in late July as he signed a law that allows Californians to sue gun-makers for negligence, a law modeled after a Texas law allowing private citizens to sue abortion providers or those who help women seeking an abortion.

Newsom, a former mayor of San Francisco, is also hitting the airwaves to tout his health care accomplishments. He is crowing about expanding health care coverage to millions of previously uninsured Californians  a holy grail issue for Democrats agitating for universal health care  and California's attempt to force down drug prices by entering the generic drug market. He also argues that, on his watch, California has led the nation in its response to the covid-19 pandemic, pointing to his decision to impose the first statewide stay-at-home order in the country, in March 2020.

Political strategists and national health care experts say health care is a winning issue for the Democratic Party as it readies for a midterm election battle in November  and as Democrats seek a strategy to retain the White House in 2024. And they say Newsom could be a strong contender.

"You can't look at Gavin Newsom and say he wouldn't be a very attractive option," said Chris Jennings, a health policy veteran based in Washington, D.C., who worked under Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. "He seems to relish debates at a time when people are looking for a fighter, and he's well positioned, having notched some progressive health care wins. But it hasn't been at the expense of scaring away moderates."

Newsom, who last year handily defeated a Republican-driven recall attempt and is expected to coast to reelection in deep-blue California in November, denies that he's laying the groundwork for a presidential bid and says he supports President Joe Biden unequivocally.

But as he takes to the airwaves and social media to boast about his health care bona fides, he appears to be exploring a national campaign and is putting a spin on his California record. For instance, although he says California offers "universal access to health care coverage," many Californians remain uninsured, can't afford coverage, or can't get treatment even if they have health insurance.

"His achievements are often embellished, and pronouncements of success are often made before the hard work is done," said Rob Stutzman, a Republican strategist in California. "And there's plenty of things for people like Ron DeSantis to point to about California that are utter failures, like the homelessness crisis."

Polling shows slipping support for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, also a Californian, and a recent national CNN poll found that 75% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters want someone other than Biden to run in 2024. One late-June survey of U.S. adults suggested that Newsom could prevail in a general election matchup against DeSantis or former President Donald Trump.

"I think we as Democrats are standing up to the right wing, but Gavin Newsom has a certain edge to his critique, and I like it. I think it's feisty, I think it's strong, I think it's fearless," said former U.S. senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat who retired from office in 2017 but is working to elect Democrats to national office.

"Health care is important to him, and he figures out a way to get things done," she said. "When the time is right, I would be proud to support him."

Newsom campaign spokesperson Nathan Click said Newsom believes Biden should run and will not challenge him but argues he can elevate key Democratic issues such as abortion rights.

"He's leading by example and taking the fight to Republicans, making them own how they are taking away people's rights and freedoms," Click told KHN. "He realizes that he has agency on this question and how the Democratic Party is going to rebuild."

A spokesperson for Abbott slammed Newsom for ignoring problems on his home turf, such as the homelessness epidemic and the high cost of living. The DeSantis campaign did not respond to requests for comment but has lobbed similar attacks against Newsom.

"Governor Newsom should focus on all the jobs and businesses that are leaving California and coming to Texas," said Abbott press secretary Renae Eze.

Newsom campaigned on single-payer health care during his first run for governor, promising to "lead the effort" to create a taxpayer-financed system that puts the government in charge of delivering care.

But in office, he has distanced himself from that pledge, instead pressing a message of universal health care that keeps the current system intact but expands coverage.

"California is the FIRST and ONLY state in the nation offering universal access to health care coverage," Newsom said in back-to-back campaign emails in late July. "We have the strongest gun safety laws in the country. We are making our own insulin in California."

But California is not making its own insulin yet. And though Newsom has said California offers universal access to health care, coverage remains too expensive for many low- and middle-income residents, and Medi-Cal  California's Medicaid program  is riddled with problems that put care out of reach for many.

"We as Democrats have to be honest enough to acknowledge that coverage does not automatically mean adequate or timely care," said Democratic strategist Garry South, a longtime Newsom ally. "The fact is that under Medi-Cal they're often not getting good care that is timely and appropriate to meet their health care needs."

Since he became governor in 2019, Newsom has expanded Medi-Cal to hundreds of thousands of people living in the state without legal authorization. This year, he approved an additional expansion to open the program, by 2024, to all Californians who are income-eligible, regardless of immigration status.

Newsom is also allocating billions to bring social services and behavioral health care to the most vulnerable and expensive Medi-Cal patients, including homeless people and people with drug addictions. And after a Republican-controlled Congress zeroed out the Affordable Care Act penalty on uninsured people in 2017, Newsom approved an insurance requirement for Californians and state-based subsidies to help low- and middle-class residents purchase coverage.

Despite these major expansions, an estimated 2.3 million Californians under 65 will remain uninsured, according to an April analysis by University of California researchers.

Richard Figueroa, a longtime health policy expert who now serves as deputy cabinet secretary for Newsom, argues the administration has made nation-leading strides to expand health insurance but acknowledged that California will never be able to expand coverage to everyone.

"We will always have some uninsured, given the kind of patchwork system that we have. There's no requirement that people be enrolled, even if it's affordable and even if it's free," Figueroa told KHN. "We're filling a big gap in the access piece of the puzzle."

Newsom's expansion of health care coverage to all immigrants regardless of status may also open him up to criticism should he mount a bid for national office.

"Whether saying 'I was able to achieve these things in liberal California' translates to the rest of the country will be the question," Jennings said. "When it comes to subsidizing immigrants, most national politicians have concluded that you can't take that position and win nationally."

Celinda Lake, a political strategist who helped lead polling for Biden's 2020 campaign and conducts polling for the Democratic National Committee, said Newsom could deflect political attacks if he can make the case that he's providing better care while saving taxpayer money.

"Democrats are fired up, and voters don't understand why more can't get done in Washington," Lake said. "Whoever is in the Democratic primary, you're going to have to be for universal health care. And if Gov. Newsom runs in 2024 or 2028, he can point to what he's done in California to show it can work."

This story was produced by KHN, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Rapper Fat Joe takes on hospital industry executives in an advertisement, contending that many hospitals are disobeying a law that requires them to publicly post the prices they charge cash-paying patients and insurance companies for every service they offer.

The ad, paid for by a group called Power to the Patients, states, correctly, that hospitals must list their negotiated prices and asserts that the rule helps patients by making it harder for them to be overcharged. The ad also blames politicians and regulators because the price information is still not necessarily available.

"Nobody's enforcing that law," Joe alleges in the foreboding commercial, which began running on television and social media in April and is still airing.

The ad reflects a desire for accountability as policymakers increasingly view price transparency as a tool to bring down health care costs. And because the law requiring the posting of prices went into effect more than a year ago, we decided to take a look: Is anyone enforcing it?

Turns out there is some enforcement, although the process is more complicated and slower-moving than some observers would like.

Some background on transparency

Under rules that took effect in January 2021, the nation's more than 6,000 hospitals must post online the rates they've negotiated with every insurer for every service, from appendectomies to X-rays, as well as the prices they charge cash-paying patients.

The requirement, which the hospital industry unsuccessfully went to court to stop, stems from the Affordable Care Act and an executive order from the Trump administration. Failure to post the required price information can result in fines of $300 a day, recently increased by the Biden administration to as much as $5,500 a day for the largest hospitals.

The idea behind the rule is that consumers, including employers who pay a large chunk of the health insurance bills in the U.S., can use the information to shop for less expensive hospital care, which, in turn, might slow spending or reduce prices. At a minimum, the thinking goes, it will help patients know in advance what to expect. In July, even broader rules went into effect for health insurers, which must post almost all the prices they've negotiated  not only with hospitals but also with every other kind of medical facility they contract with, as well as doctors.

Hospitals have dragged their feet, and compliance is spotty. Studies have found that many hospitals have posted at least some data but that large shares of the facilities have failed to post everything required.

What about power to the patients?

The website of Power to the Patients, which is behind the ad and a broader campaign about health care costs, refers questions to an associated organization, Patient Rights Advocate. It is a nonprofit started by businessperson Cynthia Fisher, who founded two companies and serves on the board of the Boston Beer Co. According to Fisher, she is also the primary funder of Power to the Patients, which she described as a communications organization that has applied to the IRS for nonprofit charity status.

In an interview, she cited no specific sources for the claim that no one is enforcing the law, but Patient Rights Advocate has released two related reports, the most recent of which said only 14.3% of 1,000 hospitals it reviewed had posted all the prices the law requires.

She praised both the Trump and Biden administrations for focusing on price transparency, but she said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services had not evaluated enough hospitals or moved fast enough to sanction those that have not complied.

What about enforcement?

When the ads began running in April, 15 months after the requirement went into effect, regulators had not fined any hospitals.

In early June, CMS issued penalty fines of about $1.1 million against two Georgia hospitals  Northside Hospital Atlanta and Northside Hospital Cherokee  that are owned by the same company. Those were the first fines issued under the new rules.

As of late July, the agency had sent 368 warning notices to hospitals and issued 188 corrective action plan requests to hospitals that had previously received warning notices but had not yet corrected deficiencies, according to a statement from Dr. Meena Seshamani, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare.

"CMS is actively enforcing these rules to ensure people know what a hospital charges for items and services," Seshamani said in the statement.

But enforcement is neither a quick nor an easy proposition. Each step in the process gives both sides time to work out the details, said Ariel Levin, director of coverage policy at the American Hospital Association.

The first step is the warning letter, which outlines the suspected violation, such as not having an accessible file on the website or not including negotiated prices or cash rates.

Hospitals have 90 days to respond. For example, Levin said, a hospital might explain that its files have some blank spots because it has not negotiated rates for a particular service with a particular insurer.

"If CMS deems the response appropriate, the case is closed," she said. "If CMS wants more information or doesn't think it's right, that's when the corrective action plan comes in."

Fines are usually the last step.

The nearly year and a half that went by before the first fines were issued wasn't that long, Levin said, considering that both hospitals and regulators faced a learning curve as far as what the files should contain, that hospitals were given time to resolve technological problems and challenges related to posting the pricing information, and that hospitals were stretched thin because of the covid-19 pandemic.

Still, the lag triggered impatience.

"Some stakeholders have been frustrated by the slow pace of the enforcement," said Katie Keith, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at Georgetown University Law Center.

Even so, "I don't think it's fair to say no one is enforcing" the law, Keith said. CMS has "issued monetary penalties against the two hospitals in Georgia, which they don't do very often, and there have been hundreds of warning letters notifying hospitals that they have to fulfill their obligations."

Warning letters are a good step but "need to be followed with meaningful enforcement," said Elizabeth Mitchell, president and CEO of the Purchaser Business Group on Health, which represents large employers that offer health insurance and has long sought more easily accessible price information.

And with more than 300 warning letters issued, Mitchell expects "there will likely be additional fines because we're not seeing a readiness to comply."

Does price transparency matter?

Power to the Patients has thrown its resources into the campaign  Fisher said the ad "cost millions," for instance  because they expect price data to unleash more competition in health care. Consumers will "have choice, save money, and make their own health decisions based upon knowing prices," Fisher said.

But that's not a given, say policy experts, noting that price data alone may not sway patients, who often seek care from providers their doctors recommend and mostly don't use the shopping tools already available. And until the enormous data files from the hospitals and, more recently, the insurers go from simply being publicly available to being accessible in consumer-friendly formats, they will be difficult for the average patient to use, Keith and other experts said.

"This idea that it will unleash a consumer revolution has not yet come to pass," Keith said.

Our ruling

Hospitals have taken their time in posting the required price information. Many still need to provide some, or even all, of what is required. And the enforcement process has proved to be time-intensive and bureaucratic.

However, the transparency directive is a first-of-its-kind rule, so a learning curve was to be expected, for both hospitals and regulators, as they figured out the types of data required and the format in which the information was to be posted.

Although it is correct to say that the enforcement has been slow and spotty, experts maintain that ramping it up takes time. And when the ad first aired this spring, enforcement was especially lackluster. However, the ad continues to run unaltered, even as enforcement efforts have started to show signs of gaining steam. In other words, the statement is partly accurate but leaves out important context. We rate this Half True.
The DFG's Permanent Senate Commission on Animal Protection Experimentation has published a detailed "Position Paper on Ensuring High-Performance Biomedical Research While Maintaining the Highest Animal Welfare Standards". Based on nine premises, the publication formulates recommendations for the creation of framework conditions to ensure high-performance biomedical research in Germany and the European Union while at the same time meeting the very highest standard in terms of research quality and animal welfare. The paper focuses on all aspects of knowledge-led research - including teaching and the transfer of knowledge to application.

In view of efforts by policymakers and society at large to promote a phase-out of animal experiments, the Senate Commission emphasizes in its paper the necessity of the freedom of science enshrined in the German constitution in the interests of scientific progress and innovation in medicine and biomedicine. In this connection, the freedom of science also includes a free and diverse choice of methods, which may also include animal experiments - providing a rigorous ethical assessment is carried out beforehand and if no other animal-free methods are available. The paper emphasizes that animal experiments will remain indispensable for the foreseeable future and that a fundamental ban on animal experiments would endanger Germany and the EU as a whole in terms of their status as a research hub and their innovation potential. It would increase dependence on biomedical innovation from non-European sources, reduce sovereignty and the ability to act independently in the face of future challenges, and remove control over animal welfare from Germany and the EU.

The aim of the paper is firstly to draw attention to one-sided developments, but it also seeks to set out the framework conditions that have to be established so as to continue to be able to guarantee animal welfare and high-quality research in the future. To this end, the paper is aimed not just at researchers and research institutions, but at all stakeholders involved in animal experimentation, i.e. political decision-makers, ministries and authorities, as well as the media, the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry.

Specific recommendations include the principle that animal welfare measures should always be considered in the context of scientific validity in order to achieve the desired effect. The selection of biomedical methods and models must always be based on their suitability in pursuing the relevant research questions in order to ensure scientific quality. The promotion and development of non-animal alternative methods must be practice-oriented with a view to being transferred to day-to-day research work. In addition, the DFG Senate Commission recommends that science and research should communicate more transparently about the existing use of animal experimentation; this also applies to research funders, the media and manufacturers, as well as those who use products that result from animal experiments. With regard to policymakers, the paper calls for inter-ministerial cooperation to better address the link between animal welfare and quality in research in future in the context of legislative procedures and subsequent legislative and executive steps.

This aim of this publication by the DFG Senate Commission is also to respond to the fact that public debate in recent years has increasingly focused on the replacement of animal experiments. By contrast, this paper stresses the equal importance of all aspects of the 3R principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), as is well-established in research. The central guiding principle is the professional, responsible handling of laboratory animals to ensure the highest level of animal welfare and quality in research.

"Animal experiments are still hugely important in biomedical research," said the chair of the DFG Senate Commission on Animal Protection and Experimentation, Professor Dr. Brigitte Vollmar, commenting on the publication.
Melanopsin (OPN4) is a light-sensing protein found in skin and retina cells. A new study conducted at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil suggests that OPN4 can also participate in the development and progression of melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer.

In experiments with animals and genetically modified cells at the Comparative Physiology of Pigmentation Laboratory belonging to the Institute of Biosciences (IB-USP), the researchers showed that the disease advances more slowly when this protein is not functional. The findings are reported in an article published in Communications Biology, a Springer Nature journal.

Although other groups had already shown that opsins are involved in cancer, this is the first such finding for melanoma, which accounts for 5% of malignant skin tumors and 80% of all deaths from cancer. The study was supported by FAPESP (projects 17/24615-5, 17/26651-9, 18/14728-0, and 19/19005-9.

The basis for the study was an investigation by the same group using models of melanocytes (melanin-producing skin cells) to show that melanopsin was expressed in these cells and participated in processes such as pigmentation, biological clock adjustment, and even cell death due to ultraviolet A radiation.

The latest study used the DNA editing technique known as CRISPR to alter the sequence of the gene Opn4 and create a stable melanoma cell model with a non-functional version of the protein.

When we created the knockout cells [without a functional OPN4 gene], we realized they had a very different phenotype: they grew less and displayed reduced proliferative capacity. We wondered why and decided to find out whether melanopsin played a role in melanoma progression or carcinogenesis." Leonardo Vinicius Monteiro de Assis, Study First Author and Researcher, University of Lubeck

Assis partnered on the study with Jose Thalles Lacerda, the second author of the article.

The theory was confirmed first in experiments performed in vitro and then in animals. Tumor cells containing the non-functional version of OPN4 grew less and more slowly than wild-type cells (without modification of OPN4). The discovery was later confirmed using proteomics and data from public databases.

"In sum, we showed that cell growth decreases in melanoma when you remove OPN4. This is basically due to two processes that aren't necessarily related but can be: increased activation of the immune system, although we don't yet know why; and a very significant reduction in signaling by GTPases, proteins resembling tiny motors that play a role in cell cycle progression and are greatly reduced in these tumors," Assis said.

The study also revealed that MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor), a very important transcription factor in melanoma, is also much less expressed in cells with the non-functional version of melanopsin.

According to Assis, all these findings together suggest for the first time that melanopsin acts as an oncogene in melanoma, i.e., that it is associated with the development and growth of this type of cancer. Until now, melanopsin had never been linked to the development of tumors. More experiments on melanoma cell lines and other approaches are still needed to arrive at a definitive confirmation of this role.

Prospects

The Comparative Physiology of Pigmentation Laboratory, led by physiologist Ana Maria de Lauro Castrucci, is one of only a few research groups worldwide to have demonstrated (in 2018) that melanopsin also detects temperature, acting independently as a thermosensor and a photosensor. With the new information, it has now added one more important aspect by showing that the molecule can become a promising therapeutic tool in the future.

"Melanopsin could be explored for the treatment of melanoma, and this opens up a new avenue for research on its role in other diseases, such as those of the liver, where opsins are also present," Assis said.

Castrucci's lab is currently investigating the systemic role of melanopsin in organs it is not classically known to influence, such as fatty tissue, the liver, and the heart, among others.
Mindy ONeall is presiding officer of the Borough Assembly and a member of the Climate Action Committee. Stefan Milkowski is a member of the Climate Action Committee. This community perspective reflects the thoughts and opinions of the individual authors.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

A joint cooperation to carry out a number of major research projects was discussed during a meeting between the National Space Science Agency (NSSA) and European Space Agency (ESA).

NSSA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohammed Al Aseeri chaired the Bahraini side in the meeting, which highlighted NSSA activities and projects as well as ESA spatial programme.

The meeting also focused on the Galileo navigation system project, the Copernicus project for Earth observation and the Ignos data correction system project, in addition to a number of future and research projects.

Dr Aseeri stressed NSSAs keenness on strengthening relations with the ESA and with various space agencies to achieve mutual benefit that serves everyone. He stressed the importance of exchanging expertise and knowledge in the space sector to empower NSSA employees and provide them with more experiences and skills in the fields of space sciences.

The budget of the European Space Program for the next five years is estimated at about 15 billion euros. This massive program is expected to create more than 250,000 jobs related to the space field on the European continent alone.

The value of global investments in the space sector in 2021 exceeded more than $469 billion. To reach a trillion dollars before the end of the current decade.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The High Criminal Court sentenced five Asian men to five years in prison each for conning several victims of a combined total of BD1,500 by sending them pernicious links. They were a l s o fine d BD5,000 each. The defendants reportedly sent text messages to the victims urging them to click on the link to do some necessary updates. They then withdrew money from victims accounts after stealing their information.

I received a text message which I thought was from an exchange company. It requested me to click on a link in order to update my information. After doing that, BD999 was withdrawn from my account, one of the victims told prosecutors.

The defendants transferred the money to a random person, and they called him, requesting him to transfer the money to a different number. I transfered part of it after I received the call, the man who received the money told prosecutors as he was summoned in the case as a witness.

I convinced him to come and personally collect the rest of the money from me after I informed the police about the incident. He came with two others, and all of them were were arrested by the police, he added. The other two were arrested later after investigations established their implication in the case.
Agencies | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has signed a consultancy agreement with Lufthansa Consulting (LCG) for the latter to provide business optimization and process improvement consultancy services.

To assist BAS in its transformation, LCG will conduct a comprehensive study of the companys current operating model with the aim of developing transformative initiatives that aim towards improving efficiency and achieving operational excellence.

We are honored to partner with Lufthansa Consulting (LCG), and welcome their assistance on our upcoming transformation. Through this partnership, we aim to further enhance the companys operations in order to provide the best-in-class services in the field, Mohammed Khalil, CEO of BAS, said.

Lufthansa Consulting is proud to be entrusted with this important project and we are very much looking forward to working in a dedicated partnership with BAS. Our intention is to achieve sustainable improvements in BAS performance in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the company and to be ready for any future challenges, Alexander Manakos, Head of Market Middle East at Lufthansa Consulting, said.

In order to accomplish this, we have selected a project team that consists of experienced individuals, all with practical industry backgrounds. They will act as a team with their BAS counterparts and spend the majority of their project time on-site in Bahrain, he added.

The new partnership with LCG will enable BAS to transform the organization through the adoption of a more stream-lined method of operation, which aligns with the companys ongoing strategy to achieve long-term operational excellence.
Just as technology and society evolve, Bitcoin and its processes are also doing so to better use the resources in the environment without affecting it.

You can visit: https://bitcode-prime.cloud/

Bitcoin and its mining process have been notably affected after the denunciations of the carbon footprint allegedly emitted after this digital currency's exploitation process.

The current technologies must be used at all levels; the objective is to improve the quality of life not only in one part of the world but globally since the damage generated in the environment affects everyone equally.

Given this situation, Bitcoin has a new strategy to take advantage of the waste found in Lake Atitlan, to recover these crystal clear waters of what has been cataloged as the world's most beautiful body of water.

Polluting waste in Lake Atitlan

To have a general perspective of what is happening concerning this natural wonder located in the southwest of Guatemala, surrounded by small towns that highlight the characteristics of the indigenous culture of the Mayans and the exotic volcanoes, which make it a tourist area where people from all over the world take refuge.

Thanks to the effect produced by the wastewater that flows into these waters, managing deteriorates the ecosystem generally, where nature and the species that take refuge there are collapsing and disappearing.

All this is due to the increase in the population in the area and the lack of drainage in the area that allows waste to be diverted by sewage without leaving aside the matter of contamination by solid and chemical waste.

The lake is already in an alarming phase that worries its population, generating an environmental alert; in this scenario, Bitcoin mining and Lake Bitcoin's proposal to take advantage of all these polluting resources to generate renewable energy has emerged.

Through this project, it would be possible to contribute to the cleaning of the lake, recovery of the environment, and, of course, the use of renewable electricity generation for mining operations.

Electrical energy for Bitcoin based on waste

A multidisciplinary team of researchers and scientists is involved in this new project to generate electricity through the use of polluting waste.

This time it contributes to recovering a tourist space in Latin America. Still, if you obtain positive effects, you would be facing the solution of the contamination of many natural areas and for the benefit of Bitcoin mining.

The project is based on the use of biogas energy, considering this resource as the salvation of Lake Atitlan; this process would be carried out through the collection of organic waste.

Through the use of digesters of considerable size, it would be possible to produce methane gas in the amount necessary for the mining equipment to function correctly.

Another aspect to consider is that electricity could be generated for Bitcoin miners using organic waste from crops or animal waste found in slaughterhouses.

This project intends to create a refuge for Bitcoin miners in this area, encouraging this sector as a possible generator of profitable income for the community.

Biodigester tanks were previously installed in the area, reaching an investment of more than 3,000 dollars. Still, they were never used, so there is a base with which the project can be directed.

Bitcoin and renewable energy

It is noteworthy that after the intense criticism of the Bitcoin mining process, many proposals have been created that contribute to the best use of electrical energy by controlling the effect it generates, even with the participation of institutions that protect the environment.

Bitcoin mining has recently stood out for reducing its polluting effect by adopting renewable energies to develop cryptocurrency mining activities, making them efficient and sustainable.

The adoption percentage of this type of energy resource is close to 60%, a very positive value since the carbon footprint that is produced contributes to the increase in the greenhouse effect and this, in turn, causes damage on a global level.

Conclusion

It is necessary to raise awareness not only at the Bitcoin mining level but also at the industrial level; everything is a complement just as everything can point to significant improvements in one sector, another can worsen the situation, achieve a consensus between the parties that cause a high impact in the environment would contribute to generating more efficient policies and strategies for it. In Bitcoin-Prime trading system, you will find more exciting data
As Japan faces a myriad of challenges from the coronavirus to an increasingly complex security landscape, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has packed his cabinet with seasoned lawmakers who he hopes can tackle them head-on.

Kishida kept five out of 19 ministerial-level officials in a reshuffle on Wednesday, while granting another five posts to those who previously served in the cabinet.

Energy supply tops the agenda. "We'll thoroughly assess our options including the use of nuclear power," Kishida told reporters Wednesday, referring to his plans of restarting reactors to deal with a looming power crunch this winter.

Kishida chose Yasutoshi Nishimura as the new economy, trade and industry minister, who will be responsible for steering energy policy. Nishimura began his career at the ministry, and has served as minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy.

"The broad plan is to restart nuclear reactors that meet safety requirements," Nishimura said Wednesday.

Generally, a reserve electricity generating capacity of 3% is required to ensure a stable supply. But areas served by Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings and Tohoku Electric Power, which includes the greater capital region, are expected to have a 1.5% buffer in January. Those served by six other major utilities, including the cities of Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka, are expected to have a buffer of 1.9%. The government aims to have nine nuclear reactors running this winter and to restart fossil fuel power plants to meet demand.

Japan currently has no plans to build new nuclear reactors. But a council under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has drafted a road map for developing fast reactors and other cutting-edge nuclear power technology. The government faces a difficult decision between public opinion, which turned against nuclear power after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster, and bolstering its electricity supply.

The supply of liquefied natural gas is a concern as well. Russia is moving to take control of the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project since invading Ukraine, raising concern that LNG shipments to Japan could be severed. ...continue reading
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In a close race in Tuesdays primary election, Republican incumbent Cindy Harrison emerged victorious to become the de facto winner of the 69th District state House seat.

With 915 votes, or about 51 percent, Harrison, a Newtown native, beat Republican Jason Buchsbaum, a Southbury resident, who received 869 votes, or about 49 percent.

No Democrats have filed to run for the seat, which includes the towns of Roxbury, New Milford, Bridgewater and Southbury.

In a phone call Wednesday afternoon, Harrison said one of her goals is to return to Hartford, to continue to "represent the values that we have here in the district."

One topic that's top of mind to her is tackling inflation.

Inflation is really making an impact on all the residents of the state of Connecticut and I think that we need to look at ways to reduce taxes and get some money back into the pockets of residents, and make their lives a little easier, she said.

She also addressed the state sales tax, saying it should be reduced.

That's the reason that people are paying so much more money and revenue to the state of Connecticut. The price of goods and services has gone up and when that goes up, we charge more tax to them, Harrison said. We can certainly make a reduction to the sales tax and make it more affordable.

This includes reducing the onerous sales tax at restaurants, which would boost businesses and provide relief to consumers dining out, she said.

She said the state should permanently eliminate the gas tax and extend the tax relief to diesel. A temporary holiday on the gas tax expires in December.

She owns a farm and said she uses a lot of diesel fuel.

The whole agricultural business uses a lot of diesel fuel and those are the people that get the food to us, she said. Costs have to get passed on to the consumer, so we're not helping anybody.

Harrison said she's anxious to get back to Hartford and also, that its important for her to get out into the district and meet with people.

In a statement posted Wednesday on his Facebook campaign page, Buchsbaum, who is serving his fourth term as a member of the Board of Selectmen in Southbury, congratulated Harrison.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported this campaign, and the hard work of all involved. I am proud of the campaign we ran which remained positive, substantive, and thoughtful throughout, Buchbaum wrote. I would like to especially thank Southbury Republicans who have shown me support throughout the years. While the overall results are not what we had hoped for, our campaign won Southbury by almost 9%.

Additionally, Buchbaum thanked Southbury Republicans for continuing to put your faith in me as a public servant in our community. I look forward to continuing to serve the town as we continue our good work on the Board and work together to move our community forward.
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A backyard cottage in Connecticut represents more than a backyard cottage.

For more than a year, the future of so-called accessory dwelling units  smaller, secondary homes on single-family properties  has ignited local political debate after state legislators last year enacted a new law meant to encourage more housing.

ADU supporters have called the homes low-hanging fruit in terms of the affordable housing crisis. They say that creating a bigger housing stock reduces the price of housing overall, especially when it comes to smaller homes. One study from the nonprofit Regional Planning Association posits that, combined with other zoning reforms, accessory apartments could help create up to 40,000 housing units over the next 20 years.

The 2021 law makes ADUs legal anywhere single-family homes are also permitted, with certain environmental exceptions. The statute also established that they can be attached or detached from the main house on the property and do not require special approvals from town officials.

But that law has an escape hatch, a provision that allows towns to opt out of the new statute, and officials are taking advantage of that for many different reasons.

Municipalities have until 2023 to decide the ultimate fate of accessory apartments within their borders. But dozens have already taken a stand on the state statute that seeks to allow ADUs, regardless of whether a town wants accessory dwelling units or not.

The statewide housing advocacy organization Desegregate Connecticut estimates that about half of the states towns and cities have at least discussed opting out of the new state zoning standards, but its executive director Pete Harrison said that decision doesnt mean towns are rejecting ADUs wholesale.

In terms of purely opting out ... I dont think anyones done that, Harrison said.

Before the state law passed, 92 percent of Connecticut towns permitted accessory dwellings in some capacity, with some prominent exceptions. Stamford, Derby, Waterbury, Meriden and East Haven prohibited ADUs entirely, according to data from the Desegregate CT Zoning Atlas. Other municipalities like Bridgeport and Danbury banned the structures in large swaths of each city.

Every town in the state imposes some sort of limit on accessory apartments. Some places limit property sizes that ADUs can go on. Others require permits from municipal zoning officials, put limits on who can live in the home or limit who can occupy the structures.

Opting out of the state rules has emerged as a popular option among municipalities, especially those looking to preserve local power over land use issues. Yet, opting out of the state standards for some towns is not a complete rejection.

During public hearing sessions across Connecticut, city and town officials have cited future control over accessory apartment rules as a compelling reason for opting out. While changing a state law is a long process controlled by the interests of many stakeholders, changing a municipal ordinance is less cumbersome and more directly reflects the needs of a municipality, they argue.

The opt out has emerged as a particularly viable path forward in Fairfield County, where many towns have defected from state standards to varying degrees.

I want to be able to maintain local control, Darien Planning and Zoning Commission chair Stephen Olvany said during a July 19 meeting. Weve done a great job doing it in all of our other stuff. If we opt out, which is what my recommendation is, we can maintain local control and draft our own statute.

Darien has not yet opted out of the state rules, though local officials said they plan to. Stamford announced a similar move. Its Zoning Board in July announced that its land use staff would draft accessory apartment rules, which the board could implement before opting out of state standards.

Data sent from the Western Connecticut Council of Governments, the regional planning body that serves the area, to Stamford city officials, show that more than half of its member towns and cities opted out of the state statute. Of the 18 member municipalities, 11 had opted out as of late July, according to the document. Two towns  Ridgefield and Newtown  revised their regulations to reflect the new standards.

Opting out in favor of more local rules is not just a Fairfield County move. The Milford Planning and Zoning Board last week voted in favor of opting out of the state ADU provision, but its mayor backed updating existing city rules on accessory apartments. Similarly, Meriden city officials have expressed interest in crafting more specific rules as well, and in mid-August, will hold a public hearing to that purpose.

My understanding is that some prominent land use attorneys in the state have promoted this idea of opting out whether the town has permissive ADU regulations or not, senior planner Torrance Downes of the Lower CT River Valley Council of Governments said in an email. Of the towns in his jurisdiction, he said he knows of only two that have completely opted out of state standards: Old Saybrook and Old Lyme.

Though he called Old Lyme more cautious about ADUs, he said both towns looked to preserve some flexibility as they move forward with allowing accessory apartments.

Regardless of the push toward local control of accessory apartments, Harrison said that the homes have become more mainstream in Connecticut in just a few years.

It seems to be the case that most towns have liberalized their ADU requirements, (putting them) either in line with the state law or beyond that, he said. In some cases, theyve done a kind of more targeted, smaller regulations.

Either way, Harrison said he thinks ADUs are here to stay, whether the rules come from the state house or town hall.

The goal is to have (them) become a mainstream policy tool for the housing crisis: thats been overwhelmingly successful, he said.

veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com
Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Democrat Stephanie Thomas easily claimed her partys nomination in the open race for secretary of the state, defeating a primary challenge from New Haven City Health Director Maritza Bond. Shortly thereafter, Republican Dominic Rapini claimed victory over Terrie Wood for the GOP nomination.

With more than half the precincts in the state reporting at about 11 p.m., Thomas lead with about 77 percent of the vote held steady, while Rapini had a lead with about 58 percent of the Republican votes.

One of three open positions for statewide office this year, the race for secretary of the state drew a broad field of candidates from both parties after Denise Merrill announced in June that she would not run for reelection after serving three terms.

Merrill later stepped down from office early in order to care for her ailing husband, prompting Gov. Ned Lamont to name Mark Kohler as interim secretary of the state until after the election. Kohler is not running for a full term in office.

Focus on the office  which oversees elections and business filings, along with a staff of 69  has risen following unprecedented attempts to overturn the results of the last presidential election.

The Democrats in the race mostly focused on expanding access to voting, with more absentee balloting and early voting. Both Republicans, Dominic Rapini and Terrie Wood, endorsed stricter voter ID laws.

Democratic race

Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo said at about 9 p.m. that Bond had conceded the race to Thomas. About two hours later, Wood told her supporters in Darien that she planned to call Rapini to concede, saying the numbers have not worked out for her campaign.

Speaking to her supporters at The Trinity Bar in New Haven, Thomas vowed to reach out unaffiliated and Republican voters who are looking for an alternative to conspiracy theories and the sowing of misinformation, who believe that its time to invest in our democracy and make sure that we have the infrastructure to run clean elections and that our registrars and town clerks are supported.

Responding to Thomass remarks at his own watch party at the GOP headquarters in West Haven, Rapini called Thomas a fraud denier, while continuing to claim  contrary to evidence from just a handful of cases in recent years  that voter fraud remains a systemic problem in Connecticut.

Heres the problem shes going to have, if you want to solve problems, you cant deny they exist, Rapini said. As secretary of the state, I will identify problems and that way, Im the only one that can fix them because I see what the issues are, Ive been in the trenches.

Thomas, a first-term lawmaker, was considered somewhat of an underdog when she launched her campaign in December. At the Democratic Partys State Convention in May, however, she bested five other challengers to earn the partys endorsement and the top spot on Tuesdays ballot.

Two other Democratic candidates who qualified for the primary quickly dropped out after the convention, leaving Bond as Thomass only remaining challenger.

More News CT primary results: Live updates

With little separating the two Democrats in terms of policies, Thomas and Bond mostly focused their respective campaigns on touting their distinctive personalities and professional backgrounds. Both women qualified for public financing  which Bond used to run an ad attacking Thomas for missing several votes on labor issues while in the House.

Thomas responded by calling the ad misleading in the days leading up to the primary.

GOP race

Since eking out the GOP endorsement in May, Rapini has moderated his tone when discussing the state of elections in Connecticut, offering praise for local election officials and mostly focusing on his opposition to early voting and support for voter ID.

Ive been on the record saying that Joe Biden is the duly elected president of the United States, we move on from there and focus on problems in Connecticut, Rapini said Tuesday.

Two years ago, however, Rapini was a prolific critic of Merrills office and the states handling of the 2020 election. At the time, Rapini was aligned with the Wyoming-based group Fight Voter Fraud, Inc., which submitted dozens of complaints about voter fraud before drawing a rare condemnation from the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Rapini is no longer affiliated with the group and despite his ongoing concerns, he said on Tuesday that he would not make voter fraud a priority during a general election campaign.

There were three candidates in the Republican primary race until last month, when longtime party official Brock Weber dropped out, citing an unrealistic path to obtaining the nomination. Wood, a seven-term state representative, has said she disagrees with the narrative that there are barriers to voting, but has also rebuffed claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.

Democrats have held the secretary of the states office since the mid-1990s. Pauline R. Kezer, the last Republican office-holder, launched an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1994 rather than running for reelection.

The November general election will also include Libertarian Harold Harris of Glastonbury, the Green Partys Douglas Lary of Willimantic along with Independent Partys Cynthia Jennings of Hartford.

Reporter Brianna Gurciullo contributed to this story.
Following a call from a state legislator in June, the head of the Louisiana Department of Health allegedly asked staff to scrub the agencys online accounts of all content related to LGBTQ+ Pride month, according to internal emails the Illuminator has obtained. (Photo credit: Ludovic Bertron, CC-by-2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/23912576@N05/2942525739)

Following a call from a state legislator in June, the head of the Louisiana Department of Health allegedly asked staff to scrub the agencys online accounts of all content related to LGBTQ+ Pride month, according to internal emails the Illuminator has obtained.

In one of the emails dated June 29, press administrator Michelle McCalope wrote to four other staffers in the communications division, saying LDH Secretary Courtney Phillips wanted them to immediately review all of the agencys online accounts and web pages for any Pride links to anything, anywhere and have them removed.

McCalope wrote that Phillips got a call from a legislator saying there were Pride links on the website, and added, but we dont have any more details. The email continued: If you find something, send it to me and Aly and well have it removed. Wed like you to do this ASAP. McCalope was referring to LDH Communications Director Aly Neel.

Before McCalope sent that email, her coworkers had removed content they had posted to Twitter and Facebook on June 24 from a Pride event at the Alexandria Convention Center that took place earlier in the month. The original post included three photos and a description that read, in part: Local drag queens entertained the audience while the state Office of Public Health handed out health-related pamphlets and info.

One of the photos, taken from behind a seated audience, showed a child handing a dollar bill to someone with red hair and a rainbow-colored shirt.

The post stirred controversy among different social media circles. Some shared it, suggesting the event looked like a lewd striptease in which adults were encouraging children to be gay.

LGBTQ+ communities come together throughout Pride Month to celebrate their progress and continuing struggles as minority groups. Organizers chose June because of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, which served as a catalyst for the modern gay rights movement, according to the Library of Congress.

The Illuminator requested comment from the agency in a conference call Friday with state health officials who said the legislator who contacted Phillips did not actually complain about anything. Neel said the lawmaker simply asked why the agency was posting non-health related content.

On the call were McCalope, Neel and LDH Chief of Staff Jacques Molaison. They also denied that Secretary Phillips instructed or asked staff to remove Pride-related content. McCalope said she misspoke in her email and inaccurately relayed the instructions from Phillips.

Internal emails do not show McCalope or anyone else from the agency ever following up with the staffers to clarify or rescind the instructions. The officials offered no explanation when asked about that discrepancy Friday.

The emails show LDH staff responded to McCalopes initial message and forwarded it to staff members from other bureaus within the agency in an attempt to find any other references to Pride.

Secretary Phillips did not issue that guidance, Neel said. Conversely, she specifically wanted and advised that we share critical health information related to LGBTQ communities we serve during Pride month. Michelle just misspoke.

Aside from the post about the drag queen, Neel said the agency did not remove any other Pride-related content. Staff found Pride-related content in some of the agencys daily newsletters, but they did not identify anything else on social media or the ldh.la.gov website, according to their emails.

The health department did not host the Pride event where the photos were taken. Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services sponsored it and invited LDH to attend to hand out pamphlets and share health-related information.

This is what we are all about  meeting our residents where they are to get them the information and services they need, Neel said when first asked about the situation last month.

The Illuminator has not yet determined the identity of the legislator who called Phillips.

Lionel Rainey, a political consultant for Louisianas Republican legislative leadership, said he recalls the day the Pride post went viral because he received a number of calls and text messages from lawmakers  both Republican and Democrat  who were unhappy with it.

Its small children with singles in their hands tipping a dancing drag queen, Rainey said in a phone interview last week. How is that OK? Exposing children to sexualized content, regardless of the orientation, should be a clear line we can all get behind not crossing.

Rainey said he heard from some Democrats who complained the health department had invited unnecessary criticism with the social media post.

Rep. Joe Marino, an independent from Gretna, questioned why the post had to be removed.

I think the bigger issue that some people had with the LDH photo is that there was even a Pride event that recognized and celebrated the LGBTQ community, Marino said. The photos that I saw contained nothing overtly sexual or inappropriate. Men dressing as women is as old as theater itself.







The post Louisiana health officials told to remove LGBTQ Pride content from web appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
BMO Newcomer Talent Program to help displaced persons, immigrants and refugees find financial stability through employment opportunities

TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /CNW/ - BMO Financial Group today announced the launch of its BMO Newcomer Talent Program providing support and creating employment opportunities for newcomers to Canada and the United States. The new program launch comes amidst a series of global crises driving a record number of people to resettle in North America.1

The BMO Newcomer Talent Program includes a personalized recruitment page that makes it easy for jobseekers to introduce themselves to BMO and explore job opportunities in both Canada and the United States.

To help match prospective candidates with open roles, BMO has partnered with two specialized employment organizations:

ACCES Employment is a longstanding partner of BMO, ACCES Employment is a leader in helping newcomers navigate the Canadian job market and has helped the bank place over 350 newcomers into roles in Canada .

. Upwardly Global is the first and longest-serving national organization dedicated to helping immigrant and refugee professionals restart their careers in the U.S.

"This program is designed to make joining the BMO team seamless and attractive for qualified newcomers, helping them build financial independence and social connections as they resettle in North America," said Karen Collins, Chief Talent Officer, BMO Financial Group. "Supporting an inclusive society by eliminating systemic barriers is fundamental to our Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. We look forward to working with our partner agencies and prospective new members of Team BMO to help them find new careers with us."

"The United States has set a goal of resettling 125,000 refugees this year2, with Canada aiming for 76,0003" continued Ms. Collins. "These numbers represent only a fraction of the total number of all newcomers to North America in 2022. Businesses need to step up and make a positive impact, and by helping newcomers access jobs, BMO is helping to lead the way."

"Canada has a long and proud tradition of welcoming newcomers, including the world's most vulnerable," said Hon. Sean Fraser, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. "Providing meaningful employment to newcomers is crucial in supporting these individuals, while helping to grow our economy and address our labour shortages. I applaud BMO on this initiative, which will undoubtedly help newcomers achieve success as they settle into their new communities across the country."

The BMO Newcomer Talent Program builds on BMO's track record of support for humanitarian relief and resettlement programs. Over the past years, and more so during recent crises, BMO has made donations totaling more than $1 million to the American Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. As well, to assist displaced people resettling in Canada, BMO has expanded and enhanced the NewStart banking program, which provides qualified newcomers to Canada with no-fee banking, unlimited free BMO Global Money Transfers and discounts on Lending and Home Financing programs.

In 2021, BMO joined the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a global business network which mobilizes leading companies to improve the lives of 30 million refugees who have been forcibly displaced from their home countries. As part of this membership, BMO and the BMO Pride Enterprise Resource Group have committed to mentoring LGBTQ2+ newcomers to Canada and the U.S.

To learn more, please visit the recruitment pages here:

About BMO Financial Group

Serving customers for 200 years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of $1.04 trillion as of April 30, 2022, and a team of diverse and highly engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking products and services to more than 12 million customers and conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital Markets.

__________________________________

1 UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, Figures at a Glance, June 16, 2022: https://www.unhcr.org/figures-at-a-glance.html 2 U.S. Department of State, Report to Congress on Proposed Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2022, September 20, 2021: https://www.state.gov/report-to-congress-on-proposed-refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2022/ 3 Government of Canada, Notice  Supplementary Information for the 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan, February 14, 2022: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2022-2024.html

SOURCE BMO Financial Group

For further information: Anke Suwanda, Toronto, [email protected], (416) 867-3996
CALGARY, AB, Aug. 10, 2022 /CNW/ - Families and individuals in need of affordable homes will soon have a new place to call home in Calgary's Seton community.

Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, alongside George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, Courtney Walcott, Deputy Mayor of Calgary, and Bernadette Majdell, CEO of HomeSpace Society, announced a combined investment of over $13 million to support the creation of 45 new affordable homes in Calgary.

The Government of Canada is contributing nearly $9 million through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF). In addition, The City of Calgary will be contributing over $1.1 million, HomeSpace Society will be contributing over $500,000 and Brookfield will contribute $2.8 million.

The new homes are being built at 3765 Seton Link and will consist of four housing complexes with 45 units of stacked townhouses. This family-oriented development will include a mix of 3-bedrooms, 2-bedrooms and 1-bedrooms apartments. Nearly one third of the units will be built with accessibility features. A social service partner will also provide resident referrals, income testing, supports and community development for the project.

This project is the vision of HomeSpace, a charitable real estate developer, rental housing owner and property manager, who will operate and manage the Seton project. HomeSpace has a growth mandate to build more specialized, permanent, affordable housing in Calgary. HomeSpace is working in partnership with Brookfield Residential as part of a city-wide campaign to raise $120 million to build rental housing units for over 3000 Calgarians in need of affordable housing.

Quotes:

"Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. That is why our government, is continuing our efforts to bring new, affordable housing to Canadians across the country, including right here in Calgary. These homes will offer families and individuals the stability of having a roof above their head and will provide necessary supports to help them thrive. This is the National Housing Strategy at work."  The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

"Our government's 10-year, $72+ billion National Housing Strategy is working to build affordable homes for those who need them the most  including right here in Calgary. Today's announcement will help grow the Seton community by building new homes that are safe, accessible, and affordable for families and individuals. There truly is nothing more important than having a place to call home."  George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview

"To address collective challenges, all orders of government, the non-profit and private sectors must be nimble and work together. Through the sale of City land for this project, we're committed to practical steps to address the shortage of affordable housing in all areas of Calgary. I want to thank all of the partners for working on this transformative project."  Jyoti Gondek, Mayor of Calgary

"We can't wait to welcome residents to their beautiful new homes in Seton. Affordable housing is needed more than ever, and we're proud to offer a safe, affordable homes for families in this beautiful new community."  Bernadette Majdell, CEO, HomeSpace

"When we design a community, we look for a variety of amenities and gathering places to create the tools for the residents to make it special for them to make community. We are proud to partner with HomeSpace to bring affordable housing to Calgarians. Together, we are looking forward to welcoming families into our inclusive Seton Community."  Chris Richer, SVP, Alberta Homes, Development at Brookfield Residential.

Quick facts:

The National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) is a program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.

With a budget of $13 .2 billion, the NHCF plans to:

Create up to 60,000 new homes



Repair up to 240,000 homes



Create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence



Create at least 7,000 new homes for seniors



Create at least 2,400 new homes for people with developmental disabilities

Budget 2022 proposes to advance $2.9 billion in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units.

The Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home.

Related links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca .

. Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

For further information: Media contacts: Arevig Afarian, Office of the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]
Amid Pandemic, Honda unveiled their much anticipated new Civic concept, branding it as a preview of the next-generation 2022 Civic sedan. The new Honda Civic prototype will be seen in a new Solar Flare Pearl colour. The brand new sedan will be flaunting a sportier and more upmarket look. As per the official announcement, the new-gen Civic will arrive in the second half of 2021.

The leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, Honda will first introduce the sedan version, followed by the sporty Civic Hatchback, performance-focused Civic Si, and the ultimate high-performance Civic: Type R which is on the pipeline. Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) sold 5,383 units in the domestic market in July 2020, registering a growth of 285 per cent against 1,398 unit sold in June 2020 during Unlock 1.0.

The new addition of their premium Civic sedan looked visually sleek, featuring a black grille flanked by sharp LED headlamps. The car also comes with integrated LED daytime running lights. This July, the car brand also had action-packed launches of 3 models  New WR-V, Civic BS-6 Diesel and all-new 5th generation Honda City. This upcoming car will run on a set of sporty black twin-5-spoke alloy wheels with low profile tyres.

Also Read: BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe launched in India at Rs 39.30 lakh

Also Read: Next year for sure: Tesla CEO Elon Musk hints at India debut in 2021

Mr Rajesh Goel, Sr. Vice President and Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd said the company gradually ramped up its production to 60 per cent of the pre-COVID level during the festive season.
Automobiles and cars enthusiast saw an unexpected bantering between two of Indias favourite car brands. Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors face off on their official Twitter handles are catching a lot of reactions. Recently Maruti Suzuki gave a witty yet sarcastic reply to Tata Motors Twitter which had pointed out how safe its cars are compared to the former. It happened after Marutis S-Presso failed to get safety stars in a Global NCAP crash test.

Maruti Suzuki tweeted that it is Indias favourite automobile brand. Followed by Twitters message This claim is undisputed. In the past few days, Twitters This claim is disputed/undisputed memes are surfacing as the latest trend after the social media platform itself had announced warning messages on suspected or unverified tweets.

Several loyal customers came out in support of Suzuki which further motivated the car brand to tweet another message for its fan base And were dedicated to continuing strengthening our place in all your hearts  our favourite family of customers! read the caption. But many chose to use this opportunity to point out Maruti Suzukis safety fallouts. Look at some of the hilarious reactions here:

And were dedicated to continue strengthening our place in all your hearts  our favorite family of customers! #MarutiSuzuki #thisclaimisundisputed pic.twitter.com/poyyErGFSk  Maruti Suzuki (@Maruti_Corp) November 20, 2020

Also Read: Honda unveils Next-Gen Civic Sedan Prototype to be introduced In 2021

Met with an accident. Other cars were Honda city and verna. They just got there bumper normal bend. But see my car. pic.twitter.com/p8j3cXvfEv  Ram Mane (@ram_mane) November 21, 2020

Also Read: Next year for sure: Tesla CEO Elon Musk hints at India debut in 2021

12 years and my swift going strong. Still same pick up and mileage. Any loyalty bonus if I go for a new car??  Pankaj G (@mrityunjaypg10) November 21, 2020

It's a pure lie. Don't trust on them. They don't care customer even a bit. See my tweet to know their reality. I would rather suggest never think to buy @MSArenaOfficial  Abhishek Srivastava (@thesrivastava) November 20, 2020

Maruti Suzuki has shortlisted five new startups as part of its third cohort of the Mobility and Automobile Innovation Lab (MAIL) programme to promote innovation in the mobility space. They are Clean Slate, Peer Robotics, Vicara, Hyper-Reality and URJA. The countrys largest passenger car manufacturer is now engaged with 14 startups under the MAIL programme in the last 18 months.
According to data published by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India saw a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, with 12,751 cases detected in the previous 24 hours.

On Monday, India registered 16,167 COVID-19 cases. According to the Union Ministry, Indias active caseload is now 1,31,807 at a rate of 0.30 percent.

The Ministry also said that the COVID-19 death toll had risen to 5,26,772.

Furthermore, there were 16,412 additional Coronavirus recoveries in the previous 24 hours, bringing the overall number of recoveries to 4,35,16,071.

The daily positivity rate is 3.50 %, while the weekly positivity rate is 4.69 %.

As many as 3,63,855 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. Till date, the ministry informed that over 87.85 crore total tests have been conducted.

On the COVID-19 vaccination front, over 206.88 crore total vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Also Read: Chinese oil giant Sinopec likely to enter Lankan fuel market amid Beijings debt-trap
The Quad fellowship programme was launched at the Quad summit today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and newly elected Australian PM Antony Albanese participated in the launch of the Quad fellowship programme.

In a brief statement issued by the White House earlier, the Quad fellowship was described as a fellowship that would empower exceptional STEM graduate students to advance research and innovation throughout their careers with a lens of positive social impact.

The statement added that Quad fellowship does so by providing scholarships, immersive and inspiring events at the nexus of STEM and society, mentorship and career-advancing programming, and cross-cultural exchange opportunities.

Slated to sponsor US, Indian, Australian and Japanese students to study in the US for graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, the applications for Quad fellowship programme will remain open till June 30. Meanwhile, the first batch of Quad fellows will begin their course in Autumn 2023.

To apply, the applicants must be atleast 18 years of age at the time of submission, be citizens of US, Australia, Japan or India, have a bachelors degree or equivalent in a STEM field by August 2023, must have superior academic achievement at the undergraduate level. Masters or PHD can apply if they are enrolled in a qualified academic program during their time as a fellow (August 2023-May 2024).
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan have been removed off the BJP's reconfigured Parliamentary board, the party's highest decision-making body, in a dramatic organisational reshuffle. On Wednesday, BJP national president JP Nadda stated that...
Sandeep Kumar won bronze medal in 10,000m race walk event in Birmingham ,CWG 2022 on Sunday. Sandeep finished the race in third place with a personal best time of 38 minutes and 49.21 seconds.

Canadas Evan Dunfee received gold medal who set a new Games record with a timing of 38:36.37s while Declan Tingay of Australia got bronze medal who completed the race with a timing of 38:42.33. With a timing of 43:04.97, Amit, the other Indian competitor in the 10-man field competition, came in last place.

Quentin Rew of New Zealand was disqualified after 5,000 meters for several violations, making it a nine-man race.

Sandeep was first running ahead for the first 1,000 meters and then slipped to the third position. He again took first place and held it for half the race. But later by the 6,000m mark, he dropped again and finished third.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur congratulates Sandeep for his achievement in CWG 2022.

Sandeep Kumars 10000m Race Walk bronze medal in CWG22 is a glowing example of sheer hard work work with single-minded purpose.



The 36-year-old has shown that age is but a number and all that matters is matching potential with performance. #Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/D7EqFbp4Gx  Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 7, 2022

President Murmu shared the post on Twitter praising Sandeep Kumar.

Congratulations to Sandeep Kumar for winning bronze in 10000m race walk at #CommonwealthGames. You put up your best performance and made our country proud. Your podium finish is a matter of joy for Indians.  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 7, 2022

Read more: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Dhaka, will discuss bilateral ties
Priyanka Goswami made history on Saturday by becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in race walking, bagging silver in the 10,000m event at the Commonwealth Games. Goswami finished second with a personal best time of 43:38.83s after Australias Jemima Montag (42:34.30). and Kenyas Emily Wamusyi Ngii (43:50.86) won bronze.



Interestingly, Bhawna Jat finished eighth and last with a personal best time of 47:14.13, whereas Harminder Singh was the first Indian to win a medal in race walk  bronze  in the 20km event at the 2010 CWG in Delhi. In addition, Indian boxer Amit Panghal (51kg) demonstrated his class by reaching his second straight Commonwealth Games final, while Nitu Ghanghas (48kg) remained on track for gold in her debut here on Saturday.



Priyanka led comfortably from the start until the 4km mark when she was passed by Australias Montag and Kenyas Emily Wamusyi Ngii. Priyank trailed the two ladies and was in the third position until the 8km mark when she pushed herself in the final 2000 meters and gave them a run for their money. Priyanka overtook Emily, but Australias Montag had built up too large a lead to be contested and finished first, while the Indian athlete was a minute late.



Priyanka, a Railways Office Superintendent, finished 17th in the 20km race walking event at the Tokyo Olympics last year and entered the CWG as one of the main candidates. Not only Priyanka, but another Indian athlete, Bhawna Jat, competed in the race, however she placed last in the 8-woman competition after setting a personal best of 47 minutes and 14 seconds.

PM Modi took it to Twitter to congratulate the athlete



This was Indias ninth silver medal and 27th overall, comprising nine gold and the same number of bronze.

Also Read: Commonwealth Games 2022: Three Golds in wrestling
The release of the official remake of the Hollywood original Forrest Gump is around the corner.

The Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha is still facing the hashtag to boycott the movie.



While various celebrities have called out trolls for unnecessarily trashing a wonderful movie, the boycott movement surrounding Aamir Khans next film Laal Singh Chaddha continues to make news.



Filmmaker Goutam Ghose, who has won a National Award, believes that it is unfair and immoral to boycott a movie before you have ever seen it. We have observed how social media has evolved into a significant aspect of everyones life. Although it has helped us become more unified and close-knit, the recent practice of intentionally attacking prominent personalities is spreading negativity.



On Monday, the director appeared to take a dig at Kangana Ranaut and others who claimed that trolls were recruited to generate discussion around Laal Singh Chaddha on Instagram Stories. Ive heard that certain people get paid to smear Aamir Sir. Hearing this is quite painful, and it is blatantly unjust. Why have I been free-trolling him? As he posted the hashtag Pay Every Troll, Advait wrote.

Kangana Ranaut recently said that Aamir Khan personally arranged the boycott of Laal Singh Chaddha. I think all the criticism about the forthcoming film Laal Singh Chadda is skilfully crafted by mastermind Aamir Khan Ji himself, Kangana said in a message on her Instagram Stories. This year, only south films that are thoroughly entrenched in Indian culture or have a local flavour have succeeded (except for a comedic sequel in Hindi). A Hollywood version would not have been successful.



In her message, Kangana said, But now that theyre calling India intolerant, Hindi movies need to know what people want; its not about being a Muslim or a Hindu. Even after Aamir Khan Ji created the anti-Hindu PK or referred to India as intolerant, he still managed to deliver some of his best successes. Please refrain from bringing up religion or ideology. It detracts from their poor performances and subpar movies.



In response to the boycott craze, Aamir recently pleaded with his followers to give his movie a fair shot. Aamir Khan stated to the news organisation PTI: Im also saddened by the fact that many individuals who are saying this in their hearts think I dont like India They genuinely believe it in their hearts and that is just false. I genuinely adore the nation I am in that way. It is regrettable if some individuals have such opinions. I want to reassure everyone that this is untrue, so dont boycott my movies; instead, go see them.

Telugu Superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni praised the movie over Twitter after attending a special screening calling the movie a fresh breath of air.



Laal Singh Chaddha is slated to release on August 11, 2022. The film is directed by Advait Chandan and also stars Kareena Kapoor, Mona Singh, and Naga Chaitanya in his Bollywood debut. The Hindi adaptation has been written by actor-screenwriter Atul Kulkarni. The film is produced by Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, and Viacom18 Studios.

Also Read: Laal Singh Chaddha gets Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committees approval of Aamir Khans look
Chinese social media platform TikTok has blocked a promotional campaign by the Sri Lankan embassy on Douyin, according to media reports citing sources.

This is in response to the Sri Lankan governments decision to suspend the visit of a Chinese ship to Hambantota port.

Additionally, there are a tonne of derogatory remarks about Sri Lanka on various social media platforms in China. Additionally, according to Daily Mirror, several Chinese stores have put off buying Sri Lankan goods.



The Sri Lankan government planned for this TikTok campaign to go live on Friday. The Sri Lankan delegation has been notified, nevertheless, that it cannot be put into practice.



The Sri Lankan government believes it was done in retaliation for India protesting Sri Lankas decision to postpone the port visit of the research ship Yuan Wang 5.



On Monday, Sri Lanka acknowledged that it had requested that China postpone the arrival of the Chinese warship Yuang Wang 5 to the port of Hambantota.



The Chinese ship Yuan Wang 5 was due to refuel at the Chinese-leased Hambantota port on August 11 and depart on August 17, according to a statement from the Sri Lankan foreign ministry.



It stated, The Ministry has informed the Peoples Republic of China Embassy in Colombo to postpone the visit of the aforementioned vessel to the Hambantota port.



The Chinese and Sri Lankan foreign ministers, Ali Sabry and Wang Yi, most recently reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and great ties between their countries at a meeting on August 4 in Phnom Penh, according to the foreign ministry.



The statement said, During this first meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, Minister Sabry pointed to Sri Lankas steadfast adherence to the one-China policy, which has been a constant tenet in the countrys foreign policy.



India has voiced security concerns on the ships arrival in Hambantota since it seemed to be a research vessel, although the spy ship could map the ocean floor, which is essential for Chinese Navy anti-submarine operations.



The Yuan Wang 5 was constructed in 2007 and has a carrying capacity of 11,000 tonnes. It is designated as a research and survey vessel.



It might perform satellite research in the northwest section of the Indian Ocean region during this crucial visit to the important port in Sri Lanka, raising security worries for India.



The 250 km away Hambantota port was constructed using high-interest Chinese financing. The port was given to the Chinese on a 99-year lease when the Sri Lankan government struggled to repay the debt it had borrowed from China.

Also Read: Taiwan Foreign minister: Drills were used to prepare for an invasion by China
The Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) has planned to protest the delay in paying CNG dealers power bills by banning the sale of CNG in Delhi on August 10 from 6 am to 10 pm.



Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) consumers in Delhi wont have access to the fuel today since CNG merchants in the nations capital wont receive their energy bills until after 10 p.m., which is being delayed in protest. On August 10 in the nations capital, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) decided against selling CNG.

We have decided to opt for no CNG sale on August 10 from 6 am to 10 pm as a mark of protest, DDPA President Anurag Narain said in a letter to Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) last month.



The Delhi Petrol Dealers Association stated in a letter that they will not be selling any CNG on August 10 from 6 am to 10 pm as a show of protest. Anurag Narain, president of the DDPA, wrote a letter to Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) in which he stated that DPDA is forced to take this step due to IGLs refusal to pay the actual electricity reimbursement of CNG facilities to the dealers of Delhi who are suffering enormous financial losses every month.

Dealers in Delhi waited patiently for two years while adhering to all IGL and OMC instructions about the installation of individual submeters, their calibration, and the creation of systems for online readings.

However, we hate to report that IGL police obstructed the process at every turn, and after spending two years and the dealers money on submeters, we realised that the whole thing would never be finished.



On March 2, 2022, over 70 dealers met with SLC and IGL officials to discuss the aforementioned issue, and dealers were promised a resolution within a month. IGL then explained to us in the month of April how the real usage was calculated by analysing the data from the discom meters using a formula that automatically reflected any changes to the discom charges. IGLs failure to keep that April 2022 commitment is shocking, and it raises significant questions about their motivations, the DPDA said in the letter.

Also Read: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia seeks CBI probe over Delhi liquor policy
Sri Lanka on Monday confirmed that it has communicated to China to postpone the visit of the Chinese vessel Yuang Wang 5 to Hambantota port.



The Sri Lankan foreign ministry said the Chinese vessel Yuan Wang 5 was planned to dock at Chinese-leased Hambantota port on August 11 for refueling and depart on August 17.

Further, the Foreign Ministry stated that it wishes to reassert the enduring friendship and excellent relations between Sri Lanka and China which stay on a solid foundation, as reiterated by the two Foreign Ministers Ali Sabry and Wang Yi on August 4 at a bilateral meeting in Phnom Penh.



At this first meeting between the two Foreign Ministers, Minister Sabry referred to Sri Lankas firm commitment to the one-China policy which has been a consistent principle in the countrys foreign policy, the statement read.

While reacting to the media reports over the docking of the vessel at Hambantota, the Chinese foreign ministry stated that Beijing always exercises freedom of the high seas in accordance with law and fully respects coastal countries jurisdiction over scientific research activities in waters under their jurisdiction.

China encouraged relevant parties to consider its marine scientific research activities in a rational light and refrain from disrupting normal exchange and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka.



India had expressed security concerns about the vessel docking at Hambantota because it was depicted as a research vessel, whereas the spy ship can map the ocean floor, which is critical to the Chinese Navys anti-submarine operations.

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Reporter: According to Taiwan media reports, after Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has organized high-intensity live-fire exercises and training in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island, just like "blockading Taiwan", and in which several missiles flew over the island. This is probably just a beginning, and Taiwan's strategic space has been squeezed and will not come back. What's your comment on this?

Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Senior Colonel Tan Kefei: The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has recently conducted a series of countermeasures in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island, which is a solemn deterrent to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces engaging in collusion and provocation with external forces. It is also a legitimate and necessary step to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Related exercises and training are open, transparent and professional, and in line with Chinas domestic laws, international laws and international practices.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi insisted on visiting China's Taiwan region, which has flagrantly challenged and jeopardized China's core interests, and seriously damaged the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Tsai Ing-wen and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, soliciting foreign support to seek "independence" and making provocations, brushing aside the safety of the Taiwan people and pushing Taiwan into the abyss of disaster, are bound to be etched into the historical pillar of shame.

The historical course of cross-Strait reunification is unstoppable. The momentum towards and circumstances surrounding the resolution of the Taiwan question are always in favor of the power to promote the national reunification. For the well-being of the Taiwan people, we are willing to pursue the prospect of peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity and efforts, but the Chinese PLA will never leave any space for any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist behaviors and interference by external forces. For the selfish interests of one party or oneself, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces ignore national interests and go against the trend of the times. They are doomed to take the road of self destruction. At present, the cross-Strait relations are faced with a choice between two futures once again, and the right choice must be made by the Taiwan authorities for what path to follow.
Water is core to environment and saving, conserving & preserving it is key to sustainability. On the World Environment Day, AquaKraft Group Ventures, Indias leading Sustainable Water Solutions Group announced a comprehensive water saving program under Jal Pe Charcha- a global influencer program aimed at bringing about Water positivity across communities & industry. To this effect, AquaKraft has entered into a strategic partnership with Earthfokus to provide comprehensive water saving solutions. Earthfokus manufactures water tap attachments by utilizing highest quality materials such as EcoBrass and save upto 90% of water.

For a limited period, consumers who purchase Earthfokus accessories from AquaKraft will get to open an account with AqVerium for free. AqVerium is the worlds first digital water bank and largest registry for water saved, harvested and purified.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinay Rao, Co-Founder of AqVerium said, Householders receive consumption targets every month. When they hit their targets, the water saved is converted into a verified water offset and entered into the banks registry. The water offsets will eventually be minted as tokens, to be purchased by businesses looking to voluntarily offset their own consumption.

The average shower takes 60 liters of water. This is also the amount of water consumed in washing our hands 12 times a day on average. The market for Water Saving Shower Heads is over $1Bn worldwide and growing. In comparison, the market for water saving tap aerators is currently much smaller but projected to grow rapidly with increased awareness. Installing the Earthfokus tap accessory will help save up to 95% of the water in every hand wash cycle.

Earthfokus water savers exhibit exemplary design combined with fulfilling results to provide a convenient, user-friendly and beneficial experience. Our water savers are also manufactured using the top quality and eco-friendly brass which also contributes to what we strive for. A greener planet. We are very delighted to partner with AquaKrafts Jal Pe Charcha, which is beyond advocacy and influences people to act consciously. This holds a lot of significance as it aligns with AquaKrafts philosophy of sustainability that they have been actively practicing across the entire water ecosystem for over a decade now. said Arun Subramanian, Managing Director, Earthfokus.

The ability to stick to a ceiling in consumption will help the utilities redistribute water to needy communities. AqVerium has created an economic model to incentivise judicious use of water and reduce water inefficiency worldwide.

Weve been using Earthfokus Water savers for over a year and weve had significant reductions in our water consumption, without hampering the user experience. Weve saved close to 3 Crore litres annually and apart from water we also save a lot of energy associated with water consumption. Mr. Senthil Kumar, Maintenance Engineer, BIAL, Bengaluru Airport said about their experience.

India alone can save between 25-30 trillion liters of water per year if all homes and workplaces adopted water saving technologies. JAL PE CHARCHA invites home owners, builders, hotels and corporates to join the program and contribute their mite to making India Water Positive by 2030. To know more about water saving and monetization, please visit www.averium.com/deals.

Every Drop of Water counts and every drop saved goes towards making the world water positive. We have been working with Earthfokus since the last 2 years and are very excited to roll out this comprehensive water saving program which is very simple and can be easily adapted by individual home owners, communities and industry. It is very heartening to note the Bengaluru International Airport Ltd., saved over 3 crore litres of not only water but also the related energy, which makes it a highly impactful and environment friendly initiative. AqVerium  Digital Water Bank will endeavour to store such saving and convert them into incentives or tokens leading to monetization of water savings , said Dr Subramanya Kusnur, Founder Chairman & CEO, AquaKraft Group Ventures and Co-Founder, AqVerium.
India and the Republic of Namibia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on animal conservation and sustainable biodiversity usage on Wednesday in order to restore the cheetah to its original habitat in India.

The MoU was signed by Namibias Vice President, Nangolo Mbumba, and Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav. The MoU, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, facilitates the development of a mutually beneficial relationship to promote wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity utilisation based on mutual respect, sovereignty, equality, and the best interests of both India and Namibia.

The main thrust areas of the MoU include biodiversity conservation, with a specific focus on cheetah conservation and restoration in their former range areas where they became extinct, as well as the sharing and exchange of expertise and capacities aimed at promoting cheetah conservation in two countries.

Among the important features of the MoU are wildlife conservation and sustainable biodiversity usage through the sharing of best practises in technical applications, methods of income production for local populations living in animal areas, and sustainable biodiversity management.

Collaboration will also take place in the areas of climate change, environmental governance, environmental impact assessments, pollution and waste management, and other shared interests. The MoU also includes the exchange of persons for wildlife management training and education, as well as the sharing of technical experience.

Cheetahs hold a particular place in the national conservation ethic and ethos. Returning the cheetah to India would have similarly significant conservation implications. According to the Ministry, cheetah restoration will be part of a blueprint for the restoration of original cheetah habitats and biodiversity, assisting in stemming the degradation and rapid loss of biodiversity.

Cheetahs have the lowest conflict with human interests of any big carnivore since they pose minimal threat to humans and rarely attack large cattle. Bringing back a top predator restores historic evolutionary balance, which has cascading effects on various levels of the eco-system, resulting in better management and restoration of wildlife habitat (grasslands, scrublands, and open forest ecosystems), conservation of cheetahs prey and sympatric endangered species, and a top-down effect of a large predator that enhances and maintains diversity in lower trophic levels of the ecosystems.

The main goal of the cheetah reintroduction project in India is to establish viable cheetah metapopulation in India that allows the cheetah to perform its functional role as a top predator and provides space for the expansion of the cheetah within its historical range thereby contributing to its global conservation efforts.

The Ministry said surveys for 10 sites were conducted between 2010 and 2012. From the potential sites evaluated for the feasibility of establishing cheetah populations in India based on The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines for reintroductions that consider species viability according to demography, genetics and socio-economics of conflict and livelihoods, Kuno National Park in the state of Madhya Pradesh was considered ready for receiving cheetah with the least management interventions since a lot of investments had been done in this Protected Area for reintroducing Asiatic lions.

Cheetah presence locations from Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe) were used along with relevant eco-climatic covariates to model equivalent niche space in India using Maximum Entropy Models. The analysis shows that the climatic niche of the cheetah from southern Africa exists in India with Kuno National Park having a high probability of cheetah habitat suitability.

The action plan for cheetah translocations in Kuno National Park has been developed in compliance with IUCN guidelines and considering site assessment and prey density, current cheetah carrying capacity of Kuno National Park, among other criteria.

While the current carrying capacity for Kuno National Park is a maximum of 21 cheetahs, once restored the larger landscape can hold about 36 cheetahs. The carrying capacity can be further enhanced by including the remaining part of the Kuno Wildlife Division (1,280 sq km) through prey restoration.

The Ministry will offer financial and administrative support to the cheetah reintroduction initiative in India through the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). Participation of government and business entities in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would be encouraged in order to get more funds at the state and federal levels. The WII, as well as national and international carnivore/cheetah experts/agencies, would give technical and knowledge assistance to the initiative.

Through capacity-building initiatives in African cheetah conservation reserves, officials from the Ministry, NTCA, WII, and state forest agencies will be sensitised to ensure the success of cheetah reintroduction in India. Furthermore, African cheetah managers and scientists will be recruited to train their Indian colleagues.

Monitoring will be the responsibility of the Kuno National Park administration, which is vital for preservation and management, while a cheetah research team will monitor for research. Various outreach and awareness programmes will be implemented to urge local villages to participate. Sarpanches, local leaders, teachers, social workers, religious figures, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be given a greater interest in conservation, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.

Awareness programmes are also being planned for schools, universities, and communities to educate people about conservation and the many schemes offered by the forest department. With a local mascot dubbed Chintu Cheetah, public awareness initiatives for the local communities are beginning.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has directed all state authorities and elected members of the state legislature from the constituencies surrounding Kuno National Park to distribute knowledge on the cheetah-human interface.

The cheetah reintroduction in India is being managed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, led and directed by a team of specialists appointed by the Supreme Court of India in 2020.
At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, Rotary awards its highest recognition Rotary Award of Honour to HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

Shekhar Mehta, Rotary International President presented the honour to leaders of nations and other notable individuals.

Prince Charles expressed his gratitude to Rotary for the honour. He was ecstatic with what Rotary had accomplished. He spent 30 minutes talking about the prospects for collaboration between his charity and Rotarys numerous humanitarian initiatives.

Meanwhile, Mehta acknowledged Rotarys common commitment to environmental protection and expressed gratitude for His Royal Highness commitment to sustainability and biodiversity.

This year, local community service will be the primary emphasis of Celebrate Community, a collaborative project of the four largest volunteer service groups, which will debut during the week of October 10 to 16.

Following this, Rotary has awarded HRH Prince Charles with its highest honour, the Rotary Award of Honour, in appreciation of his long-standing commitment to using natural solutions to combat the climate issue.
The science of attribution has resulted in significant advances in linking the impacts of extreme weather and human-caused climate change, but large gaps in published research continue to obscure the full extent of climate change damage, warns a new report published today in the first issue of Environmental Research: Climate, a new academic journal published by IOP Publishing.

Researchers from the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and Victoria University of Wellington examined the consequences of five distinct types of extreme weather events to determine how much of the damage might be attributable to human-caused climate change.

They did this by combining data from the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports with findings from a growing body of attribution studies, in which weather observations and climate models are used to identify the impact of climate change in individual weather occurrences.

They discovered that the relationship between climate change and some extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, is apparent and unequivocal over the world, and that insurers, economists, and governments are likely underestimating the scale of the repercussions. Others, such as tropical cyclones, exhibit significant regional variability, and the influence of climate change in each occurrence is more varied than for heatwaves.

The rise of more extreme and intense weather events such as heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall have dramatically increased in recent years, affecting people all over the globe. Understanding the role that climate change plays in these events can help us better prepare for them. It also allows us to determine the real cost that carbon emissions have in our lives, says Ben Clarke from the University of Oxford, lead author of the study.

The authors emphasise the urgent need for more data from low- and middle-income nations, where the effects of climate change are more severe. When national weather data is not publicly available, research on these impacts is hampered. Examples include South Africa, where corruption denies funds to weather reporting facilities, resulting in huge data gaps in an otherwise good network; drought-prone Somalia, where disorderly regime changes have disrupted measurements; and many countries, such as Poland, where weather data is only available for a high fee, and thus generally not for publicly funded research.

We really dont have a comprehensive overview or detailed inventory of what impacts climate change is having today, yet, says Dr Friederike Otto from the Grantham Institute  Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, co-author of the study.

But we do now have the tools and advanced understanding to create such an inventory, but these need to be applied more evenly across the world to improve our understanding in areas where evidence is lacking. Otherwise we are denying countries the knowledge to make the best use of sparse funds and improve chances for people to live safely and adapt to the changing climate, she concludes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed new statistics on the extent to which tobacco hurts the environment and human health, and has urged for legislation to hold the tobacco industry more accountable for the harm it does.

Every year, the tobacco industry costs the world around 8 million lives, 600 million trees, 200 000 hectares of land, 22 billion tonnes of water, and 84 million tonnes of CO2. Tobacco is mostly grown in low- and middle-income countries, where water and farmland are in scarce supply to fulfil the regions food demands. Instead, theyre being used to grow toxic tobacco plants, while forests are being cut down at an alarming rate.

The WHO report Tobacco: Poisoning our planet highlights that the industrys carbon footprint from production, processing and transporting tobacco is equivalent to one-fifth of the CO2 produced by the commercial airline industry each year, further contributing to global warming.

Tobacco products are the most littered item on the planet, containing over 7000 toxic chemicals, which leech into our environment when discarded. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette filters pollute our oceans, rivers, city sidewalks, parks, soil and beaches every year, said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO.

Tobacco, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes all contribute to the accumulation of plastic pollution. The second most frequent cause of microplastic pollution in the globe is cigarette filters.

Despite tobacco industry marketing, there is no evidence that filters have any proven health benefits. WHO proposes that countries treat cigarette filters like single-use plastics and consider banning them to protect public health and the environment.

Rather than the tobacco industry being to blame, the cost of cleaning up discarded tobacco products is borne by taxpayers. This costs China about 2.6 billion dollars per year and India about 766 million dollars each year. Brazil and Germany will each contribute more than $200 million (see table below for further estimates).

France and Spain, as well as towns in the United States such as San Francisco, have taken a stance. They have successfully adopted extended producer responsibility law, which holds the tobacco industry liable for cleaning up the damage it generates, based on the Polluter Pays Principle.

WHO encourages nations and cities to follow this lead by supporting tobacco growers in their transition to sustainable crops, enacting significant tobacco levies (which may include an environmental tax), and providing support services to assist people quit smoking.
Isha Multani Daftary, a 27-year-old Mumbai-based fashion designer is not an unknown name for those who religiously follow high-fashion bridal lehengas. She made a mark in the fashion business by designing lehengas and gowns which have a tinge of boldness along with all the traditional feels. Her bridal lehengas have grabbed eyeballs not once or twice, but almost every time when she comes up with a new piece. She has got the eye to match the hues with the type of laces and embroidery that suit all sorts of body types and skin tones.

Not so long ago, when she got wedded, all her outfits became the talk of the town for netizens as they surely stood out among the sea of other designs available in the market. Isha enjoys almost 90k followers on her Instagram who look up to her ensembles and she never disappoints them by bringing something new to the plate every single time. Not restricting her creativity to designing bridal lehengas, she has also ventured into blogging of luxury weddings, social media strategies, graphic designing, freelance consulting, and even content development. Its like her creativity has no boundaries as she keeps dazzling her audience with the multiple talents she has got.

The fashion designer has earned fame by not only flaunting her collections, but also by working with some big names of the industry such as Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi, Anamika Khanna, Bulgari, and Rimple Harpreet. She finds the red colour timeless as red attires never fail to drop the jaws of people staring. Creativity to her is converting nothing to something such as converting something two-dimensional into three-dimensional. Fashion is forward-thinking and cyclical, she believes. Comfort and details, according to her, are the most important aspects that make any ensemble ideal to wear. Multani has taken her expertise to a totally new level by shooting for an upcoming season of Bridal Asia.

After successfully launching her winter wear, shes coming up with a new line of pret wear collections. Her new collection screams fashion as it is filled with unique and out-of-box styles. Not only all the ensembles of this collection are glamorous, but theyre also really comfortable and give a luxurious vibe. Her knack for coming up with mind-blowing combinations of hues can be clearly seen even in her new collection. It can be seen through her past work that she likes giving her followers a visual treat every time she launches something news. Her pret wear line is indeed a treat to fashion lovers during this wedding season. With these ready-to-wear outfits, you can leave the worries of finding matching pieces to create a look. Her pret wear collection from Isha fashion stands out for the quality and well-embroidered work on ensembles. Multani has reaffirmed with her new collection that no one can ace the aesthetic game like her.

The sizzling collection of her new line can also be considered as an early Christmas gift to the followers of high fashion.
The Supreme Court granted regular bail to activist and poet P Varavara Rao, who was charged in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence case, on Wednesday.

Rao was given bail due to medical reasons. He was arrested on August 28, 2018, from his home in Hyderabad, and was an under-trial in the Bhima Koregaon case, for which a FIR was lodged on January 8, 2018, by the Pune Police at Vishrambagh Police Station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and several other provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Rao, who was first placed under house arrest by the Supreme Court, was eventually brought into police custody on November 17, 2018, and was afterwards transferred to Taloja Jail.
Delhi University administration has given colleges permission to reschedule practical examinations for students with the virus because of an increase in daily Covid cases during the examination season.

Beginning May 11, Delhi University will hold its first offline tests for even semester students since the outbreak of the pandemic. Until now, all examinations have been administered in an online open-book format.

Colleges have been holding practical assessments in the lead-up to the offline exams. However, in light of the increase in cases, Dean Examinations Diwan Rawat has written to institutions, advising them to be flexible when conducting practical examinations.

While practicals are typically completed before theory examinations, colleges have been given permission to perform them after theory examinations if necessary.

For the past four days, Delhi has been recording over 1,000 cases per day, with a positive rate of above 4%.
US election 2020: Amid a surging COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Americans will decide the fate of incumbent President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden through their votings. Netizens saw a rather unusual but Twitter trend during such high anticipation Presidential race to the White House. Paneer Tikka has been trending all over the world. Yes, you heard it right, Paneer Tikka, a favourite North Indian food has become the talk of the town on Twitter during the final leg of the race.

The name behind trending this North Indian delicacy was Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. In support of Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Jayapal had tweeted about making paneer tikka the night before the election. She wrote that she prepared the food in honour of electing Harris who seemed to have said that her favourite Indian food is all kinds of tikka. But clearly, it didnt impress many Twitterati and the chain of massive backlashes followed.

But it is Twitter and nothing can go unnoticed and rather Jayapals preparation called for a lot of reactions and massive reactions. Netizens have been flooding the Internet with their version of the recipe and clearly, everyone is divided over her recipe. Many called her photo showing off the dish as cheap, unnecessary stunt just before the elections. While there were several criticising her dish that she couldnt even make an actual paneer tikka.

Compulsive, night-before-election activity: make comfort food. Thats paneer tikka tonight, in honor of electing #KamalaHarris Veep tomorrow since she just said on Instagram that her favorite North Indian food is any kind of tikka! Lets go, people! VOTE! #BidenHarris2020 pic.twitter.com/gqyT7BotgG  Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) November 3, 2020

Also Read: US elections 2020: Kamala Harriss ancestral village in Tamil Nadu prays for her win

Also Read: US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden wins all five votes in Dixville Notch

By popular demand, the recipe for Paneer Tikka Masala, slightly adapted from the fabulous @twosleevers! You can either eat the tikka on its own, or add the masala (sauce) which is like a curry. Enjoy! pic.twitter.com/0tNyEZOWN4  Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) November 3, 2020

https://twitter.com/RatneshPaliya1/status/1323520128399540225

Clearly, the results of US Elections might take some time longer and also Jayapal and netizens debacle to reach some common ground but till then theres a clear winner, Paneer Tikka. It has been all over the Internet with some even showing their own preparation of the dish and endless memes. If Kamala Harris emerges winner she will be the first person of Indian descent to hold a major political office in the United States.

If this is paneer tikka, then triple schezwan fried rice is authentic Chinese cuisine. https://t.co/BkXRB7a3j9  Aditi (@_aditi_g) November 3, 2020

https://twitter.com/nitayuvani/status/1323501227980824576
The people of Garag village in Dharwad taluk will not take part in the celebrations when the tricolour wave atop homes on August 15, marking the 75th anniversary of Indias independence. They disagree with the decision to permit flags made of polyester and mill fabric, which led the Garag khadi unit, which is known for producing the tiranga, to halt operations.

The residents of Garag village feel proud every year as the khadi tricolour fluttered atop high masts on August 15 as the cloth manufactured in their village is been used to create Tiranga.

Chief minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Somappa Bommai instructed officials to make Har Ghar Tiranga campaign the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration a success by aiming to raise the national flag on more than one crore households in the State.

Pune district will be hoisting 20 lakh Tiranga as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao said on Monday.

Rao said, The Divisional Commissionerate has planned to distribute 13 lakh flags to district Collectorates and Zilla Parishads in the division. Of these, 10.96 lakh flags have already been sent.

Read More: Taiwan begins live-fire artillery drill as China continues war game
Viral Swiggy India US election 2020 tweet: On 16th of November, former US President Donald Trump tweeted, I WON THE ELECTION. Though Twitter promptly labelled it as a disputable piece of information. Swiggy Indias respond to Trumps claim is winning hearts all over the country. In a very witty and sarcastic jibe of their own, Swiggy replied saying, AND VEG BIRYANI IS INDIAS NATIONAL FOOD! In a much gripping race to the White House, Joe Biden, in his third attempt at the White House, defeated Trump in a closely contested election to become the 46th president of the United States.

However, earlier Trump refused to concede defeat, saying that the election was far from over, and promised legal challenges by his re-election campaign. US President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to acknowledge in public for the first time that President-elect Joe Biden had won the election but kept up his assertion that the election was rigged.

If the US Preseneditail race garnered enough headlines the previous weeks, now it is Indias own food aggregator app, Swiggy which is getting Twitteratis much attention and praises. Netizens have been rehashing their own version of memes and jokes using Swiggys hilarious jibe at Trump. The Internet has been flooding ever since the Swiggys tweet went viral. Clearly, Netizens have bowed down to the food delivery apps unexpected dig as well as their stand on this matter. Look at some of the reactions here:

AND VEG BIRYANI IS INDIA'S NATIONAL FOOD! https://t.co/mMlo3HKdEQ  Swiggy (@Swiggy) November 16, 2020

Also Read: Worst food disaster ever: Twitterati in shock over Internets new find Kaju Katli Chicken Soup

Rename swiggy as swaggy bahut swag hai aapke tweet mein.  Danish (@Alloosh_27) November 16, 2020

Love you @swiggy_in. Thanks for standing by the truth   s (@asgarhid) November 16, 2020

https://twitter.com/karmariaz/status/1328279036963942402

Another month's subscription just for this tweet  Varun (@vickyagastya) November 17, 2020

Also Read: US Elections 2020: Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal receives massive backlash on Paneer Tikka post

But Swiggy India definitely did break the heart of some of the Veg Biryani enthusiasts. Many are blaming the food app for making fun at the expense of vegetarians. Whatever the reactions are it will be Swiggy who is winning with their wit. KUDOS!

Its hilarious, the amount of people who can't seem to get the sarcasm. Folks, Swiggy is comparing Trump's false claim to another false claim. The Biryani Purists can stand down, chill.  Dorian "Fake Name" Valerian (@DorianValerian) November 16, 2020
According to media sources quoting a recent World Health Organization (WHO) study, Afghanistan is dealing with various disease outbreaks, including Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD), measles, Congo fever, dengue fever, and Covid-19.

According to the WHO study, there has been a significant increase in acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases nationally, according to Afghanistans local media outlet Khaama Press. Almost 19,050 cases of AWD have been verified in several provinces across Afghanistan, particularly in Kabul, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Jawzjan Ghazni, Kandahar, and Zabul.

Despite a decrease in frequency, all provinces continue to report measles cases. According to the data, there are a total of 64,654 cases of measles in Afghanistan.

Congo fever, also known as Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), has spread throughout Afghanistan, mainly in 13 provinces in the southern, south-eastern, eastern, and central areas, with 229 confirmed cases and six deaths.

In July 2022, new dengue fever cases in Afghanistans Nangarhar region skyrocketed.

In order to respond to the diseases, medical emergencies, and natural catastrophes that are expected to strike Afghanistan in July 2022, WHO is reaching out to the nation, giving resources, and strengthening its capacities.

Another disastrous incident occurred in Afghanistan on July 18, 2022, when a 5.1 aftershock devastated the south-eastern districts of Khost and Paktika.

This was on top of the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that happened on June 22, 2022, injuring over 361,000 people and killing 1036.

Also Read: 6.1 maginitude earthquake shakes Afghanistan, 255 deaths reported

The United Nations has committed USD 10 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Funds (UNCERF) to assist Afghans devastated by the earthquake that rocked the countrys east.

The Bahrain-based Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) has reached an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to send humanitarian assistance to those in Afghanistan impacted by the recent earthquake.

India has also delivered relief supplies to Afghan people who had been impacted by the earthquake.

The relief aid handed over by the Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (PAI), JP Singh, included basic materials such as family ridge tents, sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping mats, and other items to help the people of Afghanistan in earthquake-affected areas.

India has sent a technical team to the Embassy in Kabul to coordinate stakeholders efforts to provide humanitarian supplies.

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Mahinda Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksas travel restrictions were extended by Sri Lankan Supreme Court on Wednesday till August 11.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, former prime minister, and Basil Rajapaksa, former finance minister, were previously prohibited from leaving the country without the courts permission until July 28 by an interim order granted by the Sri Lankan Supreme Court.

According to local media sources, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sri Lanka detained three individuals on Tuesday in connection with the suspected July 9 arson of President Ranil Wickremesinghes private mansion in Colombo.

Two of the three suspects, according to the police, were to Madapatha and Colombo, respectively, and were 18 and 22 years old, according to the Daily Mirror.

Yesterday, they were nabbed in the Piliyandala and Narahenpita regions. The third suspects specifics werent immediately known.

Colombo Fort Magistrates Court remanded four individuals who had previously been held by the police in relation to the event until August 10.

Hours after Wickremesinghe promised to step down as prime minister and amid unprecedented nationwide calls for the ouster of President Gotabaya Rajapaksas administration, a group of demonstrators broke into his private house on July 9 and set it on fire.

After a heated incident between the demonstrators and security personnel on the ground, the protestors broke into 73-year-old Wickremesinghes home on 5th Lane in Colombo and set the premises on fire.
Taiwan military began live live-fire artillery drills simulating a defence of the island after days of massive Chinese air and naval exercises it started in protest against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to the self-ruled territory.

The spokesman for Taiwans Eighth Army Corps, Lou Woei-jye confirmed that the artillery drills had been initiated in the southern county of Pingtung soon after 0040 GMT.

According to the media report, 20 navy vessels from China and Taiwan were locked in a standoff in the Taiwan Strait, with some of the Chinese vessels trying to press into the middle line of the strait, which serves as the de facto maritime border between the two countries.

China launched the biggest-ever war battle around Taiwan last week in a wrath response to a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

On Monday, Peoples Liberation Army, China confirmed that they are going to extend the drills, focusing on anti-submarine and sea assault operations. Tensions between Taiwan and China turned intense when Beijing sent at least 66 aircraft and 14 warships to conduct exercises near the border regions of Taipei.

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu in Taipei, capital of Taiwan, charged that China was exploiting Pelosis visit as justification to get ready to invade the island.

Read more: Nitish Kumar embraces RJD, BJP shouts betrayal
WEST HARTFORD  An East Hartford man was charged with assaulting a Department of Transportation employee in a construction zone late Tuesday night, according to Connecticut State Police.

Troopers were called to a construction zone on Interstate 84 near exit 41 in West Hartford at 11:58 p.m. Tuesday for the reported assault. Due to the construction, the right lane was closed while two lanes were open to traffic.

State police said they learned that a motorist had driven into the construction lane. When a Department of Transportation employee told the driver to get out of the construction area, the motorist stopped, got out of his vehicle and assaulted the worker, according to state police in a news release Wednesday.

The DOT was taken to the hospital for treatment for minor injuries before being released, police said.

The suspect, identified as Luis Moreno Jr., 31, of East Hartford, fled the scene after the attack, police said. However, a contracted highway worker followed Moreno to his workplace, police said.

After a brief investigation, police took Moreno into custody. He was charged with third-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace, state police said.

Moreno was later released after posting $1,000 bond. Moreno is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Hartford on Aug. 29, according to state police.

Due to our seasons, road construction is very common at this time of year, state police said. Please leave yourself adequate travel time to arrive at your destination, anticipate construction patterns and traffic, and be patient as our partners at CT DOT and other workers upgrade, maintain and keep our roads safe for travel.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Gun-safety advocates in New Mexico say police, prosecutors and even judges are still learning how to harness a 2020 red-flag law that can be used to seize guns from people who pose a danger to others or themselves.

Shiela Lewis offers training to police, prosecutors and school administrators on how to petition a judge for a red-flag order to temporarily seize guns for a one-year period that can be extended. She told a panel of state legislators Tuesday that an incomplete understanding of the current law is limiting its use as a precaution against gun violence.

Just nine petitions have been filed to have guns removed since New Mexico's red-flag law went into effect in May 2020.

Our (red-flag) laws are new, we don't have interpretations, they're not comfortable using them, said Lewis, whose training is underwritten by New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence. When I have talked to officers they always have a story to tell me about why they wanted to use it but didn't think they could use it.

President Joe Biden in June signed gun safety legislation that helps states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous.

State health officials say they may be able to tap into that funding as New Mexico establishes an gun violence prevention unit at the Department of Health.

The Department of Health plans to begin soliciting grants aimed at preventing gun violence, starting in August.

New Mexico traced 479 deaths to firearms in 2020 in a state of about 2.1 million residents. That places New Mexico in the top 10 states in firearms death per capita.

Democratic state Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil on Tuesday presented a draft bill that would establish a permanent office of gun violence prevention in state statute. She said the office would collect reliable gun violence data that is desperately needed to determine whether the state's gun laws are effective or if new approaches are needed.

The bill would be considered when the Legislature holds it next regular legislative session in January 2023.

The Democratic-led Legislature and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham adopted red-flag legislation in response to the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman killed 23 people at a Walmart two years ago in a racially motivated attack.

Some sheriffs in rural areas were openly hostile to the legislation and threatened to avoid enforcement.
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WEST HAVEN  Rep. Trenee McGee, D-West Haven, beat back a primary challenge for the 116th District state House seat Tuesday, receiving 63.7 percent of the vote, as she seeks to hang onto her seat in November.

She won with 540 votes to challenger Joe Millers 308.

Miller said he called McGee to concede Tuesday evening. Meanwhile, McGee headed to the Village Bar and Grill, where a crowd of supporters were waiting. She will face Republican Aaron Haley in the Nov. 8 general election.

Despite confusion caused by redistricting, McGee said she was proud of the fact that people came out to vote in the primary.

According the Secretary of the States Office, West Haven saw a 13.11 percent turnout for the Democratic primary, slightly below state turnout of 14.8 percent.

Without major races such as presidential or gubernatorial candidates on the ballot, political leaders from the Democratic and Republican parties expected the turnout to be around 20 percent, aligning with historical turnout in Connecticut primaries that range between 18 percent and 24 percent.

A top issue for the 116th primary candidates was abortion rights, with Miller criticizing McGee as being against abortion rights. recently spoke out against a state bill to expand legal protections for abortion providers in Connecticut, shortly before a U.S. Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade was leaked.

McGee said its time for the party to reflect being a big tent party. She said her win Tuesday will tell people that were not the same now  we as people, we as Democrats, we as Black people and people of color, women.

We have to really create spaces for dynamic, nuanced, complex, challenging conversations, McGee said. I think its time for that. Its unfair to limit a persons experience to either one side or the other, but we have to really holistically address things.

West Haven Mayor Nancy Rossi, who said she has known McGee since McGee was nine years old, was on hand for the victory party.

More News CT primary results: Live updates

Im not surprised and I couldnt be more proud of the young lady she has become, Rossi said. Shes determined. She believes in what she believes in. She stands by people. Shes kind to others. But she gets the job done, too.

McGee, 27, is the youngest Black female member of the state General Assembly and a former West Haven City Council member. She won a special election for the seat after former Democratic state Rep. Michael DiMassa resigned following his arrest on a wire fraud charge involving the alleged theft of pandemic relief funds from the city.

Tuesdays race was important for her, she said, because she wants people who struggle daily with economic issues to have their voices represented at the state level.

As a Democrat who opposes abortion rights, McGee said since were layered people, its unfair to make a decision solely on that issue because people need to think about other peoples experiences and backgrounds.

I think that there are so many other things that are just as important to Democrats, McGee said. There are Democrats who stand on a consistent life ethic. One of three Democrats are pro-life.

Regardless of what others think, McGee said her top priorities remain taxes and integrity. For her, its about the work she has put in locally on the grassroots level and relationships she established along the way. Its also something she plans to keep doing heading to the general election in November.

Miller, a 24-year-old who works full time as an IT professional, campaigned on supporting womens and reproductive rights among other issues such as job training programs, infrastructure and trust restoration between city government and residents.

Miller said this race was a big test for the Democratic Party on whether reproductive rights would be integral in Novembers wins.

The first-time candidate also ran on increasing accountability for city government. He said West Haven has gone through decades of mismanagement, cronyism and financial issues.

The residents have suffered enough, Miller said. They need to feel heard again and they need leaders that work for them.

Following his primary loss, Miller said he will still be a steadfast supporter and activist for issues the city is facing.

We are a city in crisis. We are in a city in pain, Miller said. We need to hold our leaders accountable for the finance, the fiscal issues as well as the social issues.

Issues Driving Voters To Polls For The 116th District Race

Nicole Atchison said she voted for McGee because the representative has been doing OK so far and that its important to let her continue rather than starting with a new person.

McGees stance on abortion didnt affect Atchisons vote, she said.

I think that the other voters and the other representatives will represent my viewpoints on that issue and the other issues I feel more strongly about, Atchison said, noting that its OK for a candidate to have a different view from the partys main platform.

Among the voters, we all have different views, so I think its OK, as long as theyre all pushing in the same direction (overall), that they can have different views on one issue or the other issues, she said.

When asked what issue Atchison cared most about for the election cycle, she said people not stealing money and no embezzlement, referring to the financial scandal with the COVID-19 fund within the city.

Barbara Snowden, who voted for Miller, said the most important issues for her were reproductive rights, gun control, climate change and proper oversight for West Haven.

Ashley Wright, another voter who supported McGee, said her biggest concern is taxes. She said she went to vote Tuesday with her son to teach him about civic participation. Since McGee has been in the seat only since December, Wright said, she can do a lot more if she gets another term.

Confusion Over Where to Vote

Tuesdays primaries were the first elections after a statewide redistricting in 2021. The 116th District is entirely within West Havens city limits, including the citys districts 4, 5, 6 and 7.

The citys Office of Registrar of Voters didnt mail out information cards to voters due to budgetary restraints, causing anxiety that some voters might not be able to find their polling places. Both candidates and city officials have criticized the decision.

Volunteers and elections workers at multiple polling places said many voters were sent to a different polling location. Some had to go down a block while some had to drive miles to another polling place.

Will Palladino, a 5th District voter who showed up at the poll for the 4th District, said he was a little upset about that. He said he didnt know that his district had changed.

I have to go to the other place, I guess, which Ive got to find, Palladino said. Im not even sure where it is.

Another voter was in a similar situation: Sean Bell also was redirected to the 5th District. He said he got confused, but it didnt stop him from exercising his civic right.

Its not really difficult because its on our way home, he said. But it should have been clear that the redistricting took place. Weve always been District 4 and now were now District 5. Proper notification would have been helpful, but its not a big deal.

Rossi said the regstrar of voters is in charge of mailing out information cards and she hopes those cards will be mailed out before November because thats the way it should be done.

chatwan.mongkol@hearstmediact.com
The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Tuesday met with the Consul-General of the United States in Nigeria, William B. Stev...

The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Tuesday met with the Consul-General of the United States in Nigeria, William B. Stevens.

The former Anambra State governor disclosed this in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.

According to him, they had constructive discussions and exchanged ideas during the meeting.

Peter Obi said he shared his vision of a new, secure and united Nigeria which would be birthed by the actualization of his presidential ambition with the US Consul-General.

He wrote, It was my pleasure to meet with William B. Stevens, the new Consul-General of the United States in Nigeria. We had constructive discussions and exchanged ideas.

I also shared with him my vision of a new, secure and united Nigeria in which governance and development will be driven by production.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reversed his authorisation of the acquisition of ExxonMobil Corporation assets by Seplat Energy Plc. In...

President Muhammadu Buhari has reversed his authorisation of the acquisition of ExxonMobil Corporation assets by Seplat Energy Plc.

In February, Seplat had agreed to acquire the entire share capital of MPNU from Exxon Mobil for $1.3 billion.

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, disclosed this to Premium Times, on Wednesday.

Shehu said the president has decided to support the position of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in the deal.

He said previous confusion was because various agencies involved in (the) decision had not coordinated well among themselves.

When asked if there will be proper communication over the issue, he said I have no statement to issue.

On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the acquisition of ExxonMobil Corporation assets by Seplat Energy Plc despite moves by the state-owned oil company blocking the deal.

But in a twist of events, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said the issue at stake was a regulatory matter.

The regulator had previously declined consent to the deal.

In May, NUPRC had declined to approve the proposed acquisition due to overriding national interest.

In a corporate filing on Wednesday, Seplat Energy said it followed due process in the acquisition of the assets.

Seplat Energy has become aware of news and social media reports alleging impropriety in the process of securing ministerial consent to the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited by Seplat Energy Offshore Limited, the statement reads.

Such reports are wholly untrue and the company will pursue legal action against any parties involved in disseminating false information related to its business.
A coroners inquest has indicted government agencies for the Ikoyi building collapse. A 21-storey building under construction on Gerard Road...





A coroners inquest has indicted government agencies for the Ikoyi building collapse.





A 21-storey building under construction on Gerard Road caved in on November 1, 2021.





Scores of people, including Femi Osibona, the developer, and a number of construction workers were killed.





On Tuesday, the Coroner, O. A. Komolafe gave the verdict on an inquest instituted by the Lagos State government, NAN reports.





Komolafe noted that the buildings density and setback on the site showed a gross violation of the Lagos State Building Regulations.





He said the project board, which should have shown the important information, such as the names and addresses of the professionals engaged, was deliberately not provided.





Komolafe noted that the act showed that the approving and supervising agencies did not sanction the offender, suggesting that they were compromised.





The Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) is in charge of monitoring structures.





The chief magistrate found that the structural failure was due to design errors.





Komolafe said there was a lack of quality assurance/control and poor management of the project.





The coroner adopted the recommendation contained in the Council for the Regulations of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) report on the collapse.





Komolafe advised the authorities to implement the recommendations to act accordingly.
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday warned Nigerians not to allow the civil war that took place from 1967 to 1970 to repeat itself in the l...

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday warned Nigerians not to allow the civil war that took place from 1967 to 1970 to repeat itself in the life of the country.

The president, who identified self-centredness as the main cause of the civil war that claimed one million lives, however submitted that Nigerians will remain Nigerians in one indivisible country.

Speaking at the State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience former state chairmen of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), President Buhari said the self-centeredness that led to the loss of about a million lives between 1967-1970 must not be allowed to repeat itself, adding that the CPC was founded on the bedrock of patriotism and loyalty to the unity of Nigeria.

He said: Our main objective is the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are human beings. We have our weaknesses, but I can assure you that the patriotism in us is hard earned. We have gone through all the troubles from 15th of January 1966 to date. You know what I mean by this, we have killed a million of ourselves in order to keep this country together.

I dont think there can be any practical experience more than that. We are Nigerians. God willing, we remain Nigerians and Nigeria will remain one.

The president urged all members of defunct CPC and political leaders to always be mindful of the larger picture by working towards preserving the unity, peace and integrity of the nation.

He also urged political leaders to stay focused and uphold the ultimate objective of promoting interest of the country, saying: We are Nigerians. God willing, we remain Nigerians and Nigeria shall remain one.

President Buhari noted that the passion and zeal for improving the livelihood of Nigerians, which culminated in the creation of the political party had not dwindled, calling for more steadfastness as Nigerians.

The president thanked former chairmen of the political party, which was merged to form the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), for always highlighting the achievements of the government, admitting that some areas will surely get more attention.

I am delighted to welcome the forum of state chairmen of the former Congress for Progressives Change to State House today. I accord great significance to this visit as it demonstrates a determination and commitment to identify with our administration.

This visit recalls the solidarity with the successes that we have recorded in critical areas of our society. The visit also affords us the opportunity to discuss other issues of interest to the forum.

I commend members of this forum and all members of the legacy party-CPC, for their continued dedication to the ideals of democratic governance that we all believed in.

The doggedness with which we pursued our vision and goals that culminated into the success we recorded remain like bright stars in the history of our dear nation, he added.
Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State has warned against the illegal selling and buying of lands and shops at the popular Kpirikpiri market in th...





Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi State has warned against the illegal selling and buying of lands and shops at the popular Kpirikpiri market in the state.





This is contained in a statement on Wednesday in Abakaliki by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji.





Umahi warned the people involved to desist from the transaction, noting that the state government would punish the perpetrators.





It has come to the notice of the governor that some local government officials of Ebonyi Local Government Council are illegally selling lands and shops at Kpirikpiri Market.





The sellers and buyers should know that the market is within the capital and as such belongs to the state government.





We hereby, give notice of revocation of all lands and shops at Kpirikpiri market.





All occupants are directed to proceed to the state Ministry of Market Development for appropriate documentation and payment to government.





Take note that where such occupants fail and or neglect to come to the ministry for documentation and payment within the stipulated time, they shall be held responsible for breach of the state Land Use Regulations, he advised.





The governor noted that after seven days from Wednesday, all lands and shops whose occupants failed to make their papers and appropriate payments would be shut.





All the perpetrators, no matter whom they are, shall be brought to book, he said.





He stressed that the state government had not given anyone the right to sell any shop or land at the Kpirikpiri market, adding that, all concerned have been sufficiently admonished.
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, says if he has the opportunity, he will successfully tackle banditry. Wike said this on Tuesday at th...

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, says if he has the opportunity, he will successfully tackle banditry.

Wike said this on Tuesday at the inauguration of the dualised Ogbunuabali-Eastern bypass road in Rivers.

The road was inaugurated by Aliyu Wamakko, former governor of Sokoto, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wike said Nigerias problems can be effectively addressed if leaders are truly committed to serving the people, adding that his resolve to deliver effective governance would not be in doubt even if was not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Leadership is not about party, leadership is about the individual. Party is only a vehicle to actualise your ambition, to be able to tell your people I have this capacity; I have this quality to render services to you, he said.

If you take me away today from PDP to another party, I will still perform. So, it is not because Im in PDP that Im performing. It is because I have that passion for my people. It is because I have the commitment to serve my people.

Take me to YPP and allow me to become whatever I will become there, I will perform. Take me to any party, I will perform. So, it is not the party that makes you to perform.

I challenge everybody. The problem we have in this country today is that we dont have people who have that passion, who want to serve their people.

The only regret I have is that I dont have the opportunity to tell bandits enough is enough. If I have the opportunity, the bandits know their time will be gone. Its unfortunate I dont have it.

But this one I have, I will use it and serve my people so that they will be happy and know that they deserve the best. 

Wikes remarks come amid increasing attacks related to banditry and insurgency across the country.

The Rivers governor, who had contested the PDP presidential ticket and lost, was also said to be a choice candidate for vice-presidential ticket.

However, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flagbearer, chose Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta governor, as his running mate.

Meanwhile, there have been speculations that the Rivers governor may not support Abubakar following his loss of the partys presidential and vice-presidential tickets.

Although there have been fence-mending meetings towards resolving the friction in the party, Wikes recent comments seem to indicate that the crisis is far from over.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday said that Nigeria cannot afford another civil war that tore every fabric of the country. ...





Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday said that Nigeria cannot afford another civil war that tore every fabric of the country.





El-Rufai spoke at the closing ceremony of the orientation course organized for members of the 2022 Batch B (Stream 2) National Youth Service Corps members posted to Kaduna.





The governor urged the youths not to fan the embers of violence and war in Nigeria.





Represented by the States Acting Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, El-Rufai said: The youth must remember that the NYSC came into being after the civil war that tore every fabric of the Nigerian state. The war was a needless savagery that we cannot afford to repeat.





Nigerian youths must, therefore, distance themselves from fanning the embers of violence and war in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government is considering a relaunch of the ranching programme to address the recurring clashes between herders and farmers. ...

The Nigerian government is considering a relaunch of the ranching programme to address the recurring clashes between herders and farmers.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, indicated this in a memo to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, NAN reports.

The communication, signed by a Director in the SGF office David Attah, is titled Heightened misunderstanding between farmers and herders in Abia, Delta and Kwara States.

The SGF said the recurring invasion of farmlands by migrant herders and hostilities pose a threat to food security.

Mustapha also observed that the conflicts had affected peaceful coexistence in the affected communities.

The aforementioned development underscores the need to revisit and remodel the ranching programme, the memo notes.

The SGF urged the relevant ministers to take necessary action on the matter to ensure people in agrarian areas.

Mustapha warned of violence between herders and farmers in Opiene community, Arochukwu LGA of Abia, over alleged invasion by the herders on farmlands in Oblene forest.

More than a dozen nomads were said to have arrived from neighbouring Itu village in Gdukpani LGA of Cross River State.

President-General of the community, Kalu Irem recently raised the alarm, calling for urgent government intervention.

The memo also mentions uneasiness in Ogwashi-Uku and Ubulu-Unor communities in Aniocha LGA of Delta State, due to the increasing presence of strange pastoralists.

The anxiety followed the refusal of residents to serve as guarantors to herders encroaching on some farms at Chibata and Aboh-Ogwashi villages in the same LGA.

Also in Kwara, nomads operating around the Marafa axis of Ilorin-East LGA were reportedly preparing to fight members of their host community.

The memo said the planned confrontation was a result of the recent attack on two of their kinsmen in the area.

The victims, Sadik Isah and Abubakar Bindo, are receiving treatment at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

The National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) of the Buhari administration was met with resistance after the initial introduction,

As of October 21,2022, about 22 out of the 36 states had indicated interest to key into the programme.
Scientists have discovered a new virus named Langya henipavirus (LayV) in China. The discovery was announced in a letter written by ...

Scientists have discovered a new virus named Langya henipavirus (LayV) in China.

The discovery was announced in a letter written by researchers from China, Singapore and Australia and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The researchers, in their letter, said Langya virus is a type of henipavirus, a category of zoonotic viruses which can be transmitted from animals to humans.

They said acute Langya infection was identified in 35 patients in the Shandong and Henan provinces of China, among whom 26 were infected with LayV only (no other pathogens were present). They said the patients are thought to have contracted the virus from animals.





These 26 patients presented with fever (100% of the patients), fatigue (54%), cough (50%), anorexia (50%), myalgia (46%), nausea (38%), headache (35%), and vomiting (35%), accompanied by abnormalities of thrombocytopenia (35%), leukopenia (54%), and impaired liver (35%) and kidney (8%) function. A serosurvey of domestic animals detected seropositivity in goats (3 of 168 [2%]) and dogs (4 of 79 [5%]), the letter reads.

The researchers said there is no evidence so far that Langya virus can transmit from human to human.

There was no close contact or common exposure history among the patients, which suggests that the infection in the human population may be sporadic. Contact tracing of 9 patients with 15 close-contact family members revealed no close-contact LayV transmission, but our sample size was too small to determine the status of human-to-human transmission for LayV, the letter reads.

The scientists added that the Langya virus LayV was found in 27% of shrews tested, suggesting the mole-like mammals may be natural reservoirs for the virus.

According to the BBC, Wang Linfa, one of the researchers, said the cases of Langya virus found so far have not been fatal or very serious, so there is no need to panic.

He, however, added that there is still a need to be on the alert as many viruses that exist in nature have unpredictable results when they infect humans.
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State has clarified the situation surrounding the arrest of Idris Ojo, who was one of those al...

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State has clarified the situation surrounding the arrest of Idris Ojo, who was one of those allegedly responsible for the attack on the Saint Francis Catholic Church in Owo on June 5.

Akeredolu on Wednesday claimed that there was an error in the statement made by General Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, when he was revealed on Tuesday that the attackers had been apprehended.

According to a statement issued by Richard Olatunde, the Governors Chief Press Secretary, Idris Ojo, who was listed as the 14th wanted escapee from Kuje Prison, was apprehended at his brothers home in Akure, the states capital.

Idris Ojo, a prominent member of the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) who escaped from Kuje Prison, was arrested at Aiyetoro in Ondo State, according to Irabor, who made the disclosure of the arrest on Tuesday.

Given that the tragic incident at Kuje Prison on July 6 came after the horrific event of the June 5 attack in Owo, Akeredolu acknowledged in the statement the uncertainty the development had caused the public.

Idris Ojo, who is number 14 on the wanted list of the Kuje Prison Escapees was arrested in his brothers house in Akure. His brother, Jimoh Rasheed Ibrahim, received and accommodated him after his escape from Kuje prison.

He was thereafter moved and kept in the custody of the security operatives at the same time the attackers of Owo Catholic Church were arrested and brought into custody. Hence, the mix-up.
Aston Villa legend, Gabriel Agbonlahor has insisted he would pick Marko Arnautovic over Manchester Uniteds Jadon Sancho. He said Manchester...





Aston Villa legend, Gabriel Agbonlahor has insisted he would pick Marko Arnautovic over Manchester Uniteds Jadon Sancho.





He said Manchester United fans must accept their new reality.





Doom and gloom already surround Old Trafford amid an underwhelming summer transfer window and a 2-1 defeat to Brighton on the opening day of the Premier League season.





Despite the arrival of new manager Erik ten Hag, many believe the Red Devils do not have a squad capable of mixing it with the best teams in England.





A recent bid to sign Marko Arnautovic was dropped after backlash from disappointed supporters  and Aston Villa legend Gabby Agbonlahor has a problem with that attitude.





The former striker has also taken aim at marquee signing Sancho, who has three league goals since joining in a 67 million deal last year and tells United fans that marquee signings might be a thing of the past.





Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: I dont know who Man United fans think they are. Arnautovic makes that squad a better squad.





Theyve got to stop living in the Fergie years. Man United, now, are a club that cant attract top players.





Theres talk about looking to the future with younger players. Theyve done that with Sancho and he cant take anyone on.





He gets the ball, he passes it back to Dalot, he hides, he doesnt get past people.





Look at the wingers theyve had in the past. Valencia  he used to go past people and put crosses in. Even Nani was outstanding. Sancho doesnt do that.





Id rather Arnautovic in my team than Jadon Sancho at the moment.
The governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi on Wednesday, asked the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to end the l...





The governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi on Wednesday, asked the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to end the lover five months lingering strike.

Umahi urged the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to shift grounds in negotiating with the union leadership.

The governor made this known while addressing the board of Trustees of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, NPTF, during in a courtesy call at his office in Abakaliki.

He lamented the increasing insecurity in the country and the education and health systems in Nigeria.

He said, Our basic problem in the country remains security, health and education. Let me say a little about the ASUU strike. I think that our educational system is improperly articulated. University education is not for everybody and that is the truth. The basic education that every country strives to attain is secondary and vocational schools.

There is a need to review our educational system and it mustnt be for everybody. I dont see how we cant sit down with ASUU leaders and iron out this ASUU strike. I have seen how painful it is for the students to sit at home instead of being in school. But there is no way the country Nigeria will go and borrow #1.1trillion to meet ASUU demands. Its unreasonable.

Are ASUUs demands genuine? yes. But we can start little by little. There must be a commitment on the side of both ASUU and the federal government. ASUU is not asking for this, for them to take to their house but for the betterment of our children. We can start by a fraction of that demands and have a program that we run with sincerity he stated

In a related development, the Governor expressed regret over the recent attack on the Abuja Kuje correctional facility by gunmen, saying, What happened in Abuja Kuje correctional centre shouldnt have happened. If the place has been wired with CCTV. It shouldnt be.

Umahi equally revealed how he partnered the Police in Ebonyi to end the sit-at-home in the state and ensure that there is peace and order in the 13 LGAs of the state.

At a time we almost lost hope on our security system here. We cant contest the fact that Ebonyi State remains the safest and most peaceful state, and there is no sit-at-home here. And it didnt just come, we all fought it together and brought peace to our people. We didnt kill them but we brought them back to our fold and reintegrate them he stressed.

Earlier in a remark, the leader of the team, Mr. Ben Akabueze who is the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, commended the governor for providing a good environment for the police to operate in Ebonyi state.

He said, it has shown that a lot of things need to be done in the development of human and operational capacity of the Nigeria Police, in order to reposition it, to adequately face the security challenges facing the country, he noted.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 80F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.
The soup is everyday comfort food, at least back in the Amazon rainforest regions where it originates. But chef Dana Honn knows tacaca is an exotic find practically anywhere else, including the menu of his downtown New Orleans restaurant Carmo.

So as he prepared a bowl recently, as part of an ongoing Amazonian dinner series Carmo is now presenting, the chef set about with the deliberate intent of a ritual, explaining the different ingredients and their significance as he combined them for a beguiling whole.

Tacaca starts with tucupi, the fermented yellow juice of wild manioc root, which is safe to consume only after days of boiling down. In goes goma, a clear gel made from manioc starch that thickens the broth and adds layers of silky texture. Theres shrimp and spicy-fruity chile peppers and then the jambu, the green leaves of Amazonian paracress, sometimes called the toothache plant, which gives a prickly sensation on the tongue, like Szechuan peppercorns.

This is a soup that is salty, tangy, refreshing, subtly spicy and literally tingling. Trying it for first time can feel more like taking a ride than taking a taste. At Carmo, it is also part of an experience meant to bridge the riverine cultures of southeast Louisiana and the Amazon.

The food without the story is just perplexing and people want to know about it, said Honn. It compels the story to be told. And a big part of that story is of the Indigenous people we spend time with there.

Tacaca is one course in a new tasting menu and larger cultural program at Carmo called Origins: Amazonia. Its a multi-faceted effort to draw more attention to the vibrant but increasingly imperiled Amazon region. Since its led by chefs, food is a big part of the story.

Bridges across the tropics

From its start, Carmo has served a polyglot menu of dishes sharing tropical heritage, from the African coast to the Pacific islands. But the cuisine of Brazil has always played a major role. Thats the home country of co-owner and chef Christina Honn, Danas partner.

Now, the Honns are unveiling what they call a next-level evolution of Carmo, through which the casual restaurant will double as an Amazonian cultural center in New Orleans. This will develop in phases over the coming year, to include art installations and interactive exhibits, films, music performances and special happy hours.

A key piece is the ongoing Amazonian tasting menu, now being served Wednesdays and Thursdays. It is an edible showcase of its biodiversity and also a plea for its survival as the globally critical region faces accelerating deforestation.

The Amazon is the source of countless foods used across the worlds plate, said Honn. What would it mean to lose the place that so much of this biodiversity came from?

The chefs and their partners in the project have been traveling around the Amazon region, meeting with researchers and advocates and the practitioners of indigenous food traditions. Working closely with the Juruna people of the Xingu region, they've built bonds both to tell the stories of the Amazon and to form the supply chains for the otherwise hard-to-find ingredients their menus use.

Proceeds from the dinner series will benefit these Indigenous communities as they struggle to maintain their ways of life, Honn said.

The overarching mission is worked into the meals in different ways. The tacaca soup, for instance, is served in curias, bowls made from hollowed gourds. Other dishes are served on ceramics made by local potters ChreegooAndPiruShop, which are also sold to help fund the Origins: Amazonia program.

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A deep dive in six courses

The first tasting menu, served through August and September, is a six-course tour of dishes from the Brazilian states of Amazonas and Para. Subsequent iterations will focus on other regions.

Honn described the dinner menus as intrinsically gluten-free, because of their adherence to Amazonian traditions and foods. Like most dishes at Carmo, the menus can be made vegan on request.

One course Honn demonstrated in preparation for the first dinners resembled chips and dip in form, and brought another wave of illuminating flavors.

The chips were crackers made from tapioca with a crisp but vanishingly light texture, like Champagne bubbles dribbling over the tongue.

They carried a pair of hummus-like dips. One is made from cashews and topped with bits of dense, jerky-like tuna that Honn has smoked and aged in house. The other dip is made with mushrooms harvested by hand from trees in the Amazon. Both are finished with dabs of a sauce called black tucupi, made from greatly reduced fermented manioc juice, that is syrupy-thick, umami-rich and intense.

Its like the soy sauce of the Amazon, Honn said in admiration.

Showcasing such flavors for a local audience is part of the point of the Origins: Amazonia dinners.

The menu progresses through tapioca fritters with cupuacu, a cousin of chocolate with a pineapple flavor; a salad of fresh hearts of palm, long-leafed culantro (similar to cilantro), Amazonian peanuts, white beans and passion and cashew fruit vinaigrette; Gulf fish fried in babacu oil (similar to coconut oil), with farofa (toasted manioc flour), fire-roasted root vegetables and a regional rice and beans dish called baiao de dois; and a dessert, the type of which is held back as a surprise.

We hope through this we can help people understand the scale of the Amazon, how important it is, and the scale of what is happening there, said Honn. Our hope is that this continues and continues to grow, and that it goes beyond New Orleans.

The Origins: Amazonia dinner series is held each Wednesday and Thursday, with seating limited to 15 people per evening. Tickets ($120, or $150 with drink pairings) are required via originsamazon.org/dinners. Carmo continues to serve its regular menus at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Carmo

527 Julia St., (504) 875-4132

Breakfast, lunch, dinner Tue.-Sat.

+14 With garlic butter and brotherhood, Dees Xquisite Seafood expands to New Orleans East It started with a three-part recipe and the kind of grind that propels a good idea from the backyard to the street to a full-time restaurant. 

+15 Ian McNulty: At three Mid-City restaurants, a tour of Honduran flavor, bold and generous You have to dig a bit for the fried chicken in the pollo con tajadas at Tia Marias Kitchen. But theres no doubt it is the crispy-crusted, ju
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), an ally of President Donald Trump, says the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized his cellphone a day after it executed a search warrant at Trumps resort in Mar-a-Lago, Palm Breach.

This morning, while traveling with my family, three FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone, reads a statement from Perrys office. They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish.

Im outragedthough not surprisedthat the FBI under the direction of [Attorney General] Merrick Garlands [Department of Justice (DOJ)], would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress, the congressman said in the statement provided to The Epoch Times.

My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the governments business.

The seizure comes a day after the FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago property. It is not immediately clear if the move is related to the raid or the investigations of the Jan. 6 Committee, which has subpoenaed Perry.

As with President Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys, the statement from Perrys office reads. These kinds of banana republic tactics should concern every Citizenespecially considering the decision before Congress this week to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to further persecute law-abiding Citizens.

Trumps lawyer, Christina Bobb, told The Epoch Times on Tuesday that FBI agents were looking for what they deemed to be presidential records and seized documents from Trumps property.

We had been very cooperative with them before. And its unclear to me why they went to such drastic measures to do this. But they did. And as far as the probable cause goes, they wouldnt give that to us, she added.

The search warrant for the raid remains under seal. Trumps legal team plans to file a request to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to unseal the search warrant affidavit. If they are successful, the affidavit would show what probable cause authorities had established before executing the warrant.

We dont know what the probable cause is. I dont think there is a good cause to do such a drastic thing. But they did, Bobb said.

The National Archive Records Administration (NARA) said in February that Trumps representatives have been cooperating in transferring presidential records.

Throughout the course of the last year, NARA obtained the cooperation of Trump representatives to locate Presidential records that had not been transferred to the National Archives at the end of the Trump administration, the NARA said in a statement.

Trump, who broke the news about the raid on Truth Social late Monday, called the raid prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately dont want [him] to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, adding that Democrats will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections.

Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before, Trump said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Department of Justice and the FBI for comment.

From The Epoch Times
Uruguay will push for a free trade agreement with the Chinese regime, according to the South American countrys top diplomat.

The effort has already seen resistance from some of its neighbors. They favor regional trade talks instead of deals involving just one nation.

The plan was announced as the Mercosur trade bloc countries held their annual summit. There, they discussed opening the South American trade zone to China.

The bloc consists of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
Visitors watch an exhibit at a China-Dutch art exhibition held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands in The Hague, the Netherlands, Aug. 6, 2022. Co-organized by the China Cultural Center in The Hague and Pulchri Studio, the exhibition features 50 artworks with artists from each country contributing 25 pieces of art. The artworks included traditional and contemporary paintings, calligraphy, sculptures and art installations. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)

THE HAGUE, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Dutch artists held an art exhibition here on Saturday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands.

Co-organized by the China Cultural Center in The Hague and Pulchri Studio, the exhibition features 50 artworks with artists from each country contributing 25 pieces of art. The artworks included traditional and contemporary paintings, calligraphy, sculptures and art installations.

"An artistic work is valuable ... I believe art can bring people closer -- people from the east and west, people from developing and developed countries, Chinese and Dutch," Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Tan Jian said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

The ambassador hoped that the exhibition would bring closer the two nations and promote exchanges and cooperation between the artists of the two countries.

The organizers of the exhibition have overcome the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and spent a year preparing for it, the exhibition's curator Zhou Lesheng told Xinhua.

Dutch artists are very interested in the works of Chinese artists, Zhou said, expressing the hope that more similar exhibitions could be held in the future to further promote exchanges between Chinese and Dutch artists.

Bob Bonies, a renowned Dutch artist and art educator, told Xinhua that he was very happy to appreciate the works of Chinese artists, which reflect Chinese cultural heritage and the accomplishments of the artists.

Bonies said that he has visited China several times and is impressed by the "amazing and fantastic" development of modern Chinese art, which holds "very high international standards." 

A visitor watches exhibits at a China-Dutch art exhibition held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands in The Hague, the Netherlands, Aug. 6, 2022. Co-organized by the China Cultural Center in The Hague and Pulchri Studio, the exhibition features 50 artworks with artists from each country contributing 25 pieces of art. The artworks included traditional and contemporary paintings, calligraphy, sculptures and art installations. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)
Ford plans to make what it's billing as "the largest renewable energy purchase from a utility in U.S. history."

The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker, which operates the Chicago Assembly Plant on the far South Side and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, reached an agreement with the utility DTE, which will add 650 megawatts of new solar energy in Michigan for Ford.

The deal will increase solar arrays in Michigan by 70% and allow Ford to make all its vehicles in Michigan with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2025. That's a decade sooner than Ford's goal of global net zero.

Ford estimates it will prevent as many as 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year by powering all of its manufacturing in Michigan with solar panels.

This unprecedented agreement is all about a greener and brighter future for Ford and for Michigan, said Jim Farley, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co. Today is an example of what it looks like to lead  to turn talk into action.

The construction project is estimated to create 250 temporary construction jobs and 10 permanent full-time jobs.

Ford was the first large industrial customer to enroll in our MIGreenPower program in 2019 and we thank Ford for its continued commitment to using MIGreenPower to help decarbonize its operations and meet its sustainability goals, said Jerry Norcia, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy.

Ford, a major employer in the Calumet Region, was one of the first automakers in the United States to pledge to fight global warming in accordance with guidelines set out in the Paris Agreement.

I want to congratulate DTE Energy and Ford Motor Company for taking this significant step to increase our states solar energy production and to position Michigan as a leader in climate action, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said.
Sullair, a major employer in Michigan City, recently marked five years of being a subsidiary of Japan-based Hitachi Group.

The air compressor manufacturer, which has had a significant presence in LaPorte County since 1965, hosted a ceremony with dignitaries including the Consul-General of Japan in Chicago and Michigan City Mayor Duane Parry. They hosted a company picnic and planted a cherry blossom tree to commemorate the occasion.

Hitachi is a world-class, innovative and values-driven organization, Sullair President and CEO John Randall said. Joining a company of this caliber and capability has been extremely positive for Sullair, not only because of the direct investments Hitachi has made in our business, but the companys promotion of Social Innovation Business  a strategy that seeks to improve the lives of people in our community and around the world.

Hitachi, a multinational that specializes in engineering, electronics, transportation and industrial systems, acquired Sullair in 2017 and has since invested more than $45 million in its Michigan City plant. The company made Sullair part of its Hitachi Industrial Equipment & Systems Group to expand its footprint in North America and expand its compressed air capabilities.

At the ceremony, Hitachi gave Sullair a warrior's helmet known as a Kabuto, which symbolizes courage and good health.
Thirty-six veterans have been honored at the Village of Orland Parks Hometown Heroes 2022 banner ceremony.

And besides a call to service, the honorees also shared interesting backgrounds.

One of them even had a pre-war career that helped shape modern warfare.

Orland Park's William J. Nicholson, who died at age 97 last year, was among those who were honored July 16. He was in the Army Air Forces from 1943-1945 in World War II.

Before heading to war, he was at Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory, the Met Lab, working with and machining uranium and other metals for the development of the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project.

According to his biography, which was researched by his daughter, Jan Adamo, Nicholson flew missions in the European theater and was part of many battles including Rhineland. He flew as part of the Central Europe and Air Offensive Europe campaigns and received many medals and honors.

Then, he came home, married his wife, Loretta, and spent time living in Europe until he retired in 1988. His last stop was Orland Park.

Loretta Nicholson, 97, said they spent 72 happy years together and had five children, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

We had a very good life together, she said.

There were 36 honored on 35 banners. For the first time in the two-year history of the event, a pair or brothers were honored on one banner.

Robert and John Langevin served in the Army from 1942-1945 and saw action in World War II.

Both were born in Chicago and attended Lindblom High School. Robert Langevin, the older by two years, was in Germany at one point and was a part of the liberation of Stalag VII-A, one of the largest prisoner of war camps there.

There were four years when the two didnt see each other, but John Langevins daughter, Diane Gurnea, said that a Protestant chaplain in France helped John make a trip to Germany to reunite with him.

Another veteran honored was Adrian George Spaargaren, who served in the Army during the Vietnam conflict from 1967-1969.

He is the father of Orland Park Trustee Joni Radaszewski. On June 21, Radaszewski, her father and mother, Kathleen Repsis, were in an auto accident in Homer Glen. Her parents were killed in the accident and Radaszewski is recovering from injuries. A Joliet man was charged in his role in the collision.

Trustee Sean Kampas said at the ceremony, held July 16 at the Ara Pace Memorial near Village Hall: Trustee Radaszewski was unable to attend today, however her father, Adrian George Spaargaren, is among those being celebrated today. Joni, please know that you have our continued support and prayers as you recover.

Kampas not only thanked the veterans for their service during his speech, he also stressed the importance of their families.

Spouses pay price of changing addresses, disrupting their own careers and taking on the full brunt of parental responsibility, he said. Kids have to change school and leave behind friends and relationships that make them feel secure.

Veterans Commission Chairman Dale Carver said that no matter what capacity someone served, the service is what's important.

We are here today because of these men who recognize that there are things worth more than self, he told the crowd. Thats why they are heroes. I dont care if they a were a cook in Fort Benning, Ga. I dont care if they were a POW in World War II and lived in a stalag. They all went somewhere because they were willing to stop forward. And because they stepped forward, we are who we are.
The Michigan City Art League is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a number of exhibits around town.

"The league has been serving and supporting area artists since 1932, offering affordable art classes to the community, as well as opportunities to offer their artwork to the public in a variety of venues," President Kadie O'Connor said. "The Art League consists of many popular local artists, as well as beginning artists wanting to learn more about a variety of art mediums, including oil, water and acrylic painting."

Participating artists, both seasoned and new, get the opportunity to display their work. The Rising Phoenix Art Gallery on Franklin Avenue in Michigan City, for instance, hung the work of Michigan City Art League artists earlier this summer.

"Also this year the Art League has initiated an art walk in which local stores and businesses provide space for artists to display and sell their work," O'Connor said. "Fliers will be distributed that will list participating locations, thus creating a walk. Some local businesses, such as Swingbellys Restaurant, located on Rt. 12 in Michigan City, have been providing space for two years. That has proven to be very beneficial to both the restaurant and League members."

The Legacy Center Art Wall at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church on Woodland Avenue, which is open to the public daily, also is featuring artwork by Art League artists through September. Many of the paintings on display have already been sold. They are being replaced with new artwork.

Art League memberships cost $25 and 12-week-long semesters cost $35. Fall classes start at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 8 and will take place every Thursday in the cafeteria at Queen of All Saints school.

For more information, visit kd3627@hotmail.com.
CROWN POINT  A Lake Station man, who pleaded guilty in June to drunken driving, is now charged with being intoxicated this week when he drove into the rear of another vehicle resulting in the death of a 58-year-old Portage woman, records show.

Indiana State Police said 34-year-old Cody A. Huseman was driving a 2016 Buick when around 4:45 a.m. Monday he rear-ended a 2016 Subaru on the eastbound Interstate 80 ramp to Ripley Street.

The Subaru had rapidly reduced speed to merge onto the toll road ramp in the area when the collision occurred, resulting in severe damage to both vehicles, Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield said.

A passenger in the Subaru, identified as Christina Booth, was transported from the scene for medical treatment and later died, he said.

Booth was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday at Loyola University Medical Center, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

The driver of the Subaru, a 72-year-old Portage man, refused medical treatment at the scene, Fifield said.

Huseman also refused medical treatment but a blood draw was taken to test for intoxication, according to police.

He was taken to the Lake County Jail and is preliminarily charged with felony counts of operating while intoxicated resulting in serious bodily injury and OWI with a prior conviction, and misdemeanor OWI endangering a person, police said.

Court records show Huseman was charged in March in Lake County with OWI and pleaded guilty in late June. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail with all but time served suspended and ordered to take part in counseling while on probation.
CROWN POINT  A woman at the center of a Lynwood man's homicide in July 2020 in Gary testified Tuesday that her children's father had a gun in his hand when he threatened to kill her and her kids if she didn't participate in a series of events that led to the man's shooting death.

Jazmin J. Garcia, 21, said she complied with her boyfriend Devin S. "Devo" Barron's orders because she was afraid of him.

Garcia took the stand during the first day of a two-day bench trial before Lake Criminal Court Judge Samuel Cappas for defendant Jason D. "Lafa" Hinton 26, of Chicago Heights.

Hinton has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery charges in the July 1, 2020, homicide of Jacquice Baylock, 18, of Lynwood, in the 1900 block of Taney Place in Gary.

Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Infiniti Westberg said evidence would show Hinton and Barron shot Baylock to death July 1, 2020, after Garcia lured him to Gary under a pretense of picking up other women for a hotel party.

Garcia testified several other men also were involved in the killing.

Dwain E. "Gllizo" Cunigan drove one of two cars used in the homicide, she said. Laquan M. Tolliver, 20, of Chicago Heights, rode in one of the cars and provided a location in Gary, Garcia said.

Hinton's defense attorney, Patrick Young, said Garcia gave police Hinton's name only after detectives refused to stop interrogating her in November 2020 following her requests for a break and an opportunity to speak with an attorney.

"She is the only one who has implicated Mr. Hinton in this matter," Young said.

The state did not have a "mountain of cellphone evidence" showing Hinton's location, text messages or video footage of any suspects, he said. No murder weapons were found.

Garcia said the first time Barron caught her with Baylock was in May 2020, when he showed up at a hotel where she and Baylock had been staying and broke her jaw.

Garcia knew Baylock from elementary, middle and high school and reconnected with him in the months before he was killed. They had a "romantic relationship," she testified.

Despite Barron's alleged violent attack on her, Garcia continued to talk to Baylock in the months leading up to his death, she said.

On July 1, 2020, Barron took her to the hospital because she was still feeling pain in her jaw from her earlier injury, she said.

When Barron picked her up, they didn't talk much because she feared he already was angry and she didn't want to make it worse, she said.

They arrived at Barron's relative's home, and he handed her an iPad and told her, "Text him," Garcia said. She attempted to ask who, but he said, "You know who," she said.

Garcia said Barron had a gun and threatened to kill her and their children, so she reached out to Baylock. He told her where to pick him up, she said.

Garcia testified she drove in a silver Impala to pick up Baylock while Barron and the other co-defendants rode behind her in a black vehicle.

At one point, Baylock asked her to turn around because he forgot something, and Barron sent her a message asking what she was doing and warning she "better not (expletive) this up," she said.

When she finally pulled up at the location on Taney Place, Baylock got out to urinate, she said. Barron sent her a message ordering her to get out of the silver car, she said.

Garcia complied, and Baylock asked her where she was going. She told him to wait and entered a nearby alley, where she saw Hinton and Barron each holding guns, she said.

Garcia said she got into the black car, and Cunigan pulled it into the street near the silver car where Baylock was seated. She heard gunshots and saw Hinton shoot Baylock once in the back, she said.

She broke down in tears as she testified Barron stood over Baylock and fired about five shots.

Hinton began to pick up money Baylock had that went flying following the shooting, Garcia said.

Hinton and Barron fled in the silver car, and Cunigan drove her, Tolliver and another man back to Illinois, she said.

Garcia attempted to "act normal" in the days afterward because Barron was still around her children and she was afraid, she said.

She testified that a photo, which was posted to social media July 5, showed Barron flashing some of the cash he took from Baylock and her holding up two guns. One of those guns, which had a sticker on it, was the weapon Barron used to kill Baylock, she said.

In the months after the shooting, Barron and Tolliver each traded away the guns Barron and Hinton used to shoot Baylock, she said.

Young asked Garcia why she didn't make any plans after the homicide to protect her children from Barron. She didn't talk to detectives until her arrest in November 2020, and she wasn't initially truthful with them, she said.

"No matter where I go, he always shows up, and the police, they didn't help me," Garcia said.

She pleaded guilty in April to aggravated battery, a level 3 felony. If Cappas accepts her plea agreement, she could face three to 16 years in prison.

In exchange for her testimony, Lake County prosecutors agreed to dismiss a murder charge, which carried a possible penalty of 45 to 65 years in prison.

Garcia said she didn't like jail, but she denied Young's suggestion she "would give a man up" to be with her children.

"I'll tell the truth and see what happens to me," she said.

Garcia agreed as part of her plea deal that she would not be sentenced until each of her co-defendants' cases are resolved.

Barron and Cunigan each were being held at the Cook County Jail, prosecutors said at a previous hearing. The men's cases were expected to remain sealed until they're extradited to Lake County.

Barron is facing an unrelated murder charge secured by Chicago police, Cook County sheriff's police said.

Tolliver has pleaded not guilty to murder and robbery and does not yet have a trial date.

Testimony was expected to continue Wednesday.
EAST CHICAGO  The search continues for two men last seen leaving the Robert A. Pastrick Marina nearly two weeks ago on a 30-foot boat.

Curtis Herron and Dexter Sain, both 36 and of Chicago, left the marina shortly before 8:30 a.m. July 27 and headed toward Illinois, East Chicago Police Chief Jose Rivera said.

Marina staff told police Herron arrived July 26 with paperwork showing he was the new owner of a boat in storage, he said.

Employees helped Herron launch the boat about 3 p.m. July 26, he said.

Herron's sister, Tatiana Herron, said the boat was a 30-foot white Bayliner named Cindy Ann.

Surveillance video from the marina showed Herron tied the boat off at Pier D for a couple of hours and then moved it to a fuel dock, where he remained overnight, Rivera said. Surveillance cameras show the boat left the marina the next morning and headed north towards Illinois.

Sain and Herron called for a private tow later that morning at about 10:15 because the boat was having electrical issues, according to a news release from Rivera. However, after discussing pricing with the tow company, Sain and Herron declined their services. The tow company gave the boaters the number for the Lake County Sheriff Marine Unit, but they never called.

Sain and Herron's last known location was about a mile away from Cleveland Cliffs Steel.

Video from the marina didn't show any signs of foul play, Rivera said.

On July 29, the Lake County Sheriff Marine Unit conducted a search, but found nothing. According to the U.S. Coast Guard Twitter, search efforts were conducted via air and water. The coast guard suspended the search Aug. 2.

"All marinas and inlets in Indiana and Illinois have been searched and there have been no signs of the boat or any signs of a crash site," Rivera wrote in the news release.

Herron was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, gray hoodie, black jeans and red/blue/white Gucci shoes, according to a missing persons flyer. Herron is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a wheelchair. He is 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds with long, wavy black hair and a mustache.

Family friend Dante Young lives with Sain. Young also spent time with Sain and Herron at the marina, leaving around midnight July 27. He said Sain was wearing a white tank top, blue jeans with black writing on them and white shoes. Young said Sain also had a black T-shirt with him.

Sain's sister, Terrica Sain, said her brother is 6-foot and weighs about 165 pounds. She said he has face tattoos, a mustache and a beard.

I want my brother found alive and well," Terrica Sain said. "I will never stop searching until we can bring him home, ... even if that is the case (that Sain and Herron are dead), we still want them found."

Anyone who may have seen Herron's boat or has information about Herron or Sain's whereabouts is asked to call East Chicago Detective Miguel Pena at 219-391-8318 or email him at mpena@eastchicago.com. Anonymous tips can be left at 219-391-8500.
CROWN POINT  Some of the contestants at the Lake County Fairs tractor pedal pull were rookies, while others were seasoned veterans. With family members cheering and moms recording the action with their cell phones, youngsters ages 3-12 years pulled their best.

The objective seemed simple enough: Pedal a mini-tractor 40 feet to the finish line. However, as young and old learned, it was a weighty challenge.

Each of the five age divisions had its own set of weights to pull. These weights increased with each age group, moving and becoming heavier as the tractor-pulled sled moved forward.

Starting at 100 pounds for the 3-4 age group, Hannah Boomsma, 3, of Crown Point, took first place, making it to 36 feet. Afterward, the youngster said the event felt good.

The 5-6 group was a competitive cluster, with eight youngsters reaching the finish line. After a runoff to determine first place, Owen Vos, 6, of Crown Point, won with a 38-foot effort.

I just kept pedaling and would not quit, Vos said.

Pedal pull officials cited Sundays rains for washing down the pavement, leaving it slick and creating a fast track.

Parents were very much involved, cheering for their children and others. Courtney and Brett Lockhart, of Dyer, watched as one daughter Scarlett, 3, took fifth in her age group and older daughter Layla, 10, took seventh in her age group.

Scarlett did about as well as expected, Courtney Lockhart said. Brett Lockhart added, All that encouragement makes her shy, but the kids look forward to this.

Layla Lockhart, a past competitor, said the key is dont take your feet off the pedal.

Rachel Sharp, of Wheatfield, was cheering and photographing her son Miles as he approached but did not quite reach the finish line. The mother of four said her family has been in pedal pull for 13 years, with son Own a past champion.

Winning is fun, Sharp noted, adding, Its exciting to see your kids and other kids. You just want to see the kids happy.

Sharps son did not win, but Jaxon Biesterfeld, 7, of Beecher, Illinois, a past champion, took first place in the 7-8 group with a 34-foot, 6-inch effort. His key was wearing boots for better grip.

Connor Chandler, 10, of Lowell, won the 9-10 division, completing the 40-foot distance. Be proud, he said. Never give up.

Winners qualify for the Indiana State Fair on Aug. 21 and a competition Sept. 4 in Lawrence, Michigan.

Weights advanced from 100 to 300 pounds and above for older competitors. Standing was not allowed, nor was jerking the pedals. Once a competitor stopped and appeared unable to advance farther, the child was ruled done.

The 11-12 group advanced from 400 to 600 pounds for a runoff, with Parker Monix, of Crown Point, edging Carter Biesterfeld, of Beecher.

Just try your best, said Monix, 12, a multiple past champion, and keep going.
MICHIGAN CITY  Electric vehicles are all the rage, but the infrastructure for public charging still needs work. Thats improving.

John Douglas, customer service director for Crawfordsville Electric Light & Power, said he planned to drive his companys Chevy Bolt to the Drive Clean Indiana annual conference Tuesday, but the car has a range of 230 miles, and Blue Chip Casino and Hotel was 280 miles away. There wasnt easy access to a charging station along the way.

Douglas was on a panel discussing the impending installation of 61 electric vehicle charging stations across Indiana.

This is ironic, but its really appropriate that were doing this thing, he said.

The charging stations are being put in by a group of eight Indiana utilities, including NIPSCO, through a grant from the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust. Some will be operational by next spring with others ready by the end of 2023, said Shawn Seals, senior environmental planner for the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Deciding where to place the stations wasnt easy. The group wanted them to be within 50 miles of each other, but they also wanted them to be along the busiest routes. In Northwest Indiana, stations will be placed in Michigan City, Chesterton, Portage, Merrillville, Gary, Hammond and Lowell.

When you look at the map, you will see some gaps, Drive Clean Indiana Executive Director Carl Lisek said. No map is ever going to be perfect. The absence of a charging station near I-65 in Lafayette stands out.

Kevin Kirkham, manager of business development for NIPSCO, said the group looked at places along interstates. Where on that exit are you going to put that charging station? the group wondered.

The ideal location would be somewhere to kill 20 minutes, with public restrooms  ideally open 24/7  and a place to eat or shop. The host also would have to be willing to give up some parking spaces for the chargers.

Meijer stores are going to be a very high frequency of the 61 stations, Kirkham said.

Theres one other factor to consider, Douglas said: How close is three-phase power? How much infrastructure is near the site? The charging stations require a lot of power. Its enough power to serve a small manufacturing facility, he said.

Lisek said its important to make sure there is adequate public infrastructure for charging electric vehicles. Electric vehicles on display at the conference included a converted Ford F250 work truck, a Tesla passenger car and an all-electric garbage truck.

Most charging will be done at home or, in the case of a fleet, at work overnight during off-peak hours, Kirkham said. That helps balance the load for utilities gearing up to meet increased demand.

Customers who want to install Level 2 charges at home or work should contact their utility to make sure the utility has the right infrastructure near their location to be able to serve the customers needs, he said.
The Justice Department has in recent weeks conducted new interviews for its investigation into Googles ad technology, a sign it may be moving closer to filing its second antitrust case against the company, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

The Justice Department for more than a year has investigated whether Google abuses its dominance over the interlocking technologies that deliver ads online. Its lawyers are now speaking again with publishers and Googles competitors to gather new material, confirm evidence and test its legal theory ahead of a possible lawsuit, said the people, who were not authorized to discuss confidential matters.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Bloomberg earlier reported the Justice Department meetings.
In closing arguments on Tuesday, lawyers on both sides offered differing views of who had been responsible for the deaths of seven people who had been riding their motorcycles on Route 2, about 100 miles northeast of Concord. Some were en route to a charity event in Gorham when a flash of collisions sent riders hurtling to the road in a scene that witnesses described as bloody and chaotic.

Mr. Duguay argued in his summation that Albert Mazza Jr., the president of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club who was killed in the collision, had caused the crash because he had been driving his motorcycle while drunk, wasnt looking where he was going, lost control of his bike and just slid into the oncoming truck.

Mr. Duguay also said that prosecution witnesses had offered conflicting accounts of what transpired before the crash: One witness testified that she had seen Mr. Zhukovskyys truck swerve in the lanes, while another said that he had not. Witnesses, Mr. Duguay said, had shared completely different irreconcilable recollections.

Prosecutors, however, said that while Mr. Mazzas impairment was a poor choice, it ultimately had nothing to do with the crash.

Not one person saw Mazza impaired or driving off the road, Scott D. Chase, a New Hampshire assistant attorney general, said during closing arguments. But every person on that road saw the defendant all over it.

A report from the National Transportation Safety Board released in December 2020 found that on the day of the crash, Mr. Zhukovskyy had been impaired by several drugs, including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. He was working for Westfield Transport, a trucking company, at the time and was driving to Albany, N.Y., and Gorham, according to court records.
Becca Balint, a progressive leader in the Vermont Legislature who had the support of the states most influential political figure, Senator Bernie Sanders, won the Democratic primary for the states lone seat in Congress, according to The Associated Press.

Ms. Balint, 54, defeated Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, and if successful in November, she would be Vermonts first female member of Congress. Their contest was seen as a proxy battle between Democrats progressive and moderate wings, with Ms. Gray supported by Senator Patrick Leahy, who is retiring.

Ms. Balint is seeking an open seat being vacated by Representative Peter Welch, a Democrat who is running to replace Mr. Leahy, 82. Mr. Leahy is the last member of the Democratic congressional wave of 1974, elected after the resignation of President Richard M. Nixon in the Watergate scandal.
A week after voters in deep-red Kansas lined up behind abortion rights, a Minnesota Democrat is hoping his special election on Tuesday offers evidence that his party can use the issue to its advantage  even in Republican areas.

The Democratic candidate, Jeff Ettinger, has leaned hard into his support for abortion rights as he campaigns in the special election for a House seat in southern Minnesota.

The election in the First Congressional District will fill the seat of Jim Hagedorn, a Republican who died from cancer in February. On the ballot in the Republican-leaning district are Brad Finstad, a Republican and a former Agriculture Department official during the Trump administration, and Mr. Ettinger, a Democrat and the former chief executive of Hormel Foods.
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba  U.S. diplomats have asked 11 countries if they would be willing to take in a former courier for Al Qaeda who was tortured by the C.I.A. and became a government informant, Justice Department lawyers said in a court filing on Tuesday.

The lawyers said that finding a nation to resettle the prisoner, Majid Khan, 42, with his wife and daughter was a priority for the Biden administration at a time when prosecutors are discussing possible plea agreements with other prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

Mr. Khan, a U.S.-educated Pakistani citizen, gained attention last year as the first former prisoner of the C.I.A.s black site prison network to publicly describe his torture, between 2003 and 2006, by U.S. agents. A U.S. military jury condemned his treatment as a stain on the moral fiber of America.
Representative Ilhan Omar, one of Congresss most prominent lawmakers, is facing four Democratic primary challengers in Minnesota as she seeks her third term, making her the latest member of the progressive group known as the squad to defend her seat this year.

Ms. Omar, whose election in 2018 shook up the Democratic establishment, is favored to win her primary. She has racked up endorsements from Democratic state and federal lawmakers and has been a prolific fund-raiser, hauling in more than $2.3 million in total contributions, according to the latest federal elections filings. If she gets the nomination, she would enter the general election with nearly $500,000 cash on hand.

But she is facing a strong centrist opponent in Don Samuels, a former Minneapolis city councilman and school board member. Mr. Samuels has the support of some of the Democratic establishment and Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis. Mr. Samuels has raised more than $1 million and has more than $250,000 cash on hand, according to federal filings.
A Wisconsin native who inherited an infrastructure company from his father, Mr. Michels lost races for the State Senate in 1998 and the U.S. Senate in 2004 before relocating his family to Greenwich, Conn. He returned to the state this year as he contemplated running for governor.

In the final weeks of the race, Mr. Michels, who largely self-funded his campaign, struggled with questions surrounding his loyalty to Mr. Trump.

During a televised debate in July, he said he would not make decertifying the 2020 election results a priority in his administration  a position at odds with Mr. Trumps repeated wishes that President Bidens victory in the state be overturned. Mr. Michels soon began saying that he would consider any legislation the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature sends to his desk.

Then, last week, Mr. Michels said during another debate that he wouldnt endorse Mr. Trump in a 2024 presidential campaign. Less than 24 hours later, he reversed himself, telling a crowd in Kaukauna that he would back the former president on the day Mr. Trump announced his candidacy.
But Representative Madison Cawthorn crumbled under the weight of repeated scandals and blunders. He was ousted in his primary, a stinging rejection of a Trump-endorsed candidate. Voters chose Chuck Edwards, a state senator.

A split in South Carolina House races

Representative Tom Rice, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, was ousted by his Trump-backed challenger, State Representative Russell Fry, in the Seventh Congressional District.

But Representative Nancy Mace defeated her Trump-endorsed opponent, the former state lawmaker Katie Arrington, in the First Congressional District. Ms. Mace had said that Mr. Trump bore responsibility for the Jan. 6 attack, but did not vote to impeach him. She had support from Nikki Haley and Mick Mulvaney, who both held office in the state before working in the Trump administration.

Election deniers win in Nevada

Adam Laxalt won a Senate primary and will face the incumbent, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who is seen as one of the most vulnerable Democrats this fall. Mr. Laxalt, a former attorney general, was endorsed by Mr. Trump and had helped lead his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Nevada.

Joseph Lombardo, the Las Vegas sheriff, won the Republican nomination for governor and will face the incumbent, Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat.

Victories in Illinois, with outside help

State Senator Darren Bailey, who got a last-minute endorsement from Mr. Trump, won the Republican primary for governor. Democratic spending, including by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, may have helped Mr. Bailey, whom Democrats saw as easier to beat in the general election.
Some of the most senior Justice Department officials making the decisions now have deep connections to Mr. Mueller and view Mr. Comeys willingness to openly discuss his 2016 investigations related to Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Trump as a gross violation of the Justice Manual, the departments procedural guidebook.

The Mar-a-Lago search warrant was requested by the Justice Departments national security division, whose head, Matthew G. Olsen, served under Mr. Mueller when he was the F.B.I. director. In 2019, Mr. Olsen expressed astonishment that the publicity-shy Mr. Mueller was even willing to appear at a news conference announcing his decision to lay out Mr. Trumps conduct but not recommend that he be prosecuted or held accountable for interfering in the Russia investigation.

But people close to Mr. Garland say that while his team respects Mr. Mueller, they have learned from his mistakes. Mr. Garland, despite his silence this week, has made a point of talking publicly about the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol on many occasions  even if it has only been to explain why he cannot talk publicly about the investigation.

I understand that this may not be the answer some are looking for, he said during a speech marking the first anniversary of the Capitol attack. But we will and we must speak through our work. Anything else jeopardizes the viability of our investigations and the civil liberties of our citizens.

How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process.

At the time, that comment was intended to assuage Democrats who wanted him to more aggressively pursue Mr. Trump. Now it is Republican leaders, including Mr. McCarthy, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and former Vice President Mike Pence, who are clamoring for a public explanation of his actions.

Mr. Garland enjoys a significant advantage over Mr. Mueller as he heads into battle. The House committee investigating the assault on the Capitol intends to continue its inquiry into the fall, and its members plan to make the issue of Mr. Trumps actions a central political theme through the midterm elections and into 2024, providing Mr. Garland with the kind of covering fire Mr. Mueller never had.
The F.B.I. does not take a decision like searching the private home of a former president lightly.

As Garrett Graff, the author of a biography of James Comey  the F.B.I. director who oversaw the investigation of Hillary Clintons email server, then went on to run the Russia inquiry before Donald Trump fired him in 2017  put it, This was presumably the highest burden of proof that the Justice Department has ever required for a search warrant.

As a matter of political sensitivity, he said, the Mar-a-Lago search ranked with the subpoena of Richard Nixons secret Oval Office tapes and the decision to sample the DNA on Monica Lewinskys infamous blue dress to see if it belonged to President Bill Clinton.

Graff noted that the Justice Departments fumbling of several aspects of its investigation of the 2016 Trump campaign and the controversy over its handling of the Clinton email investigation would probably raise the bar for what might prompt such a high-profile step this time around.
Two U.S. Army soldiers were struck by a falling tree and killed on Tuesday while sheltering near Yonah Mountain in northern Georgia, where they had been training before a severe thunderstorm blasted the area with strong winds, Army officials said. Three other service members were injured.

The Army said that the deceased were soldiers with Fort Benning and the Maneuver Center of Excellence: Second Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon and Staff Sgt. George Taber.

The three injured service members were treated by Army medics and taken to a hospital, the Army said. Two were released as of Wednesday, and the condition of the third was unknown, said Terry D. Stringfellow, a spokesman for the Army.
Ukraines Defense Ministry said in a statement that it could not determine the cause of the explosion, and suggested that personnel at the base adhere to no-smoking regulations. It then tweeted, with a photo of black smoke rising over the peninsula, the presence of occupying troops on the territory of Ukrainian Crimea is not compatible with the high tourist season.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, was similarly indirect. The future of the Crimea is to be a pearl of the Black Sea, a national park with unique nature and a world resort, not a military base for terrorists, he said on Twitter. It is just the beginning.

Russias Defense Ministry said in a statement that the explosions were caused by the detonation of aviation ordnance at the base. While the ministry offered no speculation about whether Ukrainian forces might have been involved, the decision by Crimeas Kremlin-installed leader, Sergei Aksyonov, to raise the terrorist threat level to yellow suggested officials were concerned about security on the peninsula.

This measure is exclusively prophylactic, because the situation in the region is under full control, Mr. Aksyonov said in a statement on Telegram.

What we consider before using anonymous sources. How do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process.

In the eight years of Russias occupation of Crimea, the peninsula has transformed from a quiet southern Ukrainian beach destination into a major base of Russian military operations. It is from there that the Kremlins forces lunged into southern Ukraine in a lighting operation after Feb. 24 that gobbled up a huge swath of territory, including the neighboring Kherson region, which Russian forces almost fully control.

Shortly after the explosions, Mr. Aksyonov arrived at the scene. Standing in front of a large black plume of smoke, he said that a three-mile perimeter had been erected around the site of the base to protect residents.
Wars and disasters can bring out an unfortunate cultural reflex in many audiences. In the first weeks of the war in Ukraine, Western news outlets pounced on images  usually posted by amateur artists to social networks  of newly created relevant works (beautiful crying women, hands reaching for the sky, doves and flowers), as they did before Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. To this desire for instant aestheticization, An Exhibition About Our Feelings forcefully says: not now, not us. It insists that art is not propaganda, and Ukrainians need something else from their museums, something profounder, than a restatement of what they already know.

This approach has been used in other shows engaged with traumatic episodes of national violence, notably September 11, at MoMA PS1 in New York, where most of the art predated 2001; and We Are Living on a Star, at the Henie-Onstad Kunstsenter outside Oslo, which put historical artworks in the shadow of the Norwegian terrorist attacks of 2011. There will be time to create later. Anyway, the past narrates the present all too well.

Indeed, the only new material in An Exhibition About Our Feelings is a sequence of video interviews with the Mystetskyi Arsenals staff members, who describe the chaotic experience of working in a wartime museum. The director, Olesia Ostrovska-Liuta, recounts the plans that her team made for protecting the collection in the case of a full-scale invasion, and the disbelief that they would ever need it. A security officer describes the fear and pride of staying in the museum during shelling. The head of its literary department tells of how she had to turn down foreign interview requests because sirens wouldnt stop wailing.
It sounds like Im a miserable sod, but I have a good time doing these things, as well, Considine said. Its just that when I perform in any way, I have these challenges in front of me again.

What keeps him going are the flashes of transcendence. He mentioned one late-season monologue Viserys gives before his family that touched a bit of old Hopkins, as in Sir Anthony, one of his acting heroes.

The moments where you are fully in it, all that goes  all that awareness, all that self-observation, all that stuff, that inner critic, Considine said. That horrible stuff just falls off you. And thats ultimately what Im searching for.

And to the extent that any of that horrible stuff is linked to his past, hes learning to let some of that fall off him, too, as achievements mount and the passing years bring distance and perspective.

That kid in the window, he hasnt got to die, but it cant keep dominating your life, he said. Youve got to explore other things, and Game of Thrones is part of that.

Who wouldve thought that kid would end up playing a [expletive] king? he added. Who wouldve ever conceived that I would be a king in anything?
Gillian McAllisters tense new book begins as a woman waits for her beloved teenage son to come home late one night. But then she sees something inexplicable: the boy, Todd, running toward a stranger on the darkened suburban street  and stabbing him to death. I had to, he says cryptically as he is led away in handcuffs. There was no choice.

What a nightmare! But things are about to get even more disorienting in WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME (Morrow, 402 pp., $28.99), a high-concept mash-up of different genres that transcends its wackadoodle premise with an affecting portrayal of a family careening toward crisis.

When the shattered mother, Jen, wakes up the next morning, she finds that she has traveled back in time, to the day before the murder. The following morning its two days earlier  T-2, lets say. Soon Jen is living in reverse order, skipping months and even years, yet always aware of what is to come. Something seems to be propelling her to act as a kind of private detective investigating her familys secrets-laden history. Can she find the spot in the past where it all went wrong, and repair the future?
I think a lot of folks are feeling like their kids have just missed out on so much, and its been draining for their mental health and for their happiness. From my reporting, the top Covid issue among a lot of parents is no longer sickness from the virus, its the social and emotional issues their kids are having.

Whats the latest on transmission in schools?

Apoorva: What we know about transmission in schools is still what we knew before, which is that children can and do spread the virus, even if it is less often than adults. So its still important for parents to keep their children at home if they show any symptoms of being ill or have tested positive for the virus.

Ventilation in schools is going to be even more important this fall, simply because the variants that are circulating are more contagious. But, in general, the precautions remain the same: Mask when cases go up and whenever possible, test if you see symptoms and keep your child at home if theyre infected. If your child is at particular risk, you may still want to consider having them continue to wear a mask.

What should parents know about monkeypox?

Apoorva: Most children are not at risk of monkeypox. So far, 99 percent of the people who have had monkeypox are men who have sex with men. So I would urge parents to be aware, but to not panic. We dont know a ton about transmission of the virus beyond the fact that it spreads by very close contact. In theory, kids sometimes have very close contact, especially younger children. But, again, I dont think that were seeing the kind of cases in children that should cause parents to worry. At least not yet.

As a parent, how are you feeling about this year?

Jessica: The best thing I can do for my kids is make sure theyre vaccinated, so my kids are. When the mask mandate dropped here in New York City, I left it up to them. My little one, who basically had no memory of school without the pandemic, was really excited to not wear a mask. And I shared that excitement with her. When youre learning to read, and youre just learning how to socialize, a mask can be a real hindrance.

Apoorva: In general, Im less worried than I used to be, because my kids are vaccinated, boosted and have had Covid once. But if we start to hear of cases in school again, I will ask them to start wearing masks again.
Perhaps the central question about the F.B.I.s search of Donald Trumps Florida home is whether it is a relatively narrow attempt to recover classified documents  or much more than that.

Either scenario is plausible at this point. The Justice Department has long been aggressive about investigating former officials whom it suspects of improperly handling classified material, including Hillary Clinton and David Petraeus. If the F.B.I. search merely leads to a legalistic debate about whats classified, it probably will not damage Trumps political future.

But it also seems possible that the search is a sign of a major new legal problem for him. People familiar with the search told The Times that it was not related to the Justice Departments investigation into the Jan. 6 attack and Trumps role in it. And its unlikely that Merrick Garland, the attorney general, would have allowed the search-warrant request  or that a federal judge would have approved it, as was required  unless it involved something important.
Russian control of Ukraines internet

In parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine, Russia has also begun occupying cyberspace. It has cleaved off Ukrainians in Kherson, Melitopol and Mariupol from the rest of the country, limiting access to news about the war and communication with loved ones. In some territories, the internet and cellular networks have been shut down altogether.

Restricting internet access is part of a Russian authoritarian playbook that is likely to be replicated further if the country takes more Ukrainian territory. The occupied areas are now in the grip of a vast digital censorship and surveillance apparatus, with Russia able to track web traffic and digital communications, spread propaganda and manage the flow of information.

Russias rerouting and censorship of the Ukrainian internet has little historical precedent. In 2014, after Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, a state telecommunications company built infrastructure to redirect internet traffic from Crimea to Russia. Data from Ukrainian networks is now being redirected through those cables, researchers said.
Elon Musk, the chief executive of the electric vehicle maker Tesla, has sold about $7 billion worth of the companys stock, a move he said on Twitter was an effort to raise cash in case he was forced to complete his $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter.

The sale of 7.92 million Tesla shares started Friday, Mr. Musk revealed on Tuesday in securities filings, a reversal from his previous statements that he would not sell additional shares to finance the Twitter deal.

Mr. Musk signed the deal in April to acquire the social media company only to announce months later his intent to pull out, citing concerns about its accounting of fake users. His hesitancy coincided with a deep plunge in shares of technology companies, including Tesla, the primary source of his wealth.
Oksana Dudyk scanned a small selection of ornamental plants lining the shelves of her new florist shop, recently opened in this city on Ukraines western frontier. Her eye landed on the perfect bloom for a new customer: fuchsia-colored primroses, vivid and lush, ideal for brightening an austere corner.

It was late afternoon, and the flowers were only her 10th sale of the day. But that was nothing short of a miracle for Ms. Dudyk, who started the shop with her last savings after fleeing her now-decimated hometown, Mariupol, under a hail of Russian rockets. Her husband, who enlisted in the Ukrainian Army after the invasion, was captured by Russian forces in May and has not been heard from since.

These flowers help me to get by, said Ms. Dudyk, 55. A former construction engineer who before the war helped design and build schools, she said she had never imagined that she would one day sell flowers to survive. They bring me joy, and they help customers, too, by creating a positive atmosphere in this incomprehensible war.
The opera house opened in 1841 but was destroyed by fire in 1869. Semper, who was exiled for his involvement in the 1849 May Uprising against the Saxon monarchy, was unable to return to Dresden to help with the reconstruction. His son, however, used his fathers plans and the new house opened in 1878. It became one of Germanys most important opera houses, with the premieres of such masterpieces as Tannhauser and Der Fliegende Hollander by Richard Wagner (a friend of Sempers) in the mid-1800s and Der Rosenkavalier, Elektra and Salome by Richard Strauss in the early 1900s.

After the 1869 fire, Ludwig Teubner, a student of Gutkaes, reproduced the stage clock in 1879. A model of this second clock was created in 1896 by two of Teubners journeymen and now is on permanent display at the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments in Dresden.

The Semperoper was destroyed again in February 1945 during the Allied bombing of Dresden. But 40 years later, in February 1985, it reopened, with a new clock over the proscenium. Inspired by the original design, it used the same kind of gear train to move the numbers.
Ms. Leube debuted her first handmade watch, the Ari, in 2007. The timepiece, which took four years to develop, had a mechanical movement in a rectangular case about 52 millimeters long and slightly more than 21 millimeters wide (about 2 inches by 1 inch) that curved around the wrist. The following year, she founded Eva Leube Watchmaking.

In the 1910s the Swiss luxury watchmaker Movado introduced the first watch with a curved case, called the Polyplan. But Ms. Leube went further with the Ari, creating a more pronounced arc and turning the watch mechanisms face up so they could be seen through the case, rather than face down as is typical in more traditional watches That watch took me to the edge a little bit, she said.

She has made two of the timepieces; one, in platinum, sells for $92,000. And over the years she has received requests to modify the design  the most recent coming from a man who wanted to dive with it. Ari is a dress watch; diving isnt the idea of it, she said.

Ari remains this iconic grail, said Adam Craniotes, the president and founder of RedBar Group, the worlds largest watch collecting community with more than 80 chapters globally. He continued; Eva did something no one had done before; it wasnt necessary to make that watch. Its a fantastical creation. But shes just that good. As an indie watchmaker, Eva, if she wanted, could opt to never invent anything again and continue to just make Ari, because she planted her flag so deeply with that watch.
Mr. Beauregard said Mr. St.-Pierre had taught him how to select stones and carve and polish them: I worked with him at his workshop, like an apprentice, and then I set up my own workshop. And now he comes here three days a week to work with me, so its been an ongoing learning for the last nine years. (The men also have traveled together to the Tucson gem shows in Arizona in February to buy stones).

But Mr. Beauregard said he has developed his own way of working gems like topaz and turquoise and minerals like phosphosiderite, shaping them into cabochons, which have flat bases and rounded domes, for his petals. He makes each one 2.4 millimeters to 3 millimeters thick, when usually its under one millimeter, so there is a lot of depth in my dials.

While the designer works on his ideas and executes the stonework in Montreal, his timepiece components  including automatic tourbillons and quartz movements  are made in Switzerland by various suppliers. The watches are assembled there by Fimm SA and stored in a branch of UBS bank in Geneva, and Mr. Beauregard arranges their delivery. (Mr. Beauregard himself rarely wears a watch because, he said, its not comfortable to work with  although, for meetings in Switzerland, he wears a prototype white gold watch accented with white jade from an early collection that was never produced.)

In 2014 he set up Beauregard SA, in Switzerland  because the perception is you are more reliable because you are based there, he said. He also changed the Montres Beauregard name to Ville Marie Manufacture to buy and sell stones to other brands (which he declined to identify, citing confidentiality.) A former fabric factory in Montreal now houses his watch-related operations, the laundry business and Mr. Beauregards home.
LONDON  Sometime in the early hours of March 26, Paul McKeown woke up on the sidewalk for the second morning in a row.

The 58-year-old retiree, an avid watch collector, had been sleeping outside the Carnaby Street store of the Swatch watch brand, waiting for it to start selling MoonSwatch, a new collection made in collaboration with Omega, its sister company. The mood had been light, fun. Friendships had been formed.

But as the sun rose on MoonSwatch Day, things changed.

The atmosphere got dark about 5 a.m. in the morning, Mr. McKeown said. It got nasty, with sinister people turning up on mopeds. He estimated that, by 8.30 a.m., there were hundreds of people surrounding the small store.
Over the years Mr. Newman gave Mr. Barrett several watches, including the steel GMT-Master. The auction house estimated its sale price at $50,000 to $100,000.

The Cosmograph Daytona, however, is expected to go for as much as $500,000, in part because it was Mr. Newmans own watch, which he presented to Mr. Barrett right after hearing that he was going to attempt to break the record.

We were at his home in Connecticut, and he just went upstairs and came down with the Daytona, Mr. Barrett said in a phone interview from his home in Bellevue, Idaho. He was always very funny about me having the right watch to wear and was always extremely generous.
Is your collection focused on any genre?

A lot of it ended up being anything that was associated with certain artists. There was a guy who died recently called Andrew Weatherall. He produced an album for Primal Scream when the whole dance thing exploded in the U.K., in the 90s. It was groundbreaking. He was the visionary behind that album and Ive followed him ever since.

I saw him maybe six or seven months before he died. I was the only person in the club. For about 30 minutes, it was just him playing music and me there, texting my friends, saying, Youd better get here, this is really embarrassing. And I never went up and told him just how much hed meant to me.

But in general, my collection goes across every genre of music, from rap to reggae across various genres of African music, German rock, horror soundtracks.

Horror soundtracks  really?

Anything and everything. There was an album I bought a couple years ago and I only listened to recently. Its called the Sleeping Tapes. It was made in conjunction with Squarespace, the website-building site.

Have you seen the movie The Big Lebowksi? Imagine an album talking about sleep the whole time and its Jeff Bridges speaking, with music in the background. Honestly, I was just laughing so much and its really beautiful at the same time. That was probably the latest find I was really happy with. But generally, it does get pretty nerdy. There are certain record labels where I just collect every album they produce.
More than $200 million in cuts to the New York City public school budget are back in effect, at least temporarily, after a state appeals court on Tuesday put a hold on a lower courts ruling requiring the city to redo the budget.

The appeal was the latest in a contentious back and forth over school funding that has pitted Mayor Eric Adams against the City Council and provoked rage among teachers and educators. The fighting has set the stage for a chaotic start to a school year that was supposed to be the first normal one after pandemic disruptions.

The Adams administration was pleased that the cuts  which the mayor has said were necessary because of falling student enrollment  could be reinstated, according to Amaris Cockfield, a City Hall spokeswoman. We will continue to defend the citys budget process, she said.
Yet in 1998, he suggested that President Bill Clinton should have done just that during the impeachment investigation into Clinton. Its a terrible thing for a president to take the Fifth Amendment, but he probably should have done it. I dont think he could have done any worse than whats happened, Trump said.

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump was singing a different tune, however, when he arrived at the New York attorney generals office in downtown Manhattan to give sworn testimony for a civil inquiry into his business practices.

In a statement emailed just before the questioning started, Mr. Trump acknowledged his shifting positions over the years, but said circumstances had changed. He portrayed himself as the victim of politically motivated investigations, not just by the New York attorney general, but by the Justice Department and other prosecutors who he asserted have lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency.

I once asked, If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment? he wrote. Now I know the answer to that question. When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice.
Its increasingly clear that Vladimir Putin is using gas as a weapon and trying to supply just enough gas to Europe to keep Europe in a perpetual state of panic about its ability to weather the coming winter. Europe has been finding all the supplies that it can, but governments are realizing thats not going to be sufficient. There are going to have to be efforts taken to curb demand as well and to prepare for the possibility of really severe energy rationing this winter.

I think now youre seeing  in terms of the efforts toward efficiency and rationing  some countries are more willing than others. If things become really severe this winter, I fear that you could see European countries start to look out for themselves rather than one another.

What would that mean, functionally?

It could lead countries to turn against each other in terms of whether energy is allowed to flow across borders. If youre a country like Germany  which not only consumes a lot of gas but is also a transit country through which gas flows to other European countries  why would you allow gas to flow through your country when youre shutting down your energy-intensive industries, while your economy is suffering? I think we could start to see governments saying, Well, were going to restrict exports. Were going to keep our energy at home. Everyone starts to just look out for themselves, which I think would be exactly what Putin would hope for.

How much farther will he go, do you think?

I think it would be wise to assume that Russia will use every opportunity it can to turn the screws on Europe. Every time there is a proposed action to penalize or deter Putin, the question is: What will he do in response, and how might he retaliate?

Walk me through that worst case. How would we get to that kind of crisis?

I think you would see Russia continue to restrict gas exports and maybe cut them off completely to Europe  and a very cold winter. I think a combination of those two things would mean sky-high energy prices. But theres a lot of other sources of uncertainty and risk. Its not just high prices. There comes a certain point where theres just not enough molecules to do all the work that gas needs to do. And governments will have to ration energy supplies and decide whats important.

Can that be avoided, even if Russia does cut off all gas? The E.U. plan for a 15 percent reduction  if thats fulfilled, would it be enough?
Allan Hubbard

Everett, Wash.

To the Editor:

The grass isnt any greener on the other side of the aisle. My spam folder is full of similarly apocalyptic visions of what the Biden/Pelosi/Schumer troika will inflict on America should Republicans not sweep to congressional power in November. Its easy enough to just hit delete.

What is more concerning (for both red and blue voters) is that none of these desperate and destructive pleas are for anything other than money. No information on how to get more involved in the process. No links to more dispassionate discussions of the issues. Just unwarranted demonization of some of our fellow citizens via bolded adjectives and lots of exclamation marks. We can do better.

Peter J. Pitts

New York

To the Editor:

Buried in the unfortunate tone of the guest essay are many points that we can agree on. Locally led conversations about elections are extremely powerful and strengthen our democracy. It is, however, a false dichotomy to say we must choose between these important local efforts and the participation of other activists in remote voter mobilization techniques. We can and must do both.

Lara Putnam and Micah L. Sifry cherry-pick a study reporting a negative impact of sending postcards to voters. However, many more studies show a positive impact of between 0.4 and 2 percent. While these are small impacts, they are sufficient to make a difference in close elections.

Campaigns generally do not have the capacity to knock on every door, especially in rural areas. Not all voters will be home when a canvasser shows up, and not all will answer a phone call. An all-of-the-above approach helps ensure that as many people as possible participate in our democracy.
A Man Called Black Death

The Naming Commission had an abundance of highly decorated veterans to choose from, but it wisely refused to limit its definition of meritorious service to conduct in battle. The resulting roster of nominees covers what my Times colleague Helene Cooper has described as a multicolored swath of Americans, including women and minorities  two long-ignored populations that have served in or supported the Army since its inception.

The Naming Commission recommendations must still meet the approval of Congress and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III. If this list passes muster, Fort Bragg in North Carolina  named for the failed general Braxton Bragg, the most hated man in the Confederacy  would be renamed Fort Liberty.

Fort Benning in Georgia would be renamed Fort Moore, after the distinguished career officer Hal Moore and his wife, Julia Moore. She is remembered for remaking the once callous process through which the Army notified families about the deaths of loved ones. This nomination recognizes the spouses and families who often devote their lives to the Army.

Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia would take the name of Dr. Mary Walker, an abolitionist and champion of womens rights who became the first female surgeon in Army history. She worked as a Union spy and served several punishing months as a Confederate prisoner of war. She was awarded the Medal of Honor based on testimonials from Gen. William T. Sherman and Gen. George Thomas.

Fort Gordon in Georgia would be renamed for Dwight D. Eisenhower, a career soldier who led the D-Day assault on Normandy in France in 1944, became a five-star general and finished his career as president of the United States.

Fort Hood in Texas would become Fort Cavazos, after Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, a native Texan who twice received the Distinguished Service Cross and served with extraordinary valor in Vietnam and Korea.
In an email, Enns contended that

regardless of the precise underlying mechanisms (and multiple mechanisms could be at work), the evidence suggests that Trumps rhetoric had a meaningful effect on the views his supporters expressed about these issues. We are definitely arguing that the attitudes individuals express can be changed by what candidates they support say and do. Although we cannot observe actual beliefs, to the extent that expressing previously unexpressed beliefs has a reinforcing effect, that would also provide evidence of a deepening or potential changing of racial attitudes.

The strong association between Trump support and whites views on racial issues, Enns and Jardina argue in their paper,

was not merely a result of Trump attracting racist whites by way of his own racist rhetoric or a reflection of partisan racial sorting that had already occurred; it was also a result of white Trump supporters changing their views to be more in line with Trumps over the course of his presidential campaign. In other words, Trump not only attracted whites with more conservative views on race; he also made his white supporters more likely to espouse increasingly extreme views on issues related to immigration and on issues like the Black Lives Matter movement and police killings of African Americans.

Andrew M. Engelhardt, a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, developed a similar line of analysis in his January 2020 paper, Racial Attitudes Through a Partisan Lens.

In an email, Engelhardt wrote:

Part of the reason White Democrats and White Republicans hold increasingly different views about Black Americans is due to their partisanship. Its not just that Democrats with negative views became Republicans, or Republicans with more positive views became Democrats. Rather, people are changing their attitudes, and part of this, I argue, is due to how politicians talk about Black Americans. Republicans, for instance, could have internalized Trumps negative rhetoric, and increasingly held more negative views. Democrats, similarly, hear Trump say these negative things and they move opposite, holding more positive views.

In his paper, Engelhardt wrote that undergirding past studies of the role of race in politics and policymaking

is an assumption that racial animus feeds political conflict. I turn this conventional wisdom on its head by arguing that political conflict can shape racial attitudes  peoples views and beliefs about groups understood to be racial. Political scientists have failed to examine this possibility, perhaps because racial attitudes are seen as persistent and influential predispositions that form during childhood, long before most Americans become political animals. According to this line of reasoning, individuals use these early formed attitudes to make sense of politics; racial attitudes lead to partisanship.

The ever-growing divide between left and right extends well beyond racial issues and attitudes. In his email, Engelhardt wrote that his results are suggestive of partisanship motivating changes in other orientations which we might presumably see as more stable and core to individuals. He cited research showing that partisanship influences religiosity and religious affiliation and other studies linking political concerns to changes in racial self-identification. Engelhardt added that he has some unpublished results where I find partisanship leads Democrats to hold more positive views of gay men and lesbians, transgender individuals, and feminists, over time, with Republicans holding more negative views of these groups in the same period (data range 2016-2020).

In their January 2022 paper, The Origins and Consequences of Racialized Schemas about U.S. Parties, Kirill Zhirkov and Nicholas Valentino, political scientists at the Universities of Virginia and Michigan, make an interesting argument that, in effect, Two parallel processes structure American politics in the current moment: partisan polarization and the increasing linkage between racial attitudes and issue preferences of all sorts.

Zhirkov and Valentino continue:

Beginning in the 1970s, Democratic candidates in presidential elections started to attract large shares of nonwhite voters whereas Republicans increasingly relied on votes of racially conservative whites. Over the same period, voters positions on seemingly nonracial political issues have gradually become more intertwined with racial resentment.

Overall, the two scholars write,

the growing racial gap between the Democratic and Republican support bases leads to formation of racialized stereotypes about the two parties. Specifically, a non-trivial share of American electorate currently views the Democratic Party as nonwhite and the Republican Party as white, though in reality whites continue to be a majority of both parties.

This imagined racial coalition of each party, in the view of Zhirkov and Valentino,

carries profound implications for the ongoing discussion in the discipline about affective polarization in American politics: whites feel colder toward the Democratic Party when they imagine its coalition to be more heavily made up on nonwhites and feel warmer toward the Republican Party when they perceive it to be dominated by their racial group. As a consequence, rather than a cause, they may then come to accept a more conservative issue package advocated by the modern Republican Party.

Racial attitudes, the authors argue persuasively, are now important predictors of opinions about electoral fairness, gun control, policing, international trade and health care.

There are, Zhirkov and Valentino note, long-range implications for the future of democracy here:

As soon as ethnic parties start to compete for political power, winning  rather than implementing a certain policy  becomes the goal in and of itself due to associated boost in group status and self-esteem of its members. Moreover, comparative evidence suggests that U.S. plurality-based electoral system contributes to politicization of ethnic cleavages rather than mitigates them. Therefore, the racialization of American parties is likely to continue, and the intensity of political conflict in the United States is likely to grow.

I asked the authors how they would characterize the importance of race in contemporary American politics. In a jointly written email, they replied that in research to be published in the future, we show that race is at least as strong, and often stronger, than cleavages such as religion, ideology, and class.

The pessimistic outlook for the prospect of a return to less divisive politics revealed in many of the papers cited here, and the key role of racial conflict in driving polarization, suggest that the ability of the United States to come to terms with its increasingly multiracial, multiethnic population remains in question. This country has been a full-fledged democracy for less than 60 years  since passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the changes wrought by three additional revolutions: in civil rights, womens rights and gay rights. These developments  or upheavals  and especially the reaction to them have tested the viability of our democracy and suggest, at the very least, an uphill climb ahead.
Is there a chance Ukraine could recapture lost territory? With the recent arrival of Western-supplied long-range rocket systems, Ukrainian officials are hoping that they can, first by expelling Russian forces in the south during their anticipated counteroffensive. The battle for Kherson, in the south of Ukraine, could be key in this new strategy, wrote Anicee Van Engeland, a professor of international security and law at Cranfield University, in The Conversation. It could provide the Ukrainian armed forces with a window of opportunity to begin claiming back territories where Russians are deployed  and perhaps other territories that local pro-Russian groups seek to identify as theirs.

If the Ukrainian counteroffensive succeeds, Putin could come to deem the cost of victory too high. Russia has committed 85 percent of its volunteer army to the fighting, a U.S. Defense Department official told The Times, and is struggling to find recruits. American officials and outside analysts both agree if Russia wants to move beyond the Donbas, they will need to take a step they have been unwilling to do: a mass mobilization, The Timess Julian Barnes said last month. Russia will need to conduct a military draft, recall soldiers who previously served and take politically painful steps to rebuild their force. So far, Putin has been unwilling to do so.

But the tide could easily turn against Ukraine. Zelensky recently told members of Congress that if Putin locks in the current front lines in the south, Ukraine will struggle to remain a viable state  and that could very well happen if the counteroffensive fails. A failed offensive that ends in a retreat would be disaster for Ukraine, leaving it militarily weaker and more diplomatically isolated come spring, Hal Brands, a professor at Johns Hopkins Universitys School of Advanced International Studies, wrote in Bloomberg. And if Ukraine throws too many of its resilient but battered forces into an advance in the south, it could make itself vulnerable to a renewed Russian offensive in the east.

Alternatively, Ukraine could become a victim of its own success. If its forces encroach too far on what Russia may soon officially designate its own territory in the Donbas, Putin could retaliate by using low-yield nuclear weapons, which are designed to be used on the battlefield. Before the end of this year, Russia will have declared areas of occupied Ukraine part of the Russian state, Richard Barrons, a retired British general, predicted. So should a Ukrainian offensive roll over this new self-declared border, the use of nuclear weapons to break up the attack will be on the table. This is not unthinkable  it is only unpalatable.

On the other hand, James Stavridis, a retired U.S. admiral, maintained that Putin is unlikely to use nuclear weapons, as he has other, less risky means of terrifying Ukraine and intimidating the West: chemical weapons.

The involvement of China, one of Russias closest allies, is another potentially game-changing variable. In the first weeks of the invasion, U.S. officials said that Russia made appeals to Beijing for military support, which it has so far appeared to refuse. But the recent visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which the Chinese government saw as a provocation, could spur a re-evaluation of its posture toward Ukraine, the Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman suggested.
My first job was through New York Citys Summer Youth Employment Program. I was paid minimum wage, $4.25 an hour, to answer phones at a legal nonprofit, make copies and stay out of the way. My weekly paycheck was around $92 after taxes. With the roughly $1,000 I earned that summer, I bought myself a green Tommy Hilfiger jacket, an orange Nautica coat and Timberland boots. Other girls in our neighborhood wore clothes that were gifts from the guys they dated, but I was never allowed to accept gifts or money from anyone outside our family, especially not boys. My parents were keenly aware of the ways that boys and men might try to use money to control their girls.

Being a chubby, nerdy and occasionally self-righteous teenager meant that I didnt have to refuse many gifts. I was 17 by the time I went on my first date. The unlucky young man, a classmate from middle school whose name Ive forgotten, invited me to a movie at the mall. My date knew that my stoic West Indian father would not appreciate his honking the horn to signal that I should meet him outside, so he came to the door and made polite, awkward conversation in our kitchen. Before I left that night, I stashed a $20 bill in my bra  some vex money of my own. I wanted to make sure that I had carfare home in case he tried any funny business that separated me from my purse, or my dignity.

Image Credit... Antoine Cosse

Stashing money in your bra when meeting a relatively unfamiliar young man for a first date still strikes me as a reasonable, harmless precaution. But as I got older, I began to see that the idea of vex money had an uncomfortable hold on me.

I met my husband in Harlem in the winter of 2017. Just before we got married, we moved into an apartment I bought in Brooklyn 11 years earlier, a modest studio. To afford it, I had cobbled together my savings, resources from first-time home-buyer programs and a $200 gift from my parents for the inspection. I felt protective and proprietary about the apartment, which had been both a sanctuary and a point of pride for me over the years. I bristled as he bought new cutlery and plates, as he insisted on buying new bedding, even though there were perfectly good sheets and comforters Id handpicked over the years. I tried to make more physical and emotional space for him, but I struggled to consider the apartment ours. I felt afraid to commit to the full intimacy of our bond, lest he prove unreliable.

The self-sufficiency of West Indian women and their suspicion of others, particularly men, are bound up together. For many of us, marriage is a worthy ideal to aspire to, but a truly wise woman doesnt count on it. She has to know how shed make a way for herself and her children should a relationship go south. Part and parcel of this is making sure that you always work and hold back something for yourself. Vex money is the manifestation of our unwillingness to trust.
[MUSIC]

jane coaston

Its The Argument. Im Jane Coaston. If there is anything I love more than one big political fight, its 50 smaller ones. Yes, this week were talking about state legislatures. Since the Dobbs decision, people have been paying way more attention to state level politics  yay. Indiana just approved a near-total abortion ban. Meanwhile, in Kansas, voters soundly rejected a constitutional Amendment that would allow their legislature to ban abortion. And its not just abortion  on everything from guns to voting rights, our biggest political disagreements are about to get real local. For many people, its been a long time since where they live in America has mattered this much. Today, I want to understand what the battles playing out at the state level mean for our national politics going forward, especially in red states. To help me think through it, Im joined by Niki Hemmer, a historian of conservative media 

niki hemmer

There has been a decades long project to preserve Republican power at the state and local level, and that is going to affect issues around abortion, but around a whole host of other rights and policies as well.

jane coaston

 and my friend, Zack Beauchamp, who covers the right for Vox.

zack beauchamp

The ability for legislatures to get away with truly wild things, like, not just radical legislation, but also extreme levels of personal corruption, cumulatively, they have a massive, massive, massive impact on national politics. [MUSIC]

jane coaston

Niki, Zack, thank you so much for joining me once again.

zack beauchamp

Oh, thank you, Jane.

niki hemmer

Yeah, thanks so much for having us.

jane coaston

So there are three trends Im seeing in state level Republican politics that I find concerning and troubling, but I want to get your thoughts on them. And I want to talk about maximalism. I want to talk about the idea of the fear  pent up fear of other places and even ones neighbors, and the idea of using federalism in bad faith, kind of a federalism for me, but not for thee. And were going to talk about these through the lens of a few state laws. And I think its worthwhile starting with abortion  state level abortion laws. If you paid attention to how conservatives talked about the Dobbs decision, a lot of what you heard was, this wont really change anything. This just returns the issue of abortion to the states, to democracy, where it belonged. Indiana just became the first state in the nation to pass a new law banning abortions. Kansas voters, nearly 60 percent, just rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the states conservative legislature to ban abortion. And thats just legislation thats on the books. There are plenty of other bills that have been introduced. Its interesting, because the first part of the idea of overturning Roe was to send it back to the states, and democracy will take care of it. But the unspoken and unwritten part of that was, send it back to the states where they will ban abortion, and eventually leading to a federal ban on abortion. So Niki, how concerned are you about how states have been taking that directive on a scale from 1 to 10, because it seems to me to be pretty much what I expected to take place?

niki hemmer

My concern level is around a 10, in part because one of the things that we saw even before Roe was overturned was that red states were competing with one another to see how restrictive of a law they could put in place around abortion. And you also see this on things like access to guns and voting rights. There has been this kind of, as you were saying earlier, kind of competitive maximalism that has been taking place in these states to show who is the most pro-life.

jane coaston

Right.

niki hemmer

And I think were starting to see a lot of that at the state level. Now, Im also concerned that these laws are not staying at the state level.

jane coaston

Zack, what do you think?

zack beauchamp

So first of all, I share Nikis concern. But I think almost more importantly in some ways than just like a sort of generalized competition is the splits within the pro-life movement, right? For the past  since 1973, the entire pro-life movement has been united around one objective, which is overturning Roe v. Wade. But now, one thing that you can see are the fissures inside of this movement, right? And so you have on the one hand the sort of more traditional anti-abortion groups, folks like the National Right to Life. They want to get state level prohibitions on abortion, leading up to some kind of national prohibition. But then you have people in the so-called abortion abolitionist movement, which has cropped up more recently. And its just much more radical. Their view, which I actually find more intellectually consistent, is that abortion is murder 

jane coaston

Right.

zack beauchamp

 fetuses are people who then deserve all the protections that people have under US law. That means, most importantly, that women who have abortions should be treated like murderers, or at least punished in some kind of way.

jane coaston

I see these laws as examples of state level maximalism. And voters dont want it. Legislatures  you think about Louisianas scrapped bill that would have defined abortion as homicide. They are like, we cant defend this, and this wont work. Theres this idea of, yes, this is intellectually consistent, but its unpopular. But Zack, what does Kansas tell us, if anything, about a majority of voters rejecting an amendment to the state Constitution regarding abortion in a state that Trump won easily  a state thats, despite what a lot of conservative commentators have said over the last couple of days, is still pretty conservative. What does that say about the voters reaction to maximalism?

zack beauchamp

I mean, look, theres a cliche in American political punditry, that abortion is very complicated in the publics eyes, and that 

jane coaston

It is.

zack beauchamp

 nobody knows what the public thinks. Im like, theres a way in which thats true, but theres a way in which the simpler explanation, which is that polls have told us a very consistent story over the course of the past 40 years. And that story is voters want limited access to abortion. They want it to be legal. They only want it to be illegal under a certain set of circumstances. Right? Thats just what the polling says. Its what it has said. Its one of the most remarkably consistent issue polling things Ive ever seen when looking at American polling, and its one that Kansas shows us holds true, right, when it comes to the actual ballot box. We havent gotten a chance to see American voters in states, even in conservative states, getting to weigh in directly on outright abortion bans. Now, were seeing what happens. Were seeing that even in red states like Kansas, pro-life people who want bans, full bans  right, maybe with exceptions for rape and incest and health of the mother, maybe, right, those positions are just unpopular  they are. And so in order to implement them, even in red states, you need to have some kind of situation where the legislators are insulated to a degree from public input. And the question is, like, how is that insulation accomplished? And there are a variety of different mechanisms. And I think in some states, theyll be more effective than others for doing so. But that is what you need, right, given how unpopular these policies are proving themselves to be.

niki hemmer

Yeah, I dont think youre going to see a whole lot more Republican led state level referenda on the issue of abortion, right? I think they probably are learning their lesson from Kansas. But as Zack was pointing out, there are so many other ways to avoid public feedback when it comes to legislating at the state and local level.

jane coaston

Zack, you mentioned the idea of insulation, but Im curious as to whether you both think  Niki, well start with you  are we losing the accountability relationship between voters and state representatives, particularly in these states where either the Republican Party is so dominant it can only be pulled for the right, or in states where the Republican Party is dominated by the far right. Even if you vote for the Democrat, the Republicans do not respond with becoming less maximalist.

niki hemmer

Oh, absolutely, and this has been an issue across the board for quite some time. Its something that we talked about with voting rights and with gerrymandering at the state level. Places like North Carolina that have done quite a lot to make sure that Republicans stay in power, even if that is not the will of the people  going so far, in fact, as to strip the powers of the governor when a Democrat won that office. Now, I dont think that its absolute. I dont think that those legislators have completely walled themselves off from public feedback. And Kansas is a really good example of that. Remember, Kansas, in the twenty teens, had an extremely conservative government that basically took away almost every state service. And Kansans finally rose up, and they were like, this is not how we want to live. And thats part of the reason why you have a Democratic governor there now. So there is still space. Like, if you push people far enough, they can break through some of those limits on popular will and popular expression at the voting booth.

zack beauchamp

Yeah, what I would add to that is theres an interaction between formal restructuring of the rules and the changing fundamental character of state politics in the United States. Right, it used to be the case  and this was, by the way, the way the system was designed  that state politics would be responsive to hyper local concerns. Right, if you were voting for governor in Maryland, youre voting for governor in Maryland because youre concerned about, I dont know know, the state of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Or if you live in that area  right, like, something that really matters to you on a basic level. And those things still matter to a degree. But what has happened in most places, and virtually everywhere to some degree, is that local politics have become nationalized. So you end up voting for governor based in significant part on your national political ideologies. The abortion debate is a good example of this. Abortion is one of the fundamental issues that sorts you into a red versus blue camp in the first place. And you end up getting this situation where people are thinking based on their view of the national political environment as to who they want to vote for.

jane coaston

Zack, youre stealing my argument. This is something I think about all the time, that the nationalization of local politics ruins everything. And state politics becomes an incubator, and state politicians become national figures, which isnt new, but so many of these states then act on the idea that something is happening in Sacramento, ergo, you must pass a law so that doesnt happen in Georgia, when the chances of that happening were minimal to say the least.

zack beauchamp

Or, like, some of it is formal. Take the example that Niki was just using, right, the spread of gerrymandering  right, and then you can also see that with voting rights restrictions, voter I.D. laws. A lot of those were written not by local legislatures in one state or another, but written by national groups that would then proliferate  send little versions of that legislation to different states, who would adapt it with various tweaks and pass it into law. And so you end up having this sort of undermining of democracy as a national movement, a way to advantage Republicans across the board, but playing out in local legislatures as if each is like one little mini Congress voting on an issue of national priority to the Republican Party on their own, rather than dealing primarily with what their local voters are concerned about.

niki hemmer

Well, I think that this is the challenge of the argument of federalism. The argument of federalism is we want to empower local and state governments because those are the governments closest to the people. The way that that would work, though, is that you have to empower people to be able to vote. And instead, what we saw was a series of restrictions on who could vote. And even though this has often been talked about in terms of voter integrity, weve seen enough of the behind the scenes machinations to know that, oh, were going to put voter I.D. laws in place to empower Republican leaning voters to vote  so military I.D.s. But were not going to allow, say, student I.D.s to be used. This idea that federalism is about empowering people at the grassroots level  its about empowering some people at the grassroots level, around certain issues. And that is the frustrating thing, because its not a bad argument  this idea of the states as the laboratories of democracy, being able to try out different policies and different programs and see how they work in the state, thats great. But theyve become these laboratories of illiberalism in recent years  and not just in recent years. And thats something that we have to reckon with when were having that federalism conversation.

jane coaston

Right. I want to talk about Democrats here, because I think that we often in media talk about the Republican Party as being the main drivers of our politics, and Democrats as being the responders  or pouncing. So lets talk about what Democrats should be learning from this. Last month, in July, California passed a bill to let people sue anyone who distributes banned assault weapons or so-called ghost guns. Its explicitly modeled after the Texas SB8 law that lets private citizens sue anyone that aids or abets in an illegal abortion. One, is this at all effective, and two, is this a good response, which I feel like  the two are intertwined questions, Zack.

zack beauchamp

Yeah, look, Jane, as you know, Im much more hawkish on gun policy than you are. But I look at this bill and I just think this is an elaborate trolling attempt. As a matter of, like, annoying the Supreme Court or putting John Roberts in an awkward position, like, sure, fine, I guess thats what Californias legislature is doing. As a matter of, like, substantively curbing gun violence in the United States, it just doesnt make any sense to me. The reason that the Texas bill is so disturbing is that abortions are very common, and lots of people know people in their lives who have abortions. You can see people who are going into abortion clinics. Selling ghost guns is not like that  right  its like a really hard thing to track. And its just like, theres going to be a vanishingly small number of suits under this California statute, because what private citizen is going to have the wherewithal to identify sellers of ghost guns and then file a lawsuit against them? And the broader point here is not just like this specific piece of legislation is an elaborate performance, though it is. Its just that this piece of legislation shows that while Republicans push the envelope when it comes to this kind of procedural radicalism embodied by the Texas bill, Democrats dont really  they follow. They dont do a similar kind of thing.

jane coaston

Should they?

zack beauchamp

Is that a question for me 

jane coaston

Yes, thats a question for you.

zack beauchamp

Or Niki 

jane coaston

That is a question for you.

zack beauchamp

All right, all right. Yeah, so look, should they? No, I think probably not. I think the only area in which I am really comfortable with Democratic legislatures trying to push the envelope is on democracy itself, when you can justify what youre doing as necessary, or at least helpful  conducive to people being able to vote. I think thats good. You should not figure out ways to try to persecute conservatives as a hated class. If thats what this legislation would be, it certainly would be the criticisms I have of some of the red state legislation in this area. I think Democrats need to figure out more effective ways  its hard at the state level  but that really  the more Im talking, like literally speaking out loud in response to this question, Jane, that I hadnt really thought through before you asked me, the more I think its a very difficult situation, because the things to be done are mostly on the federal level.

jane coaston

Right.

niki hemmer

I also have to say, if I can jump in on the California law 

jane coaston

Yeah.

niki hemmer

 that law annoys me to no end, because isnt the point of governing to create and to model the kind of society you want to exist in the United States? And I cant imagine that good governance looks like citizens suing other citizens in order to enforce laws, and enforce relationships that the state itself cant figure out how to govern, or to regulate. Like, its just  its chaotic. Its the use of civil courts to try to do an end run around legislation. So what are the Democrats doing? I mean, I get that theyre trolling, but it seems like if you want to build up support for your party and your ideas, you do things like what Zack was talking about.

jane coaston

What is the relationship in your view, Niki, between state governments and state politicians reacting to national events, or outside influence  so-called? Because as Zack brought up, a lot of legislation with regard to voting, or critical race theory, or L.G.B.T. kids, is not unique to one particular state. It gets shopped and worked around to a bunch of different states. But then you see how the nationalization of politics is influencing state governments and state politicians. But clearly, state politicians and state governments are influential on national events. Like, a lot of this is coming from these states themselves.

niki hemmer

Absolutely. And there is a real interplay in the way that youve described  I mean, take something like the critical race theory bans. A lot of those were passed after late 2020, when Donald Trump had issued an executive order preventing some forms of diversity training in the federal government. And you start to see the state level governments beginning to work through some of those same ideas. At the same time, I mean, state legislatures in particular have been these kind of incubators for some pretty wild ideas for decades  in part, I think increasingly so, because theres less media coverage of whats happening at the state level, right, that statehouses dont necessarily have as many reporters who are on the state and local beat that we used to see even just 20 or 30 years ago. And that has allowed, I think, an extra level of maximalism and experimentation to be happening in some of those statehouses. [MUSIC]

jane coaston

We were talking a little bit about federalism and about how these states are responding to both outside influence and to increasingly polarized parties. You know, we talk about red states and blue states, but states dont stay red or blue forever. And states arent actually red or blue. I think if youve ever been to Austin, Texas or Indianapolis, Indiana, you can see that there are a lot of states where no matter how much the blue cities in those states are deemed to be anathema by Republicans, because they are arent representative of true Republicans, which is a thing that bothers me to no end  the idea that how you vote defines what state you live in. But Im curious about if you are just a liberal living in a red state, or a conservative in a blue state, what is this increasing polarization of state Republican parties and of state government doing to you and doing to our country?

niki hemmer

I think it inculcates a lot of fear and uncertainty, to be honest. I mean, Ive just moved to Nashville, Tennessee, which is a blue city in a very red state  and moved a couple of months after the Dobbs decision. And I moved with a lot of  I wouldnt necessarily say trepidation, but I was making many more preparations as I was preparing to move, because there are certain rights that I wont have access to in the new place that I live. And for me, there are rights that I can access by leaving the state. But if youre concerned about your rights to marry somebody of the same sex, to have sex with somebody of the same sex, like, those arent things that you can necessarily just outsource. And theres this sense that even if I can leave the state to access my rights, I dont have full citizenship in this state. And that sucks. And thats a feeling that you carry with you not just when youre going to the voting booth or when youre talking about it on a podcast, but its something that you carry with you throughout your day. And it makes I think it makes people feel less  less. It makes people feel less. And thats not something thats good for our polity, and its just not something thats good for us as people.

jane coaston

Zack, what do you think?

zack beauchamp

So Jane, Im thinking about your comment about how there arent really red states and blue states. And Im thinking about how that interplays with what Niki was just saying about the amount of control that the state government exercises over blue enclaves, right, theres some tension there between those two comments. Lets go back to gun policy. One of the more striking features of gun legislation in red states recently has been local preemption doctrines that basically prevent blue localities and cities from enacting stricter gun laws than are passed at the state legislative level, right? And so what you end up getting is not federalism in the sense of distributed power to the local level. You end up getting federalism in terms of distributed power to the state government, with localities having their decision making capacities reduced because the state government doesnt like what theyre doing. So while there is significant heterogeneity inside of the state itself and its political demographics, the structure of governing systems makes it hard for that heterogeneity to express itself through local self-determination in bluer areas like Austin or Nashville, contributing not only to the sense of insecurity that Niki was describing, but also in a very literal sense a diminishment of the quality of Democratic representation for people who live in states who have opposing governments from their own partisan preferences.

niki hemmer

I think its also worth pointing out that that power of the state government doesnt just reach into localities, but it reaches out to other states. And thats the thing that Ive been turning around in my mind quite a lot since the Dobbs decision, was the way that states want to police a whole raft of other rights and freedoms in order to restrict access to abortion. Right  restricting the right to travel, restricting the right to mail medicines into the state, or to do telehealth, or to have certain information circulate within the state about reproductive rights and about self managed abortions and things like that, that there are ways in which the whole system becomes corrupted because all of these other rights have to be reined in as well in order to restrict abortion. And this is something that weve seen many times in U.S. history around issues of slavery, right, these efforts to force other states who havent passed laws against abortion to help enforce the restrictive laws that the states pass. And we havent seen entirely how thats going to play out. But these illiberal experiments in certain states dont stay contained within those state borders. They reach out into other states and become, if not national issues, something more than simply state issues.

zack beauchamp

So to put it at, like, this  a level of way, step back abstraction, right, theres this big debate among political scientists who study comparative authoritarianism around the world, as to whether something like Hungarys system could come to the United States, which is basically something where they hold elections. They dont rig the ballot box, but the rules of the elections are so unfair in terms of media control and gerrymandering that its nearly impossible for the government to lose. Political scientists call this competitive authoritarianism. And one of the big arguments that gets made for why this could not happen in the United States is that state governments are a check on that. The counterargument to that is that actually, historically, in some of the examples that Nikki was just citing, U.S. states have become laboratories of autocracy. And you can end up getting a situation where theres a kind of authoritarian regime that emerges in local enclaves, but has implications for democracy on the national level, and maybe could be pushed so far as to make the national political system uncompetitive. Im not going to try to resolve this argument between these two camps of experts right now, but rather just to point out that the fact that this is the big argument, or one of the big arguments, in terms of the big picture future of American democracy, illustrates just how significant and how powerful state governments are in the U.S. designed constitutional system. They are either the bulwark against authoritarianism or the driver of pushing the United States towards authoritarianism. Nobody thinks the federal system is neutral in this regard, and that speaks to how significant the stakes are of these internal political battles inside red states and blue states as to what the rules are going to be for things like interstate abortion travel, mailing abortion pills, the distribution of guns across state lines. And I think in my view, most significantly, what the rules of elections are going to be.

jane coaston

Right, that something that takes place within a state does not stay within that state. But weve seen, in general, people do sort themselves into states or areas that more reflect either what they want to do with their lives as a family, or as people, or with a place where you felt as if you could flourish as you are. I know thats why I live in Washington D.C. and no longer live in Ohio. The way that we are sorting ourselves, though, I think might be deleterious to our governance system. So should I move back to Ohio? Like, how do people who want to stand for safe and fair elections, who want to stand up in these states and ensure that these states are at least reflecting the complexity of the people that live within them  what should people like us do, or like me? Im not moving back to Ohio. I just want to be clear here.

zack beauchamp

Yeah, look  I mean, its an interesting question. This Op-Ed comes up perennially  right, its like, go West, young Democrats 

jane coaston

Right.

zack beauchamp

 making the argument that Democrats, especially like millennials and Generation Z folks who  potentially more affordable  can move to new places and live in these communities, set the rules, and reconfigure the structure of American politics. But theres something incredibly demanding about asking people to move to be political entrepreneurs, right, and politics doesnt take up the mental space for a lot of people that that kind of political ask would require. Youre asking people to move away from everyday conveniences they love, and from the people and the rooted places that they love. And so while I really  like, I appreciate the idea in spirit, if youre a committed Democrat, of being, like, I think the party would be healthier if we had more people living in rural areas, and agree to it, like, good luck getting people to do that in the abstract unless you have a lot of seed capital, and I dont know, some tech billionaire who wants to donate $1 billion to building, like, little mini Brooklyns dotted across  I dont know, like, Kansas.

jane coaston

Which  its funny, because the argument is always that, oh, you bring your blue state politics with you. But its not the politics. Its the culture. Its the idea that you would  of course, if you moved to rural Texas and you were gay, you would not stop being gay because you lived in rural Texas now.

zack beauchamp

Right.

niki hemmer

Yeah, and youre not just losing amenities and communities. But for some people, youre losing safety, right? You cant ask people to risk their lives and their futures in order to be political entrepreneurs. And I think that part of what has to happen isnt just encouraging people to move to different places, but to understand that they are part of those places in a way, that what happens in a small community in Iowa is not divorced from your life and your rights and your world if youre living in West Harlem, that the national body politic is connected. And even if youre not about to lose access to voting rights in Manhattan, New York, you should still care about the ability of people in Manhattan, Kansas to access their voting rights, because thats how you keep a healthy democracy. And so helping people to understand that these are not just regional issues or red state issues, but that what happens in other places has consequences for your life, and you should care about people in other places, is a pretty basic political idea, but one that we should be emphasizing a lot more.

jane coaston

I think that thats an amazing place for us to end. You should care about other people. Zack, Niki, thank you both so much.

niki hemmer

Thanks, Jane.

zack beauchamp

Thank you.

jane coaston
What Youll Pay

As of early July, there were some 50 residential properties on the market in Peekskill, from a four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom house, with annual taxes of $17,490, listed for $900,000 to a studio condominium listed for $74,000. A single multifamily house was listed for $649,000.

While single-family home prices have dropped elsewhere, Peekskill has yet to see a similar drop, said Kathy Kane, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker Realty. And inventory is scarce. According to data from OneKey MLS, provided by Ms. Campanelli, there were 15 single-family homes for sale in July of 2022  almost a 29 percent drop from the number available in July of 2021. As for condominiums, the number for sale in July was about 37 percent lower than a year earlier. Only inventory of co-ops increased, to 16 units in July from 13 the year before.

According to information provided by Robert Morin, Peekskills assessor, the median sale prices of single-family homes, multifamily houses and condominiums have increased this year: At $485,000, the price of a single-family home was almost 12 percent higher than last years $433,500; condominiums, at $372,000, were up about 16 percent; multifamily houses, at $530,000, rose 10.5 percent. Only co-ops dropped, by 13 percent, to $101,500.

As for market-rate apartments, a one-bedroom at the Fort Hills Apartments can rent for upward of $2,800 a month, while a two-bedroom goes for around $4,150 and a three-bedroom can fetch $5,000.
Sneezing is far from a uniquely human behavior. Maybe youve seen your dog or cat do it, or watched a YouTube video of a giraffe sneezing on an unsuspecting toddler at the zoo. In fact, sneezing doesnt even require a nervous system, let alone a nose, and dates back to some of the first multicellular animals: sponges.

The sponge has been around for at least 600 million years. Its the most successful animal that I know of, because its so old, and its everywhere, said Jasper de Goeij, a marine ecologist at the University of Amsterdam. As filter feeders, sponges play a crucial role in their aquatic ecosystems, drawing in water filled with varied organic matter, processing it and releasing it as waste on which organisms like snails, brittle stars and tube worms feed. A sponge is basically an animal that has a lot of little mouths and one, or several, larger outflow openings, said Dr. de Goeij. Those little mouths are called ostia, and the openings where water flows out are oscula.

For years, scientists have known that sponges can regulate their water flow with a many-minutes-long body contraction  i.e., a sneeze  but now, Dr. de Goeij and colleagues have found that sponges appear to sneeze as a form of self-cleaning, releasing waste particles in mucus through their ostia. The work was published in Current Biology on Wednesday.
Supporting a little more chip production in the U.S. most likely wont make much of a dent on T.S.M.C.s hold on the more advanced chips. Americas small market share of advanced computer chip manufacturing is partly the result of the struggles of the countrys leading chip maker, Intel. A government bill wont change that.

Inflation F.A.Q. Card 1 of 5 Inflation F.A.Q. What is inflation? Inflation is a loss of purchasing power over time, meaning your dollar will not go as far tomorrow as it did today. It is typically expressed as the annual change in prices for everyday goods and services such as food, furniture, apparel, transportation and toys. Inflation F.A.Q. What causes inflation? It can be the result of rising consumer demand. But inflation can also rise and fall based on developments that have little to do with economic conditions, such as limited oil production and supply chain problems. Inflation F.A.Q. Is inflation bad? It depends on the circumstances. Fast price increases spell trouble, but moderate price gains can lead to higher wages and job growth. Inflation F.A.Q. How does inflation affect the poor? Inflation can be especially hard to shoulder for poor households because they spend a bigger chunk of their budgets on necessities like food, housing and gas. Inflation F.A.Q. Can inflation affect the stock market? Rapid inflation typically spells trouble for stocks. Financial assets in general have historically fared badly during inflation booms, while tangible assets like houses have held their value better.









But more executives and government officials believe that the benefits of encouraging more chip production in America are worth the risks of wasting money with taxpayer handouts to chip companies.

Most of the law is about basic research  for better or for worse.

There is about $200 billion for programs aimed at American invention.

Cash is flowing to create 20 regional technology centers for developments backed by the government in areas such as chips, energy technologies and biotechnology. Taxpayer money is sprinkled to other government agencies to train Americans for next-generation jobs and for scientific and technical research that doesnt have an immediate payoff.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board recently described this part of the law as a wasteful expansion of the federal bureaucracy and a likely fruitless partnership of government and large industries.

That could be true, although there is a long history of the government being essential to American innovation. We might not have computer chips, the internet or Covid-19 vaccines without collaborations between big government and big business. Of course, more government spending doesnt necessarily translate into more innovation, as China is finding with its own government-backed computer chip initiative.
Her version of Take Your Daughter to Work Day was going to the Universal Studios lot and hanging out with her dad on commercial shoots. I always knew from the second I was born that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, Lester said. So being able to be surrounded by it on a daily basis, and really learn from my family, is such a blessing.

Born on Jan. 28, 2000, in Los Angeles, Lester had been in productions of Into the Woods twice before: first as the cow Milky White in a community theater production when she was in elementary school (her sisters played other parts) and the next time at age 18 as Little Red in a 99-seat theater in Los Angeles.

While many actors dread having to try out for parts  given their nerves and the statistical likelihood of rejection  Lester said she loves auditioning.

Youre being given the opportunity to do what you were put on this earth to do, she said, which is to perform.

Lester is also personally drawn to the character of Little Red, who, after being rescued from the mouth of the wolf, goes on to carry a knife for protection, to look after Jack (of beanstalk fame) and to grow up before the audiences eyes. She is so feisty and so funny, Lester said. In a lot of the moments when its really high stakes and dark themes are happening, she is a beacon of comedy and light. Thats always really fun  to be able to bring down the house during a quiet, serious moment.
Cost: free; $9.99 a year for a starter subscription with more vessel and port information, and features like an augmented reality tool to identify ships using your smartphone camera. Note: The app uses a network of coastal Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers to show vessel positions. It costs extra to unlock details for a vessel thats out of its AIS range.

Try Your Hand at Boating and Knots

Planning on boating, fishing or camping this summer? Knots 3D uses color animations to teach you how to tie more than 150 knots, from those that might help you catch a fish to those that might help save your life. Read about the usage and history of the knots, adjust the speed of the animations or pause them, rotate a knot for a different perspective and use your finger to tie and untie it. There are several ways to search for knots you want to master, including by category (such as boating, fishing and camping) or knot type (like anchor hitch, bowline and fishermans eye). Plus, the app doesnt require internet service, so you can practice even while youre in the backcountry.

Cost: $5.99.

Follow Sharks From Your Beach Chair

You never know what creatures might be sharing the waters with you on your summer vacation. Or do you?

This app from Ocearch, a nonprofit that facilitates ocean and fish research worldwide, allows users to follow the migrations of sharks (and some other marine animals, like turtles) that have been tagged with satellite tracking technology. For instance, in July I could see on the apps map that an 883-pound white shark more than 11 feet long was in the Atlantic Ocean off a nearby beach. The app enables you to follow such sharks as they travel thousands of miles (select all pings on the apps map to view both historical and recent tracking activity). Meanwhile, data gathered from tracking helps scientists understand the sharks migration patterns and life cycle to better help protect them and, ultimately, the oceans, too.
After detaining Mr. Syed, the police searched his home early on Tuesday morning and found two guns, one in Mr. Syeds room and one in the room of Shaheen Syed, the son who was later charged with lying to purchase the rifles. The son said he purchased a pistol with his father in July, when his father also purchased a rifle, according to the complaint. The police said the elder Mr. Syed bought a scope for his rifle on Aug. 1.

The police said that both of the victims whom Muhammad Syed has been accused of killing were shot more than once. A detective wrote in the complaint that the gunman who killed Aftab Hussein appeared to have waited in the bushes near where Mr. Hussein parked his car and then shot Mr. Hussein when he stepped outside. Several bullet casings were found at the scene.

Six days later, the police said, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain was on a video call with a friend at about 8:35 p.m. when he told the friend that he had to go to take another call. Mr. Hussain was shot about 40 minutes later and was found on a sidewalk about a block away from a nearby park. The police said they found seven 9-millimeter bullet casings at the scene that were later identified as a likely match to the handgun in Mr. Syeds car, and seven casings of another type that matched the ones found at the scene of Mr. Husseins killing.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussains older brother, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, said in an interview that he had decided against sending his brothers body to family members in Pakistan to be buried because his brother had been shot so many times that he was unrecognizable. He said the killer appeared to have wanted to finish him  the whole nine yards.

Neelam Bohra contributed reporting. Kitty Bennett contributed research.
A former Boston public school official who recruited at-risk students into the Latin Kings gang and had the students distribute drugs on campus pleaded guilty to racketeering charges on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts said.

The former official, Shaun Harrison, 63, faces 218 months, or more than 18 years, in prison under the plea agreement, which was made in a case that targeted dozens of members of the Latin Kings. Mr. Harrison is currently serving a prison sentence for trying to kill one of the students, whom he shot in the back of the head at point-blank range.

Mr. Harrison was hired to serve as an academic dean at English High School in Boston in 2015, months before the shooting. He worked with families to help struggling students and ran an anger-management program for 10 boys at the school, using his position to recruit a number of the at-risk students into the gang, prosecutors said.
In a highly contested move, Los Angeles this week significantly expanded restrictions on where homeless people can sleep as the city, the nations second largest, grapples with its housing crisis.

The Los Angeles City Council voted on Tuesday to prohibit homeless people from setting up tents within 500 feet of public and private schools and day care centers, during a contentious meeting that demonstrators halted for nearly an hour and that resulted in injuries to two police officers and one arrest.

The Councils decision reflects how severe the regions housing crisis has become, experts say.

We are in that really tragic position of having to talk about balancing where people who are unhoused are sleeping, said Gary Dean Painter, a professor at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy. We shouldnt be making that choice.
The day after F.B.I. agents searched his home in Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald J. Trump yet again illustrated his electoral pull on the Republican Party.

In a series of primaries in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Vermont and Connecticut on Tuesday  and in a newly conceded race from last weeks election in Washington State  Mr. Trumps candidates scored victories and his enemies drew defeats, with a notable exception.

Republican voters in Wisconsin and Minnesota elevated a slate of nominees who have peddled baseless claims of fraud over the 2020 presidential election, setting up high-stakes battles in the fall over the future of fair elections in critical battleground states. And in Connecticut, the Trump-backed Senate candidate Leora Levy trounced a moderate Republican, Themis Klarides.
Two years ago, Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota easily survived her Democratic primary by beating back a fellow progressive. Even though she had become a national lightning rod for attacks from the right and faced staunch opposition from pro-Israel groups that spent millions of dollars in hopes of defeating her, she won her 2020 race by more than 35,000 votes.

But on Tuesday, Ms. Omar edged out only a narrow primary victory against a centrist Democrat, coming within 2,500 votes of losing her seat. Tonights victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for and how much theyre willing to do to help us overcome defeat, Ms. Omar posted on Twitter.

To her supporters and her critics, the tight race was a sign that her strong support of a progressive push to overhaul the Minneapolis Police Department had cost her votes. That push, which took the shape of a ballot measure last year, followed the 2020 killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis, which set off protests and nationwide calls for racial justice and police reform. More than two years later, the issue of policing and accountability continues to deeply divide Democrats.
Iran has a history of plotting to assassinate individuals in the U.S. it deems a threat, said Larissa L. Knapp, the executive assistant director of the F.B.I.s national security branch, which worked on the case with the Justice Department and Secret Service.

By November, Mr. Poursafi had been introduced to several other Americans on an encrypted messaging platform, and made a stunning offer to one of them, the person who turned out to be the informant: He would pay $250,000 to eliminate Mr. Bolton, who had left the White House in late 2019 after a tumultuous year-and-a-half tenure.

Mr. Poursafi later hiked the offer to $300,000, then added that he had an unspecified follow-up job, for which he would pay $1 million, officials said. Justice Department officials have informed Mike Pompeo, who took a hard line on Iran as Mr. Trumps secretary of state, that he was the second target for assassination, according to a person close to Mr. Pompeo.

Mr. Poursafi never tried to conceal his connection to the Revolutionary Guards. In fact, he seemed to use his status to intimidate would-be conspirators, U.S. officials said.

By early 2021, he was sharply increasing pressure on the informant to move ahead with the assassination, sending detailed information on the location of Mr. Boltons office and residence. In January, he provided the informant with specifics regarding the former national security advisers schedule that do not appear to have been publicly available, according to a narrative of the case provided to reporters by the Justice Department.

Mr. Poursafi also urged the informant to set up a cryptocurrency account for payment. He made it clear, however, that he would make the deposit only after the job was done, and he demanded the informant videotape the killing. He warned the informant, darkly, that his bosses in Tehran would be angry if the job were not completed to their satisfaction.
Brad Finstad, a Republican former state lawmaker in Minnesota, won a special election for a U.S. House seat, according to The Associated Press. He will complete the final four months remaining in the term of Representative Jim Hagedorn, a Republican, who died from cancer in February.

Mr. Finstad, 46, defeated Jeff Ettinger, a Democrat and the retired chief executive of Hormel Foods, a Minnesota company known for introducing Spam in the 1930s. The district, Minnesotas First, stretches across the states southern border from South Dakota to Wisconsin.

Mr. Finstad did not perform as well in the district as President Donald J. Trump did in 2020, when Mr. Trump won the area by slightly more than 10 percentage points over Joseph R. Biden Jr. Mr. Finstad beat Mr. Ettinger by only roughly four percentage points, a relatively strong showing for Mr. Ettinger, who ran as a moderate and emphasized his support for abortion rights.
Mr. Perry was instrumental in pushing Mr. Trump to appoint Mr. Clark as his acting attorney general over the objections of several other top officials at the Justice Department. At one of its presentations, the House committee released text messages in which Mr. Perry repeatedly pressured Mark Meadows, then Mr. Trumps chief of staff, to reach out to Mr. Clark.

The House committee issued a subpoena to Mr. Perry in May, but he declined to comply with it. Mr. Clark and Mr. Eastman were also subpoenaed by the committee and repeatedly invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

On Wednesday, after Mr. Perry received his phone back from investigators, prosecutors told him that he was a witness in, not a subject of, their inquiry, according to one of his lawyers, John Irving.

What we consider before using anonymous sources. How do the sources know the information? Whats their motivation for telling us? Have they proved reliable in the past? Can we corroborate the information? Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Learn more about our process.

The Justice Department informed us that Representative Perry is not a target of its investigation, Mr. Irving said in a written statement. Representative Perry has directed us to cooperate with the Justice Department in order to ensure that it gets the information it is entitled to, but to also protect information that it is not entitled to.

Mr. Perry has described how three F.B.I. agents seized his phone on Tuesday morning while he was traveling with family. He compared his situation to the F.B.I.s search of Mr. Trumps Mar-a-Lago property on Monday, in which agents took boxes of materials related to an investigation into the mishandling of classified White House documents.
Key details remain secret, including what the F.B.I. was looking for and why the authorities felt the need to conduct a surprise search after months of legal wrangling between the government and lawyers for Mr. Trump.

The search happened as angry voices on the far-right fringe of American politics are talking about another Civil War, and as more mainstream Republicans are threatening retribution if they take power in Congress in the fall. Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the Republican leader in the House, warned Mr. Garland to preserve documents and clear his calendar.

This puts our political culture on a kind of emergency alert mode, said Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian at Rice University. Its like turning over the apple cart of American politics.

Critics of Mr. Trump said it was no surprise that a president who shattered legal and procedural norms while he was in the Oval Office would now find himself at the center of a classified documents dispute.

How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process.

For nearly 35 years, the tug of war over presidential records  and who controls them  has been a largely bureaucratic one waged in the halls of the National Archives and debated among lawyers in courtrooms.

Former President Richard M. Nixon spent nearly four years after Watergate fighting for control over millions of pages of presidential records and hundreds of hours of the audiotapes that helped force his resignation. Mr. Beschloss said that Nixon initially reached a deal with President Gerald R. Ford that would have given him control over his papers as well as the ability to destroy them. But an act passed by Congress after Nixon left office in August 1974 forced him to take his fight to court. He eventually lost in the Supreme Court, in a 7-to-2 decision.
Lets take a look:

Abortion

Nowhere is the starkness of the these candidates positions more evident than on abortion, which has become a much more urgent litmus test on the right since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor of Arizona, has said she supports enacting a carbon copy of the Texas abortion law in her state. That law does not include exceptions for incest or rape. It also contains an unusual provision that was meant to work around Roe v. Wade before the decision was thrown out in June: Anyone can report someone violating the law and claim a $10,000 bounty from the state.

Blake Masters, who won the G.O.P. nomination for Senate in Arizona, has supported a federal personhood law that would establish that fetuses are people. He has also raised questions about whether Griswold v. Connecticut, the Supreme Court decision granting couples the federal right to use contraception, was correctly decided  but he does not support a ban on contraception.

The list goes on: In Georgia, Herschel Walker, the partys nominee for Senate, has told reporters, Theres not a national ban on abortion right now, and I think thats a problem. Doug Mastriano, who is running for governor of Pennsylvania, introduced a fetal heartbeat bill as a state senator. Again, the bill contained no exceptions for incest or rape.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo  Pushing for a reconsideration of plans by the Democratic Republic of Congo to auction parts of its vast rainforests and peatlands, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced that American and Congolese officials would form a team to examine proposed oil-and-gas extraction in those areas.

The agreement came on Tuesday during Mr. Blinkens visit to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. While there, the secretary of state expressed concern over an effort by the countrys president, Felix Tshisekedi, to auction off vast parcels of land, which are critical to mitigating climate change, to energy companies for exploration. Mr. Blinkens remarks were the first time the U.S. government has taken a public stand on the issue.

We had concerns about the announcement of the auction of these oil and gas exploration blocks, Mr. Blinken said at a news conference on Tuesday. Some of the blocks infringe on sensitive rainforest and peatland areas, including in the Virunga National Park and Salonga National Park.
In small towns throughout the southern part of the Rift Valley, where ethnic violence broke out after the 2007 election, markets and bus stops were nearly empty in anticipation of fresh trouble, and many businesses and restaurants were closed. Some people who had stayed behind said they had sent their families away to keep them safe and had remained behind to watch out for their properties.

In Nakuru, the biggest city in the Rift Valley, motorcycle taxi drivers argued about who had won. In nearby Molo, young men clustered around a newspaper stand to scrutinize headlines about the race.

And at her home outside Eldoret, Grace Nyambura flipped through the TV news stations and incessantly scrolled through her smartphone, checking for the latest indications of a result. She had sent her three children to stay in the city of Eldoret, fearing an outbreak of violence.

We cannot sleep, said Ms. Nyambura, 36, who left her work tending a plot of avocados and maize plants to follow the news. These results have taken over our lives, she added. We need to know how things will end.

Not everyone was so engaged. The head of the election commission, Wafula Chebukati, said turnout would exceed 65 percent  higher than the commissions estimate of 60 percent on Tuesday, but still considerably below the 80 percent figure of the last election.
MANILA  Even before its opening night last week, Maid in Malacanang was shaping up to be the most talked-about film of the year in the Philippines.

The almost two-hour drama portrays the Marcos familys last days in the presidential palace before being forced into exile by a pro-democracy revolt in 1986.

We did everything for this country after World War II, only to be destroyed by the people who yearn for power, a sobbing Imelda R. Marcos tells her son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in one scene. Remember this, we will never be able to return after we leave. They will do everything so the Filipino people will hate us.
When I got out and rushed to their home, it was already filled with water and I could not see the inside, Kim In-sook, a neighbor, told reporters. Police and firefighters could pump out the water only hours later.

Hong Seok-cheol, 46, who lives in a semi-underground home next door, left at 7:45 p.m. on Monday to eat out with his wife. When the couple returned home 40 minutes later, they were shocked to find the alleyway flooding. Their home was filled with water.

The rain came so fast and furious and the pressure on drainage pipes underground was so strong that they burst open, worsening the flood, Mr. Hong said. There was no way my wife and I could have made out if we had been trapped inside.

Some of the household items belonging to the family of three sat outside the four-story building on Wednesday, including a white teddy bear. In the underground garage, four cars were caked with mud.
ODESA, Ukraine  Damage from a series of explosions at a Russian air base in Crimea appeared to be greater than the Kremlin has described, as officials on the Russia-occupied peninsula on Wednesday declared a state of emergency and said that dozens of nearby homes and commercial structures had been hit.

After the explosions on Tuesday, which a senior Ukrainian military official said were the work of Ukrainian forces, Russias Defense Ministry moved quickly to play down the extent of the damage, saying no equipment had been destroyed and no casualties reported.

The assertions were contradicted by a video from the scene and by a tally of the damage by officials in Crimea, a strategic peninsula in southern Ukraine that Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
Satellite imagery, collected by the company Planet Labs and reviewed by The New York Times, challenged Russias account of the damage. The images, one taken hours before the explosions and one taken a day after, did not show the haphazard debris of a single blast, but rather what appeared to be three large craters from detonations.

The imagery showed at least eight destroyed warplanes, both Su-30 and Su-24 fighter jets, all parked on the air bases tarmac. Two buildings near the aircraft were completely destroyed as well, with damage and large burn marks observable elsewhere at the military base.

Other parts of the air base appeared intact, including several helicopters and a large ammunition depot.

Local officials, scrambling to explain and cope with the destruction, offered more detail about what had happened to the base, on Crimeas western coast. The peninsulas Kremlin-installed leader, Sergei Aksyonov, said on Wednesday that 252 people had been moved to shelters because of damage to homes. At least 62 apartment buildings and 20 commercial structures had been damaged in the blast, he said on Telegram, and officials were still cataloging damage to private homes.

Ukraine has not officially taken responsibility for the explosions, which startled beachgoers at a nearby Black Sea resort. But a senior Ukrainian military official said on Wednesday that Ukraines special forces  along with local resistance fighters loyal to the government in Kyiv  were behind the blast.
The authorities in those three countries said on Tuesday that Russian oil deliveries from the pipeline had stopped last week over technical banking issues linked to the sanctions that Europe had imposed on Russia to punish it for invading Ukraine in February.

This seems to be just another example of the friendly fire from the sanctions that is going to hurt some European countries, in this case Hungary, Vitaly Yermakov, a senior research fellow with Oxford Energy, said in an email. Sanctioning economic activity is a blunt weapon that can have unintended consequences.

Led by Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orban, the three countries had lobbied for oil delivered by pipeline, as opposed to by tankers, to be exempted from a European Union decision to start banning imports of Russian oil later this year.

All three rely heavily on Russian oil to fuel their economies, but none more so than Hungary. MOL, which is one of the countrys biggest and most profitable companies, announced in April that it would pay dividends of $652 million to shareholders.
It included the Fly Eye 3, a state-of-the-art reconnaissance drone donated by a Polish special operations team and hobby drones of various types donated by people around the world  including children  wanting to support Ukraine. All would be sent to the front to fight the Russians, Mr. Fedorov said.

A nongovernmental group, Frontline Care, came up with the idea of selling messages on the six-pound bombs dropped by the Punisher drone. A website allows clients to pay by credit card and enter a message. The project is called Boomboard.

Svitlana, an office manager who did not want to disclose her last name out of security concerns, heard about the website through a friend. Clients can donate as much as they like for a message, but a minimum is 1,000 hryvnia, or about $25. Svitlana paid with her Visa card to write For the unborn children on a bomb.

She was angry, she said, about the war disrupting her plans to have children with her husband, who is now serving as a soldier. Also, Russian troops occupied her hometown in northern Ukraine.

For me its really personal, she said. I never thought I would sponsor a weapon. I really believe that democracy and peace can give us a better life. But now I understand, without weapons we cannot defend our country.

Yurii Shyvala contributed reporting from Pokrovske and Maria Varenikova and Natalia Yermak from Kyiv.
Gary C. Schroen, a veteran C.I.A. operative who, just weeks after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, led the first team of agents into Afghanistan to prepare for an invasion and begin the hunt for Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenants, died at his home in Alexandria, Va., on Aug. 1, one day after an American missile killed one of the last of those men, Ayman al-Zawahri. He was 80.

His wife, Anne McFadden, said the cause was complications of a fall.

Mr. Schroen spent more than 30 years with the C.I.A., running agents and espionage operations across the Middle East. At 59, he was already 11 days into the agencys mandatory three-month retirement transition program when terrorists under bin Ladens command attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

He spent the next few days stewing, frustrated that the skills and knowledge he had spent decades acquiring would go unused at the moment they were most valuable.
An Offaly photographers image is to be exhibited in Dublin as part of the Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition.

An image taken by Tullamore photographer, Tom O'Hanlon, will be showcased in an outdoor exhibition at part of the 2022 Reach for the Stars astrophotography competition, run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.

Toms photo, called Copper Coast Starlight and taken in Ballydwan, Co. Waterford, will be put on display along with 19 other top-rated images at as part of an outdoor exhibition, from Friday, August 12. The exhibition will hang at the railings of DIAS's premises at 10 Burlington Road, Dublin and is free to attend.

The Tullamore photographer was inspired to take the photo after visiting family in Waterford. He had to wait until the Milky Way Core returned to Irish skies at the beginning of March. He said Waterford is great for astrophotography as it is a south facing coastline with minimal light pollution.

Commenting on the success of the competition, Dr. Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS said: I would like to congratulate the winners of the competition on their achievements, and thank them and indeed all entrants for sharing their creativity with us.

This competition builds on DIASs  and Irelands  proud astronomical heritage. We have a rich history in space research, and are involved in a number of major astronomy projects around the world, including our work on the James Webb Space Telescope  the largest and most powerful space telescope ever built. Its fantastic to be able to play a role in fostering an interest and appreciation in astronomy with a wider community of people in Ireland, through Reach for the Stars.

The winning images are all available to view now online on www.reachforthestars.ie
250 teenagers from around the world gathered in Kildare for Foroiges Leadership for Life Youth Conference. The conference, which was launched on Tuesday of last week on the grounds of NUI Maynooth, brings together young people from the USA, Ukraine, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa and Ireland to learn how to become leaders in their own lives.

During the week-long conference the teens learn crucial life skills such as empathy, decision making, communication skills, critical thinking and team-work.

Barbara Daly, Co. Offaly, Chairperson of Foroige, said Young people are playing a greater role than ever before in highlighting the issues that really matter and youth activism and community action are central pillars of our Leadership programme. Im always in awe of what young people can achieve when given the opportunity.

When opening the event Eoghan Flood, 18 from Truagh Foroige Club, Co. Monaghan said Im so excited to be continuing my leadership journey! I have learnt so much from this programme so far and feel so privileged to be here again this week.

As part of the week-long conference, the delegates met inspirational guest speakers including:

Yemi Adenuga, the first black woman to be elected as a public representative in Ireland. Yemi is an outspoken anti-racism advocate and campaigner.

Professor Mark Brennan, the UNESCO Chair for Rural Community, Leadership and Youth Development at Pennsylvania State University.

Jordan Lee, professional high jump athlete on the Irish Paralympic team.

When asked about speaking at this years event Yemi Adenuga commented, As a woman who is very passionate about building women and young people, I am always thankful for every opportunity to inspire, empower and impact the youth so their future can be brighter and their lives better than ours.

Jordan Lee explained how important it is for young people to learn from each other. My story is one of resilience, perseverance and determination. Im looking forward to speaking to these young leaders and give them a detailed insight into my life story and what Ive learnt from my experiences to help people learn to thrive in perceived difficult circumstances and be able to achieve their goals

Professor Mark Brennan stated Im very excited and honoured to have been invited to be part of the Foroige leadership conference. After a few years away during Covid, itll be amazing to see young people back where they belong: Being active leaders for positive social change.
A wildfire, forest fire, bushfire, wildland fire or rural fire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation starting in rural and urban areas. Some forest ecosystems in their natural state depend on wildfire. Depending on the type of vegetation present, a wildfire can also be classified more specifically as a bushfire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Wildfires are distinct from beneficial uses of fire, called controlled burns, though controlled burns can turn into wildfires.
Ukraine officials stopped short of claiming credit for the attacks on a base in Russian-controlled territory, which would mark a dramatic escalation in the war.
Wisconsin provides another window into Donald Trump's influence on the GOP a day after the FBI searched for classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home.


Rumble 14 Aug 2022

The war in Ukraine began with Crimea and must end with its liberation from Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
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Washington Post 16 Aug 2022
China's ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office over Beijing's "aggressive and wide-ranging escalation" against Taiwan.
The European Union banned Russian coal imports in response to the invasion of Ukraine as part of sanctions in April. Since then, it's been scrambling to find alternative sources including Colombia, Australia and the US.
US officials say the alleged plot to kill John Bolton was likely in revenge for a senior commander's death.
Ukraine says it wants to push Russia out of all of its territory  including Crimea, which was illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. But is this a realistic goal for Kyiv?
Energy bosses have been "hauled in" before government to discuss what they are going to do with their rising profits as household bills soar, the education secretary has told Sky News.
A third busload of illegal immigrants arrived in New York City from Texas on Wednesday, prompting support for Gov. Abbott's move from conservatives on social media.
Rep. Dan Bishop criticized the FBI raid at former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago home as akin to a dangerous "security state," as more Americans feel government "out of their control."
Republican lawmakers on Tuesday spoke out forcefully against the FBI search of classified records at former US President Donald Trump's Florida estate. (Aug. 9)


In a series of primaries in Wisconsin and a handful of other states, the power of a Trump endorsement resonated.
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The former president posted the video on his social media site hours after his Florida home was searched by the F.B.I., and at a time when he is widely seen as eyeing a third White House bid.
Former President Donald Trump announced that the FBI had searched Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida, home on Aug. 8. Here's what we know about the incident so far.
Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven on Wednesday demanded that Russia return control of a nuclear plant to Ukraine. Live updates.


The sea and air exercises were in response to US politician Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island.
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Pioneer photo/Olivia Fellows

BIG RAPIDS  In June, Artworks launched an 8-week artist-in-residence summer opportunity for visual artists who are enrolled in accredited Michigan degree-granting undergraduate or graduate programs.

The artist in residence the scholarship is an onsite immersion program to learn about the business of retail art, gallery stewardship, community arts education, and outreach.
About 35 people lined a sidewalk Tuesday at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce in Lansing to protest against Michigan's 2021 auto insurance reform.

Passing cars and trucks honked horns and called out support to protesters with an advocacy group, We Can't Wait.

"The Chamber, which should be supporting businesses, pours fuel on this fire to not allow a fix," reads a statement from the group that was created on behalf of auto crash survivors.

We Can't Wait believes it should be in the interest of the Michigan Chamber to advocate for companies that have shut down or downsized due to the auto insurance reform, which took effect in July 2021. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce, which is at 600 South Walnut St., backed the reform.

It's estimated about 100 agencies have closed or no longer accept no-fault clients.

Photo Provided

Related content Impacted crash survivors continue fight for Michigan auto reform

The advocacy group for auto crash survivors, which connects people across Michigan online through Facebook, has launched a summer series in an effort to call attention to the negative impacts of the auto no-fault reform that passed in May 2019, because "survivors are degrading and eight have died."

"Lives are being destroyed and the reform is not working," wrote the group in a press release, which was provided by Organizer Peggy Campbell. "Most lawmakers realize this and support change. Yet, 23 bills to remedy the devastation sit and are dying in the insurance committees because the Chamber funnels funds to top lawmakers to put up roadblocks for any changes."

The Chamber provided the following statement on the Tuesday protest: Prior to the reforms, Michigans auto insurance system was broken and costly," it reads from Wednesday afternoon. "Those outcomes were clear: five decades of paying the highest rates in the nation and coverage was untenable and unaffordable for Michiganders and businesses. While no policy is ever perfect, the bipartisan reforms have largely worked  $400 rebates for motorists, less expensive premium rates, more insured drivers, more competition and companies offering coverage, and less fraud and overcharging. At the same time, its essential that individuals needing care and coverage get it. Thats why the Michigan Chamber strongly supported the creation of a $25-million appropriation for long-term care providers struggling to transition or provide care under the reforms.

According to We Can't Wait, two political action committees "connected to the influential business lobbying group Michigan Chamber of Commerce" were among the largest donors to lawmakers. A nonprofit watchdog group Michigan Campaign Finance Network (MCFN) reported that groups entrenched in the fight over Michigans auto insurance laws combined to spend at least $4.5 million in support of current state officeholders over the last five years alone.

The reform reduced reimbursements to the fee schedule by 45% and put a 56-hour limit on paid in-home care hours. This has affected the agencies, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, families that provide care. The 18,000 catastrophically injured survivors are greatly impacted, of those, 6,500 have spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries requiring 24/7 care. Thousands are left without adequate care.

"The reform claimed it would lower insurance rates but Michigan still remains No. 1 in the country," reads a statement issued by We Can't Wait. "And Michigan, once a mecca for those with head and spinal cord injuries, watches its award-winning rehabilitation industry being destroyed for all Michiganders."

One protester, Nick Long whose the Owner at NeuroCare Home Health, said he was told by a Chamber representative that employees were sent "home for the afternoon because of the protest."

Sara Wurfel with the Michigan Chamber said the office was open. Like many employers, she said, the office is working a hybrid model  with a combination of team members working in person and remotely.
Caseville Public Schools has announced a T-shirt fundraiser to help one of its own; the money will be going to fourth-grader Hannah Britt so her family can cover the hospital bills for her leukemia treatments.

Hannah was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on July 30, during a visit to Motts Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. The treatment started immediately, using different therapies, and will take an estimated two years to complete.

When the school heard about the situation, the staff immediately started talking about ways they could help the family.

"When something happens with a student or someone in the district, we're very ready to just jump into action and help in any way we can," said third grade teacher Kelly Jaworski.

One of the staff members had a child that was also going through a medical issue and said a T-shirt fundraiser had helped them with the finances. Though school won't be in session until the fall, the fundraiser allowed them to reach out and help quickly.

The website they set up the fundraiser on had them set a goal for number of shirts they'd like to sell and a proposed donation amount within a specific time period. They set the fundraiser for two weeks and a proposed amount of $400-$500. Having shared it not only on the school's Facebook page, to an alumni group and Caseville community group, word spread quickly. As of Aug. 9, they've exceeded their goals, both with the number of shirts sold and monetary amount donated.

"I think people are really connecting with either the situation of Hannah being diagnosed or they're connecting with Hannah's dad being an alumni of Caseville Schools," Jaworski said.

Despite the diagnosis, Hannah has kept a stiff upper lip in the face of it all.

"It's one of the greatest things about her, that she's a positive kid," said her mother, Beth Britt. "She continues to smile and laugh and be brave and strong."

The outpouring of help from the community, even from complete strangers, was unexpected, but incredibly encouraging.

"We know how great our community is, but it's amazing to see the outreach that people have, whether there's a connection to our town, our school, or through the disease," Jaworski said.
The Coleman Superintendent is anticipating a return this year with guaranteed operating funds and continued security measures.

A majority of voters recently supported the operating fund and school resource officer renewal proposals on the primary ballot. Following primary election day, Coleman Community Schools Superintendent Jennifer McCormack hit the books to prepare for the upcoming school year with a feeling of security in terms of both finances and safety measures.

"We were excited about the new year anyway. We've just got some really fantastic staff and just excited to see the kids again," she said, adding that she was prepping for the year as she spoke with the Daily News. "This certainly helps."

The rural school district sought the funding for a period of 10 years, which was required by the state. The resource officer proposal comes from the County of Midland, which aims to ensure security measures at countywide public schools. Students will return to classes on Aug. 29, with an increased effort to support social emotional learning in light of the pandemic impacts on youth.

McCormack said the general fund was healthy going into the academic year, but the proposal success helps ensure the "essentials" are provided. She said a few staff members have been added across the district to support both faculty and students.

"(We are) really just pushing that money back towards staffing (and) anything that's going to support student achievement," said McCormack.

Some of the highlights, mentioned by McCormack, include the following:

Social work support time for students in need

New psychologist added as a "tier one" measure to staff on site social emotional learning and other wellness support

Added a dean of students to support both students and staff of K-12 buildings

Additional electives and courses at the junior senior high

Computer technology will have coding format capabilities

Psychology and sociology will be available as electives, in addition to seventh graders having the option to take social emotional learning as an elective

Strength training course added to high school

District is working to refining art second level courses and Spanish 2

American Sign Language is returning

The operating millage proposal was set to expire in 2022. The last time the district sought these funds was in 2012.

"There's something about this year that is just exciting to me," she said. "We've had some time to regroup."
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  A dispute between Iraq and Turkey over a recent deadly attack in Iraqs northern Kurdish region escalated at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday.

Iraqs foreign minister demanded the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from his country, while Turkeys deputy ambassador said his government will keep pursuing fighters it considers terrorists who take refuge in Iraq.

The Iraqi government sought the meeting after the July 20 artillery attack that killed nine Iraqi tourists and injured 33 other people. Its foreign minister, Fuad Hussein, said the government has proofs that Turkish armed forces were responsible.

Turkey has denied it was behind the attack and blamed fighters from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara and the West. It has for decades waged an insurgency against the government in Ankara and maintains hideouts in Iraqs mountainous north.

At the start of the Security Council meeting, the U.N. special envoy for Iraq had said Turkey and Iraq were ready for a joint investigation into the artillery shelling at the Parkha resort in the Zakho district of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said Iraqs caretaker prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, emphasized in a conversation Monday the importance of a transparent and thorough investigation: independent or jointly. She quoted him as saying it is vital to put a stop to speculations, denials, misunderstandings and rising tensions.

The U.N. envoy said she understood that Turkey is also ready to address the issue jointly, with Iraq, in order to determine exactly what happened.

Iraqs Hussein called on the Security Council to set up an international independent team of inquiry to look into what he called the Turkish armys flagrant aggression.

The foreign minister told journalists later that Iraq is also ready to have a joint investigation with Turkey, but he said they didnt approach us and never sent us an official letter about having an investigation.

Turkeys deputy U.N. ambassador, Oncu Keceli, countered that we made it clear that Turkey is ready to take all the steps to unveil the truth, stressing to the council that our officials at many different levels have given the same message.

He said some Iraqi authorities were on the same page as Turkey and wanted to find out the truth. But other Iraqi officials, he said, chose escalation instead of diplomacy and cooperation, and started a media smear campaign aimed at driving a wedge between the Turkish and Iraqi people.

Hussein said the Iraqi government is sure the Turkish military was responsible for the attack. He pointed to the findings of its investigation that Turkey's army has bases in the area near the resort, PKK fighters have not been in the area for the last month and the Turkish army uses 155 mm artillery projectiles whose fragments were found at the scene.

Hussein added that many people in the area gave us enough information about the activity of Turkish soldiers there.

He called on the Security Council to urgently adopt a resolution demanding that Turkey withdraw what he said were about 4,000 combat soldiers from Iraq, and halt incursions into Iraqi airspace.

Turkeys Keceli countered that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq are breached by terrorist organizations, not by Turkey, which he said has always supported Iraqs sovereignty.

As we speak, the flags of the PKK terrorist organization are raised in certain parts of northern Iraq, not the flags of the federal government or the Kurdish regional government, he said,

Turkey estimates the PKK controls an area of at least 10,000 square kilometers in Iraq, he said. Nearly 800 villages have been forcefully evacuated by the PKK and all these spots have become a safe haven for the terrorists. In the first six months of this year the PKK carried out 339 attacks against Turkey, he said.

Iraq has so far proven to be either unable or unwilling to fight the terrorists, and therefore it cannot blame Turkey for exercising its right to self-defense, Keceli said.

Hussein said Iraq's government is ready to work alongside the United Nations and concerned countries to ensure that elements of the PKK leave Iraq because this destabilizes Iraq" and undermines security in the country.

The Security Council issued a statement Monday condemning the attack on the resort in the strongest terms, expressing support for Iraqi authorities in their investigations and urging all countries to cooperate with the Iraqi government and all other relevant authorities in support of these investigations. The council did not mention Turkey.

Diplomats said chances of the council approving a resolution demanding the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Iraq are slim, especially given the key role Turkey is playing in the recently announced deal to export desperately needed grain from Ukraine and grain and fertilizer from Russia to countries facing food shortages, rising prices and widespread hunger.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Tim Michels, a wealthy businessman endorsed by former President Donald Trump, won the Republican primary for Wisconsin governor on Tuesday and will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in a contest that could reshape elections in the marquee battleground.

Michels defeated former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence and had backing from establishment Republicans, including ex-Gov. Scott Walker.

In his victory speech, Michels promised to focus on jobs and the economy and said he would stand up for people who "have been left behind by the Democratic Party that just wants to focus on the social issues.

As governor, my number one priority is to take care of the hardworking people of Wisconsin, Michels said.

Evers' campaign called Michels the most extreme and divisive nominee possible, one that will tell Donald Trump anything just to keep his endorsement."

Both Michels and Kleefisch falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was rigged, a lie Trump has pushed in an effort to overturn his loss to Joe Biden. Federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general have said there is no credible evidence the election was tainted. The former presidents allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges Trump appointed.

Michels said decertifying the results of the 2020 contest was not a priority but said everything will be on the table. He supports other changes to voting and elections, including dismantling the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections.

The governors race was the latest proxy war between Trump and Pence, one-time partners who have backed opposing candidates in other swing states as they try to push the GOP in different directions. The results Tuesday added to Trump's record of wins, following victories for his preferred candidates last week in closely watched races for governor and Senate in Arizona.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who supported Trump's second impeachment, conceded defeat in her Washington state congressional district after being overtaken in late vote tallies by a GOP challenger endorsed by the former president. And in next Tuesday's slate of contests, Rep. Liz Cheney, who also backed Trump's impeachment and is the vice chair of the House panel probing his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, faces a challenging primary race.

Those developments, combined with the rush of support from Republicans after the FBI executed a search warrant at Trump's Florida estate on Monday, were fresh reminders of the former president's enduring grip on the GOP.

Back in Wisconsin, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won the Democratic nomination to face Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, one of Trumps most vocal supporters. The matchup is among the last to be set before the November general election, when control of the currently 50-50 split Senate is up for grabs, and Democrats see Wisconsin as one of their best opportunities to flip a seat.

Wisconsins most powerful Republican, state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, held off a Trump-backed challenger. Trump endorsed Adam Steen after Vos rejected the former presidents pressure to decertify the 2020 results. Vos said his victory showed you dont have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

Tuesdays outcomes have far-reaching consequences beyond Wisconsin, a state that is almost evenly split between Republicans and Democrats and where 2022 will be seen as a bellwether for the 2024 presidential race. The person elected governor this fall will be in office for the presidential election and will be able to sign or veto changes to election laws passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The next governor and U.S. senator also may sway decisions on issues from abortion to education and taxes.

Were a 50-50 state and so every race in Wisconsin, just by definition, is going to be decided by a few percentage points one way or another, said former Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. And those few percentage points in Wisconsin may well determine what the course of the nation is in the coming years.

Elsewhere Tuesday, a Trump-backed candidate won the GOP primary for Senate in Connecticut, a state thats long been home to the Republican establishment. Republican National Committee member Leora Levy, whom Trump endorsed last week, will face two-term Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal after she defeated former state House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, who had support from the state party.

Voters in Vermont  the only state to never have a woman in its congressional delegation  chose a woman, Becca Balint, as the Democratic nominee for the states lone House seat. She is favored in the race to replace Rep. Peter Welch, who won the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat long held by Patrick Leahy, who is retiring. And Minnesota Republicans chose Dr. Scott Jensen, a COVID-19 vaccine skeptic endorsed by the state GOP, to face Gov. Tim Walz.

But the most-watched races were in Wisconsin, where Trump has kept up his pressure campaign to cancel Bidens 2020 victory. Biden won the state by nearly 21,000 votes, four years after Trump narrowly won the state by roughly the same margin. The 2020 outcome has been upheld in two partial recounts, a nonpartisan audit, a review by a conservative law firm and multiple lawsuits.

Evers has made voting and elections a focus of his own campaign, telling voters hes the only candidate who will defend democracy and we are that close to not having our vote count in the state of Wisconsin.

Both Michels and Kleefisch said overturning the 2020 election results was not a priority. But they said they would dismantle the bipartisan commission that runs Wisconsin elections and would support prohibitions on voters having someone else turn in their absentee ballots, as well as ballot drop boxes located anywhere other than staffed clerk offices.

Michels is co-owner of Wisconsins largest construction company and has touted his work to build his familys business. He lost the 2004 Senate race to Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold, and has been a major donor to GOP politicians.

At a rally on Friday, Trump praised Michels as an incredible success story. He criticized Kleefisch as part of the failed establishment and also took aim at Vos. He told supporters that Michels was the better choice to defeat Evers.

Michels pledged that we are going to have election integrity here in Wisconsin. He also said he will bring law and order back to Wisconsin, criticized Evers handling of schools and blamed Biden for rising prices.

GOP state Rep. Tim Ramthun also made a long-shot bid for governor.

In her concession speech, Kleefisch said, The fight now is truly against Tony Evers and the liberals who want to take away our way of life.

Barnes, in his victory speech in Milwaukee, emphasized his middle-class background and upbringing while casting Johnson as self-serving and an out-of-touch politician who cares only about special interests and wealthy donors.

It is time for a change, everybody, said Barnes, who would be Wisconsins first Black senator if elected. Its time for us to be represented by somebody who shares our experiences.

Johnson called Barnes the most radical left candidate Democrats could have chosen.

This is a contest between radical left socialism versus freedom and prosperity, he said.

___

Burnett reported from Chicago. Reporter Gretchen Ehlke contributed from Thiensville, Wis.
WAUKESHA, Wis. (AP)  One of two Wisconsin women who were sent to a state mental health facility after a 2014 stabbing attack on a sixth-grade classmate that they claimed was to appease the horror character Slender Man has withdrawn her petition for release.

In June, Morgan Geyser, 20, asked Waukesha County Judge Michael Bohren to order her release as he did last year for her co-defendant, Anissa Weier, who spent nearly four years at a mental health facility in Oshkosh.

Bohren appointed three doctors to evaluate Geysers mental state. After receiving one doctor's report, Geyser and her attorney sent a letter to the judge Tuesday.

The letter said: We are requesting that the remaining examinations not be finalized and we will continue to revisit this issue as Ms. Geyser continues to make progress in treatment and advance with her recovery," according to WTMJ-TV.

Her attorney, Anthony Cotton, has not returned a call for comment.

According to prosecutors, Geyser and Weier lured Payton Leutner to woods in a Waukesha park following a sleepover in May 2014, and Geyser repeatedly stabbed Leutner while Weier urged her on. All three girls were 12 at the time.

Geyser and Weier left Leutner for dead, but she managed to crawl out of the woods and was discovered by a passing bicyclist.

She suffered 19 stab wounds and barely survived, according to medical staff who treated her.

Police found Weier and Geyser later that day walking on Interstate 94 in Waukesha. They said they were traveling to Slender Mans mansion in northern Wisconsin and attacked Leutner because they thought it would make them Slender Mans servants and prevent him from killing their families.

Geyser pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a deal with prosecutors and a judge sent her to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute after determining she had a mental illness.

Weier pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree intentional homicide and was also sent to the psychiatric facility after a jury found she was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the attack.

Last September, Weier was granted a conditional release to live with her father and was ordered to wear a GPS monitor.
Director of Content and Operations

Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
Maseru, Lesotho ()ANA) - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday welcomed a 250 million Japanese Yen (approximately US$2 million) contribution by the Government of Japan to strengthen food assistance support to 60,000 pre-primary school children through the Government of Lesothos national school feeding programme
Photo: (Photo : ARIS OIKONOMOU/AFP via Getty Images)

A firefighter who responded to a major blaze in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania was devastated to arrive at the site to find 10 of his family members dead, including his three children.

Harold Baker, 57, has been a firefighter for nearly 40 years and is connected to the Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company. His team was the first engine to answer the emergency call early Friday morning, Aug. 5, 2022.

Baker told The Washington Post that the original address they received was the neighbor's property but when their fire truck turned to the street, he instantly knew that the blazing house was owned by his in-laws. His kids were there because they were visiting the family for the summer to access the swimming pool.

He and his team attempted to get inside the house three times without success. However, one of his colleagues also knew of the house and told Baker not to go in there anymore.

Read Also: Uncle Admits to Drive-By Shooting, Injures 5-Year-Old Niece Who Will Likely Be Paralyzed

His son was also a volunteer firefighter

Some of those identified as dead on the spot were David Daubert, 79, Marian Slusser, 54, Laura Daubert, 47, Shannon Daubert, 45, Dale Baker, 19, Brian Daubert, 4 and Star Baker, 2. Dale was also a volunteer firefighter like his father.

According to NPR, Dale joined Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company when he was 16 years old and was described as a "fun-loving soul" who loved life. Dale was the type of kid who was always ready to help, per Heidi Knorr, the secretary of the fire company.

Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said that based on preliminary investigations, the blaze spread out "very quickly" making it harder for the family to get out. The house had 13 dogs that all perished in the blaze as well.

Three of Baker's relatives were able to get out of the horrific inferno while another relative was saved because he was delivering newspapers that morning. Baker said that there was nothing more they could do when they saw the house because it was already engulfed by the flames.

Mike Swank, a neighbor, said that he was awakened by a blast and went outside to check. He immediately noticed the front porch on fire and took a hose to try to douse the flames. According to reports, the family was new to the property, having moved just months ago, and kept a lot of their stuff on the porch temporarily.

Community was heartbroken over the deaths

Following the deaths, the Pennsylvania community has come together for the family. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf expressed his condolences via Twitter and the daughter of the mayor of Nescopeck opened a GoFundMe page with the knowledge and permission of the Daubert Family.

Frances and I are heartbroken after seven adults and three children lost their lives in a house fire today in Luzerne County.



Our prayers are with their loved ones.



Thank you to the many first responders who rushed to the scene.  Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) August 5, 2022

The fundraiser has received more than 470 donors and raising nearly $25,000 in three days. Reports cited that the relatives, as well as the fire services team, have been extended counseling services via the Red Cross.

A criminal investigation has also been opened to determine if the fire was intentional, said the Pennsylvania State Police.

Related Article: Teen Bully Opens Fire at 12-Year-Old Girl Who Ran as She Carried Her Baby Brother
Photo: (Photo : KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images)

A father involved in a bitter custody battle had to rush to the house of his ex-wife to rescue his children after she posted a live video feed on Instagram to say that she has killed them.

Jermaine Roberts raced to Janee Pedescleaux's house on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. after he watched his ex-wife's bloodied face as she wailed about her children, a 2-year-old Jaceon and a 4-year-old Paris.

Daily Mail reported that footage of Roberts, as taken from a neighbor's phone, showed the father pulling up, getting out of his white truck and then bursting inside the house. He later stepped out carrying his daughter while his wounded son was trying to follow behind them.

Roberts rushed his kids to the hospital where Paris was declared dead while Jaceon is currently being monitored but in critical condition. The toddler suffered multiple stab wounds like his sister.

Read Also: What are the Grandparents' Rights to Grandchildren Whose Parents Divorced?

Father filed for sole custody

Pedescleaux was apparently bemoaning the fact that she's "done with life" and blamed her ex-husband for her misery. According to 4WWL, Roberts filed for sole custody of their kids in April and they were going to start their custody battle in late August.

The father raised his concern to the court because his ex-wife could not provide a healthy and stable environment for the children. The mother apparently drinks, takes non-prescription pills and drives under the influence.

Roberts also said that his ex-wife started preventing him from seeing their kids when he had a new relationship. The petition for sole custody, however, allowed Pedescleaux to visit the children.

Court records also showed that Pedescleaux was arrested for petty crimes, drugs, using fake prescriptions, and aggravated assault. In 2021, she was also charged for damage to property.

Pedescleaux's live video has been deleted by Instagram. She has been held in custody at the Orleans Justice Center. The mother is facing charges of second-degree murder, second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and attempted murder.

Mom fakes deaths in a bitter custody battle

In a similar story, a mother has faked her death and her son's death before fleeing to the U.S. from Canada using stolen identities. According to Fox13, Dawn Walker wanted to avoid a custody battle with her ex-husband.

Walker allegedly picked up her son from his father a week before going "missing." Reports reached the local police that their things were found in a local park. Early investigations indicated that Walker and her son may have been swept away in the water while going fishing.

However, a series of financial transactions led investigators to Walker's actual trail, including the stolen identities. Canadian authorities worked with Oregon law enforcement to trace Walker and her son in a rented Airbnb, where she was arrested. Police found a checklist for faking the deaths.

The mother has been charged with parental abduction, aggravated identity theft and possession of false identification documents.

Related Article: Cases Increasing for Divorced Parents Suing Each Other Over Children's COVID-19 Vaccine
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Microsoft said Wednesday that it has released almost all of its emoji designs to GitHub and Figma, allowing anyone to tweak and design their own.

Microsoft isnt saying that youll be able to use your own emoji designs inside Windows, and the company isnt saying that absolutely all of the companys emoji are being released into open source, either. Specifically, Microsoft is excluding the Clippy emoji (boo!) and a few that includes the Microsoft logo. Naturally, Microsoft cant release its own copyrighted trademarks into the public domain, Jon Friedman, a corporate vice president of design and research at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post.

Its no small task to open-source each of Microsofts 1,538 emoji, Friedman wrote. Similar to how typeface sets include bold, italic, and regular styles, emoji must exist as a SVG, PNG, and JPG file to allow for true versatility. And for each of those, a vector, flat, and monochrome version should be created for scale and flexibility.

Our creator community is infinitely imaginative, and we cant wait to see how you break boundaries, remix our designs, and take the Fluent emoji to places we cant foresee, Friedman said.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) marketers in Ghana have called off the strike they started last Monday.



The decision, the group said, was because their concerns had been addressed by the government through the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).



Key among those concerns was the lifting of the ban on the construction of LPG stations across the country.



The Vice-Chair of the LPG Marketers Association, Gabriel Kumi, at a news conference yesterday, explained that fortunately, the government has heeded to our call and concerns, and we received communication from the NPA that Cabinet, at its meeting yesterday, had lifted the ban on the construction of LPG stations across the country.



He said with that assurance, the association was calling off the strike with immediate effect, although some of the issues had not been completely resolved.



We have also resolved to do well to address the concerns of our drivers over poor remuneration. However, the concerns of the drivers over their harassment as a result of a new tracking device that has been introduced into the system remains unresolved.



It is something that we would strongly want addressed because that is creating a lot of confusion and has led to about 76 drivers losing their lives.



Fortunately, there is a meeting tomorrow to try and resolve these and other issues; we will be at the meeting with the drivers to sit with the NPA and the Ministry of Energy to amicably resolve that issue, Mr Kuma said.



Strike



Last Monday, the Ghana National Tanker Drivers Association parked their trucks as they pressed for attention and resolution of a number of concerns they raised.



The association closed their stations in solidarity with a strike by the drivers in protest of treatment by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited and the NPA.



The drivers also raised concerns with the seals and tracking devices that check the integrity of the fuel in the transportation process and the continuous ban on LPG stations under construction since 2017.



The situation was exacerbated as the marketers joined the industrial action, refusing to serve customers.



Statement



Meanwhile, a statement from the LPG Marketers, signed by the Chairman of the association, Mallam Bukari Amadu, expressed gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his intervention.



We are grateful to the good people of Ghana for their tremendous support. We also wish to thank the President, the Minister of Energy and the Chief Executive of the NPA for reversing a decision that has cost us the lives of some of our members and millions of Ghana cedis, the statement said.



Decision



The decision, it said, was without prejudice to the associations concern about NPAs communication on the lifting of the ban as we are particularly worried about the lack of details in the statement.



It said it was the expectation of the association that the Ministry of Energy and the NPA would bring all other regulatory bodies on board to ensure the smooth implementation of the directive from Cabinet.



The association embarked on a nationwide strike over the ban on construction of new LPG stations, adding that it had for the past five years cost its members over $10 million.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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Host of Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Kwami Sefa Kayi has commended Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) over its approach towards revitalizing the Integrated Aluminium Industry.



Ghanas first President, Kwame Nkrumah had a vision to industrialize the economy and rolled out a plan for an Integrated Aluminium Industry (IAI) with an operating bauxite mine in Awaso and the establishment of the VALCO smelter by Kaiser Aluminium of the United States of America.



But the overthrow of President Nkrumah aborted his vision and crippled the Integrated Aluminium Industry.



GIADEC



The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), established through an Act of Parliament - The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation Act, 2018 (Act 976) - and assented to in August 2018, has been mandated to promote and develop the IAI.



It currently holds 100 percent Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) and the 20 percent minority stake in Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC) and additionally, the prospecting rights to all of Ghanas approximately nine hundred million metric tonnes of bauxite have been novated to it.



As part of measures to fortify the IAI, GIADEC has developed an Outline Masterplan that underpins the execution of Ghanas IAI.



Last week, the Chief Executive Officer of GIADEC, Mr. Michael Ansah and his team paid a working visit to VALCO to inspect the progress of work and to also observe the processes of collecting bauxite samples for testing at the laboratory.



He was also introduced to state-of-the-art drilling machinery being used to conduct diamond drilling which, according to the Project Geologist, will help obtain quality or core samples that will be analyzed at the laboratory to check for alumina content.



Kudos



Speaking on the 'Kokrokoo' morning show, Mr. Sefa Kayi lauded the Government of Ghana and GIADEC for revisiting Nkrumah's dream.



"Do you know we are now revisiting the original plan that Kwame Nkrumah did for VALCO? Original plan for VALCO, bauxite, smeltering and so forth called integrated aluminium industry which is Nkrumah's original plan; when he was overthrown and the plan abolished, it was during President Kufour's regime that VALCO was bought back but it took a nose dive. President Mills also started to revamp it but unfortunately he passed on. It is now that GIADEC (Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Company) is making arrangements to revive and improve it," he said.







Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Presidential Aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Hon Joe Ghartey has said that the country should do all it can to continue to attract foreign investment.



Hon. Ghartey who is the author of Ghanas leading legal text on foreign investment, Doing Business and Investing in Ghana, made this comment he had successful meetings with business leaders interested in a wide range of business.



He used the occasion to brief the business leaders on the legal framework for doing business and investing in Ghana. For those interested in the petrochemical sector, Joe Ghartey informed the potential investors of recent developments in the petrochemical industry in Ghana including the establishment of an institutional framework for the sector which is seeking to create a petrochemical hub.



Other areas investors showed interest in were large-scale mining, ICT, education and renewable energy.



The investors asked about Ghanas economic situation but after discussions, it was agreed that the current situation would not last forever and should not influence medium to long-term investments.



Joe Ghartey returned to Ghana on the 8th of August after a week of successful business promotion in the United Kingdom.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Ghana Exim Bank has supported Amplified, a social marketing project of the Ministry of Information to help promote business innovations and the activities of social entrepreneurs in the country.



The support will ensure a season one (1) of the project totalling 10 episodes which will help beneficiaries to promote their products and services to larger markets.



Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank, Lawrence Agyinsam who disclosed this in an interview with journalists last Thursday said the support is part of an overall strategy of Exim Bank Ghana to support MSMEs to eliminate barriers to global commerce.



We believe that supporting this laudable project by the Ministry of Information is key to strengthening Ghanas innovation pipeline, driving emerging businesses and, over the long-term, safeguarding the sustainable growth of MSMEs.



He said the support will help young businesses navigate the exciting opportunities that exist in online business marketing and enhance their speed to gaining larger markets.



In April this year, the bank re-launched its Tuesday Market initiative aimed at creating awareness for Made-In-Ghana products and harnessing their potential for exports.



The Market serves as a one-stop shop for the general public to purchase anything locally manufactured, from nicely packaged food items, cosmetic products, garments and textiles, leather products and many more.



This C.E.O Agyinsam said is all part of efforts by the bank to substantially support and promote products and services of young businesses to gain larger markets and compete in new frontiers that were previously inaccessible.



About Amplified



Amplified is a social marketing tool of the Ministry of Information. Launched in 2021, the project focuses on using the new media leverage of the Ministry and that of programme partners to support the work of young Ghanaians and to aid them in reaching larger audiences with; entrepreneurial products and services; social causes; and youth mentorship.



The main focus of Amplified is to highlight the products and services of young Ghanaian entrepreneurs doing business in Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Right Reverend Mrs. Patricia Sappor is set to unveil her second book. Aptly titled Creating Wealth and Enjoying it, the Book, which is inspired by very personal encounters with individuals and organizations, discusses ways to create wealth, keep the wealth and enjoy it.



The book, which has taken over four years to put together, takes the reader on a tour of how personal stories and experiences from people who have encountered the author have shown that those who plan their finances with the future in mind live better lives and acceptable standard of living in the latter part of their lives as against those who do not. Awareness of some keys to creating wealth is necessary to all.



This book, How to Create Wealth and Enjoy It, according to the author is aimed at creating awareness and providing information on how one can plan and do simple things which can make a difference in their finances later on in life. I believe the information in this book will be beneficial to anyone who reads it especially those who earn salary, she added.



As a Chartered Banker and the Immediate Past President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, Mrs. Sappor noted that the book will serve as a road map and a key driver to attaining financial independence.



The 160-page book is divided into four parts: a) Wealth Creation Basics; b) Growing Your Wealth; c) Managing Your Wealth; and d) Retirement. The book was published by Spearhead Consult and designed by Indes Procom Ltd.



Endorsements



The Books Foreword was written by the Founder and General Overseer, United Denomination of Action Churches (UDAC) and NDW Ministries, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, with endorsements from Rev. Daniel Ogbamey Tetteh, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana (SEC); Mr. Enimil Ashon, a Literary Critic; Mrs Patience Akyianu, Group CEO of Hollard Ghana; Mrs. Ivy Apea Owusu, CEO, Cirrus Oil Services; and Mr. Albert Essien, Former Group CEO, Ecobank Traditional Incorporated.



About the author



Rt. Rev. Mrs. Patricia Sappor is a Chartered Banker and the First Female and Immediate Past President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana, in the 43-year history of the Institute. She has over 33 years of banking experience with 22 years in Ecobank in various roles. She is a Bishop of the United Denomination of Action Churches (UDAC) founded by Archbishop Nicholas Duncan- Williams.



She is currently the Resident Bishop of the Blessings Cathedral and Regional Bishop overseeing four branches of UDAC. She has mentored and supported many young ladies to live purpose driven lives.



As the author of The Christian Woman - Secrets To Enjoying Your Marriage she has been honored by several bodies for professionalism, integrity and contribution to society. She is married to Mr. Frederick Sappor, a Chartered Accountant and they are blessed with three children and three grandchildren.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has inaugurated the Board of the Zongo Development Fund at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday August 9, 2022.



Dr. Bawumia also administered the swearing-in of the eleven-member Board, which is chaired by Mr Seidu H Nasigri.



Addressing members of the board after swearing them into office, Dr. Bawumia urged members to "work assiduously with all stakeholders, to ensure that the ZDF continues to deliver on its mandate.."



The Zongo Development Fund, Dr. Bawumia noted, is very dear to the "heart of the President and government and all of us" because it was set set up to bridge the development gap between Zongo communities and other parts of the country.



"Since the passing of the ZDF Bill and the signing of the Act by the President in 2018, the development of Zongos, have, for the first time since independence, been included in the national budget, and the impact is so obvious," Dr. Bawumia said.



"As we envisioned, the ZDF has been a vehicle for inclusive, sustainable development for Zongo communities delivering projects such as: renovation and construction of classroom blocks, clinics, drainage systems, water systems, security installations, bridges, roads, entrepreneurial support, educational scholarships, astro turfs, among others."



The Vice President continued that as part of governments broader vision to widen opportunities for education, the ZDF's has prioritised investment in education.



"This has resulted in the construction of a number of modern educational facilities such as classroom blocks, ICT centres, and libraries in many Zongos."



"Also, about 40 brilliant but needy



Zongo students are currently in Cuba training to be medical doctors, thanks to the vision of this government to ensure inclusive development for all."



"Not only that, the ZDF, has also given out hundreds of tertiary educational grants to young people from the Zongos to pursue tertiary education."



Dr. Bawumia reiterated government's commitment to delivering more for Zongo communities "in our quest to ensure inclusive development."



"Surely, ours is not the politics of rice and sugar. We promised the people of Zongo and we are delivering through sustainable policy, with education as the catalyst."



"There is so much work to do to ensure that the ZDF spreads its development to more Zongos across the country," Dr. Bawumia told the board members.



Members of the Board are:



Mr. Seidu H Nasigri, Alhaji (Chairman), Arafat Sulemana (CEO), Ahmed Saed, Hajia Barkisu Seidu Bawie, Chief Dalhu S. Abdul Mumin, Sagnari Naa Amb. Yakubu Abdulai, Chief Manmoud Dandey, Rev. Dr. Cyril Gershon Kwao Fayose, Chief Alhaji Shakson Osumanu Issahaku and Ahmed Abdulai Abu.









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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Brazilian twins who were joined at the head have been successfully separated with the help of virtual reality.



Three-year-olds Bernardo and Arthur Lima underwent surgeries in Rio de Janeiro, with direction from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.



The teams spent months trialling techniques using virtual reality projections of the twins, based on CT and MRI scans.



It was described by surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani as "space-age stuff".



It was one of the most complex separation processes ever completed, according to the charity which funded it - Gemini Untwined - which Mr Jeelani founded in 2018.



He said that, for the first time, surgeons in separate countries wore headsets and operated in the same "virtual reality room" together.



The twins had seven surgeries, involving more than 27 hours of operating time in the final operation alone, and almost 100 medical staff.



'Man-on-Mars stuff'



Speaking about the VR aspect of the surgery, Mr Jeelani told the PA news agency: "It's just wonderful. It's really great to see the anatomy and do the surgery before you actually put the children at any risk.



"You can imagine how reassuring that is for the surgeons.



"In some ways, these operations are considered the hardest of our time, and to do it in virtual reality was just really man-on-Mars stuff."



He said that previously unsuccessful attempts to separate the boys meant their anatomy was complicated by scar tissue, and he was "really apprehensive" about the risky procedure.



Mr Jeelani said he was "absolutely shattered" after the 27-hour operation, where he took only four 15-minute breaks for food and water, but it was "wonderful" to see the family feeling "over the moon" afterward.



He added that, as with all conjoined twins after separation, the boys' blood pressures and heart rates were "through the roof" - until they were reunited four days later and touched hands.



The twins are recovering well in hospital and will be supported with six months of rehabilitation.



Life-changing



This was Mr Jeelani's sixth separation procedure with Gemini Untwined, after previously operating on twins from Pakistan, Sudan, Israel and Turkey.



He led the procedure alongside Dr Gabriel Mufarrej, head of paediatric surgery at Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer in Brazil.



Dr Mufarrej said the hospital where he works has been caring for the boys for two-and-a-half years, and their separation will be "life-changing".



"Since the parents of the boys came from their home in the Roraima region to Rio to seek our help two-and-a-half years ago, they have become part of our family here in the hospital. We are delighted that the surgery went so well."



Bernardo and Arthur, at almost four years of age, are the oldest craniopagus twins - that is twins with a fused brain - to have been separated.



According to the charity, one in 60,000 births results in conjoined twins, and only 5% of those are craniopagus.

Source: BBC









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has expressed fears over an imminent collapse of local businesses due to cedi depreciation and other market challenges.



GUTA has threatened to demonstrate against the government complaining that, "businesses have reached a situation where their survival is seriously threatened . . . we are calling on the government, as a matter of urgency, to reconvene the Foreign Exchange Committee that was set up a few years agon by the Finance Ministry which involved all relevant stakeholders, to help find an immediate solution".



The President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng, in an interview stated "the exarcerbating tension that is coming from the trading Committee is huge . . . they believe that if nothing is done about their businesses, their businesses are going to collapse in perpetuity so they are calling for a serious deomnstration".



With the Traders Association raising red flag over the local market, Ghana continues to import.



The panel on 'Kokrokoo' morning show on Peace FM were thrown into a state of shock finding out from a texter that the country imports newspapers, despite having local newspaper corporations and lots of newspapers in circulation at media organizations and offices.



"We import old newspapers with our dollar. Go to La Paz right now; there's a 40-footer container offloading old newspapers," host of 'Kokrokoo', Kwami Sefa Kayi read.



It is further disclosed that the old newspapers are used to wrap goods and also for manufacturing egg crates.





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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Social commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has applauded Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his digital initiatives towards the development of Ghana.



Allotey Jacobs noted that digitalization is the impetus for Ghana's development and as a result called on Ghanaians to support the Ghana Card.



In a brief comment on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, the former NDC Central Regional Chairman stated that the "Ghana Card eliminates corruption and bribery".



He advised the citizenry not to fall for the chicanery of the detractors of the Ghana Card initiative.



Ghana Card Statistics



Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Prof. Ken Attafuah says over 17 million Ghanaians have been registered for the Ghana Card with over 15 million printed cards issued out.



"We have registered 17,138,609 Ghanaians as at 3rd August. We have printed 16, 567,460 cards and those that we have issued out their cards to are 15,768,777. With those that we haven't been able to print their cards but have been registered are 571,149. Also, those we have printed their cards but haven't been able to distribute it to them because they haven't come for their cards are 796,683...Their cards are sitting at our Regional and district offices," he disclosed in an interview on Kokrokoo.





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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Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Member of Parliament for Adaklu, has urged the Government to decentralize the supply of food to Senior High Schools (SHSs) to ensure sustenance of the policy.



He said the centralisation of the policy was making it difficult to feed students due to the irregular supply of food and putting a lot of pressure on school administrators.



Mr Agbodza was speaking at a ceremony at Adaklu SHS at Adaklu Waya, where he donated food items worth GHC40,000 to the school from his personal resources.



These include 50 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar, 25 cartons each of mackerel, tomato paste, and frytol cooking oil.



Mr Agbodza said when the Parliamentary Select Committee on Education visited some SHSs in the country the food they saw being served the students were not the best, a situation which he described as worrying.



He noted that the Adaklu SHS also needed an upgrade in its facilities to enhance teaching and learning adding that the GETFund must assist.



The MP also bemoaned the situation where the Adaklu SHS and Gbekor SHS at Adaklu Abuadi/Tsriefe were not being provided with buses as done for other schools.



"Some schools have two to four vehicles and yet are always considered when new busses are procured for SHSs while our pleas for busses for schools in Adaklu are always ignored," he said.



Mr Agbodza said Ghana comprised both urban and rural settings, therefore, the distribution of the national cake should benefit all.



The future of Adaklu did not hinge on gold, bauxite or oil deposits but on the number of her children educated to the highest level, he said.



He appealed to the students to be disciplined and shy away from drugs adding; "Your attitude and the way you conduct yourselves and not only your academic credentials will make you achieve your goals."



Mr Agbodza called on those pushing for the legalisation of wee farming for its economic benefits to the country to consider its negative effects on the youth, adding that the cultivation of wee could not be a panacea to Ghanas economic problems.



He appealed to the final year students to avoid examination malpractices as that could be disastrous for their future and congratulated them and their teachers for braving the odds in these trying moments."



Togbe Agbobada IV, a Board Member of the School, noted that the food situation was not peculiar to the school alone but a national challenge, which needed urgent attention.



"Education and feeding of our children in SHSs is better than Ghana card so let us set our priorities right," he said.



Mr Seth Amewor, the Headmaster, commended the MP for his generosity and said the donation came at an opportune time and appealed to other well-meaning citizens to emulate the example of the MP.



The current enrollment of the school is about 1000 with more than 800 in the boarding house.





Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Management of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and the Senior Staff Union (SSU) have thrown their weight behind the CEO of the Corporation, Mr. Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah in the face of attacks on his leadership.



There have been reports suggesting confusion within the corporation.



According to reports, the CEO of the corporation, Mr. Ahweneeh Danquah sanctioned some internal transfers contrary to the employment mobility and transfer policy of the corporation.



But the Senior Staff Union (SSU) of GNPC in a statement has dispelled the claims.



The union says it firmly backs Mr. Ahweneeh Danquah, in his stellar leadership, and is appalled by the unsubstantiated publications.



The union noted that the Executive body of the Senior Staff Union has not received any complaint or grievance whatsoever from any person or group regarding the conduct of our Chief Executive. 



A statement issued by the Corporate Affairs department of the corporation said contrary to reports, there is currently industrial harmony, and the prevailing atmosphere in the corporation is one of calmness.



It said Mr. Danquah has brought on board some positive energy to the operations of GNPC and is determinedly steering the corporation in the right direction.



There is indeed a general sense of hope and great expectations amongst staff, it added.



Contrary to reports that the CEO has provided misleading information about the finances of GNPC and unprofessional conduct, the union said he has instituted cost-saving measures and improved capacity building for staff in key areas to upgrade their knowledge and competencies to help GNPC execute its mandate as the National Oil Company of Ghana.



To effectively utilise the skillsets of staff and diversify their knowledge base, Mr. Danquah has made cross-functional movements consistent with industry practice as well as GNPCs Corporate Plan in compliance with the Conditions of Service, after obtaining Board approval. These movements are aimed at energising the corporation to respond to current global trends in the oil and gas industry.



To enhance team bonding, unity, and camaraderie, he is enabling an environment through consistent staff engagement, especially with the Senior Executive Committee (ExCom), where there is open discourse for corporate advancement.



The management and staff of the corporation assured the general public and stakeholders that it is unwaveringly focused on its ultimate goal of increasing oil and gas reserves for the country and profoundly impacting the livelihoods of all Ghanaians.



About GNPC

GNPC was established as a State-owned entity to operate on a commercial basis.



The corporation was given legal backing through two main statutes, i.e., PNDC Laws 64 and 84.



The corporations vision is to become a leading global oil and gas company whose operations have a profound impact on the quality of life of the people of Ghana

Source: Citi online









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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Samsung has announced the next generation of ground-breaking foldable smartphones: Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4. Both devices feature customisable form factors, tailored experiences, and upgraded performance. Now in its fourth generation, Galaxy Z series continues to break from convention to deliver new, impactful interactions that enhance everyday life.



Samsung Galaxy foldables are built on the foundation of our openness philosophy, enabling new possibilities with complete customisation both inside and out. Created in collaboration with our world-class partners, the next foldable devices offer unparalleled mobile experiences that meet the needs of our most dynamic users, said Dr. TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. Through our unwavering focus, excitement for the foldables continues to grow. Weve successfully transformed this category from a radical project to a mainstream device line-up and enjoyed by people worldwide.



As a testament to Samsungs dedication to superior craftsmanship, every component in both form factors has been thoroughly analysed to deliver a truly optimised experience to ensure that every consumer has a device to fit their needs. The Galaxy Z Flip4 builds on the success of Samsungs iconic form factor, adding key features, including an upgraded camera experience, a larger battery and expanded customisation, while maintaining its ultra-compact design. The Galaxy Z Fold4 opens up new possibilities for users by delivering Samsungs most comprehensive smartphone experience to-date, offering shape-shifting design, immersive displays and PC-like multitasking features, in addition to advanced camera technology and powerful mobile processors.



Galaxy Z Flip4, the Ultimate Self-expression Tool Inside and Out



The Galaxy Z Flip4 enhances our users favourite features, making it the ultimate tool for self-expression. Its compact clamshell design offers unique experiences, so you can shoot hands-free video or capture full group selfies at various angles by partially folding Z Flip4 to activate FlexCam.



Galaxy Z Fold4, a Multi-Tasking Powerhouse with Ultimate Performance



The Galaxy Z Fold4 is the result of Samsung Galaxys enduring smartphone innovation and our most powerful smartphone yet. Z Fold4 combines Samsungs collective mobile technology expertise to create a device with increased functionality whether opened, closed, or in Flex mode.



Multitasking on Z Fold4 is easier than ever, so users can get more done on the move. The new Taskbar provides a layout similar to your PC, offering access to your favourite and recent apps. Multitasking is also more intuitive, thanks to new swipe gestures. Instantly switch full-screen apps to pop-up windows or split your screen in half for more ways to multitask.



Samsung continues its barrier-defying innovation journey to deliver the level of durability consumers expect, both in and out. With our Armour Aluminium frames and hinge cover along with exclusive Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the Cover Screen and rear glass, Z Flip4 and Z Fold4 are our toughest foldables ever.



Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Premium Design with the Ultimate Listening Experience



Joining the Galaxy Z series are Galaxy Buds2 Pro - Samsungs new top-of-the-line earbuds that provide Samsungs most immersive wireless audio experience with a new, compact design, and seamless connectivity that is perfect for any aspect of your everyday life.



The new Buds2 Pro allows users to escape into their own world and simultaneously stay connected to their life.



Galaxy for the Planet



Since the launch of the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung has incorporated recycled materials not just in our packaging, but also in the hardware of our new products. These are the first steps in our Galaxy for the Planet initiative, which includes our continued incorporation of recycled plastics and the creation of new materials in partnership with sustainability partners.



Availability



Galaxy Z Flip4 complements users styles with premium designs in legacy colours: Bora Purple and Graphite, and new colours: Pink Gold and Blue. The Galaxy Z Fold4 and Standing Cover with Pen case are offered in refined colours that include GreyGreen, Beige and Phantom Black.



The Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 will be available for pre-order in Ghana from 22nd August. Customers who pre-order either Galaxy Z Flip4 or Galaxy Z Fold4 will receive one complimentary year of Samsung Care+, delivering protection against drops or cracked screens with Samsung expert support in 51 countries, Galaxy Buds2, a Clear Cover with Ring for the Galaxy Z Flip4 or a Standing Cover with S Pen for Galaxy Fold4 and customers will also enjoy 3 months of ad-free music listening with Spotify Premium.



Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Emirates Ghana says it will continue to give its customer the best and most memorable experience in the air.



The Country Manager of Emirate Airlines, Cathy Wesley assured us that they will continue to give the best to its customers with the Emirates New Premium Economy service  yet to be offered in Ghana.



Premium Economy is the latest product we have introduced aboard some select A380 routes. Though this service is not being offered on our Ghana route yet, Ghanaians can still experience this offering when travelling on our popular A380 routes to London, Paris, and Sydney through Dubai. She told journalists.



She continued: Customers can look forward to a dedicated check-in area for Premium Economy at Dubai International airport, or utilise one of the many convenient self-service check-in kiosks in the hall, to avoid queues.

Once onboard, customers will immediately notice the quiet luxury in Emirates Premium Economy cabin. A wood panel finishing similar to Business Class sets the cabins mood, and each seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support with 6-way adjustable headrests.



Health and Safety



Emirates Ghana also assured Ghanaian travellers and the aviation industry of its commitment to continue to implement its comprehensive set of safety measures, to ensure customers journey and their safety are a priority to the airline.



One of the things we continue to do irrespective of the constant fluctuation in the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic is to build on our contactless technology offering to provide even more convenient options to fast-track through airport formalities and reduce the time customers spend in such busy spaces.



Once passengers board our aircraft, they can be assured that the air is 99.97% free of microscopic particles like bacteria, viruses and fungi, thanks to our High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters (HEPA). These filters are just as effective as filters used in hospital theatres. She said



Adding that, Our aircraft are also deep-cleaned in Dubai after every flight to ensure customer safety while travelling thousands of feet above the ground, for hours.



Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Afigya Kwabre South Constituency in the Ashanti region, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah alias COKA has challenged the new leadership of the party to document and certify the history of the party and its tradition before leaving office in the future.



He believes that an aptly worded document issued and signed by the National Chairman of the party would go a long way to clearing any doubts and confusion that stem from the twists and spins put on the NPPs history by some elders and authors who find the occasion to speak or write about it.



At the end of your term, one thing that delegates will ask you is what legacy did you leave behind? and one thing that I will be glad if you can do is to let people know the true certified history of our party, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah wrote in a Facebook post addressed to the National Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim and General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua.



He, therefore, advocated for the leadership of the party to take advantage of the depth of knowledge and experience reposed in Former President J. A Kufuor, President Akufo-Addo and other surviving founding elders of the party, while they are still alive to work on our history before we fight ourselves someday.



And this history book should be readily available on the market. People still have reservations about some books written by some authors; let us have one which will be signed by the national chairman of our party. If we dont do it, we will wake up one day and another name will be added to our history. Is our party Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah wrote.



Though the NPP is considered as an offshoot of the defunct United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) which dates back to 1947, priding itself as the pioneer of Ghanas independence struggle, there is no certified document that vividly tells the partys story.



The party metamorphosed from the UGCC to the United Party (UP) in the late 1950s, the Progress Party in the late 1960s, the Popular Front Party in the 1970s and the All Peoples Party in the 1980s.



It was in 1992 that the NPP in its current form was launched after the ban on political party politics was lifted after more than a decade of military dictatorship under Flt. Lt. J.J Rawlings came to an end and gave way to the 1992 Republican Constitution following a referendum.



Since losing out on his bid to become the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Odeneho Kwaku Appiah has committed his time to foster unity and cohesion within the rank and file of the party by embarking on several social engagements and provoking discourses about the effective running of the party.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has officially expressed its condolences to the family, associates and people of Senya Breku following the passing of its founding member Harona Esseku.



The late Esseku was reported to have died at age 88, on Wednesday, August 3, following a statement from the family.



According to the statement, "burial and funeral arrangements will be announced later.



The New Patriotic Party described the death of late Esseku, a former National Chairman of the Party, as a huge loss to both NPP and Ghana.



"Mr Essekus contributions to the Danquah Dombo Busia political tradition and Ghana at large cannot be overemphasized. His passing is a huge loss to both NPP and the nation. We have indeed lost a father, mentor and colossus," the statement said.



The statement, signed by Mr Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary, NPP and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday, directed all party flags at the party offices across the country to fly at half-mast for the next seven days.



It said the NPP received the news of the passing of our founding member with grief.



The statement further assured the family and people of Senya Breku of the Party's support in their period of difficulty.



It said: "May the soul of our dear departed father and mentor find solace in Gods bosom."



According to the statement, the late Esseku was a great source of inspiration, wise counsel to the party and revered by many as a symbol of peace and a consummate statesman.



In 1992, the late Esseku was a founding member of the NPP who became chairman of the Party from 2001 to 2005.



In the Second Republic, at age 35, the late Esseku became the youngest Cabinet Minister for Transport and Communications in the Busia government, a ministry which by 2008 had been split into four Cabinet Ministries namely; Transport, Communications, Civil Aviation and Railways and Harbours.



His political career started in 1968 when he was elected by the Awutus, Effutus, Gomoas and Agonas to represent them in the constituent assembly during the drafting of the constitution of the second republic.



When the Progress Party was founded in 1969, Esseku was one of the members.



In the elections that took place on 29 August that year, Esseku was returned as a member of parliament for the Awutu-Effutu-Senya Constituency.



At the onset of the third republic, he became a founding member of the Popular Front Party (PFP) and later a member of the steering committee of the party.



He was a beneficiary of the member of the Order of the Star of Ghana award, conferred on him by the then President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2007.



He was married to Janet Esseku, a Ghanaian broadcaster who worked with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.



He was a Christian.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Anti-corruption campaigner, Vitus Azeem, has called on businesswoman and Council of State member, Mrs. Eunice Jacqueline Buah Asomah-Hinneh, to resign from her position.



According to him, if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was really committed to the anti-corruption fight, steps should be taken to ensure that Mrs. Asomah-Hinneh leaves her position following recent corruption-related offences involving her and her company.



This Council of State member should have resigned by now. If the leadership, the President and his executive are determined to fight corruption, that should be the case, Azeem told Accra-based Citi News.



He holds further that the President must conduct further investigations into the corruption report issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.



Titled: Report of Investigation into Alleged Commission of Corruption and Corruption-Related Offences involving Labianca Group of Companies and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, it implicated the Council of State member as using her position to get favourable tax exemption decisions.



The Special Prosecutor, like the former one, is probably struggling to do his best, but I am not sure if he will be given the necessary cooperation and the necessary support [he will succeed], Azeem added.



Background



An amount of GH1.074 million was retrieved by the Office of the Special Prosecutor from the Labianca Company Limited, a frozen foods company, belonging to the member of the Council of State.



The amount represented a deficit in import duties paid to the state.



According to the investigative report, Ms. Asomah-Hinneh used her position as a member of the Council of State and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to influence a favourable decision from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), leading to a reduction in the tax liabilities of Labianca Limited.



A Deputy Commissioner of Customs in charge of Operations, Joseph Adu Kyei, was cited by the OSP for issuing what it described as an unlawful customs advance ruling.



This, according to the report, reduced the benchmark values of the goods imported by Labianca Limited, translating to reduced tax obligations of the company to the state.



The OSP finds that there is strong evidence to suggest that Mr Kyeis decision to issue a customs advance ruling for the applicant was procured through influence peddling or trading of influence by Ms Asomah-Hinneh by employing her position as a member of the Council of State and member of the Board of Directors of the GPHA," the report signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, stated.







Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Artist-first music streaming platform Audiomack has announced that it has tapped rising Ghanaian artist Black Sherif as its latest #UpNow artist.



#UpNow is Audiomacks emerging artist program highlights whats next up in culture by spotlighting and promoting the next generation of global music superstars.



Black Sherif will be featured on the cover of Audiomacks prestigious #UpNow playlist and will receive amplification across the platforms channels with specialized marketing, editorial, social support, playlisting, custom videos and more.



Im excited to be an Audiomack #UpNow artist, Black Sherif said. Ive had Audiomack since high school. It was the first platform that I used and convinced my friends to listen to my music. It was easier, and it looked professional. Its been the primary thing for me to connect with my fans and share music.



Were thrilled to have Black Sherif as our next #UpNow artist, Audiomack SVP of Marketing and Brand Strategy Jason Johnson said. We have been fans of him since his first upload on the platform in 2020 and it is amazing to see his growth over the last two years. We look forward to collaborating with his team to help showcase his talent, expand his brand and further introduce his music to a diverse array of fans.



Recently crossing the 100 million global streams milestone on the platform, Sherifs lean but mighty discography captures his hustlers tale. His first upload was in August 2020, but he broke with viral 2021 hit First Sermon, giving us the Second Sermon later that year. In December 2021, Sherifs star rose even further when Burna Boy hopped on the Second Sermon remix.



In March 2022, Sherif released his most introspective song yet, Kwaku The Traveller. Cutting and poignant storytelling helped Kwaku The Traveller garner over 35 million streams on the platform, making it the most-streamed song of 2022 so far on Audiomack and Black Sherifs biggest hit to date. He also received major acknowledgement from DJ Khaled, who posted the Ghanian artists latest single on his Instagram and heralded it as a big chune.



Audiomacks #UpNow program has been renowned for helping identify and uplift the new generation of emerging artists across hip-hop, R&B, AfroBeats and more. Previous #UpNow honourees include Rod Wave, EST Gee, Blxst, Pooh Shiesty, Sheff G, Omah Lay and Ayra Starr, among others.



Earlier this summer, Audiomack reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its global presence by launching Audiomack Punjabi, a new vertical focused on amplifying the renowned genre, introducing the music to new audiences and featuring versatile playlists highlighting the regions most popular contemporary artists.



Listen to the official #UpNow Playlist HERE featuring the rising Ghanaian star





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Chief Supt. Scott Sheppard, commanding officer of the Yukon RCMP, addresses the media in Whitehorse on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. RCMP in the Yukon have apologized to the family of an Indigenous woman for failing to properly investigate her death more than 50 years ago. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Kelly
GoProWarrior Denies Astedt a Record Sixth GGPoker Super MILLION$ Title

August 10, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor

Canada's "GoProWarrior" caused a major upset in the latest GGPoker Super MILLION$ by defeating Swedish online poker legend Niklas Astedt heads-up, denying Astedt a record sixth Super MILLION$ title. The victory came with $319,438, while Astedt added another $249,467 to his lifetime winnings.

GGPoker Super MILLION$ Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize 1 GoProWarrior Canada $319,438 2 Niklas Astedt Norway $249,467 3 Juan Dominguez Andorra $194,824 4 Joao Vieira Brazil $152,149 5 Psychologist1 Russia $118,822 6 Barak Wisbrod Israel $92,795 7 Wiktor Malinowski Macau $72,469 8 Markkos Ladev Estonia $56,595 9 Ronan "Kakonkote" Sweeney Ireland $44,198

Irish star Ronan "Kakonkote" Sweeney was the first of the nine finalists to dust off their stack. He crashed out after a clash with Juan Dominguez did not go to plan. Dominguez min-raised to 100,000 from early position, and Sweeney defended his big blind with a call. Sweeney check-called a 50,000-continuation bet on the deuce-five-ten flop, which showed two spades. The four of spades was greeted by checks from both players. An offsuit king completed the community cards, and Sweeney checked again. Dominguez set his Irish opponent all-in, and Sweeney called off his 491,861 stack with eight-seven of spades. Dominguez flipped over ace-five of spades for the nuts, and Sweeney was gone.

Markkos Ladev was the next player heading for the showers; he crashed out shortly after Sweeney. Ladev raised to 225,000 leaving himself only 126,675 behind, GoProWarrior flat-called in the small blind, and Astedt got out of the way in the big blind. GoProWarrior set Ladev all-in, and Ladev called. The Estonian's pocket eights were ahead of GoProWarrior's ace-nine, but that changed when an ace landed on the river.

Wiktor Malinowski could only muster a seventh place finish

Seventh place went to the dangerous Wiktor Malinowski, who started as one of the shorter stacks and never managed to improve his position. Malinowski bowed out during the 30,000/60,000/7,500a level. GoProWarrior raised to 144,000 from the cutoff, Astedt called on the button, only for Walinowski to squeeze all-in for 684,295 from the small blind. GoProWarrior ripped it in, and Astedt folded. It was pocket nines for Malinowski and ace-king for his Canadian opponent. An ace on the flop and another on the river sent Malinowski home.

The final five-figure score of the tournament went to Barak Wisbrod after a battle of the blinds with Joao Vieira. From the small blind, Vieira open-shoved for 642,212 effective, or eight big blinds, and Wisbrod made a stand with king-seven suited, only to discover he was behind Vieira's ace-deuce. An ace on the flop put Wisbrod further behind although he did pick up a flush draw on the turn. A brick on the river reduced the player count by one.

Russia's "Psychologist1" became the next victim of GoProWarrior. Earlier, Go ProWarrior doubled through Astedt with aces versus queens, and he found the pocket rockets again to send Psychologist1 home in fifth. GoProWarrior opened to 220,000 under the gun and snap-called when Psychologist1 jammed for 1,066,956 with pocket nines. The aces held and the GGPoker Super MILLION$ was down to four players.

Joao Vieira bowed out in fourth place.

Four became three with the untimely demise of Vieira. With blinds of 60,000/120,000/15,000a, Vieira open-jammed for 1,464,530 from under the gun with ace-king. GoProWarrior called from the small blind with a pair of nines in the hole, and those nines improved to a set on the turn.

GoProWarrior now held almost five times as many chips as his nearest rival, and it was now their tournament to lose. Their position became even healthier when they busted Dominguez in third. GoProWarrior opened three-times the big blind to 360,000 before calling Dominguez's shove of 1,614,280. It was the king-trey of clubs for GoProWarrior and ace-four offsuit for Dominguez. The sun-running Canadian flopped a three and turned trips.

Astedt went into heads-up trailing 2,726,062 to 11,973,938, and it proved a bridge too far even for the great man. Astedt shoved for 1,649,562 (12 big blinds) with king-fives, and GoProWarrior instantly called with pocket eights. A five on the flop gave Astedt some hope, but he ultimately failed to melt GoProWarrior's snowmen, and had to make do with a second-place finish.
When Turning a Pair into a Bluff for $830K Goes Horribly Wrong

August 09, 2022 Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

Matt Hanks attempted to turn his middle pair into what would have been an epic bluff in an $830,000 pot during the newest No Gamble, No Future episode on PokerGo. Unfortunately, for him, Eric Persson got sticky with an over-pair.

No Gamble, No Future, hosted by Jeff Platt and Brent Hanks, debuted last week. The cash game show's first season features a table full of colorful characters such as Persson, Garrett Adelstein, and Jean-Robert Bellande, all playing some high-stakes no-limit hold'em.

During the third episode, which is available on-demand on the PokerGO platform, the most intriguing hand to date played out, and it was quite a doozy.

Persson Gets Sticky with Kings

Persson, whom you might recall memorably engaged in some trash talking with Phil Hellmuth earlier this year, owns Maverick Gaming casinos across Nevada, Colorado, and Washington. In the following hand, he also took ownership of Matt Hanks, a high-stakes player he's faced many times.

It's safe to say that the fireworks are finally igniting in the premiere of No Gamble, No Future!  PokerGO (@PokerGO)

Following a four-bet preflop at $200/$400 ($400 big blind ante) with , Persson continued for $16,000 into a pot of $36,800 on a flop of . Hanks, holding and out of position, check-called with middle pair to see the bring three cards to a flush on the board.

Hanks checked and Persson wasn't concerned that his opponent turned a flush, so he fired out another $25,000 wager. With minimal hesitation, Hanks attempted to represent that flush and check-raised it up to $100,000. That didn't scare pocket kings away as the raise received a call.

The river paired the board, and with $268,000 in the pot, Hanks likely knew his opponent either had something like , a flush, or an over-pair. He also knew there wasn't any chance of winning the hand if he didn't jam all in on the river and turn his middle pair into a bluff. That's exactly what he did, putting his remaining $280,000 into middle, desperately hoping he could encourage a fold and convince Persson he was nutted.

Persson, however, decided his kings were good, and he was right. He made the call and took down a pot of $830,600, the biggest thus far on No Gamble, No Future.

Fortunately, for Hanks, he'd make half of that back later in the show in a $400,000 pot against Alan Keating when his full house coolered trips. You can catch the full episode, along with all past and future episodes on the PokerGO app.

Will Phil Hellmuth Squash Critics in High Stakes Duel Rematch Vs. Scott Seiver?

Sharelines Find out how an epic $830K pot on No Gamble, No Future played out.
A new group of hopefuls will take their shot today when Day 1c of the 1,100 Estrellas Poker Tour begins at noon local time.

The first two starting flights attracted a total of 1,170 entries, with 176 survivng to make Day 2 and the money. Leading the way was David Urban of Slovakia with 833,000. Others to make it through the day included Jack Hardcastle (441,000), PokerStars ambassador Ramon Colillas (326,000), Lander Lijo (224,000), Arthur Conan (183,000), Kacper Pyzara (63,000), and Leo Margets (57,000).

Day 1a and 1b Top 10 Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count 1 David Urban Slovakia 833,000 2 Adrian Tkaczyk Poland 615,000 3 Ori Elul Israel 558,000 4 Motoyoshi Okamura Japan 536,000 5 Javier Fernandez Andorra 518,000 6 Stefan Alexandru Drusca United Kingdom 513,000 7 Jean Emanuel Lhuillier United Kingdom 465,000 8 Valentino Konakchiev Bulgaria 452,000 9 Jack Hardcastle United Kingdom 441,000 10 Renat Bohdanov Ukraine 433,000

Day 1c is the third of six starting flights for this event. As with yesterday's afternoon flight, play will consist of 40-minute levels. Players will begin the day with a 30,000 starting stack. One re-entry per flight is allowed, with late registration closed at the end of Level 10, which should come around 7:30 local time. The day will conclude when only 15 percent of the starting field is left.

The PokerNews live reporting team will be on hand throughout the day inside Casino Barcelona as this already-massive field grows larger and another group tries to overtake Urban and make it to Day 2.
On August 5, Russias Vladimir Putin and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan released a joint communique following the latters August 5 visit to Russias Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Focusing on bilateral affairs, the two presidents agreed to increase economic cooperation and regional stability. The conflict in Libya was one matter they discussed.

The two leaders emphasized their strong commitment to Libyas sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity, the joint statement said.

That is misleading. Over the past few years, Russia and Turkey have escalated violence in Libya by backing rival warring parties and sending mercenaries and weapons to gain influence.

Libyas civil war has lasted more than a decade. Protests erupted there in 2011 part of a wave that swept the Arab world. Violence broke out between anti-government rebels and the forces of Libyan ruler Muammar al-Qaddafi and spread nationwide. In March 2011, the U.N. Security Council authorized a no-fly zone under NATOs command to protect civilians.

By August 2011, NATO-backed rebels ousted Gaddafi, who had ruled the country for 40 years. Since then, Libya has split between two major rival groups  the Government of National Accord (GNA), based in the capital Tripoli in western Libya, where a majority of the population lives, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) under the command of Gen. Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya, where most of the countrys oil is located.

In April 2019, Haftar launched a military offensive aimed at seizing Tripoli. The fighting lasted until October 2020, when the rival parties agreed to a cease-fire and initiated negotiations toward a political transition.

Various international powers back the rival Libyan governments. The GNA is backed by the U.N., Turkey, Italy and Qatar, while the LNA is backed by Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Russia.

Turkey and Russia have supplied the respective sides with weapons and mercenaries.

In March 2021, the U.N. Panel of Experts on Libya issued a report identifying acts threatening Libyas peace, stability and security. The report stated that acts of violence and widespread human rights abuses were continuing to disrupt efforts to achieve stability and security.

The arms embargo remains totally ineffective. For those Member States directly supporting the parties to the conflict, the violations are extensive, blatant and with complete disregard for the sanctions measures. Their control of the entire supply chain complicates detection, disruption or interdiction, the report said.

Kali Robinson of the Council on Foreign Relations wrote in June 2020 that Russia was seeking to secure construction deals and control energy sources. That same month, Nicole Kirschmann, who then headed the public relations department of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), said that 2,000 Russian mercenaries were deployed to Libya between 2019 and 2020 to fight for Haftar during his 14-month offensive against the government in Tripoli.

According to Kirschmann, the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-connected private military company, played a role in destabilizing Libya.

Russia has denied that Wagner mercenaries are in Libya, but the U.N. confirmed the group is operating there. The U.N. Panel of Experts report on Libya said that Wagner has been present in Libya since 2018, initially to provide technical support and maintenance for armored vehicles.

In 2019, however, Wagners mission was broadened to include more specialized military tasks such as acting as artillery forward observation officers and forward air controllers, providing electronic counter-measures expertise and deploying as sniper teams, the panel reported.

The Wagner Group is accused of committing human rights violations in several African countries, including the Central Africa Republic and Mali.

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Wagner Group used banned landmines and booby traps in Libya during 2019-2020 in violation of international law. During a March visit to Tripoli, HRW identified 35 mined locations. It reported that between May 2020 and March 2022, 130 people were killed and 196 injured in Libya by mines and explosives.

The mines and booby traps found at the 35 coordinates were hidden inside homes and other structures, in some cases inside furniture and were often activated with a tripwire that was not visible, HRW said. Mine experts told Human Rights Watch that the mines and booby traps apparently constructed by Wagner operatives were more sophisticated and lethal than those laid by Libyan, Sudanese, or Syrian groups.

Foreign Policy magazine said that Russia scaled down the number of Wagner mercenaries in Libya and sent 1,300 fighters to Ukraine. Still, it reported that hundreds of Wagner personnel remain stationed around military bases and oil facilities to protect Haftars territory.

Wagners dug-in posture in Libya is consistent with Russias broader resolve: to pressure European NATO member states into different political outcomes by controlling proximate energy sources and sowing instability on their borders, FP said.

Meantime, Turkey has sent mercenaries and other forms of support to the internationally recognized Government of National Accord in Tripoli.

In July 2020, the Pentagon said Turkey had deployed 3,500 Syrian mercenaries to Libya. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (a sister U.S.-funded news agency to VOA) cited a Pentagon report that month as saying Turkey had paid and offered citizenship to thousands of mercenaries fighting alongside Tripoli-based militias against Haftar's forces.

The Washington Post reported in February 2021 that Turkey had enabled the GNA to regain command of the western Libyan skies with the help of surface-to-air missiles, antiaircraft guns, armored troop carriers, and sophisticated electronic systems that jammed Haftars transmissions.

Turkeys motivations mirror Moscows: It has billions of dollars in revenue it wishes to recoup for construction contracts interrupted by the war. But Erdogan also secured new maritime agreements from Tripoli before sending help, and relished the chance to outmaneuver rivals including Egypt and the UAE that are hostile to Ankaras brand of political Islam, the Post said.

In October 2021, the warring sides in Libya agreed on a roadmap for the departure of foreign fighters. However, little progress has been made. Turkey considers its presence in Libya to be legal, Giorgio Cafiero and Emily Milliken wrote in The New Arab news in January 2022.

In October 2020, the U.N. estimated that more than 20,000 mercenaries were fighting in Libya for both sides, and that both sides had committed human rights violations.

Under a U.N.-backed process, Libyan political actors formed a Government of National Unity in March 2021. That has not resolved the military standoff.
The Aiken County coroner has identified the body of a man who drowned in Gem Lakes in June.

James L. Brooker, 55, has been identified as the man who drowned June 25 in the Gem Lakes neighborhood's recreation area, at 108 Recreation Drive, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables.

The coroner noted that Brooker "was homeless and is believed to have been originally from the Barnwell County area." The autopsy, he added, "showed the cause of death as drowning with the manner of death ruled as accidental."

A report from the Aiken Department of Public Safety from the afternoon of June 25 indicated that, "Upon arrival, officers spoke with witnesses in the area who stated that a male subject was seen falling off the end of the dock and did not resurface."

A dive team with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources responded and recovered the body.

Aiken Public Safety later put out an appeal for help in the investigation, focusing on a vehicle and two witnesses  apparently one man and one woman.

Anyone with information about these individuals is asked to call Investigator Jon Eagerton at 803-643-2175.
One of downtown Aiken's most prominent landmarks is getting some attention this month.

The fountain at Park Avenue and Laurens Street, largely known as Morgan Fountain, has some fresh rock in place and a sturdier retaining wall.

"This is long overdue," said Lex Kirkland, public services director of Aiken's municipal government. "I'm not even sure how many decades back we'd have to go to find when it was revamped like this, but we have taken the stones that were originally there. We've kept the footprint, but we have built an entirely new foundation wall behind it, and are veneering that with the stonework that existed before."

Allen Riddick, president of the Aiken County Historical Society, said photos indicate the fountain dates back at least to the 1890s, and was named in honor of a mayor. The fountain is capped with a sculpture of a boy and girl under an umbrella.

A crew from Bosse Stoneworks in Williston was on the job Tuesday, putting pieces into place, applying "mud" and generally making changes that should help the structure "stand up better to the traffic challenges that it faces today," in Kirkland's words.

Work started last week and should be wrapped up this week, he said, noting the funding is from "last year's budget," and similar work was done at two other roundabouts: York Street and Richland Avenue; and Chesterfield Street and Park Avenue.

"I think those went well, and this is the third and final one in that series," Kirkland said.

The South Carolina Picture Project website notes, "Morgan Fountain in was built in honor of Thomas Redman Morgan, the citys mayor from 1899 to 1900. During his tenure, Morgan was determined to ensure Aikens success for generations to come by implementing multiple beautification projects."

That mayor "laid the plans for 175 future parkways and hired a person to landscape the area around these roads. This included planting magnolia and oak trees as well as vibrant rye grass around Aikens new streets. This foresight was a gift to future residents, who now enjoy the shade and elegance of these towering trees," the website notes.

It adds, "The original Morgan fountain stood at this same intersection of Laurens Street and Park Avenue  but it was damaged by a storm in the 1930s. It was replaced in 1963 and the historical marker seen next to the fountain was recently added to honor Thomas Morgans contributions to the City of Aiken."

The Aiken Downtown Development Association, in issuing a Christmas ornament featuring the fountain, noted, "First erected in the early 1900s, the original boy and girl fountain was much lower to ground level. Then, for more than 20 years, the original was missing and no one knows what happened to it. In the 1960s, money was raised from the community to replace the fountain and rejuvenate Morgan Circle as we see it today."

Years later, the boy and girl "had to be replaced," the ADDA account noted. "The original manufacturer was contacted and a new mold was formed using pictures of the fountain as a guide."
WASHINGTON  An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to murder former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed the country's most powerful general, offering $300,000 to "eliminate" the Trump administration official, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Shahram Poursafi, identified by U.S. officials as a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.

Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded more than a year after Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's elite Quds Force and an architect of Tehran's proxy wars in the Middle East, was killed in a targeted airstrike at Baghdad's international airport in January 2020. After the strike, Bolton, who by then had left his White House post, tweeted, "Hope this is the first step to regime change in Tehran."

In the fall of 2021, Poursafi, an Iranian citizen who officials say has never visited the United States, offered $300,000 to someone he was corresponding with in the U.S. if the person would hire someone to "eliminate" Bolton, according to an FBI affidavit unsealed Wednesday. Poursafi told the person, who was actually an FBI informant, that he wanted "the guy" to be purged or eliminated.

Poursafi provided the person with Bolton's office address, including the name and contact information for someone who worked in the office, and took screenshots of surveillance photographs of Bolton's office, the affidavit says.

"This was not an idle threat," Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Department's top national security official, said in a statement released by the department. "And this is not the first time we've uncovered brazen acts by Iran to exact revenge against individuals in the U.S."

In his own statement, Bolton thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in developing the case and the Secret Service for providing protection.

"While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Iran's rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States," he said.

Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The unsealing of the complaint comes two days after negotiators seeking to revive the Iran nuclear accord in Vienna closed on a "final text" of an agreement, with parties now consulting in their capitals on whether to agree to it it.

The 2015 deal granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for tight curbs on its atomic program. Since the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump, Iran has sped up its nuclear enrichment program. Bolton has been among the most hawkish critics of the deal and efforts by the Biden administration to rejoin it.

In his statement, he said "Iran's nuclear-weapons and terrorist activities are two sides of the same coin" and asserted that America re-entering the failed 2015 Iran nuclear deal would be an unparalleled self-inflicted wound, to ourselves and our closest Middle East allies."

____

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Washington and Isabel de Bre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
A discount grocer recently shuttered a second location in the Charleston area this year.

Save A Lot at 5060 Dorchester Road in the recently upgraded and renamed Shoppes at Montague Corners, formerly Oak Ridge Plaza, has joined a store in Goose Creek that also closed earlier this year.

Each store is owned independently and the owner chose not to renew the lease, said company spokeswoman Sarah Griffin.

The latest closure leaves one Save A Lot store for the Missouri-based grocer in the Lowcountry at 4411 Durant Ave. in North Charleston.

What's cooking?

A Florida-based chicken chain that announced two years ago it planned to open four locations in the Charleston area is now upfitting its first Lowcountry restaurant.

Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders is renovating a former Hardee's restaurant at 4954 Centre Pointe Drive in The Shoppes at Centre Pointe near Tanger Outlets in North Charleston.

Construction workers with the general contractor, Shafer Group of Summerville, have gutted the inside of the 2,732-square-foot building over the past three weeks. An opening is tentatively planned for late October.

The company has one other location in South Carolina in Greenville.

The restaurant chain has 30 other restaurants in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee. Eleven others soon will open in Florida, Georgia, Nevada and North Carolina.

In the works

A new bakery building with a drive-thru window hopes to soon be cooking in West Ashley.

Mae's Sweets with Soul plans to open at 3919 Savannah Highway. The city of Charleston's Design Review Board is considering the application.

Store in a store

A new partnership between two big-box retailers will bring a store-within-a-store pilot concept to the Charleston area.

Conn's HomePlus and Belk will host a grand opening celebration with giveaways, treats and music 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 13 for the new Conn's x Belk location in the Belk department store at 2064 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. at Citadel Mall in West Ashley.

The new collaborative format provides Belk customers with access to Conns assortment of furniture, home electronics and appliances, as well as next-day delivery.

"The great part about this partnership with Conns is that our customers now have access to products we didnt sell in our stores," said Don Hendricks, interim CEO of Charlotte-based Belk.

The concept ranges from 10,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet, depending on the location. It's being incorporated into four other Belk stores, in Charlotte, Raleigh, Knoxville, Tenn., and Ridgeland, Miss. Others are expected to be announced.

New tenants

Two new tenants are coming to Citadel Mall.

Gracie Jiujitsu Charleston and Lillies of Charleston plan to open in the fall.

Gracie Jiujitsu Charleston, operated by Michael Key, will offer anti-bullying classes, womens-only programming and other features. The studio will be next to Planet Fitness. Key called the location, near Interstate 526, Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Savannah Highway, convenient and he plans to add classes.

Lillies of Charleston offers Southern and Lowcountry barbecue sauces, hot sauces and spice mixes, snacks, gift baskets and other items.

Owners Tracey and Jamel Richardson said they look forward to having an office and seasonal space in the shopping center. The new store will be set up where Foot Locker once operated between Target and MUSC.

Both spaces are being built for the new tenants.

Tool time

The city of Charleston's Design Review Board will consider a request by a big-box hardware retailer to do a little construction of its own. The Home Depot plans to add a tool rental center and restripe parking spaces for compact power equipment at its West Ashley store at 2008 Magwood Drive.

Read all about it

Bargain books will once again be offered to help support Charleston County Library System.

The Charleston Friends of the Library will host the Johns Island Book Sale 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 13 at the recently renovated Johns Island Branch Library at 3531 Maybank Highway.

Prices start at $1 for paperbacks and $4 for hardbacks.
COLUMBIA  Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says the gunman who ambushed deputies last week had a thought-out plan to kill cops when he fired several rounds from his assault rifle at a patrol car before taking his own life.

Along with military-style tactical gear and loads of ammunition, investigators found a map of Frederic Westfall's Northeast Columbia home sketched out on notebook paper with what Lott said marked potential firing points. On the bottom of the page it said "dead pigs."

"'Dead pigs'  I think that says exactly what his intent was," Lott said. "It was to kill police officers. Pig is a derogatory term to call police officers."

Around 5 a.m. on Aug. 3, 25-year-old Westfall made two fake 911 calls claiming a man was beating a woman in an attempt to lure deputies to his home in the Carriage Oaks subdivision, Lott said. Investigators later traced the calls, confirming Westfall made them, Lott said.

Three deputies responded to the domestic disturbance call and parked a few homes down the street before knocking on the door, according to the incident report. A woman answered the door and told deputies that she did not call 911.

Deputy Joseph Shannonhouse was the first deputy to get in his patrol car and start to drive off. As he drove past the home, a bullet shattered his passenger's side window and became lodged in the dashboard. Shards of glass injured the deputy's face and eyes, but he was able to drive off.

Around 15 shots were fired, one striking a residence and another striking a vehicle. Deputies did not fire back, Lott said.

After the gunfire ceased, deputies found Westfall's body outside the home with a bullet wound to his head, Lott said. The Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford later determined the cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Westfall was wearing a military-style tactical vest and belt with 15 fully loaded magazines, each with 30 rounds of ammunition, and had an AR-15 assault rifle with a drum magazine loaded with 41 unfired rounds.

Investigators later searched the home and found another tactical vest with three fully loaded magazines as well as more than a dozen boxes of ammunition. Fully loaded magazines were found "loosely" stored around the home, according to the sheriff's department.

"He had over 900 bullets that he was going to use on our deputies that day," Lott said.

"What his plan was, was to kill as many Richland County deputies as he could," Lott said, pulling up a photo of the sketch drawn on notebook paper.

It outlined the floorplan of his house where Westfall lived with his mother and stepfather. The trees and neighboring homes were also marked. The letters "FP" were in several areas of the map, which Lott said stood for potential firing points. At the bottom of the page it read "dead pigs."

"He had a plan in place," Lott said. "He drew out exactly what he was going to do and how he was going to do it."

Lott said Westfall's parents knew he was buying military-style equipment, but said he told them the gear was for soldiers in Ukraine and that he wanted to fight in Ukraine. Westfall had tried to join the military, but did not qualify because he did not have a high school diploma or GED, the sheriff said.

"He had no criminal record  he had no interaction with law enforcement whatsoever," Lott said. "We don't know why he wanted to kill."
COLUMBIA  A longstanding plan for the U.S. National Whitewater Center to help redevelop Columbia's Finlay Park is on hold for now.

The Columbia City Council agreed to a partnership with the Charlotte-based outdoor recreation company in 2018 as part of a multimillion-dollar plan to revitalize the park.

But when the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the amount of hospitality tax the city was bringing it, it had to press pause on those plans because it didn't have the $18 million necessary for the project, said Henry Simons, assistant city manager of operations.

A collaboration with the Whitewater Center could still potentially happen in the future, Simons said. But it's not part of any immediate plans moving forward.

"Could it happen in the future as another phase? Potentially," Simons said. "But it's just not something we can do at the moment."

The city put the whole project of revitalizing Finlay Park, once a showpiece of Columbia that has since fallen into a state of disrepair, on pause during the pandemic. Its 2 percent tax on dining and drinking fell far below its usual revenue as the pandemic kept people inside, and the city had to push off several major projects.

The Whitewater Center's piece was supposed to include a 52,000-square-foot building, a rock-climbing wall, a restaurant, a retail space and a gym, as well as help with city programming, Simons said.

"That component will just not be included right now," Simons said. "We'll focus on the redevelopment of the park right now. There may be opportunities and space to do something like that in the future, but we won't be able to do it now."

A representative for the company previously said it was considering Columbia for an expansion because a high volume of people traveled from the Capital City to Charlotte to visit its facility. The Whitewater Center did not respond to a request for comment Aug. 10.

City Councilman Joe Taylor has been pushing to revamp Finlay Park and make it a more desirable part of the city instead of a place for homeless people to gather. He has suggested using money from the city's hospitality and accommodation tax funds for the $20 million revitalization.

He said the Whitewater Center plan was a stretch financially.

"I think the economy of that deal was a little bit overwhelming for the city," Taylor said.

The remainder of the park's redevelopment is no longer on hold, and the city is planning its next steps. City staff is in the process of designing what the revitalized park might look like with hopes of beginning construction next year.

"When you look at Finlay Park, that is a gap that we need to fill in downtown Columbia to really connect the dots," Simons said. "It's all about connectivity and filling the gap and renovating and ensuring that that place can be the crown jewel that it once was."

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Brandon Alter covers the town of Kingstree and Williamsburg County for The Kingstree News. He is from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of South Carolina's school of Journalism and Mass Communications in May 2021.
Kenna Coe is the editor for the Moultrie News. Send her an email at editor@moultrienews.com
Charleston regulations for bars and nightclubs may soon get streamlined in some ways and stricter in others.

City officials are considering revisions to the Late Night Establishment Ordinance, which mandates certain safety requirements for any businesses that sell alcohol after midnight. The city established the permit program in 2013 and began requiring that all businesses submit safety plans to the city to receive a permit to sell alcohol after midnight. Now the city wants those businesses to renew the permit annually.

Proposed revisions to the ordinance include broadening the definition of late-night businesses to include hotel bars. As of now, they are not subject to the ordinance's regulations.

As currently written, the city ordinance includes fines for safety violations but lacks stricter enforcement mechanisms. When a business receives a citation for a safety violation, it can continue operating as normal until the issue is addressed in civil court. This can result in continued bad behavior. Additionally, business owners can pay fines to avoid losing their late-night establishment permit.

Under the proposed changes, the city could revoke a bar or club's Late Night Establishment permit for repeated violations. Doing so would mean the business would have to close at midnight. Before getting to that point, however, the business would meet with city staff to come up with a remediation plan.

Under the new proposal, the police or other city officials could shut a business down for the remainder of the night if police find it is posing a severe safety threat. After that, the business owner could continue operating until a judgment is made in civil court. While awaiting the court date, the business owner would be required to meet with city staff to come up with a new safety plan.

"We will work with you until we can't work with you anymore," said Deputy Police Chief Dustin Thompson.

The changes also could streamline security requirements. Currently, businesses have to provide security based on the capacity of the venue, which can be subcontracted security workers or employees who double as security. Under the proposed updates to the ordinance, bar or restaurant employees would be assigned to work as a manager or as security for the duration of a shift. They couldn't perform both duties at once.

To ease the burden on businesses, the number of required security workers will be based on the actual number of people expected to visit the business rather than the business's total capacity. That way, managers can schedule less security for nights that are expected to be slower due to the day or the week, the weather or other factors that predict low turnout.

"If your business has a capacity of 450 and only 50 people show up, I'm not going to expect you to have five people working security," Thompson said.

The current ordinance also has more specific requirements about what types of security a business needs. It differentiated between a "door person," a "security person" and a "security supervisor." Under the potential update, businesses could use their discretion in designating tasks to security personnel. It also loosens the requirement that businesses begin checking IDs after 10 p.m. Businesses can determine when ID checks are necessary.

"If you're coming to a restaurant to have a late meal or you're an elderly couple visiting a wine bar at 11, the business isn't going to be required to ID you," Thompson said. "I didn't want it written in there that you have to check the IDs in a certain way. ... It's on you as a business owner to decide."

Businesses would face penalties for knowingly allowing underage drinking.

Councilman Robert Mitchell, whose district includes parts of Upper King Street, said he would like to see the ordinance address underage drinking more proactively.

"Let's not wait until there is a problem to address it," he said at an Aug. 4 License Committee meeting.

The city's License Committee met to discuss the proposed revisions, which may head for a vote as soon as Aug. 16.
SUMMERVILLE  When eighth grade history teacher Charity Carpenter first walked into her classroom in the new East Edisto Middle School on Aug. 8, she had to leave again and walk around the building to work off her excitement.

It was the Monday before school was set to start, and the hallways still smelled of new paint. Other teachers wheeled carts and trolleys full of equipment and school supplies into classrooms. Friends greeted each other, asking about each other's summers or commenting on the new school.

Around the corner from her classroom, Carpenter bumped into fellow teacher Amy Baldwin, who was directing students from her Gateway to Technology class how to unload her computers and robotics equipment. The students had been in Baldwin's class in previous years at Oakbrook Middle School and had volunteered to help her unpack her new classroom.

"How's your room looking?" Baldwin asked Carpenter.

"I just walked in and I just had to leave my stuff there and take a walk," Carpenter said. "I was just overwhelmed."

East Edisto is the biggest school she's ever been in, Carpenter told The Post and Courier. And the numbers back her up. The 120,000-square-foot school cost $31 million and took 16 months to complete. It's located off S.C. Highway 61 behind Beech Hill Elementary. At full capacity, it can hold 1,000 students.

When school officially begins on Aug. 15, it will welcome 850.

"We're pretty close to what we can hold," Principal Brion Rutherford said, adding that it's located in the Oakbrook area, one of the fastest-growing parts of Dorchester County.

"There are a number of new neighborhoods going in," he said. "We'll be at our capacity pretty quickly."

He and Shane Robbins, the new superintendent of Dorchester School District 2, said the new school is a factor of growth not only throughout the district but also in the Oakbrook area near the Ashley River.

A superintendent for 15 years at various districts, Robbins is no stranger to new school construction.

"There is so much excitement for students, families, teachers and staff members to move into a brand-new structure and make it their own and their home," Robbins said.

'Exploding' with growth

Nestled in the Oakbrook area, the school is surrounded by large and growing housing developments like Legend Oaks Plantations and Summers Corner, which are adding thousands of homes in the coming years.

Cheyenne and Brennan Ledyard live in Drayton Oaks, a small subdivision about a three-minute drive from East Edisto Middle. Like many residents in the area, they're still fairly new, having moved in when the neighborhood went up about two years ago.

They say the Oakbrook area, particularly the neighborhoods on either side of Highway 61, is "exploding."

"We're having tremendous growth on this side," Cheyenne said.

Last year, their son Hudson attended Gregg Middle School, on the other side of Dorchester Road and the Ashley River. Now he's starting seventh grade at East Edisto.

"He is very excited because this bus arrives about 20 minutes later than what he had to ride last year," Brennan said with a laugh.

She and Cheyenne said they feel the middle school is warranted, especially since there are already two elementary schools in the area, Beech Hill and Sand Hill. Their only concern is that traffic on Highway 61 might be worse in the mornings now.

Down Highway 61 in Summers Corner, Michelle Cheslek was riding her bike with her 6-year-old daughter Olivia on a recent afternoon. And even though Olivia still has several years before she goes to middle school, Cheslek said she's already relieved there's one that close.

"Otherwise I think she would have been going to Gregg, which is a little farther away," Cheslek said.

Like the Ledyards, Cheslek said the area is growing. Her family just closed on their house in May, and behind them, construction is underway on more houses.

Growth in the school district isn't anything new. DD2's student population has grown from around 16,000 students in the 2000-01 school year to more than 25,000 last year.

Managing growth

Despite population growth in Summerville, the district's student population saw a slight dip during the pandemic, according to DD2. During the 2019-20 school year, there were 26,194 students at the school. This past year, there were 25,404.

"If you look at our numbers from the end of last school year, they replicate our numbers from the 2014-15 school year," Robbins said, referencing a year with 25,175 students.

Robbins said that's a factor of the pandemic.

"That's a symptom of students that stayed in a virtual environment not associated with the school or possibly went the home-school route, and ... that wasn't a Dorchester 2 issue or trend," he said. "That's something we saw across the state and honestly across the country."

While those numbers have started to come back, Robbins said the bigger change is where the students are.

"What I think you're seeing is a shift where geographically people are living in the county and where the population shifts have occurred," he said. "For us, there is going to be growth that we're going to rebound from post-COVID, so we need to have a long-term facilities study completed or updated."

Robbins said East Edisto is about the average size of a middle school, and he doesn't want it to get much larger than 1,000 students. He does believe the district will see more growth in the coming years and should have a plan to deal with that.

But he would rather utilize space in schools throughout the district before building any more schools.

"When you see numbers shift like that ... you look at the occupancy of each facility and, in lieu of building a new structure because one structure is at capacity, you look at, 'OK, how can I adjust the attendance lines to make sure all my structures are at capacity before I have to go to the taxpayers and ask for money to build for more structures?' "

In other words, the district will look at occupancy levels at each school and send students to schools with more room.

More coverage To read more stories in the series about growth and development, go to postandcourier.com/boomandbalance/.

That can be "emotional" for the community, he said, which is why the district should have a formalized plan in place. That would be an involved process that looks at everything from county population projections to roads, bridges and "potential obstacles" along bus routes.

"There's a lot that goes into play when you look at making a decision on what's going to work best, but the overall goal is to try to fully maximize all of our facilities so that we don't have to consistently add on and build new structures because there's growth in one particular geographical area," Robbins said.

Earlier this year, district officials reported East Edisto was on track to be over-capacity within a few years of its opening. Robbins said that should only be a problem if the district doesn't put those plans in place.

"There is a lot of growth in that area," he said. "If we stayed status quo and we didn't look at those things, absolutely it would end up being overcrowded."

New opportunities for students

Baldwin is well aware of the growth. Not only will this be her 23rd year teaching in the district, but she attended DD2 schools from kindergarten to high school. That growth brings more opportunities for students, she said.

Take her subject, Gateway to Technology, which covers STEM subjects like robotics, design and engineering.

"That was such a small class back (when I first started teaching), and now it's bloomed and blossomed and we have all these engineering avenues," she said. "I have a sixth grader entering school, and the number of choices of classes, things like piano, that didn't exist when I was a student ... So just the opportunities our district has brought as it's grown has been really wonderful."

Rutherford said he had some input on the classrooms and other features while construction was underway, such as what kind of designs and furniture would best promote collaboration in STEM classrooms and where best to put electives so that they're located close to the sixth grade hallway.

One important aspect of the design was safety features, he said. Those include cameras, alarm systems that will alert people when exterior doors are left open and a crosswalk across Highway 61 that will be manned during school drop-off and dismissal. There will also be a dedicated office for the school's social worker to help address students' mental health needs.

Rutherford echoed Baldwin's excitement for the array of opportunities  and praised Gateway to Technology in particular. He said Baldwin and the program she set up at Oakbrook have won multiple awards throughout the state. The same goes for chorus teacher Maurice Burgess, he said, who will run East Edisto's fine arts programs.

"I might be partial to this, but I think we have the best teachers in the school district, if not the Lowcountry," Rutherford said.
You already know about the holiday problem with S.C. election law that cheated some voters out of their right to cast ballots in the June runoffs  and will continue to do so until the Legislature eliminates traditional runoffs or lengthens the period between primaries and runoffs.

The runoffs also revealed another holiday-related problem with state election law that needs a legislative fix. This one affects candidates instead of voters, so its arguably less important, but it should be even easier to fix, because it doesnt require any policy changes.

As The Post and Couriers Nicole Ziege reports, Mark Lazarus, the candidate for Horry County Council chairman who led the primary ballot by a wide margin, lost the runoff by 260 votes after the county election commission mistakenly mailed Democratic runoff ballots to 1,377 voters who had requested Republican ballots. The commission didn't recognize its error and send out replacement ballots until the Friday before the June 28 runoff, too late for all but 140 voters to get them back in time to be counted. Although some who request absentee ballots are able to vote in person, either on runoff day or in early voting, some weren't physically able to do so.

That would have been a strong basis for Mr. Lazarus' protest to the Horry County Republican Party, asking for a do-over. But the party rejected his appeal because it was filed a day after the deadline.

Normally, that wouldnt be worth commenting on, because deadlines are deadlines, and they need to be met. But in this case, state law requires election protests to be filed by the Monday following the election  a day that happened to fall on July 4 holiday this year. Mr. Lazarus filed his protest on the next business day, July 5.

Its easy to see how someone could have assumed that the deadline was delayed because of the holiday. After all, the law for filing to run for office in South Carolina says that if the deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, its extended to the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

We dont mean to suggest the party was wrong to reject Mr. Lazarus protest; the law is pretty clear, so we're not sure it had any choice. But while S.C. Code Section 7-17-520 is clear, its inconsistent with the deadline all candidates have to be familiar with. And it's difficult for us to believe that our legislators intentionally set a trap for candidates when they wrote this law. If they did, they shouldnt have.

More likely, lawmakers simply didnt think about the potential for the Monday after an election to fall on a holiday  or about how difficult it could be to file an appeal earlier than that, since the results of some races arent certified until the Saturday after the election. But like the holiday problem involving absentee ballots, now that lawmakers know about it, they need to fix it.

In this case, that simply means making the law for filing a protest consistent with the law for filing to run for office, by extending the deadline to Tuesday when Monday happens to be a holiday. That way it wont be as easy for inexperienced candidates to fall into the trap, and perhaps more importantly, state law will no longer interfere with the opportunity the Legislature obviously intended to give to all candidates to seek an objective, fact-based appeal of elections they lost.
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COLUMBIA  The state Democratic Party is suing to keep Labor Party candidates for governor and the 1st Congressional District off November ballots, arguing their nominating convention violated state law.

Meanwhile, the withdrawal of the Democrats' 4th District candidate could require a new primary.

The lawsuit comes a week after the State Election Commission notified feuding leaders of the Labor Party it had no authority to resolve their dueling allegations, leaving the agency no choice but to accept one side's letter certifying the candidates as duly approved.

It meant the agency accepted the co-chairwoman's written assertion that Gary Votour and Lucus Faulk were the party's convention-approved candidates for governor and the 1st District, respectively, even though the co-chairman argued the convention was a sham.

The lawsuit from the Democratic Party clearly takes the side of co-chairman Willie Legette, who told The Post and Courier last week a majority of party leaders voted 4-2 in March not to run any candidates in 2022 because they might siphon votes from Democrats and, thereby, help Republicans win.

But it argues the Labor Party candidates should be tossed for a much simpler reason: Timing. The lawsuit alleges the July 30 convention missed the state deadline for a nominating convention by more than two months.

"Allowing unlawfully nominated Labor Party candidates to appear on the ballot violates state law to the detriment of the Democratic Party and other political parties who followed the rules and seek a fair, lawful electoral contest," reads the lawsuit filed Aug. 9 in Richland County Court.

"At the end of the day, the question is, did you meet the deadline or not?" said Chris Kenney, an attorney in Sen. Dick Harpootlian's law firm, who is representing the Democratic Party formerly chaired by the Columbia Democrat.

On Aug. 10, Circuit Judge Jocelyn Newman denied his request to block state election officials from finalizing the ballot while the case played out. Instead, she set a hearing for Aug. 16 to resolve it as quickly as possible.

Votour, a social justice activist in his first bid for office, said he still believes the Labor Party complied with state law.

"I do not understand the South Carolina Democratic Party's desire to meddle in the affairs of other parties," he told The Post and Courier.

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The hearing falls one day after the state deadline for parties to certify their candidates. The deadline is meant to give election officials proper time to prepare ballots and send them to military personnel and other South Carolinians overseas.

The deadline for sending those is Sept. 24, leaving some leeway.

But "every day we lose, it makes our job harder," said Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire. "We do have an interest in a quick resolution. There's work to be done."

The Labor Party dispute isn't the only issue delaying ballots from being set.

The Democratic candidate for the 4th Congressional District, which includes Greenville and Spartanburg counties, withdrew from the race Aug. 9, which could require election officials to reopen filing to fill that slot.

"After much thought and self-reflection, I have determined that my work responsibilities in NY State preclude me from running an effective campaign and responding to concerns by citizens of the 4th District," Kenneth Hill of Simpsonville wrote to the State Election Commission.

Hill did not have a primary opponent in June and never filed a campaign report.

By law, there will be a hearing to decide whether Hill withdrew for a "legitimate, nonpolitical reason." If election officials decide that he did, filing will reopen for any Democrat who wants to challenge U.S. Rep. William Timmons, who won a four-way GOP primary in June with 53 percent of the vote in a region considered a Republican stronghold.

In that scenario, if more than one Democrat files, there must be a primary.

"Our hands are tied" by the law, Whitmire said. "Hopefully, the process is resolved quickly."
COLUMBIA  South Carolinas top prosecutor is calling for an investigation of alleged misspending by employees of Richland One School District and hinted his own office could pursue legal action against the states ninth-largest school system.

In an Aug. 9 letter to the governor, Attorney General Alan Wilson said he now shares concerns raised months ago by Columbia-area parents and Richland Ones own internal auditor about the school systems procurement card program. The Lexington Republican asked Gov. Henry McMaster to make use of his new power to authorize an investigation by the state Inspector Generals Office.

Wilsons letter comes after The Post and Courier reported in March that Richland One employees had swiped their government credit cards for tens of thousands of dollars in expenses that were supposed to be banned, including at grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, florists and dry cleaners.

The districts internal auditor also found Richland Ones oversight of the P-card program lacking, noting supervisors regularly OKd expenses that appeared to be personal in nature and came with no written justification.

These alleged failures should sound the alarm with every Richland One parent and all taxpayers in the District, Wilson wrote this week.

Richland One has repeatedly pushed back on those concerns, insisting a district review of the transactions found only a handful that were inappropriate. Still, the district implemented a series of recommendations its internal auditor suggested to improve the P-card program, including updating its list of banned vendors, Richland One spokeswoman Karen York said Aug. 10.

Wilson said his office is continuing to actively review this matter but asked the governor to initiate a separate investigation by the state Inspector Generals Office for further accountability.

That office, created in 2012, is an independent state agency tasked with investigating waste, fraud and other types of misconduct by state agencies. The state Legislature passed a new law this year empowering the Inspector General to also investigate wrongdoing by school districts at the request of the governor or local legislators.

One such investigation is already underway within Richland Two School District.

In a statement, McMaster spokesman Brian Symmes said the governor has received "numerous requests from parents, concerned citizens, and other elected officials around the state about several school districts" since the new law went into effect. Symmes said the Inspector General's Office is currently focused on the Richland Two investigation, but he pledged McMaster would consider Wilson's request.

A spokesman for Wilson declined to say whether the Attorney Generals Office has launched a criminal investigation of Richland Ones P-card program. But in his letter, Wilson said abusing P-cards could amount to criminal wrongdoing and warrants vigorous prosecution.

The three-term attorney general called for Richland One to be held fully accountable for any potential wrongdoing.

State investigators are already looking into another Richland One matter. The State Law Enforcement Division launched a probe earlier this year into allegations a top Richland One purchasing official swindled more than $41,000 from the district before resigning in May 2021.

A district investigation accused Travis Braddy of booking improper hotel stays, renting a 2020 SUV without permission and going behind his supervisor's back to purchase nearly $10,000 in COVID-19 supplies from a suspicious vendor.

Efforts to reach Richland One Chairwoman Cheryl Harris for comment Aug. 10 were unsuccessful.
We have commented previously on the fad of land acknowledgments that are currently the rage on college campuses and at city council meetings in progressive outposts like Burlington, Madison, etc. Ill repeat, for the record, why land acknowledgements are so unserious that they can hardly be dignified even as virtue-signaling:

I want to ask: If the land the university sits on rightfully belongs to an Indian tribe, why dont we give it back? At the very least, justice demands that Indians be compensated for the wrongful expropriation of their land. Failing that, how about some back rent? Or current rent? Were talking justice here. If nothing else, at least allow the local Indian tribe to open a casino in the middle of campus, and call it ongoing reparations.

A group of Israeli students has employed a variation of this argument to hit back at Ben and Jerrys, the artery-clogging health hazard company that wanted to ban sales of its product in Israel because of Israels occupation of the West Bank. In what could be our feel good story of the day, the New York Post reports:

Israeli students claim that ice cream maker Ben & Jerrys is illegally occupying land in Vermont that once belonged to a Abenaki native American tribe and should practice what it preaches and immediately evacuate the properties. A cheeky letter sent to B&J  signed by more than 1,000 Israeli students and academics affiliated with Students for Justice in America  accuses B&J of of hypocrisy. We have concluded that your companys occupation of the Abenaki lands is illegal and we believe it is wholly inconsistent with the stated values that Ben & Jerrys purports to maintain. Ironically, in July of the last year you announced that you would discontinue the sale of your products in Israel because you object to the Jewish State allegedly occupying Palestinian territories, the letter to B&Js chairperson, Anuradha Mittal said.

Best sentence in the story: Ben and Jerrys speak with a forked tongue. And as one of our readers put it in a note: Revenge, like ice cream, is a dish best served cold.
With Supreme Court oral arguments now scheduled for the Harvard and University of North Carolina affirmative action cases, Ive started reading through some of the amicus briefs filed in the case, and will comment on some of them in due course.

Meanwhile, an exchange of letters between Macklin Fleming, a Justice of the Court of Appeals, State of California at Los Angeles, and Louis Pollak, Dean of the Yale Law School, that was published in The Public Interest in 1969 makes for remarkable reading today. In 1969 Yale Law School instituted a quota for black students. This was before the Supreme Court, in Bakke, struck down explicit quotas, but introduced the more insidious practice of disguising quotas beneath the banner of diversity.

Some samples from Fleming:

From your remarks and those of Dean Poor, I understand that 43 black students have been admitted to next falls class, of whom 5 qualified under the regular standards and 38 did not. You anticipate that half this group will actually enroll, thus furnishing 22 black students in the first year class of 165, of whom perhaps 3 will have qualified under the regular standards and 19 will not. . . It also appears that 38 fully-qualified applicants for admission to Yale Law School have been rejected solely because they are not members of a minority race. Under current policy the admission ratio for black applicants (50 per cent) is 5 times the admission ratio for other applicants (10 per cent). . . With the adoption of its new admission policy the Law School has taken a long step toward the practice of apartheid and the maintenance of two law schools under one roof. Already there has been established in the Law School building a Black Law Students Union lounge with furniture and law books provided by the school. And I learned from Dean Poor that the 12 black students in the present first year class who were admitted under relaxed standards have not done well academically. Dean Poor attributed this deficiency to the preoccupation of these students with racial activities. I think it equally logical to attribute their preoccupation with racial activities to their lack of qualification to compete on even terms in the study of law. . . The immediate damage to the standards of Yale Law School needs no elaboration. But beyond this, it seems to me the admission policy adopted by the Law School faculty will serve to perpetuate the very ideas and prejudices it is designed to combat. . . No one can be expected to accept an inferior status willingly. The black students, unable to compete on even terms in the study of law, inevitably will seek other means to achieve recognition and self-expression. This is likely to take two forms. First, agitation to change the environment from one in which they are unable to compete to one in which they can. Demands will be made for elimination of competition, reduction in standards of performance, adoption of courses of study which do not require intensive legal analysis, and recognition for academic credit of sociological activities which have only an indirect relationship to legal training. Second, it seems probable that this group will seek personal satisfaction and public recognition by aggressive conduct, which, although ostensibly directed at external injustices and problems, will in fact be primarily motivated by the psychological needs of the members of the group to overcome feelings of inferiority caused by lack of success in their studies. Since the common denominator of the group of students with lower qualifications is one of race this aggressive expression will undoubtedly take the form of racial demandsthe employment of faculty on the basis of race, a marking system based on race, the establishment of a black curriculum and a black law journal, an increase in black financial aid, and a rule against expulsion of black students who fail to satisfy minimum academic standards. . . The weakness of the proportional argument is that quotas, once instituted, cannot logically be limited to one group when other groups exist which are equally entitled to quotas. The next step is a series of quotas. But if minorities obtain quotas, demands from majority groups for quotas are bound to ensue. In short order a full-blown quota system would arise which would necessarily impose restrictions on overrepresented groups in order to assure a student body representative of the general population. A quota policy particularly discriminates against minority groups which have achieved disproportionate representation in a particular field. Such a policy discriminated severely against Jewish applicants for admission to medical schools in the 1930s. That policy was undoubtedly justified by its supporters as one designed to preserve a proportion of gentile students in medical schools equivalent to their proportion in the general population. Currently, the orientals in California, roughly 1 per cent of the population, comprise in some instances 30 per cent of the enrollment in certain engineering and technical schools. Were a quota system to be introduced in those schools in order to favor black and Mexican-American applicants, the first losers would be applicants from the presently disproportionately represented oriental group. . .

Theres much more in Flemings long letter, and please do read the whole thing if you have time. Dean Pollaks response also foreshadows the rampant corruption of our current scene:

For yearsand long before such skepticism was fashionableour Admissions Committee has entertained doubts about the predictive value (with respect to ultimate professional distinction) of the LSAT, and even of the college record, for applicants whose childhood and family background are remote from the experiences and aspirations of (primarily white) middle-class America, to which our conventional indices of academic aptitude and achievement are inevitably oriented. With this in mind, the Admissions Committee, under Jack Tates aegis, customarily gave less weight to the LSAT and the rest of the standard academic apparatus in assessing black applicants. . . This means that, at least for the past fifteen years, numerous black students have been admitted to this Law School who would not have been admitted through uncritical application of the normal indices of past academic performance. Not surprisingly, given their lesser academic preparation, most of these students have not achieved academic distinction at the Law School. . . [I]t is the view of the faculty that the schools educational processes are unlikely to be impaired if the number of students with prior educational deficiencies is a minor fraction of the total student body. Second, it seems, in any event, reasonable to expect that the number of black applicants who are well prepared academically will increase markedly within the next few years, as a corollary of the increasing number of blacks matriculating at first rate colleges; and it is a fair expectation that our Law School can draw a substantial number of those who are highly qualified. . .

Pollaks response seems pretty weak (not to mention condescending to minority students), but then it is the weak-mindedness of college administrators in general that have led us to the current situation. Needless to say, Judge Flemings views would be branded hate speech on campus today (just check with Amy Wax on this).
What do we know? Law enforcement leaks and confirmation from the Trump side indicate that the FBI raid on Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence indicate that the search was focused on presidential records and the possible violation of the Presidential Records Act. In her inside account of the raid, Miranda Devine puts it this way: The Post has learned that the search warrant used by the FBI to enter the palatial Palm Beach property focused solely on presidential records and evidence of classified information being stored there.

The scope of the seized documents, however, may have extended well beyond the terms of the warrant. It appears that the FBI scooped up just about every document at the residence. I take it that the authorities are out to get Trump.

Based on his own prosecutorial experience, Andrew McCarthy emphasizes that the raid was a pretext for seizing documents that may bear on the interest of the Biden Department of Justice in prosecuting Trump for events related to Jan. 6. The pretext is all.

The Trump people are talking. See Devines New York Post story linked above. However, their knowledge is limited and their purposes are self-interested.

The Attorney General and the FBI are not talking in public. You see, they are involved in an ongoing investigation. Confidentiality is sacred.

[M]ultiple people familiar with the investigation nevertheless spoke with the three New York Times reporters who wrote up the raid. Funny how that works.

Someone at the White House leaked to New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin that senior White House officials (presumably including Biden) had no notice of the raid. Martin takes it as the gospel truth. When it comes to Democrats, Martin adopts the willing suspension of disbelief. How does he know? A White House operative told him so. You have to be stupid to take this at face value.

Senior White House officials found out about the FBIs Mar a Lago raid on Twitter, had no notice, per source familiar  Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) August 8, 2022

I think readers would be well advised at this point not to believe anyone or anything you dont see with their (your) own eyes. I dont.

We saw the FBI agents holding the fort down outside Mar-a-Lago with big weapons. It was sickening. Christopher Wray should be sent packing and the FBI should be dissolved and reconstituted. It has become an unaccountable and politically corrupt organization.

McCarthys cynicism is required. Lending support to McCarthys observation about the pretextual nature of the Trump raid yesterday was the seizure of Rep. Scott Perrys cell phone yesterday. FOX News reported the story here.

Perry gave FOX News this statement: This morning, while traveling with my family, 3 FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone. They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish. Im outraged  though not surprised  that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garlands DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress. My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the governments business.
With every advantage in the race, Ilhan Omar narrowly emerged as the winner of Minnesotas Fifth District (Minneapolis and inner ring suburbs) DFL primary yesterday. She defeated challenger Don Samuels by 2,500 votes out of nearly 113,000 votes cast (2.1 percent). I dont think anyone other than Samuels and his supporters anticipated a race this close.

The result strongly suggests that Omar can be beaten from within the party by a decent DFL candidate with time and money to take her on. She appears to be ripe for the plucking.

Samuels is a decent man and a decent candidate. He is a former city council and school board member who has supported law enforcement in the crime-ridden north Minneapolis neighborhoods he represented. Unlike Omar, Samuels has the interests of the district at heart. He is not bent on promoting himself as an intergalactic superstar.

Unfortunately, however, Samuels will be supporting Omar against Republican nominee Cicely Davis in the general election. He is a Democrat in a D+26 district.

Omar represents a substantial part of the Fifth District DFL. I saw it in action when they called a special convention held on Fathers Day 2018 to endorse a candidate to replace Keith Ellison. Ellison had stepped aside at the last minute to run for Minnesota Attorney General.

Covering the special endorsing convention that Sunday, I saw that the party activists who endorsed Omar were among the woke left successors of every fruit-juice drinker, nudist, sandal-wearer, sex-maniac, Quaker, Nature Cure quack, pacifist, and feminist identified by Orwell as the fans of Socialism and Communism in England. They make up Omars base, and it is substantial base, but she is not invulnerable.

However, she is untouchable by law enforcement and by the media. She operates in the confidence that the rules do not apply to her. One of the luckiest people in the world, she expertly plays the victim card. Her hubris may bring her down before any political opponent does the job for her.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is purporting to investigate Donald Trumps businesses. James is obsessed with Trump, and her supposed investigation is an obvious piece of political grandstanding. She scheduled Trump for a deposition today. In Trumps eyes, the FBIs Mar-a-Lago raid was the last straw, and he announced today that he is invoking the Fifth Amendment and has declined to submit to a deposition.

Trump released a statement that is lengthy, but worth reading in its entirety:

Attorney General Letitia James openly campaigned on the policy of Get and Destroy Trump. This political attack on me, my family, and my great company is her despicable attempt to fulfill that cynical, and very corrupt promise. James developed a political platform and made a career out of maliciously attacking me and my business before she was even elected, or reviewed one of the millions of pages of documents we willingly produced. She proclaimed, I look forward to going into the Office of Attorney General every day, suing him. . . and then going home! She announced, what is fueling my soul right now is Trump, and that she had her eyes on Trump Tower. She even assured her supporters in an Election promise that, were going to definitely sue him. Were going to be a real pain in the ass. Hes going to know my name personally, and she claimed I was an illegitimate President. In her AG victory speech, she promised to shine a bright light into every dark corner of Trumps real estate holdings. Shortly thereafter, she vowed to use every area of the law to investigate President Trump and his business transactions, and that of his family as well. Letitia James is a failed politician who has intentionally colluded with others to carry out this phony years-long crusade that has wasted countless taxpayer dollars, all in an effort to prop up her political career. During her heated Trump rhetoric, she ran for Governor of New York State, using Getting Trump as her primary credential. It didnt work, she got very low poll numbers, and ran back into the Office of Attorney General to continue the persecution of President Donald J. Trump, despite the fact that New York is suffering its worst murder, drug, and overall crime rate in many decades. Criminals are running rampant, shooting, slashing, and hurting people on the sidewalks of New York, while she and her Office spend a big percentage of their time and money on their Trump vendetta. Letitia James openly stated her hostilities toward me, and a kind of retribution that is unthinkable. Years of work and tens of millions of dollars have been spent on this long simmering saga, and to no avail. James now realizes I built a great company with tremendous value, and her case is a Scam, which is why for years, they havent been able to file a single charge. What Letitia James has tried to do the last three years is a disgrace to the legal system, an affront to New York State taxpayers, and a violation of the solemn rights and protections afforded by the United States Constitution. I did nothing wrong, which is why, after five years of looking, the Federal, State and local governments, together with the Fake News Media, have found nothing. We cannot permit a renegade and out-of-control prosecutor to use this investigation as a means of advancing her political career. New York deserves better, and this Country deserves better. This is a vindictive and self-serving fishing expedition, the likes of which our Country has never seen before. The United States Constitution exists for this very purpose, and I will utilize it to the fullest extent to defend myself against this malicious attack by this administration, this Attorney Generals Office, and all other attacks on my family, my business, and our Country. I once asked, If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment? Now I know the answer to that question. When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice. If there was any question in my mind, the raid of my home, Mar-a-Lago, on Monday by the FBI, just two days prior to this deposition, wiped out any uncertainty. I have absolutely no choice because the current Administration and many prosecutors in this Country have lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency. Accordingly, under the advice of my counsel and for all of the above reasons, I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution.

Trump also released several videos of Letitia James. This is one of them:

How important is this development? Trump acknowledged the reality in his statement:

I once asked, If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment? Now I know the answer to that question.

Trump makes a good case as to why he should not cooperate with Jamess witch hunt. Nevertheless, the questionwhy would you plead the Fifth if you are innocent?is an obvious one to which, in many minds, there is no good answer. No doubt this will be added to the Lefts litany of Trumps many real and imagined transgressions.

At this point, opinions on Trump are so ingrained that there isnt much room for perceptions to shift. But perhaps Trumps invocation of his right not to incriminate himself will contribute to the heavy weight of baggage that will cause many to think that he is not the GOPs best candidate for 2024.

But I always try to be even-handed in talking about Trump. This, if you havent already seen it, is what amounts to a campaign ad that has obviously been ready to go for a while, but was released in the wake of the Mar-a-Lago raid. I think it is a beautiful piece of work, and one can fairly ask whether anyone other than Trump could have done it. It is worth viewing full-screen:
Nigerias police are poking accusing fingers in the eyes of some personnel of Nigerias Correctional Service, saying they are engaged in acts of extortion before receiving suspects for remand, PREMIUM TIMES can report.

In a correspondence sighted by PREMIUM TIMES, Ibrahim Zango, deputy commissioner of police at the Police Special Fraud Unit Ikoyi, Lagos, sent a complaint to the controller of the correctional service to call his staff to order and avert further dent on the image of this government establishment.

Mr Zango said some of the prison officials have been consistent in this unprofessional conduct, a practice he said has portrayed the correctional service in a bad light.

The impunity with which personnel demand between N10,000 and N20,000 from relatives of suspects on Court remand before they can be received for remand portray the Nigeria Correctional Service in a bad light to members of the public and appears highly irrational, Mr Zango said in theJuly 18, 2022 letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

This wanton act has been severally reported by Officers of this Unit but I never took it to heart until they exhibited the same in my presence at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi  Lagos, and this was witnessed at Igbosere Court, Saka Tinubu, Lagos, and Ogba Magistrate Court, Lagos.

As a measure to abate the above-premised act, I sincerely request that they should be called to order to avert further dent on the image of this government establishment.

Various corruption indexes have rated the Nigeria Correctional Services, Nigeria Police Force, and the judiciary among the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria.

The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Services, Abubakar Umar, did not comment when contacted by phone.
Faruk Ahmadu, 52, is one of the few literates in Yabo, a community in Sokoto State where most dwellers engage in subsistence farming.

In 2020, when the construction of a building in the village commenced, it was Mr Ahmadu who explained to other residents what the building was meant for and the benefits therein for them.

I could remember in 2020, people gathered at the project site, glancing at the signboard but couldnt understand what the contractors were building and how it would benefit the entire community, Mr Faruk, a civil servant, said. I called peoples attention and told them what the new construction meant and that if completed, all of us will enrol our children there to learn skills that would change their lives in the future.

Earlier in 2019, Aminu Shagari, the lawmaker representing Yabo/Shagari Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives at the time, nominated the construction of a skill acquisition centre in Yabo Local Government Area, to be located in Yabo community.

However, Mr Shagari lost his seat to Abubakar Yabo in the 2019 general elections, but the project continued.

The project was allocated N40 million and was placed under the supervision of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

Completed but not accessible

There is now a tilt to the story. The construction is complete but the centre is non-functional. Mr Faruk and others who had imagined the benefits of the project and dreamt how their children would acquire skills at the centre are now left in despair.

Completed three years ago, the skill acquisition centre is yet to open for use.

I thought the centre would be functioning three weeks after the construction was completed. But now, it is three years but nothing is ongoing there, Mr Faruk said. I hope that when my children finish secondary school, I can take them to the centre to learn skills if it is later opened.

Sani Jabbi, another member of the community, said the project should not have been situated outside the town. However, he said he would still allow his children to access the centre once it is opened.

I would like the centre to be opened even though it was built outside the town. My children will be using bicycles or bikes to go and learn things, the 58-year-old farmer said.

Constructed but not equipped

Details of the project, as presented by the former lawmaker, show that funds for both the construction and equipment of the centre were included and allocated. Information from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation indicates that funds for 2019 ZIPs were fully released.

However, when UDEME visited the centre, there was very little to show for it. Some areas of the walls had cracked, and the ceilings were sagging.

Faruku Bawa, a 52-year-old security guard at the centre, attended to this reporter during a visit in May.

I have been taking care of this centre for about three years. I was employed by Faruk Danmadina, a representative of the contractor, he said.

When he opened the interior for UDEMEs inspection, dust and cobwebs were visible. There was no trace of equipment except for some chairs with the tag Hon. Aminu Shehu Shagari written on them.

Nothing is inside, apart from the chairs they brought. They didnt bring anything again, he added.

Yabo community head helpless

Yabo community leader, Muhammadu Maiturare, appears helpless over the condition of the centre.

I know my position if the centre was commissioned, he said. I was once a two-term lawmaker and I understand everything. There was a time I was told about what to do with the centre, and l said okay. So, we are three district heads here, maybe they will pick people from each ward. It is his centre (Mr Shagaris), so we cant interfere in something that is not ours, he added.

The community leader also spoke about the current legislators effort to open the centre.

The current lawmaker is doing his best to see that the centre is open but do you think it can be opened without anything inside? he asked rhetorically.

SMEDAN reacts

The Sokoto State Manager of SMEDAN, Mohammed Shuaibu, noted that work was 80 per cent done the last time he visited the centre.

I know about the project, but the last time I visited there, maybe sometime in 2020 before COVID-19 (pandemic), the work was 80 per cent done and I wrote a report and sent it to the head office. I think the contractor would have equipped the centre and since then, I havent visited the centre again, he said.

Asked about the status of other equipment apart from the chairs, Mr Shuaibu directed UDEME to another official. There is something behind that and I dont know it. I urge you to reach out to our head office for a follow-up to know what is happening, he said.

UDEME got no response from the head office despite efforts to reach them by phone and email.

However, Mr Shuaibu added that power changing hands between the present and past lawmakers contributed to why the centre remained closed.

You know that the lawmaker that facilitated that project in 2019 is no longer there. And the representative would be the one to decide whether the centre will commence work or not. This is also one of the problems.

Meanwhile, UDEME tried to reach Mr Yabo, the current lawmaker, through his personal mobile contact but he did not answer or reply to calls and messages sent to him.

The Executive Director of the Network for Employment and Development Initiative (NEDIN), Peter Hassan, said the project is probably not centred around citizens needs and as such cannot stand the test of time.

We are supposed to be operating a democracy which is defined as the government of the people. Therefore the citizens or community members should be engaged by the government and senators representing them so that they present their demands for intervention and they can take ownership and ensure its functionality for effective usage, Mr Hassan said.

He added that corruption and embezzlement of funds budgeted for projects also result in abandonment.

Another cause is corruption, if the funds budgeted are not used judiciously to equip the completed project. It is the reason why some projects like that are damaged after construction since they are not equipped.
Gunmen who attacked a Kaduna-bound train in March and kidnapped some passengers have released the family of a former military administrator of Kano, Idris Garba.

The victims were among the passengers abducted on the train.

The hostages were released after the intervention of Kaduna-based cleric, Ahmad Gumi.

Mr Gumis spokesperson, Tukur Mamu, in a statement said the abductors freed the six family members and another woman.

Below is the full statement from Mr Mamu

Disturbed by the gory videos images of four teenage children belonging to the same family he saw in the last video released by the attackers of the AK9 Train, Sheikh Dr Ahmad Gumi for the first since the abduction of the innocent passengers of that train over 4 months ago has reached out to the abductors through his Media Consultant, sent Allahs messages to them and consistently pleaded with them to consider the release of the poor children and their innocent parents.

It was learnt that the health condition of two of the teenage children has deteriorated since the flogging incident that affected their helpless father. A total of additional 7 hostages were therefore released on Wednesday.

The husband of the four kids is a staff of the National Assembly Commission. There was no intervention from the Commission or NASS on his behalf since the travails began.

This is to confirm to the world that due to Sheikh Gumis efforts and with the support of a serving Senator from the North, (a God-fearing personality that doesnt have any relationship with the hostages) who chose to remain anonymous that all the family of six have regained their freedom on Wednesday morning.

Also released is a 60-year-old woman, Hajia Aisha Hassan who was said to have been released due to life-threatening health challenges that deteriorated recently.

The names of the six family members that were released are Abubakar Idris Garba who is the father of the four kids, his wife Maryama Abubakar Bobbo and their eldest son, Ibrahim Abubakar Garba who is 10 years old.

Others include Fatima Abubakar Garba 7 years, Imran Abubakar Garba 5 years old and youngest Zainab Abubakar Garba who is only one and half years.

The husband, Abubakar is the son of Maj Gen Idris Garba (rtd). Gen. Garba who is now bedridden is an indigene of Niger State and was a former Military Administrator of Kano and the Benue States during the administration of former Head Of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida,

Sheikh Gumi had also prayed for the immediate release of the remaining victims and urged the government to intensify efforts towards achieving that. He said the delay in releasing the remaining victims is unnecessary and one that is achievable once the right approach has been taken.
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has said his appointment as the Director General of All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council is not against his Christian faith despite being a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

He said the Pope, who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church to which he belongs, has not faulted his decision to accept the job of ensuring the victory of Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, in the 2023 election.

Mr Lalong stated this during an interview with the State House correspondents on Wednesday after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

His appointment as the the DG of the APC Presidential Campaign Council last week had generated some controversy with many believing that it was made to assuage the feelings of northern Christians.

Both Messrs Tinubu and Shettima are Muslims.

The decision of the ruling party to field a Muslim/Muslim ticket has generated uproar in some quarters in the country, most notably the Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Northern APC Christian Leader led by Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Mr Lalong said he had the support of the Plateau State Chapter of CAN.

He added that as a Catholic, he has one of the highest awards from the Pope; the Knight of Saint Gregory the Great.

Mr Lalong also denied reports that he lobbied to become the running mate to Mr Tinubu adding that he has accepted the job and there is nothing anyone could do.

Details Later.
(Editors Note: The DHQ shared two statements on Wednesday. The first saying only one Owo church massacre suspect was arrested and the latter saying four were arrested among whom was the ringleader).

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has clarified a statement made by the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, on the arrest of the mastermind of the recent attack at a church in Owo, Ondo state.

The DHQ, in a second statement on Wednesday, said only four out of the five terrorists recently arrested, were linked to the attack on the Owo church.

A first statement was earlier sent, on Wednesday, by the DHQ where it reflected that only one of those arrested was linked to the attack.

However, in the second statement which was used to replace the first, it was explained that although four of the arrested persons took part in the attack, only one of them was the mastermind.

Mr Irabor, a general, had on Tuesday said five masterminds of the June 5 massacre had been captured by security operatives.

His revelation comes barely two months after at least 40 worshippers were killed in June at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, in an incident that jolted Nigeria and the global community.

Mr Irabor said the suspects, the majority of whom were arrested in various communities in Kogi, would be paraded before the public in due course.

We had wanted to present the suspects to the public immediately but couldnt because certain investigations are still being carried out, he said.

He gave his assurance that in due course, the suspects and others who had been involved in some daring attacks in the past few months would be presented to the public.

His stance was echoed by the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who wrote on Twitter that he had been briefed about the arrest of the suspects.

Following the statement by the CDS, Nigerians took to social media to question how one of the arrested suspects, Idris Ojo, who was said to have escaped from Kuje prison in July, was able to launch an attack in Owo in June.

Clarification

In the Wednesday statement by the defence spokesperson, Jimmy Akpor, the DHQ said Idris Abdulmalik-Omeiza Idris (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu-Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf-Itopa and Auwal Ishaq- Onimisi were those involved in the church attack and not Idris Ojo.

He added that Mr Ojo was one of the Boko Haram terrorists who escaped from Kuje prison and has no link to the attack at Owo.

The Defence Chief said, preliminary investigation revealed that Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church as well as the attack on a Police Station in Adavi LGA, Kogi State on 23 June 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.

The Defence Chief also mentioned the arrest of another terrorist, Idris Ojo (32 years), who was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on 7 August 2022. Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre highlighted on 5 July 2022.

The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim (39 years), a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him, he said.

Read the full statement below.

PRESS RELEASE

GENERAL IRABOR MEETS WITH MEDIA EXECUTIVES, REVEALS ARREST OF MASTERMIND OF OWO CATHOLIC CHURCH ATTACK

 Assures of Peaceful 2023 General Elections

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has confirmed the arrest of 4 of the architects of the terrorists attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State on 5 June 2022.

He made the confirmation during the second CDS parley with media executives and editors, which took place at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja on Tuesday 9 August 2022. The parley was organized by the Directorate of Defence Information in collaboration with The Media Today (TMT) International.

The CDS said that, through the collaborative efforts of military and DSS personnel, 4 amongst the terrorists who carried out the attack on the Owo Catholic Church were arrested at Eika, Okehi LGA, Kogi State on 1 August 2022.

Those arrested included Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (a.k.a Bin Malik), Momoh Otohu Abubakar, Aliyu Yusuf Itopa and Auwal Ishaq Onimisi. The Defence Chief said, preliminary investigation revealed that Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza was the mastermind of the terror attack on the Owo Catholic Church as well as the attack on a Police Station in Adavi LGA, Kogi State on 23 June 2022, during which a policeman was killed and weapons carted away.

The Defence Chief also mentioned the arrest of another terrorist, Idris Ojo (32 years), who was apprehended at Ayetoro Osi, Ondo State through the combined effort of military and DSS personnel on 7 August 2022. Idris Ojo, the CDS said, was one of the suspected ISWAP terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Medium Correctional Centre highlighted on 5 July 2022.

The CDS also mentioned that Ojo was arrested alongside Jimoh Ibrahim (39 years), a sympathizer of the terrorist group, who accommodated him. The CDS further revealed that, the arrest of Idris Ojo was crucial as he, along with others, was already planning terrorists attacks against some selected targets, in order to create fear amongst the citizenry aimed at discrediting the government.

Gen Irabor also confirmed the death of a bandit leader, Alhaji Abdulkareem, who was killed alongside his fighters on 6 August 2022 during air operations in the North West region.

Whilst mentioning the unfortunate terrorists attacks on Kaduna-Abuja Train Service, Owo Catholic Church, Kuje Medium Correctional Centre and the presidential advance convoy, the CDS assured the media chiefs that the military, Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies were collaborating in many fronts, working day and night to keep the country safe. He appreciated Nigerians of goodwill, in understanding what military operations were like and what the responsibilities of Nigeria Police, DSS and other security agencies were and what they were doing in ensuring that every one of us, within our geographical space, lived in peace and harmony.

The CDS used the opportunity to solicit the cooperation of the larger society, saying that, what the criminals (terrorists) amongst us want to do is to stoke fear and to promote it to such a level that every one of us will not even want to leave our houses. This is the strategy, which if we do not take time, will become part and parcel of our daily lives. Gen Irabor said the media gatekeepers had a responsibility in educating the society to understand that, never again should we allow agents of destabilization to stoke fear amongst us, that together we will crush the elements that do not want us to leave in peace. The CDS therefore, urged the media executives and editors to remain partners in progress in ensuring that their media were insulated from being used by terrorists to unintentionally fuel fear in the minds of Nigerians.

Gen Irabor also expressed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) in guaranteeing a secure and peaceful 2023 general elections during the parley. He remarked that, members of the Armed Forces have a covenant with the democratic process that the covenant deposition is that the military would create conditions for free, safe and secure conduct of the 2023 general elections.

The CDS further explained that, all the operational engagements of the AFN have been tailored towards ensuring that the nations democratic process was not only nurtured but also made to remain solid. He urged all stakeholders that would be involved in politicking to take actions that are focused and geared towards moving the democratic process forward.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Media Today International, Barrister Charles Odenigbo, in his opening remarks, commended the AFN for the operational successes recorded in the various theatres of operations in recent times. He said the second CDS parley was planned in the spirit of openness, to elicit a practical and robust review of media reportage of defence and security sector over the intervening period since the first CDS parley. This, he said was aimed at evaluating the contributions of mainstream and online media towards assisting the military and security agencies in the fight against insecurity in Nigeria. Barr Odenigbo urged the media to continue to work with the military in the task of national security and nation building.

In his welcome address, the Director Defence Information (DDI), Major General Jimmy Akpor, recounted that the first edition of the CDS parley with media executives and editors, which held in January this year, was mooted by the current CDS, Gen Irabor.

According to him, the parley was in line with the leadership philosophy of the CDS, to foster a professional Armed Forces capable of effectively meeting constitutional imperatives.

The DDI further described the CDS parley as a welcome development that would build sustainable trust and confidence between the AFN and the media, particularly as it concerned the conduct of military operations and engagements.

Highpoint of the occasion was a presentation on Media Analysis/Review of the Defence/Security Sector in Nigeria, delivered by the CEO PR Nigeria, Mr Yushau Shuaib.

The CDS Gen Irabor was also honoured by the Centre for Crisis Communication during the event. The President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, gave the vote of thanks at the event.

JIMMY AKPOR

Major General

Director Defence Information
The EFCC has indicted two officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice for allegedly receiving bribes to smuggle the name of a jailed banker, Francis Atuche, into the list of convicts recently granted pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The two indicted officers, according to an EFCCs report seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday served in the secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM).

Emmanuel Fan headed the PACPM secretariat, while the other suspect, Lawrence Marinus, was a member of the secretariat. They were both drawn from the Federal Ministry of Justice to serve in the PACPM secretariat.

One other yet-to-be verified person, who allegedly paid the bribe on behalf of Mr Atuche, is being tracked by the EFCC, according to the commissions report.

The 12-member PACPM headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had recommended 162 convicted persons for pardon and other forms of clemency in a list sent to Mr Buhari and the Council of State on 14 April.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Council of State approved pardon for 159 of the recommended persons in April. The names of three others were rejected.

One of the three rejected names was Mr Atuche, the former Managing Director of Bank PHB, who was, in June 2021, sentenced to six years in prison for stealing the banks N27 billion.

Mr Atuche was, on the PACPMs list submitted to the Council of State, recommended for clemency on the grounds of life-threatening ill health. But the recommendation was rejected by the Council of State.

Petition

However, Mr Malami, on 6 June, sent a petition to the EFCC alleging that the PACPMs final report was doctored/tampered with to include Mr Atuches name.

According to the AGF, whose petition presented a case of conspiracy, abuse of office and corruption, pointed an accusing finger at the PACPM secretariat.

He explained that the PACPMs list, which was finalised in November 2021, was referred to the secretariat for production and onward transmission to President Buhari and the Council of State for consideration and ratification.

EFCC subsequently arrested and interrogated some of the members of the PACPM, the PACPM secretariat and the ACJRD.

How bribery was carried out

A source at the EFCC who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES that investigation into the smuggling of Mr Atuches name into the list of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy has been concluded.

This newspaper obtained a copy of EFCCs report addressed to Mr Malami indicting the head of the PACPM secretariat, Mr Fan, and another member of the secretariat, Mr Marinus, as colluding to include Mr Atuches name in the PACPMs list.

According to the findings of the anti-graft agency Mr Mrinus received money from Mr Fan and the yet-to-be-known agent of Mr Atuche. The amount of money that allegedly exchanged hands in the bribery scam was not given.

Investigation, so far, has revealed that Emmanuel Ishaku Fan conspired with Lawrence Marinus to include the name of Francis Atuche in the final report of PACPM submitted to Mr President and the Council of State for consideration and ratification.

The investigation has also established that Lawrence Minus received money from both Emmanuel Ishaku Fan and a yet-to-be-verified agent of Francis Atuche to perfect the plan, while Emmanuel Ishaku Fan is in direct contact with the so-called agent of Mr Francis Atuche, the report said.

The report of EFCCs investigation said, Efforts are in top gear to arrest other co-conspirators for prosecution.

It also absolved the acting Director of the Administration of Criminal Justice Reform Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Leticia Ayodele-Daniel, and Grace Okewole.

The report said Mrs Ayodele-Daniel and Ms Okewole have not been found to be criminally liable.

No wrongdoing

Meanwhile, Mr Fan denied any wrongdoing when our reporter visited him at his office at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja for his comment on Wednesday.

He also said he had yet to be informed of the outcome of EFCCs investigation.

I am not aware of my indictment by the EFCC. I know nothing about the allegation, he told our reporter.

He said he was shocked to hear of the EFCCs report from our reporter.

I am not aware of any outcome of EFCCs investigation over the allegation. We were only invited and questioned. Since then, we have not received any information that I have been indicted.

Im shocked to hear that I have been indicted (by the EFCC), Mr Fan said.

But the second suspect, Marinus, could not be reached at his office on Wednesday. He was not available during our correspondents visits to his office on the fifth floor of the Federal Ministry of Justice complex in Abuja.

His colleagues turned down our reporters request for his phone number.

Other beneficiaries

Two former governors of Plateau and Taraba states, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, were among the persons granted pardon by the Council of State in April.

Messrs Dariye and Nyame, who were serving various jail terms at Kuje prison in Abuja, were only released on Monday.

This newspaper reported how President Buhari approved the pardon for Messrs Dariye and Nyame, who had been convicted of stealing public funds when they served as governors.

Both men were sentenced to 14 years each and had only served about three years of their jail terms.

Mr Buharis pardon of Messrs Dariye and Nyame was seen as a big blow to his electoral promise to fight corruption.

Another prominent beneficiary of the pardon was Enitan Ransome-Kuti, the former military Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, who was convicted by a Special Court Martial in January 2015.
President Muhammadu Buhari has reversed his authorisation of Seplat Energys takeover of ExxonMobils shallow water business in Nigeria, throwing his weight instead behind the regulators decline of the $1.3 billion transaction.

A spokesperson said the president decided the position of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is to be supported, and the earlier confusion was because various agencies involved in (the) decision had not coordinated well among themselves.

It has become clear that the various agencies involved in decision had not coordinated well among themselves and having looked at all of the facts with all of the ramifications, the president decided the position of the regulator is to be supported, spokesperson Garba Shehu told PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday evening in response to persistent enquiry by one of our reporters.

The NUPRC had on Monday said the proposed takeover of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited by Seplat, an indigenous oil firm, was a regulatory matter and it had notified ExxonMobil the transaction could not go through.

As it were, the issue at stake is purely a regulatory matter and the Commission had earlier communicated the decline of Ministerial assent to ExxonMobil in this regard. As such the Commission further affirms that the status quo remains, said a statement by NUPRC chief executive, Gbenga Komolafe.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) affirms that status quo remains in respect of ExxonMobil/Seplat Energy share acquisition. Responding to media enquiries on latest development about the transaction, the Chief Executive of the NUPRC Engr. Gbenga Komolafe clarified that the Commission in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 is the sole regulator in dealing with such matters in the Nigerian upstream sector.

The statement came a few hours after presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina said Mr Buhari had approved the sale to Seplat.

Mr Adesina said Mr Buhari approved the transfer in his capacity as Minister of Petroleum Resources and the approval was in consonance with the countrys drive for Foreign Direct Investment in the energy sector and considering the extensive benefits of the transaction to the Nigerian Energy sector and the larger economy.

THE SEPLAT SALE DEAL

ExxonMobil entered into a landmark Sale and Purchase Agreement with Seplat Energy to acquire the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from Exxon Mobil Corporation, Mobil Development Nigeria Inc, and Mobil Exploration Nigeria Inc. earlier this year.

The transaction suffered a setback after the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited asserted a right of first refusal on the deal. As a joint venture partner, NNPC argued it retained the right to be allowed to buy oil blocks sold by ExxonMobil ahead of any competitor or private firm.

Seplat Energy in July said NNPC Ltd. won a court decision to block its quest to purchase the entire oil assets of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU), a local unit of oil major ExxonMobil.

The court decision on July 6 was temporary and forbade MPNU and the defendants from consummating any asset disposal in MPNU, not excluding the share sale and purchase deal it struck with Seplat in February.

NNPC had prayed the court, State High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, to declare that a conflict happened between the state-owned oil company and MPNU over the interpretation of preemption rights under their Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) and order NNPC and MPNU to arbitration as required by the JOA.

Seplat Energy said neither itself nor Seplat Energy Offshore Limited was a party in the lawsuit, and insisted the share purchase agreement remained valid. The asset purchase would enable Seplat Energy to scale up production by 95,000 barrels of oil a day from assets in a joint venture ExxonMobil runs with NNPC.

CONTROVERSIAL DECISIONS

PREMIUM TIMES learned that Mr Buhari had last week declined Seplats bid in favour of NNPC, only for a contradictory statement to be released on Monday. Officials said the contradictory decisions suggest the president may not be in full control of critical state matters and powerful interests sometimes work through aides to obtain favourable, even if controversial, decisions.

They questioned why the president would hand the oil asset to a private firm when the government has just recently commercialised the NNPC, making the former regulator an operator and competitor in the industry.

ExxonMobils move to exit Africas largest crude producer mirrors the growing tendency among international oil companies to discontinue their stakes in onshore operations in the country and plough in their investment elsewhere.

Oil drillers are finding operations that are close to host communities increasingly worrisome and feel holding on to offshore fields is the way to go.

In April, TotalEnergies SE announced plans to divest its 10 per cent minority stake in a joint venture with a company holding twenty onshore and shallow water licenses in Nigeria.

Shell, owner of the permits, has received approaches from four indigenous companies including Seplat for a 30 per cent stake in the firm.
Gunmen on Tuesday killed one immigration officer and injured two others in the Magari Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

Maigatari council area is a border community between Nigeria and the Niger Republic.

The incident occurred around the Galadi-Birniwa-axis of the town, which is about 70 kilometres from the local governments headquarters.

The commandant, Jigawa State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Ismail Abba, told reporters that his men engaged the gunmen in a firefight forcing them to retreat.

The criminals abandoned their two motorcycles and a phone and fled into the forest in the Niger Republic.

The official said the incident happened around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday.

The bandits arrived at the patrol base on two motorcycles, one carrying three people and the other one carrying two people, immediately on arrival they open fire on the Immigration staff on patrol, which resulted in the death of one of the staff named Abdullahi Mohammed.

Another two of the team members sustained serious bullet wounds; they are Abba Musa Kiyawa and Zubairu Garba, Mr Abba added.

As a result of heavy exchange of fire, the bandits fled into the bush and abandoned their motorcycles and handset (Techno T5) belonging to the bandits, he said.

The two motorcycles are Bajaj with chassis no: MD2A18AXS7MWK81092 and Royal motorcycle with chassis no: RY157FMINILI2607, all now in our custody.

The two wounded officials are receiving treatment at a hospital while Abdullahi Mohammed who lost his life in the encounter has been laid to rest in Dutse town on Wednesday.

Mr Abba said both the recovered motorcycles and handset will be handed over to the state Commissioner of Police for further investigation and action as directed.
Motorists and passers-by on the long bridge along the Lagos  Ibadan expressway scampered for safety as armed men robbed people of their belongings on Wednesday.

The incident, which occurred between 5 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., on the bridge close to Warewa bus stop, saw people running helter-skelter, according to a video posted on social media.

A commercial driver, identified simply as Joseph, told PREMIUM TIMES that he initially left his bus to run for his life but returned about 25 minutes later.

By the time I returned to my bus, My passengers refused to return to the bus, they all chose to trek despite my appeal, they didnt enter the bus neither did they pay me for the distance I already covered.

Mr Joseph explained that while trying to urgently turn their vehicles, some drivers crashed their cars against the road divider.

Some of the victims of the attack claimed to have heard repeated gunshots, but I only heard gunshot just once, it sound[ed] like bomb.

He further added that police officers eventually arrived the scene but I could not ascertain if any arrest was made.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the police in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident.

Yesterday in my statement I said it, the CP has ordered a 24 hours surveillance on that particular area of the long bridge, considering the road construction going on there.

They only escaped by a slim chance but we are very sure they will all be apprehended within a short time.

Mr Abimbola, a Superintendent of Police, however, allayed the fears of the people by telling motorists and residents to go about their daily business without any fear.

He said police officers are on the trail of the fleeing robbers who escaped through a bushy path under the bridge.
Ahead of the handing over to the next administration, the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has relieved all Special Advisers and Chairpersons of Boards and Commissions of their jobs.

Only three weeks ago, the governor also bid farewell to all his Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants in the same manner.

While discharging his political appointees, he has also been busy making appointments into statutory offices as part of his winding down exercise.

The governor last week approved the appointment of secretaries for the 16 Local Government Areas and 19 Local Council Development Areas in the state.

Mr Fayemi had said the move was to strengthen the local government administrations in the state, and that the appointments were with immediate effect.

In a circular on Tuesday, signed by the Permanent Secretary Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Tajudeen Adejumo, the governor also announced the termination of appointment of Technical Advisers, Directors General, Coordinators; and other Heads of Non-Ministerial Offices.

The circular, however, clarified that the dissolution excluded statutory commissions spelt out in section 197 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

Mr Fayemi urged the affected officials to hand over all government property in their possessions to the Accounting Officers or the most senior career officers in their Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The foregoing approval takes effect from 31st August, 2022, the circular noted.

The governor had earlier named a 46-member committee to coordinate activities marking the end of his tenure as well as inauguration ceremony for the incoming administration of Biodun Oyebanji, billed to take hold on 16th October, 2022.

Mr Oyebanji was elected governor of the state in the June 18 governorship election defeating former governor, Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party.

While he had received congratulations from the PDP candidate, the SDP candidate is at the tribunal to contest the results of the election.

Mr Oni alleges gross irregularities and voter inducement against the APC, urging the tribunal to declare him the actual winner.
The police in Lagos have refuted a claim by the Nigerian Army that its officers shot a soldier during a face-off in the state last Thursday.

The police in a statement issued on Wednesday its spokesperson in Lagos, by Benjamin Hundeyin, said the soldiers attacked its officers unprovoked and kidnapped two of them.

On Tuesday, the immediate past General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Umar Musa, said that preliminary investigations revealed that the police officer shot at the soldier during the altercation which clipped him in the ear but narrowly missed his vital parts.

The other soldiers reacted to the shot fired by the police officer and this led to their beating the policeman to death, he said.

The police officers were attacked by the soldiers while controlling traffic in the Ojo area of the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

The soldiers were reportedly driving against traffic and were stopped by the police officers.

But they refused and pounced on the officers, beating them severely leading to the death of a police officer.

Police account

The police described Mr Musas account of the incident as misinformation.

The fact remains that on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the Trade Fair area of Lagos State, about thirty privates of the Nigerian Army attacked five policemen for stopping vehicles along their lane to pave way for a heavy duty truck joining the expressway, the statement read.

After the soldiers had brutalised the ASP leading the team, taken out his magazine, and abducted two Inspectors with their rifles, the next Inspector they attempted to attack fired a single shot into the air  an act that made the soldiers retreat.

The single shot was into the air. At no point was anyone hit. The Lagos State Police Command challenges the Army authorities to present the soldier allegedly shot.

The police urged the public to disregard claims by the army general that its officer shot a soldier.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command eagerly awaits the report of the panel of inquiry set up by the Nigerian Army to investigate the immediate and remote cause of the incident, he said.

The Command equally looks forward to the fishing out of the soldiers behind the torture and murder of Inspector Monday Orukpe; and the return of two AK47 rifles and three magazines carted away by the soldiers, in line with the pledge made by the Nigerian Army as conveyed by Brigadier-General KN Nwoko during a condolence visit to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Ablabi, fdc.
The Tinubu Campaign Organisation (TCO) has cautioned supporters of the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, to stop spreading falsehood capable of misinforming Nigerians.

Director, Media and Communications, Tinubu Campaign Organisation, Bayo Onanuga, made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said such falsehood and disinformation would not win elections.

Mr Onanuga, who also asked Mr Obi to caution his supporters, urged them to allow the 2023 election circle be about issues that would advance the growth, progress and stability of the country.

He admonished Mr Obi to get his supporters to desist from spreading lies, malice and denigrating other presidential candidates, especially Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria would be better and the electoral process enriched if the 2023 presidential campaigns are about issues of good governance aimed at lifting millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

He added that the 2023 electioneering campaigns should not be dominated by the ravings of guttersnipes, who do not wish the country well.

Mr Onanuga noted that the TCO saw the need to appeal to the LP flagbearer to caution his supporters after investigating the origin of a recent fake report in circulation.

He said the report had claimed that the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, wrote a letter to Mr Tinubu, APC presidential candidate, asking him to support Mr Obi and take care of his health.

He said the Ghana president via his official Twitter account had vehemently debunked the fake news as a product of deliberate mischief with the intent to deceive the public.

I have written no such letter to the APC leader, and it will not occur to me to do so. Ghana and Nigeria boast of decades of cordial, strong and brotherly relations,

And I am not going to be the one to interfere in the internal affairs and politics of Nigeria, Mr Onanuga quoted the Ghana president as saying via his Twitter account.

He added that the TCO had found out that the fake letter from Akufo-Addo was first published on June 22 by a rogue platform, whose url is worlsnews.space and site identity was World of News.

Mr Onanuga said a content analysis of the site clearly showed that it was a Biafra news platform.

According to him, the fake news was reposted on Facebook by Peter Obi Support Group, same day, showing that Biafra campaigners and Peter Obi supporters are the same.

Both the Facebook account and the website are replete with fake stories about Bola Tinubu, including a fake story credited to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State alleging that Tinubu demanded N50 billion monthly payment from him.

The spuriousness of the statement is in the evidence that Lagos did not begin to clock N50 billion revenue until after Ambode left office.

Tinubu could not have demanded N50 billion monthly payment from Ambode when the state government didnt make such in a month throughout the tenure of Ambode, Mr Onanuga said.

He added that the pirate website, which the Facebook account feeds on, also parades malicious fake news and headlines without supporting stories.

The big surprise in all of these is that all the headlines have no supporting stories, and clicking them may bring virus to your computer.

We have come to a point where it becomes imperative to tell Obi to show leadership.

He should disavow his supporters who are employing fake news and disinformation as deliberate tools to deceive and poison the minds of unsuspecting Nigerians, Mr Onanuga said.

(NAN)
Towards ensuring that African challenges are addressed by Africans by deploying both human and natural resources the continent is endowed with, a non-governmental organisation is championing the review of educational curricula across Africa.

The group, Prakis Educational Services (Pty) Limited, has criticised what it described as Africas adaptation of the curricula of their colonisers saying the system has only built a culture of training Africans for others use.

In a press statement, the transnational organisation explained that due to colonialism, most African countries were compelled to copy their colonisers curricula to participate in the global world.

The statement, which was signed by the groups Chief Executive Officer, Aderemi Obilana, was issued ahead of its summit scheduled to hold in Pretoria, South Africa.

Mr Obilana noted that despite liberation, many countries in Africa have not fully decolonised their curricula, adding that the issues with Africa seeking expatriates from the western countries and continuing to be a consuming and not a producing continent needs to be confronted now.

The statement read in part: Its a known fact that African countries suffered colonialism for centuries, such as in politics, trade, culture, education, etc.

For over 400 years, African countries were colonised by different European countries, for instance, Mozambique was colonised by Portugal, South Africa by the Netherlands and Britain, Mali by France, Libya by Italy, Burundi by Belgium, etc.

As a result, most African countries were compelled to copy their colonisers curriculum. This practice has been a cause for African states to design their educational curriculum to please the colonisers thinking that it is the right way to participate in the global world.

International Conference

To address these issues, the organisation is hosting a conference known as PRAKISIEC for educational stakeholders and interested communities to deliberate and proffer solutions to the educational issues within the African continent.

The conference is in partnership with the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), Pan- African Parliament, African Career Development Centre (ACDC), Nigeria High Commission, Pretoria, among other partners.

The organisers noted that the conference will mark the launch of the annual series of PRAKISIEC seeking to create a platform wherein there will be an exchange of ideas, knowledge, and experiences between the education implementers, planners, designers, academics, researchers, ministers of education in African states, African high commissioners, and other stakeholders.

It noted that a working document will be compiled from the deliberations, resolutions, and recommendations of the conference.

Expected guests

The group said the conference will be opened by Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, while the Ooni of Ile-Ife in Nigeria, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, will serve as the global royal ambassador.

It said the duo shall be leading and championing the Transformation of Education agenda in Africa.

It added that the keynote speakers are the President, the Republic of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera; Olu Aina, a Nigerian emeritus professor, among other eminent Africans.
The immediate past General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Umar Musa, on Tuesday said investigations were still ongoing concerning a police officer, Monday Orukpe, allegedly killed by some soldiers in Lagos last Thursday.

Mr Musa, a Major-General, disclosed this on Tuesday while handing over to the new GOC, 81 Division, Obinna Ajunwa, at the Divisions Headquarters on Victoria Island, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Thursday, 4 August, a disagreement occurred between some soldiers and police officers near Ojo in Lagos State, leading to the death of Mr Orukpe, an Inspector.

The soldiers were reportedly driving against traffic when the police officers stopped them.

Mr Musa said that preliminary investigations revealed that the police officer shot at the soldier during the altercation which clipped him in the ear but narrowly missed his vital parts.

The other soldiers reacted to the shot fired by the police officer and this led to their beating the policeman to death.

We have paid a condolence visit to the Commissioner of Police to tell him that we will take necessary measures to prevent future occurrences of such nature.

The injured soldier is in the hospital receiving treatment and investigation is ongoing to ascertain the next line of action to be taken, he said.

It would be recalled that Mr Orukpe serving with the Lagos State Police Command died from the torture he allegedly received from soldiers who attacked him and his colleagues in the Trade Fair area of Lagos State.

Another Inspector, Igbafe Ojo, who was reportedly tortured by the same soldiers, had been hospitalised at the military hospital in Ojo Military Cantonment, where doctors said he was receiving treatment.

It was reported that the soldiers were on their way to attend a training programme at the Ojo Military Cantonment on Wednesday when the bus transporting them to the down encountered mild traffic around the Trade Fair area of the Lagos Badagry Expressway.

Mr Musa also advised the personnel of the division to give the new GOC the necessary cooperation needed so that the division could move to greater heights.

I urge you all to be loyal, dedicated and redouble your efforts to surmount the current security challenges the country is facing.

We are all aware of how threats are spreading all over the country and we are doing our best to ensure that we curtail all these activities.

I assure the civilian populace that the army is doing its best to ensure that the country remains peaceful, he said.

Mr Musa encouraged the media to continue to give correct reportage and publicity concerning the activities of the Nigerian Army so that the bandits would know that they were being subdued.

Also speaking, the new GOC, Mr Ajunwa, a Major-General, said he would strive to identify the security gaps in the state and deploy strategies to mitigate them.

(NAN)
A former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, has described the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as the most successful Nigerian governor ever. He also condemned those attacking Mr Tinubu over his health.

Mr Nnamani, however, said he would vote for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election.

In a Twitter thread posted around 1:18 a.m. on Wednesday on his verified handle, Mr Nnamani, who represents Enugu East Senatorial District on PDPs ticket, poured encomium on Mr Tinubu but said his vote is covered by the umbrella per my party, PDP and our candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Both Messrs Tinubu and Nnamani served as governors of Lagos and Enugu State respectively from 1999 to 2007. The former is currently in the Senate, where he is a colleague of Mr Tinubus spouse, Oluremi Tinubu.

In the tweet, Mr Nnamani praised the former Lagos State governor for the reforms in the administration of criminal justice, education, healthcare and employment of non-indigenes.

He noted that the presidential candidate of the APC had the best mentorship system in the country.

I had cause to engage with him on jobs for Enugu spouses. In the Education Sector he introduced Tutor General and raised the bar for earning by teachers, Mr Nnamani tweeted.

He left a lasting legacy of hardwork in Lagos State in infrastructure (roads and housing).

When Bola Ahmed Tinubu was governor, Lagos states IGR rose from 600 million Naira per month to over 8 billion Naira per month. He had an impressive track record as a governor.

His state contributed more than 30% to our countrys GDP, accounted for more than 65% of industrial investment in Nigeria, 80% of its international trade, and collected more than 60% of the countrys value-added tax.

In the area of human capacity, his mentorship was first class and his mentees have spread out and like little acorns, many have become giant oak trees in Nigerias political firmaments.

Attacking Tinubus health is callous

Mr Nnamani also opposed the campaigns targeted against the health of Mr Tinubu, stating that they (campaigns) are products of foolishness and ignorance.

Mr Tinubus health has been a subject of debate, particularly on social media. He has become the subject of several memes on social media.

Last week, a video surfaced online, where members of the Pyrates Confraternity chanted slogans targetting the health of Mr Tinubu.

In the video, the Pyrates members, who were marking the 70th anniversary of the group, donned their traditional red and white attire, and sang a song about a presidential candidate whose hands and feet are shaking, yet he is saying it is my turn.

Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, a foundation member of the group, in a statement, rebuked them for the song.

In the thread, Mr Nnamani said as a Health worker I am amazed by the ignorance, foolishness, wickedness and

callousness of these idiotic operators.

I believe they are unwarranted, extremely unprofessional, and have no place in our polity. As the GenZ grow and Nigeria merges with the new world, they will cry at the foibles of their progenitors.

Get it folks, life is turn by turn limited (apology Uncle Bode). These actions which bleed my heart personally are of public records. History and The Almighty will be very harsh to these bad political comedians.

He listed some U.S. presidents with physical challenges that served meritoriously and added that there is no evidence that Mr Tinubu has dementia.

Caution your wife against anti-Igbo statements

Mr Nnamani urged the APC candidate to reach out to the people of the South-east and to caution his wife against anti-Igbo statements.

Bola Tinubu needs to work on improving relationships with many others especially my people the Igbo. He needs to lead by advocacy, example, practice and open-mindedness in assuaging the feeling and ongoing hostility to the Igbo in Lagos.

ALSO READ: Pyrates Confraternity reacts to viral video mocking Tinubu

I also condemn the castigation of Igbo by my highly distinguished colleague HE Oluremi Tinubu, done under whatever circumstances. The Igbo can not apologise for exploring the limits of achieving the Trinity of her character, he tweeted.

Last week, Mr Nnamani drew the ire of the supporters of the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, with a tweet that described the Obidient Movement as a bandwagon.

He warned the people of Enugu State not to vote LP, noting that it would affect the governorship and House of Assembly seats in the state.

We cannot lay foundation for another political party and expect to umbrella on it 2 weeks later. NOT in Enugu! Not in ebeano country Lets cut the ,,, and muuuvvvveee.

Politics is SERIOUS business. Not romantic Liason. We meet in February. May the majority win Enugu. We cannot afford Bandwagon and loose Governorship and State Assemblies.

Obidients Bye Bye for now. You win we congratulate you, after all, we are kinsmen. We win we meet again and roll.
The Nigerian government has promised to support the campaign against the mandatory English Proficiency Tests for Nigerians moving to the United Kingdom (UK) for either study or job opportunities.

The campaign, which is tagged; #ReformIELTS Policy, was initiated by Policy Shapers, a public policy organisation.

The Permanent Secretary at Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gabriel Aduda, made the pledge when he met with a delegation from Policy Shapers and Change.org in Abuja, at the weekend.

The campaigners were at the ministry to seek support for the campaign and addition of Nigeria to the list of the UKs Majority English Speaking Countries (MESC).

Earlier in 2021, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had also pledged that the Nigerian government would work to address the issue.

Receiving campaign documents, Mr Aduda thanked the campaigners for the initiative and expressed the willingness of the ministry to ensure that the issue is resolved diplomatically.

Speaking, Founder of Policy Shapers, Ebenezar Wikina said: We have now submitted up to 20 pages of evidence as requested by the UK government to validate Nigerias exemption from English proficiency exams.

He noted that the data submitted to the UK has been drawn from several veritable sources including, the United Nations, West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the World Bank, and Education Firsts annual English proficiency index.

Meanwhile, the Training Coordinator, Change.org Nigeria, Weyinmi Eribo, told Mr Aduda that the organisation would continue to support petition initiators in Nigeria who seek to drive social change through digital advocacy.

Reaching over 15 million people in Nigeria over the past one year, she said her organisations mandate is to raise a new generation of changemakers.

Over six universities recently exempted Nigerians and Anglo-Africans from taking English Proficiency tests through the efforts of other #ReformIELTS campaigners such as Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi, Kelvin Alaneme, Uche Levi, among others.

Some of the institutions include the University of Oregon, Clemson University, Athabasca University, and University of Texas at Austin.

Back story

Nigerians have accused the UK of commercialising the tests, which costs more than three times Nigerias current minimum wage.

Almost 80,000 people have signed the petition started by Policy Shapers for the UK to reform its policy and add Nigeria to the Majority English Speaking Country (MESCs) list and allow Nigerians access to study or job opportunities in the country without taking the tests.

Policy Shapers wondered why Nigerians whose official language is English and have learnt the language since elementary school, need to prove their proficiency to the UK.

When the UK Home Office insisted that there must be public evidence that the majority of Nigerians speak English before it would be included in the MESC list, Policy Shapers replied.

The organisation said Nigeria ranks third in Africa and 30th globally in the annual Education First English Proficiency Index over the past five years; the United Nations projects that 62 per cent of Nigerias population is under 25 years and has a tech-savvy generation with 75 per cent literacy in English; and Nigeria has a 62.5 per cent pass rate in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) with nearly five million English credits recorded between 2016 and 2021.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe
An Ekiti State High court on Wednesday sentenced a 40- year-old man, Oladipupo Seun, to 16 years in prison for attempted rape and assault of a minor.

But the accused had argued before the court that the said victim was his girlfriend and that they were only romancing when he was caught by her father.

In his judgment, Justice Adekunle Adeleye said the prosecution had proved the charges against Mr Seun.

I have evidence before me that the defendant assaulted Mariam intentionally, the judge said.

I have no doubt in my mind that it was the defendant and no other person that assaulted Mariam at the midnight of 18th February, 2021.

The prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant assaulted Mariam indecently. He is found guilty as charged on both counts one and two accordingly.

The defendant is hereby convicted as charged in counts one and two contrary to the provisions of 359 and 360 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C16 Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

On count 1, the defendant is sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. On count 2, the defendant is hereby sentenced to two years imprisonment.

The charge details indicated that the defendant on the 19th February, 2021 at Igede Ekiti in Irepodun/Ifelodun area of Ekiti State, within the jurisdiction of the court, attempted to rape one 18 -year old Mariam.

The offences, according to the charge, contravened sections 359, and 360 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

In her statement, the victim alleged that the defendant came to their house around 11:00 p.m. on the said day without a formal invite.

When he entered our room, he rough-handled me and covered my mouth with cloth and tried to forcefully have sexual intercourse with me, she said.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Folasade Alli, called two witnesses and tendered defendants and victims statements including a medical report as exhibit.

The defendant in his defence through his counsel, Helen Akinboni, denied the allegation of rape.

The victim is my girlfriend. we were only romancing in the room when her father came in, the defendant had said.

I ran away because I was afraid of her father, who came to arrest me on the second day.
The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, is billed to attend the congress of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU) chapter of the union on Thursday.

A statement by the Secretary of the chapter of the union, Kayode Atilade, noted that Mr Osodeke will address the congress on the status of its struggles.

Though Mr Atilade did not disclose the specific issues to be addressed by the President, the visit may not be unconnected to the raging conflicts between the union and the university management especially over the sharing of the earned academic allowance recently released by the government.

The universitys chapter of ASUU is also at loggerheads with a breakaway faction under the umbrella of the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA), and Mr Osodeke was fingered as one of the major protagonists in the crisis.

Osodeke versus CONUA

The leadership of CONUA on the campus has consistently accused Mr Osodeke of being a major culprit in the leadership crisis that rocked the union on the campus, which it said forced some members to form a parallel union in 2018.

CONUA was founded after the expulsion of some ASUU members of the union on the campus over leadership crisis.

Mr Osodeke, before becoming the unions president, headed a committee set up by the national leadership of ASUU to investigate the crisis rocking the OAU branch at the time.

The crisis had been traced to the selection process of the universitys 11th substantive vice-chancellor in 2016, with members accusing the then leadership of ASUU on the campus of tilting its scale towards a particular candidate.

The crisis had also consumed the then outgoing and 10th substantive vice-chancellor of the university, Bamitale Omole, who was molested by the non-academic staff union members on the campus and chased out of the institution. Mr Omole was unable to successfully complete his term.

Some ASUU members had accused Mr Osodeke of submitting to the union leadership a report that was completely against the facts on ground.

Osodeke in fact is a fundamental factor in the OAU crisis, said Niyi Sunmonu, National Coordinator of CONUA.

But Mr Osodeke has constantly denied this, and accused the aggrieved members of wanting him to ignore the facts of the matter then, but to write a report that favoured them.

CONUA not on strike

The leadership of CONUA has also said it is not part of the ongoing strike by ASUU led by Mr Osodeke.

CONUA noted that its members continued to work at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, until other workers unions declared industrial action.

ASUU has been on strike since 14 February, demanding better funding for the university system and better remuneration for its members.

ASUU is demanding the implementation of the renegotiated 2009 agreement with the Nigerian government as well as the deployment of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) to replace the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) used by the government for the payment of its members emoluments.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe.
A petroleum marketer, A-Z Petroleum Products Ltd, has asked the House of Representatives to help in recovering N30 billion owed by the Federal Government.

Hafford Udochukwu, the representative of the firm, made the plea on Wednesday while appearing before the House ad hoc committee investigating the daily consumption of petroleum.

Mr Udochukwu said the federal government has a liability of N30 billion after the firm supplied 245.89 million litres of PMS in 2015, 26.27 million litres in 2017 and 26.64 million litres in 2018.

He stated that the government stopped payment in 2017 putting the company out of business. He asked the panel to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Finance to settle the debt.

We have not been paid since 2017 and because of that we stopped trading in PMS. We are being owed over N30 billion by the government for subsidy differentials and because of that, we have stopped trading.

We have not been trading on PMS, we are kind of handicapped. Severally (sic), we have written to the ministry. They have paid others but we have not been paid. In fact, we went to court two months ago.

We are asking the committee to prevail on the Ministry of Finance so that they can pay us the outstanding, he said.

In his ruling, the Chairman of the Committee, Abdulkadir Abdullahi (APC, Kano), asked Mr Udochukwu to supply the committee with relevant documents to help in the intervention.

Meanwhile, another committee investigating subsidy regime from 2013 to 2022 also met to investigate all traders involved in the direct sales and direct purchase deal.

Members of the committee raised concerns on the crude oil for petrol deal when representatives of Hyde Oil appeared before them.

Mark Gbillah (PDP, Benue) lamented that government keeps on giving out crude oil without getting other byproducts aside from PMS.

Mr Gbillah quizzed Abdulwahab Oseni, the representative of Hyde Oil, on the byproducts from crude oil in the DSDP deal.

He said, There is more value addition in the refining of crude. This is part of the things we have issues with in this country. There is more value to a barrel of crude after refining than when you just sell the barrel. What is happening to the byproducts from our crude?

Mr Oseni responded that oil marketers involved in the DSDP deal are not involved in refining products.

In our DSDP contract with NNPC, they did not ask us to refine the product. They did not ask us to give them the value of each of the byproducts, he said.

He added, There is no obligation under the DSDP contract for us to refine the petroleum product. As a trading company, we trade the cargos and then we bring the cargoes at the time they asked us.

Controversy over oil subsidy

The federal government has projected that fuel subsidy is expected to gulp N6.7 trillion in 2023.

The government disclosed this in its draft fiscal strategy paper for 2023 through 2025, presented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Petrol subsidy is billed to consume N4 trillion in 2022, a major cost for a country running a total annual budget of over N17 trillion, and a projected revenue of N10 trillion.

The government had in January suspended its planned removal of subsidy after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) threatened to embark on mass protests.
The Chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Abdulrasheed Bawa on Wednesday, 10 August , at the Commissions headquarters in Abuja presented awards to the three winners of the 2021 EFCC Essay competition titled: How to Fight Economic and Financial Crimes to Make Nigeria Great.

The winners, Ehizogie Iyeomoan, an undergraduate student of Law at the Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, Edo State; Omotoso Abiola Sodiq, an Engineering student at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State and Zeenat Magaji an undergraduate of Cyber Security at the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, who emerged first, second and third best winners, respectively, were among the over 5,000 entries received by the Commission.

The EFCC Chairperson, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who lavished encomiums on the winners for distinguishing themselves in the service of the country, admonished other youths to tow the path of honour rather than crime by making Nigeria Great.

We encourage you not only to serve as role models but change agents by shunning all acts of corruption and economic crimes.

It is no use lamenting that things are not right with our country. We are inviting you to invite others to lend a hand in helping us build a society, he said.

While assuring that the Commission will painstakingly look into the suggestions contained in the winning essays, the EFCC Chair advised the winners to be good ambassadors of the Commission.

Mr Bawa also commended the judges for a job well done for being able to arrive at the selection of winners from the over 5000 entries. The EFCC boss promised to institutionalise the essay competition as an annual event to enable other Nigerians to lend their voices to the anti-graft fight.

The five eminent Nigerians from the academia and the media who were carefully selected to screen and assess the over five thousand entries submitted were: Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Dean, Faculty of Mass Communication, Baze University, Abuja; Dr Amina Salihu, Senior Programme Officer, MacArthur Foundation, Abuja; Dr Chido Onumah, Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) Abuja; Mrs Maupe-Ogun-Yusuf, Editor, Channels TV, Abuja and Mr Ade Adesomoju, Head, Anti-corruption, Human Rights & Judiciary Desk, Premium Times.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

10th August 2022
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who defected to Labour Party last month after losing at the PDP primaries, has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.

Mr Rhodes-Vivour, 39, defeated Moshood Salvador at the Labour Party governorship substitution primaries held in Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday.

He polled 111 delegate votes against Mr Salvadors 102.

Mr Salvador, a former PDP chairman in the state, also defected to Labour Party last month.

The deputy national chairman, Lamidi Apapa, announced that 215 accredited voters cast their votes in the primary election.

The election recorded two void votes.

A third prospective guber candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi, did not participate in the primaries.

Mr Gbadamosi, a former member of the PDP, defected to the Labour Party and declared his intention to run for governor in 2023.

A former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Party and a former Lagos East Senatorial Candidate of the PDP, he sought donations via his Twitter handle to pick the partys governorship form.

The substitution primaries held despite protests by the partys INEC-recognised guber, Ifagbemi Awamaridi, that he has not withdrawn his candidature.

According to the 2022 Electoral Act, the only means of replacing a candidate before an election are through voluntary withdrawal or death.

Rowdy session

The substitution primaries was initially scheduled for last Monday, but Mr Salvador protested the doctoring of the delegates list, forcing the organisers to postpone the event.

On Wednesday, before the process began, LP state chairman, Kayode Salako, said the party was supposed to have four contestants but we have two today.

During the process, a party member had called out a delegate to cast his vote.

The name of the delegate was Abiodun Christiana Menu but the delegates from Mr Salvadors camp opposed his voting saying that Christiana is the name of a female.

This resulted in a heated argument among the delegates.

But an agent from Mr Rhodes-Vivours camp said the Christiana is a typographical error and the delegates name is Christian.

Placeholder

Speaking to journalists after he was announced the winner, Mr Rhodes-Vivour said that the election was credible and transparent.

He also said that he will reach out to Mr Awamaridi, the partys candidate recognized by the electoral body, INEC.

He is somebody that we are going to reach out to and make sure that he is going to be part of the campaign and everything that we are ongoing, he said.

Because he is a strong party man. And we are going to ensure that he is carried along.

This is a substitution exercise, INEC is here and Im sure by the time they publish their final list, you will see a reflection of this process that has happened.

Mr Awamaridi could not be reached for comments on Wednesday night. He did not respond to phone calls and text messages.

Reaction

However, Mr Salvador condemned the electoral process.

I reject the result in totality. I decided to be gentle, to be quiet and study what was going on, he said.

He claimed that one of the delegates voted three times.

Mr Salvador added that the next step is left to the party if they really want to win in the election.

He also said that he wont disclose his personal step in the matter.
One who is loved, never dies.  C.S. Lewis

I will always be grateful for the privilege I had to interact with him, albeit briefly. During our engagements, he demonstrated to me quite clearly the power of hope, through his optimism, energy, and cooperative disposition. For me, and for others involved in security management, our highest tribute to General Attahiru, would be to walk in his footsteps, and to throw ourselves with unalloyed commitment at the fight which remains before us.

Certain people we meet in the course of our lives become so important to our reality, that permanent separation from them is something the mind can never fully comprehend. The duration of meeting may not be long; it is the intensity and impact that linger in the memory.

Death is an inevitable end, but some people are simply larger than life, or should I say, death. Many times, it is easier to forget that they are no longer with us. We visualise their expressions, remember their presence, and hear their voices clearly in our heads as we recall conversations with them. For those who were known to the wider society, their work remains a landmark to their lives, however short. The happiness of a memory quickly mixes with the sad recollection of absence.

It is with such mixed feelings, but mostly with a sense of great honour, that I remember, on what would have been Lt. General Ibrahim Attahirus 56th birthday, a man of immense character, discipline, selfless service and dedication, above and beyond the call of duty. With a sense of supreme privilege and humility, I pay a post-humous birthday tribute to Attahiru, who was in all ramifications, a consummate officer and a gentleman, and truly a soldiers soldier.

As we commemorate him today, it would not be out of place to remember him as a nation builder and a true patriot in his own right, who served his country impeccably in a stellar military career through which he rose admirably to become the 25th Chief of Army Staff.

It is in his final role that many  including myself  will most potently remember General Attahiru. Upon his sudden and tragic demise in May last year, I recalled his reassuring ebullient presence, underneath which he carried the determination, discipline, and professionalism of a born soldier. I reflected on his attentiveness and enthusiasm in our fight against banditry, terrorism, and general insecurity in our state, and in the region at large. I remembered then, as I do now, his crystal-clear vision and passion for the Nigerian Army.

Beyond all that General Attahiru was in his professional sphere and in the limelight, we must not fail to remember him simply as a human being, as a father, as a man who lived by a creed of openness and accessibility. At the launch of the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation earlier this year, we heard about the man behind the uniform  Ibrahim Attahiru, the family man, the loving husband who never failed to put a smile on the face of his wife, Fati.

That is the General Ibrahim Attahiru with whom I was blessed to interact. I also know that he is fondly remembered within military circles as a leader who reached out to the men under his command, and even to all who came under his care, and he looked out for them.

In contemplating the lives of great Generals, we wonder if the uniform makes the man, or if it is the man who fills up the uniform he wears. Beyond all that General Attahiru was in his professional sphere and in the limelight, we must not fail to remember him simply as a human being, as a father, as a man who lived by a creed of openness and accessibility. At the launch of the General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation earlier this year, we heard about the man behind the uniform  Ibrahim Attahiru, the family man, the loving husband who never failed to put a smile on the face of his wife, Fati. We learnt of the doting and devoted father to Aisha Farrah, Zainab Maliha and Fatima Iman, who made it a priority to spend quality time with his three lovely daughters, encouraging them in their faith, in their academics, guiding them in their social lives and always letting them know that he was proud of them.

His job and its attendant demands notwithstanding, he made time to be a father and a friend to his daughters, and through his charm and courage, mentored them. These are the actions that will forever remain priceless in the lives of his wife and children, and they reflect the dedication with which General Attahiru conducted himself even outside the spotlight.

I will always be grateful for the privilege I had to interact with him, albeit briefly. During our engagements, he demonstrated to me quite clearly the power of hope, through his optimism, energy, and cooperative disposition. For me, and for others involved in security management, our highest tribute to General Attahiru, would be to walk in his footsteps, and to throw ourselves with unalloyed commitment at the fight which remains before us.

The General Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation which was launched at the one-year memorial of his demise, will seek to cement and transmit the legacy of the man, and the virtues which he typified; the values of strength, dignity, commitment to excellence, leadership, tenacity, openness, accessibility, mentorship, and fatherhood. It is upon such values that nations are built. It is these virtues which have led to so many honouring him today, on the 56th anniversary of his birth, to celebrate what he stood for in his life, and indeed the way he represented the Nigerian Army with distinction for nearly 35 years.

 today we salute the memory of a patriot, and (I am privileged to say) a companion and ally, who would have turned 56. We celebrate with honour, the memory of a mentor, a brother, a father, a husband. We commemorate the birth, the life and the times of a quintessential soldier, a true General, who exited the arena suddenly, in the middle of a war, and more so, in the line of duty.

Today, once again, it is right that we celebrate the legacy of a hero, as we also continue to immortalise his love for service, knowledge and impact. It is a mark of honour, and a tribute to his memory. He is no longer with us, but he lives on in the quality of life that he lived; a life, cut short just shy of 55 years on this earth. We are saddened at the fact of his absence, but we are reminded by so many aspects of his legacy, that truly, he lived.

And so today we salute the memory of a patriot, and (I am privileged to say) a companion and ally, who would have turned 56. We celebrate with honour, the memory of a mentor, a brother, a father, a husband. We commemorate the birth, the life and the times of a quintessential soldier, a true General, who exited the arena suddenly, in the middle of a war, and more so, in the line of duty.

In remembering him on the day of his birth, we ensure that the torch of his legacy and ideals will continue to burn brightly, to inspire and lead, as he did.

For truly, one who is loved, never dies.

Samuel Aruwan is Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.
 it is no wonder that the Kaduna-State-born General hit the ground running immediately after he was appointed COAS. From his experience as Theatre Commander, Attahiru knew that the war against insecurity in Nigeria would produce no result without active collaboration between the armed forces on one hand, and the government and the general populace on the other.

General Attahiru always led from the front. I remember when we were at Operation Lafiya Dole. He was always abreast of events. It helped that I had been there ahead of him, so we could compare notes. Many things got one angry about the situation on the ground but we got by. He believed in taking the battle to the enemy. Dont wait for them. This philosophy continued even when he became Chief of Army Staff and that helped a lot.  Major Gen. Ben Ahanotu, The man, the soldier, the patriot, 2022, p.92.

For everyone who knew Ibrahim Attahiru (Nigerias immediate past Chief of Army Staff) and his single-minded determination to end insecurity in Nigeria, every attack reported anywhere in the country must be a real trauma. This is more so on a day like today, August 10, when Attahiru would have turned 56.

And it is easy to see why, one day, these folks thought they could see the end of it all and now, insecurity has taken such widespread and unprecedented dimensions that you would pinch yourself to be sure you were in the same country.

Courageous, purposeful and convinced about the capacity of his men, nearly everyone who encountered Attahiru in his official capacity had the hope that light was at the end of the long dark tunnel of terrorism and all forms of banditry that Nigeria had coped with before the January 2021 announcement that brought him into office as Nigerias 21st COAS.

Attahiru exuded confidence such that veteran journalist and military historian, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju could say in the same book: He told me things that convinced me that this man had a mission and that his choice as Chief of Army Staff was perfect. I often disagreed with the Presidents choices for top political and public service positions, but in the case of Gen Attahiru, I was happy. I had high hopes and I saw a decisive way he responded when Boko Haram took over some communities.

General Attahiru didnt last much longer in office after this conversation, but he did enough in those four months to justify the confidence people like Kolade-Otitoju had in him. He was one of those people for whom the saying: It is not how long but how well was made.

he made a success of every opportunity that he had. Despite his infantry background, he was exemplary as a spokesperson for the Army. Despite his premature removal as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole after six months, he left a legacy of historic accomplishments. He threw himself into every opportunity without bitterness; whether it was a staff, teaching, or command appointment, he went confident that every single posting brought him closer to his destiny.

In Attahirus case, this statement is not just suitable about his four-month tenure as COAS, but also about life, which ended at the relatively young age of 54. He was like one of those straight trees, which easily attract the logger and his saw.

But death has got nothing on men of vision. Such men are the ones about whom the English metaphysical poet, John Donne, in his sonnet, Death Be Not Proud, said:  for those whom thou thinkst thou dost overthrow, Die not Attahiru was a man of vision, and men of vision dream, plan to actualise their dreams, mobilise others to believe, and act swiftly on their dreams. Even if a far-sighted man had two days, he would inspire transformations that people would talk about for years to come. That is why visionaries dont die, and it is why Attahirus memory will remain evergreen.

I am told that every cadet who gets into the Nigerian Defence Academy is trained and equipped for leadership. Even though you have loads of classmates who are as qualified as you are, you also aspire and prepare for the day when you may be called to serve. This place of readiness was where the call to be Chief of Army Staff met Ibrahim Attahiru on January 26, 2021.

Those who knew him from childhood speak of him as deliberate, brilliant, and considerate. He was studious, disciplined, and detribalised at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). As an officer, he was committed and loyal to the country, sought the good of others, and was ever in pursuit of excellence. At every point in his life, Attahiru was in search of knowledge, not just for himself but for those who worked with him. No wonder he made a success of every opportunity that he had. Despite his infantry background, he was exemplary as a spokesperson for the Army. Despite his premature removal as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole after six months, he left a legacy of historic accomplishments. He threw himself into every opportunity without bitterness; whether it was a staff, teaching, or command appointment, he went confident that every single posting brought him closer to his destiny.

So, it is no wonder that the Kaduna-State-born General hit the ground running immediately after he was appointed COAS. From his experience as Theatre Commander, Attahiru knew that the war against insecurity in Nigeria would produce no result without active collaboration between the armed forces on one hand, and the government and the general populace on the other.

This inspired the decision to change the code name of the fight against insurgency in the North-east from Operation Lafiya Dole (peace by force) to Operation Hadin kai (lets put heads together). To further his idea of effective collaboration, his administration of the army approved capacity-building programmes for General Officers Commanding and Brigade Commanders on improving relationships with the civil populace within the few months he was in office. At about the same time, spokespersons for the Army across the country gathered in a room to discuss how to improve army communications. He travelled over the country to spread the gospel of peace and was heavy on deploying the stick and the carrots, as the occasion demanded. As he was, he knew that not all wars needed to be won on the battlefield.

Attahiru loved God without question, he loved men, women, and children without limits, and he loved Nigeria with his last breath! At home, he was a husband and father, indeed. Just as he proved to be a worthy son, brother, and friend to everyone he owed those responsibilities to. This man did nothing in half-measures. He was a man, complete in every sense of the word, a soldiers soldier and a friend of the world, for which some of his close allies called him, Intercontinental.

Two other things that were paramount to the late COAS were the welfare of men and officers of the Nigerian Army and the supply of equipment with which they would prosecute the war. Attahiru believed that every soldier, from the Private to the General, had a role to play in the success of operations, and he did his best to ensure that everyone felt a sense of Nigerias appreciation of their sacrifices. In return, he won the love and commitment of his colleagues and men. His officers and men showed this when they carried out his instruction to recover Marte and Dikwa from Boko Haram insurgents within 24 hours! He was determined to end Nigerias war against insecurity and seemed to have charted the course to achieving that.

Attahiru was a Nigerian for whom neither tribe nor religion was a barrier. He had friends with whom he shared the best moments of life across all faiths and tribes in Nigeria. He was also a man of compassion who paid special attention to widows and orphans. Friends from Nigeria and beyond speak glowingly of his readiness to lend a helping hand whenever he was called on.

For everyone who knew Ibrahim Attahiru, it is impossible to forget him; more so with intractable security problems, which he seemed to have so much confidence about ending. He shared his enthusiasm that insecurity would become history in a matter of months with everyone. It was like he had a magic wand that would free Nigeria of it all. Whatever it was, it infected everyone around him with hope. They all looked forward to that day when Nigeria would be free but see us now!

Attahiru loved God without question, he loved men, women, and children without limits, and he loved Nigeria with his last breath! At home, he was a husband and father, indeed. Just as he proved to be a worthy son, brother, and friend to everyone he owed those responsibilities to. This man did nothing in half-measures. He was a man, complete in every sense of the word, a soldiers soldier and a friend of the world, for which some of his close allies called him, Intercontinental.

So, as his wife, Fati, their children, family and friends celebrate his posthumous birthday today, one can only pray that his illustrious soul continues to rest in peace, and that the dreams he had for Nigeria come to pass quickly.

Niran Adedokun is a public relations practitioner, lawyer and writer.
Introduction

Religion is currently being deployed most shamelessly by the elites to gain unmerited advantage. The earlier we stop this dangerous and divisive campaign, the better it will be for everyone. Any war fought to establish the supremacy of a faith over others can only end in tears. The manipulative skills of politicians currently put to use will aggravate an already bad situation.

The solution to the challenges faced in the country will not be found in the faiths of individuals. A persons religious persuasion is based on personal conviction. It is essentially private. The public space must remain secular. Consequently, the current agitations for a faith-based political representation are anchored on certain misapprehension of the requirements for leadership in a multi-ethnic state such as Nigeria. It borders on plain mischief to set the people on themselves to attain political power. Any so-called religious leader, who ignores knowledge and competence as necessary criteria to measure leadership capacity, is an apostate.

Nigeria: Redefinition for Greatness

Our country, Nigeria, is on the course for redefinition. The transition from the traditional societies, brought under a colonial administration to an independent state, has not been smooth. Amidst the fits and starts, which have characterized the journey towards nationhood, we make bold to assert that the country is not without hope. It does not really require incurable optimism to imagine that this potentially great country will actualize the dreams of the founding fathers, who labored to wrestle political power from the British, to forge a nation from the crucible of colonialism.

The geo-political space, known as Nigeria, did not just happen. The momentous events, which culminated in the amalgamation of the disparate, diverse and deeply heterogenous groups, communities and nations, should be a reason for continual interrogations until the amalgam of ethnic nationalities is set on path of socio-economic development. The usual facile recourse to cleavages, either of ethnicity or religion, signals the urgency in the necessity to address the socio-economic challenges facing the country while proffering pragmatic solutions. We must not be tired to contest ideas against all those whose activities attack freedom without which no society can aspire to greatness.

The cacophony of voices raised on mundane issues distract in the main. The manipulation of the mass of the people by the elites is not just starting. It has always been the case since the advent of the colonialists till date. The purpose is to grab political power for relevance and the attendant privileges. Beyond promises, freely given during campaigns, very few of the members of this exclusive class really spare any serious thoughts for the general well-being of the masses. Any little opportunity, offered by socio-economic crises, is appropriated to wreck maximum havoc.

The downtrodden are clothed with ethno-religious identities which suit the political whims of the manipulators. The point of difference is emphasized for maximum effect. The sentiment of religion is employed as a weapon of mass mobilization to confuse the easily impressionable. The real issues are relegated or taken down, completely, from political discourse and replaced with manipulative and emotive outbursts to achieve a desired end. The promptings and warnings of the few, who dare to think and act differently, are ignored or misrepresented. We must not be tired of joining issues with them at all times. We fail if the benefit of education does not reflect in our tactics to confront perfidy.

Religion In a Transitional Society

A transitional society is a geographical space whose social institutions are evolving. Changes in this clime are fundamental and progressive. The economy, politics, government and social institutions are evolving. The expectations of the people must also attune to the evolving realities. They must seek to understand why certain practices are no longer fashionable. They must appreciate why some tendencies are to be tolerated. Above all, there must be a remarkable shift from the level of abstraction to reality. A society in transition cannot embrace policies which promote stagnation or retrogression. Religious practice must reflect this character.

The challenges encountered by human societies in their bid to survive, since the commencement of a sedentary mode of existence, had compelled serious introspection at various stages in the course of development. The contemplation of natural phenomena and their effects on the psyche of the inhabitants of a community inspired rationality which, ultimately, birthed science. While not discounting the reality of the pervasive espousal of the unearthly, the progression of mankind has been remarkable in allowing experiences garnered from observable phenomena to guide their responses to events. Religion was central to their aspirations towards development at that time.

We have read of ancient civilizations and the roles of religion in shaping realities. We know how it played a central role in the development of ancient Egypt. The modern world still benefits from the legacies bequeathed by that civilization. Advancement in science, technology, medicine, pathology, dentistry, geometry, mathematics and architecture are traceable to the religion of the ancient Egyptians for which they considered nothing too great or insignificant for sacrifices. The quest for life after life was the consuming passion, the ultimate aim. Religious observances only lent credence to this belief.

The communal character of religion was easily seen in festivals, modes of worship and even the laws made particularly for the preservation of these communities. Individuals paid obeisance to certain deities of their preferences. There were no reported clashes among adherents of these religions as the communities claimed ownership of practices. The leaders of these traditional communities sought guidance from the adopted gods and goddesses before embarking on any serious venture. The economies of these ancient communities were developed around their beliefs.

The societies made significant progress because of the effective mobilization of the people. Labour was collectivized. No individual controlled the commanding heights of the economy as it was the case later. Communities were known for what they produced and people went to war to defend their areas of comparative advantage over others. Unemployment was almost non-existent because of the arrangement of the economy. Production was not reduced to an unprofitable exercise in bland theory. There was no division on account of religious beliefs strong enough to create disaffection among the people. Religion and communities were inseparable in a functional sense. Religion was not about personal preferences.

The transition from the traditional society to the so-called modern era engendered the introduction of new religious practices and beliefs. All the trappings of simplicity and focus disappeared with the emergence of mega societies, empires and civilisations. New religions and practices also emerged to suit the logic of expansion, adoption and adaptation. Politics is injected into religion for dominance. The history of the popular world religions, Christianity and Islam, is instructive here. There are other religions practised by a greater percentage of the world populace. The populations of the Chinese and the Indians constitute about a quarter of the worlds total demography. Majority of them are neither Christians nor Muslims. The Christians and Muslims are in the minority.

The introduction of politics into religion is not a new phenomenon. Contemporary ancient history records that it started, almost immediately after the death of Jesus Christ, when the believers increased in leaps and bounds because of the refreshing message of redemption. The Romans took advantage of the mass appeal which the new religion enjoyed among the poor people. the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Empire had little to do with piety.

Judaism had preceded Christianity as the indigenous religious practice of the Jewish people. The disciples, who survived Jesus Christ, and the converts, who were mostly the poor people in the Roman Empire, embraced the message of a better hereafter. The pervasive sentiment was appropriated by the Emperor of Constantine, AD 280-337. It was Emperor Theodosius the Great, 379-395 AD, who decreed Christianity to become the official religion of the Empire. The spread of the religion was largely because of the influence of the Roman Empire.

The religion of the Muslims, Islam, came around 622 AD through Prophet Muhammed, 570-632 AD, who claimed to have received a prophecy from Allah on the need to preach against idolatry. He was attacked in Mecca for his message and this made him to flee to Medina. He launched a counterattack on his traducers and defeated them. He was able to establish a new religion with a different set of liturgies. In virtually every country where Islam is practised today, the indigenous religious observances have been subsumed under the adopted or imposed religion.

Its spread in the Middle East and Asia was as a result of the fusion of politics into its practice. Many countries which had become theocracies rejected other forms of worship and imposed Islam as the only religion. Its incursion into Africa was not without grave consequences for the cultures and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Continent too. The seeming monolithic identity given to many erstwhile indigenous communities misrepresents the identities of the people.

The Politics of Religion In Nigeria

The contemporary history of Nigeria presents a typical template of the effects of the introduction of foreign religions into the socio-political landscape of the country. The various communities of the Southern part of the country were autonomous with distinct identities, economies and politics. These communities and settlements had their preferred modes of worship representing their worldviews. The means of production was controlled by the communities. The political leadership was not elected. It evolved through a traditional process of selection. Religion was never a factor responsible for the Kiriji War among the Yoruba towns and villages. Leadership did not emerge as a consequence of religious leanings or inclinations. Religion was communal in pre-colonial era.

There was a pan Yoruba socio-cultural affinity. The people were bound by a common ancestry, language, religion, among other traditional practices. There was evidence of cooperation among the towns and village but this co-existed with mutual suspicion, especially during the period of slave raids. The fall of the Oyo Empire led to the emergence of splinter groups whose main interest was domination or survival. The Ibadan warriors played a pivotal role in the defeat of the Fulani invaders at Osogbo. Their attempt to transmute to local colonisers after the defeat of the Fulani was resisted by the Ekiti Parapo.

This was the situation before the advent of Christianity. Islam had entered Yorubaland through old trans Sahara trade routes. There had been a considerable presence of practising Muslims in Yorubaland before Christianity came. This religion had been received through interactions with Northern traders as well as the Malians. Esin Mali was the name given to it. This religion existed with the traditional practices. There was no noticeable clash between the adherents of the two religions. There was hardly a house without the practitioners of the two religions.

The coming of Christianity and British rule changed the socio-political landscape in the region. The mode of production had been radically altered after the industrial revolution. The economy had assumed a new character and the peasants had lost their peasantry. Communal cooperation was yielding access to individualism. There was the rural-urban drift, a movement which created its problems. There were fundamental changes, not only in the politics of the new country, but also in the structure of governance. The clergy and the colonialists seemed to have formed an alliance to ensure control of the people.

The clash between the adherents of the indigenous religion and the new Christian converts, especially among the returnees from Sierra Leone and the educated Nigerians, who returned from Europe and the US to Abeokuta, was intense. Western education and Christianity offered certain advantages in a new socio-political order. Social mobility was assured once a person had evidence of some education. Being a Christian conferred some privileges. The new arrangement did not support the traditional mode of engagement.

The battle for supremacy in Egbaland took a dangerous dimension when some overzealous Christian converts denigrated traditional worshippers openly. This led to fatal clashes between the two groups. The intervention of the British Government did not solve the problem. Many Christians had to flee Abeokuta to settle in Ebute Meta, Lagos, where they founded Ago Egba. The mutual suspicion persists till date. The repudiation of traditional ways of life was considered expedient for those who craved accommodation by the colonial administration. The embrace of Christianity was, therefore, not evidence of piety or conviction. It was more a convenient platform for social climbing.

The Southeast and South regions had their indigenous religious practices before the coming of the British missionaries. The Nigerian classics, Things Fall Apart, written by the world acclaimed novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe, amply demonstrates what transpired in the traditional societies before and during the clash of two cultural observances. While the people lost their means for economic survival and had been reduced to a situation of pathetic subsistence, the elites, the deluded hybrids, who had been trained in the tradition of the western world, returned confused and disoriented.

No Longer At Ease describes the state of confusion among the educated elites in Igboland. The evident clash of cultures and the ascendancy of the foreign culture in the traditional society had its impact on the development of the region. The new elites lacked the capacity to mobilise the local leadership and the populace for serious productive activities. The inherited structure of alienation has been sustained. The entire region pretends to be Christian in all its dealings. Tradition is giving negligible preference. The people only respect certain aspects of their traditional practices such as marriage, naming ceremonies and burials.

The politics of religion in the Southeast has assumed a serious dimension. There is a very strong dichotomy between the Anglican and the Catholic adherents. Inter-marriage is almost forbidden such as it happened during the practice of the Osu caste system of segregation and discrimination. Important decisions are taken being conscious of this difference. Politicians also use this sentiment to achieve parochial objectives. The new wave of charismatic evangelism found in Pentecostal churches is just entering the Southeast with little success. Such is the deplorable extent which an alien religion has interfered in the affairs of the government and the people.

The Hausa communities possessed their distinctive identities and political systems before Islam was introduced through Jihad. The indigenous Hausa people and other tribes had these separate identities subsumed under the new religion, if not completely destroyed and erased, after the Uthman Dan Fodio Jihad of 1804. The establishment of a Caliphate, which, in turn, created emirates in all the conquered territories, ensured that mono-religious culture was imposed on these indigenous communities. These events were mainly political.

A few towns and villages which already knew about Islam resisted the incursion of the Jihadists. A new culture had emerged in all the conquered communities. Political patronage was dispensed to the servile and docile. The belligerent tasted the severity of deterrent sanctions. Political relevance was determined, largely, in accordance with the profession of the dominant religion in the region. The Middle Belt region has been predominantly Christian. Some states in the Northeast also had a large concentration of Christians. The activities of local organisations and groups show, clearly, that politics and religion are intertwined.

Religion and the Politics of Representation In Contemporary Nigeria

The pre-independence era witnessed intense competition and deep-seated rivalries among the politicians of the country. The role of religion was not really pronounced but it was clear that the structure inherited from the colonialists was skewed, heavily, in favour of the Muslim North. The Native Authority was enhanced and supported. The indirect rule system ensured that the local leadership wielded tremendous power over the people, notwithstanding the presence of colonial administration. There was no confusion as regards where the preference of the colonialists lay.

Despite this manifest schism, the First Republic politicians were largely men and women who provided purposeful leadership. The level of development in all the defunct regions lends credence to the general belief that capacity formed the basis of participation by many of those politicians. The achievements recorded were monumental, despite major failings. Though religion played an important role in the power equation at that time, it did not affect performance adversely. Real education ensured that the people concentrated more on existential issues than matters which were of little benefits to them.

The peoples of the three, later four regions, were mobilized by the political leadership for economic development. The farmers in the country were given real incentives which motivated them to cultivate the land. There was food security. The defunct regions were indeed nations in transition as there were fundamental changes in the means of production reflective of the status of the new country.

At independence, the Northern part of the country, predominantly Muslim, took over political power from the departing foreigners. The expansionist policy of its leadership was not hidden. Absolute dominance was the goal. The means to achieve this set objective soon created crises in the Middle Belt and the Southwest. The First republic collapsed, mainly as a result of the rapacious tendencies of the political class to cling to power with a view to dominating others. The internal contradictions made it inexorable for something to give.

The military struck, first, on the 15th January, 1966, and later, a counter coup occurred on the 29th July, 1966. The 1963 Republican Constitution was suspended. This was the only document qualified to be described as a peoples Constitution. All other Constitutions enacted from 1922 to 1999 were imposed. The real transition to nationhood had just begun before the coup. The military had subverted the democratic process on the excuse that the politicians were running the nascent country aground.

The new Government promulgated a Decree which abolished the regions and imposed a unitary system on the polity. The singular act started a long process of obliterating the landmark achievements recorded when each region was allowed to flourish. The people of the Northern region protested what they considered the unjust decapitation of their political leadership. The first coup was staged by military officers of southern extraction, mostly Igbo and Christian. This heightened the suspicion that the coup was about power shift and not good governance.

The success of the counter coup encouraged the leaders to hold on to power. The mode of production became centrally controlled as a strategy to remain in power in perpetuity. The counter coup was exclusively northern. The motive was clear. It was to avenge the killings of military officers and prominent politicians of Northern extraction by Igbo military officers. The initial agitation was the shout that the Northern part of the country was prepared to secede from the country. The successful counter coup provided the opportunity for them to consolidate their hold on power. The seeds of disunity were sown. This disagreement led to the Civil War fought for three years. Millions of lives were lost. The bitterness still persists till this moment.

The military interregnum lasted for 13 years. The Second Republic lasted for only four years before the military returned and they stayed till 1999. Nobody really cared about the religion of any military officer but there was the feeling that the June 12 Presidential election was annulled, not because Chief MKO Abiola was not a Muslim, but because the Northern oligarchy was not prepared to hand over political power to the South. This distrust was confirmed by the major actors who played prominent roles in the politics of annulment.

The military handed over power, eventually, in 1999 and there has been civil rule since that time. Nigerians celebrate the fact that the democratic experience remains unbroken ever since. There appears to be an understanding that power must rotate between the North and the South. This understanding witnessed the contest of two candidates from the Southwest for the Presidency. It was part of the unwritten agreement that the power equation must be balanced to allay the fear of domination harboured by the people of the South.

There is a conscious attempt not to disrupt the extant agreement. There has been a seamless transition from one civilian regime to another since 1999, the longest in the political history of the country. The current political permutations raise strong suspicions on an undeclared motive to thwart the arrangement that has been working for the country. The rotation of the office of the President is between the North and the South since the inception of the Fourth Republic. The attempt to disrupt the process of democratic transition using all manner of subterfuge heralds forebodings of unpleasant consequences.

But beyond the agitation for power shift is the quest for economic independence of the States under the current political arrangement. The clamour for the restructuring of the polity should gain currency more than the unprofitable noises made for representation based on religion. Those who overheat the polity for personal aggrandizement should lend their voices to the issue of resource generation and control by the Federating units.

Conclusion

As the country prepares for another transition in 2023, it is only reasonable to expect that the arrangement, which has engendered peace for almost two decades, subsists for the benefit of all. Any attempt to change this design to assuage personal ambition can only worsen the already bad situation. Our people must reject any overweening cravings which may impact negatively on the polity. The current noises made on the need to have people occupy offices on the basis of religion is not only dangerous, but, annoyingly, does not portray politicians as those who are interested in public good.

Religion has always been a weapon of manipulation in a transitional society. Religious leaders rely on the gullibility of their followers to participate, actively, in politics, while presenting a facade of spirituality. A country in the process of evolution cannot afford to be distracted by the business of religion. Granted that it is expected of political gladiators to magnify even the most irrelevant of issues to score cheap political points, it is profitable for the leaders of thought, especially religious leaders, to act decently. The contestation for a political office and fight for relevance must not be used as an excuse to mislead the people.

Most reasonable people will question the economic logic which propels a country, purportedly practicing Federalism, to run a monolithic economy. Let all those who agitate for representation do so on the basis of economic participation first. This should be the fundamental consideration. The warped mentality which predisposes the elites, both the clergy and political, to always indulge in permutation on the expectation of largesse sharing is deplorable.

The unnecessary lamentation by a section of the political class on the recent choice of the presidential candidate of the ruling party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim, to pick Senator Kashim Ibrahim Shettima, another Muslim, as his Vice-Presidential candidate, is most regrettable. This choice has generated needless controversies. Those who spearhead this apparent mischief either ignore or are oblivious of the fact that the position of the Vice President, as provided in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, is innocuous. The occupier of that office can only act as directed by the President who wields the real executive power.

It appears that these protests are symptomatic of the level of distrust among the members of the political class who will do anything to grab power. The brazen incursion of religion into the political arena portends danger for the polity. Quality representation had absolutely nothing to do with the belief of a political office holder.

The leadership of the two popular religions, Christianity and Islam, must avoid making inflammatory statements capable of causing chaos in the polity. this is the time when all patriotic citizens must speak with one voice on the need for economic emancipation of the regions. We must begin to seek ways to remove the odious shackles of dependence which has almost run the whole country aground.

We should all condemn and seek to end a system which promotes indolence. We must encourage all parts of the country to contribute to the economic development. We should all tap into our respective areas of comparative advantage as it was in the First Republic. And, consequently, we cannot afford to make the mistake of electing our leaders on mendacious and sentimental premises. Just as no reasonable person will choose to be driven by a driver on account of ethnicity and religion, only the competent aspirants with manifest capacity should be considered. A heterogenous society must have its affairs controlled by knowledgeable leaders with proven records of public service. Motivational speeches and copious quotes from the Holy writs can only inspire. The job of the President of a country in distress requires capacity, forthrightness and courage.

Rotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is governor of Ondo State.
Biyis passionate love and total commitment to his trade as a film director, in photography, art and culture, in general, shone through at all times. Certainly he has now gone back to his creator but he certainly left indelible foot prints and his memories will endure in our minds. I am sure he will be celebrated in various ways during his final rites.

I am still shocked and saddened by the sudden departure of Biyi Bandele to the great beyond. How and why are questions some of us have been asking.

Our paths crossed sometime in 2013 when he was invited as the director of Half of a Yellow Sun, which was being screened at a film festival in Sydney. As Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia I was also invited to that event by Leap Frog Films that was handling arrangements for his trip to that film festival. I spoke to him in London ahead of his arrival in Australia and we agreed to meet over lunch somewhere in Sydney before the screening of the film. It was our first time of meeting and we promptly connected as alumni of Great Ife, as culture enthusiasts and lovers of art. But underlying our camaraderie was also Biyis affable character, humility, humanist disposition and people-oriented ideological disposition.

Over lunch we discussed the potentials of the Nigerian and African creativity sector as a solid platform to tackle Africas crisis of development. We agreed that Africa has a lot to offer the world in the field of art, culture, film and literature, and the unfolding IT revolution presents an opportunity to represent Africas art and cultural treasures. We spoke about nurturing entrepreneurs from our creative cector. We spoke about innovative ways of providing employment for young people and tackling poverty through the creative sector, which spans a broad spectrum including music, film, fashion writing, literature, performing arts, etc. etc etc.

We spoke about how Africa can tap into the the world creativity industry estimated to be in trillions of dollars. As a practitioner, Biyi was convinced that all of these could be done and that was why he had his boots on the ground. He was brilliant in his presentations during that conversation over lunch. Of course he wowed his audience during his intervention during the discussions on the film, and why he took Half of a Yellow Sun in the direction he did as director.

We, of course, stayed in touch with each other after his visit to Australia and from time to time, whenever he required assistance to facilitate visas from the Nigerian Embassy for his crew members, he calls on me to kindly intervene, which I was always glad to do.

While serving as the Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, he called on me during one of his visits home. And in his usually quiet but firm voice, he argued that the Nigerian private sector must do and can do more to work closely with creative entrepreneurs to support arts and culture because of its economic potentials for our dear country. We agreed to work towards that goal! And he regularly reminded me of this whenever we spoke on the phone or ran into each other, mostly at Freedom Park in Lagos.

Biyis passionate love and total commitment to his trade as a film director, in photography, art and culture, in general, shone through at all times. Certainly he has now gone back to his creator but he certainly left indelible foot prints and his memories will endure in our minds. I am sure he will be celebrated in various ways during his final rites. One of the fitting tributes in his memory and honour will be to institute The Biyi Bandele Academic Prize in the Department of Theatre Art at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), his alma matter. Such an academic prize will also serve as inspiration for others coming behind and who want to follow in his footsteps. A coalition of the willing will be put together soon for arrangements to institute this academic prize as a fitting tribute to him. He ran a good race, fought a good fight and kept the faith! Rest in perfect peace, my dear brother!

Ayo Olukanni, is a former Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia and Director General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
The developed nations use of IoT has over time strengthened their security forces and protected their territories. In Nigeria, the use of IoT devices for security purposes, such as intruder detection, web cameras, and war machines with censors to automate as operated, have re-emphasised the need to recognise its rightful use for cyber protection.

As Nigerias insecurity challenge continues to defy all measures put in place to curtail its spread, stakeholders should start looking at other alternatives offered by technology, one of which is the application of the Internet of Things (IoTs).

IoT is the network of billions of physical devices connected to the internet and equally used to share data.

The integration of IoTs in new technologies to combat security is expected to advance and equally revolutionise human technological operations in managing the communication programme involved effectively. This is to ensure that the IoTs are utilised in such a manner that does not pose any threat to national security when used in combating crimes and insecurity.

To that effect, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mallam Isa Ibrahim Pantami disclosed that Nigerias telecoms regulatory framework has since been designed to address the challenges that may arrive with the advancement of the IoTs in the country.

The minister spoke at twin events titled, Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Regulatory Roadmap for IoTs Ecosystem in Nigeria, hosted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). He noted that Nigeria has, over the last two years, demonstrated efforts in curbing cybercrimes.

A recent report by International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts that by 2025 there will be 41.6 billion connected devices on the IoTs, thus expecting smart homes and wearables to grow rapidly.

Although the IoT has existed since the 90s, recent advances in technology have made it more practical. It enables access to affordable and reliable sensors, increases the availability of cloud computing platforms, and advances in machine learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

There are so many varieties of IoT devices such as smartphones, medical devices, light bulbs, satellites, routers, refrigerators, smart televisions, smart video pen recorders, spy GPS and audio recorder device trackers, security alarm systems, and body-worn cameras, etc.

IoMTs refer to the IoT used for combat operations and warfare, like surveillance robots and human-wearable biometrics for combat. Essentially, it is a network of interconnected entities which communicate continuously with each other to coordinate, learn, and handle a wide range of activities in an informed and efficient way.

IoT devices can range from simple household appliances to sophisticated industrial tools and military equipment. An example is a light bulb that can be switched on/off via a smartphone app, motion sensors, or a smart thermostat in offices and connected streetlights. With unique identifiers for each IoT component (UID), it enables them to transmit data without human assistance.

The developed nations use of IoT has over time strengthened their security forces and protected their territories. In Nigeria, the use of IoT devices for security purposes, such as intruder detection, web cameras, and war machines with censors to automate as operated, have re-emphasised the need to recognise its rightful use for cyber protection.

The persistently increasing security challenges bedeviling Nigeria are enough to necessitate the use of the Internet of Military Things (IoMTs) for national security.

These IoMTs refer to the IoT used for combat operations and warfare, like surveillance robots and human-wearable biometrics for combat. Essentially, it is a network of interconnected entities which communicate continuously with each other to coordinate, learn, and handle a wide range of activities in an informed and efficient way.

Accordingly, experts have opined that a large part of the IoMTs concept is driven by the belief that future battles will likely take place in urban areas and be dominated by machine intelligence and cyber warfare.

Thus, the IoMTs are conceptually designed to offload much of the physical and mental burden that warfighters face during combat by creating a miniature ecosystem of smart technology capable of distilling sensory information and autonomously managing multiple tasks.

Some ICT tools for tackling insecurity are GSM, camera, satellite, radio, closed-circuit television (CCTV), cellular LTE (Long-Term Evolution), video surveillance cameras, and other military devices for security measures.

In addition, drones are often used by the military for reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeted attacks. With the new advancement in these technologies, it is evident that cybersecurity needs to be regulated to avoid manipulation of the IoTs in the ecosystem.

the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other stakeholders should promote and support startups that develop solutions for tackling insecurity in the country and also ensure the empowerment of security personnel with digital technology skills, to enable them to leverage emerging technologies to solve national security challenges.

Recent weapons like MH-6 Little Bird, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M9 Armoured Combat Earthmover, Bayraktar, and TAI Aksungur used on the war front, also have inbuilt sensors that enable human-to-machine communication and effectively spotting targets to combat.

Others include Satellite and Computer-Based Public Security Communications Systems (PSCS) and Public Safety Networks (PSNs) systems which are dedicated telecommunication networks used for communications by agencies such as the police, fire department, ambulance service, and others.

As a result of the IoT ecosystems characteristics, malicious actors have over time manipulated information flow between networked devices. It is becoming increasingly difficult to protect important processes once performed manually from malicious cyber activity.

The Nigerian military and paramilitary intelligence have over time tried to ensure that attack vectors are secretly looked in to avoid cyber-attacks on their armouries.

Recall that, to safeguard the ICT sector in Nigeria, the Federal Government formulated the National Cybersecurity Strategy in 2014 to confront the threats, uphold and support the openness of cyberspace, as well as balance security concerning privacy and fundamental rights.

In all, in order to avert further security breaches, it has become duty-bound for all security operatives in Nigeria to adopt the use of IoTs/IoMTs equipment in fighting insecurity across the lengths and breadths of the country.

Nevertheless, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other stakeholders should promote and support startups that develop solutions for tackling insecurity in the country and also ensure the empowerment of security personnel with digital technology skills, to enable them to leverage emerging technologies to solve national security challenges.

Zeenat Sambo writes from Abuja.
the book offers a straightforward introduction to cyber security and its supporting technology, the internet, making it simple to understand. It also includes distinctive tactics that may be employed by any nation to combat cybercrimes.

The book Cyber Security Initiatives for Securing a Country, authored by Mallam Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) provides practical approaches to ensuring safer activities on cyberspace.

Pantami, who recently emerged the first African Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Information Security (CIISec) is Nigerias Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.

With various activities taking place online on regular basis, one must remain vigilant in this time and age of technological advancements. The world is now considered a small digital village because all information can be found on the internet, and to have access to the internet, one is prone to the risks of cyber threats.

Scores of people have examined the subject of cybercrime from a variety of perspectives, with most of them approaching it from a different angle than the others. Cybercrime have advanced past traditional crimes and now pose a threat to the national security of every country, including technologically advanced nations like the United States of America.

Pantami provides an in-depth look at cyber security. The book is written for everyone who has access to the internet, which is presently 98% of the world population. The book has a total volume of seven chapters and 78 pages, excluding the index. The book has a lot of diagrams and illustrations for easy understanding.

The author states the meaning of cyber security and also the reasons why cybercrime is rampant. He also explains the difference between cybercrime and physical crime. According to him, the high dependence on online platforms has increased the level of exposure to cyber threats, which undeniably, is a daily occurrence in our everyday life.

The book also entails a vivid difference between cybercrime and physical crime, providing statics illustrated in a bar chart of industrial cyber attacks from 2014-2019. Furthermore, it expands on the different types of cyber threats we have and the economic cost of cybercrime.

The book then discusses how the internet relates to cyber security and how it facilitates both cybercrime and cyber security. It gives a brief history of cyber security and the internet, and goes on to explain the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Pantami gives a brief on his role in leading national cyber security efforts when he served as the Chief Information Technology Officer of Nigeria. He writes about developing a roadmap with cyber security as a pillar when he was appointed as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NITDA.

He explains how he created a roadmap with seven pillars for NITDA in 2021, among which he insisted cyber security must be included and he also gives a detailed illustration of the NITDA strategic roadmap and action plan, while also relating how he established a department dedicated to cyber security and their objectives, which are stated in the book. He then discusses the policies and initiatives on cyber security as a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It isnt news anymore that Pantami is a man of identity. He wants a functional and registered system that can be accounted for, so every database must be accurate.

One of his first achievements when he resumed office as minister was to ensure all unregistered SIM cards be cut off the system or properly registered under the coordination of the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC). ,The book also exposes the development of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) and its eight pillars led personally by the author.

As a minister, the author recognised the importance of cyber security response and has implemented it in significant economic areas. He also details his achievements in establishing emergency communication centres (ECC) and the 112 Toll-Free number to promote cyber security and so many other accomplishments, with illustrations.

Pantami calls the attention of the government efforts on citizen data harmonisation for enhanced national security and also brings up his role as the chairman of the technical committee for securing Nigerias cyberspace. The government has been able to address some concerns regarding Nigerias data systems management through the presidential committee constituted by President Buhari.

Following the transfer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to his ministry, Pantami has emphasised the relevance of legal identity. He discusses how the national identification number supports economic and security values and the function of digital identity in cyber security, as well as the National Policy on SIM Card Registration.

He asserts that the revised National Digital Identity policy for SIM Card registration was prepared in response to the new problems that emerged as part of efforts to improve the National Policy on SIM Card Registration. He outlines the steps taken to establish a functioning legal identification system in the nation and notes a few advantages associated with the introduction of the NIN.

In order to create a model that can be used to secure the nation, the minister works hard to combine efforts to produce policies, initiatives, and strategies. He acknowledges that Nigerias cyberspace has grown stronger.

In conclusion, the book offers a straightforward introduction to cyber security and its supporting technology, the internet, making it simple to understand. It also includes distinctive tactics that may be employed by any nation to combat cybercrimes.

I have to add that, in the end, this book is highly recommended to both corporate organisations and governments, with its aim to reduce cybercrime because it contains information on how to set up structural frameworks in all areas of endeavours.

Fom Gyem writes from Abuja.


Since we started operating the Presidential System of government in 1979, no Nigerian President has been impeached. But seven governors have been impeached so far.

The former Kaduna state Governor, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa (21 August 1936  11 November 2020), then of the Peoples Redemption Party was impeached on the 23rd June, 1981. He was unable to form a cabinet before his impeachment. He eventually handed over to Alhaji Abba Musa Rimi. On January 12, 2006, Chief Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (77), the former governor of Oyo state, was impeached by eighteen Oyo state House of Assembly members. He challenged his impeachment, and on November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court in Ibadan reinstated him, declaring the process of his impeachment null and void. But he would not resume office until the Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009, and Ladoja officially resumed office on December 12, 2006.

The present Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi(61) fondly called OKWUTE ROCK, was Chairman of Fidelity Bank before he ventured into politics in 2003. He was elected governor of Anambra state thereafter. He was impeached on November 2, 2006, by the Anambra state House of Assembly headed by Mr. Mike Balonwu for gross misconduct. The majority leader in the Anambra House of Assembly then was Chief Humphrey Nsofor. President Obasanjo at that time intervened on the issue. He even sent the PDP National Chairman, Chief Ahmadu Ali and the secretary of the party, Chief Ojo Madueke to Awka to plead with the members of the Anambra House of Assembly.

He challenged his impeachment and was reinstated by the Supreme Court in February 2007.

Mr. Joshua Chibi Dariye (65) was governor of Plateau state from May 29, 1999 to May 18, 2004 until he was impeached on November 13, 2006. His deputy, Michael Botmang, became the new governor. On March 10, 2007, after a Court of Appeal ordered Dariye reinstated as governor, the Plateau State Government announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court.

On 27 April 2007, the Supreme Court refused the appeal of the Plateau State Government and ordered the reinstatement of Dariye with immediate effect. Following his reinstatement, Dariyes term of office as Governor of Plateau State concluded on 29 May 2007.

Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha (DSP) (16 November 1952  10 October 2015) was Governor of Bayelsa State from 29 May 1999 to 9 December 2005. He was impeached on the 9th December, 2005.

Chief Peter Ayodele Fayose (61), the former Governor of Ekiti State, became the second governor of Ekiti on 29 May 2003, after defeating the incumbent Governor, Niyi Adebayo in the gubernatorial elections. Fayose could not complete his tenure as a result of an impeachment on 16 October 2006.

During the 2014 Ekiti State gubernatorial election, Fayose was again the PDP nominee. He won the election and was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the new Governor of Ekiti State; he was inaugurated on 16 Of October, 2014. Fayose is now the only Nigerian governo to defeat an incumbent two times.

Admiral Murtala Hamman-Yero Nyako (80)(rtd.) was elected Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Nigeria, taking office in May 2007. Prior to then he served in the Navy, at one time being military governor of Niger State, and being appointed Chief of Naval Staff in December 1989.

On 15 July 2014, the governor was impeached as the state House of Assembly deliberated on the report of an investigative panel that probed allegations of financial misconduct against him. The report found the governor guilty of all the 16 allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him by the House.

On 11 February 2016 the Federal Court of Appeal declared the impeachment null and void and ordered that all his entitlements accrued from the date of impeachment be paid to him. The judgment was upheld on 16 December 2016 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria but declined to reinstate him.

Only two Presidents have been threatened with impeachment. The first was President Olusegun Obasanjo (85), GCFR, in September 2002 and now President Muhammadu Buhari (79), GCFR.

On August 8, 2002, a meeting was held at the Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel, Abuja. It was a caucus meeting of the members of the PDP House of Representatives. On August 13, 2002, the House of Representatives served impeachment notice on President Olusegun Obasanjo with seventeen allegations. The House was presided over by Alhaji Ghali Umar NaAbba(64) from Tudun Wada Constituency in Kano State.

On the instruction of my then boss, Chief Ufot Ekaette (1939-2019), Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I obtained copies of the resolution from the Clerk of the House of Representatives then, Chief Oluyemi Ogunyomi (GBOGURUM), a close friend of mine, who is now the Asiwaju of Ilaje in Ondo state. Chief Ogunyemi, who later became the Clerk of the National Assembly before his retirement, gave me copies of the resolution. I gave one to Chief Ekaette and another one to Chief Tunji Oseni (5 January, 1943- 29 November, 2004), who was then the Spokesman to President Obasanjo. Myself and Chief Oseni drove to THE VILLA that night to meet with President Obasanjo, who saw a copy of the resolution first time from Chief Oseni. President Obasanjo later summoned the then Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh (75), Alhaji Adamu Ciroma (20 November 1934  5 July 2018) and Chief Tony Anenih (4 August 1933  28 October 2018) for an urgent meeting. With President Obasanjo, that night were his personal assistant, Bodunde Adeyanju from Ado Ekiti, Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George (76), the former Military Governor of Ondo State now Ekiti and Ondo States combined, my former boss, who was then Chairman of PDP South West, Professor Babalola Aborisade (7 March 1946- 26 April, 2017) from Usi Ekiti, who was then a Minister, Chief Stephen Olakunle Bakare of Oluwalogbon Motors and other top government officials. President Obasanjos special assistant, Taiwo Ojo from Igbo Ora, made frantic telephone calls throughout that night.

I left The Villa that night around 3 a.m. with Chief Tunji Oseni.

President Obasanjo made persistent calls on the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Chief Christopher Kolade that night. Chief Oseni later made me a member of the three man media committee which he coordinated to reply to the allegations of the House of Representatives.

The allegations are 1. That sometime between the months of April and July, 2002, the President purportedly amended the Capital Provisions of the 2002 Appropriation Act by reducing the Capital budget to 44% without forwarding the said amendments to the National Assembly for passage in violation of Section 80(4) of the 1999, Constitution which acts amounts to gross misconduct.

2. On or about the month of July 2002, he issued a presidential order purporting same to constitute an amendment to the Revenue Allocation Act which action amounts to a violation of Section 162( 1) and (2) and Section 313 of 1999 Constitution which amounts to a gross misconduct.

3. That from 1999 to 2002 you have consistently indulged in extra budgetary expenses contrary to Section 80 (2), (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution which act amounts to a gross misconduct to wit:

(a) Expenditure on the National Stadium Contract in excess appropriated sums. (b) Expenditure on the National Identity Card project. He authorized the spending of the sum of N9.5 Billion vide letter of credit as against the sum of N5.9 Billion cumulatively approved for the years 2001 and 2002 in the Appropriation Acts respectively. (c) He authorized the purchase of 63 houses and their furnishing for Ministers in the year 2000 to the tune of N3,0 19,153,178.06 without any budgetary provisions in the 2000 Appropriations Act.

Fourth Allegation: That in the year 2000, he authorized the deployment of military troops to Odi to massacre innocent citizens without recourse to the National Assembly contrary to Section 217(2) C of the 1999 Constitution which requires firstly for some conditions to be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly for the use of the Military in that regard.

Fifth Allegation: That in the year 2001, he without lawful authority authorized the deployment of military troops to Zaki Biam, which occasioned the murder of innocent citizens and the destruction of properties, contrary to Section 217(2) C of the 1999 Constitution which requires firstly for some conditions to be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly for the use of the military in the regard.

Sixth Allegation: That in the year 2002, he refused to fully implement the recurrent budget as it affects the salaries of staff and overheads for Ministries contrary to the provisions of the Appropriation Act 2002, which amounts to gross misconduct.

Seventh Allegation: That in the year 2002, he refused full payment of recurrent expenditure for the judiciary as it affects monies for the payment of salaries and overhead costs contrary to the Appropriation Act of 2002 which act amounts to gross misconduct, contrary to Sections 80(3) and 162(9) of the Constitution.

Eighth Allegation: (a) On or about the 31 st day of October 200 I, the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation issued two separate letters mandating the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja to debit CBN/NCC USD Account No.400938294 with Chase Manhattan Bank, New York in the sum of US$40 million (Forty million United States of America Dollars) and N 16,0 15,500,000.00 (Sixteen billion, Fifty-one million, Five hundred thousand Naira) without enabling legislation by the National Assembly.

(b) On or about the 31 st day of October 200 I, the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation by the aforesaid letters mandated the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria Pic. Lagos Account No.3582059979001 with Standard Chartered Bank N.Y., 7, World Trade Center in the sum of US$40 million (Forty million United States of America Dollars) and First Bank of Nigeria Pic. Account No.4000070 1-35 with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lagos in the sum of N 16,051 ,500,000.00 (Sixteen billion, Fifty-one million, Five hundred thousand naira) without an enabling legislation by the National Assembly.

Ninth Allegation: That in spite of the coming into force of the 1999 Constitution, he continued to operate and maintain dedicated accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeriacontrary to Section 80( 1) and 162( 1) of the Constitution. E.g. Bank for International Settlement Account and Proceeds for Port Development charges Account among others.

Tenth Allegation: That he refused and neglected to pay in full the thirteen % derivation revenue to benefiting states contrary to Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution, an act which amounts to gross misconduct.

Eleventh Allegation: That Mr. President has refused to appoint a Minister of Petroleum Resources which action has occasioned the following violation: (a) That since inception of this Government in 1999 Mr. President refused, failed and or neglected to appoint a Minister of Petroleum Resources contrary to the Petroleum Act cap 350, laws of the Federation as amended by the Petroleum (Amendment) Act of 1996 and Petroleum (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 1998 and thereby authorising the performance of or performing yourself the functions of the Minister of Petroleum Resources. (b) That in breach of Section 9( I) d III laws of the Federation 1990 appointed the Committee which has increased the prices of petroleum products which function is that of a Minister of Petroleum Resources under the said Act, which Act constitutes a gross misconduct. (c) That a process of establishing refineries through bidding was established and provisional licenses were issued without the approval of the Minister of Petroleum as required by 3( I) of the Petroleum Act which action amounts to gross misconduct.

Twelfth Allegation: That Mr. President has unilaterally cut across board all overhead costs contained in the 2002 Appropriation Act by 50% without recourse to and approval of the National Assembly contrary to Sections 80(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

Thirteenth Allegation: That Mr. President has unilaterally merged the Federal Road Safety Commission, a body established by an Act with the Nigerian Police without a Bill for an Act to harmonise the two bodies, or repeal the FRSC Act.

Fourteenth Allegation: That Mr. President has, without an enabling Act merged the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry (NBCI), the National Economic Reconstruction Fund (NERFUND) and the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank to form the Bank of Industry while the Acts establishing the said institutions are still valid and subsisting.

Fifteenth Allegation: That Mr. President merged the Peoples Bank of Nigeria, Family Economic Advancement Programme, both bodies established by law under and the Nigerian Agricultural and Co-operative Bank to form the Nigerian Agricultural and Rural Development Bank without legislative authority.

Sixteenth Allegation: That in the year 1999, Mr. President appointed Mr. Musiliu Smith as Inspector-General of Police without consultation with the Police Council, contrary to the 1999 Constitution. Seventeenth Allegation: That Mr. President caused the appointment of, and service as Acting Auditor-General of the Federation for a period exceeding six months without Resolution of the Senate contrary to Section 86(3) of the 1999 Constitution which act amounts to gross misconduct.

On September 5, 2002, President Obasanjo, GCFR, made a reply to the seventeen allegations. He declared I am happy to present my explanations to you not only because it is but also because I have absolute confidence in your integrity and objectivity. Your courage, your experience, your patience, your dedication to our Party and to our country and your understanding of our strength and weaknesses will enable you to appreciate the responses which I now make to the questions that have been raised. I assure you that I am not angry with the complainants and so I shall presents my points dispassionately. From me you shall hear nothing but the truth. All that I have done I have done according to the law. All that I have done I have done in the best interest of our great country. I have not deliberately violated the law or the constitution and I have not sought personal gain. I am not accused of corruption or misuse of my power.

In a country as complex and complicated as ours no single man or woman can have all the answers. It is for this reason that I have always consulted widely and been pen to suggestions from all quarters. Nevertheless, the ultimate responsibility for the governance of the country is mine and it is I who must answer when questioned like now and before the bar of the public.

In the middle of September 2002, Ghali Umar NaAbba succumbed to pressure and decided to drop all the allegations made against President Olusegun Obasanjo. In his words the house has decided to pardon President Obasanjo in the national interest. The Senate at that time presided over by Anyim Pius Anyim (61), was not involved in the impeachment process. Under the Constitution, you need the approval of the two houses, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, before any President can be impeached.

All these events happened between August and September 2002. That is exactly twenty years ago.

Section 143 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) deals with the removal of the president and vice-president from office. It is a very long process, taking at least three months to complete.

143. (1) The President or Vice-President may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of this section. (2) Whenever a notice of any allegation in writing signed by not less than one-third of the members of the National Assembly:-(a) is presented to the President of the Senate;(b) stating that the holder of the office of President or Vice-President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, detailed particulars of which shall be specified, the President of the Senate shall within seven days of the receipt of the notice cause a copy thereof to be served on the holder of the office and on each member of the National Assembly, and shall also cause any statement made in reply to the allegation by the holder of the office to be served on each member of the National Assembly.

(3) Within fourteen days of the presentation of the notice to the President of the Senate (whether or not any statement was made by the holder of the office in reply to the allegation contained in the notice) each House of the National Assembly shall resolve by motion without any debate whether or not the allegation shall be investigated. (4) A motion of the National Assembly that the allegation be investigated shall not be declared as having been passed, unless it is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of each House of the National Assembly. (5) Within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions, the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall at the request of the President of the Senate appoint a Panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation as provide in this section. (6) The holder of an office whose conduct is being investigated under this section shall have the right to defend himself in person and be represented before the Panel by legal practitioners of his own choice. (7) A Panel appointed under this section shall (a) have such powers and exercise its functions in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed by the National Assembly; and (b) within three months of its appointment report its findings to each House of the National Assembly. (8) Where the Panel reports to each House of the National Assembly that the allegation has not been proved, no further proceedings shall be taken in respect of the matter. (9) Where the report of the Panel is that the allegation against the holder of the office has been proved, then within fourteen days of the receipt of the report at the House the National Assembly shall consider the report, and if by a resolution of each House of the National Assembly supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all its members, the report of the Panel is adopted, then the holder of the office shall stand removed from office as from the date of the adoption of the report.

(10) No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the National Assembly or any matter relating thereto shall be entertained or questioned in any court. (11) In this section gross misconduct means a grave violation or breach of the provisions of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.

All those involved in the impeachment saga of President Obasanjo then paid dearly for it. Alhaji Ghali Umar NaAbba did not come back to the House in 2003. He lost his election bid to an ANPP member in the Tundun Wada Constituency of Kano State. Alhaji Bello Masari (72) eventually became Speaker of the House of Representatives. Alhaji Ghali NaAbbas deputy then, Prince Chibudom Nwuche (61) fom Ochigba town in Ahoada East Constitutuency of Rivers state did not come back too in 2003. Prince Nwuche was defeated by Osinakuchukwu Ideazu for the Abua Odua/Ahoada Constituency.

Apart from Chief Oyewole Fasawe, the Asiwaju of Owo, the late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, Afunbiowo II(1950-2013), my good friend whom I remember always, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona (88), Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje (1931-2022) the other known friends of President Obasanjo include Chief Obafemi Jonathan Adio Olopade(July 31 1926-2012), Professor Oladipo Olujimi Akinkugbe(1933-2020), Professor Emmanuel Chukwuma Edozien (November 15, 1937-October 5, 2019) Chief Abiodun Kola Daisi (90), Dr Christopher Olusola Kolade (89) Ambassador Pius Omotayo (78) from Igbara Odo in Ekiti state, Dr Onaolapo Soleye (86) and others.

The role played by Dr Kolade during the impeachment saga of his friend, President Obasanjo was highly complimented. Dr. Kolade flew from London to Abuja immediately and he wrote part of the President Obasanjos defense, even though we all know that President Obasanjo is a man of letters himself.

Let me say a word about Dr Christopher Kolade. He was born on December 28, 1932 in Iddo-Faboro, Ekiti State. He attended Emmanuel School, Ado-Ekiti, 1939-1943, Christ School, Ado- Ekiti, 1944-1945, Government College Ibadan, 1946-1951, Fouray Bay College, Freetown, 1951-1955; education officer, Western Nigeria, 1955-1960, west regional controller, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation(NBC), Lagos, 1960-1963, director of Television, NBC, 1963-1968, director of programmes, NBC, 1968-1972, director general, NBC, 1972-1978, administration director, Cadbury Nigeria Limited, 1978, and managing director, 1989.

Now we are told that the PDP Senators are threatening to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. The question is, can they? The provision of the 1999 Constitution gives the National Assembly the power to impeach the President. No doubt they can impeach the President. That is the complexity of the Presidential System of Government we are operating. Lets see how far they can go.

Were we to be operating a parliamentary system of government, a simple motion of no confidence will be all that is required to remove any government. A parliamentary system of government promotes good governance, it requires fewer personnel and less cost, faster and quicker decisions are easily made. The parliamentary system of government reduces friction and creates friendship and cooperation.

On the other hand, the presidential system of government protects and hides the President no matter his incompetence and acts of divisiveness.

This impeachment threat by some of the Senators should have been made earlier than now. Maybe the situation could have been better. Anyway it is better late than never. There should be penalty for failure, misconduct and inefficiency.

Eric Teniola, a former director in the Presidency, writes from Lagos.
Polaris Bank in partnership with Societal Healthcare Organisation (SHO) has organised a training for community midwives and health extension workers in Northern Nigeria themed: Life Saving Skills (LSS).

The 3-day intensive training is part of efforts to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with major causes of maternal and neonatal death in the country.

In his opening remarks, Polaris Banks Group Head, North-West Group II, Mr. Ahmed Badru, disclosed that the Banks intervention was designed to combat the incidence of maternal deaths in Northern Nigeria. There is an estimated statistic of 546 maternal deaths in Northern Nigeria out of reported 100,000 cases in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. Badru explained that in line with the Banks Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), strategic focus on health, the workshop set out to train fifty (50) community midwives and health extension workers, randomly selected from 80 percent public and 20 percent private hospitals in Kano state.

We will continue to work in partnership with relevant organisations like SHO to improve maternal health so that we can contribute our quota to reducing deaths that occur as a result of complications of pregnancy or childbirth, he added.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of Societal Healthcare Organization, Dr. Mahmoud K. Dankadai expressed profound gratitude to Polaris Bank for partnering with their organisation to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children in Nigeria.

He appreciated the Bank for providing medical consumables comprising Polaris Bank branded bags; umbilical cord scissors; latex sterile gloves; delivery mats; surgical blades; cord clamps; povidone iodine; baby oil; hand sanitizers and facemasks in addition to the intensive training availed the participants.

The Group Head, who represented Polaris Banks Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Innocent C. Ike, pledged the Banks commitment to improved maternal health in Nigeria.

The training which took place at the Centre for Infectious Diseases Research (CIDR), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano had on its faculty; Prof. Isa Abubakar, Director of CIDR; Prof. Zubaida Farouk of Department of Pediatrics and Prof. Muhammad Abdussalam of Department of Pediatrics, all of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and Bayero University, Kano.

Societal Healthcare Organization is an NGO that offers unique community outreach and social services. Its mission is to provide qualitative and effective health to deprived groups, especially women and children in collaboration with stakeholders.

Polaris Bank has been in the forefront of a series of global action to reduce premature deaths among women. It has supported over 30 indigent cancer patients for treatment; free scanning programmes for over 20,000 women and donated cancer screening machines to Care Organization and Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E) to enhance quality diagnosis and clinical practices serving all classes of women in Nigeria.

Polaris Banks consistent support for Nigerias health sector was recently recognized as the Outstanding Healthcare Financial Institution of the Year by the Nigeria Healthcare Excellence Awards (NHEA), the nations premier Health Award body.

Polaris Bank, adjudged the Digital Bank of the Year, is a future-determining Bank committed to delivering industry-defining products to individuals and businesses.
The report produced by the General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd)-led visitation panel to the University of Lagos (UNILAG), which was submitted to the Ministry of Education in June 2021, contains a stinging indictment of the universitys administration, especially in its handling of the finances and its relationship with the former Governing Council.

The report, which PREMIUM TIMES has now exclusively published, also absolved the Dr Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council of any wrongdoing in its decision to suspend the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe.

In the over 400-page document, Babalakin was not found liable for any offence or infraction. It also shows that the denial of the content of the report by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sunny Echonor, was merely an attempt at a mass cover-up.

General Agwais panel was one of several visitation panels set up by the federal government to visit tertiary institutions across the country following the leadership crisis at the University of Lagos after the Governing Council suspended the Vice Chancellor based on its findings of gross financial mismanagement of the universitys finances. The Visitation Panel was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the affairs of the UNILAG from 2016 to 2020.

The reports by the 2021 Presidential Visitation Panels to Federal Universities, Inter-University Centres, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education were submitted to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in May, and the minister assured members that efforts would be made to ensure the implementation of the recommendations of the reports.

The Agwai panel, in the report it submitted to the Federal Government, affirmed the Babalakin-led Councils position that the removal of a Vice Chancellor for gross misconduct under the 2003 Act is solely a Council decision after the Council has determined that the Vice Chancellor has committed an act of gross misconduct.

Significantly, the Agwai panel also echoed the findings of the Babalakin Councils Saminu Dagari-led committee that was set up to review the expenditure of the University from May 2017 to 2019. The Councils decision to sanction Ogundipe was based on the recommendation of the Dagari panel.

The Dagari committee, after meetings with the university management from October 2018 to February 2019, also painted a picture of gross waste and mismanagement of the resources of the university within the period under review and even before it.

Some of its findings reveal contract splitting, duplication of contracts and travel expenses and shoddy bookkeeping.

Among others, it advised the UNILAG Governing Council to take appropriate action on all cases of financial mismanagement uncovered.

The committee, created by the Governing Council on 5th September 2018, was headed by a council member, Dr Saminu Dagari. It had as its members Rev Yomi M. Kasali (council member); Mr Oladejo Azeez (University Registrar); Mrs Adepoju Adefope (deputy bursar); Mrs Adeoluwa Folami (Secretary) and Otunba Olutola Senbo (consultant). Its terms of reference were twofold: review the expenditure of the University of Lagos from May 2017 till date and; make recommendations to the Council based on the findings of the sub-committee.

The committee held 14 meetings, met with all key officials of the institution and reviewed all books relating to the finances. Its report revealed a shocking level of mismanagement of the resources of the university within the period under review and even before it.

The committee could not justify the monthly payment of an average sum of N2,445,900.00 to the Dean (Student Affairs Unit) as a security grant. When asked why he was collecting the money, the Dean of Students Affairs explained they were part of the security operations to maintain peace on campus, the report states.  Paragraph 9.3.2 (b) (h)

The Agwai Panel faulted the accounting software being used by the university and that the format of the periodic budget performance report presented to the Governing Council has major deficiencies, adding that it lacks the critical aspect management information, performance review criteria, and presentation.

The forgoing position of the funds and the corresponding financial assets look very bad and not acceptable. However, we could not ascertain the following: (i) correctness of the annual balances of the funds; (ii) if they are being utilized in accordance with the specific requirements of the donors; (iii) crediting each and every fund with applicable share of investment income; (iv) correct accounting treatment of fresh additions and disbursements.

Our repeated requests for the general ledgers of each fund were not attended to. Instead, the Panel was given the Universitys cash book that contains all transactions for the whole period under review,  Paragraph 5.2.2.1 (h) (iii) (d).

The panel also noted that only 10 out of the 29 income-generating units, such as UNILAG Holding, and UNILAG Consult, were not captured in the accounting books and called for the blocking of leakages in those areas. It states: One of the major revelations of the Governing Council sub-committee (Prof. Eddy Omolehinwa-led committee) report was that there are twenty-nine (29) Income generating Units (IGUs) as against the Ten (10) Income Generating Units (IGUs) that was shown in the accounting books of the University of Lagos by the Bursar  Paragraph 5.1.5.1(g)

The report, divided into 12 chapters, examined various aspects of the UNILAG administration. The sections include its work looking into the leadership of the university in terms of the roles of the Governing Councils, the Vice Chancellor and other principal officers; looking into the financial management of the institution including statutory allocations and internally generated revenue over the recommended period and determine whether it was in compliance with appropriate regulations; and investigate the use of funds, particularly special grant and loans meant for specific projects in order to determine the status of such projects and their suitability for further funding.

Others are to examine the law establishing the University, including the relationship between the various internal organs, units and offices and indicate the ways the laws have been observed by the competent authorities and also suggest any modifications to the law and to examine the adequacy of staff and staff development programmes.

The panel states that its analysis of the Financial Statements is indicative of too much emphasis on the cost centres instead of the nature of costs, saying it was through the nature of costs that better decision and cost control measures could be implemented effectively.

An example of this was that although the university uses expenditure approval limits for the principal officers, the Council and Tenders Board, there are cases where the principal officers exceed approval limits by approving related and similar expenses that ordinarily should be a single piece of procurement. This could be interpreted as splitting of contracts or services for it to be within the limit of an officer and avoid rules governing big tender, breach of the Procurement and Fiscal Responsibilities Acts.  Paragraph 5.2.2

The panel also faulted the inability of the university to meet the benchmark of the National Universities Commission, NUC, in terms of the number of lecturers with doctorate degrees.

While the NUC suggested that not less than 70 per cent of university teachers should have PhD, only 623 UNILAG lecturers or 37 per cent of academic staff have the degree. Out of a workforce of 4,855, only 1,673 are academic, while the rest are non-academic.

Amazingly, the Agwai Panel found that donations from Babalakin to the universitys Faculty of Law for the purchase of law books were also misapplied. The panel, in Paragraph 5.2.2.1 (iv) of the report, wrote:

We observed that the Bursary Department of the University has no control over the UBA bank account number 1000071364 opened and operated in the name of Unilag Faculty of Law Staff Association by the Faculty of Law.

The account details were made available to the Pro-Chancellor, Dr B.O. Babalakin, for the payment of the financial pledge he made to the faculty for the purchase of Law Reports. N500,000 per month for 27 months, amounting to N13,500,000, were paid into the account by Dr B.O. Babalakin in fulfilment of the pledge.

There were a series of letters sent to the Pro-Chancellor acknowledging receipt and appreciation, but some petitioners believe that the Pro-Chancellor did not pass the donations through the right channel.

Our enquiry revealed that the University has no control over the above-mentioned bank account, and therefore the application of the donation was not in accordance as intended by the donor. It could be interpreted that this bank account was deliberately provided to the donor to avoid or exclude the bursary from managing the funds belonging to the University.

The Agwai panel, however, observed that a major area of disagreement between the University management and the Babalakin-led Council was the interpretation of the University of Lagos Act 1967.

It, therefore, recommended that It is necessary to review and properly interpret the Procurement Act 2007 and the University of Lagos Act 1967 so as to avoid conflicting responsibilities and forestall the possibility of unhealthy rivalry.

The Panel, which also had Mr Olufemi Agunbiade, Mr Agele John Alufohai, Malam Abubakar Maikafi, Mrs Ogochukwu Rose Onuoha, Mr Umar Yahaya and Mr Ashafa Ladan as members, did not mention specific areas of the Procurement Act and UNILAG Act that caused the said disaffection.

The Federal Government, in August 2020, initially waded into the governance crisis at the UNILAG by sending a Special Visitation Panel led by Professor Hamman Tukur Saad to the university. It also directed the Wale Babalakin-led Governing Council and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Toyin Ogundipe, to stay away from the school pending the outcome of the probe into happenings in the school.

Dr Babalakin, however, resigned his position as Chairman of the UNILAG governing council a few hours after the Saad Panel submitted its report to the Education Minister, Malam Adamu, in Abuja. The panel, in its submission, which Professor Saad later distanced himself from, recommended the return of Professor Ogundipe to office as Vice Chancellor of the institution.

The removal of Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe as the Vice Chancellor did not follow due process, a statement by the Ministry of Education stated. The Vice Chancellor was not granted an opportunity to defend himself on the allegations upon which his removal was based. He should accordingly be reinstated.

The FG, acting on this, ordered the reinstatement of Ogundipe.

However, the Agwai panel report rubbished FGs claim that the VC was not given the opportunity to defend himself against allegations levelled against him by the Governing Council. The report demonstrated clearly that there was nothing wrong with the actions of the Babalakin-led Governing Council and that the team was totally above board in the administration of the University of Lagos.

The UNILAG VC received a copy of the Dagari report and defended himself orally and via a letter dated May 13, 2019, which was made available to council members, the Agwai report states.

The panel noted in its own report that the Governing Council should be protected against any loophole in any Act that undermines the supervisory role of the Governing Council.

It further states, inter alia, that:

The panels attention was drawn to Professor Ogundipes personally signed defence of the allegations against him in the Dr Dagari report. Prof Ogundipes defence was carefully studied. He did not deny ANY of these allegations, and there appears to be no valid justification in law for all his defences,  Paragraph 9.3.3

Babalakin appeared before this panel and presented a memorandum. His justification for removing the vice-chancellor without the participation of two Senate members was that his council fully complied with the law.

Relying on Section 5 (9) of Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Act, 2003, the panel noted that:

When a proposal for the removal of the vice-chancellor is made, a joint committee of council and Senate is constituted consisting of (i) three members of the council, one of whom shall be the chairman of the committee, and (ii) two members of the Senate, provided that where the ground for removal is infirmity of the body or mind, the council shall seek appropriate medical opinion,  Paragraph 9.2

Babalakin had insisted that the removal of a vice chancellor for gross misconduct under the 2003 Act was solely a council decision after establishing that the VC had committed an act of gross misconduct.

The panel added that the council acted in line with Section 5 (10) of the 2003 Act, which stipulates that the committee shall conduct an investigation into allegations made against Ogundipe and report its findings to the council.

The panel supported Dr Babalakins position that the removal of a Vice Chancellor for gross misconduct under the 2003 Act is solely a Council decision after Council has determined that the Vice Chancellor has committed an act of gross misconduct. The panel states in its report that:

Applying the well-established canons of statutory interpretation, this panel finds Dr Babalakins argument very plausible. To be very fair to the University management, the force of this argument is not lost on them. In their memorandum to the panel, on page 29, third paragraph, management sought an amendment of the 2003 Act to avoid this interpretation. Paragraph 9.2.1(A)

In all, the panel affirms the supremacy of the UNILAG Council in instituting probes against the University management, noting that Section 7 (1) of the University of Lagos Act stipulates that the Governing Council is charged with general control and superintendence of policy, finances and property of the University.

As the panel pointed out earlier, we are not aware that the previous panel made any categorical pronouncement in its report whether Babalakin Council breached the law on this point.

This panel recommends that issues of this nature should be encouraged to be interpreted in court, the organ duly constituted based on the Nigerian constitution to interpret statutes.  Paragraph 9.2.1

It also stated that a number of people made strong allegations of gross misconduct against Professor Ogundipe personally and his management between 2017 and 2020. Among these were Dr Babalakin; Prof Oye-Adeniran, a retired professor of medicine and Council member from 2016 to 2019; Engr. Tunde Okolo, a former director of Works at the University; Dr Saminu Dagari, a former council member from 2017-2020; Rotimi Sodimu, former Registrar and Dr Bayo Adaralegbe, a former Council member.

The panel, in the report it submitted to the Federal Government, said it came to several conclusions in its investigations against the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG.

These are:

Professor Ogundipe and his management ran an opaque administration that hid the finances of the university from the Governing Council, the body vested in law to be the custodian of those finances;

Professor Ogundipe and management were engaged in various acts of contract splitting in their procurement of services, works and goods for the University;

Professor Ogundipe constantly exceeded his approval limit as Vice Chancellor in his spending of the funds of the University;

Professor Ogundipe and his management embarked on large spending of the Universitys funds without the knowledge of the University Governing Council and F&GPC, the statutory bodies that should know by law

Professor Ogundipe and his management procured and paid for services, goods and works that were above his approval limits, without any Tender Board and F&GPC approvals, without organizing bids, without any supporting contractual document and sometimes without any execution of work by the contractor.  (Paragraph 9.3.3)

To resolve the issue of the financial mismanagement identified, the panel recommends that the universitys Governing Council should, in fulfilment of its statutory role, engage a forensic external auditor of international repute to conduct a comprehensive forensic and diagnostic audit of the university accounts of the years in question.  Paragraph 9.3.4 (i)

Ironically, the federal Ministry of Education might have saved the situation if it had acted promptly and with sincerity on the position of Professor Saad. It was clear that the statement by Echonor, which tried to blame the Babalakin Council for the leadership crisis, was diversionary and deceitful. Saad, a professor of Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University, was so disgusted with the actions of the ministry that he wrote to distance himself from the report of his committee.

In a protest letter sent to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, in October 2020, shortly after the recall of Ogundipe as VC, Saad wrote: In case you may like to read between the lines on some of the recommendations as they affect the Management, especially, the Vice-Chancellor. As far as the majority of the team was concerned, they would like to save the VC who was presented as a victim, having been sacked by the Council and no effort was spared in minimising his faults, which were often obvious.

He added that he did not really want to sign the panels final report, but I felt that would be a slap on the face of the government and it would generate so much bad publicity in the public domain, that I would rather sign on the understanding that the matter would be referred to the Shehu of Borno as the Chancellor.

On Babalakin, Prof Saad said: There are a number of memoranda sympathetic to the Chairman of Council for the good work he was doing and for his being above board when it came to financial probity, but these did not show up in the report because it appears three of the ToRs were targeted at the Chairman in his role of removing a VC and appointing an Ag VC.

Saad wrote further that there were a number of other issues that might have been glossed over in the report to save the VC. He also scoffed at the recommendations contained in his panels report, which he felt were too soft considering the gravity of the findings. He wrote: On the issue of frivolous expenditure at the expense of the core mandate of the University, teaching and research, within the period in question VC and his cronies undertook 75 external trips costing hundreds of millions of Naira, while the total annual DTLC of all the Departments of the University was just N35 million per annum. The recommendation was that the money they took for local travel while on overseas trips should be refunded by beneficiaries.

Take the issue of splitting contracts so that the figures would be within his approval limits. In the renovation of his house and that of some Principal Officers, the evidence was clear. One Contractor would be given four contracts on the same project on the same day, each packaged to be within VCs approval limit. A number of such cases were evident, but the only way the Chairman could get that in the report was to compromise by rendering such as contracts were packaged in a way that bordered on contract splitting, in order to keep them within approval limits.

The recommendation was that VC should be cautioned against contract splitting. To me, this was enough for the Government to reject this recommendation and subject the culprit to the consequences.

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY

LAGOS, NIGERIA
The relatives of a man who was allegedly murdered in Ringim Local Government Area, Jigawa State last July, on Wednesday, protested the release of the alleged prime suspect by the police.

The victim, Yusuf Umar, died on 21 July 2022 at the Aminu Kano Teaching in Kano, 18 days after he was attacked at Amaguwa rural market in the Ringim council area.

The suspect, Ibrahim Barde, was released on 9th August 2022 and reunited with his family in the Amaguwa community.

The chairman of the Miyatti Allah, a Fulani socio-cultural organisation in the area, Mati Jana, told reporters that tension in the community became heightened after the suspect was released as relatives of the deceased vowed to avenge his death.

I saw him (the suspect) yesterday Tuesday after he was released, shortly, the news spread across, and people began questioning the rationale behind the release of the suspect despite the enormity of the crime.

After a while, on the same day, my phone rang, it was a call from the police headquarters with this  0810614827* notifying me about the release of the suspect as well as telling me that the case is under investigation by the police.

I was shocked and became suspicious that something was wrong somewhere and justice might have been circumvented, throughout Tuesday, I have been receiving and making calls calming the people not to take the law into their own hands.

Were calling on the states governor, Police Commissioner, the director, and state security service to intervene and investigate the sudden release of the prime suspect without him being charged.

I have done my part, I have been calming the people, but I have limitations, the Miyatti Allah chairman said.

Meanwhile, the son of the deceased, Adamu Yusuf, claimed he received a phone call from the state police command through the number 0803691893*.

The person who did not identify himself said he is calling from the police headquarters in Dutse, and that I should not worry in case I saw the suspect being released because its just a temporary release. But I asked him if it was proper to free such a murder suspect that way, the police officer posed for a while and ended up the call.

We have lost our father, we cannot bring him back, we spent over N600,000 on the hospital bills, and we suffered a lot going between Ringim and Kano hospital, all we want is justice from the authorities, he said.

But the police spokesperson in the state, Lawan Adam, said the man that was released was not the prime suspect.

Mr Adam said three other prime suspects are in the polices custody and 15 other suspects are at large.
Cyriel Dessers moved from Belgium to join newly promoted Cremonese just a week after Ademola Lookman joined Atalanta.

Dessers has joined Osimhen and other Nigerian players in the Italian top flight after joining Cremonese from Belgian side KRC Genk in a deal worth around $7 million.

The former Europa Conference League top scorer agreed to terms and joins compatriot Nigerian David Okereke on a five-year contract at the Giovanni Zinni stadium.

Dessers excelled as a loan player with Feyenoord in the Dutch league last season, scoring 20 goals in 41 games.

However, he was unable to secure a permanent move and returned to Genk, for whom he appeared three times and scored three goals before joining Cremonese.

The Super Eagles currently have four players in Italys top flight league.
The fast-growing New York and Singapore-based firm attracted funding from prominent investors including BECO Capital, Darrow Holdings (a Susquehanna affiliate), K3 Ventures, Uncorrelated Ventures, Republic Crypto, Kraken Ventures, and more.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Merkle Science , the predictive crypto risk and intelligence platform, announced an extension of more than $19 million to its Series A funding round, bringing the total raised to over $24 million. BECO Capital, Susquehanna affiliate (Darrow Holdings), and K3 Ventures co-led the extension, with participation from new investors including Republic Crypto, Summer Capital, 500 StartUps APAC and US, Aspen Digital, HashKey Capital, and Coinhako. They were joined by existing investors Kraken Ventures, Digital Currency Group (DCG), Kenetic, Uncorrelated Ventures, Fenbushi Capital, Lucy Gazmararian of Token Bay Capital, and Libertus Capital.

Several key market vectors have converged to drive exponential global demand for the company's solutions. These include the rapid adoption of blockchain technology across the financial services industry, including on the part of many large institutions; the escalating impact and cost of hacks and exploits, such as the Nomad and the Ronin Bridge exploits; and increased regulatory scrutiny, such as NYDFS's Virtual Currency Guidance, FINCEN's Advisory on Illicit Activity Involving Convertible Virtual Currency and the sanctioning of Tornado cash and Blender.io by the US treasury. These developments, together with the government's enforcement-first approach and enormous penalties recently issued to companies such as Robinhood and BlockFi, have made clear the need for stronger and more widespread compliance, risk management, and forensics solutions in the space.

"We've seen over 300% growth over the past year, despite the onset of a severe bear market in crypto and throughout the broader global economy," said Merkle Science Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Mriganka Pattnaik. "Web3 companies, financial institutions, and regulators are continuing to invest heavily in crypto compliance and forensics. Recent high-profile events in the space, including the failure of large companies and massive hacks, are a clear indicator of the need for much more robust risk management, forensics and compliance for digital assets."

Merkle Science meets this need by providing next-generation crypto threat detection, risk mitigation, investigations, and compliance solutions to financial institutions, crypto businesses, DeFi participants, NFT platforms, and government agencies. Its platform provides cross-chain analytics that allows compliance teams and investigators to conduct analysis seamlessly across multiple blockchains. Merkle Science's solution suite screens over 3 million digital assets per month and covers cryptocurrencies representing 96% of the current $1.13 trillion crypto market cap. It uses machine-learning to drive transaction monitoring and risk mitigation for AML compliance, offers a crypto forensics tool that tracks stolen funds and enables investigations, enhanced due diligence and entity reporting, and crypto compliance and investigations training.

The new investments will accelerate the company's global growth and will be used for expansion across the U.S. and Europe, as well as for R&D in emerging segments such as analytics and forensics across NFTs, DeFi, and cryptocurrency bridge protocols.

Dean Carlson, Head of Digital Asset Investments at Susquehanna and Merkle Science Board Member, said "Merkle Science's cutting-edge solutions provide unmatched security, ease of use, and transparency and give compliance officers and investigators from financial institutions the confidence to understand and deal with risks associated with DeFi liquidity pools, bridge protocols, and the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. Their unique risk mitigation goes beyond blacklists by combining a unique machine-learning approach for attribution and highly customizable behavior-based rules which helps uncover a large amount of risks that were previously undetected. We are thrilled to continue supporting Merkle Science as they grow to become the leading challenger and innovator in the predictive crypto risk and intelligence platform."

Dany Farha, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at BECO Capital , added: "The blockchain industry and its regulatory landscape is maturing rapidly across the world. We're seeing a lot of activity in the UAE, where a large number of businesses are relocating to our jurisdiction to benefit from the robust digital assets regulatory regime and ecosystem. Crypto risk mitigation and intelligence solutions form a critical component of this ecosystem. When we evaluated the space, Merkle Science's focus on predictive transaction monitoring, cross-chain analytics and DeFi analytics clearly demonstrated that they have the vision to become a global market leader. We are delighted to support them as they build the next generation of Web3 risk management and forensics solutions."

Meng Xiong Kuok, Founder and Managing Partner at K3 Ventures , said: "Merkle Science is expanding the definition of blockchain analysis. The company takes a unique approach to new and increasingly complex challenges, such as the growing number of crypto bridge exploits, de-risking DeFi and empowering their customers to prevent increasingly sophisticated and previously undetectable crypto crime. We are excited to support their journey to the peak of the blockchain analytics industry."

To support its ambitious goals, Merkle Science recently augmented its leadership team, which features talent from Paypal, Luno, Bank of America, the FBI, and the DOJ, with new Chief Revenue Officer Fernando Castellanos - a veteran New York-based sales leader and former Forter VP experienced in scaling high growth organizations.

About Merkle Science

Founded in 2018, Merkle Science is the next-generation predictive cryptocurrency risk and intelligence platform that helps crypto companies, DeFi participants, financial institutions, and government agencies detect, investigate, and prevent illegal activities involving cryptocurrencies. The core team comes from Paypal, Forter, Luno, Bank of America, FBI, and the US DOJ.

Merkle Science's proprietary Behavioral Rule Engine enables our tools to go beyond blacklists so that compliance teams may fulfill their local KYC and AML obligations and industry players may keep pace with increasingly complex illicit activities.

Merkle Science envisions a world powered by crypto and is creating the infrastructure necessary to ensure the safe and healthy growth of the cryptocurrency industry as it becomes a key pillar of the $22 trillion financial services ecosystem. We enable businesses to scale and mature so that a full range of individuals, entities, and services may transact with crypto safely. For more information on Merkle Science, please visit https://www.merklescience.com .

SOURCE Merkle Science
Driven by demand for Amagi's best-in-breed SaaS technology and Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) partnerships, Amagi reports accelerating growth in Q1

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amagi , a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV, today announced over 100% revenue growth Y-O-Y for the quarter ending June 2022 (Q1), propelled by the global surge in demand for connected TV devices and the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) viewing experience. In Q1, Amagi's growth continued to accelerate supported by an increase in customer acquisition, a rise in ad impressions and employee headcount investment.

The company's strong all-around performance is a result of impressive traction for its innovative streaming TV solutions. As the rise of CTV and FAST streaming channels alter the TV landscape  with FAST penetration among households having more than doubled year over year in 2021  Amagi has kept shifting viewership patterns at the center of its innovations, making the broadcast workflow cost efficient and supporting the growth of the FAST phenomenon. What's more, Amagi has the most extensive FAST TV platform partnerships across the world, enabling content owners and advertisers to capture new audience segments through wider distribution.

With such robust market demand, Amagi experienced a number of key milestones in Q1. Winning new customers including Cox Media Group and Banjiay Rights, Amagi has expanded its growing global operations and entered new regions  most recently, South Korea and Australia. At the same time, the company has seen a growing demand for its products in the U.S., leading to a notable increase in U.S. sales. To serve customers in these regions better, Amagi has invested in sales, account management, and customer support teams, adding over 50 employees in the U.S. alone to its workforce.

Amagi has also continued to expand its leadership team, appointing industry veterans James Smith as EVP of Global Ads Sales & Programmatic, Daniel Marshall as EVP of Global SaaS Sales, Marco Di Giacomo as Chief Marketing Officer, and Prasad Menon as Chief People Officer. In addition, the company announced a new, enhanced version of its premium live orchestration platform, Amagi LIVE  enabling content owners to orchestrate broadcast-grade live events on the go  as well as new automation and AI-driven personalization capabilities for Amagi PLANNER, its content planning and scheduling platform.

"Amagi's strong performance this quarter reflects our ability to stay ahead of the technological curve, enabling our customers to capture viewer attention and grow their audience in this ever-evolving market," said Baskar Subramanian, CEO and Co-founder, Amagi. "With CTV and FAST clearly becoming the future for the streaming industry, Amagi will continue to build cutting-edge solutions to harness this rising consumer demand and power growth opportunities for content owners, advertisers and streamers throughout the TV ecosystem."

Amagi provides a complete suite of solutions for content creation, distribution and monetization, and is a frontrunner in enabling content distribution to Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) platforms around the world. Amagi currently has 50+ platform partners of premium brands including The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus, VIZIO, LG Channels, Tubi, TCL, Sling TV, Rakuten TV, and more.

The company also has a state-of-the-art cloud broadcast operations center that can support 1000+ live linear channels. Amagi clients include content and media companies ABS-CBN, A+E Networks UK, beIN Sports, CuriosityStream, Discovery Networks, Fox Networks, Fremantle, Gusto TV, NBCUniversal, Tastemade, Tegna, USA Today, Vice Media and Warner Media, among others.

For more information about Amagi and its streaming TV solutions, visit www.amagi.com .

About Amagi

Amagi is a next-generation media technology company that provides cloud broadcast and targeted advertising solutions to broadcast TV and streaming TV platforms. Amagi enables content owners to launch, distribute and monetize live linear channels on Free Ad-supported Streaming TV and video services platforms. Amagi also offers 24x7 cloud-managed services bringing simplicity, advanced automation, and transparency to the entire broadcast operations. Overall, Amagi supports 700+ content brands, 800+ playout chains, and over 2000 channel deliveries on its platform in over 40 countries. Amagi has a presence in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, London, Paris, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, broadcast operations in New Delhi, and an innovation center in Bangalore.

Contact:



BOCA Communications for Amagi

[email protected]

Amagi Contact:

Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

Vice President - Corporate Marketing

Email: [email protected]

India PR Contact:

Gayatri Binu

The PRactice

Email: [email protected]

Europe PR Contact:

AxiCom PR

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Amagi Media Labs Pvt. Ltd.
Plus Solutions Revenue Grew by 29% YoY; YouTube Shorts Monetization Expected to Generate Positive Revenue Contribution

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BBTV Holdings Inc. (TSX: BBTV) (OTCQX: BBTVF) (the "Company"), a media tech company that uses technology enabled solutions to help content creators become more successful, today announced financial results for Q2 2022 and six month financial results for the period ended on June 30, 2022.

The Management Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), along with full financial statements are posted and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars except where otherwise indicated.

"Q2 2022 results show continued strong growth in higher margin Plus Solutions," said Shahrzad Rafati, Chairperson and CEO of BBTV. "Plus Solutions revenue grew 29% compared to Q2 2021 and by 46% for the first half of the year and we are reiterating our guidance for over 40% growth in that segment for 2022. Although our Base Solutions revenue remained flat sequentially and declined year-over-year, we see significant fundamental tailwinds driving revenue contribution in our business. These tailwinds include the expedited activation of YouTube Shorts monetization, which could be worth up to approximately $90 million in incremental revenue1, and the diversification of our Base Solutions to additional platforms like Facebook. Together with our cost optimization programs, we see a clear path to Adjusted EBITDA profitability for the business."

Q2 2022 Financial Highlights:

Plus Solutions revenue in Q2 2022 grew by 29% in comparison to the same quarter last year and in Q2 2022 represents 13% of total revenue and 30-40% of total Adjusted Gross Profit 3 .

. Plus Solutions revenue growth is expected to exceed 40% on an annual basis for 2022.

The revenue from the Company's core Plus Solutions, specifically Content Management, Direct Advertising Sales and Mobile Gaming Apps, grew by a combined 41% in Q2 2022 in comparison to the same quarter last year.

Based on forecasts and Adjusted EBITDA breakeven timelines, management is comfortable that it has adequate liquidity for at least the next 12 months.

All shareholder margin loans secured against BBTV shares have been paid off.

The Company undertook a cost optimization initiative where it reduced total headcount by approximately 14%. The effects of this cost optimization initiative will be reflected in the Company's results from Q3 2022 onwards.









1 YouTube Shorts RPMs are not yet known and as a result, the YouTube Shorts monetization opportunity of approximately $90 million was calculated using current market rates for regular YouTube content as follows: Q2 2022 YouTube Shorts views of 18.55 billion multiplied by 4 quarters to estimate approximate annual views which is then multiplied by the last twelve month June 2022 RPM (excluding YouTube Shorts) of $1.22, which equals approximately $90 million in potential annual revenue.





















Three Months Ended Six Months Ended

Q2 2022(1) Q2 2021(1) $ Change % Change Q2 2022(1) Q2 2021(1) $ Change % Change Base Solutions revenue $86,932 $107,997 ($21,065) (20 %) $172,956 $206,892 ($33,936) (16 %) Plus Solutions revenue $12,996 $10,061 $2,935 29 % $25,808 $17,661 $8,147 46 % Total revenue $99,928 $118,058 ($18,130) (15 %) $198,764 $224,553 ($25,789) (11 %) Gross profit (which includes PPA

Amortization) $806 $2,049 ($1,243) (61 %) $2,497 $5,828 ($3,331) (57 %) Gross Margin (which includes PPA

Amortization) 1 % 2 %



1 % 3 %



Adjusted Gross Profit $ 8,266 $ 9,191 ($925) (10 %) $ 17,442 $ 18,811 ($1,369) (7 %) Gross Margin Excluding PPA

Amortization 8 % 8 %



9 % 8 %



Net loss ($14,244) ($4,274) ($9,970) 233 % ($26,783) ($13,325) ($13,458) 101 % Adjusted EBITDA ($5,654) ($3,368) ($2,286) 68 % ($9,370) ($5,875) ($3,495) 59 % Cash flow from (used in) operating

activities ($6,361) ($10,690) $4,329 (40 %) ($14,365) ($14,656) $291 (2 %)

(1) These figures are derived from the Company's IFRS financial statements. Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and Gross Margin Excluding PPA Amortization is a non-GAAP ratio. These terms are defined under "Key Metric Definitions" below. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios are set out below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Non-GAAP Ratios Reconciliation Tables".

Adjusted Gross Profit 3 , which is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as Gross Profit excluding amortization associated with the purchase price allocation ("PPA") related to the initial public offering, for Q2 2022 was $8.3 million , a 10% decrease in comparison to $9.2 million reported for the same quarter last year due to the decrease in revenue across Base Solutions.

, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as Gross Profit excluding amortization associated with the purchase price allocation ("PPA") related to the initial public offering, for Q2 2022 was , a 10% decrease in comparison to reported for the same quarter last year due to the decrease in revenue across Base Solutions. BBTV Share 3 of revenue, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as revenue less content creator and third-party platform fees, for Q2 2022 was $8.7 million , an 11% decrease compared to $9.7 million reported for Q2 2021.

of revenue, which is a non-GAAP financial measure and defined as revenue less content creator and third-party platform fees, for Q2 2022 was , an 11% decrease compared to reported for Q2 2021. Gross Margin Excluding PPA Amortization 2 , which is a non-GAAP ratio and defined as Adjusted Gross Profit 1 divided by revenue, was 8.3% in Q2 2022 up from 7.8% in Q2 2021 due to the higher revenue mix of Plus Solutions. Plus Solutions should continue to help contribute to further margin expansion in future quarters. Management expects Gross Profit to grow at a faster pace than the Company's top-line revenue.

, which is a non-GAAP ratio and defined as Adjusted Gross Profit divided by revenue, was 8.3% in Q2 2022 up from 7.8% in Q2 2021 due to the higher revenue mix of Plus Solutions. Plus Solutions should continue to help contribute to further margin expansion in future quarters. Management expects Gross Profit to grow at a faster pace than the Company's top-line revenue. Adjusted Gross Margin 2 , which is a non-GAAP ratio and defined as Adjusted Gross Profit 3 divided by BBTV Share 3 , was 95.5% for Q2 2022, comparable to 94.9% reported for Q2 2021. Adjusted Gross Margin 2 should remain stable and above 90% for the foreseeable future.

, which is a non-GAAP ratio and defined as Adjusted Gross Profit divided by BBTV Share , was 95.5% for Q2 2022, comparable to 94.9% reported for Q2 2021. Adjusted Gross Margin should remain stable and above 90% for the foreseeable future. The current period decrease in cash outflows from operating activities over Q2 2021 was primarily due to the changes in the timing of receipts or payments of working capital items.









2 Non-GAAP Ratio. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Non-GAAP Ratios Reconciliation Tables" section below and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable IFRS measure included in this press release. 3 Non-GAAP Financial Measure. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Non-GAAP Ratios Reconciliation Tables" section below and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable IFRS measure included in this press release.



Three Months Ended

Q2 2022(1) Q1 2022(1) $ Change % Change Base Solutions revenue $86,932 $86,024 $908 1 % Plus Solutions revenue $12,996 $12,812 $184 1 % Total revenue $99,928 $98,836 $1,092 1 % Gross profit (which includes

PPA Amortization) $806 $1,691 ($885) (52 %) Gross Margin (which includes

PPA Amortization) 1 % 2 %



Adjusted Gross Profit $ 8,266 $ 9,176 ($910) (10 %) Gross Margin Excluding PPA

Amortization 8 % 9 %



Net loss ($14,244) ($12,539) ($1,705) 14 % Adjusted EBITDA ($5,654) ($3,716) ($1,938) 52 % Cash flow from (used in) operating

activities ($6,361) ($8,004) $1,643 (21 %)

(1) These figures are derived from the Company's IFRS financial statements. Adjusted Gross Profit and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures and Gross Margin Excluding PPA Amortization is a non-GAAP ratio. These terms are defined under "Key Metric Definitions" below. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios are set out below under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Non-GAAP Ratios Reconciliation Tables".

The current period decrease in cash outflows from operating activities over Q1 2022 was primarily due to the changes in the timing of receipts or payments of working capital items.

Q2 2022 Key Metrics:













Three Months Ended

Q2 2022 Q2 2021 Change % Change









Views (billions) 95 111 (16) (14 %) RPMs (in dollars) $0.94 $0.99 ($0.05) (5 %)











Three Months Ended

Q2 2022 Q1 2022 Change % Change









Views (billions) 95 105 (10) (10 %) RPMs (in dollars) $0.94 $0.82 $0.12 15 %

Revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2022 decreased by $18.1 million or 15% when compared to the same period of the prior year. This decline in revenue for the current three-month period was due to a decline in Views and RPMs, partially offset by an increase in revenue in the higher margin Plus Solutions revenue stream.

Outlook

BBTV monetization is closely tied to the performance of YouTube. Recently, YouTube's parent, Alphabet reported that YouTube revenue growth slowed sequentially and year-over-year. This is primarily due to a switch in consumer preference to micro-content (less than a minute long videos) across all major platforms. YouTube successfully introduced YouTube Shorts last year to respond to consumer preferences driven by the growth of TikTok, and this format now represents over 20% of BBTV's views. However, as the Company has stated in previous conference calls, they have yet to be monetized. Alphabet announced during their most recent earnings conference call that they are accelerating their plans to monetize YouTube Shorts, which should cascade through to BBTV. Monetization is starting ahead of expected timing. Once it becomes monetized across BBTV's entire library, revenues attributable to YouTube Shorts views could represent incremental revenue of approximately $90 million dollars annually across our Base Solutions at current market rates4 and we therefore expect our overall blended RPMs to trend upward

Conference Call Details:

Wednesday August 10, 2022, 2:15pm Pacific Time / 5:15pm Eastern Time.

Participant Information:

Access Code: 132461

United States: 1 844 200 6205

United States (Local): 1 646 904 5544

Canada dial-in number (Toll Free): 1 833 950 0062

Canada dial-in number (Local): 1 226 828 7575

All other locations: +1 929 526 1599

Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call.

To coincide with the call, an Investor Highlights presentation will be available at: https://investors.bbtv.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx

Links to SEDAR filings, conference call recordings and press releases are available on the investor website at: https://investors.bbtv.com/

Telephonic Replay:

Access Code: 337253

US (Local): 1 929 458 6194

US Toll Free: 1 866 813 9403

Canada: 1 226 828 7578

UK (Local): 0204 525 0658

All other locations: +44 204 525 0658

August 10, 2022 20:15 ET  August 24, 2022 23:59 ET









4 YouTube Shorts RPMs are not yet known and as a result, the YouTube Shorts monetization opportunity of $90 million was calculated using current market rates for regular YouTube content as follows: Q2 2022 YouTube Shorts views of 18.55 billion multiplied by 4 quarters to estimate approximate annual views which is then multiplied by the last twelve month June 2022 RPM (excluding YouTube Shorts) of $1.22, which equals approximately $90 million in potential annual revenue.

Income Statement:



Three Months Ended

June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30, 2022 $ 2021 $ % change

2022 $ 2021 $ % change















Revenue $99,928 $118,058 (15 %)

$198,764 $224,553 (11 %)















Cost of revenue













Content creator and other fees $91,272 $108,566 (16 %)

$180,593 $205,133 (12 %) Amortization $7,850 $7,443 5 %

$15,674 $13,592 15 %















Total cost of revenue $99,122 $116,009 (15 %)

$196,267 $218,725 (10 %)















Gross profit $806 $2,049 (61 %)

$2,497 $5,828 (57 %)















Expenses













Sales and marketing $8,545 $7,189 19 %

$16,286 $14,477 12 % General and administration $4,566 $4,666 (2 %)

$8,878 $8,896 (0 %) Research and development $1,404 $1,146 23 %

$2,740 $2,205 24 % Share-based compensation $686 $398 72 %

$1,719 $662 160 % Amortization and depreciation $953 $1,532 (38 %)

$1,972 $3,399 (42 %) Total operating expenses $16,154 $14,931 8 %

$31,595 $29,639 7 %































Operating loss ($15,348) ($12,882) 19 %

($29,098) ($23,811) 22 %















Foreign exchange gain (loss) ($954) $142 (772 %)

($355) $254 (240 %) Interest expense ($2,203) ($1,321) 67 %

($4,382) ($2,387) 84 % Other (expense) income ($152) $3,048 (105 %)

($491) $3,004 (116 %) Transaction-related costs ($54) $- NA

($539) $- NA Total non-operating

(expenses) income ($3,363) $1,869 (280 %)

($5,767) $871 (762 %)















Loss before income taxes ($18,711) ($11,013) 70 %

($34,865) ($22,940) 52 %















Recovery of income taxes $4,467 $6,739 (34 %)

$8,082 $9,615 (16 %)















Loss ($14,244) ($4,274) 233 %

($26,783) ($13,325) 101 %















Other comprehensive loss













Exchange differences on

translation of operations in

currencies other than Canadian

dollars ($107) ($376) (72 %)

($500) ($556) (10 %)















Loss and comprehensive loss ($14,351) ($4,650) 209 %

($27,283) ($13,881) 97 %















Basic and diluted loss

per share (in dollars) ($0.67) ($0.21)



($1.27) ($0.65)

















Weighted average number

of shares outstanding

Basic and diluted (in whole

numbers) 21,221,283 20,551,508



21,117,461 20,532,815



Non-GAAP Financial Measures and non-GAAP Ratios Reconciliation Tables

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin



Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,

2022 2021 2022 2021 Net loss ($14,244) ($4,274) ($26,783) ($13,325) Amortization and depreciation(1) $8,803 $8,975 $17,646 $16,991 Share-based compensation $686 $398 $1,719 $662 Unrealized and realized foreign exchange $954 ($142) $355 ($254) Interest expense $2,203 $1,321 $4,382 $2,387 Other expense (income) $152 ($3,048) $491 ($3,004) Receivable factoring banking fees $205 $141 $363 $283 Transaction-related costs $54 $- $539 $- Recovery of income taxes ($4,467) ($6,739) ($8,082) ($9,615) Adjusted EBITDA(2) ($5,654) ($3,368) ($9,370) ($5,875) Total revenues $99,928 $118,058 $198,764 $224,553 Adjusted EBITDA Margin(2) (5.7 %) (2.9 %) (4.7 %) (2.6 %)

(1) Includes depreciation and amortization reported in cost of revenue and operating expenses for all periods. (2) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure while Adjusted EBITDA Margin is a non-GAAP ratio. Further details on these measures are included in the "Key Metrics" section of this press release.

BBTV Share, Adjusted Gross Profit, and Adjusted Gross Margin



Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,

2022 2021 2022 2021 Revenue $99,928 $118,058 $198,764 $224,553 Less: content creator and third-party platform

fees ($91,268) ($108,371) ($180,507) ($204,845) BBTV Share(1) (A) $8,660 $9,687 $18,257 $19,708









Gross Profit $806 $2,049 $2,497 $5,828 Add: amortization associated with intangible

assets acquired as part of the Business

Combination Transaction $7,460 $7,142 $14,945 $12,983 Adjusted Gross Profit(1) (B) $8,266 $9,191 $17,442 $18,811









Adjusted Gross Margin(1) (B/A) 95.5 % 94.9 % 95.5 % 95.4 %

(1) BBTV Share and Adjusted Gross Profit are non-GAAP financial measures while Adjusted Gross Margin is a non-GAAP ratio. Further details on these measures are included in the "Key Metrics" section of this press release.

Free Cash Flow



Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30,

2022 2021 2022 2021 Cash flow from (used in) operating activities ($6,361) ($10,690) ($14,365) ($14,656) Purchase of property and equipment ($61) ($62) ($246) ($123) Purchase or development of intangible assets ($757) ($403) ($1,416) ($696) Free Cash Flow(1) ($7,179) ($11,155) ($16,027) ($15,475)

(1) Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. Further details on this measure is included in the "Key Metrics" section of this press release.

About BBTV

BBTV is a global media and technology company headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. The Company's mission is to help content creators become more successful. With creators ranging from individuals to global media brands, BBTV provides comprehensive, end-to-end Solutions to increase viewership and drive revenue powered by its innovative technology, while allowing creators to focus on their core competency  content creation. In December 2021, BBTV had the fourth most unique monthly viewers among digital platforms with more than 600 million globally, who consumed more than 35 billion minutes of video content [1]. ( www.bbtv.com )

[1] Calculations and classifications made by BBTV based on data from Comscore's "Top 12 Countries = December 2021 comScore Video Metrix Media Trend  Multi-Platform  Top 100 Video Properties Report"; Top 12 countries represent ~50% of world's digital population.

Links to SEDAR filings, conference call recordings and press releases are available on the investor website at: https://investors.bbtv.com/

Key Metric Definitions

The information presented within this press release includes certain financial measures such as non-GAAP financial measures, non-GAAP ratios, and supplementary financial measures, as well as a non-financial performance measure (collectively, "Key Metrics") to assist investors in assessing the overall operating performance of the Company. These measures are provided as additional information to complement IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. They are not standardized measures under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. These Key Metrics are used to provide investors with supplemental information on our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We also believe that securities analysts, investors and other interested parties frequently use Key Metrics in the evaluation of issuers. Our management also uses Key Metrics in order to facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts and to determine components of management compensation.

The numbers for the Company's Key Metrics and related information are calculated using external industry data sources and/or internal company data. These measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures or ratios or other metrics used by other companies and may not be comparable to similar meanings prescribed by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. Moreover, some of these adjustments or measures are provided for period-over-period comparison purposes, and investors should be cautioned that the effect of the adjustments provided herein is not indicative of the actual effect on the Company's operating results.

Non-GAAP Ratios contained in this press release are:

"Adjusted Gross Margin" means Adjusted Gross Profit divided by BBTV Share; and

"Adjusted EBITDA Margin" means Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue.

"Gross Margin Excluding PPA Amortization" means Adjusted Gross Profit divided by revenue.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures contained in this press release include all financial figures with a Pro-Forma Adjustment (see Pro Forma Basis) as well as the following:

"Adjusted EBITDA" means net earnings or loss, as applicable, before finance expenses, income tax expense (recovery), amortization and depreciation, share-based compensation, unrealized and realized gains or losses due to foreign exchange, transaction-related costs, and certain other items as set out in the reconciliation table;

"BBTV Share" means revenue less content creator and third-party platform fees;

"Adjusted Gross Profit" means gross profit plus amortization associated with intangible assets acquired as part of the Business Combination Transaction;

"Free Cash Flow" means cash flows from (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment and purchase or development of intangible assets;

See the financial tables above for a reconciliation of the non-GAAP ratios and non-GAAP financial measures.

Supplementary Financial Measures

Supplementary Financial Measures contained in this press release are:

"Advertising Revenue" means the revenue generated from advertising sales from the Company's owned and licensed video on demand content across digital platforms, rights management revenue from advertising sales on video on demand content, and in-app advertising on Mobile Gaming Apps.

"RPMs" or "Revenue per one thousand video Views" means the Advertising Revenues for every thousand Views generated by the Company's owned and licensed digital content. The Company does not provide a reconciliation for RPMs as there are no directly comparable IFRS measures for the components that make up RPMs.

"Gross Margin" means gross profit divided by revenue.

We monitor Advertising Revenue and RPMs to help us evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business, formulate business plans and make strategic decisions. These measures are also used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our core business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. Unless the context otherwise requires, the Company believes that readers should consider the applicable metrics to be indicative of engagement and monetization trends that are key factors that affect the Company's revenue. The Company may or may not update these metrics based on the Company's determination of applicability, circumstance, relevance or other considerations.

Non-Financial Performance Measures

Views are one of BBTV's non-financial performance measures and are defined as the number of views, in billions, of the Company's owned and licensed digital video content on various platforms, notably YouTube, for the stated period. The presentation of Views is reliant on certain third-party industry data and therefore is not comprehensive and may exclude views of the Company's content on certain platforms or in geographies whereby such data sources are unable to or do not track such information. Trends in Views affect revenue and financial results by influencing the Company's volume of salable media inventory, RPMs, as well as its product offerings, expenses and capital expenditures.

While Views are reported using reasonable judgments and estimates of the audience and its engagement with its content for the applicable period of measurement, there are certain challenges and limitations in measuring the usage of its content across its audience. Such challenges and limitations may also affect the Company's understanding of certain details of its business. For example, the methodologies used to measure the Company's Views and RPMs (see "Supplementary Financial Measures" above) may be susceptible to algorithm, calculation or other technical or human errors, and following an acquisition or strategic transaction, certain data may be, among other things, integrated, analyzed and reported differently by the Company than it was by the target or the strategic partner. Moreover, the Company's or its data provider's business intelligence tools may experience glitches or fail on a particular data backup or upload, which could lead to certain customer activity not being properly included in the calculation of Views and RPMs. Although the Company typically attempts to address and correct any such failures and inaccuracies relatively quickly, its reported Views and RPMs are still susceptible to the same and its estimations of such metrics may be lower or higher than the actual numbers.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains "forwardlooking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information is not information about historical facts but instead represents the Company's intentions, beliefs, plans, goals, objectives and strategies regarding future events and results, and includes certain financial outlooks. Financial outlooks, in particular, are provided to aid in understanding management's goals and expectations regarding future financial matters, and, for all the reasons set out below, may not be achieved. Such financial outlooks may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information contained in this press release includes statements that we are reiterating our guidance for over 40% growth in our Plus Solutions segment for 2022; we see significant fundamental tailwinds driving revenue contribution in our business, which include the expedited activation of YouTube Shorts monetization, which could be worth approximately $90 million in incremental revenue, and the diversification of our Base Solutions to additional platforms like Facebook; we see a clear path to Adjusted EBITDA profitability for the business; management is comfortable that it has adequate liquidity for at least the next 12 months; Plus Solutions should continue to help contribute to further margin expansion in future quarters; management expects Gross Profit to grow at a faster pace than the Company's top-line revenue; Adjusted Gross Margin2 should remain stable and above 90% for the foreseeable future; Alphabet's acceleration of its plans to monetize YouTube Shorts should cascade through to BBTV; such monetization is starting ahead of expected timing; once it becomes monetized across BBTV's entire library, it could represent incremental revenue of approximately $90 million dollars annually across our Base Solutions at current market rates and we therefore expect RPMs to trend upward. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that the Company considered appropriate and reasonable as of the date such information is given, including but not limited to the assumptions stated in footnotes 1 and 4 on pages 1 and 4, respectively, hereof, as well as the Company's assumptions that current industry growth trends will continue and the Company's growth plans will not change in any material respect; its internal financial forecasts and models, including its estimates of costs and revenue, are accurate; YouTube Shorts will be monetized as currently anticipated by Alphabet and the Company and that BBTV will immediately realize the benefit of that monetization; the Company's Plus Solutions revenue will continue to grow as expected and to show greater margins than its Base Solutions; RPMs will increase; the Company's business will otherwise expand; our creators and our strategic and other partners will perform as contractually required; we will be able to seamlessly enter into new markets and diversify into new platforms; we will be able to obtain and maintain financing on acceptable terms; as well as that our assumptions regarding foreign exchange rates and other matters are correct. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the risk that the Company's assumptions on which its forward-looking information is based may not be accurate; the effect of competition; that the Company has a history of losses and negative cash flow; the Company's need for additional capital; the Company's significant reliance on its relationship with one digital platform; and the impact of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and of current economic uncertainty; as well as the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 29, 2022 filed on sedar at www.sedar.com and in the Company's other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com . The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forwardlooking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Media Relations

Mark Funston,

Head of Marketing and PR,

778-288-4950

[email protected]

Investor Relations

[email protected]

Ron Shuttleworth

Partner

Oak Hill Financial Inc

(647)5007371

[email protected]

BBTV-F

SOURCE BBTV Holdings Inc.
BEIJING, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This is an opinion piece by Ong Tee Keat, Chairman of the Center for New Inclusive Asia, Malaysia, for Beijing Review:

Chinese President Xi Jinping's Global Security Initiative (GSI) is no doubt a timely call that provides the world with an alternative to the escalating geopolitical tension.

The initiative evolved from President Xi's proposal at the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia in Shanghai in 2014 and calls for a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security model. It was first directed at Asia, but now is becoming increasingly relevant globally.

The GSI raises the principle of indivisible security. It seeks to forbid any country from strengthening its own security at the expense of others, echoing a 1999 charter signed by members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which includes the United States and Canada.

Be that as it may, in reality, no single charter could ever make an effective deterrent to military conflicts if only the narrow unilateral gains of a nation were to be pursued. Legitimate security concerns of all conflicting nations involved have to be addressed even-handedly to minimize differences, if full-blown conflicts are to be averted.

While acknowledging the current global vulnerability to military conflicts, it is not too far-fetched to envision that risks of potential military clashes could be minimized considerably if economic dividends could be reaped jointly through the promotion of development, notably through the connectivity of trans-border development where economic interests of neighboring countries in the region are all set to intertwine.

In this context, the GSI should not be read and interpreted in isolation. Much less should it be deemed a spontaneous response to any specific existing security pacts. It must be read in conjunction with such preceding proposals of China as the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes, the ideal of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the Global Development Initiative. In short, it is part of the holistic strategy China offers to the international community in its bid as a responsible rising power to make the world a safer home for humanity, one that is more inclusive and sustainable.

This by itself is a timely and relevant public good that warrants global attention and common sense across the political spectrum. Amid the growing existential threats compounded with the increasing vulnerability to military clashes, any hegemonic moves to maintain one's geopolitical primacy at the expense of global peace and solidarity are nothing but myopic and despicable moves that deserve global disdain.

SOURCE Beijing Review
Inflation Reduction Act Repeals American Rescue Plan Debt Relief for Native American Farmers

BOYDTON, Va., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "President Biden and his Administration must honor their commitment to Native American, Black and other farmers who have been the victims of discrimination by the USDA. In particular, the Biden Administration must move swiftly to enact a moratorium on the foreclosure of direct and guaranteed USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans, move swiftly to provide the promised 120% debt relief of Native American farmers and other small farmers of color, and must send a clear signal to private lenders that USDA will protect guaranteed loans from farm foreclosures.

Kara Brewer Boyd, Founder and President, Association of American Indian Farmers (AAIF) John Boyd, President, National Black Farmers Association, and wife Kara Brewer Boyd, Founder and President, Association of American Indian Farmers (AAIF)

Native American farmers are facing record costs for inputs like fuel and fertilizer and soaring land costs, and we cannot wait another day for the Biden Administration to honor their commitments. If the Biden Administration can send billions in aid to mostly white farmers through USDA's Emergency Relief Program in a matter of months, the Administration can honor its commitments to Native American farmers in a matter of days. President Biden, enough is enough," responded Kara Brewer Boyd, President, Association of American Indian Farmers (AAIF).

While awaiting the promised debt relief in the ARPA Section 1005, farmers are being served with foreclosure notices in a recession with the highest record input costs in 40 years while sending hundreds of millions in aid to Ukraine farmers.

SEC. 22008. REPEAL OF FARM LOAN ASSISTANCE.

Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (7 U.S.C. 1921 note; Public Law 117-2) is repealed.

John Boyd, Founder and President, National Black Farmers Association - "I'm very, very disappointed in this legislative action," he said in response to reading the final bill passed by the Senate. "I'm prepared to fight for debt relief for Black, Native American and other farmers of color all the way to the Supreme Court. I'm not going to stop fighting this."

"Discrimination at USDA against Black Farmers was rampant and severe. Section 1005 Loan Repayment program was a necessary step towards fixing those harms. To acknowledge and correct racism is not unconstitutional or racist."

We call upon our fellow farmers, neighbors and friends to join the Boyds in their call for President Joe Biden to issue a Farm Foreclosure Moratorium. The Biden Farm Loan Moratorium must include foreclosure protection for USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Farm Ownership Direct and Guaranteed Loans as other Agricultural Loans while legislative remedies are being debated in Congress.

America's Farmers are worth saving!

WATCH NOW: Black Farmers Face Delays In Pandemic Debt-Relief As Prices Soar

NBFA President Boyd Releases Official Statement on President Biden's Withdrawal of Support for Black Farmers

For interviews, please contact Kara Brewer Boyd at (804) 691-8528.

[email protected]

NativeAmericanFarmers.org

SOURCE Association of American Indian Farmers
BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CaliberMRI, an industry leader in standardization of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), has been awarded a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve repeatability and reproducibility of diagnostic imaging for neonatal and pediatric brain development of children in Africa and Southeast Asia. CaliberMRI supports research into pediatric brain development through standardization and calibration of low field MRI scanners deployed at more than 25 sites in both high and low- to middle-income countries. CaliberMRI will be providing phantoms (ground truth reference objects) and analysis software to ensure that the data collected can be compared across sites and over time. "Following our recent rollout of novel portable MRI technology across five continents, it is imperative that we achieve consistent image quality at these new facilities" said Steve Williams, Principal Investigator, Head of Department of Neuroimaging at the Centre for Neuroimaging, King's College London. "System standardization with CaliberMRI will allow us to pool data and quantify brain development, pathology and response to a myriad of potential new treatments for the most vulnerable in society."

"Our mission is to bring standardization to MRI for improved repeatability and reproducibility based on SI-traceable quantitative measurement," said Bill Hollander, CEO of CaliberMRI. "Implementing this on a global scale to improve the lives of children across the world, and, specifically, those with the greatest need, is an honor." With validation through the Gates Foundation grant, CaliberMRI will be able to elevate the standard of MRI care worldwide and for patients of all ages.

CaliberMRI selected for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant re: pediatric diagnostic brain MRI in Africa & SE Asia. Tweet this

CaliberMRI's grant, entitled "Harmonizing Data Acquisitions Across Low Field MRI Partners", will run for 24 months with the deployment of the first phantoms in the summer of 2022.

About CaliberMRI: CaliberMRI is on a mission to improve the standard of care through standardization of MRI. MRI is a powerful tool for screening, diagnosis and treatment monitoring in the fields of cancer, diabetes, stroke, MS, neurodegenerative and other diseases. CaliberMRI produces integrated phantom/software platforms to ensure quantitative MRI measurements are accurate, repeatable and reproducible. CaliberMRI's products, developed in conjunction with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), improve quantitative imaging results, reduce clinical trial costs, and, ultimately, advance the standard of care. CaliberMRI works with researchers, hospitals, and clinicians around the world. Based in Boulder, Colorado, CaliberMRI has a growing global distributor network. For more information on our products and mission, visit us at www.qmri.com and follow us on LinkedIn .

Media Contact

Callie Weiant

[email protected]

720-828-7674

SOURCE CaliberMRI, Inc.
BURNABY, BC, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to partner with Neil Manning to support the development of business structure, strategy, and growth opportunities.

With over 27 years of experience, Neil's strategic insight into the offshore marine sector has helped commercialize safe and reliable new technology innovations to increase efficiencies across the subsea energy, telecom, wind, and defence sectors. His unique expertise has consistently provided value by identifying market gaps to differentiate companies and deliver a competitive edge.

Neil Manning (CNW Group/Cellula Robotics Ltd.)

"I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to contribute to what I see as the world's most experienced AUV development teams. I'll be contributing to business structure and strategic planning along with market positioning at Cellula," comments Neil. "We share the same views on the direction of the Blue Economy and the next phase of the company's exciting growth trajectory already looks exponential. I feel this is attributed to its hydrogen-powered AUV technology, which I'm very excited about. Contributing advisory strategies and supporting Cellula Robotics' tenacious team to reach its goals is an honour especially as I am passionate about marine technology."

"We are excited to be working with Neil on Cellula's strategic planning," says Eric Jackson, President. "His expertise combined with his intuition and professionalism will undoubtedly help Cellula transition into the next stage of growth within the industry."

Throughout his C-suite leadership, Neil has built top-performing teams and organizational structures to focus the collective energy of sales, product development, and service applications to exceed customer expectations. His leadership has leveraged organic and investment capital allowing companies to grow and realize opportunities.

About Cellula Robotics Ltd.

Engineering solutions, intelligent systems.

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is a proudly Canadian, privately owned, world leading marine technology company specializing in turnkey design and production of subsea robotic systems. Headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia, Cellula employs 70 staff with a dedicated team of highly-skilled engineers, designers, and technicians. Cellula's extensive experience in projects that require integrated mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and software elements in a subsea environment is evident in its wide client base spanning over the defence, mineral exploration and oil & gas sectors. Cellula prides itself in having developed and implemented a rigorous ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System that continues to meet and exceed client expectations.

For more information, please go to www.cellula.com.

SOURCE Cellula Robotics Ltd.
MIAMI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elisa Juarez, ChenMed's first director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Melissa Spain, ChenMed's first-ever Brand Love Manager were both named to Ragan's Top Women in Communications Awards List for 2022. Ms. Juarez was recognized as a "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion," and Ms. Spain was named a "Rising Star."

"Two of our employees were honored (by Ragan Communications) for their commitment to inclusion and love," Stephanie Chen Tweet this ChenMed's Elisa Juarez (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion, left) and Melissa Spain (Rising Star, right) were honored with 2022 Top Women in Communications Ragan Awards

Ragan's Top Women in Communications Awards celebrates the female communications professionals whose dedication and contributions to the communications industry are making a signicant impact in their day-to-day job and career, advancing the profession while accelerating growth for their organization.

Ms. Juarez' vision to create a culture of inclusion and create a sense of belonging at ChenMed helped earn her a spot on the Ragan's list. As a Latina leader, Elisa brings a unique approach to creating space for listening and giving a voice to team members. These insights paved the way for more inclusive company wide benefits including parental leave, and two additional paid holidays. Her efforts have led to the origination of a platform to honor and celebrate cultural moments and heritage months for team members across the country.

Ms. Spain's work is centered on love, a core value that is at the heart of ChenMed overall. As a member of the ChenMed culture team, her role is to inspire team members, patients, and communities by telling their stories, recognizing unsung heroes and building brand love. Some of the stories she played a role in elevating are ChenMed's emergency response to Hurricane Ida in New Orleans and ChenMed Cares, an employee relief program that allows team members in need to reach out for financial help and resources.

"We are so proud of Elisa and Melissa, and they work they do to help ChenMed team members feel a sense of belonging at work," said Stephanie Chen, chief legal and culture officer for ChenMed. "The fact that two of our employees were honored for their commitment to inclusion and love is a testament to the incredible talent we have serving our team members, our patients and our communities".

Ragan held a special award celebration on June 16 in New York City to recognize all the winners and their impressive work. The event featured a special keynote presentation from CBS Mornings' executive producer, Shawna Thomas.

About ChenMed

ChenMed, headquartered in Miami, is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that delivers the high-touch and personalized primary care Medicare-eligible seniors need to enjoy better health. The company operates more than 100 senior medical centers in 14 states. Named one of Fortune 2020 "Change the World" companies, a "Most Loved Workplace" by Newsweek Magazine, and a certified Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute, ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, JenCare Senior Medical Center and IntuneHealthTM. Thanks to its leading healthcare technology organization, CurityTM, ChenMed was recently named a "Best Place to Work in IT" by IDG's Insider Pro and ComputerWorld.

About Ragan Communications

Ragan Communications has been delivering trusted news, training and intelligence for more than 50 years to internal and external communicators, HR professionals and business executives via its conferences, webinars, training, awards, subscriptions and membership divisions. Its daily news sitesPRDaily.com and Ragan.comare read by more than 600,000 internal and external communicators monthly.

SOURCE ChenMed
SINGAPORE, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- China Yuchai International Limited (NYSE: CYD) ("China Yuchai" or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of engines for on- and off-road applications in China through its main operating subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited ("GYMCL"), announced today its unaudited consolidated financial results for the 2022 first half-year ended June 30 ("1H"), 2022. The financial information presented herein for 1H 2022 and 1H 2021 is reported using International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

Financial Highlights for 1H 2022

Revenue decreased by 32.2% to RMB 8.6 billion ( US$ 1.3 billion ) compared with RMB 12.6 billion in the same period last year;

( ) compared with in the same period last year; Gross profit was RMB 1.4 billion ( US$ 202.7 million ), an increase in gross margin to 15.9%, compared with RMB 1.6 billion and a gross margin of 12.9% in the same period last year;

( ), an increase in gross margin to 15.9%, compared with and a gross margin of 12.9% in the same period last year; Operating profit was RMB 288.0 million ( US$ 42.9 million ) compared with RMB 499.8 million in the same period last year;

( ) compared with in the same period last year; Basic and diluted earnings per share were RMB 2.29 (US$ 0.34) compared with RMB 6.21 in the same period last year;

compared with in the same period last year; Total number of engines sold decreased by 36.6% to 180,911 units compared with 285,342 units in the same period last year;

Subsequent to the 1H 2022 period, cash dividends of US$0.40 per ordinary share were paid in July 2022 .

Revenue was RMB 8.6 billion (US$ 1.3 billion) compared with RMB 12.6 billion in the same period last year.

According to data reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, total industry unit sales of commercial vehicles (excluding gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles) declined by 49.7% year-over-year with truck and bus unit sales down by 50.9% and 35.1%, respectively, in 1H 2022. The industry sales decline was primarily due to lower demand from a high base in 1H 2021, and pandemic-related lockdowns in various parts of the country which caused weaker commercial vehicle demand due to less logistical activities and infrastructure and construction projects.

Reflecting the above industry conditions, the total number of engines sold by GYMCL in 1H 2022 was 180,911 units, a 36.6% decrease compared with 285,342 units in same period last year. GYMCL reported a 56.8% decline in truck and bus engine sales and a 12.7% decline in off-road engines sales in 1H 2022.

Gross profit was RMB 1.4 billion (US$ 202.7 million), compared with RMB 1.6 billion in the same period last year. Gross margin increased to 15.9% as compared with 12.9% in the same period last year. The increase in gross margin was mainly attributable to improved margin in National VI engine sales and also to the increase in sales mix in the off-road segment in 1H 2022.

Other operating income was RMB 85.5 million (US$ 12.7 million) compared with RMB 111.7 million in 1H 2021. The decline was primarily due to lower interest income and higher foreign exchange losses compared with the same period last year.

Research and development ("R&D") expenses increased by 29.4% to RMB 408.5 million (US$ 60.9 million) compared with RMB 315.7 million in the same period last year. Higher R&D expenses in 1H 2022 were mainly due to an increase in experimental costs primarily for the engines used for marine and power generation applications. GYMCL continued to improve the performance and qualities of its engines in compliance with China's National VI and Tier-4 emission standards, and develop products for new energy vehicles. The total R&D expenditure including capitalized costs, was RMB 476.9 million (US$ 71.1 million) in 1H 2022 as compared to RMB 450.2 million in the same period last year, representing 5.6% of revenue compared with 3.6% in the same period last year.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses represented 8.7% of revenue for 1H 2022 compared with 7.3% in the same period last year. SG&A expenses decreased by 18.5% to RMB 749.6 million (US$ 111.7 million) from RMB 920.1 million in the same period last year. The decrease was mainly due to lower warranty and freight expenses, and reduced personnel costs compared with the same period last year.

Operating profit decreased by 42.4% to RMB 288.0 million (US$ 42.9 million) from RMB 499.8 million in the same period last year. The operating margin was 3.4% for 1H 2022 compared with 4.0% in the same period last year.

Finance costs decreased by 19.3% to RMB 55.2 million (US$ 8.2 million) from RMB 68.4 million due to lower bank loans and lower bills discounting rates compared with the same period last year.

The share of financial results of the joint ventures was a loss of RMB 30.9 million (US$ 4.6 million) for 1H 2022 compared with a profit of RMB 12.5 million in the same period last year. The loss was largely due to the loss in our joint venture with the heavy-duty truck producer, C&C Trucks.

Net profit attributable to equity holders of the Company was RMB 93.7 million (US$ 14.0 million) compared with RMB 253.7 million in the same period last year.

Basic and diluted earnings per share were RMB 2.29 (US$ 0.34) compared with RMB 6.21 in the same period last year.

Basic and diluted earnings per share for 1H 2022 and 1H 2021 were based on a weighted average of 40,858,290 shares.

Balance Sheet Highlights as at June 30, 2022

Cash and bank balances were RMB 5.3 billion ( US$ 783.5 million ) compared with RMB 5.3 billion at the end of 2021;

( ) compared with at the end of 2021; Trade and bills receivables were RMB 6.6 billion ( US$ 982.6 million ) compared with RMB 7.0 billion at the end of 2021;

( ) compared with at the end of 2021; Inventories were RMB 4.0 billion ( US$ 601.8 million ) compared with RMB 5.2 billion at the end of 2021;

( ) compared with at the end of 2021; Trade and bills payables were RMB 6.1 billion ( US$ 904.9 million ) compared with RMB 7.4 billion at the end of 2021;

( ) compared with at the end of 2021; Short-term and long-term bank borrowings were RMB 2.0 billion ( US$ 296.0 million ) compared with RMB 2.2 billion at the end of 2021.

Mr. Weng Ming Hoh, President of China Yuchai, commented, "Our sales in the first half of 2022 reflected China's weak economic growth of 2.5% for the first half and 0.4% in the second quarter of 2022, respectively. We are working in a difficult environment with lower economic growth, COVID-19 related travel restrictions and weak commercial vehicle demand.

"Despite the slowdown, we remained profitable with an improved gross margin. Our continuing financial strength enabled us to distribute a cash dividend of US$0.40 per common share paid in July of 2022.

"We are getting ready with a portfolio of Tier-4 engines for their national implementation for off-road markets in late 2022."

Exchange Rate Information

The Company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar and its reporting currency is Renminbi. The translation of amounts from Renminbi to U.S. dollars is solely for the convenience of the reader. Translation of amounts from Renminbi to U.S. dollars has been made at the rate of RMB 6.7114 = US$1.00, the rate quoted by the People's Bank of China at the close of business on June 30, 2022. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars at that rate or at any other certain rate on June 30, 2022 or at any other date.

Unaudited 2022 First Half-Year Conference Call

A conference call and audio webcast for the investment community has been scheduled for 8:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time on August 10, 2022. The call will be hosted by the President and Chief Financial Officer of China Yuchai, Mr. Weng Ming Hoh and Mr. Choon Sen Loo, respectively, who will present and discuss the financial results and business outlook of the Company followed with a Q&A session.

Analysts and institutional investors may participate in the conference call by registering at: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI7e8fd96be075437a82ae4672ba6b0a40 at least one hour before the call. A return email will be sent with instructions and numbers to join the call.

For all other interested parties, a simultaneous webcast can be accessed at the investor relations section of the Company's website located at http://www.cyilimited.com. Participants are requested to log into the webcast at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. The recorded webcast will be available on the website shortly after the earnings call.

About China Yuchai International

China Yuchai International Limited, through its subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited ("GYMCL"), engages in the manufacture, assembly, and sale of a wide variety of light-, medium- and heavy-duty engines for trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, construction equipment, marine and agriculture applications in China. GYMCL also produces diesel power generators. The engines produced by GYMCL range from diesel to natural gas and hybrid engines. Through its regional sales offices and authorized customer service centers, GYMCL distributes its engines directly to auto OEMs and retailers and provides maintenance and retrofitting services throughout China. Founded in 1951, GYMCL has established a reputable brand name, strong research and development team and significant market share in China with high-quality products and reliable after-sales support. In 2021, GYMCL sold 456,791 engines and is recognized as a leading manufacturer and distributor of engines in China. For more information, please visit http://www.cyilimited.com.

Safe Harbor Statement:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "targets", "optimistic", "confident that", "continue to", "predict", "intend", "aim", "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements concerning China Yuchai's and the joint venture's operations, financial performance and condition are based on current expectations, beliefs and assumptions which are subject to change at any time. China Yuchai cautions that these statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors such as government and stock exchange regulations, competition, political, economic and social conditions around the world and in China including those discussed in China Yuchai's Form 20-Fs under the headings "Risk Factors", "Results of Operations" and "Business Overview" and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Among others, if the COVID-19 pandemic is not effectively and timely controlled, our business operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected due to a deteriorating market for automotive sales, an economic slowdown in China and abroad, a potential weakening of the financial condition of our customers, or other factors that we cannot foresee. All forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date it is made and China Yuchai specifically disclaims any obligation to maintain or update the forward-looking information, whether of the nature contained in this release or otherwise, in the future.

For more information:

Investor Relations

Kevin Theiss

Tel: +1-212-521-4050

Email: [email protected]

-- Tables Follow --

CHINA YUCHAI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS For the first half-years ended June 30, 2022 and 2021 (RMB and US$ amounts expressed in thousands, except per share data)







June 30, 2022 June 30, 2021

RMB '000 US$ '000 RMB '000 US$ '000 Revenue 8,568,505 1,276,709 12,629,126 1,881,742

Cost of sales (7,207,874) (1,073,975) (11,005,305) (1,639,793)

Gross profit 1,360,631 202,734 1,623,821 241,949

Other operating income, net 85,492 12,738 111,702 16,644

Research and development expenses (408,481) (60,864) (315,696) (47,039)

Selling, general and administrative expenses (749,604) (111,691) (920,058) (137,089)

Operating profit 288,038 42,917 499,769 74,465

Finance costs (55,231) (8,229) (68,410) (10,193)

Share of results of associates and joint ventures (30,942) (4,610) 12,482 1,860

Profit before tax 201,865 30,078 443,841 66,132

Income tax expense (56,487) (8,417) (86,251) (12,851)

Profit for the period 145,378 21,661 357,590 53,281

Attributable to:









Equity holders of the Company 93,724 13,965 253,707 37,802

Non-controlling interests 51,654 7,696 103,883 15,479

145,378 21,661 357,590 53,281

Net earnings per common share









- Basic 2.29 0.34 6.21 0.93

- Diluted 2.29 0.34 6.21 0.93

Unit sales 180,911

285,342



CHINA YUCHAI INTERNATIONAL LIMITED SELECTED UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET ITEMS For the periods ended June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (RMB and US$ amounts expressed in thousands)









June 30, 2022

(Unaudited) December 31, 2021

(Audited)

RMB '000 USD'000 RMB '000

Cash and bank balances 5,258,164 783,468 5,331,555 Trade and bills receivables 6,594,290 982,551 7,032,494

Inventories 4,038,881 601,794 5,208,636

Trade and bills payables 6,073,110 904,895 7,361,817

Short-term and long-term loans and borrowings 1,986,330 295,964 2,203,000 Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company 8,899,578 1,326,039 8,859,152

SOURCE China Yuchai International Limited
New safes for controlled substances anticipated to help reduce organized retail crime

All 106 CVS Pharmacy locations across Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming now using time delay safe technology

WOONSOCKET, R.I., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of an ongoing commitment to support law enforcement and help build safer communities, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced the installation of time delay safe technology in all 106 CVS Pharmacy locations, including those in Target stores, across five states in the western U.S. The states and corresponding number of pharmacy locations include Colorado (54), Utah (30), Montana (15), Idaho (4) and Wyoming (3).

CVS Pharmacy locations now feature signs notifying customers about the chain's time-delay safe technology to help deter pharmacy robberies and diversion of controlled substance narcotic medications.

The safes are anticipated to help prevent pharmacy robberies and the potential for associated diversion of controlled substance medications  including opioid medications such as oxycodone and hydrocodone  by electronically delaying the time it takes for pharmacy employees to open the safe. In addition, the safes are anticipated to benefit the safety and well-being of CVS Pharmacy customers and employees.

The company's rollout of time delay safe technology is in support of each of these state's partnership with local and state law enforcement, and the retail community to fight back against escalating organized retail crime.

"Supporting law enforcement efforts in their battle against organized retail crime remains a key focus for our company," said Thomas M. Moriarty, Chief Policy Officer and General Counsel, CVS Health. "Criminal activities that organized retail crime rings fund are a clear danger to our communities, so it is important that retailers, law enforcement and political leaders work together to solve this problem. Time delay safes can help reduce the theft and diversion of prescription medications and bring added security to our stores which creates a safe environment for our patients and colleagues."

CVS Health first implemented time delay safe technology in 2015 in CVS Pharmacy locations across Indianapolis, a city experiencing a high volume of pharmacy robberies at the time. The company saw a 70 percent decline in pharmacy robberies among the Indianapolis stores where time delay safes had been installed. Since then, the company has introduced time delay safes across 29 states nationwide, and the District of Columbia, resulting in a 50 percent decline in robberies at CVS pharmacies in those local communities. Other states where our CVS Pharmacy locations are equipped with time delay safe technology include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

The time delay function cannot be overridden and is designed to serve as a deterrent to would-be pharmacy robbers whose goal is to enter and exit their robbery targets as quickly as possible. All CVS Pharmacy locations with this technology display visible signage warning that time delay safes are in use to prevent on-demand access to controlled substance narcotics.

The time delay safe program at CVS Health is one of many company initiatives to help address and prevent prescription medication misuse and diversion.

Presently, the company supports over 4,300 safe medication disposal units in CVS Pharmacy locations and through local law enforcement organizations nationwide. Together, these existing medication disposal units have collected more than 4 million pounds of unwanted medications that might otherwise have been diverted, misused or ended up in the water supply.

For downloadable time delay safe photos, please visit the Media Resource Center.

About CVS Health

CVS Health is the leading health solutions company, delivering care like no one else can. We reach more people and improve the health of communities across America through our local presence, digital channels and over 300,000 dedicated colleagues  including more than 40,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and nurse practitioners. Wherever and whenever people need us, we help them with their health  whether that's managing chronic diseases, staying compliant with their medications or accessing affordable health and wellness services in the most convenient ways. We help people navigate the health care system  and their personal health care  by improving access, lowering costs and being a trusted partner for every meaningful moment of health. And we do it all with heart, each and every day. Follow @CVSHealth on social media.

Media contact:

Monica Prinzing

831-241-8294

[email protected]

SOURCE CVS Health
CyberCatch's Compliance Manager Solution enables easy compliance and serves as powerful risk mitigation tool to help facilitate cyber insurance procurement

VANCOUVER, BC and TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CyberCatch, today jointly announced with Ridge Canada Cyber Solutions Inc. ("RCCS"), a strategic partnership, to enable Canadian SMOs an easy, but smart way to obtain cyber insurance. There are approximately 1.2 million SMOs in Canada and the majority do not have cyber insurance today or those that do are having difficulty renewing due to the increased level of cyber risk posed to them in today's environment and the risk transfer impact to the insurance providers due to lack of required controls.

To mitigate cyber risk, CAN/CIOSC 104, Canada's National Standard for Baseline Cyber Security Controls for SMOs prescribes implementing up to 55 cyber security controls. It was published by Canada's CIO Strategy Council with the support of Canada's Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED). Earlier this year, the CIO Strategy Council selected CyberCatch's Compliance Manager Solution, a state-of-the-art cybersecurity SaaS solution for SMOs in Canada to quickly and easily comply with CAN/CIOSC 104 and stay safe from cyber threats.

We're delighted to partner with RCCS to provide an easy but smart way to mitigate cyber risk for the SMO and the insurer Tweet this

With the partnership with RCCS, Canadian SMOs will now receive a discount to sign up for the Compliance Manager Solution and easily implement all prescribed cyber security controls. The Solution will then automatically and continuously test cyber security controls to ensure ongoing compliance and cyber risk mitigation. This will enable proper cyber risk mitigation and facilitate SMOs obtaining cyber insurance coverage or renewing existing coverage. In fact, one of the cyber security controls prescribed in CAN/CIOSC 104 is obtaining and maintaining cyber insurance.

"SMOs in Canada are definitely vulnerable and the level of cyber risk faced is increasing. CyberCatch's Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Vulnerabilities Report (SMBVR) which involved scans of 12,050 SMOs revealed that nearly 8 out of 10 SMOs in Canada have vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by attackers," said Sai Huda, founder, chairman and CEO, CyberCatch. "SMOs have limited resources and generally don't know what cyber security controls to implement or how to implement in order to be secure from cyber threats, the Compliance Manager Solution is a one-stop-shop for SMOs. We are delighted to partner with RCCS to provide an easy but smart way to mitigate cyber risk for both the SMO but also the insurer," continued Huda.

"This partnership allows us to help our broker partners with clients who are still in the assessment and control phases of the enterprise risk management process," said Greg Markell, CEO, Ridge Canada. "Recognizing that many underwriting requirements harmonize with CAN/CIOSC 104, it will give many organizations guidance on where they can start, and our broker partners a solution when market feedback is that their client is not ready for cyber risk transfer as well as for existing clients looking for assistance on staying secure. We are delighted to partner with CyberCatch and provide an affordable and effective cyber risk mitigation solution at a discount, which supports compliance and alignment with Canada's national cyber security standard," continued Markell.

About Ridge Canada Cyber Solutions Inc.

Ridge Canada Cyber Solutions Inc. (RCCS) is a leading Canadian Managing General Insurance Agency incorporated to provide specialty insurance products to Canada's insurance agents and brokers. RCCS was Co-Founded by the Honourable Tom Ridge, former US Secretary of Homeland Security. RCCS works through insurance brokers to help insurance buyers understand, evaluate, and secure specialty insurance coverage such as cyber insurance. Organizations of all types and sizes are forced to manage new risks that are constantly evolving and that are not going away anytime soon. We concentrate on specialty risk management so that our clients and broker partners do not have to face risks alone. We specialize in this niche insurance coverage to ensure you are protected in the unfortunate (but not uncommon) event of a claim or incident. For more information, visit website.

About CyberCatch

CyberCatch is a unique cybersecurity Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company that protects small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) from cyberattacks by focusing on the root cause why SMBs fall victim: security holes. It provides an innovative cloud-based SaaS platform coupled with deep subject matter expertise to help SMBs implement just the right type and amount of cybersecurity controls. The platform then performs automated testing of controls from three dimensions: outside-in, inside-out and social engineering. It generates the Cyber Breach Score to continuously measure cyber risk, and finds security holes and guides the SMB to fix them promptly, so attackers can't exploit any missing or broken controls to break in and steal data or infect ransomware. CyberCatch's continuous value proposition: Test. Fix. Secure. For more information, visit website.

Media Contact

For CyberCatch

[email protected]

SOURCE CyberCatch
Company Issues Shareholder Letter

NEW YORK and HOUSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DarkPulse, Inc. (OTC Markets: DPLS) ("DarkPulse" and the "Company"), a global technology company focused on the manufacture, sale, installation and monitoring of their patented laser sensing systems which provide a data stream of critical metrics for assessing the health and security of infrastructure, announces its financial results for second quarter ended June 30, 2022. The Company has also issued a shareholder letter discussing its operating results.

A Letter to Shareholders from the Founder of DarkPulse Inc.

DarkPulse Ticker $DPLS Reports 2nd Quarter 2022 Financial Results Tweet this DarkPulse Inc Reports Second Quarter 2022 Results, Issues Shareholder Letter

Dear fellow shareholders,

It is my great pleasure to once again address all of our shareholders in this letter as Founder and CEO of DarkPulse, Inc. (the "Company").

On behalf of our entire team, it is my pleasure to review accomplishments to date as well as our 2022 trajectory.

Since early 2022 we have made significant progress with the commercialization of our patents as well as expanding our global presence to more than eleven countries. We expect this expansion to continue well into 2023 as the Company continues to build market share into global critical infrastructure markets.

Significant Accomplishments for the First Half of 2022

After acquiring several entities our trajectory and rate of accomplishments has continued to significantly accelerate. Here are some key milestones we have attained to date.

During the first half of 2022, we have accomplished the following:

The Company secured office space in Houston, TX for its global headquarters. This is strategic for several reasons including Houston being a major business hub as well as a consolidated market for major companies in the oil and gas industry.

for its global headquarters. This is strategic for several reasons including being a major business hub as well as a consolidated market for major companies in the oil and gas industry. The Company has hired a financial controller based in our Houston office which will streamline back office operations while reducing costs, shortening time required to consolidate our subsidiaries' financial documentation, aiding in financial reporting, and business operations while reducing cash cycles.

office which will streamline back office operations while reducing costs, shortening time required to consolidate our subsidiaries' financial documentation, aiding in financial reporting, and business operations while reducing cash cycles. The Company has completed work for a new hardware design with integrated pulse generator eliminating the use of competing technology for deployments of our systems. We are beginning the design of an integrated PC for the same reasons.

The Company terminated its relationship with Bill Bayliss as part of its growth strategy. Mr. Bayliss was hired by BlueWater Group to prepare Optilan for sale and has successfully completed his role in that regard.

as part of its growth strategy. Mr. Bayliss was hired by BlueWater Group to prepare Optilan for sale and has successfully completed his role in that regard. Optilan HoldCo 3 Limited ("Optilan"), our wholly-owned subsidiary, has named Jason Keith as CEO.

as CEO. The Company added Dr. Ehab Eldemeri as Director of GCC and the Middle East .

. The Company has begun interviews for additional members of the Board and the creation of various committees consistent with rules associated with senior exchanges.

The Company assisted with the launch of the world's first intelligent bridge in Marysville, CA by installing our sensor technology with the California Division of Transportation (" CALTRANS ").

by installing our sensor technology with the California Division of Transportation (" "). The Company has created a digital twin of the Honcut Bridge in Marysville, CA and is programming a VR capable user interface utilizing a game engine to offer customers a full AR/VR experience of their infrastructure, such as bridges, roadways, buildings, with integration into supervisory control and data acquisition (" SCADA ") systems as an added value.

and is programming a VR capable user interface utilizing a game engine to offer customers a full AR/VR experience of their infrastructure, such as bridges, roadways, buildings, with integration into supervisory control and data acquisition (" ") systems as an added value. The Company signed a non- binding MOU for the purchase of Om Optel Industries Pvt. Ltd., a fiber optic cable manufacturing business located in India . Due diligence is underway with a definitive agreement as the next step pending successful due diligence.

. Due diligence is underway with a definitive agreement as the next step pending successful due diligence. The Company has engaged a large U.S. manufacturer to build our BOTDA systems.

The Company has signed agreements with teaming partners to help expand our manufacturing, sales, and installation capabilities across the globe.

The Company has engaged a banking firm to assist in raising non-toxic debt.

The Company continues to build relationships into multiple markets through various licensing, teaming, and partnership agreements.

The Company has signed a JV agreement with Egyptian Electrical & Mechanical Works based in Cairo and is building a local presence in Egypt .

and is building a local presence in . The Company signed a second engagement agreement with Energy & Industrial Advisory Partners, EIAP to review possible acquisitions. If these acquisitions are closed, we expect them to increase the Company's market share across several verticals related to big data as a service (" BDaaS ") and structural health monitoring of infrastructure.

") and structural health monitoring of infrastructure. The Company is the Platinum sponsor for Smart Cities Connect Washington D.C Smart Cities conference to be held September 26 th -29 th . Our CEO will be the keynote speaker.

-29 . Our CEO will be the keynote speaker. The Company's Board has approved a special dividend of shares of Optilan for all of the Company's shareholders of record as of August 31, 2022 .

. The Company has signed a contract to install its technology into Moonland Resort, Egypt , which is the first commercial sale of our sensor system.

, which is the first commercial sale of our sensor system. We have signed an exclusive agency agreement with Gulf Automation Services & Oilfield Supplies Company LLC (" GASOS ") in Abu Dhabi . GASOS will represent the Company in the region and assist in developing business opportunities.

") in . GASOS will represent the Company in the region and assist in developing business opportunities. We successfully integrated five companies which avail cross selling and relationships to benefit the parent company. We expect to see continued reduction in costs with increases in revenues as we continue consolidating the group of companies and adding key acquisitions in the near future.

The Company has scheduled its annual shareholder event for October 8,8,10 at the Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas . Reservations may be made at: www.DarkPulse.com/lv2022

Sharpening Our Focus in 2022 and Beyond

We will focus on Company growth and increasing shareholder equity with an emphasis on long-term profitability and cash management. We choose to prioritize growth because we believe that scaling into a dominate market position is essential to achieving the full potential of our business plans.

We will continue to push the limits on our technology products and services with "first to market" offerings such as a fully integrated VR capable graphical user interface ("GUI") as a key component to building the industrial metaverse and implement it as the world moves towards smart cities. This is in line with our future desire to be a major player in both structural health monitoring and BDaaS.

The Company is working toward the completion of an additional system interrogator "black box" units with integrated components, including PC capabilities, that will eliminate the need for our customers to purchase hardware from our competitors while offering a more complete and robust system application for use within the aerospace industry.

We believe we have a window of opportunity as the competitive landscape continues to evolve at rapid pace. Many large players have moved towards green energy, smart cities and an AR/VR industrial metaverse and we are devoting substantial resources toward becoming a global leader in the space. Our goal is to remain nimble by moving quickly to solidify and extend our current market position while we evaluate and execute opportunities in related areas. We see substantial revenue opportunity in these larger markets we are targeting and are concentrating on building our capabilities and market presence with an eye toward long term revenues.

We have created a team that has built our "back end" capability which allows our customer GUI to be utilized anywhere in the world on any device in real time. The design also includes cloud-based data storage which will enable customers to view their systems in real time and receive critical alerts. but to also view historical data in order to have a full view of their systems over longer time periods which will offer a more comprehensive view of their systems health. The team is working towards the launch of our virtual reality user interface, and we have added an additional engineer with expertise in unity game engine development.

Expanding Our Operational Presence Throughout the Middle East

We choose to concentrate in the Middle East since the region is leading the global markets in the creation of opportunities, we believe require our BOTDA sensors systems, most notably smart cities and smart infrastructure projects. With several projects currently underway and several more slated to begin in the near term. We believe our partnership with MultiNet will create the logistics needed to execute multiple contract opportunities throughout the GCC and Middle East. MultiNet not only allows our products to be physically available throughout the region but also creates channel partner capabilities through training and certification. We believe this will accelerate the Company's ability to secure additional contracts and revenues from the region. Coupled with our agreement with GASOS, we believe the two parts equal the whole by allowing the Company to deliver on new revenue opportunities with GASOS by utilizing the infrastructure built by MultiNet. In order to sell products and services a logistics backbone is required for execution and our agreements with both MultiNet and GASOS give the Company these capabilities thereby accelerating our growth in the region.

Pursuing an Up list to a Senior Exchange

As mentioned previously, the Company plans on applying for an up list onto a senior stock exchange. We are currently discussing opportunities with banking groups to assist with the initial listing requirements of the exchange. Additionally, subject to the approval of any banking partners associated with any up list, as part of any up list we may create a rights offering to existing DarkPulse shareholders eligible to purchase shares of the Company. We believe the OTC markets are no longer a place for the Company to continue its growth trajectory and, therefore, we are prioritizing a move to a senior exchange.

Gaining Momentum on the Financial Front

Financial highlights of the quarter ended June 30, 2022 included:

Record operating results in the second quarter of 2022 reflect a continuation of the strong global demand for fiber sensors and infrastructure sales, a trend that started early this year and continues to maintain a significant demand going forward. In the second quarter, the Company benefited from the one-time restructuring of costs ($501,431) related to Optilan's overhead which we believe will allow Optilan to continue to grow revenues over both the near and long terms.

related to Optilan's overhead which we believe will allow Optilan to continue to grow revenues over both the near and long terms. Net sales for the second quarter reached a record of $4,435,043 , an increase of over 120% from the $2,018,333 reported in the previous quarter. Driving the sales increase was continued strong global demand for fiber and infrastructure sales for Optilan, as well as increases in revenue from the Company's other subsidiaries.

, an increase of over 120% from the reported in the previous quarter. Driving the sales increase was continued strong global demand for fiber and infrastructure sales for Optilan, as well as increases in revenue from the Company's other subsidiaries. Continuing strong demand in the major markets in North America and Europe drove increased sales at Optilan by more than 118% and the Company's U.S. subsidiaries increased by a combined total of more than 131% from the previous quarter.

and drove increased sales at Optilan by more than 118% and the Company's U.S. subsidiaries increased by a combined total of more than 131% from the previous quarter. Gross profit margins for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 were approximately 11% versus approximately (16%) reported in the same period ended March 31, 2022 . The increase in margins resulted from a streamlining back office operations across all entities.

were approximately 11% versus approximately (16%) reported in the same period ended . The increase in margins resulted from a streamlining back office operations across all entities. Net loss for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 was $3,950,847 compared to a net loss of $5,244,050 reported for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 . The decreased net loss was primarily the result the Company restructuring Optilan's overheads and staffing costs following the departure of Optilan's CEO, Mr. Bayliss, and the appointment of Jason Keith as CEO.

was compared to a net loss of reported for the quarter ended . The decreased net loss was primarily the result the Company restructuring Optilan's overheads and staffing costs following the departure of Optilan's CEO, Mr. Bayliss, and the appointment of as CEO. We expect the latter half of 2022 to continue increasing revenues, with additional contracts wins through Q3 continuing throughout Q4 2022 within our target market segments including infrastructure monitoring, high speed rail, renewable energy, oil and gas, physical security, satellite communications, smart cameras. Overall, we expect 2022 revenues to continue increasing, and we are committed to continuing this geometric progression of revenue generation and cost reduction into the future as we expand the group of companies and our service offerings and capabilities.

Long Term View

We believe one underlying measure of our success will be short term actions taken now to create shareholder value over the long term. We believe that value will result from the Company's ability to grow and solidify its market position as a global leader. Market leadership translates directly to higher revenue, higher profitability, greater velocity of money, and stronger returns on capital.

In Closing

We believe that we are building something capable of changing the world and the way humanity lives. We envision a world with access to technologies capable of improving the health, safety, and well-being of every inhabitant and, more importantly, creating a safer, friendlier world in an environment that fosters better lives for all of Earth's inhabitants.

We have built a very capable leadership team that is 100% committed to this vision and we are continuing to expand our teams across all areas of our business.

I thank all of our shareholders for your continuing support as we build the Company's infrastructure with an eye towards becoming the world's leading infrastructure technology company.

Sincerely,

Dennis M O'Leary

Founder, Chairman, CEO, Entrepreneur

Press Inquiries: [email protected]

Safe Harbor Statement

This letter contains "forward-looking statements" made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements may be identified by terminology such as "may", "would", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan", "seek", "appears", or "believe". Such statements reflect the current view of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, the uncertainties related to general economic conditions, unforeseen events affecting our industry or particular markets, and other factors detailed under Risk Factors in our most recent Form 10-K and subsequent Form 10-Qs on file with Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Based upon changing conditions, should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein. Except as required by federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any written or oral forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this letter. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the applicable cautionary statements.

SOURCE DarkPulse, Inc.
This year's annual user conference will feature Nina Sossamon-Pogue as host and keynote speakers Erica Dhawan and Deltek CEO Mike Corkery

HERNDON, Va., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Deltek, the leading global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, has announced its lineup of speakers and sponsors for Deltek ProjectCon 2022. This year's event will take place November 15-18, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Deltek ProjectCon (formerly known as Deltek Insight) is the largest conference for project-based businesses. Thousands of Deltek customers, partners and experts will gather for in-person networking opportunities, discussions on industry best practices, inspirational keynotes, and education on Deltek solutions and services.

Featured Speakers for Deltek ProjectCon taking place in person in Nashville, TN, November 15-18, 2022

Host Nina Sossamon-Pogue and Keynote Speaker Erica Dhawan to Join Deltek ProjectCon 2022

On Tuesday, November 15, Deltek ProjectCon will kick off three days of General Sessions hosted by Nina Sossamon-Pogue  speaker, author, Emmy-winning television news anchor and former USA gymnast. Nina will sit down with Deltek's President & CEO Mike Corkery in a fireside chat to get an update on the current state of the business at Deltek. Also joining the stage on Tuesday, Brian Daniell, Chief Customer Officer, will reveal the winners of the 15th Annual Most Valuable Project (MVP) Awards.

On Wednesday, November 16, Deltek executives Warren Linscott, Chief Product Officer, and Mike Scopa, Chief Technology Officer, will take the General Session stage to talk about the investments Deltek is making in its products and solutions, with a focus on how customers can leverage Deltek solutions for success, while keeping an eye on innovations and advancements that will keep customers competitive in the future.

And on Thursday, November 17, Erica Dhawan  author, entrepreneur and award-winning speaker will give an inspirational keynote address on Connectional Intelligence, or CxQ. Erica is an internationally recognized leading authority, speaker, and advisor on 21st century teamwork, collaboration and innovation. During this session, attendees will learn how to accelerate the connected power of teams, become more agile and drive breakthrough ideas in a digital workplace.

"We're thrilled to be back in person with the Deltek Project Nation community at our newly rebranded conference  Deltek ProjectCon," said Perry Hardt, CMO at Deltek. "And we are very excited to welcome Nina Sossamon-Pogue and Erica Dhawan to the General Session stage. We have an incredible line-up this year, full of sessions and networking opportunities  Deltek ProjectCon will certainly be a reunion to remember with thousands of attendees from around the globe. And of course, we couldn't put on this world-class event without the help and support of our amazing partners and sponsors."

Over 25 sponsors will join Deltek at the Gaylord Opryland in the "XPO" exposition space, where attendees can connect with Deltek experts, conference sponsors and fellow attendees and get hands-on with live demos, see partner solutions in action and more. This year's sponsors include Baker Tilly, BDO, Infotek Consulting LLC, Kinetek Consulting, NeoSystems and Premier Consulting & Integration LLC.

To learn more about Deltek ProjectCon and to register for the conference, visit deltekprojectcon.com.

About Deltek

Better software means better projects. Deltek is the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for project-based businesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of users in over 80 countries around the world rely on Deltek for superior levels of project intelligence, management, and collaboration. Our industry-focused expertise powers project success by helping firms achieve performance that maximizes productivity and revenue. www.deltek.com

SOURCE Deltek
Leading Coffee Franchise Sees 66% YOY Increase in Average Unit Volume, Initiates Strategic Innovations

DENVER, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a leading coffee franchise renowned for its premium sourcing, roasting, and quality 100% Hawaiian coffees and international blends, wraps up the first half of 2022 with significant franchise growth. Year-to-date development includes five store openings, 14 locations under construction, and an additional 79 units sold. The company also saw a 66% increase in average unit volume compared to last year, up 76% from 2019, which is credited to systemwide investments and enhancements.

With a majority of franchisees being multi-unit owners, a 'growth from within' strategy has proven to be successful for Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii. In addition, new franchisees are flocking to the franchise opportunity  seeing immense value in adding an emerging coffee shop to their growing portfolios.

"There's truly never been a more opportune time to join the Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii 'ohana,'" said Scott Snyder, CEO of Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii. "Our multi-unit franchisees have helped build greater brand awareness and loyalty in new markets at a quicker pace than we've previously seen. With plenty of territories available for growth, our development and performance strategy remain centered on qualifying franchisees who align with our business strategy and culture, while continuing to prioritize innovation and maximize unit-level profitability."

Additional notable accomplishments in 2022 range across digital innovations, strategic development plans, new hires, and menu announcements. This includes implementing a single POS platform across the system, hiring a Senior Director of Real Estate and Construction, the rollout of a new comprehensive online learning platform for franchisees to streamline communications and training, seasonal LTO launches, and a significant menu innovation project with Denver-based Food & Drink Resources to provide a comprehensive future road map for both food & beverage menu innovations that are on-trend and inspired by Hawaii.

With these advancements, Bad Ass Coffee continues to see strong growth and performance. According to Bad Ass Coffee's 2022 FDD, the top 50% of stores saw average net sales of more than $1 million, with the average of the top 25% exceeding $1.2 million.

After announcing new store models earlier this year, all future openings will be supported with a refreshed operating model to open more quickly, efficiently, and successfully. Looking toward the next era of success, Bad Ass Coffee has set its sights on starting to discuss an international franchising strategy.

"As we head into the remainder of the year, our focus continues to be on building and implementing a best-in-class infrastructure that supports franchise success and profitability" added Snyder. "We will continue to prove ourselves as a standout, premium coffee franchise that's winning by differentiating our brand experience, expanding our menu day parts, and launching new LTOs that align with our consumer's preferences."

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born on the Big Island of Hawai'i in 1989 with the dream of sharing American-grown, premium Hawaiian coffee with customers everywhere. In addition to premium coffee from various coffee farmers in the famous Kona region of the Big Island, Bad Ass Coffee also sources from Kauai and Maui. Beyond premium Hawaiian coffees, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii also serves up a full menu of popular blended drinks, signature lattes, cold brews, teas, innovative foods with a Hawaiian twist, and branded merchandise.

With rapid expansion underway, the brand has set aggressive expansion plans to open 150 new locations over the next five years, with territories available nationwide. Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii is looking to partner with qualified and engaged individuals seeking single and multi-unit opportunities. The brand offers an affordable, highly scalable opportunity with strong profit-potential. As International Franchise Association VetFran members, veteran franchisees who join will receive a $10,000 discount off the initial franchise fee.

For more information on Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii franchise opportunities, visit badasscoffeefranchise.com or call 833-205-2224.

About Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii 

Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii was born on the Big Island of Hawai'i in 1989 and is dedicated to sharing premium Hawaiian coffees "with a kick" from the Hawaiian Islands through 20-plus franchise locations  with additional 70 shops in various stages of development. Today, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii stores also serve popular blended drinks, teas, food, along with other international premium coffees and sell popular branded merchandise with exceptional service and the Aloha Spirit. Bad Ass Coffees are available in franchise stores, online and will soon be available through grocery, hospitality, and specialty retail channels. The Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii brand and franchise is owned by Royal Aloha Franchise Company, LLC. For more information, visit badasscoffee.com and connect on Facebook and Instagram @badasscoffeeofhawaii. Franchise information is available at badasscoffeefranchise.com.

SOURCE Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii
Reflects Firm's Broad Range, Burgeoning Growth Spurt, and Progressive Re-brand

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Once Enenstein & Associates, which was established in Santa Monica, California in 2011 by Darren Enenstein, and in the mid 20-teens became better known as Enenstein, Pham & Glass, is now being dubbed, EPGLawyers, due to steady growth over the past seven years, the addition of a number of partners and associates, and the opening of offices in major cities throughout the country, according to managing partner, David J. Glass, who also heads the firm's family law division.

"In order to accommodate our exponential growth," Glass says, "and with our eye on the progressive image for which we are now known, it was time to re-brand the firm to reflect its energetic, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial spirit. Now, with 33 attorneys on board, a plan to increase that number to 50 in the next five years, and its expansion into other cities across the country, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York, Costa Mesa (Orange County), and Las Vegas, the firm has changed its logo, color scheme, and marketing campaign to emphasize the firm's newly branded image. Its West Los Angeles office is the main office in country's second largest city. It also has a satellite location in L.A.'s well-known Koreatown."

The firm currently offers clients legal services in three main areas of practice: civil litigation (with a focus on business litigation and intellectual property litigation; family law; and corporate transactions and real estate transactions. It is subject to add other areas of expertise as the firm continues to expand.

Known for its enviable track record of trial wins, when litigation is at the fore, the firm is known for its "bet the farm," approach. "We don't say we 'think outside the box'," Glass affirms. "We throw out the box entirely; we're unlimited in our ability to create innovative strategies and tactics when it comes to both settling and trying cases."

EPGLawyers website is www.epglawyers.com. On board at the EPGLawyers law firm are many lawyers who are regarded as the top experts in his/her/their respective fields. As such, many of the partners at the firm are regular contributors to major network news programs, including NBC's "Today," and "Dateline's" docuseries; ABCs "Good Morning America," "ABCNewsLive"; and CNN. Managing partner Glass is also frequently sought out by Associated Press  both television and print  Variety magazine, Foxnews.com, and People magazine, to name but a few, for commentary on celebrity divorce. Dan Gutenplan of the Orange County office is also regularly featured on network broadcast shows.

SOURCE EPGLawyers
COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Enefit Connect OU, Elektrilevi OU and envelio GmbH are collaborating on a full rollout project in Estonia. Enefit Connect will digitize its network planning processes with the help of the Intelligent Grid Platform enabling them to provide better service quality for Estonian biggest distribution grid operator Elektrilevi. In particular, the process for new connections of distributed energy resources will be completely automated bringing customer service and the speed of the energy transition to the next level.

The project reinforces Elektrilevi's strategy of using digital solutions based on state-of-the-art technologies to make the interconnected grid future-proof for new renewable generation plants and loads such as charging points or heat pumps.

"Further automation of Enefit Connect's grid planning processes will allow us to handle the rising numbers of new connection requests in the most efficient way, while ensuring the best network service for our clients" says Meelis Melder, Head of Planning and Project Management at Enefit Connect OU.

The project started in December 2021 and covers the full scope of Enefit Connect's distribution network services to Elektrilevi whose distribution network cover up to 95% of the area of Estonia.

"Besides the technical evaluation and processing of new connection requests, also the planning of grid enhancements is an area where we see great potential in the IGP to support our decision-making process. Technological support is increasingly important to derive optimal investment decisions to guarantee to the society the most cost-efficient solution while securing the highest grid security," says Meelis Melder.

The Intelligent Grid Platform's proprietary algorithms combine smart meter data with topological grid data to create an accurate and always up-to-date digital twin of the grid. This creates a high level of grid transparency and serves as the basis for further automation. In addition, geographical information is integrated into the platform to consider structural restrictions as roads or nature reservations, when automatically planning new grid connections.

"Estonia is a European role model in the field of digitization," says Dr. Simon Koopmann, CEO and co-founder of envelio "Thus we are really excited about the opportunity to take digital grid planning there to the next level with Enefit Connect and Elektrilevi".

envelio is a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University and provides the Intelligent Grid Platform (IGP) to distribution system operators enabling the next phase of the energy transition. Grid planning and operation processes are digitized and automated by envelio's IGP. This automation enables a faster and more cost-efficient integration of renewable generation and charging points for electric vehicles into the energy system. The core of envelio's technology are optimization and machine learning algorithms based on the five PhD theses of the founders. envelio was founded in 2017 and has ca. 70 employees.

envelio's over 35 customers are grid operators including Westnetz, E.DIS (both E.ON group), Vattenfall, Helen, ENEL, Iberdrola, EDP and from now on also Elektrilevi.

Enefit Connect OU is part of the Eesti Energia Group that develops and manages various power networks, a high-speed internet network, a modern electric car charging network and a large part of Estonian street lighting. In addition, they provide customers with energy solutions based on advanced technology.

Elektrilevi OU is part of the Eesti Energia Group. With 650.000 grid connection points, it is the distribution system operator covering approximately 95% of the Estonian distribution network.

Appendix

Support programme

Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)

With the RES programme, the Energy Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany. www.german-energy-solutions.de/res-programm.html

Project partners

German Energy Agency (dena)

The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its founding in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena's shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany and the KfW Group. www.dena.de/en

German Energy Solutions Initiative

With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets. www.german-energy-solutions.de/en

Contact

envelio GmbH

Dr.-Ing.Tobias Falke

[email protected]

+49 221 222 8580

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1874342/envelio_Logo.jpg

SOURCE envelio GmbH
Fairstead and KeyBank will preserve affordability for the 950-unit portfolio

16 properties join Fairstead's Kentucky affordable portfolio, which has grown to nearly 1,300 units of affordable housing

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairstead, a purpose-driven, vertically integrated real estate company committed to sustainable development and the creation and preservation of high-quality housing, and KeyBank Real Estate Capital today announced the acquisition of 950 units of affordable housing for families and seniors across Kentucky. Home to more than 1,500 residents, the 16 properties are located in Louisville and the surrounding communities, as well as in Lexington and across the southwest of the state. With this acquisition, Fairstead now owns nearly 1,300 units across Kentucky.

KeyBank Real Estate Capital

"Fairstead is expanding its portfolio throughout the U.S. to foster vibrant communities, ensure that our families and seniors have an affordable, stable place to live, and drive a sustainable future so our neighborhoods can grow and thrive," said Jeffrey Goldberg, CEO of Fairstead. "From launching Fairstead Ventures, our new venture capital arm dedicated to bringing sustainable new technologies to affordable housing, to monumental new acquisitions, 2022 is shaping up to be our company's biggest year of growth, including this important partnership with KeyBank for a substantial portfolio in Kentucky."

"KeyBank has a steadfast commitment to helping the clients and communities we serve thrive," said Eric Steinberg, a Senior Banker at KeyBank. "We're excited to be part of Fairstead's efforts to preserve affordable housing in Kentucky. Their resources and expertise are making a real difference in neighborhoods around the state."

The 16 properties are located in the Louisville, Bardstown, Barbourville, Hardin, Hodgenville, Lexington, Mayfield, New Haven, Scottsville, Shepherdsville, and Radcliff communities. The residences are a mix of family and senior housing and are affordable through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 8 and LIHTC programs.

"Fairstead's commitment to Kentucky means working with communities to preserve long-term affordability and promote housing stability for families and seniors," said Estelle Chan, Director, Development at Fairstead. "We are proud to partner with KeyBank to preserve the homes of thousands of Kentucky residents across the state."

Fairstead entered the Kentucky market in 2020 with the acquisition of the Colony Apartments, a 137-unit affordable senior housing property in Covington. Fairstead, in partnership with the Kentucky Housing Corporation and the City of Covington, recently celebrated Colony Community Day, marking the completion of renovations at the property with a celebration for residents and local partners. In 2021, Fairstead acquired Cambridge Square, a 200-unit affordable property for families also in Covington that is undergoing a $12 million overhaul.

About Fairstead

Fairstead is a purpose-driven vertically integrated real estate developer specializing in creating sustainable, high-quality housing. The firm's national footprint includes more than $6 billion in assets and identified pipeline. With offices in New York, Maryland, and South Carolina, Fairstead's team manages 90+ communities across the country and runs its comprehensive real estate platform, which includes acquisitions and development, venture capital investments in prop tech, design and construction, energy and sustainability, property management, marketing, and leasing. The firm also administers one of the industry's most proactive community impact programs to provide on-site support services to residents. For more information, visit www.fairstead.com.

About KeyBank Real Estate Capital

KeyBank Real Estate Capital is a leading provider of commercial real estate finance. Its professionals, located across the country, provide a broad range of financing solutions on both a corporate and project basis. The group provides interim and construction financing, permanent mortgages, commercial real estate loan servicing, investment banking and cash management services for virtually all types of income producing commercial real estate. As a Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriter and Servicer, Freddie Mac Program Plus Seller/Servicer and FHA approved mortgagee, KeyBank Real Estate Capital offers a variety of agency financing solutions for multifamily properties, including affordable housing, seniors housing and student housing. KeyBank Real Estate Capital is also one of the nation's largest and highest rated commercial mortgage servicers.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Fairstead
HOUSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracewell LLP secured the denial of IBM's post-judgment motion on behalf of its client BMC Software, Inc. in BMC's long-running dispute with IBM. The denial of IBM's post-judgment motion effectively ends the trial court proceedings. With $21,615,144 in attorneys' fees and costs now added to the judgment, the full amount of the judgment the Bracewell team achieved against IBM exceeds $1.67 billion.

On May 30, 2022, following a two-week trial handled by a team led by Sean Gorman and Christopher L. Dodson of Bracewell, federal District Court Judge Gray Miller in Houston found that IBM had committed fraud and breached its contract with BMC, and awarded BMC over $1.6 billion in damages. Judge Miller later added $21,615,144 in attorneys' fees and costs to the damages award.

In denying IBM's post-judgment motion on August 9, Judge Miller issued a detailed 20-page opinion rejecting each of IBM's post-judgment arguments.

As to the massive damages, Judge Miller wrote that while the damages are large, they represent the benefit of the bargain IBM and BMC struck. "BMC offered a 'stable foundation' for a persuasively 'reasonable estimate' of the direct damage incurred by IBM's breach," wrote Judge Miller in his August 9 opinion, "and the court once more declines IBM's invitation to 'escape liability.'"

As to fraud, Judge Miller wrote that IBM's arguments "would encourage fraudulent parties to gaslight their counterparts during contractual negotiationswhat IBM did hereto evade subsequent accountably in a fraudulent inducement action. That principle finds no support in Texas law." Judge Miller concluded that "IBM's fraudulent, bad faith conduct privileged profit over the good faith that free contractual enterprise requires, eroding the public senses of justice and confidence."

Addressing the punitive damages award, Judge Miller wrote that "IBM's intentional, deceptive, and fraudulent misconduct was near the apex of reprehensibility for an entity of its size and sophistication."

"Working together with the BMC legal team, we fought to reveal the facts and prevailed. We look forward to protecting this substantial judgment on appeal," said Gorman, who led the Bracewell team representing BMC, along with Dodson.

About Bracewell LLP

Bracewell is a leading law and government relations firm primarily serving the energy, infrastructure, finance and technology industries throughout the world. Our industry focus results in comprehensive state-of-the-art knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by our clients and enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes.

SOURCE Bracewell LLP
The financing, raised from new and existing investors, brings Finix's total funding to $133M.

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Finix, the payments technology company for software platforms, announced today that it has raised $30M in fresh capital, bringing the company's total funding to $133M. Finix raised at an increased valuation despite the more challenging economic environment this year. New and existing investors, including The General Partnership (TheGP), Franklin Templeton, American Express Ventures, Acrew Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, Cap Table Coalition, Homebrew, Insight Partners, Inspired Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Precursor Ventures, PSP Growth, Vamos Ventures, and more participated in the round.

Here's what Dan Portillo, co-founder and managing partner at TheGP, had to say about his investment in Finix:

"The payments space is surprisingly youngonly nine percent of payments are digital today. And if the last two years have taught us anything, businesses with modular and configurable payments technology are best equipped to benefit from commerce moving online. TheGP invested in Finix because we believe they are the only payments provider that offers software platforms the flexibility needed to succeed as they scale."

Here's why Matt Harris, Finix board member and Managing Director at Bain Capital Ventures, is doubling down:

"The next generation of fintech is all about businesses embedding financial services when and where their customers need them most. Finix is a leading example of the type of state-of-the-art payments infrastructure provider that makes this embedded experience possible. BCV is proud to continue to support its growth."

Finix's mission is to create the most accessible financial services ecosystem in history, starting with payments. Finix has shown tremendous growth and rapid product development over the past year, which CEO and co-founder, Richie Serna, outlined in a blog post: Reintroducing Finix: A PayFac for Platform Payments . Here's a summary of what the company has accomplished recently:

Became a registered payment facilitator to support software platforms of all sizesfrom $0 to over $1B+ in total payments volume

to over $1B+ in total payments volume Expanded its suite of in-person payment devices and capabilities

Launched many features that help software platforms manage payment operations while increasing revenue and decreasing costs

Powered billions of dollars in total annual payments volume on its platform

Doubled total annual payments volume from 2020 to 2021

Grew to support over 12,000 active sub-merchants each month

Handled billions of API calls with 99.999% uptime

To put this in perspective, if you compared Finix to Nilson's 2021 list of top US merchant acquirers, the company would rank in the top 50 based on total payments volume and merchant count.

Finix is dedicated to becoming the payments provider of choice for software platforms and is well on its way, with Q2 2022 being the company's best quarter ever in terms of new deals closed. Over the next few months, Finix plans to announce more features to help software platforms better manage their payments and merchants.

ABOUT FINIX:

Finix provides payments technology to software platforms such as Lightspeed POS Inc., Passport, and Kabbage from American Express. Headquartered in San Francisco, with an additional office in Chicago, Finix is a privately held company with funding from American Express Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, Homebrew, Insight Partners, Inspired Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, Visa, and others. To learn more, visit www.finix.com .

Media Contact

Carolyn Reynolds

[email protected]

SOURCE Finix
Earnings Call Scheduled for 8:00 A.M. U.S. ET on August 25, 2022

GUIYANG, China, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. ("FTA" or the "Company") (NYSE: YMM), a leading digital freight platform, today announced that it will release its second quarter 2022 unaudited financial results on Thursday, August 25, 2022, before the open of the U.S. markets.

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 A.M. U.S. Eastern Time on August 25, 2022 or 8:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

United States (toll free): +1-888-317-6003 International: +1-412-317-6061 Mainland China (toll free): 400-120-6115 Hong Kong (toll free): 800-963-976 Hong Kong: +852-5808-1995 United Kingdom: 08082389063 Singapore: 800-120-5863 Access Code: 7802406

A replay of the conference call will be accessible by phone one hour after the conclusion of the live call at the following numbers, until September 1, 2022:

United States: +1-877-344-7529 International: +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 6746887

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at ir.fulltruckalliance.com.

About Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.

Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd. (NYSE: YMM) is a leading digital freight platform, connecting shippers with truckers to facilitate shipments across distance ranges, cargo weights and types. The Company provides a range of freight matching services, including freight listing service, freight brokerage service and online transaction service. The Company also provides a range of value-added services that cater to the various needs of shippers and truckers, such as financial institutions, highway authorities, and gas stations operators. With a mission to make logistics smarter, the Company is shaping the future of logistics with technology and aspires to revolutionize logistics, improve efficiency across the value chain and reduce its carbon footprint for our planet. For more information, please visit ir.fulltruckalliance.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.

Mao Mao

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Emilie Wu

Tel: +86-21-6039-8363

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GLO Pharma, the parent company of breakthrough subtopical skincare brand Ourself, today announces the appointment of Dayna Quanbeck to its Board of Directors. The Rothy's CFO will join the board effective immediately, and her appointment adds a new seat to the GLO Pharma board, which is led by Chairman Scott L. Glenn. The GLO Pharma Board now consists of five members, four of which are women.

Dayna Quanbeck

Ms. Quanbeck brings to the Board a deep passion for and relevant experience with consumer products. She spent the first half of her career in public accounting and investment banking, including seven years at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the retail, apparel and footwear sector working on mergers and acquisitions and public and private market transactions. After her banking career, Ms. Quanbeck moved to the operating side, serving in financial leadership roles at Charlotte Russe and now the DTC footwear brand Rothy's, where she serves as CFO and as a member of the Rothy's Board. Her responsibilities as CFO include finance, strategy, data and analytics, and consumer insights. At Rothy's, she has been instrumental in growing the company valuation to $1 billion.

Ms. Quanbeck's background in growing new business concepts and scaling companies globally makes her a valuable addition to the GLO Pharma board of directors. "Dayna brings the best of both worlds to our Board: strong analytical skills, coupled with strategic acumen," says GLO Pharma Chairman Scott Glenn. "She is proficient not only at contributing to strategy development, but also has an innate ability to constructively analyze businesses to ensure growth and profitability. We are honored to have her join our early stage company as we enter into a phase of high growth."

This appointment comes on the heels of GLO Pharma's first consumer brand launch, Ourself, in February 2022, and the recent announcement of Ourself President Vimla Black-Gupta's role to include CEO. Ourself is backed by $40M in funding to date from investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, First Round Capital, and Mr. Glenn.

Media Contact:

Factory PR // Liz Hill

[email protected]

About GLO Pharma:

GLO Pharma is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing innovative approaches to beauty and aesthetics. It was founded in 2018 by Scott Glenn and Lauren Otsuki, innovators within the biotechnology space for over 20 years. Mr. Glenn and Ms. Otsuki previously founded and developed professional skincare companies Alastin Skincare and SkinMedica, along with numerous pharmaceutical companies aimed at solving some of the toughest medical issues in infertility, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In 2022, GLO Pharma launched its first consumer brand, Ourself, as the first-ever Subtopical Skincare System, bridging the gap between traditional skincare products and clinical procedures through the use of biotechnology.

SOURCE GLO Pharma
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Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contacts:

SpendEdge

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Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
GoGlobal's newly launched operations team brings international hiring opportunities to South Africa, empowering global business expansion into Africa

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GoGlobal, the world's fastest-growing, privately-owned provider of global Employer of Record (EOR) services, announced today the launch of operations in South Africa. GoGlobal is a premier provider of EOR services, also known as an international professional employment organization (PEO), in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. With its expansion into Africa, GoGlobal is now operating in six continents around the world. The launch is indicative of GoGlobal's commitment to supporting business investment in the region.

South Africa, one of the world's most culturally diverse nations, is regarded as Africa's most advanced, diversified and productive economy. Along with offering numerous market opportunities within its borders, South Africa serves as a gateway for multinational companies (MNCs) looking to tap into Africa's rapidly growing marketplace of over 1 billion people.

Andrew Lindquist, GoGlobal Partner, said: "South Africa is often the first choice for MNCs looking to scale new market opportunities in Africa, thanks to its economic stability, advanced infrastructure and developed talent pool. In recent years, prominent brands like Barclays Bank, BMW, General Electric, Standard Bank Group, Vodafone and Volkswagen have deepened their business footprint in the country. As more MNCs set their sights on South Africa for global business expansion and hiring, we can partner with them and offer our cost-effective, agile EOR solutions  especially if they are looking for a low-risk way to test the waters."

South Africa's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, which proved resilient against the COVID-19 crisis, is projected to triple in size and create nearly a million new jobs by 2030, according to insights from McKinsey. The Global Innovation Index 2021 identifies South Africa as outperforming other middle-income economies in five pillars: institutions, human capital, market diversity, business sophistication and technology outputs.

Margaret Yip, GoGlobal Partner, adds: "South Africa leads the pack as the economic powerhouse of Africa. GoGlobal's technology-enabled EOR solutions allow businesses of all sizes and geographies to build a team in South Africa  without setting up a local entity. We ensure compliance and oversee all payroll processes, including contributions to statutory benefits, taxation and localized support. This way, our clients can focus on core business-growth activities while they tap into burgeoning market opportunities in South Africa and Africa."

For more information about GoGlobal's EOR services in South Africa, visit: https://goglobalgeo.com/blog/spotlight-on-south-africa-global-business-insights/

About GoGlobal

GoGlobal is the world's fastest-growing, privately-owned Global Employer of Record (EOR) service provider, with a globally distributed and remote workforce. GoGlobal's technology-enabled EOR solution allows businesses of all sizes and geographies to hire staff globally without the need to set up a local entity, opening new doors to rapid expansion and growth. GoGlobal clients can hire top talent anywhere in the world  quickly, cost-effectively and compliantly.

For more information, please visit GoGlobalGeo.com

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE GoGlobal
LONDON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SaaS companies formerly known as Graduway + Gravyty + Gratavid announce the launch of "Gravyty, your force for good," the world's most innovative social good software company, focusing on unlocking the full potential of member communities.

Graduway + Gravyty + Gratavid announce launch of Gravytythe leading software company for social good. (PRNewsfoto/Gravyty)

Through an ecosystem of products developed with patented technology, video software, and artificial intelligence, Gravyty is the world's most innovative SaaS company for educational institutions, nonprofits and corporations. Strategically evolved through mergers and partnerships with trusted industry names over several years, Gravyty equips organizations to engage with their communities authentically, automate administrative tasks, and manage digital fundraising efforts.

"Our goal has always been to provide innovative and impactful technology," said President Sevonne Eliyahu. "This is why we brought these three companies together - we are focusing on being a force for good, unlocking an organization's true potential by simplifying how they engage and fundraise."

Gravyty's product portfolio includes Graduway, Community, Advance, Raise, Peerpal, and Gratavid, which provides purpose-driven technology to 2,500+ of the world's most influential universities, nonprofits, and corporations. With nearly 200 employees around the globe, Gravyty has diverse expertise in fundraising, admissions, nonprofit, and education sectors.

Commenting on the Gravyty team and values, Sevonne Eliyahu continues:

"We invest into our employees as much as we do our technology; I stand firm in my belief to take care of one another, and in return, our employees take care of the company. That is why we can offer our "white glove" onboarding, implementation, and account management services. Our teams become an extension of yours, and we are committed to our client's success."

To learn more about Gravyty and its trailblazing ecosystem of products visit: https:// gravyty.com/ .

About Gravyty

Gravyty is headquartered in the U.K., with operations in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. They provide simplified and impactful technology to nonprofits, organizations, universities, K12/independent schools, and corporations by accelerating your mission and putting you at the center of your community. For more information, visit https://gravyty.com/ .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875920/Gravyty.jpg

SOURCE Gravyty
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global home infusion therapy market size is expected to reach USD 61.7 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2022 to 2030. Home infusion therapy involves the intravenous or subcutaneous administration of drugs or biologicals to an individual at home. Favorable government policies and regulations are expected to propel market growth. In February 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was signed into a law that states that all temporary payments of home infusion therapy in the U.S. will be covered by the government in accordance with this regulation.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

By product, infusion pump emerged as the largest segment in 2021 owing to the increasing use of delivery fluids such as nutrients and medications.

The anti-infective application segment dominated the market in 2021 as a large number of procedures are performed during the administration of medications, such as antibiotics and antifungals.

North America dominated the global market in 2021 owing to the increasing demand for new technologies, along with advanced healthcare infrastructure.

dominated the global market in 2021 owing to the increasing demand for new technologies, along with advanced healthcare infrastructure. The Asia Pacific market is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period owing to the increasing number of diabetic patients in the region.

Read 100-page full market research report for more insights, "Home Infusion Therapy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Infusion Pumps, Needleless Connectors), By Application (Anti-infective, Chemotherapy), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Home Infusion Therapy Market Growth & Trends

In addition, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions, is expected to have a high impact on the market growth. According to a WHO report, the above-mentioned diseases accounted for 60.0% of the total deaths and 43.0% of the disease burden in the U.S. in 2019. This creates the need to infuse nutritional products that contain glutamine, phospholipids, glucose, and amino acids while administering medication to patients, which, in turn, is expected to boost the market growth in this region.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is expected to create lucrative opportunities for the market. Due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19, patients are waiting to seek treatment until they feel safe. Moreover, patients who seek infusion therapy already have diseases, which eventually weaken their immune systems. In such cases, going outside even to receive treatment becomes a potential threat. Reduced operating hours have led to difficulty in scheduling appointments as well, even if patients choose to continue treatment. Hence, home infusion therapy is expected to play a key role in supporting patients.

Home Infusion Therapy Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global home infusion therapy market on the basis of product, application, and region:

Home Infusion Therapy Market - Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Infusion Pumps

Elastomeric Pumps



Electromechanical



Gravity



Others

Intravenous Sets

IV Cannulas

Needleless Connectors

Home Infusion Therapy Market - Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Anti-infective

Endocrinology

Diabetes



Others

Hydration Therapy

Athletes



Others

Chemotherapy

Enteral Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition

Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Others

Home Infusion Therapy Market - Route of Administration Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

Intramuscular

Subcutaneously

Epidural

Home Infusion Therapy Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



France



Spain



Italy



Netherlands



Belgium



Switzerland



Russia



Sweden

Asia Pacific

India



Japan



China



Australia



South Korea



Malaysia



Indonesia



Singapore



Philippines



Thailand

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico



Argentina



Colombia



Chile

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa



Saudi Arabia



UAE



Israel



Egypt

List of Key Players of Home Infusion Therapy Market

CVS/Coram

Option Care Health

CareFusion Corporation

BriovaRx/Diplomat (UnitedHealth Optum)

PharMerica

Fresenius Kabi

ICU Medical, Inc.

B. Braun Melsungen AG

Baxter

BD

Caesarea Medical Electronics

Smiths Medical

Terumo Corporation

JMS Co. Ltd.

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Intravenous Infusion Pumps Market - The global intravenous infusion pumps market size is expected to reach USD 9.9 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. The introduction and development of Specialty and Smart pumps are imparting crucial growth to the overall infusion pump market. Smart infusion pumps are considered an advancement that will give a boost to the market as it constitutes Error Reduction Software and Customized Drug Libraries.

The global intravenous infusion pumps market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., registering a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period. The introduction and development of Specialty and Smart pumps are imparting crucial growth to the overall infusion pump market. Smart infusion pumps are considered an advancement that will give a boost to the market as it constitutes Error Reduction Software and Customized Drug Libraries. U.S. Home Infusion Therapy Market - The U.S. home infusion therapy market size is expected to reach USD 31.7 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing geriatric population and increasing prevalence of cancer, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, nutritional and immune deficiencies, infections, dehydration, and nausea & vomiting are majorly driving the growth of the market. Factors such as the increasing need for reduced hospital stays and the rising prevalence of chronic disorders in the geriatric population are driving the growth.

- The U.S. home infusion therapy market size is expected to reach by 2030, registering a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing geriatric population and increasing prevalence of cancer, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, nutritional and immune deficiencies, infections, dehydration, and nausea & vomiting are majorly driving the growth of the market. Factors such as the increasing need for reduced hospital stays and the rising prevalence of chronic disorders in the geriatric population are driving the growth. Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Market - The global continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion market size is expected to reach USD 7.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 10.3% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The key drivers of the market include increasing number of diabetes population coupled with technological advancement in the field of diabetes care.

Browse through Grand View Research's Medical Devices Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com

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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Albert Roy to President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 6, 2022. Mr. Roy currently serves as Executive Director of Lupus Therapeutics, the clinical trial affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance. He will succeed Kenneth M. Farber who is continuing as President-Emeritus through December 31, 2022.

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) announces the appointment of Albert Roy to President and CEO effective Sept. 6, 2022. Tweet this Albert Roy Appointed Lupus Research Alliance President and CEO

Albert Roy joined the Lupus Research Alliance in 2015 to form Lupus Therapeutics, a division focused on accelerating clinical research to improve diagnosis and treatment of lupus, a complex autoimmune disease which manifests differently from person to person and for which more personalized treatments are urgently needed.

"Under Al's strong leadership, Lupus Therapeutics has grown enormously in both size and stature, representing one of the most recognized organizations advancing lupus clinical research and breaking down barriers in clinical research participation," LRA Board Co-Chairman Ira Akselrad noted. "His success at building Lupus Therapeutics is testament to his clear ability to innovate, critically important to future of the Lupus Research Alliance and the lupus community overall."

As Executive Director of Lupus Therapeutics, Mr. Roy has expanded the organization into a clinical research powerhouse, supporting 20 clinical research efforts with 16 partners from major biopharmaceutical companies committed to lupus drug development. A cornerstone of his success has been the formation and expansion of the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN), a network of 57 prestigious academic institutions throughout North America that care for 25,000 people living with lupus.

Addressing health inequities in lupus research and improving clinical research awareness and engagement, particularly among people of color who are underrepresented in clinical research, has been a major focus of Mr. Roy who has worked to introduce several novel programs.

LRA Board Co-Chairman Richard DeScherer added, "Al was unanimously selected after an exhaustive search and discussions about the organization's needs with many individuals including trustees, senior staff, and members of LRA's Scientific Advisory Board. From a clinical research, business, and community-needs perspective, Al brings a unique complement of skills necessary to propel the Lupus Research Alliance forward."

Before joining Lupus Therapeutics, Mr. Roy was Vice President of Operations and Research Programs at CureSearch for Children's Cancer, a multi-million-dollar public charity whose mission is to support innovative children's cancer research. During his tenure there, he managed a clinical research portfolio exceeding $50 million per year and coordinated Children's Oncology Group through strategic partnerships with more than 200 academic medical centers. Mr. Roy holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Ithaca College.

"I am honored and privileged to serve as the next President & CEO of the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), an organization at the forefront of many of today's biggest breakthroughs in lupus. As more discoveries move into clinical research, it is imperative that the Lupus Research Alliance dedicate greater resources to the education and engagement of the patient community on the key role they play in the research process," said Mr. Roy.

"With the rapid evolution of science and technology coupled with the passion of our lupus community, we are poised to achieve a new, even higher trajectory of acceleration in addressing unmet medical needs and one day, eradicating lupus," continued Mr. Roy.

Mr. Roy's predecessor Kenneth Farber has been a major driving force in the lupus arena for more than two decades, guiding the Lupus Research Alliance as it has supported the discovery of many compounds that led to new treatments now approved or currently in development for lupus. Under his stewardship, the Lupus Research Alliance was formed from the merger of three leading lupus organizations, bringing the full continuum of research from foundational through clinical under one umbrella and becoming the largest nongovernmental private funder of lupus research worldwide. Mr. Farber will continue to consult with the organization.

Albert Roy will continue to lead Lupus Therapeutics until a new executive director is appointed.

Lupus is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. More than 90 percent of people with lupus are women; lupus most often strikes during the childbearing years of 15-45. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans are two to three times at greater risk than Caucasians. In lupus, the immune system, which is designed to protect against infection, creates antibodies that can attack any part of the body including the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, blood, skin, and joints.

About the Lupus Research Alliance

The Lupus Research Alliance is the largest non-governmental, non-profit funder of lupus research worldwide. The organization aims to transform treatment by funding the most innovative lupus research, fostering diverse scientific talent, and driving discovery toward better diagnostics, improved treatments and ultimately, a cure for lupus. Because the Lupus Research Alliance's Board of Directors fund all administrative and fundraising costs, 100% of all donations goes to support lupus research programs. Visit lupusresearch.org for more information.

About Lupus Therapeutics

Lupus Therapeutics, an affiliate of the Lupus Research Alliance, aims to accelerate drug discovery and diagnostic innovation for all patients living with lupus. Lupus Therapeutics collaborates with biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners through its unprecedented Lupus Clinical Investigators Network (LuCIN) to drive rapid and meaningful progress in the treatment of lupus patients. The organization aims to place the patient voice and community stakeholders at the center of the clinical research process with the most innovative and renowned experts throughout North America. Visit lupustherapeutics.org for more information.

SOURCE Lupus Research Alliance
C$ unless otherwise stated TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife's Board of Directors today announced a quarterly shareholders' dividend of $0.33 per share on the common shares of Manulife Financial Corporation (the "Company"), payable on and after September 19, 2022, to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 23, 2022.

In respect of the Company's Canadian Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan and its U.S. Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan, the Company will purchase common shares on the open market in connection with the reinvestment of dividends and optional cash purchases under these plans. The purchase price of these common shares will be based on the average of the actual cost to purchase them and there are no applicable discounts.

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2021, we had more than 38,000 employees, over 119,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 33 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.





Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
According to Strebe, "You are not alone in your quest for answers."

TRENTON, Ohio, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2021, the number of babies born in the U.S. alone was 3,659,289. Out of that number, more than 330,000 children (roughly 9%) will suffer from ADHD, one in five are affected by dyslexia, and approximately 83,000 (1 in 44) will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Then there's a rare genetic disorder called Williams syndrome. That's only 4 types of special needs. As a result, the parents of children facing these challenges endure a never-ending barrage of criticism and judgment.

Another Day, Another Challenge: the Biography of a Child with Williams Syndrome

Very often those children deal with disabilities that are the cause of behavior issues and learning challenges. And when someone lacks knowledge or understanding, they are quick to pass judgment. So, the less people know about a mental disability and the cause for a child's delayed development, the more likely they are to blame the parents, especially the mother. And that's exactly what happened to Marjorie Strebe, author of Another Day, Another Challenge: the Biography of a Child with Williams Syndrome ($16.95, December 2021).

Strebe tells the story of her daughter, diagnosed at age three with a disorder that most physicians had not heard of, let alone the general population. Regardless of their ignorance of Williams syndrome, nearly everyone had an opinion.

"You underestimate Michelle's intelligence." (Sunday school teacher)

"That kid is just a spoiled rotten brat. All she needs is some good discipline." (Family member)

"If Michelle were mine, I'd straighten her up in a hurry." (Family member)



Family and friends were quick to pass judgment on the Strebes' because their daughter talked so intelligently.



Unfortunately, the doctors were no better:





Family and friends were quick to pass judgment on the Strebes' because their daughter talked so intelligently. Unfortunately, the doctors were no better: "Don't you know that a baby's birth weight should triple by the time they're a year old?"

"The parents obviously need counseling in pediatric nutrition."

"Because doctors did not understand Michelle's condition, they automatically blamed me for her failure to thrive," said Strebe. "Yet while her developmental delays grew more numerous and more noticeable, the doctors brushed off my concerns as not worth noting while accusing me of not properly caring for her."

If you're the parent of a mentally disabled child, you've been there: judgmental doctors, critical family members, unsympathetic neighbors and friends  all of whom question your parenting ability because of your child's behavior. You're not alone in the fight for your child. Another Day, Another Challenge shares Strebe's struggles, challenges, and encouragement; what she learned and how she overcame some of her many obstacles in landing Michelle the help she so desperately needed.

Another Day, Another Challenge: The Biography of a Child with Williams Syndrome, Third Edition ($16.95, 290 pages, 6 x 9, paperback, ISBN: 978-1-7372025-2-3) is available at most major online book sellers. For more information, visit www.marjiestrebe.com.

To buy the book, visit Amazon.

Contact: Marjorie Strebe, (513) 509-6628, [email protected]

SOURCE Marjorie Strebe
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread partners with Blessings in a Backpack for their second annual "Lunchbox Heroes" campaign.

This year, Martin's is searching for lunchbox sidekicks, all of those items that complement Martin's Potato Rolls and Bread, such as lunch meats, sliced cheeses, sandwich spreads, and side dishes too!

Help Martin's Potato Rolls reach the goal of $20,000 donated to Blessings in a Backpack, to help fight childhood hunger! As an added bonus, any fan who votes for their lunchbox sidekicks will be automatically in the running to win this special weekly bonus prize: a custom logoed Martin's backpack! https://MyLunchBoxHero.com Will you join us in helping to fight childhood hunger? Martins Potato Rolls and Bread is searching for their Lunchbox Sidekicks! From now through September 25th, fill out the form below to tell us which items you (or a family member) love to see alongside Martins in your lunchbox. Just by sharing your opinion, youll be helping to fight childhood hunger! For each nomination received, Martins will donate $5 to Blessings in a Backpack (up to $20,000 in total). https://MyLunchBoxHero.com

From now until September 24, consumers can enter their lunchbox preferences at MyLunchboxHero.com. For each successfully submitted form, Martin's will donate $5 to Blessings in a Backpack (up to a $20,000 donation in total) to help fight child hunger. Additionally, everyone who submits the form will automatically be entered for the chance to win a Martin's Potato Rolls backpack filled with back-to-school swag. For more details, please read the official rules at https://potatorolls.com/sweepstakes-rules/.

"Martin's has always firmly believed in the importance of giving back to the communities around us. Being a food manufacturer, we are thrilled to once again have the opportunity to partner with Blessings in a Backpack to combat childhood food insecurities as a part of our Lunchbox Heroes campaign," says Wendy Cowan, Marketing Manager at Martin's.

"Blessings in a Backpack is thrilled to kick off our second year of partnering with Martin's Famous Potato Rolls and Bread! Because of partners like Martin's, we can continue providing hunger-free weekends to children across the United States. During these uncertain times when the pandemic and economy are weighing heavily on families across the country, Martin's support allows Blessings to help ensure children do not go hungry over the weekend," says Nikki Grizzle, Chief Marketing and Strategic Partnerships Officer for Blessings in a Backpack.

To learn more and to share you or your child's favorite lunchbox ingredients, visit: https://MyLunchBoxHero.com .

ABOUT BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

Hunger has both short- and long-term negative effects on children's health and ability to succeed in school. Blessings in a Backpack mobilizes communities, individuals, and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry. Blessings in a Backpack will provide 2.5 million hunger-free weekends this school year for kids in 45 states and Washington, D.C. Visit www.blessingsinabackpack.org to learn how you can end childhood hunger on the weekends in your community.

Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc. is a family owned and operated consumer goods company headquartered in Chambersburg, PA, with a second bakery in Valdosta, GA. The Martin's company focuses on baking high-quality bread and roll products using high-quality ingredients. They are rigorously dedicated to extraordinary taste, quality, and customer service that proudly represents their legacy of cherished eating experiences and truly sets them apart from their competitors. Since the 1950s, the business has expanded from a home garage business into two commercial baking plants and continues to grow and flourish in areas of established distribution. For more information, visit: www.potatorolls.com.

SOURCE Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.
ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A joint-venture between Minkoff Development and South Duvall has signed a lease with Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) to build a 140,000 square foot build-to-suit project on Montgomery College's Germantown Campus. The campus currently is home to the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College (PIC MC) with Holy Cross Germantown Hospital as its anchor tenant. Located at 19710 Observation Drive in Germantown, Maryland, adjacent to the Hughes headquarters complex, the new high-tech manufacturing building will house production of Hughes satellite broadband and networking equipment.

19710 Observation Dr Rendering

"This new facility reflects our long-standing commitment to Montgomery County, as a local employer and business leader for more than 50 years and will help Hughes advance our mission of connecting the unconnected around the world with innovative satellite and networking solutions," said Jim Muir, III, vice president, corporate real estate at Hughes. "We look forward to inviting students from PIC MC to learn and grow with us and continuing to engage with the community where so many of our employees live and work."

Minkoff Development and South Duvall responded to an RFP from PIC MC in 2018 and the joint venture was awarded the exclusive development rights and long-term ground lease for the 5.67-acre parcel on the Montgomery College Germantown campus and located within a RISE & Opportunity zone.

"Hughes is a world-class provider of satellite and networking technologies with a long history in Montgomery County, Maryland," said Andy Chod, Co-President of Minkoff Development. "We are thrilled to be able to support their continued success in our local community and around the world."

As part of the arrangement, Hughes and Montgomery College (MC) will continue to collaborate on training and educational initiatives.

"Montgomery College is proud to be partnering with Hughes on this innovative venture. Together we can contribute even more to building the pipeline of talented, highly skilled workers at the MC Germantown Campus," said Dr. Jermaine F. Williams, president of Montgomery College. "We look forward to collaborating with Hughes to ensure that our students gain the skills they need to be competitive in the rapidly evolving workforce."

"We are excited about this mutually beneficial partnership with Hughes, where students will have the opportunity to interact with technology industry professionals on a regular basis. This transaction is the first of many anticipated collaborations between PIC MC, the real estate development community and technology companies at Montgomery College where we are creating an integrated academic, business, and research campus to inspire the next generation of technology industry leaders," said Michael Smith, Executive Director, Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology (PIC MC).

"South Duvall is fortunate to have excellent partners on this project," said Matthew Brown of South Duvall. "With Montgomery College providing an ideal location, Minkoff leading the development efforts, and Scheer Partners marketing and leasing the project, we had a huge advantage over our competition. The design is underway, and we expect to break ground in August, aiming for occupancy in fall of 2023."

Scheer Partners, Henry Bernstein, Matt Brady, and Aaron Gambini led the building's leasing efforts, and Kevin Wille, Nadia Kahler, and Brad Wilner with CBRE represented Hughes.

About South Duvall:

South Duvall (www.southduvall.com) is a commercial real estate investor headquartered in Rockville, MD focusing on value-add properties and select stabilized properties. Founded in 2017 by Robert Scheer, its principals have a two-decade track record of creating value through repositioning existing real estate assets throughout the Washington, D.C. Metro Area, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. While experienced in all asset classes, South Duvall is known for its expertise in Life Science, Health Care and Technology real estate. South Duvall's principals have developed over 600,000 SF of life science real estate and have additionally consulted on the development of two million square feet.

About Minkoff Development:

Since 1972, Minkoff has been actively engaged in Metropolitan Washington, DC's commercial real estate landscape. Offering development, leasing, construction and management services, our family-owned firm prides itself in fostering a caring environment to our tenants and attending to every detail in the buildings that we own. Our personal perspective is seen in every facet of the services that we offer, from finding the right home for businesses to guiding tenants through the design-build process or creating solutions to management requests as they arise. As an owner-operator, Minkoff affords its clients a smooth and transparent leasing experience and day-to-day operational excellence. Real estate remains a local industry that requires boots on the ground, and we give each project the specialized attention that it requires. Our vast expertise and deep understanding of the Washington market allow us to excel.

About PIC MC:

The Germantown Campus is home to the Pinkney Innovation Complex for Science and Technology at Montgomery College, or PIC MC, a hub of education, business, and entrepreneurship, where industry partners co-locate and actively interact with faculty and students to achieve both educational and economic success. The Montgomery College Germantown Campus features the Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, an 80,000 square foot Medical Office Building, a 145,000 square foot bioscience educational building and the Montgomery County-owned, Germantown Innovation Center that is a business incubator with 24 startup life sciences companies.

About Hughes Network Systems:

Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite and multi-transport technologies and networks for 50 years, provides broadband equipment and services; managed services featuring smart, software-defined networking; and end-to-end network operation for millions of consumers, businesses, governments and communities worldwide. The Hughes flagship Internet service, HughesNet, connects millions of people across the Americas, and the Hughes JUPITER System powers internet access for tens of millions more worldwide. Hughes supplies more than half the global satellite terminal market to leading satellite operators, in-flight service providers, mobile network operators and military customers. A managed network services provider, Hughes supports nearly 500,000 enterprise sites with its HughesON portfolio of wired and wireless solutions. Headquartered in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes is owned by EchoStar. To learn more, visit www.hughes.com or follow HughesConnects on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About EchoStar Corporation:

EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) is a premier global provider of satellite communication solutions. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., and conducting business around the globe, EchoStar is a pioneer in secure communications technologies through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. For more information, visit www.echostar.com. Follow @EchoStar on Twitter.

SOURCE Scheer Partners, Inc.
Get a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format

Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: Market Driver

The rising prevalence of cardiac diseases is driving the growth of the market. The growing number of cardiac cases related to structural heart diseases and the complications associated with those are fueling the demand for mobile cardiac telemetry systems. Governments of some countries are focusing on initiating programs that can help them identify the risks associated with cardiac diseases and develop strategies to monitor them due to the increasing number of cardiac cases and related hospitalizations. Hence, the rising prevalence of cardiac diseases and the increasing number of awareness programs can help in driving the demand for mobile cardiac telemetry systems, which will fuel the market growth during the forecast period.

Be up-to-date with the latest drivers and trends of the market by purchasing our report. Buy Now to say ahead of your competitors!

Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market: Segmentation Analysis

This report segments the mobile cardiac telemetry systems market by technology (lead-based systems and patch-based systems) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW).

During the forecast period, North America is expected to be the largest contributor to market growth. 39% of the market's growth is estimated to originate from North America. The US is the key country for the mobile cardiac telemetry systems market in the region. The growth of the North American market is attributed to factors such as product launches, increasing number of chronic cardiac conditions, presence of awareness programs, availability of reimbursement for the treatment of cardiac diseases in developed countries such as the US and Canada, the growing number of product launches, and the increasing focus on R&D for developing advanced products.

Lead-based systems will be the largest revenue-generating technology segment during the forecast period. These systems monitor heart rhythm records using their leads. Vendors are focusing on developing integrated lead-based systems, which can help in conducting various heart-related diagnostic tests. They are opting for various business strategies to increase their product sales. Strategies such as M&A, development of all-in-one products, product launches, and conducting clinical trials of their products are helping vendors strengthen their market position. Moreover, the presence of cardiac rehabilitation programs, the increasing number of product launches, the growing number of distribution partnerships, and rising M&A are expected to drive the growth of the lead-based systems segment during the forecast period.

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

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Mobile Cardiac Telemetry Systems Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.01% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 424.19 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 8.60 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and ROW Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key consumer countries US, Germany, UK, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ACS Diagnostics Inc., BioTelemetry Inc., General Electric Co., HILL ROM HOLDINGS INC., iRhythm Technologies Inc., Medicomp Inc., National Cardiac, Preventice Solutions Inc., The ScottCare Corp., and ZOLL Medical Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2020

Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Five Forces Analysis

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Technology

Market segments

Comparison by Technology

Lead-based systems - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Patch-based systems - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by Technology

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Asia - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ROW - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Overview

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

ACS Diagnostics Inc.

BioTelemetry Inc.

General Electric Co.

HILL ROM HOLDINGS INC.

iRhythm Technologies Inc.

Medicomp Inc.

National Cardiac

Preventice Solutions Inc.

The ScottCare Corp.

ZOLL Medical Corp.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
Vaccine does not interfere with routine measles-rubella vaccine in Malawian children

BLANTYRE, Malawi, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study, published in The Lancet Global Health, finds the typhoid conjugate vaccine, Typbar TCV, provides immunity for up to three years in children as young as nine months old in Malawi. The research  conducted by the Blantyre Malaria Project, Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust, and researchers at the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM)  found that the TCV vaccine is safe and well tolerated. Importantly, the vaccine can be given to nine-month-old infants at the same time as routine measles-rubella vaccinations without reducing the immune response to either vaccine.

The newly published research is a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial done in Blantyre, Malawi. The study team randomly assigned 631 children with no immunosuppression or chronic health conditions to either receive the TCV typhoid vaccine or a vaccine for meningococcal serogroup A conjugate, which is routinely used in Africa. The typhoid vaccine showed strong immune responses against typhoid in children ages nine months to 12 years old.

"It is simply amazing that a single dose of TCV will protect Malawian children for years," said Ngina Nampota, MBBS, MS, lead author of the new research and Study Physician with the Blantyre Malaria Project, an affiliate of Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Malawi.

Typhoid causes more than nine million cases and at least 110,000 deaths worldwide every year, most of which occur in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. It is transmitted by ingesting contaminated food or water, often due to lack of safe water and sanitation.

The new study is supported by TyVAC  a partnership between CVD, the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford, and the global non-profit PATH. TyVAC aims to accelerate the introduction of the TCV vaccine as part of an integrated approach to reduce the burden of typhoid in countries eligible for support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. TyVAC was initiated in 2016 as a multi-country project to accelerate the introduction of the TCV vaccine in Gavi-eligible countries.

"TCVs are the first vaccines that protect children as young as six months of age against typhoid. This study is one of the first to demonstrate a long-lasting immune response in African children who are disproportionately affected by typhoid and its potential consequences, including death," said Matthew B. Laurens, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at UMSOM and senior author of the new research. "TCVs will ensure children in affected areas can lead healthier, productive lives free of typhoid."

These vaccines offer an easy  and World Health Organization-approved  way to control this devastating disease and save lives. Data from a phase 3 clinical trial in Malawi, published in September 2021 in The New England Journal of Medicine, also showed that this vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect children under age 15, the population most affected by typhoid. The new Lancet Global Health research is a "substudy" of this larger clinical trial.

Additionally, the new study showed that children under one year of age had both a strong immune response and no significant side effects when TCV was given alongside a routine measles-rubella vaccine. In countries with limited access to health care and transportation, the ability to administer multiple vaccines in one visit improves access to preventive care. Children who receive TCV typically experience mild side effects, most commonly injection-site pain. These reactions are consistent with other similar vaccines.

"TCVs provide a ray of hope in resource-limited settings, where children are disproportionately impacted by typhoid," said Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, the Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, Professor in Vaccinology at UMSOM and coauthor of the current study. "With broad use of TCVs, combined with improved water and sanitation, we have the ability to make typhoid a disease of the past." Dr. Neuzil is also the director of CVD at UMSOM and principal investigator for TyVAC.

The next steps, Dr. Laurens said, are to assess the effect of a booster dose on long-term protection from typhoid fever in children. While researchers continue to monitor the children vaccinated as part of this study, previous research suggests that TCV protection likely lasts at least five years.

"Our team's goal to protect children against typhoid represents a long-term aim of scientists working across the globe," said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and Dean at UMSOM. "We are proud of these life-saving accomplishments of scientists in the University of Maryland's Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, who are focused on global efforts to reduce health care disparities."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation partially funded this study with grant OPP1151153. Typbar TCV is licensed by Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad, India.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 46 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs, and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1.3 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has nearly $600 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 students, trainees, residents, and fellows. The combined School of Medicine and Medical System ("University of Maryland Medicine") has an annual budget of over $6 billion and an economic impact of nearly $20 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine, which ranks as the 8th highest among public medical schools in research productivity (according to the Association of American Medical Colleges profile) is an innovator in translational medicine, with 606 active patents and 52 start-up companies. In the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking of the Best Medical Schools, published in 2021, the UM School of Medicine is ranked #9 among the 92 public medical schools in the U.S., and in the top 15 percent (#27) of all 192 public and private U.S. medical schools. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu

About the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health

For over 40 years, researchers in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health have worked domestically and internationally to develop, test, and deploy vaccines to aid the world's underserved populations. CVD is an academic enterprise engaged in the full range of infectious disease intervention from basic laboratory research through vaccine development, pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, large-scale pre-licensure field studies, and post-licensure assessments. CVD has worked to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases. CVD has created and tested vaccines against cholera, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, non-typhoidal Salmonella disease, shigellosis (bacillary dysentery), Escherichia coli diarrhea, nosocomial pathogens, tularemia, influenza, malaria, and other infectious diseases. CVD's research covers the broader goal of improving global health by conducting innovative, leading research in Baltimore and around the world. CVD researchers are developing new and improved ways to diagnose, prevent, treat, control, and eliminate diseases of global impact. Currently, these diseases include typhoid, Shigella, E. coli diarrhea, malaria, and other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. CVD researchers have been involved in critical vaccine development for emerging pathogens such as Ebola and Zika. In addition, CVD's work focuses on the ever-growing challenge of antimicrobial.

SOURCE University of Maryland School of Medicine
The leading resource for graduate business news and information releases its annual composite ranking of the best executive MBA programs

OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Poets&Quants For Executives, the premier online publication for Executive MBA news, is pleased to announce the top EMBA programs in its 2022 ranking. Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management returns to the number one spot in the annual list, with last year's top school, Columbia Business School, landing at No. 2. Rounding out the top five out of 61 ranked schools are the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business (No. 3), New York University's Stern School of Business (No. 4), and Yale School of Management (No. 5).

P&Q's top 10 EMBA programs can be seen below with the full list of schools here.

The Poets&Quants for Executives ranking is a composite based on schools' performance in three major EMBA rankings: U.S. News & World Report, The Financial Times, and The Economist. P&Q gives equal credit to all three rankings, so schools are penalized when their programs fail to finish in all three. The top school was awarded 100 points, while second place earned 99 points. Total points awarded were then divided by three and put into an index to create the ranking.

"The vastly different methodologies of primary rankings from U.S. News, Financial Times, and The Economist makes the Poets&Quants ranking a tremendously valuable tool by developing a composite and equalizing outliers," says Kristy Bleizeffer, P&Q staff writer. "Given the shake-up in the rankings space, the thoughtful analysis from Poets&Quants is more important than ever."

Learn more about the 2022-2023 Poets&Quants Executives MBA ranking and methodology and see the full list of 61 programs here.

About Poets&Quants For Executives:

Poets&Quants For Executives is the leading resource for complete coverage of Executive MBA programs. We feature multiple tools and authoritative content, including consolidated B-school rankings, news and in-depth features, videos, and podcasts, empowering our community with relevant information needed to make decisions along their journey to an Executive MBA.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE Poets&Quants
First Party Validated NPI Targeting, Clinical Data and Measurement Sets PulsePoint Apart from Other CTV Platforms

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PulsePoint, a technology company revolutionizing health decision-making in real-time, today announced its ability to connect media reach with clinical data for 100% of addressable health care professionals reached via its connected TV (CTV) marketplace. Up until now, marketers have only been able to access partial reach of their HCP targets on platforms, making it difficult to build meaningful audiences, coordinate across touchpoints or identify downstream impact, like script lift.

PulsePoint technologies harness authenticated HCP identity, context and recency with unmatched scale to engage the largest fully consented NPI coverage in the market. This enables pharma and medical device marketers to engage 100% of 3.2M validated U.S. health care professionals (HCPs) on connected TV.

"We believe that the market can no longer thrive without demanding a higher degree of confidence in audience quality. Our NPI reach and cross-screen graph gives us the ability to do one-to-one CTV targeting and measurement by NPI specialty, office location, point of care, clinical procedures, diagnosis, and script," said Jonathan Zile, VP of Data and Analytics at PulsePoint.

The company's Life platform enables targeting of custom NPI audiences and households in real-time by overlaying multiple data sources, including medical claims data at the NPI level, with first party signals, and unique access to premium CTV supply at scale. This allows health marketers to surround relevant HCPs at scale with coordinated cross-channel engagement throughout the health journey - from the clinical workflow to at-home moments with CTV.

"As non-personal channels become the dominant way to reach HCPs, marketing to them doesn't need to be restricted to office hours. Our measurement technology shows that HCPs are engaging with different channels around the clock, so we know how and where to best reach them. These insights can feed into our activation platform, Life, to automatically engage HCPs in a coordinated way, whether that is during office hours, in their clinical workflow, or off-hours watching CTV," said Andrew Stark, Chief Revenue Officer of PulsePoint.

PulsePoint's CTV marketplace sees over 10 billion opportunities a day and includes partnerships with Innovid, SpotX, Xandr, and Verizon Media.

Brands are increasingly recognizing the value of CTV to connect with high value HCP audiences in a way that is not reliant on third-party cookies. This announcement furthers the company's focus on building a smarter, more scalable, more efficient way for brands to target, reach, understand and activate healthcare audiences through next generation technology that is powered by verified health audience data in real-time.

About PulsePoint

PulsePoint is a leading technology company that uses real-world data in real-time to optimize campaign performance and revolutionize health decision-making. Leveraging proprietary datasets and methodology, PulsePoint targets healthcare professionals and patients with an unprecedented level of accuracydelivering unparalleled results to the clients we serve. The company is now a part of Internet Brands, a KKR portfolio company and owner of WebMD Health Corp. For more information, visit pulsepoint.com.

Contact: Maria Simeone, [email protected]

SOURCE PulsePoint
CEO Mike Phillips and Vice President of Energy Services Colin Gibbs will share insights from their breakthrough real-time home intelligence

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sense CEO Mike Phillips and Vice President of Energy Services Colin Gibbs will speak at SummerCon 2022 on August 17 in Philadelphia. The conference focuses on how to successfully plan and deploy demand flexibility and demand response programs  a topic that is being transformed by advances in real-time energy insights for consumers.

On Wednesday, August 17, Sense CEO Mike Phillips will join AESP CEO Jen Szaro at the opening plenary, "Empowering demand flexibility to enable a more resilient and participatory energy ecosystem." Attendees will learn how the Biden Administration is facilitating new pathways for integrating demand flexible loads and DERs into an overarching grid resilience strategy. Mike will discuss how consumer-friendly technology can deliver far more effective demand flexibility, with benefits to both the grid and end-users while helping to achieve critical climate justice and decarbonization goals.

Cisco DeVries, the CEO at OhmConnect, will join Mike on the panel. The two companies partnered in a joint pilot program during which Sense users who actively participated in the OhmHours reward program reduced their energy usage 313w per OhmHour on average, lowering their home energy usage by 18% and increasing their average savings by 160% over the typical OhmConnect customer.

Following the plenary session, Sense Vice President of Energy Services Colin Gibbs joins Session 1: Drive behavior and enable demand flexibility using real-time grid edge intelligence. Colin will demonstrate the Sense app and discuss how load shifting programs can get dramatically better results when customers know how much energy they're using at a certain time, and which appliances and devices in the home are using that energy.

Colin will be joined on the panel by Steve Kenney, Landis+Gyr's director of EV solutions. Sense has partnered with Landis+Gyr to make the consumer-friendly Sense app available on the Revelo (R) meter. The combination of high resolution waveform data from Revelo and Sense's deep experience in detailed, real-time energy engagement for consumers is an enormous step forward in the energy transition. Not only does this help consumers to lower their bills, it's also an important part of reducing climate impacts. National Grid will begin to deploy Revelo meters in 2023 to 1.7 million New York residential customers.

Smart meters play an important role in energy efficiency and demand flexibility programs by integrating real-time energy intelligence at the grid edge. As utilities upgrade their metering to bring it into the 21st century, consumers can use the Sense app to manage their energy use and collaborate with their utility to manage demand and grid capacity. This approach translates into tangible savings for consumers, and Sense studies have shown that consumers want to engage in this way and feel better about their utility when they do. By embracing customer preferences, utilities can multiply their gains from energy savings and achieve greater demand flexibility. For more information, download "It's Time to Swap Tradition for Impact," a Sense white paper.

About Sense

Sense's mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by making homes smarter and efficient. We empower people to care for their homes and families while contributing to a cleaner, more resilient future. Founded in 2013 by pioneers in speech recognition, Sense uses machine learning technology to provide real-time insights on device behavior, even for those devices that are not "smart." Customers rely on Sense for a wide range of uses including monitoring their home appliances, determining whether they left appliances running and identifying how to reduce their energy costs. Sense has received investments from two of the world's largest energy technology companies, Schneider Electric and Landis+Gyr. Sense is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. To make sense of your energy, visit: https://sense.com .

SOURCE Sense
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Persefoni and IBM Japan have established a business and service provision agreement to accelerate efforts to achieve Net-Zero Emissions

TOKYO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ("SMBC", President and CEO: Makoto Takashima), Persefoni AI, Inc. ("Persefoni", CEO: Kentaro Kawamori), and IBM Japan, Ltd. ("IBM Japan", GM and President: Akio Yamaguchi, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan) announced today that they have entered into a strategic collaboration that will provide Persefoni's leading Climate Management and Accounting Platform, IBM Japan's deep systems integration experience, and SMBC's unprecedented leadership position to high profile companies throughout Japan. This collaboration enables customers to analyze and support their global carbon footprint management. In addition to this collaboration, SMBC is also announcing that it is the first multinational financial institution in Japan to sign a multi-year contract with Persefoni to use the Persefoni CMAP for SMBC's own operations.

1. Background

The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Information Disclosure (TCFD), which provides the international climate change disclosure framework, represents guidelines which requires for companies to disclose their action plan towards decarbonization. Since April, some Tokyo Stock Exchange listed companies have been required to disclose information substantially in line with the TCFD. On the other hand, the TCFD requires the calculation of direct GHG emissions from the combustion of fuel by the business itself as defined in Scope 1, indirect emissions from the use of energy supplied by other companies as defined in Scope 2 and the fifteen upstream and downstream supply chain categories defined as Scope 3 requires a large amount of data collection, sophisticated calculations and formulas. For this reason, there is a growing need for a digitally enabled service to meet regulatory and investor compliance requirements.

2. Strengths in service offerings

Persefoni provides a Climate Management and Accounting Platform (CMAP) which incorporates emission factors globally available and specific to each region and can calculate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting and Financials (PCAF). The CMAP has strengths in the calculation, especially for Category 11 (emissions from the use of sold products and services) and Category 15 (emissions from operation of investments and loans) of Scope 3. The CMAP also includes the Climate Trajectory Modeling module that provides SBT-compliant target-setting management and helps customers create digital models to assist in calculating net-zero plans. Through the agreement, the CMAP will be delivered to the Japanese marketplace with speed, where the demand for an automated carbon accounting solution is rapidly increasing.

IBM provides a tool, developed by data scientists through application of the IBM Garage methodology, to support the automatization of the data input process into Persefoni and the emission calculation output and reporting processes. This tool is developed on an integrated one-stop data application infrastructure that supports the large amount of data gathering and processing required for emissions calculation, which usually require a large amount of resources from the companies.

Since the spring of 2022, SMBC and IBM Japan have been providing climate change risk and opportunity analysis services to support corporate climate change disclosure while collaborating with The Climate Service, Inc. Through the strategic collaboration with Persefoni, SMBC and IBM Japan will be able to deliver a comprehensive decarbonization solution which includes from carbon footprint management to climate change risk and opportunity analysis for customers

3. Introduction of Persefoni platform in SMBC

Critical to SMBC's selection of Persefoni's CMAP, the Persefoni platform enables the emission management in Japan domestically as well as globally. SMBC is confident that the Persefoni platform is the best software to tackle the challenges about emission management, such as significantly complicated calculation, various emission factors, and comprehensive emission control on a global basis that multinational companies like SMBC are facing. SMBC's "SMBC Group GREEN Innovator" program will facilitate to support customers in resolving management issues related to various sustainability initiatives and SMBC will continue to contribute to the realization of sustainability in order to realize a decarbonized society.

About Persefoni

Persefoni's Climate Management & Accounting Platform (CMAP) provides businesses, financial institutions, and governmental agencies the software fabric for managing their organization's climate related data and performance with the same level of confidence as their financial reporting systems. The company's software solutions enable users to calculate their carbon footprint, perform climate trajectory modeling aligned to temperature rise scenarios set forth by the Paris agreement, and benchmark their impact by region, sector, or peer groups.

For more information about Persefoni, please visit https://persefoni.com/.

Contact: [email protected]

About IBM Japan

IBM Japan is the Japanese entity of IBM Corporation, which is operating in more than 175 countries around the world. It supports clients' business transformation and digital transformation through a full range of services, from basic research and business consulting to IT system development and maintenance. For more information, visit https://www.ibm.com/jp-ja .

For more information, please visit https://www.ibm.com/jp-ja .

IBM, the IBM logo, and ibm.com are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the web at "Copyright and trademark information" at http://www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml (US).

About SMBC

SMBC Group, including SMBC, is committed to achieving net-zero GHG by SMBC Group's own GHG emissions by 2030, also entire investment and loan portfolio by 2050, SMBC has strengths in one of the largest operating bases in Japan, speed of strategy implementation, and the ability to provide financial services through a leading group company. Using those strengths, we diligently support our customer's challenges towards decarbonization.

SOURCE Persefoni
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan Tourism Bureau hosted a virtual event in collaboration with special guests to speak to Taiwan's family friendly offerings to media and content creators. The event on August 4th aimed to introduce Taiwan's variety of family-friendly activities to attendees, touching on train travel, its food culture and outdoor adventures.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau partnered with three special guests: Joey Chou, successful Taiwanese-American illustrator who has worked for notable companies such as Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros, Jamie Tung, Taiwanese-Canadian pastry chef and founder of Buttermere Patisserie, and Dorothy Chiang, the representative for the "Future" train, the award-winning Taiwan's tourist train that was featured on CNN Travel.

Attendees were taken through a three-part program with demonstrations from each guest that gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about Taiwan's family-friendly activities. From its bustling cities, to its relaxing beaches and scenic adventures, Taiwan is an ideal destination for family travel. The event called out a variety of family friendly attractions and travel experiences such as the Taipei Zoo, Sun Moon Lake, Night Markets, and train travel, and more!

There were approximately 45 attendees who joined to increase their knowledge about Taiwan's family friendly offerings. Prior to the event, attendees received gift boxes with goodies such as a toy Taiwanese train, custom Taiwan family-travel coloring book and more. During the event, attendees followed as the special guests called out various objects in the box and spoke more about each offering.

To celebrate, a sweepstake is held on the Taiwan Tourism Bureau's official Instagram page @taiwantourism_na from August 4 to August 19. To enter the sweepstakes, download the Taiwan illustration coloring page and color, paint, or decorate the illustration to make it your own art. Then post a photo of your art to Instagram Story with hashtag #ColoringMyTaiwan.

The Director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau San Francisco office, Linda Lin, said, "Through these interactive events, we have the opportunity to maintain communications with niche groups of journalists and content creators and provide them with travel inspiration relevant to their audience. Taiwan adheres to all health and hygiene regulations, providing safety for travelers. We're looking forward to warming up the U.S. market through the variety of activities in preparation of the border reopening."

Taiwan has been actively monitoring the global situation and gradually easing the restrictions. Beginning on July 25, foreign nationals could apply for entry into Taiwan by volunteering, international exchanges, working holidays, etc. More information could be found on Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the United States.

ABOUT THE TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is the official government agency responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. There are three North American Tourism Offices located in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

For information about Taiwan, please visit: eng.taiwan.net.tw

SOURCE Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Free inaugural Tech Fair connects Maryland's underserved entrepreneurs to resources and technology

Maryland boasts highest concentration of women-owned and minority-owned businesses in the nation

Senate Small Business Committee Chair Ben Cardin to deliver keynote speech

COLUMBIA, Md., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TEDCO, Maryland's economic engine for technology companies, will host a free Tech Fair starting at 9:00 am on September 12, 2022, at the Hotel at the University of Maryland. TEDCO created the fair to connect entrepreneurs and small business owners in any industry from Maryland's underserved communities to technology companies, resources, trainings, and networking opportunities to grow their business. U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) will deliver a keynote address.

Free inaugural TEDCO Tech Fair connects Maryland's underserved entrepreneurs to resources and technology Tweet this U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship Chair Ben Cardin (D-Md.) will deliver a keynote address at TEDCO's Tech Fair on September 12, 2022 in Maryland. Maryland boasts the highest concentrations of women-owned and minority-owned small businesses in the nation, and it is essential to connect our talented entrepreneurs to the resources they need to succeed in todays economy, said Senator Cardin. TEDCO is excited to host its first Tech Fair, and we appreciate Senator Cardins participation and shared commitment to building an inclusive economy, said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO CEO. TEDCO's Tech Fair, September 12, 2022 - https://expo.tedco.md

"TEDCO is excited to host its first Tech Fair, and we appreciate Senator Cardin's participation and shared commitment to building an inclusive economy," said Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO CEO. "Events like the Tech Fair seek to level the playing field by connecting Maryland's many innovative yet underinvested entrepreneurs to established tech companies and thought leaders like Senator Cardin, whose experience chairing the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee gives him unique insights for our audience."

Small businesses looking to broaden their footprint and increase future sales can interact with larger, established tech companies, like Grow with Google, Meta, TikTok, Square, and Microsoft, to learn about trainings, online platforms for sales, advertising techniques, cloud services, and more. Women and diverse startup founders and business owners who traditionally have been underserved by the entrepreneurial ecosystem are encouraged to attend and share news of the free fair with their networks.

"Maryland boasts the highest concentrations of women-owned and minority-owned small businesses in the nation, and it is essential to connect our talented entrepreneurs to the resources they need to succeed in today's economy," said Senator Cardin. "Maryland has long been a national leader in innovation and research due to the presence of some of the most prestigious academic and government research institutions in the state. This Tech Fair will give our state's small businesses a chance to learn how to use technology to grow their businesses. I am looking forward to speaking with the small businesses and vendors in attendance at the fair about how we can work together to bridge the historical gaps in our entrepreneurial ecosystem to make it more inclusive."

While the tech fair is free, small businesses, including underserved entrepreneurs, should register here by September 9, 2022.

"TEDCO is committed to connecting female and diverse-led STEM startups to resources; I saw that firsthand with advising support and a Builder Fund investment," said Tina Williams-Koroma, CEO and founder of CyDeploy, a cybersecurity startup. "I encourage other female and diverse STEM entrepreneurs to join me at this inaugural Tech Fair, where you'll gain new insights on potential resources, connect with peers and hear from TEDCO and Senator Cardin."

"The inaugural Tech Fair is a powerful opportunity for Maryland entrepreneurs and small businesses to access critical resources and connect with fellow innovators from the leading technology companies across the country," said Rhett Buttle, founder, and principal of Public Private Strategies. "We are excited to partner with TEDCO and Senator Cardin, and to leverage our network of over 400,000 small business owners across the country to spread the word about this event and ensure women-and minority-owned businesses from every corner of Maryland have the chance to grow their business."

"Entrepreneurship and innovation thrive when businesses big and small work together," said Tiffany Moore, senior vice president, Political and Industry Affairs, Consumer Technology Association (CTA). "CTA is proud to support TEDCO's inaugural Tech Fair and foster the relationships small businesses and startups need to grow, just as we do at CES in Las Vegas each year."

Hear from Senator Cardin by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hewgKD8imlA and Troy LeMaile-Stovall by visiting https://youtu.be/3pG8t77fyVc to learn more about the event. To find out more about the companies attending the Tech Fair, visit https://www.tedcomd.com/.

About TEDCO

TEDCO, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, enhances economic empowerment growth through the fostering of an inclusive entrepreneurial innovation ecosystem. TEDCO identifies, invests in, and helps grow technology and life science-based companies in Maryland. Learn more at www.tedcomd.com.

Media Contact

Tammi Thomas

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, TEDCO

[email protected]

SOURCE TEDCO
Experienced Credit Professional Alistair Ho to Expand Operations of Waterfall's APAC Investing Business

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Waterfall Asset Management, an alternative asset manager, today announced the establishment of its Hong Kong office to enhance its capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region. Alistair Ho, who recently joined the firm as Managing Director and Head of Asia-Pacific ("APAC"), has more than 18 years of experience in the region's credit markets, will lead the office.

Waterfall's Hong Kong office will focus on identifying opportunities to leverage the firm's differentiated capabilities in structured and securitized markets to provide private debt solutions for APAC non-bank financial institutions, middle market corporates and real estate-related borrowers.

Waterfall Co-Founders and Managing Partners Jack Ross and Tom Capasse said, "We are thrilled to continue our global growth by establishing a physical presence in Asia. There is a tremendous opportunity for private debt offerings and opportunistic financing across the region, particularly with its growing middle market and regulatory changes. Additionally, with our deep expertise and ability to craft flexible capital solutions we believe we have considerable competitive advantages as we pursue that opportunity on behalf of our investors."

Ho joins Waterfall having previously led Natixis Investment Managers International Hong Kong Limited. Prior to that, he held senior positions in APAC offices for Ostrum Asset Management, Mizuho Securities Asia Limited, Credit Suisse and Citigroup, after starting his career in the Structured Credit Products Group at Citigroup in New York. Ho earned a master's degree in Economics and a bachelor's degree in Economics and Finance from the McGill University, and a master's degree in Quantitative Finance from the University of Waterloo. He currently serves on the Board of Managers for the Hong Kong International School. Ho will report to Patrick Lo, Partner and Head of International at Waterfall.

Lo said, "Alistair brings nearly two decades of experience leading and investing in structured finance transactions in the APAC-region and we are excited to welcome him to the firm. His expertise and relationships will be of immediate value for our firm and his passion for investing and working with colleagues and counterparties on crafting bespoke solutions to complex financial needs make him an outstanding fit with our firm's culture and mission."

Waterfall's Hong Kong office is the firm's fourth office globally, alongside its headquarters in New York, and operations in London and Dublin.

About Waterfall Asset Management

Waterfall Asset Management is a New York-based investment manager focused on structured products and private equity investments. Founded in 2005, the firm employs a differentiated relative value approach to investing and extensive asset-backed credit expertise to offer compelling investment solutions to its clients. As of April 30, 2022, Waterfall manages $10.65B in AUM. Waterfall is also the external manager to Ready Capital Corporation (NYSE: RC), a multi-strategy real estate finance company and small business lender.

Media Contact:

Prosek Partners

Josh Clarkson

[email protected]

SOURCE Waterfall Asset Management
Xion Global, Web3 crypto payments gateway, and Xion Finance, Defi Protocol and DEX aggregator will integrate Polygon's, full-stack Ethereum scaling solution, to enhance scalability and increase liquidity to support payments expansion across multiple chains.

SINGAPORE, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xion Global , Web3 crypto payments gateway, and Xion Finance , DeFi protocol and DEX aggregator, are moving from Gnosis Chain to the Polygon PoS chain. Polygon's full-stack Ethereum scaling solution will help champion and expand Xion's multi-chain crypto payments and DeFi protocol roadmap.

Polygon's decentralized Ethereum scaling platform enables developers to build user-friendly scalable dApps with low transaction fees and uncompromised security.

The launch of this DeFi alliance on Polygon will facilitate further liquidity provision, developer optimization, payments migration, and partnership expansion for Xion Global's crypto payment solutions and the Xion Finance DeFi protocol. Pioneering their solutions on a more scalable, liquid and highly reputable chain.

With the immense growth of Xion Global's crypto payment gateway the Xion ecosystem requires support from more leading evm-based chains to deliver and market the intended use cases across a multitude of industries including, but not limited to, metaverses, casinos, gaming and ecommerce with annual crypto transaction history that reaches $4 billion plus.

Polygon's PoS chain provides a new crypto payments settlement layer that can support high volumes of stablecoin exit liquidity for multi-chain checkout payment methods, cross-chain decentralized rebalancing and multi-party merchant payouts. Multi-chain payments expansion and optimization of multiple chains will instantly settle in USDC (Polygon) amounting to approximately $10M USD in daily transaction volume on the Polygon PoS chain.

"We are honored to integrate with Polygon. Our collaborative work has been very promising since its inception. We look forward to bringing more adoption to the Polygon network and continuing to help advance and accelerate the crypto Payments and DeFi industry," says Founder and CEO Ronan Quarmby at Xion.

Hamzah Khan, Head of DeFi and Labs at Polygon, also states, "Xion Global and Xion Finance's DeFi suite and payment solutions will reach their full potential on Polygon  benefiting from robust security, and low-latency, sub-cent transactions. We're delighted to welcome the team to Polygon and expect to see Xion continue to thrive in the months ahead."

Further discussions are currently being led by Polygon with leading multi-chain bridging solutions to expand the number of crypto payment methods offered within the Xion Global checkout and exit liquidity for USDC stablecoin payouts to merchants on the Polygon PoS chain.

Additionally, with the recent $50M dollar investment from GEM for Xion Finance's DeFi protocol. Xion Finance will maximize the benefit of zero-slippage multi-chain swap solutions utilizing industry leading DEXs and DeFi protocols (Multichain, Elk Finance, Quickswap, Pancakeswap, Uniswap, Sushiswap and Balancer) to expand the utility of XGT in the world of DeFi with Polygon.

Unique capabilities added to the Xion ecosystem with Polygon will include increasing the utility of XGT and MATIC throughout Xion Global and Xion Finance by adding MATIC as a primary payment method amongst XGT.

Other utilities include:

Liquidity & Staking Pool for XGT/MATIC, allowing for joint token pairs.

for XGT/MATIC, allowing for joint token pairs. Growth of Xion's Loyalty Program where holders and stakers can receive recurring discounts off specific subscriptions within the Xion crypto payments environment.

where holders and stakers can receive recurring discounts off specific subscriptions within the Xion crypto payments environment. Cashback in MATIC & XGT for specific payment methods.

in MATIC & XGT for specific payment methods. Creating Limited Polygon x Xion NFT Astronauts to earn passive income from Xion crypto payment txs (e.g. more income on MATIC & XGT payments)

In partnership with Elk Finance and assistance from Polygon, Xion will release a decentralized crypto payments settlement layer on the Polygon PoS chain. Offering third party liquidity providers incentives to rebalance the USDC liquidity pool for merchant payouts. More information will be released as that solution becomes available.

Integrations of Xion Global's crypto payment gateway and Xion Finance's DeFi protocol for multi-chain staking/launchpad opportunities will be provided to select clients within Polygon's business network.

Xion is currently migrating all of their subscription, XGT reward chests, cashback modules and other smart contracts onto the Polygon PoS chain in preparation for client integrations and XGT utility expansion.

About Xion Global

Xion Global is a multi-chain Web3 crypto payments gateway. Makin' it easy to accept and send crypto payments, reward customers with cash back and build loyalty. The first of its kind, Xion's payment and rewards solution offers endless payment opportunities for a wide range of online businesses.

Xion Global Website

Xion Global on Social Twitter | Telegram | Medium | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube | LinkedIn

About Xion Finance

Xion Finance is a DEX aggregator, staking and multi-chain launchpad protocol. Leveraging industry leading multi-chain bridging solutions for zero slippage swaps, high yielding staking opportunities and seamless investment allocations into top tier metaverse and gaming IDOs.

Xion Finance Website

Join Discord: https://discord.gg/vzyT2kqtJT

Currently listed on LBank

Xion Finance on Social Twitter | Telegram | Medium | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

About Polygon

Polygon is the leading blockchain development platform, offering scalable, affordable, secure and sustainable blockchains for Web3. Its growing suite of products offers developers easy access to major scaling solutions including L2 (ZK Rollups and Optimistic Rollups), sidechains, hybrid, stand-alone and enterprise chains, and data availability. Polygon's scaling solutions have seen widespread adoption with 19,000+ decentralized applications hosted, 1.6B+ total transactions processed, 142M+ unique user addresses, and $5B+ in assets secured. Polygon is carbon neutral with the goal of leading the Web3 ecosystem in becoming carbon negative.

If you're an Ethereum Developer, you're already a Polygon developer! Leverage Polygon's fast and secure txns for your dApp, get started here .

Website | Twitter | Ecosystem Twitter | Developer Twitter | Studios Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Discord | Instagram | Facebook

Media Contact:

Evie Phillips

[email protected]

917-336-5381

SOURCE Xion Global
SINGAPORE, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration is now open for SIEW 2022. Organised by the Energy Market Authority (EMA), the 15th SIEW will feature global energy government leaders and industry captains who will share their perspectives on this year's theme, "A Resilient and Sustainable Energy Future".

Global Energy Thought Leaders

2. The global energy thought leaders include:

Governments and International Organisations

YB Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Bin Hassan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Malaysia

Shane Rattenbury MLA, Attorney-General, Minister for Consumer Affairs, and Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Australia

H.E. Dr Ith Praing , Secretary of State, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Kingdom of Cambodia

, Secretary of State, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Kingdom of Dr Fatih Birol , Executive Director, IEA

, Executive Director, IEA Francesco La Camera , Director General, IRENA

, Director General, IRENA Joseph McMonigle , Secretary General, IEF

, Secretary General, IEF Tatsuya Terazawa , Chairman & CEO, IEEJ

, Chairman & CEO, IEEJ Dr Angela Wilkinson , Secretary General and CEO, WEC

, Secretary General and CEO, WEC Eng. Fahad Alajlan, President, KAPSARC

Dr Jean-Christophe Niel, Director General, IRSN

Industry

Matthieu Giard , Vice President, Member of the Executive Committee, Air Liquide

, Vice President, Member of the Executive Committee, Air Liquide Audra Low , CEO & Executive Director, Clifford Capital Pte Ltd

, CEO & Executive Director, Clifford Capital Pte Ltd Beatrice Buffon , Group Senior Executive Vice-President, EDF International Division

, Group Senior Executive Vice-President, EDF International Division Toshiro Kudama, CEO, JERA Asia Pte Ltd

Mark Gainsborough, Chairman & Co-Founder, Low Carbon Advisors

Kazuhisa Yano , Chief Asia Representative, Osaka Gas

, Chief Asia Representative, Osaka Gas Alan Heng , Group CEO, Pavilion Energy

, Group CEO, Pavilion Energy Ahmad Yuniarto, President Director, PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy

Dr Ing Christian Bruch , President and CEO, Siemens Energy AG

, President and CEO, Siemens Energy AG Zhang Zhigang , President, State Grid Corporation of China

, President, State Grid Corporation of David Griffin , CEO, Sun Cable

, CEO, Luca Tonello , Managing Director - Structured Finance, SMBC

, Managing Director - Structured Finance, SMBC Martin Houston , Vice-Chairman, Tellurian

, Vice-Chairman, Tellurian Julien Pouget , President & CEO, TotalEnergies EP & Renewables Asia Pacific

, President & CEO, TotalEnergies EP & Renewables Asia Pacific David Gray , Non-Executive Director, Tokamak Energy

Anchor Events

3. SIEW's anchor events organised by EMA will include:

I. SIEW Summit: The Summit will bring together energy leaders to address topics that set the scene for discussions across the week. These include:

Securing a Sustainable and Resilient Energy Future

Accelerating Low-Carbon Solutions

Mobilising Greener Financing for Energy Infrastructure

II. Singapore-IEA Ministerial Roundtable: The roundtable will focus on the theme "Energy Security in a Low Carbon World".

III. 2nd Singapore-IRENA High-level Forum: The Forum will address topics on green energy financing and decarbonisation technologies and feature the launch of a report by IRENA on green hydrogen.

IV. SIEW ThinkTank Roundtables: Hosts include ASEAN Centre for Energy, Energy Studies Institute and Energy Research Institute @ NTU.

V. SIEW TechTables: New this year, SIEW TechTables will centre discussions around the latest energy innovations and technologies.

Industry Events

4. SIEW 2022 welcomes the return of key industry events onsite:

I. ACES: Examines Solar Energy and Storage, Green Hydrogen and Electric Mobility.

II. ADS & ARTC: Explores the various pathways for refiners to integrate sustainability into their operations.

III. Asia LNG & Hydrogen Gas Markets: Covers the region's continuous drive for energy transition and achieving its net zero goals.

IV. Future of the Grid: Topics include driving regional interconnectivity, financing grid modernisation and digitalisation.

5. Register at https://www.siew.gov.sg/register and enjoy early bird rates as well as bundled discounts for partner events.

About SIEW

SIEW is an annual platform for energy professionals, policymakers and commentators to discuss and share best practices and solutions within the global energy space.

About the EMA

A statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, EMA ensures a reliable and secure energy supply, promotes effective competition in the energy market and develops a dynamic energy sector in Singapore.

SOURCE Energy Market Authority
Increase in demand for active insulated protective pants in mountaineers and in the defense sector and surge in use of active insulation in textiles and the construction industry have boosted the growth of the global active insulation market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Active Insulation Market By Material (Polyester, Cotton, Wool, Nylon, Glass Wool, Expanded Polystyrene), By Application (Textile, Building and Construction): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031". As per the report, the global active insulation industry was pegged at $288.5 million in 2021, and is estimated to reach $512.8 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities

Increase in demand for active insulated protective pants in mountaineers and the defense sector and surge in use of active insulation in textiles and the construction industries have boosted the growth of the global active insulation market. However, retrofitting of houses with active insulation is a high cost process and poses potential risks associated with interstitial condensation, which hampers the market growth. On the contrary, use of protective textiles for sustaining extreme temperature variations would open new opportunities in the future.

Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/17604

Covid-19 scenario:

The Covid-19 pandemic negatively affected the market. The sharp decline in construction of buildings and sudden economic changeS hampered the market.

The prolonged lockdown across the globe created challenges in the procurement of raw materials. The pandemic disrupted the supply chain, which increased the prices of raw materials. This created a gap between supply and demand.

The textile segment to manifest the highest CAGR through 2031

By application, the textile segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period. Protective textiles used during mountain climbers and army sector require proper thermal insulation and should be capable of sustaining extreme temperature variations. Active insulation materials are capable of withstanding temperature variation, offer breathability, and are durable. This makes it ideal material during production of protective textiles. However, the building and construction segment dominated the global active insulation market in terms of revenue, contributing to around two-thirds of the market in 2021, and is expected to continue its dominance throughout the forecast period. This is due to use of active insulation for thermal protection in building & construction applications.

Get Detailed COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the Active Insulation Market @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/17604?reqfor=covid

The polyester segment held the largest share

By material, the polyester segment held the largest share in 2021, contributing to more than one-fourth of the global active insulation market, and is anticipated to maintain its leading position during the forecast period. This is due to increase in use of polyester blend active insulation for production of protective textile and surge in its use in the defense sector. However, the expanded polystyrene segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period, owing to its lightweight and compressive strength and other factors such as energy efficiency, chemical inertness, cost-efficiency, and bacterial resistance.

Europe held the lion's share

By region, the global active insulation market across Europe held the largest share in 2021, accounting for more than one-third of the market, and is projected to continue its dominance from 2022 to 2031, due to increase in use of active insulation by the defense sector and rise in polyester blend active for the production of protection textile as it offers high level of warmth regulations, improved breathability, minimum weight of protective textile, and durability. However, the market across the Asia-Pacific region is projected to portray the highest CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period, due to the use of nylon-based active insulation during production for trekking, mountain climbing, and other activities.

Major Market Players

BASF SE

Hdwool Ltd.

Invista Textiles

The 3M Company

Company Polartec, LLC

Polybond Insulation Private Limited

Remmers

Stoney Creek Limited

Toray Industries, Inc.

W.L. Gore and Associates

The report analyzes these key players of the global active insulation market. These players have adopted various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report is helpful in determining the business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and developments by every market player.

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https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/active-insulation-market/purchase-options

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Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain.

Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
New Zearn research shows that students engaged in learning acceleration practices learned more and struggled less compared to students in classrooms that used remediation.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As the nation works to collectively get students back on track after pandemic-era learning disruptions, new research provides promising evidence that learning acceleration can help all students catch up and move forward in math.

Powered by two years of pandemic-era, math-learning data, researchers found when a student is consistently accelerated, they complete twice the amount of grade-level lessons and struggle less in their math learning.

"We decided to conduct this research as a way to deepen our support for teachers who are contending with more than two years of disruptions and are forced to make intervention decisions for each student, each time they struggle," said Shalinee Sharma, Zearn's CEO and co-founder. "This research gives us hope that with the right learning strategies students can catch-up and move forward with their math learning."

Key findings in the report, Catching Up and Moving Forward: Accelerating Math Learning for Every Student , include:

a student that experienced consistent learning acceleration completed twice as many grade-level lessons over the course of the year compared to a student who was frequently remediated.

a student struggled 17 percent less when they experienced learning acceleration versus when they were remediated .

a student enrolled in a majority Black, Latino or low-income school was more likely to be remediated when compared with their peers in a majority white or high-income school.

a student enrolled in a majority Black, Latino or low-income school struggled 19 percent less when they experienced learning acceleration versus when they were remediated .

Researchers looked at the same student multiple times over the course of two years and compared how they responded to both learning acceleration and remediation practices. They observed 600,000 individual elementary- and middle-school students, across all 50 states, and analyzed 5 million intervention decisions for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years.

With the more traditional practice of remediation, students practice skills they did not master in previous grade-levels before moving forward. Learning acceleration, by contrast, begins students with grade-level learning, and when knowledge gaps arise, provides just-in-time support connected to the grade-level lesson.

This report builds on previous data research from Zearn , which provided one of the first direct comparisons of remediation and learning acceleration, analyzing progress in math across 6,000 elementary classrooms over the 2020-2021 school year. The report, Accelerate, Don't Remediate, which was co-published with TNTP, included some of the first empirical evidence at scale that acceleration produces different, and more promising, results than remediation.

ABOUT ZEARN

Zearn is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization behind Zearn Math, the top-rated math learning platform used by 1 in 4 elementary-school students and 1 million middle-school students nationwide. Everything we do is driven by the belief that every kid is a math kid. For more information about Zearn, contact Anna O'Sullivan, director of communications, at [email protected] .

SOURCE Zearn
EnerNOC founder and ex-J.P. Morgan executive bring their expertise to expand Amperon's platform and be a major player in the energy transition.

HOUSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amperon Holdings, Inc., the leader in AI-powered grid forecasts, today announced Tim Healy and Catherine Flax as the newest members to join the board of directors and help position Amperon as the grid analytics platform for the energy transition.

"Not having tools like Amperon for market participants is like having your hands tied behind your back." Tweet this Catherine Flax Tim Healy

"Tim and Catherine are established titans in their spaces and we are excited to have their advice and experience as Amperon grows into a global company," said Sean Kelly, CEO and co-founder of Amperon. "To have Tim, the pioneer in demand-response technology, and Catherine, a dominant figure in global commodities, join our board only solidifies the important work Amperon is doing."

Tim, who founded and helmed EnerNOC, brings the know-how of scaling a cleantech company to the global level. "Grids are more volatile than ever, and the energy industry needs a trusted source of insights to manage risk and prevent blackouts. Amperon is that information hub for the energy transition," said Tim. "The company is at an exciting stage to shape the market to ensure the energy transition happens correctly."

Catherine, former executive at J.P. Morgan and current board member of the regional transmission organization ISO New England, Inc, knows the importance of accurate data in this space. "The energy industry has underinvested in advanced technologies for decades. Amperon is this perfect blend of Silicon Valley meets Houston meets Wall Street to bring modern AI to the energy industry," said Catherine. "Better information creates much better outcomes for everyone  for the whole industry, down to the end users."

Both Tim and Catherine see Amperon as a major player in the energy transition. With increasing rolling blackouts, extended price spikes, heavy renewables and EV penetrations, and extreme weather events, energy market participants of all stripes rely heavily on Amperon to guide their operational decisions. As Catherine said, "Not having tools like Amperon for market participants is like having your hands tied behind your back."

Catherine and Tim are the latest additions to Amperon's board, rounding out a highly experienced team that includes Michael D'Aurizio, Investment Director at HSBC Climate Tech Venture Fund, as well as founders Abraham Stanway and Sean Kelly.

About Tim Healy

Tim Healy is an experienced executive chairman, CEO, and entrepreneur, with a demonstrated history working in the information technology, energy and managed services industries. Tim co-founded EnerNOC in 2001 and served as its Chairman and CEO until its sale to Enel in 2017 for over $300M. Since EnerNOC, Tim has dedicated his time to changing the way the world uses energy. Under his leadership, 35 of his employees have gone on to become CEOs of their own companies. He is also on the board of several growth companies including Powin and Micatu, as well as the New England Aquarium.

About Catherine Flax

Catherine Flax is an accomplished leader and mentor in the energy, fintech and commodities sectors. She is currently President of X Machina Capital Strategies, an energy-focused private equity firm, and is on the advisory board for ISO New England, Inc. She served multiple roles at J.P. Morgan, first as CEO of Global Commodities EMEA and subsequently as Chief Marketing Officer. Afterward, she went on to serve as Managing Director at BNP Paribas. In 2011, Catherine was named the "Most Influential Woman in European Financial Markets'' and she continues to focus on making the world a better place through the highly skilled people she mentors and her innovative insights.

About Amperon

Amperon Holdings, Inc . is a technology company based out of Houston that builds AI-powered electricity analytics for energy market participants. Founded in 2018 by a seasoned data engineer and a veteran energy trader, Amperon serves electricity retailers, energy traders, grid operators, and utilities worldwide. Its mission is to bring AI to global grids in the service of grid reliability, risk management, and sustainability.

SOURCE Amperon
Distinguished Award Recipients to Be Honored During World Standards Week

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced today the 21 recipients of its 2022 Leadership and Service Awards. The recipients are recognized for their significant contributions to national and international standardization activities, as well as an ongoing commitment to their industry, the nation, and the enhancement of the global voluntary consensus standards system. Awardees will be honored at the ANSI Leadership and Service Awards Ceremony held in conjunction with World Standards Week, on October 12, 2022, in Washington, DC.

ANSI congratulates the following distinguished recipients:

ASTIN-POLK INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS MEDAL

Gordon Gillerman, director, standards coordination office, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), will receive the Astin-Polk International Standards Medal, which honors distinguished service in promoting trade and understanding among nations through the advancement, development, or administration of international standardization, measurements, or certification.

CHAIRMAN'S AWARD

Jennifer Stradtman, director, technical barriers to trade at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), will receive the Chairman's Award, which honors outstanding accomplishments performed by any group or individual on behalf of ANSI or the ANSI Federation.

EDWARD LOHSE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MEDAL

Paul Green, manager, corporate product regulations and standards, Intel Corporation, will receive the Edward Lohse Information Technology Medal, which recognizes outstanding efforts to foster cooperation among bodies involved in global IT standardization.

ELIHU THOMSON ELECTROTECHNOLOGY MEDAL

Kevin Lippert, senior advisor  international standards, UL Standards & Engagement, will receive the Elihu Thomson Electrotechnology Medal, which honors an individual who has contributed in an exceptional, dedicated way to the field of electrotechnology standardization, conformity assessment, and related activities at the national and international levels.

FINEGAN STANDARDS MEDAL

Angela McCaskill, RN, MSc. Global Health, ISO/TC 304 WG5 project lead, Healthcare Quality Management Systems Standard, will receive the Finegan Standards Medal, which honors individuals who have shown extraordinary leadership in the actual development and application of voluntary standards.

GEORGE S. WHAM LEADERSHIP MEDAL

Elisabeth George, medical device global regulations and standards consultant and strategist, will receive the George S. Wham Leadership Medal, which honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the voluntary standardization community and provided long-term direction and visionary qualities in support of the ANSI Federation.

HOWARD COONLEY MEDAL

R. David Pittle, Ph.D., former commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and former technical director and senior vice-president, Consumer Reports, will receive the Howard Coonley Medal, which recognizes an executive who has benefitted the national economy through voluntary standardization and conformity assessment and has given outstanding support to standardization as a management tool.

MAUREEN BREITENBERG CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT RESEARCH MEDAL

Stephanie Tanner, lead environmental engineer, WaterSense Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will receive the Maureen Breitenberg Conformity Assessment Research Medal, which honors work that advances the principles of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) through outstanding contributions toward reducing redundancy and complexity in conformity assessment.

STEPHEN CRAWFORD WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION MEDAL

William Schimmel, executive director and CEO, Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, was awarded the Stephen Crawford Workforce Development and Innovation Medal, which recognizes accredited credentialing bodies that significantly impact workforce development in the United States. The award is named for Stephen Crawford, a staunch advocate of workforce development and valued leader and contributor to ANSI, Workcred, and the greater workforce and credentialing communities, who passed away in 2022.

NEXT GENERATION AWARD

Several individuals will receive the Next Generation Award, presented to professionals who have been engaged in standardization or conformity assessment activities for less than eight years and who have, during this time, demonstrated vision, leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to their chosen field of activity.

Grace Roh, international standards specialist, UL Standards & Engagement

Chelsea Rubadou, engineer, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

Christopher Schmid, standards engineer, UL Standards & Engagement

Travis Thul, senior fellow and director of operations, Technological Leadership Institute at the University of Minnesota

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD

The following individuals will receive the Meritorious Service Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the U.S. voluntary standardization system. Each has demonstrated outstanding service in enabling ANSI to attain the objectives for which it was founded.

Byron Horak, director of engineering, HVAC performance, Intertek

David Kaplan, Ph.D., biologist, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (retired)

Anish Karmarkar, Ph.D., senior director, standards strategy and architecture, Oracle

Stephen Kwan, Ph.D., professor emeritus, San Jose State University

James Lewis, president, J. Lewis Consulting Group, LLC

Vladimir Murashov, Ph.D., senior scientist, Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

Amy Phelps, computer scientist, NIST

Karen Willis, industry director, lighting systems, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

ANSI congratulates these outstanding individuals on their contributions to and accomplishments in the standards and conformity assessment industry.

About ANSI

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations.

The Institute represents and serves the diverse interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and, via the U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). For more information, visit www.ansi.org.

SOURCE American National Standards Institute
ROCK HILL, S.C., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ARC Energy Services, Inc., the Veteran-owned specialty mechanical contracting company serving the power and process industries, announced today the opening of a new office in Ashland, Virginia, to accommodate growth and leverage the area's diverse talent pool.

"The decision to expand our presence into Virginia was a logical step in our business growth strategy," said Roddy Phillips, President & CEO. "The area provides immediate access to local talent and skilled labor that we need to service our clients. We have an opportunity to provide more jobs for Virginians and Veterans as the business grows, as well as increase our ability to service current and future clients."

"As the daughter of a veteran, I'm proud that we could assist in attracting ARC Energy Services to Hanover County," said Jennifer Wakefield, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership. "Greater Richmond's talent pool is attracting companies from across the globe and ARC is the latest to identify our veteran workforce as an asset to their operations."

"We are thrilled to welcome ARC Energy Services to the Hanover County Industrial Air Park," stated E. Linwood Thomas, Director of Economic Development. "ARC Energy Services' decision to choose Hanover County for its expansion into Virginia speaks favorably to Hanover's business climate, ideal location and access to our regional workforce."

The 2500 sf space is located in the Hanover Virginia Airpark at 10054 Whitesel Road #B in Ashland. The new facility will accommodate office, training, and equipment storage spaces. The company says it will provide worker training and testing on specialty welding, machining, and other services at this location.

ARC Energy Services, Inc.

Founded in 2010, ARC Energy Services is a Veteran-owned mechanical contracting company providing specialty welding, machining, heat treatment, NDT, and staff augmentation services to plant owners, OEMs, and maintenance and general contractors in the power and process industries. The company operates from its headquarters in Rock Hill, SC, and offices in Leakesville, MS; Pasadena, TX; and Ashland, VA. Its fabrication shops in South Carolina and Texas provide custom-designed solutions for clients throughout the U.S. www.arc24-7.com

Media Contact

Sharon Ferruccio

770.328.6910

[email protected]

SOURCE ARC Energy Services
Industry veteran to unlock new opportunities for DI sales and position Ash as a market leader for income protection

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ash Brokerage LLC ("Ash"), a leading distributor of life, long-term care, disability and retirement solutions, announced the addition of Brian Lauber, CLU, ChFC, as Senior Vice President of Disability Insurance.

Jason Grover, President of Ash, expressed the opportunity to double down on helping advisors help their clients.

As a leader in disability insurance, we're never satisfied with good enough. Tweet this Brian Lauber enjoying his first week at Ash Brokerage, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

"As a leader in disability insurance, we're never satisfied with good enough," Grover said. "We know there are many more clients who need to protect their income. Looking at Ash's position in the market, now was the time to make a strategic investment back in our DI business to help advisors tell the income protection story."

In January, Ash retained Chris Carlson Brokerage Group to review Ash's messaging and market opportunity. Following the conversations, Matt McAvoy, Partner and Divisional President of Ash, identified Brian as the right person to carry the torch.

"With a proven record for growing market share, Brian is a phenomenal asset to help us tap into additional resources," McAvoy said. "Brian is well known and respected across the insurance industry."

Brian has served at multiple insurance carriers as an advisor, wholesaler, district manager, regional VP, VP of independent distribution and chief marketing officer. Most recently he was Regional Director of IDI Sales for The Standard and Regional Managing Director at Principal Financial Group, two of Ash's key distribution partners for disability insurance.

Brian's tenure will add to Ash's existing team of DI specialists, including Tim Kukieza, VP of Disability, who has successfully grown Ash's DI sales for more than a decade.

For more on Ash's disability insurance offerings, visit ashbrokerage.com/plan/disability-insurance.

About Ash Brokerage

Founded over 50 years ago in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ash Brokerage's more than 400 employees are focused on helping financial professionals innovate through insurance solutions. In 2021, Ash protected almost 50,000 lives, helping place nearly $2 billion of premium. In 2022, Ash Brokerage joined the Integrity Marketing Group family of companies.

As a brokerage general agency, Ash leverages relationships with more than 80 top-rated insurance carriers to answer the needs of financial professionals nationwide. Ash has the tools  and the people  to bring solutions in every stage of life.

Whatever the question. Whatever the need. Ash Answers.

Contact:

Dan Rich

Chief Operations Officer

800-589-3000

[email protected]

SOURCE Ash Brokerage, LLC
Mario Lopez and Menudo Productions announced the start of the online auditions for "A New Beginning," the global talent search for a new Menudo.

MIAMI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Menudo Productions and Actor/TV Host Mario Lopez have partnered with HeartOut.io, a groundbreaking online recording platform designed to verify the authenticity of "live" performances, for a global talent search to recreate the most successful Latin boy band of all time. Prior to in-person auditions in five global cities, performers will record their audition via HeartOut (https://menudo.heartout.io/ ), which received a patent on its proprietary technology this past May to authenticate that auditions are unaltered and have not been edited or enhanced.

The HeartOut app allows performers to record and submit auditions as if it were live. The online recording certification platform, which has partnered with Menudo Productions and Mario Lopez for their search for the new Menudo, is designed to provide organizations a solution to see and hear an applicant's "live" performance with assurance that it's free from editing or manipulation. Menudo Productions and Mario Lopez have partnered with HeartOut.io, a groundbreaking online recording platform designed to verify the authenticity of "live" performances, for a global talent search to recreate Menudo, the most successful Latin boy band of all time. Prior to in-person auditions in five global cities, those looking to submit auditions can do so via HeartOut: https://menudo.heartout.io/

In casting a new generation of Menudo, the contest's organizers expect thousands of auditions worldwide, seeking bilingual/bicultural boys 12-16 years old with strong vocal and dance abilities. HeartOut, the popular music tech app with over 60,000 auditions and 40,000 app downloads in over 75 countries was an ideal partnership because of the company's mission to empower artists by promoting equality, fairness and equity in the audition process.

"Working with HeartOut on the Menudo talent search has been a great experience. While its technology enables us to connect with talent around the world, HeartOut's whole team has been 100% attentive and helpful. We look forward to working with HeartOut again and again in the future," stated Angel Zamora Menudo Productions, who oversees the project.

HeartOut will be an essential thread running through the entire audition window. The app will exclusively host digital auditions for the first seven weeks, then will serve as a backup for those who missed the initial online window while in-person auditions take place starting September 17 in five cities: San Juan, New York City, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Miami.

In this emerging era of deepfakes and other digital manipulation of video and audio, HeartOut is designed to provide certainty to organizations hosting auditions and contests. Its patented technology provides the only platform that guarantees that audition videos have been recorded within the same environment as a live performance, while streamlining the process of how an organization records, stores, enrolls and searches for talent. Free to download and easy to use, the digital platform offers secured optimized storage and direct data access, protected by the latest privacy standards.

Incentivizing entrants to complete the audition process, organizations that use the HeartOut platform have reported a rise in turnout rate from 70% to 98%. Its past and present users span universities, colleges, music competitions, talent shows, orchestras, symphonies and other musical institutions. With its technology and global reach, HeartOut helps organizers by increasing access to diverse talent worldwide, while leveling the socioeconomic playing field for talent by making auditions accessible to those who could not afford to travel in the past.

"We are excited to commence auditions in partnership with Menudo Productions and Mario Lopez, leveraging HeartOut technology to democratize the audition process worldwide while safeguarding its veracity," stated Ciro Fodere, founder and CEO of HeartOut.

About HeartOut - https://heartout.io

Founded in 2019, HeartOut is dedicated to the mission of providing organizations the ability to assess the quality of a "live" performance through a recording by guaranteeing its original authenticity. HeartOut is headquartered in Miami. Visit the website at https://heartout.io. Follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media contact :

James Goll

24-Group PR & Marketing

917-626-4769

[email protected]

SOURCE HeartOut
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) ("Auxly" or the "Company"), a leading consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, announced today that the Company has closed the sale of its Auxly Annapolis OG Inc. outdoor cultivation facility located in Hortonville, Nova Scotia to a private purchaser for total proceeds to the Company of $4.1 million. As previously announced by the Company, Auxly closed both its cultivation facilities located in Nova Scotia in February 2022 and sold its Auxly Annapolis indoor cultivation facility in July 2022 for total proceeds to the Company of $6 million. The Company intends to apply the proceeds from both sales to support Auxly's ongoing operations.

"The sale of the Auxly Annapolis outdoor facility for $4.1 million further strengthens the Company's cash position as we have now received a cumulative $10.1 million for both our Nova Scotia cultivation assets," said Hugo Alves, CEO. "We remain committed to identifying opportunities to reduce costs, streamline operations and source additional capital in a non-dilutive way as we continue to focus our efforts of achieving our goal of becoming Adjusted EBITDA profitable in 2022."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Hugo Alves" CEO

About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF)

Auxly is a leading Canadian consumer packaged goods company in the cannabis products market, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company's focus is on developing, manufacturing and distributing branded cannabis products that delight wellness and recreational consumers and deliver on its consumer promise of quality, safety and efficacy.

Learn more at www.auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to: the proposed use of the proceeds of the sale; the Company's execution of its product development, commercialization strategy and expansion plans; the relevance of the Company's current and proposed products; the expectation and timing of future revenues; consumer preferences; political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis and cannabis products; and competition and other risks affecting the Company in particular and the cannabis industry generally.

A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to, whether: the Company's subsidiaries are able to maintain the necessary regulatory authorizations to conduct business; there is acceptance and demand for current and future Company products by consumers and provincial purchasers; and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates will remain the same. Additional risk factors are disclosed in the annual information form of the Company for the financial year ended December 31, 2021 dated March 30, 2022.

The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party industry sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by Auxly. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained in this release. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.

Neither Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Auxly Cannabis Group Inc.
Report cites Azentio as a good fit for organizations wanting to digitize and modernize their KYC/CDD processes and add AI and ML to enhance them

SINGAPORE, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Azentio Software ("Azentio"), a Singapore-headquartered technology firm owned by funds advised by Apax Partners , today announced that it has been named as a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Anti-Money Laundering Solutions, Q3 2022 report. Azentio Software was amongst 15 most significant anti-money laundering (AML) solution providers assessed against 26 criteria across categories of current offering, strategy and market presence.

The report evaluated Amlock, Azentio's Financial Crime Detection and Management Solution, an integrated and flexible platform with advanced capabilities that leverage risk calculators, fully featured tools and BI technologies for monitoring money laundering activities, risk analysis and powerful insights.

According to the Forrester report, "The vendor has been expanding its supported database platforms and invested in a smart ID card reader solution for customer KYC processes. It also added transliteration services for names from English to Arabic and vice versa. In its current offering, the vendor shows strength in evaluating rule changes (what-if testing), rule versioning, and reporting on rule performance. Unsupervised and reinforcement learning capabilities are also above par." The report further adds, "Azentio is a good fit for organizations wanting to digitize and modernize their KYC and CDD processes and add AI and ML to enhance them."

Azentio received the maximum possible score in the enhancements: Watchlist management criterion, with the Forrester report stating, "The vendor demonstrated strong and leading WLM product enhancement roadmaps, and its market approach is on par with other vendors in this evaluation."

Tony Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer of Azentio, stated, "We are grateful to be acknowledged as a Contender in The Forrester Wave report for AML solutions. We believe that as regulations widen their ambit to capture new and emerging threats, the roles of AI and ML technologies will be a critical factor in adding insights, helping organizations to make vital risk-related predictions and decisions. Azentio has been investing in its AML solutions to add innovative, market-driven AI and ML features. We believe Forrester's assessment reflects our commitment to help organizations worldwide effectively meet their AML requirements."

Azentio's roadmap for Amlock includes improvement of screening algorithms with phonetic search; solution integration with ID verification portals; and an enhanced alerts and rule builder.

In Forrester's recent Global Banking Platform Deals Survey 2022, Azentio ranked high as Regional Pursuer in the New Named Deals category; Major Cross Seller in the Extended Business category; and Major Player in the Combined Deals category.

Download your complimentary copy of the report to know why Forrester recognizes Azentio Software as a Contender among the Anti-Money Laundering Solution providers.

About Azentio Software

Azentio Software provides mission critical, core and vertical-specific software products for clients in banking, financial and insurance segments. The company's flagship products include Amlock, Kastle, iMAL, Premia Astra, Beyontec Suite and Intelligent Automation Fabric, MFund Plus, and Orion.



Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1712686/Azentio_Software_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Azentio Software Pvt Ltd
By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman

Racing fans bid farewell to Arlington Park following the 2021 race meet, but Arlington's most prestigious racesthe Arlington Million (G1) and the Beverly D. S. (G1)are living on at Churchill Downs.

Churchill Downs doesn't typically race in August, but a rare (maybe unprecedented?) exception will be made on Saturday to accommodate the running of the Arlington Million and Beverly D. The Million has drawn the larger field, but we'll focus our attention on the Beverly D., which is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing races of the weekend.

The Beverly D. has historically been contested over 1 3/16 miles, but since the Churchill Downs turf course can't accommodate that distance, the first renewal over Louisville's famous oval has been shortened to 1 1/8 miles.

The result is a small but competitive field of five. Many bettors figure to favor #4 Rougir (2-1), and understandably so. The four-year-old filly won the prestigious Prix de l'Opera (G1) over 1 1/4 miles in France last fall and kicked off her 2022 season on a high note, dominating the 1 1/16-mile Beaugay S. (G3) at Belmont Park in her first start for trainer Chad Brown.

Brown has won the Beverly D. half a dozen times, including five editions in a row from 2015 through 2019. But Rougir isn't necessarily as formidable as some of Brown's past winners. She was beaten to fifth place when heavily favored to win the 1 1/4-mile New York S. (G1) two starts back, and while a slow pace probably compromised her chances, Rougir subsequently faltered to fourth place even with a faster tempo to chase in the 1 1/8-mile Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga.

Rougir met tough company in both the New York and Diana and is facing a somewhat easier group of rivals in the Beverly D. But after two straight starts in which she failed to bring her A-game, Rougir doesn't look like an unbeatable favorite at Churchill Downs.

#2 Family Way (3-1) is a logical alternative after placing second in the New York, beaten only half a length by the talented Bleecker Street. This effort followed a victory in the 1 1/2-mile Orchid S. (G3) and a runner-up finish behind top-notch turf router War Like Goddess in the 1 1/2-mile Bewitch S. (G3).

But Family Way isn't without chinks in her armor. She benefited from tracking the pedestrian pace in the New York and still got outkicked by the deep-closing Bleecker Street. And while she won a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs during the spring of 2021, Family Way has done by far her best work running 1 1/4 miles or father, so cutting back in distance for the Beverly D. is a question mark.

Instead, the European raider #5 Lily Pond (5-2) offers appeal. The three-year-old daughter of Galileo is trained by the internationally renowned Aidan O'Brien, who saddled the sophomore filly Santa Barbara to win the 2021 Beverly D.

After winning her debut over the synthetic track at Dundalk during the spring, Lily Pond showed promise in a couple of starts against group stakes company, running second in the 1 1/4-mile Blue Wind S. (G3) and third in the 1 1/2-mile Munster Oaks (G3). An attempt to stretch out over 1 3/4 miles for the Stanerra S. (G3) produced a misfire as Lily Pond finished a distant sixth, but cutting back in trip for the 1 1/8-mile Kilboy Estate S. (G2) at the Curragh last month proved most suitable.

Indeed, Lily Pond rebounded nicely on the cutback, racing forwardly throughout to win by half a length. Her performance was all the more impressive when you consider how Lily Pond was running back just 10 days after the Stanerra.

Following the Kilboy Estate, Aidan O'Brien spoke highly of Lily Pond in an interview with Racing TV, mentioning a variety of major tracks and races where Lily Pond might turn up next. In the end, he's opted to send her stateside for the Beverly D., a meaningful assignment when you consider O'Brien didn't enter any other runners to race at Churchill this week. Lily Pond is O'Brien's lone representative on a big weekend, and with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez aboard, I expect the improving filly to deliver a winning performance.

Selections

1st: Lily Pond

2nd: Rougir

3rd: Family Way

Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the Beverly D.?

*****

Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contests pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.)

J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second quarter in a row, Baby Boomers have out-traveled every other generation, according to travel insurtech company Squaremouth.com , after a nearly 90% drop in travelers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For over two years, COVID changed everything about how Americans traveled, to include who traveled. As travel returns to "normal", Squaremouth analyzed data from travel insurance consumers to reveal three new traveler trends.

Strong Return of Baby Boomer Travelers Post- COVID

Baby Boomers saw the highest increase in both total number of travelers, and overall travel insurance market share, for Q1 and Q2 of 2022 compared to the previous year.

Baby Boomers were also the only generation to see a positive increase to their market share in Q2 2022 compared to Q2 2021. While almost all demographics (except the Silent Generation ) have continued to experience an increase in number of travelers, the recent drastic spike in Boomer travelers caused the deficit of other generational market share.

The return of Baby Boomer travelers comes after an almost 90% decrease at the onset of the pandemic.

Seniors Still Not Traveling

The Silent Generation is the only generation Squaremouth reports having less travelers in 2022 compared to 2019.

This may confirm seniors are still not as comfortable traveling today as they were pre-COVID, despite widespread vaccination efforts .

The decrease in older travelers, and increase in younger travelers insuring their trips, has kept Squaremouth's average down. Currently they report an average traveler age of 44, compared to 50+ pre-COVID. At the height of the pandemic this average age dropped to 38.

Millennials Become Leading Insurance Purchaser

Baby Boomers were the only generation to experience a decrease in their overall travel insurance market share this year compared to pre-COVID years. Squaremouth attributes their drop to an increase in younger demographics , rather than a decrease in Boomer-aged travelers.

Throughout the pandemic, younger generations out-traveled their seniors, and subsequently out-purchased travel insurance, whether by choice or due to COVID-related requirements .

The Millennial generation had the biggest increase in insured travelers in Q2 2022 compared to pandemic years. Likewise, Gen Alpha experienced the largest increase in travelers this year compared to pre-COVID years. The youngest generation also accounts for the largest increase in market share compared to 2019.

Squaremouth says the increase in younger travelers aligns with the rise of their Millennial-aged parents insuring their trips.

Methodology: Squaremouth.com hosts the largest number of travel insurance providers and policies on the market. Squaremouth Analytics compared thousands of travel insurance policies purchased from 2019 to 2022 to establish traveler demographic trends.

Additional Resources:

Live data room

COVID-19 and Travel Insurance Hub

About Squaremouth

Squaremouth is a travel insurance comparison company that helps customers instantly search, compare, and buy travel insurance policies online.

Squaremouth.com hosts the most intuitive travel insurance quoting and comparison engine on the market today. Coupled with over 100,000 verified customer reviews and the largest portfolio of products, Squaremouth allows customers to purchase a travel insurance policy from every major provider in the US.

As a company, we prioritize reputation over profits, with a core goal of helping every customer find the coverage they need for the lowest possible price. Founded in 2003, Squaremouth.com - and our multi-award-winning customer service team - has helped more than 2 million travelers find the best travel insurance policy for their trip.

SOURCE Squaremouth
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Val Kleyman, Esq., a NYC divorce lawyer with The Kleyman Law Firm, advises what are some of the bad ideas to try to save your marriage and why you should avoid them.

There is a whole lot of information out there on how you can save your marriage. "Before talking about how you can save your marriage, it is essential to dispel those ideas that are going to only make your marriage worse, creating a situation where you will end up in my office," said Val Kleyman, an experienced NYC divorce lawyer.

1. Let's Have a Baby!



This is a common choice that people make to save a marriage and to try to ensure that the spouse, who may have doubts about the longevity of the relationship, will stay around.



"Couples often want to have a baby because they believe they will be loved by the child and appreciated more by the other spouse. This could not be further from the truth. Children are allot of work and will only put more pressure on an already volatile marriage," said Kleyman.

2. Talk Your Problems Out with Your Friends and Family.



Many couples opt to start talking their issues out with family and friends looking for advice.



"What needs to be understood is that your friends and family are always going to take your side. No matter how wrong you may be, they are likely going to empathize with you more. Not being able to see the problem from both sides will only hurt your chances of fixing it and will cause more conflict", according to NYC divorce lawyer.

3. Force Yourself to Stay Together for The Children



There is no doubt that divorce is tough on children. However, troubled, even volatile marriages can be far worse.



"While you may not want to get a divorce, forcing yourselves to stay together when you literally cannot stand your spouse is a terrible idea. The children learn terrible behaviors and find themselves choosing sides as to who is at fault for the problems in the marriage," said Kleyman.

About:

Val Kleyman is a NYC divorce lawyer and the founder of The Kleyman Law Firm. The Kleyman Law Firm is located at One Rockefeller Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10020. For more info go to www.NYC-DivorceLawyer.com, email: [email protected] or call 212-401-1977.

SOURCE Kleyman Law Firm
Eric Lloyd Named Executive Chairman of the Board

Jonathan Bock Promoted to CEO

Jonathan Landsberg Promoted to CFO

Elizabeth Murray Promoted to COO

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Barings BDC, Inc. (NYSE: BBDC) ("Barings BDC" or the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has named Eric Lloyd as Executive Chairman of the Board and promoted three of its longstanding senior executive officers. Mr. Lloyd has served as Chairman since 2021 and Chief Executive Officer and Director since 2018.

Jonathan ("Jon") Bock has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer of Barings BDC, where he has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2018.

Jonathan Landsberg has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer of Barings BDC, where he has served as Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations.

Elizabeth Murray has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Barings BDC, where she also serves as Chief Accounting Officer.

Mr. Lloyd commented, "Since our formation transaction four years ago, Barings BDC has emerged as a leader in the BDC space. Today's promotions are a testament to the significant contributions Jon, Jonathan, and Elizabeth have made to the success of BBDC since Barings became the Investment Advisor to Triangle Capital in 2018. These individuals are respected leaders in the industry and we appreciate their commitment to Barings BDC stakeholders."

Mark Mulhern, Chairman of the Barings BDC Audit Committee, stated, "On behalf of the Board, we congratulate Eric, Jon, Jonathan, and Elizabeth on their accomplishments in leading and growing our business on the four-year anniversary as an externally-managed BDC. These new positions demonstrate the confidence we as a Board have in the management team of BBDC."

"I would like to thank the Barings BDC Board for its strong support over the past four years. The management team is enthusiastic and confident in taking on these new responsibilities," said Mr. Bock. "I also want to congratulate Eric, Jonathan, and Elizabeth on their new roles and look forward to continuing our successful working relationship."

The promotions will be effective September 1, 2022.



Eric Lloyd Bio

Mr. Lloyd is President of Barings LLC, where he leads and manages cross-asset investment teams, corporate strategy, business development, product management, investment business management, research analytics and quant, permanent capital, special situations, and marketing and communication. Mr. Lloyd also works closely with all the investment teams at Barings LLC. Prior to his current role, he served as Head of Private Assets. Mr. Lloyd has worked in the industry since 1990 and his experience has encompassed leadership positions in investment management, investment banking, leveraged finance, and risk management. Prior to joining Barings in 2013, Mr. Lloyd served as Head of Market and Institutional Risk for Wells Fargo, was on Wells Fargo's Management Committee, and was a member of the Board of Directors of Wells Fargo Securities. Before the acquisition of Wachovia, he worked in Wachovia's Global Markets Investment Banking division and served on the division's Operating Committee, where he had various leadership positions, including Head of Wachovia's Global Leveraged Finance Group. Mr. Lloyd is an Executive Sponsor of both the Veteran's and the Out & Allies Employee Resource Groups. He holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce.

Jonathan Bock Bio

In addition to his role at Barings BDC, Mr. Bock serves as the Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Barings Private Credit Corporation, and Chief Financial Officer of Barings Capital Investment Corporation, Barings Corporate Investors, and Barings Participation Investors. Prior to joining Barings LLC in 2018, Mr. Bock was a Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities specializing in BDCs. He has actively followed the BDC space since 2006 and was the chief author of a leading BDC quarterly research publication: the BDC Scorecard. His research is often cited by The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, and other prominent financial publications. Prior to Wells Fargo, Mr. Bock followed the specialty finance space at Stifel Nicolaus & Company and A.G. Edwards Inc. Prior to entering sell-side research in 2006, Mr. Bock was an equity portfolio manager/analyst at Busey Wealth Management in Champaign, Illinois. Mr. Bock holds a B.S. in Finance from the University Of Illinois College Of Business and is a CFA charterholder.

Jonathan Landsberg Bio

In addition to his role at Barings BDC, Mr. Landsberg is the Chief Financial Officer of Barings Private Credit Corporation and Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations for Barings Capital Investment Corporation. He is also a Vice President of Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors. He has roles with several BDC-affiliated joint ventures, including as Principal of Jocassee Partners LLC, and a Board member of Sierra Senior Loan Strategy JV I LLC, Banff Partners LP, Thompson Rivers LLC, and Waccamaw River LLC. Mr. Landsberg has worked in the industry since 2006. Prior to joining Barings in 2018, Mr. Landsberg was a Fixed Income Research Analyst at Wells Fargo Securities, covering the bank and specialty finance sectors. Before Wells Fargo, he spent eight years at Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in roles across debt origination and syndicated lending. Mr. Landsberg holds B.A. degrees in Engineering Sciences and Economics from Dartmouth College and is a member of the CFA Institute.

Elizabeth Murray Bio

In addition to her role at Barings BDC, Ms. Murray serves as the Principal Accounting Officer of Barings Private Credit Corporation, Barings Capital Investment Corporation, Barings Corporate Investors, and Barings Participation Investors. She also serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund. Ms. Murray previously was the Director of External Reporting for the Company and previously served as the Vice President of Financial Reporting at Triangle Capital Corporation prior to the externalization of the investment management of the Company to Barings LLC. Prior to joining Triangle Capital Corporation in 2012, she worked in Financial Planning and Analysis for RBC Bank, the U.S. retail banking division for Royal Bank of Canada. Prior to RBC Bank, Ms. Murray spent seven years at Progress Energy, Inc. and held various positions in finance, accounting and tax, most recently in Strategy and Financial Planning. She began her career as a Tax Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ms. Murray is a graduate of North Carolina State University where she obtained a B.S. degree in Accounting and a Master of Accounting degree. She is also a North Carolina Certified Public Accountant.

About Barings BDC, Inc.

Barings BDC, Inc. (NYSE: BBDC) is a publicly traded, externally managed investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Barings BDC seeks to invest primarily in senior secured loans in middle-market companies that operate across a wide range of industries. Barings BDC's investment activities are managed by its investment adviser, Barings LLC, a leading global asset manager based in Charlotte, NC with $349+ billion* of AUM firm-wide. For more information, visit www.barings.com.

About Barings LLC

Barings is a $349+ billion* global investment manager sourcing differentiated opportunities and building long-term portfolios across public and private fixed income, real estate, and specialist equity markets. With investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, the firm, a subsidiary of MassMutual, aims to serve its clients, communities and employees, and is committed to sustainable practices and responsible investment. Learn more at www.barings.com.

*Assets under management as of June 30, 2022

Media Contact:

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

[email protected], 888-401-1088

SOURCE Barings BDC, Inc.
Additional funding brings Series D round to $320M total

Trevor Fetter , MBA, senior lecturer on the faculty of Harvard Business School and former longtime Tenet Healthcare chairman and CEO, named to Board

Sachin H. Jain , physician executive with government, pharmaceutical, payer and provider experience, joins Board

BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Biofourmis, a Boston-based global leader in virtual care and digital medicine, today announced that Intel Capital, the strategic investment arm of chipmaker Intel Corporation, has joined its Series D financing in an extension that brings the total funding raised in the round to $320M. The initial Series D funding round was announced in April and was led by global growth equity firm General Atlantic with participation by CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), Trevor Fetter and existing investors.

Biofourmis announced earlier that it is using the funds from the Series D round to scale up its virtual care offerings that drive high-quality care-at-home across the continuum as well as digital medicine initiatives, including building digital companion therapeutics to augment existing and upcoming novel therapies.

"Biofourmis is laser-focused on delivering real-time patient insight to clinicians to improve the home-based care experience," said Mark Rostick, Vice President and Senior Managing Director at Intel Capital. "Through edge computing and edge-to-cloud processing capabilities, Biofourmis is redefining the patient and provider journey leveraging advanced technology."

Biofourmis continues to buck health tech funding trends with this Series D extension, which comes during a downturn in digital health investment. According to a recent Rock Health report, the first half of 2022 saw 329 digital health funding deals totaling $10.3 billiondown from $14.7 billion raised in the first half of 2021 across 372 deals.

"To receive this additional funding from the venture capital arm of a global technology giant during an unpredictable time in digital health investment is further validation of Biofourmis' market strength and potential and validates that we are distinguishing ourselves in the market," said Kuldeep Singh Rajput, founder and CEO of Biofourmis. "We are on a strong trajectory for continued strategic growth in the coming years in terms of customers, partners and solution development."

Biofourmis today also announced the appointment of two esteemed healthcare leaders to its Board: Trevor Fetter, MBA, senior lecturer on the faculty of Harvard Business School and former longtime Tenet Healthcare Chairman and CEO; and Sachin H. Jain, MD, MBA, president and CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan.

Fetter led one of nation's largest for-profit health systems

Helping Biofourmis scale its company and solutions will be Fetter, who is a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School. Fetter was formerly chairman and CEO of Tenet Healthcare Corporation, one of the largest health systems in the U.S., which he helped grow to $20 billion in revenues and steadily increased margins.

Fetter also launched adjacent businessesConifer Health Solutions and United Surgical Partners Internationalwhich are now multi-billion-dollar enterprises and leaders in their respective fields. Fetter retired as chairman and CEO of Tenet in late 2017. He is also an active corporate director and investor, including participation in Biofourmis' initial Series D round.

"What attracted me to Biofourmis was not only its flexible, scalable and powerful turn-key technology, but also its recent strategic diversification in offering remote, specialized care teams to healthcare organizations to fill clinical staffing gaps with around-the-clock management and care," said Fetter, referring to the launch of the Biofourmis [email protected] offering for chronic disease management. The complex chronic disease service currently offers five virtual care programs: heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, lipid management and atrial fibrillation. The specialty care programs are delivered remotely by Biofourmis' trained health navigators, who are frontline care coordinators, as well as a multidisciplinary team of licensed clinicians, including physicians, nurses and advanced practice providers.

Dr. Jain contributes healthcare delivery reform insight

Dr. Jain, a board-certified internal medicine physician, has 20 years of experience in clinical medicine, health policy, managed care and healthcare delivery leadership. He was Special Assistant to the National Coordinator in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and was part of the founding team at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). He was the global Chief Medical Information and Innovation Officer at Merck and served as the President and Chief Executive Officer at CareMore Health and Aspire Health, both divisions of Anthem. At CareMore, Dr. Jain launched hospital-at-home and home-based primary care programs and implemented novel clinical interventions to address loneliness and social isolation.

Today, Dr. Jain is president and CEO of SCAN Group and Health Plan, a diversified healthcare services organization that serves more than 300,000 older adults with $4 billion in revenues. Under his leadership, SCAN has grown its membership and footprint and has launched four new care delivery divisions that focus on home and community-based care: WelcomeHealth, HomeBase Medical, Healthcare in Action, and MyPlace Health. He also serves on the boards of Cardiovascular Systems Inc. and Make-A-Wish America.

Dr. Jain's experience in public and commercial health insurance will be invaluable to Biofourmis as more payers and "payviders" (health systems that also sell and administer their own health plans) ramp up their implementation of virtual care programs across acute, post-acute and chronic condition management given the significant potential cost, clinical outcome and patient experience benefits.

"The convergence of greater acceptance of virtual care models, as well as the broader use of value-based payments, creates a moment where many of the digital health and care delivery ideas that have long been gaining momentum are now coming to full speed," Dr. Jain said. "Biofourmis is at the forefront of helping bring those concepts to life, and I look forward to helping define the future of digital health and to support a company that is leading this transformation."

About Biofourmis

Biofourmis, based in Boston, is a global leader in providing advanced technology and clinical support for [email protected] and digital therapies. We are driven by a passion to personalize care and predict clinical worsening before it happens. Our clinically validated platform, powered by machine learning and advanced analytics, enables better healthcare, maximizes the effectiveness of high-value drugs, and lowers costs across the entire care continuum. For more information, visit www.biofourmis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Media Contact:

Tara Stultz

Amendola Communications for Biofourmis

440.225.9595

[email protected]

SOURCE Biofourmis
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Black Swan Graphene Inc. ("Black Swan" or the "Company") (TSXV: SWAN) is pleased to provide a corporate update following its first day of trading on the Toronto Venture Exchange ("TSXV") on August 9, 2022. The information provided herein was previously disclosed by Mason Graphite Inc. (TSXV: LLG) (OTCQX: MGPHF) but is being recirculated today in order to ensure all investors and market participants interested in the Company have an opportunity to review.

Highlights include:

The completion of its listing process (the " RTO Transaction ") with Dragonfly Capital Corp., and the conversion of the subscription receipts into common shares for gross proceeds of approximately $7.0 million , which was upsized from the original $5.0 million due to high demand. Following the closing of the RTO Transaction, Black Swan Graphene now has a cash position of approximately $11M .

") with Dragonfly Capital Corp., and the conversion of the subscription receipts into common shares for gross proceeds of approximately , which was upsized from the original due to high demand. Following the closing of the RTO Transaction, Black Swan Graphene now has a cash position of approximately . Based on the closing price of Black Swan on August 9, 2022 , Mason Graphite's investment in Black Swan Graphene is worth approximately $28.2 million ;

, Mason Graphite's investment in Black Swan Graphene is worth approximately ; The execution of a multi-year Master Distributorship Agreement with Gerdau Grafeno Ltda (" Gerdau Graphene "), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gerdau S. A. focused on the development of chemical additives, mineral additives and masterbatches with graphene, which will buy products from Black Swan Graphene in order to market, promote and resell in the Americas Region;

"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Gerdau S. A. focused on the development of chemical additives, mineral additives and masterbatches with graphene, which will buy products from Black Swan Graphene in order to market, promote and resell in the Americas Region; The execution of a non-binding letter of intent with Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc., whereby Black Swan Graphene would agree to establish graphene production capacity within Nouveau Monde's graphite processing plant, which has a design throughput of 3.5 tonnes of ore per hour (tph), the equivalent nameplate production capacity of approximately 1,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per annum, using NMG's ore grading an average of 4.5% graphitic carbon, in Saint-Michel-des-Saints , Quebec, Canada , in order to create a fully-integrated producing facility from graphite ore, through graphite concentrate, and to graphene finished products. This proposed agreement falls within the proposed joint venture to be formed between Mason Graphite and Nouveau Monde; see the joint press release issued by Mason Graphite and Nouveau Monde on May 16, 2022 ;

, Quebec, , in order to create a fully-integrated producing facility from graphite ore, through graphite concentrate, and to graphene finished products. This proposed agreement falls within the proposed joint venture to be formed between Mason Graphite and Nouveau Monde; see the joint press release issued by Mason Graphite and Nouveau Monde on ; The execution of a binding collaboration agreement with a key equipment supplier, which includes commercial details and minimum commitments for the procurement of long-lead items required for large scale production of graphene;

The grant by the Chinese Authorities of a Certificate of Invention Patent to Black Swan Graphene for apparatus and method for bulk production of atomically thin 2-dimentional materials including graphene, increasing the portfolio of patents and patent applications to 20 in 9 countries;

The execution of a Tier-2 Membership Agreement with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (" GEIC ") of the University of Manchester , a world-class centre which promotes, assists and carries out applied research, commercialisation, and manufacture of graphene.

") of the University of , a world-class centre which promotes, assists and carries out applied research, commercialisation, and manufacture of graphene. The launch of a new website, which includes a corporate video, which will be used for various industry events and furthering the brand awareness of Black Swan Graphene: www.blackswangraphene.com;

The appointment of Mr. Michael Edwards as Black Swan Graphene's Chief Operating Officer ("COO"). Mr. Edwards joins Black Swan Graphene from Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd., where he was the head of the Advanced Materials Division, where the company's graphene processing technology was originally developed;

as Black Swan Graphene's Chief Operating Officer ("COO"). Mr. Edwards joins Black Swan Graphene from & Co. Ltd., where he was the head of the Advanced Materials Division, where the company's graphene processing technology was originally developed; The appointment of Mr. Henri Wilhelm , as Black Swan Graphene's Vice-President Technology. Mr. Wilhelm has more than 15 years of experience in R&D, characterization and development of graphite-based products for energy storage applications. His career included working within Imerys Graphite & Carbon and SGL; and

, as Black Swan Graphene's Vice-President Technology. Mr. Wilhelm has more than 15 years of experience in R&D, characterization and development of graphite-based products for energy storage applications. His career included working within Imerys Graphite & Carbon and SGL; and The appointment of Mr. Aidan Sullivan , as Black Swan Graphene's Vice-President Strategic Initiatives; Mr. Sullivan has more than 15 years of corporate experience and brings to Black Swan Graphene a vast network of international relationships.

Simon Marcotte, President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Swan Graphene, stated: "We couldn't be more excited to see Black Swan Graphene progress so rapidly since its inception, in latter half of 2021. The fact that we now have a clear path towards commercial production and a distribution partner is a testament of how burgeoning the graphene industry has become. I would also like to welcome Michael, Henri and Aidan to Black Swan."

Master Distributorship Agreement with Gerdau Graphene

Gerdau Graphene will collaborate with Black Swan Graphene in order to introduce graphene products and accelerate the adoption of graphene in different industrial applications in the Americas market, including concrete and polymers where Gerdau Graphene will serve as a value-add distributor, working with its customers in the integration of the graphene products, and support the development of existing and new applications. Black Swan Graphene will support Gerdau Graphene with its know-how, product optimization and dispersion capabilities in different materials and polymer matrixes, as well as commercialization capacity.

Mr. Alexandre de Toledo Correa, General Manager for Gerdau Graphene, commented: "We are very excited about the growing opportunities of the graphene industry in the Americas. We are proud to establish this partnership with Black Swan Graphene which has demonstrated good product quality and availability, as well as know-how and technical expertise on graphene development."

Completion of a $7 Million Subscription Receipt Financing

Due to high demand, the subscription receipt financing completed concurrently with the RTO Transaction, was upsized from $5 million to approximately $7 million. This capital was in addition to the cash held by Black Swan Graphene of approximately $4.0 million. Following the closing of the RTO Transaction, Black Swan now has approximately $11 million in cash, prior to the RTO Transaction related costs, which is sufficient to accomplish its business objectives beyond the next 24 months. Based on closing price of the shares of Black Swan on August 9, 2022 on the TSX-V, the shares of Black Swan owned by Mason Graphite have are valued at approximately $28.2 million.

Non-Binding Letter of Intent with Nouveau Monde Graphite

Nouveau Monde and Black Swan Graphene have entered into a non-binding letter of intent, whereby Black Swan Graphene would establish its graphene processing technology in Nouveau Monde's graphite concentrate production facility, resulting in a fully integrated production supply chain from graphite ore in the ground, through graphite concentrate, and to graphene finished products. This facility also has laboratory, process control, and quality assurance capabilities, which Black Swan Graphene will be able to share and benefit from for its own commercialization and distribution.

In September 2018, Nouveau Monde commissioned its graphite concentrate production facility in Saint-Michael-des-Saints, Quebec, Canada, which has a nameplate production capacity of approximately 1,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per annum which is the key feedstock for the graphene processing technology of Black Swan Graphene. Nouveau Monde has invested approximately $30 million in this facility thus far.

Binding Collaboration Agreement with a Key Equipment Supplier

Black Swan Graphene has executed a Collaboration Agreement with a key European equipment manufacturer, which includes commercial details and minimum commitments for the procurement of key items necessary for large scale graphene manufacturing based on the graphene processing technology of Black Swan. The agreement also establishes parameters restricting the apparatus manufacturer from selling such equipment for the purpose of graphene and 2-D materials production.

Grant of a Certificate of Invention Patent by the Chinese Authorities

After examination of this invention application, in accordance with the Patent Law of the People's Republic of China, the authorities have decided to grant a patent and issue a certificate (certificate number: 4904683; Announcement No.: CN108137328B) to the invention and register the same in the patent rolls. The term of this patent is twenty years from the application date. This increases Black Swan Graphene's patent portfolio to 20 patents and patent applications in 9 countries, namely the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, France Sweden and China.

Membership agreement with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center

Black Swan Graphene will now have a formal presence at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center ("GEIC"). The GEIC specialises in the rapid development and scale-up of graphene and other 2D materials applications. It is an industry-led innovation centre, designed to work in collaboration with industry partners to create, test and optimise new concepts for delivery to market, along with the processes required for scale up and supply chain integration. With a dedicated team of experienced Application Managers, Application Specialists, Technicians and the Business Engagement team, the GEIC can react as quickly as industry requires. The tier-2 membership model allows us to work on short feasibility projects, through to a long-term strategic partnership with multiple projects in different application areas.

About Black Swan Graphene Inc.

Black Swan Graphene Inc. is focused on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete, polymers, Li-ion batteries, and others, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene and, in turn, require large volumes of graphite. Black Swan aims to leverage the low cost and green hydroelectricity of the province of Quebec as well as the proximity of the eventual production sites of Mason Graphite in order to establish a fully integrated supply chain, reduce overall costs, and accelerate the deployment of graphene usage.

For more information, please visit: www.blackswangraphene.com

Black Swan Graphene Inc. on behalf of the Board of Directors:

Simon Marcotte, President & CEO

Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this press 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, including but not limited to, the Company's business objectives and operations. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of the Company. The novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, and the ongoing military conflict between the sovereign state of Ukraine and Russia also pose new risks that are currently indescribable and immeasurable. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. 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.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Black Swan Graphene
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - BlueRush Inc. ("BlueRush" or the "Company") (TSXV: BTV) (OTCQB: BTVRF), an emerging personalized video creation Software as a Service company, is pleased to announce the completion of its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") of convertible debenture units (the "Convertible Debenture Units"). Pursuant to the Offering, the Company raised gross proceeds of US$3,023,995 through the issuance of Convertible Debenture Units consisting of 10.0% unsecured convertible debentures (the "Convertible Debentures") for an aggregate principal amount of US$3,023,995 and an aggregate of 37,812,500 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for general working capital.

As previously announced, the Company intends to call a special shareholders' meeting to seek shareholder approval for a consolidation (the "Consolidation") of its common shares ("Common Shares") on the basis of one (1) post-Consolidation Common Share for a minimum of two (2) pre-Consolidation Common Shares, or such greater number of pre-Consolidation Common Shares as may be determined by the board of directors of the Company or as may be required to obtain final approval of the Offering and the Consolidation from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). Additional information relating to the proposed Consolidation will be included in a management information circular of the Company which will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Pursuant to the Offering, Glidepath Auxo LLC ("Glidepath") of Denver, Colorado, a special purpose investment entity controlled by Mark Soane and Daniel Hoskins, subscribed for an aggregate of US$1,725,000 of Convertible Debenture Units (which, prior to effecting the Consolidation, would result in the issuance of 43,125,000 Common Shares upon conversion of the Convertible Debentures (without taking into account applicable interest thereon) and 21,562,500 Common Shares upon the due exercise of the Warrants), resulting in Glidepath holding, on a partially diluted basis (including the conversion/exercise of all Convertible Debentures and Warrants issued under the Offering to Glidepath and other subscribers), 22.8% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares. Accordingly, as required by the Exchange, the Company received written approval from its shareholders representing 54.1% of all issued and outstanding shares of the Company for the subscription by Glidepath.

In connection with the Offering, the Company paid a registered dealer a cash commission of US$229,200 and issued them 10,743,750 non-transferable Warrants with each such Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of US$0.04 per share until the date that is 48 months from the closing of the Offering. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay the dealer a fee equal to 2.0% of the aggregate amount of Convertible Debentures converted by subscribers it referred, if applicable, and a fee equal to 3.0% of the aggregate exercise price of Warrants exercised by subscribers it referred, if applicable.

The Convertible Debentures and the Warrants forming part of the Convertible Debenture Units, and any securities issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof, will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance of the Convertible Debenture Units.

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. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the Company and management, as well as financial statements.

About BlueRush

BlueRush develops and markets IndiVideo, a disruptive, award-winning interactive personalized video platform that drives return on investment throughout the customer lifecycle, from increased conversions to more engaging statements and customer care. IndiVideo enables BlueRush clients to capture knowledge and data from their customers' video interaction, creating new and compelling data driven customer insights.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including: statements with respect to the Company's use of the net proceeds of the Offering; completion and timing of the Consolidation and a shareholders' meeting; and the receipt of all approvals of the Exchange in connection therewith; are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. These factors include, without limitation: changes in law; the ability to implement business strategies and pursue business opportunities; state of the capital markets; the availability of funds and resources to pursue operations; a novel business model; dependence on key suppliers and local partners; competition; the outcome and cost of any litigation; the general impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as general economic, market and business conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in disclosure documents filed by the Company with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com . Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE BlueRush Inc.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN.

HAMILTON, Bermuda, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Borr Drilling Limited (the "Company") (NYSE: BORR) (OSE: BORR) announces today that it has priced its previously announced offering of 69,444,444 shares, at a price of $3.60 per common share for total gross proceeds of $250 million. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 6,944,444 common shares at the offering price minus underwriting discounts.

No securities in the NYSE offering will be offered or listed on Oslo Stock Exchange.

The Company plans to use the proceeds from the offering to consummate a refinancing with its lenders under its Syndicated Facility, New Bridge Facility, Hayfin Facility and shipyard delivery financing arrangements with Keppel and PPL, and for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayments of its debt obligations, payments to its creditors in return for potential concessions or extensions of current facilities, capital expenditures, including costs in connection with activations and re-activations of rigs being brought into operations, or funding of its working capital.

Closing of the offering is subject to (i) the Company's authorized share capital being increased by 40,000,000 common shares, pursuant to a special general meeting to be held on August 16, 2022, (ii) the Company's authorized share capital being further increased by 35,000,000 common shares pursuant to a second special general meeting to be held on August 25, 2022, and (iii) the Company having entered into binding term sheets or other binding agreements with all applicable lenders (or obtaining written commitments approved by the Company's Board of Directors) under its Syndicated Facility, New Bridge Facility, Hayfin Facility and shipyard delivery financing arrangements with Keppel and PPL for a refinancing of those facilities on the terms previously announced by the Company, no later than the time of the special general meeting to be held on August 16, 2022.

A first settlement of the offering is expected on August 17, 2022, subject to fulfilment of the conditions described in (i) and (iii) above. A second settlement is expected on August 26, 2022, for the remainder of the shares, provided all the conditions described above are satisfied.

DNB Markets, Clarksons Securities, Pareto Securities, ABG Sundal Collier ASA, Arctic Securities AS, Fearnley Securities and SpareBank 1 Markets are the book-running managers for the offering. Cleaves Securities AS is co-manager for the offering.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor will there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This stock exchange notice was published by Andreas Lavik Lie, Vice President Treasury & Investor Relations of the Company, on 10 August 2022 at 08:30 CEST

About Borr Drilling Limited

Borr Drilling Limited is an international drilling contractor incorporated in Bermuda in 2016 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange on August 30, 2017 and on the New York Stock Exchange on July 31, 2019 under the ticker "BORR". The Company owns and operates jack-up rigs of modern and high specification designs and provides services focused on the shallow water segment to the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide. Please visit the Company's website at: www.borrdrilling.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," or other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the offering, the conditions to the offering, including the refinancing with certain of its lenders, the intended use of proceeds, and other non-historical statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements including risks related to the conduct of the offering, the use of proceeds, whether the conditions to closing of the offering will be met, the risk that the Company will not consummate the proposed refinancing, the number of shares to be sold in the offering and other risks described in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other filings of the Company with the SEC. The forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

August 10, 2022

The Board of Directors

Borr Drilling Limited

Hamilton, Bermuda

Questions should be directed to: Magnus Vaaler, CFO, +47 22 48 30 00

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/borr-drilling-limited/r/borr-drilling-limited-announces-pricing-of-public-offering-of-common-shares,c3612204

SOURCE Borr Drilling Limited
Alan N. MacGibbon succeeds the Honourable John Manley as Chair of the Board

Elise Eberwein and Ayman Antoun elected to the Board as independent directors

MONTREAL, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) CAE announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Alan N. MacGibbon as Chair of the Board following CAE's 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held earlier today. He succeeds the Honourable John Manley who served as a director since 2008 and as Chair of the Board since 2018. In line with CAE's term limits policy, Mr. Manley is not standing for re-election as a director.

Mr. MacGibbon has been an independent director of CAE since 2015.

He was Managing Partner and Chief Executive of Deloitte LLP Canada from 2004 to 2012 and served on the Executive and Global Board of Directors of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited during this term. He served as Global Managing Director, Quality, Strategy and Communications of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and as Senior Counsel of Deloitte LLP Canada from June 2012 to December 2013.



"I am honoured to succeed John as Chair, and grateful for the Board's confidence," said Mr. MacGibbon. "I look forward to working with my fellow directors and our management team to pursue our strategic focus on delivering innovative end-to-end training solutions on a global scale."



CAE is also pleased to announce that Ms. Elise Eberwein and Mr. Ayman Antoun were elected to its Board as independent directors, effective today. Ms. Eberwein has over 35 years of commercial aviation experience, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, People, Communications and Public Affairs for American Airlines, Inc. Mr. Antoun has been General Manager, IBM Americas, which includes Canada, the United States and Latin America, since 2020. He also is a member of IBM's Performance Team, consisting of IBM's top 50 executives globally.

CAE also announced the final director election results from its 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The following 13 nominees were elected as Directors of CAE:

Nominee Votes for For (%) Votes Withheld Withheld (%) Ayman Antoun 254,232,815 99.87 % 323,802 0.13 % Margaret S. (Peg) Billson 242,527,719 95.27 % 12,028,898 4.73 % Elise Eberwein 254,228,700 99.87 % 327,917 0.13 % Hon. Michael M. Fortier 210,614,097 82.74 % 43,942,520 17.26 % Marianne Harrison 251,048,760 98.62 % 3,507,857 1.38 % Alan N. MacGibbon 244,446,475 96.03 % 10,110,142 3.97 % Mary Lou Maher 247,367,289 97.18 % 7,189,328 2.82 % Francois Olivier 251,664,205 98.86 % 2,892,412 1.14 % Marc Parent 254,247,882 99.88 % 309,416 0.12 % Gen. David G. Perkins, USA (Ret.) 245,614,203 96.49 % 8,942,414 3.51 % Michael E. Roach 251,653,182 98.86 % 2,903,435 1.14 % Patrick M. Shanahan 254,217,248 99.87 % 339,369 0.13 % Andrew J. Stevens 244,222,498 95.94 % 10,334,119 4.06 %

Final results on all matters voted on at the Annual Meeting are filed concurrently with the securities regulators.

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, airlines, defence and security forces, and healthcare practitioners to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we're everywhere customers need us to be with more than 13,000 employees in more than 200 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents 75 years of industry firststhe highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators, surgical manikins, and personalized training programs powered by artificial intelligence. We're investing our time and resources into building the next generation of cutting-edge, digitally immersive training and critical operations solutions while keeping positive environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact at the core of our mission. Today and tomorrow, we'll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

Follow us on Twitter: @CAE_Inc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cae.inc

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/cae

Hashtags: #CAE; #CAEpilot

Read our FY22 Annual Activity and Corporate Social Responsibility Report

SOURCE CAE INC.
OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center joins Caris' extensive network of leading cancer institutions committed to utilizing clinical data to advance patient care and outcomes

IRVING, Texas, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Caris Life Sciences(Caris), the leading molecular science and technology company actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize health care, announced today that OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center has joined the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance (POA). The POA is a growing network of leading cancer centers across the globe that collaborate to advance precision oncology and biomarker-driven research. POA members work together to establish and optimize standards of care for molecular testing through innovative research focused on predictive and prognostic markers that improve the clinical outcomes for cancer patients.

Located on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center campus in Oklahoma City, Stephenson Cancer Center is the state's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Center, providing a critical resource for patients seeking research-driven, patient-centered, multidisciplinary treatment. Named Oklahoma's top facility for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020-21 rankings, Stephenson Cancer Center also ranks No. 1 among all cancer centers in the nation for the number of people participating in NCI-sponsored clinical trials.

"Stephenson Cancer Center is pleased to join the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance," said Kathleen Moore, M.D., Professor of Gynecologic Oncology, Virginia Kerley Cade Endowed Chair in Cancer Developmental Therapeutics, and Director of the Oklahoma TSET Phase 1 program. "This partnership will allow us to advance our mission of using novel innovative platforms to identify potentially targeted biomarkers and contribute towards innovative research that can translate to improving the lives of all patients with cancer."

Stephensen Cancer Center is commited to reducing the adverse effects of cancer in Oklahoma and its significant impact on underserved populations in the state while also training the next generation of cancer researchers and health professionals. Dedicated cancer research programs at Stephenson Cancer Center support 135 investigators who study basic, clinical and behavioral sciences related to cancer care.

"We are excited to welcome OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center to the growing Precision Oncology Alliance network," said Chadi Nabhan, M.D., MBA, FACP, Chairman of the Caris Precision Oncology Alliance. "The ability to collaborate with Stephenson Cancer Center clinicians and researchers in cutting edge precision oncology research is destined to help improve the outcomes of patients with cancer, and is aligned with both organizations' vision."

"Understanding the molecular underpinnings of every cancer can aid in matching the right patient to the right clinical trial, which can lead to better therapeutic strategies across all tumor types," said Abdul Rafeh Naqash, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine and a clinical/ translational investigator at the Stephenson Cancer Center TSET Phase 1 program. "We are eager to join the POA network and contribute to meaningful research ideas in this collaborative effort."

The Caris Precision Oncology Alliance includes 70 cancer centers and academic institutions. These institutions have early access to the extensive database and artificial intelligence platform within Caris to establish evidence-based standards for cancer profiling and molecular testing in oncology. By leveraging the comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling available through Caris molecular profiling, Caris seeks to provide this network with the ability to prioritize therapeutic options and determine which clinical trial opportunities may benefit their patients. POA members are also able to integrate with a growing portfolio of biomarker directed trials sponsored by biopharma. Additionally, as a member of the POA, institutions have access to Caris CODEai, the most comprehensive data solution in the industry with cancer treatment information and clinical outcomes data for over 275,000 patients covering over 1 million data points per patient.

About Caris Life Sciences

Caris Life Sciences (Caris) is the leading molecular science and technology company actively developing and delivering innovative solutions to revolutionize healthcare and improve patient outcomes. Through comprehensive molecular profiling (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing) and the application of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms, Caris has created the large-scale clinico-genomic database and cognitive computing needed to analyze and unravel the molecular complexity of disease. This information provides an unmatched resource and the ideal path forward to conduct the basic, fundamental research to accelerate discovery for detection, diagnosis, monitoring, therapy selection and drug development to improve the human condition.

With a primary focus on cancer, Caris' suite of market-leading molecular profiling offerings assesses DNA, RNA and proteins to reveal a molecular blueprint that helps patients, physicians and researchers better detect, diagnose and treat patients. Caris' latest advancement is a blood-based, circulating nucleic acids sequencing (cNAS) assay that combines comprehensive molecular analysis (Whole Exome and Whole Transcriptome Sequencing from blood) and serial monitoring  making it the most powerful liquid biopsy assay ever developed.

Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Caris has offices in Phoenix, New York, Denver, Tokyo, Japan and Basel, Switzerland. Caris provides services throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and other international markets. To learn more, please visit CarisLifeSciences.com or follow us on Twitter (@CarisLS).

About OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center is Oklahoma's only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center. Stephenson Cancer Center is one of the nation's elite centers, representing the top 2% of cancer centers in the country. It is the largest and most comprehensive oncology practice in the state, delivering patient-centered, multidisciplinary care for every type of cancer. As one of the nation's leading research organizations, Stephenson Cancer Center uses the latest innovations to fight and eliminate cancer, and is currently ranked No. 1 among all cancer centers in the nation for the number of patients participating in clinical trials sponsored by the NCI's National Clinical Trials Network. For more information, visit stephensoncancercenter.org.

Caris Life Sciences Media Contact:

Lisa Burgner

[email protected]

469.822.9330

OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center Media Contact:

April Sandefer

OU Health Director of Communications

[email protected]

405.323.8552

SOURCE Caris Life Sciences
CRN places Castra on its annual Fast Growth 150 list for 2022.

DURHAM, N.C., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CRN has included Castra in its annual Fast Growth 150 list, placing the managed detection and response vendor among the fastest-growing technology vendors in North America.

With an average two-year growth rate of 64%, Castra ranks among the top half of this year's Fast Growth solution providers. The 150 companies that make up the list collectively generated $82.4 billion in revenue last year.

2022 marks Castra's first appearance on CRN's list, highlighting the value of combining human expertise with best-in-class technology partnerships to deliver fully scalable cybersecurity solutions. Castra's experience leveraging SIEM solutions like Exabeam and USM Anywhere has proven itself to generate considerable value for small businesses, mid-sized enterprises, and Fortune 150 organizations alike.

Castra's comprehensive suite of information security services has proven itself a vital element of the company's growth. Castra expands SIEM capabilities to include curated threat intelligence with Anomali ThreatStream, extended detection and response (XDR) with Palo Alto Cortex, and open-source remote logging with Wazuh, creating custom rules and implementations to meet unique customer needs.

"Surging demand for reliable, high-quality managed detection and response services is just one half of the picture," said Grant Leonard, co-founder. "Our customization capabilities give security leaders a chance to regain control and visibility over large, complicated IT environments. Instead of entrusting operational security to dozens of different providers, enterprise security leaders are increasingly choosing to streamline the entire process with the help of our highly experienced security operations team."

"Castra's growth story is really a story about establishing strong partnerships and maximizing the value those partnerships provide for us and our customers." added Tony Simone, co-founder. "Security leaders who invest in proactively improving their SIEM capabilities can detect threats more accurately, block unauthorized activities more rapidly, and protect sensitive systems with greater success than people who only want to check some boxes on a list."

CARN's 2022 Fast Growth 150 list is available online on the organization's website. A sample of the list will be published in the August issue of CRN magazine.

About Castra Managed Services

Founded in 2012 by Tony Simone and Grant Leonard, Castra provides enterprise-level managed detection and response services to more than 2000 organizations globally. The company leverages world-class SIEM and SOAR expertise to help customers meet their security needs without compromising on transparency. Castra serves Fortune 50 enterprises, small businesses, and everything in between, providing 24/7 managed security services custom-tailored to meet industry-specific objectives in healthcare, retail, technology, government, and more.

About CRN

CRN is a Channel Company brand that provides its users with valuable information about top technology integrators, technical services providers, and IT consulting firms. It is a valuable resource for technology vendors who wish to partner with top-performing IT solution providers, providing accurate analysis and coverage of important developments in the managed service provider and IT integration sector.

Media Contact: Tabitha Flythe, [email protected]

SOURCE Castra Managed Services
ST. LOUIS, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) announced today its Mississippi subsidiary, Magnolia Health Plan (Magnolia), has been awarded the Mississippi Division of Medicaid (DOM) contract. Under the new contract, Magnolia will continue serving the state's Coordinated Care Organization Program, which will consist of the Mississippi Coordinated Access Network (MSCAN) and the Mississippi Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The new contract term is four (4) years and includes the option for two, 1-year renewals.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to continue serving our state partners to help build a healthier Mississippi," said Brent Layton, Centene's President and Chief Operating Officer. "We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnerships with our network of local providers and community partners, to deliver member-focused care and improve health outcomes while strengthening communities throughout Mississippi."

Nearly 1 in 4 Mississippians' healthcare is covered through the state's Medicaid managed care program, which provides access to physical health, behavioral health, pharmacy, hospital, and other services. Today, Magnolia serves more than 150,000 Medicaid enrollees and partners with 30,850 healthcare providers statewide.

"For more than a decade, Magnolia has been committed to increasing access to high-quality healthcare for Mississippians," said Aaron Sisk, Magnolia President and CEO. "We believe our focus on the wellness of the whole person, along with our local presence in Mississippi, allows Magnolia to uniquely address the health needs of our communities."

Magnolia has served the Medicaid population in partnership with DOM since 2011. The organization also focuses on under-insured and uninsured individuals through its federal insurance marketplace plan, Ambetter. Additionally, Magnolia provides insurance for the Medicare population through its Medicare Advantage plan, WellCare.

About Centene Corporation

Centene Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives. The Company takes a local approach  with local brands and local teams  to provide fully integrated, high-quality, and cost-effective services to government-sponsored and commercial healthcare programs, focusing on under-insured and uninsured individuals. Centene offers affordable and high-quality products to nearly 1 in 15 individuals across the nation, including Medicaid and Medicare members (including Medicare Prescription Drug Plans) as well as individuals and families served by the Health Insurance Marketplace, the TRICARE program, and individuals in correctional facilities. The Company also serves several international markets, and contracts with other healthcare and commercial organizations to provide a variety of specialty services focused on treating the whole person. Centene focuses on long-term growth and value creation as well as the development of its people, systems, and capabilities so that it can better serve its members, providers, local communities, and government partners.

Centene uses its investor relations website to publish important information about the Company, including information that may be deemed material to investors. Financial and other information about Centene is routinely posted and is accessible on Centene's investor relations website, https://investors.centene.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of current or historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements often use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "seek," "target," "goal," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "can," "continue" and other similar words or expressions (and the negative thereof). Centene (the Company, our, or we) intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe-harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe-harbor provisions. In particular, these statements include, without limitation, statements about our future operating or financial performance, market opportunity, value creation strategy, competition, expected activities in connection with completed and future acquisitions and dispositions, including statements about the impact of our recently completed acquisition of Magellan Health, Inc. (the Magellan Acquisition), other recent and future acquisitions and dispositions, our investments and the adequacy of our available cash resources. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environments, future developments and other factors we believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are subject to change because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future, including economic, regulatory, competitive and other factors that may cause our or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on information available to us on the date hereof. Except as may be otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date hereof. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as actual results may differ materially from projections, estimates, or other forward-looking statements due to a variety of important factors, variables and events including, but not limited to: our ability to accurately predict and effectively manage health benefits and other operating expenses and reserves, including fluctuations in medical utilization rates due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19; the risk that the election of new directors, changes in senior management, and any inability to retain key personnel may create uncertainty or negatively impact our ability to execute quickly and effectively; uncertainty as to the expected financial performance of the combined company following the recent completion of the Magellan Acquisition; the possibility that the expected synergies and value creation from the Magellan Acquisition or the acquisition of WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (the WellCare Acquisition) or other acquired businesses will not be realized, or will not be realized within the respective expected time periods; disruption from the integration of the Magellan Acquisition or the WellCare Acquisition, unexpected costs, or similar risks from other acquisitions or dispositions we may announce or complete from time to time, including potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships with customers, employees, suppliers or regulators, making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; the risk that the closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals, for the pending dispositions of Magellan Rx and our Spanish and Central European businesses, may be delayed or not obtained; impairments to real estate, investments, goodwill and intangible assets; a downgrade of the credit rating of our indebtedness; competition; membership and revenue declines or unexpected trends; changes in healthcare practices, new technologies, and advances in medicine; increased healthcare costs; changes in economic, political or market conditions; changes in federal or state laws or regulations, including changes with respect to income tax reform or government healthcare programs as well as changes with respect to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (collectively referred to as the ACA) and any regulations enacted thereunder that may result from changing political conditions, the new administration or judicial actions; rate cuts or other payment reductions or delays by governmental payors and other risks and uncertainties affecting our government businesses; our ability to adequately price products; tax matters; disasters or major epidemics; changes in expected contract start dates; provider, state, federal, foreign and other contract changes and timing of regulatory approval of contracts; the expiration, suspension, or termination of our contracts with federal or state governments (including, but not limited to, Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE or other customers); the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of legal or regulatory proceedings or matters, including, but not limited to, our ability to resolve claims and/or allegations made by states with regard to past practices, including at Envolve Pharmacy Solutions, Inc. (Envolve), as our pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) subsidiary, within the reserve estimate we recorded in 2021 and on other acceptable terms, or at all, or whether additional claims, reviews or investigations relating to our PBM business will be brought by states, the federal government or shareholder litigants, or government investigations; the timing and extent of benefits from strategic value creation initiatives, including the possibility that these initiatives will not be successful, or will not be realized within the expected time periods; challenges to our contract awards; cyber-attacks or other privacy or data security incidents; the exertion of management's time and our resources, and other expenses incurred and business changes required in connection with complying with the undertakings in connection with any regulatory, governmental or third party consents or approvals for acquisitions or dispositions; any changes in expected closing dates, estimated purchase price and accretion for acquisitions or dispositions; restrictions and limitations in connection with our indebtedness; our ability to maintain or achieve improvement in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings and maintain or achieve improvement in other quality scores in each case that can impact revenue and future growth; the availability of debt and equity financing on terms that are favorable to us; inflation; foreign currency fluctuations; and risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that Centene has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This list of important factors is not intended to be exhaustive. We discuss certain of these matters more fully, as well as certain other factors that may affect our business operations, financial condition and results of operations, in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Due to these important factors and risks, we cannot give assurances with respect to our future performance, including without limitation our ability to maintain adequate premium levels or our ability to control our future medical and selling, general and administrative costs.

SOURCE Centene Corporation
The cult-favorite beverage brand founded by Emma Chamberlain now offers Vanilla and Mango Matcha in addition to their best-selling classic Matcha Powder

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Chamberlain Coffee , the leading coffee lifestyle brand and brainchild of Emma Chamberlain , announced today the launch of two new flavored matcha powders: Vanilla and Mango. Made with organic A-Grade, ceremonial matcha, these two new flavor innovations are an extension of the brand's ultra-popular classic Chamberlain Coffee Matcha Green Tea that has amassed thousands of new brand fans and has sold out a groundbreaking five times. Like Chamberlain Coffee's original Matcha, the Vanilla and Mango flavors are vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and are pure-plant products made from 100% organic Japanese green tea.

Chamberlain Coffee Adds Two New Flavored Matcha Powders To Its Product Lineup

The expansion of Chamberlain Coffee's Matcha collection further exemplifies the brand's commitment to consistent product innovation and category growth. Both the Vanilla and Mango Matcha powders are all-natural, rich in antioxidants, and deliver a clean, sustainable boost of energy without a crash. Like a trip to the tropics, the Mango Matcha is light, fruity, and best-served over ice and frothy milk for instant vacation energy  designed to evoke long-lasting relaxation with every sip. The Vanilla Matcha is an energizing tea that takes cozy to new levels and serves as the perfect morning or afternoon-pick-me-up. These two new flavor innovations offer an approachable and completely unique beverage experience, designed for seasoned matcha drinkers and the matcha-curious alike.

"At Chamberlain Coffee, our goal is to continuously innovate, and create new and exciting products that appeal to our loyal consumer base. While these new flavored matcha recipes were designed with our community in mind, we hope to reach new audiences and convert even more people into regular Matcha drinkers," said Chamberlain Coffee CEO Christopher Gallant.

Since the brand's inception in 2019, Chamberlain Coffee has built up a cult-following that has propelled the brand's sales. In addition to their Matcha collection, the brand offers a variety of lifestyle products (from branded merchandise to custom coffee accessories) and several different coffee blends (available in single-serve bags and whole and ground beans) to help tap new audiences and appeal to the masses.

"I absolutely love Matcha (ALMOST as much as coffee), which is why we created our own Chamberlain Coffee Matcha back in Fall of 2021. It's the perfect caffeinated drink for non-coffee drinkers and has remained a best-seller since its launch. Expanding our Matcha category was exciting to us because there's so many unique ways to enjoy it. I can't wait to see how our customers get creative with the product and come up with fun new recipes using the Vanilla and Mango flavors," said Chamberlain Coffee founder and investor Emma Chamberlain.

In addition to Chamberlain Coffee's unprecedented product growth, the brand has also seen success through retail expansion and brand partnerships. The product has recently launched in LA hot-spot Erewhon, national grocer Sprouts and digital delivery market Gopuff  while releasing a steady cadence of product collaborations with brands like Levi's, OffLimits Cereal, Nutpods, and most recently Swoon, to create a Matcha Lemonade.

Consumers can find Chamberlain's new flavored matcha powders on ChamberlainCoffee.com for $23 per 30g tin. For more information on Chamberlain Coffee, and to stay up to date on the latest product launches, follow on Instagram at @chamberlaincoffee .

ABOUT CHAMBERLAIN COFFEE

Founded by YouTube phenomenon Emma Chamberlain, Chamberlain Coffee is high-quality, sustainably sourced organic coffee roasted in California, so you can feel good about the coffee you're sipping on. No pesticides, no BS. Available in single-serve bags, instant sticks, ground and whole bean options, Chamberlain Coffee is symbolized by different characters to encapsulate the different coffee drinker in all of us. The brand also has various other delicious offerings, including their 5x sold-out Matcha, Cocoa Grizzly Hot Chocolate, and recently launched Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans. Supporting coffee-farming communities in Latin America, Chamberlain Coffee works with Food4Farmers to ensure long-term food security for coffee-farming families.

SOURCE Chamberlain Coffee
CHLI Alum Brenda Villanueva is the 2022 recipient of the Wendy Martinez Community Engagement Award.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) continues to honor the memory of late CHLI alumna Wendy Martinez through the invocation of the Wendy Martinez Community Engagement Award. This time, at the annual CHLI Future Leaders Conference on July 28, 2022. The conference concluded with the presentation of the Wendy Martinez CHLI Alumni Community Engagement Award.

CHLI Alumna Brenda Villanueva

This award is dedicated to showcase CHLI alumni who have shown impressive altruistic behavior through selfless acts of leadership and initiative in their community that demonstrate ambassadorship of CHLI's mission, purpose, and focus. This year's honoree, Brenda Villanueva, is a CHLI alumna from 2005, who currently serves as the Managing Director and Lead Counsel, for Telecom for The Utility Reform Network. In this role, Brenda draws on her regulatory and congressional experience to advocate for greater digital equity and enhanced telecom infrastructure in front of the California Public Utility Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, among other agencies.

During her acceptance remarks, she reminded the young audience that "This award is a recognition that there's community engagement across different issues. Whatever moves you, you can do it from different roles. Don't feel that your first step is forever."

Receiving this award is particularly special to Brenda because she worked alongside Wendy herself to craft the CHLI Alumni Association founding documents. In 2018, she also joined forces with Wendy Martinez to facilitate the launch of the DC Metro area chapter of Latinas in Tech.

CHLI Chairman The Honorable Lincoln Diaz-Balart shares sentiments of pride towards Brenda and this honor, "Brenda Villanueva personifies CHLI's values and aspirations. Her accomplishments serve to continue Wendy Martinez's legacy. We are deeply proud of Brenda, who, as did Wendy, represents the best of America's youth."

To connect with the CHLI Alumni Association, click here.

Media Contact

Emily Martinez

(202) 347-8280

[email protected]

SOURCE Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute
The international standard for IT service management reinstates CIGNEX's adherence to the guidelines of IT service management system delivery

LIVONIA, Mich., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNEX, a leading provider of Digital Transformation through Open Source, Cloud and Automation technology solutions today announced that they have successfully completed their recertification audit for ISO 20000:2018.

The external audit for ISO 20000:2018, i.e. IT service management was conducted by the certification body ISOQAR (India) Private Limited on 27th & 28th July, 2022.

ISO 20000:2018 IT service management standards are acknowledged and accepted globally. The standard enables organizations to implement risk-based thinking structure to effectively manage their service lifecycle. The recertification reconfirms that CIGNEX has established a robust technology service management system which supports increasing complexity of risk to provide better service & enhanced customer experience.

The certification represents CIGNEX's ability to provide & manage end-to-end delivery of IT services with utmost efficiency. The audit by ISOQAR (India) Private Limited reassures CIGNEX's strong alignment with the IT service management compliance norms which enables them to bid and manage large projects.

CIGNEX has been operating according to the industry recognized best practices for quality and during the external audit, the compliance related standard requirements and controls implemented were verified.

"The recertification of CIGNEX's IT management system, quality, and shared services showcases our commitment towards our management systems. We are committed to continual improvement. With the help of our team of driven experts, we will continue to make significant progress towards our shared objective of delivering unparalleled customer satisfaction," said Srinivas Tadeparti  Global Delivery Head, CIGNEX.

CIGNEX ensures that surveillance audit is conducted on yearly basis by an external certification agency to ensure that the quality standards are corroborated.

About CIGNEX (https://www.cignex.com/)

CIGNEX is a Michigan based global consulting company offering solutions & services on Open Source, Cloud & Automation. Since 2000, CIGNEX has been delivering enterprise class solutions that enable organizations achieve unparalleled results.

For additional information, contact:

Priyanka Sharma

Global Head of Marketing

CIGNEX

[email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1432393/CIGNEX_Logo.jpg

SOURCE CIGNEX
BEIJING, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 6, 2022, China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC) Deziwa Project was granted the "Special Award for Business Performance" by the Group, which demonstrates an honor for all the funded enterprises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), represented by CNMC Deziwa Project, and a microcosm of CNMC's strong development momentum in the DRC.

CNMC Building in Beijing Deziwa Open-Pit Mining

CNMC is one of the first enterprises in China's nonferrous metal mining industry to implement the "going out" strategy and make the most abundant international operational achievements. It is also one of the few China's central enterprises, whose headquarters President Xi Jinping has ever visited. In active response to the Belt and Road Initiative and the "going out" strategy, CNMC has endeavored to form a complete resource development industry chain dominated by copper outside of China in recent years.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and the DRC. Since its entry into the DRC market in 2004, CNMC has completed a total investment of about USD 1.5 billion, constructed 3 mines, 5 hydrometallurgy plants and 1 pyrometallurgical plant, and developed 28 construction engineering projects, covering the three pillar business segments: exploitation of mineral resources of non-ferrous metals copper and cobalt, construction engineering, and related trade.

In particular, the mining matrix of five enterprises funded by CNMC, namely, Somidez Mining Company, HEAD LIMITED, Lualaba Copper Smelter SAS, Congo International Mining Corporation and Kambove Mining SAS, has exerted good coupling effects and wild goose queue effects, becoming one of the most dynamic economies in the DRC.

Furthermore, CNMC has earnestly implemented the instructions from President Xi Jinping's speech at the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, actively upheld the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the approach of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, and advocated the sustainable development concepts of extensive consultation, joint contribution, win-win results, co-existence and shared benefits in the operation and development in the DRC. So far, the Group has created a large number of jobs locally. It has been actively performing its social responsibilities and public welfare undertakings, paying taxes and fees in accordance with the law, and making positive contributions to the promotion of socio-economic development of the DRC. All these efforts have gradually improved CNMC's international influence and brand value and made it a model bridge of friendship between China and the DRC.

At the Symposium on the Development of CNMC in the DRC held by the Chinese Embassy in DRC on September 28, 2021, Ambassador Zhu Jing said that, as a well-known Chinese central enterprise in the DRC, CNMC had grown into a competitive player in mining and smelting sectors, greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of the DRC. Zhu hoped that the enterprises funded by CNMC in the DRC would facilitate more cooperation between the two countries by further enhancing the international vision and the concept of openness and tolerance.

Contact: Wang Keli

Tel.: 0086-13886467228

Email: [email protected]

Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875714/CNMC_Beijing.jpg

Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875715/Deziwa_Mining.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1863165/CNMC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd (CNMC)
Jovie continues to reimagine childcare to offer care solutions to meet the changing needs of families post-pandemic

DENVER, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- College Nannies + Sitters is now Jovie, the result of an effort to better represent the company and community of caregivers who stand ready to flex with today's families in new ways. In a move intended to widen its caregiver pool and authentically connect with parents, Jovie is on a mission to make the experience of finding childcare and childcare jobs better for families and caregivers. As the nation's most respected, complete and professional resource, the rebrand is a sign of the timesmany families' childcare needs have evolved and thus, childcare services need to stretch to meet those needs. Many parents once required a full-time caregiver to manage the kids while they're at work. Now with split schedules of remote work and hybrid work schedules, families need different kinds of support and are looking for more of a hybrid model of childcare solutions to fill in the gaps.

Jovie's core mission is to build stronger families through reliable, outstanding childcare. Jovie connects parents with professional caregivers from all backgrounds who engage with children and give parents some control back over their busy lives. Jovie will serve over 30,000 families in 2022. Jovie also advocates for caregivers by offering them full and part-time schedules, access to first-class scheduling technology, supportive local management teams and professional development and training.

"Jovie is focused on making the best match for both families and caregivers by getting families the support they need and giving caregivers consistent income and competitive wages they can count on," says Joe Loch, President of Jovie. "Today, parents need help managing care solutions whether that be with morning drop off, after-school pick-up, or those two hours when the school day ends but the workday continues. We are evolving to meet parents exactly where they are, fostering a community of professionally trained caregiving experts who provide unique care solutions that precisely meet the changing needs of families today."

Jovie tackles the tough stuff  from screening caregiver candidates based on rigorous criteria and the needs of each individual family, to managing payroll and ensuring compliance with taxes and other requirements such as Worker's Comp, to training and managing coverage needs once a caregiver is hired. Jovie wants parents to be able to get to the good stuff, with the time and energy to do the things they value most, including spending quality time with their families once their caregiver has gone home for the day.

About Jovie

With 199 territories in 37 states plus the District of Columbia, Jovie, formerly College Nannies + Sitters, is the nation's most respected, complete and professional resource helping families manage life and work. Since 2001, local professional teams across the country have helped thousands of busy parents secure full-time, part-time and on demand childcare. Jovie is a wholly owned subsidiary in the Bright Horizons Family of Childcare Solutions. For more information, visit: www.jovie.com.

SOURCE Jovie
All business units will incorporate CSL name and branding to signify one company

MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global biotech leader CSL today announced that all business units will be united as one family under the CSL global brand.

CSL Family Icon

"As a purpose-driven organization, CSL has delivered biotechnology excellence for over a century," said Paul Perreault, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of CSL. "As we further advance our sustainable growth strategy, the timing is right to bring all the business units together under CSL. With one purpose, one strategy, one set of values and now one unified brand, our identity is clearly aligned where the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts."

CSL Behring, which delivers therapies for rare and serious diseases, will maintain its current identity, as will CSL Plasma, the company's plasma collection business. Seqirus, one of the world's leading influenza vaccine providers, will become CSL Seqirus. Recently acquired Vifor Pharma will be known as CSL Vifor. CSL is in the process of formally changing the name for Seqirus and plans to change the names of the Vifor Pharma entities in due time.

CSL's Values descriptions have been updated to reflect attributes from each business unit, but at their core they remain the same: Patient Focus, Innovation, Integrity, Collaboration and Superior Performance. A new creative campaign will help to launch the new global identity.

"Each business unit will continue to provide innovative products and services to patients and people in more than 100 countries around the globe as they do today," said Perreault. "Our 30,000 employees, now sharing one DNA, will remain driven by our promise to put innovation into all we do  our passion, our products and our performance  for our patients and human health."

For more information on the new CSL brand identity, visit: drivenbyourpromise.csl.com.

Media Contact Details For further information, please contact:



Australia / Asia Pacific Jimmy Baker P: +61 450 909 211 E: [email protected] United States / Rest of World Tom Hushen P: +1 267 769 6728 E: [email protected]

About CSL

CSL (ASX: CSL; USOTC: CSLLY) is a leading global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of lifesaving medicines, including those that treat haemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to prevent influenza. Since our start in 1916, we have been driven by our promise to save lives using the latest technologies. Today, CSL  including our three businesses, CSL Behring, CSL Seqirus and CSL Vifor  provides lifesaving products to patients in more than 100 countries and employs 30,000 people. Our unique combination of commercial strength, R&D focus and operational excellence enables us to identify, develop and deliver innovations so our patients can live life to the fullest. For inspiring stories about the promise of biotechnology, visit CSLBehring.com/Vita and follow us on Twitter.com/CSL.

For more information about CSL, visit www.CSL.com.

SOURCE CSL
MINNEAPOLIS and SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Sales Co., a provider of Lease Financing and IT Asset Disposition (ITAD), has announced the promotion of Dan Gannon to the position of Vice President of Lease Sales. In this new capacity, Gannon will be responsible for strategic alliances and equipment leasing growth.

"Dan has decades of leasing skills and knowledge, and continues to be a strong leader and revenue generator." Tweet this Dan Gannon

Gannon started with Data Sales in 1992 as a College intern and was later hired full-time to work in Credit & Collections. In 1996, Dan moved into a Sales role and hasn't looked back. Dan's relationship building skills have been instrumental to Data Sales forging partnerships with several technology manufacturers and independent resellers. In addition, his clients include many Fortune 500 companies, middle market, start up, Venture backed and Private Equity backed companies. All big accomplishments maintaining Data Sales' status as a leader in the industry.

"Dan has decades of leasing skills and knowledge, and continues to be a strong leader and revenue generator. Data Sales appreciates his hard work and dedication not only to Data Sales but to our industry and look forward to his stewardship for years to come," said Paul Breckner, President of Data Sales.

About Data Sales Co.

Founded in 1973 by Ron Breckner, Data Sales Co. grew from a home office in Burnsville, MN to an international finance, technology leasing and IT equipment provider.

What started as a company brokering IBM mainframe equipment, expanded into a full-service dealer providing reconfigured, recertified systems and parts while offering technical, financial and transportation services with its fleet of local and over-the-road trucks. In addition to the 200,000 square feet of office-warehouse located in Burnsville MN, Data Sales also operates out of Scottsdale, Arizona.

Today, Data Sales provides a specialized lease finance product that focuses on young, fast-growing companies requiring large amounts of IT hardware. Customers include those providing services over the internet such as Hosting, Cloud, and Managed Services across the globe.

In addition, Data Sales is an ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certified company providing an IT Disposition Service (ITAD) solution for business looking for a secure, confident partner to recycle IT hardware.

www.datasales.com.

Media Contact:

Heather Seurer

Data Sales Co.

[email protected]

1-800-328-2730

SOURCE Data Sales Co., Inc.
CHICAGO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Data Center Rack Market is expected to grow from USD 4.4 billion in 2022 to USD 6.6 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.7% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Factors driving the growth of the Data Center Rack Market include the emerging demand of data center colocation facilities by enterprises, growing trend of big data analytics and modernization of IT infrastructure, and increasing server density.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Data Center Rack Market"

285  Tables

55  Figures

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The services segment to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period

The process of preparing the physical environment to support the deployment of racks requires the presence of robust services, such as design and consulting, installation, and maintenance and support. Major vendors provide these services to carry out the deployment of these racks efficiently. Data center rack services further help integrate new data center racks into an organization's current data center infrastructure. These densely packed server requires high power and cooling capacities. Therefore, customers need consultation services to optimize energy usage. Companies are increasingly contributing to developing data center and cloud-related technologies within organizations. Many companies are increasing their data center-related spending and adopting advanced data center technologies to meet the rising customer demands. Such higher spending on data center technology and related services to attract and retain customers is expected to open new avenues for market growth which would eventually drive growth for the services segment.

The maintenance and support services segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Maintenance and support services help end users understand the changing business conditions, client insights, market trends, and service inconveniences to help smoothen the support process within organizations. The data center facilities require regular inspection, maintenance, and replacement of racks and cabinets. These services also include on-site support to ensure the proper functioning of cabinet doors and open frames. The increasing demand from data center operators for regular maintenance and support is expected to drive the adoption of these services.

The open-frame rack type segment to grow at higher CAGR during the forecast period

Open frame racks are typically used for mounting networking equipment. These are very popular due to their versatility and affordability. 2 post racks are ideal for lighter networking equipment because of their limited weight capacity and mounting orientation. 4 Post racks can carry more weight, and therefore are better suited for full sized servers, desktops, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and can still mount lighter equipment that are used in 2 post racks. When we have something like a vertical cable management tray on an open frame rack, it's much easier to organize cables. In order to route cables on these, these/they need to be tethered to the tray using zip ties or hook & loop straps. When one is able to access the tray from both the front and the back, it makes the organization process much easier.

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The 23 inch segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Growing data center densities and increasing power requirements have forced vendors to offer data center racks in wider sizes to satisfy the ever-increasing consumer demands. 23 inch racks are mostly used for housing telecommunications equipment within data centers. These racks have enough space for power and cabling equipment and further offer adequate access to the equipment.

Asia Pacific to account for the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the Data Center Rack Market and has witnessed huge investments in data center construction. Factors such as increasing internet penetration, cloud computing, a growing economy, and rapid infrastructure development have attributed to the growth of the Data Center Rack Market in the region. Asia Pacific region hosts a large number of colocation facilities and hyperscale data centers. The region hosted over 700 data centers by hyperscale providers in late 2021. Moreover, countries including India, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong have also seen to grow considerably in terms of overall data center deployments in the coming years.

Market Players:

The major players in the Data Center Rack Market are Schneider Electric (France), HPE (US), Rittal (Germany), IBM (US), Cisco (US), Fujitsu (Japan), Eaton (Ireland), Dell (US), Vertiv (US), AGC Network (India), Legrand S.A. (France), Oracle (US), Belden (US), nVent (UK), Panduit (US), Great Lakes Data Racks & Cabinets(US), Tripp Lite (US), IMS Engineered Products (US), Rahi Systems (US), and Chatsworth Products (US). The study includes an in-depth competitive analysis of these key players in the Data Center Rack Market with their company profiles, recent developments, and key market strategies.

Browse Adjacent Markets: Data Center and Networking Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Data Center Liquid Cooling Market by Component (Solution and Services), End User (Cloud Providers, Colocation Providers, Enterprises, and Hyperscale Data Centers), Data Center Type, Type of Cooling, Enterprise and Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Cloud Computing Market by Service Model (Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS)), Deployment Model (Public and Private), Organization Size, Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
Strengthened partnership with new technology integration offers quicker setup of wearables and remote support for RealWear customers across the globe

TAMPA BAY, Fla., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TeamViewer, a leading global provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, today announced a major expansion of its partnership with RealWear, a leading provider of assisted reality wearable solutions for frontline industrial workers. TeamViewer's remote access software is integrated into the newly announced RealWear Cloud.

TeamViewer's software is delivered as RealWear Cloud Assistance  an embedded service in RealWear Cloud, providing real-time technical support and enhanced collaboration, allowing subscribers' IT and Business Operations to remotely set-up, configure, deploy and analyze a fleet of RealWear devices. TeamViewer's technology uniquely enables subscribers to accelerate the time-to-production and troubleshooting for RealWear devices.

"It's a great milestone to become a larger part of RealWear's ecosystem and tech stack and to launch remote device support in a standardized way for the first time," said Alfredo Patron, EVP of Business Development at TeamViewer. "We've already deployed our enterprise Augmented Reality software Frontline on thousands of RealWear devices across numerous customer sites all over the world. With the new integration of our remote connectivity capabilities into its cloud platform services, RealWear can offer its customers a new level of remote support for the devices themselves. This integration reinforces TeamViewer's position as the de facto standard for remote access to both IT and non-IT devices in industrial environments."

"With the release of RealWear Cloud Assistance, we're excited about the continued growth and evolution of our partnership with TeamViewer to advance our mission to engage, empower and elevate frontline workers," said Rama Oruganti, Chief Product Officer at RealWear. "Enabling IT to quickly and securely access remote devices will further accelerate deployments. Our focus is to support the frontline and keep them focused on work productivity and safety."

Through RealWear Cloud customers can provision and manage their fleet of RealWear devices for their company. Adding remote support functionalities to that platform is addressing real business needs. The combination of screensharing and device interface control with parallel VoIP calling delivers the same experience as physical support on the ground.

About TeamViewer

TeamViewer is a leading global technology company that provides a connectivity platform to remotely access, control, manage, monitor, and repair devices of any kind  from laptops and mobile phones to industrial machines and robots. Although TeamViewer is free of charge for private use, it has more than 625,000 subscribers and enables companies of all sizes and from all industries to digitalize their business-critical processes through seamless connectivity. Against the backdrop of global megatrends like device proliferation, automation and new work, TeamViewer proactively shapes digital transformation and continuously innovates in the fields of Augmented Reality, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. Since the company's foundation in 2005, TeamViewer's software has been installed on more than 2.5 billion devices around the world. The company is headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, and employs around 1,400 people globally. In 2021, TeamViewer achieved billings of EUR 548 million. TeamViewer AG (TMV) is listed at Frankfurt Stock Exchange and belongs to the MDAX. Further information can be found at https://www.teamviewer.com/.

Press Contact

Michael Kornspan

Phone: 727-910-7340

E-Mail: [email protected]

SOURCE TeamViewer
The state's largest dental insurance company celebrates legacy of quality service and community engagement

SHERWOOD, Ark., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Arkansas turns 40 this month. What started as a two-person, two-room office on August 2, 1982, in downtown Little Rock has grown into Arkansas' largest dental insurance provider over the years, serving more than 800,000 Arkansans today.

"We've officially reached middle age," said Dave Hawsey, Vice President, Marketing, at Delta Dental. "But you know what they say about 40 being fabulous. We've established a legacy that goes beyond providing quality insurance. We're proud to be known as a committed business and philanthropy partner who creates healthy smiles, healthy lives and healthy communities in Arkansas."

The company will celebrate its 40th anniversary on August 17 with an in-office party, a staff lunch and special employee surprises.

Delta Dental of Arkansas began on August 2, 1982, when President and CEO Earl Gladden and his wife, Grace, opened a two-room office in downtown Little Rock. Within its first year of business, the couple met its goal of signing 400 dentists. Today, Delta Dental operates the state's largest network of participating dental providers with more than 1,100 dentists.

The company serves more than 4,000 Arkansas-based businesses, 800,000 Arkansans and 2.4 million Americans nationwide. The initial staff of two has grown to more than 210 employees who work in the company's 65,000-square-foot headquarters building in Sherwood.

Through its Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, launched in 2008, Delta Dental provides resources and grant funding for oral health education and dental disease prevention and treatment to underinsured and underserved Arkansans. In the mid-2010s, it also funded a 7-year, $7 million community water fluoridation project, delivering optimally fluoridated water to 90 percent of Arkansanshigher than the national average. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company provided more than $27.4 million in relief funding to network dentists, clients and local partners, spreading smiles during tumultuous and uncertain times.

For its longtime impact, Delta Dental has won numerous awards and recognitions, such as the 2014 "Arkansas Business of the Year" Award and the distinction of being named one of the annual "Best Places to Work" in Arkansas for 10 consecutive years.

Key Moments from Delta Dental's 40-year history

1983: Signs its first major, statewide client with 4,000 members.

2000: Earl Gladden retires. Ed Choate succeeds him as President and CEO.

2004: After several office moves, constructs permanent headquarters building at 1513 Country Club Road in Sherwood.

2007: Starts offering individual/family insurance in addition to group insurance plus vision coverage.

2008: Launches the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation to provide statewide support to communities and nonprofit organizations for oral health education and dental disease prevention and treatment.

2008: Starts offering coverage for implants as one of the first dental insurance companies in the nation.

2011: In response to Act 197 of the Arkansas Legislature, pledges to fund the community water fluoridation of all Arkansas water systems serving 5,000 or more residents. The 7-year, $7 million project results in the delivery of optimally fluoridated tap water to more than 90% of Arkansans, higher than the national average of 75%.

2014: Wins "Arkansas Business of the Year" Award, Category III, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group.

2016: Synthesizes the company core values into 4 concepts: Act with Integrity; Focus on Community; Respect People, and Provide World-Class Service.

2017: Wins contract to become one of the two benefits providers of the Arkansas Medicaid dental program.

2018: Implements first-ever Medicare Advantage product.

2020: Provides more than $27.4 million in direct COVID-19 relief funding to network dentists, business clients, members and community partners.

2021: Ed Choate retires. Kristin Merlo succeeds him as President and CEO. She's only the third chief executive in the company's 40-year history.

2022: Named one of the "Best Places to Work" in Arkansas for the 10th consecutive year in the annual survey conducted by Arkansas Business Publishing Group, making Delta Dental one of only two Arkansas businesses with that distinction.

H2] Numerous Business Awards

2005-2010: 5-time annual Bronze or Silver winner of Governor's Family-Friendly Employer/ Governor's Work-Life Balance Award, presented by Arkansas Department of Human Services

2013-2022: 10-time annual winner of Best Places to Work in Arkansas Award, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group

2014 Arkansas Business of the Year" Award, Category III, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group

2017: Outstanding Foundation (Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation), presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Arkansas Chapter

About Delta Dental of Arkansas

Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation, which donated more than $3 million to support oral health education initiatives in the last three years. For more information, visit www.deltadentalar.com/.

Media Contact: Dave Hawsey

Vice President, Marketing

(c) 501-813-2315

[email protected]

www.deltadentalar.com

SOURCE Delta Dental of Arkansas
MIAMI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dennis Agalli has announced plans to help struggling families in Miami's Little Haiti and Wynwood neighborhoods. The initiative comes after Miami recently announced that the city is experiencing an affordable housing crisis that is hurting middle and low-income families the most. Through this initiative, Agalli says that he plans to help preserve the neighborhood as locals struggle with rising rents.

Dennis Agalli is bringing affordable housing to Wynwood and Little Haiti residents to help them stay in their homes. The new initiative aims to tackle the housing affordability crisis in Miami by helping struggling low income families with children with quality housing. Dennis Agalli in Wynwood, Miami. The affordable housing crisis has pushed many low income residents out of the area and City officials are exploring solutions to reverse the trend. Agalli is making affordable housing for local Miamians a top priority through his new initiative.

Rental prices are rising rapidly in these neighborhoods as a result of millions of dollars in investments from real estate investors and developers. Rental prices have skyrocketed causing long-term residents of the community to seek out more affordable areas, such as Miramar and North Miami. Residents also believe that the threat of climate change is a major factor given that developers are looking to build new construction at a higher elevation than sea level.

Agalli says that the initiative will help to protect residents of Little Haiti as gentrification grips the area. Low-income families with children are the primary target of the initiative. Agalli is providing families with affordable rents at below market rate to help them stay in their homes.

The funds are being provided through NAHA, as the local organizations and government programs that were intended to address the problem have fallen short. This initiative also helps low-income families avoid having to find housing through government programs, such as Section 8.

The City of Miami Affordable Housing Master Plan revealed that low and moderate-income Miami residents already face heavy cost burdens when it comes to rent. Thousands of affordable housing rental units are required in order to meet this demand and the city has been unable to so far. Rents have also become too costly for low to moderate-income residents with the plan finding that many residents are spending upwards of 50% of their household incomes on rent.

Dennis Agalli is also working with City officials to find solutions. The affordable housing will enhance the quality of life for current Little Haiti and Wynwood residents, allowing them to remain in their homes.

The initiative comes as the ongoing plan to help mitigate the damage caused by gentrification to Little Haiti as the Magic City Innovation District project takes shape. In 2021, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced that a $3 million donation would be made to the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust. That donation is just a fraction of the $31 million trust to increase affordable housing and business opportunities in Little Haiti.

Other historic Miami neighborhoods including Wynwood have already faced an affordable housing crisis for some time. The result is that the neighborhood has lost the majority of its former residents, who were primarily Puerto Rican and Cuban residents, along with artists and businesses.

Agalli predicts that affordable housing inventory can increase, making more units available to low-income residents, if the City officials act now.

"Every Miami resident should be able to afford the rent," said Agalli. "To achieve that goal, we need the business community and our local officials to fully understand that everyone needs to be on board if we're going to solve this crisis."

To learn more about Dennis Agalli, go to https://donatoagalli.com/ .

About Dennis Agalli: Dennis Agalli is an MIami-based entrepreneur and philanthropist. Through the NAHA, Agalli has committed himself to helping solve the affordable housing crisis. This initiative provides affordable housing to low income families and children. They are able to obtain affordable housing at below market rates without having to apply through government agencies and programs, such as Section 8. To learn more about Dennis Agalli's efforts, go to https://donatoagalli.com/

Dennis Aghalli

Manhattan, NY

[email protected]

949-531-2636

SOURCE Dennis Agalli
Ocean GreatWhite Awarded Contract

Three other Rigs Secure Additional Backlog

18% Increase in Contract Drilling Revenue and $26m Increase in EBITDA

HOUSTON, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc. (NYSE: DO) today reported the following results for the second quarter of 2022:



Three Months Ended

Thousands of dollars, except per share data June 30, 2022



March 31, 2022

Total revenues $ 205,702



$ 186,239

Operating loss

(9,763)





(33,916)

Adjusted EBITDA

15,245





(11,008)

Net loss

(21,929)





(34,354)

Loss per diluted share $ (0.22)



$ (0.34)



Diamond Offshore also announced contract awards for the harsh environment semisubmersible Ocean GreatWhite in the U.K. North Sea, the semisubmersible Ocean Apex in Australia, and two 7th generation drillships - the Ocean BlackHornet and a Diamond-managed rig - in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. These new contracts added approximately $610 million of backlog for the Company. The new contracts are in addition to the $995 million of backlog reported as of July 1, 2022.

Bernie Wolford, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to announce these significant backlog additions. The contract for the Ocean GreatWhite is a testament to the capabilities of this high-specification harsh environment asset and comes at a time when energy security and longer-term demand in the sector are increasingly visible. With the rig now contracted, we will have three assets working in the UK sector of the North Sea, allowing us to better serve our customer base while growing our presence in an established market."

The Ocean GreatWhite was awarded five wells, with an estimated duration of 300 days. Contract commencement is expected in the first quarter of 2023. Total contract value of the committed scope is approximately $80 million. The contract also includes priced options for up to eight additional wells.

The Ocean Apex has been awarded three new contracts for work on the Northwest Shelf of Australia. The first new award commences in the second quarter of 2023, with an estimated duration of 75 days. The second award is also for an estimated duration of 75 days, commencing in direct continuation of the previous award. The third award has an estimated duration of 150 days with a commencement in 2024. The combined awards add approximately $90 million of backlog to the Ocean Apex. Wolford added, "A potential fourth new contract currently under negotiation would fill out the remaining availability in 2023, and combined, keep the rig fully contracted until late 2024."

The Ocean BlackHornet has secured a two-year extension with its current client in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in direct continuation of the rig's current term. The two-year extension will keep the rig working until early 2025. Total contract value for the extension is approximately $290 million.

A Diamond-managed rig has been extended by its current client for work in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for an additional one-year term in direct continuation of the rig's current term. The contract value for this extension is approximately $150 million.

Wolford noted, "With improved dayrates and approximately 75% of 2023 marketed capacity contracted, we have an opportunity to earn considerably higher margins in 2023. I would like to thank everyone involved in securing this backlog, as these awards are a testament to the class-leading Diamond Offshore brand, our unwavering commitment to HSE, and the hard-working people who contribute to the Diamond Difference."

Second Quarter Results

Contract drilling revenue for the second quarter totaled $177 million compared to $150 million in the first quarter of 2022. The increase in revenue was primarily driven by the Ocean Apex returning to active service under a new contract that commenced in May 2022, completion of shipyard stays for the Ocean Endeavor and Ocean Patriot, and a full quarter of drilling operations for the Auriga. Contract drilling expense for the second quarter was relatively flat at $142 million compared to $145 million in the first quarter of 2022. During the quarter, the Company continued to perform in an exceptional manner, achieving revenue efficiency of 96.3%.

Operational Highlights

After eight years of continuous and exceptional performance, the Ocean BlackHawk completed its inaugural contract in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The rig has now mobilized to Senegal to join the Ocean BlackRhino. The Ocean Apex returned to work in May and the Ocean Monarch completed its contract and was cold stacked.

Notably, three of the Company's rigs reached significant safety milestones this quarter, each achieving three years without a recordable incident.

Liquidity and Outlook

As of June 30, 2022, Diamond Offshore had total liquidity of $339 million, comprised of $43 million of unrestricted cash and $296 million of available capacity on its revolving credit facility and delayed draw First Lien Notes.

Commenting on the outlook for the offshore drilling market, Wolford concluded, "The market continues to improve, as reflected by our recent fixtures for both semisubmersibles and drillships across multiple regions. Visible demand, energy security concerns, and tight supply could lead to sustainable demand for our drilling services for years to come."

CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call to discuss Diamond Offshore's earnings results has been scheduled for 8:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. A live webcast of the call will be available online on the Company's website, www.diamondoffshore.com. Participants who want to join the call via telephone or want to participate in the question and answer session may register here to receive the dial-in numbers and unique PIN to access the call. An online replay will also be available on www.diamondoffshore.com following the call.

ABOUT DIAMOND OFFSHORE

Diamond Offshore is a leader in offshore drilling, providing innovation, thought leadership and contract drilling services to solve complex deepwater challenges around the globe. Additional information and access to the Company's SEC filings are available at http://www.diamondoffshore.com/ .

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, including statements relating to future financial results; future recovery in the offshore contract drilling industry; expectations regarding the Company's plans, strategies and opportunities; expectations regarding the Company's business or financial outlook; future borrowing capacity and liquidity; expected utilization, dayrates, revenues, operating expenses, rig commitments and availability, cash flows, contract status, terms and duration, contract backlog, capital expenditures, insurance, financing and funding; the effect, impact, potential duration and other implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of our emergence from bankruptcy; the offshore drilling market, including supply and demand, customer drilling programs, repricings, stacking of rigs, effects of new rigs on the market and effect of the volatility of commodity prices; expected work commitments, awards and contracts; future operations; increasing regulatory complexity; general market, business and industry conditions, trends and outlook; and general political conditions, including political tensions, conflicts and war. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or expected by management of the Company. A discussion of certain of the risk factors and other considerations that could materially impact these matters as well as the Company's overall business and financial performance can be found in Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and the Company's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and readers of this press release are urged to review those reports carefully when considering these forward-looking statements. Copies of these reports are available through the Company's website at www.diamondoffshore.com. These risk factors include, among others, risks associated with worldwide demand for drilling services, levels of activity in the oil and gas industry, renewing or replacing expired or terminated contracts, contract cancellations and terminations, maintenance and realization of backlog, competition and industry fleet capacity, impairments and retirements, operating risks, litigation and disputes, permits and approvals for drilling operations, the COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptions to the global economy, supply chain and normal business operations across sectors and countries, changes in tax laws and rates, regulatory initiatives and compliance with governmental regulations, casualty losses, and various other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Given these risk factors and other considerations, investors and analysts should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this press release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share data)

































Three Months Ended





June 30,



March 31,





2022



2022

Revenues:











Contract drilling

$ 176,879



$ 150,252

Revenues related to reimbursable expenses



28,823





35,987

Total revenues



205,702





186,239

Operating expenses:











Contract drilling, excluding depreciation



142,150





144,902

Reimbursable expenses



28,554





35,613

Depreciation



25,693





26,952

General and administrative



19,753





16,732

Gain on disposition of assets



(685)





(4,044)

Total operating expenses



215,465





220,155

Operating loss



(9,763)





(33,916)

Other income (expense):











Interest income









1

Interest expense



(10,103)





(8,325)

Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)



1,607





(2,129)

Other, net



(47)





1,362

Loss before income tax (expense) benefit



(18,306)





(43,007)

Income tax (expense) benefit



(3,623)





8,653

Net loss

$ (21,929)



$ (34,354)

Loss per share, Basic and Diluted

$ (0.22)



$ (0.34)

Weighted-average shares outstanding, Basic and Diluted



100,108





100,075



DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)



























June 30,



December 31,





2022



2021

ASSETS











Current assets:











Cash and cash equivalents

$ 42,897



$ 38,388

Restricted cash



14,727





24,341

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses



151,374





146,335

Prepaid expenses and other current assets



65,871





61,440

Asset held for sale









1,000

Total current assets



274,869





271,504

Drilling and other property and equipment, net of











accumulated depreciation



1,159,535





1,175,895

Other assets



80,319





84,041

Total assets

$ 1,514,723



$ 1,531,440















LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY











Other current liabilities

$ 237,847



$ 232,762

Long-term debt



306,438





266,241

Noncurrent finance lease liabilities



140,087





148,358

Deferred tax liability



2,306





1,626

Other liabilities



104,193





114,748

Stockholders' equity



723,852





767,705

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 1,514,723



$ 1,531,440



DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)





















Six Months Ended





June 30,





2022

Operating activities:





Net loss

$ (56,283)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in

operating activities:





Depreciation



52,645

Loss on impairment of assets





Gain on disposition of assets



(4,729)

Deferred tax provision



(1,975)

Stock-based compensation expense



12,658

Contract liabilities, net



(20,870)

Contract assets, net



(3,348)

Deferred contract costs, net



(3,859)

Collateral deposits



17,464

Other assets, noncurrent



(443)

Other liabilities, noncurrent



428

Other



842

Net changes in operating working capital



(3,335)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities



(10,805)

Investing activities:





Capital expenditures



(32,353)

Proceeds from disposition of assets, net of disposal costs



5,788

Net cash used in investing activities



(26,565)

Financing activities:





Borrowings under credit facility



40,000

Principal payments of finance lease liabilities



(7,735)

Net cash provided by financing activities



32,265

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash



(5,105)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period



62,729

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$ 57,624



DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES AVERAGE DAYRATE, UTILIZATION AND REVENUE EFFICIENCY (Dayrate in thousands)



TOTAL FLEET Second Quarter First Quarter 2022 2022 Average Dayrate

(1)

Utilization

(2) Revenue Efficiency

(3) Average Dayrate

(1)

Utilization

(2) Revenue Efficiency

(3)















$ 228

57 % 96.3 % $ 225

53 % 89.1 %

























(1) Average dayrate is defined as total contract drilling revenue for all of the rigs in our fleet (including managed rigs) per revenue-earning day. A revenue-earning day is defined as a 24-hour period during which a rig earns a dayrate after commencement of operations and excludes mobilization, demobilization and contract preparation days. (2) Utilization is calculated as the ratio of total revenue-earning days divided by the total calendar days in the period for all rigs in our fleet (including managed and cold-stacked rigs). (3) Revenue efficiency is calculated as actual contract drilling revenue earned divided by potential revenue, assuming a full dayrate is earned.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited)

To supplement the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements presented on a basis in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), this press release provides investors with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization (or Adjusted EBITDA), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes that this measure provides meaningful information about the Company's performance by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of the Company's ongoing operating results. This allows investors and others to better compare the Company's financial results across previous and subsequent accounting periods and to those of peer companies and to better understand the long-term performance of the Company. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, contract drilling revenue, contract drilling expense, operating income or loss, cash flows from operations or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Contact:

Kevin Bordosky

Senior Director, Investor Relations

(281) 647- 4035

Reconciliation of Loss Before Income Tax Benefit to Adjusted EBITDA:









(In thousands)



























Three Months Ended





June 30,



March 31,





2022



2022















As reported loss before income tax (expense) benefit $ (18,306)



$ (43,007)



Interest expense

10,103





8,325



Interest income







(1)



Foreign currency transaction (gain) loss

(1,607)





2,129



Depreciation

25,693





26,952



Gain on disposition of assets

(685)





(4,044)



Other, net

47





(1,362)

Adjusted EBITDA $ 15,245



$ (11,008)























SOURCE Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
LEAWOOD, Kan., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Torch.AI, pioneers of data infrastructure AI, announced today the United States Department of Defense (DOD) has selected the company's software for a new cyber and insider threat analysis capability, the System for Insider Threat Hindrance (SITH).

Pentagon Selects Torch.AI for New Cyber and Insider Threat System

Cyber attacks across all industries are on the rise. Costs related to cybercrime are expected to reach $10.5 trillion per year by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. Insider threats are one of the primary reasons for data record breaches, which are growing at nearly 200% per year. Employees, former employees, vendors, business partners and business associates are all insiders that could pose a threat to the average business.

With Torch.AI, the new SITH system dramatically increases the quality and availability of information used to detect threats by fusing disparate, complex government and commercial datasets and automating key tasks with advanced machine learning. Torch.AI's NEXUS software platform rapidly connects any source system or database to make data instantly machine readable without human intervention. Additionally, NEXUS provides synthesized data objects from a convenient interface. By objectizing the data, SITH avoids typical constraints of system-by-system data integrations, migrations, and duplications, which can impede analysis. Rather, Torch.AI connects to data where it resides with a flexible data mesh, integrating new data quickly, accurately, continuously and in a cost-effective manner without disrupting an agency's overall mission. This made the Torch.AI software a perfect choice for SITH and DOD.

Torch.AI developed SITH with the DOD Chief Digital and AI Office's (CDAO) Directorate for Digital Services (DDS), on behalf of the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). CDAO is responsible for the acceleration of the DOD's adoption of data, analytics, and AI to generate decision advantage from the boardroom to the battlefield. DCSA is the security agency in the federal government dedicated to protecting America's trusted workforce and trusted workspaces. DCSA services more than 100 federal entities, oversees 10,000 cleared companies, and conducts approximately 2 million background investigations each year.

The Department of Defense has made significant strides in unlocking the power of its data, harnessing artificial intelligence (AI), and providing digital solutions for warfighters. In February of 2022, the Office of the Secretary of Defense established the CDAO to strengthen and integrate data, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions in the Department.

"There are few situations where the quality and availability of data is more important than cyber and insider threat. It's a huge problem. It's getting worse every day," said Brian Weaver, Founder and CEO of Torch.AI. "Torch.AI software is mission-ready today. We are proud the DOD has selected our solution for this critical capability and the critical part we are playing to protect our warfighters and enhance our nation's security and economic viability."

About Torch.AI

Torch.AI, the Data Infrastructure AI Pioneers, are headquartered in Kansas City with offices in Washington, DC. The company developed the use of AI to process data in-flight, radically evolving analytic and operational capabilities in any IT environment. Torch.AI's products and people are currently actively supporting operations in industries including financial services, construction and engineering, healthcare, and the US Department of Defense, US Department of Homeland Security, and other agencies.

To learn more about the company, visit Torch.AI.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Torch.AI
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As a pillar of EARTHDAY.ORG's work, The Canopy Project reforests areas in dire need of rehabilitation, protects biodiverse habitats around the world, and strengthens communities at risk from climate change and environmental degradation. This year, The Canopy Project has set an ambitious goal of 10,000,000 tree plantings and commitments throughout 2022. As part of its annual theme to Invest in Our Planet, EARTHDAY.ORG and its partners continue to invest in reforestation.

EARTHDAY.ORG has partnered with Crystal International Group Limited to grow 100,000 mangroves along the villages of Banishanta union in the Khulna division of Bangladesh. The area is a prime spot for planting because of its proximity to the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, and the benefits for the locals are substantial. Over 21,000 mangroves have already been planted as part of the project, which spans 10 hectares of land that has been fenced off for both stability and to prevent any accidental interference. Planting will be finished at the end of August 2022.

Planted species are native to the region (both salt and flood tolerant) and perfect for binding soil to embankments allowing more launch sites for the main form of transportation, boats. While anchoring to the embankment the mangroves collect silt flowing down the river, strengthening the embankment and forming a nursery for numerous crab, fish, and shrimp species that can be caught and sold by local fishermen. These embankments also act as barriers against severe weather events that are unfortunately becoming more prevalent in these regions.

"Benefits of mangroves go beyond fish nursery and embankment securement. Mangroves sequester roughly two to four times the amount of carbon when compared to a mature tropical forest, helping to improve air quality and lessen the environmental footprint of those living in the area," said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG, who added "we are happy to partner with a company like Crystal International Group Limited, one of the largest pioneering global apparel manufacturers, that is leading sustainable clothing manufacturing."

To commemorate this large-scale planting event a celebration was held on July 26, 2022, World Mangrove Day. The celebration included the planting of 600 mangrove saplings during low tide with the participation of approximately 100 individuals including EARTHDAY.ORG representatives, local planting partners, and the Banishanta union community that will most benefit from the planting site. Photos available here .

"Tree planting has long been our environmental ambition, in which it's one of the indicators of our Global 5-year Sustainability Targets. We recognise the ecological importance of mangrove ecosystems in providing essential habitat for thousands of species. We are delighted to collaborate with EARTHDAY.ORG to grow mangroves and support biodiversity, in tackling climate change and deforestation," said Catherine Chiu, Vice President, Global Sustainability of Crystal International. Tree planting is one of the continuous sustainable foci of Crystal International Group Limited, the Group has planted nearly 3 million trees in the past 15 years.

For more information on The Canopy Project, a map of planting locations, and how to get involved, please visit: https://www.earthday.org/campaign/the-canopy-project/

EARTHDAY.ORG Stop Deforestation Petition

As the world begins to see the continuing effects of climate change and deforestation, EARTHDAY.ORG calls on businesses globally to put sustainability first in their daily operations and supply chain. The effects of industry upon the world's canopy have resulted in 10 million hectares of forest being lost each year. EARTHDAY.ORG will deliver this petition to key trade and government stakeholders around the world to make lasting change across sectors. Please visit: https://www.earthday.org/tell-businesses-stop-deforestation/

About EARTHDAY.ORG:

EARTHDAY.ORG's mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental movement worldwide. Growing out of the first Earth Day (1970), EARTHDAY.ORG is the world's largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in nearly 192 countries to build environmental democracy. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. Learn more at: https://www.earthday.org

About Crystal International Group Limited:

Crystal International Group Limited ("Crystal International" or the "Company"), incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability and registered by way of continuation in the Cayman Islands, is a global leader in the apparel manufacturing industry. Founded in Hong Kong in 1970, the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Group", or "we") have a diversified product portfolio categorized into five product segments, namely Lifestyle wear, Denim, Intimate, Sweater, and Sportswear and outdoor apparel, with leading positions in corresponding categories. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group operates a multi-country manufacturing platform, with around 20 production facilities spanning five countries, namely Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The Group serves a group of leading global brands, through a highly differentiated "Co-creation" business model, offering value-added services and satisfying our customers through accumulated knowledge of the fashion market, promptness of service and creative innovation. We strive to produce the right products at the right time and at the right cost which is a critical component to the success of our customers' global apparel brands in an ever-changing industry environment. The Group maintains a keen focus on sustainability and was ranked 17th out of 50 in the Fortune business magazine "Change the World" list in 2016. The list recognises companies across the world that have made significant social and environmental contributions. Please visit Crystal International's corporate website http://www.crystalgroup.com for more information.

SOURCE EARTHDAY.ORG
Education Consulting Market Report Highlights:

Market growth 2020-2025: USD 579.19 million Growth momentum & CAGR: Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.01% YoY growth (%): 3.89% Performing market contribution: North America at 38% Key consumer countries: US, China , UK, Germany , and Canada

Parent Market Analysis

Technavio categorizes the global education consulting market as a part of the global education services market within the global Consumer Discretionary market.

Technavio uses the total revenue generated by manufacturers to estimate the global Education Consulting Market size. External factors influencing the parent market's growth potential in the coming years have been thoroughly investigated in our research analysis, to know more about the levels of growth of the Education Consulting Market throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample .

Education Consulting Market Value Chain Analysis

To maximize profit margins and evaluate business plans, an end-to-end understanding of Education Consulting is required. The report will help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period.

Inputs

Inbound logistics

Operations

Outbound logistics

Marketing and sales

Service

Support activities

Innovation

To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, Buy a sample report.

Education Consulting Market Key Vendors and Vendor Strategies

BRITANNICA EDUCATION CONSULTING LTD., Broils Consulting Group LLC, ClearView Consulting Co., Edmentum Inc., Education Consulting Services LLC, Education Elements Inc., and Edway Education Consulting are a few of the key vendors in the Education Consulting Market.

The vendors in the market are constantly focusing on broadening their product portfolio through expanding their product offerings. Additionally, vendors are focusing on expanding their presence in new regions.

Geographical Highlights

North America will account for 38% of market growth. The two biggest markets in North America for education consulting are the US and Canada. This region's market will grow more quickly than the markets in Europe, South America, and MEA combined. The growth of the education consulting market in North America over the forecast period will be aided by the growing number of STEM-related job openings.

Key Market Segmentation

Type

K-12



Higher Education

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



South America



MEA

The K12 market sector will significantly increase its market share in education consulting. Globally, there are more K12 educational institutions than ever before, which is fueling the demand for expert education consulting services. Many students are looking for education consulting services as primary and secondary educational institutions take an interactive, example-based approach to learning. As a result, during the projection period, the K-12 segment is anticipated to have significant expansion.

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ETF Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The ETF market share is expected to increase by USD 10.20 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 14.56%.

Education Consulting Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.01% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 579.19 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.89 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 38% Key consumer countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Canada Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive Strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled BRITANNICA EDUCATION CONSULTING LTD., Broils Consulting Group LLC, ClearView Consulting Co., Edmentum Inc., Education Consulting Services LLC, Education Elements Inc., Edway Education Consulting, ELITE SCHOLARS OF CHINA, Generation Ready Inc., and Global Education Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Browse for Technavio "Consumer Discretionary" Research Reports

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 01: Parent market



Exhibit 02: Market characteristics

2.2 Value chain analysis

Exhibit 03: Value chain analysis: Education services

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market Definition

Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 05: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2020

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

Exhibit 06: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 07: Global market: Year-over-year growth 2020 - 2025 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 08: Five forces analysis 2020 & 2025

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 09: Bargaining power of buyers

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 10: Bargaining power of suppliers

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 11: Threat of new entrants

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 12: Threat of substitutes

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 13: Threat of rivalry

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 14: Market condition - Five forces 2020

5 Market Segmentation by Type

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 15: Type - Market share 2020-2025 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Type

Exhibit 16: Comparison by Type

5.3 K -12 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

-12 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 17: K-12 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 18: K-12 - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.4 Higher education - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 19: Higher education - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 20: Higher education - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

5.5 Market Opportunity by Type

Exhibit 21: Market Opportunity by Type

6 Customer landscape

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 23: Market share by geography 2020-2025 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 24: Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 25: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 26: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 27: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 28: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 29: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 31: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)

Exhibit 32: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.7 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Exhibit 33: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%)

7.8 Key leading countries

Exhibit 35: Key leading countries

7.9 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by geography ($ million)

8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

8.1 Market drivers

8.2 Market challenges

Exhibit 37: Impact of drivers and challenges

8.3 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 38: Vendor landscape

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 39: Landscape disruption



Exhibit 40: Industry risks

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 41: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 42: Market positioning of vendors

10.3 BRITANNICA EDUCATION CONSULTING LTD.

Exhibit 43: BRITANNICA EDUCATION CONSULTING LTD. - Overview



Exhibit 44: BRITANNICA EDUCATION CONSULTING LTD. - Product and service



Exhibit 45: BRITANNICA EDUCATION CONSULTING LTD. - Key offerings

10.4 Broils Consulting Group LLC

Exhibit 46: Broils Consulting Group LLC - Overview



Exhibit 47: Broils Consulting Group LLC - Product and service



Exhibit 48: Broils Consulting Group LLC - Key offerings

10.5 ClearView Consulting Co.

Exhibit 49: ClearView Consulting Co. - Overview



Exhibit 50: ClearView Consulting Co. - Product and service



Exhibit 51: ClearView Consulting Co. - Key offerings

10.6 Edmentum Inc.

Exhibit 52: Edmentum Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 53: Edmentum Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 54: Edmentum Inc. - Key offerings

10.7 Education Consulting Services LLC

Exhibit 55: Education Consulting Services LLC - Overview



Exhibit 56: Education Consulting Services LLC - Product and service



Exhibit 57: Education Consulting Services LLC - Key offerings

10.8 Education Elements Inc.

Exhibit 58: Education Elements Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 59: Education Elements Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 60: Education Elements Inc. - Key offerings

10.9 Edway Education Consulting

Exhibit 61: Edway Education Consulting - Overview



Exhibit 62: Edway Education Consulting - Product and service



Exhibit 63: Edway Education Consulting - Key offerings

10.10 ELITE SCHOLARS OF CHINA

10.11 Generation Ready Inc.

Exhibit 67: Generation Ready Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 68: Generation Ready Inc. - Product and service



Exhibit 69: Generation Ready Inc. - Key offerings

10.12 Global Education Ltd.

Exhibit 70: Global Education Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 71: Global Education Ltd. - Product and service



Exhibit 72: Global Education Ltd. - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 73: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.3 Research methodology

Exhibit 74: Research Methodology



Exhibit 75: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 76: Information sources

11.4 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 77: List of abbreviations

About Us:

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
TSX.V:EU

OTCQB:ENCUF

www.encoreuranium.com

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - enCore Energy Corp. ("enCore" or the "Company") (TSXV: EU) (OTCQB: ENCUF) today announced a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Circuit of the District of Columbia issued an opinion in a case brought by the Oglala Sioux Tribe against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The Oglala Sioux Tribe had challenged the NRC's decision to grant Powertech Uranium (USA), Inc. (Powertech), a wholly-owned subsidiary of enCore Energy Corp. (enCore), a license to extract uranium at its Dewey Burdock In-Situ Recovery ("ISR") Uranium Project in South Dakota. Today the panel ruled that the NRC's actions were lawful, affirming its decision to issue the license to Powertech.

To view the Opinion, which may be appealed by the Oglala Sioux Tribe, please visit: https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/E4FBC75E78CE05F08525889900538B63/$file/20-1489-1958435.pdf

The Dewey Burdock Project, South Dakota

The Company's 100% owned Dewey Burdock Project is an in-situ recovery ("ISR") uranium project located in the Edgemont uranium district, South Dakota and is comprised of 12,613 surface acres and 16,962 net mineral acres. In December 2020, the Company filed an amended and restated NI 43-101 compliant independent Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA")2.

Dewey Burdock Project ISR Mineral Resource Estimate1 Measured Resources Indicated Resources Measured plus Indicated Resources Inferred Resources Tons 5,419,779 1,968,443 7,388,222 645,546 Average grade (% U 3 O 8 ) 0.132 0.072 0.116 0.055 Average thickness (feet) 5.56 5.74 5.65 5.87 Average grade-thickness ("GT") 0.733 0.413 0.655 0.324 Uranium (pounds) at a 0.20 GT cut-off 14,285,988 2,836,159 17,122,147 712,624

Initial capital expenditures are estimated at $31.7 million. The Dewey Burdock Project is forecast to produce 14.3 million pounds of U 3 O 8 over its 16 years of production and the projected cash flows of the Dewey Burdock Project are expected to be positive in the second year of production, two years after the commencement of construction.

The Dewey Burdock PEA resulted in a pre-income tax NPV of $171.3 million at a discount rate of 8% and an IRR of 55% compared to a post-income tax NPV of $147.5 million at a discount rate of 8% and an IRR of 50%. The Dewey Burdock PEA post-income tax calculations do not include a corporate level assessment of income tax liabilities; taxes have only been calculated at the Dewey Burdock Project level. The estimate of income tax at the corporate level is subject to a number of additional considerations that have not been factored in when calculating income taxes at the project level, including, but not limited to, the capital structure to finance the Dewey Burdock Project, which has not yet been determined and loss carry forwards available at the corporate level.

The Dewey Burdock PEA estimated uranium prices of $55/lb U 3 O 8 , direct cash operating costs of $10.46 per pound of production and royalties and local taxes (excluding property tax) of $5.15 per pound of production. The total pre-income tax cost of uranium production is estimated to be $28.88 per pound of production. Income taxes are estimated to be $3.39 per pound of production.

Details of the assumptions and parameters used with respect to the Dewey Burdock PEA, including information on data verification, are set out in the "NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment, Dewey-Burdock Uranium ISR Project, South Dakota, USA", dated December 22, 2020, with an effective date of December 3, 2019, by Yovich, M., PE and S. Cutler, PG, a copy of which is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. The Dewey Burdock mineral resource estimate includes resources in the measured, indicated and inferred classes. However, Yovich and Cutler (2020) concluded the resources in the inferred class are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations to be included in the PEA. The Dewey Burdock PEA is preliminary in nature; there is no certainty that the Dewey Burdock PEA will be realized. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

William Paul Goranson, P.Eng. Chief Executive Officer, Director and a Qualified Person under NI 43-101, has approved the technical disclosure in this news release.

About enCore Energy Corp.

With approximately 90 million pounds of U 3 O 8 estimated in the measured and indicated categories and 9 million pounds of U 3 O 8 estimated in the inferred category1, enCore is the most diversified in-situ recovery uranium development company in the United States. enCore is focused on becoming the next uranium producer from its licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant by 2023. The South Dakota-based Dewey Burdock project and the Wyoming Gas Hills project offer mid-term production opportunities, with significant New Mexico uranium resource endowments providing long-term opportunities. The enCore team is led by industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of ISR uranium operations and the nuclear fuel cycle. enCore is committed to engaging and working with local communities and indigenous governments to create positive impact from corporate developments.

1 Mineral resource estimates are based on technical reports prepared in accordance with NI43-101 and available on SEDAR as well as company websites at www.encoreuranium.com. 2 Dewey Burdock Preliminary Economic Assessment: Woodard & Curran and Rough Stock Mining Services (the "Dewey Burdock PEA") with an effective date of December 3, 2019.

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 NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering and the completion of any capital project or property acquisitions. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; inability to access additional capital; the ability of enCore to implement its business strategies; and other risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are 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.

SOURCE enCore Energy Corp.
Select Ennismore properties in Miami and Los Angeles will serve the organic iced tea brand, in the newly launched beverage's first-ever hotel collaboration.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ennismore, the fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, today announces a partnership with Saint James Tea - a new, sustainably-packaged organic line of ready-to-drink teas with a mission to better the community. The collaboration  created by Ennismore's Partnership Studio - will see Saint James Tea featured in minibars across Ennismore's Mondrian Los Angeles and Miami properties comprising: SLS South Beach, Hyde Midtown, SLS Brickell and SLS LUX Brickell. Saint James Tea will also be served in SLS South Beach's two iconic outlets, Hyde Beach and Katsuya.

Saint James Tea

Michele Caniato, Chief Partnerships Officer & EVP of Brand Marketing, Ennismore said, "We are thrilled to collaborate with Saint James Tea and the brand's industry expert founders to bring our discerning travelers a new drink that they can feel great about drinking. Whether in-room or on the go throughout our hotels, we know guests will love the great flavors of these drinks as well as the positive message behind the Saint James Tea brand."

"We are delighted to introduce guests in Los Angeles and Miami to our clean and refreshing iced teas. We found synergy with Ennismore as, like Saint James Tea, the hospitality brand prioritizes wellness and social responsibility - making the venues the perfect match for our first hotel partnership," says Brad Neumann, President of Saint James Tea.

The new partnership is Saint James Tea's first hotel collaboration since its launch in winter 2021, elevating the health and wellness experience for guests. With only 20 calories and four grams of sugar, the refreshment comes in Tetra Paks created with low carbon materials and made of 70% paper from responsibly managed forests. The fresh flavors are Original Green Tea, Blueberry & Raspberry, Passion Fruit & Peach, and Pineapple & Mango.

Created by an entrepreneurial dream team - including AriZona Iced Tea co-founder John Ferolito, and fashion designer Jon Buscemi - Saint James Tea is a healthy beverage option that has minimal environmental impact. Named in honor of an inspirational figure in Ferolito's career, Father James Haggerty, the product has a shelf life of 24 months as the packaging eliminates exposure to air and light. The preservative-free tea has quickly become a success in the beverage industry.

The brand further differentiates themselves as they have a mission to give back, uplift, and inspire. #WhoIsYourSaintJames is an initiative that allows individuals to empower and recognize those who are helping better the community; this derives from Father Haggerty's desire to improve the lives of those around him. Ennismore and Saint James Tea's relationship will continue to grow and include future activations, pop-ups, and sampling opportunities to further encompass this mission throughout the year.

Ennismore's Partnership Studio continues to expand its strategic partnerships with international brands  including Fortune 500 - across automotive, communications, beverage and financial services to deliver innovative and bespoke benefits, products, and experiences. This new partnership builds on existing collaborations with Barilla, Danone, Chase Sapphire, Lincoln Motor Company, Tidal, Therabody, Lavazza, Redbull, DOGPOUND, Goldsheep, GLOSSLAB, Y7 Studio and Malin + Goetz.

ABOUT ENNISMORE

Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. It curates and manages unique properties and experiences in some of the most exciting destinations around the world.

Founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha, Ennismore and Accor entered a joint venture in 2021 to create a new autonomous entity, with Accor holding a majority shareholding. Creating the world's fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, it brings together Ennismore's know-how in building brands with creative storytelling, design, and authentic experiences, with Accor's wealth of knowledge in delivering scale, network growth and distribution. Under the leadership of Sharan Pasricha, Founder & Co-CEO, and Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO, Ennismore comprises 14 brands - with 101 operating properties and a further 137 in the pipeline - and a collection of over 150 culturally relevant and diverse restaurants and nightlife destinations.

Ennismore puts innovation at the center of everything it does, with four dedicated in-house specialist studios, which obsess every guest touchpoint, including Carte Blanched  a fully integrated F&B concept platform; a creative studio of interior and graphic designers; a digital product and tech innovation lab, and a partnerships and collaborations unit.

Ennismore has been included in Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies lists in 2020 and 2021; ranked#29 in FT1000: Europe's Fastest-Growing Companies; and is part of FT Future 100 - the UK's fastest-growing businesses that are shaping the future of their sector.

The Ennismore brands: 21c Museum Hotel, 25hours Hotels, Delano, Gleneagles, Hyde, JO&JOE, Mama Shelter, Mondrian, Morgans Originals, SLS, SO/, The Hoxton, TRIBE and Working From_. ennismore.com

ABOUT SAINT JAMES TEA

Saint James Tea is a sustainably-packaged organic line of ready-to-drink teas with a mission to better the community. The healthy and great-tasting products are beneficial for people and the planet.

Learn more at http://www.saintjamesicedtea.com or on Instagram, @SaintJamesIcedTea.

Media Contact:

Emily Venugopal / Cara Chapman / Jennifer Isicoff: [email protected]

SOURCE Ennismore
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst troubling macroeconomic trends and talks of a possible recession, hiring defied all expectations with U.S. businesses adding 528,000 jobs in July. Compared to the broader employment trend, job growth in the IT sector remained essentially unchanged from June, down 0.02% in July, according to TechServe Alliance, the national trade association of the IT & Engineering Staffing and Solutions Industry. On a year-over-year basis, IT employment was up a meager 0.32% from July 2021, adding a net of only 17,400 jobs in the year's period. The Engineering sector showed a year-over-year job growth rate of 4.08%, with the addition of 106,900 jobs over the course of the year.

Flat Tech Employment Growth Indicative of Continued Talent Crisis in High-Demand Skill Sets

"We continue to see a very strong demand for tech talent and a shortage of qualified candidates," said Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance. "This is validated by the low unemployment rate of 2.2% in the sector and by our member companies, who tell us that job requirements from their clients still continue unabated. It is not surprising that we are continuing to struggle in growing the overall technology jobs' pie because of this significant supply-demand imbalance.

"This really underscores the need for businesses to move quickly with hiring decisions, offer competitive compensation, and not hold out for that perfect candidate or they will lose the candidate to other employers in need of the same skill set."

The following table presents information about the total number of jobs in certain sectors that provide a significant amount of employment for IT and engineering professionals.

Comparisons of TechServe Alliance's IT Employment Index to employment

in some key sectors with significant numbers of IT jobs as well as to all non-farm jobs July 2022 TechServe

Alliance IT

Employment

Index Computer

systems and

design

services Management

and technical

consulting

services Data

processing,

hosting and

related

services TechServe

Alliance Engineering

Employment

Index Computer and

electronic

product

manufacturing Professional

and technical

services Federal,

State, and

Local

Government

(excluding

state and

local schools

and hospitals) Total non-

farm jobs number of jobs 5,411,000 2,432,900 1,767,100 422,600 2,723,8 1,085,700 10,502,6 10,816,300 152,536,000 change from previous month - 0.02 % - 0.004 % + 0.7 % + 1.0 % + 0.36 % + 0.3 % + 0.5 % + 0.2 % + 0.3 % change from same month, one year earlier + 0.32 % + 5.9 % + 8.1 % + 9.3 % + 4.08 % + 2.6 % + 6.0 % + 0.3 % + 4.2 % note: all figures are subject to revision Sources: Department of Labor/U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and TechServe Alliance

Technical note: TechServe Alliance's IT Employment Index and Engineering Employment Index are the first specific measurements of IT and engineering employment. These unique measurements of total IT and engineering employment are created monthly by studying the ongoing staffing patterns of a dozen IT and computer related occupations in 22 industries and industry sectors employing significant numbers of IT workers and nearly two dozen engineering occupations in 30 select industries and industry sectors employing significant numbers of engineering workers. Both the monthly IT Employment and Engineering Employment Indices are based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, which is subject to monthly revisions, and is revised accordingly. Both indices are also subject to periodic revisions and annual revisions / benchmarking that includes revisions to several years of employment data, which also may incorporate new occupational definitions. Both indices were revised / benchmarked going back several years starting with January 2022 data and published in February 4, 2022. In addition, both indices are subject to minor revisions to March and April data. The next major revision will be published in February 2023.

ABOUT TechServe Alliance

TechServe Alliance is the national trade association of the IT & Engineering staffing and solutions industry. IT & Engineering staffing and solutions firms count on TechServe Alliance to keep their leadership informed, engaged, and connected. TechServe Alliance serves as the voice of the industry before the policymakers and the national and trade press. By providing access to the knowledge and best practices of an entire industry and tapping the "collective scale" of its members, TechServe Alliance supports its members in the efficient delivery of best-in-class IT & Engineering staffing and solutions for clients and exceptional professional opportunities for every consultant.

SOURCE TechServe Alliance
HOUSTON, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Flotek Industries, Inc. ("Flotek" or the "Company") (NYSE: FTK) today announced second quarter results for the three months ended June 30, 2022.

"I'm pleased to report our second quarter 2022 results in which revenue of $29.4MM increased 2.3x compared to the first quarter 2022 and 3.2x compared to the second quarter of 2021. Our Supply Agreement with ProFrac was effective as of April 1st, spans 10 years, and covers an equivalent volume of our full suite of downhole chemistries to serve 30 of their frac fleets or 70% of their total frac fleet, whichever is greater. While we are still in the early days of the contract, serving an average of 8 fleets in Q2, we remain confident in our ramp up to the full contract scope over the coming quarters. We also have no reason to expect that our relationship is bounded by the 30 fleet or 70% numbers. As we continue to provide exemplary service, ProFrac has the incentive to maximize chemical deliveries from Flotek due to the structure of our arrangement. ProFrac recently announced the acquisition of US Well Services which is expected to close in Q4. As a result, they expect to be operating 44 active frac fleets by the end of 2022. While 70% of 44 is a bit less than 31, we fully expect that we will win more of that business as we scale up" said John W. Gibson, Jr., Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.

"While we are proud of our ability to increase volume and revenue thus far, and are confident that we have the capability to fulfill future demand, we recognize that the glide path to positive Adjusted EBITDA hinges on future margins. We further recognize that this was only the first quarter of the ProFrac contract, and economies of scale and operating leverage should drive better margins as we continue to grow. In addition to the challenge any company would face evolving to growth at this pace, we were confronted with a difficult freight & logistics environment which our team is working hard to neutralize. In summary, we remain committed to achieving positive Adjusted EBITDA margins and continue to be optimistic about the future and expect improving financial performance throughout the year."

Key Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Total Revenues: Flotek generated second quarter 2022 consolidated revenue of $29.4 million , up 128% from $12.9 million in the first quarter of 2022, driven by increased activity with ProFrac and continued growth in deliveries to transactional Chemistry Technologies customers.

Flotek generated second quarter 2022 consolidated revenue of , up 128% from in the first quarter of 2022, driven by increased activity with ProFrac and continued growth in deliveries to transactional Chemistry Technologies customers. Net Income and EPS: The Company recorded net income of $6.2 million , or $0.08 per basic and $(0.05) diluted share, in the second quarter 2022 compared to a net loss of $10.7 million , or $0.15 per basic/diluted share, in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential improvement is primarily due to the change in fair value of contingent convertible notes payable of $17.2 million .

The Company recorded net income of , or per basic and diluted share, in the second quarter 2022 compared to a net loss of , or per basic/diluted share, in the first quarter of 2022. The sequential improvement is primarily due to the change in fair value of contingent convertible notes payable of . Non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter 2022 was negative $7.2 million , a 33% decline compared to negative $5.4 million in the first quarter 2022.

Operational Highlights

In the first quarter 2022, the Company entered into a long-term supply agreement with ProFrac Services, LLC (ProFrac), to provide full downhole chemistry solutions for the greater of 33% of ProFrac's crews or 10 crews minimum for three years. In the second quarter, the Company entered into an amended agreement with ProFrac to expand the Agreement to a term of 10 years and 70% of ProFrac's frac fleet or 30 hydraulic fracturing fleets, whichever is greater. The expansion was overwhelmingly approved by shareholders on May 9, 2022 . Combined, the contracts are expected to exceed $2 billion in revenue over the next decade. Additional details can be found in the Company's SEC and 10-Q filings.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of June 30, 2022 , the Company reported cash and equivalents of $33.1 million compared to $24.9 million at the end of the first quarter 2022, benefitted by the Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) transactions with ProFrac, which were disclosed previously.

, the Company reported cash and equivalents of compared to at the end of the first quarter 2022, benefitted by the Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE) transactions with ProFrac, which were disclosed previously. On June 17, 2022 , Flotek entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with ProFrac. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company will receive $19,500,000 in cash and ProFrac will receive pre-funded warrants permitting ProFrac to purchase 13,104,839 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to $0.0001 per share, representing a 20% premium to the 30-day volume average price of the Company's common stock at the close of business on the day prior to the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement. ProFrac may not receive any voting or consent rights in respect of the Prefunded Warrants or the underlying shares unless and until the Company has obtained approval from a majority of its shareholders excluding ProFrac and its affiliates, and ProFrac has paid an additional $4,500,000 to the Company.

, Flotek entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with ProFrac. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company will receive in cash and ProFrac will receive pre-funded warrants permitting ProFrac to purchase 13,104,839 shares of common stock of the Company at an exercise price equal to per share, representing a 20% premium to the 30-day volume average price of the Company's common stock at the close of business on the day prior to the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement. ProFrac may not receive any voting or consent rights in respect of the Prefunded Warrants or the underlying shares unless and until the Company has obtained approval from a majority of its shareholders excluding ProFrac and its affiliates, and ProFrac has paid an additional to the Company. On April 18, 2022 , the Company closed on a contract to sell the Waller, TX facility for $4.3 million . The proceeds are included in our second quarter 2022 results. In addition, the Company is currently entertaining an offer to sell the Monahans,TX facility and we expect to be able to close that sale in the coming quarters. The Monahans facility remained classified as held for sale as of June 30, 2022 .

Conference Call Details

Flotek will host a conference call on August 10, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. CST (10:00 a.m. EST) to discuss its second quarter results for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Participants may access the call through Flotek's website at www.flotekind.com under "Webcasts'' or by telephone at 1-844-835-9986 approximately five minutes prior to the start of the call. Following the conclusion of the conference call, a recording of the call will be available on the Company's website.

About Flotek Industries, Inc.

Flotek Industries, Inc. creates solutions to reduce the environmental impact of energy on air, water, land and people. A technology-driven, specialty green chemistry and data company, Flotek helps customers across industrial, commercial, and consumer markets improve their Environmental, Social, and Governance performance. Flotek's Chemistry Technologies segment develops, manufactures, packages, distributes, delivers, and markets high-quality cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing products for commercial, governmental and personal consumer use. Additionally, Flotek empowers the energy industry to maximize the value of their hydrocarbon streams and improve return on invested capital through its real-time data platforms and green chemistry technologies. Flotek serves downstream, midstream, and upstream customers, both domestic and international. Flotek is a publicly traded company headquartered in Houston, Texas, and its common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "FTK." For additional information, please visit www.flotekind.com.

Forward -Looking Statements

Certain statements set forth in this press release constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) regarding Flotek Industries, Inc.'s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Words such as will, continue, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates and similar expressions or variations of such words are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements in this press release. Although forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the good faith judgment of management, such statements can only be based on facts and factors currently known to management. Consequently, forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may differ materially from the results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements. Further information about the risks and uncertainties that may impact the company are set forth in the Company's most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K (including, without limitation, in the "Risk Factors" section thereof), and in the Company's other SEC filings and publicly available documents. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect, any event or circumstance that may arise after the date of this press release.

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data)



Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

6/30/2022

6/30/2021

3/31/2022

6/30/2022

6/30/2021



















Revenue:

















Revenue from external customers $ 12,824

$ 9,165

$ 10,382

$ 23,206

$ 20,935 Revenue from related party 16,549



2,497

19,046

 Total revenues 29,373

9,165

12,879

42,252

20,935 Cost of goods sold 31,678

10,775

13,358

45,036

22,853 Gross loss (2,305)

(1,610)

(479)

(2,784)

(1,918) Operating costs and expenses:

















Selling, general, and administrative 7,431

4,203

4,879

12,310

10,287 Depreciation and amortization 182

253

195

377

560 Research and development 1,115

1,466

1,415

2,530

3,008 Gain on sale of property and equipment (1,914)

(71)

8

(1,906)

(69) Gain on lease termination 



(584)

(584)

 Change in fair value of contract consideration

convertible notes payable (17,158)



3,892

(13,266)

 Total operating costs and expenses (10,344)

5,851

9,805

(539)

13,786 Income (loss) from operations 8,039

(7,461)

(10,284)

(2,245)

(15,704) Other income (expense):

















Paycheck protection plan loan forgiveness 

881





881 Interest expense (1,597)

(17)

(668)

(2,265)

(35) Other income (expense) , net (104)

72

224

120

39 Total other income (expense), net (1,701)

936

(444)

(2,145)

885 Income (loss) before income taxes 6,338

(6,525)

(10,728)

(4,390)

(14,819) Income tax expense (98)

(21)

4

(94)

(27) Net Income (loss) $ 6,240

$ (6,546)

(10,724)

(4,484)

(14,846)



















Income (loss) per common share:















Basic $ 0.08

$ (0.09)

$ (0.15)

$ (0.06)

$ (0.22) Diluted $ (0.05)

$ (0.09)

$ (0.15)

$ (0.12)

$ (0.22)



















Weighted average common shares:

















Weighted average common shares used in

computing basic loss per common share 74,861

69,531

73,858

73,476

69,001 Weighted average common shares used in

computing diluted loss per common share 124,335

69,531

73,858

107,086

69,001

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share data)







June 30, 2022

December 31, 2021 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 33,084

$ 11,534 Restricted cash 40

1,790 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $514

and $659 at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 , respectively 11,320

13,297 Accounts receivable, related party 12,030

 Inventories, net 13,249

9,454 Other current assets 4,000

3,762 Current contract asset 6,260

 Assets held for sale 535

2,762 Total current assets 80,518

42,599 Property and equipment, net 4,819

5,296 Operating lease right-of-use assets 1,771

2,041 Deferred tax assets, net 283

279 Other long-term assets 17

29 Long term contract assets 76,063

 TOTAL ASSETS $ 163,471

$ 50,244 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable 19,771

7,616 Accrued liabilities 7,115

8,996 Income taxes payable 103

4 Interest payable 106

82 Current portion of operating lease liabilities 636

602 Current portion of finance lease liabilities 34

41 Current portion of long-term debt 1,690

1,436 Convertible notes payable 18,323

 Contract consideration convertible notes payable 67,220

 Total current liabilities 114,998

18,777 Deferred revenue, long-term 84

91 Long-term operating lease liabilities 6,695

7,779 Long-term finance lease liabilities 38

53 Long-term debt 3,098

3,352 TOTAL LIABILITIES 124,913

30,052 Stockholders' equity:





Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 140,000,000 shares authorized;

82,884,690 shares issued and 76,773,333 shares outstanding at

June 30, 2022 ; 79,483,837 shares issued and 73,461,203 shares

outstanding at December 31, 2021 8

8 Additional paid-in capital 386,310

363,417 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 176

81 Accumulated deficit (313,698)

(309,214) Treasury stock, at cost; 6,022,634 and 5,580,920 shares at June 30,

2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively (34,238)

(34,100) Total stockholders' equity 38,558

20,192 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 163,471

$ 50,244

FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)



Six months ended June 30,



2022

2021

Cash flows from operating activities:







Net loss $ (4,484)

$ (14,846)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:







Change in fair value of contingent consideration (134)

(302)

Change in fair value of contract consideration convertible notes payable (13,266)



Amortization of convertible note issuance costs 414



PIK interest expense 1,819



Amortization of contract assets 737





Depreciation and amortization 377

560

Provision for doubtful accounts, net of recoveries 87

(1)

Provision for excess and obsolete inventory 769

580

Gain on sale of property and equipment (1,906)

(69)

Gain on lease termination (584)



Non-cash lease expense 112

163

Stock compensation expense 1,591

1,750

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense (5)

10

Paycheck protection plan loan forgiveness 

(881)

Changes in current assets and liabilities:







Accounts receivable (10,141)

1,995

Inventories (4,521)

(222)

Income taxes receivable 7

207

Other current assets (244)

(672)

Contract assets, net (3,600)



Other long-term assets 12

541

Accounts payable 12,154

801

Accrued liabilities (2,924)

(1,048)

Operating lease liabilities (308)



Income taxes payable 99

168

Interest payable 24

24

Net cash used in operating activities (23,915)

(11,242)

Cash flows from investing activities:







Capital expenditures (5)

(31)

Proceeds from sale of assets 4,194

74

Net cash provided by investing activities 4,189

43

Cash flows from financing activities:







Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes 21,150



Payment of issuance costs of convertible notes (1,084)



Proceeds from issuance of warrants 19,500



Payments to tax authorities for shares withheld from employees (138)

(78)

Proceeds from issuance of stock 24



Purchase from sale of common stock 

(166)

Payments for finance leases (21)

(29)

Net cash provided by (used in) provided by financing activities 39,431

(273)

Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 95

(31)

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 19,800

(11,503)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of period 11,534

38,660

Restricted cash at the beginning of period 1,790

664

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 13,324

39,324

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 33,084

27,781

Restricted cash at the end of period 40

40

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 33,124

$ 27,821



FLOTEK INDUSTRIES, INC. Unaudited Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Items and Non-Cash Items Impacting Earnings (in thousands)



Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

6/30/2022

6/30/2021

3/31/2022

6/30/2022

6/30/2021



















Net income (loss) $ 6,240

$ (6,546)

$ (10,724)

$ (4,483)

$ (14,846) Interest expense 1,597

17

668

2,265

35 Interest income 

(3)





(8) Income tax (benefit) expense 98

21

(4)

94

27 Depreciation and amortization 182

253

195

377

560 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 8,117

(6,258)

(9,865)

(1,747)

(14,232) Stock compensation expense 852

969

739

1,591

1,707 Severance and retirement 610

946

(4)

606

979 M&A transaction costs (228)

100

94

(133)

(57) Inventory step-up 

32





80 (Gain) loss on disposal of assets (1,914)

(71)

8

(1,906)

(69) Gain on lease termination 



(584)

(584)

 Contract consideration convertible notes payable

revaluation adjustment (17,158)



3,892

(13,266)

 Amortization of contract assets 737







737 PPP loan forgiveness 

(881)





(881) Employee retention credit 

(1,923)





(1,923) Non-Recurring professional fees 1,742

447

274

2,017

594 Discontinued Legal Fees 

(59)





459 Winter storm (natural disaster) 







199 Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ (7,242)

$ (6,698)

$ (5,446)

$ (13,422)

$ (12,407)



(1) Management believes that adjusted EBITDA for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, and the three months ended March 31, 2022, is useful to investors to assess and understand operating performance, especially when comparing those results with previous and subsequent periods. Management views the expenses noted above to be outside of the Company's normal operating results. Management analyses operating results without the impact of the above items as an indicator of performance, to identify underlying trends in the business and cash flow from continuing operations, and to establish operational goals.

SOURCE Flotek Industries, Inc.
Customers will enjoy a new shopping experience with over 4,000 new fresh, local, natural and organic products to support with their health and wellness journey

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh Thyme Market , a neighborhood-focused grocer with 71 stores in 10 states throughout the Midwest, is celebrating their Re-Grand Opening at their Grand Rapids store, located at 2470 Burton St SE. The newly remodeled store features over 4,000 new items storewide, including hundreds of new beer, wine and liquor products featuring local Michigan and Grand Rapid breweries and distilleries, more sushi offerings, abundant and vibrant fresh flowers, and a self-checkout model, allowing customers the ease of shopping at their own speed.

Fresh Thyme Market Grand Rapids by Robert Medvedenko

"We are thrilled to announce that we have updated our 30,000 square-foot Grand Rapids store to provide customers with a new shopping experience from the moment they walk in the door." Store Director, Rod Kennedy shared. "We are committed to providing our customers with a better shopping experience with more choices, more local and national brands and more convenience at low prices."

Fresh Thyme Market is committed to deepening their roots within the local community in which they serve. Shoppers are invited to select fresh, local, natural and organic products that were carefully curated to meet them wherever they are on their personal health and wellness journey. The newly remodeled Fresh Thyme Market, Grand Rapids location features over 600 local, artisan items, including Hummus Goodness, Good Life Naturals, and Sugar Sweet Bath + Body Treats.

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Grand Rapids Fresh Thyme Market will offer free parking to new and returning customers.

About Fresh Thyme Market

Fresh Thyme Market, a local, community-focused grocer with 71 stores in 10 states throughout the Midwest, was born from a genuine desire to help people live better and healthier lives. Every day Fresh Thyme Market works to be a trusted resource in our communities, bringing people access to real food at real affordable prices. With a local focus on what the community needs, each store provides fresh, natural and organic food at affordable prices. By offering an immersive, intuitive shopping experience, Fresh Thyme Market meets people wherever they are on their journey to living a healthier lifestyle. To learn more, visit freshthyme.com or keep in touch by liking Fresh Thyme at facebook.com/freshthymemarket , and following them at twitter.com/freshthymefm and https://www.instagram.com/freshthyme/ .

Media Contact:

Shannon Ross

[email protected]

404-702-3623

SOURCE Fresh Thyme Market
Co-founder and Board Member Hong-hoi Ting, D.Phil. Appointed Chief Strategy Officer

James McCarter, Ph.D. Named Vice President, Head of Radioisotope Technology Research

William Diamond, Ph.D., Carl Ross, Ph.D. and Herbert Moore, Ph.D. Join Radioisotope Technology Advisory Board

SHANGHAI and BRUSSELS, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Full-Life Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Full-Life") today announced two key appointments to its Radioisotope Technology leadership team and the establishment of a Radioisotope Technology Advisory Board that deepen the company's expertise in radioisotope technology. Joining the company's management team are Full-Life co-founder and board member Hong-hoi Ting, D.Phil. as Chief Strategy Officer, and James McCarter, Ph.D. as Vice President, Head of Radioisotope Technology Research.

The company's newly formed Radioisotope Technology Advisory Board is composed of well-known industry leaders in the field of radioisotope technology. The founding advisory board members include: William Diamond, Ph.D., former Senior Scientist at Atomic Energy Canada; Carl Ross, Ph.D., former physicist at the National Research Council of Canada; and Herbert Moore, Ph.D., former research leader at New England DuPont.

"The appointments of Dr. Ting and Dr. McCarter provide Full-Life with great depth and breadth of business and technical expertise in radioisotopes and radiopharmaceutical technology as we advance and expand our robust pipeline," said Philippe van Put, General Manager of Full-Life Europe. "Dr. Ting, who has helped set Full-Life's direction as a co-founder and board member, has an outstanding track record in building and guiding the growth of radio therapeutics and health care companies. Dr. McCarter brings more than 18 years of experience as a leader in engineering physics, particle accelerators, and radioisotope technology."

Mr. Van Put continued, "The distinguished experts on our Radioisotope Technology Advisory Board have a wealth of experience that spans radioisotope technology discovery, development, and production and reflects our ambition to build a fully integrated platform for developing next-generation targeted radio therapeutics. Their expertise and insights will help us fulfill the company's mission."

Dr. Ting is a scientist, entrepreneur, and angel investor. Before joining Full-Life, he was the first China General Manager of Amersham International Plc. During his tenure at Amersham, he started a very successful joint venture with China Isotope Corporation, CICAM, one of the world's largest smoke detector alpha-foil manufacturers. He played a role in the launch of Amersham Kexing Pharmaceutical (Shanghai), a joint venture with C.A.S. Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research, for the cyclotron production of medical radioisotopes. In addition, he served as CEO and co-founder of Nanomab Technology, Oxford Vacmedix, and Biovue Technology Ltd. and was a co-founder of Genemedix Plc., a biotechnology company that was co-listed on the main boards of London Stock Exchange (LSE) and Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) before its acquisition by the Reliance Group. He has also served in consulting capacities with Westinghouse Electric, Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, CGN Nuclear Technology, and ITM GmbH. Dr. Ting received his D.Phil. from Oxford University and held a permanent university senior research staff position under Professor J.E. Baldwin's group before pursuing a career in the industry.

Dr. McCarter's passion lies in leading multi-disciplined teams to solve complex technical problems. His technical expertise spans systems engineering and integration, electron accelerators, electron sources, controls and diagnostics, and high-power targets. Prior to joining Full-Life, he served in technical leadership and research positions at NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC, Niowave, Inc, and the University of Virginia. Most notably, he was the Manager of the Irradiation Team at NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes, LLC, where he was also the technical lead of their multi-million dollar program to develop and build an accelerator-based facility for the production of Mo-99. Dr. McCarter received his Ph.D. degree in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia, with research conducted at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.

Radioisotope Technology Advisory Board Launched with Three Renowned Scientists

Dr. William Diamond, Ph.D., has a broad background in physics, applied physics, and nuclear reactor engineering and he is a leading expert on the plasma physics of ion sources and vacuum-high-voltage insulation. He served in senior scientific roles at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Jefferson Labs, and Schlumberger-Doll Research until his retirement in 2010. Since that time, he has had consulting roles at the Canadian Light Source Incorporated (CLSI) and Queen's University on accelerator licensing and design projects. He has received five "Discovery Awards," the highest research award at AECL and he is named on five patents (primary author on two) and author of many published scientific papers and many unpublished proprietary reports at both Schlumberger-Doll Research and AECL. He holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Carl Ross, Ph.D., is a leading expert on photonuclear reactions, ionizing radiation, and radiation standards. His career at the National Research Council of Canada spanned more than 40 years, during which time he served in several roles, including Principal Research Officer and the Group Leader of Ionizing Radiation Standards. In 2011, Dr. Ross and his colleagues were awarded an NRC Outstanding Achievement Award for their work on the production of Tc-99m. He has served on both International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) scientific committees. Since his retirement in 2014, he has continued research on radiation physics and medical isotopes. Dr. Ross received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from McMaster University, Hamilton, (Ontario, Canada), in 1973.

Dr. Herbert Moore, Ph.D., is an expert in isotope production and photonuclear reactions, and has extensive experience in the field of medical isotopes. He began his career in radiopharmaceuticals research at Medi+Physics (MPI) where he participated in several projects, contributed to four clinical trials, and FDA approvals. Dr. Moore has also worked at New England Du Pont where he improved the production of multiple medical isotopes, including Ga-67, Ga-68, In-111, Tl-201, and Mo-99 (Tc-99m). After retiring from Du Pont, his focus has been on photonuclear reactions and isotope production, and on producing selected alpha emitters with therapeutic or palliative potential. Dr. Moore received his B.S. in Chemistry and Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering with strong minors in mathematics and physics from the University of California at Berkeley.

About Full-Life Technologies

Full-Life Technologies Limited ("Full-Life") is a fully integrated global radiotherapeutics company with operations in Europe and China. We seek to own the entire value chain for radio-ligand research & development, production & commercialization in order to deliver clinical impact for patients. We plan to attack the core issues affecting radiopharmaceuticals today through innovative research that targets the treatments of tomorrow. We are comprised of a team of fast-moving entrepreneurs & scientists with a demonstrated track record in the life sciences as well as radioisotope research and clinical development.

Follow us: www.full-life.com

SOURCE Full-Life Technologies Limited
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GenNx360 Capital Partners ("GenNx360"), a New York City-based private equity firm investing in middle market business-to-business companies, in partnership with the management team of ITsavvy LLC ("ITsavvy" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce its investment in the Company.

ITsavvy is an Addison, Illinois-based technology solutions provider that delivers frictionless IT experiences to clients across multiple segments and industries. ITsavvy leverages the power of its partner ecosystem to design, develop and deliver technology infrastructure solutions that accelerate business outcomes on behalf of its clients. The Company's expansive portfolio of 4 million+ SKUs and diversity of relationships across suppliers and clients of various sizes and sectors allows ITsavvy to deliver end-to-end solutions nationwide.

Munu Gandhi, currently President and COO, will continue to provide leadership to the Company as its CEO. "Since our founding in 2004, ITsavvy has been a client-centric firm, focused on providing thought leadership around the products and solutions required to deliver their business outcomes. Through the years, we have developed an industry-leading platform that has enabled us to serve clients across multiple segments and industries. Today is an exciting day in our journey with the announcement of our partnership with GenNx360. GenNx360 brings thought leadership, deep operational expertise, and financial resources that will enable ITsavvy to evolve our platform to deliver enhanced solutions to our clients and accelerate our growth," Gandhi stated.

Ron Blaylock the GenNx360 Founder & Managing Partner who led the transaction, stated, "ITsavvy represents a strong platform in an attractive industry with tremendous whitespace and demonstrates GenNx360's continued momentum and portfolio diversification. The Company is led by an impressive management team who has built an industry-leading platform with exciting organic and inorganic growth characteristics. We look forward to supporting the ITsavvy team in continuing the execution of their growth strategy."

312 Investments served as financial advisor and Piccione, Keeley & Associates, Ltd served as legal counsel to ITsavvy. Morrison Cohen LLP served as legal counsel to GenNx360.

About GenNx360 Capital Partners

GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on acquiring middle market business-to-business companies. GenNx360 invests in companies with proven and sustainable business models in expanding industries, with the objective of implementing value-enhancing operational improvements to accelerate growth, deliver efficiencies and generate strong financial returns. Target industries include business & industrial services, automation & industrial technology, packaging products, industrial machinery and components, equipment services, environmental services, and food ingredients/equipment/services. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York City. www.gennx360.com

About ITsavvy

ITsavvy is one of the fastest growing resources for integrated IT products and technology solutions in the United States. Combining a comprehensive value-added reseller business with industry-leading IT solutions, ITsavvy is a single-source, end-to-end IT partner that strives to continuously deliver peace of mind to its clients. www.itsavvy.com

For media inquiries about this press release, please contact:

Carmen Rojas, Director of Investor Relations

GenNx360 Capital Partners

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 212.257.6772

SOURCE GenNx360 Capital Partners
DUBLIN, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cancer and Tumor Profiling Market Size, Share, Trends, By Biomarker Type, By Cancer type, By Technology, By Process Type, By Application, and By Region Forecast to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global cancer/tumor profiling market will reach $18 billion in 2028 and register a CAGR of 10%. Rapid growth can be attributed to benefits such as early treatment for patients, discovery of targeted medicines due to this technology's ability is able to provide more information on different types at various stages; all these factors lead into lower mortality rates overall thus making it possible not only to discover new drugs but also develop better treatments.



The use of cancer/tumor profiling enables doctors to confirm the presence and locate within a patient's body where malignant cells exist. This method helps Oncologists plan treatment in order for them provide their best possible care, curing this disease faster than ever before.



Some Key Highlights from the Report

By cancer type, lung cancer segment revenue is expected to grow at a faster rate over the forecast period. With an increasing number of lung cancer cases across the world, it is crucial to profile this type accurately. The most important thing about treating these diseases are their biomarkers which have been recognized by scientists and can be treated with targeted medicine- meaning you will not get cured but only live longer than someone without those treatments!

Biomarkers can be used to detect any abnormality in cells, and they're generally found throughout blood or other body fluids. Cancer/tumor profiling technologies help identify these biomarkers at the earliest stages so that mortality rates are reduced as well!

By, technology, the next-generation sequencing (NGS) segment accounted for largest revenue share in 2020. This technology provides ultra high output, scalability and speed that are all key features in cancer/tumor profiling with its ability to analyze genetically mutations regions as well rapid whole genome sequences which helps identify potential treatments for different types of cancers at an early stage when it would otherwise be difficult or impossible without these tools.

The North American cancer/tumor profiling market is projected to grow at a rapid pace, due in part from initiatives by governments and rising cases of metastatic cancers. Major players such as Illumina Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific'inc having presence here also contribute significantly towards growth prospects for this industry across all regions.

In November 2021 , Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., a world leader in laboratory equipment with over 40 years of experience has received approval for their new device named QuantStudio 7 Pro Dx Real-Time PCR System. The Class II medical device is known as fast ramp up and supports various other technologies that will help productivity within your day to day workflow such as no specialized training needed from technicians or scientists when using this product line!

For this report, the publisher has segmented the global cancer/tumor profiling market on the basis of cancer type, technology, biomarker type, process type, application, and region:

Cancer Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2028)

Lung Cancer

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Melanoma

Ovarian Cancer

Stomach Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Thyroid Cancer

Sarcoid

Other

Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2028)

Immunohistochemistry(IHC)

Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR)

Chromogenic in Situ Hybridization (CISH)

Microarray

Others

Biomarker Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2028)

Genetic

Protein

Others

Process Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2028)

Genomics

Proteomics

Epigenetics

Metabolomics

Others

Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2018-2028)

Research

Clinical

Machine learning

Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion; 2019-2030)

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Market Synopsis



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. Indicative Metrics



Chapter 4. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis



Chapter 5. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market By Cancer Type Insights & Trends



Chapter 6. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market By Technology Insights & Trends



Chapter 7. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market By Biomarker Type Insights & Trends



Chapter 8. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market By Process Type Insight & Trends



Chapter 9. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market By Application Insights & Trends



Chapter 10. Cancer/Tumor Profiling Market Regional Outlook



Chapter 11. Competitive Landscape



Chapter 12. Company Profiles



Companies Mentioned

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Illumina Inc.

Siemens AG.

F-Hoffmann La Roche Ltd.

Nanostring Technologies Inc.

BioGenex

Neogenomics Laboratories Inc.

HTG Molecular Diagnostics Inc.

Perkin Elmer Inc.

CellCarta Inc.

Ribomed Biotechnologies Inc.

Perthera

Qiagen N.V.

Genscript Biotech Corporation

Caris Life Sciences

Personalis Inc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/67phqf

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
DUBLIN, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Digital Grid Guidebook" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Value generated by grid optimization digital solutions will reach $22.27 billion in 2025.

The ongoing global and regional efforts to decentralize and decarbonize the energy industry result in an increasingly digitized network that will be a more interconnected, intelligent, and responsive energy infrastructure continuously generating substantial amounts of data.

However, the industry historically lacks innovative technologies and operational tools that leverage these growing volumes of data to generate real-time insights to drive real value for energy utilities and grid operators. Within this context, utilities across the globe are seeking advanced solutions that enable smart monitoring, visualization, and analysis of energy distribution networks, empowering them to enhance power quality while addressing prevalent energy equality challenges.

As a result, there is a growing market need for grid optimization solutions. Despite potential growth opportunities, critical factors, including subsequent COVID-19 waves and the associated decline in revenue, lack of return-on-investment evidence for digital solutions, value-creation uncertainty, and overlapping functionalities of several solutions, are restraining the widespread adoption of digital solutions.

This research helps decision makers within the utility sector to overcome the critical issues they face by evaluating the ecosystem of digital transformation solution providers. Using industry expert dialogues and decision support matrices, this report identified the top 50 digital practitioners across the grid space within the grid industry.

A detailed discussion covers industry innovations and trends with implications for the near future. The study offers the digital solution details of 50 companies and the critical customer issues these solutions address with the justification of why each company is a digital best practitioner.

Digital grid market defined as a suite of digital solutions (software, life cycle services, and associated hardware components) that drive business innovation and operational transformation across the power distribution industry. These solutions can focus on a specific value chain function or span the end-to-end value chain from conceptualization, remote asset monitoring, fault detection, analytics-based insights, predictive maintenance, digital twin, and other life cycle management solutions.

Key Issues Addressed:

Which are the top 50 companies pioneering digital transformation in the global grid optimization space?

What is the addressable market for digital solutions?

What are key market dynamics likely to influence the market growth over the next 8 years?

What are the top trends influencing digital solution adoption across the grid industry?

What are some key growth opportunities for solution providers across the region?

Key Topics Covered:



1. Strategic Imperatives

Why is it Increasingly Difficult To Grow?

The Strategic Imperative

The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on Digital Grid Guidebook

Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine

2. Research Summary

Overview of the Digital Grid Guidebook

A Reader-based View of How to Leverage this Research

Top 50 Digital Grid Best Practitioners

3. Market Research Scope, Analysis, Methodology, and Definitions

Research Scope

Digital Grid Guidebook Technology Terminology

Digital Grid Guidebook - Analysis Methodology

Growth Metrics

4. Industry Outlook and Top 8 Predictions for the Grid Industry

Key Trends Impacting the Grid Industry

Transition from Energy Monopoly to Energy Democracy

Evolution of Digital Intelligence Solutions in Security Operations

Distributed Generation Demands Higher LV Network Visibility

Electric Vehicle Expansion and Charging Infrastructure Unlock New Opportunities

Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Sensing and Sensemaking

Progressive Adoption of Advanced Digital Technologies

VPP - A Key Enabler for Grid Balancing

5. Growth Opportunity Analysis - Digital Grid Market

Growth Drivers

Growth Restraints

6. Market Revenue Forecasts

Forecast Assumptions

Revenue Forecast

Revenue Forecast by Application

Forecast Analysis

7. Top 50 Digital Best Practitioner Profiles

ABB

Aclara

AutoGrid

Awesense

Bidgely

BluWave-ai

Cisco

Cognite

Corinex

Cyient

Depsys

Efacec

EGM

Enel X

Energy & Meteo Systems

Envelio

eSmart Systems

Esyasoft Technologies Pvt Ltd.

ETAP

Evergen

FluentGrid

Franklin Electric Grid

FutureGrid

GE Digital

Grid4C

GridPoint

Hitachi Energy

Honeywell International Inc.

Innowatts

Itron

Landis+Gyr

Lumenaza

mPrest

OSISoft

PingThings

Powerledger

Rhebo

SaS

Schneider Electric

Sentient Energy

Smarter Grid Solutions (SGS)

ShineHub

Siemens

Sympower

Tantalus Systems

Trilliant

Uptake Technologies

Utilidata

Veritone

8. Growth Opportunity Universe - Digital Grid Market

Growth Opportunity 1: Strengthen Cloud Computing Capabilities to Streamline Digital Transformation

Growth Opportunity 2: Cloud-First Software Strategies for Greater Integration

Growth Opportunity 3: Beyond SaaS - XaaS will Streamline Implementation of Digital Solutions

Growth Opportunity 4: Distributed Cybersecurity for Grid Reliability

Growth Opportunity 5: Adoption of Microservices Architecture for Increased Software Flexibility

Growth Opportunity 6: Distributed Intelligence to Move from Sensing to Actuating

9. How Can You Better Leverage the Research?

Engage with Our Growth Pipeline as a Service (GPaaS) Platform to Understand the Need for Strategic Pivots and Thrive Tomorrow

Develop the Industry's Best and Credible Portfolio to Amplify Your Product Positioning and Accelerate the Demand Generation Needs

Virtual Think Tanks, Led and Moderated by the Publisher

Consulting Services Portfolio to Meet Your Bespoke Requirements

10. Next Steps

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lo5td4

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
Financial release accessible online

BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE) announced that financial results for its first quarter fiscal 2023, which ended July 2, 2022, are available on its Investor Relations website.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast with investors and analysts to discuss and answer questions about the results at 8:00 a.m. EDT on August 10, 2022. The conference call and webcast can be accessed with the following information:

Teleconference link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI722ba0e696e749e6b514af4c2a3d3cc1

Once registration is completed, participants will receive a dial-in number along with a personalized PIN to access the call. While not required, it is recommended that participants join 10 minutes prior to the event start.

A live webcast of the call can be accessed on Haemonetics' investor relations website or via the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/dc896g7s

In addition, the Company has posted to its Investor Relations website the earnings release and analytical tables and supplemental information that will be referenced on its conference call and webcast, direct links to which are available below.

Direct link to 1Q FY23 Earnings Release:

https://haemonetics.gcs-web.com/static-files/28d85dc8-1d09-4355-937b-0cc17f6d51a5

Direct link to 1Q FY23 Analytical Tables and Supplemental Information:

https://haemonetics.gcs-web.com/static-files/4abb751e-3eb6-41a8-a06b-b3c48ba9d5c9

A replay of the conference call and webcast will be available for one year beginning on August 10, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. EDT using the conference call webcast link provided in this press release.

ABOUT HAEMONETICS

Haemonetics (NYSE: HAE) is a global healthcare company dedicated to providing a suite of innovative medical products and solutions for customers, to help them improve patient care and reduce the cost of healthcare. Our technology addresses important medical markets: blood and plasma component collection, the surgical suite and hospital transfusion services. To learn more about Haemonetics, visit www.haemonetics.com.

SOURCE Haemonetics Corporation
20-year industry veteran brings well-rounded experience to HAP

DETROIT, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Alliance Plan, a Michigan-based nonprofit health plan, has named Merrill Hausenfluck senior vice president and chief financial officer. The addition of Hausenfluck in this role is a strategic component of HAP's continued expansion of all lines of business, positioning the organization for long-term growth.

Photographed is Merrill Hausenfluck.

Hausenfluck brings more than 20 years of comprehensive financial leadership experience in the health care industry to HAP. Most recently, he was chief financial officer of Envolve Pharmacy Solutions, part of Centene Corp.'s specialty services division. Prior to Centene's 2020 acquisition of WellCare, Inc., he spent 15 years at WellCare in a variety of leadership positions, including chief operating officer  Health Plan Integration, chief operating officer  Population Health Solutions, and vice president of finance. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Aetna and PacifiCare Health Systems.

"Merrill's vast experience in health care and finance includes managing government programs  particularly those that serve the Medicaid population and their unique needs," said Dr. Michael Genord, president and CEO of HAP. "The addition of Merrill to our already robust leadership team is one more example of how HAP continues to position itself for accelerated growth by strategically enhancing our talent base and competencies."

"I'm thrilled to be part of this team that's focused on growth and expansion while putting HAP members at the center of all we do," said Hausenfluck. "HAP has been on an incredible journey toward creating an exceptional consumer experience for all members, and I'm anxious to use my experience in serving our most vulnerable populations to contribute to this crucial effort."

Hausenfluck holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Radford University in Radford, Va.

About Health Alliance Plan

Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is a Michigan-based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to individuals and companies of all sizes. For 60 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers and community organizations to enhance the health and well-being of the lives it touches. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid (using the HAP Empowered name), Self-Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award-winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, as well as personalized customer service. For more information, visit www.hap.org.

SOURCE Health Alliance Plan
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Enterprise Valuation Services (HEVS) is excited to announce the addition of Eric Jenkins to the Enterprise Valuation Services team. Mr. Jenkins will serve as Managing Director with a focus on leading and growing our Disputes Consulting practice.

Mr. Jenkins brings more than 30 years of financial services and consulting experience to Hilco and will leverage his considerable network of law firms and financial institutions to help broaden Hilco's presence in disputes consulting for complex commercial disputes, valuation-related disputes, M&A transactional disputes as well as other litigation support matters.

"We're thrilled to have Eric join our disputes consulting team," said Geoffrey Frankel, CEO and Senior Managing Director of Hilco Corporate Finance. "With his experience in fiduciary, advisory services and expert testimony in capital markets, valuation, corporate finance and bankruptcy disputes, Eric will drive the growth of our expanding practice."

Before joining Hilco, Mr. Jenkins was a Managing Director in the disputes consulting practices of Huron Consulting and Kroll (formerly Duff & Phelps). Earlier in his career, Eric was an investment banker with Banc of America Securities, LLC and Deloitte and a corporate banker at NationsBank and Continental Bank. Throughout his career, Eric has served as an advisor in strategic transactions and capital raises representing billions of dollars in value and has also represented both debtors and creditors in restructuring and bankruptcy litigation.

Mr. Jenkins received a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting from Miami University as well as a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and accounting, with highest honors, from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA) and a member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors (AIRA), the Commercial Finance Association (CFA), the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI).

About Hilco Enterprises Services:

Hilco Enterprise Valuation Services (HEVS) provides a range of enterprise valuations services to businesses and their stakeholders. Our professionals advise companies, lenders, investors, counsel and other professional advisors, and fiduciaries on the realizable value of enterprises, financial instruments, and cash-generating assets in a broad range of matters, including M&A transactions, debt and equity financings, transaction opinions, intellectual property valuations, ESOPs, financial reporting and compliance, special situations, and tax matters. In addition to its core valuation services, HEVS provides disputes and litigation consulting services, including expert witness testimony, on valuation-related issues in commercial and bankruptcy litigation. HEVS is the business valuation affiliate of Northbrook, IL-based Hilco Global.

Hilco Global (www.hilcoglobal.com) operates as a holding company comprised of over twenty specialized business and has nearly four decades of successfully acting as an advisor, agent, investor and/or principal in transactions.

SOURCE Hilco Global
Music NFT marketplace gaining popularity inks deals with a number of leading artists, including ATL Jacob, Lil Gotit, Lil Gnar, Matt Ox

PROVO, Utah, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HitPiece , the easiest place to create and buy authentic music artist NFTs, has officially launched its platform out of beta. In addition, the company - to protect creators and other rights holders and demonstrate their commitment to authenticity - has announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Audible Magic , the leader in identifying music rights that enable music use by social media platforms, NFT marketplaces, metaverses, and gaming applications.

The new integration with Audible Magic marks the first of its kind music NFT and Web 3.0 partnership incorporating automated identification services to determine ownership and related rights. Audible Magic's RightsRx service compares uploaded audio to its authoritative content registry of more than 25 million media assets from the creators, music labels and publishers. HitPiece will use Audible Magic's identification technology to help verify ownership of new music prior to minting of an NFT; thus ensuring only legitimate content is distributed. Audible Magic identifies content so creators can focus on maximizing Web 3.0's new revenue and engagement opportunities rather than losing earnings to fraudulent sellers.

"We're excited to join the rapidly growing innovative NFT, Metaverse and Web 3.0 marketplace with HitPiece to continue our commitment to protecting creator rights," said Vance Ikezoye, President and CEO of Audible Magic. "Through our extensive music registry, music creators and related rights holders on and off HitPiece can be assured the content they own is protected; or monetized where permission has been granted."

"Following many positive conversations with artists, we're excited to launch the official HitPiece platform to provide creators with a new way to engage with fans and build metaverse communities," said Rory Felton, CEO and co-founder of HitPiece and music industry veteran. "As someone who has seen every corner of the industry, too often creators are not in control of how and when they can release content. NFTs for music artists will continue to expand, and we're grateful for partners like Audible Magic who help us ensure we have guardrails to provide an easy and secure one-stop shop for those in the music community joining the expanding world of Web3."

Felton co-founded The Militia Group in 2000, a record label that Sony invested in and later acquired the major assets of. In 2021, he co-founded HitPiece to create an NFT marketplace that allowed music creators to easily mint digital assets and build the future of Web3 communities. Built for crypto first-timers, music artists/owners, and music fans, the platform makes NFTs simple to collect and show off, while providing a channel for artists to enjoy exclusive engagement opportunities with their fanbases. Once artists sign up and are verified, they are granted access to their own portal and page where they can upload creative content and control the minting, release, and utility of their NFTs. Fans can purchase NFTs from their favorite music creators to get access to exclusive experiences and content, including music, as well as show off their fandom in their own ultimate metaverse music room.

Since the end of the beta phase, HitPiece has collaborated and finalized deals with dozens of creators including ATL Jacob, who recently topped Billboard's Hot 100 Producers and Songwriters Charts. In addition to providing artists with their own page, the HitPiece team also guides creators and their teams through the creative ideation process, collaborating with them on launch timeline, marketing strategies, and community development initiatives in channels such as Discord.

"In music, Web3 has significant potential to be a catalyst for increasing artistic integrity, control, and engagement for any musician, no matter their reach," said ATL Jacob. "I'm grateful to partner with organizations like HitPiece that understand the business first-hand and put hardworking creators first, and I hope the rest of the industry continues to follow suit."

Creators can register with HitPiece now to begin minting and selling their NFT collections. Fans can connect to the marketplace with their private metamask wallet for their favorite artists' digital content and exclusive experiences at www.hitpiece.com . Additional wallet integrations to be announced in the future.

About HitPiece

HitPiece is a Web3 software that enables rights holders to sell and mint NFTs. Created by a team of music and blockchain experts, HitPiece is a conduit between the communities of collectors of NFT's and artists. All NFT's for sale on HitPiece are authentic and official straight from the creators, unlocking a new way for artists to engage with their fanbases and create a layer of community ownership. For more information or to begin using your cryptocurrency wallet to purchase exclusive experiences, access, content and more, visit https://www.hitpiece.com .

About Audible Magic

For more than 20 years, Audible Magic has innovated solutions to identify content, provide fulfillment solutions, manage rights, and monetize media. Audible Magic's Emmy-winning automatic content recognition (ACR) technology powers billions of monthly transactions. The Silicon Valley pioneer is the trusted intermediary between major platforms and rights holders (including labels, studios, distributors, publishers, and collectives). For more information, visit https://www.audiblemagic.com/ .

SOURCE HitPiece
Bill aims to boost vital American semiconductor industry and U.S. technological innovation

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IEEE-USA commends the members of the U.S. Congress and the President for enacting the CHIPS and Science Act. This bill, passed by Congress with bipartisan support and signed into law today by President Biden, represents a significant step forward for America's scientific and engineering endeavors.

Representation of a computer chip

This bill appropriates $52.7 billion for American semiconductor production, research and development, and workforce education initiatives. This will help strengthen and secure America's semiconductor supply chain. Additionally, the bill provides $1.5 billion in appropriations for wireless supply chain innovation for next generation wireless technology deployment (5G and 6G).

The CHIPS and Science Act authorizes new programs and investments, including significant new funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIPs) Directorate, the Department of Energy, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Critically, the bill seeks to strengthen innovation across the entire country, including areas that have traditionally had less investment in the innovation economy. New workforce development programs will target workers including those seeking technical certifications, attending community college, and undergraduate students.

Among these new programs are Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs, which will support innovation strategies in geographically diverse parts of the country. These should focus on rural America and other parts of the country that are not currently home to many high-tech companies.

The bill also outlines 10 key technology focus areas to direct federal research and development activities to promote innovation and commercial application of technologies deemed critical to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security. Some of the key focus areas include artificial intelligence, high performance computing, quantum information science and technology, robotics, and advanced energy.

"The CHIPS and Science Act represents a tremendous step forward for American innovation," said Deborah M. Cooper, 2022 IEEE-USA President. "This bill will bring well-paying jobs to many Americans, helping to transform overlooked parts of the country."

About IEEE- USA :

IEEE-USA serves the public good and promotes the careers and public policy interests of over 150,000 engineering, computing and technology professionals who are U.S. members of IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization.

Visit us online at ieeeusa.org, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel and check us out on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Russ Harrison

Director of Government Relations, IEEE-USA

202-530-8326

[email protected]

SOURCE IEEE-USA
SINGAPORE, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- impress.ai, an end-to-end recruitment solutions provider, announced today an agreement with Aon plc, a leading global professional services firm, to provide an end-to-end candidate experience to help employers offer talent assessment solutions to improve hiring processes and streamline the recruitment process through artificial intelligence and intelligent automation.

According to research by SHRM, 59% of HR professionals believe candidates who apply for their jobs are missing the basic skill set required to perform the role. Further, 84% believe there is a general shortage of skills among the candidates.

In today's candidate-short recruitment landscape, HR professionals are struggling to find exceptional employees, and together impress.ai and Aon will help organizations across the globe to tackle these challenges.

With a highly successful integration ecosystem, the organizations will work together to deliver a seamless end-to-end recruitment experience while enabling more accurate hiring. Combining the expertise of Aon's Assessment Solutions with impress.ai's capabilities, the solution will more efficiently provide employers with predictive analytics to inform their talent recruitment strategies.

"Aon is committed to helping HR professionals make better-informed talent decisions, and working with impress.ai furthers our goal to help enable employers to do so while saving time and money," said Tarandeep Singh, Aon's global head of assessments. "With this collaboration, we look forward to streamlining the complex recruitment process for our clients while ensuring a superior candidate experience that helps build more resilient workforces."

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Sudhanshu Ahuja, CEO & Co-founder of impress.ai, said, "This relationship with Aon is a major milestone for impress.ai, expanding on our mission to make accurate hiring easier. We look forward to growing with Aon and making the impress.ai platform available to Aon's clients globally to streamline their end-to-end recruitment journey."

For more information, visit www.impress.ai.

About impress.ai

impress.ai is a leading recruitment automation solution provider with a focus on making accurate hiring easier. Powered by AI, impress.ai's intelligent recruitment automation platform enables businesses to streamline their end-to-end recruitment process. For more information, visit impress.ai.

SOURCE Impress.ai
The world's first active noise cancelling true wireless earphones that use the latest Powerfoyle solar cell technology to deliver an always on audio experience

MIAMI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Urbanista, the Swedish lifestyle audio brand, announces the launch of Urbanista Phoenix, the world's first true wireless, active noise cancelling earphones powered by light. Following a successful partnership with Exeger to launch the Urbanista Los Angeles headphones, Phoenix advances the use of their ground-breaking Powerfoyle technology to a new level, with true wireless earphones that deliver an endless playtime experience which the user controls.

Unleash the Power of Light

Urbanista Phoenix Urbanista Phoenix

With Urbanista Phoenix you can experience a truly wireless future with no need for cords or charging cables. Integrated with ground-breaking Powerfoyle solar cell material, the earphones' streamlined charging case continuously recharges when exposed to all forms of outdoor or indoor light, meaning that the earphones will provide endless playtime when placed back in their case for charging and continuously exposed to light. The earphones also feature advanced hybrid active noise cancelling technology and noise reduction microphones that filter out ambient sounds, so you can enjoy music and crystal-clear calls without distractions, even when in crowded spaces.

Tuomas Lonka, Urbanista's Brand and Marketing Director, comments: "It's a privilege to continue on this path of innovation together with Exeger and use the latest in solar cell technology to bring ground-breaking audio products to market. Our Los Angeles self-charging headphones were so well received by customers and consumers alike, that we knew right away that we wanted to apply this futuristic way of consuming audio to a true wireless design. Urbanista Phoenix really is a market leading product, and we are excited to see how this shapes the future of our listening experiences in years to come."

Giovanni Fili, founder and CEO of Exeger adds: "We are incredibly excited to launch the world's first Powerfoyle-powered true wireless earphones together with Urbanista. The Los Angeles headphones set a new standard and as users around the world are treasuring not needing to charge their devices in the wall, they are craving category expansion." Powerfoyle is the world's only fully customizable solar cell and consequently uniquely positioned to power audio products given the extensive design requirements. Both end-users and our customers benefit immensely when a whole product line up is offered."

Unleash the Power

Urbanista Phoenix's true wireless design allows you to enjoy your audio wherever you are, without any restraints. You can always easily connect the earphones to your Bluetooth device of choice with the earphones' new multipoint connectivity feature which enables you to connect Phoenix to up to two devices simultaneously. Virtually weightless, the earphones sit lightly in your ears so you can listen to music and podcasts with minimal distractions, and intuitive touch controls and intelligent voice assistance let you effortlessly take charge of your tunes while enjoying full freedom of motion.

Urbanista Phoenix is compatible with the Urbanista mobile companion app that puts you in complete control of your audio experience. The Urbanista app, available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, gives you deep customization options, including EQ controls to adjust the audio to meet your taste. The companion app also provides information on how to get the most out of the product's playtime, including visual indications of solar charge levels and usage, and the option to customize the earphones controls and voice assistant.

Axel Grell, Audio Engineer for Urbanista, comments: "Phoenix advances technology to create a cutting-edge, innovative audio experience and we have worked hard to develop a sound stage to match. These earbuds are designed to deliver a crystal clear and transparent sound with a punchy bass that doesn't overpower the mids and highs. With the ability to provide an endless audio experience, Phoenix also delivers sound that will have you listening comfortably for hours on end."

Unleash the Style

Inspired by the breath-taking desert scenery of one of the sunniest places on earth, the earphones come in two iconic colors, Midnight Black (black) and Desert Rose (pink), lighting up your ears with superbly radiant sound. The custom fit silicone tips provide sound isolation while securely cushioning the earphones in your ear and an IPX4 water resistance rating allows you to safely and confidently use the Phoenix earphones come rain or shine. The Urbanista Phoenix will be priced at $149.00 MSRP.

Read more about Urbanista Phoenix true wireless earphones and sign up for updates at https://www.urbanista.com/phoenix

Urbanista Phoenix key features:

Solar and ambient light charging with Powerfoyle

Hybrid active noise cancelling

Transparency mode

Multipoint connection

Playtime 8 hours

Total battery reserve 32 hours

Microphone noise reduction

In-ear detection

Automatic power off

Touch controls

Voice assistant support

IPX4 water resistant

USB type-C charging

Bluetooth 5.2 version

Urbanista mobile app compatible

Available in Midnight Black (Black) and Desert Rose (Pink)

Press Contacts:

Monica Rohleder

Director of PR

Strax Americas, Inc.

+1 847 606 1973

[email protected]

About Urbanista

Urbanista was born in 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden out of love for cities and urban life. Our products are rooted in Scandinavian design tradition and inspired by music, arts, fashion and urban culture. We believe that lifestyle audio products should not only sound great, but also look good. Today, our products are available in over 90 countries, and sold in 30,000 stores worldwide.

For more information visit www.urbanista.com

Follow Urbanista on: Facebook | Instagram

About Exeger

Exeger is a Swedish company with a unique solar cell technology that converts all forms of light into electrical energy. With its resilient and flexible design, the material named Powerfoyle can be seamlessly integrated into all products that benefit from being self powered. Powerfoyle can enhance any consumer electronic product it is integrated into with extended or even eternal battery life, putting the power of cutting-edge solar technology directly into the hands of consumers.

By revolutionizing the perception of available energy, Exeger makes products both smarter and more sustainable  with the vision to touch the lives of billions of people by 2030.

For more information: visit www.exeger.com or www.powerfoyle.com

SOURCE Urbanista
CRISPR/Cas system for bacteria that are not E. coli or Streptococcus pyogenes

or Customized gene editing technology for unique modified-bacteriophages

To validate efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 mimotopes loaded PHAGERUS platform

BOSTON and SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iNtRON Biotechnology ("iNtRON", www.intodeworld.com) announced today that iNtRON has developed its unique CRISPR/Cas system customized for the genetic modification of certain bacteria and corresponding bacteriophage.

An iNtRON official said that the technology enables the Company to freely edit various genes in the bacteriophage gene to have new and wanted functions.

iNtRON's PHAGERUS platform technology is being developed on the hypothesis that bacteriophage plays an instrumental role to maintain immune system in human beyond the common concept of 'bacteria killing virus'. In other words, massive number of bacteriophages have existed longer than humans, and some have controlled certain harmful viruses and involved in affecting the human immune system.

Hereat, iNtRON has utilized bacteriophages that have known to be safe for human as prophylactics and therapeutics of viral diseases, and worked on the PHAGERUS platform technology to facilitate the manipulation of multiple structural genes that play a morphological and functional role in bacteriophages. The Company explained PHAGERUS platform technology, the source technology for bacteriophage-specific gene editing and virus control, focuses on adding characteristics that can effectively control specific viruses while maintaining the original functions of bacteriophages (bacteriophage infectivity and bacterial control).

Dr. SON, Jee Soo, the head of Bio Drug Business said, "Virus targeting PHAGERUS platform was developed based on 'ViP cycle hypothesis (relationship between bacteria-virus-phage)' to screen natural bacteriophage candidates for vaccine and secure antigen-peptide (Ag-peptide; mimotope) candidates utilizing its own modified phage-display technology."

In this regard, the Company plans to continuously develop antiviral cocktail agents composed of natural bacteriophages collected in nature, and aims to utilize the mimotope discovered in-house as genetic engineering technology rather than the common use to express on a mockup bacteriophage which is a backbone vehicle so the mimotope could be applied to engineered bacteriophage agents eventually.

The Company named Mockup-PHAGERUS collectively for the bacteriophage and its platform technology to label the outer membrane protein region of a specific bacteriophage using a bacteriophage-customized gene editing technology for mimotope, which can exhibit antiviral effect. Mockup-PHAGERUS is largely distinguished from the existing technology in that a company-developed specific host is implemented rather than a commonly used host (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes) .

In addition, a specific bacterial vector was developed using the CRISPR/Cas system derived from the selected host to allow the insertion, removal, and replacement of a specific gene in a candidate bacteriophage to be used as Mockup-PHAGERUS, then inserted into the specific host to selectively active on certain bacteria and its corresponding bacteriophage

Mr. YOON, Kyung Won, CEO of iNtRON said, "The PHAGERUS platform technology has value of gene editing ability in bacteria strains without precedent use. In the future, we plan to use it to validate vaccine candidates by presenting various mimotopes expected to exert activity over SARS-CoV-2 into Mockup-PHAGERUS." Mr. Yoon continued, "We expect that CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing technology will be used as a fundamental technology that can freely improve various beneficial bacteriophages, and we will expand to various area (Influenza virus and G4 virus) of antiviral drug development."

About PHAGERUS Platform

iNtRON's PHAGERUS technology discovered the applicability of bacteriophage as a virus neutralizing vaccine & therapeutics, and has secured a number of related core technologies, PHAGERUS can induce humoral immunity as well as cell-meditated immunity by oral or nasal vaccines based on natural bacteriophages with homology of targeting virus or engineered bacteriophage that express antigens or virus-like particles on their surfaces.

About iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc.

iNtRON is a leader in bacteriophage-based technology with aim to develop and investigate into the 'Immune & Immunotherapeutics' market. While pursuing global research and business development (R&BD) investments since their foundation and accelerated development after entering its IPO in KOSDAQ, the company honed in on innovating BIO New Drugs by developing various 'First-in-Concept' bio-drugs and conducting clinical studies in phases. The Company is committed to development of innovative innovation in the infectious diseases and 'Immune & Immunotherapeutics' area.

About iNtODEWORLD, Inc.

iNtRON has established its wholly owned US subsidiary, iNtODEWORLD, Inc. in 2017. iNtODEWORLD was initially registered in Delaware and the headquarter office is currently located in Boston. iNtODEWORLD provides news, updates and platform development progresses of iNtRON to its potential global partners and collaborators along with its own R&BD works in the US.

Contact Us

YOON, Kyung Won (Kevin) / CEO, Vice President / [email protected]

SHIN, Tae Kyu (TK) / BD Team Leader / [email protected]

BD Team / [email protected]

www.intodeworld.com

iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc.

#708, 148, Sagimakgol-ro, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam-si,

Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

iNtODEWORLD, Inc.

1500 District Avenue, Suite 2097, Burlington, MA 01803, USA

it is iNtRON.

SOURCE iNtRON Biotechnology, Inc.
LAFAYETTE, Calif., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Issio Solutions, Inc., the workforce optimization and data analytics SaaS company, announced it now meets the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) security requirements for its cloud-based healthcare workforce optimization platform, Issio. The U.S. federal government and VA can now utilize Issio across various departments and agencies.

FedRAMP is a government program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. As a FedRAMP authorized cloud service provider, Issio can now help US federal healthcare organizations to adapt their staffing methods from insecure legacy processes to a cyber secure, mathematically based, and cost effective solution.

"We offer government-level cyber security to all healthcare organizations." - Dr. Brock-Utne, Founder, Issio Solutions Tweet this

"Over the last 2 years, our cyber security team has built a vastly more protected platform designed to meet FedRAMP security requirements." said Dr. Arne Brock-Utne, CEO and Founder of Issio Solutions. "Now we're excited to offer Issio's government-level cyber security to all healthcare organizations."

"Our top priority is to ensure the clients we serve are able to collaborate in safe and secure ways with the latest, cutting-edge technology and software," said Yorick Phoenix, Chief Technology Officer, Issio Solutions. "The end result is that we have a vastly more secure and resilient infrastructure than we did previously."

Issio Solutions is a secure healthcare workforce optimization platform designed to improve quality of care, safety, efficiency, and lower costs. Rapidly scalable, configurable, enterprise-grade SaaS, granted Authority to Operate by VA, and meets the FedRAMP security requirements. For more information, visit www.issio.com .

SOURCE Issio Solutions
TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinnacle Fertility welcomes IVF1 to their esteemed network of physician-led fertility practices. For more than 20 years, IVF1 has provided expert reproductive care, leading patients to successful outcomes through cutting edge assisted reproductive technologies. Founded by Randy S. Morris, M.D., IVF1 is a leading fertility center headquartered at the Naperville Fertility Center in Naperville, Illinois. In addition to a fully licensed ambulatory surgery center, IVF1 offers multiple locations in the Chicago area.

"For years, IVF1 has had some of the best success rates in the country," says Andrew Mintz, CEO of Pinnacle, "with this addition to our network, Pinnacle Fertility is getting closer to our vision of setting the standard in fertility care, offering the most comprehensive and personalized services utilizing advanced processes and technologies while creating an inclusive environment in which people want to work."

Pinnacle Fertility, the nation's fastest-growing physician-centered fertility care network, offers fertility-focused practices a platform for collaboration amongst physicians and medical leaders. Pinnacle's patient-first approach, passion for excellence, and multitude of family-building services.

"We're thrilled to join a platform that puts patients and quality above all else," says Dr. Morris, "by partnering with Pinnacle Fertility, we'll benefit from a broad range of centralized services which enables us to focus more of our time and resources on delivering the best possible personalized care for couples in need of reproductive medicine services."

Now as part of Pinnacle Fertility, IVF1 joins a reputable team of physicians and clinical leaders dedicated to collaboration, innovation, and fostering an effortless patient-first experience while providing access to treatment and exceptional outcomes to those needing fertility and genomic services to start or grow their families.

About Pinnacle Fertility

Pinnacle Fertility is the nation's fastest-growing physician-centric fertility care platform, supporting high-performing fertility clinics and comprehensive fertility service providers nationwide. Under a united mission of fulfilling dreams by building families, Pinnacle clinics offer innovative technology and processes, compassionate patient care, and comprehensive fertility treatment services, ensuring families receive a high-touch experience on their path to parenthood.

For more information about Pinnacle Fertility, visit pinnaclefertility.com

About IVF1

Founded in 1992, IVF 1 is a leading fertility clinic headquartered in Naperville, IL and offers comprehensive, personalized fertility treatment to those looking to start or grow their families. Specializing in in vitro fertilization (IVF), frozen embryo transfers (FET), and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) programs, IVF 1 is led by Medical Director, Dr. Randy Morris and is comprised of three locations. IVF1 is committed to finding success for growing families through individualized patient-first care.

Visit at www.ivf1.com to learn more about locations and services.

Contact

Walt Conrad

[email protected]

SOURCE Pinnacle Fertility
Helps customers optimize cloud security with attack surface management

LAS VEGAS, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JupiterOne , the industry's leading cyber asset attack surface management (CAASM) platform provider, enters Black Hat USA 2022 with a bevy of announcements, including new platform updates, participation in the Open Cyber Security Schema Framework (OCSF) industry initiative, and the addition of former Splunk CEO Doug Merritt to the JupiterOne board of directors.

The JupiterOne team kicks off its participation at Black Hat USA 2022 in the Mandalay Bay Convention Center at booth #1728. There, attendees can catch a demo of the company's CAASM platform and see its updated look and feel, which aligns with its new visual branding and improves the user experience. The updates also include functionality such as new product navigation, an updated graph engine for faster data visualizations, and the ability to take action on alerts straight from the platform's Search homepage, accelerating key workflows that allow users to save valuable time.

JupiterOne also rolled out new API integrations with industry-leading tools for Mobile Device Management (MDM), Cloud Security, DevOps, Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR), and Container Orchestration, making it easier for users to streamline their technology stack into a centralized, integrated solution.

In addition to its booth presence, JupiterOne is co-hosting Black Hat's premier party, Level Up, on August 10. The event starts at 8 pm and will take place at the Skyfall Lounge in the Delano Hotel. Register for the event here .

JupiterOne Participates in Open-Source Initiative Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework (OCSF)

Today's security teams are taxed with time-consuming and resource-intensive normalization workflows required to unify data from the different tools they rely upon, significantly delaying their ability to leverage that data to detect and investigate security threats. The Open Cybersecurity Schema Framework (OCSF) project was conceived and initiated by AWS and Splunk, building upon the ICD Schema work done at Symantec, a division of Broadcom. OCSF includes contributions from 15 additional initial cybersecurity and technology organizations, including JupiterOne. The industry is working together to unburden security teams of the work required to collect and normalize data. OCSF adoption will enable security teams to focus on analyzing data, identifying threats and defending their organizations from cyberattacks. OCSF is an open standard that can be adopted for any environment, application, or solution that fits with existing security standards and processes. By creating a simplified, vendor-agnostic taxonomy, OCSF will help security teams realize better, faster data ingestion and analysis without the time-consuming, up-front normalization tasks.

Former Splunk CEO Doug Merritt Joins JupiterOne Board of Directors

Rounding up the announcements is the appointment of Doug Merrit to the JupiterOne board of directors. Most recently, Merritt served as Splunk's President and CEO, leading significant shifts in the company's technology roadmap, financial model, and go-to-market approach  dramatically increasing Splunk's market capitalization. Splunk's grew from the equivalent of $100m in ARR in May of 2014 to nearly $3 billion in ARR in the third quarter of fiscal 2022.

Since its founding, JupiterOne has attracted board members and advisors who reflect the diversity of perspectives across the security industry. Merrit joins the board alongside other industry leaders such as Latha Maripuri, CISO of Uber, and Enrique Salem, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures.

Quotes

Erkang Zheng, Founder and CEO at JupiterOne

"JupiterOne delivers value to our customers by helping them unify existing security investments for much stronger ROI, automate cloud security postures, and reduce their cyber risk and security program costs. We continue to invest in innovative platform capabilities, new partnerships, and collaborations with some of the best names in the industry."

Related Links

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About JupiterOne

JupiterOne is a cyber asset attack surface management (CAASM) platform company providing visibility and security for your entire cyber asset universe. Using graphs and relationships, JupiterOne provides a contextual knowledge base for an organization's cyber asset operations. With JupiterOne , teams can discover, monitor, understand, and act on changes in their digital environments. Cloud resources, ephemeral devices, identities, access rights, code, pull requests, and much more are collected.

Contact:

Nathaniel Hawthorne for JupiterOne

Lumina Communications

(661) 965-0407

[email protected]

Melissa Pereira

Director of Communications, JupiterOne

(833) 578-7663

[email protected]

SOURCE JupiterOne
BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Keytos starts BlackHat 2022 with the exciting announcement of the launch of EZSmartCard . EZSmartCard is a security product that helps organizations to meet the strict identity requirements of the US Government Executive Order 14028 by enabling passwordless onboarding and creation of cryptographic smartcards.

Keytos specializes in cryptographic solutions that enable companies to save on IT spend while increasing security by enabling them to go passwordless. EZSmartCard expands the Keytos toolset by solving one of the most challenging and most expensive identity problems: seamless and secure user onboarding. Keytos unique technology removes the need for temporary passwords and improves security by having multi-factor authentication since the first authentication.

"EZSmartCard addresses the missing piece to truly passwordless authentication. I believe that this amazing tool complimenting Microsoft's unphishable credentials will drastically reduce the #1 cause of security breaches: stolen credentials." Igal Flegmann, Co-Founder & CEO, Keytos.

Keytos is a Boston-based cybersecurity startup with the ambitious goal of making the world truly passwordless by creating easy to use cryptography-based tools. Since its beginning Keytos has been hard at work to achieve this goal. Starting with their first tools EZSSH and EZGIT which centralized and addressed the hard problem of decentralized never expiring SSH Keys by seamlessly creating short term SSH certificates. To solving SSL certificate management by creating EZMonitor a monitoring tool that gives organizations full visibility into their SSL health and EZCA a cloud-based certificate authority that allows organizations to easily create and automatically manage SSL certificates. This new tool enables Keytos to get closer to their goal by helping organizations secure their most vulnerable identity: their user identity.

SOURCE Keytos LLC
SINGAPORE, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Klaytn Foundation, a non-profit organization established to accelerate global adoption and ecosystem maturity on Klaytn blockchain, has announced the launch of their flagship global virtual hackathon, Klaymakers22, with more than US$1 million across more than US$300,000 prize pool and sponsored challenge prizes, grant and incubation opportunities.

Klaytn Foundation launches Web3 hackathon, with over US$1 million in prizes and grant opportunities!

Organized in partnership with DoraHacks, a global leading hackathon organization connecting hackers to enterprise challenges and entrepreneurial ideas, Klaymakers2022 aims to engage existing Web3 developers and onboard Web2 developers to develop dApps and build use cases on Klaytn, and also to attract students and researchers to explore Klaytn blockchain and the general applications of blockchain technology via research.

Registration for the hackathon will launch from 10 August, where anyone can sign up to participate in a series of developer-targeted workshops, and hackathon submission will open from 29 August to 30 September on the DoraHacks platform.

There are five tracks that participants can select from:

The Klaytn Core+ track - for developers who are interested in driving improvement and building toolings on Klaytn core protocol.

- for developers who are interested in driving improvement and building toolings on Klaytn core protocol. The Metaverse & NFTs track - for developers who are interested in building use cases and toolings in Metaverse & NFTs to support the growth of Klaytn ecosystem in these aspects.

- for developers who are interested in building use cases and toolings in Metaverse & NFTs to support the growth of Klaytn ecosystem in these aspects. The DAO track - for developers who are interested in DAO use cases or its supporting toolings on the Klaytn ecosystem to drive the growth of community use cases on Klaytn ecosystem.

- for developers who are interested in DAO use cases or its supporting toolings on the Klaytn ecosystem to drive the growth of community use cases on Klaytn ecosystem. The Fi+ track - for developers who are interested in building use cases and its supporting toolings of any Fi+ fields (e.g. DeFi, GameFi, MetaFi, SocialFi, etc.) on Klaytn ecosystem.

- for developers who are interested in building use cases and its supporting toolings of any Fi+ fields (e.g. DeFi, GameFi, MetaFi, SocialFi, etc.) on Klaytn ecosystem. The Public Goods track - for developers to take the chance to build use cases and toolings on the Klaytn ecosystem that could make a difference against public difficulties (e.g. climate change, pollution, war, oppression, economic inequality, fake news, etc.) and on any potential social impact.

Klaymakers22 is supported by many Klaytn ecosystem partners, some of which will also be sponsoring their own challenge statements for US$10,000 in prizes. Participants can select from any of these sponsors' challenges on top of the tracks to win additional prizes. Partners will also be conducting free business and technical workshops and to help in the judging process.

Participants can join the developer community on discord, and look forward to taking part in free workshops organised by Klaytn and partners to help them deep dive into Web3. Outstanding projects will receive additional post-hackathon support such as grants and investments to incubation and accelerators, to help them go to the next level.

Finally, the first 200 registered teams will also receive US$50 worth of AWS credit when they submit their Klaymakers22 buidl on Dorahacks submission platform.

Find out how you can participate here !

About Klaytn

Klaytn is a public blockchain focused on the metaverse, gamefi, and the creator economy. Officially launched in June 2019, it is the dominant blockchain platform in South Korea and is now undergoing global business expansion from its international base in Singapore, led by the Klaytn Foundation.

Since unveiling its metaverse roadmap in early 2022, the Ethereum-equivalent L1 chain has seen many well-known companies come onboard its metaverseincluding game developer and publishing powerhouses such as Netmarble and Neowiz. It recently ramped up efforts to lay the foundation for the metaverse and to expand use cases.

About Klaytn Foundation

Klaytn Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established to accelerate global adoption and ecosystem maturity on Klaytn. The foundation manages the US$500m Klaytn Growth Fund and operates alongside Krust, a subsidiary of internet giant Kakao Corp that invests in projects built on Klaytn.

Find out more at https://klaytn.foundation/

About DoraHacks

DoraHacks is the hacker movement and one of the largest Web3 developer incentive platforms. DoraHacks provides key infrastructures connecting developers with grants and other crucial resources from leading Web3 ecosystems like Binance, Solana, Polygon, Klaytn. Since 2014, DoraHacks helped 2500+ startups raised $25M+ in grants. Startups from the Dora community include ETHSign, Zecrey, Thetan Arena, Dora Factory, Functionland, CryptoSat, Dopr, Manta Network, Identdefi and many more.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Kimberley Kok

Corporate Communications, Klaytn Foundation

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Klaytn Foundation
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The latest Cold-Storage Cryptocurrency competitive assessment by global technology intelligence firm ABI Research provides an in-depth and unbiased examination and ranking of seven prominent solution providers of Cold-Storage Cryptocurrency Hardware Wallets.

The rankings are based on various chosen criteria, split into two overarching categories, covering implementation and innovation, including supported currencies, ease of access/use, security, functionality, connectivity support, global reach, product/service range, partnerships/customers, and financial strength. These criteria were identified as the most vital for the continual growth of market development and the relevance of cold-storage wallets. The companies evaluated and ranked are:

Market Leaders: Ledger, SatoshiLabs, CompoSecure, NGRAVE

Mainstream: ShapeShift, CoinKite

Followers: CoolBitX

"As it relates to cryptocurrencies, there is no way to recover access to lost coin portfolios, whether they were stolen or sent to incorrect addresses. Crypto users become their own bank, meaning they must take security seriously, especially when considering where they store their assets. The growing trends in the crypto space are increasingly necessitating the development of higher-security storage solutions to manage wider ranges of currencies and provide more and more functionality. The market for cold storage wallets is being driven by several factors, including the increase in the use of Central Bank Digital Currencies with pilots deploying in all major regions, crypto exchange expansion driven by neo and challenger bank offerings, and improvements in the level of accessibility for prospective users to crypto exchanges," says Sam Gazeley, Digital Payment Technologies Analyst at ABI Research.

ABI Research assessed Ledger as the highest scorer in the assessment, primarily due to its mature and advanced offerings and the partnerships it has forged in the cold wallet space.

SatoshiLabs ranked second on the overall scores, cementing its place as both an innovation and implementation leader due mainly to its strong financial strength and strong device popularity, driven by a strategy focused on user-friendliness.

Despite being a newer market entrant, CompoSecure secured third place, awarded the leading innovation score, owing largely to their shift away from the traditional dongle form-factor toward a more sleek and portable solution, coupled with their embedded security technology leveraging a CC EAL6+ Secure Element and supported by strong partnerships in the ecosystem, with a compelling and easy-to-use solution.

"With the NFT market taking off quickly, and neo and challenger banks pushing crypto-oriented value-added services, it is very likely that the cold-storage wallet market will become increasingly competitive with more innovative solutions being made available for the end-user. New entrants can ensure market relevance by offering portable and sleek solutions as it relates to the physical form and prioritize secure hardware solutions with high CC EAL specifications to avoid lost assets in a market which is seeing an increase in fraudulent activity," concludes Gazeley.

These findings are from ABI Research's Cold-Storage Wallets and the Security of Cryptocurrency Portfolios competitive ranking report. This report is part of the company's Digital Payment Technologies research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights. Competitive Ranking reports offer a comprehensive analysis of implementation strategies and innovation, coupled with market share analysis, to offer unparalleled insight into a company's performance and standing in comparison to its competitors.

About ABI Research

ABI Research is a global technology intelligence firm delivering actionable research and strategic guidance to technology leaders, innovators, and decision makers around the world. Our research focuses on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces today.

ABI Research

For more information about ABI Research's services, contact us at +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Global

Deborah Petrara

Tel: +1.516.624.2558

[email protected]

SOURCE ABI Research
MADRID, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the first six months of 2022, Spanish quoted corporation Lleida.net (BME: LLN) (EPA: ALLLN) (OTCQX: LLEIF) posted a 27 percent increase in sales to more than 10.5 million euros, an all-time high.

Sales of all of the company's business lines grew in the first six months of the year.

International turnover and the group's global expansion accounted for 55 percent of total sales, boosted by an increase in commercial activity in Western Europe and Latin America.

Lleida.net's activity is directly linked to economic ups and downs. As was the case during the pandemic, the current energy crisis and the increase in non-payments has boosted the use of registered electronic notification services, like the rest of SaaS.

Both the number of the company's customers and the average ticket has grown significantly in the period.

In the first six months of the year, gross margin grew by a comparative 26% to 5.3 million euros.

The new investments have implied a drop in the company's EBITDA of 24 percent in the first half of the year, which still reached 910,000 euros in the half year.

Lleida.net management has been working since the beginning of the year to prepare the company for a significant commercial and strategic expansion in the period 2022-2027.

These preparations have entailed an increase in personnel expenses (the company already has 181 employees), new presence in Peru, Colombia and new investments in the innovation team.

The company, founded in 1995 and listed on BME Growth, Euronext Growth and OTCQX, has demonstrated in recent years its ability to grow counter-cyclically and the effectiveness of its services to support economic sectors in complex times.

"The investments we are making to accelerate growth and return over the next five years have affected the result in the short term, but as in the past, they are going to be the key to leapfrogging internationally in the next five years," explained CEO Sisco Sapena.

Download the Earnings Presentation

https://investors.lleida.net/docs/en/20220810_HRelev.pdf

Learn more about Lleida.net at investors.lleida.net

SOURCE Lleida.net
Led by women's health activist Chelsea Leyland and former healthcare investment banker Tatiana Steel

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Looni , the new women's health company, is pleased to announce the launch of its first menstrual-health product, Balance Beam Mood Complex , available online at looni.co .

With presence in New York and Los Angeles Looni is founded by Chelsea Leyland, acclaimed DJ, epilepsy, endometriosis and plant medicine activist, and Tatiana Steel, who formerly worked across Goldman Sachs' consumer, retail, and healthcare investment banking groups.

LOONI LAUNCHES WELLNESS SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT AND IMPROVE MENSTRUAL HEALTH Tweet this

"We identified a strong need for research-backed solutions and education in the menstrual wellness space, alongside a team that was not afraid to tackle outdated taboos," says Looni co-founder Chelsea Leyland.

When your hormones are balanced, you experience fewer mood swings, cravings and overall irritabilityso, Looni is launching with a daily supplement, Balance Beam Mood Complex, that supports hormone and neurotransmitter balance with a select blend of concentrated bioavailable vitamins, minerals, nootropics and adaptogens to help stabilize mood. Looni's Balance Beam Mood Complex retails for $39.99 and includes a 30-day supply.

"Looni is needed now more than ever," says Looni co-founder Tatiana Steel. "After more than 70 years of pharmaceutical solutions that do not address the root causes of menstrual discomforts, today's women deserve better, more thoughtful solutions. It is time for the products and research being done within the category to be led by those actually experiencing these issuesthose who menstruate. At Looni, we aim to help every woman looking to garner body literacy and unlock their full potential. We wake up excited to fight for this mission every day."

With both a conventional and holistic approach to product development, all Looni products are formulated alongside their world-renowned medical advisory team that includes Dr. Stephanie Colantonio, Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, Dr. Lauren Schultz, Dr. Felice Gersh, and Associate Professor Susan Evans.

"People who menstruate deserve better healthcare," says board-certified physician, Dr. Stepanie Colantonio. "Our monthly rhythm makes life possible, yet this gift causes many of us real discomfort. Historically, treatments have been limited to hormonal contraception, pain relievers, or surgeries. When I learned that Chelsea and Tatiana were birthing Looni, I was thrilled to support their mission to nurture the menstrual cycle - a deeply shared goal of my own."

"Society has normalized discomfort for women when it comes to their periods," says Chelsea. "Periods shouldn't be painfulif you're experiencing intense lows, cravings or pain it's likely worth exploring and that's where Looni can help. The cycle itself isn't the problem, instead, it's a doorway to revealing a problem."

Alongside their products, Looni also aims to act as a platform for more accessible conversation around body literacy and the things that women experiencetopics include pregnancy loss, endometriosis, vaginal discharge, sex on your period, and more. Looni welcomes all to join their community and to take part in the conversation through the group based messaging app, Geneva , and by following them on their Instagram channel @my.looni .

About Looni

Looni believes in menstrual literacy and autonomythe menstrual cycle is a valuable guide to our overall health and wellbeing and Looni provides the tools and knowledge for people to become intimate with their natural rhythms. Looni has created a suite of products targeting menstrual discomfort, such as mood instability and breast tenderness. Looni's products are formulated and researched with a female team of specialized medical advisorsbring together conventional and holistic perspectives for products that work in sync with our menstrual cycles.

@my.looni

Looni.co

Media Contact

Benjamin Almeter

[email protected]

SOURCE Looni
PORTLAND, Maine, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometric announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Finetune, a Maine Venture Fund portfolio company and leading innovator in Artificial Intelligence-assisted education and workforce software tools.

Finetune, originally founded as Academic Merit, LLC by educator and serial entrepreneur Ogden Morse and his father in Falmouth, Maine, has been developing innovative solutions in learning, instruction, and assessment for more than a decade. The company expanded in recent years, with the hiring of CEO Steve Shapiro, into proprietary AI-assisted technology, targeting the growing demand among organizations and companies for the ability to create a high-quality assessment and other learning content with greater time- and cost-efficiency than traditional approaches.

Steve Shapiro of Finetune, said, "We are grateful for the early foundational support from the Maine startup ecosystem, including Maine Venture Fund and several Maine-based individual investors. This next phase of growth with Prometric allows us to further build on our success, taking these solutions to market at scale and continuing to invest in emerging technologies that address the needs of the wide cross section of markets we serve."

Dr. Brien Walton, Board Chair of Maine Venture Fund, said, "Finetune is a great example of the type of success we work towards with each one of our portfolio companies. Given our unique structure as a state-sponsored fund, MVF serves as a critical economic development tool within Maine for supporting entrepreneurial activity and job growth. MVF first invested in Finetune in 2015, and as a result of this positive return of capital, we'll be able to recycle these funds into many more investments in other Maine-based companies."

About Maine Venture Fund

Maine Venture Fund invests in dynamic businesses that have the potential for significant growth and impact in Maine. For more information, visit Maine Venture Fund's website .

About Finetune

Finetune is a leading innovator in the education sector, specializing in the development of hybrid AI-human-solutions that address some of the most challenging problems including automated content generation and AI-powered learning-resource classification. For more information, please visit Finetune's website. .

About Prometric LLC

Prometric is a leading provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment solutions. For more information, visit Prometric's website .

SOURCE Maine Venture Fund
MainStreet Community Capital Aims to Drive Investment to Low-Income Communities

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of MainStreet Bancshares Inc. announced the formation of MainStreet Community Capital, its new community development subsidiary.

MainStreet Community Capital's focus is to invigorate distressed, low-income communities in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area by providing capital and other financial services.

"Lifting up communities and unlocking their potential starts with investment, and we intend to use MainStreet Community Capital to leverage opportunity for underserved and underdeveloped areas in our market," said Jeff W. Dick, chairman and CEO of MainStreet Bancshares and MainStreet Bank. "We believe our engagement in both urban and rural areas will help provide low-income communities and individuals with long-term economic benefits, including quality jobs and services."

MainStreet Community Capital has earned its designation as a Community Development Entity (CDE) as defined under the U.S. Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund. MainStreet Community Capital plans to apply annually to the CDFI Fund for an allocation of the New Markets Tax Credits, beginning with the round to be awarded in 2023.

"The New Markets Tax Credit Program is the gold standard for breaking the cycle of disinvestment that plagues distressed communities, leaving them with vacant commercial properties and outdated facilities," said Thomas J. Chmelik, CFO of MainStreet Bancshares and MainStreet Bank. "Our goal is to utilize the tax credit to help communities turn things around. We'll accomplish this by raising equity for high-impact real estate development projects as well as operating businesses in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia."

Community development entities attract private investors to underserved areas by providing federal income tax credits in exchange for making equity investments in commercial enterprises that benefit low-income communities. Projects that may be funded in low-income communities using the New Market Tax Credit include loans and investments in operating businesses; development of commercial, industrial, and retail real estate; mixed-use projects where commercial income exceeds 20% of the gross income of the property; and development of for-sale housing.

ABOUT MAINSTREET BANK: MainStreet Bank will launch its proprietary Fintech Banking as a Service (BaaS) solution called Avenu later this year to provide a comprehensive solution for the Fintech community. Go to Avenu.bank for more information and to join the queue.

MainStreet operates six branches in Herndon, Fairfax, McLean, Leesburg, Clarendon, and Washington D.C. MainStreet Bank has 55,000 free ATMs and a fully integrated online and mobile banking solution. The Bank is not restricted by a conventional branching system, as it can offer business customers the ability to Put Our Bank in Your Office. With robust and easy-to-use online business banking technology, MainStreet has "put our bank" in thousands of businesses in the metropolitan area.

MainStreet Bank has a robust line of business and professional lending products, including government contracting lines of credit, commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, and commercial real estate. MainStreet also works with the SBA to offer 7A and 504 lending solutions. From sophisticated cash management to enhanced mobile banking and instant-issue Debit Cards, MainStreet Bank is always looking for ways to improve our customer's experience.

MainStreet Bank was the first community bank in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to offer a full online business banking solution. MainStreet Bank was also the first bank headquartered in the Commonwealth of Virginia to offer CDARS  a solution that provides multi-million-dollar FDIC insurance. Further information on the Bank can be obtained by visiting its website at MainStreet.bank.

This release may contain forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "should," "expect," "plan," "project," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," "pursuant," "target," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, future impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. We caution readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and we may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance.

Contact: Debra Cope

(703) 481-4599

SOURCE MainStreet Bancshares, Inc.
Reading Your Favorite Manga "Comics" in Any Language Has Now Been Made Easier With PDNob Manga Translator Version 2.0.0

ROCHESTER, Minn., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're a comic fanatic, you must agree the artistic illustrations in Manga, are not only enticing but also exciting. This experience is, however, short-lived especially if you can't read the foreign text in the speech bubbles. The good news is, PDNob Inc. has upgraded its flagship translation software; PDNob Manga Translator to allow readers to perform batch OCR on multiple Manga pages as well as save time with automatic translation to your native language, tackling the problem on how to translate manga.

PDNob Manga Translator

"Manga comics are known for their incredibly rich stories in fantasy adventures, superheroes, and monsters, but most people just cut themselves off from the wonderful world of these foreign comics because they aren't equipped with manga translator app thus don't know how to translate manga," says CEO of PDNob Inc. "With our newer version of PDNob Manga Translator 2.0.0, you don't have to know foreign languages to read. You can have all pages of your favorite Manga automatically translated to your native language and enjoy the experience. We hope this app will be your go to Manga & anime comic translator app. Happy reading."

See What's new in PDNob Manga Translator 2.0.0:

What's new?

Enhanced batch screen translator for manga function

You can now take multiple screenshots of your favorite Manga or import image files, and have the best manga translator app automatically perform a batch screen OCR on each page consecutively  and convert them to .txt, .doc, and docx. Automatic translation when OCR is active

Once batch OCR is complete, you can choose your preferred native language and have the text translated in seconds, depending on the number of pages you have scanned. Result editor and export function of the Comic translator is added

In the editor, or simply the result viewer, you can edit batch OCR text and export it to other editors in txt ., doc., or docx . file formats.

"PDNob has always been on an amazing mission to connect Manga & anime fans across the globe through our Manga translator v2.0.0," added CEO of PDNob Inc.

Learn more: https://www.pdnob.com/products/pdnob-image-translator.html

Availability of PDNob Manga Translator :

PDNob Image Translator is available for installation in Mac OS version 12.0 and newer, and Windows version 7 to 11.

About PDNob Inc.:

PDNob Inc. is a leading software developer of highly functional, ergonomic, and user-friendly software aimed to help users maximize their efficiency, productivity, comfort/enjoyment and bring life to any content displayed on a computer, mobile, or tablet  in any language.

Follow or contact us via:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pdnobofficial/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh-2UkwRqv505_-w-ZY225A

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/PDNob

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE PDNob Co., Ltd
HOUSTON, 10 de agosto de 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Recent release "La Prision, lo mas cercano al Infierno" from Page Publishing author Mauricio Lopez is a heavy read that depicts the journey of two young men who dreamed of a brighter future only to end up spending their prime years in prison.

La prision, lo mas cercano al infierno: Parte Uno

Mauricio Lopez, a responsible son of a humble family, has completed his new book "La Prision, lo mas cercano al Infierno": a gripping narrative based on true people's plight inside the prison. The tale is about two young men whose first formal job led them to hell. The owner of their company is involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. Upon finding out the truth, these young men were subjected to threats and countless blackmails. With no way out, the two were forced to do bad things until they got discovered by the cops. That's where most of the story's setting took place; inside the prison.

Lopez shares, "What the story is about is the turn that life gives to any human being, in both sexes, and in any social stratum, going from the status of freedom to the state of deprivation of it, and the main message of this manuscript is alert you, Mr. Reader, to never see yourself involved in a circumstance of this nature that, without hiding and without pride, I was imprisoned for seventy months due to circumstances beyond my control, so I experienced it firsthand and my wish is that you learn from such an experience without living it, which is little or not at all pleasant."

Published by Page Publishing, Mauricio Lopez's interesting work is a powerful narrative that follows the life of the main characters inside the prison. The two young men were both convicted but they served two different sentences and went to different prisons. What could have possibly caused it?

The story is rich in details and deeply emotional scenes that made this work a sure page-turner.

Readers who wish to experience this riveting work can purchase "La Prision, lo mas cercano al Infierno" at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors' books, including distribution in the world's largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Page's accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at www.pagepublishing.com.

Foto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1873676/203055Frontcover.jpg

FUENTE Page Publishing

SOURCE Page Publishing
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has awarded a research team led by Dan Merenstein, MD , professor of family medicine at Georgetown's School of Medicine and professor of human science at the School of Health and Nawar M. Shara, PhD, director of Center of Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science (CBIDS) at the MedStar Health Research Institute, a $23.6 million research grant to study treatments for acute rhinosinusitis.

This study will examine treatments for acute rhinosinusitis and using smart devices for data collection. Tweet this Nawar M. Shara, PhD, director of the Center of Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science (CBIDS) at the MedStar Health Research Institute, is co-investigator for $23.6M grant from PCORI.

Acute rhinosinusitis involves inflammation of the nose and sinus passages, most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms often include congestion, headaches, sinus pressure, facial pain, and a green/yellow nasal discharge. Together, the investigators will recruit more than 3,700 people diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis to the largest clinical trial of its kind to study various treatment approaches. The randomized clinical trial will compare outcomes among treatments with antibiotics, nasal sprays such as intranasal corticosteroids (INCS), over-the-counter supportive treatment, or saline nasal irrigation (SNI). Some arms of the study will include a placebo.

"Acute rhinosinusitis leaves people feeling miserable and desperate for relief, and their care providers eager to help," says Dr. Merenstein, professor and director of research programs for Georgetown's Department of Family Medicine. "Unfortunately, in the absence of clinically proven treatments, providers often prescribe antibiotics. We want to know if there's a better way to treat patients and alleviate symptoms quicker."

In addition to exploring how to best improve treatment outcomes for patients, this study will also utilize several methods to collect data from participants, including voice-enabled devices like Amazon's Alexa EchoDot, in the hopes of facilitating and improving data collection accuracy with this technology.

"Given the scale of this study, we have the opportunity to learn more about how smart devices can help improve care, starting with how patients share information about their health with providers," said Dr. Shara, co-investigator for the study. "Using technology to strengthen the relationship between patient and provider is an exciting proposition but we should be rigorous in our pursuit to understand potential useability challenges." In recent years, Dr. Shara has led two other clinical trials where voice assistants were used for data collection and has specifically focused on recruiting participants from lower-resourced communities where technology access may have historically been low.

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions.

The study was selected for funding through a PCORI initiative to support large-scale, high-impact comparative effectiveness research trials in a multi-phase format allowing for testing and refinement of the study approach. The study will involve an initial feasibility phase to maximize the likelihood of full trial success. The study was selected through a highly competitive review process in which patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders joined scientists to evaluate the proposals.

The research collaboration also involves investigators from the University of Washington, UCLA, Virginia Commonwealth University, Penn State, and the University of Wisconsin.

This award has been approved pending completion of a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and issuance of a formal award contract.

About MedStar Health

At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT valuesService, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamworkacross our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region's largest home health agency, we're committed to providing high-quality health care that's also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar HealthIt's how we treat people. Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.

SOURCE MedStar Health
Grand opening celebration with "Golden Giveaway" on August 23

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

What's the news? Mendocino Farms , the fast-casual restaurant known for turning sandwiches, salads and more into an unexpected culinary adventure, is helping San Diego's North County residents fuel their day with unique flavor combinations at its newest location in Encinitas (268 N. El Camino Real). Opening on Tuesday, August 23, Encinitas is Mendo's 50th store, sparking a grand opening celebration for the beachside community complete with music, family-friendly activities and giveaways.

Mendocino Farms celebrates the grand opening of its 50th location with festivities at newest Encinitas restaurant.

To learn more about the Encinitas location, click here .

Why is this important? The milestone restaurant is part of a continuing effort for Mendocino Farms to serve more San Diego residents who are seeking bold flavors and fresh ingredients at a greater convenience.

"We've always stayed true to being a neighborhood gathering spot for fresh, flavorful food, so the family-friendly community of Encinitas is the perfect place for Mendocino Farms to grow in San Diego," said Kevin Miles, CEO of Mendocino Farms. "We're excited to help more North County residents eat well with our high-quality ingredients, and we look forward to celebrating the opening of our 50th location with them later this month."

Encinitas residents are invited to join the fast casual's grand opening festivities with a "Golden Giveaway" where two lucky guests whose meal is served on a golden tray will receive a $50 Mendocino Farms gift card each. Additionally, Encinitas residents can enjoy Mendocino Farms' approachably adventurous menu with a free entree offer when they sign up for a My Mendo account and select "San Diego-Encinitas" as their favorite location prior to August 22. The offer is valid for a free sandwich, salad or bowl with any menu purchase during the first two weeks post-opening.

Dedicated to supporting the communities it serves, Mendocino Farms is also donating 50% of opening day sales to Community Resource Center and their food and nutrition program, providing San Diego North County residents with access to healthy food.

What's good to eat? There's something for everyone to enjoy on Mendocino Farms' globally-inspired menu filled with unique twists on beloved classics and chef-inspired creations. A comforting fan-favorite, the Prosciutto and Chicken is made of Italian prosciutto & shaved, roasted chicken breast with fresh mozzarella, crushed honey roasted almonds, basil pesto, balsamic glaze drizzle and tomatoes on panini-pressed ciabatta. For a satisfying crunch, the best-selling Avocado and Quinoa Superfood Ensalada will wow tastebuds with its contrasting textures and flavors, consisting of chopped romaine, curly kale, quinoa & millet, housemade superfood krunchies, succotash with roasted corn, black beans & jicama, red onions, cilantro, cotija cheese, grape tomatoes and avocado with chipotle vinaigrette.

The whole family can enjoy a meal at Mendo with a kid's menu featuring flavorful favorites such as the air fried Crispy Chicken Tenders, Grilled Turkey & Cheddar Sandwich and Cheddar Cheese Quesadilla.

How/where can I get it? Order online or through the Mendocino Farms App for pick up or delivery only. Delivery is available through third-party partners including UberEats, DoorDash and Postmates. Mendocino Farms also offers crowd-pleasing catering options for family or group gatherings and other celebratory moments.

About Mendocino Farms

Mendocino Farms takes guests on a culinary adventure with its diverse menu of chef-driven, seasonal sandwiches and salads made from fresh, high-quality ingredients. Founded in Southern California in 2005 by husband-and-wife team Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen, Mendocino Farms has grown to 50 locations and counting in California and Texas. By creating gathering places for connection and nourishment whether dining in store, enjoying at home, or catering it to the office, the restaurant company aims to make hearts and stomachs happy through unexpected flavors and friendliness. For more information visit mendocinofarms.com

SOURCE Mendocino Farms
Upsurge in military application to boost the product demand, rise in adoption of lightweight components, and increase in investments by armed forces into technology is driving the growth of the military 4d printing industry.

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Military 4D Printing Market by Technique (Fused deposition modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM), Others), by Material (Hydrogels, Thermo-responsive, Photo-responsive, Electro & magneto responsive, Others), by Properties (Self-assembly, Self-repair, Self-adaptability), by Application (Army, Navy, Air Force): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2030-2040". According to the report, the global military 4D printing industry is estimated to generate $16.1 million in 2030, and is anticipated to generate $673.4 million by 2040, witnessing a CAGR of 45.2% from 2030 to 2040.

Prime determinants of growth

Surge in military applications, increase in investments by armed forces into technology, and rise in adoption of lightweight components are expected to drive the military 4D printing industry growth. However, complex design of both hardware & software section and lack of standardization in process are some of the factors that hinder the market growth. Furthermore, technological advancements, rise in demand for Industry 4.0 standards, and the emergence of Industry 5.0 are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for military 4D printing market growth.

Download Report (402 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures) at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11027

Covid-19 Scenario

 The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the global military 4D printing market. In 2020, the reduced GDP of major economies such as the U.S., the U.K., China, France, India, Germany, and others, resulted in a decline in investment in the defense industry, thereby affecting the 4D printing market negatively.

 However, military 4D printing production is expected to be more agile in the post-pandemic period than before. Although industry participants experienced short-term disruption in delivery systems and roll-outs, such disruption has created new opportunities for 4D printing technology within the defense sector and boosted the usage of technology across different commercial sectors.

 For instance, in 2022, the U.S. Navy released a plan to pair suppliers who cannot meet the growth in demand for submarine parts with 3D & 4D printing companies that can print the metal parts around the clock to boost supply. Hence, rise in the usage of additive manufacturing technology (4D printing) across different aerospace and defense applications is expected to bolster the demand for military 4D printing market post-pandemic.

The fused deposition modeling (FDM) segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on technique, the fused deposition modeling (FDM) segment is expected to hold the highest market share in 2030, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the global military 4D printing market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. this is attributed to advantages associated with FDM technology including high speed, accuracy, low cost of production, expiring patents, availability of multiple color options, easy-to-maintain attribute, lightweight, endurance to heat, chemicals, dry & humid environment, and negligible hazardous waste generation. However, the stereolithography (SLA) segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 47.7% from 2030 to 2040, due to use of a wide range of materials, high resolution, shortened development cycles, high accuracy, and durable outputs.

Request for Customization at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/11027

The self-assembly segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on properties, the self-assembly segment is expected to hold the highest market share in 2030, accounting for around two-thirds of the global military 4D printing market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to chemical complementarity and structural compatibility such as specific surface characteristics, surface charge, polarizability, mass, and surface functionalities. However, the self-repair segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 52.4% from 2030 to 2040, due to the fact that self-repair is one of the most powerful functionalities that gives the ability to check and fix broken packages automatically by saving the valuable development time.

The army segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on application, the army segment is expected to account for the largest share in 2030, contributing to nearly half of the global military 4D printing market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. This is attributed to increased demand for advanced weapons to be present with the army across the globe. However, the navy segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 47.3% from 2030 to 2040, due to the increased trend toward upgradation of naval services across the globe.

Interested to Procure the Data with Actionable Strategy & Insights? Inquire here at https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/11027

North America to maintain its dominance by 2031

Based on region, North America is expected to hold the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2030, accounting for around two-fifths of the global military 4D printing market. Increase in investment in arm forces in the U.S. to establish dominance on the battlefield drive the market growth. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 49.1% from 2030 to 2040. This is due to rise in defense expenditure across the region to tackle growing terrorism and regional disputes in countries such as India, South Korea, and China.

Leading Market Players: -

Organovo Holdings, Inc.

Protolabs

Stratasys Ltd.

Voxelijet AG

Heineken N.V. (Key Innovators)

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. (Key Innovators)

3D Systems Corp.

ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES)

Arcam AB

Autodesk, Inc.

Dassault Systemes SA

ExOne Company

Hewlett Packard Corp.

Hoganas AB

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Materialise NV

Optomec, Inc

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Similar Reports We Have on Printing Industry:

Automotive 3D Printing Market by Component (Technology (Material Extrusion, Powder Bed Fusion, Vat Photopolymerization, Material Jetting, Direct Energy Deposition, Binder Jetting), Material (Polymers, Metal, Others), and Services), Application (Prototyping, Tooling, Jigs & Fixtures, End-Use Parts, Others), Propulsion (ICE Vehicles, Electric Vehicles): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030.

Aerospace 3D Printing Market by Printing Technology (Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Binder Jetting, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Others), Platform (Aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and Spacecraft), Application (Production and Pre-production & Post-production), Delivery (Product and Service) and Offering (Hardware (Printer and Material (Metal & Ceramics (Titanium, Aluminum, Steel, and Others), Thermoplastics (Polycarbonate (PC), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Nylon/Polyamide, Fiber, and Others))), and Software): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030.

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
WEST BEND, Wis., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Milwaukee Tool continues an impressive track-record of growth in Wisconsin and nationwide. This morning the company was joined by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Milwaukee 7 (M7), West Bend officials, and industry partners to celebrate the grand opening of the company's newest manufacturing plant in West Bend, WI.

Milwaukee Tool West Bend Facility

Located only 20 minutes from Milwaukee's global R&D headquarters in Brookfield, the 95,000-square-foot facility will manufacture new, innovative Hand Tools for the Electrical, Power Utility, Plumbing, and Mechanical trades; among the first solutions to be made here will be cutting pliers and screwdrivers. The company has invested $55 million to build and equip this facility with advanced technology and equipment.

"This state-of-the-art facility, and the people who work here, will play a critical role in delivering the next wave of hand tool innovation to the industry," said Tim Albrecht, President of Hand Tools, Storage & PPE for Milwaukee Tool. "Wisconsin has been our company's home for nearly 100 years  we're thrilled to continue our growth here where we've been able to recruit some of the best talent in the country."

Milwaukee Tool's facility is the first development in the City of West Bend's newest 216-acre industrial park, West Bend Manufacturing Center.

"We are proud to welcome Milwaukee Tool to the City of West Bend," said West Bend City Administrator Jay Shambeau. "Milwaukee Tool's investment brings high-value employment opportunities, and we look forward to its further expansion in West Bend."

WEDC has been a long-term partner of Milwaukee Tool as it has experienced double-digit growth globally, and now employs over 3,700 throughout the state.

"Milwaukee Tool is an iconic global brand that, by its name alone, makes our state synonymous with quality manufacturing," said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. "As Milwaukee Tool has grown its investments in Wisconsin, WEDC has been pleased to invest in Milwaukee Tool."

Milwaukee 7 (M7), southeastern Wisconsin's regional economic development organization, also participated in the event.

"Milwaukee Tool's remarkable growth makes it one of the Milwaukee region's greatest success stories," said Gale Klappa, co-chair of Milwaukee 7 and Executive Chairman of WEC Energy Group. "With the opening of their first manufacturing facility in Southeastern Wisconsin, adding to the significant headquarters and research and development presence they already have here, Milwaukee Tool joins a long list of companies designing and producing highly engineered and technical productsproducts that are exported globally from this region every day."

Milwaukee Tool's West Bend facility is providing 150 new jobs. Roles range from engineers and operators to quality technicians, service technicians, and material handlers. Interested applicants can apply at www.milwaukeetool.jobs.

About Milwaukee Tool

Milwaukee Tool, founded in 1924, is a global leader in delivering innovative solutions to the professional construction trades that increase productivity and safety. Milwaukee is known for their world-leading M12, M18, and MX FUEL cordless systems, the ground-breaking performance of their cordless innovations, safety solutions, battery-powered outdoor power equipment, jobsite lighting and clean-up, time-saving accessories, and innovative hand tool and PACKOUT Modular Storage products. The company is dedicated to delivering a steady stream of advanced, trade-specific solutions.

Milwaukee Tool is a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code: 669, ADR symbol: TTNDY). For more information on the full line of Milwaukee products, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com.

For more information, please contact:

Heather McGee, 262-790-6655

[email protected]

SOURCE Milwaukee Tool
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mint Eco Car Wash has announced its plan to invest over $1.25MM to solve the well-known West Palm Beach Southend neighborhood traffic issue on Southern Boulevard and South Olive Avenue. This particular intersection near their 316 Southern Boulevard location has many problems, one of which is the traffic flow Southbound on Olive Avenue.

Mint Eco has been working for over two years to solve this problemwithout success. To date, Mint Eco has invested over $1MM in renovating and redesigning the site to process customers faster (Chick-Fil-A tablets in the driveway, new computer system, multiple employees in the driveway, redesigned interior services and canopies, and added new tunnel equipment). In addition, Mint Eco has presented a plan to the City to redesign the traffic lanes on South Olive in front of the wash, which was declined. While many of these efforts helped, none of them solved the problem.

On April 22, Mint Eco Car Wash entered into a contract to purchase the property immediately to the South of their site on South Olive. The acquisition of this property will allow Mint Eco to close the existing entrance/exit and move their entrance/exit 185 feet South of the Southern and Olive intersection.

The proposed site plan shared on their website (www.mintecocarwash.com/traffic) shows that the newly acquired parcel will be used solely as the new site entrance/exit and an extension of the site's driveway. The new site plan will dramatically reduce any impact from car wash operations to the traffic flow at the Southern Boulevard and South Olive intersection. Furthermore, the new parcel allows more customers to queue on the property, reducing the likelihood of the queue ever extending into South Olive traffic. Finally, customers exiting the site will have an easier right/left turn onto Olive with the additional space.

Co-founder and CEO Geoffrey Jervis shared, "Mint Eco Car Wash is a relationship focused organization. Our relationship with our community is, as such, of paramount importance. At Mint Eco, it pains us to have any problems with the communities that we serve. Unfortunately, we currently have such an issue, and we need the Community's help to solve it. While we are willing to spend the time, energy, and money (estimated at over $1.25MM) to invest in this solution, we cannot accomplish this change alone. Mint Eco need's your support in garnering final State and City approval for this project."

To date, Mint Eco has presented this plan to the City, local elected officials, and the local neighborhood association (SENA) and have been encouraged by all parties. In SENA's case, they received an official letter of support from the organization for this effort.

Mint Eco is asking local residents to write a letter of support for this project and/or sign their online petition (visit www.mintecocarwash.com/traffic to learn more). They are also inviting local residents to attend a public meeting on August 23, at 6:00 PM at the South Olive Community Center where they will be presenting the details of the entire proposed Traffic Improvement Plan and listening to feedback from the community.

About Mint Eco:

Mint Eco Car Wash is bringing A Fresh Approach to Washing Cars across Palm Beach County, with its unique mission statement: "We exist to make people happy. We believe a clean car makes you feel good and makes you optimistic about the rest of your day. And we LOVE being in the business of selling happiness." Founded in 2019 in West Palm Beach, Mint Eco was voted 2022 Best Car Wash in Palm Beach County and has grown to over 100 employees, washing hundreds of thousands of cars in the County to date.

Mint Eco currently operates three car washes in Palm Beach County: Mint Eco Car Wash Downtown, located at 316 Southern Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Mint Eco Car Wash Jupiter, located at 220 Maplewood Drive in Jupiter, and Mint Eco Car Wash Okeechobee/Turnpike, located at 1950 Golden Lakes Boulevard in West Palm Beach, with plans to develop 50 more locations over the next several years. To learn more visit, www.mintecocarwash.com.

Contact:

Shannon Hunihan

Chief Marketing Officer

[email protected]

941-587-4965

SOURCE Mint Eco Car Wash
Hosting Call at 5:00 pm ET on Thursday, August 25th

European Q&A Session on August 26th at 8:30am ET

CALGARY, AB, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Nanalysis Scientific Corp. ("the Company", (TSXV: NSCI) (OTCQX: NSCIF) (FRA: 1N1), a leader in portable NMR machines and MRI technology for healthcare and industrial applications announces that on Thursday, August 25, 2022, the Company will put out a press release and Chief Executive Officer Sean Krakiwsky and Interim Chief Financial Officer Randall McRae will host a conference call at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time to discuss the results for the quarter June 30, 2022.

Investors interested in participating on the live second quarter call can dial 1-888-664-6392 or 416-764-8659 from abroad. Investors can also access the call online through a listen-only webcast here: https://app.webinar.net/32l7RdQB0Zw or on the investor relations section of the Company's website HERE.

The webcast will be archived on the Company's investor relations webpage for at least 90 days and a telephonic playback will be available for seven days after the conference call by calling 1-888-390-0541 or 416-764-8677, conference ID #484317.

Additionally, the Company will be hosting a Q&A session for it's European investors at 8:30am ET on Friday, August 26th which can be accessed by the following link: Click here to join the meeting ,or call in (audio only) +1 437-703-4522, Phone Conference ID: 636 080 139#.

Nanalysis trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) in Canada with ticker symbol 'NSCI', OTC and the Frankfurt exchange under the ticker symbol '1N1'. The company's business is what we term "MRI and NMR for industry". The company develops and manufactures portable Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometers or analyzers for laboratory and industrial markets. The NMReady-60 was the first full-feature portable NMR spectrometer in a single compact enclosure requiring no liquid helium or any other cryogens. The company has followed-up that initial offering with new products and continues to have a strong innovation pipeline. Nanalysis recently announced that it has begun selling a 100MHz device in 2020. The Company's new device will be the most powerful and most advanced compact NMR device ever brought to market.

Nanalysis devices are used in many industries (oil and gas, chemical, mining, pharma, biotech, flavor and fragrances, agrochemicals, law enforcement, and more) as well as numerous government and university research labs around the world. The Company continues to exploit new global market opportunities independently and with partners.

With the recent acquisition of K'(Prime) Technologies Inc. (KPrime), the company maintains a North American sales and service company of over 40 individuals who cover scientific instrumentation for pharma, food, chemical and oil & gas customers, as well as imaging systems for security applications.

Additionally, the Company has a 43% ownership in Quad Systems AG ("Quad Systems"), with an option to purchase the remaining shares. Quad Systems is a Zurich-based Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) company focused on high-field NMR for pharmaceutical and other vertical markets.

Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements and Legal Disclaimer

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are 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 projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly 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 expressly required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Nanalysis Scientific Corp.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA is calling on middle and high school students to join the second NASA TechRise Student Challenge, which invites student teams to develop, build, and launch science and technology experiments on high-altitude balloons.

Students in grades six to 12 attending U.S. public, private, or charter schools  including those in U.S. territories  are challenged to team up with their schoolmates to design an experiment under the guidance of an educator. Administered by Future Engineers, the NASA TechRise Student Challenge offers hands-on insight into the design and test process used by NASA-supported researchers. It aims to inspire a deeper understanding of Earth's atmosphere, surface features, and climate, as well as space exploration, coding, electronics, and the value of test data. Teams should submit their experiment ideas by Oct. 24, 2022.

"We are thrilled to offer the second NASA TechRise Student Challenge," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "The quality of the experiments and the creativity we saw from students in the last challenge are exactly the kinds of problem-solving and hands-on learning NASA hopes to inspire. We're eager to see what innovative ideas pour in from students around the nation this year."

To participate in the challenge, visit:

https://www.futureengineers.org/nasatechrise

A total of 60 winning teams will be selected to turn their proposed experiment idea into reality and launch their technology on a suborbital flight test. The winning teams will each receive $1,500 to build their experiment and an assigned spot on a NASA-sponsored high-altitude balloon flight operated by one of two commercial providers: Aerostar of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, or World View based in Tucson, Arizona. Both high-altitude balloons provide exposure to the stratosphere at altitudes of approximately 9-19 miles (15-30 kilometers) and variable duration of flight time of hours to days. The challenge is led by NASA's Flight Opportunities program, which rapidly demonstrates technologies for space exploration and the expansion of space commerce through suborbital testing with industry flight providers.

The winning teams will also receive technical support and mentorship from Future Engineers, including the opportunity to learn or improve technology skills such as soldering, coding, and 3D design. NASA encourages students and their instructors to submit experiment ideas even if they have no prior experience with these activities.

"We could not do a project like this in our classroom without the support of NASA TechRise," said Jill Davis, Superintendent-Director of the Greater Lowell Technical High School in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, which had one of the winning teams in last year's challenge. "It is something that is truly out of this world! This challenge helped students develop their own unique ideas for future inventions, which adds a new layer of meaning to what they learn."

To enter the competition, teams will propose their experiment idea online using the design guidelines and proposal template on the competition site . NASA plans to announce the competition winners in January 2023. The selected student teams will build their payloads from January to May, and the final experiments will take flight in summer 2023.

Educators interested in TechRise are strongly encouraged to join the virtual educator workshop on Saturday, Aug. 27, to learn more about the challenge, high-altitude balloons, and how to develop a NASA TechRise proposal. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions of TechRise educators who recently participated in the winner build experience.

NASA also is seeking volunteers to help judge the entries anticipated from across the country. U.S. residents with expertise in engineering, space, and/or atmospheric research who are interested in reviewing NASA TechRise Student Challenge submissions can apply to be a judge on the Future Engineers website.

NASA's Flight Opportunities program, based at the agency's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, and part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), is leading the NASA TechRise Challenge, with support from the NASA Tournament Lab, also part of STMD.

SOURCE NASA
MISSING DLC, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --"Nick Cave and Jack Cave: The Color Is Fashion Exhibition," created by Internationally acclaimed multi-disciplinary artist Nick Cave and his brother fashion designer Jack Cave, will bring a once-in-a -lifetime collection of avant-garde and haute couture inspired fashion to the Roundhouse of the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. The exhibition which opens to the public on August 27, 2022, will continue through November 27, 2022, and is in partnership with the MCA Chicago and the groundbreaking retrospective exhibition "NICK CAVE: FOROTHERMORE," which is currently on view at the MCA until October 2, 2022. This is the first time that these wearable works will be installed publicly and the DuSable is the first museum in the world to ever exhibit Nick Cave's or Jack Cave's fashion collections.

"I am thrilled to be sharing my career's work in my chosen hometown. I don't take the gravity of this moment for granted," said Nick Cave. "From the MCA to the DuSable Museum and beyond this community and city-wide project is the realization of a dream that could only happen in Chicagothis way, with this brilliant team and throughout this great city."

"The Color Is" will consist of 40-45 couture looks and fashion objects created by Nick Cave and Jack Cave and a number of specialty collaborators. All works including head-to-toe garments have been constructed from a wide variety of materials including beads, wire, sequins, recycled textiles and custom prints. The ensembles feature intricate layering that is emblematic of human universality, highlighting intricacy, complexity, color, and uniqueness. According to both Nick and Jack Cave the clothing is genderless, and the more than 400 individual items can be composed into limitless looks, all designed and crafted by the artists.

"The Color Is" also contains an education component which highlights the exhibition themes, references and history through digital animation, film montages, extensive explanatory text and high resolution still images. There will be some surprise audio visual elements featured in the exhibition as well as on the DuSable Museum website and the Bloomberg Connects app. All objects in the exhibition were created for both "The Color Is" live performance and "The Color Is" exhibition as a companion exhibition of NICK CAVE FOROTHERMORE and are Nick Cave's most recent body of created work, often referencing work of his retrospective contemporary art archive. The pieces have been created within the past 9 to 12 months.

"I am proud to be able to showcase so many facets of the Black experience through fashion, especially alongside my brother, Nick, "said Jack Cave. "The process of being able to combine both of our individual styles and work them into one fluid exhibit that educates and celebrates everything from sustainability, queer liberation, and Black presence in mainstream high fashion has been an honor."

"We are thrilled and honored to work with these brilliant artists to exhibit their amazing works of wearable art at the DuSable. This unique exhibit and accompanying educational activities are a prime example of our goals and inspiration for our recent rebranding as both a museum and education center. We recognize the importance of presenting Black artists personal creative journeys as well as the cultural influences that inform their art and sharing that vision with young people and communities from which they came. Nick and Jack Cave's imperative to bring their work into the heart of the Black community expresses not only their personal philosophy but also the mission of the DuSable. We are also excited to continue our partnership with the MCA in mounting this exhibition during the run of FOROTHERMORE, which allows visitors to experience Nick's work in both locations and from multiple perspectives a groundbreaking approach that stems from our strong collaborative partnership," said Perri Irmer, President and CEO of The DuSable Museum.

"The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center celebrates the multilayered, elements of Black culture that Nick Cave and Jack Cave's brilliant work is steeped in," said Danny Dunson, Director of Curatorial Services and Community Partnerships. "Our presentation of The Color Is, positions Nick Cave's and Jack Cave's art practices within the heart of Chicago's African American community. The South Side community represents what continues to inspire both Cave brothers as artists and activists."

Fashion has been a natural part of the Cave brother's artistic practice. Growing up with five aunts who sewed, Nick and Jack Cave had an early interest in material culture and construction. The brothers are inspired by the homey-whimsical interiors of their grandparent's home that contained African American handicraft traditions, such as quilting and crochet. Both Nick and Jack Cave studied fiber arts as undergraduates at the Kansas City Art Institute where they first learned to sew. In the 1980's the brothers would create fashion spectaculars together.

"The Color Is "exhibition has been curated for the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center by Danny Dunson, Director of Curatorial Services and Community Partnerships; fabricated by Martin Giese, Vice President of Exhibitions and Collections and Brenda Liboy, Lead Exhibitions Designer. The exhibition has been in development since 2021 and initially was shown as a live performance at The Art Edge Gala produced and presented by the MCA and held at the historic Daniel Burnham designed Roundhouse of the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. "The Color Is" is a companion exhibition to "NICK CAVE: FOROTHERMORE," a city-wide celebration of the Chicago-based artist.

ABOUT THE DUSABLE MUSEUM

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is the nation's first independent Museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and study of the history and culture of African Americans and people of African descent. For more information, please visit www.dusablemuseum.org and @dusablemuseum.

SOURCE The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- This announcement is made by Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited (the "Company", together with its subsidiaries and its consolidated affiliated entities, the "Group") pursuant to Rule 13.09(2) of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules") and the Inside Information Provisions (as defined under the Listing Rules) under Part XIVA of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong).

The board (the "Board") of directors of the Company (the "Directors") is pleased to announce that the Board has approved and adopted the following dividend policy (the "Dividend Policy") on August 10, 2022, which aims to provide stable and sustainable returns to the shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders"). The Dividend Policy has become effective from August 10, 2022.

PURPOSES

The Dividend Policy aims to set out the principles and guidelines that the Company intends to apply in relation to the declaration, payment or distribution of its profits as dividends to the Shareholders.

PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES

In considering the payment of dividends, there shall be a balance between retaining adequate reserves for the Group's future growth and rewarding the Shareholders.

Dividends to be distributed each year

According to the Dividend Policy, in normal circumstances, the annual dividends to be declared and distributed in each calendar year shall be, in principle, no less than 10% of the Group's non-GAAP net income attributable to the Shareholders of the preceding financial year as reported in the Company's audited annual results announcement, subject to the factors set out below:

(a) the financial results and financial condition of the Group;

(b) the expected working capital requirements, capital expenditure requirements and future expansion plans of the Group;

(c) retained earnings and distributable reserves of the Group;

(d) the level of the Group's debts to equity ratio and return on equity;

(e) general economic conditions, business cycle of the Group's business and other internal or external factors that may have an impact on the business or financial performance and position of the Group;

(f) any banking or other funding covenants by which the Company is bound from time to time; and

(g) any other factors that the Board may consider relevant.

Timing of dividend declaration and payments

The Board shall hold meetings considering the declaration and payment of dividends by the end of March each year and declare such dividend if so decided. The dividend will be subject to the Shareholders' approval at the annual general meeting of the Company no later than the end of June each year. Once approved, the dividends shall be declared by the Company and paid out to the Shareholders.

Notwithstanding the above, the declaration and payment of dividends is also subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations including the laws of the Cayman Islands, the memorandum and articles of association of the Company, and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange.

The dividend under the Dividend Policy proposed and/or declared by the Board for a financial year are deemed as final dividend. Any final dividend for a financial year will be subject to Shareholders' approval. The Company may declare and pay dividends by way of cash or by other means that the Board considers appropriate.

The Dividend Policy shall in no way constitute a legally binding commitment by the Company in respect of its future dividend and/or in no way obligate the Company to declare a dividend at any time or from time to time. There can be no assurance that dividends will be paid in any particular amount for any given year.

REVIEW OF THE DIVIDEND POLICY

The Board will review the Dividend Policy from time to time to ensure the effectiveness of the Dividend Policy, and reserves the right in its sole and absolute discretion to update, amend, modify and/or cancel the Dividend Policy at any time.

Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company.

By Order of the Board

Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited

Jingbo Wang

Chairwoman of the Board

Hong Kong, August [10], 2022

As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises Ms. Jingbo Wang, the chairwoman of the Board, Mr. Zhe Yin and Ms. Chia-Yue Chang as executive directors; Mr. Neil Nanpeng Shen and Mr. Boquan He as non-executive directors; and Dr. Zhiwu Chen, Mr. Tze-Kaing Yang, Mr. Jinbo Yao and Ms. May Yihong Wu as independent directors.

ABOUT NOAH HOLDINGS LIMITED

Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX: 6686) is a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider in China offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for high net worth investors. Noah is a Cayman Islands holding company and carries on business in Hong Kong as Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited. In the first quarter of 2022, Noah distributed RMB15.0 billion (US$2.4 billion) of investment products. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah had assets under management of RMB156.1 billion (US$24.6 billion) as of March 31, 2022.

Noah's wealth management business primarily distributes private equity, public securities and insurance products denominated in RMB and other currencies. Noah delivers customized financial solutions to clients through a network of 1,281 relationship managers across 83 cities in mainland China, and serves the international investment needs of its clients through offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, New York, Silicon Valley and Singapore. The Company's wealth management business had 415,082 registered clients as of March 31, 2022. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah manages private equity, public securities, real estate, multi-strategy and other investments denominated in Renminbi and other currencies. Noah also provides other businesses.

For more information, please visit Noah at ir.noahgroup.com.

SOURCE Noah Holdings Limited
SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors (the "Board") of Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited (the "Company") will hold a Board meeting on Monday, August 22, 2022 (Hong Kong time) for the purpose of, among others, approving the unaudited financial results of the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2022 (the "Q2 Results") and announcement for the Q2 Results (the "Q2 Earnings Announcement"). The Company will announce its Q2 Results at or around 6:00a.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 (Hong Kong time) on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited at www.hkexnews.hk.

Following the Q2 Earnings Announcement, the Company's senior management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 (Hong Kong time) to discuss its Q2 Results and recent business activities. Details of the conference call are as follows:

United States (Toll Free): 1-888-317-6003 Mainland China (Toll Free): 4001-206-115 Hong Kong (Toll Free): 800-963-976 International: 1-412-317-6061 Conference Title: Noah Holdings 2Q22 Earnings Conference Call Participant Password: 6885355

A telephone replay will be available starting approximately one hour after the end of the conference call until August 29 , 2022 at 1-877-344-7529 (United States Toll Free) and 1-412-317-0088 (International Toll). The replay access code is 9147064.

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website under the "Announcements & Events" section at http://ir.noahgroup.com.

By Order of the Board

Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited

Jingbo Wang

Chairwoman of the Board

Hong Kong, August [10], 2022

As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises Ms. Jingbo Wang, the chairwoman of the Board, Mr. Zhe Yin and Ms. Chia-Yue Chang as executive directors; Mr. Neil Nanpeng Shen and Mr. Boquan He as non-executive directors; and Dr. Zhiwu Chen, Mr. Tze-Kaing Yang, Mr. Jinbo Yao and Ms. May Yihong Wu as independent directors.

ABOUT NOAH HOLDINGS LIMITED

Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX: 6686) is a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider in China offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for high net worth investors. Noah is a Cayman Islands holding company and carries on business in Hong Kong as Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited. In the first quarter of 2022, Noah distributed RMB15.0 billion (US$2.4 billion) of investment products. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah had assets under management of RMB156.1 billion (US$24.6 billion) as of March 31, 2022.

Noah's wealth management business primarily distributes private equity, public securities and insurance products denominated in RMB and other currencies. Noah delivers customized financial solutions to clients through a network of 1,281 relationship managers across 83 cities in mainland China, and serves the international investment needs of its clients through offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, New York, Silicon Valley and Singapore. The Company's wealth management business had 415,082 registered clients as of March 31, 2022. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah manages private equity, public securities, real estate, multi-strategy and other investments denominated in Renminbi and other currencies. Noah also provides other businesses.

For more information, please visit Noah at ir.noahgroup.com.

SOURCE Noah Holdings Limited
SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited (the "Company" or "Noah Holdings") announces that the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") has approved a motion to pursue the voluntary conversion to dual-primary listing (the "Primary Conversion") on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Hong Kong Stock Exchange") pursuant to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange's guidance letter HKEX-GL112-22. The Board also authorized the Company's senior management to proceed with the relevant preparatory work and undertake the necessary procedures to complete the Primary Conversion. After c ompletion of the Primary Conversion, the Company's ordinary shares and American Depositary Shares will continue to be traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, respectively, and remain mutually fungible, as disclosed in the section headed "Information about this Document and the Global Offering" in the Company's prospectus dated June 30, 2022.

The Primary Conversion is conditional upon and subject to, among other s , the Company's compliance with the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the "Listing Rules") and the Company's obtaining of the necessary approvals from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Company will make further announcement(s) to disclose any material updates and progress with respect to the Primary Conversion to the extent required by the Listing Rules and other applicable laws and regulations as and when appropriate.

This announcement is for information al purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any invitation or offer to acquire, purchase or subscribe for any securities of the Company. Shareholders and potential investors should exercise caution when dealing in the securities of the Company.

By Order of the Board

Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited

Jingbo Wang

Chairwoman of the Board

Hong Kong, August [10], 2022

As at the date of this announcement, the Board comprises Ms. Jingbo Wang, the chairwoman of the Board, Mr. Zhe Yin and Ms. Chia-Yue Chang as executive directors; Mr. Neil Nanpeng Shen and Mr. Boquan He as non-executive directors; and Dr. Zhiwu Chen, Mr. Tze-Kaing Yang, Mr. Jinbo Yao and Ms. May Yihong Wu as independent directors.

ABOUT NOAH HOLDINGS LIMITED

Noah Holdings Limited (NYSE: NOAH and HKEX: 6686) is a leading and pioneer wealth management service provider in China offering comprehensive one-stop advisory services on global investment and asset allocation primarily for high net worth investors. Noah is a Cayman Islands holding company and carries on business in Hong Kong as Noah Holdings Private Wealth and Asset Management Limited. In the first quarter of 2022, Noah distributed RMB15.0 billion (US$2.4 billion) of investment products. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah had assets under management of RMB156.1 billion (US$24.6 billion) as of March 31, 2022.

Noah's wealth management business primarily distributes private equity, public securities and insurance products denominated in RMB and other currencies. Noah delivers customized financial solutions to clients through a network of 1,281 relationship managers across 83 cities in mainland China, and serves the international investment needs of its clients through offices in Hong Kong, Taiwan, New York, Silicon Valley and Singapore. The Company's wealth management business had 415,082 registered clients as of March 31, 2022. Through Gopher Asset Management, Noah manages private equity, public securities, real estate, multi-strategy and other investments denominated in Renminbi and other currencies. Noah also provides other businesses.

For more information, please visit Noah at ir.noahgroup.com.

SOURCE Noah Holdings Limited
Henry Snaith wins Leigh Ann Conn Prize for work in improved solar cells

Nominations for 2023 prize due by Dec. 31, 2022

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Snaith, professor of physics at the University of Oxford and co-founder and chief scientific officer of Oxford PV, has won the 2021 Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy from the University of Louisville. The prize recognizes outstanding renewable energy ideas and achievements with proven global impact.

Snaith is recognized for his work on the development of perovskite solar cell technology. This technology enables more electricity to be generated from sunlight, increasing the adoption of sustainable solar energy worldwide.

Snaith was one of the first in the world to see metal halide perovskite's potential as a solar absorber and conductor. Tweet this Henry Snaith of the University of Oxford has won the 2022 Leigh Ann Conn Prize for Renewable Energy, presented by the University of Louisville. (Photo: University of Oxford)

Snaith was one of the first people in the world to recognize the potential of metal halide perovskite, a crystalline semiconductor material, as a solar absorber and charge conductor in 2012. In the decade since, he has led the research community in advancing fundamental understanding of perovskite materials and making them practically useful by improving device efficiencies, long-term stability and cost effectiveness. His ongoing research at the University of Oxford aims to increase the efficiency and durability of perovskite solar cells further with the goal of reducing the overall cost of electricity production.

"This is a wonderful achievement and richly deserved," said Ian Shipsey, professor and head of the Department of Physics at Oxford. "Henry's work is indeed ground-breaking; photovoltaic research is vital if we are to address the impact of energy use on the Earth's climate and Henry's group is leading the way."

Snaith's work on perovskite materials has contributed to Oxford PV's commercial plans for a perovskite-on-silicon tandem cell. These solar cells, which combine a layer of perovskite on top of conventional silicon, are poised to increase solar power's practical conversion efficiency beyond 30% in the next decade.

"Professor Snaith's research is not only at the forefront of science but, as this award recognizes, his practical, commercial approach means that it stands to enormously benefit society in very real terms," said Laura Herz, professor and associate head for research for the Maths, Physics and Life Sciences division at Oxford. "It is a fantastic example of our research portfolio here at Oxford and I congratulate professor Snaith on this achievement."

In March, Snaith will give a public lecture in Louisville about his winning work and achievements, trials and tribulations. He will receive the Conn Prize medal and $50,000 award at a formal ceremony.

"The University of Louisville celebrates professor Snaith's research and clear efforts toward improving our world through technology," said UofL Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, who will confer the award. "Energy generation from renewables is a defining global challenge. Dr. Snaith's work renders renewable energy more competitive, reliable and accessible."

The UofL prize is named for the late daughter of Hank and Rebecca Conn, who are university alumni, supporters and the prize benefactors.

"Henry Snaith is transforming the field of solar energy generation," Hank Conn said. "It is exciting to celebrate a scientist with the fortitude, patience and resiliency to endure technology commercialization into the marketplace, where impact occurs. That recognition is Leigh Ann's lasting legacy through the prize."

Nominations for the 2023 Leigh Ann Conn Prize competition close Dec. 31. Criteria and instructions are found at http://leighannconnprize.org/. For more information, contact Andrew Marsh at 502-852-8597 or [email protected].

SOURCE University of Louisville
SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Panacell Biotech Co., Ltd. said that NK cells, exosomes, and brown adipose-derived stem cells are effective to treat patients with long COVID conditions, or post COVID-19 conditions, as well as those with terminal illness.

Panacell Biotech is South Korea's research institute specializing in advanced regenerative medical cell therapy using adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC).

Seung-Ho Choi, CEO of Panacell Biotech

The company announced on August 10 that it will soon conduct those cells' toxicity tests through clinical trials and laboratory animals.

Currently, in South Korea, there are guidelines for plasma treatment that administers plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 to other patients. Although there already exist COVID-19 treatments, such as Paxrovid, a clear therapeutic effect has not been confirmed yet.

There are over 60 long COVID conditions, including decreased libido and hair loss.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit American academic medical center, "A whopping one in four people aged 65 or above suffer from aftereffects of COVID-19"

The Guardian also reported that people with long COVID often experience and an "extremely broad" variety of symptoms, including less well-known side effects such as amnesia, and an inability to perform familiar movements or commands."

According to the TIME magazine said about four million people  or 2.4% of the U.S. employed population  have reduced ability to work because of Long COVID.

Associate Professor Gwenaelle Douaud at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN), University of Oxford, and her team observed a "greater reduction in grey matter thickness and tissue contract in the orbitofrontal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus" and "greater changes in markers of tissue damage in regions that are functionally connected to primary olfactory cortex." While the long-term effects of COVID-19 on smell remain inconclusive, the study suggests a possible connection between brain changes by COVID-19 and memory.

However, there have been many clinical results in which the coronavirus causes inflammation in various organs, including the respiratory system, and chronic symptoms persist.

While research on a treatment for COVID-19 is underway around the world, Chinese researchers said they are researching ways to treat COVID-19 patients using stem cells.

Sun Yanrong, Deputy Director of China Biotechnology Development Center, asserted, "We are continuing to monitor the treatment using stem cells. In Wuhan, over 200 patients have already been treated with stem cells."

He continued explaining, "The clinical treatment results show that the stem cell therapy has good safety and has also been confirmed to have a therapeutic effect. It was also effective in recovering the lungs."

Seung-Ho Choi, CEO of Panacell Biotech, affirmed, "We expect that this clinical trial will reveal therapeutic effects of stem cell therapy along with these treatments."

Panacell Biotech is a leading bio institute in advanced regenerative medicine and cell therapy, widely recognized for its contributions to the development of biotechnology by researching stem cell culture and cell banking, focusing on the development of treatments for various cancers and incurable diseases.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea approved Panacell Biotech on April 1 this year as one of the 21 licensed cell treatment facilities.

It received the K-ESG Management Innovation Award in June 2022, and is scheduled to receive the 2022 Global Clean Environment Award in the healthcare category in this upcoming October 18.

SOURCE Panacell Biotech Co., Ltd.
Under $2B EITSI contract, the company will support the DHA's IT transformation to consolidate services and reduce costs

EITSI's primary objective is to reduce variation in the delivery of IT services through standardized, enterprise-wide processes and procedures

HERNDON, Va., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Peraton has won a contract award worth up to $2 billion over 10 years to serve as the Enterprise Information Technology Services Integrator (EITSI) for the Defense Health Agency's (DHA) Military Health System (MHS).

The single award, firm-fixed-price, blanket purchase agreement was issued to Perspecta Enterprise Solutions LLC, a Peraton subsidiary, in a contractor team arrangement with Capgemini Government Solutions LLC.

Under the contract, Peraton will coordinate, integrate, and manage the DHA's IT transformation to consolidate services and reduce costs. The primary objective of the contract is to reduce variation in the delivery of IT services through standardized, enterprise-wide processes and procedures.

"Peraton is proud to continue our support to DHA and the Military Health System by leading the consolidation and transformation of its IT services," said Tarik Reyes, president, Global Health & Financial Solutions sector.

"As DHA's Enterprise IT Services integrator, we are committed to delivering DHA's vision for standardized and integrated IT services that enable DHA's medical mission through decreased complexity, modernization, flexibility, and adaptability. We look forward to delivering an improved user experience and enhanced mission capabilities that drive mission success across the Agency."

About Peraton

Peraton drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world's leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted and highly differentiated national security solutions and technologies that keep people safe and secure. Peraton serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies across the intelligence, space, cyber, defense, citizen security, health, and state and local markets. Every day, our employees do the can't be done, solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit Peraton.com/News and follow Peraton on LinkedIn for news and updates.

SOURCE Peraton
The Country's Only Beef Producer-Owned Processor Awarded $12.232 Million From The Texas Enterprise Fund

AMARILLO, Texas, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced today that the State of Texas, through the Texas Enterprise Fund, intends to support the creation of Producer Owned Beef's state-of-the-art beef processing facility in Amarillo  the only such facility in the nation to be owned by cattle producers and operated by beef processing industry veterans. Abbott's office presented the award at a launch event in Amarillo today with the support of Texas Economic Development Fund representatives, Amarillo Mayor, Ginger Nelson and Amarillo Economic Development Corporation CEO, Kevin Carter.

Producer Owned Beef intends to build a $670 million state-of-the-art processing facility. Tweet this Producer Owned Beef facility rendering Producer Owned Beef site

The Governor's Enterprise Fund $12.232 million announcement complements the Amarillo City Council's unanimous decision to authorize Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) incentives for Producer Owned Beef, LLC to build its new headquarters in Amarillo. Along with infrastructure improvements, the AEDC and City of Amarillo approved incentives of up to $11.1 million to establish the state-of-the-art facility  a $670 million capital investment. The facility, designed to process 3,000-plus head of cattle per day, aims to employ nearly 1,600 people from the High Plains region.

"The importance of Texas Enterprise Fund along with Amarillo EDC backing for this project cannot be overstated" said Casey Cameron, CEO of Producer Owned Beef. "Public-Private Partnerships are proven to attract additional investors and create a virtuous cycle of commerce, employment and tax revenue for our communities and state. Our commitment is to build and operate a beef processing facility that stands out from the rest of the industry in animal well-being, environmental protections, team member safety and ergonomics, and the highest quality beef products."

Both Enterprise Fund and AEDC investments are performance-based having been designed for companies whose projects involve significant capital investment and the creation of jobs in Texas.

Producer Owned Beef Independent Model

Producer Owned Beef's innovative business model restores balance in the beef industry by reversing compensation disparities cattle producers currently face. As owners of the company, producers will receive a percentage of wholesale beef prices for the cattle they supply and a share of the profits from the plant.

"Many of our ranchers and feeders are third-, fourth- or even fifth-generation producers who have invested their lives in feeding Americans," said Monte Cluck, a Producer Owned Beef Board Member. "With this model, where producers are also owners, we're creating economic sustainability for small and medium-sized producers by ensuring they receive a greater share of the financial upside for the hard work they do."

Producer Owned Beef Facility Numbers

$670 million state-of-the-art processing facility

state-of-the-art processing facility 3,000-plus head per day processing capacity

Expected employment of up to 1,600 at full capacity

Expected payroll: $121 million annually

annually Expected groundbreaking: Q1 2023

Expected operating date: Q4 2025

Locations: 1,108 acres on Jack Rabbit Road (Spur 228) between I-40 and Hwy 287

Economic Impact Report

Please find Producer Owned Beef's economic impact study created by the Perryman Group at the company's website: www.producerownedbeef.com.

Executive Team Bios

Please find bios for Producer Owned Beef's senior management team at the company's website: www.producerownedbeef.com

Casey Cameron , CEO  is a lifelong cattle producer, active in multiple ranching states and communities.

, CEO  is a lifelong cattle producer, active in multiple ranching states and communities.

Monte Cluck is a lifelong feeder, cow-calf and stocker producer and along with numerous other business interests, is CEO of Dean Cluck Feedyard and general partner of Dean Cluck Cattle Company and lives in Boerne, Texas . Monte has been recognized for his leadership and service for several organizations including the 2020 National Golden Spur Award.

is a lifelong feeder, cow-calf and stocker producer and along with numerous other business interests, is CEO of Dean Cluck Feedyard and general partner of Dean Cluck Cattle Company and lives in . Monte has been recognized for his leadership and service for several organizations including the 2020 National Golden Spur Award.

Cassie Fish , Executive Vice President  has been a consultant in the cattle feeding and meat packing industry since 2006. She was Senior Director of Risk Management at Tyson responsible for corporate cattle feeding and is a leading expert on packing plant capacity and utilization.

, Executive Vice President  has been a consultant in the cattle feeding and meat packing industry since 2006. She was Senior Director of Risk Management at Tyson responsible for corporate cattle feeding and is a leading expert on packing plant capacity and utilization.

Dean Hanish , CFO  has invested his career in accounting, finance, and investor relations for the meat packing industry at IBP, Tyson Fresh Meats and as a consultant.

About Producer Owned Beef

Producer Owned Beef is a business cooperative purpose-built to imagine, capitalize and operate a state-of-the-art beef packing facility in Amarillo, Texas. The company's majority equity owners are cattle ranchers and feeders, making it unique in the beef processing industry. High-quality beef products sourced primarily from the High Plains region are expected to be available to consumers in 2025. Learn more at www.producerownedbeef.com

SOURCE Producer Owned Beef
HOUSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott International has been awarded a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract by QatarEnergy for the North Field South (NFS) Offshore Pipelines and Power/FO cables Project. The new contract is in addition to the awards received by McDermott this year for the NFS Jackets and Topsides and Pipelines for the North Field Expansion Project (NFXP).

The NFS infrastructure is part of the NFXP development and is designed to supply feed gas for two additional LNG trains and help increase total LNG production in the State of Qatar from the current 77 million tons per annum (MTPA) to 126 MTPA.

"McDermott is one of the most experienced engineering and construction firms serving the LNG market and has delivered more than 30 LNG Pre-FEED and FEED projects over the past ten years," said Tareq Kawash, McDermott's Senior Vice President, Offshore Middle East. "We look forward to continuing to work closely with QatarEnergy to contribute to the development of this strategic offshore development."

"McDermott has decades of experience delivering projects in Qatar, a historically strategic market, and is significantly increasing localization efforts with the Tawteen In-Country Value (ICV) program," said Neil Gunnion, McDermott Qatar Country Manager and Vice President Operations. "McDermott is uniquely positioned to combine its EPC expertise with FEED and ensure that our design is practical, safe, and commercially viable."

The scope of the contract comprises developing FEED studies for offshore and onshore pipelines, cables, and associated facilities. The project will be managed from the McDermott Doha office with support from Chennai.

About McDermott

McDermott is a premier, fully-integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott's innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructureempowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott's locally-focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties that may impact McDermott's actual results of operations. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the expected scope and execution of the project discussed in this press release. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders and other creditors of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. This communication reflects management's views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Contacts:

Global Media Relations

Reba Reid

Senior Director, Communications and Marketing

+1 281 588 5636

[email protected]

Offshore Middle East Media Relations

Barbara Knight

Senior Director, Communications and Marketing

+971 (0)4 804 3990

[email protected]

SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd
New Rise Renewables Reno Deploys Breakthrough Technology to Turn Renewable Feedstocks into Diesel that Burns Clean; Project Funded by USDA-Guaranteed Loans Arranged by Greater Commercial Lending

RENO, Nev., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the country's most advanced renewable fuel plants will officially launch operations at Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center in Storey County, Nevada. New Rise Renewables Reno will produce 44 million gallons per year of renewable diesel made from triglyceride oils from sources such as corn.

New Rise Renewables Reno logo Hydrotreater at New Rise Renewables Reno in Storey County, NV, a key component of the renewable diesel plant

The renewable diesel produced by New Rise Renewables Reno is completely interchangeable with diesel derived from petroleum and can efficiently power diesel engines, such as semi-trucks and large-scale emergency generators. The fuel burns with clean emissions. Phillips 66 is under contract to supply all of the feedstock for New Rise Renewables Reno and will purchase 100% of the renewable diesel product for use and sale nearby in California, according to New Rise Renewables Reno, which is owned by Nevada-based RESC Renewables Holdings.

Representatives from Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei and Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen inaugurated the facility at an on-site event today along with Storey County officials.

"New Rise Renewables and its proven technology represent the future. Renewable diesel is emerging as the renewable fuel of choice as the world begins to move away from fossil fuels. Notably, unlike ethanol or biodiesel, renewable diesel does not, and is not, mixed with petroleum products in order to perform," said Jeremy Gilpin executive vice president of Reno-based Greater Commercial Lending (GCL), which facilitated $112.6 million in government-guaranteed credit for the development of New Rise Renewables Reno.

"GCL is proud to have helped assemble the loan package that made New Rise Renewables Reno possible. It is one of only a few significant renewable diesel plants in the U.S., though there are certainly more on their way. A notable fact about the facility is that once it is in full operation, it will require minimal external energy. It will use its own internal energy recovery system to power the production of renewable diesel," Gilpin added.

Eighty percent of the GCL-arranged financing for New Rise Renewables Reno is guaranteed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) via its 9003 Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biodiesel Production Manufacturing Assistance Program. The financing structure includes participation by GCL parent Greater Nevada Credit Union, other credit unions, insurance companies and secondary market groups.

Said Randy Soule, leader of the New Rise Renewables Reno facility, "The USDA-guaranteed financing was what enabled the project. The favorable, flexible terms of the government guaranteed loan package were essential. With flexible financing, the financials may not have worked out, and our team wouldn't have been able to maintain complete oversight and control."

"Congratulations to New Rise Renewables Reno, and thanks to Greater Nevada Credit Union for supporting quality industries in Nevada," said Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei.

Nevada U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto added, "Northern Nevada's clean energy companies are helping us combat the climate crisis while fueling our economy and creating good-paying jobs for Nevadans. Businesses like New Rise Renewables are proof of what's possible with government-guaranteed loans, and when we all come together at a federal, state, and local level to foster innovation and growth. I'm proud to see this facility come online, and I'll keep working to support our clean-energy economy throughout Nevada."

"Nevada is a leader in clean energy, and I'm proud to continue fighting to bring more good-paying, clean energy jobs to our state," said Nevada U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen. "Renewable diesel plants like New Rise Renewables will help create jobs while helping our country move towards a cleaner energy future. I'm thankful to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for helping clean energy companies like this one in our state."

The New Rise Renewables Reno plant, which was developed by retrofitting an existing fuel plant, is projected to save nearly 880 million pounds of carbon emissions, the equivalent of removing 88,000 vehicles from the roads. The primary plant has been completed, and a pre-treatment and energy recovery system, designed to increase output and operational efficiency, will be fully operational in early 2023. The facility uses the most advanced renewable diesel technology in the U.S.

Renewable diesel is made by causing chemical reactions through the addition of hydrogen to the natural fats and oils. New Rise has deployed proven state-of-the-art efficient and cost-effective technology methods, which involves hydrogenating the triglycerides. The process uses hydrogen, pressure, catalyst and heat in an efficient manner, allowing reactions to be uniform and controlled  increasing yield, lowering operating costs and allowing for feedstock flexibility.

The fuel plant is located in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, the largest industrial park in the world. Other occupants include Tesla, Walmart, Google, FedEx, Switch and Panasonic.

About Greater Commercial Lending

Greater Commercial Lending (GCL) is a credit organization that brings together credit unions and community lenders from around the U.S. to provide government-guaranteed loans to businesses and initiatives in rural and under-served markets throughout the U.S. and its territories. It helps finance key infrastructure services, like power, renewable energy, transportation and fiber optic, as well as schools, hospitals, restaurants, agriculture, hotels and manufacturers. GCL partners with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which guarantee loans, to arrange credit at favorable terms. GCL is a subsidiary of Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU).

About Greater Nevada Credit Union

Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU) is headquartered in Carson City, Nevada and has been helping Nevadans with their financial needs since 1949. The credit union serves more than 82,200 consumers and small businesses and has over $1.73 billion in assets. GNCU's subsidiaries include Greater Nevada Mortgage, Greater Commercial Lending and Greater Nevada Insurance. GNCU is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and has been consistently recognized as a Best Financial Institution in many of its service areas and as a top employer by the Reno/Tahoe Best Places to Work Awards and is the USDA Lender of the Year. GNCU is also the title sponsor of Greater Nevada Field in Reno. For more information, call (800) 421-6674 or visit www.gncu.org.

Media contact:

Michael-Jon Romano

Allison+Partners

[email protected]

SOURCE Greater Commercial Lending
Through its seed fund, SDTC invested $100,000 into the Vancouver-based zero-waste

platform to enhance its tracking technology

VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Reusables.com, a leading zero-waste packaging platform, secured a $100,000 seed investment from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an independent federal foundation that funds Canadian companies developing new climate technologies. This investment from SDTC will enable Reusables to scale its IoT-enabled technology platform and help more food business transition towards a circular economy for packaging.

Reusables' tech-enabled platform for zero-waste packaging has emerged as an innovative solution to single-use plastic waste since its 2021 launch and has built a large pipeline of opportunities with food retailers and packaging distributors throughout North America. Reusables is backed by Ryan Holmes and Manny Padda through LOI Venture and is currently raising a seed round to expand its network in the U.S. and Canada.

Governments around the world are demanding food businesses shift away from single-use plastics towards a more circular economy for packaging. In the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reports that only 5% of plastic actually gets recycled, and alternatives like biodegradeable or compostable plastics are also coming under scrutiny. Large food businesses like Starbucks, Loblaw and Walmart have made ambitious sustainability commitments and Reusables has created a turn-key solution to help them achieve these goals.

"SDTC invests in clean technology trailblazers with the potential to transform the environmental and economic prosperity of Canada," said Jason Hawkins, the CEO and Co-Founder of Reusables. "We are honoured to receive their backing and look forward to a long-term partnership focused on impact."

"To seize the opportunities of the Net Zero economy in Canada, we need to be supporting all stages of innovation. Seed companies like Reusables represent the next generation of sustainable solutions paving the way to a greener future. SDTC is proud to support innovative young companies get their ideas off the ground."

 Leah Lawrence, President, and CEO of SDTC

Reusables was also recently accepted into the Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) for climate-tech companies looking to expand into the U.S. and raise capital.

About Reusables.com:

Reusables.com, a leading zero-waste packaging platform, is the technology solution to the problem of single-use plastic waste. Reusables helps food businesses and their customers transition to a circular economy by providing the tracking technology and digital experience that makes reusable packaging a no-brainer. Becoming a Reuser lets people enjoy takeout from participating stores as much as they like, without contributing to packaging waste. Returns are managed through a user-friendly app and Reusables partners with industry leading providers of distribution and cleaning.

About Sustainable Development Technology Canada

At SDTC, we support companies attempting to do extraordinary things. From initial funding to educational support and peer learning to market integration, we are invested in helping our small and medium-sized businesses grow into successful companies that employ Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We are relentlessly focused on supporting our companies to grow and scale in an increasingly competitive marketplace. The innovations we fund help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges: climate change, regeneration through the circular economy, and the well-being of humans in the communities they live in and the natural environment they interact with.

SOURCE Reusables.com
The famed Watch Meister brand, announces the launch of The Meister's Club later this year - a highly exclusive luxury members club that blends the digital and real world together  offering unprecedented access to global luxurious lifestyle experiences and elite global business networking opportunities.

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Watch Meister founder has announced he will be boldly expanding the brand by launching The Meister's Club, one of the world's most elite private member's club in Dubai later this year. The club is based on a completely new private member's concept that blends creator economy opportunities, networking, investment and luxury lifestyle experiences but with real returns on investment. For those granted membership, the initial price for early admission is $42,000 USD (subject to change) with the added bonus of 12% APY on their membership fee and a host of unexpected experiential membership benefits, beyond traditional brick and mortar concepts.

Revolutionary New Private Luxury Club Concept to Launch in Dubai Revolutionary New Private Luxury Club Concept to Launch in Dubai

"The club's goal was to tailor a private members club towards a diverse mix of different worlds, both new and traditional, yet with a common interest  to create global connections, grow their businesses and meet like-minded individuals, all whilst immersing themselves in luxurious benefits," explained Watch Meister Founder and CEO Riz Ahmed.

Member benefits include all-inclusive private jet weekend excursions to secret retreats in the Maldives, access to society yacht networking parties, use of the club's unparalleled supercars and invitations to some of the world's most exclusive events and networking opportunities with the global elite. Members also receive a free exclusive NFT timepiece as a welcome gift into the club.

"We wanted to create an innovative luxury private members club that was avant-garde in its thinking and would offer benefits that go far beyond existing members clubs, who we feel all offer a similar and now outdated experience. Our club is a global community designed for those interested in a progressive elite lifestyle with unprecedented opportunities and experiences that other clubs simply can't offer. When we say, 'welcome to the one percent', we mean it's the very best of the very best, the upper percentiles. Those fellow trailblazers who are looking for a smart and easy way to network and to be a part of the next generation who are shaping the future, whether through Real Estate, the Metaverse, cryptocurrency or access to luxury experiences that money simply can't buy. We're breaking boundaries and redefining what the private luxury clubs of the future will be and indeed, should be. We term it as 'disruptive opulence with true investment return'. Hands down, this is a real game changer," stated Ahmed. He went on to explain that "It made sense for us to base The Meister's Club in Dubai because it is a true center of luxury, business innovation and global access. The true advantage of our membership is that it's global in scope. The club's core is based around a digitally-minded community but simultaneously grounded in tangible luxury experiences around the world. We are blending limitless Metaverse opportunities with the real world needs and desires of high society. This is the model of the future."

Membership applications are now being accepted on the website, with only 500 membership spaces available after a screening and interview process. Additional membership allocations may be considered in 2023 through member referrals only.

ABOUT THE MEISTER CLUB

The Meister's Club was developed by The Watch Meister as an exclusive private luxury members club that offers unprecedented worldwide access to investment and networking opportunities in the digital realm and global elite luxury experiences.

The Meister's Club will also offer a collection of 5,000 NFT timepieces with unmatched utility, such as bringing the NFT timepieces to life, directly from the home of horology  Switzerland. The Meister's Club will also give each NFT minter the opportunity of a lifetime - 50 lucky individuals who mint The Jet-Meister NFT timepiece, after the reveal, will be upgraded into private members club, with no extra charge. For further information on The Meister's Club visit www.themeistersclub.com

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LAWFh8_xT8

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875290/The_Meisters_Club.jpg

SOURCE The Meisters Club
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Russel Metals Inc. (TSX: RUS) announces financial results for three months ended June 30, 2022.

Record Revenues of $1,362 Million and EBITDA1 of $189 Million

Strong Capital Structure with Liquidity1 of $472 Million

Initiating a Normal Course Issuer Bid



Three Months Ended Six Months Ended

Jun 30 2022 Jun 30 2021 Mar 31 2022 Jun 30 2022 Jun 30 2021 Revenues $ 1,362 $ 1,068 $ 1,339 $ 2,701 $ 1,954 EBITDA1 189 178 153 342 307 Net earnings 124 118 99 223 198 Earnings per share 1.96 1.88 1.56 3.53 3.18 Dividends paid per common share 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.76 0.76













All amounts are reported in millions of Canadian dollars except per share figures, which are in Canadian dollars.



Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios

We use a number of measures that are not prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS" or "GAAP") and as such may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. We believe these measures are commonly employed to measure performance in our industry and are used by analysts, investors, lenders and other interested parties to evaluate financial performance and our ability to incur and service debt to support our business activities. These non-GAAP measures include EBITDA and Liquidity and are defined below. Refer to Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios on page 2 of our Management Discussion and Analysis.

EBIT - represents net earnings before interest and income taxes.

EBITDA - represents net earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization.

Liquidity - represents cash on hand less bank indebtedness plus excess availability under our bank credit facility.

The following table shows the reconciliation of net earnings in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA for 2022 and 2021:



Three Months Ended

June 30 Six Months Ended

June 30 (millions) 2022 2021 2022 2021 Net earnings $ 124.0 $ 117.8 $ 222.7 $ 198.4 Provision for income taxes 42.1 39.2 74.0 66.7 Interest and finance expense 6.6 6.5 13.3 12.9 EBIT 1 172.7 163.5 310.0 278.0 Depreciation and amortization 16.1 14.3 31.9 28.8 EBITDA 1 $ 188.8 $ 177.8 $ 341.9 $ 306.8









1 Defined in Non-GAAP Measures and Ratios

Our basic earnings per share of $1.96 for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, was higher than the $1.88 per share recorded in the second quarter of 2021 and the $1.56 recorded in the 2022 first quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, our basic earnings per share of $3.53 compared to $3.18 for the same period in 2021. Revenues of $1.4 billion were higher than the $1.1 billion experienced in second quarter of 2021. Our gross margins of 25.3% compared to 30.7% in the same quarter of 2021 and 21.7% in the 2022 first quarter. Our EBITDA for the quarter was $189 million compared to EBITDA of $178 million in the same quarter of 2021 and $153 million in the first quarter of 2022. EBITDA in the second quarter of 2022 benefited by $4 million related to the non-cash mark-to-market on our stock-based compensation compared to an EBITDA reduction of $8 million in the 2021 second quarter and $nil in the 2022 first quarter.

Summary Operating Results

In the 2022 second quarter, each of our business segments contributed to our record quarterly revenues and strong margins. Our metals service centers segment reported higher revenues and margins in the 2022 second quarter versus the 2022 first quarter due to higher average steel prices, consistent demand and the benefits from our value-added processing initiatives. Metals service centers realized an increase in selling price per ton of 31% compared to the 2021 second quarter and 6% compared to the 2022 first quarter. Tons shipped in metals service centers were consistent with the same period in 2021 and the 2022 first quarter. In our energy products segment, our revenues and margins increased in the 2022 second quarter versus the 2022 first quarter and the 2021 second quarter due to a continuation of the favourable trend in sector business activity. Our steel distributors segment benefited from continued high margins due to the favourable market conditions.

Market Conditions

Steel market conditions rebounded late in the 2022 first quarter and remained favourable for most of the 2022 second quarter, albeit with price declines on certain products in the later part of the quarter. In addition, some of the supply chain issues that were experienced over the past several quarters have improved. The energy sector experienced improved demand with higher rig counts due to high oil and natural gas prices and the relatively mild spring break up in Canada, which led to improved operating conditions in what is typically a seasonally slow second quarter. At June 30, 2022, the Canadian rig counts were 154 compared to 126 in the 2021 second quarter and the U.S. rig counts were 753 compared to 470 at June 30, 2021.

Liquidity and Capital Structure

During the 2022 second quarter, we generated $69 million of cash from operating activities and ended the quarter with total available liquidity of $472 million.

Subject to approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange, we intend to initiate a normal course issuer bid to purchase for cancellation up to approximately 3.2 million of our common shares, representing 5% of our issued and outstanding shares, over the next 12 months.

On June 20, 2022, Moody's Investors Service upgraded our corporate credit rating from Ba2 to Ba1.

Declaration of Quarterly Dividends

The Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per common share payable September 15, 2022, to shareholders of record as of August 29, 2022. We will continue our practice of prudently reviewing our dividend and ensure that it is supported by a strong balance sheet and cash flows.

Outlook

Over the past several months, steel prices have moderated but demand remains steady across most of our operating regions. We expected steel prices to continue to exhibit volatility over the near term, particularly as industry-wide inventory levels adjust to more historical levels. As a result of the lag effect that steel price declines have on the cost of goods sold in our metals service centers and steel distributors segments, we expect the recent steel price moderations to reduce our near-term gross margins from the high levels that were generated in the second quarter of 2022. In our energy segment, we expect a continuation of the improving trend in operating conditions through the balance of 2022.

Investor Conference Call

The Company will be holding an Investor Conference Call on Thursday, August 11, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. ET to review its 2022 second quarter results. The dial-in telephone numbers for the call are 416-764-8688 (Toronto and International callers) and 1-888-390-0546 (U.S. and Canada). Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the call to ensure that you get a line.

A replay of the call will be available at 416-764-8677 (Toronto and International callers) and 1-888-390-0541 (U.S. and Canada) until midnight, Thursday, August 25, 2022. You will be required to enter pass code 673428# to access the call.

Additional supplemental financial information is available in our investor conference call package located on our website at www.russelmetals.com.

About Russel Metals Inc.

Russel Metals is one of the largest metals distribution companies in North America. It carries on business in three segments: metals service centers, energy products and steel distributors. Its network of metals service centers carries an extensive line of metal products in a wide range of sizes, shapes and specifications, including carbon hot rolled and cold finished steel, pipe and tubular products, stainless steel, aluminum and other non-ferrous specialty metals. Its energy products operations carry a specialized product line focused on the needs of energy industry customers. Its steel distributors operations act as master distributors selling steel in large volumes to other steel service centers and large equipment manufacturers mainly on an "as is" basis.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements or information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements as to our future capital expenditures, our outlook, the availability of future financing and our ability to pay dividends. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by us, inherently involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the factors described below.

We are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which could have a material adverse effect on our future profitability and financial position, including the risks and uncertainties listed below, which are important factors in our business and the metals distribution industry. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the volatility in metal prices; volatility in oil and natural gas prices; cyclicality of the metals industry; capital budgets in the energy industry; pandemics and epidemics; climate change; product claims; significant competition; sources of metals supply; manufacturers selling directly; material substitution; credit risk; currency exchange risk; restrictive debt covenants; asset impairments; the unexpected loss of key individuals; decentralized operating structure; future acquisitions; the failure of our key computer-based systems, labour interruptions; laws and governmental regulations; litigious environment; environmental liabilities; carbon emissions; health and safety laws and regulations; and common share risks.

While we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct, and our forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release and, except as required by law, we do not assume any obligation to update our forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements including as a result of the risk factors described above and under the heading "Risk" in our MD&A and under the heading "Risk Management and Risks Affecting Our Business" in our most recent Annual Information Form and as otherwise disclosed in our filings with securities regulatory authorities which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

If you would like to unsubscribe from receiving Press Releases, you may do so by emailing [email protected]; or by calling our Investor Relations Line: 905-816-5178.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (unaudited)



Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 (in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data) 2022 2021 2022 2021 Revenues $ 1,362.3 $ 1,068.2 $ 2,700.9 $ 1,953.6 Cost of materials 1,017.8 740.3 2,066.1 1,370.6 Employee expenses 108.6 103.1 209.6 187.7 Other operating expenses 62.9 61.3 120.9 117.3 Loss (earnings) from joint venture 0.3 - (5.7) - Earnings before interest and







provision for income taxes 172.7 163.5 310.0 278.0 Interest expense 6.6 6.5 13.3 12.9 Earnings before provision for income taxes 166.1 157.0 296.7 265.1 Provision for income taxes 42.1 39.2 74.0 66.7 Net earnings for the period $ 124.0 $ 117.8 $ 222.7 $ 198.4 Basic earnings per common share $ 1.96 $ 1.88 $ 3.53 $ 3.18 Diluted earnings per common share $ 1.96 $ 1.88 $ 3.52 $ 3.18

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)



Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 (in millions of Canadian dollars) 2022 2021 2022 2021 Net earnings for the period $ 124.0 $ 117.8 $ 222.7 $ 198.4 Other comprehensive income (loss)







Items that may be reclassified to earnings







Unrealized foreign exchange gains (losses) on







translation of foreign operations 21.9 (7.4) 11.9 (13.8) Items that may not be reclassified to earnings







Actuarial gains on pension and similar







obligations, net of taxes 0.3 1.6 9.1 18.1 Other comprehensive income (loss) 22.2 (5.8) 21.0 4.3 Total comprehensive income $ 146.2 $ 112.0 $ 243.7 $ 202.7

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited)

(in millions of Canadian dollars) June 30

2022 December 31

2021 ASSETS



Current



Cash and cash equivalents $ 186.9 $ 133.1 Accounts receivable 658.3 554.1 Inventories 1,025.1 986.0 Prepaid and other 41.6 30.3 Income taxes receivable 6.5 16.1

1,918.4 1,719.6 Property, Plant and Equipment 301.9 302.4 Right-of-Use Assets 93.5 86.7 Investment in Joint Venture 43.3 37.6 Deferred Income Tax Assets 1.1 1.5 Pension and Benefits 40.5 29.5 Financial and Other Assets 4.8 5.0 Goodwill and Intangibles 128.0 132.2

$ 2,531.5 $ 2,314.5 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY



Current



Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 628.9 $ 557.7 Short-term lease obligations 14.8 15.8 Income taxes payable 8.9 66.7

652.6 640.2 Long-Term Debt 295.4 294.8 Pensions and Benefits 2.1 3.4 Deferred Income Tax Liabilities 21.3 19.6 Long-term Lease Obligations 100.4 93.7 Provisions and Other Non-Current Liabilities 15.3 14.5

1,087.1 1,066.2 Shareholders' Equity



Common shares 571.4 571.0 Retained earnings 759.0 575.2 Contributed surplus 12.1 12.1 Accumulated other comprehensive income 101.9 90.0 Total Shareholders' Equity 1,444.4 1,248.3 Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity $ 2,531.5 $ 2,314.5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (unaudited)



Three Months Ended June 30 Six Months Ended June 30 (in millions of Canadian dollars) 2022 2021 2022 2021 Operating activities







Net earnings for the period $ 124.0 $ 117.8 $ 222.7 $ 198.4 Depreciation and amortization 16.1 14.3 31.9 28.8 Provision for income taxes 42.1 39.2 74.0 66.7 Interest expense 6.6 6.5 13.3 12.9 Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment (2.3) (0.1) (2.5) (0.3) Loss (earnings) from joint venture 0.3 - (5.7) - Share-based compensation - 0.1 0.1 0.1 Difference between pension expense and







amount funded - 0.3 - 0.6 Debt accretion, amortization and other 0.3 0.2 0.6 0.5 Interest paid, including interest on lease obligations (6.4) (6.3) (12.8) (12.6) Cash from operating activities before







non-cash working capital 180.7 172.0 321.6 295.1 Changes in non-cash working capital items







Accounts receivable 10.7 (61.5) (104.3) (189.2) Inventories (120.5) (56.5) (39.2) (67.3) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 49.0 77.5 67.9 202.1 Other (10.7) (1.6) (11.3) (4.3) Change in non-cash working capital (71.5) (42.1) (86.9) (58.7) Income tax paid, net (40.3) (20.2) (123.2) (30.7) Cash from operating activities 68.9 109.7 111.5 205.7 Financing activities







Issue of common shares - 9.4 0.3 9.4 Dividends on common shares (24.0) (23.8) (48.0) (47.5) Deferred financing - - (0.1) - Lease obligations (3.7) (4.0) (9.3) (7.9) Cash used in financing activities (27.7) (18.4) (57.1) (46.0) Investing activities







Purchase of property, plant and equipment (7.8) (6.8) (16.0) (12.7) Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment 2.6 0.1 3.1 0.5 Sale of business - - 9.7 - Cash used in investing activities (5.2) (6.7) (3.2) (12.2) Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents 4.7 (1.7) 2.6 1.4 Increase in cash and cash equivalents 40.7 82.9 53.8 148.9 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period 146.2 92.3 133.1 26.3 Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period $ 186.9 $ 175.2 $ 186.9 $ 175.2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (unaudited)

(in millions of Canadian dollars) Common

Shares Retained

Earnings Contributed

Surplus Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income Total Balance, January 1, 2022 $ 571.0 $ 575.2 $ 12.1 $ 90.0 $ 1,248.3 Payment of dividends - (48.0) - - (48.0) Net earnings for the period - 222.7 - - 222.7 Other comprehensive income for the period - - - 21.0 21.0 Recognition of share-based compensation - - 0.1 - 0.1 Share options exercised 0.4 - (0.1) - 0.3 Transfer of net actuarial gains on defined benefit plans - 9.1 - (9.1) - Balance, June 30, 2022 $ 571.4 $ 759.0 $ 12.1 $ 101.9 $ 1,444.4

(in millions of Canadian dollars) Common

Shares Retained

Earnings Contributed

Surplus Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income Total Balance, January 1, 2021 $ 546.2 $ 212.5 $ 15.7 $ 90.3 $ 864.7 Payment of dividends - (47.5) - - (47.5) Net earnings for the period - 198.4 - - 198.4 Other comprehensive income for the period - - - 4.3 4.3 Recognition of share-based compensation - - 0.1 - 0.1 Share options exercised 11.1 - (1.7) - 9.4 Transfer of net actuarial gains on defined benefit plans - 18.1 - (18.1) - Balance, June 30, 2021 $ 557.3 $ 381.5 $ 14.1 $ 76.5 $ 1,029.4

SOURCE Russel Metals Inc.
CMS Issues New Specific ICD-10 Code K76.82 for HE

LAVAL, QC, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) ("Bausch Health") and its gastroenterology business, Salix Pharmaceuticals, ("Salix"), one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases and disorders, today announced its support of the publication of a new specific ICD-10 code from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for hepatic encephalopathy (HE) based on the growing incidence of chronic liver disease in the United States.

Approximately 4.5 million adults in the U.S. have chronic liver disease1. As chronic liver disease progresses towards decompensated cirrhosis, patients may develop comorbid conditions such as portal hypertension, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Up to 80% of people with cirrhosis may develop some form of HE2. HE is also a high driver of hospitalizations and readmissions in patients with decompensated cirrhosis3.

The new K76.82 diagnosis code for patients with HE, a complication of cirrhosis, is based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) and announced by CMS to be used effective Oct. 1, 2022.

The condition of HE can be misdiagnosed, and the availability of this new ICD-10 code will help health care providers properly document the diagnosis for these patients and thus advance efforts to ensure their clinical management is appropriate.

To learn more about the Federal Register announcement please visit here.

About Salix

Salix Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) and liver diseases and disorders. For more than 30 years, Salix has licensed, developed and marketed innovative products to improve patients' lives and arm health care providers with life-changing solutions for many chronic and debilitating conditions. Salix currently markets its product line to U.S. health care providers through an expanded sales force that focuses on gastroenterology, hepatology, pain specialists and primary care. Salix is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information about Salix, visit www.Salix.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global diversified pharmaceutical company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, dermatology, international pharmaceuticals and eye health, through our approximately 90% ownership of Bausch + Lomb Corporation. With our leading durable brands, we are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. For more information, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements about Bausch Health, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "subject to" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In addition, actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Bausch Health's overall business, including those more fully described in Bausch Health's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Health undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Accessed April 19, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/liver-disease.htm

2. Vilstrup H, Amodio P, Bajaj J, et al. Hepatic encephalopathy in chronic liver disease: 2014 Practice Guideline by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the European Association for the Study of the Liver. Hepatology. 2014;60(2):715-735.

3. C Chirapongsathorn S, Krittanawong C, Enders FT, et al. Incidence and cost analysis of hospital admission and 30-day readmission among patients with cirrhosis. Hepatol Commun. 2018;2(2):188-198. Published 2018 Jan 18. doi:10.1002/hep4.1137

2022 Salix Pharmaceuticals or its affiliates.

SAL.0093.USA.22

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global silicone elastomers market size is expected to reach USD 12.5 billion by 2030, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is projected to advance at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2022 to 2030. The growing population, rising disposable income, and rapid industrialization and urbanization in the developing regions are some of the key factors that are presumed to drive the regional markets. R&D initiatives to develop superior-quality robust products that have a wide application base across diverse industries offer ample opportunities for market development.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

Asia Pacific dominated the overall market and is expected to advance at the fastest CAGR of 10.6% in terms of revenue during the forecast period.

dominated the overall market and is expected to advance at the fastest CAGR of 10.6% in terms of revenue during the forecast period. LSR was estimated to be the largest product segment in the global market for silicone elastomers in 2021 and is also anticipated to dominate the market during the projection period.

Construction accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 43% in the application segment of the global market for silicone elastomers in 2021 and is also anticipated to dominate the market in the projection period.

Silicone elastomers have widespread applications in the medical and healthcare industry. Starting from medical equipment to drug delivery systems, silicone elastomers have gained acceptance in this industry fairly rapidly. Such acceptance can be attributed to favorable properties such as inertness, high permeability, easy processing, and low toxicity.

Read full market research report for more insights, "Silicone Elastomers Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (HTV, RTV, LSR), By Application, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Silicone Elastomers Market Growth & Trends

A surge in demand for properties such as extended lifetime, efficient performance over a wide range of temperatures, low toxicity, low flammability, low smoke density, inertness to chemicals & solvents, oil & fuel resistance, and high productivity is anticipated to be beneficial for the overall market advancement. The increasing scope of silicone elastomers in the healthcare industry is expected to have a positive impact on the market.

Some of the notable applications of silicone elastomers in the medical industry include catheters, tubing, medical cables, seals & gaskets, membranes, O-rings, valves, respiratory care applications, anesthetic masks, medical instruments & equipment, and medical textile coatings. Such a wide range of applications is touted to create ample opportunities for the silicone elastomers industry in the coming years.

The market for silicone elastomers has been classified into three segments, on the basis of product, application, and region. Major silicone elastomer products include high-temperature vulcanize (HTV), room temperature vulcanize (RTV), and liquid silicone rubber (LSR). HTV has dominated the market demand in the last few years. Room temperature vulcanize is slated to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period.

Some of the prominent applications of silicone elastomers include electrical & electronics, automotive & transportation, industrial machinery, consumer goods, and construction, among others. The construction application segment dominated the global market in 2021, ahead of the automotive, and electrical & electronics segments. Other applications such as medical & healthcare and cosmetics are anticipated to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Regionally, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa. North America occupied a significant market share in the recent past. However, this region, along with Western Europe, is expected to lose substantial market share and witness sluggish growth in the next seven years. Emerging markets such as the Asia Pacific are touted to witness the highest demand in the near future. Economies such as China, India, and Southeast Asian countries are projected to lead the regional market.

Silicone Elastomers Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global silicone elastomers market on the basis of product, application, and region:

Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

HTV

RTV

LSR

Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

Electrical & Electronics

Automotive & Transportation

Industrial Machinery

Consumer Goods

Construction

Others

Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2019 - 2030)

North America

U.S.

Europe

Germany



France



UK



Italy

Asia Pacific

China



India



Japan



South Korea

Central & South America

Brazil

Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players in the Silicone Elastomers Market

China National BlueStar (Group) Co., Ltd.

(Group) Co., Ltd. Dow Corning Corporation

KCC Corporation

Mesgo S.P.A.

Momentive Performance Materials Inc.

Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.

Reiss Manufacturing Inc.

Wacker Chemie AG

Zhejiang Xinan Chemical Industrial Group Co., Ltd.

Stockwell Elastomerics

Specialty Silicone Products, Inc.

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Elastomers Market - The global elastomers market size is expected to reach USD 109.2 billion by 2025 expanding at a CAGR of 4.8%, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to be driven by rising demand from several application areas including automotive, medical, consumer goods, industrial, and others.

The global elastomers market size is expected to reach by 2025 expanding at a CAGR of 4.8%, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to be driven by rising demand from several application areas including automotive, medical, consumer goods, industrial, and others. Automotive Elastomers Market - The global automotive elastomers market size is expected to reach USD 51.3 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2022 to 2030. An increase in consumer disposable income and strict regulations by the government to reduce pollution are expected to impel market growth.

- The global automotive elastomers market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2022 to 2030. An increase in consumer disposable income and strict regulations by the government to reduce pollution are expected to impel market growth. Elastomer Gel In Personal Care Market - The global elastomer gel in personal care market size is expected to reach USD 191.2 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4.7%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Elastomer gel is widely utilized in personal care products, including skin care, hair care, and colour cosmetics, on account of its properties such as adhesion, transfer resistance, water repellency, and quick absorption.

Browse through Grand View Research's Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc.

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

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Strategic Acquisition Expands Access to Deregulated Markets

Federal Government Allocates $350 Billion Towards Energy Efficiency Improvements in Commercial Buildings

PHOENIX, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint, Inc. (OTCQB: SING) ("SinglePoint'' or "the Company''), an acquisition-focused solar energy and sustainable solutions provider, announced today the acquisition of Frontline Power Solutions, a Multi-State Licensed Energy Services Company (ESCO).

Frontline Power Solutions (FPS) is a comprehensive energy service Company with the ability to operate in deregulated markets across the country. Frontline Power is licensed in nine states and has applied for and is awaiting final approval in 12 additional states. Frontline provides Energy Supply Agreements to all sizes of commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. In addition to supplying direct agreements, FPS also lends its expertise to its clients to help reduce energy consumption, streamline energy portfolios, and offer other options to lower energy costs.

The strategic acquisition provides SinglePoint with access to an extensive portfolio of clients while giving those FPS clients reciprocal access to one of the nation's leading solar power solutions companies and best-in-class customer service.

Wil Ralston, CEO of SinglePoint, said, "Frontline Power Solutions is a great addition to SinglePoint. Frontline will round out our service offerings by providing tremendous opportunities in the deregulated energy markets. Through Energy Service Agreements or assistance with installing a client's solar system, SinglePoint can now assist thousands of commercial clients in their solar transition."

John Holmes, Founder & CEO of FPS, said, "Our focus has been supplying commercial energy contracts to large and small commercial, industrial, institutional, and property management firms. We facilitate substantial reductions in energy consumption and spending while streamlining logistical management of their energy portfolios. By joining SinglePoint, our two companies benefit from economies of scale and monetizing opportunities more efficiently and quickly."

The FPS purchase is just the latest in SinglePoint's acquisition strategy, bringing a growing collection of solar providers and energy solutions under one corporate umbrella. SinglePoint has acquired six (6) subsidiaries, including EnergyWyze, BOX Pure Air, Direct Solar America, Ecodaptive, Boston Solar, and Frontline Power Solutions.

There are currently 26 U.S. states that offer deregulated power options which are expected to reach $9 Billion in annual industry revenues.

About Frontline Power Solutions

Frontline Power Solutions (FPS) is a comprehensive energy solutions Company. They are equipped with industry experts who have been on the "frontline" of energy procurement, sales, marketing, analysis, and information technology in the power industry since the dawn of deregulation. The combined intellectual and leveraged resources translate to unmatched value to their customers. FPS provides full-service power supply solutions, including supply, billing, auditing, renewable energy supply, efficiency consulting, and incentive coordination for large or small enterprises.

About SinglePoint Inc (OTCQB: SING)

SinglePoint Inc.(www.singlepoint.com) is a renewable energy, and sustainable lifestyle Company focused on providing environmentally friendly energy efficiencies and healthy living solutions. SinglePoint is initially focused on building the largest network of renewable energy solutions and modernizing the traditional solar and energy storage model. The Company is also actively exploring future growth opportunities in air purification, electric vehicle charging, solar as a subscription service, and additional energy efficiencies and appliances that enhance sustainability and a healthier life. For more information, visit the Company's website (www.singlepoint.com) and connect on social media for the latest updates.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within tRule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, besides statements of fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding revenue projections, financing opportunities, potential plans and objectives of the Company, anticipated growth, and future expansion, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Technical and other complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Investor Contact:

Tra-Digital IR

[email protected]

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SOURCE SinglePoint Inc.
The increasing adoption of smart glass in automotive applications, supportive government mandates & legislation on energy efficiency, and declining prices for electrochromic material are expected to drive the Smart Glass Market.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Smart Glass Market" By Technology (Suspended Particle Display, Electrochromic, Photochromic), By Application ( Architecture, Power Generation Plants (Solar), Transportation ), and By Geography. According to Verified Market Research, the Smart Glass Market size was valued at USD 4.8 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 10 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2022 to 2030.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Smart Glass Market"

202 - Pages

126  Tables

37  Figures

Global Smart Glass Market Overview

The increasing adoption of smart glass in the automotive application and certificatory government mandates & legislation on energy potency is expected to drive the market throughout the anticipated years. Also, declining costs for electrochromic material and architecturally advanced construction philosophies incorporating the installation of huge windows expect a lift to the market within the coming back years. An inherent capability of thermal and acoustic insulation, energy conservation, and aesthetic 3D designer proposition of smart glasses are seen to fuel the market over the forecasted years. There are bound restraints and challenges featured which may hinder the market growth. The provision of viable substitutes, like decals & coatings, and chemical glazes is possible to act as market restraints.

Growing population and rise in urbanization have junction rectifier the governments of each developed and developing economies to extend payment on building & construction sector wherever smart glass is wide utilized in windows, partitions, skylights, and doors for making adaptive lightweight atmosphere. This can be expected to sharply penetrate and boost demand for smart glass in the growing building & housing industry. Additionally, the rise in transportation and supply activities and increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) influx has junction rectifier the automotive sector to witness a major increase in demand wherever smart glass is employed in rear and panorama mirrors, sunroofs, windshields, backlights, and sidelights of each significant and lightweight weight vehicles. This issue could completely drive the growth of the Smart Glass Market.

Key Developments

In Feb 2018 , Arrow Electronics (US), a global computer solution distribution company and service provider, has agreed with Exposure Is associated to enlarge its distribution channels. The agreement has improved the company's ability to meet the demands of the managed detection and response market via security resellers.

, Arrow Electronics (US), a global computer solution distribution company and service provider, has agreed with Exposure Is associated to enlarge its distribution channels. The agreement has improved the company's ability to meet the demands of the managed detection and response market via security resellers. In July 2021 , View, Inc., a major player in smart building platforms and smart windows, announced its acquisition of IoTium, a supplier of secure, cloud-managed, app IoT networks. Building owners can rapidly accomplish enterprise-grade safety, reduce cost, and gain real-time awareness into their entire housing portfolio management.

, View, Inc., a major player in smart building platforms and smart windows, announced its acquisition of IoTium, a supplier of secure, cloud-managed, app IoT networks. Building owners can rapidly accomplish enterprise-grade safety, reduce cost, and gain real-time awareness into their entire housing portfolio management. In December 2018 , AGC was the first in the globe to use pro-glass technology proficient in sustaining a clear field of vision for drivers in the Copen Coupe from Daihatsu Motors.

Key Players

The major players in the market are Research Frontiers, Inc., View, Inc., SAGE Electrochromics, Inc., Hitachi Chemicals Co. Ltd., Asahi Glass Company Ltd., Smartglass International Ltd., Polytronix, Inc., Schott Corporation, RavenBrick LLC, and Pleotint, LLC.

Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Smart Glass Market On the basis of Technology, Application, and Geography.

Smart Glass Market, By Technology

Suspended Particle Display



Electrochromic



Photochromic



Liquid Crystal



Micro-Blinds



Thermochromic

Smart Glass Market, By Application

Architecture



Power Generation Plants (Solar)



Transportation



Consumer Electronics



Others

Smart Glass Market, by Geography

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





U.K





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





Rest of Asia Pacific



ROW



Middle East & Africa

&



Latin America

Browse Related Reports:

Smart Glasses For Augmented Reality Market By Product Type (Android, iOS), By Application (Manufacturing, Healthcare), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

Wearable Sensors Market By Type (Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Optical, Force And Pressure), By Device (Smart Watch, Fitness Band, Smart Glasses), By Vertical (Consumer, Defense, Healthcare, Industrial), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

Wearable Camera Market By Product (Accessories, Cameras), By Type (Body Mount, Ear Mount & Smart Glass, Head Mount), By Application (Sports & Adventure, Security, Healthcare), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

Electrically Active Smart Glass and Windows Market By Product (Electrochromic, Thermochromic, SPD Smart Glass, PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal)), By Application (Commercial Buildings, Residential Buildings, Automotive & Transports), By Geography, Forecast, 2021-2028

Top Smart Glass Manufacturers working synergistically towards a sustainable future

Visualize Smart Glass Market using Verified Market Intelligence -:

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VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market.

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DUBLIN, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 'Research Report on the Automobile Industry in Southeast Asia, 2022-2031' report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The development of the automobile industry differs greatly among the Southeast Asian countries. According to the analysis, Thailand is the most developed country in terms of automobile manufacturing. Some world's leading automobile manufacturers, such as Ford, Honda, Toyota and BMW have built factories in Thailand. In 2021, the production volume of automobiles was 1.72 million.



The export volume of automobiles in Thailand was about 960 thousand units. There are a lot of whole vehicle manufacturers in the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Myanmar has a small-scale automobile assembly industry.



Singapore, Brunei, Laos and Cambodia do not have the automobile manufacturing industry. Generally speaking, automobile markets in most Southeast Asian countries are highly dependent on import. The imported products include whole vehicles and auto parts.



In general, the sales volume of automobiles in Southeast Asia presents an upward trend in recent years. Especially, the constant economic development in the Philippines and Vietnam stimulates the sales growth of automobiles.



Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, many auto parts or complete vehicle factories in Southeast Asian countries had to reduce or stop production, making the global supply chain suffer a new blow. It is expected that in 2022, COVID-19 is expected to be effectively controlled, and the Southeast Asian auto manufacturing industry will show restored growth.



According to the analyst's forecast, the Southeast Asian automobile industry will grow rapidly in 2022-2031. On the one hand, the lower labor costs in Southeast Asian countries will prompt global automobile vehicle and component manufacturers to transfer production capacity to these regions.



On the other hand, the rising demand of Southeast Asian automobile market will prompt global automobile vehicle and parts manufacturers to increase exports to these countries.



Key Topics Covered:



1 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Singapore

1.1 Development Environment of Singapore Automobile Industry

1.1.1 Geography

1.1.2 Population

1.1.3 Economy

1.1.4 Minimum Wage in Manufacturing in Singapore

1.2 Operation Status of Singapore Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

1.2.1 Production Status of Automobile Industry in Singapore

1.2.2 Sales Status of Automobile Industry in Singapore

1.2.3 Import and Export Status of Automobile Industry in Singapore



2 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Thailand

2.1 Development Environment of Thailand Automobile Industry

2.2 Operation Status of Thailand Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

2.3 Major Automobile Manufacturers in Thailand

2.3.1 Ford

2.3.2 Mazda

2.3.3 Mitsubishi

2.3.4 BMW

2.3.5 Honda

2.3.6 Nissan

2.3.7 Toyota



3 Analysis of Automobile Industry in the Philippines

3.1 Development Environment of Philippines Automobile Industry

3.2 Operation Status of Philippines Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

3.3 Major Automobile Manufacturers in Philippines

3.3.1 Toyota

3.3.2 Honda

3.3.3 Nissan

3.3.4 Mitsubishi

3.3.5 Daewoo

3.3.6 KIA



4 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Malaysia

4.1 Development Environment of Automobile Industry in Malaysia

4.2 Operation Status of Malaysia Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

4.3 Enterprise Profile of Major Automobile Manufacturers in Malaysia

4.3.1 Proton Auto

4.3.2 Perodua

4.3.3 Toyota

4.3.4 Honda

4.3.5 Nissan

4.3.6 KIA

4.3.8 Benz

4.3.9 BMW

4.3.10 Volvo



5 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Indonesia

5.1 Development Environment of Indonesia Automobile Industry

5.2 Operation Status of Indonesia Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

5.3 Major Automobile Manufacturers in Indonesia

5.3.1 Toyota

5.3.2 Mitsubishi

5.3.3 Suzuki

5.3.4 Honda

5.3.5 Nissan

5.3.6 BMW

5.3.7 Benz

5.3.8 Audi



6 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Vietnam

6.1 Development Environment of Vietnam Automobile Industry

6.2 Operation Status of Vietnam Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

6.3 Major Automobile Manufacturers in Vietnam

6.3.1 VMC

6.3.2 MEKONG

6.3.3 VINASTAR

6.3.4 Ford Vietnam

6.3.5 Mercedes Benz Vietnam

6.3.6 TMV

6.3.7 VIETINDO

6.3.8 DAEWOO

6.3.9 VISUCO

6.3.10 HINO Vietnam

6.3.11 VinFast



7 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Myanmar

7.1 Development Environment of Myanmar Automobile Industry

7.2 Operation Status of Myanmar Automobile Industry, 2017-2022



8 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Brunei

8.1 Development Environment of Brunei Automobile Industry

8.2 Operation Status of Brunei Automobile Industry, 2017-2022



9 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Laos

9.1 Development Environment of Laos Automobile Industry

9.2 Operation Status of Laos Automobile Industry, 2017-2022



10 Analysis of Automobile Industry in Cambodia

10.1 Development Environment of Automobile Industry in Cambodia

10.2 Operation Status of Cambodia Automobile Industry, 2017-2022

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JERSEY CITY, N.J., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- InsightAce Analytic Pvt. Ltd. announces the release of a market assessment report on the "Global Spatial Omics Solutions Market By Solution Type (Instruments, Consumables And Services), Sample Analyzed (DNA, RNA, And Protein Samples), Application (Diagnosis, Translation Research, Drug Discovery And Development, Single Cell Analysis, Cell Biology And Other Applications), End-User Segment (Academic And Research Institutions, Biopharmaceutical And Biotechnological Companies, Contract Research Organizations And Other)- Trends, Industry Competition Analysis, Revenue and Forecast To 2030."

According to the latest research by InsightAce Analytic, the global spatial omics solutions market is valued at US$ 232.6 million in 2021, and it is expected to reach US$ 587.2 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 11.18% during the forecast period of 2022-2030.

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The phrase "spatial omics" refers to a group of technologies that allow -omics data to be superimposed on images of tissue. There are several different types of omics studies that are all grouped under the umbrella word "omics." As an example, genomics examines the entire genome, transcriptomics reads the RNA, and proteomics studies the protein content. Decoding the primary sequence of genes has been shifted to assessing the position and interaction of cell types and biomarkers (namely, DNA/RNA/Protein) through the spatial phenotyping method. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods can easily incorporate spatial phenotyping systems. As a result, innovative gadgets are increasingly being used to move research from the discovery stage all the way to the translational and clinical stages. There has been substantial progress in the field of omics-based analysis. The developers of spatial-omics solutions are working hard to increase the penetration of their unique technologies into a wide range of clients, including academic research centres, research institutions, and biopharmaceutical firms. As a consequence of this, they are working on introducing more complex features into their products. These features include high-multiplexing, automated sample processing, biomarker-specific gene panels, and image analysis based on machine learning.

The rising prevalence of various types of genetic disorders, advances in sequencing technology on a global scale, and an increase in funding for spatial omics research are all factors driving the market. This novel technique offers an opportunity to better understand the mechanisms that govern the specific cell interactions at the tumour boundary, which is extremely helpful in the early detection of malignancy. In addition, new advanced devices launched by medical device manufacturers will be responsible for the increase in research into spatial OMICS' potential as a cancer diagnosis tool, which will, in turn, help to fuel the market's expansion. The growing use of spatial genomics and transcriptomics for drug development and biomarker identification is also projected to drive market revenue growth over the forecast period.

However, The lack of computational analytical tools and the high capital investment necessary for international expansion are two market limitations. Additionally, a slow technical advancement rate may impede the market's growth for spatial omics solutions.

North America currently holds the highest portion of the global market for spatial omics solutions due to improvements in healthcare infrastructure, rises in per capita income, and the existence of advanced research institutes and laboratories.

The prominent and exclusive market player list includes Fluidigm Corporation, 10x Genomics, Inc., Bruker, Canopy Biosciences, NanoString Technologies, Inc., Bio-Techne Corporation, Flagship Biosciences, Inc, Akoya Biosciences, Inc., Rebus Biosystems, BioSpyder Technologies, S2 Genomics, Inc., IONpath, Inc., Miltenyi Biotec, RareCyte, Inc., Visikol, Inc., Illumina Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Fluidigm Corporation, Genomic Vision, Seven Bridges Genomics, Resolve Biosciences, Readcoor, Inc., Lunaphore Technologies, Molecular Machines & Industries (MMI), Dovetail Genomics, Vizgen Corp., Optical Biosystems, Inc., Ultivue, Inc., Cytiva and other vital companies

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Key developments in the market

In June 2022 , Vizgen Demonstrated Expansion of the MERSCOPETM In Situ Single-Cell Spatial Genomics Platform at AGBT. Two of the company's recent announcements are expanding the company's product plan and releasing FFPE Human Immuno-oncology data. Product improvements from Vizgen will allow for increased flexibility in sample entry and the development of new applications.

Vizgen Demonstrated Expansion of the MERSCOPETM In Situ Single-Cell Spatial Genomics Platform at AGBT. Two of the company's recent announcements are expanding the company's product plan and releasing FFPE Human Immuno-oncology data. Product improvements from Vizgen will allow for increased flexibility in sample entry and the development of new applications. In June 2021 , Akoya Biosciences, Inc. and AstraZeneca agreed to work together to develop new multiplex immunofluorescence (MIF) workflows and spatial biomarker signatures based on Akoya's PhenopticsTM platform. The immuno-oncology division of AstraZeneca had partnered with Advanced Biopharma Solutions (ABS), a premium service offering from Akoya, to leverage the comprehensive spatial phenotyping capabilities of the PhenopticsTM platform. This will allow them to research drug mechanisms of action, confirm the prevalence of target biology, and find predictive signatures for future trial designs.

Akoya Biosciences, Inc. and AstraZeneca agreed to work together to develop new multiplex immunofluorescence (MIF) workflows and spatial biomarker signatures based on Akoya's PhenopticsTM platform. The immuno-oncology division of AstraZeneca had partnered with Advanced Biopharma Solutions (ABS), a premium service offering from Akoya, to leverage the comprehensive spatial phenotyping capabilities of the PhenopticsTM platform. This will allow them to research drug mechanisms of action, confirm the prevalence of target biology, and find predictive signatures for future trial designs. In Oct 2020 , ReadCoor and Cartana, two in situ analytical technology development companies, were acquired by 10x Genomics. In situ RNA analysis technology is developed by Cartana, whereas ReadCoor has an RC2 spatial multiomics platform based on fluorescence in situ sequencing technology. 10x Genomics said in a statement that the agreements give it control of more than 110 patents.

ReadCoor and Cartana, two in situ analytical technology development companies, were acquired by 10x Genomics. In situ RNA analysis technology is developed by Cartana, whereas ReadCoor has an RC2 spatial multiomics platform based on fluorescence in situ sequencing technology. 10x Genomics said in a statement that the agreements give it control of more than 110 patents. In Oct 2020 , Bruker Corporation announced the launch of the Vutara VXL Super-Resolution Fluorescence Microscope, which was created for nanoscale biological imaging. With the aid of this innovative system, complex spatial biology research in the areas of virology, neuroscience, and live-cell imaging, as well as extracellular matrix structures and extracellular vesicles, can be carried out (EV).

Market Segmentation:

Global Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Solution Type, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Instruments

Consumables

Services

Global Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Sample Analyzed, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

DNA

RNA

Protein

Global Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Application, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Diagnostics

Translation Research

Drug Discovery and Development

Single Cell Analysis

cell biology

Other Applications

Global Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by End-User, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Academic and Research Institutions

Biopharmaceutical and Biotechnological Companies

Contract Research Organization

Other End Users

Global Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Region, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East & Africa

North America Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

U.S.

Canada

Europe Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Germany

France

Italy

Spain

Russia

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

India

China

Japan

South Korea

Australia & New Zealand

Latin America Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa Spatial Omics Solutions Market, by Country, 2022-2030 (Value US$ Mn)

GCC Countries

South Africa

Rest of Middle East & Africa

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Why should buy this report:

To receive a comprehensive analysis of the prospects for the global spatial omics solutions market

To receive an industry overview and future trends of the spatial omics solutions market

To analyze the spatial omics solutions market drivers and challenges

To get information on the spatial omics solutions market size (Value US$ Mn) forecast to 2030

To get information on significant investments, mergers & acquisitions in the spatial omics solutions industry

Other Related Reports Published by InsightAce Analytic:

Global Proteome Profiling Services Market

Global Single-Cell Bioinformatics Software and Services Market

Global Circulating Cell-Free DNA (ccfDNA) Diagnostics Market

Global Cell and Gene Therapy Bioassay Services Market

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InsightAce Analytic is a market research and consulting firm that enables clients to make strategic decisions. Our qualitative and quantitative market intelligence solutions inform the need for market and competitive intelligence to expand businesses. We help clients gain a competitive advantage by identifying untapped markets, exploring new and competing technologies, segmenting potential markets, and repositioning products. Our expertise is in providing syndicated and custom market intelligence reports with an in-depth analysis with key market insights in a timely and cost-effective manner.

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BANGALORE, India, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Surface Inspection Market is segmented By Type (Camera, Frame Grabber, Optics, Lighting Equipment, Processor, Software, Others), By Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Healthcare, Travel and Transport/Logistics, Others) : Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Computers & Electronics Category.

Surface Inspection Market is projected to reach USD 3050.3 million by 2028, from USD 2236.8 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 4.5% during 2022-2028.

Major Factors Driving the Growth of Surface Inspection Market

The growing need for surface inspection in the automotive industry and the demand for computer-based surface inspection systems will fuel the growth of the market.

The rising use in the pharmaceutical and medical industries and continuous development of the manufacturing sector will drive market growth in the coming years.

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TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE SURFACE INSPECTION MARKET

Minor malfunctions in the automotive industry can lead to grave accidents. The demand for quality control and accuracy is high. Cars consist of many parts and it is increasing due to the need for multi-functionalization. Therefore it becomes important to identify the extent of impact and collect relevant information. This will push the demand for the surface inspection market in the coming years. Image processing techniques are gaining wide scale attention as they increase efficiency, improve accuracy and lead to cost reduction.

Examination of miniature electronic components has to be precise. The labor charges for these tasks are very high. Surface inspection devices are a one-time investment and very cost-effective in the long run, They help in examining several products simultaneously. The orientation, alignment, and dimensions are validated with high efficiency for manufacturing standard products that do not have a risk of failure and scrap rate. Defective or misassembled products are removed completely. This will push the demand for the surface inspection market in the upcoming years. Human intervention is eliminated completely and the sensors on the cameras detect the microscopic details within seconds and report flaws.

Visual inspection is a vital element in the production process of vials, glass bottles, blow-fill-seal containers, and pre-filled syringes. It detects scratches, dents, and inclusions in the container and measures the color, fill level, and identifies the presence of foreign particles within the pharmaceutical drugs. This will push the demand for the surface inspection market in the forthcoming years. The safety of the end-user/patient is ensured properly and inspection is done as per company standards.

Quality control in the manufacturing and logistics industry is an expensive and time-consuming process. Human inspectors struggle to keep pace with the complex and rapidly changing environment as they become distracted and fatigued. Deep learning and Machine vision systems are well suited for visual inspection. They provide a wide spectrum of perception and objects are identified through ultraviolet, X-ray, and infrared regions. The conclusions are made extremely fast as it is based on precise calculations. The high processing speeds and infinite memory capacity make the system unbiased and easily programmable. This will fuel the growth of the global surface inspection market. It can be deployed in dangerous and risky working environments thereby ensuring the safety of human staff. The cameras offer a superior dynamic range, high resolution, and accurate processing of images during the surface inspection. The detailed distortion, texture, lighting, shading, and complete 360-degree view greatly enhance the visual inspection process.

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SURFACE INSPECTION MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS:

Based on type, the camera segment is expected to dominate the surface inspection market share due to the rising adoption of digital cameras that provide reliable results and increasing use in several industry verticals for constant monitoring to ensure better product quality.

Based on application, the automotive segment will be the most lucrative due to the increasing need for detecting at various stages of automobile products and materials.

Based on region, APAC will witness considerable growth due to the presence of key players and the region being a big manufacturing hub.

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Key Companies:

ISRA VISION

AMETEK

Omron

Teledyne Technologies

Microscan Systems

Toshiba

Panasonic

Matrox Electronic Systems

IMS Messsysteme

VITRONIC.

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- IoT in Manufacturing market size is projected to reach USD 1148.9 million by 2028, from USD 550.2 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 10.6% during 2022-2028.

- Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment Market size is projected to reach USD 53200 million by 2027, from USD 39510 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.9% during 2021-2027.

- Industrial Services market size is projected to reach USD 32300 million by 2027, from USD 23860 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 4.4% during 2021-2027.

- Industrial Packaging market size is projected to reach USD 66090 million by 2026, from USD 49000 million in 2019, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.3% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

- Industrial Automation market size is projected to reach USD 212410 million by 2027, from USD 130710 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 6.7% during 2021-2027.

- Industrial Fasteners market size is estimated to be worth USD 78810 million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of USD 113710 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 6.3% during the review period.

- Smart Manufacturing Market size is projected to reach USD 397120 Million by 2028, from USD 203530 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 9.9% during 2022-2028.

- 3D Scanner market size is estimated to be worth USD 3738.7 million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of USD 7379.5 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 12.0% during the review period.

- The global Smart Factory market was valued at USD 57520 Million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 117920 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 10.8% during 2021-2027.

- The Global Consumer Electronics Market Revenue is about USD 850 Billion in 2021, projected to have a CAGR 5.1% in the following five year.

- Global Additive Manufacturing (AM) Key Trends and Opportunities to 2026

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SHANGHAI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 8, S'Young Group Co., Ltd. (S'Young, the Company) (300740.SZ) ( below referred to as S'Young) completed its investment in the French luxury brand PIER AUGE and acquired its Chinese business. The team and strategic direction of PIER AUGE will remain unchanged, and S'YOUNG will carry out more in-depth cooperation with PIER AUGE.

As the preferred China partner for global beauty brands, S'Young is committed to building mutually beneficial and win-win relationships with overseas brands to share the long-term value of China's market growth. Through its original "CP" cooperation model (China Partner + Couple), S'Young has empowered PIER AUGE with all-dimensional and omni-channel capabilities, helping the brand develop from 0 to 1 in the Chinese market and establish a niche and unique brand image. This investment marks a reinforcement of the "CP' model, which can provide a higher level of cooperation in equity acquisition, investment, and strategic collaboration according to the wishes and needs of the overseas brand.

Founded in 1961, PIER AUGE is a niche French luxury skincare brand with a 61-year history. It has a factory in Paris and is a beloved brand among well-known celebrities such as former French President Francois Hollande, and has received a letter of thanks from former U.S. First Lady Hillary.

In 2020, PIER AUGE ended the cooperation with its previous distributor and chose S'Young as the exclusive partner in China, who successfully helped the brand to quickly pervaded the Chinese market within six months. With comprehensive capabilities to empower overseas brands, S'Young has helped PIER AUGE achieve a soaring performance in the Chinese market by establishing an official flagship store with brand characteristics, formulating product positioning in line with the beauty trends in the Chinese market, and leveraging its strong social media influence. Besides, S'Young has helped PIER AUGE develop an effective brand and marketing strategy for the Chinese market, which has contributed to the long-term positive development of the brand in China. PIER AUGE opened its first flagship store on Tmall Global in 2021, and its hero product -- Resourcing Treatment Mask DOUCE AURA -- is now ranked TOP 7 of Tmall's Imported Smear Mask Repurchase List.

As a preferred China partner for global beauty brands, S'Young has cooperated with more than 30 overseas brands, covering skin care, make-up, personal care, fragrance, health care, and men's grooming. The cooperative brands cover many countries and regions from North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including the French cutting-edge laboratory brand LIERAC, the Italian make-up brand KIKO MILANO, the Finnish national skin care brand LUMENE, and the prestige perfume brand AMOUAGE, etc., a testament to S'Young 's strength in diversification and international operation. In 2019, S'Young reached a strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson to fully undertake the e-commerce business of 14 brands under Johnson & Johnson in the Chinese market, which turned out to be a great success for Dr. Ci:Labo, Listerine and many others.

Regarding this investment and acquisition, Charles DUPONT, General Manager of PIER AUGE, stated that "The desire of our new partner is not only to deploy the brand in their domestic market but also to make PIER AUGE a global player. Due to this excellent start to 2022, we have revised our objectives upwards, and this partnership also accelerates our investment plan with the aim of conquering main markets before 2026."

This strategic investment in PIER AUGE marks another milestone in S'Young's deep collaboration with overseas brand. With its original CP model, S'Young provides brands with diversified and personalized ways of cooperation, while having a perfect and higher level full-path cooperation model, constantly exploring new areas and opening up new heights of cooperation between overseas brands and the Chinese market.

SOURCE S'Young Group Co., Ltd.
Reformative Legislation to End the Life-Long Sentence in the Form of Restitution

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --

What: The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM) is seeking reformative justice regarding restitution and kicking off the #RemissionNow Campaign in partnership with REFORM Alliance. Restitution has created a life sentence for many returning citizens. Remission is a remedy to relieve the burden of restitution. This is the type of clemency that the President of the United States has the power to grant and is rarely used. Since 1945, only 33 remission petitions have been granted according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) website.

Why: Restitution has created a life sentence for many returning citizens. These legal financial obligations can result in a "debtors prison" that continues to shackle women to the system long after they are finished serving a sentence. They are unable to purchase homes, cars, and insurance. This also affects their ability to obtain bank accounts and credit cardsthese barriers to reentry cause detrimental financial and psychological effects on them and their families. Many of the women's convictions were based on the mortgage meltdown of 2008. While the banks and executives received bailouts, civil fines, and minor penalties, the government determined that there were billions of dollars of restitution to be paid by these women.

When: The #RemissionNow campaign will kick off with a press conference on August 17, 2022, at 10 AM EST with The LOHM Founder and CEO, Dr. Topeka K. Sam, and Jessica Jackson, a human rights attorney and the Chief Advocacy Officer with Reform Alliance. Syrita Steib, Elise Roper, Ivy Woolf-Turk, Chalana McFarland, Lorie Westerfield, Dr. Jamila T. Davis, and Cassandra Owens, all women affected by millions owed in restitution, years of incarceration, and federal supervision, will be sharing their stories.

The following day, we will host a Lunch and Learn Thursday, August 18, 2022, 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM at the Eaton Hotel, located at 1201 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005 where there will be panels discussing restitution and the effects on formerly incarcerated women. Register to attend the panel discussion: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/remissionnow-tickets-399334629627

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Press Conference starts at 10 AM EST

About The Ladies of Hope Ministries

Our mission is to empower women and girls to create sustainable lives post-incarceration. We drive change in the social justice movement by connecting them to housing, food, healthcare, living wage employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, education, and advocacy that amplifies the voices of those who have been impacted by the criminal legal system. Learn more at thelohm.org .

About REFORM Alliance

The REFORM Alliance is committed to advancing criminal justice reform and eradicating laws and policies that perpetuate injustice in the United States. To achieve that objective, REFORM will pass probation bills at the state level, use media to amplify the need for comprehensive reform and build an inclusive, bi-partisan alliance of leaders who share a vision for ambitiously and efficiently transforming the criminal justice system. Learn more at https://reformalliance.com/

Contact:

Starling Thomas

[email protected]

214.978.7088

Tribe Builder Media

Danielle Sabrina

[email protected]

SOURCE LOHM
HINGGAN LEAGUE, China, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 8th, the Ninth Ulan Muqir Art Festival (also the 2022 Hinggan League Nadam Fair) kicked off in Horqin Right Front Banner, Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the Publicity Department of Horqin Right Front Banner.

At the opening ceremony, 22 Ulan Muqir troupes put on performances one by one in the sequence of their establishment years and offered a cultural feast for the audience. The repertoire covered a variety of wonderful performances including the song "Ride on Galloping Horse to Guard our Frontier", Holboo "Red Melody", and situational dance "Always Be the Red Artist Calvary on the Grassland", etc., which brought great enjoyment to the audience as the atmosphere reached its climax. A total of 170,000 farmers and herdsmen participated in this event.

Apart from the six activities (the opening ceremony, cultural performances, performances to benefit the people, Specialty-and-Versatility competition, Ulan Muqir reform and development seminar, and the closing ceremony of the festival), in this year's Ulan Muqir Art Festival, Hinggan League Nadam Fair will also be held simultaneously with activities including poetry Nadam, traditional food Nadam, music Nadam, as well as horse racing, archery, and wrestling.

The event is held in the northeastern part of Inner Mongolia, at the southern foot of the Daxing'an Mountains, and in the center of the four grasslands of Horqin, Hulunbuir, Xilingol, Mongolia. This venue boasts the spectacular Ulan Maodu Grassland that covers an area of more than 8,000 square kilometers and has rich tourism resources.

SOURCE Publicity Department of Horqin Right Front Banner
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Think Research Corporation (TSXV: THNK) (OTCQB: THKKF) ("Think" or the "Company") a healthcare technology company focused on transforming healthcare through knowledge-based digital health software solutions today announced the results of its August 2, 2022 Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of shareholders.

The Company is pleased to announce the following 7 directors have been re-elected to Think's Board of Directors: Sachin Aggarwal, Cindy Gray, Eric Hoskins, Barry Reiter, Abe Schwartz, Kirstine Stewart and Richard Wells.

At the Meeting, Think's shareholders also voted in favour of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, Chartered Accountants, as Think's auditor.

Think's shareholders ratified and approved the amendment of the Company's omnibus long-term incentive plan (the "Plan") as described in Think's management information circular dated June 22, 2022. The Plan is a rolling 10% plan, which as of August 2, 2022 has a total of 6,022,128 issuable under the Plan, of which 4,707,091 are subject to existing awards under the Plan. Final acceptance of the Plan by the TSX Venture Exchange is pending.

About Think Research

Think is an industry leader in delivering knowledge-based digital healthcare software solutions. The Company's focused mission is to organize the world's health knowledge so everyone gets the best care. Its evidence-based healthcare technology solutions support the clinical decision-making process, standardize care, and improve patient outcomes. For over a decade, Think's cloud-based, EMR-agnostic digital tools have empowered clinicians around the world and positively impacted millions of patients across the continuum of care  including primary physician care, acute care hospitals and surgical suites as well as community and seniors' care. Think is proud to serve as a trusted health system partner to a rapidly growing, global client base that spans five continents across more than 13,000 healthcare facilities, with a clinical audience of over 300,000 doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Visit: www.thinkresearch.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.

For more information: https://www.thinkresearch.com/ca/investors/

SOURCE Think Research Corporation
Wells Fargo and Mentor Collective Team Up to Create

Lasting Socioeconomic Change for HBCU Students

BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wells Fargo and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) have announced the winners for this year's College Completion Scholarship Program . Awarded to a minimum of two hundred (200) senior scholars attending TMCF-member schools, the spring scholarship provides up to $5,000 for the 2021-22 academic year and career mentorship from leading large-scale mentorship program provider Mentor Collective . A full list of winners and their schools can be downloaded here .

Social and financial capital are essential to helping college students graduate and transition into a fulfilling career Tweet this Wells Fargo Logo Related Documents View PDF Download the full list of winners and their institutions Stacked Mentor Collective Logo Color (PRNewsfoto/Mentor Collective)

Established to honor the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American justice, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund partners with organizations like Wells Fargo and Mentor Collective to help provide access to a high-quality college education while connecting high-performing, world-ready students with top-tier employment opportunities.

"None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody  a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns  bent down and helped us pick up our boots." - Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

Critical to the College Completion Scholarship Program is a mentorship component facilitated by Mentor Collective. Mentor Collective applies scholarly research on mentorship to purposefully match each scholarship winner with a professional mentor at Wells Fargo. A 2021 study found that young adults with career mentors experienced greater career enhancement and reported higher levels of well-being in the short and long term. Additional research performed across over 700 students in Mentor Collective's programs also show significant improvements in retention and sense of belonging; namely that peer mentorship influenced an average 5.67% increase in year-over-year retention. These results were considerably more profound when students had 3+ conversations with their mentor (average 11.8% increase in retention and 13.39% increase in sense of belonging).

"Social and financial capital are two essential components necessary to help students graduate and transition their learning into a fulfilling career," said Gigi Dixon, Wells Fargo head of external engagement for Diverse Segments, Representation, and Inclusion . "We are honored to play a role in empowering the next graduating class with both financial and networking assistance. Through the Mentor Collective program, these scholarship recipients will be paired with a Wells Fargo employee to help them navigate the professional landscape beyond their post-secondary career."

"Through our research and experience with career readiness programs, we've found that mentorship at this formative time before graduation not only better prepares students for academia or the workforce, it contributes to significant upward movement on the socioeconomic strata," said Jackson Boyar, Co-Founder and CEO of Mentor Collective . "Wells Fargo has been an incredible partner in helping Mentor Collective reach students with the most to gain from life-changing relationships, and we look forward to seeing the impact an initiative like this can make."

Wells Fargo's Senior Lead Diversity & Inclusion Consultant Dewey Norwood, Jr . will be conversing with other senior leaders across higher education on August 11th about equitable career outcomes at Mentor Collective's next virtual roundtable event. He is joined by leaders from The University of Delaware and Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce.

About The Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation's largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Publicly-supported HBCUs enroll over 80% of all students attending HBCUs. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 41 on Fortune's 2022 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.

News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories .

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo

About Mentor Collective

Mentor Collectivethe leading provider of high-impact, large-scale mentorship programming in higher educationis a collective of institutions and thought leaders dedicated to closing the opportunity gap through mentorship. Founded in 2014, Mentor Collective has delivered 700+ unique mentorship programs, established 160+ institutional partnerships, and formed 200,000 mentoring relationships through expert-led research, services, and technology. As an impact-first investment of the Lumina Foundation, Mentor Collective partners with forward-thinking institutions that are committed to equity, inclusion, and relationship-centered education.

SOURCE Mentor Collective
Course Focuses on Integrating the Use of TriNetX with Biomedical Informatics Curriculum

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TriNetX, LLC partnered with The University of Texas Medical Branch ("UTMB") on a new research and analytics course titled: Biomedical Informatics: Applied Investigation and Analysis in Health Outcomes Research. The course aims to provide theoretical and practical experience in analyzing and interpreting epidemiological, real-world data from the TriNetX Platform.

TriNetX is a global network of healthcare organizations and life sciences companies driving real-world research to accelerate the development of new therapies. The company built a self-service platform that provides authorized users access to a global network of millions of patients with billions of clinical facts, and an advanced suite of analytic tools that empower researchers to find answers to their clinical questions and drive scientific discovery to improve patient lives.

"UTMB has been running training workshops on the TriNetX Platform for two years and realized there was a lot of base foundational knowledge that was missing among students," said Kamil Khanipov, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology who developed the course with George Golovko, also an Assistant Professor in the same department in conjunction with the Institute of Translational Sciences at UTMB. "We wanted to be able to provide educational content in a more structured and thorough manner rather than just an hour workshop here and there."

Lectures in this first-of-its-kind course cover data coding systems, data harmonization, data compliance/privacy, basic epidemiology and statistics, patient centricity, and real-world evidence strategy and interpretation. Class laboratories will leverage the TriNetX Platform to provide students with the opportunity to implement methods covered in lecture, recreating population studies and clinical trial protocols. By the end of the course, students will be able to use TriNetX to run real-world data studies and submit the results to peer reviewed journals for publication.

"We are absolutely thrilled to have helped develop a program that provides early career researchers the access to informatics tools that will provide a foundation in observational outcomes research," said Lindsay Stahl, Director, Healthcare Partnerships at TriNetX. "Working with like-minded investigators and true innovators at UTMB has made the experience even more ideal. We look forward to helping to develop similar courses with other healthcare organizations and medical schools across the TriNetX Network."

The UTMB course will begin as an elective for graduate and medical students, residents, and post-doctoral fellows in the fall of 2022.

About TriNetX, LLC

TriNetX is a global network of healthcare organizations and life sciences companies driving real-world research to accelerate the development of new therapies. Through its self-service, HIPAA, GDPR, and LGPD-compliant platform of federated EHR, datasets, and consulting partnerships, TriNetX puts the power of real-world data into the hands of its worldwide community to improve protocol design, streamline trial operations, refine safety signals, and enrich real-world evidence generation. For more information, visit TriNetX at www.trinetx.com or follow @TriNetX on Twitter.

About The University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas' first academic health center opened its doors in 1891 and today has four campuses, four health sciences schools, four institutes for advanced study, a research enterprise that includes one of only two national laboratories dedicated to the safe study of infectious threats to human health, a Level 1 Trauma Center and a health system offering a full range of primary and specialized medical services throughout the Texas Gulf Coast region. UTMB is an institution in the University of Texas System and a member of the Texas Medical Center.

Media Contact

TriNetX, LLC

Bill Stetson

(857) 285-6038

[email protected]

SOURCE TriNetX
DETROIT, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TriTech Titanium Parts was launched on April 5, 2022. According to its President, Bob Swenson, TriTech is a spin-off of his former company, AmeriTi Manufacturing, which was sold to Kymera International also on April 5, 2022. AmeriTi is a successful business that has operated since 1984, focusing on titanium products from recycled material.

Organized in response to market needs, TriTech produces net shape titanium parts using the most appropriate technology for the part and the customer. TriTech's unique array of three production technologies includes 3D binder jet printing, metal injection molding and investment casting. The 3D printing is the latest addition, and the binder jet process is a unique cutting-edge manufacturing process for producing complex titanium parts.

"There is no one-technology-fits-all when manufacturing titanium precision parts to produce the best performance characteristics," said Swenson. "We've proven that different technologies provide different results and therefore we have assembled a one-stop production resource offering the best option to many industries from automotive and industrial to medical and aerospace. We match the design to the best manufacturing process to make a superior part."

TriTech's broad manufacturing solutions can be used for both small batch and large volume requirements for titanium parts production, as well as rapid prototyping, to expedite product development and component testing as well as design and production decisions. "We can go quickly from prototype to production to meet tight launch schedules and first-to-market product requirements," said Swenson.

With a fully domestic supply chain, TriTech is a single-sourced manufacturing solution under one roof with its engineering and production facility located in Detroit, Michigan.

TriTech's processes for producing titanium parts are highly specialized and have been developed internally to consistently achieve best practices for quality, performance and delivery.

"At TriTech, we collaborate directly with the customer, preferably starting with the design phase, so we can help our customers design a part for manufacturability that also fits their requirements," said Swenson. "Every part we make is custom-made."

About TriTech Titanium Parts

Detroit-based TriTech Titanium Parts specializes in manufacturing precision net shape titanium parts for prototypes, as well as small-batch and large-volume production orders for industrial, aerospace, automotive, medical and other markets. It offers three unique manufacturing processes under one roof  3D binder jet printing, metal injection molding and investment casting. TriTech collaborates with customers to match the best manufacturing process to their specific part. With a fully domestic supply chain, TriTech delivers custom-made net shape titanium parts on-time and on-budget. For more information, visit tritechtitanium.com.

Contact:

Patricia Radice

The Quell Group

248-321-4651

[email protected]

SOURCE TriTech Titanium Parts
HOUSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Venterra Realty has ranked #3 among the top multifamily companies for online reputation in the 2022 Division II ORA Power Ranking by Multifamily Executive, which recognizes companies that manage between 20,000 to 34,402 units.

2022 Division II ORA Power Ranking

Developed by J Turner Research, the ORA Power Ranking is based on monthly online reputation research of over 128,000 properties' lifetime reviews across multiple review sites and Internet Listing Services (ILSs). Using a statistical model, J Turner assigns an independent ORA Score to each property on a scale of 0100. The ORA Score was developed to simplify how online reputation is measured, and it serves as the multifamily industry standard to measure a property's online reputation. Each month, J Turner Research monitors the online ratings of more than 128,000 properties nationwide. The national average ORA score is 62.79, and Venterra scored 77.33.

"The Division ranking reflects multifamily companies' attention to customer service and online reputation. Research has shown that a positive online presence is critical to boosting marketing and leasing efforts. The companies awarded in this Division ranking have singularly focused on winning over their residents in person, as evident in their high ORA scores," said Joseph Batdorf, president of J Turner Research.

J Turner Research introduced the Division ORA Power Ranking in 2019 to recognize management companies of all sizes for excellence in online reputation management. The companies are ranked based on their Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) scorethe multifamily industry standard to measure and benchmark a property/company's online reputation.

"Venterra is dedicated to building exceptional communities for people at every point in life with a focus on service and care. This ranking and our stellar online reputation are a direct reflection of our colleagues living out our 7 Core Values, and in turn, creating personalized experiences for every person living at a Venterra property," said John Foresi, CEO of Venterra Realty.

"Feedback is key to understanding and responding to our resident's needs and is key to helping us provide a great living experience to all our residents. We are pleased to receive such positive reviews, allowing for Venterra to be eligible for this recognition," said Venterra Chairman, Andrew Stewart. "This ranking is a notable accomplishment and can be attributed to each of our property's efforts to ensure we are offering quality communities, perpetually creating improvements that enhance renter experiences, simplifying processes for renters, and expressing unmatched genuine care."

About Venterra:

Founded in 2001, Venterra Realty owns and manages over 70 communities and more than 20,000 apartment units across 16 US cities that provide housing to over 38,000 people and 12,000 pets. The organization has completed approximately $8.0 billion in real estate transactions and currently manages a portfolio of multi-family real estate assets valued at approximately $4.0 billion. Venterra is committed to improving the lives of its residents by delivering industry-leading customer experience. Find out more about Venterra Realty and its award-winning company culture at Venterra.com.

About J Turner Research

J Turner Research is an independent research company focused exclusively on the multifamily industry for almost two decades. It is the only company to monitor the online reviews and ratings of 128,000+ properties nationwide. J Turner pioneered the Online Reputation Assessment (ORA) score, which serves as the multifamily industry standard to measure, benchmark, and compare a property/company's online reputation. The company is the national leader in enhancing resident satisfaction through intelligent resident and prospect survey programs, quantifiable action plans, customized training, and review response service. For more information, visit www.jturnerresearch.com.

CONTACT: Allie Foard, Communications Manager & Brand Specialist; [email protected]

SOURCE Venterra Realty
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Parallaxes Capital Management ("Parallaxes"), the premier investment firm focused exclusively on monetizing Tax Receivable Agreements ("TRAs"), is pleased to share a notable development in the market as Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. ("Virgin Mobile" or the "Company") previously terminated its TRA.

Virgin Mobile disclosed that the Company, Sprint Nextel Corporation ("Sprint Nextel") and Corvina Holdings Limited and Cortaire Limited (together with certain affiliates, the "Virgin Group") entered into a termination and mutual release agreement in connection with Sprint Nextel's acquisition of Virgin Mobile, to effect a mutual release of the respective obligations of each party under the Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2007, by and between the Company, Sprint Ventures, Inc. and the Virgin Group. Pursuant to the terms of the termination, Sprint Nextel will contribute to the Company, and the Company will pay to the Virgin Group, approximately $50 million to terminate the TRA. The Virgin Mobile TRA provided for the payment of 100% of the net cash tax savings realized from certain tax attributes, including savings from the utilization of Virgin Group's net operating losses attributable to periods prior to the IPO.

About Parallaxes Capital

Parallaxes Capital Management ("Parallaxes") is the premier investment firm focused exclusively on monetizing Tax Receivable Agreements ("TRAs"). Parallaxes offers private equity sponsors, co-investors and management team members solutions to achieve liquidity, diversification and optionality from their TRAs. Parallaxes was founded in 2017 and is comprised of experienced investment professionals from leading private equity and growth equity firms. To learn more, please visit https://www.parallaxescapital.com

Disclosures

This press release should not be regarded as representative of an official position or statement of Parallaxes or any related entity.

SOURCE Parallaxes Capital
Conference call to discuss financial and operational results scheduled for Thursday, August 11, at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time

HENDERSON, Nevada, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition") today announced financial results and a business update for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. Volition management will host a conference call tomorrow, August 11 at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time to discuss these results. Conference call details can be found below.

An interview with Cameron Reynolds, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of Volition.

"I am delighted with the progress we are making, and in particular could not be prouder of the team's achievement in securing a CE Mark for Nu.Q NETs in Europe and in announcing new clinical studies for NETosis, or NETs, in the U.S. with both MD Anderson and with Diagnostic Oncology CRO LLC, or DXOCRO. As the only analytically validated test for NETs currently available, we believe that there is enormous potential for Nu.Q NETs to support clinical decision-making, enabling physicians to act quickly, and improve patient outcomes," commented Cameron Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volition.

"Following the execution of our global licensing and supply agreement for the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Screening Test with Heska Corporation, the team has been hard at work with the technology transfer program and launch preparation. We also continue to make good progress with other potential licensing and supply partners. Finally, we have recently executed a number of contracts for Nu.Q Discover."

Company Highlights



Financial

Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2022 , totaled approximately $16.7 million compared with $20.6 million as of December 31, 2021 .

, totaled approximately compared with as of . Subsequent to quarter end, Volition received approximately $6.4 million net of underwriter's fees and expenses in cash through an underwritten public offering of its common stock that closed on August 2 .

net of underwriter's fees and expenses in cash through an underwritten public offering of its common stock that closed on . Secured a further $1.5 million in non-dilutive funding from Namur Invest Capital Risk in Belgium to fund an early access program for Volition's Nu.Q product portfolio at key sites across the EU, UK, and U.S.

in non-dilutive funding from Namur Invest Capital Risk in to fund an early access program for Volition's Nu.Q product portfolio at key sites across the EU, UK, and U.S. Continued to manage expenditures carefully with net cash used in operating activities averaging approximately $2.1 million per month in the quarter.

Personnel/ Operational

Appointed Sharon Ballesteros as U.S. Head of Quality and Development Process to spearhead Volition's clinical product development program in the U.S. and expanded her team and operations in California .

Nu.Q NETs

Nu.Q NETs test has been CE marked for the detection and evaluation of NETosis, enabling clinical use in Europe in both ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) and automated ChLIA (ChemiLuminescence ImmunoAssay) formats.

in both ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) and automated ChLIA (ChemiLuminescence ImmunoAssay) formats. Announced a sponsored research agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to evaluate the role of NETS in cancer patients with sepsis.

MD Anderson Cancer Center to evaluate the role of NETS in cancer patients with sepsis. Appointed DXOCRO to undertake development and clinical validation studies for Volition's Nu.Q product portfolio in the United States .

. DXOCRO will conduct large-scale finding studies across multiple sites in the U.S. using Volition's Nu.Q NETs and Nu.Q Cancer tests to determine clinical utility in sepsis and cancer.



Volition anticipates that subsequent studies will investigate the chosen intended use claims of the tests, with the objective to gain clearance, authorization, or approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") and allow the tests to be marketed in the U.S.



These multi-site development studies will help demonstrate how Volition's Nucleosomics technology can directly benefit patients and support our application to the FDA's Breakthrough Devices Program and a Pre-submission anticipated in 2023.

In collaboration with researchers at the University of Namur and QUALIblood in Belgium , published:

, published: a clinical paper entitled "NETosis and Nucleosome Biomarkers in Septic Shock and Critical COVID-19 Patients: An Observational Study" , and

, and

a poster presentation entitled " Evaluation and comparison of NETosis biomarkers in sepsis and COVID-19 patients" at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress in July.

at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Congress in July. Subsequent to quarter end, sponsored a GenomeWeb webinar titled 'The Promise of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) as Biomarkers in Inflammatory Disease' . To watch on demand, visit the GenomeWeb website.

To watch on demand, visit the GenomeWeb website. Commenced a Market Access Program with European Key Opinion Leaders and early adopters.

Volition Veterinary

Following the execution of a global licensing and supply agreement with one of the industry's leading companies, Heska Corporation, started the technology transfer and launch preparations with Heska.

SAGE Healthcare launched the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Test in Singapore .

. Advanced negotiations with other potential licensing and supply partners in efforts to make Nu.Q Vet products as accessible as possible worldwide and anticipate further announcements in 2022.

Expanded product claims with the presentation of new clinical data at:

the European Society of Veterinary Oncology Congress in May. To view click here.



the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in June. To view click here.

Expanded access to a larger clinical research laboratory at Texas A&M University and appointed a veterinary emergency criticalist to commence work in non-cancer indications in addition to developing our clinical research network in Europe .

Nu.Q Capture

Nu.Q Capture, when used in combination with either sequencing, mass spectrometry and/or Volition's Nu.Q assays could potentially aid diagnosis, treatment selection, and both treatment and disease monitoring in addition to aiding biomarker discovery.

The Nu.Q Capture program now has several strands of technology which:

essentially remove background noise, thereby amplifying the signal,



look to identify the signal in a novel way including through mass spectrometry, or



isolate various chromatin fragments, including nucleosomes and transcription factors.

Sponsored a GenomeWeb webinar entitled "Novel Proteomics Approach to Epigenetic Profiling of Circulating Nucleosomes" featuring Professor Axel Imhof . To watch on demand, visit the GenomeWeb website.

Nu.Q Discover

Progressing projects with a range of customers.

Recently signed contracts with three bio-pharmaceutical companies who are accessing our assay portfolio for rapid epigenetic profiling of their drugs in development.

Upcoming Priorities

Drive near term revenue in the following key areas:

Licensing of its technology, with a particular but not exclusive focus on Nu.Q Vet.



Complete Heska Corporation agreement milestones in order to receive further milestone payments.



Sales of key components of Point of Care test with Heska.



Sales of kits from non-exclusive agreements for the use of Nu.Q Vet via central reference labs.



Ongoing and new Nu.Q Discover agreements.



Sales of its disease monitoring tests (e.g. COVID-19, sepsis).

Continue to progress the research program for the use of Nu.Q NETs, in monitoring disease progression of COVID-19, sepsis, and potentially other diseases and as a possible companion diagnostic for the treatment of sepsis.

Continue to advance its previously announced large-scale blood, lung, and colorectal cancer trials in Europe , Asia , and the U.S.

, , and the U.S. Publish several abstracts and peer-reviewed scientific papers with clinical results showing the robustness and utility of its Nu.Q platform.

Advance the development of Nu.Q Capture.

Continue to file patents to expand and extend its intellectual property portfolio.

Event: VolitionRx Limited Second Quarter 2022 Earnings and Business Update Conference Call

Date: Thursday, August 11, 2022

Time: 08:30 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: 13732149

Cameron Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volition, will host the call along with Terig Hughes, Chief Financial Officer of Volition, Dr. Tom Butera, Chief Executive Officer of Volition Veterinary Diagnostics Development LLC, and Scott Powell, Executive Vice President, Investor Relations of Volition. The call will provide an update on important events which have taken place in the second quarter of 2022 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 http://ir.volition.com . In addition, a telephone replay of the call will be available until August 25, 2022. 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 13732149.

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company that applies its Nucleosomics platform through its subsidiaries to develop 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 to 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 is primarily focused on human diagnostics and monitoring but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics and monitoring.

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.

For more information about Volition, visit Volition's website volition.com

The contents found at Volition's website address or any other website link or address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. Website addresses and links 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 launch of product sales with Heska, the success of negotiations and the timing, completion and execution of term sheets and/or agreements with third parties regarding the licensing and distribution of Volition's products, the timing, completion and delivery of data from clinical studies, the potential uses, benefits and effectiveness of its Nucleosomics technology platform, including the Nu.Q NETs 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 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://youtu.be/LOoE_kVkrnc

SOURCE VolitionRx Limited
At least one photo has been found for each service member whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is proud to announce that after more than two decades of effort, at least one photo has been found for each of the 58,281 service members whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Wall of Faces on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website.

"When VVMF began this effort, the goal was to put a face with a name for each of the 58,281 service members whose names are inscribed on The Wall. To ensure that visitors to The Wall understand that behind each name is a face  a person with a story of a family and friends who were forever changed by their loss. Today, the Wall of Faces tells these stories through photos and remembrances left by both friends and family members. We couldn't have done this without the tenacious work of a small army of volunteers across the country. Their ingenuity, commitment and dedication are tremendous," said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF.

"This phase is now complete, but our team and many volunteers are continuing to seek better quality photos and adding remembrances to show the full story behind each name. We ask the public to look at the photos on the Wall of Faces and add additional higher-quality images as well as leave remembrances so that with the name, the photos and the remembrances  fuller stories will begin to emerge about each of these heroes," said Knotts.

To view and search the Wall of Faces, visit: www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces

In the Fall of 2001, a short-term initial effort was made to collect photos of those on The Wall, with a larger, more concerted effort launched in the Fall of 2009. Since then, hundreds of volunteers and family members have submitted photos for the effort. Volunteers tracked down photos in many different ways. These are just a few highlights of our volunteers and how they found these photos:

Janna Hoehn began working on the project in 2011 with one photo that she had a connection to  the name rubbing she randomly made on her first visit to The Wall in Washington D.C. She then started with the 42 fallen from Maui - where she resides. With that success, she moved on to her hometown in California  and then the entire state. Hoehn contacted newspapers in each county where photos were needed. Soon after, she started working her way across the country. She grew a team of like-minded volunteers who joined her efforts, and they all had their own way of finding photos. However, Hoehn made many of the emotional phone calls to family members to not only ask for a photo but to learn more about their lost loved ones. "I am grateful for each and every volunteer, each newspaper that agreed to do a story for a little lady from Hawaii . I am proud of my work with this project and will never forget this time in my life," said Hoehn.

began working on the project in 2011 with one photo that she had a connection to  the name rubbing she randomly made on her first visit to The Wall in She then started with the 42 fallen from - where she resides. With that success, she moved on to her hometown in  and then the entire state. Hoehn contacted newspapers in each county where photos were needed. Soon after, she started working her way across the country. She grew a team of like-minded volunteers who joined her efforts, and they all had their own way of finding photos. However, Hoehn made many of the emotional phone calls to family members to not only ask for a photo but to learn more about their lost loved ones. "I am grateful for each and every volunteer, each newspaper that agreed to do a story for a little lady from . I am proud of my work with this project and will never forget this time in my life," said Hoehn. Andrew Johnson began working on finding photos in 2014. As a newspaper publisher in Wisconsin  he knew that community newspapers all over the country could significantly contribute to the effort of finding missing photos. Johnson invited VVMF to speak at a National Newspaper Association convention. In 2016, his newspaper published a special section that displayed all of the Wisconsin Wall of Faces  the first publication of its kind  and brought awareness to other states where photos were still needed. Johnson's connection is personal. He is the Gold Star Father of 1LT David Johnson , KIA in Afghanistan in January 2012 . "It was an honor to serve our great republic by honoring our Vietnam era heroes by finding their photos. As I worked on the project, many Vietnam veterans embraced me and let me know how much they loved my son and would never forget him as they were often forgotten. In turn I would always tell them, 'welcome home, you and your fallen military buddies will never be forgotten,'" said Johnson.

began working on finding photos in 2014. As a newspaper publisher in  he knew that community newspapers all over the country could significantly contribute to the effort of finding missing photos. Johnson invited VVMF to speak at a National Newspaper Association convention. In 2016, his newspaper published a special section that displayed all of the Wisconsin Wall of Faces  the first publication of its kind  and brought awareness to other states where photos were still needed. Johnson's connection is personal. He is the Gold Star Father of 1LT , KIA in in . "It was an honor to serve our great republic by honoring our era heroes by finding their photos. As I worked on the project, many veterans embraced me and let me know how much they loved my son and would never forget him as they were often forgotten. In turn I would always tell them, 'welcome home, you and your fallen military buddies will never be forgotten,'" said Johnson. David Hine got involved in 2009 when he read about the effort in a VVMF newsletter. He already had photos for 11 Indiana heroes he could post right away, since his hometown had hosted The Wall That Heals a few years prior. His hunt for photos always began in the listed home of record since each hometown newspaper would typically have the obituary that listed surviving family members along with schools attended. Finding parents or siblings was always the best solution. "My most memorable story came from contacting a daughter-in-law of a fallen service member only to find out that her husband had never seen a photo of his father. I was able to obtain a high school photo and then a military photo and provide it, not only to the Wall of Faces, but to the family as well," said Hine.

got involved in 2009 when he read about the effort in a VVMF newsletter. He already had photos for 11 Indiana heroes he could post right away, since his hometown had hosted a few years prior. His hunt for photos always began in the listed home of record since each hometown newspaper would typically have the obituary that listed surviving family members along with schools attended. Finding parents or siblings was always the best solution. "My most memorable story came from contacting a daughter-in-law of a fallen service member only to find out that her husband had never seen a photo of his father. I was able to obtain a high school photo and then a military photo and provide it, not only to the Wall of Faces, but to the family as well," said Hine. Herb Reckinger started looking for photos of Minnesotans in 2014. He worked with the Minnesota Historical Society as well as many loyal city and school librarians. Once Minnesota was complete, he spread out to other states. He continues to search for better photos for those with poor quality photos. "While at a The Wall That Heals stop, a local veteran asked me to find his friend's name on The Wall. I asked if he wanted to see his picture. After looking at his friend on the Wall of Faces, he had one sentence for me - 'I forgot what he looked like,'" said Reckinger. Another face remembered.

started looking for photos of Minnesotans in 2014. He worked with the Minnesota Historical Society as well as many loyal city and school librarians. Once was complete, he spread out to other states. He continues to search for better photos for those with poor quality photos. "While at a stop, a local veteran asked me to find his friend's name on The Wall. I asked if he wanted to see his picture. After looking at his friend on the Wall of Faces, he had one sentence for me - 'I forgot what he looked like,'" said Reckinger. Another face remembered. Steve and Annie Delp began representing VVMF and the Wall of Faces project at Vietnam unit reunions in 2013. It soon became evident that the attendees  Vietnam veterans and their families  wanted to help in gathering the missing photos. The Delps took on the mission of obtaining the photos, cleaning them up and adding them to the Wall of Faces. "At one point, a small bible was left with us that had 30 names inside. Upon doing some research, it was found that 25 of the 30 names were KIA. I'm pleased to report that all 25 have at least one good picture now," said Steve Delp .

began representing VVMF and the Wall of Faces project at unit reunions in 2013. It soon became evident that the attendees  veterans and their families  wanted to help in gathering the missing photos. The Delps took on the mission of obtaining the photos, cleaning them up and adding them to the Wall of Faces. "At one point, a small bible was left with us that had 30 names inside. Upon doing some research, it was found that 25 of the 30 names were KIA. I'm pleased to report that all 25 have at least one good picture now," said . Norman Murray attended the Veterans Day ceremony at The Wall in 2014 and met Annie Delp . Her volunteer work was an inspiration to him. He went back home to Western New York to begin his quest to track down families, yearbooks and newspaper clippings about Western New Yorkers. In 2016  he collaborated with a Buffalo State PR & Advertising class and The Buffalo News , as well as another researcher who had been quietly collecting obituaries of the fallen. "Interestingly, my fellow researcher obtained the final picture for Western New York by buying a high school yearbook on eBay, because neither the school not the public library had a copy in their archives," said Murray.

attended the Veterans Day ceremony at The Wall in 2014 and met . Her volunteer work was an inspiration to him. He went back home to to begin his quest to track down families, yearbooks and newspaper clippings about Western New Yorkers. In 2016  he collaborated with a Buffalo State PR & Advertising class and , as well as another researcher who had been quietly collecting obituaries of the fallen. "Interestingly, my fellow researcher obtained the final picture for by buying a high school yearbook on eBay, because neither the school not the public library had a copy in their archives," said Murray. John Thomstatter got involved in 2016 after hearing about the effort. With the help of his fellow members of VVA Chapter 1036 in The Villages, Florida he led a team to find the photos for all of Florida's service members on The Wall. Chapter 1036 enlisted other VVA chapters in Florida . They not only found all the photos for Florida , but "I was fortunate enough to find the last photo to complete Pennsylvania , my home state," said Thomstatter.

The Wall of Faces features a page dedicated to honoring and remembering every person whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. This effort further preserves the legacy of those who sacrificed all in Vietnam and allows family and friends to share memories, post pictures and connect with each other. To learn more, visit www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces

About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation's Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF's mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.

Contact: Heidi Zimmerman

Phone: (202) 765-3773

[email protected]

SOURCE Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF)
Building on their partnership with nZero, Nevada municipalities are using 24/7 carbon data insights to inform progress towards climate goals

RENO, Nev., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- nZero, the 24/7 carbon management platform that tracks and operationalizes energy, financial and greenhouse gas emissions data to help organizations reach climate change goals, is today announcing the expansion of their partnerships with the City of Reno and Washoe County. Last year, nZero began providing these municipalities access to their real-time, 24/7 emissions tracking data and introduced public emissions portals for the city and the county, setting new standards for transparent, accurate, and comprehensive monitoring of carbon footprints. Now, the City of Reno and Washoe County are expanding their commitments to climate action and are working with nZero to develop carbon reduction roadmaps.

Washoe County City of Reno

Washoe County and Reno have aligned with the State of Nevada to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 28% from 2005 levels by the year 2025. While in the process of building out their own dedicated internal sustainability team, the County has relied on insights from nZero to map their path towards a more sustainable future. 2021 data available through the public portal from the nearly 100 sites in the platform revealed that most emissions in the County were generated from fleet vehicles, wastewater and detention facilities. These opportunities for decarbonization are proof points for several sustainability initiatives for the County and lay the groundwork for the informed carbon reduction plan nZero and the County will create together.

nZero's data has allowed for a granular cost-benefit analysis of County vehicle fleets, streetlights, LED lights in facilities, as well as building square footage. This deeper understanding of carbon emissions from buildings per square foot informed carbon reduction recommendations from nZero, in turn driving more accurate building energy and cost efficiency. The county has subsequently begun vehicle fleet automation to have a better view of vehicle performance and emissions as well as on-site solar installations to increase renewable energy sources.

"Reducing our carbon emissions will have positive, long term returns for the citizens of Washoe County. While we work to build out our sustainability team, nZero's insights and support have been invaluable to ensuring the County progresses towards our climate goals," said Kalie Work, Washoe County Recorder and sustainability champion. "We are aligned with the State of Nevada's greenhouse gas emissions reduction target but know there is more action we can take from a grassroots perspective. Thanks to the real time data we are tracking with nZero, we have the insights necessary to inform aggressive sustainability goals and emissions targets as we prepare our carbon reduction roadmap."

Rather than using nZero data to guide in the creation of a climate plan, the City of Reno has used the data to measure the effectiveness of their adopted Climate Plan. With more than 300 sites committed to submitting data to the public portal, nZero's data showed that the top three emissions sources for 2021 were vehicle fleets, streetlights, and the local police department.

Insights on fleets in the past year uncovered higher carbon-free energy usage in the summer and when charging electric vehicles during daytime hours, compared to the popular choice of overnight. Since these discoveries, the City's vehicle fleet is in the process of being fully automated to provide real time updates on its status and performance in order to align with the City's emissions goals. A cost-benefit analysis for streetlights also revealed they account for 23% of the city's emissions and that a transition to LED streetlights would reduce these emissions by 62% and save money each year. These learnings will help the City increase operational efficiencies, decrease outputs, and lower their carbon footprint. Leading by example, the City has also completed on-site solar installations to align with its goal of increasing renewable energy generation 15% by 2025.

"Our Climate Action Plan set the goal of reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 28% of 2008 levels by the year 2025. The accuracy of data provided by nZero allows us to position the City ahead of schedule so we reach our target greenhouse gas reduction numbers," said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. "The investment in our partnership with nZero is helping our climate goals become a reality for generations to come."

Looking to the future, the expanded partnership between the City of Reno and nZero will create a carbon reduction roadmap that helps the City implement their Sustainability and Climate Action Plan . The City's climate goals dovetail with high-level goals of financial sustainability, which are supported by cost-benefit analyses provided by nZero. Emissions data by square footage from all buildings will be normalized to create the most accurate recommendations based on efficiencies, and measurement of avoided emissions will be captured to visualize progress towards overall goals. In total, the City's greenhouse gas baseline will undergo analysis to determine progress towards the City's 2025 emissions reduction goals.

Like Reno's, Washoe County's goals for a carbon reduction roadmap are aggressive, and the County will work with nZero to determine aggressive emissions reduction numbers that have the potential to surpass the State of Nevada's emission targets.

"The dedication of Washoe County and the City of Reno is inspiring. Their commitment to being leaders in carbon tracking transparency and emissions reduction is hopefully the first step in a nationwide effort to fight climate change. Positive change is possible when armed with the right insight around source emissions, and the fight is just beginning," said Adam Kramer, CEO of nZero. "Taking the next step in the journey of sustainability by creating carbon reduction roadmaps will position these municipalities  and their residents  for success long-term."

To learn more about the Reno emissions portal, visit https://public.nzero.com/reno/ . To learn more about the Washoe County emissions portal, visit https://public.nzero.com/washoe/ .

About nZero

nZero is a 24/7 climate management platform that gives companies, cities and communities the accurate emissions data they need to reach net zero and make smart decisions that benefit the health of the planet. Unlike other carbon management offerings who rely on third-party data and opaque averages, nZero gathers accurate, first-party, contextual data into a comprehensive view, making it simple for organizations to pinpoint energy opportunities within their operations, easily implement carbon reduction actions, and spend smarter along the way.

About Washoe County

Washoe County is dedicated to quality public service, effective communication and integrity by enhancing the abundant quality of life in northern Nevada. Learn more at www.washoecounty.gov , and for questions about county programs and services, call Washoe311 at 3-1-1 (775-328-2003).

About the City of Reno

The City of Reno government's mission is creating a community that people are proud to call home. In order to achieve that purpose, the Reno City Council has established six Tier 1 priorities and seven Tier 2 priorities . To learn more about the City of Reno, visit Reno.gov or call 775-334-INFO (4636).

SOURCE nZero
By Chris Higens, President, Animal Welfare League

CHICAGO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1903, the first ever American cross-country auto trip took place. Ken Burns, the famous documentary filmmaker chronicled this historic event in a film titled "Horatio's Drive." Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson undertook this first drive along with Bud, his American Stafford Terrier.

It is quite fitting that the first dog to travel coast to coast by car in America would be an American Stafford Terrier, because, as anyone who really knows this breed of dog will tell you, there is no breed of dog that more clearly personifies the American spirit of courage, loyalty and fidelity than the American Stafford Terrier or, what people commonly refer to as the American Pitbull.

The origins of America's dog can be traced as far back as the early 16th century in England. And it is little wonder that reputation for courage, stamina and loyalty would earn them passage with colonists sailing on some of the first ships to the new world.

In America, domesticated canines had been around for at least 10,000 years and in fact, the Illinois area seems to hold most of the evidence yet found of ancient, domesticated canines than anywhere else on the continent. So, it is probably little wonder that researchers seeking to discover the origins of what would become the "American" version of the bull terrier would bring them to Illinois in search of genetic links that may present clues.

Like many common breeds today, the makeup of the American Pitbull is not fully agreed upon. All we know for sure is that the dogs that sailed from England centuries ago show little resemblance to their modern progenies. But while its looks, size and colorings may have changed, it is an undisputed fact that the soul of the animal lives on within the breed. The American Stafford Terrier is still regarded by many dog breeders and lovers as the dog that comes closest to personifying the adage of being "man's best friend".

It is more than simply unfortunate  it is heartbreaking that the reputation of America's greatest gift to domesticated canine husbandry has fallen into such ill repute. The American Stafford Terrier or Pitbull displays the perfect characteristics sought by pet owners. They are known to be loyal to the point of sacrificing their lives to save or protect their family members. They are intelligent and quickly learn the rules set down by their masters. They make excellent family pets and are great around kids. Being short-haired, they don't shed as much as other dogs, and are easier to keep clean. While they are not considered large animals, their frame and physical presence still command attention from strangers, making them an ideal companion for walks along city streets late at night.

So why is it that this incredible American creation, this perfect companion so eager to love, protect, and fully blend in with any size family, has come under such harsh criticism of late?

Just like human beings, animals  even animals of the same breed and from the same litter  vary in many ways. They all have unique personalities and are subject to hereditary traits that may or may not be associated with the breed. Because they are living entities, every one of them can also be damaged through environmental exposures, disease, genetics, neglect and abuse.

This is why it is so important that people obtain their pet  any type of pet  from a reputable source. This is also why we at the Animal Welfare League don't immediately put animals into the arms of people walking through our doors. We ask questions, we require applications, and we watch closely at how an animal reacts to a potential adopter. We have been criticized on social media for not immediately allowing people to adopt animals at our shelters. But people must understand that we are not in the business of finding animals for people, we are in the business of finding the right people for our animals. For more than 86 years, we have been putting animals and people together in relationships that, most often, we see blossom. We strive to find a home for all of the animals under our care but, unfortunately, there are times when we cannot allow an adoption because we feel that it is not in the best interest of the animal in question.

The bully breeds are no exception to this policy. Not every person or family can provide the right care for a large dog, a high-energy dog, or a dog suffering from anxiety or some other emotional problem. And it is because some rescues and shelters are too eager to close adoptions and keep their cages turning over that we see people being harmed by large breed or popular breed animals.

Pitbulls are getting a bad reputation not because they are a bad breed of dog. They are, in fact, a great breed of dog sought after by too many people that are simply not equipped to provide the handling and attention required of a highly intelligent and physically strong canine.

If you and/or your family are looking to bring some new love into the household, we would be happy to help you find the right animal. The bully breeds make great pets, but they are not for everyone. Stop by our shelter in Chicago Ridge and let us help you find your next big love that may, or may not, come in a big size.

"Where would they be without us?"

SOURCE Animal Protective League
Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY) and NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) are among the first banks to be approved under the newly extended recovery loan scheme.

Launched in April 2021 to help businesses recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the original scheme was closed for applications in June this year after providing over 4.5bn of finance to SMEs to around 19,000 businesses.

The new iteration of the scheme, lasting until June 2024, is designed to help businesses with turnover under 45mln access finance for investment, recovery, growth and managing cashflow.

Five UK lenders have been accredited by the British Business Bank under the new scheme: Lloyds, NatWest, Coventry & Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT), Bank of Scotland (which is part of Lloyds) and Royal Bank of Scotland (part of NatWest).

The lenders will be able to offer facilities of up to 2mln for small businesses outside the scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and up to 1mln for those within.

With the government offering a guarantee of 70 % to the lender, the scheme aims to improve the terms on offer to borrowers.

The Business Bank said it continues to review applications from a range of lenders, from banks to platform lenders, debt funds, invoice finance lenders, asset finance lenders and responsible finance lenders.

Businesses can use recovery loans for any legitimate business purpose but must be able to afford to take out additional debt finance for these purposes.
An increased windfall energy tax may be back on the agenda with energy bosses set for talks with the government on how they aim to tackle soaring bills.

Education secretary James Cleverly told Sky News that chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng will meet the leaders of energy companies, such as BP, Shell and Centrica, as analysts now forecast energy bills to break 4,500 next year.

Millions of UK homes are already in debt over their energy bills, with 1.3bn owed before they are set to soar even higher, according to analysts at Uswitch.

Cleverly, quoted in Sky News, said the chancellor and business secretary have hauled in leaders of the energy companies to hold them to account, to discuss with them what they are going to do with these unexpected, unplanned, unprecedented profits that they have been making.

That being said, any decision regarding a levy on the energy and oil and gas businesses is unlikely to be confirmed until a new Prime Minister is announced next month.

The Education Secretary did not deny that households and businesses in the UK could face blackouts this winter but did add the country is in a better position than many in terms of our domestic energy production.

Energy giants Shell, BP, and British Gas Owner Centrica faced widespread anger after they all announced a set of bumper profits in recent weeks.

Shell announced a 154% increase in revenue to US$18bn in its second-quarter results amid the soaring fuel prices and announced alongside plans to reinvest some of the earnings in new energy supplies in a US$6bn share buyback.

BP said it doubled its cash flow in its second quarter to US$10.8bn while surplus cash flow ballooned year on year to US$6.6bn compared to US$695mln.

Centrica also increased full-year underlying earnings by 143%, reinstating its dividend for the first time since the pandemic.

British Gas owner remained confident in the outlook for the year after it reported an adjusted EBITDA of 1.66bn for the first six months of the year, although it did report a statutory operating loss due to costly derivative energy contracts.
Nicole Galloway Warland, Thor Mining's CEO, explains how a A$2.5mln injection of funds by OZ Minerals at Kapunda in Australia can give a real boost to the project.

The money will be used to investigate ISR mining techniques, a method seen as a more environmentally acceptable form of mining than traditional open-cut and underground methods.

Thor has a 30% stake in the joint venture developing Kapunda, which will not be affected by OZ's investment.
British energy multinational Centrica has signed a 7bn purchase agreement with US-based liquified natural gas (LNG) exporter Delfin Midstream, the FTSE 100 company announced on Tuesday.

The largest domestic gas supplier in the UK through its British Gas and Scottish Gas brands, Centrica agreed to purchase one-million tonnes of LNG for the next 15 years on a free-on-board basis.

The deal aligns well with the UKs Energy Security Strategy, an issue compounded by Russias invasion of Ukraine sending ripples through global gas supply chains.

Commenting on the agreement, Kwasi Kwarteng, UK Secretary of State for Business and Energy said: Todays deal between Centrica and Delfin is positive news for the UK, helping to ensure our diversity of supply from reliable sources - like our friends in the United States - for many years to come."

Race to diversify

Europe is in a race to diversify away from Russian gas supplies, and the US is seen as key to achieving that goal.

But the UK also serves as a key player in the LNG supply chain into the EU due to its sophisticated LNG terminal infrastructure.

It is unclear whether passthrough to the EU markets forms part of the Centrica/Delfin deal, although Centricas group chief executive Chris OShea did state that additional US gas export capacity will help increase UK, European and global energy security, reflecting the increasing importance of LNG in the global gas supply chain.

On the London stock market, Centrica shares have enjoyed an 8.5% year-to-date rally.


Galileo Resources is to acquire a further 29% in lithium and gold projects in Zimbabwe through a tweak to a deal agreed with BC Ventures in January.

Under the change, Galileo is to acquire an additional 29% shareholding in BC, the owner of a lithium project in Southwest Zimbabwe (Kamativi) and two gold licences close to Bulawayo.

Following the acquisition, Galileo would hold an 80% interest in BC Ventures

The consideration will be in shares at an equivalent price of 1.2p each.

Colin Bird Galileos chairman and CEO said: " The issue of the consideration shares is at a premium to the current share price and subject to lock up arrangements.

We look forward to working with the BC Ventures shareholders to unlock the Zimbabwean projects' value.
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Drone view of the Lion prospect, showing lithium pegmatite outcrop across the track.

Riversgold Ltd (ASX:RGL) is readying to embark on a 10,000-metre drill program at the Tambourah Project in WAs Pilbara region.

The explorer is on the hunt for lithium at the West Aussie property and has just submitted a program of works to the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) to cover the drill 50-hole program.

Once the rig is on site, itll focus on drilling pegmatites from the surface to 200 metres downhole in order to determine the scale and nature of battery metal mineralisation.

Thats because recent fieldwork and elemental analysis at Tambourah indicates the projects northwest zone could host a spodumene-rich lithium system, where lithium oxide grades up to 3.14% have been reported.

Even still, the northwest program  covering tenure where extensive pegmatite outcrops have already been mapped and sampled at the Bengal, Ragdoll and Lion prospects  covers only a fraction of the overall Tambourah tenement.

Riversgold CEO Julian Ford said of the program: We have identified enough lithium-rich targets at Tambourah to start the drilling phase of our exploration efforts.

This 2022 drill season at Tambourah has the potential to considerably and quickly upgrade the project in terms of scale and prospectivity.
Deliveroo is facing stiff competition from Dutch delivery leaders Just Eat

Todays interim results were a mixed bag of groceries for Deliveroo.

While turnover got a 12% boost and transaction volumes moved in the right direction, it wasnt enough to stem deepening underlying (EBITDA) losses of 68mln, a 161% year-on-year increase.

The London-listed food delivery company also announced its departure from The Netherlands after six years for failing to chip away at the dominant position of native rival Just Eat Takeaway.

In spite of that, ROO shares rallied 3.5% on the day, bolstered by a 75mln share buyback announcement.

There is no doubt that food delivery has become a cutthroat sector to operate in following the pandemic-era boom.

The reopening of the economy combined with stiff competition from the likes of Just Eat and Uber Eats and q-commerce (quick commerce) players like Gorillas and Go Puff as well as the cost-of-living crisis have created an extremely challenging environment for Deliveroo, said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at interactive investor.

So what can a food delivery company do in the face of this myriad of challenges?

The answer could be in advertising.

Uber changes tack

Silicon Valley rival UberEats has already signalled that advertising is key to sustaining revenue growth going forward.

As reported by Reuters, Uber boss Dara Khosrowshahi plans to increase advertising revenues sevenfold in the next two years alone.

If successful, that would create a US$1bn revenue stream for Ubers low-margin delivery segment.

While Deliveroo has yet to make a similar bold projection, it has also indicated that advertising will become a substantial part of its revenue mix.

On June 29, the company announced Deliveroo Media and Ecommerce, a new platform allowing brands to target Deliveroo customers across the app (including on the order tracker page), as well as social media, email, and via push notifications.

Path to profitability

Going by todays earnings call, advertising is expected to be a key pillar in Deliveroos path to profitability one year on from its infamous IPO, or the worst IPO in Londons history as the Financial Times put it.

Deliveroo sees income from its nascent advertising platform enabling revenue growth of 12%, outpacing gross transaction value growth of 7%.

That advertising revenues will only comprise a small portion of revenues is besides the point: Substantially better margins compared to food delivery means that advertising revenue is an important lever to drive Deliveroo's path to profitability and free cash flow generation, the company stated.

But margins are facing an onslaught from another direction, according to equities analyst Bradley Hughes at Shore Capital.

Better-than-expected revenue growth comes likely at the expense of materially higher marketing costs which clocked 29% growth in the period year on year, according Hughes.

Hughes surmised that these skyrocketing marketing costs likely come as a response to Just Eats aggressive inroads into the London market.

It seems that Deliveroo just cant cop a break from those Dutch delivery kings.
South Harz Potash Ltd (ASX:SHP) executive chairman Ian Farmer joined Proactive London explain the significance of the seminal moment of the completion of the companys Ohmgebirge scoping study in Germany. He explains what it will take for the company to build a potash mine of 1mln tonnes per year, why the location of the mine is so important, why the price of potash is rising and what are the next steps for South Harz.
The Dewey Burdock Project is forecast to produce 14.3 million pounds of U3O8 over its 16 years of production

enCore Energy Corp said a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Circuit of the District of Columbia has affirmed its license to extract uranium at the Dewey Burdock project in South Dakota.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe had challenged the decision by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to grant the license to Powertech Uranium (USA) Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of enCore, the Vancouver-based uranium developer noted.

A panel at the Appeals Court had ruled that the NRCs actions were lawful, it said.

enCores 100% owned Dewey Burdock project is an In-Situ Recovery (ISR) uranium project located in the Edgemont uranium district of South Dakota, and is comprised of 12,613 surface acres and 16,962 net mineral acres.

The company filed an amended and restated NI 43-101 compliant independent Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Dewey Burdock Project IS in December 2020, which showed initial capital expenditures estimated at $31.7 million.

The Dewey Burdock Project is forecast to produce 14.3 million pounds of U3O8 over its 16 years of production. The PEA estimates uranium prices at $55/lb U3O8. Projected cash flows of the project are expected to be positive in the second year of production, two years after the commencement of construction, enCore said.

With approximately 90 million pounds of U3O8 estimated in the measured and indicated categories and 9 million pounds of U3O8 estimated in the inferred category, enCore is the most diversified in-situ recovery uranium development company in the United States.

The company is focused on becoming the next uranium producer from its licensed and past-producing South Texas Rosita Processing Plant by 2023. The Dewey Burdock project and the Wyoming Gas Hills project offer mid-term production opportunities, with significant New Mexico uranium resource endowment providing long-term opportunities.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Bhang Inc (CSE:BHNG, OTCQB:BHNGF) said it has announced the resignation of its president, CEO, and board member, Jamie L Pearson, who has been with the company since 2015 and has served as president and CEO of the award-winning cannabis brand since 2019.

Under Pearson's leadership, Bhang transformed from a California favourite into a global cannabis household name. She launched the brand into six US states including a multi-state deal with Trulieve Cannabis Corp and ushered Bhang into Canada where it has been the top-selling cannabis-infused chocolate for over two years.

Fluent in German, Pearson also expanded the CBD division into nine European countries, further amplifying the brand's reach. Twice named to High Times' list of most influential women in cannabis, Pearson secured celebrity partnerships for Bhang with Cypress Hill, DJ Muggs, the Soul Assassins, Jim Belushi and The Blues Brothers.

Pearson said her tenure at Bhang has been unbelievably rewarding.

I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with so many incredible people and feel overwhelming gratitude for all the success I experienced. It is a testament to the strength of what Bhang's founders built and the passion, dedication, and inspired work of our team day in day out, she said.

As Bhang has grown, my vision has not been consistent with that of our largest shareholder. As such, it is time for me to move on. I leave extremely proud of what I accomplished and want to thank those in the organization who supported me," Pearson said.

Board chair Graham Simmonds said: "Jamie's dogged persistence and transformational work will outlast her. We respect her decision and wish her much success in the future. As an active board member over the past two years, I have been closely involved with the company and its management, and this will allow me to guide the company forward as we seek to find a replacement CEO."

A search for Pearson's replacement is expected to begin shortly. In the meantime, Simmonds will assume the role of interim CEO. Simmonds is also chair of Plant-Based Investment Corp, Bhang's largest shareholder. In addition to holding multiple board seats on Canadian-listed publicly traded companies, Simmonds is also an experienced CEO and entrepreneur.

For over a decade Bhang has delivered sensory experiences to consumers through its portfolio of over 50 master chef created cannabis, CBD and terpene products including gourmet chocolates, Bhang High Roller Pre-Roll and Hempsticks.

Bhang's chocolates are among the top-selling edibles in seven US states and Canada. Bhang's CBD products are globally distributed and are known for being safe, efficacious and delicious.

Contact the author at susie@proactiveinvestors.com
The company plans to wait until MonkeyPox validation before launching its WP and RPP tests, as it intends to include MonkeyPox testing on those samples.

Todos Medical Ltd announced that its CLIA/CAP-certified laboratory Provista Diagnostics has completed validation of its PCR-based Wound and Respiratory Pathogen panels.

The Wound Panel (WP) is a 31-pathogen multiplexed PCR panel, including antibiotic resistance, taken from swab samples of a wound or lesion. It is meant to help physicians determine which combinations of drug therapies will result in the best patient outcomes.

The Respiratory Pathogen Panel (RPP) is a 24-pathogen multiplexed PCR panel taken from nasal or saliva samples that will assist physicians in making better treatment decisions for patients presenting with respiratory illnesses.

Both tests can be run on Provistas Tecan and 3D Med liquid handling automation systems, and the lab can currently perform as many as 25,000 PCR tests per day.

Thats only going to get higher, the company said. With nine liquid handling systems currently onsite at Provista from former Todos PCR testing lab clients, the company expects Provista to soon be able to run up to 50,000 PCR tests per day.

Additionally, Todos said that validation of its monkeypox lesion and saliva-based assays is on track to be completed in the second half of August. The company plans to wait until the MonkeyPox validation before commercial launching its WP and RPP tests, as it intends to include monkeypox testing on those samples.

Because monkeypox is spread primarily through skin-to-skin contact, contact with open wounds (lesions) and respiratory droplets/aerosols, Todos said that both WP and RPP assays will have important clinical value for differential diagnosis.

Lesion-based testing is the current standard of care according to CDC guidelines, but prospective Todos clients have expressed interest in saliva-based sample collection as a means of improving the safety of frontline healthcare workers, the company said.

To that point, Flow Health, which is conducting monkeypox testing in Los Angeles, has reported successfully assisting in the diagnosis of asymptomatic monkeypox patients using saliva samples.

It has become clear to us that waiting an additional couple of weeks for the monkeypox validations to be complete in order to move forward with the previously planned commercial launch of our wound and respiratory panels makes a lot of sense given that, just in the last couple of days, we have started to get a number of unsolicited healthcare practices enrolling as ordering physicians for Provista lab services after reading about our plans for saliva-based MonkeyPox testing, CEO Gerald Commissiong said in a statement.

Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel
Upcoming priorities include licensing its Nu.Q Vet technology, progressing research for the use of Nu.Q NETs in monitoring the progression of diseases

VolitionRx (NYSE-A:VNRX) Limited ended the second quarter with $16.7 million in the bank to help advance research and commercialization efforts for its Nucleosomics platform for blood tests.

The Henderson, Nevada-based epigenetics company had a busy quarter that saw it receive a CE Mark for its Nu.Q Netosis (NETs) test in Europe and reveal new clinical studies for NETs in the US.

CEO Cameron Reynolds told investors that he couldnt be prouder of the progress being made at the firm.

As the only analytically validated test for NETs currently available, we believe that there is enormous potential for Nu.Q NETs to support clinical decision-making, enabling physicians to act quickly, and improve patient outcomes," Reynolds said in a statement.

"Following the execution of our global licensing and supply agreement for the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Screening Test with Heska Corporation, the team has been hard at work with the technology transfer program and launch preparation. We also continue to make good progress with other potential licensing and supply partners. Finally, we have recently executed a number of contracts for Nu.Q Discover."

The CE Mark for Nu.Q enables clinical use in Europe in both ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoassay) and automated ChLIA (ChemiLuminescence ImmunoAssay) formats, Volition said.

Additional funding secured after 2Q

Subsequent to quarter end on June 30, 2022, Volition secured $6.4 million in cash through an underwritten public offering. Another $1.5 million in non-dilutive funding from Namur Invest Capital Risk in Belgium will fund an early access program for the Nu.Q product portfolio at strategic sites across the EU, UK and US, the company said.

Upcoming priorities include licensing its Nu.Q Vet technology, progressing research for the use of Nu.Q NETs in monitoring the progression of diseases such as COVID-19 and sepsis, and advancing previously announced large-scale cancer trials in Europe, Asia and the US.

The group posted a net loss of $7.5 million or $0.14 per share for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022.

Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company that applies its Nucleosomics platform through its subsidiaries to develop 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.

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 is primarily focused on human diagnostics and monitoring but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics and monitoring.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
Srinagar, Aug 10 : Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorists have been trapped during an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Waterhail area in central Kashmir's Budgam district, police said on Wednesday.

"Three terrorists of terror outfit LeT (TRF), including terrorist Lateef Rather, trapped in ongoing encounter. Terrorist Lateef is involved in several civilian killings, including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Additional Director General of Police (Kashmir zone), Vijay Kumar tweeted.

The gunfight started after a joint team of Police and security forces received an input about the presence of terrorists in that area.

Security forces cordoned off the area. Terrorists hiding there started firing drawing retaliation by the security forces.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Kashmir over the last few months.

Many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the Police and the Army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.
Moscow, Aug 10 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's demand for an international travel ban on all Russians has triggered heavy criticism in Moscow but found support in Baltic countries.

Zelensky's appeal was received "extremely negatively", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, according to the Interfax agency.

"The irrationality of the thought process exceeds every measure," he said.

The President told the Washington Post in an interview published on Monday that "the most important sanctions are to close the borders because the Russians are taking away someone else's land", reports dpa news agency.

In reply to his travel sanctions suggestion, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday called him "the greatest Ukrainian clown" on Twitter, and even compared him to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

Since the start of Russia's invasion, Medvedev has repeatedly hurled insults at Ukraine, a country he recently suggested may soon not even "exist on the world map".

Moscow frequently justifies its war by saying it is carrying out the the "de-Nazification" of Ukraine, a phrase that causes particular outrage because Zelensky is of Jewish descent.

EU countries neighbouring Russia have become more vocal recently on the issue of tourist visas for Russians.

The Finnish Foreign Ministry raised concerns that Finland is being used as a transit country by some Russian tourists to enter the EU before travelling on to their final destination within the bloc.

Tourist visa for countries that are part of the so-called Schengen area, which is made up of 22 EU countries as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein, allow tourists to travel freely between the countries.

The Finnish Foreign Ministry is now considering whether to stop issuing new visas to people who have used Finland as a transit hub in the past.

"It's not right that at the same time as Russia is waging an aggressive, brutal war of aggression in Europe, Russians can live a normal life, travel in Europe, be tourists," Prime Minister Sanna Marin told Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

"My personal position is that tourism should be restricted," she added.

Finland's call to sanction tourist visas is echoed by EU countries Estonia and Latvia who also share a land border with Russia.

"Stop issuing tourist visas to Russians," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, adding that travelling to Europe "is a privilege, not a human right".

Meanwhile, Latvia has already tightened visa requirements.

Although the European Commission proposes options to sanction Russia, a spokesperson declined to comment on the calls to restrict visa travel for Russian travellers in the EU.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Lucknow, Aug 10 : A seer, former head of a prominent temple in the state capital, has been booked for usurping huge donations, valuable manuscripts, and account book of the temple.

Vivekanand Giri, president of Badi Kaliji Mandir in Chowk, has accused former Mahant Ramesh Giri and his aides Om Bharti, Ravi Shanker, Rameshwaranand and 4-5 unidentified men of the fraud.

In his complaint, Vivekanand has stated that the temple is run by Bodhgayay Mutt in Bihar and current trustee is Triveni Giri.

"I have been assigned to look after religious and legal work here," he said.

Vivekanand said that Ramesh Giri proclaimed himself to be the mahant of the temple and appointed his men in different capacities to run the temple work.

"After the trustee Triveni Giri came to know about it, he asked me to take over the charge of the temple. But, Ramesh Giri and his men did not allow me and following this we have had to seek help from the district administration," he said.

Vivekanand said that the temple was freed from Ramesh Giri and his supporters on July 28 after the district administration and local influential devotees intervened in the matter.

"At the time of handing over charge, Ramesh Giri did not hand over the manuscripts, sculptures, gold and silver ornaments, account books and documents related to the property of the temple in Lucknow. The temple has vast land and valuables as its assets and the documents related to it had been destroyed or grabbed by Ramesh Giri and his supporters," Vivekanand alleged.

He said the above-named persons needed to be interrogated by police to find out the missing things.

Additional DCP, West Zone, Chiranjeev Nath Sinha, said that an FIR under the charges of criminal breach of trust, dishonesty, forgery of valuable security, and forgery for the purpose of cheating against the named accused has been lodged.

Police said that Giri was also accused of attempting sodomy with one his disciples in the name of taking massage from him in April this year.
Berlin, Aug 10 : Germany is likely to introduce an indoor mask mandate if there is a significant increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 in the upcoming autumn and winter months, health ministers said at a meeting, though they differed over possible exemptions.

The federal and state health ministers discussed draft legislation aiming to update regulations for dealing with the pandemic, dpa news agency reported.

"It is clear that mandatory masks indoors should be the rule in the event of a tense pandemic situation," said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach.

Last week, Lauterbach and Justice Minister Marco Buschmann presented new coronavirus measures that would go into effect in the autumn.

Among other things, their draft calls for masks to remain compulsory on long-distance trains and planes nationwide, along with rules requiring masks to be worn in hospitals and care facilities.

State governments are to decide for themselves whether they will also require masks in publicly accessible indoor areas.

Some state ministers had criticized plans to make people exempt from the regulation if they had had a vaccination against Covid-19 within the past three months, for example, saying this is difficult to implement.

The Ministers also identified areas where further clarity is needed, for example on "who can be vaccinated, with which vaccine this is possible, and how long the protection lasts", said Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek.

The meeting came as Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control and prevention said the nation's seven-day incidence rate of cases per 100,000 was 381.5, although the number is thought to be higher.

The RKI said 170 people had died of Covid-19 in the past day.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Lucknow, Aug 10 : The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has prepared detailed standard operating procedures (SOPs) that will be submitted before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court for dignified cremation of deceased in incidents like the Hathras gang-rape and murder.

A double-judge bench of Justices Rajan Roy and Jaspreet Singh had, on August 5, directed the state government to sensitise and counsel officials/employees involved in such cremation to strictly follow it and achieve the objective.

The court also directed the state government to notify, implement the SOPs and widely publicise it at police stations, hospitals, primary health centres, district headquarters, tehsil and collectorates, among other places.

The high court had taken suo motu cognizance of the Hathras rape and murder case on October 1, 2020 and directed the state government to prepare an SOP for dignified cremation of bodies after incidents like these.

On September 30, 2020, the district administration in Hathras had cremated the girl during night hours against the wishes of her parents.

"The officers and employees under the state who are to be involved in cremation of such bodies should be sensitised and counselled to follow the scheme/SOP strictly, and in a manner so as to achieve the objective rather than to defeat it," observed the court.

The court further said: "The observance and adherence to the scheme/SOP should not be an eye-wash or an empty formality. The letter and spirit of the scheme/SOP is paramount as it touches upon valuable constitutional and fundamental rights. The entire exercise should be conducted in a solemn manner with due respect to such rights." Earlier, it had also advised the state government to consider giving a job to a family member of the victim and relocating them to any place outside Hathras.

It may be recalled that a 19-year-old Dalit girl was gang-raped by four persons in a village in Hathras district on September 14, 2020, when she had gone to the fields to collect cattle fodder. She was partially paralysed in the attack.

As her condition deteriorated, she was moved to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on September 28 and died in the early hours the next day.

The case led to national outrage and a huge political controversy.
Bengaluru, Aug 10 : The Karnataka delegation led by Minister for Large and Medium Industries Minister Dr. Murugesh R. Nirani has proposed a separate 'Japanese township' on the nearly 600-acre plot in Tumakuru, the neighbouring district of Bengaluru.

The delegation, which concluded its three-day visit to Japan, has also assured the investors in Japan that besides the township, a land bank of 50,000 acres has been earmarked for industrial development, an official release on Wednesday stated.

As a part of the international roadshow for the Global Investors Meet (GIM) scheduled on November 2, 3 and 4, the delegation was in Japan to seek investments and to extend a formal invitation to the Japanese companies.

The Minister presented the industry-friendly policies of the state and showcased Karnataka as an ideal destination for Japanese manufacturing companies.

Impressing upon the companies, Minister Nirani said Karnataka had attracted maximum number of FDI among all the states of the country and the environment was conducive for the big Japanese investments. The Minister also said that the state was in the top achiever category in the "Ease of Doing Business" (EoDB) released by the Centre recently.

The delegation comprising Minister Nirani and Commissioner for Industrial Development, Gunjan Krishna met the representatives of Toyota, Suzuki Motor Corporation, Mitsui, Mercury, JETRO, Hitachi, Fujitsu Limited, and NEC Corporation at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo on Monday and Tuesday.
Washington, Aug 10 : The US House Ways and Means Committee can use a federal law to gain access to the tax returns of former President Donald Trump, a federal appeals court in Washington has ruled.

Tuesday's decision from a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a long-running legal dispute would allow committee Chairman Richard Neal to get Trump's personal records from the Treasury Department, reports dpa news agency.

The former President, who intervened after the incumbent Joe Biden administration said it would comply with the request, had argued Neal and Democrats intended to use the returns against him politically or attempt to enhance IRS oversight of the presidency in a violation of the separation of powers.

But the D.C. Circuit panel wrote that they could only analyse what Neal wrote in his request, not statements by other members of Congress about what they may do with Trump's returns once they have them.

"The mere fact that individual members of Congress may have political motivations as well as legislative ones is of no moment," the opinion, written by Senior Judge David B. Sentelle, states.

"Indeed, it is likely rare that an individual member of Congress would work for a legislative purpose without considering the political implications." The committee argued it needed the returns to properly assess tax administration, including the program that requires presidential returns be audited. The decision follows years of litigation seeking Trump's returns under a 1976 law that gives congressional committees the power to review individual returns.

The law gives Neal, as committee chairman, the power to request those returns. Neal praised the decision in a statement Tuesday, arguing "our position has been affirmed by the Courts".

"I'm pleased that this long-anticipated opinion makes clear the law is on our side. When we receive the returns, we will begin our oversight of the IRS's mandatory presidential audit program," Neal said.

The committee tweeted: "We expect to receive the requested tax returns and audit files immediately." The decision on Tuesday affirmed a lower court ruling that dismissed Trump's lawsuit that seeks to block the Treasury Department from releasing to the committee his personal returns and returns of several of his businesses.

While the committee seemed confident it would obtain the returns soon, Tuesday's opinion noted "the possibility of further appellate review in both this case and Mazars", a case from the House Oversight and Reform Committee seeking Trump's personal financial information.

A separate order issued Tuesday stayed the decision for seven days, allowing Trump to seek rehearing in the D.C. Circuit or appeal.

The committee has not previously requested the tax returns of a sitting or former President.

However, Trump himself also broke with longstanding tradition by refusing to release his tax returns before or after winning his campaign for office, citing ongoing audits.

The first president to release his returns, Richard Nixon, did so while under audit.

The litigation started in 2019, while Trump was still in office. Neal and the committee requested access to his returns, which the Treasury Department refused to provide after calling Neal's reasons pretextual.

Neal reissued the request in 2021, which the Biden administration said it would comply with.

Trump then intervened in the case, reiterating arguments from when he was in office.
Chennai, Aug 10 : With the Tamil Nadu government yet to place orders for the Pongal dhotis and sarees, the power loom workers of the state have threatened to go on a hunger strike.

The state government has been providing free sarees and dhotis through Public Distribution Systems (PDS) since 1981 and this has helped thousands of power loom, handloom, and pedal loom workers.

Generally, the government places orders in the month of July but in 2021, the orders were placed in the first week of August. The power loom industry is worried as the government is yet to place the orders even after the first week of August has passed.

According to the power loom industry office-bearers, around 1.8 crore sets of dhotis and sarees are generally distributed through the PDS in Tamil Nadu during the festival.

Pongal marks the Tamil New Year and generally falls on January 14 or 15 every year and the power loom industry is worried that if the order is not placed now, the work cannot be executed.

After the Covid-19 pandemic, power loom owners were in crisis leading to the closing down of the industry and some had even sold the machinery to meet expenses. This has led to several workers losing their jobs and the work order given by the state government has been a major solace to the power loom industry.

K. Karunakaran, a power loom worker of Erode district in Tamil Nadu while speaking to IANS said, " The government, as far as to my knowledge has not yet given the orders for the Pongal dhoti, sari sets and we are eagerly waiting for this order for our survival. The industry will not survive if we don't get this order and with the first week of August also over, it will be difficult to execute the order if it is delayed even by this week. We have no other option but to go for a hunger strike to make the government notice." According to the industry sources, of the 1.8 crore set of dhotis and sarees, 1.5 crore sets will be produced in the power loom sector while 30 lakh will be placed in the handloom and pedal loom sector.

The Pongal orders have always been the lifeline of the power loom sector spread across Erode, Thiruchengode, and Namakkal districts of Tamil Nadu where almost 70 per cent of the power loom industry of the state is concentrated.
Belfast : , Aug 10 (IANS) Captain Andrew Balbirnie snapped Ireland's eight-match losing streak in T20I after beating Afghanistan by seven wickets in the first of five T20Is at Belfast with just one ball remaining.

Chasing 169, Lorcan Tucker and Balbirnie (51) hit quickfire half-centuries before Harry Tector (25 not out off 15 balls) and George Dockrell (10 not out off five balls) took Ireland over the finishing line.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit three boundaries to get the visitors moving. Gurbaz perished in the very next over though, swatting a Barry McCarthy delivery to Harry Tector at mid-off to depart for 26.

Usman Ghani and Hashmatullah Shahidi put aside that setback to keep the scoreboard ticking along, building a partnership that took Afghanistan to 75-1 after nine overs. But Dockrell dismissed Shahidi as he top-edged a delivery safely into the hands of Paul Stirling at short fine leg for 11.

Ghani advanced to his fourth T20I half-century, helping Afghanistan past 100. But spin brought another breakthrough for Ireland as Gareth Delany struck with the last ball of the 14th over, with Najibullah Zadran top-edging the leg-spinner to McBrine at backward point.

That triggered a slide for Afghanistan's middle order as four wickets fell in as many overs to leave the visitors at 134-6 after 17 overs. McCarthy accounted for Rashid Khan in the penultimate over for two. But Mark Adair took some punishment from Ibrahim Zadran in the final over of the innings, conceding 16 runs off three consecutive deliveries in a 21-run over as Afghanistan finished on 168-7.

In response, Balbirnie looked in fine touch from the get-go, swivel-pulling Fazalhaq Farooqi from the final ball of the third over to move 19 off just 10. Paul Stirling, playing in his 300th T20, was watchful to begin with, seeing off a Naveen-ul-Haq maiden in the powerplay. But he eventually found his feet, smashing Azmatullah and Naveen for sixes as Ireland motored to fifty inside six overs.

Stirling eventually departed for 31 to Mohammad Nabi, but Ireland remained in control as Tucker and Balbirnie motored along, with the latter reaching his half-century from 34 balls at the end of the 14th over. Balbirnie then swept Mujeeb Ur Rahman straight to Najibullah in the deep to depart for 51 and, and some overs followed to leave Ireland requiring 41 from the final four overs.

Tucker advanced to a half century from just 31 balls, but Naveen accounted for him at the end of the 18th over, leaving Ireland in serious trouble.

Tector, having started slowly, delivered a timely six over deep mid-wicket off Farooqi in the penultimate over, to leave the equation at 13 runs off the final over. A boundary from Tector eased the pressure, and Dockrell hit consecutive boundaries to seal a thrilling victory for Ireland.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan 168-7 in 20 overs (Usman Ghani 59, Ibrahim Zadran 29 not out; Barry McCarthy 3-24, George Dockrell 2-7) lost to Ireland 171-3 in 19.5 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 51, Lorcan Tucker 50; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 1-22) by seven wickets
Seoul, Aug 10 : North Korea's ruling Workers' Party (WPK) sent a formal message to the Communist Party of China denouncing US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan last week as a "shameless provocation", Pyongyang's state media reported Wednesday.

In the "solidarity letter" sent to the party's central committee the previous day, the WPK also called the US House of Representatives' trip a "serious infringement" of Beijing's sovereignty, according to Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The WPK then expressed "full support" for the CPC and the Chinese government in their "just and legitimate" steps to "resolutely repulse the US arbitrariness" and pledged to continue offering full support over the Taiwanese issue, Yonhap News Agency quoted the KCNA as saying in its report.

Last week, Pyongyang's foreign ministry was quick in responding to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, calling it an "impudent interference" into the internal affairs of another nation.

North Korea has recently stressed its strong ties with China amid the heightening Washington-Beijing tensions.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : On August 4 and 5, 2022, Pro Helvetia New Delhi opened its new office at C-11, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi, marking 15 years of fostering creative and cultural exchange between Switzerland and South Asia.

The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia has a liaison office in New Delhi that connects with partners and artists throughout South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

The Open Days at Pro Helvetia New Delhi were attended by cultural practitioners, contemporary artists, authors and partners of Pro Helvetia New Delhi.

Commenting on the 15-year milestone Akshay Pathak, Head, Pro Helvetia said, "Over the years, Pro Helvetia New Delhi as a liaison office in South Asia has steadily promoted contemporary Swiss art and cultural productions in the region. It has organized and supported residencies and research trips to enable artists and other cultural practitioners to be inspired, develop new projects and build global networks".

In the past, prominent venues like Kochi Biennale and Serendipity Arts Festivals often featured Swiss artists like Marie Velardi and Cie Yan Duyvendak. Swiss musicians Hely, The Great, and others At different jazz events in the area, Harry Hillman, Malcolm Braff, and Claire Huguenin L'Eclair have all performed.

Peter Rinderknecht, a well-known theatrical performer, recently visited South Asia and India with his sad story of a farmer, "Minor Matters," which charmed both kids and adults. Peter Rinderknecht had already travelled to India, demonstrating the kind of enduring relationships promoted by Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.

Karim Noureldin, whose work has also been commissioned by curator Peter Nagy for the impending 2022 group-show edition at the Sculpture Park in Jaipur, is currently residing with Pro Helvetia New Delhi.

The To-Gather collaborations, which were developed in the wake of the pandemic and support two to three-year partnerships between artists, cultural organisations, and institutions in Switzerland and their counterparts in the regions of the Pro Helvetia liaison offices, are among the ongoing projects. Among the Indo-Swiss projects in To-gather are Swiss Indian Network of Experimental Music and Sound and Awake The Sleeping Giants, which brings together artists and experts from Switzerland and India to explore hybridization as a potential key to read future relationships between Humans and Nature. Other projects include Environment Art Exchange and Swiss Indian Network of Experimental Music and Sound (SINEMS).

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Kolkata, Aug 10 : Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mandal on Wednesday once again skipped CBI summons in connection with cattle smuggling case in West Bengal.

This is the tenth time that Mandal has evaded the probe agency's call on health grounds.

Mandal, the party's Birbhum district president, was supposed to be present at the CBI's Nizam Palace office in central Kolkata on Wednesday at 11 a.m. However, at around 10 a.m., two counsels of Mandal arrived at Nizam Palace and handed over a communique on his inability to appear on medical grounds. As a supporting document, they handed over medical advice from Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital prescribing bed-rest for him.

He had appeared at the CBI office for interrogation just once in May this year and since then he had been avoiding the consecutive central agency summons. All eyes are now on what would be CBI's next action on this count and senior officials of the agency under the leadership of the agency's additional director Ajay Bhatnagar, who is currently in Kolkata, are currently discussing the next course of action.

According to senior counsel of the Calcutta High Court Kaushik Gupta, the CBI currently has three options. "The first is to move the court and get an order for Mandal's arrest, the second is to question him at Bolpur residence and the third and final option is issuing a fresh summons with a fresh date." Meanwhile, opposition parties have again started raising the question on why the CBI is giving a long rope to Mandal. "Now it is clear that the Mandal has just used medical prescriptions, first from SSKM and then from Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital, as shields against facing CBI interrogation. I do not understand what the CBI is waiting for. It should act tough now and drag Mandal to its office," said CPI(M) central committee member and the former leader of Left Parties in West Bengal Assembly, Sujan Chakraborty.

BJP's state president in West Bengal and party MP, Sukanta Majumdar said that if Mandal thinks that he will be able to avoid the central agency questioning for an indefinite period by using medical prescriptions, he is mistaken. "He should rather hurry up. Patha Chatterjee is waiting for him at the Presidency Central Correctional Home," ridiculed Majumdar.

Trinamool Congress's state vice president Jaiprakash Majumdar gave an extremely cautious statement on the matter. "Now it is the matter between CBI and Mandal and the party has nothing to do in this connection," he said.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Olive Cafe & Bar is a place where wonderful cuisine, laughter, culture, and discussions come together in a delightful melting pot. It has a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere.

Chef Jyotika Malik's gourmet cafe menu, along with freshly made coffee, hand-crafted cocktails, bespoke beverages, and a sizable wine selection, are some of its regular features.

The restaurant offers Med-meets-European-and-world menu, signature Teq-tonics (move over G&Ts), Sorbet Gin-Tos, and more. The distinctive whites and blues of Olive are all present and correct, lulling one into the delusion that they are near the Mediterranean Sea. Olive is a warm, inviting space that instantly puts one at rest thanks to the natural light that comes in during the day and the romantic candlelight atmosphere at night; the warmth of the soft armchairs, the white gravel courtyard, lush foliage, and bougainvillaea blooms. Vivek Popli, the architect, and Design Direct Sabina Singh add small coastal touches at each stage.

Says AD Singh, Founder & MD of The Olive Group of restaurants, "Olive is a way of life and an experience where we bring together good food, delicious & fresh cocktails, warmth, fun and hospitality as it should be. Now, we are really looking forward to bringing the trademark Olive experience to the sophisticated diners of Chandigarh. We are absolutely delighted to partner with Vishal Anand and Sampat Singh and thankful for their support." "Olive is one of the most iconic restaurants India has seen. It has been on top of the charts for the last 20 years. Most importantly, it is a brand we grew up with and was always on our calendar during our visit to Delhi, Mumbai and more recently Goa. Hence, this partnership was only waiting to happen. We believe Chandigarh has an amazing audience for gourmet food and Olive will add to its flavours. What Chandigarh deserves is a quality restaurant with a vibe that does justice to its greens, taste buds and culture," say Vishal Anand & Sampat Singh.

The indoor space is uncluttered with sheer white drapes on the arched windows. A lovely hand-finished terracotta tile covered patio held up by wrought iron carved columns showcases a true Corinthian aesthetic. Gilt edged mirrors, porcelain chandeliers, pastel prints and classic furniture are styled together to dress the area up. Candle lit at night, Olive's a romantic spot of dreams! (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)
Kochi, Aug 10 : The Enforcement Directorate attached to the Kochi office here on Wednesday started simultaneous raids at the residences of five accused in the Rs 312 crore fraud at the CPI-M controlled Trissur-based Karuvannur Cooperative bank.

Incidentally, of the five accused where the raids began, four are out on bail.

The ED officials involved in the raids were being guarded by the armed CISF guards as a matter of precaution.

The Karuvannur Cooperative bank fraud in Thrissur district came intolimelight a year ago, but not much headway has been made in the probe by the police.

Trouble broke out very recently when a depositor after desperate pleas for getting his money back for treatment passed away. Since then the fraud in the CPI-M controlled bank has made frequent headlines and even saw the Kerala High Court intervening.

Last week the Court directed the scam-tainted coop bank to stop all payments barring the emergency ones and asked the Pinarayi Vijayan government to prepare a roadmap aimed at paying back the depositors.

The CPI-M backed bank informed the court that at present they have only Rs 60 lakh in cash, while they have assets which can be sold and depositors can be paid.

It also pointed out that of the total deposit of Rs 284 crore, a sum of Rs 142 crore has matured.

The Congress-led opposition has demanded a CBI probe into the bank fraud after it came to light that those who had good connections in the CPI-M were able to get back their deposits, while a majority of the hapless depositors were running from pillar to post to get back their money.
Los Angeles, Aug 10 : Actor Steven Seagal has visited a Russian jail in Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The actor has been photographed at the Russian-controlled prison camp where 50 Ukrainian prisoners were recently killed, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Photos surfaced of Seagal standing inside the wrecked prison and sitting down on a bench examining some shrapnel.

There is also a picture of the 70-year-old star talking to Ukrainian prisoners through metal bars.

The visit to the Russian-controlled jail in Olenivka, Ukraine came just days after an explosion killed at least 50 people there on July 29. The jail housed hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners at the time of the blast.

As if it's not jarring enough, Seagal, who is a vocal supporter of Russian president Vladimir Putin, was banned from entering Ukraine for five years in 2017 after Putin gave him citizenship and personally handed him his Russian passport in 2016, after he vocally supported Russia's annexation of Crimea.

He has also praised Putin for being "one of the greatest world leaders, if not the greatest world leader, alive today." His support to Russia created controversy among Americans, who saw it as treachery to the United States.

The 'Hard to Kill' star relocated to Moscow after he was granted Russian citizenship while still retaining his American citizenship. In May 2018, he was appointed Russia's special envoy to the US.

He officially joined a Russian pro-Kremlin party in May 2021.

When Russia was planning an attack on Ukraine, the father of seven reportedly finalised the sale of his nearly 20-year-owned Northern California ranch. In February, he told Fox News of the war, "Most of us have friends and family in Russia and Ukraine." He added: "I look at both as one family and really believe it is an outside entity spending huge sums of money on propaganda to provoke the two countries to be at odds with each other."

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Caracas, Aug 10 : Thousands of Venezuelans took the the streets of the capital Caracas to protest against US-led sanctions and illegal seizures of the nation's financial and non-financial assets.

About 10,000 protesters took part in the demonstration on Tuesday called by the government to press for the recovery of the assets, Transportation Minister and president of flag carrier Conviasa, Ramon Velasquez Araguayan, told the media.

"We are going to march to the National Assembly (Congress) to offer a forceful demonstration by the Venezuelan people," Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

He added they will continue to mobilize until all seized assets are returned.

Among the assets is a plane belonging to Venezuelan company Emtrasur that was "illegally" impounded in Argentina due to an order issued by a US judge, said Velasquez, adding the aircraft must be returned.

Venezuelan accounts at international banks have also been seized, he said.

Also addressing the protesters, President of Venezuela's National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez condemned the sanctions against Conviasa.

"Agents of the North American empire should know ... there is a river of people here who are rising up against the sanctions, who are rising up against the blockade, who are rising up against the attack on our company Conviasa," he said.

The sanctions against Venezuela are the worst "that a country on this continent has ever suffered", he said.

On June 6, a Boeing 747 of Emtrasur, used to deliver humanitarian aid to the Caribbean and African countries, was seized by the Argentine authorities and was later impounded due to an order issued by a US judge.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Nicolas Maduro said on Twitter: "Venezuela marches today #9Ago to defend and recover illegally confiscated and held national assets." On Monday, He said the march would be the starting point of a "great campaign" to recover the nation's assets.
Brussels, Aug 10 : European Union (EU) member states will not be allowed to import any more coal from Russia after the transitional period for the bloc's embargo ends at midnight on Wednesday.

The embargo was part of the fifth sanctions package agreed by the EU in April and will be in full force from Thursday onwards, reports dpa news agency.

EU countries had agreed on a transitional period of 120 days to give the industry time to adapt to the import ban.

The aim is to weaken the Russian economy amid its invasion of Ukraine.

The European Commission said in April the coal embargo could cost Russia some 8 billion euros annually.

The coal embargo marked the EU's first time sanctioning Russian energy supplies.

In a later sanctions package, the bloc agreed to largely ban Russian oil deliveries in order to step up pressure on Moscow.

The oil ban is due to come into effect at the end of the year, with exceptions for several countries that are particularly dependent on Russian oil.

This includes Hungary, which will be allowed to continue receiving pipeline supplies from Russia.

However, Russian pipeline operator Transneft said on Tuesday that oil transports from Russia to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia had been halted.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Los Angeles, Aug 10 : The great legal fight of the Polish-French filmmaker Roman Polanski is far from over.

Lawyers and others with an interest in the Roman Polanski sex case are now in a tug-of-war over access to the video of former prosecutor Roger Gunson's deposition, which took place on three separate dates in 2010, reports 'Deadline'.

Gunson's testimony provided a long, highly detailed, deeply informed recap both of Polanski's crime - which involved the rape of a minor - and of alleged judicial and prosecutorial misconduct that followed it.

So far, only a written transcript of the testimony has been released. But lawyers for journalists Sam Wasson and William Rempel, who won the unsealing in a California Appeals Court decision, went back to that court July 22 with a request for existing video of the sessions.

According to 'Deadline', that request was supported by an affidavit from filmmaker Marina Zenovich, whose documentary 'Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired' called attention to alleged misconduct by the Los Angeles legal system in handling Polanski's case.

The appeals court has said that Wasson and Rempel (plus Marina Zenovich) should properly ask the Superior Court for access to the video and accompanying exhibits.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles district attorney's office - which ultimately did not oppose unsealing of the transcript - has indicated that it will oppose unsealing of the video, citing concern for the privacy of Gunson, who was ill at the time he testified.

'Deadline' further states that the online Superior Court records showed no sign of a motion seeking the video, but that seems likely to come, whether from lawyers for Wasson and Rempel or perhaps from attorney Harland Braun, who has represented Polanski in recent years.
Kiev, Aug 10 : At least 11 people were killed in missile attacks overnight in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region not far from the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, the local military said on Wednesday.

"A tragic night in the Nikopol area the Russian army killed 11 people and injured 13," the head of the Dnipropetrovsk military administration Valentyn Reznichenko said in a Telegram post.

Both of the affected areas are on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, which has been shelled several times in recent days, reports dpa news agency.

The small town of Marhanets was worst hit, with 20 multi-storey buildings damaged including two schools, a dormitory and a cultural centre, Reznichenko said.

Ten people were killed in the town and 11 others injured, seven of them seriously, he said.

In another village close to Nikopol city, another woman died in her home as a result of the attack and a couple was injured.

The two villages are on the north bank of the Dnipro River's Kakhovka reservoir.

On the southern side less than 20 km away is the nuclear plant that has come under fire, sparking international safety fears.

Ukraine and Russia both accuse each other of being behind the attacks.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Havana, Aug 10 : Cuban scientists and experts are studying the environmental impact of a massive fire at a fuel storage facility in the port of Matanzas.

With vital measures being carried out in Matanzas, different work teams are monitoring air quality in the provinces of Mayabeque and Havana, Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Elba Rosa Perez said.

"The main task is to take care of people's health and minimize the impact as much as possible," the official told Cuban state television.

The fire in Cuba's largest fuel storage facility, some 100 km east of the capital Havana, was triggered by a lightning strike on one of the tanks on August 5, reports Xinhua news agency.

At least person has been confirmed dead, while 122 others were injured in the incident.

A top provincial official has estimated that a total of 6,232 tons of gases and particles were emitted into the atmosphere.

The smoke cloud located at a height of over 4 km does not affect city residents in Matanzas, according to the expert.

Meanwhile, hygiene authorities advised people, especially children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, not to expose themselves to the rains associated the smoke plume and to use face masks in the areas with greatest exposure risk.

Residents of Matanzas confirmed that acid rain fell in recent days, expressing concern about possible damage to local crops.

So far, some 5,000 residents have been evacuated from the area, according to official data.
Kolkata, Aug 10 : Superintendent of Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital Dr Buddhadeb Murmu, whose advice for bed-rest came handy for Anubrata Mandal in ducking Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summons, has now come under the scanner of the central agency.

The focus shifted on him after Dr Chandranath Adhikari, the physician who gave the bed-rest prescription in plain paper, alleged that he was forced by Murmu to issue the advice.

On Tuesday morning, soon after the CBI officials reached Mandal's residence at Bolpur in Birbhum district to handover the summons for appearance at CBI's Kolkata office on Wednesday by 11 a.m, a team of doctors from Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital also reached there. After initial check-up, the medical team came out after submitting a medical advice for 14 days of bed-rest for Mandal on a plain paper.

As the news went viral, the authorities of Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital came under severe criticism especially in view of the fact that a seven-member medical team of state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital had, just a day ago, refused admission to Mandal saying his medical complications were not so critical and could be treated by medicines.

From Tuesday night onwards, Dr Chandranath Adhikari, who issued the medical advice on a plain paper started speaking to mediapersons and claimed that he was forced to issue the medical advice by superintendent of Bolpur Sub-divisional Hospital Dr Buddhadeb Murmu.

"I was on leave on Tuesday. But Dr Murmu called me up and asked me to visit Mandal's residence for a medical check-up. I insisted that Mandal should come to the hospital for it, but Dr Murmu asserted that I should go. At his residence, Mandal asked me to issue a medical advice for 14 days of bed rest. I called up Dr Murmu again and told him that since I was on leave, I was not carrying my official letterhead. Then Dr Murmu insisted that I write the medical advice for 14 days of bed rest on a plain paper. I thought it wise to follow his advice then since I will have to stay in Bolpur. But now I am feeling bad since somewhere in the process my image as a physician got tarnished," Adhikari said.

Murmu, on his part, said that he was asked by the Birbhum district administration to send the medical team to Mandal's residence. "Even though I am on leave, I had to send the medical team following the instructions of the district administration," he said.

CBI officials have questioned how a doctor, who is holding the position of a state-run hospital superintendent can direct a junior doctor to issue medical advice on a plain paper. The central agency officials are considering questioning Murmu in the matter.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : The BJP on Wednesday claimed that the mountains of cash seized from Mamata Banerjee's close aide have enraged West Bengal, and the Trinamool Congress leaders are being accosted and beaten up.

The BJP said the chief minister is also not spared being.Sharing a video, BJP West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya tweeted, "TMC leaders, who extorted money, are being accosted and beaten up. It doesn't stop at them. Even the Bengal CM isn't being spared." Malviya said that the SSC Scam protesters are now hurling slippers on Chief Minister Banerjee's posters on the streets.

The ED has arrested Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in the SSC scam and recovered crores in cash, several kilograms of gold, and documents of many properties. Last month, Chatterjee was removed from the state cabinet and the party.

The BJP has intensified its attack on Mamata Banerjee after the arrest of Chatterjee.

Earlier, the BJP had claimed that the Trinamool Congress workers "involved in scams and other illegal activities are worried" after Mamata Banerjee "dumped" Partha Chatterjee.

Malviya had said, "After Mamata Banerjee dumped Partha, her close confidant, every criminal in the Trinamool, from minister to ordinary worker, who are involved in scams, rapes and murders, are worried. They acted on the assurance that Mamata would protect them but now they feel slighted. Law is supreme."
Lucknow, Aug 10 : Anu Tyagi, wife of arrested self-claimed BJP leader Shrikant Tyagi, on Wednesday said that her husband was a member of the BJP. Talking to reporters, she alleged that her family was being harassed at the behest of BJP MP Mahesh Sharma.

When asked about Mahesh Sharma's denial that Shrikant Tyagi was a BJP member, she said: "My husband was a BJP member. This entire drama is being played out at the behest of Mahesh Sharma. He abused the police commissioner. That's why the police were misbehaving with us." She said, "My husband would have surrendered the first day but we were only waiting for a lawyer so that we could take appropriate legal recourse. Had I not been detained at the police station, my husband would have surrendered the very next day as I could have engaged a lawyer and sought legal help," she said.

She also said that Shrikant Tyagi had surrendered and was not caught in any raid.

Anu Tyagi alleged that her staffers were subjected to third-degree torture, adding that her children were also being harassed.

She said: "I was not tortured physically, but I was harassed mentally. The police misbehaved in every way possible, even though I was fully cooperating in the investigation. Where is Yogi ji now? Am I not a woman?" "At the police station, I begged them to let me go as my kids were alone at home. No cop was here either," she said.

Shrikant Tyagi was arrested by Noida police on Tuesday for abusing and assaulting a woman at his housing society in Noida. His arrest came a day after bulldozers razed the illegally constructed structures outside his house at the Grand Omaxe housing society in Noida's Sector-93B.
Tokyo, Aug 10 : Japan's population totaled 125.93 million as of January 1, 2022, representing the largest drop in the overall number and by percentage since comparable data were recorded in 1950, the latest government data revealed on Wednesday.

As deaths exceeded births and Covid-19 border controls restrict the entry of foreigners, Japan's overall population fell to 125,927,902, down by 726,342 or 0.57 per cent from the previous year, Xinhua news agency reported citing the figures issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

According to the Ministry, the number of Japanese nationals reduced by 619,140 to 123,223,561 in 2021, with births at a record low of around 810,000, outstripped by a record high around 1.44 million deaths.

The number of resident foreigners in Japan fell by 107,202 to 2,704,341, marking a drop for the second consecutive year, due to tighter border restrictions amid the pandemic.

The Ministry data also showed that the ratio of people aged 15 to 64, regarded as the working population, stood at a record low 58.99 per cent of the total population while people aged 65 and older accounted for a record high of 29 per cent.
Manila, Aug 10 : The Philippines is officially cancelling a 12.7-billion-peso ($227 million) contract to purchase 16 Russian military transport helicopters, the government said on Wednesday.

"The Department of National Defence is formalizing the termination of the contract with SOVTECHNOEXPORT LLC of Russia for the procurement of 16 units of Mi-17 heavy-lift helicopters for the Philippine air force," dpa news agency quoted Arsenio Andolong, the Department's spokesman, as saying.

Andolong said the Department's contract review committee will "undertake the appropriate processes and exercise due diligence in formalizing the termination of the project's contract".

"We are also preparing to initiate a diplomatic dialogue with the Russian side regarding matters arising from the project's cancellation," he added in a statement.

Former Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the decision to cancel the contract was made in the last days of administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte due to fears of US sanctions amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

He said the decision was made after the Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez warned that "the disadvantage that (the Philippines) will get is more than (the advantage) if we get the choppers".

Lorenza said he was not certain if the government would still be able to recover a 2-billion-peso down payment made for the contract.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Chandigarh Aug 10 : Two Pakistan nationals were arrested by Border Security Force in the Gurdaspur area of Punjab. They have been identified as Rabeez Masih and Kishan Masih.

BSF's Deputy Inspector General, Gurdaspur Sector, Prabhakar Joshi informed that BSF had recovered Rs 500, two mobile phones, two identity cards and a packet of tobacco from their possession.

However, he said that their motive to infiltrate India was yet to be known and BSF was investigating the same.

Giving details, he informed that both Pakistani nationals had entered around 10 meters inside India near BSF's border outpost Dera Baba Nanak and were spotted by the Kissan Guards of the BSF who were on duty beyond the border fence.
Kabul, Aug 10 : As many as 1,500 Afghan children have been infected with diarrhoea over the past week in the northern Takhar province, a local health official said on Wednesday.

"The infected children have been taken to the provincial hospital, where most of them, under eight years old, have been treated," the official told Xinhua news agency.

He said the disease was under control.

Hot weather, drinking polluted water and failure of families to observe healthcare tips were the reasons behind the spread of the disease in the province, according to sources.

Two weeks ago, in Kandahar province, a total of 9,500 people infected with diarrhoea were hospitalized, among them 667 diagnosed also with cholera.
Ahmedabad, Aug 10 : All India Congress Committee's women wing social media in-charge Natasha Sharma is being trolled on social media for her tweet mocking people of Gujarat.

"Has any Gujarati player won gold medals in the Commonwealth Games, or they are winning gold medal in looting banks," she had tweeted.

Her tweet triggered outrage and twitterati trolled her by sharing information about four players from Gujarat who have won gold medals.

Realising her mistake, she immediately apologised to people of Gujarat.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi came down heavily on the Congress leader stating that her tweet is an insult to players from Gujarat who have bagged four gold medals for the nation.

"Natasha's tweet shows the mentality of the Congress -- believing in regionalism and dividing society on basis of caste and creed," he said.

Latest updates on Commonwealth Games 2022
Chennai, Aug 10 : Tamil Nadu Police are on a lookout for promoters of an investment firm after a mega fraud of Rs 6,000 crore was detected in the state.

A Vellore-based LNS International Financial Services (IFS) has swindled a mammoth Rs 6,000 crore from several investors across the state, including hundreds of policemen.

Police sources told IANS that the company had appointed more than 10,000 agents to canvass investments and was even offering an interest of Rs 8,000 per month for Rs 1 lakh.

The promoters of the company, Lakshminarayanan Sundaram, Sundaram Vedhanarayanan, and Sundaram Bhakthavatchalam from Vellore, Gajendran of Vysarpedi, and Vivek of Erode are absconding. The Economic offense wing of the Tamil Nadu police is on the trial of the absconding promoters.

Police said that 247 documents, 56 laptops, 16 computers, 15 mobile phones, 40 gold sovereigns, Rs 1.05 crore in cash, and a car were confiscated by the Economic Offense Wing of the police after raids were conducted at 21 places in the state.

Sources in the Economic Offenses Wing told IANS that officially 79,000 people have invested in the company and many are yet to lodge formal complaints with the department.

Police said that the promoters had floated several companies and collected deposits in crores. According to police, the agents would convince the investors that Lakshminarayanan was an expert in stock market and would reap in returns using his brilliance.

The Madras High Court intervened in the matter after one investor, P. Karthik complained that he was cheated by the company. Justice N. Satish Kumar of the Madras High court directed the police to register a case and investigate the plea moved by P. Karthik that he was cheated by the company.

In a related development, an agent of the IFS company, Vinod Kumar (40) died by suicide after failing to repay the money that he had collected from several people to invest in the company. Sources in the family told IANS that Vinod Kumar had collected around Rs 5 crore from several people and invested in the company. He had himself sold his land and deposited Rs 50 lakh in the company.

Police said that Vinod Kumar in his suicide note said: "I had helped many people deposit money in IFS. Please retrieve the money and give it to the victims. The depositors who trusted in me should get their hard-earned money back at least after my death."
Bengaluru, Aug 10 : Karnataka Police have filed an FIR against a Hindu activist and leader for issuing a statement that Idgah tower located in the premises of controversial Idgah Maidan in Bengaluru will be destroyed, police said on Wednesday.

Chamarajpet police in Bengaluru have booked a case against Bhaskaran, the President of Vishwa Sanatan Parishad for issuing the statement to create communal discord in society.

Bhaskaran, who is waging a legal battle and is active in the agitations demanding that the controversial site must be handed over to the state government from the Wakf board, had said that he would get the Idgah tower demolished on the lines of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) recently declared that the controversial site belonged to the revenue department. Following the development, Congress local MLA Zameer Ahmad Khan had announced that while the Tricolour flag will be hoisted for the first time during the Independence Day, permission won't be given for celebration of the Ganesha festival.

Hindu activists have demanded that Idgah tower must be demolished as it would lead to complications while celebrating Hindu festivals.

The Wakf Board has stated that they would approach the court in connection with BBMP's decision of declaring it as a property of the Revenue department.

Bhaskaran while talking to the media said that the Idgah Maindan should be utilised as a playground henceforth. He had given a deadline to the government to get the Idgah Tower demolished before December 6.

He further stated that if the government failed, then they were already in touch with Hindu organisations in Maharashtra, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and also in different parts of Karnataka to gather a large number of people to demolish Idgah Tower.

Taking up a suo moto complaint against him, the police have stated that Bhaskaran had caused a hurt to the religious feelings which will spoil the peace in society.
London, Aug 10 : Chinas outsourcing of rare earth mining to Myanmar has prompted a rapid expansion of the industry there, fuelling human rights abuses, damaging the environment and propping up pro-juna militias, according to a new report published by rights group Global Witness.

The report, entitled "Myanmar's Poisoned Mountains", used satellite imagery to determine that what amounted to a "handful" of rare earth mines in Myanmar's Kachin state in 2016 had ballooned to more than 2,700 mining collection pools at almost 300 separate locations, covering an area the size of Singapore, by March 2022, slightly more than a year after the military seized power in a coup, RFA reported..

Global Witness found that China had outsourced much of its industry across the border to a remote corner of Kachin state, which it said is now the world's largest source of the minerals used in green energy technologies, smartphones and home electronics.

"Our investigation reveals that China has effectively offshored this toxic industry to Myanmar over the past few years, with terrible consequences for local communities and the environment," RFA quoted Global Witness CEO Mike Davis as saying.

The local warlord in charge of the mining territory, Zakhung Ting Ying, has become the "central broker" of Myanmar's rare earth industry, the report said, along with other leaders of militias loyal to the military regime, making backroom deals with Chinese companies that are illegal under the country's laws.

Global Witness noted that the processes used to extract heavy rare earth minerals have polluted local ecosystems, destroyed livelihoods and poisoned drinking water. It said multiple health issues reported near the rare earth mines in China have also been reported by residents living close to the mines in Myanmar.

Global Witness said that its findings come amid a huge increase in demand for the minerals as production of green energy technologies ramps up. Sales of processed rare earth minerals for magnet productions are expected to triple by 2035.

The group warned of a high risk that the minerals are finding their way into the supply chains of major household name companies that use heavy rare earths in their products including Tesla, Volkswagen, General Motors, Siemens and Mitsubishi Electric, RFA reported.

The US Geological Survey estimates that about 240,000 tons of rare earth minerals were mined globally in 2020, with China accounting for 140,000 tons, followed by the US with 38,000 tons and Myanmar with 30,000 tons.

Though China is the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, it buys the ore from neighbouring Myanmar, exploiting its cheaper labour.

Myanmar exported more than 140,000 tons of rare earth deposits to China, worth more than $1 billion between May 2017 and October 2021, according to China's State Taxation Administration.
Panaji, Aug 10 : With a view to save soil and coast of the state, Goa government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with 'Isha Outreach' of Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev on August 23, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said.

Addressing a press conference here, Sawant said that youth should participate in the movement of 'Save Soil' started by Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev.

"We are signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Isha Outreach on August 23 at 4 p.m. at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee indoor stadium. This MoU will be between the Environment and Climate Change Ministry and Isha Outreach," Sawant said.

He said that along with Sadhguru Jagadish Vasudev, Union Minister Shripad Naik, Goa environment Minister Nilesh Cabral and other ministers will be present on the occasion.

"Exchange of expertise, training and empowerment of stakeholders and public awareness is the motto of the programme. We will stress on sustainable soil health Management from the perspective of agriculture productivity and food security," he said.

He also said that Isha outreach will share the soil policy with the government and try save soil and the coast of Goa.

Earlier, MLAs from coastal constituencies of Goa had complained about the sea erosion and its impact on tourism.

"Food security and sustainable food system, sustainable farming system, degradation of food producing agriculture soil, natural and organic farming practices and other concerned areas will be collaborated with Isha Outreach. This MoU will be for three years," Sawant said.

He appealed to agriculturists, environmentalists and NGOs to participate in this programme.

On June 23, Sawant had praised the efforts of spiritual leader and Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru for his 'Save Soil' awareness campaign.

"Soil has lost its fertility due to constant use of fertilisers. Hence there is a need to save the soil along with water. Sadhguru with this campaign toured many countries to spread awareness. We need to protect soil, " Sawant had said.
Chennai, Aug 10 : Actor Arun Vijay, who plays police officer Rudra in director Arivazhagan's much-awaited Tamil web series, 'Tamil Rockerz', which is to release on OTT on August 19 this year, has disclosed that the series will have a small opening for a sequel.

Inspired by real-life events, the fictional series, that has been produced by one of India's oldest and most respected production houses, A V M Productions, will revolve around Rudra's efforts to safeguard a massively budgeted and highly-anticipated movie called 'Garuda' from an anonymous network of powerful and dangerous cyber pirates.

The series, many believe, is inspired by a video pirate gang that often had the audacity to challenge Tamil film units. The pirates would ask film units to stop them if they could from releasing pirated versions of their films. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the web series has triggered huge interest in viewers, many of whom are curious to know who eventually was behind the big piracy network.

Ask Arun Vijay if they eventually show who is behind the operation of such a big piracy network and he replies, "This is Season One. There is an open end. There will be a finishing but there will also be a small opening for a sequel. You will get to know when you watch the series." The actor says working on the series has helped him gain a better understanding of how video pirates operate.

Says Arun Vijay, "After playing this role in this web series, I have gained a better understanding of how video pirates operate. For that matter, after watching this series, everybody will get to understand where this is heading. I think we will take precautionary measures to handle this issue. Ultimately, the power to tackle this problem rests with the person watching pirated stuff. Everyone should get the thought that they must not watch pirated videos. That will eventually happen after watching this series." Sources say director Arivazhagan and his team did extensive research into how video pirates operate for the series.

Talking about the challenges of working on this series, Arun Vijay says, "Every film has a different kind of challenge. This film speaks in detail about a network. I think half the challenge was overcome by the director and writer. It was easy for me as they made me understand several things." Disclosing that the series was shot for a period of 55 days, Arun Vijay says he shot on all the days and that everyday, he had a double call sheet.

Anybody who set out to put out an end to the piracy menace has received several threats.

Did Arun Vijay get any threats while playing the lead in this series? "No, I haven't received any such threats," he signs off with a smile that indicates relief.

It will air on SonyLIV
Jaipur, Aug 10 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday spoke to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann regarding the disposal of sewage coming from Budhanala in Punjab and relining of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project and the Sirhind Feeder under the Canal Project.

Gehlot said that Mann assured him that the work of disposal of the dirty water would be done on priority and the work of relining would be completed during the next canal closure.

The Rajasthan government has installed a real time water quality monitoring system on RD 555 (Rajasthan-Haryana border) of the Indira Gandhi feeder and RD 368 (Rajasthan-Punjab border) of the Bikaner canal. This will enable real time monitoring of water quality. The work of relining about 106 km of the Indira Gandhi Canal has been done by the Rajasthan government during the canal closure in the last 3 years. This has improved the quality and quantity of water and has ensured that water reaches the last mile.
Jaipur, Aug 10 : One crore students of Rajasthan schools are likely to create a world record by singing patriotic songs at the same time on Friday.

Additional Chief Secretary, School Education Department, Pawan Kumar Goel said to inculcate the spirit of patriotism among the students, under the Amrit Mahotsav of Azadi, all government and non-government schools of the state will collective sing desh bhakti songs at the same time on August 12 at 10.15 a.m.

He said the programme, under the aegis of Amrit Mahotsav campaign, is likley to be attended by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur and the concerned district in-charge ministers as chief guests in the district level programme. He said that about one crore school students are proposed to participate in the patriotic song programme, which is likely to set a world record.

Goyal informed that district level programmes will be organised where Independence Day celebrations are sheduled to be held.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Kalinga Literary Festival will host Kalinga Literary Festival Kathmandu Edition (KLF -Kathmandu) on October 15, 16 in association with Himalayan Diary Pvt Ltd, Rastrika Sahitya Pratisthan, Nepal.

The central theme will be 'India & Nepal: Journey of Civilizations and Search for the Soul'.

"The festival will showcase literature, music, dance, poetry and other art forms. It will celebrate the long-standing ties between Nepal and India in the context of the emerging global cultures," said KLF Founder and Director, Rashmi Ranjan Parida.

Himalayan Diary Pvt Ltd, Rastrika Sahitya Pratisthan, Nepal have been promoting and working on various literary and cultural activities in Nepal.

"We plan to celebrate literary, spiritual, and cultural traditions of Nepal, among other aspects, the theme of Shiv and Buddha Tatwa and its contribution to South Asia and global literary movements and traditions. The festival will have panel discussions on literature, art, culture, and history, and showcase artistic traditions from Nepal and India, in addition to the world of Nepalese and Indian art and music," said Ranjana Niraula, KLF-Kathmandu, Director and Co-Ordinator.

This is perhaps the first time that literature, culture, art, and history will come together to connect the regions of Nepal and India.

The festival will focus on spirituality, art, culture, Shiv Tatwa, Ram Katha, Buddha, promotion of Nepal and India's historical relationship (Pashupatinath to Puri, Kashi to Kathmandu, Bodhgaya to Bodhnath, Lumbini to Lal Ded) and other ties that have existed for long.

Over 30 noted writers and cultural figures from India are likely to join the KLF Kathmandu. Seventy per cent of speakers will be from the host country.
Lucknow, Aug 10 : Uttar Pradesh BJP state president and minister for Jal Shakti Swatantra Dev Singh has resigned as leader of Legislative Council.

Sources said that he had resigned from the post, citing pre-occupation with his ministerial duties.

The office of the principal secretary of the Legislative Council also confirmed it.

Deputy chief minister Keshav Maurya will be the new leader of the house.

However, the official confirmation of the resignation is yet to be received.

Swatantra Dev Singh is on a tour of Bundelkhand.

He had earlier resigned from the post of UP state president.
Srinagar, Aug 10 : Amid reports that its student data base was spotted on 'dark web' officials of the Kashmir University said on Wednesday that University's data base was 'unmodified' and the reported breach was being analysed.

It was reported by an independent media outlet that the data base of Kashmir University has been put on sale for $250 on a hacking forum by "ViktorLusting".

The media report said that the threat actor has shared a database index to show the data he has in his possession.

"It claims to include student information, registration number, phone number, email address, password, employee data and more.

"The database is listed on Breached Forums, the famous hacking forum that gained international attention earlier this month with a data breach exposing over 1 billion Chinese residents", the report said.

Meanwhile Kashmir University in a statement said that the students data base is "unmodified and that further analysis is going on in the matter.

"We are analysing the alleged breach. Our preliminary analysis shows that the data base is unmodified. Further analysis is going on. The university will take further courses of action and take an appropriate legal recourse accordingly.

"Any breach in data read, which is accessible in public domain, has been found unmodified as per preliminary analysis," the spokesman of the University said.
Bengaluru, Aug 10 : The Karnataka police have lodged a FIR against a drug addict husband on charges of urinating on his wife's head under the influence of drugs in Bengaluru, the police said on Wednesday.

The case has been registered following a complaint by the wife in Basavanagudi Womens' Police Station in Bengaluru. According to the police, the woman, daughter of the owner of a reputed garment factory in Telangana, was married to Sandeep last January.

The marriage was held in Ramoji Rao Film City. The parents of the victim had given 4 kilograms of gold and a Mini cooper car as dowry. They had also given 2 cloth showrooms in Telangana as a gift to the accused, the police said.

The parents of the girl had reportedly spent Rs 6 crores on the marriage. However, the accused turned out to be a drug addict. He partied with his friends at home. Whenever the victim objected to him inviting his friends home, the accused assaulted her in front of his friends, the police said.

The wife in her complaint stated that the accused behaved with her in a vulgar way. Recently, he had urinated on her head under the influence of drugs.

The wife asked the police to take action against her husband for abuse. The police have taken up the investigation.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday met the officials of Rajya Sabha Secretariat at Parliament House and thanked them for their love and support over the past five years.

Appreciating their dedication and sense of duty, Naidu wished them a bright future. "You would always remain close to my heart," he told them.

The scene turned quite emotional when the senior officials recalled their days with Naidu and thanked him for his guidance and leadership over the years. They wished the outgoing Chairman a happy and healthy life.

Prior to meeting the Upper House officials, the Vice-President also planted a sapling of 'Sita Ashoka' at the Parliament House lawns and emphasised the need to protect and preserve our natural environment.

Highlighting that in Indian tradition, a tree is considered equal to many sons, he called for promoting tree plantation across the country.
Puducherry, Aug 10 : In a first-of-its-kind development, the Puducherry legislative assembly which commenced for the budget session, was adjourned sine die after the address of the Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.

During the address, the Lt Governor said that the Union Territory government had incurred an expenditure of Rs 9793.29 crore against the total outlay of Rs 10,414 crore. She said that the expenditure incurred was the highest in the last four years.

Sounderarajan also highlighted several achievements of the government in 2021-22. The Lt Governor also said that the territorial government was fully committed to providing education, health, clean drinking water, employment opportunities, and also to ensure the socio-economic development of the people of Puducherry.

Immediately after the address of the Lt. Governor, a motion of thanks was tabled by the BJP member A. Johnkumar, seconded by the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) legislator A.K.D. Arumugham who is also the government whip.

The legislators were expecting the announcement of the date of presentation of the budget as Chief Minister N. Rangasamy had reached the territory late on Tuesday night after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Speaker R. Selvam however said that there would be a debate on the motion of thanks to the Lt Governor's address and that the date for that would be announced soon. The Speaker then announced that the House was being adjourned sine die to the surprise of all.

Earlier, the opposition DMK and Congress wore black shirts and shouted slogans during the address of the Lt Governor against shortcomings in the administration. The opposition also staged a walkout from the legislative assembly.
Chandigarh, Aug 10 : Haryana Agriculture Minister J.P. Dalal on Wednesday informed the Assembly that the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has been designated as the nodal agency for the development of city roads. The nodal agency for infrastructural development in other cities will be appointed on the basis of experience from Gurugram.

Dalal was responding to a question on behalf of the Chief Minister during the ongoing Monsoon Session of the Vidhan Sabha here.

He said no time limit has been fixed for the development of roads. In the first priority list of the projects, the sector roads, green belts and 24-metre roads, which are yet to be acquired, are included under the final development plan of Gurugram.

Dalal said the roads in Sector 65 have been constructed by GMDA. It has been identified for the development under a pilot project. Neither the colonizer, nor the process of granting licence is involved in this process, so it is not necessary to give the license number and the name of the colonizers and the project related details.

In response to a question raised by member Praveen Dagar regarding the construction of a road to connect the Palwal-Nuh State Highway with KMP and the Delhi Mumbai-Baroda Green Highway Interchange in Mandkola village, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) was requested to provide land for the construction of the road to connect the Palwal-Nuh State Highway near village Mandkola with interchange of KMP and the Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai Greenfield Expressway but a response was received that no extra space is available to accommodate the Public Words Department road.

Chautala apprised the House that the land for proposed alignment is being finalised for purchasing through e-bhoomi portal. Construction work of the road can be taken up only after purchase of requisite land so at present no timeframe can be given at the juncture.

In response to another question, the Deputy Chief Minister said no proposal is under consideration to declare Gohana as a district.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar informed the Assembly that an announcement for giving reservation in the promotion to the Scheduled Caste employees (Class I and Class II) on the pattern of the Central government was made on June 12 in Rohtak.

Now the decision of the Supreme Court in several cases regarding this issue is yet to come and once the decision is pronounced, all procedures related to this issue will be completed and the announcement for giving reservation will be implemented within three months.

The Chief Minister was replying to a question asked by member Bishambhar Singh during the question hour.

The Chief Minister said in one of the decisions of the Supreme Court a mention of group-wise or cadre-wise promotion has been made.
San Francisco, Aug 10 : With an aim to promote physical well-being and fitness right in your living room, tech giant Google is planning to closely integrate its Android TV platform with fitness trackers and third-party audio.

According to a report by Protocol, The company's fitness integration will eventually enable interactive video workouts, complete with the ability to directly watch one's heart rate, burned calories and other real-time data from a Fitbit or Wear OS device on the TV screen.

The fitness tracker will allow developers to build interactive workout services for the living room.

The company's representatives reportedly shared these plans at a closed-door partner event last month, where they painted them as part of the company's "Better Together" efforts to build an ecosystem of closely integrated Android devices.

However, Google is also looking to improve the way Android TV and Google TV devices work with third-party audio hardware.

To support this, the company requires device-makers to support Bluetooth 5.0 for Android TV or Google TV devices running Android 13.

Meanwhile, Google is also encouraging its hardware partners to ship smart TVs and streaming devices that run Android 13 with 16 GB of memory to have more storage space for apps and system updates, the report said.

The company's own Chromecast with Google TV streaming adapter currently only comes with 8 GB of memory.

Google launched Android TV as an Android-based smart TV platform in 2014 and in 2020, it introduced Google TV as a more content-centric smart TV experience based on Android TV.

-IANS vu/na
Kolkata, Aug 10 : A division bench of the Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding inclusion of name of Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, in the ongoing enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam.

The petitioner also demanded that CBI sleuths probing the matter should summon and question Adhikari relating to his alleged involvement in the ponzi scam. The basis of this PIL was a letter that the tainted Saradha Group chief, Sudipto Sen wrote from the prison in 2020, where he claimed himself to be victim of constant extortion by Suvendu Adhikari.

The counsel for the petitioner, Ramaprasad Sarkar alleged that although Suvendu Adhikari was charged of extortion by Sudipto Sen in that letter, the CBI sleuths did not summon or question him in the matter even once. "Whereas the other influential people named in the scam were summoned, questioned and some of them even faced imprisonment," Sarkar pointed out while arguing in the matter on Wednesday.

In his counter argument, Adhikari's counsel Rajdeep Majumdar pointed out that although the Saradha bubble burst happened almost nine years back, Sudipto Sen wrote the letter just some months before the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections. "So, it has to be seen whether he wrote that letter because of any political pressure, he said.

Dhiraj Tripathi, the counsel of CBI said that since the investigation is still on and if necessary, the investigation agency will summon and question all concerned who are under radar.

After hearing all the parties concerned, the division bench of the Calcutta High Court dismissed the petition and observed that the court does not find the necessity of interfering in the investigation at this stage.

The development comes as a relief for Adhikari and at the same time as a setback for the ruling Trinamool Congress as the latter had often referred to that letter from Sen as the example that CBI was not probing the role of the Leader of the Opposition in the matter since he had joined BJP.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10 : Two days after Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan refused to sign any document without reading, following which 11 ordinances that were to be re-promulgated, lapsed, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to take the fight to the enemy camp as his cabinet recommended for an urgent sitting of the Kerala Assembly.

The weekly cabinet meeting held here on Wednesday decided to call for a special session starting from August 22, which will be meant only for legislation. With 99 members of the 140-member assembly belonging to the ruling Left, all these ordinances will be passed in a jiffy.

Khan who is presently in Delhi, on Wednesday told that these Ordinances were inked early this year and then there was a full session of the assembly, but nothing was done.

"So when it comes again for re-promulgation, I have to apply my mind and I am not worried about criticism as I will be guided by my own judgement and conscience. All are entitled to their views. The legislative power is with the assembly and not with the governor," said Khan.

In February, Khan had inked this and with the Assembly not passing the Bill, the Ordinance lapsed putting Vijayan in a quandary as there is a case before the Lok Ayukta against Vijayan in the way he handled the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

Incidentally, Khan who is on tour, is now expected to return to the state capital city only on August 12.

Meanwhile, State Law Minister P. Rajeev said a session of the assembly was earlier planned for October and that's being held early.
Faridabad, Aug 10 : The Faridabad police has imposed a complete ban on keeping and selling Chinese manja and nylon rope in the district. It said that anyone found violating the law will face five years in jail and a fine of Rs one lakh.

Taking note of the increasing incidents of injuries due to Chinese manja, Faridabad Police Commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora has directed the police to take strict action against the shopkeepers selling Chinese manja, used for flying kites.

Faridabad police PRO Sube Singh said that a NGT and Haryana government order passed in 2017 completely banned the sale of Chinese manja in the district.

"These threads, made of synthetic material can't be destroyed. These are also dangerous to the lives of humans, animals and birds. Chinese manja is also harmful for the environment. No person can make, keep, sell, buy or use such manja or thread," said the police official.

He said that for flouting this order, action will be taken under the Environment Act, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Wild Animals Act and under the Indian Penal Code. Flouting the order is punishable with imprisonment of up to 5 years and a fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh, he added.

"All the police stations, police post in-charges have been asked to ensure that people in their area do not use Chinese manja. They have been directed to take immediate action against those who do this," the official said.
Chennai, Aug 10 : A four-year-old girl was killed by a leopard in a private tea estate in Arakadu near Mynalain in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday morning.

The victim was identified as K. Sharidha, the daughter of migrant workers from Assam.

Forest department officials said that she had ventured inside the forest away from the estate area.

She was dragged into the forest by the leopard for a short distance before local people chased it away.

The girl was rushed to the Udhagamandalam medical college hospital but she succumbed to her injuries.

The Forest department said that they have perambulated the area where the pug marks of the leopard were found.

Senior forest officials are monitoring the area to prevent any further human-animal conflict.

Officials told mediapersons that the human-leopard conflict was rare and that the big cats generally shy away from humans.

Forest official said that the incident was a rarest of rare cases and the girl would have gone too close to the leopard when she ventured out to relieve herself in the morning and this would have led to the attack by the animal.

It is to be noted that the human-elephant conflict has been a regular issue facing the Nilgiris area and forest special squads are pressed into service to chase the elephants away from the human habits.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Standup comedian Sunil Pal took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to announce that his friend and colleague, Raju Srivastava, "is doing fine and out of danger".

Raju Srivastava, a popular comedian and a regular on 'The Kapil Sharma Show', suffered a heart attack in the morning while he was working out at the gym and was then rushed to AIIMS, New Delhi.

The 58-year-old actor was working out at the South Delhi gym when he complained of feeling uneasy. That was when he was moved to the hospital.

Pal, who has appeared with Srivastava on the comedy show, 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge', has shared a video of him making the announcement on his social media handle with the caption: "Get well soon Raju bhai ji." He said: "It is true that comedy king Raju Srivastava suffered a heart attack and he was admitted to AIIMS. With God's grace and your best wishes he is doing fine and out of danger." Srivastava got his initial recognition from doing stage shows and doing Amitabh Bachchan acts. After doing small roles in hit Bollywood films such as 'Maine Pyar Kiya', 'Baazigar' and 'Bombay To Goa', he got his major break with 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge'. He has also appeared on 'Bigg Boss 3'.
Kolkata, Aug 10 : Alongside its ongoing probe into the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment irregularities, the Enforcement Directorate has started focusing on the primary teachers' recruitment indiscretion as well.

On Wednesday, the ED sleuths summoned Trinamool Congress MLA and former president of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE), Manik Bhattacharya, for questioning next week.

This is the second time that Bhattacharya has received ED summon in this connection. He had already been grilled by the central agency in the matter on August 1.

To recall, Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Avijit Gangopadhyay had ordered the removal of Bhattacharya as WBBPE president while ordering an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter. The CBI later roped in the ED in the investigation process, just as it did in the case of WBSSC scam.

While passing the order for CBI enquiry, Gangopdhyay had also ordered for immediate cancellation of the appointment of 269 candidates as primary teachers and observed that these candidates secured jobs despite not qualifying in the written examination, while some of them did not even appear for the same.

He also ordered that the agency sleuths probing the matter cannot be transferred till the time the investigation process is completed.

Incidentally, the CBI had also summoned Bhattacharya earlier in this connection, which the latter ducked.

The West Bengal government tried its best to avoid a central agency probe into the primary teacher recruitment scam, and even approached a division bench of the Calcutta High Court challenging the single-judge bench order on this count.

However, on July 19, the division bench of justices Subrata Talukdar and Lapita Bandopadhyay refused to grant a stay on the order for CBI probe.
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 10 : The CBI on Wednesday suffered a setback when a POCSO court in Palakkad rejected its charge sheet in the Walayar sisters' case.

The case surfaced in January 2017, when a 11-year-old girl's body was found by her nine-year-old sister in their house near Walayar.

Two months later, in similar circumstances, the younger girl was found dead in her home.

Though the Kerala police arrested five people on charges of abetment to suicide and rape, the accused were let off by a court in Palakkad district for want of evidence.

Following the mother's perseverance after the Kerala police failed to crack the case, she was able to get a CBI probe but when it ended up the same way as the Kerala police, she approached the POCSO court and has got a fresh order.

"I wish a new team is going to do the reinvestigation and we are very sure this is a clear case of murder. We all wish the real truth will come out," said the mother.
Chennai, Aug 10 : A Class 12 girl student of a government school in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district died on Wednesday. The police suspect the death to be a case of suicide.

The police said the girl was found in an unconscious state in the classroom and was taken to the Kannai Primary Health Centre and from there to the Villupuram Government Hospital where she died.

It may be recalled that last month, the suicide of a Class 12 girl student at the hostel of a private school in Kallakurichi had led to the public ransacking the school and setting school buses and police vans on fire.

Two more girl students committed suicide in two different incidents in the state recently, leading the state school education department to conduct awareness programmes among school students.
Kolkata, Aug 10 : On the eve of Raksha Bandhan, two families -- one from West Bengal and the other from Uttar Pradesh -- were reunited with missing family members, thanks to the efforts of the West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC), an organisation of ham radio enthusiasts, who have been carrying out this mission of reuniting people roaming on the streets as vagabonds with their families.

Over the last several years, hundreds of people -- including those left behind at the Gangasagar Mela -- have been reunited with their families, thanks to the vast network of WBRC.

Even government departments now seek help from these ham radio operators to locate families of people languishing in hospitals and shelter homes for years.

Amateur radio is a hobby (requiring licence) and hams normally operate within their own network. However, it was slightly different in the case of WBRC. This organisation has been assigned by both the Central and state governments to provide connectivity during natural disasters or large events like the Gangasagar Mela.

The hams from WBRC also operated during the devastating Nepal earthquake and were among the first to create communication links from the disaster sites. While working at such sites, WBRC members realised that there are thousands of people who are lost and are in need to be reunited with their families. Their service is voluntary.

"For nearly six months now, a youth had taken shelter under a tree next to the railway accounts office at Kharagpur. He had a deep gash on his right leg and survived on whatever food passers-by provided. This was first noticed by our members Subhodip Roy and Joydip Swarnakar.

"The youth was reluctant to speak and it seemed that he suffered from a mental ailment. After I was informed, we activated our network and before long, authorities of the Chandrakona Town police station in East Midnapore reported such a missing person from the Sitanagar village.

"The police provided a lot of assistance and the youth's mother Saswati Samui reached Kharagpur to take back her son. Saswati said that both her sons were mentally challenged and Ramkrishna, her elder son, was the one found under the tree. He had been missing for nearly a year now," said Ambarish Nag Biswas, Secretary, WBRC.

The second case is of a woman found by the police at Habra in the North-24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The woman knew no Bengali and spoke in a certain dialect. She was kept at a home in Habra and Nag Biswas was informed.

"I spoke to her and using our network, came to know that she may be from western Uttar Pradesh. After some efforts, we located her family in Ghaziabad. Both her sons reached Habra on Wednesday with all necessary documents and took her back home. It's Rakhi Purnima on Thursday. It is the time for reunification of families. I am happy that a mother has been reunited with her son and a family has got their mother back," Nag Biswas said.
Mumbai, Aug 10 : Aamir Khan roasted filmmaker Karan Johar on his own show 'Koffee With Karan', where the Bollywood superstar and actress Kareena Kapoor Khan were invited as guests.

Karan spoke about how 'anti-social' Aamir is and how he is often awkward at parties. He even shared that the actor goes to a corner and would speak to just one or two people. The filmmaker went on to call Aamir a 'party pooper' too.

Aamir denied the funny accusation and roasted Karan over his 50th birthday bash and the trio broke into a laughter post that.

The actor complained about how loud the music is at parties, because of which it isn't easy for people to either talk or listen. He said that there were hardly 10 people on the dance floor in Karan's birthday bash while others were busy trying to talk to one another.

Aamir's 'Laal Singh Chaddha' co-star Kareena tried to correct him and said that dance in parties generally starts after 2 am and one has to vibe on their own songs after a shot or two instead of sitting in a corner.

The 'Dangal' star replied that there is no need for such loud music at parties.

Latest updates on Koffee With Karan Season 7
Srinagar, Aug 10 : Three terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces at Waterhail area in Central Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said on Wednesday.

"All the three hiding LeT terrorists neutralised. Bodies being retrieved from the site, identication yet to be ascertained. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition recovered. A big success for us," Jammu and Kashmir Police quoting Additional Director General Police Kashmir zone Vijay Kumar tweeted.

Earlier, police said three terrorists of terror outfit LeT (TRF) including terrorist Lateef Rather were trapped in the encounter.

Police said terrorist Lateef is involved in several civilian killings including the killing of Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat.

The firefight had started after a joint team of police and security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in that area.

Security forces cordoned off the area. Terrorists hiding there started firing drawing retaliation by the security forces.

There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Kashmir over the last few months.

Many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated.

Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Apple has launched its Apple Pay service in Malaysia and the customers can now use Apple Pay with their iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac.

Thousands of retailers will accept Apple Pay, with support from some of Malaysia's most established banks across major credit and debit networks, the company said in a statement.

"We are delighted to bring Apple Pay to Malaysia, providing an easier, safer, and more secure way to pay with iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. We think users will love the convenience and security of using Apple Pay," said Jennifer Bailey, Apple's vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet.

"Our customers in Malaysia will benefit from using Apple Pay with the support of the most popular banks, merchants, and our customers' favourite apps," she added.

Customers with Visa and Mastercard cards from banks including AmBank, Maybank, and Standard Chartered Bank can now use Apple Pay, with American Express cards to be available with Apple Pay later this year.

Merchants such as KFC, Maxis, Machines, McDonald's, Mydin, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, U Mobile, Uniqlo, Village Grocer, and Watsons - and apps and websites including Shopee, Sephora, Atome, and Adidas - now offer customers the ability to pay with Apple Pay.

Today, Apple Pay is available in over 60 countries and regions, and works with more than 10,000 bank and network partners worldwide.
Chennai, Aug 10 : Actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has showered praise on actor Aamir Khan's upcoming film, 'Laal Singh Chaddha', saying the actor has "outdone himself" in the movie.

Taking to Instagram to pen a long post about the film, which she watched with Aamir himself, the actress wrote, "It was an absolute pleasure and my honour to have watched the film with the man himself, Aamir Khan. So humble and such a lovely human being.

"Director Advait Chandan has adapted 'Forrest Gump' into 'Laal Singh Chaddha' so beautifully by taking us down the memory lane with our Indian history. He goes to prove what an amazing actor Aamir Khan is once again. He just transforms him(self) so effortlessly into all his characters. He has just outdone himself.

"The film is funny, emotional, nostalgic and so touching, all at the same time. So much work has gone into the making of this film. Every scene packed with so much emotion.

"A classic like this can only be remade by this man, making you wonder what will be his next. Kareena Kapoor Khan has done an awesome job of being Rupa.

"Mona Singh does her part so convincingly well and a superb job of being his mother. So beautiful...

"Naga Chaitanya portrays Bala so well. Grounded, heartwarming and really emotional. The audience is immediately touched and an instant connect is formed with all the characters and the film itself. Kudos to the director for making such a beautiful film.

"Thank you Aamir sir for being our Forrest Gump or should I say Laal Singh Chaddha. Wishing the entire team all the very best. Thank you Udhayanidhi Stalin for inviting me to witness this amazing film."
Kolkata, Aug 10 : Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday afternoon arrested two key former officials of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in connection with the multi-crore teachers' recruitment irregularities scam.

The two arrested are Santi Prasad Sinha, the former convener of WBSSC's special screening committee, considered to be the epicenter of the multi-crore scam and the former secretary of WBSSC, Ashok Saha. Both were named in the FIR filed by CBI before starting its investigation in the matter.

These are the first arrests by CBI in the WBSSC scam. Earlier, the sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), conducting a probe on the money-trail angle in the scam, arrested former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in this connection. Both Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee are currently in judicial custody.

CBI sources said that Sinha and Saha have been making deliberate attempts to suppress facts and mislead the investigators throughout. "Both will be presented to a court on Thursday and we will seek custody for them for further investigation. We need to interrogate them further to have a clear idea on the modus operandi of the entire scam and more specially how the special screening committee became the epicenter in the scam," a CBI official said.

A Calcutta High Court-formed judicial committee under the leadership of Justice Ranjit Kumar Bag (retired) was the first body to hold the WBSSC special screening committee and Sinha responsible for playing a key role in the recruitment irregularities process. The Bag committee also observed that the members of the screening committee were responsible for misappropriating the merit list. In fact, the judicial committee report was the key factor that prompted Calcutta High Court's single-judge bench of Justice Avijit Gangopadhyay to order an enquiry by the CBI in the matter.

Welcoming the development, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari said that whatever has recovered has been a little percentage of the scam money involved. "As days will pass on, more heavyweights of the ruling party and their partners in crime will be taken into custody by the central agency sleuths and more money will be recovered," he said.

The Trinamool Congress leaders remained tight-lipped on the issue till the time this report was filed.
Chennai, Aug 10 : The Madras High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the transfer of 1000 crocodiles from the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust (MCBT) to Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) in Gujarat.

The division bench comprising Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N. Mala dismissed the petition stating that when experts were satisfied with the facilities available at the GZRCC of Reliance Industries Ltd, the court would not interfere in it.

The bench said that the petitioner had not submitted any relevant documents with the petition and added that the objection of the petitioner to the transfer of the 1000 crocodiles was devoid of merit and without any factual basis.

The court observed that the Supreme Court had categorically stated that the court should approach such issues on an eco-centric basis and not on an anthropogenic basis. The court explained the term eco-centric and said that it pertained to both humans and animals.

The court said that the MCBT had conceded before it that it does not have the financial backing to take care of the proliferating number of crocodiles in its facility in Chennai. The MCBT had also vouched for the state-of-the-art facilities available at GZRCC.

The division bench said, "We have further observed on pursuance of the photographs produced by the MCBT that the crocodiles are comfortably housed in GZRCC facility and it was in a much better facility when compared to the crammed way in which they were kept at MCBT." The judges also came out strongly against the litigant on his plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the transfer of the crocodiles without verifying the amended master plan of the GZRCC.

The court said that it was rejecting the plea by the petitioner A. Viswanathan for a CBI, CB-CID, or SIT investigation into the transfer of the crocodiles.
Chandigarh, Aug 10 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced to set up a group of ministers (GoM) for effective monitoring and control of lumpy skin disease among livestock on a day-to-day basis.

Sharing details after a high-level meeting to review the situation, the Chief Minister said the GoM comprising Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar would be assisted by experts from the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and officials from the animal husbandry department.

He said the GoM would daily review the situation and take necessary action for checking the spread of the disease.

Mann said the government is duty-bound to safeguard the interests of the cattle owners.

The Chief Minister also announced to launch a massive vaccination drive to save the animals from this disease. He said vaccines will be administered to the animals free of cost, adding that there is no dearth of funds for this.

Mann further said that the government has sealed the borders for checking the entry of animals from other states into Punjab.

He said the bordering districts of Fazilka, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda and Tarn Taran have been worst affected by the disease, which shows that the virus has been transmitted from other states.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday said that it has arrested an engineer of Utility Powertech Ltd., Solapur (Maharashtra), for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh.

A senior CBI official said that an FIR was registered on the basis of the complaint lodged against Govind Kumar, the engineer of Utility Powertech Ltd.

Kumar allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs. 2,50,000 from a contractor to return his security deposit.

After negotiations, the accused reduced the amount to Rs two lakh and agreed to accept an initial amount of Rs one lakh.

Kumar has been working in UPL since 2015 on a contract basis and was looking after the safety and accounts related issues in the absence of a regular accountant.

The CBI laid a trap and caught the engineer red handed while accepting Rs one lakh from the contractor.

"Searches were conducted at the premises of accused in Solapur which led to recovery of incriminating documents. The accused was produced before the Competent Court at Solapur and was remanded to 14 days judicial custody," said the official.
Gurugram, Aug 10 : The Gurugram Police have nabbed five members of an inter-state gang for their alleged involvement in 50 chain-snatching cases in Visakhapatnam, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and Rajasthan.

Two gold chains and Rs 15,000 in cash have been recovered from their possession. The arrested persons have been identified as Randhawa alias Ganja, Sandeep alias Sanju, Deepak, Rakesh and Manoj.

"The accused had targeted two city-based women and snatched their gold chain from Sector 45 and Sector-56 area in June," said Preet Pal Sangwan, ACP (crime).

With their arrest, the police claimed to have solved as many as 50 cases of chain-snatching.
Kolkata, Aug 10 : A group of Trinamool Congress leaders and ministers in West Bengal on Wednesday made an attempt to send across a message to the people that the involvement of former state education minister Partha Chatterjee in the teacher recruitment scam does not make all in the party 'thieves'.

On August 8, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court had directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to be a party in a public interest litigation regarding the assets and property details of 19 heavyweight leaders, including seven current ministers, in West Bengal.

Referring to that, few Trinamool leaders and ministers named in the PIL called a press conference on Wednesday wherein they issued an appeal not to consider everyone in Trinamool Congress as offenders because of the wrongdoings of Partha Chatterjee.

"We are all ashamed for what Partha Chatterjee has done. But it is not fair that just because of his wrongdoings, all Trinamool Congress leaders should be considered as thieves. I want to question the CPI(M) leadership whether any of their leaders or followers can accuse me of misbehaving with them," said state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, whose name figures prominently in the PIL.

Education Minister Bratya Basu, who has also been named in the PIL, said that names of Trinamool leaders were selectively included in the PIL, where as the names of several Congress and CPI(M) leaders, including some former ministers in the Left Front regime, are currently under judicial scanner for sudden rise in the quantum of their properties and assets.

He specifically named CPI(M) politburo member Suryakanta Mishra and state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on this count.

"I do not want to comment on the merits of the Calcutta High Court order directing ED to be a party in the PIL. All I can say is that certain recent developments have given the opportunities to the opposition parties and legal activists to selectively highlight the names of Trinamool leaders relating to corruption," Basu said.

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesman Samik Bhattacharya said that the press conference called by the Trinamool leaders was just a face-saving exercise since the people in general have started publicly referring to the ruling party leaders as thieves.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday urged the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to replicate successful initiatives ensuring integrity of election processes.

The Election Commission organised a conference with the Chief Electoral Officers of poll-gone and poll-going states/UTs at India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi.

The CEC emphasised that initiatives and innovations by states need to be scrupulously replicated without compromising the integrity of the election processes. He added that individual initiatives and innovations by CEOs for use of IT in election management need to be comprehensively analysed with implementable features standardised and integrated with ECI IT systems/Apps to avoid duplication of efforts.

CEC Rajiv Kumar also mentioned the need for scientific management of election materials for optimal utilisation as well as a digital portal for easy access of all outreach content developed by states and ECI. The CEOs were directed to ensure that representatives from the National and State Disaster Response Force team are also called for coordination meetings. With changing connectivity and technological landscape, he highlighted that polling stations need to be geo-tagged and route charts need to be revised by district administration.

The main purpose of the conference was to share experiences and learnings from recently held State Assembly Elections in 2021 and 2022, along with thematic discussions on election planning, expenditure monitoring, electoral roll, IT applications, data management, EVM/VVPAT, SVEEP strategy, media and communication.

On the recent drive by the Commission for voluntary collection of Aadhaar, Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey stressed on the need for strict adherence to ECI guidelines on collection of details.
Pune/Mumbai, Aug 10 : Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar on Wednesday hailed the move by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to dump his ally Bharatiya Janata Party to form a new government with other opposition parties.

The NCP supremo also accused the BJP of "finishing off its regional allies" after tying up with them to grab power, referring to the recent developments concerning the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, earlier with the Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab and now the latest with the Janata Dal (U) in Bihar.

"The BJP's speciality is to join hands with a regional party during elections, but ensure that the local ally wins fewer seats. We have witnessed this with the SAD in Punjab and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra," said Pawar.

He referred to BJP President J. P. Nadda's recent assertion that regional or family-led parties have no future and they would cease to exist, with only the ideology-driven BJP surviving in the country.

"From this (Nadda's statement), it's clear that the BJP eliminates its allies gradually. This was even Nitish Kumar's complaint," pointed out Pawar, adding that SAD leader Prakash Singh Badal had allied with the BJP but today his party (SAD) is almost annihilated in Punjab.

"Now, the BJP is planning how to weaken the Shiv Sena by creating a rift in the party -- Eknath Shinde (who rebelled in June) became the CM, and others (BJP) helped him," Pawar said.

The NCP, Shiv Sena and the Congress were allies in the 31-month old MVA government, which crashed on June 29 after the Shinde-led revolt, which now some BJP leaders are claiming credit for.

In an apparently pre-emptive decision, Nitish Kumar on Tuesday walked out of the JD(U)'s alliance with the BJP in Bihar, resigned and formed a new government with the support of the Opposition Grand Alliance comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress.
London, Aug 10 : G7 nations have condemned Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and called on Moscow to "immediately hand back its full control" to Ukraine, media reports said.

Ukrainian staff operating the plant "must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure. It is Russia's continued control of the plant that endangers the region", the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement, BBC reported.

"The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders and respect Ukraine's territory and sovereignty," it said.

The G7 have said they remain "profoundly concerned by the serious threat" posed by Russia's actions around Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, BBC reported.

They said the actions of Russia's armed forces are significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident or incident and endangering the population of Ukraine, neighbouring states and the international community.

The G7 reiterate their "strongest condemnation" of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which they call an "unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression".

They said Russia's actions also undermine the ability of the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor the safety of nuclear activities in Ukraine, BBC reported.

The latest attack marks an escalation in an already tense situation in the region around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in southern Ukraine.

Valentyn Reznichenko, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional administration, said Russian forces used Grad missiles to hit Marhanets, a town near the city of Nikopol, overnight.

Russian forces, he said, fired 80 rockets that were "directed at residential areas", "deliberately and sneakily hitting people when they were sleeping in their homes", BBC reported.

Apartment blocks and administrative buildings were damaged, he added, and several thousand people were without power. Russia hasn't commented, but it denies targeting civilians.

Nikopol sits on the Dnipro river opposite the Zaporizhzhia complex, Europe's largest nuclear power plant which has been under Russian occupation since early March.

Ukrainian officials say Russia has turned the site into a military base, launching attacks from there knowing that Ukrainian forces are unlikely to retaliate with force because of the risk of a nuclear accident, BBC reported.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Srinagar, Aug 10 : The killer of Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit government employee, was among the three terrorists gunned down in an encounter between militants and security forces at Waterhail in J&K's Budgam district on Wednesday, the police said.

Rahul Bhat was killed inside his office in Budgam on May 12.

"Terrorist Lateef Rather alias Abdullah, killer of Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat, was among the three terrorists gunned down on Wednesday. He was involved in several terror crime cases, including civilian killings and other atrocities," J&K Police tweeted quoting ADGP (Kashmir Zone), Vijay Kumar.

The firefight had started after a joint team of police and security forces got a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in that area.

After the security forces cordoned off the area, the terrorists hiding there started firing, drawing retaliation by the security forces.

After the killing of Rahul Bhat, Kashmiri Pandit employees serving in Kashmir under the Prime Minister's rehabilitation programme had threatened to leave the Valley citing security concerns.
Bengaluru, Aug 10 : The ruling BJP in Karnataka is in damage control mode following rumours of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai being replaced. The BJP which is yet to recover from the wrath of party workers and Hindu activists following the murder of Praveen Kumar Nettare, a BJP Yuva Morcha member, now has the task of clarifying over the leadership issue when assembly elections are just 8 months away.

Sources in the BJP stated that the issue cropped up with the statement of Suresh Gowda, former MLA from Tumakuru constituency. Gowda, known as the blue eyed boy of Union Minister for State Shobha Karandlaje from Karnataka hinted that there could be changes in the leadership before August 15.

He said that the leadership change has been carried out before by the high command even though there is only a short time left for the assembly elections.

Following this, the opposition Congress which has gained momentum after the massive birthday bash of Siddaramaiah organised by the party, hit out at the Karnataka BJP over the leadership change issue.

The Congress on its social media handle stated that Karnataka will see its third CM soon as it had seen in the previous tenure of the BJP government. It said that senior leaders and cabinet members have chosen to be tight-lipped after the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Bengaluru recently for the same reason.

Sources in the BJP revealed that Bommai does not enjoy the support he once used to. Amit Shah had declared that the assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Bommai to the chagrin of many CM aspirants.

It is an open secret here that many hardcore Hindutva proponents within the party dislike Bommai and want a change in leadership. However, the high command is treading cautiously over the issue, sources said.

Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa stated on Wednesday that there are rumours that there will be changes in the CM's post. Such a question does not arise. Basavaraj Bommai will continue as CM for another 8 months, he clarified.

Minister for Revenue R Ashok said that Bommai will be the face of the saffron party going into the assembly elections. "If you (Congress) have the capacity declare the CM candidate before elections," he said.

BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel also backed Basavaraj Bommai and stated that he would be the CM till the end of his tenure and there is no question of a change in leadership.

Sources in the BJP stated that anything can happen as Yediyurappa is fully focused on launching his son B Y Vijayendra. The high command is totally focused on winning the assembly elections on a Hindutva plank.
Srinagar, Aug 10 : The decision to name an educational institution after Sarwanand Koul Premi by the Union Territory administration has rekindled the memories of the late poet, teacher, intellectual, freedom fighter and social activist.

Locals believe that this gesture will serve as a connect between Kashmir's glorious past and the hoped tomorrow of communal harmony.

Sarwanand Koul Premi and his son Verinder Koul, 27, were killed by the militants in April 1990 after they were abducted from their home in Soaf Shali village of Anantnag district.

Premi had ignored the advice of friends to migrate out with the beginning of the militant violence in Kashmir.

As his friends often recalled, he believed in the goodness of Kashmir. He believed that as a teacher and social worker, who had devoted his life to the welfare of his village, how could anyone harm him and why.

Premi wrote about two dozen books. He translated Bhagwat Gita and Tagore's 'Gitanjali' into Kashmiri language.

His prayer room in Soaf Shali village had the Bhagwat Gita and the Quran placed side by side.

32 years after he was killed by the militants, the UT government has named the Soaf Shali Higher Secondary school in Kokarnag area of Anantnag district after Sarwanand Koul Premi.

The renaming of the school after such an illustrious son of the soil, who was killed because he represented the eclectic, tolerant and Sufist culture of Kashmir, has been welcomed by all locals of Soaf Shali village and the entire Anantnag district.

"It was long overdue. Sarwanandji had become an icon of our village. The naming of the school after him will become a connect between our glorious past and the hoped future of coexistence," said Ghulam Ahmad, a resident of Soaf Shali village.

Rajinder Premi, son of Sarwanand Koul told IANS, "It is a great honour although belated. The deputy commissioner of Anantnag had recommended naming of the village school, primary health centre and the district library in Anantnag town after my father." "Anyway, we welcome the decision. The locals of the area including former legislators have requested that the Lt governor Manoj Sinha should personally do the honours in presence of late Premi's family when an official function is held to rename the school. I as his son and other members of the family promise to be there if the hon'ble Lt governor decides to attend the function," Rajinder said.
Amaravati, Aug 10 : Andhra Pradesh Police on Wednesday said that the nude video call allegedly showing YSRCP MP Gorantla Madhav and currently circulating on social media is not original, but whether it is morphed or not can be established only after they get the original video.

Anantapur Superintendent of Police K. Fakirappa told reporters that the video was uploaded from a mobile number registered in the UK and was first shared in I-TDP whatsApp group.

Since the video has been shared multiple times across social media platforms, it has become difficult for the police to ascertain if it was real or morphed, he said.

The SP said a person sent the recorded video to a second person and when the second person was watching it on his mobile, a third person recorded it and that video was circulated.

The video in question shows a cattle shed and some people can be heard chatting.

"Since the video has been forwarded and re-posted many times, we are not able to ascertain its veracity. Since the video is not original, we can't reach a conclusion if it was edited or morphed ," he said.

The SP said unless the person who first posted the video is identified and the video is traced, the clip currently being circulated may be an edited or morphed one.

He said if the victim comes forward to lodge a complaint it would be easy to find out if the video was real or morphed. "Let the victim come and give a complaint, we will seize the mobile and investigate," the SP said when asked why the police has not seized the MP's mobile to verify if the video was real or morphed The SP said the police registered a case on a complaint by MP Madhav's follower K. Venkateshwar Rao on August 4 and took up the investigation. It was found that the video was uploaded from a mobile number registered in the UK on the night of August 3. He said the police were trying to identify the person and gather his details through Vodafone.

After SP's press conference, the Lok Sabha member from Hindupur constituency reiterated that the video was circulated to malign him and cause political harm.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP said he would file a defamation case against those who created the video.

YSRCP General Secretary and government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy had said that if it comes out that it's not a morphed video, strong action will be taken against the MP.

The opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take action against the YSRCP MP.

TDP MPs K. Ram Mohan Naidu and K. Ravinda Kumar alleged that the YSRCP is trying to shield its MP. They slammed the YSRCP leadership for taking no action against the MP though the video had gone viral.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Scientific literature is limited to prove high absolute risk of monkeypox in children and pregnant women, experts contended on Wednesday.

Amid the scare of global monkeypox outbreak that has so far spread to more than 80 countries and infected nearly 30,000 people, an article published in the esteemed medical journal 'The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health' claimed that children and pregnant women are more at risk of the infectious disease.

"The absolute risk of getting monkeypox in kids or pregnant women may not be higher in comparison to other vulnerable groups," Dipu T.S., Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Amrita Hospital, Kochi, told IANS.

"Though the literature is limited, there are still case series which have defined foetal loss among the pregnant women, including stillbirth," he said, adding, "In the case of pregnant women, the worrying factor is not just the severity of the disease, but the effect on the foetus." The Lancet article written by researchers from universities of Lausanne in Switzerland, California in the US, and the National University Hospital in Singapore, said that compared to healthy adults, complications are more frequent in children, and more severe in pregnant women than in healthy individuals who are not pregnant.

It said previous monkeypox outbreaks had reported increased mortality and hospitalisation rates in children, even in high-income countries such as the US, in which the only two severe presentations during the 2003 outbreak were observed in the paediatric population.

Further, the paper claimed that while information regarding the effects of monkeypox in pregnant women is scarce, vertical transmission of monkeypox has been associated with foetal demise and congenital infection.

"The reference to child mortality are old and from relatively impoverished parts of Africa, where malnutrition and limitation in healthcare could have played a role," Rajeev Jayadevan, the Co-chairman of IMA national task force on Covid-19, told IANS.A "In addition, data on adverse outcomes in pregnancy are so scarce. Out of four reports of monkeypox in pregnancy from Africa, there were two early miscarriages (it is not clear if it was caused by the infection) and one still birth with infection. Unless we have larger numbers, it is impossible to extrapolate this to the whole world," Jayadevan noted.

The Lancet article also pointed out the vulnerability of people with weak immunity to monkeypox with "an increased risk of bacterial superinfection, sepsis, keratitis, respiratory complications due to pharyngeal abscess and pneumonia, or encephalitis".

"In spite of one-third (WHO and UK) to two-third (Georgia, US) of various monkeypox series in 2022 being HIV positive, there are no reports of death or severe outcomes. The Lancet paper on the Spain outbreak states clearly that they found no difference in severity among those with HIV," Jayadevan clarified.

"The impact on immunosuppressed people will only become known with more studies. It is wrong to assume at this time that they will die or have other bad outcomes," he stated.

Jayadevan also explained that the mortality and complications reported from Africa in the paper are based on Central African clade, while the 2022 outbreak is by the less severe West African clade, and presents "0.04 per cent mortality globally, which is very low" and majorly due to "undiagnosed and unreported" cases.

However, "this number could change", as the cases increase, he said.

Among countries with monkeypox cases, to date 11 deaths have been reported: Seven from endemic countries in Africa and the rest four from non-endemic countries, two from Spain; one each from Brazil and India. India has so far reported nine cases of monkeypox infections.

Dipu said "as a rule of thumb, the severity of the disease tends to be high among the extremes of ages making them the vulnerable group", advising them to "avoid close contact with the infected".

(Rachel V Thomas can be contacted at rachel.t@ians.in)

Latest updates on Monkeypox Virus Outbreak
Guwahati, Aug 10 : More than 53 lakh national flags valued at Rs 16.07 crore have been sold in Assam so far as the state government gears up for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, a minister said on Wednesday. As part of the national event, Tricolour would be flown at official, private and commercial houses and establishments nationwide as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', which is being observed across the country on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of India's Independence.

Assam's Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that while 33 lakh tricolours prepared and sold by the members working under the Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM), another 20 lakh have been sold through 34,000 fair price shops across the state till Tuesday.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier announced to hoist 80 lakh national flags in residences, government and private institutions, including educational institutions, commercial establishments from August 13 to 15 as part of the countrywide programme, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government. Sarma earlier said that the government is refraining from providing the Tricolour free of cost to the people as it wants greater people's involvement in the programme and turn it into a universal mass movement.

Minister Dass said that more than 23,000 members of Self-Help Groups have stitched around 36 lakh flags. Besides the local production, the state government has sought another 50 lakh flags from the Union Culture Ministry while 39.26 lakh flags have already been received by the state government. Meanwhile, on the occasion of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', Indian Army had organised 'Freedom Ride - Trans Meghalaya Monsoon Odyssey', a motorcycle expedition covering all districts of Meghalaya. In all, 25 Indian Army riders traversed 1100 km in eight days from August 3 to 10.

Defence spokesman Lt. Col. Mahendra Rawat said that the expedition team after the adventurous and challenging ride of 8 days was welcomed during a grand ceremony by Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday at Umroi Military Station. The Army official said that the expedition team visited the memorials of three famous freedom fighters of the state - U. Kiang Nongbah, Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma and U. Tirot Singh, who sacrificed their lives in India's freedom struggle against British and paid homage to them on behalf of the Indian Army.
Patna, Aug 10 : After taking the oath as Bihar Chief Minister for the eighth time, Nitish Kumar called for first cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

In the meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Nitish Kumar passed a proposal to call a special session of the Assembly on August 24 - for him to prove his majority - and the Legislative Council on August 25.

Bihar Governor Phagu Chauhan has been intimated of the proposal and his approval is awaited.

Leaders of the Mahagathbandhan also brought in a no-confidence motion against Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha, of the BJP. Since he just has support of just 77 MLAs of his own party, it is most likely that he would resign from the post before motion.

RJD's Awadh Bihari Chaudhary is the front runner for the post.

On August 25, the Legislative Council will elect a new Chairman as well.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said it carried out search operations on August 5, 6 and 9 at 21 premises in Chhattisgarh and one place in Jharkhand, in connection with the smuggling of foreign origin gold and other precious metals from Bangladesh to Raipur via Kolkata.

The ED initiated a money laundering investigation on the basis of a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed by the DRI under Section 135 of the Customs Act. A carrier was caught by the DRI while smuggling gold and precious stones through off routes and illicit channels.

The DRI recovered gold from his possession which was of foreign origin and was smuggled into India from Bangladesh and was transported from Kolkata to Raipur for its consumption at Raipur by Vijay Kumar Baid alias Vicky and others.

A number of such cases were booked by the law enforcement agencies against the offenders.

During enquiries it emerged that a smuggling syndicate is operating in Chhattisgarh and nearby states.

"The modus operandi of this syndicate is that foreign origin gold is being smuggled into the country and the route is that the smuggled gold is received in Myanmar from where it comes to Bangladesh and further enters the state of West Bengal; from West Bengal the smuggled gold reaches other states like Chhattisgarh through road transport and train transport," the ED said.

During the search operation, unaccounted gold bullion weighing around 3845 gram, gold ornaments weighing around 12810.63 gram, silver weighing around 671.77 kg, cash around Rs 1.41 crore, documents related to sale/purchase of gold, silver and some digital devices were recovered.

Further investigation in the matter is on.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : A plea has moved in the Delhi High Court to disqualify Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyendar Jain from the Assembly and the Cabinet, stating he has become "unsound of mind" and has "memory loss" and is currently under the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) since May 31 in an alleged money laundering case.

"The Delhi Government is clearly violating the Provisions of the Constitution of India under Article 191 (1)(b) which clearly states 'a person shall be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member of the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of state if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court," said the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) moved by petitioner Ashish Kumar Srivastava through Advocate Rudra Vikram Singh.

Jain, whose bail was denied in various hearings since May 31, is currently admitted to a city government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) hospital, as he complained of medical issues.

The CBI has accused Jain, his wife and others of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On March 31, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to companies beneficially owned and controlled by the minister.

On June 6, the ED conducted raids at multiple locations belonging to Jain, his wife and his accomplices, who had either directly or indirectly assisted him or participated in the processes of money laundering. The recovery of Rs 2.85 crore in cash and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg was made during the raid.

Recently, a similar plea seeking suspension of Jain was dismissed by the high court.

It was contended that Jain was arrested over his alleged involvement in hawala transactions in 2015-2016 with a Kolkata-based firm. The arrest is repugnant and inconsistent to the rule of law as he is a public servant having a constitutional oath to uphold the rule of law in the interest of the public, it stated.
Hyderabad, Aug 10 : Hyderabad police have arrested four more persons on charges of attempt to kill a legislator of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

The four had allegedly helped main accused Paddagani Prasad Goud to execute his plan to kill A. Jeevan Reddy, the member of the Telangana Assembly from Armoor constituency in Nizamabad district.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Joel Davis on Wednesday announced the arrest of four accused - Santosh, Sugnuna, Surender and Sagar. Another accused, Munna Kumar, of Bihar is absconding.

Goud, a TRS leader and husband of a suspended sarpanch of a village, was arrested by the police on August 8. The police also seized a country made gun, an air pistol and a button knife from him.

He had entered the MLA's house in Banjara Hills and pointed a gun at him as he was ready to have dinner. On seeing the accused, Jeevan Reddy shouted to alert his staff and the accused fled from there.

According to police, Goud bore grudge against the Armoor MLA as he suspected that he was responsible for suspension of his wife Lavanya as sarpanch of Kalladi village in Makloor mandal (block) and for not releasing Rs 20 lakh towards the pending bills of the development works undertaken in the village.

With an intention to harm the MLA, Goud purchased the button knife from Maharashtra's Nanded and air pistol from Hyderabad's Nampally, and a country-made gun from Bihar.

He came in contact with Suguna, who, in turn, introduced him to Surender over phone. The police investigation revealed that Suguna informed him that a firearm was available with Munna Kumar of Bihar for Rs 60,000. Goud paid the amount to Suguna, who transferred the same to Munna Kumar.

On July 15, Surender met Goud at Bheemgal village in Nizamabad and handed over a country-made pistol.

The DCP said Munna Kumar was absconding. Police plan to take Goud in its custody for questioning to collect more information about the murder plot and the role of other accused.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to 82-year-old P. Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, rejecting the NIA's argument that neither age nor medical condition can become a factor for bail to an UAPA accused.

Opposing Rao's bail plea, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) claimed before a bench headed by Justice U.U. Lalit that he is involved in "serious anti-national activities".

Justice Lalit noted that the medical condition of Rao, who is currently out on interim bail on medical grounds, has not improved to such an extent over a period that the facility of bail granted earlier to him be withdrawn. Also, he had spent around two-and-a-half-year in custody.

During the hearing, the top court shot a volley of questions at the NIA's counsel in connection with the case.

The bench, also comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sudhanshu Dhulia, asked Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the NIA, when the trial in the case will start, and noted that the trial court has not framed charges against the accused though charge sheet has been filed.

At this juncture, senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Rao, submitted that the trial will take at least 10 years even if it starts today and there are 16 accused.

Raju contested this line of argument. However, the bench asked Raju, how much time will it take to complete the trial, and he replied that it will take one and a half years.

The top court expressed its view to grant bail to Rao considering his advanced age and medical ailments.

Raju argued allegations against him are grave and pointed out at certain alleged correspondences, where discussions were held with fellow comrades regarding plans to finance the procurement of weapons to be used against the armed forces. He said that the Maoists are responsible for ambushing security forces.

After hearing detailed arguments, the top court said considering the totality of circumstances, in ots view, the appellant is entitled to the relief of bail on medical grounds. It deleted the condition which was imposed by the Bombay High Court in the February last year order, limiting the period of bail granted to Rao on the medical condition to six months.

Rao had moved the top court challenging the Bombay High Court's order of April 13, which declined his request to stay at his home in Telangana. However, the high court extended the period of temporary bail for three months against the backdrop of medical reasons.

In the plea, Rao submitted before the top court that any further incarceration would ring the death knell for him against the backdrop of his advancing age and deteriorating health, which is a fatal combination.
Srinagar, Aug 10 : At a time when India celebrates 75 years of Independence, Jammu and Kashmir completes its three years since the government of India abrogated its special status under Article 370 of the Constitution.

Despite the much-publicised special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, it never came up to the universally acclaimed 'Heaven on Earth' status that various poets bestowed upon Kashmir. In fact, the region suffered immeasurably due to insurgency, lack of political will and efforts by the previous state governments to improve the situation.

Though cross-border terrorism is often looked at as a major reason for our paradise having turned into hell, the state leadership surely owes an explanation on the same. After the promulgation of the historic decision to abrogate Article 370 and mainstreaming Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with status of Union Territories, there have been rapid strides in various sectors such as infrastructure, power, health, education, agriculture, tourism, industrialisation, investment opportunities, skill development, employment and above all, individual security, gender parity, social justice, welfare and empowerment in the region.

Though the country is celebrating 'Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' (75 years of Independence), ironically most of our railway network belongs to the British era. As if to rectify this anomaly, the highest railway bridge in the world has almost been completed over Chenab river under the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project at an estimated cost of Rs 1,327 crore.

The visionary and all-inclusive budget in the tune of Rs 1,12,950 crore for the financial year 2022-23 reflects the care for the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as the Central government is firmly determined to empower and enable them to lead their lives with peace, dignity and prosperity.

In recent time, a new Central sector scheme aimed at ensuring industrial development of J&K has been approved by the government of India with a financial outlay of Rs 28,400 crore. These are all schemes funded entirely by the Union government and one of the first such industrial incentive schemes to take shape towards the Union Territory as well.

These provide for an incentive at the rate of 30 per cent in Zone A and 50 per cent in Zone B on investments made in plant and machinery (in manufacturing) or construction of building and other durable physical assets (in service sector).

Also, it provides for a 6 per cent capital interest subvention for a maximum seven years on loans up to Rs 500 crore. At the same time, an incentive on the Goods and Service Tax has also been put in place to encourage more such investments in the region.

The government of J&K has reported receiving proposals for investments worth approximately Rs 51,000 crore so far. Moreover, in order to boost industrial development in the UT, the J&K government has already notified the J&K Industrial Policy, J&K Private Industrial Policy, J&K Private Industrial Estimate Development Policy and J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy.

In conclusion, it is certain that this would encourage substantial expansion as well as proper upkeep of the existing industries in the territory.

Making such expansion possible is the potential construction of a transit corridor in and around the Kashmir Valley. Planned to be completed within the next four years, this would give a significant thrust to better infrastructural facilities for the people of the region who have been deprived largely due to state government's apathy and cross-border terrorism.

The idea with all such schemes is to create jobs to the tune of 5-6 lakh and create a momentum that would help garner further capital investment in the areas of manufacturing and services.

On that front, two significant projects have been successfully functional -- the Qazigund-Banihal tube tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar-Ladakh National Highway as well as the Z-Morh tunnel between Sonmarg and Gagangir.

A number of more hydroelectric projects have been commissioned which will supply power to the industries as well as add revenues. Special drive has been adopted to improve the agricultural and allied sectors viz. livestock, fisheries, horticulture and sericulture that have enhanced the production substantially. Eventually, the income of the people have increased, boosting the economy.

At the same time, special emphasis and due importance has also been given to the social sector -- J&K has become the first state to devise comprehensive district good governance index.

As per the latest data, the region has been able to perform impressively in the commerce & industry sector with improvements in the agricultural and allied sectors, public infrastructure, women empowerment,welfare and social justice. A record number of development projects were completed in the last financial year with 50,276 projects being completed including construction of about 3,285 kilometres of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

Along with these, a rural enterprise acceleration programme for self-help groups of women has also been launched as part of the Jammu Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission aimed at empowering rural women of the region.

Government initiatives like SAATH, HAUSLA, UMEED, and TEJASWINI have created a culture for women to become financially independent. With these advancements, the region has been ranked third among all the Union Territories in terms of monthly income of households. Today, women of the region are at the forefront of all entrepreneurial initiatives.

Adding to these impressive statistics is the fact that the region recently carried out its largest-ever recruitment drive, with more than 11,750 candidates being selected from the vulnerable sections of the society. These included a special consideration being given to the widows, divorcees, judicially separated women and orphaned girls.

Under the welfare schemes, the One Nation, One Ration Card scheme has been implemented by Jammu and Kashmir, while the Central government introduced Ujjwala, Direct Benefit Transfer, Saubhagya, and many other schemes here.

The ambitious plan of the Centre to provide clean drinking water to every household by 2024 is going to be realised by August 15, 2022 in the UT. Jammu and Kashmir is the only UT where every person has got the benefit of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - urban and rural - houses are also being provided to the people.

Significant advancements have been made in the health and education sectors as well with the establishment of seven new medical colleges, two new AIIMS, two state cancer institutes and 15 nursing colleges. Intake capacity of 854 seats was added, which includes 600 MBBS, 50 PG courses, 26 BDS, 38 MDS and 140 DNB, as per reports.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jammu, and Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu, have also been made functional. The number of government degree/engineering colleges has increased from 96 to 147.

The hill people are not used to getting the benefits of reservation, but now they are entitled to them. Electricity is reaching every house in Jammu and Kashmir. While preparing the plan for industrial development in J&K, special care has been taken so that those who set up industries in less developed areas get more benefits.

Also, democracy has reached every door in the UT. The elections to the three-tier panchayat system in Jammu and Kashmir were completed peacefully. Today all the eligible citizens of the UT are exercising their rights. These elections marked a new dawn of development in Jammu and Kashmir.

The tourism industry in Kashmir is buzzing. Picturesque and enchanting, Kashmir is cradled high in the lofty green Himalayas and hailed all over the world for its incredible natural beauty. Good governance, reliable security system, and maintenance of law and order in Jammu and Kashmir have assured the tourists and made the destination irresistibly tempting.

The arrival of tourists in Kashmir has broken a decade-old record as more than 12 lakh tourists have visited different places in the Valley this year till June 26. As per the Union Tourism Ministry, around 1.42 lakh tourists visited the UT in February alone. March 2022 broke the 10-year tourist arrival record in Kashmir, signalling that the tourism industry is finally on the path to recovery and back with a bang.

Today an average man of J&K is overjoyed with the wave of developments brought in by the Centre. In the last three years, these initiatives and the approach undertaken till now has created beacons of new hope among the residents of the region, re-affirming their faith in the country and their fellow Indians.

With a strong synergy-driven approach, there is an increasing likelihood of mainstreaming the vulnerable sections of the region along with winning the hearts and souls of all its people. These are clear signs of the times to come for the region with ensuing peace, order and development along with meaningful participation of the people.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Over 2022-23, Indias growth will average 7 per cent, the strongest among the largest economies, contributing 28 per cent and 22 per cent to Asian and global growth, respectively, Morgan Stanley said in a report.

India is best positioned within Asia to deliver domestic demand alpha. Its cyclical recovery will be sustained by structural factors.

"The recent strong run of data increases our confidence that India is well positioned to deliver domestic demand alpha, which will be particularly important as developed markets' growth weakness percolates into Asia's external demand," Morgan Stanley said.

The key change in India's structural story lies in the clear shift in the policy focus towards lifting the productive capacity of the economy. Policymakers have taken up a series of reforms which will catalyse an upswing in the private capex cycle, helping to unleash a powerful productivity dynamic, leading to the onset of a virtuous cycle.

Cyclically, the economy is lifting off after a prolonged period of adjustment. The corporate sector has delevered and the balance sheets of the financial sector have also been cleaned up. This backdrop of healthy balance sheets and rising corporate confidence bodes well for the outlook for business investment, the report said.

The biggest challenge that was emerging to India's macro outlook was the sharp spike in oil/commodity prices weighing on macro stability.

"However, with the 23-37 per cent decline in oil/commodity prices since the March-22 peak, we think that macro stability indicators will head back towards the comfort zone. Against this backdrop, we project that the RBI does not need to lift rates deeply into restrictive territory. In other words, the RBI will not need to slow domestic demand growth meaningfully to control the macro stability indicators," the report said.
Dakshina Kannada : , Aug 10 (IANS) On the lines of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka Police have started attaching the properties of the persons accused of killing BJP Yuva Morcha activist Praveen Kumar Nettare.

ADGP Alok Kumar confirmed on Wednesday that the process of attaching properties of the accused persons is on. The police along with the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) will attach the properties of the accused persons, he added.

Kumar also said that the main accused in the case are yet to be arrested.

"We have complete information about the killers of Praveen. The accused persons' photos, information about their family members -- everything has been gathered. However, the main accused in the case are being given shelter. They have been shifted to different places," he said.

"We will hold meetings in different districts. Maintaining law and order in the Mangaluru region is our focus. Action will be taken against those who directly or indirectly helped the main accused persons, in coordination with the NIA. The process of issuing warrants via court is on," Kumar said.

When asked about the involvement of Popular Front of India (PFI) in the murder, Kumar stated that few accused persons do have links with the PFI.

"Investigation in this regard is progressing and information regarding the accused who have links with the PFI would be given soon," he stated.

Kumar added that all the seven arrested accused so far are local residents. Now, the focus is on who gave them the instruction to carry out the murder.

On July 26, bike-borne miscreants attacked BJP activist Praveen at Bellare town in Dakshina Kannada district outside his chicken shop and hacked him to death.

Following the murder, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had cancelled the celebrations of his one year in office. He visited Praveen's family and issued a cheque of Rs 25 lakh as compensation on behalf of the state government. The BJP had given Rs 25 lakh separately.

The incident had triggered a chain of protests by BJP workers all over Karnataka. The agitators had laid siege to Home Minister Araga Jnanendra's residence, causing severe embarrassment to the ruling party.

The probe had revealed that Praveen was targeted for launching a campaign against halal meat.
Hyderabad, Aug 10 : A Hyderabad court on Wednesday sentenced a doctor to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment on charges of sexually assaulting a woman patient six years ago.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the doctor after holding him guilty of sexually assaulting the 54-year-old patient at his hospital in Secunderabad.

The incident had occurred in 2016 and on the complaint of the victim, a case was registered against the pulmonologist at the Gopalapuram police station. The doctor, identified as B. Vijay Bhaskar, was arrested, but was later released on bail.

The police had collected evidence against the accused and presented them in the court. Sections 376 and 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) were invoked against the doctor. After the trial, the court found him guilty and sentenced him.

According to the police, the victim had approached the doctor for treatment of some respiratory problem in May 2016. The doctor had allegedly touched her private parts and when she questioned him, he convinced her that it was part of the treatment.

On September 24, 2016, the woman consulted the same doctor who again misbehaved with her. During the third visit to the hospital on October 7 the same year, she found a young woman arguing with the doctor. The victim learnt that the doctor had misbehaved with the young woman as well, following which she realised that the doctor had molested her. She then informed her husband and subsequently lodged a complaint with the police.

According to the police, another woman had lodged a complaint against the doctor in 2016. However, the doctor was acquitted in the case. She then challenged the order of the lower court in the high court and her petition is pending.
Patna, Aug 10 : After formation of the new Mahahgatbandhan government in Bihar, Janata Dal-United national President Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh slammed the BJP for accusing his party of violating the coalition pact.

"We have not violated any coalition pact. It was the BJP who violated the coalition pact and cheated the JD-U. After the 2022 Arunachal Pradesh Assembly election, we had seven MLAs and BJP broke away six and merged them with the party. That was the violation of the coalition pact despite the JD-U being in NDA," he said.

"During the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, our ground-level workers helped BJP candidates in winning the election but the BJP withdraw their ground level workers in the constituencies where JD-U candidates were contesting. Moreover, the BJP sent many candidates to contest election for the Lok Janshakti Party against JD-U candidates and cut their vote. After LJP candidates lost the election, they were brought back in the BJP. That was the violation of the coalition pact," he claimed.

"On Tuesday, our leader Nitish Kumar called a meeting where MLAs have pointed out how the BJP played a negative role against them during the 2020 Assembly election. Many of the JD-U candidates lost the election while they were lucky to win the election in difficult circumstances, the MLAs told the Chief Minister," Lalan Singh added.

"Due to the back-stabbing of the BJP, we fell to 43 seats. After the formation of the government in 2020, the BJP put 'chutbhaiye netas (small-time leaders) forward to give statements against Nitish Kumar and humiliate him. Those chutbhaiye netas used to say that the BJP is an elder brother and the JD-U is the younger brother in the government. I want to tell them that in 2005, the seats of the JD-U were 88, and 118 in 2010. We had 69 seats in 2015 and when we went with the BJP in 2017, we were the bigger party as the BJP had only 53 seats. We never told them that we are the elder brother and the BJP is the junior partner in the government," he said.

He noted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was formed in 1996 "and at that time, respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and George Fernandes were the leaders. The JD-U was associated with NDA for next 17 years and not separated for 17 seconds. The reason was Atal ji, Advani ji, M.M. Joshi ji, and George Sahab were respecting coalition partners. Those leaders had principles to respect the coalition partners.

"And what has happened now... BJP is back-stabbing its coalition partners." The JD-U chief also said that during the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP was wanting to win the polls and "hence, its leaders did not do mischief".

"When it came to the 2020 Assembly elections, what they did was to backstab us and weaken us," he said.

Hitting out further at the BJP, he said: "At present, the BJP has 303 seats in Lok Sabha including 16 from West Bengal and 17 from Bihar. I firmly believe that the BJP would hardly win a single seat from West Bengal. The situation in Bihar from now on is similar for them as well. The majority level required in Lok Sabha is 272 and if we minus 33 seats from these two states, the BJP will fall below the majority level. Then, we will see how they (BJP leaders) would run a dictatorship in the country." "At present, there are so many challenges in the country like unemployment and price rise and the BJP is responsible for it. There were 3 lakh youths who passed the physical examinations of the Army in 2019 but the Centre had not given appointment letters. Now, they have come up with an Agniveer scheme to give youth a job of 4 years. A leader of the BJP named (Kailash) Vijayvargiya said they will give jobs of security guards in BJP offices to Agniveers after their retirement. You are forcing youths to become jobless and roam on the streets," Lalan Singh said.

On prospects of ED, CBI, and income tax raids, he asserted that they are not "frightened".

"We are not industrialists. Our source of income is our salaries, rent of our houses and farming. Do whatever they want, we are not afraid of it." Lalan Singh also defended RJD leader and new Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav as well. He said that the charge sheet of the IRCTC scam was filed in 2017 but trial had not started yet. "Why don't they (BJP) start the trial?" he said.

Following recent statements by BJP leaders Sushil Kumar MOdi and Ravi Shankar Prasad, he said that these two leaders "are his good friends".

"Sushil is also a good friend of Nitish Kumar. If these two leaders would get rehabilitated for attacking Chief the Minister, we would not mind it. These two leaders are currently unemployed in the BJP," he said.

"I heard (former JD-U) leader R.C.P. Singh is also saying that Nitish Kumar cheated the BJP. During the 2020 Assembly election, the BJP used Chirag model and this time, R.C.P. Singh. Nitish Kumar trusted him and he was sent to the Rajya Sabha twice. He (Nitish Kumar) also left the national President's post and handed it over to him (Singh) but he played like an agent of BJP to weaken JD-U. Nitish Kumar spotted him and threw out from the party," he added.
Kochi, Aug 10 : The Kerala High Court on Wednesday ruled against giving the confession statement of Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case, to solar scam accused Saritha Nair after she filed a petition seeking it.

It held that there was no reason for her to get the copy and dismissed her petition.

Nair's petition was submitted before a local court in Kochi was dismissed, after which she approached the high court.

When the petition first came before the high court last month, it asked what right she had to seek Suresh's confession statement, to which her counsel replied that Nair believed her name was mentioned in it and hence, she sought a copy.

Incidentally, ever since Suresh submitted a confession statement before a magistrate in June, she herself has revealed bits and pieces of information mentioned in it, including allegations against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his wife and their daughter of indulging in malpractices.

Nair is accused of having duped several influential people to the tune of Rs 70 lakh by offering to make them business partners or by offering to install solar power units for them, and receiving advance payments for the same.

It was this solar scam which saw the then Oommen Chandy-led Congress government (2011-16) go down in a flash after the Left, then led by the CPI-M state Secretary Vijayan, went hammer and tongs against Chandy after few of his staff members were found to be close to Nair.
Panaji, Aug 10 : Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports Shripad Naik said on Wednesday that work for the Mopa airport was delayed due to court cases, but it will be completed in another two to three months.

"There are many reasons for the delay in completion of Mopa airport work. Since the acquisition of land, cases (were fought) in the high court and Supreme Court. There was also a stay. Now 98 per cent work has been completed. In another two to three months, the entire work will be completed," Naik said.

"Mopa airport will be one of the best airports in India. I thank all those who have given land for this airport and those who supported the project," he said.

"The future of the state's economy also lies with the Mopa airport, which will boost tourism. The defence airport in Dabolim airport is not sufficient for us and hence we needed this airport," Naik said.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had recently said that inauguration of Mopa airport has been delayed, which was supposed to take place between August 15 and 30.
New Delhi, Aug 10 : Reacting to Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's letter to LG Vinay Kumar Saxena over the alleged MCD toll tax scam, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said on Wednesday that it reflects Sisodia's frustration over the ongoing inquires into scams in the excise department and classroom construction in schools.

"No scam has taken place in the MCD with regard to toll tax collection. The fact is that after the construction of the Eastern Western corridor in 2018, the commercial vehicles which crossed Delhi to go to other states have stopped coming in and as a result, Delhi's toll tax collection has dropped by around 70 per cent," claimed Kapoor.

He said that due to this, the then toll tax collection contractor, who had taken annual contract at Rs 1,260 crore, suffered huge losses in collections.

The contractor partially paid the MCD and quit work thereafter. After the contractor quit, the MCD forfeited his security deposit and launched legal recovery proceedings, claimed Kapoor.

At present, the toll tax collection contractor is regularly making proper payments for the last two years, he said.

The BJP spokesperson added that the Arvind Kejriwal government is politically embarrassed and frustrated due to the exposure of the excise department scam and is trying its best to divert public attention from it.

Levelling allegations against the MCD is part of the ploy to divert public attention, he said.

Earlier in the day, Sisodia had written to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, demanding a CBI probe into the alleged toll tax scam of Rs 6,000 crore in the MCD.

"Drawing your attention towards a huge corruption in Delhi's municipal corporation, I want to request you to get the CBI to probe the matter and take strict action against those involved in corruption. This corruption has led to losses to the tune of around Rs 6,000 crore," Sisodia said.
Jaipur, Aug 10 : Rajasthan BJP President Satish Poonia on Wednesday took out a 75 km Tiranga Yatra on motorcycles with a convoy of thousands of party workers in the Amer Assembly constituency.

BJP national general secretary and state in-charge Arun Singh inaugurated the Yatra from the Devnarayan temple. The Yatra passed through different villages of Amer with people showering flowers along the way.

On the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tiranga rallies are being taken out in all the districts of the country to commemorate 75 years of India's Independence.
Patna, Aug 10 : JD-U national President Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh on Monday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the Mahagathbandhan in 2017 "on the wrong advice of four persons" and formed the government with NDA.

He further said that the corruption charges levelled on then Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav had no meaning, as the charge sheet was filed by the investigating agency but trial had not started.

"One of the four advisors was Sanjay Jha who is still in JD-U and sitting alongside me," Lalan Singh said at a press conference.

"He had given the wrong advice to the chief minister to leave Mahagathbandhan on that occasion and join NDA," he said.

"The second leader was Harivansh Ji (Harivansh Narayan Singh) who is Vice Chairman of the Rajya Sabha at present. He has also given advice to Nitish Kumar to leave Mahagathbandhan and join NDA. Harivansh Ji was the only leader of JD-U who did not come to the meeting. When I contacted him on phone, he informed me that Nitish Kumar brought him into public life and he supports his decision," Lalan Singh said.

"Another advisor was R.C.P. Singh who is currently roaming as an agent of BJP. He was staying with JD-U and working as an agent of BJP. An in-charge of BJP was going regularly to his house and asking him to demand from Nitish Kumar about particular candidates. In case those candidates would win the Assembly election, they would be your men. In case they lose the election, Nitish Kumar becomes weak. Nitish Kumar trusted this man blindly and he stabbed Nitish Kumar in the back. Now, he is doing 'Pravachan' in public. R.C.P. Singh was involved in anti party activities," Lalan Singh said.

He did not take the name of the fourth leader, and only hinted that he would become the advisor of the President of India.
For much of the 2,000 years of the Common Era, India was the largest economy contributing a third of the global output. Archaeological evidence traces the origins of ancient India's Indus Valley civilisation to the fifth millennium before the Common Era.

During medieval times too, India witnessed several glorious empires and great civilisations spread across millions of miles under enlightened emperors.

Towards the last quarter of the last millennium, India came under the influence of East India Company for almost a century during the 18th and 19th centuries. Thereafter, the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857 compelled the British to place India directly under the British Crown for another ninety years. For almost two centuries, therefore, India was anchored to Great Britain serving the interests of only the British Empire. Of all the colonies the British conquered, controlled and immensely benefited from, it was India that was by far the biggest and the wealthiest and was often referred to as the Jewel in the (British) Crown.

Before finally leaving India, the British divided the Indian subcontinent into two countries in three parcels -- India, Pakistan West and Pakistan East. India's population then was 330 million and the GDP was Rr 2.7 trillion -- a paltry 3 per cent of the global GDP. A country which accounted for a third of the global output for much of two millennia before had thus been bled bone dry by the colonial masters.

Independent India Independent India has witnessed 17 free and fair Parliamentary elections with fifteen Prime Ministers at the helm - each contributing his/her mite to the growth, stability and development of the Indian nation, its society and economy.

How individual Prime Ministers of India tried to build a modern India from the debris of two centuries' rule by the British Empire is in itself a great story and has been narrated by many authors, both Indian and foreign.

In the 75 years since Independence, India has negotiated a difficult, at times treacherous, journey replete with five wars (1948, 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999) and facing frequent occurrence of natural calamities like floods, famines, droughts and epidemics.

Two of its elected Prime Ministers were brutally assassinated and a third died mysteriously after signing the Ceasefire Agreement in the Soviet city of Tashkent post the India-Pakistan 1965 War.

A stretch of 21 months during 1975-77 remains an aberration in India's otherwise uninterrupted democracy when fundamental rights of Indian citizens were suspended during the period of Emergency.

Progress Achieved Much water has flown in the Ganga since India attained her Independence. During 1950-51, the contributions to Indian GDP by agriculture, industry and services sectors were 56 per cent, 15 per cent and 29 per cent, respectively.

Agriculture employed the largest work-force of 72 per cent with manufacturing and services providing 10 per cent and 18 per cent jobs, respectively. Today the service sector accounts for 54 per cent of India's GDP. The industry and agriculture follow with 25.92 per cent and 20.19 per cent, respectively.

Life expectancy on the eve of Independence was 32 years. It has now gone up to 70 years. In 1950, infant mortality rate in India was 145.6/1000 live births and maternal mortality ratio in the 1940s was 2000/100,000 live births which declined to 1000 in the 1950s.

There were just 50,000 doctors across the entire country and the number of primary healthcare centres was 725. Today, infant mortality is 27.7 per 1000 births and maternal mortality rate is 103 per 100,000. India now has more than 1.2 million doctors.

There are 54,618 sub-health sentres (SHCs), 21,898 primary health centres (PHC) and 4,155 urban primary health centres (UPHCs), as on December 8, 2021. There are as many as 70,000 public and private hospitals. As of April 5, 2022, there were 117,771 Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) operational in India apart from 748 e-Hospitals established across the country as part of the 'Digital India' initiative of the government.

As for education, when the British left India, there were 210,000 primary schools, 13,600 middle schools and 7,416 higher secondary schools in India apart from 498 colleges and 27 Universities. Today there are 1.6 million schools, 42,343 colleges and a thousand universities. More than 250 million children are going to school today in India and close to 40 million are enrolled in our universities.

India survived a devastating once in a century pandemic of Covid-19 and its economy contracted by 7.3 per cent in the financial year 2020-21. It may be some consolation that this contraction was lower than in other major economies. As per latest available estimates, the growth rate of GDP is pegged at 8.7 per cent, which has to be seen in the context of 7.3 per cent contraction in the preceding year.

India is bound together as a great nation by the strength and stability of its democracy, the rule of law and a breath-taking diversity of its populace in terms of religion, language, culture, climate, history, geography and more. At the time of India's first Census in 1951, Hindus were 305 million (84.1 per cent), Muslims 35.4 million (9.8 per cent), Christians 8.3 million and Sikhs 6.86 million (1.9 per cent).

In 2022, the estimated population is 1090 million Hindus (79.80 per cent), 200 million Muslims (14.23 per cent), 31.2 million Christians (2.3 per cent), 23.7 million Sikhs (1.72 per cent), 9.6 million Buddhists (0.70 per cent), 5.1 million Jains (0.37 per cent) and 9.1 million (0.66 per cent) other religions and 3.3 million (0.24 per cent) religion not stated.

There are two million Hindu temples, 300,000 active mosques, 8,114 Jain temples, a few of them abroad, more than 125 Buddhist monasteries, stupas and pagodas, some 35 Jewish synagogues etc.

At the time of Independence, many predicted that India will splinter into pieces based on caste, creed, tribe, language, culture etc., but she has remained in one piece and stronger than ever.

Future Prospects In the last 10 years, despite a sliding down of growth rates since 2016 till the economy picked up this year and a significant unemployment burden haunting policy makers in the country, there is a quiet revolution taking place in the arena of technology, digitisation and innovation, spearheaded by young Indian companies. The government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' crusade has given an impetus to it.

Latest research of the Indian economy in the last 10 years by analyst Ruchir Sharma has a few exciting revelations. In 2011, India had 55 billionaires with a cumulative wealth of $256 billion which was then equivalent to 13.5 per cent of India's GDP.

Ten years later in 2021, India hosts 140 billionaires with cumulative wealth of $596 billion, equivalent to 19.6 per cent of the GDP. Sharma adds that 110 of these are new billionaires created during the course of just last decade.

At the time of Independence, India was the sixth largest economy in the world. In 2021, it retains the same position which is no mean achievement with India's population having more than quadrupled.

Notwithstanding the above, there is no room for complacency because, (a) India still has a large population that lives below the poverty line, estimated by the World Bank at 140 million which is 10 per cent of the population; (b) the formal and informal sectors may not be able to absorb the large number of educated young who are passing out of colleges (2022 estimate is 10.76 million); (c) external and internal factors will keep haunting the policy establishment in its effort to achieve double-digit GDP growth rate which is the need of the hour for India.

Be that as it may India also has several advantages -- (i) a median age of less than 30 years; (ii) a strong and focussed government; (iii) growing market; (iv) an innovative Indian youth.

If India persists with its pursuit of building and consolidating its infrastructure, keeps the society cohesive and harmonious, stabilises predictable consistency in policy formulation and implementation, a brighter future can be ensured for its future generations.

(A.R. Ghanashyam is a retired Indian diplomat who has served as Ambassador of India to Angola and High Commissioner of India to Nigeria. The views expressed are personal)
Ahmedabad, Aug 10 : Qamar Mohsin Shaikh, who is a Pakistan-origin woman and currently lives in India after her marriage, has made headlines after she sent Prime Minister Narendra Modi a sacred thread -- 'rakhi' on Raksha Bandhan this year.

She first met Modi nearly 27 years ago in Delhi when the latter asked her "Kaisi ho behen"? This gesture touched Qamar and she decided to tie a rakhi on him. Since then every year she has been tying a rakhi on the Prime Minister's wrist.

The Pakistani woman told IANS that she and her husband were the guests of BJP senior leader and MP, Dilip Sanghani. Sanghani being an MP had a government house. At that time Narendra Modi was in New Delhi and was staying at Sanghani's residence.

She remembers, "One evening after his work Modi returned home, when we were introduced to each other. Modi in a polite tone inquired, "How are you sister?" This had touched me a lot, within a few days Raksha Bandhan was approaching. I knew that on this auspicious day a sister ties a rakhi to her brother, so I also bought a rakhi and tied it on the Prime Minister. Since then this brother and sister bond has grown stronger with every passing year." Since the last two years due to Covid-19, she was not able to visit Delhi and personally tie the rakhi, but this year she made a request for an appointment and if Covid-19 does not play spoilsport, she is hopeful of being in Delhi on Thursday to tie the rakhi.

If that does not happen, she will have a video chat with her brother Prime Minister Modi.

Latest updates on Raksha Bandhan 2022

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Central government has decided to give 'Z category' security to the country's top industrialist Gautam Adani. This decision has been taken on the basis of a report sent by the Intelligence Bureau (IB).

According to sources in the Home Ministry, on the basis of the threat perception report received from the IB, Adani has been provided high-level security by the government for which he will himself bear its expenses.

According to sources, more than 30 army personnel will be deployed in the security given to India's top industrialist.

The shares of the Adani Group have risen sharply in the past few days and Adani has been ranked among the world's richest industrialist.

Earlier, industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani have also been given 'Z' security by the Ministry of Home Affairs for which they are paying for its cost themselves.
Paris, Aug 11 : Wildfires near Landiras, a city in France's southwestern department of Gironde, have burnt 6,000 hectare of land and evacuated more than 6,000 people from their homes, French daily news channel BFMTV reported.

More than 1,000 firefighters and an aerial fire brigade have been mobilised to extinguish the flames. Local authorities said high winds, heat waves and a persisting drought are likely to aggravate the fires, Xinhua news agency reported.

The wildfires, which began in Landiras in July, reignited on Tuesday and spread to the neighbouring department of Landes during evening.

In the city of Belin-Beliet, 16 homes were destroyed by the flames. No casualties were reported thanks to timely evacuation. The fires have also prompted evacuations in the cities of Hostens, Saint-Magne and Moustey, according to BFMTV.

Several roads have been closed, including the highway A63 linking the cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne, said local authorities, adding that heavy trucks are advised to bypass certain highways in the department.

The wildfires that broke out in Gironde in July were never extinguished and have burnt 20,600 hectare of land and evacuated at least 36,000 people, local authorities added.

In another development, wildfires that broke out on Friday in the mountains of Diois, in the southeastern Drome department, have burnt 280 hectare of land and are yet to be put out.

Meanwhile, wildfires raging in the departments of Lozere and Aveyron in southeastern France destroyed 700 hectare of land and evacuated more than 3,000 people in the cities of Mostuejouls and Riviere-sur-Tarn early Tuesday morning.
Beirut, Aug 11 : An Italian agency and the UN have signed a two-year agreement to repair the Mar Mikhael railway station in the Lebanese capital of Beirut and the housing units damaged by the 2020 blasts at the Beirut port.

The agreement, which is estimated to be worth 2.3 million euros ($2.37 million), was signed between the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) on Wednesday.

Italian Ambassador to Lebanon, Nicoletta Bombardiere, who signed the agreement on behalf of the Italian agency, said the project "will allow people in Beirut to re-discover the old train station of Mar Mikhael and its historical relevance".

She added that Italy would remain committed to responding to Lebanese people's basic needs, such as social housing, and restoring the cultural and social fabric of the neighbourhoods affected by the blasts, which killed more than 200 people and wounded more than 6,000 others on August 4, 2020, Xinhua news agency reported.

For her part, Taina Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Programme, said the UN body would work with Italy to rehabilitate the Mar Mikhael train station and provide adequate housing for those who were affected by the blasts.
Michendorf : , Aug 11 (IANS) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that he is convinced that Germany will get through a natural gas crisis.

"We decided early on. We are preparing for the fact that things can get very bad," Scholz told a meeting on Wednesday in his constituency in Michendorf in Brandenburg state, near the capital Berlin.

With a view to the possibility that Germany might stop receiving Russian gas shipments, he added: "That's why we made very, very far-reaching decisions." Things might get tough and tight, the Chancellor said, but he added that Germany had the chance "to get through this difficult situation".

Due to tensions surrounding Russia's war on Ukraine and resulting Western sanctions, Moscow has slashed deliveries of the fossil fuel natural gas to many European states, Germany included.

Scholz named the construction of pipelines on the north German coasts, the construction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and the filling of gas storage facilities as examples of preparatory measures taken by the federal government, dpa news agency reported.

Germany is trying turn away from Russian gas supplies also due to the Kremlin's attack on Ukraine, which has led to rapid manoeuvring in Berlin to find new sources of energy, such as LNG and renewables.

The Chancellor said that the combination of several different measures ought to help the country get through this difficult phase.

"If things go well, we'll make it happen," he asserted.

In view of high energy prices, Scholz assured that he would relieve the burden on citizens and referred to federal relief packages that have already been passed.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
New York, Aug 11 : The UN expects grain exports from Ukraine to increase following a deal reached between Moscow and Kiev, UN Export Coordinator Frederick Kenney said in New York.

"We have so far authorised 12 vessels to depart to Ukrainian ports, carrying more than 370,000 metric ton of grain and other foodstuff," Kenney added on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a total of five ships were inspected, he said, a new high.

A number of ships are currently awaiting permission to travel to Ukrainian ports "and we're expecting to see a big uptick" in applications for transit, the Coordinator added.

In July, the warring factions Ukraine and Russia signed agreements with Turkey and the UN for the export of agricultural products and fertilisers from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, the dpa news agency reported.

A dozen ships have since left the ports of Chornomorsk, Odessa and Pivdennyi with more than 370,000 ton of cargo.

After its attack on Ukraine at the end of February, Russia blocked the Ukrainian ports. Ukraine, on the other hand, had mined the approaches to the ports for fear of a Russian invasion.

Kenney said there have been no incidents that endangered the safety of ships.

There were also no abnormalities during the search of the ships. The inspections in Turkey are designed to ensure that no weapons are brought into Ukraine or that goods other than grain are not exported.

According to Kenney, cooperation between the representatives of Russia and Ukraine has been constructive.

"I've been extremely impressed with the level of cooperation and coordination that has been displayed," the Coordinator added.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Moscow, Aug 11 : The Foreign Ministers of the G7 economic powers urged Moscow to immediately return Ukraine's embattled Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to full Ukrainian control as fears of disaster grow.

"Ukrainian personnel responsible for the operation of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure," the statement issued on Wednesday said.

"It is Russia's continued domination of the nuclear power plant that endangers the region." The plant, which is near the southern city of Enerhodar and is Europe's biggest, has been shelled several times and was partially damaged last weekend. However, the critical infrastructure is said to remain intact.

Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the attacks. So far, the accusations cannot be independently verified, the dpa news agency reported.

On Russia's initiative, the UN Security Council is to deal with the shelling on Thursday in New York. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is to brief the Council.

The G7 Foreign Ministers stressed "the importance of allowing IAEA experts to be sent to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to address nuclear safety and security concerns and measures".

Moscow lashed out at the UN.

"The UN has unfortunately played a negative role in the case at hand," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian state radio station Sputnik.

Zakharova accused authorities at the UN of preventing an inspection by the IAEA.

"In the UN Secretariat, which deals with problems of nuclear energy, including the consequences of technical disasters and the problem in its broadest sense, they should understand that the world is walking on the precipice," she said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had already complained in a statement on Tuesday that a planned trip by IAEA representatives to the plant fell through at the last minute because of security concerns raised by the UN Secretariat.

The plant's operator Enerhoatom said on Telegram on Wednesday that the site was operating "with the risk of violations of radiation and fire safety specifications".

Elsewhere, at least seven civilians were killed in Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, justice officials said on Wednesday.

The general prosecutor's office in Kiev said that high-rise buildings, single-family houses and shops in the city centre were hit. Seven residents were injured by bomb splinters.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said it rendered a bridge near the Nova Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine unusable, after it was hit by missiles. The occupying forces, however, have not confirmed this information.

Russia largely conquered the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson on the lower reaches of the Dnipro river shortly after the invasion in February. Using long-range missile systems, the Ukrainian army is systematically trying to destroy the only three river crossings in the area to prevent the Russian army from resupplying on the right bank.

In Kiev, the Head of the Ukrainian presidential office said that the country needs the war with Russia to end before the start of winter.

Otherwise, there was a risk that Russia would destroy the heat and energy infrastructure, Andrii Yermak, according to an Interfax agency news agency report on Wednesday.

There was also fighting in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region. Not far from the Zaporizhzhya plant, at least 11 people were killed in missile attacks overnight, the local military said.

A day after explosions rocked Russia's Saki air base on the annexed Crimean Peninsula on Tuesday, information was trickling in, Mykhailo Podoliak said.

At least 10 Russian aircraft were destroyed in the series of blasts, according to Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat.

Officials in Moscow say a breach of fire safety rules was responsible.

But observers assume that bold attack, which took place far beyond the war's front lines, was carried out by Ukrainians.

The leadership in Kiev has not directly claimed responsibility, although presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak tweeted: "This is just the beginning." It would be the first military attack on targets in Crimea since the Russian annexation in 2014.

Crimea's Russian-appointed leader Sergei Aksyonov declared state of emergency in the local district, according to the Interfax news agency. At least 252 residents of the nearby seaside town of Novofedorivka will be relocated to emergency shelters, he added.

He said that criminal investigations into the explosions are ongoing and that two gas supply lines had been temporarily shut down.

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
The United States Mint (Mint) is pleased to announce the public auction on September 1 of special limited editions of 2021 American Eagle at Dusk and at Dawn 35th Anniversary One-Ounce American Eagle Bullion Coins. These limited-edition coins marking transition between old and new designs were produced during a special April 2021 ceremony. The event featured the striking of the last of the American Gold Eagle and American Silver Eagles bearing their original designs and the production of first of those coins featuring the new design.

By offering these unique coin sets for auction, we are reaching out to the broadest audience possible, said United States Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson. It is an exciting opportunity to celebrate a historic transition in American coin design, and to reinforce the worldwide appeal of numismatics, whether collecting for the artistic fascination of the hobby or for the potential investment value.

Stacks Bowers Galleries will conduct the auction at its headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA, at 1550 Scenic Ave. #150, on September 1, and auction attendees will have the option of participating in-person and virtually, at http://www.stacksbowers.com, or by calling 800-458-4646 or 949-253-0916.

Prior to auction, samples of the coins will be on display at the American Numismatic Associations 2022 Chicago World's Fair of Money from August 16-20, 2022 in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Hall F, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont (Chicago), IL 60018, at United States Mint booth 1925 and at Stacks Bowers booth 1006.

The newly designed gold coins have been paired with those with the original gold design, and placed with redesigned silver coins paired with coins of the original silver design, to form extraordinarily unique sets. These historical coins will be auctioned off in single lots, two-coin lots, and four-coin lots.

Former United States Mint Director David J. Ryder personally struck the bullion coins offered at auction, operating the coin presses at the Mints West Point, NY, production facility in April 2021. Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) have certified, graded, and packaged all the coins at auction. The coins are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

In 2021, for the first time since their introduction more than three decades before, the reverse (tails) of American Eagle Gold and Silver Bullion Coins debuted newly designed depictions of eagles.

The redesigned American Eagle Gold Bullion Reverse design depicts a close-up image of an eagle. Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) designer Jennie Norris created the design that was sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Renata Gordon. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, E PLURIBUS UNUM, IN GOD WE TRUST, 50 DOLLARS, and 1 OZ. FINE GOLD.

The coins obverse (heads) features Augustus Saint-Gaudens full-length figure of Liberty with flowing hair, holding a torch in her right hand and an olive branch in her left. Using technical advancements, the United States Mint returned to its original historical assets to render a current design that is a closer reflection of Saint-Gaudens original vision and detail. Inscriptions are LIBERTY and 2022.

The redesigned American Silver Bullion Reverse depicts an eagle as it approaches a landing, carrying an oak branch, as if to add it to a nest. Inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, "E PLURIBUS UNUM, 1 OZ. FINE SILVER and ONE DOLLAR. Artistic Infusion designer Emily Damstra created the design, which was sculpted by Mint Medallic Artist Michael Gaudioso.

The obverse (heads) of the silver coin features a refreshed depiction of Adolph A. Weinmans full-length figure of Liberty in full stride, enveloped in folds of the flag, with her right hand extended and branches of laurel and oak in her left. For the 2021 coin, the United States Mint returned to its original historical assets to render a closer reflection of Weinmans original vision, including the addition of his traditional artist mark.

In addition, the Mint introduced anti-counterfeiting features, including a reeded edge variation on the one-ounce bullion coins (only).

About the United States Mint

Congress created the United States Mint in 1792, and the Mint became part of the Department of the Treasury in 1873. As the Nations sole manufacturer of legal tender coinage, the Mint is responsible for producing circulating coinage for the Nation to conduct its trade and commerce. The Mint also produces numismatic products, including proof, uncirculated, and commemorative coins; Congressional Gold Medals; silver and bronze medals; and silver and gold bullion coins. Its numismatic programs are self-sustaining and operate at no cost to taxpayers.

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We have a good presence in Chicago and are looking to expand our footprint across the Midwest.

Clear Height Properties has purchased a 79,028 square-foot two-building business park located at 1775 and 1801 Old Hwy 8 in New Brighton, MN. The value-add urban industrial tech acquisition is the first in Minnesota for Clear Height.

Located in the bustling I-694/I-35W corridor, the 11-unit complex is 87% leased and is located roughly 20 minutes north of the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities industrial market has witnessed tremendous growth from usersincreasing from 5.0M+ in 2014 to 12.0M+ in 2021. Tenants enjoy access to a robust labor pool, retail amenities, housing, and immediate access to interstate highways.

Harrison Wagenseil and Erik Coglianese of Transwestern represented the seller.

Rush Lake Business Park is our first acquisition in Minnesota, said Jed Degnan, Director of Acquisitions, Clear Height Properties. The properties fit perfectly into our strategy of acquiring efficient assets in infill markets. The Minneapolis/St. Paul market is reporting historically strong figures across all metrics, and we feel that this acquisition is the ideal opportunity for Clear Height to plant its first flag in the market."

We have a good presence in Chicago and are looking to expand our footprint across the Midwest. Primary acquisition targets include, but are not limited to, Minneapolis, St. Louis and the Ohio triangle of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton, said Joe Young, Managing Director, Asset Management and Acquisitions, Clear Height Properties. Were excited to begin executing our business plan.

About Clear Height Properties

Clear Height Properties is a rapidly expanding real estate investment company focused on creating value for its investors by acquiring and developing office and industrial properties throughout the Midwest. Clear Heights full-service platform includes acquisition, asset management, property management, leasing, and project and development services. For more information, please visit http://www.clearheight.com.
Flying commercially is already a hassle most of the time, but the ripple effect of a recession can make it a complete disaster. - Jack Willison, General Manager of JetMembership.com.

As private flight costs continue to rise due to an impending recession and lack of inventory, travelers are searching for better solutions, such as wholesale memberships. JetMembership.com has announced that despite an increase in travel costs, their pricing model and membership structure will remain unchanged.

The economic outlook is expected to continue to deteriorate before improving, and many industries are bracing for the impact of an impending recession. The travel industry is no exception, and there are a number of ways in which a recession could hit businesses operating in this space. One of the most obvious impacts of a recession on the travel industry would be a reduction in overall demand. With middle-class Americans feeling the pinch financially, they are likely to cut back on non-essential spending, including travel. This could lead to a decline in bookings for hotels, airlines and other businesses operating in the travel space.

Another potential impact of a recession on the travel industry would be an increase in price sensitivity among higher end consumers. As all budgets become tighter, consumers will likely comparison shop and look for the best deals on travel-related expenses such as airfare, accommodation and car rentals. This could lead to a decline in margins for businesses operating in the travel industry. A recession could also lead to an increase in business bankruptcies and consolidation within the travel industry. As businesses struggle to cope with declining demand and squeezed margins, some will inevitably fail. This could lead to consolidation within the industry, as larger companies acquire struggling businesses.

While the one percent are not exempt from the effects of a recession, they are usually better able to weather the storm than those in lower income brackets. This is because the wealthy typically have a larger financial cushion to fall back on, as well as access to better resources and opportunities. However, they are still affected due to a number of factors, including stock market declines, reduced bonus payments, and layoffs.

Although the travel industry will feel the impact of a recession in its entirety, the aviation industry is already feeling the negative effects of an economic decline. With crude oil prices climbing to new heights, the aviation sector is facing a fresh challenge in its efforts to recover from the pandemic. Higher fuel prices are eating into airlines' profits, complicating their efforts to rebuild after a disastrous 2020. And with air travel still well below pre-pandemic levels, there's little relief in sight. The situation is a particular problem for budget airlines, which have been struggling to compete with their larger rivals. In the long run, higher fuel prices could lead to higher airfares, further hampering the aviation sector's recovery. Soaring fuel prices are yet another complication in the aviation sector's long and difficult road to recovery.

The higher cost of fuel isnt the only thing that is negatively affecting the commercial airline industry. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket, more people are forced to cut down on all unnecessary spending, including travel. With a recession, airlines would see a drop in demand, and would have to cut back on flights and routes. This would result in job losses for airline employees, from pilots and flight attendants to baggage handlers and ground crew. A recession would also likely lead to a decrease in air travel tax revenue. This is because fewer people would be flying, and therefore paying taxes on their tickets. This would put even more financial pressure on airlines and could lead to even more job losses.

Flying commercially is already a hassle most of the time, but the ripple effect of a recession can make it a complete disaster, said Jack Willison, General Manager of JetMembership.com. It will lead to a slew of issues, like costlier flights, limited routes, last-minute delays and cancelations, lost luggage; the list goes on. Our program is available at a more reasonable cost compared to other private aviation companies.

As the old saying goes, history tends to repeat itself. The global financial crisis that began in 2008 also had a major impact on the aviation industry. Air travel demand decreased as consumers cut down on spending and business travel budgets were also slashed. This led to airlines cutting capacity and, in some cases, going bankrupt. Aircraft manufacturers also experienced reduced orders as airlines delayed or canceled plans to purchase new planes. With another upcoming recession on the horizon, it can be difficult to predict whether recent aircraft orders through large aviation companies will eventually be fulfilled.

Customers who fly privately using jet cards are already used to certain restrictions that limit their options. With a recession, however, these limitations are only likely to worsen. Most of these programs require deposits of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unused and expiring hours can also create a much more significant financial hardship for cardholders in trying economic times.

Whether people are traveling for business or pleasure, there are ways to continue to fly private while also saving money. JetMembership.com offers members wholesale rates through their exclusive program, which can be the perfect solution for affordable private aviation, even during financially strained times.

JetMembership.com is a private aviation company that has been in operation for over 12 years with thousands of satisfied customers who have flown on tens of thousands of flights. In exchange for a flat fee, members have exclusive access to wholesale, no-commission rates on all chartered flights.

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To learn more about JetMembership.com, please contact Noah Terry, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at 1(631) 676 7488 ext 19 or send an email to Nterry@jetmembership.com. Visit JetMembership.com on the web at http://www.jetmembership.com. or download their app at Apples App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).
"Providing an appropriate emergency response to those experiencing mental health, substance abuse, and behavioral health issues is vitally important, and a response often found outside the 911 system. We're grateful for the opportunity to continue to support the state of Maine in this initiative."

Mission Critical Partners (MCP) announced today that it will continue to support the state of Maines Emergency Services Communication Bureau (ESCB) as it implements 911/988 service integration. MCP specifically will help the state develop policies and procedures to address screening calls for crisis-response services. The ESCB is a division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC).

This initiative is the latest in Maine's effort to prepare for the launch of 988 service, the newly designated three-digit dialing code, which took effect nationwide on July 16, 2022. The new dialing code will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Veterans Crisis Line. Public-safety organizations nationwide have been working to determine how they can support 988 service and other alternative responses for citizens in crisis, including referrals to mental-health professionals and others dealing with homelessness, substance abuse, and other social challenges.

Maine enacted a law in 2021 that required the ESCB to submit a report to the legislature regarding potential protocols, procedures, and future legislation to ensure the delivery of crisis-response services via Maine's 911 and 988 systems. The objective is to connect citizens to the appropriate support when they are experiencing mental health, substance abuse, and behavioral health issues.

MCP collaborated with the ESCB to deliver the report, which resulted in the state legislature passing H.P. 1498 - L.D. 2016. The law calls for formation of the stakeholder working group recommended in the report and the development of policies and procedures to address the screening and transferring of calls for crisis-response services.

MCP's role in the project involved the following:



Facilitating seven focus group discussions and interviewing subject-matter experts.

Creating and distributing a customized survey to representatives of the state's emergency communication centers (ECCs), four dispatch-only centers, and the law enforcement, fire/rescue, and emergency medical agencies in the state.

Conducting research that included, but was not limited to, review of related articles, policies, and procedures, as well as analysis of established and pilot programs in other states.

Analyzing the data, developing an assessment of the current state of crisis-response services delivery in Maine, and drafting a comprehensive report.

Critical recommendations for future action contained in the report include the following:

Integrate an emergency mental health dispatch (EMHD) protocol into the emergency medical dispatch (EMD) protocol used by ECCs  also known as public safety answering points (PSAPs)  and dispatch-only centers in the state.

Train all telecommunicators in Maine's ECCs and the dispatch-only centers on using the EMHD protocols and other crisis-response skills via a standardized training regimen.

Establish a statewide EMHD protocol coordinator and a multidisciplinary committee that consists of a cross-section of stakeholders to ensure effective communication and implementation of the EMHD protocols and to drive improvements as emergency mental-health service delivery matures in the state.

MCP also supported Maine's participation in a 988/911 policy academy hosted in June by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

"Providing an appropriate emergency response to those experiencing mental health, substance abuse, and behavioral health issues is vitally important, and a response often found outside the 911 system," said Darrin Reilly, MCP's president and chief executive officer. "We're grateful for the opportunity to continue to support the state of Maine in this initiative."

About Mission Critical Partners (MCP)

Mission Critical Partners (MCP) is a leading provider of data integration, consulting, network, and cybersecurity solutions specializing in transforming mission-critical communications networks into integrated ecosystems that improve outcomes in the public safety, justice, healthcare, transportation, and utility markets. Our comprehensive experience and vendor-agnostic approach helps us develop modernized solutions for our clients to maximize value and create optimal efficiency while mitigating risk. Additional information and career opportunities are available at http://www.MissionCriticalPartners.com
Mario Lopez said: "I am beyond excited to begin the process of identifying the most talented performers from all over the world to form the most iconic Latin boy band in history."

Mario Lopez and Menudo Productions announced the start of the online auditions for the new Menudo. Lopez announced Menudo's "A New Beginning" talent search for the first five members of the new Menudo last month. The 90-second video announcement by Lopez was posted on all of Menudo's social media channels with instructions on how to access Menudo's audition App. The App goes live at 11:11 AM EST today (08/09/2022).

Menudo's audition App enables performers to sing up to 3 songs from a selection of 20 backing tracks of English, and Spanish language hit songs by iconic artists.

The App also allows contestants to sing one original song and requires each to dance to at least one song. All performers must be between 12 and 16 and have consent from a parent or legal guardian. Menudo Productions will donate a portion of the $25 entrance fee to support multiple charities.

Mario Lopez said: "I am beyond excited to begin the process of identifying the most talented performers from all over the world to form the most iconic Latin boy band in history."

Menudo Productions will be judging the auditions daily and posting select auditions weekly on Menudo's social media channels for fan response. Lopez will also host a weekly highlight video spotlighting some of the week's best auditions. The App, which was developed and is supported by Heartout.io, a Miami-based technology company, is available by going to http://www.menudo.com. The best talent from the online auditions will be invited to attend the live auditions starting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on September 17.

Fans are encouraged to register at menudo.com and follow Menudo's social media channels to participate in the audition process. Potential talent can also go to http://www.menudo.com to download the App to submit their audition today. All 20 backing tracks can be heard on the album "A New Beginning (Official Audition Tracks 2022)", currently available on Spotify, Apple, and all other major streaming platforms.

FOLLOW MENUDO ON SOCIALS

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Our customers know that Papaya Globals technology and approach to payroll and employee payments is transformative, and clearly our peers in the Forbes Cloud 100 agree, said Eynat Guez, CEO and co-founder of Papaya Global.

Papaya Global, the leading global people management platform for the remote working era, announced today being named to the Forbes 2022 Cloud 100 based on growth, sales, valuation, and company culture in addition to a reputation score determined by 26 executives from cloud-company peer companies.

Papaya Global, valued at over $3.7 billion, has seen tremendous growth in the past year and acquired a money-transfer business that is part of its strategy to transform its global payroll business into a next-generation payments company serving companies with employees spread across the world. The prestigious ranking on the Forbes 2022 Cloud 100 list validates Papayas trajectory in the market.

Our customers know that Papaya Globals technology and approach to payroll and employee payments is transformative, and clearly our peers in the Forbes Cloud 100 agree, said Eynat Guez, CEO and co-founder of Papaya Global. We are providing innovative solutions to employee needs and empowering finance, HR, and business leaders with insights into global payroll through consolidated, real-time visibility, and now were being recognized on this well-respected list as a result of that innovation.

The Forbes Cloud 100 is a definitive ranking of the top private cloud companies in the world, published by Forbes in partnership with Bessemer Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures.

The companies of the Cloud 100 list represent the best and brightest private companies in this fast-growing sector, said Alex Konrad, senior editor at Forbes.

For the seventh straight year, the Cloud 100 reviews 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%). For market leadership, the Cloud 100 enlists the help of a judging panel of public cloud company CEOs who assist in evaluating and ranking their private company peers.

Great companies are born out of all environments, and its exciting to see the continued momentum in the cloud sector, said Alex Kayyal, managing partner, Salesforce Ventures. As the need for digital transformation continues to drive innovation and efficiencies across industries, we can look to these companies as the absolute best in cloud computing.

The Forbes 2022 Cloud 100 and 20 Rising Stars lists are published online at http://www.forbes.com/cloud100. Highlights of the list appear in the August/September 2022 issue of Forbes magazine.

About Papaya Global

Papaya Global powers global hiring by enabling people, payroll, and payment management for organizations in over 160 countries. When companies want to remove barriers to global hiring, enhance engagement, and optimize employee experience at the same time  they call Papaya Global. Papaya's automated, cloud-based SaaS platform provides an end-to-end solution, from onboarding to ongoing management and cross-border payments. The platform is customizable to all business requirements, integrates with existing HRIS management tools, and uses intelligent technology to ensure compliance and eliminate errors. It gathers all employee information into one place, creating a highly visible system for tracking payroll spending and providing real-time business intelligence. Papaya's team currently spans Tel Aviv, New York, Austin, London, Krakow, Kiev, Singapore, and Melbourne http://www.papayaglobal.com.
We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

August 10, 2022  Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in West Texas. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide.

Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The West Texas job market is one of the most competitive in the U.S. Southwest, employing around 850,000 people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for West Texas are as follows:



The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in West Texas, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Head of Content)

Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com

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We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in Richmond, Virginia. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide.

Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The Richmond, Virginia job market is one of the most competitive in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, employing over 600,000 people. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Richmond are as follows:



The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in Richmond, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://myployeradvisor.com/https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Head of Content)

Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com

###
We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor, the leading independent platform for employers to research, review, and evaluate insurance brokers is pleased to announce the winners of its Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards based in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mployer Advisor has named more than 600 winners in over 50 regions as part of its second annual 2022 awards. The class of 2022 winners account for less than 5% of all brokerages nationwide.

Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards Program evaluates brokerages based on the breadth and depth of their experience across employer industries, sizes, insurance products, and employer reviews. We recognize esteemed brokers that demonstrate market-leading competencies and a proven track record of success among employers, insurance providers, and peers.

The team at Mployer Advisor is proud to honor this group of top insurance consultants as part of the 2022 class for our second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, said Brian Freeman, the Founder and CEO of Mployer Advisor. Employer-sponsored healthcare and benefits cover over 150M Americans. Who an employer selects as their benefits advisor has more impact on cost and quality than who they choose as the insurance carrier. We scored these brokerages utilizing sophisticated, industry-first algorithms, and we applaud the winners demonstrated commitment to service, quality, and positive employer feedback.

Mployer Advisor determined the winners of the second annual Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards by analyzing each brokerage based on historical data, online reviews, their M Score rating, and demonstrated business experience.

The Miami & Fort Lauderdale job markets are competitive in the U.S. Southeast, employing over 3 million people and boasting an unemployment rate of just 2.4%. Offering competitive employee benefits is a critical factor in hiring top talent for the regions employers. Finding and partnering with a highly rated insurance consultant is imperative to retaining talent in any market.

The recipients of the 2022 Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards for Miami & Fort Lauderdale are as follows:



The above winners are a snapshot of Mployer Advisors matrices and proprietary M Score on June 1, 2022. To view a full list of consultants in Miami & Fort Lauderdale, visit MployerAdvisor.com.

To view a complete list of the 2022 recipients of Mployer Advisors Top Employee Benefits Consultant Awards, visit https://mployeradvisor.com/best-insurance-brokers.

About Mployer Advisor:

Mployer Advisor is changing the way employers search, evaluate, and select insurance advisors. The intuitive platform connects employers and employees to great benefits and insurance plans by providing employers with actionable data to easily evaluate and select the best advisor for a companys specific needs. Most brokerages have a profile on Mployer Advisor, which provides independent ratings of insurance advisors to support employers. Insurance brokers cannot pay to influence their Mployer Advisor rating. Only highly rated brokerages are allowed to advertise on the platform. To learn more about Mployer Advisor, visit https://myployeradvisor.com/https://mployeradvisor.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

Disclaimer: Rankings are dynamic, and this report may not reflect the rankings currently listed on Mployer Advisors website. Because Mployer Advisors research is ongoing, interested companies that want to join next years list are encouraged to claim their free profile on Mployer Advisor.

Media Contact:

Abbey Dean (Head of Content)

mailto:Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com [Abbey.dean@mployeradvisor.com __title__ null]

###
Kumar Saha, Vice President (US) / Managing Director (Canada) Eucon has rapidly expanded in the region in the last two years with a slate of new data solutions for OEMs, suppliers, and retailers. - David Shanahan, President, Eucon Americas LLC

Eucon Americas LLC is pleased to announce Kumar Saha as Vice President, U.S., in addition to his current role as Managing Director, Canada. In this new dual position, Kumar will direct business development activities, data operations, and product development in the U.S. and Canadian markets.

I am excited to have Kumar lead the next wave of product and customer growth for Eucon Americas, said David Shanahan, President of Eucon Americas LLC. Eucon has rapidly expanded in the region in the last two years with a slate of new data solutions for OEMs, suppliers, and retailers. With his extensive automotive industry experience, relationships, and knowledge, Kumar will work closely with clients and the Eucon team to shape the future of our products.

It has been great to see how Eucons Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) solutions enable our customers to maximize their opportunities, particularly in a dynamic and challenging economic environment, said Kumar. I look forward to bringing more technology-driven products to the market and helping our customers thrive.

Kumar joined the company in 2020 as Head of Eucon Canada. Prior to that, Kumar worked as Research Director at the global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, where he led the companys automotive aftermarket research and consulting practice. Kumar has been actively involved with automotive aftermarket associations as a conference speaker and council member during his 12+ years in the industry.

About Eucon

Eucon is a digital pioneer for data and process intelligence. As a trailblazer for digital change, Eucon has been supporting companies in the automotive, insurance and real estate industries since 1997 in digitalizing their processes, leveraging data treasures and implementing digital business models. Eucon has comprehensive market data and in-depth expert knowledge and combines this expertise with cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation to create intelligent automation solutions. With over 450 employees, the company serves 250 customers in more than 80 countries from offices in Europe, North and Latin America and Asia-Pacific.

In the automotive aftermarket, we are a global market leader offering best-in-class market information and data-based systems for effective product management. Vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers use our solutions built with billions of data points and expert knowledge, to define and implement their market and competitive strategies in aftersales.

More information is available at: http://www.eucon.com/en

Media contacts:

Eucon Americas LLC

Kumar Saha

Vice President, US / Managing Director, Canada

kumar.saha@eucon.com

Tel. +1 365 364 2305
Heres to the next 100 years!

Theres nothing like a summer block party to kick off a companys next 100 years and in Vernon last weekend, Coast Packing greeted friends and family with vivid reasons for its longevity.

Along with hundreds of employees past and present, Coast celebrated a century of transformation -- and 100 years of great taste -- during an afternoon dedicated to showcasing both the staying power of family leadership and the enduring appeal of food that is authentic, traditional, and just plain delicious.

With carnival games, music, and a special appearance by Coasts 3500-hp 69 ProCharger Pro Mod Camaro, the program for the days festivities paid tribute to Coasts extended family, including City of Vernon officials and the Vernon Chamber of Commerce.

An integral part of Southern Californias restaurant, baking and food industries, Coast is the number one supplier of animal fat shortenings lard and beef tallow in the Western United States. The company was founded in 1922 as a livestock and meatpacking business and expanded over the years into a foodindustry leader.

These days, its not that unusual for a company to hit the century mark. said Eric R. Gustafson, Coasts Chairman and CEO. People, after all, are living longer than ever. But not that many companies connect their business trajectory to stories, personal stories, as profoundly as Coast Packing does. Coasts story is my familys story and really does embody the American Dream.

There was nothing inevitable about our familys perseverance and persistence, Gustafson said. Coast crossed the century mark through acts of will and acts of vision, following twists and turns and a myriad of shifts in the market, in consumer demand, in the regulatory environment.

No matter the challenge or opportunity, Coast stayed the course while the course itself was changing because we stayed true to our core values of honesty, integrity, and respect, and to put the company and our people first, he said. That, I believe, is what it means to be visionary. With Coast, as with so many endeavors, it takes a village  in this case, that means honoring our employees, past, present, and future. Our suppliers. Our customers. Our community -- the leadership in Vernon, who make this great city successful.

And, always, it circles back to family, ours and yours. Were here in part to honor Gen 5, even before their time arrives, Gustafson said. We are so proud of being a family business and treating our business as family. I believe that explains a lot about why were here today. My family and I thank all of you for shaping what Coast has been and what it will become. One hundred truly is a magic number. Heres to the next 100 years!

About Coast Packing Company

Now marking its 100th year in business, Coast Packing Company (http://www.coastpacking.com), a closely held corporation, is the number one supplier of animal fat shortenings  particularly lard and beef tallow -- in the Western United States. The company sells to major manufacturers, CPG companies, QSR and fast-food restaurant chains, broadline food service distributors, retailers, smaller food service operations, and leading bakeries. The company participates actively in diverse ethnic markets  from Hispanic retail chains, with its VIVA brand, to various Asian specialty markets. Based in Vernon, Calif., Coast Packing Company is regional, national and, increasingly, global. In some cases, relationships are multigenerational, extending back 50 years and more. Coast is a founding member of the Healthy Fats Coalition (http://www.healthyfatscoalition.org/).

For more information about Coast Packing Company, visit: http://www.coastpacking.com. Follow us via social media on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/coastpackingco, Twitter @coastpackingco and Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/coastpackingco.
78-percent of taxpayers support increased funding for county arts programs & subsidization for artists, 82-percent would enroll in affordable and accessible arts programs, in a nationally representative poll conducted by Second Wave Learning.

New Poll Finds Overwhelming Majority of American Workers Support Increasing County Arts Funding

78-percent of taxpayers support increased funding for county arts programs & subsidization for artists, 82-percent would enroll in affordable and accessible arts programs.

78% of taxpayers (full-time employed Americans) support increasing investments in the arts at the county-level, including providing affordable housing, subsidized studio space, and public infrastructure for arts festivals and public markets, a new study from Second Wave Learning finds. Additionally, 82-percent of Americans would likely enroll in an arts courseincluding photography, painting, cooking, or music--if their county made such courses easily accessible and affordable.

Not only do residents seek to live in areas with arts communities, but research shows a positive correlation between public art and both quality of life (Seresinhe 2015) and property values (Seresinhe & Preis 2016).

The arts community has been historically underfunded in the United States compared to most advanced nations. Our research demonstrates that peoples preferences are not aligned with government policy. Weve really missed the target here. Wright goes on to say, Investments in the arts should not be a foreign concept. Our local communities need support.

Conducted in July 2022, Second Wave Learning, a Virginia-based research and consulting firm, found a representative sample of Americans 30-percent strongly agree, and 48-percent agree, that their county should increase funding for arts programs and public subsidies for supporting and attracting local artists to their community.

Random sample of 365 Americans employed full time (40+ hours per week), conducted July 1-2, 2022. The polls margin of error was +/- 5 percentage points, 95% confidence interval.

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1) Seresinhe CI, Preis T, Moat HS. 2015. Quantifying the impact of scenic environments on health. Sci. Rep. 5, 16899.

2) Seresinhe CI, Preis T, Moat HS. 2016. Quantifying the link between art and property prices in urban neighbourhoodsR. Soc. open sci.3160146160146.

Michael Katz

703 559-9130

michael@secondwavelearning.com

http://www.secondwavelearning.com
mTelehealth Nonagons technology is nine steps ahead of the telehealth world by creating limitless access between patients, caretakers, and healthcare organizations.- Marc Poulshock, President and CEO, mTelehealth

With the mission to strengthen its healthcare services for patients and residents, Vista Grande Villa officially announced the adoption of a game-changing digital telehealth platform, Nonagon, to provide its skilled nursing center with 24/7 access to patients health care providers (HCPs) whenever the need arises. Nonagons N9 hand-held device enables 9 medical-grade exams to be captured and shared with HCPs, bolstered by Nonagons proprietary, HIPAA-compliant, and secure communication platform and database.

The FDA-cleared N9 device communicates with a laptop, tablet, or smartphone for clinical-grade remote examinations of the heart, lungs, abdomen, oxygen saturation (important for diagnosing COVID), ears, mouth/throat, skin, and body temperature. Nonagon automatically documents and shares exam results (via photo, audio, video, or text-based message) to physicians which can help in improving health outcomes, reducing visits to the Emergency Room and reducing readmissions.

The integration of Nonagon into Vista Grande Villas skilled nursing centers infrastructure, provided by mTelehealth, comes as part of a grant awarded to Vista Grande Villa and two other Health Care Providers by the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program, using telecommunication technology to reduce patients unnecessary risk of exposure to infectious disease and other dangers related to leaving the facility during recovery.

For any telehealth solution to be successful in supporting senior living communities and nursing care facilities, it needs to give clinicians the tools capable of painting a clear clinical picture, but more critically, the ability for a nurse and provider to have a discussion, according to mTelehealth CEO Marc Poulshock. Nonagons technology is nine steps ahead of the telehealth world by creating limitless access between patients, caretakers, and healthcare organizations.

Vista Grande Villa is a 318-unit non-profit senior living community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing care.

"Since 1972, Vista Grande Villa has been committed to providing the best senior living experience in Jackson, Michigan and we are continuing that legacy by integrating Nonagons world-class telehealth services into our already successful health care," said Vista Grande Villa Executive Director Chelsea Eisele. Going forward, Vista Grande Villa's skilled nursing center will be able to connect, consult, and access a more accurate level of diagnoses from physicians, as if they are on site. This will complement our existing on-site physician visits.

When Kauhale Healthcare began management of Vista Grande Villa in March 2022, we committed to bringing the best technology available to the campus and we believe that the Nonagon platform is just that, the best, said Jim Palculict, COO of Kauhale Healthcare. We looked at a number of options to telecommunicate with physicians and the one that stuck out is Nonagon because it provides so much more than a HIPAA-compliant video chat, it actually facilitates an intimate, informative virtual exam, and it is surprisingly cost-effective considering all that it does.

"We are happy to serve the Vista Grande Villa community with our platform that caters to the needs of seniors as a multi-functional, cost-efficient, and accurate solution that can be carried in the palm of the hand while being versatile and adjustable to any type of organization, according to Nonagons CEO Alon Natanson, The minds behind this platform built it to benefit patients from infants to senior citizens, physicians of various specializations, and healthcare organizations  no matter how large or small. Nonagon is an all-in-one solution for all.

About mTelehealth

mTelehealth, LLC, founded in 2010 and based in Delray Beach, FL, is a premier provider of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM), Telemedicine, Chronic Care Management (CCM), Virtual Exam, Video Visit, and related Telehealth solutions. Our Remote Health Monitoring System, Powered by aTouchAway, provides a complete solution to remotely collect, store, and report timely and accurate health information anywhere. Furthermore, the innovative, cutting-edge, Nonagon N9 device and platform powers our virtual exam creating limitless access between healthcare organizations and their patients by bringing the clinician "into the room" with the patient like no other telehealth solution. We connect patients with their families and care providers through our easy-to-use, affordable, telehealth devices and platforms. For more information, visit their website: https://mtelehealth.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

About Nonagon

Nonagon is a fast-growing medical device company, with offices based in Israel (HQ) and the United States. Nonagon seeks to make remote digital medicine clinically reliable and accessible to the community in the fields of family, chronic, and pediatric and is pursuing that by introducing new digital enhancements and creating new opportunities for better patient care. For more information, visit http://www.nonagon-care.com.

About Vista Grande Villa

Founded in 1972, Vista Grande Villa has been providing residential and care services to seniors in the Jackson region for more than 50 years. With its new management under Kauhale Healthcare, Vista Grande Villa ensures that the senior community will experience quality services and care while embracing individual choice and independence. For more information, visit: https://vistagrandevilla.com.

About Kauhale Healthcare Management

Founded in 2021, Kauhale Healthcare Management (kauhalehealth.com) is a Midwest-based firm led by five principals with a combined 130 years of experience in senior living/integrated post-acute care operations, acquisitions, operational transfers, and development. Their team has experience across 20 U.S. states, including management responsibilities for more than 300 stand-alone Independent Living (IL), Assisted Living (AL), Memory Care (MC), Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), and Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) properties.
Until now, these legendary steak houses have been localized and celebrated as staples within their own communities. We want to give the best steak houses a national platform to pay tribute to the heart, soul and reputation put into every plate," says Sambol.

Legendary restaurateur and owner of the Original Bobs Steak & Chop House, Bob Sambol, announces the launch of the Steak House Hall of Fame mobile app and website.

The app and website use GPS technology to source vetted steak houses from a database of 2,100+ restaurants to offer users local and high-quality options near them. The program also offers users the ability to explore the restaurant's website, menu, and photos.

The app and website are launched in conjunction with the Steak House Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor given to select individually owned and operated Steak Houses across the nation. Sambol, along with a Board of Directors comprised of restaurant and hospitality veterans, vets and selects Steak Houses to join the exclusive community. Steak Houses that are a cut above the rest, meet a critical review, and are approved by the Board of Directors will be inducted into the Steak House Hall of Fame  honoring those that have, and are, taking the industry and art of preparing and serving the finest steaks to the next level.

At its launch, four steak houses are included in the elite Hall of Fame, including Halls Chophouse in Charleston, South Carolina; Angus Barn in Raleigh, North Carolina; Taylors Steakhouse in Dumas, Arkansas; and The Original Bobs Steak & Chop House on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas, Texas. Steak houses can be nominated for consideration on the website and the app.

It is time to bring the greatest steak houses in America together, says Sambol. Until now, these legendary steak houses have been localized and celebrated as staples within their own communities. We want to give the best steak houses a national platform to pay tribute to the heart, soul and reputation put into every plate.

Restaurants inducted into the Hall of Fame are highlighted on the website and in the app with personalized content including videos with owners and operators, behind-the-scenes perspectives, and a host of additional content. Additional video exposes with industry legends include Jack Jackson, who partnered for 18 years with Hollywood megastar Burt Reynolds in Fort Lauderdales Burt & Jacks, former Publisher and Editor Jim Doherty of Nations Restaurant News, and Dale Wamstad, Founder and Owner of Del Friscos Double Eagle Steakhouse, which sold for the most money ever paid for a single unit restaurant.

Download the free Mobile App from iOS or Android stores and visit http://www.steakhousehalloffame.com for more information.
I was raised by a mother who deeply believed in the revolutionary power of Love to shift, shape, and change the world. Love in action is the most ancient ritual of repair. Powerful enough to mend hearts and heal past traumas; a strong enough currency to revitalize communities.

The National Black Theatre (NBT) proudly announces the full line up for its 55th season  2022-2023 on the heels of announcing Learn To Love Yourself: Silent Disco and Portrait Series that kicks off programming August 13. Building on the enormous success of its last season, which included such works as the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fat Ham, NBT invites audiences to experience another powerful lineup of exciting and thought-provoking productions and events. Themed NBT Beyond Walls: Love, A Ritual of Repair, this season uplifts and pays special attention to the healing power of love housed in the Black arts and the inspiring creatives telling the complexity of stories that exist within the Black Community. This season leads off with three world premiere productions in partnership with three amazing theaters in NYC. And for the first time, the institution will activate its hi-house residency with the Chelsea Factory.

I was raised by a mother who deeply believed in the revolutionary power of Love to shift, shape, and change the world. Love in action is the most ancient ritual of repair. Powerful enough to mend hearts and heal past traumas; a strong enough currency to revitalize communities. This season all of NBTs programming is dedicated to the catalytic vibration of Love as a ritual offering by our diverse roster of artists to the communities we all love so dear, said Sade Lythcott, CEO National Black Theatre.

NBTs 3rd Beyond Walls itineran season will launch with the workshop production, of I AM SOUL Resident Playwright TyLie Shiders beautifully evocative, The Gospel Woman, directed by Adrienne D. Williams. The Gospel Woman tells the story of the Fowlers, a ministry family in Plainfield, New Jersey circa 1972, following the 1967 race riots. Sisters Ruth and Orpah Fowler must find a way to set aside their differences and a feud stemming from a demo that helped launch the younger Orpahs, successful award-winning R&B career, if they are to help their aging father, keep the church from foreclosure while healing and re-connecting as a family unit. Performances run November 9-13, 2022 at the Chelsea Factory.

Continuing the theme of loss and recovery, and the ritual of repair, is the world premiere of Amani, written by a.k. payne and directed by Josiah Davis, current Soul Series Directing Resident. Co-produced in partnership with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, this is a story of hope and one fathers dream to build a rocket ship with his young daughter Amani; to take her away to a place beyond the gangs that took his first loves life, where there are no prisons to take Black Boys best years, protecting her from the ugliness of this world. As she enters adulthood, Amani begins the search for her own voice and her own dreams. Will she make it to the moon? Performances run February 6  March 5, 2023, at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater.

(pray) is a boundary-pushing dance-theater work created by Princess Grace Award-winning choreographer, director, and playwright nicHi Douglas, with music by the extraordinary Starr Busby and JJJJJerome Ellis. A co-production with Ars Nova, this world premiere musical is inspired by the structure of a Sunday Baptist church service, (pray) combines song, text, and dance to create a joy-filled healing experience for audiences and artists alike. It opens with an ensemble of twelve intergenerational Black women entering the sacred space; greeting each other and audiences; and flows through the rhythms of hymns, readings, rituals, and offerings, with comedy throughout. This production is scheduled for March 9  April 8, 2023, at Greenwich House.

Next up is the theatrical world premiere of Bernardas Daughters, written by Diane Exavier and directed by Dominique Rider, a graduate of NBTS Soul Series Directing Residency program. A co-production with the award-winning theater company, The New Group. Bernadas Daughters is a story told through the eyes of the five Abellard sisters who take refuge in their family home during a sweltering summer in Flatbush, amid gentrifying construction and street protests. Simmering in the loss of their father and their neighborhood, they clash over how to contend with the legacy of their Haitian parents in a city that is no longer theirs. The story confronts issues of class, race, gentrification, and addresses the question of a womans place in a rapidly changing world. The play, inspired by the classic, House of Bernarda Alba by Federico Garcia Lorca, is scheduled for performances May 2  June 18, 2023 in the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center.

Love is the foundation. Love is a force that artists have continually used to keep the lights on in the midnight hour and these works this season are dedicated to celebrating that moment in the midst of the darkness. We have crafted a LOVE note forged out of lessons learned since 1968 from Dr. Barbara Ann Teer, who provides us with space during our 55th season. A series of connected events has become a ritual that invites us to have a conversation around repairing the spaces that as a society and a community need mending, says Jonathan McCrory, Executive Artistic Director of National Black Theatre.

Rounding out the 55th season, NBT will conclude with a new play by Fedna Jacquet, I AM SOUL Resident Playwright. Her play, Black Mother Lost Daughter (BMLD), offers a searing and haunting look at the trauma of loss as the playwright challenges us to consider the gap between justice and responsibility. In her life, Queen painted vivid portraits that captured the truth of her subjects, but when she is killed by police, her sister Princess must keep her memory alive and her mother afloat. This is an honest review of how a national reckoning echoes in the lives of three women. Spring/Summer performance dates (at the Chelsea Factory) will be announced at a later date, along with more information on the workshop production.

To learn more visit https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/2022-2023-season.

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NATIONAL BLACK THEATRE (NBT), the nations first revenue-generating Black arts complex, was founded in 1968 by the late visionary artist Dr. Barbara Ann Teer. NBT is the longest-running Black theatre in New York City, one of the oldest theatres founded and consistently operated by a woman of color in the nation, and most recently included in the permanent collection of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. NBTs core mission is to produce transformational theatre that helps to shift the inaccuracies around African Americans cultural identity by telling authentic stories of Black life. As an alternative learning environment, NBT uses theatre arts as a way to educate, enrich, entertain, empower, and inform the national conscience around current social issues impacting our communities. Under the leadership of Sade Lythcott, CEO, and Jonathan McCrory, executive artistic director, NBT helps re-shape a more inclusive American theatre field by providing an artistically rigorous and culturally sensitive space for artists of color to experiment, develop and present new work. Working with trailblazing artists from Nona Hendrix to Jeremy O. Harris, and helping to launch the careers, most recently, of artists such as Dominique Morisseau, Radha Blank, Mfoniso Udofia, Saheem Ali, Lee Edward Colston II, and Ebony Noelle Golden, and incubating Obie Award-winning companies like The Movement Theatre Company and Harlem9s 48Hours in Harlem, NBTs cultural production remains unparalleled. Located in the heart of Harlem, NBT welcomes more than 90,000 visitors annually; has produced 300+ original works; won an Obie award and 56 Audelco Awards; received a CEBA Award of Merit; and has been nominated for multiple Drama Desk awards. NBT is supported by grants from Booth Ferris Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Ford Foundation, New York Community Trust, Shubert Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Jerome Foundation, Mellon Foundation, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation, William Randolph Hearst Foundation, City Council of New York, City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and private donations. Visit http://www.nationalblacktheatre.org or follow NBT on Facebook (@NationalBlackTheatre) and Twitter/Instagram (@NatBlackTheatre).
This latest, additional patent for preserving biologics marks a paradigm shift for skincare and adds additional protection to Aesthetics Biomedicals product portfolio, Shaun Wootten, Director of Innovation and Design.

Aesthetics Biomedical Inc (ABM), a leader in regenerative medicine and advanced aesthetics committed to the development and distribution of breakthrough, novel, and personalized aesthetic devices and products announces the issuance of its third US patent for Biological Preserving Composition and Methods of Use from the United States Patent Trademark Office. The newly issued [third] patent continues the protection of its innovation in the proprietary topical compositions of its SoME Skincare product which combines with physician infused biologics and presents the future of personalized skincare.

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, MaryAnn Guerra says of the issuance Once again, I am excited to see that Aesthetics Biomedicals innovations have been validated by the issuance of a new patent, further strengthening our SoME Skincare brand and patent portfolio. Our SoME Skincare product line will be expanded to fully utilize the broader patent coverage, under the leadership of our Director of Innovation & Design, Shaun Wootten.

SoME Skincare, medically dispensed through professional offices, with its unique technology platform combines the bodys own regenerative cytokines within skincare. Proven in skin renewal and regeneration, SoME Skincare is clinically shown to improve both visual and cellular facial aging. This latest, additional patent for preserving biologics marks a paradigm shift for skincare and adds additional protection to Aesthetics Biomedicals product portfolio, said Shaun Wootten, Director of Innovation and Design. This is Aesthetics Biomedicals broadest patent yet on the matter and cements the ingenuity of our Center of Aesthetic Innovation.

The growth factors, derived from Platelet Rich Plasma [PRP] infused within its advanced formula signals the biochemical receptors on the cell surface to stimulate new collagen and new elastin critical for regeneration and repair of photodamaged skin to produce a personalized, autologous skincare treatment. Aesthetics Biomedical Inc. is continuing to build its pipeline of regenerative products with a focus on skin, hair, and nail personalized products. The patents cover multiple delivery systems including, gel, cream, ointment, and spray. This is coupled with the PRP serving as a rich source of exosomes that provide a natural comprehensive means for regeneration. According to Lawrence A Rheins PhD, Chief Scientific Officer, The additional patent protection offered for SoME Skincare, will continue to provide Aesthetics Biomedical with a unique technology platform consisting of stabilized platelet rich plasma, permitting Aesthetics Biomedical to develop a multitude of topical products for various skin conditions including facial anti-aging.

ABOUT AESTHETICS BIOMEDICAL: Aesthetics Biomedical Inc., headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is committed to the development and distribution of novel aesthetic devices, products, and services in the global market. Aesthetics Biomedicals innovation center is a leader in breakthrough technologies and combination therapies for its clients, physician network, and the aesthetic arena, creating novel and unique patient experiences that benefit from ongoing research, approved clinical indications for use, as well as a personalized approach designed for consumer benefit. For more information, please visit [AestheticsBiomedical.com.
Kimberly Jensen, who resides in Wisconsin, has completed her new book Taikatu: a gripping and potent novel that follows Chrissy on her journey into the rainforest. Her biggest excitement is watching her beloved Devin work alongside the professor as the two of them decipher the golden glyphs in the cave.

Chrissy knows that Vicki, the professors assistant, is not a fan of hers, so she decides to hang out with Ricardo. She is fascinated by his story of the elusive smoke people, reported to be hidden in this area, and how so many people had mysteriously disappeared. Of course, she knows that would not happen to them. Still, the thought makes a cold chill run down her spine.

Author Kimberly Jensen writes, Vicki, would you come in here, please? Professor Britton released the intercom button and began to rub his temples. Victoria Standish entered his office. She had been a student at Harvard, but recently she had become more involved with her secretarial duties to the professor. Victoria was a smart woman. She wasnt the most attractive, but she knew how to manipulate men. When she first entered the university, Professor Britton was one of the most sought-after men in the nation. Never married, handsome, well-established, and very well-known. Her ticket to an easy life. So far, the professor had played right into her seduction game.

Published by Page Publishing, Kimberly Jensens engrossing tale follows Chrissy and the team on their adventure of a lifetime.

Readers who wish to experience this page-turning work can purchase Taikatu at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Linda Taborn, a proud family matriarch from North Carolina who is a born again Christian, has completed her new book Thankful: a faith based read encouraging thankfulness.

Taborn shares, It seems we live in a society where people are not as thankful as we should be. It appears the societal norm equates to inconsideration and selfishness. It is apparent that we do not give God the thanks and acknowledgment that we should. However, when reading the Bible, we are made aware just how important being thankful and giving thanks unto God is. Hopefully, this book will serve as a reminder that we all have so much to be thankful for.

Published by Page Publishing, Linda Taborns uplifting tale shares an encouraging reminder for believers that there is much in life to be thankful for and that in opening their hearts and minds to Gods love by showing thanks, He will guide their path.

Readers who wish to experience this inspiring work can purchase Thankful at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Mazell Shepherd Miley, a Kentucky native cancer survivor and widowed mother of six, has completed her new book Life Under Siege III: a captivating reflection of her sons journey through darkness.

Miley shares, In this book you are about to read, since I am a firm believer in honesty, I dont apologize for holding to values like truth, justice, goodness, righteousness, and purity, because they originate with our unchanging God. Kindness is our most powerful fool. It is the price my son is paying for being a friend.

Please stay with me while you read this book. I want to tell everyone that has the nerve to read this truth about my loving son. What they did to him and my family. I raised my six children after my husband died. I took of care of my mother until she passed. I have had to stand tall and not let the tears flow so fast I cant see. I am trying now, but it is rough. I had to stay strong because we owed for our home when Jim died, and I did not want to lose it.

Published by Page Publishing, Mazell Shepherd Mileys potent tale displays a mothers strength through lifes largest obstacles. After losing her husband and her mother, she thought the darkness could not get deeper, though fighting beside her son proved to be her greatest trial.

Readers who wish to experience this gripping work can purchase Life Under Siege III at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
As Transferology continues its impressive growth with colleges and universities across the country, it is a clear sign that transfer is no longer an afterthought." -- Kerry Cooper, CEO of CollegeSource.

CollegeSource, the higher education industrys most trusted SaaS provider of transfer and degree achievement solutions, today announced that it now has more than 400 Transferology member institutions from 39 states, easily securing its position as the largest open nationwide network for transfer. This rise in transfer interest spotlights the increased focus higher ed institutions are placing on transfer to recruit and retain students through flexible offerings, such as dual enrollment.

As Transferology continues its impressive growth with colleges and universities across the country, it is a clear sign that transfer is no longer an afterthought, said Kerry Cooper, CEO of CollegeSource. Institutions in nearly every state are placing more emphasis on transfer to provide flexibility for students as they make their academic decisions. As the industry changes and grows, we remain steadfast in our laser-focused commitment to provide a comprehensive solution that helps institutions streamline the intricacies of transfer articulation while increasing enrollment and retention efforts.

With more than 4.4 million students engaged with Transferology, the solution is the only nationwide, cloud-based solution that meets students where they are and provides them with access to millions of course-to-course and program-to-program transfer equivalencies in the region, within state systems and even nationwide. From January through December 31, 2021, more institutions realized the value in making the proper investments in transfer as Transferology experienced a spike in interest with a total of 481 million search results and 22.8 million student courses added by more than 5,200 schools. CollegeSource also witnessed 27.7 million equivalencies stored in Transferology and 8.86 million student searches.

Collegesource Transferology offers unparalleled visibility and guidance into student transfer decisions by providing transfer credit information and course equivalencies college students need to move into the next chapter of their academic journey. In addition, these critical data-driven insights help college advisors, students and parents make informed decisions when considering transferring higher education credit by instantly seeing how credits transfer to member institutions. Recent utilization of Transferology has become more diverse, with users coming from private and public universities as well as community colleges.

Transferology has been a critical part of our institutions ability to navigate the complexities that come with course transferability and position our students for successful pathways, said Renee Shipe, director of transfer pathways and evaluations at Trine University and Transferology client. Since adopting this solution, student applicants can more easily and quickly view how their credits transfer to Trine University.

About CollegeSource

CollegeSource is the higher education industrys trusted provider of transfer and degree achievement solutions. For 50 years, CollegeSource has led market-changing transformation by inventing and investing in technology solutions that aid the staff and students of higher education in their quest to plan and complete academic careers. As the archiver of the nations extensive higher education course catalogs, CollegeSources degree audit, academic planning, and transfer credit evaluation solutions are depended on by more than 2,000 institutions and millions of individuals worldwide. Founded and led by higher education and technology veterans, CollegeSource is a privately-held company based in San Diego with offices in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information, please visit collegesource.com.


Cybereason, the XDR company, today launched the Cybereason Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Mobile App that allows Defenders the power of a security operations center (SOC) at their fingertips. With the Cybereason MDR Mobile App, Defenders can further reduce the mean-time-to remediation by suspending an attacks lateral movement directly from their mobile device.

What sets Cybereason apart from competitors is the ability to empower security analysts to quickly understand the full scope of attacks in real-time leveraging the patented MalOp (malicious operation) Detection Engine. With the Cybereason MDR Mobile App, customers will see detailed intelligence for active MalOps, how they map to the MITRE ATT&CK framework and the criticality threat level.

The Cybereason MDR Mobile App is a game changer for Defenders, and it was developed in response to their evolving needs. Security analysts face alert fatigue, staffing shortages and more attacks coming during off peak work hours. These burdens demanded a response and the Cybereason MDR Mobile App provides the context needed between alerts and a MalOp and access to our global SOC from anywhere in the world, said Lior Div, Cybereason CEO and Co-founder.

It should come as no surprise that cybercriminals seek to compromise organizations during off-hours. A recent Cybereason study, titled Organizations at Risk: Ransomware Attackers Dont Take Holidays, revealed that nearly half of security professionals dont believe they have the right tools in place to effectively manage cyberattacks, and nearly one quarter (24 percent) indicated they dont have contingencies in place to assure prompt responses to threats on weekends and holidays.

Cybereason MDR Mobile App features include:

 Visibility into detections and active MalOps to better understand the scope of an attack and how they align to the MITRE ATT&CK Framework.

 Anytime access to dashboards and ability to initiate responses from any mobile device.

 Quickly identify and isolate compromised machines in order to remediate and minimize downtime and workflow disruptions.

 Constant contact with the Cybereason Global SOC to immediately address potential threats.

 Remotely initiate response actions with confidence.

 Access reports and industry news to stay abreast of the latest tactics, techniques and procedures used by nation-state threat actors and cybercriminal ransomware gangs.

Cybereason MDR Mobile App is available now in the Apple App Store and will be available later in August in the Google Play Store, supporting both Android and iOS devices.

About Cybereason

Cybereason is the XDR company, partnering with Defenders to end attacks at the endpoint, in the cloud and across the entire enterprise ecosystem. Only the AI-driven Cybereason XDR Platform provides planetary-scale data ingestion, operation-centric MalOp detection, and predictive response that is undefeated against modern ransomware and advanced attack techniques. Cybereason is a privately held international company headquartered in Boston with customers in more than 40 countries.

Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/

Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Media contact:

Bill Keeler

Senior Director, Global Public Relations

Cybereason

bill.keeler@cybereason.com

+1 (929) 259-3261
[David] has propelled our organization forward through multiple strategic acquisitions, helped us exceed revenue expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and comes to work every day with our company culture and values in mind." - Jason Green, President at Faye

Faye CEO, David Faye, was recognized in the Los Angeles Times B2B Publishing C-Suite Magazine as one of Los Angeles County's "CEO Visionaries." This list of visionaries highlights the most accomplished L.A.-based CEOs who exhibit exceptional visionary leadership in their respective industries.

David founded Faye in late 2009 and under his leadership, the company has grown annually each year and has been on the INC 5000 for a record nine straight years. The organization now employs 120 people in the US, Canada, Europe, and South American while servicing clients in over 25 countries.

Over the last two years, Faye has overseen more than 50% growth in the organization as well as the completion of three key strategic acquisitions. Over the last five years, the company has acquired nearly 10 different software and service companies contributing to dramatic growth. The company has also created relationships with and works on critical CRM and CX projects with some of the leading brands in the world, including Uber, Zoom, Campbells Soup and more.

Im humbled by this award, said David Faye, Its really a testament to our people, our values, and our partners thats allowed me to receive this recognition. Congrats to all the other visionaries leading their organizations.

I feel privileged to work alongside a leader like David, said Jason Green, President at Faye, he has propelled our organization forward through multiple strategic acquisitions, helped us exceed revenue expectations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and comes to work every day with our company culture and values in mind. I couldnt think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.

To learn more about David and see the full list of award recipients, please view the Los Angeles Times C-Suite Magazine. David is showcased on page 48: https://npaper2.com/business--visionaries/2022/07/#?page=48&dpg=1

About David Faye

David Faye is a lifelong entrepreneur with broad experience in building businesses and helping businesses grow primarily through the effective use of information technology. In late 2009, he founded Faye Business Systems Group (Faye) where he remains the CEO today. Faye is a global software & services company that resells software, delivers professional services, builds and sells software products and provides managed services supporting the leading brands in the CRM, CX, and productivity software environments.

Learn more here: https://www.latimes.com/b2b/c-suite-2022/david-alan-faye

About Faye

Faye is a global leader in software strategy, deployment, integrations, and ongoing management for mid-market to enterprise organizations, working with customers in over 25 countries to integrate SugarCRM, Zendesk, Salesforce, HubSpot, Asana, and more into complex tech stacks.

An Inc. 5000 award winner nine years in a row, Faye is an experienced CRM, CX, and bot advisor, trusted by customers and channel partners alike. They were recognized as the 2022 SugarCRM President's Club Partner of the Year and as the 2022 Zendesk Vertical Solutions Partner of the Year.

The Faye Team's depth of expertise is showcased through a library of custom-built software enhancements, tools, and integrations utilized by thousands of users every day. Faye helps their customers leverage the full, hidden potential of their software stack, driving software returns of up to 10x.

Follow Faye: Twitter and LinkedIn.
Envoy Global, the immigration services provider that combines access to top legal talent with industry-leading technology to bring efficiency and transparency to the global immigration process, announces two new appointments to its executive leadership team. Sophy King will now serve as President, Global and Tetiana Compton has been elevated to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Both of these elevations play an integral role in Envoy Globals continued global leadership and international reach.

The Envoy Global team is thrilled and proud to have Tetiana and Sophy continue with us in their new roles at such an exciting time for the company. said Dick Burke, JD, President and CEO of Envoy Global. The qualities each of them bring are another manifestation of our skilled leadership team, investment in international reach, and our growth and commitment to internal promotion.

Based in London, Sophy King joined the company in January 2022 as Interim President, Global with two decades of experience in global immigration. In her now permanent role with Envoy as President, Global, King will continue to lead the team through transformative growth and expansion, managing an international team that has more than tripled in size over the last two years.

I started working with Envoy because I admire the companys mission and technology and was excited about its potential for continued global expansion, said King. Im staying because being part of that creation and growth is an opportunity I really couldnt refuse, and also because of the inspirational and dedicated people on the team. Im very much looking forward to being part of the journey.

King has served in a variety of roles in the global immigration sector, most recently as the founder and managing director of Owl Immigration Ltd. She is also Immigration Liaison at EuRA, and co-founder at paradiGM Community. She began her career as an immigration consultant in London about 20 years ago before rising to the director level, then founding her own immigration software company in 2011(later acquired by CIBT) and subsequently serving as Senior Vice President of Global Immigration at Newland Chase.

Tetiana Compton now serves as CFO at Envoy Global after joining the team in 2020 as a senior accounting manager. Most recently serving as Envoy Globals financial controller, Compton will lead global accounting, tax, and audit functions for the company as CFO. Compton has strategic abilities to develop new internal processes to facilitate growth while ensuring compliance with financial regulations. In the time since Tetiana joined Envoy, headcount has grown from 133 employees in April 2020 to 341 in July 2022. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), has a masters degree in finance from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, and is currently a 2023 MBA candidate at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

It has been incredible to see Envoys growth and progress since I joined the company just two years ago, said Compton. Envoy has a strong mission and as a Ukrainian immigrant myself, its inspiring to see so many people work toward a common purpose.

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About Envoy Global

Founded in 1998, Envoy Global is a global immigration services provider offering the only immigration management platform that makes it seamless for companies to hire and manage an international workforce. By combining expert legal representationfor both inbound and non-U.S. immigrationand proprietary technology, Envoy empowers companies to acquire the best talent regardless of where they live, while simultaneously managing their entire global workforce and enabling employees to take advantage of business opportunities around the globe. Envoy is a 2019 honoree of the 18th Annual Chicago Innovation Awards, 20th Annual Illinois Technology Association (ITA) CityLIGHTS Awards, Corporate Immigration & Relocation Best Global Corporate Immigration Platform, Built In Chicagos 2022 Best Places To Work,Best Mid-Sized Places To Work and Best Benefits, and ChicagoInnos Coolest Companies List. Envoy is affiliated with two law firms, Global Immigration Associates, P.C. (GIA), who provide immigration legal services to companies and was ranked in the Chambers USA 2021 guide as a top law firm in Illinois within the immigration category, and Corporate Immigration Partners (CIP), an elite group of immigration attorneys and legal professionals who provide personalized immigration services to companies.

Website, technology platform and administrative services are provided by Envoy Global Inc., a Delaware corporation. Legal services are provided by Envoy-affiliated attorneys. Please visit envoyglobal.com for more information or if interested in exploring an affiliation with Envoy.
Customers in the Lexington, Massachusetts region can now receive special discounts on their service visits at Lexington Toyota.

Customers looking to save money on servicing their car in Lexington, Massachusetts, can now receive special discounts via the service and maintenance coupons offered at Lexington Toyota.

Some of these coupons include:



Winter/Summer Ready Service

Remote Engine Started Service

Pothole Special Service

4x4 Truck and SUV Special Service

High Mileage Special Service

Free Battery Test Service

Factory Recall Work

Free MPI Service

High Mileage Special Service, and

Variable Labor Discount.

These coupons are intended to keep customers happy by helping them save money and providing state-of-the-art service for their vehicles.

Interested customers can visit the service specials tab on the dealerships website at http://www.lexingtontoyota.com to find a coupon that suits their requirements perfectly.

Customers can also choose to drive by Lexington Toyota, located at 409 Massachusetts Avenue in Lexington, Massachusetts, or contact the service team at 781-861-7400 for further assistance.

Kindly schedule a service appointment before bringing in the vehicle for a service visit.
Every segment in the labor force is incredibly important, and in this instance, companies are wise to offer some flexibility to working parents to help ease the labor shortage," - Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller

U.S. hiring decision-makers report roughly 50% of their workforce, on average, are working parents, and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, 82% of these hiring managers say their company offers enough benefits to working parents to make them feel accommodated and supported.

This is according to a recent survey from The Harris Poll commissioned by Express Employment Professionals.

With the next few weeks marking the start of the third school year since the onset of the pandemic, school closures added additional pressure and tension on the shoulders of working parentspossibly more so for working mothers than fathers. Nearly 4 in 5 hiring decision-makers (79%) agree that working mothers have faced more challenges than working fathersaround a third (34%) strongly agree.

More than half of companies (55%) currently offer paid leave, including paid maternity (39%), paternity (31%) and/or even paid parental leave for parents fostering and/or adopting (22%). Flexible work hours (43%), flexible work location (34%), unpaid parental leave (31%) and/or the ability to work part-time (31%) are also offered at many companies.

Increased Benefits Since Pandemics Inception

Specifically, since the start of the pandemic, around 2 in 5 U.S. hiring decision-makers with working parents in their workforce report the company has allowed working parents to work remotely (42%), adjust their work hours (41%) and/or taken time off to care for their children (37%).

Around a quarter (26%) say their working parents have shifted from full-time to part-time work. Some companies have even offered additional incentives to parents (e.g., a daycare stipend, financial resources for adoption) (22%), and/or offered/increased the amount of employee parental leave (20%) in order to help retain current employees or attract new ones.

Tension Among Those Without Children

However, companies may need to be mindful of those in their workforce who are not parents, as two-thirds of U.S. hiring decision-makers (66%) feel accommodating working parents causes tension between them and those who arent parents.

Challenges Across the Country

The rising cost and availability of childcare are some of the biggest struggles for many working parents, according to Kay Meyer, an Express franchise owner in south Texas.

Childcare continues to be a struggle for many working families, especially single parents, she said. The expense of high-quality childcare, coupled with increasing housing costs, is putting a significant squeeze on families.

We recently hired an internal team member who was able to take advantage of full-day pre-K through their spouses employment via our local school system. On the other hand, we lost out on hiring a different candidate who was wanting to transition from remote work to an in-person job due to lack of childcare access.

In Jacksonville, Florida, Express franchise owner Mike Brady agrees that hands down, the cost of daycare and after-hour care impacts working parents who are part of the workforce. Coupled with work-life balance, there are multiple layers for them to collaborate with their employer to manage.

The Value of Working Parents

Working parents are an integral part of the workforce, Brady adds, because, with the high rate of employee turnover, the sound investment is to retain working parents and work to accommodate in some areas, as appropriate and reasonable, versus having to replace and retrain a new employee.

More often than not, working parents are more reliable because they have children, he said. In this labor market, a reliable employee is always valuable.

Beyond the scope of the office, Meyer asserts that all parents are working parents.

Those who work for a paycheck not only make a financial difference in the lives of their families, but they also make important contributions to all aspects of our economy, she said. In a time when our country remains near full employment and generational shifts continue to influence who is working, its important to find ways to ease the burdens of childcare and support those families with school-aged children.

One of the ways we do that in our office is to make sure that everyone on our team is encouraged and supported in their attendance at meet-the-teacher nights, parent-teacher conferences, school programs and parent-teacher organization activities.

As for those workers who dont have children, Brady says there have been a small number of negative remarks about working parents for tardiness or missed work. But for Meyers, she encourages an approach of we are all in this together for the overall economy.

Every segment in the labor force is incredibly important, and in this instance, companies are wise to offer some flexibility to working parents to help ease the labor shortage, Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller said.

Survey Methodology

The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Express Employment Professionals between May 3 and May 23, 2022, among 1,003 U.S. hiring decision-makers (defined as adults ages 18+ in the U.S. who are employed full-time or self-employed, work at companies with more than one employee, and have full/significant involvement in hiring decisions at their company). Data were weighted where necessary by company size to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population.

***

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Hollander, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.

About Bill Stoller

William H. "Bill" Stoller is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment International. Founded in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the international staffing franchisor supports the Express Employment Professionals franchise and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

About Express Employment Professionals

At Express Employment Professionals, were in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 586,000 people globally in 2021 and 10 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.
Middlesex Triplet: an inspiring message of Gods love despite lifes challenges. Middlesex Triplet is the creation of published author Marcie Nataly.

Nataly shares, Marcia is a triplet, and the three of them, her identical triplet sister, Marla, and fraternal triplet brother Mark, were born in Concord, MA. Her love for God and family drew her to write poetry since the early eighties. A compassion for helping others believe in and know God not just of him but also in heart and soul led her to write and pursue writing. The poetry reflects times of new hope and encouragement in the midst of trials and tribulations. These circumstances gave her a keen awareness that God is with you and realize underneath you are his strong, loving, everlasting arms. We only have to receive him.

Lindquist-Nataly became a nurse out of high school, then returned to college while teaching and subsequently working for pro-family positions. Enrolling at Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA, home study college courses, she completed most of the course work and then took on a doctors office nurse position. From there, she met her husband and found light, life, and love in a marriage made in heaven. Their son, Jacob, came along as a miracle baby, bringing Marcie and Fritz the dreams they had always hoped for.

Whether youre a teen, an adult, or senior, single, divorced, or challenged mentally or physically, you will find peace, hope, and freedom to love and forgive. God gave each of us a giftthe gift of life. Never give up. Be strong and courageous never be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Marcie Natalys new book provides readers a message of encouragement that is certain to resonate with many.

Nataly expresses a heartfelt appreciation and awareness of God within the pages of this thought-provoking work.

Consumers can purchase Middlesex Triplet at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Middlesex Triplet, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Howard Yasgar was a young man who was asked to travel to Haiti to assist in disassembling a defunct railroad. While he was there, it led him to learn what he believes is the true story of Christopher Columbus and his missing gold. Now, he shares his incredible adventure in Finding Columbuss Gold: A Grand Adventure on the Island of Hispaniola (published by Archway Publishing) to correct history and to show that historians have been wrong about Columbus.

In 1966, an old friend invites Matt Vercair to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to assist in disassembling and selling a now defunct Haitian railroad, acquired under unusual circumstances. Once in Haiti, he is introduced to chief archeologist Dr. Marc Blanchet, an expert on Christopher Columbus and everything he did on the island of Hispaniola.

According to Marc, the history being taught about Columbus is a fraud. Instead of exploration, Columbus true intentions were to amass gold and sell as many slaves as he could to finance his travels. Marc knows where a large cache of Columbus gold has been hidden in Haiti for 500 years.

With the help of a secret map, Matt and his friend Mike embark on an incredible journey to recover the Columbus gold, traveling into little known terrain. The railroad becomes of little concern as they search for the hidden treasure, but it is possible Matt is about to find a lot more than riches in the dangerous wilds of Hispaniola.

This book will appeal to readers because it is a fantastic adventure story and changes history as it tells the true story of what Christopher Columbus actually did, not what historians say he did, Yasgar points out. When asked what he wants readers to take away from the book, he answers, For them to realize how history has been falsely portrayed over the years. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.archwaypublishing.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/829998-finding-columbuss-gold

Finding Columbuss Gold: A Grand Adventure on the Island of Hispaniola

By Howard Yasgar

Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 556 pages | ISBN 9781665723855

Softcover | 6 x 9in | 556 pages | ISBN 9781665723848

E-Book | 556 pages | ISBN 9781665723862

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Howard Yasgar was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He attended New Haven State Teachers College and graduated from the University of New Haven. He moved to Miami, Florida in 1963 and still lives there.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957.
Miami Dade College Celebrates 2nd Year with e-Procurement Community Miami Dade College invites all potential vendors to register online.

Today, Bidnet Direct announces Miami Dade College will continue to utilize the Florida Purchasing Group for vendor management and bid distribution since originally joining in 2021. This purchasing community and e-Procurement solution connects 51 public purchasing departments throughout the state of Florida. All local vendors interested in doing business with Miami Dade College and other member agencies are invited to register online with to gain access to upcoming bid opportunities by visiting http://www.bidnetdirect.com/florida/miamidadecollege.

The Florida Purchasing Group is a regional online community for public purchasing professionals looking to increase efficiency and transparency with their procurement process. Miami Dade College along with Daytona State College, the University of West Florida, Bethune-Cookman University and other governments throughout Florida in posting RFPs and RFQs on one central location on the Florida Purchasing Group.

As a school district, we are always looking to increase our vendor pool and competition, says Roman Martinez, Purchasing Director of Miami Dade College. Thats why collaboration with Daytona State College is important. We hope the Florida Purchasing Group continues to help us extend the reach of our solicitations, and it helps our vendors find more local opportunities, continued Martinez.

Vendors not yet registered with the Florida Purchasing Group, can join for free and gain access to open bids from 51 local government agencies all on one platform. Vendors have an option to upgrade their account for notification services and other added benefits for extra cost at http://www.bidnetdirect.com/florida.

The Florida Purchasing Group is a cloud-based e-Procurement solution built to help local government agencies, such as Miami Dade College, simplify bid and vendor management process. These days, anything that helps to save time and cut costs is a no brainer for us, Martinez adds. All interested vendors are encouraged to visit http://www.bidnetdirect.com/florida/miamidadecollege and register today.

About BidNet Direct:

Bidnet Direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. BidNet Direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Florida Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
In Rita Burns historical saga, African Princess (published by Archway Publishing), a young African princess endures monumental changes as her life journey takes her to America amid the Civil War era.

Ethiopian heiress SaRita Appiah hides within the palace chambers while her parents await their dear friends, the Pittway family, who have arrived in Africa on one of the first steamships to sail in 1852. While 5-year-old SaRita hopes her dear friend, Nala, will visit the next day for a secret tea party, she becomes fascinated with all of the fabulous places she can become invisible while her parents entertain their American guests.

Five years later, life suddenly takes an unexpected turn, leaving SaRita to rise to incredible challenges that take her from Ethiopia to Peru and eventually the tiny town of Gees Bend, Alabama. Her diverse experiences teach her valuable lessons, SaRita learns about her African American heritage, the art of quilting, and what royalty truly means as a chain of events unfolds that lead her to love, marriage, and new beginnings.

While the subject and theme are sensitive taking place amid Civil war, my main character loves people and nature, Burns says. Its my prayer that someone who possibly felt different prior to reading my story will understand that love when shared through words, thoughts and deeds bring about peace and harmony.

African Princess is available for purchase online at the Archway link above, from Barnes & Noble and on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/African-Princess-Rita-Burns-ebook/dp/B0B5CC6CK3.

African Princess

By Rita Burns

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 458 pages | ISBN 9781665723299

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 458 pages | ISBN 9781665723312

E-Book | 458 pages | ISBN 9781665723305

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Rita Burns is a dedicated Christian wife, mother of three adult children, and grandmother. She is the author of two other novels, A Ribbon in the Sky and A Late Summers Breeze, as well as A Prescription for Hope, The Rainy Day Book, Always Be Selling and several childrens books. Burns resides in Ohio with her husband and family.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit archwaypublishing.com or call 844-669-3957.
Between the Lines: a nostalgic examination of a life lived in faith. Between the Lines is the creation of published author Pauline Hayward, who was born and raised in a rural village in New Hampshire. She attended one- or two-room schoolhouses in her elementary years, learning to love books and writing. That love led her, after high school, to college to study literature and elementary education with a dream in her heart to teach. It wasnt until more than thirty years later, after marriage and five children, that her dream had come true. Hayward was a fourth-grade teacher in a Christian school for many years and then traded the busy classroom for the quieter environment as a childrens librarian. Her most recent employment was as an administrative assistant in a high school, from which she retired in 2016.

Hayward shares, Between the Lines is a true account of a young girl who was told a story about a man who lived two thousand years ago. The story planted a seed in her heart and sent her on a search for something mystical that she knew was good and that she needed. Being raised in a happy Christian family that attended church, she learned all the rules of how to live a good and virtuous life. She tried, but failure was all too common. She grew up and fell in love, married, and started raising a family, but never forgot the quest of her childhood and the sense of an empty place in her heart. It wasnt until two significant events in her life brought her face-to-face with herself and the object of her search did she find the answer. Admitting her brokenness, she founded her wholeness. She discovered that nothing in her life was wasted and that there is holy ground in the midst of debris and treasures in dark places.

Read between the lines of this story and perhaps you will see the answer that has been there all the time.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Pauline Haywards new book offers readers a deeply personal account of the authors victories, challenges, and everything in between.

Hayward shares in hopes of documenting a life lived in appreciation of all that God has to offer.

Consumers can purchaseBetween the Lines at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Between the Lines, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.


Right now, employers are looking for ways to get work done and grow their businesses, while also staying flexible enough to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

PrideStaff, a nationally franchised staffing organization, is pleased to announce that it was ranked number 97 on Staffing Industry Analysts' 2022 List of Largest Staffing Firms in the United States. This is the tenth consecutive year that the staffing and placement firm has received this mark of distinction, a testament to the franchises continued growth despite a challenging and hyper-competitive market.

The 27th Largest Staffing Firms list is the industrys most comprehensive bottom-up analysis of market share among temporary staffing, direct hire and retained search firms. This year, PrideStaff is one of 225 elite organizations that each generated over $100 million in U.S. staffing revenue in 2021, the criteria for making this year's list. Combined, these companies created revenue of more than $134.9 billion, representing an estimated 76.2% of the market.

Although the U.S. economy has shifted in 2022, and qualified candidates remain extremely challenging to recruit, PrideStaff is having another remarkable yearopening new offices across the nation and growing its franchise system to more than 85 locations. Uncertain times call for temporary solutions, said PrideStaff Co-CEO & COO, Tammi Heaton. Right now, employers are looking for ways to get work done and grow their businesses, while also staying flexible enough to adapt to rapidly changing conditions.

The PrideStaff Companies provide a full complement of hiring and workforce solutions across a wide range of roles and skill disciplines, continued Heaton. Our Strategic-Partners are tremendously successful because they function as true business consultants; helping employers achieve their goals while controlling costs, mitigating employment risks and staying optimally staffed. By focusing on their needs and helping them prepare for whats next, we're poised to continue our growth trajectory for years to come.

Im extremely pleased, but not all that surprised, that weve made SIAs Largest U.S. Staffing Firms list every year for the past decade, said Mike Aprile, PrideStaff CFO and Co-CEO. Despite working in an incredibly fragmented and competitive industry, we continually rank among staffings elite organizations by living our Mission to Consistently provide client experiences focused on what they value most. This shared Mission, coupled with exceptional leadership, dedicated team members and ongoing investments in the right technology, have positioned us as A Trusted Partner with the employers and job seekers we serve. While employment markets may change and the economy will continue having its ups and downs, our customers know were not just about making placements, were here to help them thrive in any condition.

By investing in the client and talent experience, PrideStaff has become the only staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn ClearlyRateds coveted Best of Staffing 10-Year Client and Talent Diamond Awards for three consecutive years. The 10-year Diamond Award is earned by fewer than 0.5% of all staffing firms, placing PrideStaff in a truly elite group of companies that lead the industry in satisfaction.

About PrideStaff

PrideStaff was founded in the 1970s as 100% company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 85 offices in North America to serve more than 5,000 clients and are headquartered in Fresno, CA. With 40 plus years in the staffing business, PrideStaff offers the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. PrideStaff is the only nationwide, commercial staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn ClearlyRateds prestigious Best of Staffing Diamond Awards nine years in a row, highlighting exceptional client and talent service quality.

For more information on our services, or for staffing franchise information, click here.
His expertise in solution sales and extensive knowledge in technology will help our partners accelerate their businesses to the next level with managed cloud.

RapidScale, a Cox Business company, welcomed Ryan Carillo to the company as a cloud solutions consultant for Pennsylvania. Reporting to Director of Sales Brian Baker, Carillo is responsible for supporting trusted advisors and channel partners in identifying cloud opportunities and developing their cloud businesses. As the enterprises in the region continue to grow and rely on the benefits of cloud-based solutions, partners will play an instrumental role in boosting business efficiency and productivity for their organizations.

Carillo has over 12 years of experience in the software, hardware, and services industries and held sales engineering positions in various companies, ranging from small startup software companies to large enterprises. His technical, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills have helped his partners expand their businesses and grow revenue. With expertise in lead qualifying, pre-sales strategies, and technical assessments, Carillo has guided partners in establishing healthy forecasts and attaining targets. Previously, he was a senior manager of channel sales at MachineQ and held account manager and executive positions at PCM, ASI System Integration, and SoftwareONE. He received his MBA from Saint Josephs University, and his Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of the Arts in International Business and International Relations/Studies from Neumann College.

Were excited to have a very motivated, hard-working, and entrepreneurial talent like Ryan, said Baker. His expertise in solution sales and extensive knowledge in technology will help our partners accelerate their businesses to the next level with managed cloud.

As many enterprises in my region are establishing hybrid workforces and looking for cloud solutions to increase mobility, flexibility, and efficiency, many partners are in a great position to help solve many of their business challenges today, said Carillo. With RapidScales innovative cloud portfolio, partners can deliver a comprehensive solution to their customers, from Infrastructure as a Service to disaster recovery and backup, SD-WAN, Desktop as a Service, and more. I look forward to supporting my partners in driving digital transformations for their customers.

Carillo is heavily involved with his community, actively doing volunteer work with the American Red Cross as a manufacturing transportation specialist delivering blood products to hospital customers and FIGHT Community Health Centers, which provide culturally competent comprehensive primary care, and state-of-the-art HIV primary care to low-income members of the community, along with research, consumer education, advocacy, and social services.

About RapidScale

For IT and business leaders looking to scale, secure, and simplify their IT, RapidScale, a Cox Business Company, is the next-generation managed cloud services provider that aggregates best-in-class cloud technology under a single management portal, enabling IT to accomplish more and providing an exceptional end-user experience. By delivering simple and secure access to company data and applications from anywhere, any time, on any device, RapidScale sets itself apart from other cloud providers through its team of technology experts, award-winning end-user customer support, flexible co-management options, and easy-to-use management portal. For more information on RapidScale, visit http://www.rapidscale.net.

About Cox Business

Cox Communications owns Cox Business and is a facilities-based provider of voice, video, and data solutions for commercial customers. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at http://www.cox.com.

The commercial division of Cox Communications, Cox Business, provides voice, data, and video services for more than 355,000 small and regional businesses nationwide, including health care providers, K12 and higher education; financial institutions; and federal, state and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top-tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division. For more information, please visit http://www.coxbusiness.com.

Media Contact

Nikki Salazar

RapidScale, a Cox Business Company

nikki.salazar@rapidscale.net
2023 Toyota Camry

San Francisco Toyota is pleased to announce the addition of the 2023 Toyota Camry to its inventory. The Camry is a reliable and stylish vehicle that is perfect for anyone looking for a dependable car. With its spacious interior and comfortable ride, the Camry is sure to please anyone who drives it. San Francisco Toyota looks forward to helping customers to find the perfect sedan as per their needs.

The 2023 Camry features a completely redesigned exterior, a new front grille, LED headlights and taillights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Camry has been completely reimagined, with a spacious and comfortable interior that includes premium materials and advanced technology.

Under the hood, the 2023 Toyota Camry is powered by a new 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces a power of 203 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of torque rating. Safety has always been a priority for Toyota, and the 2023 Camry features several new safety technologies. These include standard automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and pedestrian detection.

Potential customers interested in learning more about the 2023 Toyota Camrys key features can visit the dealership at 3800 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA. For detailed information related to finance or any other special deals, individuals can contact their team by calling 415-504-1947.
Each of these students has a true passion for SkillsUSA and for CTE. Through the election process, they demonstrated a deep knowledge of the SkillsUSA Framework and a work ethic that will make them great leaders to serve our members

Seven career and technical education (CTE) students have been elected as SkillsUSA national officers for the 2022-23 school year. The high school and college/postsecondary students will serve as advocates for SkillsUSA and CTE and will lead two national conferences. During their year of service, they will also facilitate workshops and sessions for students and instructors, train other members, advocate on behalf of SkillsUSA to elected officials and representatives of business and industry and represent the national organization at various events.

Each of these students has a true passion for SkillsUSA and for CTE. Through the election process, they demonstrated a deep knowledge of the SkillsUSA Framework and a work ethic that will make them great leaders to serve our members, said Chelle Travis, executive director of SkillsUSA. I look forward to working closely with this national officer team throughout the school year.

Elections were run by the SkillsUSA House of Delegates during the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) held June 20-24 in Atlanta. The student officers were elected through a formal process that concluded June 24 at the closing Awards Session of the NLSC when they were announced.

Newly elected SkillsUSA national officers for the High School division include:

President  Grace Smith, an Early Childhood Education student at Elma High School in Elma, Wash. SkillsUSA advisor: Tyler Renz.

Vice President  Joseph Price, an Architectural Drawing and Design student at Union Grove High School in McDonough, Ga. SkillsUSA advisor: Amanda McClure.

Secretary  Liliana Valencia, a Graphic Design student at Higley High School in Gilbert, Ariz. SkillsUSA advisor: John Lebsock.

Parliamentarian  Hunter Claflin, an HVACR student at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical School in Upton, Mass. SkillsUSA advisor: Robert Jordan.

Region 4 Vice President  Laney Blacketer, an Automotive Technology student at Lex-La-Ray Technical Center in Lexington, Mo. SkillsUSA advisor: Rodney Wolken.

Newly elected SkillsUSA national officers for the College/Postsecondary division include:

President  Abby Vandiver, a postsecondary Graphic Arts student at Autry Technology Center in Enid, Okla. SkillsUSA advisor: Cheryl Cooksey.

Vice President  Katahdin Javner, a Business Management student at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, Maine. SkillsUSA advisor: Cathy Crise.

To run for a national office, SkillsUSA members must first adhere to the candidate process for their school and state association. Once qualified to run for national office, candidates begin the campaign process during the national conference to student delegates representing all 50 states and three territories. The NLSC is the largest and most diverse annual showcase of skill training in the nation with over 13,000 attendees and 108 leadership and skilled trades competitions planned and managed by industry to their standards for entry-level employees in each field.

Meet the new SkillsUSA National Officer team here: https://www.skillsusa.org/about/national-officers/.

About SkillsUSA

Founded in 1965, SkillsUSA is a nonprofit partnership of students, teachers and industry that empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. The SkillsUSA Framework of Personal, Workplace and Technical Skills Grounded in Academics inspires work and life success for students while helping industry close the skills gap currently leaving millions of skilled trade jobs unfilled. Through SkillsUSAs career competitions program and curricula, employers ensure schools are teaching relevant technical skills, and with SkillsUSAs credentialing process, they can assess the career-readiness of their future employees. SkillsUSAs membership of more than 330,000 students and instructors encompasses middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions in every state and three U.S. territories. SkillsUSA programming covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations and is recognized by the U.S. departments of Education and Labor as integral to career and technical education. For more information: http://www.skillsusa.org.
Shantina Wilson, a resident of White Springs, Florida who published her first novel in 2011, has completed her new book Blacq Coffee: a gripping work that keeps the pages turning until its satisfying conclusion.

When Blacq Coffee made detective, he had one goal in mind: putting a stop to cold cases and catching killers who left families heartbroken. When a serial killer lands in his hometown, he catches Detective Coffee at his weakness. With a crazy partner, Detective Carter, and sicko FBI brother, Cason, by his side, will they catch the killer or become his prey?

Published by Page Publishing, Shantina Wilsons engrossing book is an excellent choice for avid crime fiction readers.

Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Blacq Coffee at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.


Women in Supply Chain Forum: The Industrys Premier Networking Event "The Women in Supply Chain Forum is the next step in further recognizing and celebrating these women and their community and building that network of industry professionals who share the same struggles and achievements, says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief.

Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive announce the launch of the Women in Supply Chain Forum, an in-person event designed to bring together CEOs, Presidents, Partners, Vice Presidents, and Director-Level Decision Makers in charge of shipment, distribution centers, warehousing, and third party logistics in order to foster education, growth, networking opportunities, and more.

The Women in Supply Chain Forum, which will take place Nov. 8-9, 2022 at the Starling Atlanta Midtown, Curio Collection by Hilton in Atlanta, will kick off with an opening keynote conversation between Editor-in-Chief Marina Mayer and Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, Owner of Lets Talk Supply Chain podcast, to discuss the overall landscape of women in the supply chain and logistics industry.

Day two will bring together Ellen Voie, Founder of Women in Trucking; Rebecca Brewster, President and COO of American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI); and Lindsey Trent, President and Co-Founder of Next Generation Trucking to discuss how to alleviate the truck driver shortage.

Later that day, Kathy Fulton, Executive Director, American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), and Stephany Lapierre, CEO of Tealbook, will detail how to overcome todays supply chain disruptions.

In addition, the second day will also consist of fireside chats, Breakfast of Champions, more panel discussions, and an invitation-only lunch.

In the evening, the Forum will host all current and past winners of Supply & Demand Chain Executives Women in Supply Chain award to talk about diversity in the supply chain, the importance of mentors and community, and why female leaders deserve a seat at the exec table. Also, attendees will have the opportunity to meet the overall winner of the 2022 Women in Supply Chain award.

When I launched the Women in Supply Chain award three years ago, I was prepared for an uphill battle. I was envisioning a long road ahead in getting the supply chain industry educated enough as to why it was important to recognize women in the supply chain, says Marina Mayer, Editor-in-Chief of Supply & Demand Chain Executive and Food Logistics. But, this award, the winners and those who submitted nominationsboth men and womenis a testament that supply chain organizations were already recognizing their female leaders; they just needed a better platform.

This year, we received over 280 submissions. Almost 100 of those submissions came from men. The Women in Supply Chain Forum is the next step in further recognizing and celebrating these women and their community and building that network of industry professionals who share the same struggles and achievements.

Go to https://www.womeninsupplychainforum.com/ to register, inquire about sponsoring or speaking, and to learn more about this very intimate event.

About Supply & Demand Chain Executive

Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE) is the executive's user manual for successful supply and demand chain transformation, utilizing hard-hitting analysis, viewpoints, and unbiased case studies to steer executives and supply management professionals through the complicated, yet critical, supply chain. For over 20 years, SDCE has been the only magazine in the Supply Chain industry covering the entire global supply chain, focusing on ROI, professional development and change management, all in a solutions-based format. Visit us on the web at https://www.sdcexec.com/

About Food Logistics

Food Logistics reaches more than 26,000 supply chain executives in the global food and beverage industries, including executives in the food sector (growers, producers, manufacturers, wholesalers, and grocers) and the logistics section (transportation, warehousing, distribution, software, and technology) who share a mutual interest in the operations and business aspects of the global cold food supply chain. Food Logistics and sister publication Supply & Demand Chain Executive are also home to SCN Summit, the Supply Chain Learning Center, and more. Go to https://www.foodlogistics.com/ to learn more.

About AC Business Media

AC Business Media is a leading business-to-business media and business intelligence company with a portfolio of renowned brands in heavy construction, asphalt, concrete, paving, rental, sustainability, landscape, manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain markets. AC Business Media delivers relevant, cutting-edge content to its audiences through its industry-leading digital properties, trade shows, videos, magazines, webinars, and newsletters. It also provides advertisers the analytics, data, and ability to reach their target audience. Learn more at https://www.acbusinessmedia.com/
Coffee Cravings, Yorktown, Indiana We didnt know what we didnt know, but we couldnt have done it without Crimson Cup. Working with experts who have done this before gave us so much peace." - Mike Stevenson, Owner, Coffee Cravings

The 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program from Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea welcomed three new independent coffee shops in late spring and summer 2022.

In May, Winstons Coffee & Waffles opened its second location in Columbus, Ohio. In June, Cadence Coffee House and Creperie opened in Niles, Ohio. And in July, Coffee Cravings opened in Yorktown, Indiana.

We are excited to help these three new ventures open their doors, said Founder and President Greg Ubert. We guide each entrepreneur as they bring their unique vision for their coffee business into reality, and then help them grow into profitable businesses serving their local communities.

The new coffee shops are among at least 18 that plan to open this year through the 7 Steps program, which teaches entrepreneurs with little or no coffee knowledge how to open a coffee shop.

Crimson Cups coffee shop startup consultants guided the new owners through every step, from writing a solid coffee shop business plan to laying out the coffee shop, sourcing equipment, training baristas, marketing to customers and more.

The program is based on Uberts book, Seven Steps to Success: A Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee.

Through this proven system, the award-winning Columbus coffee roaster has helped over 300 entrepreneurs in 30 states start unique coffee shops in their local communities. In 2021, 19 new shops opened through the program.

As a one-stop shop for independent coffee shops, Crimson Cup also supplies award-winning coffee, the best coffee shop supplies in the business, and ongoing support to help coffee businesses thrive.

Winstons Coffee & Waffles opened a second Columbus location in May. Adding to its popular food truck in Clintonville, Winstons now has a restaurant in the new East Market in the citys Old Town East neighborhood.

Owners Steve Elshoff and Katie Bolon chose Crimson Cup as the coffee supplier and coffee business consultant for both locations.

Their products are outstanding, and the service is beyond reliable, Elshoff said. Beyond the quality and reliability, their people are excellent.

The coffee consultants at Crimson Cup truly care about their work and their customers, he added. They care about our success. Having vendors that are invested in your success is huge!

The new Cadence Coffee House & Creperie in Niles, Ohio, serves exceptional coffee, teas, crepes, sandwiches, salads and more in a relaxing atmosphere in historic downtown Niles, directly across the street from the President McKinley Memorial Library, at 31 North Main Street.

The new shop funds programs provided by Cadence Care Network, a nonprofit organization providing behavioral health services and foster care to over 2,500 vulnerable children and adolescents in Northeast Ohio.

Cadence Care Network CEO Matt Kresic discovered Crimson Cup through a Google search.

I started with the book, he recalled. It seemed worth it to make the small investment to check out the product and philosophy.

From there, Crimson Cup consultants taught Kresic and Cadence Coffee House & Creperie Manager Tania Romero how to open the new coffee shop.

The week before the restaurants June 10 soft opening, 7 Steps Project Manager and Trainer Steve Bayless traveled to Niles to train the new baristas and managers.

This week with Steve was fantastic, Kresic said. Dont think we would have pulled it off without Crimson Cup.

He said one goal of the new enterprise is to provide life skills and job training to the young people it serves.

We want to give them an opportunity to develop job skills by working here, putting them on a path to a career.

The Stevenson family of Yorktown, Indiana, runs on coffee. Since July 5, they also have run Coffee Cravings, an independent coffee shop at 8919 West Adaline Street.

For years, coffee has kept the busy family on track. Mike Stevenson works in medical device sales. Wife Teena has been a stay-at-home mom. Daughter Sarah is an occupational therapist. Daughter Amanda is a travel nurse. Son Josh is a student.

We drink a lot of coffee, but there hasnt been a terrific local coffee shop in our area, said Teena Stevenson. Given the growing popularity of coffee shops and our passion for exceptional brews, we decided to bring the ultimate coffee experience to Yorktown!

A referral from landlord Dane Carpenter led them to Crimson Cup. After reading Uberts book, Mike and Teena Stevenson talked to 7 Steps Sales Leader Scott Fullerton and toured the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab, an SCA Premier Training Campus in Columbus, Ohio.

We felt very positive and comfortable after meeting with Scott, Teena said. From that first meeting, Crimson Cup has delivered an amazing level of support throughout our opening process.

The week before their shops soft opening, Bayless traveled to Yorktown to train the family and their new baristas.

The training is amazing! said Mike Stevenson. Steve is really knowledgeable, and funny.

Asked for advice for other coffee shop owners, Mike Stevenson said, Call the local health department, make sure your sinks arrive and have your signs made.

Use Crimson Cup for your setup and training, he added. We didnt know what we didnt know, but we couldnt have done it without Crimson Cup. Working with experts who have done this before gave us so much peace.

Teena Stevenson said she was surprised by the speed and efficiency of the opening process. Everything happened so fast it blew our minds! she said. Crimson Cup really took a lot of the worry out of the process."

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Founded in 1991, Crimson Cup is at the forefront of the coffee industry. Its attentive roasting, startup support and global partnerships are consciously designed for the greater good of communities around the world. Among other national recognitions, the company has earned 2020 and 2017 Good Food Awards, the 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

Crimson Cup travels the world searching for the perfect cup  driven by meaningful relationships, honesty and a shared vision for the future. Its Friend2Farmer initiatives foster respect and decency through mutually beneficial collaboration across local and global communities.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs how to open and run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into coffee shop startup costs.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also owns several Crimson Cup Coffee Shops and a new CRIMSON retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.
The thing Im proudest of that we were able to get done in the first term was the Recovery Act. It had $90 billion in clean-energy programs.

-Vice President Joe Biden, May 9, 2013.

The start of a new week brought a renewed sense of momentum for President Joe Bidens administration and his allies in Congress. At long last, the months-long gridlock, caused by their own party, finally broke and another gusher of tax dollars appears ready to flood our country. Economic realities and those pesky inflation reports be damned.

Proponents have dubbed the bill the Inflation Reduction Act because they know it sounds better than the truth: Bidens Green New Tax. History will be the judge about the wisdom of pouring trillions of dollars on an economy struggling with excessive spending. No matter how you slice it, with $369 billion dollars devoted to climate and energy programs, its clear theres a lot on the line for the American taxpayer. If we want to know how the Biden Administration will dole out our dollars, we need look no further than the last time Biden got billions to go green.

As part of the so-called Recovery Act passed during the first term of President Obama, there was $90 billion set aside for the very same climate and energy reasoning. President Obama turned to his trusty Vice President to help administer those funds. The results were disastrous.

First, the well-known failure of Solyndra was pinned on Obama, but it was Biden who led the charge in losing $535 million in the fiasco. Solyndra became the poster child of green failure, but it was far from alone.

Then there was $20.5 billion in federal loans distributed from that 2009 stimulus. One examination found that a whopping 80 percent of that money when to 10 members of former President Barack Obamas finance committee, and more than 12 of his bundlers.

Note: This number is shockingly close to the current $20 billion Joe Biden wants to send to green banks so it can, once again, be distributed to people and organizations that may have ties to supporting Bidens campaigns.

Two years before Joe Biden called his work on the recovery funds the proudest part of his first term as vice president, the Government Accountability Office raised concerns about how those funds we handled. The federal loan program lacked appropriate tools for assessing progress, showed favoritism to some applicants and found reporting and quality issues when it came to figuring out just how many green jobs were created. Keep in mind, this was Joe Bidens proudest accomplishment.

Fast forward to 2022 and President Biden is again proud to have four times more money than he had in 2009. Included in his Green New Tax is the extension of a massive giveaway to those who buy electric vehicles. Studies have shown that those looking to buy an EV make at least $150,000 in annual income, but apparently Joe Biden feels they need a tax break.

Past tends to be prologue for a reason. What we are witnessing with Bidens Green New Tax is a repeat of 2009. A bill packed with billions of pork that will mostly benefit the rich and those who support President Bidens failed energy agenda. Joe Biden may be proud of what he did in 2009, but history shows us his pride comes with a huge tag.

Larry Behrens is the Communications Director for Power The Future, a non-profit that advocates for Americas energy workers. You can find him on Twitter @larrybehrens or you can email him: larry@powerthefuture.com.
Searchlight Pictures on Wednesday released the official trailer for its upcoming horror comedy film The Menu.

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The trailer shows off a young couple, played by Anya Taylor-Joy (The Northman) and Nicholas Hoult (The Great), who travel to an exclusive, high-end restaurant on a remote island.

Once there, they find that the restaurant's chef, Ralph Fiennes (The King's Man) "has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises," according to Searchlight.

While details on the exact plot points remain slim, Ralph Fiennes' chef character appears to exude significant control over his sous chefs, who appear to be under some type of trance.

The trailer quickly goes from food-focused to horror-focused, devolving into gunshots and knife slashes.

Fiennes can ominously be heard saying, "This is what you're paying for. It's all a part of the menu."

"We're going to die tonight," another one of the restaurant guests says at the end of the clip.

The trailer marks the second look at the film, with an initial teaser having been released this past June.

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The Menu was directed by Mark Mylod, an Emmy Award winner best known for his work on the HBO smash-hit drama Succession, for which he acted as a director and producer for three seasons.

Mylod has also contributed to successful shows like Shameless and Game of Thrones.

Beyond the trio of leading actors, The Menu also features Judith Light, John Leguizamo, Aimee Carrero and other well-known names.

The film will have its world premiere this September as part of the Toronto International Film Festival, where it is expected to garner critical accolades.

The project was first announced back in 2019, with Emma Stone and Ralph Fiennes attached to the starring roles.

Stone was soon forced to drop out of the film due to scheduling conflicts, being replaced in June 2021 by Taylor-Joy.

Hoult would join the cast the next month, with more actors continuing to join throughout 2021, and filming started that September.

The Menu will be then released in theaters on Nov. 18.
Blue Crush star Kate Bosworth is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the film's release.

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The 39-year-old actress marked the milestone Tuesday by sharing behind-the-scenes photos on Instagram.

Blue Crush opened in theaters in August 2002. The film helped launch the careers of Bosworth and Michelle Rodriguez.

The movie is based on Susan Orlean's Outside magazine article "Life's Swell" and follows three friends (Bosworth, Rodriguez and Sanoe Lake) who live and surf on Hawaii's North Shore.

"20 years ago, my world changed because of this movie! And over those two decades, I've learned just how very rare it is to experience something like Blue Crush... so unique, intimate and true," Bosworth wrote. "If there are certain experiences that make up the vital organs of your life, this movie undoubtedly holds my heart."

"Throughout my career, there is nothing I appreciate more than hearing the love and excitement for this movie -- the stories and the insight on how it has touched and shaped your lives," she said.

Bosworth attributed "the beautiful and unique influence" of Blue Crush to "the purity of the thing."

"The writing of it, the making of it, the depth of the friendships, the faith, the determination, the dedication, hard work, and passion. The freedom and the adventure stemming from a young girl, coming of age, and realizing that courage and fear, ferocity and vulnerability, love for another and love for self -- can all exist in the same breath," the actress said.

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"It's the knowing and the trusting and the doing. The being brave. The free fall. The wings -- and the flight," she added. "Thank you, forever."

The photos feature Bosworth, Rodriguez and Lake on the Blue Crush set.

"My soul sisters for life, I feel you in my laughter every single day. And suddenly there we are again, on the shores of Sunset Beach," Bosworth wrote.

Bosworth has since starred in the films Superman Returns, 21 and Still Alice. She also starred in the Netflix series The I-Land.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/10/2022



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Mitch has explained how his feelings for Krysten changed after they spent a flirtatious night together at the start of their honeymoon in Mexico.Mitch, a 41-year-old environmental policy advocate, was matched to marry Krysten, a 32-year-old sales representative, by experts Pastor Calvin Roberson and Dr. Pepper Schwartz on Season 15 of the Lifetime reality series.Krysten thought Mitch was handsome and felt chemistry with him on their wedding day, but Mitch told the cameras, "I wasn't right off the bat attracted to her because my type is less physical and more lifestyle. She maybe seems a little more mainstream than me."Fast forward to the honeymoon, Mitch admitted to Krysten during their first dinner date in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, how he was lacking an attraction to her and hadn't felt any urges to get physical with her yet.However, Krysten remained optimistic, and a night of tequila shots and chocolate-covered strawberries led to the pair kissing in their hotel room that night, with Mitch admitting he got "all fired up."During the August 3 episode of : Afterparty, host Keshia Knight Pulliam asked Mitch how things seemed to shift "from zero to 100" for him that romantic evening."Yeah, it's pretty weird... So, there was some tequila, but I think it was just, like, for me, being honest and just getting that off my chest -- that was keeping me in my head," Mitch explained."That was keeping me [from] being present, and it just made me much more comfortable."Mitch added of Krysten, "The way she handled it, with such grace and showing me how confident she is in herself, was attractive and is [attractive]."Mitch said a woman's confidence and positivity is "definitely part of" what makes him attracted to a partner.When asked if Mitch was able to see through the panic and find good things about Krysten, he replied, "Yeah, absolutely. She is so optimistic and positive, which is a nice complement for me because I love the world and I love people, but I do have a bit of a negative outlook on the world.""I just like how she's easy to talk to," Mitch noted. "And she's right off the bat just supportive of me and my eccentricities."Shortly after Mitch and Krysten went paddleboarding on the first day of their honeymoon, Mitch FaceTimed with his brother Matt to complain about how, although Krysten is "an amazing person," he wasn't "feeling that physical spark" with his wife and couldn't pretend otherwise.Matt advised his brother to make his best effort in getting to know Krysten because Mitch didn't vow to be attracted to her on the first day.Matt also pointed out how Krysten is "cute" and so it was possible Mitch could develop feelings for her slowly over time.But Mitch couldn't contain how he was feeling, and so he told Krysten the truth during their dinner date in Mexico."It's just not quite there for me right now, and maybe I may not be feeling that physical attraction with you. And that's not easy for either of us," Mitch confessed. "I'm the one with the issue here; it's not about you."Krysten said she didn't understand because when Mitch looked at her, she could tell that he thought she was attractive. Mitch said the physical part was just moving slower for him.Krysten acknowledged how she wasn't going to try to convince her husband that she's pretty and a catch, and Mitch agreed, saying he just hoped those feelings would come organically and he had no desire to cut and run."I'm committed to seeing this through with you, day by day," Mitch noted.Krysten didn't want to ask for specifics since they'd probably hurt her feelings, and she was already on the verge of tears."I feel confused. I just feel blindsided by him because his actions are showing me constantly that he is into me," Krysten told the cameras. "I'm just kind of hoping he is filled with anxiety and is in his head. I genuinely believe there is a chance he could get there on his own, but I'm not doing any convincing."Krysten called this "the worst case scenario," her husband not being attracted to her, but she planned to continue being herself and just having fun. Krysten said they had good conversations and got along great, and the couple ended up kissing before bed.Mitch and Krysten then received professional massages the next day, and Mitch told the cameras how a fire can always be stoked and his prior interaction with Krysten in the bedroom gave him some hope for their relationship going forward.Krysten was happy Mitch had made a move, and she told him that he's a good kisser. But Krysten explained to Mitch how she didn't go all the way with him due to feeling insecurities. She didn't want that night to be their "moment."Krysten wanted to feel appreciated, telling her husband, "If we do get to Decision Day and I don't have sex from you or an 'I love you' from you, I will ask for a divorce."Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now!
The cast and creators of Five Days at Memorial, premiering Friday on Apple TV+, said the Hurricane Katrina drama shows how little has improved since the New Orleans crisis.

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In the show, Julie Ann Emery plays Diane Robichaux, the real-life incident coordinator at LifeCare, an elder care facility that rented a floor at Memorial Hospital in 2005.

"We assume if people are in a hospital, they're taken care of, and it's not true," Emery told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. "When the community is suffering from a lack of resources, so is the hospital, and we saw that so starkly during COVID."

Flood waters knocked out the power at Memorial Hospital, and administrators struggled to persuade government and military officials to help evacuate them. The show, based on Sheri Fink's book, depicts how executives off site ordered the medical staff to abandon high-risk patients.

"There are people in boardrooms making business decisions that should be human ones," Emery said. "I hope there's a real conversation to be had here about corporate medicine, the failings of corporate medicine."

Cherry Jones plays Susan Mulderick, incident commander for the rest of Memorial Hospital. Jones said while filming Memorial in Toronto in 2021, cast members from New Orleans checked in on their homes during Hurricane Ida.

"One of the actors' homes was flooding while we were in Toronto on the anniversary of Katrina," Jones said. "The people that the series is based on were all in our hearts and minds through the whole thing."

Carlton Cuse created Five Days at Memorial with John Ridley, adapting Fink's book. Cuse said development began in 2019, and working through the COVID-19 pandemic added resonance to the story of a hospital crisis.

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"A lot of the same things and a lot of the same issues that we dealt with in Hurricane Katrina, we ended up dealing with during the pandemic," Cuse said. "I think that everyone who watches our story will bring that perspective to it."

With power outages and dwindling resources, Memorial doctors had to make difficult choices about which patients to prioritize for care. Cuse said doctors still face such choices during the pandemic.

"We have 8 or 9 billion people on the planet," Cuse said. "Who gets vaccines? Who got monoclonal antibodies? What is the treatment difference between someone at a public inner-city hospital and a fancy private suburban hospital?"

After the events of Katrina, Louisiana charged Dr. Anna Pou, played by Vera Farmiga on the series, with murder for morphine-induced deaths. A grand jury decided not to indict Pou, and her record has been expunged.

"I tried to put myself in her shoes to understand what she was up against, the exhaustion, the sleep depravity, the frustration, all the stamina it required -- and her intentions," Farmiga said.

She said she believed Pou's intentions were "to do her darndest to cure people and help people."

The real Pou, Mulderick and Robichaux were not involved with making Five Days at Memorial. The cast and creators said they relied on Fink's book, and in Emery's case, Fink provided additional research material on Robichaux.

Emery said Fink had additional information about Robichaux's relationships with nursing staff at LifeCare, which were not explicit in the show. Emery also read accounts by Robichaux's co-workers that painted a consistent portrait of her leadership style.

"She's very compassionate," Emery said. "She tries to keep things light when she can. She tries to keep everyone as calm as possible, all while physically struggling on her own."

Farmiga also noted Pou's compassion, saying she volunteered to work during Katrina and remained when she had a chance to leave.

"That's what she does," Farmiga said. "That's her vocation. She was there when she didn't have to be. She volunteered to be there on a day that she was off. And her objective was to alleviate suffering."

Robichaux was seven months' pregnant during Hurricane Katrina. Emery learned that pregnancy added additional exhaustion to the sleep deprivation and dehydration the staff experienced several days into the storm.

"Pregnant people need about twice the water as non-pregnant people," Emery said. "So severe dehydration would have set in very quickly for her. It comes with a very specific set of physical ailments -- cramping and aches and retaining water everywhere."

Jones said evacuating Memorial was exacerbated by a lack of resources to move patients out of harm's way. Ultimately, Mulderick relied on citizens sailing their own boats through the flood waters.

"I think everyone kept waiting for the cavalry to show up, and finally they realized there was no one showing up," Jones said. "The Coast Guard was unbelievable during Katrina, but there were only so many of them. When people start showing up in their own boats, it must have just been incredible."

Five Days at Memorial premieres with three episodes, then new episodes premiere Fridays on Apple TV+.
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The Brattleboro Reformer and Fulflex rubber products supplier sponsored the 6th annual Backpack Giveaway at the Brattleboro Auto Mall on Tuesday. The event gave away around 200 backpacks filled with back-to-school supplies. Children also were able to get a free haircut by Shear Designs Hair 
Photographer / Multimedia Editor

Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer.
Liam Madden of Bellows Falls, shown here with his wife Lauren and son June, won the Republican nomination for U.S. House of Representatives.
Law enforcement agents with the Vermont Secretary of State's Office, which regulates massage parlors in the state, wait outside of Rainbow Therapeutic Spa on Putney Road. A clerk at a nearby business told the Reformer a number of agents left with a woman a little before 2 p.m. More information is expected later.
NEW MILFORD  When Greg Mullen opened the Gregory James Gallery and Framing in 1996, he leased a small storefront on Bridge Street in downtown New Milford.

Several addresses later, Mullens shop now occupies a 3,200-square-foot, newly remodeled space on busy Route 202, also known as Park Lane Road.

The shop, which opened in mid-July, is in a perfect spot to catch the eye of both year-round visitors and the growing horde of city people who are moving to Litchfield County. But the gallerys steady growth is also a testimony to Mullens strong reputation in the New Milford area, earned via an acumen for expert framing and a keen eye for fine art.

I began as a framing shop, and I was initially part-time, said Mullen, who grew up in New York City but moved to New Milford during his high school years. Mullens parents are artists: His father was a painter and a filmmaker, while his mother was a musician who also taught culinary courses.

Mullen himself was technically inclined. After several career starts, he ended up working on a team for Nestle that remodeled company facilities. The work was steady and somewhat creative, but Mullen grew restless. So, he completed a class in framing and worked part-time at several local frame shops.

This led to Mullens decision to open his own shop. To avoid the financial hit that would have followed quitting a full-time, corporate role, he initially kept part-time hours at his shop. Hed work a full day for Nestle, get to the shop at 5 p.m. and work late into the night.

The business grew and two years after opening its doors, framing and art became a full-time endeavor for Mullen.

Increased business

The new location is the gallerys fifth home and is the first building that Mullen has owned. It is three-quarters of a mile up Route 202 from his last storefront, which he rented. That old building is up for sale, prompting Mullen to search for larger, permanent quarters.

Mullens new space is about 800 square feet larger than the former location. This larger footprint will come in particularly handy for art shows, which Mullen plans to restart this fall. This will mark his first public exhibition since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020.

The state shut me down for three months in 2020 because my business was considered nonessential, Mullen said. Then, as soon as I opened my doors again, traffic picked up and hasnt slowed down since.

Much of that new traffic came from newcomers to the area, who have moved to New Milford and surrounding towns from New York City and other urban settings. The unprecedented uptick in home prices and strong home sales greatly boosted his framing business. Art sales used to constitute half of his business, with framing the other half. Now, framing makes up about 75 percent of his business.

All those new buyers are decorating their new homes, which is driving up sales, he said. Some of these are very large homes, so now Im often framing some very large works of art.

As an example, Mullen held up a 48 x 96-inch abstract painting that just fits one of his worktables. To his advantage, the Gregory James Gallery is the only frame shop for miles around. A store several miles south on Route 202 went out of business about five years ago, although the building still has a sign on it.

These days, most new business comes from word-of-mouth, referrals, Google searches and positive online reviews. This marks a sea change from the late 1990s, when Mullen purchased newspaper and Yellow Pages ads to get noticed. Today, Google makes searching hyper-local  which means customers find him on their own computers or phones.

The framing shop is, in particular, very much a convenience business, said Mullen, which means customers want service provides who are close to home. Mullen also maintains a Facebook page and uses a local public relations specialist to publicize the shop and its work.

The art

Customers often arrive with their own unstretched canvases in tow, which is when Mullen truly shows off his talents. Each edge of a canvas must be slowly  and painstakingly  stretched onto a frame built expressly for to the paintings dimensions.

Mullen points out that even in the most skilled hands, using a poor-quality stretching frame will not yield the quality results Mullen wants. For that reason, he uses a line of well-crafted stretching frames made in Canada.

The art gallery features the work of approximately 15 to 20 artists, most of whom live and work within a 100-mile radius. Local landscape artists are always in abundance, but there is a smattering of contemporary and abstract paintings as well.

The late Woldemar Neufeld has been described as the gallerys signature artist. The shop has more than 50 originals by Neufeld, who specialized in linocuts and watercolors of scenes throughout New York City and New England.

Another established artist on display is Roxburys Frank Metz, whose work specializes in semi-abstract pastel landscapes and water scenes. Also on display are works from contemporary artist Jorge Silveira, who uses scraps of trash to compose his works. But Mullen also seeks out emerging talent, including a multicolored mixed media self-portrait ink-and-acrylic painting by Greg Orban.

Mullen has also established a strong reputation among local interior designers  which brings in new business for both framing and artwork.

Art is one of the last items new home buyers will add, he said. After theyve purchased furniture and appliances, thats when they contact me.

We help talented artists gain the support and recognition they deserve and sell their artwork, said Mullen. Meanwhile, those who purchase the art, or come in for framing, enhance their homes with things that are beautiful, special, and inspiring. Its been wonderful experience to be at the center of all those creative exchanges.

The Gregory James Gallery is located at 149 Park Lane Road in New Milford; phone 860-354-3436. You can also peruse some of the stores collection of art at https://gregoryjamesgallery.com/.
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Defense lawyers are denouncing comments made by New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and his attorney general after a jury acquitted a truck driver in the deaths of seven motorcyclists, but both men said Wednesday they stand by their statements.

After a two-week trial, jurors deliberated for less than three hours Tuesday before finding Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, 26, innocent on seven counts of manslaughter, seven counts of negligent homicide and one count of reckless conduct. The charges stemmed from a June 21, 2019, crash in Randolph that killed seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy  who had taken heroin, fentanyl and cocaine earlier on the day of the crash  repeatedly swerved back and forth before the collision and told police he caused it. But a judge dismissed eight charges related to whether he was impaired, and his attorneys blamed the lead biker, Albert Woody Mazza Jr., saying he was drunk and not looking where he was going when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of Zhukovskyys truck.

After the verdict, Sununu said he shares in the shock, outrage, and anger that so many have expressed since the crash.

The Fallen Seven did not receive justice today, and that is an absolute tragedy, he said.

Attorney General John Formella said he believes the state proved its case.

Mr. Zhukovskyy should have been found guilty of the charges in this case and held responsible for causing seven deaths and numerous injuries, he said. We thank the Court and the jurors for their service, and while we are extremely disappointed, we respect the verdict and our system of justice.

The New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense lawyers said Formellas comments violated professional standards and that both statements criticizing the verdict could deter future jury service.

These statements are irresponsible, dangerous, disrespectful to the jurors and damaging to the integrity of the criminal legal system, the group said in a statement. They are also contrary to rules designed to protect the rights of the accused and protect jurors from undue influence and harassment.

According to those rules, prosecutors should avoid comments that criticize the jurys actions or verdict and should respectfully accept acquittals. Formellas spokesman, Michael Garrity, pointed to the last sentence of the attorney generals statement when asked to respond to the defense lawyers, while Sununus spokesman said the governor stands by his comments.

But the defense lawyers said their comments could cause problems for future trials.

Must our jurors fear public excoriation by the governor and chief law enforcement officer if they find (as jurors did here) that the State failed to meet its burden? they said. That our Governor would so loudly put his thumb on the scale is an abuse of his platform and his office. Agree or disagree, the jury here did its job and their decision deserves respect rather than public condemnation.
Connecticut State Police /contributed photo

LEBANON  A 75-year-old man died Monday after he went into a pond, apparently after falling off a ride-on lawnmower, state police said.

Troopers were called to Tobacco Street about 10:50 a.m. to help local firefighters at a home where the man was reported to have fallen into a pond, according to police. The troopers learned a neighbor had discovered the man, unresponsive, in the body of water. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene.
STAMFORD  A city man awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday after he plead guilty to violating his probation twice.

Jeff Etienne, 25, was accused of violating his probation on two separate occasions in 2019, according to his probation officer.

According to court records, Etienne violated his probation three times in 15 days, all within a month of his conviction on charges of carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle and interfering with police. He was placed on probation at the time.

Gina Mital, Etiennes probation officer, wrote in an arrest warrant that Etienne left the state of Connecticut without permission on Nov. 11, 2019 and received a warning. On Nov. 22, 2019, Etienne tested positive for marijuana, a banned substance under his probation, Mital wrote. Four days after that, Etienne was arrested by Stamford police on misdemeanor charges, another violation of his probation.

Etiennes guilty plea to violation of probation comes about six months after he rejected a plea offer from the state in connection to a charge of attempted murder stemming from a November 2020 shooting in Stamfords West Side that left two men injured.

Etienne faces charges of attempted murder, criminal possession of a pistol, first-degree threatening and two counts of first-degree assault in connection to the shooting.

Last August, state prosecutors offered Etienne a deal where the 25-year-old would serve no more than 15 years in prison in return for guilty pleas to charges of criminal attempt at murder and two counts of first-degree assault.

Sgt. Sean Boeger wrote in an arrest affidavit that Etienne allegedly was trying to return a car he had recently purchased from one of the men injured in the shooting.

When the man refused to accept the returned car, Etienne allegedly told him, Im gonna pop you, according to the affidavit.

Later that day, according to the affidavit, the two men were driving down Fairfield Avenue in Stamford when a man they identified as Etienne got out of a car in front of them and began shooting. One man, 33, suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder and hand, while the second man, 23, was grazed by a bullet on his forearm.

If convicted of attempted murder and two counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon, Etienne faces up to 40 years in prison.

His case is currently awaiting trial, though no official date has been set.

Etiennes attorney, Howard Ehring, said his client is next expected to appear in court on Sept. 21 for an update on the attempted murder case.
Hong Kong police arrested four people for "seditious" social media posts in connection with a Facebook page titled "Civil servant secrets," after the page was denounced by a newspaper backed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for "inciting civil servants" and "smearing government policies and operations."

Two were accused of being the administrators of the group, which stopped posting on the day of the arrests, but later started up at a different address calling itself "Civil servant secrets 2.0."

The last visible post on the original page showed a police officer leaving his firearm unattended as he took a nap on some chairs.

Another two were members of the Fire Services Department, and were suspected of having posted to the group, the CCP-backed Wen Wei Po newspaper reported.

All four were released on bail on Wednesday, the Hong Kong Free Press cited police as saying.

Political denunciations in CCP-backed media are increasingly being used to target civil society groups, journalists and NGOs in Hong Kong.

The denunciations usually focus on accusations that a given organization has done something that could be in breach of a draconian national security law imposed on Hong Kong by the CCP from July 1, 2020.

The merged Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao website also denounced outspoken political commentator and talk-show host Poon Siu-to, political scientist Simon Shen, veteran journalist Chip Tsao and four colleagues at Commercial Radio.

In an Aug. 8 report on a complaint lodged by a pro-CCP group with the city's Communications Authority about Commercial Radio, the paper reported that the group had complained that the station is "spreading poison" and "betraying Hong Kong."

"Some show hosts have used the platform to publish anti-China speeches betraying Hong Kong and misleading its people," the report cited the complaint as saying.

"They include Poon Siu-to, Simon Shen, Chip Tsao, Jacky Fung, Jan Lamb, Michelle Lo, Ken Yuen and others from Commercial Radio," the report said.

"The group strongly urged the Communications Authority to strictly supervize the media and not allow the station to arbitrarily invite guests who spread anti-government messages and hate speech against the Hong Kong and Chinese governments," it said.

"These hosts have often made false remarks in the program, which they infiltrated with their extreme political stance and distorted values, turning it into a platform for their personal political propaganda ... only making negative comments or overly politicized comments and distorted logic ... when it comes to governance or China-related topics," it quoted the complaint as saying.

The group called on the authority to take action to silence their "hostile words and deeds," and prevent them from using the station to spread "poison," the report said.

Tsang Chi-ho, who once hosted the banned satirical news show Headliner for government broadcaster RTHK, said the pro-Beijing press is now casting its net wider than ever.

"This encompasses a very broad spectrum," Tsang told RFA. "Leaving aside the political commentators, Poon Siu-to, Chip Tsao and others, they have even included Jan Lamb who is known as a comedian."

"Nobody thought they would be put in the same category, but now it seems they are," he said.

"It sends the message that anyone who talks about serious political issues will be targeted, even if you just make light-hearted, satirical comments," Tsang said.

Tsang, who was himself denounced many times by the pro-CCP media in Hong Kong before his show was shelved in 2020 for "insulting the police," said political satire, once a ubiquitous part of Hong Kong's media offering, appears now to be a thing of the past.

He said anyone with a public platform is now vulnerable to similar denunciations, with scant support from a fast-disappearing civil society, an increasingly muzzled media, and a Legislative Council that has been purged of any political opposition.

He said the denunciations appear timed to coincide with the forthcoming mid-term review of Commercial Radio's broadcasting license.

"They only approved the renewal of the license for 12 years ... with a mid-term review in 2022, so perhaps they are ... putting pressure on Commercial Radio to make adjustments to the style and attitude of their programming," Tsang said.

Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) chairman Ronson Chan also expressed surprise at the list of names in the article.

"If they're even going to rectify Jacky Lam, then we have a huge problem," Chan told RFA. "If Jacky Lam, an iconic personality on Commercial Radio, gets rectified, or silenced, or changes his approach in any way, this will naturally mean people lose confidence in the station."

He said people denounced by pro-CCP media are likely to face investigation by police under the national security law imposed on the city by Beijing from July 1, 2020.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Fact-checkers find evidence a ship claimed to be in Taiwans territorial waters was never there.

A Taiwan military vessel is seen from a Chinese naval vessel during the military exercises in the waters around Taiwan at an undisclosed location, Aug. 5, 2022.

UPDATED at 9:10 a.m. EDT on 2022-08-10

China's military said it had wrapped up a week of war games around Taiwan on Wednesday, while Taipei cried foul over Chinese disinformation tactics as Beijing ratcheted up pressure in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Aug 2-3 visit to the self-governing island.

The joint military operations in the waters and airspace off the Taiwan had been carried out with "all tasks accomplished and the troops' combat capabilities in integrated joint operations effectively verified," said a statement by a spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

"The troops under the PLA Eastern Theater Command will pay close attention to the evolution of situations across the Taiwan Strait, continue to carry out military training for war preparedness, organize normalized combat-readiness security patrol in the Taiwan Strait, resolutely safeguarding Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the statement. Other PLA drills are going on to the north in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, the PLA said last week.

Amid the conflict, a Taiwanese fact-checking organization claimed that one of the most widely used photos of the recent drills by the PLA around Taiwan turned out to be the latest fake news in Chinas disinformation campaign against the democratic island.

The photo, distributed by Chinese state news agency Xinhua, depicts a PLA soldier observing military drills in the waters near Taiwan through a pair of binoculars.

In the background, a Taiwanese warship without a hull number is clearly visible. Next to it is a chimney, later identified as the smokestack of the Ho Ping Power Plant in Hualien County on the east coast of Taiwan.

The Xinhua photo shows many irregularities. CREDIT: Taiwan FactCheck Center





The Taiwan FactCheck Center (TFC), a Taipei-based independent organization, conducted a thorough examination of Xinhuas photo and published the findings on its website on Tuesday.

It said there are too many irregularities, calling the proportions of objects in the photo unreasonable and saying there were obvious signs of manipulation such as the lack of a hull number on the alleged Taiwanese warship and its outline, which TFC said was too clean.

Another photo released by Xinhua in the same batch clearly shows hull number 935 of the Lan Yang, a Taiwanese Navy Chi Yang-class frigate.

Experts and analysts consulted by TFC concluded that the photo is a composite of different images.

Xinhua said the photo was taken on Aug. 5, 2022, the second day of the unprecedented four-day drills conducted by the PLA Eastern Theater Command.

The photo led to widespread speculation on Chinese internet forums that a PLA Navy (PLAN) destroyer had come closer than 12 kilometers (6.5 nautical miles) from the coast of Hualien, well within Taiwans territorial waters.

A states territorial waters are defined by maritime boundaries 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) from its coast.

Several Chinese and Taiwanese media outlets reported that PLAN destroyer Nanjing, where the soldiers photo was taken, was only 11.78 kilometers from the coast of Hualien and the Ho Ping Power Station on Friday morning.

The hull number of Taiwanese warship visible on the right, is not present in the image on the left. CREDIT: Taiwan FactCheck Center

Hybrid warfare

The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense dismissed the news, describing it as disinformation.

No PLAN vessel has entered our territorial waters since August 4 when the PLA drill started, the Ministry said on Twitter.

China has stepped up its disinformation campaign and cyberattacks as part of hybrid warfare against Taiwan.

Hybrid warfare is a combination of conventional military actions on the ground and hacks, or disinformation campaigns, designed to attack public morale and sow confusion.

Maj. Gen. Chen Yu-lin, deputy director of the Political and War Bureau of Taiwan's Defense Ministry said earlier this week that the current wave of "cognitive operations" started even before the military drills were announced as a response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit.

Pelosi is the most senior U.S. official to visit the island in 25 years. Her visit was condemned by Beijing as a serious violation of Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Chen Hui-min, TFCs editor-in-chief, told RFA his organization had detected a 30-40% increase in fake reports online since Pelosi's visit.

The biggest difference [from the past] is that it seems to be spreading from English-language Twitter, Chen said.

The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it had been hit by 170 million cyber attacks per minute during the height of the tension last week.

China considers Taiwan a Chinese province that must be reunified with the mainland at all costs.

Meanwhile only two percent of 23.5 million Taiwanese people identified themselves as Chinese, down from 25 percent three decades ago, according to a new study by Taiwans National Chengchi University.

UPDATED with an announcement from China's military that war games around Taiwan had wrapped up.
Beijing hits out at the addition of "where applicable" to statements on the one-China policy.

A tourist sits facing the Taiwan Strait at the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland China's closest points to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan island, Fujian province, China, Aug. 5, 2022.

China increasingly fears losing international support for its claim that the democratic island of Taiwan and China are part of a "one China" that was split apart during the civil war and is awaiting "unification," analysts told RFA.

The Chinese government on Wednesday released a white paper on Taiwan, reiterating its stance and not withdrawing its ongoing military threat against the island, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) nor formed part of the 73-year-old People's Republic of China.

When the nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) regime of Chiang Kai-shek fled there after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's Soviet-backed communists, it took over what had been a dependency of Japan since 1895, when Taiwan's inhabitants proclaimed a short-lived Republic of Formosa after being ceded to Japan by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Nonetheless, Beijing forces countries to choose between diplomatic recognition of Beijing or Taipei, and has repeatedly threatened to annex the island, should it seek formal statehood as Taiwan.

"The white paper ... was ... released amid the escalating cross-Straits tensions and the People's Liberation Army (PLA)'s military drills against Taiwan secessionists and foreign interference," China's nationalistic tabloid the Global Times reported.

It said the white paper's release is "a warning to Taiwan authorities as well as external forces," citing "analysts."

"We are one China, and Taiwan is a part of China," it quoted the white paper as saying.

"Taiwan has never been a state; its status as a part of China is unalterable," the paper said, adding that Beijing is "committed to the historic mission of ... complete reunification."

The current Taiwan government still uses the name of the KMT's 1911 Republic of China, and operates as a sovereign state despite a lack of international diplomatic recognition or participation in global bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO).

The recent visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island on Aug. 2-3 was viewed by Beijing as a "serious provocation," and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched a series of military exercises that encroached into waters that were previously regarded as Taiwan's.

This week, Beijing reacted strongly to a statement by U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Australian foreign minister Penny Wong and Japanese foreign minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, in which they appeared to qualify their support for the "one China" policy, which Beijing demands as a prerequisite for diplomatic ties.

Children pose for photos at the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, the closest point in mainland China to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan in southeastern China's Fujian Province, Aug. 5, 2022. Credit: AP No change in policy

Blinken, Wong and Hayashi condemned China's launch of ballistic missiles -- five of which Japan has said landed in its waters -- which they said had raised tensions and destabilized the region.

In a joint statement, they called on China to cease its military exercises around Taiwan immediately.

"There is no change in the respective one China policies, where applicable, and basic positions on Taiwan of Australia, Japan, or the United States," the statement concluded.

Asked to confirm whether the addition of the words "where applicable" was new for Washington, a State Department spokesperson on Tuesday replied: "Id just refer you back to the statement."

President Joe Biden has previously said China is 'flirting with danger' with its ongoing threat to annex Taiwan, saying the U.S. is committed to defending the island in the event of a Chinese invasion, a statement U.S. officials later framed as an interpretation of the existing terms of the Taiwan Relations Act requiring Washington to ensure the island has the means to defend itself.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Wenbin hit out at the joint statement from Washington, Canberra and Tokyo, saying countries shouldn't add clauses that contextualize their support for the one China policy.

"Certain countries have unilaterally added preconditions and provisos to the one-China policy in an attempt to distort, fudge and hollow out their one-China commitment," Wang told journalists on Tuesday. "This is illegal, null and void ... [and] also a challenge to the post-WWII world order."

"Attempts to challenge the one-China principle, international rule of law and the international order are bound to be rejected by the international community and get nowhere," Wang said.

Ding Shufan, an honorary professor at Taiwan's National Chengchi University, said that, in fact, U.S. policy in Taiwan has always been conditional on the relatively peaceful status quo that has been seen since over recent decades.

"It's possible that [the three countries] were somewhat deliberate in adding this," Ding said. "[It means] that if the situation in the Taiwan Strait gets out of control, [their support for] the one China policy could change."

Chung Chi-tung, an assistant researcher at the National Defense Security Research Institute, said the military exercises were a form of protest over the deterioration in the U.S.-China relationship begun under the Trump administration, which eventually removed a ban on high-ranking visits to Taiwan by U.S. officials that wasn't reinstated under President Joe Biden.

"Everyone has been looking at the military situation, but they have ignored the fact that the most important thing it shows about China is how worried it is by this setback in relations with the U.S., and by the internationalization of the Taiwan Strait issue," Chung told RFA.

Counterproductive stance

He said Beijing has been explicit about this right from the start, mentioning the "hollowing out" of international support for the one China policy.

"China wants to put a stop to the internationalization of the Taiwan Strait issue that was caused by Pelosi's visit," Chung said. "This is counterproductive, because the focus of global attention is the U.S.' one China policy, which is in conflict with China's [formulation of] the principle."

Chung said no other countries made any comment at all during the Taiwan Strait missile crisis of 1995 and 1996, but this time even Southeast Asian nations and members of ASEAN have criticized China's actions and taken Washington's side.

Chang Meng-jen, convenor of the diplomacy and international affairs program at Taiwan's Fu Jen Catholic University, said Washington only has words with which to respond.

"China is changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait with military hardware, so they are doing it with words," Chang told RFA. "Chinese missiles have been fired into Japanese territorial waters, so Japan and the U.S. are announcing changes to what is meant by the one China policy."

Chang said that what Western democratic nations mean by the one China policy is increasingly diverging from what Beijing means by it, although they can't afford to be too explicit about it.

He said further visits from overseas politicians and officials to Taiwan will continue, and are more likely to be presented as concerned with "shared values" than outwardly defiant about the island's status.

"China has conducted military exercises, pushed aside the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and launched missiles into Taiwan's airspace," Chang said. "So, the United States, Japan, and Australia are responding in their own way."

"It is impossible for the United States, Europe or Japan to say outright that Taiwan is independent ... so they can only challenge the CCP by using their right to speak, and also by telling Taiwan that they are changing their positions to support Taiwan," he said.

Wu Se-Chih of Taiwan's Cross-Strait Policy Association said the main significance of China's white paper lies with its timing: ahead of the CCP's 20th National Congress later this year.

But he said it fails to take into account Taiwan's shared democratic values with other countries, and the international reaction to its ongoing crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong under a draconian national security law.

"The international community have pretty much rejected the idea of one country, two systems because of the ways things have turned out in Hong Kong," Wu told RFA. "Many people think that China's promises will turn out to be a sugar-coated poison pill."

"They could break their promises at any time under such a plan."

He said that while China tries to characterize international contacts as "collusion with foreign forces," it fails to take into account the importance of shared political beliefs and values, and the commitment of Taiwan's 23 million people to a democratic way of life.

"Unification wouldn't bring any benefit [to Taiwan]," Wu said. "Clearly, China doesn't care about the value of Taiwan's current system."

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Some are being forced out of Workers' Party of Korea positions and into factory work until they mend their ways.

War veteran delegates of the Korean People's Army attend the 6th National Conference of War Veterans on the occasion of 67th anniversary of what North Korea refers to as the Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War, marking the signing of the armistice agreement that brought a cease-fire to the 1950-53 Korean War, at a hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, July 25, 2020.

Authorities in North Korea are working to identify citizens who neglect their Korean War veteran parents, sometimes stripping those who arent living up to their familial obligations of their posts within the ruling party, sources inside the country said.

As of the beginning of August, authorities began a project to determine where the children of the 1950-53 Korean War veterans live, a resident of South Pyongan province, north of the capital Pyongyang, told RFA on Sunday. RFA reported in July that a number of elderly veterans had been found to be malnourished and suffering COVID-19 symptoms such as high fevers and coughing.

Party officials who neglect their war veteran parents are being accused of filial impiety and removed from their positions, the woman said. But some North Koreans say the governments campaign is an exercise in blame shifting, accusing the war veterans children of providing insufficient support when the government itself should be doing more.

The project came about after the 8th National Conference of War Veterans in Pyongyang on July 27, which commemorated the armistice that ended the fighting. The Workers Party of North Korea issued a directive to take care of war veterans and to treat them well in society.

During their investigation, authorities found a few county residents failing to carry out their obligations by living apart from their parents who are elderly war veterans, the woman said. They lost their jobs as a result.

Four people were caught, including one [party] secretary in the lathe work department at the Chuncheon River Machinery Factory and three cell secretaries in the textile factory, the source said. Their positions were taken away the next day.

Cell secretaries are among North Koreas elite society, typically overseeing five to 30 party members in their cell, the main unit that links the party to the masses, according to a 2021 report by NK News.

The four workers have been given a second chance to fulfill their family duties, however.

Six months of revolutionary measures were given, said the source, referring to a punishment by authorities to make offenders learn the revolutionary ideology propagated by North Koreas regime.

After a stint working as laborers  considered a disgrace in North Korea  and after they move their veteran parents into their homes, the shamed North Koreans will be allowed to resume their previous positions, the woman said.

North Korean authorities decided not to dismiss them from their positions because their veteran parents might complain that such a punishment would be too harsh, the woman said.

People of national merit

Though North Korean veterans are classified as people of national merit and are eligible for government provisions for food and living expenses, they still suffer from a lack of societal support, said a resident of North Pyongan province.

The party committee in Chongju, one of the provinces main cities, also began a similar investigation at the beginning of August through the heads of neighborhood-watch units to determine whether there are adult children not serving or caring for their war veteran parents, he told RFA on Sunday.

Five farmers who live with their elderly veteran parents at the Osong village cooperative farm were found to be examples of poor filial piety because they could not provide them with three meals each day due to financial hardship, said the source, who also declined to be named so as to speak freely.

The farmers also locked in their elderly veteran parents who were suffering from dementia, so they could do their work, he said.

The farmers were called to the county party base and wrote self-critical confessions that they were undutiful to their veteran parents, the source said. They were released after receiving ideological education that they should serve their veteran parents whom the party cherishes.

But other residents aware of the situation have asked, Who doesnt want to serve a warm meal to their parents? said the man. They then criticized the authorities for not taking responsibility for the lives of veterans and providing for them, instead placing the full burden on their children who have their own problems making ends meet.

They complain that they are making the poor and elderly war veterans the burdens of their children rather than of the state, he said.

Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee for RFA Korean. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Screenshots from a video showing water flowing around the Nam Theun 1 Dam in Borikhamxay province in northern Laos. The video was share on Facebook on July 16, 2022.

Dam workers in Laos are moving to contain leakage at a large hydroelectric project on the Mekong River following concerns that a breach could lead to the structures collapse, flooding areas downstream.

Engineers working at the Nam Theun 1 Dam, located in Borikhamxay provinces Pakkading district, have now partially stopped the leak, an employee at the Nam Theun 1 Power Company, the dams developer, told RFA on Tuesday.

Theyre working on this little by little and step by step. Now, only a little bit of water is oozing out, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorized to discuss the matter.

Power officials had assured nervous residents in July that a video showing the dam leaking water depicted only seepage that would have no effect on operations or safety at the hydroelectric dam on a Mekong River tributary.

Video of the apparent leakage was shared on Facebook on July 16, a week before the fourth anniversary of the Southeast Asian countrys worst-ever dam collapse, which killed more than 70 people.

On July 23, 2018, billions of cubic feet of water from a tributary of the Mekong River poured over a collapsed saddle dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Attapeu province in southern Laos.

The disaster wiped out all or part of 19 villages downstream, leaving 71 people dead and displacing 14,440 others.

Some still afraid

Speaking to RFA, villagers living downstream from Nam Theun 1 gave mixed reactions to the news of the dams partial containment, with some voicing confidence in the work being done to fix the leak, and others saying they are afraid the dam could still collapse.

Theyre fixing the leak, so Im not as afraid as I was before, said a resident of Pakkading districts Phonchareun village, located about eight kilometers below the dam. They say that the leaking water was coming only from the mountain.

During the first two weeks of the leak, a lot of us panicked because we have seen dam breaks happen before, he said.

Were not worried anymore, said a resident of the districts Phon Ngam village, living about seven kilometers below the dam and speaking like RFAs other sources on condition of anonymity. I think theyve already fixed the leak now.

Another villager living just below the dam agreed. I feel safer now. I dont know exactly what theyre fixing, but I hope that nothing will happen.

However, other villagers living near the dam still voiced concern.

Many of us are not completely confident in the repairs being done, one villager said. Were constantly monitoring the leak and are preparing for the worst so we can protect ourselves in case of an emergency.

Were still scared because we live below the dam, added another resident of Phon Ngam. They say the leaking water is coming from somewhere else and not from the dam, but were still worried and are taking precautions, he said.

The Nam Theun 1 Dam is a part of Laos plans to build dozens of hydropower projects on the Mekong River and its tributaries to become the Battery of Southeast Asia by exporting electricity to neighboring countries.

Though the Lao government sees power generation as a way to boost the landlocked countrys economy, the projects are controversial because of their environmental impact, displacement of villagers without adequate compensation, and questionable financial and power demand arrangements.

Translated by RFA Lao. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The bloc had agreed to deliver assistance under the supervision of the military regime.

Myanmars junta has yet to deliver humanitarian assistance pledged three months ago by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the countrys more than 1.2 million refugees of conflict, who aid workers say are in dire need of food and medicine.

At a May 6 meeting in Cambodias capital Phnom Penh, the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) agreed to deliver aid to Myanmar under the supervision of the military regime, which would distribute it to those in need.

However, aid workers in northwest Myanmars Sagaing region told RFA Burmese that as of Monday none of the promised aid had been delivered there or other regions with refugees in need, including Chin, Kayah and Kayin states.

ASEANs help hasnt made it to Sagaing yet, said Thet Oo, who is assisting victims of conflict with the People-to-People Program in the regions Yinmarbin and Salingyi townships.

It's been three months since their meeting, but nothing has come to Yinmarbin district at all.

Thet Oo warned ASEAN not to trust the juntas promises.

The junta, which is terrorizing us, will never provide the aid or assistance they agreed to with ASEAN, he said.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announced on Aug. 3 that 866,000 people had joined the ranks of Myanmars refugees since the militarys Feb. 1, 2021 coup, bringing the total number to more than 1.2 million, or more than 2% of the countrys population of 54.4 million.

Of the new refugees, some 470,000 were forced to flee their homes in Sagaing, where clashes between junta troops and the armed opposition are among the deadliest and most frequent in the nation.

Thet Oo said his organization is struggling to provide assistance with only donations to rely on.

Meanwhile, the military is carrying out a scorched earth offensive in the region, conducting raids on villages and setting them on fire, and creating new refugees each day, he said.

In neighboring Chin state, where fierce fighting is also a daily occurrence, refugees are also facing severe shortages, aid workers told RFA.

The need for food and medicine is still very great. There isnt enough food in the mountains. No NGOs have yet come here, a spokesman for the Mindat Township Refugee Camps Management Committee said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Since the beginning, when we heard ASEAN would be providing assistance through the junta, we have been skeptical. It was clear that Chin state would not be included in the distribution program. Sure enough, no aid has reached the refugees in Mindat township to date.

Repeated calls by RFA seeking comment from junta Deputy Information Minister Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun on the status of the ASEAN aid distribution went unanswered.

Agreement panned

ASEANs decision to deliver assistance to Myanmars refugees through the junta was slammed by the countrys shadow National Unity Government (NUG), as well as the Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party and Chin National Front ethnic parties as unacceptable in a joint statement on May 30.

The groups, which the junta says are terrorist organizations, were not extended an invitation by ASEAN to the May 6 meeting in Phnom Penh at the request of the military regime, nor was the U.N. secretary generals special representative to Myanmar, Nolin Heza.

Win Myat Aye, NUG minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, told RFA this week that ASEANs plan to provide aid through the junta will not do anything for the people who are suffering the most in Myanmar.

What ASEAN is doing  is impractical. It hasnt been successful because it never reached those who really need it for more than three months now, he said.

NUG is now already working to meet the actual needs on the ground. We are working in cooperation with international organizations, so the information we act on will be true and we can provide the necessary help.  In order to be successful, we need to help with real action, not just words."

Win Myat Aye noted that the NUG disaster ministry had been providing shelter and medicine to refugees for the last 18 months since the coup.

Aid workers helping refugees in Chin, Kayah and Kayin states, as well as some townships in Sagaing and Magway regions, told RFA that even if the junta is working to deliver assistance from ASEAN, it only controls Myanmars cities and its administration is broken in rural areas.

KNU spokesman Pado Saw Tawney said that the junta is incapable of reaching all of the countrys refugees on its own.

There are over a million [refugees] according to available statistics. But in fact, what we believe is that there may be 2 million or more, he said.

This situation has become a problem that cannot be solved internally. It requires cooperation with the international community.  That's the bottom line. Nothing will happen if it is carried out by the junta alone.

The U.N. humanitarian affairs office said in its statement on Aug. 3 that the security and humanitarian aid situations in Myanmar have worsened significantly as fighting continues throughout the country. The agency said efforts to deliver assistance to refugees have been hamstrung by military restrictions on the transportation of essential goods, including food and medical supplies.

Ethnic Chin refugees shelter in a jungle area after fleeing fighting between Myanmar's junta forces and local militias in Chin state's Mindat township, May 2021. Credit: Citizen journalist Call for stronger measures

Reports of the worsening refugee situation in Myanmar came as the countrys opposition groups and analysts called on ASEAN to adopt stronger measures in its dealing with the junta following the blocs 55th Foreign Ministers Meeting in Phnom Penh from July 31 to Aug. 6.

During the gathering, most ASEAN member states criticized the junta for failing to implement the blocs agreements and for its July 25 execution of four democracy activists, including former student leader Ko Jimmy and a former lawmaker from Myanmars deposed National League for Democracy party.

However, the wording of a statement issued at the end of the meeting was toned down due to the objection of the Myanmar delegation. The decision regarding Myanmar will be taken at the annual ASEAN Summit in November after studying and evaluating the extent to which the blocs 2021 Consensus is implemented by the junta.

Kyaw Zaw, spokesman for the NUG presidential office, said it is no longer enough for ASEAN to simply make criticisms. Instead, he said, the bloc should undertake practical measures, noting that there is no resolution in sight for Myanmars political crisis more than 18 months after the takeover.

The 5-Point Consensus (5PC) has been disregarded and is still being ignored and it has been almost a year and a half since the coup, he said, referring to an agreement between the junta and ASEAN to end violence in Myanmar during an emergency meeting held by the bloc in April 2021.

Were thankful that they expressed their concern and they said they condemn the Myanmar issue. But I'd like to reiterate that now is the time to talk less and take action more.

Kyaw Zaw said he welcomed the ASEAN foreign ministers decisions not to allow high-ranking representatives of the junta to attend the blocs ministerial-level meetings in the future, set a precise time frame for the implementation of the ASEAN Consensus, and to hold formal discussions with the NUG.

Zero implementation

Under the 5PC, the junta agreed to end to violence in the country, facilitate constructive dialogue among all parties, and allow the mediation of such talks by a special ASEAN envoy. The 5PC also calls for the provision of ASEAN-coordinated humanitarian assistance and a visit to Myanmar by an ASEAN delegation to meet with all parties.

Even regime leader Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing acknowledged that the junta had failed to hold up its end of the bargain on the consensus in a televised speech earlier this month in which he announced that the junta was extending by six months the state of emergency it declared following last years coup. He blamed the coronavirus pandemic and political instability for the failure and said he will implement what we can from the 5PC this year, provided it does not jeopardize the countrys sovereignty.

The juntas failure to abide by the 5PC drew criticism last week from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who told Voice of Americas Khmer service that if the agreement is not met, ASEAN should adopt new measures, including suspending Myanmars membership in the bloc.

Calls to junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun on ASEANs criticism went unanswered.

The juntas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that inviting a lower-level delegate from Myanmar to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings was a violation of the blocs charter.

Thein Tun Oo, executive director of the pro-military Thayninga Strategic Studies Institute, warned that ASEAN would become weaker if Myanmar were to be suspended.

Currently, its not easy to suspend Myanmar straight away. But even if they were to make such a decision, Myanmar's special interests would not be affected, he said.

We think ASEAN would become weakened and break up because of the [suspension.]"

Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political analyst, said removing Myanmar from the bloc would only lower the pressure on the junta.

ASEAN doesnt have much leverage now. Expelling Myanmar would be the worst case scenario. It is within the bounds of what they can do, but I don't think they will go that far, he said.

If they cut Myanmar off like that, it will be more difficult to engage ... so, its unlikely.

ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar Prak Sokhonn is scheduled to make his third official visit to the country in September.

During his last visit in July, the envoy did not meet with any armed ethnic groups that are opposed to the juntas coup, nor the NLD, which won Myanmars 2020 election in a landslide victory before being deposed in last years putsch.

Observers said Sokhonns failure to meet the opposition or other anti-junta stakeholders during his visit would only serve to legitimize military rule.

Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Residents say they are afraid to return to their village to count casualties as around 100 troops are still there.

The charred remains of Tin Dein Yan village in Sagaing region's Ye-U township, which was attacked by junta forces.

Two Peoples Defense Force members died in fighting with Myanmar junta troops in Sagaing regions Ye-U township. A local PDF commander confirmed they were both members of the local defense force. The PDF said at least 10 junta troops also died but RFA could not independently verify this.

More than 1,000 locals fled Kone Thar, Ywar Thit, Nga Pyaw Taw and Kun Ohn villages after air raids on Wednesday, residents told RFA.

A Kone Thar resident, who declined to be named for security reasons, said during the battle in the village the junta used helicopter gunships and fired on the village for around 30 minutes.

Fighting broke out when junta soldiers arrived from Nyaung Hla and Mu Son villages.

Helicopters were brought in to help the soldiers, arriving twice in the morning to drop off troops and fire on PDF members.

The local resident told RFA the gunfire was not just aimed at the militia but also damaged roads and a hospital.

Although most of the residents were able to flee, some elderly people were left in Kone Thar.

Locals said they dont know how many residents were killed because they were afraid to return to the village until the fighting died down.

They said around 100 junta soldiers are still in Kone Thar.

RFAs calls to Sagaing regions Military Council Minister of Social Affairs Aye Hlaing went unanswered.

Military Council spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, said in the past the military council forces only attack villages in Sagaing Region that are training and hiding members of the PDFs.

Internet and telephone access in Ye-U township is often cut off when junta forces carry out raids, locals told RFA.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said more than 1.2 million people have fled their homes across Myanmar between the Feb. 1, 2021 coup and Aug. 3.
Global Witness says Myanmar is now the largest source of the minerals used in green tech.

In this early 2022 photo, a new rare earth mine is dug into the side of a mountain in Pangwa, Kachin state, Myanmar. Bleaching agents used in extracting rare earth elements have tainted tributaries of Myanmar's main river, prompted landslides and poisoned the earth, according to witnesses, miners and local activists.

Chinas outsourcing of rare earth mining to Myanmar has prompted a rapid expansion of the industry there, fuelling human rights abuses, damaging the environment and propping up pro-juna militias, according to a new report published Tuesday by rights group Global Witness.

The report, entitled Myanmars Poisoned Mountains, used satellite imagery to determine that what amounted to a handful of rare earth mines in Myanmars Kachin state in 2016 had ballooned to more than 2,700 mining collection pools at almost 300 separate locations, covering an area the size of Singapore, by March 2022  slightly more than a year after the military seized power in a coup.

Global Witness found that China had outsourced much of its industry across the border to a remote corner of Kachin state, which it said is now the worlds largest source of the minerals used in green energy technologies, smartphones and home electronics.

Our investigation reveals that China has effectively offshored this toxic industry to Myanmar over the past few years, with terrible consequences for local communities and the environment, Global Witness CEO Mike Davis said in a statement accompanying the release of the report.

The local warlord in charge of the mining territory, Zakhung Ting Ying, has become the central broker of Myanmars rare earth industry, the report said, along with other leaders of militias loyal to the military regime, making backroom deals with Chinese companies that are illegal under the countrys laws.

It said that his militias links to the junta mean there is a high risk that revenues from rare earth mining are being used to fund the militarys human rights abuses and crushing of dissent. Rights groups say security forces have killed at least 2,167 civilians and arrested more than 15,000 others since the Feb. 1, 2021, coup, mostly during peaceful anti-junta protests.

Rare earth mining is the latest natural resource heist by Myanmars military, which has funded itself for decades by looting the countrys rich natural resources, including the multi-billion-dollar jade, gemstone and timber industries, Davis said.

Since the 2021 coup, the regime has relied on natural resources to sustain its illegal power grab and with demand for rare earths booming, the military will no doubt be spotting an opportunity to fill its coffers and fund its abuses, he added.

A rare earth mining operation in Kachin state, Myanmar, March 2022. Credit: Citizen journalist Global Witness noted that the processes used to extract heavy rare earth minerals have polluted local ecosystems, destroyed livelihoods and poisoned drinking water. It said multiple health issues reported near the rare earth mines in China have also been reported by residents living close to the mines in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, civil society groups and community members  including indigenous people  who speak out against the illegal industry or refuse to give up their land to make way for new mines face threats from the militias who run the area, the report said.

Supply chain at risk

Global Witness said that its findings come amid a huge increase in demand for the minerals as production of green energy technologies ramps up. Sales of processed rare earth minerals for magnet productions are expected to triple by 2035.

The group warned of a high risk that the minerals are finding their way into the supply chains of major household name companies that use heavy rare earths in their products including Tesla, Volkswagen, General Motors, Siemens and Mitsubishi Electric.

Davis said the reports findings demonstrate the need for the international community to broaden sanctions against the junta to include rare earth minerals.

The disturbing reality is that the cash that is fuelling the environmental and human rights abuses caused by Myanmars rare earth mining industry ultimately stems from the global push to scale up renewables, he said.

As the climate crisis accelerates and demand for these low-carbon technologies skyrocket, todays findings must be a wake-up call that the green energy transition cannot come at the cost of communities in resource-rich countries, and must instead be equitable and sustainable, prioritizing the rights of those who are most impacted.

Rare earth ores [left] are burned down before being transported from Kachin state to China. At right, sacks of rare earth ores await transport to China. Credit: Global Witness via AP Global Witness called on companies to stop mining heavy rare earths in Myanmar and ensure that minerals from the country do not enter the global supply chain.

It also urged governments to impose import restrictions for rare earths produced in Myanmar, impose sanctions on armed actors illegally profiting from the industry, and introduce stronger policies to reduce the harms associated with extracting the minerals.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that about 240,000 tons of rare earth minerals were mined globally in 2020, with China accounting for 140,000 tons, followed by the United States with 38,000 tons and Myanmar with 30,000 tons.

Though China is the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, it buys the ore from neighboring Myanmar, exploiting its cheaper labor.

Myanmar exported more than 140,000 tons of rare earth deposits to China, worth more than U.S. $1 billion between May 2017 and October 2021, according to Chinas State Taxation Administration.
Pham Doan Trangs lawyer says she is unlikely to change her not-guilty plea so her sentence wont be reduced.

The appeal hearing for a journalist, jailed for nine years for anti-state propaganda will take place in two weeks time.

One of Pham Doan Trangs lawyers told RFA the outcome depends on whether or not she pleads guilty at Hanois High Peoples Court on Aug. 25.

Trang, 44, was jailed in Dec. last year for breaching Article 88 of the 1999 Penal Code, which is often used to silence activists.

Her appeal will be held at the headquarters of the high court in Hanois Cau Giay district.

Ngo Anh Tuan was one of the lawyers who defended Trang in her original trial and will also represent her at the appeal hearing.

He said his client has always asserted her innocence so he thinks it is unlikely the sentence will be reduced.

Ms. Trang has pleaded not guilty from the outset, up until now, he told RFA. We agree with her. In the defense's view Ms. Trang is not guilty so there is no need to ask for a reduction in the sentence.

The probability of the first-instance judgment being upheld is over 90% because, in cases like this as we've shown many times, it's about attitude.

That means if our clients ask for mercy, it's likely to be acceptable. However, if they dont ask for mercy the possibility of upholding the sentence is very high. Ms. Trang's case is no exception."

The activist's mother, Bui Thi Thien Can, told reporters she did not know if she would be able to attend the public appeals court, even though she was at the original hearing, because she doesnt think it will achieve anything.

If it was other countries they would probably have a bit of respect for international pressure but the Vietnamese communists are very stubborn, she said.

As soon as Trang was arrested, as well as before the first-instance hearing, many foreign embassies called on Vietnam to release Trang immediately and unconditionally, but the regime ignored them.

Can said her daughter has not been allowed to see her relatives since her arrest more than 22 months ago. They have also been refused permission to send her meals, which is allowed in many cases. Instead they have to buy it from the detention centers canteen for the Hanoi police to give to her.

Trang is accused of "making, storing and circulating documents and articles with content aimed at opposing the State of Vietnam," between Nov. 2017 and Dec. 2018, according to the original indictment.

Trang is also accused of possessing documents titled: "A Brief Report on Vietnam's marine environmental disaster," "General assessment of the human rights situation in Vietnam," and "Report on a review of the 2016 law on religion and belief related to exercising the right to freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam."

The Hanoi People's Procuratorate said the documents contained "psychological warfare rhetoric, spreading fabricated news to cause confusion among the people, and propagating disinformation about guidelines and policies of the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam."

Trang is also accused of giving interviews to foreign broadcasters such as the BBC Vietnamese Service and Radio Free Asia containing "content that distorts the State's policies."

Trang, co-founder of Luat Khoa Magazine and English newspaper The Vietnamese, is also the author of many political books such as "Politics for Ordinary Citizens," and "Handbook for Prisoners Families. Trang also worked at one point for the state-controlled VietnamNet newswire.



She was arrested on Oct. 6, 2020, just hours after the annual Vietnam-U.S. Human Rights Dialogue.

The arrest was related to her co-authoring the Dong Tam Report, published in English and Vietnamese. She wrote about land disputes in Hanois Dong Tam commune and the raid by some 3,000 police in the early hours of Jan.9, 2020, leading to the death of spiritual leader Le Dinh Kinh and the arrests of dozens of people.



Trang has been detained and beaten by the Vietnamese police many times.

After being beaten by security forces during a protest against the Hanoi government's felling of thousands of old trees in Hanois city center in May 2015, her leg was broken and she had to use crutches.

Trangs mother said her daughter was beaten many times during the investigation both by investigating officers and fellow prisoners. Trang suffers from heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia, low blood pressure, and leg pain, but does not receive adequate medical treatment.

Trang has been awarded many prestigious international awards for her activities in promoting human rights and freedom of the press, including the U.S. State Departments International Women of Courage Award and the Press Freedom Prize from Reporters Without Borders. She also won the Homo Homini (human to human) Award from the Czech Republics People in Need, the Media Freedom Award 2022 presented by the Canadian and U.K. governments, last years Martin Ennals Award for championing freedom of expression and this years International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.
TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan and Switzerland have agreed on the return by Swiss authorities of $131 million in assets seized during criminal proceedings against Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of longtime Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

The Uzbek Justice Ministry said on August 16 that Minister Ruslanbek Davletov and Swiss President Ignazio Cassis signed an agreement in Bern to place the confiscated assets for a UN fund for sustainable development in Central Asia's most populous nation of 35 million.

The breakthrough is one of a handful of efforts by Tashkent to agree on the return of some $1 billion in illicit funds, in some cases slowed by foreign authorities' desire to ensure transparency in the funds' return to public coffers.

"The fund will allow the returned assets to be used for the benefit of the population of Uzbekistan," Cassis said at the signing ceremony.

Switzerland froze around 800 million Swiss francs ($842 million) in 2012 in connection with criminal proceedings against Karimova, a pop diva and businesswoman who had a public falling-out with her late father and is currently in an Uzbek prison on embezzlement and criminal conspiracy charges.

The Uzbek Justice Ministry said in February that it was working with authorities in Switzerland, the United States, France, Russia, and several other nations on the return of Karimova's assets that it said were "earned through criminal activities."

The ministry said at the time that Uzbek and Swiss authorities had agreed to create a multiparty trust fund with the United Nations to work on the return of assets that were confiscated under a court decision as part of the probe against Karimova.

It said that assets worth about $131 million and confiscated in 2019 were ready to be transferred to Uzbekistan.

In 2020, the Swiss government said a nonbinding framework agreement signed between Switzerland and Uzbekistan meant any returned assets "shall be used for the benefit of the people of Uzbekistan."

Tashkent has sought over $1 billion from foreign jurisdictions since announcing Karimova's imprisonment in 2017.

Once seen as a possible successor to her father, Karimova was placed under house arrest in Tashkent in 2014 while he was still alive and running the country. Karimov died in 2016 and Shavkat Mirziyoev succeeded him soon afterward.

Criminal investigators in Switzerland, the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands have linked Karimova to a massive, years-long bribery scheme that revolved mainly around foreign telecommunications companies gaining access to the Uzbek market.

In December 2017, Karimova was sentenced to a 10-year prison term but the sentence was later commuted to house arrest for five years. She was detained in March 2019 for allegedly violating the terms of her house arrest.

In February 2020, Karimova sent a letter to Mirziyoev offering to return $686 million to the country's treasury in exchange for the dismissal of the court case against her at home.

But a month later she received an additional 13-year sentence after being found guilty of extortion, money laundering, and other crimes.
Welcome back to The Farda Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter.



I'm senior correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari. Here's what I've been following and what I'm watching out for in the days ahead.

The Big Issue

Russia successfully launched an Iranian satellite into space on August 9, in a move that has raised concerns in the West. U.S. officials fear that the satellite could be used by Moscow to boost its intelligence capabilities in Ukraine, which it invaded in February. There are also worries that the satellite will provide Iran "unprecedented capabilities" to monitor potential military targets in Israel, its archenemy, and other countries in the wider Middle East region.

Tehran has rejected those claims, saying Iran will have full control and operation over the satellite "from day one." Iran has said the remote-sensing satellite will only be used for civilian purposes, including monitoring border areas, surveying water resources, and managing natural disasters.

Why It Matters: The satellite launch is the latest sign of the deepening ties between Iran and Russia. It came just weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Tehran, where he and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged to work together against the West.

Both countries have been hit by Western sanctions and international isolation. Yuri Borisov, head of Russia's state space corporation Roskosmos, hailed the launch as an important landmark" in cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Irans Telecommunications Minister Issa Zarepour, who attended the launch in Kazakhstan, praised it as historic and "a turning point in space cooperation between the countries.

The satellite launch has also put a spotlight on Irans space program. In recent years, Tehran has launched several satellites into low Earth orbit and announced plans to send astronauts into space. But Iran has also seen a succession of accidents and failed satellite launches in recent years.

John Krzyzaniak, a research analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said in June that Iranian satellites do not have advanced capabilities, but they represent stepping stones to more sophisticated satellites that will be more useful and remain in orbit for longer periods.

What's Next: Russias successful launch of the Khayyam satellite, named after the 11th-century Persian poet and philosopher Omar Khayyam, could worsen tensions with the United States. Just last month, Washington claimed that Tehran was preparing to deliver hundreds of combat drones to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

"Russia deepening an alliance with Iran is something that the whole world should look at and see as a profound threat, a State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying on August 9.

The United States has long expressed concerns over Irans space program, which has both a civilian and military component. The United States fears that Tehran could use the program to enhance its ballistic-missile capabilities.

Stories You May Have Missed

 A group of 70 political and civic activists, university professors, and artists from Iran and abroad condemned in a joint statement the Islamic republic's treatment of the Baha'i community. The statement follows a spike in restrictions and pressure on members of the religious community.

Baha'is -- who number some 300,000 in Iran -- say they face systematic persecution in Iran, where their faith is not officially recognized. Iranian security forces have arrested dozens of Baha'i followers in recent weeks and raided the homes of hundreds of others. Among the signatories of the statement were Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi and former political prisoner Atena Daemi.

 The wife of a jailed Iranian filmmaker and activist says her husband was taken to the hospital after contracting COVID-19 but was returned to prison without receiving treatment.

Tahereh Saeedi, Jafar Panahi's wife, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that after her husband was transferred to a hospital in Tehran, where he was expected to spend the quarantine period, security agents suddenly removed his IV and took him back to prison.

"He has not had any contact with us since then, and it is very unlike Jafar. It is not a good sign, and I am very worried," Saeedi said.

Panah Panahi, Panahi's son, said on Instagram on August 7 that his father's transfer to the hospital was just for show.

Panahi, 62, was arrested in early July as part of a renewed crackdown by the Iranian authorities on dissent as antiestablishment sentiment and near daily protests across the Islamic republic rattle the government.

What We're Watching

U.S. and Iranian negotiators held a new round of talks in Vienna last week in a bid to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and world powers. Days later, the European Union submitted what it said was the final text. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that what can be negotiated has been negotiated.

The bloc, which has been mediating indirect talks between Iran and the United States, has warned that the sides only have a few weeks to sign the deal. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington was ready to quickly conclude a deal based on the EU text. Iran has disputed that the EU text is final and nonnegotiable.

Why It Matters: It is unclear if Iran will agree to the EU text. But Tehran is under mounting pressure, with Western patience running thin after more than a year of grueling negotiations. There appears to be only one outstanding issue to resolve. Reports suggest that Iran wants the UN nuclear agency to drop its probe into the origins of nuclear material found at three undeclared Iranian sites. Tehran also faces pressure at home, where there have been months of protests over a deteriorating economy that has been crippled by U.S. sanctions.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have to newsletters@rferl.org.



If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your in-box every Wednesday.



Until next time,



Golnaz Esfandiari
A senior commander says Iran's navy repelled an attack on an Iranian vessel in the Red Sea overnight on August 9-10, but he didn't identify the type of ship or its attackers.

Rear Admiral Mustafa Tajeddini said a destroyer-led flotilla responded to a distress call "and engaged with the attacking boats."

He said the attackers "made off." The resulting damage was unclear.

Piracy and other minor incidents are not unusual in the oil-rich region, but while seizures and other more serious confrontations are less frequent they can threaten shipping on one of the world's busiest commercial cargo routes.

Dangerous naval encounters involving Western and Iranian militaries or commercial shippers have eased in recent years despite persistent tensions over sanctions-busting and influence in the region.

Tensions are still high between Iran and the United States over a hobbled nuclear deal and what Washington regards as malign activities by Tehran in the region.

Iran boosted its naval presence in the nearby Gulf of Aden after a rash of attacks by Somalia-based pirates that eased about a decade ago.

But Iranian media reported two attacks on Iranian oil tankers in the nearby Gulf of Aden late last year.

Based on reporting by AFP
Hundreds of civil activists in the western Lorestan Province have issued a statement calling on the Iranian authorities to release a woman who was arrested for protesting the mandatory head scarf and was apparently beaten to force a televised confession from her.

The signatories of this letter described Sepideh Rashno's "forced confessions" on state television as a "ridiculous display" and condemned the "producers" of the television program and their "insulting behavior" toward Rashno.

The Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said on August 5 that Rashno had been beaten before she confessed on air to breaking the country's hijab law.

According to eyewitnesses the agency spoke to, Rashno had low blood pressure and had difficulty moving when she was transferred to the hospital. She returned to prison immediately after the examination.

Rashno, a 28-year-old writer and artist, was arrested on June 15 after a video of her arguing with another woman who was enforcing rules on wearing a head scarf on a bus in Tehran went viral.

The other woman threatened to send the video -- which showed Rashno riding the bus without a hijab -- to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Rashno was subsequently detained and has been held since without access to a lawyer, nor have the charges against her been made public.

Amid growing concern over her whereabouts, a Twitter campaign started with the hashtag "Where is Sepideh?"

Iran's state television subsequently showed Rashno in a video report on July 30 where her eyes appeared darkened. Witnesses said she was listless and moved slowly.

During a one-sided narrative over the confrontation, Rashno was shown for a few seconds in what looked like a studio setting saying lines that appeared to have been written for her.

The signatories of the statement, who introduced themselves as "Lorestan men and women from different social classes," also demanded the immediate release of Sepideh Rashno and an official apology from state television.

They asked the head of Iran's judiciary to "take legal action against those who tortured and broadcast the forced confessions of Sepideh Rashno on TV."

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda
The U.S. Justice Department has charged a member of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in connection with an alleged plot to kill former White House national-security adviser John Bolton.

The Justice Department announced the charges against Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, 45, of Tehran in a news release on August 10. The charging documents identify Poursafi as a member of the IRGC.

Iran rejected the charges as "ridiculous and baseless." Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani was quoted by Iranian media as saying that Iran strongly warned against any action committed against Iranian citizens on the pretext of the accusations.

The department said Poursafi "attempted to pay individuals in the United States $300,000 to carry out the murder" in either Washington or the neighboring U.S. state of Maryland.

Prosecutors said the plot was likely in retaliation for the January 2020 drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, who was the head of the IRGC's elite Quds Force.

The allegation came as Iran weighs a proposed agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement under which Tehran had curbed its nuclear program in return for relief from sanctions.

Tehran held up negotiations on reviving the deal for months, demanding that the United States remove its official designation of the IRGC as a sponsor of terrorism. Washington rejected that demand.

A U.S. official quoted by Reuters said the United States did not believe the charges against Poursafi should affect the diplomatic efforts.

According to the Justice Department, Poursafi began communicating with a confidential source in October 2021 over an encrypted messaging application and directed the individual to hire someone to "eliminate" Bolton for $300,000 and set up a cryptocurrency account to facilitate payment.

Poursafi allegedly told the confidential source, who is not identified by the Justice Department, that it did not matter how the killing was carried out.

The Justice Department said that in December 2021, Poursafi sent a photograph of two plastic bags that appeared to contain stacks of dollars and a handwritten note with the confidential source's name.

On January 3, the anniversary of the killing of Soleimani, Poursafi expressed regret that the killing would not be conducted by the anniversary. He also told the source that he was under pressure to complete the killing.

Poursafi also allegedly told the source he had another assassination job for which he would pay $1 million. The target of that alleged plot was not revealed by the Justice Department.

The source months later declined to continue to work without being paid. Poursafi agreed on April 28 to send the source $100 in cryptocurrency to prove payment could be made. Later that day, the cryptocurrency wallet received two payments totaling $100, according to the Justice Department.

If convicted, Poursafi faces up to 10 years in prison for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, and up to 15 years in prison for providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot. The potential sentences also carry fines of up to $250,000 each.

Poursafi remains at large abroad, the Justice Department said.

Bolton, who served as national-security adviser to then-President Donald Trump from 2018-19 and also served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2005-06 under then-president George W. Bush, thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in developing the case.

"While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Iran's rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States," he said in a statement.

Current national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement that the charging document outlines allegations of Iran's continued attempts to carry out an assassination on U.S. soil and warned Iran against carrying out any such plots.



"Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences," he said.

With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
At the headquarters of Russian military unit 51460 in the Far Eastern region of Khabarovsk, a memorial wall dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the unit, known more widely as the 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade, was erected not long ago.



In all, 44 soldiers and officers are shown on the wall, according to a photograph that was initially posted to the Russian social media site VK and confirmed by RFE/RL.



The wall does not say where they were killed, only that they were all awarded the prestigious Order of Courage. Aleksei Astashov, the man who posted the photograph, told RFE/RL where: Kyiv, Izyum, and Slovyansk in Ukraine, where Russia's invasion is in its sixth month and where Western intelligence says Russia has suffered more deaths than it did in the entire decade of the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

"Everyone went to the SVO," Astashov told RFE/RL, using the acronym for "special military operation," the euphemism the Kremlin has insisted on using when discussing the war in Ukraine.



Everyone, he said in a chat conversation via VK, "except for girls, staff mice, and new recruits." Staff mice is a colloquial term for administrative and clerical staff.



That's 95 percent of the unit's officers and contract soldiers, including "semi-conscripts" who signed the contracts under duress, he said.



"Many were transferred to Ukraine directly from exercises in neighboring Belarus," he said.



According to Astashov, the size of the brigade when it deployed was about 1,500 troops. The total number of dead, by Astashov's estimate: "At least several hundred."



Russia's war on Ukraine has rewritten the security order of Europe, transforming alliances, prompting major redeployments of Western military units, scrambling the global economy, and hastening Russia's descent into authoritarianism.



It has also exposed glaring weaknesses in Russia's armed forces, with Russian units suffering extraordinarily high attrition rates.



Officially, Russia's Defense Ministry has released only partial tallies of war losses, the last on March 25, when it announced 1,351 dead and 3,825 wounded.

Last month, however, CIA Director William Burns estimated Russian losses were at least 15,000 killed and about 45,000 wounded, a figure echoed on August 8 by Colin Kahl, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy.



"I think it's safe to suggest that the Russians have probably taken 70,000 to 80,000 casualties in less than six months," Kahl told reporters. "Now, that is a combination of killed in action and wounded in action, and that number might be a little lower, a little higher. But I think that's kind of in the ballpark, which is pretty remarkable considering that the Russians have achieved none of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin's objectives at the beginning of the war."

The 64th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade may be the clearest example of this.



'The Motherland And The Interests Of The State'



Based in the Khabarovsk region, approximately 9,000 kilometers to the east of Ukraine, the rifle brigade was reorganized as a regiment in the 1990s, and parts of it were deployed to fight in Chechnya during the first war there in the 1990s. It was upgraded to a brigade-level unit in the late 2000s.



The unit gained global notoriety after Russian units withdrew from districts north of Kyiv in late March, repelled in their offensive toward the Ukrainian capital.



Several districts, including the town of Bucha, were the sites of mass killings of civilians and other alleged war crimes, according to Ukrainian investigators, rights groups, journalists, and open-source researchers. Ukraine's Defense Ministry accused the brigade, which was deployed to Bucha and nearby locations, of atrocities.



On August 8, Bucha authorities said they had tallied 458 bodies recovered in the town, of which 419 appeared to have been shot, tortured, or suffered blunt-force injuries.

Weeks after reports of the massacres first appeared, on April 18, Putin honored the 64th for defending the "motherland and the interests of the state." He praised it for "mass heroism and valor, tenacity, and courage."



According to the dates listed on the memorial wall at the 64th Brigade camp, about 20 minutes outside of Khabarovsk, at least 44 soldiers from the unit died in late February and March -- a period coinciding with the first phase of the Russian invasion, when Russian forces sought to seize Kyiv.



Other dates match up with a later offensive, after Russian commanders withdrew the 64th Brigade and other units from north of Kyiv and redeployed forces to the eastern Donbas region, including near Kharkiv.



According to the dates on the memorial wall, seven soldiers from the 64th Brigade were killed on April 25. That date coincides with a report by Ukraine's General Staff on the same day saying that Russian troops "tried to carry out assault actions" in the directions "Izyum-Barvinkove" and "Izyum-Slovyansk."



A week prior to that attack, a contract soldier from the 64th Brigade named Aleksandr Rostovsky also died. Online memorial announcements honoring him said he died on April 18 near Izyum.



'Don't Worry. I Love You. I Kiss You.'



In all, RFE/RL was able to corroborate the deaths of 30 out of the 44 soldiers featured on the memorial wall using publicly available information from official publications, social media, and media reports.



One such online announcement, published on VK, is called "Memorial to the Dead Transbaikalians" -- a reference to the southern Siberian region bordered on the west by Lake Baikal, on the south by the Mongolian border, and to the east by the Amur region.



A post dated May 14, written in honor of 20-year-old Corporal Vladislav Vedernikov, included a text message from his mother:



"He studied in Khabarovsk. He had already finished grade 11, and he was taking exams. But then they announced they would go to Belarus. There they dug trenches, and the last time he called was from Chernobyl," her post said.



On February 23, she wrote, her son sent a text message saying his unit was being transferred, that all phones were being taken away, and that there would be no more communication. "Don't worry. I love you. I kiss you,'" she quoted him as saying.



"On March 3, their column came under fire from two sides. The battle went on for two days. A fragment hit him in the leg. They brought some whole [bodies]; others were collected only in parts. He died in the Kyiv region, in Borodyanka," the post said.



KIA, MIA, POW



Russia's high rate of dead and wounded has been attributed to several factors, according to military experts.



Ukrainian forces have waged pitched battles defending not only the regions north of Kyiv, but other locations, including in the Donbas and the Azov Sea port of Mariupol, which Ukraine ultimately was forced to cede after a months-long siege.

Ukraine's defense has been substantially bolstered by the influx of sophisticated Western weaponry that has replaced dwindling Soviet-era stocks and has changed the capabilities of its armed forces.



North of Kyiv, in the early days of the war, Ukrainian troops made effective use of anti-tank missiles, such as the U.S.-built Javelin and the British NLAW, to pummel Russian tanks and other armored vehicles.

Other Russian weaknesses include a lack of proper medical equipment and modern techniques and procedures for quickly treating and evacuating battlefield injuries.



After Russia's retreat from the Kyiv region, many units had been decimated, according to U.S. military officials and outside experts. According to some estimates, some Russian units lost up to one-third of their personnel.



Michael Kofman, a longtime expert on the Russian military at the U.S.-based Center for Naval Analysis, has roughly estimated that for every Russian soldier killed, there were likely about 3.5 wounded.



Yury Fedorov, a Russian military expert, estimated the total personnel of the 64th Brigade, which includes two motorized rifle battalions and one tank battalion, was about 2,500 before the war.



"The 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is from the Far Eastern Military District, and there many units were severely weakened and poorly equipped," he told RFE/RL. "Often they were simply cut in half. For example, there are two more or less fully manned battalions and the rest are just a few officers and ensigns.



"If they receive additional personnel, then they must accept them, train them, lead them, and go into battle with them," he said.



"This is a common practice: If troops are badly battered, then some new consolidated brigades are made from the remaining pieces of one or another unit," Fedorov said. "In order to be combat-ready, such brigades need to go through the process of combat coordination. Platoon and company commanders must get to know each other, debug communication channels. This takes at least several months."

The 64th Brigade, however, cannot be disbanded, he argued, because doing so would undermine the honor bestowed upon it by Putin.



"To disband it means to recognize the responsibility of this brigade for the crimes in Bucha," Fedorov said. "Therefore, most likely, new contract soldiers and conscripts will be sent to the remaining officers."



Other analysts at the Conflict Intelligence Team investigative group say the casualty estimate offered by Astashov was plausible, but only if the figure was limited to contract soldiers.



Other factors that experts have blamed for Russia's high casualty rate include poor morale and poor discipline, particularly among the lower ranks and noncommissioned officers.



Astashov, who works in a medical unit with the 64th Brigade, told RFE/RL that at least 100 soldiers -- so-called "refuseniks" -- may have refused to fight in Ukraine, particularly after the initial battlefield defeats suffered by Russian forces.



"As in January, they were sent to Belarus for exercises and then back to Ukraine, but no one let them out" to go home or go on leave, he wrote in a lengthy VK conversation before he blocked an RFE/RL reporter from communicating further and switched his VK page to the "friends-only" setting.



"In fact, there was no rotation at all," he said. "There were at least 100 refuseniks,' not after the first defeats, but after many [lies] on the part of commanders. The boys are tired of the intensity of fighting and movement, of the duration of the deployment, and the backdrop of uncertainty."
Russia's pipeline monopoly Transneft and Hungarian energy group MOL say oil flows are poised to resume through the Druzhba pipeline on August 10 after nearly a weeklong stoppage due to complications from sanctions.

The suspension has affected a number of countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Transneft said Ukraine suspended Russian oil flows to three European nations as of August 4 because its transit payment couldn't be processed due to sanctions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On August 10, MOL said the transit fee for the use of the Ukrainian section of the pipeline had been paid and the flow could resume within days.

Russian media then quoted Transneft as saying that the flow would begin by 4 p.m. Moscow time on August 10.

Slovak Economy Minister Richard Sulik said onFacebook the oil flow had resumed but gave no further details.

However, no oil had reached the Czech Republic by the evening of August 10, the country's Mero pipeline operator said, and Hungary also was still to receive deliveries.

Czech Industry Minister Jozef Sikela said on Twitter the failure of supplies via the Druzhba pipeline "does not limit the performance of Czech refineries in any way."

The refineries are working full time and the state company Mero CR had oil reserves for several days, he said.

He also said the government is working with Poland to restore oil supplies through the pipeline to Polish-owned Czech refineries.

Transneft had said it made payments for August transits to Ukraine's pipeline operator Ukrtransnafta in July but the payment didn't go through.

Gazprombank, which handled the payment, said the money was returned because of EU restrictions, adding that oil deliveries to Poland and Germany via Belarus were under way "as usual."

Russia has already reduced gas pipeline flows to many EU member-states, citing problems with turbine maintenance on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline as well as sanctions against some buyers whom Moscow officially deemed to be "unfriendly."

Since the Kremlin launched its ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the West has imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russia, cutting the country off from international financial institutions.

The European Union has been looking for ways to reduce its dependence on Russian energy resources and has agreed to ban more than two-thirds of Russian oil imports.

An EU ban on the purchase of Russian coal kicks into effect after midnight on August 10.

Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa
Mariupol resident Viktoria Levashina was hoping to have a relatively easy time passing through the Kremlin-imposed process for weeding out "undesirable" Ukrainians living in territories now controlled by Russia.

A 60-year-old accountant at a construction firm, Levashina's occupation and demographic profile would not have raised red flags.

When her turn came late one night in April for her in-person background check at a so-called filtration center outside the Azov Sea port city, Levashina handed over her passport and mobile phone to the authorities and waited for a pass to travel on to Russia.



It did not come.



Levashina knew the authorities combed through phones looking for compromising information, so she handed over a gadget belonging to her recently deceased 84-year-old mother instead. Unlike her own, it was nearly empty of data and contacts.



What Levashina did not know was that the authorities would also independently search her social-media profiles on their own computers and phones. They did not like what they found and called her into a tent for interrogation.



"A dill, a Banderite," Levashina recalled an official yelling at her. "Dill" is a racist term for Ukrainians, while "Banderite" is a synonym for "Ukrainian fascist."



"I'm going to cut you to pieces!" he said in anger.



The official was incensed that she had added a Ukrainian flag to her Facebook avatar, she said.



The official informed her she was banned from traveling to Russia for 10 years, gave her a slight kick in the backside, and told her to "f*ck off" to Lviv, the western Ukrainian city noted for its patriotism, she said.



He handed back her passport and telephone, escorted her out of the tent, and left her in the darkness alone.



"I am doomed," Levashina said in a text message to her cousin Sasha in Israel and seen by RFE/RL.

WATCH: Ukrainian Woman Recounts 'Shocking' Treatment At Russian Filtration Camp

Having lost her home in the war and with no safe way of getting to Ukrainian-controlled territory, Levashina had been hoping to make her way to her relatives in Israel via Moscow.



Levashina's harrowing experience at the filtration center is not unique. She is one of hundreds of Ukrainians who have recalled invasive, abusive, and sometimes violent experiences at the many centers set up in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.



While some Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories voluntarily come to the filtration centers to receive a pass to enter Russia -- where they may have close family or friends -- or to move freely around the region, others are forcibly taken there.



Regardless of how Ukrainian citizens arrived, they are all treated like criminal suspects: They are fingerprinted, photographed, and their identification documents are scanned. They are registered in a database that includes their occupation, family members, and address.

The data could be invaluable as the Kremlin moves forward with plans to hold so-called referendums in the occupied regions on joining Russia, experts said -- polls that could serve as a pretext for annexation as happened in Crimea in 2014.



The contents of their phones are examined for any signs of communication with members of the Ukrainian military or territorial defense units, or anti-Russian comments. The authorities download their phone data, including contacts.

Many are also strip-searched for signs of combat experience or pro-Ukrainian tattoos that the Russian authorities deem "fascist" and are questioned regarding their attitudes about the war.



Those raising suspicion are interrogated further and sometimes beaten. Some have not been seen again.

Ukrainians that don't pass the filtration process, especially men with combat experience, may end up in prison, their exact whereabouts and status -- alive or dead -- unknown.



Others that tend not to pass the filtration process include local government officials, activists, and people who have expressed patriotic sentiments.



Oleksandr, a student from Mariupol, said he was detained along with a friend by pro-Moscow separatists in early March, about two weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine.



The two were taken to a small filtration center, possibly one for Ukrainians suspected of military ties, where they were beaten for anti-Russian comments they had made in an online chat, interrogated, strip-searched, and placed in a cell with just one mattress.

Oleksandr and his friend were then moved to a larger filtration center for the general public, where they were registered in a database and again searched and questioned before being given permission to travel to Russia, where they were eventually reunited with their families.



Ukrainian and Western officials, as well as human rights organizations, have said Russia's filtration centers violate the Geneva Conventions, which established international standards for conduct during conflict.



In a statement last month, the U.S. State Department called the filtration camps a war crime -- one of many Russian forces have been accused of since the invasion began -- and demanded the Kremlin dismantle them.



The number of filtration camps has grown as the war has dragged out, from a handful at the outset to around 18 now, according to estimates by the Ukrainian rights group Euromaidan SOS and U.S. officials.

As many as 1.6 million Ukrainians may have been detained, interrogated, and registered at filtration camps, according to Euromaidan SOS.



Current Time has identified at least nine filtration centers.



They are buttressed by dozens of checkpoints manned by Russian troops or separatists throughout the occupied territories.



Ukrainian citizens have no rights in Russia or in the occupied territories without a filtration pass, said Stanislav Miroshnichenko, a journalist and a member of the Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Kyiv-based organization.



The threat of being interrogated at checkpoints will prompt some to go through the filtration process themselves.



However, "sooner or later, the militants will come to every local resident," Miroshnichenko said.

John Herbst, who served as U.S. ambassador to Kyiv from 2003 to 2006, said the filtration process could be a powerful tool in the hands of the Kremlin as it seeks to impose its will on Ukraine.



"Moscow still has the subjection of Ukraine as an aim, and to do that they want to understand the human terrain," he told RFE/RL. "They want to know who are their friends and who are their foes."



Russia will mine data, including who is potentially a patriot and sympathizer, in an attempt to map out Ukrainian society, he said.



That data could come in handy as Moscow-installed leaders in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions push ahead with their threatened referendums on joining Russia.



The U.S. State Department said the filtration operations are "an apparent effort to change the demographic makeup of parts of Ukraine."

In Kherson, civilians with pro-Ukrainian views are being detained en masse, said Natalia Yaschuk, an executive at Euromaidan SOS.



That could prevent them from taking part in any referendum, helping generate an outcome that suits Moscow. The data and documents gathered could also be used to falsify the poll's results.



Levashina's story ended on a happy note. A Mariupol rabbi intervened to get her to Ukrainian-controlled territory and, from there, to Israel.



Meanwhile, Oleksandr and his family eventually made their way to the European Union via Russia.



However, the emotional scars of their ordeals will remain with them.



As for those missing since they entered filtration centers, their whereabouts may not be known until the occupied territories are liberated, said Yaschuk.

RFE/RL feature writer Todd Prince contributed to this report.
MOSCOW -- Russian TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova has been charged with distributing false information about the Russian armed forces after her home was searched.

Ovsyannikova's lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, said on August 10 that his client was detained, charged with "public distribution of false information about Russian armed forces," and may face 10 years in prison if convicted.

Zakhvatov said earlier on Telegram that police broke into his client's home in Moscow and searched it without his presence.

Ovsyannikova, known for delivering a live on-air anti-war protest in March, wrote on Telegram that the charge filed on August 10 stemmed from her one-person protest in front of the Kremlin in early July in which she held a poster saying, "[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is a murderer, his soldiers are fascists" and displayed photos of children killed in Ukraine.

Last week, a court in Moscow fined Ovsyannikova 50,000 rubles ($820) for that protest.

Ovsyannikova gained international recognition on March 14 when she burst onto the set of Channel One's Vremya news program holding a poster reading: "Stop the war. Don't believe propaganda. They are lying to you," in Russian. She also shouted: "Stop the war! No to war!"

Ovsyannikova was a producer with Channel One at the time of her protest. She was later detained and fined 30,000 rubles ($490) by a court for calling for illegal protests.

Ovsyannikova resigned from Channel One and spent several months abroad, including in Ukraine, repeatedly expressing her condemnation of the war.

For three months she trained at the German publication Die Welt. In early July, the journalist announced her return to Russia.

On August 8, a court in Moscow ordered Ovsyannikova to pay a fine of 40,000 rubles ($660) for her latest online posts protesting the war in Ukraine.

In March, Putin signed a law that provides for lengthy prison terms for distributing "deliberately false information" about Russian military operations as the Kremlin seeks to control the narrative about its war in Ukraine.

The law envisages sentences of up to 10 years in prison for individuals convicted of an offense, while the penalty for the distribution of "deliberately false information" about the Russian Army that leads to "serious consequences" is 15 years in prison.

It also makes it illegal "to make calls against the use of Russian troops to protect the interests of Russia" or "for discrediting such use" with a penalty possible of up to three years in prison. The same provision applies to calls for sanctions against Russia
A businessman known as "Putin's chef" has now developed "a taste for business in blood," according to a leading Russian campaigner for prisoners' rights. Olga Romanova, head of the Russia Behind Bars nongovernmental organization, said she's seen reports from trusted inmates in at least three prisons. They say that Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin had visited personally to recruit convicts as mercenaries to fight in Ukraine. Prigozhin is often connected with the shadowy Vagner Group, a mercenary paramilitary organization, as well as catering companies.
The leader of the Crimean Tatars' self-governing body says major explosions at a Russian airfield in Crimea are the first clear signal that the Russian-occupied peninsula will be returned to Ukraine.

Mejlis head Refat Chubarov said Russian aggression began there and "must end with the liberation of Crimea, with the restoration of the state sovereignty of Ukraine over the Ukrainian peninsula."

Chubarov made the comments on August 10 on the Svoboda Live program of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service.

He also said people who arrived in Crimea after Moscow's 2014 annexation and people who are currently on vacation there because sanctions prohibit them from going to other countries "are in a panic" and are preparing to leave.

The explosions were "an appropriate signal that sooner or later those who have the right to be there will return to Crimea, and not those who captured Crimea," he said.

Ukrainian officials have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions in Crimea, but the air force said on August 10 that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed. Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in the blasts.

If Ukrainian forces were responsible for the blasts, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site on the Crimean Peninsula.

Chubarov's comments echoed those of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who in his nightly video address on August 9 vowed to reverse Moscow's annexation of Crimea and retake the peninsula by the end of the war.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

"This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea  its liberation," Zelenskiy said. "Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula for the liberation of Crimea."

Crimea has so far escaped heavy fighting, and officials in Moscow have warned Ukraine that any attack there would trigger massive retaliation, including strikes on "decision-making centers" in Kyiv.

The Russian Defense Ministry indicated in a statement that the Saky airfield was not targeted in an attack and that the detonation of aviation ammunition caused the explosions, which reportedly killed one person, without clarifying who or what triggered the blasts.

The New York Times quoted an unnamed "senior Ukrainian military official with knowledge of the situation" as saying that Ukrainian forces were behind the Crimea explosions.

It said the official declined to specify what type of weapon caused them but said "a device exclusively of Ukrainian manufacture was used."

The source also suggested that the Saky air base, on Crimea's western coast, was routinely used to launch air attacks on Ukrainian forces.

RFE/RL could not independently confirm the Times' reporting.

A Ukrainian military expert told Current Time that Kyiv "theoretically" had weapons that could have reached Saky.

Amid speculation about the explosions, reports overnight on August 9-10 suggested Russian troops were concentrating on a southern region and Ukrainians reported minor successes around Kharkiv.

Assessments of the fighting from Ukrainian and Western military sources indicate that battle lines have become increasingly entrenched as the conflict grinds on, with advances mostly limited on either side.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian military on August 10 said the operational situation in the north did not change during the day.

But it said military exercises began in Belarus, and a threat remains of missile and air strikes from the country bordering Ukraine to the north.

The General Staff also said Russian troops tried to conduct assault operations near settlements in the Kharkiv region but had to retreat due to the resistance of Ukrainian units.

The report also said Russian forces withdrew after attempting to advance in the Kramatorsk direction and Bakhmut and other settlements in the Donetsk region.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Current Time, and The New York Times
Heavy fighting was reported on August 9 in frontline towns of Ukraines eastern Donetsk region as Russian troops launched waves of attacks to try to expand their control of the Donbas.

Kyiv said its troops were putting up fierce resistance and largely holding the line.

Russian troops tried to storm in several directions in the Donetsk region, the General Staff of the Ukrainian military said in a battlefield assessment issued on the evening of August 9.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

"In the Donetsk direction, the enemy, with the support of aviation, is trying to conduct assault actions in the Bakhmut and Avdiyiv directions, the General Staff report said.

Russian forces were continuing with the "systematic shelling of positions along the contact line to constrain the actions of Ukrainian units and prevent them from regrouping, it said.

Shelling was reported in the direction of Kramatorsk and Bakhmut, cities north of Donetsk city, while the General Staff said there was an unsuccessful attempt to storm Russian troops in the Spirniy region of Donetsk, one of the two eastern regions where Russia-backed separatists have held large swaths of territory for the past eight years.

Russian troops tried to involve intelligence groups in several districts north of Donetsk city but retreated after being hit by fire from Ukrainian defenders, the report said.

They were also unsuccessful in carrying out combat reconnaissance in the areas of Pidgorodne north of Dnipro and Bakhmut, the report says.

According to the General Staff, Russian units had "partial success" in the direction of the village of Vershina, but have not been able to improve the tactical position in the directions of Bakhmut and other cities north of Donetsk city.

Russia said its forces had captured a factory for Moscow on the edge of the eastern town of Soledar.

Other Russian-backed forces said they were in the process of "clearing out" the heavily fortified village of Pisky. And Russian media reported that a group of mercenaries from the Vagner Group had dug in near Bakhmut.

It was not possible to verify either side's battlefield accounts.

Russia has been "reinforcing defenses" in southern Ukraine while keeping up attacks on Ukrainian positions in the eastern Donetsk region, but has only managed to advance about 10 kilometers in the past month on its "most successful axis" there, according to U.K. military intelligence.

In its regular assessment earlier on August 9, British Defense Intelligence said Russian forces had not advanced more than three kilometers elsewhere in Donetsk.

Such a pace is "almost certainly significantly less than planned," Defense Intelligence added.

"Despite its continued heavy use of artillery in these areas, Russia has not been able to generate capable combat infantry in sufficient numbers to secure more substantial advances," it said.

British intelligence previously warned on August 8 that Russia was using anti-personnel mines in an effort to defend and hold its defense lines, with resulting risks to both the military and local civilian populations.

In Crimea, Moscow-imposed authorities said explosions hit a military airport near the village of Novofedorivka, killing one person and injuring several others.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the detonation of aviation ammunition caused the explosions without clarifying who or what triggered the blasts.

The ministry's statement implied the airfield was not targeted in an attack and said that no one was injured.

Meanwhile, the United States said it would provide $89 million to Ukraine for removing land mines put in place by Russian forces. The money will support 100 demining teams as well as training and equipment necessary to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance for a year.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Anna Zaitseva, the wife of an Azov Battalion soldier, was abducted from a bus by Russian soldiers and taken to the Bezimenne filtration camp east of Mariupol. Body-cavity searches in unhygienic conditions and threats followed. "I know that they said to other women that they would send them the heads of their husbands in a box," Zaitseva said.
Ukrainian soldiers who are dug in and holding the line between the towns of Siversk and Soledar in the Donbas region say they face shelling "24/7." They spoke to RFE/RL's Maryan Kushnir about how they endure the constant Russian shelling and air strikes. One man struck a defiant note, saying, "The truth is on our side."
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Massive explosions hit a military airfield in Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine has stopped short of officially claiming responsibility, and speculation over what triggered the conflagration continues. Many locals doubt Russia's claim that the blasts were an accident.
A Russian envoy to the United Nations says Moscow has requested a meeting of the UN Security Council on August 11 to discuss issues concerning the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which its troops seized early in the five-month-old invasion of Ukraine.

First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky also confirmed on August 10 that Russia wanted the head of the UN's atomic energy agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, to brief attendees at the meeting.

It would follow increasingly urgent international safety concerns and with the Russian occupiers reportedly preparing to redirect its electricity production in a dangerous pivot that relies on diesel generators and other aging technology.

Desperate safety warnings from Ukrainian and UN atomic experts have been compounded in the past week by intensified shelling around Zaporizhzhya and accusations and counteraccusations of risky behavior by the warring sides.

Operator Enerhoatom and exhausted Ukrainian workers still manning the facility five months after its capture by Russian forces have repeatedly warned of the risks of a nuclear catastrophe.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

Zaporizhzhya is Europe's largest nuclear plant, and it houses six of Ukraine's 15 reactors.

On August 9, Enerhoatom also warned that the occupiers were preparing to redirect Zaporizhzhya's output to Crimea, which Russia forcibly annexed from Ukraine eight years ago.

Enerhoatom President Petro Kotin told Ukrainian television that Russian energy agency Rosatom's plan was "aimed at connecting the [Zaporizhzhya] plant to the Crimean electricity grid."

He said doing that requires damaging power lines that lead to the Ukrainian grid and said at least three lines were already damaged, leaving Zaporizhzhya "operating with only one production line, which is an extremely dangerous way of working."

"When the last production line is disconnected," he said, "the plant will be powered by generators running on diesel. Everything will then depend on their reliability and fuel stocks."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on August 8 called any attack on a nuclear plant "suicidal" and demanded that UN inspectors be given access to Zaporizhzhya.

On August 9, the IAEA's Grossi said that based on the information provided by Ukraine, IAEA experts assessed that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety as a result of recent shelling.

The same day, Yevhen Balytskiy, the head of the Russian military administration in the region around Zaporizhzhya, told Russian television that "the power plant's air-defense systems are being reinforced."

Kyiv and some Western leaders have accused Russia of "nuclear blackmail" through its army's actions with respect to Zaporizhzhya and other Ukrainian nuclear facilities and Moscow's repeated hints that it might deploy its nuclear arsenal in response to Western actions stemming from the Ukraine conflict.

Ukrainian officials have blamed shelling that killed at least 13 civilians overnight on August 9-10 on Russian forces operating in or around Zaporizhzhya.

On August 10, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrialized countries demanded that Russia return control of the Zaporizhzhya plant to Ukraine.

"Ukrainian personnel responsible for the operation of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure," a statement from the G7 foreign ministers said on August 10. "It is Russia's continued domination of the nuclear power plant that endangers the region."

The ministers said they remain "profoundly concerned" by the threat that the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear facilities poses to the safety and security of the facilities, which they said significantly raises the risk of a nuclear accident.

With reporting by dpa, Reuters, and TASS
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will lead the Russian delegation to the UN General Assembly, scheduled for the end of September in New York, the Kremlin announced yesterday. However, it is unclear whether the US will allow Lavrov and other members of the delegation to enter the country, even for the UN event.

There are no plans for Putin to travel to the US or address the world body, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated yesterday. Instead, the Russian president signed a directive designating Lavrov as the head of the Russian delegation.

He will be accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin and Russian permanent representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia, as well as Senator Grigory Karasin and Duma deputy Leonid Slutsky, who chair the foreign affairs committees of their respective parliamentary chambers.

The US government sanctioned Slutsky in March 2014, over his support for Crimea rejoining Russia. Lavrov was added to the sanctions list on February 25th this year, as Washington accused him of being directly responsible for Russias unprovoked and unlawful further invasion of Ukraine.

The UN General Assembly traditionally takes place in the third week of September at the world bodys New York headquarters on the East River. This years 77th session is scheduled to run from September 20-26. According to the events preliminary program, Lavrov is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 24.

Under a series of treaties and conventions governing the US role as the host country of the UN, Washington is responsible for recognizing the individuals who are accredited by the UN. They are accorded full diplomatic immunity with respect to their official duties.

Preventing either Lavrov or Slutsky from attending the UN General Assembly would effectively mean the United States has restated its intent to impose its unilateral will upon the entire global community and to effectively cancel entire countries it disagrees with. With Russia a global nuclear and economic power  in PPP terms it has an economy the size of Germany  such a move would not sit well with other nations wary of US intentions to impose a unipolar world order. It would, in effect, undermine the entire concept of the United Nations as a whole.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said last week that he also planned to travel to New York and address the UNGA. The US sanctioned him in November 2019.

Related Reading
Using a clinical scanning device, researchers in Switzerland have successfully captured CT images of the 17,000-year-old tusk of a woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius).

The woolly mammoth is an extinct mammal species that belongs to the order Proboscidea.

It inhabited large areas of the northern hemisphere, especially Eurasia, from approximately 700,00 to 4,000 years ago.

Woolly mammoths were covered in fur and had small ears and a small tail to abate frostbite.

They also had tusks that they used for scraping bark off trees, digging on the ground for food and fighting.

The tusks of proboscideans allow determination of individual age and identification of specific life-altering occurrences based on annual growth-increment analysis, said Dr. Tilo Niemann from the Department of Radiology at Kantonsspital Baden and colleagues.

In their research, the authors examined a large and well-preserved tusk of a woolly mammoth from central Switzerland.

The tusk had a total length of 2.06 m (6.8 feet), a diameter of 16 cm (6.3 inches), and a total object diameter of 80 cm (31.5 inches).

Tusks mostly consist of two types of material: cementum, a bonelike substance, and dentin, which lies beneath the cementum and accounts for the majority of the tusks mass, the researchers said.

Mammoth tusks are internally structured by annual increments of dentin apposition which, when viewed in longitudinal section (as opposed to cross-section), resemble cone-shaped cups stacked on top of one another.

Using a clinical CT unit featuring an improved design with an 82-cm- (32.3-inch) wide bore, they were able to capture a clear image of the entire tusks interior.

It was fascinating to see the internal structure of the mammoth tusk, Dr. Niemann said.

The CT scans showed annual increments of dentin apposition from the central canal.

A total of 32 cones were counted, resulting in an estimation of a minimum age of 32 years.

Because the tusk tip is missing, the estimate obtained is slightly below the actual age.

To our knowledge, this was the first successful scan of an intact, adult male mammoth tusk in toto with use of a clinical CT unit without multiple partial scans, the scientists said.

The results appear in the journal Radiology.

_____

Patrick Eppenberger et al. CT-based Age Estimation of a Mammoth Tusk. Radiology, published online August 9, 2022; doi: 10.1148/radiol.220265
MIDDLE EAST

Syria

Expected Council Action

In May, the Security Council is expected to hold its monthly meetings on the political, humanitarian and chemical weapons tracks in Syria.

Key Recent Developments

Released on 22 February, OCHAs 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview indicated that 14.6 million people in Syria (including 6.5 million children) are in need of humanitarian assistance. In an 11 March statement marking the 11th anniversary of the Syrian conflict, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasised the need to reach a negotiated political settlement. He lamented that the conflict has exacted an unconscionable human cost and that Syrians have been subjected to human rights violations on a massive and systematic scale. The reauthorisation of resolution 2585 in July, when it is set to expire, is a moral and humanitarian imperative, he said. Resolution 2585 mandates the delivery of cross-line (that is, across domestic frontlines from Syrian government-held areas into areas outside government control) and cross-border humanitarian aid (from Turkey into Syria through the Bab al-Hawa crossing) and welcomes early recovery projects in Syria.

The seventh round of the Syria Constitutional Committee was held from 21-25 March in Geneva. The parties discussed four principles during the first four days of the session Basics of Governance, State Identity, State Symbols, and Structure and Functions of Public Authorities. On the final day, they discussed their amendments to proposals on constitutional principles.

Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen released a statement at the conclusion of the session. He said: All delegations offered at least some revisions to some of the texts presented. Some of these embodied amendments indicat[e] an attempt to reflect the content of the discussions and narrow differences. Others contained no changes. Pedersen added: I will do everything I can to bring closer viewpoints among the members through exerting my good offices, which is plainly needed. A spokesperson for the opposition co-chair, Hadi AlBahra, said that there had been no meaningful progress in the talks and that the opposition had been unsatisfied with the governments engagement.

At the time of writing, media reports indicated that Russia was recruiting Syrian troops to assist its war effort in Ukraine. While thousands of Syrian fighters have registered to fight, it remains unclear how many have arrived in Ukraine.

On 26 April, the Security Council held a briefing, followed by consultations, on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria. Pedersen, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Joyce Msuya, and Nirvana Shawky, the Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa for CARE International, briefed. Pedersen announced that the 8th session of the Constitutional Committee is scheduled for 28 May to 3 June in Geneva. He and Msuya emphasised that the crisis in Syria must not be forgotten. Msuya and Shawky called for the Council to renew the mandate of the cross-border aid mechanism in July. Shawky noted the importance of early recovery programs in Syria in allowing schools and hospitals to remain open and supporting livelihood opportunities.

On 28 March, fighting broke out at the al-Hol refugee camp in northeast Syria between camp residents reportedly aligned with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL\Daesh) and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a predominantly Kurdish group opposing the Syrian government, that oversees the camp. At least three people were killed and ten wounded in the incident. Al-Hol is home to approximately 56,000 people, many of whom are women and children associated with apprehended or deceased ISIL fighters. The overcrowded camp has been plagued by high levels of violence in recent months.

On 29 April, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed the Council on the Syria chemical weapons track. She reiterated that gaps remain in Syrias declaration of its chemical weapons stockpiles. Consultations followed the briefing. On the same day, Council members issued a press statement initiated by the UK that marked the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction.

Women, Peace and Security

On 13 April, Mariana Karkoutly, co-founder of the civil society organisation Huquqyat, briefed the Security Council during the annual open debate on conflict-related sexual violence. She said that both Syrian government forces and armed groups continue to murder, torture and use sexual and gender-based violence against civilians as a matter of policy. In particular, she explained that women in Syria have been detained for opposing the regime, or as a punishment for their male relatives having done so, and have often faced sexual and gender-based violence while in detention. Karkoutly said that the Council has failed to take actions to hold perpetrators accountable and called for the situation in Syria to be referred to the ICC. She urged the Council to adopt a resolution on the situation of detainees and missing persons underscoring the Syrian governments legal obligations and reflecting the priorities identified by victims and survivors associations. She also urged the Council to renew the cross-border mechanism for at least 12 months and reauthorise access through all crossing points.

Key Issues and Options

A key issue for the Council is how it can support the Special Envoys efforts to promote positive momentum on the political track in Syria.

The humanitarian crisis in the country remains an ongoing concern for Council members. The country continues to contend with an ever-worsening economic situation, rising food and fuel prices, and high unemployment.

One option for the Council is to adopt a statement that supports the Special Envoys efforts to reinvigorate the political track.

Another option would be for Council members to hold a closed Arria-formula meeting with civil society representatives who can speak to the importance of early recovery projects in Syria and provide their input on the types of projects that would be most beneficial to the welfare of Syrians.

Council Dynamics

There are stark differences in the Council on Syria. China and Russia tend to be sympathetic to the Syrian government, emphasising the need to respect the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, and drawing connections between unilateral sanctions on Syria and the challenging humanitarian situation in the country. On the other hand, the P3 (France, the UK and the US) and others are highly critical of the government for violating international human rights law and international humanitarian law, arbitrarily detaining people, and not engaging meaningfully in political dialogue.

Although most members have repeatedly emphasised that the cross-border aid mechanism is an essential humanitarian tool in Syria, China and Russia maintain that cross-line deliveries should ultimately supplant cross-border deliveries, and India argues that the cross-border mechanism undermines Syrias sovereignty. There is likely to be a heightened focus on the cross-border aid mechanism in the Council as the July expiration of resolution 2585 approaches.

The war in Ukraine also appears to be having an impact on Council dynamics on many issues, including Syria. In the meeting on the political and humanitarian situations in Syria on 24 March, Russia said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had abandoned his usual neutral language with regard to Ukraine. At the same meeting, the US accused Moscow of using some of the same barbaric tactics in Ukraine as in Syria, adding that it was troubling that Russia was recruiting Syrians to fight in Ukraine. And at the 26 April meeting, the UK said that the rising cost of food in Syria has been exacerbated by Russias premeditated and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Ireland and Norway are the humanitarian penholders on Syria.

UN DOCUMENTS ON SYRIA



This resolution renewed the mandate of the cross-border humanitarian aid delivery mechanism to Syria. This was the first resolution focused exclusively on a political solution to the Syrian crisis. It was adopted unanimously. This was the 60-day report on the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Because the Fellowship of Christian Athletes prohibits gay, lesbian or transgender students from serving as leaders, the San Jose Unified School District refuses to recognize it as an official student organization. On Tuesday, a lawyer for the group argued to a federal appeals court that the district is violating freedom of speech and religion.

While the district proclaims that it has an inclusive all-comers policy, this is a some-comers policy that favors secular groups, attorney Daniel Blomberg told a panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at a hearing in Seattle. Under both the U.S. Constitution and federal law, he said, you cant discriminate based on the content of the speech.

But Stacey Leyton, a lawyer for the school district, said it has not interfered with the fellowships right to express its views. To be officially recognized, however, it must not exclude students from leadership or from membership based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or other categories such as race and sex, she told the court. Official student organizations are listed in the school yearbook and can keep funds in a school bank account.

Leyton cited the Supreme Courts 2010 ruling that said UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco did not have to provide funds to a Christian student group that excluded gays, lesbians and nonbelievers. That was a 5-4 decision that the current court, with a more conservative majority, might reconsider if it agrees to review the San Jose case.

The appeals court panel, selected by random draw, was relatively conservative  two of the three judges were appointed by former President Donald Trump  but gave few hints of their intentions during the one-hour hearing.

Judge Danielle Forrest, a Trump appointee, suggested at one point that San Jose was treating the Fellowship of Christian Athletes unfairly because the school district had granted official recognition in the past to some clubs with non-inclusive policies, like mentorship groups for girls. Leyton replied that the school districts current policies treat all organizations equally and that the mentor groups, and organizations serving students of color, have declared that they would be open to all.

Later, Forrest told Blomberg that the San Jose policy seemed similar to the non-discrimination rules the Supreme Court had upheld in 2010. Unlike the UC Hastings policy, the attorney replied, in San Jose determining whether something is or is not discriminatory is left up to local officials who have not applied uniform standards.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a religious organization whose policies for its members include a sexual purity statement, declaring that the biblical description of marriage is one man and one woman in a lifelong commitment. The group says its desire is to encourage individuals to trust in Jesus and turn away from any impure lifestyle.

The fellowship had chapters of athletes at three San Jose high schools  Pioneer, Willow Glen and Leland  that were recognized as official student organizations until 2019, when the district implemented its current discrimination policy and withdrew recognition of all three. The chapters at Willow Glen and Leland have since disbanded, while Pioneer High has a student group that is seeking to restore its official recognition.

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U.S. District Judge Haywood Gilliam of Oakland refused to order the groups reinstatement in a ruling June 1, saying the school district is not suppressing speech or religion but is promoting a reasonable policy that encourages equal participation.

Blomberg asked the appeals court to overrule Gilliam, and also requested an interim ruling, by next Monday, that would immediately restore the high school chapter as an official organization while awaiting a final decision. The court did not indicate when it would rule.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
When Brooke Jenkins made her conspicuous departure from the San Francisco District Attorneys Office last October, she said she was forsaking her career as a prosecutor to volunteer for the effort to recall her boss, Chesa Boudin.

But in the months following her resignation, city filings released this week show, she was paid more than $100,000 for consulting work by a nonprofit affiliated with the recall effort.

Mayor London Breed would go on to select Jenkins as Boudins replacement, and Jenkins is now running to keep the job. Jenkins recently secured several high-profile endorsements in the DAs race, including from state Sen. Scott Wiener and several San Francisco supervisors, none of whom reversed their stances on Jenkins following revelations about the payments.

While government ethics experts contacted by The Chronicle could find no apparent breach of the law, the money Jenkins received could undercut the thrust of her origin story as a wary citizen galvanized into action solely by her own volition.

Parisa Safarzadeh, a spokesperson for Breeds office, said the mayor did not have concerns about the financial relationship. The important thing is that the district attorney disclosed it in her form, Safarzadeh said.

In a statement of economic interest filed with the city, Jenkins disclosed receiving a payment of more than $100,000 for consulting work with Neighbors for a Better San Francisco, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that claims to seek solutions that will improve the quality of life and governance in San Francisco. Federal tax law prohibits 501(c)(3) organizations from participating in virtually all political activity.

The nonprofit bears a strikingly similar name to Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy, a 501(c)(4) organization that spent millions on the effort to unseat Boudin in June. While they are legally separate entities, William Oberndorf, a wealthy conservative hedge fund manager who helped bankroll the recall, is on the board of each group. Under federal law, 501(c)(4) organizations can engage in political activity.

Neighbors for a Better San Francisco and Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy share the same San Rafael address, according to state filings. The filings were first reported by the San Francisco Standard.

Jenkins declined requests for an interview into the nature of her consulting work but said in a statement Wednesday that she was a volunteer for the Boudin recall campaign  period. I worked as a consultant for 501(c)(3) organizations only and in no way did compensation influence me. I would have much rather stayed working as a prosecutor. I was committed to volunteering on the recall because I wanted to make sure San Francisco understood what was at stake if Chesa remained in office. I felt I had an obligation to speak out on behalf of the victims I represented.

I leveraged my career and prosecutorial experience to help provide a new source of income to help support my family and small children, she said in a statement Tuesday. It was a tough decision to leave my dream career during a pandemic and rising economic uncertainty, but it was the right choice for my family and me.

Back in October, she said she walked away from a job she loved to speak out against Boudin after witnessing what she described as a chaotic, ineffective office with policies that enabled lawlessness in San Francisco. It was a compelling narrative that made her among the strongest voices calling for Boudins ouster.

In a Wednesday tweet about Jenkins consulting work, Boudin said Integrity is central to the job of District Attorney.

If jurors cant trust your word, they wont convict, he said. The relationships with judges and defense counsel and victims are all built on integrity. Lying to get ahead destroys the trust we need to make SF safer.

Rachel Marshall, Boudins former communications director and policy adviser, said San Franciscans should feel outraged that Brooke Jenkins intentionally misled them.

Marshall said Jenkins improperly garnered public trust by claiming she was a campaign volunteer.

This behavior  by someone now appointed as a chief law enforcement officer  reeks of dishonesty, a lack of transparency, and corruption, Marshall said.

John P. Pellisero, a senior scholar at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, said that as Jenkins campaigns to complete the final year of Boudins term, voters may question her decision to accept payment from an organization tied to the recall just before getting appointed.

Citizens may view her compensation as a consultant to help remove the DA as an inappropriate role just prior to being appointed to succeed the incumbent DA that she sought to remove from office.

The ethical problem here, he said, is one of perception.

UC Berkeley Professor Mark Gergen, a tax law expert, said it was not at all unusual for there to be a 501c3 and 501c4 arm tied to the same group. He gave the example of the NAACP, which has both a 501c3 and 501c4. He said theres well-known potential for abuse, though the IRS isnt typically vigilant in rooting it out.

Messages left for all publicly disclosed officers of the recall-tied nonprofit werent returned Wednesday. An assistant to Oberndorf directed questions to Jay Cheng with the nonprofit; Cheng didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Jenkins said she volunteered for an organization called Safer SF Without Boudin, which campaigned on behalf of the recall and received millions in financial support from Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy.

In a news release circulated by Safer SF Without Boudin in March, Jenkins alleged that the District Attorneys Office was in chaos under Chesa Boudins watch, and blasted what she called Boudins catch and release policies. In the statement, Jenkins was identified as a former San Francisco assistant district attorney and a volunteer spokesperson for Safer SF Without Boudin. A spokesperson said Jenkins provided consulting services between December 2021 and early July, just before she was appointed District Attorney.

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Quentin Kopp, a retired judge and former member of the San Francisco Ethics Commission who supported Boudins recall, said Jenkins had not broken any law.

The fact that she didnt disclose she was being paid  thats what voters can evaluate in November, Kopp said, referring to the upcoming special election for District Attorney.  San Franciscos ordinance on conduct of lobbying and elections doesnt preclude payment for activities on behalf of a campaign.

She wouldnt be the first candidate for office who didnt disclose all relevant facts pertaining to any campaign issue, he said.

Jenkins additionally made between $10,000 and $100,000 after taxes as a consultant for a mentorship-based nonprofit called Sisters Circle.

GlobalSF, a nonprofit that aims to help international firms do business in San Francisco, also paid Jenkins between $10,000 and $100,000 after taxes for consulting.

She provided legal advice, analysis, and research regarding public safety issues in San Francisco, GlobalSF Executive Director Darlene Chiu Bryant said in an email.

A spokesperson for Jenkins said the former assistant district attorney did not begin consulting until after she quit Boudins office, and did not leave the office with an agreement to work as a consultant. Jenkins resigned in October and began consulting in December, the spokesperson said.

My work for the non-profit organizations focused on public safety and other legal work supporting communities ranging from formerly incarcerated women, to helping advise the business community on public safety concerns and issues, Jenkins said in a statement. I compiled legal analysis, research, reports, and provided advice for all of these organizations and their respective issue areas.

A spokesperson for Jenkins said she made approximately $115,000 after taxes for all three of her consulting jobs, and said it was less than what she made as an assistant district attorney.

Larry Bush, a member of the Ethics Commission, said he couldnt comment about any matter that may come before the commission. In general though, he said nonprofits like 501(c)(3)s can pay someone to do education and research and other things, including voter registration.

When asked whether he saw any issues with Jenkins stating that she was a volunteer while being paid by recall-linked organizations, Bush said those are questions that shell have to answer to the public and to any group like the Ethics Commission, if they come before us.

Megan Cassidy and Joshua Sharpe are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, joshua.sharpe@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy, @joshuawsharpe
One day after officially announcing she will run to keep her seat in November, appointed San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has secured top endorsements from San Francisco Democrats who didnt support the recall  including state Sen. Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, state Treasurer Fiona Ma and San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, The Chronicle has learned.

Jenkins, who Mayor London Breed appointed last month to replace recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin, will be facing voters for the first time in November. The deadline for candidates to file for the position is Friday, and only two other candidates, including former police commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese, have filed nomination petitions, according to the Department of Elections. Last week, Boudin said he will not run for his former job in November.

The endorsements were made before news broke late Tuesday that Jenkins was paid more than $100,000 by a nonprofit organization formed by a Silicon Valley billionaire who helped bankroll the recall. Jenkins had said that she volunteered to work on the recall campaign. The disclosure, which was made in a statement of economic interest that Jenkins filed and first reported by the San Francisco Standard, raises questions about whether she should have been more transparent about her financial connections with organizations linked to the recall.

But the payments didnt change the minds of the four endorsers. All four reiterated their support for Jenkins Wednesday The Chronicle.

It doesnt change my endorsement, Wiener wrote in a text.

These (endorsements) are really important, San Francisco State University professor of political science Jason McDaniel said. Endorsements are one of the most important things that someone whos in their first run for office can acquire.

Whats striking about the endorsements, McDaniel said, is that they include a top law enforcement official (Miyamoto) and a trusted office-holder who has been re-elected in San Francisco multiple times (Wiener).

The idea of trusted figures saying that This is someone that we trust is one of the most important things that a new politician running for office for the first time can garner, McDaniel said.

Wiener, who did not take a position on the Boudin recall, told The Chronicle Tuesday that he made his decision after a recent long discussion with Jenkins, who was a leader of the campaign to recall Boudin  whom she used to work for in the district attorneys office.

Shes an extremely committed and talented person who is going to take action on the behavior that is undermining the safety of our community while at the same time continuing important criminal justice reforms, Wiener said.

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I think its really important for all of us to give her a chance to work and succeed, Wiener said. Because she was so involved with the recall, she has been caricatured and a lot of people have formed assumptions about what shes going to do and not do. We need to give her a chance to do the job.

There are other key endorsements up for grabs, including that of the San Francisco Democratic Party. The organization will hold its endorsement vote for the district attorneys race at its Sept. 28 meeting, Executive Director Moises Garcia said Tuesday.

Civil rights attorney and former police commissioner Alioto Veronese, one of Jenkins top rivals on the November ballot, dismissed the importance of the new endorsements as the work of the mayor trying to save her appointment. He has said that while he agreed with many of Boudins reform ideas, he disagreed with how Boudin tried to execute them.

Ultimately, he said, the people of San Francisco will decide who should lead the district attorneys office.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
A Clayton man was arraigned in Martinez on multiple gun charges Tuesday, the Contra Costa District Attorneys Office said.

John Michael King was charged with two felony counts of possession of assault weapons and one felony count of manufacturing or assembling an unregistered firearm. Officials said they found that King illegally manufactured a .22 caliber rifle and was in possession of a .223 assault rifle and a .556 pistol.

King plead not guilty in a court hearing Tuesday.

A January investigation recovered 132 guns in Kings possession as well as the equipment that he used to manufacture the unregistered firearms at his home, the District Attorney said.

King was a former volunteer with the Contra Costa Sheriffs Office, performing various jobs at the Clayton Shooting Range. He also assisted the office by taking jail inmates to job sites to complete work, according to a spokeperson at the District Attorneys Office.

His next court appearance is scheduled to be in Martinez on Aug. 29.

Jordan Parker (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jordan.parker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jparkerwrites
The Walgreens pharmacy chain can be held responsible for much of the opioid epidemic in San Francisco because it supplied the drugs to its stores for many years without taking steps to prevent their misuse, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

Between 2006 and 2020, Walgreens distributed more than 100 million prescription opioid pills to pharmacies in San Francisco while failing to take actions to identify suspicious prescriptions or prevent their illegal and harmful use, said U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who presided over a non-jury trial in San Francisco.

Due in part to Walgreens 15-year failure, Breyer said, patients suffering from various opioid-related conditions overwhelm the citys hospitals.  Libraries have been forced to close after syringe-clogged toilets overflowed. ... Dozens of syringes have been found in the sandbox at childrens playgrounds and in the childrens reading area at the city library.

The trial revealed a corporation with a profit-driven fill, fill, fill culture, Breyer wrote.

He said he would hold another trial to determine the extent of the companys liability.

San Francisco also sued seven drug manufacturers and distributors but settled its claims against them for $120 million. The companies are Allergan, Teva, Endo Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson and its three distributors, McKesson, Cardinal and AmerisourceBergen.

Lawyers for the city said they would ask Breyer to assess San Franciscos future costs for programs to address opioid addiction for which Walgreens is responsible.

There is no amount of money that will bring back the lives lost, City Attorney David Chiu said at a news conference Wednesday. Theres nothing that were going to be able to do to reverse that tragedy, but our city continues to need resources to adequately address suffering on our streets and the tragedies that continue with that.

The street crisis we are dealing with in our city is largely fueled by the ease of access to fatal and harmful drugs, said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. Todays momentous decision will help further San Franciscos efforts to prevent overdoses and save lives of those struggling with addiction.

Walgreens did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The company could appeal the ruling.

Opioids include legally prescribed painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin, and legal and illegal forms of the powerful drug fentanyl, as well as heroin. They can be highly addictive and sometimes lethal. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, quoted in the citys lawsuit, 80% of U.S. heroin users in the past decade had started with opioid prescriptions.

Walgreens is the nations second-largest pharmacy chain, behind CVS, and the largest in San Francisco. The San Francisco lawsuit, filed in 2018, is one of thousands of opioids cases filed by local governments nationwide, but federal courts have classified it as a bellwether test case for proceedings that could lead to settlements elsewhere. It was also the first against representatives of all three links in the pharmaceutical supply chain: manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies.

Breyer noted that federal regulations require pharmacies to verify the medical legitimacy of opioid prescriptions before dispensing them. Instead, he said, Walgreens distributed hundreds of thousands of red flag prescriptions  those with evidence of potential abuse  without any proper examination, including tens of thousands by doctors with suspect prescribing patterns.

Red flags, he said, included patients who had traveled 25 miles or more to a pharmacy, those with prescriptions from two or more doctors, prescriptions for cocktails of opioids and other drugs, and early refills. Over the 15-year period, Breyer said, half of the the opioid prescriptions at Walgreens in San Francisco met those descriptions.

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During this period, opioid abuse was rampant throughout the city, unscrupulous doctors wrote significant volumes of suspect opioid prescriptions, and Walgreens pharmacies filled tens of thousands of the prescriptions written by these doctors, Breyer said.

He quoted two pharmacists as saying they refused to fill suspicious prescriptions. However, he said they learned later that other Walgreens pharmacies had filled them. Pharmacists also said they received an email from company management directing them to fill questionable prescriptions from a doctor who was later convicted and sentenced to prison for writing excessive opioid prescriptions that caused fatal overdoses, Breyer said.

The company also did not provide its pharmacists with sufficient time, staffing or resources to perform due diligence, but pressured them to fill prescriptions as quickly as possible, Breyer said. He said the evidence showed that Walgreens pharmacists operated under intense time pressure that forced them to skip breaks, work off the clock and dispense prescriptions with limited or no review.

Even when Walgreens own auditor found deficiencies in the companys monitoring of suspicious prescriptions, the judge said, it shipped 95% of the orders that exceeded standard government limits.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Camryn Pak contributed to this article.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
California General Attorney Rob Bonta lent his support to the city of Livermore, which is battling residential groups seeking to block the construction of a 130-unit affordable housing complex for low-income families downtown.

Bonta filed a court brief Tuesday supporting Livermores request to dismiss or expedite an appeal filed by the group Save Livermore Downtown, which said the project necessitated a more thorough review.

I commend the city for its efforts to address the housing needs of its community, Bonta said in a statement. Our state is continuing to face a housing shortage and affordability crisis of epic proportions.

The CEQA review process is intended to highlight potential environmental effects of proposed projects. While it plays an important role in protecting the environment, Bonta suggested that certain groups use the process as a means to thwart new development.

In an online petition seeking to muster support for their goal of stopping the project, Save Livermore Downtown said the housing development would seriously degrade the Livermore city center, and would eliminate parking spots, adding to congestion issues.

The Bay Area is facing a severe housing crisis and affordable and low-income housing is in short supply. California needs approximately 2.5 million new homes by 2030 in order to meet housing demand, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development. But only an average of 100,000 homes are built in California each year, Bontas office said.

In May of 2021, Livermore approved nonprofit developer Eden Housings proposal for 130 units of affordable housing. A month later, the residential group filed a lawsuit against the city saying it violated the citys planning rules and that further CEQA review was required. In February, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch dismissed the case.

The CEQA arguments are almost utterly without merit, Roesch said at the hearing, according to the Pleasanton Weekly.

Save Livermore Downtown appealed the decision.

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By dragging out the litigation, Save Livermore Downtown has jeopardized the projects financing and potentially put the entire viability of the project at risk, Bonta said in a statement.

Separately, another group, called Move Eden Housing, filed a petition against the city in an effort to let voters decide during the November election whether the citys land sale to Eden Housing should go through. But in late July, the city blocked the petition, which had collected 8,000 signatures.

On Aug. 1, Move Eden Housing filed a lawsuit against Livermore in an effort to force the city to process its referendum. Its also asking that the Eden Housing complex planned for the southeast corner of Railroad Avenue and L Street be relocated in favor of a community park.

Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika
Golden Gate Meat Co., one of the longest tenants at the prominent Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco, is closing after nearly two decades.

The company declined to comment on the closure. The Ferry Building confirmed the butcher shop will close on Aug. 20.

We had hoped to keep Golden Gate Meat in the marketplace, but we respect the owners decision to embark on the next chapter of their lives, Ferry Building general manager Jane Connors said in a statement.

Golden Gate Meat Co.s wholesale facility in Richmond and a Santa Rosa location, which provide meat to Bay Area restaurants, hotels and markets, do not seem to be affected.

The popular butcher shop, an offshoot of the Bay Area wholesale business the Offenbach family started in 1977, has long been a draw for its high-quality selection of organic meats, charcuterie and prepared foods. It opened with the Ferry Buildings major overhaul in 2003, when it became one of San Franciscos major culinary destinations  and one that relies heavily on tourism and foot traffic.

Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2018

After local health orders shut down San Francisco in spring 2020, Golden Gate Meat Co. struggled alongside other Ferry Building businesses. Chris Offenbach, who took over the business in 2004 from his brother and original owners Jimi-Z and Patti Offenbach, told The Chronicle at the time that business was down at the butcher shop, with the lease expiration approaching in 2022.

Several Ferry Building tenants closed during the pandemic, including the longtime Cowgirl Creamery, the 16-year-old San Francisco Fish Co., bakery Vive La Tarte, Frog Hollow Farm and Slanted Door takeout offshoot Out the Door. The acclaimed Slanted Door, one of the food halls biggest draws and largest spaces, remains temporarily closed for a renovation.

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Big-name newcomers, though, have started to fill the vacancies, including Oaklands popular Red Bay Coffee, fish taco spot Cholita Linda and Filipino-Mexican food truck favorite Senor Sisig.

Elena Kadvany (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com
If youve ever waited for a table at Wildseed, one of the Bay Areas buzziest vegan restaurants, and wished you could quickly grab a bowl of beet poke and a veggie burger to go, youre in luck.

This month the owners of Wildseed are opening a faster, more casual meat-free restaurant. Rad Radish, from the prominent Back of the House restaurant group, is slated to debut Monday, Aug. 15, at 301 Hayes St., at Franklin Street, in Hayes Valley.

Customers will order from kiosks (or employees at a counter, if they prefer) and can dine in or take their plant-based food to go. The menu is similar to Wildseeds but smaller and more low key. Think grain bowls, salads, a Beyond faux chicken sandwich and carbonara flatbread topped with tempeh bacon, peas and Parmesan-style cheese. Wildseeds popular veggie burger, made from mushrooms, spinach and brown rice and topped with a burnt tomato chutney, will also be available here. And beet poke, a hit from Wildseeds opening menu, makes a comeback, with ruby-colored cubes of marinated beets standing in for tuna.

For dessert, expect vegan soft serve topped with coconut chips and chocolate sauce.

Courtesy Michelle K. Min

Rad Radish owner Adriano Paganini and his Back of the House restaurant group are responsible for some of San Franciscos most popular restaurants, including Super Duper Burgers, Tailors Son, Lolinda and Beretta. With the new business, Paganini said he wanted to create a vegan restaurant thats faster and more approachable than the trendy, often packed Wildseed. The original restaurant, with locations in San Francisco and Palo Alto, already sees a high volume of takeout business, so Rad Radish will also capitalize on that.

Paganini, who also operates A Mano and the Bird in Hayes Valley, said business in the neighborhood isnt what it was pre-pandemic. Dinner sales are coming back while lunch remains slow, but hes hopeful that business will continue to improve. Rad Radish is conveniently located near event venues like the SFJazz Center and Davies Symphony Hall. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Courtesy Michelle K. Min

Paganini hopes people will come for a quick work lunch as much as an evening drink and a snack. Rad Radish will serve organic wines and low-ABV cocktails, like a negroni mixed with house-made bergamot liqeur. There are also fresh-squeezed juices, probiotic tonics and coffee drinks (with oat or cashew milk only).

The owners are trying to keep Rad Radish relatively affordable  entrees range from $13 to $16  but the kitchens reliance on pricey vegan products like Impossible meat and cashew cheese makes that a challenge, Paganini said.

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Unfortunately, its hard to sell any main item for less than $10, he said. As we try to keep the prices as fast-casual prices, we dont know if its going to be profitable.

Rad Radish is built for speed, but Paganini expects to see most customers eating in person; he estimated about 65% dine-in and 35% takeout. The prominent corner space, last occupied by the Grove, has been decorated with colorful tiles and a vibrant mural, partially inspired by the Northern Californian feel of Sea Ranch on the Sonoma coast. Theres both indoor and outdoor seating.

Rad Radish. Opening Aug. 15. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. 301 Hayes St., San Francisco. eatradradish.com

Elena Kadvany (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com
UPDATE: Here are the latest updates on COVID in the Bay Area and California.

Most vaccinated older adults in the U.S. expect to get the updated coronavirus booster shot once it becomes available in the fall, according to a recent survey. The highly transmissible BA.5 omicron coronavirus variant made up just over 87% of U.S. cases last week, according to the CDC. Many ultra-wealthy people who left San Francisco in the early days of the pandemic decamped to ritzy ski towns.

Latest updates:

BA.2.75 may rise behind BA.4, BA.5 wave, study suggests

The recently identified omicron subvariant BA.2.7 displayed a local growth advantage over other strains of the virus, including the fast-moving BA.5, in India, according to a pre-print study posted online Wednesday in the journal BioRxiv. Additionally, the researchers in China found that BA.2.75 shows striking evasion of BA.5 infection plasma, meaning those infected with the current subvariant will have little immunity against it. Our results suggest BA.2.75 may prevail after the global BA.4/BA.5 wave, and its increased receptor-binding capability could allow further incorporation of immune-evasive mutations, wrote Yunlong Richard Cao, a biochemistry and immunology expert at Peking University and lead author of the study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Marin County urges parents to get kids vaccinated ahead of school

Marin County public health officials are calling on parents to get their children up to date and in compliance with state vaccination requirements for a number of illnesses ahead of the start of the fall school term. Doctor visits for routine childhood vaccinations declined during the pandemic, said Dr. Matt Willis, the county public health officer. This leaves schools more vulnerable to outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles. Now is the time to close that gap.

The county also encourages COVID-19 vaccination, which California does not currently require in public schools, saying it is safe to get the shot at the same time as other routine immunizations. COVID-19 proved again how vaccines can protect us from serious disease in our community, Willis said in a news release. That lesson applies to all vaccine preventable diseases.

The county health department and the Office of Education will hold an online public health update for the school community at 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, with live Spanish translation, about COVID-19 and other school health protocols. The webinar ID is 883 4879 8206; passcode 273959; and dial-in option at 408-638-0968.

Lifting school mask mandates linked to jump in COVID infections

Schools that removed mask protocols earlier this year immediately saw increase in COVID-19 cases in both students and staff, according to a preprint study of 79 districts in the greater Boston area posted online Wednesday. Over a 15-week period, the schools that dropped the mask requirements had an estimated 45 additional cases per 1,000 people above what was seen in schools that kept masking protocols, according to the research, which has not been peer reviewed. If all the students who tested positive followed Massachusetts state guidelines to isolate for a minimum of days, those cases meant 20,000 extra missed school days, said Dr. Ellie Murray, professor of epidemiology at Boston University, who conducted the observational study in partnership with researchers from Harvard and the Boston Public Health Commission. Masking is a relatively low-cost but effective intervention that can protect students and staff from substantial illness and loss of in-person days in school, the authors concluded.

Sentencing set for naturopath who sold fake vaccine cards

A naturopathic doctor charged with selling fake COVID-19 immunization treatments and fraudulent vaccination cards will be sentenced on Nov. 29, a California judge ruled on Wednesday after denying her motion to withdraw her plea agreement. Juli A. Mazi of Napa had earlier pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco to one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements related to health care matters, according to the Associated Press. The case was the first federal criminal fraud prosecution related to fraudulent CDC vaccination cards for COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Mazi provided fake cards to at least 200 people, federal prosecutors said. She also sold homeopathic pellets she fraudulently claimed would provide lifelong immunity to COVID-19.

MIT develops test that may predict COVID-19 immunity

MIT researchers have developed a test that may be able to measure the degree of immune protection a person has against COVID-19, either from vaccination, infection, or a combination of the two. Their test uses the same type of lateral flow technology as most rapid antigen tests. It measures the level of neutralizing antibodies that target the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a blood sample, according to a press release. The paper test measures the level of neutralizing antibodies in a blood sample and could help people decide what protections they should take against infection. Among the general population, many people probably want to know how well protected they are, said Hojun Li, a clinical investigator at MITs Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. But I think where this test might make the biggest difference is for anybody who is receiving chemotherapy, anybody whos on immunosuppressive drugs for rheumatologic disorders or autoimmune diseases, and for anybody whos elderly or doesn't mount good immune responses in general. These are all people who might need to be boosted sooner or receive more doses to achieve adequate protection.

Abrams tests positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms

Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has COVID-19, her campaign said Wednesday. Campaign spokesperson Alex Floyd said Abrams tested positive for the respiratory illness Wednesday morning after giving a public speech on the economy Tuesday night in Atlanta. Abrams is fully vaccinated and boosted, Floyd said, and has mild symptoms. He said she is isolating at home and looks forward to traveling across the state to meet Georgians as soon as possible.

Anxiety, depression among California kids up 70%

Reflecting the mental health toll of the COVID pandemic on youth, California saw a 70% increase among kids ages 3 to 17 with anxiety and depression in 2020 compared to 2016, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundations 2022 Kids Count Data Book published on Monday. It was the second highest increase among all states after South Dakota which saw a 103% increase, the advocacy group's analysis showed. Nationally the increase among kids was 25.5%, comparing 2016 to 2020. The data indicate children were more likely to deal with anxiety or depression during the first year of the pandemic than previously, the report said, adding that more research is required to understand the large variation across states. A survey of parents a month into the pandemic showed 33% reported their young children were acting fussier and more defiant than before and 26% said their kids appeared more anxious.

Global COVID cases flatten out and deaths drop

The number of coronavirus deaths fell by 9% in the last week while new cases remained relatively stable, according to the latest weekly pandemic report from the World Health Organization on Wednesday. The U.N. health agency said there were more than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths in the last week and nearly 7 million new infections. The Western Pacific reported a 30% jump in cases while Africa reported a 46% drop. Cases also fell by more than 20% in the Americas and the Middle East.

The number of new deaths rose by 19% in the Middle East, while dropping by more than 70% in Africa, 15% in Europe and 10% in the Americas. The dominant omicron subvariant BA.5 accounted for nearly 70% of all virus sequences shared with the worlds biggest publicly available virus database, WHO said.

More than 1 in 8 California children lag on routine vaccinations

With New York state health officials last week calling for unvaccinated children and adults to get inoculated against polio, citing new evidence of possible community spread of the dangerous virus, California health officials are urging residents to compensate for any needed immunizations delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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As the new school year approaches, more than one in eight children in California need to catch up on routine vaccines that were missed or delayed during the pandemic, the California Department of Health told The Chronicle, noting that vaccination rates, including for polio vaccine, decreased during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they added that longstanding school immunization requirements have assisted with preventing most children in the state from falling too far behind.

During a webinar with health professionals on Tuesday, Dr. Erica Pan, the California state epidemiologist, reiterated that vaccination against COVID-19 would not be required for the 2022-23 school year. Time will tell what will happen next year, she said, but added her belief that vaccine protection against the coronavirus remains important. This disease causes a lot more hospitalizations and deaths, she said, referring to COVID-19. I do think its very important.

California is hopefully at the tail end of surge, top official says

Dr. Erica Pan, the California state epidemiologist, on Tuesday expressed optimism that coronavirus infection trends will continue dropping from its summer peak in July, saying,I think we are hopefully at the tail end of this most recent surge. At a virtual forum sponsored by the California Medical Association, she also sounded a hopeful note on hospitalization trends.

Hospitalizations increased a bit but are plateauing, she said. About three quarters of California counties remain in the "high" category for coronavirus transmission, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, down from 99% on July 21. While the most recent sublineages of the omicron coronavirus variant have been highly transmissable and infections remain high, these strains have not caused as much serious illness as early coronarvirus variants, especially before the roll out of vaccines.

Poll shows older adults want updated fall booster shot

Most vaccinated older American adults are looking to get the updated coronavirus booster shot that is expected to come out in the fall, a new national survey from the University of Michigan found. Some 61% of those over 50 who have received at least one vaccine dose said they are very likely to do so, with the number rising to 68% for those over 65, as well as for Black adults over 50. About 17% of people over 50 said they are not likely to get a booster this fall. The vaccines weve had since late 2020 have saved countless lives and made COVID-19 much less serious for millions worldwide. We also know that those who got at least one booster dose have done better than others in the Omicron variant era, the polls director and infectious disease physician Preeti Malani said in a news release.

Californias COVID-19 positive test rate confirms improving trends

California's average coronavirus test positive rate, which tracks the number of tests coming back positive, dropped to 12.7% on Tuesday, marking a steady decline from a summer high of 16.3% in July. While infectious disease experts say the rate should be under 5% to effectively control the spread of the virus, it is one of the several factors indicating the state is on the down side of its latest COVID-19 surge. California is averaging about 34 daily cases per 100,000 residents, down from about 48 per 100,000 a month ago, according to data published Tuesday by the state's health department. Hospitalizations remain high, with 4,368 confirmed COVID-19 patients statewide as of Friday, compared to 3,749 a month earlier.

Childrens COVID-19 cases are up for the fifth consecutive week

There were 96,599 confirmed child COVID-19 cases in the U.S. last week, marking the fifth week straight infections have ticked up, according to data published Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association. Cases among children under 18 in the U.S. have remained stubbornly high throughout the summer after dropping to around 25,000 a week in April. Many schools will begin the new academic year without any virus mitigation measures.

BA.5 holds dominance, making up 87% of U.S. cases

The highly transmissible BA.5 strain of the omicron coronavirus variant made up about 87.1% of the sequenced coronavirus cases in the United States last week, according to data published Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The newest sublineage of the variant, BA.4.6, made up 4.8% of cases nationally, and BA.4 was sequenced in an additional 6.6% -- roughly the same proportions reported last week for each sublineage. The U.S. is averaging about 107,615 new confirmed COVID-19 cases per day.
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When a new disease erupts, misinformation and rumors tend to proliferate  as witnessed in the past with the AIDS crisis, the Ebola outbreak and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now its the monkeypox outbreaks turn.

Monkeypox is not a new illness, but because of its rarity prior to the current outbreak that has infected more than 31,000 people globally, much of the confusion revolves around how the virus spreads and ways that people can become infected.

Monkeypox is in the same family as smallpox, but causes milder symptoms and is rarely fatal.

The vaccine developed for smallpox is used for monkeypox as well, but vaccine supplies have been scarce, and the rollout to the eligible population has been frustratingly slow for many. On Aug. 4, the Biden administration declared a national monkeypox health emergency. San Francisco and California issued similar proclamations days earlier.

Heres what we know about how monkeypox does and doesnt spread, and the ways you can refrain from catching or transmitting it.

What are the primary ways monkeypox is spread? Can it spread through bodily fluids?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, monkeypox can spread to any person through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact. This can be from direct contact with a rash, scabs or bodily fluids from an infected person. This type of contact includes prolonged face-to-face contact, hugging, kissing, massage and intimate sexual contact.

UCSF infectious disease expert Peter Chin-Hong said monkeypox is possibly transmitted via bodily fluids such as saliva, semen, urine and feces that is independent of skin-to-skin contact.

However, Chin-Hong said, it likely requires face-to-face contact for more than several hours for monkeypox to spread via saliva.

Finding evidence of monkeypox virus DNA in bodily fluids does not imply that viable virus is in sufficient viable quantities to transmit, but it is possible, he added.

Can it spread through the air?

The CDC does not list airborne transmission as a way that monkeypox spreads, and has previously said it it is not known to linger in the air and is not transmitted during short periods of shared airspace, but some experts believe airborne transmission is possible.

Chin-Hong said this transmission route is very unlikely except possibly through a very brief resuspension of dried monkeypox scab material, such as if a person contacts such material when making the bed of a monkeypox patient.

A July 2022 U.K. study referenced a health care worker who was suspected to have contracted the virus in 2018 while changing bedding used by a monkeypox patient. Researchers found a number of air samples positive for the virus in isolation rooms after changing bedding of infected patients.

Seth Blumberg, an assistant professor of medicine at UCSF who specializes in infectious diseases, said that while airborne transmission does seem possible, its not how most cases are being acquired. For airborne problems, he said he would put more focus on transmission of known airborne respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza.

Can you get monkeypox through casual contact with objects like towels at the gym, door handles or toilet seats?

According to the CDC, monkeypox can be spread through touching objects, fabrics ... and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox. Fabrics can include clothing, bedding or towels.

But this is rare, Chin-Hong emphasized, even in a household setting where someone is confirmed to have monkeypox. That transmission would have to entail repeated contact with such contaminated objects and then touching the nose or mouth repeatedly, he said.

It would be a close to zero chance at this point that someone could catch monkeypox via casual contact with everyday objects in a public setting, he said. Media accounts have cited a handful of infected children who may have contacted the virus in this manner.

Other transmission could occur from a pregnant person to her fetus through the placenta, through a scratch or bite by an infected animal, or by preparing or eating meat from an infected animal.

If a person has an active case but covers their lesions with clothing, are they still infectious to others?

It is very unlikely to spread monkeypox if the rash is covered by dry, loose-fitting clothing, Chin-Hong said.

Who is at high transmission risk during this outbreak? How worried should the general population be?

Men and transgender individuals who have sex with other men are at highest risk during this outbreak, Chin-Hong said.

This is because the outbreak was initiated by social and sexual networks within that population following a couple of large European social gatherings, he said. Attendees returned to their homes all over the world, and transmission was further amplified by Pride and other social events in many locations.

A leading adviser to the World Health Organization has said that the leading theory for how the European outbreak started was that it was tied to sexual or close, physical contact at two mass events, in Spain and Belgium. Monkeypox has not previously triggered widespread outbreaks beyond Africa, where it is endemic in animals.

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Chin-Hong said the general population should be curious and aware, but not panicked, adding that it is important not to stigmatize any population at this time.

How can you protect yourself from contact that can transmit the virus?

Although it is very unlikely to acquire monkeypox at a festival or concert, you can limit risk further by being fully clothed, but broadly speaking the general population need not limit any activities, said Chin-Hong.

He said gay and bisexual men, and transgender people who have sex with men, should consider limiting intimate and sexual activity temporarily to one or a few partners and forming a closed sexual pod, avoiding places like gay saunas. He advises washing hands, bedding, towels and sex toys after intimate contact.

Wearing condoms may only partially protect as there is other exposed skin that can be infected, he added.

Blumberg said, Its important for anyone with a new sexual partner to have open conversations about each others health, and to share any new symptoms and rashes to protect each other.

While the risk isnt zero for most people, monkeypox is a far smaller risk than more prevalent diseases such as COVID-19, Blumberg said. Currently, the U.S. has seen nearly 9,500 confirmed cases of monkeypox in the weeks since it emerged, compared with more than 100,000 daily new average COVID cases.

If you have the virus, what measures should you take to prevent spreading it to others?

The course of the illness usually is two to four weeks.

During that time, Isolating at home is the most important thing until the rash has scabbed off and formed new skin, Chin-Hong said.

He said that infected people should avoid contact with others, as well as with pets and other animals. Refrain from sharing linens such as bedsheets and towels, clothing and utensils, and wear a surgical mask when within 6 feet of others. Rashes should be covered as much as possible with clothing.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
Its been just over a month since Brooke Jenkins was sworn in as San Francisco district attorney, taking over the office of her former boss, Chesa Boudin, after a controversial and historic recall.

Now, Jenkins is embroiled in a new controversy.

Before being appointed by Mayor London Breed, Jenkins said she quit her job in the district attorneys office to volunteer for the recall effort.

But on Tuesday, news broke that Jenkins was paid more than $100,000 by a nonprofit organization with ties to the Silicon Valley billionaire who helped fund the recall campaign.

Nonprofits are barred by federal law from participating in political activity, but while Jenkins said she was volunteering on the recall for Neighbors for a Better San Francisco Advocacy, she received a consulting payment from the similarly named Neighbors for a Better San Francisco nonprofit.

Both organizations have ties to the conservative billionaire William Oberndorf.

The $100,000 payment, revealed in an economic interest disclosure Jenkins filed with the city, was first reported by the local news organization the San Francisco Standard.

So: Is Jenkins a prosecutor capable of the balance shes touted since being appointed by Mayor London Breed  or is she a political operator boosted by conservative interests?

One day before the controversy broke, Jenkins joined Fifth & Mission host Cecilia Lei for an interview about her policy positions, what reforms will stay in place from the former administration and why she fired 15 staff members almost immediately after taking office.

While their conversation doesnt address the revelations that became public a day later, Jenkins talks about the ways she has promised to manage public safety in San Francisco  if shes able to weather the political storm that began Tuesday.

Read an excerpt from the conversation below and listen to the complete conversation in the podcast player above or on your favorite podcast app.

You can find continuing coverage of Jenkins $100,000 payment on this website and on the San Francisco Chronicle app.

CECILIA LEI: Since you've taken office, you've been really keen to say that balance is really important, that your goal is to move forward with criminal justice reform and hold offenders accountable. And I want to hone in on that reform part of the equation. What are some examples of reforms that you do support?



BROOKE JENKINS: I support moving towards alternatives to incarceration when we can do it responsibly. As a prosecutor on the line, which means in the courtroom for seven and a half years, that was something that I worked really hard to do, was to find those cases where it was appropriate and suitable to put someone in some type of rehabilitation program or vocational program. And I think that has to be emphasized so that we are putting people back out into our community prepared to succeed and not simply commit another crime and cycle back into the system.

I think the other part of that is making sure that when we take on cases, that we are looking at every aspect of that case to make sure that from step one that this person becomes involved with law enforcement, that they've been treated fairly and according to the law and that their rights have been adhered to throughout the time that they have been in our jurisdiction. And so that starts even when you review a police report. Did the police seem to act appropriately throughout the course of this case? Now that we have it, has it been charged fairly and correctly? And then as it moves through stages of the litigation in court, are we paying attention to, again, being responsible in how we observe the rights of the defendants through the process?



CECILIA LEI: So, you have replaced your former boss, former district attorney Chesa Boudin. Are there progressive policies that he did put into place that you did agree with?



BROOKE JENKINS: Yes. So, I fully support and supported the Innocence Commission that he established. I think we can all admit that there have been people wrongfully convicted in our society, sadly, overwhelmingly people of color. Oftentimes evidence was either not available or even if it was available, that was ignored. So we need people to continue to continue to look at those cases and exonerate those who have been wrongfully convicted. I also believe that he did great things with the post-conviction work that was being done. I mean, we all can admit that there was a time in our country where crack dealers were being given disproportionate sentences from cocaine dealers. And we need to be making sure that we are balancing out the scales of justice, even in cases that have already come through the system. And so that's work that I want to see continued.

CECILIA LEI: After you were sworn in, you did fire 15 district attorney staffers in a single day. And you've said that's because you want to bring in a new management team that's full of prosecution experience. Were those firings about a disagreement over policy views or concern that maybe those former staffers could potentially undermine you or just don't agree with your appointment in general?



BROOKE JENKINS: I think for the most part, this was about the management team in the DA's office. The previous administration chose to have an executive team or a senior management team that was comprised almost entirely of people with no prosecution experience, which is problematic for many reasons. One is that they simply have no experience doing the job right and can't train or direct younger lawyers in how to proceed through the prosecution process. Can't train them on what their obligations are ethically as prosecutors, aren't aware of what it takes to prove a case in court as a prosecutor, which is very different from what you do as a defense lawyer. And so for me, it was important to restore that prosecutorial experience back to our office. Being a prosecutor by trade doesn't mean you aren't fair, you aren't about reform, and you can't have balance. But you definitely need someone who can guide the office based on experience, just like you would expect in any other type of business or office.

Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

CECILIA LEI: So on that note, youve emphasized how important it is for prosecutors to regain discretionary powers and I want to highlight one policy youve said youd like to bring back: charging some juveniles as adults. Research has shown that children prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system are more likely to reoffend than those in the juvenile system. Can you provide a specific example of when it is appropriate to prosecute a juvenile as an adult?



BROOKE JENKINS: So first, what I want to share is that what I expressed throughout my time of speaking out on the recall is part of what you said, which is that as a DA's office, we have to retain discretion. So because we cannot predict what may happen in the future, you can't predict every type of crime or the egregiousness of certain crimes as they come down the pipeline. And so you need to be prepared to address different scenarios as they happen. And for me, all I've said is that there may be instances where a 17 year old perhaps commits a very heinous crime that we may have to deal with differently. And it's hard for me to say what that would look like. But the example that I've tried to use is, you know, there was an 18-year-old shooter in the grocery store, I believe, in Buffalo. It was a hate crime against Black people right in that store. He went in there seeking to shoot as many Black people as he could. And for people to imagine, what if he was six months younger? And what it would look like to have to prosecute that case.



That's the best type of example that I can use. But one thing that I want to make clear is, as a DA's office, we actually cannot, on our own, pursue charging a juvenile as an adult. That is no longer permitted under the law. That law changed several years ago. And so at this time, the only avenue available to us is to file a petition where a panel of judges decides whether or not a particular juvenile is even appropriate to move to the adult court system. But that is a policy that we are still discussing in the office. I have not changed Chesa's policy to date because I wanted to have input from the community. I wanted to have input from prosecutors within the office, as well as other stakeholders in the criminal justice system to figure out what's the best way we can move forward where we don't eliminate the opportunity if there's something that happens that necessitates it. But believe me that I truly understand how disproportionately the direct filing has had, particularly on people of my background, Black and Latino. And so I recognize that we need a change, and that we still need change in that regard, because we've been unfairly targeted by the use of the ability to charge juveniles as adults unfairly.

CECILIA LEI: Another controversial policy that has really lit up your critics is the use of cash bail. Your predecessor ended that practice of money bail in San Francisco. We understand that you're still finalizing that policy, but because so many people care deeply about how this policy is leveraged, I want to ask, what can you share about how you plan to use that policy?



BROOKE JENKINS: I have not decided to change his policy at this point. And so that's something, again, that we're finalizing right now. You know what I did announce the other day when I had a press conference regarding the new policy with respect to drug cases, particularly fentanyl cases, is that I was going to work within the framework of the no cash bail system in order to seek detention for those who have egregious cases with respect to the sale of fentanyl and possession of fentanyl for sale. And so there are ways that we can work within that framework for still what are considered very dangerous offenders. And so I'm committed to trying to preserve that sort of the no cash bail system as much as possible.



CECILIA LEI: And speaking of drug cases, last week you announced that you were withdrawing plea deals that were previously offered in more than 30 fentanyl dealing cases. You've signaled a need for harsher drug enforcement and penalty, but critics say that when police and prosecutors do it, it impacts poorer communities because it's easier to target visible drug use as opposed to maybe when drug use happens behind closed doors in richer communities. How are you navigating that? It's been well-documented the failures of the war on drugs. How do you avoid those inequities?



BROOKE JENKINS: So I think it's very easy for people to kind of say war on drugs, because it's just something that that rings a bell in people's heads, more so than them actually being able to specifically highlight any similarity between the war on drugs and what I'm actually talking about doing. And so I want to make that clarification again, as a person of color who's grown up in the Bay Area in California, I'm keenly aware that oftentimes it's opioid use that happens behind closed doors in certain neighborhoods, more affluent neighborhoods, and that it is harder to catch.

But right now, what I think people have to acknowledge in this city is that it is the lower socioeconomic neighborhoods, neighborhoods mostly comprised of people of color, immigrants, who are suffering because of the drug dealing that's happening right outside their front doors. And so those people deserve to be protected. They don't want to live that way. Why should a family in the Tenderloin have to suffer through coming outside and seeing 30 or 40 drug dealers on their street, scared? Oftentimes people in possession of weapons engaged in not just the sale of narcotics, but in violence because there are turf wars and other things going on. Why should those children have to walk to school and see that? But yet we expect for them to grow up and not become what they see. And so those are the people that I have an obligation to protect as well and to provide them a safe area to live in. A safe area to walk outside. And so that's who right now is my focus, because it is visible, and I do see it, and they are crying out for help.

For more from Jenkins interview with Fifth & Mission, listen to the complete conversation in the podcast player above or on your favorite podcast app.

Photo above: Brooke Jenkins, the new San Francisco district attorney, speaks with Cecilia Lei during a recording of the Fifth & Mission podcast in the Chronicle newsroom Monday.
While a national shortage of vaccines has choked efforts to combat the spread of the monkeypox virus, public health officials say an antiviral medication has shown promise to alleviate symptoms for infected people.

The problem: They cannot prescribe the medication Tecovirimat, also known as Tpoxx, without completing hours of paperwork because the FDA has classified it as an investigational new drug to treat monkeypox.

That bureaucratic hurdle is just one example of why state legislators, physicians and LGBTQ advocates say they remain deeply frustrated by what many call the federal governments flat-footed response to the rapidly spreading virus that has infected at least 1,310 people in California, including 501 in San Francisco.

Those frustrations took center stage Tuesday as the state Senates Select Committee on Monkeypox held its first oversight hearing about the public-health response to the outbreak.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat who chairs the committee, said lawmakers will push federal officials very hard to speed up emergency authorization of Tecovirimat, so it can be readily used to treat monkeypox. Other senators echoed his call to allow for the drugs widespread use.

It needs to be easier for doctors to provide Tpoxx, Wiener said. Were so lucky that we actually have this antiviral and supply right now is not a problem, either. We have millions of these treatments. But it is way, way too hard.

Tecovirimat is FDA-approved for treatment of smallpox in adults and children. Researchers believe its effective in treating monkeypox and other related viruses, but its use for that purpose has not been approved. The FDA, however, recently adopted a protocol that allows the drug to be used to treat monkeypox in some cases, such as with people who are immunocompromised or those with severe infections.

Dr. Vivek Jain, an infectious disease specialist at San Francisco General Hospital and UCSF, told senators that translates into an avalanche of paperwork that doctors have to spend hours filling out in order to prescribe the drug.

Jain said initial data suggests Tecovirimat is very safe to use for monkeypox treatment, and many patients who use it say their symptoms begin to resolve. Monkeypox is not a fatal virus, but he said the infection can be extremely painful for many patients  an ordeal the drug could help mitigate.

The process of moving through this illness is quite long and can take weeks, Jain said, as he described the severe pain some infected people have when they try to swallow or have bowel movements.

For weeks, LGBTQ advocates have criticized what theyve called a sluggish federal response to the virus. Many in the community are furious that federal officials didnt maintain an adequate stockpile of vaccines to prepare for an outbreak.

That anger was palpable during Tuesdays hearing, when some speakers equated the situation to the early days of the AIDS pandemic, when gay and bisexual men died by the tens of thousands as the government largely ignored the spread of the virus. State data shows that gay and bisexual men account for the vast majority of monkeypox infections to date.

Ande Stone, a mobilization manager for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, told senators that hes outraged by the hurdles to receiving antiviral drugs. He urged them to demand the FDA cut such red tape.

It is absolutely ridiculous that people are suffering weeks before theyre able to access treatment, Stone said.

In addition to venting about hurdles to distributing antiviral drugs and vaccines, health workers and residents urged the committee to ensure there is more support to mitigate the harm caused by the virus, including better testing, protections against medical discrimination and paid sick leave for infected people.

David Watson, a San Francisco resident who recently recovered from monkeypox, said he became infected after he ran into a friend in the street. He said he kissed his friend on the cheek, not realizing the small redish and purple blemish on his cheek was a lesion, not a pimple.

Soon after, Watson became infected and so did his husband; the couples two dogs also had lesions. Watson said he became exasperated with the constant obstacles to receiving treatment. He said he visited the emergency room three times to seek help because his pain so severe that opioids could barely touch (it).

It didnt matter if I was standing up or lying down, the pain was off the charts, Watson told senators. We need better access to all forms of treatment. We need to stop the suffering now.

Monkeypox usually causes flu-like symptoms, along with a rash and dense, fluid-filled lesions. The virus is spread by intimate personal contact, including sexual acts and kissing. It can also be spread by sharing bedding or clothes, or potentially, breathing in close proximity.

Dustin Gardiner (he/him) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
Dear Gov. Gavin Newsom,

Between now and the end of September, youll face the daunting task of deciding the fates of potentially 1,000 bills sent your way by our prolific state legislature.

You should pay particular attention to one thats expected to hit your desk as soon as Wednesday. Its a revived attempt to grant state permission to San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles to open supervised consumption sites where people can inject or smoke drugs beside harm-reduction specialists. These experts can pull folks back from the brink if they begin to overdose, while offering services and potential links to treatment.

The rumor mill in the state capital says youre considering a veto. After all, youre clearly pondering a run for president and explaining this one to a national audience thats far more conservative than California could be tricky.

Your spokesperson said Tuesday that your office doesnt comment on pending legislation and that you dont have the bill yet anyway. But you soon will.

Governor, you should set politics aside and sign it.

The move would fit with your recent, smart co-opting of the term pro-life. Youve wisely argued that its not truly pro-life to ban abortion and then do little to ensure all those babies grow up to lead happy and healthy lives. Youve pointed out that its actually pro-life to support gun safety laws, universal preschool, after-school programs, health care expansion and a robust response to the pandemic.

Supervised consumption sites, too, are pro-life in a San Francisco where people struggle to know what to do when they pass a body sprawled on a sidewalk, surrounded by foil, syringes and lighters.

Condoning drug use  even indoors and under supervision  sounds strange at first, its true.

But far stranger is San Franciscos record of inaction to address a crisis sending one or two people, on average, to the city morgue every day. Fifty-three people died of overdoses in the city in June, bringing this years death tally to 297. Since the start of 2020, a shocking 1,649 people have died of overdoses  nearly double the number of people who have succumbed to COVID-19.

Those deaths often happen in back alleys, tents or apartments with nobody around to administer life-saving Narcan or call 911. Sounds like the opposite of pro-life to me.

Safe consumption sites are absolutely a pro-life strategy, said state Sen. Scott Wiener, who authored the bill. We have local communities coming to us and pleading with us to give them permission to try out these sites as a way to save lives. Why on earth would we say no to them?

Supervised consumption sites exist in Canada, Europe and Australia, and no center has ever reported someone dying of an overdose inside. This isnt an experiment  its a proven breakthrough.

This spring, I visited New York City to see the first two supervised consumption sites that have opened in the United States and came away more convinced than ever that San Francisco is wasting time, and lives.

On Tuesday, I reconnected over the phone with Sam Rivera, the executive director of OnPoint NYC, the nonprofit that runs the Big Apple sites. The centers statistics continue to be wildly impressive: Since opening in November, 1,600 people have used the sites a combined 30,000 times, and harm-reduction specialists have intervened in 400 potentially deadly overdoses.

Rivera is adamant, governor, that you should sign legislation allowing more cities to join his effort.

California has been at the forefront of trying to get this done, and they need a leader to step up and respond to the need, he said. If someone has the opportunity and position of power to sign a bill thats going to save lives and they dont, then theyre participating in the lives we lose. Every day we wait, people are dying.

The New York City sites have provided all sorts of additional benefits. Surrounding sidewalks are far clearer of public drug use and paraphernalia like needles. Drug dealers havent congregated at the sites. Many users have reduced the amount of drugs they consume and some have quit altogether.

Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Then theres this: Rivera told me the 400 overdoses in which staff intervened prompted just five calls for an ambulance and only two actual ambulance rides. He said, conservatively, that an overdose leading to calls for paramedics and police, an ambulance ride and time in an emergency room costs $30,000.

The way he figures it, the sites have saved the city around $12 million already  not including the costs of the coroners duties.

Rivera opened the sites with the go-ahead of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, but lacked state or federal approval. They figured that with a Democratic governor and president, they were unlikely to face state or federal consequences  and so far, theyve been correct.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Ive argued before that San Francisco should just open the sites, permission be damned. You may remember, governor, a righteous act of civil disobedience that you spearheaded as mayor on Feb. 12, 2004  one that turned City Hall into a same-sex wedding chapel and ultimately helped your political prospects.

But as with just about every difficult pursuit these days, our city is paralyzed and still in the talking, debating and hand-wringing phase. City officials could use a push from you to do the right thing. Signing the legislation would mean those who participate in creating and running the sites wouldnt face the threat of state prosecution, and health workers wouldnt risk their licenses.

It would also, in turn, give the three California cities leverage in obtaining the federal governments sign-off. Philadelphia is now negotiating with the Department of Justice over its plan to open supervised consumption sites, and the expectation is the feds will bless them  with some required guardrails in place. Your veto could jeopardize San Franciscos ability to get the same federal go-ahead.

Your predecessor, Jerry Brown, vetoed a nearly identical bill in 2018, saying the sites wouldnt reduce drug addiction. Look whats happened since then  the catastrophic rise of fentanyl, a huge spike in deaths, sidewalks in some neighborhoods turned into horror shows and California cities left flat-footed.

Your signature sure would help.

Sincerely,

Heather Knight

Heather Knight is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf
News

Street safety front and center in District 6 race

Honey Mahogany Campaign; Craig Lee/The Examiner Honey Mahogany and Matt Dorsey are facing off in the race for District 6 supervisor. Mahogany is a former aide to Assembly member Matt Haney when he was D6 supervisor. Dorsey was appointed in May by Mayor London Breed as Haneys replacement.

The race to represent South of Market on the Board of Supervisors in November features two frontrunners who both pitch themselves as best-equipped to help end its notorious open drug dealing and overdose epidemic.

Though the two have different resumes and backgrounds, it can be difficult to distinguish their rhetoric on public safety.

Supervisor Matt Dorsey, the San Francisco Police Departments top spokesman until his appointment to the seat in May, will look to defend his position against Honey Mahogany, who worked in the same office as an aide to Dorseys predecessor, Matt Haney.

Their pitches to voters are far from subtle.

Mahoganys campaign website prominently pledges safe streets. Dorseys top tagline promises he is fighting for a safer San Francisco.

In interviews with The Examiner, Mahogany and Dorsey agreed that the San Francisco Police Department is understaffed; they insisted on consequences for people who deal drugs; and they spoke about the need to restore order to the streets of District 6.

Perhaps one clear distinction between the two candidates is that Dorsey endorsed the recall of former District Attorney Chesa Boudin, while Mahogany did not. But Mahogany aired little criticism of the more stringent drug enforcement policies that Boudins replacement, Brooke Jenkins, unveiled last week. Dorsey, too, openly embraced Jenkins policies.

The new District 6 is different from the one Haney represented. Due to the citys redistricting process  and, more specifically, the rapid population growth of the district in the last decade  District 6 no longer includes the Tenderloin. In addition to SOMA, it encompasses Treasure Island and Mission Bay.

The perception among many residents is that The Tenderloins challenges have steadily seeped into surrounding neighborhoods, including SOMA in District 6. Of the 297 fatal drug overdoses in San Francisco between January and June, 15% occurred in SOMA, trailing only Nob Hill and The Tenderloin.

Experience

Dorsey is leaning into his personal experience as an addict in recovery. He believes he can represent people with whom he has shared experience as an addict, and he warns against normalizing rampant, open drug use.

Mahogany was Haneys top aide and helped craft his policies. She is pointing to her history as a City Hall staffer, Democratic Party leader and business owner.

If elected, both would be firsts  Dorsey the first openly HIV-positive elected supervisor, and Mahogany as the first openly transgender elected supervisor.

Early indications are that Mahogany and Dorsey are the clear front-runners, having pulled in significantly more campaign donations than either of the other two candidates  Ms. Billie Cooper and Cherelle Jackson  who have not filed campaign finance disclosures and have a minimal campaign presence.

Citywide polls have consistently shown crime and addiction to be top issues for San Francisco voters. In District 6, about 59% of voters supported the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin earlier in June, following a campaign that largely centered on the perception that crime was spiraling out of control. (About 55% of voters citywide supported the recall).

But if voters are looking for an outsider in this election to address those issues, they should look elsewhere on their ballot, as both Dorsey and Mahogany are enmeshed in San Francisco politics.

Mahogany worked in Haneys office as a legislative aide for his entire tenure and is the chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.

Dorsey, too, is no stranger to City Hall. Prior to joining the Police Department, he worked for 14 years in the City Attorneys Office as an advisor and communications director. He was appointed to fill Haneys seat after Haney won election to the state Assembly earlier this year, a decision viewed as a snub to Mahogany, who openly sought the job.

But the longtime insider believes he brings an outside perspective to the job. Dorsey said the citys drug overdose epidemic is personal to me as an addict in recovery.

A drug epidemic

During his two years working for the Police Department, Dorsey listened in on a monthly call with the Medical Examiners Office as it reviewed the latest drug overdose data.

It was hard to be a part of this city that is capable of doing great things, especially on public health, and to know that I am one bad decision away from being that number that Im looking at, Dorsey said.

Mahogany has a masters degree in social work from UC Berkeley and has had a long career in the field, which includes work with people who have addictions.

I deeply respect the recovery community, and I also know theres a difference between lived experience and actually doing the work to get people into recovery, Mahogany said.

Dorsey said he decided to seek elected office after watching the political debate over Mayor London Breeds Tenderloin Emergency Initiative and proposed crackdown on drug dealing late last year.

The debate convinced Dorsey that The City is, itself, the obstacle to progress on mitigating open-air drug use, drug dealing and overdose deaths. Those issues are not a failure of public health or policing, but of politics, he said.

I think the Board of Supervisors could benefit from having somebody who could speak from a place of lived experience, to say that what we are enabling and normalizing in San Francisco  with these open air, drug scenes, and brazen drug dealing, and all the associated ills  is hurting and killing addicts. And its losing the legitimacy of our city government for those we serve, Dorsey said.

Mahogany faces an uphill battle as the challenger to an incumbent, but she does not lack name recognition. She garnered national attention by performing on Ru Pauls Drag Race, but shes made a reputation for herself as a community leader in San Francisco, including as the first executive director of the Transgender District, which encompasses several blocks of The Tenderloin and SOMA and advocates for the interests of transgender people.

Mahogany looks at the District 6s social issues and sees them as a reflection of The Citys failure to staff services  including the police department  to a level that actually meets the community need. She bills herself as a practical progressive, and said there have been clients in her history of social work who really benefited from a little bit of encouragement.

We definitely need to get people into services, but there also has to be a level of accountability, Mahogany said.

As a resident and a co-owner of the shuttered Stud Bar, Mahogany said she understands the public safety issues that SOMA faces and how they impact small businesses.

When asked how she differs from Haney, Mahogany said Im much more interested in making sure we address the issue of public safety. The people most affected by the inability to improve public safety, she added, are poor people, people of color (and) small business owners.

She spoke of Chinese elders and families with children who are afraid to leave their homes. She described how a friend in SOMA was shot in the leg by someone yelling homophobic slurs.

People have legitimate cause to be concerned about whats happening on the streets, Mahogany said.

Working in the District 6 office, Mahogany said she pushed for funding the MidMarket Vibrancy and Safety plan, which flooded downtown streets with Urban Alchemys community ambassadors.

But her key concern with the plan, she said, was funding it to the extent that it adequately addressed the problem.

If you just do it in certain areas, that activity gets pushed to another place, Mahogany said.

Tenderloin initiatives

That gets to a core criticism of Breeds sweeping initiatives in the Tenderloin  that they havent ended open air drug dealing and homeless encampments but simply forced them into other neighborhoods.

Dorsey said he plans to propose broad policies to address drug dealing.

Dorsey  who supports the concept of supervised injection sites  has aired a proposal to create right to recovery zones around treatment facilities, in which police would prioritize enforcement of drug laws. He acknowledged his approach might be to the chagrin of some advocates.

(Supervisors) are the ones who have to say that this is a public health issue. And its a public safety issue. And its a housing issue. And its supportive services. And its a mental health issue, Dorsey said.

If The City wanted to create recovery zones like Dorsey has proposed, they already could have, Mahogany said.

It is not something that we actually need to legislate, so to me it just seems unnecessary and I dont know there is even the political will to get this passed, she added.

With well more than a decade working in City Hall, Dorsey said he knows how departments work and can get them to work together. Hes plotting out a sober new deal, which would aim to make sure that were doing everything we can to create job training opportunities, providing jobs, student loan opportunities and more for people in recovery.

Mahogany said harm reduction  an approach to addiction that focuses on providing addicts with services like safe syringe access  needs to be a part of the solution and she endorsed them while working in Haneys office.

But she said The City also has an obligation to address street conditions.

I walk throughout the district all the time, and its not uncommon to see a group of folks shooting up by a kids playground. That is dangerous, if a needle is left there on the ground and kids are walking by, Mahogany said.
That feels unethical somehow, but Im having difficulty explaining how. It just makes me feel like a bad person, a Facebook software developer told their boss, according to court records.

The developer was being asked to make it harder for rivals to connect to Facebook by putting restrictions on firms that might pose competitive threats in 2013, the Federal Trade Commission says in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. Im just dumbfounded, a colleague replied in an email. Another said, It is sort of unethical. A third said, I agree it is bad.

The scenario is not unusual, ethics experts and tech workers say. Employees regularly encounter complex ethical issues related to big data, computer privacy, artificial intelligence and other issues where the rules often havent been established, says Brian Green of Santa Clara Universitys Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.

The stakes are high; the guidance low. Twitters moderation of Donald Trump was a key factor in two presidential elections. Apples dispute with the FBI over accessing data from a shooting suspects iPhone was a major privacy debate. Controversy derailed Googles Ethical AI team for months.

When faced with unethical business practices, the question for many employees becomes: Do I speak out or remain silent  and what are the costs for either action?

Green, the centers director of technology ethics, says tech presents new ethical predicaments to employees not prepared and trained to handle them. For example, social media companies have struggled with political disinformation, an age-old problem that is now supercharged, due to the speed of the messages, the size of audiences and the revenue that can be gleaned from targeted, data-driven advertising.

Propaganda has been a problem forever, Green says. But when you talk about scaling it up to millions of people, then it becomes a really huge problem.

Computer science students now get a healthy dose of ethics at many top tech universities. The mission of Stanfords Ethics, Society and Technology Hub is to generate a fundamental shift in how all faculty and staff think about our role as enablers and shapers of scientific discovery and technological change in society. Cals Center for Technology, Society & Policy has similarly lofty goals.

But perspectives can change when those tech worker paychecks start to roll in. The estimated total pay for a Google software engineer who has just graduated from college is $198,873 per year, according to the careers data website GlassDoor.

The Facebook Papers

An example of tech workers struggling with an ethical issue that has major impact on the world is pointed out in the Facebook Papers, documents released by whistleblower Frances Haugen and published by Gizmodo. Employees struggled with political ethics issues in August 2020, three months before the election, the documents show.

Weve recently seen reports from internal employees expressing discomfort because Facebooks algorithm was recommending non-political posts to users from pages that post highly partisan content, a company memo said. One post being debated by employees was from Ben Shapiro, a conservative pundit who had accused Facebook of censoring right-wing opinions.

Should the company allow its algorithm to recommend the posts because they were not political, or shut down the recommendations because they led to highly partisan activity?

Despite the employees discomfort and the urging of some teams to take action, Facebook chose not to shut down the recommendations of right-wing pundits to users before the election, according to the documents published by Gizmodo.

Meta did not comment when asked questions for this article. The company does however assign human resources employees to help process personnel issues, including ethical complaints. Employees can also use a speakup hotline that allows anonymous reporting of issues, and Meta tech projects often include employee feedback throughout their process.

Whistleblowing or silence?

But what happens when there is no sufficient forum for employees to discuss their discomfort at contributing to work they find unethical?

Employees stop resisting and glaze over, shutting down ethical instincts that previously defined their character and sense of identity, says Green. People start ignoring things, he says. They start to normalize it, and large sections of the organization start going astray.

Whistleblowers also risk being fired and ostracized, despite a new state law limiting how much companies can restrict employees from speaking up by enforcing nondisclosure agreements, the legal documents that have gagged tech workers for years.

About 85% of whistleblowers suffer from severe to very severe anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, at levels comparable to what is experienced by cancer patients, a Dutch study found.

Apple whistleblower Cher Scarlett says she slipped into a very dark place, which led to her overdosing on fentanyl she accidentally ingested. When Scarlett spoke up at Apple, saying the company was trying to stop employees from gathering salary data in order to investigate pay equity, a group of employees was with her, though not for long.

One by one, they all backed out, Scarlett says. And one of the last people said to me, If it wasnt just you and me, I would stay, but I cant. I just cant put myself in that position. And I admire you for taking this for all of us.

Scarlett doesnt blame them. I empathize. I get it. What happened to me, I wouldnt wish on anyone else. But at the same time, if whistleblowers werent doing it alone, maybe the consequences couldnt be so severe.

Not everyone can live with holding their tongue. Before Susan Fowler blew the whistle about sexual harassment at Uber and elsewhere, she chose not to speak up about sexual harassment and sexism she experienced in academia. She regretted that.

Could I have helped shed light on the awful ways that some universities and colleges silence and retaliate against their students? Fowler wrote in her book, Whistleblower. Ill never know. All I know is this: I didnt speak up, because I was afraid. I didnt do what I knew was right, because I was afraid. And I vowed that I would never make the same mistake again.

How has speaking up about ethical issues become so frightening that whistleblowers have the same level of anxiety as cancer patients? How can tech make it easier for employees to come forward with concerns?

Emerging ethics forums

Employees on the forefront of new technologies should not face ethical issues alone, Green says. Companies must build into new technologies the capacity to identify, point out and process ethical issues. If a company doesnt have those things yet, then theres a question of how do you bring it up? Green says.

Also, fast-growing startups should assume they will encounter ethical issues for which they are unprepared. They might actually have their own kind of lack of maturity or lack of understanding of how to deal with ethical problems just because theyre young and they lack experience, Green says. At some point, they need to become responsible adults.

Green has worked with tech companies to operationalize ethics, or build capacity for ethical questions into processes  giving a time and place where employees are encouraged to speak up about issues in a way that has been gut-wrenching in the past.

Through a program called Responsible Use of Technology at the global think tank the World Economic Forum, Green has worked with IBM and Microsoft to create new processes that address ethical issues.

Microsoft set out to shift a culture around its artificial intelligence products, which had run amok in 2016 when a bot named Tay began spewing racist tweets after Twitter users hijacked its programming. We are deeply sorry for the unintended offensive and hurtful tweets from Tay, the company wrote in a blog post.

The embarrassing incident raised a larger issue: Was Microsofts AI program rooted in safe and ethical practices  or was the company releasing AI that could unleash real danger on the world someday?

The company created tools for responsible innovation that must be applied to all new AI products, assessed AI employees twice a year on their grasp of bias and fairness, and mandated basic ethical AI training for all employees. The tools are available to the public.

The program was deemed a success by outside auditors  but not perfect. Some employees thought it was vague, others felt it didnt apply to them. The company persevered.

UC Berkeley researchers found that Microsofts program stands out because it provides a clear signal to employees, users, clients and partners that Microsoft intends to hold its technology to a higher standard. The Berkeley scholars based that finding on interviews and conversations with Microsoft executives and employees, and a review of public documentation and media.

The research includes an insightful anecdote that shows the programs promise and limitations. In 2019, a group of 200 employees signed a petition protesting Microsoft selling AI products to the U.S. military. We did not sign up to develop weapons, and we demand a say in how our work is used, the employees wrote.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella rejected their plea, saying, Were not going to withhold technology from institutions that we have elected in democracies to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

But employees were allowed to switch teams if they disagreed with a project for ethical reasons. Also, a working group created in Microsofts ethics program did reject other AI contracts the group felt could be misused, and the group continues to monitor the militarys use of Microsoft AI products.

Most importantly, Green says, Microsoft has built a formal place to bring these concerns up.
City of Pacific Grove

A man and his dog were knocked off a stand-up paddleboard on Wednesday morning when a shark bit into the board in the waters off Lovers Point Beach in California's Pacific Grove, officials said. This marks the second shark incident at this location in less than two months.

The man and his dog were uninjured and able to crawl back onto the board and paddle to shore, Pacific Grove Police said in a news statement.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ ON24 Inc. (ONTF) on Tuesday reported a loss of $16.2 million in its second quarter.

The San Francisco-based company said it had a loss of 34 cents per share. Losses, adjusted for stock option expense and amortization costs, came to 14 cents per share.
The body of a 61-year-old hiker found at the base of a 100-foot cliff near Pearl City, Oahu, has been identified as Nate Yuen, a celebrated photographer and environmental activist.

Search organizers say Yuen went for a hike on Sunday but never came home. He was last seen at the Waimano Valley Ridge trailhead at around 8 a.m. that day wearing a maroon shirt and green cap. His car was later found by Honolulu police officers at nearby Pearl City High School, authorities said.

After a member of the volunteer search party spotted Yuen at the base of a cliff, the body was airlifted out at around 11 a.m. on Sunday.

From striking images of Scotorythra moth in the Haleakala Crater to capturing the birth of a Hawaiian monk seal pup, Yuen, a member of the Sierra Club of Hawai'i, photographed the islands throughout his career while advocating for environmental issues. On his Facebook profile, Yuen cited his favorite quote as: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away."

Natalia Hussey-Burdick, Chief-of-Staff at the Hawaii State House of Representatives, shared the news on Facebook after being part of the search for Yuen.

"We did find him this morning, but he was already gone. Deepest mahalos to everyone who shared the call to action," Hussey-Burdick wrote. "Hundreds of people across the islands showed up for him, in the same way he would have done for you. Nate showed up for everything. No matter what the issue was, he was always there, fighting for the aina, the wai, and every living thing on this planet."

Yuen's last Facebook post featured a photograph of the sunrise over a tidepool at Makapu'u.

"Im so honored to have known Nate," friend Bradford Kanaia Nakamura wrote on Facebook. "When he found out we lived in Kapolei, he invited our family to tag along to visit the kahuli of Palehua. Only all the way to the summit ... Ill remember that day for the rest of my life."

"Thank you for sharing such wonderful things," another wrote under a recent photograph Yuen captured of beads of water on a kalo leaf.

The Sierra Club of Hawaii issued a statement regarding his passing.

"The Sierra Club of Hawaii, as well as many others, have lost a deeply beloved member of our ohana. Nate Yuen lives in our hearts as a remarkably genuine and committed environmental justice advocate," the statement read. "He was recognized by many as a talented photographer that used his gift to share his manao and passion for aloha aina with the world."
A luxury housing developer based in Hawaii is dividing the community with an 8-bedroom, 14-bathroom home on 5385 Lower Honoapiilani Highway thats so large and gaudy, its been dubbed the monster house by local news outlets and upset residents.

According to Brown Developments website, the palatial home boasts a rooftop deck with a swimming pool, ground-level spa, and two dens and media rooms. Greg Brown, whos from Maine and claims to have built more than 100 luxury homes, says he has a genuine passion for affordable housing and continues to work hard to help solve the housing crisis in Hawaii in his company bio.

However, his affordable housing projects are vague and havent been updated in years. Meanwhile, he has multiple luxury estates that have already sold for more than $6 million a piece, sometimes close to $10 million.

For more than a year now, this particular property in the Napili beach community has been under scrutiny and may soon face consequences. The Honolulu Civil Beat reported that the Maui County Council approved an investigation into why Mayor Michael Victorinos administration allowed such a house to be built.

In 2021, Hawaii News Now reported that because the single-family compound is just shy of 7,500 square feet, community input wasnt needed. However, residents are furious that luxury developers are taking over the island regardless.

Guys, we gotta take the power away from the developers and put em back into the people, resident Junya Nakoa said, according to a transcript of a December 2021 testimony about Bill 149.

Take the power away from developers, cause they the one who screwing us up, gang, they the one, Nakoa added.

As the housing shortage wages on, monster homes like Browns are reportedly becoming a phenomenon throughout Hawaii. Maui residents say that the affordable housing crisis is so dire, its forcing out essential workers like doctors, nurses and teachers who cant compete with cash buyers from the mainland. The need for any and all affordable housing on island is extraordinary, said Joseph "Pete" Jalbert in a written March 2022 testimony discussing affordable housing.



You know, I dont know anybody who hasn't been touched by our problem with affordable housing, said Cassandra Abdul at a Maui County Council meeting that same year, according to a transcript of the meeting. We've seen our families move away, our friends.

Abdul said that her youngest son and granddaughter have since relocated from Hawaii to Las Vegas.

She does not even remember what it's like growing up here, Abdul said. I can't hug her, I can't kiss her, I can't teach her hula or talk about our heritage, it's heartbreaking.

Civil Beat reported that Councilmember Tamara Paltin plans to launch the formal investigation once she receives affidavits and supporting documents.

Brown Development did not respond to SFGATEs request for comment at the time this article was written.
Hey! I had sex in that pantry!

Thats what I said to Madrone Art Bar owner Spike Krouse, grinning as we passed through the kitchen of his apartment, which is connected by a secret staircase that leads to the venue he owns downstairs.

This was not the first time Ive bragged to Krouse about my lustful dalliance in his larder, but it is probably the first time Ive seen this place since the licentious act occurred at a Halloween party in 2006. Back then, the apartment was full of rambunctious 20-somethings who threw raucous parties and staged naked photo shoots (not necessarily at the same time, but really, anything is possible).

Settling down over some mezcal at his living room table, we begin to chat about the much-adored downstairs bar that Krouse has helmed since 2008. While there, I cant stop myself from marveling at what a difference 16 years and some semi-responsible grownups can do to a place.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

What I foggily remember as the type of giant, quirky, San Francisco Victorian party house that always had at least a couple guys living on the couch, is now, quite literally, the kind of giant, quirky, San Francisco Victorian that everyone whos ever moved to this city has always dreamed of living in. Besides the fact that it has a freaking secret staircase, wonderful artwork of all kinds fill the odd nooks and crannies that can only exist in a sprawling Queen Anne built in 1888. And oh, the many lives this building has led since then.

From Western Addition pharmacy to Divisadero dive

During the eleventy-hundred times Ive been to Madrone, I couldnt help but notice the lovely mosaic inlay at the front door that said Greens Pharmacy, so I asked Krouse if he knew the back story of the place. While he gave me a good rundown of it, he did me one better by showing me the book Historic Houses of Alamo Square by Joseph B. Pecora, which includes the following history of the building.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

500-502 Divisadero was constructed in 1888 by architect Samuel Newsom (a distant relative of Gov. Gavin Newsom). The buildings original owner was a Gold Rush pioneer named Theodore Green, who opened Greens Pharmacy downstairs with his chemist son Franklin, while he and his wife Phebe resided in the flat above.

By 1896, both Theodore and Phebe had died, and Franklin took over management of the pharmacy for the next 40 years, renting out the upstairs apartment to doctors and druggists. He was apparently a busy guy, because during this time he also worked as a coroner, a toxicologist and the dean of the School of Pharmacy at the UC Medical Center on Parnassus (now UCSF).

When Franklin died in 1944, Herman Lincoln  who had been employed at the pharmacy  bought the building and carried on the Greens Pharmacy name. When Lincoln died in 1955, it changed hands once more before the building was sold in 1982, at which point Greens Pharmacy had been dispensing drugs to denizens of the Western Addition for 93 years.

In her Hoodline article about the building, R.A. Schuetz furthers the story of 500-502 Divisidero, noting that the building served as a Mr. Falafel, a sandwich shop called SUAD, and eventually became a symbol of Divisaderos fight against formula retail when Burger King unsuccessfully tried to take over the building.

And thats when Madrone sauntered onto the scene.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

The birth of an art bar

When Leila Fakouri opened Madrone Lounge in 2004, there really wasnt anything like it in the neighborhood. This was back when Divisadero got pretty sleepy after sunset, before real estate agents christened the area NoPa. The opening of a bar with rotating arts shows and nightly DJs reinvigorated the nightlife. And they had some pretty great stuff, including a weekly Tuesday night party called Change the Beat that featured local turntables heroes like Gaslamp Killer (who moved to LA in 2006), Mophono and Citizen Ten.

Despite the fact that Ive been drinking at Madrone since it opened in 2004, it wasnt until I was sitting at the upstairs living room table last week  learning the buildings history and taking in all the accumulated art, that I finally, fully, understood the magnitude of fking dopeness that is Madrone Art Bar.

Madrone isnt just a funky bar with sweet tunes and well-curated things on the walls. Its the perfect embodiment of what happens when art, nightlife and community get infused with the ineffable spirit that, even today, makes San Francisco special. And a major reason for that is Spike Krouse himself.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

After decades of creating art (he went to the San Francisco Art Institute) and working in San Francisco bars like Tony Niks and the Boom Boom Room, Krouse was looking for a way to fuse his two worlds into a creative community space. It just so happened that Fakouri was trying to sell Madrone, so in 2008 they made the handoff, Madrone Lounge became Madrone Art Bar, and Krouse has been curating the vibes both upstairs and down, ever since.

Thats because while he doesnt own the building, he did take over the lease of both the bar and the apartment above it at the same time. When I bought the bar, Krouse tells me, I kept the people who were living in the apartment and then I just kind of slowly waited until they moved out. And then once they all moved out, I just moved myself and my family in and cleaned it up.

While Madrone probably didnt need the same level of cleaning up that the apartment did, Krouse imbued his own sensibilities into the bar. Phenomenal pieces of art like the assault rifle wrapped in Burberry and gold made by Peter Gronquist were added to the permanent collection, while rotating arts shows transformed the interior. My favorites are ones that are installation-based and changed the feeling of the bar, Krouse explains. Like this guy Sam Mell covered the entire wall in a grid with blue tape. The way it transformed the room was fascinating. The giant window facing Divisadero also became a space for installations so that art could be shared with the community outside the bar.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

Under Krouses management, the programming at Madrone took on a more robust life as well. Starting in 2009, Motown on Mondays turned one of the deadest nights of the week into one of the hottest parties in San Francisco, and has since spread to over 45 cities around the globe. Other events like Fringe (one of SFs first indie rock parties) and the various fetes thrown by DJ Sonny Phono helped turn Madrone into one the venues where you were guaranteed to have a blast every time you went.

But with an eye on creating community, Spike set out to make Madrone different from all the other DJ bars out there. For as long as anyone can remember, the Bay Area soul/jazz/funk hero Oscar Myers has had a Tuesday gig. And midweek has always had a variety of live music ranging from open mics to jazz trios.

Krouse explained that the midweek bands arent as financially successful as DJ nights, but booking live funk and jazz has more to do with honoring the history of the neighborhood. Anyone who was here 20 years ago remembers that the Western Addition used to be a mostly Black neighborhood. And boy is that not the case now.

To exemplify this, Spike told me the following story: One of his regulars is a Black woman in her 60s whose partner was the only white person in their building when they moved in many years ago. These days its the opposite; the neighborhood has changed so much that shes now the only Black person in that building.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE Bartender Chris Libby and patrons of Madrone Art Bar. Credit: Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

The funkiest lemonade stand in San Francisco

Aside from the changing demographics of Western Addition, the most seismic shift to Madrones business model took place during the early days of the pandemic. Before parklets sprang up everywhere and bars were limited to selling to-go drinks lemonade stand-style, it was the community Krouse built at Madrone that kept the place going.

One customer in particular would come by every day and always tip $100. When Krouse asked him why he was doing it, the guy said because he always loved the space, and although his life has changed and hes stopped coming as often, he always loved what the bar provided.

Kevin Kelleher/Special to SFGATE

Krouse elaborated on that theme.

Having a business that's been here for so long, people have memories of what it means to them. That's what made me realize how much the place means to people. Besides it being my business, its theirs too. In a way, Ive got a better bar than I did before the pandemic.

Im not sure if Franklin Green would have any idea what you were talking about if you explained that his pharmacy would one day be a bar that, as Madrones website states, is also a constantly changing site-specific installation art environment where two and three-dimensional works, multi-media, and performance are combined to form an aesthetic constellation that affects attendees perceptions from the moment they enter the place.

But considering he ran a business integral to the Western Addition neighborhood for more than 40 years, he would certainly understand that which drives Spike Krouses vision: community.

Stuart Schuffman is the editor-in-chief of BrokeAssStuart.com.
BENI, Congo (AP)  At least five people, including two policemen, were killed in an attack on a prison in which about 750 inmates escaped in Congos eastern Butembo town, local officials said Wednesday.

Rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces attacked the Kakwangura prison early Wednesday during a transfer of prisoners, said Capt. Anthony Mwalushay, spokesman for the Congolese army in Beni. Three ADF attackers burned to death in the assault, he said.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A drug policy reform group has sued the state panel that will decide how Ohio distributes more than half of the money it will receive from a nationwide settlement regarding the opioid addiction crisis.

Harm Reduction Ohio filed two lawsuits Monday against the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board, claiming the panel isnt following public records and meeting laws. The panel dismissed the suits as obstructive to its goal of tackling the opioid crisis.
ATLANTA (AP)  Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whos accused of conspiracy to violate Georgias RICO Act and participation in a criminal street gang, is facing six new felony charges along with four others linked to the case.

A new indictment was filed in Fulton County Superior Court last week against the artist, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. He now faces additional charges of participation in criminal street gang activity, violation of the Georgia controlled substances act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a machine gun and drug charges, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The new charges stem from what investigators found during Williams arrest on the original May 9 indictment at his home in Atlanta's upscale Buckhead neighborhood, authorities said.

The initial indictment contained 56 counts against 28 people for alleged involvement in crimes committed on behalf of the Young Slime Life street gang. The updated indictment now contains 65 counts, six of which apply to Williams.

At the time of Williams' arrest, there was a question of whether the new charges would be folded into the RICO case. Court records now indicate that is what has been done.

Williams' attorney, Brian Steel, said his client is innocent and looks forward to fighting the charges in court.

Mr. Williams has committed absolutely no crimes, Steel told the newspaper on Wednesday. We cannot wait for a trial date.

Williams, along with rapper Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, remain in jail after bond was denied for both earlier this year. Steel said a new bond hearing for Williams has been scheduled for next week. A tentative trial date has been set for Jan. 9, 2023.

Martinez Arnold, also known as Duke, and Deamonte Kendrick, also known as Yak Gotti, face additional charges including participation in criminal street gang activity, violation of the Georgia controlled substances act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a machine gun. Kendrick also has been indicted on a charge of possession of a firearm by convicted felon.

Shannon Stillwell and Quamarvious Nichols were charged with one additional count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon related to the death of Shymel Drinks on March 18.

Arnold's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, told WSB-TV that she is confident her client won't be convicted. She said he will plead not guilty to the new charges as he already has to the original charges.

The indictments center around Young Slime Life, an alleged gang prosecutors say was founded by Williams and two others in Atlanta with ties to the national Bloods gang.

Young Thug co-wrote the hit This is America with Childish Gambino, making history when it became the first hip-hop track to win the song of the year Grammy in 2019.
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In a low turnout primary Tuesday, the majority of voters in the 23rd Senate District threw their support behind newcomer Rev. Herron Gaston, according to unofficial results.

Gaston, a Yale-educated activist who currently serves as an assistant chief administrative officer for Mayor Joe Ganim, beat incumbent Dennis Bradley, a lawyer whose bid to earn a third term was marred by his indictment last year on federal charges related to his successful 2018 state Senate bid.

Bradley has denied any wrongdoing.

The district includes roughly half of Bridgeport and a part of Stratford. Unofficial results showed Gaston defeating Bradley 1,775 votes to 1,628. Gaston piled up most of that advantage in the Stratford portion of the district, winning the towns votes handily, with a total of 176 votes to Bradleys 73 votes, according to unofficial results.

Gastons victory announcement in Bridgeport came late in the night, with Bradley first declaring victory after 9:30 p.m. only to concede just after 11 p.m.

Gastons victory party was celebrated at the home of fellow Democrat Marcus Brown, who himself was challenging state Rep. Jack Hennessy for his 127th House District seat.

At the party, just before 11 p.m., Ganim introduced both Brown and Gaston as the next state legislators for Bridgeport.

Gaston thanked the mayor for his unwavering support, commitment and friendship during this process.

I am grateful and deeply humbled at this opportunity to serve this great city I love, Gaston said. We have a lot of work ahead.

He cited education funding, increasing the affordable housing stock, addressing crime, public safety, flooding in certain areas and bringing down taxes as among his goals for his two-year term, should he win in November.

I look forward to continuing to serve as your pastor and also your next state senator in Stratford and Bridgeport, said Gaston.

In attendance at the victory party were Democratic Town Committee Chairman Mario Testa, City Council President Aidee Nieves and state Reps. Steve Stafstrom, Chris Rosario and Antonio Felipe, among others.

Bradley said results showed Gaston beating him by 216 votes, although Gastons team had the difference at 140 votes.

What are you going to do? That's the way the votes came down, Bradley said. All you can do is congratulate your opponent on a well-fought fight. He won. We hope he puts the people and not Joe Ganims administration at the forefront of what he does.

The primary win paves a near certain path to victory for Gaston come November since primaries often determine the outcome of the general election in Democratic-dominated Bridgeport.

A Florida native, Gaston moved to Connecticut more than a decade ago to attend Yale Divinity School. In addition to his city job, he serves as senior pastor at Summerfield United Methodist Church. He also holds a law degree from Quinnipiac University.

The primary was held just weeks after Bradleys trial was set to have started.

Bradley and his former campaign treasurer were arrested last year, with federal prosecutors alleging they filed fraudulent documents to the State Elections Enforcement Commission to obtain public campaign financing. Bradley, who faces up to 20 years in prison, has denied wrongdoing.

Bradleys trial was supposed to have been underway this summer but in June a judge dismissed the jury amid defense charges that the existence of a video was withheld from them during the yearlong cases discovery phase. That matter is still pending.

The battle between Bradley and Gaston has not only been noteworthy because of Bradleys legal woes. It pit Bradley, who had been a rising political star and possible mayoral contender, against a similarly youthful and ambitious opponent, but one who lacked the experience of being a candidate for office.

But Gaston also had a monetary advantage over Bradley, whose alleged crimes disqualified him from taking advantage of the states so-called clean elections grant program, which requires participating candidates have a certain amount of small, individual contributions in exchange for campaign funds. Gaston was awarded a $99,000 grant in late June.

And as of Aug. 4, the most recent date for filing campaign finance reports with the state Elections Enforcement Commission, Gaston had raised $120,537 and had $21,516 left, while Bradley had $13,312 remaining out of a war chest totaling $53,410.
The state has summoned members of the Killingly Board of Education and the superintendent to answer a few more questions about whether the boards rejection of a grant-funded mental health center for the high school violated the states educational interests.

In a letter sent to Killingly officials on Monday, the state Department of Education said questions  have arisen after an exhaustive and time-sensitive review of a number of issues raised in an April complaint from parents that the board initially responded to in May.

Among them: When Killingly applied for some federal grants, it said it planned to establish a school-based health center that would provide social and emotional support to students. The board later decided against creating a school-based health center, despite a $3.2 million federal grant. The Department of Education wants to know more about how and why the board made that decision.

For months, the town has been embroiled in a battle over the school-based health center.

Parents, teachers and students have spoken in favor of the center, citing a heightened need for mental health care in Killingly. The board voted against the center in March, saying they were concerned about a lack of parental consent for care, although the provider who would have run the center has said parental involvement is emphasized as crucial to successful treatment.

Board chair Norm Ferron said in a previous interview he was worried health center staff might talk to kids about controversial topics.

Parental rights have been a topic of growing support on the right. Parental rights support groups in schools across the country have pushed back against mental health programs such as social emotional learning, claiming theyre a Trojan horse for critical race theory.

Those against the health center in Killingly have repeatedly brought up complaints and phrases more commonly referenced by the right such as gender identity, cancel culture and abortion.

The boards actions and inactions were such gross negligence that its downright dangerous, said Christine Rosati Randall, one of the complainants and an advocate for the health center. We really shouldnt be waiting any longer to intervene.

Ferron said he had received the states document and planned to attend the hearing to answer questions, although the exact date has not been set.

Beyond that I have no comment, Ferron wrote in an emailed response to a CT Mirror request for comment.

Angeli said he thinks the district submitted documents that show the schools made considerable effort to provide for the social-emotional needs of our students. He added that the states letter doesnt refute this but asks for clarification, and the district will work to address the questions.

I recommended implementing a School-Based Health Center at Killingly High School to the Killingly Board of Education, earning the support of 3 members, as an additional means to assist our students in accessing behavioral health counseling not because we did not have supports already available, Angeli wrote in an email to the CT Mirror.

The boards 6-3 vote rejecting the health center predicated the resignation of its former chair and the April complaint.

The state Department of Education doesnt often investigate complaints of this type. After the investigation concludes, Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker will make a recommendation to the state Board of Education, either saying she doesnt think theres enough evidence to prove the allegation or recommending a remediation plan for the district to fix the problem, said Mike McKeon, Department of Education legal director, in a previous interview.

The state board will make the final decision about what needs to be done.

The departments follow-up meeting will be with current Killingly Board chair Ferron, Democrat board member Susan Lannon and Superintendent Robert Angeli. Ferron or Angeli may suggest other school administrators who could attend and provide relevant information, according to the letter.

The state offered four dates in late August as possibilities for the meeting.

Questions about ESSER

The state listed a couple of overarching topics staff wants to ask about in the August meeting.

The first is the Killingly Boards applications for federal grants under ESSER II  the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II Fund  as well as the American Rescue Plan ESSER. The school was awarded more than $3 million in American Rescue Plan ESSER alone, the letter says.

Congress initially established the ESSER funds in 2020 to help schools recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds have been released in a few tranches.

In its ESSER II application, the board said that a part of its strategy for addressing social emotional learning would be the addition of a School-Based Health Center [that] will allow students to be provided social and emotional support and also through continued emphasis on mental health safety.

The application also includes a mention of a school-based health center in its needs assessment, the letter says.

The board also referenced the center in its American Rescue Plan ESSER application, the letter says.

Given subsequent events, the CSDE [Connecticut State Department of Education] is interested in understanding the sequence of events and the reasoning behind the Killingly Board having apparently declined to establish an SBHC after having originally represented in support of both its ESSER II and ARP ESSER grant applications that it intended to expend at least some of these funds on an SBHC, the letter says.

The board did mention ESSER I spending to establish behavior analyst positions and social emotional learning specialist spots at the elementary school in a May 3 response to the state.

Health center alternatives

The state also asked Killingly to discuss alternatives to the school-based health center.

In its May 3 response, the Killingly board said that members had discussed alternatives to the health center such as peer mentoring programs and had asked the superintendent to share further information at the May 11 meeting.

But the complainants said it wasnt included on the May 11 agenda. The agenda posted on the boards website doesnt include discussion of the alternatives as an item.

The May 11 minutes posted on the boards website say that Angeli said, in response to public comment, that staff was still waiting on a response to a question about liability from the districts legal counsel and researching alternatives. A motion by one of the Democrats on the board to add discussion and possible action on the health center failed.

The state asked for clarification on what happened at the meeting and further information on efforts to find alternatives.

Furthermore, although the SBHC is not the singular focus of the CSDEs investigation, but rather an element of the complaint, it would be helpful to understand whether the Killingly Board considers the question of the SBHC to be fully resolved, the letter says.

The state also wants clarification on whether theres sufficient funding for adding more staff to handle students mental health needs as an alternative to the health center. And the state questioned how many students the district had placed in out-of-district therapeutic programs due to a determination that [the students] needs warranted support beyond the capabilities of the District to provide.

As therapeutic programs generally  although, admittedly, not exclusively  work with students who have been deemed Emotionally Disabled, and given the Killingly Boards admission that it lacked the capabilities to provide the necessary therapeutic supports to the out-placed students, has the Killingly Board placed all of its students who have been identified as Emotionally Disabled out of district? the letter says.

Rosati Randall hopes to see the state take action soon because the lack of care is impacting kids ability to learn, she said.

Theyre not learning when theyre thinking about suicide, she said. Theyre not learning when theyre in the throes of a panic attack. The adults that have the power to help these students need to do so, and they need to do it sooner rather than later.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Gov. Kate Brown was within her authority to grant clemency during the coronavirus pandemic to nearly 1,000 people convicted of crimes.

Two district attorneys, Linn Countys Doug Marteeny and Lane Countys Patricia Perlow, along with family members of crime victims, sued the governor and other state officials earlier this year to stop the clemency actions.

The attorneys took particular issue with Browns decision to allow 73 people convicted of murder, assault, rape and manslaughter while they were younger than 18 to apply for early release.

The legal action alleged Brown granted clemency to people who had not sought early release through the standard legal process. Most of the people receiving clemency were either medically at risk during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic or had helped with wildfire fighting efforts during the historic Labor Day fires of 2020.

Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Leith rejected most of the challengers arguments but ordered the parole board to halt all release hearings for the 73 juvenile offenders. The governor then appealed the ruling.

While the attorneys and crime victims argued that Browns actions were an overreach of her authority, the Appeals Court said it was also clear there was emotion at stake because crime victims felt they were denied justice.

The power to pardon, sitting within a singular executive  be they monarch, president, or governor  has always been controversial, the opinion states.

Still, the Appeals Court judges said they were not called here to judge the wisdom of the Governors clemency  that is a political question. Instead, the judges said their job was to narrowly rule on whether the governor could legally take the action that she did, and on that front they found her actions legally sound.

Hurt  no matter how sympathetic  does not translate to authority to challenge and displace commutations that accord with the constitutional powers afforded the Governor, the Appeals Court opinion states.

Perlow told Oregon Public Broadcasting after the ruling that the governors actions amounted to a violation of victims rights, and she hoped the incoming Oregon Legislature would enact limits on the governors clemency powers.

Marteeny, the other district attorney who brought the case, said he thought the public could take action if they disagree with the Appeals Court decision.

This opinion explains that ultimately, it is the voters ... who hold the power to limit clemency actions, ' he said.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, whose office represented the governor in the case, praised Wednesdays decision.

Todays decision recognizes that the Governor had the authority to commute the sentences as she did, Rosenblum said in a statement. I am pleased that the Court of Appeals gave our appeal the attention it deserved and expedited their consideration of it.

In a statement released after the ruling, a spokesperson for Brown emphasized that the Parole Board would independently decide whether a person has been held accountable and can be safely released, The Oreognian/OregonLive reported.

We are a state and a nation of second chances  sentencing children to life sentences and near-life sentences without a second chance is not the kind of justice that most Oregonians believe in, said the governors press secretary, Liz Merah.

The legal wrangling over juvenile offenders comes at a time when neuroscientists and lawmakers have started to change their views on criminal justice. For many years, Oregon allowed juveniles in some cases to receive sentences of life without parole.

Youth advocates have started to contest overly punitive approaches, arguing that research clearly shows human brains dont fully develop decision-making skills until well into a persons 20s. U.S. Supreme Court decisions have begun to accept that research in criminal cases involving young people.

In 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed a bill that made changes to the juvenile justice system by eliminating life sentences without parole for youth offenders. It also allowed them another hearing to review their case after serving half their sentences.

After that bill became law, Brown signed an executive order allowing it to apply retroactively to juveniles convicted between 1988 and 2019.

District attorneys across the state have criticized that decision as dangerous and traumatizing to crime victims.

A preliminary report by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission earlier this year found some people released early from prison because of the COVID-19 pandemic were not more likely to commit crimes.
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP)  Anti-government protesters in Sierra Leone clashed with police in the streets of the capital on Wednesday, as tensions over the rising cost of living turned deadly in the West African nation.

In a national broadcast, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh confirmed fatalities without giving further details. He announced a nationwide curfew from 3 p.m. local time in a bid to stem the violence.

These unscrupulous individuals have embarked on a violent and an unauthorized protest, which has led to the loss of lives of innocent Sierra Leoneans including security personnel, Jalloh said, adding that some public buildings including police stations had been attacked and burned down.

The protesters on Wednesday were calling for the departure of President Julius Maada Bio, who was elected in 2018 and still has 10 months left in his term. The demonstrators chanted Bio must go" as they made their way through the capital, Freetown.

The cost of living in Sierra Leone has risen by more than 40% within the last few months: A bag of rice that used to cost 350 leones now costs more than 500, consumers say. Meanwhile, electricity and fuel prices also have spiked.

The government has criticized the unidentified organizers of the protest, warning that the country already has suffered enough through more than a decade of civil war that ended in 2002.

Sierra Leone has gone through a lot so let us change the trajectory and not allow people to divide us, Abdul Karim Will, spokesman for the Office of National Security, told the national radio broadcaster earlier in the day.
NEW YORK (AP)  Drivers entering the heart of New York City would pay an extra $9 to $23 as soon as the end of next year under a plan aimed at reducing congestion in the countrys most congested city.

Details on the plan, known as congestion pricing, were included in an environmental assessment released Wednesday that is part of the federal regulatory process. The tolls aren't expected to be put into effect until the end of next year at the earliest, and would be the first of their kind used in the U.S. Other cities including London, Stockholm and Singapore have used similar plans.

Drivers entering Manhattan south of 60th Street would be charged electronically. According to the environmental assessment, travel speeds in Manhattan's central business district decreased 22%, to an average of about 7 mph, between 2010 and 2019, and drivers experience about 102 hours of lost travel time per year as a result. Local bus speeds have decreased 28%.

Revenue from the tolls, projected to be roughly $1 billion annually, will be used to finance borrowing to upgrade the citys mass transit systems.

While the rate structure  which likely will include a maze of discounts and exemptions  will be finalized by a six-person board, Wednesday's report offered several scenarios describing how much drivers could pay.

Tolls would be higher during peak periods in general, but the scenarios listed Wednesday offered shifting rates depending on a few factors  primarily, which discounts are given to drivers already paying tolls at bridges and tunnels entering Manhattan, and whether there is a cap on the number of times a car or truck can be tolled in one day.

For example, tolls would peak at $23 under a scenario in which cars, trucks, taxis and for-hire vehicles would be capped at one toll per day and drivers already paying tolls at seven bridges and tunnels into Manhattan would receive credits; conversely, tolls would top out at $9 in a scenario in which taxis, for-hire vehicles and trucks would have no cap on how often they could be charged and drivers at the seven crossings wouldn't receive credits.

Only one of the seven scenarios includes a credit for drivers crossing the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey in upper Manhattan. Several New Jersey lawmakers have sharply criticized the tolling plan as an unfair tax on New Jerseyans who commute to New York, since none of the money would go toward mass transit in New Jersey.

On Tuesday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer and state lawmakers introduced a bill to incentivize businesses in New York to open new offices in New Jersey for employees who are based there.

Officials in Rockland County, northwest of New York City, criticized the plan Wednesday for burdening commuters they said often have to drive into Manhattan because public transit options are scarce.

Despite everything we contribute we are never on the receiving end of these capital program investments and that needs to change now," County Executive Ed Day said in a statement.

Manhattan residents who live in the tolling area and make less than $60,000 per year would be eligible for a tax credit to cover the cost of tolls they pay, under the current proposal.

Wednesdays report acknowledged that for-hire vehicle drivers  whose numbers tripled in Manhattan between 2010 to 2019, to 120,000  will be adversely affected even if customers are responsible for paying the toll, as is expected. If the final plan calls for them to be charged more than once per day, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority would waive fees for drivers who want to work for the MTA or its affiliated vendors.

The MTA is scheduled to hold six public hearings on the plan during the last week of August.
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BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  Former Miss America Cara Mund said Wednesday that her concern about the erosion of abortion rights prompted her independent bid for the U.S. House in her home state of North Dakota.

Mund, who is running against the odds in deeply conservative North Dakota, told The Associated Press that the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling to overturn the constitutional right to abortion was just a moment where I knew we need more women in office.

The 28-year-old recent Harvard Law School graduate announced her candidacy Saturday, just weeks before early voting begins in the state where Republicans hold every statewide office.

Her run comes as North Dakotas only abortion clinic is Fargo prepares to relocate across the border to Minnesota to avoid recrimination if courts allow a law banning all abortions except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the pregnant woman to be enforced.

Having the government make women have to travel across state lines is going to impact women, and women of lower social economic status," she said.

Acting as her own campaign manager and without any fundraising machinery, the Bismarck native has begun gathering the 1,000 signatures she needs to get on the ballot. If she makes it, in November she will face Republican U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who has held the states lone House seat since 2019, and Democrat Mark Haugen of Bismarck, a University of Mary graduate adviser who has long worked as a paramedic.

Munds stance on abortion runs contrary to North Dakotas active evangelical conservatives. But the issue could draw votes from endorsed candidates from both parties, and it especially could be a spoiler for Haugen, a Roman Catholic who opposes abortion.

If shes pro-choice, then shes running to the left of me on that issue, he said.

Armstrong, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump and the former state GOP party chairman, said Mund appears to have all the trappings of a Democrat.

Seems like people pretty high up in Democratic politics are excited about it, Armstrong said about Munds attempt to get in the race. It doesnt change anything we are doing.

Mund is seeking to present herself as independent of Republicans and Democrats, a candidate with the publics best interest in mind who would seek common ground. She believes she would appeal to a large portion of the electorate who are fed up with the two-party system that controls politics.

Its not fair to make Americans have to pick one side or the other, she said.

Even with no party apparatus for support, Mund is a known entity in North Dakota and is known for speaking her mind.

She won the Miss North Dakota crown on a platform of increasing the number of women elected to political office. At Miss America in 2017, she said Trump was wrong to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accords that seek to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.

Mund said in 2018 that she had been bullied and silenced by leaders within the Miss America organization. The head of the organizations board later resigned.

Mund said win or lose, she intends to stay in North Dakota and someday raise a family. She took the state bar exam recently and is awaiting the results.

She intends to keep pursing public office if she loses, and looks at the House run as a personal challenge, if daunting.

The biggest failures in her life, she said, are the things that I was too afraid to try.

___

For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion
WASHINGTON  The FBIs unprecedented search of former President Donald Trumps Florida residence ricocheted around government, politics and a polarized country Tuesday along with questions as to why the Justice Department  notably cautious under Attorney General Merrick Garland  decided to take such a drastic step.

Answers weren't quickly forthcoming.

Agents on Monday searched Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate, which is also a private club, as part of a federal investigation into whether the former president took classified records from the White House to his Florida residence, people familiar with the matter said. It marked a a dramatic escalation of law enforcement scrutiny of Trump, who faces an array of inquiries tied to his conduct in the waning days of his administration.

From echoes of Watergate to the more immediate House probe of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, Washington, a city used to sleepy Augusts, reeled from one speculative or accusatory headline to the next. Was the Justice Department politicized? What prompted it to seek authorization to search the estate for classified documents now, months after it was revealed that Trump had taken boxes of materials with him when he left the White House after losing the 2020 election?

Garland has not tipped his hand despite an outcry from some Democrats impatient over whether the department was even pursuing evidence that has surfaced in the Jan. 6 probe and other investigations and from Republicans who were swift to echo Trump's claims that he was the victim of political prosecution.

All Garland has said publicly is that no one is above the law.

FBI agents descended on Trumps shuttered-for-the-season home  he was in New York, a thousand or so miles away  with search warrants.

Mondays search intensified the months-long probe into how classified documents ended up in boxes of White House records located at Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. A separate grand jury is investigating efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and it all adds to potential legal peril for Trump as he lays the groundwork for a potential repeat run for the White House.

Familiar battle lines, forged during a a four-year presidency shadowed by investigations, quickly took shape again. Trump and his allies sought to cast the search as a weaponization of the criminal justice system and a Democratic-driven effort to keep him from winning another term in 2024  though the Biden White House said it had no prior knowledge and current FBI Director Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump five years ago.

Trump, disclosing the search in a lengthy statement late Monday, asserted that agents had opened a safe at his home, and he described their work as an unannounced raid that he likened to prosecutorial misconduct.

Justice Department spokesperson Dena Iverson declined to comment on the search, including whether Garland had personally authorized it.

About two dozen Trump supporters stood in protest at midmorning Tuesday in the Florida summer heat and sporadic light rain on a bridge near the former presidents residence. One held a sign reading Democrats are Fascists while others carried flags saying 2020 Was Rigged, Trump 2024 and Bidens name with an obscenity. Some cars honked in support as they passed.

Trumps Vice President Mike Pence, a potential 2024 rival, tweeted on Tuesday: Yesterdays action undermines public confidence in our system of justice and Attorney General Garland must give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately

Trump was planning to meet Tuesday at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club with members of the Republican Study Committee, a group headed by Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana that says it is committed to putting forth his priorities in Congress.

The FBI reached out to the Secret Service shortly before serving a warrant, a third person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Secret Service agents contacted the Justice Department and were able to validate the warrant before facilitating access to the estate, the person said.

The Justice Department has been investigating the potential mishandling of classified information since the National Archives and Records Administration said it had received from Mar-a-Lago 15 boxes of White House records, including documents containing classified information, earlier this year. The National Archives said Trump should have turned over that material upon leaving office, and it asked the Justice Department to investigate.

There are multiple federal laws governing the handling of classified records and sensitive government documents, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such material and retain it at an unauthorized location. Though a search warrant does not necessarily mean criminal charges are near or even expected, federal officials looking to obtain one must first demonstrate to a judge that they have probable cause that a crime occurred.

Two people familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the search on Monday was related to the records probe. Agents were also looking to see if Trump had additional presidential records or any classified documents at the estate.

Trump has previously maintained that presidential records were turned over in an ordinary and routine process. His son Eric said on Fox News on Monday night that he had spent the day with his father and that the search happened because the National Archives wanted to corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession.

Asked how the documents ended up at Mar-a-Lago, Eric Trump said the boxes were among items that got moved out of the White House during six hours on Inauguration Day, as the Bidens prepared to move into the building.

My father always kept press clippings, Eric Trump said. He had boxes, when he moved out of the White House.

Trump himself, in a social media post Monday night, called the search a weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately dont want me to run for President in 2024.

Trump took a different stance during the 2016 presidential campaign, frequently pointing to an FBI investigation into his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, over whether she mishandled classified information via a private email server she used as secretary of state. Then-FBI Director James Comey concluded that Clinton had sent and received classified information, but the FBI did not recommend criminal charges.

Trump lambasted that decision and then stepped up his criticism of the FBI as agents began investigating whether his campaign had colluded with Russia to tip the 2016 election. He fired Comey during that probe, and though he appointed Wray months later, he repeatedly criticized him, too, as president.

Thomas Schwartz, a Vanderbilt University history professor who studies and writes about the presidency, said there is no precedent for a former president facing an FBI raid -- even going back to Watergate. President Richard Nixon wasnt allowed to take tapes or other materials from the White House when he resigned in 1974, Schwartz noted, and many of his papers remained in Washington for years before being transferred to his presidential library in California.

The probe is hardly the only legal headache confronting Trump. A separate investigation related to efforts by him and his allies to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election  which led to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol  has also been intensifying in Washington. Several former White House officials have received grand jury subpoenas.

And a district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia, is investigating whether Trump and his close associates sought to interfere in that state's election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden.

Associated Press writers Terry Spencer, Meg Kinnard, Michelle L. Price and Will Weissert contributed to this report.
FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP)  More than 3,800 Army soldiers are returning to Georgia five months after their rapid deployment to Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Several hundred troops arrived home Tuesday to Fort Stewart, where cheering parents, spouses and children welcomed them with waving flags and homemade signs.
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Tuesday outlined plans for how the state will spend $78 million it's receiving from a multistate settlement reached with pharmaceutical industry companies over their role in the opioid addiction crisis.

Ige said drug overdose deaths have exceeded traffic fatalities in Hawaii this year. Drug overdoses, including those from prescription opioids, account for 24% of all fatal injuries in Hawaii, he said.

The state and Hawaiis counties have agreed to spend the funds on treatment, prevention and education, with 85% directed at opioids and the remaining 15% for other substances.

An advisory committee comprised of equal numbers of county and state representatives will consult on how 85% of the money is spent statewide. The other 15% will be spent at the county level in a manner determined by the county.

Officials will first conduct a statewide assessment of needs, the governor said. Ige told reporters at a news conference that he didnt know when the money would be ready to be spent.

The mayors of Maui and Honolulu said they thought it would be important to fund treatment centers and education programs.

I know firsthand how real this is, how many people have been really hurt by this, how many families have been destroyed, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said at the news conference.

Both mayors said they would work with their county councils to determine how the money should be spent.

Its a community effort, not just the mayor or the governor. The monies must be spent and must be spent in a wise and efficient manner, said Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino.

The money comes from a $26 billion settlement with three major pharmaceutical distributors  Cardinal Health, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen  and Johnson & Johnson that was announced in February.

Each state's share is determined by a formula taking into account its population and the local effect of the opioid crisis.

Of Hawaii's money, $63 million will be paid out over 18 years from the three major distributors and $15 million over nine years by Johnson & Johnson.

Ige said he expected Hawaii would receive millions more from settlements with other drug makers.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP)  An Iowa man faces two criminal charges accusing him of driving his vehicle through a group of abortion rights protestors in Cedar Rapids in June and striking a woman before driving away, court documents posted online Wednesday said.

David Alan Huston, 53, of Swisher, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon  a vehicle  and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, according to the court documents.

There is no evidence to indicate the crash was politically motivated, Black Hawk County Attorney Brian Williams said in a statement. He said there also is no evidence that any protestors acted aggressively.

Huston did not immediately return messages Wednesday seeking comment on the charges, and online court records did not yet list an attorney for him.

A group organized by Indivisible Iowa and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa were protesting in front of the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids to support abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that make abortion legal nationwide.

Iowa law bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The state Supreme Court in June cleared the way for stricter limits when it reversed an earlier court decision that found the Iowa Constitution guaranteed the right to abortion. The Republican governor has promised to work through the courts to revive a six-week ban that was previously blocked.

Video of the June 24 crash shows protesters were crossing a street when a large pickup drove through the group, even as other vehicles waited for them to cross, Williams said in a statement. Protesters tried to to stop the pickup by blocking its path, resulting in one woman being struck. Court documents do not indicate the extent of her injuries.

Huston then left the scene without any attempt to exchange information, court documents say.

The crash happened in Linn County, but prosecutors asked a judge to shift the case to Black Hawk County due to a potential conflict of interest.
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BAGHDAD (AP)  An influential Shiite cleric in Iraq whose supporters earlier this month stormed the parliament in Baghdad and have since held a sit-in outside the building, stepped up his demands Wednesday and issued a veiled threat of renewed violence.

The cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, said on Twitter that the judiciary has one week to dissolve the legislature. Al-Sadr has previously demanded that the parliament be dissolved and that early elections are held but this time, he set a deadline.

Experts are divided on whether al-Sadr has any legal basis for his demands. He won the largest share of seats in the election last October, but failed to form a majority government that excluded his Iran-aligned rivals.

Al-Sadr called his followers revolutionaries and said they will take another position if his demands were not met, hinting at possibly escalating the protest.

The judiciary stated previously it does not have the constitutional right to dissolve parliament and that only lawmakers can vote to dissolve the legislature. Because the parliament has exceeded the constitutional timeline for forming a government following the October elections, what happens next is not clear.

Al-Sadr's political rivals in the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed parties, said earlier that the parliament would have to convene to dissolve itself.

Last week, thousands of al-Sadr's followers stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses Iraq's parliament, government buildings and foreign embassies. They overran and occupied the parliament, after which all sessions of the assembly were cancelled until further notice. The takeover also effectively halted efforts by the Coordination Framework to try and form the next government after al-Sadr failed to do so.

Iraq's political impasse, now in its tenth month, is the longest in the country since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion reset the political order.

In their takeover of parliament, al-Sadr's followers stopped short of overrunning the Judicial Council building next door  an act that many consider a coup as the judiciary is the highest legal authority in the country.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  A Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a motion by Delawares Department of Health and Social Services to quash a subpoena from the state auditors office seeking information regarding eligibility for Medicaid programs.

Judge Craig Karsnitz rejected the notion that Auditor Kathleen McGuiness does not have the authority under Delaware law to conduct performance audits of state agencies such as the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance. DHSS attorneys had argued that the auditors duties were limited to conducting after-the-fact postaudits of financial transactions by state agencies.

To me, this argument is unnecessarily convoluted, and the language of the Delaware statute is clear, Karsnitz wrote. A postaudit is an audit of a transaction or transactions after the fact, and a performance audit is a form of postaudit. This is exactly what we have here.

A spokeswoman for DHSS said the agency is reviewing the ruling and will take appropriate next steps.

McGuiness office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

McGuiness resorted to her subpoena power last August after notifying DHSS in May 2021 that her office would be conducting an audit of Medicaid eligibility for the period from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. In her audit notification letter, McGuiness requested 14 different categories of records, including a list of all individuals who received Medicaid support during the three fiscal years. She also requested read-only access to Delawares Medicaid computer systems for two members of the audit team.

DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik responded by asserting that the release of certain information, such a list of Medicaid participants, is prohibited by law. DHSS also argued that the proposed audit was both unauthorized and duplicative of reviews conducted by other government entities that have legal authority to investigate Medicaid, a program that serves almost a third of Delawares population.

Magarik offered, in a show of good faith and transparency, to provide a much smaller amount of information, including organizational charts, training manuals and links to DHSS websites that are already publicly available.

McGuiness refused to back down, however, saying DHSS had been unable to demonstrate for several years that it was effectively screening Medicaid applicants for eligibility before approving or denying benefits.

McGuiness noted that a required independent annual audit of federal programs administration in 2020 included five repeat findings of problems involving DHSS that had been previously noted in the prior years audit. Three of the five repeat findings involved the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance, with material weakness found regarding compliance with Medicaid provider eligibility requirements and with Medicaid provider health and safety standards. The audit also found a significant deficiency regarding compliance with Medicaid client eligibility requirements.

It is unconscionable that these failures continue to happen, especially within the Medicaid program, which serves such a vulnerable population, McGuiness said in a news release last year. Clearly, this is a problem that has existed for years  long before the COVID-19 pandemic, so thats not a valid excuse for why these critical Medicaid reviews arent happening.

The dispute involving scrutiny of the Medicaid program began a few months before McGuiness was indicted last October on felony counts of theft and witness intimidation, and misdemeanor charges of official misconduct, conflict of interest and noncompliance with procurement laws. The charges involved allegations that McGuiness engaged in favoritism in hiring her daughter as a part-time employee in 2020, improperly structured payments under a contract with a company she had used as a campaign consultant when running for lieutenant governor in 2016, and intimidated and harassed employees who questioned her conduct.

McGuiness, who is responsible as auditor for rooting out government fraud, waste and abuse, was acquitted on the felony charges last month but convicted on the misdemeanor charges of conflict of interest, official misconduct and structuring a contract payment to avoid compliance with state procurement rules. The case marked the first time in Delaware history that a sitting statewide elected official had been convicted on criminal charges.

McGuiness, who is seeking re-election and faces a Democratic primary challenger next month, faces a presumptive sentence of probation, but the convictions have not been formally entered and no sentencing date has been set. The trial judge is currently considering post-trial defense motions asking for a judgment of acquittal, or, in the alternative, a new trial.
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Walgreens can be held responsible for contributing to San Francisco's opioid crisis for over-dispensing highly addictive drugs for years without proper oversight and failing to identify and report suspicious orders as required by law.

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said the pharmacy chain continually violated what they were required to do under the federal Controlled Substances Act, failing to track opioid prescriptions, preventing pharmacists from vetting prescriptions and nor did they see the many red flags of physicians and others who were dramatically over-prescribing.

Pharmacists were pressured to fill, fill, fill," he said, and as a result, Walgreens filled our streets with opioids.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer wrote in his decision that from 2006 to 2020, Walgreens pharmacies in San Francisco dispensed hundreds of thousands of red flag opioid prescriptions without performing adequate due diligence. Tens of thousands of these prescriptions were written by doctors with suspect prescribing patterns. The evidence showed that Walgreens did not provide its pharmacists with sufficient time, staffing, or resources to perform due diligence on these prescriptions.

He said the large volume of illegitimate opioid prescriptions contributed to the citys hospitals being overwhelmed with opioid patients, libraries being forced to close because of syringe-clogged toilets, and syringes littering childrens playgrounds in San Francisco.

A Walgreens spokesman said the chain is disappointed in the outcome, which he said is not supported by the facts and the law.

As we have said throughout this process, we never manufactured or marketed opioids, nor did we distribute them to the pill mills and internet pharmacies that fueled this crisis, spokesman Fraser Engerman said in a statement. The plaintiffs attempt to resolve the opioid crisis with an unprecedented expansion of public nuisance law is misguided and unsustainable. We look forward to the opportunity to address these issues on appeal.

San Francisco in 2018 sued Walgreens and drug manufacturers and distributors over the city's worsening opioid epidemic, saying they created a public nuisance by flooding the city with prescription opioids. All the other defendants previously settled with the city for a total of $114 million, including $54 million that opioid makers Allergan and Teva agreed to pay on the eve of closing arguments in the trial, leaving Walgreens as the sole defendant.

Wednesday's ruling did not include a ruling on monetary damages, which will be determined in a future trial.

The opioid epidemic has been linked to more than 500,000 deaths in the U.S. over the past two decades, counting those from prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and generic oxycodone as well as illicit drugs such as heroin and illegally produced fentanyl.

The surge in deaths has led to more than 3,000 lawsuits filed by state and local governments, Native American tribes, unions, hospitals and other entities in state and federal courts over the toll of opioids. In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency last year in the Tenderloin neighborhood, saying something had to be done about the high concentration of drug dealers and people consuming drugs in public.

The city attorneys office says San Francisco saw a nearly 500% increase in opioid-related overdose deaths between 2015 and 2020 and that on a typical day, roughly a quarter of visits at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital Emergency Department are opioid-related.

In 2020, 712 people died of drug overdoses, compared with 257 people who died of COVID-19, according to the city health department.

A high percentage of an estimated 7,800 homeless people in San Francisco  many of whom pitch tents in the Tenderloin  are struggling with chronic addiction or severe mental illness, often both. Some people rant in the streets, nude and in need of medical help.

Pharmacy chains have been sued less often than opioid makers or wholesalers that distribute pharmaceuticals more broadly. In one groundbreaking case, a federal jury in Ohio last year found CVS, Walgreens and Walmart recklessly distributed massive amounts of pain pills in two Ohio counties.

In May, Walgreens reached a $683 million settlement with the state of Florida in a lawsuit accusing the company of improperly dispensing millions of painkillers that contributed to the opioid crisis. Walgreens did not admit wrongdoing in its agreement with Florida and will make payments to the state over 18 years.

The company also faces litigation in Alabama, Michigan and New Mexico, among other states.

Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. runs a network of around 9,000 drugstores in the United States. Walgreens and other prescription drug distributors have faced a slew of lawsuits over the opioid crisis.

___

Associated Press writer Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP)  A logistics provider plans to invest $25 million for a new operation in Bowling Green that will create 110 jobs, Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Bluegrass Supply Chain Services LLC is expanding its logistics capabilities to serve the automotive and food and beverage markets, according to a statement Tuesday from Beshear's office.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  About 1.7 million tax rebate checks from Indianas big state budget surplus that have been delayed for months will be larger when they finally start hitting mailboxes.

State lawmakers last week approved a second round of rebates amounting to $200 per taxpayer, on top of $125 payments that were triggered last summer by surging tax collections.

Roughly half of the $545 million in the initial payments under the states automatic taxpayer refund law were sent by direct bank deposits starting in May. But the mailing of printed checks to some 1.7 million taxpayers who did not supply bank account information has been on hold due to delays in shipments of the required specialty paper, according to the state auditors office.

Printing of those checks could begin next week and will include the second rebates as well, for a total of $325, said Emily Boesen, a spokeswoman for the auditors office.

Up to 50,000 checks can be printed a day, and the office estimates it will complete that work in early October, Boesen said.

A date has not yet been set for when the new round of $200 rebates via direct deposits will begin, according to the state Department of Revenue.

The Republican-dominated Legislature approved the new payments Friday in a deal that dedicated about $1 billion from the states record $6.1 billion in cash reserves toward the rebate payments.

Democratic legislators criticized the delays in distributing the first round of payments, which Holcombs office initially said would be finished by May.

Republicans also rebuffed repeated calls from Democrats since March for suspending the states gasoline taxes, which currently stand at a record 62.4 cents a gallon. Democrats argued that would be a quicker way to provide financial relief to residents.

Democratic Sen. David Niezgodski of South Bend said he was worried that the last taxpayer refund has barely made its way to our citizens.

I fear that many of the people we serve have suffered in the meantime, Niezgodski said. I wish I could have cast my yes vote on more comprehensive relief legislation about five months ago.

The governors office didnt immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment about such criticism.

The rebate plan approved last week also allows perhaps 600,000 people who didnt file state returns for 2021 to request the $200 rebates. Details on how those refunds could be claimed havent yet been announced.

If they didnt qualify for the $125 and will not receive a combined check, we are working out the logistics with the Department of Revenue and do not have a timeframe, said Boesen, the auditors office spokeswoman.
BAMAKO, Mali (AP)  Malian authorities declared three days of national mourning to begin Thursday after a pair of weekend attacks by Islamic extremist groups killed dozens of soldiers and police officers across the volatile West African country.

In the deadliest violence, the Malian army said an attack Sunday in the northern region of Gao killed 42 soldiers. A statement said the assault was carried out by Islamic militants who used drones, artillery and booby-trapped vehicles.
DARIEN  Town police say that the suspect in the stabbing of a car hire service driver in June was captured while allegedly on the run in Maryland.

Darien police Sgt. Dan Skoumbros said police are awaiting the extradition of 28-year-old Abiola Shonowo, a suspect in the June 27 assault on the driver.

Shonowo, a Maryland resident who is facing unspecified charges in connection to the Connecticut assault, is being held in custody in Maryland on an unrelated charge of violation of probation.

Police were called to a reported crash near West and Holmes avenues a little after 10:30 p.m. June 27. The driver told police that he intentionally crashed his vehicle into a tree to stop an attack by his passenger, Sgt. Dan Skoumbros said in a news release.

The driver reported that he picked up a customer in Stamford. While on their way to a destination in Norwalk, and shortly after entering Darien, the suspect allegedly stabbed the driver several times and then robbed him of his cellphone, according to Skoumbros.

The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the attack, police said at the time.

After seizing the car services account and phone records, Skoumbros said Darien police identified Shonowo as a suspect.

Police learned Shonowo was arrested in Baltimore County on July 4 on a violation of probation charge and was still in custody.

Skoumbros said police also learned that Shonowo allegedly was in possession of stolen property that further connected him to the Darien incident at the time of his arrest in Maryland.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  The campaign committee for North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, facing trouble for a TV ad aired against a rival in 2020, plans to ask a federal court to block enforcement of a state law making it illegal to knowingly circulate false reports to damage a candidate's election chances.

The notice of appeal to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed Wednesday by the campaign's attorney. It comes a day after a trial judge refused to bar Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman from potentially using the law to prosecute anyone over the disputed commercial. Lawyers for Stein have argued the law is overly broad and chills political speech.

By challenging the state law, Stein may put himself in a bind between his public duties and his political future. Steins campaign committee argues that the statute is unconstitutional, noting one of the attorney generals chief jobs is to defend North Carolina laws in court. Stein, a Democrat, is a potential 2024 governors contender.

The law, which dates to at least 1931, makes it illegal to knowingly circulate false derogatory reports about candidates to harm them at the ballot box. Freeman's investigation stems from a September 2020 State Board of Elections complaint about the ad, which was filed against Steins committee by his then-challenger, Republican Jim ONeill.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles, in canceling her July 25 emergency order that had stopped the laws enforcement, wrote Tuesday that the statute was permissible under the Constitution.

The ad talks about untested rape kits held by local law enforcement agencies, and a woman appearing in the commercial asserts that ONeill left 1,500 rape kits sitting on a shelf in Forsyth County, where he's been district attorney since 2009.

Steins committee and two other plaintiffs sued last month to attempt to the have the law struck down as Freemans office prepared to take its investigation of the commercial to a state grand jury, according to legal briefs. No one has been charged in the case, and its unclear who specifically would have been a possible target.

ONeill has said the 2020 ad was false because police agencies, not prosecutors, are responsible for testing rape kits. Stein, who defeated ONeill by fewer than 14,000 votes in November 2020, has defended the ad's accuracy. He said it countered false accusations by ONeill that he had failed to act on over 15,000 untested rape kits since becoming attorney general in 2017.

The voters deserved to be informed about the differences between how my opponent and I handled this critical public safety issue, Stein said in a statement Wednesday. "I am confident that this statute will ultimately be struck down and we will move forward.

After a state election board investigation, the matter was forwarded to Freemans office, after which the State Bureau of Investigation interviewed Stein, members of his campaign staff and the woman in the ad, who also worked in the attorney generals office, according to briefs.

Separately on Wednesday, the state Democratic Party wrote Freeman demanding that she investigate comments O'Neill made in the 2020 campaign's final months that it alleges were also false and derogatory. Party attorney John Wallace pointed to statements O'Neill made to the media, one that he said alleged Stein had done nothing about the rape kits and another that alleged Stein had sued then-President Donald Trump over funding for a border wall with Mexico.

Freeman, herself a Democrat, should apply equal protection under the law and open an investigation," party spokesperson Kate Frauenfelder said.

In an emailed statement Wednesday evening, Freeman said the Democratic Party was requesting unique treatment but instead needed to follow the normal procedure in a campaign case by filing a complaint with the State Board of Elections.

Freeman recused herself from investigating Stein's ad, leaving it with a senior assistant DA in her office. She said Wednesday her recusal would remain for any other 2020 attorney general campaign case. O'Neill didn't have a comment Wednesday.

The law at issue is a misdemeanor offense, punishable by up to 60 days in jail with fines. Someone with an otherwise clean record would avoid active time if convicted. Time may be running out on any prosecution, as the statute of limitations on the count is two years.

Another state law says a public official convicted of the misdemeanor at issue in the lawsuit must be removed from office by a judge. This directive appears to conflict with a provision in the North Carolina Constitution in which someone like the attorney general can only be thrown out of office through impeachment and conviction by the General Assembly.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  A company can proceed with plans to build what will be the first freshwater offshore wind-powered electric-generation facility in North America, in Lake Erie off the coast of Cleveland, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

At issue is the 2020 approval by the Ohio Power Siting Board of the project by Icebreaker Windpower, which proposed the six-turbine development about 10 miles north of Cleveland.
BUENOS AIRES (AP)  Former Paraguayan president and current senator Fernando Lugo was in a medically induced coma Wednesday after suffering a stroke. Doctors said his condition was stable with no evidence of significant lesions though they warned it was too early to tell the extent of the damage given his previous health woes.

He is stable now and the primary lesion we see is a lesion that allows us to be a little bit optimistic, said Dr. Jorge Querey, who like Lugo is a senator for the leftist Frente Guasu coalition.
If you like blood, guts, fighting and watching people die, "Bullet Train" the movie for you.

You have heard of Strangers on a Train. Well, this is Assassins on a Train and for all the blood and guts, this movie is a little too long. The film critics were trying to guess how many people were killed in the film and the guesses ran from 50 to 200.

Even knowing the death toll, this is basically a funny movie. Academy Award winner Brad Pitt is good at pulling off a funny line.

Ladybug (Pitt) is an assassin who thinks he is unlucky and nothing ever goes right with all his kills. He is right, because nothing does go right on the world's fastest train, the Japanese bullet train. He meets one assassin after another, each trying to kill each other.

The end of the line is just the beginning in this non-stop thrill-ride through modern-day Japan.

Aaron Taylor Johnson is Tangerine and Brian Tyree Henry is Lemon, Tangerines brother, which at first seems odd since Tangerine is white and Lemon is black. Prince is Joey King, the son of White Death, who Tangerine and Lemon have been hired to protect and return to their father. I love these two. They had some of the funniest scenes in the movie.

Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock is Maria. If you blink, you will miss Bullock; I think she only has a couple of minutes of screen time. To call her role a cameo is a gross exaggeration even though she, along with Pitt, have top billing in the film.

David Leitch, who was once a stunt man, directed the film. You can tell he wanted to support stunt people everywhere because I think he used every stunt person in Hollywood on this film. Leitch also directed Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 and John Wick.

Zak Olkewicz adapted the Japanese novel Maria Beetle which was published in English as Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka.

I loved the bullet train system they have in Japan. It was featured along with some breathtaking views of the Japanese countryside.

At first, I didnt like the film given all the bloodshed we have witnessed in our country in the last few years. I think this is the last movie kids need to see today.

But as an adult, I laughed at a lot at Brad Pitts antics and the method most of the assassins were taken out.

Bullet Train is now showing at Edwardsville, Granite City and Alton. I give it 3 stars.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A primary victory by a political novice has raised Republican hopes for winning the Minnesota attorney general's office for the first time in over 50 years.

Financial attorney Jim Schultz's win over Doug Wardlow on Tuesday set him up to challenge Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison in November in a race where violent crime and threats to abortion rights already have shaped up as major issues.

Ellison is a staunch progressive who became a national figure as the first Muslim elected to Congress. He raised his profile further last year as leader of the prosecution team that got former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin convicted of murdering George Floyd in a killing that forced a national reckoning on racial justice. The state's first Black attorney general heads into November with a large base of passionate supporters  and detractors.

No GOP candidate has won the attorney generals race since Doug Head in 1966, and no Republican has won statewide office since Gov. Tim Pawlenty was reelected in 2006.

Many Republican activists were relieved that Schultz soundly defeated Wardlow by about 18 points. Wardlow lost narrowly to Ellison in 2018, and many GOP strategists think they could have won with a better candidate. Many were upset with Wardlows decision to challenge Schultz in Tuesday's primary after losing the GOP endorsement. Wardlow's close ties with MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a leading booster of former President Donald Trump's lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him, didn't help his credibility.

Jim Schultz is a strong candidate," GOP strategist Gregg Peppin said. He is very impressive on the stump, very disciplined, very on message. And I think he'll be able to raise the funds necessary to wage a competitive campaign.

Peppin said Ellison is vulnerable because he backed a failed ballot proposal in Minneapolis last year to replace the city's police force with a new, vaguely defined public safety department, an idea that arose from the defund the police" movement. While Ellison criticized the defund slogan, saying it didn't accurately describe what the measure would have done, Republicans pin the label on him anyway.

Republicans have spent months attacking Ellison and Walz on public safety after crime rose in Minneapolis in 2020 and 2021, as in other major cities across the U.S. While homicides are down in Minneapolis so far this year, assaults and burglaries are up. And while no Minnesota city has actually defunded its police force, Minneapolis and several other departments have fallen well below their normal staffing levels due to retirements, resignations and medical leaves arising from the unrest that followed Floyd's death in 2020.

Republican voters were probably smart to pick a fresh face, said Democratic strategist Todd Rapp. But he also said history is on Ellison's side, given that Minnesota voters traditionally have backed Democrats who have focused on issues like consumer protection.

Republicans think they have some wind at their back. I get that," Rapp said. But there have been a lot of years when the wind has been at the back of Republicans and Minnesotans have elected a Democratic attorney general.

Ellison has pledged to protect the rights of women who come to Minnesota to get abortions. The state became an island for legal abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade and some neighboring states' restrictions took effect. He angered conservatives by declining to appeal a recent ruling by a state judge who declared most of Minnesotas restrictions on abortion unconstitutional.

Minnesotans have a clear choice this November, Ellison said in a statement. They can either re-elect an attorney general who has been protecting their right to a safe, legal abortion and will continue to do so, or someone who has vowed to attack Minnesotans' reproductive freedom.

Peppin said Democrats have become a one-note wonder on abortion since the Supreme Court decision, and that they'd do better by focusing on bread-and-butter issues. But Rapp said the abortion fight could be a significant factor driving Democratic turnout in November and help them overcome the headwinds they're facing amid President Joe Biden's sagging popularity.

Schultz, in a statement, called Ellison the most far-left attorney general in Minnesotas history" and asserted that Minnesota has become less safe under him. He added that "Ellisons support of defunding police would make things worse."

Ellison has backed stronger gun safety laws for fighting violent crime, including restrictions on sales of guns to people under age 21 in the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. And he has suggested that Republicans were guilty of hypocrisy on crime when they blocked his requests for more funding so he could hire more prosecutors for his criminal division.

More money for the attorney general's office would be up to the Legislature, where the current, narrow House Democratic and Senate Republican majorities have struggled to find common ground. Incumbent legislators in contested primaries generally won on Tuesday, but the large number of retirements and open seats means control of both chambers will be up for grabs in November.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Cleanup and recovery efforts accelerated in South Koreas greater capital region on Wednesday as skies cleared after two days of record-breaking rainfall that unleashed flash floods, damaged thousands of buildings and roads and killed at least 10 people.

South Koreas weather agency lifted heavy rain warnings for Seoul and neighboring metropolitan areas, but forecast 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) of rain in the countrys southern regions through Thursday.

Seven people remained missing in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province following the heavy rains that swamped the region on Monday and Tuesday, turning streets into car-clogged rivers, sending floods cascading into subway stations and triggering landslides that crashed into roads and buildings. More than 4,000 people were displaced from their homes, including around 2,000 residents of an apartment complex in Seoul who evacuated Wednesday following a power outage caused by flooding.

The 10 confirmed fatalities included a family of three  two sisters in their 40s and a 13-year-old girl  who called rescue workers for help before drowning in their semi-basement home in southern Seoul. Their deaths triggered an outpouring of public grief and prompted the city government to announce Wednesday that it would no longer permit such homes for residential purposes.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol apologized at a disaster response meeting on behalf of the government for the deaths and disruption caused by the heavy rains. He urged the central government to provide more financial help and personnel assistance to cities and regional governments to speed up recovery efforts.

He also called for significant improvements to the countrys flood management systems, including building more rain tanks and tunnels and improving flood-prediction technologies, citing the growing challenges posed by extreme weather events.

Its certainly true that (the rainfall) was abnormal weather, but we have come to a point where we can no longer call abnormal weather abnormal, Yoon said. We could see new record levels (of rain) at any time. We need to build our response so that we are ready for a situation thats worse than we had imagined.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said workers by Wednesday afternoon had finished restoring more than 90% of about 2,800 buildings, homes, roads and other facilities in the capital area that had been prioritized in emergency recovery plans.

Nearly 3,000 government workers, including police and fire department personnel, and dozens of excavators and dump trucks were deployed in the recovery efforts. The military separately deployed around 1,300 troops, some of whom cleaned debris and salvaged furniture in flooded neighborhoods in southern Seoul.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties in regions south of the capital area, where the weather agency issued heavy rain warnings. Landslide warnings were issued in more than 30 cities and towns across the country,

More than 52 centimeters (20 inches) of rain was measured in Seouls hardest-hit Dongjak district from Monday to Wednesday at noon. Precipitation in the area exceeded 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) per hour at one point Monday night  the highest hourly downpour measured in Seoul since 1942.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)  Until Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs was appointed as Washingtons secretary of state last November, Republicans had a hold on the office for 56 years. Now, they've been shut out of the general election.

Hobbs captured about 40% of the vote and easily advanced to the November ballot in last week's primary. Claiming the second spot Tuesday was Pierce County auditor Julie Anderson, who had garnered just under 13% running as a nonpartisan. There were multiple Republicans in the race, and candidates Sen. Keith Wagoner and Bob Hagglund topped the list, nearly tied at about 12%.

Under Washingtons top-two primary, the top two vote getters advance to the November ballot, regardless of party.

Hobbs left his Senate seat representing the 44th legislative district to replace Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who was the fifth consecutive GOP secretary of state in Washington dating back to 1965 before taking a key election security job in the Biden administration.

Hobbs is seeking to fill the remaining two years of Wymans term, and has pointed to his experience as a Washington National Guard lieutenant colonel and his months running the office to say why hes best positioned to address issues ranging from cybersecurity concerns to election misinformation.

Anderson has said her 12 years managing elections make her best prepared for the job, and she says she believes the secretary of state's office should not be affiliated with a political party.

A competitive election for this important office is what voters deserved, Anderson said in a texted statement. Im grateful to all the voters who set aside their political interests, put their trust in me, and cast their vote for the experienced, nonpartisan candidate.

The four Republicans on the crowded ballot split the vote in such a way that gave Anderson the edge.

Sen Keith Wagoner captured most of the GOP vote, with 12.1%, followed by Bob Hagglund at just 11.9%. Former Sen. Mark Miloscia  now head of the conservative Family Policy Institute  had raised the most money among the Republicans but trailed in fifth place. Tamborine Borrelli, an America First candidate who was fined by the state Supreme Court in June for making legally meritless claims alleging widespread voter fraud received just over 4% of the vote and was in seventh place.

In a statement, Hobbs said that Washington state continues to demonstrate the success, security and accessibility of our mail-in elections.

Im heartened by the results in our campaign for Secretary of State and look forward to reaching even more voters before the general election this fall, he wrote.

In addition to being the states chief elections officer, the secretary of state also serves as chief corporations officer and supervisor of the state archives and state library.
BOSTON (AP)  A former Boston high school dean already in prison for shooting a student he recruited to deal drugs has pleaded guilty to a federal gang-related charge.

Shaun Harrison, 63, who was known by students at The English High School as Rev, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court on Tuesday to a count of racketeering conspiracy more than two years after he was indicted alongside dozens of other Latin Kings members, leaders and associates.

Harrison was convicted in state court in 2018 of assault and other charges, and sentenced to up to 26 years in prison for shooting a 17-year-old student in the back of the head after a dispute over slumping drug sales. The bullet broke the teens jawbone and just missed his carotid artery, and he survived.

Harrison lived a double life, painting himself as an anti-violence activist and mentor for troubled teens while hiding his own gang ties and luring students into drugs and violence, according to authorities. Harrison denied the charges.

While locked up in state prison, federal prosecutors accused him of working with fellow gang members from behind bars to try to identify a police informant in his case. Harrison's plea deal in the federal case calls for a sentence of about 18 years in prison.

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins said Harrison exploited his position of trust to corrupt and coerce vulnerable and at-risk children into a world of criminal activity.

He used his position of trust to find his victims and groom them. It is truly disgusting, she said in an emailed statement.

An attorney representing Harrison in the federal case declined on Wednesday to comment.

Federal prosecutors say Harrison is the 60th defendant to plead guilty in the massive Latin Kings case stemming from an investigation dubbed Operation Throne Down. Two defendants are still wanted on federal arrest warrants, authorities say.

A federal judge recently ordered Harrison to pay more than $10 million in damages to the former student he was convicted of trying to kill, but it's unclear whether the victim will ever get any money from Harrison.

The default judgement includes $7.5 million in damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress; $2.5 million in punitive damages; and more than $80,000 for the victims medical bills.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea's government stressed Wednesday it will make its own decisions in strengthening its defenses against North Korean threats, rejecting Chinese calls that it continue the polices of Seouls previous government that refrained from adding more U.S. anti-missile batteries that are strongly opposed by Beijing.

The differences between South Korea and China underscored a reemerging rift between the countries just a day after their top diplomats met in eastern China and expressed hope that the issue wouldnt become a stumbling stone in relations.

Bilateral ties took a significant hit in 2017 when South Korea installed a missile battery employing the U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, in response to nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

The decision drew an angry reaction from China, which said the anti-missile system could be reconfigured to peer into its territory. Beijing retaliated by suspending Chinese group tours to South Korea and obliterating the China business of South Korean supermarket giant Lotte, which had provided land for the missile system.

South Koreas previous president, Moon Jae-in, a liberal who pursued engagement with North Korea, tried to repair relations with Beijing by pledging the Three Nos - that Seoul wouldnt deploy any additional THAAD systems, wouldnt participate in U.S.-led missile defense networks and wouldnt form a trilateral military alliance with Washington and Tokyo.

Moons dovish approach has been discarded by his conservative successor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed stronger security cooperation with Washington and expressed a willingness to acquire more THAAD batteries to counter accelerating North Korean efforts to expand its nuclear weapon and missile programs.

Commenting on Tuesdays meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a briefing Wednesday reaffirmed Beijings stance that the THAAD system in South Korea undermines its strategic security interests.

He added that Seoul had committed to a policy of Three Nos and One Limit, the latter apparently referring to a pledge to limit the operations of the THAAD battery already in place, something Seoul has never publicly acknowledged.

The two foreign ministers had another in-depth exchange of views on the THAAD issue, making clear their respective positions and enhancing mutual understanding, Wang said. He said the minsters agreed to attach importance to each others legitimate concerns and to continue to handle and control the issue prudently to prevent it from becoming a stumbling stone in bilateral relations.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it understands that Wang was referring to the policies of the Moon government with the Three Nos and One Limit remark.

It said the Yoon government has maintained that THAAD is a defensive tool for protecting South Korean lives and property and a national security matter that Seoul isnt willing to negotiate with Beijing. It also insisted that the Three Nos were never a formal agreement or promise.

During the meeting, both sides confirmed their differences over the THAAD matter, but also agreed that the issue should not become an obstacle that influences relations between the countries, the ministry said.

South Korea, a longtime U.S. ally, has struggled to strike a balance between the United States and the increasingly assertive foreign policy of Chinese President Xi Jinpings government.

Deepening conflicts between Washington and Beijing over a broad range of issues including Taiwan, Hong Kong, trade and Chinese claims to large sections of the South China and East China Seas have increased fears in Seoul that it would become squeezed between its treaty ally and largest trading partner.

During his meeting with Park, Wang Yi said the countries should be free from external interference and shouldnt interfere in each others domestic affairs, an apparent jab at Seouls tilt toward Washington.

Wang also called for the countries to work together to maintain stable industrial supply chains, a possible reference to fears that Chinese technology policy and U.S. security controls might split the world into separate markets with incompatible standards and products, slowing innovation and raising costs. South Korea is facing pressure from the Biden administration to participate in a U.S.-led semiconductor alliance involving Taiwan and Japan which China opposes.

___

Associated Press video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)  Sri Lanka's justice minister submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Parliament on Wednesday that would clip the powers of the president, a key demand of protesters calling for political reforms and solutions to the countrys worst economic crisis.

The action came as former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled violent anti-government protests last month, was reportedly seeking to enter Thailand from his temporary exile in Singapore. He fled Sri Lanka last month after thousands of angry protesters stormed his official residence, holding him responsible for the countrys economic woes.

A Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Rajapaksa would be allowed entry but had not asked for political asylum. However, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said Rajapaksa was seeking asylum in a third country, which he did not identify.

Rajapaksa was unavailable for comment.

In Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapakshe presented a bill that would transfer some presidential powers  including those to appoint independent election commission members, police and public service officials, and bribery and corruption investigators  to a constitutional council comprising lawmakers and respected non-politicians. The council would then recommend candidates for appointments that the president could choose from.

Under the proposed amendments, presidents would only be able to appoint chief justices, other senior judges, attorney generals and central bank governors on the recommendation of the council. The prime minister would recommend appointments to the Cabinet and the president would not be allowed to hold any ministry positions except defense.

The bill, which will undergo debate, must be approved by two-thirds of Sri Lankas 225-member Parliament to become law.

If passed into law, the amendments would reinstate democratic reforms made in 2015. Rajapaksa reversed those reforms and concentrated power in himself after being elected in 2019.

Current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who succeeded Rajapaksa, has promised to limit the powers of the presidency and strengthen Parliament in response to the protesters demands.

In Thailand's capital, Bangkok, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat said the Sri Lankan government had requested that Rajapaksa be allowed to enter. After fleeing Sri Lanka last month, Rajapaksa first went to neighboring Maldives in a Sri Lankan military plane and then to Singapore.

Protesters blame mismanagement and corruption by the Rajapaksa family for the economic crisis that has led to serious shortages of essentials such as medicines, food and fuel. The island nation is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout program.

Rajapaksas older brother, Mahinda Rajapaksa, resigned as prime minister in May. Three other close family members resigned from their Cabinet positions before him.

Thai spokesperson Tanee said in a text message to journalists that under a 2013 bilateral agreement, Rajapaksa is able to enter Thailand without a visa for 90 days because he holds a Sri Lankan diplomatic passport.

The stay is temporary in nature with the aim of onward travel, Tanee said. No political asylum has been sought.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth, speaking to reporters, said he was aware of Rajapaksa's intended visit and that it was allowed for humanitarian reasons because the former president was seeking asylum in a third country. He did not elaborate.

S. Khan, director general of public diplomacy at Sri Lankas Foreign Ministry, said she had no comment about the Thai statements.

Sri Lankans have staged massive street protests for four months demanding democratic reforms and solutions to the countrys economic collapse.

Last month, a human rights group filed a criminal complaint with Singapores attorney general seeking Rajapaksa's arrest for alleged war crimes during Sri Lankas civil war. He was was defense secretary during the conflict, which ended in 2009.

The International Truth and Justice Project - an evidence-gathering organization administered by a South Africa-based nonprofit foundation - said its lawyers filed the complaint requesting Rajapaksas immediate arrest. The complaint alleges Rajapaksa committed grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions during the civil war and that they are subject to domestic prosecution in Singapore under universal jurisdiction.

Sri Lankas civil war, in which Tamil Tiger rebels fought to create an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils, resulted in the deaths of 100,000 people, according to conservative United Nations estimates. The actual number is believed to be much higher. A report from a U.N. panel of experts said at least 40,000 Tamil civilians died in the final months of fighting alone.

___

This story corrects that the director general of public diplomacy at Sri Lankas Foreign Ministry is a female.

-

Associated Press journalist Tassanee Vejpongsa in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media Left: Dominic Rapini, Republican nominee for Secretary of the State. Right: Stephanie Thomas (middle), Democratic nominee for Secretary of the State. | John Moritz; Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Democrat Stephanie Thomas easily claimed her partys nomination in the open race for secretary of the state, defeating a primary challenge from New Haven City Health Director Maritza Bond. Shortly thereafter, Republican Dominic Rapini claimed victory over Terrie Wood for the GOP nomination.

With more than half the precincts in the state reporting at about 11 p.m., Thomas lead with about 77 percent of the vote held steady, while Rapini had a lead with about 58 percent of the Republican votes.

One of three open positions for statewide office this year, the race for secretary of the state drew a broad field of candidates from both parties after Denise Merrill announced in June that she would not run for reelection after serving three terms.

Merrill later stepped down from office early in order to care for her ailing husband, prompting Gov. Ned Lamont to name Mark Kohler as interim secretary of the state until after the election. Kohler is not running for a full term in office.

Focus on the office  which oversees elections and business filings, along with a staff of 69  has risen following unprecedented attempts to overturn the results of the last presidential election.

The Democrats in the race mostly focused on expanding access to voting, with more absentee balloting and early voting. Both Republicans, Dominic Rapini and Terrie Wood, endorsed stricter voter ID laws.

Democratic race

Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo said at about 9 p.m. that Bond had conceded the race to Thomas. About two hours later, Wood told her supporters in Darien that she planned to call Rapini to concede, saying the numbers have not worked out for her campaign.

Speaking to her supporters at The Trinity Bar in New Haven, Thomas vowed to reach out unaffiliated and Republican voters who are looking for an alternative to conspiracy theories and the sowing of misinformation, who believe that its time to invest in our democracy and make sure that we have the infrastructure to run clean elections and that our registrars and town clerks are supported.

Responding to Thomass remarks at his own watch party at the GOP headquarters in West Haven, Rapini called Thomas a fraud denier, while continuing to claim  contrary to evidence from just a handful of cases in recent years  that voter fraud remains a systemic problem in Connecticut.

Heres the problem shes going to have, if you want to solve problems, you cant deny they exist, Rapini said. As secretary of the state, I will identify problems and that way, Im the only one that can fix them because I see what the issues are, Ive been in the trenches.

Thomas, a first-term lawmaker, was considered somewhat of an underdog when she launched her campaign in December. At the Democratic Partys State Convention in May, however, she bested five other challengers to earn the partys endorsement and the top spot on Tuesdays ballot.

Two other Democratic candidates who qualified for the primary quickly dropped out after the convention, leaving Bond as Thomass only remaining challenger.

More for you CT primary results: Live updates

With little separating the two Democrats in terms of policies, Thomas and Bond mostly focused their respective campaigns on touting their distinctive personalities and professional backgrounds. Both women qualified for public financing  which Bond used to run an ad attacking Thomas for missing several votes on labor issues while in the House.

Thomas responded by calling the ad misleading in the days leading up to the primary.

GOP race

Since eking out the GOP endorsement in May, Rapini has moderated his tone when discussing the state of elections in Connecticut, offering praise for local election officials and mostly focusing on his opposition to early voting and support for voter ID.

Ive been on the record saying that Joe Biden is the duly elected president of the United States, we move on from there and focus on problems in Connecticut, Rapini said Tuesday.

Two years ago, however, Rapini was a prolific critic of Merrills office and the states handling of the 2020 election. At the time, Rapini was aligned with the Wyoming-based group Fight Voter Fraud, Inc., which submitted dozens of complaints about voter fraud before drawing a rare condemnation from the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Rapini is no longer affiliated with the group and despite his ongoing concerns, he said on Tuesday that he would not make voter fraud a priority during a general election campaign.

There were three candidates in the Republican primary race until last month, when longtime party official Brock Weber dropped out, citing an unrealistic path to obtaining the nomination. Wood, a seven-term state representative, has said she disagrees with the narrative that there are barriers to voting, but has also rebuffed claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 election.

Democrats have held the secretary of the states office since the mid-1990s. Pauline R. Kezer, the last Republican office-holder, launched an unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1994 rather than running for reelection.

The November general election will also include Libertarian Harold Harris of Glastonbury, the Green Partys Douglas Lary of Willimantic along with Independent Partys Cynthia Jennings of Hartford.

Reporter Brianna Gurciullo contributed to this story.
As students prepare to head back to school, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services will hand out hundreds of backpacks to children throughout the state, according to a news release.

Businesses around Texas donated the backpacks loaded with school supplies to nonprofit Partnerships for Change, which supports children and families connected with Child Protective Services.
BEIRUT (AP)  President Joe Biden said Wednesday the U.S. is certain that the Syrian government is holding American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in the war-torn country a decade ago. He urged Damascus to help bring Tice back home.

Bidens comments came in a statement released by the White House to mark the 10th anniversary of Tice's abduction, which took place when he was in Syria covering its now lengthy conflict. They were the clearest indication so far that the U.S. is certain Tice is being held by the government of President Bashar Assad.

Tice went missing shortly after his 31st birthday on Aug. 14, 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of the capital Damascus. A video released a month later showed him blindfolded and held by armed men, saying Oh, Jesus. He has not been heard from since.

We know with certainty that he has been held by the Government of Syria, Biden said in the statement adding that we have repeatedly asked the government of Syria to work with us so that we can bring Austin home.

On the tenth anniversary of his abduction, I am calling on Syria to end this and help us bring him home, Biden said. He added there is no higher priority in my Administration than the recovery and return of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad.

Four years ago, then-U.S. envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, said Tice is believed to be alive and held hostage in Syria. He didnt say why officials believe this or who might be holding him.

In May, top Lebanese security official Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim met with U.S. officials in Washington as part of mediation efforts between the U.S. and Syria for Tices release. Ibrahim, the chief of Lebanons General Security Directorate, has mediated complicated hostage releases in the past.

Tice is one of two Americans who went missing in Syria. The other is Majd Kamalmaz, a psychologist from Virginia, who vanished in Syria in 2017.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said in a statement that we will continue to pursue all available avenues to bring Austin home and work tirelessly until we succeed in doing so.

Blinken said Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens will continue to engage with the Syrian government in close coordination with the White House, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and the State Department.

In 2016, then- Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told The Associated Press that Austin Tice is not in the hands of Syrian authorities and we dont have any information about him at all. Mekdad is currently Syrias foreign minister.

In May, Biden met Tices parents and reiterated his commitment to continue to work through all available avenues to secure Austins long overdue return to his family.

Tice is from Houston and his work had been published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets. He went to Syria to cover the conflict that started in 2011 and has since left hundreds of thousands dead and nearly half the pre-war population of 23 million displaced. More than 5 million of the displaced are refugees outside the country.

In the final months of the Trump administration, two U.S. officials  including the governments top hostage negotiator, Carstens  made a secret visit to Damascus to seek information on Tice and other Americans who have disappeared in Syria. It was the highest-level talk in years between the U.S. and Assads government, though Syrian officials offered no meaningful information on Tice.

The Tice family deserves answers, and more importantly, they deserve to be swiftly reunited with Austin, Biden said.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  After a moment when hopes dimmed that the United States could become an international leader on climate change, legislation that Congress is poised to approve could rejuvenate the countrys reputation and bolster its efforts to push other nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more quickly.

The head-snapping turn of events, which has generated a joyful case of whiplash among Democrats and environmentalists, is a reminder of how domestic politics is intertwined with worldwide diplomacy.

Advocates feared that last month's breakdown in negotiations in Congress had undermined efforts to limit the catastrophic effects of global warming. Now they're energized by the opportunity to tout an unprecedented U.S. success.

This says, Were back, baby, said Jennifer Turner, who works on international climate issues as director of the Woodrow Wilson Center's China Environment Forum in Washington.

The legislation, which also has provisions on taxes and prescription drugs, includes about $375 billion over the next decade for clean energy development and financial incentives for buying electric cars, installing solar panels and weaning the power grid off fossil fuels. Although the proposals were downsized during difficult negotiations, it's the single biggest investment in climate change in U.S. history, and a significant shift from years of inaction that limited Washington's clout overseas.

The Senate passed the legislation on Sunday, and the House is expected to approve it on Friday. Then it goes to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Poor nations remain concerned that rich countries like the United States have not fulfilled financial commitments to help them cope with global warming and transition to clean energy, something the legislation does not address. But Biden can still point to it as evidence that the U.S. political system can address the worlds most pressing problems.

Our ability to have credibility on the global stage depends on our ability to deliver at home, said Ali Zaidi, the White House deputy national climate adviser. We are the pace car. That helps other people go faster and faster.

After President Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris climate accord, Biden entered office pledging to rejoin the fight against global warming. He set an ambitious new target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions  at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030  and began proposing policies to put the country on track.

The legislation that Biden is expected to sign is estimated to reduce emissions between 31% to 44%, according to an analysis by the Rhodium Group, an independent research firm. Further regulatory steps by the administration could close the rest of the gap.

Its good that finally the U.S. is trying to catch up after years of dragging its feet on climate change and this investment will go a long way to undoing some of the harm caused by the administration of President Trump," said Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a think tank based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The movement on the bill comes just three months before the next U.N. conference on climate change, which is known as COP27 and will take place in Egypt.

Lets hope this legislation is the start of more international cooperation in the lead up to the COP27 summit, where the most vulnerable get the support they need, Adow said.

Although the U.S. will still face entrenched skepticism, the progress in Washington may also give John Kerry, the White House's special envoy on climate, more momentum going into the conference in November.

It puts wind in his sail, it gives him a real credibility boost, Turner said. This will change the whole dynamic."

Several experts said the U.S. will be empowered to put more pressure on China, India and other nations that have high emissions but have been unwilling to cut back for economic reasons.

This restores some diplomatic legitimacy to the U.S. as an influential player in international climate negotiations, said Scott Moore, director of China Programs and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.

Shayak Sengupta, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation America, a Washington-based affiliate of a think tank in India, was less enthusiastic.

Considering that this bill is long over due after years of U.S. climate inaction, many countries may view this as the bare minimum of the U.S.s historical and moral responsibility for climate, he said.

Sengupta emphasized that poor nations are still looking for rich countries to fulfill their $100 billion commitment for financial assistance to address global warming, an issue that's been a sore spot during international negotiations.

There will be no shortage of other challenges, too. If Republicans retake Congress or the White House, they could unravel Biden's progress. Supply chains could struggle to accommodate increased demand for equipment like solar panels and batteries. China's foreign ministry on Friday announced the country is cutting off direct climate talks with the U.S. in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to Taiwan, severing a rare point of longstanding, if sometimes tumultuous, cooperation between the two countries.

However, experts said China will still take notice if the U.S. succeeds in becoming a clean energy powerhouse.

For a while now, China has been leading in clean energy investment globally, said Xizhou Zhou, an expert in climate and sustainability at S&P Global, a global research firm. They will probably see this legislation as a competitive move.

Deborah Seligsohn, an expert on Chinas politics and energy at Villanova University and a former U.S. diplomat in Beijing, said the result could be lower prices globally.

To the extent the U.S. starts really investing in things that compete with key Chinese businesses  in solar, wind, electric vehicles, batteries  I think youre going to see Chinese businesses interested in ramping up their competitiveness in these industries, by making better products and bringing prices down," she said.

That could have a ripple effect around the world.

Developing countries may see prices for renewable energy going down, and adoption going up," Seligsohn said.

Vibhuti Garg, an energy economist focused on India, said U.S. investment in clean energy research could pay dividends in poorer nations that don't have the same resources to develop new technologies.

The U.S. can share the technology know-how with other countries, especially the Global South, she said.

Aditya Ramji, from the Institute of Transportation Studies at University of California, Davis, said that cooperation  along with financial help  will be critical.

At some point there will have to be discussions on how they can provide intellectual property access or lower costs to countries like India and others to leverage electric vehicle technology, he said.

Climate activists said the U.S. legislation is just one step on a larger path towards climate action. More progress is needed to put the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), a target that some scientists believe is slipping out of reach.

We need to fight for political commitments in other countries," said climate activist Luisa Neubauer, a leading figure in the Fridays for Future activist movement.

"Thats the only way we will manage to turn this from a year of fossil fuel backlash to a year of climate justice, she said.

___

Associated Press writers Frank Jordans in Berlin and Sibi Arasu in Bangalore, India, contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former President Donald Trump showed up Wednesday for questioning under oath in New York's civil investigation into his business practices. But he quickly made clear he wouldn't be answering.

The ex-president issued a statement saying he had done nothing wrong but was invoking the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination. It's a constitutional right that gets high-profile exposure in settings from Congress to TV crime shows, but there are nuances. Here's what it means  and doesn't  to plead (or take) the Fifth."

WHAT IS THE FIFTH?

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishes a number of rights related to legal proceedings, including that no one shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

In the most direct sense, that means criminal defendants don't have to give damning testimony in their own cases. But it has come to apply in non-criminal contexts, too.

WHAT'S THE THINKING BEHIND IT?

It reflects many of our fundamental values and most noble aspirations, the Supreme Court wrote in 1964.

Among those ideals: preventing people from being tortured into confessing or being shoehorned into a cruel trilemma of self-accusation, perjury or contempt of court.

Many decades earlier, the court also questioned the reliability of confessions made under duress.

THE AMENDMENT SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO CRIMINAL CASES. HOW CAN IT APPLY TO A CIVIL INVESTIGATION?

Over time, the Fifth Amendment's protections have been understood to cover witnesses  not just defendants  in criminal and civil courts and other government settings. The Supreme Court has even held that Fifth Amendment rights protected the jobs of public employees who were fired after refusing to testify in investigations unless they got immunity from prosecution.

The Fifth Amendment also underpins the famous Miranda warning about the right to remain silent and have an attorney on hand while being questioned in police custody.

SO ARE THERE ANY LIMITATIONS?

Under what has become the legal standard, the witness has to be facing a genuine risk of criminal prosecution, said Paul Cassell, a criminal law professor at the University of Utah. That means prosecution on any charge in any U.S. court.

There are sometimes disputes over whether the right is being invoked inappropriately. The questioning side can ask a judge to declare that someone needs to answer or face contempt of court and possible penalties.

But the courts have generally thought that they should give the benefit of the doubt to someone who might be criminally prosecuted, rather than force someone to testify and then learn: Whoops!" Cassell said.

OK. CAN SOMEONE WHO TAKES THE FIFTH DECIDE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS, BUT NOT OTHERS?

Yes, its not necessarily all-or-nothing. But even deciding to answer selectively could be risky: Responding to one question can enable the other side to argue that the witness cant refuse to answer other, related questions. Another concern: seemingly safe questions could be meant to build evidence about an allegation thats not on the witness radar yet.

IF YOU INVOKE THE PROTECTION, DOES THAT WORK AGAINST YOU?

Legally, it depends. In a criminal case, prosecutors cant comment on a defendants refusal to testify, and a jury cant be advised that its OK to take defendants silence as a sign of guilt. The Supreme Court has said that allowing that inference penalizes defendants for simply availing themselves of a constitutional protection.

But in civil cases, jurors generally are allowed to hold silence against a defendant or witness.

Then theres the court of public opinion.

Does it look bad? In the general publics understanding, yes, says Howard University criminal law professor Lenese Herbert. But thats just a result of poor civics education.

The former federal prosecutor often reminds her students that while jurors might want to hear a defendants side of the story, its a defense attorneys job to make sure the jury understands that the client has the right not to take the stand.

CAN WE GET BACK TO TRUMP? HE'S BEING QUESTIONED IN A CIVIL INVESTIGATION. CAN HE CLAIM THERE'S POTENTIAL FOR CRIMINAL PROSECUTION?

Indeed, his lawyers have already asserted that New York Attorney General Letitia James' civil inquiry is essentially a fact-finding mission for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's parallel criminal probe.

James has said her investigation found evidence that the businessman-turned-politicians company, called the Trump Organization, puffed up the value of real estate assets to snag loans, insurance and tax breaks for land donations. Trump has denied the allegations, and the Republican has slammed the investigation as a political witch hunt by Democratic officials.

Meanwhile, other fruits of James' probe led the DA's office to bring criminal tax fraud charges against the Trump Organization and its finance chief. The defendants have pleaded not guilty in that case, which involves claims of off-the-books compensation.

WHAT HAS TRUMP SAID ABOUT ALL THIS?

In the past, Trump has repeatedly suggested that only people with something to hide avail themselves of the protection against self-incrimination. He once declared that the mob takes the Fifth.

But on Wednesday, he said he had no choice but to do so.

I once asked, If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?' Now I know the answer to that question, he said in his statement, calling the probe a vindictive and self-serving fishing expedition.

The United States Constitution exists for this very purpose, and I will utilize it to the fullest extent to defend myself against this malicious attack.

Trump lawyer Ronald Fischetti had said he'd advise Trump to take the Fifth unless given legal immunity for his answers, though Fischetti complained that publicity surrounding such a choice now could harm Trumps defense if theres a criminal charge down the road.

How can I possibly pick a jury in that case? Fischetti said in trying, unsuccessfully, to block Wednesday's testimony.

Three of Trump's adult children  Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric  have already been questioned. Eric Trump invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 500 times during his 2020 deposition, according to a court filing. Donald Jr. and Ivanka reportedly gave their depositions recently, and it's yet unclear whether they took the Fifth.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A woman who worked in a county clerk's office in West Virginia has been charged with taking funds paid to the office for back taxes.

Elizabeth Marie Sampson, 44, of Elkview, worked in the Kanawha County Clerk's Office, where she is accused of taking more than $21,000 and using it for herself, news outlets reported, citing court records.
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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP)  When Israeli bombs began falling last week, 22-year-old Duniana al-Amour ran into her room and tried to escape into her art and drawing, just as she had during Gaza's past wars.

But this time around, her pencil never met the paper.

An Israeli shell struck outside her home on Friday, making her one of the first of at least 47 Palestinians  including 16 children  who were killed during three days of heavy fighting between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group. She was killed during Israel's surprise opening salvo, hours before militants had fired any rockets.

Her drawings, mostly black and white portraits of relatives, some killed in previous rounds of fighting in Gaza, can be seen in the shattered bedroom where she died. Her mother, her brother and two sisters-in-law were in another room baking bread and suffered only minor injuries. Days later, the bread sits out on a wooden tray  a still-life from the moment the shell hit.

One of her sisters-in-law, Simone, said al-Amour's life revolved around her art. She painted whether she was happy or sad. She would bring a chair to the backyard, sit and draw. She drew all of us," Simone said.

Her death underscores the vulnerability of Palestinian civilians during the frequent conflicts, including four wars fought between Israel and the territory's militant Hamas rulers since they seized power in Gaza 15 years ago. The wars have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, over half of whom were civilians, according to the United Nations. More than 100 people have been killed on the Israeli side.

Those killed during the latest violence include two senior Islamic Jihad commanders, one of whom Israel said it targeted in order to foil an imminent attack. But many civilians also perished, including as many as 16 who might have been killed by rockets misfired by Palestinian militants.

Islamic Jihad fired some 1,100 rockets, but the Israeli military said some 200 fell short and most of the rest were intercepted or fell in open areas. No Israelis were killed or seriously wounded in the latest round of fighting.

An Egyptian brokered cease-fire ended the violence late Sunday, but grief still hangs over the impoverished territory.

Gaza has also been under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade since the Hamas takeover, which Israel says is needed to keep the militants from re-arming. Critics view the blockade, which severely limits movement in and out of the narrow seaside territory  home to more than 2 million Palestinians  as collective punishment.

Al-Amour had tried to escape Gaza's tribulations through art. Her relatives said she had little interest in politics and dreamed of making a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.

Her family home, nestled among farmland and olive groves near the border, was a bucolic escape from Gaza's densely-packed cities and refugee camps. It was also on the front line whenever a new round of fighting broke out.

The Israeli military said it precisely attacked legitimate military targets during the latest operation and made every effort to prevent and minimize harm to civilians. It did not immediately comment on the strike near al-Amour's home.

Israel destroyed several guard towers manned by Palestinian militants near the border, apparently with artillery or tank shells, including one about 500 meters (yards) from al-Amour's family home. The military distributed video showing some of the hits  the towers going up in smoke and the men inside vanishing in a flash.

All the family knows is that the shell that killed al-Amour came from the direction of the border fence. Mohammed al-Amour, Duniana's grieving brother, said that Israel, with its sophisticated surveillance and targeting capabilities, had to have known what it was aiming at.

They brag about this technology," he said. "They know who is a civilian or not.

___ Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario, contributed to this report.
By J.L. Odom

Bay City News Foundation

Nestled on Berkeley's San Pablo Avenue is an iconic fixture in its own right -- an independent, non-profit publisher that has withstood the general test of time and the specific circumstances of publishing industry challenges and COVID-19. That fixture is Heyday Books, founded in 1974 and still going strong in 2022.

Heyday publisher Steve Wasserman comments, "There was no question that two years ago, on the onset [of the pandemic], we, like most businesses in the country, really suffered an initial hiccup, to say the least. ... But in the last two years, we've enjoyed the most robust sales in the company's nearly 50-year history. Turns out that the kinds of books that we publish are really books that people want to own."

Over the course of its almost five decades, Heyday has published more than 250 titles; it currently puts out 18 to 20 titles a year -- a mixture of reprints and new releases. Most of the books in that steady publishing stream are nonfiction, and many focus on California, stemming from Heyday founder Malcolm Margolin's fascination with the state's landscape, Native cultures and history.

Wasserman shares about Margolin's initial California encounter, "When Malcolm got to these shores and looked out across the Golden Gate and saw the sun beginning to set, he said, 'I need not travel any farther. I've reached the promised land.'"

Having driven across the country in a VW van and eventually settling in Berkeley, Margolin was inspired to learn more about where he lived -- the environment, nature and Indigenous communities, such as the Ohlone. The interest in becoming better acquainted with California's past in connection with its present subsequently led to Margolin's self-publishing of his own book, "The Ohlone Way," as well as to his establishment of Heyday.

Wasserman notes, "Very quickly, Heyday began to publish books celebrating and defending nature and the environment. It had a special interest in California's more than 100 tribes, and it had a particular interest in the ways in which these Native peoples resisted the effort to exterminate them and had sought ways to preserve their culture through tactics of resilience and survival."

Margolin retired in 2016 and is now Heyday's publisher emeritus; the publishing company is now co-led by Wasserman, who's been in the publisher role for six years, and Gayle Wattawa, general manager and editorial director.

Says Wattawa of Heyday, "I've been there 18 years now. And I mean, I love it. ... It's just a really, really cool place with very cool people. We do books that just make you feel like work has meaning."

Heyday continues to publish California-focused work, with standouts such as Leanne Hinton's books on California's Indigenous languages, artist Tom Killion's Mount Tamalpais prints and note cards, John Muir Laws' nature-themed guides of the Sierras and Obi Kaufmann's bestselling California field atlases.

Kaufmann's "The Coasts of California: A California Field Atlas," released in April 2022, features watercolor illustrations and maps as well as detailed information about the coastline. It is the third in his series of field atlases; the fourth installment, on California's deserts, is in progress.

Wasserman comments, "Each of these books are about 500 pages, several 100 drawings, color throughout. ... He's just a remarkable talent, and we have been extraordinarily pleased to provide a home for this remarkable work."

There's also Heyday's renowned Berkeley Roundhouse program -- celebrating its 10th anniversary -- that draws attention to California Indian cultures and history via Heyday Books and the quarterly magazine, News From Native California, in its 35th year.

Says Wattawa, "The program has been wonderful -- very well supported in the community, by writers. And a California Native [Terria Smith] is leading the program."

Heyday's expansive catalog includes genres such as "Politics," "Social Justice," "African American Studies," "Asian and Asian American Studies" and "Latinx Studies." Notably, Heyday recently published Atava Garcia Swiecicki's "The Curanderx Toolkit: Reclaiming Ancestral Latinx Plant Medicine and Rituals for Healing."

Wattawa explains, "It's all about curanderismo and all these Latinx heritage ancestral urban infusions and healing and energy, and it's really cool. It's an area we definitely want to do more with Latinx writers, thinkers and artists."

The titles Heyday publishes certainly have a multitude of readers in California, but their popularity -- and purchases -- also extend beyond the Golden State, thanks in large part to their national distribution through Publishers Group West.

As Wasserman shares, "That's one of the things that I was keen to put into place because I always thought that California was not only a physical place, but it was also a state of mind. ... There is something widely known as the California Dream -- a dream of enfranchisement and equity. And I thought that the potential readership for the books of Heyday was far larger than just the readers who happen to live in the state of California. So now our books can be found in bookstores all over the country, and even internationally."

Both Wasserman and Wattawa are looking forward to celebrating Heyday's 50th anniversary, as it signifies the opportunity to continue adding to its publisher catalog and expand its readership ever further. Fifty years is also a milestone for any organization to reach, especially for a publishing company.

Wasserman notes, "In this world, it is very easy to kill off things. It's very hard to give birth to things, much less institutions that can survive the challenges that are presented over time and circumstance. And this is particularly true for publishers because we live in an age where the art of reading and attention spans are under siege by all the distractions of the industrial infotainment industry."

But there's just something about a physical book, particularly one that both the author and the publishing company put considerable time and effort into, as well as thoughtfulness toward, that continues to resonate with readers.

As Wasserman assesses, "People can sense that the object in the hand is a pleasure that is really unrivaled. And it's not just a mere conveyance of information, but it's the notion that within these pages, we are offering something that looks like hope. That finds a genuine echo of enthusiasm among many readers, and certainly enough readers to support our staff to keep us in business. And actually, not only to help us survive, but also to thrive."

For more information about Heyday Books' forthcoming releases and upcoming events, visit https://www.heydaybooks.com/.

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
A state bill aimed at allocating $18 billion in federal money for environmentally and socially disadvantaged communities gets high scores for promoting gender and racial equity, according to the Gender Equity Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank that exposes the impacts of policies, processes and practices of businesses and government.

Assembly Bill 2419, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, D-Culver City, scored 94 out of 100, meaning if enacted it would be "transformative," institute president Nancy Cohen said.

The bill would mandate that California spend 40 percent of the $45 billion the state receives from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act toward environmentally and socially disadvantaged communities. State agencies that allocate the funds will have choices over how they define disadvantaged.

Backed by a slew of public health leaders and politicians on the state and local level, State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, led the first meeting Tuesday of the California Legislature's new Senate Select Committee on Monkeypox.

This spring, the viral disease rapidly made its way from central and West Africa to the United States and other parts of the world, mainly contracted by close skin-to-skin contact between people.

As cases rose in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last week and the selected committee formed in response.

Weiner believes the federal government could have done more to keep up its stockpile of the Jynneos vaccine, a smallpox vaccine that's proven to be effective for monkeypox. Over 20 million vaccine doses expired without replacement, he said at Tuesday's meeting.

A three-acre vegetation fire near Petaluma has been contained, Cal Fire reported at 5:05 p.m. on Tuesday.

Cal Fire first reported the blaze located near Adobe Road and Stage Gulch Road around 4:45 p.m.

Crews will stay on the scene for a few hours putting out hot spots, the agency said.

Anyone traveling or living in the area should use caution.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday acknowledged a federal report saying the county's Head Start programs have deficiencies and non-compliance issues, saying the county would fix them within the recommended time frames to avoid losing federal funding.

The audit was done by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 21-25. According to a staff report for Tuesday's meeting, the county on July 14 received a report from the federal agency's Administration for Children and Families (ACF) concerning Contra Costa County Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

The report found an area of non-compliance and five deficiencies in four service areas: program governance, safety practices, ongoing fiscal capacity and ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement.

A man was stabbed Sunday in Benicia, the police department said on social media.

Officers responded at approximately 9:49 p.m. to a report of a stabbing in the 300 block of Allen Way. Upon arrival, police discovered an 18-year-old man with multiple stab wounds. He was transported to the hospital and his current condition is not known.

According to the Benicia police, it appears that the stabbing followed an altercation that occurred after a woman who was with the suspect texted the victim to come and pick her up. When the victim arrived, he and the suspect got into an argument at which time the suspect stabbed him.

Police allege that the weapon was recovered and seized.

The 19-year-old suspect was booked into the Solano County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. The gender and name of the suspect have not been released.

Police in Fremont are searching for an identified suspect in a sexual assault that occurred Tuesday morning, the department has announced.

At approximately 8:55 a.m., dispatch received a call from community members reporting a distraught woman in the area of Paseo Padre Parkway and Mowry Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a woman who said she was victim of a sexual assault. She was taken to the hospital and she is expected to survive, police said.

Fremont Police obtained a search warrant for a location believed to be associated with the investigation. A potential suspect has been identified, police said, and they are "actively" searching for them.

One person was detained as a result of the investigation, but the individual was soon determined to have been a witness, police said.

A postal worker was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday and packages and his cellphone were taken in San Francisco's Ingleside neighborhood, police said.

Officers responded at 5:01 p.m. to the area of Lee and Holloway avenues regarding a robbery that had just occurred. The victim said he was working and was sitting in his parked postal vehicle when he noticed a male pointing a gun at him and another male next to him, police said.

The suspects demanded the man's property. He complied and the suspects stole several packages and the victim's cellphone.

The suspects fled the scene and officers have not located them during the preliminary investigation. The U.S. Postal Police are also investigating.

There are 31 confirmed cases of monkeypox in Contra Costa County, with another 13 suspected cases, health officials told the county board of supervisors Tuesday.

"While the numbers are still small, they are growing every week. 16 of our 31 cases have been in West County and 10 in Central County," county health officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli told the board. "Ten of the cases of 31 have been in Hispanic or Latino men."

Tzviel said there are more than 1,300 cases in California that are confirmed, with the majority in San Francisco and Los Angeles Counties. Contra Costa Health Services has vaccinated more than 845 people in county clinics in recent weeks, said Tzvieli.

Police in Union City have released more information about a shooting that occurred on Aug. 3 in which a man was wounded. Police have learned that the victim had been attempting to aid a woman who had just been robbed when the suspects shot him, police said.

Officers were dispatched to the area of 8th and H Streets at approximately 12:36 p.m. after a report of a shooting. Upon arriving, police discovered a 44-year-old man that had been shot once in the leg. The victim was transported to the hospital and survived.

Police have learned that the man who was shot had been driving in the area when he witnessed two suspects rob a woman of her jewelry. The suspects fled towards a getaway vehicle and the male victim followed them in order to get their license plate and vehicle information. During the process, the victim said the suspects shot him.

Three suspects were taken into custody in Oakland later that day, Union City Police said.

Police in Petaluma are seeking a suspect that robbed and assaulted a man at gunpoint Tuesday evening.

Police received a call at 9:08 p.m. from a man who said he had just been robbed while walking on St. Francis Drive near Caulfield Lane. The victim said he was approached from behind by one male subject who pushed him against a wall and pressed a suspected firearm into his back.

The suspect demanded the victim's wallet and cellphone and then struck the victim in the face with a metal object, which appeared to be a firearm, police said. The victim went to the hospital with minor injuries.

The suspect is described as a male of an unknown race weighing approximately 200 pounds, standing about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and wearing dark clothing.

Police in Palo Alto arrested a man Monday on suspicion of shoplifting merchandise, of physically resisting loss prevention personnel and of the attempted robbery of an elderly man, police said.

A loss prevention employee at Macy's in the Stanford Shopping Center notified police at about 3:19 p.m. on Monday that a shoplift was in progress. The loss prevention officer reported that the man had physically resisted them and had allegedly just attempted to steal a cellphone from someone in the mall as he was fleeing.

The suspect, Bryan Michael Flint, 49, from Santa Cruz, had allegedly tried to steal $350 worth of merchandise. The male and female loss prevention officers claimed that Flint shoved them when they attempted to place him under a private person's arrest. The officers followed him through the mall and said they allegedly witnessed Flint attempt to snatch a cellphone out of the hand of an 80-year-old man who was sitting on a bench, but the man thwarted his attempt.

Fremont police are seeking an at-risk man Jorge Linares, 49, who was last seen Tuesday afternoon in Fremont.

In a 3:19 a.m. news release Wednesday, police describe Linares as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing about 235 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt, gray or black sweat pants and gray shoes.

Police urge anyone who sees Linares to contact them at (510) 790-6800.

The National Weather Service forecast for the greater San Francisco Bay Area calls for mostly sunny skies Wednesday, with daytime highs expected in the mid 60s along the coast, in the 70s around the bay and reaching the mid 80s in the interior areas of the North and East Bay. Overnight lows are expected in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Copyright  2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

Copyright  2022 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Criminal Case Disposition Report

July 2022

Avery Jay Alvarez: Prohibited substance in a correctional facility, alcohol/drugs/phone/tobacco  convicted; confinement  4 years  Texas Department of Corrections

Gavin Craig Hernandez: Abandon or endanger a child, criminal negligence  convicted; confinement  20 months  State Jail, CSCD and Community Control  5 years

Julian Torres Guerra: Possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 1, at least 1 gram, less than 4 grams  dismissed; in the interest of justice

Sean Richard Neal: Possession of a controlled substance, penalty group 3, at least 28 grams, less than 200 grams  convicted; confinement  3 years  Texas Department of Corrections

Patrick Louis Morales: Unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon  dismissed; insufficient evidence

Kevin Dewayne Garza: Aggravated robbery  dismissed

Jennifer Diane Wade: Unauthorized use of a vehicle  convicted; confinement  2 years  Texas Department of Corrections
How is the regional behavioral health center coming along?



Slower than Midland Health CEO Russell Meyers would like.



Meyers told the Reporter-Telegram that there could be important steps taken this fall, including the architecture contract. He also said that officials are hoping to secure the land for the site. What he isnt as worried about is the cost of building a center that will be comprehensive behavioral health care center for the Permian Basin. Upon completion of the construction of the campus the facility will be operated by a partnership between the Midland County Hospital District and Ector County Hospital District, the Reporter-Telegram previously reported.

During the 2021 Legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 8, which included $40 million to expand access to mental health services in West Texas by funding construction of a new mental health-focused hospital campus  one officials are calling the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center.
The proposed Electoral Count Reform Act, which which would make explicit the process for certifying the Electoral College vote that determines the outcome of a presidential election, should never have been necessary.

Regrettably, it is, and the need to reform and clarify the process on which rests the peaceful transfer of power in this country is urgent.

The original 1887 Electoral Count Act, which admittedly was a bit vague, nevertheless held for more than 130 years. Every president has abided by the will of the electorate and surrendered power to a new administration based on the Electoral College vote until former President Donald Trump. Intent on exploiting every potential avenue  legal or illegal  for clinging to power, Trump and his allies in January 2021 attempted to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence to somehow transform his ceremonial role overseeing the count into an opportunity to nullify the will of the American people.

In a Rules Committee hearing led by Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, its chair, Klobuchar said that "the claim was made that the Electoral Count Act as it exists would allow the vice president to refuse to accept electoral votes that were lawfully cast. We watched in horror as a mob stormed the Capitol chanting 'Hang Mike Pence!' and got within 40 feet of the vice president of the United States.

We know these claims about the vice president's authority were false." Pence, thankfully, knew it too, and risked the mob's wrath that fateful Jan. 6 rather than accede to the demands of a president gone rogue.

But we may not be as fortunate next time.

It is imperative that this process be made explicit, so that there is no question as to what steps must be taken  and which are prohibited  in certifying the electoral count that officially installs the next president.

The proposed reforms are the result of months of solidly bipartisan work, led by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The group of 16 senators behind the bill, divided roughly in half between Democrats and Republicans, have pushed for sensible changes that would make explicit the vice president's limited role and protect the will of voters by ensuring that determinations made at the state level are respected by Congress.

This includes an important change that raises the threshold for senators who would raise objections. Just before the hearing, Klobuchar told an editorial writer that under the existing act, all it took was the objection of "one senator and one House member to create a delay" that would bring the counting process to a halt and begin deliberations of the objection. The proposed bill, she said, changes that to a full 20% of the members of each chamber. This retains the ability to register legitimate concerns but dramatically curtails the options of those attempting mischief.

Klobuchar, who laid much of the initial groundwork for electoral count reform in February with Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois and independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, said the bipartisan group seeing it through has produced a bill that makes other important changes. It lays out a procedure for federal court review of challenges; it would promote a more orderly transfer of power with clear guidelines as to when an incoming administration can receive federal resources.

The bill also would require states to appoint electors on Election Day, except in the case of natural disaster or other extraordinary circumstances. Congress would also be mandated to count those electoral votes that courts had determined complied with state and federal law. That should go far to limit shenanigans with "fake electors" or other obstructionist attempts to delay counting.

Is there more that could be done? Certainly. Noted Harvard constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe, together with Erwin Chemerinsky, dean at University of California, Berkeley law school and Dennis Aftergut, a former federal prosecutor, argued in a recent Washington Post commentary that while the proposed reforms represent "an excellent beginning," other, even more stringent steps  including broader protections of voting rights  will be required to protect democracy.

That may well be. But this is a solid bill that makes needed changes, with strong support in both parties in the Senate, including that of the majority and minority leaders. It is heartening to see leaders on both sides step forward to ensure the transfer of power is never again disrupted.
A surveillance image captured the day Kiely Rodni disappeared in Tahoe has been released by the Placer County Sheriff's Office.

Kiely, who is 16, was last seen between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. on August 6, near the Prosser Family Campground, about 10 minutes north of Truckee. According to the Placer County Sheriff's Office, she was attending a party "of more than 100 juveniles and young adults." Her vehicle, a silver 2013 Honda CRV, is also missing, and her phone has been out of service since she disappeared. The sheriff's office and FBI are treating the case as a possible abduction because Kiely's vehicle is still missing.

As of Thursday afternoon, law enforcement says it has no new leads.

Several new photos have been shared by the sheriff's office over the last few days. On Tuesday evening, the sheriff's office released a still caught by surveillance cameras at an unnamed local Truckee business. Detectives found the footage after contacting businesses in the area.

Kiely is seen wearing a black bodysuit and dark green Dickies pants. The image was captured at 6:08 p.m. on August 5, a few hours before she headed to the campground party.

Placer County Sheriff's Office/Handout

In a Wednesday afternoon press conference, the sheriff's office disseminated two new images: one of a hoodie Kiely is believed to have borrowed at the party and another of her missing vehicle. In a strange coincidence, the front of the black hoodie has a few lines of poetry from singer Lana del Rey. It reads: "You don't want to be forgotten. You want to disappear."

"We dont know whether Kiely was wearing that hoodie when she disappeared, but we believe it was still in her possession," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Placer County Sheriff's Office/Handout

The photo of Kiely's Honda CRV was taken over the winter when it was snowy:

Placer County Sheriff's Office/Handout

There are conflicting accounts of Kiely's plans for the evening. According to one friend who attended the Prosser party, Kiely intended to spend the night at the campground, along with many other attendees. But Kiely's mother Lindsey Rodni-Nieman said she received a text from Kiely saying she would be "straight home" in about 45 minutes.

"I told her to be safe and that I loved her. And she said, 'OK, mom, I love you, too,'" Rodni-Nieman told ABC News. "She never came home."

Search-and-rescue teams fanned out across the region looking for any sign of Kiely, with volunteers meeting each morning at the Truckee community rec center to coordinate efforts. A helicopter has been deployed for aerial sweeps along the I-80 corridor between Donner Summit and the Nevada border, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, marine units from three local sheriff's offices conducted water searches at Prosser Creek Reservoir.

"The only lead they have is Kiely's last known location before she went missing," the Placer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Wednesday morning.

Placer County Sheriff's Office/Handout

Kiely is 5-foot-7 and 115 pounds and has blonde hair, hazel eyes and a nose ring. She has multiple piercings and a tattoo of the number 17 on her ribs. Her silver Honda CRV has the California license plate 8YUR127. Kiely's family runs the Lost Trail Lodge in Truckee, about a 12-mile drive from the Prosser campground.

Anyone with information regarding Kiely's disappearance is asked to immediately contact the Placer County Sheriff's Office tip line at 530-581-6320, option 7. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be sent to sheriff_tahoeinvesttips@placer.ca.gov. The sheriff's office says it's received about 300 tips so far.
WFO LAS VEGAS Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, August 9, 2022

_____

AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY

Flood Advisory

National Weather Service Las Vegas NV

455 PM PDT Tue Aug 9 2022

...FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLASH FLOOD WARNING...

The threat of flooding continues and a Flash Flood Warning is now in

effect. Please refer to that bulletin for more information.

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

San Bernardino County in southern California...

* Until 830 PM PDT.

* At 455 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or

expected to begin shortly. This Flash Flood Warning replaces a

Flood Advisory for the area.

HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water

crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Fort Irwin, Baker, Dumont Dunes, Afton Canyon Campground and Sr

127 Near Dumont Dunes.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

...FLOOD ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 5 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON...

The Flood Advisory will expire at 5 PM PDT this afternoon for a

portion of southern California, including the following county, San

Bernardino.

Flood waters have receded. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a

threat, though moderate rainfall remains expected across northern

portions of the Mojave National Preserve. Please continue to heed

remaining road closures.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO MEDFORD Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 10, 2022

_____

RED FLAG WARNING

URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE

National Weather Service Medford OR

315 AM PDT Wed Aug 10 2022

.Strong winds aloft will gradually mix downward to all elevations

Wednesday afternoon and evening. Gusty south to southwest winds

combined with low RH and recent fire starts will lead to critical

fire weather conditions Wednesday afternoon and evening in south

central Oregon and northeast California. Critical fire weather

conditions may return to northeast Siskiyou and northwest Modoc

counties Thursday afternoon and evening.

...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO

9 PM PDT THIS EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RH FOR

FIRE WEATHER ZONES 285...

...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH

THURSDAY EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RH FOR FIRE

WEATHER ZONE 285...

The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Fire Weather

Watch...which is in effect from Thursday afternoon through

Thursday evening.

* Impacts: Strong, gusty wind with low relative humidity and

critically dry vegetation will greatly increase the spread

potential of any new and existing fires.

* Affected area:

In Northern CA...All but southwest Fire Weather Zone 285

Wednesday. Northwest Fire Weather Zone 285 Thursday.

* Wind: Southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

* Humidity: As low as 8 percent.

* View the hazard area in detail at:

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/HAZARD

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Red Flag Warning does not mean there is a fire. It means that

critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will

shortly. These conditions promote rapid spread of fire which may

become life threatening. Evacuate if ordered to, or if a fire

threatens.

A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions

are possible during the valid watch time. These conditions could

promote the rapid spread of wildfires which could become life-

threatening. Check weather.gov/medford for forecast updates and a

possible upgrade of the this watch to a Red Flag Warning.

...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 9 PM PDT

THIS EVENING FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RH FOR FIRE WEATHER

ZONE 284...

WEATHER ZONE 284...

The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Red Flag

Warning...which is in effect from 2 PM this afternoon to 9 PM PDT

this evening. A Fire Weather Watch has also been issued. This Fire

Weather Watch is in effect from Thursday afternoon through

In Northern CA...Eastern Fire Weather Zone 284.

* Wind: South to southwest 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO SAN DIEGO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, August 9, 2022

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Southeastern San Diego County in southwestern California...

* Until 630 PM PDT.

* At 317 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain

has fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 0.5 to 1 inch are

possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected

to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms

producing flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,

urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

I-8 Between Boulevard And Imperial County Line, I-8 Between Pine

Valley And Boulevard, Hwy S2 Between Canebrake And Imperial County

Line, eastern Boulevard, Jacumba, Manzanita Indian Reservation and

Campo Indian Reservation.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Scattered thunderstorms continued to hammer parts of southeastern California and southern Nevada on Tuesday, causing more flooding and shutting down more roadways in a region that has seen several days of severe storm activity amid the summer monsoon season.

"A lot of rain is what's going on," said Daniel Berc, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Las Vegas office.

The rain and flooding has already impacted many of the region's most popular national parks, including Death Valley and Joshua Tree, as well as tourist attractions like the Palm Springs Tramway. On Tuesday, storms temporarily closed a portion of the main artery between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The Nevada State Police Highway Patrol said at 4 p.m. it was closing northbound I-15 near Primm, Nev., at the California-Nevada border due to flooding at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Just before 5 p.m., I-15 reopened, the agency said.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway said on Tuesday that it will remain closed through Aug. 14, as crews clean up debris covering equipment after a flash flood on Monday. Some 200 people were "stranded at the tram's valley station for over an hour on Monday as heavy rain caused impassible mudflows along the exit road from the station," the Deseret Sun reported.

Joshua Tree National Park evacuated visitors from the southern portion of the park on Monday due to heavy monsoon rainfall, officials said. Video footage shared by the park showed a river of water rushing down the south entrance road.

Pinto Basin Road between the South Entrance (Cottonwood) and Turkey Flats, along with the Cottonwood Visitor Center and Campground, are all temporarily shut down. The northern portion of the park remains open, the park said.

Caltrans

Death Valley National Park has been shut down since Friday morning, when it was inundated with historic rainfall. Berc said the park received two-thirds of its annual precipitation in one day.

The official gauge recorded 1.46 inches on Aug. 5, nearly breaking the all-time record for most rain in a day of 1.47 inches, with records going back to 1911. Death Valley's average annual precipitation is 2.20 inches. Friday's rain was the first measurable precipitation the park had received in 2022.

"This has been a very dry year in Death Valley up until now," said Berc. "And even now, while it's nice to have some rain, thunderstorms  while destructive  have a small impact on the drought. There are parts of Death Valley that didn't see any rain on that day. On a drought front, what we really need is a lot more snow in the mountains and longer winter rain events."

State Route 190 will remain closed through at least August 17, the park said. None of the park's entrances are open.

Some 1,000 people were stranded in the park by the floods and photos show cars stuck in the mud and debris.

A monsoon refers to a seasonal reversal of wind patterns over a region. The summer monsoon is associated with an increase in thunderstorm activity; in North America, winds pull moisture from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and transport it into the Southwest U.S.

The summer monsoon is a typical weather pattern that is most pronounced in the interior southwest states of Arizona and New Mexico. Sometimes the moisture pushes northward into Nevada and California, the weather service said.

"I would say it's a very active monsoon season," said Berc. "We are seeing record levels of moisture in the atmosphere that's allowing for these heavy rainfalls. And we're seeing heavy destructive flooding. It's nearly the most rain we've seen in a day and we've seen incredible flooding. I don't like to use the word extreme but this is at the end of the bell curve."
WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, August 9, 2022

_____

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

The National Weather Service in Upton has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...

Northern Nassau County in southeastern New York...

* Until 930 PM EDT.

* At 726 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing

heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain

have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to around 1 inch are

expected in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected

to begin shortly.

HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

SOURCE...Radar.

IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban

areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as

other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...

Glen Cove, Plainview, Syosset, Mineola, Westbury, Great Neck,

Hicksville, Port Washington, Woodbury, Manhasset, Brookville,

Sands Point, Jericho, East Hills, Roslyn Heights, Manorhaven,

Kings Point, Sea Cliff, Carle Place and Searingtown.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood

deaths occur in vehicles.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of urban

areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other drainage

areas and low lying spots.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 10, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Ellis County in north central Texas...

* Until 245 PM CDT.

* At 204 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Waxahachie,

moving southeast at 5 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian, Red Oak, Palmer, Italy, Oak Leaf,

Maypearl, Bardwell, Garrett and Pecan Hill.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection get inside a sturdy structure and stay away from

windows.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO EL PASO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Tuesday, August 9, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in El Paso has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

South central Dona Ana County in south central New Mexico...

Northwestern El Paso County in western Texas...

* Until 515 PM MDT.

* At 438 PM MDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near West El Paso,

moving west at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

West El Paso, Santa Teresa, Sunland Park, Canutillo, La Union,

Vinton and Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal.

This includes Interstate 10 in Texas between mile markers 4 and 12.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to

flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 10, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Central Clay County in northern Texas...

* Until 615 PM CDT.

* At 527 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles northeast

of Henrietta, moving southwest at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Henrietta, Bellevue and northeastern Lake Arrowhead.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
WFO NORMAN Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Wednesday, August 10, 2022

_____

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

The National Weather Service in Norman has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...

Southern Cotton County in southwestern Oklahoma...

Northwestern Clay County in northern Texas...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 620 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 5 miles southwest

of Temple, moving south at 10 mph.

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage

to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...

Temple, Randlett, Taylor and Charlie.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a

building.

_____

Copyright 2022 AccuWeather
Chip-maker Qualcomm has captured the smartphone applications processor (AP) market with a 45 per cent revenue share in the first quarter (Q1) this year, followed by MediaTek with 25 per cent and Apple with 22 per cent share, according to a new report.

The global smartphone AP market grew 35 per cent to reach $8.9 billion in Q1.

5G-attached AP shipments accounted for 53 per cent of total smartphone APs shipped in the January-March period, according to Strategy Analytics.

Despite momentum with Snapdragon flagship chips, Samsung Foundry lost share due to weak Exynos shipments.

"Qualcomm's 4 nm-based flagship AP Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 gained strong traction in Q1 2022. The company's increased share in Samsung's Galaxy S devices drove its smartphone apps processor (AP) revenue to an all-time high," said Sravan Kundojjala, Director of Handset Component Technologies service.

Qualcomm has been able to navigate China and macro concerns well with its premium and high-tier 5G APs, which are seeing high demand from Android smartphone manufacturers.

"Samsung's Exynos AP shipments fell 40 per cent in Q1 due to increased competition from Qualcomm at Samsung Mobile. However, the company showed signs of recovery with mid-range APs such as Exynos 1280, featured in high-volume Galaxy A-series devices," Kundojjala said.

Smartphone APs manufactured in 7 nm and below process nodes accounted for 48 percent of total smartphone AP shipments in Q1.

"The low-end smartphone market demand is currently weak. We think inventory digestion will happen in the second-half of 2022 as vendors continue to destock their supplies," said the report.

New entrants Google and JLQ Technologies (a JV of Leadcore and Qualcomm) together shipped less than a million APs in Q1 2022. On the other hand, HiSilicon's shipments declined to near zero.

"MediaTek and Unisoc both posted an impressive performance in Q1 2022. MediaTek's Dimensity 9000 premium tier AP was off to a promising start but shipments amounted to slightly less than 1 million during the quarter," said Kundojjala.
With an aim to enable schools to implement digital solutions seamlessly, Eupheus Learning, India's largest school-focussed distribution platform with a reach of over 20,000 schools, has announced a new initiative 'NEP STAR School' along with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Under the initiative, the company is eyeing to establish a 21st-century learning environment for 400 schools across more than 110 cities in the pilot stage of the 'NEP STAR School' initiative.

The announcement comes weeks after the country marked two years of the National Education Policy, which introduced a slew of visionary changes in the education sector. One of the major highlights of the policy is integrating technology into education. As a result, the

country witnessed the rise of EdTech firms, focusing on various aspects of the Indian education system. As per the data, the Indian education market is projected to rise from $117 billion (FY2020) to $225 billion by FY2025.

With this initiative, the home-grown EdTech firm aims to enable existing user schools with a unified platform comprising content, Learning Management System (LMS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) on a single sign-on. Further, the company is taking a leap in providing an integrated one-point solution, making lives easier for each stakeholder - students, teachers, school management and parents.

"NEP STAR School initiative aims at upgradation for schools on multiple levels - learners will benefit from integrated content and educators with teaching aids; technology will enable play-based and experiential content, and automation will help create efficiency around routine tasks like marking attendance of students and assigning homework," Sarvesh Srivastava, Founder and Managing Director of Eupheus Learning said.

Under the 'NEP STAR School', all participants will receive hands-on support to improve learning outcomes; improve the efficacy of school operations via technology, and create benchmarks for other schools in the usage of technology in teaching, learning, and administrative aspects of school management.

"Importantly, the initiative will help achieve a more positive impact on the learning outcomes through an integrated progress report for students, rather than relying only on assessments and examinations," Srivastava added.

Eupheus believes that the initiative will help facilitate the successful implementation of the National Education Policy mandate at schools and help track and improve the overall learning environment.

The B2B EdTech firm offers the largest content offerings for schools and provides a platform that enhances learning outcomes while automating the school's operating system.

Powering Eupheus Learning's platform is a range of cloud services from AWS. The platform's operating system (OS), learning environment and financial system run on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), which offers scalable compute capacity, while SchoolMitra, which provides schools with an easy-to-use web and mobile application, leverages Amazon Cognito for authentication, authorisation, and user identity management.

Amazon CloudFront, a content delivery network (CDN) service built for high performance, security and developer convenience powers the content delivery for Eupheus Learning, while Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) provides a scalable, secure and cost-effective service for all the mobile application notifications sent by the platform to its users.

"By participating in the 'NEP STAR School' initiative, schools can leverage digital technologies to develop more immersive and engaging learning experiences for their students and teachers, enable smarter decision-making, and run administration operations more effectively and efficiently," said Sunil PP, Lead-Education, Space, and Nonprofits, Amazon Internet Services Private Limited, AWS India and South Asia.
Japans SoftBank and NewQuest Capital Partners are among existing investors seeking to sell shares of IPO-bound FirstCry in the secondary market, valuing the baby products retailer in the range of $3.5-4 billion, according to several people in the know.

Masayoshi Son-led SoftBank, which is the biggest investor in the omnichannel company with a 29% stake, wants to reduce its holding to less than 25%, another person aware of the matter said.

The discussions are happening at a time the Pune-based company is looking to pare its foreign ownership while bringing in domestic private equity funding in the runup to filing its initial public offer (IPO) papers in the next few months. FirstCry has held talks with Mumbai-based private equity firm Kedaara Capital, asking it to participate in the secondary round, multiple people said on condition of anonymity.

Sources privy to the developments said the company is planning to file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) very soon.

"This is akin to a pre-IPO deal which will set the price for the company and ideally they want to bring on board domestic funds," one of the persons told ET. The person cited the example of Premji Invest  the family investment vehicle of Wipro founder chairman Azim Premji  which had upped its stake during (FirstCrys) previous secondary round when the National Investment and Infrastructure Funds proposed investment fell through.

FirstCry, which is a vertical ecommerce platform, is currently valued at around $2.7 billion, which was ascribed to it earlier this year when the Premji investment took place. According to a person aware of the matter, Premji Invest owns about 9-11% stake in the firm, Mahindra Retail holds 12-13% and US private equity major TPG has 5-6%.

People familiar with its IPO plan said the company is aiming to go public at a $6-7 billion valuation given that it is a rare example of a profitable ecommerce firm, having recorded net earnings in the financial year 2021.

"There are multiple sets of investors looking to participate in the pre-IPO secondary round. The company is still keen on its IPO plans and the matter will be discussed in its next board meeting," another person privy to the discussions said.

If the company files for an IPO, it will be the first new-age tech startup to do so after logistics player Delhiverys public float in May amid a largely skittish market.

FirstCry had hit pause on its plans to file papers for the initial public offering (IPO) following the downturn in sentiments that hit the global economy.

SoftBank, which is saddled with $92 billion debt as of March this year and clocked $23 billion in losses for the first quarter of the current financial year, has been selling shares in its portfolio firms including Alibaba. Reuters reported that the Japanese investor is also looking to sell its shares in American online bank SoFi.

If the latest transactions get executed, this will be the third major secondary share sale at FirstCry, which was founded by Maheshwari, Amitava Saha, Prashant Jadhav and Sanket Hattimattur in 2010. The companys parent, Brainbees Solutions, was valued at more than $2 billion prior to the secondary share sale executed earlier in April this year. Saha is the CEO of Xpressbees  the logistics firm spun out of FirstCry.

"Conversations are underway with multiple investors If an investor has an ownership of more than 25%, the company will have to classify it as a promoter when filing for an IPO," one of the people mentioned above said.

Chinas Ant Group had divested shares in Paytm to cut its holding down to around 25% for the same reason last year. It did so through the offer-for-sale window of the much-hyped IPO.
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San Mateo, CA (94402)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 57F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 57F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
It is a sign of the increasing concern of the Chinese authorities that the implosion of their property development sector could ignite a wider financial crisis that they have sent their National Audit Office in to inspect the books of the countrys biggest trust firms.

The review of the trusts, reported by Bloomberg, is said to be focused on loans by the trusts  part of Chinas vast shadow banking sector  to property developers, and their plans to deal with those exposures. The audit is also aimed at understanding the risks the trusts might pose to financial stability.

Beijing is desperate to stabilise the property sector with Xi Jinping looking to seal an unprecedented third term later this year. Credit:AP

According to Bloomberg, trust entities have defaulted on about 58 billion yuan ($12.3 billion) of investment products linked to property developers, while developers have more than $100 billion of trust payments due over the next 13 months.

The review of the trusts, which channel the funds of wealthy individuals and institutions into riskier investments than banks and other regulated institutions offer, is telling because, since 2016, the authorities have been cracking down on the shadow banking sector.
A 25-year-old McLaren Vale winery run by two brothers is the latest business to be snapped up by Dan Murphys operator Endeavour Group as it expands is premium wine portfolio.

Endeavour confirmed on Wednesday it was adding Shingleback Wine to its Paragon Wine Estates business for an undisclosed sum. Its the second McLaren Vale business in the portfolio, alongside Chapel Hill, which the company bought from Switzerlands Schmidheiny family in 2019.

Endeavour confirmed the purchase of Shingleback Wine on Wednesday. Credit:

Shingleback was founded in 1997 by brothers Kym and John Davey, who have overseen a 120-hectare family estate planted predominantly with cabernet sauvignon and shiraz.

Over the past two decades, the company has won a number of wine prizes, including the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in 2006, and released a portfolio of brands including Shingleback, Red Knot and The Gate.
A former Twitter employee was convicted on Tuesday by a jury in US federal court of six charges related to accusations that he spied on the companys users for Saudi Arabia.

While at Twitter, Ahmad Abouammo, 44, managed media partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa. He developed relationships with prominent individuals in the region, receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars and a luxury watch from a top adviser to Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. In return, prosecutors said, he shared the personal user information of dissidents with Saudi officials.

The Twitter worker got hundreds of thousands of dollars and a luxury watch from a top adviser to Saudi Arabias crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (pictured). Credit:EPA

The jury convicted Abouammo of two counts of wire fraud or conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, one count of falsifying records and one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without properly disclosing that work. It found Abouammo not guilty on five counts of wire fraud or conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The verdict comes at a fraught moment between the United States and Saudi Arabia, as the United States seeks closer Saudi-Israeli relations and relief from high petrol prices. President Joe Biden made his first visit as president to the kingdom last month, setting aside a promise to make it a pariah and exchanging a fist bump with the crown prince.
When 26,500 tonnes of corn sailed out of the port of Odesa this week  the first agricultural export from Ukraine since Russias invasion  many food security experts breathed a sigh of relief. The news, combined with the falling cost of wheat after global prices had nearly doubled, has investors and policymakers wondering whether the threat of global food shortages is abating.

Not exactly. Its too soon for unreserved optimism because many of the problems that fuelled food inflation even before the Ukraine invasion persist: Energy and agrochemicals prices remain high, making it costly to operate mechanised farms and move food through the supply chain. Scorching weather and drought are decimating farm yields from Waterloo, Canada, to Bangalore and Bordeaux, and climate disruptions are expected to get more varied and extreme.

When grain supplies from Russia and Ukraine  which together produce a quarter of the worlds wheat  were suddenly curtailed, farmers in major producing countries sprang into action. Credit:Robert Rough

Its not too soon, though, to appreciate what weve learned over the past five months from one of the most significant food-supply disruptions the world has experienced in decades. Russias invasion of Ukraine forced global food producers, distributors and relief programs to quickly adapt to overcome the shortages  and they did so, on the whole, with great agility. That response has provided a deeper understanding of how food growers, investors and policy makers can meet the problems ahead.

Here are three key lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war about how to secure the future of a global food business:
And Peele has further raised the stakes with a list of points that his new film is out to make. He sees it as nothing less than a satire on the human addiction to the spectacular, a critique of the ethics of commercial movie-making and a menage a trois uniting a seemingly incompatible trio of genres  the Western, the horror film and the sci-fi fantasy.

Both Ang Lee and Nomadlands Chloe Zhao inflamed critical opinion after Marvel came calling. While Lees Hulk and Zhaos Eternals have their defenders, no one could describe their reception as rapturous. Now its Jordan Peeles turn to be judged for his handling of a sizeable chunk of money. Nopes $US68 million production cost is not in the Marvel class, but its a big leap from the $US4.5 million spent on Peeles feature debut, Get Out, an elegant exemplar in the art of the cerebral horror movie, or the $US20 million which went into its similarly successful follow-up, Us.

His sinister but cryptic opening scene suggests that he might just pull off these grand ambitions. The action takes place on the set of what looks to be a TV sitcom. Furniture is overturned, cushions are scattered  and stretched out on the floor is the unconscious figure of a woman, visible only from the knees down. Regarding her is a large, agitated chimpanzee dressed in blood-stained childrens clothes. And even more disturbing are the plaintive whimpers coming from somebody out of shot.

We return later to this moment. Meanwhile, Peele takes us west to the Haywood Ranch, where its owners, the Haywood family, train horses to be used in movies. Watched by his son, OJ (Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out), the Haywood patriarch is exercising one of these horses when hes thrown from the saddle and killed by something fired from above.

A sniper? A drone? No. Peeles aspirations turn out to be much more rarefied. Were watching the beginning of a sustained attack from a flying saucer hovering in the clouds.

The UFOs next victims are the customers of Jupiters Claim, a neighbouring Western theme park run by Ricky Park (Steven Yeun), whose childhood memories of his life as a young television star gradually explain the opening scene. Rickys psychological hangover from this is still with him, ready to be worked into a plot strand condemning Hollywoods egregious reputation for exploiting its youngest stars. Its relevance to the rest of the plot, however, remains one of the films many mysteries.
Larger turbines generate energy more cheaply too, says Andy Evans, who was the co-founder and chief executive of Star of the South and who is now leading another offshore wind farm company, OceanEx. A single 14-megawatt wind turbine of the sort now being built needs just a single connection to a substation and less maintenance than two 7-megawatt turbines that were typical just a few years ago. Maintenance at sea with crews ferried by boat or helicopter is expensive. Evans confirmed that the project OceanEx is championing for 20 kilometres off the coast in the Hunter region will be visible from shore on clear days, while the turbines proposed for the Illawarra could be slightly closer. Despite this, the industry has broadly maintained community support. Friends of the Earth spokesperson Cam Walker said, given the NSW proposals were fairly new, it was difficult to gauge opinion.

We think there is wide support for the jobs that would come with the development of an offshore industry near cities like Newcastle and Wollongong, which have traditionally relied heavily on fossil fuels for employment and economic activity, he said. In Gippsland, we feel that there is solid support for the Star of the South project, which is the only one that has so far advanced in the planning process. Loading Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the community welcomed energy sources that werent driven by fossil fuels and the proposed projects would bring significant economic benefits to the community. He added there had been some opposition within the community about the visual pollution, impact on shipping lanes and whale migrations. These will be addressed as the projects develop. At the same time, I think in light of [the] climate change we are experiencing  and its impact on the Illawarra and NSW coastline  I think everyone is on the same page that anything that mitigates carbon emissions [is good], he said. For its part, a NSW Department of Planning and Energy spokesperson said the offshore wind industry had the potential to play a significant role in achieving net-zero by 2050.

The Newcastle council has issued a mayoral minute backing the Hunter proposal. Why not just build them on land? Despite the extra cost of building and maintenance, there are key advantages to harvesting wind at sea  even in countries like Australia that, unlike wind-power hotspots off the coasts of Europe, have land to spare. Giant wind turbines could be installed offshore from popular coastal spots in NSW and Victoria. Credit:Getty Images Wind over water is more consistent than that found on land, explains Associate Professor at ANUs Crawford School of Public Policy Llewelyn Hughes, who specialises in energy transition.

Further, wind is stronger over water at night and over land during the day. As a result, offshore wind farms perfectly complement the spread of land-based solar and wind in Australias energy mix. But there are historical, political, geographical and even geological factors that make some sites preferable to others. Wind is stronger and more consistent in Australias south-east and, in this part of the country, rich coal seams are found along the coast. As a result, when the nation industrialised, coal and power industries coalesced where these seams and deepwater ports could be found together  places like Gippsland, Newcastle and Port Kembla. Where once the steep undersea drop-off would have precluded building large wind farms at a reasonable distance from shore, new technology allows for turbines to be floated and moored to the sea floor.

Loading The east coasts power system was built to suck electricity from power stations near these ports and distribute it. These regions evolved into centres of steel making and manufacturing. Today, as the transition from coal gathers pace, these same regions are starved of new industry and jobs, which offshore wind farms provide; and they offer ports and skilled workforces that the wind industry desperately needs. The Climate Council expects the industry to need 8000 workers a year from 2030. Their power stations are already connected to the grid, saving hundreds of millions that would otherwise have to be spent on new transmission infrastructure.

Climate Energy Finance director Tim Buckley said the drawcard of offshore wind is that it adds greater geographical and technological diversity to the energy market. He said Australia had been slower than other countries to take up offshore wind, but its renewable energy sector had come leaps and bounds in the past 10 years. Buckley added there were a few key reasons why offshore wind projects had been delayed in Australia, including the huge capital investment needed to get the projects up  often two or three times the cost of building an onshore wind farm and ensuring supply chains are prepared. Loading
Bondi Junction stations coffee man Robert Mayer had no choice but to pack up his cafe three hours early on Wednesday.

When there are no trains, there is no business. We are forced to close, he said.

He normally serves 400 coffees a day at the station in Sydneys east. The shutdown of regular services on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line for six hours, due to an industrial dispute between rail workers and the NSW government, halved his turnover on Wednesday.

Coffee Express owner Robert Mayer was forced to close three hours early on Wednesday. Credit:Rhett Wyman

It serves as a reminder of the ripple effects that the prolonged dispute is having on small businesses and commuters. The Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line, as well as the South Coast Line that was also impacted on Wednesday, connects Bondi Junction to Bomaderry, south of Wollongong.
Trains  not cars  should run along Brisbanes proposed underground North West Transport Corridor by 2031, a rail lobby group believes.

Rail Back on Track says this would provide flexibility on the North Coast Line to run 160km/h fast trains to the Sunshine Coast.

Rail Back on Track recommends trains run in a tunnel from the new Exhibition Station (above) to the North West Transport Corridor, beginning near Alderley on the Ferny Grove Line. Credit:Cross River Rail Delivery Authority

Spokesman Robert Dow said on Wednesday it would enable additional trains to run on the planned spur from Beerwah to Caloundra and Maroochydore, providing better transport links between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Those fast trains going out to Maroochydore could run through a rail tunnel underneath the North West Transport Corridor, back onto the main northern line  about Strathpine  and then from there all the way to Beerwah, he said.
A woman has died from her injuries one day after fire erupted in a Queensland house within hours of police checking on the residence.

Emergency services were called at 5.40am on Tuesday to the blaze at an address on Home Hill Road in Ayr, where two residents of the home, the 47-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, were found.

A woman has died from her injuries after a house fire in Ayr on Tuesday. Credit:Ayr

Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson confirmed on Tuesday evening police had been called to the address about 2.15am that morning for a welfare check on the couple.

Police received a callout in relation to some comments that were made at the residence so they went and spoke to both of the residents that were there at the time and also had QAS assisting as well, he said.
It has been almost two years since Kevin Rudd uploaded a video to his social media channels calling Rupert Murdoch an arrogant cancer on our democracy and invited Australians to sign his petition for a royal commission into media diversity.

It gathered half a million signatures, including that of former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, and triggered a year-long Senate committee inquiry that concentrated its focus on the influence of Murdochs News Corp empire.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd holds up the Daily Telegraph during his address to the National Press Club of Australia in March 2021, where he railed against the power of News Corp. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Controversially, the committee delivered on Rudds call in November, with Labor senators teaming up with the Greens to recommend the government initiate a judicial inquiry with the powers of a royal commission to investigate media concentration.

But Labors senior ranks moved almost immediately to snuff out any momentum. First in opposition and then in government, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland made it clear they had no interest in taking up the cause, repeatedly ruling out a royal commission into the Murdoch press or the Australian media landscape more broadly.
When a Sydney building company was hit with a draft stop-work order earlier this year, former deputy premier John Barilaro, the companys newly hired executive director, jumped on the phone to the NSW building commissioner David Chandler.

That same day, April 5, the office of the then-fair trading minister Eleni Petinos was also quick off the mark to call the commissioner about the proposed stop-work order which would affect a major development in Merrylands being undertaken by Barilaros employer, Coronation Property.

Eleni Petinos, David Chandler and John Barilaro. Credit:David Swift, Kate Geraghty and Dominic Lorrimer

While Chandler has told others that he found the calls unusual, he maintained that they played no part in his decision-making over the issue.

The latest revelations engulfing the NSW government come after a dramatic day in state parliament during which Premier Dominic Perrottet revealed a confidential resignation letter from the building commissioner has been referred to the states corruption watchdog.
Sydney man Luke Lazarus was found not guilty of sexual assault on appeal despite a jury and two judges finding that then-18-year-old Mullins had not consented to sex with him in an alleyway behind a Kings Cross nightclub in 2013. The appeals judge overturned a guilty conviction, finding while Mullins had not consented to having sex, Lazarus had no reasonable basis for believing she had not. Saxon Mullins is advocating for an affirmative consent model. Credit: Mullins  who now works at Rape and Sexual Assault Research and Advocacy  told The Age Victorias current sexual offence laws fell short of the standard set by NSW after the Perrottet government overhauled that states legislation last year. Lawyers can work in the hypothetical; as a survivor, I work in the reality, she said. The laws are not clear, and we need to be clear on what negates consent. It leaves it up to too much interpretation.

Mullins said amending the laws was only part of wider reforms needed to change attitudes to sexual offending. She said governments must follow legislation up with a years-long strategy that included education to end sexual violence. Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said last week an affirmative consent model was an important part of changing attitudes and would help end outdated stereotypes. It was also a key recommendation from the Victorian Law Reform Commission, which found sexual violence was widespread and under-reported, and victim-survivors needed better protection from trauma when seeking justice. The legislation deliberately allows for the courts to consider nuanced situations in addition to the minimum requirement of taking steps to get consent, Symes said. Its the younger generation whove made it clear they wont stand for these archaic ways of victim-blaming any longer  weve listened and are driving those reforms for them. Law Institute of Victoria president Tania Wolff said Victoria already had an affirmative consent model and the governments proposed changes would achieve little in shifting the status quo.

Loading The Crimes Act defines consent as free agreement and sets out a range of scenarios that do not constitute consent. It also states a persons belief in consent must be reasonable, which includes steps they have taken to find out whether their sexual partner has consented. The amendments are not changing very much and what they add doesnt really clarify things ... or make it easier to understand a complicated area, Wolff said. In terms of consent, we need a focus on education rather than more words in a statute. And regarding the new image-based pornography offences, we would be better advised as a society teaching our young ... than upping an imprisonment penalty. But Rape and Sexual Research Advocacy chief executive Dr Rachael Burgin said even the proposed legislation fell short of fully achieving an affirmative consent model.

Currently, jurors deliberating on a sexual offence case are directed to look at the circumstances and establish whether they believed the accused took reasonable steps. Burgin said under the new law, the accused must demonstrate what steps they took. She said while the bill was good, an element of the defence that required the accused to demonstrate they had taken steps at a reasonable time before or during the sexual act could be problematic. A five-minute time frame may be determined by a jury to be reasonable, but in our view a lot can happen in that time, Burgin said. These wont fix the system and theyre not a silver bullet, but it does show the Victorian government is taking positive steps forward. Affirmative consent is not the be all and end all. Its just the beginning of a road to reform. Kathleen Maltzahn, the chief executive of Sexual Assault Services Victoria, said last week the legislation would remove uncertainty.

Loading For years, some have insisted that many sexual assaults are in fact misunderstandings, that many alleged perpetrators are led astray by victims mixed messages, she said. If youre uncertain if the other person wants to go ahead, dont. This clarity should be welcomed by anyone who is not a rape apologist or a rapist. The Victorian opposition said it was still consulting stakeholders and would determine its position on the governments proposed law before it returned to parliament next month. The essential nature of positive consent to intimate relationships is not in question, shadow attorney-general Michael OBrien said. Drafting a workable bill to recognise this in law is more challenging.
The rescue of a soccer team from a cave in Thailand in 2018 captivated the world. Now its the subject of a Ron Howard film Thirteen Lives.

The plight of the Wild Boars commanded international attention soon after they were found by two British divers nine days after they vanished in the Tham Luang cave.

The teams coach taught the boys in the cave how to meditate so they could conserve energy. This image is taken from a Thai Navy SEAL video.

The Sydney Morning Heralds and The Ages then-South-East Asia correspondent James Massola, who later wrote a book about the rescue, was on the scene with photographer Kate Geraghty.

Readers can compare for themselves how the details were reported at the time with their depiction in the film.
Wellington: After standing by their newest MP for two days, New Zealands opposition National Party has now stood down Sam Uffindell after fresh allegations of aggressive behaviour.

The party has ordered an independent investigation into the MPs behaviour at university after a former flatmate came forward to Radio NZ.

Sam Uffindell was elected MP for Tauranga in the June byelection. Credit:Kelly Hodel/Stuff

The flatmate, speaking anonymously, says she had to move out of her Dunedin apartment due to Uffindells outbursts and excessive alcohol and drug use.

He was smashing on my door and yelling obscenities and basically telling me to get out, hit the road, fatty, she said of one incident.
~For students and parents~

PHILIPSBURG  A free workshop entitled College or University 101: The United States and Canadian Systems is scheduled to be held on Thursday, August 18, 2022, in the meeting room on the first floor of the Government Administration Building from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

This workshop, organized by the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, is aiming to ensure attendants walk away with a better understanding of the US and Canadian college and university educational systems. It is geared at students in their last two years of secondary school or recent graduates who are interested in studying in the United States of America (USA) or Canada, and their parents.

The workshop will be covering aspects from application to graduation. Emphasis will be put on the first year of college/ university, where key differences in comparison to our own educational system need to be addressed, to the last year of college or university.

Workshop participants will learn the various steps in applying to schools and what factors to keep in mind when considering schools to apply to. In addition, while attending college or university, it is important to pay attention to important aspects like the Placement Test, Grade Point Average (GPA), grades, and graduation requirements. These and other colleges/ university terminology will also be explained to the workshop participants. Some social aspects like living in the dorms or off campus will also be addressed. Parents are also urged to encourage their children to attend since this is beneficial to them.

Students are encouraged to contact SSSD to reserve a seat. Participants are encouraged to bring their own writing materials to the workshops and they are encouraged to be on time. For more information, please call 543-1235.

The Student Support Services Division is located in the Gatsby's Building, across from the Police Station and next to the Windward Island Bank (WIB) in Philipsburg. SSSD provides many services to students including psychological services, counseling services, speech-language pathology services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, career services, and parental workshops.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Top Promotion Foundation is having its culinary week, Fete de La Cuisine, starting on November 6 through 13, 2022.

One of the events of the culinary week activities is the WINE, BEER & FINE FOOD FAIR. This event will be held on the plaza at Porto Cupecoy on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

The board of the Top Promotion Foundation hereby extends an invitation to all suppliers of Wine, Beer & Fine Foods to attend an informative meeting on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Porto Cupecoy. The meeting will start at 12:30 pm at the Rendez Vous Lounge.

This meeting is to inform all suppliers of wine, beer & fine foods of the details for participating in this premium event.

In order to know how many suppliers will attend, we kindly ask you to send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or WhatsApp message to +1.721.587.2678 to confirm your attendance.
WILLEMSTAD:--- Zr.Ms. Groningen, which is currently sailing for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard makes it quite difficult for drug smugglers in the Caribbean Region. The patrol

ship in sailing in the region since April 2022. Since then she added a great number of drug seizures to her list. Yesterday another go-fast was intercepted

with more than 1.600 kilograms of drugs. The total amount of confiscated contraband now amounts to more than 5.500 kilograms for the Dutch Caribbean

Coast Guard.

The last quantity was confiscated on August 8th, after a smuggling vessel was intercepted. The go-fast was discovered the night before by the Maritime Operation

Centre (MOC) of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The MOC alarmed the Zr.Ms. Groningen immediately. The ship was present the next morning in the area and

launched both fast interceptors (FRISCs), which intercepted the go-fast. Shortly before that, the crew on board of the go-fast threw the packages of drugs

overboard when they realized they were being chased. Once Zr.Ms. Groningen was alongside, the go-fast was ordered to stop and the suspects surrendered. The crew of Zr.Ms. Groningen and the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard removed 66 packages with a total of 1.600 kilos of drugs from the water.

The eight suspects and the contraband have been handed over to the Korps Politie Caribisch Nederland (KPCN) for further handling of the case. The contraband has now been destroyed.
Osisko Development reports second quarter 2022 results

Osisko Development Corp. (\Osisko Development\ or the \Company\  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/osisko-development-corp/ ) is pleased to report its financial and operating results for the three months ended June 30, 2022. Unless stated otherwise, all dollar references are to Canadian dollars.

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights:

The acquisition of Tintic Consolidated Metals was completed on May 27, 2022, creating a strong foothold in the prospective East Tintic Mining District in Central Utah.

At the producing Trixie test mine (\Trixie\), the Company is currently expanding underground development and utilizing one underground diamond drill and one surface reverse circulation rig. The construction of an underground ramp is underway at Trixie, which is expected to support an increase in productivity and operational mining rates and, is anticipated to be completed in Q2 2023. See \Cautionary Statement\.

The Company announced the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (\PEA\) for its Cariboo Gold Project and filed a technical report in relation thereto in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (\NI 43-101\). The PEA illustrates the potential for a low cost, large scale, underground gold mine, with average annual gold production of approximately 236,000 ounces over an initial 12 year mine life. See \Technical Reports\.

The Company announced an initial mineral resource estimate for the San Antonio Project with indicated mineral resources of 14.9 Mt grading 1.2 g/t gold for 576,000 oz Au and inferred mineral resources (exclusive of indicated mineral resources) of 16.6 Mt grading 1.02 g/t gold for 544,000 oz Au. The resources are limited to a 2.8 kilometre long segment of the prospective 10 kilometre long trend.

The Company closed on its two previously announced private placement financings for aggregate proceeds of approximately $212 million. Total gross proceeds from the financings in 2022 were approximately $255.5 million,

The Company\-s common shares commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol \ODV\.

The Company entered into a binding term sheet with Osisko Bermuda Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd, for a stream on the metals produced from Tintic for total cash consideration of US$20 million.

The Company\-s common shares were consolidated on a 3 for 1 basis effective May 4, 2022.

For the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company earned $9 million in revenues from its Bonanza Ledge II and Trixie test mine operations. The quarterly revenues for the Trixie test mine are reflected from the date of the acquisition of Tintic on May 27, 2022. See \Cautionary Statement\.

The cash position of the Company as at June 30, 2022 was approximately $136.3 million.

Sean Roosen, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko Development said, aThe Tintic acquisition added another cornerstone asset to the portfolio and enhances our operating platform in a world-class mining jurisdiction. We are excited about the quality of exploration targets at Trixie, and the areas beyond Trixie within the large wholly owned district. At Cariboo, we are pleased with the progress to date.A The ongoing work at the project has advanced our permitting process and bringing us closer to further major milestones.a

Consolidated Financial Statements

Osisko Development\-s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and management\-s discussion and analysis for the three months ended June 30, 2022 are available on the Company\-s website at www.osiskodev.com, and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Development\-s issuer profile.

Qualified Persons

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Maggie Layman, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration of Osisko Development Corp., a qualified person within the meaning of NI 43-101.

Technical Reports

Information relating to the Tintic Project is supported by the technical report titled \Technical Report on the Tintic Project, East Tintic Mining District, Utah County, Utah, USA\, dated June 10, 2022 (with an effective date of June 7, 2022) prepared for the Company by Dr. Thomas A. Henricksen, QP, C.P.G. (the \Tintic Technical Report\). Reference should be made to the full text of the Tintic Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Development\-s issuer profile.

Information relating to the Cariboo Gold Project is supported by the technical report titled \NI 43-101 Technical Report, Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Cariboo Gold Project, District of Wells, British Columbia, Canada\, dated June 22, 2022 (with an effective date of May 24, 2022) prepared for the Company by representatives of BBA Engineering Ltd., InnovExplo Inc., SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc., WSP Canada Inc. (WSP Golder), WSP USA Inc. (WSP Golder), Klohn Crippen Berger and Falkirk Environmental Consultants Ltd. (the \Cariboo Technical Report\). Reference should be made to the full text of the Cariboo Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Development\-s issuer profile.

Information relating to the San Antonio Project is supported by the technical report titled \NI 43-101 Technical Report for the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate on the San Antonio Project, Sonora, Mexico\, dated July 12, 2022 (with an effective Date of June 24, 2022) prepared for the Company by Micon International Limited (the \San Antonio Technical Report\). Reference should be made to the full text of the San Antonio Technical Report, which was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and is available electronically on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Development\-s issuer profile.

Cautionary Statement

The Company cautions that the decision to commence production at Trixie in the form of small scale underground mining and batch vat leaching without the benefit of a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability, and, as a result there may be increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of material or the cost of such recovery. The Company cautions that historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will continue as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. The failure to continue production may 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 may have a material adverse impact on the Company\-s cash flow and potential profitability. In continuing current operations at Trixie, the Company will not be basing its decision to continue such operations on a feasibility study, or reported mineral resources or mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. The Company cautions that mining at Trixie could be suspended at any time.

The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the applicable Canadian securities laws, and as a result reports information regarding mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in the Tintic Technical Report and this news release, in accordance with Canadian reporting requirements, which are governed by NI 43-101. As such, such information concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the information in the Tintic Technical Report and this news release, is not comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC.

About Osisko Development Corp.

Osisko Development Corp. is uniquely positioned as a premier gold development company in North America to advance the Cariboo Gold Project and other Canadian, U.S.A. and Mexican properties, with the objective of becoming the next mid-tier gold producer. The Cariboo Gold Project, located in central British Columbia, Canada, is Osisko Development\-s flagship asset. The considerable exploration potential at depth and along strike distinguishes the Cariboo Gold Project relative to other development assets. Osisko Development\-s project pipeline is complemented by its interest in the San Antonio gold project, located in Sonora, Mexico and the Trixie gold test mine, located in Utah, U.S.A.

For further information about Osisko Development (NYSE: ODV; TSX-V:ODV), please visit www.osiskodevelopment.com or follow us on Twitter @OsiskoDev

For further information, please contact Osisko Development Corp.:

Jean Francois Lemonde

VP Investor Relations

jflemonde@osiskodev.com

Tel: 514-299-4926

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may be deemed \forward-looking statements\ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and \forward-looking information\ within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward?looking statements, by their nature, require Osisko Development to make certain assumptions and necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these forward?looking statements. Forward?looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Words such as \may\, \will\, \would\, \could\, \expect\, \believe\, \plan\, \anticipate\, \intend\, \estimate\, \continue\, or the negative or comparable terminology, as well as terms usually used in the future and the conditional, are intended to identify forward?looking statements. Information contained in forward?looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management\-s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, results of further exploration work to define and expand mineral resources, and that the deposit remains open for expansion at depth and down plunge, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances, and any other information herein that is not a historical fact may be \forward looking information\. Material assumptions also include, management\-s perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, results of further exploration work to define or expand any mineral resources, the ability to continue production at its Trixie mine, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. Osisko Development considers its assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, but cautions the reader that their assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond the control of Osisko Development, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to risks and uncertainties that affect Osisko Development and its business. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks relating to capital market conditions, the ability to continue current production, regulatory framework, the ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to accurately predict mineralization; errors in management\-s geological modelling; the ability of to complete further exploration activities, including drilling; property and stream interests in the Project; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; risks relating to exploration, development and mining activities; the global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions and the responses of relevant governments to the COVID-19 outbreak and the effectiveness of such responses. Readers are urged to consult the disclosure provided (i) under the heading \Risk Factors\ in the annual information form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021, as amended, and (ii) under the heading \Risks and Uncertainties\ in the management\-s discussion and analysis of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2021, as amended, each of which has been filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Osisko Development\-s issuer profile and on the SEC\-s EDGAR website (www.sec.gov), for further information regarding the risks and other factors applicable to the exploration results. Although the Company\-s believes the expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available at the date of preparation, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

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. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
<! --more--> SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT. DO NOT CONTINUE READING UNLESS YOU HAVE FINISHED THE FULL EPISODE OR ARE OKAY BEING SPOILED.



Motherland: Fort Salem takes another step toward its final act with a not to be forgotten episode. This was everything, and more viewers could have hoped to be treated to for this grand gesture by the Bellweather unit. Their actions in this hour were quintessentially them and captured the powerful essence of their bond. The ending was something special and sets up what promises to be an epic end to this season and the series as a whole.







The episode impressively divided itself across multiple storylines that had to all be executed precisely for a proper setup for the final two episodes. We saw Petra (Catherine Lough Haggquist) taking a profound stand against the Camarilla, Tally (Jessica Sutton) joining Alder (Lyne Renee) on a grand chilly adventure, Anacostia (Demetria McKinney) convincing Nicte (Kandyse McClure) to help her find President Wade (Sheryl Lee Ralph), the mission to rescue Scylla (Amalia Holm), and finally the big surrender of the Bellweather unit. The first two left a body count, though at least one of them seems unlikely to be permanent. So much happens in this episode, but as has been their style all season, they made it all work beautifully.



With Petras storyline, we got to see that there is more Alder in her than she'd like to admit. When push came to shove, she dispatched Colonel Jarrett (Aaron Douglas) in a truly epic fashion. Huge kudos to Haggquist for the way she played that scene. Petra's disdain and unbridled anger shone through her eyes, bright as the face of the sun, while keeping her exterior poised and in control. Doubtful anyone that watches this show will ever be able to look at a pen the same way again. It was a scene that will not soon be forgotten. The world this show inhabits is far better off without Jarrett around to be Silver's (Victor Webster) puppet. While we only got one scene between Petra and Silver, clearly, these two are headed for a fierce showdown. Anyone betting on the outcome would be a fool to not bet everything on Petra. She's not just a mom protecting her child; she is a leader protecting her people. Hell knows no fury like a mama witch protecting her young. The episode impressively divided itself across multiple storylines that had to all be executed precisely for a proper setup for the final two episodes. We saw Petra (Catherine Lough Haggquist) taking a profound stand against the Camarilla, Tally (Jessica Sutton) joining Alder (Lyne Renee) on a grand chilly adventure, Anacostia (Demetria McKinney) convincing Nicte (Kandyse McClure) to help her find President Wade (Sheryl Lee Ralph), the mission to rescue Scylla (Amalia Holm), and finally the big surrender of the Bellweather unit. The first two left a body count, though at least one of them seems unlikely to be permanent. So much happens in this episode, but as has been their style all season, they made it all work beautifully.With Petras storyline, we got to see that there is more Alder in her than she'd like to admit. When push came to shove, she dispatched Colonel Jarrett (Aaron Douglas) in a truly epic fashion. Huge kudos to Haggquist for the way she played that scene. Petra's disdain and unbridled anger shone through her eyes, bright as the face of the sun, while keeping her exterior poised and in control. Doubtful anyone that watches this show will ever be able to look at a pen the same way again. It was a scene that will not soon be forgotten. The world this show inhabits is far better off without Jarrett around to be Silver's (Victor Webster) puppet. While we only got one scene between Petra and Silver, clearly, these two are headed for a fierce showdown. Anyone betting on the outcome would be a fool to not bet everything on Petra. She's not just a mom protecting her child; she is a leader protecting her people. Hell knows no fury like a mama witch protecting her young.







The same goes for an ancient witch protecting her young protege. While on the quest to find the modern resting place of the Ice Witch (Francisca Dennis) to retrieve her part of the First Song, we see how much Alder genuinely cares about Tally. She was terrified when the somehow still alive-ish Ice Witch latched onto Tally and nearly killed her. Tally and Alder have had a hard-to-define bond since Tally temporarily became a Biddy. They did everything they each did on this adventure for the other to survive. Tally desperately wanted Alder to leave without her, to the point of making the elder witch agree, while Alder was always going to do everything in her power to keep Tally safe. Tally sacrificed much on this mission, giving up her gift of future sight in exchange for the song, but Alder sacrificed more. In those dangerous last moments with the cave crumbling around them, Alder didn't hesitate to put Tally above herself. While it looks like Alder didn't make it, even Tally confirmed her supposed demise, but we've been down this road with Alder before. There are slim odds that was the actual final hurrah for Sarah Alder. Somehow, someway, she'll make a grand reappearance with her part of the song at just the right moment. It will be interesting to see just how grand that moment is. This whole storyline was such a joy to watch. Sutton and Renee are such superb acting partners it would have been a travesty for the writers to go all season without giving them at least one final significant adventure together.



With Tally and Alder on their icy adventure, Anacostia's story picked up right where it left off at the end of the prior episode. She and Nicte had a much-needed face-to-face confrontation. There is absolutely no love lost between these two women, but it would seem as if spending so much time with the Bellweather unit softened Nicte just a bit. In the end, Anacostia convinced the Spree leader to help, which means it's about time for the show to bring back Wade and her entourage. While Arlen Aguayo Stewart made a superb Nicte, one can't help but be impressed by McClure, who stepped into a significant role brought to life by a different actress and managed to capture most if not all of the mannerisms Aguayo infused into Nicte. Hopefully, we'll see Aguayo again before the series ends, but it has been a joy watching McClure work. This was her first considerable screen time with McKinney, and they made an imposing duo. More of them in the last two episodes could prove fun. The same goes for an ancient witch protecting her young protege. While on the quest to find the modern resting place of the Ice Witch (Francisca Dennis) to retrieve her part of the First Song, we see how much Alder genuinely cares about Tally. She was terrified when the somehow still alive-ish Ice Witch latched onto Tally and nearly killed her. Tally and Alder have had a hard-to-define bond since Tally temporarily became a Biddy. They did everything they each did on this adventure for the other to survive. Tally desperately wanted Alder to leave without her, to the point of making the elder witch agree, while Alder was always going to do everything in her power to keep Tally safe. Tally sacrificed much on this mission, giving up her gift of future sight in exchange for the song, but Alder sacrificed more. In those dangerous last moments with the cave crumbling around them, Alder didn't hesitate to put Tally above herself. While it looks like Alder didn't make it, even Tally confirmed her supposed demise, but we've been down this road with Alder before. There are slim odds that was the actual final hurrah for Sarah Alder. Somehow, someway, she'll make a grand reappearance with her part of the song at just the right moment. It will be interesting to see just how grand that moment is. This whole storyline was such a joy to watch. Sutton and Renee are such superb acting partners it would have been a travesty for the writers to go all season without giving them at least one final significant adventure together.With Tally and Alder on their icy adventure, Anacostia's story picked up right where it left off at the end of the prior episode. She and Nicte had a much-needed face-to-face confrontation. There is absolutely no love lost between these two women, but it would seem as if spending so much time with the Bellweather unit softened Nicte just a bit. In the end, Anacostia convinced the Spree leader to help, which means it's about time for the show to bring back Wade and her entourage. While Arlen Aguayo Stewart made a superb Nicte, one can't help but be impressed by McClure, who stepped into a significant role brought to life by a different actress and managed to capture most if not all of the mannerisms Aguayo infused into Nicte. Hopefully, we'll see Aguayo again before the series ends, but it has been a joy watching McClure work. This was her first considerable screen time with McKinney, and they made an imposing duo. More of them in the last two episodes could prove fun.







That leaves us with the rescue of Scylla and the ultimate surrender of the Bellweather unit. Both were pivotal moments for the characters and the entire plot of this final season. The rescue mission to save Scylla was fun but also a bit anti-climactic. That whole sequence allowed Raelle (Taylor Hickson) and Scylla that fun reunion scene that fully captured the nature of their relationship. They play off each other so well that the guard watching over Scylla never had a chance. The heart of everything that happened at the school was the big reunion. Hickson and Holm proved again why they are such a truly dynamic team. They have this beautiful chemistry that stems from their real-life friendship that they have seamlessly folded their bond into the characters to make the relationship between the characters play that much stronger on screen. The rescue and escape were fun, and the reunion was everything we could have hoped for. The big moment, however, for these characters in this episode wasnt their beautiful reunion, but instead the marriage proposal. Its something that has likely weighed on Scyllas mind for a long time, Edwin (Hrothgar Mathews) basically gave his blessings when they last parted ways, but it still felt right that it was Raelle who did the asking. We all know they make it to the alter thanks to the final season trailer, but they are in for challenging times before they get to say their I dos. Also, how wonderful is it that two characters who have been through so much and been separated so many times seem destined for a true happily ever after? It is something we dont get nearly enough of, so their wedding is likely going to be a huge highlight of the series finale.



Before they, along with Abigail (Ashley Nicole Williams) and Adil (Tony Giroux), can make it to the altar, they first have to survive a sadistic President and his murderous Camarilla friends. Seeing Abigail lead the unit across the Cession lines to face their fate was a stunning showcase of how far Abigail has come as a soldier and a leader. She knew what they had to do to protect the Cession and Thelma's (Olivia Lucas) militia. Seeing what the Camarilla did to the young witch that deserted at the start of the episode, learning that the Camarilla sent them into war without healers was bad enough, then seeing them murder Guadalupe "Lupe" Cortez (Lina Lecompte) and her unit was an atrocity too far. While it looks like Lupe is gone for good, there is always hope that somehow the Mycelium could do something for her. It's unlikely with time dwindling on the series, but Lupe was a character that had so much potential it's so sad we didn't get to know her longer. Lecompte only had a few short scenes, but she made Lupe stand out as a secondary character. These two events and everything else the team has seen was enough to lead Abigail to rally her unit for one last great sacrifice for all those who have aided them. All four witches were willing to sacrifice everything for everyone else, a testament to their character. With Adil left behind, he'll surely break his promise to Abigail and, along with his sister, launch some sort of serious coup rescue attempt. Thelma will also likely break the rules to help them. It's all setting up huge final showdowns. That leaves us with the rescue of Scylla and the ultimate surrender of the Bellweather unit. Both were pivotal moments for the characters and the entire plot of this final season. The rescue mission to save Scylla was fun but also a bit anti-climactic. That whole sequence allowed Raelle (Taylor Hickson) and Scylla that fun reunion scene that fully captured the nature of their relationship. They play off each other so well that the guard watching over Scylla never had a chance. The heart of everything that happened at the school was the big reunion. Hickson and Holm proved again why they are such a truly dynamic team. They have this beautiful chemistry that stems from their real-life friendship that they have seamlessly folded their bond into the characters to make the relationship between the characters play that much stronger on screen. The rescue and escape were fun, and the reunion was everything we could have hoped for. The big moment, however, for these characters in this episode wasnt their beautiful reunion, but instead the marriage proposal. Its something that has likely weighed on Scyllas mind for a long time, Edwin (Hrothgar Mathews) basically gave his blessings when they last parted ways, but it still felt right that it was Raelle who did the asking. We all know they make it to the alter thanks to the final season trailer, but they are in for challenging times before they get to say their I dos. Also, how wonderful is it that two characters who have been through so much and been separated so many times seem destined for a true happily ever after? It is something we dont get nearly enough of, so their wedding is likely going to be a huge highlight of the series finale.Before they, along with Abigail (Ashley Nicole Williams) and Adil (Tony Giroux), can make it to the altar, they first have to survive a sadistic President and his murderous Camarilla friends. Seeing Abigail lead the unit across the Cession lines to face their fate was a stunning showcase of how far Abigail has come as a soldier and a leader. She knew what they had to do to protect the Cession and Thelma's (Olivia Lucas) militia. Seeing what the Camarilla did to the young witch that deserted at the start of the episode, learning that the Camarilla sent them into war without healers was bad enough, then seeing them murder Guadalupe "Lupe" Cortez (Lina Lecompte) and her unit was an atrocity too far. While it looks like Lupe is gone for good, there is always hope that somehow the Mycelium could do something for her. It's unlikely with time dwindling on the series, but Lupe was a character that had so much potential it's so sad we didn't get to know her longer. Lecompte only had a few short scenes, but she made Lupe stand out as a secondary character. These two events and everything else the team has seen was enough to lead Abigail to rally her unit for one last great sacrifice for all those who have aided them. All four witches were willing to sacrifice everything for everyone else, a testament to their character. With Adil left behind, he'll surely break his promise to Abigail and, along with his sister, launch some sort of serious coup rescue attempt. Thelma will also likely break the rules to help them. It's all setting up huge final showdowns.




Lets play a game  Two Truths and a Lie.

1. I hated this episode of Roswell, New Mexico.

2. I drank an entire bottle of wine on my second viewing of this episode.

3. As a showrunner, ally, and accomplice, Chris Hollier is dedicated to uplifting queer relationships.

Can you spot the lie? Its number three. Number three is the lie. To make number three a truth, you would need to substitute queer relationships with heteronormativity and delete ally and accomplice from the sentence. I am so tired of people thinking that all you have to do is say a thing to get credit. Incorrect. You have to do the thing. Show the thing. Prove the thing.

I dont have a lot to say about the actual plot of this episode. It just added another conflict to the the muddled list of this seasons unresolved conflicts. Quite frankly, the episode was self-indulgent verging on masturbatory. Shining yet another light on Max and Lizs relationship woes, as well as Lizs ego. So lets start with an overview.

Here we go.

Synopsis



Word Problems

When It Doesnt Make Sense

Riddle Me This

When the Mindscape Pony is Open More than the Real One

And So It Goes

Bad Girl Liz and her sidekick Clyde want Irksome Liz to indulge her megalomaniacal tendencies by embracing the mist and becoming more genius-ier. Meanwhile, Max is impulsive and gets trapped in Lizs Wild West mindscape, but Isobel gets kicked out. Doctor-in-Training Heath joins the Crisis Liz Team. Michael tries to go rescue Alex, but Rosa has joined the lets guilt trip Michael club, so he doesnt. In the end, Irksome Liz gives up the drivers seat to Bad Girl Liz and Michael and Maria have a fireside chat about thinking thoughts about possibly maybe the next day thinking about maybe rescuing some people from a glory hole. Oh, and the show wasted the appearance of OG Liz, Shiri Appleby.Honestly, how many people does it take to save Liz? Turns out the answer is six. One to conduct lab tests, one to get trapped in a mindsape, one to act as a nurse between songs, two to stand around, and one to not look for his boyfriend or Dallas or Bonnie because the rest of the group told him to stop being impulsive.How many days does it take to die of dehydration in an alien sand pit masquerading as another dimension? As little as three. Who knows maybe there is a grocery store in the other dimension. Alex was probably house hunting in the alien sand pit this episode because he realizes his friends are all horrible people. That likely explains why he didnt communicate with anyone in this episode. Doesn't really matter since they also were in no way worried about his lack of communication.No continuity. The writing is so sloppy.Lets see how sloppy this show can be in the space of a single episode. It is established that Heath is going to NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Rosa is going to Parsons School of Design, which is part of The New School, so they both reside in New York City. I too lived there for two years. While I did not befriend these two, they did befriend one another.They then have the following conversation at Deep Sky, which apparently all of them can now access without Alex or Kyle, the only two members of this Titanic of a friend group that actually work there:: So, how long has Dallas been missing?: No more than a day. Listen, Im sorry that I didnt tell you over the phone. I just thought that you should hear it in person.: You know, I almost didnt go back to med school. I didnt want to leave Dallas . . .Rosa then has this conversation with Michael:: Hey.: Look, Bikini Kill. Liz, shes got her boyfriend. Youve got your boyfriend. Im-a go get my boyfriend.: Heath is not my boyfriend, okay? People hug when theyre sad.: You stepped outside to make a call and 30 minutes later, Heath swooped in. So either Dr. Feelgood came to town with you, or . . . Did you develop beam-me-up powers?: Or Heath came yesterday. After you told me about Dallas . . .These two interactions are important. Michaels first and second line were the best of the episode, granted the episode overall was indulgent and uninspired, butalways manages to make magic in the middle of mediocrity. That was the good now on to the mess.Is the audience to assume that Rosa convinced Heath to dip out on medical school by saying that she had something to tell him about Dallas but couldnt tell him over the phone, so he had to fly across the country to hear it? Fine, lets say the audience accepts that scenario. Are they then to assume that once Rosa told Heath that Dallas was missing, he just holed up in his hotel room for the night and didnt attempt to connect with the group? Fine, lets say that after finding out that Dallas was missing, Heath decided to hole up in his hotel room acting out the lyrics to I Touch Myself bywhile thinking of Dallas, waiting for Rosa to call with details of the nonexistent search effort. When he finally hears from Rosa, it isnt about Dallas, his number one, but Liz, so he leaves his hotel to play doctor. Save a few minor details, this is the only scenario that fits with the dialogue.Even Michael is confused about when and why Heath is in Roswell. A more realistic version of this situation: Rosa calls Heath with concerning news about Dallas. Heath demands to know the news over the phone. Heath now knowing the news flies to Roswell, confronts the alien squad, and searches for Dallas all night long. When Rosa calls him for help, Heaths phone goes to voicemail because he threw himself into the alien sand pit to find Dallas aka his reason for living.That didnt happen because its all hands on deck for Liz, but too bad so sad for the three people trapped in another dimension. I guess the needs of the many versus the needs of the Liz only exists on. Look, Heath is harmless. And in theory, I have no issues with him returning, but I do question the necessity of it all for many reasons. The first reason being, we know Deep Sky has doctors.You know what else? What nonsense was Rosa spewing? What does setting a car on fire at 17, with two other people, have to do with finding Alex? Also, Rosa, my baby, you were already dead when the car was set on fire. It isn't like Michael killed you. Im disappointed that Rosa has boarded the dont be impulsive train. I could give her a pass because Liz is her sister, but Im not feeling magnanimous today. Everyone just watched a powerless Max insist upon jumping into a mindscape, but jumping into an alien sand pit is insane. Got it. I do wonder why Max is allowed to do whatever to save his woman when Michael isnt allowed to do whatever to save his man. Theres an itch at the back of my brain. Give me a minute.There may have been a time when I would have attributed this glaring lack of equity between the two main couples a mere oversight or bad writing. That's a lie. There was never a time I attributed this to oversight. The intentionality of the disaprity between the couples is so repugnant. Poorly written equitable trteatment would make people cringe, but at least it wouldn't feel like Michael and Alex's entire relationship existed to score progressive points and internet mentions.Why is Max allowed to be impulsive without guilt or shame while Michael is guilted and shamed into compliance when he tries to save his cosmic love? This show, from season one, has indulged Max in his tantrums, bullying, verbal abuse, physical abuse, impulsivity, bossiness, rage issues, and violence only to label him the savior and give him a messiah moment in season one while also undermining, disappearing, torturing, and traumatizing the two queer survivors of abuse at every turn. And do not attempt to usher in the argument that Max died. Yep, he did. Then he arose and went horseback riding with his girlfriend.How is Shivani, a person that was vaping the alien mist prior to Lizs arrival at the lab and also in the room with the broken bottle of alien mist, back at work while Liz is convulsing on a table, fighting her Bad Girl self in a mindscape? If a cure or treatment exists, it makes sense that they would also use it on Liz. The logic here just doesnt hold. I guess Liz is the ring and Max is Gollum. Also, are we to surmise that Lizs mindscape was contingent upon Max demanding to join Isobel? Would this entire stupid episode not have occurred if Isobel simply told Max Evans no? This has to be true since Bad Girl Lizs entire plan was to kidnap and threaten Max to get what she wanted from Irksome Liz. Speaking of Irksome Liz, no one watching the episode believed that she shot the Bad Girl version of herself. Lizs ego is the second biggest thing on the show after Maxs entitlement issues.By the by, was anyone else squinty eyed when Liz seemed giddy about the possibility of her once upon a time sex friend/salsa partner and formerly dead sister hooking up?How does Michael end this episode? Well, Michael and Maria sit around the fire pit for a chat. Let me award zero points to the writers for having this take place at Michaels former home. From what I gather, the purpose of the chat was to prop up Maria as the only person that kept their cool during Crisis Liz. Apparently, Maria decided that it simply wasnt her turn to have a meltdown. Give me a break.Also, Michael, you get to be emotional about your missing boyfriend. Stop letting your horrible group of friends crawl inside your head to convince you otherwise. Stop letting them use the trauma of your past, as a survivor of abuse, to make you feel horrible about wanting to spring into action. You love him and he is missing. The real question is why are all of you sitting cozy around fires and on sofas instead of searching for a way to bring back Alex, Dallas, and Bonnie. Just because Alex isnt dead doesnt mean he isnt dying.And why are we referencing the need to find them? They are in the hole. They are in the hole that Alex showed you. They are literally not lost. They are in the hole. You dont even have to dig. Also, why havent we asked the alien in captivity, Tezca, about the hole and how to retrieve items that are trapped down there? Is her friend time with Isobel really necessary?How much do we love, a show with four episodes remaining, adding to the unresolved conflicts? How much do we love a show with four episodes remaining dedicating 43 minutes to telling the audience what they already know  Max is an albatross, Liz wants the glory at any cost, and their relationship is toxic.And Ill say again, the turquoise was never their thing.This show has a pacing problem, a plot before character problem, a coherent story telling problem, and a worldbuilding problem. It also has a respect problem. In that, it doesnt respect its audience. I want to be disappointed but that would require having expectations.This was an absolutely worthless episode.
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP)  Three people were killed Wednesday when a house exploded in the southern Indiana city of Evansville, authorities said.

David Anson, chief deputy coroner for Vanderburgh County, told The Associated Press that the identities of the people who died would not be released until the next of kin has been notified.

Evansville Police Department spokeswoman Sgt. Anna Gray said at least one other injury was reported and that victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Evansville Fire Department Chief Mike Connelly said a total of 39 houses were damaged by the explosion at around 1 p.m. He said the department has not confirmed how many of the houses were occupied when the explosion happened because some were too unstable to enter.

At least 11 of the 39 homes damaged are uninhabitable, Connelly told the Evansville Courier & Press.

The cause of the explosion has not been determined, but the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was investigating. A phone message seeking comment was left at the Evansville field office of the ATF.

Debris is strewn over a 100-foot (30-meter) radius," including typical construction materials such as wooden boards, window glass and insulation, Connelly said.

Aerial video posted on social media shows damage in a residential neighborhood with police and fire vehicles on the scene in Evansville, on the Kentucky border.

CenterPoint Energy, the local gas utility, was last called to the home in January 2018, Connelly said. CenterPoint issued a statement saying it worked with first responders to secure the area.

CenterPoint Energy is working closely with the Evansville Fire Department, State Fire Marshal and other agencies as the investigation of this incident continues, the utility said.

Jacki Baumgart, an office manager at Award World Trophies about two and a half blocks from the site of the explosion, said she and other employees in their building panicked when they heard the loud blast and saw smoke.

We thought a tree fell on the building or a car ran into the place, Baumgart said. Debris from the ceiling came down.

She continued: Everybody here immediately ran out of the building. We thought the building was going to come down.

It was the second house explosion in the area in just over five years. A house explosion on June 27, 2017, killed two people and injured three others.

Wednesday's explosion also brought to mind a massive blast in 2012 that destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes on Indianapolis south side and killed two people. A man was convicted of tampering with a natural gas line at his then-girlfriends home in an attempt to commit insurance fraud, with the explosion killing two next-door neighbors. That man, his half-brother and girlfriend all received long prison sentences.

___

This story has been corrected to show the first name of the chief deputy coroner in Vanderburgh County is David.
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RIGA, Latvia (AP)  The U.S. will conduct more military exercises with Baltic nations such as Latvia, and look to provide increased training, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, saying the U.S. may bring in additional troops from America if needed to bolster the region against any possible threat from Russia.

Speaking at a press conference with Latvias Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, Austin said plans to do continuous rotations of forces into the Baltics will likely use troops from U.S. brigades in Romania and other parts of Europe, but we can also bring in forces from the United States.

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades, underscoring the increased importance of the Baltic nations, who sit at Russias western edge. They have watched Russia's invasion of Ukraine and fear that they could be the next victims of Moscows aggression. The Pentagon said the last defense chief to go to Latvia was William Perry in 1995.

Pabriks told reporters that his top priorities are to get more U.S. military enablers, adding that in order to defend his country, his troops need nitty gritty training on a daily basis. He added that Latvia also needs additional financial assistance from the U.S. in order to buy new military equipment, and to beef up its air defense and coastal defense.

In two days of meetings in this Baltic capital, just a few hours drive from the Russian border, Austin repeatedly re-enforced America's commitment to helping the region defend itself. He met with U.S. troops on Tuesday, including members of the Security Force Assistance Brigade that provides training to allies. He said Wednesday that he is looking to maintain use of the SFAB in the Baltic region going forward.

Austin's visit comes as the Russian war in Ukraine is in its sixth month, as Russia continues to make slow but incremental progress but has met growing counterattacks by Ukrainian forces in Russian-occupied areas of southern Ukraine. Ukraine has also been battling to hold off the Kremlins forces in the industrial Donbas region in the east.

In a possible escalation of the fighting, powerful explosions rocked a Russian air base in Crimea on Tuesday and sent towering clouds of smoke over the landscape. Russias Defense Ministry denied the Saki base on the Black Sea had been shelled and said instead that munitions had blown up there. But Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles.

In a rapid-fire series of meetings on Wednesday with top Latvian leaders, including President Egils Levits at Riga Castle, Austin pledged Americas steadfast commitment to stand with the Baltic region against any Russian aggression. The three Baltic nations - Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia - are all former Soviet republics, and were seized and annexed by Josef Stalin during World War II . They gained independence with the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, and joined NATO in 2004, putting themselves under the military protection of the U.S. and its Western allies.

We will enhance our rotational deployments in the region and intensify our training with our Baltic allies to further strengthen our combat credible posture in the region, Austin said, as the start of his meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krisjanis Karins at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday morning.

During the press conference, Pabriks acknowledged worries about the threat from neighboring Belarus, which is a Russian ally. He said he doesnt consider Belarus an independent nation and is instead just part of Russia. He said Latvia is routinely concerned about the threat along that border and watches it closely.

The U.S. has deployed an additional 20,000 U.S. troops to Europe -- for a total of about 100,000 --- in order to reassure NATO allies, beef up training and exercises and shift the focus of the forces to the alliances eastern flank. Of those, the U.S. now has about 500 troops in Latvia, an increase over the 100 that were in the country as of last December.

In March, shortly after Russias invasion of Ukraine, NATO began to explore how best to shore up the defense of the eastern flank, from Estonia in the north through Latvia, Lithuania and Poland down to Bulgaria and Romania on the Black Sea.

On land, our new posture should include substantially more forces in the eastern part of the Alliance, at higher readiness, with more prepositioned equipment and supplies, said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, at the time. In the air, more allied air power, and strengthened integrated air and missile defense.

Austin first stopped first at Lielvarde Air Base where he and Pabriks met with U.S. and Latvian troops. Standing in a hangar in front of an Apache helicopter, Pabriks flatly told Austin and the service members that if something happens on the border  we are ready to die."

Austin assured Pabriks and the troops that if something happens, and ... the sovereign territory of Latvia is questioned or challenged, were gonna be here to work with our partners.

NATO only began stationing troops on its eastern flank after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. Until late last year, only around 5,000 troops were deployed in the Baltic states and Poland on a rotational basis.

Now, NATO says, hundreds of thousands of troops are on heightened alert, with America's 100,000 troops in Europe, and 40,000 troops under direct NATO command, supported by around 150 ships and a similar number of aircraft.

Austin's visit also comes as Latvia moves to increase its own defenses, and the nation's president eyes a plan to reinstate national conscription for men, and for women on a voluntary basis. The draft could be reintroduced next year after a hiatus of over 15 years.

Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said the country was working closely with the U.S. and boosting its defense budget in response to the looming Russian threat.

Now that Russia is waging a brutal war in Ukraine, the U.S. and we are united, working on strengthening NATO and providing support to Ukraine, Karins said, in comments published by the Baltic News Service, the regions main news agency.

___

Associated Press reporter Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.

This story corrects that helicopter in the hangar was Apache, not Black Hawk, which was outside.

.
GREENLAND, N.H. (AP)  A school bus driver faces federal charges alleging he threatened and stalked an 8-year-old boy in New Hampshire.

Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, Maine, worked as a bus driver for First Student and drove routes in both Greenland and Rye, New Hampshire, the Portsmouth Herald reported. According to court documents, he gave a student at Greenland Central School cellphones with instructions to take inappropriate photos of himself, placed tracing devices on his parents vehicles and made multiple nighttime visits to their home. The boy told investigators Chick used a story about a group of criminals he called The Team who would kill his family, kidnap him and torture him if he did not comply with their demands.

The boys parents reported what they considered Chicks obsession with their son in April and again in May. Chick was reassigned to different bus routes, but continued to contact the boy, according to the court documents. The family reported him to police again in July after finding two cell phones in a lunchbox in the boys room.

A spokesperson for the bus company told the newspaper that Chick is no longer employed and the company is cooperating with authorities. School district Superintendent Steve Zadaravec called the allegations deeply concerning and said officials will review all policies to ensure student safety.

Chick, who was arrested Friday, made an initial court appearance Monday and a detention hearing is scheduled for Aug. 18. Chicks attorney, public defender Behzad Mirhashem, declined to comment to the newspaper and did not immediately respond to a request Wednesday from The Associated Press.
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GREENWICH  Leora Levy, a major Republican fundraiser and member of the GOP national committee, used an endorsement from Donald Trump, energized state conservatives, and exploited low turnout on one of the hottest, muggiest days of the summer to score an upset primary victory Tuesday night over Themis Klarides, the moderate former state House minority leader.

The victory for Levy, 65, turns Connecticut a little more red, with an anti-abortion conservative on track to challenge second-term U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal in November. She took the podium a little after 10:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Greenwich to give a victory speech that lasted about 15 minutes.

The vote ends a nasty intraparty battle over the endorsement that Klarides, 57, easily won at the May GOP state convention. Emotions revved up throughout the spring and summer when conservatives Levy, of Greenwich, and Peter Lumaj of Fairfield, gained enough support to challenge Klarides in what turned out to be a near record-low turnout, according to unofficial totals.

Addressing the crowd of about 100 supporters in Greenwich, Levy was quick to thank Trump for his strong, clear, unequivocal endorsement.Im so honored that you have chosen to support me and to have your confidence, and I will not let you down, she said. Trump called Levy a little after 11 p.m. Tuesday to congratulate her on her win.

As Levy took the call from Trump Tuesday night, a crowd began to gather around her. She eventually walked back to the podium, put Trump on speakerphone, and held her phone up to the microphone.

The only thing better than this call, President Trump would be if you were here with us, Levy said. Trump indicated a fight is ahead. One day off, and then you got to get back to work, he said.

An F.B.I search of Trumps Palm Beach, Fla., residence on Monday did not deter Levy from hosting a telephone rally with the former president later that day to drum up support for her at the polls.

More News CT primary results: Live updates

On Tuesday, she said the investigation was a political witch hunt and that she was offended and disgusted. She said the FBI search led many angry Republican voters to come out to the polls Tuesday, she said.

Early Wednesday morning, Levy led 46,665 votes to Klarides 37,017, with Lumaj at 8,463 votes.

Levy acknowledged her two opponents during her victory speech saying that while the three had disagreed over policy, she knows they were also motivated to run by a love of their country.

Boos erupted when Levy mentioned Lumajs name but she quickly shut down the hecklers, saying No, no, no. We need to unify.

In recent weeks, Levy and Lumaj bickered over who was more-conservative, while portraying Klarides as a Democratic sympathizer who voted for the states historic gun-safety legislation after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre nearly 10 years ago. Klarides stressed she was in favor of smaller government, lower taxes and railed against the radical left exemplified by Democrats Blumenthal and President Joe Biden. .

In Middletown, Klarides conceded in her third floor, Main Street headquarters at about 10:44 p.m.

Klarides entered the quiet party room to issue her concession speech a few minutes after Levy declared victory. Klarides thanked supporters and reflected on nearly a quarter century of state service. She had texted Levy her congratulations just before Levy took to the podium in Greenwich.

Its been a great run and I am proud of my service, she said during a three-minute valedictory.

Klarides, with her husband Greg Butler at her side, recalled her grandparents who came to the United States from Greece for a better life. Klarides aspired to run for governor, but made the transition to U.S. Senate in the weeks before the state convention.

No matter what the future brings, I will always, always be my mothers daughter, that loud-mouthed Greek girl wholl always fight for what I believe in, always stand up for what is true and never back down to anybody, regardless of their thoughts on it, she said before being led away to a side door without taking questions from reporters.

Levys 11th hour endorsement from Trump, which came last week during an annual barbecue put on by the Montville Republican Town Committee, appeared to give her the boost she needed in a Republican primary, the outcome of which, many said, will signal the direction of the Connecticut GOP follwoing the Trump presidency.

He told Republican voters exactly what kind of candidate I am and why I am the strongest candidate to go up against Dick Blumenthal and to ultimately defeat him, Levy said. When announced her run in February, Levy promised to bring national attention to this race and I have, she said Tuesday.
STAMFORD  A Stamford Public Schools administrator hired a year ago was selected Tuesday night for one of the districts top spots.

Lori Rhodes, who was hired as the districts director of secondary education in June 2021, was approved by the Board of Education as the school systems new associate superintendent of school development effective immediately.

The vote was not unanimous, however. Members Joshua Esses, Becky Hamman and Fritz Chery all voted against the nomination. Hamman and Chery both mentioned Rhodes short time in the district as the reason for their decision; Esses said he could not support it because he is at odds with Superintendent Tamu Luceros vision for the district.

Nicola Tarzia was the only member to abstain from voting.

Dr. Rhodes is eminently qualified for the position, and while I do understand perhaps some concerns, I think the policy disagreements with the superintendent should be raised with the superintendent and as long as she is the superintendent, she has the right to choose the people she believes (are) best suited to execute on her goals, said Member Ben Lee, one of five to vote in favor of Rhodes nomination.

Board president Jackie Heftman said she has been impressed by Rhodes.

The year she has been with us, she has embraced Stamford the way we hope that anybody would who comes to work in this district, Heftman said.

Rhodes is now one of three associate superintendents  joining Amy Beldotti, who leads teaching and learning, and Michael Fernandes, who is in charge of intervention services and student support  who report to Lucero.

She will take over for Olympia Della Flora, who left the district in June after about four years in Stamford.

Rhodes moved to Stamford last year from California to take the position of director of secondary schools.

Her two children attend Stamford Public Schools.

My family and I do embrace Stamford and all it has to offer, she said.

Rhodes said she was humbled, honored and excited for the new challenge.

This was the right decision for us to move here, she said. This was the right decision to work for the district. I could not be more excited.

She later added, I also hear reservations and I look forward to working with everyone on the board and to continue the excellent work that were doing.

Rhodes was previously a professor at Sonoma State University in California. During her time there, she redesigned the schools administrative credential program to align with new state standards and created a Master of Arts in education leadership program. She also founded and directed a college counseling organization.

Rhodes holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Binghamton University, a Master of Arts in curriculum and teaching from Columbia University and a Master of Arts in history and a doctorate in history of education from Stanford University.

Later in the same meeting, board members voted unanimously to approve the nomination of Matthew Laskowski to the position of director of access and opportunity for secondary schools.

Laskowski, currently the principal at Rippowam Middle School, will begin his new role on Sept. 1. Like Rhodes, he also has two children in the Stamford school system.

He called Rippowam, where he has been principal since 2017, a second home.

Applying for this position was a difficult decision and accepting was even harder and thats because of all the great people  the teachers, the staff, the para-professionals, security staff, office staff, he said. They are my family and its going to be tremendously difficult for me to leave.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
STAMFORD  A city woman pleaded guilty to reduced charges in the 2020 fatal stabbing of her ex-boyfriend over the Christmas holiday.

Anissa Maples, 50, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide at the state Superior Court in Stamford on Wednesday. The plea was made under the Alford Doctrine, in which a defendant maintains their innocence but admits that the evidence would likely result in a guilty verdict if brought to trial.

Maples was facing a first-degree manslaughter charge in connection to the Dec. 26, 2020, stabbing that killed 50-year-old Walton Harris.

The guilty plea came as the result of an agreement with state prosecutors that was brokered despite objections from Harriss family members.

A cousin of Harris said in a statement before the court on Wednesday that the deal was a smack in her familys face and a miscarriage of justice.

This is not justice, she said, addressing Judge Bruce P. Hudock as her voice cracked with emotion. Only you right now have the power to reject this offer. Im begging you, Im pleading with you to reject this offer.

Maples, who was visibly shaken, had to take a seat as her ex-boyfriends cousin delivered her statement.

Supervisory States Attorney Michelle Manning, while expressing sympathy for the victim and his family, said that the evidence in the case was not strong enough to warrant a trial on the original manslaughter charge.

I understand very much why the victims family is not in agreement with this. But Im not here as the victims familys lawyer, Im here as the representative of the state and I have to do what I think is right, Manning said.

Maples, who was 48 at the time of the incident, had made claims of self-defense in the fatal stabbing.

Maples claimed that she had taken Harriss phone during an argument and when Harris came at her to get the phone back, she stabbed him in self-defense, Manning said.

But Harriss family claimed he was unarmed at the time and not a threat.

It was a murder that happened, his cousin said Wednesday.

Despite the objections, Hudock sided with Manning and accepted the agreed-upon deal.

In return for her guilty plea, Maples received a one-year jail sentence that was fully suspended and two years of probation.

As a part of the deal, Hudock also mandated that Maples receive mental health evaluations and treatment.
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DALLAS (AP)  A suburban Dallas man who evaded arrest for more than 12 years after the fatal shootings of his two teenage daughters in 2008 was convicted Tuesday in the killings that prosecutors said were driven by his obsessive desire for control.

Yaser Said, 65, was found guilty of capital murder in the deaths of 18-year-old Amina Said and 17-year-old Sarah Said. Prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty, so with the conviction, the judge sentenced Yaser Said to life in prison without parole.

The teens' mother, Patricia Owens, told her former husband in a victim impact statement given after the verdict and sentence that she was no longer scared of him.

You can keep those evil eyes on me as long as you want. You will never break me down again," Owens said. "Nor will you ever be able to hurt another person."

Prosecutor Lauren Black said in closing statements that Said manipulated and controlled that household. She said that when Said's daughters wanted to live their own lives, he could see that he was losing control. He was not going to be able to deal with that, so he took their lives, Black said.

The sisters were found shot to death in a taxi that their father had been driving that was parked near a hotel in the Dallas suburb of Irving on New Years Day in 2008. Jurors heard a 911 call Sarah Said made by cellphone, telling the operator that her father had shot her and that she was dying.

Shes screaming out from the grave right now, Black told jurors after playing the 911 call during closing statements.

Sarah Said was shot nine times and Amina Said was shot twice.

Defense attorneys, who said they would appeal the verdict, said people can have hallucinations in moments of extreme trauma, such as when they have been shot multiple times. They also said the evidence did not support a conviction, and that police were too quick to focus on Said as the suspect.

A week before they were killed, the girls and their mother had fled their home in the Dallas suburb of Lewisville and went to Oklahoma to escape Said. The sisters boyfriends also joined them. The prosecutor said the sisters had become very scared for their lives, and decided to leave after their father put a gun to Aminas head and threatened to kill her.

According to a police report, a family member told investigators that Said at one point had threatened bodily harm against one of his daughters for dating a non-Muslim.

In a letter to the judge before the trial, Said wrote that he was not happy with his daughters dating activity but he denied killing them.

Owens, who divorced Said after the slayings, testified that Said was abusive and controlling, and had convinced her to return to Texas from Oklahoma.

Owens testified that when she married Said, she was 15 and he was 29. She told him while giving her victim impact statement that he'd never treated me like a real person, a wife. Instead, she said, she was just someone for him to take his anger out on.

Remember when you put the knife to my throat? I do. Remember when you pointed a gun at me? I do, she said.

Said took the stand on Monday, telling jurors that he did not kill his daughters. Said told jurors that the evening the sisters were killed, he was taking them to dinner because he wanted to solve the problem after they had left home. He said he thought someone was following them, so he had left his daughters in the taxi and fled. He said he did not turn himself in to authorities because he feared he would not get a fair trial.

Prosecutor Brandi Mitchell called his testimony absurd."

In a Dec. 21, 2007, email that was brought into evidence, Amina Said told a teacher that she and her sister planned to run away. She said they didnt want to live by the culture of their father, who was born in Egypt. Her father, she said, had made our lives a nightmare.

He will, without any drama nor doubt, kill us, the email read.

After the slayings, Said was sought on a capital murder warrant, and was placed on the FBIs most-wanted list. He was finally arrested arrested in August 2020 in Justin, about 35 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of Dallas. His son, Islam Said, and his brother, Yassim Said, were subsequently convicted of helping him evade arrest.
Theres been growing talk in recent months of the Republican Party moving on from Donald Trump. Some prominent right-wing outlets have professed their disappointment at the findings of the Jan. 6 committee in Congress, and the elite of the party has seemed to tire of the ongoing drama of the Trump saga, with its endless grudges and recriminations and investigations.

But if the leaders of the party have moved on, the voters themselves remain in his thrall.

We should be clear that what happened in Connecticuts Republican Senate primary on Tuesday was an enormous upset. Themis Klarides is an institution in state politics, and had the backing of basically her entire party apparatus. She would have been a more-than-credible gubernatorial candidate.

She lost, convincingly, to someone few outside of Greenwich had heard of until this race. Leora Levy is herself a lifelong Republican Party insider, but she has reinvented herself as a carrier of the Trump torch, and for that she was rewarded with the former presidents endorsement and the voters support.

Levy will now face incumbent Richard Blumenthal in Novembers general election, and she will again be a decided underdog. But the fact that shes here at all shows the power Trump continues to hold over the Republican electorate.

There are a number of factors at play. Klarides claims of electability were always somewhat overblown  just like its hard for a Democrat to win in the Deep South, a Republican will face huge headwinds in Connecticut no matter who the candidate ends up being. Supposed moderation only goes so far when every election is nationalized.

Then there is the changing face of the party. Trump not only lost Connecticut twice, but during his time in office the party shrank. Many moderate Republicans are now unaffiliated, and with Connecticuts closed primary system, only registered party members can participate. That meant more voters were attuned to the likes of Levy and Peter Lumaj, another Trump supporter, who combined to win about 60 percent of the vote.

Another factor is turnout. There were less than 100,000 votes cast among the three candidates. When Blumenthal won reelection in 2016, he won more than 1 million votes. A primary win is a major accomplishment, but repeating that feat will not be easy.

Elsewhere around the state, results were a bit more predictable. Both endorsed Democrats who faced statewide primaries, Erick Russell for treasurer and state Rep. Stephanie Thomas for secretary of the state, won their primaries easily. Thomas will face Republican Dominic Rapini, who has made election security his top issue, even as voter fraud is vanishingly rare.

There were only a few contested state legislative seats, but several of note. Bridgeport state Sen. Dennis Bradley, who was indicted last year on federal campaign finance charges, lost his primary to Herron Gaston. State Rep. Trenee McGee, a rare Democrat who opposes abortion rights, came out on top against her challenger.

The focus now turns to November, especially the governors race. With Bob Stefanowski having donated to Levys campaign, it could be easier for Gov. Ned Lamont to tie his opponent to the new Senate candidate, and by extension Trump. Republicans could come to rue this outcome.

As always, the voters will get the final say.
After several days of sweltering heat and humidity, Connecticut should see more average temperatures on Wednesday, the National Weather Service said.

Wednesday morning will see temperatures in the 60s and 70s, rising to the mid-80s by the afternoon with partly sunny skies, the weather service said.

Temperatures will be close to normal on Wednesday with a cold front just south of the area, the weather services New York office said. There will be a chance for showers by the end of the day.

The chance of rain in the afternoon is slight, becoming more likely moving into the evening hours. Skies will become mostly cloudy overnight.

Lower Fairfield County could see some coastal flooding Wednesday evening, depending on the rainfall.

Brief minor flooding is expected in the more vulnerable locations near the waterfront and shoreline, the weather service said. Some roads and low-lying properties, including parking lots, parks, lawns, and homes and businesses with basements near the waterfront will experience minor flooding.

More rain could fall early Thursday. Skies are expected to be partly sunny again, with highs in the 80s.

The relatively cooler weather midway through the week comes after heat and humidity regularly combined to produce temperatures that felt like 100 degrees or more in recent days.

In Goshen, state police said two adults were hospitalized Tuesday after authorities found them in medical distress inside a hot home.

This a timely reminder of how vital it is to check on the wellbeing of people who work outdoors, older adults, those with underlying health conditions and small children, state police said in a statement.
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There have been no increases in radiation level during the war, either in Ukraine or in Romania, and the values registered at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station do not justify the concerns of the media or the population, Minister of the Environment, Waters and Forests Barna Tanczos declared, on Wednesday, at the end of the Government meeting.

"Over the past few days, a lot of contradictory information has appeared regarding the situation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. I had a rather long telephone conversation with Mr. Minister of the Environment of Ukraine and Mr. Strilets [Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ruslan Strilets - ed.n.] emphasized once again that the radiation monitoring system in Ukraine is functional. It has been developed and supplemented with new radiation measurement units following donations received from European states. It is a system that reports the measured data daily and sends them to the International Atomic Energy Agency, as do we. The National Environmental Radioactivity Surveillance Network that operates under the authority of the National Environmental Agency is a functional network, which receives daily the data where it is validated and sent to the International Agency. The data measured, validated and transmitted to the International Agency does not justify in any way the concerns in the media space or at the population level. Since the beginning of the war, this monitoring has been continuous, data validations are conducted continuously, daily," said Tanczos.

He added that the exchange of information between Romania and Ukraine is carried out permanently.

"During the periods when we had information from Ukraine regarding potential nuclear activity or potential problems at these plants, we made more frequent validations, even hourly. All this data certifies the fact that there have been no increases in the radiation level during the war, either in Ukraine or in Romania. We continue to do this in collaboration with our colleagues and the ministry in Ukraine, we are in permanent contact, we provide and receive information constantly," said the minister.

The nuclear power station in the city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region was repeatedly bombed over the weekend and sustained some damage, but critical infrastructure is believed to be intact.

Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for the attacks. It is not possible to independently verify the statements. AGERPRES
The Government approved, on Wednesday, a draft law on the ratification of the Loan Agreement between Romania and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) in the amount of 600 million euros and the Agreement on non-refundable financial assistance between Romania and IBRD worth 24 million USD, announced Government spokesman Dan Carbunaru.

He pointed out that the two agreements were signed in Bucharest, on July 19, based on previous approvals at the level of the Government and the President of Romania, with the financing expected to ensure the implementation of some actions associated with the reforms pursued within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), but also for the management of the humanitarian crisis generated by the Russian military aggression in Ukraine.

"Funding is grouped under two pillars: strengthening inclusion and fiscal administration, including actions that involve response to the humanitarian crisis in areas such as education, health, social assistance, housing, employment, pension reform, streamlining spending and fiscal reform. At the same time, the financing will ensure support for decarbonization and climate resilience, including a series of actions and fields, such as renewable energy, boosting the energy efficiency of buildings and forests," said Carbunaru, Agerpres.ro informs.

He specified that, through a memorandum, the decision was made to introduce a de minimis aid scheme to support the sustainable development of companies active in the manufacturing and material recovery industry in order to increase the competitiveness of products made in Romania.
The Cloasterf village is hosting the first edition of the International Art Camp "Legaturi, Liaisons, Connections," a pilot project by which its founder, Daniel Pop, a graduate of the Master's degree programme of the University of Arts in Targu-Mures (UAT), majoring in "Artistic Entrepreneurship," wants to bring the community closer to art, through interaction.

The International Art Creation Camp "Legaturi, Liaisons, Connections" takes place over five days and will end at the end of this week, being coordinated by university lecturer Adriana Boanta, PhD, and supported by the Student Entrepreneurial Society of the university, which supports entrepreneurial initiative and coordinates the activity of all business incubators within the UAT.

"We offer workshops through which we explore, create, spend an intelligent time together these days, with artists on different performing arts, such as contemporary dance, body expression, stretching, relaxation, meditation. We have animation theatre, and the artists who teach this workshop proposed to build a kind of installation from collected plastics to call for the protection of nature and to call for everyone's responsibility when it comes to nature. We have the fashion and design workshop, also from an ecofashion angle, in the idea that we asked the participants to bring an accessory, a piece of clothing that they don't want to wear anymore and we reconstruct it, make something new out of it. So all these arts have this message of rebuilding, of finding new connections, to take care of ourselves and those around us in order to share all this together," Daniel Pop, who is a choreographer, told AGERPRES.

He stated that he wishes this camp to be organized every year, in the same period so that this project will build an identity.

The organizers claim that this camp aims to encourage the exchange of cultural practices and create opportunities for collaboration by proposing an active dialogue between the performing arts scene, the community and local developers, and facilitating access to culture for members of the local community by promoting intercultural exchange and artistic events.

During the five days of the camp, the participants have access to training methods and tools in the artistic field, professional development activities, debates and entrepreneurial training, and the artistic activities take place outdoors and indoors.

Daniel Pop is a dancer, choreographer, pedagogue, artistic director of the ART12PM company, being the student of Gigi Caciuleanu - director of the Rennes Choreographic Centre and director of the National Ballet of Chile.

He participated in numerous workshops, conferences, artistic programmes and performances at the National Opera in Paris, the Parisian cabaret "Paradis Latin," Maison des Editions "Entre Chien et Loup," Instituto de Danzas y Artes "Reina Reech" in Buenos Aires, EITAI Queretaro Mexico, Plataforma 322 Produccion Arte y Cultura from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, the Romanian Cultural Institute from Paris, Universite Paris Saint-Denis - Vincennes and the University of Arts from Targu Mures.
A 48-year-old man, who was wanted by the British authorities in connection with the death of 39 migrants who were being transported in the trailer of a truck, was discovered by the police in Bucharest, informed, on Wednesday, the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR) in a press release to AGERPRES.

According to the cited source, the police officers with the Criminal Investigations Directorate - Prosecution Service found on Wednesday, in Bucharest, a 48-year-old man, wanted internationally, at the request of the judicial authorities in the United Kingdom, who issued a European arrest warrant for committing involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to support illegal immigration.

"The investigations showed that, together with other people, the man had allegedly organized and coordinated the illegal transport of several migrants to the United Kingdom inside one of the trucks owned by a criminal group, used for this purpose. On October 23, 2019, in Essex, Great Britain, the lifeless bodies of 39 Vietnamese nationals, men, women and children, aged between 15 and 44, who suffocated after being locked in a trailer for almost 12 hours, were identified," the press release states.

The man was heard by a prosecutor with the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest Court of Appeal and was detained for 24 hours, to be presented to the Bucharest Court of Appeal, with a proposal for preventive arrest, with a view to extradition, in favour of the British authorities, mentions the cited source. AGERPRES
More than 65,000 people visited the exhibitions presented at the ninth Art Safari artwork event, which took place for three months at the Dacia-Romania Palace in downtown Bucharest.

The first season of 2022 also marked the launch of the concept of temporary exhibitions, which involved mutual exchanges of exhibits with the Antipa Museum and the Technical Museum, informs a press release sent to AGERPRES.

Art Safari #9 featured over 800 works of art borrowed from 17 museums in Romania, Germany, Spain, Israel, but also from important private collectors, worth over 14 million euros, Agerpres.ro informs.

"We are ending this Art Safari in a new format, of about 2 and a half months, with the satisfaction that we have allowed a large number of visitors to enjoy the exhibited artworks. We have not been able to hold the exhibitions open, for organizational and cost reasons, for six months, as long as an important exhibition should last; however, the longer duration of our exhibition editions still seems to us like a step forward. We offered an artistic city break in Bucharest not only to visitors, who came specifically to rediscover Theodor Aman from Iasi, Timisoara, Cluj or Constanta, but also to the collectors who came especially from Israel for the Marcel Iancu exhibition. Irina Dragomir's works received words of praise in Danish, English, French, German or Dutch, because there were also art lovers from abroad. Art Safari puts Bucharest on the map of European cultural capitals!," said Art Safari general manager Ioana Ciocan.

In total, 65,127 visitors visited the 6,000 square meters of the Dacia-Romania Palace, and Night Tours were once again the favorite visiting experiences of the Art Safari audience. More than 4,000 visitors chose the night tours at this edition, enjoying guides, live music and cocktail parties.

The two temporary exhibitions developed in partnership with the National Museum of Natural History "Grigore Antipa" and the National Technical Museum were also part of the educational program, aimed at familiarizing the public with natural history, but also with science and technology.

The exhibits of the two museums could be admired in a different context, among the paintings, and for two weeks, the Art Safari artworks kept company with the dinosaurs from Antipa, but also with the inventions from the Technical Museum. These temporary exhibitions were highly appreciated by the Art Safari audience - visitors choosing the joint tickets that offered access to both Art Safari and the two museums.

The next edition of Art Safari will take place between September 23 and December 11, in the same venue.

The Dacia-Romania Palace will host the exhibition "Seeking Truth - The Art of John Constable", curated by Dr. Emily Knight, Katharine Martin, which includes works by John Constable, but also Albrecht Durer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Claude Lorrain, William Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, Jacob van Ruisdael. The extremely valuable works, estimated at 100 million euros, are brought to Art Safari by the famous Victoria & Albert Museum, London.

Tickets for the tenth edition went on sale on the Art Safari website.
Nuclearelectrica shrinked the power of CNE Cernavoda Unit 1 by 25%, on the night of August 9, in order to carry out some works to remove the algae amassed in the condenser area, in the classic part of the plant.

"SN Nuclearelectrica SA informs shareholders and investors about the reduction of the power of CNE Cernavoda Unit 1 by 25%, on the night of August 9, 2022. The power reduction of CNE Cernavoda Unit 1 is necessary in order to carry out some works to remove the algae accumulated in the condenser area, in the classical part of the power plant. CNE Cernavoda Unit 1 will resume the nominal power after the completion of the works for the removal of the accumulated algae," reads a press release of the company sent on Wednesday to the Bucharest Stock Exchange.

The power contraction and the algae removal works are completed in accordance with the specific procedures of CNE Cernavoda and have no impact on the personnel, nuclear safety, the environment and the population, the cited source said.

Nuclearelectrica, the only nuclear power producer in Romania, contributes approximately 20% nuclear energy to the total energy production, by exploiting the two Candu units, Units 1 and 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant, each with an installed production power of 700 MW. At the same time, Nuclearelectrica contributes 33% to the total production of energy without CO2 emissions in Romania.AGERPRES
The number of Ukrainian nationals with employment contracts in Romania reached 6,431 on Wednesday, Minister of Labour Marius Budai told AGERPRES.

Out of the total of 6,431 active employment contracts of Ukrainian nationals, 4,287 were registered after the start of the war, on February 24, 2022, while the rest are contracts having been in place at the time of the outbreak of the conflict.

According to the data centralized by the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity, of the 4,287 Ukrainians who got employed after fleeing the war, 1,154 work in the manufacturing industry, 607 in construction, 508 in hotels and restaurants, and 414 in trade.

More than a quarter of Ukrainians, namely 1,278, opted for jobs in Bucharest, 428 in Bistrita Nasaud county, 276 in Timis County, 241 in Arad County and 214 in Maramures County.
The Pioneers' Palace - Subjective Histories exhibition, which has in its center the history of the Pioneers' Palace, as it was lived and felt by the students who crossed its threshold, was opened on Tuesday in the Medieval Spaces of the Cotroceni National Museum of Bucharest.

Through this project, the Cotroceni National Museum aims to put together historical researches with the documentation of oral history and to capitalize, through multimedia methods, the heritage generated by the period 1949-1976, a patrimony of which sources are still accessible, the organizers specify.

The deputy managing director of the Cotroceni National Museum Stefania Dinu presented, in a short history, the way in which the Cotroceni Palace came to be transformed, during the communist period, into the Pioneers' Palace, a place of development of the activities specific to the pioneer organizations.

"The idea of the exhibition is older, because we capitalized on this segment of the history of the Cotroceni compound in 2011, for the first time. Then I presented the exhibition "From the Royal Palace to the Palace of the Pioneers" having as main theme the illustration of the passage from the Royal Palace to the way this palace was to be constituted in a Palace of the Pioneers, how the palace became subordinated to the National Organization of Pioneers and how it was chosen as a place of development of the specific activities of the pioneer organization in the Cotroceni Palace. In fact, it was a way to erase from the collective memory the image of royalty and to give another destiny to this place that was to be occupied by the children of the working class. This year's exhibition presents the Palace of the Pioneers from another perspective, that of the memories of the pioneers who were at the Cotroceni Palace and who had the courtesy to tell us from the histories lived by them, as well as children who frequented the circles of the Pioneers' Palace," Stefania Dinu told AGERPRES.

Displayed in the exhibition are both items worn by the pioneers, as well as many video images from the archive of the Romanian Television.

"The video image is the one that prevails these days, because it combines archival images with the images from the museum, where those who agreed to tell us about their experience at the Palatul Copiilor/Pioneers' Palace or Children's Palace remembered much better the moments lived at the palace, which now, again, has become a decorated palace as in the period of royalty. It's a game between the new and the old, between the present and the past, which I think catches on especially to the young audience because they didn't live that period, they just heard from the stories of their parents, of their grandparents, and then it's a real history cure, and the image does everything in this digital world we live in," Stefania Dinu said.

The project manager Bianca Barsan specified that the Pioneers' Palace - Subjective Histories exhibition is part of the Cotroceni IStory project.

"The project 'Cotroceni IStory' (...) is based on the affective and subjective dimension of heritage, the stories that we tell ourselves and tell about photographs, objects, people, buildings from the past. In addition to this exhibition, the project also includes a series of essays and a film workshop in which high school students from Bucharest told the story of the patrimony in the Cotroceni neighborhood. The exhibition Pionees' Palace - Subjective Histories could not be here without the support of former pioneers who agreed to share their memories with us," said Bianca Barsan.

The event was attended by the president of the Romanian Cultural Institute, Liviu Jicman (former manager of the Cotroceni National Museum), the managing director of AGERPRES National News Agency, Claudia Nicolae and the journalist Liviu Tofan.

The exhibition can be visited until October 2, either during the full tour of the museum or on the exhibition tour, from Tuesday to Sunday.

The exhibition is part of the Cotroceni IStory project, put together by the Cotroceni National Museum and co-financed by the Administration of the National Cultural Fund, in partnership with AGERPRES National News Agency, the Romanian Television Society, the National Archives of Romania, the National Museum of History of Romania and the Ferdinand I National Military Museum.
The value of the subsidy transferred by the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) to the account of the political parties, in September, is 16,972,063 RON, according to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Wednesday.

Thus, the quoted source says that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) received 6,534,585.12 RON in August, the National Liberal Party (PNL) received 5,539,682.82 RON, the Save Romania Union (USR) - 2,986,325.78 RON, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) - 1,322,548.64 RON, the People's Movement Party (PMP) - 341,894.92 RON, and the Pro Romania - 247,025.81 RON.AGERPRES
Sighisoara is hosting again, after a two-year hiatus, the most important intercultural festival in Romania, ProEtnica, from August 25 to August 28, where 600 representatives of Romania's 20 national minorities are expected.

The festival, now in its 18th edition, is organised in partnership with the Department for Interethnic Relations of the Romanian government and the Mures County Council. Funding the event is the Ministry of Culture, and the town of Sighisoara provides the logistics and makes the public domain available, according to a press statement released by the organiser, the Youth Inter-Ethnic Educational Centre Association (IBZ).

ProEtnica is a unique tool for highlighting the ethnic and cultural diversity of Romania's national cultural heritage, which is confirmed by the previous 17 editions. It is, at the same time, a model for peaceful coexistence that promotes ethnic and cultural diversity as an engine and treasure of development and not as a danger to be fought against. The mission of the festival is simple: peace - by promoting dialogue, peace - by offering the rights of expression to the national minorities of Romania and Europe, according to the organisers.

"We believe that this festival actually contributes to the consolidation of peace in a pluralistic and democratic society. It is a signal that peoples and ethnicities no longer accept dictatorial systems that promote the thesis that one people is superior to others, that promote wars and genocides as legitimate instruments for the fulfillment of dreams of ethnic hegemony," says Volker Reiter, initiator and chairman of the festival.

This year's edition of the event will commemorate Carol Konig, expert in military history, and Aurel Vainer, former chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, who died in the autumn of 2021, and the organisers are grateful to them for their generosity, optimism and profound humanity with which they supported the ProEtnica festival since the first edition in 2001.

As many as 600 representatives of Romania's 20 national minorities, organisations that facilitate intercultural dialogue, mass media and over 10,000 spectators are expected at the festival.

The bill of play includes 60 traditional dance and music performances set up by ensembles of national minorities, which can be watched on stage in the Citadel Square. At the same time, in the Literary Salon, four ethnic writers will present their works.

"Agora of intercultural dialogue" includes nine lectures, roundtable conferences and symposia, and the public is invited to actively participate in three workshops.

There are also four arts and photography exhibitions with four presentation stands of national minorities and other ethnocultural organisations.

Joining the festival will be the Sorbian national minority of Germany as part of the international side of the event. Moreover, ProEtnica is part of a series of events dedicated to the anniversary of 30 years of Romanian-German friendship and partnership. On April 21, 1992, Romania and Germany signed in Bucharest a treaty between Romania and the Federal Republic of Germany regarding friendly co-operation and partnership in Europe, which laid the foundations for the development of bilateral relations after the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany.
As many as 7,313 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, down 2,551 from the previous day, with 25,885 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Wednesday.

Of the new cases, 1,441 were in re-infected patients, who tested positive more than 90 days after the first time they recovered from the disease.

Most of the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Romania since the previous reporting were recorded in Bucharest City - 1,354, and in the counties of Cluj - 435 and Timis - 418.

The 14-day notification rate nationwide is 4.24 cases per 1,000 population.

The highest rates are in Bucharest City - 9.64, followed by the counties of Sibiu - 7.38, Ilfov - 7.22 and Brasov - 6.61.

As of Wednesday, 3,137,858 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.

- Hospitalisations -

As many as 3,989 people with COVID-19, down 88 from the previous reporting, including 550 minors, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities.

Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 302 patients, up 7, including four minors, are in intensive care.

Of the 302 patients admitted to ICU, 261 are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

- Deaths -

According to the ministry, 26 Romanians, 17 men and 9 women, infected with SARS-CoV-2 are reported dead in the last 24 hours.

Of the 26 deaths, 3 were in the age group 50-59 years, 6 in 60-69 age group, 5 were in age group 70-79 and 12 in the age group over 80 years.

All deaths were in patients with comorbidities, and 10 were in vaccinated patients.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 66,262 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.AGERPRES
Anti-corruption prosecutors are sending Bucharest Sector 3 mayor Robert Negoita to court in a case in which he is charged with abuse of office in connection with the sanitation contract with Rosal Group, which is assumed to have produced a damage of 580 million RON and undue benefits for the sanitation company, the National Anti-corruption Directorate (DNA) announced on Wednesday.

The prosecutors of DNA's Section for the combat of corruption-related crimes ordered the trial without detention of Sector 3 mayor Sorin Robert Negoita for two counts of abuse of office with ill-gotten benefits and particularly serious consequences, inciting abuse of office resulting in improper benefits with particularly serious consequences and complicity in intellectual forgery.

Several persons who, at the time of the deeds, were holding various positions of authority in the Sector 3 Mayor's Office will also stand trial, as well as an external public auditor with the Bucharest Chamber of Accounts - Romanian Court of Accounts, a representative of SC ROSAL Group SA, and SC ROSAL Group SA.

The Local Council of Sector 3 is seeking civil damages in this trial in the aforementioned amount. AGERPRES
"Under the insignia of royalty: Photos of a young princess" exhibition will open on Friday, at 18:00, in the conference room of the Nicolae Minovici Museum, announces the Bucharest Municipality Museum in a Facebook post.

According to the source, the exhibition project aims to recover and display a series of photographs taken by Franz Mandy, the photographer of the Royal Court, which presented Princess Maria, who would later become the "Queen of all Romanians".

"In the Chapel of the Minovici Museum were exhibited 11 photographs of the young Princess, positioned by the collector and forensic doctor Nicolae Minovici in a setting of spiritual significance. Maria's photographs from the Chapel of the villa-museum represented her in poses close to the founder portrait that is in the mural painting of the Orthodox churches, for example, holding in her hands the layout of the Curtea de Arges monastery (foreshadowing, in a way, the later embrace of the Orthodox religion of her people). The images were removed during the communist regime from the frames in which they had been exposed by the collector, frames located at the level of a wooden sofa without backrest (from the Turkish divan, ed. n.) loaded with icons and censers, which are empty nowadays," the Bucharest Municipality Museum says.

As a result of the operation of the communist ideology to erase the traces of royalty, the images no longer exist in the patrimony of the Minovici Museum, reproductions of the images that disappeared being offered to the public to be watched again.

"The exhibition does not aim at a simple 'return to normal' and a correction of the invasive gesture, on the contrary, it puts in the foreground and emphasizes its devastating effect. The recovery is aimed not only at an essential aspect of the original exposition, but also of the image in the epoch of Princess Maria and, subsequently, of the 'Queen of all Romanians'," the press release says.

The approach of the curators - Madalina Manolache and Ionut Banu, the Dr. Nicolae Minovici Museum of Folk Art - brings into discussion themes related to artistic patronage, the taste for decorative arts and interior decoration of Queen Mary, the emphasis being placed with caution on the period of the beginning of the century.

"The promotion of the Romanian folk costume and of our traditional arts was the strategy of the Royal House for the formation and strengthening of the connection with the adoption people, but also for the attempt to build an economy and a household industry with local roots. Through the prism of her creative personality, Maria was naturally attracted to the decorative art, implicitly to the folk art of the Romanians, which she also supported and collected. At the centenary of the Coronation in Alba Iulia, we remember the personality of Queen Maria, especially in the light of the years of accommodation and formation of her iconic figure," the Bucharest Municipality Museum says.

The exhibition "Under the insignia of royalty: Photos of a young princess at the Nicolae Minovici Museum" can be visited until November 27, from Wednesday to Sunday.
ST. LOUIS  About a dozen businesses across Missouri are taking a public stand against the states abortion ban, joining a movement nationwide by companies to make their views known to potential employees and customers.

The area businesses have joined a new effort by Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri to support abortion access, reduce the procedures social stigma and, perhaps, pressure political leaders at the same time.

Twelve businesses have signed on to the Brands Against Bans campaign, which kicks off Friday night with a yoga class and community fair at Brick City Yoga in the Benton Park West neighborhood of St. Louis.

Those in marginalized communities are often the ones that dont have a voice to speak up, and as a business owner, I do have a voice, said Kate Ewing, owner of Brick City Yoga. I wanted to use our business platform as a way to speak for a broader community that we know will be impacted by these bans and will need support.

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 24 overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. Since then, a dozen states have severely restricted the procedure, including Missouri, which banned it except in cases of a medical emergency.

Businesses across the country have since taken public stances. More than 100 companies such as Walt Disney Co., Nike Inc., Uber and Microsoft Corp. have pledged to help employees travel to other states for abortion care or extend other reproductive health benefits.

Missouri businesses participating in the Planned Parenthood campaign include The Wandering Sidecar Bar Co., Culture Flock, STL-Style, Millennial Assistants, C&K Cleaning Krew, Own Your Pride, Hedy & Hopp, Church Productions, Golden Gems, and Lone Wolf Welding & Services. The North American arm of the worldwide cosmetics company Lush also joined the campaign.

Businesses can participate in a number of ways: hosting an event that raises money for Planned Parenthood, such as Brick City Yogas class and fair from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday; collaborating on a product like a T-shirt; hosting an educational event; or posting information on their social media channels.

The campaign is an effort to open up the conversation around abortion, normalize it as a health care service and encourage abortion-rights supporters to shop their minds, said Bonyen Lee-Gilmore, vice president of strategy and communications for Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri.

Supporters have been asking where they should take their purchases, she said.

They want to use the power of their wallet to ensure that where they are spending their money is with businesses and companies that align with their values, Lee-Gilmore said.

Businesses are also concerned about their ability to hire new talent and maintain their workforce.

After Indiana became the most recent state to ban abortion, the pharmaceutical company Eli Lily  with more than 10,000 employees in Indianapolis  told NPR that the company is concerned the law will hinder its ability to attract employees and that any future growth will be outside of Indiana.

At least one area anti-abortion group, however, warned businesses against signing on.

No one who takes a hard look at the actual facts surrounding abortion believes that this is good for women or that this is actually health care, Brian Westbrook, the executive director of the anti-abortion nonprofit Coalition Life, said in an email. Companies that make the mistake of supporting this initiative are on the wrong side of history and will suffer from the real public sentiment.

Ewing, the yoga studio owner, said she knows not all her customers are going to agree with her support and she may even lose some business or face backlash, but its more important to her to use her resources to support a cause she believes in.

What we are seeing is overwhelming support, and our student base and our community bases has supported and appreciated that we are vocal on where we stand, she said, and they feel good about spending money on a place that aligns with their values too.
Rioja, located in north central Spain, is the countrys most famous red wine region. So, it makes perfect sense that its also home to delicious roses (rosados in Spanish) that are made mostly or totally from red grapes. One of my favorites is from Riojas prestigious Bodegas Muga, which was founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga and Aurora Cano. The Muga rose is compared below with a very different style of wine made by Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce from the lesser-known region of Manchuela, southeast of Madrid and inland from the coastal city of Valencia.

Bodegas Muga 2021 Rose, Rioja, Spain

Bought  The Wine Merchant, 7817 Forsyth Boulevard, in July for $14.99

Description  Elegant, complex and simply delicious, this wine consistently wins scores in the 90s from critics. A shimmering pale salmon Provencal color, the 2021 vintage is a blend of mostly garnacha with some of the white grape viura. Light- to medium-bodied, it has an inviting floral aroma and tastes of subtle red berries and stone fruit with a touch of vanilla and bakery spice. It ends with a long, refreshing citrusy finish. It makes for a lovely aperitif wine or a pair with seafood pasta or paella.

Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce 2021 Las Canadas Rosado Bobal, Manchuela, Spain

Bought  The Wine Merchant, 7817 Forsyth Boulevard, in July for $13.99

Description  The Las Canadas Rosado is made mostly from bobal, a widely planted red grape known for its thick skin and rusticity. Red wines made from this grape are usually full-bodied, fruity and tannic and these characteristics can also be found in this rosado. A bigger and fruitier wine than the Muga, it tastes of concentrated raspberries and strawberries with a touch of tannins and earthiness. Its a flavorful wine thats best enjoyed with food including barbecued chicken and spicy Asian cuisine.
What is likely the oldest brick home in St. Louis is for sale, and it needs a little love.

Nearly 200 years ago, Capt. Lewis Bissell built the federal and Greek revival mansion atop his orchard estate, which riverboat pilots called Bissell Point.

Its nearly 6,000 square feet, has four bedrooms, four baths, a central staircase, a dumbwaiter, a bar on each of its two floors  and maybe a few ghosts. The building at 4424 Randall Place in the citys College Hill neighborhood, along with two adjacent lots, totals 1.3 acres and is listed at $250,000. The listing went live Wednesday.

Up until a couple of years ago, it was home for about 40 years to a restaurant and murder mystery dinner theater. The managers and owners, Barb and Stan Schepker, quit running the theater at the start of the pandemic in 2020.

The building needs work. Thieves stole the condensers for the copper, so now theres no air conditioning. The plumbing and electrical work needs replacing, and the hardwood floors need refinishing. You can see daylight in the attic, so critters could come in, though no one has seen evidence of that. It was tuckpointed and painted a few years ago.

Hopefully somebody has a vision and theyre going to do something with it, said the real estate agent, Daniel McGrath. It would be a sin to not keep that thing going.

Lewis Bissell was born in 1789 in Connecticut, joined the Army as a young man and came to the far west of St. Louis in 1808, according to the Landmarks Association of St. Louis.

He served with his uncle, Gen. Daniel Bissell, at Fort Bellefontaine and served in the War of 1812. After the war, he and Col. John OFallon partnered to supply goods to troops at the fort and out west.

Bissell likely built the house on his 677 acres in the late 1820s, according to the Landmarks Association. The Schepkers have stuck to circa 1823. Bissells first wife died, and he married again, and he had a total of 11 children. The census in 1830 and 1840 show six enslaved African Americans lived at the property, along with a couple of servants. Bissell died in the house in 1868 and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery.

A daughter and her husband later bought the house, and a series of owners and renters lived there for decades, including Drs. Marie and Edward Randall, for whom Randall Place is named.

In the late 1950s, preservationists saved the house from the Missouri Department of Transportation, which wanted to build the Mark Twain Expressway (Interstate 70) through the property. That group became founding members of the Landmarks Association of St. Louis.

Stan Schepker grew up on Randall Place, and his parents, other family members and residents bought the home in the late 1970s. Barb and Stan Schepker, now in their 70s, had been thinking about retirement and future plans for the house when the pandemic hit.

A dinner theater couldnt do carryout orders to stay afloat, Barb Schepker pointed out, so they made the difficult decision to sell.

I put my life into this for 40 years, she said. It was so much fun. It was absolutely the best. We entertained, and we fed people for years. I still get messages from people: When are you going to open again? Well, were closed.

Barb Schepker hasnt seen a ghost herself, but lights flicker in the house, radios turn on and off, and pictures fall off the walls for seemingly no reason. A man, perhaps Capt. Bissell, is sometimes spotted on the upper parking lot, looking at the house.

A cook once told Schepker that the night before, she dreamed she saw two women in a mansion window, one blonde with a white dress, another a brunette with a pink dress and a cameo around her neck. Later that day, a luncheon guest talking to Schepker paused and told her to look in the corner. He saw two women matching the same description. Schepker couldnt see them, but she wonders: Were those Bissells wives?

Several weeks ago, McGrath, the real estate agent, met a couple of estate buyers at the house. One man went upstairs, and McGrath and the other man went to the catering kitchen, which has a swinging door. A couple of minutes later, when they tried to leave through the same door, it was blocked by a vacuum cleaner, a mop and other household items. The men swore they didnt do anything.

It freaked me out, said McGrath. Like, I dont believe in ghosts, but I cant explain this.

The rooms are sunny and large, with unpainted woodwork throughout. There are stone and wood fireplaces in each room, intact stained glass windows and exterior doors, and walls at least a foot thick.

Can you imagine the lumber cost to build a doorway like this now? wondered McGrath, running his hands along some white painted woodwork.

The building has challenges, but it has a lot going for it, he said.

This historical significance for sure. The history. The structure is sound. The old world craftsmanship is just spectacular.

The building isnt on the National Register of Historic Places but is a city landmark, so it has some legal protections against demolition and alterations, said Richard Callow, chairman of the St. Louis Preservation Board.

Andrew Weil, the director of Landmarks Association, praises the Schepkers for their dedication over the years but worries that the building will become a victim of circumstance as the neighborhood around it also needs help.

The tricky thing about threatened historic buildings is that its not enough to simply buy them, he said in an email. They have to be used and occupied if they are going to survive.

Barb Schepker agrees. She had to pause while talking about the home to hold back tears.

I would love for somebody to save it and turn it into the gem that it once was, she said.
Tony Messenger Tony Messenger is the metro columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Tony Messenger 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

When Raychel Proudies nephew was a senior at McCluer High School last year, the Democratic state representative from Ferguson had no idea that dozens of students had been kicked out of the school without due process.

The point was made in a letter by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and read aloud by Ferguson-Florissant School Board President Courtney Graves at a June meeting. Superintendent Joseph Davis, the letter states, unilaterally and without hearings removed between 40 and 60 students from school and placed them in unsupervised virtual learning.

Without question, we have a problem here, Proudie told me this week, responding to a recent column about the ongoing suspension controversy. Im interested in what data we have that supports putting all these kids out.

To get that data, Proudie, chair of the House Special Committee on Urban Issues, plans to hold hearings on the fact that Ferguson-Florissant leads the state in long-term suspensions. She called me to talk on Aug. 8, the day before the eighth anniversary of the death of Michael Brown. In addition to months of protests in the St. Louis region, his death created an intense focus on equity issues in various institutions, from police departments to school districts.

Redditt Hudson remembers that time well. He is one of the reasons the current Ferguson-Florissant School Board is responsive to the community it serves.

In late 2014, Hudson was one of the parents of Ferguson-Florissant students to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the district. The parents, along with the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP, alleged that the board  then seven white people and one Black person  didnt properly represent a district with a student population that was almost 80% Black, or a voting population that was fairly evenly split between Black and white. Just a year before, the board, then with all white members, had suspended the popular Black superintendent, Art McCoy, for unspecified reasons. McCoy later resigned and finished his career in nearby Jennings.

The lawsuit was successful, and it changed how school board members were elected, making sure that Black votes in the district were not diluted. The current board has five Black members, one white member, and one Hispanic members.

That new board is poised on Wednesday to pass a series of policies meant to rein in the record number of long-term suspensions handed out by Davis since he was hired in 2016.

That first school year, 599 students faced suspensions of 10 days or longer; the next year, it was 729, before rising again to 924. In the pandemic-shortened year of 2019-20, the district was on pace for more than 1,000 long-term suspensions. Most of the suspensions were handed out to Black students, and many of those students had learning disabilities.

Last year, the board adopted different disciplinary practices in an attempt to keep more students in school. Now it is doubling down after discovering Davis has skipped due process requirements by sending some students home for long periods of time on unsupervised virtual education.

In a statement last week, Davis said he disagreed with some of the contentions in the Legal Services letter but that the administration fully supports the boards proposed new policies.

For Hudson, whose children have graduated, the current boards action shows that representatives with strong connections to a community can make a difference.

I am encouraged that the board, newly diversified, is engaged and up for addressing this issue, which has real and lasting impacts on student learning and other outcomes, Hudson says. As a resident that sued the district because of actions it took that harmed Black students, I am concerned that this superintendent has apparently circumvented the law to suspend more students than any other district in the state.

Proudie, like Hudson, is glad the new school board is more responsive to the needs of the community. Its a sign that equity issues are taken more seriously in north St. Louis County than they were eight years ago.

She hopes Davis and other school leaders are ready to explain to lawmakers why so many Black students have been kicked out of class in the past few years, at a much higher rate than surrounding school districts.

Im certainly not paying taxes for kids to be just put out of school, Proudie says. We need answers.

Editor's note: Column has been updated to correct current make up of the board.
ST. LOUIS  A man was released from police custody on Tuesday after being arrested this week on suspicion of hitting a teen pedestrian and driving away from the scene last month.

St. Louis police on Tuesday said the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office cited an incomplete investigation and refused the charges. Detectives are working to provide the Circuit Attorneys Office with more information, police said.

Court records confirmed the man had not been charged. The Circuit Attorney's Office declined to comment and said the case is under investigation

The Post-Dispatch has not named the man because he has not been charged.

On July 29, Matthew Nikolai, 17, was crossing Chippewa Street, walking toward Ted Drewes, when he was struck by a pickup going west that did not stop. He later died at a hospital.

Authorities say Nikolai then tumbled into an eastbound lane, where he was hit by a 2014 Ford Fusion driven by an 18-year-old woman, police said. The 18-year-old stopped, and police said she cooperated with the investigation.

Nikolai was a rising senior at Christian Brothers College High School.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  Prosecutors this week dropped five misdemeanor charges of misusing official information against a former St. Louis County police officer.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office dismissed the 2021 case against Amy Loftus, a former St. Louis County police officer, as part of a diversion agreement, said her lawyer Peter Bruntrager. He said the terms of the agreement were confidential but that "we're happy with the outcome we were able to reach with the state."

Typically, diversion programs, sometimes called deferred prosecution agreements, include the dismissal of charges if defendants comply and break no laws for 18 to 24 months.

Loftus, 39, of Creve Coeur was accused of making 17 searches for "sensitive and restricted information" of fellow officers and one for her mother in the Regional Justice Information Service (REJIS) database from January to April of 2020. Each of those searches also included searches in the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES).

After police learned of Loftus' searches, she told the department she was "curious" about whether one of the officers she searched for was older than her.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis woman will serve more than two years in prison for trying to set fire to a downtown 7-Eleven on fire during protests in 2020.

Nautica Turner, 27, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in February to conspiracy to commit arson. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark sentenced her to 27 months on Tuesday.

Authorities said she poured lighter fluid at the 7-Eleven near 17th and Pine Streets and tried to ignite debris during protests after the May 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The store burned to the ground after another man, Justin Cannamore, set a fire in a store aisle. He is serving a three-year prison term.
Five children from the St. Louis area were recovered as part of a nationwide operation led by the FBI that recovered 84 victims of child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation offenses, and found 37 missing children.
JEFFERSON CITY  Waiting times for low-income Missourians seeking government-funded health insurance have gotten so long the federal government has had to step in to help.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved a plan July 11 to assist the state in reducing application processing times for the states expanded Medicaid program. Those wait times have stretched to more than 100 days.

The normal waiting time to be approved for MO HealthNet benefits should be no longer than 45 days, according to federal guidelines.

Wow, said Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, during a Wednesday meeting of the states Medicaid oversight committee.

Like others, Schupp was surprised to hear the delays had grown rather than shortened after being assured by state officials earlier this year that they were on top of the situation.

I just want to make sure were really focused on getting that timeline down, Schupp told the panel.

After years of opposition from the Republican-controlled Legislature, Missouri voters approved a ballot initiative requiring the state to expand the Medicaid rolls to include more low-income adults.

Since the expansion began in October, more than 270,000 new applicants have applied for coverage. An estimated 34,000 are still waiting for their applications to be approved.

When voters approved the expansion, it was estimated that 275,000 would be eligible for the expanded coverage.

Kim Evans, director of family services at the Department of Social Services, said in June that processing times would drop to 45 days at the end of July and 30 days by the end of August. In March, waiting times were upward of 70 days.

Instead, the waiting times got worse, triggering the rare federal intervention.

The federal plan calls for putting some applications on a fast track for coverage. Workers also are being urged to enroll parents of children in Medicaid. Next week, the state will begin a series of weekly discussions with CMS to ensure the state is nearing compliance.

The goal is to meet the federal standards by Sept. 30.

Evans said the state has been working with federal regulators really diligently since last fall.

But as waiting times grew, CMS oversight became more intense. In May, the federal government sent a letter to the state raising questions about the delays.

Evans said the state was ready to respond.

We started drafting the mitigation plan before we received the letter, she told committee members.

Evans expressed confidence that the state would solve the problems by the end of September. If the state misses the federal deadline, it could face financial sanctions for not being in compliance.

Schupp said the threat was a concern.

We dont want sanctions. We dont want to lose money, Schupp said.

Among the challenges facing the Missouri Department of Social Services, which oversees the Medicaid program, are significant staffing shortages.

According to Gov. Mike Parsons Office of Administration, DSS is budgeted to have 6,600 workers but had only 5,600 as of July 15.

DSS previously said giving workers raises and offering overtime pay and other incentives for employees who are tasked with the applications will help lower the time it takes to process an application.

Were throwing as many staff at this as we can, Evans said. We will not let off the pedal.
Pakistani police have arrested a news director at a popular TV station in the southern port city of Karachi on charges of broadcasting anti-army comments by an opposition politician loyal to ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan. The private ARY television confirmed that Ammad Yousaf, who is also a senior executive at the station, was arrested in an early morning raid at his home on Wednesday. Security officials told The Associated Press that there would also be raids on several other ARY employees who along with Yousaf were part of the broadcast of an interview on Monday with Shahbaz Gill, chief of staff at Khans Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party. Gill was arrested on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The House panel investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection interviewed former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and met briefly with Pennsylvanias Republican nominee for governor Doug Mastriano on Tuesday as it probes Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

Pompeo is among several of Trumps former Cabinet officials the committee wanted to talk to after it was disclosed that some of them raised concerns about former presidents actions  going so far as having considered invoking the 25th Amendment process to remove Trump from office after the riot. Pompeo's appearance was confirmed by a person familiar with the situation but unauthorized to discuss it publicly.

Mastriano, who was outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and helped organize efforts in Pennsylvania to submit alternate presidential electors beholden to Trump, cut his interview short without answering questions. He disputed the validity of the committee and the terms of the appearance, his attorney said.

The committee is working through August, deepening its probe after blockbuster public hearings this summer that began to outline its investigation into Trumps multi-pronged effort to reverse his election loss to Joe Biden and the subsequent storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The meeting with Pompeo, who is considering a 2024 presidential run, comes as the panels Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has publicly disclosed that the committee has several former Cabinet officials in mind for interviews. Steven Mnuchin, Trumps treasury secretary, testified before the committee last month.

The scheme to compile alternative electors has involved Republican officials in battleground states across the nation who are now facing questions, from the Jan. 6 committee and federal investigators. The fake electors emerged as a last-ditch plan by Trumps team to stop Bidens victory when Congress met for the typical routine job of certifying the state election results.

Mastrianos attorney, Timothy Parlatore, said his client's appearance before the committee was over in less than 15 minutes. He said Mastriano wanted to be able to record the interview and said little during the brief session, Parlatore said they plan to challenge the committee in court.

Because hes currently in a general election, we just want some protective measures," Parlatore said in a phone interview, to prevent them from putting out a false or misleading quote that would potentially impact the election.

Committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson issued the subpoena for Mastriano back in February as the panel intensified its probe of the fake electors scheme, seeking documentation from him and others potentially involved and in close contact with Trump.

The committee is seeking information about efforts to send false slates of electors to Washington and change the outcome of the 2020 election, Thompson wrote. Were seeking records and testimony from former campaign officials and other individuals in various states who we believe have relevant information about the planning and implementation of those plans.

Mastriano, who organized two buses from central Pennsylvania for the Trump speech that preceded the violent siege and himself had VIP seating at the rally, walked to the Capitol afterward. He had been scheduled to speak on the Capitol steps that afternoon.

Parlatore said Mastriano knows nothing about any insurrection and did not witness any violence or see any firearms. He said his client would be willing to testify publicly before the panel.

A retired Army officer who beat out several candidates to emerge as the GOP nominee for governor in Pennsylvania, Mastriano has previously been willing to talk to the committee. He also spoke with the FBI last year and said he did not know about a planned insurrection, his lawyer has said.

Mastriano has said he had regular calls with then-President Donald Trump in the months between Trumps reelection defeat and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

His attorney sought to shield Mastriano from testifying over the alternative electors plan because it was undertaken when his client was a state senator.

Parlatore said much of Mastrianos contacts with Trump in the lead-up to Jan. 6 involved Mastrianos capacity as a state lawmaker  a status that complicates the committees efforts to interview him about what the lawyer described as alternative electors to the Electoral College.

Parlatore said he planned to file a court action in Washington, D.C., federal court, seeking to have a judge determine if Jan. 6 committee's makeup and procedures violate House rules.

Growing from Trump's false claims of voter fraud, the fake electors strategy relied on having several battleground states that Biden won submit their tally for the defeated Republican president, rather than the Democratic winner, Biden.

Federal authorities earlier this summer issued subpoenas in several key battleground states across the nation to individuals in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and other Republican officials potentially involved in the strategy to submit electors for Trump.

Prosecutors in Georgia are similarly probing Trump's attempt to subvert the election results in that state.

The Justice Department has charged more than 800 people in the deadly Capitol riot and is investigating Trump's actions in the run up and aftermath of the insurrection.

The Jan. 6 attack left at least nine people dead in the riot and its aftermath, including a Trump supporter shot by police and a police officer who died later.

Scolforo reported from Harrisburg, Pa.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  A fear of attacks that had rippled through Muslim communities nationwide after the fatal shootings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque gave way to shock and sadness when it turned out the suspect in the killings is one of their own.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was arrested late Monday after a traffic stop more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from his Albuquerque home. The Afghan immigrant denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community.

In court documents, in fact, he told police that he was so unnerved by the slayings that he was driving to Houston to find a new home for his family, which includes six children.

But investigators said they have ample evidence to prove his guilt, though they have yet to uncover the motive for the ambush-style killings, the first of which was in November and then three between July 26 and last Friday.

According to the criminal complaint, police determined that bullet casings found in Syeds vehicle matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at the crime scenes were linked to guns found at Syeds home and in his vehicle.

Of the more than 200 tips police received, it was one from the Muslim community that led them to the Syed family, authorities said, noting that Syed knew the victims and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings.

The news of Syed's arrest stunned Muslims in Albuquerque.

I wanted a little closure for the community, as we saw it going out of hand and people were really panicking. But, Ill be honest with you, I was shocked, said Samia Assed, a community organizer and member of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. She said she did not want these heinous crimes to be in any way, in any capacity used to divide a community.

Salim Ansari, president of the Afghan Society of New Mexico, said he felt relief at the news that an arrest had been made. But he was especially taken back because he knew Syed through social gatherings and was dumbfounded to learn the accusations against him and that court documents showed three domestic violence cases against the man.

We never knew," he said.

Ansari said he first met Syed and the family when he was invited into their home in 2020 to tell them about the local Afghan community and the group that he heads. The couple ended up joining the society as members. As recently as last month, Syed and his family brought food and joined a potluck gathering, Ansari said.

I dont know what happened, he said.

On Wednesday, Syed made his first court appearance during a virtual arraignment. He was shackled and in a jumpsuit that said HIGH RISK on the back. His case was transferred to state District Court, where a judge will consider a motion by prosecutors to keep him detained without bond pending trial.

He is a very dangerous person, and the only way to protect the community is to hold the defendant in custody, prosecutors said in court documents.

Syed, through an interpreter, asked for permission to speak, but his attorney asked that the court not take any statements from him. He was not asked to enter a plea.

Syed has lived in the United States for about five years. When interviewed by detectives, Syed said he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, according to a criminal complaint filed late Tuesday.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

In the complaint, authorities said a 9mm handgun was seized from his vehicle, and they found an AK-47-style rifle and a pistol of the same caliber at the family home while serving a search warrant. Syed bought the rifle and his son Shaheen Syed purchased the pistol at a local gun shop.

On Wednesday, Shaheen Syed was charged by federal prosecutors with providing a false Florida address when he bought two rifles last year. He has denied any role in the killings and has not been charged in connection with them. He and another brother were interviewed by police on Monday.

The first of the four people fatally shot was Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, an immigrant from from Afghanistan. Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, said he was a generous, kind, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us forever.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases. Albuquerque police said Wednesday that as long as the suspect is detained, homicide detectives will not rush the case.

Police say they are looking at a number of possible motives. When asked at a news conference Tuesday if Muhammad Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

CNN interviewed Syeds daughter shortly before the announcement of his arrest. She said her husband was friends with two of the men who were killed. She also acknowledged her father initially was upset about her 2018 marriage but recently had been more accepting.

My father is not a person who can kill somebody, the woman told CNN, which did not disclose her identity to protect her safety. My father has always talked about peace. Thats why we are here in the United States. We came from Afghanistan, from fighting, from shooting.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syeds daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents. The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges. Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen OToole said the crimes Syed is suspected of carrying out fit the definition of a serial killer even though Albuquerque police have not classified him as such. She said serial killers often have red flags like domestic violence or sexual assaults in their past that precede the killings.

People dont wake up one morning and just become a serial killer, she said. We would go back and we would look at other crimes that were occurring in the area before the serial murders occurred. Because theres periods of time where they have to practice being violent. And that practice can begin at home.

OToole said motives for the four killings may have varied from victim to victim. OToole said she would want to know what prompted three killings in quick succession eight months after the first.

This behavior that were seeing in this case is cold-blooded, pre-meditated, and it involves hunting behavior  actually hunting human beings  which is probably as cold as it can get, she said.

Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles and researchers Rhonda Shafner and Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report.
On Aug. 2 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued its decision that the no-excuse mail-in voting law enacted overwhelmingly by the Republican controlled Pennsylvania legislature in 2019 was lawful and did not violate the Pennsylvania state constitution. This alleged state constitutional conflict was the basis of Sen. Josh Hawleys objection on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 6, 2021, to counting Pennsylvanias Electoral College votes for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

Very simply, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which is vested with the final authority to decide the legal question of the validity of Pennsylvanias mail-in voting law, ruled in the case as follows: We find no restriction in our Constitution on the General Assemblys ability to create universal mail-in voting.

While this decision is significant in settling, once and for all, the fallacy of Hawleys effort to attack the Pennsylvania electoral votes for Joe Biden, it was not the actual reason Hawleys action on Jan. 6 was legally invalid.

Even at the time Hawley made his objection on Jan. 6 (some time after he was photographed fist-pumping the mob outside the Capitol and then filmed scurrying down a hallway to escape to safety), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court had already decided  definitively, under our legal system  that the mail-in votes were legitimately counted in the 2020 election, and that Pennsylvanias electoral votes had to be counted for the winner, Joe Biden.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled before Jan. 6 that the challenge to the mail-in votes after the election was too late, as a matter of law, to be applied to the 2020 election, even if there had been a conflict between the mail-in voting law and the state constitution (which the new decision confirms there was not). The prior decision was based on the doctrine known as laches. The decision said that it would be fundamentally unfair to negate the votes of lawful voters who reasonably relied on the mail-in voting law at the time of the election.

Anyone who felt there was a constitutional defect in the mail-in voting law that affected the 2020 election was required to make that challenge before the election, but was not permitted to do so after.

Allowing a retroactive attack on the mail-in votes would be profoundly anti-democratic and a grave injustice because it would deny millions of lawful voters an opportunity to cast their lawful votes in the election. (The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected the lawsuit attempting to void the mail-in votes before Jan. 6, when Hawley tried to do so anyhow.)

Since the Constitution requires that the judiciary and not the Senate make the final determination of whether a states electoral votes should be counted, Hawley was acting outside and contrary to his constitutional duty in the Senate to count the legal votes. Hawleys grandstanding gesture was more about symbolism and his political ambition than the actual constitutional duty of the Senate.

Now that Pennsylvanias Supreme Court has established the underlying merits of the issue, the cynicism and illegitimacy of Hawleys certification interference becomes even more apparent and unseemly.

In his own defense, the senator has since said that he was not so much questioning the legality of the mail-in votes as inviting the Senate to discuss it. But he didnt just invite a discussion, he actually objected to the votes being counted. Legally and constitutionally, he had no right to do so, not after the votes had been confirmed by final decisions of the courts.

By the time the issue reached the Senate, senators constitutional and legal duty was to count the votes that had been confirmed by the courts. If Hawley also wanted to discuss the issue with fellow senators, then he could have held a lunch meeting or a Zoom call. He did not have a legal basis to rise up on the Senate floor during the vote count and oppose the legally mandated certification of another states electoral votes. The U.S. Constitution did not authorize the Senate to refuse to follow the final decisions of the highest judicial courts, and as a lawyer, Hawley knew that. An oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution does not make an exception for political theater.

Based on the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts recent decision on the merits, as a matter of Pennsylvania law, the mail-in voting procedure is entirely legal in Pennsylvania for all future elections. And that makes it even more clear that Hawleys disruptive objection was the opposite.

Alan Howard is a professor of law, emeritus, St. Louis University School of Law. Bruce Howard is a practicing attorney in Los Angeles and formerly a member of the University of Southern California law faculty.
Katherine Pinner, the Republican candidate for St. Louis County executive, has scrubbed her website of any evidence of past lunacy and wild satanic conspiracy theories. Her website now offers a montage of I voted stickers along with a photo of her pleasantly smiling while leaning against a stone column, as if to suggest: Who could possibly object to Pinner and her candidacy?

Over on the Democrats side, the website for U.S. Senate candidate Trudy Busch Valentine eloquently outlines her positions on issues important to her potential voters: abortion rights, guns, the environment, standing with the LGBTQ community, etc. The homepage photo depicts the casually dressed brewery heiress in a brown, nondescript vest, smiling into the camera. What Democrat could possibly object?

The knee-jerk reaction of far too many voters is to assume that, because this person represents my party, she or he automatically deserves my vote. The last thing candidates and their campaign advisers want is for voters to dig deeper. When voters oblige them, democracy risks slipping into the hands of people who might have no business anywhere near the levers of power.

Pinner, previously a complete unknown, seemed to have no chance of defeating one of Missouris leading Black Republicans, state Rep. Shamed Dogan, in the Aug. 2 primary. She stayed away from public forums. The news media ignored her. It was only after her primary victory that this newspaper scrutinized Pinners personal website, where shocking examples were on display of her bizarre beliefs.

She referred to President Joe Biden as a tool of Satan. She thinks the Democrats social agenda has satanic origins (just replace the letter B in Build Back Better with the number 6, and the mark of the devil appears). She thinks coronavirus vaccines are laced with microscopic computer chips so the government can monitor humans. (Yet, magically, no such chips are found in Ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine. Nor does Pinner address the far-easier way to monitor people: through the cellphones they carry everywhere.)

Voters no longer have the ability to know what Pinner really stands for because her website has been sanitized.

Valentine appears well-spoken in her campaign websites point-by-point outline of her positions. But in actual interviews, she tends to wax into incoherence. Her jumbled explanation of transgender rights and transitioning treatment for youths got her into serious trouble with some progressives and Mayor Tishaura Jones.

The message for voters is clear: Dont go on assumptions. Take time to do research and, better still, demand that the candidates attend public forums where they can explain their positions to the publics satisfaction. None of this is to suggest these and other candidates are not nice people with good intentions. But articulating a position and defending it publicly must be a basic requirement of any elected official, exactly as they would have to do on the Senate floor or in the County Council chamber.
In July Sansha, the smallest municipality of Hainan province, received a new police boat, the Sansha Zhi Fa 101. It was specifically built to police the least populated (about 2,000 people, most of them military) municipality in China. Sansha has only 13 square kilometers of land and more than two million square kilometers of sea areas containing about 250 tiny islands and reefs. The new police boat is mainly for use around Woody Island, which contains the capital of Sansha and home of most of the 600 civilians recognized as permanent residents of Sansha. The new police boat has a landing platform for a small helicopter as well as small boats for performing rescues or inspections at sea. There are not a lot of weapons because it is literally a police boat for a unique municipality that was created ten years ago as part of an effort to legitimize claims to the South China Sea. Most of Chinas disputes over South China Sea areas claimed by other nations went to an international court which ruled, in 2016, that the Chinese claims to those had no merit. Hainan island is definitely Chinese but has only been a separate province since 1984. Before that it was part of the larger (126 million people) Guangdong (Canton) province.

Hainan, with a population of only 10 million, is a large island 20 kilometers off the mainland. Hainan was the last part of China to be occupied by the communists after they defeated the nationalists in 1949 after decades of civil war. The nationalists were forced out in 1950 and retreated to their last stronghold on Taiwan (a slightly larger island with 23 million people), which has remained independent, and much wealthier than Hainan, ever since.

One reason for turning Hainan into a separate province was to turn it into a special economic zone, similar to nearby Hong Kong. By the end of the century Hainan had also gained several major naval bases, including one for most of the submarines in the Chinese Navy. The same strategy was applied to the creation of Sansha in 2012. So far Sansha is mainly a network of naval and air bases while the capital on Woody Island has become a special economic zone where Chinese companies can register a presence and gain tax breaks.

Despite the thin veneer of a civilian population and city administration, Sansa is mainly a military operation. The docks and airfield are mainly for military use, Sansa acquired two specially designed freighters to keep the tiny population supplied with food and other essentials. Woody Island now has a desalination plant but the dozens of small islands occupied by the military are like ships at sea and most receive fresh supplies constantly. There is also a school for the few children on Woody Island.

The huge water area of Sansha is regularly patrolled by the new Chinese coast guard and a naval militia. In 2013 China created what has become a second navy when the new, larger, and more heavily armed Chinese Coast Guard was officially established. This began with combining four of its five maritime police organizations into one new outfit: the Coast Guard Bureau (or China/Chinese Coast Guard). This was actually the old China Marine Surveillance (or CMS, which belonged to a civilian outfit: the Ministry of Land and Resources) that took over the Coast Guard (belonging to the Public Security Ministry), the fisheries police (of the Agriculture Ministry), and the maritime anti-smuggling police (of the General Administration of Customs). China had multiple coastal patrol organizations because it was the custom in communist dictatorships to have more than one security organization doing similar tasks, so each outfit could keep an eye on the other and ensure loyalty. This was inefficient and confusing, thus the consolidation. This involved several months of effort as hundreds of ships were repainted. Some of these ships had heavier armament installed, as the coast guard is a paramilitary outfit while some of the older outfits were sea-going police.

This reorganization reflects the favorite Chinese tactic for asserting its claims to control most of the South China Sea by avoiding the use of military vessels. Instead, it sends out these police ships to harass and threaten foreign ships operating in what international law considers the high seas but that China considers its territorial waters. If any of these intruders call in warships, then China will defend itself by calling its own warships and aircraft and protest this act of foreign aggression. To expand on this theme China has been adding a lot of safety, rescue and traffic tracking capabilities to the small islands it has built. Its all illegal and an illusion but China believes that eventually their version of reality will prevail.

Then there is the naval militia. Chinas naval militia has been a major factor in Chinese intimidation operations in the South China Sea. This militia has been around since the 1950s but never used this aggressively. For example, during the first three months of 2019 China deployed 900 navy, coast guard and naval militia ships around Pagasa Island to block access to fishing areas that Filipinos have been using for centuries. International law makes it clear that these are Filipino waters but the Chinese naval effort, and base constructed on Pagasa, challenge Filipino ownership blatantly and often physically.

Since 2015 China has hired several hundred Chinese fishing boats and their crews as a part-time naval militia to conduct blockades of islands in the South China Sea that the Philippines physically occupies, hoping to block supplies and force the Filipinos to evacuate these outposts so that China can take possession. The Chinese fishermen dont mind the militia work, seeing it as something of a paid vacation with overtones of patriotic service to the state. The militia boats are not true volunteers. When the government requests a Chinese fishing boat work for the militia the boat owner complies. Sometimes boat owners grumble when they are called up during a prime fishing season, but refusal is not an option and they make the best of it.

Most fishing boats in the South China Sea are trawler type boats. These boats deploy their nets and then move through an area containing a lot of fish and haul their catch on board and into a refrigerated compartment. Many of the Chinese militia boats are formally called "freezer trawlers." These ships are up to 100 meters (320 feet) long and have facilities onboard to store hundreds of tons of frozen fish. These ships normally stay at sea months at a time and have crews of 14-30.

The number of Chinese trawlers has expanded enormously since 1985 when there were only 13. Now there are over 2,400 of them operating worldwide. China helped with this expansion by subsidizing ocean-going fishing boats. Those subsidies were gradually withdrawn as the number of larger (than 100 meter) freezer trawlers has grown and these are meant for use in far distant waters.

Many of the Chinese fishing ships involved in confrontations with foreign fishing ships and local coast guard or naval police never seem to catch any fish. These fish-free fishing ships are paid by the Chinese government to be pests and professional victims of oppression by other nations with claims on the South China Sea. These fishing boats do sometimes fish, but not while being paid by their government for what amounts to paramilitary duties.

This tactic was frequently used against the Philippines, a major victim of Chinese claims on the South China Sea. A favorite tactic to take possession of a disputed reef by sending in a growing number (eventually more than 200) Chinese naval militia fishing boats inside the reef. Most of the Chinese trawlers were lashed together in groups of five to twenty boats that formed a pattern preventing real fishing boats from operating inside the reef.

China claimed all these Chinese fishing boats inside the reef were taking shelter from bad weather. This is often the case with reefs in the South China Sea, but there was no correlation between the presence of Chinese boats inside the reef and the actual weather in the area. The Chinese claims dont stand up to close scrutiny. With so many cellphone videos and high-res images from aircraft and warships available, all China can do is keep lying and do it aggressively and with assurance that no one will do much about it.

That pretty much sums up what the municipality of Sansha is all about.
JUL 28, 2022U.S. Marines with II Marine Expeditionary Force attend the Basic Analytic Wargaming Course on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 22, 2022. The BAWC is a 5-day course that provides students a hands-on experience with designing, developing, executing, and analyzing wargames. Wargames are a form of strategy game and essential to applying Marine Corps concepts of the 21st century, replicating or creating military scenarios that assists military personnel to train the mind in the art of strategic thinking. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Eric Ramirez

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Theres been a sharp increase in al Shabaab activity inside neighboring Ethiopia, including what appears to be a major effort by hundreds of al Shabaab gunmen to travel deep into Ethiopia to establish a base of operations in a mountainous area. Ethiopian forces mobilized quickly and defeated the invasion, killing or wounding hundreds of the invaders and forcing the survivors back into Somalia.

Al Shabaab has been present in Ethiopia since at least 2018 and in 2019 Ethiopia revealed that it had recently arrested members of al Shabaab and fight ISS (Islamic State Somalia, the local ISIL faction), which wants to destroy al Shabaab for being too moderate, in the capital and the area near the Somali border. Since 2017 Ethiopia has been having problems with fighting between ethnic Somalis in Ogaden and the non-Somali Oromo people who live to the west. The Ethiopian province of Ogaden, which comprises most of eastern Ethiopia contains a largely ethnic Somali population. To the west of Ogaden is Oromia, where the largest minority in Ethiopia (the Oromo) predominate. The Oromo are similar ethnically to Somalis but have very different attitudes towards religion. About half the Oromo are Sunni Moslem while the other half are Christians. All religious Oromo include aspects of their ancient tribal religion that resisted conversion efforts by Moslems and Christians. In general, Oromo do not mix religion and politics and few have gotten involved with al Shabaab. Then there are the traditional territorial disputes along the Ogaden-Oromia border and these have flared up again since 2017 and took awhile for the government and armed forces (many withdrawn from Somalia) to deal with.

Many Somalis believe Ogaden belongs to Somalia. Islamic radicals in Somalia have long sought to conquer Ogaden but the dominant Christian Ethiopians have been defeating these efforts for generations. That is not going to change, especially since oil and gas has been discovered in Ogaden, and drilling is underway. In 2015 Somalia and Ethiopia signed an agreement to not provide rebels from the other nations with sanctuary. In other words, the recent al Shabaab invasion of Ethiopia is yet another chapter in the dispute over control of the Ogaden.

August 9, 2022: In the south (outside the bort of Kismayo) two al Shabaab bombs were used to attack a civilian bus and then those who came to assist the wounded. Four were killed and 11 wounded.

August 7, 2022: In Mogadishu, the parliament finally approves the new 75-member cabinet. There was something for everyone, including a senior job for one of the founders of al Shabaab in the religious affairs department. During the proceedings there were several al Shabaab mortar shells landing near the Parliament compound. There were no casualties. Its been a long and tedious process to get this far. The parliament met in late June and approved the new prime minister selected by the president. This formation of a new government came after several years of efforts to overcome clan and warlord objections to democracy in general. The elections were held and results certified on May 15th producing a parliament and new president. The prime minister was the one who actually f0rms a government by filling dozens of key jobs with candidates that will not cause disputes in parliament over who got what. Somalia is still dominated by the power of the clans and the blind loyalty to clan even when it harms national unity. Overcoming this factionalism in a democracy is often very difficult. So far it appears that a majority of Somali leaders are willing to give a clean government a chance to work in Somalia. The key test is forming the new government successfully.

August 5, 2022: In the southwest (Bakool region) Ethiopia claims they killed or captured nearly a thousand Somali al Shabaab men who tried to invade and establish bases in a the Bale mountains area deep inside Ethiopia. The fighting went on for several weeks before Ethiopia declared it officially over. Some of the al Shabaab men got 150 kilometers into Ethiopia before being stopped. Similar incursions by Somalis have been going on for generations and none succeeded, at least not for long. While Somalia has never been a united nation, Ethiopia has existed as a nation state for thousands of years and is the only African state that was never conquered or colonized by Europeans (including the Ottoman Turks). There have been lots of civil wars, but when faced by an external threat, Ethiopians unite to deal with that before returning to internal disputes. The Bale mountains, which are 300 kilometers from the Somali border, are where Oromo rebels establish bases when the Oromo are feuding with the central government.

July 29, 2022: Down south, across the border in the Kenyan counties (provinces) of Mandera, Garissa, al Shabaab claims responsibility for five recent attacks. Al Shabaab considers Christian Kenyan rule of Mandera illegitimate because of the large number of ethnic Somali Kenyans and Somali refugees living in the area. Armed Somalis have been raiding into Kenya, where most of the population is not Somali, for centuries.

July 27, 2022: In the south (Middle Shabelle region) al Shabaab used a car bomb to attack a popular, and well-guarded, hotel. The blast left five dead and 14 wounded. The hotel suffered major damage. The hotel is popular with local leaders and businessmen.

Further south (Lower Shabelle region) al Shabaab suicide bombers carried out attacks in two government-controlled towns. This left 19 dead and 23 wounded. About twenty similar al Shabaab attacks have been carried out so far this year.

July 17, 2022: In the south (Lower Juba region) an American UAV used a missile to kill two known al Shabaab officials. This was the second such air strike since American forces returned to Somalia in May. The return was made possible by the successful parliamentary elections.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSXV:CMB) (Frankfurt:ZM5P) (OTCQB: CMCXF) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares have been approved for trading on the OTCQB Venture Market (the "OTCQB"), operated by the OTC Markets Group, New York. The Company will commence trading on the OTCQB at the open of market August 11th, 2022, under the current symbol "CMCXF". The Company's common shares will also continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CMB".

Kevin Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, "The QB listing will broaden our shareholder base in the United States to wider audience and expand our visibility creating better transparency allowing various platforms to execute orders with greater clarity creating more opportunity to share our story with our neighbors next door."

The OTCQB is the premier venture marketplace for entrepreneurial and developing U.S. and international companies that are committed to providing a high-quality trading and information experience for their U.S. investors. To be eligible, Companies must meet high financial standards, including be current in their financing reporting, follow best practice corporate governance, have a professional third-party sponsor introduction, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. The OTCQB is recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission as an established public market and provides current public information to investors that need to analyze, value, and trade securities. Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

About CMC Metals Ltd.

CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland.

On behalf of the Board:

"John Bossio"

John Bossio, Chairman

CMC METALS LTD.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc.(Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Tel: (709) 327 8013

[email protected]

Suite 1000-409 Granville St.

Vancouver, BC

V6C 1T2

To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to [email protected] or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer directly.

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 certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / August 10, 2022 / Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC)(OTCQB: GRCAF) (the "Company"), reports the release of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations ("MD&A"). In this press release, all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

As at June 30, 2022, the Company had a working capital of $1.98 million, including $2.05 million in cash. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, decreased to $0.36 million compared with $0.39 million during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, increased to $0.20 million compared with $0.17 million during the six-month period ended June 30, 2021. Exploration spending during the six months ended June 30, 2022, increased to $1.75 million, from $1.17 million incurred during the same period of last year, of which $0.27 million was funded by the Series A Secured Rights consideration. During the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported a net loss of $0.67 million ($0.00 loss per share) compared with a net loss of $0.91 million ($0.00 loss per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2021. During the three months ended June 30, 2022, the Company reported a net loss of $0.43 million ($0.00 loss per share) compared with a net loss of $0.45 million ($0.00 loss per share) for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

Q2 2022 Principal activities conducted at the Gold Springs project

During the second quarter of 2022, the Company announced an updated National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate, achieving a significant first milestone in the advancement of the Company's multi-year resource expansion plan.

As of July 29, 2022, the Company has completed 44 holes, for a total of 9,317 meters of its 20,100 meters RC drilling program for 2022: 20 holes at South Jumbo, 2 first holes in the previously untested Snow target, 13 new holes around the North Jumbo resource and 9 holes looking to expand the Charlie Ross resource. From South Jumbo, assays have been received for the first 14 holes and samples for 6 additional holes have been delivered to the laboratory for assay, All the first 14 holes at South Jumbo have hit veins and zones of stockwork veins and breccia development which are favorable for gold mineralization. The core drilling, as part of the 2022 drill program, has started in July to test deeper portions of the system and to collect material for metallurgical testing. As of July 29,2022, 1 hole from the diamond core drilling has been completed in the Tremor target discovered in 2021 and now part of North Jumbo. The ground based CSAMT geophysical survey covering most of the 33 targets began in July 2022.

Outlook

The Company's focus is on the exploration and expansion of the mineral resources at its Gold Springs project in Nevada and Utah, USA, where the Company is currently drilling.

About Gold Springs Resource Corp.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX:GRC) and (OTCQB: GRCAF) is focused on the exploration and expansion of the gold and silver resources of its large Gold Springs project located on the border of Nevada and Utah, USA. The project is situated in the prolific Great Basin of Western USA, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world.

Gold Springs Resource Corp. Contact:

Antonio Canton, President and CEO

[email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements may include words such as "creating", "believe", "would", "continue", "will", "promising", "should", and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, risks of the mineral exploration industry which may affect the advancement of the Gold Springs project, including possible variations in mineral resources, grade, recovery rates, metal prices, capital and operating costs, and the application of taxes; availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; availability of equipment and qualified personnel, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes in project parameters, including water requirements for operations, as plans continue to be refined; regulatory, environmental and other risks of the mining industry more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form and continuous disclosure documents, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The assumptions made in developing the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of current resource estimates and the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the continuing support for mining by local governments in Nevada and Utah; the availability of equipment and qualified personnel to advance the Gold Springs project; execution of the Company's existing plans and further exploration and development programs for Gold Springs, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such plans or programs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe the Company's expectations as of the date hereof.

SOURCE: Gold Springs Resource Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent) of Rembrandt Insurance Company, Ltd. (Rembrandt) (Bermuda), a captive (re)insurer of Vitol Holding B.V. (Vitol), a group engaged in the trading of petroleum-related products. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Rembrandts balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Rembrandts balance sheet strength is underpinned by risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). AM Best expects Rembrandts risk-adjusted capitalisation to remain comfortably at the strongest level, supported by low net underwriting leverage, an outward reinsurance programme that is placed with a panel of financially strong reinsurers and excellent internal capital generation. Partly offsetting factors in the balance sheet strength assessment include the captives moderate reliance on reinsurance and its concentrated asset base, with a loan provided by Rembrandt to Vitol that represented approximately half of the captives total investments at year-end 2021. The risks associated with this loan are mitigated somewhat by terms that allow it to be redeemed at short notice, along with the good financial condition of Vitol itself. In addition, Rembrandt maintains sufficient cash holdings to cover its net claims provisions.

Rembrandts strong operating performance is demonstrated by its five-year weighted average return on equity of 16.3% (2017-2021) and is driven primarily by its good underwriting results, with a five-year weighted average combined ratio of 44.5% over the same period. Operating results are further supported by stable, albeit modest, investment returns.

Rembrandts business profile assessment reflects its strategic importance to its parent, as an embedded part of Vitols risk management framework; however, the captive covers only a small part of the parents insurance needs, writing around 25% of total insurance premiums. Rembrandt has a concentrated insurance portfolio, with approximately 90% of its premiums derived from marine cargo and liability risks.

AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated throughout the world. For current Bests Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005786/en/

Algirdas Karvelis

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 0285

[email protected]

Valeria Ermakova

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0269

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

[email protected]

Jeff Mango

Managing Director,

Strategy & Communications

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
Cerene Cryotherapy is clinically proven to significantly reduce menstrual bleeding and premenstrual symptoms safely and effectively with high patient satisfaction through 36 months following treatment

BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Channel Medsystems, Inc., a medical device company whose mission is to empower every woman to take control of her health journey, today announced the publication of long-term clinical outcomes from the CLARITY clinical study, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Cerene Cryotherapy for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in the International Journal of Womens Health.

The Cerene Cryotherapy Device is presented in this study as a well-tolerated endometrial ablation that can be performed consistently in the office, while providing a significant reduction in HMB symptoms and improvement in quality of life with high satisfaction through 3 years after treatment. The manuscript, entitled The Cerene Cryotherapy Device for the Treatment of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: 36-Month Outcomes from The CLARITY Study, is available on the International Journal of Womens Health website.

The CLARITY study was a prospective, multi-center, single-arm, open-label study that evaluated 242 premenopausal women who underwent cryoablation with Cerene. Follow-up assessments were performed at 12, 24 and 36 months. Two hundred and one patients completed a long-term follow-up visit at month 36 post-treatment.

Summary of Key Results:

Reduced menstrual bleeding patterns reported by patients remained stable from month 12 to month 36 - 90.9% of patients described their menstrual period as none, lighter than normal, or normal at 12 months, and 88.6% at 36 months.

High patient satisfaction and willingness to recommend Cerene to others remained consistent through 36 months. At 36 months, 85% of patients were satisfied or very satisfied and 91% would definitely or maybe recommend Cerene.

Patient quality of life improvements were also maintained through 36 months post-treatment. At 36 months, 91% of patients reported no or slight limitations in life activities. Eighty-five percent of patients reported being free of premenstrual symptoms often, most often, very often, or all of the time at month 36.

There were no serious adverse device-related effects reported in the study. Following Cerene treatment, the cumulative incidence of medical and surgical interventions was low (8.7%).

Findings from the CLARITY study should give physicians confidence in the long-term benefits of Cerene endometrial cryoablation, said lead author Howard L. Curlin, M.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Heavy menstrual bleeding significantly diminishes a womans health. This study demonstrates that Cerene is a highly tolerable in-office treatment that provides women relief from their heavy menstrual bleeding symptoms through three years, helping to restore them to health.

The 36-month results adds to the growing body of evidence that support the clinical utility, durability and safety profile of Cerene. The data confirm that this novel treatment is an important advancement for patients suffering with HMB, said Ric Cote, President and Chief Executive Officer of Channel Medsystems. We look forward to building on our commercialization efforts to bring Cerene to more physicians and their patients across the country.

About Cerene Cryotherapy

Cerene is an in-office endometrial cryoablation treatment that safely and effectively reduces heavy menstrual bleeding while naturally minimizing pain without requiring general anesthesia. The Cerene FDA pivotal clinical study (CLARITY), published in The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, concluded that 90% of all patients experienced an improvement in bleeding symptoms and were satisfied with the procedure at 12 months following treatment. Additionally, results published in The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology in November 2021 demonstrated that the use of cryoablation to treat the endometrium preserved access to the uterine cavity, with visualization in 91% of evaluated patients, and the ability to evaluate for pathologic change in 96% of patients whose uterine cavities could be fully visualized.

About Channel Medsystems

Channel Medsystems is a privately-held company dedicated to empowering every woman to take control of her health journey and live her best life. With a commitment to deliver innovative technologies that exceed the expectations of women and their gynecologists, Channel strives to develop easy-to-use, safe, and cost-effective medical devices, resulting in exceptional outcomes and superior patient comfort that are accessible to all women. Channel Medsystems, Inc. is headquartered in Berkeley, CA.

For more information, visit www.cerene.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005735/en/

Michaela Hill

Health+Commerce

[email protected]

208.949.1618

Source: Channel Medsystems, Inc.
Founding CEO Philip Edmundson appointed Corvuss Executive Chair and Chair of the Board

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Corvus Insurance, the market-leading specialty insurance MGA offering Smart Cyber Insurance products powered by AI-driven risk data, today named Madhu Tadikonda as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Tadikonda will join the Corvus Board of Directors and will report directly to the Board.

The InsurTechs founding CEO Phil Edmundson will assume the new role of Executive Chair and Chair of the Board of Corvus. In this full-time role, Edmundson will focus his efforts on supporting the growth of the company as it expands its international footprint and doubles down on its unique technology and risk capital capabilities. Since its launch in 2017, Corvus has doubled its premium and revenue every year, more than doubled its headcount since 2020 to 300, and has expanded internationally into both the UK and German markets, with plans for further global expansion in 2023.

We are entering a new era of InsurTech 2.0, where success is derived from smart risk-taking, combining insurance expertise with advanced data and technology. Corvus, which has scaled rapidly since its founding, is perfectly positioned to accelerate its growth moving forward, said Tadikonda. We remain hyper-focused on our most important goal: tackling cyber risk. Our advanced data-driven underwriting and policyholder engagement have generated industry-leading results for our risk capital partners and other stakeholders.

Tadikonda, who joined Corvus as President one year ago, has spent the past year collaborating with reinsurers, brokers and policyholders to face and mitigate the rapidly evolving threats and cyber risks to the core digital assets and online operations of todays businesses. Prior to joining Corvus, he served as Global Chief Underwriting Officer at AIG, and earlier led data science efforts for AIGs Commercial Insurance. He also co-founded Archipelago, a risk data platform that uses AI to digitize risk for large owners of commercial property.

"I have known Phil and Madhu separately for many years now, said Matt Harris, Managing Partner of Bain Capital Ventures, and the first investor in Corvus. Having introduced them five years ago, I could not be more excited at this high level pairing of complementary talents in this incredible market opportunity."

Last month Corvus announced an expanded strategic partnership with SiriusPoint Ltd. (SiriusPoint) (NYSE: SPNT), the global specialty insurer and reinsurer, and R&Q Accredited, the leading program management solution provider. The latest multi-year investment from SiriusPoint and R&Q Accredited adds an additional $100MM to the existing program and will allow Corvus to build upon its Smart Cyber Insurance offerings.

Im extremely thrilled with Corvus achievements and I am excited to continue that growth trajectory. Madhus background, with deep experience in both insurance and cutting-edge data science, is a perfect fit for the next phase of Corvus scaling. Since Madhu joined Corvus, he has brought an acute eye and passion for demonstrating value for our risk capital partners, brokers and policyholders alike, said Edmundson. Im excited for whats ahead, and I look forward to continuing to support our companys next phase and working to bring our Safer World mission to more brokers and policyholders.

To learn more about Corvus, please visit http://www.corvusinsurance.com.

About Corvus Insurance

Corvus Insurance is building a safer world through insurance products and digital tools that reduce risk, increase transparency, and improve resilience for policyholders and program partners. Our market-leading specialty insurance products are enabled by advanced data science and include Smart Cyber Insurance, Smart Tech E+O, and Smart Cargo. Our digital platforms and tools enable efficient quoting and binding and proactive risk mitigation. Corvus Insurance offers insurance products in the US, Middle East, Europe, Canada, and Australia. Current insurance program partners include AXIS Capital, Crum & Forster, Hudson Insurance Group, certain underwriters at Lloyds of London, R&Q Accredited, SiriusPoint, and Skyward Specialty Insurance. Corvus Insurance, Corvus London Markets, and Corvus Germany are the marketing names used to refer to Corvus Insurance Agency, LLC; Corvus Agency Limited; and Corvus Underwriting GmbH. All entities are subsidiaries of Corvus Insurance Holdings, Inc. Corvus Insurance was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with offices across the US, in the UK, and Germany. For more information, visit corvusinsurance.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005634/en/

Inkhouse PR, Jen Weber

[email protected]

Source: Corvus Insurance
Latest Move Marks Continued Expansion of European Footprint in Growing Medical Cannabis Market

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Curaleaf International (the Company) part of Curaleaf Holdings (CNSX: CURA), Europes largest vertically integrated cannabis company, is pleased to announce the successful registration of the Companys cannabis based medicines as extract in Poland, with local partner CanPoland S.A.. Poland is one of the largest medical cannabis markets in Europe by patient population1, with a market size expected to be worth at least 2 billion by 20282.

The licensed product is part of the Companys product range being manufactured to meet the growing demand for high quality medical cannabis products across Europe. The licensed product, 100%-European sourced from plant to manufacture, is part of Curaleaf Internationals proprietary product range that has now launched in five key European markets, including the UK and Germany.

In addition to the Polish licence, Curaleaf International has previously announced registrations of products in Malta as well as being the first company to register a THC cannabis extract Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) in Italy. This positive news, taken together with the opening of the Swiss medical cannabis market and Curaleaf Internationals renewing of its GDP licence in Switzerland is another example of where the Company is ideally positioned to capitalise on positive market movements across Europe.

Commenting on this landmark registration, Curaleaf International President Miles Worne said: This licence in Poland is another sign of Curaleaf Internationals strong momentum in Europe. The medical cannabis market in Europe continues to expand rapidly, as regulation opens up and access for patients improves. Since the legalisation of medical cannabis in 2017, Poland has become one of the largest European importers of dried flower and is an excellent addition to Curaleaf Internationals expansion, given its fast-growing patient numbers and significant addressable market. Curaleaf International is driving growth in existing key markets, with the UK in particular witnessing a huge increase in patient numbers, whilst continuing to drive expansion into new markets across Europe.

1 https://prohibitionpartners.com/2022/01/28/poland-legislative-reform-is-lacking-for-one-of-europes-largest-medical-cannabis-markets/

2 https://hygrovest.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The_Poland_Cannabis_White_Paper.pdf

- Ends -

About Curaleaf International

Curaleaf International (formerly EMMAC Life Sciences Group) is Europes largest vertically integrated cannabis company, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. With a unique supply and distribution network throughout Europe, Curaleaf Internationals vision is to bring the life-enhancing potential of cannabis to the people who need it. EMMAC Life Sciences was acquired by Curaleaf Holdings in March 2021.

For more information about Curaleaf International, please visit:

https://www.curaleafinternational.com/

About Curaleaf Holdings

Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (CSE: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) ("Curaleaf") is a leading international provider of consumer products in cannabis with a mission to improve lives by providing clarity around cannabis and confidence around consumption. As a high-growth cannabis company known for quality, expertise and reliability, the Company provides industry-leading service, product selection and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. In the United States, Curaleaf currently operates in 22 states with 136 dispensaries, 26 cultivation sites, and employs over 5,700 team members. Curaleaf International is the largest vertically integrated cannabis company in Europe with a unique supply and distribution network throughout the European market, bringing together pioneering science and research with cutting-edge cultivation, extraction and production. Curaleaf is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol CURA and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol CURLF. For more information, please visit https://ir.curaleaf.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential values, the future plans and objectives of Curaleaf International. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, achievable or recognisable in the near term. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Curaleaf International assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220809005785/en/

Buchanan

Henry Harrison-Topham / Jamie Hooper / Ariadna Peretz

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000

[email protected]

www.buchanan.uk.com

Source: Curaleaf International
August is set to be one of the biggest promo months on record at Australias favourite online casino

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fair Go Casino, the best online casino in Australia, is banishing those winter blues by taking players to a pokie paradise of thrills, spills and some truly incredible promotions for the rest of this month.

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Full Cycle Performance:

Growing Production and Free Cash Flow

Reducing Carbon Emissions

Accelerating Deleveraging & Shareholder Returns

BOGOTA, Colombia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GeoPark Limited (GeoPark or the Company) (NYSE: GPRK), a leading independent Latin American oil and gas explorer, operator and consolidator reports its consolidated financial results for the three-month period ended June 30, 2022 (Second Quarter or 2Q2022). A conference call to discuss 2Q2022 financial results will be held on August 11, 2022 at 10:00 am (Eastern Standard Time).

All figures are expressed in US Dollars and growth comparisons refer to the same period of the prior year, except when specified. Definitions and terms used herein are provided in the Glossary at the end of this document. This release does not contain all of the Companys financial information and should be read in conjunction with GeoParks consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements for the period ended June 30, 2022, available on the Companys website.

SECOND QUARTER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

Profitable Production Growth

Consolidated oil and gas production up 14% to 38,940 boepd (up 2% vs 1Q2022)1

Production in Colombia up 16% to 34,253 boepd (up 2% vs 1Q2022)

CPO-5 block (GeoPark non-operated, 30% WI) gross production up 77% to 20,300 boepd (up 34% vs 1Q2022)

Tigana and Jacana fields in the Llanos 34 block (GeoPark operated, 45% WI) and Indico field in the CPO-5 block, rank among the top 10 oil-producing fields in Colombia2

On track to reach 2022 full-year guidance of 38,500-40,500 boepd

Record Revenue, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash Flow and Net Income

Revenue up 88% to $311.2 million

Adjusted EBITDA up 140% to $144.8 million (including $36.6 million of realized cash hedge losses)

Operating Profit of $143.4 million

Cash flow from operations up 190% to $123.2 million

Net profit of $67.9 million (or $1.13 earnings per share)

Improved Capital and Cost Efficiencies

Capital expenditures of $32.4 million

Every $1 dollar invested in capital expenditures yielded 4.5x in Adjusted EBITDA (3.7x in 1H2022)

G&A costs reduced by 15% to $10.8 million

Fast, Immediate and Aggressive Actions to Minimize Emissions

Main fields in Llanos 34 block interconnected to Colombias national power grid are fully operational (Tua and Jacana in May 2022, and Tigana in July 2022)

The interconnection of Llanos 34 to Colombias national power grid (~70% hydroelectric3) is a decisive catalyst to reduce carbon emissions and improve overall operational reliability

Solar photovoltaic plant in the Llanos 34 block to be fully operational in 3Q2022

1 Percentages are calculated adjusting for divestments in Argentina in 2Q2021 and 1Q2022, respectively. 2 Based on latest available information on Colombias oil production per field during May 2022, as published by the ANH. 3 Colombian Ministry of Energy and Mines, Report to Congress, p. 14.

2022 Work Program: Strong Cash Flow Generation

Self-funded 2022 capital expenditures program of $200-220 million targets the drilling of 50-55 gross wells, including 18-22 gross exploration/appraisal wells

Using a $90-100 per bbl Brent4, GeoPark expects to generate a free cash flow of $250-2805 million, equivalent to a 35-40% free cash flow yield6

Free cash flow funding incremental capital projects, significant debt reduction, increased shareholder returns and other corporate purposes

Reducing Debt and Strengthening the Balance Sheet

Cash in hand of $122.5 million ($114.1 million as of March 31, 2022)

Net leverage of 1.0x (1.5x in March 2022 and 2.5x in June 2021)

Reduced gross debt by $1037 million since January 1, 2022 (or $208 million since April 2021), with additional deleveraging expected in 2022 at current market conditions

Returning More Value To Shareholders

Board approved a 50% increase in cash dividends to $7.5 million ($0.127 per share) per quarter, payable on September 8, 2022, a 4%8 dividend yield or 11% of net income in 2Q2022

Acquired 1.18 million shares, or 2% of total shares outstanding for $15.1 million since January 1, 2022 ($3.0 million in 1Q2022 and $12.1 million from April 1, 2022 to date)

Strengthened Corporate Governance

Shareholders re-elected five existing Directors and elected four new Directors at the AGM held on July 15, 2022

World-class, well-known oil and gas finders and developers, Brian Maxted and Carlos Macellari join the Board as Independent Directors. Two experienced Executive Directors, Andres Ocampo and Marcela Vaca also joining, adding significant expertise to GeoParks Board of Directors

GeoParks Board is 66.7% independent

Upcoming Catalysts

Drilling 10-12 gross wells in 3Q2022, targeting development, appraisal, and exploration projects in the Llanos and Putumayo basins in Colombia and in the Oriente basin in Ecuador

Exploration drilling includes 2-3 wells in Llanos basin, 1-2 wells in the Putumayo basin and 1 well in the Oriente basin in Ecuador

In the CPO-5 block:

Initiating production tests in the Cante Flamenco exploration well (located 4 kilometers west of the Urraca 1 exploration well), where preliminary logging information indicated hydrocarbons in the Mirador formation

After Cante Flamenco, the drilling rig is expected to move to drill 1-2 development wells in the Indico field to further accelerate production growth

A second drilling rig is expected to start spudding wells in the southeastern part of the block in late August/early September 2022

Andres Ocampo, Chief Executive Officer of GeoPark, said: "Our second quarter can be best characterized by a successful high-momentum transition, our on-the-ground full cycle performance with record results, and a lot of good work and drilling underway opening up even more opportunities for the rest of the year. We are proud of the GeoPark team for ending the first half of the year with: exploration success, production growth, cost discipline, cash flow growth, net profits, significant debt reduction and more value going back to shareholders. We are also just initiating our 2023 capital allocation process - one of our most powerful management tools - by which we rank and select the most attractive value-adding projects from our big and diverse organic portfolio to build another successful program for next year.

4 Brent oil price assumption corresponds to July to December 2022. 5 Free cash flow is used here as Adjusted EBITDA less income tax, capital expenditures and mandatory interest payments. 6 Calculated using GeoParks average market capitalization from July 1 to August 9, 2022. 7 $83 million in 1H2022 and $20 million in July and August 2022. 8 Calculated using GeoParks average market capitalization from July 1 to August 9, 2022.

CONSOLIDATED OPERATING PERFORMANCE

Key performance indicators:

Key Indicators 2Q2022 1Q2022 2Q2021 1H2022 1H2021 Oil productiona (bopd) 35,238 34,542 30,962 34,892 31,914 Gas production (mcfpd) 22,212 25,096 33,162 23,650 32,348 Average net production (boepd) 38,940 38,726 36,489 38,834 37,305 Brent oil price ($ per bbl) 111.5 96.9 68.7 104.0 64.6 Combined realized price ($ per boe) 90.0 75.8 50.7 83.1 47.7  Oil ($ per bbl) 98.7 84.3 57.0 91.8 53.4  Gas ($ per mcf) 5.1 4.8 4.2 4.9 3.9 Sale of crude oil ($ million) 296.4 239.0 153.8 535.4 291.2 Sale of purchased crude oil ($ million) 5.4 - - 5.4 - Sale of gas ($ million) 9.4 10.2 11.7 19.6 21.0 Revenue ($ million) 311.2 249.2 165.6 560.4 312.2 Commodity risk management contracts b ($ million) (15.5) (78.1) (47.7) (93.7) (95.0) Production & operating costsc ($ million) (115.1) (80.6) (53.0) (195.7) (96.0) G&G, G&Ad ($ million) (13.8) (12.7) (14.8) (26.5) (29.2) Selling expenses ($ million) (1.2) (2.0) (1.8) (3.2) (3.6) Adjusted EBITDA ($ million) 144.8 122.6 60.5 267.4 126.9 Adjusted EBITDA ($ per boe) 41.9 37.3 18.5 39.6 19.4 Operating Netback ($ per boe) 45.4 41.0 22.7 43.3 23.4 Net Profit (loss) ($ million) 67.9 31.0 (2.5) 98.9 (12.8) Capital expenditures ($ million) 32.4 39.4 34.4 71.8 54.7 Cash and cash equivalents ($ million) 122.5 114.1 85.0 122.5 85.0 Short-term financial debt ($ million) 15.3 8.7 27.5 15.3 27.5 Long-term financial debt ($ million) 570.0 633.9 656.2 570.0 656.2 Net debt ($ million) 462.9 528.4 598.7 462.9 598.7

a) Includes royalties paid in kind in Colombia for approximately 1,273, 1,115, and 1,245 bopd in 2Q2022, 1Q2022 and 2Q2021, respectively. No royalties were paid in kind in other countries. Production in Ecuador is reported before the Governments production share. b) Please refer to the Commodity Risk Management section included below. c) Production and operating costs include operating costs, royalties paid in cash, share based payments and purchased crude oil. d) G&A and G&G expenses include non-cash, share-based payments for $2.0 million, $0.9 million, and $1.6 million in 2Q2022, 1Q2022 and 2Q2021, respectively. These expenses are excluded from the Adjusted EBITDA calculation.

Production: Oil and gas production in 2Q2022 was 38,940 boepd. Adjusting for recent divestments in Argentina, consolidated oil and gas production increased by 14% compared to 2Q2021, due to higher production in Colombia and recent exploration successes in Ecuador, partially offset by lower production in Chile and Brazil.

Oil represented 90% and 85% of total reported production in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021, respectively.

For further details, please refer to the 2Q2022 Operational Update published on July 21, 2022.

Reference and Realized Oil Prices: Brent crude oil prices averaged $111.5 per bbl during 2Q2022, and the consolidated realized oil sales price averaged $98.7 per bbl in 2Q2022.

A breakdown of reference and net realized oil prices in relevant countries in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021 is shown in the tables below:

2Q2022 - Realized Oil Prices ($ per bbl) Colombia Chile Argentina9 Ecuador Brent oil price (*) 111.5 110.9 - 114.3 Local marker differential (5.1) - - - Commercial, transportation discounts & Other (8.0) (4.4) - (5.5) Realized oil price 98.5 106.5 - 108.8 Weight on oil sales mix 97% 2% - 1%

2Q2021 - Realized Oil Prices ($ per bbl) Colombia Chile Argentina Ecuador Brent oil price (*) 68.7 69.1 68.7 - Local marker differential (3.2) - - - Commercial, transportation discounts & Other (8.5) (8.7) (12.1) - Realized oil price 57.0 60.4 56.6 - Weight on oil sales mix 95% 1% 4% -

(*) Corresponds to average month of sale price ICE Brent for Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina, and Dated Brent for Chile.

Revenue: Consolidated revenue increased by 88% to $311.2 million in 2Q2022, compared to $165.6 million in 2Q2021, reflecting higher oil and gas prices and higher deliveries.

Sales of crude oil: Consolidated oil revenue increased by 93% to $296.4 million in 2Q2022, driven by a 73% increase in realized oil prices and 10% higher oil deliveries. Oil revenue was 95% of total revenue in 2Q2022 and 93% in 2Q2021.

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Colombia 287.9 145.9 Chile 5.2 1.2 Argentina - 6.6 Brazil 0.3 0.2 Ecuador 3.1 - Oil Revenue 296.4 153.8

Colombia: 2Q2022 oil revenue increased by 97% to $287.9 million, reflecting higher realized oil prices and higher oil deliveries. Realized prices increased by 73% to $98.5 per bbl due to higher Brent oil prices while oil deliveries increased by 13% to 33,146 bopd. Earn-out payments increased to $9.1 million in 2Q2022, compared to $6.0 million in 2Q2021 in line with higher oil prices.

Chile: 2Q2022 oil revenue increased by 344% to $5.2 million, reflecting higher realized prices and higher oil deliveries. Realized prices increased by 76% to $106.5 per bbl due to higher Brent oil prices while oil deliveries increased by 152% to 533 bopd.

Ecuador: 2Q2022 oil revenue totaled $3.1 million, reflecting a realized oil price of $108.8 with deliveries of 312 bopd. Deliveries recorded in Ecuador are net of the Governments production share.

Sales of purchased crude oil: 2Q2022 sales of purchased crude oil totaled $5.4 million, which corresponds to oil trading operations (purchasing and selling crude oil from third parties with the cost of the oil purchased being reflected in production and operating costs).

9 The divestment of the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks in Argentina was completed on January 31, 2022.

Sales of gas: Consolidated gas revenue decreased by 20% to $9.4 million in 2Q2022 compared to $11.7 million in 2Q2021 reflecting 33% lower gas deliveries, partially offset by 20% higher gas prices. Gas revenue was 3% and 7% of total revenue in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021, respectively.

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Chile 3.4 4.5 Brazil 5.5 5.6 Argentina - 1.2 Colombia 0.5 0.6 Gas Revenue 9.4 11.7

Chile: 2Q2022 gas revenue decreased by 23% to $3.4 million, reflecting lower gas deliveries, partially offset by higher gas prices. Gas deliveries fell by 24% to 10,186 mcfpd (1,698 boepd). Gas prices were 2% higher, at $3.7 per mcf ($22.3 per boe) in 2Q2022.

Brazil: 2Q2022 gas revenue decreased by 1% to $5.5 million, due to lower gas deliveries, partially offset by higher gas prices. Gas deliveries decreased by 19% from the Manati gas field to 9,152 mcfpd (1,525 boepd). Gas prices increased by 21% to $6.6 per mcf ($39.6 per boe) in 2Q2022.

Commodity Risk Management Contracts: Consolidated commodity risk management contracts amounted to a $15.5 million loss in 2Q2022, compared to a $47.7 million loss in 2Q2021.

The table below provides a breakdown of realized and unrealized commodity risk management contracts in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021:

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Realized loss (36.6) (35.7) Unrealized loss 21.1 (12.0) Commodity risk management contracts (15.5) (47.7)

The realized portion registered a loss of $36.6 million in 2Q2022 compared to a $35.7 million loss in 2Q2021. Realized losses in 2Q2022 reflected hedges with average ceiling prices below actual Brent oil prices during the quarter.

The unrealized portion registered a gain of $21.1 million in 2Q2022, compared to a $12.0 million loss in 2Q2021. Unrealized gains in 2Q2022 mainly resulted from reclassifications to realized losses, combined with movements in the forward Brent oil price curve at June 30, 2022, compared to March 31, 2022.

Please refer to the Commodity Risk Oil Management Contracts section below for a description of hedges in place as of the date of this release.

Production and Operating Costs10: Consolidated production and operating costs increased to $115.1 million from $53.0 million, mainly resulting from a $58.1 million increase in royalties in cash, due to higher oil and gas prices.

10 Operating costs per boe represents the figures used in Adjusted EBITDA calculation with certain adjustments to the reported figures.

The table below provides a breakdown of production and operating costs in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021:

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Royalties in cash 82.8 24.6 Operating costs 27.4 28.3 Purchased crude oil 4.4 - Share-based payments 0.4 0.1 Production and operating costs 115.1 53.0

Consolidated royalties in cash amounted to $82.8 million in 2Q2022 compared to $24.6 million in 2Q2021, in line with higher oil prices. Royalties in cash included base royalties ($18.8 million and $9.4 million in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021), high price participation ($49.4 million and $9.4 million in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021), and economic rights ($14.6 million and $5.8 million in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021).

Consolidated operating costs decreased to $27.4 million in 2Q2022 compared to $28.3 million in 2Q2021. The decrease in consolidated operating costs results from the divestment of assets in Argentina (2Q2021 included $3.1 million related to operating costs in the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks that were divested in January 2022), partially offset by higher operating costs in Colombia and Chile, and the addition of operating costs coming from Ecuador.

The breakdown of operating costs is as follows:

Colombia: Total operating costs increased to $21.4 million in 2Q2022 from $21.0 million in 2Q2021, mainly due to higher deliveries (deliveries in Colombia increased by 13%).

Chile: Total operating costs increased to $4.4 million in 2Q2022 from $3.3 million in 2Q2021, in line with higher operating costs per boe due to higher well maintenance costs, partially offset by lower oil and gas deliveries (deliveries in Chile decreased by 9%).

Brazil: Total operating costs decreased to $0.8 million in 2Q2022 from $0.9 million in 2Q2021, due to lower gas deliveries in the Manati field (deliveries in Brazil decreased by 19%), partially offset by higher operating costs per boe.

Ecuador: Operating costs per boe amounted to $32.711 in 2Q2022. Total operating costs were $0.9 million in 2Q2022.

Argentina: The divestment of the Aguada Baguales, El Porvenir and Puesto Touquet blocks was completed in January 2022. The comparative period, 2Q2021, included $3.1 million in operating costs.

Consolidated purchased crude oil charges amounted to $4.4 million in 2Q2022,which corresponds to oil trading operations (purchasing and selling crude oil from third parties with the sale of purchased oil being reflected in revenue).

Selling Expenses: Consolidated selling expenses decreased to $1.2 million in 2Q2022 compared to $1.8 million in 2Q2021.

Geological & Geophysical Expenses: Consolidated G&G expenses increased to $3.0 million in 2Q2022 compared to $2.1 million in 2Q2021.

Administrative Expenses: Consolidated G&A decreased to $10.8 million in 2Q2022 compared to $12.7 million in 2Q2021 due to lower staff costs, consultant fees and communication and other costs.

Adjusted EBITDA: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA12 increased by 140% to $144.8 million, or $41.9 per boe, in 2Q2022 compared to $60.5 million, or $18.5 per boe, in 2Q2021.

11 Operating costs per boe in Ecuador are calculated as total operating costs of barrels delivered, including costs to produce the barrels of the Governments production share, divided by amounts delivered after the Governments production share. 12 See Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Profit Before Income Tax and Adjusted EBITDA per boe included in this press release.

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Colombia 140.2 57.3 Chile 3.3 1.4 Brazil 3.9 3.7 Argentina (2.1) 1.6 Ecuador 1.3 (0.5) Corporate (1.8) (3.0) Adjusted EBITDA 144.8 60.5

The table below shows production, volumes sold and the breakdown of the most significant components of Adjusted EBITDA for 2Q2022 and 2Q2021, on a per boe basis:

Adjusted EBITDA/boe Colombia Chile Brazil Ecuador Totald 2Q22 2Q21 2Q22 2Q21 2Q22 2Q21 2Q22 2Q21 2Q22 2Q21 Production (boepd) 34,253 29,571 2,358 2,584 1,695 2,080 634 - 38,940 36,489 Inventories, RIKa & Other (907) (75) (127) (124) (145) (170) (322) - (950) (581) Sales volume (boepd) 33,346 29,496 2,231 2,460 1,550 1,910 312 - 37,990 35,908 % Oil 99.4% 99.2% 24% 9% 2% 2% 100% - 91% 86% ($ per boe) Realized oil price 98.5 57.0 106.5 60.4 111.8 71.3 108.8 - 98.7 57.0 Realized gas pricec 27.7 26.9 22.3 21.8 39.6 32.6 - - 30.3 25.3 Earn-out (3.0) (2.2) - - - - - - (2.9) (2.1) Combined Price 95.0 54.6 42.4 25.1 40.7 33.2 108.8 - 90.0 50.7 Realized commodity risk management contracts (12.1) (13.3) - - - - - - (10.6) (10.9) Operating costse (7.5) (7.3) (21.6) (14.6) (7.9) (7.1) (32.7) - (8.5) (8.4) Royalties in cash (27.0) (8.7) (1.8) (0.9) (3.1) (3.0) 0.0 - (23.9) (7.7) Purchased crude oilb - - - - - - - - (1.3) - Selling & other expenses (0.2) (0.9) (0.5) (0.3) (0.0) (0.0) (14.9) - (0.3) (0.9) Operating Netback/boe 48.2 24.2 18.6 9.3 29.7 23.1 61.2 - 45.4 22.7 G&A, G&G & other (3.5) (4.2) Adjusted EBITDA/boe 41.9 18.5

a) RIK (Royalties in kind). Includes royalties paid in kind in Colombia for approximately 1,273 bopd and 1,245 bopd in 2Q2022 and 2Q2021, respectively. No royalties were paid in kind in Chile, Brazil, Argentina or Ecuador. Production in Ecuador is reported before the Governments production share. b) Reported in the Corporate business segment. c) Conversion rate of $mcf/$boe=1/6. d) Includes amounts recorded in the Corporate and Argentina segments. e) Operating costs per boe included in this table include certain adjustments to the reported figures (IFRS 16 and other).

Depreciation: Consolidated depreciation charges increased by 13% to $23.2 million in 2Q2022 compared to $20.6 million in 2Q2021, in line with higher deliveries.

Other Income (Expenses): Other operating expenses showed a $0.9 million gain in 2Q2022, compared to a $0.4 million loss in 2Q2021.

CONSOLIDATED NON-OPERATING RESULTS AND PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD

Financial Expenses: Net financial expenses decreased to $15.5 million in 2Q2022 compared to $20.6 million in 2Q2021, mainly resulting from a sustained deleveraging process that started in April 2021 and continued in 2022 (gross debt was reduced by $10313 million since January 1, 2022, or $208 million since April 2021).

Foreign Exchange: Net foreign exchange gains amounted to $7.1 million in 2Q2022 compared to $1.8 million in 2Q2021.

Income Tax: Income taxes totaled $67.1 million in 2Q2022 compared to $2.9 million in 2Q2021, mainly resulting from higher profits before income taxes and the effect of fluctuations of local currencies over deferred income taxes.

Net Profit: Profit of $67.9 million in 2Q2022 compared to a $2.5 million loss recorded in 2Q2021.

BALANCE SHEET

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents totaled $122.5 million as of June 30, 2022, compared to $100.6 million as of December 31, 2021.

This net increase is explained by the following:

(In millions of $) 1H2022 Cash flows from operating activities 212.9 Cash flows used in investing activities (57.4) Cash flows used in financing activities (134.9) Currency Translation 1.2 Net increase in cash & cash equivalents 21.8

Cash flows used in investing activities included $71.8 million in capital expenditures incurred by the Company as part of its 2022 work program, partially offset by proceeds from the disposal of assets in Argentina of $14.4 million.

Cash flows used in financing activities mainly included $92.5 million related to repurchases and redemptions of the 2024 Notes (including borrowing cancellation costs and other costs paid), $19.3 million related to interest payments, $9.5 million related to executing the Companys share buyback program and $9.7 million related to dividend payments.

Financial Debt: Total financial debt net of issuance cost was $585.4 million, including the remainder of the 2024 Notes, the 2027 Notes and other bank loans totaling $1.2 million. Short-term financial debt was $15.3 million as of June 30, 2022.

(In millions of $) June 30, 2022 December 31, 2021 2024 Notes 83.2 171.9 2027 Notes 501.0 499.9 Other bank loans 1.2 2.3 Financial debt 585.4 674.1

During 1H2022 the Company continued reducing its debt through repurchases and redemptions of its 2024 Notes. After June 30, 2022, the Company repurchased an additional $20 million principal of its 2024 Notes.

For further details, please refer to Note 12 of GeoParks consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2022, available on the Companys website.

13 $83 million in 1H2022 and $20 million in July and August 2022.

FINANCIAL RATIOSa

(In millions of $) Period-end Financial Cash and Cash Net Debt Net Debt/LTM LTM Interest Debt Equivalents Adj. EBITDA Coverage 2Q2021 683.7 85.0 598.7 2.5x 4.9x 3Q2021 674.9 76.8 598.1 2.2x 5.8x 4Q2021 674.1 100.6 573.5 1.9x 6.7x 1Q2022 642.5 114.1 528.4 1.5x 8.4x 2Q2022 585.4 122.5 462.9 1.0x 10.8x

a) Based on trailing last twelve-month financial results (LTM).

Covenants in the 2024 and 2027 Notes: The 2024 and 2027 Notes include incurrence test covenants that provide, among other things, that the Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio should not exceed 3.25 times and the Adjusted EBITDA to Interest ratio should exceed 2.5 times.

For further details, please refer to Note 12 of GeoParks consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 2022, available on the Companys website.

COMMODITY RISK OIL MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS

The table below summarizes commodity risk management contracts in place as of the date of this release:

Period Type Reference Volume (bopd) Contract Terms

(Average $ per bbl) Purchased Put Sold Call 3Q2022 Zero cost collar Brent 13,000 58.6 86.5 4Q2022 Zero cost collar Brent 12,000 60.6 92.6 1Q2023 Zero cost collar Brent 9,500 66.0 112.6 2Q2023 Zero cost collar Brent 6,500 68.8 115.9

For further details, please refer to Note 4 of GeoParks consolidated financial statements for the period ended June 30, 2022, available on the Companys website.

SELECTED INFORMATION BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

Colombia (In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Sale of crude oil 287.9 145.9 Sale of gas 0.5 0.6 Revenue 288.4 146.4 Production and operating costsa (103.7) (43.8) Adjusted EBITDA 140.2 57.3 Capital expenditure 23.7 32.7

Chile (In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Sale of crude oil 5.2 1.2 Sale of gas 3.4 4.5 Revenue 8.6 5.6 Production and operating costsa (4.8) (3.5) Adjusted EBITDA 3.3 1.4 Capital expenditure 7.6 1.6

Brazil (In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Sale of crude oil 0.3 0.2 Sale of gas 5.5 5.6 Revenue 5.8 5.8 Production and operating costsa (1.2) (1.4) Adjusted EBITDA 3.9 3.7 Capital expenditure 0.0 0.0

Ecuador (In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 Sale of crude oil 3.1 - Sale of gas 0.0 - Revenue 3.1 - Production and operating costsa (0.9) - Adjusted EBITDA 1.3 (0.5) Capital expenditure 1.2 0.1

a) Production and operating costs = Operating costs + Royalties + Share-based payments + Purchased crude oil

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME

(QUARTERLY INFORMATION UNAUDITED)

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 1H2022 1H2021 REVENUE Sale of crude oil 296.4 153.9 535.4 291.2 Sale of purchased crude oil 5.4 - 5.4 - Sale of gas 9.4 11.7 19.6 21.0 TOTAL REVENUE 311.2 165.6 560.4 312.2 Commodity risk management contracts (15.5) (47.7) (93.7) (95.0) Production and operating costs (115.1) (53.0) (195.7) (96.0) Geological and geophysical expenses (G&G) (3.0) (2.1) (5.7) (5.2) Administrative expenses (G&A) (10.8) (12.7) (20.8) (24.0) Selling expenses (1.2) (1.8) (3.2) (3.6) Depreciation (23.2) (20.6) (44.8) (43.2) Write-off of unsuccessful exploration efforts - (8.1) - (8.1) Impairment loss on non-financial assets - - - - Other 0.9 (0.4) 5.4 (2.1) OPERATING PROFIT 143.4 19.2 202.0 35.1 Financial costs, net (15.5) (20.6) (30.6) (36.1) Foreign exchange gain 7.1 1.8 0.5 4.5 PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX 135.0 0.4 171.8 3.5 Income tax (67.1) (2.9) (73.0) (16.3) PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD 67.9 (2.5) 98.9 (12.8)

SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

(QUARTERLY INFORMATION UNAUDITED)

(In millions of $) Jun '22 Dec '21 Non-Current Assets Property, plant and equipment 645.6 614.0 Other non-current assets 61.6 49.2 Total Non-Current Assets 707.2 663.2 Current Assets Inventories 8.8 10.9 Trade receivables 108.1 70.5 Other current assets 20.7 50.6 Cash at bank and in hand 122.5 100.6 Total Current Assets 260.1 232.6 Total Assets 967.3 895.7 Equity Equity attributable to owners of GeoPark 19.6 (61.9) Total Equity 19.6 (61.9) Non-Current Liabilities Borrowings 570.0 656.2 Other non-current liabilities 107.2 97.8 Total Non-Current Liabilities 677.2 754.0 Current Liabilities Borrowings 15.3 17.9 Other current liabilities 255.2 185.7 Total Current Liabilities 270.5 203.7 Total Liabilities 947.7 957.7 Total Liabilities and Equity 967.3 895.7

SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

(QUARTERLY INFORMATION UNAUDITED)

(In millions of $) 2Q2022 2Q2021 1H2022 1H2021 Cash flow from operating activities 123.2 42.5 212.9 78.9 Cash flow used in investing activities (32.4) (33.3) (57.4) (53.6) Cash flow used in financing activities (82.0) (112.2) (134.9) (141.9)

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA TO PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX

1H2022 (In millions of $) Colombia Chile Brazil Argentina Other(a) Total Adjusted EBITDA 262.0 5.4 7.5 (3.8) (3.7) 267.4 Depreciation (35.9) (7.2) (1.5) (0.2) (0.0) (44.8) Unrealized commodity risk management contracts (26.5) - - - - (26.5) Share based payment (0.9) (0.1) (0) (0.3) (2.0) (3.4) Lease Accounting - IFRS 16 2.6 0.6 0.7 0.1 0.0 4.0 Others 1.5 0.1 (0.1) 5.0 (1.2) 5.4 OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) 202.7 (1.1) 6.5 0.8 (6.9) 202.0 Financial costs, net (30.6) Foreign exchange charges, net 0.5 PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX 171.8 1H2021 (In millions of $) Colombia Chile Brazil Argentina Other(a) Total Adjusted EBITDA 121.6 3.1 6.8 2.7 (7.3) 126.9 Depreciation (27.0) (7.2) (2.1) (6.8) (0.1) (43.2) Unrealized commodity risk management contracts (38.6) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 (38.6) Write-off of unsuccessful exploration efforts & impairment (3.6) (4.4) 0.0 0.0 0.0 (8.1) Share based payment (0.3) 0.0 0.0 0.0 (3.3) (3.6) Lease Accounting - IFRS 16 2.2 0.3 0.9 0.5 0.1 4.0 Others (1.3) (0.1) (0.2) 0.1 (0.8) (2.2) OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) 52.9 (8.3) 5.5 (3.5) (11.4) 35.1 Financial costs, net (36.1) Foreign exchange charges, net 4.5 PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX 3.5

a) Includes Ecuador and Corporate.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Reporting Date for 2Q2022 Results Release

GeoPark management will host a conference call on August 11, 2022 at 10:00 am (Eastern Standard Time) to discuss the 2Q2022 financial results.

To listen to the call, participants can access the webcast located in the Investor Support section of the Companys website at www.geo-park.com, or by clicking below:

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3875109/9264F1764F6E53CCCC198B684E51209A

Interested parties may participate in the conference call by dialing the numbers provided below:

United States Participants: 844-200-6205

International Participants: +1 929-526-1599

Passcode: 215141

Please allow extra time prior to the call to visit the website and download any streaming media software that might be required to listen to the webcast.

An archive of the webcast replay will be made available in the Investor Support section of the Companys website at www.geo-park.com after the conclusion of the live call.

2024 Notes 6.500% Senior Notes due 2024 2027 Notes 5.500% Senior Notes due 2027 Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit for the period before net finance costs, income tax, depreciation, amortization, the effect of IFRS 16, certain non-cash items such as impairments and write-offs of unsuccessful efforts, accrual of share-based payments, unrealized results on commodity risk management contracts and other non-recurring events Adjusted EBITDA per boe Adjusted EBITDA divided by total boe deliveries ANH Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos (Colombia) Operating Netback per boe Revenue, less production and operating costs (net of depreciation charges and accrual of stock options and stock awards, the effect of IFRS 16), selling expenses, and realized results on commodity risk management contracts, divided by total boe deliveries. Operating Netback is equivalent to Adjusted EBITDA net of cash expenses included in Administrative, Geological and Geophysical and Other operating costs Bbl Barrel Boe Barrels of oil equivalent Boepd Barrels of oil equivalent per day Bopd Barrels of oil per day D&M DeGolyer and MacNaughton F&D costs Finding and Development costs, calculated as capital expenditures divided by the applicable net reserve additions before changes in Future Development Capital G&A Administrative Expenses G&G Geological & Geophysical Expenses LTM Last Twelve Months Mboe Thousand barrels of oil equivalent Mmbo Million barrels of oil Mmboe Million barrels of oil equivalent Mcfpd Thousand cubic feet per day Mmcfpd Million cubic feet per day Mm3/day Thousand cubic meters per day PRMS Petroleum Resources Management System WI Working interest NPV10 Present value of estimated future oil and gas revenue, net of estimated direct expenses, discounted at an annual rate of 10% Sqkm Square kilometers

NOTICE

Additional information about GeoPark can be found in the Investor Support section on the website at www.geo-park.com.

Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages included in this press release have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.

This press release contains certain oil and gas metrics, including information per share, operating netback, reserve life index and others, which do not have standardized meanings or standard methods of calculation and therefore such measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. Such metrics have been included herein to provide readers with additional measures to evaluate the Companys performance; however, such measures are not reliable indicators of the future performance of the Company and future performance may not compare to the performance in previous periods.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, believe, could, expect, should, plan, intend, will, estimate and potential, among others.

Forward-looking statements that appear in a number of places in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, regarding various matters, including, emission reduction goals, expected or future production, production growth and operating and financial performance, operating netback, future opportunities, our deleveraging process, the redemption of the 2024 Notes, the interconnection of the Tigana Field to Colombias national grid, our dividend or other distributions and capital expenditures plan. Forward-looking statements are based on managements beliefs and assumptions, and on information currently available to the management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For a discussion of the risks facing the Company which could affect whether these forward-looking statements are realized, see filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Oil and gas production figures included in this release are stated before the effect of royalties paid in kind, consumption and losses. Annual production per day is obtained by dividing total production by 365 days.

Information about oil and gas reserves: The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proven, probable and possible reserves that meet the SECs definitions for such terms. GeoPark uses certain terms in this press release, such as PRMS Reserves that the SEC's guidelines do not permit GeoPark from including in filings with the SEC. As a result, the information in the Companys SEC filings with respect to reserves will differ significantly from the information in this press release.

NPV10 for PRMS 1P, 2P and 3P reserves is not a substitute for the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flow for SEC proved reserves.

The reserve estimates provided in this release are estimates only, and there is no guarantee that the estimated reserves will be recovered. Actual reserves may eventually prove to be greater than, or less than, the estimates provided herein. Statements relating to reserves are by their nature forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures: The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and operating netback per boe, which are each non-GAAP measures, are useful because they allow the Company to more effectively evaluate its operating performance and compare the results of its operations from period to period without regard to its financing methods or capital structure. The Companys calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, return on capital employed and operating netback per boe may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA: The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as profit for the period before net finance costs, income tax, depreciation, amortization and certain non-cash items such as impairments and write-offs of unsuccessful exploration and evaluation assets, accrual of stock options stock awards, unrealized results on commodity risk management contracts and other non-recurring events. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of profit or cash flow as determined by IFRS. The Company excludes the items listed above from profit for the period in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures and the method by which the assets were acquired. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, profit for the period or cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS or as an indicator of our operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a companys financial performance, such as a companys cost of capital and tax structure and significant and/or recurring write-offs, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of Adjusted EBITDA. For a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the IFRS financial measure of profit for the year or corresponding period, see the accompanying financial tables.

Operating Netback per boe: Operating netback per boe should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, profit for the period or cash flow from operating activities as determined in accordance with IFRS or as an indicator of the Companys operating performance or liquidity. Certain items excluded from operating netback per boe are significant components in understanding and assessing a companys financial performance, such as a companys cost of capital and tax structure and significant and/or recurring write-offs, as well as the historic costs of depreciable assets, none of which are components of operating netback per boe. The Companys calculation of operating netback per boe may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of operating netback per boe to the IFRS financial measure of profit for the year or corresponding period, see the accompanying financial tables.

Net Debt: Net debt is defined as current and non-current borrowings less cash and cash equivalents.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005677/en/

INVESTORS:

Stacy Steimel

Shareholder Value Director

[email protected]

T: +562 2242 9600

Miguel Bello

Market Access Director

[email protected]

T: +562 2242 9600

Diego Gully

Investor Relations Director

[email protected]

T: +5411 4312 9400

MEDIA:

Communications Department

[email protected]

Source: GeoPark Limited
Whatley Kallas convinces judge that more favorable standard should be used for much of the case

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In an important ruling, Federal District Court Judge David Proctor decided that Blue Cross/Blue Shield must be judged by a less stringent standard from 2008 to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in an antitrust case filed by health care providers.

We are very pleased that the Court denied the Blues request to apply the rule of reason standard to the providers very substantial per se past damages, said co-lead counsel for the health care provider plaintiffs, Edith Kallas of Whatley Kallas. Our provider plaintiffs have always been prepared to litigate this case, under both the rule of reason standard and the per se standard for historical damages, as provided in todays order. We look forward to continuing to represent the interests of health care providers throughout the country in remedying the Blues continuing anticompetitive conduct.

Under the per se rule, Blue Cross/Blue Shield will be required to provide evidence that it has not engaged in anticompetitive conduct. Under the rule of reason standard, the health care providers must show evidence that the insurance giant violated antitrust standards.

The judges ruling applies specifically to Section 1 Market Allocation Conspiracy claims, which relate to when a company  Blue Cross/Blue Shield in this case  causes one particular company to be the only one providing a good or service in specific areas. The rule of reason standard will be used for the portion of the claim after April 2021, when Blue Cross/Blue Shield reached a $2.67 billion settlement with subscribers.

In a separate ruling, the Court could not find that the health care providers Blue Card group boycott claims were appropriate for per se treatment.

About Whatley Kallas

The lawyers of Whatley Kallas, LLP have been repeatedly recognized in legal publications, by their peers and by leaders of organized medicine for their work in the health care field. More information is available www.whatleykallas.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220809006104/en/

General Contact:

Joe R. Whatley, Jr. and Edith Kallas

Whatley Kallas LLP: (800) 745-8153

Media Contact:

William Bray

[email protected]

800-600-CAMG ext. 3324

Source: Whatley Kallas, LLP
Kapsch TrafficCom supplies Connected Roadside technology as part of the Intelligent Transport Systems initiative to provide increased safety and efficiency to drivers

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kapsch TrafficCom is proud to be part of the team working on the Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems upgrade of Queensland's Bruce Highway, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.

The Cooperative and Automated Vehicle Initiative (CAVI), delivered by Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), piloted the system within the Ipswich Connected Vehicle Pilot between September 2021 to 2022. The Ipswich pilot validated the crash reduction benefits for the use cases tested. The Ipswich pilot systems consisted of 29 signalised intersections using Roadside Intelligent Transport Systems Stations (R-ITS-S) and a central facility to test six safety use cases.

"This project gives regional road users the chance to explore the C-ITS service along the highway before it becomes commercially available in vehicles, which we are expecting on Australian roads in 2024-25," Minister for Transport and Main Roads of Queenland, Hon Mark Bailey said.

"My department is focused on unlocking the crash reduction benefits of C-ITS. This system is expected to reduce crashes by 20%, contributing towards the Queensland Government's vision of zero road deaths and serious injuries, and save around $2 billion over the next 30 years.

Since the Ipswich pilot's conclusion, Kapsch TrafficCom has supplied and remotely commissioned an additional 37 Kapsch TrafficCom road-side units (RSUs) along the Bruce Highway. Covering over 1,500 kilometres along the northeast coast of Australia between Brisbane and Cairns.

The road-side units that Kapsch TrafficCom supplies for the project are located at traffic lights where the Bruce Highway passes through townships. The RSUs broadcast signal status and timing to connected road users, providing them with crucial warnings of red lights and pedestrian presence at crossings.

As traffic volumes increase, connected vehicle technology will play a major role in improving safety and efficiency of the transport network. Bruce Highway is one of the major traffic arteries in Queensland and Kapsch TrafficComs C-ITS technology gives regional road users the chance to experience the benefits of this technology as it starts to become more commonly available in vehicles, comments Matthew McLeish, EVP for the APAC region at Kapsch TrafficCom.

The project implementation and pilot execution have created a blueprint for C-ITS projects in Australia and internationally, Matthew continues. The collaborative approach between Kapsch TrafficCom and DTMR was essential to delivering a quality solution.

The Bruce Highway C-ITS extension builds on the Ipswich pilot which focused on trialing the core system functionality and developing capability for operators to operate, maintain, and monitor the hardware. The findings of the trial were positive, with a majority of users saying they would continue using the equipment.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005810/en/

Carolin Treichl

Executive Vice President Marketing & Communications

Kapsch TrafficCom AG

Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria

T: +43 50 811 1710

[email protected]



Ingrid Riegler

Head of Corporate Communications

Kapsch TrafficCom AG

Am Europlatz 2, 1120 Vienna, Austria

T: +43 50 811 1724

[email protected]

Source: Kapsch TrafficCom AG
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA is pleased to announce the assignment of preliminary ratings to 17 classes of BBCMS 2022-C17, a $905.0 million CMBS conduit transaction collateralized by 53 commercial mortgage loans secured by 119 properties.

The collateral properties are located throughout 53 MSAs, of which the three largest are New York (11.6%), Las Vegas (5.2%), and Los Angeles (5.2%). The pool has exposure to all major property types, with four types representing more than 10.0% of the pool balance: office (24.0%), retail (23.6%), lodging (14.3%), and industrial (12.3%). The loans have principal balances ranging from $2.5 million to $47.5 million for the largest loan in the pool, Park West Village (5.2%), which is secured by an 850-unit multifamily property located in New York Citys borough of Manhattan. The five largest loans, which also include The Garland Hotel (5.0%), 4141 NE 2nd Ave (4.8%), Chase St. & Cardone (4.6%), and Hamilton Portfolio (4.4%), represent 24.1% of the initial pool balance, while the top 10 loans represent 42.3%.

KBRAs analysis of the transaction incorporated our multi-borrower rating process that begins with our analysts' evaluation of the underlying collateral properties' financial and operating performance, which determine KBRAs estimate of sustainable net cash flow (KNCF) and KBRA value using our U.S. CMBS Property Evaluation Methodology. On an aggregate basis, KNCF was 10.9% less than the issuer cash flow. KBRA capitalization rates were applied to each assets KNCF to derive values that were, on an aggregate basis, 43.4% less than third party appraisal values. The pool has an in-trust KLTV of 95.3% and an all-in KLTV of 103.5%. The model deploys rent and occupancy stresses, probability of default regressions, and loss given default calculations to determine losses for each collateral loan that are then used to assign our credit ratings.

Click here to view the report. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here.

Related Publications

Disclosures

Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above.

A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here.

Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here.

Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com.

About KBRA

Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Temporary Registration Regime. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005824/en/

Analytical Contacts



Samuel Stuart, Director (Lead Analyst)

+1 (646) 731-1298

[email protected]



Lynn D'Eugenio, Managing Director

+1 (646) 731-2487

[email protected]



Nitin Bhasin, Senior Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair)

+1 (646) 731-2334

[email protected]



Business Development Contact



Michele Patterson, Managing Director

+1 (646) 731-2397

[email protected]

Source: Kroll Bond Rating Agency
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Napoli Shkolnik, eLaw Firm PLLC, and Greg Jones Law, P.A. filed notices of claim under the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022 on behalf of Lori L. Freshwater, her late mother Mary W. Freshwater (Thorpe), and her late baby brother, Alexander Russell (Rusty) Thorpe, seeking compensation for injuries, damages, and losses they suffered as a result of exposure to toxic substances while living at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Congress passed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, which President Biden signed into law today. The Act provides an avenue to obtain compensation from the federal government for the effects of the toxic chemicals that contaminated the water consumed by military families at Camp Lejeune for decades.

From the 1950s until at least 1987, the groundwater at the Camp Lejeune military base was contaminated with toxic chemicals at levels that are 240 to 3400 times higher than permitted by the applicable safety standards. It is estimated that approximately 1 million U.S. Marines and civilians were exposed to these contaminants. Military personnel stationed there, their family members, and other civilians living and/or working on the base were - unbeknownst to them - drinking and bathing in contaminated water. As a result, these heroes and their families are at an increased risk of developing certain cancers (including breast cancer, renal cancer, kidney cancer, and leukemia), experiencing serious fertility issues and birth injuries, and suffering from other devastating health problems.

The groundwater contamination at the Camp Lejeune military base has caused a lifetime of inescapable grief for Lori Freshwater and her family, and for so many others, said Elisa DAmico. The U.S. Department of Defense must be held responsible for this ultimate betrayal.

The Freshwater family alleges that the toxic contamination at Camp Lejeune caused two baby boys (Rusty and Charlie) to develop fatal neural tube defects, as well as two miscarriages borne by Mary Freshwater, who ultimately died from complications of two types of acute leukemia. Though she survived, Lori Freshwater was not unscathed as she battles chronic illnesses every day. An investigative journalist, Lori Freshwater has spent more than a decade researching the brutal losses experienced not only by her family, but by many others, both military and civilian. For her, the passing of this legislation is both a long-awaited and incredibly bittersweet moment:

Today I am finally able to fulfill my mothers fervent desire to have her day in court  not only to seek justice  but to ensure her immense suffering is not forgotten. In the documentary, Semper Fi: Always Faithful, as my mother held a small cardboard box filled with all she had left of my baby brothers short life she said: We are not numbers in a study. We are human beings that have had great tragedies. In 2013, my mother lost her own life from Leukemia, and I was left with two cardboard boxes, the babys box and one containing her ashes. I am filing today for my little brother Rusty, my mom, and to try and change the behavior of polluters to make the world a safer place for the grandchildren my mother loved so very deeply.

Hunter Shkolnik remarked this law makes the federal government honor its obligations to those who have protected our way of life, it has been a long time coming and we will do our best to make sure that every military member and their families receive justice now.

The litigation is being led by Napoli Shkolnik attorneys Hunter Shkolnik, Paul J. Napoli, Patrick Lanciotti, and by Elisa DAmico of eLaw Firm PLLC, along with Greg Jones of local law firm Greg Jones Law. The lawsuit will seek compensation on behalf of the Freshwater family for the wrongful deaths of Mary Freshwater and Rusty Thorpe, and for the pain and suffering of Lori Freshwater.

ABOUT NAPOLI SHKOLNIK:

Napoli Shkolnik is a national litigation firm providing representation to persons in class action lawsuits and complex commercial cases, as well as victims of environmental contamination disasters, aviation accidents, defective prescriptions drugs and medical devices, asbestos-related illnesses, and other serious personal injury matters.

ABOUT ELAW FIRM PLLC:

eLaw Firm PLLC is a boutique law firm focusing on victims rights litigation, including mass torts, social media harms, and internet-based harassment. Its founder, Elisa DAmico, is well known for her cutting-edge work co-founding the Cyber Civil Rights Legal Project, a global pro bono project aimed at empowering and helping survivors of online sexual abuse.

ABOUT GREG JONES LAW, P.A.:

Greg Jones Law is a North Carolina based law firm with offices in Wilmington and Jacksonville. For over 35 years, Greg Jones has handled a vast assortment of injury related matters from environmental contamination, commercial sexual assaults, Stevens Johnson Syndrome, defective medications, and medical devices as well as general personal injury matters.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005500/en/

Napoli Shkolnik

Hunter Shkolnik | @huntershkolnik

[email protected]

917 544 0009

eLaw Firm PLLC

Elisa DAmico | @elisadamico

[email protected]

202 204 2222

Greg Jones Law, P.A.

Greg Jones |

[email protected]

855 566 3752

Source: Napoli Shkolnik
NARUTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NFT Naruto Art Museum (located in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture; CEO: Taisei Yamaguchi; hereinafter "NFT Naruto Art Museum") and The Jackson Family Foundation Japan (located in Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Kenji Koga; hereinafter "JFFJ") have signed an exclusive agreement for the NFT and Metaverse rights to MJWWT "Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys" for the MUSEUM DAO.

NFT Naruto Museum of Art reopened on March 1, 2022 with a name change from "Naruto Galle Forest Museum" to "NFT Naruto Museum of Art" as the first museum in Japan to handle "NFT". It is the first NFT museum in Japan to specialize in the publication, examination, sale (primary sales), and distribution (secondary sales) of NFTs related to art and artwork.

The Jackson Family Foundation Japan is a charitable non-profit organization as the official Japanese branch of the Jackson Family Foundation, established by the parents of the late Michael Jackson.

The MJWWT project is a world where Michael Jackson himself drew a sketch of an amusement facility to liberate the world's poor children with his own hands for about 10 days with KENJI KOGA in December 1992, while passionately discussing his concept.

We will reproduce in NFT and Metaverse the message that he truly prayed for and wanted to convey to the world from the drawings he made after his death.

The MJWWT NFT and Metaverse project was started in collaboration with JFF (Jackson Family Foundation) and JFFJ (Jackson Family Foundation Japan).

NFT Naruto Museum of Art will work with JFF (Jackson Family Foundation) and JFFJ (Jackson Family Foundation Japan) to realize museum DAO, museum 3.0, which will connect museums around the world, transcending the ideology of "country" and "time" to connect with the past.

Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys will be whitelisted in the folder of NFT MUSEUM MEMBERS who can use the MUSEUM DAO and NFT's purchase priority, exhibitions, and discounts. Other events such as whitelisting will be posted on Twitter, Instagram, and discord.

Holders of Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys will receive priority admission to the MJWWT Metaverse, which is scheduled to be completed on the Metaverse next year, a listing on the MJWWT website, which is scheduled to open by the end of the year, and priority entry tickets to events.

Twitter

https://twitter.com/nft_members

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/nftmuseummembers/

Discord

http://discord.gg/dRuGrSds7a

[ Details. ]

Collection name: Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys

Number of pieces sold: 10,000

Private sale: 0.01 ETH (with additional GAS fee) NFT MUSEUM MEMBER and WL holders only

Chain used: Ethereum

Standard: ERC721



About The Jackson Family Foundation Japan

June 2009. It has been 13 years since the sudden news of Michael's passing. In the music world, Michael's products were selling phenomenally well, and the enthusiasm was gradually waning. The sad thing was that no one mentioned the "charitable data" that Michael had dedicated to outside of the music world during his lifetime. Our goal at JFFJ (Jackson Family Foundation Japan) is to carry out our own actions based on the data of Michael's philanthropic activities before his death. The cooperation and understanding of many people is essential. It will take a lot of effort and intelligence to recreate the world that Michael wanted to create. We sincerely ask for your cooperation.

Representative: Kenji Koga

Location: 1-8-21-201 Nishiazabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo

URL: http://jffj.jp





NFT Naruto Art Museum

The NFT Naruto Art Museum is an art museum in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, operated by the NFT Naruto Art Museum, a general incorporated foundation established to promote NFT of art works and art objects in Japan. NFT Naruto Art Museum provides a marketplace for NFT, where NFT of works of art and artwork can be issued, reviewed, sold (primary sales), and distributed (secondary sales). It will be the first museum in Japan to specialize in the sale and distribution of NFTs.

Representative Director: Taisei Yamaguchi

Location: 149 Kitatono, Hayashizaki, muya-cho, Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture

Establishment: April 2002

URL: https://nmm.world/en/



Michael Jackson Wonder World Toys

https://nmm.world/en/white-list-mjwwt/

twitter.com

https://twitter.com/nft_members

Discord

https://discord.com/invite/dRuGrSds7a

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NFT Naruto Museum Foundation

Taisei Yamaguchi

[email protected]

Source: NFT Naruto Museum Foundation
Junipers AI-driven solutions supports OES to provide high quality, customised online learning for a transformative student experience

SYDNEY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Juniper Networks (NYSE: JNPR), a leader in secure, AI-driven networks, today announced that Online Education Services (OES), an online education enabler, has selected Junipers wired and wireless solutions to power its networking experience. With a secure AI-driven network, OES is set to advance the online education industry through its digitally enabled solutions alongside its partner universities.

OES was established in 2011 with the goal of delivering innovative education experiences that attract, engage and retain students. Through partnerships with highly regarded Australian education providers, OES provides the expertise to create engaging online learning experiences for students who are not catered for by traditional campus-based offerings. Through proven successful and long-standing partnerships, OES has supported universities to grow at scale and speed while maintaining the highest academic quality.

To sustain its continued business growth, OES relocated to a larger office building and required a high-performing network to support increasing demands and growing number of staff. In addressing this, Junipers Wireless Access Points with Juniper Mist Wi-Fi Assurance were deployed to provide access to high-speed and reliable connectivity powered by automation. Coupled with Mist AI, the overall management and operation of OESs network was greatly simplified, while enabling AI-driven insights into its users experiences. The ease of implementation also allowed for continued agility, a critical factor for OES as it looks to expand its business locally and internationally.

Supporting Quotes:

We are pleased to have been selected by OES to support their advancement in the online education industry. Through our AI-driven solutions, we have built a simplified and automated network that is agile enough to scale with OESs growing business. We are confident that OES will reap the benefits of a seamless high-speed wireless connectivity as it continues to grow its business in accelerating the digital learning experiences for students around the world.

- Bruce Bennie, Vice President & General Manager, Australia & New Zealand at Juniper Networks

With Junipers experience-first approach to networking, we have a secure and automated network that can be managed from a centralized location, allowing for greater efficiency across our IT operations. Through its AI-driven solutions, we are confident that Juniper will be able to continue to help us grow and scale our business with agility as we work toward further accelerating the online education industry.

- David Payne, IT Operations Manager, Online Education Services (OES), Australia

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks is dedicated to dramatically simplifying network operations and driving superior experiences for end users. Our solutions deliver industry-leading insight, automation, security, and AI to drive real business results. We believe that powering connections will bring us closer together while empowering us all to solve the worlds greatest challenges of well-being, sustainability, and equality. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks (www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper, Junos, and other trademarks listed here are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

category-enterprise

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Media Relations:

Amanda Seow

Juniper Networks

+65 6714 2408

[email protected]

Source: Juniper Networks
The premium window and door manufacturer marked the occasion with a donation to the Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PGT Innovations (NYSE: PGTI), a national leader in the premium window and door category, opened its flagship NewSouth Window Solutions showroom last week in Atlanta with fanfare and a donation of over $180,000 in windows and sliding glass doors to the Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005531/en/

Jeff Jackson, President and CEO of PGT Innovations, cutting the ribbon alongside team members from PGT Innovations and NewSouth Window Solutions during the grand opening event (Photo: Business Wire)

Located at 3305 Breckinridge Blvd. in Building 2, Suite 134 in Duluth, the showroom is NewSouths first in Georgia. The 4,500-square-foot showroom features NewSouth window and door products, including single hung, double hung, horizontal slider, and picture windows, as well as sliding glass patio doors and entry doors.

This showroom marks another significant step in our organizations geographic growth strategy and our mission to provide solutions that enhance peoples lives, said Jeff Jackson, President and CEO of PGT Innovations. Were incredibly excited for the opportunity to serve Atlanta homeowners by offering a streamlined purchase experience and exceptional window and door products through NewSouth Window Solutions.

Customers who attended the event and brought their window and door measurements were able to take advantage of grand opening promotions, as well as NewSouths Buy More Save More promotion, which continues to be available for a limited time.

Also during the event, Jeff Jackson and Earl Rahn, NewSouth Window Solutions President, presented a donation of 26 sliding door units and 111 windows to the Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity at the event.

Serving is one of our core values at PGT Innovations, and we continuously look for ways to give back to communities that we operate in, said Jackson. Habitat for Humanity has been a great partner to several of our other locations, so we were thrilled to be able to expand that partnership with the Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity.

Over the past two years, our team has nearly doubled our volume of products sold through our ReStore thanks to the generosity of our private and corporate donors, said Robert Cox, Director of Retail for Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity. Through our new partnership with New South Window Solutions, we can offer an even wider selection of products to our local homeowners and businesses. Proceeds from these donated items will further our ability to build more homes and continue our legacy of building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter.

With NewSouth Window Solutions, homeowners are able to see, feel, and operate full sized windows and doors at the showroom, work directly with a NewSouth Window representative throughout the entire process, have their products installed by a NewSouth Window team, and be protected with a lifetime warranty. Homeowners can begin the process by visiting the showroom or scheduling an in-home consultation with a NewSouth Window representative to learn more about the brands cutting-edge technology, unwavering commitment to customer service, impeccable quality, and energy conservation.

About NewSouth Window Solutions

NewSouth Window Solutions serves homeowners directly by both manufacturing and installing high performance, energy efficient replacement windows and doors with impact resistant options. Each product is custom made and backed with a lifetime warranty. Offering factory direct solutions in 16 cities across 7 states in the Southeast U.S., NewSouth was named the nations largest factory direct company for windows and doors exclusively, by DWM Magazine in 2022.

About PGT Innovations, Inc.

PGT Innovations manufactures and supplies premium windows and doors. Its highly engineered and technically advanced products can withstand some of the toughest weather conditions on Earth and are revolutionizing the way people live by unifying indoor and outdoor living spaces.

PGT Innovations creates value through deep customer relationships, understanding the unstated needs of the markets it serves, and a drive to develop category-defining products. PGT Innovations is also the nations largest manufacturer of impact-resistant windows and doors and holds the leadership position in its primary market.

The PGT Innovations family of brands include CGI, PGT Custom Windows and Doors, WinDoor, Western Window Systems, Anlin Windows & Doors, Eze-Breeze, NewSouth Window Solutions, and a 75 percent ownership stake in Eco Window Systems. The companys brands, in their respective markets, are a preferred choice of architects, builders, and homeowners throughout North America and the Caribbean. Their high-quality products are available in custom and standard sizes with massive dimensions that allow for unlimited design possibilities in residential, multi-family, and commercial projects. For additional information, visit www.pgtinnovations.com.

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PGT Innovations Contact

Media Relations

Stephanie Cz, Corporate Marketing Manager

[email protected]

941-480-1600

Source: PGT Innovations, Inc.
Former Generate Biomedicines, Amgen and Novartis senior leader Mike Nohaile joins Prellis as CEO

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Prellis Biologics, Inc (Prellis Bio), a biotherapeutics company, today appointed Michael Nohaile, PhD as its new CEO and announced it has raised a $35 million Series C funding round, co-led by Celesta Capital and Avidity Partners with participation from Khosla Ventures, SOSV, True Ventures, and Lucas Venture Group. Dr. Nohaile joins from Generate Biomedicines and succeeds Prellis Bio founder Dr. Melanie Matheu, who will assume the role of Chief Technology Officer and retain a Board seat. The new investment brings Prellis Bios funding to date to $64.5 million. The capital will be used to expand Prellis Bios proprietary, first-in-class human immune system-based drug discovery and development platform, EXIS (Externalized Human Immune System).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005169/en/

Prellis Biologics CEO Michael Nohaile, PhD (Photo: Business Wire)

I am honored to join the Prellis Bio team and to partner with Melanie and the entire Prellis team to further build on their inspiring vision for the next generation of medicines, said Dr. Nohaile. This new chapter and investment will enable our team to bring better medicines to patients who desperately need them.

Prellis Bio was founded in 2016 by Dr. Matheu. The leadership teams experience spans senior positions at Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and GSK. Dr. Nohaile brings deep industry experience and expertise in leveraging innovative technologies for therapeutic discovery and development. Prior to his role as Chief Scientific Officer of Flagship company Generate Biomedicines, he was SVP of Strategy, Commercialization, and Innovation at Amgen, and Global Head of Molecular Diagnostics at Novartis.

Prellis Bio's industry-leading two-photon holographic technology supports 3D printing of large, complex tissue co-culture systems, such as LNOsTM (Lymph Node Organoids) that recapitulate human immune responses in vitro. The EXIS platform incorporates LNOs for the discovery of fully human antibodies with broad genetic diversity in as little as three to four weeks. In addition, EXIS enables assessment of immunogenicity in response to therapeutic candidates.

The LNO technology represents a significant breakthrough in access to human immunobiology. Previously, immune cells were expected to respond without the biological context of a functional lymph node, said Dr. Matheu. With 3D printed LNOs, we have the opportunity to accelerate drug discovery and development, while acquiring data on human immune responses all outside of the context of a clinical trial.

The company will also add two new board members: Lei Meng, Senior Therapeutics Analyst of Avidity Partners, and Nobel Prize winner James Rothman, PhD the Sterling Professor of Cell Biology at Yale University.

The multi-billion-dollar antibody therapeutics market is held back by slow discovery. Until now, data on human immune response to guide development of effective drugs or vaccines has only been available through large, expensive clinical trials, said Michael Marks, Prellis Bio Board Chairman and Founding Managing Partner of Celesta Capital. Prellis Bios platform dramatically accelerates the discovery and delivery of developable, high-affinity human antibodies.

"Prellis Bios differentiated LNOs generated by holographic two-photon 3D printing technology have the potential to transform the landscape of antibody discovery and preclinical assessment of biologics, said Lei Meng, Senior Therapeutics Analyst of Avidity Partners. We are proud to support the companys efforts in realizing the full potential of its compelling and versatile technology platform to develop therapeutics addressing important unmet medical needs.

Earlier this year, Prellis Bio announced collaboration and licensing option agreements with Sanofi and Bristol Myers Squibb.

ABOUT PRELLIS BIOLOGICS, INC.

Prellis Biologics, Inc. utilizes its proprietary, high-resolution bioprinting technology to recreate and engineer human tissues in vitro. Prellis proprietary platform Externalized Immune System, EXIS, precisely reproduces the human immune response through the creation of lymph node organoids (LNOs). With EXIS, Prellis is able to exploit fully-human immune responses for a variety of applications including antibody discovery, immunogenicity assessment and tumor-immune models. Prellis is dedicated to improving patients' lives by addressing challenges commonly faced in early-stage drug discovery and translational pharmacology. Prellis Biologics, Inc. is a privately held company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Learn more at prellisbio.com.

ABOUT CELESTA

Celesta Capital is a leading deep technology venture capital firm that leverages synergies between leading centers of innovation in the US, India, and Israel to create globally impactful enterprises. The firm has a team of seasoned investment professionals located in these countries. The Celesta team, with deep operating experience, has built multi-billion-dollar businesses at companies such as Intel, Cisco, Apple, and Flex. The firm has funded over 80 technology companies globally and actively invests in the following verticals: software, semiconductors, intelligent systems, bio-convergence, and industry transformers. Learn more at celesta.vc.

ABOUT AVIDITY

Avidity Partners is a Biotechnology/Healthcare-focused investment manager and pursues public and multi-stage private investments in innovative Biotechnology/Healthcare companies through rigorous, bottom-up fundamental research. Avidity has offices in Dallas, TX and Greenwich, CT.

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Julie Bishop

Walker Communications

[email protected]

Source: Prellis Biologics, Inc
The fourth Pre-Accelerator Program in the partnership supporting women and non-binary entrepreneurs

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Techstars, a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, and programming for early-stage entrepreneurs, and leading global financial services firm J.P. Morgan, open applications for their next Founder Catalyst Program in Oakland, CA. Similar to the successful programs in Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Miami, this cohort will support 20 women and non-binary founders, with intentionality on serving the Bay Areas LGBT+ community.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005756/en/

Techstars and J.P. Morgan launch the fourth Founder Catalyst Program supporting early-stage women and non-binary founders in Oakland. (Photo: Business Wire)

Startups participating in this program will receive valuable startup education, mentorship, community building, and access to the Techstars worldwide network of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and corporate partners. Participants will hone their entrepreneurial skills, better understand their target customers, and dig deeply into their innovative business ideas. The program will take place from October through December, 2022, where in-depth entrepreneurial sessions and resources will be given to participants in a primarily virtual, part-time format.

The connections I made here with other women founders and LGBTQ founders was invaluable, says Mia Cooley, former Founder Catalyst participant and founder of xHood. It was truly an honor to be among the best that is to come. The intention shown from our mentors and Techstars team is inimitable.

The previous three Techstars Founder Catalyst Programs in partnership with J.P. Morgan have led to nearly 1,000 mentor connections, four product launches, more than $850,000 raised and dozens of active investor conversations. Seven participants were also accepted into Techstars accelerators following program completion.

Through the Techstars Founder Catalyst Programs participants receive education on proven methodologies and access to world class resources, increasing chances of success. Techstars expertise stems from their experience operating nearly 50 accelerators around the world and maintaining a portfolio of more than 2,900 companies.

All women and non-binary founded, early-stage companies based in the Oakland & San Francisco Bay Area are encouraged to apply today through August 31 or contact [email protected]. Early applications are prioritized.

About Techstars

The Techstars worldwide network helps entrepreneurs succeed. Founded in 2006, Techstars began with three simple ideasentrepreneurs create a better future for everyone, collaboration drives innovation, and great ideas can come from anywhere. Now we are on a mission to enable every person on the planet to contribute to, and benefit from, the success of entrepreneurs. In addition to operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, we do this by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Techstars has invested in more than 3,000 companies with a combined market cap of more than $140B. www.techstars.com

About JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America (U.S.), with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase had $4.0 trillion in assets and $285.9 billion in stockholders equity as of March 31, 2022. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the JPMorgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the worlds most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com

This Founder Catalyst program is supported by J.P. Morgan's Innovation Economy business unit, its Women on the Move initiative and the Office of LGBT+ Affairs. Through the Innovation Economy division, J.P. Morgan serves high-growth, early-stage companies, and founders with solutions they need to scale quickly, from credit and financing to treasury and payments, international banking, access to the Investment Bank, asset management, and more. The Women on the Move initiative fuels female ambition and advances financial equality by providing greater access to capital, networking, expertise, and advice to female clients, serving women-owned or women-run businesses at all stages of development, from start-ups through large corporations. The Office of LGBT+ Affairs is a global initiative dedicated to advancing equity and inclusion for the LGBT+ community, partners closely with stakeholders across the firm to promote intersectionality and leverage combined resources to deliver equity and inclusion for LGBT+ employees, clients, partners and communities, worldwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005756/en/

Media contact:

Jennifer Pakradooni

[email protected]

Source: Techstars
BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the United States and Allied aerospace and defense industries, today announced the company will participate in the Canaccord Genuity 42nd Annual Growth Conference being held at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston, MA.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005323/en/

Terran Orbital to Participate in the Canaccord Genuity 42nd Annual Growth Conference (Graphic: Terran Orbital Corporation)

Terran Orbital will conduct one-on-one meetings on Thursday, August 11. Chief Financial Officer Gary Hobart will lead a group presentation at 9:30 a.m. ET the same day.

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of small satellites primarily serving the United States and Allied aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and in-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005323/en/

Virginia Norder

[email protected]

949-508-6404

Source: Terran Orbital
Online browser extension provides additional value in centralized hub of student resources

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix has partnered with Lean Library, part of Technology from SAGE to provide students with enhanced research capability and access through a simple browser extension. Students can utilize this exciting new research tool for a more convenient experience and easy location of research materials along their academic journey, saving students time and money.

We are pleased to provide this convenient tool for our students, states Doris Savron, vice provost of University of Phoenix. We are always seeking to add value for our students, and Lean Library is a simple but elegant tool that can help our working adult students make the most of their research time.

Lean Library is a browser extension that works with the University of Phoenix Library to provide students with seamless access to library materials when working outside of the library website. Once downloaded, students are then alerted by a pop-up message if they are seeking information that can be accessed through the University library, including articles, e-books, and other subscriptions. If the University library does not have access to a particular resource, Lean Library will then try redirecting to an open-access version of information if it exists elsewhere.

Lean Library includes links to more popular journals, helping University of Phoenix students easily access needed articles. Additionally, if students are on Google Scholar, they will find a pop-out on the side of the browser that offers them instant access to the University librarys Ask Us service, FAQs, and How Do I guides for help researching your topic.

Visitors can learn more about the University Library and Lean Library here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

About Lean Library

Lean Library, a Technology from SAGE company, provides software solutions to the library community, bringing the power of the library into the students workflow, wherever they may be. Its mission is to help redefine, enable and amplify the power of the academic library in order to advance student learning and researcher impact.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005764/en/

Sharla Hooper

University of Phoenix

[email protected]

Source: University of Phoenix
Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. (NYSE: BNL), (BNL), today announced that it is commencing an underwritten public offering of 13,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.00025 per share, in connection with the forward sale agreements described below. BNL expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,950,000 additional shares of Common Stock.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BMO Capital Markets, J.P. Morgan, and Truist Securities are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering.

BNL and its operating company (the OP) expect to enter into forward sale agreements with each of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Bank of Montreal, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and Truist Bank or their affiliates (the forward purchasers). In connection with the forward sale agreements, the forward purchasers or their affiliates are expected to borrow and sell to the underwriters an aggregate of 13,000,000 shares of Common Stock that will be delivered in this offering (or an aggregate of 14,950,000 shares of Common Stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). Subject to its right to elect cash or net share settlement, which right is subject to certain conditions, BNL intends to deliver, upon physical settlement of such forward sale agreements on one or more dates specified by BNL occurring no later than August 10, 2023, an aggregate of 13,000,000 shares of Common Stock (or an aggregate of 14,950,000 shares of Common Stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full) to the forward purchasers in exchange for cash proceeds per share equal to the applicable forward sale price, which will be the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, and will be subject to certain adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreements.

BNL will not initially receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the forward purchasers and their affiliates in the offering. BNL intends to contribute the net proceeds, if any, it receives upon the future settlement of the forward sale agreements to the OP. The OP intends to subsequently use such net proceeds to fund potential acquisition opportunities, to repay amounts outstanding from time to time under its unsecured revolving credit facility and other indebtedness, and for other general corporate and working capital purposes.

A shelf registration statement (including a prospectus) relating to these securities was filed on June 23, 2021 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and automatically became effective upon filing. The offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and an accompanying prospectus. Copies of these documents are available at no charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, or by telephone at (866) 471-2526, or by email at [email protected]; BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 151 W 42nd Street, 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10036, tel: (800) 414-3627, email: [email protected]; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204 or email: [email protected]; and Truist Securities, Inc., Attention: Prospectus Department, 3333 Peachtree Road NE, 9th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30326, email: [email protected].
Performance Food Group Company (PFG) (NYSE: PFGC) today announced the upcoming retirement of Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Jim Hope and the transition of the role to Patrick Hatcher, Vistar President & Chief Operating Officer during the final quarter of calendar 2022.

Jim has been a driving force in PFGs tremendous growth over the past several years. The depth of experience and enthusiasm he has brought to the CFO role has positioned us with the financial strength to deliver significant value to our stakeholders, said PFG Chairman & CEO George Holm. Patrick has shown his strength as a leader since joining us in 2010. We were excited to promote him to President & Chief Operating Officer for Vistar and now we are eager to have his talents on PFGs senior leadership team. With Jims mentorship and guidance over the coming months, I am looking forward to a smooth transition as PFG continues our strategic and disciplined financial approach.

Mr. Hope has had an impressive career in the industry for more than 35 years. Early in his career with PFG, he led efforts to streamline business operations, strengthen internal best practices, develop PFGs Specialty business and guide procurement and operations strategies. As CFO, he has led PFGs corporate finance department, overseeing accounting, tax, treasury, internal audit, investor relations and financial planning. Prior to PFG, Mr. Hope held executive leadership roles with Sysco Corporation for 26 years, serving as Executive Vice President of Business Transformation, Senior Vice President of Sales and Operating Company President.

I have appreciated Jims strong voice on my team, along with his expertise and valuable guidance, added Mr. Holm. On behalf of the senior leadership team, we wish him well when he embarks on his retirement in the new year.

Mr. Hatcher is currently President & Chief Operating Office of Vistar. He joined Vistar in 2010 and has held diverse executive leadership roles spanning finance, information technology, sales and marketing, including Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Vistar. Prior to joining PFGs family of companies, Mr. Hatcher spent 10 years with MillerCoors in finance and numerous other functions. He brings global experience from his roles as a senior business development producer for China.com and as an operations manager for South China Brewing Company. He currently serves as the vice chair of the NAMA Board of Directors, the U.S. convenience services industry association.

We recognize that a strong financial foundation has been key to PFG delivering on our growth strategy and for our shareholders, said Mr. Holm. Patricks understanding of our business and his expertise in finance make him an excellent choice to serve as the CFO for Performance Food Group. Mr. Hope added, This is an exciting time for PFG and with Patricks expertise, we will be well-positioned to continue on our successful path. I am confident that the transition period will be seamless and successfully prepare Patrick for his new role.

Scott McPherson Promoted to PFG Executive Vice President

The company has also promoted Scott McPherson to PFG Executive Vice President and President & CEO of Convenience. With this promotion, Mr. McPherson will also provide executive oversight to the Vistar segment. He will continue to report to PFG President & Chief Operating Officer Craig Hoskins.

Im very pleased to add Scotts vision and voice to PFGs senior leadership team, said Mr. Holm. His leadership of Core-Mark has been a driving force in our fast and successful integration of that business into PFGs family of companies. With Scotts expanded scope, I am looking forward to continuing growth, innovation and success for PFG.

Mr. McPherson held numerous leadership roles with Core-Mark, most recently serving as President & CEO. During his 30-year career with Core-Mark, he has held Senior Vice President roles for the companys U.S. Division, Corporate Development and Business Operations & Development and served as President and Chief Operating Officer.

About Performance Food Group Company

Performance Food Group is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations in the U.S. and parts of Canada. Founded and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, PFG, and our family of companies, market and deliver quality food and related products to 300,000+ locations including independent and chain restaurants; businesses, schools and healthcare facilities; vending and office coffee service distributors; and big box retailers, theaters and convenience stores. PFGs success as a Fortune 200 company is achieved through our more than 30,000 dedicated associates committed to building strong relationships with the valued customers, suppliers and communities we serve. To learn more about PFG, visit pfgc.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005245/en/

Investors:



Bill Marshall



VP, Investor Relations



804-287-8108



[email protected]

Media:



Scott Golden



Director, Communications & Engagement



804-484-7873



[email protected]

Source: Performance Food Group Company
Donald Trump departs Trump Tower two days after FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach home, in New York City, New York, U.S., August 10, 2022. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he declined to answer questions during an appearance before the New York state attorney general in a civil investigation into his family's business practices.

"I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution," Trump said in a statement.

(Reporting by Rami Ayyub and Doina Chiacu)
Video-game software company Unity Software (NYSE: U) has reportedly won a contract US Government contract to provide digital simulation technology for the US government.

According to a Bloomberg report late Wednesday, Unity's announcement of a three-year, multi-million dollar partnership with CACI International Inc., an information technology firm, has seen it gain the contract through the partnership.

Marc Whitten, a senior vice president at Unity, reportedly said on the company's earnings call on Tuesday that Unity will "help the government defining human machine interfaces or HMI for aerospace applications and beyond."

Unity's software is used in 61% of mobile games.

In its earnings report on Tuesday, the company said its deal with CACI is the "single largest Digital Twin Solutions deal for Unity to date and is a strategic deal that helps to solidify Unity as the preferred real-time 3D platform for future systems design and simulation programs across the US Government."

The news follows the announcement by AppLovin on Tuesday that it has made an all-stock offer to acquire Unity.

By Sam Boughedda
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX.V: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the Company or AIS) announces the Company has amended the terms of its option to acquire 100% interest in the Bright Gold Project in Australia.

The Company has acquired a 60% interest in the Bright Gold Property for a payment AUD$150,000 cash and the issuance of 10 million shares at CAD$0.06 per share. The Company has the option to acquire 100% interest in the Bright Gold Project by exercising two 20% options at a pre-determined cost based on the indicated and measured gold mineral resources defined, to be paid 50% in cash and 50% in shares of AIS.

The Company has amended the terms of the two 20% options as follows:

the shares shall be issued at a deemed price of $0.06 per share,

the number of shares to be issued shall not at any time exceed 9.9% of the post-issuance issued and outstanding share capital of AIS on a diluted basis

The Bright Gold Project and surrounds comprises many major historical workings and recorded production of over 730,0001 oz from both alluvial and rock mining. The largest producers on the Project were the Rose, Thistle and Shamrock mine @ 22.2g/t Au for 140,000 oz and the Oriental Mine @ 28g/t for 6,194 oz. The Bright Project is in a premium location and only 6km from E79s Happy Valley Project. Exploration licence EL006194 contains more than 250 historical gold mines, reefs (quartz veins) and gold occurrences dating back to the 1890s. Historically the EL006194 yielded 341,000 oz gold at grades ranging between 7-992,3g/t, averaging 22 g/t Au.

The Company is currently drilling the Bright property at the Reliance reef/mine site. The program includes 7 drill holes in a fan pattern from one point above the Reliance adit to intersect the reef. AIS has contracted with the driller to drill a minimum of 1500 m and each hole will be 50-100 m in depth depending on lithology.

The next drill program will be in the Golden Bar area. Further work is being done on the Rose, Thistle & Shamrock mine for drill pad locations and best approach to drill from Landtax reef area. A detailed community engagement program is being put in place concurrent with our exploration work.

Warrants Extension

The Company also announces that it intends, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, to extend the term of 27,833,333 warrants expiring on August 18, 2022. The share purchase warrants were issued pursuant to a private placement of 27,833,333 units accepted for filing by the TSXV on August 19, 2020.

The warrants will be extended for a period of one year until August 18, 2023. The exercise price remains unchanged at $0.08.

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol, MBM, FAusIMM MAIG MAIMVA(CMV) who is a Qualified Person under the definitions established by the National Instrument 43-101 and is President, CEO of A.I.S. Resources Ltd.

About A.I.S. Resources LimitedA.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on lithium, gold, precious and base metals exploration. AIS value add strategy is to acquire prospective exploration projects and enhance their value by better defining the mineral resource with a view to attracting joint venture partners and enhancing the value of our portfolio. The Company is managed by a team of experienced geologists and investment bankers, with a track-record of successful capital markets achievements.

AIS owns 100% of the 28 sq km Fosterville-Toolleen Gold Project located 9.9 km from Kirkland Lakes Fosterville gold mine, a 60% interest in the 57 sq km Bright Gold project (with the right to acquire 100%), a 40% interest in the 58 sq km New South Wales Yalgogrin Gold Project, and 100% interest in the 167 sq km Kingston Gold Project in Victoria Australia near Stawell and Navarre. AIS has further options to acquire three lithium concessions in the Pocitos and Cauchari Salars in Argentina and also has 20% joint venture interest with Spey Resources Corp. in the Incahuasi lithium brine project in Argentina and Pocitos Salars.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,A.I.S. Resources Ltd.

Phillip Thomas, President & CEO

Corporate ContactFor further information, please contact:Phillip Thomas, Chief Executive OfficerT: +1-323 5155 164E: [email protected]

OrMartyn Element ChairmanT: +1-604-220-6266E: [email protected]Website: www.aisresources.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.

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company 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. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

___________________________________________

1 Victorian gold deposits. Philps N and Hughes M. AGSO Journal of Australian Geology & Geophysics, 17(4), 1996. pp.2152 Ibid3 Recorded from mines of greater than 1,000 oz of production.

Source: A.I.S. Resources Limited
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB: ALKFF) (Frankfurt: 77R, WKN: A3CTYF) (AFCP or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Company is supplementing the ongoing development of our 4 kW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) fuel cell by developing a range of fuel cells that target more immediate revenue opportunities within the off-grid and back-up generator markets.



A number of global pressures are driving rapid growth and accelerating the revenue potential of the generator market at a pace that exceeds the mass home market, and AFCP is ideally positioned to use our cost-effective alkaline technology to meet this growing demand, commented Frank Carnevale, Chief Executive Officer of AFCP. By leveraging our existing staff and resources in Belgium and Czech Republic, we anticipate being able to generate revenue earlier by selling our fuel cells into the burgeoning generator market.

Off-Grid and Back-up Generator Systems

In 2021, the global portable generator market had a value estimated at US$4.6 billion with that figure expected to grow to US$6.7 billion by 2027, representing a CAGR of 6.5% over the period1. AFCP is developing fuel cells of varying power output capacities to satisfy these off-grid and back-up generator markets, including fuel cell configurations with an expected stacked range between 40kW and 100kW generator systems. These configurations build on AFCPs current design for the 4kW CHP system, incorporating different membrane technology into larger fuel cells suitable for servicing the generator market.

Discussions with integrators are ongoing and AFCP will collaborate with them to gain access to assembly, sales, marketing, and maintenance capabilities for customers, with the goal of targeting systems that have a power capacity of between 40kW and 100kW with our alkaline fuel cell, including the following:

Cell towers / weather stations

Highways / rail monitoring

Rescue & military

Residential

Datacentre / hospital / industrial



Global players currently operating within the above segments provide diesel generators which feature a significant carbon footprint compared to the zero-emission alternative offered by AFCPs fuel cells.

Key Advantages of AFCPs Alkaline Technology

Alkaline fuel cell technology offers a number of meaningful advantages compared to other fuel cell types, including:

lower cost, as no precious metals are required, which enables affordable mass production;

operable with less pure industrial hydrogen that may contain up to 10 parts per million of carbon monoxide; a capability not shared by other fuel cell technologies;

functional at very low temperatures (-35C); and

a less complex balance of plant.

Emerging Trends in the Off-Grid Generator Segment

The construction sector is a large market and accounts for 36% of global energy use and 38% of energy-related CO 2 emissions. This sector has a large demand for off-grid power generation that is currently being met by diesel power generators and aligns with the heavy transportation sector given both sectors use diesel fuel as the main energy carrier2.

As a result, there will be significant challenges adhering to future CO 2 and pollution regulations. For example, in April of 2022, the UK changed its legislation to restrict the use of tax free diesel in generators, which renders hydrogen powered generators as an interesting alternative both ecologically and economically. Across Europe and the UK, the power generation market shows annual sales of nearly 1 billion EUR, while globally that figure is estimated at 20 billion EUR. The market segment being targeted by AFCP represents 65% of this figure and the Company expects that demand for zero emission power generators will grow rapidly driven by the increasing emission restrictions 3.

The growth potential of this new market is not limited to the sale of new generators; it also includes the replacement of installed generators that no longer meet stricter emission regulations. The anticipated installed base of old diesel generators is forecast between 15 and 20 billion EUR in Europe and the UK and 400 billion EUR world-wide4.

Diversification Lends Strength for Second Half of 2022 and Beyond

On June 20, 2022, the Company released an outlook for the second half of 2022, and AFCPs expansion into the back-up and off-grid generator markets is consistent with our drive to further accelerate and ramp up efforts to bring fuel cells to market globally. The Companys inclusion of fuel cells for the generator market enables AFCP to generate revenue in the near term while the distribution system for hydrogen to be delivered to homes continues to advance, supporting our long-term goal of providing micro-CHP alkaline fuel cell power systems to the market. Off-grid and back-up fuel cell generators can operate using tanks of hydrogen that are stored on site, thus eliminating the need for hydrogen to be distributed directly to local sites.

ABOUT ALKALINE FUEL CELL POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR)

AFCP is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future-forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors.

AFCP operates through two global entities: Fuel Cell Power NV, a wholly owned subsidiary in Belgium, and PWWR Flow Streams (PWWR Flow), an AFCP brand in Canada.

Fuel Cell Power NV is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power NV is working through milestones to deliver a commercialized alkaline fuel cell in 2024.

is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power NV is working through milestones to deliver a commercialized alkaline fuel cell in 2024. PWWR Flow is focused on the development, ownership and operations of combined heat and power (CHP) assets. PWWR Flow assets deliver efficiency improvements of over 20% with reduced costs to customers in multi-residential and commercial applications. PWWR Flow has contracted existing CHP assets in Toronto, Canada, and has an additional pipeline of potential contracts valued at over $50 million currently in development.

AFCP is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors.

Further information is available on the Company website at https://www.fuelcellpower.com/ , and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on:

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO Exchange (NEO) under the symbol  PWWR , the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol  ALKFF  and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 77R and WKN A3CTYF.

For further information, please contact:

Frank Carnevale

Chief Executive Officer

+1 (647) 531-8264

[email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward- looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

1 Research and Markets: Portable Generator Market, Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027

2BBC Article on Zero-Emission Construction Sites, June 22, 2021

3 Internal AFCP Market research

4European non-road mobile machinery directive

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59d57782-be00-4119-92c1-de4c7e33da08


TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp. (NEO: PWWR) (OTCQB: ALKFF) (Frankfurt: 77R, WKN: A3CTYF) (AFCP or the Company), a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech, is pleased to announce that the Company is supplementing the ongoing development of our 4 kW Combined Heat and Power (CHP) fuel cell by developing a range of fuel cells that target more immediate revenue opportunities within the off-grid and back-up generator markets.

A number of global pressures are driving rapid growth and accelerating the revenue potential of the generator market at a pace that exceeds the mass home market, and AFCP is ideally positioned to use our cost-effective alkaline technology to meet this growing demand, commented Frank Carnevale, Chief Executive Officer of AFCP. By leveraging our existing staff and resources in Belgium and Czech Republic, we anticipate being able to generate revenue earlier by selling our fuel cells into the burgeoning generator market.

Off-Grid and Back-up Generator SystemsIn 2021, the global portable generator market had a value estimated at US$4.6 billion with that figure expected to grow to US$6.7 billion by 2027, representing a CAGR of 6.5% over the period1. AFCP is developing fuel cells of varying power output capacities to satisfy these off-grid and back-up generator markets, including fuel cell configurations with an expected stacked range between 40kW and 100kW generator systems. These configurations build on AFCPs current design for the 4kW CHP system, incorporating different membrane technology into larger fuel cells suitable for servicing the generator market.

Discussions with integrators are ongoing and AFCP will collaborate with them to gain access to assembly, sales, marketing, and maintenance capabilities for customers, with the goal of targeting systems that have a power capacity of between 40kW and 100kW with our alkaline fuel cell, including the following:

Cell towers / weather stations

Highways / rail monitoring

Rescue & military

Residential

Datacentre / hospital / industrial

Global players currently operating within the above segments provide diesel generators which feature a significant carbon footprint compared to the zero-emission alternative offered by AFCPs fuel cells.

Key Advantages of AFCPs Alkaline TechnologyAlkaline fuel cell technology offers a number of meaningful advantages compared to other fuel cell types, including:

lower cost, as no precious metals are required, which enables affordable mass production;

operable with less pure industrial hydrogen that may contain up to 10 parts per million of carbon monoxide; a capability not shared by other fuel cell technologies;

functional at very low temperatures (-35C); and

a less complex balance of plant.

Emerging Trends in the Off-Grid Generator SegmentThe construction sector is a large market and accounts for 36% of global energy use and 38% of energy-related CO2 emissions. This sector has a large demand for off-grid power generation that is currently being met by diesel power generators and aligns with the heavy transportation sector given both sectors use diesel fuel as the main energy carrier2.

As a result, there will be significant challenges adhering to future CO2 and pollution regulations. For example, in April of 2022, the UK changed its legislation to restrict the use of tax free diesel in generators, which renders hydrogen powered generators as an interesting alternative both ecologically and economically. Across Europe and the UK, the power generation market shows annual sales of nearly 1 billion EUR, while globally that figure is estimated at 20 billion EUR. The market segment being targeted by AFCP represents 65% of this figure and the Company expects that demand for zero emission power generators will grow rapidly driven by the increasing emission restrictions 3.

The growth potential of this new market is not limited to the sale of new generators; it also includes the replacement of installed generators that no longer meet stricter emission regulations. The anticipated installed base of old diesel generators is forecast between 15 and 20 billion EUR in Europe and the UK and 400 billion EUR world-wide4.

Diversification Lends Strength for Second Half of 2022 and BeyondOn June 20, 2022, the Company released an outlook for the second half of 2022, and AFCPs expansion into the back-up and off-grid generator markets is consistent with our drive to further accelerate and ramp up efforts to bring fuel cells to market globally. The Companys inclusion of fuel cells for the generator market enables AFCP to generate revenue in the near term while the distribution system for hydrogen to be delivered to homes continues to advance, supporting our long-term goal of providing micro-CHP alkaline fuel cell power systems to the market. Off-grid and back-up fuel cell generators can operate using tanks of hydrogen that are stored on site, thus eliminating the need for hydrogen to be distributed directly to local sites.

ABOUT ALKALINE FUEL CELL POWER CORP. (NEO: PWWR)AFCP is a diversified investment platform developing affordable, renewable, and reliable energy assets and cleantech. We bring Power to the People today, combining a stable revenue stream with a future-forward vision to commercialize our advanced hydrogen fuel cell technology to meet the massive global market need, and ultimately generate compelling returns for investors.

AFCP operates through two global entities: Fuel Cell Power NV, a wholly owned subsidiary in Belgium, and PWWR Flow Streams (PWWR Flow), an AFCP brand in Canada.

Fuel Cell Power NV is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power NV is working through milestones to deliver a commercialized alkaline fuel cell in 2024.

is focused on the development, production and commercialization of micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems based on advanced alkaline fuel cell technology that generates zero CO2 emissions. Fuel Cell Power NV is working through milestones to deliver a commercialized alkaline fuel cell in 2024. PWWR Flow is focused on the development, ownership and operations of combined heat and power (CHP) assets. PWWR Flow assets deliver efficiency improvements of over 20% with reduced costs to customers in multi-residential and commercial applications. PWWR Flow has contracted existing CHP assets in Toronto, Canada, and has an additional pipeline of potential contracts valued at over $50 million currently in development.

AFCP is well positioned to deliver Power to the People in the global energy transition while offering a diversified cleantech growth platform for investors.

Further information is available on the Company website at https://www.fuelcellpower.com/, and the Company encourages investors and other interested stakeholders to follow it on:

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Common shares are listed for trading on the NEO Exchange (NEO) under the symbol PWWR, the OTC Venture Exchange OTCQB under the symbol ALKFF and on the Frankfurt Exchange under symbol 77R and WKN A3CTYF.

For further information, please contact:

Frank CarnevaleChief Executive Officer+1 (647) 531-8264[email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates, believes or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might, occur or achieve. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys technology, intellectual property, business plan, objectives and strategy.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward- looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

NEITHER THE NEO EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE NEO EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

1 Research and Markets: Portable Generator Market, Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-20272 BBC Article on Zero-Emission Construction Sites, June 22, 20213 Internal AFCP Market research4 European non-road mobile machinery directive

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/59d57782-be00-4119-92c1-de4c7e33da08

Figure 1 Image 1

Source: Alkaline Fuel Cell Power Corp.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ameriwest Lithium Inc. (Ameriwest or the Company) (CSE: AWLI) (OTC: AWLIF) (FSE: 5HV0), a North American lithium exploration and development company, announces that it has made a discovery of significant lithium concentrations at its Thompson Valley Property (the TV Property) in Arizona. The discovery was made as a result of a surface geologic mapping and initial surface sampling program (the Phase 1 Exploration Program), initiated in June, as approved by the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD).

Assay results from 44 surface grab samples, analyzed by Paragon Geochemical (Paragon) in Sparks, Nevada, show lithium contents ranging from 15 to 1,670 ppm Li. From the 44 samples submitted for assaying, 27% had lithium contents greater than 500 ppm, and 9% were greater than 1,000 ppm with a mean of 353 ppm Li and standard deviation of 406 ppm Li.

David Watkinson, President and CEO of Ameriwest stated, We are very excited to make this first significant discovery of lithium for the Company on our five properties located in Nevada and Arizona. This sedimentary clay deposit has surface or near-surface exposures of lithium-bearing materials that were deposited in a lacustrine environment and have potential to host a significant lithium deposit, subject to exploration success. Continued exploration is warranted and will include additional surface sampling to define drill targets. Once the drill targets are defined and permitting is complete, Ameriwests technical team looks forward to drilling the Property with the ultimate goal of delineating lithium resources.

About the Sampling ProgramThe Phase 1 Exploration Program was designed to test for the presence of lithium on the TV Property through surface sampling and to try to confirm historic lithium sampling results in the area. Geologic and structural mapping was done, followed by an initial surface soil sampling program.

Surface grab samples were acquired from shallow surface excavations in ravines that pierced the surface soils and debris field. Sample locations are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 - Ameriwest Lithium, Thompson Valley Surface Sample Assays

Two trends are apparent with the highest lithium values from this limited sampling, one along the Thompson Valley fault near the base of the basalt-capped cliff, and another from the fault down through the main portion of Ameriwests State lands.

During the field sampling it was discovered that oncolites, a form of stromatolite with no stem, were present at several locations along the fault zone. This discovery is proof that the strata was formed in a mineral-rich lacustrine environment. Most of the lithium-bearing samples are high in carbonate and reactive to acid, as is the oncolite material.

The Phase 1 Exploration Program was therefore successful in proving the presence of lithium on the TV Property and indicates there is potential to hold a significant near surface lithium clay deposit, subject to exploration success. Sampling results confirmed lithium values similar to historic lithium surface sampling results from the 1960s.

Ameriwest plans to take additional surface samples for assay and to define drill targets. It will proceed to obtain the necessary permits for this work, with the goal of conducting a drilling program prior to the end of the year. The timing of the drilling will be subject to permit approvals, drill availability, and weather conditions. The ultimate goal is to define lithium resources on the TV Property.

About the Property The TV Property is accessed from State Highway 96, also known as Yavapai County Road 15. The lands are 120 miles (190 km) north of Phoenix, and a large copper mine is found near Bagdad, AZ 35 miles (56 km) to the northwest. The Company was initially awarded seven State Mineral Exploration Permits covering 2,859 acres (1,157 hectares).

QA/QCAll grab samples collected were shipped to Paragon Geochemical in Sparks, Nevada. Paragon has met the requirements of AC89 IAS Accreditation Criteria for Testing Laboratories and has demonstrated compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 19025:2017: General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Assaying was done using ICP-MS analysis protocol. Blanks and standards were inserted into the samples sent to the laboratory.

Management cautions that assays associated with prospecting samples, as discussed herein, are selective by nature and represent a point location. Therefore, they may not necessarily be fully representative of the mineralized horizon sampled.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

David WatkinsonPresident and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:Invictus Investor Relations Tel: +1 (604) 343-8661[email protected]https://ameriwestlithium.com/

Qualified PersonsGreg Bell, P.E., and Brian Beck, C.P.G., qualified persons under the NI 43-101 Instrument, have reviewed and approved the technical content of this release.

About Ameriwest Lithium Inc. (CSE: AWLI) (OTC: AWLIF) (FSE: 5HV0)Ameriwest Lithium Inc. is a Canadian-based exploration company with a focus on identifying strategic lithium mineral resource projects for exploration and development. The Company is currently focused on exploring its 13,580-acre Railroad Valley property, the 22,210-acre Edwards Creek Valley, its 5,640-acre Little Smoky Valley property, and its 5,600-acre Deer Musk East property in Nevada. In addition, the Company is exploring the 3,477-acre Thompson Valley property in Arizona. For more information visit: https://ameriwestlithium.com/.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as anticipate, plan, estimate, expect, may, will, intend, should, and similar expressions. Forwardlooking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forwardlooking information. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, changes to the Companys strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents the Companys expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

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.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b64263d6-792a-4d3b-9bd3-c8593a235ba1

Figure 1 - Ameriwest Lithium, Thompson Valley Surface Sample Assays Figure 1 - Ameriwest Lithium, Thompson Valley Surface Sample Assays

Source: Ameriwest Lithium Inc.
ART4215 is a potentially first-in-class, highly selective, oral small molecule inhibitor targeting the Pol polymerase domain

Interim Phase 1 tolerability and pharmacokinetic data supports a well-tolerated safety profile

Phase 1 safety and tolerability data for ART4215 in advanced solid tumors is expected in 1H 2023; Phase 2 data in BRCA deficient breast cancer is expected in 2024

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom and NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Artios Pharma Limited (Artios), a clinical stage biotech company pioneering the development of novel small molecule therapeutics that target the DNA damage response (DDR) process in order to treat patients with a broad range of cancers, announces it has initiated a Phase 2 study with ART4215, a small molecule inhibitor of polymerase theta (Pol) in combination with talazoparib (TALZENNA), an oral poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor in an expansion study for the treatment of BRCA deficient breast cancer.

ART4215 is the first selective, oral, small molecule inhibitor of the Pol polymerase domain to enter the clinic. Pol, a DNA polymerase, is a tumor-specific DDR target involved in microhomology mediated end joining (MMEJ) that is overexpressed in many tumors and found in low levels in healthy tissue. Extensive preclinical studies have demonstrated that ART4215 has broad potential clinical utility, as described in Artios recent Nature Communications publication, Zatreanu et al., 2021. The Pol project was originally in-licensed from Cancer Research Technology (now Cancer Research Horizons) in 2016 as part of the initial formation of Artios

Dr. Niall Martin, Chief Executive Officer at Artios, said: Pol is highly expressed in cancer cells, but has limited expression in healthy cells, making it an attractive cancer target. Initial Phase 1 data supports a favorable tolerability profile and the potential for broad treatment use, particularly in combination with agents like PARP inhibitors where combinations with other DNA damage response inhibitors have been limited by toxicity. We are highly encouraged that ART4215 may offer a new treatment option that can synergize to overcome both de novo and acquired PARP resistance. We look forward to reporting Phase 1 safety and tolerability data in the first half of 2023.

Principal Investigator for the trial, Dr. Erika P. Hamilton, Director of the Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Research Program, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology, said: Patients with advanced solid tumors have achieved improved outcomes with the development of PARP inhibitors. However, there is still a need to address resistance mechanisms diminishing initial tumor responses and leading to disease progression. ART4215 has the potential to help overcome these limitations, and we are excited that the initiation of this Phase 2 trial represents an important step in the clinical evaluation of Pol as a novel target.

ART4215 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing, first-in-human, global, open-label Phase 1/2 study to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and clinical activity of ART4215 as a monotherapy or in combination with talazoparib in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Initial safety data from the first Phase 1 dose cohorts have demonstrated ART4215 to be well tolerated. A recommended Phase 2 dose has been established for ART4215 in combination with talazoparib, and a randomized expansion cohort has been initiated to evaluate the combination in patients with BRCA deficient breast cancer.

The study will enroll up to 206 patients and will be conducted at multiple oncology centers across the USA and Europe. The trial is led by principal investigators Erika P. Hamilton, M.D., Director of the Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Research Program, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology, and Timothy Yap, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., Associate Professor of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics and Medical Director of the Institute for Applied Cancer Science at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Phase 1 safety and tolerability data is expected in the first half of 2023.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Contact:Abid Ansari, Chief Financial OfficerE: [email protected]

Media Contact:LifeSci AdvisorsLigia Vela ReidE: [email protected]

About Artios

Artios is a clinical-stage biotech company pioneering the development of novel small molecule therapeutics that target the DDR process to treat patients suffering from a broad range of cancers. Artios is led by an experienced scientific and leadership team with proven expertise in DDR drug discovery, including the discovery and early development of the poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor Olaparib. It has a unique partnership with Cancer Research UK, and collaborations with leading DNA repair researchers worldwide, such as The Institute of Cancer Research, London, the Netherlands Cancer Institute and the Crick Institute, London. Artios is building a pipeline of next-generation DDR programs to target hard to treat cancers, including its ATR inhibitor, ART0380, and the Pol inhibitor, ART4215, as a monotherapy and with combination treatments. In December 2020, Artios entered into a collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany to identify and develop precision oncology medicines targeting nucleases. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has the right to opt into exclusive development and commercialization of compounds on up to eight targets and Artios is to receive up to US$860 million in total milestones per target. In April 2021, Artios entered into a collaboration agreement with Novartis to identify DDR targets to use with Novartis proprietary radioligand therapies, with Artios receiving a US$20 million up-front payment in addition to near-term research funding to support the collaboration. Artios is eligible to receive up to $1.3 billion in discovery, development, regulatory and sales-based milestones in addition to royalty payments. Artios has raised US$320 million to date from investors and strategic partners, including the US$153 million Series C financing announced in July 2021. Artios is based at the Babraham Research Campus in Cambridge, UK, with an office in New York City, USA.

Source: Artios Pharma, Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asante Gold Corporation (CSE:ASE | GSE: ASG | FRANKFURT:1A9 | U.S.OTC:ASGOF) (Asante or the Company) is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated April 25, 2022, it has closed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares in the capital of Red Back Mining Pty Ltd, which indirectly holds a 90% interest in the Chirano Gold Mine (Chirano) pursuant to a share purchase and sale agreement dated April 24, 2022, as amended, (the Purchase Agreement) among the Company, KG Africa B.V. (the Vendor), an indirect subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation (Kinross), and Kinross (the Chirano Acquisition). The Ghanaian government will continue to retain a 10% carried interest in Chirano.

The aggregate consideration for the Chirano Acquisition is approximately US$225 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. In connection with the closing of the Chirano Acquisition (Closing), the Purchase Agreement was amended to, among other things, reduce the cash consideration payable by Asante on Closing. As a result of such amendment, the Company paid the Vendor US$60 million in cash and issued 34,962,584 common shares in the capital of the Company (Common Shares) to Kinross having a total value of approximately US$36.2 million based on a price of CAD$1.335 per Common Share, which is the volume-weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange for the 30 trading days ending August 9, 2022. The Vendor will also receive approximately US$128.8 million in cash in deferred consideration, of which (i) US$55 million will be payable within six months following the Closing, (ii) approximately US$36.9 million will be payable on or before the first anniversary of the Closing, and (iii) approximately US$36.9 million will be payable on or before the second anniversary of the Closing. Kinross has agreed that it will hold its Common Shares, which represent a 9.9% ownership interest in Asante on a non-diluted basis, for at least 12 months following the Closing.

The payment of the deferred consideration noted above will be guaranteed on a limited recourse basis by certain of the companies acquired by Asante from the Vendor and secured by pledges of equity interests in certain of these companies, including Chirano Gold Mines Limited.

The securities issued in connection with the Chirano Acquisition are subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws which will expire on December 11, 2022.

Dave Anthony, President & CEO, stated that, The Closing of the Chirano Acquisition marks achievement of a significant milestone for Asantes growth strategy as we work to achieve mid-tier status in the near term. With this acquisition, we have transitioned into a multi-asset company and we are well positioned to leverage these assets to achieve long term benefits for our stakeholders.

The Bibiani and Chirano assets are now combined under one ownership, to cover a district scale gold field exceeding 53 km in length with past gold production of more than 8 million ounces. Asante welcomes the opportunity to work with our new employees and contractors at Chirano. With the continued commitment of our management, staff and stakeholders, we look forward to growing this asset to be a significant gold production district.

Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Durose Asset Management Inc. acted as financial advisors to Asante, and Bennett Jones LLP acted as legal advisor to Asante, in connection with the Chirano Acquisition.

In other news, the Company reports that pursuant to an agreement entered into on April 13, 2017, the Company has issued 250,000 Common Shares in connection with the purchase of the Keyhole property, located in Ghana. The Common Shares issued are subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws which will expire on November 20, 2022.

About the Chirano Gold Mine

Chirano is an operating open-pit and underground mining operation located in southwestern Ghana, immediately south of the Companys Bibiani Gold Mine. Chirano was first explored and developed in 1996 and began production in October 2005. The mine comprises the Akwaaba, Suraw, Akoti South, Akoti North, Akoti Extended, Paboase, Tano, Obra South, Obra, Sariehu and Mamnao open pits and the Akwaaba and Paboase underground mines. Gold Equivalent Production in 2021 was 154,668 oz on a 100% basis (source Kinross Gold Corporation).

About Asante Gold Corporation

Asante is a gold exploration, development and operating company with a high-quality portfolio of projects in Ghana. Asante is currently operating the Bibiani Gold Mine with forecast production of 175,000 oz of gold over the next 12 months, has completed the acquisition of the Chirano Gold Mine, an operating open-pit and underground mining operation located immediately south of the Bibiani Gold Mine, and is developing to production its Kubi Gold Mine, all located on the prolific Bibiani and Ashanti Gold Belts. Asante has an experienced and skilled team of mine finders, builders and operators, with extensive experience in Ghana. Asante is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Asante is also exploring its Keyhole, Fahiakoba and Betenase projects for new discoveries, all adjoining or along strike of major gold mines near the centre of Ghanas Golden Triangle. Additional information is available on our web site at www.asantegold.com.

For further information please contact:

Dave Anthony, President & CEO: +233 55 879 3309 (Ghana) or +1 647 382 4215 (Canada), [email protected]Frederick Attakumah, Executive Vice President, [email protected]Valentina Gvozdeva, Manager IR, [email protected]Kirsti Mattson, Media Relations, [email protected]

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the structure and terms of the Chirano Acquisition, anticipated synergies, the resources, reserves, exploration results, and development program at Chirano, Bibiani and Kubi, including timing of future mine development and the start of production. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Companys inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Companys inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Companys public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply 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. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

LEI Number: 529900F9PV1G9S5YD446. Neither IIROC nor any stock exchange or other securities regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: Asante Gold Corporation
Clichy  France - August 10, 2022

BIC strengthens its R&D Capabilities in Digital Expression with the acquisition of AMI (Advanced Magnetic Interaction)

Clichy-France  August 10th, 2022 - BIC announces today that it has signed an agreement to acquire the share capital of AMI (Advanced Magnetic Interaction), a small French company specializing in augmented interaction technology and the creator of the ISKN Repaper digital tablet, which allows users to capture paper writing and drawing in an electronic format. The completion of the acquisition is contingent upon certain closing conditions. The closing is expected before the end of Q3 2022.

Created in 2014 by Jean-Luc Vallejo, Tristan Hautson, and Timothee Jobert, AMI uniquely leverages magnetometric technology to enable highly accurate, real-time position tracking without the need for embedded electronics in devices, addressing the increasing consumer need for user-friendly, sustainable, and secure digital accessories.

This acquisition strengthens BIC's R&D capabilities in Digital Expression, one of the pillars of BIC's Horizon strategic plan, and will accelerate the deployment of AMI's patented technology, notably through B2B activity in Digital Creative and Consumer Electronics applications.

# #

CONTACTS

Sophie Palliez-Capian

VP, Corporate Stakeholder Engagement

+33 1 45 19 55 28

+ 33 6 87 89 33 51

[email protected]



Michele Ventura

Senior Manager, Investor Relations

+ 33 1 45 19 52 98

[email protected] Albane de La Tour dArtaise

Senior Manager, Institutional Press Relations

+ 33 1 45 19 51 51

+ 33 7 85 88 19 48

[email protected]







Romain Griere

Image 7

+ 33 7 86 53 17 29

rgrie [email protected]

ABOUT BIC

A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello, Djeep, Lucky Stationery, Rocketbook, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Us. TM, Wite-Out, Inkbox and more. In 2021, BIC Net Sales were 1,831.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris"," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bic.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.

Find more about BIC's Horizon Plan in our Investor Insights Newsletters, and dig further into our Raw Materials, Flame For Life strategy, Skin Creative business, and Distribution Networks.

2022/2023 AGENDA - ALL DATES TO BE CONFIRMED

3rd Quarter 2022 Results October 27, 2022 4th Quarter and Full-Year 2022 Results February 14, 2023 1st Quarter 2023 Results April 25, 2023

This document contains forward-looking statements. Although BIC believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties. A description of the risks borne by BIC appears in the section, "Risks Management" in BIC's 2021 Universal Registration Document filed with the French financial markets authority (AMF) on March 25, 2022.

Attachment
PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chalice Brands Ltd. (CSE: CHAL) (OTCQB: CHALF) (the Company or Chalice Brands), a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in retail, production, processing, wholesale, and distribution, today announces that it has changed its auditor to M&K CPAS, PLLC ("Successor Auditor") from Baker Tilly US, LLP ("Former Auditor") due to the delays in completing the Companys 2021 fiscal audit. The Company has requested that the Former Auditor resign as the auditor of the Company effective August 10, 2022. The Board of Directors of the Company appointed the Successor Auditor as the Companys auditor effective August 10, 2022, to be effective until the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.

In accordance with National Instrument 51-102  Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102"), the Company will file a Change of Auditor Notice (the Notice) on SEDAR, together with letters from both the Former Auditor and Successor Auditor, with each letter confirming agreement with the statements contained in the Notice, as applicable.

The Former Auditor had not issued any audit report to date and therefore there were no reservations in the Former Auditor's reports on any of the Company's audited financial statements. There are no reportable events between the Company and the Former Auditor.

M&K CPAS, PLLC is a Houston based professional accounting Limited Liability Partnership specializing in public company audits. The firm provides comprehensive incorporation, accounting, tax and consulting services to businesses of all sizes with their financial compliance and advisory needs.

About Chalice Brands Ltd.Chalice Brands is a premier consumer-driven cannabis company specializing in production, processing, wholesale, distribution and retail, with 12 owned and 6 managed dispensaries in and around Portland, Oregon. The Company is committed to developing a dynamic portfolio built around the recognized brands of Chalice Brands, including Chalice Farms, Left Coast Connection, Homegrown Oregon and Cannabliss & Co., with a focus on health and wellness. Chalice operates nationally through Fifth & Root and has operations in Oregon and California. Visit investors.chalicebrandsltd.com/ for regular updates.

Investor Relations:John VargheseExecutive ChairmanChalice Brands Ltd971-371-2685[email protected]

Neither the Canadian Securities 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 release.

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys future business operations, the opinions or beliefs of management and future business goals. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. These risks include but are not limited to general business, economic and competitive uncertainties, regulatory risks, market risks, risks inherent in manufacturing and retail operations such as unforeseen costs and production shutdowns, difficulties in maintaining brand loyalty, and other risks of the cannabis industry. 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 or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. Forward-looking information is provided herein for the purpose of presenting information about managements current expectations relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purpose. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration or an exemption from registration.

Source: Chalice Brands Ltd.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Instawork, the leading platform for connecting businesses with skilled hourly workers, announced today that Fortune has honored the company as one of the 2022 Best Medium Workplaces.

This is Instawork's first time being named to the prestigious list, coming in at #58 out of 100 companies ranked. Earning a spot qualifies Instawork as one of the best companies to work for in the country. To determine the Best Medium Workplaces list, survey responses of over 200,000 employees from Great Place to Work-Certified companies with 100 to 999 U.S. employees were analyzed.

In that survey, 95% of employees at Instawork say it is a great place to work compared to 57% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.

"Our employees are the backbone of our company's success and this recognition confirms it," said Trish English, Instawork's Head of Talent. "We're grateful every day for their dedication, hard work, and determination to provide economic opportunity to thousands of businesses and millions of hourly workers who utilize our platform. Each of them makes our company a great place to work."

In May 2022, Instawork was also Certified by Great Place to Work as an Employer of Choice. This certification was based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Instawork at a corporate level.

Those interested in learning more about Instawork should visit www.instawork.com or download the app.

About InstaworkFounded in 2016, Instawork is the leading flexible work app for local, hourly professionals. Its digital marketplace connects thousands of businesses and more than three million workers, filling a critical role in local economies. Instawork has been featured on CBS News, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Associated Press, and more. Instawork was recently named the 2022 ACE Award recipient for "Best Innovation," one of the "Best Business Apps" by Business Insider, and was named one of the "Best Apps of the Summer" in 2021. Instawork helps businesses in the food & beverage, hospitality, and warehouse/logistics industries fill temporary and permanent job opportunities in more than 25 markets across the U.S. and Canada. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Media ContactKira CabanHead of Strategic Communications[email protected]

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Source: Instawork
Valhalla, N.Y., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FUJIFILM North America Corporation announces the North American debut of Fujikina New York, a must-attend interactive festival for anyone interested in photography, cinematography, the arts, and the latest FUJIFILM digital camera gear. This curated, dynamic public event will showcase the power of image making through a special exhibit of select works from an emerging generation of image makers. Previously and exclusively held at FUJIFILM Corporations global headquarters in Tokyo, Fujikina will be held in North America for the first time on Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 10 A.M. - 7 P.M. at the iconic Glass House, located at 545 West 25th Street in New York City.

We are excited and honored to host Fujikina in New York City, which has such a rich history of showing Fujifilms support and celebration of the arts. Were excited to make the city a big part of the experience for our guests, said Victor Ha, vice president, Electronic Imaging and Optical Devices, FUJIFILM North America Corporation. Demonstrating Fujifilms ongoing commitment to storytelling, Fujikina New York will be part touch-and-try, part education, and part exhibition  truly a festival for the image-making community and anyone interested the art of visual storytelling.

The event will be comprised of a mix of hands-on seminars and workshops with celebrated creators who will be sharing experiences, techniques, and views on various image making styles, like portraiture, photojournalism, landscape, and much more. In addition, there will be ample opportunities to learn about and test various FUJIFILM digital cameras and lenses and attend a keynote presentation by world-renowned photographer, Greg Gorman. Known for his stark, honest portraits of the most famous and infamous faces, Gorman travels the world for specialized photographic projects while continuing to work on compilations of his imagery. Gormans work is exhibited at galleries and museums around the globe.

Fujikina New York will also celebrate the 10-year anniversary of FUJIFILM X-MountFujifilms pioneering photographic technology that has empowered image makers and opened countless doors for creative possibilities. In honor of this milestone, and in demonstrating Fujifilms commitment to storytelling, Fujikina will celebrate with a special project showcasing imagery and stories from 10 remarkable women image-makers all with diverse backgrounds and skill sets. These artists were hand-picked to each envision a project and received funding, technical support, and guidance from Fujifilm along the way to bring those projects to life. Subjects range from a post-climate-apocalypse tale of seeking beauty amidst hardship, to an exploration of rites of passage and coming-of-age stories, to an adventure-driven piece on women rock climbers over 40, and more.

Throughout the Fujikina New York venue, photo and video work from Fujifilm creators will be displayed in a variety of formats. Multiple sessions of seminars under the themes Life in Motion (Filmmaking), Life in Detail (Resolution), and Life in Color (Color and Resolution) will also be offered.

Finally, guests will be able to reserve a spot in a variety of photo walks hosted by Fujifilms photography experts, where theyll learn techniques for creating various types of imagery and immediately get to practice using loaned FUJIFILM digital camera and lens gear.

Fujikina New York will be free and open to the public. Guests are required to register and book a time slot to attend the event, as well as reserve space in any seminars, workshops, speaker presentations, and photo walks they wish to attend.

To learn more, visit: https://bit.ly/3zLY5pF

To register for free, please visit: https://bit.ly/3PeMuW3

More about Seminars, workshops, and speakers: https://bit.ly/3zLY5pF

More about our Featured Creators: https://bit.ly/3SFD1d5

About Fujifilm

FUJIFILM North America Corporation, a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation, consists of five operating divisions and one subsidiary company. The Imaging Division provides consumer and commercial photographic products and services, including: photographic paper; digital printing equipment, along with service and support; personalized photo products; film; one-time-use cameras; and the popular INSTAX line of instant cameras and accessories. The Electronic Imaging Division markets consumer digital cameras, lenses, and content creation solutions, and the Graphic Systems Division supplies products and services to the graphic printing industry. The Optical Devices Division provides optical lenses for the broadcast, cinematography, closed circuit television, videography and industrial markets, and also markets binoculars and other optical imaging solutions. The Industrial and Corporate New Business Development Division delivers new products derived from Fujifilm technologies. FUJIFILM Canada Inc. sells and markets a range of FUJIFILM products and services in Canada.

For more information, please visit https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/about/region, go to https://www.twitter.com/fujifilmus to follow Fujifilm on Twitter, or go to https://www.facebook.com/FujifilmNorthAmerica to Like Fujifilm on Facebook.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, leverages its depth of knowledge and proprietary core technologies to deliver Value from Innovation in our products and services in the business segments of healthcare, materials, business innovation, and imaging. Our relentless pursuit of innovation is focused on providing social value and enhancing the lives of people worldwide. Fujifilm is committed to responsible environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information about Fujifilms Sustainable Value Plan 2030, click here.For the year ended March 31, 2022, the company had global revenues of approximately 2.5 trillion yen (21 billion $USD at an exchange rate of 122 yen/dollar). For more information, please visit: www.fujifilmholdings.com.

Daniel Carpenter FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation 9145292417 [email protected]

Source: FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation
Atlanta, Georgia, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc., www.fhcga.org, has confirmed that HHS Region 4 Director Antrell Tyson, Region 4 HRSA Administrator Natalie Brevard Perry, and CMS Regional Administrator Sherard Kendal McKie will attend its Health Center Staff Appreciation Day event on Friday, August 12, 2022 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.(EST) as part of National Health Center Week. The event will take place at The Family Health Centers of Georgias Main Center | Corporate Office, 868 York Avenue, SW, Atlanta, Georgia.

Organized by the National Association for Community Health Centers, www.nachc.org, National Health Center Week, https://healthcenterweek.org/about-nhcw/, is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of Americas health centers over the past five decades. Health centers provide healthcare to 30 million patients across the US and save the healthcare system $24 billion annually by reducing emergency room, hospital and specialty care costs.

For 47 years, The Family Health Centers of Georgia has worked to provide quality healthcare services regardless of patients inability to pay or health insurance status. It takes a team of dedicated health professionals to provide patient care to more than 17,000 patients annually, generating more than 52,000 patient visits. In 2021, The Family Health Centers of Georgia provided 23,384 free COVID-19 vaccinations and tests.

"To have the top administrators from HHS, HRSA, and CMS participate in celebrating our staff is phenomenal, stated Dr. Michael W. Brooks, President & CEO of The Family Health Centers of Georgia. Brooks continued, Each of them are a critical part of our funding stream that allows us to provide comprehensive primary healthcare to underserved populations.

The Family Health Centers of Georgia has stood as a critical member of the community for 47 years and is staffed by a highly competent and creative staff that provides quality primary care services, vaccinations and more for thousands of people each year throughout metro Atlanta and the state, said Region 4 Director Antrell Tyson, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerras representative for the eight southeastern states. FHCGA has also been there for my HHS office many times over the years when we have needed a partner to host our secretary or other high-level officials. We celebrate and honor the sacrifices, commitment and expertise of the staff of FHCGA and the other federally qualified health centers in Georgia and throughout the southeast during National Health Center Week.

Over the last 57 years, health centers have grown to become the cornerstone of community-based primary healthcare in the country. Our data show that for the first time in the Health Center Programs history, health centers are serving more than 30 million patients nationwide  a 43% increase in the past 10 years, and further evidence of the crucial role health centers play in peoples lives, said the Region 4 HRSA Administrator Natalie Brevard Perry.

About The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. (FHCGA)

The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. is a 501c (3), not-for-profit, federally qualified health center. FHCGAs mission is to provide comprehensive, high quality, patient centered healthcare to the communities we serve. FHCGA currently operates nine service sites, including two mobile medical and dental units, in Georgias Cobb, Clayton, Douglas, and Fulton Counties. The Family Health Centers of Georgia serves as the administrator of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Population Affairs Title X program for the state of Georgia.

About HHS, HRSA and CMS

The mission of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. The Office of the Secretary, Operating Divisions, and Regional Offices administer HHS programs. Many HHS-funded services are provided at the local level by state or county agencies, or through private sector grantees. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is a HHS operating division that is the principal federal agency with programs that provide equitable healthcare to people who are geographically isolated and economically or medically vulnerable. The HRSA Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs promotes public health and health equity by expanding knowledge about HRSAs programs, resources, priorities, and related best practices. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is part of HHS and administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and health insurance portability standards.

M. G. Bledsoe The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc. 4046174095 [email protected]

Source: The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc.
MONTREAL, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Mining Group Ltd. (Imperial or the Corporation) (TSX VENTURE: IPG) announces that it has granted an aggregate of 2,200,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporations stock option plan. The options are exercisable at a price of $0.12 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant without vesting period. Of the aggregate options granted by the Corporation today, directors and officers were granted a total of 1,250,000 options.

ABOUT IMPERIAL MINING GROUP LTD.

Imperial is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on the advancement of its technology metals projects in Quebec. Imperial is publicly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange as IPG and on the OTCQB Exchange as IMPNF and is led by an experienced team of mineral exploration and development professionals with a strong track record of mineral deposit discovery in numerous metal commodities.

For further information please contact:

Peter J. CashinPresident and Chief Executive OfficerPhone: +1 (514) 360-0571Email: [email protected]

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: Imperial Mining Group Ltd.
Washington, DC, Aug. 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA ALERT

International Summit in South Korea

Toward Peace on the Korean Peninsula: Toward a World Culture of Peace

The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is hosting Summit 2022 and Leadership Conference, a five-day international summit with related peace events at the Jamsil Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, beginning this week.World leaders from dozens of countries are gathering from August 11-15, 2022, to address paths to global peace, with a special emphasis on Africa, the Asia Pacific Region and reconciliation between North and South Korea. A highlight of the August 12 opening ceremony is a presentation of a resolution to propose the development of a Peace Charter, which follows on the foundation of the Seoul Resolution signed at World Summit 2022 (February 2022) in Seoul by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. Prominent international speakers will include: Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Canadian Prime Minister (2006-2015); Hon. Newt Gingrich, US House Speaker (1995-1999); Hon. Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State (2018-2021); Hon. Dan Burton, US Congressman (1983-2013); and H.E. Brigi Rafini, Executive General, Community of Sahel-Saharan States and Prime Minister (2011-2021), Niger. Later that same day, participants will hear about a recent UPF Fact-Finding Delegation for Peace on the Korean Peninsula from experts on Korea, including Gen. Walter Sharp, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and US Forces Korea (2008-2011); Amb. Harry Harris, US Ambassador to Korea (2018-2021); and Amb. Joseph DeTrani, Special Envoy, Six-Party Talks with DPRK (2003-2006). In addition, a special program will feature The Washington Times, now celebrating its 40th anniversary. Multiple sessions will cover peace efforts in Africa, and feature a Resolution endorsed by African Religious Representatives and led by Imboni Prophet Radebe, founder of The Revelation Spiritual Home in South Africa. Afternoon sessions will include presentations on threats to religious freedom across the globe that features Pastor Paula White-Cain, Senior Pastor, City of Destiny Church in the US; Hon. Jan Figel, European Union Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion (2016-2019); and Dr. Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director, Center for Studies on New Religions, Italy.On Saturday, August 13, symposia will be held around themes of unified Korea, a peaceful world, harmonizing science and religion, the womens movement, youth character education, and the role of the media and economics in the 21st century. On Sunday, August 14, participants will travel to the HJ Global Arts Center in Seorak, outside of Seoul, for a special program hosted by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon honoring her late husband and UPF co-founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his lifelong efforts to establish peace around the world.In addition to UPF International Chair Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, the summits dozens of speakers will include Sheikh Mansour Diouf, Senegal; Hon. Ibrahim Natatou, Minister of Education, Niger; Hon. Hamza Said Hamza, Minister of Youth and Sports, Somalia; Hon. Adi Koila Nailitikau, First Lady (2009-2015), Fiji; Hon. Mwaba Tony, Minister of Higher Education, DR Congo; Hon. Neziha Labidi, Minister of Women, Family and Children (2016-2020), Tunisia; H.E. Dr. Sok Siphana, Chairman, Asian Vision Institute, Cambodia; Jim Rogers, Chairman of Beeland Interests, Inc.; Bishop Don Meares, Senior Pastor, Evangel Cathedral, USA; H.E. Callista Mutharika, First Lady (2010-2012), Malawi; Dr. Song Yong-cheon, Chair, Sunhak Foundation; Dr. Hwang Sun-jo, President, Sun Moon University; and Dr. Yun Young Ho, Director General, FFWPU International.UPF is an NGO with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It has been hosting dozens of forums and events that promote peacebuilding with leaders of 157 nations that have diplomatic ties to North and/or South Korea, in an effort to explore prospects for the peaceful reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. The Royal Government of Cambodia has been a co-host to some of these events.The August 11-15 events will have in-person speakers and participants, as well as a large global audience who will join digitally via a high-tech hybrid format. UPFs works through a set of peacebuilding associations segmented into seven field-based organizations:

International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) and the International Association of First Ladies for Peace (IAFLP)

International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP)

Interreligious Association for Peace and Development (IAPD)

International Association for Peace and Economic Development (IAED)

International Media Association for Peace (IMAP)

International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP)

International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP)

For media inquiries, please contact:

William P. Selig | Communications Director, Universal Peace Federation

Ph: 240-274-1744 | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.upf.org

Attachment

William P. Selig Universal Peace Federation 240-274-1744 [email protected]

Source: Universal Peace Federation USA
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd. (TSXV: BMK) (MacDonald Mines or the Company) is pleased to announce the results of its annual meeting of shareholders held on August 9, 2022 (the Meeting).

At the Meeting, the shareholders:

elected Gregory Romain, Stuart Adair, Kevin Tanas, Amanda Fullerton and Steven Butler as directors of the Company;

reappointed MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Companys auditors;

approved the continued use of the Companys stock option plan (the  Plan ) as well as certain amendments to the Plan in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) policies; and

) as well as certain amendments to the Plan in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) policies; and approved the consolidation of the outstanding securities of the Company on an up to one-for-ten basis (the Consolidation), with the actual exchange ratio to be determined by the Board of Directors.

Effective August 10, 2022, the Company also granted 1,250,000 stock options under the Plan to a director of the Company on a pre-Consolidation basis. Each option is exercisable to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.05 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. 50% of the options vested immediately upon grant and the remaining 50% will vest on February 9, 2023.

The grant of options and the completion of the Consolidation are subject to the approval of the TSXV. Please see the Companys press release dated July 11, 2022 for more information regarding the Consolidation.

About MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd.MacDonald Mines is a Canadian Gold and base metal exploration company focused on exploring its 100%-owned, 19,720 ha (197 km2) SPJ Project, 20 km southeast of the prolific Sudbury Mining Camp in Northern Ontario. The Companys focus is to locate what it theorizes to be large gold systems with high-grade gold surrounding the past producing Scadding gold mine and potential large gold structures surrounding Alwyn, Glade, MacLeod and Norstar. The Company is also focusing on key battery metal systems surrounding Candore and Jerome within the SPJ Project to supply the renewable energy transition, particularly nickel, copper, and PGEs. The demand and need for critical battery metals is at an all-time high, and MacDonald Mines feels the SPJ Property Area has the potential to be part of the solution.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release may contain certain forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To learn more about MacDonald Mines, please visit www.macdonaldmines.com

For more information, please contact: Greg Romain, President & CEO Frank Gagnon, Investor Relations Phone: +1 (416)364-7024 Phone: +1 (705)288-5300 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Source: MacDonald Mines Exploration Ltd.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX: MBX, OTCQX: MBXBF, Microbix), a life sciences innovator, manufacturer, and exporter, announces the execution of a purchase and supply agreement (Agreement) by which Microbix QAPs quality assessment products will support assays on industry-leading molecular (PCR) and antigen-based point-of-care testing platforms.

QAPs mimic positive or negative patient samples to validate the proper functioning of operators, assays and instruments. QAPs formatted onto Copan FLOQSwabs are ideal support for point-of-care test workflows and are room-temperature stable for 24 months for compatibility with test-cartridge storage and handling conditions. Microbix has over 80 types of QAPs, including multiplexes to support clear diagnosis of cutaneous, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and sexually-transmitted infectious diseases. QAPs are used to support staff training and qualification of new instruments as ONBOARDx kits, or incorporated into kits of assay consumables as an integral part of test quality management procedures.

Under the Agreement, Microbix is providing a leading multinational diagnostics developer, manufacturer, and marketer with monoplex and multiplex QAPs  for incorporation into kits of test cartridges for the customers molecular instrument platform across multiple disease categories. Additionally, Microbix ONBOARDx kits are being provided to assist new purchasers with staff training and assay qualification for both the antigen-based and molecular-based instrument platforms of the customer. Purchase and supply has already begun under the Agreement, which has an initial term of five years and includes provisions for development of further QAPs to support future assays of this customer.

The Agreement is expected to materially increase Microbixs QAPs revenues starting in Q4 fiscal 2022. In connection with this Agreement, the customer will be providing confidential QAPs demand forecasts to Microbix, with a portion of such forecasts being binding and to be updated on a regular basis. If its current expectations are realized, Microbix may generate incremental QAPs sales of approximately C$ 5.0 million related to this Agreement in its initial year of fiscal 2023.

Phil Casselli, Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development of Microbix, stated, Our firms have been working together for many months and it is a pleasure to fully formalize our close and positive relationship. This Microbix customer is continuing to ensure optimal diagnosis of infectious diseases via leading-edge point-of-care PCR and antigen-based testing, including the quality management system support provided by our FLOQSwab-formatted QAPs.

Cameron Groome, CEO and President of Microbix also commented, Were delighted to support making clinically-important diagnostic testing more widely available. Microbix believes accurate multi-pathogen point-of-care testing will improve patient care and that multiplex QAPs will help enable this evolution.

About Microbix BiosystemsMicrobix develops proprietary biological products for human health and well-being, with over 100 skilled employees and sales approaching C$ 2.0 million per month. It makes a wide range of critical ingredients and devices for the global diagnostics industry, notably antigens for immunoassays and its quality assessment products (QAPs) that support clinical lab proficiency testing, enable assay development and validation, or help ensure the quality of clinical diagnostic workflows. Its antigens enable the antibody tests of over 100 international diagnostics companies, while QAPs are sold to clinical laboratory accreditation organizations, diagnostics companies, and clinical laboratories. Microbix QAPs are now available in over 30 countries, distributed by 1WA (Oneworld Accuracy Inc.), Alpha-Tec Systems, Inc., Diagnostic International Distribution SpA., Labquality Oy, The Medical Supply Company of Ireland, R-Biopharm AG, SDT Molecular Pte Ltd, Seegene Canada Inc., and Thomas Scientific LLC. Microbix is ISO 9001 and 13485 accredited, U.S. FDA registered, Australian TGA registered, Health Canada establishment licensed, and provides CE marked products.

Microbix also applies its biological expertise and infrastructure to develop other proprietary products and technologies, most notably viral transport medium (DxTM) to stabilize patient samples for lab-based molecular diagnostic testing and Kinlytic urokinase, a biologic thrombolytic drug used to treat blood clots. Microbix is traded on the TSX and OTCQX, and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Forward-Looking InformationThis news release includes forward-looking information, as such term is defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, discussion of the Agreement between the parties, the customer and its assay platforms, the relevance of the customers purchases of QAPs, Microbixs business and business results, goals or outlook, risks associated with financial results and stability, development projects such as those referenced in its corporate presentation, regulatory compliance and approvals, sales to foreign jurisdictions, engineering and construction, production (including control over costs, quality, quantity and timeliness of delivery), foreign currency and exchange rates, maintaining adequate working capital and raising further capital on acceptable terms or at all, and other similar statements concerning anticipated future events, conditions or results that are not historical facts. These statements reflect managements current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Companys control. Accordingly, actual future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. All statements are made as of the date of this news release and represent the Companys judgement as of the date of this new release, and the Company is under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking information.

Please visit www.microbix.com or www.sedar.com for recent Microbix news and filings.

For further information, please contact Microbix at:

Cameron Groome, CEO(905) 361-8910 Jim Currie, CFO(905) 361-8910 Deborah Honig, Investor RelationsAdelaide Capital Markets(647) 203-8793 [email protected] Jim Macdonald,Investor RelationsTorrey Hills Capital(858) 456-7300 [email protected]

Copyright  2022 Microbix Biosystems Inc. Microbix, DxTM, Kinlytic, ONBOARDx and QAPs are trademarks of Microbix Biosystems Inc.Copan, FLOQ and FLOQSwab are trademarks of Copan Italia S.p.A.

Source: Microbix Biosystems Inc.
Galilee, Israel, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Archeologists from Kinneret College in Israel and Nyack College, NY, led by Prof. Mordechai Aviam and Prof. Steven Notley, have uncovered a large Greek inscription during excavations of what is being called the "Church of the Apostles," a Byzantine period basilica at el Araj/Beit haBek believed to be built over the Apostles Peter's and Andrew's home. The inscription was translated by Prof. Leah Di Segni (Hebrew University) and Prof. Yaakov Ashkenazi (Kinneret College). It references a donor, "Constantine, the servant of Christ," and continues with a petition for intercession by St. Peter, "chief and commander of the heavenly apostles." Framed with a round medallion made of two lines of black tesserae, the inscription forms part of a larger mosaic floor in the church's diaconion (sacristy) that is partly decorated with floral patterns. The el Araj/Beit haBek site is located in the Beteiha nature preserve, and assistance was made by the Israel National Parks Authority. The El Araj Excavation Project is a joint project of the Kinneret Institute for Galilee Archeology at Kinneret College and Nyack College. The excavation is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Ancient Judaism and Christian Origins (CSAJCO), the Museum of the Bible, the Lanier Theological Library Foundation, and HaDavar Yeshiva (HK).

The title "chief and commander of the apostles" is routinely used by Byzantine Christian writers to refer to the Apostle Peter. "This discovery is our strongest indicator that Peter had a special association with the basilica, and it was likely dedicated to him. Since Byzantine Christian tradition routinely identified Peter's home in Bethsaida, and not in Capernaum as is often thought today, it seems likely that the basilica commemorates his house," said Steven Notley, academic director of the dig.

This discovery also bolsters the basilica's identification with the church described by the 8th century bishop of Eichstatt, Willibald, who reported that it was built over the house of Peter and Andrew.

"One of the goals of this dig was to check whether we have at the site a layer from the 1st century, which will allow us to suggest a better candidate for the identification of Biblical Bethsaida. Not only did we find significant remains from this period, but we also found this important church and the monastery around it," says archaeologist Mordechai Aviam, archaeological director of the excavation.

The Roman remains that have been excavated bear witness to the testimony of Flavius Josephus (Jewish Antiquities 18:28) that the village became a small polis called Julias that existed until the 3rd century CE. Altogether, these finds continue to strengthen the identification of el Araj/Beit haBek with the ancient Jewish village of Bethsaida.

Excavations will resume in October when the cleaning of the entire church will be completed with the aim to answer the question of its different phases and perhaps uncover additional inscriptions.

To learn more about the dig, or join in the excavations next season, click here.

BACKGROUND ON THE DIG:

During this season, students from Kinneret College, as well as volunteers from the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Slovakia, Brazil, and the UK participated in the excavation. Efforts were concentrated on the area in and around the church, which was named by the excavators, "the Church of the Apostles," due to Willibald's description of his pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While traveling from Capernaum to Kursi he stayed overnight at a place he was told, "is Bethsaida from which came Peter and Andrew. There is now a church where previously was their house." Simon Peter was the first to declare the messiahship of Jesus (Matthew 16:16) and so was considered chief of the Apostles. His prominence is demonstrated by the church of St. Peter in Rome that was built over his grave. It seems his home was likewise commemorated in Bethsaida.

Contact: Dr. R. Steven Notley, [email protected], 845-300-5797

Related Images

Image 1: Inscription from Church of the Apostles credit: Zachary Wong Image 2: Prod. Mordechai Aviam cleaning the inscription. credit: Zachary Wong

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment

Inscription from Church of the Apostles Inscription from Church of the Apostles

Source: CSAJCO
New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced the arrival of a four-person insurance corporate regulatory team, comprised of partner Robert Romano, counsel Jonathan Bank and insurance specialists Al Bottalico and Stewart Keir. Joining from Locke Lord, Romano and Keir will practice in Norton Rose Fulbrights New York office, and Bank and Bottalico will be based in the firms Los Angeles office.

The team joins Norton Rose Fulbrights renowned global insurance practice, with leading practices in the UK, Australia, Singapore and South Africa as well as continental Europe. The team expands the firms longstanding work in the US on contentious matters to include all types of noncontentious mandates and the full range of regulatory advice.

Romano has extensive experience with insurance regulatory and corporate matters. He has assisted clients in numerous M&A, corporate finance and restructuring transactions, with special attention to methods of entry into new and specialty markets for domestic and international insurers. Romano spent two years in the London office of a prior law firm assisting the Corporation of Lloyds and clients in the Lloyds and company markets. He frequently attends meetings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and has recently contributed to rule-making deliberations on reinsurance reform, Insurance Business Transfers and Corporate Divisions. Romano is the third US lateral partner to join the corporate, M&A and securities practice in the past month, following Rajiv Khanna and Eric Rauch.

Banks practice focuses on reinsurance/insurance matters, insurance company restructuring and regulatory related matters (credit for reinsurance/collateral) for both the domestic and foreign/alien as well as captive insurance markets. He spent three years employed by UK market participants, including one of the major accountancy firms, working on a number of major UK insurer liquidations. He is actively involved in the run-off industry, involving both Corporate Division and Insurance Business Transfer statutes.

Keir and Bottalico are non-lawyer insurance financial and regulatory specialists. They both served in senior positions in insurance regulatory agencies in the US. Keir, who is also a chartered property and casualty underwriter (CPCU), served for 32 years in the New York Insurance Department (now the Insurance Division of the New York Department of Financial Services), his last position being that of Assistant Deputy Superintendent and Chief Insurance Examiner. Bottalico served for 38 years in the California Insurance Department ending his service as Deputy Insurance Commissioner of the Financial Surveillance Branch. They assist clients with all aspects of insurance regulation and analysis, including statutory accounting, auditing, compliance and liaising with state insurance regulators.

Jeff Cody, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, said:

Robert, Jonathan, Al and Stewart are all seasoned professionals in insurance law who are also highly regarded in the regulatory community. Their practices blend well with our existing insurance capabilities and also supplement our overall strength in the financial institutions sector in the US and globally.

Scarlet McNellie, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities, said:

The regulatory landscape is everchanging, and insurers rely on our global team to advise them on complex issues. Robert, Jonathan, Al and Stewart have impressive experience which expands Norton Rose Fulbrights service offerings for our insurance industry clients, especially in the highly-regulated US insurance market.

Romano, who has extensive experience in the Brazilian market, said:

Norton Rose Fulbright has an unmatched global reach that will greatly benefit my international practice, especially in Brazil. Im excited to join the US insurance regulatory team and get a chance to expand our practice with colleagues across the globe.

Bank, who worked for Chadbourne & Parke before its 2017 combination with Norton Rose Fulbright, said:

I have practiced together with many lawyers at Norton Rose Fulbright for a long time, and moving our practice to this world-class firm is a great opportunity for our team and our clients.

Both Romano and Bank are licensed in New York, and Bank is also licensed in California. Romano earned his law degree from New York University School of Law and his bachelors degree cum laude from Harvard College. Bank earned his law degree from Creighton University School of Law and his bachelors degree from the University of Oklahoma. Bottalico received his bachelors degree from California State University, Fullerton and Kier earned his bachelors degree from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

For further information, please contact:

Dan McKenna, US Director and Global Head of PR and Communications

Tel: +1 713 651 3576

[email protected]

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright provides the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. With more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg.

Norton Rose Fulbright is recognized for its industry focus across all of the key sectors: financial institutions; energy, infrastructure and resources; transport; technology; life sciences and healthcare; and consumer markets. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Operating in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, Norton Rose Fulbright aims to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.

Law around the worldnortonrosefulbright.com

Attachments

Dan McKenna Norton Rose Fulbright 7136513576 [email protected]

Source: Norton Rose Fulbright
SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nubeva Technologies (TSX-V: NBVA, OTCQB: NBVAF) announces decryption success on the latest version of Hive ransomware in an attack involving a large public school district. Nubevas system was able to successfully decrypt every byte of encrypted data.

Nubeva's Ransomware Reversal technology decrypts ransomware without negotiating or paying for ransomware keys and decryptors. Users recover faster, easier, and with less data loss than paying ransoms or restoring from backups. Customers experience an overall reduction in recovery costs and, more importantly, reduced damages from to downtime.

Nubeva can decrypt most ransomware, not just the older and exposed software, but the newest and most active that is hitting organizations today, said Steve Perkins, CMO at Nubeva. While Nubeva has successfully decrypted thousands of ransomware in our labs, decrypting another live ransomware attack proves that our technology can make a big impact in the fight against ransomware. Our mission is to enable businesses to never pay ransoms again.

Nubeva Ransomware Reversal, released in Q1, 2022, is the nextgen decryption solution for faster and lower cost recovery from ransomware attacks. Nubeva markets its software subscriptions to businesses and organizations directly and through a growing list of resellers, MSSP (managed security service providers), and IR (incident response) partners.

Learn more about Nubevas Ransomware Decryption here.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the Company's business plans and the outlook of the cybersecurity industry. Although the Company believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments, and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release, and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as required by applicable securities laws. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations, or statements made by third parties regarding the Company, its subsidiaries, their securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For additional information, please contact:Steve Perkins[email protected](714) 261-9948

Source: Nubeva Technologies
CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Trans Mountain Corporation ("Trans Mountain or the Company) today announced the appointment of Dawn Farrell to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors. The appointment will be effective August 15, 2022.

Mrs. Farrell brings over 35 years experience in the energy business, having held various senior level positions, including most recently President & CEO of TransAlta Corporation where she led the companys unprecedented transition away from coal-fired electrical generation. This was one of the most significant carbon emissions reduction achievements in Canadas effort to address climate change.

As a highly experienced large public company executive, Dawn brings a depth of expertise and significant international business presence to Trans Mountain. Her experience at TransAlta, including three years as Chief Operating Officer, highlights her strong expertise in the execution of complex projects, working with Indigenous communities, and completing company-wide cultural transformation; all important areas of expertise that will benefit Trans Mountain. Mrs. Farrell brings extensive experience with capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and has led the negotiation and evaluation of a critical, intricate transaction with government.

William Downe, Chairman of the Board of Trans Mountain, commented: We are pleased that Dawn has chosen to join the strong team at Trans Mountain. A community builder with a steadfast commitment to strengthening Canada, Dawn has proven to be a dynamic and thoughtful leader, successfully leading organizations through change and revitalization. We are confident that her broad-based knowledge, experience, and her background with governments and Indigenous communities will be a tremendous asset to Trans Mountain as it completes the expansion project and navigates the next stages of the Companys future.

Downe continues, On behalf of all Board members, I would like to thank Rob Van Walleghem for his leadership of the Company during this period of transition; he will continue in a senior executive leadership role at the company.

Dawn Farrell commented: I am excited to be joining the team at Trans Mountain as it continues its work of completing one of Canadas most important infrastructure projects. The Trans Mountain Expansion Project has been in planning and construction for the past 12 years and, as it passes the 60% completion mark, I look forward to leading the organization to this Projects end while steering the next phase of the Companys future.

Dawn Farrell Background

Dawn Farrell spent over 35 years in the energy business and held a variety of positions including CEO and President of TransAlta. TransAlta is one of the largest investor-owned generation and energy marketing companies in Canada with operations in Canada, the U.S. and Australia, and is a publicly listed company on the TSX and NYSE. As CEO of TransAlta for over nine years, Mrs. Farrell led the transformation of the company to competitive power focused on low-cost, clean, and reliable solutions for large commercial and industrial customers.

She is currently the Chair of the Board for The Chemours Company and Portland General Electric. She has held past board positions including the Business Council of Canada, Alberta Business Council, Calgary Stampede, Conference Board of Canada, Mount Royal College/University Board of Governors and Foundation Board of Directors, Fording Coal Income Fund, New Relationship Trust, and Vision Quest Windelectric. Farrell has contributed to electricity and environmental policy development in Alberta, British Columbia, and federally in Canada.

Mrs. Farrell is currently the Chancellor for Mount Royal University and a member of the Trilateral Commission, a non-governmental, policy-oriented international forum, as well as community champion for Momentum.

Media ContactTrans Mountain Media Relations(604) 908-9734 or (855) 908-9734 [email protected]

About Trans Mountain

Trans Mountain Corporation operates Canadas only pipeline system transporting oil products to the West Coast. We deliver approximately 300,000 barrels of petroleum products each day through 1,150 kilometres of pipeline in Alberta and British Columbia, and 111 kilometres of pipeline in Washington state.

The Trans Mountain Expansion Project will provide increased capacity to support Canadian crude oil production growth and ensure access to global energy markets. The largest project in the pipelines history, it involves installing approximately 980 kilometres of new pipeline, new and modified facilities including pump stations and terminals, and a new dock complex at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, British Columbia.

As a federal Crown corporation, Trans Mountain Corporation will continue to build upon Trans Mountains almost 70 years of experience delivering operational and safety excellence through our crude oil pipeline system.

For more information, please visit www.transmountain.com.

Source: Trans Mountain
For decades, law enforcement has used standardized equipment called breathalyzers to determine the blood-alcohol content of drivers and police-impaired driving. These tests take mere seconds to administer and can give police a decent estimation of how impaired a driver is. As cannabis reform has swept across the country and more states have legalized recreational cannabis, law enforcement and cannabis legalization opponents have argued that legalizing cannabis will inevitably lead to higher levels of impaired driving and road incidents.

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Even though governments and automakers have made significant investments in the budding electric vehicle industry, several factors still stand in the way of mass electric vehicle adoption. Chief among them is a relatively limited supply of the rare metals used to build EV batteries. Furthermore, most EV battery metals, including lithium and cobalt, come from Asia, forcing automakers in the United States and Europe to rely on supplies from Asian countries such as China and Japan.

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About Green Car Stocks

Green Car Stocks (GCS) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on electric vehicles (EV), as well as other emerging market opportunities in the green sector. The company provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, and (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, GCS is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, GCS brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. GCS is where news, content and information converge.

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Green Car Stocks

Los Angeles, CA

www.GreenCarStocks.com

415.949.5050 Office

[email protected]

Green Car Stocks is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork.
The Company Seeks to Capitalize Off the Recent Drop in Overall Crypto Market and Shift Towards a New, Expanded Business Focus

Playa Vista, CA - (NewMediaWire) - August 10, 2022 - American Premium Mining Corporation (OTC:HIPH) ("APM" or the "Company) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved the Company to diversify its business focus to expand into financial technology (FinTec) and other platforms that will assist consumers cultivate personal wealth. These initiatives have been branded by the Company as Wealth Mining, meant to complement existing crypto mining activities, which the Company currently has in Singapore, and continues to focus on expanding into locations world-wide with low-cost renewable energy.

As part of the Companys Wealth Mining initiative, APM will launch a Hapi Wealth Builder program for individuals that have an interest to learn about micro wealth building. Members will be able to access exclusive tools and knowledge that are designed to assist in growing personal wealth. The Wealth Mining initiative will be strictly educational and will not direct or instruct participants on which investments to make or choose from.

The Company has also reached an agreement with Sharing Services Global Corporation (SHRG), the master franchisor of Hapi Cafe in North America, to be Hapi Cafes exclusive franchisee in New York State. The Company intends to open multiple Hapi Cafe concepts in New York State over the next 18 months. Hapi Cafe will be a meeting place for Hapi Wealth Builder members to meet and hold events. Hapi Wealth Builder Members will also get to enjoy additional benefits when visiting Hapi Cafe, the Company plans to leverage Hapi Cafes presence within the State to promote and conduct events.

The Company is creating a first of its kind financial educational lifestyle platform that combines FinTech, crypto, personal wealth building, wellness, and nutrition. A first of its kind hybrid platform that incorporates FinTech, crypto, and physical retail that meets the increasingly diverse and complex needs of consumers to build health and wealth in the 21st Century.

In accordance with the Companys recent ventures, APM will be changing its name to American Wealth Mining Corporation; HIPH will remain as the Companys ticker symbol. This name change will allow the Company to market itself clearly on its new business offerings within Wealth Mining.

Ryan Fishoff, CEO of APM, commented, I am pleased to announce the Companys expansion into financial technology (FinTech) and physical retail. We are building a very unique and first of its kind platform that will create a financial lifestyle for consumers. After the Company made the transition to crypto mining, there were other areas of opportunity that could build wealth for consumers. Through our relationship with SHRG, we were able to develop a strategy that could better leverage the Companys network to maximize revenues and shareholder value. There are still a number of opportunities in the crypto space that we are pursuing; there are some attractive targets that we are excited about which could help bring substantial shareholder value. Bitcoin mining and crypto is just a part of the larger picture for American Wealth Mining as we look to combine these new and interesting sectors like crypto and FinTech into a platform that not only helps consumers sustain themselves (coffee/food) but train and enrich themselves for the long term. I look forward to unveiling more developments in this new strategy to shareholders in the coming weeks.

About Sharing Services Global Corporation

Sharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG), formerly Sharing Services Inc., is a publicly traded diversified company dedicated to maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition and development of innovative companies, products and technologies. The Sharing Services combined platform leverages the capabilities and expertise of various companies that market and sell products direct to the consumer. One of its primary divisions is Elevacity U.S., LLC a sales and marketing company based on utilization of independent contractors as the sales force. https://www.shrginc.com/

About Hapi Cafe Inc.

To transform the way people eat, work and live, Hapi Cafe combines healthy food, fitness, business activities and leisure all in one location. We strive to create a conducive environment where everyone can gather to enjoy a healthy meal, work, keep fit and plan for the next travel destination. https://www.hapicafes.com/

About Hapi Wealth Inc.

Hapi Wealth Builder program's goal is to mentor and empower the masses to grow their wealth like an affluent investor, leading them to financial independence and creating Millionaires along the way. We aim to help people in their pursuit of Health, Wealth and Happiness. https://www.hapiwealthbuilder.com/

About American Premium Mining Corporation

American Premium Mining Corporation (APM) is focused on supporting the blockchain ecosystem through proof-of-work and proof-of-stake mining of the leading cryptocurrencies. APM is at the forefront of the digital finance revolution.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that are often difficult to predict, are beyond our control, and which may cause results to differ materially from expectations. For a discussion of the most significant risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, please review our filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on our expectations as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information

American Premium Mining Corporation

12777 Jefferson Boulevard

Building D

Playa Vista, CA 90066

Email:
Las Vegas, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - Bhang Inc.(CSE: BHNG) (OTCQB: BHNGF) ("Bhang" or the "Company") has announced the resignation of President, CEO, and Board Member, Jamie L. Pearson, who has been with the Company since 2015 and has served as President/CEO of the award-winning brand since 2019.

Under Ms. Pearson's leadership, Bhang transformed from a California favorite into a global cannabis household name. She launched the brand into six (6) US states including a multi-state deal with Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) and ushered Bhang into Canada where it has been the #1 and #2 top-selling cannabis-infused chocolate for over two years. Fluent in German, Pearson also expanded the CBD division into nine European countries, further amplifying the brand's reach. Twice named to High Times' list of most influential women in cannabis, Pearson secured celebrity partnerships for Bhang with Cypress Hill, DJ Muggs, the Soul Assassins, Jim Belushi and The Blues Brothers.

Pearson remarked, "My tenure at Bhang has been unbelievably rewarding. I've had the pleasure of meeting and working with so many incredible people and feel overwhelming gratitude for all the success I experienced. It is a testament to the strength of what Bhang's founders built and the passion, dedication, and inspired work of our team day in day out. As Bhang has grown, my vision has not been consistent with that of our largest shareholder. As such, it is time for me to move on. I leave extremely proud of what I accomplished and want to thank those in the organization who supported me."

Executive Chairman of the Board, Mr. Graham Simmonds added, "Jamie's dogged persistence and transformational work will outlast her. We respect her decision and wish her much success in the future. As an active Board member over the past two years, I have been closely involved with the Company and its management, and this will allow me to guide the Company forward as we seek to find a replacement CEO."

A nationwide search for Pearson's replacement is expected to begin shortly. In the meantime, Mr. Graham Simmonds will assume the role of interim CEO. Mr. Simmonds is also the Chairman of Plant-Based Investment Corp. (CSE: PBIC), Bhang's largest shareholder. In addition to holding multiple Board seats on Canadian-listed publicly traded companies, Mr. Simmonds is also an experienced CEO and entrepreneur.

About Bhang

Bhang (CSE: BHNG) (OTCQB: BHNGF) is committed to making the fairly enjoyable ridiculously fun. For over a decade Bhang has delivered exceptional sensory experiences to consumers through its extensive portfolio of over 50 master-chef-created cannabis, CBD and terpene products including gourmet chocolates, Bhang High Roller Pre-Roll and Hempsticks". Bhang's highly-awarded chocolates are among the top-selling edibles in 7 U.S. states and Canada. Bhang's CBD products are globally distributed and are known for being safe, efficacious and delicious. Learn more at www.bhangnation.com and purchase our high-quality CBD products at www.bhangcbd.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Company's securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or the securities laws of any state of/the United States/and may not be offered or sold within/the United States or to any "U.S. Person"/(as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

INVESTORS CONTACT:

J. Graham Simmonds

Executive Chairman of the Board

Bhang Inc.

(416) 843-2881

[email protected]

JAMIE PEARSON'S CONTACT:

(406) 208-3488

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133379
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2022) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Atlanta-based Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC and its portfolio manager Ashish Negandhi for misleading investors about the firms fix-and-flip loan securitizations delinquency rates. Angel Oak and Negandhi have agreed to settle charges and pay a penalty of $1.75 million and $75,000, respectively.

According to the SECs order, in March 2018, Angel Oak raised $90 million through a first-of-its-kind securitization of loans made to borrowers for the purpose of purchasing, renovating, and selling residential properties, also known as fix-and-flip loans, which were originated by an Angel Oak-affiliated entity. The deal included a provision that would accelerate Angel Oaks obligation to return funds to certain investors if delinquencies reached a pre-defined threshold. Shortly after the deal closed, loan delinquency rates increased unexpectedly.

Concerned about the reputational and financial harm its securitization business would suffer from an early repayment, Angel Oak and Negandhi artificially reduced delinquency rates by improperly diverting funds ostensibly held to reimburse borrowers for renovations made to the mortgaged properties, to instead pay down outstanding loan balances. Because Angel Oak and Negandhi did not disclose these actions, the performance data regularly disseminated to investors provided an inaccurate view of the actual delinquency rates on the mortgages in the securitization pool as well as the securitizations compliance with the early repayment trigger.

Angel Oak and Negandhi failed to disclose the firms improper use of funds while continuing to issue larger securitizations, which painted a misleading picture for investors, said Osman Nawaz, Chief of the Division of Enforcements Complex Financial Instruments Unit. Firms must provide investors with full and accurate information regarding the performance of an investment, even after closing, to ensure the integrity of our markets.

The SECs order finds that Angel Oak and Negandhi violated the antifraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and that Angel Oak violated, and Negandhi caused Angel Oaks violation of, the antifraud provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Without admitting or denying the SECs findings, Angel Oak and Negandhi agreed to a cease-and-desist order, a censure, and the imposition of civil monetary penalties in the amounts referenced above.

The SECs investigation was conducted by Christina Adams and William Finkel with assistance from Karaz Zaki and Dan Nigro of the Enforcement Division and Adam Yonce and Connor Hurley of the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis. The investigation was supervised by Fuad Rana.


LSIGraph is excited to announce the launching of new features to help users rank their website and increase their organic traffic. The introduction of the new features is in line with LSIGraphs commitment to empowering its users to find the right keywords and to create content that ranks.



The overhauled LSIGraph has enhanced its algorithms and been fitted with modern machine learning & NLP models, which align with Googles recent core updates. These models can suggest more accurate keywords based on the intent and context of your target keyword.



On top of the enhancement of the core engines, the new LSIGraph upgrade also sees the introduction of brand new features and a complete revamp of the existing user experience. Some of the key improvements include:



Improved Keyword Research Dashboard

SERP analyzer - LSIGraph analyzes the top 20 pages to help their users replicate the strategies of top-ranking pages. By tuning the content to the standards of top-ranking pages, a page would stand a much better chance of ranking high on the SERP



Opportunity Score - LSIGraphs proprietary metric determines the traffic potential of a particular keyword by assessing the traffic and difficulty of ranking. It serves as the single metric to help their users pick the most rewarding keywords.



Automatic topic clustering - No more manually grouping related keywords into topics. LSIGraph groups semantically similar keywords automatically to help users build more context for particular topics.



A New Method Of Keyword Mapping

Keyword Mapper - Users can now drag and drop keywords in their project to visualize the relationship between their chosen keywords. This is particularly helpful in planning an effective website structure and content silo. A well-structured website will help both search engines and visitors navigate and understand a website better.



Real-time Content Score Analysis

Content Score analysis - using top-ranking pages as a benchmark, LSIGraph now provides real-time optimization suggestions. Optimization suggestions include adding more contextual keywords in a paragraph, stopping overusing a keyword, etc. This feature is introduced to take the guesswork of their users on-page SEO effort.



Users who want to check out the complete upgrades can check their webpage at https://lsigraph.com/.



Ive seen many beta-testers achieve amazing results with the new LSIGraph. To say that I am excited to launch the new LSIGraph would be an understatement. But this is not just it, we have more plans to come, and we will continue to make LSIGraph the leading semantic and contextual SEO tool. remarked Andy, the founder of LSIGraph.



The launch of the new update marks a new milestone for Andys overarching vision of helping users target the right keywords and rank top in Google search results. To celebrate the launch, LSIGraph is offering a limited-time deal.



About LSIGraph



Founded in 2015, LSIGraph is the leading semantic & contextual SEO tool focusing on the three cornerstones of SEO: targeting the right keyword, writing optimized content, and building contextually linked pages. With the newly upgraded feature sets, LSIGraph offers data-powered insights and solutions to help SEOs, and digital marketers climb the search ranking and drive unstoppable traffic. Today, more than 70,000 users across more than 100 countries have used LSIGraphs powerful tool to strategize and execute their SEO and marketing campaigns.

Contact Info:

Name: Sheldon W.

Email: Send Email

Organization: LSIGraph

Website: https://lsigraph.com



Release ID: 89079461

If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact [email protected] to notify us. We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.
LAVAL, Quebec, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC), and its gastroenterology business Salix Pharmaceuticals, today announced that, consistent with the company's July 28, 2022, press release, the U.S. District Court of Delaware has issued a decision in the matter of Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. et al v. Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Inc. finding certain XIFAXAN (rifaximin) 550 mg HE patents valid and infringed and certain XIFAXAN composition and IBS-D patents invalid. As previously stated, the Company will appeal this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and it expects an appeal decision to issue within 12 to 18 months.

To date, Norwich has not received tentative or final approval of its ANDA from the FDA. Unless and until FDA approves a revised Norwich ANDA that omits the XIFAXAN HE indication, and any injunction issued by the Court is modified, Norwich is not permitted to launch a generic equivalent of XIFAXIN.

About XIFAXAN

XIFAXAN (rifaximin) 550 mg tablets are indicated for the reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE) recurrence in adults and for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults.

About Salix

Salix Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest specialty pharmaceutical companies in the world committed to the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. For more than 30 years, Salix has licensed, developed and marketed innovative products to improve patients' lives and arm health care providers with life-changing solutions for many chronic and debilitating conditions. Salix currently markets its product line to U.S. health care providers through an expanded sales force that focuses on gastroenterology, hepatology, pain specialists and primary care. Salix is headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information about Salix, visit www.Salix.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Bausch Health

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BHC) is a global diversified pharmaceutical company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of products primarily in gastroenterology, hepatology, neurology, dermatology, international pharmaceuticals and eye health, through our approximately 90% ownership of Bausch + Lomb Corporation. With our leading durable brands, we are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. For more information, visit www.bauschhealth.com and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements about the future performance of Bausch Health, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "subject to" and variations or similar expressions, including statements about the Company's intentions to file an appeal with respect to, and take actions to vigorously defend, its intellectual property. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In particular, Bausch Health can offer no assurance as to the timing of any approval by the FDA of any ANDA or amended ANDA and as to the outcome of any appeal. Actual results are subject to other risks and uncertainties that relate more broadly to Bausch Health's overall business, including those more fully described in Bausch Health's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and detailed from time to time in Bausch Health's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bausch-health-to-appeal-xifaxan-patent-decision-to-us-court-of-appeals-for-the-federal-circuit-301603853.html

SOURCE Bausch Health Companies Inc.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Banco BBVA Argentina S.A. (NYSE; BYMA; MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR) today announced that it will report its Second Quarter 2022 results.

Earnings Release

Tuesday August 23, 2022Time: After market close

Conference Call

Wednesday, August 24, 2022Time: 12:00 p.m. Buenos Aires time  (11:00 a.m. EST)

Quiet Period

From Wednesday, August 10, through Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Executives

Mr. Ernesto Gallardo, Chief Financial OfficerMs. Ines Lanusse, Investor Relations OfficerMs. Belen Fourcade, Investor Relations

To participate, please dial in:

1-844-450-3851 (US Toll-Free)1-412-317-6373 (International)54-11-3984-5677 (Argentina)Web Phone: click here Conference ID: BBVAWebcast & Replay: click here

BBVA Argentina Investor Relations

[email protected]

ir.bbva.com.ar

About BBVA Argentina

Banco BBVA Argentina (NYSE, BYMA, MAE: BBAR; LATIBEX: XBBAR) is a subsidiary of the BBVA Group, the principal shareholder since 1996. In Argentina, it is one of the leading private financial institutions since 1886. Nationwide, Banco BBVA Argentina offers retail and corporate banking to a broad customer base, including: individuals, SME's, and large-sized companies.

Banco BBVA Argentina's purpose is to bring the age of opportunities to everyone, based on our customers' real needs, providing the best solutions, and helping them make the best financial decisions, through an easy and convenient experience. The institution rests in solid values: "Customer comes first, we think big and we are one team". At the same time, its responsible banking model aspires to achieve a more inclusive and sustainable society.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bbva-argentina-announces-second-quarter-2022-financial-results-schedule-301603571.html

SOURCE Banco BBVA Argentina S.A.
The study confirmed preliminary efficacy and safety of BBT-176 along with its treatment responses in advanced NSCLC patients

A patient with the C797S triple mutation showed up to 53 percent reduction in EGFR mutant allelic change

VIENNA and SEONGNAM, South Korea, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Biotherapeutics (KQ288330), a South Korean clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing novel drugs for cancer, fibrosis and inflammation, announced promising interim clinical data from its Phase I study of BBT-176, a fourth-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI). The data, presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2022 World Conference on Lung Cancer (IASLC WCLC 2022), show promising early evidence of efficacy and favorable tolerability in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The oral presentation delivered by Sun Min Lim, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine, discussed the correlation between molecular response and radiologic response in patient participants in the study. One patient with advanced NSCLC showing C797S triple mutations, confirmed as one of the partial response (PR) cases, showed up to 53 percent decrease of EGFR mutant allele frequency compared to the baseline. Data from the five patients who had been treated with BBT-176 over 100 days suggested that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis enabled with liquid biopsy may be useful not only in identifying those most likely to benefit from fourth-generation EGFR TKI treatments such BBT-176, but also monitoring therapeutic response with treatment of a fourth-generation EGFR TKI.

The study also confirmed the preliminary efficacy of BBT-176 in treating advanced NSCLC patients harboring an EGFR mutation who had previously been treated with at least one EGFR TKI. Adverse events were primarily low grade, with GI toxicities and skin rash being most common, necessitating dose modifications in some patients. The pharmacokinetic profile of BBT-176 was shown to be dose-proportional in the study.

As the study continues, investigators will explore the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) based on the overall safety, efficacy and tolerability information collected. Upon determination of the RP2D, investigators are expected to initiate the Phase 2 study next year.

Session and Presentation InformationTitle: BBT-176, a 4th-generation EGFR TKI, for Progressed NSCLC after EGFR TKI Therapy: PK, Safety and Preliminary Efficacy from Phase 1 StudySession Title: Overcoming Resistance to EGFR InhibitorsSession Number: MA07.09Presentation Session: August 8, 2022, 12:52 pm CETPresenting Author: Sun Min Lim, M.D., Ph.D., Yonsei University College of MedicineSession Discussant: Pasi A. Janne, M.D., Ph.D., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

About Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc.

Bridge Biotherapeutics Inc., based in the Republic of Korea, US, and China, is a publicly-traded, clinical-stage biotech company founded in 2015. Bridge Biotherapeutics is engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics, focusing on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs including ulcerative colitis, fibrotic diseases, and cancers. The company is developing BBT-401, a first-in-class Pellino-1 inhibitor for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, BBT-877, a novel autotaxin inhibitor for the treatment of fibrotic diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and BBT-176, a potent targeted cancer therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with C797S triple EGFR mutations.

About BBT-176

BBT-176 is under development as a novel, fourth-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) that inhibits the signaling pathway of EGFR with C797S containing triple mutations. In April 2021, the company initiated the dose escalation part of its Phase I/II trial, which is being conducted in three sites in the Republic of Korea. The study has been assessing the safety, tolerability, and anti-tumor efficacy of the drug candidate in a group of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. After determining the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), the dose expansion study will be initiated in both the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. It is estimated about 10,000 to 20,000 new NSCLC patients will be diagnosed each year with EGFR triple mutations by the mid-2030s. BBT-176 is currently the first-in-class, fourth-generation EGFR TKI candidate targeting C797S triple mutation variants. Bridge Biotherapeutics acquired the exclusive global license for BBT-176 from the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology (KRICT), a Korean government research institute, in 2018. The Phase I clinical study of BBT-176 was partially supported by the Korea Drug Development Fund (HN21C0859), which is funded by Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Ministry of Health and Welfare, of Republic of Korea.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bridge-biotherapeutics-presents-promising-interim-clinical-study-results-from-phase-1-study-of-bbt-176-at-wclc-2022-301603097.html

SOURCE Bridge Biotherapeutics, Inc.
MIAMI, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Elisa Juarez, ChenMed's first director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Melissa Spain, ChenMed's first-ever Brand Love Manager were both named to Ragan's Top Women in Communications Awards List for 2022. Ms. Juarez was recognized as a "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion," and Ms. Spain was named a "Rising Star."

"Two of our employees were honored (by Ragan Communications) for their commitment to inclusion and love," Stephanie Chen

Ragan's Top Women in Communications Awards celebrates the female communications professionals whose dedication and contributions to the communications industry are making a signicant impact in their day-to-day job and career, advancing the profession while accelerating growth for their organization.

Ms. Juarez' vision to create a culture of inclusion and create a sense of belonging at ChenMed helped earn her a spot on the Ragan's list. As a Latina leader, Elisa brings a unique approach to creating space for listening and giving a voice to team members. These insights paved the way for more inclusive company wide benefits including parental leave, and two additional paid holidays. Her efforts have led to the origination of a platform to honor and celebrate cultural moments and heritage months for team members across the country.

Ms. Spain's work is centered on love, a core value that is at the heart of ChenMed overall. As a member of the ChenMed culture team, her role is to inspire team members, patients, and communities by telling their stories, recognizing unsung heroes and building brand love. Some of the stories she played a role in elevating are ChenMed's emergency response to Hurricane Ida in New Orleans and ChenMed Cares, an employee relief program that allows team members in need to reach out for financial help and resources.

"We are so proud of Elisa and Melissa, and they work they do to help ChenMed team members feel a sense of belonging at work," said Stephanie Chen, chief legal and culture officer for ChenMed. "The fact that two of our employees were honored for their commitment to inclusion and love is a testament to the incredible talent we have serving our team members, our patients and our communities".

Ragan held a special award celebration on June 16 in New York City to recognize all the winners and their impressive work. The event featured a special keynote presentation from CBS Mornings' executive producer, Shawna Thomas.

About ChenMed

ChenMed, headquartered in Miami, is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that delivers the high-touch and personalized primary care Medicare-eligible seniors need to enjoy better health. The company operates more than 100 senior medical centers in 14 states. Named one of Fortune 2020 "Change the World" companies, a "Most Loved Workplace" by Newsweek Magazine, and a certified Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute, ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, JenCare Senior Medical Center and IntuneHealthTM. Thanks to its leading healthcare technology organization, CurityTM, ChenMed was recently named a "Best Place to Work in IT" by IDG's Insider Pro and ComputerWorld.

About Ragan Communications

Ragan Communications has been delivering trusted news, training and intelligence for more than 50 years to internal and external communicators, HR professionals and business executives via its conferences, webinars, training, awards, subscriptions and membership divisions. Its daily news sitesPRDaily.com and Ragan.comare read by more than 600,000 internal and external communicators monthly.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chenmed-culture-team-members-recognized-as-top-women-in-communications-by-ragans-301603044.html

SOURCE ChenMed
BEIJING, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 6, 2022, China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd. (CNMC) Deziwa Project was granted the "Special Award for Business Performance" by the Group, which demonstrates an honor for all the funded enterprises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), represented by CNMC Deziwa Project, and a microcosm of CNMC's strong development momentum in the DRC.

CNMC is one of the first enterprises in China's nonferrous metal mining industry to implement the "going out" strategy and make the most abundant international operational achievements. It is also one of the few China's central enterprises, whose headquarters President Xi Jinping has ever visited. In active response to the Belt and Road Initiative and the "going out" strategy, CNMC has endeavored to form a complete resource development industry chain dominated by copper outside of China in recent years.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and the DRC. Since its entry into the DRC market in 2004, CNMC has completed a total investment of about USD 1.5 billion, constructed 3 mines, 5 hydrometallurgy plants and 1 pyrometallurgical plant, and developed 28 construction engineering projects, covering the three pillar business segments: exploitation of mineral resources of non-ferrous metals copper and cobalt, construction engineering, and related trade.

In particular, the mining matrix of five enterprises funded by CNMC, namely, Somidez Mining Company, HEAD LIMITED, Lualaba Copper Smelter SAS, Congo International Mining Corporation and Kambove Mining SAS, has exerted good coupling effects and wild goose queue effects, becoming one of the most dynamic economies in the DRC.

Furthermore, CNMC has earnestly implemented the instructions from President Xi Jinping's speech at the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, actively upheld the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the approach of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, and advocated the sustainable development concepts of extensive consultation, joint contribution, win-win results, co-existence and shared benefits in the operation and development in the DRC. So far, the Group has created a large number of jobs locally. It has been actively performing its social responsibilities and public welfare undertakings, paying taxes and fees in accordance with the law, and making positive contributions to the promotion of socio-economic development of the DRC. All these efforts have gradually improved CNMC's international influence and brand value and made it a model bridge of friendship between China and the DRC.

At the Symposium on the Development of CNMC in the DRC held by the Chinese Embassy in DRC on September 28, 2021, Ambassador Zhu Jing said that, as a well-known Chinese central enterprise in the DRC, CNMC had grown into a competitive player in mining and smelting sectors, greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of the DRC. Zhu hoped that the enterprises funded by CNMC in the DRC would facilitate more cooperation between the two countries by further enhancing the international vision and the concept of openness and tolerance.

Contact: Wang KeliTel.: 0086-13886467228Email: [email protected]

Image: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875714/CNMC_Beijing.jpgImage: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1875715/Deziwa_Mining.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1863165/CNMC_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd (CNMC)
The state's largest dental insurance company celebrates legacy of quality service and community engagement

SHERWOOD, Ark., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Dental of Arkansas turns 40 this month. What started as a two-person, two-room office on August 2, 1982, in downtown Little Rock has grown into Arkansas' largest dental insurance provider over the years, serving more than 800,000 Arkansans today.

"We've officially reached middle age," said Dave Hawsey, Vice President, Marketing, at Delta Dental. "But you know what they say about 40 being fabulous. We've established a legacy that goes beyond providing quality insurance. We're proud to be known as a committed business and philanthropy partner who creates healthy smiles, healthy lives and healthy communities in Arkansas."

The company will celebrate its 40th anniversary on August 17 with an in-office party, a staff lunch and special employee surprises.

Delta Dental of Arkansas began on August 2, 1982, when President and CEO Earl Gladden and his wife, Grace, opened a two-room office in downtown Little Rock. Within its first year of business, the couple met its goal of signing 400 dentists. Today, Delta Dental operates the state's largest network of participating dental providers with more than 1,100 dentists.

The company serves more than 4,000 Arkansas-based businesses, 800,000 Arkansans and 2.4 million Americans nationwide. The initial staff of two has grown to more than 210 employees who work in the company's 65,000-square-foot headquarters building in Sherwood.

Through its Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, launched in 2008, Delta Dental provides resources and grant funding for oral health education and dental disease prevention and treatment to underinsured and underserved Arkansans. In the mid-2010s, it also funded a 7-year, $7 million community water fluoridation project, delivering optimally fluoridated water to 90 percent of Arkansanshigher than the national average. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company provided more than $27.4 million in relief funding to network dentists, clients and local partners, spreading smiles during tumultuous and uncertain times.

For its longtime impact, Delta Dental has won numerous awards and recognitions, such as the 2014 "Arkansas Business of the Year" Award and the distinction of being named one of the annual "Best Places to Work" in Arkansas for 10 consecutive years.

Key Moments from Delta Dental's 40-year history

1983: Signs its first major, statewide client with 4,000 members.

2000: Earl Gladden retires. Ed Choate succeeds him as President and CEO.

2004: After several office moves, constructs permanent headquarters building at 1513 Country Club Road in Sherwood.

2007: Starts offering individual/family insurance in addition to group insurance plus vision coverage.

2008: Launches the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation to provide statewide support to communities and nonprofit organizations for oral health education and dental disease prevention and treatment.

2008: Starts offering coverage for implants as one of the first dental insurance companies in the nation.

2011: In response to Act 197 of the Arkansas Legislature, pledges to fund the community water fluoridation of all Arkansas water systems serving 5,000 or more residents. The 7-year, $7 million project results in the delivery of optimally fluoridated tap water to more than 90% of Arkansans, higher than the national average of 75%.

2014: Wins "Arkansas Business of the Year" Award, Category III, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group.

2016: Synthesizes the company core values into 4 concepts: Act with Integrity; Focus on Community; Respect People, and Provide World-Class Service.

2017: Wins contract to become one of the two benefits providers of the Arkansas Medicaid dental program.

2018: Implements first-ever Medicare Advantage product.

2020: Provides more than $27.4 million in direct COVID-19 relief funding to network dentists, business clients, members and community partners.

2021: Ed Choate retires. Kristin Merlo succeeds him as President and CEO. She's only the third chief executive in the company's 40-year history.

2022: Named one of the "Best Places to Work" in Arkansas for the 10th consecutive year in the annual survey conducted by Arkansas Business Publishing Group, making Delta Dental one of only two Arkansas businesses with that distinction.

H2] Numerous Business Awards

2005-2010: 5-time annual Bronze or Silver winner of Governor's Family-Friendly Employer/ Governor's Work-Life Balance Award, presented by Arkansas Department of Human Services

2013-2022: 10-time annual winner of Best Places to Work in Arkansas Award, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group

2014 Arkansas Business of the Year" Award, Category III, presented by the Arkansas Business Publishing Group

2017: Outstanding Foundation (Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation), presented by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Arkansas Chapter

About Delta Dental of Arkansas

Delta Dental of Arkansas is the largest dental benefits provider in the state, helping more than 800,000 Arkansans keep their smiles healthy through commercial and Medicaid coverage. As a not-for-profit company, Delta Dental is committed to improving the oral health of Arkansans through the philanthropic efforts of its Foundation, which donated more than $3 million to support oral health education initiatives in the last three years. For more information, visit www.deltadentalar.com/.

Media Contact: Dave HawseyVice President, Marketing(c) 501-813-2315[email protected]www.deltadentalar.com

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SOURCE Delta Dental of Arkansas
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Institutional investors managing in excess of $20 billion have organized a group (the "Group") of holders of unsecured notes (the "Unsecured Notes") issued by certain subsidiaries of Endo International plc ("Endo" or the "Company"). As set forth in its June 27, 2022 press release, the Group is prepared to engage constructively with the Company on solutions for the benefit of all of its stakeholders, including its equity holders, creditors, employees and litigation claimants.

The Group emphasizes that a near-term bankruptcy filing is entirely unnecessary. Endo's recently announced second quarter results underscore this point while calling into question the Company's forecasting abilities. Indeed, the latest results demonstrate that the Company materially under-projected performance notwithstanding that, at the time of its guidance, the second quarter was nearly 40% complete. The table below summarizes the extent of Endo's outperformance.

Q2 '22 Guidance1 Q2 '22 Actual2 % Outperformance3 Revenue $500 mm - $525 mm $569 mm 11 % Adj. EBITDA4 $110 mm - $125 mm $160 mm 36 % Adj. EBITDA ex-IPRD5 $145 mm - $160 mm $225 mm 48 %

The Company's outperformance was not merely deep but also broad, as the Company under-forecast almost every element of its business. Its adjusted cost of goods sold and operating expenses were better than projected, and as highlighted below, each of its four segments generated more revenue than Endo had forecast.

Q2 '22 vs. Q1 '22 % Revenue Change Q2' 22 Guidance6 Q2' 22 Actual Branded Pharmaceuticals In-line to low single digit growth 7 % Sterile Injectables Low to mid 50's decline -49 % Generic Pharmaceuticals Low to high single digit decline 9 % International Pharmaceuticals Mid single digit decline 10 % Total Enterprise Low to mid 20's decline -13 %

As a result, Endo ended up producing nearly 50% more adjusted EBITDA ex-IPRD than it had projected. On an annualized basis, the miss translates into an approximately $300 million understatement. This is a substantial sum for Endo, which has a track record of handily beating guidance. In fact, the Company has exceeded the midpoint of its adjusted EBITDA guidance in each of the past four years, and it outperformed its adjusted EBITDA guidance in the first quarter of 2022 by nearly 25% even though it delivered this forecast with the quarter nearly two-thirds complete.7

Endo's consistent performance substantially in excess of its own projections necessarily calls into question the Company's forecasting abilities. In the Group's view, this raises serious further questions about the Company's choice to file for bankruptcy and its ability to consummate a plan of reorganization if it does file.

If the Company's second quarter performance is indicative of the go-forward business, the Groupwhich has already expressed substantial doubt about the need for a bankruptcyquestions how a filing can even be remotely justified. Moreover, the Group has reason to believe that Endo's second quarter performance may understate the earnings of the business. While substantially higher than Endo's forecast, the second quarter's adjusted EBITDA ex-IPRD of $225 million, or $900 million on an annualized basis, does not incorporate, among other things, (i) potential upside from Vasostrict from the Company's ongoing patent litigation and/or underlying product performance,8 (ii) potential growth of Qwo9 and (iii) recently announced cost cutting initiatives that the Company itself expects to deliver between $140 million to $160 million of annualized savings.10

As an additional matter, to the extent that the Company is using potential opioid liabilities as a reason for a bankruptcy filing, the Group believes that recent developments seriously undermine that justification as well. For one, as disclosed in its recent 10-Q, Endo has entered into a number of manageable out-of-court settlements in recent months.11 Moreover, Endo's peer, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., has just demonstrated that a comprehensive opioid settlement can be consummated outside of bankruptcy.12

In light of all of the above, the Group is increasingly perplexed and frustrated by the actions of the Company and its board of directors. Fortunately, it is not too late for the Company and its board to choose a different path and act in accordance with applicable fiduciary duties. The Group hopes that they do so, and remains willing to engage with the Company on potential alternatives.

As previously noted, in support of its efforts, the Group has retained White & Case LLP and GLC Advisors & Co., LLC as legal and financial advisor, respectively. Holders of Unsecured Notes who wish to learn more about the Group and its objectives are encouraged to reach out to [email protected] and/or [email protected].

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements that include the word "expects." Such statements reflect current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. The statements are based on assumptions, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements.

1 Endo International plc, Endo Reports First-Quarter 2022 Financial Results (May 5, 2022).

2 Endo International plc, Endo Reports Second-Quarter 2022 Financial Results (Aug. 9, 2022).

3 Outperformance is relative to the midpoint of guidance.

4 Effective January 1, 2022, Endo's adjusted EBITDA includes acquired in-process research and development charges, which were previously excluded under the Company's non-GAAP accounting policy.

5 Adjusted EBITDA excluding in-process research and development adds back in-process research and development charges. The adjusted EBITDA guidance included $35 million of such charges whereas actual results included $65 million. The initial $35 million is attributable to Endo's acquisition of six development-stage ready-to-use injectable product candidates from Nevakar Injectables, Inc., and the incremental $30 million is on account of payments to Taiwan Liposome Company, Ltd. to commercialize TLC599. See Endo International plc, Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 9, 2022).

6 Endo International plc, Q1 2022 Earnings Report (May 5, 2022).

7 Specifically, for 2018, Endo initially guided to between $1,200 million and $1,300 million of adjusted EBITDA and delivered $1,357 million; for 2019, it initially guided to between $1,240 million and $1,340 million of adjusted EBITDA and delivered $1,309 million; for 2020, it initially guided to between $1,220 million and $1,320 million of adjusted EBITDA and delivered $1,396 million; and for 2021, it initially guided to between $1,120 million and $1,280 million of adjusted EBITDA and delivered $1,481 million. Further, for the first quarter of 2022, it guided to between $240 million and $260 million of adjusted EBITDA and delivered $311 million. For applicable guidance, see Endo International plc, Q4 2017 Earnings Report (Feb. 27, 2018); Endo International plc, Q4 2018 Earnings Report (Feb. 28, 2019); Endo International plc, Q4 and FY 2019 Earnings Report (Feb. 26, 2020); Endo International plc, Q4 and FY 2020 Earnings Report (Feb. 25, 2021); Endo International plc, Q4 and FY 2021 Earnings Report (Feb. 28, 2022). For actual results, see Endo International plc, Endo Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full Year 2018 Financial Results (Feb. 28, 2019); Endo International plc, Endo Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Financial Results (Feb. 26, 2020); Endo International, plc, Endo Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Financial Results and Introduces 2021 Financial Guidance (Feb. 25, 2021); Endo International plc, Endo Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2021 Financial Results (Feb. 28, 2022); Endo International plc, Endo Reports First-Quarter 2022 Financial Results (May 5, 2022).

8 The Company has appealed a district court ruling of non-infringement by Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Oral argument for this appeal was held before the Federal Circuit in July 2022. See Endo International plc, Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 9, 2022), at 32. Furthermore, the Company indicated on its first quarter 2022 earnings call that second quarter Vasostrict results would include a one-time negative $25 million de-stocking impact. See Endo International plc, Q1 2022 Earnings Call (May 6, 2022), at 4. Additionally, on the same earnings call, the Company touted its recently launched ready-to-use formulation of Vasostrict, highlighting that "while early in the launch, [it was] encouraged by the market conversion to the bottle and the positive feedback  from our customers to-date."

9 The Group believes, and recent management commentary suggests, that Qwo is currently generating a meaningful amount of negative EBITDA. See, e.g., Endo International plc, Q4 2021 Earnings Call (Mar. 1, 2022), at 7 (referencing a plan to "continuing to fund Qwo"); Endo International plc, Q1 2022 Earnings Call (May 6, 2022), at 2 (suggesting the use of cost savings to fund the Qwo clinical study). At a minimum, therefore, the Group believes that Endo will obtain an EBITDA uplift if it simply discontinues Qwo. More significantly, the Company still appears to believe that Qwo has substantial upside and has accordingly recently launched a study (APHRODITE-1) to assess and mitigate potential bruising and discoloration. See Endo International plc, Endo Aesthetics to Introduce New Clinical Study of Qwo at the Annual SCALE Meeting (May 5, 2022).

10 Specifically, as part of a restructuring initiative announced in November 2020, the Company expects to realize annualized pre-tax cash savings of approximately $85 million to $95 million by the first half of 2023. Endo International plc, Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 9, 2022), at 9. Additionally, in April 2022, the Company announced another restructuring initiative, expecting to realize incremental annualized pre-tax cash savings of approximately $55 million to $65 million by the second quarter of 2023. Id. at 10.

11 These include settlements with Arkansas for $9.75 million, Mississippi for $9 million and the City and County of San Francisco for an initial payment of $5 million and subsequent payments of $500,000 a year over ten years. Endo International plc, Quarterly Report (Form 10-Q) (Aug. 9, 2022), at 28.

12 See Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Teva Reports Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results (July 26, 2022) (announcing an agreement in principle on the primary financial terms of a nationwide settlement)

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SOURCE White & Case LLP
Joshua Gelfand Expands Firm's Employee Benefits Practice

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Joshua Gelfand, an experienced executive compensation and ERISA-focused attorney, has joined Troutman Pepper's Employee Benefits + Executive Compensation practice in New York as a partner. Gelfand joins the firm from Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.

"Josh brings a breadth and depth of experience in executive compensation and ERISA matters that public and private companies, including private equity companies, greatly appreciate," said Partner Joan Arnold, who leads the firm's Tax and Benefits Practice Group. "He is a dynamic addition to the team."

"We are delighted to welcome Josh to the firm. His expertise in executive compensation and ERISA matters is in demand by our clients here in New York and across the country," said Steven Khadavi, Troutman Pepper's New York office managing partner.

Gelfand advises clients on the compensation, benefits, and employment-related aspects of domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, and finance transactions. He also assists clients with the design, implementation, and administration of equity and incentive compensation plans, including carried interest and "phantom" carried interest plans, the negotiation of executive employment, severance and other compensation arrangements, and public disclosures relating to executive compensation.

"Troutman Pepper has a nationally recognized Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice that I am excited to partner with to continue to deliver creative solutions for clients," Gelfand said. "The firm's values and collaborative culture make it a great fit for my practice."

Gelfand earned his JD from University of Pennsylvania Law School and his bachelor's degree from State University of New York at Binghamton.

Recognized by Chambers USA, as a leading law firm in Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Troutman Pepper has extensive experience advising clients on the complex issues arising in connection with the design and administration of employee compensation and benefit plans and arrangements. The firm crafts solutions that address myriad governing laws, including ERISA, tax, and securities laws. Troutman Pepper also partners with clients on employee compensation and benefit plan matters through various business stages: from startup to going public (and going private again), during bankruptcies, reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and in the midst of hiring and right-sizing.

About Troutman Pepper

Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm's litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients' most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com

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SOURCE Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
MADISON, Wis., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation of Madison, WI announced today that three top mortgage industry executives are joining its ranks as part of an aggressive expansion of Fairway's production group. Privately-held Fairway is moving to grow its team of originators even as other mortgage companies are downsizing in the face of contracting mortgage markets.

Joining Fairway in recent weeks are mortgage veterans Scott Bristol, Brian Chick, and John Lowe.

Bristol joins Fairway as SVP, Sales and Recruiting, and was with PrimeLending for eight years, serving as President from 2014-17, overseeing a volume increase from $4 billion to 15 billion. As SVP of National Production for Flagstar Bank from 2018-21, Bristol helped return the lender to profitability as volume increased from $4 billion to 11 billion.

Chick will serve as SVP, Area Manager for Fairway. He spent the past 12 years at PrimeLending, most recently as Regional Manager. Chick's team funded $2.3 billion in loans in 2021.

Lowe joins Fairway as SVP, Division Manager, and arrives after an eight year stint at RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation where he most recently was Division Manager SVP, funding more than $1 billion last year with his division ranking #1 in financial performance in the company.

"We're pleased to welcome Scott, Brian and John to Fairway, as well as many others," said Fairway CEO Steve Jacobson. "We have increased the number of our originators by 30% over the past year."

"Fairway was my first phone call after leaving Prime," said Bristol, the former PrimeLending President. "Fairway's response speed, unbelievable culture and its entrepreneurial model made it the place I wanted to be."

A year ago, Fairway had 1,864 Loan Officers on its team. Since then, the mortgage bank has added LOs every month, and it now employs 2,427 LOs serving communities across the country.

About Fairway Independent Mortgage CorporationFairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (NMLS #2289) is a full-service mortgage lender based in Madison, Wisconsin and Carrollton, Texas, with more than 9,000 team members and 700 branches nationwide. Fairway funded $72.5 billion in 2021. For more information go to fairway.com.

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SOURCE Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac) has declared a third quarter dividend of $0.95 per share for each of Farmer Mac's three classes of common stock  Class A Voting Common Stock (NYSE: AGM.A), Class B Voting Common Stock (not listed on any exchange), and Class C Non-Voting Common Stock (NYSE: AGM). The quarterly dividend will be payable on September 30, 2022 to holders of record of common stock as of September 15, 2022.

Farmer Mac's board of directors has also declared a dividend on each of Farmer Mac's five classes of preferred stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share of 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (NYSE: AGM.PR.C), $0.35625 per share of 5.700% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D (NYSE: AGM.PR.D), $0.359375 per share of 5.750% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E (NYSE: AGM.PR.E), $0.328125 per share of 5.250% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series F (NYSE: AGM.PR.F), and $0.3046875 per share of 4.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (AGM.PR.G), is for the period from but not including July 17, 2022 to and including October 17, 2022. These preferred stock dividends will be payable on October 17, 2022 to holders of record of those classes of preferred stock as of October 3, 2022.

About Farmer MacFarmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of capital for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation's secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac's customers benefit from its low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. Additional information about Farmer Mac is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.

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SOURCE Farmer Mac
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GenNx360 Capital Partners ("GenNx360"), a New York City-based private equity firm investing in middle market business-to-business companies, in partnership with the management team of ITsavvy LLC ("ITsavvy" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce its investment in the Company.

ITsavvy is an Addison, Illinois-based technology solutions provider that delivers frictionless IT experiences to clients across multiple segments and industries. ITsavvy leverages the power of its partner ecosystem to design, develop and deliver technology infrastructure solutions that accelerate business outcomes on behalf of its clients. The Company's expansive portfolio of 4 million+ SKUs and diversity of relationships across suppliers and clients of various sizes and sectors allows ITsavvy to deliver end-to-end solutions nationwide.

Munu Gandhi, currently President and COO, will continue to provide leadership to the Company as its CEO. "Since our founding in 2004, ITsavvy has been a client-centric firm, focused on providing thought leadership around the products and solutions required to deliver their business outcomes. Through the years, we have developed an industry-leading platform that has enabled us to serve clients across multiple segments and industries. Today is an exciting day in our journey with the announcement of our partnership with GenNx360. GenNx360 brings thought leadership, deep operational expertise, and financial resources that will enable ITsavvy to evolve our platform to deliver enhanced solutions to our clients and accelerate our growth," Gandhi stated.

Ron Blaylock the GenNx360 Founder & Managing Partner who led the transaction, stated, "ITsavvy represents a strong platform in an attractive industry with tremendous whitespace and demonstrates GenNx360's continued momentum and portfolio diversification. The Company is led by an impressive management team who has built an industry-leading platform with exciting organic and inorganic growth characteristics. We look forward to supporting the ITsavvy team in continuing the execution of their growth strategy."

312 Investments served as financial advisor and Piccione, Keeley & Associates, Ltd served as legal counsel to ITsavvy. Morrison Cohen LLP served as legal counsel to GenNx360.

About GenNx360 Capital Partners

GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on acquiring middle market business-to-business companies. GenNx360 invests in companies with proven and sustainable business models in expanding industries, with the objective of implementing value-enhancing operational improvements to accelerate growth, deliver efficiencies and generate strong financial returns. Target industries include business & industrial services, automation & industrial technology, packaging products, industrial machinery and components, equipment services, environmental services, and food ingredients/equipment/services. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York City. www.gennx360.com

About ITsavvy

ITsavvy is one of the fastest growing resources for integrated IT products and technology solutions in the United States. Combining a comprehensive value-added reseller business with industry-leading IT solutions, ITsavvy is a single-source, end-to-end IT partner that strives to continuously deliver peace of mind to its clients. www.itsavvy.com

For media inquiries about this press release, please contact:Carmen Rojas, Director of Investor RelationsGenNx360 Capital PartnersEmail: [email protected]Tel: 212.257.6772

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SOURCE GenNx360 Capital Partners
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hagerty (HGTY), an automotive lifestyle brand and a leading specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Broad Arrow Group, which specializes in the transactional segments of the collector car market.

Earlier this year, Hagerty acquired approximately 40 percent equity ownership in Broad Arrow Group (Broad Arrow) as a centerpiece of its automotive Marketplace strategy, designed to provide consumers new trust-based platforms for buying, selling and financing collectible cars.

Hagerty is now acquiring the remaining 60 percent of Broad Arrow for $64.8 million in an all-stock transaction, with an expected closing date of August 16, 2022.

"In addition to being trusted experts in their field, the Broad Arrow Group team shares our ethos of excellence when it comes to customer experience, so we are a natural fit," said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. "We expect our additional investment in Broad Arrow to enhance our growth and profitability over time, as we intend to rapidly scale this part of our overall business."

The live and online collector car auction industry, Hagerty noted, is a substantial financial opportunity for the company. In the last 12 months ending June 30, 2022, Hagerty saw its members buy and sell more than 300,000 collectible cars for nearly $12 billion in value. The Broad Arrow acquisition will provide immediate growth opportunities in a compelling adjacency to the Hagerty ecosystem of products and services serving the vast collectible car market and enthusiasts around the world.

"After working together for a few months, we saw the compelling value proposition for the two organizations to fully integrate," said Kenneth Ahn, CEO of Broad Arrow Group. "We look forward to serving the collectible car community in the years to come as a part of Hagerty's comprehensive ecosystem of products and services."

Hagerty Marketplace features an easy-to-use proprietary automotive classified platform that connects buyers and sellers. Marketplace also provides access to Hagerty's portfolio of automotive-focused offerings, including Hagerty Media and Hagerty Valuation Tools. In April 2022, Hagerty also acquired Speed Digital, an industry leading provider of cloud-based technology solutions for dealers, auction houses, collectors and enthusiasts.

Broad Arrow will host its first live auction in Monterey, California, August 18th in conjunction with Hagerty's Motorlux event (formerly McCall's Motorworks Revival) located at the Monterey Jet Center. The auction will feature 90 exceptional motorcars within the grounds of this spectacular event, kicking off Monterey Car Week in grand style.

Broad Arrow founders and industry veterans Kenneth Ahn, Alain Squindo, Ian Kelleher, Donnie Gould, Barney Ruprecht, Alexander Weaver, David Swig, Karsten Le Blanc, Ramsey Potts, Madeline Baker and Mike Mortorano, along with their colleagues, will become a part of the Hagerty team as part of the deal, and Kenneth Ahn will continue to lead the team as President of Hagerty Marketplace.

About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY)

Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty's purpose is to save driving and car culture for future generations and its mission is to build a global business to fund that purpose. Hagerty is an automotive enthusiast brand offering integrated membership products and programs as well as a specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, DriveShare, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty Media, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social, The Amelia, the Concours d'Elegance of America, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, the California Mille, Motorlux, the Hagerty Drivers Foundation and more. For more information on Hagerty, please visit www.hagerty.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more information, visit newsroom.hagerty.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect our current intentions, expectations, or beliefs regarding the business. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and may be outside of our control. Some of the factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by our forward-looking statements include: (i) our ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the subject of this press release; (ii) our ability to compete effectively within our industry and attract and retain members; and (iii) the other risks and uncertainties listed in our Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 24, 2022. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information included in our other press releases, reports and other filings with the SEC. Understanding the information contained in those filings is important in order to fully understand our reported financial results and our business outlook for future periods. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Hagerty
CLEVELAND, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE: HY) announced that Kenneth C. Schilling, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, intends to retire from the Company effective December 31, 2022, after a 31-year career with Hyster-Yale and its predecessor parent company, NACCO Industries. In the context of this retirement, the Board of Directors has appointed Scott A. Minder, currently the Vice President  Treasurer and Investor Relations of ATI Inc., to succeed Mr. Schilling as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer effective August 29, 2022. At that time, Mr. Schilling will become Senior Vice President  Special Financial Advisor to the Chairman to help ensure a seamless transition until his retirement date.

During Mr. Schilling's tenure as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, he has been a key member of the Hyster-Yale senior management team. He has directed important strategic financial initiatives, including guiding Hyster-Yale through its spin off from NACCO Industries in September 2012. Further he has been an important influence on enabling the Company to best leverage its resources for investments in the people, products and processes that are setting the path for the Company's long-term growth. Mr. Schilling's service to the Company over the past 31 years has been outstanding and the senior leadership team is grateful that Mr. Schilling will lend his experience and expertise to ensuring a successful transition of the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer role to Mr. Minder.

Mr. Minder most recently served as Vice President  Treasurer and Investor Relations of ATI Inc. since June 2018, having previously served as Vice President, Investor Relations since joining ATI in June 2017. Previously he worked for PPG Industries from 2009 to 2017 in various financial roles, including Director, Investor Relations, Global Business Controller  Industrial Coatings, Packaging Coatings and CFO-Automotive OEM Coatings. Prior to joining PPG Industries in 2009, Mr. Minder was CFO for the automotive division and Director, Global Quality at Penske Logistics. Mr. Minder also had a distinguished 11-year career with General Motors that spanned several positions of increasing responsibility within the finance function, including roles in manufacturing, marketing and corporate locations, culminating in investor relations. He has a B.S. in Management from Kettering University and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University.

In his role as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Mr. Minder will oversee Hyster-Yale's finance, investor relations, tax and treasury functions.

Mr. Minder's selection is the outcome of an in-depth process to ensure that Mr. Schilling's successor has an extensive background in financial leadership, including treasury and process improvement, as well as financial oversight and participation in the Company's strategic initiatives. Mr. Minder's expertise makes him an outstanding successor as Hyster-Yale's next CFO and Treasurer. His breadth of financial expertise and background as a strong business leader, particularly in the automotive industry, is expected to serve the Company well as it continues to invest in its long-term growth strategy.

About Hyster-Yale Materials Handling

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, offers a broad array of solutions to meet the specific materials handling needs of customers' applications. The Company's wholly owned operating subsidiary, Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services a comprehensive line of lift trucks and aftermarket parts marketed globally primarily under the Hyster and Yale brand names. Subsidiaries of Hyster-Yale Group include Bolzoni S.p.A., a leading worldwide producer of attachments, forks and lift tables marketed under the Bolzoni, Auramo and Meyer brand names, and Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, an alternative-power technology company focused on fuel cell stacks and engines. Hyster-Yale Group also has significant joint ventures in Japan (Sumitomo NACCO) and in China (Hyster-Yale Maximal). For more information about Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, visit the Company's website at www.hyster-yale.com.

***

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SOURCE Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO and SUZHOU, China, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovent Biologics, Inc. ("Innovent") (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases, announces that the primary endpoint was met in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT 05003531) of picankibart (R&D code: IBI112), a recombinant anti-interleukin 23p19 subunit antibody injection, in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

This study (CIBI112A201) was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of picankibart under various administration in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. A total of 250 subjects were randomized 1:1:1:1:1 to receive 50 mg (once at week 0, 4, then every 12 weeks), 100mg (once at week 0, 4, then every 12 weeks), 100mg (once at week 0, 4, then every 8 weeks), 200mg (once at week 0, 4, then every 12 weeks) of picankibart or placebo. The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of subjects who achieved a 90% improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) at week 16 (PASI 90) and the total study period is 52 weeks. To date, a total of 245 subjects (98.0%) have completed the primary endpoint at week 16, and a total of 236 subjects (94.4%) have completed the visit at week 28.

In terms of efficacy, 52.0%~54.9% of the subjects achieved PASI 90 after picankibart treatment at week 16, which was significantly higher than that in the placebo group and reached the primary endpoint, in addition, the proportions of subjects who achieved PASI 75 and PASI 100 were also significantly higher than that in the placebo group (all P-values0.001). The study results through 28 weeks showed a long-term efficacy of picankibart, with 61.2%~72.5% of the subjects who received picankibart achieving PASI 90, 78.4%~88.0% of the subjects achieved PASI 75, and in one of the groups received picankibart, about 40.0 % of subjects achieved complete skin lesions clearance (PASI 100).

In terms of safety, picankibart is generally well tolerated, and no new safety signals occurred compared with previous clinical studies. The overall safety profile is similar to other IL-23p19 mAbs. The most frequently reported (incidence 10%) treatment-emergent adverse events were upper respiratory tract infection with mild to moderate severity.

In addition, we observed a significant increase from baseline in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of subjects treated with each dose of picankibart compared to placebo (all P-values0.0001).

Clinical study results showed that 50-200mg picankibart administered every 12 or 8 weeks significantly improved the skin lesions and quality of life of subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, demonstrating the significant improvement effect at long-dose interval. It is worth noting that, at the 16-week primary endpoint assessment, subjects received only two administrations, significantly less than other similar biologics. Moreover, continued improvement in efficacy across the picankibart treatment was observed after reaching the primary endpoint (up to 28 weeks), demonstrating the potential sustained advantage of long interval dosing. The study period is 52 weeks (one year), and currently, subjects in the placebo group have been treated with IBI112, and the dosing and follow-up of the study are ongoing. Full data on the study will be published at future academic conferences or peer-reviewed journals.

Professor Jianzhong Zhang of Peking University People's Hospital, the principal investigator of the study, stated, "Psoriasis is a life-long disease, which has a huge impact on the physical and mental health and quality of life, while the current traditional treatment is not ideal. We are pleased to find significant clinical benefit and improved quality of life in subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in the phase 2 clinical study of picankibart. Meanwhile, picankibart also shows potential advantages in long dosing intervals and long-term efficacy. I am confident and looking forward to the success of its upcoming phase 3 study, and hope it will provide an alternative treatment option for Chinese psoriasis patients."

Dr. Lei Qian , Vice President of Clinical Development of Innovent, stated: "We are happy that phase 2 study of picankibart in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis achieved primary clinical endpoint. As a new generation of IL-23p19 target drug, picankibart shows clear advantages in the long-dose interval and long-term efficacy. The dosing frequency is only 5 times annually, and it shows a great potential for both efficacy and safety, and could be offered as a more friendly treatment option compared to the current ones on the market whose dosing frequency is 7-16 times annually. Currently, there is no IL-23p19 target drug independently developed by Chinese pharmaceutical companies in the domestic market. We are greatly encouraged by the results of good efficacy, safety and tolerability of picankibart in the phase 2 clinical study. Based on this, we are confident and will actively advance the phase 3 clinical study of picankibart in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and we plan to optimize the dosing regimen scientifically based on quantitative pharmacology to further improve efficacy, and synchronize the use of auto-injector in the phase 3 clinical study. We are striving to provide more convenient, user-friendly and effective treatment options for patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis as soon as possible and to fulfill our mission of providing high-quality innovative biopharmaceutical products that are accessible to patients."

About Picankibart (IBI112) Picankibart (IBI112) is a monoclonal antibody independently developed by Innovent, with independent intellectual property rights. This product specifically binds to IL-23p19 subunit, thereby preventing IL-23 from binding to cell surface receptors, resulting in the inhibition of the IL-23 receptor-mediated signaling pathway. Preclinical data demonstrated that IBI112 has a clear target and well-elucidated mechanism of action and significant anti-inflammatory effect. Further, good safety and tolerability have been verified in the phase 1 clinical study. At present, the phase 2 clinical studies of IBI112 in the indications of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and ulcerative colitis are ongoing, and the primary clinical study endpoint has been met in the phase 2 clinical study of psoriasis, suggesting that it may provide a more effective treatment option for patients with psoriasis or other autoimmune diseases.

About Psoriasis Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory and systemic disease mediated by both genetic and environmental factors, which can occur in all age groups with no gender preference. The typical clinical presentation includes scaly erythema or plaque with non-infections, localized or widespread distribution. It is a life-long noninfectious condition, which is very difficult to treat. Psoriasis can be classified into psoriasis vulgaris (including guttate psoriasis and plaque psoriasis), pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis and arthropathic psoriasis. Approximately, 80~90% of patients have plaque psoriasis, and nearly 30% of the cases are moderate and severe. There are significant differences in the prevalence of psoriasis around the world, with more than 6 million patients in China. At present, in China, the main systemic treatments include methotrexate (MTX), cyclosporine A, retinoic acids and biological agents. Since 2019, psoriasis treatment in China has gradually entered the era of biological agents.

About Innovent

Inspired by the spirit of "Start with Integrity, Succeed through Action," Innovent's mission is to develop, manufacture and commercialize high-quality biopharmaceutical products that are affordable to ordinary people. Established in 2011, Innovent is committed to developing, manufacturing and commercializing high-quality innovative medicines for the treatment of oncology, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major diseases. On October 31, 2018, Innovent was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code: 01801. HK.

Since its inception, Innovent has developed a fully integrated multi-functional platform that includes R&D, CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls), clinical development and commercialization capabilities. Leveraging the platform, the company has built a robust pipeline of 34 valuable assets in the fields of cancer, autoimmune, metabolic, ophthalmology and other major therapeutic areas, among them, 7 varieties were selected for the national "Major New Drug Creation" special project, 7 products approved for marketing in China  TYVYT (sintilimab injection), BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection), Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor) and olverembatinib (BCR-ABL TKI) and Cyramza (ramucirumab), 3 asset under NMPA NDA review, 4 assets in Phase 3 or pivotal clinical trials, and an additional 20 molecules in clinical studies.

Innovent has built an international team with advanced talent in high-end biological drug development and commercialization, including many global experts. The company has also entered into strategic collaborations with Eli Lilly and Company, Sanofi, Adimab, Incyte, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and other international partners. Innovent strives to work with many collaborators to help advance China's biopharmaceutical industry, improve drug availability and enhance the quality of the patients' lives. For more information, please visit: www.innoventbio.com.

Note:

TYVYT (Sintilimab Injection) is not an approved product in the United States.

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection), HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection), and SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection) are not approved products in the United States.

TYVYT (sintilimab injection, Innovent)

BYVASDA (bevacizumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

HALPRYZA (rituximab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

SULINNO (adalimumab biosimilar injection, Innovent)

Pemazyre (pemigatinib oral inhibitor, Incyte Corporation). Pemazyre was discovered by Incyte Corporation and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

CYRAMZA (ramucirumab, Eli Lilly). Cyramza was discovered by Eli Lilly and licensed to Innovent for commercialization in Mainland China.

Disclaimer:

1. This indication is still under clinical study and hasn't been approved in China.

2. Innovent does not recommend the use of any unapproved drug/indication.

3. The clinical study is ongoing, safety and efficacy profiles have not been fully established.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Innovent, are intended to identify certain of such forward-looking statements. Innovent does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly.

These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections and understandings of the management of Innovent with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Innovent's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Innovent's competitive environment and political, economic, legal and social conditions.

Innovent, the Directors and the employees of Innovent assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained in this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turn out to be incorrect.

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SOURCE Innovent Biologics
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has awarded a research team led by Dan Merenstein, MD, professor of family medicine at Georgetown's School of Medicine and professor of human science at the School of Health and Nawar M. Shara, PhD, director of Center of Biostatistics, Informatics and Data Science (CBIDS) at the MedStar Health Research Institute, a $23.6 million research grant to study treatments for acute rhinosinusitis.

This study will examine treatments for acute rhinosinusitis and using smart devices for data collection.

Acute rhinosinusitis involves inflammation of the nose and sinus passages, most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms often include congestion, headaches, sinus pressure, facial pain, and a green/yellow nasal discharge. Together, the investigators will recruit more than 3,700 people diagnosed with acute rhinosinusitis to the largest clinical trial of its kind to study various treatment approaches. The randomized clinical trial will compare outcomes among treatments with antibiotics, nasal sprays such as intranasal corticosteroids (INCS), over-the-counter supportive treatment, or saline nasal irrigation (SNI). Some arms of the study will include a placebo.

"Acute rhinosinusitis leaves people feeling miserable and desperate for relief, and their care providers eager to help," says Dr. Merenstein, professor and director of research programs for Georgetown's Department of Family Medicine. "Unfortunately, in the absence of clinically proven treatments, providers often prescribe antibiotics. We want to know if there's a better way to treat patients and alleviate symptoms quicker."

In addition to exploring how to best improve treatment outcomes for patients, this study will also utilize several methods to collect data from participants, including voice-enabled devices like Amazon's Alexa EchoDot, in the hopes of facilitating and improving data collection accuracy with this technology.

"Given the scale of this study, we have the opportunity to learn more about how smart devices can help improve care, starting with how patients share information about their health with providers," said Dr. Shara, co-investigator for the study. "Using technology to strengthen the relationship between patient and provider is an exciting proposition but we should be rigorous in our pursuit to understand potential useability challenges." In recent years, Dr. Shara has led two other clinical trials where voice assistants were used for data collection and has specifically focused on recruiting participants from lower-resourced communities where technology access may have historically been low.

PCORI is an independent, nonprofit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers, and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions.

The study was selected for funding through a PCORI initiative to support large-scale, high-impact comparative effectiveness research trials in a multi-phase format allowing for testing and refinement of the study approach. The study will involve an initial feasibility phase to maximize the likelihood of full trial success. The study was selected through a highly competitive review process in which patients, caregivers, and other stakeholders joined scientists to evaluate the proposals.

The research collaboration also involves investigators from the University of Washington, UCLA, Virginia Commonwealth University, Penn State, and the University of Wisconsin.

This award has been approved pending completion of a business and programmatic review by PCORI staff and issuance of a formal award contract.

About MedStar Health

At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT valuesService, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamworkacross our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region's largest home health agency, we're committed to providing high-quality health care that's also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar HealthIt's how we treat people. Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.

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SOURCE MedStar Health
TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Researchers at NuraLogix, a global leader in HealthTech AI, announced today that they have developed AI models that can predict a person's risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertriglyceridemia and Hypertension. This is important because it will someday allow people to screen themselves using any device with a video camera such as a smartphone or tablet.

Researchers at the company trained their machine learning based models on the facial blood flow patterns of tens of thousands of subjects who had been diagnosed with the above conditions. All of the models predicted with a minimum AUC > 0.80. Compare this with the classic Framingham model for predicting cardiovascular disease which had an AUC in the range of 0.70.

"This technology is a disruptive tool for population health," said Dr. Keith Thompson, Primary Care Physician of over 30 years, and Chief Medical Officer at NuraLogix, "We live in an Era where 1/2 of the globe is without access to health care, and in both developed and underdeveloped countries, there are shortages of Human Health resources. Traditional medical encounters are time consuming and costly for most people. Tools like this allow us to democratize NCD screening globally to regions in need by moving away from traditional physician face to face encounters and laboratory services, by allowing screening through the ubiquitous technology of smart phones. Given the vast majority of people with metabolic risk factors are unaware they have a condition and may not have access to screening in its current forms, the technology from NuraLogix can literally change the global course of human health history."

"Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertriglyceridemia, Hypercholesterolemia, and Hypertension have commonalities which are often associated with metabolic syndrome. However, each of the above conditions have distinct characteristics of their own," said Dr. Naresh Vempala, Director of Research at NuraLogix, "What makes our touchless technology seminal is that our classifier models can extract hidden and unique information about each of these health risks through facial blood flow patterns and predict them with a high degree of accuracy. This is unprecedented in health AI."

About NuraLogix

NuraLogix are the creators of the world's first contactless blood pressure measurement technology. The company's patented technology can measure 30+ health and wellness parameters using Transdermal Optical Imaging (TOI), a patented technique developed by the company in which a conventional video camera is used to extract facial blood flow information from the human face. This is demonstrated in the company's groundbreaking app Anura and Anura Lite.

Disclaimers:

Note: In the United States, this product is for Investigational Use only. The performance characteristics of this product have not been established.

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SOURCE NuraLogix Corporation
16 ABMifying sessions, special events celebrate market-leading RollWorks and HubSpot partnership

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RollWorks is bringing ABM to INBOUND! Today, the account-based marketing (ABM) platform and division of NextRoll celebrated its powerful partnership with HubSpot and announced its presence at HubSpot INBOUND 22, September 6-9, 2022, in Boston. RollWorks has 16 inspiring sessions designed to help B2B teams ABMify their inbound strategies, as well as the first ever ABM Lounge.

16 ABMifying sessions, special events celebrate market-leading RollWorks and HubSpot partnership

"We're excited to have such a strong presence at INBOUND this year, which reflects our market-leading end-to-end partnership with HubSpot. Our integration drives account-focused organizations' strategies by enabling teams of all sizes to identify high-fit, high-intent accounts and buyers, reach them efficiently, and measure impact  truly democratizing ABM and illustrating the power of ABM and inbound marketing," said Mike Stocker, VP of Partnerships at RollWorks.

RollWorks ABM Lounge (Level 0, East Side of Boston Convention Center):

Inspire your marketing programs, optimize your inbound, and accelerate your impact. Stop by 8:30am - 4:00pm ET to check out the sessions and for your chance to win $25K in RollWorks advertising media credits! Custom design a screen-printed t-shirt or tote bag of your choice, pick up one of our limited-edition ABM hoodies, and grab a coffee and snacks. Schedule a meeting with an ABM expert and learn how to get started with ABM and RollWorks or optimize your ABM program. ABM Lounge special events:

Happy Hour: On Thursday, September 8th, from 5:30 - 7:00pm ET, come grab a custom Aperol Spritz or your drink of choice. RSVP for happy hour here.

Customizable Donuts & Bottomless Espresso: On Friday, September 9th, from 8:00 - 9:00am ET, join us to celebrate our last few hours at INBOUND with customizable donuts and bottomless espresso drinks. RSVP for breakfast here .

Check out the complete list of RollWorks at HubSpot INBOUND activities here.

2022 RollWorks + HubSpot Continued Product Innovation

Throughout 2022, RollWorks has continued to deepen its commitment to adding more utility in its platform for HubSpot users. This summer, the company launched two new ABM tools:

Journey Events for HubSpot: delivers consolidated account-level visibility within the HubSpot interface to enable B2B organizations to understand what activities are working to drive accounts through the stages of the buying journey, and which activities need to be further optimized.

Sales Insights for HubSpot : uses data science to provide a 360-degree view of accounts throughout the buying journey, helping B2B marketers and sales teams to eliminate the guesswork and create timelier and more efficient sales outreach.

"RollWorks is a fantastic complement to HubSpot, combining best-in-class inbound marketing and account-based marketing capabilities to effectively grow B2B revenue," said Scott Brinker, VP of Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot.

RollWorks + HubSpot Customer Success

In April, the RollWorks ABM HubSpot App achieved a significant milestone for surpassing 500 installs (150% more than the nearest ABM competitor). Global organizations that leverage the combined power of RollWorks and HubSpot include:

SnapFulfil: SnapFulfil leveraged RollWorks and HubSpot to launch and maintain a sales-aligned ABM program that generated high-value leads. Within 10 months, the Cloud Warehouse Management System (WMS) saw 27% of new website visits come from RollWorks and 4,000 new top-of-funnel leads with a 6% conversion to MQLs. "The prospects generated from all of our marketing activities get pulled into HubSpot automatically, where we then narrow our target list to sync with RollWorks. That automatic bi-directional syncing alone saves us a lot of time on manual input." - SnapFulfil

SnapFulfil leveraged RollWorks and HubSpot to launch and maintain a sales-aligned ABM program that generated high-value leads. Within 10 months, the Cloud Warehouse Management System (WMS) saw 27% of new website visits come from RollWorks and 4,000 new top-of-funnel leads with a 6% conversion to MQLs. "The prospects generated from all of our marketing activities get pulled into HubSpot automatically, where we then narrow our target list to sync with RollWorks. That automatic bi-directional syncing alone saves us a lot of time on manual input." Goverlan: Within 13 months, Goverlan identified 95% of closed/won deals were influenced by RollWorks and generated revenue 15x the initial investment costall with a nimble, two-person marketing team. "Things have changed since we started targeting accounts, as opposed to just contacts. We're generating 40-50 demo requests a week thanks to this happy marriage between our HubSpot inbound and RollWork ABM program." - Goverlan

To learn more about how the market-leading combination of RollWorks and HubSpot drives even more value for your ABM programs, schedule a custom demo today.

About RollWorks

RollWorks, a division of NextRoll, offers ambitious B2B companies an account-based platform to align their marketing and sales teams and confidently grow revenue. Powered by proprietary data and machine learning, RollWorks' solutions address the needs of organizations large and small  from those with best-in-class ABM programs to those just beginning their exploration. By empowering teams to identify their target accounts and key buyers, reach those accounts across multiple channels, and measure program effectiveness in their system-of-record, RollWorks is an indispensable platform for marketers and sellers who believe that an account-based approach is just good business. To learn more visit www.rollworks.com.

Media Contact: Melissa Rossiter[email protected] 480.749.4324

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SOURCE RollWorks
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan Tourism Bureau hosted a virtual event in collaboration with special guests to speak to Taiwan's family friendly offerings to media and content creators. The event on August 4th aimed to introduce Taiwan's variety of family-friendly activities to attendees, touching on train travel, its food culture and outdoor adventures.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau partnered with three special guests: Joey Chou, successful Taiwanese-American illustrator who has worked for notable companies such as Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros, Jamie Tung, Taiwanese-Canadian pastry chef and founder of Buttermere Patisserie, and Dorothy Chiang, the representative for the "Future" train, the award-winning Taiwan's tourist train that was featured on CNN Travel.

Attendees were taken through a three-part program with demonstrations from each guest that gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about Taiwan's family-friendly activities. From its bustling cities, to its relaxing beaches and scenic adventures, Taiwan is an ideal destination for family travel. The event called out a variety of family friendly attractions and travel experiences such as the Taipei Zoo, Sun Moon Lake, Night Markets, and train travel, and more!

There were approximately 45 attendees who joined to increase their knowledge about Taiwan's family friendly offerings. Prior to the event, attendees received gift boxes with goodies such as a toy Taiwanese train, custom Taiwan family-travel coloring book and more. During the event, attendees followed as the special guests called out various objects in the box and spoke more about each offering.

To celebrate, a sweepstake is held on the Taiwan Tourism Bureau's official Instagram page @taiwantourism_na from August 4 to August 19. To enter the sweepstakes, download the Taiwan illustration coloring page and color, paint, or decorate the illustration to make it your own art. Then post a photo of your art to Instagram Story with hashtag #ColoringMyTaiwan.

The Director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau San Francisco office, Linda Lin, said, "Through these interactive events, we have the opportunity to maintain communications with niche groups of journalists and content creators and provide them with travel inspiration relevant to their audience. Taiwan adheres to all health and hygiene regulations, providing safety for travelers. We're looking forward to warming up the U.S. market through the variety of activities in preparation of the border reopening."

Taiwan has been actively monitoring the global situation and gradually easing the restrictions. Beginning on July 25, foreign nationals could apply for entry into Taiwan by volunteering, international exchanges, working holidays, etc. More information could be found on Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the United States.

ABOUT THE TAIWAN TOURISM BUREAU

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is the official government agency responsible for domestic and international tourism policy development and execution. There are three North American Tourism Offices located in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

For information about Taiwan, please visit: eng.taiwan.net.tw

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SOURCE Taiwan Tourism Bureau
MENLO PARK, Calif., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Trade Capital Corporation (TCC), an inventory funding disruptor, has selected Oracle NetSuite as the backbone of its ERP system. With NetSuite, TCC will build its comprehensive global trade funding platform to empower manufacturers and suppliers and compete with big banks and fintechs on receivables monetization.

TCC clients can be assured of a tightly integrated business process putting them on a trajectory for meaningful change.

TCC is a frontrunner and the only organized player in the inventory funding and holding segment with its own tech stack, supply chain business transformation service and an ability to onboard banks and investment vehicles to support large-scale VMI programs. To help its clients manage globally dispersed inventories and complex supply chains that prioritizes visibility and efficiency, TCC selected NetSuite.

"With NetSuite as the core foundation of our tech stack, our clients can be assured of a tightly integrated business process that delivers financial outcomes and accomplishes strategic goals for our large public sector clientele. This is key to putting our clients on a trajectory for meaningful change," said Sanjay Bonde, founder and CEO of TCC.

"TCC is ultimately focused on providing capital so that their clients can improve their inventory and spend more time on strategic growth priorities," said Ranga Bodla, VP, Field Marketing and Engagement, Oracle NetSuite. "With NetSuite, TCC will be able to gain the visibility and control over their business so they can deliver on their vision to change the way inventory funding is distributed for the benefit of their clients."

As the world's first company dedicated to delivering business applications over the internet,

NetSuite provides an integrated system that includes financials, inventory management, HR, professional services automation and omnichannel commerce.

About TCC

TCC and its wholly-owned trading arm TradeCo deliver Capital as a Service (CaaS) in an integrated supply chain technology platform that funds and holds components and materials for its clients in its inventory hubs. TCC's CaaS solution offers access to funding, TradeCo buy/hold/sell capabilities, track and trace, supply chain execution, financial reporting as well as bolt-on logistics and warehousing services via global top tier partnerships, all under one roof.

TCC's patent pending CaaS Wallet business suite of finance solutions includes our Inventory Card, Factoring Card, and SupplierPay Card to monetize and secure inventory, accelerate supplier payments, and create more resilient supply chain ecosystems.For more information visit: www.tradecapitalcorp.com

Trademarks

Oracle, MySQL and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation.

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SOURCE Trade Capital Corporation
Wells Fargo and Mentor Collective Team Up to CreateLasting Socioeconomic Change for HBCU Students

BOSTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wells Fargo and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) have announced the winners for this year's College Completion Scholarship Program. Awarded to a minimum of two hundred (200) senior scholars attending TMCF-member schools, the spring scholarship provides up to $5,000 for the 2021-22 academic year and career mentorship from leading large-scale mentorship program provider Mentor Collective. A full list of winners and their schools can be downloaded here.

Social and financial capital are essential to helping college students graduate and transition into a fulfilling career

Established to honor the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American justice, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund partners with organizations like Wells Fargo and Mentor Collective to help provide access to a high-quality college education while connecting high-performing, world-ready students with top-tier employment opportunities.

"None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody  a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns  bent down and helped us pick up our boots." - Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall

Critical to the College Completion Scholarship Program is a mentorship component facilitated by Mentor Collective. Mentor Collective applies scholarly research on mentorship to purposefully match each scholarship winner with a professional mentor at Wells Fargo. A 2021 study found that young adults with career mentors experienced greater career enhancement and reported higher levels of well-being in the short and long term. Additional research performed across over 700 students in Mentor Collective's programs also show significant improvements in retention and sense of belonging; namely that peer mentorship influenced an average 5.67% increase in year-over-year retention. These results were considerably more profound when students had 3+ conversations with their mentor (average 11.8% increase in retention and 13.39% increase in sense of belonging).

"Social and financial capital are two essential components necessary to help students graduate and transition their learning into a fulfilling career," said Gigi Dixon, Wells Fargo head of external engagement for Diverse Segments, Representation, and Inclusion. "We are honored to play a role in empowering the next graduating class with both financial and networking assistance. Through the Mentor Collective program, these scholarship recipients will be paired with a Wells Fargo employee to help them navigate the professional landscape beyond their post-secondary career."

"Through our research and experience with career readiness programs, we've found that mentorship at this formative time before graduation not only better prepares students for academia or the workforce, it contributes to significant upward movement on the socioeconomic strata," said Jackson Boyar, Co-Founder and CEO of Mentor Collective. "Wells Fargo has been an incredible partner in helping Mentor Collective reach students with the most to gain from life-changing relationships, and we look forward to seeing the impact an initiative like this can make."

Wells Fargo's Senior Lead Diversity & Inclusion Consultant Dewey Norwood, Jr. will be conversing with other senior leaders across higher education on August 11th about equitable career outcomes at Mentor Collective's next virtual roundtable event. He is joined by leaders from The University of Delaware and Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce.

About The Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation's largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). Publicly-supported HBCUs enroll over 80% of all students attending HBCUs. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also a source for top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is a leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 41 on Fortune's 2022 rankings of America's largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy.

News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

Additional information may be found at www.wellsfargo.com | Twitter: @WellsFargo

About Mentor Collective

Mentor Collectivethe leading provider of high-impact, large-scale mentorship programming in higher educationis a collective of institutions and thought leaders dedicated to closing the opportunity gap through mentorship. Founded in 2014, Mentor Collective has delivered 700+ unique mentorship programs, established 160+ institutional partnerships, and formed 200,000 mentoring relationships through expert-led research, services, and technology. As an impact-first investment of the Lumina Foundation, Mentor Collective partners with forward-thinking institutions that are committed to equity, inclusion, and relationship-centered education.

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SOURCE Mentor Collective
HENDERSON, Nev., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- VolitionRx Limited (NYSE AMERICAN: VNRX) ("Volition"), a multi-national epigenetics company, has announced a sponsored research agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to evaluate the role of neutrophil extracellular traps ("NETs") in cancer patients with sepsis.

The study will be led by Jyotika Sharma, Professor of Critical Care Medicine and titled "Correlation of Circulating NETs and Cell Free DNA with Inflammatory Immune Responses in Cancer Patients with Sepsis". The trial will use Volition's Nu.Q NETs test for the study, which was CE marked earlier this year for the detection and evaluation of NETosis.

Dr Jake Micallef, Chief Scientific Officer at Volition, said: "There is an abundance of research into both cancer and sepsis, but relatively few investigations into sepsis in cancer. Cancer patients have a weakened immune system and have a 10 times higher likelihood of developing sepsis and are also more likely to die if they develop it1. Therefore, it is critical for physicians to identify cancer patients at risk of sepsis early and initiate treatment quickly to improve patient outcomes. This is an important study evaluating the potential utility of NETs measurement in the management of cancer patients at risk of sepsis and we're delighted to collaborate on this research."

Several publications2-5 report the use of Volition's Nu.Q NETs test showing that the high levels of NETs produced in sepsis, COVID-19 and other conditions are associated with, and predictive of, a severe reaction and organ failure.

NETosis is a unique form of cell death that is characterized by the release of NETs, composed of decondensed chromatin, that trap and kill bacteria and viral particles. Although NETs play an important role in our immune system, excessive production can lead to tissue damage and, in severe cases, sepsis, shock, and death.

Volition is developing simple, easy-to-use, cost-effective blood tests to help diagnose and monitor a range of life-altering diseases in both humans and animals. For more information about Volition's Nu.Q technology go to: www.volition.com

References

1. https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20211117/early-recognition-prevention-strategies-could-reduce-costly-burden-of-sepsis-in-patients-with-cancer2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2021.600881/full 3. https://volition.com/media/downloads/Presentations/Rea-et-al-e-Poster-ISTH-2021.pdf 4. https://volition.com/media/downloads/Presentations/Stanford-et-al-e-Poster-ISTH-2021.pdf 5. https://volition.com/media/downloads/Presentations/Published-Poster-Therapeutic-removal-of-NETs-from-blood-in-a-pig-model-of-sepsis-E-ISFA-2021.pdf

About Volition

Volition is a multi-national epigenetics company that applies its Nucleosomics platform through its subsidiaries to develop 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 is primarily focused on human diagnostics and monitoring but also has a subsidiary focused on animal diagnostics and monitoring.

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.

For more information about Volition, visit www.volition.com

The contents found at Volition's website address are not incorporated by reference into this document and should not be considered part of this document. The address for Volition's website is included in this document as an inactive textual reference only.

Volition 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 potential uses, benefits and effectiveness of its Nu.Q NETs test. Volition's actual results may differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements due to numerous risks and uncertainties, including a failure by the marketplace to accept Volition's Nu.Q NETs test; Volition's failure to secure adequate intellectual property protection; 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 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. These 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.

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SOURCE VolitionRx Limited
At least one photo has been found for each service member whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is proud to announce that after more than two decades of effort, at least one photo has been found for each of the 58,281 service members whose names are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

"When VVMF began this effort, the goal was to put a face with a name for each of the 58,281 service members whose names are inscribed on The Wall. To ensure that visitors to The Wall understand that behind each name is a face  a person with a story of a family and friends who were forever changed by their loss. Today, the Wall of Faces tells these stories through photos and remembrances left by both friends and family members. We couldn't have done this without the tenacious work of a small army of volunteers across the country. Their ingenuity, commitment and dedication are tremendous," said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF.

"This phase is now complete, but our team and many volunteers are continuing to seek better quality photos and adding remembrances to show the full story behind each name. We ask the public to look at the photos on the Wall of Faces and add additional higher-quality images as well as leave remembrances so that with the name, the photos and the remembrances  fuller stories will begin to emerge about each of these heroes," said Knotts.

To view and search the Wall of Faces, visit: www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces

In the Fall of 2001, a short-term initial effort was made to collect photos of those on The Wall, with a larger, more concerted effort launched in the Fall of 2009. Since then, hundreds of volunteers and family members have submitted photos for the effort. Volunteers tracked down photos in many different ways. These are just a few highlights of our volunteers and how they found these photos:

Janna Hoehn began working on the project in 2011 with one photo that she had a connection to  the name rubbing she randomly made on her first visit to The Wall in Washington D.C. She then started with the 42 fallen from Maui - where she resides. With that success, she moved on to her hometown in California  and then the entire state. Hoehn contacted newspapers in each county where photos were needed. Soon after, she started working her way across the country. She grew a team of like-minded volunteers who joined her efforts, and they all had their own way of finding photos. However, Hoehn made many of the emotional phone calls to family members to not only ask for a photo but to learn more about their lost loved ones. "I am grateful for each and every volunteer, each newspaper that agreed to do a story for a little lady from Hawaii. I am proud of my work with this project and will never forget this time in my life," said Hoehn.

Andrew Johnson began working on finding photos in 2014. As a newspaper publisher in Wisconsin  he knew that community newspapers all over the country could significantly contribute to the effort of finding missing photos. Johnson invited VVMF to speak at a National Newspaper Association convention. In 2016, his newspaper published a special section that displayed all of the Wisconsin Wall of Faces  the first publication of its kind  and brought awareness to other states where photos were still needed. Johnson's connection is personal. He is the Gold Star Father of 1LT David Johnson, KIA in Afghanistan in January 2012. "It was an honor to serve our great republic by honoring our Vietnam era heroes by finding their photos. As I worked on the project, many Vietnam veterans embraced me and let me know how much they loved my son and would never forget him as they were often forgotten. In turn I would always tell them, 'welcome home, you and your fallen military buddies will never be forgotten,'" said Johnson.

David Hine got involved in 2009 when he read about the effort in a VVMF newsletter. He already had photos for 11 Indiana heroes he could post right away, since his hometown had hosted The Wall That Heals a few years prior. His hunt for photos always began in the listed home of record since each hometown newspaper would typically have the obituary that listed surviving family members along with schools attended. Finding parents or siblings was always the best solution. "My most memorable story came from contacting a daughter-in-law of a fallen service member only to find out that her husband had never seen a photo of his father. I was able to obtain a high school photo and then a military photo and provide it, not only to the Wall of Faces, but to the family as well," said Hine.

a few years prior. His hunt for photos always began in the listed home of record since each hometown newspaper would typically have the obituary that listed surviving family members along with schools attended. Finding parents or siblings was always the best solution. "My most memorable story came from contacting a daughter-in-law of a fallen service member only to find out that her husband had never seen a photo of his father. I was able to obtain a high school photo and then a military photo and provide it, not only to the Wall of Faces, but to the family as well," said Hine. Herb Reckinger started looking for photos of Minnesotans in 2014. He worked with the Minnesota Historical Society as well as many loyal city and school librarians. Once Minnesota was complete, he spread out to other states. He continues to search for better photos for those with poor quality photos. "While at a The Wall That Heals stop, a local veteran asked me to find his friend's name on The Wall. I asked if he wanted to see his picture. After looking at his friend on the Wall of Faces, he had one sentence for me - 'I forgot what he looked like,'" said Reckinger. Another face remembered.

stop, a local veteran asked me to find his friend's name on The Wall. I asked if he wanted to see his picture. After looking at his friend on the Wall of Faces, he had one sentence for me - 'I forgot what he looked like,'" said Reckinger. Another face remembered. Steve and Annie Delp began representing VVMF and the Wall of Faces project at Vietnam unit reunions in 2013. It soon became evident that the attendees  Vietnam veterans and their families  wanted to help in gathering the missing photos. The Delps took on the mission of obtaining the photos, cleaning them up and adding them to the Wall of Faces. "At one point, a small bible was left with us that had 30 names inside. Upon doing some research, it was found that 25 of the 30 names were KIA. I'm pleased to report that all 25 have at least one good picture now," said Steve Delp.

Norman Murray attended the Veterans Day ceremony at The Wall in 2014 and met Annie Delp. Her volunteer work was an inspiration to him. He went back home to Western New York to begin his quest to track down families, yearbooks and newspaper clippings about Western New Yorkers. In 2016  he collaborated with a Buffalo State PR & Advertising class and The Buffalo News , as well as another researcher who had been quietly collecting obituaries of the fallen. "Interestingly, my fellow researcher obtained the final picture for Western New York by buying a high school yearbook on eBay, because neither the school not the public library had a copy in their archives," said Murray.

, as well as another researcher who had been quietly collecting obituaries of the fallen. "Interestingly, my fellow researcher obtained the final picture for Western New York by buying a high school yearbook on eBay, because neither the school not the public library had a copy in their archives," said Murray. John Thomstatter got involved in 2016 after hearing about the effort. With the help of his fellow members of VVA Chapter 1036 in The Villages, Florida he led a team to find the photos for all of Florida's service members on The Wall. Chapter 1036 enlisted other VVA chapters in Florida. They not only found all the photos for Florida, but "I was fortunate enough to find the last photo to complete Pennsylvania, my home state," said Thomstatter.

The Wall of Faces features a page dedicated to honoring and remembering every person whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. This effort further preserves the legacy of those who sacrificed all in Vietnam and allows family and friends to share memories, post pictures and connect with each other. To learn more, visit www.vvmf.org/wall-of-faces

About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C. in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation's Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF's mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090.

Contact: Heidi ZimmermanPhone: (202) 765-3773[email protected]

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SOURCE Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF)
TICKERS: JEV; JROOF

Source: Streetwise Reports (8/10/22)

Jericho Energy Ventures Inc.'s hydrogen boiler technology creates high-temperature water and steam with no greenhouse gases. The only by-product is water.



Jericho Energy Ventures Inc. (JEV:TSX.V; JROOF:OTCMKTS) is joining with Australias LINE Hydrogen Pty Ltd. to bring Jerichos zero-emissions hydrogen boiler technology to that country.

The companies are creating a distribution hub that will allow a constant supply of hydrogen fuel for its DCC boilers.

Fuel supply dependability has never been an issue with other forms of energy, Jericho Chief Executive Officer Brian Williamson told Streetwise Reports. Industry will demand the same of newer, greener energies.

In this clean energy transition, thats the number one concern, Williamson said. Can you get me supply? We like your boiler, but ultimately, what we really need to know is can you provide us the fuel to run it every day?

Hydrogen Technologies, a fully owned subsidiary of Jericho, has patented its method for burning hydrogen and oxygen in a vacuum chamber to create high-temperature water and steam with no greenhouse gases. The only by-product is water. It can be used for commercial heating, hot water, and industrial steam boilers.

Hydrogen is a fuel of the future.

Technical analyst Clive Maund

The U.S. Department of Energy said the hydrogen market is in its infancy, but that it has the potential for near-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Hydrogen generates electrical power in a fuel cell, emitting only water vapor and warm air, the agency wrote. It holds promise for growth in both the stationary and transportation energy sectors.

The element is abundant in our environment, and the most abundant element in the universe. Its stored in water, hydrocarbons (such as methane), and other organic matter.

As technical analyst Clive Maund wrote, hydrogen is a fuel of the future.

Hydrogen Boilers 'Really Changing the Environment'

Jericho said additional industrial partners will be announced in the coming months and the first DCC Boiler is expected to be installed in Tasmania, Australia, in 2023. It would be supported with hydrogen from LINE Hydrogens plant in George Town, Tasmania.

Williamson said the Jericho has quite a few companies that have already expressed interest in the boiler system. Jericho said it will target everything from large industrial plants to schools and hopes to create other duplicate hubs in other places in the world, like the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Each boiler removes the equivalent carbon dioxide of 2,500 cars a year (or about 4,400 tons of carbon dioxide), according to the company.

You are really changing the environment where you live and work with the system, Williamson said. The goal is to continue to decarbonize the value chain, so that everything in it from the end user to the hydrogen to everything in between is green.

The hub concept makes sure that the end users and the plant that makes the hydrogen are close enough that supply wont run out.

Making the Green Transition

Jericho was once an oil and gas business. It still has interests in those sectors and has been using money from rising fossil fuel prices  a cashflow increase of about 15% to 18% in the sector this year over last yearto help fund its push toward hydrogen.

It makes a nice opportunity to organically grow what were doing and continue to generate cashflow, Williamson said.

The company began transitioning to green energy in June 2020. In January 2021, it announced the acquisition of Hydrogen Technologies. Also last year, it announced a collaboration with Remy Cointreaus Bruichladdich Distillery in Scotland to install a boiler to run its stills that produce Scotch and artisanal gin.

Other green investments include in H2U Technologies Inc., which is developing an electrocatalyst discovery process for electrolyzer and fuel cell applications; and Supercritical Solutions Ltd., which is developing a new class of water electrolyzer that will allow low-cost hydrogen production. Jericho led the seed series funding round for SuperCritical and was joined by Chris Saccas Lowercarbon Capital as a co-investor.

Jericho has a market cap of CA$89.2 million with with 225.8 million shares outstanding. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.84 and CA$0.31.



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PALEMBANG, Indonesia  Indonesians gathered to watch as American and Indonesian aircraft delivered long-range artillery systems Tuesday morning at the airport here on Sumatra for a training exercise.

A U.S. Army High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, and an Indonesian CASESAR self-propelled howitzer rolled off military airlifters and quickly drove to firing positions at Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport.

HIMARS has made headlines recently with regular reports of rockets striking Russian targets. The U.S. has sent the Ukrainians 16 of the truck-mounted rocket systems that can hit targets up to 43 miles away with 500-pound, precision-guided ammunition, according to the Pentagon.

The artillery drill at Palembang is part of Super Garuda Shield, an exercise involving 2,000 American and 2,000 Indonesian troops. The largest installment yet of an exercise held annually for 16 years kicked off Aug. 1 and ends Sunday.

Twenty-five members of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Units amphibious reconnaissance platoon and a similar number of Indonesian troops arrived at the airport Monday to secure the facility for the big guns.

The Marines and Indonesians sped around the flightline in a pair of black tactical vehicles scanning for danger as the artillery pieces rolled into position under their own power.

Several hundred reporters and military officials watched from outside a nearby passenger terminal.

The artillery didnt fire a shot at the airport, but Indonesian troops threw out smoke canisters and loud booms sounded as crews went through procedures with the weapons.

The Army and Marines have trained in recent years with the HIMARS in several Indo-Pacific countries, including Japan, Australia and the Philippines.

The 17th Field Artillery Brigade out of Fort Lewis, Wash., brought three systems to Indonesia this month for live-fire training at Baturaja Training Area, also on Sumatra, on Friday.

There are 54 members of the brigade participating in Super Garuda Shield, fire platoon leader 2nd Lt. Danny Perez, 24, of El Paso, Texas, said in Palembang on Monday.

The troops spend many hours becoming proficient before their live-fire training about twice a year, he said.

Perez said the HIMARS is usually transported on a C-17 Globemaster III, but it can just squeeze into an MC-130J Commando II, the special operations version of the Super Hercules airlifter that delivered the system to Palembang.

This is the first time my platoon has used [an MC-130], he said.

Backing a HIMARS onto a tactical airlifter is like trying to fit a large pickup truck into a garage built for an economy car, Sgt. 1st Class Garrett Skelton, 31, of Key West, Fla., said Monday, also at Palembang.

The system is ready to fire within minutes of rolling off a plane, said Skelton, the platoon sergeant, who is instantly recognizable among the other soldiers. As a practitioner of the Norse Pagan religion, he is authorized to grow a beard.

HIMARS has proved what it can do in the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Skelton said.

Nowadays its showing what its made of in force on force and its winning, he said, referring to the systems performance in Ukraine.
WASHINGTON  Two Army Ranger candidates died and three others were hurt Tuesday after being struck by a falling tree during a thunderstorm near Dahlonega, Ga., the service said Wednesday.

Staff Sgt. George Taber and 2nd Lt. Evan Fitzgibbon and the injured soldiers, who were not named, were waiting for the storm to clear during a training exercise at Yonah Mountain when the tree fell at about 3:15 p.m., the service said in the statement.

All of them were taken to a local hospital, where Taber and Fitzgibbon were later pronounced dead, according to the Army.

Those who volunteer to attend Ranger School represent the very best of our military, Col. Christopher Hammonds, commander of the Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade, said in the statement. This loss resonates across our Army and across our nation.

Taber was a special forces medical sergeant with the 7th Special Forces Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He enlisted in the Army in 2017 and graduated the special forces qualification course in 2018. He later completed the combat medic course, military freefall parachutist course and survival, evasion, resistance and escape course, the Army said.

Fitzgibbon was an infantry officer assigned to the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course of the 199th Leader Brigade at Fort Benning, Ga. He had commissioned in May 2021 after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

We are all deeply saddened by the loss of these two outstanding soldiers and send our heartfelt condolences to their families, Maj. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, the commander at Fort Benning, said in the statement.

A safety investigation team from the Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., is leading an investigation into the incident, which is standard protocol, according to Army spokesman Michael Negard.

The deaths come three weeks after Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Clark was killed and nine other Reserve soldiers were injured by a lightning strike at Fort Gordon near Augusta, Ga. Those soldiers were also taking part in a training exercise at the time of the incident.
This report was compiled by staff writers Jean Albright, Paul Bourgeois, Charlie Bowden, Allen Cowan, Chris Estes, Dick Hodgson, Ed Reavis, Judy Sarasohn and Dan Wollam.

This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes, European edition on Aug. 9, 1985. It is republished unedited in its original form.

RHEIN-MAIN AB, Germany  A powerful car bomb exploded early Thursday at Rhein-Main AB, killing two Americans and injuring more than 20 people. The blast occurred at 7:15 a.m. as hundreds of employees were reporting to work.

"Cars were jumping over each other, and then there was all that fire and smoke," said base photographer George Wegemann, who had just reported for duty. "I saw one person lying on the sidewalk. You can still see the blood over there where part of an engine flew into the street."

Air Force officials said there were no calls claiming responsibility for the bombing.

The explosion killed one man and one woman. Air Force officials identified the dead man as A.1.C. Frank H. Scarton, 19, of Woodhaven, Mich., assigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, S.C. He was on temporary duty at Rhein-Main.

Air Force officials did not identify the other fatality pending notification of next of kin, but initial reports indicated she was a servicemember's wife.

The bomb exploded behind the 435th Tac Airlift Wing headquarters building in a parking lot bounded by a dormitory and the audio-video club.

The blast left a crater several feet deep.

About 30 cars were damaged as the blast ripped out windows and doors of surrounding buildings and sent debris flying hundreds of yards. The facades and roofs of several buildings were damaged, but officials said there was no structural damage.

The attack was the seventh this year on U.S. or NATO military installations in Germany, and the first one in which people died.

German Interior Minister Friedrich Zimmermann sent a telegram to wing commander Col. Ronnie C. Peoples, expressing deep regret over the incident, which he said would evoke revulsion and outrage throughout his country.

German authorities are in charge of the investigation.

Specialists spent the day sifting through the debris, marking items and taking photographs.

The entire bomb site was cordoned off.

Several adjacent buildings, including the transient facilities and Burger Bar, were evacuated as a precaution.

To keep out gawkers, investigators also blocked off a five-block area including the headquarters, dormitory, audio-video club and transient quarters.

Appointments at the base clinic were canceled.

Investigators said they suspect the Red Army Faction, once known as the Baader-Meinhof gang, was responsible for the bomb.

Their opinion was based on the fact the bombing had much in common with the group's favored style of attack  the time of day, the method of delivery  and the fact that a member of the faction is on trial in Duesseldorf for the 1981 bombing at Ramstein AB.

The fact that the blast occurred when most airmen were arriving for duty was no coincidence, said Capt. Lorrie Bourland, base public affairs officer. "It was done very smartly to inflict very serious damage."

German investigators believe a metallic green 1976 Volkswagen Passat was driven onto the base early Thursday morning and was parked behind the building. Officials said the car got on base because it bore counterfeit USAREUR plates with the number DN 4544.

They believe the driver was dressed in military clothes and escaped by walking off base to a waiting car.

Officials said the airman victim was dead at the scene.

The woman survived the blast and was flown by Army helicopter to the Army hospital at Landstuhl.

Officials at the hospital, which specializes in burn treatment and neurological care, said the woman was dead on arrival.

Officials said she was a 23-year-old servicemember's wife, and she probably died of head injuries. Her husband was on his way back from the States Thursday.

Police officials said at least 10 of the injured were Americans. Air Force officials identified one of the injured as Barbara Reuter, a German employee at the base.

Two of the injured were taken to the Air Force hospital at Wiesbaden. One of them, a man who was inside when the blast occurred, was knocked down and may have suffered a concussion. He was being kept overnight for observation. The other was in serious but guarded condition. He underwent more than seven hours of surgery.

One of the injured hospitalized at Wiesbaden was identified by Air Force officials as Senior Airman Mathias M. Reams, 22, assigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing.

Another victim was taken to the Army hospital at Frankfurt.

The other victims were treated and released at the base clinic.

Capt. George P. Sillia, deputy chief of public affairs, saw a "gigantic flash of light" just after arriving at his office in the headquarters building.

Sillia called ambulances and the command post and ran through the offices looking for injured.

"It sounded like an airplane exploded in midair," said recreation center manager J.C. Christiansen, who was in his office 100 yards from the blast. "I went through World War II here, and I heard a lot of explosions, but nothing like that before."

Pointing out a 2-foot-long piece of green, twisted metal at the rear of the center, Christiansen said: "Looks like it came from a BMW. It had to come over two buildings to get here."

Staff Sgt. Larry Stewart was a few minutes early for duty Thursday, which he believes may have saved his life.

"Normally I park a couple of yards from where the blast occurred, but this morning I was a few minutes early, so I stopped at the post office first," Stewart said. "I was still in the post office when I heard it. I ran out and saw my wife, who's also in the Air Force, running toward the office. She saw me and said, 'Oh God, I thought it was you.'"

Air Force security police, fire units and ambulances swarmed to the blast scene within two minutes. Fires were extinguished, and explosive-sniffing dogs were brought in to search the area for more bombs.

Security was immediately tightened at the base. Motorists entering the base had to show both sides of their identification cards, their vehicle registrations and drivers' licenses. As many as 400 cars were backed up waiting to enter the base.

Officials at Hahn AB said they had increased security, but they declined to provide details.

At the Darmstadt military community, security increased to check the front and back of identification cards, a full check of the photo, and the vehicle registration.

Not all military installations changed procedures.

A spokesman for the 56th Field Arty Brigade in Schwaebisch Gmuend, the only American Pershing II unit in Europe, said the command was satisfied with its security.

A spokesman for VII Corps at Kelley Barracks said corps units were taking no special security precautions.

The base is the main transit hub for the movement of U.S. forces to and from the European Comd.

Thursday's bombing occurred about seven weeks after an unsolved bombing at the civilian commercial airport. That blast, on June 19, killed three people and injured scores of others.

See Stars and Stripes staff writer Nancy Montgomerys 2005 retrospective article on the Baader-Meinhof Gang 1970s and 1980s attacks on the U.S. military in Germany.

Read Stars and Stripes staff writer Marcus Kloeckners story on the documentary following Kathleen Pequenos journey to Germany to meet the former terrorists who murdered her brother U.S. Army Spc. Edward F. Pimental the day before the bombing in order to gain access to the Rhein-Main base.
WASHINGTON  Four al-Shabab terrorists who recently attacked Somali forces were killed Wednesday after a series of American airstrikes, U.S. Africa Command announced Wednesday.

U.S. forces, in coordination with the Somali government, launched three airstrikes against the terrorists who attacked the Somali troops Tuesday near Beledweyne, Somalia, AFRICOM said.

The commands initial assessment is that the strikes killed four al-Shabab terrorists and that no civilians were injured or killed, AFRICOM said. U.S. forces are authorized to conduct strikes in defense of designated partner forces.

The announcement did not include further detail about the al-Shabab attack.

Al-Shabab is the Somali-based militant wing of the Somali Council of Islamic Courts that controlled the southernmost part of the country in 2006, according to the U.S. Director of National Intelligence. Though the main group was defeated in 2007, al-Shabab has continued its violent insurgency.

The federal government of Somalia and U.S. Africa Command take great measures to prevent civilian casualties, AFRICOM said. These efforts contrast with the indiscriminate attacks that al-Shabab regularly conducts against the civilian population.

The airstrikes come about two months after U.S. special operations troops returned to Somalia. Former President Donald Trump had decided to pull roughly 700 U.S. service members from the country during the last days of his administration.

President Joe Biden reversed Trumps decision based on a request from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin out of concern for the safety of our troops who have incurred additional risk by deploying in and out of Somalia on an episodic basis, then-Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said at the time.
The White House is undertaking a significant shift in its approach to sub-Saharan Africa that seeks to bolster U.S. favorability there through proposals to help nations on the continent confront challenges with no strings attached.

In devising the strategy, which was introduced Monday, U.S. officials were careful to seek input from African partners about what they believed was most critically important, according to a bulletin posted Tuesday on the Defense Department website.

African countries "don't want to be in another Cold War scenario where they have to choose between the West or Russia or China," an unidentified senior defense official said in the bulletin. "But in that same vein, they would prefer to partner with us in a way that makes sense aligned with their interests, particularly when it comes to security concerns."

On Tuesday, the Pentagon installed Gen. Michael Langley, the first Black four-star general in the Marine Corps, as leader of U.S. Africa Command.

Top priorities for the command include countering terrorism, strengthening relationships with allies and partners and checking Chinese and Russian interference as part of the National Defense Strategy, the official said.

The sub-Saharan Africa plan complements the defense strategy in that it focuses on building relationships with African nations to better address mutual interests, the official said.

A cornerstone of the four-pronged foreign policy is a partnership model that recognizes the autonomy of African nations rather than imposing American ideals.

Competition for partnerships in Africa has grown fierce as Russia and China seek to draw closer through various forms of cooperation. That has U.S. military leaders concerned.

In March, just 28 of the 54 United Nations member states in Africa voted in favor of a resolution that, among other statements, condemned Russias unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, according to a March 9 report by the Brookings Institution.

Many African counties, including Kenya, Sudan, Congo, Egypt and Uganda, rely heavily on Russian wheat exports, according to a June 10 UN report.

During a July visit to Egypt, Congo, Uganda and Ethiopia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blamed the U.S. for a looming global food crisis related to grain shortages tied to the war in Ukraine.

Lavrovs assertion ignored the fact that Russia established a naval blockade in the northern Black Sea shortly after its February invasion, effectively blocking commercial shipping including Ukrainian grain.

Just days before Lavrovs Africa visit, Russia reached a deal with Ukraine to allow grain shipments to leave blocked ports.

The varied aims of the new U.S. strategy include countering authoritarian regimes, encouraging government transparency and backing a civil society that empowers women, young people and other marginalized groups.

In March, Langleys predecessor as AFRICOM chief, Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, told Congress that Russian mercenaries are a malign influence in Africa who are buttressing dictators, according to a March 15 USNI News report.

He added that internet troll farms created by Russian oligarchs are cropping up in Africa in an attempt to interfere with elections there, in the U.S. and in other countries, the USNI News report stated.

The other top U.S. rival for influence in Africa is China, which has a military base in Djibouti with 2,000 troops permanently stationed there, according to the Washington, D.C.-based think tank the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

The U.S naval base Camp Lemonnier also is in Djibouti and serves as the primary operations base for AFRICOM.

Townsend said in his congressional testimony in March that Beijing is working hard to develop more bases on the continent, USNI News reported.

China has an extensive presence in Africa, mostly through trade and financing of public and private projects such as railways, ports and power plants through Beijings extensive infrastructure campaign known as the Belt and Road Initiative, according to a 2019 Deloitte report.

To make the case for why the U.S. is a better partner, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is touring Africa in conjunction with the rollout of the administrations strategy.

He acknowledged that African countries often have been exploited to benefit the progress of other nations.

The U.S. will not dictate Africas choices, Blinken said. Neither should anyone else. The right to make these choices belongs to Africans, and Africans alone.
Scientists say the window for protecting the world's largest ice sheet from significantly shrinking is narrowing, with troubling new predictions that it has the potential to unleash sea level rises of up to 16 1/2 feet over the long term if greenhouse gas emissions targets aren't met.

The vast East Antarctica Ice Sheet, which is about the size of the United States, used to be considered less vulnerable to climate change than the Greenland and West Antarctica ice sheets  where several glaciers have been losing ice rapidly as they are undercut by warm ocean water. Over recent years, however, research has started to emerge challenging that view.

The latest study, published in the journal Nature, combined recent findings about potential vulnerabilities in the bedrock and undersea topography  particularly in areas where glaciers interact with warm water  with an analysis of warm periods in Earth's past.

The team of researchers from Australia, Britain, France and the United States found that if global temperature increases are below the upper limit set by the 2015 Paris climate accord  2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels  that should mean the ice sheet adds less than 1.6 feet to sea levels by the year 2500. Any increase above that temperature has the potential to raise sea levels by as much as 16.4 feet over the same period.

"The choices that we're making today in terms of emission reductions are going to set in place whether East Antarctica stays largely dormant as a very large ice sheet, or if we start to set in motion some unstoppable changes that are going to add to the sea level rise problem that we're already facing," Nerilie Abram, a climate scientist at Australian National University and a co-author of the study, said in an interview.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres earlier this year warned that the more ambitious goal set out in the Paris agreement  to limit the global temperature rise to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels  is "on life support."

The researchers said evidence from seafloor sediments around East Antarctica indicates that part of the ice sheet collapsed and contributed to increasing sea levels by several meters during the mid-Pliocene era, about 3 million years ago, when temperatures were about 2 to 4 degrees Celsius higher than now. Approximately 400,000 years ago, there is evidence that a part of the ice sheet retreated more than 400 miles inland, at a time when it was 1 to 2 degrees Celsius warmer than right now.

"A key lesson from the past is that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to even relatively modest warming scenarios. It isn't as stable and protected as we once thought," Abram said.

Chris Stokes, a geography professor at Britain's Durham University and the study's lead author, said that satellite observations have suggested the ice sheet is thinning and retreating, particularly where glaciers are in contact with warm ocean currents.

"This ice sheet is by far the largest on the planet, containing the equivalent of 171 feet of sea level and it's really important that we do not awaken this sleeping giant," Stokes said in a statement.

Nick Golledge, a glaciologist at the Antarctic Research Center in Wellington, New Zealand, who did not work on the study, said the real concern for East Antarctica is the period beyond what the paper considers. Even as greenhouse gas emissions decrease or stop, the amount of heat locked in will lead to retreat for millennia, as the ocean continues to absorb heat from the atmosphere.

"The past warm periods mentioned in the paper help with these inferences, but the uncertainties remain very large," he said.

Australian scientists are embarking on a campaign over the next few years to deepen their understanding of the Denham glacier region, a 12-mile-wide stream of ice that flows over the deepest undersea canyon in the East Antarctica Ice Sheet. Scientists have previously warned that the canyon could provide a potential pathway for the ocean to infiltrate deep into Antarctica's center.

"We understand the Moon better than East Antarctica. So, we don't yet fully understand the climate risks that will emerge from this area," said Matt King, co-author of the latest study and an expert in sea level and ice sheet change at the University of Tasmania.

The Washington Post's Chris Mooney contributed to this report.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand  The United States is doubling down on its investment in the Pacific, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Tuesday as she concluded a five-nation visit to the region where China has been making inroads.

The future will be written here in the Pacific, Sherman said at an agreement-signing event in New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

Critics have accused the U.S. of neglecting the region and allowing China's influence to flourish.

The Solomon Islands in April signed a security pact with China in a move that has alarmed many in the Pacific who fear it could lead to a military buildup. The U.S. earlier this year announced plans to reopen an embassy in the Solomons, where on Sunday Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare skipped a service commemorating the Battle of Guadalcanal that Sherman and other dignitaries attended.

Sherman said the U.S. has always been a Pacific nation. She said it has been a priority for President Joe Biden to rebuild alliances and relationships around the world, and officials were using every vehicle possible to collaborate with Pacific partners.

And so we are doubling down on our investment here in the Pacific, Sherman said. Our relationships, our partnerships, regional organizations.

Asked if she felt the U.S. or China was winning the battle for influence in the region, Sherman said she didn't see it quite that way.

It's not so much a battle, she said. I think that countries try to have relations with every country they believe will help them move forward. And the United States does not ask any country to choose between us and China, or any other country and China."

She said the U.S. wanted a level playing field and respect for the rules-based international order that was put in place after World War II, a system that had helped China rise and which ought to benefit all nations.

Sherman said she had discussed China among a number of topics in a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Sherman signed agreements to collaborate more closely with New Zealand on space missions and emergency management. It was the final stop on a trip that had taken her to Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Sherman spoke more about the decision of the Solomons' prime minister to stay away from Sunday's Guadalcanal commemoration.

I told him I was sorry for him because I thought he missed an opportunity to raise up that strong partnership and the fight for freedom that allowed the Solomon Islands to exist as it is today, she said.
Beijing has successfully completed weeklong exercises around Taiwan, though additional military activity in the region can be expected, a Chinese military official announced Wednesday.

China plans to continue military training and preparations, organize patrols in the Taiwan Strait and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Eastern Theater Command spokesman Col. Shi Yi said in a news release.

The drills, which began Aug. 4, included ballistic missile launches and live-fire by land and naval forces. Chinas Ministry of Defense said last week the exercise, a response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan on Aug. 3, would last four days.

A breakdown of Chinese military activity Wednesday was not immediately available. However, 10 Chinese warships and 45 aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, with 16 aircraft passing east of the median line, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense tweeted that day.

The exercise may be pretext for an invasion of the self-governed island, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters Tuesday. The drills encircling Taiwan have had a serious impact on international trade and regional security, he said.

Commercial vessels resumed travel through the area, one of the globes busiest trade routes, on Monday, Bloomberg News reported that day.

Taiwans military forces are on high alert and have conducted their own live-fire artillery drills, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Wu said China wont stop at Taiwan and is attempting to expand its territorial waters to the East and South China seas by taking control of the Taiwan Strait.

Chinas behavior toward Taiwan is merely a pretext, he said. Its ambitions and impact is extending far beyond Taiwan. It is thus critical that all freedom-loving nations work together to explore means to respond to the expansion of authoritarianism.

In response, a spokesman for Chinas Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that obdurate Taiwan independence elements misrepresent the facts.

The countermeasures taken by China in response to Pelosis provocative visit are justified, reasonable and lawful, Wenbin Wang said at a press conference. They are aimed at sending a warning to the provocateurs and punishing the Taiwan independent forces.

Taiwan has remained functionally separate from China since 1949. Beijing views the island as a breakaway province.

China reaffirmed its commitment to reunite Taiwan politically with the mainland by force, if necessary, in a white paper released Wednesday by the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing.

We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, the paper said. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures to reunify Taiwan.
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CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  Okinawans should stay close to home this week to forestall further spread of COVID-19, the prefectures governor said on the eve of the Obon holiday.

Although daily case numbers have fallen recently, the coronavirus seventh wave has yet to peak on the island prefecture, Gov. Denny Tamaki said at a news conference Tuesday.

Okinawa logged 4,289 new infections that day, down by 1,305 from the 5,594 cases on Aug. 2, according to the prefectures COVID-19 tracking website. The prefecture reported a pandemic daily record of 6,180 new cases Aug. 3, reported public broadcaster NHK.

Although the numbers have shown a slight downward trend, I don't think we have peaked since we are reaching the time when there will be more movement by people, such as Obon, Tamaki said Tuesday in Naha.

In Japanese culture, Obon is a holiday when the spirits of departed ancestors visit their families, typically a time for family gatherings. This year, Obon is being observed on Okinawa through Friday.

The decline in case numbers is due to people staying indoors and away from crowded shopping areas, Tamaki said. He urged people to remain home though the Obon period.

We need to continue our efforts to prevent spreading the infection, he said.

Tamaki declared an emergency on July 21, calling on the local population to mask up, refrain from nonessential outings, limit outdoor dining to small groups and avoid visiting at-risk populations like those with preexisting conditions or the elderly.

The U.S. military urged its population to observe the local order.

Okinawa remains highest of the 47 prefectures for per capita cases of the coronavirus respiratory disease, according to a prefectural statement Tuesday. It recorded 2,322.71 cases per 100,000 people as of Monday, followed by Osaka prefecture with 1,593.9 cases per 100,000, according to the prefectural Department of Public Health and Medical Care.

Okinawa hospitals reported 84.4% of the prefectures available beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients on Tuesday. Of those, more than a third are in serious condition, according to prefectural data.

The U.S. military on Okinawa reported 65 cases on Tuesday, along with 11 civilian base employees, according to the public health department. The U.S. military population on Okinawa has recorded 19,891 cases since the pandemic started in March 2020.

New cases of COVID-19 across Japan peaked Aug. 3 at 249,708 and declined afterward to 137,722 on Monday, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Although this wave, predominately the BA.5 subvariant of omicron, broke pandemic records for new case numbers, it is less deadly than preceding waves. Recent deaths peaked at 214 on Aug. 5, according to the centers data online.
SEOUL, South Korea  South Korea's government stressed Wednesday it will make its own decisions in strengthening its defenses against North Korean threats, rejecting Chinese calls that it continue the polices of Seoul's previous government that refrained from adding more U.S. anti-missile batteries that are strongly opposed by Beijing.

The differences between South Korea and China underscored a reemerging rift between the countries just a day after their top diplomats met in eastern China and expressed hope that the issue wouldn't become a "stumbling stone" in relations.

Bilateral ties took a significant hit in 2017 when South Korea installed a missile battery employing the U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, in response to nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

The decision drew an angry reaction from China, which said the anti-missile system could be reconfigured to peer into its territory. Beijing retaliated by suspending Chinese group tours to South Korea and obliterating the China business of South Korean supermarket giant Lotte, which had provided land for the missile system.

South Korea's previous president, Moon Jae-in, a liberal who pursued engagement with North Korea, tried to repair relations with Beijing by pledging the "Three Nos"  that Seoul wouldn't deploy any additional THAAD systems, wouldn't participate in U.S.-led missile defense networks and wouldn't form a trilateral military alliance with Washington and Tokyo.

Moon's dovish approach has been discarded by his conservative successor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed stronger security cooperation with Washington and expressed a willingness to acquire more THAAD batteries to counter accelerating North Korean efforts to expand its nuclear weapon and missile programs.

Commenting on Tuesday's meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin in a briefing Wednesday reaffirmed Beijing's stance that the THAAD system in South Korea undermines its "strategic security interests."

He added that Seoul had committed to a policy of "Three Nos and One Limit," the latter apparently referring to a pledge to limit the operations of the THAAD battery already in place, something Seoul has never publicly acknowledged.

"The two foreign ministers had another in-depth exchange of views on the THAAD issue, making clear their respective positions and enhancing mutual understanding," Wang said. He said the minsters agreed to "attach importance to each other's legitimate concerns and to continue to handle and control the issue prudently" to prevent it from becoming a "stumbling stone" in bilateral relations.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it understands that Wang was referring to the policies of the Moon government with the "Three Nos and One Limit" remark.

It said the Yoon government has maintained that THAAD is a defensive tool for protecting South Korean lives and property and a national security matter that Seoul isn't willing to negotiate with Beijing. It also insisted that the "Three Nos" were never a formal agreement or promise.

"During the meeting, both sides confirmed their differences over the THAAD matter, but also agreed that the issue should not become an obstacle that influences relations between the countries," the ministry said.

South Korea, a longtime U.S. ally, has struggled to strike a balance between the United States and the increasingly assertive foreign policy of Chinese President Xi Jinping's government.

Deepening conflicts between Washington and Beijing over a broad range of issues including Taiwan, Hong Kong, trade and Chinese claims to large sections of the South China and East China Seas have increased fears in Seoul that it would become squeezed between its treaty ally and largest trading partner.

During his meeting with Park, Wang Yi said the countries should be "free from external interference" and shouldn't interfere in each other's domestic affairs, an apparent jab at Seoul's tilt toward Washington.

Wang also called for the countries to work together to maintain stable industrial supply chains, a possible reference to fears that Chinese technology policy and U.S. security controls might split the world into separate markets with incompatible standards and products, slowing innovation and raising costs. South Korea is facing pressure from the Biden administration to participate in a U.S.-led semiconductor alliance involving Taiwan and Japan which China opposes.

Associated Press video producer Liu Zheng in Beijing contributed to this report.
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CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  The U.S. military in South Korea reported a jump in new COVID-19 infections last week as the disease continued to spike again across the country.

U.S. Forces Korea counted 442 new cases in the week ending Monday, a 39% increase over 316 cases the prior week, according to an update on the commands website. USFK is responsible for roughly 28,500 U.S. troops across the peninsula.

The commands latest report is the highest number of weekly infections since April 11, when it recorded 524 cases. USFK reported its one-week pandemic high, 1,599 new infections, on Jan. 10.

On Tuesday, South Korea reported 151,792 new COVID-19 cases, also its highest daily count in about four months, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

The spread of COVID-19 is accelerating again and daily infections could reach as high as 200,000 cases, Ministry of Health and Welfare vice minister Lee Ki-il said Wednesday.

The government is going to strengthen inspections and supervision over facilities which are vulnerable to infections, for example, geriatric hospitals and facilities," Lee said during a meeting at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul.

Lee urged South Koreans to get COVID-19 vaccine booster shots; those at a high risk of developing complications should get a second booster shot. As of Tuesday nearly 88% of South Koreas population of 51 million people have received a booster shot.

More than 25,380 people have died in South Korea of complications related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began in March 2020. Over 92% of those deaths were at least 60 years old.

As of Tuesday, 20.8 million people in South Korea have contracted COVID-19, according to KDCA.

The government is mindful of mental health concerns amid the surge of COVID-19 cases and intends to bring awareness to support services, Lee said. He said the risk of developing depression increased five times during the pandemic.

Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report.
MOSCOW  A senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday that Moscow's decision to declare a freeze on U.S. inspections of its nuclear arsenals under a key arms control treaty was triggered by Washington's push for a quick visit by inspectors.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the U.S. demand for Russia to immediately allow an inspection trip under the New START treaty looked like an open provocation amid the current U.S.-Russian tensions.

A notice about the U.S. intention to perform an inspection on our territory in the nearest days became a trigger, Ryabkov said in a statement posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website.

The ministry responded Monday by announcing a temporary halt on U.S. inspections. It argued that the sanctions on Russian flights imposed by the U.S. and its allies, visa restrictions and other obstacles effectively have made it impossible for Russian military experts to visit U.S. nuclear weapons sites, giving the U.S. unilateral advantages.

The Biden administration had no immediate public response to the move, which came amid soaring tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russias military action in Ukraine.

While Russia and the U.S. have suspended mutual inspections under the New START since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moscow's move raised new uncertainty about the pact's future.

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council noted a pause in inspections due to the pandemic, adding that the responsible thing to do is to resume them safely.

The spokesperson emphasized that resuming mutually beneficial inspections under New START is a key part of Russia-U.S. cooperation that must continue even when geopolitical tensions are high.

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the freeze is temporary, adding in Mondays statement that Moscow highly values the New START and saying inspections could resume after the problems hampering them are solved.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance.

Just days before the New START was due to expire in February 2021, Russia and the United States agreed to extend it for another five years.

Ryabkov said that Russia has been open to discussions about the resumption of inspections, but emphasized that it should be done on the basis of parity and equality. He charged that instead of negotiating mutually acceptable arrangements for inspectors' trips, Washington decided otherwise and engaged in an unfounded and unnecessary exacerbation of the situation.

We are calling on the U.S. to renounce counterproductive actions ... and continue close cooperation for the sake of the soonest resumption of inspections on a realistic and equal basis, he said.

Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
Crews at the German-American Baumholder military training area were battling another blaze Wednesday after extinguishing a 500-acre wildfire the day before, according to Landeskommando Rheinland-Pfalz, the German command authority in the region.

A nest of embers may have remained and flared up again, according to a spokesman with the German army.

Currently a small blaze is still in progress but in an inaccessible area away from residential areas or buildings. the spokesman said. We are taking all necessary measures to quickly put out the fire, and there is no danger at this time.

The earlier fire was reported Tuesday afternoon, the spokesman told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday. Constantly shifting and gusting winds turned the initially small blaze into a larger one by late evening.

The heat was so intense that blank bullets left over from previous military exercises went off, local news broadcaster SWR reported. German and U.S. firefighters extinguished the flames Tuesday evening. There were no injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but human error is being ruled out, as no exercises were scheduled at the time and no troops operated near the fire source, SWR reported.

German military officials said they think the fire was sparked spontaneously, given the drought conditions and recent high temperatures in the state.
Russian authorities detained a former state TV journalist who quit after staging an on-air protest against Moscow's war in Ukraine and charged her Wednesday with spreading false information about Russia's armed forces, according to her lawyer.

Marina Ovsyannikova was charged over a separate street protest last month, when she held up a banner that said "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists. 352 children have been killed (in Ukraine). How many more children should die for you to stop?"

If tried and convicted, Ovsyannikova faces up to 10 years in prison under a new law that penalizes statements against the military and that was enacted shortly after Russian troops moved into Ukraine, her lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, said in a Telegram post.

Ovsyannikova's home was raided Wednesday and she was taken for questioning. Zakhvatov said the former producer for Russian state-funded Channel One would spend the night in a holding cell at Moscow police headquarters.

Speaking to journalists outside the investigators' office, the lawyer said Ovsyannikova was holding up well. He said the new law, which allows people to be detained for picketing, showed that Russia's judicial system was in "complete default."

Ovsyannikova made international headlines on March 14, when she appeared behind the anchor of an evening news broadcast holding a poster that said "Stop the war, don't believe the propaganda, they are lying to you here." She was charged with disparaging the Russian military and fined $270 at the time.

After quitting her job, Ovsyannikova became somewhat of an activist, staging antiwar pickets and speaking out publicly against the conflict.

She was fined two more times in recent weeks for disparaging the military in a critical Facebook post and in comments she made at the court where opposition figure Ilya Yashin was remanded into custody pending trial, also accused of spreading false information about the military.

According to Net Freedoms, a legal aid group focusing on free speech cases, as of Wednesday there were 79 criminal cases on charges of spreading false information about the military and up to 4,000 administrative cases on charges of disparaging the armed forces.

Independent journalists in Russia have come under particular Kremlin scrutiny. A Moscow court on Wednesday fined the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta $5,700 for "abusing the freedom of mass information." It was unclear what the newspaper was accused of doing wrong.

Since Putin came to power more than two decades ago, nearly two dozen journalists have been killed, including at least four who had worked for Novaya Gazeta. The newspaper shut down in March.

Its editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. In June, he auctioned off his prize to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees. The gold medal sold for $103.5 million.
KYIV, Ukraine - A powerful attack on a Russian air base in occupied Crimea was the work of Ukrainian special forces, a Ukrainian government official told The Washington Post on Wednesday, suggesting an increasingly important role for covert forces operating deep behind enemy lines as the country expands efforts to expel Russian troops.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, did not disclose details of how Tuesday's attack was carried out. The attack marks a significant escalation in the nearly six-month-old war, demonstrating a new ability by Ukrainian forces to carry out attacks further behind the front lines than had previously been thought possible.

At least three explosions rocked the Saki air base Tuesday, in a coastal area of the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014 and is a popular vacation destination for Russians.

The Ukrainian air force said in a statement Wednesday that nine Russian military planes were destroyed at the base, which the authorities have said was used by Russia to launch missile strikes against Ukrainian-controlled territory.

If confirmed, the losses would be the biggest in a single day for the Russian air force since the start of the war, and could further curtail Russia's capacity to carry out missile strikes against Ukrainian cities, at least in the short term. Russia's air force has struggled to mount airborne operations throughout the war, and most of its strikes are launched from planes and ships comfortably out of reach of Ukrainian air defenses in Russia or Russian-occupied territory.

The attack could also have a profound impact on Russia's long-term ability to maintain its control over southern Ukraine, and especially the nearby province of Kherson, where Ukrainian forces are hoping to launch a counteroffensive to reclaim territory. Crimea has emerged as a key logistics hub for Russian operations in the south, the main transit point for troops, equipment and ammunition reinforcing and supplying the Kherson area.

If Crimea is now in play and the peninsula is vulnerable to further attack, Russia will have to guard a part of Ukraine where it had assumed it could operate unimpeded. And that could hamper its ability to reinforce and supply its troops in the south, said Andriy Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukrainian defense minister who is now chairman of Ukraine's Center for Defense Strategies, an independent think tank.

The attack has demonstrated to the Russians that "they are not invincible anywhere," he said. "Most importantly, they cannot feel safe in Crimea. They thought they were safe in Crimea and they thought they were safe at long-range distance."

Officially, Kyiv has refused to confirm or deny that Ukrainians were involved. But on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused his nightly address on Crimea, promising to win back the territory. "Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never give it up," he said, without mentioning the air base or the attack.

Exactly what caused the explosions at the base remains a source of speculation and Ukraine, if it were responsible, might never officially disclose its methods. Russian officials have said the first known strike against Crimea a little less than two weeks ago, against the Russian naval base at Sevastopol, was carried out by a drone. Some military experts suspect Tuesday's attack may also have been carried out by some form of drone, perhaps operated by covert forces hidden nearby.

Another possibility is that explosives were planted by saboteurs at key points in the facility, experts say. A missile could have caused the damage, but there has been no evidence of any missile impact and Ukraine is not known to have ready access to missiles with that kind of range.

Hints from Ukrainian officials that special operations forces may have been involved have put a spotlight on the activities of what is officially known as the National Resistance, and which many Ukrainians refer to as "partisans."

Led by Ukraine's special operations forces and under the overall command of the Ukrainian army, the shadowy force made up of trained infiltrators and local sympathizers has been stepping up activities aimed at disrupting Russia's logistics, administration, and command and control, according to Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.

The force is secret and details of its operations can't be disclosed, he said in an interview.

"If you ask me if there are partisans, I will answer: There are. They are everywhere. We prepared in advance and we have them," he said. "What they are doing is another matter. It depends on what tasks and when they will be received. And there is and will be resistance."

The resistance fighters could play an important role in complementing the conventional capabilities of Ukraine's armed forces, which remain heavily outgunned on the battlefield despite the arrival of Western weapons systems, Zagorodnyuk said.

"They are supposed to be nonpublic, but we know this movement exists and is very active," he said. "They can supplement Ukrainian conventional capabilities."

Guerrilla activity has been especially prevalent in the southern Kherson region, just north of Crimea. In June, a Russian-installed official in Kherson was killed in a mysterious bomb blast on his way to work, one of a number of assassinations attributed to the resistance. Posters around the city made by Ukrainian resistance groups have warned those working with the Russians that partisans would come for them too, according to images posted on social media.

One flier read, "If a HIMARS can't reach, a partisan will help," a reference to the U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems that have given the Ukrainians the ability to strike up to 50 miles behind Russian lines.

The Saki air base is located over 140 miles from the nearest front line and U.S. officials have told The Post that no U.S. weapons were used in the attack, ruling out the possibility that HIMARS were responsible for Tuesday's strike. But resistance operatives have played a role in helping locate key targets such as ammunition depots and command and control posts and providing coordinates for HIMARS teams to target, Ukrainian officials said.

Russia said Tuesday's blast was caused by an ammunition explosion, and officials reported that at least one person was killed and 13 were injured, including two children.

The Post could not independently verify the claims from either side.

___

Suliman reported from London. David L. Stern and Serhiy Morgunov in Kyiv contributed to this report.
A unit of Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund scooped up state-owned stakes in four Egyptian publicly listed companies for $1.3 billion, as part of the kingdom's commitment to channel resources to the struggling economy of a country seen as a linchpin in the Arab world.

The Saudi Egyptian Investment Co., a new firm set up by the $620 billion Public Investment Fund, acquired minority stakes in Abou Kir Fertilizers & Chemical Industries Co., Misr Fertilizer Production Co., Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Co., and E-Finance, Egypt's Planning Ministry and the PIF  as the Saudi fund is known  said in separate statements Wednesday.

The kingdom has pledged $10 billion of investments into Egypt in sectors such as health care, education and agriculture. It already provided support in March, when it deposited $5 billion in Egypt's central bank.

A major food importer, Egypt has been hit hard by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has sent the North African nation's wheat and fuel bills soaring, put pressure on its currency and prompted it to seek International Monetary Fund assistance.

The Saudi deals are "within the framework of the state's plan to expand the ownership base and encourage foreign direct investment," Egypt's planning minister said.

Financing from the Gulf provides a crucial backstop to Egypt as it looks stabilize finances.

Saudi Arabia's latest foray follows a roughly $2 billion deal by Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADQ earlier this year to buy state-owned stakes in publicly listed companies. Qatar also pledged to pump $5 billion into investments in Egypt in March.

Goldman Sachs Group has estimated that Egypt may need to secure a $15 billion package from the IMF, but Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said it's seeking a smaller amount. The country has seen foreign outflows of about $20 billion this year after bondholders exited what had been a favorite market.

Last month, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that he's also planning to invest in Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh as part of his Neom megaproject, located across the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea.

"We are engaging with the Egyptian government," he said. "We're going to create huge investment in Egypt and also benefit us."

Bloomberg's Vivian Nereim contributed to this report.
BEIRUT  President Joe Biden said Wednesday the U.S. is certain that the Syrian government is holding American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in the war-torn country a decade ago. He urged Damascus to help bring Tice back home.

Biden's comments came in a statement released by the White House to mark the 10th anniversary of Tice's abduction, which took place when he was in Syria covering its now lengthy conflict. They were the clearest indication so far that the U.S. is certain Tice is being held by the government of President Bashar Assad.

Tice went missing shortly after his 31st birthday on Aug. 14, 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of the capital Damascus. A video released a month later showed him blindfolded and held by armed men, saying "Oh, Jesus." He has not been heard from since.

"We know with certainty that he has been held by the Government of Syria," Biden said in the statement adding that "we have repeatedly asked the government of Syria to work with us so that we can bring Austin home."

"On the tenth anniversary of his abduction, I am calling on Syria to end this and help us bring him home," Biden said. He added there "is no higher priority in my Administration than the recovery and return of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad."

Four years ago, then-U.S. envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, said Tice is believed to be alive and held hostage in Syria. He didn't say why officials believe this or who might be holding him.

In May, top Lebanese security official Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim met with U.S. officials in Washington as part of mediation efforts between the U.S. and Syria for Tice's release. Ibrahim, the chief of Lebanon's General Security Directorate, has mediated complicated hostage releases in the past.

Tice is one of two Americans who went missing in Syria. The other is Majd Kamalmaz, a psychologist from Virginia, who vanished in Syria in 2017.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said in a statement that "we will continue to pursue all available avenues to bring Austin home and work tirelessly until we succeed in doing so."

Blinken said Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens will continue to engage with the Syrian government in close coordination with the White House, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and the State Department.

In 2016, then- Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told The Associated Press that "Austin Tice is not in the hands of Syrian authorities and we don't have any information about him at all." Mekdad is currently Syria's foreign minister.

In May, Biden met Tice's parents and reiterated his commitment to continue to work through all available avenues to secure "Austin's long overdue return to his family."

Tice is from Houston and his work had been published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets. He went to Syria to cover the conflict that started in 2011 and has since left hundreds of thousands dead and nearly half the pre-war population of 23 million displaced. More than 5 million of the displaced are refugees outside the country.

In the final months of the Trump administration, two U.S. officials  including the government's top hostage negotiator, Carstens  made a secret visit to Damascus to seek information on Tice and other Americans who have disappeared in Syria. It was the highest-level talk in years between the U.S. and Assad's government, though Syrian officials offered no meaningful information on Tice.

"The Tice family deserves answers, and more importantly, they deserve to be swiftly reunited with Austin," Biden said.
Police announced a breakthrough Tuesday in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, charging a man from Afghanistan  himself a Muslim  with two of the slayings and identifying him as a prime suspect in the other killings that put the entire community on edge.

Muhammad Syed, 51, was taken into custody a day earlier after a traffic stop more than 100 miles away, authorities said.

Three of the four ambush shootings happened in the last two weeks. Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes or serial killings or both.

Investigators received a tip from the city's Muslim community that pointed toward Syed, who has lived in the U.S. for about five years, police said.

Police were looking into possible motives, including an unspecified "interpersonal conflict."

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said "motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are."

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, acknowledged that "there was a marriage," but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of the suspect, who he said attended the center's mosque "from time to time."

"Knowing where we were, you know, a few days ago to where we are today is an incredible sigh of relief that we're breathing," he said. "Lives have been turned upside down."

The exact nature of the relationships between Syed and the victims  and the victims to one another  remained unclear. But police said they continue to investigate how they crossed paths before the shootings.

The slayings drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who said such attacks "have no place in America." They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

When told about the arrest before the suspect's identity was made public, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, brother of one of the victims, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, said he felt relieved but needed to know more about the assailant and the motive.

"This gives us hope that we will have (the) truth come out," he said. "We need to know why."

It was not immediately clear whether Syed had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed Friday night. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

The earliest case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

For now, Syed is charged in the killings of Aftab Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain because bullet casings found at the crime scenes were linked to a gun found at his home, authorities said.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

Police said they were about to search Syed's Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.

Officers followed him to Santa Rosa, about 110 miles east of Albuquerque, where they pulled him over. Multiple firearms were recovered from his home and car, police said.

Syed's sons were questioned and released, according to authorities.

Prosecutors expect to file murder charges in state court and are considering adding a federal case, authorities said.

Shiites make up the second largest branch in Islam after Sunnis.

Aneela Abad, general secretary at the Islamic center, said the two Muslim communities in New Mexico enjoy warm ties.

"Our Shiite community has always been there for us and we, Sunnis, have always been there for them," she said.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussain had worked as a field organizer for Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury's campaign.

"Muhammad was kind, hopeful, optimistic," she said, describing him as a city planner "who believed in democracy and social change, and who believed that we could, in fact, build a brighter future for our communities and for our world." ___

Dazio reported from Los Angeles and Fam from Winter Park, Florida. Associated Press writer Robert Jablon in LA also contributed to this report.
When President Joe Biden tapped Merrick Garland to lead the Justice Department last year, he selected a cautious appeals court judge known as a political moderate who could build consensus.

Garland, a former federal prosecutor, would attempt to rebuild trust in the sprawling and powerful law enforcement agency after the tumultuous Trump presidency, his supporters said. He would try to convince the public and lawmakers that he was an apolitical attorney general, even as he tackled some of the nation's most contentious political issues.

But the FBI's highly unusual search Monday of former president Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club put Garland square in the middle of a huge political firestorm. The search, part of a long-running probe into the possible mishandling of presidential documents, drew praise from Democrats who have been hoping the Justice Department would seriously investigate Trump and the ire of conservatives who decried the search as an abuse of power.

Trump called the court-authorized search "prosecutorial misconduct" and the "weaponization of the Justice System." Some of his supporters say the FBI's action could galvanize Trump's base if he runs for president in 2024.

Republican allies on Capitol Hill denounced Garland and pledged to turn the tables and investigate the Justice Department. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said the attorney general should resign or be impeached.

The partisan outcry was the opposite of what Garland has sought in his 17 months on the job, during which he has launched multiple high-profile civil rights investigations and efforts to fight gun trafficking and hate crimes, while also overseeing the sprawling investigation of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol and the unprecedented efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Time and again, Garland has refused to discuss that probe or any other investigation in progress, whether or not it involves the former president. He has repeatedly pledged to follow the facts where they lead, and to hold anyone who breaks the law accountable, regardless of who that person may be.

For months, Trump's critics - especially, but not limited to, those on the left - pummeled Garland for not moving quickly to investigate Trump on multiple fronts. In recent weeks and months, without fanfare, the Justice Department and U.S. attorney's office in Washington began obtaining communications from people in Trump's inner circle and subpoenaing witnesses to appear before a grand jury, clearly indicating that Trump's actions and conversations had become part of the scope of the Jan. 6-related probe.

"You are undoubtedly going to have people saying that this is the ultimate political act," said Donald Ayer, a deputy attorney general under President George H.W. Bush, said of the raid. "But that's just nonsense. . . . He has a job to do."

The Justice Department would not comment on whether Garland signed off on the FBI raid, and Garland has not discussed it. He made just one public comment on Monday, about the sentencing of three men convicted on federal charges in connection with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, a young Black man killed while jogging in his Georgia neighborhood.

"The Justice Department's prosecution of this case and the court's sentences today make clear that hate crimes have no place in our country," Garland said in a statement. "Protecting civil rights and combatting white supremacist violence was a founding purpose of the Justice Department, and one that we will continue to pursue with the urgency it demands."

Kristy Parker - a former federal prosecutor and counsel at the advocacy group Protect Democracy - said that while it's inevitable the reaction to the search would be politicized, Garland's silence before and after the search of Trump's property was critical to him building trust in the process. She said it showed the attorney general wasn't trying to appeal to any group during the investigation and has been letting the probe run its course.

"It is important to look at the manner of what is being done, and not just the substance of what is being done," Parker said. "And it's just as important to depoliticizing the department to ensure that no one is above the law as it is to try to avoid prosecuting the president or someone from the opposite political party."

But some lawyers questioned why the Justice Department and FBI would execute such a high-profile search on a former president's residence over missing documents, even if some of them are classified (sitting presidents have broad powers to declassify documents, further complicating the situation).

Stanley Brand, a former House counsel who represents some of the Jan. 6 defendants and witnesses, said that search warrants don't always yield any blockbuster or useful information. He called the FBI search of Trump's property a huge escalation in the investigation of documents improperly taken to Mar-a-Lago. If investigators don't recoup materials that showed that there were serious national consequences for the materials he potentially kept, Brand said, it could tarnish the Justice Department's reputation.

"If they are trying to rebound from the perception that their decision-making was skewed from the Trump Era, this is not going to help that," Brand said. "Part of it depends on what happens hereafter."
WASHINGTON  President Joew Biden stood outside the White House on Tuesday, celebrating what was arguably the best stretch of his presidency. He smiled. He basked, aviators firmly in place, in the sun. He signed his latest legislative priority into law.

"Decades from now, people are going to look back at this week  with all we passed, and all we moved on  [and say] that we met the moment at this inflection point in history," Biden said, before signing a bill to boost semiconductor manufacturing.

That may be true. But they also may not remember it tomorrow. Cable news channels covered his remarks, but then quickly returned to the topic they had been covering before the brief Biden interlude: Donald Trump.

For much of his presidency, Biden has had a hard time competing for attention with the predecessor he calls "The Former Guy," the one who left office a year-and-a-half ago but never really left the public consciousness. The news is often not particularly positive for Trump  revelations about his presidency, congressional testimony and hearings, legal rulings and complications  but it can nonetheless eclipse Biden's ability to deliver his message and command public attention.

The phenomenon is a rarity in modern politics. President Barack Obama did not have to worry about being upstaged by news about George W. Bush, who quietly left for his Texas ranch and began pursuing life as a painter. George W. Bush did not have to worry about Bill Clinton. Trump himself did not have to worry about Obama, who made it a point not to offer regular commentary on his successor.

But it's becoming a striking feature of the Biden presidency that the former president is regularly intruding to steal the public spotlight, less because of his current actions than the aftershocks of his presidency. No president in memory has had to contend with a predecessor who falsely claims he won the last election and hints broadly that he will run again, while land mines from his time in office continue to erupt.

This week is no exception. Over the course of several hours on Monday, as Biden was visiting flood victims in Kentucky, photos emerged purporting to show that Trump had flushed documents down the toilet. A new book excerpt reported that Trump had expressed appreciation for the loyalty that Nazi generals showed Adolf Hitler. The day concluded with the bombshell that the FBI had searched Trump's Mar-a-Lago home, a tempest that shows little sign of abating.

The onslaught rolled into Tuesday, which brought news of a court ruling that Trump must provide his tax returns to Congress.

Biden promised voters he would seek to not grab their attention the way Trump did, but he may not have imagined that Trump would continue to seize that attention. In Biden's remarks on Tuesday on signing the semiconductor bill, he never mentioned Trump but seemed to allude to him.

"We hear that noise out there. We know there are those who focus more on seeking power than securing the future  those who seek division instead of strength in unity, who tear down rather than build up," Biden said. "Today is a day for builders. Today, America is delivering."

After signing measures to authorize Sweden and Finland joining NATO  another landmark for his presidency  Biden ignored questions shouted from stage right about the FBI search of Trump's home.

But this week is only the latest example. During his recent trip overseas for meetings of NATO and the Group of Seven, Biden's actions on the global stage were often overshadowed by the Jan. 6 congressional hearings. Efforts to corral countries into imposing caps on Russian oil imports were no match for former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony about a purported assault by Trump on one of his Secret Service protectors and a fit of anger in which he threw a porcelain plate at a White House wall and left dripping ketchup in his wake.

But while reports about Trump continue to dominate the news, the former president is not the one setting the agenda or driving the coverage. The focus is no longer on the live-streaming of his rallies or his Twitter feed, but rather on the fallout from his startling actions as president and the resulting investigations.

The country is still experiencing the aftershocks from the Trump earthquake of four years. But it means that events often seem to be playing out in parallel worlds. In one, Biden signs laws, holds traditional presidential events and rarely mentions Trump; in the other, shocking revelations regularly unfold on what resembles a perpetual Trump news channel.

Biden continues with his earnest attempts at enacting and touting policy achievements, from infrastructure to veterans' health. But even though some could have generational impact, they can get overtaken in the news by the sugar high of Trump drama, at least in the moment.

During a White House press briefing that stretched nearly an hour, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday discussed the administration's strategy on sub-Saharan Africa, declining gas prices, the fate of various bills in Congress  and the president's persistent cough earlier in the day ("He experiences coughs from time to time independent of him getting COVID," she said).

But Trump and the raid of his home dominated reporters' questions, despite Jean-Pierre's effort to make it clear that the White House had little to say on the latest Trump turn. "The president was not briefed, was not aware of it," she said. "No one from the White House was given a heads-up."

That was the pattern as question after question followed, including Biden's personal reaction to the raid, when and how he found out about it, his response to Republican criticism of it, his response to Trump potentially removing classified documents and whether he considers Trump a political rival.

"I'm just not going to comment on any reaction to what happened," Jean-Pierre said. Several times she read prior comments from Biden saying that his Department of Justice would operate independently and without political interference.

But for Biden, the feeling is not unusual. His inauguration took place at a Capitol still reeling from the mob attack that Trump inspired. And about three weeks after he took office, Biden was pushing his first big legislative initiative, the American Rescue Plan.

But after his comments describing his hopes for the proposal and what it would accomplish, he was peppered with questions about Trump's impeachment trial and whether he was going to watch it.

"I am not," Biden responded. "Look, I told you before: I have a job."
Around 9 a.m. Monday, FBI agents appeared at the entrance to Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Their arrival apparently came as a surprise to the Secret Service agents tasked with protecting the former president's residence. When news of the FBI search of the property emerged nine hours later, that surprise spread nationally  and triggered an immediate firestorm.

Details of what agents did at Mar-a-Lago, why they were there and what they seized are still sketchy, with new details emerging regularly. That said, here is what we currently understand about the day's events.

Before Monday

U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart signed a search warrant authorizing federal law enforcement to search the former president's residence. The warrant itself didn't contain much information, as Trump attorney Christina Bobb said in an interview Tuesday. That isn't unusual.

The affidavit submitted by the FBI as it sought the warrant, however, would have been much more detailed. Journalist Marcy Wheeler walked through what the affidavit for the Trump search might have included in broad strokes, but the one submitted for the search of Trump adviser Roger Stone's home gives a sense of the sort of detail that would have been included.

About 9 a.m. Monday

The FBI arrives at Mar-a-Lago. As noted above, it appears that the Secret Service was not given any notification in advance. Bureau agents were given access to the property. A person who spoke with a reporter for NewsNation, Brian Entin, said that the agents were in plain clothes, so staffers may have thought they were Secret Service agents, helping explain why the news didn't break.

The timing for the search, though, also minimized the number of people who would be around. Mar-a-Lago is closed during the summer, when demand for spending time in southern Florida is low. While the facility is now Trump's primary residence, he is currently staying at his club in Bedminster, N.J. Only a few staffers would have been around at Mar-a-Lago anyway.

Trump's son Eric was apparently the first person informed that the FBI had arrived, according to an interview he gave Fox News host Sean Hannity. Eric Trump said that he is the one who told his father. He may also have been the one to inform Bobb, who was the first attorney to arrive at the scene, some time before 10 a.m.

When Bobb got there, she asked to see the warrant. In an interview on a right-wing streaming service Tuesday, she claimed that agents were reticent to share the document with her at first. In that interview, she verified that the search included a focus on documents Trump might have removed from the White House.

"They also said that they were looking for classified documents, evidence of a crime as far as classified documents go," Bobb said. "So they were looking for both classified information that they think should not have been removed from the White House as well as presidential records."

Trump's legal team was given a copy of the warrant. It has declined to release it, one source told NBC News's Vaughn Hillyard, because "the burden of transparency rests with the [Justice Department] to lay out its reasoning." Since the warrant also includes an articulation of the potential legal violations to which the search relates, it may also be the case that Trump's team wants to avoid revealing the scope of the legal threat Trump faces.

10 a.m. Monday

Attorney Lindsey Halligan is called about the search. She arrives at Mar-a-Lago about an hour later. In an interview with CBS News, Halligan provided a number of details about the FBI's activities.

The search involved "30 to 40" people, she told CBS, with "a handful dressed in suits, but most wore T-shirts, cargo pants, masks and gloves." Some 10 to 15 vehicles were involved, including a box truck. FBI agents searched "a bedroom, a storage area and an office," Halligan said.

The "storage area" is likely the basement. As the Justice Department was engaged earlier this year with Trump's team about potential documents stored at Mar-a-Lago, it noted that the basement was poorly secured, prompting Trump to add a lock to the door. "When FBI agents searched the property Monday, Bobb added, they broke through the lock," The Washington Post reported.

The office is the facility's former bridal suite. That was the location of the safe, Entin reported, which he described as a "hotel-style safe." It's not clear how the FBI accessed it, though experts who spoke with Slate indicated that the bureau has tools for quickly opening safes with electronic locks, like those used in hotels. In his Hannity interview, Eric Trump said that there was "nothing" in the safe, though it's not clear if he meant that literally or in the sense that it contained nothing pertinent to the search.

Bobb and Halligan were not allowed to observe the FBI's search. Halligan told CBS News they were "forced to remain outside, between the ballroom and residence, on the grounds of Mar-a-Lago."

Around 6:30 p.m. Monday

The search concludes. Investigators removed about 12 boxes of material, most or all of which apparently came from the basement area.

Right about then, a person texted Peter Schorsch, a former political operative who now runs a website focused on Florida politics. "Did you know Mar-a-Lago is being raided right now?" the person asked when Schorsch called him. Neither Schorsch nor anyone outside Trump's immediate circle did.

6:36 p.m. Monday

Schorsch breaks the news on Twitter.

Fifteen minutes later, Trump confirmed it on Truth Social. The firestorm began.
Federal agents seized the cellphone of Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., while he was traveling with his family Tuesday, executing a court-authorized search warrant that a person familiar with the situation said was part of a criminal probe into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Perry, an ally of Donald Trump who played a key role in promoting the former president's false claims of election fraud, wrote in a statement that the contents of his phone are not the "government's business."

Perry said federal law enforcement agents did not attempt to reach his attorneys before the seizure, but he wrote in his statement that they would have handed over his phone had they been contacted. A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment Tuesday evening.

The person familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said the phone was taken as part of a Justice Department investigation into the use of fake electors to try to overturn President Biden's victory. Perry is the first member of Congress known to have his phone seized as part of that inquiry.

"My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends," Perry wrote in the statement on Tuesday, comparing the situation with an FBI search on Monday of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. "As with President [Donald] Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys."

Fox News first reported that Perry said agents confiscated his phone.

In June, Perry's involvement in pushing Trump to get the election overturned became part of the questioning in the congressional hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. At the hearing, former acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen testified that Perry pressed him to investigate a false claim that an Italian defense contractor had conspired with senior CIA officials to use military satellites to flip votes from Trump to Joe Biden.

Witnesses testified that Perry helped push an effort to install Jeffrey Clark, a Justice Department official, as the acting attorney general. Clark played a key role in Trump's efforts to get law enforcement officials to challenge Biden's election victory.

And Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide, testified that Perry was among several members of Congress who sought a preemptive pardon from Trump for their activities in the run-up to the Jan. 6 violence. Perry has denied that allegation.

In June, federal agents seized the cellphone of John Eastman, a lawyer who pushed false claims that mass voter fraud tainted the 2020 election. That same day, they also conducted a search at the home of Clark and reportedly took his electronic devices.

Perry said in his statement Tuesday that he is "outraged" but not "surprised that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garland's DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress."

---

Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
(Tribune News Service)  Alvin Lawrence Alce was surrounded by family when an Army general pinned a Purple Heart medal to his shirt this week.

The Vietnam War veteran had earned the honor more than a half century ago in Vietnam.

Alce, born and raised in Key West, Fla., was wounded at the Battle of Hamburger Hill, a 3,000-foot mountain nickname for the number of lives lost there during a several-day period in May 1969.

A year before, Alce had been drafted into the Army. He was 18.

Itd been raining every day and it was close fighting, said Alce, 72. It was rough.

The bullets were relentless. Like bees chasing you, he said.

Grenades would land near the U.S. soldiers, Alce said, and theyd pick them up and throw them back at the enemy troops.

All you could do was keep pushing, the veteran said of the battle, in a short interview Monday at the Harvey Government Center in Key West.

Alce spoke after a medal presentation ceremony complete with a color guard, bugle call and speeches.

Those in attendance included high-ranking military officials, Key West Mayor Teri Johnston and Key West City Commissioner Clayton Lopez.

So proud of you, Lopez told Alce with a handshake. But I always have been.

Alce has three battle scars  one each on his back, hip and left arm  from shooting on May 18, 1969.

He was one of 372 Americans wounded at Hamburger Hill, where 72 others died.

As Alce greeted friends, elected officials, military veterans and other well-wishers Monday, he offered a few times to show his back and arm scars to people. He would lift the shirttail of his light blue guayabera just a bit to show where the gunfire struck.

Monroe County officials on Monday didnt offer an explanation for why Alce had to wait 53 years for the Purple Heart.

In 2019, the countys Veterans Affairs department, led by Director Cathy Crane and Deputy Director James Carey, discovered Alce lacked a Purple Heart, which they knew he had earned in Vietnam.

Alce already had a Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, a Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm Device.

But the Purple Heart had never materialized for Alce, who was honorably discharged on Aug. 1, 1970, having served in the 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry, Americal Division and the 101st Airborne Division.

The Army announced Alce would receive the Purple Heart in an order on March 20, 2020. But that date coincided with the start of the pandemic shutdown.

Alce finally got the medal on Monday.

Its beautiful, Alce said, of the honor. If I had to do it, Id go again.

2022 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
DENVER  A sheriffs deputy and an unidentified woman were fatally shot at a house in southern Colorado over the weekend and the suspected gunman was later found dead inside the same home, authorities said Monday.

El Paso County Sheriffs Deputy Andrew Peery, 39, was shot Sunday after he arrived with two other law enforcement officers to investigate a report of a shooting at the home in the Security-Widefield neighborhood near Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs police said in a statement. John Paz, 33, fired at the officers, hitting Peery, and another sheriffs deputy returned fire, police said.

Officers found the body of the woman in the homes front yard, police said. Paz died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Colorado Springs police, which is investigating the shooting, believe Paz also killed the woman. Her connection to Paz was still being investigated, spokesperson Jason Newton said.

Paz worked at the U.S. Air Force Academys airfield in the 94th Flying Training Squadron, which conducts glider training for cadets. He had been an aviation resource management technician there since December, school spokesperson Dean J. Miller said.

Our condolences go out to all the friends and family affected by Sundays incident, Miller said.

People lined up on Sunday to honor Peery as a hearse carrying his remains drove from a hospital to the coroners office.

Gov. Jared Polis also expressed sympathy to the family of Peery, who was a decorated member of the sheriffs departments SWAT team.

My thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Deputy Peery and all our neighbors in law enforcement who put their lives at risk to serve others, he said.
A Rhode Island woman who passed herself off as a decorated Marine Corps veteran and cancer patient to obtain more than a quarter of a million dollars in veterans benefits and charitable donations pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Sarah Jane Cavanaugh, 31, was charged by federal authorities with falsifying military service records, identity theft, forgery, false use of military medals and wire fraud.

She faces a maximum of 24 years in prison. Prosecutors agreed to recommend a prison term at the low end of the federal guidelines. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for November.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Gendron told the court Tuesday that Cavanaugh has never served in the military in any capacity, according to the Providence Journal, which also identified her as a former Veterans of Foreign Wars post commander.

Nevertheless, she claimed to have earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. She also used her position as a social worker at a Veterans Affairs hospital to gain access to real veterans records, created a phony service history for herself and fabricated medical documents to claim that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

The Wounded Warrior Project alone said it spent $225,895 on Cavanaugh so she could pay for groceries and physical therapy, court documents show.

In addition, she accepted more than $17,000 in donations via veterans charity Code of Support for mortgage payments, repairs to her home furnace and even a local gym membership.

She also collected nearly $15,000 in tuition support from the arts charity CreatiVets, according to court documents.

A GoFundMe campaign that she started to solicit money brought in $4,700, which was transferred to her bank account, prosecutors said.

As commander of VFW Post 152 in North Kingstown, she embezzled more than $4,000 intended as holiday donations for a local giving tree charity, according to prosecutors.

She used her work email to buy Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals and wore the military decorations pinned to a friends Marine uniform during public events.

The VFW Department of Rhode Island could not be reached for comment at the time of publishing.

Cavanaugh based many of her requests for support on her supposed diagnosis of advanced lung cancer, which she blamed on toxic exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan and inhalation of particulate matter in the aftermath of a roadside bomb, according to court documents.

To support her claims, she used treatment records from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that belonged to a friends mother, prosecutors said.

Cavanaugh eventually was reported to the VA for a suspicious request for support she submitted to HunterSeven Foundation, a veteran-run nonprofit. An internal investigation by the VA inspector generals office later found inconsistencies in the fraudulent documents.

Cavanaughs guilty plea comes two days after Purple Heart Day, Aug. 7, which honors recipients of the medal given in recognition of death or injury in combat.

What Sarah Cavanaugh did is despicable and an insult to the brave men and women who have selflessly risked their lives, and made real sacrifices in service to this country, said Joseph Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBIs Boston division. Now this fraudster is a convicted felon for claiming valor where there is none, and for swindling more than a quarter of a million dollars in benefits and charitable donations from unsuspecting citizens who wanted nothing more than to help deserving veterans.

Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Tribune News Service)  On the night war came, it felt like time stopped. Dr. Yakov Jacob Gradinar, who emigrated from Ukraine to the United States in 2007, couldnt keep his eyes off the news: Bombs, then more bombs. He called his parents in the western Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia. They told him bombs hit Lviv, only 120 miles away.

Gradinar pleaded with his parents and four siblings to leave. But no: This, they told him, is ours.

Amid hopelessness, Gradinar prayed: How to help from half a world away? In time, an answer would come to the former orthopedic surgeon in Ukraine, now a prosthetic limb specialist in Minneapolis.

That same February night, Maxym Shevchenko, a 23-year-old Ukrainian Army commander, was also stunned. He was stationed in eastern Ukraine, near the Donbas region coveted by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Shevchenko had dismissed Putins saber-rattling  until Russian missiles flew overhead. One exploded next to him, severing his left shin.

Shevchenko lay on the ground, thinking of his parents, and his sister, and the girl he planned to marry. He realized his left leg was gone. For a moment, he didnt care if he lived or died.

Then he saw an army friend. The friend bent down and lifted him up.

Prosthetics for Ukrainians

Nearly half a year later, on a pleasant July evening, Shevchenko sat outside a coffee shop in downtown Minneapolis. Four more Ukraine soldiers were with him. Of the five, four had lost one leg; a fifth had lost both. Nearby stood Gradinar, the 46-year-old prosthetist at Limb Lab who, along with others in Minnesotas Ukrainian community, have secured donations, cajoled American and Ukrainian leaders, burst through months of red tape and figured how to get these men here and make their bodies whole.

These five are the first; soon will be more. Last week, a 9-year-old boy arrived, missing an arm. The week before: an 11-year-old boy missing a leg. Later this month: an older Ukrainian couple from Bucha, site of the wars most horrific massacre by Russian troops, the husband missing a leg.

And then, hopefully, more. Gradinar has a list of nearly 400 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians in need of prosthetics, who had found online Prosthetics for Ukrainians, the organization he founded with Yury Aroshidze, a 28-year-old Belarusian living in the Twin Cities.

As people sipped coffee and wine nearby, the soldiers smoked cigarettes and marveled at their new limbs. The man who lost both legs stood from his wheelchair with the aid of his wife, and he walked  gingerly, slowly, but remarkably, considering hed been fitted for prostheses two days before.

Shevchenko spoke of when he lay on the ground, leg newly gone, debating whether to live or die. At that moment, he couldnt have known his upcoming journey: Months in a Ukrainian hospital, then rehab, then a flight to Minnesota. In his horrific beginning to a horrific war, he couldnt see the future. Shevchenko only saw his army buddy, lifting him up.

And I realized, I should stand, and I should live,  he said through a translator.

War in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine has upended the world. A nation devastated. Millions of Ukrainians displaced in Europes worst refugee crisis since World War II. A global food crisis. Skyrocketing energy costs. A Western coalition reinvigorated through a war where lines couldnt be more clear: the West versus Russia, democracy versus authoritarianism, good versus evil.

Against the odds, Ukraine continues to fight. A war many had expected to last just days stretches on. And with it, mind-numbing casualty figures.

Estimates vary widely, as Ukraine and Russia tightly guard casualty statistics. More than 11,000 Ukrainian combatants and civilians have been killed so far, although that estimate based on data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project is considered conservative; the United Nations estimates more than 12,000 total casualties just among civilians, and the Ukrainian government says 100 to 200 soldiers die daily. Recent U.S. intelligence estimates say 75,000 Russian casualties.

Gradinar focuses on a more manageable tally: the 395 Ukrainians whove applied for his prosthetics.

Like the 9-year-old who arrived Wednesday  he lost his arm when a rocket killed his father and stepbrother. Hes the same age as Gradinars youngest children, twins.

Gradinar pulled up the boys passport. He pointed to his birth year: 2013.

Thats what shocks you, when you look at that, he said.

Ukrainian-Americans in Minnesota

The war quickly galvanized Minnesotas Ukrainian-American population, about 16,000 strong. Some formed Stand With Ukraine MN, which sends money, medical aid, food and clothing to Ukraine while engaging in advocacy and holding fundraisers, including a dinner on Sunday with the soldiers.

Mykola Sarazhynskyy, who came from Ukraine for college and now lives in Plymouth and works in marketing, has been horrified at the invasion. It feels like Mongol Tatars in the 1200s, he said, just hordes of tribes, moving in and pretty much killing what they see.

Worried about his mother and sister in Ukraine, he figured he had two choices: Go fight, or help from here. He helped from here, and he has become a key connector and fundraiser in Minnesotas Ukrainian community. Theyve all found each other: Sarazhynskyy, Gradinar, Aroshidze, more. The work helps them process survivors guilt. Their help has been all-encompassing: They sent body armor, tactical medicine supplies such as tourniquets and blood-clotting medications, and negative pressure wound therapy devices to help amputees heal. The prosthetics project has gone viral in Ukraine with social media posts from a Ukrainian comedian, Viktor Hevko, who is close with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

At times it seems like things happen serendipitously, where people connect very quickly over the same goal, Sarazhynskyy said.

Learning to walk, again

The first five soldiers arrived on a Saturday night in late July. By Sunday morning, they were re-learning how to walk. Two days later, they strode in downtown Minneapolis as passersby tried not to stare.

Daniel Sivakov, 21, of Mariupol, stood on his two new legs. His blue-green eyes looked out from under a fresh buzz cut from a Minnesota barber, and his face sported peach fuzz.

On March 21, a Russian drone spotted his unit in a trench in the Donbas. Missiles rained in. The friend next to him was killed.

Walking feels like a miracle, he said, even if his stumps are sore. Hes enjoying America: a meal at Fogo de Chao, a running clinic at the University of Minnesota, a trip to Turtle Lake for tubing, a visit to Chicago, a break from wartime. His mother and 4-year-old brother are relatively safe in western Ukraine, but he worries for his soldier father. When Sivakovs phone rings, hes afraid to pick up.

While the men were in Chicago, Gradinar and a dozen Ukrainians gathered at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The door opened, and an exuberant 9-year-old boy burst through: Artem Fedorenko, his left arm gone. His mother, Oksana Shpakovych, is excited for her sons new arm; she doesnt want him to be different from other boys. Artem is excited too; he loves Marvel movies. He decided hes going to be Iron Man, she said through a translator.

Outside the coffee shop downtown, Shevchenko, who lost his leg the first day of the war, stood then sat, testing his new leg. He believes in karma, that Putin will receive justice.

For now, he watches Gradinar make adjustments to his new leg and enjoys a taste of the United States. There is no war, he said, at least not for now.

But his medical leave ends soon, and then hell return home, to a war zone. Even though he has one leg, he still wants to be a soldier: to go to the front lines, to fight for his country.

It would be the worst if they told me I wont be able to be in the military, he said. That would kill me.

2022 StarTribune.

Visit at startribune.com .

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON  A photo of every service member whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is now featured on a website dedicated to honoring them.

At least one photo has been found of each of the more than 58,000 service members listed on the memorial, also known as The Wall, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announced in a news release. The photos can be viewed on the virtual Wall of Faces, which is dedicated to honoring and remembering these service members who died or were missing in action during the Vietnam War.

When VVMF began this effort, the goal was to put a face with a name for each of the 58,281 service members whose names are inscribed on The Wall. To ensure that visitors to The Wall understand that behind each name is a face  a person with a story of a family and friends who were forever changed by their loss, VVMF President and CEO Jim Knotts said in the release. Today, the Wall of Faces tells these stories through photos and remembrances left by both friends and family members.

The search for the photos began in 2001, with a more concerted effort launched in 2009, the release said. Volunteers and family members of these veterans from across the country contributed to the effort.

VVMF, the nonprofit that founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in 1982, is still seeking higher quality photos and remembrances of these Vietnam veterans, Knotts said in the release.

To view and search the Wall of Faces, visit vvmf.org/wall-of-faces. Visit vvmf.org or call 202-393-0090 for more information.
Ugandan-born Farah Damji is wanted in the UK to serve out the remainder of her prison sentence for stalking and breaching a restraining order

The High Court has remanded in custody a woman who is wanted in the UK to serve out the remainder of her prison sentence for stalking and breaching a restraining order.

55-year-old Ugandan-born Farah Damji was arrested on Wednesday by members of An Garda Siochana at a property in rural Co Galway before being brought before the vacation sitting of the High Court in Dublin.

The British-raised Ms Damji, who has several fraud convictions in a number of jurisdictions, was arrested on foot of a bench warrant issued over her alleged failure to appear before courts that were considering the extradition request.

She had claimed she should not be surrendered due to inadequacies of the UK prison systems mental health services would have an impact on her fundamental rights.

In June the Supreme Court dismissed her arguments and upheld an earlier decision by the High Court to order her surrender to the UK.

A stay was placed on the order for her extradition pending the final determination on when her surrender should take place.

She had been on bail while her appeal was being considered.

However, a bench warrant seeking her arrest was issued after she breached the terms of her bail.

It was claimed that in breach of one of the terms of her bail she had failed to appear before the Supreme or High Courts when they were considering her case.

Farah Damji (55) Photograph: Collins Courts

On Wednesday afternoon Damji appeared before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds following her arrest by Detective Garda Eoin Kane of the Garda Extradition Unit at an address outside Ballinasloe, in Co Galway.

Following an application by Alison Fynes Bl for the Minister the judge agreed to remand Ms Damji in custody pending her extradition.

The Judge, after considering the Supreme Court's decision, also lifted the stay on the extradition order that had previously been granted by the courts.

The Judge said it appeared that Ms Damji had "exhausted every avenue" available to her regarding the extradition request.

In reply, solicitor Elise Martin Vignerte for Damji said that their client may bring other proceedings, including seeking an inquiry into the legality of her detention, aimed at preventing the extradition from taking and asked the court not to lift the stay and simply to adjourn the proceedings.

The judge said that she was not prepared to leave the stay in place and cleared the way for Ms Damji's surrender to take place.

The issue of bringing of any further proceedings was a matter for Ms Damji, the judge added.

Previously the Courts had heard that Ms Damji came to Ireland having absconded during her trial in London in February 2020.

She was convicted in her absence by a London Court of twice breaching a restraining order in April and June 2018 and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment.

She was arrested in Dublin in August 2020 and detained in custody in this State for seven months, before being granted bail.

Damji, who was living at an address in Dublin, also has a criminal record for fraud and theft reaching back to the 1990s.

Giving the Supreme Court's decision, which was reached unanimously by the five judges that consider the appeal, Mr Justice John MacMenamin said there was no basis for concluding High Court judge erred in his findings that led to him ordering Damjis extradition.

Ms Damji submitted that she has significant psychological vulnerabilities because of a history of experiencing abuse as a child and an adult, along with other traumatic events.

She contended that her condition would likely deteriorate further if she was obliged to serve the balance of her sentence, expected to be relatively short, in the UK.

Any order for her surrender to the UK would contravene her rights under the 2003 European Arrest Warrant Act which prohibits such orders from being made in situations where they would be incompatible with the State's obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights or the Constitution, she also claimed.

However, the Supreme Court found the evidence did not establish that Damji would be denied reasonable and required treatment while serving the short remainder of her sentence.
Nicola Nicholl became violent and abusive after travelling to the city for the annual celebrations.

A woman who punched and spat at police officers on duty for a Twelfth of July parade has been jailed for four months.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard Nicola Nicholl became violent and abusive after travelling to the city for the annual celebrations.

The 29-year-old, of no fixed abode in Carrickfergus, pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and assaulting three police constables.

She targeted the officers carrying out evening parade duties at Botanic railway station in south Belfast last month.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard she became violent and abusive after travelling to the city for the annual celebrations. Pic: Peter Morrison

As they dealt with a separate incident a heavily intoxicated Nicholl began to push them, according to the prosecution.

She became verbally abusive, shouting f*** off to police and calling one officer a w*****, a Crown lawyer said.

Nicholl was restrained but then punched one of the constables in the chest.

She also spat at two officers, spitting to the chest and head of one, and to the arm of another, the prosecutor added.

In total three officers were assaulted by the defendant.

Defence counsel set out how Nicholl had spent the day in Belfast for the Twelfth of July parade.

Its quite clearly a very unsavoury incident, all fuelled by alcohol, he acknowledged.

The court heard Nicholls relevant and substantial criminal record is linked to a long-term drug addiction.

But imposing a further prison term, District Judge Anne Marshall pointed out that she has been jailed in the past for previous assaults on police.

Ms Marshall confirmed: The appropriate sentence is another four months in custody.
Gda Kelly objected to Glen Ward receiving free legal aid, telling the court gardai believed "this man has wealth and can afford his own solicitor".

Eric O'Driscoll of Deanstown Green in Finglas,

Glen Ward (left) Eric O'Driscoll (centre back) and Darragh Collopy (right) outside the Criminals Courts of Justice in Dublin

Three men have been charged with violent disorder after a large group of people allegedly holding knives and pitchforks gathered in the centre of Finglas yesterday afternoon.

Glen Ward (29), his brother Eric O'Driscoll (20) and Darragh Collopy (18) were viewed on CCTV footage by gardai who arrested them late last night, a court heard.

Investigating officers objected to bail, with one garda saying they had "major concerns as to what's happening" in the area.

Judge Conal Gibbons granted bail, subject to conditions, and the men were remanded on bail to appear before Blanchardstown District Court in October.

Mr Ward, with an address at Deanstown Way, Mr O'Driscoll, of Deanstown Green, and Mr Collopy, of Cardiffsbridge Avenue, all in Finglas, appeared before Dublin District Court this morning charged with violent disorder.

Glen Ward (left) Eric O'Driscoll (centre back) and Darragh Collopy (right) outside the Criminals Courts of Justice in Dublin

The incident allegedly took place shortly before 5pm on August 9.

Garda Ciaran Moloney told a bail hearing for the men that gardai received numerous reports yesterday at 4.55pm of a group of men standing at the junction of Cardiffsbridge Road and Deanstown Green.

Gda Moloney said there were reports the group had knives and pitchforks, and there was "even mention of a firearm".

The court heard gardai went to the scene, and the large gathering began to disperse.

Gda Moloney said officers viewed CCTV footage, and the three men before the court were arrested and charged.

Objecting to bail for Mr Collopy, Gda Moloney said gardai had "major concerns as to what's happening" in the area.

Darragh Collopy, Cardiffsbridge Avenue in Finglas,

Objecting to bail for Mr Ward, Detective Garda Sean Kelly said gardai had concerns there could be interference with witnesses, as other people were potentially involved who had not yet been arrested or questioned.

As part of bail objections for Mr O'Driscoll, Garda Dwayne O'Brien alleged he had viewed the CCTV and had identified Mr O'Driscoll as being in possession of a weapon at the time of the incident.

Judge Gibbons said the men had "the presumption of bail", that people got bail on murder charges, and there was no way he could refuse bail.

The judge remanded Mr Collopy on bail in his own bond of 200. As part of his bail conditions, he must reside at his home address and have no interaction, either directly or via social media, with his co-accused.

Eric O'Driscoll of Deanstown Green in Finglas,

Mr Collopy has further been ordered not to loiter around Cardiffsbridge Road in Finglas.

In relation to brothers Mr Ward and Mr O'Driscoll, defence lawyer Garrett Casey BL asked that their bail conditions "not be read out for certain reasons". He told the court gardai were aware of these reasons.

Gda Kelly objected to Mr Ward receiving free legal aid, telling the court gardai believed "this man has wealth and can afford his own solicitor".

Judge Gibbons deferred free legal aid for Mr Ward and Mr O'Driscoll, pending a vouched statement of means as well as bank account details.

The judge adjourned the case to a date in October for DPP's directions on the charges.
Michael McDonagh (53) who lived in London with his family was pronounced dead at the Camber Sands holiday park in Lydd Road near the East Sussex border last weekend

A Sligo father-of-six killed after a row at a holiday camp in London was previously the target of a CAB investigation here in Ireland and the National Crime Agency in the UK.

Michael McDonagh (53), who lived in London with his family, was pronounced dead at the Camber Sands holiday park in Lydd Road near the East Sussex border last weekend following an altercation between a group of people.

He is believed to have got into the row after watching the opening match of the Premier League between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

The incident that led to his death occurred on Friday night last. It has been reported that Michael was held down by a number of men and had stated he couldnt breathe.

Police confirmed they arrested a seventh person in connection with his death.

Six people who were arrested on suspicion of murder by police have all now been released on conditional bail.

A Sussex Police spokesman revealed that those detained were all between the ages of 18 and 43 and all from the Kent/Sussex region.

As a result of further enquiries, a seventh person arrested on suspicion of murder was also released on conditional bail, they said.

In 2000, the Criminal Assets Bureau successfully seized McDonaghs home near Ballintogher, Sligo after proving that it was bought from the proceeds of crime before the courts.

Soon after that Mr McDonagh left Ireland, he returned and he stayed in local hotels with his family.

He was also on the radar of the National Crime Agency in Britain and was arrested in Amsterdam, Holland in November 2010 and extradited back to the UK on foot of an international warrant for his arrest.

He was subsequently jailed for seven years for drug trafficking.

Meanwhile, the family of the Sligo dad said they are walking away with broken hearts and unanswered questions.

He was described as a man who was the centre of our world and the life and soul of every party.

On Saturday morning we found out we lost our father, a family member said. Michael was a loving and supportive husband of 32 years and a father of six, taken from us whilst on a family holiday.

His family meant everything to him. He came away to make memories with his wife and children and instead we are walking away with broken hearts and unanswered questions.

Its impossible to put into words how we all feel. Our dad was the centre of our world and the life and soul of every party.

Not only did my dad make such a huge impact on our family but also to countless people who knew him throughout his life. He will be greatly missed.

Michael was a kind-hearted man who died too young, leaving behind all those that loved him.

Detective Chief Inspector Emma Vickers, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: Our investigation is at a very early stage, but I would like to reassure the public that this appears to be an isolated incident with no wider risk of harm.

Officers are now working to establish the full circumstances while the victims next of kin are supported by specialist officers.

Det Insp Vickers said a complex and fast moving investigation was underway to establish precisely what happened and identify those responsible.

She extended her condolences to Michaels family many of whom live in Sligo town.

Mr McDonaghs death sparked an outpouring of grief, with friends and family taking to social media to pay tribute.

One family member posted: Our hearts are broken. You will forever be in our hearts - gone but not forgotten.

My heart goes out to his lovely wife and children. Please God watch over them.

Another wrote: Uncle Michael, you didnt deserve this. How can the world be so cruel. You will never be forgotten.

Parkdean, which runs the resort, told people at the site a serious incident had taken place and a live police investigation was active.

The message, which was sent out to customers, said: We would like to make you aware that last night a serious incident occurred within our complex area.

As this is a live police investigation our team is doing everything they can to assist their enquiries. Please be aware they cannot comment on this incident.
Louis James Edwards (44 ) had run up a massive bill with the Kinahan organisation, who were supplying him with cocaine

Guardia Civil officers arrest Edwards, who was one of the UKs most wanted men

UK drug baron Louis James Edwards as he was taken into custody in Spain

Suspected drug baron Louis James Edwards, 44, was described as one of the most wanted men in the UK when he was nabbed at a hotel in Benidorm in June.

But it has since emerged he had run up a massive bill with the Kinahan organisation, who were supplying him with cocaine and which he in turn was distributing throughout southern England.

Edwards was listed as one of Crimestoppers most-wanted crooks and was filmed as he was led away by armed Guardia Civil officers through a public square following the police blitz on the hotel.

Major drug suspect Louis James Edwards is arrested at a Benidorm hotel on June 21

In custody and with his assets being monitored, Edwards now has no way of paying the Kinahans back their money  in what is a huge blow to the under-fire organisation as it currently scrambles to call in its debts.

A series of major drug seizures in the UK have also hit the sanctioned cartel in the pocket as a united police effort continues to chip away at the billion-dollar drug mob.

It is understood that the intelligence-led operations, including the arrest of Edwards, are a direct result of the information lines which have been opened for informants to give up details of Christy Kinahan Snr and his sons, Christopher Jnr and Daniel, and their business dealings.

Spanish police said their initial investigation into Edwards began in Malaga on the Costa del Sol, but agents on his trail followed him to Alicante on Spains east coast.

Major drug suspect Louis James Edwards is arrested at a Benidorm hotel on June 21

Working with the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the UK, Guardia Civil officers nabbed Edwards when they followed a relative of his who had come to visit the area and led them to the Benidorm Hotel where he was arrested.

While the Kinahan organisation would have at one point been able to deal with a 20m debt write-off, they no longer can manage to lose such vast sums of money.

Raid after raid on premises and known associates of the cartel have led to seizures of drugs and cash across Ireland and the UK.

While the top command of the organisation have tried to reassure business associates that they are liquid and that their billions are safely out of reach, the constant rounds of raids and seizures have been pounding them financially.

Paranoia is also at its peak  and the Kinahans believe they have been infiltrated by an undercover agent or customs spy who has been feeding information into a massive money-laundering investigation.

Liam Byrne

It is understood the takedown of the Kinahan organisation will be a blueprint going forward for dismantling other cartels, many of which survive despite the arrest of a kingpin.

US and European authorities, along with their international partners, have been years planning the Kinahans demise and have deep tentacles into their entire corporate structure.

This is undoubtedly a first in a method of taking down a cartel, said a source.

This isnt all about only going for those at the top, but it is also about killing off whats in the middle.

Its a well-thought-out and structured plan to dig out all the roots of this organisation and leave nothing behind.

As they grew and continued to expand, the authorities were watching all the way and this will all come out in the near future as we move into the final stage of this process, the source added.

The corporate structure is suffering because it has a huge payroll and is made up of a lot of moving parts which all need to be functioning properly.

The constant losses, arrests and raids may seem small fry to the larger picture  but it isnt.

Each kick and punch is another blow to the giant.

From a law-enforcement point of view, this has been a slow and steady process and the Kinahan Organisation is well on its way to financial collapse.

Sean McGovern

In Dubai, police have yet to move in on the Kinahans and their associates.

Some underworld sources suggest that Daniel Kinahan is already gone from the Emirates and is now bedded down in Oman.

However, others claim that he, his father and brother remain in the Emirates hoping to continue to enjoy the safe haven where they have established themselves for years.

A number of reports from Dubai claim that Daniel Kinahan has even been spotted out and about looking increasingly stressed and balding.

Liam Byrne, the brother of Regency Hotel victim David, visited Dubai in the weeks following the sanctions but is spending his summer on the island of Ibiza, where he has property and business interests.

Officers have yet to move in on Sean McGovern despite an arrest warrant issued for him last April for the murder of Noel Duck Egg Kirwan.
If Deirdre contests it then I will have to sell the house. It will be another colossal blow that Ill have to try to cope with, he said.

Andrew, whose children Conor, nine, Darragh, seven and Carla, three, died at their mother Deirdres hand in January 2020, said he is moving forward with the divorce but fears that that he may have to sell the family home in the process.

Deirdre is currently in Dublins Central Mental Hospital after she was found not guilty of the childrens murders by reason of insanity.

She has refused to speak with her husband despite him contacting her.

Mr McGinley told the Sunday World he has reached a point where he would like to move forward with a divorce.

However he has concerns that it will add to heartache already experienced by the families.

If Deirdre contests it then I will have to sell the house. It will be another colossal blow that Ill have to try to cope with, he said.

In January, Andrew filed proceedings in the High Court against the HSE, the Governors of St. Patricks Hospital and a named clinical psychologist.

Andrew previously told the Sunday World he has taken the legal action after being frustrated in his efforts to get the answers about his wifes treatment, prior to the killings, from the HSE.

I just want the truth of what happened to come out, he said.

Deirdre Morley and Andrew McGinley with their three children (Family handout)

The development came a day after the Sunday World revealed Andrews wife Deirdre Morley, who killed the couples three children Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) on January 24th of 2020, had issued separate legal proceedings in the High Court against the same named defendants.

Both parents cases relate to the medical treatment Deirdre received in the lead up to the deaths of the children.

Speaking to the Star this week, Andrew said it would hurt to leave the house as it is full of memories of his children.

However, he added that as his wife could be released back into society in a few years and the two have a joint mortgage, he may owe her half.

If shes looking for half the house then Ill have to sell the house. I wont have a choice. I cant afford to buy her out," he said.

"Ill have to make my peace with it. Hopefully Ill have time to do that."

But he says if the situation were reversed, he would give the house over to Deirdre without contest.

I know I would if the shoe was on the other foot, I would. Id be going: theres the keys.

Andrew McGinley says other kids won't 'see 10th birthday' without mental health reforms

Celebrity chef Derry Clarke reveals 20-year-strong friendship with Andrew McGinley

Andrew McGinley calls for change to Mental Health Act which he says would have saved kids' lives

Andrew has been coming to terms with the relationship he once had with Deirdre, but says after what happened, everything has changed.

Its difficult because as I said I loved her up until the 24th.

But one thing that sticks in my mind is what came out in the court case, which was Conors last words.

So a lot of the time now when I think of Dee, I think of Conors last moments and his last words and thats one thing I wish I didnt know, he said.

The heart breaking last words that Andrew referred to were heard during Ms Morleys trial last year - when it emerged that he said Stop Mammy. What are you doing? as she placed a bag on his head.

Andrew with his children Conor, Darragh and Carla

During her two day trial, two psychiatrists testified that Mrs Morley, who specialised in renal care at Our Ladys Hospital in Crumlin, was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the three killings and fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict.

The two consultant forensic psychiatrists called as expert witnesses were both in agreement that the accused was unable to appreciate what she had done was morally wrong and was unable to refrain from her actions.

Ms Morleys trial at the Central Criminal Court was described by the State as a desperately sad case.

The trial heard Mrs. Morley had suffered from mental health difficulties for several years.

Ms Morley, who worked as a paediatric nurse at Crumlin Childrens Hospital, had a long history of depression and her condition escalated to delusion and psychosis by the time she killed the children.

However, she hid the severity of her condition from those closest to her.

Andrew has sought an inquiry into her care and diagnosis prior to the childrens deaths.

Meanwhile Andrew has just completed his first book - a childrens tale based on a character created by his sons Darragh and Conor.

These are the projects that are keeping me going. I have finished my book which is based on a character that Conor and Darragh created named Prestin.

Im hoping to submit that to publishers and Ive someone helping me with a synopsis and the illustrator is Caoimhe Hennessy.

He is also busy with his charity As Darragh Did and his Snowman for Carla competition which is also running until September.
I dont believe the Luas needs gardai to be on there acting as bouncers. Its a waste of Garda resources

The 29-year-old, who was set upon by up to 10 young males, was badly beaten in the attack which left him fighting for his life in hospital.

The victim, from the capitals south inner city, remains in a critical but stable condition, although one source said it was not looking good.

A motive for the assault has not yet been established but one line in the investigation is that it was a random unprovoked attack.

It has also been reported that two suspects who were not involved in the initial assault robbed the victims e-scooter and fled the scene.

The incident resulted in a partial shutdown of Luas Red Line services between Connolly and the Point stations.

Cllr Nial Ring said the incident highlighted what he has previously insisted was a lack of police presence on the streets to deter such attacks.

Ive said it before and Ill say it again. What we need in Dublin is more gardai on the beat, its as simple as that. It comes up time and time again. When you ask people what would make them feel safer in Dublin? More gardai.

"I ask my 87-year-old mother what would make her feel safer going to mass and I get the same answer.

However, Cllr Ring stopped short of calling for a dedicated Garda transport unit to patrol the citys Luas after a series of incidents.

No, I dont believe the Luas needs gardai to be on there acting as bouncers, he added. Its a waste of Garda resources. I like nothing more than to see a big, burly security guard on the Luas. Let the transport companies provide their own security, which they already do.

However, one Dublin TD believes the only way to tackling ongoing antisocial activity on the Luas and other public transport systems is such a Garda unit.

Cllr Cormac Devlin was speaking following the launch of a new new Fianna Fail public transport safety survey that is asking passengers to give their insights and experiences.

In launching the survey, Cllr Devlin said the safety and security of passengers and staff must be paramount".

"It is in the public good in every sense that public transport is used, embraced and an attractive option for the travelling public, he said.

"It needs to be affordable, efficient but also safe. In order to further enhance and strengthen our services across Dublin, Fianna Fail want to hear the views of passengers and commuters on how we can best support safer public transport for all."

Speaking to sundayworld.com, the Dun Laoghaire TD said while the Luas Green Line goes through his constituency, it is the Red Line that appears to be really bad.

I think the Luas has had its fair share of anti-social issues over the years, really, since its inception, he said.

And that has necessitated the very heavy presence of security on both Luas lines.

Unfortunately, that has not deterred anti-social behaviour, be that drug dealing or low level crime and fighting.

It not only gives a very bad image of Dublin to tourists but it also deters ordinary individuals from using the service because they are in fear.

At a time with the climate emergency we obviously need to encourage more people to use public transport, be that in the early morning, the afternoon or late in the evening.

Weve campaigned in the past for a dedicated Garda transport unit so thats why we are carrying out this survey. We want the data behind us to back up our argument.

There has to be roaming Garda presence on all transport systems, he added. Because employees dont have the powers of arrest and detention. And from their perspective as well, they shouldnt have to put up with this

In early March it was revealed how the number of complaints of anti-social behaviour on the Luas had increased by a third.

There were 787 reports last year, according to Freedom of Information figures released to Newstalk  up from 593 in 2019.

Meanwhile, complaints of vandalism increased by almost 7% last year to 778.

The increases came despite the number of passenger journeys falling by more than half to 19 million last year.

Last month gardai engaged in a special operation which saw patrols the Dart, Luas and eight inter-city rail routes to prevent and detect anti-social behaviour.

The second of two national Community Engagement and Rail Safety Partnership days of operation was run in partnership with Irish Rail and Transdev Ireland.

However, the issue was highlighted in the same month on a special RTE report Crossing the Line  How safe is public transport? that examined the experience of both commuter and staff.

Over several weeks, RTE Investigates used hidden cameras that captured a wide variety of anti-social activity including begging, substance abuse, unruly individuals, and gangs, and even threats of violence.

While the NBRU has called for a dedicated Garda Public Transport Division to tackle what they claim is a steep rise in incidents of anti-social behaviour, this sentiment is not shared by the transport companies, RTE said.

In a statement to RTE Dublin Bus said it "has a strong and close working relationship with An Garda Siochana, and have set up a number of community forums in different areas across the city which has proven successful. We believe that this is the most appropriate approach".

Similarly, Irish Rail said: "While the structure of policing is a matter for An Garda Siochana, we work closely with the Gardai and are very satisfied with the support  both proactive and reactive  to issues of ASB and public order, and with the range of initiatives taken jointly."

And the operator of the Luas stated: "Transdev is not calling for a dedicated Garda Transport Unit as policies in this regard are a matter for An Garda Siochana. We have an excellent working relationship with An Garda Siochana and believe the existing structure is very effective in dealing with incidents of anti-social behaviour."
UPDATE: Gardai say Suzanne has been found safe and well

The family of a woman who has gone missing in Dublin have said they are concerned for her well-being.

Suzanne Rossiter (47) was last seen in the Kilmacud area of Dundrum in Dublin 14 on August 5.

She is described as being 5 8 in height with a medium build and with short black and purple hair.

When last seen, she was wearing a black jumper, dark blue jeans and black sandals with straps.

Gardai and Suzannes family say they are concerned for her well-being.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Dundrum Garda Station 01 666 5600 on the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Mr Hall was fatally shot through a window of his Rodney Drive home in front of his family

Police said the man has been arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The man was arrested in west Belfast and remains in custody.

Mr Hall was killed in a gun attack in west Belfast on December 18.

The 31-year-old was fatally shot through a window of his Rodney Drive home in front of his family.

He was taken to hospital, but later died from his wounds.

A shot was also fired at the sister of the victim, which passed through a handbag and narrowly missed her as she stood on the street outside.

Detectives launched a murder investigation following the death of Mr Hall, who was known to police.

In June the PSNI reissued an appeal for information in the investigation and offered a reward of up to 20,000 is on offer for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
The forecaster said it will be very warm or hot on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with maximum temperatures generally between 27C to 29C.

Gizem Artan, originally from Turkey and now living in Portobello, with her dog Sugar enjoying the good weather at the Forty Foot in Dublin. Picture: Collins

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow high temperature warning for 18 counties as the country experiences a significant hot spell.

The warning, which covers all of Leinster and Munster, is valid from 12pm on Thursday until 6am on Sunday.

The forecaster said it will be very warm or hot on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with maximum temperatures generally between 27 to 29 degrees.

It will be warm at night with temperatures generally staying above 15 degrees, although daytime temperatures may not be as high in coastal areas due to sea breezes.

Met Eireann has warned that this may result in heat stress, especially for the more vulnerable of the population.

There is also a high solar UV index and an increased risk of water related incidents as people flock to the water to cool down.

There is also a weather advisory in place as the county will experience a hot spell developing from today and continuing through the rest of the week and the weekend.

Daytime temperatures will widely reach the mid to high 20s and it will remain uncomfortably warm overnight too.

Gizem Artan, originally from Turkey and now living in Portobello, with her dog Sugar enjoying the good weather at the Forty Foot in Dublin. Picture: Collins

This comes as today will be another dry, warm and sunny day with highest temperatures between 24 to 26 degrees, higher in some spots in Munster and Leinster.

Winds will be light variable or calm with a sea breeze developing in the afternoon. A moderate southwest wind will keep it cooler on the coast of Connacht and the west coast of Ulster.

Tonight will be dry and clear with lowest temperatures between eight to 13 degrees with no wind.

Met Eireann forecasts that high pressure will dominate the weather picture and each day will be dry, warm and sunny with light winds.

Sea breezes will form in the afternoons for a couple of hours and nights will be dry and clear.

Thursday will be dry, warm, sunny and hot in Munster and Leinster with highest temperatures between 24 to 28 degrees. There will be sea breezes again in the afternoon and it will still be cooler along the coasts of Connacht and west Ulster.

It will be warm overnight with temperatures not falling below 10 to 15 degrees generally, staying above 16 or 17 degrees in places.

It will continue dry and clear with some coastal fog forming along Connacht and west Ulster coasts with light variable breezes.

Friday and Saturday will be hot and sunny with a low chance of isolated showers.

Highest temperatures will range between 25 to 28 or 29 degrees in light variable breezes, hottest inland.

It will stay warm overnight with temperatures not falling below the mid to high teens.

It will be another hot day on Sunday with sunshine to start, there's an increased likelihood of showers, and they could be heavy with highest temperatures between 25C to 29C with light easterly breezes.
He was considered a threat inside terminal 2F, said an investigating source. Police opened fire, and he died from his wounds.

Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris. Photo: Deposit

A knifeman was shot dead by French police on Wednesday morning in a packed terminal at the largest airport in Paris.

The killing happened at Charles de Gaulle airport soon after 8am, after reports about the man acting aggressively in front of officers.

He was considered a threat inside terminal 2F, said an investigating source. Police opened fire, and he died from his wounds.

Officers had asked the man to put down his knife, but he continually refused, and then ran towards officers. This is when live fire was used. No officers were injured.

A spokesman for the Paris police prefecture said: Demonstrating composure, officers neutralised a threatening individual in possession of a knife at Roissy, Charles de Gaulle airport.

The spokesman said a PAF Border Police officer had carried out the killing on the man, who was in his 40s and of Afro-Caribbean origin.

The man  who shot in the stomach  was well known for wandering around the airport and threatening people, the spokesman added.

Charles de Gaulle is the largest international airport in France, and the ninth busiest in the world.

It is particularly busy in the August high season, with passengers arriving from all over the world, including the UK.

The shooting follows a series of bomb, gun and knife attacks carried out by Islamic State and al-Qaeda operatives in France, dating back to early 2015.

The deadliest single terrorist attack ever in the country came in November 2015 when 130 innocent people were killed in Paris.

Suicide bombers pledging allegiance to ISIS targeted the Stade de France, cafes, restaurants and the Bataclan music venue, where 90 died.

Earlier in the year, two Paris-born gunmen linked to Al-Qaeda broke into the offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine, leaving 17 people dead inside and three outside.

In July 2016, 86 people were killed and more than 400 injured when a 19-tonne truck was deliberately driven into crowds on the seafront promenade at Nice, which is just 20 miles from Cannes.

The terrorist turned out to be a Tunisian immigrant who was shot dead by police.

During the same month, two Isis terrorists murdered an 86-year-old Catholic priest during a church service in Normandy.

And in October 2020, three people were stabbed to death by a Tunisian immigrant in the Notre Dame basilica in Nice.

There have also been frequent knife attacks on the forces of law and order, leading to the deaths of serving police.
The UFC star forked out for the elaborate setup to celebrate his fiancee's big day

Conor McGregor presented Dee Devlin with a private table decorated with rose petals, balloons and a large floral design to mark her 35th birthday in a top restaurant in Mallorca.

The UFC star forked out for the elaborate setup to celebrate his fiancee's birthday with a romantic dinner on the Spanish island where they are holidaying with their three children.

Photos posted on social media show the couple being chauffeur driven to the restaurant, which is located close to Palma.

Sharing snaps on Instagram, the Notorious wrote: "Late night birthday dinner in the mountains. #landairsea #iloveyoudee."

Dee also shared a photo on her own Instagram thanking McGregor for "the best birthday ever".

Conor then posted another picture of Dee which he described as: Breakfast time, my favourite time! The days fuel! I always say if you cant be happy with a coffee, you wont be happy with a yacht.

He adds: I feel like I won all the belts, all the cups, the awards, the cash, the jackets, all the medals you name it, if its out there as a win, I won it. No one can tell me different. No one ever could. #winner #king #babybirthdaybrekkie.

Conor McGregor and fiance Dee Devlin

Earlier this week, the UFC legend showed off his fiancees new tattoo in a video shared to his 45.9million Instagram followers.

The Notorious zoomed in on the ink Dee received, which depicted his name blended into a heart trace and a love heart.

Last week the loved up fighter paid a gushing tribute to his childhood sweetheart ahead of her birthday.

Taking to Instagram, the MMA star shared loved-up snaps of the couple as they cosied up in front of a model super yacht in a restaurant.

More Don Juan living for you all. On this fine Tuesday, he began, referencing the fictional Spanish character renowned for seducing women.

First day back to the hunt after the long weekend! I steady hunted throughout the weekend however, myself.

He also promised fans a lot of tremendous news incoming!

See yas tomorrow hahaha, the Dubliner continued, telling his lifelong love that daddy loves her and he cant wait to marry her.

Its also my baby Dees birthday week! Happy birthday my baby, daddy loves the bones of you. And the rest.

The kids love you, the world loves you baby, Dee D soon to be McG, I cant wait to marry you baby girl, keep on shining, you are our shining light, my sunshine! The love of my life.

The post also included pictures of the eldest McGregor son, Conor Jr (five) who was enjoying an evening with his parents.

McGregor recently celebrated his 34th birthday in Ibiza, that saw his mother Margaret, sister Erin, niece Taylor and his many friends and family members joining him on the Spanish party island for celebrations.

A professional photographer was on hand to capture memories for the birthday boy.

The Crumlin native posed with party-goers who were treated to two signature cocktails, Triocha A Ceathair and The Notorious made with his very own Proper Twelve whiskey.

Models strutted their stuff as they carried bottles of liquor around the venue.

A massive birthday cake, embellished with his name in icing, as well as a UFC belt, depicted the fighter in the octagon cheering.

As sparklers were lit on the centrepiece, the Dubliner stripped off his shirt as the crowd sang Happy Birthday.

What a birthday party, thank you team, he said sharing a carousel of snaps on Instagram.

Aint no party like a Mac Daddy party #ibiza, he captioned another series of pictures.
Niue High School now has an updated science lab and a new ablution block thanks to New Zealand Army Engineers.

In a welcome return to face-to-face Pacific engagement after the challenges of Covid-19, the three-week Exercise Tropic Twilight involved the 30-person contingent also building picnic tables, constructing a kit set playground for the primary school and filling potholes in the hospital carpark.

Contingent Commander Lieutenant Kendyl Findlay says partnering with Niue to complete these important tasks had been very rewarding.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, these tasks had been on hold for two years, so it was great to finally get them done. The students have been able to return to school after their holidays to enjoy our work.

Once the Kiwis had completed the required Covid-19 testing they were able to interact more with the locals, and for continued reassurance the contingent were conducting Rapid Antigen Tests every two days for the first two weeks.

Lieutenant Findlay says spending time with the locals was one of the highlights of the exercise.

The people in Niue were extremely accommodating and showed the team a lot of hospitality during our time there. The high school postponed their school athletics day so we were able to attend, and we competed in the open relay against the high school students.

We were also able to participate in the ta tika (Niue traditional javelin) throwing for the men, and joined in the local soccer tournament. The village hosted us for an umu (hangi), and we enjoyed crab hunting, the umu preparation and the cultural dances.

While the Army undertook the construction tasks, the Royal New Zealand Navy military hydrographers were conducting surveys of the Sir Roberts wharf.

The survey results will inform Niue Government decision making about future infrastructure upgrades and also provide updated information about access in the event of a natural disaster.

Exercise Tropic Twilight occurs annually in the Pacific, with tasks identified and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The New Zealand Defence Force is committed to working with its Pacific neighbours, and Royal New Zealand Navy Ships HMNZS Manawanui and HMNZS Wellington are currently in the Pacific for Operation Mahi Tahi, which concludes in October.
A Blenheim nurse who stole a credit card from two different patients has lost an appeal against his deportation.

The nurse, Marvel Jr Benjamin Clavecilla, 48, stole the credit cards in March and May 2020. His spending included purchases of fuel, cigarettes and fast food.

He was sentenced to six months' community detention and 150 hours of community work on 19 counts of theft relating to the first victim's credit card expenditure, and 13 relating to the second patient.

He lodged the appeal against his deportation on humanitarian grounds.

A decision from the Immigration and Protection Tribunal said the primary issue was whether the appellant, who was approaching 10 years living in New Zealand and wanted to remain here with his family, had exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature.

The decision said Clavecilla arrived in New Zealand in 2012 on a visitor visa.

By November 2012, he was employed as a nurse in New Zealand and was granted an essential skills visa.

Three years later his sister relocated to New Zealand, settling with her husband and two daughters, the decision said. Two of his three sons joined him in New Zealand in 2017 after gaining resident visas.

Prior to his sons arriving, he had also had a relationship with a New Zealand citizen. The pair, who are not together, have a four-year-old son who lives with the mother.

He married his current wife, who was from the Philippines but lived in New Zealand, in 2018. She had a family residency visa approved in March 2020.

But just two-weeks later, Clavecilla's offending started.

The tribunal heard from Clavecilla, who represented himself, his wife, 19-year-old son, sister, manager from his current employment at a bakery, and a former colleague.

He said his offending occurred due to financial difficulties, compounded by the closure of two businesses located in the Philippines which his wife had continued to own when she moved to New Zealand, the decision said.

"His offending, once it became known, devastated his family," the decision said.

"The harm that he has caused to all those affected will be something that he carries with him for the rest of his life.

"He has completed counselling, as part of his sentence, and that gave him an outlet to express his feelings. He also sought budgeting advice.

"He believes that he does not present any sort of threat to New Zealand."

His wife said she came to New Zealand to start a new life. She did not know if she would go with Clavecilla if he was deported.

His 19-year-old son said the offending was a "dark time" for the family. He had moved away from Clavecilla, to another town in New Zealand, and was financially independent.

Photo: Supplied / Stuff.

The decision said if he was deported he could find it difficult to find employment, but did have "transferrable skills". He could live with his parents who, along with his siblings, could help him financially, the decision said.

The tribunal acknowledged that if he was deported his wife would be put in the position of having to decide whether to join him.

The decision said Clavecilla's 19-year-old son had "already experienced" living away from him.

"The appellant's separation from his New Zealand-resident sister and her family would be accompanied by sadness as they, especially the appellant and his sister, are close. However, they have lived apart before.

"The tribunal recognises that he has already demonstrated a genuine commitment to turning his life around and that he has the ability to be a productive and contributing member of the community."

But the tribunal ruled the case did not meet the high threshold required for exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature, and declined the appeal.

However, Clavicilla could apply to re-enter New Zealand to visit his New Zealand-resident sister and her family, and his 19-year-old son for as long as he remains here, should the need arise, however this visa was not a guarantee. He was also granted a three-month work visa to get his affairs in order.

The decision came after the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal censured and suspended Clavicilla from practising for nine months in May.

Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
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Police have seized firearms, drugs and cash after executing warrants in the Taupo and Hawkes Bay areas.

The search warrants resulted from a two-month investigation focusing on the recruitment of legitimate firearms licence holders to purchase firearms on behalf of - either directly or indirectly - known criminal entities.

Seven people have been arrested and will face charges of unlawfully supplying firearms, participating in an organised criminal group, attempting to pervert the course of justice, supplying methamphetamine and cultivating cannabis.

The operation is ongoing and Police have not ruled-out further arrests.

This operation is part of the New Zealand Police strategy to address gun violence in our communities.

The National Organised Crime Group have been working proactively with licensed firearms dealers, examining records to identify potential diversion and those persons within the licensed firearms community who are diverting firearms into the hands of criminals, particularly gangs.

The recently established Firearms Investigation Team within police has been established to focus on this type of criminal diversion, working alongside industry partners.

Seized firearms - hunting rifle and shotgun. Photo: NZ Police.

This work is tackling the illicit firearms market by targeting the small pool of people offending and holding them to account, following on from Operation Tauwhiro.

This type of offending undermines the wellbeing of our communities by creating significant social harm," says Detective Inspector Albie Alexander.

"We have a commitment to disrupting and dismantling networks identified and will continue to target those who illegally accumulate assets and wealth through the sale and supply of illegal drugs and firearms.

"No responsible firearms owner wants to see firearms in the hands of criminals."
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Hyundai-BlueLink's callous response to my call for help, post-accident

This is just my second post here on TeamBHP and unfortunately, it ain't a happy one for me. It will also be a long post, but please bear with me.



I have been a happy owner of the Hyundai i20 Turbo DCT Asta (O) for a year and a half now. I have been kind of cribbing about how I couldn't get an N-Line as it launched barely 6-7 months after I bought my car. But I did love my car nevertheless.



I usually take my car for long drives once in at least 3-4 months and keep my car in excellent condition by getting regular checks done. I had been to Chennai about 3 weeks back, driving from the western coastal city of Mangalore. The roads from Bangalore to Chennai are usually very good and although it's a little boring driving on a straight highway, it's better than driving on the pathetic road from Mangalore to Bangalore. The ghat section and the roads leading to the ghats and away have been having road works since time immemorial.



So anyway, after the week-long holiday with kids and family, as I was returning back from Chennai, I had a tyre blowout! This happened around 4 pm. For a second, I couldn't figure out what had happened. It was in a fraction of a second, and before I could get to grips with what went wrong, the car veered to the left and I hit the concrete road blocks which are kept as a divider on these concrete roads being laid around Hassan.



It was quite chaotic. The impact was on the front left and fortunately, the airbags deployed, and I was safe. My family and kids were in the rear seat and got tossed around but thanks to God, we could walk out of the car after the crash. We were fortunate enough not to have any serious injuries. There was a slight drizzle, and I and my family are stranded on the highway, but fortunately around a town where people came to our help immediately. On-lookers had noticed the front left tyre burst and asked me if all of us were ok.



Now, coming to the car. As is the case in a crash, BlueLink has this Auto crash notification facility, and the car made an automatic call to BlueLink. To my utter disdain, the call never connected/ I didn't get a response!! . I manually called for RSA/ BlueLink SOS from the BlueLink buttons on the IRVM and again no response. After like the 4th attempt, I got a response and the receiver asked if we had any injuries etc. and before I could tell him my location, the call disconnected!! Mind you, this is on an open highway, in a town, so I really feel there was no issue with the network.



I was getting frustrated with this useless BlueLink, and I proceeded to first get my family to safety as the rain was also getting heavier. As I said earlier, people around that area were very kind, and I could get my family to rest in a house on the other side of the road. With the help of locals and a friend of mine (I had to make numerous calls to coordinate), I could get a tow vehicle and also a taxi to get me and my family back home to Mangalore. I got my car towed to Kasaragod Hyundai (where I got my car from).



The other big disappointing question now was, HOW DID THE TYRE GIVE WAY? I had done 27k kms on the stock CEAT Secura Drive tyres and I had just filled fuel an hour prior to the accident and had also checked the tyres. Could the tyre have got a crack earlier, which I failed to notice? To be honest, I never really felt confident about the stock tyres from the start. Grip levels weren't really great. I have attached pictures of the tyre and the car. The tear on the tyre is seen.

Now comes the most disappointing or rather insulting part...



I got a call the following morning at 9 am. With the trauma of the crash still fresh in my head, I realised the call was from the BlueLink head office, and the operator says, "Sir, we see you had an accident yesterday at around 4 pm, both airbags have deployed. Are you safe? Would you like any assistance?" I really lost it at this point. First of all, they never responded during the crash and to add insult to injury, they called the next day and ask if I required assistance! Heights of callousness! I blasted him over the phone and hung up.



I was leaving for the Hyundai service centre at Kasaragod by then. I narrated the whole story, filled up the insurance papers and everything and gave an account of the very disappointing experience with BlueLink.



I escalated the matter to the service centre, and they sent a mail; I spoke directly to the Regional Head Office in Ernakulam regarding this pathetic behaviour and to this date, there hasn't been any communication received, I don't see the point why we pay so much money for all this connected car tech and stuff, and when it really matters, it turns out to be absolutely useless.



My car is still waiting at the service centre. No work has started as the parts haven't reached yet. There was a lot of damage and a lot of parts need to be replaced.



I'm really struggling without my car, and I really don't expect that the work will be completed in another month at least. Even after repeated requests for a spare car, I was denied saying it is company policy that they cannot provide a spare car for accident cases. The Hyundai service centre has been keeping me updated but to be honest, there is no significant update till date. Neither have I received an explanation about the BlueLink incident, nor has any work started on the car.

BHPians, kindly guide me through with how I should proceed. Should I send a mail directly to Hyundai about this?

And what about the tyre? Hi BHPians,This is just my second post here on TeamBHP and unfortunately, it ain't a happy one for me. It will also be a long post, but please bear with me.I have been a happy owner of the Hyundai i20 Turbo DCT Asta (O) for a year and a half now. I have been kind of cribbing about how I couldn't get an N-Line as it launched barely 6-7 months after I bought my car. But I did love my car nevertheless.I usually take my car for long drives once in at least 3-4 months and keep my car in excellent condition by getting regular checks done. I had been to Chennai about 3 weeks back, driving from the western coastal city of Mangalore. The roads from Bangalore to Chennai are usually very good and although it's a little boring driving on a straight highway, it's better than driving on the pathetic road from Mangalore to Bangalore. The ghat section and the roads leading to the ghats and away have been having road works since time immemorial.So anyway, after the week-long holiday with kids and family, as I was returning back from Chennai, I had a tyre blowout! This happened around 4 pm. For a second, I couldn't figure out what had happened. It was in a fraction of a second, and before I could get to grips with what went wrong, the car veered to the left and I hit the concrete road blocks which are kept as a divider on these concrete roads being laid around Hassan.It was quite chaotic. The impact was on the front left and fortunately, the airbags deployed, and I was safe. My family and kids were in the rear seat and got tossed around but thanks to God, we could walk out of the car after the crash. We were fortunate enough not to have any serious injuries. There was a slight drizzle, and I and my family are stranded on the highway, but fortunately around a town where people came to our help immediately. On-lookers had noticed the front left tyre burst and asked me if all of us were ok.Now, coming to the car. As is the case in a crash, BlueLink has this Auto crash notification facility, and the car made an automatic call to BlueLink. To my utter disdain, the call never connected/ I didn't get a response!!. I manually called for RSA/ BlueLink SOS from the BlueLink buttons on the IRVM and again no response. After like the 4th attempt, I got a response and the receiver asked if we had any injuries etc. and before I could tell him my location, the call disconnected!! Mind you, this is on an open highway, in a town, so I really feel there was no issue with the network.I was getting frustrated with this useless BlueLink, and I proceeded to first get my family to safety as the rain was also getting heavier. As I said earlier, people around that area were very kind, and I could get my family to rest in a house on the other side of the road. With the help of locals and a friend of mine (I had to make numerous calls to coordinate), I could get a tow vehicle and also a taxi to get me and my family back home to Mangalore. I got my car towed to Kasaragod Hyundai (where I got my car from).The other big disappointing question now was, HOW DID THE TYRE GIVE WAY? I had done 27k kms on the stock CEAT Secura Drive tyres and I had just filled fuel an hour prior to the accident and had also checked the tyres. Could the tyre have got a crack earlier, which I failed to notice? To be honest, I never really felt confident about the stock tyres from the start. Grip levels weren't really great. I have attached pictures of the tyre and the car. The tear on the tyre is seen.Now comes the most disappointing or rather insulting part...I got a call the following morning at 9 am. With the trauma of the crash still fresh in my head, I realised the call was from the BlueLink head office, and the operator says, "Sir, we see you had an accident yesterday at around 4 pm, both airbags have deployed. Are you safe? Would you like any assistance?" I really lost it at this point. First of all, they never responded during the crash and to add insult to injury, they called the next day and ask if I required assistance!Heights of callousness! I blasted him over the phone and hung up.I was leaving for the Hyundai service centre at Kasaragod by then. I narrated the whole story, filled up the insurance papers and everything and gave an account of the very disappointing experience with BlueLink.I escalated the matter to the service centre, and they sent a mail; I spoke directly to the Regional Head Office in Ernakulam regarding this pathetic behaviour and to this date, there hasn't been any communication received, I don't see the point why we pay so much money for all this connected car tech and stuff, and when it really matters, it turns out to be absolutely useless.My car is still waiting at the service centre. No work has started as the parts haven't reached yet. There was a lot of damage and a lot of parts need to be replaced.I'm really struggling without my car, and I really don't expect that the work will be completed in another month at least. Even after repeated requests for a spare car, I was denied saying it is company policy that they cannot provide a spare car for accident cases. The Hyundai service centre has been keeping me updated but to be honest, there is no significant update till date. Neither have I received an explanation about the BlueLink incident, nor has any work started on the car.BHPians, kindly guide me through with how I should proceed. Should I send a mail directly to Hyundai about this?And what about the tyre? Attached Thumbnails























Last edited by Turbanator : 11th August 2022 at 09:29 . Reason: Spacing
Why it matters: According to Microsoft, an encryption bug in older versions of Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 could lead to data corruption on systems running Ice Lake, Tiger Lake, or Rocket Lake CPUs. The company fixed the problem a few months ago through a patch that introduced performance penalties, with the newest updates returning encryption speed to normal.

Microsoft has acknowledged a severe bug in Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022 that results in data damage for devices equipped with processors supporting the newest Vector Advanced Encryption Standard (VAES) instruction set.

Only newer CPU generations support VAES instructions, including Ice Lake, Tiger Lake, Rocket Lake, and AMD's upcoming Zen 4. You can also manually enable them on early Alder Lake processors on certain motherboards, although Intel has physically fused off AVX-512 entirely in newer CPU revisions.

Microsoft claims the problem stems from the new code paths added to SymCrypt (Windows's core cryptographic function library) that take advantage of VAES instructions. Specifically, the affected machines use either AES XEX-based tweaked-codebook mode with ciphertext stealing (AES-XTS) or AES with Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) (AES-GCM).

The company initially addressed the data corruption issue in the May 24 preview release and the June 14 security update. However, these patches introduced a massive performance penalty for AES-based operations, with some functions reportedly taking twice as long. In Microsoft's testing, slowdowns occurred in Bitlocker and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol, with disk throughput also affected, especially for enterprise customers.

Fortunately, Microsoft's newest updates resolve these performance regressions. Users can receive the new patches automatically via Windows Update or download them directly from Microsoft's Update Catalog.

Windows 11 used to have another issue that led to degraded SSD performance. Microsoft's first patch only fixed the problem for some people, and it took several months for the company to release an update that restored disk performance to normal levels for everyone. Some Windows 11 PCs also come with Virtualization-based Security (VBS) enabled by default, which has a significant performance impact in some scenarios, most notably gaming.
What just happened? Just how sure is Elon Musk that he'll win the legal battle against Twitter? Given that he sold 7.92 million Tesla shares worth $6.9 billion to help fund any forced deal, the world's richest man might not feel as confident as he lets on.

Although Musk sits on top of the list of the world's richest people with a personal fortune of around $250 billion, much of his wealth is in the form of Tesla shares. Multiple SEC filings show he sold about 7.92 million of these shares between August 5 and August 9, worth around $6.9 billion.

Musk said at the end of April that he didn't plan to sell any more of his Tesla shares after he unloaded $8.4 billion worth that same month, money that was supposed to be used to help finance the Twitter acquisition.

Earlier today, Tesla investor Sawyer Merritt tweeted the SEC forms showing Musk had sold millions more shares and asked the CEO if he was done selling.

"Yes," replied Musk. "In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners don't come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock." He said in another tweet that he would buy Tesla stock again if the Twitter deal does not complete.

Yes.



In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners don't come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 10, 2022

Musk previously secured $7 billion from Larry Ellison, Binance, the Qatar state investment fund, Morgan Stanley, and several others to help fund the $44 billion Twitter takeover. He walked away from the deal in early July over his long-running claim that the company lies about the number of fake accounts on the platform. It says there are less than 5%; Musk claims it's more like 20%.

Twitter and Musk will be heading for a five-day trial on October 17 after the judge granted Twitter's request to expedite proceedings. It wants to force Musk to complete the deal at the original $54.20 per share priceit's currently $42.83or pay a hefty breakup fee. Musk recently said he would be willing to buy Twitter at that price if it showed precisely how it counts the number of fake accounts on the platform. He also challenged CEO Parag Agrawal to "a public debate" on the issue, which the Twitter boss appears to have ignored.
The US has been supporting Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February sparked an all-out war between the two forces.

But now, Washington has once again shown its support after a Pentagon statement released on Monday, Aug. 8, revealed that the US had sent a series of anti-radar missiles to help Ukraine's forces.

As reported first by Interesting Engineering, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl confirmed that the US has sent a "number" of antiradar missiles. However, he did not reveal the exact amount the country delivered and the certain type of these missiles.

But a defense official shed more light on this when he revealed to CNN that the systems were a series of AGM-88 High-Speed Antiradition Missile (HARM).

What Is HARM?

The AGM-88 HARM (high-speed antiradiation missile), according to the Military Analysis Network of the Federation of American Scientists, is a supersonic air-to-surface tactical missile intended to locate and eliminate adversary radar-equipped air defense installations.

Most importantly, the AGM-88 requires little effort from the aircrew to locate, engage, and destroy a target. It is also able to distinguish between a single target and a variety of environmental emitters.

The seeker head and fixed antenna of the proportional guiding system, which zeroes in on enemy radar emissions, are located in the missile's nose. The missile is propelled by a dual-thrust, smokeless, solid-propellant rocket motor.

Read also: Russia-Ukraine Fighting Raises A 'Suicidal Nuclear Plant Explosion' Alarm After Hitting Europe's Largest Nuclear Facility

HARM's Capabilities

According to the US Air Force, these Raytheon-made HARMs have a range of more than 30 miles, which makes them one of the longer-range weapons the US has given Ukraine.

The Russian anti-aircraft radar systems, such as the S-400, have made it very challenging for the Ukrainian Air Force to fly over substantial portions of Ukrainian airspace, and the missiles can be employed to target these systems, as noted by CNN.

Additionally, the missiles have the power to strike Russian counter-battery radars, which Russia employs to attack Ukrainian artillery.

The AGM-88 can also be used by the Navy and Marine Corps' F/A-18 and EA-6B aircraft. The F-16C is the only aircraft in the Air Force's current inventory that is capable of firing the AGM-88 due to the retirement of the F-4.

The guidance part of the B version has been upgraded to include better tactical software and electronically reprogrammable memory.

Biggest Package of US Weaponry

However, the use or acquisition of HARMs has not been publicly acknowledged by Ukraine.

But according to CNN, the remains of what appears to be the fin of a HARM missile that was aimed at a Russian site in Ukraine have just been depicted in open source accounts.

Kahl revealed the missiles during a briefing about the Pentagon's most recent arms package for Ukraine, which is by far the biggest package of US weaponry yet.

The main goal of the package was to provide ammunition for some of the important weapon systems that the US provided to Ukraine, such as the M777 howitzers, which have been a crucial weapon in the conflict in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and many more.

Kahl claimed that Russia had committed 70,000-80,000 casualties of war, which included injured and killed people in the conflict.

Related Article: Is Iran Supporting Russia Against Ukraine as it Sends 'Armed Drones?' Here's What the White House Says

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Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Lightning is already scary enough for many people because of the loud sound (thunder) they make. Commonly, thunder can be heard within five seconds after the lightning appears in the sky.

(Photo : Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Lightning strikes as a column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano as it erupts on January 12, 2020 as seen from Tagaytay city, Cavite province, Philippines. Local authorities have begun evacuating residents near Taal Volcano as it began spewing ash up to a kilometer high Sunday afternoon.

Now, imagine lightning that is 100 times stronger than the normal ones on Earth. Just think of how loud the sound they make after appearing in the sky.

As of press time, the Georgia Tech Research Institute is conducting a 3D study to observe the so-called space lights, aka "gigantic jet lightning bursts."

These electric outbursts were last spotted back in 2018 in Oklahoma. Here's what they have discovered so far.

Space Lightning Now Being Studied!

According to Interesting Engineering's latest report, these gigantic jets are quite different from the common lightning people.

(Photo : Photo credit should read Joshua LOTT/AFP via Getty Images)

Lighting strikes over tornado destroyed homes on May 23, 2013 in Moore, Oklahoma. A powerful tornado classified as an EF4 passed through the town May 20, destroying homes, schools and businesses and killing 24 people including children. The epic twister, two miles (three kilometers) across.

Also Read: ISRO Satellite No Longer Usable After Deviating From Original Orbit

Instead of going down on the Earth's ground, this lightning will shoot outward, reaching more than 50 miles into space.

When it comes to power, in this space, lightning can reach around 300 columns. If you compare it with regular lightning, which only carries less than five coulombs between the cloud and ground, they are more than 100 times stronger.

This detail was confirmed, thanks to the efforts made by GTRI experts.

"We were able to map this gigantic jet in three dimensions with really high-quality data," said GTRI scientist Levi Boggs via PhysOrg.

He added that they relied on satellite and radar data to identify the location of the electric outbursts, allowing them to see the gigantic jets' VHF (very high frequency) that was not seen before.

Other Details of Gigantic Jets

These gigantic jets commonly appear above the clouds of Oklahoma around 1,000 to 50,000 times each year.

Because of their strength, they are being reported in the world's tropical regions, even if they are not part of a tropical storm.

As of writing, many things about space lightning are still left unanswered. But, the Georgia Tech Research Institute researchers are doing their best to understand this phenomenon.

On the other hand, the Sturgeon Moon event is expected to happen during the Perseids Meteor shower.

Meanwhile, NASA revealed its first JWST full-colored image of the Southern Ring planetary Nebula.

For more news updates about space lightning and other unusual space events, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Earth Days Are Becoming 'Strangely Longer' and Scientists Are Confused

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Written by: Griffin Davis

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, Apple announced that its customers in Malaysia can now use Apple Pay with their Apple Watch, iPhone, Mac, and iPad.

Apple Pay is an easy, safe, and more secure way to pay for everything. It can be integrated into your daily routine as it is available in-store at leading retailers, in apps, and on the website.

Apple Pay in Malaysia

Apple Pay brings more speed and convenience into your daily lives, whether you're grabbing a coffee at a coffee shop, buying groceries at a supermarket, or making an online purchase.

Starting Tuesday, Aug. 9, thousands of retailers will accept Apple Pay, with support from some of Malaysia's banks and credit and debit card networks, according to Apple Insider.

Jennifer Bailey, the Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said that the launch of Apple Pay in Malaysia will provide an easier, safer, and more secure way to pay with Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Bailey added that Apple customers in Malaysia will benefit from using Apple Pay with the support of the most popular banks, merchants, and apps.

Also Read: EMV Cards Might Soon Work With Apple Pay For Much Easier Public Transportation

What is Apple Pay

Security and privacy are two of the selling points of Apple Pay. It features industry-leading protection of your personal information, transaction data, and credit and debit card information.

Instead of your credit and debit card numbers, what is stored on Apple servers and your device is a unique Device Account Number, according to Apple.

If you sign up for Apple Pay, you will be assigned this Device Account Number, and it will be encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on your device, and each transaction is authorized with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

The tech giant does not retain transaction information that can be tied back to the customer. Transactions stay between you, the merchant, and the card issuer or the bank.

If your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can use Find My iPhone to locate, lock, or suspend payments from the device.

How to Use Apple Pay

Using Apple Pay in-stores is very easy and fast. Just hold your iPhone or Apple Watch near the contactless terminal, and authenticate using Touch ID or Face ID.

When making purchases in Safari, customers can use Apple Pay without having to make an account, put in a PIN, fill out forms, or repeatedly type in shipping and billing information, according to Pocket Lint.

Every Apple Pay purchase is authenticated through Touch ID, Face ID, or a device passcode, as well as a one-time unique security code.

Customers who have Visa and Mastercard from banks including Maybank, AmBank, and Standard Chartered Bank can now use Apple Pay.

In late 2022, American Express cards will be available with Apple Pay. Merchants like Maxis, KFC, Machines, McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Mydin, Starbucks, Uniqlo, U Mobile, Village Grocer, and Watsons, and apps and websites such as Adidas, Shopee, Sephora, and Atome, are now accepting Apple Pay.

As of 2022, Apple Pay is available in more than 60 countries and regions, and works with more than 10,000 banks worldwide.

Related Article: Apple Pay's Security Vulnerability Could Allow Hackers to Make Transactions! How to Avoid ASAP

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Written by Sophie Webster

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former Twitter employee now faces charges of espionage, with one individual aiding and abetting Saudi Arabia in gathering critical and personal information that he received gifts for their actions. The employees are namely Ahmad Abouammo, Ali Alzabarah, and Ahmed Almutairi, with Abouamo now facing a 10 to 20-year sentence from a San Francisco federal court.

Former Twitter Employee Charged with Espionage in San Francisco Court

(Photo : Joshua Hoehne from Unsplash )

Bloomberg reported that a former employee, Ahmad Abouammo, is now facing a grave federal court decision on a sentence against him regarding espionage, later charged with falsifying records, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Abouammo is a former media manager for the Middle East and North Africa to promote its accounts, but he also worked alongside Saudi Arabia to gather email addresses, birthdays, and phone numbers and got compensation for it.

The report claimed that he leveraged his position to give up personal information to the Saudi Arabian government back in 2014 to 2015.

The former employee then blamed Twitter for not protecting their information and data, with him only doing the job that resulted in the charges against him.

Read Also: Elon Musk vs Twitter: Billionaire Accuses Twitter of Fraud Over Number of Fake Accounts

Aiding Saudi Arabia in Gathering Critical Information

According to The Verge, Abouammo is not alone in the crimes against the public, with two former employees still wanted by the United States government. Ali Alzabarah and Ahmed Almutairi also got espionage charges to their names back in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The information they gathered compromised several Saudi Arabian officials and their personal information via the online platform they formerly worked in, where they committed the crime.

Twitter and its Data and Information

Social media platforms are known to hold personal information from the public upon creating accounts, and it is something that users need to agree to finish their account setup. However, these companies should protect personal information and prevent third-party users, government entities, and other known elements from accessing it.

There was a case before that saw significant access to Twitter's systems that took the personal information of as many as 5.4 million users last January. Last July, some reports saw these personal information to be on sale to different bidders, with the threat actor offering it for $30,000 to anyone who can pay the price.

New updates to Twitter and its features that are under testing now are having regulars rethink if their data are safe on the platform as they feel "exposed" with their monthly tweet count on display.

A significant case put one dispute to rest, and it talks about a former Twitter employee who is now facing the music of a 10-year minimum and a 20 year-maximum in jail for his former actions. Nevertheless, these cases are only some of the many disputes that users raise against Twitter, with other issues present against the platform.

Related Article: Twitter's System Vulnerability Enables Hacker to Steal Personal Info From 5 Million Accounts

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Written by Isaiah Richard

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Google Iowa data center explosion badly injured three individuals near the area. This incident happened on Monday, Aug. 8.

(Photo : David Paul Morris/Getty Images)

Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California is shown in this photo May 4, 2004. Google Inc., the world's No. 1 Web search provider, filed with U.S. regulators April 29, 2004.

Iowa City Police Department (ICPD) officials explained that the victims are electricians who were working on a substation near the Google facility.

They added that these individuals were hit by an electrical explosion. After the incident was identified, first responders were dispatched at around 11:59 a.m.

Jim Wood, the Council Bluffs fire department assistant chief, said that there was a sort of electrical issue in the area.

Google Iowa Data Center Explosion

According to the New York Post's latest report, one of the victims was evacuated using a helicopter because he was seriously burned.

(Photo : JOSE LUIS ROCA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Google website for Spain on a laptop in a cafe in Granada on June 11, 2008. Internet search giant Google was on June 11, 2008 awarded Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias Prize for Communications and Humanities.

Also Read: Google Hits Sonos with Another Lawsuit Over Patent Issues: Wireless Speaker Tech

On the other hand, the officials were able to take the two injured individuals via a local hospital ambulance. Wood said that they were able to speak with the three victims despite their conditions.

"We are aware of an electrical incident that took place yesterday at Google's data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, injuring three people on site who are being treated and in stable condition," said Devon Smiley, a Google spokesperson.

The Google representative added that they are working closely with the local authorities since their top priority is the safety of all workers.

She further explained that they are investigating the incident thoroughly and will provide any assistance needed by the victims.

Is It Connected To Google Outage?

Some individuals may think that the latest incident in the Google Iowa data center is connected to the recent outages on Google services, such as Gmail and other apps.

However, the tech giant firm clarified that the reason behind the system problems is a software update and not the facility accident.

The Search Engine Journal reported that many Google users experienced the widespread also on Monday.

They said that they were met with error messages saying that the server encountered an error and could not complete their request.

More than 7,000 individuals were affected by server issues across the United States. If you want to see further details about the Google outage, you can click this link.

Recently, the official Google Play Store will soon restrict the annoying 15-second ads.

On the other hand, the new Google Stadia feature Party Stream is now being rolled out.

For more news updates about Google and other tech giant firms, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Google Doodle Honors Uvalde Shooting Victim by Featuring Her Drawing-Here's What Her Art Looks Like

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Written by: Griffin Davis

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The Giant Magellan Telescope is the largest telescope ever built, and it is soon finishing construction thanks to the recent $205 million funding that it received from the international consortium that pledged to the cause. It brings a significant space surveillance device that would soon bring images of far-off galaxies and systems, with multiple purposes for the telescope.

Giant Magellan Telescope: Completing Construction with $205M Funding

(Photo : Giant Magellan.org)

The Giant Magellan Telescope is under construction and is focusing on its final phase with the current $205 million funding from different organization aiming to complete the space surveillance device.

According to a press release by the Giant Magellan organization, it recently received sizable funding from a consortium of universities and companies with a united goal for the device. The $205 million funding is the largest investment made for the telescope's construction from the organizations, more than its original funds from its foundation.

The Carnegie Institution for Science, Harvard University, the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Arizona, and the University of Chicago all pitched in for this new funding that would help complete the telescope.

The funding will focus on the structure it will make from the Ingersoll Machine Tools in Illinois. It will then focus on the seven primary mirrors at the University of Arizona's Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab.

Read Also: Space Lightning Now Being Studied! New 3D Research Shows They're 100x More Powerful Than Earth-Based Ones

The Giant Magellan Telescope and its Future for the World

The Giant Magellan is coming for the world and space, and it will help in future discoveries with its most advanced scientific spectrograph instruments that all combine into a single device. It is a 12-story structure in the Atacama Desert, and it would focus on advancements and discoveries that different entities may access for their use.

The Giant Magellan Telescope's Construction

The Giant Magellan Telescope began its construction last November 2015 and it brought significant investment to space studies from different entities that would soon bring the world discoveries. The telescope aims to bring a next-generation space telescope that is here on Earth, with its power surpassing that of current builds.

It is located in the Atacama Desert of Chile, and the project started its excavation last 2018 for the massive structure that would soon be up and running for the world to experience. Its target finishing is by 2022, but its initial reports claim that it would be operational by 2029, and that is a lot of years for its first use.

It is like the Arecibo Observatory and other land-based telescopes available on the planet.

The world is already enjoying a lot of space ventures and surveillance from different organizations and telescopes are available for everyone to review from multiple releases on studies. Soon, with the finishing of the Giant Magellan Telescope, there are more to look forward to and anticipate for further advancement in space.

Related Article: World's Giant Magellan Telescope: Captures 10X Clearer Space Images with 20-Tons Glass

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Written by Isaiah Richard

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On Tuesday, Aug. 9, US President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill that aims to strengthen the country's competitiveness with China by investing billions of dollars in domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research.

Biden Signs CHIPS

According to CNBC, Biden was joined by a crowd of hundreds of people, including tech executives, union presidents, and political leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties, during the signing ceremony held outside the White House.

The bill, called the Chips and Science Act, or CHIPS, includes more than $52 billion for US companies producing computer chips, as well as billions more in tax credits to encourage investment in semiconductor manufacturing.

It also provides tens of billions of dollars to fund scientific research and development and to spur the innovation and development of other tech companies in the United States.

Also Read: Samsung asks ITC to Ban Nvidia computer graphics, mobile chips in U.S.

The Biden administration also contended that the legislation will distribute billions more in private spending in the tech industry.

The White House said on Tuesday, Aug. 9, that several companies, spurred by the chips bill, have announced more than $44 billion in new semiconductor manufacturing investments.

Out of that sum, $40 billion is coming from Micron's investment in memory chip manufacturing. The White House said that the tech company's initiative will yield 8,000 new jobs and boost the US market share of memory chip production to 10% from 2%.

A partnership between Qualcomm and GlobalFoundries includes $4.2 billion in chip production as part of an expansion of GlobalFoundries' New York facility, according to CNET.

America's Chip Industry

Advocates say that the new funding is important to help sharpen America's technological edge and reinvigorate its lagging chip industry.

The US produces only about 10% of the world's supply of chips, whereas East Asia accounts for 75% of global production, including most of the top-tier chips, according to CBS News.

Semiconductors are essential pieces of a list of products, including consumer electronics, automobiles, healthcare equipment, and weapon systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked a chip shortage and strained supply chains, highlighting America's dependence on chips made from other countries and showing a potential national security threat.

The signing comes as President Biden and congressional Democrats cap a flurry of activity before lawmakers leave Washington for their break and turn their attention to the upcoming campaigns.

Senate Democrats also passed a bill to fund climate, energy and health policies by raising taxes on wealthy corporations and reforming prescription drug pricing.

The bill, which is a significant piece of Biden's agenda that Democrats had worked on for a year, is evenly split by party and Vice President Kamala Harris cast the tiebreaking vote.

In June, President Biden also signed a bipartisan bill to help strengthen gun regulations, including by enhancing requirements for background checks.

The legislation went through Congress in the wake of a deadly mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in which a gunman killed a total of 19 students and two teachers.

Just last week, Biden revealed that a US strike in Afghanistan killed Ayman Al-Zawahiri, a top al-Qaeda leader and was considered as the mastermind behind the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Related Article: Huawei Ban 2020: Japan's Kioxia Gets US Green Light to Supply Chips to Company-Smartphone Memory Still A No-Go!

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Iranian officials may be able to avoid US sanctions thanks to their use of cryptocurrency to pay for imports worth $10 million.

The country's Tasnim news agency initially announced the order, but little is currently known. For starters, the kind of cryptocurrency that was used for the order is still shrouded with mystery.

Evading US Sanctions?

The import order might just be the start, according to a tweet from Iranian trade official Alireza Peyman-Pak. He claimed that smart contracts and cryptocurrencies would be widely used in international trade with target nations by the end of September.

Reuters said that the political repercussions of this move could be significant since transactions like this could avoid the embargo that the US has imposed on Iran.

As noted by Futurism, this is not the first time that Iran's crypto-related activities have garnered media attention. In fact, a report from the blockchain analytics company Elliptic from 2021 found that Iran accounted for 4.5 percent of all Bitcoin mining activity worldwide because of the low cost of electricity in the country.

After learning this report, the Iranian government accused cryptocurrency miners of disrupting its electrical grid and has ultimately outlawed the practice.

Futurism also said that this is not the first time Iran is attempting to circumvent sanctions by using cryptocurrencies. A recent Reuters investigation claimed that Binance, a cryptocurrency wallet provider, was aware that Iranians were utilizing its service even with the sanctions in place.

Read also: Is Iran Supporting Russia Against Ukraine as it Sends 'Armed Drones?' Here's What the White House Says

Rial Cryptocurrency

Iran also plans to introduce its Rial cryptocurrency later this month. According to Bitcoin.com's report, it will begin on Aug. 23, and Iranian officials are already making preparations to introduce a crypto rial pilot program.

The coin is reportedly built on a distributed ledger system that can enable smart contracts and would be maintained by accredited financial institutions.

Related Article: Crypto's Collapse Threatens North Korea's Stolen Cryptocurrencies Amid Its Nuclear Tests

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The COVIDSafe app, a health application developed by the Australian government against the novel coronavirus pandemic, is now being decommissioned.

(Photo : Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)

A photo illustration shows a new COVIDSafe app by the Australian government as seen on an Iphone to install in Sydney on April 27, 2020.

Introduced by the Morrison government back in 2020, this application has been criticized by many users and experts because it is plagued with technical flaws.

Although this is the case, Australian officials are still spending money on the app. But, since state governments are not really using it, the COVIDSafe application has been considered an expensive failure.

COVIDSafe App Decommission

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the COVIDSafe app still received an update on Tuesday, Aug. 9. However, this update is not for any enhancements.

(Photo : Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

In this photo illustration, the Australian government coronavirus (COVID-19) tracking app 'COVIDSafe' is seen on April 26, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian government application will create a bluetooth connection between two phones with the application installed, log the interaction, and help the government identify potential COVID-19 cases.

Also Read: China's COVID-19 Cases Threaten iPhone Maker and 100 Businesses' Production

Instead, it was released to remove all the features of the health application. Now, when users are trying to access the online tool, they receive the "Please uninstall COVIDSafe" message.

"It is clear this app failed as a public health measure, and that's why we've acted to delete it. This failed app was a colossal waste of more than $21 million of taxpayers' money," said Health Minister Mark Butler.

Butler further shared that although the COVIDSafe app garnered more than 7.9 million registrations, less than 800 users allowed their data to be sent to the national store.

As of press time, the controversial health app is still being removed. The Australian government is expected to completely decommission the online tool on Aug. 16, as reported by ABC Net AU.

Was COVIDSafe Useful?

When the Australian government launched the COVIDSafe app, they were expecting around 40% of the nation's residents to register.

This means that roughly 10 million users should be using the health application. However, only 7.9 million decided to try the app.

The majority of these registrations (around 6 million) were in the first weeks of the app's launch. This means that very few individuals were added moving forward.

One of the main concerns of users is that they need to open their iPhones so that the health tool can properly function. Once their screens shut down, the app will no longer work.

You can view this link to learn more issues about the COVIDSafe application.

Previously, CDC claimed that the U.S. has some problems when it comes to COVID-19 utilization.

On the other hand, the FDA approved the COVID-19 vaccine for 6-month to 5-year-old individuals.

For more news updates about COVID-19 and other health topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: COVID Wearable Detection Device Spots Virus Before Symptoms Develop

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Prison ankle monitors are quite useful for checking the real-time locations of criminals. Law enforcers in the United States use these gadgets to track thousands of prisoners each day.

(Photo : Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Interactive Spider-Man 2 attraction is unveiled at Madame Tussauds on July 15, 2004 in London. The attraction with new Spider-Man figure, features a web which visitors must ascend in an attempt to photograph the elusive superhero for the Daily Bugle.

Because of its efficiency, the U.S. government is spending millions of dollars just to implement the use of ankle trackers.

But, have you ever wondered where the idea of prisoner ankle monitors came from? Well, a New Mexico judge shared his inspiration in using this tech approach to keep criminals in check.

Prisoner Ankle Monitors Inspired by 'The Amazing Spider-Man'?

According to Gizmodo's latest report, New Mexico Judge Jack Love said that "The Amazing Spider-Man" inspired him to implement ankle monitors.

(Photo : Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

An actor dressed as Spiderman poses for a photo at the London Super Comic Convention at the ExCeL Centre on February 23, 2013 in London, England. Enthusiasts at the Comic Convention are encouraged to wear a costume of their favourite comic character and flock to the ExCeL

Also Read: 'Spider-Man No Way Home' Torrent Files Are Allegedly Being Used By Hackers To Secretly Mine Monero

He referred to Stan Lee's popular hero comics, which gained traction in the late 1970s.

The official explained that the comics inspired him to approach experts that could help them produce these tracking devices.

Because of this, the New Mexico judge became one of the first judges to mandate wearable monitors.

He and Michael Goss, the Colorado engineer that helped him produce the prisoner ankle monitors, called these tracking devices electronic handcuffs.

But, the tracking device received its official name, "Goss-Link." This ankle monitor was based on the tracking device that Spider-Man was forced to wear by Kingpin in the iconic comics.

However, unlike the technology shown in the graphic book, Judge Love said there were several problems initially.

"There were bugs and gremlins and glitches in the system and the equipment. However, it was like the Wright brothers getting off the ground," said the New Mexico official.

Importance of Ankle Monitors

In 2021, NBC News reported that the ankle monitors greatly helped the U.S. government during the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Authorities allowed some criminals only to have house arrests since their locations are still monitored using the devices.

If you want to see further details about the prison ankle tracker, you can visit this link.

Meanwhile, Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics worked together to bring Spider-Man into the "Marvel's Avengers" game.

On the other hand, some Spider-Man NFTs were previously launched.

For more news updates about Spider-Man and other techs, it inspired, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Spider-Man: Tom Holland Leaks 'No Way Home' Borrows a Move from PS4 Game

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The demand for energy falls, but not the consumption of gas promised by the Government to Brussels: "They will comply, but not because of the measures"
It turns out that Italians dont necessarily like pineapple on their pizza, after all. Or at least not enough to keep nearly three dozen Dominos Pizza franchises afloat.

Last month, the Italian outlets of the American pizza conglomerate extinguished their pizza ovens, unable to win over picky palates in the place where pizza was invented.

A for sale banner outside a closed down Dominos Pizza store in Rome. Credit:Bloomberg

Although the companys Italian website remained live, outlets in Turin, Parma, Rome and elsewhere offered the same discouraging message: Sun. to Sat. CLOSED. Dominos international map was more up to date. It listed 90 international markets, but Italy was not among them.

Bloomberg reported Tuesday and court documents show that Dominos Italian franchise had sought protection from creditors earlier this year after running out of cash and falling behind on its debt obligations.
There is an emotion that lacks a name, wrote Ian Eldershaw. I know the feeling, Ian. Like the ache of finishing a good book. Or the gnaw of imagining other lives progressing below your aeroplane window. Or the dread that time is quickening.

Yet, Ians quest was for a different emotion: Its that deep-felt yearning for the human race to succeed  to create a better world, a beautiful planet, to bring out the better angels in our nature. Whats it called?

Hope seems the best English can offer. Or optimism? Naivete? But none hit the mark. Same applies to agathism, the belief that all things tend toward good. Its close, but imprecise, as is aroha, a Maori term embracing love and compassion. While Liam Runnalls (alias LR of the crossword page) dreamt up ute-hopianism.

Dictionaries are obsolete in some senses, or at least imperfect when aiming to isolate some nuanced senses. Credit:Jo Gay

In many ways, the label Ian desires is the flipside of solastalgia. Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht coined that term in 2003, popularised by a Missy Higgins album of the same name in 2018. Solastalgia dovetails Latin and Greek, fusing comfort (solacium) with -algia (pain or grief). The word describes a unique distress generated by environmental change, an eco-pang for an idyll thats beyond reclaiming.
Its 10am in Crete, where Anthony Horowitz is enjoying his version of holidays. The extraordinarily prolific English author has already been up long enough to draft the first chapter of his fifth book featuring private eye Daniel Hawthorne. A novelist, screenwriter and producer, Horowitz writes adult and young-adult books as well as TV series and movies, typically juggling a variety of projects and routinely working every day.

Im not good at turning off, he explains. Here, I get a tan and swim and see friends, but Im also working six or seven hours a day, which is less than I work in England. While a recent bout of COVID slowed him down for a couple of weeks, his customary energy has returned and is now palpable from the other side of the world.

Im not good at turning off, says Anthony Horowitz, whose credits as a screenwriter and producer include Midsomer Murders, Foyles War, Alex Rider and Magpie Murders. Credit:All3Media

His latest TV production is the playful six-part mystery, Magpie Murders (Britbox), which he adapted from his novel, although he doesnt always take on the TV version of his own books. When his popular teen spy hero, Alex Rider, moved to the screen, Horowitz and his wife, producer Jill Green, commissioned Guy Burt (The Bletchley Circle) to choreograph the transition, with Horowitz noting appreciatively that Guys brought originality and a new vision to Alex Rider.

Magpie Murders is the first book to feature literary editor Susan Ryeland and Horowitz and Green agreed that he needed to do the adaptation himself. Its a long and complicated book, and its like a nesting series of Russian dolls, he says. We didnt think that there was anybody else who would be able to do the job. But it was an enormous amount of work to shape it and to make it intelligible to an audience, to have them mystified and puzzled, but not lost or confused. It took me almost two years to write the scripts.
You might not expect a drama about IT problem-solving to be especially exciting. The visual possibilities for portraying people sitting at desks, staring intently at screens and typing on keyboards might seem limited. The results could look pretty static and dull. But in the hands of writer-director Peter Kosminsky (The State, Wolf Hall, The Promise) The Undeclared War (Stan*) defies expectations. It becomes something special, initially perplexing  quite deliberately  and then dazzling.

The opening sequence is a good indication of the inventiveness and accomplishment to follow in the six-part series, in which a significant portion of the timely and topical production concerns people working at creating or deciphering seemingly endless lines of computer code.

Hannah Khalique-Brown plays English-Pakistani IT specialist Saara Parvin in the thriller The Undeclared War.

It begins abruptly and without credits, plunging viewers straight into an unfolding story as the camera follows a young woman into an eerily deserted amusement park. She moves around, spies a metal plate on the ground, grabs some sort of ratchet from a tool belt thats magically appeared around her waist, lifts the heavy plate and climbs down a metal ladder.

In an Alice-in-Wonderland style journey that also incorporates nods to video games and virtual-reality experiences, she then moves rapidly through a range of settings, unlocking doors, absorbing information and continuing to move forward. She cant know whats behind the next door or which tools shell require to progress. And each location that she encounters  a beach, a gymnasium, a stately manor  is vividly rendered in vibrant colour by director of photography Gavin Finney and production designer Gillian Devenney.
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on August 15, 1982

It was an old-style gangland funeral... all muscle-bound hoods, brassy blondes, some ex-boxers and a couple of film stars to add to the theatrical air. Diana Dors, dramatic in contrasting black dress and peroxide hair, kissed the coffin. Retired gunman John McVicar, once Britains public enemy Number 1, observed wistfully how sad it was that death came to us all.

Ronnie Kray arrives handcuffed at the church. August 11, 1982. Credit:Syndication International

Terry Downes, former world middleweight champion, leaned self-consciously on a gravestone, chewing on a long cigar. And several self-styled businessmen who refused to give their names, tried vainly to hide their faces from the cameras.

Great Train Robber Buster Edwards sent flowers. So did Barbara Windsor, the busty little blonde from the Carry On films. And what a carry-on it was especially when the two real stars of the show appeared.
Lauren Munsell, DNP joins Ivinson Medical Group (IMG) where she will serve as an otolaryngology provider based out of the new IMG Surgical Clinic in Cheyenne.

In May, Otolaryngologist, Dr. Paul Johnson and his team began holding weekly clinic at the newly opened IMG Surgical Clinic Cheyenne location.

Now, the Ivinson team has expanded with the addition of Nurse Practitioner, Lauren Munsell, DNP.

Lauren will be offering her support to the otolaryngology team in Cheyenne and will be seeing patients for ear, nose and throat concerns.

Prior to joining Ivinson as an otolaryngology provider, Lauren provided acute and family care in Cheyenne.

While pursuing her doctorate of family nursing practice (DNP) at the University of Wyoming, she also served as a registered nurse on Ivinson's labor and delivery unit, medical/surgical unit and the intensive care unit.

Taking on a new role at Ivinson, Lauren specializes in acute and chronic sinus problems, throat and tonsil concerns, allergies and asthma as well as hearing issues.

Wyoming has been my home for 8 years. My husband and I live in Cheyenne, where we enjoy the community and are happy to put down our roots, Lauren said. I am delighted to reunite with Ivinson to serve patients and expand ENT services into Cheyenne and be a part of an incredible team that supports the Wyoming community.

Lauren is joined by other specialty providers at Ivinson that will begin serving the Cheyenne community.

Ivinson urologist, Dr. Eric Uhlman is now scheduling to see patients in Cheyenne weekly.

To schedule an appointment with Lauren or any other member of our surgical clinic team, call or text 307-755-4540.
A health worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a school in Bangkok on Oct. 4, 2021. (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images)

29 Percent of Young Pfizer COVID Vaccine Recipients Suffered Heart Effects: Study

Nearly 3 in 10 children who received Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine experienced heart effects afterward, according to a new study.

Researchers studied 301 students across two schools in Thailand. The students were aged 13 to 18 and had received a dose of Pfizers vaccine without a serious adverse event. Most had no underlying disease, while 44 had conditions such as asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Researchers conducted laboratory tests to establish a baseline and followed up at intervals of three, seven, and 14 days after the students received a second dose of the vaccine.

Researchers found that 29 percent of the youth experienced cardiovascular effects, including heart palpitations, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Fifty-four students had abnormal electrocardiogram results. Six experienced mitral valve prolapse, which the Mayo Clinic describes as a heart valve disease; six had high blood pressure; and seven were diagnosed with heart inflammation.

Two of the children were hospitalized, with one being admitted to intensive care.

Limitations of the study, published ahead of peer review and funded by Mahidol University, included requiring parental permission for blood testing, which could have impacted participation.

Nearly 100 percent of the vaccine recipients recovered within two weeks, researchers said. Still, due to the detection of heart effects, young people receiving any of the vaccines based on messenger RNA technologyas are both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinesshould be monitored for side effects, the authors said.

Pfizer didnt respond to a request for comment.

Reaction

Several cardiologists, after reviewing the new paper, said it adds to the body of evidence that the risks of the vaccines may outweigh the benefits, especially for young people.

Any form of heart damage in young persons is concerning since the long-term risks of heart failure and sudden death with exercise are unknown, Dr. Peter McCullough, the chief medical adviser for the Truth for Health Foundation, told The Epoch Times in an email.

This is one of [about] 200 published papers demonstrating the risks of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh any theoretical benefit, he added.

U.S. authorities have acknowledged a link between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and heart inflammation, but have maintained that the benefits of the shots outweigh the risks for all age groups older than 6 months.

According to reports collected by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System through May 26, males aged 5 to 49, and females aged 12 to 29, had higher than background rates of myocarditis following a second Pfizer dose. The highest rate was 76 per million within seven days of a second dose among males 16 or 17 years old.

Dr. Anish Koka, a cardiologist in Philadelphia, said the new study results are not reassuring.

While the study authors said most patients recovered, some of the conditions they experienced were far from mild, Koka wrote in a blog post.

The Thai study helps fill in some of the data void so parents and their doctors can be better informed when discussing the risks and benefits of the vaccines, he said.
Attorney General Merrick Garland, alongside U.S. Attorney Mark Wildasin (2R), for the Middle District of Tennessee, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Mickey French of the Nashville Field Division (R), speaks about a significant firearms trafficking enforcement action during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington, on April 1, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

AG Merrick Garland Could Be Impeached Over FBI Trump Raid: Sen. Rand Paul

Attorney General Merrick Garland could face an impeachment inquiry following the FBI raid on former President Donald Trumps Florida residence, according to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Without question, I think the order to allow the raid on Mar-a-Lago on Trumps house has to be revealed. I think we have to know under what pretense they think this is right? I think its going to have to wait until November till theres a full investigation, Paul told Fox News on Aug. 10.

While hes never been fond of overusing impeachment, Paul said that I think there has to be an investigation.

And if it warrants it, theres going to have to be a look at whether or not the attorney general has misused his office for political purposes. Have they gone after a political opponent? I mean, this is beyond the pale, Paul said in the interview. No one would have ever imagined before that we would be using or one political party would be using the FBI to attack their political opponents.

The party of the president tends to lose seats in midterms, while some analysts say that Republicans are poised to take back at least the House after the November elections. Democrats currently hold slim leads over Republicans in both the Senate and House.

Now, this is really something thats going to require an investigation, Paul said. And I wouldnt be surprised if the investigation leads to abuse of power that this could even lead to an impeachment of the attorney general.

On Monday, the former president confirmed his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach was targeted in an FBI raid. Neither the Department of Justice nor the FBI has offered public comments about the matter.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks during a hearing in Washington in an April 26, 2022, file image. (Al Drago/AFP via Getty Images)

The FBI declined to comment when contacted by The Epoch Times. The Department of Justice hasnt returned a request for comment.

Christina Bobb, a Trump lawyer, told The Epoch Times Tuesday that FBI agents were looking for presidential records, what they deemed to be presidential records, and anything that could potentially be classified. Those agents, she said, took handfuls of boxes of documents.

The FBI search warrant was approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, court documents indicate. Reinhart is a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Top Republicans have condemned the raid, saying it suggests the Biden administration has weaponized the FBI and Justice Department to target political opponents ahead of the midterms.
International Development Minister and Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada Minister Harjit Sajjan rises during Question Period, April 4, 2022 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Aid Shipment to Afghanistan Cancelled Due to Anti-Terrorist Law

Two containers of food bound for Afghanistan have been cancelled by a Canadian aid agency because of a law banning any dealings with the Taliban.

World Vision says it has been forced to cancel a large shipment of therapeutic food, which it said could have fed around 1,800 children.

Canada passed a law in 2013 listing the Taliban as a terrorist organization and listing penalties of up to 10 years in prison if Canadians directly or indirectly provide them with property or finances.

Aid agencies working in Afghanistan complain the law, in its current form, is impeding their work because they cannot help anyone who may have official dealings with what is now the Afghan government, including those paying rent or taxes.

A spokeswoman for International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan says he is working with the departments of Public Safety and Justice to look at necessary changes to the law help the Afghan people.

But he has stressed previously that the government has no plans to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations.
Passengers wait at the Qantas check in at Sydney International Airport in Sydney, Australia, on March 19, 2020. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Australian Authorities Considers Food Ban to Prevent Foot and Mouth Disease

Australian officials are considering the possibility of completely banning travellers from bringing food from Indonesia into the country amid increasing concerns about an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Agriculture officials told a Senate inquiry into Australias response to the outbreak in Indonesia on Aug. 10 that it was feasible to implement a total ban if the situation worsened.

At present, travellers arriving from Indonesia are already prohibited from bringing meat products into Australia. They also have to declare any food items in their luggage.

Speaking to the Senate inquiry, agriculture department secretary Andrew Metcalfe said the FMD situation was constantly changing.

There have been significant actions taken in relation to food being imported from Indonesia since the outbreak occurred, and many more categories of food unable to be imported, he said.

We are constantly reviewing the risk factors associated with any food imports and making changes accordingly.

The inquiry was told that if FMD spread to Australia, there would be a significant impact on animal-based export products.

Government Response to FMD

Metcalfes comments came after the federal government announced a $14 million (US$9.73 million) biosecurity package to strengthen frontline measures in July.

The spending included funding for 18 new biosecurity officers at airports and mail centres. However, the new officers will not start working until the end of September, and the government currently hires 45 contractors to fill the workforce gaps.

In addition, the inquire was told that detector dogs had been stationed at all airports receiving flights from Indonesia, except for Adelaide, where they would be deployed by the end of August.

An officer prepares to spray disinfectant on a cattle farm infected with FMD in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on July 22, 2022. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the one million doses of vaccines that the Australian government promised to supply Indonesia is set to arrive later in August.

Metcalfe also noted that the agriculture department had not discussed with other departments the possibility of closing the border with Indonesia to prevent FMD.

Regarding the governments response to the contagious disease, the agriculture department said it received advice on FMD on May 6, which was during the caretaker period before the federal election.

Metcalfe told the inquiry that former agriculture minister David Littleproud and his then-opposition counterpart were fully briefed about the issue.

However, Littleproud did not ask the agriculture department to purchase more vaccines or foot mats to prevent the disease in Australia.

At the same time, the inquiry was informed that the risk of FMD entering Australia in the next five years had jumped to 11.6 percent after an outbreak occurred in Bali in July.
Australian State Passes Bill to Ban Nazi Symbols

Nazi symbols are one step closer to be banned in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) after a legislation criminalising their use passed the state parliaments lower house on Aug. 9.

Under the legislation, the use or display of Nazi flags or memorabilia bearing swastikas would be banned.

Individual offenders face up to 12 months in prison or a fine of $11,000 (US$7,645), or both, while businesses face fines of up to $55,000.

Hateful and vilifying conduct is completely unacceptable in our community, Attorney General said in a statement.

New South Wales is a place where everyone can expect protection and safety from serious vilification and hate crimes.

Speakman said the display of Nazi symbols undermine Australians shared values and causes harm and distress to others in the community, including those from the Jewish faith.

Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, Australia on March 31, 2020. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

In 2020, NSW Police received 31 reports of Nazi flags being displayed, including one from a home near a Sydney synagogue.

This distress is also felt keenly by groups targeted by the Nazis, including people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and by veterans who risked their lives in service for our country, he said.

This bill recognises that the public display of Nazi symbols is abhorrent, except in very limited circumstances such as for educational purposes, and causes profound offence and distress.

Religious Communities Exempted

The display of a swastika in connection with Buddhism, Hinduism, or Jainism will not constitute the display of a Nazi symbol under the bill, according to NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure.

The swastika has been an ancient symbol of peace, prosperity, and auspiciousness for these spiritual groups for thousands of years, Coure said.

This Bill reflects stakeholder feedback that the offence should not apply to a swastika displayed in connection with Buddhism, Hinduism or Jainism.

A Buddha statue on Lantau Island, Hong Kong with a swastika symbol on the chest. (Shutterstock*)

In addition, according to the Bill, the public display of Nazi symbols will not be a crime if there is a reasonable excuse, such as for artistic, academic or educational purposes or any other purpose in the public interest.

The Epoch Times understands that the use of the swastika by some Eastern faith groups, such as Falun Dafa, which has a swastika in its symbol, will also be exempted.

The Bill also provides in proposed section 93ZA(3) that it is not an offence to display a Nazi symbol where there is a reasonable excuse, done reasonably and in good faith, for another purpose in the public interest, the Attorney General Mark Speakman said in an email to The Epoch Times.

A faith group that displays the swastika in connection with their faith, but is not connected with Buddhism, Hinduism or Jainism, may nevertheless be able to establish that they have a reasonable excuse for doing so under section 93ZA(3) if the symbol is displayed reasonably and in good faith for a purpose in the public interest.

Response from Jewish Community

The states Jewish community welcomed the pass of the bill.

In recent years we have seen a surge in the use of these symbols by right-wing extremists and for other faith-based attacks, both in-person and online, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Darren Bark said. Hate has no place in our tolerant multicultural society.

Weapons and a flag with the German Nazis swastika are displayed by Italian police after they were seized in a raid on a neo-nazi group in Italy, Nov. 28, 2019. (Polizia di Stato/Handout via REUTERS)

Nazi symbols are a gateway to violence and vilification, and this historic legislation will ensure those who are here to cause harm in our community are dealt with under the law.

The Jewish Board of Deputies was incredibly proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Hindu community to ensure this important legislation is passed.

Professor of Law: Banning Swastika Will Cause It to Spread Further

However, others have expressed a different view arguing that banning the symbol will push it underground, where it will spread.

Gabriel A. Moens AM, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Queensland, argued that the ban of the swastika would push the Nazi symbol underground, where it could fester and cause more issues in society.

The states proposed banning of the Swastika (and other Nazi paraphernalia) will have unfortunate consequences because its display will simply go underground where it will fester and infectan unhealthy situation, Moens wrote in an opinion piece for The Epoch Times regarding Victorias ban on Swastika.

All ideas, good or bad, should be allowed to be discussed in the marketplace of ideas, he said. This is because the truth will emerge from the competition of ideas in free, transparent public discourse.

Ancient Origins of Swastika

Before the right-facing swastika was appropriated by the Nazis, the symbol was venerated by many ancient cultures as a symbol of light and peace for thousands of years.

The earliest known swastika was found in 10,000 B.C. in the Ukraine, carved on mammoth ivory.

An example of a piece of pottery that bears the swastika resides in the National Archeological Museum in Athens. (Neli Magdalini Sfigopoulou/The Epoch Times)

Additionally, the symbol can be found in artifacts from Ancient Greece and in the remains of the ancient city of Troy, which existed 4,000 years ago. While the ancient Druids and the Celts also utilised the symbol, as did the early Nordic tribes and even early Christians as one of their symbols.

Sometimes called a srivatsa, the word swastika is Sanskrit: and, linguistically, is broken into swa, meaning higher self, asti means being, and ka is a suffix. The word may be understood as being with higher self, It is, well being, good existence, and good luck.

The srivatsa has an especially strong connection to Buddhism in India, which was then transmitted to China. It is often found on Buddha sculptures and is believed to be a symbol with profound and heavenly meanings.

A swastika in a Roman mosaic dated to the 2nd century A.D. in Sousse, Tunisia. (Maciej Szczepanczyk/Wikimedia Commons)

The NSW bill followed a ban of the Nazi swastika in Victoria in June, which is Australias first state to do so. Those who break the law in Victoria face up to a year in jail and an AU$22,000 fine.

The bill still needs to be passed by the NSW upper house before it can be officially come into force.

Queensland and Tasmanian governments also pledged recently to ban Nazi symbols.

Henry Jom and Tara MacIsaac contributed to this report.
Livestream footage from a bald eagles nest-cam captured the extraordinary moment when a family of bald eagles adopted a tiny baby red-tailed hawk on Gabriola Island in B.C.

An adult bald eagle dropped off what looked like a ball of fluff into its nestpresumably live food for its young eaglet to start tearing limb from limb.

But, the family apparently had a change of heart, and decided to raise what was actually a meager, helpless hawklet as one of their own instead.

This bird likely came from a red-tailed hawk nest that was preyed upon by the adult bald eagles, Professor David Bird, an ornithologist at McGill University, told CBC.

And the next thing you know, the little hawk bounces up and starts begging for food right away. Thats what saved its life.

A baby red-tailed hawklet in a bald eagles nest on Gabriola Island in B.C. (Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

The hawklet with its much larger bald eaglet sibling. (Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

The eaglet stretches its wings while biding the day with its red-tailed hawklet sibling. (Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

The eagles nest-cam is monitored by Pam McCartney, a volunteer for Growls wildlife organization, who was awestruck by the interspecies adoption.

Initially, the hawklet and eaglet stayed on opposite sides of the nest, and the mother eagle paid little heed to the tiny prey, McCartney said.

But by nightfall, the parent was already feeding and fussing over the tiny red-tailed hawk like one of her own.

This nest-cam is one of several operated by Growls on Gabriola Island, located just off Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.

The specific location of the nest is being kept secret so birdwatchers dont disturb the interspecies family.

Its extremely rare to observe this unusual behaviorlet alone catch it on camera, said Professor Bird.

The baby hawk after it was just brought to the nest. (Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

The hawklet is spotted in the eagles nest. (Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

Footage from the bald eagles nest-cam shows the whole family. (Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

Considered opportunistic hunters, the adult bald eagles likely spotted the baby red-tailed hawk in its nest and picked it off when the chance presented itself.

The hawklet is also extremely lucky it wasnt crushed by the larger raptors powerful, razor-sharp talons. Ive had these on my fist. I know what that feels like, said Bird.

Guessed to be 23 weeks old, the hawklet would have looked very similar to a baby bald eagle.

According to McCartney, the eagle family previously lost one of its two young; the hawklet now seems to fill its place.

She has been watching the nest-cam obsessively since the hawklet was deposited in early June.

Observing the hawklet and its eagle sibling interacting from pre-dawn till after dusk, the much smaller hawk is seen waking up its bigger counterpart around sunrise. In one instance, the young eagle is seen feeding the feisty hawklet.

(Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

Its quite wonderful to witness, McCartney says.

Its incredible to me, and I just find them to be, like, this happy family, she added. They all get along [and] sometimes they give each other little, you know, eagle kisses or whateverraptor kisses.

Its not the first adoption of its kind in B.C. In 2017, a pair of bald eagles with three eaglets were seen raising a red-tailed hawket in Sydney, near Victoria. The baby hawk grew strong and healthy, but flew off prematurelylikely because red-tailed hawks feed on different prey.

Bald eagles tend to like small fish found in the tidal flats; red-tailed hawks are more inclined toward mice, rodents, and rabbits, said Bird.

The striking footage from Gabriola Island is a first for the professor.

I dont think in my lifetime I would have believed Id see that, he said. Its quite a rare thing to see.

(Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

(Courtesy of Pam McCartney, Growls)

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas on Aug. 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Biden Knew All About This, Trump Says After Mar-a-Lago Home Raided by FBI

Former President Donald Trump has criticized President Joe Biden, claiming that the administration had prior knowledge of the FBI raid on his Mar-a-Lago resort on Monday.

Biden knew all about this, just like he knew all about Hunters deals,' Trump wrote on Tuesday in a post via his Truth Social platform.

Hunter Biden, who is currently under federal investigation for tax affairs, has been linked to financial transactions with individuals in countries including Ukraine, Russia, and China, particularly during the time when his father, Joe Biden, was vice president during the Obama administration. However, Biden has refuted that he knew of his sons business dealings with foreign entities.

The White House has denied knowing about the FBI raid in advance. During a press briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was not briefed on what happened at Mar-a-Lago.

No one at the White House was given a heads up, Jean-Pierre added.

Local law enforcement officers in front of the home of former U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

A Horrible Thing

In a separate Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said the latest FBI raid was a continuation of attacks against him.

A horrible thing that took place yesterday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump wrote. We are no better than a third world country, a banana republic.

It is a continuation of Russia, Russia, Russia, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax # 2, the no collusion Mueller Report, and more, Trump continued. To make matters worse it is all, in my opinion, a coordinated attack with radical left Democrat state & local D.A.s & A.G.s.

About two dozen FBI agents entered Trumps resort at around 9 a.m. local time on Aug. 8 and stayed for about 10 hours.

Christina Bobb, a Trump lawyer, told The Epoch Times that the FBI agents were looking for presidential records, what they deemed to be presidential records, and anything that could potentially be classified.

Bobb also said the agents took a handful of boxes of documents.

Search Warrant

At the time of writing, the justification for the raid is unknown since the search warrant affidavitwhich would contain the reasonings behind the raidremains under seal.

The search warrant was approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, according to court documents. Reinhart is a magistrate judge in the West Palm Beach offices of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Secret Service personnel in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. on Aug. 8, 2022. The FBI raided the home on that night reportedly to retrieve classified White House documents. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)

Government watchdog Judicial Watch announced on Tuesday that it has filed a motion asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to unseal as soon as possible the search warrant materials used by the FBI to raid Trumps home in Florida.

In its motion, the watchdog said it is investigating the potential politicization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice and whether the FBI and the Justice Department are abusing their law enforcement powers to harass a likely future political opponent of President Biden.

It is essential that the public understands as soon as possible the basis for the governments action, the watchdog wrote.

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, also criticized the Biden administration in a statement.

The Biden administrations raid on President Trumps home is an outrageous, reckless and unprecedented abuse of power. And the American people have an urgent right to know how it happened and who is responsible, Fitton stated.

Republicans

Many GOP lawmakers have condemned the raid, including House GOP Conference Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).

Joe Bidens FBI and Department of Justice have been fully weaponized against their political opponents, Stefanik wrote according to a statement from her office. It is an absolute outrageous abuse of power and unAmerican for these agencies to raid the home of President Trump and seize the cell phone of a sitting Member of Congress.

Attorney General Garland, Director Wray, House Democrats, and most of all Joe Biden will absolutely be held accountable.
U.S. President Joe Biden displays the enrolled bill after signing the PACT Act of 2022 into law during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Aug. 10, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Signs Legislation Meant to Help Military Veterans Exposed to Toxic Burn Pits

President Joe Biden signed legislation on Aug. 10 aimed at helping military veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits.

The PACT Act is the least we can do for the countless men and womenmany might be in this room for all I knowwho suffered toxic exposure while serving the country, Biden said in prepared remarks delivered from the White House before signing the legislation.

The measures full title is the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022.

The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, in the lower chamber and Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The legislation drew bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The House approved it in a 34288 vote in July, and the Senate passed it by an 8611 margin a week before Biden signed it.

The act expands eligibility for Veterans Affairs (VA) health care for veterans who suffered toxic exposure, in part by establishing a presumption that veterans serving in certain locations during specific times were exposed to toxic substances, such as on or after Aug. 2, 1990, in Bahrain.

It also eliminates a requirement to prove exposure to the substances, which supporters of the measure say has meant that many veterans who were exposed havent received government care.

Lawmakers have estimated that it will affect more than 3.5 million veterans, including veterans who have served after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

With the Presidents signature, the PACT Act is finally across the finish line. For generations, toxic-exposed veterans have had to fight our government to get the health care and benefits that they need and have earned. Today, this fight is over, Tester said in a statement.

Moran said, Today, we delivered on a promise made to our veterans that if someone serves in our military, we will take care of them and provide them with the benefits they have earned through their service.

U.S. President Joe Biden (L) looks on as Danielle Robinson, the widow of Sgt. First Class Heath Robinson, speaks during a signing ceremony for the PACT Act of 2022, in the East Room of the White House on Aug. 10, 2022. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

Robinson

Robinson, for whom the legislation is named, was a healthy soldier with the Ohio Army National Guard who was exposed to burn pits while serving in Iraq, according to his family. He developed lung cancer and later died.

His family was denied VA coverage because the cancer was deemed to be a nonqualifying injury, the family said.

I would like to thank all members of Congress who supported and voted for the PACT Act, all the veterans organizations who help raise our voices on capitol hill, and advocates like Jon Stewart for your support, Robinsons widow Danielle Robinson said at the signing ceremony.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough told those gathered that the agency is prepared to implement the legislation.

We encourage anyone who might be eligible for PACT Act benefits to apply right away because we will stop at nothing to make sure every veteran, every family member, and every survivor gets everything they have earned and they deserve, he said.

Biden said, I am urging the veterans of those decades of war to promptly file your claims.
Kevin Welsh holds up PHA pellets at the Danimer Scientific plant, on Aug. 3, 2022, in Winchester, Ky. Companies are investing billions of dollars to ramp up production of plastics made from natural, renewable materials that can be safely composted or can biodegrade under the right conditions. Danimer Scientific is one of the companies making a big bet on bioplastic with its expansion of a plant. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Bioplastics Investment Soars as Market Expands

Investors are pouring billions into the bioplastics industry, foreseeing a massive business opportunity in a sector at a time when plastic pollution has become a major global concern.

Bioplastics are biodegradable plastics derived from sources such as sugars and starches, rather than petrochemicals. Investment in bioplastic manufacturing jumped to $500 million in the first quarter of 2022, from $350 million in the previous quarter, according to data from market intelligence provider i3 Connect.

Georgia-based Danimer Scientific is making a big bet, investing more than $700 million into expanding its manufacturing operations in that state. The company, which was founded in 2007, creates products used in industries such as food packaging, bottling, and more for brands such as Nestle, Pepsi, and Mars-Wrigley.

Danimer has broken ground for a new 2 million-square-foot facility that will manufacture a type of a biodegradable plastic called polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), which is created by using microorganisms that ferment with canola oil. The site is estimated to be completed by late summer of 2023.

Tests have shown that Danimers PHA can biodegrade within two years in soil and in six months in a marine environment, CEO Stephen Croskrey said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, plastics made from fossil fuels never fully disintegrate, instead just breaking down into smaller particles. Since 1950, about 9 billion tons of fossil fuel plastics have been manufactured, of which just 9 percent is estimated to have been recycled.

Another type of bioplastic is polylactic acid (PLA), which is made by fermenting sugar extracted from sugar cane and corn. NatureWorks, based in Minneapolis, is the worlds largest PLA company, and is investing $600 million at its plant in Thailand.

Unlike PHA, PLA takes longer to disintegrate. It needs to be mixed in with food waste to break down, something that will only occur over several decades.

The U.S. biodegradable market is estimated to be worth $1.94 billion in 2022, according to a June 10 statement by Research and Markets. The firm expects the market to grow at a compound annual rate of 20.1 percent, to $4.5 billion by 2027.

Concerns Regarding Land Use, Product Marketing

There are concerns about using agricultural land to manufacture bioplastics. Hasso von Pogrell, managing director of European Bioplastics, however, dismisses such worries.

In 2021, only 0.7 million hectares of land were used for producing feedstock for manufacturing bioplastics, accounting for just over 0.01 percent of the 5 billion hectares of global agricultural land.

In relation to the available agricultural area, this share is still minimal. Thus, there is no competition between the renewable feedstock for food and feed and the production of bioplastics, von Pogrell said, according to a December 2021 article published at the European Bioplastics website. Over 90 percent of the global agricultural area is used for pasture, feed, and food.

Companies are using claims of biodegradability as a tool to attract customers, Ramani Narayan, a professor of chemical engineering at Michigan State University, told AP. He thinks that the term has been misused, abused, and overused.
California Man Breaks Guinness World Record Speed-Eating 17 Ghost Chili Peppers

California native and chili enthusiast Gregory Foster has broken another world record, this time for eating the most ghost chili peppers in one minute.

Foster was recognized by Guinness World Records on Aug. 8 for eating 17 ghost peppersalso referred to as bhut jolokia chili peppersin 60 seconds. In total, he consumed 3.98 ounces of the insanely hot peppers.

This record attempt is a personal challenge to see how far I can push myself and my love of the super hot peppers, Foster said.

Fosters feat was accomplished back in November, in San Diego, California, according to a news release from Guinness. There is typically a delay between record-setting attempts and certification.

The record-breaking platform that recognizes unique milestones and unseen talents said in the release that ghost peppers can register a million or more Scoville Heat Units (SHU), meaning Foster consumed roughly 17 million SHU.

In comparison, the medium-sized chili pepper, the jalapeno, registers around 2,500 to 8,000 SHU.

Foster broke the record in a public park, so many people were able to witness the spicy accomplishment. Many passersby stopped to watch him break the previous record.

As a chili lover, Ive been trying to advance the awareness and the excitement surrounding the super-hot chilis out there, Foster said.

Foster also holds two other records: the most Carolina Reaper peppers eaten in one minute, which he broke in 2017; and the fastest time to eat three Carolina Reaper chilies, which he broke in December 2021.

This attempt was solely a personal endeavor to achieve another Guinness World Record alongside my currently standing [ones], he added. I love chili eating and pushing myself.

Besides pushing himself and attempting new records, Foster had always loved spicy food and even grows his own peppers at home. He has spent years pushing his tolerance level for spicy foods, now being able to stomach the hottest peppers in the world.

The previous record for eating the most Carolina Reaper chilies was held by Mike Jack, who managed to eat 3.42 ounces of the super hot peppers in March 2019 in Canada.

From NTD News
A student walks near Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 23, 2012. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Campus Officials on the Precipice for Arbitrary Sexual Assault Rulings

Commentary

Campus administrators running Americas kangaroo courts have spent years running roughshod over the legal rights of young men accused of sexual assault. Now theyve learnt they might be in the firing line when it comes to legal action against the universities.

A series of judicial decisions has issued a warning to justice warriors who use their positions as campus officials to throw young men under the bus. One example involved officials from Lincoln-Sudbury High School, in Massachusetts, who werent happy when an investigation into sexual assault allegations reached inconclusive results and rather than put this on the record, they revised the report and inserted a guilty finding.

Campus administrators can no longer assume they cant be sued for such biased behaviour. Courts are now saying that officials who undermine due process place themselves at risk of the loss of qualified immunity.

The recent legal judgements are part of a welcome trend for judges to disallow immunity defences in these Title IX lawsuits, leaving campus officials thoroughly exposed.

Australias kangaroo courts are run by the Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) committees, who have license to derail the education of accused young men. But some of these officials are now wondering if they might also face legal risks from playing God in these quasi-judicial decision-making bodies.

In the Firing Line

Earlier this year, an article appeared in a publication called Campus Review entitled Lessons From the Sexual assault and Harassment Committee: What Could Go Wrong?

It was written by Alan Manly, the CEO of Group Colleges Australia, representing the private higher education colleges, and Emeritus Prof. Greg Whateley, the deputy vice chancellor of the group.

They wrote of a case involving a doctor from overseas who was helped by Campus Justice lawyers and achieved a settlement from a major university. The authors point out that in that case, the student moved onthe doctor is now studying for graduate medical entry to work in Australia.

A view of Winthrop Hall at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia. (Adwo/Adobe Stock)

But Manly and Whateley ask what if that student had been well-funded and bent on revenge, suggesting then he might have chosen to target the SASH committee for the appalling way he had been treated.

They have great fun spelling out what that might mean for individual committee members:

Good practice would suggest that all committee members should seek their own legal advice  Committee members would have to pay for this legal advice. The affidavits would be done and then they would come back for more details, more evidence to support your assertion.

More time, more worry, more personal legal expense, and you havent got to court yet.

A few sleepless nights will be had by committee members.

No Jurisdiction

Manly and Whateley first plant the seed of doubt, and then in June, follow up with another article clearly aimed once again at the SASH committees.

This time they focused on the most famous case in this domain, involving a medical student at the University of Queensland (UQ) who went to the Supreme Court and successfully argued that universities had no jurisdiction to determine sexual assault cases (pdf).

Judge Ann Lyons said that the university could not adjudicate criminal matters and was very critical of SASH procedures.

Manly and Whateley point out that the SASH committee were named as the second respondent in this case, so when the university lost and had to pay the accuseds costs as well as their own, they were also potentially liable.

The feature that may be keeping some members of the Quasi-Judiciary Committee awake at night could well be the costs for a hearing in a Supreme Court with lawyers and barristers on full fee, say the authors.

The Campus Review authors are clearly stirring the pot, particularly given that such committees are likely to have vicarious liability, which means the university carries the legal can.

But senior lawyers advise me that failure to provide natural justice for the accused person could create a personal liability that wont always be indemnified by the university. And it is hardly good for career advancement to be the cause of an expensive lawsuit attracting adverse media attention for your employer.

Turn of the Tide

UQ appealed the Supreme Court decision and won with the judgement stating universities are allowed to deal with sexual misconduct after an offence is proven in criminal court. But it came with a warning for the universities that they can expect to have their disciplinary decisions subject to judicial scrutiny if they fail to ensure their internal processes are suitablemeaning they must ensure procedural fairness.

The university was clearly not happy despite this apparent win. The whole saga probably set them back $200,000 (US$140,000) to $300,000 in legal costs, plus they had attracted considerable negative publicity over the case.

The front entrance to the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Daniel Teng/The Epoch Times)

Big wigs at UQ sprang into action and conducted a review of the management of sexual misconduct cases, which decided to rein in the SASH committee and is now relegated to the role of an advisory committee reporting to the vice chancellor.

Apparently, now theres a more cautious mood in the higher education sector, with only one remaining member of the original seven-person SASH group at TEQSA, the higher education regulator that pushed universities into setting up these problematic courts.

The speculation in Campus Review about legal liability for SASH members certainly doesnt hurt, and following a number of recent expensive legal cases and significant compensation payouts, the fervor for witch-hunts against accused male students may be starting to wane.

There are critical legal issues which still deserve a public airing, including:

A criminal conviction is not a bar to studying at university or being granted a degree. How then can universities lawfully withhold degrees from students accused or even convicted of sexual assault?

The only misconduct that should disbar a person from their degree is plagiarism or other misbehaviour impinging on their studies.

The entire regulatory apparatus is justified by creating a safe environment of studentsbut by providing safety for one group of students, universities have jeopardized the safety of accused students by using blatantly unfair procedures that deny their legal rights.

Our universities SASH regulations usually deny accused students access to lawyers and other basic legal protections.

The tide is turning, and sooner or later, Australia is going to see a university being held accountable for these witch-hunts. When that time comesand its a question of when, not ifuniversities will pay a heavy price.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of COVID-19 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

Canada Sent Nipah Virus to Wuhan; Lab Conducts Most Dangerous Research on Nipah, Scientist Testifies to US Senate

A U.S. scientist recently testified at a U.S. Senate hearing that his research provides evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has conducted synthetic biology research on the deadly Nipah virus. Some scientists are expressing concern about Canada sending Nipah and Ebola viruses to a lab potentially engaged in such research.

The Nipah virus is a smaller virus than SARS2 [virus causing COVID-19] and is much less transmissible. But it is one of the deadliest viruses, with a greater than 60 percent lethality. This is 60-times deadlier than SARS2, Dr. Steven Quay, a Seattle-based physician-scientist, told a Senate subcommittee at an Aug. 3 hearing.

Quay, who was previously on the faculty of Stanford Universitys School of Medicine for about a decade, also said the work on Nipah at the Wuhan lab wasnt conducted at biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) facilities, which have the highest level of biosafety, but rather at BSL-2 or BSL-3 facilities with lower safety protocols.

This is the most dangerous research I have ever encountered, he said.

In an interview with The Epoch Times, Quay said international agreements forbid synthetic biology on certain lethal viruses, such as Nipah and Ebola. Synthetic biology involves creating or redesigning biological entities and systems. An example of synthetic biology is gain-of-function research, which involves increasing the lethal level or the transmissibility of pathogens.

Canadas National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) in Winnipeg shipped samples of the Nipah and Ebola viruses to the WIV in March 2019 after receiving a request from the Chinese lab. The shipment was arranged by Chinese-born scientist Xiangguo Qiu, who worked at the NML at the time, with permission from her superiors. Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, were the subjects of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police raid at the lab in July 2019 and were later fired for undisclosed reasons.

The National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Canada, in a file photo. (John Woods/The Canadian Press)

Quay said his research was based on examining the information from early COVID-19 patients that China had uploaded to international databases and finding 20 unexpected contaminants not expected to be found in human specimens, including the Nipah virus and other materials, such as honeysuckle genes. He said these materials were likely contained in the specimens because of cross-contamination from other research at the WIV.

Quay said that except for the Nipah virus, the other 19 items that he and his collaborators found that shouldnt be in a human were published in scientific papers by the WIV, with the institute explaining the work they were doing with honeysuckle genes or horse viruses, for example.

So 19 of our findings were validated that we were accurately testing what had been going on in the laboratory the previous two years. But one thing they didnt publish on was this Nipah virus work. Theres no publication on that, he said.

Quay said the strain of the Nipah virus that they found wasnt the same as the strain that Canada sent to the WIV.

Joe Wang, who formerly spearheaded a vaccine development program for SARS in Canada with one of the worlds leading pharmaceutical companies, says its concerning for Canada to send virus samples to a lab engaging in such research.

At the very least, the WIV could be using the samples Canada sent for comparative purposes with the synthetic biology research on the other Nipah strain, said Wang, whos now president of NTD Television Canada, a sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

Bernard Massie, a virology researcher who retired from the National Research Council of Canada as an acting director general, said he would think twice before sending deadly virus samples to the WIV. He noted that with todays technology, its also practical for labs to construct their own virus sequences but that takes more effort.

Its certainly much faster to get a viral isolate than to build it every time. Its more convenient, Massie said in an interview.

The Epoch Times contacted the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which is in charge of the NML, but the agency didnt provide any comments in relation to Quays findings. A spokesperson said in an email: All transfers from the NML follow strict protocols, including requirements under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, the Canadian Biosafety Standard, and standard operating procedures of the NML.

Internal NML documents released by Parliament show that when an NML manager asked why the lab was being asked by the WIV for virus samples, a staff member said that historically its been easier to get material from the NML compared to U.S. labs and that nearby labs dont have the ability to ship such samples.

Specialists work inside the P4 laboratory in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Feb. 23, 2017. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images)

During a parliamentary committee meeting in March 2021, members of Parliament (MP) challenged the NMLs senior management on why the lab allowed the shipment of the Nipah and Ebola viruses to the WIV.

NMLs acting scientific director general, Guillaume Poliquin, told MPs that the lab only sent the samples to the WIV after receiving assurance that no gain-of-function research would take place.

Conservative MP John Williamson said in response that the word of a state-run Chinese lab cant be trusted, as the Chinese regime has a history of theft and lies.

NML

Before she was ousted from the NML, Qiu traveled several times to the WIV, helping train personnel at the lab on level 4 biosafety.

Qiu also collaborated and published papers with Chinese military researchers, including Peoples Liberation Army Maj. Gen. Chen Wei.

Qiu and Cheng, along with a group of Chinese students, were escorted from the NML in July 2019 amid a police investigation. The two were formally fired from the lab in January 2021.

The Canadian federal government has refused to provide details of why Qiu and Cheng were fired, citing privacy and national security concerns. This has been challenged by opposition parties, with MPs in the House of Commons issuing an order in the previous Parliament requiring the government to disclose the information.

The government took the speaker of the House to court seeking to withhold the documents, then later dropped the court case once an election was called in August 2021 and Parliament was dissolved.

Cathy He contributed to this report.

Editors note: This article was updated with a statement from the Public Health Agency of Canada provided on Aug. 11.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on April 23, 2020. (Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images)

CDC, FDA Shouldnt Have Cleared and Recommended COVID-19 Vaccines for Young Children: Complaint

Top U.S. health agencies should not have authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines for children under 5, a complaint lodged on Aug. 9 says.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) appeared to violate their own standards when the agencies granted emergency authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and then recommended virtually all children aged six months to four years get a jab, a watchdog said in the complaint.

The FDA scientific integrity policies say that the agency should be free from political influence and that the agency is dedicated to protect[ing] the integrity of scientific data and ensuring its accurate presentation, including the underlying assumptions and uncertainties.

The CDCs scientific integrity policies say that its research and services are based on sound science and that officials prize scientific integrity and professional excellence and will not be influenced by political issues.

A memorandum President Joe Biden issued in early 2021 says that his administrations scientific findings should never be distorted or influenced by political considerations.

But the agencies may have been pressured into clearing and recommending the COVID-19 vaccines, the nonprofit Protect the Publics Trust said.

Data, Analyses

The core of the complaint is based on clinical trial data and analyses from the CDC and FDA.

The data showed substandard efficacy for Modernas shot and unreliable efficacy for Pfizers shot in terms of protection against infection, and were not able to establish estimates of shielding against severe disease. The regulatory actions were instead based on kids immune systems generating similar levels of antibodies to adults, with the adult levels established in the original trials completed in 2020. Officials believe antibodies help protect people against COVID-19.

CDC analysts graded (pdf) the evidence that Pfizers vaccine prevented COVID-19 as very low certainty, expressing very serious concerns for imprecision due to study size. They expressed more confidence in Modernas vaccine, but that shot still falls short of what is to be expected for such a far-reaching recommendation, Protect the Publics Trust said. Moreover, the analysts noted that there was not data available to estimate the impact on severe disease.

On the safety front, meanwhile, the results were mixed, with certain adverse events being recorded at higher amounts among the vaccinated than the placebo recipients in some portions of the age group studied.

The agencies independent vaccine experts advised in favor of authorizing and recommending the vaccines, but some said that healthy children should not necessarily get a vaccine. Many outside experts, meanwhile, said the data didnt support authorization and questioned using an outdated shot against the newer variants.

For the vaccine, they say yes, it shows efficacy. But it shows efficacy for the 2019 version of COVID, Dr. David Gortler, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center who previously served as a medical officer and senior adviser at the FDA, told The Epoch Times.

Statements From Top Officials

The nuances of the data were papered over or ignored by top officials, including the CDCs director, the complaint says.

Vaccinating young children is a critical opportunity to protect them against hospitalization and death from COVID-19, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director, said in a video statement.

As weve seen with the older age groups, we expect that the vaccines for younger children will provide protection for the most severe outcomes of COVID-19, such as hospitalization and death, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told reporters on a call.

Biden offered a similar statement, saying, These vaccines are safe, highly effective, and will give parents the peace of mind of knowing their child is protected from the worst outcomes of COVID-19.

The CDCs own data to date suggests that the COVID-19 vaccines for children, and the Pfizer vaccine in particular, can be viewed as little better than a placebo to encourage parents to feel confident returning to normal activity, the complaint says. This is not reflected in the public communications by CDC, FDA, and HHS officials promoting the vaccine and encouraging the public to vaccinate their infants and toddlers to prevent against severe disease, hospitalization or even death.

Concern was expressed that the actions on the vaccines were based on factors besides scientific evidence.

The complaint was lodged with Christi Grimm, the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services, the parent agency for both the CDC and FDA. It was filed just days after internal FDA emails showed the agency was under pressure from the Biden administration and pharmaceutical companies to approve COVID-19 booster shots.

Grimm was urged to open an investigation into whether scientific integrity policies were violated.

Grimms office confirmed receipt of the complaint, and told The Epoch Times in an email officials were reviewing it.

The CDC and FDA did not respond to requests for comment.
Challengers to Travel Vaccine Mandate Ask Court to Hear Their Case as AG Seeks Dismissal

Challengers to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for travel are pleading for their case to be heard in court after the Attorney-General submitted a motion to dismiss their applications on the grounds of mootness, since the mandate was suspended on June 20.

Attorney Keith Wilson, affiliated with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) and representing former Newfoundland premier Brian Peckford and co-applicants, filed his response to the AGs June 28 motion on August 5.

The response says that dismissing the matter will set a dangerous precedent for government actors.

It will allow them to be at liberty to enact, albeit temporarily, unlawful laws, and at their whim revoke them and argue mootness when challenged.

Wilson writes the government never had the factual or legal justification to impose a mandate in the first place and only the court can assess the matter, which pertains to the infringement of Charter-guaranteed mobility rights.

The AGs motion argues the interim orders imposing a vaccine mandate were repealed and no longer exist in law.

There is no live issue between the parties. An order will have no practical effect, says the text of the motion.

The AG further argues that scarce judicial resources should be used more appropriately.

The Justice Department has assigned at least nine lawyers to the case and presented 16 witnesses and experts in defence of the mandate.

Wilson says the interim order imposing vaccination in transportation expired on June 20 and was not renewed, but nothing would prevent the transport minister to write a new order.

He also highlights the governments language surrounding the issue which suggests it is only a suspension and not a full repeal.

Variations of the word suspend appear seven times in Transport Canadas official June 14 announcement on the mandate roll-back, which also says the government will not hesitate to make adjustments.

The AGs motion to declare the applications moot is expected to be heard by the court in person on Sept. 21. If the action is allowed to continue, hearings will take place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4.

Court Documents

The Epoch Times has reported many previously undisclosed revelations based on court documents and testimony from government officials on the vaccine mandate.

Jennifer Little, the Transport Canada official who drafted the mandate policy, said during cross-examination in June she couldnt recall a recommendation from Health Canada to impose the mandate.

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) epidemiologist Dr. Lisa Waddell testified during cross-examination in May that there was little data on in-flight transmission and that her teams briefing on the topic did not recommend vaccination as a requirement for air travel.

The official who authorized the COVID-19 vaccines in Canada, Dr. Celia Lourenco, testified in June the vaccines are still under trial and were put to market through a rare interim order.

She said that if the vaccines had shown their current level of effectiveness against infection (below 50 percent, with protection plummeting after a few months) during the initial trials, they would never have been approved.

The vaccines remain authorized due to the protection they afford against serious outcomes, she said, though there isnt a specific threshold being monitored.

Court documents show the Liberal government decided to impose the travel mandate in late July, and subsequently made the public announcement on August 13.

The mandate came into force in late October after the Liberals were re-elected with a minority government in September 2021.

It prevented unvaccinated Canadians from taking a flight, a train, and some marine vessels from within Canada, but allowed for medical and religious exemptions. No compassionate exemptions were granted for people to attend funerals or other events.

The government was seeking to have one of the strongest vaccination mandates for travellers in the world, according to court documents.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (center L), poses for photographs after receiving the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon, Taiwans highest civilian honor, from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (center R) at the president's office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Chien Chih-Hung/Office of The President via Getty Images)

China Caused This Crisisthe US Must Win It

Commentary

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis Taiwan visit came and went, but the crisis created by China in the Taiwan Strait continues to develop.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is celebrating the great success of turning the crisis into an unprecedented opportunity to advance its coercive policies to bring Taiwan under its control. In the United States, there is worry about the deteriorating bilateral relations between the two largest economies.

Here is our take on the situation.

The ongoing crisis in the Taiwan Strait is a long-planned creation of the CCP, and Pelosis visit to Taiwan only forced the CCP to implement it early. In our view, Chinas real intention is to show the United States and its allies, as well as Taiwan, that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) already has the capacity to blockade Taiwan, cutting off its lifeline such as energy supplies and export and import shipments, to prevent Taiwans effort of becoming a normal member of the international community, with the help of the United States and its allies.

By pushing the island into a desperate corner, the CCP expects to achieve a forced annexation without firing a shot. Meanwhile, Beijing intends to use the occasion to change the status quo by breaking through the implicitly agreed center line, intruding upon Taiwans territorial waters and airspace, challenging Taiwans sovereignty, and eroding it through the routinization of the violation of Taipeis sovereign rights.

Chinese military helicopters fly past Pingtan island, one of mainland Chinas closest points from Taiwan, in Fujian Province, ahead of military drills off Taiwan, on Aug. 4, 2022. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Domestically, the crisis has offered Chinese leader Xi Jinping a perfect excuse to justify his third term in the 20th Party Congress to be held in late October or early November. Beijings overreaction to Pelosis visit aims to create a strongman image for Xi. The illusion that Xi seeks to create is that China needs this great and wise leader to remain in power so that he may guide the party-state through this serious crisis and lead the country to realize its dream of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

Xis showmanship does not mean China is ready to have a showdown with the United States. In fact, Beijings eight sanctions are diplomatic gossamer. This is because the party-state is not strong enough to face the United Statesit needs another strategic opportunity to catch up. It still needs American markets, capital, energy, and technologies. China created the crisis to gain more concessions from the United States. In other words, China needs the United States more than otherwise.

On the other hand, the Biden administration still cannot see that Taiwan is only the first step in the CCPs global domination. The administration seems to believe it can manage the China risk while seducing the CCP into cooperating on the climate change agenda, all while Wall Street and Silicon Valley continue to profit from the relationship. Therefore, U.S.-China relations will not deteriorate as it appears.

Sun Bingzhong, a retired Taiwan colonel who has turned into a CCPs mouthpiece, claims in CRNTT, a China propaganda platform based in Hong Kong, that Chinas military exercises are aimed at deterring Taiwans independence, warning the Taiwanese not to choose the wrong leader in the future, and not only de facto blockading Taiwan but breaking through the first island chain. The consequence is to expand Chinas maritime defense line eastward over a 2,400 to 3,100 miles area. This indicates Taiwan is not the final goal. Even if the United States and its allies allow Chinas annexation of Taiwan, it will not curb Chinas global expansion.

A missile is launched from an unspecified location in China on Aug. 4, 2022. The Chinese military fired missiles into waters near Taiwan as part of its planned exercises on Aug. 4. (CCTV via AP)

Another one of Chinas wolf-warrior diplomacy incidences is also unsettling. The Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye, has made equally aggressive and dangerous remarks that anticipate a genocide if Beijing gains control.

He was invited to talk about Pelosis visit to Taiwan on BFMTV, saying that after Taiwans reunification, the Taiwanese will be re-educated. The term re-education from the mouth of a Chinese official is a stark warning of the genocide and other human rights abuses that will follow were China to conquer Taiwan. This word choice was not an accident. It is alarming and outrageous given that the CCP is already committing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslims in Xinjiangs concentration camps with almost no consequence from the international community.

Moreover, Beijing has launched a global campaign to ensure its one-China policy. Qin Gang, Chinese ambassador to Washington, even published an op-ed piece in The Washington Post, claiming that the one-China principle is part of the postwar international order and has become a general international consensus.

Such revisionism distorts historical fact. The CCP has illegally seized power and cast the one-China policy myth on all countries by force and inducement, and now it is reciting this myth to force the world to recognize the legitimacy of the party-state. The United States and its allies should not fall into this trap.

To deter Pelosi from visiting Taiwan, Xi actually threatened President Joe Biden to play with fire and you will burn yourself, which was followed by the implementation of the military exercises around Taiwan. These were intended to intimidate Taiwan, warn the United States, and normalize bellicose exercises that are intended to provide blockade in all but name of Taiwans foreign trade.

In the face of this reckless violation of international law, peace, and international trade, the United States response has been weak. There has been no recall of its ambassador in Beijing, no official protests regarding Chinas invasion of Taiwans territories, and USS Ronald Reagan is not prominent when it should have made a port call in Taiwan.

This has enabled China to establish a new reality in international law that Taiwans sovereignty is disputed. This is unacceptable. The United States, its allies, and the rest of the world must reject it.

More importantly, the United States must immediately employ effective measures to counter the CCPs aggression and end its blockade of Taiwan.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

Lianchao Han Follow Dr. Lianchao Han worked in the U.S. Senate for 12 years, serving as legislative counsel and policy director for three active U.S. Senators. He is an expert on Chinas economic and political development. He holds graduate degrees from China Foreign Affairs University, Yale University, George Mason University and Johns Hopkins University.
A truck transfers imported iron ore at a port in Rizhao in China's eastern Shandong Province on May 15, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Establishes a Mineral Resources Group to Strengthen Its Bargaining Power in Global Market

News Analysis

China has set up a new state-owned group in charge of centralized iron ore procurement to increase its bargaining power in the international market.

Chinas iron ore demand is huge. Data shows that since 2016, Chinas annual iron ore imports have exceeded 1 billion tons. In 2021, China imported a total of 1.126 billion tons, accounting for nearly 70 percent of Chinas iron ore consumption that year. Domestic iron ore resources are primarily of poor grade, and domestic output is low, making China highly dependent on imports.

Presently, global iron ore resources and supplies are highly concentrated in Australia and Brazil, and sellers have dominated the market for a long time.

According to data from the U.S. Geological Survey, from 2019 to 2021, Australian mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP Group Ltd., Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FMG Group), and Brazils four major mines of Vale do Rio Doces (Vales) iron ore production accounted for more than 40 percent of global production. The iron ore shipments by sea from the four major mines account for 60 to 70 percent of the worlds seaborne iron ore.

More than 80 percent of Chinas iron ore imports come from Australia and Brazil. In 2021, China imported 694 million tonsnearly 62 percent of Chinas total importsfrom Australia and 238 million tonsor 21 percentfrom Brazil.

The absolute position of Australian mines in Chinas iron ore supply puts China in a passive position in the iron ore price game.

In 2020, more than 60 percent of Chinas iron ore imports came from Australia. This picture shows Fortescue Solomon iron ore mine located in the Valley of the Kings in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. (David Gray/Reuters)

Furthermore, in April 2020, Canberra upset Beijing by asking for an independent international investigation into the origin of COVID-19. As a result, China implemented economic sanctions against Australia and restricted some Australian imports. It also forced China to confront the dominant position of Australian mines.

China Mineral Resources Group

On July 25, the China Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd. was established in Beijing as a wholly state-owned company and a state-authorized investment institution. According to a July 28 resolution by China Iron and Steel Association, the new Mineral Resources Group will set up an iron ore working committee with Chinas major iron and steel enterprises to be independently responsible for iron ore procurement in the global market.

Regarding the purpose of establishing the mineral resources group, Zhou Chengxiong, deputy director of the Strategic Issues Consulting and Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in an article on July 21 that Chinese steel companies can only change the passive situation of iron ore procurement by centralizing the procurement. The establishment of China Mineral Resources Group is precisely to concentrate the mining and import/export of ore and to do overall planning in order to gain advantages.

Simandou Iron Ore Mine

China is also waiting for the Simandou iron mine in Guinea, Africa, to start production. And according to Chinese media Caixin, the newly established China Mineral Resources Group will invest in overseas mines such as the Simandou mine.

In Chinas game for pricing power over iron ore, Guineas Simandou mine is considered by Beijing as a critical mineral base that is expected to break the global iron ore supply pattern.

But, according to Mike Sun, a North American investment consultant and China expert, the planned capacity of this mine is limited, and Chinese steel mills will halt production if they run out of iron ore.

The current planned production capacity of Simandou iron ore is 100 million to 150 million tons, Sun told The Epoch Times. Even if this output can be achieved in the end, Chinas annual iron ore imports exceed 1 billion tons, so China cannot do without iron ore from Australia and Brazil.

In addition, the Simandou iron ore has a big cost problem, Sun said. The mines initial investment in railways, wharves, and power generation facilities is huge. In the end, the CIF China price of Simandou iron ore is estimated to exceed $70-100 per ton; while the CIF China price of Australian iron ore is only about $20 per ton. The cost gap between the two is huge, and the Australian mining giant can easily generate large profits.

Since the beginning of this year, Guineas new government has twice suspended mining at the Simandou mine and asked foreign investors to speed up infrastructure construction.

Sun said the price of iron ore would ultimately be determined by supply and demand in the market. As long as China has a demand for iron ore, it will be difficult for China to control the iron ore price negotiation even if it integrates its resources.

Consolidation of Chinas Key Mining Industries

China has been accelerating the merger of its major steel and other metal production companies recently.

A worker walks past steel rolls at the Chongqing Iron and Steel plant in Changshou, Chongqing, China, on Aug. 6, 2018. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

At a conference on promoting the integration of central enterprises held in July, officials from the state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission said that Chinas current political and economic situation at home and abroad is grim. Therefore, it is necessary to speed up the integration between central enterprises to cope with the current complex situation.

In 2016, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) State Council issued an action plan to consolidate 60 to 70 percent of Chinas steel production in the hands of about 10 large groups by 2025.

According to the latest data from the World Steel Association, China Baowu Steel (No. 1), Ansteel Group (No. 3), Shagang Group (No. 5), Hegang Group (No. 7), Shougang Group (No. 9) ) were among the top 10 companies in the world in terms of crude steel output last year.

Sun said that judging by the current trend, Chinas steel industry will likely eventually merge into only three to four large steel groups.

Other key mining industries in China are also accelerating the consolidation of large state-owned enterprises.

On July 24, Aluminum Corporation of China (CHINALCO) announced that it would acquire an additional 19 percent stake in China Yunnan Aluminum in cash, with a total stake of 29 percent. After the merger, CHINALCO will become the worlds largest listed aluminum company.

In December of last year, CHINALCO, China Minmetals Corporation, and Ganzhou Rare Earth Group led the establishment of China Rare Earth Group Co., Ltd., intending to consolidate resources to control rare earth prices and supply chains.
A People's Liberation Army member looks through binoculars during military exercises as Taiwan's frigate Lan Yang is seen at the rear on Aug. 5, 2022. China on Aug. 10 reaffirmed its threat to use military force to bring self-governing Taiwan under its control, amid threatening Chinese military exercises that have raised tensions between the sides to their highest level in years. (Lin Jian/Xinhua via AP)

China Will Not Renounce the Use of Force Against Taiwan: CCP White Paper

China withdrew a promise to not send troops or communist administrators to Taiwan if it took control of the island, according to a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) white paper released on Aug. 10.

The move appears to signal a decision by CCP leader Xi Jinping to grant Taiwan less autonomy than previously promised should the regime succeed in forcibly uniting Taiwan with the mainland.

The paper, published in state-owned media outlet China Daily, was similar to two other documents, which were published in 1993 and 2000. In the newest version, however, the CCP removed a vow that it would not send troops or administrative personnel to be based in Taiwan.

We will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures, the paper reads.

We will always be ready to respond with the use of force or other necessary means to interference by external forces or radical action by separatist elements.

The continued focus on radical separatists and guarantees to leave no room for separatist activities in any form in Taiwan is notable, given that CCP propaganda describes the president of Taiwan as a radical separatist.

The CCP claims that Taiwan is a rogue province of China that must be united with the mainland, by force if necessary. However, democratic Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949 and has never been controlled by the CCP.

CCP authorities have generally proposed that Taiwan be compelled into annexation through a one country, two systems model, similar to the formula under which Hong Kong came into Chinese rule in 1997. However, the CCP effectively abandoned that model in 2020, when it pushed through security legislation circumventing Hong Kongs constitution.

Every mainstream Taiwanese political party has thus rejected the one country, two systems proposal, which has garnered virtually no public support among the Taiwanese.

A line from the 2000 version of the white paper that stated anything can be negotiated if Taiwan didnt seek independence is also missing from the latest paper.

The publication of the white paper comes just a week after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited Taiwan. The CCP used that visit to justify its largest ever military exercises around Taiwan, which effectively blockaded the island from some international shipping and saw Chinese missiles fired into Japanese waters.

Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council condemned the paper, saying that its full of lies and that Taiwan is a sovereign nation.

Only Taiwans 23 million people have the right to decide on the future of Taiwan, the council stated. They will never accept an outcome set by an autocratic regime.
A missile is launched from an unspecified location in China on Aug. 4, 2022. The Chinese military fired missiles into waters near Taiwan as part of its planned exercises on Aug. 4. (CCTV via AP)

Chinese Military Exercises Demand Expedited Arming of Taiwan

Commentary

Chinas blockade exercises to practice isolating Taiwan from the rest of the world and from rescue by America and its allies suggests that war could be on the horizon. Some analysts contend that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will not risk war before his reconfirmation to an unprecedented second 10-year term at the 20th Party Congress later this year. Once the Congress ends and Xi gets his anticipated reconfirmation, all bets are off.

The Chinese view Taiwans conquest as inevitable. Xie Feng, vice minister of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared the path was irreversible and public opinion cannot be violated. Playing with fire will surely set yourself on fire. Taiwan is Chinas Taiwan, and will eventually return to the embrace of the motherland.

The window that Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, warned about last year is closing fast. Davidson warned the invasion might be in six years, but the exercises during which Taiwans commercial air traffic and sea traffic to its major ports was cut suggest Taiwan may not have that much time.

The exercises call for dramatic actions by the United States and Japan to reinforce their forces in the Ryukyus and to ramp up the transfer of anti-ship and anti-missile technologies to Taiwan. As former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. James Sandy Winnefeld noted in a 2020 webinar sponsored by the Center for Security Policy, the start of hostilities will commence at Chinas discretion.

Everything needs to be there on Day Zero. We already saw in Ukraine that the administration and its NATO allies waited too long to begin the delivery of HIMARS rockets and other equipment to the Ukrainian army that could have made the Russian invasion more challenging. Unlike Ukraine, Taiwan is an island, which precludes the direct smuggling of new weapons into the conflict zone once the invasion has begun.

The Biden administration should learn from the lessons of Ukraine and plan as if Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will begin hostilities with Taiwan, which the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) considers an integral part of the Peoples Republic of China, in the next year. The speed with which the PLA announced and executed its blockade exercise shows that time is not on the side of slow and steady diplomacy, especially considering that the CCP shut down communication in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit.

A PLA invasion will be swift and without warning and could possibly begin under the guise of military exercises that have become increasingly routine. Repetition has a way of lulling the target into complacency and not anticipating the real attack.

Deterring such aggression is exactly what the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act was written to defend against.

The law states, The United States shall provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character and shall maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan.

The PLA already has its own equivalent of HIMARS that it hopes to use to suppress Taiwans defenses, which were deployed to Fujian Province opposite Taiwan in southeastern China. Transfer of HIMARS rockets to Taiwan should be expedited to ensure that PLA bases of operations are just as vulnerable to counterattack. The Trump administration approved a $1.8 billion weapons sale in late 2020 that potentially included HIMARS rockets.

The Biden administration should consider transferring several of the soon-to-decommission Ticonderoga-class cruisers to Taiwan for use as anti-aircraft and anti-missile batteries. It must hasten the upgrade of Taiwans air defenses because a massive aerial barrage from cruise and ballistic missiles will be the tip of the spear of the Chinese military as it works to suppress Taiwans defenses in preparation for a ground invasion.

The island can expect saturation from thousands of PLA ballistic and cruise missiles targeting critical infrastructure. It still operates 1960s vintage Chapparal missiles that are mostly useless against modern missiles and aircraft.

The PLA has thousands of missiles of various types that it can use to destroy Taiwans airfields. Air superiority will be critical for the PLA to be able to safely drop paratroopers in the invasion. A layered defense could buy Taiwan crucial time to repel the invasion.

Taiwan currently has its indigenously developed Tien Kung 3 air defense designed to counter short-range ballistic missiles. Overall, Taiwans air defenses comprise aged and lacking equipment. A massive investment is needed to dramatically improve Taiwans air defense in a short period of time. Israels Iron Dome should be looked at to knock down Chinese cruise missiles and the inevitable barrage from Chinas long-range rockets. The U.S. government currently underwrites Israels defenses against Palestinian rockets. It should do likewise for Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Building a robust air defense for Taiwan over the next 24 months would severely dent Beijings ability to take the island because it would put a dent in a key element of the PLAs offensive strategy.

An invasion of Taiwan likely would be rapid. A retired high-ranking NATO intelligence figure told me that China already has thousands of operatives in place on the island to engage in sabotage activities should Xi Jinping give the word.

The Pentagon should expedite the permanent forward deployment of a carrier battlegroup to Guam. Increased submarine operations are also needed to target Chinese warships with missiles, mines, and torpedoes.

Japan and the United States must also work together to formalize their military alliance and move toward a shared military headquarters and operations.

The message of last weeks PLA exercises is that Japan is also squarely in Beijings sights. With Beijing vowing regular exercises going forward, its only a matter of time before the PLA uses confusion surrounding its exercises to launch the planned all-out invasion.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
An Air Force aircraft under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) takes off for military exercises in the waters around Taiwan from an undisclosed location in this Aug. 4, 2022, handout released on Aug. 5, 2022. (Eastern Theatre Command/Reuters)

Chinese Regime Says It Will Normalize Taiwan Patrols as Military Drills Conclude

Chinas military announced that it completed a number of undefined tasks around Taiwan on Aug. 10, signaling that it would be scaling down ongoing joint exercises in the region.

However, the Eastern Theater Command, which oversees Chinas military in the region nearest Taiwan, also stated that it would be normalizing its harassing sorties of fighter jets into Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone and across the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

The Command will closely follow the development of the situation across the Taiwan Strait, continue to carry out military training for war preparedness, and organize normalized combat-readiness security patrol in the Taiwan Strait to defend Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, Shi Yi, the commands spokesperson, said in a statement.

A total of 17 Chinese fighter jets incurred across the median line of the Taiwan Strait just an hour after the statement was released, according to Taiwans Defense Ministry.

Troops from several branches of the Chinese military conducted joint exercises over the past week as part of a threatening response to a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which Chinas communist regime claims is part of China.

The exercises took place in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan, forming a sort of blockade that disrupted international flights and shipping routes in a region crucial to global supply chains.

International Condemnation

The stunt drew international condemnation from numerous forums, including the G-7, ASEAN, and IPAC, which each urged Chinas communist regime to back away from the brink of starting an international catastrophe and pursue a peaceful resolution to the crisis that it created.

Chinas announcement that it would pursue normalized patrols around Taiwan is likely to be seen by the international community as yet another military escalation by the regime, which earlier in the day released a white paper vowing to use military force against any who promoted the idea of a free and independent Taiwan.

The most recent round of military exercises around Taiwan, Chinas largest ever, brought a limited response from the United States, which ordered an aircraft carrier strike group normally stationed in Japan to conduct routine freedom of navigation patrols through the region.

The United States is prepared for what China chooses to do, said White House National Security Council Communications Coordinator John Kirby at an Aug. 4 press conference. We will not seek, nor do we want, a crisis.

At the same time, we will not be deterred from operating in the seas and the skies of the western Pacific, consistent with international law as we have for decades supporting Taiwan and defending a free and open Pacific.
U.S. media say that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may have caused a dangerous rift with Americas chief rival. But much of the American ruling class has financial relationships with the CCPfrom big D.C. donors to the first family, and even Pelosi herself. Why does the establishment want to break its piggy bankor does it?

In this hard-hitting new episode of Over The Target, Brendon Fallon and Lee Smith uncover whats really going on.

* Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List.

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An FBI wanted poster shows Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, of Tehran, Iran, in an image released on Aug. 10, 2022. (Federal Bureau of Investigation/Handout via Reuters)

DOJ Charges Iranian in Plot to Murder Ex-Trump Adviser John Bolton

WASHINGTONThe Biden administration charged a member of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday with plotting to murder John Bolton, a national security adviser to former President Donald Trump.

The Justice Department alleged that Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, 45, of Tehran, was likely motivated to kill Bolton in retaliation for the death of Qassem Soleimani, a commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed in a U.S. drone strike in January 2020. The IRGC is designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. government.

Irans mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, and Poursafi remains at large. The FBI on Wednesday released a most-wanted poster.

An FBI wanted poster shows Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, of Tehran, Iran, in an image released on Aug. 10, 2022. (Federal Bureau of Investigation/Handout via Reuters)

According to the criminal complaint, Poursafi asked a U.S. resident identified only as Individual A to take photographs of Bolton, under the guise that the photos were needed for a forthcoming book. The U.S. resident then introduced Poursafi to a covert government informant who could take the photographs for a price.

Investigators said the following month Poursafi contacted the informant on an encrypted messaging application and offered the person $250,000 to hire someone to eliminate Boltonan amount that would later be negotiated up to $300,000.

When the informant asked Poursafi to be more specific in his request, he said he wanted the guy purged, and he provided Boltons first and last name, according to a sworn statement in support of the complaint.

He later directed the informant to open a cryptocurrency account to facilitate the payment. In subsequent communications, he allegedly told the informant it did not matter how the killing was carried out, but that his group would require a video as proof that the deed was done.

In a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, Bolton thanked the Justice Department for taking action.

While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable, he said. Irans rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States.

Former national security advisor John Bolton adjusts his glasses during his lecture at Duke University in Durham, N.C., on Feb. 17, 2020. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters)

The State Department had no immediate comment on whether the decision to charge Poursafi was in any way linked to U.S. diplomacy seeking to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Indirect talks between the United States and Iran wrapped up in Vienna on Monday with European Union officials saying they had put forward a final text to resuscitate the agreement, under which Tehran curbed its nuclear program in return for relief from U.S., EU, and U.N. economic sanctions.

Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018 and restored harsh U.S. sanctions on Iran.
Dominos Pizza Exits Italy Following Seven-Year Failure

Dominos Pizza has shuttered the last of its locations in Italy, officially ending a seven-year failed attempt to bring American fast-food pizza to the Mediterranean country from which the dish derives.

On Tuesday, Italians began to notice that the 13 remaining Dominos franchises in their country were not responding to calls, just months after an April tribunal allotted the company 90 days of protection against creditors. With those protections having expired on July 1, the company has quickly ramped down its operations in the country, ceasing deliveries altogether on July 29. The unresponsive phone lines of Tuesday appear to mark the silent death knell of the companys Italian experiment.

Real shame to see this. Many traditional Italian pizzerias dont even offer stuffed crust, quipped The Economists Asia business and finance editor Mike Bird on Twitter. (Bird was far from alone in ridiculing the premise of Dominos Italian debacle, which has become a subject of ridicule on the social media site since the news was announced.)

The companys efforts to branch out into the land of Dante and da Vinci began in 2015, when Dominos reached an agreement with the Italian firm ePizza SpA to establish 29 branches, with ambitions to have more than 800 restaurants in the ancient country.

While the decision to export Dominos to the country known for ubiquitous, high-quality pizza is baffling at a glance, the company had hoped to capitalize on convenience and delivery. However, these plans were thwarted by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic to Italy, which prompted local Italian pizzerias to collaborate with third-party delivery startups to remain in business while customers stayed home. These greatly expanded delivery options appeared to edge Dominos out of the Italian market, with Italians preferring local alternatives.

We attribute the issue to the significantly increased level of competition in the food delivery market with both organized chains and mom & pop restaurants delivering food, to service and restaurants reopening post-pandemic and consumers out and about with revenge spending,

However, not all attempts to introduce American fast food to the famously epicurean European continent have fallen flat. McDonalds, for example, maintains more than 6,000 locations throughout Europe, and it appears likely that the Golden Arches will not disappear from Europe so easily as Dominos has vanished from Italy.

Yet even McDonalds is not without controversy in the old continent, where locals have sometimes rebelled against what they see as a symbol of American encroachment on local traditions. In 2000, for example, when the United States imposed a 100 percent tariff on numerous French delicacies to pressure the country into accepting American beef imports, McDonalds locations in France became the site of rowdy protests involving the dumping of manure and rotten fruit on local franchises. In the most extreme incidents, activists dismantled one franchise and set fire to another. The liberation of the agents behind the former incident became a cause celebre to politicians of both the environmentalist left and the nationalist right, reflecting deep-seated and wide-spanning antipathy to American influence in European life.

While McDonalds ultimately won its war with the French farmers, these incidents, as well as the failure of other American fast-food franchises to branch out into European markets, are a testament to the ambivalent relationship these countries have with American commerce. For those who wish to see less American intrusion into European cuisine, the failure of Dominos to gain a foothold in the homeland of pizza will likely come as a welcome development, though other franchises remain powerful on the continent.
SpaceX owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on after arriving on the red carpet for the Axel Springer award, in Berlin, Germany, on Dec. 1, 2020. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool/File Photo/Reuters)

Elon Musk Sells $6.9 Billion in Tesla Shares Ahead of Twitter Court Battle

Elon Musk has sold a further $6.9 billion of his shares in Tesla Inc., according to new filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission published on Aug. 9.

The selloff took place between Aug. 5 and Aug. 9 following Teslas annual shareholder meeting last week, and amid the tech billionaires legal battle with social media platform Twitter.

Musk sold 7,924,107 shares, according to multiple filings. He now owns just over 155 million shares in Tesla.

In April, Musk sold $8.5 billion worth of shares in the company just days after he agreed to purchase Twitter for $44 billion. At the time, the businessman stated that there were no further TSLA sales planned.

However, taking to Twitter on Aug. 10, the CEO of the electric vehicle maker said the latest share selloffs were done in the hopefully unlikely event that he would be forced to buy Twitter and would be unable to secure the funding needed for the deal.

The latest sales bring total stock sales by Musk to about $32 billion in the past ten months.

Asked by one Twitter user if he was finished selling Tesla shares after the latest selloffs were disclosed, Musk responded: Yes. In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners dont come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk walks next to a screen showing an image of Tesla Model 3 car during an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai on Jan. 7, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters)

Upcoming Court Battle

Musk said in April that he had sufficient assets to follow through on his bid for Twitter if it were to be approved.

When asked by another Twitter on Tuesday user if he would purchase Tesla stock again if he was not forced to go through with the deal to acquire the social media platform, Musk responded yes.

Musk filed to exit his multibillion-dollar deal with Twitter in July after claiming that the San Francisco-based company had failed to provide the necessary information needed to establish how many automated bots and fake accounts are on the platform.

Elon Musks Twitter profile on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken on April 28, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Lawyers for the Tesla CEO claimed that for nearly two months he had sought data and information necessary to make an independent assessment of the prevalence of fake or spam accounts on Twitters platform which was fundamental to Twitters business and financial performance but that Twitter had failed to provide such information.

Twitter sued Musk shortly after to force him to follow through with the deal and hold him accountable to his contractual obligations, according to Twitter board Chairman Bret Taylor.

Musk then countersued Twitter although a public version of that lawsuit is not yet available.

A five-day trial has been set in the Delaware Chancery Court for Oct. 17, 2022.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Truckers move shipping containers out of the Port of Long Beach, Calif., on July 13, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Entire US Supply Chain Requires Around-the-Clock Operations to Fix Port Delays and Costs

The entire U.S. supply chain, not just its ports, requires 24/7 operations to reduce logjams and out-of-control costs, said U.S. Army Gen. Stephen Lyons (Ret.), the White House supply-chain czar, in an interview with Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero on Aug. 9.

Lyons, the former commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, took over the position, on May 27, from John D. Porcari, who was appointed by the Biden administration as the port and supply chain envoy.

If only you or only a terminal goes to 24/7, thats interesting, said Gen. Lyons to Port of Long Beach Executive Mario Cordero in the interview.

But if everybodyincluding the warehousing community, all the other modes of transportmoved to 24/7, or something more than today, that makes logical sense that you could move much more cargo in the same period of time.

Cordero has been a big proponent of adopting around-the-clock operations for Californias ports, similar to what most of the other important maritime hubs in developed countries have done.

For the last two and a half years, Californias two major ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been stuck with a lingering supply-chain crisis.

Long Beach and Los Angeles are responsible for about 42 percent of all U.S. containerized trade with East Asia.

Last year, the two ports opened 24-hour longshore operations and extended gate hours for truckers.

Labor Costs and Efficiency

Meanwhile, Lyons has been dealing with ongoing labor negotiations and trucker protests by independent truck drivers over Californias controversial AB 5 law.

The California Trucking Association says that the law will reclassify an estimated 70,000 independent owner-operators to trucking company employees, which will cut into their livelihoods.

Truck drivers staged protests against the new law at port facilities in Los Angeles and Long Beach last month.

Lyons said that expanded gate hours could result from the arduous labor-contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association.

The general believes that longer hours and more fluid operations are the key to improving the movement of cargo.

Its all about restoring consumer confidence and bringing costs down, said Lyons. What we want to do is move in that direction.

While backlogs have somewhat eased since late 2021, 24-hour container operations at major American port terminals still remain scarce, reducing efficiency standards relative to their global rivals.

The two Californian port facilities were at the bottom rank of the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligences 370-member Container Port Performance Index for 2021.

A majority of key U.S. seaportssuch as Savannah, Georgia; Oakland, California; as well as ones in New York and New Jerseyalso rank in the bottom half of the list.

Maritime transport moves more than 80 percent of global merchandise by volume.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced, on Aug. 10, a new supply-chain pilot data-sharing project aimed at easing bottlenecks at congested U.S. ports, which has begun exchanging data and has doubled in size.

The project, known as the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program, was launched in March with 18 initial participants, including truckers, shippers, wholesalers, ocean carriers, retailers, and ports in order to develop a digital tool that gives companies information on the condition of a node or region in the supply chain.

The department will discuss initial secure data sharing with the group, which has now expanded to 36 participants.

The National Retail Federation said, on Aug. 8, that imports at major U.S. container ports are expected to slow significantly for the remainder of 2022, but should still see a net gain over 2021.

Lower volumes may help ease congestion at some ports, but others are still seeing backups, and global supply-chain challenges are far from over, said the NRF.

Reuters has contributed to this report.
(Left) Former President Donald Trump at CPAC in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022. (Right) The Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., on Feb. 11, 2022. (Brandon Bell, Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Eric Trump Reveals More Details From the FBI Mar-a-Lago Raid

Former President Donald Trumps son Eric Trump revealed that FBI agents wouldnt hand over the search warrant during their Aug. 8 raid on Mar-a-Lago and removed an attorney from the property.

Theres 30 agents there, he told the Daily Mail on Aug. 10 of the FBI raid. They told our lawyer  you have to leave the property right now. Turn off all security cameras.

They would not give her the search warrant. So they showed it to her from about 10 feet away. They would not give her a copy of the search warrant.

Attorney Christina Bobb was confused as to why the FBI couldnt present the search warrant, according to Eric Trump.

Its all a coordinated attack with the FBI, he said. Do you think that the FBI director is going to raid the former presidents house, especially a house as you know, kind of world-renowned as Mar-a-Lago  without getting the approval of President [Biden]?

The younger Trump said security cameras werent turned off. FBI agents accessed areas of the property where they shouldnt have been, he claimed.

The former president confirmed the FBI raid on his property on the evening of Aug. 8. Both the FBI and Department of Justice havent issued public comments about the matter; The Epoch Times has contacted both agencies for comment.

Unconfirmed reports and anonymous sources say the raid pertained to a Department of Justice probe into whether Donald Trump held onto government documents after he left the White House last year.

All presidential correspondence and documentation have to be handed over to the National Archives when a president leaves office, according to a 1978 law.

(L-R) Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner arrive for the funeral services of Ivana Trump in New York on July 20, 2022. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)

[The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)] had ongoing communications with the representatives of former President Trump throughout 2021, which resulted in the transfer of 15 boxes to NARA in January 2022, David Ferriero, who served as NARA director from November 2009 until April 2022, wrote to House Oversight Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) in February.

Ferriero said NARA requested that Trump representatives continue to search for any additional Presidential records that have not been transferred to NARA, as required by the Presidential Records Act.

But Bobb told Real Americas Voice that the raid over the documents is a completely unnecessary power flex and a weird flex.

Its quite honestly sad to see what they have done to our country, she said.

Top Republicans demanded an investigation into the raid and argued that it was politically motivated to wound the Republican Party ahead of the 2022 midterms.

The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in an Aug. 10 statement. When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of their department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned.
I was so worried my son wouldnt pass his kindergarten entrance exam, one of my friends recently told me, noting that his child hadnt attended preschool.

Thats my pet peeve! another friend sputtered at the mention of preschool.

She noticed that many schools today want to make sure kids know their letters before entering kindergarten, but those same students can barely read by the time theyre ready for first grade, even when they had attended preschool. The kids almost seem burned out, she observed.

In contrast, she witnessed firsthand how, without attending a professional preschool, her young son was reading quite well by the time he finished kindergarten in their homeschool.

Despite failing to deliver educationally, universal preschool is finally becoming a reality, at least in states such as California, Maryland, and Michigan. But that dream-come-true is shaping up to be more of a nightmare because of unintended consequences, Politico reports.

The expansion of public preschool programs coincides with the teacher exodus from classrooms around the country. Thus, to staff these new and expanded preschool programs, cries for teachers are going out to child care centers.

But pilfering child care workers could potentially cause a couple of serious problems. Already stretched thin because of the pandemic, having 11 percent fewer workers than it did in February 2020, Politico reports, those facilities arent enthusiastic about losing more of their workforce.

The exodus would also put a strain on working parents who are trying to find day care for their children, as well as on the reduced number of child care workers left to look after the same number of kids. Many may end up jumping ship eventually, looking for the greener pastures of salary and benefits that public preschool offers.

Those greener pastures raise another problem. To quickly fill the labor force needs, states have mulled easing the requirements for teaching in pre-K programs, Politico reports. In other words, these new pre-K classrooms may simply be glorified day cares, paid for by your tax dollars.

That problem might not be an issue if these public pre-K programs actually helped students overcome the learning deficits so many of them have. But, as my friend observed, preschool really doesnt seem to help children much at all. In fact, it often seems to set them back.

A number of studies and experts back up her personal observations. Vanderbilt University researchers found that by 6th grade, children who attended government preschools do worse academically than those who didnt.

Similarly, early childhood educator Erika Christakis observed that preschool makes young children less inquisitive and less engaged. Its conversationespecially conversation with adultsthat children need, she said.

Perhaps this is why researchers have found that family-centered preschool actually worksand why my friend found that her homeschooled kindergartener was easily reading by the end of kindergarten, while his counterparts who had experienced preschool were struggling.

Family is the main engine of education, John Taylor Gatto, a former New York Teacher of the Year, once said. If we use schooling to break children away from parentsand make no mistake, that has been the central function of schools since John Cotton announced it as the purpose of the Bay Colony schools in 1650 and Horace Mann announced it as the purpose of Massachusetts schools in 1850were going to continue to have the horror show we have right now.

The curriculum of family is at the heart of any good life, weve gotten away from that curriculum, time to return to it. The way to sanity in education is for our schools to take the lead in releasing the stranglehold of institutions on family life, to promote during school time confluences of parent and child that will strengthen family bonds.

What would a confluence of children and parents look like in education? Why not have a daily time when parents are welcome to come into the classroom and read with their children? Or sit and eat lunch with them? Or better yet, why not just bring them home and learn together around the kitchen tableoh wait, we already have something like that.

Its called homeschooling, and millions of students are experiencing its benefits firsthand.

When it comes to kids and their education, there will always be a new, bright, shiny object on the horizon that will allegedly cure all our academic woes. But in the search for that panacea, maybe we have overlooked the best educational tool of allstrong families who love, train, and teach their children far better than any institutional school could ever hope to do.

This article was originally published by Intellectual Takeout.
A student crosses a walkway on the University of CaliforniaIrvine campus in Irvine, Calif., on Sept. 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Family to Donate $4 Million in Matching Funds to UCIs Center For Jewish Studies

Susan and Henry Samueli, longtime donors and supporters of the University of California, Irvine, have pledged $4 million in matching funds to UCIs Center for Jewish Studies, an action that UCI said will position the university as a leader in the field.

That means for each dollar donated to the center, the Samuelis will match it, up to $4 million.

The center, launched in 2017 and administered by UCIs School of Humanities, is led by historian Matthias Lehmann, who holds the role of Teller Family Chair in Jewish History at the school.

This was the centers first endowed chair after funding was provided in 1991 and established Jewish studies as a permanent part of UCIs curriculum. The school has since taken an active role in the study of anti-Semitism.

Expanding Jewish studies on campus falls under a campuswide priority of growth that makes a difference, facilitating interdisciplinary, problem-based scholarship and teaching, said Chancellor Howard Gillman in an Aug. 1 statement. Susan and Henry Samuelis deep generosity will catalyze community support for Jewish studies at UCI and help UCI become a model for tolerance and appreciation of cultural and religious pluralism.

Lehmann added: Community support has been a vital component of establishing a permanent footing for Jewish studies at UCI. Now, with the support of the Samuelis matching gift, we can expand our impact.

UCI said gifts to the center will help accomplish several goals. Among them: increasing programming to support K-12 educators teaching about the Holocaust, funding two more endowed chairs for the study of contemporary anti-Semitism as well as Israeli studies, and partnering with recognized universities in Israel to bring scholars to UCIs campus.

UCI noted that Lehmanns annual undergraduate lecture on the Holocaust always fills to capacity. Additional faculty in the department includes Dr. Jeffrey Kopstein, a professor of political science, who recently completed a term as a distinguished fellow at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

Lehmann also piloted a program called Confronting Antisemitism through the universitys Office of Inclusive Excellence. As part of that program, nine undergraduates participated in workshops about the history of anti-Semitism and led campus outreach projects to increase awareness of anti-Semitism and how to confront it among their peers.

On Aug. 30, UCIs Center for Jewish Studies will join the Jewish Federation of Orange Countys Rose Project and other community partners to host a one-day learning experience focused on combating anti-Semitism. This project is also supported by UCIs Office of Inclusive Excellence. The Rose Project is a local nonprofit aimed at decreasing anti-Semitism on college campuses.

Henry Samueli, co-founder of Broadcom Corp., and his wife Susan joined The Giving Pledge in 2012. That effort by billionaire families called on participants to donate at least half their wealth to charity.

The Samuelis have a long-standing history of philanthropy aimed at combating anti-Semitism. In 2005, they presented a gift to Chapman University to create the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library, named after Henry Samuelis parents, who survived the Holocaust.

Susan and I enjoy supporting innovative solutions through many areas, ranging from engineering to health, but this is an area that uniquely touches our hearts, Henry Samueli said in a statement provided by the school.

Susan Samueli said she hoped their matching gift would inspire others to join their efforts to stem anti-Semitism.

For nearly 20 years, Susan and Henry Samueli have played a substantial role in UCIs growth. In 2017, they pledged $200 million to create the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, which remains one of the largest gifts in U.S. history to a public university, according to the school.

In addition, the Samuelis have made donations to support the Henry Samueli School of Engineering, the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute, and the Susan & Henry Samueli Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building on UCIs campus.
FBI Mar-a-Lago Raid a Democrat Plan to Bar Trump From Holding Office: Lawyer

It defies rational explanation to think that the FBI raid of the former First Familys Mar-a-Lago home in Florida is not motivated by pure politics, according to Jeffrey Clark, a lawyer in the Justice Department during the Trump administration.

Clark, whose attempt to investigate allegations of election fraud at the behest of President Donald Trump triggered pushback from many in the Justice Department, said in an interview with NTD that the operation at Trumps Palm Beach property is entirely unprecedented.

The affidavit used in the raid, which is supposed to contain the probable cause that justifies a warrant, could be something that the Presidents lawyers need to do wrangling in order to get access to, according to Clark. But they should certainly try. I think that a warrant needs to have that support, and not just be part of a secret process.

I still dont have a copy of the affidavit that was used to obtain the warrant for the search of my house, Clark said, referring to a search of his Virginia home by federal authorities in late June.

Clark points to the No one is above the law narrative pushed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to news outlets, noting that the same level of scrutiny over the handling of classified documents has never been applied to Democrats.

When there have been so many document issues that prominent Democrats have had, that had been totally swept under the rug, it defies rational explanation to think that this is really something that is not explainable by pure politics, he said.

2024 Presidential Run

When asked about Trumps likely 2024 presidential campaign, Clark said Democrats have been trying to use the Fourteenth Amendments insurrection clause to block pro-Trump candidates from running, and they are planning to use this raid to bar Trump from future office.

On Aug. 8, just hours after Trump confirmed reports about the raid, Democrat Party attorney Marc Elias posted on Twitter a section of the U.S. Code, which says anyone who unlawfully conceals or removes or destroys certain documents shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States.

The potential violation of that particular section, known as 18 U.S. Code 2071, was debated in 2015 when former Attorney General Michael Mukasey argued that Hillary Clinton would be disqualified from holding office if convicted for wiping out the contents of a private email server she used while serving as secretary of state. Another debate took place in February 2020 after Pelosi was caught on live television ripping up her copy of Trumps State of the Union speech as she stood behind him.

Marc Elias is saying that the criminal statute could result in President Trump being barred from future office. And I think its clearly part of his plan, Clark told NTD.

He had been using an earlier plan of trying to use the Fourteenth Amendment provisions to bar folks like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn from holding federal office again, he continued, referring to the Georgia congresswoman and the North Carolina congressman. So this seems to be a general Democrat plan.

The top lawyer for Clintons 2016 presidential campaign, Elias had to testify this May during a trial of his colleague Michael Sussman, who was accused of feeding FBI with false information about an allegedly illicit collusion between Trump and Russia. Sussman was acquitted on May 31.
Former President Donald Trump prepares to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

FBI Raid Could Turn Trump Into Martyr in 2024 Presidential Race: Analysts

Some analysts suggested that Mondays FBI raid on former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida has upended the 2024 presidential race and possibly the midterms.

Republican leaders, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), rushed to defend Trump and demanded congressional investigations into the FBI. Before the raid, McConnell and some other GOP lawmakers had become increasingly critical of the former president in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol incident.

The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday, McConnell said in a statement. Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) went a step further and called for an investigation, saying, Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization.

A host of other Republicans, including Trump critic Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, erupted over the news.

The American people deserve to know all the facts as soon as possible, and I call on the Biden administration to releaseat a minimumthe documents authorizing the FBI search, Hogan said in a statement. If the federal government cannot ultimately provide overwhelming evidence that action was absolutely necessary, then it will only undermine faith in democracy and the rule of law, and further divide Americans.

And the Republican National Committee is now using the raid as ammunition for 2022 midterm elections this fall, with texts reading: THIS IS NOT A DRILL: UNPRECEDENTED move [Joe] Bidens FBI RAIDS Pres. Trumps home. Time to take back Congress.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been viewed as a 2024 presidential candidate, came to Trumps defense. The raid on Mar-a-Lago is another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regimes political opponents, while people like Hunter Biden get treated with kid gloves, he wrote on Twitter.

Even some on the left, including former Democrat New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and former Democrat presidential candidate Andrew Yang questioned the raid and the Department of Justices relative silence.

Grip on GOP

As of Tuesday morning, Trump posted a campaign-style ad on social media that called the United States a nation in decline and said that the country has weaponized its law enforcement against the opposing political party like never before.

One analyst said that the raid forces Republicans to again unite around Trump.

Local law enforcement officers are seen in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Its going to create a situation where the Republican Party is going to have to coalesce around him because here are your choices: You can be with Trump or you can be with the FBI, Michael McKenna, a former official in the Trump White House, told The Washington Times.

No self-respecting Republican can be with the FBI, he said.

If the Department of Justice and FBI cant come up with a good enough reason for the raid, it will certainly enhance Trumps presidential chances in 2024 and turn him into a martyr. During his first term, Trump was able to exploit both attempts at impeachment and use them for his re-election campaign, wrote UnHerds Marshall Auerback.

This raid could well serve the basis for his 2024 campaign. In doing so, it will unleash political chaos to a degree that made the 2016-2020 period seem like childs play, he wrote.

After the FBIs actions, Trump could download video of the raid from his home security cameras and have one of the most gripping campaign ads of all time, ready made, wrote longtime commentator and journalist Walter Kirn on Twitter.

A columnist for Townhall argued: If Trump was ever on the edge of not running, and I dont think he ever was, then this act sure as [heck] is going to make him run again in 2024.

The FBI, not the media, may have given the most significant in-kind political contribution to a candidate in American political history, Matt Vespa argued.

As Trump remains the Republican Partys most influential voice, and some analysts said this FBI search could boost his standing with his own supporters.

The Biden administration is only adding rocket fuel to Trumps campaign prospects and energizing his supporters who want him to run again, Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist in Washington, told Reuters.

There should be more transparency around the decision to have this FBI raid because it looks overly political and allows Trump to say hes being unfairly attacked.
Test tubes labeled "Monkeypox virus positive" are seen in this illustration taken on May 23, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters)

FDA Grants Emergency Use Authorization to Stretch Monkeypox Vaccine to Meet Demand

Faced with a monkeypox vaccine supply and demand problem, the White Houses newly minted National Monkeypox Response team on Tuesday implemented a plan to stretch the current vaccine supply by up to five-fold.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Jynneos monkeypox vaccine to be administered by intradermal injection, which requires one-fifth of the dose of a normal subcutaneous injection.

In recent weeks the monkeypox virus has continued to spread at a rate that has made it clear our current vaccine supply will not meet the current demand, said FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf in a statement.

The FDA quickly explored other scientifically appropriate options to facilitate access to the vaccine for all impacted individuals. By increasing the number of available doses, more individuals who want to be vaccinated against monkeypox will now have the opportunity to do so.

The EUA allows for individuals aged 18 and over to receive an intradermal injection of the Jynneos vaccine between layers of the skin and for individuals younger than 18 deemed to be at high risk of monkeypox infection to receive a subcutaneous injection under the skin.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra issued a determination under the Section 564 declaration of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that allows for emergency use authorization of vaccines to prevent monkeypox and prevent severe disease from the virus.

Alternative Dosage

The EUA allows for health care providers to inject 0.1 mL of the Jynneos vaccine intradermally, instead of 0.5 mL injected subcutaneously.

This action paves the way for the federal government to get up to five times the amount of doses administered out of a single vial of the Jynneos vaccine, a White House fact sheet reads.

The White House fact sheet said that two doses of an intradermal injection at a fifth of the dose produces a similar immune system response to subcutaneous dosing, citing data from a 2015 clinical study of Jynneos published in a peer-reviewed journal that it did not name.

Additionally, data shows the intradermal administration of other vaccines such as influenza and hepatitis B, is safe and effective for immunocompromised individuals, such as people with HIV, the fact sheet reads.

Jynneos has been tested in individuals with immunocompromising conditions and has found to be safe and effective in the trials that were performed to support approval.

Individuals will still need to get two doses given 28 days apart, and those whose first shot was subcutaneous can receive their second dose intradermally or subcutaneously.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will offer training to clinicians, public health officials, providers, and patients to administer the vaccine using the alternative dosing regimen. The intradermal injection requires a different needle commonly used when testing for allergies.

Outbreak

Monkeypox case numbers in the United States are currently over 9,400, up by almost 4,000 since Aug. 4. The first case in the United States emerged in May.

The Biden administration declared a public health emergency for monkeypox in a bid to unlock funding and more powers to deal with the virus. Some states, including New York, California, and Illinois, have declared their own public health emergencies for similar reasons.

While monkeypox is not typically considered a sexually transmitted disease, in the 2022 outbreak, the virus has primarily been spread via the sexual activity of gay and bisexual men.

The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) have named this demographic as the most at-risk. The White House has previously identified a need for education and outreach about monkeypox to the LGBT community in order to combat the spread.

FEMAs Robert Fenton and the CDCs Dr. Demetre Daskalakis are leading the White Houses response to the monkeypox outbreak.

Given the current limited supply of monkeypox vaccine, the CDC has suggested that gay and bisexual men consider taking a break from sexual activities that might put them at risk.

These temporary changes will help slow the spread of monkeypox until vaccine supply is adequate, the CDC webpage reads.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd speaks at a news conference in Polk County, Florida, on May 29, 2022. (Courtesy of Polk County Sheriffs Office)

Florida Firefighter Arrested on Multiple Counts of Possession of Child Porn

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.A captain with the Polk County Fire Station was arrested on Aug. 7 on more than 25 counts of possession of child pornography at the fire station where he was on duty.

At the time of his arrest, Brian Steger, 40, told deputies that he had set up an internet account in his name at the station for personal use.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office, acting on a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, responded to the Lake Wales fire station where Steger was on duty. When detectives located his computer they found he was actively downloading porn files that contained depictions of children as young at five years old being sexually assaulted, according to police reports.

Brian Steger, a captain with Polk County, Fla. Fire and Rescue, was arrested on child pornography charges on Aug. 7, 2022. (Courtesy, The Polk County Sheriffs Office)

Steger was arrested and charged with 25 counts of possession of child pornography and one count of promotion of child pornography.

Steger resigned his position in lieu of being terminated. He had worked as a firefighter for the county since 2003, according to the county human resources department.

All devices belonging to Steger were seized and will be examined, the sheriffs office said. They went on to say if any additional files containing child pornography are discovered, Steger will face additional charges.

One of the most important kinds of investigations we do is identifying those who are distributing child pornography. Those who download, view, and exchange these terrible images and videos fuel the market for exploitative images that are dependent upon the continued and ongoing sexual abuse of children, Sheriff Grady Judd said in a written statement. The fact that the person we arrested is a public servant is especially troubling; we will make sure he is held accountable for his actions.

Steger remains in the Polk County Jail and is being held without bond.

According to the sheriffs office, child pornography is designated as enhanced when it meets one of the following criteria:

A child who is younger than 5 years old

Sadomasochistic abuse involving a child

Sexual battery of a child

Sexual bestiality involving a child

Any movie involving a child, regardless of length
Governor DeSantis, the Raid on Trump, and the Rule of LawPart II

Commentary

In this Part II of my two-part series on the rule of law, I was going to explain how the rule of law is declining in America. But Mondays massive FBI raid on former President Donald Trumps residence for alleged misuse of government documentsafter the FBI gave Hillary Clinton a pass for a similar offensehas made my case for me.

In Part I, I summarized an Aug. 4 executive order (pdf) issued by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. It suspended from office one Andrew Warren, a woke prosecutor who refused to enforce certain laws with which he disagreed.

I explained that DeSantis (or his staff) crafted his order in a way that forestalled any credible line of attack from the liberal-propaganda media. I added that the order may help reverse a current drop in respect for the rule of law.

In this Part II, Ill explain what the rule of law is, why its important, and provide further evidenceif any is necessaryof how it has deteriorated.

What is the Rule of Law and Why is it Important?

Compliance with the rule of law means that (1) legal standards are clear, enforced, and reasonably stable, (2) officials comply with and enforce those standards, and (3) the judicial system is impartial, fair, and reasonably efficient. When the rule of law is respected, a citizen can usually predict the consequences of following, or violating, legal standards.

Without the rule of law, democratic self-governance is impossible. When officials violate, or refuse to enforce, measures adopted by the people and the peoples representatives, those officials undermine democracy. Thats why Gov. DeSantis accused Warren of usurping the province of the Florida Legislature.

Without the rule of law, economic prosperity is also impossible. Legal standards must be clear and predictable before investors will risk capital and before entrepreneurs commit their time and creativity. When rules are fuzzy, unevenly enforced, or subject to random change, investors and entrepreneurs shy away.

In the years immediately before adoption of the U.S. Constitution, demagogic politicians had weakened the rule of law in some states. One reason the Founders adopted the Constitution was to shore up the rule of law. In No. 44 of The Federalist, James Madison wrote:

The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs [i.e., opportunities for unfair gain] in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less informed part of the community. They have seen, too, that one legislative interference is but the first link of a long chain of repetitions, every subsequent interference being naturally produced by the effects of the preceding. They very rightly infer, therefore, that some thorough reform is wanting, which will banish speculations on public measures, inspire a general prudence and industry, and give a regular course to the business of society.

The New Decline in the Rule of Law

The disparity of official treatment of Trump and Clinton is but a vignette in a much wider mural. A 2021 international survey shows that the United States has dropped to 27th place among all nations in its respect for the rule of law (pdf). Another survey observes that in the United States, the judicial appointments process has become increasingly politicized. A troubling and growing tendency of federal governance by the unaccountable administrative state empowered by presidential decrees has undermined public confidence in the rule of law. Public perceptions of corruption and distrust of institutions have been rising in recent years.

Our decline toward third-world status began in earnest during the presidency of Barack Obama (20092017). His administration was marred by a frenzy of opaque economic regulations; raw favoritism for some business interests over others; politicization of law enforcement; and massive, inscrutable statutes of questionable constitutionality. Among those statutes were the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the Dodd-Frank financial regulation law.

Moreover, Obama repeatedly issued executive orders punching holes in federal statutes addressing drugs, immigration, and health care. As noted in Part I, this conduct violates a core principle of Anglo-American constitutionalism.

As the cases of Trump, Clinton, and Andrew Warren all illustrate, another aspect of the decline has been the biasing of the law enforcement process. In 2012, the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Actreaffirming traditional one man/one woman marriagewas pending before the Supreme Court. Attorneys general are obligated to defend the laws enacted by their legislatures, but Eric Holder, Obamas attorney general, refused to do so. In fact, he joined the opposition.

Other attorneys general and prosecutors followed Holders sordid example. Another miscreant was Roy Cooper, then attorney general of North Carolina, who refused to defend his state constitutions one man/one woman rule. This may well have contributed to the 2015 Supreme Court decision, which on markedly weak reasoning, narrowly struck down traditional marriage rules such as North Carolinas (pdf).

Prosecutors responded to the highly destructive Black Lives Matter/Antifa rioters with indulgence, but savagely to the less-destructive Capitol Hill riot. While prosecutors have been unrelenting in their pursuit of Trump associates, they showed no interest in enforcing federal law against leftist protesters harassing Republican-appointed (and only Republican-appointed) Supreme Court justices (pdf).

Congress has also participated in the trend: As I have documented in other essays, the Senates conduct of the Trump impeachment trials and the Houses conduct of its Jan. 6 hearings disregarded basic standards of fairness and due process.

While most of the responsibility for the breakdown in the rule of law is chargeable to the left, the record of the Trump administration was not spotless either. In my previous essay, I mentioned the case of the legally dubious transfer of military funds to the construction of the border wall. Another illustration was the mass intrusion, during the COVID-19 pandemic, of the federal government into public health lawa subject the Constitution clearly assigns to the states.

Gov. DeSantiss Contribution

As a political issue, the rule of law often has less traction than some other issues. Some voters find it hard to appreciate that people they disagree with are entitled to fair and impartial treatment. Moreover, once a faction obtains power, its tempted to disregard legal standards when striking back at opponents. This is particularly true if those opponents previously violated the rule of law to attack the now-triumphant faction. This cycle of strike and counter-strike is, indeed, a vicious one.

In such circumstances, one mark of the leader-statesman (as opposed to the typical politician) is that he makes an effort to educate the public on crucial issues it might not otherwise understand.

DeSantis has just helped educate us on the rule of law. For that he deserves our gratitude.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Grand Jury Declines to Indict Woman in Emmett Till Killing

JACKSON, Miss.A Mississippi grand jury has declined to indict the woman whose accusation set off the lynching of teenager Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago, most likely closing the case.

After hearing more than seven hours of testimony from investigators and witnesses, a Leflore County grand jury last week determined there was insufficient evidence to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter, Leflore County District Attorney Dewayne Richardson said in a news release Tuesday.

The decision comes despite recent revelations about an unserved arrest warrant and the 87-year-old Donhams unpublished memoir.

The Rev. Wheeler Parker, Jr., Emmett Tills cousin and the last living witness to Tills Aug. 28, 1955, abduction, said Tuesdays announcement is unfortunate, but predictable.

Ollie Gordon, another one of Tills cousins, told The Associated Press that some justice had been served in the Till case, despite the grand jurys decision.

Justice is not always locking somebody up and throwing the keys away, Gordon said. Ms. Donham has not gone to jail. But in many ways, I dont think shes had a pleasant life. I think each day she wakes up, she has to face the atrocities that have come because of her actions.

A third cousin, Deborah Watts, who leads the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, said: So the grand jurys decision is disappointing, but were still going to be calling for justice for Emmett Till. Its not over.

An email and voicemail seeking comment from Donhams son Tom Bryant werent immediately returned Tuesday.

In June, a group searching the basement of the Leflore County Courthouse discovered the unserved arrest warrant charging Donham, then-husband Roy Bryant, and brother-in-law J.W. Milam in Tills abduction in 1955. While the men were arrested and acquitted on murder charges in Tills subsequent slaying, Donham, 21 at the time, was never taken into custody.

The 14-year-old Chicago boy was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he and some other children went to the store in the town of Money where Carolyn Bryant worked. Relatives told the AP that Till had whistled at the woman, but denied that he touched her as shed claimed.

In an unpublished memoir obtained last month by the AP, Donham said Milam and her husband brought Till to her in the middle of the night for identification but that she tried to help the youth by denying it was him. She claimed that Till then volunteered that he was the one they were looking for.

Tills battered, disfigured body was found days later in a river, where it was weighted down with a heavy metal fan.

Following their acquittal, Bryant and Milam admitted to the abduction and killing in an interview with Look magazine. They were not charged with a federal crime, and both have long since died.

In 2004, the U.S. Department of Justice Department opened an investigation of Tills killing after it received inquiries about whether charges could be brought against anyone still living.

Tills body was exhumed, in part to confirm it was he. A 2005 autopsy found that Till died of a gunshot wound to the head, and that had fractures in his wrist bones, skull, and femur.

In 2006, the FBI launched its Cold Case Initiative in an effort to identify and investigate racially-motivated murders. Two years later, Congress passed the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act.

The Justice Department said the statute of limitations had run out on any potential federal crime, but the FBI worked with state investigators to determine if state charges could be brought. In February 2007, a Mississippi grand jury declined to indict anyone, and the Justice Department announced it was closing the case.

But federal officials announced last year that they were once again closing their investigation, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she lied to the FBI.
Grassley Expresses Concerns to FBI Director After Mar-a-Lago Raid

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said he spoke with FBI Director Christopher Wray expressing his concerns over the agencys conduct a day after former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago property in Palm Beach, Florida, was raided.

Less than a week ago, I expressed serious concern that what little remains of the FBIs credibility is on the line following its inconsistent handling of politically sensitive investigations, failure to hold its own employees accountable for misconduct and consistent disregard for congressional oversight, Grassley, Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement on Aug. 9.

Last nights raid on the home of a former U.S. president without explanation will only further erode confidence in the FBI and the Justice Department, Grassley said, referring to the FBIs execution of a search warrant on Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence late on Aug. 8.

I reiterated these concerns to Director Wray today, he continued. If the FBI isnt extraordinarily transparent about its justification for yesterdays actions and committed to rooting out political bias that has infected their most sensitive investigations, they will have sealed their own fate. The FBIs mission and the many patriotic agents who work hard to carry it out will be forever overshadowed by the distrust the bureau has sown.

As of late Aug. 9, the FBI and its parent agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ), have not revealed the reason for the search warrant.

Grassley said that the Justice Department bears responsibility in upholding the public trust, and in a matter so consequential to our democratic process, Attorney General Garland also owes the American people full transparency.

On Twitter, the senator wrote: Transparency brings accountability & if the FBI & DOJ arent transparent about raiding a former [presidents] home they risk further damaging their credibility.

Ive already raised issues from whistleblowers [about] political bias in investigations so weve got a right [to be] skeptical, he added.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Justice Department for comment over Grassleys statement.

Local law enforcement officers are seen in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Dark Times

Trump on his social media app Truth Social decried the raid, saying: These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents.

After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate, Trump said.

In a fundraising email on Aug. 9, Trump said: They are trying to stop the Republican Party and me once more. The lawlessness, political persecution, and Witch Hunt, must be exposed and stopped.

The FBI previously declined to comment on a press inquiry about the raid from The Epoch Times on Aug. 8, while its parent agency, the Department of Justice (DOJ), did not respond to a request for comment.

Christina Bobb, a lawyer for Trump who was on the scene while agents were at Trumps property, told The Epoch Times on Aug. 9 that FBI agents were looking for presidential records, what they deemed to be presidential records, and anything that could potentially be classified.

We had been very cooperative with them before. And its unclear to me why they went to such drastic measures to do this. But they did. And as far as the probable cause goes, they wouldnt give that to us, she added.

Besides Grassley, other Republican figures have sought for answers from the FBI following the raid.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Aug. 9 called for a thorough and immediate explanation.

The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday, he said in a statement. Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately.
Researchers find strong evidence that relieving stress can recolor graying hair

Theres now definitive proof that hair graying is reversible in humans. Whats more, stressful life events play a primary role in triggering your hair to turn gray, while relaxationsuch as a two-week vacationmay help to give your roots back their original color.

Gray hair is one of the earliest and most obvious signs of aging. By the time most people reach their 30s, hair begins to go gray, becoming progressively grayer with time. Its generally assumed that once a hair goes gray, theres no going back, but a team from Columbia University in New York and colleagues suggest this might not be the case.

Once Gray, Some Hairs Regain Their Color

The researchers found that individual gray hairs may, in fact, regain their color, and stressful events seem to be intricately tied to this process. Also intriguing, by measuring small changes in hair color patterns, it may be possible to track life events across a lifespan, using the pigmentation patterns like tree rings to mark the dates of stressful events, along with periods of significant relaxation.[i]

Their findings show that hair not only turns gray in response to extreme stress, but the opposite is also true. During periods of low stress, gray hair may, in somewhat rare cases, regain its original color.

Have you ever noticed a two-colored hair on your head or body? One thats gray farther down but pigmented with your original color near the root? By studying these types of hairs, collected from 14 people of different ethnic backgrounds and ages ranging from 9 to 65 years,[ii] researchers were able to prove that once a hair turns gray, it doesnt always stay that way.

This reversal of the aging process was perhaps first officially described in 1972, when a case report of white scalp hairs turning black was published in the British Journal of Dermatology.[iii] Anecdotal reports also exist, and theres also the fact that hair grays in a sort of patchwork process, with some hairs seeming to age faster than others.

After tracking down subjects with two-colored hairs, Martin Picard, a mitochondrial psychobiologist, and his team developed a digitization approach to map hair pigmentation patterns along single strands of hair. It turned out that in 10 of the 14 participants, some gray hairs regained their color. This occurred in hairs from the head and body, including pubic hairs, but only among those aged 9 to 39.[iv]

The researchers believe that the graying process may be most reversible in its early stages, while hairs that have been gray for long periods are unlikely to regain their color. The effect is also temporary, as eventually the hairs will likely revert to gray. Still, the study quantitatively [defined] the reversibility of greying in humans[v] and showed that the process can occur rapidlyand in parallel with times of extreme stress or relaxation.

Stress Can Make Your Hair Go GrayBut Relaxation Brings Color Back

Stress has long been tied to graying hair, if not scientifically, then anecdotally. The night before the execution of Marie Antoinette, its said that her hair turned white.[vi]

Picard also heard from a surprising number of people who said that their gray hair had turned dark again.

It tells me that what we found in our small cohort and what we documented quantitatively for the first time in this study is probably much more prevalent than we think, he told the Today show.[vii]

The study participants identified periods of extreme stress over the previous year, and Picard and colleagues were able to pinpoint the segments of hair that grew during that time using the average growth rate of hair, which in humans is one centimeter per month.[viii]

They then compared life events to the strands pigment, finding a remarkable correlation between graying and stress, as well as the reversal of graying and relaxation.

They described the case of a 30-year-old woman whose hair strands turned gray when she separated from her partner and moved:[ix]

Strikingly, the quantitative life stress assessment over the last year revealed a specific 2-month period associated with an objective life stressor (marital conflict and separation, concluded with relocation) where the participant rated her perceived stress as the highest (910 out of 10) over the past year. The increase in stress corresponded in time with the complete but reversible hair greying.

In another case, five two-colored hairs were found on a 35-year-old mans scalp, and all of the hair had regained color after initially going gray. The reversal of graying occurred alongside a decline in stress and a one-month period that was the least stressful of the previous yearright after the man had taken a two-week vacation.[x]

Given these findings, researchers believe that life stress is intricately involved in hair graying and reversal.

From a biological standpoint, they also found that gray hairs upregulate the proteins linked to energy metabolism, and mitochondrial and antioxidant defenses, providing a plausible biological basis for the rapid reversibility of greying and its association with psychological factors.[xi]

The Aging Process Sometimes Moves in Reverse

The study provides even more evidence that aging isnt always a one-way street. In a commentary, Michael Philpott of the Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research at Queen Mary University of London explained, The latest work suggests that human aging may not be a linear, fixed biological process but may, at least in part, be halted or even temporarily reversed.[xii]

Along those lines, there are at least six bodily tissues that can be regenerated through nutrition, while GreenMedInfo.com has a list of 48 therapeutic actions known for their anti-aging potentialmany of which involve stress relief.

Its simply remarkable to now have proof that hair graying is reversiblealbeit rareand to know that reducing psychological stressors in your life could stave off that salt-and-pepper look, or, in some cases, even reverse it.

References

[i] eLife. 2021; 10: e67437. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8219384/

[ii] Scientific American. June 22, 2021 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gray-hair-can-return-to-its-original-color-mdash-and-stress-is-involved-of-course/

[iii] British Journal of Dermatology. May 1972 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1972.tb16105.x

[iv] Scientific American. June 22, 2021 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gray-hair-can-return-to-its-original-color-mdash-and-stress-is-involved-of-course/

[v] eLife. 2021; 10: e67437. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8219384/

[vi] eLife. 2021; 10: e70584. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8245124/

[vii] Today. July 7, 2021 https://www.today.com/health/stress-turns-hair-gray-it-s-reversible-study-finds-today-t224667

[viii] Scientific American. June 22, 2021 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gray-hair-can-return-to-its-original-color-mdash-and-stress-is-involved-of-course/

[ix] eLife. 2021; 10: e67437. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8219384/

[x] eLife. 2021; 10: e67437. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8219384/

[xi] eLife. 2021; 10: e67437. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8219384/

[xii] eLife. 2021; 10: e70584. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8245124/
Growing Number of Lawmakers Call on Biden Administration to Release Documents on FBI Raid of Trump

A growing number of U.S. lawmakers are calling on President Joe Bidens administration to make public documents outlining why the FBI recently raided former President Donald Trumps home.

Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), the ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, urged FBI Director Christopher Wray in an Aug. 9 letter to hand over materials, including court filings showing the evidentiary basis for the raid.

To send the FBI in to raid his home must requireand thats why were demanding answers from FBI Director Wrayactual national security threats and information, Turner said on Newsmax.

The American People deserve transparency and accountability. We must see the probable cause for the warrant to search President Trumps residence and know what caused a Judge to approve the warrant, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) said in a statement. Anything less will permanently discredit both the DOJ and FBI.

According to court docket entries, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart approved search warrants before the FBI raided Mar-a-Lago in southern Florida. One of Trumps lawyers told The Epoch Times that a copy of the warrant she saw listed Reinhart as approving the warrant.

The warrant and supporting materials, such as any affidavits lodged by bureau agents explaining why a warrant should be granted, are under seal, or shielded from the public. At least one nonprofit has asked the court to unseal the documents.

The American people deserve a clear explanation as to why the FBI got a warrant and searched the former presidents home. The reasons for probable cause should be released. If this search was not justified, the motivations of those who authorized it should be investigated, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a statement.

The Department of Justice, the FBIs parent agency, and the FBI should release both the warrant and the supporting affidavit, Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, added.

These raids and seizures are a fishing expedition and a fascade. The FBI is pretending this is about noncompliance with the Presidential Records Act when we all know its about Jan 6. Lets see the warrant and judge who signed off, Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) wrote on Twitter.

Calls for Transparency

Other lawmakers focused on urging the Biden administration to offer an explanation for the raid, which it has not done as of yet.

Executing a warrant against an ex-POTUS is dangerous and upends 250 years of precedent. The Attorney General must immediately provide the American people with justification for such an extreme measure, Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) said in a statement.

The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement.

The FBI has declined to comment on the raid, while the Department of Justice has not responded to requests for comment.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the FBIs intelligence activities, has also not returned a query.

The White House has said it was not notified of the raid and has not been briefed afterwards, though press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say whether Biden has spoken with Attorney General Merrick Garland.
A medical staff member prepares a dose of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning Province on Aug. 1, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Hong Kong Legislator Tests Positive for COVID-19 a Week After Boasting About 5th Vaccine Shot

Tang Ka-piu, a Hong Kong politician who said he received five shots of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines, tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 5.

He had previously taken three shots of Chinas Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine and very recently participated in a mixed-vaccine study in which he took two additional shots.

Tang, a member of the Legislative Council of the Federation of Trade Unions, signed up to participate in vaccine clinical research at the University of Hong Kong in June.

The purpose of the study was to analyze the safety and immune response data of three inactivated vaccines at the research stageSinopharms BIBP and WIBP against the Omicron variant, as well as another vaccine against the wildtype strain.

Participants are required to be fully vaccinatedhaving received two or three doses of COVID-19 vaccinesbefore the clinical study.

The entire study would take about 13 months, including vaccinations, follow-up visits, and follow-up calls.

According to local media in Hong Kong, Tang said on July 28 that he had completed the two doses of the vaccine for the study, feeling energetic with no side effects or discomfort. Plus the three Sinovac injections I took before, the protection is greatly enhanced, he was quoted saying.

It is possible thatunknown to himhe may have been given placebos for the two shots he received in the vaccine trials.

Just two days before Tang tested positive, Hong Kongs pro-Beijing political groups took turns protesting outside the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong on Aug. 3 against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan. Tang and his colleagues from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, also staged a demonstration, calling her visit an irresponsible provocation tantamount to encouraging Taiwan independence.
The story of one Czechoslovakian woman who endured the Nazi and Soviet regimes

The last hundred years have brought humanity the bitter fruits of totalitarian regimes. Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, Communist China, Cambodia, Cuba, and so many other places have servedand some still serveas the killing grounds of raw ideology. Dachau, Auschwitz, and the Gulag are names known to most of us, but for every one of these death camps are a thousand more, many known only to the executed and their executioners.

These same regimes murdered not only the flesh but also the souls of those they controlled. They degraded aspiration and human kindness. They replaced love of God, custom, and culture with utter subservience to the state and its warped dogmas. In many instances, for example, ordinary people became spies, reporting neighbors and even family members to the state for what they regarded as treachery or a lack of loyalty.

A body of literature, still growing, has long sounded the warning about these horrendous depredations and the thugs who committed them. Anne Frank, Elie Wiesel, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn are only three of the writers whose works have recorded massacres, arrests, torture, and the suppression of liberties and rights. Behind them stand many others who endured these brutal circumstances and lived to bear witness to totalitarian savagery.

Among these is Heda Margolius Kovaly (19192010).

A Voice New to Me

Late in July, a friend recommended Kovalys Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 19411968, which her daughter, recently graduated from college, had recommended to her. The library surprised me by owning a copy of this memoir; the book itself stunned me.

I tore through Under a Cruel Star in less than two days, reading on breaks from my work and late into the night. In some ways, its an easy read. The book is relatively short, Kovaly knows how to keep her story flowing, and there is plenty of suspense, though not the sort we find in the fast-paced thrillers of today.

But the speed with which I read Kovaly had little to do with these incentives. Instead, the message of Under a Cruel Star motivated me, a message from the past sent into the present, like a note in a bottle washed ashore by the sea. It gripped me and drove me forward.

Years of Fear and Terror

Central European Jews rounded up for deportation from the Lodz ghetto in May 1942. (Public Domain)

The first page of these reminiscences drops us straight into the fall of 1942 and Pragues Exposition Hall, where the Nazis had begun the mass deportation of Jews like Kovaly and where the inside of the hall was like a medieval madhouse. Taken to Lodz in Poland, she and others were thrown into decrepit quarters in a ghetto, where the starving inhabitants lived like animals.

Later Kovaly was assigned work in a brickyard, where after an outburst of complaints from her, which normally might have led to her death, her boss sat her down in a darkened room and said, Tell me. The man was obviously aware of the meager rations and illnesses of the prisoners, but he listened in silence as she related the many horrors she has witnessed: the deaths, the murders of pregnant girls and elderly men, the gas chambers. At the end of her long, quiet litany of killing and abuse, the boss remained sitting when she left him, his head in his hands. The man lived in Nazi Germany, she wrote, and had daily contact with a concentration camp and its inmates, yet he knew nothing. I am quite sure he did not.

After Kovaly and some friends escaped while the Germans were marching their prisoners away from the approaching Russians, and after many close calls, she made her way back to Prague. Here, friend after friend, terrified of discovery, refused her shelter and help. Finally, a member of the underground contacted her, and she was rescued.

Czechoslovakian Communist Party activists carry red hammer and sickle flags to a rally in downtown Prague on Feb. 28, 1948. Communists called the rally to prove their victory in the political coup detat which brought them to power for more than 41 years. ( STR/ACME/AFP via Getty Images)

But only from the Nazis. Kovaly devotes the rest of her memoir to the swift rise of communism in Czechoslovakia, backed by the Soviet Union, and the apparent end of any hope of freedom. Rudolf, the man she had long loved and whom she married after the war, joined the party and convinced her to do so as well. He was an idealist, believing that communism would deliver peace, prosperity, and human brotherhood. Here, Kovaly records a sentiment that today would likely be considered politically incorrect:

That I myself did not succumb to the lure of ideology was certainly not because I was smarter than Rudolf but because I was a woman, a being much closer to reality and the basic things of life than he was.  Rudolf could decide on the basis of statisticsmostly falsified, of coursethat under communism people lived a better and happier life. I saw from close-up and with my own eyes that this was not true.

Eventually, even Rudolf had his eyes opened to evil. Capable, hard-working, and an official in the government, he and others were nonetheless arrested under false charges of treason, declared guilty, and hanged. His death removed all the social safety nets for his wife and young son, who moved from place to place while she sought workto be unemployed was a crimeall the while under the shadow of the lies that the state had broadcast about her husband.

Heda Kovaly ends her chronicle by recounting some events she witnessed in the fall of 1968, when Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia and brutally suppressed the growing reform movement. With her son living in England, and her second husband on a lecture tour in the United States, she managed to slip out of the occupied country by train and so made her escape.

The book ends with this paragraph:

The train did not stop long at the border and, when it began to move, I leaned out the window as far as I could, looking back. The last thing I saw was a Russian soldier, standing guard with a fixed bayonet.

It Can Happen Here  Or Anywhere

Adolf Hitler (C) at the Prague Castle, on March 15, 1939. German Federal Archive. (Bild Bundesarchiv/CC BY-SA 3.0 de)

Kovaly wrote: We had listened with only half an ear when our history teachers discussed torture or the persecution of innocent people. These things could only have happened a long time ago, in the dark ages. When it happened in our time and in a form far worse than we could imagine, it felt like the end of the world.

When I used to teach world and European history to seminars of homeschooling students, they too were often appalled to learn of massacres during the Crusades or executions during the Reformation. Most seemed to think that human beings were incapable of such evil in our modern world, unaware, until I reminded them, that we had just ended the bloodiest century in the history of the human race. I wish now that I had known of Under a Cruel Star so that we might have read it together.

Americans have often said, It could never happen here. Yet Kovaly offers insights that could easily apply to the United States today. Here are just a few of them:

Of the communists, Kovaly notes: It is not hard for a totalitarian regime to keep people ignorant. Once you relinquish your freedom for the sake of understood necessity  you cede your claim to the truth  you have voluntarily condemned yourself to helplessness. That should strike a chord in the wake of the COVID pandemic, with its heavy-handed lockdowns, its closures of schools and churches, and the lockstep obedience of most of our citizens.

The intrusion of communist ideology into the home and the family changed the way many people thought. I knew nothing about politics and less about economics. But I began to understand that life had become politics and politics had become life, Kovaly wrote. Theres an apt description of many Americans today, who rank politics over friendship or even family ties.

Twenty years after her husbands execution, Kovaly learned of the fate of his remains. His ashes and those of 13 others were taken for disposal into the countryside. A few miles out of Prague, the limousine began to skid on the icy road. The agents got out and scattered the ashes under its wheels. In our own country, we have cheapened life as well, with euthanasia and abortion. Some have even used human remainsso far, with the consent of the deadas compost.

Recounting life under communism, Kovaly stresses the ability of the regime to stifle even ordinary conversation, when an unguarded word might be reported to the authorities. She adds, Party discipline demanded that we constantly analyze ourselves, our thoughts, our wishes, our inclinations. Many in Western society today feel the chains of these same constraints, fearful of the cancel culture mob or, worse, trouble with the authorities should we say or write something unacceptable.

Courage Is the Keystone

A monument to Jan Hus in Old Town Square, Prague. (Oyvind Holmstad/CC BY-SA 3.0)

During the 1968 Prague revolt, Kovaly passed a statue of Jan Hus, executed during the Protestant Reformation. At the base of the statue are the words Truth Prevails. She then asks: Does it? Truth alone does not prevail. When it clashes with power, truth often loses. It prevails only when people are strong enough to defend it.

In spite of its grim trials and horrors, Under a Cruel Star is an account of such heroism. When Kovaly demands justice for her husband from the men who helped send him to his death, she behaves with real courage. Some of the friends who assist her in her tribulations under these dictatorships act against their own personal interests, risking imprisonment or death for the sake of charity.

One last message for us from Heda Kovaly: Several times in Under a Cruel Star, she wishes for an ordinary, quiet life, but eventually she concludes: You cannot build a happy private life in a corrupt society any more than you can build a house in a muddy ditch. You have to lay a foundation first.

The foundation she believed in was composed of rights, liberties, and justice. If those are the building stones that we ourselves wish to preserve, we must find within us the strength, grace, and perseverance of Heda Kovaly.

Heda Kovaly is remembered for her journal, Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 19411968.

A final note: Heda Kovaly came to the United States, retired as a librarian at the Harvard Law School Library, and returned to the Czech Republic before her death.

Heda Kovalys Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 19411968 (Holmes & Meier Publishers, 1986, 192 pages).
A view of the entrance to New York's Rikers Island prison complex in 2011. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Ideologically Driven New York Bail Law Needs a Reality Check, Former Prosecutor Says

Former New York City prosecutor Jim Quinn, a vocal critic of New Yorks 2019 bail law since day one, still hopes state lawmakers face reality and repeal the damaging law.

In his latest report, published under the Manhattan Institute, Quinn shows how earlier ideologically-driven movements aided the birth of the law, how the law drove up re-offending rates and crime, and how the two fixes didnt solve the laws root problem.

Quinn is a former executive assistant district attorney at the Queens District Attorneys Office, one of five district attorney offices in New Yorks five boroughs. He worked as a Queens prosecutor for 42 years.

His report came as the debate over criminal justice laws heats up in New York.

Recently, two high-profile DemocratsNew York mayor Eric Adams and Albany County district attorney David Soaresjoined Republican forces to plead for a special legislative session to fix bail reform and raise the age law, respectively.

So far, Gov. Kathy Hochul and state senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins showed no appetite for it.

Jim Quinn (Courtesy of Manhattan Institute)

Through this report, Im trying to get the debate onto something logical and reality. If my numbers are wrong, show me that my numbers are wrong, Quinn told The Epoch Times.

In April 2019, five months after Democrats regained control of both legislative chambers and the governorship in New York, they crammed major criminal justice laws into the annual state budget.

The new laws are often called bail reform because it eliminates cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies.

For those offenses, defendants are to be released after arrest without paying any money.

Advocates pushing the changes say that cash bail punishes poverty and needs to be done away with.

Before the new law took effect, Quinn, a Queens prosecutor at the time, did some data digging to find out how many Queens defendants were locked up in New York jails solely because they couldnt afford bail.

The number was 398 in June 2019. Among them, 41 percent were held for violent A and B felonies, 33 percent for nonviolent D and E felonies, and 7 percent for misdemeanors, according to the report.

Those held for nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors typically had long arrest records, averaging 14 and 12, respectively, based on the data in the report.

Those numbers confirmed a long-time observation of Quinns: New York judges had used their discretion under the old bail law to set bail on low-level offenders who had long arrest records, indirectly protecting the community from more crime.

Most other low-level offenders were released from jails.

There is no way you could look at this rationally and think that you could release career criminals and expect no impact on crime, Quinn said.

Early implementation of the new law started in Oct. 2019. In Jan. 2020, New York City jails held 5,809 inmates, a reduction of about 2,000 compared to the month when the law was passed.

Affected offenses include robbery, burglary, grand larceny, drug sale, and car theft.

If I woke up one morning and found that 2,000 people had escaped from Rikers Island, I would be terrified. I cannot think of anything like that has happened in my 42 years in office, Quinn said.

This file photo shows a barbed wire fence outside inmate housing on New Yorks Rikers Island correctional facility in New York. (Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo)

By Mar. 2020, in New York City, robbery went up by 33.9 percent, burglary by 26.5 percent, grand larceny by 15.8 percent, and car theft by 68 percent, compared to a year ago, according to the report.

The year before that, between Mar. 2018 and Mar. 2019, those offenses had been decreasing.

Quinn didnt include the months following the pandemic in the comparisons to stay clear of aberrational factors.

New York governors and lawmakers had attempted to fix the bail law twice by allowing judges to set bail on more offenses under particular conditions. The latest fix occurred in April.

However, in the real world, those extra conditions still make it hard for judges to set bail on repeat offenders, Quinn said. Plus, a large pool of offenses remains non-bailable, he said.

Since the pandemic, crime in New York has been on an upward spiral.

For the first week of August, robbery went up by 39.8 percent, burglary by 32.3 percent, grand larceny by 48.3 percent, and car theft by 42 percent, compared to the same time last year, according to data by New York Police Department.

New York lawmakers supporting the bail law often relied on a two percent figure: between Jan. 2020 and June 30, 2021, only two percent of defendants got rearrested for a new violent felony while their cases were pending.

But Quinn questions the logic behind the calculation. He said to accurately measure the impact of the bail law, the focus should be on those who would have bail set under the old law but not under the new law, not the entire defendant population, which dramatically dilutes the results.

Quinn felt his views were often ignored by state lawmakers on the bail law debate, just like city lawmakers ignored his views on closing the Rikers jail years earlier, he said.

Demonstrators call for the closing of the Rikers Island prison as they protest outside City Hall in New York, on Sept. 22, 2021. (Photo by Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

The city wanted to close Rikers Island, and it became such a political issue that it really didnt look at the actual effects. Anybody who opposed the closing of Rikers was called a racist, and that shut a lot of people up. The debate just became poisoned, Quinn said.

Another problem is that we lost the PR war because they have this far-fetched notion that district attorneys are these evil people who are only interested in locking people up, Quinn added.

He said the 2019 bail law grew out of the momentum to close the Rikers jail and ramp up supervised releases in New York City, all driven by advocates under the slogan of ending mass incarceration.

They created a narrative, and the narrative became true.

The fact is that the Rikers population had been going down for years before these movements. We had a lot of services and programs that we used to keep people from going to jail, he said.

But there does come a point where some of these people will never help themselves unless there is a threat of them being sentenced to jail or put in jail on bail.

I just think it is important for people to look at this logically, and that is all I am asking for, Quinn said.
And Will Proposed Amendments Help?

Investing in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) companies is currently at the forefront of business news. Many brokerage firms are offering products with the ESG criteria. In addition, mutual funds and robo-advisors are also offering ESG products.

Some companies are claiming to use ESG practices. However, defining precisely the criteria rating is often ambiguous. What is ESG, how is it rated, and does it help stockholders?

ESG Sets Standards for a Companys Behavior

Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria have been around since the 1960s, but recently they are being increasingly held up as a way to influence companies to follow certain standards.

ESG is a set of non-financial standards for a corporations behavior. This behavior has three legs. The first is the environmental criteria: for example, what measures is the company using to address climate change.

The second criterion of ESG is social. This encompasses managing relationships with customers, employees, communities, and suppliers.

And finally, there is governance. This refers to the corporations leadership, executive salaries, and shareholder rights.

How ESG Ratings are Determined

There is no standardized way to determine if a company is following ESG standards. Indeed, a set criterion of standards has not been determined. Ratings are based on perceptions, not reality.

Over 150 companies have stepped forward to offer ratings. Most of them have their own criteria and ratings for ESG.

The four major players are MSCI, Robeco, Sustainalytics, and Vigeo Eiris. Each of these companies has a different methodology, and they apply a separate rating. For example, some scores are letter grades like a high of AAA, and some have a high grade of 100 points.

Companies High On S&P 500 ESG Index

In May of 2022, Tesla CEO Elon Musk called ESG a scam after Tesla fell off the S&P 500 ESG index. He went on to claim that ESG had been weaponized by phony social justice warriors. Musk noted that Exxon Mobil Corporation was number nine on the list.

Exxon is one of the largest oil producers worldwide. In 2019 it created more Scope 3 emissions than any other major Western oil company. And as of March 2021, Exxon Mobil planned to increase fossil fuel production through 2025.

Another company thats a top ten ESG company is Nvidia. Nvidia is sixth on the S&P 500 ESG Index. A computer graphic chip developer, Nvidia, manufacturers its chips in Taiwan. Nvidia is high on the list for corporate social responsibility. But the company deals with chips, which ultimately causes eWaste.

As of May 2022, the top 10, in order, include Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet Inc. Class A, Alphabet Inc. Class C, Nvidia, United Health Group, Procter & Gamble, Exxon Mobil Corporation, J.P. Morgan Chase and Company.

SEC Regulation of ESG Disclosures

The ESG designation has pretty much been the Wild West when it comes to consistency. But the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is starting to take a hard look at companies claiming to be practicing ESG to their investors. In May 2022, the SEC proposed amendments that would apply to certain registered investment advisers, registered investment companies, and business development companies.

The SEC announced proposed amendments to rules and reporting forms, which it said will promote consistent, comparable and reliable information for investors concerning funds and advisors incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler said, ESG encompasses a wide variety of investments and strategies. I think investors should be able to drill down and see whats under the hood of these strategies.

The SEC seeks to categorize certain types of ESG strategies. And it will require funds and advisers to provide more detailed disclosures in annual reports, fund prospectuses, and adviser brochures based on ESG strategies pursued.

This proposal will require specific ESG reporting on Forms N-CEN and ADV Part 1A. These are forms that funds and advisors use to report census-type data.

Prevalence of ESG Investing

Although ESG is the push when it comes to investing, it hasnt really caught on with investors. Even if an investor is open to reviewing ESG funds, ESG compliance generally isnt an investors highest priority.

Most investors prioritize a stocks performance over ESG.

According to a Gallup poll, 78 percent of investors look a lot or a fair amount at the expected rate of return when purchasing stock. Seventy-four percent of investors place the same weight on risk for potential losses.

But when purchasing stock, ESG research slipped. For example, only 35 percent of investors looked at the environmental impact of the companies they invest in, while 38 percent researched social values. And finally, 41 percent looked at corporate governance policies.

Could ESG Hurt Stockholders

The problem is not only people wanting to invest morally without a clear definition of what that means; the problem is that major institutions with little investment in these companies, in the name of ESG, strong arm or label companies against stockholders interests.

Your money might be invested in stocks because theyre ESG compliantnot because theyll make money for you. Activists often influence the big funds to invest in ESG companies and avoid companies that, although lucrative, dont follow the agenda. One big fund, Vanguard, promotes ESG funds. Investors legally give their rights to these big funds to vote the shares for which they are paying. And while private individuals can switch funds, public employees and teachers may not be able to choose in which funds their 401ks are invested.

Is ESG Slanted

Elon Musk commented on Twitter that a good ESG score amounts to a businesss compliance with the leftist agenda.

Unfortunately, at the moment, there doesnt seem to be any rhyme or reason as to what rates a companys compliance. Investors may be looking at how lucrative companies are, how environmentally conscious they are, or looking to invest in a contrarian fashionby investing in companies that dont march to the ESG drumbeat. No matter what the motivation, current ratings are unhelpful.

The SECs involvement could help standardize ratings rather than relying on 150 companies interpretations. Or, it could prove so burdensome that it puts companies out of business.

The Epoch Times Copyright  2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
A member of the Secret Service in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Judicial Watch Urges Court to Unseal Materials on FBI Raid of Trumps Home

A nonprofit on Aug. 9 filed a motion in federal court to unseal documents related to the search warrant executed this week at the Florida home of former President Donald Trump.

The nonprofit Judicial Watch, in a motion filed at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, said that the court should unseal the warrant materials because the public has an urgent and substantial interest in understanding the predicate for the execution of the unprecedented search warrant of the private residence of a former president and likely future political opponent.

The nonprofit also said that it was investigating the potential politicization of the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI and that the unsealing of the materials would help its mission of educating the public.

Once the court allows the unsealing of the materials, Judicial Watch will be able to analyze them and make them available to the public, according to the organization. The government has provided no official explanation or information regarding the search, it noted.

If the government needs to protect the identities of its confidential sources and witnesses, it may be addressed through appropriate redactions from the search warrant affidavit, the motion states. The historical presumption of access to warrant materials vastly outweighs any government interest in keeping the materials under seal, the motion argues.

The Biden administrations raid on President Trumps home is an outrageous, reckless, and unprecedented abuse of power. And the American people have an urgent right to know how it happened and who is responsible, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in an Aug. 9 press release.

The FBIs application for a warrant, approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart, was placed under seal by the judge in addition to an affidavit outlining why a warrant was needed. The materials remained under seal early Aug. 10.

Unintended Political Consequences

The raid on Trumps home is said to be related to the Presidential Records Act (PRA) of 1978, which established that all records of the president are owned by the public. Upon a presidents exit from the White House, these records are to be transferred into the custody of the National Archives.

Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett pointed out that the PRA is one of the most opaque laws.

An issue with the law is that the incumbent president has the authority and discretion to determine what constitutes presidential papers, he said. Meanwhile, some believe the raid might end up playing in Trumps favor during the upcoming elections.

In an Aug. 9 Twitter post, Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman and a critic of Trump, said that he has heard from so many GOP voters tonight who were cooling a bit these past few months on Trump but who are so [expletive] about this raid and are back to completely & enthusiastically all in with their support for him.

Former Democrat presidential candidate Andrew Yang pointed out that a fundamental part of Trumps appeal lies in the view that he is against a corrupt government establishment.

The FBI raid of Trumps home will mostly be seen as unjust persecution by millions of Americans, he said.
Los Angeles Police Officers are seen patrolling on Hollywood Boulevard on horses as the city gets ready for the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Calif. on March 23, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images)

LA City Council Approves Funding for More Police Patrols in Hollywood

LOS ANGELESHollywood will soon see an increased police presence after the Los Angeles City Council approved funding Aug. 10 intended to address a recent increase in crime in the area.

The council authorized $216,000 from the office of Councilman Mitch OFarrellwho introduced the motionto the Los Angeles Police Departments Hollywood Division to add additional officer shifts. OFarrell represents the Hollywood area.

According to the councilmans office, there has been a 75 percent increase in homicides and a 36 percent increase in shots fired so far this year compared to last yearwhile robbery has gone up by 19 percent and theft has jumped by 25 percent.

If you plan to come to Hollywood to commit crimes, you are not welcome, OFarrell said last week. All Angelenos should feel safe where they live and work.

The demand for public safety has exceeded the available resources in Hollywood, according to the motion.

Hollywood is as diverse, if not more, than any other part of the city itself, and having more resources concentrated in this area would be beneficial to ensuring public safety, particularly to the most vulnerable of society, the motion says.

Blake Chow, deputy chief for the Los Angeles Police Department, said in a statement last week that people need to feel safe when theyre in Hollywood.

Were thankful to Council Member OFarrell for these additional resources and look forward to quickly putting them to use to prevent, deter and address crime, Chow said.
LA Council Bans Homeless Encampments Near Schools After Another Disruption

LOS ANGELESSplatters of blood and fake $100 bills were visible on the left aisle of the Los Angeles City Council chamber Aug. 9 afternoon, remnants from another raucous meeting that started with protesters voicing displeasure at an ordinance to ban homeless encampments within 500 feet of schools and daycare centers and ended with one arrest, three injured police officers and a final vote to approve the measure.

The council voted 113 in favor of the measure on the third and final time that it came up for a vote, with Council Members Mike Bonin, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Nithya Raman dissenting.

We cannot accept that as a regular way to conduct ourselves, Council President Nury Martinez said. I think for those of us who have been with us a number of years, Ive never witnessed anything like this.

As they did last week, opponents interrupted the meeting with chants and shouts in the council chamber.

But on Tuesday, during public comment, a woman attempted to climb over the barrier separating the council from members of the public. While police attempted to take the woman into custody, a man tried to prevent officers from arresting herhe was in turn arrested on suspicion of vandalism and resisting arrest.

The woman was not taken into custody, according to Capt. Elaine Morales of the Los Angeles Police Department, who added that she was pulled away from police by other protesters.

Three officers, including a sergeant, suffered minor injuries, Morales said.

Martinez then called for a 20-minute recess. Police with riot gear circled the chamber while protesters chanted and made speeches until police issued a dispersal order. The council finished the meeting with only members of the media present.

Jumping over a barrier and putting other peoples lives at risk, that cannot be the norm around here, Martinez said. We cannot legislate in fear. I certainly will not do that. But we cannot tolerate this kind of behavior and continue to disregard decorum here in our council chambers and our safety.

After the meeting, Councilman Kevin de Leon was examining the scene in the chamber, telling a cameraman to make sure he got a close-up shot of the blood. Meanwhile, Martinez was at the public speakers podium, taking a look at just how close the protester got to make a run at the council.

De Leon told City News Service that in his lifetime, hes never witnessed or experienced such behavior by a group of individuals who sought to inflict violent, physical harm on Martinez.

I wish that they would channel that energy to join with us to build more housing, to acquire more housing, to get our unhoused neighbors off the street sooner rather than later, de Leon said. They seem to focus on performative art.

Martinez, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said that in her three years serving as council president, she has become used to attacks from the public.

The audience at the meeting was confrontational from the start, booing the council members as they walked in and continuously shouting obscenities at them.

I think there are still people uncomfortable with women leading, and women being so up front, Martinez told reporters after the meeting. Im incredibly honestat times too honest with what I do. But thats my job. Thats what I was elected to do.

The new amendment is a blanket ban on encampments within 500 feet of all schools.

Councilman Joe Buscaino originally proposed the idea last year, and it failed to gain traction. But the issue was revived earlier this year, in part at the urging of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who said teachers, principals, and parents have expressed concerns about homeless encampments near campuses.

Our students are already traumatized with socio-economic issues, Buscaino said. They should not be exposed to sex acts. They should not be exposed to open drug use. They should not be exposed to psychotic behavior that is taking place right next to our schoolyards.

Council members sought to distinguish between the purpose of the ordinance and the overarching goal of solving the citys homelessness crisis. They argued that the expansion of the 41.18 ordinance was simply a measure to protect the safety of studentsand nothing more.

To have such energy wasted, organizing people to come here to raise this questionyet to be so far off point is amazing, Councilman Gil Cedillo said. Its something to witness, to see such energy misguided, misdirected, a lack of strategy and tactics. What this provision is about parents and children.

Opponents of the ordinance claim that some smaller schools and daycares out of the thousands in Los Angeles may not look like a building to which the encampment ban perimeter applies to, especially if people set up a block away or around the corner.

It allows opportunistic politicians to push their unhoused constituents from block-to-block, district-to-district while providing no shelter, no housing, and no services, said Ashley Bennett, co-founder of Ground Game LA, in a speech outside City Hall before the meeting.

Bonin, the only council member to vote against the measure all three times, said it will make the homelessness crisis worse.

This is going to disconnect people from services, he said. This is going to channel our time and money and energy into moving people around, instead of moving people inside. It is actually harmful.

Bonin added that the council hasnt done any studies of the impact of the ordinances expansion, nor did it highlight specific locations and addresses where the encampment ban would be in effect.

He also claimed that the vote would make the city more vulnerable to lawsuits.

Data from Kenneth Mejia, a candidate for city controller, foundbased on his own mappingthat the council would effectively be banning encampments on 20 percent of the citys sidewalks and 48 percent of the entirety of District 1.

Councilman Mitch OFarrell accused Bonin of making cynical and misleading comments.

If you know your district, you know exactly where all the daycare centers and where all the schools are, private and public, OFarrell said.

Bonin shouted back at OFarrell to show him a map.

OFarrell responded: We dont need a map. We know where ours are. And you should as well.

People who violate the ordinance face an infraction or citation, but a person who willfully resists, delays or obstructs a city employee from enforcing this section or who willfully refuses to comply after being requested to do so by an authorized city employee can face higher fines and a misdemeanor charge, according to the ordinance.

Martinez told the media that a very small minority of folks continue to disrupt meetings on the 41.18 ordinance, and that parents and other stakeholders who support the expansion didnt show up to the meeting because they are at work and might be scared of speaking up.

Did you see this crowd? Martinez said. Would anybody in their right mind come here and voice their opinion? Especially if youre a mom, who doesnt speak the language, who doesnt understand how the city council works? Its petrifying. Its like asking my mom to come down here, without even understanding how this place works. Its not fair.

There are folks who grew up with the privilege of understanding or having the ability to be exposed to government. Not all of our residents have that kind of background.

De Leon added that he didnt see any homeless residents in the audience, hinting that those disrupting the meeting Tuesday werent truly the stakeholders impacted by the ordinance.

Its easy to go on and take advantage of other peoples misery and speak for them, on their behalf, he said to the media.

About 90 minutes before the meeting, Sabrina Johnson sat outside the chamber with a red marker, writing signs that read House Keys Not Handcuffs and 41.18 Sucks.

Johnson, who works at a retail store and spent her day off at City Hall to protest, said she would rather be anywhere else but here, honestly. But guilt brought her downtown, she said.

Johnson was concerned about how few places exist in the denser parts of Los Angeles where there isnt a school or a daycare nearby.

How are people supposed to exist anywhere in a city, especially if youre making them guess? Johnson told the media. Youre making them guess, first of all. Where is there a daycare? Where is there a school? Where can I not be?
Keith Kellogg, National Security Adviser to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, speaks to the press in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 22, 2020, (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Lack of Leadership Is the Greatest Threat to the Nation: Gen. Keith Kellogg

The greatest threat facing the nation at present is not China, Russia, or Iran, but a lack of leadership at top levels, said retired U.S. Army Gen. Keith Kellogg.

Kellogg was named acting national security adviser after the resignation of Gen. Michael Flynn in February 2017. In 2018, then-Vice President Mike Pence chose Kellogg to serve as his national security adviser, while Kellogg continued to serve as an assistant to then-President Donald Trump.

The greatest threat we have is a lack of leadership at senior levels right now, Kellogg told NTDs Capitol Report on Aug. 3. Because that drives everything.

Things start to fall through the cracks, said Kellogg, adding that the threat kept him up at night.

Because of that, you see Russia going into Ukraine, which is a major threat in the European environment. You see China constantly threatening Taiwan, which is a major concern for us in the Far East. And then you see Iran now marching to get a potential nuclear weapon, which will totally destabilize the Middle East. But it all comes back to the level of leadership: Do we want to prevent these nations from doing it? How do we go about doing it?

Republicans have accused President Joe Biden of being weak on the world stage, especially in handling issues relating to Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Iran. Trump has said Russia wouldnt have invaded Ukraine if he were the president.

Biden has denied wrongdoing on any of those issues.

According to Al Jazeera, a media conglomerate of Qatar, two advisers to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in July that Iran has the ability to build nuclear weapons. But they stated that Iran had no plan to do so.

On Aug. 8, the Chinese regime announced a new round of military drills around Taiwan, after ending its largest-ever military exercises around the island to protest the visit of U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on climate change and renewable energy at the site of the former Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, Mass. on July 20, 2022. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

On the other hand, Biden has touted climate change as one of his top priorities.

This is not a joke: you know what the Joint Chiefs told us the greatest threat facing America was? Global warming, Biden said in June 2021 during his first trip abroad as president.

On July 20, he hinted that he might declare a national emergency over climate change.

Climate change is an emergency and, in the coming weeks, Im going to use the power I have as president to turn these words into formal official government actions through the appropriate proclamations, executive orders, and regulatory power that the president possesses, Biden said.

Its All About Policy

The way Kellogg sees it, failed leadership is more a matter of policy than capability.

We have wonderful capabilities within our State Department, or in economics, or even in the military. What it comes down to is the policies of the administration, he said.

Kellogg gave as an example the recent statement from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

On July 19, Mayorkas said the border is secure despite a record number of illegal immigrants having entered the nation in the past two years.

Illegal immigrants cross the Rio Grande between Del Rio ( far side) and Acuna, Mexico. To avoid deportation from the United States, some are crossing back to Mexico on Sept. 20, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Then youre not seeing whats really happening down there, or your definition of secure is significantly different than my definition of secure, said Kellogg. So its all about policy.

Kellogg recalled that Trump had exerted tremendous pressure on Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who then deployed nearly 30,000 Mexican troops to prevent immigrants from coming north.

Woke Policies in the Military

Kellogg believes that woke policies in the military have affected morale and caused fewer young people to want to join their ranks.

The Army is missing their recruiting goals by tens of thousands, which we havent seen in years, Kellogg said.

Theyre missing it not because [of] an economic environment. Theyre missing it because theres a lot of young men and women who decided, I just dont want to do that. Because I dont want to go into a military that is woke or proceeding on things that I dont really believe in.

On July 20, the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army issued a memo acknowledging the most challenging recruiting environment since 1973, when the United States eliminated the draft and started developing an all-volunteer force.

The memo listed some of the reasons as the post-COVID labor market, intense competition with the private sector, and a declining number of young Americans interested in uniformed service.

The memo estimated that the number of active soldiers would be about 466,400 at the end of fiscal 2022. In the fiscal year 2021, the Army slightly exceeded its goal, reaching 486,490 soldiers despite the pandemic.

Kellogg said he has a relative in the military, and the first thing he got caught up in after an 11-month deployment was all about woke policies.

It has been reported that critical race theory, part of the woke culture, was taught in some military academies.

U.S. Military Academy cadets attend the graduation ceremony at West Point, N.Y., on June 13, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

Retired Lt. Gen. Thomas Spoehr also said the woke policies now being imposed by leadership are the largest threat to the military. Spoehr is the director of the Center for National Defense at the Heritage Foundation.

Its going to affect the Army. Its going to affect the Marine Corps. Its going to affect the Navy and the Air Force, he said. Were all seeing that with COVID-19 policies that theyve got. Were seeing it with the things that they are now teaching inside the military.

On July 8, Army officials said that about 40,000 National Guard and 22,000 reserve soldiers would be barred from service for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccines.

Looking ahead to the 2024 presidential election, on July 26 Kellogg expressed his support for Trump over Pence.

Sometimes, you have to pick the lane youre gonna run with, Kellogg told the Washington Examiner when asked about a possible contest between Trump and Pence. Ive always been a Trump guy.

Jack Phillips and Andrew Thornebrooke contributed to this report.

Harry Lee Follow Harry Lee is a New York-based reporter for The Epoch Times. Contact Harry at harry.lee@epochtimes.com
This aerial view shows a Controlled Thermal Resources drilling rig in Calipatria, Calif., on Dec. 15, 2021. Hollywood stars once crowded the nearby shores of the Salton Sea before it was largely abandoned. Now, lithium reserves have been discovered at the site. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Lithium Wars: How California Could Help the US Compete With China

Commentary

Recently, Elon Musk, arguably the most influential man in the world, had some advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. If you want to make money, real money, get into lithium mining. Its sound advice. The importance of lithiumsometimes referred to as white oilcannot be emphasized enough.

Between 1848 and the early 1900s, as the historians Benjamin Mountford and Stephen Tuffnell have discussed in great detail, the world experienced an unprecedented gold rush. According to the duo, from the west of America to Western Africa, gold discoveries and the rushes that followed birthed new territories and states; triggered short-term booms and busts; provoked violent conflict with local indigenous and other resident communities. The desire to amass unimaginable fortunes sparked entrepreneurship of all kinds; reordered production, trade, and labor; exposed humankinds capacity.

Fast forward to 2022, and theres a new rush sweeping across the world. You see, lithium is, in many ways, the new gold (the fact that it is referred to as white oil and compared to gold tells you why the element is so valuable).

Rechargeable batteries used in cell phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, and, of course, electric vehicles all require lithium, as do the millions of heart pacemakers currently in circulation.

A worker with car batteries at a factory for Xinwangda Electric Vehicle Battery Co. Ltd, which makes lithium batteries for electric cars and other uses, in Nanjing in Chinas eastern Jiangsu Province, on March 12, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2016, the world had 2 million electric vehicles. Today, it has 20 million. By 2030, it will have 145 million. By 2050, close to 1 billion. The more electric vehicles on our roads, the more lithium required. Around 91 percent of the worlds population (some 7.26 billion people) now own a smartphone; considering the world will have at least 1 billion extra people by 2030, expect smartphone ownership numbers to increaseand with that increase in ownership, an increase in demand for lithium.

This fact is not lost on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The top three countries with the largest lithium reserves are all located in South America. The so-called lithium triangle consists of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile. Considering Chinas involvement in all three countries, perhaps its better to refer to it as a lithium rectangle.

Bolivia, a small, landlocked country less than three times the size of the state of Montana, is home to the largest lithium reserves in the world21 million tons, to be exact. In 2018, China and Bolivia agreed to engage in deeper, pragmatic cooperation.

Less than a year later, as Reuters first reported, the Bolivian government signed a deal worth $2.3 billion with the CCP, granting Chinas Xinjiang TBEA Group a 49 percent stake in a joint venture with YLB, Bolivias largest lithium company. Although the Bolivians have, up until very recently, struggled to convert potential into reality, things appear to be changing, and China appears to be finally getting what it so desperately desires: access to the loot.

China is also getting what it wants in Chile, home to 9 million tons of lithium. At the start of the year, Chilean authorities awarded a highly-lucrative extraction contract, worth north of $120 million, to BYD, a conglomerate headquartered in Shenzhen, the Silicon Valley of China.

More recently, in Argentina, a country that sits on at least 17 million tons of lithium, Ganfeng Lithium Co., one of the worlds leading lithium manufacturers, made headlines when it purchased two lithium carbonate-producing salt lakes for $1 billion.

As cliched as it sounds, who controls the lithium reserves very much controls the future. According to a recent Forbes report, China now controls 7.9 percent of the worlds lithium reserves (meanwhile, the United States controls 4.0 percent). Moreover, with vast reserves of its own, China is now the 3rd largest lithium producer in the world, outproducing the U.S. in 2020 by more than a factor of 15.

Is the United States doomed to lose the lithium race to its biggest competitor?

Although this looks to be the case, all hope is not lost. If the California Energy Commission (CEC) is to be believed, the Salton Sea could prove to be the United States saving grace. According to the CEC, the landlocked lake, roughly an hours drive north of the California-Mexico border, has enough reserves to supply the United States and 40 percent of the worlds lithium demand.

Rather encouragingly, extracting the lithium shouldnt pose any problems, thanks to the Salton Seas rather unique geography. Unlike reserves in Bolivia, for example, lithium in California exists as a naturally occurring liquid. This means no mining, no blasting, and little if any environmental damage.

In recent times, California has received a fair share of criticismfor a good reason. Yet, somewhat ironically, the state could help the United States remain competitive with communist China.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 24, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

McConnell Says Country Deserves Thorough and Immediate Explanation About Trump Residence Search

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has called for a thorough and immediate explanation in the wake of the FBIs search at former President Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence.

Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should already have provided answers to the American people and must do so immediately, he said in a statement.

The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events of Monday, he stressed.

McConnells first comments on the FBIs action were voiced a day after the raid took place. He refused to make remarks about the incident when asked by the press earlier in the day when he was in Kentucky.

Im here to talk about the flood and recovery from the flood, McConnell responded.

The minority leader was in his home state in the aftermath of the devastating flood that has taken the lives of dozens of people.

McConnells comment added to the list of Republican lawmakers who had been requesting Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray to provide an explanation for the search.

A member of the Secret Service in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Summon Hearing

In an interview with Fox News, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) also called for oversight in the wake of the unprecedented raid on the former president.

The ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee called on the committee chair, Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), to summon Merrick Garland and Christopher Wray for a hearing late this week.

Jerry Nadler, call up Christopher Ray, call up Merrick Garland, bring them to the front of the House Judiciary Committee so we can ask them the questions that the American people deserve answers to, he appealed.

Jordan further called for the heads of the two agencies to answer questions in front of the Judiciary Committee in relation to the search warrant that they executed.

What was on the warrant? What were you really doing? What were you looking for? Why not talking to President Trump and having given the information youre after? Jordan asked.

The top Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa.) also chimed in, pressing Wray to justify the unannounced search.

If the FBI isnt extraordinarily transparent about its justification for yesterdays actions and committed to rooting out political bias that has infected their most sensitive investigations, they will have sealed their own fate, Grassley said.

Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump stand outside his residence in Mar-A-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida on Aug. 8, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Search Reason Unexplained

Meanwhile, the agency still stays mum about the reason for the Mar-a-Lago raid despite pressure from Republican lawmakers.

The FBI executed a search warrant approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Aug. 5, court records show. Reinhart issued the order in response to multiple requests, including a warrant for electronic communications suspected to be relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation, according to docket entries.

Eric Trump declared earlier that the raid was conducted to see whether his father possessed any potential confidential documents from his time in office.

Earlier this year, Trump returned 15 boxes of records kept at the Mar-a-Largo resort to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which it said contained materials marked as classified national security information. Federal agents reportedly searched for additional documents at the property on Monday.

Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report.
A student of the ancient Polynesian art of wayfinding, Nainoa Thompson demonstrates that trans-Pacific navigation with just the sky and sea as guides is possibleand can bring people together

Nainoa Thompson did not set out to rewrite history. He just wanted to go for an adventure.

But he accomplished both. Decades later, hes now the most famous person in Hawaii and an icon to seafaring people around the world. Along the way, he learned a few things: Intense preparation surmounts risk. The riskiest action can be none at all. And sometimes, knowledge by itself, no matter how deep, is not sufficient.

But all that came later as he learned whats known as The Way of the Canoe. First, he headed to sea on a Polynesian voyaging canoe adventure.

Manning the tiller is a key role aboard the Hokuleaespecially on rough seas. (Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

All I knew was where I wanted to beon the ocean, Thompson said of his young self growing up just outside Waikiki on a dairy farm. His earliest memory is of himself as a 5-year-old milking cows. Then one day, a fishing expedition introduced him to the Pacific, just a mile away. His affinity for the ocean was immediate, and it determined the course of his life. I didnt know how I was going to get out on the ocean for good, but I knew it was going to be somehow.

Rediscovery

As it turned out, Thompsons first real ocean adventure, at the age of 22 in 1976, was not only an amazing odyssey; it caused a complete upheaval of Western attitudes about the Polynesian settlement of the Pacific. Sailing from Hawaii to Tahiti on a traditional oceangoing canoe, using only the sun, stars, wind, waves, and currents for navigationan ancient art known as wayfindinghe and his mates demonstrated that Polynesians had skillfully and deliberately long ago crossed Earths biggest ocean to find new homelands. Their journeys concluded in Thompsons native Hawaiian islands about 1,500 years ago.

Though oral histories and some rather obvious logical thinking indicated that Polynesian legends were in fact, well, fact, Western anthropologists long dismissed the idea. No compasses, no sextants, no printed maps? Impossible. Some derided it as primitive fantasy, arguing that only dumb luck and storm winds brought indigenous settlers to almost every island in the worlds biggest ocean. In the 1950s, New Zealand anthropology professor Andrew Sharp dismissed the idea of deliberate voyages as nonsense.

Wayfinding navigators such as Nainoa Thompson keep constant watch over the horizon; the weather; the wind, sun, and stars. (Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

Then, in the early 1970s, a group led by native Hawaiian artist Herb Kane and radical young anthropologist Ben Finney decided to prove academic gospel wrong. A years-long search led them to the last great wayfinder on earth, Mau Piailug, on the small island of Satawal in Micronesia. They built a 61-foot Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe named Hokulea: Star of Gladness. They asked Piailug to teach them wayfinding, and to guide them 2,750 miles to Tahiti.

That was 1976; Thompson was onboard as an apprentice navigator, and violent conflicts among the crew kept them from taking Hokulea back to Hawaii using wayfinding. Piailug returned to Micronesia, the canoe came home under modern navigation, and it looked like the end of the adventure.

The crew of the Hokulea receives a greeting. (Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

Setting off on Ones Own

Thompson wasnt ready to quit. Four years later, having studied Piailugs techniques intently, he guided Hokulea to Tahiti and back as chief navigatoragain using only the stars, winds, currents, and waves as guideposts, with Piailug as adviser but not leader. That was the first such voyage in 600 years, but it was no lark.

First, Thompson had to convince Piailug to teach him wayfinding. Then came years of studying star maps and charts of ocean waves, currents, and prevailing windsoften drawn in sand on beaches at the Pacifics verge. Years of learning to watch for birds and where they fly. How to measure a boats speed by counting bubbles in the water as they go past the hull. How to feel the direction of the ocean swell beneath the canoe, and separate it from surface wavesan art a master navigator could practice even while asleep below decks.

After learning all that cameenchantment.

The Hokulea en route from Tonga to New Zealand, on a voyage in November 2014. (Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

Ill teach you how to go and come back, Mau told me, but Ill never teach you the magic, Thompson recalled. You have to find that yourself. And thats what it has been ever since for methe magic of the stars and the canoes.

In the years after that 1980 Tahiti-and-back voyage, Thompson and his compatriots at Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS, founded by Kane and Finney) sailed Hokulea and her sister canoe Hikianalia to Rapa Nui (Easter Island); to Rarotonga; to New Zealand; to California.

During those thousands of miles of sailing, Thompson and his colleagues realized that Hawaiian voyaging is about more than proving wrong past generations of European academics. PVS voyages helped kindle the Hawaiian Renaissance, a resurgence of interest in traditional island culture, from food to language to chant and dance and spiritual practice. When Hokulea first sailed, Hawaiian was taught in the foreign language department at the University of Hawaii. Today, many students of Hawaiian ancestry are educated in their ancestors language until fifth grade. After Hokuleas success, other islands formed groups to build and sail their own canoes. Wayfinding found its way into classrooms, even academic astronomy. Navigation courses sprang up, sponsored first by PVS, then spreading to other groups and locales. Thompson has been instrumental not only in wayfinding education, but in a concerted campaign to draw young women into the art. This is a new era, Thompson explained.

(Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

Today, in Hawaii, there are dozens of navigators qualified to guide traditional over-ocean voyages. Their role is not just to lead canoes, but to shape popular thought. The classic Western view of the ocean is that it divides us, said Timothy Lara, a Maui-based navigator. The Polynesian view is that it joins us.

In 2013, 33 years after that path-breaking 1980 voyage, Thompson, now president of PVS, led Hokulea around the world on a journey called Malama Honua (care for Earth), covering 40,000 miles, 150 ports, and 18 countries. Hokuleas return to Waikiki in June 2017 drew 20,000 celebrants.

Future Journeys

But the 68-year-old Thompson is not done yet. Next year, Hokulea will depart Hawaii once again to circle the Pacific, a 41,000-mile journey to 46 lands and 345 ports that will span 42 monthsa journey that more closely resembles those made by ancient Polynesian mariners at a time when European explorers almost never sailed out of sight of land.

But magic, to Thompson, includes something almost opposite the usual understanding of that word. A spare, compact individual who measures both words and deeds carefully, he balances risk with preparationwitness his years studying wayfinding under Piailug or, even more tellingly, the run-up to Hokuleas global circumnavigation. Thompson said that intense, mind-numbing preparation is the key to success in such inherently risky ventures.

Sunrise over the ocean calls for E Ala E, the sacred Hawaiian chant that thanks the sun for returning to bring another day. (Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

Ill go through things like charting a course a million times in my head, he explained. It frustrates people that I take so long. Malama Honua took 37 months on the water, but it was actually a 10-year voyage because it was preceded by more than 6 years of preparation. Many argued that the voyage should not happen at alltoo dangerousbut Thompson countered that the greatest hazard was to do nothing. During the voyage, he refused to load Hokulea on a cargo ship to traverse the most treacherous waters around South Africa.

Which is more dangerous, the hurricane or the pirateor keeping Hokulea tied to the dock because we are too scared to go? Thompson challenged naysayers.

Now, as Thompson and PVS get ready to sail around the Pacific, from Alaska to New Zealand to South America, he is as adamant as ever that acts of adventure must demonstrate purpose and valuerecognition of common ground, for instance. Like most indigenous people today, Thompsons heritage is broad, including Hawaiian and European. Navigation is more than just sailing, Thompson argued. Humanity needs to come together based on values. This world is worth it, and we dont have another one.

(Courtesy of Polynesian Voyaging Society)

Like all true great leaders, he has a unique ability to exemplify and convey universal truths in a way that appeals to everyone. He balances risk and caution wisely, but he refuses artificial safety.

What I value most are home and family, he said. And really, thats our whole planet. The Way of the Canoe offers a pretty good roadmap for human society.

So, if you ask Thompson to name his legacy, his answer is as clear as his life has been.

I stood up for something that matters.

WaaThe Way of the Canoe

 Take care of your canoe

 Take care of your crew

 Be prepared for weather

 Always know your course

This article was originally published in American Essence magazine.
statements

"Because we're in a revolutionary cycle, or the left has now said, under the pretext that Donald Trump is so extraordinarily threatening to the Republic, that it requires any means necessary to end him." Victor Davis Hanson Classicist and Military Historian

"Half the country believes that when it comes to President Trump there are no rules. They have lost faith in the system." Lindsey Graham Chairman, US. Senate Judiciary Committee

"DOJ must immediately explain the reason for its raid ... or it will be viewed as a political tactic and undermine any future credible investigation." Andrew Cuomo Former New York Governor

"These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents." Donald Trump Former President

"[Russia hoaxers] have now been promoted into the Biden administration. ... Theyre definitely targeting [former] president Trump because they dont want him to run for president." Devin Nunes Former U.S. Representative

"Theyre using the full powerillegally, I think, unconstitutionallyof the law to harass, intimidate, and try to push Trump out of the picture." Louie Gohmert U.S. Representative

"[The raid] was the latest link a long series of operations starting six years ago with absurd claims that Donald Trump was the asset of a foreign country. That operation was called Russia gate." Lee Smith Author, The Plot Against the President

"Beginning in 2016, Americans began to have doubts when we began to unravel the Russia collusion reporting. ... Those doubts kept growing and you started to hear people say we have a dual justice system in America." John Solomon Editor-in-Chief, Just the News

"This is the modern day version of Watergate. Except the only difference is it wasn't political operatives breaking in to their opponents headquarters. It was the FBI and DOJ." Kash Patel Former Chief of Staff to the Acting Secretary of Defense

"It seems like this was ... without buy-in or notification of higher levels of government. But literally no one will believe that." Andrew Yang Former Democratic presidential candidate

"When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of [the DOJ]." Kevin McCarthy U.S. House Minority Leader

"Lets be clear: This is a brazen weaponization of the FBI by Bidens DOJ against his political opponentwhile giving their political allies free passes." Steve Scalise U.S. House Minority Whip

"Its all a coordinated attack with the FBI. Do you think that the FBI director is going to raid the former presidents house  without getting the approval of President [Biden]?" Eric Trump Son of former President Donald Trump

"AG must explain why 250 yrs of practice was upended with this raid." Mike Pompeo Former Secretary of State

"[The raid represents] another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regimes political opponent." Ron DeSantis Florida Governor

"No person is above the law. Not even the president of the United States. Not even a former president of the United States." Nancy Pelosi U.S. House Speaker

"[The] raid on the home of a former U.S. president without explanation will only further erode confidence in the FBI and the Justice Department." Chuck Grassley Ranking Member, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

"The country deserves a thorough and immediate explanation of what led to the events." Mitch McConnell U.S. Senate Minority Leader

"Three FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone. Im outraged ... [that the FBI] would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress." Scott Perry U.S. Representative

"I didnt actually get to oversee the search, they wouldnt let anybody see what they were doing." Christina Bobb Attorney to Trump

"If theres anything negative about Trump or his allies, that gets accelerated, leaked, and used for political purposes." Matt Gaetz Member, U.S. House Judiciary Committee

"They see the support that he has all over the country. His rallies terrify them." Marjorie Taylor Greene U.S. Representative

"[Democrat Party attorney] Marc Elias is saying that the criminal statute could result in President Trump being barred from future office. And I think its clearly part of his plan." Jeff Clark Former lawyer, Justice Department

"I think for anyone who doubted that there was a swamp when Donald Trump was saying drain the swamp now I think theres true believers." Warren Davidson U.S. Representative

"The security state complex and the complexity of the security state ... is now overtaking our system of government and our rule of law." Michael Flynn Retired lieutenant general
A map shows the location of the town of Tessit, Mali on Aug 09, 2022. (Screenshot/Google Maps via The Epoch Times)

Militants Kill 17 Soldiers in Mali Attack

BAMAKOTerrorists killed 17 Malian soldiers and four civilians in an attack near the town of Tessit on Sunday, the Malian army said.

Nine soldiers were also reported missing and vehicles and equipment were destroyed, it said in a statement released late on Monday, adding that it suspected an ISIS terrorist group affiliate.

On 07 August 2022 around 15h00, the army units of Tessit responded vigorously to a complex and coordinated attack by armed terrorist groups, presumably from ISGS (ISIS in the Greater Sahara) and benefiting from drone and artillery support, the statement said.

Mali is facing a worsening insurgency by Islamist armed groups, some linked to al Qaeda and ISIS, which has expanded to its neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger.

The army said it killed at least seven on the enemy side.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, shown here presiding over then President Donald Trump's impeachment, won the Minnesota 4th Congressional District Democratic primary on August 9. (Courtesy of Betty McCollum for Congress)

Minnesota Incumbent Survives US House Primary Challenge From Progressive

Eleven-term incumbent Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) prevailed over community organizer Amane Badhasso, a refugee from Ethiopia, in Minnesotas 4th Congressional District Democratic primary.

McCollum, 68, is the longest-serving member of Minnesotas congressional delegation.

With 26 percent of the votes counted at 11 p.m. ET, McCollum drew 84 percent of the vote to Badhassos 14 percent.

Badhasso is a progressive Democrat who hoped to join Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) on the squad in Congress.

Tlaib and Bush won their respective Democratic primaries last week.

In a statement after she announced her candidacy, Badhasso explained why she entered the race.

I am running for Congress because we need a new generation of progressive Democrats, Badhasso said.

They are not addressing the issue of the climate catastrophe. Theyre not addressing the issue of income inequality. Theyre not addressing the issue of systemic racism in this country, Badhasso added. And what we need is somebody thats accountable to the folks in the district.

First elected in 2001, McCollum is a friend to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and chairs an appropriations subcommittee that authors the Pentagons annual budget.

Badhasso said that McCollum is not progressive enough.

Earlier in her campaign, Badhasso told reporters that we need leaders who are more empathetic, who arent beholden to special interests, who will fight for folks here and folks abroad. We need a dramatic change in leadership across the board.

McCollum defended her track record of more than 21 years in Congress.

Experience matters, McCollum told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. You want a doctor with experience, you want a car mechanic with experience, you want a plumber who knows what theyre doing. And right now, with the way the economy is, and whats happening with womens rights and voting rights, people feel good about the experience that Ive had and the work that I do.

Gene Rechtzigel, Jerry Silver, and May Lor Xiong were on the ballot in the 4th Districts Republican primary.

Political analysts rate the district solid Democratic for the general election.
People leave the airport with their luggage at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Aug. 5, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

Missed Funerals and Separated Families: Stories of Life-Altering COVID Restrictions

Unvaccinated Canadians were permitted to take domestic flights once again on June 20, but for some, the damage had already been done after having missed key life moments due to the federal vaccine mandate.

Not being there for a loved one in times of need, missing a funeral, and couples living across the border being unable to see each other are some of the stories heard by The Epoch Times.

A review of the court documents pertaining to four lawsuits challenging the travel mandate shed light on the governments rationale for not allowing compassionate exemptions for unvaccinated Canadians to travel.

The cabinet wanted a strict mandate with as few exemptions as possible, and so policy-makers drafted a mandate they thought would be world-leading.

The policy was described as one of the strongest vaccination mandates for travellers in the world when presented to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra in an Oct. 2 brief.

The idea was to make the federally regulated transportation system as safe as possible by barring the unvaccinated.

This was done while there was limited data on in-flight transmission, court documents show, and at a time when studies had already suggested that individuals infected with COVID-19, vaccinated or not, carry similar amounts of viral load.

Although the vaccine mandate for domestic travel in planes and trains was recently suspended, it still applies to cruise ships while border restrictions continue to impede the reunification of families.

The Epoch Times heard from many people who were affected by the vaccine policy, from being separated from family members to not being able to attend special celebrations or funerals. The following accounts are just a few of the people The Epoch Times spoke with.

Loss

Not being able to be close to a dying relative or being forced to miss a funeral were highlighted several times in the accounts.

Angela Bell from Ontario says she had planned one last trip to Mexico with her father after his last round of chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. But the trip had to be cancelled in the early days of the pandemic, and despite attempts to rebook, her father eventually passed away nine months later.

One of dads bucket lists was to spend a Christmas with his feet in the sand, so my family and I thought it would be nice to take that trip with his ashes, but the government invoked the vaccine mandate, and because my husband, my daughter, and I are the only ones not vaccinated, we could not book it, Bell said.

Now with the mandate suspended, she says she cant afford a 14-day quarantine, especially since her firefighter husband has been on leave without pay for eight months for refusing COVID-19 injections.

Bell says that she hasnt been able to properly mourn her father and that the government has disrupted her life and turned it upside down.

Angela Bell with her father, who passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. (Courtesy of Angela Bell)

Rachel from Quebec, who asked that only her first name be provided due to concerns over potential repercussions, told The Epoch Times that she missed the funeral of her uncle in December 2021 and that of her aunt in March 2022.

Missing those funerals felt like a knife to the heart, she says.

Then in March, when her 76-year-old mother broke her leg, Rachel says she had to take a four-day bus ride to Saskatchewan to be with her.

Virginia Anderson from B.C., whose stepfather in Ontario had a deteriorating health condition, said she was preparing to make the long drive to see him but he passed away from a heart attack before she could get there.

The grief of his dying was made all the more heavy by my anger at the circumstances at not being able to fly there, Anderson says.

Separated Families

While unvaccinated Canadians can now take a plane from anywhere within Canada, border restrictions are still in place. Upon re-entering the country they need to quarantine for 14 days.

Unvaccinated foreign nationals cannot travel to Canada for purposes such as tourism, and they are required to request an exemption to enter for compassionate reasons.

Eric Chambers from B.C. is part of a bi-national family spanning into the state of Washington.

Knowing that we could meet our loved ones in about 80 other countries now, but not in one anothers homes across a border that has always been an undefended friendly one, has been very hard to accept, he says.

Chambers says hes been unable to say goodbye to one grandparent who passed away and comfort the surviving other, and his child hasnt been able to attend a single family dinner in the United States since 2019.

My wife cries at some point just about every day, feeling so badly for not being able to be there for our family members and her closest friends across the borderand for all that our child has missed out on due to these restrictions.

Christine Dougherty is an American citizen living in Ontario who has permanent resident status in Canada.

Residing in a border town, she says life pre-COVID meant running over the border without a hassle. Her daughters would even go to school daily in the United States.

Now she can go back without issue, but she needs to quarantine if she re-enters Canada and her work wont allow her to be away for so long.

Dougherty says shes missed births, deaths, and holidays.

I was close to my nephews growing up and now three of them have children of their own that I dont even know. My niece has children Ive never laid eyes on, she says.

I lost a big part of my life. I no longer can visit the city I grew up in. Its like being a prisoner behind a locked border.

The tears fall but I stuff them down.

Christine Dougherty. (Courtesy of Christine Dougherty)

Relationships Under Pressure

While border town families are being separated, some couples with different nationalities are also struggling.

Hope Vanbeselaere from Manitoba is married to an American citizen working in Texas. Before restrictions, she says they could see each other as often as their schedules would allow. Now its limited to once per year.

Her unvaccinated husband cannot enter Canada as the government doesnt allow immediate family reunification. The United States also doesnt allow unvaccinated travellers, though some Canadians are crossing the land border without being asked about their vaccination status.

Vanbeselaere says she doesnt want to risk crossing to avoid jeopardizing her residency application.

We literally may never see each other again, let alone be able to have a life together, she says.

At this point its only our faith in God that is keeping us going. Weve lost our freedoms, our families, and years of time we will never get back.

Hope Vanbeselaere with her husband the last time they met, in January 2022. (Courtesy of Hope Vanbeselaere)

Vera Post from Ontario told The Epoch Times she hasnt been able to see her American husband since 2020.

I may not have missed out on a wedding, funeral, etc., but this is still as significant. This time lost, we will never get back. And the pain is equivalent to a death, she said.

Government needs to be held accountable for our suffering, and the hundreds of thousands of cross-border families who are in our situation.

Vera Post with her husband, the last time they saw each other in person in November 2020. (Courtesy of Vera Post)

Veronica Roelands from Ontario said she is unable to be with her American fiance or make wedding plans as his visa status remains uncertain. Throughout the pandemic theyve used different exemptions and loopholes to see each other, but the net has since tightened.

Roelands went to the United States before the mandate came into force and stayed there for the six-month limit.

Now back home, she says they have no real hope of seeing each other or planning a wedding. Her fiance is now waiting on a visa to be approved, which she says could take as long as a year and a half.

We want to start our lives together, but these outdated and inconsistent restrictions have made what should have been an easy, carefree relationship into a very stressful one, she says.
Los Angeles Mom-and-Pop Landlords Say They Are Hurt by COVID Eviction Ban

Mom-and-pop landlords in Los Angeles say they are undergoing severe hardship because of the COVID-19 eviction moratorium, which protects tenants from being evicted when they do not pay rent for pandemic-related reasons.

The moratorium will be in effect through August 2023, or up to 12 months following the end of the citys local emergency, which was first declared in March 2020 to help tenants with financial hardship.

The city council voted July 28 to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days and asked the housing department to come up with a report with recommendations on possible adjustments by Aug. 11.

These small-scale property owners are pleading with city officials to terminate the eviction ban as soon as possible.

Particularly, mom-and-pop landlords, which I represent  most of us are not too unlike our tenants, Diane Robertson, founding member of the Coalition of Small Rental Property Owners told The Epoch Times.

These property owners affected by the moratorium are depleting their savings to make ends meet, she said.

We work for a living, you know, she said. We need our jobs, and we do rely on the rental income from our properties to pay the mortgage taxes, utilities, insurance, and all other maintenance.

She added that not all renters who are not paying rent are unable to do so, and many chose to take advantage of the system for the last two-and-a-half years.

[The moratorium has] created opportunities for really bad actors to decide that because landlords have no recourse, they dont have to pay rent, and instead, they can do other things like travel and buy new cars and new furniture, she said.

If the situation continues, she said, these landlords might be forced out of business due to foreclosure or bankruptcy and, as a result, would likely have their properties purchased by corporate owners.

An apartment building in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Her group on July 28 joined City Councilman John Leewho was the lone vote against extending the local emergency at the council meeting later that dayand other landlords in a press conference urging officials to end the eviction moratorium.

Lee said an end date should be decided so that mom-and-pop landlords can plan accordingly.

Right now, theyre in limbo. Does this end a month from now? Does it end a year from now? We need to be able to provide them certainty, he said.

Some small-scale property owners said the key problem is not that some tenants dont paybut that the citys policies have ignored their needs and challenges.

Our home has been stolen from us, not by our tenants, but by the overly broad policies created under Mayor Eric Garcetti and upheld by the majority of our city council, Liz Reckart, a landlord, said at the news conference.

Audre Lopez-King, a small rental property owner, said her income is now a quarter of what she would make without the ban.

Policymakers focus on tenant voting numbers and corporate interests, and they ignore the social contributions and rights of mom-and-pop landlords, Lopez-King told the council before the vote. We are forced to bear the cost of tenant cost issues and the citys homelessness crisis.

Meanwhile, dozens of tenant rights groups spoke in support of the extension at the meeting.

While approving the extension, some councilors also agreed that there needs to be more nuance when creating policies that might negatively impact small rental property owners.

Like the City of Los Angeles, some municipalitiessuch as Los Angeles County, Alameda County, the City of San Diego, and the City of San Franciscostill have theirs in place though the states eviction ban already expired on June 30.

Whats happening in [Los Angeles] is really just a small part of whats happening throughout the state, Johnathon Madison, who chairs the Alameda County Bar Associations real estate section, told The Epoch Times.

He said tenants often dont have to show proof of financial hardship when applying for rent relief, and many Californian landlords havent received any financial assistance from the state.

If youre lying, nobodys going to check, you know, check your taxes or anything. So, you may have a situation where there are somenot all, obviouslytenants out there who are really taking advantage of the system, he said.

According to the City of Los Angeles, tenants eligible for eviction protection are those who experienced COVID-related loss of income including reduced work hours, childcare, and medical expenses.

Also, the protection doesnt absolve tenants from paying rent indefinitely since they must pay back the amount owed within a time period permitted by their local governments.

Apartment buildings in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan 6, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Madison works with the California Apartment Association, which filed a lawsuit against the Alameda County Board of Supervisors July 18 because the county refuses to lift the ongoing eviction ban that violated landlords constitutional rights, according to the association.

The board rejected the following week a proposal to discuss changing their moratorium, which will expire 60 days after the end of its local health emergency.

According to court documents, theres one tenant who has paid nothing since January 2020, owing at least $58,000 for 16 months of rent.

Someone must pay the rent, or many housing providers will lose their property, Tom Bannon, CEO of the apartment association said in a statement last month. Evictions are the last resort, but after two years of some residents not paying rent, nothing remains for many rental property owners to do.

As most pandemic restrictions are phasing out across the state, the eviction ban is no longer justifiable, said Debra Carlton, the apartment associations executive vice president of state public affairs.

Its been more than two years now, Carlton said in the statement. Most eligible Californians are vaccinated, and people are back to work. Its time to put COVID eviction moratoria behind us and get back to paying the rent on time.

A victory for San Francisco landlords came July 28 when a superior court judge struck down attempts to change the 3-day eviction notice period to 10 days for nonpaying tenants.

The original provision of the law that upholds the 3-day period will remain, while 10-day notices will be used for other violations of a lease.
This 2009 colourized 8000X electron micrograph image provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows a large grouping of Gram-negative Legionella pneumophila bacteria. (The Canadian Press/AP/Janice Haney Carr)

Montreal Public Health Investigating After Man Dies From Legionnaires Disease

Montreal public health officials say they are investigating a deadly case of legionnaires disease in the citys east end to see if it is linked to two other cases detected in the area.

The citys public health department said today that the investigation will target water cooling towers in the area.

The victim was only identified as a man.

Last year, two people died after an outbreak of legionnaires disease in an adjacent area.

The public health department says 27 cases of legionnaires disease, which is caused by bacteria, have been detected in the city so far this year, and that 52 cases were detected last year.

The disease can cause fever, cough, shortness of breath and aches and pains, and it can be fatal in roughly 10 to 15 percent of cases.
New Guidance to Curb Anti-Western Gender Ideology in British Schools: Attorney General

The British governments top legal advisor says she will issue new guidance to prevent schools from practicing what she called anti-Western gender dogma.

Anti-Western pseudo-scientists have spawned a new category in which our characteristics form a hierarchy of oppression, Attorney General Suella Braverman said in a speech today.

Braverman said that the rise in transgenderism in recent yearswhich has no prior historysuggests that something is going on other than gender self-expression.

Schools are indoctrinating children into a one-sided controversial view, Braverman said in a speech to the Policy Exchange, a think tank, on Aug. 10, 2022.

Braverman called on parents to fight back against the teaching of gender identity theory in schools.

No child should be made to feel disadvantaged for questioning what they are taught.

Braverman set out the process by which the Equality Act must be upheld.

Braverman explained The Department for Education is in the process of issuing detailed and practical guidance which will set out the framework under which schools must operate.

I am setting out the legal breach for them [The Department for Education], Braverman said.

That guidance must be applied and it must be clear and when it is not being applied OFSTED must step in.

OFSTED is the government body that inspects schools to make sure that they are meeting standards and providing a good quality of education.

Braverman set out a series of matters that are permitted under the Equality Act.

Yes, it is lawful for a single-sex school to refuse to admit a child of the opposite biological sex, she said.

Yes, it is lawful for a mixed school to refuse to allow a biologically and legally male child from using the girls toilet she said. If the school did allow a trans-girl to use the girls toilet, this might be unlawful indirect discrimination against the female children.

In Britain, the conservative government does not recognise gender self-identification. And under-18s are unable to obtain a gender recognition certificate.

It is wrong for schools to suggest they have a legal obligation which means they must address children by their preferred pronouns or names, she said.

Braverman has been the attorney-general for England and Wales since 2020. She sits in the cabinet but is not a part of it. Scotland has a separate legal system. Northern Ireland comes under the remit of England and Wales.

Braverman was the first person to put her name forward as a candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party.

She was knocked out of the leadership race early, but she has urged her supporters to back Liz Truss especially on the issue on identity politics.

Liz has been very forthright and commonsensical when it comes to identity politics, thats why I am supporting her, Braverman told GB News.

Maya Forstater, a business and international development researcher who took a stance against gender critical theory welcomed Bravermans speech.

Forstater got clarification from Braverman that school leaders and local councils who have already adopted the gender ideology will have to abide by the new guidance.
A team of doctors has alerted the medical world to the danger of artery blockage from COVID vaccination with a new case report, published on August 5, 2022 in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.

The case report describes how their patient, 67 years old, started to feel short of breath two days after getting the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19. Then, while doing some yard work, he could not catch his breath, even after resting for half an hour. So he went to the emergency room.

The ER doctors found that this patients heart was racing, and that one of his legs had started to swell. His blood pressure was abnormally high. A blood test to assess his troponin levels revealed abnormally high troponin as well. Troponin is a type of protein found in the heart muscles. When the heart muscles are damaged, from a heart attack or other stress on the heart, troponin is released into the blood stream.

A cardiologist was called in, and the patient was admitted to the hospital. Given how bad his test results were, the doctors speculated that he would have had dismal outcome if urgent treatment had not been initiated.

In other words, if he had not gone to the ER to receive immediate treatment, he likely would have died.

Pulmonary Embolism Post Vaccination

A CT scan further showed the doctors that the patient had a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism is a significant blood clot in a major artery leading from the heart to the lungs, cutting off blood flow. His kidneys were also acutely affected by the embolism.

Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism range from shortness of breath, to an abnormally high heart rate (tachycardia), leg swelling (like the patient in this case study had), to sudden death.

This patient was also found to have another clot, a deep vein thrombosis, in his calf. It was this clot that was causing his leg to swell.

Catheter Surgery

The doctors acted quickly to give him blood thinners and prepare him for catheter surgery. They snaked a catheter through his neck into his heart in order to remove the clot.

A few days in the hospital following his surgery, the patient seemed to have fully recovered.

Since this 67-year-old man had no risk factors or previous history of thrombosis, and he had recently had a Pfizer vaccine, the medical team suspected vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

Minnesota Dentist Suffers Vaccine-Induced Pulmonary Embolism

As a health care provider, Doug Trebtoske felt he had to set a good example by getting all the recommended COVID-19 vaccines.

Trebtoske, a dentist based in Rochester, Minnesota, told The Epoch Times that, while he did not force his employees to get vaccinated, he blindly accepted the CDC position on vaccination.

He was keen on the vaccination because a relative by marriage, who, like Trebtoske, was 68 years old and in good health, died from COVID-19 a month before the vaccines became available.

But after the third Pfizer vaccination, which he received in September 2021, Trebtoske developed a bad cough. He went to urgent care 30 days after this third vaccination because he was experiencing severe rib pain. The pain was unreal, like someone was sticking a knife in my chest, he said.

The doctors were not sure what was wrong with him but in early November he was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism and two broken ribs. He has been hospitalized twice since then, and undergone two rib surgeries.

Trebtoske and his general practitioner both believe that the pulmonary embolism was vaccine induced thrombosis thrombocytopenia from the third dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccine-induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia

When someone has vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, or VITT, they usually present with blood clots in a vein or an artery (which can cause swelling in one leg, chest pain, or body numbness) as well as with a low platelet count in the blood, according to the American College of Cardiology.

Both thrombosis and thrombocytopenia can be life-threatening.

Dr. Kenji Yamamoto, a cardiovascular surgeon who works at Okamura Memorial Hospital in Shizuoka, Japan, has recorded a significant rise in vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia since COVID-19 vaccination began. Because of the dangers of VITT, Yamamoto believes that the vaccination booster program should be halted.

The media have so far concealed the adverse events of vaccine administration, such as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), owing to biased propaganda, Yamamoto wrote in a letter published in the journal Virology on June 5, 2022.

Post Vaccination Blood Disorders in Previously Healthy Individuals

Soon after the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines in Europe, hematologists began observing previously healthy young individuals present with severe, extensive thrombosis, according to an article in the journal Blood. Unlike most cases of thrombosis, there was associated thrombocytopenia, and no predisposing thrombotic risk factors.

These cases were thought to be linked mainly to the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was widely available in Europe but not in the United States.

Over 70 percent of the young people who got VITT, the onset of which was usually between five and 30 days after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, died.

More than a dozen other peer-reviewed scientific articles have also discussed this vaccine side effect, with doctors recommending protocols to diagnose VITT, as well as publishing case reports from Thailand, India, and several other countries.

Five months after the AstraZeneca vaccine was first made available, at least 242 clotting cases and 49 vaccine deaths in younger healthy adults had been reported in the United Kingdom, according to the BBC.

In May 2021, the United Kingdom began recommending that adults between the ages of 18 and 39 be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Then, in October 2021, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study of some 220 cases in the United Kingdom of thrombosis that were found to be vaccine-induced.

These patients developed clots mostly in their lungs (the pulmonary arteries) and their legs, as the Pfizer patient had.

Although VITT had been seen most often following administration of the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, other reports have found vaccine-associated thrombosis following Moderna and Pfizer vaccination as well.

For some people, vaccination induces a prothrombotic state in which the blood levels of the bloods clotting cells are disrupted, raising the likelihood of clots forming in the blood vessels.

As the authors of the current case study point out, there were other early warning articles in the scientific literature. A team of six Austrian doctors also published about thrombosis following COVID-19 vaccination in the New England Journal of Medicine, as did a team of Norwegian doctors.

In November 2021, an analysis in the journal Vaccines showed that in just four months in 2021, there were 729,496 adverse events, of which 3,420 were thrombotic; 63 of those affected died: six had had a Moderna vaccine, 25 a Pfizer vaccine, and 32 the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.

Denying the Connection

Several doctors at the Mayo Clinic, however, have told Doug Trebtoske, the dentist from Minnesota, that there is no connection between the lung problems he has had and the COVID-19 vaccines. Instead, he said, they diagnosed him with pulmonary embolism of undetermined origin.

Its been nine months since he got his third Pfizer vaccine. Trebtoske is still unwell; he can no longer work. He had to sell his dental practice and he isnt able to dance anymore. Hes considering yet another major surgery to fix a persistent problem with his ribs that was caused by the pulmonary embolism.

Whats more, hes tested positive for COVID-19 twice despite having had three vaccines.

If he had to do it again, hes not sure he would make the same vaccine choices.

I probably would have been better off not to have gotten the vaccinations, personally, he said. I feel my body over-reacts to the vaccine, and thats why I got the blood clots. My family physician feels the same way.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
NYC Opens 11 Emergency Hotels to Handle Influx of Illegal Immigrants

New York City is turning to emergency hotels to handle an influx of illegal immigrants that has arrived in recent months, officials have said.

Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins said on Aug. 9 during testimony at an emergency City Council hearing that the city has opened 11 hotels to accommodate the increased number of immigrants.

Jenkins noted that New York is a right-to-shelter city and is thus legally and morally obligated to provide temporary housing to individuals who need a place to stay.

The influx of asylum-seekers definitely put a strain [on the system], and thats why we had to pivot to open up emergency hotels. To date, weve opened 11, he said. Were legally and morally mandated to have temporary housing to those who present to us.

Meanwhile, 68 illegal aliens arrived between Aug. 5 and Aug. 7 on buses from Texas that were chartered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, at a time when there is currently a 1 percent vacancy rate in the citys emergency shelter system, according to the Office of Immigrant Affairs.

Another bus arrived on Aug. 9, while three more had been expected on Aug. 10, the council said.

While immigration isnt a new phenomenon for New York, officials said on Aug. 9 that the rate at which illegal aliens are entering the city has now reached unprecedented levels.

The city began to see an increase in immigrants beginning in May, and just over 4,000 immigrants have arrived since then, officials said. Currently, there are nearly 17,000 people in the emergency shelter system, Jenkins said, including 8,800 children.

A large group of illegal aliens boards a bus bound for the Border Patrol processing facility after being apprehended by Border Patrol near McAllen, Texas, on April 18, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Taking Aim at Abbott

New York officials took aim at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over the recent influx in illegal immigrants.

What is new now is the systematic diversion of asylum seekers and immigrants to New York City by external forces, including by the disgusting, cruel, and cowardly actions of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is forcibly busing asylum seekers to the city, Immigration Affairs Commissioner Manuel Castro told the City Council.

Large amounts of documentation accompanying the immigrants have random or incorrect New York city addresses listed as the immigrants address, Castro also said.

How these addresses came to be included in the documents is yet to be fully determined, Castro said. We continue to ask federal authorities to provide us with clarity on this matter.

He also claimed that large numbers of the immigrants arriving in the city had families in other cities and states, and didnt actually want to be in New York but had been bused there anyway.

The Aug. 9 emergency meeting came after Abbott announced the arrival of the first group of illegal immigrants who were bused to New York City from Texas, as part of the governors response to what he calls the Biden administrations open border policies overwhelming Texas communities.

Because of President [Joe] Bidens continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the state of Texas has had to take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe, Abbott said in a statement.

In addition to Washington, D.C., New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city. I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, flanked by state and local law enforcement officials, speaks to media in Eagle Pass, Texas, on June 29, 2022. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

We Are Going to Send the Right Message

Adams announced an emergency procurement declaration on Aug. 1, which enables New York to quickly expand its shelter system.

However, Adams took aim at the Texas governors handling of the influx of immigrants into Texas and the pressure it has put on the city, telling reporters on Aug. 9, This is horrific when you think about what the governor is doing, the governor of Texas, after months of traveling across the border, placing them on the bus with no direction.

When you think about this country, a country that has always been open to those who are fleeing persecution and other intolerable conditions, weve always welcomed that, Adams added. This governor is not doing that in Texas, but we are going to send the right message, the right tone, of being here for these families.

However, during the hearing, Council member Lincoln Restler questioned whether the recent strain on the citys shelter system is actually owing to the increased number of immigrants or rather that the system is already overwhelmed because of the end of the states eviction moratorium in the spring.

The eviction moratorium, which was put in place during the COVID pandemic, had prevented landlords from filing new eviction cases or proceeding with pending cases through January this year for tenants who signed a hardship declaration form.

I have to say, it remains unclear to me whether the increase in the shelter census is being driven by the asylum-seekers or whether the increase in the shelter census is being attributed to some people needing assistance who are coming from abroad, Restler said. And I really hope that we can get clearer data to understand whats happening. My strong suspicion is that were experiencing an increase in the daily children census as a result of the eviction moratorium ending and the regular spike that we see in the summer months.

Council Speaker Adrienne Adams this week called on Adamss administration to provide accountability, transparency, and answers regarding New Yorks longstanding shelter issues and the recent uptick in immigrants.
A general view of the coat of arms at the Supreme Court in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 12, 2019. (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

New Zealand Consent Laws Under Scrutiny After Judge Says Minors Can Have Consensual Relationships

The trial of a man found guilty of 33 child sexual abuse charges has placed New Zealands little-known law that a person under 16 can give consent for sex under scrutiny spurring calls for the government to amend the laws.

Tulisi Leiataua was found guilty by a New Zealand jury of sexual abusing two girls aged eight and 12 over a four-year period from 2010 to 2014. However, during his defence Leiataua argued that he was having a sexual relationship with the 12-year-old and denied allegations of rape, indecent acts, and sexual violations.

Additionally, Leiataua argued that the relationship had been consensual as she was the one who had pursued him, according to the NZ Herald.

All allegations in relation to the younger girl were denied.

However, New Zealanders have become upset after Judge Richard Earwaker explained to the jury that according to the laws around consent, in New Zealand a person under the age of 16 could agree to enter into a consensual sexual relationship.

Legally, a person under 16 cannot give consent for charges of indecent acts, therefore, as a jury, all you need to decide is if the indecent acts took place, he said.

But as for sexual intercourse, a person under 16 can give consent. You need to consider whether or not the consent was given based on the evidence you have. Remember, an adult cannot give consent to a minor, in fact, nobody can give consent for somebody else.

Law in Urgent Need of Amendment

Advocates have called on the Ardern government to review the laws around consent to protect children who are victims of sexual abuse.

Kathryn McPhillips, executive director for HELP Auckland, said New Zealand urgently needed to amend the consent law to clarify that children cannot be considered to have consented to sexual activity with an adult.

As it stands, New Zealand law allows adults to accuse children of having consented to sex if the charge against the adult is a sexual violation, she said. Sexual behaviour between adults and children is always the responsibility of the adult, and children hold no blame for what is done to them.

McPhillips noted that a report from the chief victims advisor, which provides independent advice to the minister of justice about victim issues, suggested that some defence lawyers have been using this law against children as young as six-years-old (pdf).

The report also explored how judicial processes in child and adolescent sexual violence complaints were distressing for young people.

Aggressive cross-examination, where the credibility of the young persons claims is fiercely challenged by defence lawyers, was found to be the most distressing aspect.

They confused [my son]. They confused him on purpose. The lawyer for the defence was telling him that he was wrong, that what he was saying was not true  It seemed like the case came down to being able to successfully confuse the children enough to get a paedophile off a charge, one parent alleged.

Justice Minister Kiri Allen told Open Justice that she had sought advice on consent law.

Leiataua will be sentenced in September.
US Department of Homeland Security emblem is pictured at the National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) located just outside Washington in Arlington, Virginia, on Sept. 24, 2010. (Reuters/Hyungwon Kang)

No Choice: Saskatoon Woman Arrested in US Says She Fled With Son out of Fear

A woman accused of faking her own death and that of her son says she left Saskatoon because she feared for their safety.

Dawn Marie Walker, 48, is in custody at the Multnomah County detention centre in Oregon.

She was arrested Friday in Oregon City by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and charged with two offences for allegedly using fake identities to cross into the country with her seven-year-old son. The boy has since been returned to Canada.

So many women and children before us have had to run for their lives to protect their children, Walker said in a statement provided to The Canadian Press.

Saskatchewan lawyer Eleanore Sunchild spoke with Walker on Monday and dictated Walkers words.

In the statement, Walker said she was failed by the Saskatchewan justice system because nothing was done after she reported domestic abuse to police and child protection authorities.

She said she witnessed something with her son that scared her to the core and she has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She said more information will come out in time.

I apologize to anyone I hurt, Walker said.

I was left with no choice. No one heard me. I loved my son  very much. He is my only child, and I would do absolutely anything for him.

For two weeks prior, RCMP and Saskatoon police investigated the disappearance as a missing persons case. Walkers pickup truck was found at a park south of Saskatoon, along with some of her belongings, and some people feared Walker and her son had drowned in the South Saskatchewan River.

Walker, chief executive officer for the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, is also an author.

On Monday, Saskatoon police announced they were working to extradite Walker back to Canada where she faces charges of public mischief and child abduction in contravention of a custody order.

Deputy Chief Randy Huisman said allegations of domestic violence may or may not play a role in their investigation of Walker.

Any potential or any previous allegations made by Dawn Walker were thoroughly investigated and no charges resulted as a result of those investigations, said Huisman.

The father of Walkers son could not be reached for comment. But he told Saskatoon radio station CKOM last week that he would never hurt Walker or their son.

Theres no truth to any of that, and thats all I can say, the father said.

An affidavit filed in Oregon court from Clinton Lindsly, a special agent with Homeland Security, says Walker and the boys biological father had been engaged in a lengthy custody dispute and she was supposed to return the child on July 25.

The document and other court records also accuse Walker of coming up with an elaborate scheme to fake the deaths, including stealing the identities of a co-worker and the co-workers child to open a bank account, buy an SUV and drive across the border.

The documents say officers also found a hand-written checklist in Walkers SUV about dying hair, covering tattoos and throwing a phone in the water.

Walker said police only cared when they thought I was dead.

When she returns to Canada, she said, she has a story to tell.

I am an fighting systems that continuously fail to protect me as an Indigenous woman and protect non-Indigenous men, Walker said in her statement.

Federal prosecutors in the U.S. said they want Walker to remain in custody until a trial. She has been detained as a flight-risk until her next court appearance on Sept. 7.

U.S. public defender Lisa Hay, who is helping represent Walker, declined to comment, adding clients are advised not to speak about their case outside the courtroom.

By Mickey Djuric and Kelly Geraldine Malone
Ships are moored next to the 5-mile long West Sea Barrage, a system of dams, lock chambers, and sluices that close off the Taedong River from the Yellow Sea in Nampo, North Korea, on Feb. 7, 2019. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

North Korea Repeatedly Released Dam Waters Without Warning: South Korean Official

North Korea has repeatedly released water from a dam near its border with South Korea without giving prior notice, which is a requirement of the two nations inter-Korean agreement, according to a South Korean official.

Pyongyang released water from the Hwanggang Dam to adjust the water level and alleviate the heavy rainfall, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a South Korean government official.

As rain has fallen heavily in North Korea, the North is repeatedly opening and closing the floodgate of Hwanggang Dam, the official said.

The Hwanggang Dam is located about 26 miles (42 kilometers) north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone. According to the report, the possible damage from the water release remains minimal in South Korea.

The official said that South Korean authorities would closely monitor the situation following the heavy rain in North Korea, with measures being established in cooperation with government agencies and the military.

The two countries signed an inter-Korean agreement in October 2009 after North Koreas water release from the dam resulted in flooding downstream that killed six South Koreans in Yeoncheon County.

The South Korean government has repeatedly urged North Korea to give notice before releasing water from the dam, citing possible damage and danger, but Pyongyang has remained unresponsive.

In July, the water level at a bridge on the river in Yeoncheon County reached over 3 feet as a result of North Koreas water release from the dam, prompting South Korean authorities to evacuate visitors on the riverbank.

Yeoncheon County issued alert messages to nearby residents, warning them to move to a safe area until the water level decreased. It did not specify how many people were evacuated at the time.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Northern Territory Voids Remote Communities $70 Million Rental Debt After Houses Found Not Habitable

The Northern Territory government has cancelled almost $70 million (US448.8 million) in rental debt for remote Indigenous communities amid allegations the housing is not up to scratch.

Treasurer Eva Lawler, in late June, scrapped the debt following court action by Aboriginal residents at Laramba and Santa Teresa in central Australia, near Alice Springs, not-for-profit litigators Grata Fund says.

Details about the decision were heard in a recent NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing that ended last week.

The effect of the determination is that remote rent debts prior to 30 June 2019 were written off under section 35 subsection 1 of the Financial Management Act, Lauren Tattersall, a lawyer for Territory Families, Housing and Communities, said from the witness box.

Remote rent debts after 1 July 2019 were waived pursuant to section 35, subsection 2 of the Financial Management Act.

The determination is a big win for Aboriginal residents in Laramba and Santa Teresa, who started legal action against the NT government over the poor quality of rental homes in their communities five years ago.

In addition to having no choice but to rent houses which are inhumane, Aboriginal people in remote communities have also had to contend with the accusations of rental debts, Dan Kelly, a lawyer for Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights, said.

The Santa Teresas unpaid rent came to light in a counterclaim launched by Territory Families, Housing and Communities against residents in 2019.

The tribunal later dismissed the case due to a lack of evidence about how the debts of about $20,000 per household were calculated.

It was extremely distressing for the people living in Santa Teresa, who were simply seeking to have their rental homes repaired to the legal standard, Kelly said.

The problem arose due to the complexity of the rental system, and poor record keeping and administration by the department.

Kelly said the residents maintained they paid their rent and had no knowledge of the debt until they took legal action to try and improve their living conditions.

Grata Fund said that questions remain about the Territory Families, Housing and Communities record keeping and the way the $69.7 million debt was calculated.

It has also highlighted the $800,000 allegedly spent by the NT government over the past 2.5 years fighting the Laramba and Santa Teresa residents in court.

In a statement, the department said the Remote Rent Framework had now replaced the previous system that was confusing for tenants and challenging to administer.

The framework is simple, easy to understand and has built-in safeguards to protect people from rental stress should the rent tenants pay exceed 25 per cent of household income, a spokesman said.

Work on the new system started in 2018 with key stakeholders, including a working group with leaders from the housing sector.

Tenancy officers have gone door-to-door across more than 80 communities to provide information to tenants about the new framework, the spokesman said.

This consultation included letting tenants know they no longer need to pay bond and that any historic rental debt up to 11 December 2021 would not be pursued.
Officer Ashley Poellnitz spotted the brown Toyota run a stop sign and take off in a hurry. She sped after the offender and flashed her blue lights on Green Springs Avenue. When the car came to a stop in front of her, she called in the tag number with confidence mixed with anticipation. Pulling over a motorist is one of the most dangerous events for a police officer.

She walked over to the cars open window staying a couple of feet behind. After she obtained the drivers license and registration, she walked back to her car, the entire time glancing backward.

You never know when the situation will go sideways, and you have to be on your toes the entire time, Poellnitz said. She proceeded to write the speeding warning. Im letting them go with a warning since their record was clean.

The ten-hour shift for Officer Poellnitz and all 83 officers in the Homewood Police Department includes many tasks, including driving around in their assigned areas and keeping a watch on things.

(Karim Shamsi-Basha for American Essence)

Sgt. John Carr is the immediate supervisor for Officer Poellnitz. Homewood is an interesting town. We have around 25,000 residents, but that number goes up to 125,000 during the day. Its a commuter city, and that draws in many people, Sgt. Carr said. We get a lot of property crimes like vehicle and residential robberies. Crime goes in waves, but our officers are always ready.

Officer Poellnitz has been in the Homewood Police Department since 2004. She just returned to patrol after spending five years as a Resource Officer at Homewood Middle School. Liking all facets of her job, she mostly appreciates helping the citizens.

I have loved it more than I expected. Its been a great career. Most calls turn out ok, but you never walk away from a bad call and think, today was a good day. When you help a citizen, it feels rewarding, Poellnitz said. Being a School Resource Officer was incredibly gratifying. We talked to the kids all day, and they asked about life decisions. I made wonderful relationships at the school.

After returning to patrol this past January, she was assigned the area of downtown Homewood along with a few residential streets to keep safe.

On occasion, Ill walk downtown and talk to the shop owners. Its good to let them know were out here, Poellnitz said. I like patrolling my neighborhood and knowing that when I go home, I did my best.

(Karim Shamsi-Basha for American Essence)

Most days, Officer Poellnitz does not encounter any dangerous situations, but she does find herself in the middle of one occasionally.

About ten years ago, I got a domestic call that a male has stabbed his girlfriend. I was pulling up into the parking lot when I saw this van pull out in a hurry. I followed him, and he took off. I was in a chase all by myself. He wrecked, and we began a foot chase. Then he crossed train tracks and barely got away. We did catch him later, Poellnitz said. When youre by yourself like that, it can be tense. I had called for backup, but I was moving too fast for them to catch up.

Officer Poellnitz has had to pull her gun plenty of times, and shes been in fights where the suspects try to flee. Trained well in garbling and other ways to subdue an assailant, she encounters about fifteen to twenty physical altercations a year. On top of things, being a female results in the assailants thinking they can win. Thankfully, she has spent plenty of training hours taking on much bigger guys.

It comes with being a female; many suspects try to get out while Im arresting them. When I train, I ask to test on the biggest guy in the class. Women have better luck with ground grabbling, but I have been struck a few times, once resulting in a concussion, Poellnitz said.

(Karim Shamsi-Basha for American Essence)

The thought of preventing crime is always on her mind. One of my first years as a School Resource officer, I found some classrooms doors that opened out, where students would not be able to barricade in case of an intruder. I asked the Homewood Police Foundation to buy lockdown bars for those doors, Poellnitz said. The Homewood Police Foundation is there to support the police department. They do a great job in helping us every year with many projects.

One of the most challenging tasks Officer Poellnitz encounters is dealing with victims. They have trained us to treat each victim like a family member. It may be the tenth call we get during a day, and we may be worn out by then, but its their first. Ive always tried to think of that.

A voice blared through Officer Poellnitzs car radio about a robbery in her area. The call was near the end of her shift and her nineteenth for the day, but she was well aware that it was the victims first.
The Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army fires live missiles into the waters near Taiwan from an undisclosed location in China on Aug. 4, 2022. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters)

Ottawa Keeps Its China Policy Deliberately Obscure, Experts Say

The Liberal government is deliberately keeping its China policy obscure, but with Beijing flexing its muscles in the Indo-Pacific it is important to take concrete action to strengthen defence in the region, say experts.

Terry Russell, a senior scholar at the Asian Studies Centre at the University of Manitoba, says Canada lacks a clear China policy and is being deliberately obscure on the issue out of a desire to maintain business relationships with Beijing. However, the federal government is aware of the publics disapproval of the regimes many human rights violations, he said.

The government of Justin Trudeau is aware that most Canadians are very suspicious of China and not supportive of leaning further, deepening engagement with China, without some sort of corresponding attention to human rights and rules-based order in the international sphere, Russell told The Epoch Times.

But the Liberal government is heavily indebted to and reliant on some very large businesses interests that have a lot of dealings in China, and they dont want to endanger those businesses, he added.

So its a kind of balancing act for the Liberals, because they have to, on the one hand, respond to Canadian popular sentiment, which is generally hostile to China, but on the other hand, theyre very intent on keeping [Chinas] business support. So I think in many ways its deliberate that the Canadian China policy is not very clear.

While the government can be critical of Beijings transgressions, it hasnt done nearly enough to call out the regime and demand better, Russell says.

The government, and especially Justin Trudeau, are happy to make statements about how they disagree with and condemn Chinas treatment of Uyghurs and the situation in Hong Kong, and generally the human rights situation in China, but they really havent taken a lot of action in terms of trying to do something tangible to demonstrate to China that they really arent happy about these situations.

Riot police deploy pepper spray toward journalists as protesters gathered for a rally against a new national security law in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020, on the 23rd anniversary of the citys handover from Britain to China. (Dale De La Rey/AFP via Getty Images)

Like Russell, Julian Spencer-Churchill, an associate professor of political science at Concordia University, says the Liberal government is definitely unclear and deliberately obscure on its China policy.

The Canadian government and the Liberal Party is deliberately obscuring the [China] policy because they want to get the votes, he told The Epoch Times. Theyre avoiding the issue because they get votes from ambiguity.

Spencer-Churchill also says the Liberal government has an anti-military agenda. Compared to its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Canadas military expenditure is incredibly small, and as a Pacific power, it is not doing its part to deter countries like China.

Canada is a classic, lazy isolationist. We just dont want to pay for it, he said.

Defence in the Indo-Pacific

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is tasked with developing and launching a comprehensive Indo-Pacific Strategy to deepen [Canadas] diplomatic, economic and defence partnerships and international assistance in the region, according to her mandate letter.

That task presents considerable challenges, as China has been making increasingly aggressive territorial claims in the region. Most recently, Beijing initiated economic sanctions against Taiwan following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to the self-ruled island. The regime has also been escalating military exercises in the region, including firing missiles into the Pacific Ocean near Taiwans east coast.

Chinese fighter jets fly near Taiwan, in a still from a video released by Chinese state-run media CCTV on Aug. 7, 2022. (CCTV via Reuters/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

In response, Canada should take action to strengthen ties with democratic countries in the region and ramp up defences against China, Spencer-Churchill says.

What should Canada do? It should have a deterrent policy. Canada should identify countries that have similar values and or are strategically important. Taiwan is strategically important. If China gets Taiwan, it can then deploy its fleet aggressively, he said.

Spencer-Churchill said Canada should immediately deploy its air force and navy to Taiwan and secure the ports with naval ships and submarines to deter Beijing from crossing the Taiwan Strait. He also urged the federal government to initiate negotiations with the Philippines, which is strategically important, pointing to efforts being taken by the U.S. and Australian governments.

Russell suggests sending high-level parliamentary delegates or federal ministers to Taiwan to signal support. He also recommends imposing Magnitsky sanctions against certain officials in the Chinese Communist Party for human rights violations.

Not on Chinas Conditions

The Canada-China relationship soured following the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, senior executive of Chinese telecom giant Huawei, in December 2019 on a U.S. warrant to have her extradited on bank fraud charges.

Shortly after Meng was taken into custody, Beijing detained Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor for alleged espionage activities. After spending more than 1,000 days in detention, the two men were released and returned to Canada on Sept. 25, 2021. Their release came after the United States worked out a deferred prosecution agreement on the Meng case, allowing her to fly back to China a day earlier.

Former diplomat Michael Kovrig embraces his wife Vina Nadjibulla upon his arrival at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Sept. 25, 2021. (DND-MDN Canada/Cpl. Justin Dreimanis)

Russell says he doesnt think Ottawa should be rushing to rekindle Canada-China relations just yet.

I dont think its time to do that yet at all because it seems pretty clear that China doesnt feel like it really has done anything wrong in taking the two Michaels as hostages, he said.

It would be good if Canada were to wait awhile and let China think about what has happened rather than rushing into sort of some apologetic position and trying to rebuild the relationship.  I dont think its appropriate at all.

Jacob Kovalio, an associate professor specializing in Asian international relations at Carleton University, said the government has been trying very desperately to get back to some kind of being in Chinas graces after the Meng affair, pointing to Jolys call in May for the two countries to re-establish ties.

However, given Beijings aggression in the Indo-Pacific, he says Canada should think twice.

As long as China engages in what I fundamentally consider to be aggressive foreign policy vis-a-vis just about everybody in IndoPacific which doesnt follow Chinas preferences, we should never even consider going back to some kind of normality in our relationship, and that includes the trade issue, Kovalio said in an interview.

We have to constantly be engaging China, but not on Chinas conditions, and make sure that we defend our national, economic, technological, and of course, trade interests. That is only the kind of very manifold approach that makes any sense.
A close-up of an Ottawa Police officers badge is seen on April 28, 2022 in Ottawa. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Ottawa Police Officer Faces Misconduct Charge for Probing Potential Link Between Childrens Death and Parents Vaccination Status

An Ottawa police officer is facing charges of discreditable conduct for undertaking unauthorized investigations into the possible connections between the deaths of nine children or infants and their parents COVID-19 vaccination statuses.

Between June 2020 and January 2022, Constable Helen Grus allegedly self-initiated an unauthorized project to probe those death cases, according to a notice of disciplinary hearing issued by the Ottawa Police Services (OPS) professional standards unit.

You did, without lawful excuse, act in a disorderly manner or in a manner prejudicial to discipline or likely to bring discredit upon the reputation of the Ottawa Police Service (OPS), in that you self-initiated an unauthorized project, wherein you accessed nine child and/or infant death cases in which you had no investigative role/responsibility, and failed to then record your involvement or findings in the files, says the document, dated July 26.

On Jan. 30, 2022, Grus allegedly contacted the father of a deceased infant and inquired about the mothers vaccination status, without the lead detectives knowledge.

Grus, a detective with the OPSs sexual assault and child abuse (SACA) unit, has been suspended with pay since February.

The OPS declined to further comment on the ongoing issue involving the Police Service Act.

Grus was ordered to appear in a disciplinary hearing on Aug. 8 via teleconference.

The provincial coroner and the police are tasked with investigating when an infant dies unexpectedly, without explanation, or from unnatural causes.

Police On Guard for Thee, an advocacy group representing active duty and retired police officers, said in a news release on Aug. 9 that as a member of the SACA unit, Grus is mandated to investigate all sudden and unexpected child deaths of children under the age of five.

As police officers it is incumbent on us to investigate all avenues of potential cause of death, the group said.

The Epoch Times reached out to the police group for comment but didnt hear back by publication time.
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attends a press conference at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Richard A. Brooks/AFP via Getty Images)

Pelosi: We Will Not Allow China to Isolate Taiwan

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says the United States wont allow the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to isolate Taiwan from the world and that the CCP is attempting to unilaterally change the status quo regarding the island.

We will not allow China to isolate Taiwan, Pelosi said during a press conference on Aug. 10.

The comments come a week after a controversial visit by the House speaker to Taiwan, which CCP authorities used as justification to begin unprecedented military exercises in the seas and skies around the island.

Pelosi said that the CCP was manufacturing a crisis over her visit to Taiwan as a pretext to intensify its ongoing campaign of intimidation and harassment against Taiwan.

The CCP maintains that Taiwan is a rogue province of China and has vowed to unite the island with China, by force if necessary. Democratic Taiwan has been self-governed since 1949, however, and has never been controlled by the CCP.

The United States and China maintain assurances that neither side will attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion.

Pelosi noted that previous congressional delegations to Taiwan didnt elicit the overbearing response from the CCP that her delegation suddenly did. To that end, she framed her visit to the island within the larger struggle between democratic and authoritarian regimes.

Were talking about the struggle between democracy and autocracy, Pelosi said.

We didnt go there to talk about China. We went there to praise Taiwan, to say China cannot isolate Taiwan.

That was our purpose, to support this thriving democracy.

Pelosi said the CCPs aggression toward Taiwan was negatively affecting everyday Americans, and the strain on the international supply chain caused by Chinas de facto blockade of Taiwan would cause price increases for Americans.

When China does what it does in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea, it has an impact on Americas working families because you cannot tie up the waterway, Pelosi said. That just increases costs.

What we saw with China was they were trying to establish a new normal, Pelosi said, echoing comments from the White House. And we just cant let that happen.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), who was part of the delegation to Taiwan, also spoke at the press conference. Meeks praised the success of Taiwans democracy and market economy and underscored that the CCP is attempting to unilaterally create a new status quo regarding Taiwan.

In Taiwan, we saw people lined up and down the streets, over 250,000 people watching our flight land and the crowd in the streets saying thank you for coming, Meeks said.

It is not us who want to change the status quo. You see that coming from Beijing.

To that end, Meeks said that the sheer scale of Chinas joint military exercises around Taiwan demonstrated that the drills had been planned long before the delegations trip occurred.

Clearly, China had their plans before we took our trip, Meeks said. What they wanted to do was try to deter us from going to visit our friend and ally.

No matter what [CCP leader] Xi says, we are going to visit our friends and allies.
Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks to a crowd during an event sponsored by the Palmetto Family organization in Columbia, South Carolina, on April 29, 2021. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

Pence Slams FBI Raid on Trumps Mar-a-Lago as Continued Partisanship

Former Vice President Mike Pence condemned the FBI for continued partisanship after agents waged an unannounced search of his former bosss Florida home.

Former President Donald Trump, on his social media app Truth Social, said late on Aug. 8 that federal agents had raided his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, which was under siege. Agents left about 10 hours later with a handful of boxes of documents, said one of Trumps attorneys on the scene.

Yesterdays action undermines public confidence in our system of justice and Attorney General [Merrick] Garland must give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately, Pence said in a Twitter thread on Aug. 9.

After years where FBI agents were found to be acting on political motivation during our administration, the appearance of continued partisanship by the Justice Department must be addressed, his post reads.

A White House official told The Epoch Times via email that it was not informed ahead of time of the FBIs raid on Mar-a-Lago.

The former vice president said he shares the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented move by the agents.

No former President of the United States has ever been subject to a raid of their personal residence in American history, Pence said, adding voice to the chorus of Republican leaders and Trumps statement that nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before.

Yesterdays action undermines public confidence in our system of justice and Attorney General Garland must give a full accounting to the American people as to why this action was taken and he must do so immediately.  Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 9, 2022

Trump had called the raid on Aug. 8 evidence of prosecutorial misconduct and a weaponization of the Justice System, as the former president is gearing up for a widely expected presidential run in 2024.

The legal basis the FBI had for the raid remained unconfirmed, yet is most likely connected to an investigation regarding Trumps handling of official papers. The Trump family and his attorneys said the former president has been cooperative with government agencies since last year.

The FBI and DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Distance

Pence, the vice president who served as president of the Senate and presided over the joint session of Congress to count Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021, has faced criticism for certifying the 2020 general election results from those who dispute the results, including his former boss Trump.

Pence admitted in a June interview that he doesnt know if he and Trump will ever see eye to eye on my duties on Jan. 6. But, in the aftermath of that tragic day, we sat down, and we talked through it.  we parted very amicably. And we spoke in the months that followed us leaving office, he said.

And now, I think weve kind of gone our separate ways over the last year, but Ill always be proud of the record we created, Pence told Fox News.

Speculation grows about a Pence 2024 candidacy as he continues to deliver speeches, including one to a conference of young conservatives in Washington on Aug. 9. He declined in March to rule out running for president in 2024.
Recall Gascon Campaign Says County Failed to Follow Signature Verification Guidelines

A random sample of signatures collected by a campaign to recall Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon was not counted properly by the county registrars office, according to recall organizers.

The countys former district attorney Steve Cooley sent a letter on Aug. 8 to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, alleging that the registrars office did not follow proper guidelines when verifying signatures for the campaign during the random sampling last month.

The accusations came just a little over a month after the campaign submitted nearly 716,000 signatures to the registrars office on July 6 to be validated.

In a random sampling of about 5 percent, or 35,793, of the signatures, the clerk validated about 27,983, which was less than 31,179, the minimum for the recall petition to be automatically validated without full verification.

The recall needs at least 566,857 validated signatures of registered voters to get on the November ballot. Now, the office is examining every single signature and must complete the process within 30 days after the signatures were submitted.

One of the guidelines, Cooley said, is ensuring that voters signatures on the recall petitions match their signatures on file with the registrars office.

He said the recall campaign has strong evidence to believe the office didnt follow state guidelines during the random sampling because of the shockingly large rejection rate, which was around 22 percent. In the general election in November 2018, the rejection rate of vote-by-mail ballots for non-matching signatures was 2 percent, he said.

Then-Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley speaks during a news conference on Sept. 21, 2010. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The campaign has asked the office to find out which rejected signatures were verified to be non-matching, according to Cooley.

Under California law, he said, it is presumed that signatures on election petitions and ballots are matching and valid unless there is a reasonable doubt to believe otherwise.

He said he spoke to a registrar manager responsible for conducting both random sampling and full examination and discovered they were using outdated training materials from 2017 for signature verification.

Additionally, he said the public records provided by the office did not indicate whether it implemented any quality control measureslike hiring observersto eliminate bias or corruption during sampling.

Quality control measures are vital in the petition review process, Cooley said in the letter. Every signature represents a voter who supports the removal of District Attorney George Gascon. If this is in fact the case, this failure alone could have a significant impact on whether the petition is certified in todays divisive political climate.

According to Dean Logan, who oversees the county elections office, the verification process is highly regulated and follows state guidelines and regulations.

Once the process is complete and a determination on sufficiency is made, those same regulations provide the proponents the opportunity for review, if desired, Logan told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. Right now our focus is on completing the verification within the legal timelines with integrity and appropriate quality review.

Gascon, elected in December 2020 on a promise to provide bold criminal justice reform, has come under fire from opponents who say his policies have only created room for more criminal activities.

Some of his policies include no longer charging minors as adults, eliminating many sentencing enhancements such as firearms, ending the death penalty, and eliminating cash bail for misdemeanors or nonviolent felony crimes.

This is the second recall attempt against Gascon in the last two years. He was previously the district attorney of San Francisco before Chesa Boudin, who was recalled during the June 2022 primary election.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), joined by members of the House Freedom Caucus, speaks at a news conference on the infrastructure bill outside the Capitol Building in Washington, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Rep. Scott Perry Says FBI Seized His Cell Phone After Mar-a-Lago Raid

Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), an ally of President Donald Trump, says the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized his cellphone a day after it executed a search warrant at Trumps resort in Mar-a-Lago, Palm Breach.

This morning, while traveling with my family, three FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone, reads a statement from Perrys office. They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish.

Im outragedthough not surprisedthat the FBI under the direction of [Attorney General] Merrick Garlands [Department of Justice (DOJ)], would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress, the congressman said in the statement provided to The Epoch Times.

My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends. None of this is the governments business.

The seizure comes a day after the FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago property. It is not immediately clear if the move is related to the raid or the investigations of the Jan. 6 Committee, which has subpoenaed Perry.

As with President Trump last night, DOJ chose this unnecessary and aggressive action instead of simply contacting my attorneys, the statement from Perrys office reads. These kinds of banana republic tactics should concern every Citizenespecially considering the decision before Congress this week to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to further persecute law-abiding Citizens.

Trumps lawyer, Christina Bobb, told The Epoch Times on Tuesday that FBI agents were looking for what they deemed to be presidential records and seized documents from Trumps property.

We had been very cooperative with them before. And its unclear to me why they went to such drastic measures to do this. But they did. And as far as the probable cause goes, they wouldnt give that to us, she added.

The search warrant for the raid remains under seal. Trumps legal team plans to file a request to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to unseal the search warrant affidavit. If they are successful, the affidavit would show what probable cause authorities had established before executing the warrant.

We dont know what the probable cause is. I dont think there is a good cause to do such a drastic thing. But they did, Bobb said.

The National Archive Records Administration (NARA) said in February that Trumps representatives have been cooperating in transferring presidential records.

Throughout the course of the last year, NARA obtained the cooperation of Trump representatives to locate Presidential records that had not been transferred to the National Archives at the end of the Trump administration, the NARA said in a statement.

Trump, who broke the news about the raid on Truth Social late Monday, called the raid prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately dont want [him] to run for President in 2024, especially based on recent polls, adding that Democrats will likewise do anything to stop Republicans and Conservatives in the upcoming Midterm Elections.

Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before, Trump said.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the Department of Justice and the FBI for comment.
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) speaks during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 4, 2020. (Al Drago/Pool/Getty Images)

Republican Who Voted to Impeach Trump Concedes to Pro-Trump Challenger

Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.), one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, conceded to a Republican challenger on Aug. 9.

Thank you, Southwest Washington, for entrusting me six times with the privilege of representing you in Congress. Ever since I was first elected to this seat I have done my very best to serve my home region and our country, Beutler said in a statement obtained by The Epoch Times.

Though my campaign came up short this time, Im proud of all weve accomplished together for the place where I was raised and still call home, she added.

Beutler represents Washington states 3rd Congressional District. She has been in office since 2011.

Nearly 8,800 ballots were tallied in Clark and Thurston counties on Tuesday. After they were reported, the gap between Beutler and challenger Joe Kent stayed about the same, diminishing only slight from 960 votes to 928 votes.

There are 5,000 ballots remaining to be tallied in Thurston County, 500 left in Clark County, and 480 left in Cowlitz County, making it unlikely that Beutler overtakes Kent, who was projected to win on Monday.

Beutler said in her statement that she was proud of legislation she supported on healthcare, including the ACE Kids Act. She didnt directly address her vote to impeach Trump, but said that she always told the truth, stuck to my principles, and did what I knew to be best for our country.

Kent, a military veteran, will now advance to the general election, where he will face Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat business owner who received the most votes in the top-two primary.

Kent did not respond to requests for comment. He shared articles about Beutlers concession on social media.

Kent was backed by Trump, and he aligns with the former president on a number of issues, including saying there needs to be heightened border security and immigration control. He has also said that the United States must push back against Chinese aggression, including imposing tariffs against Chinese imports and sanctions over human rights violations.

Other Impeachment Republicans

Beutler, who will remain in office until 2023, when the new Congress is sworn in, is the latest Republican who voted to impeach Trump to fall in a primary.

Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.) lost recently to John Gibbs, a former Trump administration official who challenged Meijer from the right. Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.) was beaten in June by South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry.

Several of the GOP members did survive tough primary races.

Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) emerged in second place in a top-two primary and will face California Rep. Rudy Salas, a Democrat, in the general election. And Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) beat Loren Culp, a business owner who was endorsed by Trump.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is facing lawyer Harriet Hageman, who has Trumps support, in an upcoming primary.

The other four members who backed Trumps impeachment are retiring. They are Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio), Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), John Katko (R-N.Y.), and Fred Upton (R-Mich.).
Santa Ana Uses Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds to Revive City

The City of Santa Ana, Calif., plans to use the second half of its $128 million federal COVID-19 relief funds on community service programs and infrastructure projects, said local officials.

The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved Aug. 2 a plan to appropriate the second half of the total fundsreceived in Juneto community services through its Revive Santa Ana initiative.

[I am] really glad that this second bundle of money is here, said Mayor Vicente Sarmiento during the meeting.

The city created the initiative last summer when it received the first half$64 millionof its COVID-19 grant, which supported the following projects:

Direct relief for small businesses and renters: $22 million

Infrastructure projects, such as improving city libraries and community centers: $21 million

Parks and pedestrian safety projects: $16 million

Reimbursement for the citys pandemic-related income loss: $10 million

The Santa Ana City Hall is seen in Santa Ana, Calif., on Aug. 14, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

On Aug. 2, the city also voted to update the 2022 Revive Santa Ana plan to continue most of the existing projects, with the bulk of the funding going toward infrastructure.

The plan breaks the total $128 million into five spending categories:

$51.4 million goes to critical Infrastructure, including community center renovations, a transformation of the citys central library to support early childhood learning, library accessibility, streetlights, broadband, and parking structure improvements.

$34.2 million goes to public health and safety programs, including a 5k run, additional green open space, homeless services, and increased security for parks and community centers.

$22.4 million goes to direct assistance programs that provide relief directly to residents, such as rental assistance, housing vouchers, food distribution, relief for businesses and nonprofits, daycare, after-school programs, and youth crime intervention.

$12.1 million goes to improving the citys fiscal health through legal support, unemployment fund, and paid leave reimbursement, among others.

$8.2 million goes to pandemic recovery through sanitization, emergency response, mental health recovery, and COVID-19 response services.

In November, city officials also announced that $6 million would go into $300 Visa gift cards for low-income households.

Alternative use of the funding must undergo separate approval by the council.

Cities can use the relief funds to support public health or offset the negative economic impacts of COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Some examples include providing premium pay for essential workers, aiding small businesses and low-income residents affected by COVID-19, and investing in water, sewage, and broadband projects.
Andrew Cuomo, then New York Governor, speaks during a news conference in New York City on May 10, 2021. (Mary Altaffer-Pool/Getty Images)

Seems Political: Andrew Cuomo, Andrew Yang React to FBI Raid on Trumps Home

Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo questioned the Department of Justice for authorizing the FBI to raid former President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago property.

Yang and Cuomos Tuesday statements became the few voices from non-Republicans who questioned the nature of the raid as being political.

Im no Trump fan. I want him as far away from the White House as possible. But a fundamental part of his appeal has been that its him against a corrupt government establishment, Yang, who runs the Forward Party, a national political party that brands itself as a movement away from the broken political system, wrote on Twitter on Monday.

This raid strengthens that case for millions of Americans who will see this as unjust persecution, Yang wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

It seems like this was authorized by a local judge and a particular FBI office without buy-in or notification of higher levels of government, Yang added. But literally no one will believe that or make a distinction. Its probably bureaucratic but it seems political.

Cuomo Weighs In

DOJ must immediately explain the reason for its raid & it must be more than a search for inconsequential archives or it will be viewed as a political tactic and undermine any future credible investigation & legitimacy of January 6 investigations, Cuomo, a vehement critic of Trump, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.

DOJ must disclose the bona fide nature of the August 8 action or else the republicans will use it to Discredit the Jan 6 investigation, which would be a terrible disservice to the good work of the house committee in exposing The Trump administration violations, the former governor wrote in a separate post two hours later.

Secret Service personnel in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. on Aug. 8, 2022. The FBI raided the home reportedly to retrieve classified White House documents. (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)

Yang and Cuomos comments came a day after Trump said on late Monday that his Florida Mar-a-Lago home was under siege and occupied by a group of FBI agents.

These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents, Trump said in a post on Truth Social late Monday.

Eric Trump, Trumps second son, said the raid was conducted to see whether his father possessed any documents from his time in office, adding that the former president has been cooperating with the National Archives on the matter for months.

The purpose for the raid, from what they said, was because the National Archives wanted to corroborate whether or not Donald Trump had any documents in his possession, Eric Trump said on Fox News. He added that the raid was politically motivated as certain Democrats dont want Donald Trump to run and win again in 2024.

Local law enforcement officers in front of the home of former U.S. President Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

Trumps lawyer, Christina Bobb, confirmed with The Epoch Times that the FBI was looking for presidential records.

Theyre looking for presidential records, what they deemed to be presidential records, and anything that could potentially be classified, Bobb told The Epoch Times on Tuesday.

We had been very cooperative with them before. And its unclear to me why they went to such drastic measures to do this. But they did. And as far as the probable cause goes, they wouldnt give that to us, she added.

The Presidential Records Act stipulates that the National Archive Records Administration (NARA) assumes the custody of certain presidential records upon the conclusion of a presidents term. NARA said in February that Trumps representatives have been cooperating in transferring presidential records.

Throughout the course of the last year, NARA obtained the cooperation of Trump representatives to locate Presidential records that had not been transferred to the National Archives at the end of the Trump administration, the NARA said in a statement.

Weaponized Politicization

After the former president broke the news Republicans rallied behind Trump and protested the raid as being a political maneuver and weaponization of the DOJ.

Ive seen enough, said House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a statement late Monday. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization.

When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned, McCarthy added.

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), House Minority Whip, called the raid the weaponization of the FBI by Bidens DOJ against his political opponent.

Lets be clear: This is a brazen weaponization of the FBI by Bidens DOJ against his political opponentwhile giving their political allies free passes, Scalise said in a statement published late Monday. Its exactly why the IRS shouldnt get an army of 87,000 more agents.

House Republicans will hold them accountable next year, the lawmaker added.
Women who are their own bosses might have healthier hearts to show for it, a new study suggests.

The study, of more than 4,600 working U.S. women, found that those who were self-employed typically got more exercise and were less likely to be obese or have high blood pressure or diabetes  major risk factors for heart disease.

The findings do not prove that self-employment leads to better health, experts said. But they do raise the question of whether certain aspects of self-employment can do a womans heart good, said senior researcher Dr. Kimberly Narain.

That kind of work structure, she said, may allow women more freedom in shaping their workdays  to, for instance, fit in some exercise.

And while not all women can or want to be their own boss, Narain said it may be possible for employers to apply some positive elements of self-employment to the traditional workplace.

Flexibility in the daily schedule would be one example, according to Narain, a physician with the University of California, Los Angeles Womens Health Center.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, which is something a lot of people are not aware of, she said.

And along with the traditional risk factors for heart disease, there are also non-traditional contributors, Narain said  such as depression and chronic stress.

Given how much time people spend on the job, she said, its important to understand how the work environment can support people in leading a healthy lifestyle.

Im interested in thinking about how we can change structures, Narain said, rather than telling women to change.

The findings, published recently in the journal BMC Womens Health, are based on a 2016 health survey of U.S. adults. It included 4,624 women who were employed: 16% were self-employed, while the rest said they worked for someone else.

In general, self-employed women were more physically active: 80% said they exercised at least twice a week, compared with 72% of other women. They were also less likely to be obese (32% vs. 41%), or have high blood pressure (19% vs. 28%) or diabetes (11.5% vs. 14%).

Its difficult, though, to answer the chicken-and-egg question, said Yana Rodgers, faculty director of the Center for Women and Work at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J.

Women who are able to freelance or be entrepreneurs are likely to be more affluent or have advantages that other women may not, said Rodgers, who was not involved in the study.

Narains team accounted for the differences that they could, including education level and marital status. They also factored in access to health care: Health insurance is expensive, and some self-employed women might forgo it, Narain said.

That means they may not have conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes diagnosed. It also means that self-employment might not be a realistic option for women who already have chronic health issues or less financial stability.

It turned out that self-employed women in the study were, in fact, more likely to be uninsured: 9% were, vs 5% of other women. But that did not account for the differences in their health.

Self-employed women were still 30% to 43% less likely to have high blood pressure or diabetes, and were 68% more likely to be exercising at least twice a week.

The researchers were not able to account for household income, however, and Rodgers said she thinks that could be a key factor. When the family income is high and stable, women may be in a better place to launch their own business.

Even if that is the case, though, Rodgers agreed that self-employment may well have health-supporting perks: Women who are their own bosses may work a lot, but they also probably have more autonomy over when and where they work.

I think employers should pay attention to findings like these, Rodgers said. They could consider opportunities for more autonomy and flexibility in scheduling.

Even fairly simple shifts, she added  like walk-and-talk meetings, instead of the traditional sit-down version  could help employees fit more exercise into the day.

Some employers, Narain noted, might think that rigid schedules serve the bottom line. But if employees are more stressed, less satisfied or less healthy, she said, that may not be the case.

More information

The American Heart Association has more on workplace health.

SOURCES: Kimberly Narain, MD, PhD, MPH, internal medicine physician, University of California, Los Angeles, and assistant professor-in-residence, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Yana Rodgers, PhD, faculty director, Rutgers Center for Women and Work, professor, labor studies and employment relations, Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.; BMC Womens Health, July 23, 2022, online
A supporter of Nigeria's All Progressive Congress (APC) ruling party holds posters of APC presidential and vice-presidential candidates outside a party meeting in Abuja on July 20, 2022. (Photo by Kola Sulaimon / AFP via Getty Images)

Survival on the Ballot in Nigerias High Stakes Election: Church Leader

'We either confront the evil in this country at the ballot box in February or we perish'

Presidential elections next year in war-torn Nigeria amount to a do or die situation for embattled Christians, according to a spokesman for the northern church associations.

We either confront the evil in this country at the ballot box in February or we perish, Rev. John Hayab, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria chapter in Kaduna state, told The Epoch Times.

We have to do something to save this country before it dies, Hayab added, alluding to the fact that on average 12 Christians die in Nigeria every day due to sectarian attacks, according to Open Doors.

The terrorists want to instil fear in Christian voters, but we must not give in to fear. I am telling pastors and the faithful that the Christian community leaders must serve as the watchmen as our people go to vote, said Hayab.

The Nigerian federal government has been scrambling to register voters in 36 states even though millions have been displaced by the terrorist violence and need new voter registration cards.

During the previous election cycle in February 2015 the elections were postponed for a week due to a series of terrorist massacres.

Spectacular attacks in the capital territory last month included a massive jailbreak and an ambush of the presidents elite guards.

Tensions between Nigerias majority Christian south and majority Muslim north have been constant since independence from the United Kingdom was declared in 1960.

Most national governments have been headed by northern Muslims, whether popularly elected or as heads of military governments following coups.

The Nigerian Constitution as amended in 1999 declares that power-sharing across ethnic and territorial lines shall be required.

The composition of the government of the federation, or any of its agencies, and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few state or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies, the constitution states in article 14.

The meaning of the term, federal character, is explained in The Journal of Federalism.

The federal character principle, which has been enshrined in Nigerias constitution since 1979, seeks to ensure that appointments to public service institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the country.

Nigerian political parties have attempted to honor the principle of religious and regional balance by choosing their presidential and vice presidential nominees from diverse religious backgroundsuntil this year. The powerful ruling party of President Muhammadu Buhari has assigned both positions to Muslims, sparking ire not only in Nigeria but among expatriates in the United States.

A power-sharing arrangement set up by the military government of 1999 has been scrapped by the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) and its chief rival, The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to critics such as Hayab.

Our call for fairness and the balancing of the [APC] presidential ticket for the sake of justice, unity and fairness apparently fell on deaf ears, Hayab told media in mid-July.

Critics included leaders of the APC itself, including Babachir Lawal.

This is a calculated anti-Christian exclusion agenda that is being implemented, said Lawal, a northern Christian at a meeting of APC Christian members in Abuja on July 29.

Human rights attorney Emmanuel Ogebe has expressed outrage that both major Nigerian parties have nominated Muslims to be the next president, even after 8 years of a presidential administration in which the threats to Christians have increased year by year.

The Peoples Democratic Party chose as their presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, a Muslim, and Delta state governor Ifeanyi Okowa, a Christian.

However, the fact that Abubakar is from the same Fulani tribe as Buhari struck Ogebe as unseemly.

Ogebe joined a coalition of Nigerian pastors in Houston that protested this move to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), who has a longstanding concern with Nigeria.

Both Nigerias main political parties have nominated Muslims as their presidential candidates in next years elections in violation of a longstanding political convention where power rotates between the north/south Christian/Muslim, according to the letter from Greater Houston Ministers Fellowship.

However, Gen Buharis ruling party the APC went a step further and has nominated a Muslim president and in addition a Muslim vice president in total negation of another time-honored convention of balancing and fair representation.

Disgruntled voters have joined the scrum behind a third-party challenger in the form of Peter Obi, a devout Roman Catholic and a member of the Igbo tribe, which dominates Nigerias southeast region.

Obi heads the Labor Party, which has a base in the southeast but unlike APC and PDP lacks a national network of supporters. He has drawn huge crowds, but election observers point out that Obis lack of a well-staffed organization in 36 states may be too high a hill for him to climb.

The federal governments effort to gain trust during the election period from the Christian south and the Muslim north is more consequential in Nigeria in 2023 than ever before due to growing separatist movements.

The Biafran Civil War of 19671970 ended in genocide but the Biafran separatist movement continues in Nigerias south.

A parallel separatist movement in the southwest of the country is gaining force.

Recent incursions by terrorists into the federal capital territory of Abuja have targeted Buhari himself, yet the nexus of the bandit gangs with jihadist insurgencies such as IS of West Africa, or the Al Qaeda affiliate known as Ansaru, remains debatable.

During the past year the notorious IS of West Africa, sometimes Boko Haram, has been blunted in northeastern states.

Counter-insurgency has significantly suppressed Boko Harams threat, with the group mounting only 64 attacks in 2021.

Deaths dropped by 92 percent from 2,131 in 2015 to 178 in 2021, according to Reliefweb.

Bandit gangs do not preach a well-defined ideology but are known to invoke jihad during attacks, according to David Otto, a London-based military expert, and other subject specialists.

Jihadist terrorists allied with thousands of bandits forced their motorbike brigades into Abuja with impunity following July 5, when 700 hardened criminals were freed from a maximum security prison at Kuje.
This photo released Aug. 9, 2022, by the Albuquerque Police Department shows Muhammad Syed, 51, who was taken into custody Aug. 8, 2022, in connection with the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, over the last nine months. He faces charges in two of the deaths and is the primary suspect in the other two murders. (Albuquerque Police Department via AP)

Suspect Arrested in Killings of 2 Men in New Mexico, All Are Part of Local Muslim Community

Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) in New Mexico and the FBI have arrested Muhammad Syed, 51, in connection with the murders of two other Muslim men in the city.

On Aug. 7, the APD released photos of a Volkswagen vehicle believed to have ties with the murders of four Muslim men over the past year that has put the Islamic community in the region on alert.

As detectives prepared to search Syeds home in Southeast Albuquerque on Monday, Syed drove from the residence in the Volkswagon [sic] Jetta that detectives believe was used in at least one of the murders. Detectives detained Syed and searched his home and the vehicle, an Aug. 9 news release from the department said.

The detectives found evidence that further linked Syed to the murders. Syed is thought to have known the victims to some extent, and the shootings may have been the result of interpersonal conflict, the department stated.

Syed is being charged with homicide for the deaths of two men: Aftab Hussein, who was killed on July 26, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, who was killed on Aug. 1. Detectives linked Syed to the murders through bullet casings found at the crime scenes.

After searching Syeds home, officers found the gun used in the two shootings.

According to police Chief Harold Medina, Syed is the primary suspect in the other two killings, and detectives will continue working with the district attorneys office to determine whether they can bring charges against Syed for the murders of Mohammad Zaher Ahmadi, who was killed on Nov. 7, 2021, and Naeem Hussain, who was killed on Aug. 5, 2022.

Disrupting Leftist Agenda

Before Syed was arrested and the identity of the alleged killer was unknown, the deaths of the four Muslim men resulted in leftwing media and politicians characterizing the murders as racial violence. Michelle Melendez, Albuquerques director of equity and inclusion, said at a press conference that the murders appeared to be targeting people because of their race and religion.

And an Aug. 7 Twitter post from the account of President Joe Biden said that the president was angered and saddened by the horrific killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. While we await a full investigation, my prayers are with the victims families, and my Administration stands strongly with the Muslim community. These hateful attacks have no place in America.

But the arrest of Syed disrupts the narrative about the murders having anything to do with racial issues, as Syed himself is Muslim and police said the killings likely stemmed from a personal conflict.

Investigators zeroed in on Syed after receiving a tip from Albuquerques Muslim community.

When reporters asked whether Syed, a Sunni Muslim from Afghanistan, was angry at the fact that his daughter had married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not give a clear answer.

Motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are, he said, according to The Associated Press.

Syed has lived in the United States for roughly five years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
After months of staying close to home because of the worldwide pandemic, Dan and Joanne Crawford were itching to take a vacation. Given their limited income and the cost of raising three young children, however, the amount in their bank account wasnt sufficient to pay for a luxury trip.

Even so, the couple used a variety of strategies to stretch their travel budget and enjoy a much-needed and greatly appreciated break from their daily routine. These same money-saving approaches are available to anyone seeking to get the biggest bang for their bucks.

An almost alphabet-long list of tips provides suggestions for saving money on airfares, accommodations, dining and other travel expenditures. Combined, they can make the difference between deciding to stay home and taking a vacation that otherwise might be beyond what the family could afford.

Affordable airlines: A survey of domestic airlines that offer inexpensive flights by Rome2rio, a travel information and booking engine, listed Spirit, Frontier and Hawaiian airlines at the top of the list. Wallet-friendly carriers in Europe include Dublin-based Ryanair, most of whose flights connect Ireland and the United Kingdom, but they also go to other destinations. Norwegian is the one many price-conscious travelers rate the best low-cost airline on the Continent.

Among websites that compare ticket prices are Google Flights, which offers a variety of features; Skyscanner, whose benefits include listings of lesser-known carriers; and Kayak, which is the granddaddy of flight metasearch sites.

Discount destinations and dates: Some places are just more expensive to visit, while others are naturally less so. Big cities and tourist hot spots fall into the first category. Less-well-known destinations and off-the-beaten-track locations can offer more for less. Thats true especially during the off-season. Another bonus is that your chosen destination will be a lot less busy and crowded.

Discounts and deals: Ways to hoard your travel dollars extend to a number of other areas. Among discounts offered by Groupon are good deals on travel. Available to specific places and on specified dates, theyre targeted to people who are flexible in their choice of where and when to go. Among vendors who offer discounts to members of the American Automobile Association are car-rental companies and restaurants. Those who sign up with Hotels.com receive price reductions and free reward nights. And the list goes on.

Travel locally: While Paris, an African safari and other bucket -list destinations have great appeal, attractions closer to home can be exciting and enjoyable, tooand at much lower cost. A bit of research may turn up travel opportunities and adventures that are perfect for a day trip or getaway weekend.

Restaurant recommendations and more: Avoiding touristy eating places on a main strip and dining where locals gather can fill your tummy without emptying your wallet or purse. As alternatives, cook some meals at home and enjoy a picnic of local favorites. If where youre staying offers complimentary breakfast or free or low-priced buffet meals, take advantage of the bargain-priced nourishment.

Trade homes: Home-exchange organizations provide opportunities to trade a free stay in accommodations around the world with someone who puts up in your digs. Home Exchange offers 450,000 habitats in nearly 160 countries. The Vacation Exchange has opportunities in waterfront, desert, ski and inner-city properties, among others. Ive traded my urban apartment for a lovely house with swimming pool in Florida and a 40-acre gentlemans farm in rural Connecticut.

Random recommendations: The list of tips for saving money on travel is long and varied, and you may have some ideas of your own. Even with high gas prices, driving rather than flying can be less costly than paying airline fares, especially if youre not going too far. The road trip can be part of the vacation.

Search for free things to do at your destination: Some museums dont charge admission on certain days, and events such as flea markets and fairs can combine enjoyment with a bit of local color. The Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum complex in the world, charges no admission at its 19 museums, zoo, and historic and architectural landmarks, most located in Washington, D.C.

Admission to the Smithsonian Institutions National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., is always free. (Photo courtesy of Rumata7/Dreamstime.com)

See if discount rail passes are available at your destination and if they offer savings for your travel plans. If traveling by train, try to schedule an overnight ride to save on accommodations.

Skimp on shopping: While one of the pleasures of travel can be bringing back mementos of where youve been for yourself and others, the cost can add up quickly. Look for less-expensive items that are representative of a destination or items you can use latersuch as clothing or housewaresthat will serve as reminders of a trip for years to come.

When You Go

Rome2Rio.com

Google.com/flights

Skyscanner.com

Kayak.com

Groupon.com

AAA.com/travel

Hotels.com

HomeExchange.com

TheVacationExchange.com

Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at Creators.com. Copyright 2022 Creators.com
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas at the Hilton Anatole, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez/The Epoch Times)

Texas Won Election Integrity Battles in 2020, But State Still Vulnerable: Paxton

State senator proposes law to restore attorney general's power to prosecute voter fraud

Texas could go the way of Georgia if the states election integrity laws are not vigorously defended.

Thats according to Attorney General Ken Paxton who gave insight into Texas fight to stop Democrat-controlled counties from sidestepping election law during the pandemic and the ongoing defense of election integrity laws.

Paxton, up for reelection, spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas last week. He said the state defended 12 election lawsuits filed against it during 2020.

It became very clear this was an orchestrated effort somewhere outside the state by somebody who had a lot of money, but we didnt know who, he said.

It was designed to make sure that mail-in ballots were mailed out to as many people as possible in violation of Texas law, he continued.

Election officials in highly populated counties such as Bexar, Travis, and Harris were attempting to mail out ballots, which would have reached 5 million people or more, Paxton said.

People cast their ballots at a polling location in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2020. (Sergio Flores/Getty Images)

Texas absentee ballot laws limit those who are qualified to apply.

In 2020before the legislature tightened identification requirementsa citizen had to sign up and provide a signature, which was matched against a signature on the returned mail-in ballot.

So if millions of ballots had gone out in 2020, it would have been impossible for Texas to verify signatures because most of those people would not have had a signature on file, Paxton said.

To put it in perspective, former president Donald Trump won Texas with 52 percent of the vote to President Joe Bidens 46.5 percent in 2020. Just over 630,000 votes separated the two.

Paxton said if Texas had not fought the lawsuits and won, the states electoral votes could have ended up in Bidens column.

He pointed to Georgia as an example of what can happen when state election laws are changed through administrators.

Georgias secretary of state allowed election changes, such as unmanned drop boxes in 2020 through a consent decree with the Democratic Party of Georgia. Trump lost Georgia by some 12,000 votes in 2020.

In 2016 before the drop boxes and other changes, Trump won 51 percent of the vote to Hillary Clintons 45.6 percent in Georgia. Those percentages are strikingly similar to Texas percentages in 2020.

Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton during the final presidential debate in Las Vegas on Oct. 19, 2016. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

Paxton recalled that all the battleground states stopped counting on election night for the first time he could remember. States where Trump was up by hundreds of thousands of votes that night, went to Biden after days of counting.

Were not supposed to notice thats unusual, he said. Were supposed to accept thats just perfectly normal. I knew right then what was going on.

Democrats, however, have denounced any notion of widespread voter fraud during the 2020 election as Trumps big lie.

They have attacked Republicans for tightening election laws, saying they are targeting minorities.

Even with the 2020 victories, Paxton said Texas remains at risk due to a ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which is the highest criminal court in the state.

The all-Republican court ruled in Texas v. Zena Collins Stephens that the attorney general cannot unilaterally prosecute election fraud.

The Attorney Generals Office prosecuted Sheriff Zena Collins Stephens on a campaign finance and records tampering indictment after Texas Rangers investigated. The case was eventually appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.

Meanwhile, George Soros, the Hungarian-born billionaire who funds progressive causes, helped district attorneys get elected in counties such as Bexar and Travis, Paxton said.

Then suddenly, out of the blue, our Texas Court of Criminal Appeals struck down these statutes, Paxton said. This was two days after the filing deadline for anyone to run against them.

That means it will be up to Soros-backed DAs to prosecute election fraud unless the Texas Legislature passes a law in 2023 allowing the states attorney general to prosecute such cases.

The court ruled 8 to 1 in December 2021 that the Texas attorney generals authority to unilaterally prosecute election law crimes violated the separation of powers clause in the Texas Constitution.

Judge Jesse McClure delivered the opinion of the court, with fellow judges Sharon Keller, Barbara Hervey, Bert Richardson, David Newell, Mary Lou Keel, Scott Walker, and Michelle Slaughter joining. Only Judge Kevin Yeary dissented.

Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) led a group of 14 Republican state senators who filed a friend-of-the-court brief in January urging the Criminal Court of Appeals to reconsider their opinion.

Bettencourt told The Epoch Times that the court has yet to respond to the request by the senators, but they will absolutely file new legislation if needed to protect election integrity.

It takes the prosecutorial bat out of everything, Bettencourt said of the courts opinion.
Thailand Considering Chinese-Made Engine as Replacement for Submarine Deal

Thailand said Tuesday that it would consider a Chinese-made engine as an alternative for the submarine it had purchased if it met the specifications, following Chinas inability to obtain engines from Germany.

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is evaluating the specifications of the upgraded CHD620 engine supplied by China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. (CSOC), RTNs spokesperson Pokkrong Monthatphalin said.

The evaluation is expected to be complete by Sept. 15, after which CSOC will need to deliver the engine to Thailand for testing. No changes will be made to the contract if the engine testing is successful.

But if the substitute from CSOC cannot pass the test, the contract must be terminated, and the two sides will have to hold talks to discuss compensation or a refund, Pokkrong said reported Bangkok Post.

While the contract requires that the submarine be built with a German-made MTU396 engine, CSOC is also allowed to replace any component with a comparable equivalent, according to Pokkrong.

The RTN would prefer not to completely reset the process, he added.

If the contract is approved, Thailand will join Sri Lanka as the first foreign purchaser of the S26T Yuan-class submarine that CSOC intends to build using the new CH620 engines.

Thailand initially rejected the CH620 engine offered by CSOC due to the fact that it had never been installed in any submarine, a prerequisite for the contract approval. But Pokkrong said the two sides will find a consensus on this.

German Refusal to Supply Engines

Thailand earlier granted the Chinese developer an extension of two months to fulfill its agreement to procure a German-made engine for the submarine. CSOC said it had tried to engage with the German manufacturer through business and diplomatic channels, but to no avail.

Germanys Motor and Turbine Union (MTU) company refused to supply the engine because of a European Union arms embargo against the regime in Beijing, which was imposed after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.

The German Embassy in Thailand stated in February that China didnt consult with Germany before signing the contract with Thailand, and because the engines will be used for a Chinese military [or] defense industry item.

Thailand signed a deal to buy the Chinese S26T Yuan-class submarine for 13.5 billion baht ($402 million) in April 2017, with payments to be made in seven-year installments. The first payment of 700 million baht ($209,000) was made in that same year.

Thailand later agreed to accept Chinas offer to buy three submarines worth 36 billion baht ($1.07 billion), with payments to be made in 11 annual installments. The next delivery of its submarine could be delayed until September 2024.
A perimeter fence is constructed around what is officially known as a vocational skills education center in Dabancheng in Xinjiang Uyghur region, China, on Sept. 4, 2018. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

The Chinese Regime Commits and Enables Human Trafficking: US State Dept Report

The Chinese regime commits and enables trafficking in persons, primarily by subjecting religious and ethnic minorities to forced labor, according to the U.S. Department of States latest Trafficking in Persons Report.

Forced labor in China is so prevalentthat it amounts to a government policy or patternconducted by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials at all levels, the report stated.

Chinese citizens have further reportedly suffered forced labor at Belt and Road Initiative (BRI, also known as One Belt, One Road) projects abroad due to the regimes neglect to supervise recruitment and labor conditions, the report added.

During the reported periodfrom April 2021 to March 2022China showed indicators of state-sanctioned forced labor, did not meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons, and did not make serious efforts to fight it, causing the country to rank among the lowest tier of nations, the State Department said in the report.

Forced Labor in Detention Centers

State-sponsored forced labor occurs mainly under the CCPs mass detention and political indoctrination campaign targeted against Uyghurs and other Muslim or Turkic minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region, according to the State Department.

Victims include Tibetans, Christians, and members of other suppressed ethnic and religious minorities, such as Falun Gong adherents.

The CCP subjugate[s] and exploit[s] minority populations in forced labor in internment camps under the pretext of combating violent extremism and other social ills, the report stated.

Authorities continued to amplify the magnitude of trafficking crimes in the country and abroad, including by perpetrating genocide, it added.

An independent peoples tribunal, known as the Uyghur Tribunal, ruled in December 2021 that the Chinese regime had committed genocide against ethnic Muslims in Xinjiangthrough an array of repressive acts that included mass internment, family separation, sterilizations, and forced labor.

The United Nations estimates that more than 1 million Uyghurs have been detained in internment camps in Xinjiang.

Such internment camps are designed to erase ethnic and religious identities under the pretext of deradicalization,' according to the State Department.

Detainees may be subject to forced labor within internment camps or at near or external factories. The goods produced range from garments to consumer electronics, face masks, automotive components, and holiday decorations, among many others.

Domestic companies are incentivized to open factories near internment camps through tax cuts and subsidies, as well as to take in transferred detainees from other provinces, as stated in the report.

Local authorities are also incentivized to conduct forced labor, as they are awarded funds for each inmate forced to work in these sites at a fraction of minimum wage or without any compensation, the report read.

Local officials are also encouraged to meet detention quotas to keep the system functioning. They achieve this by issuing arbitrary arrests and accusing individuals of false criminal offenses or administrative violationssuch as violating birth regulations. This data was extracted from the regimes official documents, according to the State Department.

Non-interned Forced Labor

Besides being subject to forced labor under detention, victims are coerced into forced labor through threats of interment. They are also transferred to manufacturing sites in other provinces under poverty alleviation programs.

China has reportedly placed 2.6 million members of minority communities in agricultural and manufacturing jobs within Xinjiang and across the country through state-sponsored surplus labor and labor transfer initiatives featuring overt forced labor indicators, the report stated.

The government has transported at least 80,000 of these individuals to other provinces for forced labor under the guise of poverty alleviation and industrial aid programs, it added.

Trafficking in Persons Linked to Chinas BRI

The Chinese regime has reportedly omitted to oversee BRI projects recruitment channels, labor conditions, and contracts, which resulted in Chinese citizens being deceived into moving abroad, where they were subjected to forced labor and other abuses, according to the report.

The BRIa tool for the CCPs global expansionfinances enormous loans to developing nations for building infrastructure. Chinese state-owned banks provide the countries with loans that experts say open the nations to the risk of being saddled with unsustainable debt levels.

The loans are then used to pay Chinese companies to build infrastructure, including the development of roads, ports, power plants, mines, telecommunications, or banking institutions. The ostentatious projects have been described as part of so-called debt-trap diplomacy since the often-unpayable loans will force the nations to repay China with goods or land.

Chinese citizens employed in BRI projects abroad have suffered forced labor at worksites funded totally or partially by Beijing, Chinese companies, or Chinese nationals, said the State Department.

Chinese and host country nationals employed in some BRI construction projects, mining operations, and factories in African, European, Middle Eastern, Asian, Pacific, Latin American, and Caribbean countries experience deceptive recruitment into debt bondage, arbitrary wage garnishing or withholding, contract irregularities, confiscation of travel and identity documentation, forced overtime, and resignation penalties, the report read.

Such was the case of Li Wei and Mao Chen, two Chinese citizens recruited for a rural BRI project in Indonesia, which included flights, housing, food, and wages. However, once at the smelting plant, their passports were seized, and they were subject to forced labor, working 16 hours a day without a salary, according to the report. They were accommodated in small quarters, surveilled by armed guards.

A subcontractor later took over their contracts, but their labor conditions did not change. While Li escaped the facility, Mao was still subjected to forced labor.
South Korean film director Kim Deog-Young, in an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times on July 6, 2022. His award-winning documentary film "Kim Il Sungs Children" (2020) received global recognition for covering the tragic story of North Korean war orphans in Eastern Europe in the 1950s. (Lee Yu-Jeong/ The Epoch Times)

The Untold Story of 10,000 North Korean Orphans in Eastern Europe: Interview With Director Kim Deog-Young

The story behind the award-winning film Kim Il Sungs Children

In the early 1950s, more than 100,000 children were orphaned by the Korean War, but neither of the two sides, North and South, had the resources to care for them.

Orphans of South Korea were sent to the United States and Western Europe for adoption. Meanwhile, North Korea distributed its orphans across Eastern Europe to the formerly communist countries, such as Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, through commissioned education.

Following the order from the Soviet Union, over 5,000 children spent nearly a decade in foreign lands, educated in special institutions called North Korean Peoples School, which shaped their ideals.

The award-winning film Kim Il Sungs Children tells the story of war orphans who fell victim to the indoctrination of North Korean dictator Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong-uns grandfather and the founder of North Korea, who sought to consolidate the power of a communist regime in the 1950s.

The films director, Kim Deog-Young, spent 15 years and over $150,000 out of pocket in search of the records scattered across Eastern Europe, tracking down the orphans, whose lives remained unknown by the rest of the world until now.

In 2004, I got a call from Park Chan-wook, a distinguished film director and a senior college friend of mine. He told me about an old Romanian woman who had been waiting for her North Korean husband to return for over 40 years, Kim told The Epoch Times what motivated him to direct the film.

At the time, Kim was a producer for a program on KBS, South Koreas national broadcaster. Upon hearing the story, he bought a plane ticket to Romania.

The name of the senior Romanian woman is Georgeta Mircioiu. She lives in Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

Mircioiu was just over 20 years old when the Korean War broke out in the early 1950s. She was one of the teachers assigned to the North Korean orphans sent to Romania.

She fell in love with Cho Jung-ho, the principal of the North Korean Peoples School, who came to Romania with some 3,000 North Korean orphans. After a four-year secret relationship, the two married in 1957 after gaining approval from both nations.

However, their marriage didnt last long. In 1959, Cho was repatriated to North Korea. Mircioiu followed him and gave birth to a daughter in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. But after a while, Cho was sent to a coal mine, and the couple never saw each other again.

Their daughter, Cho Mi-ran, is now middle-aged.

Cho Jung-ho, Mircioiu, and their daughter Mi-ran. This is their last family picture taken in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, in 1962. (Courtesy of Director Kim Deog-Young)

At first, I was intrigued by the unique love story between a North Korean man and a Romanian woman. But when I looked into the story, it contained many historical events, such as North Korea sending their orphans to Eastern Europe, the process of making children idolize Kim Il Sung, and North Koreas transformation into a closed society.

Mircioiu has published a Romanian-Korean dictionary containing 160,000 words for her husband, who may have forgotten Romanian. (Courtesy of Director Kim Deok-young)

According to official records, including documents from South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at least 5,000 North Korean orphans lived in Eastern Europe from 1952 to 1960. However, Kim estimated that the actual number was closer to 10,000.

Two things interested me. I wondered how the children could live scattered throughout Eastern Europe [and have their ideals be shaped the same]. I thought this fact epitomized the closed society of North Korea and the nature of the Kim Il Sung regime. Thats why I decided to make it into a film, Kim told The Epoch Times in an exclusive interview.

It was an endless effort to dig up hidden records. I repeatedly visited the capital cities of five European countries and searched their archives, national libraries, and record centers. Finally, I discovered over 100 photos as well as 80 letters sent to Eastern Europe by war orphans after returning to North Korea, their school academic records, and film recordings that contained their daily lives. Also, I managed to contact 12 classmates of the North Korean orphans and interviewed them all.

The photo shows Director Kim Deog-Young interviewing Vaselin Kolev, a classmate of North Korean war orphans in Bulgaria, for the film Kim Il Sungs Children. (Courtesy of Director Kim Deog-Young)

I discovered a four-and-a-half minute 35mm film recording in a Romanian archive. The dusty film container was covered with rust when it was brought out by an employee wearing gloves. It was at least 70 years old. But when the film was played, images of the North Korean orphans in the school and dormitories appeared vividly as if they had happened yesterday. Mircioiu, watching the video by my side, called out each childs name on the screen with tears in her eyes.

In the many old films discovered by Kim, there was footage showing the children getting up at 6:30 every morning, saluting the North Korean flag with a portrait of Kim Il Sung, and singing Kim Il Sungs hymn at the school.

A film recording found in Romania vividly described the morning assembly of North Korean war orphans. Children saluted the North Korean flag (left) and the flag with the portrait of Kim Il Sung (right). (Courtesy of Director Kim Deog-Young)

North Korean teachers taught those children the so-called Kim Il Sung or Juche (self-reliance) ideology. The intensity of such education is beyond our imagination, Kim said.

I have never seen a living figure emblazoned on the flag in any communist regime or dictatorship. It was known that the indoctrination of North Koreas Juche ideology started in the early 1960s. But I discovered it had already started on a trial basis for North Korean orphans in Eastern Europe in the 1950s. This is also why North Korea has maintained a closed society for such a long time, with Kim Il Sungs Juche ideology having a tremendous impact on the children of that time.

Kim said the North Korean orphans stayed in Eastern Europe for eight years at most as the regime began forcing them to return home in 1956. At the time, Kim Il Sung underwent a political coup by opposing forces in North Korea. And due to that, he saw the orphans as a potential risk of destabilizing his regime.

Kim Il Sung forcibly repatriated the orphans back to North Korea, and they suddenly disappeared like smoke  [he feared that] they had become accustomed to European free culture, Kim said. He added that those children couldve made a significant contribution to the countrys economic and social development if adequately given positions within the society.

Despite the heavy-hearted discoveries, Kim said there was a record of love, friendship, and pure humanism that blossomed in the wounds of war, and a meaningful process to discover the contradictions and attributes of the North Korean regime.

The North Korean children who lost their parents in the war called their teachers mothers and fathers. It was unexpected when I saw some humanity left in a socialist society. I thought it was a piece of history that showed pure humanism that we must record and remember, Kim added.

The North Korean orphans called their teachers mothers and fathers. This photo inspired him to write the scenario for the fictional movie Two Hometowns. (Courtesy of Director Kim Deog-Young)

Director Kim revealed that he had experienced many roadblocks and difficulties in screening this documentary two years ago. The film was not screened in 34 independent movie theaters in South Korea, with a full screening schedule being the reason for denial. Kim said the South Korean government, at the time, was attempting to warm up relations with the North and avoided things that would make them uncomfortable.

Communism magnifies what is favorable to their regime while completely hiding any unfavorable events. After the Korean War, many countries were willing to provide aid to North Korea, which hurt its pride. In the same vein, North Korean war orphans lived in complete secrecy in European countries. From the perspective of the North Korean regime, its best not to make it known to the rest of the world, Kim said when asked why this part of history hasnt been made known for 70 years.

Kim explained that his film provides a deeper understanding of how past societal and systemic problems shape North Korea today while conveying the dangers of communism and socialist ideologies.

Just as 10,000 war orphans fell victims to the idolization of one dictator, Kim Il Sung, 25 million North Koreans are being enslaved by less than 1 percent of Kim Il Sung adherents. Unless the Kim Il Sung ideology changes, North Koreas system and society will not change easily.

Kim Deog-young is a documentary film director and writer. He began his career as a film director in 1995 when he made the movie The End of 1989. In 1999, Farewell to the Factory was selected in the official competition for the wide-angle category of the 4th Busan International Film Festival and was broadcasted on NHK in Japan. In 2020, Kim Il Sungs Children attracted global attention and made him known in the international film community. In 2021, he launched the Liberty International Film Festival under the theme of freedom and human rights, serving as its executive director.

In 2021, Director Kim Deog-Young launched the Liberty International Film Festival under the theme of freedom and human rights. When asked what motivated him to venture into unchartered areas, he answered: patriotism on July 6, 2022. (Lee Yu-Jeong / The Epoch Times)

Kims next film, President Who Went to Hawaii, will be released in January.

It is very unfortunate that there have been many distortions and falsifications about Rhee Syngman, the founding president of South Korea. I think this film will play a meaningful role by revealing distorted parts about him based on primary sources such as investigation records and National Assembly records. This movie will raise the question of why many South Koreans have remained ignorant of these historical distortions. I think it will be an opportunity for me to reflect on how President Rhee Syngman felt about protecting the nations independence and what he dreamed of to strengthen the nations liberal democratic system, Kim said, describing his upcoming film.
Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels (L), speaks as former President Donald Trump listens at a rally in Waukesha, Wis., on Aug. 5, 2022. (Morry Gash/AP Photo)

Trump-Endorsed Michels Defeats Pence-Backed Kleefisch in Wisconsin Governors Primary

Donald Trump-backed businessman Tim Michels on Aug. 9 defeated former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, endorsed by Mike Pence, in Wisconsins GOP gubernatorial primary.

With 76 percent of the votes counted at 11:46 p.m., Michels received 47 percent of the vote, and Kleefisch received 43 percent, according to The Associated Press.

Kleefisch was backed by Pence along with former Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

A former TV news anchor, she served for two terms as lieutenant governor under Walker, who had enthusiastically campaigned for her.

Kleefisch launched a generously funded campaign last September and raced to a commanding lead over lesser-known opponents. Her name recognition as lieutenant governor for Walker helped.

Michels entered the race in April and secured Trumps endorsement in June. The race became more competitive, but Michels did not distance himself from Kleefisch.

Michels has poured millions of dollars of his own money into TV ads, portraying himself as a businessman and an outsider.

Kleefisch drew criticism from Trump for being an establishment politician, but she has said the 2020 election was rigged. She is the lone Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate who has dismissed the idea of overturning the outcome.

Its not constitutionally possible, Kleefisch said at a GOP gubernatorial debate. There is no path to decertifying an election that has already happened.

Michels will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who defeated Walker by one percentage point in 2018 and has frequently battled Wisconsins conservative-leaning state legislature. He has vetoed more bills in a single session than any governor in the states history.

Every candidate in the Republican primary is too extreme for our state, and would sign into law dangerous bills that would undermine our democracy, Evers campaign spokesman Sam Roecker said in a statement. Gov. Evers is focused on doing the right thing for our state and bringing people together to solve real problems.

Through July, Evers raised $11.1 million.

Biden won Wisconsin by around 21,000 votes in 2020. Trump has repeatedly called for state legislators to invalidate the results. Wisconsins Supreme Court ruled that dropboxes for absentee ballots are no longer allowed.

Michels reiterated his promise to eliminate the states elections commission, a viewpoint Kleefisch shares.

I am going to get election integrity back in Wisconsin, Michels said at the rally. We are going to stop the Zuckerbucks, out-of-state billionaires coming into our state and taking control of our election process. It wont happen anymore.

Kleefisch has repeatedly said that decertifying Wisconsins 2020 election results is not legal under state or federal law.

Days before the primary, an Emerson College poll showed that Kleefisch had a two-point lead36 percent to 34 percentover Michels, which is within the margin of error.

When undecided voters were polled about who they were leaning toward, Kleefisch gained 41 percent compared to 39 percent for Michels.

According to that survey, 39 percent of the voters said that Trumps endorsement impacts their decision, while 49 percent of the respondents said it does not.

With Michels  triumph, Trump took a 2-to-1 advantage over Pence in head-to-head gubernatorial endorsements.

In May, Pence-backed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp trounced Trump-supported challenger David Perdue. Last week, Trump-endorsed Kari Lake defeated Pence-backed Karrin Taylor Robson in Arizona.

Political analysts like The Cook Political Report, Sabatos Crystal Ball, and Inside Elections rate the general election for the governors seat in Wisconsin as a toss-up.
Former President Donald Trump applauds at a Save America rally in support of Arizona GOP candidates in Prescott Valley, Arizona, on July 22, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Trump Suggests FBI May Have Planted Evidence During Mar-a-Lago Raid

Former President Donald Trump suggested the FBI may have planted evidence during the bureaus raid at his Mar-a-Lago home because members of his team were blocked from watching the agents.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, the former president wrote that the FBI and others from the Federal Government would not let anyone, including my lawyers, be anywhere near the areas that were rummaged and otherwise looked at during the raid on Mar-a-Lago.

Everyone was asked to leave the premises, they wanted to be left alone, without any witnesses to see what they were doing, taking or, hopefully not, planting. Why did they STRONGLY insist on having nobody watching them, everybody out? said Trump.

FBI agents spent about 10 hours scouring his private office on Monday and broke into his safe, according to Trump and members of his family.

About two dozen FBI agents entered the Trump-owned resort at 9 a.m. Monday and left with a handful of boxes of documents, Trump lawyer Christina Bobb told The Epoch Times on Tuesday. I didnt actually get to oversee the search, they wouldnt let anybody see what they were doing, she said, adding that she was present when the FBI entered the premises.

FBI agents were looking for what they deemed to be presidential records, Bobb continued. I dont think there was anything of substance.

Background

Bruce Reinhart, a Florida federal magistrate judge, signed off on a warrant to search the former presidents Florida property.

Reinhart worked as a federal prosecutor until 2008 when he became a defense attorney representing employees of convicted sex trafficker and wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein. Employees included Epsteins pilots, a scheduler, and others.

A member of the Secret Service in front of the home of former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., on Aug. 9, 2022. (Giorgio Viera/AFP via Getty Images)

The Mar-a-Lago raid warrant was issued on Aug. 5, a day after FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee and was asked about whistleblower reports on whether his agency was becoming increasingly politicized. Wray had to cut the questioning short because he needed to travel, although flight records indicated that he used an FBI jet to travel to a vacation retreat in Upstate New York, according to the New York Post.

In mid-January, the National Archives and Records Administration arranged for the transport from Mar-a-Lago to the National Archives 15 boxes that the archives said contained presidential records. Under the Presidential Records Act, the records should have been transferred in January 2021 as Trump left office, and some of the boxes contained classified information, the institution said in a statement at the time.

Agents initially resisted showing Bobb the warrant but ultimately did. But the agents would not allow any representatives of the former president to oversee the search, Bobb said. The justification for the search also remains under seal. Trumps legal team plans on asking the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to unseal the search warrant affidavit, which would outline why authorities asked for the warrant.

The Epoch Times contacted the FBI for comment. Neither the bureau nor Attorney General Merrick Garland have offered public comments about the raid, drawing even questions and condemnation from Democrat politicians.

The Department of Justice must immediately explain the reason for its raid & it must be more than a search for inconsequential archives or it will be viewed as a political tactic and undermine any future credible investigation & legitimacy of January 6 investigations, wrote former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a longtime critic of Trump, said on Twitter Tuesday.

DOJ must disclose the bona fide nature of the August 8 action or else the republicans will use it to Discredit the Jan 6 investigation, which would be a terrible disservice to the good work of the house committee in exposing The Trump administration violations, the former Democrat governor of New York added. Cuomo last year resigned amid allegations he engaged in misconduct with staffers, which Cuomo has categorically denied.

And Republicans similarly said they were concerned with the raid.

Last nights raid on the home of a former U.S. president without explanation will only further erode confidence in the FBI and the Justice Department, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote Tuesday in reference to the Monday search.

I reiterated these concerns to Director Wray today, he continued. If the FBI isnt extraordinarily transparent about its justification for yesterdays actions and committed to rooting out political bias that has infected their most sensitive investigations, they will have sealed their own fate. The FBIs mission and the many patriotic agents who work hard to carry it out will be forever overshadowed by the distrust the bureau has sown.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Former President Donald Trump raises his fist while walking to a vehicle outside of Trump Tower in New York on Aug. 10, 2022. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Pleads the Fifth During Deposition in New York Probe Into His Business Practices

Former President Donald Trump said he declined to answer questions during a deposition on Aug. 10 in the New York investigation into his business.

I once asked, If youre innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment? Now I know the answer to that question, Trump said on Truth Social after meeting with New York Attorney General Letitia James.

When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice, he added.

The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says in part that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

The deposition came after months of delay following a judges order in February.

James, a Democrat who vowed while campaigning to take action against Trump if she won the election, began investigating the Trump Organization shortly after she entered office in 2019.

James has said that the investigation into Trumps business uncovered evidence of fraud, and asked a court in the state to compel the testimony of Trump and two of his children. New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump, Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump to testify. An appeal was rejected by the states top appeals court in June.

Trump said that based on his counsels advice, I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution.

James office declined to comment.

Subpoenas

Subpoenas for documents and testimony were issued in December 2021. The subpoena for Trump ordered the former president to produce documents and commanded him to appear and testify as to what you know regarding the subject of an inquiry by LETITIA JAMES, Attorney General of the State of New York, pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 63(12), to determine whether an action or proceeding should be instituted with respect to repeated violations of the Executive Law.

The law in question deals with fraudulent or illegal acts.

Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were told they were wanted to testify in connection with an investigation into the valuation of properties owned or controlled by Donald J. Trump or the Trump Organization, or any matter which the Attorney General deems pertinent thereto.

The testimony may be recorded by stenography, video, and/or audio, the Trump children were told.

Trumps lawyers said the subpoenas were improper because James was trying to bypass the grand jury protections in New Yorks Constitution, asserting that information gleaned from the civil subpoenas could be used in a criminal case. Engoron said the argument completely misses the mark, ruling that the civil investigation had been ongoing without the slightest hint that it was a subterfuge to garner evidence for a criminal investigation in the offing.

The Trumps also sought a stay of the depositions. They were ultimately successful in delaying the depositions until the appeals court rejected the appeal.
Former President Donald Trump greets supporters during a rally in Waukesha, Wisc., on Aug. 5, 2022. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Appeal of Trump Endorsement Over Pence on Display in Wisconsin

Former President Donald Trumps influence over GOP swing state voters was tested again on Aug. 9 in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary.

The contest served as another clash of candidates endorsed by Trump and his former vice president, Mike Pence, as both men appear poised to seek the presidency in 2024.

Trump-backed businessman and retired U.S. Army Ranger Tim Michels defeated Pence-supported former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in the primary race.

Michels received 47 percent of the vote, and Kleefisch had 43 percent, as of 11:46 p.m. with 76 percent of the vote counted, according to The Associated Press.

Tim Michels and his family greet supporters after winning the Aug. 9 Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial primary. (Courtesy of Tim Michels for Governor)

Days before the primary, an Emerson College poll showed Kleefisch with a two-point lead36 percent to 34 percentover Michels, which is within the margin of error.

A poll of undecided voters found that slightly more were leaning toward Kleefisch, who gained 41 percent, compared with 39 percent for Michels.

According to that survey, 39 percent of the respondents said Trumps endorsement impacts their decision, while 49 percent said it does not.

Trumps endorsement appeared to make a significant impact in the final result.

Kleefisch, a former TV news anchor who was also endorsed by former Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), launched a generously funded campaign last September and raced to a commanding lead over her lesser-known opponents.

Michels entered the race in April and secured Trumps endorsement in June. The race became more competitive. Michels poured around $12 million of his own money into TV ads, portraying himself as a businessman and an outsider.

Id like to thank President Trump for his support, for this endorsement. It meant so much. It was a tremendous validation of our meteoric rise in this campaign. He knows that we need to have new leadership in Madison, said Michels in his victory speech on Aug. 9.

In the general election, Michels will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who in 2018 defeated Walker by one percentage point and has frequently battled Wisconsins conservative-leaning state legislature. He has vetoed more bills in a single session than any governor in the states history.

Congratulations to Tim Michels on his win against a wonderful and highly-competitive opponent, Rebecca Kleefisch, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I know both sides will come together and defeat one of the worst Governors in the Country, Tony Evers.

GOP consultant Rick Wiley is a former senior official for the Republican National Committee, the Republican Governors Association, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

After Michels victory, he told reporters that President Trump drives Republican turnout. Period.

This race was a toss-up going into Election Day and a Michels victory demonstrates President Trumps ability to rally the base and push his candidate across the finish line, Wiley said. Trump rallies have a huge impact on turnout, and we saw it in Wisconsin tonight.

With Michels  triumph, Trump took a 2-to-1 advantage over Pence in head-to-head gubernatorial endorsements.

In May, Pence-backed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp trounced Trump-supported challenger David Perdue.

In Arizona in July, Trump and Pence held dueling events on the same day promoting their endorsements. It was the first time they supported opposing candidates for an open seat in a statewide race.

Trump endorsed Kari Lake, a former news anchor who is outspoken about her view that the 2020 election was stolen from the former president.

Pences stamp of approval went to Karrin Taylor Robson, a businesswoman and lawyer who was considered the choice for establishment Republicans.

Lake prevailed. She won 47.9 percent of the vote compared with Robsons 43.2 percent, according to the Associated Press.

Trump has also seen victories in his endorsements for House races.

In Washington, Trump-backed Joe Kent edged out Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump.

Washington has an open primary, and the top two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation. Democrat Marie Perez came in first, followed by Kent.

Joe Kent just won an incredible race against all odds in Washington State. Importantly, he knocked out yet another impeacher, Jaime Herrera Beutler, who so stupidly played right into the hands of the Democrats, Trump said in a statement.

Two other House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump lost their primary. On Aug 2, John Gibbs upset Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer in western Michigan. In South Carolina, Rep. Tom Rice was routed by state Rep. Russell Fry in the 7th Congressional District.

Gibbs and Fry are backed by Trump.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) stands with former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence at a campaign event at the Cobb County International Airport in Kennesaw, Ga., on May 23, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In recent months, Pence has aggressively challenged Trump, endorsing competing candidates and ramping up public appearances where he has repeatedly hinted that he would not be deterred from running for president in 2024 even if Trump enters the race.

Pences events were scheduled amid the U.S. House Select Committees Jan. 6 public hearings. Pence has drawn criticism from Trump and many of the former presidents supporters about certifying the 2020 Electoral College results.

Trump is the overwhelming favorite to secure the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, if he chooses to run, according to a majority of polls.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis consistently finishes second in those surveys, while Pence is often a distant third.

On Aug. 8, the day before primaries in multiple states, Trump released a statement saying that a large group of FBI agents raided his home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. He called it a weaponization of the justice system and an attack by the radical left Democrats who desperately dont want me to run for President in 2024.

In a press release, Trump added, They even broke into my safe!

Trump is under scrutiny for a variety of issues that range from the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, to his familys business dealings.

The FBI converged on Mar-a-Lago reportedly in pursuit of evidence on whether Trump mishandled classified information when he took White House documents with him upon leaving Washington on Jan. 20, 2021.

Some political pundits, as well as Republican elected officials and candidates, suggested that the raid would galvanize Trump supporters heading to the polls for Aug. 9 primaries.

Trump traveled to Wisconsin last weekend to campaign for Michels.

In response to the raid, Michels tweeted on Aug. 8, First 87,000 new IRS agents, now this? The FBIs raid this afternoon seems more like a political witch hunt than anything else. Republicans in Wisconsin are far too familiar with overzealous prosecutors. Elections have consequences. Vote.

After casting his ballot on the afternoon of Aug. 9, Michels posted another tweet: We woke up this morning to stakes even higher than we ever thought. Do we want a government of the people or a government targeting the people? Your vote today is the first step in fighting back. Thats what I just did.

Pence defended Trump regarding the FBI raid, writing on Twitter, I share the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented search of the personal residence of President Trump.

After years where FBI agents were found to be acting on political motivation during our administration, the appearance of continued partisanship by the Justice Department must be addressed.
The Supreme Court is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington on July 14, 2022. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Tuna Seller StarKist Asks Supreme Court to Reverse Class-Action Ruling

StarKist has asked the Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling certifying a price-fixing lawsuit filed against it as a class action.

A class-action lawsuit is filed when a group of people or businesses suffer common injuries as a result of a partys alleged conduct. At least one individual or entity acts as a representative of the group. In order for the lawsuit to proceed, a court first needs to decide if the various allegedly injured parties have enough in common to be certified as a class.

Reston, Virginia-based StarKist, which is owned by South Koreas Dongwon Industries, produces packaged tuna fish for the mass market. Its being sued by several individuals as well as grocery chains, restaurants, and caterers for allegedly fixing the price of tuna sold between 2011 and 2013 in the United States. StarKist, Bumble Bee, and three tuna industry executives entered guilty pleas to criminal conspiracy to fix prices.

The case is known as StarKist Co. v. Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative Inc. StarKist filed its petition seeking review with the Supreme Court on Aug. 8.

On April 8, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed a 2019 ruling by federal Judge Janis Sammartino certifying the creation of three separate classes in the suitdirect purchasers, indirect purchasers, and end payers.

But StarKist argues that many of the customers certified, including direct purchasers, didnt experience actual harm as a result of its actions.

StarKist has willingly and proactively settled cases with customers in situations in which there was a reasonable basis for arguing the customer was harmed, StarKist Senior Vice President and general counsel Scott Meece told trade publication Seafood Source News.

On the other hand, StarKist will not settle cases, in these matters or others, if the claims are excessive or in which the complaining party was not harmed. We will continue to defend those cases, and while defense is costly, it is the right thing to do.

In its petition to the high court, the company argues the 9th Circuits decision is wrong because it upheld certification of a class even though a third of that class may be uninjured, leaving the issue of uninjured members to be resolved by a jury. The 9th Circuit ruling also conflicts with rulings by other federal courts of appeals across the country.

StarKist disputes the claim that it conspired to manipulate the list prices for hundreds of different tuna products. The list price for the products at issue is virtually never the price paid by direct purchasers, like a Costco, or passed through to individual consumers downstream, the petition states.

Instead, the actual price paid derives from purchaser-specific negotiations and a host of other factors that often result in variations from the list price. The price of a specific product reflects numerous, highly individualized factors.

These products include both branded products and private label products (e.g., store-brand products sold by Trader Joes and Costco), packaged both for individual consumers and for food preparers. The purchasers of Defendants products vary greatly in size and negotiating power, procurement and retail strategies, and other factors, which influence the prices they actually pay. The prices paid by direct purchasers are reached through individualized negotiations, depending on the type of product.

According to a commentary by Lydia Wheeler at Bloomberg Law, its clear that StarKist and Bumble Bee colluded to increase the price of tuna, but that doesnt mean all the purchasers involved in the class action were actually injured by the alleged conspiracy.

Class actions, though, rarely go to trial, Wheeler added. They often settle once a court certifies the class.

As one judge noted, she wrote, companies settle even if they have a meritorious defense because their potential liability at trial could be enormous, maybe even catastrophic.
Model of natural gas pipeline with EU and Russia flags on the background, on July 18, 2022. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Turn Off the Lights? Europe Hurts Itself Trying to Harm Russia

Commentary

The European Union has announced strict energy efficiency consumption reduction measures to cut 15 percent of gas demand as Russia threatens to shut down gas supplies. Some regions and cities have imposed aggressive heating and air conditioning limits as well as cuts in building lights. Does this work or will it backfire?

Spoiler alert. It will backfire again. Interventionism always damages the ones they pretend to protect.

Energy efficiency is producing the same or greater goods and services with less energy use. Imposing restrictive measures isnt energy efficiency, but control policies looking to collect more taxes via fines.

The decision to turn off the lights of buildings at night has an extraordinarily minor impact on natural gas demand and a massive impact on safety. The demand for natural gas on a typical day already falls by between 20 and 25 percent between 11 p.m. and 8 a.m., according to Enagas and Sedigas. However, electric power and adequate lighting, in addition to improving urban life, have an additional effect: reducing the crime rate at night, according to Ariel Yepez, head of the energy division of the Inter-American Development Bank.

The solution to a supply risk from Russia is to increase diversification and supply sources, not repression.

We cant forget that the same politicians who tell Europeans that they must turn off lights, cut air conditioning, and reduce heating are the ones who decided to shut down nuclear plants, ban natural gas exploration, and introduce regulatory changes that have limited investment in domestic energy.

The solution is to close many more bilateral treaties and trade agreements with other natural gas suppliers, continue to develop wind and solar power, strengthen and extend the life of nuclear power plants, and develop our natural gas reserves, which is prohibited.

Imposing restrictive measures isnt energy efficiency, but control.

Take the example of Spain. The government wants Spaniards to limit air conditioning and heating while the same administration created an unnecessary diplomatic conflict with Algeria, its largest gas supplier.

Spain is also the only country in Europe that is maintaining the schedule for closing nuclear power plants when even Germany is considering extending the useful life of its plants.

Germany created its own problem by shutting down nuclear plants and making its energy mix more volatile, intermittent, and expensive despiteor due tomore than 150 billion euros of subsidies. The average power price for households and small businesses in Germany has increased by more than 45 percent since 2006, according to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW). More than half of the price paid by households is due to politically determined components, such as taxes, levies, and surcharges.

If we want to improve efficiency we must invest in technology, not multiply government spending that supposes a much higher energy consumption.

From a global demand and supply balance point of view, the set of announced limitations doesnt make sense. European demand for natural gas is around 549 billion cubic meters (bcm) per year, according to the IEA. Europe imports 150 bcm a year from Russia. Reducing demand artificially and temporarily by 15 percent has no discernible impact on the global supply-demand balance, as it will be absorbed by China, India, and others, yet has an enormous impact on the European economy.

Government-imposed light and heating cuts will destroy the European Union economy with no relevant impact on Russias energy trade.

Temporarily and artificially limiting the demand for natural gas only harms the country that implements it and, at the same time, perpetuates long-term use: the economy contracts, but the energy mix doesnt change.

Consuming 15 percent less gas doesnt hurt Putin. On July 24, Gazprom, the Russian gas company, reached a new all-time high in sales to China, and Chinese consumption via gas pipeline has skyrocketed in the last 12 months. Since the invasion of Ukraine, China has imported more than $25 billion of energy products from Russia, and in June those imports increased by 72 percent compared to the previous year.

The European Union seems to take energy measures thinking that the rest of the world doesnt exist. Its impossible to think of an energy embargo on Russia while the rest of the world, especially Asia, takes advantage of the discounts offered to consume greater volumes of Russian energy products. In the first six months of 2022, Russias trade surplus has ballooned to a high of $138.5 billion on exports of $153 billion in the second quarter.

Contracting Europes demand for natural gas has done nothing to the global supply-demand balance. The demand for natural gas in Europe fell by 10 percent in the first six months of 2022 according to the IEA, and the impact on the world energy market was negligible, even less on the price of European natural gas.

As I have mentioned, the European Union accounts for 549 bcm of global gas demand. China and the Asia Pacific region are 907 bcm, and global demand is 4,083 bcm according to the IEA. Artificially cutting 15 percent of European gas demand doesnt amount to 2 percent of world demand and doesnt reduce dependence on Russian gas at all.

In most cases, what governments calls energy efficiency policies are tax collection policies with no impact on efficiency.

Studies on the perverse effect of false energy efficiency measures are clear. They cannot possibly contain or halt the shifting dynamics of energy demand or the changing complexes of practice on which that depends, wrote Elizabeth Shove in the journal Building Research & Information in 2018.

In Europe, governments have created the problem: banning exploration and development of domestic resources, closing nuclear power plants, imposing heavy taxes on the companies that invest the most in solar and wind power, and introducing constant legal uncertainty in energy investment with random and harmful regulatory changes. The solution isnt repression, its investment.

It doesnt make any sense to force citizens to freeze from the cold in winter and suffocate from heat in summer while the European governments maintain enormous public spending programs and bloated administrations. That is huge power consumption.

If Europe wants to lower Russian imports, what it should do is stop putting limits and barriers on trade and investment in energy.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A $280 billion spending bill is signed into law. It aims to boost the American semiconductor industry and reduce dependency on China.

Another bill also gets introduced. If passed, it would block the Chinese Communist Party from buying farmland in America. The continued practice has been called a national security issue.

Twitters co-founder is calling for the end of the Chinese Communist Party. His statement comes as a massive movement of getting Chinese people to quit the Party reaches a new milestone.

China keeps upping its pressure on Taiwan by continuing military drills. Taiwan warns that Beijing is using the exercises as preparation to invade the island. The United States reacts.

Topics in this episode:

Biden Signs Bill to Boost U.S. Chipmaking U.S. Weighing Export Ban on Chinese Chipmaker YMTC Korean Chipmakers May Shift Their China Investments Senators Try to Stop CCP from Buying U.S. Land Twitter Founder Calls for the End of Chinese Regime Taiwan: China Using Drill to Prepare for Invasion Taiwan Holds Routine Drills Amid China Tensions Japan, Solomon Islands Hold 1st Military Drill CIA Shifts Focus from Terrorism to China 1st U.S. Battery-Materials Plant to Be Built No New Chinese Companies List in U.S. This Year Company Fined for Removing Made in China Tags South America to Discuss Trade Zone with China

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Minister of National Defence Anita Anand speaks during a press conference in Toronto, on Aug. 4, 2022. (The Canadian Press/ Tijana Martin)

Two Miners Trapped in Dominican Republic Rescued With Help From Canada

Defence Minister Anita Anand says two miners who were trapped in an underground mine for 10 days in the Dominican Republic have been rescued with the help of Canada.

In a tweet on Tuesday, Anand said the Royal Canadian Air Force transported mining equipment to Santo Domingo following a request for assistance from the Dominican government.

Two miners with the Dominican Mining Corporation, known as Cormidom, had been trapped since July 31 in an underground mine.

According to a news release from the Dominican Republic Embassy on Saturday, Canada was expected to send over a mining excavation system made up of machines, tools and various rescue technologies.

The statement says the equipment was provided by Machines Roger International, a mining company based in Val-dOr, Que.

Anand thanked the Royal Canadian Air Force personnel involved in the mission who arrived in the Dominican Republic on Sunday.
UC San Diego Tracks Monkeypox With COVID Wastewater Monitoring Program

SAN DIEGOA UC San Diego (UCSD) program that has monitored wastewater for the virus that causes COVID-19 for more than a year has expanded to detect the presence of monkeypox, it was announced Aug. 10.

Monitoring and testing for the monkeypox virus is a relatively simple add-on to the current wastewater surveillance program for SARS-CoV-2viruses that caused the COVID outbreaksaid Rob Knight, professor and director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at UCSD.

Its the same process as SARS-CoV-2 qPCR monitoring, except that we have been testing for a different virus, he said. Monkeypox is a DNA virus, so it is a bit of a surprise that our process optimized for SARS-CoV-2, which is an RNA virus, works so well.

Researchers at the university began experimenting with the possibility the test might work with both virus types in May when the first American cases of monkeypox were reported and began monitoring wastewater from the Point Loma treatment plant, which serves 2.2 million San Diegans, for the presence of monkeypox virus in early June.

The first positive indicator occurred July 10, at levels near the limit of detection. Levels have dramatically increased since then. Knight said it remains to be seen whether monitoring virus load levels in wastewater can predict future infection or case rates.

We dont yet know if the data will anticipate case surges like with COVID, he said. It depends on when the virus is shed from the body relative to how bad the symptoms are that cause people to seek care. This is, in principle, different for each virus, although in practice wastewater seems to be predictive for multiple viruses.

Dr. Christopher Longhurst, chief medical officer at UCSD Health, said monkeypox monitoring is an important innovation in what he called anticipatory surveillance.

Rising levels of monkeypox in wastewater clearly correlate with the increasing spread of this virus, he said. Detection and monitoring will help alert us to situations before they become crises, providing time for health systems and public agencies to respond, prepare and act.

California declared a public health emergency for monkeypox on Aug. 1; San Diego County followed suit the next day. On Aug. 4, a federal public health emergency was declared with more than 7,000 monkeypox cases reported nationwide. It is just the fifth such national emergency since 2001. The nation remains in a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.

San Diego County supervisors unanimously ratified the state of emergency Aug. 9 in an attempt to bolster vaccination efforts. It will need to be ratified again every 30 days, as needed. The state of emergency declaration will allow the county to seek state assistance and use public health infrastructure for testing, contact tracing, and case investigation.

Of 104 total cases as of Tuesday reported throughout the county, all were male, and 86 self-identified as gay or bisexual. While monkeypox has been spreading locally among the LGBTQ+ community, it is not isolated to that subgroup.

At this time, monkeypox outbreaks are disproportionately impacting our LGBTQ community, but we know it can spread to others, Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said. And it is vitally important that we not stigmatize any individual, that we not stigmatize any community, that we not cast any aspersions.

The first case in the county was reported June 15. The virus has infected people ranging in age from 21 to 62.

Since late May, the county has received 4,687 doses of the monkeypox vaccine. Of those, 3,251 have been distributedincluding 1,550 in the past weekand 2,267 have been administered. The actual number might be higher because it takes a few days for the vaccine registry to be updated.

The monkeypox vaccine is a two-dose series, administered 28 days apart. Following guidance from the California Department of Public Health, given the low supply of vaccines, the county is presently recommending that first doses be administered to as many eligible people as possible.

One dose of the monkeypox vaccine is 80 percent effective, the county Health and Human Services Agency said. Second doses will be administered when more vaccine is available.

Monkeypox is generally spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, resulting from infectious rashes and scabs, though respiratory secretions and bodily fluids exchanged during extended physical episodes, such as sexual intercourse, can also lead to transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms include fresh pimples, blisters, rashes, fever, and fatigue.

Fletcher and the countys health agency will host a virtual monkeypox town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday to allow people to learn about the risks and the countys response to the local health emergency. County Chief Medical Officer Dr. Eric McDonald will moderate the conversation. Joining McDonald will be San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Nick Macchione, Health and Human Services Agency director, and Dr. Wilma J. Wooten, county public health officer, among others.
UK Ministers Working on Fresh Cost-of-Living Proposal for Incoming PM

The Government is working up a fresh package of cost-of-living support for the next prime minister to consider when they take office, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has said.

Simon Clarke argued it is absolutely right for the new leader to consider these options in the round when they take the reins, suggesting they should steer clear of announcing new uncosted policies during the election period.

It comes after frontrunner Liz Trusswho has Clarkes backinghit out at bizarre proposals to agree help for rising energy bills with the Government and her rival Rishi Sunak before the contest is over.

Sunak said he would welcome a meeting to agree emergency support ahead of the winter, but Truss branded the proposal a kangaroo committee at Tuesdays leadership hustings in Darlington.

On Wednesday, consumer champion Martin Lewis called on the two candidates to set out how they will tackle the energy crisis to alleviate the mental health damage facing millions in the UK.

Later, speaking in Manchester, Truss insisted the country already has a proper constitution in place.

Put to her that some are asking why she cannot team up with her rival, as well as the outgoing PM, to assure people that there will be help for them in September, she said we have a Prime Minister, we have a Chancellor and they make decisions at present.

Separately, in an interview with the Evening Standard, she doubled down on her view that cutting taxes is a top priority.

Im not going to say anything further about a future Budget in advance because I think that would be irresponsible, she said.

Truss vowed to do what I can to help households across the country, as I look at the evidence and I sort things out.

Her team went on to take a fresh swipe at Sunaks campaign, accusing him of socialist tendencies.

(PA Graphics)

In a series of tweets, Clarke said the Government is working up a package of cost-of-living support that the next Prime Minister can consider when they take office.

He stressed his view that the leadership hopefuls should avoid uncosted policies during the election, and instead look at the options in the round if and when they take charge.

The senior Treasury minister added that he has no doubt that Truss will do the responsible and honest thing if elected, by making decisions in light of all the facts.

Speaking during a visit to Belfast, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi acknowledged the Government is making all sorts of contingency plans when challenged over the risk of blackouts this winter.

He said the UK must be able to withstand the pressure sparked by Russian President Vladimir Putin playing with energy prices deliberately.

Hence why we have to make all sorts of contingency plans, he said.

Meanwhile, allies of Sunak played down the defection of one of his supporters.

Former Cabinet minister Theresa Villiers, who is backing Sunak, insisted that inevitably MPs change their mind during these contests, when asked about Chris Skidmores decision to switch allegiances.

But the Truss campaign claimed to be in touch with other Sunak-supporting MPs who could follow in Skidmores footsteps, potentially triggering a bigger exodus from the former chancellors camp.

Were in talks with others from camp Rishi and Chris coming over could trigger a bigger exodus of MPs from Sunak to us, a spokesperson said.

Villiers remarks came as former Tory Party leader Lord Howard said he agreed with Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raabs suggestion that Trusss tax-cutting plans would be an electoral suicide note.

With concerns mounting over the cost-of-living crisis, questions have been raised over any immediate cross-Government action to tackle energy price hikes.

Tony Danker, director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has said that the Prime Minister and the two contenders to replace him should come together to agree a common pledge to support people and help quell fears.

But Education Secretary James Cleverly told ITVs Good Morning Britain it is not in the hands of Truss or her campaign team to truncate the process of agreeing extra help.

In order to bring about changes to tax systems or to financial support systems, we need to have votes in the House, that needs to go through a proper scrutiny process, he said.

It is not as simple as recalling Parliament to have an emergency debate on something like military action, which is a very simple one-question yes or no answer.

Villiers said no government can insulate everyone from the rising cost of energy, but that Sunak certainly recognises that we need to do more.

She told Sky News: Rishis determined, if hes PM, to do as much as he can to help people through what is a crisis around the world with energy bills.

She added that Rishi has the right plan for the economy at a time when the country is heading into a really serious situation.

But a spokesperson for the Truss campaign said: Liz believes in people keeping more of their own money, not Rishis socialist tax and spend which will lead us to recession.
Conservative Leadership hopeful Liz Truss speaks at the fifth Conservative leadership hustings before an audience of Party members and media at the Darlington Hippodrome in Darlington, England, on Aug. 09, 2022. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

UKs Truss Actively Seeking to Pin Down Chinese Regime on Uyghur Genocide

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Monday that she has been actively looking at ways for the UK to deal with genocidal regimes.

It could bring an end to a months-long tug-of-war in which British lawmakers tried to pressure the government into recognising the Uyghur genocide in Chinas Xinjiang region.

Campaigning at an event hosted by the Conservative Friends of Israel, Truss also vowed to follow the issue through and make sure that regimes committing genocide can be held to account if she emerges victorious in the leadership contest next month.

In December 2021, an independent peoples tribunal in London, led by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, ruled that the Chinese communist regime had committed genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far west Xinjiang region.

Examining evidence that had largely been in the public domain, the tribunal found that the Chinese Communist Party, through an array of repressive acts including mass internment, family separation, sterilizations, and forced labor, had implemented a deliberate, systematic, and concerted policy to lower the Uyghur population in the region.

The United States government has recognised that the Chinese regime had committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims since January 2021, as did the UK Parliament and a number of other legislatures around the globe, but the UK government has so far resisted the pressure to label the abuses genocide, citing successive governments policy that only a competent court can make such designations.

Currently, there are two international courts that can potentially deal with genocide, but they are effectively paralysed when it comes to allegations against the Chinese regime.

The International Court of Justice, which deals with state-sponsored genocide, cant deal with allegations of genocide in China because of the countrys veto power in the U.N. Security Council.

The International Criminal Court, where individuals are tried for grievous crimes, needs the nation in question to be a signatory to the Rome statute, which China is not.

Lord Alton speaks on the genocide amendment in the House of Lords, Westminster, London, on Feb. 23, 2021. (Parliamentlive.tv/Screenshot)

Lord David Alton last year proposed an amendment to the UKs post-Brexit Trade bill to give UK courts the power to designate genocide in order to stop the government from trading with genocidal regimes, but the amendment ultimately lost its teeth after being watered down by the ministers.

Vocal critics of the Uyghur genocide, including lawmakers supporting the genocide amendment, Nice, and the Uyghur Tribunal, were sanctioned by the Chinese regime in March last year.

Asking Trusss opinion on Altons amendment, Lord Stuard Polak said he had voted against the government in support of it and was told off by party whips.

Truss responded by saying she was actively looking at what we can do to deal with the issue of genocide.

Because the fact is that the international court system is not working, that were not able to properly designate it, so Im looking at other mechanisms we can use, Truss said.

The foreign secretary said she recently had a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and some of the lawmakers sanctioned by the Chinese regime for being vocal on Xinjiang, adding: Im committed to following that through as prime minister to make sure that regimes committing genocide can be held to account.

The comment received a huge welcome from human rights advocates.

Commenting on a clip of the event showing the question and answer, Alton wrote on Twitter: Great question, great reply.

Human rights campaigner Luke de Pulford, who works closely with Alton and other parliamentarians on countering human rights abuses in China, said it was extremely gratifying to see this.

Nusrat Ghani, one of the MPs sanctioned by the Chinese regime, said this is why shes backing Trusss campaign.

She listens, engages with colleagues, [and] you can trust her to get things done, Ghani wrote on Twitter.

Genocide Amendment was hard fought [and] I even got sanctioned by China for it. But Lizz [sic] accepts the U.N. isnt working and we need to do more, she added.

Truss and her opponent Rishi Sunak have both vowed to be tough on China, but it appears Truss, who has a longer track record of speaking out against the regime, has the support of most China hawks.

Conservative Party members will have until Sept. 2 to cast their vote, and the winner will be announced on Sept. 5.
Buddhist monks stroll through the ancient Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province in Cambodia on July 16, 2010. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo)

US Returns 30 Ancient Artifacts, Stolen in the Late 20th Century, to Cambodia

The United States returned 30 stolen artifacts to Cambodia on Monday after more than five years of investigation into an organized looting network that reportedly sold the pieces to international buyers.

Ricky J. Patel, a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys investigative unit, said the artifacts were stolen from Cambodian temples and palaces and smuggled across borders.

These artifacts belong to the people of Cambodia, and we are proud to participate in their recovery and their return home, Patel said in a statement.

Among the antiques returned to Cambodia were a 10th century sculpture of Hindu deity Skanda atop a peacock and a 10th century sculpture of Hindu god Ganesha, both of which were stolen from the ancient Khmer capital of Koh Ker.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, antiquities were looted from Koh Ker and other archeological sites during the late 20th century during the war in Cambodia and sold on the international art market through an organized looting network.

Local teams of looters would first remove the statues from the original sites. The statues would then be transported to the CambodiaThailand border and transferred to brokers, who would in turn transport them to dealers in Khmer artifacts located in Thailand, the department stated.

These dealers would sell the artifacts to local or international customers, who would either retain the pieces or sell them on the international art market, the department added.

Douglas Latchford, a Bangkok-based antiquities dealer, was accused of selling the looted artifacts in Western art markets to two private collectors and an American museum.

Latchford was charged in 2019 with wire fraud conspiracy and other crimes related to art trafficking, but the indictment was ultimately dismissed after his death. He died at the age of 89 in 2020.

The United States has repatriated more than 15,000 artifacts to over 40 countries and institutions since 2007, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In 2021 alone, U.S. officials returned 27 antiquities worth about $3.8 million to Cambodia.
US Army Pilot Who Vaccinated Under Duress Punished for Questioning COVID Shots, Family Claims

A U.S. Army aviator who has been serving for almost 20 years is facing possible discharge for speaking out against the COVID vaccines, even though he took two Pfizer shots in order to see his newborn child.

Jessica Hill-Budge, the wife of Brandon Budge, a maintenance and combat pilot from the aviation branch of the U.S. Army, shared her familys story with The Epoch Times.

Brandon Budge is a Chief Warrant Officer 3, but after he vocalized his concerns and resisted getting COVID vaccines, his promotion to Chief Warrant Officer 4 was withheld.

Jessica says that he was later coerced into taking both Pfizer shots. She was pregnant and considered high risk by her attending physician when Brandon was ordered to deploy to South Korea.

She explained that Brandons commander refused to allow him to remain in the United States until his wife delivered their new baby boy, being informed that without full COVID vaccination status he would be unable to return for the birth or any potential emergencies.

Eventually, because he could not bear to miss the birth of his son, Brandon took the vaccine, Jessica said.

In May of 2021, he received orders to deploy to South Korea, and without being jabbed, his wife would be left to care for their 6 other children while dealing with her high risk pregnancy.

This was too unsafe for them, so Brandon opted to be vaccinated under duress.

Brandon and Jessica have 7 children in total, the youngest is 9 months old and the oldest is 18 years old.

Since he had shown initial resistance to the vaccine and requested an additional 90 days to provide care for his wife who had complications, he was accused of falsifying his vaccination record. Brandon was not allowed to provide evidence to prove his innocence, including a receipt and vaccine card from Walgreens, Jessica stated.

Myocarditis Risk

Bradon didnt want to take the vaccine because of the potential complicationsspecifically myocarditissince he is a pilot and any significant cardiovascular event or diagnosis could potentially terminate his flying career.

Cases of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside the heart) have spiked dramatically since the COVID vaccines started being administered worldwide.

The Epoch Times reported in May that a top airline pilot was disabled due to cardiac arrest linked to the vaccine.

Many other pilots in the Air Force are trying to resist the vaccine mandate and hundreds could potentially be discharged if the courts dont rule in their favor.

I know of personally more than 700 pilots who are actively unvaccinated and have filed a religious accommodation or have filed for a medical exemption or something of the sort, a USAF pilot told The Epoch Times in June.

Thats not What America Is About

Even though a Flying Evaluation Board determined that Brandon should remain on active flight status, his direct superior decided that his flight status should be removed, Jessica said.

Brandon told The Epoch Times: I think Ronald Reagan said it best when he said America is too great for small dreams. As a soldier and an army aviator, I love my country. I love the thought of freedom. I have loved my opportunity to offer that freedom to others around the world. I love that I work with a multitude of individuals that seek to offer the same blessings of freedom to the downtrodden and the oppressed, even if it means we must give our lives to do so. The United States of America is the greatest experiment of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness that has ever existed. We are the worlds last greatest hope.

Jessica says that the command chief warrant officer of the brigade has previously bullied her and Brandon over the phone with threats to Brandons career.

Enoughs enough. This leadership in this command is ridiculous, to say the very least. And it appears that they had no intention of doing what was right from the beginning, Jessica said.

I believe that we should have the right to choose whether or not we want to take a vaccination. I was pregnant. I didnt choose to take the vaccine, I got to make that choice. Just because my husbands in the military, he doesnt get to make his own choice?

Thats not what America is about.

The Epoch Times reached out to the U.S. Army for comment.
A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on Sept. 30, 2014. (Tami Chappell/Reuters)

US to Buy Sigas IV Drug Worth $26 Million to Fight Monkeypox Outbreak

The U.S. government will buy Siga Technologies Inc.s $26-million worth of intravenous formulation of antiviral drug Tpoxx, the company said on Tuesday.

The company plans to deliver by next year the order for the IV treatment, which would be a vital option for patients unable to swallow the oral pill as monkeypox symptoms include rashes and blisters in the mouth.

More than 27,800 cases of monkeypox have been reported in over 80 countries where the disease is not endemic. The United States has reported more than 7,500 cases.

The oral and intravenous formulations of Tpoxx are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of smallpox, but does not yet have clearance to treat monkeypox.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided a guidance for its use under expanded access as an investigational drug.

The company said the government has also decided to fund a post-marketing field study for the intravenous form of the drug.

Siga has also received multiple orders for its oral drug from Canada as well as countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
US Warns Citizens Reconsider Travel Amid COVID Separation of Mother and Son

The United States urges its citizens Reconsider Travel in its latest travel advice to American nationals.

Commentator: Even with the incident in which a mother and her child were forcibly separated after entry quarantine, there is still no apparent sign that the Hong Kong government takes any steps to review such mishaps.

Commentator Simon Lee says the Hong Kong government is no longer under media supervision. So, it has no constraints and Hong Kong will suffer from its actions.

The U.S. travel alert for Hong Kong is now at level 3 Reconsider Travel. It mentions in particular that if children are diagnosed, they may be separated from their parents.

Simon Lee Sai-man, a political and economic commentator, said that the current Hong Kong administration can act recklessly when there is no more media monitoring in place. It comes as no surprise HK is placed under the travel warning category by the U.S., all due to its own lack of restraint.

The U.S. State Department had ever updated its travel advisory on July 19, urging all U.S. nationals not to travel to HK. To underline that, it states in bold one possibility:  including the risk of parents and children being separated due to current pandemic prevention restrictions. As justification, it cited a few relevant cases, children in HK and the China who test positive have been separated from their parents and kept in isolation until they meet local hospital discharge requirements.

In an interview with an online programme, Lee said that after a mother and son went to a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong, the authorities said that the son tested positive when he entered the country and would be sent to Pennys Bay for isolation. The mother tested negative.

The mother asked if she could move in with her son but was refused. As a result, the son was forcibly separated from his mother and sent to Pennys Bay. The mother was left totally flabbergasted at that moment.

Current rules have it that, people entering Hong Kong from outside China need to undergo a so-called 7+7 quarantine for those who test negative upon entry. That is a 7-day stay in a designated quarantine hotel plus another 7-day in self-monitoring. However, from Aug.13 quarantine will change to 3+4.

Those who test positive upon entry will be sent to an isolation centre without delay.

In addition to the separation of mother and child, Lee added that he also saw strange cases via the online group chat. When some people were on their final days in a hotel quarantine, but for some reasons due to flight delays and need to stay longer, they were refused any extra days booking in the hotel to meet their new flight departure date.

Lack of Media Monitoring is the Most Likely Culprit

Under the HK National Security Law (NSL), freedom of speech and freedom of the press in HK have both been severely curtailed. Criticism of the government has been reduced or even nullified. Based on all these, Lee said bluntly that the biggest problem lies in the media having no more role now in monitoring the government.

Without due monitoring from free media, the Hong Kong administration becomes ignorant of all reviews. And on the other hand, we see more and more cases it has continued to enforce the law recklessly. The high (Level 3) travel warning tagged on HK by the U.S. could be said to be self-inflicted, and they have only themselves to blame.

Lee said that in the past, when Apple Daily, Stand News, and the likes were still around, they would put such news as headlines on their front pages to arouse the governments attention or force some sort of concession. Even the pro-establishment media would likely follow suit and talked about it. Most of the time when facing such pressure from all sides of the political spectrum, the government will handle each case in a more appropriate way.

If that were still the case now, it is likely both the mother and her son will stay in Pennys Bay together, as a gesture of leniency or special treatment under exceptional circumstances, leading to a happy conclusion. Unfortunately, with the current HK media all in a state of virtual self-castration, the Hong Kong government can do whatever it likes. That is why when the U.S. said that you are too arbitrary and rigid in enforcing these laws, there is a lot of truth in it.

Lee stressed that in the case of the Hong Kong governments reckless law enforcement, it is right the U.S. lists all risks and advises its nationals to avoid coming to Hong Kong to safeguard the well-being of its citizens. It has nothing to do with what the Hong Kong government saying all day long, foreign governments should not make irresponsible remarks. He sighed: The problem is not that people want to smear you, but only that you show no restraints.
Dried mud and old trees at Colliford Lake in Cornwall, where water levels have severely dropped, on Aug. 10, 2022. (PA)

Water Shortages Growing as England and Wales Head for 2nd Heatwave

Parts of England and Wales are facing a second heatwave later this week amid raising concerns about water shortages caused by this summers drought.

Last month, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) for the first time on record and, while the weather wont be as hot, the Met Office has put out an amber warning for extreme heat from midnight on Aug. 11 through Aug. 14.

The Met Office stated that temperatures could climb to 35 degrees C (95degrees F) or even 36 degrees C (97 degrees F) in some parts of southern England and Wales.

The UK Health Security Agency has advised people to look out for elderly neighbours and relatives or those with existing health conditions.

Elderly Advised to Stay Hydrated

Dr. Agostinho Sousa, from the UK Health Security Agency, told the BBC: The most important advice is to ensure they stay hydrated, keep cool, and take steps to prevent their homes from overheating.

Months of low rainfall have left parts of England and Wales facing drought, and hosepipe bans were introduced in Sussex, Kent, and Wales last week.

The village of Northend in Oxfordshire was the first in the country to run out of water. Thames Water supplied bottled water to residents after a technical issue at nearby Stokenchurch Reservoir.

The firm later stated, Were continuing to use tankers to pump water into the local supply network and working on other ways to boost supplies to the area.

A group of young men cool off in the hot weather by diving into the water at Cullercoats Bay in North Tyneside on Aug. 10, 2022. (PA)

Thames Water, which supplies 15 million customers across London, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, stated that it would consider a hosepipe ban if the hot and dry weather persists.

Several grass fires have broken out in the heat, and people have been urged to resist the temptation to cool off in lakes and ponds after a 14-year-old boy drowned in a lake near Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

The Metropolitan Police say a search is also underway for a man in his 20s who went for a swim in a lake in Hounslow, West London.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Men are also victims of domestic violence, but many are unable to get the help and support they seek. (FotoDuets/Shutterstock)

What Happens to Male Victims of Domestic Violence When They Become Demonised?

Commentary

The stereotype often invoked when someone talks about domestic violence is of a toxic and domineering man. Influential in the promotion of such an approach is the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

On March 3, he posted on Twitter: If we want to end violence against women, its not women who need to change their behaviour. Men do.

It is not the first time the Australian prime minister has made such statements. On Nov. 26, in an opinion piece, he wrote: While [domestic violence] is an issue for all of us, men must step up  We must hold ourselves accountable, talk about [our] behaviour, and act when we see problems.

Of course, this sort of gender determinism would never be tolerated if it was applied to all women as a collective group. But the prime minister is simply presenting domestic violence entirely as a male problem, thus placing all the blame for the problem on Australian men as a collective group.

However, as political scientists Denise A. Hines and Emily M. Douglas explain, this conceptualisation of domestic violence has hampered the ability of women who abuse their male partners to seek and get help from social service and criminal justice systems.

As a result, women who resort to domestic violence against their male partners face numerous barriers when seeking help within the system. The following statement epitomises the experience of most domestically abusive women:

He tries to understand my side of the argument. He talks to me rather than hits me. I still hit him, however. I would like to enrol in a class in anger management, but the shelter for battered women does not help women with this problem.

Group Labels

The prime minister apparently assumes that all men as a collective group are socialised to believe that violence can be justified to keep their partners and children subjugated. It is worth noting that Albanese is not a social theorist or a qualified health professional in a position to make these far-reaching statements.

According to Linda Mills, an emeritus law professor at New York University: It has served mainstream feminism both socially and politically to simplify and reduce the violence continuum to include only physical abuse perpetrated by men. Mainstream feminists made domestic violence unilateral.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a press conference in Sydney, Australia, on July 8, 2022. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Under normal circumstances, it should not even be necessary to remind the Australian prime minister that not every instance of domestic violence is inflicted by men.

As stated by Adam Blanch, a clinical psychologist living in Melbourne, an extraordinarily large body of evidence consistently shows that most domestic violence is committed by both women and men and is motivated by feelings of revenge, frustration, and anger.

These research findings reveal how feminist theory is entirely inadequate in explaining the complexities of the problem. And yet, as the prime ministers comments demonstrate, the feminist narrative continues to underline the ongoing debate about domestic violence in Australia.

Lack of Help for Men

As a result, male victims often report that their complaints are never taken seriously and helplines or shelters are generally targeted toward female victims only. There is even the cruel assumption that every male victim must actually be the perpetrator. Some of these battered men have even been put at risk of further violence by social services contacting the abusing partner and letting her know the man has sought help.

According to Greg Andersen, a spokesman for One in Three Campaign which advocates for awareness of male victims of domestic violence: A male victim seeking support who reads on a website that he needs to take responsibility for his violent and controlling behaviour is probably not going to have a lot of confidence in ringing that service and asking for help. And if he does call and is assumed responsible for the violence, he may not reach out for help again.

A man using a smartphone walks through Londons Canary Wharf financial district in the evening light in London on Sept. 28, 2018. (Russell Boyce/Reuters)

There is also the assumption that only a few men are victims of domestic violence. Due to the prevailing feminist narrative, violence by women against men is notoriously underreported.

According to Sarah Wallace, a senior research fellow at the University of South Wales (USW), this is because these male victims fear appearing unmanly, shame, embarrassment, and a failure to live up to masculine ideals. This was the experience of most abused men interviewed by Wallace, who felt that they needed help to get to the root of these feelings.

What is more, abused men frequently report that when they call the police during an incident involving a domestic partner being seriously violent, the police more often than not fail to respond or take a report. Some of these victims report being ridiculed and even arrested by the police as the supposedly violent perpetrator, and even when there is no evidence of injury to the female partner.

All Victims Need Support

There are far too many Australian men who have experienced domestic violence and do not even report it or tell anyone. This may be caused by the above-mentioned fear that they will be ridiculed and experience shame and embarrassment. Of course, there is almost no shelter for these men escaping from domestic violence. As a result, death rates and homelessness for Australian men aged 35 to 45 have risen dramatically, thanks primarily to these issues.

And yet, Albanese continues to feed the dangerously false and misleading narrative that men are always the sole perpetrators of domestic violence. Why is the prime minister glossing over the harsh realities of this serious social problem?

In fact, it is even possible to suggest that statements such as this may be doing great social harm by accepting a narrative that obscures real and urgent problems.

Needless to say, I have absolutely no intention of minimising violence against women. One must speak out loud and clear about violence against women. Indeed, one must speak very loud and clear against any form of domestic violence.

But enough of pretending this is only about men terrorising their women and children. The prime minister should speak out on behalf of all victims of domestic violence, especially when there are so many barriers deterring male victims from ever reporting the violence inflicted upon them.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Whitmer Too Busy to Testify in Abortion Law Enforcement Case: Files Motion to Quash Subpoena

Attorneys for Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer have asked a trial judge to excuse her from testifying in the lawsuit she brought to block county prosecutors from enforcing the states strict abortion law.

Whitmer, a first-term Democrat, is seeking reelection in November.

She has made the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court a central issue in her campaign, vowing publicly to fight like hell to keep access to abortion easy in Michigan.

In what her lawyers titled Governor Gretchen Whitmers Emergency Motion to Quash Subpoena, Whitmer provided a list of reasons why she should not be required to testify at an evidentiary court hearing in her own case.

Pro-life supporters celebrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on June 24, 2022. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

The hearing, scheduled for Aug. 17, is to determine if the temporary restraining order Whitmer successfully sued to obtain can be replaced by a preliminary injunction to bar county prosecutors from enforcing the states abortion statute until the case is finally adjudicated.

The states law forbids doctors from performing an abortion except to save the life of the mother.

Whitmer has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to declare that abortion is a right guaranteed by the state constitution and that the current statute is unconstitutional.

Her motion to quash and its supporting brief was filed on Aug. 9, the day after the subpoena was issued.

It reads in part, It is apparent that defendants subpoena of the governor is not necessary [or perhaps even meant] to aid this court in resolving the questions before it, and would only serve to detract from the governors performance of her duties, needlessly complicate the proceedings before this court, and improperly raise the level of spectacle surrounding this case.

In the brief, Whitmer suggested the defendants call other state officials in the executive branch to testify.

David Kallman, Senior Legal Counsel for the Great Lakes Justice Center. (Courtesy of Kallman Legal Group)

Whitmers attorneys pointed out that she is currently scheduled to be in the Upper Peninsula for official business on the day of the hearing.

They also noted that requiring the governor to personally appear in public at a specified and pre-announced time and location, as the subpoena contemplates, carries with it enhanced security risks 

Whitmers brief also informed the judge that on the evening of Aug. 8, the governor tested positive for COVID-19.

Her attorneys expressed concerns about the extent of the demands on the governors time a personal appearance at the hearing may require, writing, because other parties will appear to testify, the governor cannot be certain when her testimony will begin and end.

Attorney David Kallman, who represents two county prosecutors Whitmer is suing, told The Epoch Times in an Aug. 10 phone interview: How is it that the governor was not too busy to file this case and promote it all over the media? How is it she doesnt have an hour-and-a-half to testify in court?

The court should not shield the governor from answering questions about the issues that form the very basis of the claims she is making in the case that she brought.

We are entitled to question her. She should have to testify just like anybody else.

Whitmers lawyers contend that, because she is suing on behalf of the people of the state of Michigan in her official capacity as governor, there is no need or basis to require her personal testimony.
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Marsha and I went on a quest for Wiener schnitzel, a dish that we fell hard for in Salzburg, Austria on our honeymoon fifty years ago. No restaurant in Connecticut seems to offer this staple of Austrian cuisine, so we vowed to make it at home. Our journey of discovery led us to prowl cookbooks, websites and YouTube videos. The result  with the help of local suppliers  success!

Wiener schnitzel, the famous national dish of Austria, is served across that nation in restaurants, fancy or plain. The plate-sized, thinly-pounded, lightly-breaded cutlet is cooked in a bath of hot oil, served with a slice of lemon and eaten right away while the crust is still puffy and crisp.

True Wiener schnitzel is made with veal  a thin, lean cutlet pounded out to an even thickness. Beware the recipe that might use pork instead or even chicken. The Austrians would be aghast.

A full-service butcher shop is the place to start.

Tempting, thick-cut steaks filled the meat case at the Darien Butcher Shop, but that wasn't what I was looking for. Manager Alexander Aflalo pulled a veal top round out of the cooler and expertly sliced off two cutlets for our schnitzel. He gladly pounded them to an even and tender thinness with a smooth-sided schnitzel klopfer.

After enjoyable hours reading recipes and studying online videos, Marsha and I were eager to try our hand. With just a few ingredients  flour, egg, bread crumbs and the cutlet  it comes down to technique to get the authentic result  a puffy, sturdy crust that bubbles up and separates from the meat. A video from the restaurant Meissl & Schadn in Vienna was very helpful.

The trick, I learned, was a deep bath of oil heated to 350 degrees. I poured a quart of canola oil into a cast iron pan and kept an eye on the temperature with a digital thermometer.

The lightly-breaded cutlet is slipped into the oil without touching the bottom of the pan. After an astonishingly short time, the cutlet is gently turned. Magically, the crust puffs.

To round out the menu I visited the Taste Of Europe, a source for hard-to-find ingredients in Norwalk, to pick up a bag of German spatzle noodles and a jar of red cabbage. (Products from the small country of Austria are seldom seen.)

Our dessert, another home-cooking adventure, was Salzburger nockerl. A souffle originating in the city where Mozart was born, it often follows schnitzel. Again, a few simple ingredients combined with practiced technique create something unique.

As we learned in a video from Sazburgs famous Hotel Goldener Hirsch, egg whites are beaten into a stiff meringue, combined with egg yolks, sugar and a little flour. The mixture is mounded into three peaks, mimicking the three mountains surrounding the city. Baked like a souffle to golden brown, the signature dessert is presented with ceremony and served with fruit sauce.

When not eating schnitzel and nockerl in Salzburg, we learned that the locals are often found in a konditorei  a coffee and pastry shop essential to their wellbeing. Morning coffee and pastry, afternoon coffee and a sweet, noontime for a light lunch, the konditorei are busy all day long. My kind of place.

In New Canaan, the Patisserie Salzburg has a showcase of elaborate confections, European style cookies and beautifully decorated cakes along with a light breakfast and lunch menu, just like the konditorei we enjoyed.

Opera tort, two layers of cake protected by thin layers of chocolate from the hazelnut center, all wrapped in whipped cream, was delicious. Square, generously-sized Linzer Tarts filled with raspberry jam were crisp and nutty. A mille feuille with layers of pastry cream and butter cream separated by puff pastry and capped with chocolate streaked fondant was impossibly rich. All were typical to what we savored all those years ago.

Enjoyed with a bottle of Berger Gruner Veltliner, the native wine of Austria, and Gerolsteiner sparkling mineral water, the dinner was a hit. Ahh, the wonderful memories that delicious food can summon.

Frank Whitman can be reached at NotBreadAloneFW@gmail.com.
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WESTPORT  A cell tower proposed for a private residence on Greens Farms Road received pushback on Tuesday from residents and members of the Connecticut Siting Council, which also encouraged the applicant to look at other spots in town.

The 124-foot tower is being proposed by Tarpon Towers/AT&T, which say it is needed because much of southwest Westport is without reliable service.

We have a gap in coverage in this area that needs to be filled in, Martin Lavin, a radio frequency engineer, said during Tuesdays hearings on the project.

Council Member Robert Silvestri asked if this tower is more for those traveling on I-95, or for the area around the proposed tower.

Both need the service that the site can provide, Lavin said, and Metro Norththe trains going by, too.

But officials and neighbors questioned if this was the right spot for it, asking about the wetlands on the property, the design of the tower, the lack of cover from neighbors views and tree removal.

A similar proposal from North Atlantic Towers at this location failed in 2014, with a protest from neighbors. Tarpon Towers proposed a new cell tower at the private residence last year, followed earlier this year with another possible site for the tower at an office building, both on Greens Farms Road. In February, the office location was withdrawn as a possibility for the cell tower, leaving the private residence as the top proposal.

On Tuesday, some council members questioned how the proposed tower compares to the existing tree line and if the applicants would consider using a monopine, which is a cell tower disguised to look like a tree, if it were ordered by the council.

Brian Gaudet, project manager at All Points Technology Corporation, said a monopine can work for a lot of situations, but would be a little bit outrageous for this area.

Where this tower is going to be visible, its going to be visible pretty high above the treeline  40 feet, 50 feet, at some points, Gaudet said. So, if you have a monopine, in an area of deciduous hardwoods, that would stick out pretty blatantly and really increase the width of the tower at the top, as opposed to the monopole option.

He said he believes the only option would be to paint the lower portions of the tower, which could help it blend into the trees.

Brittany Duda, a resident in the area, said she chose to live in this part of town because there wasnt a cell tower there over another location in Westport that had one.

Seeing a pole for a cellphone tower there doesnt seem like its adding to the charm of our town, she said.

Marisa Manley, who has lived on Greens Farms Road since 1992, also spoke out about the project..

Manley said the property values in this neighborhood are in the $500,000 to $600,000 range as opposed to other locations in Westport that are in the millions.

She called the tower being built there a slap in the face to those who own modestly priced homes.

Council Member Robert Silvestri asked about two other locations and if the applicant investigated them: the site of the towns sewer treatment plant at 4 Elaine Road and the Greens Farms train station on New Creek Road.

Keith Coppins, of Tarpon Towers, said he didnt look into either site, but they can look into if the sites are feasible for the tower.

Scott Mikuszewski, a resident of an adjoining property on Greens Farms Road, brought up a similar point and said he strongly opposed the project in its current location. He added the project's executive summary contradicts itself saying this home is the only suitable location to provide coverage and capacity in this area, while later saying multiple locations were reviewed and confirmed to work from a radio frequency perspective.

There was no justification presented as to why the (Connecticut Department of Transportation) railroad location has been deemed unsuitable other than a lack of urgency by the CDOT staff to assist with coordinating a project, he said.

Concerns also focused around the use of a diesel-powered generator for the tower, as well as the wetlands and animals within it with some members questioning if any state-listed protected species were found in the area.

Dean Gustafson, senior wetland scientist at All Points Technology Corporation P.C., said two federally listed species came up during an official search: a northern long-eared bat and a red knot.

Gustafson said the site was found not to have a likely adverse effect for the long-eared bat and the tree removal would occur outside of its pup season, if the schedule allows.

However, Gustafson said that all forests in Connecticut are considered its habitat, and the proposed area isnt ideal considering it is near I-95.

The red knot is a migratory bird found in tidal and inter-tidal areas. Gustafson said the project would not have an adverse effect on the bird, and those areas are not in the property, nor the areas adjacent to it.

Two wetlands were identified in the area, according to Gustafson, who said one area wouldnt be used by amphibians because it only has seasonally saturated soil.The other transitions into a tidal wetlands area, which would not support any breeding habitat.

The council will continue the evidentiary session at 2 p.m. on Sept. 26 on Zoom.
MEXICO CITY (AP)  Drug cartel gunmen burned over two dozen stores and blocked streets with blazing vehicles in western Mexico in a response to a series of arrests of drug cartel figures, authorities said Wednesday.

Images circulated on social media showed men commandeering cars and buses and setting them on fire late Tuesday in the middle of roadways. Others showed burned out convenience stores.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that soldiers had confronted criminals, including bosses, at a meeting of two gangs Tuesday in Jalisco state.

The president said there was a shootout, arrests and this provoked protests of burned vehicles, not only in Jalisco, but also in Guanajuato.

The U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, issued an advisory instructing employees to follow the advice of local authorities and to shelter in place until further notice.

Local authorities and media are reporting multiple road blockades, burning vehicles, and shootouts between Mexican security forces and unspecified criminal elements in various parts of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, according to consulate.

Oxxo, a national chain of convenience stores owned by Femsa, the country's largest bottling company, said in a statement that 25 of its stores in Guanajuato  which borders Jalisco, home to the cartel of the same name  were either totally or partially burned.

Fortunately, all of our employees and customers are all right, the company said.

Videos showed armed men, some shouting slogans in support of the Jalisco cartel, bursting into convenience stores before setting fires, as occupants of the stores fled.

Videos also showed men commandeering cars and buses and setting them on fire in the middle of roadways.

Guanajuato-based security analyst David Saucedo said the Oxxo stores were apparently chosen because of their ubiquity and light security, rather than because of any dispute with the company.

They are small stores, there are many throughout the state, they don't have security like a Walmart or Liverpool (department store) have, Saucedo said, adding they are open at night, and everyone recognizes them.

Cartels often create such chaos in an effort to keep authorities from transporting captured cartel bosses or to protest arrests.

Lopez Obrador said authorities were still deployed Wednesday in the area of Jalisco where the initial arrests were made.

Jalisco Gov. Enrique Alfaro said via Twitter that no one was injured in the destruction that followed the arrests. He said five people had been detained in the raids and one suspect was killed, but did not identify them.

Jalisco is dominated by the Jalisco New Generation cartel, whose leader Nemesio Oseguera, El Mencho, is among the most sought by Mexican and U.S. authorities. There was no indication Oseguera was present at the clash. Guanajuato is the scene of a bloody proxy war between Jalisco and the Sinaloa cartel, which operates through local gangs.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  The United States is doubling down on its investment in the Pacific, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Tuesday as she concluded a five-nation visit to the region where China has been making inroads.

The future will be written here in the Pacific, Sherman said at an agreement-signing event in New Zealand's capital, Wellington.

Critics have accused the U.S. of neglecting the region and allowing China's influence to flourish.

The Solomon Islands in April signed a security pact with China in a move that has alarmed many in the Pacific who fear it could lead to a military buildup. The U.S. earlier this year announced plans to reopen an embassy in the Solomons, where on Sunday Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare skipped a service commemorating the Battle of Guadalcanal that Sherman and other dignitaries attended.

Sherman said the U.S. has always been a Pacific nation. She said it has been a priority for President Joe Biden to rebuild alliances and relationships around the world, and officials were using every vehicle possible to collaborate with Pacific partners.

And so we are doubling down on our investment here in the Pacific, Sherman said. Our relationships, our partnerships, regional organizations.

Asked if she felt the U.S. or China was winning the battle for influence in the region, Sherman said she didn't see it quite that way.

It's not so much a battle, she said. I think that countries try to have relations with every country they believe will help them move forward. And the United States does not ask any country to choose between us and China, or any other country and China."

She said the U.S. wanted a level playing field and respect for the rules-based international order that was put in place after World War II, a system that had helped China rise and which ought to benefit all nations.

Sherman said she had discussed China among a number of topics in a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Sherman signed agreements to collaborate more closely with New Zealand on space missions and emergency management. It was the final stop on a trip that had taken her to Samoa, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Sherman spoke more about the decision of the Solomons' prime minister to stay away from Sunday's Guadalcanal commemoration.

I told him I was sorry for him because I thought he missed an opportunity to raise up that strong partnership and the fight for freedom that allowed the Solomon Islands to exist as it is today, she said.
MICHAEL B. THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images

A little girl is safe after the car she was in was stolen in the early Wednesday morning hours.

According to St. Louis County Police, an Amber Alert was sent out across the St. Louis region after the Hyundai Sonata 2-year-old Amri Washington was sitting in was stolen while her mother allegedly stepped away momentarily. The vehicle was in a North St. Louis County living complex.
That release could not be found.
Some heads of security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory have agreed to work together to strengthen security in the nation's capital.

In a statement by the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT commands spokesman, Chukwuedo Humphrey, the meeting was convened at the instance of the NCoS FCT controller, Ahmed Musa, to evaluate and strengthen intelligence gathering among the security services.

The meeting was attended by FCT police commissioner, NSCDC commandant, comptroller of immigration, SSS director and the commanding officer of 176 Guards Brigade.

Humphrey said the security heads evaluated the manpower strength and defects that might have aided the attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre on July 5.

He added that the meeting dissected the gaps and agreed on solutions to forestall future attacks.

The command spokesperson explained that part of the resolution of the security heads was to build a single command structure for timely response to any security emergency and that the security chiefs agreed to introduce a joint simulation training to boost understanding among all security personnel on duty in the territory.
A team of electricity experts from the United States will today (Wednesday, August 10) arrive in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State, to start work as the technical partner of Aba Power Limited, a member of Geometric Power Limited founded by Professor Bart Nnaji, a former Minister of Power and a globally respected engineer.

The seven experts are from the international arm of the National Rural Electrification Cooperative Association (NRECA), based in Arlington, Virginia, USA.

Formed in 1942, NRECA services over 90 electricity cooperatives across the United States while NRECA International, founded in 1962, has provided electricity to over 160 million people in 43 countries around the globe.

The experts arriving in Aba today are led by Dr Dan Waddle, the NRECA senior vice president.

The arrival of this high-quality technical team in Nigeria which will work at the Aba Power Limited for five years is a huge boost to the countrys electric power sector, said Patrick Umeh, the Aba Power Managing Director who used to be at the Los Angeles Water and Power Corporation in California before joining the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) as a commissioner.

We are unwavering in our commitment to make Aba Power a truly world-class company in service delivery to nine out of the 17 local government areas in Abia State.

Umeh explained that the NRECA team will devote themselves to operations and maintenance at our firm.

They will also be involved in the training and development of our technical workforce, most of who came from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

They need to update their technical knowledge and skills, just as they need to have new values and a new orientation in terms of service delivery in the 21st century.

Umeh disclosed that that Aba Power Ltd, Nigerias newest electricity distribution company, would soon adopt key performance indicators (KPIs) in the contract with NRECA to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that not just the firm but the Nigerian people have full value for their money.

The contract with NRECA International is by no means cheap, the APL MD continued, but no sacrifice can be considered too much for the people of Aba and environs.

NRECA has for decades been involved in the development of the electric sector in such countries as Bangladesh, Tanzania, Haiti and Venezuala.

They have a rich experience of not just emerging markets, but also of countries in Africa like Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia, Angola", said Umeh.

Therefore, they will not have any difficulty adapting to our environment.

The Aba power projected will be commissioned later in the year.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, standard-bearer, Bola Tinubu, has warned Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, over fake news allegedly being propagated by his supporters.

Tinubu who asked Mr Peter Obi to call his supporters to order, while warning that falsehood and disinformation will not win elections, urged Obi to stop his supporters to allow the election circle be about issues that will advance the growth, progress and stability of the country.

This was contained in a statement by Tinubu Campaign Organization, issued on Wednesday by the Director, Media and Communications of the group, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

The statement also admonished the Labour Party presidential candidate to get his supporters to desist from spreading lies, malice and denigrating other candidates, especially Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

TCO (Tinubu Campaign Organisation) further states that Nigeria will be bette because the electoral process will be enriched if the 2023 presidential campaign sticks to issues of good governance that will lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty rather than being dominated by the ravings of guttersnipes, who do not wish the country well, the statement stated.

Onanuga noted that the Tinubu Campaign Organisation deemed it necessary to appeal to Obi to prevail on his supporters after investigating the origin of the fake report claiming that the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo wrote a letter to Tinubu, asking him to support Obi and take care of his (Tinubu) health.

Meanwhile, the Ghanian president had debunked the claims via his Twitter account. I have written no such letter to the APC leader, and it will not occur to me to do so.

Ghana and Nigeria boast of decades of cordial, strong and brotherly relations, and I am not going to be the one to interfere in the internal affairs and politics of Nigeria, said President of Ghana.

Onanuga, however, said: We have found that the fake news about Akufo-Addos letter was first published on June 22 by a rogue platform, whose url reads worlsnews.space (sic) and site identity as World of News.

A content analysis of the site clearly showed that it is a Biafra news platform. The fake news was reposted on Facebook by Peter Obi Support Group, same day  a clear proof that Biafra campaigners and Peter Obi supporters are the same.

Both the Facebook account and the website are replete with fake stories about Bola Tinubu, including a fake story credited to former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, alleging that Tinubu demanded N50 billion monthly payment from him.

The spuriousness of the statement is in the evidence that Lagos did not begin to clock N50 billion revenue until after Ambode left office.

Tinubu could not have demanded N50 billion monthly payment from Ambode when the state government didnt make such in a month throughout the tenure of Mr. Ambode.

The pirate website, which the Facebook account feeds, on also parades malicious fake news and headlines such as I am old, but my blood is young, please vote for me  Tinubu begs youth .

There is also the most wicked of all headlines: When I became president, I will Build more prison (sic) for Igbos and IPOB members  Tinubu.

The big surprise in all of these is that all the headlines have no supporting stories, and clicking them may bring virus to your computer.

We have come to a point where it becomes imperative to tell Mr. Obi to show leadership and disavow his supporters, who are employing fake news and disinformation as deliberate tools to deceive and poison the minds of unsuspecting Nigerians, he added.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has just revealed the improved condition of the Nigeria police force in readiness for the 2023 election.

The workshop, organised by the Police and Solar Security and Consult Company Limited, has the theme: The 2023 General Elections: Enhancing National Security Capacity for a Secure and Credible Electoral Process in Nigeria.

The I-G revealed confidently, the readiness of the police force to take adequate charge of the 2023 election.

The statement was released on Wednesday in Kano at the opening of a workshop on election security management for police officers in the North-West zone.

The IGP in his statement assured Nigerians that the police would provide effective security during the 2023 general elections. He said security arrangement are already in place to counter any challenges that may occur during the process.

The police boss was represented by an Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 1, Sadiq Bello.

He said that the participants would be trained on various techniques of managing security challenges during elections.

We are preparing the minds of the police officers to be ready in confronting security challenges that might come up, so as to ensure a successful election.

There are a lot of expectations on the police and other security agencies as the election is around the corner.

Performance of the police has improved, you will believe me that based on the recent election conducted in Ekiti state, there is hope for the country, he said.

Former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, at the training, expressed confidence that the election would hold in spite of the current security challenges in the country.

That is why the I-Gs initiatives should be commended. One aspect we are very concerned about is the new Electoral Act, 2022.

We believe that our officers should be conversant with the provisions of these laws, and most importantly, on the issue of inter-agency collaboration.

It is true that the police is the lead agency, but we work in cooperation with other security agencies, we want to develop templates, where our working arrangement will be seamless, he said.
Brit brought back to life on Patong beach road

PHUKET: An Australian tourist has been formally recognised for his life-saving efforts after he revived a British man who had suffered a heart attack and collapsed on the Patong beach road.

tourism

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 10 August 2022, 04:23PM

Rob Cullen, from Melbourne, Australia, receives his Certificate of Commendation from Matthew Barclay, Australias Consul-General in Phuket, last week for his efforts. Photo: Australia Consulate-General, Phuket

Rob Cullen from Melbourne, Australia, received a Certificate of Commendation from Matthew Barclay, Australias Consul-General in Phuket, last week for his efforts.

Robs actions were phenomenal  he is an absolute hero. It fills me with a lot of pride as an Australian to share in Robs story and chat to him about his quick thinking and critical care for a complete stranger, Mr Barclay said.

Rob and his wife Deb had just left Molly Malones on the Patong beach road at about 9:30pm last Tuesday (Aug 2) when they saw the British man had collapsed on the footpath.

The fellow tourist was unresponsive.

Rob sprung into action using the CPR skills he learned as part of his work back home and through sheer determination managed to revive the person and maintain their vital signs before emergency services could arrive, Mr Barlcay explained.

Rob says he didnt think twice about assisting and just did what needed to be done, he said.

Rob persisted with his efforts for 15 minutes until the British man, later confirmed to be 73 years old, started breathing on his own, explained Wal Brown, a long-time expat who has worked with the police volunteer programme in Patong and the International Liaison Volunteer Program supporting the Region 8 Police.

He just kept going until the man started breathing again, which happened before the ambulance arrived, Mr Brown noted.

Ambulance medics said the British man had suffered a heart attack and rushed him to Patong Hospital. The man was later transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Phuket Town.

Mr Brown also highly praised Mr Cullens efforts.

I couldnt speak of it more highly. Police volunteers always have to be prepared for incidents like this, but its great when people take the initiative themselves, he said.

Robs actions alone can inspire other people to jump in and maybe save a life themselves, Mr Brown added.

Mr Cullen undergoing repeated emergency resuscitation training every two to three years was likely crucial to saving the British mans life, Mr Brown noted.

It kept his skills sharp and Rob did not hesitate in putting them to use, he said.
FBI raid on Trumps home ignites political firestorm

FLORIDA: Top Republican leaders flung their support behind former US president Donald Trump yesterday (Aug 9) after an extraordinary Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raid on his palatial Florida residence sparked a political firestorm in an already bitterly divided country.

politicsviolence

By AFP

Wednesday 10 August 2022, 12:07PM

Former US President Donald Trumps Mar-A-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: AFP

The FBI move marked a stunning escalation of legal probes into the 45th president and comes as he is weighing another White House run.

Several former advisors to the 76-year-old Trump urged him to immediately confirm that he would be a presidential candidate in 2024.

Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before, Trump said of the FBI operation at his Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach.

He denounced the FBI raid as a weaponization of the Justice System by Radical Left Democrats who desperately dont want me to run for President in 2024.

At the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden did not have any advance notice about the raid and respected the independence of the Justice Department.

Asked about the potential for civil unrest in reaction to Trumps legal problems, Jean-Pierre said theres no place for political violence in this country.

The FBI, which is led by Christopher Wray, a Trump appointee, declined to provide a reason for the raid.

But US media outlets said agents were conducting a court-authorised search related to the potential mishandling of classified documents that had been sent to Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House in January 2021.

Trump has also faced intense legal scrutiny for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and over the Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.

Since leaving office, Trump has remained the countrys most divisive figure, continuing to sow falsehoods that he actually won the 2020 vote.

A day after the raid on Mar-A-Lago, US Representative Scott Perry - a Trump ally - said that FBI agents had confiscated his cell phone, but did not specify why it was taken.

This morning, while traveling with my family, three FBI agents visited me and seized my cell phone, Perry told FOX News, condemning these kinds of banana republic tactics.

Allies rally round

Leading Republicans rallied around the former president, who was not present at Mar-a-Lago when the raid took place.

Trumps former vice president Mike Pence, a potential 2024 rival, expressed deep concern and said the raid smacked of partisanship by the Justice Department.

Kevin McCarthy, who is seeking to become speaker of the House of Representatives if Republicans win Novembers midterm elections, accused the Justice Department of weaponized politicization.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said launching an investigation of a former president this close to an election is beyond problematic.

Representative Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking House Republican, called it a dark day in American history.

If the FBI can raid a US President, imagine what they can do to you, Stefanik tweeted, to which Democratic Representative Ted Lieu replied: Why cant the FBI investigate a US President? Were not Russia, where the law doesnt apply to the head of state and his cronies.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House, told NBC that no person is above the law.

Presidential paperwork

In his statement, Trump did not give any indication about why the FBI raided his home but said: They even broke into my safe!

Andrew McCabe, a former FBI deputy director, told CNN that agents may have been looking for something specific related to the probe into the handling of classified information.

The National Archives said in February that it had recovered 15 boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago and asked the Justice Department to look into Trumps handling of classified material.

The recovery of the boxes raised questions about Trumps adherence to presidential records laws enacted after the 1970s Watergate scandal that require Oval Office occupants to preserve records.

Trumps former communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin told CNN the raid could fire up his supporters, a small number of whom rallied outside Mar-a-Lago yesterday.

If its seen as some sort of massive overreach and not something incredibly serious, this is a very good day for Donald Trump, Farah Griffin said.

For weeks, Washington has been riveted by hearings in Congress about the Jan 6 storming of the Capitol and Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has been repeatedly pushed over whether the Justice Department is building a case against Trump over the Capitol riot.

Trump is also being investigated for his efforts to alter the 2020 voting results in the state of Georgia, while his business practices are being probed in New York in separate cases.
Lost tourists found in Koh Phangan forest

SURAT THANI: Two foreign tourists who reported by phone they had lost their way while walking in a forest on Koh Phangan were found and brought to safety by a search party last night (Aug 9).

tourismSafety

By Bangkok Post

Wednesday 10 August 2022, 11:28AM

The Spanish tourist, in red shorts, flashes a thumbs up after being found by a search team. He and a woman companion from Belarussia called for help via hotline 1155 after getting lost in a forest of Koh Phangan, Surat Thani province, yesterday (Aug 10). Photo: Assawin Pakkawan

About 8pm, Koh Phangan tourist police received an emergency call on hotline 1155 from two foreign tourists, a Spanish man and Belarussian woman. They said they had become lost after going for a walk on a mountain near Moo 5 village in tambon Koh Phangan and were in need of help. Tourist and local officials formed a search team and set out to find them. They found Jaime Iabaig Nunez, 25, from Spain, and Darya Pankova, 22, from Belarus, about 10:20pm. They were tired but unharmed. After being given food and water the two tourists were taken back to Hi Life Bangalow at Moo 8 village in tambon Koh Phangan, where they were staying. The two tourists had called for help on hotline 1155. The search team contacted them using WhatsApp instant messaging app, to learn more about their location.
Phuket airport holds fire drill

PHUKET: Phuket International Airport held an emergency drill last Monday (Aug 8) simulating a fire near the airports runway.

Safetytransporttourism

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 10 August 2022, 06:23PM

The drill involving the Fire and Rescue Department and the Medical Department of the Phuket International Airport started at 10am in the fire pit next to the runway.

With black smoke billowing over the flame, firefighters approached the fire pit and put the blaze down. Then the medical teams joined the action providing help to victims. The drill was deemed a success.

Real fire drills are to be conducted four times a year to provide firefighters with sharp skills and keep them ready to act if an actual incident occurs, the Phuket International Airport explained in a Facebook post.

The previous real fire drill was held at the airport on May 31. It was followed by another exercise on June 16 at the airport office building where firefighters practiced working inside of a building while other personnel learned how to evacuate in an orderly manner.
Phuket tourism industry turns to India

PHUKET: Phuket tourism officials are hoping for inbound tourists from India to help boost the islands economy following a road show to the subcontinent earlier this month.

tourismeconomics

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 10 August 2022, 11:17AM

The road show, held from Aug 1-6, saw more than 40 tour operators from Phuket travel to the Indian cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

The road show was organised by the Phuket Tourist Association with support from the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO).

Also named as vital in organising the road show were Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Deputy Governor Thanet Petchsuwan and Pattarat Hongtong, Ambassador of Thailand to India.

PPAO Deputy President Anuparb Wechwanichsanong said in a statement last week that the Phuket delegation of tourism business operators met with 300 tour operators in the three major India cities.

The group Phuket business operators were the first representatives from Thailand to hold promotional activities in India after COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted, Mr Anuparb said.

The Indian market is considered the number one market in Phuket. From May until July, more than 83,000 Indian tourists have traveled to Phuket, because there are more than 40 airlines per week that fly directly into Phuket, Mr Anuparb noted.

August is also a special month as it marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Thai-India relations, he added.

As a whole, Indian entrepreneurs are very interested in Phuket. It is expected that from August until the end of the year there will be an additional 150,000 Indian tourists arriving, which will create an economic value of more than B7.500 billion baht in Phuket, he said.

Business operators in the Phuket Old Town district have already welcomed the arrival of Indian tourists to help their businesses.

Meanwhile, the Phuket Tourist Association is also organising a roadshow to South Korea, with tourism trade meets to be held in Seoul and Busan on Sept 20-21.
Pla Wan Corner road safety project to begin

PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office will spend B23 million to improve one kilometre of Sakdidet Rd, leading to Cape Panwa (Route 4023), in order to make the road safer, Phuket Highways Office Chief Yuttana Phithak has announced.

transportSafety

By The Phuket News

Wednesday 10 August 2022, 06:57PM

Mr Yuttana announced the news at a public hearing held at the Wichit Municipality offices, chaired by Muang District Chief Suwit Suriyawong, yesterday (Aug 9).

The works will be from km 2+000 to km 3+000, with the work focussing on the lane heading from Cape Panwa to Phuket Town, Mr Yuttana explained.

The project will see the road widened and the road surface improved, he said.

The project will cost B23mn, Mr Yutthana noted. Previously, officials had announced that they had requested B30mn to make the road safer.

The purpose of the meeting yesterday was to inform local residents of the reason and necessity for the project, and to warn them of traffic delays along the road while the project is carried out, Mr Yuttahana added.

The meeting was also held to hear local residents opinions on the project, he said.

Let the people know, as well as participate by expressing their opinions on the project, that the implementation of such a project is for convenience and safety for road users, and to reduce accidents involving people who use the route, he said.

Muang District Chief Mr Suwit joined Mr Yutthana in explaining the official reason for the public hearing.

The implementation of the project is to help people travel by improving convenience and safety along the route, which when better developed will have an impact on people in the area, he said.



Todays meeting is to explain to the public the implementation of any project. However, the project is requested to be based on good wishes for the country, taking into account the interests of the general public as a location, Mr Suwit added.

The official report of the public hearing made no mention of any opinions expressed or reservations any local residents might have about the project. However, it was made clear that the project was approved by those present at the meeting.

Local residents had complained for years about how unsafe the road was, especially at the Ao Nam Bo curve, in front of Ao Nam Bor School.

However, amid much controversy, officials finally decided to take action  but only after Vorasit Pla Wan Issara, owner of the upscale Sri Panwa resort, slammed into a roadside power pole at speed at the site in March last year.

Officials remained silent about the accident until pressure from local residents forced them to publicly recognise the high-profile incident. Much conjecture was held over the vagaries concerning whether or not Mr Vorsait was tested for alcohol in the accident investigation.

Mr Vorasit was left comatose after the accident, but regained consciousness soon after, according to the Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital at the time, Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol.

Two days after the accident Dr Chalermpong and Col Prateung Ponmana, Wichit Police Chief at the time, declined to confirm or deny whether or not Mr Vorasait had been tested.

The dangerous section of road now finally to be upgraded has since been locally called Pla Wan Corner.

Mr Vorasait survived yet another high-speed accident in March this year, his time losing control of his B30-million Bentley, which overturned three times before going up in flames, while returning from Khao Lak in Phang Nga.
Moonage Daydream is the first film that Bowies estate has given permission for production. The estate gave the director, Brett Morgen, access to over 5 million items from the artists archive.

Morgen began searching through the items back in 2017, and found enough to make a 140-minute film, with a load of unseen concert footage.

The Hollywood Reporter said that the footage in the film is extensive and it goes back as far as Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars appearances in the early 70s through the Outside and Earthlings tours of the mid-to-late 90s.
Vietnam needs skilled workforce to become upper-middle-income economy by 2035: WB

Vietnam will need a skilled workforce to transform itself into an upper-middle-income economy by 2035, the World Bank has suggested in its recently-released report named Taking Stock: Educate to Grow.









Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)



In its bi-annual report, the lender said: Vietnam needs a workforce with 21st century skills to grow. As the economy moves from being driven by low skill and low wage jobs in manufacturing and services towards a more innovation driven growth model built on higher value-added industries and services, Vietnams workforce will need to attain higher level and more relevant skills.



The Vietnamese Governments Socio-economic Development Strategy for 2021-2030 says as much, aiming to use scientific, technological, innovative, and digitally transformative knowledge and build quality human resources as key drivers of higher productivity and future economic growth. To achieve these goals, Vietnam needs to reform its education system to improve quality and access, and thus provide the necessary skills to the population, it affirmed.



This edition also underlines transforming the higher education system as the key to boosting the countrys productivity and achieving its development goals, in the context where the country re-emerges from the pandemic and into a challenging global environment.



The reports co-author Dorsati Madani said that while Vietnams economic recovery had been relatively stable, not all sectors witnessed the same situation.



The impact on workers and households during the crisis was serious and lasting, with about 45% claiming lower incomes in December 2021 than the previous year.



The impact of the pandemic is still present with businesses reporting broad-based labour shortages as of March 2022, which were felt more acutely in services and manufacturing, and in the Ho Chi Minh City area.



This, in addition to growth slowdown or stagflation in main export markets, further commodity price shocks, continued disruption of global supply chains, or the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, are hindering Vietnams full recovery.



Statistics revealed that Vietnams population has an average 10.2 years of schooling, second only to Singapore among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.



Vietnams human capital index is 0.69 out of a maximum of 1, the highest among the lower middle-income economies.



However, low skills relevance of the university graduates put the country in the bottom third of the 140 countries listed in the 2018 Competitiveness Index on skills relevance of university graduates.



A WB skills and enterprise survey published in 2019 also said that 73% of sampled Vietnamese firms report difficulties in recruiting employees with leadership and managerial skills, 54% with socio-emotional skills, and 68% with job-specific technical skills.



Focusing on tertiary and higher education, the WBs report recommends reforming the education system to improve quality and access, and thus provide the necessary skills to the population.



Reforms to Vietnams higher education system could help support development objectives, the report says.



The increasing financial costs of pursuing higher education and the perception of diminishing economic returns from pursuing higher education have weakened demand.



While efforts to enhance the business environment are crucial to enabling job creation, policymakers should also take steps to reduce skill-mismatches and improve the quality of Vietnams labour force.



Carolyn Turk, WB Country Director for Vietnam, said: To sustain economic growth at the desired rate, Vietnam needs to increase productivity by 2-3% every year.



International experiences have shown that higher worker productivity can be achieved by investing in the education system, as an important part of a basket of investments and reforms. A competitive workforce will generate much-needed efficiency for Vietnam in the long term.



In its report, the World Bank forecast Vietnams GDP growth to expand 7.5% in 2022 and 6.7% in 2023, with resilient manufacturing and a robust rebound in services serving as the driving forces for economic recovery./.
Press Release

August 10, 2022 OFFICE OF SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

MANIFESTATION

National Day for Indigenous Peoples

August 10, 2022 Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to commend and congratulate our distinguished colleague, our Senate President Pro-Tempore, Senator Loren Legarda, not only for her moving speech, but more so for her deeds. We all know, Mr. President, the folly of those who rely on words but fall short in action, and I am grateful that our Senate President pro-tempore's words shine a light to her life, one that is lived in full support of our Indigenous Peoples. She walks her talk, ika nga, Mr. President. Thank you, Senator Legarda, for remaining true to your advocacy, and may we always follow suit. I, for one, will always strongly support measures and programs for the betterment of our Indigenous Peoples. That is all, Mr. President. Thank you.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 21C. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 16C. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
City_news

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Planned Queen Mary bus lane rankles west end merchants

Joel Ceausu / By Joel Ceausu The Suburban Merchants say stop. Bus 51 route is among the citys busiest says the STM, and a bus lane is required to mitigate congestion at Decarie.

Sandra Climan knows books, her customers, retail and her neighborhood. This is going to kill us, she told The Suburban, referring to the reserved bus lane coming to Queen Mary.

As reported in The Suburban in May, the CDN-NDG borough announced the rush hour lane, from Cote des Neiges boulevard to Macdonald, would alternate: south side going east in the morning, north side going west in the afternoon.

Parking spots removed during rush hour will be relocated to side streets, but the owner of Bibliophile and others feel its overkill, as traffic problems east of Decarie cited as reason for a reserved lane are not as severe on the western portion, where after a few hundred metres the road becomes more residential with far less car traffic.

Indeed, traveling from Cote des Neiges to Decarie at rush hour can be grueling, particularly heavy at the intersection itself, but west of that its more sedate. They say this will save bus users about six minutes but that will lose me clients, she said, adding that hers is a niche store in a very accessible and diverse neighborhood that people frequent for quick drop-offs and pick-ups, especially after school and during afternoon commutes. Were just getting out of this pandemic. Why do they want to hit us with this? Im an independent English bookstore in Montreal. Does the city want to shut me down?

The Suburban asked Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa about the concerns. Currently on vacation, her office responded that they are doing everything to keep merchants well informed. The borough elected officials unanimously agreed to create a reserved Queen Mary bus lane, that will provide 8,000 public transit users daily with a faster and more reliable service. The buses on the route, the 166 and 51, are among the citys busiest, and many users have responded favourably to the plan, says the STM and the borough.

Katahwas office added that parking will still be allowed in the reserved section except for the afternoon rush hour on weekdays, when 40 spaces will be unavailable. However, parking spaces will not be impacted on weekends. Moreover, during weekday afternoon rush hour, parking on the eastbound side and centre of Queen Mary Road will not be affected. The borough will also add more than 60 paid spots in the lane area to compensate for fewer spots during rush hour, to boost parking during the rest of the day and on weekends.

A petition circulating the neighborhood asking for a meeting with municipal authorities to address the impacts on small businesses in the three-block stretch from Decarie to Clanranald has garnered almost 300 signatures from merchants, area residents and shoppers. After a public meeting in May, signatories say their concerns were not properly addressed. It feels like theyve made up their minds, laments Climan. They are committed to getting more people to use buses. So no matter what we say it seems like they dont care.

The STM is responsible for the layout and estimates that the Decarie crossing delay requires a reserved lane on the west side to make up for it. The STM is arranging an informative door-to-door tour for this month. Reserved bus lanes do not start or end with the most challenging area, stated the mayors office, they must be seen as a whole. That irks Climan. Were not asking to redraw this whole map and take out the middle, were just saying shorten it, cut off the end.
China has repeated military threats against Taiwan while appearing to wind down wargames near the self-governing island it claims as its own territory
Firefighters were battling a wildfire in southwestern France on Wednesday in an area known for its pine forests that was ravaged by flames last month
NED BRISTOL is a retired editor of The Sun Chronicle. Contact him at nedbristol@msn.com .
PONTOON BEACH  A recent $4.2 million Rebuild Illinois grant will allow Madison County Transit to acquire land and develop a new Logistics Valley Transfer Station.

The new MCT Logistics Valley Station will create a place for buses from all over the region to arrive at a central location, like spokes of a wheel, and make timed transfers to high frequency inner-park shuttles, said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. Its not only an improvement for the passengers and for MCT, but this represents another way that were making Madison County employers more competitive in the region and really the Midwest.

The facility will provide Logistics Valley workers with a safe, covered, climate-controlled waiting area along with public restrooms and vending facilities. In addition to a 2,000-square-foot building, multiple bus bays, and a covered canopy, the facility will house a police substation with an office for law enforcement or security.

For more than 15 years, MCT has offered a comprehensive array of transportation services to more than 10,000 employees in the county's Logistics Valley corridor. Located along Illinois 111 near Interstates 270 and 255, Logistics Valley is comprised of three warehouse districts  Gateway Commerce Center, Gateway TradePort and Lakeview Commerce Center  and is home to dozens of employers including Amazon, World Wide Technology, Geodis, Menasha, Dial and Proctor & Gamble.

MCT currently operates six bus routes from various parts of Madison County as well as a route from the Emerson Park MetroLink Station. Because many of the employers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, MCT has expanded the frequency, destinations and the number of trips operated throughout the week. Shift times also vary among the employers and change throughout the year, so MCT works closely with employers to offer service when the greatest demand exists.

Over the course of the last year, MCT picked up more than 57,000 passengers in Gateway Commerce Center alone. Recent employee surveys revealed that 47% of the workforce in Logistics Valley live in Madison County, 24% in St. Clair County, 12.5% in St. Louis County and 4% in St. Louis City. The remainder comes from other parts of the region.

In addition to public bus service, MCT operates the regional commuter rideshare program known as RideFinders through which workers can find a carpool or vanpool. The cost of the vanpool is covered by the employees with, in some cases, support from the employer.

Last month MCT helped start its first vanpool to Logistics Valley  St. Louis to World Wide Technology. In partnership with the St. Patrick Center which helped to find the employees and World Wide Technology, vanpool employees have a direct commute which operates at the start and end of their shifts.

The RideFinders Vanpool program offers a low-cost solution for bringing residents to jobs, and allows us to target specific shift times, said RideFinders Outreach Manager Kym Brown. Were always willing to meet with employers to discuss our services and speak directly to their employees at on-site events.

Registered RideFinders carpoolers and vanpoolers are also eligible for the Guaranteed Ride Home  four free taxi, Uber or Lyft rides home per year per employee, in the event of an emergency.

The most important asset to Gateway Commerce Center is the availability of workers, said TriStars Founding Partner, Rod Thomas. The fluidity of workers across the state boundary is increasingly important to maintain the world class development Gateway Commerce Center has become. The vanpool program offered by RideFinders and the bus service provided by MCT keeps this area moving forward and allows for employers to continue to add more workers.

Many transit commuters make transfers between both MCT and Metro to reach Logistics Valley. MCT serves the Emerson Park MetroLink station between 4 a.m. and 1 a.m. the next morning.

There is a spirit of cooperation among the regions transportation providers, municipalities, and businesses to maximize options that connect workers with jobs and employers with resources, said Taulby Roach, President & CEO of Bi-State Development. The businesses along the I-270 corridor in Madison County represent some of the regions fastest growing industrial parks, including Gateway Commerce Center, Lakeview, and Gateway TradePort. Workforce availability is key to business retention and expansion, and Madison County Transits efforts support our regions workforce and provides a competitive edge for all industries in the bi-state area.

To learn more visit www.mct.org, call 618-797-4636 or e-mail info@mct.org.
WIXOM, Mich. (AP)  An auto trim maker violated the law after releasing industrial chemicals into a river system northwest of Detroit, Michigan environmental officials say.

Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy says its Water Resources Division issued citations Tuesday to Tribar Manufacturing in Wixom for discharging a plating solution containing hexavalent chromium into a sanitary sewer system the weekend of July 29.

The solution ended up at a wastewater treatment facility that sends wastewater into a creek that flows into the Huron River system.

Hexavalent chromium is a known carcinogen and can cause a number of health problems if someone ingests, touches or inhales it, according to Michigan's Department of Health and Human Services.

Tribar Manufacturing was cited for failing to immediately notify the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy after discovering the discharge. The agency also alleges that the unauthorized discharge of pollutants interfered with the wastewater treatment process.

The agency said it is still investigating exactly how much chemical was released and why.

Tribar Manufacturing has until Aug. 20 to respond in writing to the notices, according to the state agency. The Associated Press called Tribar Manufacturing Wednesday afternoon but was unable to leave a message on the companys voicemail system.

State health officials have said testing at 55 downstream locations in the Huron River system did not find any hexavalent chromium.

Health officials say people and pets should avoid contact with the Huron River in parts of Oakland and Livingston counties. It also advises that fish caught in that area should not be eaten.
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. J.B. Pritzker is actively reaching out to businesses in Indiana and other states that have recently passed restrictive abortion laws in hopes of luring those companies to Illinois.

Well, already I've reached out to companies that are affected in Indiana," Pritzker said at a Monday news conference. "I want to make sure that they know that they're welcome in Illinois, any expansion that they may be looking to do, that we welcome their employees."

His comments came just days after Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, signed into law a near-total ban on abortions in that state, making Indiana the first state to enact a new law restricting abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court in May overturned the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade which had previously legalized abortion nationwide.

Indianas new law bans the procedure except in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies or when the pregnant persons life is at risk.

The day after Holcomb signed that bill, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company, one of the states largest employers, issued a statement saying it would look to expand its workforce outside of its home state.

We are concerned that this law will hinder Lillys  and Indianas  ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world, the company said. While we have expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services unavailable locally, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees.

That statement helped highlight the growing fallout from the Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the decision that overturned Roe, exposing both the political and economic consequences of the ruling.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization that supports abortion rights, Illinois is one of only a handful of states  and the only state in the Midwest  with laws specifically protecting access to abortion services.

Although Indiana was the first state since the Dobbs decision to enact a new law restricting abortion, several other states had so-called trigger laws on the books that only went into effect once Roe v. Wade was overturned. Others, including Wisconsin, had dormant laws on the books that predated Roe and were unenforceable until Roe was overturned.

But on Aug. 2, voters in Kansas overwhelmingly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given their state legislature broad power to enact abortion restrictions, a response to a 2019 state supreme court ruling that found the states constitution protected abortion rights.

In Illinois, Pritzker has worked with abortion rights advocates to expand access to the procedure, even promoting the states more permissive laws to encourage patients from other states to travel here for services.

On Aug. 4, Pritzker announced the state would increase its Medicaid reimbursement rate for abortion services by 20 percent, effective Sept. 1, as a way to provide increased resources to abortion providers who are seeing increased patient loads due to women coming to Illinois from other states.

Illinois abortion providers have been working overtime since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Pritzker said in a statement announcing the change. They need support as they take on this new burden on the frontlines of this fight. Supporting them with reimbursement increases allows them to focus on their important work without worrying about rising costs of supplies and services.

That move drew a sharp rebuke from Illinois Right to Life, a group that opposes to abortion rights, which called the action an incredible misuse of funds by the government in Illinois.

Like most Illinois abortion law, this increase in taxpayer-funding of abortion is in direct opposition to what a majority of Americans believe about the issue, the groups executive director Amy Gehrke said in a statement.

Pritzker has also tried to make abortion rights a central issue in his campaign for reelection to a second term, contrasting his support for those rights with the views of the Republican candidate, state Sen. Darren Bailey, of Xenia, who in 2017 compared abortion in the United States to the Nazi Holocaust.

The attempted extermination of the Jews of World War II doesn't even compare on a shadow of the life that has been lost with abortion since its legalization, Bailey said in a video statement at the time.

Other Illinois Republicans have distanced themselves from such remarks while still endorsing Bailey for governor. State Rep. Tom Demmer, of Dixon, the GOP candidate for state treasurer, said during a Tuesday news conference that he doesnt want abortion to be a major issue in the election.

You know, we're talking about, again, some of the things that Illinois Republicans have fought for  fair maps, term limits, rejecting (the) graduated (income) tax. These are things that have widespread bipartisan support, he said. These are the kinds of things we're going to fight for and build a majority coalition around.
Too much victory? Brawl breaks out on Block Island Ferry after long weekend.

Rhode Islanders who flocked to a summer hotspot for the Victory Day holiday got into brawls at a resort and on a ferry ride home, leading to eight arrests
Travel operator Tui Group has successfully slashed losses by two-thirds following a resurgence in overseas travel.

The London-listed German leisure firm revealed a 331.2million second-quarter loss, compared to a 939.8million loss in the equivalent period last year when tight Covid-19 restrictions sapped demand for foreign holidays.

A total of 5.3million people departed with the company between April and the end of June, an increase of more than fivefold, with solid growth reported across all divisions and territories.

Recovery: Tui made a 331.2million second-quarter loss, compared to 939.8million in the same period last year when tight Covid-19 restrictions sapped demand for foreign holidays

Demand for cruise journeys benefited from Tui's three shipping brands - Hapag-Lloyd, Marella and Mein Schiff - operating full fleets after their ships were kept docked or to strict occupancy limits last year.

Revenues across Tui's northern region, which covers the Nordics and countries like the UK and Germany, skyrocketed from just 56million in 2021 to 1.76billion this time around.

Customer volumes reached 84 per cent of 2019 levels, yet the company was unable to turn an underlying profit due to flight disruptions costing it an additional 75million during the quarter.

This has resulted from an intense recovery in overseas travel, combined with shortages of ground handling and security staff at airports, leading to many plane delays and cancellations.

The Platinum Jubilee holiday weekend and Easter holidays witnessed particularly major turmoil at British airports, with long queues to get through passport control commonplace.

Hanover-based Tui said it had doubled its standby aircraft and increased staff numbers at prominent customer touchpoints, but warned that flight disruptions remained higher than usual this quarter.

For the upcoming peak summer season, though, the business said bookings had grown to 90 per cent of 2019 levels, a figure that is expected to increase to near pre-pandemic volumes as the weeks progress.

Tui's chief financial officer and incoming boss, Sebastian Ebel, said he would hold 'intensive' talks with airports and airlines, as well as resorts, as he looks to improve the customer experience.

Ebel, who takes over as chief executive at the end of next month when Fritz Joussen steps down, said the 'entire European airline sector continues to face challenges.'

The company warned that it was hard to anticipate the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine would have on consumer demand and confidence, but it still expects to post 'significantly positive' underlying earnings this financial year.

Julie Palmer, a partner at Begbies Traynor, said: 'We might want to jump on a jet and get away to the beach, but chaos at airports is making that harder, no matter the strong demand from holidaymakers or the extra capacity TUI lays on.

'The holiday firm's interests which spread across hotels, cruises as well as airlines, insulate it to some degree from understaffed airports, but many consumers are looking at pictures of people sleeping on floors in airports and holding off from making bookings until it's clearer that they will actually get on a plane.'

Tui Group shares closed trading 1.4 per cent lower at 145.35p on Wednesday, meaning their value has declined by half in the past six months.
Train companies stand accused of dragging their feet over delay payouts after it emerged around half still don't automatically compensate their passengers.

One-Click Delay Repay was unveiled by ministers four years ago to speed up the millions of claims logged every year.

It means passengers who have bought advance tickets, or who use pre-pay smartcards  where you tap in and out at stations  are sent an email with a link to claim their cash.

Train delays: Your right to compensation kicks in if you are delayed by more than 15 minutes

Your right to compensation kicks in if you are delayed by more than 15 minutes. If your train is an hour late, you are reimbursed the whole price of a single ticket.

But Money Mail has found many rail firms are still insisting customers complete fiddly forms.

Only around half of the 17 franchises offer automatic Delay Repay at present, according to the Department for Transport. Around 250million journeys were made last year with four of the biggest firms which have not yet signed up.

These include Greater Anglia and ScotRail, while Southeastern is not introducing it until at least the end of the year. Great Western Railway is only now preparing a 'phased' system of one-click refunds.

Where there is no automatic Delay Repay, passengers are informed about their entitlement via posters in stations or public announcements. They must then track down an online or paper form.

Passengers are typically asked to provide personal information, an email address, travel details, the length of delay and sometimes even the purpose of their journey.

They must upload a copy of the ticket online or staple it to a paper form, and sometimes include a ticket's reference number.

By contrast, London North Eastern Railway (LNER), which runs trains from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh, has offered One-Click Delay Repay for three years. Passengers can click to choose a bank transfer or donate the money to charity.

The form is automatically filled in, although passengers have to provide bank details the first time, which are then saved.

Automatic repayment schemes have also been launched by Caledonian Sleeper, Chiltern Railways, Govia Thameslink Railway and South Western Railway. There are no plans to extend the service to third-party ticket sellers such as Trainline.

Retired City of London accountant David Bigg, 75, chairman of Witham and Braintree Rail Users' Association, in Essex, says: 'It's quite a chore to claim compensation and a lot of people frankly don't bother.'

Greg Smith, MP for Buckingham and member of the Transport Select Committee, adds: 'If LNER have been able to do it for three years, there's absolutely no excuse for any other operator.'

Meanwhile, campaigner Baroness Altmann has called for automatic compensation to be extended, so passengers without access to emails or smartphone apps can benefit too.

A spokeswoman for Greater Anglia says: 'We have reduced the number of mandatory questions and revised the layout of the form.'

The Department for Transport says the future launch of new industry body Great British Railways 'will create a single, national compensation system which will ensure all passengers receive the same straightforward claims process'.
Stranded alone at night beside a motorway after her car broke down, mother-of-two Lara Gould assumed the RAC would prioritise her case.

But it would be seven hours before help arrived. And even then, it was not in the form of the company the 39-year-old pays 219 a year to provide rescue in such circumstances.

Breakdown cover is a 1.8billion industry, with an estimated two in three drivers buying a policy, according to IRN Research.

Seven-hour wait: Lara Gould had to make nearly 30 calls to the firm before she was told there were no drivers in the area

Around 5,000 cars break down on England's A-roads and motorways each week, according to National Highways. And the soaring fuel prices, hot weather and holiday traffic will only increase pressure on rescue firms.

Lara was 'shocked' that the RAC left her stranded for so long. Her Land Rover broke down two weeks ago on the M3 at 10pm.

She was on her way home to Buckinghamshire after driving her twin daughters to their grandparents' house in Swanage, Dorset.

The RAC said help would arrive within 45 minutes. But Lara, a PR agency director, had to make nearly 30 calls to the firm before she was told there were no drivers in the area.

'Each time, they told me someone would be with me within half an hour, would be calling me back, or were sorting a tow truck,' she says. 'No one ever did.'

In desperation, at 2.30am, she called National Highways, a government agency, which booked a tow truck and sent a support worker to look after her.

Seven hours after her car broke down, at 5.15am, a flatbed lorry finally arrived, at a cost to Lara of 150.

The RAC told Money Mail it called National Highways shortly before Lara did, and has since tried to call her to reimburse her 150 bill.

Lara's experience is not unique. Social media is awash with complaints, and a poll by IAM RoadSmart revealed that one in five policyholders is considering cancelling their cover.

Last month, heavily pregnant Laura Jenkins, 38, was left waiting for seven hours in a car park on the hottest day of the year with her husband, Justin, and their nine-year-old daughter. They broke down while driving home to Newcastle after a family holiday.

Laura called the AA at 2.30pm, but had to wait until 9.30pm for help. 'It was a nightmare,' she says, 'with [callout vehicles] constantly cancelled.'

An AA spokesman apologises for the delay and says it has covered the costs from the family's overnight stay in a hotel  because of the recovery crew's late arrival  as well as sending a gesture of goodwill.

An RAC spokesman 'apologises sincerely' to Lara and says the firm will refund the 390 she has spent on premiums since 2021, and waive the remaining 146 of this year's policy.

f.parker@dailymail.co.uk
You've bought travel insurance with Covid cover, crammed all your belongings into a carry-on suitcase in case your luggage is lost and even remembered to renew your passport months in advance to avoid delays.

But there is yet another holiday disaster you need to anticipate this summer: a shock mobile phone bill.

In 2017, new rules were introduced to protect travellers from punitive roaming charges and ensure they paid the same for calls, texts or browsing the internet while in the European Union.

Roaming: A quarter of customers have no idea how much it will cost to use their phone abroad

The arrangement ended after Brexit and, despite networks denying they had plans to exploit the situation, most have since reintroduced daily charges of around 2 a day.

This doesn't sound like much, but would cost a family of four on a two-week break more than 100.

Fees can also be confusing and inconsistent  and many firms charge significantly more for using your mobile phone outside of the EU.

While some providers will automatically opt you into better-value roaming packages, others require you to purchase an add-on. Fail to do this and you could be met with eye-watering charges. Price caps limiting how much customers can pay also vary hugely.

Meanwhile, a report by consumer site MoneySavingExpert this week revealed that some providers even have different definitions for what constitutes a 'day'.

Most consider this to be a 24-hour period from when the customer begins using data overseas. But one firm, EE, defines a day's use as anything up to 11.59pm UK time. So if you sign up at 11.58pm, you would only get a minute's worth.

It's no wonder, then, that a quarter of customers have no idea how much it will cost to use their phone abroad, according to research by comparison site Uswitch.

One in seven are worried about racking up big bills. And in the age of data-hungry smartphones, they are right to be concerned as many apps automatically connect to the internet to check for updates  even during flights.

Holidaymakers also have weaker rights as charges for using your phone abroad are no longer regulated by watchdog Ofcom

Last week, Money Mail's consumer champion Sally Hamilton exposed how quickly costs can spiral out of control, with a teenager racking up a 9,000 bill while in the Philippines.

Catherine Hiley, of Uswitch, says: 'The rules around mobile data are particularly confusing.

'Some providers impose a fair-use policy that caps the amount of data customers can use abroad even if they're on an unlimited plan. These policies mean networks that claim to offer free roaming can still charge you if you exceed their limits.'

> We explain everything you need to know about travel insurance here.

Holidaymakers also have weaker rights as charges for using your phone abroad are no longer regulated by watchdog Ofcom.

It means that, as of June 30, providers are not required to send customers text alerts with pricing details, cap fees at 45 per month or stop accidental roaming.

Most networks have pledged to continue following these rules for now. But some do not apply price caps to calls and texts, while others require you to set a spending limit yourself.

Martin Lewis, of MoneySavingExpert, says: 'I've no faith in mobile firms to self-regulate. When we left the EU, they promised not to reintroduce European roaming charges, yet most of the big networks have broken that promise. We need formal, compulsory consumer protections.'

SIX TIPS TO SAVE 1.. Check the small print before you travel. 2 Remember to buy a roaming bundle in advance. 3. Set a spending cap to avoid shock bills. 4. Put your phone in airplane mode before boarding plane. 5. Connect to a secure wi-fi connection wherever possible and use this to make calls. 6. Download any films, maps or audio you may want before you leave.

To help you avoid arriving home from your holiday to a shock bill, here we explain the different roaming deals on offer from mobile providers.

BT

Roam Like Home is available on all BT pay-monthly contracts and allows you to use your UK plan in 47 EU destinations including Belgium and Poland at no extra cost.

When travelling outside of the EU you can buy a Travel Data Pass for 12 countries including Australia and Mexico. It costs 6 a day and gives you 500 MB of data per 24 hours. One MB would load one small webpage.

For a family of four, the total cost would be 168 a week but does not include calls or texts.

If you exceed 500 MB, charges depend on the country you are visiting. And if your destination is not included, fees also vary.

BT has a default monthly data spending cap of 40, but you can alter this to suit your needs.

EE

If your contract with EE started before July 7, 2021, you can use your phone in the EU at no extra cost.

Newer customers will pay 2 a day to use their UK allowance in 47 destinations in EE's European roaming zone. There is a 50GB limit and a default 45-a-month data price cap.

When holidaying outside of the EU, fees depend on if you have a Smart Benefits contract.

If so, you can add the firm's Roam Abroad Pass and use your UK allowance in five international countries such as the U.S. and New Zealand without paying extra. If you're not on a Smart Benefits plan, the Roam Abroad pass costs 10 a month.

You can also buy add-ons while abroad if you run out of data.

Customers with pay-as-you-go contracts must buy an add-on or risk being charged for calls, texts and data at EE's standard international rate.

GIFFGAFF

All customers can use their calls, data and texts in 37 EU destinations including Croatia and Greece at no extra cost.

As of yesterday, Giffgaff has reduced its 20 GB data roaming cap to 5 GB, after which you will be charged 10p per MB.

One GB is enough to listen to 12.5 hours of music or browse social media for 7.8 hours.

However, customers will still have unlimited texts and calls across the EU.

Fees when travelling outside of the EU depend on the destination. In the US you will pay 1 a minute for calls, 20p per MB of data and 30p a text.

Last year, Giffgaff introduced a 45 data-spending cap which is renewed on the first day of each month. This doesn't include calls and texts. If you have a pay-as-you-go plan, you will be charged at your standard UK rate.

I was hit by huge charges Kirsty Lyon, 39, has been landed with two big bills after visiting Turkey Mother-of-two Kirsty Lyon, 39, has been landed with two big bills after visiting Turkey this year. The author, from Stirling, Scotland, paid 6.85 a day for a roaming bundle with EE in April. But after exceeding its limits she received a 172 bill on her return. When she travelled again in June she decided not to buy another package and used the hotel's wi-fi. She didn't realise the previous deal would reactivate automatically and was hit with another 214 bill. She says: 'They hadn't made the policy clear in their texts. Times are hard. That's a substantial amount when you've got children.' An EE spokesman said: 'Travel Data Passes ensure our customers can roam without worry while they are abroad. On this occasion, the customer exceeded her data allowance on both trips, which was communicated to her on numerous occasions via text while she was abroad. Thanks to the Data Passes, the customer saved over 1,230 on her bill.'

O2

Roaming in O2's Europe Zone is included so you can call, text and use data as you would at home.

But your data limit when abroad is capped at 25 GB even if your usual monthly allowance is higher.

Outside of the EU, selected tariffs include a Travel Inclusive Zone which lets you roam in 27 destinations, including New Zealand and the US. Or you can purchase an O2 Travel Bolt On, which gives you unlimited minutes and texts and all the data you need in 63 international countries for 6 per day.

If you are on pay-as-you-go then you will be charged in O2's Europe Zone as you would be at home.

Roaming in O2's Europe Zone is included but your data limit when abroad is capped at 25 GB

PLUSNET

Plusnet's Roam Like At Home is available with all mobile plans and lets you use your call, texts and data allowance in 40 EU destinations. You can set up an individual smart cap to control your spending, but are automatically limited to 15 GB of data in any one month while overseas.

When using your phone outside of the EU, Plusnet does not yet offer a package, so costs vary depending on the destination.

It costs 2 a day for a Roaming Passport Plus pass, which gives you access to your UK data, calls and texts in 55 holiday destinations.

The pass is activated for 24 hours after you make a call, send a text or your data is turned on.

SKY MOBILE

Sky Mobile sims have a data spending cap of 45 which is automatically applied, although you can change it online. If it is set too low you will be blocked from using your phone abroad.

Extra charges do not apply when visiting the Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, so you can use your mobile as you would in the UK. Outside of the EU, Sky Mobile's 2 Roaming Passport Plus pass includes 11 countries such as the U.S. and Australia.

If you are visiting a destination not covered, 'rest of the world' charges apply for data, calls and texts. In Egypt this is 2.16 per MB of data, 2.16 per minute to make a call and 50p per text.

TESCO

With Tesco's Home From Home deal, you can use your call, data and text allowance in 48 European locations, including Switzerland and Croatia, at no extra cost.

If you exceed your limit, you will pay the standard rate, as you would at home. There is also an automatic 40 data cap in place.

If you joined Tesco mobile after June 16, 2022, roaming fees will apply from January onwards

But if you joined Tesco mobile after June 16, 2022, roaming fees will apply from January onwards.

You will be charged 10p per MB of data, 20p a text message and 55p per minute for calls.

Outside of the EU rates depend on where you are. In Turkey, calls to the UK cost 69p a minute and data is 5 per MB.

For pay-as-you-go customers, Tesco has divided the world into four regions, each with different prices to make calls, send texts or use the internet.

THREE

Three's pay-monthly customers who joined or upgraded their plan after October 1, 2021, can pay 2 a day for Three's Go Roam in Europe scheme, which is activated once you turn your data on, make a call or send a text.

This is available on all new plans and lets you use your allowance as you would at home. The Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland are excluded from roaming charges.

When outside of the EU, Go Roam costs 5 a day and is available to all plan holders who joined or upgraded their plan after October 1, 2021, when travelling to 71 countries, including the US, Australia and Cyprus.

Three also offers a 5 per day Data Passport, which allows unlimited access to data until midnight UK time. It's available in 89 locations, including Turkey and Azerbaijan, which are not included in Go Roam.

For countries excluded from Three's packages, usage is charged at standard roaming rates. In Egypt this is 6 per MB of data. There is a 45 monthly data roaming cap in place and you'll receive a text when you've reached 95 pc of your limit.

Go Roam is included in pay as you go data packs at no extra cost.

VIRGIN

Virgin's customers can use their normal call, text and data allowance in 43 EU destinations as part of its Roam Like Home scheme.

However, outside of the EU calls, texts and data prices vary. In the US and Australia, calls cost 2 a minute, texts are 50p each and data is 5 per MB. Virgin does not have an automatic spending cap in place so you must set your own.

If you are on a Vodafone pay-monthly plan that started before August 11, 2021, there is no charge for data roaming in 83 worldwide destinations. There is a 25 GB a month limit.

VODAFONE

Vodafone also has a spending cap of 39.33 per month, which is automatically applied to your account.

For newer customers, Vodafone has divided the world into four zones. If you do not have an Xtra plan with four Xtra Benefits you can pay 2 a day to use your UK allowances in Zone B, which includes 49 European destinations, such as Madeira and Croatia.

Once added to your account, the pass lasts for 24 hours from when you first send a text, make a call or use your data. Or you can purchase a European Roaming pass, which is 8 for eight days or 15 for 15 days.

If you're not on an Xtra Plan, with four Xtra benefits and unlimited data, then using your phone outside of the EU in Zones C and D  which comprise 105 destinations  costs 6 a day.
Inmarsat's takeover by a US rival has been paused after watchdogs opened a formal probe into the deal.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the British satellite firm's 5.4billion tie-up with California-based Viasat will be investigated.

The regulator will make a decision before October 5 on whether to refer the deal for a more in-depth Phase 2 probe.

Inmarsat, which provides in-flight WiFi for airlines, agreed to the deal in November

Inmarsat, which provides in-flight WiFi for airlines and internet connections for boats, agreed to the deal in November and the two businesses had wanted the takeover closed by the end of the summer.

But the timeline has been derailed after the CMA said last month it was considering an investigation into the deal on the grounds that it could result 'in a substantial lessening of competition' in the UK. A key area of concern is the aviation market, where the two businesses overlap.

Several companies are expected to weigh in on the inquiry into the takeover before the window for comment closes next Monday.

Among those understood to want the merger blocked is French aerospace giant Airbus, one of the leading providers of satellite technology in the world.

Elon Musk's Space X could also wade into the discussion over the merger as the billionaire looks to muscle his way into the market.

Space X, which operates its own satellite network called Starlink, previously complained to the US Federal Communications Commission about the deal, saying Viasat should not be allowed to control Inmarsat's ground terminals.

Serco is thought to be another firm against the deal. The FTSE 250 outsourcer is part of Athena, a UK space partnership that includes Inmarsat as well as IT firm CGI and US defence giant Lockheed Martin.

Inmarsat's takeover was given the green light by Viasat shareholders in June after the two companies said they had agreed to several legally binding commitments with the Government.

These included pledges to increase the number of highly skilled jobs, raise research and development spending and keep key operations in Britain.

Founded in 1979, Inmarsat began life as a UN agency helping distressed sailors send SOS signals.

It employs around 1,800 staff across the world, including 860 in London. Its technology is used in everything from climate change tracking to keeping rural cattle farmers connected to the internet.

The takeover risks raising further concerns about the impact of British defence and technology firms being bought up by foreign buyers.

The probe also comes amid a battle over the future of fellow British satellite firm OneWeb, which is part-owned by the taxpayer and currently in danger of being swallowed by French rival Eutelsat.

Other controversial takeovers over the past year have included the 2.6billion buyout of defence group Ultra Electronics by US private equity group Advent International, which also bought peer Cobham in 2020 for 4billion.
Abrdn has dramatically decided to close a fifth of its funds in a move that will affect hundreds of thousands of ordinary investors.

The asset manager, which looks after 508billion of savings, could also face relegation from the FTSE 100 if its shares do not pick up by the next reshuffle of the blue-chip index at the end of this month.

In an effort to slash costs, Abrdn said it would axe more than 100 funds which were 'non-core' after swinging to a loss in the first half of the year.

Abrdn said it would axe more than 100 funds which were 'non-core'

The shake-up is likely to affect investment pots worth around 7billion, which look after the nest-eggs of hundreds of thousands of Britons.

Abrdn, formerly known as Standard Life Aberdeen, reviewed all of its 550 regularly sold funds.

The Edinburgh-based firm found that more than 100 could be merged with others or shut down entirely.

Investors in affected funds will be offered the chance to switch to a similar product, or will be given their investment back at its current value. Several fund managers will likely lose their jobs, though Abrdn said it could not yet put a number on how many.

Chief executive Stephen Bird (pictured) said: 'When I became chief executive in late 2020 I said we would refocus our investments business into areas of strength, where we have scale and also significantly expand our reach into the higher growth UK wealth market. We are doing exactly that.'

Worse than the low expectations we had

The drastic step is a sign of just how hard Bird is pushing to turn around Abrdn's lumbering performance, since Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management merged in 2017.

Since the 11billion deal completed, the investment house has been struggling to boost the performance of some of its funds and put a stop to investors who have been pulling their money out in their droves.

In the first six months of 2022, investors pulled out 3.8billion more than they ploughed in  even before taking into account the 24.4billion which Lloyds Banking Group took back after ending its relationship with Abrdn.

Bird also blamed sliding markets, as traders prepare for a spell of economic gloom, for its weak performance as revenue which the firm generates from fees slid by 8 per cent to 696million.

Since 2017, Abrdn has been struggling to boost the performance of some of its funds

Abrdn recently bought Interactive Investor, a trading platform, for 1.5billion in an effort to tap into Britain's army of savers. But even there, new customer growth failed to impress.

Just 19,000 investors signed up in the first half of the year  well below the 47,000 over the same time last year.

David McCann, an analyst at broker Numis, said last night: 'Pretty much all of the key numbers were worse than the low expectations we had.'

Abrdn's losses hit 320million, compared to a 113million profit over the same time last year.

And assets under management at the group slid from 542billion to 508billion, as a result of the Lloyds withdrawal, falling markets and investor outflows.

Shares fell 6.8 per cent, or 11.8p, to 161.15p yesterday.
Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General

The boss of Britains largest asset manager has called on the next Prime Minister to open the countrys doors to investment.

Nigel Wilson, chief executive of Legal & General, said the next inhabitant of Number 10 desperately needs to push ahead with reform to boost growth.

He picked out areas such as planning and pension regulations which were ripe for a shake-up.

We need an investment-led recovery in the UK and that plays to our strengths, Wilson said.

Wed like to step up and do more, rather than less. Were hoping that whoevers the next Prime Minister encourages us to invest more in the UK.

At the moment, Wilson said, the planning system results in projects taking too long to complete.

And strict rules governing how pension money is invested  which are being examined by Parliament  make it too tricky for investors like L&G to plough money into areas which need it.

I think people would like to see us invest more. Theres lots of economic and social problems that need solving across the UK  a lot of those are capital, he said.

Its so important that we get the UK to modernise, he said, adding that homes and offices in the US were being retrofitted to make them more energy-efficient.

But the UK had not passed any regulation here that would be helpful in the transition to net zero, adding: We know housing is a very important part of that.

L&G celebrated a solid six months, with profits up from 1.1billion to 1.2billion in the first half of the year. Investors also piled 65.6billion into its L&G Investment Management business.

And it said the pipeline of pension risk transfer deals  where companies sell their pension liabilities to a firm like L&G to offload the risk  was the strongest it had ever been.
The owner of glamorous high heel maker Jimmy Choo posted strong second quarter results but warned that times could be getting tougher for luxury companies.

Capri, which also owns luxury brands Versace and Michael Kors, beat expectations for the three months to July as wealthy customers kept buying designer labels over the summer months.

The company, registered in the British Virgin Islands, reported revenues of 1.12billion for the period, up 8.5 per cent a year ago.

Jimmy Choo features the likes of model Cara Delevingne in ad campaigns

A breakdown shows Jimmy Choos revenues were up a third to 142.2million, while profit at the brand, which features the likes of model Cara Delevingne in ad campaigns, came in at 15.71million versus 9.09million a year earlier.

But the results also came with a warning as Capri cut its revenue outlook for the rest of the year amid an anticipated downturn in sales.

It shaved 83million off its full-year revenue forecast of 4.92billion, bringing it down to 4.84billion.

Other luxury brands predicted to struggle in the coming months include rival Burberry.
NEW YORK (AP)  The New York Film Festival will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a robust 32-film main slate and a number of hometown tales, including James Gray's Queens coming-of-age drama Armageddon Time" and Laura Poitras' documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, about artist Nan Goldin's battle against the Sackler family.

Film at Lincoln Center, which puts on the annual festival, announced this year's lineup Tuesday. The gala screenings are notably New York-centric, beginning with the previously announced opening night film, from longtime New Yorker and New York Film Festival regular Noah Baumbach. He'll debut his Don DeLillo adaption White Noise shortly after it also opens the Venice Film Festival.

The festival's centerpiece will be All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, in which the Citizenfour filmmaker chronicles Goldin's fight to stem the opioid crisis and the pharmaceutical companies that benefitted from it.

Elegance Bratton, who drew from his own experiences in his documentary about homeless queer and transgender young people in New York in his documentary Pier Kids," will close out the festival with his semi-autobiographical fiction film The Inspection, starring Jeremy Pope as a gay man in Marine Corps basic training.

Gray's Armageddon Time will screen as part of the festival's 60th anniversary celebration. The film, which premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival, draws from Gray's own childhood in 1980s Queens. It co-stars Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway.

Other entries include Todd Field's anticipated TAR, starring Cate Blanchett as a world-renown composer; Paul Schrader's Master Gardner, starring Joel Edgerton as a horticulturist; Joanna Hogg's The Eternal Daughter, with Tilda Swinton; master documentarian Frederick Wiseman's A Couple, a monologue drama based on the letters of Leo Tolstoy and wife Countess Sophia Behrs.

Several standouts from this year's Cannes will play at the festival including Charlotte Wells' feature debut Aftersun; Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave; Mia Hansen-Lve's One Fine Morning; Kelly Reichardt's Showing Up; Cristian Mungiu's R.M.N."; and Ruben Ostlund's Palme d'Or-winner Triangle of Sadness.

Also among New York's selections is the latest from Iranian director Jafar Panahi, No Bears. In July, Panahi, one of Iran's leading filmmakers, was sent to prison for a six-year sentence related to a 2011 charge of producing antigovernment propaganda. His imprisonment has been widely decried internationally and in the film community.

The New York Film Festival runs Sept. 30-Oct. 16. Along with premieres at Lincoln Center, the festival will host screenings throughout New York's five boroughs, at Staten Island's Alamo Drafthouse Cinema; Brooklyn Academy of Music; the Bronx Museum of the Arts; the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens; and the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
ALBANY  A detective who was part of an undercover drug bust six years ago that resulted in a Schenectady man being fatally shot by an investigator described the chaotic seconds before the shooting.

Detective Ryan Kent testified that Joshua Scism drew his weapon following the brief confrontation outside Scism's Mont Pleasant home and was preparing to shoot his partner after drawing his semi-automatic 9mm handgun.

I observed him take the gun out of his waistband and approach Detective Ferris with it, Kent testified in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. I was going to shoot him. I was going to shoot him before he shot (Ferris).

Ferris fired his weapon six times before Kent had a chance to discharge his firearm. The sixth and fatal bullet struck Scism in the back of his head.

Kents statement was in stark contrast with both a videotaped deposition by the confidential informant and an affidavit taken shortly after the June 13, 2016 shooting.

When he fell, (the gun) came out, the confidential informant said in the 2020 videotape. (Scism) was fumbling with it when he was running away with it. As he was fumbling with it, he got hit.

Yet in a statement given to investigators two hours after the shooting, he said the gun was on his side in his right hand while Scism was running away.

The informants initial statement contained other inconsistencies, including incorrectly stating the number of shots Ferris fired  six, not three  and stating that police audibly identified themselves to Scism (they did not).

Attorneys debated precisely which position Scism was in when shot and if he was running toward or away from the plainclothes detectives. The informant also testified Scism had deactivated the safety on his weapon, which police later confirmed.

Attorneys for Chrystal Scism, Joshuas widow, tried to poke holes in the methodology of the investigator who took the informant's statement, who appeared in court on Tuesday.

The confidential informant, said Gregg T. Johnson, Ferris attorney, was a no-show Tuesday.

In a 2019 video deposition played to jurors on Monday, Ferris testified Scism crouched, went into a defensive position and sought cover behind a retaining wall while brandishing his firearm, actions he interpreted as an immediate threat to his life.

The second day of testimony in the federal police brutality lawsuit case against Ferris further filled in the gaps in what both sides agreed would be a hotly-contested lawsuit pitting the testimony of Schenectady police against the informant.

Johnson, who called the informants testimony hazy, said the true narrative may never be known  including Scisms position when he was fatally struck by a volley of bullets by Ferris and succumbed on the front steps of his First Avenue home.

I quite frankly dont think were going to solve that, Johnson said.

Chrystal Scism filed a civil lawsuit following her husbands death, contending his rights were violated when Ferris used excessive force by killing him after he briefly confronted investigators as they were preparing the informant to buy two bundles of heroin with a $240 street value in the neighborhood.

The plaintiffs rested their case Tuesday and the defense is expected to present additional witnesses on Wednesday, including Ferris, a 15-year veteran of the department.

Chrystal Scism briefly took the stand and sparred with Johnson, who accused her of seeking vengeance on Ferris by filing civil litigation that could potentially cost the city millions and threatening to publicize personal information about his family, including through the press.

You brought this lawsuit because you want revenge against my client, Johnson said.

Chrystal Scism shot back: Nobodys civil rights should be violated the way they were.

Johnson read back comments she made in a previous deposition that she wanted the public to know where Ferris lived, the names of his children and other personal details about Ferris.

I was angry, I said it, Scism said. Thats what happened to me.

Scism said little else in her brief testimony, periodically tearing up while emotionally describing photographs of her deceased husband with their four children and a photo of their 2011 marriage at City Hall.

Her attorneys also presented one of Joshua Scisms acquaintances as a character witness, who said the Combo Fish Frys employee and Chinese food worker regularly attended church services and volunteered without complaint at their events.

Lawyers also debated how much time is required for investigators to assess the potentially dangerous situation before using lethal force and if doing so was feasible and reasonable.

It was possible for (Ferris) to yell, Police, dont move, Andrew Finkelstein, Chrystal Scisms attorney, said. An objectively reasonable police officer would not have acted with deadly force.

The initial verbal exchange from the time Scism confronted the unmarked van in which detectives were wiring up the informant lasted five seconds.

And just 1.7 seconds passed from the time Ferris exited the vehicle, yelled at Scism to get on the f--ing ground and discharged his service weapon.

The recording device captured audio of the shooting and the aftermath.

Attorneys for Chrystal Scism also grilled investigators  including Kent  on whether Scism's undisputed decision to display his handgun in his waistband as he walked away from the van necessitated immediate, lethal force.

Were there other options to consider? Finklestein asked.

Chrystal Scisms legal team rested their case on Tuesday after calling a half-dozen witnesses, including Assistant Police Chief Mike Seber. Seber backed Ferris in the investigator's video testimony on Monday that the decision to use lethal force can shift based on a number of factors in fast-moving situations where police feel their lives are threatened.

You want to give clear, concise commands so the subject understands what youre trying to get them to comply with, Seber said.

Neither Ferris or Kent verbally identified themselves in the brief encounter.

Ken Fromson, an attorney for Chrystal Scism, was barred from showing jurors the city police department's use of force policy at the time. U.S. District Court Judge Therese Wiley Dancks said doing so would be prejudicial rather than probative.

Jurors will ultimately have to decide if Ferris decision to discharge his firearm was reasonable.

This is a classic case of material facts in dispute, Fromson said.

The two sides continue to disagree over several facts, including Scisms physical position when he was fatally shot  and whether he "brandished a loaded handgun" and "ignored police commands." The conflicts prompted the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reject the city's request to dismiss the case and rule a jury should decide those issues.

Michael Sikirica, a forensic pathologist involved in the case, didnt give a definite answer in his testimony Tuesday as to Scisms position when he was shot, only acknowledging that the bullet traveled in a straight line from someone firing at the same height.

The trial resumes Wednesday.
ALBANY  On a warm June evening six years ago, a three-man police narcotics team initially eyed what they thought was the prime location for their informant to make an undercover drug buy.

But kids were playing basketball nearby, so Detective Brett Ferris steered the unmarked van to a location further away on First Avenue, which happened to be across the street from Joshua Scisms house.

Minutes later, Scism was dead and three windows on nearby Sunset Avenue were riddled with bullet holes.

Four children were left fatherless and his wife widowed.

Scism, Ferris testified in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, brandished a loaded 9mm handgun at him after he briefly told the plainclothes officers to leave his block.

As he was walking away, Scism brushed up his shirt to reveal the weapon tucked into his waistband, Ferris said, before running away and drawing the firearm while crouching in front of his house, actions the detective believed posed an imminent threat to his life.

In one motion, thats when he stops and pulls the semi-automatic out of his waistband, Ferris testified.

Thats when I had to shoot him. I had no other option. Otherwise, I would have been shot.

Ferris took the stand on Wednesday, the final witness in the federal police brutality lawsuit case filed against him by Chrystal Scism, Joshuas widow, in 2018.

Chrystal Scisms legal team argues that Ferris shot Scism, who was 33, in the back of his head while he was fleeing, an action that Ferris flatly denied when asked directly by his attorney, Gregg T. Johnson.

Ferris testimony was largely identical to a 2019 videotaped deposition played to jurors on Monday, but his appearance on the stand was the first time he directly addressed jurors after sitting quietly in the courtroom all week, walking them through the split-second sequence of events that have been hotly contested.

The investigator said he exited the vehicle while drawing his weapon in one fluid motion and didnt consider an alternative option.

I was just threatened with a gun and needed to focus on that threat and detain that individual, Ferris testified.

Andrew Finklestein, an attorney for Chrystal Scism, only briefly cross-examined the 15-year veteran of the department on Wednesday, focusing on both the detective's and deceased mans movements in the brief, chaotic scene that unfolded in roughly five seconds.

Ferris lawyers rested their case and attorneys are expected to make closing arguments on Thursday before jurors begin their deliberations.

Both Detective Ryan Kent, Ferris partner in the operation, and Chrystal Scism have maintained a constant presence at the trial all week, with the detective sitting directly behind his colleague and the widow quietly waiting in the hallway.

Portions of Ferris account have been corroborated by the two detectives who were with him during the interrupted operation, including Kent and now-retired Detective Jeffrey Pardi, who testified on Wednesday that Scism drew his weapon in a threatening manner. (Pardi did not witness the shooting because he was fumbling with the minivan door).

Kent testified on Tuesday that he would have shot Scism if Ferris hadnt done so first.

The plaintiffs have relied heavily on the position of the bullet wound as well as accounts from the confidential informant, who claimed he saw Scism fumbling with the gun, but did not draw it.

The informant was a no-show in court on Tuesday, depriving attorneys of the ability to question him about inconsistencies he gave in a statement hours after the shooting and a video deposition taken in 2020.

The defense presented an expert witness on Wednesday, Alexander Jason, a crime scene analyst who said its fairly common for people to turn around while being shot at.

Ferris fired six shots in fewer than 1.7 seconds. Jason reconstructed the shooting using audio footage captured on the informants mic and testified there was an 8/10 of a second pause between Ferris fifth and sixth shots.

Jason said his research has shown people can turn around in as quickly as a half-second, which he demonstrated in a video showing an actor with the crime scene audio synced over his movements turning around in that same time frame.

(Chrystal Scisms attorneys have claimed that Ferris deliberately paused to take aim in an effort to deliver a death blow, a charge he has denied, attributing the pause in his department-issued gun's firing to its standard operation.)

Jason also testified that Ferris had eight cartridges remaining in his 40mm handgun, which illustrates that the investigator acted in accordance with his training and wasnt wildly firing away, but rather stopped once the perceived threat was neutralized.

Its goal-oriented, Jason testified. Youre shooting until the goal is achieved and the threat no longer exists and I think thats consistent with the facts in this case.

Under cross-examination, Jason acknowledged it was feasible that Scism could have been struck when his back was turned.

Is it possible that Scism never turned around and was shot in the back of the head as he walked away? Jason said. Yes.

Chrystal Scism's civil lawsuit contends her husband's rights were violated when Ferris used excessive force by killing him after he briefly confronted the investigators as they were preparing the informant to buy two bundles of heroin with a $240 street value in the neighborhood, which Kent and Ferris testified was among the citys most crime-riddled.

Jurors will ultimately have to decide if Ferris decision to shoot Scism with his firearm was reasonable.

The conflicts in material facts  including whether Scism brandished the gun and his exact physical location when he was fatally shot  prompted the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to reject the city's request to dismiss the case and rule a jury should decide those issues.

U.S. District Court Judge Therese Wiley Dancks said jurors will likely begin their deliberations on Thursday.
OXFORD, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi judge on Tuesday denied bond for a man suspected of killing a University of Mississippi student who has been missing since early July.

Judge Grady F. Tollison III rejected a request to set bond for Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., 22, of Grenada, during a preliminary hearing in Oxford.

Herrington faces a charge of murder in the suspected death Jimmie Jay Lee, 20, whose body has yet to be found after his July 8 disappearance.

The prosecution used Tuesdays court hearing to lay out some of its findings in the case.

At the hearing, the missing student's mother Stephanie Lee testified that she regularly spoke with her son, talking on the phone multiple times each day, news outlets reported. She told the judge her birthday was July 8, the day her son disappeared, and other than an early morning text she did not hear from him at all that day. She said that's when she knew he was no longer with us.

Lee was last seen at an apartment complex where his vehicle was later found.

Stephanie Lee also said Oxford Police told her a police dog detected a scent of decomposition in Herrington's home. Detectives in the case later testified that cadaver dogs alerted three times to the smell of a body in the area.

Officers also obtained a search warrant to view social media conversations on Herringtons phone that showed conversations between he and Lee on the morning of July 8, investigator said. They added that Herrington did numerous computer searches about international travel and found Google searches for how long it takes to strangle someone" minutes after Lee reportedly told Herrington he was on his way to the apartment.

Herrington, under questioning from police, admitted to having a relationship with Lee, according to authorities.

Investigators also learned that Herrington had a moving service in Grenada, Mississippi. They said he brought a box truck to Oxford before taking it back to Grenada.

Herrington's defense team said even though bodily fluids were found on blankets inside of the truck, the evidence was found weeks after Lee went missing and the vehicle could have been used by anyone.

Defense attorneys asked Oxford Police Detective Ryan Baker if there was any trace evidence linking Herrington to Lees death. The detective replied, Not at this time.

The defense also had Herrington's mother as well as a series of church leaders and former teachers take the stand to speak on behalf of Herringtons character and reliability, saying that they do not believe he would be a flight risk if released before trial.

Tollison later denied bond for Herrington. He is being held at the Lafayette County Detention Center.

Federal and local law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, are working to locate Lee or his body. Lees family is offering a $5,000 reward and the Lafayette County CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to his being found.
Update: On Thursday afternoon, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the Department of Justice would request the unsealing of the search warrant presented at Mar-a-Lago.

ALBANY  A U.S. magistrate judge in South Florida on Wednesday ordered the Department of Justice to reply within five days to motions filed by Judicial Watch and the Times Union that seek to unseal a search warrant that was used by the FBI to raid former President Donald J. Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach earlier this week.

Judicial Watch is a conservative legal group that has waged multiple court battles seeking records related to probes involving the former president.

The Times Union had filed multiple letter motions this week with U.S. magistrates in Miami and West Palm Beach requesting the unsealing of the search warrant materials. It's unclear whether the Department of Justice will oppose the motions. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart, who signed the search warrant, on Wednesday issued two orders directing the Justice Department to reply to the motions filed by Judicial Watch and the Times Union.

"The response may be filed ex parte and under seal as necessary to avoid disclosing matters already under seal," the judge's order states. "In that event, the government shall file a redacted response in the public record."

Late Wednesday, the New York Times also filed a motion to intervene in the case and that seeks to unseal the search warrant documents. The judge did not immediately rule on the Times' motion.

Affidavits in support of search warrants that detail the "probable cause" of the alleged crimes being investigated are infrequently unsealed in federal courts during a pending investigation. But the search warrants and the "returns"  an itemized list that the U.S. attorney's office must eventually file with the court detailing any items seized  are often unsealed before an investigation is concluded. Those materials are ordinarily provided to the person or entity who is the target of the search warrant  or their attorneys  and therefore the disclosure of the records arguably would not impede an ongoing investigation.

Trump's attorneys have publicly stated that they were able to review the search warrant and that it indicated the seizures were based on potential offenses involving classified documents and the Presidential Records Act. Christina Bobb, one of Trump's attorneys who was at Mar-A-Lago when the search took place, initially said that she was shown a copy of the search warrant. She later told the New York Times she had received a copy at the scene.

U.S. Attorney Merrick Garland on Thursday said that Trump's attorneys at the residence were provided both a copy of the warrant and the itemized returns.

Multiple news organizations have reported that the search of Trump's Mar-A-Lago estate is connected to an ongoing Justice Department investigation into materials that allegedly should have been moved to the National Archives and Records Administration rather than the former president's private residence.

Trump's team has responded that they disagreed with federal officials about his right to keep some of those documents and have characterized the FBI's raid as a heavy-handed abuse of authority and unnecessary. They described the materials as mementos that Trump wanted to keep. Justice Department officials and the FBI have declined to comment publicly on their investigation.

Earlier this year, federal authorities officials with the National Archives visited Trump's Palm Beach residence and retrieved additional records they said were federal property. Trump's attorneys said they added a lock to the door of the space where the records were kept  after federal officials expressed concerns about the security of that storage area.

That lock, according to Trump's team, was broken by the FBI when Monday's search unfolded and roughly 15 boxes of materials were seized. Trump has said the special agents broke into a safe at his residence, but it's unclear if he was referring to the locked door.

Court records do not indicate the Justice Department has filed its search warrant returns with the court  something that often can take weeks or months. It's unclear whether an itemized list of the materials seized was given to Trump's attorneys by the FBI, which conducted the raid.

The extraordinary raid is apparently the first time the FBI or any law enforcement agency has executed a search warrant at the private residence of a former president.

The motion filed by Judicial Watch, a group that has sought to obtain government documents that it purports have revealed uneven treatment of the former president, is charged with political rhetoric and suggested the investigation could be driven by the Biden administration's desire to derail Trump's pursuit of the Republican nomination for president in two years.

"Judicial Watch is investigating the potential politicization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice and whether the FBI and the Justice Department are abusing their law enforcement powers to harass a likely future political opponent of President Biden," the motion states.

Similar rhetoric has been employed by numerous Republican elected officials and candidates in the wake of the FBI search.
Surrounded by boulders along coastal Massachusetts is a small town called Rockport on the Cape Ann peninsula, about 20 minutes from Gloucester. When looking up Rockport, the city gave off an impression of being quite small, and although as a whole it is  its spread along 6.5 square miles  the variety of things to do there was surprising, from the charm of the town and its friendly people, the affordability at the local boutique shops, to the incredible seafood and saltwater taffy at Tucks.

Checking into The Emerson Inn By The Sea

1 Cathedral Ave., Rockport; https://www.theemersoninn.com/

The Emerson Inn By The Sea is the perfect hotel overlooking the ocean near Halibut Point and Bearskin Neck. With beautiful views of the water and rooms with old-school charm, its a welcome escape from big cities. The pool overlooks the quarry and is refreshing in the way a dip away from the sand can be. (However, there are also plenty of beaches nearby, and a footpath from the hotel will bring you to the coast.) Breakfast is available for guests every morning, with a few menu staples and a daily special. Staff members were friendly and helpful even when busy. They never made guests feel rushed.

Dining

The Lobster Pool

329 Granite St., Rockport; http://www.thelobsterpool.com/

Dine at the Lobster Pool to watch the sunset. Its first-come-first-serve seating with casual folding tables in the back. Try the whole belly clams and the fried shrimp. Lobster dinners are definitely the specialty and its BYOB, so people brought bottles of wine or coolers full of beer while they relaxed. Dont forget to ask for a basket of steamers to dunk in broth and melted butter.

Roy Moore Lobster Company

39 Bearskin Neck, Rockport; https://rockportusa.com/restaurants/roy-moore-lobster-company/

Roy Moore Lobster Company is a crowd pleaser and an all-around favorite in the area. Even while standing in line, multiple folks walked by, pointing to the shack, saying Thats the spot to go to. Despite being insanely busy, the team at Roy Moore was friendly and made guests excited to try the food. Besides it being a fun environment, the food is phenomenal. Offerings include creamy New England clam chowder and perfectly cooked fresh lobster with the claws cracked open. The lobster rolls had a flavorful, seasoned mayo, packed into a non-soggy roll.

Activities

Shopping

All along Bearskin Neck are boutiques full of books, candy, gifts and other indulgences. Some to pinpoint are Bearskin Neck Country Store (40 Bearskin Neck), Shore Thing (41 Bearskin Neck), and The Pewter Shop (16 Bearskin Neck). Check out Rockin' Cupcakes (42 Bearskin Neck) for a freshly made cupcake sundae. The Ice Cream Store (14 Bearskin Neck) has some great flavors, as well. Grab a book from Susie's Stories Rockport (51 Bearskin Neck) to read at the pool or the beach before getting a box of saltwater taffy or chocolates from Tuck's Candy & Gifts (15 Main St.), open since the 1920s. The flavors are exceptional, especially the cinnamon and the peanut butter.

Motif #1

https://newengland.com/today/travel/massachusetts/rockport-motif-no-1/

While visiting Rockport, be sure to view the weathered red, colorful buoy covered building known as Motif #1, centered within Bradley Wharf. The building is known as being "the most often-painted building in America, by artists around the world.

North Shore Kayak & Bike Adventures and Flip-Flop Emporium

9 Tuna Wharf, Rockport; https://www.northshoreadventure.com/

If you want to explore the area from the water, head over to North Shore Kayak and Bike Adventures to rent kayaks, paddle boards or bikes. Sign up for one of the tours like Seals and Birding, where guests can discover some of the wildlife nearby, or History and Shipwrecks where groups can learn about the U.S. naval ships and the original plans of the harbor.

Halibut Point State Park

Gott Avenue, Rockport; https://www.mass.gov/locations/halibut-point-state-park

On a clear day, visitors can see Maine 40 miles away and possibly the Isles of Shoals. The park's history dates to World War II. It also includes plenty of local history. There are ways to view the large quarries that Rockport is named after, just a short walk into the park.

Windhover Performing Arts Center

257R Granite St., Rockport; https://windhover.org/

The Windhover Performing Arts Center has been around for close to 50 years, teaching locals and visitors about the beauty of dance and theater. The center has everything from an outdoor stage for shows to dance studios for training.

The Paper House

52 Pigeon Hill St., Rockport; https://www.paperhouserockport.com/

A really unique find within Rockport is The Paper House. Its a standalone building within a suburban neighborhood. Theres no entrance fee, just a welcomed donation if guests can spare it, and they trust visitors to be respectful of the property. The Paper House was built by Ellis Stoneman who was a mechanical engineer known for creating the machine that makes paper clips. The house was built using newspapers and you can still see it within the insulation, the roof, and in a grandfather clock.

Hammond Castle Museum

80 Hesperus Ave. Gloucester; https://www.hammondcastle.org/

Built in the early 1900s, Hammond Castle was originally built by John Hammond Jr. overlooking the ocean. Today, visitors can visit the castle to observe the stunning architectural details, art within the walls, and learn about the history and backstory of the castle right in Gloucester, just a short drive from Rockport.

Thank you to Visit Rockport for hosting me.
The Rumour Mill

Everton in talks over Guirassy from Stade Rennais

| 10/08/2022



Everton are stepping up their hunt for a striker to cover Dominic Calvert-Lewin's absence through injury, with reports suggesting they have opened talks regarding taking Guinean international forward Serhou Guirassy on loan.

According to Le Parisien, the Blues have approached Stade Rennais regarding the 26-year-old who has scored 25 times in 81 games in all competitions since joining the Ligue 1 side from Amiens two years ago.

Born in Arles in France, he began his career at Laval before joining Lille and then moved on to Amiens following loan spells with Auxerre and Cologne in Germany.

Eligible to play for the French national side by birth, he represented them at U16, U19 and U20 levels before opting to represent Guinea at senior level this year.

Article continues below video content

According to reporters Benjamin Quarez and Fabrice Hawkins, the latter from RTL, negotiations are "progressing well" between the two clubs and that Guirassy could secure his move to Goodison now that Rennes have landed Arnaud Kalimuendo from PSG.

However, having shelled out 24m on Kalimuendo, Rennes would prefer a permanent sale.

Another African forward plying his trade in Ligue 1 being linked with Everton is Lorient's Terem Moffi who has attracted attention with a record of 22 goals in 56 games over the past couple of seasons.

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

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Forgive us for combining these two press releases but we think they're related inasmuch as the Exec is reaching out to Missouri leaders for cooperation.



First and foremost . . .

Jackson County Executive calls for special session to give residents immediate tax relief



KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. has sent a letter to Governor Mike Parson urging him to convene a special session of the Missouri General Assembly to consider changes to state law related to personal property assessments. The special session would allow state legislators to reconsider a bill introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives that would provide immediate tax relief for Jackson County residents and those across the state.



This bill would allow us to protect our residents from significant increases to their personal property taxes this year, said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. County Assessors are required to follow state law when setting values and if we wait until the Legislature comes back in January, it will be too late. Im committed to doing everything I can to ensure this bill passes, but that cannot happen until Governor Parson calls state legislators back to Jefferson City.



Supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant slowdown in production of new cars across the country. As a result, the demand for used cars has increased dramatically, decreasing supply and increasing the value of used cars. A July 2022 report found consumers are paying an average of $10,000 more for used cars. Consequently, most areas in the state of Missouri have seen personal property values increase by 30 percent.



Missouri House Bill 2694  introduced by Representative Brad Hudson (R-Cape Fair)  addresses these unforeseen circumstances by allowing the assessor to use the lowest value reported over a three-year period. This methodology would maintain equity and uniformity while reducing the tax burden incurred by residents at no fault of their own. HB 2694 unanimously passed in the House of Representatives but failed to ever reach the floor of the Senate.



State law currently requires the assessor to determine the market value of personal property by using the October issue of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA). Once the market value is determined, the assessor calculates a percentage of that value to arrive at the assessed value.

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And then . . .

Regarding today's big news regarding an upcoming vote . . .

Jackson County Executive issues statement of support for thoughtful decriminalization, legalization of marijuana in Missouri



KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. has issued the following statement in support of the November ballot question to legalize recreational marijuana in Missouri:



I have a tremendous amount of respect for our democratic process and the opportunity it provides voters to make important decisions. And this November, because of a certified petition, millions of people will have a chance to make their voices heard on whether Missouri will be the next state to legalize recreational marijuana.



I support the thoughtful decriminalization and legalization of marijuana and the initiative before Missourians in the general election. Legalizing marijuana is about more than just allowing recreational use or the money that can be made. Its about undoing policies that disproportionately target black and brown communities, particularly men, who are more likely to be arrested and sentenced to significant time behind bars. The current laws criminalizing marijuana are a driving factor in the mass incarceration of people of color, but now we have an opportunity for change.



Together, we can transform our criminal justice system by letting go of the discriminatory ideologies of the past. This initiative provides a smart, common sense approach to address the racial disparities in Missouri and rebuild the communities that have suffered the most.

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Developing . . .
The latest update to the KCMO homicide count reveals that we're one killing away from the century mark.

Take a look . . .



And so tonight we share this TKC roundup recent gunfire, police action, court cases, security measures and more . . .



Kansas City police investigate 2 shootings within minutes of each other Police in Kansas City are investigating two shootings Tuesday afternoon.Authorities said officers were called at 2:58 p.m. to the 8000 block of Garfield Avenue on a reported shooting.When they arrived, they found a victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Neighbor reacts to shooting at City Park that killed woman, critically injured teen KANSAS CITY, Ks. - The Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office identified the victims in sshooting Monday in Kansas City, Kansas, at City Park shooting Monday in Kansas City, Kansas at City Park . On Tuesday, the sherrifs office identified the two victims as 21-year-old Brenda Mejia Bautista and a 15-year-old victim who is currently in critical condition.

Man shot, killed by police after ramming KCPD vehicle at gas station identified KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the man shot and killed by Kansas City police after he drove toward officers at a gas station on Sunday night. The man was identified Tuesday as 31-year-old Zachary James Garrard.

Police: No wrongdoing found by Lincoln Prep staff member accused of inappropriate communication KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An investigation looking into whether a staff member at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy had inappropriate communication with a student has concluded. According to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, investigators found no criminal violations against the staff member.

Kansas City man pleads guilty to deadly shooting outside liquor store KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A metro man pleads guilty to a deadly shooting outside a liquor store. Jhermeil R. Taylor pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2019 shooting. According to court documents, police responded to Cloud 9 Liquor store near East 87th Street and Oldham Road.

Shawnee attorney sentenced to prison for smuggling heroin to inmate A Shawnee, Kansas, attorney was sentenced to prison Tuesday for smuggling heroin to an inmate at the Western Missouri Correctional Center with whom she had a romantic relationship, according to the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.Juliane L. Colby, 44, received a one year and one month sentence in federal prison without parole.The U.S.

Easy way for police to gain Kansas City's trust after fatal shooting: Release the video OPINION AND COMMENTARY On Sunday, officers with the Kansas City Police Department fatally shot a suspected automobile thief. Ultimately, an investigation will determine if the deadly encounter in the parking lot of the Phillips 66 on Prospect Avenue near East 55th Street was justified.

Court document confirms investigation into misuse of Unified Government credit cards A new court document has confirmed an investigation into the misuse of county credit cards issued for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. The new revelation comes after the Kansas Bureau of Investigation executed a search warrant last Wednesday at the Unified Government. The agency did not, however, reveal any contents of the search warrant.

SMSD board approves funding to implement additional security measures OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Students head back to the classroom in Shawnee Mission this week and after a year of violence at schools across the nation, leaders here hope to bring some extra security and peace of mind to students and families.

KC nonprofit says security guard to blame for recent thefts KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Most of us use security to protect our things, but what happens when a security guard does the opposite. That's what a Kansas City, Missouri nonprofit, Kalenjin Community in Kansas City (KCKC) said."We are pretty new," Member Manoah Korir said. "We got this property before COVID hit."

Mayor's Night Hoops works to prevent youth violence in Kansas City, Missouri There are several strategies in reducing violence - one of them is prevention. That's what Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas says he's doing on the basketball court. Each point scored on the hardwood means a chance to keep some of city's youngest alive.

CARE Team Motivates Mechanic's One-Of-A-Kind Guitars Sowers donated the guitar to the CARE Team, which held a raffle to raise money for those that might need help. Sowers' guitar was a hit, raising about $4,300 and motivating him to build more. The COVID-19 pandemic paused his efforts, but in 2021 Sowers created Chiefs and Royals guitars that were crowd pleasers.

Developing . . .
Right now we share a quick collection of police action, court case info and police reports . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Controversy Over Lawn Mowing In America Ended Fatal They were at loggerheads for years: In Kansas City, USA, a neighbor died in a brawl. Kansas City. A year-long neighborhood dispute in the United States has ended fatally. According to the Jackson County Attorney's Office, a 42-year-old man shot and killed his neighbor in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, who was complaining of mowing.

KC man who shot himself before arrest convicted - Missouri News KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A 55-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man who shot himself in the buttocks before his arrest was convicted of illegal gun possession in federal court on Tuesday. Herbert Lee Jones was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole.

Authorities identify man shot, killed by Kansas City police near 55th Street, Prospect Avenue KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A man who was shot and killed by Kansas City, Missouri, police after allegedly attempting to run over an officer has been identified. The shooting happened on East 55th Street and Prospect Avenue around 10 p.m. Sunday night. The Missouri State Highway Patrol identified the man as 31-year-old Zachary James Garrard.

Kansas City man sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to five felony child sex crimes A jury had been seated and witnesses were appearing in a trial against a Kansas City man accused of child sex crimes when he reversed course to enter a guilty plea.Now, that man, 50-year-old Bomani Madu, is heading to prison.

Leawood man faces stiff civil fines, penalties for illegal autopsies KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Shawnee County judge has ordered a man who performed illegal autopsies, including some connected to his business in Leawood, to pay back more than $250,000 to past clients.

Shawn Parcells banned from doing business in Kansas due to unlawful autopsy service TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) - Shawn Parcells is permanently banned from doing business related to the human body and must pay $250,000 in restitution for unlawful autopsy services. This follows a wide-ranging KCTV5 investigation into complaints about Parcells who was operating under the moniker "Professor Lynn."

KC Crime Stoppers: William E. Brown KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - William E. Brown, 45, is wanted on a Kansas parole violation warrant for attempted aggravated indecent solicitation of a child and aggravated battery. He is currently a noncompliant registered sex offender in Wyandotte County. Brown is described as being a Black man who is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and weighs 270 pounds.

Mid-Missouri pastor facing felony child sex charges; Suspended from church with pay A Missouri United Methodist pastor has been suspended with pay while he faces charges of statutory sodomy and sexual abuse.John W. Hampton, 32, most recently led the Hermann United Methodist Church and Rosebud United Methodist Churches in east central Missouri.Last week, Camden County prosecutors charged Hampton with statutory sodomy with a person less than 12 years old, second-degree statutory sodomy, and fourth-degree child molestation.

Two 18-year-olds killed in Raytown shooting identified RAYTOWN, Mo. - The Raytown Police Department has identified the two men killed in a shooting this past weekend. Officers responded to a shooting near E. 87th Street and James A. Reed around noon on Sunday, Aug. 7. When officers arrived on scene they located two victims with apparent gunshot wounds.

KC Unsolved: Relatives searching for answers to find missing Prairie Village mom Angela Green PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. - A family is searching for answers after receiving conflicting information surrounding the suspicious disappearance of a Prairie Village mother more than three years ago. Police say then 51-year-old Angela Green was last seen on June 19, 2019, near her home off Tomahawk Road in Prairie Village, Kansas.

Developing . . .
Campaign season is upon us and it seems that 12th & Oak is getting push back from competing candidates.

This is fun but not really as important as locals might think given that "Missouri ethics" is kind of a contradiction in terms.

Nevertheless . . .



The city manager gets left holding the bag in this online smackdown . . . Take a peek:



In an action filed Tuesday, the Missouri Ethics Commission found that the citys official website linked to the social media pages of elected officials which supported and/or solicited contributions for candidates for public office.



The website is ultimately under the direction of Platt.



This is a violation because the city manager used public funds in support of the election of candidates, according to MEC filings.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

KCMO City Manager fined after commission finds city's website helped contribute public dollars to campaigns KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Brian Platt, the city manager of Kansas City, Missouri, was fined $1,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission on Monday. Platt was fined after the commission found KCMO's website used public dollars to support political campaigns.
Consulting firm AECOM has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the city of White Bear Lake in the US to launch an automated shuttle pilot.

The Bear Tracks shuttle will run for one year on a 1.5-mile route in White Bear Lake city. The shuttle, which will be free to use, will connect area residents to several community facilities and businesses.

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The project will incorporate key elements of MnDOTs connected and automated vehicle (CAV) strategic plan, including enhanced mobility for persons with disabilities, better travel options for elderly communities, and more public awareness of automated vehicle technologies.

AECOM will serve as Bear Tracks prime contractor and AV technology expert, providing program management, planning services, automated vehicle (AV) technology design, procurement support, program evaluation, and technical services. An academic partnership will offer students first-hand experience with CAVs and aid in workforce development.

Lessons learned during the pilot will assist MnDOT in advancing and replicating AV paratransit systems throughout the state. The concept will also leverage concurrent efforts underway by the AECOM-led Automated Bus Consortium involving a larger coordinated national effort to procure and test full-size, full-speed AV buses.

The Bear Tracks pilot will employ a Navya Autonom Shuttle, a highly automated, 11 passenger, low-speed shuttle that is 100% electric and includes a mobility ramp and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance features. The shuttle will have a safety driver, who will act as an onboard attendant, and includes a computer, GPS technology, and multiple sensors to operate within the predetermined route.

Newtrax will serve as the shuttle operations manager, leveraging its extensive experience providing daily transportation services for adults with disabilities in the area. Additional participating key partners include Ramsey County, University of Minnesota, White Bear Lake Area Schools, Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence, White Bear Area Chamber of Commerce, and the local YMCA.

Were incredibly proud to partner with MnDOT and White Bear Lake to launch this ground-breaking project, which not only advances the operation of emerging automation technologies in variable weather conditions but uniquely integrates transit accessibility and equity as a main focus, said Daryl Taavola, vice president with AECOMs US West transportation business. This pilot will serve as a tangible example that helps the public understand and interact with the benefits of these vehicles while providing the community with a free, safe, and sustainable transportation option.

The Bear Tracks autonomous shuttle provides a safe transportation option for White Bear Lake community members, particularly some of our more vulnerable residents, added MnDOT commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. The demonstration project also provides invaluable information that can move Minnesota forward in its goal of safe, equitable transportation for all in our state.

Images: AECOM and Adobe Stock
Press Release

August 10, 2022 PRIVILEGE SPEECH OF HON. LOREN LEGARDA

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Senate of the Philippines

August 10, 2022 Mr. President, My dear colleagues, I rise on a matter of personal and collective privilege. August 9 marked a momentous day for indigenous peoples all over the world and in the Philippines because yesterday, we celebrated the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (IP) and the Philippine National IP Day. In 2015, I sponsored Republic Act No. 10689, which declared August 9 as National Indigenous Peoples Day in recognition and protection of the rights and causes of the IPs across the country. Pagkalipas ng pitong taon, labis kong ikinagagalak na makitang mas pinapahalagahan ng ating mga kapwang Pilipino ang ating mga kapatid na katutubo. Every day, we see more Filipinos transforming traditional textiles and materials into beautiful, contemporary pieces, such as clothing, furniture, and artworks. We also see more public support, even clamor, for such creations. It is no secret that I, myself, have a deep love and appreciation for these tropical fabrics and native products. Indeed, today is a fitting recognition of our IPs who give meaning to our identity as Filipinos. As we honor our IP brothers and sisters, the bearers of our cultural diversity, and their overwhelming contributions to our rich arts, culture, and heritage, may we also be reminded of how far we still need to go. Mr. President, my dear colleagues, nararapat nating bigyang pansin ang mga pangangailangan ng mga katutubong Pilipino at bigyang lunas ang kanilang mga suliranin. There are 110 indigenous groups in the country, with each community possessing its own traditional knowledge and practices. More than expressing our appreciation for them, August 9 should serve as a constant reminder that we should provide the needed support for our IPs to strengthen their part in nation-building. It is also a timely reminder for us public servants to craft and promote measures that benefit our IPs and value their rights as we continue to protect our cultural heritage amid the challenges of modernization. The ways and means of our IPs may be considered "ancient" compared to those of the modern society, but everything that defines us as Filipinos is rooted in the creativity, resourcefulness, and passion of our forefathers. For these reasons, I continue to advocate for policies and programs that would give respect, recognition, and opportunities due to our IPs. I spearheaded the creation of the National Museum's Baybayin Gallery and Manlilikha ng Bayan Gallery. I have also dedicated my efforts in reviving the age-old tradition of weaving, creating the country's first permanent textile gallery, Hibla ng Lahing Filipino at the National Museum, and leading the Hibla Travelling Exhibition which has already reached Portugal, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo, Singapore, and Geneva, among others. I have actively supported the creation of Schools of Living Traditions (SLTs), as well as the documentation of indigenous knowledge and traditional practices. As a legislator, I also continue to fight for the strengthened protection of the rights and cultural heritage of our IPs and communities. As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities in 2011, I successfully organized regional assemblies--in Baguio City for Luzon IPs, in Iloilo City for Visayas IPs, and in Tagum City, Davao del Norte for Mindanao IPs--and the First National Indigenous Cultural Summit that served as avenues for dialogue with local and national policymakers as well as international institutions. As Congresswoman of the lone district of Antique, I filed a resolution to investigate the sale of counterfeit Cordillera garments and fabrics from abroad. In my return in the Senate this 19th Congress, I have filed Senate Bill No. 831, which underscores the important role our indigenous communities play as partners in the conservation and preservation of protected areas within their ancestral domains. I also filed the IP Resource Centers Bill under Senate Bill No. 838, as well as Senate Bill No. 839, or the proposed Traditional Property Rights of IPs Act, which seeks to support traditional artists and artisans by ensuring that their rights are safeguarded. As a sign of gratitude for my work, the cultural communities of Mindanao adopted me as "Bae Matumpis," which means "the one who takes care." These are only few among all our accomplishments in protecting and promoting the rights of our IPs, culture, and heritage. Despite these, there is still so much to be done. Imagine how much more we can accomplish if we further prioritize programs and initiatives aimed in addressing the needs and issues of indigenous communities. That is why, Mr. President, my esteemed colleagues, as we honor the rich and vibrant culture of our IPs, I also urge each and every one of you to rise to the challenges and join me as "Bae Matumpis". Together, let us all be "the ones who take care". Thank you.
Attorneys are now trying to determine what action, if any, can be taken in response to the g
Deeply committed to inclusion, relevance, and enhancing and expanding opportunities for the children of Greater Cincinnati, the Orchestra works to bring music education, in its many different forms, to as broad a public as possible. In 2020, the CSO was one of the first American orchestras to create a Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer position to ensure the absorption of best DE&I practices into every facet of the organization. The CSO/CCM Diversity Fellowship, a nationally recognized program in partnership with the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, provides a graduate degree-level education with performance and professional development opportunities for extraordinary young string players from populations historically underrepresented in American orchestras. The CSO is also an incubator for and partner to NIMAN, a consortium of American orchestras, professional musicians and educators established to address the lack of racial equity in the classical music field by aligning resources and collaborating to strengthen the trajectory of classical instrumentalists of color at all stages of their pre-careers.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has reiterated the fact that Crimea is part of Ukraine, and that the country will never leave it behind. The Russian war, which started with Crimea, must end with its liberation, the leader stressed.

The president made the statement in a video address to the nation, released on August 9, Ukrinform reports.

"This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea  with its liberation," the Ukrainian president said.

According to Zelensky, there is a lot of attention these days to the topic of Crimea, which is right. "Because Crimea is Ukrainian, and we will never leave it behind. We will not forget that the Russian war against Ukraine began with the occupation of Crimea. Russia has turned our peninsula, which has always been and will continue to be one of the best places in Europe, into one of the most dangerous places," Zelensky emphasized.

He noted that the Russian Federation brought large-scale repression, environmental issues, economic hopelessness, and war to Crimea. The very presence of Russian occupiers in Crimea is a threat to all of Europe and global stability, the head of state added.

"Maybe one day historians will determine how many people were killed by Russia's terror. Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? From Ukraine and Georgia to Syria and more distant regions," Zelensky said.

He is convinced that the Black Sea region cannot be safe as long as the peninsula remains occupied. There will be no stable and sustainable peace in many Mediterranean countries either as long as Russia is able to exploit the Ukrainian peninsula as its military base, Zelensky believes.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the occupying "authorities" of Crimea confirmed the explosions in the Novofedorivka area, where the Russian military air base is located. Ambulance vehicles were seen rushing to the scene.

Read also: Explosions reported near Russian military airbase in Crimea

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in a comment on the fire at the Saki airfield near Novofedorivka in the temporarily occupied Crimea said it cannot verify the cause of fire, but once again reminded that the occupation authorities should abide by fire safety rules and refrain from smoking in undesignated areas.
On August 10, a 13-year-old girl was injured in a Russian attack on Mykolaiv city.

"On August 10, a 13-year-old girl was injured in the shelling of Mykolaiv city," the Prosecutor General's Office posted on Telegram.

Moreover, a 16-year-old boy was injured in a strike on Avdiyivka, Donetsk region, on August 8.

As of the morning of August 10, 361 children were killed and more than 705 were injured as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.

These numbers are not final as the efforts are ongoing to establish casualties in the areas of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories.

Most children were affected in Donetsk region  372, Kharkiv region 197, Kyiv region  116, Chernihiv region  68, Luhansk region  61, Mykolaiv region  60, Kherson region  55, Zaporizhzhia region  40.

A total of 2,321 educational institutions were damaged in bombing and shelling by the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Of them, 286 institutions were completely destroyed.

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Russian forces continue to shell the border communities of the Sumy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv regions from Russian territory.

Ukraine's State Border Guard Service said this in a statement posted on its website, Ukrinform reports.

On Tuesday, August 9, Russian troops continued shelling Ukrainian border areas using guns, MLRS, mortars and small arms.

"Myropillia, Khotin, Nova Sloboda, Seredyna-Buda and Bilopollia communities in the Sumy region, Snovsk community in the Chernihiv region and Zolochiv community in the Kharkiv region came under enemy fire," the message reads.

In the afternoon, enemy self-propelled howitzers fired 15 shells at the Nova Sloboda community. At the same time, the enemy shelled the Khotin community from the Russian settlement of Yelizavetovka using a large-caliber machine gun.

Later, the invaders used mortars to fire at the Bilopillia community, with about ten explosions recorded. The fire came from the Russian settlement of Tyotkino.

Russian forces also fired about 20 shells at the Seredyna-Buda community. In addition, the community came under fire several times from large-caliber machine guns.

In the evening, mortar explosions rang out in the Myropillia community, with three explosions recorded. The fire came from the Russian settlement of Gornal.

Also, during the day, the enemy shelled the Zolochiv community in the Kharkiv region using Grad multiple rocket launchers and howitzers on two occasions. About ten explosions were recorded.

The Snovsk community came under mortar fire from the Russian settlement of Chernozyomny Gorodok, with about ten explosions recorded.

"Already in the morning today, August 10, the enemy shelled the Bilopillia community. More than 25 artillery shells and mortar mines came from the Russian villages of Popovo-Lezhachi and Tyotkino. The invaders simultaneously used grenades and fired from small arms, including large-caliber ones," the report reads.
There is now enough evidence to believe that the mass murder of Ukrainian prisoners of war, planned in advance by Russia, was carried out in the Olenivka prison.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna, said this at a special meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.

"The evidence of what happened in Olenivka is enough to believe that it was a pre-planned mass murder of those who were under the protection of international law," he said.

The Ukrainian ambassador added that satellite images show that only one building was damaged in the prison, where Ukrainian POWs were placed just before the attack, and analysis of the photos shows there was a thermobaric explosion inside the building.

"The mass killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the penal colony in occupied Olenivka, as well as the released videos showing horrific cases of torture, physical abuse, inhumane treatment and deliberate killing of Ukrainian prisoners of war, clearly testify that Russia knows no bounds in its cruelty and barbarism," Tsymbaliuk said.
Denmark will send 130 instructors to the United Kingdom to help train Ukrainian soldiers.

The Danish Ministry of Defense said this in a press release, Ukrinform reports.

"Denmark will support a British-led training project with 130 Danish soldiers and simultaneously offers to train Ukrainian soldiers in Denmark. Therefore a dialog with Ukraine has been initiated regarding support in educating commanders and support to the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Force," the ministry said.

It added that in 2022, Denmark will allocate DKK 100 million (about $137,000) to the project to support the training of the Ukrainian military.

Earlier, Sweden and Finland announced that they would send their instructors to Britain to train the Ukrainian military.

The first group of Ukrainian military personnel arrived in the UK in early July to take part in a new major military training program.

The course includes training in weapons handling, battlefield first aid, fieldcraft, patrol tactics, and the law of armed conflict.

Photo: Danish Ministry of Defense
The visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, led by Minister Oleksii Reznikov, to the Kingdom of Denmark to participate in the Copenhagen Conference for Northern European Defense Allies began with a meeting with Minister of Defense of Denmark Morten Bdskov.

As the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reports, the defense ministers discussed the urgent issues of bilateral cooperation as regards training of Ukrainian military personnel, in particular, training of land and sea mine clearance specialists; basic combined military training of mechanized units of the Land Forces and the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The parties exchanged views on expectations from the Copenhagen Conference which will be held tomorrow, August 11.

At the end of the meeting, Reznikov awarded Bdskov the medal of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine "For Assistance to Armed Forces of Ukraine".

On August 11, the Conference for Northern European Defense Allies in support of Ukraine at the level of defense ministers will be held in Copenhagen at the invitation of the Danish side. The participation of defense ministers and their representatives from the following countries is expected: the United Kingdom, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, the USA, Finland, the Czech Republic, Sweden. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand will join the meeting via VTC.

The Conference will be continuation and expansion of the Ramstein format for security assistance to Ukraine.

Photo: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

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Norway can take a lead in rebuilding one the Ukrainian regions affected by the Russian aggression.

According to Ukrinform, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office Kyrylo Tymoshenko announced this on Telegram following his meeting with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Ukraine Erik Svedahl.

"Our goal is to do everything possible so that people can return to their homes as soon as possible. To do this, we must be reliable partners and create clear processes. Currently, together with the World Bank, work is underway to calculate the cost of rebuilding each of the facilities. In addition, it is planned to determine the sources of financing for restoration works," Tymoshenko said.

According to him, Norway, like any other partner country, can take a lead in rebuilding one of the regions affected by Russian aggression. For this, a Fast Recovery Plan has been developed for each region.

In turn, the ambassador emphasized that both countries are reliable partners. Norway provides both military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Svedahl also noted the importance of enhancing the implementation of bilateral projects and programs with the involvement of Ukrainian and Norwegian structures.

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The Razoni, the first ship to leave the port of Odesa, carrying a cargo of corn bound for Lebanon, has finally docked at the port of Mersin in Turkey.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Lebanon Ihor Ostash said this at a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine - Ukrinform.

"The Razoni ship, which was the first to leave the Odesa port and headed for the port of Tripoli in Lebanon, has docked at the port of Mersin in Turkey, which means that all the problems surrounding this dry cargo ship have disappeared," he said.

Ostash added that on Saturday, when the ship was supposed to arrive in Tripoli, there were a lot of journalists waiting for the ship to come, and he personally felt the considerable importance of Ukraine for the world.

"I felt that Ukraine is very important for the world in the fight against a food crisis. Our country is really saving the world. I saw a huge interest in Ukraine regarding the supply of grain to countries in the Middle East," he said.

Earlier, a buyer in Lebanon refused to accept the cargo from the Razoni vessel, which was carrying more than 26,000 tonnes of corn, due to delivery delays.
The European Union calls on Russia to grant representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross access to all Ukrainian prisoners of war, including those in the Olenivka penal facility.

The blast in Olenivka resulting in the death of dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war, including defenders of Mariupols Azovstal steel plant who had surrendered to Russia, is a heinous act and must be thoroughly and independently investigated, reads the statement by the EU delegation made at a meeting of the OSCE Special Permanent Council meeting in Vienna, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The EU noted that the prisoners were registered by the ICRC and were under Russias legal protection.

Twelve days have passed since the tragedy and Russia has still not allowed an independent international mission to visit Olenivka. We urge Russia to grant the ICRC access to all prisoners of war, the delegation said.

The EU delegation said they were appalled by a video, widely shared on social media, of heinous atrocities and brutal killing of a Ukrainian prisoner of war.

Russia will also be held accountable for failing to uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law in the territories of Ukraine under its temporary military control. This also applies to the treatment of prisoners of war, the EU stressed.

As reported, on the night of July 29, a powerful explosion rocked the building where Ukrainian POWs were held in the territory of former penal colony No. 210 in Olenivka, temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region. According to the Russian side, about 50 Ukrainian defenders were killed, and more than 70 were seriously injured. According to the preliminary conclusions of international experts, the explosion was the result of the use of thermobaric weapons by the aggressor country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called on the UN to visit the colony in Olenivka to establish all the facts of the crime committed by Russian troops and urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to check all Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The occupying forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region denied the Ukrainian branch of the International Committee of the Red Cross access to prisoners of war in Olenivka, which is a direct violation of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions.

In addition, at the end of July, a video appeared on the Internet showing persons in Russian military uniform torturing a prisoner in Ukrainian military uniform.

Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin took personal control over the investigation into the brutal torture and murder of a Ukrainian soldier.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reached an agreement in principle with Switzerland on the representation of Ukrainian interests in the territory of Russia.

"On behalf of the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reached an agreement in principle with Switzerland on the representation of Ukrainian interests in the territory of Russia. The choice in favor of Switzerland was made because of its extensive experience in performing such functions, and we are grateful to the Swiss government for its willingness to provide its services," Oleh Nikolenko, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated in a commentary provided to Ukrinform.

As noted, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs makes every effort to protect the interests of Ukrainian citizens in Russia. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who were illegally deported from Ukrainian cities and villages temporarily captured by the Russian army need help, including children, and many Ukrainian citizens also found themselves in Russias territory without documents. The spokesperson added that there were no Ukrainian diplomatic missions in the territory of the Russian Federation.

Nikolenko emphasized that the modalities of Switzerland's representation of Ukraine's interests in the Russian Federation would be determined by a bilateral agreement. In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the host party shall give consent to the representation of Ukraine's interests by Switzerland in Russia. Nikolenko promised to reveal details after the completion of this process.

As reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is in talks with the Embassy of Switzerland in the Russian Federation on the provision of consular services to Ukrainians, who have lost their documents, in Russia.

Ukraine severed diplomatic relations with Russia on February 24, when Russias full-scale invasion began.

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The United Kingdom plans to join the implementation of the plan for the restoration of the healthcare system of Ukraine.

"The United Kingdom has been providing humanitarian support to Ukraine from the first days and intends to join the implementation of the plan for the restoration of the healthcare system," said Deputy Minister of Health Oleksiy Yaremenko, the press service of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine reports.

According to him, thanks to the systematic support of international partners, who provide both humanitarian and financial assistance, the domestic healthcare system has survived more than five difficult months of war.

"Now we are building our cooperation, in particular, around the post-war reconstruction of the healthcare sector and involving international partners in the restoration of healthcare facilities that were damaged by the Russian occupiers," Yaremenko said.

It is noted that Great Britain has sent about 60 ambulances, tens of tonnes of critically important medicines and medical equipment to Ukraine during Russias full-scale invasion.

Besides participation in the process of restoring the healthcare sector, British specialists are also ready to exchange experience with Ukrainian colleagues in the area of rehabilitation.

As reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal presented the Recovery Plan of Ukraine at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano (Switzerland) on July 4.

It is estimated that the restoration of critically important damaged infrastructure will require almost $17.4 billion.

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| By Laura Lee

For dental hygiene student Tymarin Ward, it was only natural that he volunteered at the 2022 Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games.

University of Maryland School of Dentistry student volunteers demonstrate proper brushing techniques to Special Olympics athletes.

My older brother has autism, said Ward, who is a second-year student in the dual-degree Clinical Dental Hygiene Leader program at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD). This is something Ive wanted to do for a while.

From June 17-19, the Special Olympics Maryland Summer Games returned to the campus of Towson University after a two-year hiatus with over 4,000 athletes eager to compete in bocce, softball, swimming, cheer, and track and field.

Ward, along with 47 other dental and dental hygiene students, provided oral health care services to athletes through the Special Smiles Program  the dental health component of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Village. Started in 1997, Healthy Athletes offers free screenings including vision, hearing, and dental in a welcoming, fun environment.

Special Smiles allows athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to take charge of their oral health. The screenings, performed by UMSOD students, are designed to increase awareness of the importance of oral health for the athletes, as well as their parents and caregivers.

In addition to screenings, which document athletes oral health through a series of questions, students applied fluoride, fitted custom mouthguards, and taught athletes proper brushing and flossing techniques.

The screenings are particularly important for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Special Smiles examinations have found that a large percentage of Special Olympics athletes in the United States are unaware of the condition of their oral health, with 49 percent showing signs of gum disease and 25 percent with untreated tooth decay.

For some athletes, the care doesnt end when they leave the Healthy Athletes Village.

There were a few athletes that had pretty significant dental caries, said Sheryl Syme, RDH, MS, associate professor and director of dental hygiene programs as well as Maryland Special Smiles clinical director. Well be following up with them to make sure that theyre getting treatment either by their own private dentist or to find placement at the School of Dentistry.

And while treating and educating patients is an important mission for Special Smiles, it also provides valuable lessons for UMSOD students.

This isnt just a free health screening for our athletes, said Kayla Shields, director of inclusive health and fitness at Special Olympics Maryland. Healthy Athletes is also used as a health education tool for students and health professionals to get them more experience with working with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Ward, who performed oral screenings at the event, said the experience was eye-opening. He was impressed by how interested the athletes were in learning about oral health. Besides my brother, I dont have a lot of experience with the special needs population, he said. Volunteering helped me be more familiar, a little more comfortable with this population.

Syme, who has been Maryland Special Smiles clinical director since 2007, and her newly trained co-director, Sydnee Chavis, DMD, volunteered at the event. Syme agrees that the volunteer opportunity serves as an educational tool for students.

Were training students to be comfortable working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, she said. Part of that is learning how to communicate.

UMSOD students have a three-decade history volunteering with the Maryland Special Olympics, starting with the first group brought in by Mark Wagner, DDS, professor emeritus, in the late 1990s.

They were amazing, Shields said of this years dental and hygiene student volunteers. They were all so happy to be here and willing to jump in wherever help was needed. I heard nothing but good things after the Special Smiles screenings.

Ward, who has memories of his brothers difficult visits to the dentist, hopes the interaction with dental professionals in a relaxed and fun atmosphere will help patients feel more at ease in a dentists chair.

Hes a lot better now and a lot more eager to go, but I dont want anybody to have negative feelings or be traumatized to go to a dental office, Ward said. Thats one of the reasons I got into the dental field. We dont want you to be scared. Were here to help.

Syme agrees, adding that the days goal was to improve the overall health of the participants. We want athletes to be able to compete pain-free, she said.
UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company, is awarding $500,000 in Empowering Health grants to four community-based organizations in Mississippi to expand access to care and address the social determinants of health for uninsured individuals and underserved communities.

In total, UnitedHealthcare is donating $11 million in grants through its Empowering Health program across 11 states. The grants will assist individuals and families experiencing challenges from food insecurity, social isolation and behavioral health issues, and support local health promotion and health literacy efforts.

Grant recipients in Mississippi include:



American Heart Association, Jackson and the Gulf Coast  $150,000 to address nutrition security by implementing food pantries through a collaboration with federally qualified health centers in central Mississippi and community partners on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South, Northwest Mississippi  $125,000 to expand the Y on the Fly program to bring health education and nutritious food directly to youth in their communities.

Mississippi Urban League, statewide  $125,000 to support the Seniors Travel Program, addressing social isolation in older adults across the state.

Mississippi State University Extension, North Mississippi  $100,000 to expand the Junior Master Wellness Volunteer Program, which equips youth for community service projects to increase availability of health education materials in communities.

Social and economic factors have a profound impact on achieving and maintaining good health, said Dr. Michael Parnell, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Mississippi. Through our Empowering Health grants and local outreach efforts from UnitedHealthcare, were working with local organizations in the state to provide Mississippi residents with an interconnected system of clinical and social services that can produce better health outcomes and make the health system work better for everyone.

According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, approximately 80% of what influences a persons health relates to nonmedical issues, such as food, housing, transportation and the financial means to pay for basic daily needs. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional social and economic challenges that continue to affect healthy behaviors and exacerbate health disparities.

More than a third of members screened by UnitedHealthcare for social-related needs experience at least one social determinant of health. UnitedHealthcare leverages the companys data to identify health disparities according to race, ethnicity, gender, geography and education level.

Since launching its Empowering Health commitment in 2018, UnitedHealthcare has now invested more than $51 million in Empowering Health grants reaching more than 8 million people through partnerships with community-based organizations in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

UnitedHealth Group, including UnitedHealthcare and Optum, and its affiliated companies, is dedicated to advancing health equity and building healthier communities by supporting programs to improve access to care and address key determinants of health. In Mississippi this includes more than $1.6 million in contributions from 2019-2021 representing its businesses, foundations and employees.

Additionally, UnitedHealth Group has invested more than $800 million in affordable housing communities since 2011, partnered with food banks and meal-delivery services, and in 2019 joined with the American Medical Association to standardize how social determinants of health data is collected and used to create more holistic care plans. In June, the United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group, made a $100 million commitment over 10 years to advance health equity, furthering its efforts to eliminate health disparities. This was the largest single philanthropic commitment ever made by the United Health Foundation.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.5 million physicians and care professionals, and more than 6,700 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.
Matanzas, Cuba, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2022 ) :Helicopters and firefighters battled Tuesday to contain a days-old blaze at a fuel depot in Cuba that has already destroyed four tanks and was threatening four more.

The fire, which started on Friday after lightning struck one of the tanks, left a 60-year-old firefighter dead and 14 colleagues missing, according to authorities.

More than 100 people were reported injured, with 22 still hospitalized.

About 5,000 people have been evacuated from around the disaster zone on the outskirts of Matanzas, an industrial city of 140,000 people some 100 kilometers (60 miles) west of Havana.

As teams prepared Tuesday to try and douse the fire with foam, fears were rising that the blaze could threaten the fuel supply to thermoelectric plants at a time Cuba is already battling electricity outages.

Four military helicopters flew repeated sorties over the depot, dropping sea water on the blaze.

"The firefighting teams continue to clear a path to the flames so the teams charged with applying the foam can get to the place," Matanzas governor Mario Sabines said on Twitter.

He added that smoke from the fire had reduced visibility to near zero, and drones were deployed to provide a better view.

Four of the eight tanks on site have already collapsed in the blaze, have spilled their contents, and were still burning, according to deputy fire chief Alexander Avalos Jorge.

Water was being sprayed on the remaining four tanks, clustered just 150 meters (about 492 feet) from the other four tanks, in a bid to keep them cool.

The tanks each have a capacity of some 50,000 cubic meters or 50 million liters of fuel.

The Matanzas depot, built in the 1980s and modernized several times, supplies the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the communist nation.

The plant features five docks to receive ships of up to 180,000 tonnes, and can handle 40,000 barrels a day.

The big question now is "the supply of fuel to thermoelectric plants," said Jorge Pinon, a Cuban expert in energy policy at the University of Texas.

"The problem with (electricity generation) has not been the lack of fuel, but the plants are very old and have maintenance problems. Now they will also have a lack of fuel," he said.

"If they lose Matanzas, they lose the ability to supply the power plants," said Pinon.

The disaster comes at a time when the island -- with an outdated energy network and persistent fuel shortages -- has faced mounting difficulties in meeting energy demands.

Since May, authorities have imposed energy blackouts of up to 12 hours a day in some regions -- sparking protests around the nation of 11 million people.

Thirteen flights have arrived from Mexico and four from Venezuela with technicians, firefighters and equipment, including fire retardant foam, fire hoses, helicopter water buckets, spray pumps and medicines.

A Mexican Navy logistics support ship also arrived at Matanzas Bay Tuesday with a helicopter on deck.

And Cuba's deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, thanked the United States -- which has maintained six decades of sanctions against the communist nation -- for an offer of "technical advice."
Kyiv, Ukraine, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2022 ) :Moscow insisted Tuesday that major blasts at a key military airbase on the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula were caused by exploding ammunition rather than Ukrainian fire.

Dramatic amateur footage shared on social media appeared to show panicked holidaymakers fleeing a Crimean beach with young children, as ballooning clouds of grey smoke rose over the horizon.

The blasts rocked the Saki airfield on the 167th day of Moscow's invasion.

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula in 2014 and has used the region as a staging ground for its attacks on Ukraine, but it has rarely been a target for Ukrainian forces.

The Russian defence ministry said "several aviation munitions detonated" at the base in an incident the head of the region said had left one person dead.

Local health officials earlier said five people, including one child, had been injured.

The defence ministry said it was looking to establish the reason for the explosions but indicated the airfield was not targeted in an attack.

There was no immediate reaction from Kyiv.

Ukraine's army, which for months pleaded for long-range artillery from Western allies, has been hitting targets deeper in Russian-held territory since some started arriving in recent weeks.

Kyiv has also taken credit for several acts of sabotage inside Russian-held territory.

Moscow seized Crimea from Ukraine in the wake of massive nationwide street demonstrations that led to the ouster of a Kremlin-friendly president.

Those protests precipitated fighting between the army and Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, which would lay the groundwork for Moscow's full-scale assault on February 24 this year.

The invasion has left thousands dead, forced millions in Ukraine from their homes, and littered the country with land mines.

On Tuesday, the United States announced that it will provide $89 million for demining efforts in Ukraine.

"Russia's unlawful and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine has littered massive swaths of the country with landmines, unexploded ordnance, and improvised explosive devices," the State Department said in a statement.

"These explosive hazards block access to fertile farmland, delay reconstruction efforts, prevent displaced communities from returning to their homes, and continue to kill and maim innocent Ukrainian civilians," it said.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

A Chinese court rejected an appeal in a landmark sexual harassment case on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the country's fledgling #MeToo movement

Beijing, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2022 ) :A Chinese court rejected an appeal in a landmark sexual harassment case on Wednesday, dealing a blow to the country's fledgling #MeToo movement.

Zhou Xiaoxuan stepped forward in 2018 to accuse popular state tv host Zhu Jun of forcibly kissing and groping her during her 2014 internship at the broadcaster.

Her case inspired many others to share their experiences of sexual assault publicly and sparked a social media storm.

But a court ruled last year that there was not enough evidence to prove Zhou was sexually harassed by Zhu, and her appeal was rejected Wednesday on similar grounds.

In a statement, the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court said it "will uphold the previous judgment".

Police cordoned off long stretches of pavement outside the court ahead of Zhou arrival in the afternoon, with officers logging the details of passers-by.

"The process of the first trial was a deep secondary injury," she told AFP ahead of her hearing.

Zhou, 29, told AFP before returning to court that her legal team would focus on getting access to more evidence, such as police transcripts of interviews with her parents after she reported the incident -- which were not included in the earlier trial -- and surveillance footage.

Zhu was absent from earlier proceedings, she added, and while he had sued her for defamation, she was not aware of further developments in that case.

A small group of supporters came to wish Zhou luck on Wednesday, holding up signs that said "#MeToo" and balloons spelling out "All the best" in Chinese.

"Four years have passed, and the most important thing is that we have raised this question: When a woman encounters sexual harassment in a closed space, is her pain worth paying attention to?" Zhou said to supporters.

Speaking after the hearing, she said "victory is not that important to me... I accept this outcome." She added that it was meaningful that she could give her statement before the court, thanking supporters.

- 'Too difficult' - Zhou, also known by the pseudonym Xianzi, originally sued for a public apology from Zhu and 50,000 Yuan ($7,400) in damages.

Her first hearing in December 2020 drew a large crowd and a significant police presence in Beijing.

Reporters from foreign media outlets including AFP were dragged away by police while filming the scene.

"The process for my case has truly been too difficult," Zhou told AFP.

"I worry that other victims fear standing up for their rights after seeing what I've experienced." But she added that with her case, "perhaps the next victim that walks into court can receive more trust".

Her case against Zhu was originally filed under the "personality rights" law -- covering rights relating to an individual's health and body.

But her lawyers later asked for it to be considered under a new sexual harassment law that was passed in 2020.

Despite that law, many women in China are still reluctant to come forward with harassment charges, and it is rare for cases to make it to court in a legal system that places a heavy burden on the claimant.

The country's #MeToo movement has stumbled since 2018, when a wave of women published allegations of sexual harassment against university professors.

Threatened at the time by the prospect of an uncontrolled mass movement, internet censors quickly began blocking social media hashtags and keywords.
Rescuers hope to enter a flooded coal mine in northern Mexico soon to search for 10 workers who have been trapped for a week, authorities said Wednesday

Agujita , Mexico, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Aug, 2022 ) :Rescuers hope to enter a flooded coal mine in northern Mexico soon to search for 10 workers who have been trapped for a week, authorities said Wednesday.

"We are very close to being able to enter," civil defense national coordinator Laura Velazquez said.

"All rescuers have the necessary equipment to be able to enter at any time, hopefully today," she told reporters in Mexico City by video link.

Hundreds of soldiers and other rescuers using 25 pumps and two underwater drones are taking part in the operation in Agujita in the northern state of Coahuila.

The focus so far has been on pumping out water from the 60-meter (200-feet) deep, crudely constructed mine.

The water in the shafts has fallen significantly, from more than 30 meters initially, but needs to be reduced by several more meters before it is safe to enter, Velazquez said.

News that rescuers were preparing to go inside the mine was met with a cautious welcome by anxious relatives.

"Let's hope that now it's true. Every day they say the same thing," said Juan Orlando Mireles, whose father is among the missing.

According to authorities, the miners were carrying out excavation work when they hit an adjoining mine full of water.

Five workers managed to escape in the initial aftermath of the accident on August 3, but there has been no contact with the others.

Coahuila, Mexico's main coal-producing region, has seen a series of fatal mining incidents over the years.

The worst accident was an explosion that claimed 65 lives at the Pasta de Conchos mine in 2006.

Last year, seven miners died when they were trapped in the region.
Two police officers were killed Wednesday in Sierra Leone after a protest against "economic hardship" descended into clashes between security forces and youth demanding the president resign, the police said

Freetown, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 10th Aug, 2022 ) :Two police officers were killed Wednesday in Sierra Leone after a protest against "economic hardship" descended into clashes between security forces and youth demanding the president resign, the police said.

"Two police officers, a male and female, were mobbed to death by protesters at the east end of Freetown this morning," police spokesman Brima Kamara told AFP.

Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh announced a nationwide curfew and said "innocent Sierra Leoneans including some security personnel" had been killed.

Dozens of protestors had been arrested, police said.

A health worker at a hospital in Freetown said dozens of people had been injured.

In the Kissy neighbourhood in the east of the capital, demonstrators threw rocks and sticks at security forces, who fired tear gas towards the demonstrators, an AFP reporter saw.

Several protestors told AFP the security forces had also fired live bullets.

Demonstrators were heard chanting "Bio must go", referring to President Julius Maada Bio, who is currently in the United Kingdom on a private visit.

The internet was temporarily blocked in Freetown on Wednesday afternoon, according to NetBlocks, a web monitoring group.

Demonstrations were also held in the city of Makeni and the town of Magburuka in the country's Northern Province.

The Grassroots Women of Sierra Leone, a group of market traders, had called a "peaceful assembly" to "draw attention to the economic hardship and many issues that affect the women of Sierra Leone", according a letter to the inspector general of the police seen by AFP.
The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) say they are concerned with what is happening to South Africas economy and how households are sinking into debt and deep poverty.

Paul Samasumo  Vatican City

Many of South Africas households are drowning in debt and poverty, say the Bishops.

In their latest intervention on behalf of the countrys poor titled, The economy, high levels of unemployment and cost of living, the Bishop of Umtata Diocese and SACBC President, Sithembele Anton Sipuka draws attention to the nations dire economic straits.

South Africans often speak of the countrys three economic challenges: Poverty, inequality and unemployment. The situation has been worsened by what the country went through during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The neglect of rural communities

Rural areas, in particular, bear the brunt of the countrys economic doldrums. Now the countrys Catholic Bishops think this has been aggravated by years of systemic neglect by the government.

Of particular concern to us is the vast disparities between the rural and urban economies, which have resulted in the exclusion of the rural poor from equal and significant participation in the countrys economy. Our rural economies continue to suffer from severe neglect regarding educational opportunities, viable municipalities, and public and private investments. Our rural youth find it hard to find jobs when the building of rural economies is grounded solely on mining, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors, which are characterised by increased automation and an exploitative labour system, reads the Bishops message.

The Bishops continue, We, therefore, call on the government to invest more in building thriving and self-sustaining rural economies, including self-sustaining village economies, that generate massive job creation for the rural youth, including those classified as skilled labour.

3 August 2022: Food stuff for flood victims of Inanda township, Durban

Leaders should focus on the food and fuel crisis

The Bishops call on the political leadership to step up and do more for the people.

Amid this national crisis, it is sad that the focus of our political leaders remains fixed on narrow vested interests and not on issues important to ordinary citizens, particularly the homeless, the unemployed, and the hungry. In the strongest terms possible, we denounce the continued preoccupation of our leaders with self-enrichment, party politics and factional battles at a time when the majority in this country are struggling to make ends meet. We urgently appeal to the government to initiate more robust measures to address the fuel and food price hike, said Bishop Sipuka on behalf of the SACBC.

Indifference to economic and social inequalities

The Bishops further decry the ever-growing and persistent gap between the rich and the poor, government cuts on social spending and economic structural reforms that disproportionately affect the majority poor. Other issues of concern refer to what the Bishops term an increased indifference to the countrys economic inequalities and the need for economic transformation, particularly concerning land inequalities, mining, and agriculture.

The Bishops want to see the Government of South Africa come to the aid of families and effectively deal with the constant electricity blackouts crippling small-scale businesses.
An Afghan woman walks with schoolgirls going to their primary school in Kabul (AFP or licensors)

A new report by the charity Save the Children reveals that since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan a year ago, children are suffering with girls more likely to go hungry and feel isolated.

By Vatican News staff reporter

Last year, millions of people around the world witnessed the images of civilians flooding towards the international airport in Kabul desperately seeking to leave Afghanistan as the Taliban took control of the capital.

Twelve months on from the chaos that ensued, and the US decision to pull out of the country, the charity Save the Children has released a new report detailing life for children.

The findings show that since the Taliban took control, an economic crisis, crippling drought and new restrictions have shattered girls lives, excluding them from society and leaving them hungry, with a quarter showing signs of depression.

The report, titled Breaking point: Life for children one year since the Taliban takeover, reveals that 97% of families are struggling to provide enough food for their children, and that girls are eating less than boys.

According to interviews conducted by the charity, the crisis is also taking a dangerous toll on girls mental and psychosocial wellbeing.

Education

Following the Talibans takeover last August, thousands of secondary school girls were ordered to stay home, reversing years of progress for gender equality.

The report shows that girls expressed disappointment and anger over the fact they can no longer go to school and said they felt hopeless about their future because they dont have the rights and freedoms they had previously.

Economic crisis

Another area of concern is the economic crisis that has crippled the country. Save the Children says that following the withdrawal of international forces last year, billions of dollars in international aid were withdrawn, Afghanistans foreign currency reserves were frozen and the banking system collapsed. The subsequent economic crisis and the countrys worst drought in 30 years have plunged households into poverty.

The report reveals that the economic situation is leaving households without enough to eat and without basic items.

Child marriages are also on the increase.

Impact on children

Speaking about the current situation for children in the country, Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children Country Director in Afghanistan, said:

Life is dire for children in Afghanistan, one year since the Taliban took control. Children are going to bed hungry night after night. Theyre exhausted and wasting away, unable to play and study like they used to. Theyre spending their days toiling in brick factories, collecting rubbish and cleaning homes instead of going to school.

He also emphasized that Girls are bearing the brunt of the deteriorating situation. Theyre missing more meals, suffering from isolation and emotional distress and are staying home while boys go to school. This is a humanitarian crisis, but also a child rights catastrophe.

Humanitarian support

Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, Save the Children has been scaling up its response to support the increasing number of children in need.

The charity provides health, nutrition, education, child protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene and food security and livelihoods support.

Since September 2021 it has reached more than 2.5 million people, including 1.4 million children.
KAMPONG LOUNG VILLAGE, PURSAT PROVINCE  Sitting in their floating home amid a pile of iron frames and netting, Kong Kouen and Hoeung Piseth are busy preparing hundreds of prawn traps that will be placed at the bottom of the Tonle Sap Lake. It is hard work that will take several days to finish and requires significant financial investment from the couple. Nowadays, there is little guarantee that this long-established fishing technique will yield enough catch to sustain them and their four teenage children. Overfishing, regional hydropower dam development and global climate change have pushed the lake into ecological crisis, and fishing communities are sinking into despair. Before, when I set a hundred of these iron traps, I could get 100 kilograms [of prawn], but now, though I set 1,000 or 2,000, I can't get any more than 20 kilograms, Kong Kouen told VOA Khmer. She added that they spent about $1,500 to buy material for around 1,000 traps, which will last three years. The prawn traps supplement the household income from daily fish catch, but this too, had halved in recent years. On some days, they go out fishing and come back with nothing and cannot even cover the cost of gasoline, fishing equipment and boat maintenance. Kong Kouen said she did not know how much longer they could afford to keep their children in high school. Like their floating village of Kampong Luong, on the lakes southern shore, the family and their fishing techniques move with the rising and receding water, and other seasonal changes in the Tonle Saps ecosystem and fish populations. We are the river people, said Kong Kouen, using a Khmer term, Niak Tonle, for hundreds of thousands of Cambodians who live off the highly productive Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River, which is connected to the lake through a tributary. The lake, to us, is what the rice field is to the farmers, she told VOA Khmer. How can I be secure and can go out and get fish? she said. If they can stop [illegal overfishing], my children can rely on this sector, but if not, it's the end. The next generation [has to be] ready to go away, she said.



From the lake to the plantation This concern is widely shared on the lake, where fishermen have for years reported a decline in catch and disappearance of certain species. Recent VOA Khmer interviews with Tonle Sap communities and fisheries experts indicate this forced increasing numbers of fishers to go ashore to seek additional income or leave permanently. Most end up working as laborers on plantations, construction sites, or in factories in cities or in neighboring Thailand. The majority are poor and have to move out [to plantations] for work as laborers, said Long Sochet, National Coordinator of Coalition of Cambodia Fishers (CCF). Some bring their wife and children to other provinces, as far as Ratanakiri Province, to sell their labor in banana plantations. The same trend [of outmigration] is happening across the Tonle Sap, he said, adding that some work on plantations and return to the lake to resume fishing, while others leave for good. Long Sochet said most migrating fishers become laborers and live on plantations instead of becoming farmers, as they lack significant assets that can serve as collateral for loans to buy farmland or housing plots. Those who have the ability to buy landwhether a small [housing] plot or farmlandand plan to reside permanently on land are a minority, he told VOA Khmer. Brian Eyler, a Mekong Basin expert at the Stimson Center in Washington DC, said, Migration away from the Tonle Sap is likely over the last three years given record-low lake levels during the wet season, which translate to low fish catches. The Tonle Sap fishery is being depleted by various factors such as climate (low rainfall), dam impacts, unregulated fishing, and there will likely be a direct relationship between out-migration and fish catch into the future, he wrote in a message. Eyler added that before the catch became very poor in recent years, there were also reports of people coming to the lake, attracted by its traditional reputation for bountiful fisheries.



Its difficult to answer your question Experts have warned for years that Tonle Sap Lakes fisheries and livelihoods face collapse unless the Cambodian government takes effective action to address local causes and help fishermen. Government officials acknowledged to VOA Khmer that the Tonle Sap is under severe stress, but denied this was creating significant outmigration as government measures were protecting fisheries and livelihoods. We dont see this [migration] happening, said Ing Try, Deputy Director General of Fishery Administration. Our stance is that we create jobs. First, we recommend that they start fish farming For women, we train them in mushroom cultivation for sale. We have our plans. Asked how the destitute fishermen were supposed to make the investments necessary for fish farming, Ing Try said, Its difficult to answer your question because most of them are in debt. VOA Khmer was unable to find recent migration data to confirm Tonle Sap communities were emptying out, but the governments Socio-Economic Survey indicates that households fishing on the Tonle Sap Lake numbered about 465,000 in 2019, a decline of 14 percent since 2009. Nationwide, fishing fell 23 percent in this period to some 1.3 million households, or about a third of total population. Across Cambodia fishing often supplements farming, while on the Tonle Sap Lake it is the main livelihood. Last years inland catch was about 383,000 tons, according to official figures, which have recorded a decline since 2018. Experts have warned, however, there an absence of reliable scientific and government data on fish stocks.



This years flooding again limited Eyler told VOA Khmer that he had heard that in some places on the lake this years catch had been good, though the lakes seasonal expansion and flood pulse was weak for the fourth year in a row. Every year, the overflowing Mekong discharges into the Tonle Sap Lake through a tributary and expands the lakes size up to seven-fold during rainy season, while the tributary reverses course in dry season and the lake drains into the Mekong. The annual flooding sustains the lakes huge and diverse fisheries, but this flood pulse has been slowly changing and in recent years it has severely weakened. During the current rainy season, the flooding of the lake started later than usual and lasted only a few weeks, up until the first days of August when the lake began to empty into the Mekong again, according to the Stimson Centers Mekong Dam Monitor. It said on Twitter that this years flooding was not enough to bring a huge amount of fish larvae & eggs to the lake. Experts have pointed to dams constructed upstream on the Mekong in Laos and China, and irregular rainfall linked to climate change, as likely causes. Recent research also concluded that large-scale irrigation and sandmining in Cambodia had weakened flooding.

I dont want my children to have a difficult life like me Fishermen in Peam Bang Village, on the lakes northern shore, some 20 kilometers from Kampoung Loung, told VOA Khmer recently that the situation was dire. It's strange, the water is getting lower and lower, said Sout Tot, 36, while cleaning his gillnets during a rainy afternoon. His daily catch had fallen in the past decade from around 30-50 kilo to a current average of 5 kilos, which was not enough to sustain his family of four. I will wait another two years and then I will decide whether to leave, he said, adding that he planned to move to his wifes hometown in Takeo Province to earn a living as a construction worker or factory laborer. A lack of government services in the impoverished Tonle Sap Lake villages was providing fishermen like Sout Tot with a further incentive to leave for the mainland. His wife said they had been unable to get a diagnosis for their 9-year-old sons speech impediment, as they lacked money to travel to district hospital and get treatment. Their 13-year-old daughter would like to go to high school in a few years time, but that would require costly daily travel by boat and motorbike to a larger town. My child studies very hard. I pity her. I want the children to finish their studies. I dont want them to have a difficult life like me, said Sout To.



Ineffective government measures The government has long failed to stem the local threats to the lake, appearing unable or unwilling to tackle illegal fishing by both small fishermen and, more destructively, large-scale operators. Meanwhile, flooded forests that serve as fish habitat have been cleared by well-connected businessmen and local officials, who then rent it out for paddy farming. Government action has been limited to recurrent announcements of crackdowns that had no significant impact. Though the current crackdown on illegal fishing that began last April may be one of the toughest yet, according to locals. Kong Kouen, the prawn fisher, said she had little hope government action would make a difference as it was hampered by corruption and misgovernance. The lake is common public property, which the powerful can arbitrarily monopolize or take control over the resources. What is left for us, the ordinary people? she said. Kampong Loung villager Seng Tith said, After the crackdown [on illegal fishing] it seems [the catch] improved, but I think it's just about 10 or 20 percent improved for now, he said. Seng Tith, 36 and a father of three, said he stopped fishing a decade ago because of the poor catch and he has since ferried people across the lake with his boat for a living. He had managed to benefit from a government measure that was supposed to help the Tonle Sap Lake, though not exactly as authorities intended it.
Malaysia wants a clear endgame in Myanmar' faltering peace process and is advocating direct engagement by ASEAN states with the junta's opponents, and bringing other countries into the fold, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Saifuiddun Abdullah, whose candid remarks about the troubled peace process have angered the junta, also said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) special Myanmar envoy should have a tenure longer than a year to be more effective.

Myanmar has been trapped in a spiral of violence since the military seized power last year and ended a decade of tentative democracy, triggering a backlash of protests, strikes and armed resistance that the generals have met with deadly force.

ASEAN countries, which have a code of non-interference in each member state's affairs, are losing patience with the junta over its failure to follow a plan that includes multi-party dialog, humanitarian aid access and a cessation of hostilities.

During a visit to Thailand, Saifuddin said it was of the "utmost importance" that ASEAN members morally support Myanmar's people and engage with opposition groups formed after the coup, including a shadow government outlawed by the junta.

"Now it is one-sided, we are only engaging the junta," he told reporters.

Myanmar's military has repeatedly urged ASEAN members not to contact groups it calls "terrorists."

The military has been deluged by international condemnation after it recently executed four political activists with ties to a resistance movement. It has defended the executions as lawful and necessary.

Saifuddin said ASEAN foreign ministers discussed last week the possibility of seeking support from third party states to help with the ASEAN-led peace process, which is the only diplomatic process in play.

"Some of us brought it to the table that if ASEAN cannot do it alone then we will probably have to engage some of our ASEAN dialog partners," he said, without naming any countries.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to have free, fair, and on-time elections while expressing concern over the detention of a Congolese opposition leader arrested soon as Blinken arrived the country for a brief visit.

"We've seen just in the last 24 hours a possible setback to the importance of having the right environment for elections and for the civic space with the detention of an opposition political leader, said Blinken on Wednesday during an election transparency event in the capital, Kinshasa.

We're trying to get more facts, we've raised this with our colleagues in the government here, we have full respect for the laws of the DRC, he said. But we are concerned about any steps taken that could actually reduce the political space, especially as the country heads into elections, he said.

On Tuesday, Jean-Marc Kabund, a former close political ally of DRC President Felix Tshisekedi but now an opposition leader, was arrested.

His lawyers said Kabund was accused of contempt of the head of state. Kabund was once seen as a leading figure behind Tshisekedi's rise to power. The two had a falling out earlier this year and Kabund started his own political party.

Earlier on Wednesday, Blinken met with DRCs Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde in Kinshasa where the two discussed the importance of organizing and holding free and fair elections as scheduled in 2023, according to the State Department.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to provide an additional $10 million to promote peaceful political participation and transparency in DRCs elections, bringing total U.S. support for the Congolese elections to $23.75 million.

The central African country is scheduled to have its presidential, legislative and provincial assembly elections next year.

Some information in this report comes from Reuters.
Central African ministers meeting in Cameroon have agreed to merge two regional blocs in a move to boost trade and growth. The 11-member Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) will join with the six-member Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC). The deal aims to eliminate rivalry that has helped to make central Africa the poorest region among Africas economic groups.

Central African economy ministers say they want to foster regional integration, accelerate economic transformation and facilitate development by merging the two economic blocs.

Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad are members of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, or CEMAC, while the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, is made up of all CEMAC member states plus Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Sao Tome and Principe.

Charles Assamba Ongodo heads the unit of a pilot committee created by central African heads of state to merge CEMAC and ECCAS.

Ongodo said having one economic bloc instead of two will reduce administrative duplication and associated costs.

The sub-region will be more integrated, more competitive, efficient and strong enough to compete with the other regions. We have some countries that are stronger in central Africa that could push the rest, said Ongodo.

ECCAS was created in 1983 to reduce inequality and poverty in central Africa. Central African leaders created CEMAC about a decade later, launching it in 1999 for the same purpose.

The African Union reports that free movement of people and goods remains a dream in a majority of central African states. The absence of a functioning common market and customs union envisaged by Central African leaders when they created the two structures has further deepened poverty.

Moise Taboue, one of the pilot committees consultants, says the effects of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine underscore the need for central Africa to merge its two economic structures and focus on its development.

Taboue said central African states produce about 5% of pharmaceutical products they need and spend $269 million to import pharmaceutical products from Europe each year despite their huge potential. He said the over-dependency of central African states on imports is responsible for hardships among civilians caused by scarcity and spiraling food and commodity prices since Russia launched its war in Ukraine in February of this year.

Taboue said most of the region's civilians live on less than $1 a day while 40% of the population suffer from hunger in the midst of plenty. He blamed the situation on regional government officials whom he said consider integration as a threat to each countrys sovereignty.

Together, ECCAS and CEMAC constitute a market of more than 240 million inhabitants and is the least integrated region in Africa, according to the African Union.

Cross-border business among central African states is estimated at less than 5% against a continental average of about 20 percent. The region lacks developed land, air and sea communication, which constitutes an enormous obstacle to integration.

The ministers meeting in Cameroon on Wednesday said the two blocs will be merged before the end of 2023.
Australian health officials say there are encouraging signs that a wave of COVID-19 omicron variant infections is in decline. However, more than 4,000 Australians are hospitalized with the virus and an unknown number of others are suffering the effects of long COVID.

COVID-19 no longer makes the headlines as it once did in Australia. Strict public health measures, including lockdowns, curfews, mask mandates and international border closures that were imposed during the pandemic have come to an end.

The country is doing its best to live with the virus.

More than 95% of Australians older than 16 have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccination, according to government data. More than 70% of the eligible population  14 million have had three or more doses.

But the virus persists. Officials have said omicron variants have fueled a recent wave of infections that has coincided with winter in the southern hemisphere. It appears to be weakening. Still, dozens of deaths and thousands of infections are being reported every day.

Leading epidemiologists at the Burnet Institute, a Melbourne-based medical facility, have released new research showing how many lives could be saved if more Australians wore masks.

The institutes chief executive Brendan Crabb said face coverings continue to be an important defense against the disease.

We have to change from a high COVID strategy to a low COVID one. We have done modeling with mask use and increasing mask use to say that if that happened even from July that many cases, up to 20% of cases, 20% of hospitalizations, and 14 percent of deaths between July and October could be averted, said Crabb.

Australia had some of the worlds toughest disease-control measures. Most foreign nationals were banned from Australia for more than two years after March 2020. Australian citizens needed government permission to leave the country. The military was deployed to enforce lockdowns and vaccine mandates were imposed on some key workers.

The countrys coronavirus strategy now relies on individuals making their own decisions about vaccines, masks, hygiene and distancing. However, experts say that the return of personal freedoms has come at a cost.

Australia has recorded 12,400 deaths from coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. More than half of the fatalities occurred in 2022 when restrictions were scrapped.

Government data Wednesday has shown that 9.6 million COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed in Australia during the pandemic. 270,000 active cases are reported across the country.
Issey Miyake, who built one of Japan's biggest fashion brands and was known for his boldly sculpted pleated pieces as well as former Apple CEO Steve Jobs' black turtlenecks, has died. He was 84.

Miyake died August 5 of liver cancer, Miyake Design Office said Tuesday.

Miyake defined an era in Japan's modern history, reaching stardom in the 1970s among a generation of designers and artists who reached global fame by defining a Japanese vision that was unique from the West.

Miyake's origami-like pleats transformed usually crass polyester into chic. He also used computer technology in weaving to create apparel. His down-to-earth clothing was meant to celebrate the human body regardless of race, build, size or age.

Miyake even detested being called a fashion designer, choosing not to identify with what he saw as a frivolous, trend-watching, conspicuous consumption.

Again and again, Miyake returned to his basic concept of starting with a single piece of cloth  be it draped, folded, cut or wrapped.

Over the years, he took inspiration from a variety of cultures and societal motifs, as well as everyday items  plastic, rattan, "washi" paper, jute, horsehair, foil, yarn, batik, indigo dyes and wiring.

He sometimes evoked images of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin or collaborated with Japanese painter Tadanori Yokoo in images of monkeys and foliage in vibrant, psychedelic hues.

He also collaborated with furniture and interior designer Shiro Kuramata, photographer Irving Penn, choreographer and director Maurice Bejart, pottery maker Lucie Rie and Ballet Frankfurt.

In 1992, Miyake was commissioned to design the official Olympic uniform for Lithuania, which had just gained independence from the Soviet Union.

Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Miyake was a star as soon as he hit the European runways. His brown top, which combined the Japanese sewn fabric "sashiko" with raw silk knit, was splashed on the cover of the September 1973 issue of Elle magazine.

Miyake was also a pioneer in gender roles, asking feminist Fusae Ichikawa in the 1970s  when she was in her 80s  to be his model, sending the message that garments must be comfortable and express the natural beauty of real people.

Although he made clothes that went beyond the mundane, appearing to reach for the spiritual, he made a point to never get pretentious, always approving of the T-shirt-and-jeans look.

"Designing is like a living organism in that it pursues what matters for its well-being and continuity," Miyake once wrote in his book.

His office confirmed a private funeral had been held and other ceremonies will not be held in accordance with Miyake's wishes. Miyake kept his family life private, and survivors are not known.
Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested a temporary stay in Thailand but says he is not seeking asylum, according to the Thai Foreign Ministry. He is expected to leave Singapore on Thursday and travel to Thailands capital, Bangkok.

Rajapaksa fled to Singapore in mid-July after a series of mass protests erupted in the island nation amid the worst economic crisis of the past several decades. Thousands of people protested and marched through the streets of Sri Lanka and into the presidents residence and office.

Rajapaksa resigned in July, becoming the first Sri Lankan president to do so midterm.

Singapore's government said this month that the city-state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity.

Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanee Sangrat said Rajapaksa would be able to stay in Thailand for 90 days with his diplomatic passport.

The entry to Thailand by the former president of Sri Lanka is for a temporary stay, Sangrat said. The Sri Lankan side informs us that the former president has no intention for political asylum in Thailand and will travel to another country afterwards.

There have been no personal statements from Rajapaksa about his travel plans, nor has he made any public appearances since leaving Sri Lanka.

The former presidents successor, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has said Rajapaksa should not return to the country anytime soon.

A member of the influential Rajapaksa family, the 73-year-old served in the Sri Lankan military and later as defense secretary before moving into politics.
Voters in states including Wisconsin and Minnesota picked candidates for the U.S. Congress and other offices in primaries on Tuesday, in another test of former President Donald Trumps influence in the Republican Party ahead of the November 8 midterms.

Vermont and Connecticut also held nomination contests, while Minnesota held a special election for its vacant 1st Congressional District. The following are four key races:

Wisconsin Republican governors primary

In its final stretch, the Republican nomination contest for Wisconsins gubernatorial race became another proxy battle between Trump and his estranged former vice president, Mike Pence.

Trump endorsed construction company owner Tim Michels in June, upending a race that until then was led by former state Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, who Pence endorsed in July.

On Tuesday, Michels defeated Kleefisch, according to Edison Research. It was the third high-profile race this year in which Pence and Trump backed opposing candidates. In the previous contests, Pence-backed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp won the party nomination for his re-election bid, while Trump-backed Kari Lake, a former news anchor, won the Republican nomination for the Arizona governors race.

Pence, who like Trump is considering running for president in 2024, has recently distanced himself from Trumps repeated falsehoods that the 2020 election was stolen.

Wisconsin Democratic US senate primary

In the race to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, Wisconsins Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, a progressive backed by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, easily won the Democratic nomination after a leading moderate opponent dropped out of the race in late July. The focus now shifts to Barnes ability to appeal to moderate voters in the race against Johnson, which could be one of Novembers tightest and most consequential Senate races.

Minnesota Republican governors primary

Former Minnesota state senator Scott Jensen, who has vowed he will try to ban most abortions in the state, won the Republican Party nomination for the governors race.

Despite the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade, abortion remains legal under state law in Minnesota. Jensen recently said he supports abortion rights in cases of rape or incest.

Jensen, a physician who has cast doubt on the seriousness of COVID-19, will now face Democratic Governor Tim Walz in November. Walz is seen as potentially vulnerable.

Minnesota special congressional election

Democrats face an uphill battle to gain the U.S. House of Representatives seat left vacant following the February death of Republican U.S. Representative Jim Hagedorn.

Ahead of Tuesdays special election, Republican Brad Finstad, a former agriculture official in the Trump administration, was ahead of Democrat Jeff Ettinger 46% to 38%, according to a public opinion poll conducted in the last week of July by Survey USA.

Political observers have said the race could be close after Ettinger, a former CEO at Hormel Foods, spent early on television ads making the case that his business experience set him up as a problem-solver on run-away food prices.
Chinas military drills, threats and cuts in some bilateral cooperation in reaction to U.S. lawmakers' visit to Taiwan is an attempt to establish a "new normal" in the Taiwan Strait, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday.



Pelosi said the delegation of congressional members that she led to Taiwan was intended as a salute to a thriving democracy, and China should not have taken offense.



We didn't go there to talk about China. We went there to praise Taiwan. And we went there to show our friendship to say, China cannot isolate Taiwan. 



Chinese President Xi Jinpings attempt to drive a wedge between Taipei and Washington backfired, said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks. He noted that instead, Chinas provocations have resulted in a greater closeness between Taiwan and the United States.



The House of Representatives, led by the speaker of the House, gave Xi a message that he's not going to dictate to us on what we do and what we don't do, Meeks said.

Representative Raja Krishnamurti told reporters Beijings response was an attempt to distract from problems inside China, and he is now glad to see the Chinese live-fire military exercises subsiding.



Chinas Communist Party considers Taiwan a rogue province that must be reunited with the mainland.
An Iranian operative has been charged in a plot to assassinate former U.S. national security adviser John Bolton in presumed retaliation for a U.S. airstrike that killed a powerful Iranian general, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday.



The suspect, Shahram Poursafi, was identified by U.S. officials as a member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He is currently wanted by the FBI on charges related to the murder-for-hire plot.



Prosecutors said the plot against Bolton, who was former President Donald Trumps national security adviser for a year and a half in 2018 and 2019, was likely in retaliation for the January 2020 strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, who was the head of Iran's elite Quds Force.



The Justice Department said Poursafi tried to pay people in the U.S. $300,000 to kill Bolton in Washington or the neighboring state of Maryland. The plot unfolded over several months starting late last year, with Poursafi at one point telling a contact in the U.S. that he was under pressure from his people to get the killing done quickly.



Poursafi remains at large overseas. If eventually captured and convicted, he would face up to 10 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, and up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000 for providing and attempting to provide material support to a transnational murder plot.

In a statement Wednesday, Iran called the charges politically motivated.

"Iran strongly warns against any action against Iranian citizens under the pretext of these ridiculous and baseless accusations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said, according to Iranian media.

Current U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences. We will continue to bring to bear the full resources of the U.S. government to protect Americans.



In a statement, Bolton thanked the FBI and Justice Department for their work in investigating the case.



"While much cannot be said publicly right now, one point is indisputable: Iran's rulers are liars, terrorists, and enemies of the United States," he said.



But he deplored the efforts by U.S. President Joe Biden to rejoin the international pact to constrain Irans nuclear development program that Trump pulled the U.S. out of.



American re-entering the failed 2015 nuclear deal would be an unparalleled self-inflicted wound, to ourselves and our closest Middle East allies, Bolton said. I remain committed to making sure it does not happen.



Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen, the Justice Department's top national security official, said it was "not the first time we have uncovered Iranian plots to exact revenge against individuals on U.S. soil and we will work tirelessly to expose and disrupt every one of these efforts."
Some 2,500 kilometers from Washington, D.C., the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol still looms large in the minds of Wyoming voters who will be heading to the polls on August 16 to decide if Republican Liz Cheney should keep her seat in Congress.

Wyomings only representative in the U.S. House, two-term Congresswoman Cheney has staked her political career on being one of the few Republicans to openly criticize former President Donald Trump. But she has an uphill fight to win her partys nomination in a state that delivered Trump his most lopsided win of the 2020 election, with almost 70% of the vote.

The Wyoming Republican Party primary has pitted Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, against the Trump-endorsed candidate, former attorney Harriet Hageman. The least-populated state in the nation, Wyoming has been solidly Republican for decades. But the debate over Trump has forced voters to decide exactly what it means to be a loyal Republican and has turned the primary contest into a test for the former president ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Cheney was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 for inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol and has served as vice chair of the House select committee to investigate the January 6th attack. She was expelled from the state Republican Party for continuing to call Trumps claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election the Big Lie.

Donald Trump made a purposeful choice to violate his oath of office, to ignore the ongoing violence against law enforcement, to threaten our constitutional order. There is no way to excuse that behavior, Cheney said during a January 6th Committee hearing last month. She has also suggested Trump should face federal charges for his actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

We need a leader like Liz, Jan Cartwright, a retired health care executive from Cheyenne, told VOA. I think that it's important for us to look at what happened with both the Trump presidency and then January 6, and I think that truth has to overcome lies. I believe that that's what she's trying to do, is to get to the truth.

Trump has criticized the work of the January 6th Committee, suggesting it is unfair that the two Republicans investigating his actions also voted to impeach him.

Liz Cheney hates the voters of the Republican Party, and she has for longer than you would know, Trump said at a Casper, Wyoming, rally for Hageman in May.

"Wyoming deserves a congresswoman who stands up for you and your values, not one who spends all of her time putting you down and going after your president in the most vicious way possible.

But some Wyoming voters have been turned off by Trumps messaging, saying Cheneys determination is a Wyoming value. Independent voter Don Maloff told VOA he is switching his party registration just so that he can vote for Cheney.

Cheney is being stepped on by Trump, which is wrong in every which way, Maloff said, adding that he admires Cheneys work on the January 6th Committee even though he doesnt think it will change anyones mind.

In their only debate, on July 1, the two candidates focused on Trump, with Cheney suggesting Hageman knew Trumps election fraud claims were false.

"The election was not stolen. She knows it wasn't stolen. I think that she can't say that it wasn't stolen because she's completely beholden to Donald Trump, Cheney said.

But Hageman contended Cheney was ignoring her constituents by focusing on the investigation into the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

"Our republic is not in danger because of President Donald J. Trump. President Trump was an excellent president for the United States of America and especially for the state of Wyoming, Hageman said in the debate.

Polling in the days leading up to the Tuesday primary has Hageman leading Cheney by a significant margin, an indication that Hagemans criticism of the January 6th Committee is connecting with many Wyoming voters.

She cannot like Donald Trump. She can do whatever she wants to try to get him where he can't run again, the whole January 6  whatever that whole nonsense is all about  but the voters in Wyoming stand  for the majority  stand solidly behind Trump, Randy Mulkey, a Cheyenne voter who works for a roofing company, told VOA.

Hageman is running television advertisements suggesting Cheney wants to be re-elected as the states sole U.S. House representative because she is comfortable among the Washington elite.

That argument resonates with Kelly Krakow, an insurance salesman from Alban, Wyoming, who is concerned about the state of the economy.

"Cheney's just stepped over the line on too much stuff, Krakow said. And really, she doesn't live in Wyoming. She hasn't for a long time. And I don't think she has the Wyoming values behind her.

Cheneys father, meanwhile, is campaigning for his daughter. The former vice president, who also represented Wyoming in Congress in the 1980s, recorded a television ad in which he calls Trump a coward who lied to his followers about his 2020 election loss, and praises his daughter for standing up for the truth.

Even if she loses her primary, Cheney is expected to continue the January 6th investigation in Congress until the end of her term early next year.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, removing some ministers with links to the Unification Church after a growing backlash over the ruling partys ties to the controversial group triggered a slump in public support.

Kishida announced his new government team in a shake-up that came earlier than analysts had expected, underscoring how lawmakers ties to the church have become a liability for the premier less than a year after he came to power.

Some key cabinet members, such as the foreign and finance ministers, held on to their posts. But other high-profile ministers were removed, including the younger brother of slain former premier Shinzo Abe, Nobuo Kishi, who was replaced as defense minister.

Abes suspected killer has said his mother was a Unification Church member bankrupted by donating to it, and blamed Abe for promoting the group.

In the latest survey, Kishidas support had fallen to 46% from 59% just three weeks ago, public broadcaster NHK said on Monday, the lowest rating since he became prime minister.

Criticism over the Unification Church caused a big drop in public support for the administration and stopping that decline was a big reason for bringing forward the reshuffle of the cabinet and major party positions, said Shigenobu Tamura, a political commentator who previously worked for the LDP.

In all, seven ministers who had disclosed ties to the church were reshuffled, Tamura said. The industry minister, Koichi Hagiuda, was among them, taking up a key position in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) instead.

The religious group itself separately held a rare news conference with the foreign media on Wednesday, where its local head, Tomihiro Tanaka, said the group does not seek donations from members that they cannot afford.

Kishida, who has said he himself has no ties with the Unification Church, said on Tuesday that new cabinet members and party officials will have to thoroughly review their links to the group, a sign he wanted to take a strict line.

He, and other ministers, will give news conferences later on Wednesday.

But Minoru Terada, appointed Internal Affairs Minister in the reshuffle, had given money to a Unification Church-affiliated group, the Asahi Shimbun daily paper reported. It also said Economy Minister Daishiro Yamagiwa  who will remain in his post  had also made a contribution to a church-related group.

Terada was quoted in the paper as saying he was not aware the group to which he gave money had connections to the Unification Church and would have no further dealings with it. Yamagiwas office was quoted as saying he would explain his contribution later on Wednesday.

The roots of the (Unification) Church are deep, said political commentator Joji Harano.

Given that they're dealing with potentially explosive issues, party unity and reconciliation may remain something distant.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

11:40 p.m.: Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador and formally protested about the violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said, Reuters reported.

"Estonia considers this an extremely serious and regrettable incident that is completely unacceptable," the ministry said in a release, saying the helicopter had flown over a point in the southeast of the small Baltic nation without permission. Estonia made an identical complaint to Moscow in June.

10:50 p.m.: The United Nations expects to see a "big uptick" in applications for ships to export Ukraine grain after transit procedures were agreed by Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations, a senior U.N. official said, according to Reuters.

The number of inbound vessels is expected to "grow in the near future" as grain deals are made, said Frederick Kenney, interim U.N. Coordinator at the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, which oversees a deal between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the United Nations to resume Ukraine grain exports.

9:55 p.m.: The Russian independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta said it had been fined 350,000 rubles ($5,700) for "abusing media freedom," Reuters reported.

The fine was for an eyewitness report from the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Kherson published in March, which Novaya Gazeta deleted from its website at the request of Russia's media watchdog, spokesperson Nadezhda Prusenkova said.

She said the outlet planned to appeal.

Novaya Gazeta has been one of the leading lights of Russia's beleaguered independent media since the 1990s, and its editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, was jointly awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.

It suspended operations inside Russia in March after repeated warnings by the media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, about its coverage of Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine.

Russia has made it a crime to publish reports about the conflict that differ from official accounts.

8:40 p.m.:

8 p.m.: Annual inflation in Russia slowed further in July, driven by a month-on-month decline in consumer prices amid sluggish demand, data showed, giving the central bank an argument to continue cutting interest rates, Reuters reported.

Inflation has accelerated sharply after Russia began what it calls "a special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, which triggered sweeping Western sanctions and disrupted logistics chains.

In July, annual inflation slowed to 15.10% from 15.90% a month earlier, sliding below the expectations of analysts polled by Reuters for 15.3%, data from the statistics service Rosstat showed. The central bank targets annual inflation at 4%.

High inflation has been the key concern among households for several years as it dents living standards, something that this year will be aggravated by economic recession.

7:20 p.m.: The Associated Press reports on the resistance in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

6:45 p.m.: Russian strikes on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut killed at least six people and left three others injured, the regional governor said, according to an Agence France-Presse report.

"The Russians bombed the city with a multiple rocket launcher, hitting a residential area. According to initial information, 12 residential buildings have been damaged and four are on fire," Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram.

5:55 p.m.: Spain has launched a pilot project to import grain from Ukraine by train to explore the possibility of using rail transport while maritime routes are blocked or restricted by war, Agence France-Presse reported.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February has severely disrupted Ukrainian grain exports, hampering harvests, trapping up to 25 million ton of wheat and other grain in Kyiv's Black Sea ports, sending global food prices soaring and sparking fears of famine.

As part of the Spanish project, a Renfe freight train left Madrid late Tuesday for the Polish town of Chelm near the Ukrainian border, the transport ministry said. It will travel 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles) to Chelm where it will collect 600 tonnes of grain and return to Barcelona in early September.

Since a U.N.-backed, Turkey-brokered deal on July 22, which lifted Russias naval blockade of Ukraine, 12 ships have so far left three different Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

5 p.m.: Ukraine's overseas creditors have backed its request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds, a regulatory filing showed on Wednesday, a move that will allow the war-ravaged country to avoid a messy debt default.

With no sign of peace or a cease-fire on the horizon nearly six months after Russia's invasion began, holders of around 75% of the outstanding total agreed to Kyiv's proposal, documents showed.

"Ukraine will save almost $6 billion on payments," said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in a statement. "These funds will help us maintain macrofinancial stability, strengthen the sustainability of the Ukrainian economy and improve the power of our army."

The solicitation needed approval by holders of at least two-thirds of the total and more than 50% of each issue.

4:13 p.m.: The first shipments of wheat should start flowing from Ukrainian ports next week under a landmark deal agreed with Russia and Turkey, a top U.N. official said, according to Agence France-Presse.

The first 12 shipments that have left the three Black Sea ports designated by the deal were carrying corn or other foodstuffs, Frederick Kenney, interim U.N. coordinator at the joint center in Istanbul overseeing the deal, told reporters.

He said Ukraine's silos were full of corn when Russia invaded its neighbor in February.

3:16 p.m.:

2:30 p.m.: Ukrainian soldiers who are dug in and holding the line between the towns of Siversk and Soledar in the Donbas region say they face shelling "24/7." They spoke to Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys Maryan Kushnir about how they endure the constant Russian shelling and air strikes. One man struck a defiant note, saying, "The truth is on our side."

2 p.m.: More than 31,000 people from Ukraine and Russia have emigrated to Israel since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February, a massive increase from a similar pre-war period, official data showed on Wednesday, according to Reuters.



Between Feb. 24 and July 31, Israel received 12,175 new immigrants from Ukraine and 18,891 from Russia, the Central Bureau of Statistics said, citing data from the Immigration Ministry.



That's 318% higher than a similar period in 2019 when a total of 9,774 new immigrants arrived from the two countries.



1:50 p.m.:

1:30 p.m.: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has signed a decree stripping well-known figure skaters Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas over their participation in an event in Russia that was organized by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's wife, Tatyana Navka, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.



Nauseda wrote on Facebook after he signed the decree on August 10 that the figure skaters' achievements on Lithuania's behalf had been annulled by their "cynical" participation in the ice-dancing event in Sochi.



Nauseda also wrote that the Lithuanian government's decision to grant Moscow native Drobiazko Lithuanian citizenship in 1993 "looks like a miserable farce under the current circumstances," as Russia continues its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The day before, Lithuanian lawmakers proposed stripping Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship.



Navka, an Olympic gold medalist and multiple world and European champion in ice dancing, called the Lithuanian parliament's plan to strip Drobiazko of her citizenship and state awards 'disgusting."

1:05 p.m.: The Ukrainian-made Stuhna-P anti-tank missile system is proving to be an effective asset in the fight against Russian armor. In video shot by a Ukrainian soldier, a unit hits a Russian target. Afterward, soldiers scramble for cover in case of return fire. On August 8, a commander spoke to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty about the role of the Stuhna-P in battle, comparing its features to those of U.S.-made Javelin missiles, which reportedly cost three times more to make.

12:50 p.m.: More than 3,800 Army soldiers are returning to Georgia five months after their rapid deployment to Europe after Russias invasion of Ukraine, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.



Several hundred troops arrived home to Fort Stewart, where cheering parents, spouses and children welcomed them with waving flags and homemade signs.



Members of the 1st Armored Brigade of the Armys 3rd Infantry Division found themselves scrambling to deploy in early March, barely a week after Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The soldiers from Georgia went to Germany to train alongside NATO allies in a show of force intended to deter further Russian aggression in Europe.



Fort Stewart commanders say the rest of the 1st Brigade should be home by the end of August. The U.S. military is sending another unit to take its place  the 3rd Armored Brigade of the 1st Cavalry Division based at Fort Hood, Texas.



12:35 p.m.:

12:15 p.m.: The Uzbek Embassy in Moscow has warned the Central Asian nation's citizens residing in Russia of serious repercussions for joining Russia's ongoing unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.



In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Russian Federation said any form of participation in military activities on the territory of foreign countries is considered to be mercenary activity and will be punished by up to 10 years in prison.



"The embassy calls on all our compatriots to stay away from provocations," the statement says.



The statement comes a day after the BETTA television channel in Russia's Perm region broadcast a report in which the leader of the Uzbek diaspora in the region, Jahongir Jalolov, called on Uzbeks residing in Perm to create an Uzbek battalion named after the 14th century Turkic ruler Amir Timur. Jalolov said the proposed Uzbek battalion must join Russian military forces to fight against Ukrainians.



Russian media reported earlier this week that more than 40 military units of volunteers have been created in Russian regions and ethnic republics.

12:05 p.m.: The U.N. World Health Organization and its partner Unitaid are providing life-saving care for premature infants across Ukraine.



11:45 a.m.: Ukraine on Wednesday called on the European Union and G-7 countries to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens, citing what he said was their support for the invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.



"Russians overwhelmingly support the war on Ukraine. They must be deprived of the right to cross international borders until they learn to respect them," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.



The tweet echoed earlier calls by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a one-year travel ban and the apparent expulsion of Russians living in the West so they can live "in their own world until they change their philosophy."

11:35 a.m.:

11:10 a.m.: China, which Russia has sought as an ally since being cold-shouldered by the West over its invasion of Ukraine, has called the United States the "main instigator" of the crisis, Reuters reported.

In an interview with the Russian state news agency TASS published on Wednesday, China's ambassador to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui, accused Washington of backing Russia into a corner with repeated expansions of the NATO defense alliance and support for forces seeking to align Ukraine with the European Union rather than Moscow.

The ambassador's reasoning closely followed one of Russia's own justifications of its invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and the devastation of entire cities, as well as driving more than a quarter of the population to flee their homes.

10:50 a.m.:

10:35 a.m.: Russians are snapping up Western fashion and furniture this week as H&M and IKEA sell off the last of their inventory in Russia, moving forward with their exit from the country after it sent troops into Ukraine, The Associated Press reported Wednesday.

Sweden-based H&M and Netherlands-based IKEA had paused sales in Russia after the military operation began and are now looking to unload their stocks of clothing and furnishings as they wind down operations there, saying the future is unpredictable. IKEAs sales are online only, while the H&M store at the Moscow shopping mall Aviapark saw a steady stream of young shoppers.

The racks and shelves were well stocked in the clothing retailer. Nearby shops were closed, including Zara, Oysho, Bershka, Pull&Bear and Uniqlo, while New Yorker, Finn Flare, Marks & Spencer and Mango were open.

I will start looking at Russian brands, one H&M shopper, who gave only her first name Anya, said after emerging from the store. Another shopper, who only gave his name as Leonid, said he was very hurt that H&M is closing down: A good store is leaving.

Both companies are laying off staffers as they scale down business in Russia. H&M said Tuesday that 6,000 workers will be affected and that it was working on details of offering continued support in the coming months.



10:20 a.m.: A correspondent with NBC News tweeted Wednesday that U.S. officials claim Iran is training Russian troops on the use of military drones. Drones have been used extensively by both sides in the war that started when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

10:05 a.m.: Russia's pipeline monopoly Transneft and Hungarian energy group MOL say oil flows are poised to resume through the Druzhba pipeline on Wednesday after nearly a weeklong stoppage due to complications from sanctions, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The suspension has affected a number of countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Transneft said Ukraine suspended Russian oil flows to three European nations as of August 4 because its transit payment couldn't be processed due to sanctions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, MOL said the transit fee for the use of the Ukrainian section of the pipeline had been paid and the flow could resume within days. Russian media then quoted Transneft as saying that the flow would begin by 4 p.m. Moscow time on Wednesday.

9:50 a.m.: Russian authorities have launched a criminal case against TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who is known for delivering a live on-air anti-war protest in March. Ovsyannikova's lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, said on Wednesday that police broke into his client's apartment in Moscow and searched it while he was not present. He added that the journalist is accused of "publicly distributing false information about the Russian armed forces."

9:35 a.m.: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the European Union of imperialistic behavior towards smaller member states in an op-ed published on the Welt news website on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The prime minister, whose nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government has clashed repeatedly with Brussels overrule of law issues, said the Russian invasion of Ukraine had thrown a spotlight on the EU's shortcomings.

He called for "profound reform that puts the common good and equality back at the forefront of the union's principles."



9:25 a.m.:

9:05 a.m.: The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) nations on Wednesday called on Russia to immediately hand back full control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to Ukraine, Reuters reported.

"The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine's territory and sovereignty," the foreign ministers said in a statement released in Germany.

"In that context, we demand that Russia immediately hand back full control to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine, of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant as well as of all nuclear facilities within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders to ensure their safe and secure operations."

8:55 a.m.: Russia successfully launched an Iranian satellite into space on August 9, in a move that has raised concerns in the West. U.S. officials fear that the satellite could be used by Moscow to boost its intelligence capabilities in Ukraine, according to The Farda Briefing, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty newsletter that tracks the key issues in Iran and explains why they matter.

8:40 a.m.: Five Belarusian activists who were arrested for allegedly damaging railways in the country to disrupt the transportation of Russian arms and troops to war-torn Ukraine have been sentenced on terrorism charges, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

A court in the eastern city of Babruysk sentenced five activists who were charged with carrying out a terrorist act, threatening to conduct a terrorist act, creating a terrorist group, and insulting the country's president. They were among some 60 men and women arrested for their alleged involvement into the damaging of Belarus's railways to impede the progress of Russian troops and arms being sent into Ukraine since the start of the invasion. The other cases are still being investigated.

The campaign called "Railways War" was initiated in Belarus by a group called BYPOL. Those involved in the campaign have been nicknamed "railway guerrillas." Belarus is not a direct participant in the war in Ukraine, but it has provided logistical support to Russia for the invasion by allowing Russian forces to enter Ukraine via Belarusian territory.

8:30 a.m.:

8:10 a.m.: The U.S. will conduct more military exercises with Baltic nations such as Latvia, and look to provide increased training, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday. He also said the U.S. may bring in additional troops from America if needed to bolster the region against any possible threat from Russia, The Associated Press reported.

Speaking at a press conference with Latvias Defense Minister Artis Pabriks, Austin said plans to do continuous rotations of forces into the Baltics will likely use troops from U.S. brigades in Romania and other parts of Europe, but we can also bring in forces from the United States.

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades, underscoring the increased importance of the Baltic nations, who sit at Russias western edge. They have watched Russias invasion of Ukraine and fear that they could be the next victims of Moscows aggression. The Pentagon said the last defense chief to go to Latvia was William Perry in 1995.

Pabriks told reporters that his top priorities are to get more U.S. military enablers, adding that in order to defend his country, his troops need nitty gritty training on a daily basis. He added that Latvia also needs additional financial assistance from the U.S. in order to buy new military equipment, and to beef up its air defense and coastal defense.

7:50 a.m.: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke at a press conference with Latvias Defense Minister Artis Pabriks on Wednesday. Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades, underscoring the increased importance of the Baltic nations, who sit at Russias western edge.

7:40 a.m.: An EU embargo on the import of Russian coal goes into effect on Thursday after a midnight deadline for the transition period agreed by bloc members four months ago, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Wednesday.

The ban is part of the fifth package of EU sanctions to punish the Russian economy since President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of Russian troops into Ukraine in late February.

The coal embargo is the first measure among the seven rounds of EU sanctions so far to hit energy supplies, which have been particularly hard-hit along with grain exports by the Ukraine conflict. The 120-day grace period for compliance since the approval of the coal ban in April expires at midnight on August 10.

The European Commission estimates that the coal cutoff could cost Russia around $8 billion a year. EU countries imported nearly 52 million tons of coal from Russia in 2021, up from 41 million tons the previous year. But overall coal imports to the EU fell by almost half from 2014 to 2020 under pressure from climate-change targets and efforts to find cleaner energy alternatives.

7:25 a.m.:

7:15 a.m.: Denmark will send military instructors to Britain to help train Ukrainian soldiers and also offer to train Ukrainian officers on its soil, Reuters quoted the Danish defense ministry as saying on Wednesday.

The announcement preceded a conference in Copenhagen on Thursday when British, Danish and Ukrainian defense ministers are expected to discuss long-term support for Ukraine, including military training, mine clearance and weapons supplies.

"Denmark will support a British-led training project with 130 Danish soldiers and at the same time offer to train Ukrainian soldiers in Denmark," a ministry statement said.

The instructors will provide basic military training, including urban combat and tactical operations, of Ukrainian soldiers with zero to limited military experience, Defense Minister Morten Bodskov told the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

6:55 a.m.:

6:40 a.m.: Speculation continued over the cause of major explosions at a Russian airfield in Crimea, while reports overnight on August 9-10 suggested Russian troops were concentrating on a southern region and Ukrainians reported minor successes around Kharkiv, in the northeast, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

Meanwhile assessments of the fighting from Ukrainian and Western military sources indicate that battle lines have become increasingly entrenched as the five-month-old conflict grinds on, with advances mostly limited on either side.

Speaking in his nightly video address on August 9, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy avoided any specific reference to the dozen or so blasts that reportedly killed one person at the military airport in Crimea. But he vowed to reverse Moscow's 2014 annexation of the peninsula and to retake it from Russia by the end of the war.

This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea  its liberation, Zelenskyy said. Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula for the liberation of Crimea.

6:25 a.m.:

6:10 a.m.: A Russian envoy to the United Nations says Moscow has requested a meeting of the UN Security Council on August 11 to discuss issues concerning the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which its troops seized early in the five-month-old invasion of Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Wednesday.

First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy also confirmed on Wednesday that Russia wanted the head of the UN's atomic energy agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, to brief attendees at the meeting.

It would follow increasingly urgent international safety concerns and with the Russian occupiers reportedly preparing to redirect its electricity production in a dangerous pivot that relies on diesel generators and other aging technology.

Desperate safety warnings from Ukrainian and UN atomic experts have been compounded in the past week by intensified shelling around Zaporizhzhya and accusations and counteraccusations of risky behavior by the warring sides.

Operator Enerhoatom and exhausted Ukrainian workers still manning the facility five months after its capture by Russian forces have repeatedly warned of the risks of a nuclear catastrophe.

5:55 a.m.:

5:40 a.m.: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda discussed the challenges for his country caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year with VOA's Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze in Vilnius.

"Nothing less than democracy and the world order is at stake in that war," Nauseda told VOA. "There is no limit for the appetite of Vladimir Putin. I don't know who will be the next target, the Baltic countries, Poland, maybe Romania."

5:30 a.m.: Reuters reported that Ukraines grain, oilseed, vegetable oil exports rose 22.7% in July versus June to 2.66 million tons thanks to higher wheat and barley shipments, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

July's volume included, for example, 412,000 tons of wheat, 183,000 tons of barley, 1.1 million tons of corn, and 362,100 tons of sunseed, according to the ministry.

4:30 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is being made into an action figure by a product design company in Brooklyn, New York.

FCTRY launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund production less than two weeks ago. It hit its $30,000 funding goal in three hours and has since raised more than $120,000. For every figure sold, $1 goes to Ukraine in the campaign, which ends on Friday.

A 15-centimeter (6-inch) tall clay prototype of the Zelenskyy action figure, molded by Seattle artist Mike Leavitt, will be mass produced in plastic in China. It is expected to ship by March.

Hes the perfect leader for this moment, just this super inspirational character, said Jason Feinberg, FCTRYs chief executive and creative director. He has this real strength that comes across, but its humble and he sort of represents the opposite of everything that weve come to associate with politics.

3:50 a.m.: The U.S. has completed its final step in ratifying NATOs expansion to include Sweden and Finland. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb reports on the most significant expansion of the military alliance in more than two decades, which needs only seven more countries for completion.

2:55 a.m.: Governor Valentyn Reznychenko said on Wednesday that at least 13 people died after shelling overnight in Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region, Reuters reported.

More than 20 buildings were damaged in Marganets, he said, a city across the Dnipro River from the Russian-captured Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, where there have been other reports of shelling.

The attack damaged a power line, leaving several thousand people without electricity, Reznychenko said. The attack damaged a hostel, two schools, a concert hall, the main council building and other administrative bases, he added.

Russia denies targeting civilians in what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Reznychenko initially put the casualties at 21, with 11 killed in the district of Nikopol and 10 in Marganets, but said in a subsequent message on the Telegram messaging app that 11 was the total number, without clarifying which initial details were incorrect.

He later said another two people had died from their injuries.

2 a.m.: Russia has almost certainly established a major new ground forces formation to support its operations in Ukraine, Britain said on Tuesday.

This unit, called the 3rd Army Corps, is based out of the city of Mulino, east of Russias capital Moscow, the British Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence bulletin on Twitter.

The update also added that Russian commanders continued to face competing operational priorities of reinforcing its offensive in the eastern Donbas region, as well as strengthening its defense against Ukrainian counterattacks in south.

Moscow refers to the Ukraine invasion as a special military operation.

1 a.m.: Russian shelling killed 11 people in Ukraines central Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing governor Valentyn Reznychenko.

Reznychenko initially put the casualties at 21, with 11 killed in the district of Nikopol and 10 in the town of Marganets, but said in a subsequent message on the Telegram messaging app that 11 was the total number, without clarifying which initial details were incorrect.

12:05 a.m.: More Australian coal has arrived in Ukraine, according to The Kyiv Independent.

The coal was delivered to a Ukrainian thermal power plant run by the countrys state-owned company Centrenergo. Ukraine expects to receive 79,000 tons of coal from Australia.

The fuel will contribute to the reliable energy supply in Ukraine this heating season, said Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

So far, Ukraine has accumulated 1.8 million tons of coal out of the planned 2.5 million tons.

Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Malis military government has received several fighter jets and helicopters from Russia, which has become a close and controversial ally in its fight against Islamist militants.

The aircraft were handed over during a ceremony at Bamakos airport, with Malian President Assimi Goita and Russian Ambassador Igor Gromyko present.



Photos of the aircraft were posted to the official presidential Twitter page, with Russian state media RIA saying the delivery consists of Sukhoi Su-25 fighter jets, L-39 Albatros jets and attack helicopters. Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara said in a speech on Malian state TV channel ORTM that an even larger number of aircraft were delivered.



Here we are just showing a part of what was delivered, he says. The rest, of course, are being engaged in operations at the moment that this ceremony is being held.



Mali has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for the past decade, since Islamists took over northern Mali in 2012. Control of Malian territory was regained after France intervened in 2013, but attacks and fighting have continued in the years since, with 2022 already one of the deadliest years on record in the conflict.



In the most recent incident, Islamist fighters attacked a Malian army base in the northern town of Tessit on Sunday, with the army saying in a press release that 17 soldiers and four civilians were killed in the attack.



Violence has also increased in central and southern Mali. One-hundred thirty-two civilians were murdered in a massacre blamed on Islamist militants in June in the central Mopti region, and several attacks have occurred in Malis southern regions in recent months, with Islamists attacking Malis main military town, Kati, just 15 kilometers north of Bamako, in July.



The French army is in the final stages of withdrawing from Mali, after French President Emmanuel Macron announced the withdrawal of forces in February, following increasing tensions with Malis military government and concerns over Mali working with Russian mercenaries.



Malis military government continually denied claims it works with mercenaries, saying it only works with Russian instructors.



Several governments have accused Mali of working with mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company. In March, Human Rights Watch released a report in which several residents of Moura attested to witnessing mercenaries committing extrajudicial killings and human rights abuses with the Malian army over a period of five days.



Mali also received two Russian helicopters in April, and four helicopters as well as weapons in September of last year.
Nigerian security forces say they have arrested four suspects in the attack on a Catholic church in June that killed 40 people. Authorities blamed the massacre on the militant group Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP.

Nigeria's Defense Staff Chief Gen. Lucky Irabor disclosed the arrests August 9 in Abuja during a media briefing.



He said joint security agents on August 1 arrested four terrorists who allegedly took part in the June church shooting in the town of Owo, in southwest Nigeria. The suspects, including the alleged mastermind of the attack, were arrested in Kogi State, which is close to Nigeria's capital.

Men heavily armed with guns and explosives invaded the St. Francis Catholic Church on June 5, killing 40 worshippers and wounding 80.

Irabor also said officials have arrested a high-profile militant who escaped from an Abuja prison last month during a jail break, for which ISWAP claimed responsibility.

Irabor said the suspects could not be brought in front of reporters because of ongoing investigations.



"We've done quite a lot, and it's my pleasure to let you know that starting with the Owo church attack, we have arrested those behind that dastardly act," Irabor said.

The local governor in Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, said authorities are continuing to search for the remaining perpetrators.



He responded to the announcement and said, "We have known for a while, but we needed not to come out with it because more work is still ongoing."



Abuja resident Jethro Titus hailed police for catching the suspects.



"Kudos to our security agency for being able to capture those people who killed innocent souls," Titus said. "I think what should be done to them is  they should face the law."

But Anthony Olajide, whose 74-year-old mother was killed in the church shooting, remained skeptical about the announcement and wants to see the suspects first.

"I'm not going to follow what Irabor said. I know the country we're in," Olajide said. "Why were they not paraded? The fact that he's chief of defense doesn't mean whatever he says is the gospel truth."

Nigeria is struggling to contain an Islamist insurgency in the northeast and a wave of criminal activity, especially kidnappings for ransom, mostly in the northwest.



The church attack was the first large-scale killing blamed on a terror group in southwest Nigeria.


Last year, many Pakistani government and military officials were pleased with the new state of affairs in Afghanistan, as the Ashraf Ghani-led government collapsed during the U.S. withdrawal, leaving the Taliban to continue capturing vast swaths of the country, ultimately seizing control of Kabul on August 15.

Hardly monolithic institutions, Pakistan's government and military comprise diverse coteries of competing interests, but some Pakistanis celebrated the Taliban's return to power with rallies in the street. Then-Prime Minister Imran Khan declared Afghans had broken the "shackles of slavery," and many Pakistanis relished the perceived blow to perennial archrival India, which had close ties with former Afghan governments. Islamabad had long accused those governments of providing sanctuary to Pakistani militant groups, including Islamist extremists such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch separatists, accused of carrying out cross-border attacks.

From Islamabad to Rawalpindi, the headquarters for Pakistan's armed forces, hopes had been high that the Taliban's sudden return to power would solidify bilateral ties with Afghanistan, particularly given Pakistan's critical role in getting American and Taliban leaders to negotiate an "honorable" exit strategy for Washington.

But one year later, enthusiasm for Taliban rule has largely waned among most Pakistanis who had supported it.

Not only has the Taliban's victory emboldened the TTP, once one of the world's most deadly terror groups, to intensify its insurgency against Islamabad, but it has also given it the confidence to expect a more deferential treatment from Islamabad that parallels that of the United States toward the Taliban. Border clashes and unprecedented Pakistani airstrikes inside Afghanistan have worsened relations between Islamabad and the Taliban.

"It became obvious very early on that the Taliban's ideological, organizational, tribal, and personal ties with the TTP, its fellow ideological traveler, would trump any feeling of gratitude it had towards Pakistan for supporting it  diplomatically, militarily, and institutionally  for the last 20 years," said Claude Rakisits, a senior strategic analyst at the Australian National University.

"As a result  and counter-intuitively  the security situation along the Afghan-Pakistan border has worsened since the Taliban, Pakistan's long-term ally for over 25 years, took over in Kabul."

Emboldened, resurgent TTP

Also collectively known as the Pakistani Taliban, TTP militants have been behind numerous attacks in Pakistan over the past 14 years and have long fought for stricter enforcement of Islamic law in the country, the release of their members from government custody, and a reduced military presence in the country's former tribal regions.

Until mid-2020, the TTP had been crumbling under Pakistan's sustained crackdown. U.S. drone strikes had killed successive leaders, and an internal rift steadily pushed factions of the historically Pakistan-based extremists to the neighboring Afghan border provinces of Kunar and Nangarhar.

But the beginning of U.S.-Taliban negotiations encouraged the TTP to reinvent itself as a well-organized terror outfit with improved internal cohesion. Since July 2020, several TTP factions, splintering since 2014, have reconsolidated, encouraging al-Qaida affiliates in Pakistan, among other jihadi outfits, to join up.

Wooing the disgruntled splinter groups, TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud argued that jihad could succeed only if all groups united against Islamabad under one flag, just as the Taliban remained united in its fight against U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan.

A July 5 report by the United Nations Security Council said the TTP now has the largest composition of foreign militants in Afghanistan, with 3,000 to 4,000 fighters, many of whom were freed from Afghan jails shortly after the fall of Kabul. Since Mehsud's reunification efforts, the group is now "more cohesive, presenting a greater threat in the region," the UNSC report observed.

Under Mehsud's leadership, the report adds, TTP has "arguably benefitted" more than any foreign extremist group in Afghanistan since the Taliban's August 2021 return to power.

Rise in attacks, extortion

Attacks in Pakistan have surged since that time, dramatically altering the regional security landscape. Pakistan saw a 42% increase in terrorist attacks in 2021 compared with the previous year, according to the Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), which also observed that the TTP alone was responsible for 87 attacks that killed 158 people, an increase of 84% in attacks compared with 2020.

Baloch insurgents were tied to 63 of the attacks in 2021, claiming 72 fatalities, according to the report.

During the first six months of 2022, law enforcement personnel were the target of 434 attacks, according to an Interior Ministry report presented in the Pakistani Senate on July 29. Among them, 247 militant attacks on law enforcement personnel were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that borders Afghanistan.

"The TTP has, in fact, been reborn after Taliban captured Kabul and its attacks have been increased, mainly targeting law enforcement personnel," said Shah, a senior Peshawar-based police official involved in counterinsurgency operations who agreed to speak on the condition that only a single name be used.

Using telephone numbers with Afghanistan's international dialing code, TTP have also been extorting Pakistani traders and parliamentarians by phone. Former TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan tweeted July 25 that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's former governor paid $36,350 (7.5 million rupees) in protection money to the militant group.

Taliban reluctant to act

Shortly after Kabul fell, Islamabad urged Taliban rulers to prevent TTP leaders from perpetrating attacks inside Pakistan. Taliban leaders responded by offering to mediate talks, asking Islamabad to address TTP grievances directly.

"Islamabad should realize it could pressure the Taliban regime to take action against the TTP," said a Pakistani religious scholar involved in ongoing Taliban-brokered peace talks between Islamabad and the TTP.

"Taliban, the TTP and other foreign militant groups such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, whose leadership are based in Afghanistan, are part of an al-Qaida-led larger jihadi network that helped the Taliban to capture most parts of Afghanistan," said the scholar, who spoke to VOA's Urdu Service on the condition of anonymity for fear of personal reprisals.

Frustrated over the Taliban's reluctance to act against TTP, Pakistan took the unprecedented step in April of launching airstrikes on suspected TTP hideouts in the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Khost, killing 47 people, including women and children. The strikes sparked a severe backlash in Afghanistan, with many accusing Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty.

Although both sides agreed to a cease-fire in early June, experts say security remains fragile on the border.

"And this is bad news for a country whose economy is in dire straits, desperately seeking foreign investment and loans to prop it up," said Rakisits of the Australian National University. "All in all, Pakistan's support for the Taliban was always a bad policy."

While terrorist attacks have declined during the cease-fire  the TTP has not claimed responsibility for any attacks since May 9  some observers told VOA they fear a return to violence is inevitable if the root causes of extremism are not addressed.

In May, both TTP and Pakistani negotiators agreed to maintain an indefinite cease-fire until a deal to resolve the decadeslong conflict is achieved.

Pete Cobus contributed to this report. This story originated in VOA's Urdu Service.
Police in Pakistan have arrested a senior executive of a popular mainstream television news channel following the suspension of the stations broadcast for airing seditious content, moves critics denounced as an attempt to stifle media freedom.



ARY News, critical of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs coalition government, said Wednesday that a police raid picked up its head news official, Ammad Yousaf, without a warrant, from his house in Karachi, the port city where the channel is headquartered.



Muqaddas Haider, a senior provincial police officer, confirmed the arrest and said Yousaf would appear in a court within 24 hours.



The crackdown on one of Pakistans biggest and most-watched private TV channels drew condemnation from local and foreign media rights defenders.



The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) called on Pakistani authorities Wednesday to immediately cease all legal action against the ARY News employees and withdraw the transmission suspension orders.



The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) on Monday ordered capable operators to urgently suspend the transmission of ARY News till further notice. The state regulator later sent a show cause notice to the station, accusing it of airing false, hateful and seditious content.



The PEMRA claimed that the material aired on your channel raises serious concerns about your mala fide intent and represented a clear and present threat to national security.



The notice referred to an appearance on ARY News by Shahbaz Gill, a close aide to former prime minister Imran Khan, alleging he made comments tantamount to inciting the rank and file of armed forces towards revolt.



PEMRAs suspension of ARY News transmission, the arrest of Ammad Yousaf and the registering of FIRs [police cases] against several ARY News employees are blatant acts of legal harassment and censorship against Pakistans media, the IFJ said.



The group noted that the suspension impacted viewers across Pakistan and India.



The IFJ urges the Pakistani government to safeguard the rights of all journalists and media workers and ensure freedom of expression and freedom of the press are maintained in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan.

Salman Iqbal, founder and CEO of the channel, and several anchorpersons have also been booked under treason charges.

The Committee to Protect Journalists demanded authorities free Yousaf and drop legal proceedings against other ARY journalists and executives.

Pakistan needs to get out of the habit of filing legal cases, throwing journalists into jail & blocking programming distribution in response to on-air comments it doesnt like, tweeted Steven Butler, senior CPJ program consultant.

Mazhar Abbas, a prominent journalist and political analyst, condemned what he called the disappearance of Yousaf and the ban on ARY News, cautioning authorities against calling media outlets and workers traitors. All these actions are unlawful. Sadly, only the rulers changed in this country not the rule, Abbas said on Twitter.





Gill was later also arrested on charges of sedition and abetting mutiny. The politician during a court appearance Wednesday briefly spoke to reporters and rejected the allegations.



Pakistan is ranked among the worlds most dangerous countries for media workers and criticism of the powerful military has long been seen as a red line.



Sedition allegations, critics say, are often used to intimidate and harass politicians, media outlets and journalists critical of the military.



In recent weeks, cases of intimidation were registered against several journalists for questioning in their prime time shows the militarys alleged role in national politics. The military denies the allegations it interferes in the countrys politics.



France-based Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, cautioned the Pakistan army high command last month against harassment of the media, saying such tactics would seriously undermine democracy in Pakistan.



The many cases of harassment that RSF has registered in the past two months have one thing in common  all the journalists concerned had, in one way or another, criticized the armys role in Pakistani politics, said Daniel Bastard, head of RSFs Asia-Pacific desk.
China has blocked many of Taiwans exports in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan on August 2, but certain goods including semiconductors and high-tech products have been spared because of Chinas reliance on those products from Taiwan, experts say.

It is unlikely that Beijing will take serious trade actions against electronic exports from Taiwan. Doing so would be China shooting itself in its own foot, Dexter Roberts, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told VOA.

Taiwan makes 65% of the worlds semiconductors and almost 90% of the advanced chips.

By comparison, China produces a little over 5% while the U.S. produces approximately 10%, according to market analysts. South Korea, Japan, and the Netherlands are the other sources of the product, which is at the heart of many electronic devices and machinery.

Though China produces some semiconductors, it depends heavily on supplies from Taiwan for advanced chips. Taiwans TSMC makes most of the advanced chips in the world and counts Advanced Micro Devices, Apple and Nvidia among its customers.

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) in China, which has 5% of the global fabrication market, produces 14-nanometer chips. There is also evidence that SMIC has 7-nm technology, according to a TechInsights blog. These are considered less advanced than the 3-nm chips produced by TSMC.

Beijing may not block the flow of semiconductors even if the military confrontation escalates, analysts say.

Taiwan-based TSMC is the biggest world producer of chips, and China and the rest of the world need TSMC semiconductors. Hence, I dont expect China to target electronic exports, said Lourdes Casanova, Gail and Rob Canizares director of the Emerging Markets Institute at Cornell University.

Though Chinas Peoples Liberation Army says it is rehearsing to impose a military blockade around Taiwan, it will be careful not to hurt semiconductor companies like TSMC, Casanova said.

The stoppage of supply of TSMC semiconductors would be the worst scenario for China and for many other countries. TSMCs semiconductors are used by Foxconn, another Taiwanese firm, which is the main manufacturer of the iPhone in plants based in China and elsewhere, she said.

Fear of invasion

A military invasion of Taiwan could disrupt supplies of semiconductors and seriously hamper dozens of high-tech companies that depend on them. TSMC Chairman Mark Liu voiced that fear when he said a military invasion would make TSMC factories inoperable.

Our interruption would create great economic turmoil in China  suddenly their most advanced component supply disappears. It is an interruption, I must say, so people will think twice on this, Liu said.

Nobody can control TSMC by force ... because it is a sophisticated manufacturing facility that depends on the real-time connection with the outside world, such as Europe, the U.S. and Japan, for materials, chemicals and engineering software, he said.

Even with Chinas ban on certain imports from Taiwan, analysts said, Taiwan is unlikely to retaliate because it is heavily dependent on Beijing in terms of trade and investment.

Companies like TSMC are deeply reliant simultaneously on both the U.S. and China markets. Unless the situation in the Taiwan Strait badly deteriorates and turns to outright open hostilities, Taiwan will try to avoid taking any drastic action which would be cutting off chips to China, said Roberts, author of The Myth of Chinese Capitalism.

Chinas domestic manufacturing

China has been pushing to boost its domestic semiconductor manufacturing capacity. Beijing has pledged $150 billion to expand the industry and be more self-reliant. Plans are in place for new semiconductor factories.

Just last year, Chinas chip manufacturing grew by 33.3%, according to Chinas National Bureau of Statistics.

Chinas rapid growth in semiconductor chip sales is likely to continue due in large part to the unwavering commitment from the central government and robust policy support in the face of deteriorating U.S-China relations, the Semiconductor Industry Association said in a blog.

Much of what will be produced in China is expected to be chips containing more mature technologies, analysts say.

US action

Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. has intensified efforts to strengthen its chip-making capabilities and reduce the reliance on external sources.

On Tuesday, Biden signed the much-awaited CHIPS and Science Act, which allocates around $52 billion to promote the production of microchips, the powerful driver for high-end electronics used in a wide range of products, including smartphones, electric vehicles, aircraft and military hardware.

Biden said the legislation would help win the economic competition in the 21st century.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said last month that it was necessary to reduce the dependence on supplies from Taiwan.

Our dependence on Taiwan for chips is untenable and unsafe, she said on July 22. This is a Sputnik moment for America, Raimondo said, referring to the CHIPS Act. I mean that very sincerely. And this is a project were working on.

Taiwans TSMC website states it is building a fabrication plant in the U.S. state of Arizona with the aim of starting production in 2024. It will produce semiconductor wafers using 5-nm technology. During her recent controversial visit to Taiwan, Pelosi met TSMC's Liu. TSMC is expected to be one of the beneficiaries of the $52 billion CHIPS and Science Act.

The U.S. is also countering Chinas semiconductor industry in different ways. It recently broadened its ban on sales of chip-making equipment to China, according to Tim Archer, the chief executive officer of Lam Research Corp., a California supplier of silicon wafer fabrication gear.

The restriction would affect the shipment of machinery to produce 14 nm chips in China. This is an extension of the earlier ban, which prevented the supply of machinery for making advanced technology nodes of 10 nanometers. The idea is to cover a wider range of semiconductor equipment going to China.

South Korea, a U.S. ally, has indicated it would also cut off the chip supply to China in case Washington imposed global sanctions on it. Cutting off supplies would put China and Russia at a major technological disadvantage and hamper their manufacture of advanced military hardware.
Flames engulfed a fourth tank at an oil storage facility in western Cuba on Tuesday as the raging fire consumes critical fuel supplies on an island grappling with a growing energy crisis.

Firefighters and specialists from Mexico and Venezuela helped fight the blaze in the province of Matanzas with boats, planes and helicopters as they sprayed foam on the containers, a first for crews since broiling temperatures had prevented them from doing so earlier.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said crews have taken control of the area where the fire is burning and are taking further steps to quell it.

"They are not easy tasks," he said. "It is an intense and complex incident."

The fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base has killed at least one person and injured 125 others, with 14 firefighters still missing. It also forced officials to evacuate more than 4,900 people and shut down a key thermoelectric plant on Monday after it ran out of water, sparking concerns about additional blackouts.

Those injured were treated mostly for burns and smoke inhalation. More than 20 remain hospitalized, with five of them in critical condition.

"This situation has us very worried at the moment because there are problems with electricity, with the environment, with the people who are still living here," said Adneris Diaz, a 22-year-old cafe owner.

The eight-tank facility plays a crucial role in Cuba's electric system: it operates an extensive oil pipeline that receives Cuban crude oil that is then ferried to thermoelectric plants that produce electricity. It also serves as the unloading and transshipment center for imported crude oil, fuel oil and diesel.

The facility caught fire late Friday after lightning struck one of its tanks, sparking several explosions as the fire spread over the weekend. The first tank was at 50% capacity and contained nearly 883,000 cubic feet (25,000 cubic meters) of fuel. The second tank was full.

Officials have yet to provide an estimate of damages.

The blaze comes just days after the government announced scheduled blackouts for the capital of Havana amid a sweltering summer.

"The economic effects are clear," said Tahimi Sanchez, a 48-year-old cafe owner. "They are there, we will notice them, and we will see them, but we are confident, and we are going to come out of all this well."


French environmentalists prepared Tuesday to move a beluga whale that strayed into the Seine River last week to a saltwater basin in Normandy, hoping to save the life of the dangerously thin marine mammal.

A medical team plans to transport the 4-meter-long (13-foot-long) whale to a coastal spot in the northeastern French port town of Ouistreham for "a period of care," according to Lamya Essemlali, president of the conservation group Sea Shepherd France.

Experts think the whale is sick and in a race against time for survival, she said.

The whale would remain in its temporary saltwater home for "two to three days" of surveillance and treatment before being towed out to sea, according to Isabelle Dorliat Pouzet, deputy prefect of the town of Evreux.

"Then, nature will take its course," Pouzet said. "We have to be optimistic.  The work has been painstakingly prepared."

A team of some 80 people, including veterinarians and environmentalists, gathered Tuesday near a Seine River lock in the Eure region to plot the exodus of the new local celebrity.

Conservations groups said it would take 24 people to load the beluga into a refrigerated truck for the 160-kilometer (99-mile) trip to Ouistreham, describing the saltwater transfer as an "enormous operation."

Because the region is experiencing extreme heat, the team plans to wait until nightfall before moving the ethereal white creature. It weighs about 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds).

Rescuers hope to spare the whale the fate of an orca that strayed into the Seine and died in May.

Authorities said that while the move carries its own mortality risk because of the stress on the animal, the whale can't survive much longer in the Seine's freshwater habitat.

They remain hopeful it will survive after it responded to a cocktail of antibiotics and vitamins administered in the last few days and rubbed itself on the lock's wall to remove patches that had appeared on its back.

Sea Shepherd's Essemlali said medical surveillance at the saltwater basin would help establish whether whale "is suffering from something we can help it with or from an incurable illness."

Drone footage shot by French fire services last week showed the whale meandering into a stretch of the Seine between Paris and the Normandy city of Rouen that is far inland from the sea.

Conservationists have tried unsuccessfully since Friday to feed fish to the beluga. Sea Shepherd fears the whale is slowly starving in the waterway.


An Iranian satellite launched by Russia blasted off from Kazakhstan on Tuesday and reached orbit amid controversy that Moscow might use it to boost its surveillance of military targets in Ukraine.

As Russia's international isolation grows following Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is seeking to pivot Russia toward the Middle East, Asia and Africa and find new clients for the country's space program.

Speaking at the Moscow-controlled Baikonur cosmodrome in the Kazakh steppe, Russian space chief Yury Borisov hailed "an important milestone in Russian-Iranian bilateral cooperation, opening the way to the implementation of new and even larger projects."

Iran's Telecommunications Minister Isa Zarepour, who also attended the launch of the Khayyam satellite, called the event historic and "a turning point for the start of a new interaction in the field of space between our two countries."

Nasser Kanani, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, said on Twitter that "the brilliant path of scientific and technological progress of the Islamic republic of Iran continues despite sanctions and the enemies' maximum pressure."

Iran, which has maintained ties with Moscow and refrained from criticism of the Ukraine invasion, has sought to deflect suspicions that Moscow could use Khayyam to spy on Ukraine.

Last week, The Washington Post quoted anonymous Western intelligence officials as saying that Russia "plans to use the satellite for several months or longer" to assist its war efforts before allowing Iran to take control.

Less than two hours after the satellite was launched on a Soyuz-2.1b rocket, the Iran Space Agency (ISA) said "ground stations of the Iran Space Agency" had received "first telemetric data."

The space agency stressed on Sunday that the Islamic republic would control the satellite "from day one" in an apparent reaction to the Post's report.

"No third country is able to access the information" sent by the satellite because of its "encrypted algorithm," it said.

The purpose of Khayyam is to "monitor the country's borders," enhance agricultural productivity and monitor water resources and natural disasters, according to the space agency.

Iran is negotiating with world powers, including Moscow, to salvage a 2015 deal aimed at reining in Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

The United States quit the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran last month, one of his few trips abroad since Moscow's February 24 invasion.

Iran's Khamenei called for "long-term cooperation" with Russia during their meeting, and Tehran has refused to join international condemnation of Moscow's invasion of its pro-Western neighbor.

Iran insists its space program is for civilian and defense purposes only, and does not breach the 2015 nuclear deal, or any other international agreement.

Borisov, who last month replaced bombastic nationalist Dmitry Rogozin as head of the Russian space agency, had acknowledged that the national space industry is in a "difficult situation" amid tensions with the West.

Russia will continue its space program but end activities at the International Space Station, an outlier of cooperation between Moscow and the West, after 2024, he said.


In a statement, Minsa indicated that Peru is one of the countries interested in acquiring this vaccine, together with PAHO Member States, from the only laboratory in the world that produces it, which is located in Denmark.

Likewise, the ministry affirmed that Peru supports the decision to ensure an equitable acquisition and distribution of the vaccine among countries.

The government agency explained that the Revolving Fund will allow requesting countries of South America to acquire the vaccines using a single process and time frame.

"We reaffirm our commitment to health care for all Peruvians, especially for vulnerable populations, to whom we are fully committed," the statement read.

??#COMUNICADO | Respecto a la implementacion de vacunas contra la viruela simica en el pais, el Ministerio de Salud informa lo siguiente: pic.twitter.com/SvDNDDU6F4
The U.S. military says Russian military surveillance aircraft entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on two separate occasions over the past two days.



U.S. F-22 fighter jets intercepted the second aircraft upon entering the airspace, a defense official told VOA. Both entries involved the same type of Russian surveillance aircraft, the official added.



An Air Defense Identification Zone extends beyond a countrys airspace to include an area in which a country tries to identify, locate and control aircraft in the interest of national security.



The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, according to social media posts by North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, on Wednesday.



"We remain ready to employ a number of response options in defense of North America and Arctic sovereignty," the post added.



This is the first reported incident of Russian military aircraft nearing Alaskan airspace in 2022, but sightings have become common in recent years.



Russian military aircraft were tracked in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone 14 times in 2020, a high in recent years, with six such incidents occurring within a span of just one month.



Russia launched a massive invasion into Ukraine in February.



Speaking to VOA earlier this year, Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska said the U.S. military has had to scramble more fighter jets in recent years to intercept Russian military aircraft probably more than any other time since the mid-1980s.



"They're aggressive here, too, and the only thing that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin understands, and the only thing in my view that [Chinese President] Xi Jinping understands in this new era of authoritarian aggression is power," Sullivan said.


The National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa says at least 14 men out of dozens arrested face rape charges in an attack on a group of women who were making a music video earlier this month.

A court on Wednesday charged seven men in connection with the gang rape, prosecuting authority spokeswoman Phindi Louw Mjonondwane told VOA, adding that seven more would face rape charges tomorrow.

They are all part of the 80 men initially arrested in a major police sweep following the incident, she confirmed.

The women had been making a music video two weeks earlier in the mining area of Krugersdorp outside Johannesburg when they were attacked by a group of masked, armed men.

Mjonondwane said all of those charged with rape were foreign nationals, including from Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Seven accused appeared at the Krugersdorp Magistrates Court facing charges ranging from multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, contravention of the immigration act, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances," she said.

Many of those arrested are believed to work as illegal miners, known here as zama-zamas. The incident has sparked anger in local communities, as well as xenophobia, with mobs attacking the zama-zamas.

Police had said they would use DNA kits to try to identify the alleged attackers from among those rounded up, as well as a police lineup. However, Mjonondwane would not comment on how those charged had been identified.

Despite having a very high rate of rape and gender-based violence, South Africa  which celebrated Women's Day on Tuesday  was shocked by the brutal attack.

Police recorded more than 36,000 rapes in fiscal 2020-21.
The number of people displaced by the record-breaking drought in Somalia has topped one million, with the United Nations warning of widespread famine if emergency needs are not soon met.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, said that during the month of July another 83,000 people were forced to flee their homes because of the drought, with the worst displacement coming in the Bay, Banadir and Gedo regions.

Ishaku Mshelia, deputy emergency coordinator for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, told VOA via telephone Wednesday that people are migrating in search of food and other assistance.

He said the FAO is trying to help.

"Our ability as [a] humanitarian community is to be able to reach the affected people in their communities and provide the services that they need so that they ... don't feel pushed to migrate," Mshelia said. "Unfortunately, previous droughts, what we have seen is that a lot of mortalities have been reported where people that, unfortunately, died on their way to open areas in search of assistance."

FAO Somalia said it needs $130 million to fully fund its famine prevention plan, designed to help about a million people in rural areas.

A statement issued by the FAO on Wednesday said that if the funding gap is not addressed, widespread famine may be inevitable.

Drought-related malnutrition has killed 500 children, according to the U.N. Children's Fund, UNICEF.

Authorities in Somalia's Gedo region also confirmed to VOA more than 50 deaths of children due to suspected drought-related illnesses. The deaths were reported in the towns of Bardere and Beledhawo, which border Kenya.

Ali Yusuf Abdullahi, the Gedo regional administration spokesman, said that the region is witnessing a "catastrophic" situation due to drought.

He said that people are fleeing in search of a better life and have gathered in major towns including Dolow, near the Ethiopian border.

As of today, Abdullahi said, Dolow has received more than 50,000 displaced people and there are people who are coming from the Ethiopian side who were affected by the drought there and settling in IDP camps in Dolow. He said the town administrators are doing their best to provide relief, but that is not enough.

Somalia's federal government declared the three-year drought a national emergency last year. The drought, Somalia's worst in more than 40 years, has affected more than 7 million people.

According to the Somali prime minister's office, the drought has also killed more than two million livestock.


After he was detained by New Mexico police, the suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community  and told authorities he was so unnerved by the violence that he was driving to Houston in search of a new home for his family, court documents said.

The documents made public Tuesday night in a criminal complaint said Muhammad Syed, 51, had only clothing, shoes and a handgun in his car when he was arrested Monday during a traffic stop more than 160 kilometers (100 miles) from his Albuquerque home.

But investigators determined that bullet casings found in Syed's vehicle matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at those crime scenes were linked to a gun found at Syed's home, the criminal complaint said.

Syed, an Afghan immigrant, told detectives with assistance from a Pashto interpreter that he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, the complaint said. He also denied any involvement in the killings during the interview with detectives, according to the complaint.

The ambush killings of the four Muslim men in different outside locations around Albuquerque sent fear rippling through the Muslim community of New Mexico's largest city and generated tips that led to the arrest of Syed, who knew the victims, authorities said.

He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors planned to ask that he be held without bail pending trial. Court documents did not list an attorney for Syed.

'Sigh of relief'

Following the arrest, Albuquerque's Muslim community breathed "an incredible sigh of relief," said Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. "Lives have been turned upside down."

The first killing last November was followed by three more between July 26 and August 5.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said it was not clear yet whether the deaths should be classified as hate crimes or serial killings or both.

Syed had lived in the United States for about five years, police said.

"The offender knew the victims to some extent, and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings," a police statement said, although investigators were still working to identify how they had crossed paths.

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Commander Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said, "Motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are."

Assed acknowledged that "there was a marriage," but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of Syed, who occasionally attended the center's mosque.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syed's daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents.

The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Second, third incidents

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges.

Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

The Albuquerque slayings drew the attention of President Joe Biden, who said such attacks "have no place in America." They also sent a shudder through Muslim communities across the U.S. Some people questioned their safety and limited their movements.

"There is no justification for this evil. There is no justification to take an innocent life," Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said at a Tuesday news conference in Washington, D.C.

He called the killings "deranged behavior."

The earliest case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

Naeem Hussain, 25, from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.
The Ukrainian air force says nine Russian warplanes were destroyed in massive explosions Tuesday at an air base in Crimea, the peninsula that Moscow seized in 2014. And shelling around a Ukrainian nuclear power plant has prompted an emergency meeting Thursday of the U.N. Security Council.

The Security Council is to address the shelling near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling the power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe, and officials have been worrying about a nuclear catastrophe.

The U.N.s atomic energy watchdog has sounded the alarm and the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries on Wednesday told Russia to hand back the plant to Ukraine.

Moscow has shown no signs of complying with that request.

On Crimea, Ukraine stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility for the explosions at the Saki air base, even while ridiculing Russias denial of an attack. Moscow claimed that munitions caught fire and exploded, killing one person and injuring at least 13 others. It denied any aircraft were damaged, but satellite photos show at least seven fighter jets blown up and more damaged.

Key U.S. news outlets  The New York Times and The Washington Post  quoted unnamed Ukrainian officials as saying that Kyivs forces were responsible for carrying out an attack on the base on the western coast of Crimea but gave no details. The Times report said its source would not disclose what type of weapon caused the explosions but added, A device exclusively of Ukrainian manufacture was used.



A Ukrainian presidential adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, said Tuesday that the blasts either were caused by a Ukrainian-made long-range weapon or were the work of guerrillas operating in Crimea. The site, at least 200 kilometers from the nearest Ukrainian position, is out of range of the missiles the U.S. has supplied to Kyiv.



The attack inside Crimea would mark a significant escalation of hostilities in Russias offensive against the one-time Soviet republic, now in its sixth month. Moscow has used the Saki air base as a launch site for attacks on southern Ukraine.

In a Tuesday night video address, Zelenskyy pledged that Ukraine would retake Crimea, saying, "This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea  its liberation."



Russian authorities sought Wednesday to downplay the explosions at the air base, saying they had not affected hotels and beaches on the peninsula, which is a popular summertime tourist destination for many Russians. However social media images showed people a nearby beach fleeing to safety as plumes of smoke towered overhead.

And Crimeas regional leader said dozens of apartment buildings were damaged and about 250 residents were moved to temporary housing.

If Ukrainian forces were, in fact, responsible for the blasts, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site in Crimea. Ukrainian saboteurs last month carried out a small drone attack on the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.



Meanwhile, Russia shelled Ukraines central region of Dnipropetrovsk, where 13 people were killed and 11 others wounded, according to the region's governor, Valentyn Reznichenko.



Reznichenko said the Russian forces fired at the city of Marganets and a nearby village, damaging dozens of residential buildings, two schools and several administrative buildings.



"It was a terrible night," Reznichenko said. "It's very hard to take bodies from under debris. We are facing a cruel enemy who engages in daily terror against our cities and villages."

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.
A senior U.N. official said Wednesday that a deal to move stranded Ukrainian grain that had been blocked in silos and Black Sea ports is working well, with more than 370,000 tons of food stuffs moved in the first week.



Three hundred and seventy-thousand metric tons in the initial phase of this operation, I think is a very encouraging sign, said Fred Kenney, the U.N. representative at the Istanbul-based Joint Coordination Centre, which oversees the deal.



The JCC has representatives from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Nations. It was established under the July 22 Black Sea Grain Initiative, signed in Istanbul to monitor the safe movement of commercial ships to and from Ukraines southern ports for the purpose of exporting food items to international markets.



More than two dozen ships have been stuck in Ukraines ports since Russia invaded on February 24. A dozen have been authorized to sail or left so far.



It is imperative upon us now, to get those ships out, so that we can bring ships in to load cargos that will be destined for ports that will contribute to reducing global food insecurity, said Kenney, who is also the director of legal affairs for the International Maritime Organization, the U.N. agency responsible for regulating the global shipping industry.



He told reporters in a video call from Istanbul that the JCC has seen a tremendous willingness from shippers to cross the Bosporus into the Black Sea to pick up grain cargo at the ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Pivdennyi (also known as Yuzhny) and that there are a number of empty grain vessels waiting in Turkish anchorages for contracts. Four ships have already been authorized to enter Ukraines ports.



More than 20 million tons of grain await export to the world market. The U.N. says global grain prices have already started to drop since the initiative was signed nearly three weeks ago.



The JCCs role is to make sure ships transit safely along a demarcated humanitarian corridor as much of the Black Sea has been mined.



Thus far, we havent had any safety issues with any of the vessels that transited. None reported any floating hazards to navigation, Kenney told reporters.



The JCC also is tasked with looking for unauthorized personnel or cargo  be it food items not covered by the terms of the grain deal or illicit weapons.



We havent found anything that would violate the terms of the initiative, he confirmed.



Commercial ships leaving Ukraine have headed for destinations in Turkey, Britain, China, Ireland, Italy and South Korea, carrying loads of corn, soya, sunflower meal and sunflower oil. Kenney said the first ship that is coming in to pick up wheat has been cleared and should sail out next week.



He described the voyage from Odesa to Istanbul, saying it takes between a day and a half to two days. Inspections take between two to four hours at the Istanbul inspection area. From there vessels transit the Black Sea on a largely open route until they reach the Romanian-Ukrainian maritime border. Ships are forbidden to enter the humanitarian corridor from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. for visibility and safety reasons.



We are looking at our procedures to see ways we can cut time on the inspection side without sacrificing the accuracy and the completeness of those inspections, he said.



The JCC also monitors ships to warn them of any military threats. Kenney said they can contact vessels immediately if there is action near the maritime humanitarian corridor and could order them to stop or turn around to avoid danger.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he is very concerned about a U.N. report that says Rwanda is backing rebels in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Concluding a two-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was disturbed by a U.N. Security Council report showing that Rwanda provided troop reinforcements for M23 rebels in eastern Congo last November.

Speaking in Congos capital, Kinshasa, Blinken vowed to raise the matter during his imminent visit to Rwanda.



He called on all parties in the region to stop supporting the M23 rebels who are fighting the DRC government in eastern Congo. The group re-emerged in November of last year after nearly a decade of cease-fire.

The Rwandan government has denied assisting M23.

The top U.S. diplomat, who is on his second Africa tour, assured Congo of U.S. support, especially in investment, to ensure best practices are upheld. He encouraged the DRC to collaborate and work on fiscal transparency and labor rights for the mining sector.



The U.S. pledged $30 million to help the DRC promote responsible and sustainable mining practices and raised concerns about the auction of Congo's oil and gas blocks in sensitive areas.



In July, Reuters reported that licensing rights for 30 gas and oil blocks in the DRC were auctioned, opening parts of the world's second largest rainforest to drilling that could release large amounts of carbon into the air and jeopardize efforts to stem global warming.



Washington and Kinshasa agreed to form working groups on environmental impacts on oil block auctions.

Blinken heads to Rwanda late Wednesday to wrap up his visit to the African continent.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken headed for Rwanda Wednesday after meeting with Democratic Republic of Congo leaders to discuss tensions and human rights challenges in Africas Great Lakes region.



Blinken arrived in Kigali on Wednesday evening for what the State Department said are continuing efforts to engage with African leaders on U.S. strategy for sub-Saharan Africa, with the aim of strengthening U.S.-Rwandan relations.



Key issues to be addressed during Blinkens visit are the tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and other conflicts in the region.



Human Rights Watchs Central African Director Lewis Mudge said there is blatant disregard for human rights in the region and conflict continues to disrupt the lives of innocent civilians. He said Blinken must use this opportunity to reiterate the United States commitment to protecting the rights of people in the region.



He really should use this as an opportunity to reinforce to [presidents] Felix Tshisekedi and Paul Kagame in DRC Congo and in Rwanda, respectively, that the United States wants to continue to be a partner to Rwanda and Congo, Mudge said, but only in so much that steps are taken to respect human rights and principles.



Blinken and Rwanda officials will likely discuss fighting in Congo that involves rebel group M23. In 2013, the U.S. blocked military aid to Rwanda due to its alleged support for the group, which is believed to use child soldiers, according to the State Department.



Another issue on the table is Rwandas imprisonment of U.S. permanent resident Paul Rusesabagina.



According to Trial Watch, a legal organization monitoring trials globally, Rusesabaginas trial in 2020 did not conform to international and regional standards. Rusesabaginas actions arguably saved hundreds of lives during the 1994 genocide and inspired the movie Hotel Rwanda.



Rwandas government has repeatedly refuted these claims, but officials said they are open to exchange views on human rights and governance during Blinkens visit.



Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza, a human rights lawyer in Rwanda, argues that the country has a commitment to human rights and is seeing benefits because of it.



For Rwandans, human rights is not a concept. For Rwandans, human right is an action, Ruhumuliza said. Human rights mean last week they [the government] increased salaries of teachers. This is what we consider human rights. Human rights is not two people, three people quarreling on television. Human rights for Rwandans after what happened to us, human rights is action, it is seeing our livelihoods change, it is security.



Ishmael Buchanan is a lecturer of foreign relations and diplomacy at the University of Rwanda. He said a new Cold War-like environment will influence the outcome of these discussions as the U.S. is vying with Russia and China for relations in Africa.



We have so many investors from the United States of America. So, obviously it is going to affect them too, he said. So, both countries are going to look at their national interests.

Buchanan said that included the Rusesabagina case.

What is going to happen is just a matter of dialogue and the understanding they will come to, he said.



The government of Rwanda said addressing security challenges in the Great Lakes region is a key priority, and that Rwanda remains committed to the various regional mechanisms in place to find durable solutions.
U.S. health officials on Tuesday authorized a plan to stretch the nation's limited supply of monkeypox vaccine by giving people just one-fifth the usual dose, citing research suggesting the reduced amount is about as effective.

The so-called dose-sparing approach also calls for administering the Jynneos vaccine with an injection just under the skin rather than into deeper tissue  a practice that may rev up the immune system better. Recipients would still get two shots spaced four weeks apart.

The unusual step is a stark acknowledgment that the U.S. currently lacks the supplies needed to vaccinate everyone seeking protection from the rapidly spreading virus.

That includes 1.6 million to 1.7 million Americans considered by federal officials to be at highest risk from the disease, primarily men with HIV or men who have a higher risk of contracting it. Vaccinating that group would require more than 3.2 million shots.

White House officials said the new policy would immediately multiply the 440,000 currently available full doses into more than 2 million smaller doses.

"It's safe, it's effective, and it will significantly scale the volume of vaccine doses available for communities across the country," Robert Fenton, the White House's monkeypox response coordinator, told reporters.

The Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency last week in an effort to slow the outbreak that has infected more than 8,900 Americans.

The FDA authorized the approach for adults 18 and older who are at high risk of monkeypox infection. Younger people can also get the vaccine if they are deemed high risk, though they should receive the traditional injection, the agency said.

FDA officials stressed that the second dose is critical to ensuring protection.

"We feel pretty strongly that the two doses are necessary because, in part, we don't have any evidence that three, six, eight months later people will be adequately protected by a single dose," said Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA's vaccine chief.

Regulators pointed to a 2015 study showing that inoculation with one-fifth of the traditional two-dose vaccine generated a robust immune-system response comparable to that of the full dose. About 94% of people receiving the smaller dose had adequate levels of virus-fighting antibodies, compared with 98% of those receiving the full dose, according to the study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The NIH is planning an additional trial of the technique. And Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said her agency is starting to track real-world vaccine effectiveness in U.S. communities.

But some experts and advocates worried that with little data to support the policy, it could backfire if it reduces vaccine effectiveness.

"We have grave concerns about the limited amount of research that has been done on this dose and administration method, and we fear it will give people a false sense of confidence that they are protected," said David Harvey of the National Coalition of STD Directors in a statement.

The smaller doses require a different type of injection that penetrates only the top layer of skin, rather than the lower layer between the skin and muscle. That's a less common technique that may require extra training for some health practitioners.

"Intradermal administration is certainly something that has been used for other vaccines, including the smallpox vaccine, which was administered to hundreds of millions of people during the 20th century," said Anne Rimoin, director of UCLA's Center for Global and Immigrant Health.

The shallower injection is thought to help stimulate the immune system because the skin contains numerous immunity cells that target outside invaders.

Rationing vaccine doses is common in Africa and other parts of the world with limited health resources. In recent years the World Health Organization has endorsed the strategy to address outbreaks of yellow fever, polio and other diseases.

Both the U.K. and Canada have adopted a single-dose vaccine strategy prioritizing people who face the highest risk from monkeypox. And health departments in several large U.S. cities adopted a similar strategy amid limited supplies, including New York, San Francisco and Washington.

Officials said Tuesday that anyone who previously received a full first dose can get the smaller amount for their second dose.

U.S. officials have shipped more than 625,000 full vaccine doses to state and local health departments.

The Biden administration has come under fire for not quickly marshaling millions more doses from the strategic national stockpile.

The FDA approved the Jynneos vaccine in 2019 to prevent smallpox and monkeypox based, in part, on studies in monkeys.

Additional human studies showed people who received Jynneos had an immune response similar to those who received an older smallpox vaccine. But Jynneos hasn't been tested in humans with either monkeypox or its relative smallpox, which was eradicated decades ago.


Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya discussed the future of the opposition movement with VOAs Eastern Europe bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze on Monday.

On August 9, 2020, Tsikhanouskaya was the opposition candidate in a disputed presidential election in which President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory.

The widely discredited claim led to violent protests that were brutally suppressed.

Since the election, Tsikhanouskaya has lived in exile in Vilnius, Lithuania, where the Belarusian opposition is meeting this week to discuss their achievements, failures and plans for the future.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

VOA: You organized this conference to have a discussion about the future of Belarus. How do you assess the situation in Belarus today, and how do you assess the levels of cooperation in the opposition movement today?

Tsikhanouskaya: First of all, this conference is not only about the future of Belarus. But of course, this question of how reforms should be organized, you know, or how our economic situation will look like in the future [is] very important. But what's important now ... [is] how differently we can act now to dismantle the regime. Because during these two years, we ... started forward. We were not prepared [for] any revolutions at all. It was like, in 2020, it was, like, hot revolution. People who have never been involved in politics, you know, went out to the streets because they wanted these changes. We didn't have any structures. We didn't have any organizations at the time. But now, it's high time to look back  what was made wrongly in the past two years? Why haven't we achieved our purposes? And maybe our democratic movement needs reorganization.

VOA: What does reorganization of the government mean?

Tsikhanouskaya: We need people who will take responsibility for separate directions of our movement.

VOA: How are you planning to do that, and how do you want this government to be recognized in the world?

Tsikhanouskaya: Way ahead we recognized this. We know this, but you have to understand that this Cabinet has to be helpful to the Belarusian people.

VOA: There are a lot of Belarusians outside of Belarus, and most of them are smart, active and are actually going to protest the government. How are you planning to engage them?

Tsikhanouskaya: Our IT specialists are working on digital bureaus. It will be the platform where people can be involved in decision-making, into communication with each other through this platform. Because I have to say that in Belarus, there was a huge wave of repression. People are afraid to subscribe on channels that are recognized as extremists in Belarus. But we need this platform for communication, because we don't want to be in an informational bubble and not knowing what's going on in Belarus. We are continuing to communicate through different means, but we need more involvement of Belarusians who are on the ground, not those who are in exile. We need to know how people think in Belarus first of all. And that's why I hope that it will be a successful project.

VOA: One of your goals for this conference, as you posted, is ousting Lukashenko. What means do you have to do that?

Tsikhanouskaya: Now, Lukashenko is not the president of our country. He lost the elections in 2020. Our strategy now is to exhaust the regime as much as possible through economic pressure, through political pressure, through collecting evidence of crimes that were committed by this regime. And they were presented in 2020, and now the war in Ukraine has started. So, we are, through these mechanisms, trying to split elites, to give understanding to nomenklatura people, to law enforcement, to soldiers of Lukashenkos regime.

With Lukashenko  [the] economic situation will be worsening. And this is only because of Lukashenko. That he became [a] cooperant in this war. That he brutally suppressed Belarusian people. That the quantity of political prisoners is increasing. So, of course, the international coalition, international support, is extremely important in this case because we understand that when you live in a gulag, it's almost impossible to [rise up], because the level of repression is huge. But together with the people in Belarus, with the  Belarusian(s) in exile, with our Belarusian diaspora, with our international colleagues, you know, we will be able to press him enough, you know, and to understand that there is no way out of the situation, only to respond to people's demands, to release all political prisoners, to stop repressions, and launch new free and fair elections in Belarus.

VOA: The war in Ukraine presented new challenges for you, for Belarus and for Ukraine dealing with Belarus. How would you assess Ukraines position regarding Belarus and with the Belarusian government?

Tsikhanouskaya: Well, it's a big question, because even before the war had started, we were trying to understand why the president of Ukraine [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] or his government, you know, were not communicating to democratic forces. Because they still were [trying] not to irritate Lukashenko, you know, not to make him angry, maybe he would not allow Russian troops to use Belarusian territory for invasion. But after the war had started and everything became so evident, how can you still communicate to a dictator or have the Ukrainian ambassador in Belarus when hundreds of missiles have been launched with agreement of this regime? I don't understand it.

VOA: A lot of Belarusians found exile and protection in Ukraine before the war. Now, a lot of them are slowly being pushed out of Ukraine. Their bank accounts are frozen. What are your expectations from the Ukrainian government to protect those people?

Tsikhanouskaya: Purely through negotiations.  When the war started, a lot of governments, not only [the] Ukrainian one, made fast decisions that Belarus is a country aggressor. So, [the] Belarusian people have to be punished because they are Belarusians. And it took us a lot of time to explain that the Belarusian regime and Belarusian people are two different things.

VOA: Another goal that you have in your plan for this conference and for an all-new Belarus is to force out Russian troops from Belarus and make Belarus really independent. How do you see this happening? How do you see a new Belarus in the international arena?

Tsikhanouskaya: We realized that while Lukashenko [was] in actual power in Belarus, our serenity, our independency [was] at stake because for keeping his own power, he's, like, selling our country piece by piece. He is against the Belarusian people. He gives our country as lunchmeat for Russian troops. At the moment, as for Russian troops, they're about, I don't know, 1,500 to 2,000 Russian soldiers in our territory. But we realize that all those tanks, all those equipment and the thousands of Russian soldiers can come to our country at any moment because Lukashenko has to show loyalty, has to fulfill all the demands of [the] Kremlin. Because, you know, he and his  political support and economic support of Russia. So, if it happens, I'm sure that partisan movement that was launched in February 2022 will appear again. And by available means, you know, [the] Belarusian people will fight against Russian troops on our territory.

Actually, we consider our country to be occupied, politically occupied, by [the] Russian Federation at the moment, and our Belarusian people are ready to fight for their independence. Maybe with not, like, visible uprisings, you know, because we understand that we have to keep our most active people strong, you know, healthy for, like, [the] final fight.

Also, now we have to cultivate our national identity. We very often forget about this, that for 28 years while Lukashenko was gone, he deliberately wanted to ruin our Belarusian identity when good Belarusian schools were closed. Now ... some books are called extremist. Not all of them, but it's forbidden to read some Belarusian authors. A Nobel winner, Svetlana Alexievich, her books are called extremist, as well.

VOA: She was pushed out?

Tsikhanouskaya: Yeah, she's now in Germany. So, we have to keep together. We have to start speaking the same language with each other because if not we, who else will defend our personal identity? And of course, it's very important for us in this case also to ask our international partners to  show their decisive strategy to Belarus, that in the case that the Russian Federation will try to have a referendum like in Belarus, they will stand with us. They will not leave us alone. So, right now, they have to say, We will not allow Belarus to be occupied  by Russia. So, we need guarantors. We need supporters. We need defenders.

VOA: How do you see the final battle, and when do you think it can happen?

Tsikhanouskaya: We understand that a lot actually depends on the outcome of the war in Ukraine. Thats why we feel this moral obligation to support Ukrainians as much as we can in our circumstances. Now, people in Ukraine  are fighting not only for themselves or for their territories. They are fighting for all [the] democratic world. And when they win, it will mean that the Kremlin is weakening and hence, Lukashenko is weakening. And it will be a window of opportunity for the Russian people. And our task is to keep unity, to keep Belarusian society healthy, functional, you know, to catch this moment and you know, to put all our energy into this final battle, because people in Belarus, they're ready for uprising.

Our people, our workers, our enterprises they're ready for a national strike. But they say to us that we have to understand that it will not be, like, one more step to democratization. It should be like our last, as I say, final fight. But till that moment, we need to create multiple points of pressure on the regime to support our need to support our civil society organizations, initiatives, you know, for them to in one very important moment, they will again be a unique, united movement, and the people in Belarus will be ready to go for demonstrations. Our victory plan that was launched by ex-law enforcement officers, maybe our army, who knows, also will be involved, like your army, or they will be split off.

You know, we understand that there can be many, many ways how it can happen, and that's why we have to be ready and build structures that will take responsibility for the transition period for the next steps in this particular moment.
18:30 | Lima, Aug. 9.





This was announced on Tuesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Miguel Angel Rodriguez Mackay , who thanked the Ecuadorian President for this gesture. The date for the visit has yet to be defined, the Cabinet member said.









On this matter, the high-ranking official pointed out that the Government is respectful of the separation of powers, the principle under which this measure was taken. Nonetheless, he said, this is not in line with State interests.





"Therefore, I want to announce the goodwill of the Government of President Guillermo Lasso, of Ecuador, who () has expressed his decision to us so that, given these atypical circumstances that are occurring in Peru, he will come to Lima very soon; we are setting the date for the handing over of this Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Andean Community that will be assumed by Peru (...)," Rodriguez Mackay expressed.





In his presentation speech as the Ministry's new head, he pointed out that President Castillo's administration is also preparing to hold the 52nd General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) in October.





The high-ranking official also asked the OAS to come once again to Peru to see in situ what is happening "with respect to our relations in the international and domestic spheres," as well as to evaluate the circumstances in which national life is developing.





He also pointed out that Peru will soon receive the Pro-Tempore Presidency of the Pacific Alliance. Thus, President Castillo should travel abroad to assume the post.





The new Cabinet member affirmed the aim is to enhance the social meaning of said bloc, which is made up of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.





(END) MRCA/JCC/RMB/MVB
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda discussed the challenges for his country caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year with VOA's Eastern Europe Bureau Chief Myroslava Gongadze on Tuesday in Vilnius.

"Nothing less than democracy and the world order is at stake in that war," Nauseda told VOA. "There is no limit for the appetite of Vladimir Putin. I don't know who will be the next target, the Baltic countries, Poland, maybe Romania."

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

VOA: Thank you very much for making time to talk to us. You had been to Ukraine on February 23rd, just before the war. At that moment, did you grasp the risk that Ukrainians are in? And did you expect that war would happen so soon?

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda: You know, this threat was in the air. And [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy said that they expect[ed] that the war will, uh, break up in the next 24 to 48 hours. And it happened, let's say, after eight or 10 hours, we left Ukrainian soil. Yes, the war was terrible, and probably our Ukrainian partners just could not imagine that this war will be organized, if I can express it like this, on such broad scale, broad, broad efforts of Russian troops to try to, first of all, to attack Kyiv, and also the war broke up in other parts of Ukraine, and now we see that this war is much longer than Russia could expect, fortunately. Yes, of course, I understand that it brings a lot of casualties, human lives are [at] stake, and of course, destroyed civil infrastructure. But this is also the fight for not only Ukrainian democracy and Ukrainian territorial integrity, but also the fight for democratic values at all. And this is very important to mention, that Ukraine is fighting very bravely, not only for its freedom but for our freedom, too.

VOA: What do you think Russia is doing? What is [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's goal?

Nauseda: I think Putin miscalculated the scenario of this war, the expectations were totally different. Putin expected that they will take over Ukrainian capital Kyiv in a few days, and this war will not bring any huge political and economic consequences on Russia. But we see that it turned out to be totally different. And what is very important to mention that, until the war, the reaction of European politicians, and other countries, too, was, how to say, subdued, if I could express it like this, because nobody expected that this war and the real attempts of Russia are so terrible, and they are ambitions to conquer Ukraine. And afterwards, in the first days of the war, I saw a big commitment and a totally different attitude of my colleagues in [the] European Union to act, to do something, in order first of all to stop the war. Unfortunately, it didn't happen, but then we realized that if we had to do more in order to, first of all, to bring war to, yes, to bring on the table very clear consequences on Russia, and Russia must see what will be the consequences. So the first package of sanctions, second, third, fifth. And now we see that European politicians and the countries of European Union understand very well what are the threats posed by Russian authorities. It was not the case, because I remember our discussions in European Council, bilateral meetings. We try to convince our partners. 

VOA: Who is we? When you said we, who is we? Because I understand that your country, Poland, other countries. ...

Nauseda:  Poland, Romania, all Eastern European countries, which are exposed to these threats very directly, and we hear very well and really, we listen what Putin is saying, because some. ...

VOA: And Western European countries didn't really realize and underestimated. 

Nauseda: Theoretically, maybe, but the real reactions, they're not adequate to the rhetoric Putin allowed him to express all this time. And this is the reason why I think it's very important to understand that Europe is different. Europe understands the threats much better. Of course, Europe is still dependent in many areas, for example, energy dependence. Still, this is a very hot issue. This is not the issue in my country. Lithuania implemented all necessary changes, spent a lot of money in order to change the infrastructure, to create the infrastructure, to be independent in energy field, and we did it. And now we can probably say that Lithuania is not dependent, and Lithuania stopped to buy Russian oil, Russian gas, Russian electricity, so they cannot do anything to us in this regard.

VOA: This dependency on energy resources built up in the last 20 years, specifically with Germany, with France, with other countries. Why do you think that such an underestimation of Russian threats was built and kind of persuaded in the minds of politicians in Western Europe?

Nauseda: I cannot reject the assumption that economic interests, first of all, are there. Money, profit, cheaper energy resources and possibilities to do business with. But another reason was assumptions that we have to deal with totally different kind of policy or politicians in Moscow. Because sometimes I think my colleagues thought that probably Putin is a little bit different, but okay, we can do business with him because we can negotiate. We can talk. We can try to convince, to bring our arguments. And he could not understand that the arguments do not play any role to him, because the main ideology with this regime is to conquer as much as possible, to expand, to find the neighbors we could attack, and this is very clear if you read what they are saying in Moscow, they try to rebuild their empire. They try to restore the Soviet Union in one or another shape. And as you mentioned, as you remember that Putin mentioned that the collapse of Soviet Union was the largest disaster of 20th century. And now they consequently and very logically try to reestablish Soviet Union, and this means not only the risk and threats to Ukraine. This means huge threats to all of us and this time maybe even to those countries which were not a part of former Soviet Union, the countries of Western Europe, too.

VOA: Your country was part of Soviet Union. Does your country feel safe in this environment? And do you think that NATO, your allies in NATO would come to defend you, fully? What is your readiness for the threats?

Nauseda: My response will be very simple. We feel safer as we are [from] 2004, because in 2004, Lithuania became the member of two very important organizations, European Union and NATO. I like to say this sentence and I repeated this sentence many times, European Union was for a better life, NATO was for life. And this is still valid, and this is very important. Yes, we strongly believe in Article 5, we strongly believe in the reassurances of our partners to defend each inch of our soil. But this does not mean that we cannot put additional efforts in order to improve our security, too. We did a lot in this country in order to modernize our army, modernize our military forces, to create better infrastructure to be able to accommodate additional troops from our NATO allies. And we increased our military spending up to 2.5 % of our GDP. And we are ready to provide even more financial resources in order to fulfill all the requirements, which could be adequate to the current situation, the geopolitical situation. And this is very important to mention that Lithuania feels safe, but we have to be aware of these risks because we have to deal with a very dangerous neighbor and the best proof is the situation in Ukraine.

VOA: What is at stake in Ukraine today?

Nauseda: Democracy, the world order... international security situation is [at] stake, and of course [it's] very important to mention that there's no limit for the appetite of Vladimir Putin. If they will be successful in Ukraine, they will be at our doors, too. And I don't know who will be their next target, Baltic countries, maybe Poland, maybe Romania, but this is not the most important question. The most important issue is, we have to do or in the NATO format, in European Union format in order to prevent, to stop Putin. Putin has to finalize his operation, as he calls it, in Ukraine. And I hope very much that Ukraine will be successful, and we will stand together with Ukraine until the victory, of course until the victory of Ukraine. And nowadays we see a lot of assurances coming from Western European leaders, and also other leaders in the world that they are ready to provide military assistance to Ukraine. European Union is strongly committed to impose sanctions and to continue sanctions policy in the future. This is very important because so far, we did a lot, but this is not enough to stop Putin. And we have to realize it and to understand it, that we have to do more, especially military assistance, in the short-term military assistance probably this is the most important problem. In the longer run, there will be very important issues related to humanitarian aid, macroeconomic assistance and so on. But now we understand very well that their conflict will be solved, not sitting at the negotiation table. The conflict will be solved in the battlefield.

VOA: I want to ask you about the role of the United States, because they basically pushed this international coalition and they were warning Ukraine about the possible threats from Russia for a couple of months prior to the war. Do you think the United States is doing enough in this fight? And who do you think should be a leader of this push to stop Putin in the region?

Nauseda: I would expect United States should be the leader, but I would say that actually the United States is a leader in providing military assistance, political support, and this is very important. This is very important, but, of course, I would expect that the speed of the decision making, commitment to provide more assistance and ... speed is probably the most important issue right now. Yes, we are talking about additional military equipment, lethal weapons and other equipment. But this is very important that Ukrainians need it today not tomorrow or after tomorrow. And each day brings a lot of casualties, as I mentioned, and people are suffering, destroyed cities and so on, and of course we have to stop it as soon as possible, and the United States' role in this is crucial. The European Union plays also very important role, but I think we have to deal in solidarity, and we have to be solider and they see the solidarity right now, the United States, the European Union, also like-minded countries in Asia. I see this solidarity and they saw their solidarity in NATO summit in Madrid, where we took very important decisions, bold decisions on the NATO strengthening. Defining Russia as a long-term threat, also very important element of our conclusions in the Madrid summit, and for my country and for Eastern European region, there are very important decisions to mention, for example, forward defense status in [the] Eastern European region. Also brigade-size, -level support and military presence in my country. As you'll know Germany is a leading country of EFP [Enhanced Forward Protection]. And this is very important to our people, especially probably to our people, to hear that our allies are ready to provide additional support to Lithuania, because security right now is even outpacing the importance of economic and social issues.

VOA: We established already that Russia broke international law and they're trying to push all the boundaries and rules. However, Russia is still a member of the Security Council of the U.N. Russia has a veto position in the OECD [Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development] organization and many other organizations. Do you think something has to be done with it?

Nauseda: Unfortunately, this is the reason why we have to find additional formats or maybe alternative formats to deal with Russia, because, yes, you mentioned that United Nations' Security Council ... Russia can create a lot of obstacles [there].  And this is the reason why we have to find some other formats. I still believe the importance in the United Nations in other fields, for example, providing the channels or trying to solve the issue of grain export to the third countries and secretary-general [Antonio Guterres] put a lot of effort in order to solve this issue and probably in such formats, United Nations would be quite effective instrument to provide additional support to Ukraine. But we have to find also other formats, bilateral formats are important, too. I mentioned the European Union and I mentioned NATO, but bilateral support: Germany, France, the United States and even smaller-sized countries. This bilateral support is very important and I heard it from President Zelenskyy during my last visit in Kyiv, which was organized on the statehood day, as you know, Ukraine is celebrating the first time the statehood day. And it was very important to me to attend this event in Kyiv. I held the speech in Verkhovna Rada [parliament] and President Zelensky said to me, Lithuania did a lot and probably it is a good example to other countries. They can provide and they can be even more effective by providing needed support to Ukraine. But we are strongly committed, and this is not only the opinion or commitment of our political elite, this is a commitment of all people of Lithuania or almost all.

VOA: You are committed, Poland is committed. Germany is reluctant. How do you try and do you feel you are successful in persuading other countries to do more?

Nauseda: Maybe someone could be skeptical about the attitude or the German position in the last months, but I see huge progress. Because I couldn't, I can compare the situation with the situation, let's say, a few months ago as Germany was reluctant, really reluctant to provide any kind of lethal weapons to Ukraine. Now it's not the case. Now we are talking about the speed of decision making and this is huge progress. And I think in the thinking we see this shift. The shift of thinking is also evident, and I think this is our contribution, too. We try to talk, we try to establish the needed dialogue with our colleagues in Germany and I think they react also to the public opinion, too, because public opinion is very clear, too. I remember my visit in Berlin at the end of February and I had the possibility to attend the meeting against the war in Ukraine on [February 26, two days after Russia invaded Ukraine]. I returned home and the next day, I heard that there was a meeting on [February 27], 100,000 people [in Germany were protesting], and on Saturday, maybe 500. So you see the dynamic in the public opinion in Germany and this is very important that people understand that they have to do this. Germany is not, how to say, free of threats imposed or posed by Russia. Germany is also the target. Like Lithuania, Romania or other countries of Eastern Europe.

VOA: How do you see this war end?

Nauseda: I do not see any other alternative, and we have to put all efforts in order to achieve the victory of Ukraine in this war, because all other scenarios would be very dark for Ukraine itself, for Lithuania and for the whole democratic world.
Wildfires tore through the Gironde region of southwestern France on Wednesday, destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of 10,000 residents, some of whom had clambered onto rooftops as the flames got closer.

Black-and-orange skies, darkened by the smoke billowing from forests and lit up by the flames, were seen across the area as the fires continued to burn out of control despite the efforts of firefighters backed by water-bombing aircraft.

Fires, which have razed about 6,200 hectares, have now crossed into the neighboring Landes region.

France, like the rest of Europe, has been struggling this summer with successive heat waves and its worst drought on record. Dozens of wildfires are ablaze across the country, including at least eight major ones.

"Prepare your papers, the animals you can take with you, some belongings," the Gironde municipality of Belin-Beliet said on Facebook before evacuating parts of the town.

In the nearby village of Hostens, police had earlier been door to door telling residents to leave as the fire advanced. Camille Delay fled with her partner and her son, grabbing their two cats, chickens and house insurance papers.

"Everyone in the village climbed onto their rooftops to see what was happening. Within 10 minutes, a little twist of smoke became enormous," Delay, 30, told Reuters by telephone.

Firefighters said more evacuations were likely. Even so, some Hostens residents were reluctant to abandon their homes.

"It's complicated to go with the dogs, and we cannot leave them here," said Allisson Horan, 18, who stayed behind with her father.

"I'm getting worried because the fire is in a plot of land behind ours, and the wind is starting to change direction."

Numerous small roads and a highway were closed.

Heat waves

More than 57,200 hectares have gone up in flames so far in France this year, nearly six times the full-year average for 2006-2021, data from the European Forest Fire Information System show.

"The fire is creating its own wind," senior local official Martin Guespereau told reporters, adding that efforts to fight it were made more difficult by how unpredictable it was.

Sweden and Italy are among countries preparing to send help to France, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

He repeated calls for everyone to be responsible  nine out of 10 fires are either voluntarily or involuntarily caused by people, he said.

The Gironde wildfire is one of many that have broken out across Europe this summer, triggered by heat waves that have baked the continent and brought record temperatures.

In Portugal, nearly 1,200 firefighters backed by eight aircraft have battled a blaze in the mountainous Covilha area 280 km northeast of Lisbon that has burned more than 3,000 hectares of forest since Saturday.

Spain and Greece have also had to tackle multiple fires over the past few weeks.

The Gironde was hit by major wildfires in July that destroyed more than 20,000 hectares of forest and temporarily forced almost 40,000 people from their homes.

Authorities believe the latest inferno was a result of the previous fires still smoldering in the area's peaty soil.

Fires were also raging in the southern departments of Lozere and Aveyron. In the Maine-et-Loire department in western France, more than 1,200 hectares have been scorched by another fire.
Gaynor Gumede-Saidi

A top lawyer in Zimbabwe, Beatrice Mtetwa, says she cried in court a few days ago when a Harare magistrate issued a warrant of arrest for her ailing client, former Second Lady Ms. Mary Mubaiwa, who was sedated and lying on a stretcher bed in a vehicle that was parked in the court premises.

In an interview, Mtetwa said Mubaiwa, who was customarily married to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, was apparently too weak to make it up the flight of stairs to the courtroom and had been in a car in the parking lot at the time she was expected to appear before magistrate Florence Chakanyuka.

She says Mubaiwa has not yet been arrested.

"Currently, obviously there's a warrant of arrest for her. That's what the warrant of arrest means, until she can be placed before the magistrate who issued the warrant. And the question that you ask is, 'why would a warrant be issued for someone who is not in willful default?'. She was there on the court premises; we were there in court. We explained to the magistrate that she is physically there, but cannot come up the stairs because of the physical illness she has. In fact on Friday she was completely out, because the pain she experiencing was so much that she had to be heavily sedated."

The presiding magistrate then issued a warrant of arrest for Mubaiwa despite the prosecution not asking for a warrant of arrest.

Mtetwa said the treatment Mubaiwa is receiving is inhumane and cruel.

"So, for me, this is no longer about justice because justice is not like that. Justice is merciful. Justice is kind. Justice is administered in a way that is empathetic. I have been a lawyer for more than 41 years; and I have never experienced anything like this during my professional career, and I am appalled that someone at the level of regional magistrate can actually behave like that."

"This woman (Marry) is in physical pain, she is in psychological pain because she has not been allowed to see her children. I then put myself in her shoes and honestly, a woman who has not seen her kids in 32 months; now she must be arrested because she is ill and is unable to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the courtroom. What sort of justice is this? I ask myself that, 'am I a facilitator of this injustice by being part of it? Is this the justice I am a part of? That is what made me cry. I am still sore. I am still very pained by this whole nonsense."

Mtetwa said she will continue to seek recourse through higher courts to get justice for her client, who requires urgent medical attention and whose health condition continues to deteriorate.

Mubaiwa is accused of attempting to kill Chiwenga when he was bedridden, money laundering and attempting to forge a marriage certificate.

According to NewsHawks, Mubaiwa was admitted at Healthpoint, Belgravia, Harare, on Saturday where she was set for an amputation of her right arm yesterday morning as it is now gangrenous (death of soft tissues due to blood supply loss) and life-threatening.

In a tweet, NewsHawks said, However, Mubaiwa's family refused to authorize the procedure as did Marry herself because they want a second medical opinion. The courts have refused to release her passport to travel to South Africa for medical attention, effectively sentencing her to suffer or even to death.
Powerful explosions erupted at a Russian air base in Ukraines Crimean Peninsula on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding five others, authorities said, but the cause of the blasts was unknown.

Russias Defense Ministry said munitions blew up at the Saki base in the region seized by Russia in 2014, but it emphasized the installation had not been shelled.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities, but there was widespread speculation on Ukrainian social networks that Kyivs forces had hit the base with long-range missiles. Sunbathers fled a nearby beach as huge clouds of smoke from the explosions rose over the horizon, while authorities sealed off the area around the base within a radius of five kilometers.

Ukraines forces have not attacked Crimea during Russias offensive, now in its sixth month, with officials in Moscow warning Ukraine that any attack on Crimea would trigger massive retaliation, including strikes on "decision-making centers" in Kyiv.

But a small-scale, makeshift drone hit the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol last month, an attack blamed on Ukrainian saboteurs. The Saki base has been used by Russian warplanes to strike areas in Ukraine's southern region.

Ukrainian officials said earlier Tuesday that in the last day at least three Ukrainian civilians were killed and 23 were wounded by Russian shelling, including an attack not far from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko said Russian forces fired more than 120 rockets at the town of Nikopol, which is across the Dnieper River from the nuclear facility. Several apartment buildings and industrial sites were damaged, he said.

In recent days, Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling the power station, the biggest nuclear plant in Europe, and officials have been worrying about a nuclear catastrophe.

In his nightly video address Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy invoked the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine, which at the time was a Soviet republic. He called for new sanctions against Russia, accusing it of risking another nuclear disaster with its shelling of the Zaporizhzhia plant. Russia has blamed Ukraine for the attacks on the complex.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armys General Staff said early Tuesday that a Russian offensive is continuing toward the hub cities of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka in the eastern Donetsk region as Moscow tries to inflict maximum losses on Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine said the Russian Air Force was bombarding military facilities in the direction of Donetsk in support of artillery and other ground operations aimed at dislodging Ukrainian units from the front lines.

British intelligence warned Monday that Russia was using anti-personnel mines in an effort to defend and hold its defense lines in the eastern Donbas region, with resulting risks to both the military and local civilian populations.

But Kyivs military planners said their forces had repelled reconnaissance and offensive operations in a handful of settlements around Ivano-Daryivka, Bakhmut, and Zaitsevo.

They said Russian forces had withdrawn after unsuccessful pushes around Avdiyivka and Krasnohorivka.



Some information in this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters.
WASHINGTON  As he strongly hints at another campaign for the White House in 2024, former U.S. President Donald Trump is facing major federal and state criminal investigations into his actions in the immediate aftermath of his failed reelection campaign in 2020.



Monday's unprecedented FBI raid at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida was the latest indication that investigators remain focused on the country's 45th president. Reports say the investigators were seeking classified documents he may have taken with him when he left Washington last year.



The search was court-authorized and was likely sanctioned at the highest levels of the Justice Department. But details of the search warrant filed by investigators and their justification for it are not yet publicly known, nor is the name of the judge who authorized it. The White House says it was not given advance notice of the raid.



Under the Presidential Records Act of 1978, the official records of all presidents and vice presidents remain publicly owned, even after they leave office. The statute's premise is that the papers belong to the American public, not the individuals who served as the country's leaders.

About a year after he left office, Trump turned over to the National Archives 15 boxes of documents from his presidency, some of which were said to include classified papers. But investigators who searched Trump's office and opened a safe at his Florida seaside estate Monday carted away more documents that were not turned over in January.



Trump belittled the search, much as he has the election-related investigations, as an attempt to keep him from running again in 2024.



"These are dark times for our Nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents," the former president said in a statement.



"Nothing like this has ever happened to a President of the United States before," he said, contending the search was the result of "prosecutorial misconduct, the weaponization of the Justice System, and an attack by Radical Left Democrats who desperately don't want me to run for President in 2024."



He claimed such a event "could only take place in broken, Third-World Countries. Sadly, America has now become one of those Countries, corrupt at a level not seen before."



Trump retains a wide following among a base of Republican voters, although an array of Republican officials, including Mike Pence, Trump's vice president, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and others, have been broadly hinting they could seek the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.



Ongoing investigations



The Justice Department is also investigating Trump's role in instigating the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when about 2,000 of his supporters rampaged into the building to block lawmakers from certifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. At a rally shortly beforehand, Trump urged supporters to walk to the Capitol and "fight like hell."



Despite White House aides and then-Attorney General William Barr repeatedly telling Trump there was no evidence of widespread fraud in the vote-counting sufficient to overturn his defeat, Trump demanded publicly and privately that Pence stop certification of the Electoral College vote count favoring Biden.



But Pence refused to do so on the advice of lawyers who told him the Constitution did not give him that authority.

Investigators are looking into the role Trump played in carrying out a plan promoted by some of his advisers to name unauthorized slates of electors in states where he lost who would seek to replace the official electors pledged to Biden.

In the United States, presidents are effectively chosen in separate elections in each of the 50 states, not through the national popular vote. Each state's number of electoral votes is dependent on its population, with the biggest states holding the most sway. The rioters who stormed the Capitol tried to keep lawmakers from certifying Biden's eventual 306-232 victory in the Electoral College.



In a third investigation, a prosecutor in the southern state of Georgia is investigating Trump for possible solicitation of election fraud.

In a taped January 2, 2021, telephone call, Trump asked Georgia's top election official to "find" him 11,780 votes  one more than Biden defeated him by  out of 5 million ballots that were cast in the state.



During the call, Trump said, "I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break."

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Tunisias new and controversial constitution goes into effect later this month, cementing the vast powers seized a year ago by its author, President Kais Saied  though fewer than three in 10 voters cast their ballots in a July referendum. From Tunis, Lisa Bryant reports the North African countrys future depends on many factors  including whether Tunisians will defend the Arab Springs only democracy.
Williamsport, Pa.  During a ceremony held August 5 in courtroom 1 of the Lycoming County Courthouse, William Carlucci was entered into the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Lycoming County.

"Judge Carlucci was appointed to serve until January 1, 2024, when the seat will be filled by election. If Judge Carlucci wants to continue to serve as a common pleas judge, he must run for election," said Adrianne Stahl, District Court administrator.

Judicial elections occur in odd-numbered years. According to pacourts.us, justices and judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 and are retained or re-elected by the voters.

Judges Nancy Butts, Eric Linhardt, and Ryan Tira and Senior Judge Kenneth Brown presided over the ceremony. According to a press release from the Lycoming Law Association, "the gallery was filled with friends, family and well-wishers."

"The Courts are very pleased about Judge Carluccis appointment," said Stahl. "With his extensive experience and strong work ethic, he will be an asset to the Courts and the citizens of Lycoming County. It is anticipated that he will initially preside over civil and family law matters."

Senior Judge Brown, a mentor and former employer of Judge Carlucci, gave the oath. He was "robed" by his children.

Judge Carlucci thanked those who brought him to this point in his career, according to the Lycoming Law Association.

"He expressed particular gratitude to Judge Brown, who as district attorney hired Carlucci as an assistant and gave him opportunities to try cases, and to create new law under the wiretapping statute. He thanked his staff, one of whom reminded him of the magnitude of his new responsibilities by pointing out that, 'with the swipe of your pen, you will change people's lives,'" according to the release.

Filling empty bench seats

Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas has reached out to Senior Judges, including Judge Kenneth Brown and Judge Dudley Anderson, to help fill the void left by two judges since 2021.

There is one seat still vacant for the Court of Common Pleas, according to Stahl.

Judge Marc Lovecchio left the bench at the end of 2021 after nine years, followed by Judge Joy Reynolds McCoy who left on January 20, 2022.

Related reading:

Carlucci has been assured that he will be very busy with cases, starting next week.

Candidates for judicial vacancies are announced by the Governor's Office, who are then confirmed by the Senate.

According to Nick Troutman, chief of staff for Senator Gene Yaw (R-23), "this was a position that required confirmation by the full state Senate and Judge William Carlucci was the only person who reached out to the Senate for consideration. Senator Yaw endorsed Judge Carlucci for the vacancy."

Troutman added, "No other applicant contacted the Senator's office for endorsement." Yaw's office is not informed by the Governor's Office of other candidates under consideration for the position.

NorthcentralPa.com reached out to the Governor's office for a full list of candidates under consideration for the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas. We will update the story with more information when it becomes available.

About Judge William Carlucci -- bio from Lycoming County Courts

Carlucci was formerly a member of the Williamsport law firm of Elion, Grieco, Carlucci & Shipman, P.C., practicing for more than thirty years in commercial and real estate litigation, contract negotiation and drafting, and commercial collections.

Between 1981 and 1984, Judge Carlucci served Lycoming County as an Assistant District Attorney. He is a 1976 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Lycoming College, and a 1979 graduate of the Temple University School of Law. In 2006, Lycoming College honored him as its Alum of the Year.

Judge Carlucci has served as Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Loyalsock Township, Kiwanis Lt. Governor, Life Member and Past President of Loyalsock Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, a former member of the Loyalsock Township Planning Commission, a former member of the Ski Sawmill Ski Patrol, and a former member of the Loyalsock Township Board of School Directors. He has been continuously certified as an Emergency Medical Technician for over forty years. He is a parishioner of Saint Ann Church, where he has been a Lector for over forty years.

As a lifelong member of the Boy Scouts of America, Carlucci, a 'Silver Beaver' award winner, has put in more than forty years of service as an adult volunteer, and thirty years on the Executive Board of the Susquehanna Council, BSA. He twice served a two-year term as President of the Susquehanna Council.

Between 1983 and 1999, he served as an adult advisor to five separate backpacking contingents to the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. Beginning in 2003, Judge Carlucci served for ten years as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Boy Scouts of America National High Adventure Sea Base in Islamorada, Florida. He is a recipient of the Order of the Arrow Founders Award, presented to a member who personifies the spirit of selfless service.
(The Center Square)  The U.S. Department of Justice raid of former President Donald Trumps Mar-A-Lago property in Palm Beach, Fla., sparked a wave of controversy and pushback from lawmakers, some of whom suggested a Congressional investigation if Republicans retake the House or Senate in November.

The FBI raid was unprecedented for America, but familiar to those in Florida who fled nations where political opposition was criminalized, said Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. If voters put us back in the majority, we better have the guts to subpoena the records [and] make those who authorized this testify under oath.

Sources say FBI agents were searching for White House documents, some of which could be classified.

Some Republicans tied the move to President Joe Bidens plan to beef up IRS auditing. Senate Democrats passed a measure that includes $80 billion to hire an additional 87,000 IRS agents.

The FBI raiding Donald Trump is unprecedented, said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. It is corrupt [and] an abuse of power. What Nixon tried to do, Biden has now implemented: The Biden Admin has fully weaponized DOJ [and] FBI to target their political enemies. And with [87,000] new IRS agents, theyre coming for you too.

Even Democratic former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo raised questions about the raid.

DOJ must immediately explain the reason for its raid & it must be more than a search for inconsequential archives or it will be viewed as a political tactic and undermine any future credible investigation & legitimacy of January 6 investigations, he wrote on Twitter.

Cruz added a message for the Biden administration.

To the AG & FBI Dir: Release the warrant now, he wrote on Twitter. The American people deserve to see it.  And, as even Cuomo acknowledges, it must be more than a search for inconsequential archives, or it will be obvious that this is nothing more than a blatant political persecution.

Former Trump administration officials spoke out as well.

I share the deep concern of millions of Americans over the unprecedented search of the personal residence of President Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence said. No former President of the United States has ever been subject to a raid of their personal residence in American history.
Press Release

August 10, 2022 Robin, Isinulong ang Scholarship at Health Services Para sa Magsasaka sa Rice Tariffication Act Isinulong ni Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla ang scholarship at health services para sa magsasakang benepisyaryo ng Rice Tariffication Act (Republic Act 11203). Sa Senate Bill 231, iminungkahi rin ni Padilla na palakihin ang Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) para maging mas competitive ang ating magsasakang Pinoy.' "This measure also proposes to increase the amount earmarked for RCEF from P10 billion annually to P15 billion to aid our farmers in reducing the rice production cost while increasing farmer incomes. In addition to the proposed amendments, this representation proposes that 10% of the RCEF shall be made available for scholarship, health and other similar benefits for the rice fund beneficiaries," ani Padilla. Ayon sa mambabatas, marami ang naging butas sa pagpapatupad ng naturang batas, kabilang dito ang pagpasok ng imported na bigas kung kaya't napilitan ang ating magsasaka na ibaba ang presyo ng kanilang produkto. Hindi rin naibaba ang production cost para sa Pilipinong magsasaka sa kabila ng P10-bilyong taunang RCEF para sa farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, at credit assistance and extension services. Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, iminungkahi rin ni Padilla na: * Payagan ang pag-export ng bigas maliban sa harvest season; * Itaas ang RCEF mula P10 bilyon sa P15 bilyon kada taon sa susunod na anim na taon; * Ilaan ang 20% ng Rice Fund sa rice seed development, propagation and promotion; at * Ilaan ang 10% ng Rice Fund sa scholarship, health at ibang benepisyo sa magsasakang benepisyaryo. "With this representation's hope to plug the loopholes of RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought," dagdag ni Padilla. Robin Pushes Scholarship, Health Services for Farmers Under Rice Tariffication Act Sen. Robinhood "Robin" C. Padilla is pushing for scholarship and health services for farmer beneficiaries of the Rice Tariffication Act (Republic Act 11203). In Senate Bill 231, Padilla also sought to increase the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to enhance the competitiveness of Filipino farmers. "This measure also proposes to increase the amount earmarked for RCEF from P10 billion annually to P15 billion to aid our farmers in reducing the rice production cost while increasing farmer incomes. In addition to the proposed amendments, this representation proposes that 10% of the RCEF shall be made available for scholarship, health and other similar benefits for the rice fund beneficiaries," Padilla said in his bill. He noted there had been issues in the implementation of the law, including loopholes that allowed the entry of rice from abroad - forcing our farmers to lower the prices of their produce. Worse, he lamented the P10-billion annual RCEF for farm mechanization, seed development, propagation and promotion, and credit assistance and extension services failed to bring down production costs for Filipino farmers. Padilla proposed amendments to the law in his bill including: * Allowing the export of rice except during harvest season; * Increasing the RCEF from P10 billion to P15 billion a year for the next six years; * Allocating 20% of the Rice Fund for rice seed development, propagation and promotion; and * Allocating 10% of the Rice Fund for scholarship, health and other benefits for farmer beneficiaries. "With this representation's hope to plug the loopholes of RA 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought," said Padilla.
In this regard, Mrs. Boluarte pointed out that confrontations between both branches of government serve no purpose and are unnecessary.

"This year the President has turned his cheek, but now he will extend his hand to work in unity," the government official told reporters.

She also questioned Congressman Wilson Soto's report that recommends disqualifying President Castillo for five years before the Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations, noting that it is an "exaggeration" and there is no constitutional basis for it.

Mrs. Boluarte, who also serves as Minister of Development and Social Inclusion , reiterated that the Head of State must comply with a constitutional mandate, in relation to a possible impeachment. Nevertheless, a few legislators promote this.
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As Washington embarks on a multi-billion dollar, decade-long semiconductor development campaign, Beijing is reckoning with its own 20-year effort thats largely failed to deliver. Both will need to grapple with wasted funds and misguided goals as they play catch-up to Taiwan and South Korea. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Architects of Chinas ambitious efforts may be facing the music for having not produced world-beating technology, Bloomberg News reported this week. Multiple corruption probes announced by authorities stem from anger among the nations top leaders over an inability to develop semiconductors that could replace American components, it reported. Two of the most scrutinized areas are the $9 billion bailout of Tsinghua Unigroup Co., and the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund  known as the Big Fund.

For all intents and purposes, China has failed to achieve its semiconductor goals, and those tasked with realizing them are being brought to account. Beijing wont be smarting at the loss of money  its been willing to burn cash  but at the lack of progress such expenditure was supposed to buy.

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Those looking at Chinas achievements are mostly finding what they seek, and ignoring the rest. Semiconductor Manufacturing International Co., for example, got a lot of attention recently when industry analysts TechInsights wrote: SMIC has been able to fabricate features that are small enough to be considered 7nm. That nm figure refers to nanometers, a metric for the size of connections within a chip (smaller is better), and these days is as much a marketing term as a scientific one.

China chip cheerleaders see this as an incredible breakthrough, bringing the Shanghai-based firm closer to the capabilities of world leaders Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. But its not, really. What SMIC appears to have done is produce a somewhat standard chip, used for bitcoin mining, and with little evidence it can churn these out with good yields or at scale.

Any budding chef trying to make souffle will eventually pull off a couple of good samples. But mastery can only be claimed when almost all attempts are successful (yield), and can be done consistently and in large quantities (scale). By contrast, TSMC and Samsung rolled out mass production at 7 nm four years ago  a demonstration that theyd nailed the process. The question of how SMIC managed this, while being cut off from Western manufacturing equipment, also remains. As TechInsights notes, its not impossible to make 7nm using older machinery, just a lot more complicated. And its an established fact that TSMC has in the past sued SMIC for stealing technology. The company has not been accused of wrongdoing with respect to 7 nm processes.

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Whatever is behind this possible breakthrough, you could forgive Beijing for holding its applause. The government and numerous feeder funds havent spent the past 20 years and more than $100 billion to end up four years behind. It fully expected its semiconductor industry to not only catch up, but set the country on a path to technological independence. A single example of a chip thats close to what others had a few years ago falls far short of that goal.

If the Big Funds aim was to provide a solid financial return  like any mutual, hedge or venture capital fund  then we might conclude that it did its job. It invested in at least 23 chip companies between 2014 and 2019, and then started selling down after massive rises in their share prices.

But theres little evidence that the Big Fund itself, or the huge prestige of being associated with a state-backed organization, actually accelerated industry development. SMIC had been in business for 15 years before it announced in 2015 that China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund would buy 4.7 billion new shares for a total of almost $400 million. At the time it trailed TSMC, but not by much. In December 2014, it had built its first Snapdragon processor for Qualcomm Inc. using 28-nm technology, a little more than three years after TSMC achieved a similar feat. Its convenient to compare SMIC to Intel Corp., the US goliath that has struggled in recent years and also fallen behind TSMC and Samsung, but the harsh reality is that SMICs gap on the leaders has barely narrowed.

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Then theres Tsinghua Unigroup, whose name alone benefited from association with one of Chinas most prestigious academic institutions. Although it attracted much fanfare for both itself and chairman Zhao Weiguo, it did little to make the nation less dependent on foreign technology. Among Zhaos biggest moves was to buy up established local players  including Spreadtrum Communications Inc. and RDA Microelectronics Inc.  for a combined $2.6 billion. An attempt at a venture with Western Digital Corp. failed when the US government vetoed an almost $4 billion investment.

Unigroups big win was backing Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., a company thats slowly climbing up the ranks of global memory-chip players. But if the goal is to wean China off foreign technology, YMTC serves largely as a PR win. Memory chips are a commodity product  the silicon equivalent of a filing cabinet  which merely stores information rather than the number-crunching performed by processors. If China wants semiconductors that can conduct artificial intelligence or guide missiles, then itll need to do a lot better than boast about memory chips.

Yet this was a problem of Chinas own making. Money alone is not enough to be a semiconductor leader. If that were the case, then Intel and UAE-backed GlobalFoundries Inc. would be further along. Instead, both China and the US need to learn the importance not only of developing your own technology, but building trust among industry peers so that theyll freely collaborate. Neither TSMC or Samsung became leaders with a go-it-alone attitude. They lean heavily on suppliers of equipment, software and materials  many of whom are in the US, Japan and Europe  instead of taking on a solo mission to pursue technological independence.

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If Chinas goal is to build up its prowess and cut itself off from the world, then it will fail at the first and surely succeed at the second. The US, if it spends billions of dollars with a similar independence-minded attitude, has every chance of repeating the same mistake.

More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Xi Jinpings $920 Billion VC Push Has a Dark Side: Shuli Ren

 Chips Act Skips US Leaders for Asian Winners: Tim Culpan

 Friendship Can Counter China in the Pacific: David Fickling

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Tim Culpan is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology in Asia. Previously, he was a technology reporter for Bloomberg News.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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More than 800,000 Americans suffer from life-threatening kidney failure. Paying for treatment of this condition costs the government more than $50 billion a year, and a recent Supreme Court decision risks driving the price tag even higher. Congress should take steps to promote innovation and competition in the dialysis industry  which would benefit patients and taxpayers alike.

Without dialysis or a kidney transplant, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is fatal. As recently as the early 1970s, both procedures were too expensive for most Americans. In 1972, Congress passed a law that extended Medicare coverage to almost all ESRD patients, regardless of age. Since its creation, the program has grown from 10,000 beneficiaries to more than 600,000 today.

In an effort to contain costs, Congress in 1980 passed a law that makes Medicare the secondary payer when a beneficiary has alternative primary coverage, such as an employer plan. While a relatively small share of dialysis patients currently receive coverage through private plans, they represent a bountiful revenue source for dialysis providers, which often charge private insurers up to four times more than they do Medicare. That drives up premiums for people enrolled in employer-sponsored plans.

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The health plan for one Ohio-based employer, Marietta Memorial Hospital, pushed back against this model. By treating dialysis providers as out of network, the Marietta plan reduced coverage for its members and paid providers less for treatment. DaVita Inc., one of two major dialysis providers in the US, filed suit, claiming that its policy discriminates against ESRD patients. A federal appeals court sided with DaVita, but in June, the Supreme Court reversed that decision. By a 7-2 majority, the court ruled in favor of Marietta, saying that the plan is legal because it offers the same terms to all of its members.

The impact of the courts ruling is far-reaching. If other plans follow Mariettas lead, more dialysis patients may opt to leave their private plans to avoid higher out-of-pocket costs; this would potentially reduce premiums for the plans other members but also increase Medicare spending. In the wake of the decision, lawmakers have proposed legislation to amend the language of the Medicare secondary payer statute to ensure private-plan dialysis patients dont face reduced coverage.

That still leaves the bigger problem: the cost of ESRD care, which is driven by the need for patients to undergo in-person dialysis, usually at a clinic multiple times a week. The availability of cheaper, alternative forms of treatment for kidney disease, such as at-home dialysis machines, remains limited, in part because of industry resistance. DaVita and its main competitor, Fresenius SE, control more than 70% of the market, forming an effective duopoly that research suggests has raised prices for consumers and lowered the quality of care.

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Congress should act in concert with regulators to control costs, support innovation and make it easier for new companies to enter the kidney-care field  for instance, by easing rules that require medical-service providers to get a certificate of need, an extra hurdle for market entrants. Expanding efforts started under the Trump administration to identify people in early stages of kidney disease and improve the supply of kidneys donated for transplant would be valuable as well.

The wide availability of dialysis has provided life-extending treatments to scores of Americans  but at considerable public expense. Making the industry more competitive will promote innovation, benefit consumers and protect taxpayers too.

The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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Italian politics bears a striking resemblance to South American telenovelas: filled with episodes of unrequited love, bizarre couplings and multiple breakups. Narrative lines reach a fever pitch of crisis before an unexpected turn of events makes everything right  the deus-ex-machina moment. Thats the climax in ancient dramas when a god is swung on stage by a machine to snatch away a troublesome character who cant be written out of the script otherwise.

The Italian left, led by the Democratic Party, is now hoping for a deus-ex-machina moment after its election strategy came undone with the sudden departure of a centrist ally just four days after theyd agreed to join forces against the surging right. But who will play God? The party is betting on the sacred aura of Mario Draghi.

Led by Enrico Letta, the Democratic Party is still reeling from the collapse over the weekend of its alliance with the centrist Carlo Calenda. If he can form a government after the September ballot, Letta says he will continue Draghi policies and avenge the sudden and rude departure of the former central banker. He accuses the Right of subverting Draghi and betraying Italys interest by forced the early election.

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The problem? Draghi himself has no intention of playing the savior in this drama. Those who still hope the man who saved the euro will enter the heat of the campaign to sway the outcome are bound to be disappointed. He wont.

Throughout his time in office, Draghi made it clear that he was responding to a specific mandate, one to which he was appointed not elected. He was given a mission by the President of the Republic which consisted on steering Italys pandemic recovery plan in the right direction to get European Union funding in exchange for reforms.

That was the work of a manager, not a politician  and Draghi has shown no appetite for the dirty politics required to hold on to power in Rome. Considering the antics of the past two months, who can blame him. He made his historic reputation saving the Euro in 2012. He doesnt want his name dragged through the mud now. Neither does he want it exploited in the ongoing electoral game.

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The Democratic Party will find it impossible to do Draghi without Draghi. Boasting that it is pursuing the Draghi agenda without the technocrats participation will be a hard sell. Draghis work is done and the politicians know it. Giorgia Meloni, the head of Brothers of Italy and front runner, may be short on detail on pretty much everything, but shes the loudest voice in the room screaming more freedom and less state. For Lettas party to be compelling, it needs to do more than to repeat Draghi, Draghi, Draghi.

Letta had the good instincts to pursue a broad coalition from centrists to the hard left. But his so-called campo largo  which roughly translates as broad field  required so much flexibility from everyone it ended up stretching to the breaking point. And indeed thats what happened. Calenda, who pulled the plug, broke off the deal arguing that some members of the alliance were equally populist as the Right and even had a record of voting against the Draghi government.

Theres now talk of a Terzo Polo  a group of centrists who could come together to offer voters a third option. This sounds complicated. Its also inefficient. The more splits there are among the center-left forces, the better for Meloni, who is rejoicing after the latest drama. The polls indicate that Lettas Italian Democratic party is neck and neck against Melonis Brothers. But shes got a viable  if argumentative  coalition. The center-left doesnt have an alliance to beat the one on the right led by Meloni. Their numbers simply dont add up.

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This may all be entertaining but Italian life after Draghi wont be much fun. Moodys reminded investors  and Rome  about the cost of political turbulence when it downgraded the countrys outlook to negative following Draghis departure. Gone is the famous Draghi put  his ability to soothe markets  which provided a ceiling for Italian yields for most of his time in office.

The few weeks left before the vote are a lifetime in Italian politics. And anything can happen. But there is now a greater probability of a right-wing government holding the keys to Palazzo Chigi, the home of the prime minister, come autumn. Letta and his Italian Democratic Party should waste no time chasing after Draghis ghost.

More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion:



Meloni Will Keep Jousting With Salvini. Just Wait.: Maria Tadeo

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The Woman Who Might Lead Italy to the Far Right: Rachel Sanderson



Italys Romance with Meritocracy Has Been On-Again, Off-Again: Adrian Wooldridge

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Maria Tadeo is the European correspondent for Bloomberg Television based in Brussels where she covers European politics, economics and NATO.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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No matter what indicator you use, Russian President Vladimir Putin is winning in the energy markets. Moscow is milking its oil cash cow, earning hundreds of millions of dollars every day to bankroll the invasion of Ukraine and buy domestic support for the war. Once European sanctions against Russian crude exports kick in from November, the regions governments will face some tough choices as the energy crisis starts to bite consumers and companies.

Electricity costs for homes and businesses are set to soar from October, as the surge in oil income allows Putin to sacrifice gas revenue and squeeze supplies to Europe. UK prices are likely to jump by 75%, while in Germany some municipal utilities have already warned prices will increase in excess of 100%. Russia has successfully weaponized energy supplies; Western governments will come under increasing pressure to spend billions either subsidizing household bills or, as is already the case in France, by taking control of power companies.

The first indicator showing how Putin has turned the oil tide is Russian crude production. Last month, the countrys output climbed back to near pre-war levels, averaging almost 10.8 million barrels per day, only marginally down from the 11 million pumped in January immediately prior to the invasion of Ukraine. Based on industry estimates, oil production is slightly higher so far this month.

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It isnt a blip: July marked the third consecutive month of oil production recovery, with output up significantly from this years low point of 10 million barrels set in April, when European buyers started shunning Russia and Moscow scrambled to find new buyers.

After that initial struggle, Russia has found new customers for the million barrels a day or so that European oil refiners have stopped purchasing due to self-sanctioning. Most of that crude is ending up in Asia  notably India  but also in Turkey and elsewhere in the Middle East. And some is still showing up in Europe, with buyers still purchasing Russian crude ahead of the planned introduction of official sanctions in early November. Everyone who bet that Russian oil production would continue to drop  myself included  got it wrong.

The second indicator is the price of Russian oil. Initially, Moscow was forced to sell its flavors of crude at huge discounts to other varieties to entice buyers. In recent weeks, however, the Kremlin has regained pricing power, taking advantage of a tight market.

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ESPO crude, a category of Russian oil from the Far East, is a good example of the new trend. At the low earlier this year, it sold at a discount of more than $20 a barrel to Dubai crude, the regional oil benchmark for Asia. Recently, ESPO crude has changed hands at parity to Dubai. Urals crude, the flagship Russian oil export to Europe, isnt benefiting as much as ESPO, as its key buyers have traditionally been countries such as Germany rather than India. But its also recovering in price, selling recently at $20 to $25 a barrel cheaper than the Brent benchmark, after trading at a discount of almost $35 in early April.

Moscow is finding new commodity traders, often operating from the Middle East and Asia and probably financed by Russian money, willing to buy its crude and ship it to hungry markets. With Brent crude hovering at close to $100 a barrel, and with Russia able to offer smaller discounts, theres plenty of money coming in to the Kremlin. For now at least, energy sanctions arent working.

The final indicator of Russian success is political, rather than market related. Back in March and April, Western policy makers were optimistic that the OPEC cartel, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, would ditch its alliance with Russia. The opposite has been the case.

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Despite a trip by US President Joseph Biden to Riyadh, Putin has retained his influence inside the OPEC+ alliance. Soon after Biden departed from Saudi Arabia, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, the nations point-person managing the relationship with the cartel, flew to the kingdom. A few days later, OPEC+ announced a minuscule oil production increase, keeping pressure on global energy markets.

The oil market victory means Putin can afford to forego revenue by restricting natural gas sales to Europe, putting pressure on Berlin, Paris and London, which are bracing for massive retail energy price increases and potential shortages that may lead to rationing this winter. Moscow is making so much money selling oil it can afford to restrict crude supply to Eastern European nations, too, as it did earlier this week.

A combination of cold weather, surging demand for electricity and soaring prices later this year risks undermining Western support for Ukraine. European politicians whove been eager to win international kudos by flaunting their support for Kyiv may be less willing to foot the domestic bill for averting energy poverty among their own voters.

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In public, European governments are still resolute in their determination to wean themselves off Russian energy. Privately, they must be acknowledging the hardships that stance threatens to inflict on their economies. Putin is winning the energy battle; lets hope that leverage isnt powerful enough to prompt Western politicians to soften their stance in the real war.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:



London Paid a Record Price to Dodge a Blackout: Javier Blas



Struggling to Stay Cool? So Is the Generator Powering Your Aircon: David Fickling



Putins New Weapon of Mass Disruption: Kazakh Oil: Julian Lee

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Javier Blas is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering energy and commodities. A former reporter for Bloomberg News and commodities editor at the Financial Times, he is coauthor of The World for Sale: Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earths Resources.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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The Democrats long-sought tax and energy legislation finally passed by the Senate is a critical breakthrough in Americas effort to meaningfully reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Thats the good news. More worrisome is what the bill fails to do to limit fugitive methane from oil and gas production. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The legislation would levy fees on producers that fail to plug leaks in drilling operations and pipelines. But this provision contains a dangerous loophole: Any methane leaking from operations that otherwise comply with pending regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency are to be exempt. Unfortunately, the EPAs proposed rules allow enormous volumes of fugitive methane.

The loophole is especially frustrating because methane is the greenhouse gas most in need of immediate restriction. Stopping leaks and flares of this potent gas from oil and gas fields would, in fact, be the biggest, fastest and cheapest action the US could take to protect the climate  because its effects would kick in almost immediately.

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Indeed, they could, over the next five years, keep the US fully on track to meet its pledge to slash emissions in half by 2030. They also would make a big difference in the short-term climate crisis and buy time for further action.

This opportunity  and, conversely, the enormous risk that comes from failing to limit oil and gas methane emissions  has been obscured by poor measurement. So far, the US has failed to assess both the size and the impact of methane leaks. The EPA simply accepts oil and gas company reports on their own methane leaks, and according to these, total emissions amount to only 8.5 million tons. Yet every time outsiders look closely at an oil or gas field, they find far more methane leaking than industry admits. Independent estimates range from 80% higher to double the official figures.

Equally important, every molecule of methane emitted is 85 times as destructive to the climate as one of carbon dioxide  even though it is far less durable. The CO2 emitted in 2020 will linger in the atmosphere at least 300 years, while 2020 methane will break down in just 12 years. During that 12 years, however, it will act like a blowtorch on the atmosphere.

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In other words, methanes impact is greatest now, just as the climate crisis is hitting hardest. EPAs charts show oil and gas methane having an impact equivalent to only 212 million tons of CO2, about 3% of total greenhouse gases. But combining the real volume of leaking methane with its powerful warming effects over the next decade, fugitive methane creates six times as much climate disruption  the equivalent of more than 1,200 tons of CO2, or one-fifth of all US greenhouse gases.

The good news is that its easy to drastically limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Some profitable producers release 90% less than their competitors do. About half of current fugitive methane could be captured and sold as pipeline gas at no net cost. More than 75% could be captured at nominal cost. One piece of oil patch equipment  the pneumatic controller  leaks 61% of the reported methane, even though zero-emission controllers exist and are required in several states.

While preventing fugitive methane costs little money, it does take time. And the wildcatter segment of the oil industry is averse to spending that time, whether in building a pipeline for collecting the gas or laying power lines to use cleaner electric drilling kits. Some states indulge this resistance.

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In the Texas Permian Basin, for example, the Texas Railroad Commission takes a lax approach to limiting methane. Next door in New Mexico, where the industry is better regulated, the Permian releases only a third as much climate pollution from oil and gas production as Texas does. Closing methane leaks from the Texas Permian, by itself, would cut short-term US climate pollution by about 10%.

Some of the bigger US oil producers  BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil  might quietly favor tough Biden methane-capture rules, to prevent their more reckless competitors from gaining market advantage.

National regulation is needed, and President Joe Biden has fought hard for it. But the EPAs current proposal has problems. Depleted wells that no longer produce significant oil would be exempt from monitoring  even though, cumulatively, they may leak half of total oil field methane in the US. Whats worse, the rules would allow oil producers to vent or flare any amount of gas from wells that lack access to pipelines. The EPA should establish rules comprehensive enough to reduce oil and gas methane leaks by 75% within five years, not 10. Flaring and venting should be banned; all gas from oil wells should be captured; and wells that no longer produce much oil or gas should be properly shut down.

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By curbing methane leaks from oil and gas, the Biden administration could, in five years, cut the US energy sectors climate footprint by 15%. That could mean fewer floods in Kentucky, fires in California, hurricanes in Texas and heat waves in Arizona  not in 2100, but over the next two decades. Methane pollution needs more regulation, and fast.

More from other writers at Bloomberg Opinion:

 Surprise Manchin-Schumer Deal Would Be a Huge Win: Editorial

 Methane Is a Climate Problem Bitcoin Can Help Solve: Trung Phan

 Exxons Partial Net-Zero Target Is Actually Useful: Liam Denning

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Carl Pope is a former chairman of the Sierra Club and the coauthor, with Michael R. Bloomberg, of Climate of Hope.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The number of people who suffered injuries in explosions at an airfield in Crimeas Novofyodorovka settlement has risen to 13, TASS reported citing a statement from the regional health authorities.

"As of 8:30 am on August 10, 2022, one person was killed and 13 people suffered injuries in an incident in the Novofyodorovka settlement, the Saki District," the statement reads.

According to the ministry, ten of the injured, including two underage children, received outpatient care at the Saki District Hospital, one patient was taken to the hospital and another two people were provided with outpatient care at a hospital in the Crimean capital of Simferopol.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

Efforts are underway to establish the cause of the explosions. The Russian Defense Ministry said that there had been no "fire impact" on the airfield. Head of Russias Federal Agency for Tourism Zarina Doguzova pointed out that Crimeas tourism facilities continued to operate normally.
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The FBIs search of former President Donald Trumps Florida home as part of an investigation into whether he improperly took documents from the White House was celebrated by some as proof that no one is above the law and denounced by others as a political attack. Little is known about the aims of Department of Justice investigators and what evidence they may have gathered. There are laws governing how presidents are supposed to handle documents that, at least theoretically, can trigger prosecutions for failure to comply, chief among them the Presidential Records Act. But as with so much related to Trumps time in office, the search appears to have landed investigators in uncharted territory.

1. What is the Presidential Records Act?

Its a law enacted by Congress in 1978 as one of several post-Watergate measures aimed at combating potential corruption in the White House. President Richard Nixon had challenged the legality of a predecessor to the PRA, which sought to prevent him from destroying any of 42 million page of documents and 880 tape recordings from his time in office, but the US Supreme Court said Congress had the authority to regulate presidential documents both for posterity and to ensure their availability for criminal prosecutions.

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2. What does the PRA say?

It established that presidential records belong to the US and that the president must transfer control of them to the National Archives and Records Administration after leaving office. Furthermore, while in office, the president may only dispose of records after an archivist determines they no longer have administrative, historical, informational, or evidentiary value.

3. What happens if the PRA is violated?

Though the PRA by itself doesnt specify any penalties, violations could trigger several federal statutes that make it a felony to mishandle government property. These potentially include laws barring injury to US property, improper disposal of records belonging to the US, unauthorized removal or retention of classified materials and removal or destruction of any record deposited with a US office or official. Obstruction of justice statutes could also apply if the documents removed or destroyed were relevant to a criminal, civil or Congressional investigation. Convictions for injuring US property or improperly disposing of records can carry sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

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4. Could a conviction keep Trump from running again?

The statute regarding removal or destruction of deposited records has attracted particular attention because it also says a convicted offender would be disqualified from holding any office under the United States. But a number of legal scholars have said they doubt this statute could actually prevent Trump from running in 2024. They point to the provisions of the Constitution that lay out qualifications for the presidency as likely to be seen as the governing law, since Congress cant overrule the Constitution.

5. What does the Trump investigation involve?

The search, which Trump said included his safe, was related to a request from the National Archives and Records Administration to the Justice Department to look into the transfer of presidential documents to Mar-a-Lago, including classified materials. The Archives in January retrieved 15 boxes of records from Mar-a-Lago, the former presidents Palm Beach home. Trump turned those documents over only after facing possible legal action over their removal. More broadly, some former aides have said he had a cavalier attitude about handling classified material and preserving documents, saying that he was known to rip them up, pocket them or even flush them down the toilet. On the morning of the FBI search, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman released photos allegedly showing White House toilets clogged by torn-up presidential records.

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6. Is any of that a basis for prosecution?

Not necessarily. Even if all of those accounts are true, prosecutors would need to show Trump knew he was violating the law. To do so, they could rely on witnesses who served under Trump. The Washington Post reported in February that Trump had been warned about aspects of the PRA by former White House Counsel Don McGahn as well as his first two chiefs of staff, Reince Priebus and John F. Kelly.

7. Have there been cases like that brought before?

Not against a former president, but Sandy Berger, national security adviser under President Bill Clinton, pleaded guilty in 2005 to removing classified records from the National Archives. Berger admitted that in 2003 he concealed and removed five copies of classified documents that he was reviewing in connection with a request for records by the 9/11 Commission. He took the documents to his office and destroyed three of them. The former White House aide was ultimately sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Bergers guilty plea was announced by then-Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray, the current Federal Bureau of Investigation director, who would have played a key role in authorizing the Mar-a-Lago search. There have also been a number of prosecutions of Archives employees who stole documents to sell on eBay.

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8. Could Trump have declassified the removed documents?

Presidents do have ultimate decision-making power over the classification of documents, and Trump could theoretically have declassified any records he removed from the White House. Indeed, former Trump National Security Council member Kash Patel has claimed Trump did just that before leaving office. There is no set procedure for presidential declassification, meaning that could be the basis for a defense if a case proceeds against Trump. But even if Trump was found to have declassified documents, he could still potentially be prosecuted for removing or destroying them. And Richard Painter, chief White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, points out that declassification of documents for an improper purpose could be a crime in itself. If he declassified documents in order to remove them and destroy them, hes destroying evidence, and thats obstruction of justice or obstruction of Congress, Painter said.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Scott Perry said his cellphone was seized Tuesday morning by FBI agents carrying a search warrant. The circumstances surrounding the seizure were not immediately known. Perry, though, has been a figure in the congressional investigation into President Donald Trumps actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

Former senior Justice Department officials have testified that Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, had an important role in Trumps effort to try to install Jeffrey Clark  a top Justice official who was pushing Trumps baseless claims of election fraud  as the acting attorney general.

In a statement Tuesday, Perry said three agents visited him while he was traveling Tuesday with his family and seized my cell phone. He called the action banana republic tactics.

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They made no attempt to contact my lawyer, who would have made arrangements for them to have my phone if that was their wish, Perry said. Im outraged  though not surprised - that the FBI under the direction of Merrick Garlands DOJ, would seize the phone of a sitting Member of Congress.

The lawmaker, representing Pennsylvanias 10th District, was cited more than 50 times in a Senate Judiciary report released in October 2021 outlining how Trumps effort to overturn his election defeat to Joe Biden brought the Justice Department to the brink of chaos and prompted top officials there and at the White House to threaten to resign.

Perry, who has continuously disputed the validity of Bidens victory in Pennsylvania, has said he obliged Trumps request for an introduction to Clark, then an assistant attorney general whom Perry knew from unrelated legislative matters. The three men went on to discuss their shared concerns about the election, Perry has said.

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The Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud in Pennsylvania or any other state, and senior Justice officials dismissed Perrys claims.

The Senate report outlined a call Perry made to then-acting Deputy Attorney General Rich Donoghue in December 2020 to say the department wasnt doing its job with respect to the elections. Perry encouraged Donoghue to elicit Clarks help because hes the kind of guy who could really get in there and do something about this, the report said.

Perry has said his official communications with Justice Department officials were consistent with the law.

The Justice Departments inspector general conducted a search in June of Clarks Virginia home.

Perry slammed the Justice Departments decision to serve him with a warrant as an unnecessary and aggressive action.

My phone contains info about my legislative and political activities, and personal/private discussions with my wife, family, constituents, and friends, Perry said. None of this is the governments business.

The seizure of Scotts cellphone was first reported by Fox News Channel.

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HAVANA  A deadly fire that consumed at least half of a large oil storage facility in western Cuba and threatened to bring more power failures to the islands already fragile electricity system was largely controlled Wednesday after nearly five days, authorities said. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Flames that recently consumed the fourth tank in the eight-tank facility in Matanzas were almost quelled, although the third tank remained on fire and surrounded by smoke, officials said.

Col. Daniel Chavez, second in command at Cubas firefighting department, said the fire could keep burning for the next couple of days, but he did not expect it to spread further. He said the next step is to cool the area.

The blaze killed at least one person and injured 128 others, with 14 firefighters still reported missing and 20 people hospitalized. The fire also forced officials to evacuate more than 4,900 people and shut down a key thermoelectric plant after it ran out of water, raising concerns about a new round of blackouts in addition to the ones the government announced last week for Havana.

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Arturo Lopez-Levy, a politics and international relations professor at Holy Names University in California, said the fire will complicate an already difficult scenario in Cuba.

I think any realistic forecast would point to more blackouts and more difficulty in carrying out the minimum economic activity in the country, he said.

Lopez-Levy also warned that it would be difficult to lift up this country after this triple tragedy, referring to the U.S. sanctions, the pandemic and now the fire.

Some Cubans worry the blaze could lead to more planned power outages as the government grapples with a fuel shortage.

That gives way to more justification of blackouts that are going to occur, said Pedro Pozo, a state worker.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel praised the work by local firefighters and special teams sent byt Mexico and Venezuela that employed boats, planes and helicopters to fight the blaze whose billowing, toxic smoke could be seen from the capital of Havana.

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(Tuesday) was a victory day, but we cannot be overconfident, the president tweeted Wednesday as he warned about a possible switch in the wind direction. Danger is lurking.

The fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base began Friday when lightning struck the key infrastructure, which operates an oil pipeline that receives Cuban crude oil that powers thermoelectric plants. It also serves as the unloading and transshipment center for imported crude oil, fuel oil and diesel.

The government has not provided an estimate of damages or said how much it has lost overall in key fuel supplies. The first tank was at 50% capacity and contained nearly 883,000 cubic feet (25,000 cubic meters) of fuel. The second tank was full.

___

Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP

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SANAA, Yemen  Infighting among pro-government Yemeni forces has killed 35 troops in a southern province in the past 24 hours, officials said, a development that threatens a ceasefire in the countrys wider conflict. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight They say that an artillery duel that start in the late hours of Tuesday hit areas around a local airport in the city of Ataq, the capital of the southern Shabwa province.

Five civilians were among the dead, they added, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

The fighting comes after months of tensions within the pro-government, Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting a common enemy  the Houthi rebels  since 2015.

Earlier violence late Sunday erupted in the area after the provinces governor, backed by the United Arab Emirates, decided to sack a police commander known to have an anti-UAE stance, the officials said.

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Yemens civil war erupted in 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthis descended from their northern enclave and took over the capital, forcing the government to flee to the south before its exile in Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition  then backed by the United Sates  entered the war in early 2015 to try to restore the government to power. Since then, the conflict has turned into a proxy war between regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, which backs the Houthis. The war has also resulted in one of the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Last week, the rebels and the government agreed to renew an existing truce, in place since April, for two more months after concerted international efforts.

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KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip  When Israeli bombs began falling last week, 22-year-old Duniana al-Amour ran into her room and tried to escape into her art and drawing, just as she had during Gazas past wars. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight But this time around, her pencil never met the paper. An Israeli shell struck outside her home on Friday, making her one of the first of at least 47 Palestinians  including 16 children  who were killed during three days of heavy fighting between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group. She was killed during Israels surprise opening salvo, hours before militants had fired any rockets.

Her drawings, mostly black and white portraits of relatives, some killed in previous rounds of fighting in Gaza, can be seen in the shattered bedroom where she died. Her mother, her brother and two sisters-in-law were in another room baking bread and suffered only minor injuries. Days later, the bread sits out on a wooden tray  a still-life from the moment the shell hit.

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One of her sisters-in-law, Simone, said al-Amours life revolved around her art. She painted whether she was happy or sad. She would bring a chair to the backyard, sit and draw. She drew all of us, Simone said.

Her death underscores the vulnerability of Palestinian civilians during the frequent conflicts, including four wars fought between Israel and the territory's militant Hamas rulers since they seized power in Gaza 15 years ago. The wars have killed more than 4,000 Palestinians, over half of whom were civilians, according to the United Nations. More than 100 people have been killed on the Israeli side.

Those killed during the latest violence include two senior Islamic Jihad commanders, one of whom Israel said it targeted in order to foil an imminent attack. But many civilians also perished, including as many as 16 who might have been killed by rockets misfired by Palestinian militants.

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Islamic Jihad fired some 1,100 rockets, but the Israeli military said some 200 fell short and most of the rest were intercepted or fell in open areas. No Israelis were killed or seriously wounded in the latest round of fighting.

An Egyptian brokered cease-fire ended the violence late Sunday, but grief still hangs over the impoverished territory.

Gaza has also been under a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade since the Hamas takeover, which Israel says is needed to keep the militants from re-arming. Critics view the blockade, which severely limits movement in and out of the narrow seaside territory  home to more than 2 million Palestinians  as collective punishment.

Al-Amour had tried to escape Gazas tribulations through art. Her relatives said she had little interest in politics and dreamed of making a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.

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Her family home, nestled among farmland and olive groves near the border, was a bucolic escape from Gazas densely-packed cities and refugee camps. It was also on the front line whenever a new round of fighting broke out.

The Israeli military said it precisely attacked legitimate military targets during the latest operation and made every effort to prevent and minimize harm to civilians. It did not immediately comment on the strike near al-Amours home.

Israel destroyed several guard towers manned by Palestinian militants near the border, apparently with artillery or tank shells, including one about 500 meters (yards) from al-Amours family home. The military distributed video showing some of the hits  the towers going up in smoke and the men inside vanishing in a flash.

All the family knows is that the shell that killed al-Amour came from the direction of the border fence. Mohammed al-Amour, Dunianas grieving brother, said that Israel, with its sophisticated surveillance and targeting capabilities, had to have known what it was aiming at.

They brag about this technology, he said. They know who is a civilian or not.

___ Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario, contributed to this report.

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YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. The Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh Vitaly Balasanyan visited Berdzor together with representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the Azerbaijani military, his office confirmed to ARMENPRESS when asked to comment on reports about the trip.

Asked to explain the reason of the visit, Balasanyans office said: The visit of the Secretary of the Security Council to Berdzor was conducted to get acquainted with the course of construction of the new route linking Artsakh with Armenia envisaged under the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement, and the visit took place jointly with the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in the Republic of Artsakh, as well as representatives of the Azerbaijani side.

Balasanyans office said he did not visit Aghavno or Nerkin Sus.
Billionaire Andrew Forrests mining company Fortescue has applied for exploration leases covering more than 7000 square kilometres of land in Western Australias south in the hunt for critical mineral deposits.

The tenements largely cover farming areas from Gnowangerup in the Great Southern to Ravensthorpe in the Goldfields-Esperance region.

Andrew Forrests mining company Fortescue wants to go looking for critical minerals in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Credit:Trevor Collens/Landtracker

Fortescue is the fourth-largest iron ore producer in the world but has held ambitions in other minerals like lithium for Australian exploration for several years but without much luck in finding new deposits.

The companys lithium search has previously centred around the Pilbara, but four exploration leases were applied for in March near Bridgetown and the Greenbushes mine  which is the worlds largest hard rock lithium operation.
A lively fifth form student with noteworthy eyes.

That was how a 15-year-old Olivia Newton-John was described in the student newspaper of University High School, the small public school in Parkville, Melbourne, that helped transform a wannabe star into the icon she eventually became.

Olivia Newton-John in a play at University High School, 1964.

Before high school Newton-John went to primary school with another famous Australian musical icon, Daryl Braithwaite, but it was at University High where her musical and acting talent became obvious. Interviews with the stars classmates and friends at the high school, which Newton-John attended for four years from 1961 to 1964, paint a clear picture of a girl who was deeply passionate about music and theatre from a very young age, and a school that nurtured her talent at every opportunity.

Newton-John joined the school as a 13-year-old in 1961. The child, anonymous in the schools dark green tunic with shirt and tie, was set on a career in drama and music, said Glenda Johnston, who began a few years before Newton-John, but noticed her in plays and school life.
My advice is to work out your day rate  at a minimum what you make as a support worker and then some, since the work you do as a consultant will be quite different  and let the training provider know this is your fee for the day. If they decide not to use you, that is up to them. I expect that if you have a certain expertise they cant replicate, they will understand they will need to pay you to be there. You will then set the expectation with them and anyone else who wants to engage you with that you have a daily rate for your expertise. It is important you are paid and respected for the value you offer.

Ah, that old chestnut of networking opportunity. You should ask the government training provider if they are forgoing their wages on that day for the networking opportunity (only, just kidding, dont really ask that but you know what I mean!). There are rare occasions when the opportunity to do something far outweighs any payment you might receive. It does not sound like this is one of those opportunities.

I have been invited to attend a strategy workshop in an area where I have experience but is outside my day-to-day work. It is being run by a government training provider and the organisers expect me to contribute my ideas for free, even though they end up being used by others without acknowledgement. Most, if not all attendees will be paid directly or indirectly to attend the weekday event but as a Disability Support Worker with private clients, I will lose a days wages to attend. I have floated the option of consulting to the training provider but have been declined and they say this will be a good opportunity to network. I see no value in this and resent losing money and my ideas not being valued. How do I navigate this situation and respond in a way that will leave the door open for future involvement?

Each week, Dr Kirstin Ferguson tackles questions on the workplace, career and leadership in her advice column  Got a Minute?  This week, a question about being paid for attending a workshop, corporate box-ticking on NAIDOC week, and what to do when youre not happy with the pay rise you got.

My company emailed everyone about the NAIDOC week celebration, which I was looking forward to. Turns out the celebration was basically a table with non-Indigenous-inspired snacks and some materials explaining Indigenous culture. Our line manager did not know what to do and the whole thing was lacking to say the least. It reminded me of an International Womens Day celebration with pretty cupcakes and cute stickers  just another corporate box-ticking exercise with no substance to it. There could have been Indigenous speakers or the very least internal panel to discuss and bring awareness to the organisation. Why the lame effort for something so important? I would have much preferred if they just sent out an email and be done with it, instead of a disjointed and uninspiring celebration.

It is critically important we avoid turning NAIDOC week  or any other efforts to celebrate diversity and inclusion  into just another corporate box-ticking exercise, as you have identified. Sadly it sounds like your employer simply wanted to be seen to be doing something rather than taking the time to think through the purpose and meaning behind NAIDOC week.

Given the theme for NAIDOC week 2022 was Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! I wonder whether your letter is the first step in that process and you have the opportunity now to pass on your feedback and suggestions to your employer for what can be done differently (and not just during NAIDOC week but every week). Does your employer have a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) or other ways to recognise and celebrate Indigenous employees or the Indigenous lands you work on? There are many resources available at naidoc.org.au you can also direct your line manager to if they are unsure of how to proceed.

I have been working in a business I really like for three years. The people and culture are great. I have recently been offered a promotion but the salary offer was quite disappointing compared to what I am paid now. I was only offered a few thousand dollars more but extra responsibility. To be honest I felt offended by the offer and have told the business owner but I dont think anything will change in that regard. Considering the market situation I am truly considering moving on. Should I approach them with a final counter offer and advise if that is not met at some point soon, should I be open to new opportunities?

I can understand your disappointment if, in your mind, you think the new role is worth a lot more. However, sometimes it can be short-sighted to move. The grass is definitely not always greener. You are working somewhere you love and you said the people and culture are great. That is worth something  maybe not money  but it is worth something for the moment. The other opportunity you have is to take on a promotion with extra responsibility. The experience you gain in your new role will help you down the track apply for and hopefully obtain jobs that might pay even more.
It was the kind of chaos brokers are unlikely to forget.

On November 16, 2020, the countrys primary securities exchange froze without warning. The outage lasted for hours and billions of dollars of share trading was sent into limbo.

The disruption  the third in nine years  hit market operator ASX Ltd., already struggling with repeated setbacks to its technology upgrades which continue to this day. A fifth delay was announced this week.

The new chief executive of ASX Limited, Helen Lofthouse. Credit:Stephen Kiprillis

However, despite the problems, ASX Ltd. has continued to provide good value for shareholders. Its share price has risen by more than 60 per cent in the past five years, and financial results have been strong.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. Russias COVID-19 case tally rose by 23,771 over the past day to 18,770,657, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Wednesday, TASS reports.

In absolute terms, the growth rate has been the highest since March 26, when 24,072 daily cases were recorded.

As many as 2,666 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, up 3.6% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients increased in 41 regions, while in 38 regions the figure decreased. The situation remained unchanged in six regions. A day earlier, 2,574 people were rushed to hospitals.

Moscows COVID-19 cases surged by 8,608 over the past day versus 4,781 cases a day earlier, reaching 2,877,323, according to the anti-coronavirus crisis center. St. Petersburgs COVID-19 cases increased by 2,894 over the past day versus 2,639 a day earlier, reaching 1,575,669.

COVID-19 recoveries

Russias COVID-19 recoveries rose by 14,552 over the past day, reaching 18,075,720, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Wednesday.

A day earlier some 13,092 patients recovered.

COVID-19 death toll

Russias COVID-19 death toll rose by 56 over the past day, reaching 382,902, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Wednesday.

A day earlier 60 COVID-19 deaths were registered.
Australian survival rates from breast cancer have improved in leaps and bounds since Olivia Newton-John was first diagnosed in 1992. More than 90 per cent of patients live past five years. However, there is one significant exception.

People with metastatic breast cancer, which Newton-John had lived with since 2017, can be treated but rarely cured. Sometimes those with the condition are left feeling out of place and unsupported.

Dr Andrea Smith is still working full time, despite being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Credit:Kate Geraghty

People think that breast cancer is very survivable, which it is in some ways, but the reality is more than 3000 people die from breast cancer every year in Australia, says Dr Andrea Smith, an academic with the University of Sydney. A mother of three, she was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer six years ago.

All of those people are dying from metastatic breast cancer, she said.
The family of singer, actor and cancer campaigner Olivia Newton-John plans to accept the offer of a state funeral.

Newton-Johns niece, Tottie Goldsmith, told A Current Affair on Tuesday night they wanted to accept the offer.

Melbournes Flinders Street Station has been lit up in pink to honour the life of Olivia Newton-John. Credit:Simon Schluter

We will, Goldsmith told the program when asked about a state funeral.

On behalf of not just our family but I think Australia needs it, shes so loved.
A prominent Perth doctor accused of assaulting his wife has taken a leave of absence from his job after losing his legal bid to keep his identity secret.

St John of God Midland Hospital medical director Dr Anthony Bell allegedly attacked his partner, well-known human rights lawyer Rabia Siddique, in Mount Pleasant on April 27.

Human rights lawyer Rabia Siddique and husband, Perth doctor Anthony Bell.

During his first appearance in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Monday, he was granted a temporary suppression order in an attempt to avoid publicity, however on Wednesday the court ruled he be subject to open justice.

Bell unsuccessfully argued the publication of his identity would ruin his career and affect his reputation at the hospital.
As Beijing announced that it would continue its military manoeuvres around Taiwan without any end date as its forces prepare for joint encirclement of the island, a senior US official has said that the Taiwan crisis is not yet over.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will continue to pile pressure onto the self-governing territory while China goes through a difficult time at home, the US Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in an interview.

A Peoples Liberation Army member watches military exercises, with Taiwans frigate Lan Yang in the background. Credit:Xinhua

After four days of military exercises that forced the diversion of some commercial shipping and aviation, Chinas Eastern Military Command on Tuesday stated that it would extend its operations into a new phase.

The next drills were for its forces to prepare for joint defence and joint encirclement of Taiwan, it said in a statement. The Peoples Liberation Army forces deployed 39 air force planes in and around the Taiwan Strait on Monday, of which 21 entered Taiwans air defence zone, according to Taiwans Defence Ministry. It said 13 mainland naval vessels were deployed.
Russian authorities have detained a former state TV journalist who quit after making an on-air protest against Moscows war in Ukraine and charged her with spreading false information about Russias armed forces, according to her lawyer.

Marina Ovsyannikova was charged on Wednesday (AEST) over a protest she staged last month, holding a banner that said [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists. 352 children have been killed [in Ukraine]. How many more children should die for you to stop?

Former Russia state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova arrives at a court in Moscow in July 2022. Credit:AP

If tried and convicted, Ovsyannikova faces up to 10 years in prison under a new law that penalises statements against the military and that was enacted shortly after Russian troops moved into Ukraine, her lawyer, Dmitry Zakhvatov, said in a Telegram post.

Ovsyannikovas home was raided on Wednesday and she was taken for questioning. Zakhvatov said the former producer for Russian state-funded Channel One would spend the night in a holding cell at Moscow police headquarters.
New York: Its a question that keeps some scientists awake at night: do spiders sleep?

Daniela Roessler and her colleagues trained cameras on baby jumping spiders at night to find out. The footage showed patterns that looked a lot like sleep cycles. The spiders legs twitched and parts of their eyes flickered.

The researchers described this pattern as a REM sleep-like state. In humans, REM, or rapid eye movement, is an active phase of sleep when parts of the brain light up with activity and is closely linked with dreaming.

A jumping spider (E arcuata) exhibiting leg curling during a REM sleep-like state. Credit:Daniela Roessler via AP

Other animals, including some birds and mammals, have been shown to experience REM sleep. But creatures like the jumping spider havent got as much attention so it wasnt known if they got the same kind of sleep, said Roessler, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Konstanz in Germany.
This triggered staff to report their findings to the Department of Justice, led by Attorney-General Merrick Garland. And thats when things started getting tricky for the former commander-in-chief. Loading While it is still not clear why the search took place or what it uncovered (neither the FBI nor DOJ has explained it) the reason its a political tinderbox comes down to Title 18 of the US Code, which codifies laws in America. Section 2071 of Title 18 makes it a crime if someone who has government documents wilfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies or destroys them. It also goes on to say that whoever is convicted of such a crime shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding office under the United States.

To be clear, Trump has not been charged with wrongdoing and, with so many unanswered questions, it is still not certain if he will be. Whats more, to be disqualified from running would require someone to challenge his eligibility, which he could counter-challenge through the states or in court. He has, however, been hinting for months that he intends to run for president again in 2024, even as his legal woes pile up: take a select committee probe into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol; an Atlanta district attorney investigation into his election loss in the battleground state of Georgia; and a New York investigation into his business practices, including allegations that he misrepresented the value of his assets to secure loans and get tax breaks. To that end, its no wonder that many Democrats could barely contain their excitement after the raid, while many Republicans  even those who had grown weary of Trump and his antics  were outraged by what they saw as government overreach and a lack of transparency by federal authorities. Chillingly, some of his most ardent fans were even calling for violence, claiming, as Trump had, that the radical Left was trying to stop him from running for office again.

Civil War! Pick up arms, people, wrote one on Twitter. Getting ready for an uprising, wrote another. If you think Trump is likely to be deterred by this weeks events, think again. How dare they! Jupiter resident Kathy Luksch stands with others gathered to support Donald Trump near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. Credit:The Palm Beach Post/AP Legal experts say it wouldnt be easy to get approval for a search warrant of this kind, particularly when it involves a former president. Investigators would have to establish probable cause: not only that a crime may have been committed, but that there may be evidence at the premise of that particular crime. Then they would have to obtain approval from a judge to execute such a high-level search warrant.

Nonetheless, Trump was incredulous and released a campaign-style online ad painting America as a nation in decline that has weaponised its law-enforcement against the opposing political party like never before. The tyrants we are fighting do not stand even a little chance because we are Americans and Americans kneel to God and God alone, Trump says on the three-minute video. It is time to start talking about greatness for our country again  The best is yet to come. The January 6 hearing shows footage of Mike Pence at a secure location during the Capitol riots. Credit:AP Within hours, Trumps Save America fundraising arm and the Republican National Committee was also using the news to solicit for campaign money. THIS IS NOT A DRILL read one fundraising text message. UNPRECEDENTED move Bidens FBI RAIDS Pres Trumps home. Time to take back Congress.

Traditional conservatives and right-wing extremists alike were practically falling over themselves to vent their anger. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is viewed as Trumps biggest rival for the presidential nominee in 2024, called the incident a weaponisation of federal agencies. Loading House Republican Kevin McCarthy warned Garland that he would be launching a Congressional probe if, as expected, Republicans take back the House in November. And South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who only a few days ago urged Trump to move on from his claims of electoral fraud to focus on the future, warned that launching an investigation of a former president this close to an election is beyond problematic.
The Albanese government has a welcome raft of policies intended to strengthen Australias relationships and role in the Pacific Islands. And a renewed emphasis on things that matter to the Pacific  especially climate change  has sent an important signal to the people of the region.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Suva, Fiji, at the Pacific island forum, July, 14. Credit:Joe Armao

But the most effective and enduring way to improve Australias relations in the Pacific isnt through spending announcements or infrastructure projects. It is through relationships between Australian and Pacific people, civil society groups, educational institutions, sporting codes and businesses.

Strong relationships require mutual understanding. And this is something that would benefit from more development  especially on the Australian side. Greater understanding of the Pacific will also aid the Australian publics receptivity of the governments policies.

Despite our longstanding involvement in the Pacific Islands  including as the colonial administrator of Papua New Guinea and Nauru  most Australians have little knowledge about the region. Its time for us to stop being  to paraphrase the great Sean Dorney  embarrassed colonialists. We need a fresh approach to increasing Pacific literacy in Australia.
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS. A serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces was found shot dead in his military base on August 9, the Ministry of Defense said.

Private Erik Gharsyans body was found with a gunshot wound to the chest in the position of a military base deployed in the north-eastern direction.

Gharsyan was a 19-year-old conscript.

The defense ministry said an investigation was launched to determine the circumstances.
YEREVAN, 10 AUGUST, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 10 August, USD exchange rate down by 0.50 drams to 405.78 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.02 drams to 415.48 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.01 drams to 6.71 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 1.13 drams to 490.75 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price up by 117.44 drams to 23421.06 drams. Silver price up by 4.96 drams to 268.75 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.
The Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh Vitaly Balasanyan visited Berdzor together with representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent and the Azerbaijani military, his office confirmed.

August 10, 2022, 13:14 Artsakh Security Council Secretary visits Berdzor to inspect construction of new route

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 10, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: Asked to explain the reason of the visit, Balasanyans office said: The visit of the Secretary of the Security Council to Berdzor was conducted to get acquainted with the course of construction of the new route linking Artsakh with Armenia envisaged under the November 9, 2020 trilateral statement, and the visit took place jointly with the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed in the Republic of Artsakh, as well as representatives of the Azerbaijani side.

Balasanyans office said he did not visit Aghavno or Nerkin Sus.
US President Joe Biden has signed protocols on the ratification of agreements on Finlands and Swedens accession to NATO, a TASS correspondent reported on Tuesday, Tass informs.

August 10, 2022, 17:14 Biden signs protocols on Finlands and Swedens accession to NATO

STEPANAKERT, AUGUST 10, ARTSAKHPRESS: Biden signed the documents during a ceremony in the White House. He called on other NATO member countries to approve these countries joining the alliance as soon as possible.

US Congress passed a resolution on the ratification of documents on these countries accession to the Alliance last week. Under US laws, the ratification procedure is executed by the president upon the Senates consent. Biden hailed the Senate voting results, noting that this was the fastest Senate process for NATO expansion protocols since 1981.

Stockholm and Helsinki applied for NATO membership on May 18 but the accession process was blocked by Turkey, which demanded these outlaw Kurdish organizations as terrorist, extradite persons accused of terrorism or involvement in the attempted coup in 2016, and lift the bans on weapons supplies to Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andresson, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on June 28, ahead of a NATO summit in Madrid. The talks yielded a memorandum on Swedens and Finlands accession to NATO, which is to be ratified by all the alliances member states.
Press Release

August 10, 2022 Institutionalizing West PH Sea nomenclature, an assertion of sovereign rights - Tolentino MANILA - To further reinforce the Philippines' claim to the disputed territories found on the western side of the archipelago, Senator Francis 'Tol' N. Tolentino recently filed a proposed legislation that seeks to 'institutionalize' the West Philippine Sea by formalizing the designation of the said nomenclature as part of the existing laws of the land. Under Tolentino's Senate Bill No. 405, the maritime area--including the air space, seabed, and subsoil--on the western side of the Philippine archipelago is hereby named as the "West Philippine Sea" or "Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas" as part of the Philippines' "inherent right to designate the names of its maritime areas," and consistent with the 2016 Award of the Arbitral Tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). In 2016, The Hague Tribunal invalidated Beijing's "Nine-dash line" doctrine over the entire South China Sea (SCS) region following an arbitration case filed by the Philippine government on January 22, 2013. China's nine-dash line unilaterality encroached territories of other Southeast Asian countries, including the West Philippine Sea. According to Tolentino, the proposed measure is in response to the archipelagic doctrine embodied under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in which the Philippines is granted a territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles, a contiguous zone of up to 24 nautical miles, and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of up to 200 nautical miles where the West Philippine Sea is located. "As patriotic citizens, we should assert our sovereign rights over our EEZ for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and subsoil of our EEZ with the concomitant duty to protect and preserve the marine environment therein," Tolentino's explanatory note read. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier during the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Cambodia has asserted its territorial ownership of the disputed territories by citing the arbitral award, nothing that The Hague ruling as well as the 1982 UNCLOS "are the twin anchors of policy and actions" of the Philippines on the West Philippine Sea. Under SB 405, territories under the West Philippine Sea includes the Luzon Sea and the waters around, within, and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan and Bajo de Masinloc or also known as Scarborough Shoal in Zambales, among others. Section 2 of the said bill mandates the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) to produce and to publish charts and maps of the Philippines reflecting the nomenclature "West Philippine Sea" or the "Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas." Furthermore, the proposed legislation once approved into law mandates the national government through the DFA to deposit a copy of the future Act and other relevant documents with the Secretary General of the United Nations and notify accordingly all relevant International and intergovernmental organizations, such as the United Nations Statistical Commission, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN), and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Tolentino's measure also directs all departments, subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Philippine government to use and employ the name West Philippine Sea or Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas in all communications, messages, and public documents, and "to popularize the use of such name with the general public, both domestically and internationally." SB 405 is also specific that all private institutions, organizations, and establishments, whether organized under Philippine law or foreign law, operating within the Philippines, or transiting in Philippine territory are hereby directed to use the name West Philippine Sea or Kanlurang Dagat ng Pilipinas in all communications, announcements, and messages, both domestically and internationally.
What do Guac and Roll, The Ignitors and Blue Flame Pilots have in common? They are all speedy bathtubs entered to race at Fillmore Days on Saturday, Aug. 13, at Fillmore Glen State Park, 1686 Route 38, in Moravia. Who will come away with the prized bathtub trophy in 2022?

Festivities start on Thursday, Aug. 11, with the Forge the Gorgeous trail run at 6 p.m. Choose either a 3.5- or 7-mile loop through the scenic state park. Sign up at https://fingerlakesrunners.org/race/forge-the-gorgeous-2022. Online registration is required and is open until 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, the night before the race.

Friday, Aug. 12, will feature by the Perform 4 Purpose All-Stars starting at 6 p.m. They will be followed by Jim Van Arsdale and The Healers from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Food and beverage vendors and massage therapists will be on site.

On Saturday, be prepared for a day filled with clean, family fun. The gates open at 10 a.m. with a wide array of food, beverage and craft vendors, as well as massage therapists. The parade of bathtubs is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., to be followed by the national anthem at 11:45 a.m. and the races at noon. Pedal cars races, for youngsters 4 to 8 years old, will follow at 3 p.m. John Bunge and his Old Time Fiddlers will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. Capping off a day of fun will be a movie in the Fillmore Room at the park at 8 p.m.

For the enjoyment of families, a large area of lawn games will be available for children of all ages to test their skills against friends and neighbors. The Fillmore Days event is hosted by the Friends of Fillmore Glen to bring people from far and near to enjoy the beautiful setting of Fillmore Glen State Park in a relaxed, fun atmosphere.

There will be a $5 parking fee for the park, but admission to Fillmore Days is free, and donations will be gratefully accepted. Empire Passes will be accepted as well. New York state residents 62 or older may obtain free vehicle entry at state parks on non-holiday weekdays.

The bathtubs are back: After 20 years, Moravia reviving race tradition The return of a Moravia tradition next weekend will once again give new meaning to the term "good, clean fun."
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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- CATL and Yutong Group Co., Ltd. ("Yutong"), a Chinese commercial vehicle ("CV") manufacturer, signed a framework agreement on August 9 to forge a new ten-year strategic partnership, the power battery giant announced via its WeChat account.

Under the agreement, CATL and Yutong will share with each other their advantageous resources in bus, heavy-duty truck, light-duty truck, engineering machinery, sanitation vehicle, and other CV-related fields, and jointly bolster the innovative development and application of new materials and new technologies.

Besides, the duo will join hands to hammer out technical standards for CV batteries.

Photo credit: CATL

To realize the strategic goal of "vehicles and batteries going global together", the two companies will also team up on exploring overseas markets.

Prior to the latest move, CATL and Yutong have already conducted a decade-long cooperation since 2012. With their joint efforts to research and develop such technologies as electrical system upgrades, CTP (cell-to-pack) technology applications, and protection of battery system, they have contributed to boosting the electrification progress and technical upgrades for China's CV industry.

CATL said there had been 19GWh CATL's power batteries installed on nearly 150,000 new energy vehicles of Yutong, some of which were exported to over 40 countries and regions, including Qatar, France, the UK, and Spain. Through their partnership, more than 23 million tonnes of carbon emissions have already been reduced.
Police in Rio de Janeiro are seeking the arrest of six people accused of involvement in stealing 16 artworks together valued at more than 700 million reais ($139 million), some of which were recovered
Greek authorities say a major search and rescue operation is under way east of the island of Karpathos after a boat reportedly carrying dozens of migrants sank during the night
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein speaks in favor of protecting abortion access during a news conference at the North Carolina Department of Justice in Raleigh, N.C., on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Stein, an abortion rights supporter, has voluntarily recused himself from his office's appeal in a case that could reinstate a 20-week abortion ban.
FILE - Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., listens during a hearing on the fiscal year 2023 budget for the FBI in Washington, on May 25, 2022. Attorneys for Graham said in a court filing on July 13, he wasn't trying to interfere in Georgia's 2020 election when he called state officials to ask them to reexamine certain absentee ballots after President Donald Trump's narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 8, BYD Company Limited ("BYD") held a brand conference with REVER Automotive, a car dealer focusing on new energy vehicles ("NEVs"), to announce its official entry into Thailand's passenger vehicle ("PV") market.

Thailand's electric vehicle ("EV") market has witnessed an exploding expansion in recent years, said BYD. Nearly 30 automakers from different regions around the world have entered the Thai market, offering around 100,000 jobs to local people. The Thai government expects EVs to account for 30% of the country's total automobile output by 2030, wishing to build Thailand into an important NEV market in Southeast Asia. Both the market prospect and governmental support give BYD an unprecedented opportunity to enter the local EV market.

Photo credit: BYD

Liu Xueliang, General Manager of BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, said that BYD launched the first batch of full electric taxis in Thailand as far back as 2018, and it would bring more high-quality products to the Thai PV market by teaming up with its authorized dealer, REVER Automotive.

BYD will participate in the 39th Thailand International Motor Show to display more models.

Prior to the latest move, BYD has announced its foray into the PV markets of Japan, Germany, and Sweden.

Currently, BYD's NEV footprints have extended to over 400 cities and across 70 countries and regions on 6 continents.
"My story is about love. No, it's about loss. No, it's about love and loss and pain and loneliness. But it's funny". This line from James Ley's play is emblazoned over all the posters advertising Wilf. Which is not surprising since it's the perfect summary of an original and dark comedy, back at the Traverse after a successful run in December last year.

Its hero is Calvin, a man who we first meet in the middle of his 104th driving lesson. He has failed his test 11 times; when he is successful at his 12th attempt, it is down to his purchase of a car, called Wilf, with whom he gradually falls in love. We know it all turns to disaster because his story is punctuated with scenes in which shadowy figures in the luminous yellow coats of emergency workers are trying to rescue the driver from his car.

Calvin, as embodied with remarkable vigour and deep compassion by Michael Dylan, is himself a car wreck, abandoned by his mother who has gone to America to find God, and stuck in an abusive relationship with a man who uses a small set of steps more easily to pin Calvin against a wall. His driving instructor, Thelma, a "bisexual, polyamorous, former-psychotherapist" is tired of the fact that he has both nearly killed her three times, and has overshared 15,000 more.

When he passes his test, Calvin's life falls into freefall and we follow him on his journey of discovery, which takes him to Loch Lomond to the strains of "Bonnie Bonnie Tyler" and into the depths of despair and breakdown.

The story, funny and filthy and incredibly sad, is told with great panache. Becky Minto's set, which puts Wilf centre-stage, a stripped-down shell that can hold all Calvin's feelings, is a triumph, beautifully lit by Renny Robertson. Director Gareth Nicholls keeps things moving at incredible pace, much helped by movement direction from Emily Jane Boyle that sends Calvin spinning around the stage to power ballads  and to Car Wash.

As Thelma, a woman with her own backstory of disaster, Irene Allan is wonderfully wry and deliciously grounded, especially when battling with a vision of the Virgin Mary. Neil John Gibson fulfils the difficult task of differentiating all the men that Calvin encounters  and usually makes a pass at.

The happy-ish ending arrives a little too pat, but the road towards it is surprisingly satisfying, treating difficult subjects with a light touch while never minimising their pain.
Every year as summer approaches, Whitehall starts looking forward to Midway Colonys stand at the Farmers Market, with the experience that the assorted produce, eggs, and fryers will be fresh, and the canned goods a treat. Knowing that Don and Ted Wipf drive 240 miles from Conrad to bring their goods to Whitehall, only adds to the communitys appreciation.

Everything is seasonal. Throughout the summer shoppers can expect cucumbers, carrots, radishes, beets, onions, garlic, kohlrabi, peas, snap peas, new potatoes, three kinds of peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, and Brussels sprouts; watermelon, cantaloupe, blueberries, Rainier cherries, strawberries, and rhubarb. Some produce is frozen like shelled peas or canned like pickled vegetables, beets, snap peas, hamburger pickles, jalapenos, and tomato soup. Then there are baked bread and rolls, honey, eggs, and all-natural Hutterite frying chickens.

The Hutterites began coming down to Whitehalls Farmers Market about 30 years ago, also selling in Twin Bridges, when Ted and Don were part of the Miller Hutterite Colony. In 2008 Midway Colony was founded, as a division of Miller Colony, following the same growing and lifestyles. Midway also participates in Farmers Markets in Conrad and Boulder.

The question is - what sets Midways produce apart, guaranteeing that by the end of market day, the several tables laden with goods will almost be bare? The answer is quality and freshness.

What I think is that, simply, everything is fresh. What we bring this week, we wont bring the same produce next week, Ted Wipf said. In order to do that we need to have a large quantity.

With freshness, you get quality, added Don Wipf. We dont have waste. Anything we dont sell one week, the colony will can or use for themselves, and we also donate a lot to the food banks.

Their planting philosophy is to be as natural as it can be, using limited chemicals, fertilizer, and a combination of microbes, increasing the health of the soil.

If you have a healthy soil, you have a healthy plant, then what people eat will also be healthy because it has the nutrients, Ted said. And to get healthy microbes you have to feed the soil, just

like people taking vitamins.

Freshness is a product of the strict schedule followed by the colony.

Whatever is harvested at the beginning of the week is sold in Conrad and Boulder. The Whitehall and Twin Bridges produce is harvested Thursday afternoon or Friday and placed directly in a cooler.

We can start Thursday afternoon and be ready by noon on Friday. The truck is loaded by 5 p.m. Friday afternoon and we leave at 2:30 in the morning, Don said. We have a lot of help so we can do everything in two days. If we didnt have that kind of help wed have to start Monday to be ready for Friday.

The women of Midway Colony are the critical workforce behind what is anticipated at the Farmers Market, absolutely 100%, and this applies to all Hutterite colonies. Midway has 10 acres for crops and 40 able-bodied women. Those 45 years and older work in the packinghouse, cleaning, preparing, and taking produce to the canning facility. The younger women, 14 to 45 years, go out and pick. Each woman knows what her job will be each week and the following weeks. The women of the colony also contribute to poultry farming and their own housekeeping duties, along with cooking, baking, and food preservation.

Midway has 45,000 laying hens and 6,000 pigs; 300 pigs are sold every week. They also raise fryers and turkeys and sell beef cows on the hoof. The Farmers Market income is just a small portion of the overall colony income from the laying chickens and pigs, Ted said.

The men of the colony see to the livestock and each has a practical occupation, such as a plumber, blacksmith, mechanic, carpenter, and teacher, among others. We dont need to outsource anything, we can do it ourselves, Don said. When we created Midway Colony we did all the work ourselves.

The colony is 100% self-sustained and everything needed is on their 60 acres, including a centralized kitchen, rows of apartments, a church and dining hall and pig and chicken barns. Colonies learn from each other and help them out when necessary, allowing them to make improvements.

The first Hutterite colony began in 1535 in Moravia during the Reformation, later moving to Hungary, Romania, and Ukraine. In 1883 Hutterites migrated to the United States, settling in South Dakota, but left for Canada in 1918, because of the Selective Service Act, returning in 1948 to Montana. Today there are 50 to 60 colonies in Montana.

Ted and Don Wipf live for the good of the colony. Whats important to me is that I do my job for the colony, that I am a good steward and really, I dont want to be known for anything as an individual, Ted said. We look at it as a Christian-based entity rather than a self-based entity and we take care of our elders; no one goes to a home.

I want to do right and live right with God and have him in my heart, added Don. Thats what we live for, we live for the next life, not for this life.

Ted and Don Wipf stress that Midway Colony wants to give thanks and appreciation to the community.

Sometimes weve come down here and its raining. Weve got a whole truckload of produce and we wonder whos going to show up today.

Everythings all wet but the people soften their hearts and they come down, Ted said. Thats a great feeling  they support us in the rain, they support us in the snow. When the weathers not cooperative, theyre there as much as they are on a nice day.

Its a two-way street and this town makes it possible for us to come down here. Thats why we can come 240 miles because we have good support, Don said.

To get on the Midway Colony mailing list, get a card from Don Wipf or send him an email, that way, every week youll know what will await you at the Farmers Market.

For more information: don@midwaycolony.com
MONTREALTaboo passions return in The Stepfather 7, the newest installment of the series from gay banner Icon Male. The movie is available now through parent company Mile High Media.

Reigning AVN Director of the Year Ricky Greenwood oversees gay stars Dominic Pacifico, Nicholas Adams, Logan Aarons, Lance Charger, Zak Bishop, Draven Navarro and Joel Someone in the new release.
BROOMFIELD, Colo.Eldorado Trading Company, the award-winning international distributor of adult toys, party supplies and lingerie, has released a new digital catalog based on the highly viewed Netflix show How to Build a Sex Room. In this series, interior designer Melanie Rose, referred to as the Mary Poppins of sex rooms, meets with homeowners who want to spice up their sex lives with rooms filled with specialty furniture and other decor designed to fulfill fantasies and fetishes.

We decided to highlight a selection of products to show a wide range of variety. With the growing popularity of How to Build a Sex Room, there is an increasing chance that consumers might visit their local retail stores, and ask for products that they have seen on the show," explained Eldorado marketing strategist Jamie Newmark. "Stores that stock these popular products will be able to educate their customers beyond 'as seen on TV' fundamentals, which is a great way to build customer loyalty.

Eldorado stocks over 50 pleasure products featured in the eight-episode unscripted reality series. Sixteen products were selected to be promoted throughout Eldorados August marketing efforts. As the industrys only Colorado-based distributor, Eldorado feels a special affinity with the R-rated show. The first season was shot last year in Denver by a local production company, and all the show guests are from the metro area.

Along with the specially created digital catalog, promotional product graphics can be found on Eldorados August Facebook cover, social media posts shared throughout the month of August, and in ads throughout JRLCharts.com. The digital catalog will also be available on the Eldorado page of the StorErotica website.



For more information about the "As Seen on TV: How to Build a Sex Room" digital catalog, click here.

For more information about Eldorado, call (800) 525-0848 or visit eldorado.net.
British singer and performer Darius Campbell Danesh has died at age 41. His family said Tuesday that he was found unresponsive in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota, on Aug. 11 and pronounced dead by the local medical examiners office. The family says the cause of death hasn't been determined. Campbell Danesh shot to fame in 2001 on the reality-talent show Pop Idol" and topped British music charts the following year with his single Colourblind. He went on to a successful career in stage musicals, with roles in productions of Chicago, Guys and Dolls and Gone With the Wind. In 2010, he won another reality show, Popstar to Operastar.
WHITEHALL - In World War II, the most hazardous service in the U.S. military wasn't the Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard; it was the Merchant Marine. But for decades, Merchant Marine veterans like 105-year-old Reynolds Tomter of Pigeon Falls weren't eligible for the same benefits and recognition as those who served in the other branches.

Tomter's country made amends Monday. Friends, family and fellow military personnel filled the 500-seat Whitehall High School auditorium to near capacity as Tomter accepted his World War II Congressional Gold Medal from U.S. Rep. Ron Kind.

"These rewards are never too late," a beaming Tomter said after the ceremony, which was moved from Pigeon Falls to accommodate the anticipated audience.

Members of the Merchant Marine were denied veterans status until 1988, and it wasn't until 2020 when the Congressional Gold Medal Act to honor their service was signed by President Donald Trump. The lack of recognition lingered even though Tomter and his fellow mariners executed the greatest sea lift in the history of the United States.

It was hazardous duty. One in 26 mariners who served in the Merchant Marine was killed during World War II  the highest fatality rate of any branch of military service.

"They stepped up at a time when we needed them, and some gave all," said Tomter's son, Bud, who traveled from his home in Georgia and delivered the invocation.

Capt. Chris Edyvean of American Merchant Marine Veterans said the Merchant Marine played an indispensable role in ferrying supplies and troops around the globe to defeat Germany and Japan. He described mariners and their ships as "sitting ducks," especially in the Atlantic Ocean where German U-boats relentlessly stalked Allied shipping. More than 700 American cargo ships were sunk, and over 8,000 Merchant Marine service members lost their lives. In addition, more than 11,000 were wounded, and 600 were taken as prisoners of war.

But the Axis powers couldn't keep America from supplying the war effort. During the last year of the war, Merchant Marine vessels were delivering 8,500 tons of cargo per hour.

"The Merchant Marine played a pivotal role in helping the Allies rebound and ultimately win World War II," Edyvean said.

Tomter joined the Merchant Marine March 7, 1943. He sailed six missions across the Atlantic to France and Italy. The trips took over two weeks, and it took another two weeks to unload the cargo. He was assigned to the ship's mess hall, where his duties included baking up to three dozen loaves of bread per day  without the benefit of a mixer.

"You had to do everything by hand," he said. "They let you know if the food was OK."

Because Tomter wasn't a deck hand, he stayed "down under" 90% of the time. He said he didn't mind the duty down below but welcomed the sunshine and fresh air when the ship docked.

He was prepared for duty on deck, if necessary.

"I was trained to be a machine gunner in case of a breakdown," he said.

Tomter's Merchant Marine service also prepared him for his post-military career, according to one of his friends.

"Reynolds thought he might be able to make a little money, so he bought cigarettes in the states, took them to Europe and sold them, and he made a little profit," retired Air Force Lt. Col. Roy Aanerud told the audience. "This little business got Reynolds interested in sales."

Aanerud said it wasn't a coincidence that Tomter owned and operated a general store in Pigeon Falls after he returned home from the war.

America wasn't the only country that honored Tomter Monday. Captian Egil Vasstrand traveled from the Norwegian embassy in Washington, D.C. to give Tomter the Norwegian Liberation Medal. The medal was created in 2020 on the 75th anniversary of Norway's liberation from German occupation to honor veterans who aided Norway during the war.

Tomter also received the Convoy Cup, a joint Nova Scotian and Norwegian organization that strives to "perpetuate the memory of the courageous men and women" who sailed in World War II convoys.

Vasstrand said his country will always be grateful to those who risked their lives to deliver the soldiers and cargo that liberated Europe from Nazi rule.

"They were all tasked with dangerous jobs of carrying supplies across the U-boat-infested Atlantic, where torpedoing was notorious," he said. "No medal can compensate for the hardship, the anxiety and the horrors that sailors in the Merchant Marine lived through during the war."

Tomter, who left behind a wife and daughter in Wisconsin after joining the Merchant Marine, said he appreciated the honors and all those who attended the ceremony.

"Not getting recognized until 1988, that hurt a little bit  I can't help but say that  but it's never too late. I'm very happy," he said.
Tuesday evening, unofficial primary results trickled in for three elections in the Winona area: At-Large Winona Area Public Schools board members, Winona County auditor/treasurer, and District Two Winona County Commissioner.

In a race that will result in November with two WAPS at-large members elected, current board members Nancy Denzer and Karl Sonneman led the way in the primarys unofficial results.

Denzer received 3,106 of the 9,223 votes cast  with voters being able to cast votes for two candidates each in this race  totaling 33.68% of the overall votes, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State websites unofficial results.

Denzer ended up with the most votes in the vast majority precincts  with the exceptions including Norton Township, Warren Township, Winonas fourth ward in the first precinct, Hart Township and Winonas second ward in the third precinct.

Sonneman received the second most votes, with 2,194 votes or 23.79%.

Maurella L. Cunningham ended up with the third most votes, receiving 1,913 votes or 20.74%, according to the unofficial election results.

With the fourth most votes, Torry Moore ended the evening with 1,159 votes or 12.57%.

Anthony Alwan received 851 votes or 9.23%.

Denzer, Sonneman, Cunningham and Moore will face off in November during the general election for the two positions on the board.

As for Winona Countys auditor/treasurer primary election, Chelsi Wilbright (Nahrgang) saw success Tuesday evening, as she received the highest number of votes.

Wilbright received 3,478 votes  52.28% of the 6,653 votes cast in the county, according to the unofficial results.

Wilbright received the most votes or tied for the most in almost every precinct in Winona County  with exceptions including Altura, Rollingstone, and Mount Vernon Township.

Wilbright is expected to face off in November against John A. Eger, who received 1,636 votes or 24.59% of the total votes.

Gabe Vargas followed close behind Eger, as Vargas ended up with 1,539 votes or 23.13%, according to the unofficial results.

For the District 2 Winona County Commissioner position, Dwayne Voegeli was the top vote receiver.

Voegeli received 889 votes in total  57.92% of the districts 1,535 votes cast  according to the unofficial results.

Voegeli received the most votes in every precinct where this race was on the ballot  six precincts in total.

Jerry Obieglo took home the second most votes, landing him an expected spot on the November ballot against Voegeli.

Obieglo received 480 votes, equaling 31.27% of the districts votes, according to the unofficial results.

Todd Frahm followed with 10.81% of the votes cast  totaling 166.
COLOMBIASvakom was on hand at the LALExpo in Colombia, sponsoring the award ceremony where it was nominated for Best Innovative Toys of the Year.

After delays, LALExpo went forward in late July in Colombia. Svakom sent Iker Perez to showcase Svakom products and represent the brand.

Said Perez, "This edition of LALExpo had over 6,000 attendees, lots of them coming from the camming industry. It was an honor being there, and I have to say people loved the Svakom tote bag, we were handing them out constantly. Its impressive how quickly they set everything up after the previous delays and changes. Phoenix Neo proved very popularwhich we expected, Phoenix Neo is an excellent toy for cammingthe passionate design and bold light really make the audience feel part of the show.

Throughout the exhibition, Svakom demonstrated the capabilities of its Connexion Series, highlighting the long-distance control and interactive capabilities. Each product in the Connexion Series contains the Neo moniker, showcasing their ability to sync with cam platforms for a closer connection with viewers.

Alongside attending, Svakom provided sponsorship for the award ceremonythis time held simultaneously with the exhibition.

Said Perez, "We were there to provide drinks to everyone in attendance, in total I believe we gave out over 2,000 drinks. The cocktails were gorgeous, bright, colorful, a lot of people were excited to try themand thankfully they tasted great as well! I had an amazing time, speaking with all the professionals within the camming industry and seeing how excited they get looking at the toys. These exhibitions really do shine a light on how positive and how fun people in the industry areeveryone wants to be friends and get to know one another."

While Svakom did not claim Best Innovative Toys title for which it was nominated, the company expresses gratitude for the nomination alone.

"Sexuality and masturbation are still seen as taboo to a lot of people, and its a shame," commented a Svakom rep. "We have always held the stance that all things sex are a human necessityone that is unfortunately neglected due to shame and fear. Sex should be talked about openly, and sex toys should be a staple product in any home, everyone deserves the right to learn more about themselves, and fulfill their desires. LALExpo provided a backdrop for attendees to openly discuss what their interests are, and what they are looking for in the market. We are happy to hear it will continue but cannot help but feel a farewell is in order to the events which took place in Colombia."

For more information, visit Svakom.com and follow the company on Twitter.
Unofficial results Tuesday night showed 516 no to 328 yes votes on the following question: Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Town of Beaver Dam for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2023, is limited to 0.75%, which results in a levy of $520,870. Shall the Town of Beaver Dam be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2023, for the purpose of covering the increased costs for rural fire, rescue, and emergency medical service provided through the contractual agreement between the City of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and the Beaver Dam Community Fire and Rescue Association, for the purpose of providing a central location of firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical service equipment, and all other matters involved; as well as for accomplishing critical road maintenance projects; by a total of 76.795%, which results in a levy of $920,870, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $400,000 for each fiscal year going forward?
Two new Juneau County officials were all but elected to their positions on Tuesday night.

Andrew Zobal, who currently serves as Undersheriff in the Juneau County Sheriffs Office to longtime Sheriff Brent Oleson, defeated challenger Steven Johnson by nearly a 2-to-1 margin to succeed Oleson. Alecia Pellegrini-Kast is currently the Small Claims clerk in the county, but won the primary in a close race against Terry Reynolds for Clerk of Circuit Court.

Both elections were Republican primaries and all Democratic votes were scattering with no official candidates, which all but guarantees Zobal and Pellegrini-Kast will be elected to their positions in November.

Zobal received 2,707 votes, while Johnson got 1,357 in the sheriff race. There were 138 scattering votes, 125 of which were Democratic. Pellegrini-Kast nearly doubled up Reynolds in Mauston, which lifted her over the top with 314 of her 1,976 total votes. Reynolds got 1,817 votes and 115 were scattering, including 91 Democratic.

In the statewide election, Tim Michels, the Republican nominee for governor, also carried the county in the partys primary. Michels earned 1,972 votes, while his primary challenger, former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, got 1,358. The other three Republican challengers, Kevin Nicholson, Timothy Ramthun, and Adam Fischer, combined for 736.

Michels will challenge incumbent Tony Evers in the general election in November.

Roger Roth, the 19th District State Senator from the Fox Valley region, is the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, but did not carry Juneau County. Patrick Testin, the 24th District State Senator from central Wisconsin, won the county with 771 votes. Cindy Werner took second with 728 votes, while Roth finished third with 508. Jonathan Wichmann finished fourth with 507.

Sara Rodriguez, the 13th District State Assemblywoman from the suburban Milwaukee area, easily won the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor and carried the partys vote in the county with 1,001 votes.

Eric Toney may have won the statewide Republican primary in the attorney general race to challenge Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul, but Karen Mueller won a tight race in the county. Mueller received 1,314 votes, while Toney got 1,113 and Adam Jarchow earned 1,097.

Amy Lynn Loudenbeck, the Republican nominee against Democratic incumbent Doug La Follette in the Secretary of State race, also carried the county in a close race against Jay Schroeder. Loudenbeck received 1,540 votes to Schroeders 1,424. La Follette more than doubled up challenger Alexia Sabor with an 892-410 margin in the Democratic primary.

The state treasurer race was open with Sarah Godlewski stepping down to pursue a Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, which was won by current Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

On the Democratic side, Aaron Richardson carried the county with 562 votes, while Gillian Battino received 419 and Angelito Tenorio got 260. For the GOP, John Leiber easily defeated Orlando Owens with a margin of 2,141-1,197.

Barnes easily defeated seven other Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate nomination in the county with 1,029 votes, following suit with the state overall. He will face Republican incumbent Ron Johnson in November.

Brad Pfaff may have won the Democratic nomination to face Republican Derrick Van Orden for the 3rd U.S. Congress District seat, but Rebecca Cooke carried Juneau County with 365 votes. Pfaff came in second with 267.

7th U.S. Congress District Rep. Tom Tiffany easily defeated David Kunelius II in the Republican primary in the county and in the state 843-170. Tiffany will be challenged by Democrat Richard Ausman in November.

Incumbent 17th District State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) will defend his seat against Democratic challenger Pat Skogen in the general election. 50th District Assemblyman Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) will look to fend off Democrat Michael Leuth in November as well.
Village employees in Lake Delton will now have the ability to opt in to disability insurance for needed time off from work due to medical reasons.

At a village board meeting on Aug. 8, the board unanimously approved a resolution for including village workers under the Income Continuation Insurance plan via the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. This will allow village employees the option of having disability insurance.

Village Administrator Tim McCumber explained at the meeting that employees will have options for coverage ranging from 30 to 180 days of missed work. The plan will also extend to family members of village employees.

It is a wonderful program to offer our staff, said village trustee Tom Diehl.

It is straight up, across the board, true disability insurance, said McCumber. It pays for all disabilities and is really a good benefit.

The current Income Continuation Insurance is under a premium holiday, which means that employers and employees are receiving the coverage for free. McCumber explained that when the premium holiday is lifted, the village would be responsible for 0.25% of the cost for each employee who enrolls.

He and village president John Webb clarified that the maximum cost to the village, if 100% of employees enrolled, would be less than $9,000. McCumber said the coverage will pay 75% of an employees total salary during the time it is active.

Using the states plan, where we buy our insurance, employees can now opt in, pay a premium, and if they need it for long-term disability, it pays that time off, said McCumber.

Comprehensive plan adopted

The village also unanimously approved a 20-year comprehensive plan at the Aug. 8 meeting.

Based on results from a small group of survey respondents, village residents want to address aesthetics and walkability along Wisconsin Dells Parkway, village parks, trail networks, the lack of single- and two-family homes, the need for a grocery store, and a shortage of youth and teen programs.

In the village, its nice because we do more of our own (comprehensive plan), but in the rural areas, the county handles it for them, said McCumber. Its kind of looking into the crystal ball and saying, What do we think will be here in the next 20 years?

Residential concerns, along with a litany of plans to improve agricultural, cultural, and natural resources, as well as utilities and other facilities, intergovernmental relationships with nearby municipalities, as well as county and state government, economic development, housing, transportation, and land use were all addressed in the plan.

The purpose of it is to make sure municipalities are going through the process of trying to understand where youre going to be 20 years out and what the needs are going to be, said Diehl. I think that helps formulate DOT (Wisconsin Department of Transportation) policy and everything else.

Diehl and McCumber both said that while the plan is for 20 years, it is likely to be amended from time to time. These changes can happen due to market reasons, technology, and community preferences.

The full comprehensive plan can be found on the villages website.

Mackesey construction decision

Kraus-Anderson Construction Company was unanimously approved for a construction management contract for the upcoming renovations to the Kay C. Mackesey Administration Building. The initial amount for the contract is $208,000.

During a village meeting on July 11, the board discussed early plans for renovations to the building, particularly to make use of the now vacant former police station. The Lake Delton Police Department moved to its new facility on Miller Drive in June.

Lake Delton in early planning stages for Mackesey building renovations The initial cost projection of the renovations is around $2 million for structural and interior changes. The building is 31 years old and needs updates, according to village officials.
In the closest election he has ever faced in state politics, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos staved off a challenge from the right in the form of Adam Steen.
According to court documents, an Flagstaff police officer's testimony following a 2019 undercover investigation into several Flagstaff massage parlors might be self-incriminating.

The attorney for one defendant in the prostitution and sex-trafficking sting filed a motion to appoint counsel for Flagstaff Police Department Officer Dustin Eberhardt -- citing compelling evidence that he broke the law and, if allowed to speak on the stand, might admit to committing a class 5 felony.

The motion, filed in April of 2022, states that Eberhardt engaged in unlawful sexual conduct. The motion goes on to say that both the Constitution of the United States and the Arizona State Constitution forbid compelling self-incrimination. The document further argues Eberhardt should not be allowed to testify without legal representation.

The motion was put forward by attorney Jack Litwak, who represented Yan Li, who was connected with AAA Massage. AAA Massage was indicted in March of 2020 for illegally conducting an enterprise, money laundering in the second degree, and operating/maintaining a house of prostitution or prostitution enterprise. Lis case has since been thrown out.

The statue Litwak noted -- Arizona Revised Statute 13-1412 -- says peace officers can break the law by knowingly engaging in sexual contact, oral sexual contact or sexual intercourse with any person who is in the officer's custody or a person who the officer knows or has reason to know is the subject of an investigation.

The memorandum says Eberhardt allowed a masseuse, the subject of his investigation, to masturbate him manually.

In a video deposition obtained by the Arizona Daily Sun, Eberhardt talked to Litwak and confirmed the details of the encounter.

So once she started doing that, I got aroused and I immediately started asking about the money and how much. ... Ive never done one of these, so I was fairly nervous and didnt know where to stop it, Eberhardt says in the video.

Critics say the situation Eberhardt found himself in felt inevitable. In a video deposition in April, Eberhardt told attorneys he had no specific training on sex trafficking, other than training received at the Arizona Narcotic Officers Association conference. Officer Clint Hill, who was also involved in investigating AAA Massage and the other parlors, said training was just four hours long.

Obviously the officer went in there to solicit sex from this girl. We know that his intent was to cause her to make some overtures or agree to overtures to prostitution or sex, longtime Flagstaff attorney Lee Phillips said. No one is going to believe that this woman sexually assaulted the officer. That would be a hard sell.

The City of Flagstaff and FPD maintain Eberhardt and fellow officers actions during the AAA investigation were not illegal.

Sexual contact was initiated by the person providing the massage and the contact was terminated by the officer when it was determined to be of an overtly sexual nature, according to a joint statement released by the city and the police department.

Whether the officer initiated sexual contact might be beside the point in this case; consent is not a legal defense for peace officers in Arizona, Phillips said.

Prior to 2015, a detention officer or a police officer could almost guarantee not to be prosecuted, because they could argue that it was consensual. That was a major change to the law," he said. "You cannot consent if youre a prisoner or if youre a subject of an investigation.

Phillips defended one of the four people accused of operating two of the eight massage parlors investigated by Flagstaff police in 2019. He got involved with the case after handling two high-profile cases in Mohave County. Philips represented a woman who was sexually assaulted by a correctional officer, and a defendant in a massage parlor investigation in which the Department of Homeland Security utilized similar undercover tactics.

Phillips was the attorney for Yan Hua Liang, who lives in California and was working in Oregon when the investigation took place.

According to Phillips, Liang had applied for the business license for Angel Massage Parlor several years before the investigation happened.

He was identified as a main operator by Officer Hill. He hadnt been in the state for years ... there was no evidence. No one ever claimed or testified that he was present when this activity was occurring, Phillips said.

Liangs case was also thrown out.

Its hard to imagine how anyone thought this was a good idea. How would Homeland Security try to dump this off on the local police? How would anybody in the chain of command think this was a good idea? How would the county attorneys office ever issue serious felony charges knowing what these officers did runs afoul of most peoples understanding of what law enforcement is supposed to do? Phillips said.

The Daily Sun reached out to the county attorneys office and Homeland Security for comment and did not receive a reply as of press time.

At the time of the investigation, Kevin Treadway was still the FPD acting chief of police -- he retired after a more than three-decade-long career in 2020.

The current police chief, Dan Musselman, has been placed on a temporary, nondisciplinary leave. According to a brief statement issued by the City Managers Office last week, a third-party consultant will be reviewing the protocols and procedures that were followed during the operation  the review is not being conducted as an investigation of individual officers involved in this particular operation.

At this point, none of the officers involved are facing any criminal charges.
FUSD has continued making its flood mitigation plans in preparation for the first day of school.

While flooding has impacted the area around Sechrist Elementary in the past few weeks, the response has been largely focused on clean-up and recovery, district superintendent Michael Penca said, as students and staff were not in the building.

With the first day of school set for Wednesday, however, he said plans have to pivot to different scenarios."

In a letter sent to families Tuesday afternoon, the district confirmed that Sechrist Elementary will be put into a shelter-in-place status should flooding occur while school is in session.

The emergency operations plans already in place at the district include shelter-in-place procedures, Penca said, which can be used in the event of a flood. Basically, this means people wont be able to come in or out of the school while shelter in place is in effect.

In the event of flooding, the district plans to keep students at Sechrist until flooding has subsided and Highway 180, the road directly in front of the school, has reopened.

"[We] understand that families arent going to be able to pick up their kids from school because of the traffic and we dont want to release any of the students who walk in the neighborhood out into areas that may be flooding, so we believe it's safer to just shelter in place at the school until the flood waters subside," Penca said.

The shelter in place would be triggered if Highway 180 closes, he said, adding that the district would also use on-site observers, local rain events and nearby flooding to make the decision.

The decision to begin allowing students to go home with their families will be based on communications with community partners, including the city, flood district and any emergency personnel who are responding.

Communication would be sent to Sechrist families to alert them of the shelter in place and let them know the new release time.

The email notes that the schools front entrance is expected to be flooded, so students will be sent to the schools side entrances based on grade level. Students in kindergarten through second grade will be sent to the east gym door for pick-up while those in third through fifth grade will use the west end bus loop.

Students needing to take a bus in or out of an affected area will similarly be asked to remain at the school they are in. Alternate arrangements could involve delayed busing or busing to a different site. Communications with more details relating to that specific event and location would also be sent to families.

Penca said traffic in the area around the school should not be impacted, as the district is asking families to wait to pick up their children until the shelter in place is removed.

What we want from our families with that communication is to understand that your children will be safe in the school and then wait until we send that next communication that says its safe, the roads are now open, were starting that reunification process," he said. "People wouldnt be able to drive to get to the school and we wouldnt want people to be walking through floodwaters.

While the students are sheltering in place, they will be continuing school activities as much as possible. Should an event last longer than the typical school day, Penca said, they would be given options for different activities to do, similar to an indoor recess. School staff would also communicate with them about the shelter in place and new release time.

We also want to respond to their emotional needs during that time, he said. Weve got an amazing staff at Sechrist Elementary and theyre going to know their kids the best, so Im confident theyll do that well.

The district has been working with food service to prepare snacks and meal kits in the event of an unexpectedly long shelter-in-place order and is working with medical staff to ensure needed medications are also taken care of.

Penca said water has not come into the school building, and he doesn't expect it, as it would take a much more significant event than what weve seen.

We have not seen any water with the events weve had so far. Its mainly the closure of the main and really only traffic corridor next to the school. ...If we were experiencing water in the building, obviously wed move to places in the building where there wasnt water or we would implement an evacuation," he said.

The flooding also hasnt affected preparations for the start of the school year at Sechrist. Staff at the school reviewed the procedures on Monday and gave input on the plans.

The front parking lot has been flooded several times this summer, and the district has responded by bringing staff on-site to clear the debris. The district has partners and contractors with equipment for this kind of work on standby to respond to any flooding events. Clearing out the mud and debris can take almost a full day, Penca said.

The district wont be putting up more sandbags, however, and they wont be closing the parking lot.

Were not able to build sandbag walls around the school, Penca said. We have to have egress in and out of that parking lot. We cant impede the flow of the water that could have impacts on other parts of the community, so weve got sandbags up to prevent water from coming into the school and at the entrances."

The email asked families not to move the sandbags in front of the school, as they are diverting the water from entering the school."

Penca said FUSD is not planning to make a specific flood response plan for the district, as it is able to adapt existing plans in response to a variety of situations.

Weve had emergency operations plans in place for fire, all different kinds of scenarios and we review those continually. Any new event is an opportunity to learn something new and we take time for after-action reviews," he said.

As an example, he said the principal at Killip Elementary, which experienced flooding last year, had met with Sechrist staff to discuss takeaways from that event and how to take care of people as they experience these situations.

Overall, he said, the district was ready for the first day of school.

Were excited for our first day of school at FUSD, he said. We have plans in place and well be able to respond when we need to. I think weve had a lot of that in the last couple years and we appreciate the trust and confidence that our families have in us and we will continue to engage them with good communication, Penca said

In these events, we will just ask that they wait out that time until we give that next communication that its safe for them and for their children to start that reunification process and its really likely to be impossible to even get to the school because of the closure or the road. Just follow the communications and directions that will be coming from the school district.

Sechrist families with questions should call the school office at (928) 773-4020.
Charleston is a large city situated in Charleston County in the US State of South Carolina. The 1670-founded port city is known for its horse-drawn carriages, pastel antebellum homes, and cobblestone walkways. Although Charleston is renowned for its romantic appeal, the world-class dining, shopping, and natural beauty are what draw people to this all-around charming city.

Geography And Climate Of Charleston

Aerial view of Charleston, South Carolina.

Charleston is the principal city in the Charleston-North Charleston metropolitan area. It is also an important port on the Atlantic coast, an important historical site for Southern culture, and the center of a significant urbanized region that also includes Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, and Hanahan. Charleston covers a total area of 349.92 sq. km, of which 297.24 sq. km is occupied by land, and 52.68 sq. km is covered by water. There are six separate districts in the city proper of Charleston: Downtown, West Ashley, Johns Island, James Island, Cainhoy Peninsula, and Daniel Island. The city is located on a peninsula that faces the picturesque deep-water Charleston Harbor and is wedged between the estuaries of the Ashley and Cooper rivers. Apart from its entrance, Charleston Harbor is bordered on all sides and extends roughly 11 km southeast to the Atlantic. The harbor's average width is around 3.2 km.

According to the Koppen climate classification, Charleston experiences a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot and humid summers and mild winters, with fog and rainy days almost all year long. July and January record the highest (28C) and lowest (10C) average temperatures, respectively. A significant part of the annual rainfall is received as thundershowers by the city from June to September. Freezing rain is quite common in Charleston during the winter months.

Brief History Of Charleston

The historic Exchange and Provost Dungeon in Charleston, South Carolina.

Early in the seventeenth century, Charleston is claimed to have been given as a gift to the devoted followers of King Charles II of England. More than 150 English colonists, their servants, and slaves arrived in what is now Charleston harbor in the spring of 1670. Pious supporters of King Charles II had a vision of "Charles Town," a regal port city bearing the king's name, and within a few days, colonists and slaves from all over Europe began to swarm to this town. Charles Town, however, experienced several riots and was frequently attacked. Following the city's siege by pirates, numerous additional uprisings occurred. Charles Town quickly grew to be the fourth largest colony, as things began to improve in 1750 when it started to serve as a commerce hub for southern colonies. Later, the name was changed to Charlestown, and in 1782, the city got officially reincorporated as Charleston.

The Population And Economy of Charleston

Colorful and well-preserved historic colonial style buildings in Charleston Downtown District. Editorial credit: f11photo / Shutterstock.com

As per the latest US Census, Charleston has a population of 150,227 residents, where 53.1% are females and 46.9% are males. The city's racial makeup is 71.4% white (non-Hispanic/Latino), 20.8% African-American or Black, and 3.6% Hispanic or Latino. The remaining population is distributed among Asians, Native Americans, and other races. English is spoken by 93.8% of the population. The rest speak Spanish (2.6%), Indo-European languages (2%), Asian and Pacific Islander languages (1.3%), and other foreign languages (0.3%). Only 53.5% of the population in Charleston are naturalized US citizens. And veterans make up 8% of Charleston's population, of which 90.2% are males, and 9.8% are females. As per the same Census, 63.7% of the population are employed, with a poverty rate of 12.6%. The homeownership rate in Charleston is 55.4%, where the median gross rent cost is $1,318 per month, with a median household income of $72,071.

Attractions In And Around Charleston

Variety Of Parks

Charleston, South Carolina, at Waterfront Park.

Charleston's parks are among the nation's most scenic and beautiful parks. Visit a festival in Brittlebank Park, observe the sunset in Charleston Waterfront Park, or check out James Island County Park for a ton of fun family activities. There are several picturesque picnic spots across Charleston's parks that are also lovely and intriguing.

Museums

Facade of the Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. Image Credit: Brian Stansberry via Wikimedia Commons

If you are a big fan of art, you'll be delighted to visit the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. You can also visit the City Gallery at Waterfront Park for even more art, which offers a wide variety of selections. If science is more your thing, visit the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History to see thousands of incredible fossils.

Stunning Beaches

Residents and tourists flock to the Atlantic Ocean at Folly Beach near Charleston, South Carolina. Editorial credit: Cvandyke / Shutterstock.com

Charleston offers a lot of options if you enjoy sunbathing and surfing. Folly Beach is one of the best-loved selections, but there are loads of other options out there for you. These are a couple of other beaches in the Charleston area you may want to check out: Sullivan Island, Edwards Beach, Bull Island, Isle of Palms, and Kiawah Island.
Natural gas is one of the most important resources used throughout industries and households across the globe. Being the least polluting fossil fuel currently used for energy, natural gas has an extensive global market; it is used eminently for producing electricity, powering cars, and cooking. Surprisingly, this reliance has only come up in the past 200 years. This is because while this fossil fuel was most likely first mentioned in 900 BC in China, it was only truly used commercially as a fuel in 1785 in Britain. Since then, the odorless and colorless gas has been established immensely in infrastructure, production, and consumption.

The world's largest natural gas field globally is the South Pars/North Dome field, located in Iran and Qatar; it contains an immense 51 trillion cubic meters of recoverable reserves. And in terms of the total reserves by country, Russia has the most proven reserves of approximately 48 trillion cubic meters of natural gas.

With the increasing consumption rate, experts predict that natural gas levels could reach depletion within the next 100 years. While the pandemic and recent political conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have led to a drop in global supply, it is predicted that production will reach previous highs by the end of 2022. Now, let's look at the global natural gas production by country.

1. United States of America - 934.2 billion cubic meters

A Natural Gas Tank in Wyoming, USA

Although the United States may not hold the largest reserve of natural gas in the world, it is by far the largest producer of natural gas globally. While production dropped by 1.9% in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the U.S managed to produce an astonishing 934.2 bcm in 2021, which accounts for more than 23% of global production. That being said, they are also at the top of global consumption charts due to the country's significant heating and energy requirements.

2. Russia - 701.7 billion cubic meters

Russian Natural Gas Plant in Tyumen, Russia

While being struck by the pandemic and recent conflicts with Ukraine, Russia holds a commanding spot with 17% of global production and the largest known reserves. In 2021, the country produced 701.7 bcm of natural gas and was also the largest exporter, with the European Union being one of its largest customers. However, with most of their connecting pipelines going through Ukraine and the EU vowing to reduce Russian reliance, the country has seen a massive drop in exports and may drop in production soon. Russia has also faced many disagreements over the past two decades with the Ukrainian government and companies, which has led to disruptions and financial losses to their gas exports.

3. Iran - 256.7 billion cubic meters

The Flag of Iran, the World's Third Largest Producer of Natural Gas

Thanks to large proven reserves and an immense capacity, Iran's government has recently taken an aggressive stance on natural gas and has come up to third place in global production over the past few years. While U.S. sanctions have proven to be a hurdle, the current president, Ebrahim Raisi, has declared plans to utilize their 41 trillion cubic meter reserves and further increase their output by 130 million cubic m/d in 2022. Due to this, Iran has also invested heavily in additional plants and has become a global leader in gas production.

4. China - 209.2 billion cubic meters

Natural Gas Tanks in Shanghai, China

Recent developments in China, such as the discovery of the Fuling Shale Gas Field, have boosted China's production and reserves up by impressive numbers in the past decade. This new field has more than 400 wells and aims to produce 42 bcm within 2023 alone. This has brought up China's total production to 209.2 billion cubic meters, but, surprisingly, the nation is still one of the world's largest natural gas importers. This is due to immense growth in consumption over the past decade and an increase of 13% in 2021, bringing the yearly consumption to 378.7 bcm. To tackle this, the country has developed plans with Russia, Myanmar, and other countries to increase imports over the past few years. Also, with further plans to increase natural gas dependence, China has introduced subsidies and benefits to companies in an effort to boost local production.

5. Qatar - 177 billion cubic meters

A Natural Gas Production Plant in Doha, Qatar

With the sudden drop in Russian natural gas export quantities due to political situations, Qatar is one nation that has taken complete advantage of the situation. This is due to many European countries looking for non-Russian gas suppliers to which Qatar, with the third largest proven natural gas reserves, has provided a solution. Moreover, with Qatargas being the world's largest liquefied natural gas, Qatar has immense potential to tap into its 23 trillion+ cubic meter reserves.

6. Canada - 172.3 billion cubic meters

A Natural Gas Pump in Canada

The second largest country in the world and one known for its peaceful environment and picturesque winters, Canada is just behind Qatar in natural gas production. With the primary gas fields located in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, the country holds 1% of global reserves and is also one of the largest exporters. Surprisingly, even with 38% of its energy demand met using natural gas and a continuous increase in yearly consumption, Canada has maintained a significant infrastructure for both local consumption and global exports.

7. Australia - 147.2 billion cubic meters

Gas Tanker in the Northern Territory in Australia

While the continent island of Australia may be secluded in the physical sense, in terms of natural gas, the nation is well connected as one of the largest global exporters. However, while having a robust infrastructure set up, recent developments such as extreme weather and political events have led to a gas shortage in Australian supply. This has pressured the country to curb exports to meet the 40 billion (approx.) billion cubic meters of natural gas consumed locally.

8. Saudi Arabia - 117.3 billion cubic meters

Oil Pipes Passing From Saudi Arabia to Bahrain

Besides being one of the global leaders in oil production, Saudia Arabia also holds the 8th spot for global natural gas production, with 117.3 bcm produced annually. The nation is also on a rising production rate with five new natural gas fields being discovered in the past year and plans to increase its gas infrastructure immensely. This is led by large regional companies, such as Saudi Aramco, which has recently awarded contracts for developing a massive $110 billion gas field in the Jafurah Basin. Surprisingly, Saudi Arabia has zero imports and exports as of 2022 but plans to begin trade of natural gas by 2030.

9. Norway - 114.3 billion cubic meters

A Natural Gas Pipeline with the Nowergian Flag

Norway is Europe's second-largest natural gas provider producing 114.3 bcm in 2021, out of which the majority is exported to Europe and other nations. The country is also set to increase exports due to European countries waning off Russian gas imports due to the ongoing condition with Ukraine. Norway itself, however, only accounts for 0.1% of global consumption. Due to this, the Norwegian economy is highly reliant on its natural gas exports which accounted for 60% of the nation's total good exports in 2021. Although, the country has also faced issues with oil and gas workers facing multiple strikes that led to a 5% increase in European natural gas futures in July 2022.

10. Algeria - 100.8 billion cubic meters

A Gas Tank and the Algerian Flag

Following shortly behind Norway in 2021, Algeria is the world's 10th largest producer of natural gas, having produced 100.8 billion cubic meters last year. It is also just behind Norway in terms of European exports, being the third largest exporter to the EU. In 2019, the Algerian government faced significant protests, which led to the ushering of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and brought in many plans to increase and expand global exports and impact energy markets. Albeit, the government is facing limitations in terms of capital and infrastructure as the current pipeline infrastructure in 2022 limits transfer to Europe at 42 bcm per year.

As natural gas is a limited resource, there is only a specific limit to the amount that can be extracted and utilized for energy. Getting an exact estimate of the time we have left is quite tricky due to the unpredictability of consumption, production, and even the discovery of new reserves. For example, while Saudia Arabia's discovery of five new natural gas fields is a major boost to proven reserves, consumption has also rebounded an astounding 5.3% in 2021 following the pandemic. Thus, we are gradually leading to a situation wherein our known reserves will be depleted, leaving no options for the market. Some experts believe this could be as soon as 2060 with the current reserves. So, to avoid a situation where we diminish a vital commodity, it is essential to find alternatives and manage the consumption of natural gas and other fossil fuels.
Former President Donald Trump is expected to be deposed by lawyers from New York Attorney General Letitia James' office Wednesday. Evan Vucci/AP
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The family of Gabby Petito, seen here in a photo taken from her Instagram account, has submitted a $50 million claim against the Moab, Utah, Police Department for inadequate response to Brian Laundrie's abuse.
Grand jury declines to indict Carolyn Bryant Donham, the woman whose accusations led to the death of Emmett Till
Roman Catholic Pope Francis recent visit to Canada was an opportunity for the Church to apologise for its role in abuses at Canadian residential schools, writes Azza Radwan Sedky

This July, in an unprecedented and historic trip, Roman Catholic Pope Francis visited Canada to offer apology, seek forgiveness, and hope for healing and reconciliation for the Roman Catholic Churchs role in abuses that historically took place in Canadian residential schools.

Pope Francis called his visit to Canada a pilgrimage of penance. Over six days, he visited the provinces of Alberta and Quebec and the northern territory of Nunavut.

Pope Francis, frail and wheelchair bound, was determined to pursue the apology. He performed blessings and prayer services, sprinkled holy water on route to gatherings where devout followers awaited, delivered open-air masses to thousands, participated in the Lac St Ann Pilgrimage, and listened to songs, drumming, ululating, and the words of indigenous people.

More importantly, he also apologised for how Roman Catholic Church members had co-operated, not least through their indifference, in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation promoted by the governments of that time, which culminated in the system of residential schools.

Pope Francis repeated the plea on every stop he made and asked for forgiveness for the abuse of indigenous children at residential schools. I have come to your native lands to tell you in person of my sorrow, to implore Gods forgiveness, healing and reconciliation, to express my closeness and to pray with you and for you, he said.

On another occasion, he said I am sorry. I ask for forgiveness, in particularly for the ways in which many members of the church and religious communities co-operated in projects of cultural destruction and forced assimilation.

To go back a few decades, Canadas residential schools were mandatory and were run by the Canadian government and the Roman Catholic authorities. They were where indigenous children were forcibly taken from their parents under a shameful colonial policy.

Between 1863 and 1998, more than 150,000 indigenous children were taken from their parents arms in Canada and placed in schools that served as concentration colonies. Since the children were not allowed to speak their language or practise their culture, and many of them were mistreated and abused, it was a policy that amounted to cultural genocide. The impacts of such schools reverberate today.

Recent investigations in Canada have uncovered several unmarked burial sites on land surrounding former residential schools. Hundreds, if not thousands, of unmarked childrens graves are being discovered, only to add to the pain and suffering.

Apologies to the indigenous peoples from the Canadian government and the Roman Catholic Church have been coming slowly but surely. In 2008, Stephen Harper, then Canadas prime minister, apologised publicly to Canadas indigenous peoples for the consequences of the residential schools. The Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in 2008, acknowledged the gut-wrenching history that indigenous peoples had suffered and vowed to support the sufferers.

In April 2022, a delegation of Canadian indigenous people went to Rome to press the Pope for an apology. Francis expressed his sorrow and shame at the abuse and the lack of respect for indigenous identities, culture, and spiritual values in the residential school system.

On his visit to Canada, and amidst indigenous survivors and their families, he apologised again. However, he did not apologise for the Roman Catholic Churchs institutional role in the system, saying instead it was the work of a few bad actors or individuals. This has led some to believe that his apology was not enough.

According to the Associated Press, the Canadian government made clear that Pope Francis apology to indigenous peoples for abuses in the countrys church-run residential schools didnt go far enough, suggesting that reconciliation over the fraught history is still very much a work in progress.

Murray Sinclair, chief commissioner of Canadas Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said that the Pope had failed to acknowledge the full role of the Church in the residential school system by placing the blame on individuals. He also said that in many instances, it [the churchs role] was not just a collaboration, but an instigation of the brutal actions.

More is expected of the Roman Catholic Church. Indigenous survivors want concrete actions, not only words. They want the turning over of church records of those who died at the schools, the funding of therapeutic programmes for survivors, and the facilitating of investigations of those responsible for the abuses.

To forgive is one thing; to forget is another thing altogether. Some are unable to do either. Indigenous peoples cannot simply shake off the past and get over what happened to them because the pain remains alive, and the past persists as a daunting legacy. For the survivors of the residential schools, no matter how many times an apology is explicitly made it still does not take away the pain. And yet the Popes visit was exceptional and will play an important role in the healing process.

Mary Simon, the governor-general of Canada and the first indigenous person to hold the office, told the Pope that you said that reconciliation is a grace that must be sought. To that I would also add that reconciliation is a grace that must be earned through continuous hard work and understanding, leading everyone to expect more from the church.

She also said, Your Holiness, [survivors] came to hear what you had to say with hearts and minds open, some willing to forgive, some still living with the hurt, but all willing to listen.

Despite the pain and the colonial history that will never be erased, the Popes apology to the survivors of Canadas residential schools is a fundamental step towards reconciliation, and it is worth emulating for other victims around the world and in other places where atrocities took place and remain without closure or penitence.

I would like to see the US apologise for the nuclear bombing of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which maimed and killed over 250,000 Japanese and Koreans. I would also like to see the Turks acknowledge the Armenian Genocide during World War I and the deaths of thousands in 1915. Better yet, I would like to see the Israelis acknowledge the Palestinians and their rights. Many other unspeakable atrocities and injustices deserve the same penance.

Apology can right the wrong even after hundreds of years, and it brings closure to haunting crises. In this respect, the Popes visit to Canada was indeed a momentous and historic event.

* The writer is a former professor of communication based in Vancouver, Canada.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 August, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
Speaker of the House of Commons visits conservation powerhouse Chester Zoo

The Speaker of the House of Commons has paid a visit to conservation powerhouse Chester Zoo to learn more about preventing extinction, combatting deforestation, and protecting endangered species.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle met with the zoos team of keepers and deforestation experts, alongside Jamie Christon, the zoos CEO, to hear about the wide range of conservation efforts being led by Chester Zoo.

Sir Lindsay heard about the pioneering work being carried out to develop the worlds first safe and effective vaccine for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV)  a devastating disease that is proving a major threat to the long-term future of the already endangered species.

Conservationists say a vaccine is the best hope to finding a long-term solution to tackle the devastating disease, which has been confirmed in elephants across Asia and is on the rise in India, Nepal, Myanmar and Thailand.

Scientists at the zoo, in partnership with virology experts at Surrey University, are leading the search on behalf of the international conservation community, with the worlds first trial of a potential vaccine now underway.

Reflecting his interest in the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories, Sir Lindsay had the opportunity to hear about Chester Zoos extensive field work touring special behind-the-scenes conservation facilities for highly threatened Bermuda snails and seeing how these previously thought extinct creatures have been bred at Chester Zoo and are now being released back into Bermuda in their thousands.

The Speaker also learnt more about efforts to combat deforestation through promoting sustainable palm oil use and working with UK businesses to ensure supply chains do not contain harmful deforestation risk commodities.

During the visit, Chester Zoos Sustainable Palm Oil Communities project was highlighted, which provides resources and guidance to businesses and empowers organisations to make the change to deforestation-free palm oil sources.

This conservation work is vital as agricultural expansion accounts for around 80% of deforestation across the globe, accelerating climate change and having a severely detrimental impact on biodiversity.

Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons said: What a pleasure it was to visit Chester Zoo  a conservation powerhouse. I have been so impressed by the huge amount of vital conservation and science work being done in the North West.

From working to save the mighty Asian elephant from extinction by developing a vaccine for them to re-introducing thousands of tiny Bermuda snails into the wild, Chester Zoo is playing a critical role in preventing wildlife extinction both here in the UK and worldwide.

As an animal lover myself, I am proud a British zoo is leading the way with this ground-breaking conservation work at such a critical time for our planet, and what I have seen today really highlights the important role our zoos play in preventing extinction and protecting our planet.
On Sunday, four days after ten miners were trapped in a flooded coal pit in Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, was met with angry shouts and jeering from the miners relatives and co-workers as he walked over for a few minutes for a blatant photo-op and to callously tell them to place their faith in the technicians and that he will never forget them.

Relatives have been counting every minute since Wednesday, when their loved ones were trapped 200 feet (60 meters) underground as water rose 100 feet above their tunnel. As of this writing, not enough water had been pumped out to let divers enter the pit, which is located just over an hours drive from the Texas border.

The families peppered the president with demands for swifter actions in the rescue and a solution to the unsafe conditions in coal pits more generally, but before they could even finish their sentences, he quickly waved goodbye and left.

Lopez Obrador during his brief encounter with relatives and coworkers of the trapped miners in Sabina, Coahuila on Sunday, August 7 (Miguel Riquelme, @mrikelme, Twitter)

Why did you even come? some relatives shouted as they were pushed back by a massive contingent of hundreds of Army and National Guard soldiers.

He just came to take his picture and leave, said the wife of a miner to El Pais. The sister of miner Jose Rogelio complained to Jornada that AMLO only met with them for like five minutes. She stated, That is not enough. We were expecting him to bring large machinery to dig another tunnel for the water to drain there are some large pumps lying around and we dont know why they are not being used.

Lucia, the mother of the trapped miner Ramiro Torres, said with stinging sarcasm, Mr. President, I appreciate that you came to take your picture with my pain, that of my family and each one of us here. I hope your photos serve you for politics. She scoffed, Thank you for your long visit.

In response to the backlash, AMLO argued on Monday that his administration is powerless. He has not given any new mining permits, he said, and the government and the trade unions are not able to monitor so many mines. Such statements amount to washing his hands over the fate of the miners and families.

His visit and comments reflect the indifference of the entire Mexican ruling class to the safety and welfare of workers. The AMLO administration, which has been promoted by the pseudo-left as a champion of the working class, and his partners in the so-called independent trade unions oversee unsafe conditions that serve the profit interests of corporations as the rule, not the exception.

During the first two years of the pandemic, Mexicos excess deaths surpassed 632,000, more than twice the official COVID-19 death toll, as a result of his administrations policy of reopening factories, mines and workplaces while letting the virus run rampant. Just last year, 110,000 working age adults between 35 and 64 years old died from COVID-19 in Mexico, according to the national statistics agency INEGI.

While feigning concern over workers safety, AMLO and his security detail remained maskless on Sunday, despite the ongoing global surge of the pandemic driven by the deadly Omicron BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19.

The incident recalls how the relatives of the 65 workers who died in an explosion at the Pasta de los Conchos coal mine in 2006 chased out Mineros union leader Napoleon Gomez Urrutia, a Senator for AMLOs Morena party and a close associate of the AFL-CIO, when he showed up at the rescue site a week later. His union had published a report two weeks before the disaster concluding that the mine was safe. AMLO himself has postponed for two years his promised effort to recover the bodies at the mine.

Ninety-nine percent of the coal bought by the state-owned electricity company CFE comes from such pits in Coahuila, and production has ramped up under AMLOs energy reform. A CFE document from 2020 explicitly states the presidential instructions to buy coal from 60 producers in Sabinas.

Behind populist claims of saving the CFE, his government has actually subordinated the state agency to major oil, gas, and mining corporations. In April, the president reassured US businesspeople that the CFE would buy up all the energy they invest in generating, which would make them secured investments, as reported by Mining Mexico.

The mining output in Mexico jumped 5 percent in 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, including a 28 percent yearly increase in coal for heating, which is almost exclusively produced in Coahuila.

As Manuel Fuentes Muniz, a professor of the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), explained to El Financiero, whether workers are hired through contracts or informally, their conditions are sanctioned by the authorities. He explained, The Labor Ministry acknowledged that this mine had been operating since January  and it has a team of inspectors that should check the area periodically. However, he added, for two years the ministry has refused receiving the collaboration [for inspections] from locals.

In the 21st century and on the border of the most advanced economy in the world, workers are taken hundreds of feet underground to spend their entire shifts squatting in tunnels that are about 2 ft (60cm) wide or less. There are no exits or possible emergency measures, which make these pits incompatible with workers safety. In fact, in 2011, the National Commission on Human Rights concluded that none of the mining pits in the region were safe. Child labor is also rife. The trapped miners are between 22 and 61 years old.

The miners in Sabinas work without health insurance or benefits and receive between 2,000 and 5,000 pesos ($100-250) each week, depending on production levels. This system and the growing demand for coal has pushed miners to work exhausting hours under such unsafe conditions.

In a moving series of interviews with relatives by N+Media, Josue Rodriguez, son of miner Margarito Rodriguez and a miner himself, explains that he hopes that they have found a higher area underground away from the water. The pits are like going down not knowing if we will ever come out alive.

Like AMLO, other left nationalist governments partnered with the trade union bureaucracy across Latin America, like those led by Pedro Castillo in Peru, Luis Arce in Bolivia, and Gabriel Boric in Chile, also impose unsafe and miserable conditions on miners and other workers while relying on the police and military to suppress their strikes and protests.

At the same time, globalization has turned northern Mexico into a major industrial center, alongside its more traditional extraction of natural resources, and has interlinked workers in all sectors into complex and global supply chains. Far from improving living standards and working conditions, the capitalist resource curse was expanded into the maquila factories whereby foreign investors use the local elites, including the trade unions, to oversee the super-exploitation of workers with no regard to their health, living standards, or the environment.

Miners and their families can defend their lives and living conditions only by organizing independently of all pro-capitalist parties and unions and joining their struggles with workers across industries and beyond borders. That is the purpose of the call made by the World Socialist Web Site to build the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Republican hopes to reclaim a crucial governors seat in swing-state Wisconsin this year long appeared to rest on Rebecca Kleefisch, a former TV news anchor who spent eight years as former Gov. Scott Walkers heir apparent and vowed to continue his sharply conservative policies. Then a wealthy construction company owner jumped in, dumped $12 million of his own money into the race and won Donald Trumps backing.

Now Tim Michels is in a competitive race against Kleefisch heading into Tuesdays primary to decide who will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November.

The contest is part of a deepening proxy fight between Trump and his estranged former vice president, Mike Pence, who has thrown his support to Kleefisch. And it could ultimately have implications for 2024, when Trump has dangled the possibility of another White House bid and has shown his willingness to pressure elected officials, including those in Wisconsin, to overturn election results.

Michels has focused on shaping an outsider candidacy  bolstered by the Trump endorsement  while Kleefisch has embraced her establishment support as evidence that shes a more reliable GOP choice.

Trump appeared with Michels at a Friday night rally in Waukesha, the heart of Milwaukee's conservative suburbs. Trump called Kleefisch a career politician and a political insider. Ive known her for a long time. Shes the handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the RINOs. That's a derogatory term standing for Republican in name only."

Rebecca Kleefisch does not have what it takes to beat Tony Evers," Trump said. Hes going to win if he runs against Rebecca."

Michels appeared on stage with Trump, but did not call for overturning the 2020 election.

Kleefisch and Michels have both questioned President Joe Bidens victory over Trump in Wisconsin in 2020  an outcome that has withstood recounts, lawsuits and reviews  but neither has taken up Trumps pressure campaign to have those results decertified.

Kleefisch has called the 2020 election rigged but said she wont consider decertification because its not constitutionally possible. Michels initially called decertifying Bidens 2020 win in Wisconsin not a priority and then later said everything will be on the table.

Both Michels and Kleefisch want to do away with the current bipartisan commission that runs elections in the state.

A third Republican candidate for governor, state Rep. Tim Ramthun, has repeatedly called for decertification and made it the centerpiece of his longshot campaign.

Bidens win in Wisconsin has withstood two partial recounts, numerous lawsuits, a nonpartisan audit and a review by a conservative law firm. Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly said decertification is impossible.

Kleefisch has racked up support not only from Pence, but also her former boss Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, GOP leaders of the Legislature, 56 lawmakers, the state chamber of commerce, the Tavern League and a majority of the states county sheriffs.

I am the one who is tested and proven and ready to go, Kleefisch said after Pence touted her at a stop in suburban Milwaukee on Wednesday. I am the one who has won statewide four times.

Michels claims that he is not a politician, but hes been a power player largely behind the scenes for decades and previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2004, losing to then-Sen. Russ Feingold. Hes been a regular donor to Republicans, including both Walker and Kleefisch.

People want an outsider, people want a veteran, people want a businessman, Michels said in a candidate debate.

Wisconsin is the third state where Pence and Trump have been on opposite sides in governor's races that highlighted deep divisions about the GOPs future. In Georgia, Pence-backed Gov. Brian Kemp thumped Trumps choice, former Sen. David Perdue, by more than 50 percentage points. In Arizonas governor primary, Trump-backed former TV news anchor Kari Lake and Pence-backed businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson were in a race that was too early to call on Thursday.

The territory that drew Pence and Kleefisch on Wednesday is the heart of Republican Wisconsin and home to the key suburban Milwaukee voters who will likely decide the fall election. Its also Kleefischs home turf. Trump, whose support in the area declined from 2016 to 2020, held his Friday rally for Michels just three miles from where Pence came for Kleefisch.

There is no candidate for governor in America who is more capable, more experienced, or a more proven conservative than Rebecca Kleefisch, Pence said in touting Kleefisch without mentioning Trump or Michels.

Kleefisch is a former Milwaukee television news anchor and teenage beauty pageant contestant who got into politics in 2010 and won a five-way primary for lieutenant governor. After Evers beat Walker in 2018, Kleefisch started laying the groundwork for her own run.

She has reminded Republicans about the fights she went through with Walker, when his proposal effectively ending collective bargaining led to massive protests in 2011 and eventually a failed attempt to recall both him and Kleefisch from office. This cycle, she has focused on issues like instituting a flat income tax, expanding school choice programs and investing more in law enforcement.

Michels co-owns the states largest construction company, Michels Corp., along with his brothers, and has spent nearly $1 million a week of his own money since getting into the race. Though he uses the Trump endorsement as evidence of his outsider status, hes also backed by Wisconsins ultimate Republican political insider  four-term former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who briefly flirted with his own run.

Michels has stumbled at times.

He flip-flopped this week when asked whether he would back a Trump run in 2024, first refusing to say, then 24 hours later saying he would back Trump for president. At an earlier debate, he didnt appear to know what DACA  Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a highly contentious immigration program  stood for. And hes faced criticism for purchasing $30 million in properties in New York and Connecticut between 2015 and 2020 and splitting time between Wisconsin and the East Coast, where his children attended and graduated from high school.

Michels positions on the boards of various transportation-related industry groups have caused him some heartburn, with Kleefisch seeking to tie him to those groups past support for raising the state gas tax. Michels says he opposes an increase.

He is also running ads taking a strong anti-immigrant position, even though he headed the board of directors of a transportation group that opposed an anti-immigrant bill that would have prevented companies that employ illegal aliens from getting state contracts.

While the Republicans battle, Evers has raised more than $11 million this year and is casting himself as the only block against Republicans who want to overhaul elections for the 2024 presidential campaign and keep in place an 1849 state law banning abortions. Both Kleefisch and Michels support the ban and the law, which is being challenged in court by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul.

I have a good record, Evers said, highlighting the states 2.8% unemployment rate, increased funding for public schools, expanded rural broadband access, emphasis on repairing roads and a 15% cut in income taxes. Let them bring it on.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) reported last Thursday that the state has recorded 12 cases of monkeypox. Just a month prior, the state reported its first case of the disease. Notwithstanding the Biden administrations belated declaration of a state of emergency over the spread of the monkeypox virus, workers throughout the world have voiced their deep concern over existing conditions in which two pandemics are being allowed to rip through the population.

While the far-right have issued baseless claims that monkeypox is a gay disease, according to a July 28 statement released by the ADH, Monkeypox is spread through close contact and can be transmitted to anyone regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, and ethnicity. (Emphasis added.)

The ADH goes on to report, It can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with infectious rash, scabs, or body fluids. This can include household and/or intimate contact. Spreading can also occur when contacting contaminated items, such as clothing. It can also be transmitted through respiratory secretions during prolonged, face-to-face contact; however, it is not an airborne illness. Monkeypox is not spread through casual, brief conversations or walking by someone with monkeypox, like at a grocery store.

These claims are unsubstantiated and at odds with decades of research and reports on monkeypox, which have warned that the virus can spread through aerosols, in addition to direct skin-to-skin contact.

Arkansas Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson has not issued a statement on the increase in monkeypox cases. As of this writing, 30,189 people globally have contracted the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The US accounts for nearly 30 percent of all cases, numbering 8,933, while four countries in Europe have tallied more than 15,000. In conjunction with the unbridled spread of the monkeypox virus, official COVID-19 cases have reached 589,896,455 internationally, according to the worldometers website, with an official record of 6,438,021 deaths, though estimates of excess deaths place the actual global death toll above 20 million.

ADH Director Dr. Jennifer Dillaha said July 5, Arkansas has been monitoring cases of monkeypox in the U.S. While this news is concerning, monkeypox is not as contagious as other viruses, like COVID-19. We encourage anyone who feels they may have been exposed to monkeypox to please contact their health care provider and be tested. Despite the claim monkeypox is not as infectious as COVID-19, the state government has done virtually nothing to prevent its spread. They have refused to reinstate mask mandates, while pressing ahead with the full reopening of schools this fall, where both COVID and monkeypox will spread widely in the coming months.

Over the course of the monkeypox outbreak, coronavirus cases in Arkansas have soared. On Thursday, official cases increased by 1,438, while in the last week ADH reported 8,064 new cases, bringing the case count to more than 911,000. This is more than 30 percent of the states population! According to health officials, the latest figures show, as of Thursday, more than half of Arkansans are fully immunized, numbering 1,652,249, with another 287,907 partially immunized. But the inoculated populace is not safe, due to waning immunity and the increased dangers of the Omicron BA.5 and future variants.

In the race for Arkansas governor, Republican former White House Adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Democrat Chris Jones have both refused to address COVID-19 or monkeypox. Exposing all the myths that the Democratic Party represents the working class, Jones campaign website has said nothing about monkeypox since the first case was reported in Arkansas late last month, as well as COVID-19, despite its soaring rate of infection.

Jones, as have the Democrats as a whole, has pushed for further armaments in Ukraine and supported Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, bringing the world to the brink of World War III. If he were to win, which is highly unlikely, he would do nothing to address the coronavirus and monkeypox pandemics.

Workers throughout Arkansas have taken the brunt of the criminal policies of mass infection, as well as savage attacks on their wages and working conditions. Tyson Foods, the poultry titan, whose headquarters are in Springdale, Arkansas, has reported record profits in its first and second quarters. Operating income more than doubled from $705 million for the first quarter of 2021 to $1.45 billion in 2022, while sales for the quarter were $12.93 billion, up more than $2 billion from $10.46 billion in 2021. According to ZipRecruiter, 21 percent of employees earn between $21,000 to $26,499 per year, followed by 24 percent of the workforce earning between $26,500 and $31,999 annually. Tyson has refused to implement any stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, let alone monkeypox.

Moreover, Walmart recently laid off 200 workers from its corporate office in Bentonville, Arkansas. This comes at a time when the company is modernizing its stores, i.e., installing security cameras in its food and baby formula aisles amidst a mass shortage of both worldwide, brought on by the US-NATO-backed proxy-war in Ukraine against Russia and the coronavirus pandemic. This repressive expansion of surveillance coincides with the mass removal of cashiers through the introduction of self-checkout stations. The layoffs come after Walmart heir Steuart Walton (net worth $300 million) purchased Microsoft co-founder Paul Allens antique aircraft collection, with one craft, the B-17 Flying Fortress, having an estimated value of over $9,000,000.

The crisis in public education in Arkansas is also steadily deepening, with schools reopening across the state amid the spread of COVID and monkeypox. In July, Arkansas lawmakers rescinded the authority given to the state to distribute nearly $460 million in remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds to school districts, demanding that the funds be used by the schools for teacher and staff bonuses. This comes as more than half of all teachers in the US are considering leaving the profession, largely due to the disastrous conditions during the pandemic, according to a survey conducted in late January by GBAO Strategies on behalf of the National Education Association (NEA).

State Democrats have postured as being opposed to this attack on teachers, claiming it was an effort to avoid the consideration of raising their salaries, despite the states sitting on a $1.6 billion surplus. Hutchinson also criticized the decision, saying the state legislature had no authority to rescind the decision. However, no maneuvers were taken by either the Democrats or Hutchinson to reverse or rally mass opposition to the decision.

The Legislative Council voted to rescind the call for appropriation for the federal funds and recommended schools use the remaining COVID-19 relief fund for bonuses. According to the Council, the districts plans for spending the reallocated relief funds must go before a legislative panel, which recommended that districts use the funds to provide a pitiful one-time $5,000 bonus for educators and $2,500 to staff. Moreover, Republican Senate President Jimmy Hickey said myriad districts were unaware the funds could be used for bonuses, saying, Obviously now theres not going to be any question that it can be done.

Earlier this year, Hutchinson failed to put teachers raises on the agenda for a special session, citing an expected lack of support among his Republican cohorts. Republican legislative leaders said the special session was an inappropriate time to raise the issue of teacher salaries since the legislature failed to complete its annual review of education funding, as required by law.

I am concerned that teachers in some districts will get a bonus, but others may not, Hutchinson said, justifying that no one should receive a pay increase. Arkansas has raised teacher salaries over the past several years, and the minimum teacher salary for the coming school year is $36,000. Proponents of the pay raise have noted that base salaries in most of the states adjoining Arkansas are higher.

Amid an unprecedented global heatwave, simultaneous pandemics spiraling out of control, an assault on democratic rights by a thoroughly reactionary Supreme Court, the gutting of social programs, imperialist provocations which carry the threat of nuclear war, paltry wages and ramped up exploitation, workers in Arkansas and internationally are confronted with a hydra of social and economic turmoil. The question is presented: socialism or barbarism?

The Socialist Equality Party is fighting to resolve the crisis of leadership in the working class and build a socialist movement to put an end to capitalist barbarism. All workers in Arkansas should read and study our program and get involved in the fight for a socialist future.
Since June this year, Dr David Berger, a respected remote area general practitioner and principled advocate for zero-COVID, has been the target of censorship measures by the Medical Board of Australia (MBA) and the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Dr David Berger (Image: Supplied)

Berger is currently being disciplined by AHPRA and threatened with deregistration, following anonymous complaints to the agency. According to AHPRA, Berger has used emotive and pejorative language on social media, causing his readers to doubt the integrity of the persons and organisations targeted, and to lose confidence in the public health pronouncements and programmes promoted by them.

In fact, the death of almost 12,500 people from COVID in Australia10,000 this year, following the adoption of let it rip policies by federal and state governmentshas done more to undermine confidence in public health pronouncements than anything Dr Berger has said on social media.

Thousands of deaths would have been avoided if the COVID-safe medical advice offered by Berger and other principled medical scientists had been implemented.

Alarmed by AHPRAs authoritarian actions, a group of senior doctors and medical scientists, some of the most prominent in their field, published an open letterFree Speech for Doctorson July 14.

The letter condemned Bergers persecution, demanded that AHPRA end its disciplinary action and called for an investigation into the agencys opaque but wide-ranging powers to silence and deregister health workers for daring to criticise government health policies. It was signed by over 1,000 people within 12 hours of publication. Berger also won mass support on social media, including from his almost 39,000 followers on Twitter, where his clear and honest communications about the dangers of COVID have strongly resonated.

The MBA and AHPRA responded to the open letter with a joint statement on July 25, insisting that freedom of speech was of less importance than respectful engagement and building a positive culture in medicine.

Social media is not a forum to bully, harass and intimidate, it continued, and oversimplifying this debate to freedom of speech fails the first challenge in improving the culture of medicinethe ability to disagree with respect.

The statement, which did not mention Berger, then cited three recent AHPRA-MDA disciplinary cases. These involved doctors variously selling fraudulent vitamin cures, advancing right-wing homophobic and anti-Muslim positions, engaging in grotesque mockery of sexual assault victims and violating patients rights to privacy.

These references were designed to muddy the waters about Berger, implying a parallel between his campaign for a science-based public health response to COVID and the actions of three right-wing violators of basic medical practice.

As the World Socialist Web Site has stated from the outset, AHPRAs allegations against Berger are a patent fraud. Berger is being censored and threatened with deregistration precisely because he has effectively exposed the deadly consequences of Australian governments response to COVID-19a political scandal that medical regulatory authorities want swept under the rug.

Australian medical authorities attempts to discredit Berger are refuted by his historical record as a consistent, principled, and respected advocate for scientific rigour and social equality in healthcare.

Born in the UK, the child of Jewish refugees who fled the Nazi genocide, Bergers family experiences left a profound impression on him, animating his hostility to social injustice, racism and the extreme-right.

After graduating as a medical doctor from the prestigious University of London in 1991, he and his wife trained as general practitioners to serve in rural and remote areas. Before moving to rural northern Australia in 2012, they had worked in under-served communities in the UK, the Solomon Islands and the Himalayas.

Soon after COVID-19 was identified as a serious threat, Berger began raising the alarm about its devastating impact on medical workers, public health and society as a whole, while highlighting the complacent and unscientific responses of governments in Australia and internationally.

These concerns were expressed, not just in Bergers social media postings, but numerous articles in respected medical journals and newspapers, as well as jointly authored scientific analyses and submissions. While it is not possible to review all these here, a few samples highlight Bergers socially principled approach.

In a January 2021 BMJ (British Medical Journal) article, Berger addressed the failure of the UK and other countries to adequately protect healthcare staff, resulting in the deaths of thousands of workers.

Entitled Up the line to death: covid-19 has revealed a mortal betrayal of the worlds healthcare workers, it denounced governments for hypocritically applauding health workers as heroes while denying them PPE, adequate staffing levels and rest, or addressing serious infrastructure shortcomings.

In a March 2021 article entitled  Beg, Borrow, Copy, Steal: Alls fair in love, war and a pandemic , Berger derided the extreme parochialism, petty nationalism, the inability to comprehend that others experiences may carry urgent information which could save health, lives and the economy. He appealed for broader collaboration between health authorities and scientists, nationally and internationally.

An April 2021 article, Australia must act to prevent airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, jointly written with Zoe Hyde and Andrew Miller, reviewed the increasing body of evidence collected since December 2019 about airborne transmission of the disease. It warned that existing PPE, including cheap surgical masks, were inadequate for containing its spread, a fact that at the time was rejected by Australian state and federal bodies.

The article concluded by demanding that healthcare workers be given the highest level of protection, commensurate with their high risk of exposure, and to comply with workplace health and safety laws, which require every reasonably practicable method to prevent worker harm to be adopted.

In October 2021, Berger submitted advice on protecting rural and remote communities to OzSAGE, a group of well-known epidemiologists and medical scientists. He opposed early border reopenings, called for mass vaccinations along with improved indoor ventilation, the provision of adequate PPE supplies, and increased staffing and infrastructure support for these socially deprived areas. Most of these recommendations were ignored by governments, with rural and regional communities facing the most severe effects of COVID and supply disruptions.

Last September, Berger penned an impassioned op-ed in the Sydney Morning Herald entitled, Underlying health conditions? Thats all of us. It followed the publication of a full-page advertisement by the Business Council of Australia demanding an end to COVID-19 lockdowns and other restrictions on business profits.

Berger explained how the phrase underlying conditions was being used to justify rising COVID deaths and to condition the population for continuous mass casualties. The aim of this terminology, he wrote, was to indoctrinate the public into believing that these [COVID] deaths are happening not to healthy young people valuable members of societybut rather tothe old, the weak, the infirm.

After observing that fully 50 percent of the population has at least one chronic disease that would count as underlying conditions Berger highlighted the capitalist profit motives behind eugenicist calculations about the value of people.

Several decades of libertarian political philosophy have resulted in the partial destruction of the idea of collective fates and collective action. All that matters is the individual, who is mendaciously instructed they must keep moving and abandon the weak for the sake of the economy, a construct whose purpose increasingly appears to be to deliver excessive profit to fewer and fewer oligarchs, he wrote.

This brief selection of Bergers writings over the past two years powerfully refutes AHPRAs allegations and its disciplinary actions.

The purpose of these anti-democratic measures is two-fold.

Firstly, to divert attention from Bergers tireless advocacy for a rigorous scientific and socially conscious approach to the pandemic and his exposure of government indifference to mass death and infections. Secondly, to make clear to health workers that no dissent with government policy will be tolerated.

In late December 2020, Berger warned of future government attempts to silence health workers.

In an article entitled Dont let them gag doctors. We are your canaries, he declared that public health authorities needed to be challenged robustly in public by their peerspeople who have the specialist knowledge to do so effectively. Doctors and other healthcare workers were both uniquely dangerous to those wishing to conceal uncomfortable truths but also uniquely vulnerable to suppression, he wrote.

Attempts by authority figures to stifle the voice of healthcare worker advocates by means of sweeping gagging clauses, threats of employment termination, legal action for defamation and reporting to regulatory authorities strike at the heart of transparency in government, he added.

Bergers censorship warnings have been confirmed in spades, with himself on the receiving end. Likewise his concerns about the deadly consequences of government failure to protect the population from COVID.

Until mid-2021, Australia had fewer than 1,000 COVID deaths. Government refusals to impose essential zero-COVID public health measures, particularly since last December, have resulted in the country now registering over 12,500 deaths, with 9.5 million people infected at least once.

COVID-19 deaths in Australia in 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

Having had one of the lowest COVID death rates on the planet, Australia is now among the highest in the world, a social crime that Australian governments and medical authorities are responsible for and will not discuss.

The current COVID wave in Australia is the worst to date, but if the pandemic is left to run rampant, new mutants will bring additional disease and deaths and overburden a healthcare system already collapsing. Australian workers, like their counterparts internationally, confront perpetual waves of death and suffering.

The answer to this is an international struggle of workers to institute scientific measures to eliminate COVID, an entirely feasible and necessary goal. Recognising the reality of COVID and the measures required, however, is only possible when workers have unbroken access to the knowledge of health experts and scientists like Dr Berger.

It is for this reason that all sections of the working class, including doctors, health workers and medical scientists, as well as students and youth, must demand an end to AHPRAs persecution of David Berger and freedom of speech for all health practitioners.
The FBI raid on former president Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago compound is an event without precedent in the history of the United States. The raid was based on a judicial warrant, which a federal judge would only issue against a former president on the most compelling evidence of a major crime, not some technical violation of the rules regarding document handling.

The Biden administration has an obligation to explain to the American people the connection between the raid on Mar-a-Lago and the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by Trump and his fascist followers in a violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

There can be little doubt that the decision to carry out the raid was prompted by evidence of ongoing efforts to prepare and carry out new attacks in furtherance of Trumps continuing plans to seize power.

For the White House and the Department of Justice to conceal the evidence and the charges being investigated is to make them accomplices in Trumps efforts to overthrow the US Constitution and establish a dictatorship. Such an authoritarian regime would be based on fascist mob violence and the mobilization of Trumps still considerable support within the state apparatus, including the military, the immigration police, other police agencies and the FBI itself.

Biden has refused to comment on the raid. The Democratic president held two White House events on Tuesday. In the morning, he signed the Chips and Science Act, giving hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to the US semiconductor industry so as to lessen the dependence of the US military on chips produced in Taiwan and China. In the afternoon, he signed the instrument of ratification of the entry of Sweden and Finland into NATO.

The Democratic president declined to take questions at both events. Later on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to answer reporters questions on the raid, except to insist that Biden had no advance notice and had not been briefed about it.

The claim by the White House that the president does not comment on the actions of the Department of Justice because its prosecutorial decisions are independent and nonpolitical is preposterous. The decision to raid Trumps estate in Florida was made in full knowledge that it would touch off a political firestorm in Washington. If, in fact, Biden was personally not involved, it was only because a decision was made to provide him with plausible deniability.

At both White House events, Biden hailed the bipartisan support for a hard-line US policy of confrontation with Russia and China, and appealed for greater unity with the opposition party. But the Republican Party instead has lined up behind Trump, denouncing the raid, with some members of Congress declaring it is grounds for the impeachment of Biden.

Virtually the entire Republican leadership has echoed Trumps condemnation of the raid, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who issued a statement pledging to launch investigations into the Justice Department and Attorney General Garland should the Republicans regain control of the House in the November mid-term elections. The fascist coup plotters are, in other words, seeking to go on the offensive.

Trumps militia backers in the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and similar groups fired off tweets calling for protests in cities across the country and threatening armed violence.

The Republicans and their media backers are screaming and shouting about the unprecedented raid. The Wall Street Journal declared in an editorial, Once the Rubicon of prosecuting a former President has been crossedespecially if the alleged offense and evidence are less than compellingevery future President will be a target.

More consequential is Trumps unprecedented attempt to overthrow the government, the most compelling charge that could be brought in a supposedly democratic country. In refusing to reveal the charges against Trump, both Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland are deliberately concealing from the American people the seriousness and depth of the political crisis.

The language of the Wall Street Journal is revealing. The crossing of the Rubicon is a reference to the decision by Julius Caesar to send his legions across the Rubicon River and overthrow the Roman Republic, seizing dictatorial power for himself. That metaphor applies more directly to Trumps actions on and before January 6, 2021 than to any other event in American history.

The Biden administration has a responsibility to explain and expose to the public the magnitude of the conspiracy that has been uncovered. What information did it receive that triggered the decision to raid the home of the ex-president? What did it learn about his ongoing plans to destabilize and overthrow the government? What violent attacks are Trump and his fascist supporters preparing to unleash against the American people?

No one can believe that 30-some FBI agents were mobilized to search Mar-a-Lago for an entire day because Trump was in possession of a dozen boxes of White House papers that may include some classified material. This claim by unnamed sources only demonstrates that the White House takes the American people for foolsand that it is more concerned about the public reaction to disclosure of the real reasons for the raid than the fascistic conspiracies of the former president. In failing to reveal the motivations for the raid, the Biden administration is facilitating the cover-up of the January 6 insurrection.

The working class can have no confidence in this government, either to investigate and expose the dictatorial plans of Trump, or to fight the fascist right when these plans come to fruition in another frontal assault on the remnants of Constitutional forms in America. Its entire record is one of cover-up and cowardice.

In the lead-up to the attempted coupwhen Trump backed far-right plots to kidnap and kill Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan and other Democratic governors who imposed minimal COVID-19 restrictions, refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power, and told the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by should he lose the electionBiden dismissed the danger of a coup.

During the events of January 6, Biden said nothing other than to plead with Trump to go on television and call off his own insurrection, while Democratic lawmakers cowered under their desks.

The Democrats have used the House January 6 Committee to cover up the role of powerful elements in the military, police and intelligence apparatus in backing the attempted coup, while promoting the fiction that with only a few exceptions (the crazies), the Republican Party opposed Trumps plot.

The Democratic Party, like the Republicans, is controlled by the corporate-financial oligarchy, which has vastly increased its wealth during the pandemic by means of free money from the Federal Reserve, brutal attacks on workers living standards and working conditions and government-protected price gouging.

The collapse of American democracy is the outcome of a protracted process of economic decline and political reaction. Its two basic causesunending imperialist war and ever greater social inequalityare rooted in the mortal crisis of American and world capitalism.

The working class must intervene into the political crisis, mobilizing its immense social power independently of both big-business parties and their agents in the trade union bureaucracy.

The only way to put an end to war, poverty and the drive to dictatorship is to unleash the power of the working class on the basis of a socialist program and the fight for a workers government.
COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in New Zealand, equal with heart disease. The New Zealand Herald reported on August 7 that in the week ending 17 July, 120 deaths were directly attributed to COVID-19, nearly 15 percent of all deaths. The figure rises to one in five if one includes all deaths within 28 days of a COVID infection being reported.

Epidemiologist Michael Baker told the Guardian that 15 percent was likely an undercount, as some people would have died from the virus without being tested. He expressed concern that at the point where were seeing peak mortality, weve seen, seemingly, public interest and concern dropping to quite a low level.

Baker pointed out to the New Zealand Herald that there will be people dying from conditions which are not attributed to Covid-19, but are actually caused by it. In more than one in 10 cases, coronavirus infection leads to long-COVID, a condition which can severely affect the lungs, heart, brain and other organs.

Medical staff test shoppers who volunteered at a pop-up community COVID-19 testing station at a supermarket carpark in Christchurch, New Zealand. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

As of August 9, a total of 2,475 people had died within 28 days of being reported as COVID-positive. While the Ministry of Health previously described all such deaths as COVID-related, its reporting guidelines changed on July 19, wiping hundreds of deaths off the tally. According to the Ministry, there are now 1,688 confirmed COVID-related deaths, which certainly underestimates the real toll.

Baker has previously noted that if COVID kills 3,500 people by the end of the year, this would add 10 percent to New Zealands overall mortality rate, and would have a measurable impact on life expectancy.

According to the New York Times COVID tracker, New Zealands death rate is the sixth-highest in the world, at 0.36 deaths per 100,000 people. Close to 20 COVID deaths and 6,000 cases are being reported each day, and over 600 people are in hospital with the virus. This is down slightly from a peak of more than 10,000 cases and more than 800 hospitalisations last month.

In total, almost 1.7 million COVID cases have been reported, and there are estimates that more than half of New Zealands 5 million inhabitants have been infected. Over 26,000 reinfections are recorded, and this figure will increase as peoples immunity from vaccination wanes.

The Labour Party-led government and the media, however, are promoting the maximum level of complacency and encouraging the illusion that cases will soon fall to a manageable level.

A New Zealand Herald editorial on August 4 noted that public health restrictions are barely visible in many situations and there is an almost complete laissez-faire environment whether to mask, boost vaccinations, test, report, or even isolate. While observing that the pandemic is not over, the editorial welcomed the change, saying that we should be capable of thinking for ourselves.

On August 9, New Zealands minister for COVID-19 response Ayesha Verrall announced that the government will maintain the current, grossly inadequate, public health settingsonce again rejecting calls from experts for mask mandates and other mitigation measures in schools.

Verrall declared that New Zealand was heading in the right direction, with case numbers coming down, despite considerable pressure on the health system.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the media that masks should still be worn in many indoor settings, and positive cases should still be isolated. However, she hinted that the government may remove even these measures if hospitalisations continue falling, saying: we of course hope that well continue to see a decline in the impact on our health system, which is a major factor for us in the consideration of the settings.

New Zealands COVID death toll is the outcome of deliberate and criminal policy decisions. For most of the pandemic, the government had an elimination policy: it used temporary shutdowns of schools and businesses, as well as border quarantine and other measures, to keep the country almost entirely free from the virus.

On October 4, 2021, however, Ardern suddenly declared that COVID could no longer be contained and the elimination policy would be abandoned. Ardern also stated, falsely, that an elimination strategy was no longer required because of the availability of vaccineswhich do not prevent all deaths and severe illnesses and have hardly any impact on transmission. At that time, New Zealand had only recorded about 30 deaths for the entire pandemic.

Bowing to pressure from big business, the government adopted the same policy of mass infection that has been imposed internationally, except for China, leading to more than 20 million deaths. Schools and workplaces have been kept open this year as the country was hit by the far more infectious Omicron variant. The unions, acting as the agents of big business and the state, played an indispensable role in enforcing the reopening of schools and workplaces.

Hospitals, already understaffed and rundown before the pandemic, are now experiencing an unprecedented crisis, with emergency departments swamped and staff continually getting infected with COVID. The Herald reported on August 3: A woman was left lying in a hospital bed soaked in her own urine for 14 hours, while another patient was forced to wait for eight hours in the emergency department of an Auckland hospital.

Thousands of operations are being repeatedly postponed, often leaving patients waiting in chronic pain, including some with cancer and heart conditions. Stuff reported on July 30 that more than 8000 Auckland women [are] currently waiting for gynaecologist appointments, with some waiting nearly two years for care.

People with COVID may also be missing out on essential medical care. Radio NZ reported that since March, 87 people have died from COVID-19 in their homes, an average of four per week. The Ministry of Health has not said how many of these people received any hospital care or whether they had been given antiviral treatments. Maori and Pacific Islanders, who are largely among the more oppressed sections of the working class, made up 37 percent of these deaths.

Meanwhile, New Zealand is completely unprepared for monkeypox, which is rapidly developing into a new global pandemic. So far, three cases have been identified. Officials have asserted that there is no community transmission. Very few people are being tested, however, and the country has no vaccines.

The Burnett Foundation (formerly the AIDS Foundation), the Sexual Health Society and Auckland University expert Peter Saxton wrote to Ardern on August 3 calling for an immediate response, including a vaccination plan. They said we cannot afford to wait for a widespread outbreak to justify a plan to address monkeypox because it would further overwhelm our already strained health system. According to the World Health Organisation, 10 percent of cases require hospital treatment.

There have been more than 31,000 monkeypox cases reported in the outbreak globally. While it is currently spreading largely among gay and bisexual men, the virus is not a sexually transmitted disease and can be transmitted through physical contact, surfaces, clothing, and via airborne transmissiona fact that is being covered up by governments and public health authorities internationally, including in New Zealand, as they seek to downplay the risks.
Written and directed by Clio Barnard

Ali & Ava, written and directed by British filmmaker Clio Barnard, opened in the US in late July. It is worth making an effort to see.

Ali & Ava

Barnard has directed several interesting working class dramas, including The Selfish Giant (2013), as the WSWS wrote, a wrenching tale of survival on a run-down housing estate in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The title comes from one of Oscar Wildes stories for children (1888), about the consequences of selfishness and private property. The story centers on two teenage boys caught up in stealing scrap metal.

About The Selfish Giant, we commented: With great empathy for her characters, Barnard locates her movie in a bleak, postindustrial landscape, where the possibility of a decent future has long since disappeared. Working in the British social realist tradition, she shines a light on a world where the trade unions and political parties that once claimed to represent the working class are now entirely absent. People have been left to fend for themselves, but this also means they no longer have any allegiance to those organizations. This state of affairs leaves the filmmaker with not much of a perspective perhaps except a belief in peoples innate decency. Not a small thing.

Ali & Ava, the filmmaker explains, is a love story inspired by individuals Barnard met while making The Arbor (2010), about playwright Andrea Dunbar, and The Selfish Giant.

Ali (Adeel Akhtar) is a British-Pakistani working class landlord obsessed with hip hop and prone to dancing enthusiastically on the roof of his car. He and his Bangladeshi wife are separated, although they continue to live in the same house. Awkwardly, he doesnt dare tell his family the shameful truth.

Ava (Claire Rushbrook) is an Irish-born teacher and single mother of five, living in a tough housing estate. Her former husband, a member of the National Front, used to regularly beat her uphe put his boots on to do it.

The film documents the developing relationship between the pair, which encounters a number of obstacles, including family members and different tastes in music.

Claire Rushbrook and Adeel Akhtar

Ali used to be a DJ, he explains. Im nought [zero] to 70, because theres no  gradual acceleration.

Are you into music?, Ali asks Ava during one of their first serious conversations. Yeah, I like country music, she replies innocently. Well, he says, only half-jokingly, thats it then  Thats it, thats it for me. Country? You cant dance to that, can you? She also likes folk, she says. Ali: Its getting worse.

There are more serious obstacles, including the hostility of Avas son Callum (Shawn Thomas), who has a deluded, romantic notion about his dead father. Callum bursts in on the new couple at one point with a sword. (Ali: Like f---ing Zorro in here, int it?) Ava suggests that her son can be a bit over-protective. Is that what you call it?

However, Callum and Ava later touchingly get to sing Ewan MacColls haunting Dirty Old Town together: I met my love / By the gas works wall / Dreamed a dream by the old canal / I kissed my girl / By the factory wall / Dirty old town / Dirty old town.

It started with the characters of Ali and Ava, and a question, says Barnard. What would happen if you took melodrama as a genre and applied it to a social-realist version of Bradford thats based on real people? Its an opportunity to think about what it means to be part of a community. Theres a lot of kindness, generosity and support in Bradford, and I wanted to see that writ large on the big screen. Ali & Ava is a generous, warmhearted work.

Akhtar, an energetic, endearing performer, explains that Ali & Ava has at its center the idea of giving a space and a voice to people or a type of person that is ordinarily overlooked and not really seen. And allowing those people to have a very intimate connection with each other. Barnards film allows that story to unfold, with honesty and sensitivity.
On Tuesday, the James Marape-led Pangu Pati was invited by the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae to form the countrys next government. Marape was unanimously re-elected unopposed as Prime Minister by MPs present in the first sitting of the new parliament.

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, on Sept. 24, 2021, at the UN headquarters. [AP Photo/Peter Foley/Pool]

The announcement came in the wake of an election plagued by violence, fraud allegations and large numbers of voters missing from the electoral roll. As parliament met there were still 14 seats to be declared in the 118-seat house. Voting began on July 4 and ended on July 22, but counting was extended until August 5 by Dadae because of writs still outstanding. The deadline was extended again for a third time until August 12.

Former Prime Minister and Peoples National Congress (PNC) leader Peter ONeill unsuccessfully applied to the Supreme Court to delay parliaments return until all electorates had finished counting.

Marape claimed victory last week, saying the Pangu Pati had the numbers to form a coalition giving it an overwhelming mandate. The Pangu Pati, along with a string of coalition parties and independents, controls a total of about 80 seats.

The Pangu Pati has the most seats with 36, the main opposition PNC 14, United Resources Party (URP) 10, People First Party (PFP) 2, Peoples Progress Party (PPP) 1, United Labour Party (ULP) 3, Peoples Party 4, National Alliance Party 5. There are also several single-member parties and eight independents.

Marape told the National that the Pangu Pati had entered the election with clear coalition partners such as the URP and PPP and had not contested certain seats against them. Hence, it is very easy for us now to stitch a coalition, he declared. Belden Namah, leader of the opposition Papua New Guinea Party and a former deputy prime minister, was one prominent recruit.

Solicitor General Tauvasa Tanuvasa initially stated that the Electoral Commissioner had no power to extend the receipt of writs beyond August 5 and any not handed in by then would be declared as failed. However, his comments have been ignored in the haste to install the new government. A series of court battles is expected.

The election will be widely viewed by the population as illegitimate. In a desperate bid to stem popular distrust, Marape was forced at one point to issue a statement that the Pangu Pati was not rigging the process. He said if Pangu was doing that it would have made a clean sweep of all 118 seats, including those lost by prominent party leaders such as John Simon in East Sepik.

His chief rival, ONeill, told the media that the rights of at least 3.8 million citizens and hundreds of candidates have been denied by the wilful actions of a few power-hungry men. Electoral roll problems meant millions of our people have not voted, he said.

The three-week polling period saw widespread illegal ballots, accusations of bribery, weapons brandished to intimidate voters and even killings. The media have reported at least 50 election-related deaths, down from 204 documented in the 2017 election, but including several days of violence in the capital Port Moresby during which troops were deployed onto the streets.

In one area alone, Madang, 211 men were charged for fighting and disrupting the count. Police Commissioner David Manning described ongoing investigations into some candidates who are believed to have been inciting their supporters to fight with opponents, and arrests will be made. He added there was potential for more confrontation as parliament sits and the court hears disputes over the vote.

International election observers reported problems ranging from interference in counting by scrutineers and double voting, to incomplete electoral rolls, which had not been renewed since 2017. In some cases, up to half of the names of eligible voters were not on electoral rolls, a Commonwealth Observer Group said.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group, in another observer report, said the elections many challenges included unexplained delays of up to three days before counting started in some electorates, scrutineer interference and failure to check voter identity documents.

The new government is likely to be highly unstable. In 2019 Marape, who was then finance minister, took over the prime ministership after ONeill resigned amid corruption charges. Marape has presided over an economic and social disaster, including the ongoing closure of the Porgera goldmine and alleged misuse of international funds for PNGs COVID response. Budget shortfalls resulted in government debt rising to 52 percent of GDP.

Marapes coalition almost collapsed in late 2020 when dozens of MPs, including cabinet ministers, defected to the opposition. Marape passed his 2021 budget in an emergency parliamentary session with the opposition absenta move the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional. He then adjourned parliament for four months to avoid a vote of no confidence, ensuring that he could not, under the rules, be removed before the current election.

ONeill, Marapes main opponent, declined in the end to challenge for the prime ministership. I encourage leaders who have been elected properly and who are genuinely interested in rescuing PNG from the economic and social chaos Marape has plunged the country into over the past three years, to consider putting their hand up for the top job, ONeill declared.

The Guardian asked in one commentary whether PNGs institutions have been so eroded that people feel they have no option but to take matters into their own hands. In fact, trust in the entire ruling elite has disintegrated following decades of social deprivation and growing inequality, buttressed by authoritarian military-police measures.

The crisis has been exacerbated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Tens of thousands of workers, as high as 25 percent of the workforce, lost their jobs. PNG remains one of the least vaccinated countries in the world, with just 3.4 percent of the eligible population partially vaccinated. Authorities have ceased vaccination operations in the capital Port Moresby due to lack of funding. The fragile health system is facing collapse, its inadequate conditions and low pay leading to repeated protests and strikes by nurses.

The political and business elite in Australia, PNGs colonial ruler until 1975, is increasingly concerned about the unstable situation in its northern neighbour. The Lowy Institutes Interpreter commented on August 4 that while Canberra had helped with planning, transport and ballots for the PNG election, its electoral support was clearly inadequate to the task.

Canberras primary concern is not the plight of the impoverished PNG peoples, but its own geo-strategic and business interests.

Pointing to the Solomon Islands recent security pact with Beijing, the Interpreter declared that PNG should be the centrepiece of Australias renewed Pacific foreign policy. It highlighted strategic infrastructure investments such as the government-backed purchase of telecommunications company Digicel by Telstra, a ports upgrade program and the Coral Sea Cable as projects that will enhance connectivity with PNG and contribute to regional security.

Amid the United States-led drive to war, Australias chief aim is to maintain its hegemony over the country, and to push back against Chinas growing economic and diplomatic influence in the Pacific. This will undoubtedly be at the centre of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses visit in September.
Over recent days, a protracted crisis of the Liberal-National Coalition government of New South Wales (NSW) has intensified to the point that its continued rule in Australias largest state is in question.

The turmoil began in June, when it was revealed that the governments former deputy premier John Barilaro had been appointed the NSW Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to the Americas. Rapidly, there were accusations that the half a million dollar a year posting to New York was a golden egg given to Barilaro after he had resigned from the government last October.

Barilaro withdrew from the New York posting at the end of June amid widespread public anger, but that did not stop the fallout. Documents revealed that the position had been awarded to another candidate but was then rescinded and bestowed on Barilaro.

The appointment is the subject of a NSW parliamentary inquiry. Barilaro was grilled over recent days on the position and broader questions relating to Investment NSW. Barilaro has testified that he told Premier Dominic Perrottet and others that he wanted the New York position last November and received an enthusiastic response.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet at a freedom day press conference ending COVID restrictions last year [Credit: ABC News]

The saga claimed its first political scalp last week. Deputy Liberal leader Stuart Ayres resigned after a preliminary report into Barilaros posting by former public service commissioner Graeme Head indicated that he may have breached a ministerial code of conduct.

Ayres has denied any wrongdoing. His removal was announced by Perrottet, indicating that Ayres had little choice but to resign. Treasurer Matt Kean was elected as deputy Liberal leader unopposed yesterday in an attempted display of party unity.

The move was clearly aimed at limiting the fallout amid a growing chorus of questions in the press about Perrottets own knowledge of, and involvement in, the creation of the New York position for Barilaro.

These efforts, however, appear to be failing. This week, allegations emerged in the parliamentary inquiry that Perrottet had promised to create a foreign posting for Police Minister David Elliot. The claim, denied by Perrottet, allegedly involved a trade role in London.

In a separate development, Liberal MP John Sidoti was suspended from the NSW parliament on Tuesday after the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) found that he had improperly used his position to influence an inner-city property development.

All in all, the government is on the brink of unravelling and is only being held together by a thread.

The revelations of plush postings to New York and London have provoked considerable outrage among ordinary people as reflected on social media.

Such appointments are a standard operating procedure, however, not merely for the NSW government, but for all its state and territory counterparts, whether led by Labor or the Coalition and for federal administrations. There is scarcely a prominent ex-politician who has not landed on their feet, immediately entering the top echelons of the public sector, the corporate world or major non-government organisations.

As is always the case, such conduct is brought to light to prosecute unstated political agendas. The crisis of the NSW government has been fuelled in large part by incessant media coverage of the Barilaro scandal. By contrast, innumerable acts of government and corporate malfeasance pass by with barely a murmur. The various mechanisms that have been activated amid the crisis, including ICAC and the parliamentary upper house inquiry, are themselves highly political.

The NSW government, moreover, has been a focal point of political intrigues and conflicts over the past period of national significance.

Perrottet was installed as premier last October, not as the result of an election, but a political coup spearheaded by ICAC. The corruption watchdog orchestrated the forced removal of his predecessor, Gladys Berejiklian.

It named her as a person of interest in an investigation into the activities of former MP Daryl McGuire, with whom she had a personal relationship. By that point, the substance of the allegations relating to electoral pork-barrelling had been on the public record for over a year and Berejiklian was not accused of anything approaching criminal conduct.

It rapidly became clear that her ouster was aimed at effecting a significant political shift. While Berejiklian had been at the forefront of the profit-driven response to the pandemic, there were mounting frustrations that she was not moving rapidly enough to end all safety measures and force the population to live with the virus.

The purpose of Berejiklians removal was made clear by Perrottets actions. Within two months of becoming premier, he worked with then Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews to fully reopen the economy as the Omicron variant wreaked havoc around the globe.

The triumvirate spearheaded the end of pandemic restrictions across the country, a dangerous school reopening amid surging cases and other policies which have resulted in millions of infections and over 10,000 deaths.

NSW was also a locus for conflicts in the lead-up to the May federal election. The national Liberal leadership, headed by Morrison, intervened aggressively to select its own candidates in defiance of the NSW branch of the party.

The election itself witnessed an historic collapse of support for the two-party set-up. The Liberals received their worst result in more than 60 years, with the very existence of the party called into question. This has undoubtedly intensified the long-simmering factional conflicts.

Perrottet was brought in, not only to reopen the economy, but also to enforce the associated pro-business restructuring demanded by the ruling elite. The increasing destabilisation of his government, spearheaded by the media but representing corporate interests, is because the government is failing to carry out that task.

In the past eight months, the level and number of industrial strikes among nurses, teachers, aged care workers, rail staff and other public sector workers has been the highest in a decade. In disputes covering hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, the Perrottet government has thus far been unable to impose sweeping cuts to pay and conditions.

The government has attempted blatant intimidation, including threatened action against the unions in the industrial courts and a provocative shutdown of the rail network earlier this year, as well as cosmetic sops aimed at helping the corporatised trade unions to force through sell-out agreements. But to this point, nothing has worked.

To the extent that there has not been a massive eruption of the class struggle centred around these disputes yet, it has only been due to the treacherous role of the unions in keeping the different sections of workers divided and isolated and limiting their action to partial token strikes.

Especially in the lead-up to a state election, which must be held next March, sections of the ruling elite are weighing up the prospect of supporting a Labor government in NSW in line with the coming to office of a federal Labor administration in last Mays national election.

The Albanese Labor government is overseeing ongoing let it rip COVID policies amid the worst surge of the virus to date, is mapping out a sweeping austerity agenda and presiding over Australias ever-greater involvement in the US confrontations with Russia and China that threaten world war.

Perrottets survival has in large measure depended upon the NSW Labor Party which does not function as an opposition in any meaningful sense of the term. Its leader Chris Minns is unknown to most of the states population. He assumed the position last year, pledging to work constructively with the Coalition government. Minns had not substantially differed with a single Coalition policy, including the various attacks on public sector workers. He has backed the homicidal COVID policies, as has Labor in every other state and territory.

The Labor Party, moreover, is hardly in a position to wage a campaign against corruption. For years, NSW Labor has had a reputation little better than the mafia. Several prominent ministers in the last Labor government are in prison, or not long released, over their own criminal activities.

In the current crisis, the working class must adopt an independent position opposed to the state and federal governments and the entire political establishment. The issue is not corruption, as a thing in itself, but the outmoded capitalist system, which is the root cause of social inequality, the soaring cost of living, and the existential dangers confronting humanity, including the pandemic and war. The alternative is the fight for a socialist perspective aimed at reorganising society to meet social need, not private profit.
This article was originally posted on Twitter.

The New York Times article How Russian Propaganda is Reaching Beyond English Speakers, is an unintentional but no less devastating self-exposure of government and corporate media efforts to suppress public access to all information and analysis that contradicts US-NATO propagandized accounts of its proxy war in Ukraine.

The Times, whose war coverage conforms to Washington's Good vs. Evil narrative, writes: When Russias war in Ukraine began, Facebook, Twitter and other social media giants moved to block or limit the reach of the accounts of the Kremlins propaganda machine in the West. The Times complains that Washington's efforts to censor Russian accounts of the war do not yet include coverage by media in Latin America and the Middle East.

Without full global censorship, writes the Times, The result has been a geographical and cultural asymmetry in the information war over Ukraine that has helped undercut American- and European-led efforts to put broad international pressure on Mr. Putin to call off his war.

The Times article sheds light on the intense involvement of social media outlets Facebook and Twitter in the suppression of news and analysis, particularly from RT, that provide access to Russian reports. But efforts to impose global censorship must be stepped up.

The Times declares: The failure to go after Russian posts in Spanish, Arabic and other languages has left open the door for the Kremlin to win over audiences in parts of the world where the United States, its main villain, is viewed with greater ambivalence.

Among the main lessons drawn by the US government from the Vietnam debacle was that media accounts of wars must be totally propagandized. The age of embedded reporters, who took dictation from the Pentagon and CIA, began. Present-day war coverage by the Times and the entire corporate media exemplify the outcome of this decades-long process of corruption. The Times is the most egregious example, habitually referring in a declamatory manner, to all Russian statements as lies.

This news article, for example, flatly denounces President Vladimir V. Putins unprovoked invasion, demonizing Ukraine and obfuscating responsibility for Russian atrocities that have killed thousands of civilians. Is it really a fact that the invasion is unprovoked. In the long distant past, the pretense of objective journalism would have been observed by writing: Putin's invasion, which Washington alleges to be unprovoked... All such essential modifiers are now dispensed with.

The Times article concludes with the following quote from an Argentine political scientist: Part of RTs success probably is due not so much on promoting the Russian version of events, but rather on questioning the Western narrative. This self-damning statement exposes the far-reaching aim of US censorship, which is not only to block access to unfavorable information, but also to prevent the questioning of the Western narrative.

This objective cannot be achieved only by blocking access to RT. It demands the suppression of news and analysis and any public expression of critical thought. The conclusion: US and NATO imperialism requires dictatorship within the borders of their own countries.
Amid the military standoff in the Taiwan Strait triggered by the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan last week, the US is planning to send warships through the Taiwan Strait in the coming days, the publication of the United States Naval Institute reported Tuesday.

On Monday, the Pentagon confirmed earlier statements by the White House that the US was planning another so-called freedom of navigation exercise, with Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl stating, We will continue to do Taiwan Strait transits, as we have in the past, in the coming weeks We will continue to do freedom of navigation operations elsewhere in the region.

In this photo provided by U.S. Navy, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) conducts routine underway operations in the Philippines Sea on June 24, 2022. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Arthur Rosen/U.S. Navy via AP)

The United States has stationed a carrier strike group, led by the USS Ronald Reagan, in the waters near the island, flanked by the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli. The USS America Expeditionary Strike Group is currently in port nearby in Sasebo, Japan.

In recent years the United States has increased the tempo of its provocative operations near Chinese waters, on the other side of the world from the American mainland.

But none of these operations, which routinely involve American and Chinese warships shadowing each other and issuing radio warnings, have ever taken place in such a tense military and political climate.

Chinese forces have indefinitely extended live-fire military exercises around Taiwan that began after Pelosis visit, and are concentrating on honing the capabilities of joint blockade under complex electromagnetic environment, the Global Times reported.

Chinas two aircraft carriers are operating in the area of Taiwan, but have not yet been reported to have joined the drills.

The Global Times reported that the Chinese aircraft carriers are expected to join the drills, and are expected to deter and cut off routes of external force interference from the east side of Taiwan island.

Following Pelosis trip, the Chinese government and Chinese military forces have cut off communications with their US counterparts, giving the looming standoff between US and Chinese forces an even greater element of danger and unpredictability.

Even prior to Pelosis visit, Chinese officials had argued to their US counterparts that the Taiwan Strait should not be considered international waters, raising the prospect that the Chinese navy would seek to block US warships or aircraft from transiting the strait.

The Global Times, paraphrasing a Chinese military expert, noted that The PLA can set new navigation restriction zones amid its consecutive exercises around Taiwan island, and this will deny US warships from entering the Taiwan Straits from a tactical level.

It continued, The US must realize the PLA will not give in an inch when it comes to safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and the major core interests like the Taiwan question, Song said.

Given this supercharged military climate around the Taiwan Strait, a further US freedom of navigation operation would take on a a far higher level of danger.

The announcement comes amid warnings in sections of the media over the increasing likelihood of a US war with China over Taiwan.

Writing in the Financial Times, columnist Gideon Rachman warned that, In the past a US-China war over Taiwan seemed like a real possibilitybut no more than that. Now an increasing number of experts believe that a US-China conflict is not just possible but probable.

He cited a statement by James Crabtree, the Asia director for the International Institute of Strategic Studies, who warned, On our current course some kind of military confrontation between the US and China over the coming decade now looks more likely than not.

On Tuesday, a series of media reports reported on a war game carried out by the Center for Strategic and International Studies gaming out the consequences of a US war over Taiwan.

Although the participants were not allowed to use nuclear weapons, the hypothetical war was by far the most destructive US military conflict since World War II.

The Wall Street Journal reported that In the first three weeks after invading Taiwan, China sank two multibillion-dollar U.S. aircraft carriers, attacked American bases across Japan and on Guam, and destroyed hundreds of advanced U.S. jet fighters.

In the simulated exercise, Chinese missiles sink a large part of the US and Japanese surface fleet and destroy hundreds of aircraft on the ground.

However, allied air and naval counterattacks hammer the exposed Chinese amphibious and surface fleet, eventually sinking about 150 ships, one participant told the Journal.

He continued, To get a sense of the scale of the losses, in our last game iteration, the United States lost over 900 fighter/attack aircraft in a four-week conflict. Thats about half the Navy and Air Force inventory.

Critically, the war game did not calculate the number of lives that would be lost in such a conflict, but the minimal scenario with such losses would mean the death of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of lives of people in China, Taiwan and Japan, as well as American sailors and airmen.

Yet despite this horrific prospect, the United States is relentlessly seeking to escalate tensions with China, seeing in war a way out of its protracted economic crisis and the growth of opposition within the working class at home.

Even as the US is escalating its conflict with China, it is encouraging its puppet government in Ukraine to escalate the war with Russia. In the same press conference reiterating US plans to sail through the Taiwan strait, the US for the first time acknowledged sending HARM anti-radiation missiles to Ukraine.

That same day, an explosion occurred at an arms depot in Crimea, in what the Kremlin denied was a Ukrainian attack.

Speaking just hours after the explosion, Ukrainian president and US proxy Volodymyr Zelensky said, This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end withwith its liberation. Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula of liberation of Crimea  I know that we will return to the Ukrainian Crimea.

Russian officials have made clear that they would consider an invasion of Crimea as an existential threat. Earlier this year, Malcolm Chambers warned, Faced with losing Crimea, Putin might consider [the use of nuclear weapons] a worthwhile gamble.

The systematic and simultaneous US efforts to escalate its conflicts with Russia and China threaten all of humanity with a disaster of monumental proportions. These plans must be opposed by workers all over the world.
The keynote speech on foreign policy given by German Foreign Minister and Green Party politician Annalena Baerbock at The New School in New York City on August 2 demands a response. There are lies that are so outrageous that they develop a devastating momentum of their own if left unchallenged.

Embedded in phrases about freedom, democracy and human rights and reminiscences of Hannah Arendt, who fled Germany from the Nazis as a Jew and taught at The New School from 1967 to 1975, Baerbock sketched out a vision of a world dominated by the US and Germany. She declared war not only on Russia but also on China and justified this imperialist great power fantasy with breathtaking falsifications, omissions and distortions.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in Kiev (Photo: kmu.gov.ua/CC BY-SA 4.0)

In 1989, President George Bush had famously offered Germany a partnership in leadership, Baerbock claimed. But at the time, Germany had been too busy with reunification to accept the offer. Today, she said, things had changed fundamentally. Now the moment has come when we have to create it: a joint partnership in leadership.

Such a leadership partnership was not a romantic project to bring back good old transatlantic times, Baerbock continued. By the good old romantic times, she meant the Cold War, during which the world repeatedly stood on the brink of nuclear annihilation. At that time, the Greens had still protested against nuclear weapons. But in the meantime, Baerbocklike Dr. Strangelove in Stanley Kubricks famous filmhas learned to love the bomb and is thinking of using it herself.

In a particularly bizarre paragraph of her speech, she describes how children ask at breakfast, Mum, what are nuclear weapons anyway? only to assure them, I like NATO, really. These childrens grandparents, she says, took to the streets in the mid-80s to demonstrate against rearmament. Now these grandparents, mothers, fathers and their children sit at the kitchen table and discuss rearmament.

Baerbock is obviously talking here about herself and about the wealthy clientele of the Greens but not about the vast majority of the population, who do not feel the slightest inclination to be incinerated by nuclear weapons for German great power plans.

Throughout her speech, Baerbock kept coming back to the fact that the desired leadership partnership is to be understood primarily in military terms. In Germany, we have abandoned the long-held German belief in change through trade, she says. Change through military force has apparently taken its place.

Russias war against Ukraine, she says, had caused the German government to put some long-held positions on security policy to the test. Germany has set up a special fund of 100 billion euros with which we want to strengthen our Bundeswehr [Armed Forces]. We have revised principles on arms exports that have existed for decades, so that Germany is now one of the strongest military and financial supporters of Ukraine. And we have expanded our contribution to NATO.

But this was only the beginning, she said: Our goal is to further strengthen the European pillar of NATO ... and to do so for the long term. The European Union must become more strategic, a Union capable of dealing with the United States on an equal footing: in a leadership partnership. And it must become a stronger security actor, linking its defence industries more closely, and capable of conducting military missions to stabilise regions in its neighbourhood.

Brazen lies

After its bestial crimes in two world wars, German militarism had to moderate itself for decades. Now, Baerbock strings together one brazen lie after another to justify its revival.

This begins with the claim that February 24the day of the Russian attack on Ukrainechanged our world. President Putin wants a world in which the law of the strongest applies, not the strength of the law, a world in which great powers can simply annex smaller states at will.

I am 40 years old, was born in West Germany and fortunately have never experienced war or dictatorship, Baerbock continued. But now, President Putin was not attacking the peaceful European order theoretically, the international orderhis attack is brutal reality.

Baerbock may be relatively young (she is actually 41). But the claim that she had never experienced war or dictatorship is simply absurd. Since she was 10 years old, the US, with which she now seeks a leadership partnership, has been waging war practically non-stop. Not only does Washington make use of the law of the strongest and disregards all the rules of international law, it has destroyed entire societies in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria, killed hundreds of thousands and driven millions to flee. Meanwhile, the US is openly preparing a war against economic rival China.

Baerbock was 18 when the then Green Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer gave the green light for the Bundeswehrs participation in the NATO war against Yugoslavia, which was illegal under international law.

And at 33, she was a Bundestag (federal parliament) deputy and a member of the Green Party leadership when it played an active role in the right-wing coup in Kiev that laid the groundwork for todays war. The elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown with the help of fascist militias and replaced by a pro-Western puppet.

Even then, the German government had announced it wanted to become a major political and military power again. Immediately before the coup in Kiev, three high-ranking representatives of state and governmentFederal President Joachim Gauck, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democratic Party, SPD) and Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (Christian Democratic Party, CDU)had declared this in almost identical speeches at the Munich Security Conference.

Baerbocks claim that the massive rearmament of the Bundeswehr was a reaction to the Russian attack on Ukraine is thus an obvious lie. Rather, the war has provided the welcome pretext to implement long-held rearmament plans, which meet with strong rejection among the population, as quickly as possible.

Since the 2014 coup, NATO has systematically rearmed Ukraine, holding out the prospect of it joining NATO and sabotaging all efforts to find a peaceful solution. President Putin reacted as was to be expected from a right-wing nationalist and lobbyist for the Russian oligarchs and, as NATO had hoped, he struck out militarily.

Since then, NATO has been ruthlessly exploiting this reactionary attack. It is waging a proxy war against Russia on the backs of the Ukrainian population and is doing everything to continue it until the Russian army is defeated, even if this costs a huge number of lives. Its goal is to eliminate Russia as a geopolitical rival, to gain unhindered access to its vast raw materials and to divide up its immense territory. Domestically, the war against Russia and the offensive against China are intended to distract from growing social tensions in both the US and Europe.

Against this background, Baerbocks invocation of the transatlantic community of values and irrevocable transatlantic partnershipshe used the word transatlantic no less than 30 times in the course of her speechcan only cause nausea. It is a partnership between predators.

Baerbock explicitly wants to extend the transatlantic leadership partnership to the conflict with China. It cannot be in our interest for China to create excessive economic dependencies in its region, she declared, announcing a new China strategy from her ministry that will be published next year and will take full account of strategic considerations here in the United States.

She rants about the daily struggle for peace, freedom and security and the inviolable dignity of the human person, while in reality she is preparing a renewed explosion of German militarism.

At the same time, she is decidedly selective when it comes to human dignity and human rights. Violations, real and alleged, are invoked whenever they damage a geopolitical rival, like in the case of the Uighurs in China. They are ignored and played down when they are committed by an ally.

Only three weeks ago, for example, Baerbock welcomed the Egyptian dictator and butcher of Cairo, Abdelfattah al-Sisi, to Germany as an ally in the fight against climate change. Al-Sisis police have killed thousands of protesters, tortured tens of thousands of political prisoners in their jails and executed several hundred every year.

The leading party of German militarism

The Greens have become the leading party of German militarism, to which they even sacrifice their core political issue, environmental policy. To be able to continue the war in Ukraine, they now advocate a longer operating life for nuclear and coal-fired power plants, the suspension of the rewilding of agricultural land and the abolition of other environmental protection measures for which they had campaigned for decades.

Der Spiegel journalist Dirk Kurbjuweit recently attested that the Greens had replaced the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) as the German party of state. They are in favour of arms deliveries, although they have pacifist roots, they temporarily rely on coal, although this can harm the climate, they get involved in a debate on nuclear power, although they emerged from the anti-nuclear movement. They are not doing all this to increase their election chances but so that Germany and Europe can get through this crisis better. Thus, the Greens, formerly a protest party, have become the German party of state, a title previously claimed by the CDU.

Cynically, in New York, Baerbock tried to use Hannah Arendt to justify the Greens transformation from a pacifist to a militarist party. She quoted Arendts postulate of thinking without a banisterthinking that does not follow any school or particular theory and does not bow to any intellectual constraints. She concluded: In doing so, she described an approach in which we are courageous enough to discard prejudices and preconceived ideas and open ourselves to new ideas.

We do not share the political and theoretical conceptions of Hannah Arendt, whose existential philosophy led to deep historical pessimism and whose theory of total domination blurs the distinction between fascism and Stalinism. But Baerbocks efforts to misuse her to justify German militarism is the height of insolence. Arendt, who narrowly escaped the Holocaust because she managed to escape from an internment camp in France in 1940, was an irreconcilable opponent of German militarism throughout her life. She devoted a large part of her work to dealing with the experiences of the Nazi regime.

Political lessons

The transformation of the Greens into Germanys leading war party contains fundamental political lessons. It confirms that the struggle against warlike the struggle against inequality, climate change and all the other evils of capitalist societyis a class question, not a class-neutral human question. Only the mobilisation of the working class to overthrow capitalism can prevent the destruction of human civilisation by a third, nuclear world war.

The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP, Socialist Equality Party) and its predecessor, the Bund Sozialistischer Arbeiter (League of Socialist Workers), have been combatting the illusion that the Green Party is a left-wing party since it was founded in 1980. Emerging from the 1968 student movement, the Greens programme drew liberally from the Frankfurt School, such as the rejection of the class struggle, a concentration on questions of lifestyle, and skepticism towards technological progress, as the SGPs Historical Foundations summarised the character of the Greens. The anti-capitalist rhetoric of the SDS had disappeared and given way to pacifism, environmentalism and the revival of bourgeois democracy.

At their heart, the Greens were retrogressive and conservative, the Historical Foundations continues. In their social composition, the Greens were a party of the academically educated middle class ... while Green Party members have the highest average income and level of education of all parties.

It is the social interests of these affluent layers that are driving the Greens further and further to the right. Over the past three decades, the living standards of the working class have stagnated and declined. At the lower end of the scale, a broad stratum has emerged that has no property and earns little more than the subsistence level or not even that.

At the upper end of the scale, a small number of billionaires and millionaires have amassed fabulous fortunes. Below them, there is a broader stratum of high-earning managers, top civil servants, politicians, journalists and the self-employed. Many have also become rich through inherited wealth.

This 90 to 99 percent on the income and wealth scale form the social base of the Greens. They perceive the growing social tensions and increasing combativeness of the working class as a threat to their privileges and react by entrenching themselves behind the state and militarism.

Of course, this does not apply to every single member of this stratum. There are always individuals who choose otherwise. But the course of history is not determined by individual decisions but by the laws of the class struggle.

The enthusiasm of the German petty bourgeois for war and militarism is not new. In 1908, the German Fleet Association, which campaigned for the expansion of the German navy against Britain, had over a million members. Hitler found an enthusiastic audience for his Lebensraum (living space) plans among the petty bourgeoisie. Now, the Greens are also swinging fully behind this reactionary tradition.
Press Release

August 10, 2022 Tulfo wants safety measures to avoid disasters amid plans to bring nuclear power in PH Senator Idol Raffy Tulfo today, Aug. 10, urged Department of Energy Secretary (DOE) Secretary Atty. Raphael P.M. Lotilla to help ensure that safety measures are provided to prevent disasters from happening here amid plans to bring nuclear power to the Philippines. During the first hybrid organizational meeting of the Committee on Energy (DOE) chaired by Tulfo, he underscored the need for solid plans to avoid disaster, such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, from happening in the country. "Secretary of Energy, Secretary Lotilla. Sa SONA, sinabi ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na gusto niyang magkaroon tayo ng nuclear energy and I would like to put it on record na pabor ako doon. However, meron lang akong konting concerns," he said. "Kung magkakaroon tayo ng nuclear energy, anong guarantee ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno na magkakaroon ng safety measures na hindi po magkaroon ng problema, like leakage? Yung proper disposal ng waste sa nuclear energy, dapat mabigyan ng pansin. "Also, yung bansa natin ay laging pinapasok ng typhoon at earthquake. Halos lahat ata ng lugar sa Pilipinas mayroong mga fault lines. So, ano po 'yung mga measures na gagawin ninyo kapag natuloy yung plans to use nuclear energy? Dapat magkaroon po tayo ng mga safety measures para hindi tayo magkaroon ng disaster tulad ng nangyari sa Japan," he added. Lotilla, who was among the resource persons during the meeting, acknowledged Tulfo's concerns, saying that the Philippines would have to work with other ASEAN counties who are looking to explore nuclear powerplants to prevent disasters from happening. The organizational meeting was also attended by resource persons from the energy sector, including Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Atty. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chairperson and National Electrification Administration (NEA) Administrator Emmanuel P. Juaneza, among others. Among the senators who were physically present during the meeting were Senators Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Sherwin Gatchalian, Robinhood Padilla, Bato Dela Rosa and Senate President Migz Zubiri. Those who attended via zoom were Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III and Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda and Sonny Angara. Tulfo also took the opportunity to direct Lotilla to help urgently address the recurrent power outages in several provinces. "I've seen yung problema sa talamak na brownout, day in and day out. Ang masama pa dito ay pagdating sa singilan, mataas ang bill ng kuryente at pinuputulan agad ng ng linya ang consumers kapag hindi nakapagbayad agad," he lamented. "Pwede ba, Secretary Lotilla, do something about that? Under my watch, I'll make sure, ako'y makulit na Senador, and I assure you hangga't di na-aacomplish yan at hindi nasosolusyunan ang problema ng taumbayan, ay patuloy po kayong makakarinig sa akin," he added. During the meeting, Tulfo said he is looking forward to working with the members of the Senate Committee on Energy to urgently address the pressing issues hounding the energy sector, including the soaring prices of electricity and fuel that are causing people to suffer. "I was given the opportunity to head the committee on energy at a most important time when prices of electricity and fuel are soaring to never before seen heights. I wholeheartedly accept this challenge because this is precisely the reason why I chose to ran for senator," he said. "To make changes, through legislation, that would make it easier for the everyday Filipino to warm his home, cook his meals, go to work, and receive a better quality of life. I expect all the members of this committee to join me in achieving these principal goals," he added. Tulfo earlier filed Senate Resolution (PSR) No. 107 calling for a Senate investigation into the persistent and recurring power outages and rotational blackouts in the different parts of the country, as well as the rising cost of electricity amid these power interruptions. The Senator said he will still set at least two more meetings to further discuss the issues on energy.
First Interstate Bank is awarding a $100,000 grant to YWCA Billings to equip and stock the First Interstate Bank Gateway Horizons Family Food Center, which will provide basic nutrition for families who will be sheltered at YWCAs new domestic violence shelter on the organizations campus in Billings.

The new Gateway Horizons Shelter is scheduled to open later in the year to provide women and children victims of domestic violence with desperately needed protection from their abusers through life-saving shelter and life-changing services.

First Interstate Bank and the Foundation are proud to support YWCAs endeavors to help people in crisis by providing a hand up rather than a handout, said Brian Brown, First Intestate Market President in Billings. Our continued support of the YWCA is a reflection of the meaningful and important work their dedicated team performs day in and day out.

In the past fiscal year, YWCA provided 13,241 nights of shelter to women and children. In previous years YWCA provided an average of 8,500 to 9,500 nights of shelter annually. YWCA has struggled to keep up with the significant increase in demand for shelter and services.

With the considerable upward trend in the number of domestic violence cases and the severity of the violence, we determined that constructing a new emergency shelter to protect women and families was our top priority, says Merry Lee Olson, YWCA CEO. The new Gateway Horizon shelter will allow each mom and her kids to have an individual studio apartment with a kitchenette, private bathroom, and sleeping areas.

The food center enhances YWCAs ability to provide for sheltered residents overall needs, says Olson. We are honored to not only have the First Interstate gift that will make food available to people in shelter, but also have First Interstate employees volunteering to help stock the pantry.

YWCA Billings Gateway Sheltering Program has provided safe, secure refuge for victims of domestic and sexual violence and human trafficking since 1998. It offers the only 24-hour/365 day per year secured shelter facilities in an 18,512 square mile area of Montana. Last year, the people served were from 22 of Montanas 56 counties, three American Indian Reservations, and seven other states. The women and children who stay at Gateway receive wrap-around services including shelter, toiletries, food, legal services, and case management all at no charge.

The new Gateway Horizons shelter will be a two-story building with 25 studio apartments, laundry facilities, the First Interstate Bank Food Center, counseling and case management offices, and YWCAs 24/7 help lines where 4,775 callers were assisted in the last year.

Over the life of the new shelter, thousands of women and children will be assisted with life-saving sheltering and life-changing wrap-around services. With our help, families can heal from the complex trauma of violence and poverty, says Olson.

YWCA has received and has awards pending that total $3.9 million of the $4.25 million needed for the new Gateway Horizons Shelter project. With construction scheduled for completion in late fall we are now racing to the finish line funding-wise and are reaching out to the community to help us get there, says Olson.

For additional information or to make a donation to the Gateway Horizons project or the organization, call 406-252-6303 or go to www.ywcabillings.org or Venmo @ywcabillings.
NorthWestern Energys plans for the battery storage facility in Billings have short circuited, at least temporarily, now that a law allowing the utility to bill customers ahead of actually building the facility has been declared unconstitutional.

The Montana Public Service Commission on Tuesday formally dismissed the monopoly utilitys request for preapproval to put customers on a long-term debt schedule for the 50-megawatt facility at a price determined before all costs associated with the project are known.

Battery storage is a relatively new tool for banking low-cost energy for later use or sale when prices are high. NorthWestern included batteries as part of a 2021 acquisition plan for new generation that also included a 175-megawatt natural gas plant and 100 megawatts of hydro power purchased from British Columbia. Only the battery project was before state utility regulators for preapproval.

In May, state District Court Judge Jason Marks ruled that preapproval, a practice only granted to NorthWestern Energy, was unconstitutional. The utilitys application for the battery storage facility preceded the court ruling by six months but had yet to receive a commission ruling.

We again find ourselves confronted by that pesky dang thing called the law here, said Commissioner Brad Johnson. It's on that basis that I move to dismiss NorthWesterns application, because the application was indeed filed under Montana Code Annotated 69-8-421, which the court in fact has found unconstitutional.

Although NorthWestern indicated that it would suffer harm if its application was dismissed, the PSC staff reported it could find no evidence that was the case. NorthWestern is free to carry out its battery storage project and then reapply once all costs are realized.

For years, preapproval has been a powerful tool available only to NorthWestern for managing risk. The practice assured the utility was guaranteed, in advance of buying or building generating assets, that it would recover its estimated costs, with interest.

But for consumers, the practice raised the risk of being locked into paying a price that turned out to be much higher than a projects true value, which has happened. In 2014, commissioners committed NorthWestern customers to a $900 million price in advance of the utilitys purchase of a dozen hydroelectric dams. Driving up the price was the assumption that future carbon regulations would contribute to higher prices starting in 2021. Those carbon-related costs never materialized, but remain part of the debt customers pay.

Arguing for plaintiffs 350 Montana in the preapproval case, attorney Monica Tranel called the special privilege a blank check for NorthWestern, one that encouraged the utility to set prices high enough to cover potential costs that may not turn up. Tranel is currently running for Western Montanas U.S. House seat as a Democrat.

Before the vote, Commissioner Jim Brown asked if NorthWestern intended to appeal the Marks ruling to the Montana Supreme Court and whether NorthWestern had asked the Supreme Court to stay the ruling.

NorthWestern Attorney Shannon Heim explained to Brown that on matters concerning the state constitution, the state Supreme Court wont issue stays.

My understanding is because it's a constitutional issue, a stay is not strictly appropriate and so a stay has not been sought, Heim said. And I don't believe it would be granted if it was.

Brown is currently a candidate for Supreme Court, challenging Justice Ingrid Gustafson.
In an attempt to find solutions to the controversial issue of elk management in Montana, a new group is holding a symposium on Saturday in Bozeman.

The biggest thing were hoping for is a robust conversation, said Marcia Brownlee, a member of the leadership committee of the Montana Citizens Elk Management Coalition, which is sponsoring the gathering.

Over the past year, talks have become heated at Fish and Wildlife Commission meetings, despite the fact that landowners, hunters and outfitters share a lot of common ground, she added. Then in May, United Property Owners of Montana filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn hunting regulations and require the state's wildlife agency to reduce elk populations.

The coalition is hosting the free forum at the Rialto Theater and has invited a variety of speakers, from landowners and biologists to outfitters and state legislators. Online registration is required to attend, although the program will also be livestreamed. More information can be found at montanaelk.org/elk-management-symposium.

New coalition

The coalition was formed last year out of concern over the direction of the Republican-dominated Montana Legislature.

Political opportunism impacting our wildlife management has become the standard operating procedure for the Legislature, according to the groups website. Since 2011, 489 bills have been introduced on wildlife issues, and 906 bills have been drafted. That doesnt count the budget bills that would defund wildlife management or habitat work, legislation that threatened public lands, bills that tried to eliminate the citizens' voice in management decisions while amplifying the power of politicians and the unelected bureaucrats that are beholden to them.

In sending out invitations to the symposium, the coalition noted: With another legislative session looming in less than six months, a new Elk Management Plan being drafted and another round of season setting coming in 2023, the need for Montanans to sit down and discuss how to effectively advance robust solutions for elk management has never been greater.

Legislators

The symposium attendees vary in what they hope to see come out of the daylong event.

Sen. Tom Jacobson, D-Great Falls, said the states leaders need to make sure working class Montanans have access to wildlife, something that has declined as multi-generational ranches and farms have been sold to nonresident landowners who may lease the property out or only allow friends and family access.

Although Jacobson said landowners cant be forced to allow public access, the state shouldnt monetize wildlife by giving landowners tags to sell to hunters, privatizing a public wildlife resource.

Residents have worked their tails off for subpar wages to be able to fish and hunt in Montana, he said. We have to somehow recognize and reward that.

For 25 years, Rep. Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, has been a participant in FWPs Block Management Program, which pays landowners to allow public hunting access.

I am receptive to hunters, but sometimes the sporting groups feel that FWP and everyone caters to the landowners, he said.

From his perspective as a landowner, Loge noted the hassles some have to deal with  from a loss of crop yield due to the wildlifes appetite, to fences damaged by big game. Some nontraditional landowners may not mind, Loge said, appreciating wildlife on their property.

Theres no solution for that because my respect for private property rights trumps everything else, he said.

He also said Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks' leadership and Fish and Wildlife Commissioners who Gianforte has appointed, are not out to enact ranching for wildlife by monetizing elk hunting licenses.

To me, this whole thing is about communication, Loge said. A lot of people are talking but not everyone is listening. Everyone needs to understand each other.

Balance

Former Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Dan Vermillion said it is getting more difficult to find a balance in elk management that satisfies the states mandate to lower populations where elk are abundant with concerns among hunters that a public resource is being controlled by a minority.

He said people need to realize its a lot of work to open private lands to hunters, especially with the long elks seasons in the state  which now run for about six months of the year. He advocates for finding a way to get landowners to say yes, such as providing landowners with hunt coordinators if they take part in a program like Block Management. Yet he added that Montanans need to be included in any solution.

You can never have too much conversation about elk in this state, he said.

Vermillion called the concept of managing to population objectives for hunting districts flawed. Those numbers are set by landowner tolerance, and not all landowners agree on how many elk they are willing to harbor, he said.

The controversial 454 program, which gives landowners a free bull elk permit in exchange for allowing access to two public hunters and one hunter they get to choose, is a good idea but unfair to Montana public hunters because of the skewed ratio.

Too liberal

Milk River Outfitters owner Eric Albus said he likes rewarding landowners for providing public access.

Until theyre satisfied things are fair and equal, youre not going to see any great change, he said.

Paying landowners through something like the states Block Management Program is a failure when access isnt controlled, he added.

Management is a misnomer when you have land overrun with hunters, he said. Thats not management.

The program may work for some landowners, he added, but Montanas long seasons and liberal hunting license numbers quickly clear wildlife off publicly accessible lands.

Kathy Hadley, a former rancher in the Deer Lodge Valley, helped craft the states Block Management Program and used it on her familys ranch to manage hunters.

Before we were in Block Management, we spent a lot of time answering the door, especially at dinnertime, she said, as hunters sought permission to walk their property. We never had any problems with the hunters. They were respectful and polite. We felt like Block Management was great for us. It also provided a check, an impact fee for every hunter on the place.

Access

When it comes to one of the hottest issues in the state  access  Albus has taken a controversial stance.

There is no access problem in Montana, he said, noting most towns are within a half hour drive of public lands owned by the state or federal government. Its access to quality thats an issue. Until we manage the accessible land were going to have issues.

He said a proposal by an FWP citizens elk advisory committee that would make hunters choose either archery or rifle, not both, is a step in the right direction.

The only way to get game back to accessible areas is to decrease the pressure on them, Albus said.

Bozeman hunter Gerald Martin agrees that the current practice of issuing a lot of elk tags to hunters is only exacerbating the problem, sending elk to sanctuaries where they reproduce. Yet he also worries about what he sees as a trend toward privatization of wildlife through programs like the 454, giving landowners free bull elk tags for allowing access.

Were on a path thats unsustainable, he said.

Martin sees making hunters choose a rifle or bow, or restricting where hunters can go, as inevitable. To that end, hes hopeful the Saturday symposium attendees can agree on some solutions.

I always believe collaboration with a variety of groups gets you a more desirable agreement, he said.
The Bull Mountains just north of Billings are home to Montanas only underground coal mine, owned by Signal Peak Energy. I have ranched in these hills my entire life, just like my parents before me. We have ranched alongside coal production for generations. Its always been a challenge because coal mining inherently causes damage to the land and water we depend on for our cattle and livelihood. But weve always found a way to make it work.

We try to be honest and forthright. We work to maintain respectful relationships with the workers earning a living for their families. When dealing with corporate executives, we stand up for our rights, uphold our values, and do our best to protect our community without undercutting the livelihoods of others. Managing these relationships takes work and patience. It requires civility and understanding others perspectives. Fourteen years ago Signal Peak moved into our community. Soon after that, civility and respect were shoved aside, and its only gotten worse since.

Headlines about Signal Peaks repeated criminal convictions, investigations, and the wild details involved are plentiful. They sound sensational and would be hard to believe if not for the facts detailed in criminal court proceedings and law enforcement reports. In one case, a workplace injury led to a finger amputation, and the workers superiors bribed him with a cash-filled envelope to refrain from reporting it.

In another case, former mine executive Larry Price, Jr. staged his own kidnapping while trying to outrun business investors he had swindled $20 million from. He was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud and lying to the FBI about the false abduction.

In January, Signal Peak was sentenced in federal criminal court to a $1 million fine and three years probation after pleading guilty to multiple counts of health and safety violations. One violation involved pumping toxic waste slurry into the ground, threatening the safety of our communitys water sources.

A Department of Justice statement about the investigation says, .mine managers lied about the mines expenses, its safety record, and other matters, which resulted in individual criminal convictions and charges for nine persons, including former mine vice presidents and their associates, on crimes ranging from embezzlement, tax evasion and bank fraud to money laundering, drugs and firearms violations.

This toxic culture has extended to the treatment of landowners who ranch over the mine. Signal Peak is trying to drive us off our land by tearing out spring developments and water storage facilities (as documented in a DEQ complaint and order for Signal Peak to provide replacement water), cutting us off from water sources we have the legal right to use, and by forcing us into endless legal cases, one of which was ruled harassment to landowners by the District Court in Billings.

Now Signal Peak is canceling long-term leases weve held for over 65 years, claiming they can kick us off our own deeded land and block access for the next eight years, imperiling our ranching operations and our livelihoods.

The toxic culture and criminal behavior of Signal Peak is not surprising given the history of the parent companies that created it. Wayne Boich, Jr., FirstEnergy Corporation, and Gunvor Group jointly own Signal Peak. These entities have a disturbing history of criminal charges, bribery schemes, and well-documented international corruption. In 2014, the U.S. Treasury found that Russian President Vladimir Putin has investments in Gunvor and may have access to Gunvor funds.

Court documents show that former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Johnson passed along an image of himself, Wayne Boich, and other associates faces Photoshopped onto Mount Rushmore with the caption F*** ANYBODY WHO AINT US. They were bragging about a $60 million bribery scandal and legislative bailout scheme in Ohio that analysts have called the worst energy policy in the country.

Apparently, F*** ANYBODY WHO AINT US is their version of the golden rule. Signal Peak and its owners have held to this rule with us and the rest of Montana. These are not the type of people we want doing business in our state. The Department of Environmental Quality has an obligation to protect our communities from habitual criminal offenders who have no morals and no respect for ranchers, local residents, or even their own employees.
When a drone strike took out (that's a euphemism for murdered) al-Qaida honcho Ayman al-Zawahiri (pictured here) last week, I did not come close to grieving the end of his miserable, destructive life.

But I did grieve for humanity. We seem unable to rise above revenge and violence except in rare circumstances led by rare people. History is not a story only of crimes and wars, but crimes and wars do take up a huge amount of space in that story.

As you no doubt know, al-Zawahiri has been described as a leading planner of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, in which some 3,000 people were murdered, including my own nephew. (I tell that story and explore the roots of extremism in my latest book, Love, Loss and Endurance: A 9/11 Story of Resilience and Hope in an Age of Anxiety. You'll be smarter after you read it.)

Like his equally disgusting leader, Osama bin Laden, al-Zawahiri seemed incapable of following the core teachings of the Prophet Muhammad to honor God and/or to find non-violent ways to settle disputes. (At times, of course, even the prophet and his followers engaged in violence in his lifetime, as have many other religious leaders and adherents across history.)

As the New Yorker piece to which I linked you in the first paragraph above reports, "President Joe Biden, announcing the attack on Monday evening, said that he hoped Zawahiris death 'provides a small measure of peace to the 9/11 families and everyone else who has suffered at the hands of Al Qaeda.'

Well, no, Mr. President. I can tell you that the death of anyone as a result of an act of revenge for 9/11 doesn't bring me even a small measure of peace, and I can tell you that many, if not most, other members of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows (PT) feel the same way. We don't want more killing in our loved ones' names. Period.

Here is the way one PT member put it in a group email the other day: "I dont know how we can do this and claim to follow rule of law as a civilized country. It saddens me that we can do this and still claim to be an upright, moral society. I still deeply grieve my brothers death and desperately crave justice -- but not this way. I say this knowing members of my own family would not agree with me. But how can we cry out against the targeted attacks of 9/11 and then do likewise? Zawahiri may have been an evil man, but I am not an executioner. I have often thought of the convenience of using a drone to remove Putin but he is protected by our own fear of the consequences we would suffer worldwide. I cannot be against the death penalty and celebrate a drone takeout."

Of course, we didn't want al-Zawahiri and similar theological thugs freely roaming the world and spewing out their violent nonsense. But it gives me no pleasure to know that one more person has perished as a response to the deaths of my nephew and thousands of other victims of terrorism.

What this drone-killing highlights is the continuing mess that is Afghanistan.

As the New Yorker piece notes, "Apart from the issue of justice served, the greatest source of interest in Zawahiris killing lies in where he was found  not far from the now-shuttered U.S. Embassy, in Sherpur, one of central Kabuls relatively upscale neighborhoods, where senior figures in the Taliban regime currently reside. According to an unnamed Taliban leader quoted by Reuters, Zawahiri moved to Afghanistan just a few months after the Taliban seized power last August. An unnamed senior Biden Administration official told reporters on Monday that at least some figures in the Talibans Haqqani faction knew of Zawahiris presence. After the strike, the Taliban removed all signs of his stay from the safe house in which he had been residing."

So that's further proof that the Taliban was once -- and now is again -- a disastrous ruling party in Afghanistan. Extremists never make good political leaders.

The war in Afghanistan was, at first, a justified response of self-defense on the part of the U.S. to prevent more terrorists from being trained on its soil. But before long it turned into the Forever War and it ended (if it has) badly. Every president who has dealt with it made errors and has been sullied by the experience.

As the New Yorker piece concludes: "It is on the basis of. . .millenarian radicalism that Al Qaeda has justified the deaths of thousands of innocents, including Muslims. Zawahiri is gone, but as long as his ideas live on and bands of volunteers find haven in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the threat of occasional shocks of mass violence will menace Afghans, their neighbors and the world."

So now there's one more death to add to the total that terrorism has extracted from the wounded world. Sometimes I am at the edge of losing hope for humankind ever getting it right. History: Read it and weep.

* * *

AFGHAN WOMEN PROTEST THEIR STATUS UNDER THE TALIBAN

A little more on Afghanistan today: From the time the Taliban came back to power there just a year ago, the status of women has declined markedly. But the good news is this: Some women are continuing to fight for the rights they achieved between the two periods of Taliban rule, this Reuters story reports. Even though public demonstrations against Taliban restrictions on women have died down, the report says, women "meet in homes in private acts of defiance, discussing women's rights and encouraging people to join the cause. Such gatherings would have been virtually unthinkable the last time the Taliban governed Afghanistan." You have to wonder why the Taliban is afraid of women. Perhaps the same reason America's founders were afraid to give them the vote. And why women didn't get the vote until the adoption of the 19th amendment a little over 100 years ago. But even then, the result was white women's suffrage only. Like most Black men, most Black women weren't able to vote until passage of the 1965 voting rights act. And no doubt Adam feared Eve a little, too. Sigh.
The North Dakota Supreme Court on Tuesday asked attorneys to weigh in on whether the appeal of quadruple murderer Chad Isaak is moot following his recent suicide and whether his death might mean that his conviction could be set aside.

Isaak's attorney filed the appeal on June 30. Isaak, 48, was declared dead at a Bismarck hospital about a month later, on July 31. Authorities that day responded to a call of inmate self-harm at the North Dakota State Penitentiary, where Isaak had been since being sentenced in December to life in prison without parole for the April 2019 slayings of four people at RJR Maintenance and Management.

His death occurred about the time the prosecution's response to his appeal was originally due, and it left questions about whether his appeal can, should or will proceed, and who makes that call. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday discussed the matter, and later referenced a rule in criminal law that could negate a conviction if the defendant dies before he or she can exhaust all appeals.

A jury in August 2021 convicted Isaak on four counts of murder and other charges in the April 1, 2019, deaths of RJR co-owner Robert Fakler, 52; and employees Adam Fuehrer, 42; and married couple Bill Cobb, 50, and Lois Cobb, 45.

Three of the victims were shot, and among the four they suffered more than 100 stab wounds, according to trial testimony. No motive was ever established.

South Central District Judge David Reich in December 2021 sentenced Isaak to four consecutive life sentences. Isaak had been behind bars since his arrest and was moved to the penitentiary after his conviction. Prison officials said Isaaks roommate was not in the cell at the time of his suicide.

Kiara Kraus-Parr, the attorney in Isaaks appeal, in a document submitted to the North Dakota Supreme Court on June 30 said Isaaks judgment should be reversed because of errors during jury selection and violations of Isaaks right to a public trial. No record was made of certain conferences involving the judge and attorneys held before and during the trial, Kraus-Parr said. She further argued that public access to court documents and autopsy photos was improperly closed, and that jurors were dismissed outside Isaak's presence.

Kraus-Parr did not respond to multiple Tribune phone calls and emails in the past week.

A response by prosecutors is due 30 days after an appeal is filed -- in Isaak's case, on July 30, the day before his death. Assistant Morton County States Attorney Gabrielle Goter before the deadline was granted an extra 60 days to review additional items for her response. She said she still plans to file it.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted on its website that attorney arguments on "whether the appeal is moot and whether or not the case abates" are due Aug. 30.

"It could set aside the verdict," Goter told the Tribune, adding that the justices "also asked us to address the effect on the victims families when looking at whether the appeal is moot and whether the case should abate."

Attorneys as they do research for their arguments will weigh victims' rights, the issue of suicide or of a defendant acting to take his own life mid-appeal, Goter said.

If the appeal would move forward and be successful, the case would be dismissed, according to the prosecutor. It couldn't go back to trial because a person can't be tried after death, she said.

"That significantly impacts victim rights," Goter said. "If the case abates, it's a similar result and effect on victims' rights."

Tim Purdon, a former federal prosecutor, said when a criminal defendant dies in the course of prosecution the general rule is that ends the criminal case.

With no criminal defendant theres no case, he said.

Joe Tamburino, a Minneapolis criminal defense attorney and legal analyst, said it appears the justices "are looking to explore two issues that could go either way with the right arguments." Mootness would mean that finishing the appeal is pointless since there is no dispute to be resolved.

"They may be looking for perspective on complete abatement -- overturning all prior convictions and indictments -- or partial abatement -- upholding prior convictions and dismissing appeals," Tamburino said. "The historical practice in North Dakota has been to dismiss appeals ... and uphold lower court convictions."

Details of Isaak's death have not been released pending the Patrols investigation.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  A federal appeals court has denied the Oglala Sioux Tribe's request for a review of a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission decision to grant a license for a potential uranium mine in southwestern South Dakota despite the tribe not being individually consulted on the potential impact to cultural resources.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission complied with federal law when it granted Powertech Inc., a subsidiary of enCore Energy in Texas, a license to mine uranium at a 10,000-acre site near Edgemont, South Dakota. The company plans to use a mining method that injects a water-based solution underground, dissolves the uranium and draws it to the surface for processing.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe has mounted a yearslong effort to halt the project, arguing that the project would endanger cultural and environmental resources on land that historically belonged to the Great Sioux Nation.

The tribe did not participate in a 2013 survey for historical and cultural resources because it disapproved of the methods and timing. It later argued against the license before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

Although the board found that the tribe was not adequately consulted, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission kept the license in place because the tribe had failed to show it suffered irreparable harm from the licensing process. Federal regulators tried several times to reach an agreement with the tribe to conduct a survey, but they could not agree to a method.

The Oglala Sioux Tribe did not immediately comment on Tuesday's ruling.

The federal court in its order found that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission had satisfied its statutory obligations during the license review process.

The decision clears the way for other permits for the project to potentially move forward. The Environmental Protection Agency has issued permits in 2020, but an appeal of that decision had been halted until the court ruled on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's license.

Powertech is also seeking South Dakota state permits. Those too have been put on hold while federal permits are challenged in court.

EnCore Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the court's ruling.

Uranium was mined in open pits and tunnels in the Edgemont area from the 1950s to the 1970s, a process that left behind unreclaimed mines, buried radioactive waste and health concerns.

The uranium previously mined at the site was used for American nuclear weapons. However, this time it would be used for nuclear power plants. Powertech says nuclear energy is environmentally friendly since its carbon-free.
U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Hampshire

Using candy, Pokemon cards, and the threat of a mysterious criminal organization that would kill his family if he did not comply, a New Hampshire school bus driver attempted to convince an 8-year-old boy into taking photographs of himself, according to a criminal complaint.

The document, filed last Friday, paints a disturbing picture of an alleged stalker who spent months obsessing over his target, going so far as to invite himself to one of the boys Little League games.

The driver, a 39-year-old Maine man named Michael Chick, was arrested Friday night, New England Cable News reported. He is now facing a federal charge of interstate stalking, according to New Hampshire District Attorney Jane Young.

The boy, identified in court documents only as AC, was a young Greenland Central School student on one of Chicks bus routes. Earlier this year, the driver began presenting the 8-year-old and his sister with small gifts, according to the complaint. Chick also allegedly left letters at their home whenever one of the children missed school, explaining how much he missed them.

ACs parents, already rattled, grew more concerned when Chick approached the mother to ask if he could attend one of the boys Little League games. They contacted school officials, who requested Chick be assigned to a different route.

On May 6, officers with the Greenland Police Department approached Chick for the first time. When one asked Chick why he thought law enforcement wanted to speak with him, the bus driver responded that it probably had to do with AC, the complaint says. The officers cautioned Chick not to contact the boy or his family again.

Two months later, ACs father was cleaning the boys closet when he stumbled upon two cell phones squirreled away in a Pokemon lunch box. Chick later told investigators that, several days after the officers warning, he had called AC over to his bus to give him the phones. Reluctant at first, the 8-year-old eventually accepted the devices. According to the complaint, AC told his parents that he had only spoken to Chick one time on one of the phones and they talked about Pokemon.

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The family, fearing that Chick was planning to kidnap their son, installed surveillance cameras around their residence. What they didnt realize was that Chick, using magnetic GPS trackers, was already keeping tabs on both their family vehicles. (Investigators later retrieved the devices after Chick confessed to having secretly installed them.)

Throughout May and June, the driver had begun to allude to a shadowy they and them in threatening conversations with AC, bus surveillance footage obtained by investigators showed.

Were still in this situation, right? Chick can be heard asking in footage from May 13, according to the complaint. Have you been worried about it?

Yeah, the boy replied.

Occasionally muffled by the chatter of other students, Chick continued: Remember our deal? The reason they havent gone to that [inaudible] is Ive been paying $1,000 a week [inaudible] hold them off while I try to figure out what I gotta do.

In a June 6 conversation, the driver warned the boy that yesterday, when... you were at your grandmothers house, we were right across the street.

Im doing everything I can to stop them from doing very bad things, he added.

In other conversations, Chick gave the boy instructions on how to use the cell phone, pressuring him to use it in the bathroom at school, the complaint states.

On Friday, AC felt brave enough to fill in the gaps for investigators about the drivers threats, according to court records.

The boy said that Chick had talked about an organization known as The Team, which had between eight and 800 members. If AC did not meet their demands, the complaint explains, The Team would go to Plan B, which would result in AC being kidnapped and tortured.

The Team, the boy claimed Chick told him, liked clothing and underwear.

An Aug. 5 search warrant executed at Chicks home in Eliot, Maine turned up several disturbing items, including a large Ziplock baggie of childrens underwear, and a notehandwritten as though addressed to ACthat read: Good job, you were great last night. Thank you. You saved yourself. Would have taken you away on Friday.

Other notes were found in Chicks bedroom, according to the complaint, including one with detailed instructions on how to take body selfies, offering the recipient extra credit if they recorded a video of anything you would consider naughty.

Several printed-out pages were more explicitly threatening. YOU HAD TOO MANY CHANCES THIS IS NOT WORKING WE ARE DONE FUCKING AROUND, one warned, MAKE THIS HAPPEN NOW OR THE KID DISAPPEARS.

TODAY IS THE DAY YOU HAVE HAD FAR TOO MANY CHANCES, another read in part. SAY GOODBYE. WE ARE DOING THIS. DO NOT RUN. DO NOT HIDE. WE KNOW WHERE TO GET YOU.

That Friday night, Chick arrived at the residence as officers were executing the warrant. Standing out on his front lawn, he told investigators that he had visited ACs home at night between six and 10 times over the past few months, just to walk around the house. He was arrested soon after.

The bus driver has been ordered to remain in custody pending a detention hearing later this month.

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Attorney Kim Crockett addresses delegates in Rochester, Minnesota, after winning the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement for secretary of state on May 13. (Photo: Dave Orrick/MediaNews Group/St. Paul Pioneer Press via Getty Images)

Attorney Kim Crockett addresses delegates in Rochester, Minnesota, after winning the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsement for secretary of state on May 13. (Photo: Dave Orrick/MediaNews Group/St. Paul Pioneer Press via Getty Images)

Kim Crockett won Minnesotas Republican secretary of state primary Tuesday night, making her the latest GOP candidate who has lied about the 2020 election to win the partys nomination in a race to become a states top elections official.

Crockett defeated Erik van Mechelen, who called the 2020 election a coup and has spread conservative conspiracies about electronic voting machines. She held a 64%-36% lead with nearly half of precincts reporting vote counts when the New York Times, Washington Post and Politico projected her as the winner.

She will face incumbent Secretary of State Steve Simon (D), who is seeking a third term, in Novembers general election.

Crockett has said the 2020 election was rigged and, during a discussion with Minnesota state Rep. Jeremy Munson (R) this year, agreed with his assertion that the election was illegitimate. She has said Minnesota should return to in-person voting and roll back the chaotic, insecure absentee balloting system that roughly 58% of the states voters used during the pandemic, the Minnesota Reformer reported. She has also nodded toward right-wing conspiracies that electronic voting machines were used to steal the election from former President Donald Trump.

And as HuffPost reported last week, she used a 2020 radio interview to question whether people with disabilities and non-English speakers should be allowed to vote, while insinuating that laws allowing such voters to seek assistance lead to fraud.

Her victory will turn Minnesota into yet another battleground over the 2020 election and the future of American democracy, as Crockett will join a cadre of election-denying GOP candidates who have won secretary of state primaries as part of a broader right-wing effort to assume control of key election systems ahead of the 2024 presidential contest.

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Those candidates, including Nevadas Jim Marchant, Michigans Kristina Karamo, and Arizonas Mark Finchem, have left little doubt about their motivation for pursuing secretary of state roles: They want to wield the powers secretaries of state have to exert influence over future contests, and potentially attempt to undermine or even overturn the results if Democrats win legitimately.

Minnesota, where Democrats hold every major statewide office and have not lost a presidential election since 1972, is not typically considered a swing state on par with Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania. But its statewide races are often decided by razor-thin margins: Hillary Clinton won it by less than 2 points in the 2016 presidential contest, and Simons first secretary of state race was even closer in 2014.

In a midterm environment that may naturally favor the GOP, Minnesota Democrats say they arent taking anything for granted in a race that Simon cast as a fight for voting rights and democracy.

Crocketts win would be a symbol of the number one threat to our democracy, which is this coordinated campaign of disinformation about our election system, Simon told HuffPost on Tuesday. Thats what were seeing in Minnesota, and thats what were seeing nationwide.

Crockett is not part of the America First Secretary of State Coalition, a group of election deniers that includes Marchant, Karamo, Finchem and Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano, who would appoint the states elections chief. Trump did not endorse Crockett, despite backing numerous GOP secretary of state candidates who embraced his election lies.

But according to the Minnesota Reformer, she has been affiliated with the Election Integrity Network formed by the Conservative Partnership Institute, a right-wing think tank whose election efforts are led by an attorney who joined Trump on the now-infamous phone call during which he pressured Georgia officials to overturn his loss in the state.

Minnesotas secretary of state does not unilaterally certify the states election results. But should she win, Crockett could leverage [her] belief in conspiracy theories to at least slow down the process, or cast doubt on the process in a way that could have an effect on the certification process, Simon said.

And other comments Crockett has made have inspired fears that she could seek to limit voting rights and overhaul elections in ways that limit participation or suppress votes in the state that had the nations highest turnout rate two years ago.

So, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that indeed you can help an unlimited number of people vote if they are disabled or cant read or speak English, which raises the question, should they be voting? Crockett said during the September 2020 radio interview. We can talk about that another time.

Crockett told HuffPost last week that individuals should be assisted by someone they know and who understands their capacities and does not influence them. But she also asserted that she had witnessed political operatives, and other people with bad motives take advantage of such voters in the past, without providing evidence to back her claims.

Crockett on Tuesday called for the implementation of a voter identification law while casting her ballot in the primary. Minnesota does not require voters to show ID at polling places unless they need to register or update their registration. But despite Republican claims that this leaves the states elections vulnerable, Minnesota has reported two cases of voter fraud in elections since 1979. Crockett has previously supported new restrictions on early voting and same-day registration as well.

At the Minnesota GOPs May party convention, Crockett played an antisemitic video that portrayed Simon, who is Jewish, as a puppet of liberal billionaire George Soros, who is also Jewish. Crockett has also previously made racist and xenophobic comments about Minnesotas large Somali refugee population: These arent people coming from Norway, lets put it that way, she told The New York Times in 2019. These people are very visible.

Simon will enter the fall as the clear favorite to hold onto the seat. But Crocketts primary win will nevertheless give Republicans yet another chance to pick off a key office that could bolster their efforts to undermine future elections.

Crocketts positions on voting rights and elections are extreme, increasingly bizarre and sometimes dangerous, Simon said. We dont want anyone who thinks and acts like that to be anywhere near the control or supervision of our election system.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California, US, on Thursday, July 21, 2022. Meta Platforms Inc. is scheduled to release earnings figures on July 27. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty

A mother from Nebraska is being charged for allegedly helping her daughter with an illegal abortion after Facebook turned over messages between the two to authorities.

On April 26, Detective Ben McBride of the Norfolk Police Investigations Unit began investigating claims that Jessica Burgess, 41, assisted her daughter, Celeste Burgess, who was 17 at the time, with an abortion, according to court documents obtained by NBC News.

In a sworn affidavit, McBride said Celeste "had given birth prematurely supposedly to a stillborn child." She and her mother then allegedly "buried the child together" and later told people that "they needed to dig the child's body up and then burn it."

After getting medical records, according to the affidavit, Detective McBride discovered that Celeste was approximately 23 weeks and 2 days pregnant at the time. She was allegedly due on July 3.

RELATED: FDA Will Permanently Allow Abortion Pills to Be Sent by Mail

The mother and daughter said they received help from a man named Tanner Barnhill, 22, who allegedly helped bury the fetus outside his parent's home.

On April 29, Detective McBride said Barnhill showed him where the fetus was buried and told authorities that Jessica and Celeste allegedly "tried to burn the body of the fetus prior to it being buried," the officer wrote.

Detective McBride added that Celeste, who has since turned 18, told authorities she realized she suffered the stillborn birth on April 22 after looking at her Facebook messages. McBride said that on June 7 he "obtained and served a search warrant to Facebook/Meta Platforms for information" on Jessica and Celeste's accounts.

In their exchange, per the detective's affidavit, Jessica tells Celeste that she received pills for Celeste. They allegedly discussed that Celeste would take one pill, wait 24 hours, then take the second pill. Celeste also "talks about how she can't wait to get the 'thing' out of her body and reaffirms with J. Burgess that they will burn the evidence afterwards," Detective McBride wrote.

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RELATED: Supreme Court to Hear Arguments on Abortion Ban and Could Overturn 'Roe v. Wade'

A friend of Celeste's reached out to the County Attorney's Office on June 14 and told authorities she was there when Celeste took the first pill, per the affidavit.

Jessica is now facing five charges, according to additional court documents obtained by the outlet: human skeletal remains (prohibited acts), concealing the death of another person, false information, abortion, and abortion by other than licensed physician.

Celeste is also charged with human skeletal remains, concealing the death of another person, and false information.

RELATED VIDEO: President Joe Biden Signs Second Executive Order Protecting Access to Abortion

Madison County Attorney Joseph Smith told the Lincoln Journal Star, "I don't think I've ever had a case like this. Usually, abortions are performed in hospitals, and doctors are involved, and it's not the type of stuff that occurred in this case."

The investigation took place before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion. Before the controversial decision, Nebraska's state law banned abortions past 20 weeks, per NBC News.

Jessica's attorney tells PEOPLE no comment.

An attorney for Celeste did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"Nothing in the valid warrants we received from local law enforcement in early June, prior to the Supreme Court decision, mentioned abortion," Facebook says in a statement shared with PEOPLE. "The warrants concerned charges related to a criminal investigation and court documents indicate that police at the time were investigating the case of a stillborn baby who was burned and buried, not a decision to have an abortion."

They add, "Both of these warrants were originally accompanied by non-disclosure orders, which prevented us from sharing any information about them. The orders have now been lifted."
Highway 18 was scheduled to close Aug. 15 for a road construction project between Dousman and Wales. The highway should reopen later this fall.

Starting Aug. 15, a road project will close Highway 18 between Dousman and Wales.

The 4-mile stretch is between Highway 67 in Dousman and Moraine View Drive, just west of Highway 83, in Wales. The route will be resurfaced and a culvert will be repaired at the Scuppernong Creek near Dousman.

The recommended detour is to use Highway 67, Interstate 94 and Highway 83 to sidestep the construction, said Michael Pyritz, communications manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which is handling the project.

We do have access available within the work zone, Pyritz said. We will be working with the various residents and others that are within the work zone to make sure that they do have access into the area.

The closure in Wales is near Kettle Moraine High School and Wales Elementary School. Residents should be able to reach the schools via Highway 83.

The project is expected to wrap up later this fall, although a specific date has not been set. Learn more about the project at projects.511wi.gov/us18sunset/full-project-overview/

Lydia Morrell can be reached at 320-444-2339 or lmorrell@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @lydia_morrell.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Highway18 will close between Dousman and Genesee starting Aug. 15
Update: During the weekend of Aug. 6-7, Sen. John Thune signed on as a co-sponsor of S.B. 673, the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act of 2021. There are now 14 bipartisan co-sponsors of the bill, including Thune, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

The next step for the legislation is a markup period, where the Senate Judiciary Committee will discuss, amend or rewrite portions of the bill before it would move on to the full Senate.

The House version of the bill, H.B. 1735, is also making its way through Congress with 65 co-sponsors, including South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson. The House Judiciary Committee will also be marking up the House bill.

More people read the Argus Leader today than they have in the history of the Argus Leader. Far fewer are paying for it.

Thats pretty much my go-to line whenever Im asked how the Argus Leader is doing. And Im asked that question all the time. There are a lot of forces at play, and most of them are no longer new, but decades old and cliche at this point.

From South Dakotas smallest weekly to the Argus Leader, the shift of readership and advertising to online platforms has dramatically shrunk the revenue that supports local reporting.

In just the last 18 months, South Dakota has lost 17 newspapers, according to David Bordewyk, executive director of the South Dakota Newspaper Association.

Its a pattern seen across the country. The news industry has lost more than 28,000 jobs since 2008, and more than 1,800 communities have lost their local newspapers since 2004, according to the News Media Alliance.

It comes down to this: The Argus Leader doesnt have an audience problem; weve got a money problem. And a significant reason is that at a very base business level, we are not getting paid for the unique, in-demand and valued services we provide.

Its not that fewer people are interested in the news that their trusted local newspapers provide: 83% of South Dakota adults read a print or digital newspaper, according to South Dakota Newspaper Association data. Counting print and online readership combined, more Americans read the work of newspaper journalists than ever before.

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Its the same story I opened this column with: Its not a readership challenge; its a financial one.

A big part of the problem is that two tech giants, Google and Facebook, have a stranglehold on online news and advertising, denying newspapers the revenue they deserve. The same is true for local broadcasters.

Big Tech has the decks stacked

First, they literally control access to the news. Research shows most Americans access their news from whatever surfaces in their Facebook feed or through Google searches. At the Argus Leader, more than 65% of our traffic comes directly from Facebook and Google. And at their whim, the two companies change the algorithms that control what users see easily and what they dont.

Google and Facebook have huge returns from distributing the in-demand news content that our newspapers provide, which in turn boosts their advertising revenue. But they long have made the business decision to pay publishers little if anything for their journalism, in contrast to the companies' practice of compensating music publishers and other creators.

Those two companies alone control an estimated 70% of digital ad spending, according to the News Media Alliance. While some news organizations participate in advertising partnerships, the tech giants return only a fraction of revenue to participating publishers. The tech companies also leverage the vast amount of data they collect on users to attract even more business and shut out competitors.

The result is that newspapers are cut off from revenue needed to pay reporters, photographers and editors to cover local news in their communities.

Antitrust bill could help publishers gain fair payment for their content

What can be done to combat big techs anticompetitive practices and give local publishers a better shot at reclaiming a fair return?

One step in the right direction would be passage of the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, which would allow for a temporary antitrust exemption to permit news organizations big and small to work together to negotiate with Google and Facebook to secure fair compensation for the journalism they produce.

The bills (there are nearly identical House and Senate efforts) have bipartisan sponsors and support, including South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson, who is a co-sponsor of the house version.

I want to thank Rep. Johnson for his continued support of the news industry over the years, and specifically for his sponsorship.

Along with other newspaper representatives, I recently had the opportunity to speak about the bill with U.S. Sen. John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate and South Dakotas senior senator. Like Johnson, Thune has also been a supporter of our states local newspapers, and has far more often than most made himself available for discussion, interviews and even debates over the years.

I asked him specifically to lend his voice, influence and sponsorship to this vital effort.

Thune, in his normal pragmatic approach, said he understood the effort and knew something has to be done to support the news industry. He lauded the work South Dakota journalists do every day, and underscored the important role that local news organizations play in their communities.

As always, Thune listened as I and colleagues laid out our argument, and afterward asked smart questions. I trust hell give the bill fair consideration. I encourage South Dakotans to ask both Thune and Senator Mike Rounds to do the same.

The bill could be a transformative catalyst in resetting the competitive landscape and helping maintain a local newspaper in more of our towns.

Cory Myers is the Argus Leaders news director. He welcomes your questions, story ideas or concerns at 605-951-3689, ctmyers@argusleader.com, or on Twitter @sigepcory

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Local journalism is at risk; bill in Congress could help
Getty

Russian authorities have been trying to sow the seeds of a propaganda effort aimed at convincing residents of occupied territories that Ukraine is already divided, according to a new report from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Ukraine has already been divided, the Russian occupiers said, according to the intelligence agency. In the territory of the western regions, Polish zlotys were put into circulation, in most shops there are double price tags. There is nowhere to run from Russia. Ukraine is not what it used to be.

The false information, which has been focused on Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia, according to the agency, is intended to inject doubt into residents of Ukraine nearly six months into the war, the intelligence agency said.

The moves are aimed at undermining the moral and psychological stability of the Ukrainian-minded population remaining in the city, the agency said in a statement.

Ukraines government urged residents to remember that Ukraine will not bow to Russias intimidation tactics, and that one day the territory will rid itself of occupiers.

How Putin Is Pushing His Army Bosses Through a Meat Grinder of Death

All residents of the occupied territories should remember: All Ukrainian lands will be freed, Ukraine will remain an indivisible and unitary state, and every occupier and collaborator will receive a well-deserved retribution, the agency said.

The apparent propaganda effort is not an isolated incident. Russia has been waging an information operations war alongside its kinetic fight in Ukraine this year, too, in attempts to portray Ukraine and Ukrainian officials as the aggressors, and to curry support for Russia. In the days building up to the invasion earlier this year, Russia was preparing to run false flag operations against its own forces in order to claim a justification to attack Ukraine, an administration official told The Daily Beast in January.

In the months before the war began, too, Russian officials and Russian influencers spread and amplified narratives focused on painting Russias troop movements to the border with Ukraine as a response to provocation from the West and spreading anti-North Atlantic Treaty Organization sentiment.

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News of the apparent Russian efforts to convince Ukrainians that their country is already being divided up comes as U.S. officials warn that Russia has a plan to annex certain Ukrainian regions. White House National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby warned just weeks ago that Russia has possible plans to annex all of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, as well as Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, just as Ukrainians work to mount a counteroffensive there.

In 2014, when Russia invaded and annexed Crimea, Russia relied on spreading propaganda to reshape the narrative in its favor. Russia had throttled Ukrainian broadcasts in Crimea and replaced many of them with Russian broadcasts, enabling Moscow to spread pro-Russia narratives. And in March that year, when the referendum on Crimea showed support for joining Russia, only three in 10 Ukrainians outside Crimea believed the referendum reflected the truth while a majority of Crimeans polled as saying they thought it did reflect their views. (The referendum has widely been viewed a sham throughout the world; the United Nations announced the referendum was invalid in 2014, and nations, including the United States, have continued to reaffirm Crimea is a part of Ukraine and not recognize the peninsulas annexation.)

The White House has warned that Russia may be redeploying the 2014 annexation playbook now.

We're seeing ample evidence in the intelligence and in the public domain that Russia intends to try to annex additional Ukrainian territory, Kirby told reporters in a July briefing. Russia is beginning to roll out a version of what you could call an annexation playbook, very similar to the one we saw in 2014.

Russias plans may include coordinating sham referenda and claiming justification to annex territories, Kirby said. Already, Russias plan includes installing proxy officials in seized territories.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine again this year, Russias efforts to spin the narrative about the war have built up to a steady pace and have targeted audiences outside of Ukraine as well. The Biden administration has assessed that Russian disinformation proxies have been working to paint Western aid to Ukraine as the reason the war is dragging on and the reason there is a looming food crisis, in an apparent attempt to dilute U.S. support for Ukraine, according to U.S. intelligence, as The Daily Beast first reported.

The European Union has worked to ban RT and Sputnik in order the curb Russias spread of propaganda and misinformation, but Russia has found ways to skirt around them. Russia has leaned on diplomats to spread disinformation in the meantime, and has begun leaning on over 200 websites with no clear Russia ties to spread Russian propaganda, including claims that Ukrainian forces have staged Russian attacks, according to the Associate Press and NewsGuard.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Simi Valley has further restricted outdoor water use from 15 minutes once a week to 10 minutes weekly.

Mandated by the Metropolitan Water District amid California's drought, Simi Valley is further restricting outdoor water use from 15 minutes once a week to 10 minutes.

And it may have to eliminate all outdoor watering at some point, according to a city report. The MWD might require it to do so if it determines such a ban is necessary, the report said.

"The advice has been, 'You better be ready to immediately enact zero-days-a-week,'" Joe Deakin, the city's assistant public works director, said at Monday night's City Council meeting.

Effective June 1, outdoor watering in the city was limited to 15 minutes once a week.

The council this week reduced that to 10 minutes once a week effective immediately.

Residents with even-numbered addresses can water on Sundays, while those with odd-numbered addresses can water on Saturdays. Watering is limited to before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

Violators can be fined up to $500 with the possible installation of a flow restrictor.

How to: Ventura County's city-by-city guide to water-use restrictions amid California drought

The city's initial 15-minute-a-week restriction came after the MWD board and the Calleguas Municipal Water District board in April declared a water shortage emergency.

Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8, whose board of directors is the Simi Valley City Council, contracts with Calleguas to deliver water imported by Metropolitan from the State Water Project. The city in turn sells the water to about two-thirds of its households.

MWD on June 14 notified cities dependent upon the water project that they now must reduce customers' outdoor watering to 10 minutes a week.

Simi Valley's restrictions only apply to the customers it sells water to.

Restrictions: Simi Valley limits outdoor watering to once a week amid severe drought

Golden State Water Co. supplies water to the remaining one-third of the households.

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Golden State customers' outdoor watering is limited to once a week before 8 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Residents with even-numbered addresses can water on Sundays, and those with odd-numbered addresses can water on Saturdays.

Golden State representatives did not immediately respond to an inquiry Wednesday as to whether it too will limit outdoor watering to 10 minutes one day a week,

Oxnard also has restricted water usage to 10 minutes once a week. So has the Camrosa Water District, which services parts of Camarillo.

For more information, go to simivalley.org/waterconservation, gswater.com and camrosa.com/drought.

Mike Harris covers the East County cities of Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks, as well as transportation countywide. You can contact him at mike.harris@vcstar.com or 805-437-0323.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM and get all the latest Moorpark, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and transportation news from Star reporter Mike Harris. Get a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Simi Valley further restricts outdoor water use
Gov. Doug Burgum's Cabinet will see a fifth departure this summer when state Transportation Director Bill Panos steps down Sept. 9.

Panos announced his pending resignation Wednesday. He said in a letter dated Tuesday to Burgum, "My decision comes after months of reflection on my family needs and personal goals and at no cost to my hopefulness for North Dakota's future or the impact I know it can have."

Burgum announced that Deputy Director of Engineering Ron Henke will serve as interim director.

Under Bills outstanding leadership, the Department of Transportation has made significant progress in many areas including traffic safety, strategic planning and improved access for constituents, especially to online services, Burgum said in a statement. We are deeply grateful for his service, which has positioned the NDDOT for success in an environment of rapid technological change and significant infrastructure investment in North Dakota and across the nation."

The governor in August 2019 appointed Panos, who became the third DOT director to serve in Burgum's Cabinet. Panos' two predecessors each retired.

The DOT has a two-year budget of $2.2 billion and is authorized for 982 full-time equivalent positions.

Panos is the fifth Cabinet member in eight weeks to announce his or her departure.

Workforce Safety & Insurance Director Bryan Klipfel plans to retire Dec. 31 after 13 years leading the agency, following his 30 years with North Dakota Highway Patrol, the last four as superintendent.

Chief People Officer Stacey Breuer resigned last month, effective Aug. 12, to return to work at Doosan Bobcat North America.

Office of Management and Budget Director Joe Morrissette is retiring Aug. 31, though he will stay on part time through the legislative session next year.

Former Commerce Commissioner James Leiman resigned in June to take a position with a global think tank, but he will continue working for the state part time to help with economic development projects.

Burgum since the start of 2021 has appointed new leaders for the Health Department, Corrections and Rehabilitation, Game and Fish, Parks and Recreation, and Indian Affairs.
Montanas Supreme Court has upheld a lower courts ruling that temporarily blocks further restrictions on abortion.

Planned Parenthood in a statement Tuesday announced that the Montana Supreme Court blocked three separate laws that were enacted during the states legislative session last year from taking effect.

One of the laws would have banned abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, while another would have created numerous barriers to medication abortion, and a third would have implemented a mandatory ultrasound offer and documentation requirement for those seeking an abortion.

A district court in September blocked those three laws from taking effect. Planned Parenthoods Montana chapter filed the initial lawsuit challenging them.

We are pleased that the Montana Supreme Court ruled today to uphold the preliminary injunction put in place by the District Court in the fall. This means that three anti-abortion laws remain unenforceable, including a 20-week ban, Planned Parenthood of Montanas chapter president and CEO, Martha Stahl, said in a statement.

The Court upheld the Armstrong decision, which the State had requested be overturned, and abortion remains legal in Montana, protected by our constitutional right to privacy. This is a victory for our right to make personal medical decisions, free from the interference of government, Stahl added.

The decision in Montana comes after Kansas voters last week soundly rejected an effort by Republicans in the state to strip abortion rights from the Kansas Constitution.

Last month, a federal judge in Louisiana ruled that abortion services in the state could resume, blocking the state legislature from enforcing its so-called trigger ban.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
After he was pulled over by New Mexico police, the suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community  and told authorities he was so unnerved by the violence that he was driving to Houston to look for a new home, court documents said.

Charging documents released Wednesday revealed new details about the suspect, Muhammad Syed, 51, who has been charged in two of the slayings. Police have said they are gathering evidence in two additional cases before charges are filed.

This has been a tough week for our community, but we all pitched in to solve these crimes and protect a community that felt like it was under attack," Albuquerque police Chief Harold Medina said.

Police received multiple tips about the suspect and his vehicle that eventually led to his arrest, charging documents say. Syed, a native of Afghanistan who police say immigrated to the U.S. about five years ago, was taken into custody Monday after a traffic stop more than 100 miles away from his southeast Albuquerque home.

Heres what we know:

ALBUQUERQUE SLAYINGS: Police in New Mexico arrest suspect in string of killings of Muslim men

Who is Muhammad Syed? Suspect denies involvement

Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was charged in two of the killings. He was charged in the death of Aftab Hussein on July 26 and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain on Aug. 1.

Albuquerque police believe the suspect killed the first victim while hiding in a bush near the victim's vehicle, an arrest affidavit says. Police say the second victim may have been killed in a drive-by shooting. Investigators linked bullet casings from both crime scenes to guns owned by the suspect, court documents say.

Charges in the first killing, of Mohammad Ahmadi on Nov. 7, and Friday's fatal shooting of Naeem Hussain, haven't been filed.

A handcuffed Syed, wearing a red jumpsuit and orange sandals, appeared in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Wednesday. He was ordered to remain in jail until an upcoming detention hearing.

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As authorities prepared to search Syed's home Monday, they saw him driving a vehicle that was spotted fleeing one of the shootings, an arrest affidavit says.

Before Syed's arrest, authorities had sought the publics help locating a Volkswagen Jetta after a witness saw the car immediately following the fatal shooting of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, court documents say.

Police saw Syed leave his home Monday and followed him to Santa Rosa, about 110 miles east of Albuquerque. When they pulled him over, police found a 9mm pistol in his car  the same kind of weapon police say was used in at least one of the killings, an arrest affidavit says. Bullet casings were also found lodged near the windshield and the hood of the car, the document says.

Syed told police he planned to relocate to Houston because the situation in Albuquerque was bad, the arrest warrant says.

Police found clothing, shoes and a "pistol or handgun" in his car, the warrant says. Syed, who claimed no one else used the gun, told police he owned an AK-47 and that he likes the weapon because he had one while living in Afghanistan. He told a detective he fought the Taliban in Afghanistan, an arrest affidavit says.

Syed denied involvement in the killings, though he said knew two of the victims, Naeem Hussain, since 2016, and that he recognized Aftab Hussein from parties in the community, the charging document says.

Rifles, handguns found in suspect's car, home

After tips led police to Syed, investigators found that he and his sons had purchased several weapons in recent months.

The suspect bought an AK-47-style rifle in July, and purchased both a scope for it and a new hammer for the weapon in May, an arrest affidavit said. He also bought a 9mm pistol in January 2021, according to an arrest warrant.

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, left, speaks at a news conference to announce the arrest of Muhammad Syed, a suspect in the recent murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque, N.M., as Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller listens, at right, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) ORG XMIT: NMALJ232

The search warrant shows police searched the home and found two rifles, one owned by one of his sons. When questioned, one of Syed's sons told police that no one was "allowed to touch or take his father's guns."

Investigators say they were able to match bullet casings found at the shooting scenes to ones fired from the weapons.

One of the weapons found during the search led authorities on Wednesday to arrest one of his sons, Shaheen Syed. He was charged by federal prosecutors with providing a false Florida address when he bought two rifles last year, federal court documents show. He has denied any role in the killings and has not been charged in connection with them.

Suspect had string of previous arrests

CNN interviewed Syeds daughter shortly before the announcement of his arrest. She said her husband was friends with two of the men who were killed. She also acknowledged her father initially was upset about her 2018 marriage but recently had been more accepting.

My father is not a person who can kill somebody, the woman told CNN, which did not disclose her identity to protect her safety. My father has always talked about peace. Thats why we are here in the United States. We came from Afghanistan, from fighting, from shooting.

In 2017, a boyfriend of Syeds daughter reported to police that Syed, his wife and one of their sons had pulled him out of a car, punching and kicking him before driving away, according to court documents. The boyfriend, who was found with a bloody nose, scratches and bruises, told police that he was attacked because they did not want her in a relationship with him.

Syed was arrested in May 2018 after a fight with his wife turned violent, court documents said. Prosecutors said both cases were later dismissed after the victims declined to press charges.

Syed also was arrested in 2020 after he was accused of refusing to pull over for police after running a traffic light, but that case was eventually dismissed, court documents said.

'Interpersonal conflict' and a potential motive?

Police were still investigating possible motives Wednesday, including an unspecified interpersonal conflict" the suspect may have had with one or more of the victims.

When asked specifically whether Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

ENGINE MALFUNCTION: California plane lands on busy freeway near Los Angeles, ignites after crashing into truck

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, acknowledged that "there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to conclusions about the motivation of the suspect, who he said attended the centers mosque from time to time.

People spread dirt over Aftab Hussein's grave at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., where a funeral service was held for Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico. Both Muslim men were shot and killed near their homes six days apart.

The exact nature of the relationships between Syed and the victims  and the victims to one another  is still unclear, but police said they continue to investigate how they crossed paths before the shootings.

Will Syed be charged with a hate crime?

Officials said the victims were of the same race and religion. Police have not said whether Syed could face hate-crime charges.

Prosecutors expect to file murder charges in state court and are considering adding a federal case, authorities said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Albuquerque Muslim slayings: Suspect denied involvement, documents say
Fighting around a Ukrainian nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, has stoked fears of an international nuclear disaster, and global leaders are voicing concerns.

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven, an intergovernmental political forum of leading industrialized countries, demanded Wednesday that Russia return control of the plant to Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Russian troops took over the Zaporizhzhia plant in southern Ukraine, one of the 10 largest nuclear plants in the world, shortly after invading the country in February. Before the war, the plant accounted for about half the electricity generated by nuclear power in Ukraine.

Ukrainian operators have been kept in place to run the plant. But conflict around the facility has fueled fears of nuclear disaster similar to that in Chernobyl, which saw the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told The Associated Press last week that the conflict near the Zaporizhzhia plant "is completely out of control" as he pleaded with Russia and Ukraine to allow inspectors to visit the site. Grossi said the supply chain for equipment to the plant has been interrupted, and there have been reports of violence between Russian troops and Ukrainian staff members.

"What is at stake is extremely serious and extremely grave and dangerous," Grossi said.

USA TODAY ON TELEGRAM: Join our Russia-Ukraine war channel to receive updates

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in territory under Russian military control in southeastern Ukraine is shown in this handout photo taken from video and released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Aug. 7, 2022.

Latest developments

Ukraine accused Russia of using its position near the nuclear power plant to target the nearby town of Marhanets in a rocket attack that killed at least 13 people, Reuters reported. Russia did not immediately comment on the allegations.

Slovakia, one of three European countries that had their oil shipments from Russia halted after a problem over payments, said the problem has been resolved and deliveries are arriving again. But the Czech Republic and Hungary said they have not received their shipments yet.

Story continues

Hundreds of Bulgarians took to the streets of the capital city of Sofia, voicing fears that the countrys caretaker government could break with the policies of its pro-Western predecessor and revert to close energy ties with Russia.

While the European Union moved to block two of Russia's top propaganda and misinformation channels  RT and Sputnik  early in the war, NewsGuard, a New York-based firm that tracks online misinformation, has identified 250 websites spreading propaganda and disinformation and dozens of new sites in recent months.

GRAPHICS: Mapping and tracking Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Russian journalist turned activist arrested, faces 10 years in prison

A Russian journalist who was fined three times for criticizing the war in Ukraine has now been detained and faces 10 years in prison if convicted, her lawyer said.

Marina Ovsyannikova, who rose to international fame in March when she held up an anti-war sign behind the anchor of a news broadcast on state-funded Channel One, has been charged with spreading false information about Russias armed forces, lawyer Dmitry Zakhvatov said in a Telegram post. Ovsyannikovas home was raided and she was taken for questioning Wednesday, he said.

Ovsyannikova, born to an Ukrainian father and a Russian mother, quit her job as a Channel One producer and became an activist after her initial protest, which led to her arrest and a fine.

In July, she held up a banner calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin that said: "Putin is a killer, his soldiers are fascists. 352 children have been killed (in Ukraine). How many more children should die for you to stop?

Shortly after invading Ukraine in February, Russia passed a law that penalizes statements against the military with up to 10 years in prison. According to Net Freedoms, a legal aid group focusing on free speech cases, as of Wednesday there were 79 criminal cases on charges of spreading false information about the military and up to 4,000 administrative cases on charges of disparaging the armed forces.

IKEA, H&M among latest companies to exit Russia

Russian citizens have to endure state scrutiny of what they say, a struggling economy and international condemnation for their country's invasion of Ukraine. On top of that, some of their favorite stores are leaving.

Affordable furniture seller IKEA and clothing retailer H&M are selling off their remaining inventory in Russia this week as they join the huge list of companies exiting the country because of the war in Ukraine.

More than 1,000 companies have ended or curtailed operations in Russia, according to the Yale School of Management, including McDonald's, Reebok, Salesforce, Shell and U.S. airlines Delta and American. Some have departed in protest of the Kremlin's attack on a neighboring nation, others because business conditions have become too unpredictable or untenable.

At the Moscow shopping mall Aviapark on Tuesday, a shopper who only gave his name as Leonid said he was very hurt H&M is closing down: A good store is leaving.

Russia offering 'lucrative cash bonuses' for recruits to fight in Ukraine

In light of diminishing troops -- a U.S. official estimated Russia has sustained 80,000 casualties in the war -- and a reluctance to institute a draft, Kremlin officials are offering "lucrative cash bonuses'' to potential recruits who deploy to Ukraine, the British Defense Ministry said.

Eligible candidates can be as old as age 50 and need only have a middle school education, the ministry said in its Wednesday update.

Besides enduring combat losses, Russian forces are getting spread thin as they try to claim the remaining part of the eastern Donbas region not under their control while defending their early gains in the south from an Ukrainian counterattack.

The ministry assessed that Russia will find it difficult to assemble a typical army corps of 15,000-20,000 troops because of "very limited levels of popular enthusiasm for volunteering for combat in Ukraine.''

Blasts at Crimea air base kill 1, injure 14; Ukraine says nine planes destroyed

The Ukrainian air force said Wednesday that nine Russian warplanes were destroyed Tuesday in multiple massive explosions at an air base in Russian-held Crimea. The blasts killed one person and wounded 14.

Russia has denied that any aircraft were damaged and said several munitions at the base caught fire and blew up. But the explosions have sparked speculation that they resulted from a Ukrainian attack, though Ukrainian officials have stopped short of publicly claiming responsibility.

The blasts also knocked out windows, damaged nearby apartment buildings and sent tourists fleeing.

Ukrainian guerrilla forces push back

A spreading resistance of Ukrainian guerrilla forces has blown up bridges and trains and killed pro-Moscow officials in Russian-occupied areas of southeastern Ukraine.

The Zhovta Strichka, or Yellow Ribbon, resistance group has been assisting the Ukrainian military and eroding Russian control in the area.

The guerrilla groups coordinate with the Ukrainian military's Special Operations Forces and help with selecting targets, preparing ambushes and establishing a network of weapons caches and hideouts in Russian-occupied areas.

Our goal is to make life unbearable for the Russian occupiers and use any means to derail their plans, Andriy, a 32-year-old coordinator of the guerrilla movement in the southern Kherson region, told The Associated Press. He spoke on the condition of not being fully identified.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Concerns soar over fighting near nuclear plant
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  TUESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2022, 16:50

Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs and LDPR [Liberal Democratic Party of Russia] leader Leonid Slutsky arrived in Olenivka, to the pre-trial detention centre where Ukrainian prisoners of war were killed, and brought with him "international experts", in particular, from Nicaragua and North Korea.

Source: Leonid Slutsky on Telegram

Quote from Slutsky: "The international expert pool was able to see with its own eyes all the destruction and talk to eyewitnesses, including prisoners who survived the missile attack".

Details: Slutsky believes that he brought a solid representation of people whom he calls "international experts", including people who seemed to be journalists and analysts from Nicaragua and North Korea.

He also said that there were representatives of Italy, Germany and Serbia.

Background:

On the morning of 29 July, Russian-aligned propaganda media reported the shelling of a prison camp in Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian prisoners are being held. Russia has claimed that at least 53 prisoners were killed.

The Ukrainian Directorate of Intelligence believes that the killing of Ukrainian prisoners in Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast, was organised by the Wagner Group [a Russian private military company - ed.] on the personal instructions of Yevgeny Prigozhin, without coordination with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Ombudsman of Ukraine demand that the UN and the ICRC, which acted as guarantors of the lives and health of Ukrainian soldiers, send their representatives to the prison camp.

Dmytro Lubinets, the ombudsman of Ukraine, asked the ICRC to organise his visit to the prison camp destroyed by the Russians in occupied Olenivka to inspect the bodies of dead Ukrainian prisoners and communicate with the wounded.

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation announced that it had invited UN and ICRC experts to the prison camp at the place of death of Ukrainian prisoners of war in Olenivka.

The families of Ukrainian soldiers are dissatisfied with the activities of international organisations, as they have not received any information about their relatives who have been held as prisoners for several months.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda!






OXFORD, Miss.  A Mississippi judge on Tuesday denied bond for a man suspected of killing a University of Mississippi student who has been missing since early July.

Judge Grady F. Tollison III rejected a request to set bond for Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., 22, of Grenada, during a preliminary hearing in Oxford.

More: Grenada man faces murder charge in case of missing Ole Miss student Jimmie 'Jay' Lee

Herrington faces a charge of murder in the suspected death Jimmie "Jay" Lee, 20, whose body has yet to be found after his July 8 disappearance.

The prosecution used Tuesday's court hearing to lay out some of its findings in the case.

At the hearing, the missing student's mother Stephanie Lee testified that she regularly spoke with her son, talking on the phone multiple times each day, news outlets reported.

She told the judge her birthday was July 8, the day her son disappeared, and other than an early morning text she did not hear from him at all that day. She said that's when she knew "he was no longer with us."

Lee was last seen at an apartment complex where his vehicle was later found.

Stephanie Lee also said Oxford Police told her a police dog detected a scent of decomposition in Herrington's home. Detectives in the case later testified that cadaver dogs alerted three times to the smell of a body in the area.

Officers also obtained a search warrant to view social media conversations on Herrington's phone that showed conversations between he and Lee on the morning of July 8, investigator said. They added that Herrington did numerous computer searches about international travel and found Google searches for "how long it takes to strangle someone" minutes after Lee reportedly told Herrington he was on his way to the apartment.

Herrington, under questioning from police, admitted to having a relationship with Lee, according to authorities.

Investigators also learned that Herrington had a moving service in Grenada, Mississippi. They said he brought a box truck to Oxford before taking it back to Grenada.

Story continues

Herrington's defense team said even though bodily fluids were found on blankets inside of the truck, the evidence was found weeks after Lee went missing and the vehicle could have been used by anyone.

More: Missing Jimmie "Jay" Lee dreamed of a murder attempt, according to January TikTok post

Defense attorneys asked Oxford Police Detective Ryan Baker if there was any trace evidence linking Herrington to Lee's death. The detective replied, "Not at this time."

The defense also had Herrington's mother as well as a series of church leaders and former teachers take the stand to speak on behalf of Herrington's character and reliability, saying that they do not believe he would be a flight risk if released before trial.

Tollison later denied bond for Herrington. He is being held at the Lafayette County Detention Center.

Federal and local law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, are working to locate Lee or his body. Lee's family is offering a $5,000 reward and the Lafayette County CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that would lead to his being found.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Suspect in disappearance of Ole Miss student Jimmie Jay Lee denied bond
This story was updated at 2:25 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State University Police sent out a report to the area community around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday that there is police activity in the area of Valley and University involving a shooting at the Motel 9. Police later clarified that it was nearer to the Super 8 Motel at 245 La Posada Ln.

Police said two people were shot and were transported to an area hospital. No other information was immediately available.

At 1:54 p.m., NMSU Police sent out an all-clear notice, stating, "The investigation is on going. Look for updates from the Las Cruces Police Department. This is an all clear message and there is not an on going threat to the university campus."

As information becomes available, details will be posted at www.nmsu.edu, authorities said.

This is a developing story. It will be updated as details become available.

Others are reading:

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: All clear: NMSU Police report shooting near Super 8 Motel
Travelers will go across the world to immerse themselves in other cultures when there are hundreds to explore right here at home.

"With the impact of COVID-19 on travel, people have been wanting to get out of the metropolitan cities, away from people, and get to those beautiful outdoor spaces in their own backyard," said Sherry Rupert, CEO of the nonprofit American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association. "A lot of people don't realize that in their backyard are these 574 tribes that are so unique and diverse at the same time."

There are 574 federally recognized Native tribes across the U.S. and many members have opened their doors to cultural tourism, sharing their heritage while bringing business to their communities.

"Your experience in Alaska with the Alaska Natives is going to be very different than the Pueblos in New Mexico versus your experience with the Native Hawaiians in Hawaii," said Rupert, who is Paiute and Washoe.

'Not a children's story': Disneyland Resort's new Native American-inspired spa comes with history

Come explore with us: Sign up for USA TODAY's Travel Newsletter

Hawaiian Outrigger Experience offers much more than adventure. Owner Kevin Pi'ilani Hoke shares his Native Hawaiian culture and traditions with guests.

Adventure awaits

Kevin Pi'ilani Hoke can trace his Hawaiian lineage back to King Kamehameha and even earlier to some of the first settlers of Hawaii. Hoke learned a lot about his heritage from his late grandmother, Eleanor Leilehua Hiram Hoke, a master of ancient hula. Now he proudly shares his traditions with tourists through his company, Hawaiian Outrigger Experience.

"I teach them about Hawaiian culture, history and navigation (wayfinding)," said Hoke, who also owns Maui-based Aloha Surf School and Hawaiian Ocean Sports.

Outrigger canoeing dates back centuries in the islands. Traditionally, the iconic canoes were used for travel and fishing.

When Hoke takes travelers on the water today, he teaches them to do it like his ancestors did.

Story continues

Hiking hasn't always been accessible: These groups are opening up the outdoors

"Anytime you enter a mountain or the ocean, it was protocol to ask for permission," he said. "Where in the world do we ask permission to do anything these days? I try to increase awareness, sensitivity ... to always have aloha, to have a love for one another, for the land, the culture, the ocean, and all of our natural resources and traditions."

To truly understand aloha, Hoke says it needs to be broken down into its two parts: "alo," meaning face to face or in the presence of, and "ha," the breath of life.

"When Hawaiians greet one another, they traditionally exchange breath by touching your nose to nose or face to face, inhaling together to share your life force, your breath of life," he said.

He tries to impart that connectedness to travelers, encouraging them to take a bit of Hawaii back home with them and leave a piece of themselves behind.

Soaking it in

Across the ocean, visitors to Spa Pechanga in Temecula, California, may go in for a facial or massage, but they walk away with much more.

"I wanted a space where folks would be comfortable and feel like they're getting this learned experience but also still coming for the relaxation that they are paying for," said Myra Masiel, who is Pechanga and curator and tribal archaeologist for the Pechanga Tribal Government.

The spa and larger Pechanga Resort Casino are owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.

"Everywhere you look is a representation of our culture," said Masiel, whose team helped develop the spa. "We were involved in every single step, including the chandeliers to the lighting to the colors. It's designed to make you feel like you're outside. Being outside is very important to our culture ... It was all inspired to feel like you were getting a cultural experience at the same time you were getting your treatment."

The treatments themselves are made with Native plants like acorns, a staple food, and prickly pear, which Masiel said has been historically used to reduce blemishes and dark spots.

"They're all based on treatments that we traditionally use for ourselves," she said, noting that self-care is part of Pechanga culture. "(When) we think of self-care, it's not just relaxing and taking care of your body, but also what you're putting into your body."

A taste of history

Travelers have a lot to take in at Owamni by The Sioux Chef in Minneapolis.

The fine-dining restaurant serves modern takes on Native cuisine using traditional ingredients sourced from Indigenous and local food producers.

According to its website, that includes "a mix of Indigenous game, fish, birds, and insects along with wild plants, Native American heirloom farm varieties, and locally grown produce" and avoids "colonial foods not originally from this land."

"It is more than just delicious food; it's an insight into a culture that has really not gotten a lot of attention over the years," said Dana Thompson, co-owner and COO of The Sioux Chef and founder and Executive Director of North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems, which aims to facilitate Indigenous food access and promote Indigenous foodways education.

Her heritage is Wahpeton-Sisseton and Mdewakanton Dakota. Her Sioux Chef co-owner, James Beard award-winning chef Sean Sherman, is Oglala Lakota.

Thompson explained that Owamni means the place of swirling waters, and it's become a destination.

"People are flying from all over the nation and all over the world just to have a meal at Owamni, and it's been really humbling and beautiful," she said.

Thompson doesn't want guests to stop there.

"We want people to be inspired to try Indigenous food in every area that they go to," she said. "We hope that people will go to different areas and understand the diversity of Indigenous peoples all over North America."

A Navajo man on a horse poses for tourists in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park in Utah on May 16, 2015.

Sharing stories

There is plenty of opportunity for that. A new report by the nonprofit American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and SMS Research finds Native tourism is a $14 billion industry, and it's growing.

Last week the tourism association and the National Park Service announced a five-year partnership to bring Indigenous voices and contributions into parks programming, exhibits and outreach around the country.

"We're really excited about it," said Rupert. "We've been working with the national parks for quite some time, really building that relationship and doing some really great groundbreaking work including tribes in their Indigenous spaces, where their voices have not been heard before."

Past collaborations include the Grand Canyon, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail, spotlighting not only Indigenous histories but the communities still living there today. More experiences are featured on the tourism association's NativeAmerica.travel website.

"We're not an extinct people," Rupert said. "We're very much alive and thriving and want to share our stories with people."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Native America: Indigenous travel experiences to try close to home
President Trump Holds Rally For Arizona GOP Candidates - Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

It was a classic case of he-said, he said.

Blake Masters, Donald Trumps pick for Senate in Arizona, swore last week that he doesnt know Gab CEO Andrew Torba, calling him a nobody that nobody cares about. Torba  who has endorsed Masters Senate run and once said hed vote for Masters over Trump for president in a heartbeat  insisted Masters was flat out lying.

More from Rolling Stone

Thanks to leaked audio obtained by Jewish Insider, its now clear that Masters was lying about his association with the far-fight social media entrepreneur, whose platform is a playground for those whose extremist views have gotten them booted from mainstream platforms like Twitter and Facebook. The pair had an extended exchange earlier this year on Twitter Spaces, in which Torba explained in detail how Gab had been booted from mainstream app stores, and Masters expressed sympathy for the right-wing entrepreneur, railing against the power of Big Tech, and telling Torba: Thats obviously super messed up.

Torba is the founder of the far-right social network, and openly anti-Semitic. He recently made headlines by insisting that Christians are done being controlled in our own country by the 2 percent minority  by which he meant Jewish people  adding: Were not bending the knee to the 2 percent anymore.

An unabashed Christian nationalist, Torba positions Gab as a social network for free speech. The Anti-Defamation League decries Gab, accurately, as a haven for extremists, conspiracy theorists and misinformation.

Torba is a darling in MAGA circles, but he has become a headache for Republicans running for statewide office in purple states who need to reach beyond the base. Doug Mastriano  Trumps pick for governor in Pennsylvania  has come under fire recently for his financial relationship with Gab and past praise of Torba. He ultimately deleted his account on the site, while denouncing anti-Semitism, and insiting that Torba doesnt speak for me.

Story continues

The seeds for the present controversy with Masters were sown in late July. Torba took note of a wave of hardcore MAGA candidates in Arizona, and endorsed a Gab Caucus that included Oath Keeper state Sen. Wendy Rogers; 2020 election conspiracy theorist and secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem; Rep. Paul Gosar, who sought a pardon from Trump for his work in the runup to Jan. 6; and Kari Lake, the rabidly anti-immigrant former newscaster running for governor.

Torba also endorsed Masters  for a second time. He had fully endorsed Masters in June, sharing, with seeming approval, a hit ad from one of Masters opponents that painted Masters as having troublingly anti-Semitic tendencies.

Several members of the Arizona Gab Caucus were delighted to have Torbas endorsement. Finchem wrote on Gab: Thank you, Andrew Torba  for fighting for freedom of speech. Honored to have your endorsement. Rogers, similarly, wrote: Honored to be endorsed by Freedom of Speech pioneer Andrew Torba.

But Masters was quick to distance himself from the Gab CEO. In a statement to the Arizona Mirror, Masters said: Ive never heard of this guy and I reject his support. Then Masters laid it on thick: The reason Ive never heard of him is because hes a nobody, and nobody cares about him except the media.

Torba told a very different story. In a series of Telegram posts, he wrote: LOL, I literally had a conversation with Blake Masters a few months ago on Twitter Spaces. He knows exactly who I am. Torba did not withdraw his endorsement, insisting I want him to win anyway. But he accused Masters of bending the knee to media pressure and acting like a typical politician before he is even elected. Its concerning, Torba added, that Blake can flat out lie like this.

Rolling Stone reached out to Torba on Gab. He did not respond. (Torba does not speak to non-Christian media outlets.) He did, however, post the Jewish Insider piece on Telegram with the message: Daily reminder: dont tell lies.

Reached earlier this week by Rolling Stone, the Masters campaign had doubled down, insisting  falsely, as it turns out  that the candidate doesnt know Torba in the slightest. Katie Miller, a former Mike Pence staffer who is now a senior adviser to the Masters campaign, provided a statement via email:

Blake interacts with tens of thousands of people on Twitter Spaces, Miller wrote. The sentiment remains that he doesnt know Torba and rejects his support. Why does Rolling Stone want to amplify White Nationalists? added Miller. (Miller is married to the former Trump White House anti-immigrant crusader Stephen Miller.)

After publication of this story, Miller responded to a new round of questions from Rolling Stone. Miller now insists that she had provided the original quote attributed to Masters, and bore responsibility for its inaccuracy. In the speed of moving too fast to dispense with the notion that Blake would welcome support from Torba, she wrote, I, Katie Miller, inserted the line [that] he had never heard of [him]. Miller angrily accused Rolling Stone of giving a platform to someone who is undeserving. This is ironic given that Masters can be heard on the new audio objecting to Torbas de-platforming.

Its not difficult to understand Torbas ideological attraction to Masters, a venture capitalist who is bankrolled by his longtime boss, the Trumpy big-tech billionaire Peter Thiel.

Masters has blamed gun violence on, Black people, frankly.

He has parroted the tenets of the racist great replacement theory, suggesting that Democrats are trying to change the demographics of our country and import an entirely new electorate.

He has spoken conspiratorially of the insurrection in Washington, suggesting that one-third of the people outside of the Capitol complex on January 6 were actual FBI agents.

In past writings on the far-right newssite LewRockwell.com, he blamed the U.S. entry into World War I on the Houses of Morgan and Rothschild, called World War II an unjust war, and closed an essay with a poignant quote from the Nazi Hermann Goring.

In 2008, he filmed himself freestyle rapping while wearing war paint, rhyming: OK, I dress up as an Indian / If you dont like it Im going to take you in / to the politically correct police, throw you in jail.

Torbas is not the only politically toxic backer the GOP candidate has attracted. Masters has also drawn backing from noxious white supremacists, including the Hitler-praising Groyper leader Nick Fuentes, who recently gave Masters my complete and full endorsement, praising in particular the candidates remarks on race and gun violence. Masters has also won the heart of Andrew Anglin, publisher of The Daily Stormer: I cannot give a more forceful endorsement, the publisher of the Neo-Nazi site wrote in June. This is exactly the kind of man this country needs.

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
The North Dakota Supreme Court was right to strike down key portions of the states pore space law. The courts unanimous opinion was released Thursday.

The Legislature passed the pore space law in 2019, with supporters saying the bill simply clarified the law on the use of voids or cavities in underground rock formations. Pore spaces are used when the petroleum industry injects saltwater from oil and gas production underground for permanent storage or for enhanced oil recovery.

The justices ruled the law unconstitutional because it took away the right of landowners to be compensated for use of pore space. Under the law, landowners couldnt be compensated unless they had an existing contract. Landowners adjacent to a disposal well also could not make a claim that saltwater had migrated into their pore space, nor could they sue for trespassing.

It was an outlandish law that didnt clarify anything; it just took away the rights of landowners and put money into oil industry pockets.

The Northwest Landowners Association sued the state, got a favorable ruling from a state district judge last year and then won in the Supreme Court. Derrick Braaten, a Bismarck attorney representing the landowners, called the ruling "a big win."

"I mean, there is nothing in this opinion that we are not absolutely thrilled about and dont agree with 100%, Braaten told The Associated Press.

The Supreme Court noted that landowners always have had the right to be compensated for the use of pore space. The bill was controversial in 2019 when it passed and Gov. Doug Burgum signed it.

Its understandable that the oil industry wants the most favorable terms possible when drilling in North Dakota. But the Legislature shouldnt have twisted the law to benefit the industry. Not all landowners are making huge profits off oil, with some making sacrifices for exploration.

It doesnt help the image of the industry when companies suggest they might go elsewhere if they dont get preferred treatment in North Dakota. The 2019 law allowed the industry to steal pore space.

After last weeks pore space ruling, the North Dakota Industrial Commission released a statement saying it is committed to ensuring that underground saltwater injection wells are managed for the benefit of landowners as well as the oil and gas industry.

Thats fine as long as landowners get reasonable payments for their pore space.
no0810Hootsuite

Social media management platform Hootsuite Inc. became the latest Canadian tech company to issue major layoffs when it announced it was cutting 30 per cent of its staff on Tuesday.

The move comes as a cooling economy has dimmed the prospects for high-growth companies, especially those that benefitted from the shift to e-commerce during the pandemic.

Giants such as Amazon.com Inc. have not been immune from the changing economic picture, either. Earlier this month, Amazon said it had reduced its staffing levels by 100,000 positions by slowing hiring.

Heres a rundown of the major tech layoffs that have hit Canada recently.

Hootsuite

Vancouver-based Hootsuite said Tuesdays 30 per cent cut to global staffing would bring its head count to just over 1,000 and was part of an effort to restructure the company.

In an email statement, chief executive Tom Keiser said the move was made as the company refocuses its strategies to drive efficiency, growth and financial sustainability.

We want to be very clear this decision is not a reflection on them, or their work. It is indicative of a change to our business that realigns our strategies with the positions we need to be successful, Keiser said.

Last month, the company announced a rebranding, saying it was time to rethink its integrated branding strategy to better reflect our position and our direction as the social experts, trusted partners, and joyful mentors.

Shopify

Canadian tech giant Shopify Inc. was the most prominent company to cut staff when it laid off 10 per cent of its staff on July 26 after a bet on continuous e-commerce growth failed to pay off.

The cuts of approximately 1,000 employees primarily affected those in recruiting, support and sales.

Chief executive Tobi Lutke said the company expected the surge it saw at the height of the pandemic to be permanent and thought they had to expand to keep pace. Instead, growth has since fallen back to pre-COVID trendlines as consumers now return to shopping at physical retail stores.

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Ultimately, placing this bet was my call to make and I got this wrong. Now, we have to adjust, Lutke said.

Article

Vancouver-based online furniture retailer Article laid off 216 employees, or 17 per cent of its team, last week.

In a post on Articles website, co-founder and chief executive Aamir Baig said the company was operating at a size larger than current demand would sustain and needed to resize the business.

Like many eCommerce companies, we benefited tremendously from the demand increase from COVID. We anticipated the trend to online purchasing would be sustained  that did not happen, and it has since returned to pre-COVID trends, he said.

Clearco

Michele Romanows startup Clearco laid off 25 per cent of its workforce on July 29, saying the company increased its headcount too quickly in anticipation of continued growth.

Clearco said 125 people of their 500-person team were affected by the cuts.

In a memo to staff, the Dragons Den star said they were building to match the growth of the economy and are now facing significant headwinds that didnt exist six months ago.

Wealthsimple

Wealthsimple laid off 13 per cent of its workforce on June 16, citing immense volatility in markets. The financial services company said it let go of 159 of its 1,262 employees.

In a letter to staff, chief executive Michael Katchen positioned the cuts as part of the fallout from months of seeing the market soar and Wealthsimple grow at an unprecedented rate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

With reporting from the Canadian Press

 Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com | Twitter:
Centerra Gold Inc

TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centerra Gold Inc. (Centerra or the Company) (TSX: CG) (NYSE: CGAU) will host its 2022 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on September 22, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. (Toronto time) in a virtual only format.



Voting and participation instructions for eligible shareholders will be provided in the Companys Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders and Management Information Circular, which will be mailed to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 19, 2022, the record date for the 2022 Annual General Meeting, and made available on the Companys website at http://www.centerragold.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

About Centerra Gold

Centerra Gold Inc. is a Canadian-based gold mining company focused on operating, developing, exploring and acquiring gold and copper properties in North America, Turkey, and other markets worldwide. Centerra operates two mines: the Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada, and the Oksut Mine in Turkey. The Company also owns the Goldfield District Project in Nevada, United States, the Kemess Underground Project in British Columbia, Canada, and owns and operates the Molybdenum Business Unit in the United States and Canada. Centerras shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol CG and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol CGAU. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For more information:

Toby Caron

Treasurer and Director, Investor Relations

(416) 204-1694

toby.caron@centerragold.com

Shae Frosst

Manager, Investor Relations

(416) 204-2159

shae.frosst@centerragold.com

Additional information on Centerra is available on the Companys website at www.centerragold.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.

To view the PDF associated with this press release, please visit: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/6090a757-c269-4ae8-a6c3-7fbf84f0e2ea




Some shoppers have figured a way around Delaware's plastic bag ban.

Instead of bringing their own bags to the store, they are stealing the stores' plastic shopping baskets.

Kaitlyn DiFrancesco, a cashier and manager at the Acme in University Plaza near Christiana, said her store had so many baskets stolen that they were completely wiped out of their supply.

We dont have any more, she said. Actually, because of people stealing them, we arent going to order more.

The Acme location noticed people stealing the baskets immediately after the bag ban went into effect last month. Store employees were advised to ask customers to return the baskets if they were seen leaving with them, but some just ignored these requests or slipped out undetected, DiFrancesco said.

Although Acme in University Plaza will no longer supply shopping baskets, customers can still purchase reusable fabric bags or pay 5 cents for paper bags at checkout, which are mostly used for grocery delivery services.

On July 1, retail stores in Delaware were no longer allowed to provide any type of plastic carryout bags for customers.

This bag ban comes as an amendment to Delawares original plastic bag ban that went into effect last year and allowed plastic bags with a 2.25-mil thickness to be deemed reusable. Businesses with smaller footprints had exceptions to this rule.

Now, single-use plastic carryout bags are allowed only at restaurants, which are not required to have an in-store recycling program. All other retailers, regardless of size, are prohibited from distributing any plastic carryout bags.

Details on the bag ban:#BYOBagDE: How Delaware is making its second attempt at a ban on single-use plastic bags

Some retailers opted to provide paper bags for free or for a small fee or sell reusable fabric bags. Many quickly noticed their supply of plastic shopping baskets was rapidly dwindling.

In New Jersey, several supermarkets such as ShopRite, Whole Foods, Acme and Stop and Shop experienced similar struggles with plastic shopping baskets disappearing after the statewide ban there on single-use plastic bags went into effect on May 4.

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New Jerseys bag ban was signed into law in November 2020 and gave retailers 18 months to prepare for the switch.

Wyoming, Connecticut and Oregon are among the other states that have seen plastic shopping baskets stolen after plastic bag bans went into effect.

At Food Lion in Fairfield Shopping Center on New London Road in Newark, the store removed the shopping baskets from the store when Delawares initial bag ban was implemented last year.

Way back at the beginning of everything, we switched to paper bags and we dont charge for paper bags like some other stores do, said Christopher Harper, customer service manager at the Fairfield Food Lion.

Despite some retailers having gripes about the bag ban and its impact on customers, Harper says his Acme location has no complaints about the July 1 ban.

If anything, it costs us less because we dont have to buy plastic anymore, he said.

Retailers react:Delaware's updated plastic bag ban begins. Here's what to expect at local stores

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Some Delaware shoppers have not reacted well to plastic bag ban
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  An explosion rocked an Evansville, Indiana, neighborhood Wednesday, killing three people and damaging nearly 40 homes.

Evansville Fire Chief Mike Connelly said units were dispatched at 12:59 p.m, and quickly arrived on scene just three minutes later.

Chief Connelly said crews conducted searches of houses around the explosion and many of them were empty aside from pets. He said the department has not confirmed how many of the houses were occupied when the explosion happened because some were too unstable to enter.

The fire department believed there could be other victims that are unaccounted for as of Wednesday evening.

In addition to the three people who lost their lives, at least one other person was being treated in the hospital.

Evansville Police Department Sgt. Anna Gray said the entire area surrounding the 1000 block of N. Weinbach Avenue was shut down Wednesday afternoon. All fires had been put out.

In total, 39 homes were damaged by the blast, a fire department spokesperson said.

Officials said the cause of the explosion is unknown, and an investigation was ongoing. Police were asking people to avoid the area as the investigation continued.

CenterPoint Energy, the local gas utility, was last called to the home in January 2018, Connelly said. CenterPoint issued a statement saying it worked with first responders to secure the area.

CenterPoint Energy is working closely with the Evansville Fire Department, State Fire Marshal and other agencies as the investigation of this incident continues, the utility said.

It was the second house explosion in the area in just over five years. A house explosion on June 27, 2017, killed two people and injured three others.

Wednesdays explosion also brought to mind a massive blast in 2012 that destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes on Indianapolis south side and killed two people. A man was convicted of tampering with a natural gas line at his then-girlfriends home in an attempt to commit insurance fraud, with the explosion killing two next-door neighbors. That man, his half-brother and girlfriend all received long prison sentences.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A mother traveling to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong with her husband and two young children died "in her sleep" during the flight, friends say.

According to a GoFundMe campaign, Helen Rhodes, a midwife, was found unresponsive during the flight and was unable to be resuscitated. Rhodes' body remained in her seat next to the family until the plane landed in Germany.

"This all unfolded in front of her children," Jayne Jeje, a friend of Rhodes, said on the campaign page. "For the remaining 8 hours of the flight, Helen lay in a breathless sleep in her seat. Although this was extremely traumatizing to the family, they all had time to say what they needed to say to her. Needless to mention, they are devastated. This loss is unimaginable. Helen was a devoted wife and mother. She was the glue that held her family together."

After landing in Germany, Rhodes' body was kept in Frankfurt while her husband, Simon, and children, Nathan and Emma, continued their trip to the United Kingdom.

Rhodes  who was 46 years old, per the Independent  was moving back to the United Kingdom after nearly two decades in Hong Kong, Jeje said in a description on the donation page.

RELATED: Houston DJ, 23, Dies After Falling from Balcony of Girlfriend's High-Rise Apartment Building

helen rhodes

GoFundMe

"Helen was excited and nervous about the move, but looked forward to seeing her family back home, as she had not seen her family or aging parents since the pandemic began," Jeje wrote. "Sadly, she never got to see them again."

PEOPLE has reached out to the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office for comment.

In a statement to The Guardian, a spokesperson for the agency said they are "supporting the family of a British woman who died on a flight to Frankfurt and are in contact with the local authorities." They repeated the statement to Insider.

RELATED: 22-Month-Old Twin Dies in 'Freak Accident' After Cement Truck Falls Off Texas Bridge and Lands on Family SUV

In a post on Facebook, Andrew Spires, who knew Rhodes in the Tung Chung community in Hong Kong where they lived, remembered her as "the most caring, generous and thoughtful person."

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"Tung Chung and school pick-up won't be the same without you," he wrote.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the campaign has raised just over $29,000 to support Rhodes' family.

"We can only hope she knew how much she meant to us, and how her void can never be filled," Jeje wrote. "How this loss is so painful and surreal. The grief we feel is paralyzing. Yet, we feel lucky to have known her."
A wealthy dentist on trial for killing his wife during an African safari allegedly confessed to pulling the trigger to his long-time mistress, federal prosecutors said Wednesday in their opening statements.

A witness at a Phoenix, Arizona steakhouse allegedly overheard Lawrence Rudolph tell his girlfriend Lori Milliron, I killed my f---ing wife for you! during a heated argument between the pair after Rudolph learned his wifes death was being investigated by the FBI, The Associated Press reports.

He killed his wife for HER!, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bishop Grewell said in the Denver courthouse Wednesday while pointing to Milliron, who is facing charges of lying to a grand jury and being an accessory after the fact.

Rudolph is facing charges of murder and mail fraud in the death of his wife of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph.

Prosecutors believe Lawrence shot Bianca on the final day of their big game hunting trip in October 2016 at the Kafue National Park in Zambia.

Rudolph told authorities he had been in the bathroom of the couples small cabin when he heard a firearm go off and rushed into the bedroom to find his wife with a gunshot wound straight to the heart, according to an affidavit previously obtained by Law & Crime.

He told Zambian police he believed his wife had been packing a 12-gauge shotgun in its case when the gun accidentally went off, killing her.

Zambian police later concluded that Bianca had failed to take proper safety precautions while packing the loaded gun, ultimately leading to her death.

But prosecutors have said evidence suggests that Bianca was shot from about two to three-and-a-half feet away and contend that Rudolph had wanted to kill his wife to collect more than $4.8 million in insurance money.

They also believe that Rudolph had been given an ultimatum from Milliron, a former hygienist and office manager at his thriving Pittsburgh dental practice, to divorce his wife.

A U.S. consular official in Zambia has said Rudolph appeared to be in a rush to cremate his wifesomething her close friend would later tell authorities Bianca would have never wanted because of her devout Catholic faith.

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In court Wednesday, Rudolphs attorney David Markus disputed the prosecutions theory, telling the jury that the couple had been in a happy marriage. Although both had extramarital affairs, he said the couple often traveled together for big game hunts and were parents to two grown childrenwho stood up in court to show their support for their father, according to The Associated Press.

Just moments after Bianca was shot, Markus said hunting guides had rushed into the room to find Rudolph in distress, adding that staff and been in and out of the cabin all morning before the shooting.

According to Markus, when Rudolph decided to have his wife cremated, he had just been following her wishes, showing the jury a copy of what he said was her will that specified she had wanted to be cremated.

He also disputed the prosecutions theory that there had been a financial incentive for killing his wife and said Rudolph had a net worth of more than $15 million at the time.

The money from the insurance proceeds had gone into a trust for his children, Markus said.

He has the truth on his side, Markus said.

As for that damaging remark at the Phoenix steakhouse, Markus said his client had actually said Theyre saying I killed my f---ing wife for you and was not confessing to any murder.

If that is what this case depends on, I cant believe were going to be here for three weeks, he said.

Rudolph is expected to tell the jury in his own words what happened that fateful morning when he takes the stand later in the trial, Markus said.

Millirons attorney, John Dill, also addressed the jury and denied his client had known anything about alleged murder plans.

He argued that he had been asked leading questions at the grand jury and said his clients romantic involvement with Rudolph was not central to the allegations.

This isnt a trial about adultery, he said.

The trial, which is being held in Denver because that's the location of some of the insurance companies, is expected to include testimony from Zambian investigators, FBI analysts and others who knew the couple, The Associated Press reported previously.

If convicted, Rudolph could face life in prison or death.
A man in central China married off his mentally disabled teenage daughter on three occasions between 2018 and 2021 to three different men for cash.

The father, surnamed Xie, from Lianyuan Hunan province, sold his daughter Tingting to receive bride payments. He claimed that his daughter was over 20 years old, although she was born in January 2005.

Tingting first got engaged to a man in 2018 when she was under 14 years old. In 2019, she was engaged to a man, surnamed Chen, in his 30s. She had just turned 14, although Xie kept her true age a secret. The matchmaker who brought the two together stated that she was 18 years old and young and fertile and that she doesnt even know that one plus one equals two.

When Chen asked Tingting for her ID card to open an account at the bank, he discovered that she was only 16 years old. He and his family, however, expressed nonchalance as the two had been married for more than two years at the time.

More from NextShark: Small business owner shuts down her store in Chicago after $30,000 burglary and anti-Asian harassment

She was young and fertile, which is difficult to find in rural regions, Chen said per South China Morning Post.

Xie received more than 90,000 yuan (approximately $13,328) from Chens family. He also collected tens of thousands of yuan from the other two men as well.

When the Chen family discovered that Xie had sold his daughter to a third family, they demanded their money back. Xie refused to return the money.

More from NextShark: Portland man accused of punching 5-year-old girl and her father now held without bail

When police arrested Xie in March, they discovered that he had spent all the money. The Lianyuan City Public Security Bureau announced on Aug. 2 that the investigation had been completed. The case has now been sent to prosecutors as they decide whether to charge Xie with fraud.

Xies wife, who also has a mental disability, was sent to a nursing home in Lianyuan City Center, while Tingting was sent to the Lianyuan City Social Welfare Institute.

Story continues

Weibo users expressed outrage, condemning the father.

More from NextShark: Golden retriever puppy in Bangkok gets mugshot and charged for getting lost

[Hes] being prosecuted for alleged fraud [but] bodily harm to girls and human trafficking are not illegal? one user wrote.

There are more crimes here, not [just] fraud crimes, another user commented.

More from NextShark: Worker Lives Matter campaign challenges grueling 996 corporate culture in China

Featured Image: Weibo
Aug. 10Nashville recording artist Annabelle has announced the release of her latest single, "Elizabeth Jones," which can be found on all streaming platforms. She hit 22,000 streams on Spotify in just 10 days.

Annabelle is the daughter of Austin High School graduate and basketball standout Beth Bue Maher, who played college ball at North Dakota State University and is married Hall of Fame football player from NDSU Jared Maher.

"Elizabeth Jones" is 16-year-old Annabelle's second single released, and found a home for 10 days on Spotify's editorial playlist, New Music Friday Country. Originally from Fargo, she has traveled to Nashville and has written over 80 songs.

She was featured on the Today Show as tomorrow's next talent for her songwriting and performed her song "Elizabeth Jones" on national TV. The Today Show chose Elizabeth Jones from Annabelle's list of songs.

Annabelle's producer Kent Wells (Dolly Parton's producer) has called Annabelle a song writing prodigy.
Three-time champion Andy Murray has lost in straight sets in the first round of the National Bank Open as British mens number one Cameron Norrie progressed.

Murray, who won the tournament in 2015 following earlier victories in 2009 and 2010, finally got underway against American Taylor Fritz in Tuesday evenings feature match after they were delayed a day earlier by rain in Montreal.

The Scot was overwhelmed by the 10th seeds power in the first set before fighting back hard in the second, with his frustration getting the better of him as he smashed his racket on the court several times.

Fritz ultimately proved too strong, his 6-1 6-3 maiden victory in Canada setting up a second-round encounter against compatriot Frances Tiafoe.

Earlier, Norrie bounced back from losing the final of the Abierto de Tenis Mifel days earlier with a 6-4 6-4 defeat of Brandon Nakashima.

The world number 11 took just one hour and 13 minutes to achieve the win and will face Botic van de Zandschulp in the second round.

Jack Draper set up an encounter against Stefanos Tsitsipas with a 6-2 6-3 victory over fellow qualifier Hugo Gaston, while British number two Dan Evans dropped a set en route to a win over Filip Krajinovic. Evans will now play Russias Andrey Rublev, who had a bye in the first round.
Kiera Bergman

Opening statements and witness testimonies began Tuesday in the murder trial of 19-year-old Kiera Bergman, whose body was found west of Phoenix after missing for nearly one month in 2018.

In May 2019, a grand jury indicted Jon-Christopher Clark, Bergman's boyfriend, on charges of second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Bergman was last seen alive at her apartment near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road on Aug. 4, 2018. Her body was found nearly a month later near State Route 85 and Hazen Road on Sept. 3, 2018.

Cause of death was undetermined.

Court records obtained by The Arizona Republic said that Clark and Bergman had fights, and the pair were seen arguing outside of Bergman's apartment the day before her disappearance.

The family of missing 19-year-old Kiera Bergman held a vigil for her in Phoenix on Aug. 11, 2018.

A judge dismissed the case without prejudice in early 2020, saying that prosecutors mishandled Silent Witness records. When a case is dismissed without prejudice, prosecutors are allowed to refile charges if they decide to do so.

"She had just started to write this new chapter of her life story here in Phoenix, Arizona, when Jon Clark ended it," the prosecutor was heard saying in a live stream of the trial. "At the end of the trial, we're still not going to know exactly what happened to Kiara but medical examiners will tell you ... their findings and your common sense and all the other witnesses will tell you, that is not an accident. That's murder."

Witnesses on trial included Bergman's younger sister, the landlord to the apartment she was leasing at the time, as well as investigators who worked on the case.

Clark's defense attorney said he has been "cooperative" with investigators since the very beginning of the case and was the first person to call police when Bergman went missing.

Day two of the trial is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Reach breaking news reporter Haleigh Kochanski at hkochanski@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @HaleighKochans.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trial begins in 2018 murder of Kiera Bergman
I am a resident of San Diego, California. I had to terminate the agreement with my attorney because my attorney thoroughly sacrificed my legal right and harmed my interests in a case filed by my former listing agent for defamation, who actually severely violated his fiduciary duty and professional conduct to damage my interests. Given that my attorneys betrayal has seriously damaged my confidence and courage in finding a loyal and dedicated lawyer. In order to protect my legitimate rights, I now hope to seek legal support from honest lawyers and others through the media.

In December 2021, my former listing agent filed a lawsuit alleging that I wrote a novella to defame him. (The link for searching San Diego Superior Court Case Number 37-2021-00051912 is https://roa.sdcourt.ca.gov/ roa/faces/CaseSearch.xhtml ). The cause of the lawsuit is that I wrote a novella in 2021 based on my real experience of being deceived in selling my house. In December 2020, when the housing market was going crazy, I hired the listing agent to sell my entry level single house in the best school district (Zip code 92130) when there was a huge shortage of houses on the market. When buyers were frantically bid for a chance to buy a house in San Diego, the listing agent only gave me one offer. When I learned the real state of the housing market, I realized that I was deceived. Neither other agents nor my friends believed that only one offer was got in such a crazy sellers market. But till now, the listing agent still insists that there was no other offer except that only one offer.

In January 2021 when I suspected that my listing agent had colluded with the buyers agent, I legally canceled that purchase contract at the last minute. Then I wrote a novella in Chinese based on my experience to share with friends and netizens, reminding my readers of the existence of agents violations (Certified Novel translation: https://drive.google.com/ drive/folders/1e_taRR1q_ UlNZHYZnYKw54aEmnoRsfrF?usp= sharing ). Then my husband and I complained about the listing agent to the San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR). And after the SDAR hearing, my former listing agents broker immediately terminated the contract with him. In May 2021, we continued to complain about the listing agent to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE). After over 14 months, DRE is still under investigation.

In January 2022 I signed an agreement with a law firm to represent me to defend my free speech rights, and I also filed a Cross-Complaint to complain about the listing agents misconduct and gross negligence. I am very confident with that case because I have a lot of solid evidence to prove my former listing agents severe violations. However, after over half a year and spending nearly $80,000, I just found out that my attorney took advantage of my lack of knowledge of the court process to sacrifice and damage my legal rights severely. Because of the attorneys betrayal, the listing agent and his attorney submitted false evidence and suspicious false evidence to the court to support his false declaration against my Anti-SLAPP Motion. Because of my attorneys violations, I lost the chance to defend myself by making my declaration and showing strong evidence in the court. As a result, the listing agents false evidence was accepted by the court in lieu of the facts. Its a huge injustice to me. Then my attorney secretly filed a mediation request against my will without my awareness. I terminated the Agreement with his Law firm now.

Now I'm desperate and totally have no idea how to find a loyal attorney to defend me. I have to represent myself to handle this case now. As an immigrant who is not good at English and does not understand litigation procedures, I know that I am unable to represent myself to defend myself effectively. Please help me. I need your righteous hand!

Thank you!
FILE PHOTO: Sunflowers are seen in a field in Chernihiv region

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's grain, oilseed, vegetable oil exports rose 22.7% in July versus June to 2.66 million tonnes thanks to higher wheat and barley shipments, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday.

Ukraine's grain exports have slumped since the start of the war because its Black Sea ports - a key route for shipments - were closed off, driving up global food prices and prompting fears of shortages in Africa and the Middle East.

An agreement was concluded last month to unblock Ukrainian seaports and allow the departure of ships carrying grain.

July's exports included 412,000 tonnes of wheat, 183,000 tonnes of barley, 1.1 million tonnes of corn, 362,100 tonnes of sunseed and tonnages of other commodities, the ministry said.

However, in a separate statement the ministry said Ukrainian grain exports were still down almost 52% year-on-year at 2.2 million tonnes so far in the 2022/23 season.

Grain exports for the 2021/22 season ending June 30 rose 8.5% to 48.5 million tonnes, driven by strong shipments before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Ukraine has said 370,000 tonnes of grain were exported from seaports after their unblocking.

The ministry data showed that exports so far in 2022/23 included 1.45 million tonnes of corn, 562,000 tonnes of wheat and 192,000 tonnes of barley.

The government has said that Ukraine could harvest at least 50 million tonnes of grain this year, compared with a record 86 million tonnes in 2021, because of the loss of land to Russian forces and lower grain yields.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Toby Chopra and Elaine Hardcastle)
Photo credit: throtl - YouTube

Throughout the Dodge Viper's 23-year production, one major factor remained constant: it was powered by a naturally aspirated V-10 engine. The Throtl YouTube channel threw that out the door for its newest build: a 2001 Viper powered by a Hellcat Redeye supercharged V-8.

Throtl built this car to compete in the Dodge Direct Connection Grudge Match at Roadkill Nights 2022 this weekend, according to Engine Swap Depot. Gone is the legendary 8.0-liter V-10 that propelled the Viper to greatness, replaced by a Hellcrate 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 making 807 hp and 717 lb-ft of torque. The T56 six-speed is gone too, replaced by a more durable T56 Magnum.

It's not just the engine that's been upgraded. This Viper has also received a set of Penske racing coilovers, bigger Wilwood brakes, and a set of American Racing wheels wrapped in sticky drag radials.

In the video above the Throtl team tests out the car for the first time at Barona Dragstrip outside of San Diego, California. While they run into a few small issues, the car seems healthy and looks incredibly quick. We're curious to see how it stacks up against the competition.

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Weather Alert

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM WEDNESDAY TO 11 PM PDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures up to 102 expected. * WHERE...In Washington, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Washington, Simcoe Highlands, Kittitas Valley and Yakima Valley. In Oregon, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon. * WHEN...From 11 AM Wednesday to 11 PM PDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
Weather Alert

...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 103. * WHERE...In Washington, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Washington, Simcoe Highlands, Kittitas Valley and Yakima Valley. In Oregon, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1. &&
The oldest item in the British Librarys current Breaking the News exhibition (open until 21 August 2022) is an account of the Battle of Flodden in 1513. This small pamphlet is the earliest surviving example of printed news in Britain, but of course written records of contemporary events and experiences survive from ancient times, and from many parts of the world.

An illustrated account of the Battle of Flodden, Hereafter ensue the trewe encountre of batayle lately don betwene Engla[n]de and Scotlande etc., Richard Fa[w]ques [1513].

A key focus of the current exhibition is the biases revealed in the way news is reported. Though they may not have been as immediate, or intended for circulation in the same way that news is today, medieval historical chronicles are evidence of the way events were seen and recorded by eyewitnesses at the time or shortly afterwards. The material that writers of chronicles chose to include or omit can tell us as much about their viewpoints and opinions as the contents themselves. An example of this is the story of capture of King Richard II of England (r. 1377  1399) in 1399, his mysterious death soon afterwards, and the usurpation of the throne by Henry Bolingbroke, who then became Henry IV of England (r. 1399  1413).

In the later Middle Ages, those in power in England and on the Continent were keen to own books about the history of their dynasties, and some of these include reports of near-contemporary events. The fall of Richard II is recorded and illustrated in a number of histories and chronicles produced shortly after the event. One of these is a work by Jean Creton in rhyming French, the La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II), devoted purely to the subject.

Richard II meets Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle, from La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Paris, 1401-1420), Harley MS 1319 , f. 50r

Jean Creton, a historian and poet who was sent in April 1399 by King Charles VI of France to accompany Richard II on a military expedition to Ireland, gave an eyewitness account of the capture of the king at Flint Castle in August 1399 and was commissioned by Philip the Bold, duke of Burgundy, to write this record. In his account, Jean condemns Henrys treasonous acts, and those of his supporters, and calls for a response from the French, Flemish, Germans and Bretons.

Seven copies survive, of which only this one (Harley MS 1319), formerly owned by the Duc de Berry, brother of the French king, is illustrated. The dramatic miniatures provide an eyewitness perspective and guide the audiences interpretation. For example, bright costumes are used to identify the key characters and their ranks.

Richard II is delivered to the citizens of London, from La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Paris, 1401-1420), Harley MS 1319 , f. 53v

Henry IV is recognized as king by parliament, from La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Paris, 1401-1420), Harley MS 1319 , f. 57r

A comprehensive account of events surrounding the deposition of Richard II was also recorded by Jean Froissart (c.1337- c.1405), a courtier and historian who worked in England and the Low Countries. His Chroniques deal mainly with events in England, France and Burgundy during the Hundred Years War. Froissart, perhaps wary of alienating the new king, does not take sides by attributing the murder to Henry IV.

Richard resigning the crown; the funeral of Richard II, from Jean Froissart, Chroniques, vol 4 (Bruges, c. 1480): Royal MS 18 E ii , f. 401v

Froissarts Chroniques end in 1400 and the last episode illustrated in this copy is Richard IIs funeral, though the text itself ends with a dispute in 1400 between the Pope, the king of France and the citizens of Liege, in which Froissart tells how the latter threatened to throw any further messengers sent by the Pope into the River Meuse! At this point, aged around 63, he ended his chronicle but it remained a popular historical work, with copies like this one being made in the late 15th century and beyond.

This copy of Froissarts Chroniques (Royal MS 18 E ii) was made for King Edward IV (r. 1461  1470), who had also gained the throne of England after deposing the previous king, who died mysteriously thereafter. In this case the deposed king was Henry VI, grandson of Henry IV who had deposed Richard II. Perhaps Edward pondered on this striking parallel as he read his finely illuminated chronicle manuscript.

You can find out about news in modern and contemporary times in the British Librarys Breaking the News exhibition, which runs to Sunday 21 August. For more on French chronicles in British Library manuscripts, see our virtual exhibition on Writing and Picturing History, Historical Manuscripts from the Royal collection.

Chantry Westwell

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Ultimately, the new chamber is to be staffed with 11 judges chosen by the president for a five-year term, as Duda specified in a law of his own making. He will choose them from a group of 33 people selected from among all the Supreme Court judges in a lottery. Their names were announced on Tuesday.

Press was denied access to the Supreme Courts main hall

The candidate selection process took place at a meeting of the Supreme Court College, which includes the presidents of the Supreme Court. The meeting was live-streamed online, but its first part was barely audible. Journalists who wanted to observe the draw were not allowed into the Supreme Court hall. Instead, the press was put into a separate room with a TV. The entrance to the main hall of the Supreme Court was guarded by the police.

- We were issued accreditations to watch TV- said Wyborczas reporter Justyna Dobrosz-Oracz.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Magorzata Manowska, explained denying access to journalists by saying that "the judges were already sufficiently stressed" about participating in a process dubbed the "death games" and the possibility of being selected.

REKLAMA

The selection itself resembled a game of bingo and was conducted by Chief Justice Manowska. First, she showed cards with the names of all the judges to the camera and enclosed them in small, blue, ball-shaped containers. She dropped the balls into a transparent box.  Just like kinder surprise eggs- she said. - Seven spins one way, seven spins back- she described the process of mixing the balls.

"What a humiliating spectacle for the institution of the Supreme Court" - Micha Wawrykiewicz of the Free Courts Initiative commented.

New chamber, same old concerns

A total of 82 judges and so-called neo-judges (people nominated by the politicized National Council of the Judiciary, whose legality is contested by the European Court of Human Rights and the EU Court of Justice) took part in the lottery. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the neo-judges do not guarantee a fair trial, but the presidential bill allowed them to participate in the selection process, so Andrzej Duda can designate such people to sit on the new chamber.

REKLAMA

This is one of the reasons why seven members of the Supreme Court College - the so-called "old judges" - protested against the draw. As Piotr Prusinowski, the head of the Labor Chamber said at the meeting, the PLC will not guarantee the right to a fair trial - because of the neo-judges, as well as the way it is staffed.

- The executive branch, in the person of the Chief Justice, is left with the discretionary power to deciding on the composition of the disciplinary court according to unspecified criteria- we read the statements issued by the seven defiant members of the College.

The president of the Labor Chamber warned that if the Chief Justice held the draw, it would result in further rulings by the Strasbourg Court confirming violations of the right to a fair trial, and the need to pay further damages. But this did not stop justice Manowska.

REKLAMA

The Chief Justice drew a total of 16 Supreme Court judges and 17 neo-judges. The latter included people from the closed Disciplinary Chamber, including its former chairman Tomasz Przesawski.

Will the Professional Liability Chamber be an independent court?

The European Parliament called on the European Commission in June to make sure that the new chamber will be an independent court in accordance with EU requirements (in July 2021, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the Disciplinary Chamber was not an independent court). This is one of the "milestones" that Poland must meet to receive money from the National Recovery Plan. President Duda wanted to unlock the funds with his bill creating the Professional Liability Chamber.

Will the PLC be an independent court in accordance with EU requirements? - The PLC could still have neo-judges appointed with the participation of the politicized National Council of the Judiciary, which would violate constitutional and statutory standards and EU law, attorney Micha Wawrykiewicz of the Free Courts Initiative told "Wyborcza".

"We will see whom the president will choose. Perhaps he will choose only those judges whose status is non-disputed. Let us dream" - opposition senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski wrote on Twitter.

"The composition of the chamber can be selected in terms of certain expectations regarding its jurisprudence" - lawyers of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights assessed the presidential bill. And it is the PLC that is supposed to verify the rulings of the Disciplinary Chamber suspending unruly judges or stripping them of their immunity.

"Information on the results of the selection will be immediately forwarded to the President of the Republic of Poland, who will appoint 11 judges to sit on the Professional Liability Chamber for the first five-year term"- the Supreme Court announced. President Duda is expected to name the final nominees in the coming days.

"A Supreme Court judge may not refuse to participate in the selection process, to be appointed to adjudicate in the PLC, or to adjudicate in that chamber once appointed by the president"  the Supreme Court emphasizes. The prospect of being chosen to sit on the PLC is also frowned upon by some of the neo-judges. Civil Chamber neo-judge Kamil Zaradkiewicz wrote on Facebook that he would consider his appointment to the PLC without his consent a violation of the Constitution. On Tuesday, he was drawn as one of the candidates for the chamber.

***

Every day, 400 journalists at Gazeta Wyborcza write verified, fact-checked stories about Polish politics and society, keeping a critical eye on the ruling camps persistent assault on democratic values and the rule of law; the growing cultural tension between religious fundamentalism and human rights; and the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine. Our journalists are on the front lines in 32 Polish cities, reporting from the streets, hospitals, and courtrooms about issues that move public opinion.

We decided to make our service available to everyone free of charge in order to provide access to high quality journalism for expats and English speakers interested in Polish affairs.

The access to information should be equal for all.
The Municipality of Budapest is preparing a plan to reduce traffic in the inner districts of the capital, according to a report by Nepszava. The plans also include a new, 30 km/h speed limit for motorists in three districts.

The municipality of the capital told the paper that "utilizing the experience of the traffic reduction projects launched in recent years, the Budapest Transport Center (BKK) will prepare the relevant comprehensive strategy this fall."



The proposal, including concrete measures, could be submitted to the Municipal Assembly by the end of 2022, according to the report.



BKK confirmed to Nepszava that planning is underway but refused to share concrete details.



On the other hand, Peter Niedermuller (a member of opposition party Democratic Coalition), the Mayor of Budapest's District VII, said that Districts VI, VII, and VIII are looking to introduce the 30 km/h speed limit in a coordinated, uniform way.



However, he added that due to the different characteristics of the districts concerned, further consultations with professional organizations are needed, and no decision has yet been taken on how the roads managed by the capital will be affected.
BEATRICE -- There were complaints following the Eve of Destruction, the demolition derby that is the Gage County Fair's biggest draw each year.

Derogatory language aimed at President Joe Biden was spray painted on some of the cars competing in the July 30 event, prompting the chairman of the Gage County Democrats to voice his displeasure at Wednesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.

As community members, tax payers, parents, grandparents and Democrats, we were appalled that such a large, prominent, vulgar, totally inappropriate display would be allowed at a family-friendly venue, especially since 4-H youth were given free passes to the event, Dave Anderson said. One would hope the Ag Society and Fair Board would not accept or condone the cultural and moral depravity of moral discourse that is being forced upon us by certain political groups, even in our own county.

Don Esau, president of the Gage County Ag Society, said the board is aware of the concerns, and is something the board will discuss in the future.

Its something that I feel, as a board, we were not prepared for, he said. Looking back, we should have been. I guess we were very disappointed and will do everything in our power to not let it happen again.

Anderson said there was a similar situation during the Diller Picnic event where a banner was displayed on a semi truck, and organizers of that event had the banner removed.

Anderson brought up the issue during the public forum portion of the meeting.
YORK  Summit Carbon Solutions continues work toward acquiring land easements for the construction of a pipeline that would carry carbon dioxide from 31 ethanol plants (six being in Nebraska) to a storage site in North Dakota.

Rob Latimer and Ben Fuller, representing the company, met with the York County Commissioners this week, to provide an update on the project.

The Green Plains ethanol plant east of York would be one of the participating plants; therefore, the pipeline would run through York County, from the Green Plain site to Central City. The proposed line, in York County, would run at a southwest angle from the local plant, crossing land between Benedict and Bradshaw and then crossing the York County line near Polk.

Ethanol plants would benefit from the capture process because it would qualify them for tax incentives as well as allow them to charge a premium cost for their product. The Summit company then would share in the increase of revenue. Ethanol plants are paying nothing for this project  the company shares in their increased premiums for cutting their carbon emissions. The companys investment will be $4.5 billion and no government subsidies or assistance are going to be used, Summit representatives have said in past meetings.

Latimer said the project would result in 318 miles of pipeline in Nebraska, with 18.69 miles of 4-inch pipe running through York County.

He said the total investment in York County would be just over $43 million, generating about $964,000 in new property taxes annually.

Latimer said the project has a tentative construction start date of August of 2023.

Regarding land acquisition, in Nebraska we have 108 miles acquired, Latimer said. Work continues every day toward this. The survey work continues as well. The core of the project is to make ethanol plants economically secure. This is a not a huge pipeline (in diameter), it will go to North Dakota where the CO2 will be sequestered in rock formations forever. This will help ensure ethanol plants continue to be an integral and important part of our agricultural economy.

When you say start date, do you have a starting point, as far as where the pipeline construction would start? asked Commissioner Randy Obermier.

Fuller said there would be multiple construction crews going at the same time, in different locations.

But you will be kept in the loop, Latimer said.

How many landowners have given you permission in York County? asked Commissioner Jack Sikes.

The mileage weve acquired so far, in York County, is 2.6 miles (of the 18.69 needed), Latimer said. We havent acquired it all yet.

Sikes said he had issues with a map already being drawn with the indication of the pipeline path, when the land hasnt even been acquired yet. That makes people think this is the path.

Latimer acknowledged it takes a lot of back and forth with landowners and route adjustments are made when needed. This route will be tweaked a bit, as we go along.

I also have an issue if eminent domain is used for a private project, Sikes said.

Latimer said eminent domain is only used as a last resort and it should be something to be taken very seriously. Thats why we go the extra mile to acquire easements.

How do you come up with a route? asked Commissioner Daniel Grotz.

Well, it will connect one plant to another and then we have to work with environmental constraints, and we take landowner feedback. It takes time to refine, Latimer said. It is complicated. Teams of hundreds of people are working on this.

There is a lot of area that is in public right-of-way, such as county road ditches, Grotz said. Why not try to run the pipeline route through those areas instead of on private land?

Latimer said county board members and state officials are often not keen about installing pipelines in public right-of-way areas because if they would need to expand a road, as an example, that would have to be dealt with.

Would you say its easier to go through private property than public right-of-way? Grotz asked.

Not necessarily, Latimer responded.

You say a start date of August, 2023, but if you dont get all your easements you will get into litigation, Commissioner Bill Bamesberger said to Latimer. I just dont see how you can make that date.

We have to have a start date and work toward that, Latimer said.

Obermier noted that the board would be reviewing the countys zoning and previously proposed haul route agreements, with the countys new zoning administrator, Christopher Johnson. We will be looking at this as a whole, for this project and for others.

That previously proposed haul route agreement was also mentioned earlier in the meeting by a member of the audience. During the public forum part of the commissioners meeting, Shannon Graves of rural Bradshaw addressed the board, saying she was having flashbacks, as this company is working from the TransCanada (the company who sought to create the Keystone XL pipeline) playbook. Theyve already been threatening eminent domain. And the person you are meeting with today (Latimer) worked for TransCanada. He has a lot of experience in misinformation and half-truths. Some of you remember me, my husband and friends as we tried to get protections from the Keystone XL pipeline project. With this project, there are only nine easements on record in York County and we have heard landowners have been denying surveys. We are asking you today to pull out the haul route agreement we paid for but you never adopted. And remember, this is about this project and the next project and the next project.

Latimer addressed Graves comment about threats of eminent domain, which he denied, saying, That is not a practice of Summit Carbon Solutions.

Obermier reiterated that zoning issues will be considered for this project and others.
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttarakhand have announced free bus rides for females. Taking to Twitter, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath declared that on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, ladies in the state would receive free bus tickets for 48 hours. Yogi Adityanath said that from August 10 (12 a.m.) to August 12 (12 a.m.), ladies will be able to ride government buses for free for a total of 48 hours.

In the tweet, he said, "On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan in Uttar Pradesh, all mothers, sisters, and daughters will be provided free travel facility for the next 48 hours in government buses from 12 midnight to 12 midnight on 12th August." In addition, he also announced that the Uttar Pradesh government is soon going to offer free rides for women aged 60 and more in the government buses. In the tweet, he said, "Very soon in Uttar Pradesh, we are going to introduce free travel for and above 60 years of age in government buses."

Following the suit, the state government of Rajasthan, specifically Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC), also announced that the state transportation will not charge bus fares to female passengers, according to officials on Wednesday.\

Also read: New Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara: Why are more buyers interested in buying hybrid variants of this SUV?

Within the state's borders, female passengers will be given free transportation options, with the exception of AC and Volvo buses and vehicles with All India Permits. Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan, recently issued directives in this regard for August 11 is Raksha Bandhan.

Meanwhile, the state governments of Haryana and Uttarakhand have also announced free bus rides to females on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. According to the minister, all "ordinary" buses operated by Haryana Roadways will offer free transportation to women and children under the age of 15 from noon on August 10 to noon on August 11.

With inputs from agencies
Last October, hyperpop artists 100 gecs delivered a tweet anxiously anticipated by their growing number of adoring fans who had fallen in love with the duo's highly-praised debut "1000 gecs" album, released in 2019, or the 2020 compilation of remixes, 1000 gecs and the Tree of Clues. That October 2020 tweet simply read: "The album will be coming early 2022."

Titled 10,000 gecs, the album referenced by the tweet had been announced a month prior. Since then, there have been two new singles yet no new release date. "Early 2022" has come and gone. And yet the members Dylan Brady and Laura Les's dedicated cult following shows no signs of waning as we still wait for the release.

The dedicated and excited crowd that turned up for their set at San Francisco's Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival was yet another proof point. Fueled by 100 gecs' unbridled positivity, these are the relentlessly supportive fans that generously fuel the band's popularity on social media as they continue a world tour thataside from special US dates like Outside Landsis now on its European leg.

Before Sunday's Outside Lands performance, Brady and Les hosted a cooking show with popular YouTuber Andrew Rea of "Binging with Babish." Together, they made a Doritos and Fritos pie in honor of 100 Gec's latest single "Doritos and Fritos." The band served chips to the large crowd's delight before taking the Twin Peaks stage.

The fantastic 55-minute set featured material from that last album along with their latest singles and unreleased tracks. One fan inexplicably danced with Slappy the Dummy from Goosebumps, while another (inexplicably again) wielded a 1990s Talkgirl cassette recorder. Everyone danced, enjoying the intensity of the mosh pit during the chaotic songs and the communal arm-waving accompanying the slower numbers. It's fans like theseproudly waving their freak flagswho keep 100 Gecs in the public consciousness, while patiently waiting for that next album that's sure to arrive eventually.
The government of India has made it mandatory for airlines and travel agents to share details of the international travellers with Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBIC), 24 hours before Departure and Arrival. The new rule was announced in the Union Budget 5 years ago, however, the framework has now been prepared and with this, India has joined the list of 60 countries collecting details of international air passengers.

Why govt collects data?

The main reason behind collecting data is that the government wants to do a risk analysis of the passengers so that it can keep an eye on those travellers who leave the country after a situation like financial fraud. Also, information about payment methods, credit cards, etc. will be used to detect and resolve the Loopholes.

Govt will use this information for tallying the data of income tax payers, so that those who have filled wrong returns in ITR can be caught before leaving the country. The data of those who go abroad, will help the government to stop many types of smuggling.

Govt to keep information about those going abroad and coming to India

- Ministry of Finance issued notification on August 8

- All airlines, their authorized agents will share the details of passengers with the government

- This information will have to be given 24 hours before the journey

- All this information will have to be given to NCTC-P i.e. National Customs Targeting Centre-Passenger

- This is the department of the government under CBIC

- This agency does risk analysis of passengers

- Airlines will have to give information like travel, destination, PNR, payment mode, luggage, passport, gender etc. through a special form

- All this information will be kept under confidentiality
PATNA: Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader Nitish Kumar on Wednesday took oath as Bihar's Chief Minister for the record eighth time. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also took oath as his Deputy in a simple ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan.

Nitish Kumar takes oath as Bihar CM for 8th time, after he announced a new "grand alliance" with Tejashwi Yadav's RJD & other opposition parties pic.twitter.com/btHWJURsul  ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2022

Both Nitish and Tejashwi were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Phagu Chauhan inside the Raj Bhavan around 2 pm.

Patna | RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav takes oath as Deputy CM of Bihar pic.twitter.com/mvhweGd1zt  ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2022

Minutes after taking the oath, Tejashwi also touched the feet of Nitish Kumar and sought his blessings.

#WATCH Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav greet each other after the oath-taking ceremony, in Patna pic.twitter.com/fUlTz9nGHS  ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2022

Kumar had on Tuesday quit the BJP, stripping the party of power, before resigning and staking claim to form a new government, armed with the support of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).

The 71-year-old JD(U) leader first took oath as chief minister in 2000, when he headed an NDA government that lasted only a week. He was back in 2005, this time with his coalition had won an absolute majority in the assembly polls.

The NDA won a landslide victory under his leadership in the assembly polls five years later. Kumar stepped down in 2014, owning moral responsibility for the drubbing of JD(U) in the Lok Sabha polls, but returned less than a year later when he was sworn in for the fourth time.

In 2015, Kumar was back as CM, with the Grand Alliance then comprising the JD(U), RJD and Congress winning a comfortable majority. He resigned in July 2017, citing irreconcilable differences with the RJD, and got sworn in again less than 24 hours later, when he formed a new government with the BJP.

Kumar was sworn in for the seventh time in November 2020, when the NDA retained power, though his own party saw a major fall in its tally for which it blamed a conspiracy by the BJP.

The longest-serving chief minister of any Hindi-speaking state, Nitish Kumar seems to have acquired an aura of indispensability when it comes to the highest seat of power in Bihar. A crafty politician, he kept the BJP guessing till the eleventh hour before severing ties with the ally, following 'unanimous sentiments' in his JD(U) that it was to be blamed for the party's dwindling fortunes.

Kumar then clinched a new deal in no time with the opposition which, bereft of power and coherence, welcomed him with open arms. In a political career spanning four decades, Kumar, 71, has kept at bay taints of corruption, nepotism and misgovernance, leaving critics with little except 'opportunism' as a stick to be beaten with.

Born on March 1, 1951, in Bakhtiyarpur, a nondescript town on the outskirts of Patna, to an Ayurvedic practitioner-cum-freedom fighter father, Kumar is an electrical engineer by training. During his days at the Bihar Engineering College, now known as NIT, Patna, he became active in student politics and got associated with the 'JP movement', which introduced him to many of his future associates, including Lalu Prasad and Sushil Kumar Modi.

His first electoral success came in the 1985 assembly elections, which the Congress swept though he managed to win the Harnaut seat for Lok Dal. Five years later, he moved to Delhi as an MP from the now-abolished seat of Barh.

After another half a decade, when the Mandal wave was at its peak and Prasad was reaping its dividends, Kumar sided with George Fernandes to float the Samata Party, which would later morph into the JD(U) and share power with BJP at the Centre and, 2005 onwards, in the state.

His first five years as a chief minister are recalled with admiration even by critics, marked by vast improvements in the restoration of law and order in a state that made headlines for massacres by rivalling militias and kidnappings for ransom.
New Delhi: CNG car owners will not be able to get their vehicles refulled at gas stations in Delhi today, 10 August 2022 as the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) has decided to stop the sale of compressed natural gas in the national capital for one day.

Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) has decided to stop the sale of CNG in Delhi from 6 am to 10 pm on 10 August to protest against the delay in reimbursement of electricity bills to CNG dealers.

In a letter, the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association has written We have decided to go for no CNG sale on 10th August from 6 am to 10 pm as a mark of protest." The letter written by DDPA president Anurag Narain to Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL) mentions that DPDA is forced to take this step due to reluctance shown by IGL to pay the actual electricity reimbursement of CNG facilities to the dealers of Delhi who are incurring huge financial losses every month."

Dealers across Delhi waited patiently for two years and followed all the instructions given by IGL and OMCs to install separate sub-meters, get them calibrated and make system for online readings. However we regret to say that officers of IGL created hurdles all along the process and after wasting two years not to mention dealers money on sub-meters, made us realise that the whole process will never be completed," the letter mentions.
Mumbai: Gauahar Khan and Rannvijay Singha will be seen hosting a dating show titled `IRL- In Real Love`, which will be out on Netflix. Sharing the update, Gauahar took to Instagram and shared a picture with Rannvijay from the sets."IRL : In Real Love. Super excited for this news that just dropped on @netflix_in today . Our show is gonna be out soooon . Made with a whole lot of love and a lot more wit by two of our fave individuals @instaraghu #rajivlakshman @monozygoticsolutions. And of course there`s US.. we had an absolute blast being the hosts of this amazing show ! Finally worked together and it was pure joy ! Can`t wait for u guys to catch it on @netflix_in soonest . See you there."



The show is produced by Raghu Ram`s Monozygotic. Sharing the show`s link, Rannvijay wrote, "This should answer some of your questions.. really excited for this you guys to see In Real Love on @netflix_in soon!! Stay tuned for more.."



"We are excited to expand our offering in the reality genre with a distinctive dating format, `IRL: In Real Love`. The concept is a true reflection of the times we love and live in," Tanya Bami, Director, International Originals, Netflix India had said.



"The choices and conundrums we experience everyday will be put to test in the show`s unique social experiment. We look forward to unravelling some extraordinary love stories on Netflix," she had added.



`IRL- In Real Love` will be out soon.
Trinamool came forward with the 'full truth' two days after a public interest case was filed on how the properties of 19 leaders and ministers of Trinamool are increasing. They claim that the BJP, Left and Congress are running 'half-truth' campaigns on the issue. Of the 19 whose names came out last Monday, five  Firhad Hakim, Bratya Basu, Arup Roy, Shiuli Saha and Moloy Ghatak  held a press conference on Wednesday. Bratya presented the 'complete' list in the meeting. He claimed that the names of several leaders of the opposition including Adhir Chowdhury, Suryakanta Mishra are in that list.

All five Trinamool ministers present in Wednesday's meeting were seen in an 'aggressive' posture. At the same time, Firhad's statement, "They got the opportunity, everyone is insulting." He also said, "It is not a public interest case. The case made for political interest.'' Minister Firhad Hakim claimed, ''Increasing the salary is not unfair. Buying property is also not wrong.''

Also Read: More TROUBLE for Mamata Banerjee's 19 Ministers whose declared ASSETS increased in 5 years - PICS

Biplab Chowdhury filed a public interest case in Calcutta High Court in 2017. Last Monday, his lawyer Shamim Ahmed showed a list of 19 leaders-ministers of Bengal along with their movable and immovable assets in the High Court. From 2011 to 2016, the property of these 19 people has increased enormously. Trinamool leaders and ministers held a press conference on Wednesday with a copy of the verdict in the case. Firhad was seen in an 'aggressive' mood there. In the meeting, Firhad said, "We have sacrificed personal happiness to do human work. I fought with Mamata Banerjee for the sake of people. But we are being insulted continuously for political purposes.''

Firhad also brought up the issue of Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested for corruption in the SSC recruitment case. "We are all ashamed of what Partha has done. But that does not mean that everyone in the Trinamool is a thief. I have a family Business. I have not hidden any information about the property." Firhad further claimed, "All these allegations are half-truths. Many leaders of CPM and Congress are also involved in this public interest case."

After that Bratya took out a list. He said that they have nothing to say about the observation of the court. But the education minister of the state raised a question as to why the entire part of the judgment of the public interest case was not presented. After that, holding up the copy of the verdict, he said, "It is correct, there are names of 19 Trinamool leaders, ministers and MLAs. It's true. But the name of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (State Congress President) is in that same judgment. His property increased. He is followed by Suryakanta Mishra (former CPM state secretary and former minister), Ashok Bhattacharya (Left Front era minister and former mayor of Siliguri), Kanti Ganguly (former minister, CPM leader), Abu Hena (former state minister and Congress leader) and others.''

After the Trinamool's press conference, the BJP leadership said that they will not comment on the matter pending before the court.
Aizawl (Mizoram): The Assam and Mizoram governments signed a joint statement on Tuesday after a ministerial-level discussion in Aizawal and Mizoram to take forward the process of resolution of the boundary dispute between the two states. According to the statement, both states have agreed to promote and maintain peace to prevent any untoward incident along the borders. Also, the Deputy Commissioners of the bordering districts of both states shall meet at least once in two months. "Both the States reaffirm the Joint Statement of 5th August 2021 in letter and spirit. Both the states agreed to promote and maintain peace and to prevent any untoward incident along the borders, the Deputy Commissioners of the bordering districts of both states shall meet at least once in two months," the statement reads.

Both the states agreed that economic activities including cultivation and farming which have been practised by the people along the borders of the two states shall not be disturbed but allowed to continue regardless of the administrative control presently exercised by either state at such locations subject to Forest Regulations and after informing the Deputy Commissioners concerned.

Also read: Al-Qaeda-linked terror module busted in Assam; Madrasa teachers among 17 held

The next meeting between High-Level delegations of two states will take place at Guwahati in October this year where issues and claims will be deliberated in detail.Assam Minister Atul Bora said that today`s meeting will go a long way in finding amicable solutions and convey a positive message to the people living on either side of the border.

"We are hopeful that today`s meeting will go a long way in finding amicable solutions and convey a positive message to the people living on either side of the border. I thank CM Dr Himanta Biswa and Honourable Mizoram CM Zoramthanga for their keenness to resolve border issues," Bora said in a tweet.

Assam shares a 164.6 km long boundary with Mizoram and many conflicts have taken place in the last few years. In August last year, the representatives of both states held talks in Mizoram`s capital Aizawl and they agreed to maintain peace and resolve the inter-state boundary dispute through dialogue.

Last year on July 26, six Assam policemen and one civilian were killed in a fierce gun battle between the two states and then onwards, tensions heightened between Mizoram and Assam over the boundary dispute. At least 50 people were injured in the incident and a total of six companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had been deployed at the site.

Earlier in March, Assam and Meghalaya governments had signed a historic agreement in the national capital to resolve their 50-year-old pending boundary difference. The governments of Assam and Meghalaya had come up with a draft resolution to resolve their border disputes in six of the 12 "areas of difference" along the 884-km boundary.

According to the proposed recommendations for the 36.79 square km of land, Assam will keep 18.51 square km and give the remaining 18.28 square km to Meghalaya. Notably, the long-standing land dispute was sparked in 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam. The border issues came as a result of different readings of the demarcation of boundaries in the initial agreement for the new state`s creation.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 10) granted bail to 82-year-old activist and poet Dr P Varavara Rao, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, on medical ground rejecting National Investigation Agency (NIA) plea. An apex court bench headed by Justice U U Lalit said that Rao shall not misuse the liberty in any manner, adding that the bail is only on medical grounds and this order would not impact the case of other accused or the appellant on the merits.

The top court said that Varavara Rao shall not in any way misuse his liberty and he should not be in touch with any witnesses, said an IANS report. Representing NIA, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju vehemently opposed the submission of appellant and contended that material shows Rao is involved in deep rooted conspiracy and under UAPA, he would not be entitled for bail.

Representing Rao, Senior advocate Anand Grover submitted that taking into account the age and ailments being suffered by his client, release on bail ought not be limited to grant of time and may be granted without such condition. Grover urged the top court to extend medical bail suitably.

Also read: Bhima Koregaon case: Probe panel to summon chiefs of 6 political parties in Maharashtra

Rao had moved the top court challenging the Bombay High Court`s order of April 13, which declined his request to stay at his home in Telangana. The high court had extended the period of temporary bail for three months against in view of medical reasons.

Also read: Bhima Koregaon case: NIA files charge-sheet against 8 accused including Gautam Navlakha, Hany Babu

Rao's plea submitted before the top court said that any further incarceration would ring the death knell for him against the backdrop of his advancing age and deteriorating health, which is a fatal combination.

Rao was arrested on August 28, 2018 from his Hyderabad residence and is an under-trial in the case. The Pune police had lodged an FIR on January 8, 2018 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Notably, the case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017. The police claimed that inflammatory speeches triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city. The conclave was allegedly organised by people with alleged Maoist links. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the probe in the matter.

(With IANS/PTI Inputs)
Patna (Bihar): Amid Bihar's political crisis, Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is all set to take oath as Bihar's chief minister again. After having announced a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties, Nitish will take oath on Wednesday afternoon. Interestingly, this will be the eighth time that Nitish Kumar will take oath as the Bihar CM.

Here are the eight times since the year 2000 that Nitish has taken oath as CM of Bihar:

First time: March 2000

Second time: November 2005

Third time: November 2010

Fourth time: February 2015

Fifth time: November 2015

Sixth time: July 2017

Seventh time: November 2020

Eighth time: August 10, 2022

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's son Tejashwi Yadav is also likely to take an oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Seven parties including 164 MLAs along with independent MLAs will be there in our Mahagathbandhan, says Nitish Kumar at a joint presser with RJD`s Tejashwi Yadav after meeting Bihar Governor.

Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar. According to a tweet by Kumar's new alliance partner RJD, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan." The swearing-in ceremony of Honorable Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan," the party said in a tweet from its official handle.

On Tuesday, when several fast-paced political developments took place, Bihar's chief minister Nitish Kumar twice met Governor Phagu Chauhan, first to hand over his resignation as NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the RJD-led 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) to stake a claim for the top job in the state once again. Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122.

Meanwhile, BJP lashed out at Nitish Kumar over his decision and said he had "disrespected the mandate given by the people of Bihar". Nitish Kumar, who talked to the media with Tejashwi Yadav, said they have the support of seven parties in Mahagathbandhan. Tejashwi Yadav attacked the BJP and claimed the party does not have an alliance partner across the Hindi heartland. He accused BJP of trying to destroy parties with whom it forms alliances. "Across the Hindi heartland, BJP does not have any alliance partner. History shows that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it forms alliances. We did see that happening in Punjab and Maharashtra," he said. He also referred to the remarks of BJP president JP Nadda."JP Nadda said they will end regional parties. BJP knows only to intimidate and buy people. All of us wanted the BJP's agenda shouldn't be implemented in Bihar, we all know Laluji stopped the 'Rath' of Advaniji, and we won't relent at any cost," Yadav said.

(With ANI inputs)
Panipat: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a fresh broadside against Congress, terming its "black cloth" protest against price rise as 'black magic' that will not be able to win them the confidence of people again.

After dedicating to the nation the Rs 900 crore-second generation ethanol plant at Panipat, Modi also said that freebies are a spoke in India's effort to become self-reliant and also a burden on taxpayers.

Without naming Congress, he said some people out of frustration resorted to black magic on August 5.

"On August 5, we saw how some people tried to spread 'black magic'. These people think that by wearing black clothes they can end their despondency. But they do not know that by engaging in witchcraft, black magic and superstition, they cannot earn the trust of people again," Modi said.

The Congress protested against price rise by wearing black clothes in Parliament and outside as part of a nationwide protest on August 5.

"Some people think wearing black cloths can ward off their pessimism and negativity but they don't know that they can resort to any such tactics but can't win back people's confidence," he said.

In an apparent reference to the Congress, Modi also said that "black magic cannot end your bad days".

The prime minister also attacked certain opposition parties for engaging in politics of freebies, saying such things would only do a disservice to the nation as it hampers investment in new technology.

He said that if there is selfishness in politics, then anybody can even promise free petrol and diesel.

"Such steps will amount to depriving our children of their due and prevent the country from becoming self sufficient. Such selfish policies will put more burden on honest tax payers of the country," Modi said

Those who promise freebies will never will able to find resources for investment in new technologies, he said. "This is not a right policy but misleading one; this is not in national interest but it is against the nation; this is not nation building but an effort to push back the country".
New Delhi: 1100 rape cases and 1480 molestation cases have been reported in Delhi in the first half of the year, according to the data available on the official site of the Delhi Police. Speaking to the Indian Express about the same, Delhi Police said that the rise in crime against women is observed because of more registration and increased awareness about women-friendly helplines and booths.

Apart from rape and molestation cases, the kidnapping of women has also increased by a huge margin of 16.8 percent. In the first half of 2022, 2197 cases of women kidnapping were reported as against 1880 cases reported in the first half of 2021. However, a bit of relief can be seen in abduction cases with a 42.9 percent dip with 105 reported cases in 2022.

Image source: Delhi Police

According to the report by The Indian Express, in most cases, the accused are known to the victim and the crime takes place at or near their residence. Delhi also sees a 29 percent increase in domestic violence as compared to last years data. However, Dowry deaths have decreased by 3 reported cases as compared to the first half of last year.

The data is available on the official site of the Delhi Police. This data has reported crimes against women till July 15 and the cases of the first half of 2021 as a comparison. Total crime in Delhi has also been reported in different data, with around 1.6 lakh reported cases till July 15.
When Comcast wanted an exorbitant $50k for a $10k fiber run to his home in rural Michigan, an Akamai engineer built his own ISP. Now he has received government funding to expand and service more customers in Washtenaw County.

Ars Technica:

Operating an ISP isn't Mauch's primary job, as he is still a network architect at Akamai. He started planning to build his own network about five years ago after being unable to get modern service from any of the major ISPs.

As we wrote last year, AT&T only offers DSL with download speeds up to 1.5Mbps at his home. He said Comcast once told him it would charge $50,000 to extend its cable network to his houseand that he would have gone with Comcast if they only wanted $10,000. Comcast demands those up-front fees for line extensions when customers are outside its network area, even if the rest of the neighborhood already has Comcast service.

Mauch was using a 50Mbps fixed wireless service before switching over to his own fiber network. In addition to his home Internet customers, Mauch told us he provides free 250Mbps service to a church that was previously having trouble with its Comcast service. Mauch said he also provides fiber backhaul to a couple of cell towers for a major mobile carrier.
GAIL Recruitment 2022: GAIL (India) Limited will soon publish the notification for recruitment to the post of Non-Executive Posts on its official website i.e. gailonline.com. There are 282 open positions in various Non-Executive grades in the fields of Chemical, Laboratory, Mechanical, Telecom/Telemetry, Electrical, Fire & Safety, Instrumentation, Store & Purchase, Civil, Finance & Accounts, Official Language, Marketing, and Human Resource (HR). A thorough notification will be sent out for the discipline-specific openings.

As per the local media reports, the GAIL Non-Executive Online Application Form will be made available on the official website starting on August 16, 2022, and will remain there through September 15, 2022. Once the notification is made public, more information on eligibility requirements, age restrictions, selection criteria, and application procedures can be viewed. ALSO READ: AP ECET 2022: Results likely to be released TODAY

GAIL Jobs 2022: Important Dates

Starting Date of Online Application - 16 August 2022

Last Date of Online Application - 15 September 2022

GAIL Vacancies 2022: Vacancy Details

Total Posts - 282

Chemical

Laboratory

Mechanical

Telecom/Telemetry

Electrical

Fire & Safety

Instrumentation

Store & Purchase

Civil

Finance & Accounts

Official Language

Marketing

Human Resource (HR)

GAIL Recruitment 2022: How to apply online
ICAI CA Results 2022: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) will announce the Chartered Accountancy, CA Foundation Result June 2022 today, August 10. On the official website, icai.nic.in, candidates can get their scorecard for the CA result 2022 by entering their registration or PIN number and roll number. Candidates may obtain their CA Foundation Result 2022 June results on the website icai.nic.in from Wednesday, August 10, according to an ICAI notice.

The candidates can expect their result by 12 noon, however, there is no official confirmation regarding the time of announcement of the results. Along with the CA Foundation result 2022, the merit list will be announced today, August 10. The candidates can download the merit list on the official website. ALSO READ: XLRI XAT Exam 2023: Registration begins TODAY

ICAI CA Results 2022: Heres how to check

Visit the official site of ICAI on icai.nic.in.

Click on CA Foundation Result 2022 link available on the home page.

Enter the login details and click on submit.

Your result will be displayed on the screen.

Check the result and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

The minimum passing score for the CA Foundation test is 40% on each paper, and the overall pass grade cannot be less than 50%. On the website, icai.nic.in, candidates can download their scorecard for the CA Foundation test.






ICAI CA Foundation Result 2022: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has declared the CA Foundation result June 2022, today, August 10, 2022. Candidates can download the CA Foundation June 2022 result from the organization's official website, icai.nic.in. By entering their PIN number, date of birth, or application number and password, candidates can access the ICAI examination portal and download their CA Foundation June 2022 result. The pass percentage for the CA Foundation June 2022 exam is 25.28 per cent. The PQC ICAI result 2022 has also been declared today, August 10.

The CA Foundation examinations 2022 for the June session were previously held by the ICAI in offline mode from June 24 to June 30, 2022. Due to the Assam floods, certain exams at the Silchar exam centre had to be rescheduled. In July, these tests were administered. The CA Intermediate and Final May 2022 results have already been released by ICAI. Soon after the results are announced, the exam registration for the CA Intermediate and CA Final programmes will also open soon. ALSO READ: AP ECET 2022: Results likely to be released TODAY

Important Announcement - Results of the ICAI Chartered Accountancy Foundation Examination held in June 2022 have been declared. Candidates can check the results at https://t.co/TAu5OcT57n pic.twitter.com/M093pWX3eK  Institute of Chartered Accountants of India - ICAI (@theicai) August 10, 2022

Important Announcement - Results of the ICAI PQC Examination - Information Systems Audit [ISA] Assessment Test have been declared.

For Details please visithttps://t.co/DbWBEsFO98 pic.twitter.com/k0XnWX8Gtj  Institute of Chartered Accountants of India - ICAI (@theicai) August 10, 2022

ICAI CA Foundation Result June 2022: Websites to check result

icaiexams.icai.org

icai.nic.in

icai.org

ICAI CA Foundation Result 2022: Heres how to check

Visit the official website of ICAI examination - icai.nic.in. (Direct link is given above)

Click on the CA Foundation result June 2022 link

Login using PIN number and date of birth or application number

The CA Foundation result June 2022 will be displayed on the screen

Download and save the scorecard for future reference

Along with the results, ICAI will also announce the CA Foundation programme pass percentage. In prior sessions, the percentage of candidates passing the CA Foundation exam stayed between 20 and 30 percent. After passing the CA Foundation test, candidates can submit the CA Intermediate exam application. ALSO READ: XLRI XAT Exam 2023: Registration begins TODAY

Today's opening of the exam form window. The exam registration form must be submitted by August 31, 2022. The exam registration form may be submitted until September 7, 2022, with a late fee. CA Exams for November 2022 will be given between November 1 and November 17, 2022. The first week of December 2022 might see the administration of the CA Foundation examinations.
New Delhi: India reported 16,047 new daily Covid-19 cases and 54 deaths in the last 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry data on Wednesday (August 10). While the daily positivity rate was at 4.94%, 19,539 people recovered from the coronavirus. The active infections stand at 1,28,261, while the death toll jumped to 5,26,826.

#COVID19 | India reports 16,047 fresh cases and 19,539 recoveries in the last 24 hours.



Active cases 1,28,261

Daily positivity rate 4.94% pic.twitter.com/aZT3Y0AcKa  ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2022

On Tuesday, India had reported 12,751 new Covid cases and 42 deaths.

Delhi Covid-19 surge

Delhi which has been witnessing a spike in Covid-19 cases recently, contributed 2,495 fresh cases on Tuesday. With seven fresh fatalities, highest in nearly 180 days, caseload increased to 19,73,394 and the death toll to 26,343, the health department data showed.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said even though there is surge in Covid cases in the national capital, there was no need to panic as most of the new cases were mild in nature.

Maharashtra Coronavirus update

Maharashtra reported 1,782 new Covid-19 cases and seven deaths, the health department said in a release on Tuesday, which took the total tally in the state to 80,62,519, while death toll increased to 1,48,150. Mumbai recorded 479 new cases and zero fatalities, as per the official data.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: India on Tuesday hit out China, Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council meet on terrorism, calling out both on several counts from "double standards" to "hypocrisy" over the issue. Pointing out to the "practice of placing holds and blocks on listing requests without giving any justification", India's Ambassador to UN, Ruchira Kamboj, said, "It is most regrettable that genuine and evidence-based listing proposals pertaining to some of the most notorious terrorists in the world are being placed on hold."

Earlier this year, China had put a hold on the UN listing of Pakistan based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba's 2nd command Abdul Rehman Makki. China has put a technical hold on Makki that will last for six months. In the past too, Beijing had put a hold on listing of Maulana Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and it took a decade for New Delhi to list him as a UN listed terrorist.

Ambassador Ruchira explained that "double standards and continuing politicization have rendered the credibility of Sanctions Regime at an all-time low. We do hope that all members of the UNSC can pronounce together in one voice, sooner than later, when it comes to this collective fight against international terrorism." Important to note, that the meeting on the issue of terrorism comes under the month-long presidency of China of the UNSC.

Also read: India's envoy Ruchira Kamboj calls Israel-Gaza conflict Matter of Grave concern at UNSC

On Pakistan, the Ambassador pointed to the "state hospitality" for terrorist in a "neighboring country despite being listed under the UNSC 1267 Sanctions Committee." UN's 1267 committee lists one of the largest numbers of Pakistanis as international terrorists. These include Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, many of whom responsible for terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. Islamabad has gone to UNSC for getting allowances for many of them. She asked the international community to call out "such hypocrisy.. when the threat of terrorism looms large in each of our countries."

During her address, the Ambassador announced that India will be hosting a special session of UN's counter terror committee in Mumbai and Delhi on 28th and 29th October which will highlight the nature of the "threat, member states capacity gaps and best practices and exploring further course of action to effectively deal with this threat." India is the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

During the address, she also mentioned the recent attacks on Gurudwara in Kabul, calling it "highly alarming". The multiple attacks on Sikhs, and Gurudwaras in Afghanistan has led to exodus of the minority community as many arrive in India seeking refuge. The Ambassador emphasized that "The linkages between groups listed by the UNSC such as the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed as well as provocative statements made by other terrorist groups operating out of Afghanistan pose a direct threat to the peace and stability of the region".

The Secretary General's report on threats posed by Islamic State received its criticism as well for "selective filtering" as India hoped that in "future iterations of SGs reports, inputs from all member states would be treated on an equal footing". The report made no mention of several terror groups in the region "especially those that have been repeatedly targeting India."
New Delhi: In a shocking case, a Kolkata St Xavier University professor was compelled to quit from her post after a student's parent complained to the university about her swimsuit pictures on Instagram. According to reports, the father of the student said he found his son looking at the photo and then reported it to the university. In response, the university demanded the professor pay Rs 99 crore for damaging the reputation of the institution.

As reported by NDTV, the father had written a letter to the university regarding the professor's Instagram pictures. He told the university, "Recently, I was appalled to find my son looking at some pictures of professor...where she has posed in a sexually explicit way causing deliberate public exposure."

He further wrote, "To look at a teacher dressed in her undergarments uploading pictures on social media is utterly shameful for me as a parent, since I have tried to shield my son from this kind of gross indecency and objectification of the female body...It is obscene, vulgar and improper for a 18-year-old student to see his professor dressed in scanty clothes exhibiting her body on a public platform."

The professor, in an interview with Indian Express, said that she was "intimidated, bullied and taunted with sexually coloured remarks"by the university and she has filed a petition with the Calcutta High Court against her forceful resignation.
PATNA: Noted poll strategist Prashant Kishor has said that though Nitish Kumar is the main actor behind the latest political drama in Bihar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav will actually run the new Mahagathbandhan government in the state.

Kishor also said that this era of political instability has been ongoing for the past 10 years, and this is in that direction. Nitish Kumar is the main actor, catalyst...As a citizen of Bihar, you can only expect that he stands firm on the formation he has now built.

This era of political instability has been ongoing for the past 10 years, and this is in that direction. #NitishKumar is the main actor, catalyst...As a citizen of #Bihar, you can only expect that he stands firm on the formation he has now built: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor pic.twitter.com/0lFyHq5N7P  ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2022

Talking about the political instability in the state, Kishor added, I see what's happening now in the context of the era of political instability in Bihar. Since 2013-14, this is the 6th attempt to form govt in Bihar. Formations are changed when one's political or administrative expectations are not fulfilled.

He expressed hopes that this new formation (JDU and RJD) lasts, and its priorities should be in sync with people's aspirations. What needs to be seen is whether or not the new govt will function better than the previous govt, he noted.

Talking about peoples expectations from Tejashwi, Kishor said, Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the single largest party in Bihar, and probably he will play a major role in running this new formation. The people will be able to see how he functions in this new government.

Tejashwi Yadav is the leader of the single largest party in Bihar, and probably he will play a major role in running this new formation. The people will be able to see how he functions in this new government: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on #Bihar pic.twitter.com/l71owyCy9V  ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2022

The remarks from the election strategist came little ahead of Nitish Kumars swearing-in as the chief minister of Bihar on Wednesday afternoon for a record eighth time. Kumar will be administered the oath of office by Governor Phagu Chauhan at a simple ceremony inside the Raj Bhavan at 2 pm.

Tejashwi Yadav, whose RJD helms the Grand Alliance that elected Kumar as its leader on Tuesday, is also scheduled to be sworn in, with him returning as the deputy chief minister for the second time.

Earlier, it was understood that only Kumar and Yadav will be taking oath though sources in the multi-party Grand Alliance now hint at the possibility of three to five ministers being sworn in.

Besides JD(U) and RJD, the Congress is expected to be represented in the new cabinet. Left parties CPIML(L), CPI and CPI(M) have expressed their intention to support the new government from outside.

Kumar had on Tuesday quit the BJP, stripping the party of power, before resigning and staking claim to form a new government, armed with the support of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).

The 71-year-old JD(U) leader first took oath as chief minister in 2000, when he headed an NDA government that lasted only a week. He was back in 2005, this time with his coalition having won an absolute majority in the assembly polls.

The NDA won a landslide victory under his leadership in the assembly polls five years later. Kumar stepped down in 2014, owning moral responsibility for the drubbing of JD(U) in the Lok Sabha polls, but returned less than a year later when he was sworn in for the fourth time.

In 2015, Kumar was back as CM, with the Grand Alliance then comprising the JD(U), RJD and Congress winning a comfortable majority. He resigned in July 2017, citing irreconcilable differences with the RJD, and got sworn in again less than 24 hours later, when he formed a new government with the BJP.

Kumar was sworn in for the seventh time in November 2020, when the NDA retained power, though his own party saw a major fall in its tally for which it blamed a conspiracy by the BJP.
Patna: Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar`s chief minister again on Wednesday afternoon after having announced a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav`s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties. Tejashwi Yadav is also likely to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Seven parties including 164 MLAs along with independent MLA in our Mahagathbandhan, says Nitish Kumar at a joint presser with RJD`s Tejashwi Yadav after meeting Bihar Governor.

Kumar ended his alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) National Democratic Alliance and rejoined hands with RJD on a day of rapidly changing political developments in Bihar. According to a tweet by Kumar`s new alliance partner RJD, the swearing-in ceremony will be held at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan.

"The swearing-in ceremony of Honorable Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held tomorrow at 2 pm at Raj Bhavan," the party said in a tweet from its official handle. While the RJD tweet did not mention any names, it is widely expected that Nitish Kumar would be the chief minister while Tejashwi Yadav would become his deputy.

In a day of fast-paced political developments, Bihar`s chief minister Nitish Kumar twice met Governor Phagu Chauhan, first to hand over his resignation as NDA chief minister and then after being elected leader of the RJD-led `Mahagathbandhan` (grand alliance) to stake a claim for the top job in the state once again.

Kumar said he submitted a list of 164 MLAs to the governor who will decide when the oath-taking can take place. The effective strength of the state Assembly is 242 and the magic figure is 122. Notably, it will be the eighth time when Nitish Kumar will be sworn in as Chief Minister of Bihar.

Meanwhile, BJP lashed out at Nitish Kumar over his decision and said he had "disrespected the mandate given by the people of Bihar". Nitish Kumar, who talked to the media with Tejashwi Yadav, said they have the support of seven parties in Mahagathbandhan.

Tejashwi Yadav attacked the BJP and claimed the party does not have an alliance partner across the Hindi heartland. He accused BJP of trying to destroy parties with whom it forms alliances. "Across the Hindi heartland, BJP does not have any alliance partner. History shows that the BJP destroys the parties with whom it forms alliances. We did see that happening in Punjab and Maharashtra," he said.

He also referred to the remarks of BJP president JP Nadda. "JP Nadda said they will end regional parties. BJP knows only to intimidate and buy people. All of us wanted the BJP`s agenda shouldn`t be implemented in Bihar, we all know Laluji stopped the `Rath` of Advaniji, and we won`t relent at any cost," Yadav said.

Kumar, who was a long-time BJP ally before snapping ties in 2013 and again joining hands in 2017, said that there was a unanimous decision in the party meeting in the morning "to break off ties".

JDU and BJP had fought the 2020 assembly polls together and Nitish Kumar was made the chief minister of the alliance though the BJP had won more seats. Nitish Kumar`s ties with BJP stretched to over two decades and he was a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1996.

JDU leaders indicated that factors including the developments related to the exit of RCP Singh from the party had soured the ties with BJP. JD-U leaders have also been chaffing at the role of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan during the 2020 assembly polls and have indicated that his putting up candidates from seats contested by the party had damaged it.

JDU and RJD had fought the 2015 Bihar polls together. JDU has 45 and the RJD has 79 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar assembly. JDU is the third major ally to leave the BJP in the past over three years after Shiv Sena and Shiromani Akali Dal.
Home Minister Amit Shah called Nitish Kumar to understand Nitish's attitude when there were speculations that Nitish Kumar might quit the BJP at any moment. In this phone conversation two days before Nitish assured the home minister, saying, "There is nothing to worry about." Nitish's ex-deputy Sushilkumar Modi claimed so in an all-India press. Accusing Nitish of backbiting, Sushil claimed that in the past one and a half years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly contacted Nitish on a personal initiative. But Nitish never complained to him.

Though a Sangh man, Sushil was never a BJP staunch. It did not take time for Nitish, who was pro-Lohia, to develop a political friendship with this moderate BJP leader. Sushil Modi was Nitish's deputy as many times as the NDA government was formed in Bihar under the leadership of Nitish Kumar before 2020. In 2020, the NDA government was formed by retaining Nitish as the Chief Minister, but the BJP did not return Sushil to the post of Deputy Chief Minister. He was made a member of the Rajya Sabha. Bihar's Modi made this accusation against Nitish when speculations are going on whether the relationship between BJP and Nitish has been torn in the absence of Nitish's confidant Sushil.

Another comment by Sushil has also added a new element to the political scene in Bihar. He said that a section of Nitish's party JD(U) wanted Nitish Kumar to be made the Vice President. This section of the party also offered Sushil to replace Nitish. Nitish's party naturally rejected all these demands of Sushil. According to the JD(U), Nitish had no desire to become the Vice President. Nitish said after taking oath on Wednesday that he is not in any fight to become the face of national politics. But whether Nitish has really broken his word or not, neither JD (U) nor Nitish has yet answered.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday transferred all the FIRs lodged against suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad to Delhi Police. The top court gave her the liberty to approach the Delhi High Court for quashing the FIRs, and also declined to entertain a plea moved by the West Bengal government for a court-monitored SIT probe.

A bench comprising justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala ordered the clubbing of all the FIRs registered across the country against Sharma, which will be probed by the Delhi Police. The top court in the process brushed aside vehement opposition by the West Bengal government, which wanted its police to be part of the SIT with the Delhi Police or a court-appointed SIT.

Also Read: Nupur Sharma has now got a huge relief from the Supreme Court

The bench allowed Sharma to move the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the FIRs lodged or to be lodged for her alleged remarks in the future. It added that all the FIRs to be lodged in future in connection with her remarks will be transferred to Delhi Police.

The top court made it clear that protection from arrest Sharma will continue in all pending and future FIRs. The bench also noted that an FIR has been registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police, which is a specialised agency, and suggested that it should carry out the investigation.

Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing the West Bengal government, objected to the transfer of FIRs to Delhi Police by saying that the first FIR against Sharma was registered in Mumbai, and argued that the accused cannot be allowed to pick the jurisdiction.

Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Sharma, said the top court`s intervention is required, as his client has received life threats after the TV debate where she made the alleged remarks. On July 19, the top court had ordered that no coercive action can be taken against Sharma in FIRs already registered and also in future FIRs in connection with her remarks.

Also Read: Youth attacked for imposing Nupur Sharma's status in Ahmednagar

The top court had said: "Meanwhile, as an interim measure it is directed that no coercive action shall be taken against Nupur Sharma according to the impugned FIRs." Sharma had moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on her arrest in the nine FIRs filed against her for her remarks on Prophet Muhammad and also sought clubbing/quashing of the FIRs with the FIR registered in Delhi.

On July 1, the top court had minced no words in slamming Sharma, whose remarks on the Prophet sparked a nationwide controversy. The top court had said that her loose tongue has set the entire country on fire and her irresponsible remarks show that she is "obstinate and arrogant".
A 17-year-old girl and her mother, Jessica Burgess, are being charged with felonies in Nebraska after the teen took Pregnot, a medicine to induce abortion. And it was the teen's DMs on Facebook  which Facebook handed over to the police  that helped officials gather the evidence they needed to arrest the two for their "crime" (see court documents, obtained by Motherboard, here). So much for Mark Zuckerberg's claim in June that Facebook users using the platform to seek abortion would be protected by encryption.

The teen will be tried as an adult.

According to Vice, after the home abortion, the girl and her mom buried the fetus. The teen now faces one felony and two misdemeanors, while her mother faces three felonies.

From Vice:

The state's case relies on evidence from the teenager's private Facebook messages, obtained directly from Facebook by court order, which show the mother and daughter allegedly bought medication to induce abortion online, and then disposed of the body of the fetus. While the court documents, obtained by Motherboard, allege that the abortion took place before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June, they show in shocking detail how abortion could and will be prosecuted in the United States, and how tech companies will be enlisted by law enforcement to help prosecute their cases. Pregnot is a kit of mifepristone and misoprostol, which is often used to safely end pregnancy in the first trimester. In this case, Burgess was 28-weeks pregnant, which is later in pregnancy than mifepristone and misoprostol are recommended for use. It's also later than Nebraska's 20-week post-fertilization abortion ban, which makes allowances only if the pregnant person is at risk of death or "serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function." (Nebraska's abortion laws have not changed since Roe v Wade was overturned). Jessica Burgess is charged with five crimes (three felonies, including "perform/attempt abortion at > 20 weeks, perform abortion by non-licensed doctor, and removing/concealing a dead human body). Celeste is charged with one felony, "removing/concealing/abandoning dead human body" and two misdemeanors: concealing the death of another person and false reporting. She is being tried as an adult.

And from The Guardian:

In the wake of the supreme court's upheaval of Roe v Wade, tech workers and privacy advocates expressed concerns about how the user data tech companies stored could be used against people seeking abortions. When a Facebook staffer posed the dilemma to the chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, asking how the platform would protect the user data of individuals seeking abortion care, Zuckerberg said the company's ongoing push to encrypt messaging would help protect people from "bad behavior or over-broad requests for information". But when local Nebraska police came knocking in June  before Roe v Wade was officially overturned  Facebook handed the user data of a mother and daughter facing criminal charges for allegedly carrying out an illegal abortion. Private messages between the two discussing how to obtain abortion pills were given to police by Facebook, according to the Lincoln Journal Star.

Burgess, whose financial affidavit shows she has only $400 to her name, was fired from her job as a consequence of the arrest. A jury trial is set for October, according to Vice.
CBI sent notice to TMC 'Bahubali' Leader Anubrata Mandal to appear at Nizam Palace. He was summoned today, Wednesday. But he was seen at Birbhum house till 8 am. So it is believed that he is going to avoid the summon for tenth time now. However, BJP's state president Sukanta Majumdar has criticized him since the news surfaces. It is to be noted that two days ago, the leader of the opposition in the state, Suvendu Adhikari, had said that Anubrata should be brought in one piece of cloth.

What exactly did Sukanta Majumdar says

The state president of BJP sarcastically said, "In the past, Anubrata avoided CBI attendance by using SSKM Hospital. This time he is trying to hide in the district hospital. Putting pressure on the doctor to prescribe him bed rest. He cannot escape like this for long. Partha Chatterjee is waiting for him in the jail."

What exactly is being known

According to sources , Anubrata Mandal's lawyer will come to Nizam Palace in person with e-mail and hard copy. Then inform the CBI about this in writing. Reasons for not being able to come will be mentioned there. Additional 14 days time may even be requested. His lawyer is going to inform the CBI that he is not able to come today due to his physical condition for the tenth time.

It is to be noted that the CBI presented the third additional charge sheet in the cow smuggling case last Monday. The chargesheet submitted to the CBI special court in Asansol contains the names of 11 people, including Anubrata Mandal's former bodyguard Saigal Hossain. The court also rejected the bail of arrested Saigal. According to CBI sources, multiple information has been obtained by interrogating Saigal. They want to interrogate Anubrata on that basis. But according to sources close to Anubrata Mondal, today the 'Bahubali' leader of Birbhum is not going to Nizam Palace.
PATNA: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh has taken a swipe at RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav a day after his party joined hands with Janata Dal-United Nitish Kumar for forming a new government in Bihar. Singh took to Twitter and tweeted, The snake has entered your home."

The BJP leader also shared a 2017 tweet by Lalu Yadav in which he mentioned that Nitish Kumar sheds skin in the same manner as a snake does.

"Nitish Kumar has a new skin every two years, any doubt?" the RJD founder had tweeted shortly after Kumar parted ways with his party in 2017 and joined hands with the BJP.

It is to be noted that Nitish has ditched the BJP for a second time and joined hands with Lalu-led RJD to form a new Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.

The BJP has accused Nitish Kumar of "insulting and betraying" people's mandate while blaming his prime ministerial ambition for the JD(U)'s decision to walk out of the NDA and joining hands with the RJD-led opposition.

BJP noted that he had snapped ties with the RJD in 2017 over allegations of corruption against its leader Tejashwi Yadav and asked how he will justify the alliance with the party again.

They also threw the jibe "Paltu Ram" (one who keeps changing sides), first used by Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav for Kumar, at the Janata Dal (United) leader and rejected claims that their party was undermining him.

RCP Singh, once a close aide of Kumar and now out of favour, also accused the chief minister of betraying the mandate of the 2020 assembly polls in the favour of the BJP-led NDA.

Giriraj Singh, a Union Minister, said that the BJP had acknowledged him as a chief ministerial candidate first in 1996 when it was a much bigger party. The BJP accepted him as chief minister again after the 2020 assembly polls even though its tally was bigger than the JD(U)'s, several BJP leaders noted.

He is making all kinds of excuses about his so-called problems with the BJP, Singh said, adding that as the chief minister Kumar had no reason to be upset.

He had prime ministerial ambition in 2013 and found a reason to separate with the BJP, and the same desire has gotten hold of him again, Singh said and mocked him as "Paltu Ram", noting that Tejashwi Yadav had used the term for him in 2017.

Bihar BJP MP Vivek Thakur described Kumar's decision to part ways with the BJP as "good riddance" and asserted that the most deprived sections of society in the state have faith in Modi and wanted his party to get out of the alliance with the JD(U).

A web series "Paltu Ram in part one, part two and part three" should be made on Kumar, Thakur said in a swipe at him and added that he nursed prime ministerial ambitions. There is no vacancy for the post of prime minister and India has also got a very good President and vice president, he said.

Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar is likely to take oath as Bihar`s chief minister again on Wednesday afternoon after having announced a new "Grand Alliance" which includes Tejashwi Yadav`s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other Opposition parties.

Tejashwi Yadav is also likely to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister. Seven parties including 164 MLAs along with independent MLA in our Mahagathbandhan, says Nitish Kumar at a joint presser with RJD`s Tejashwi Yadav after meeting Bihar Governor.
Chandigarh: After dissolving its entire organizational structure, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD-B) president Sukhbir Singh Badal met the party leaders at Amritsar and deliberated over the reconstitution of the party. According to party sources, Sukhbir was here to attend a function being held by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to observe the centenary of Guru Ka Bagh Morch in 1922 under Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar at Gurdwara Guru Ka Bagh, Ghukewali held meetings with many new faces who could be incorporated in the new organizational structure of the SAD(B).

Besides, many Akali leaders who were apprehensive of losing their positions also beelined to meet Sukhbir Badal. However, focusing his speech on the Guru Ka Bagh Morcha, Sukhbir said he bowed his head before those who participated in the Morcha. The Morchas which were launched by Sikh Panth was a source of inspiration for the community, said Sukhbir. He said that these morchas were fought with determination by SGPC and Akali Dal and these were those institutions of Sikhs that never cared for their loss for the cause of the Sikh community and issues of Punjab.

At the same time, Sukhbir, without making anyone lamented that during the present times some anti-panthic forces were working to weaken these panthic institutions. These people who are raising fingers at SGPC and SAD (B) have the patronage of anti-panthic people, he said adding that the panth would never let them be successful in fulfilling their mischievous designs. The meeting of Sukhbir with the party leaders was kept a well-guarded secret.

Notably, in the recent past, SAD(B) president Sukhbir Singh Badal dissolved the entire organizational structure of the party on the recommendation of the Poll Review Committee. Meanwhile, Jathedar Akali Dal also directed the leaders of SAD (B) and SGPC to propagate Sikhism. He also told SGPC to reach door to door to preach Sikhism.
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Sushil Modi has fiercely attacked JDU leader Nitish Kumar. After breaking the alliance with BJP, Sushil Modi said that in the new government, Nitish Kumar will not get the respect, which he was getting with BJP. In a conversation with news agency ANI, Modi said, 'The respect that Nitish used to get with BJP, he will not get with RJD. We made him the chief minister despite getting more seats and never tried to break his party. We only taught a lesson to those who betrayed us. Shiv Sena betrayed us in Maharashtra and will have to face the consequences."

In this afternoon, Nitish Kumar will take oath as Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as Deputy Chief Minister. RJD wrote on the tweet from the official handle, the swearing-in of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister will be held at Raj Bhavan at 2 pm.

Also Read: 'Chanakya' Lalu Prasad Yadav writes the Bihar SCRIPT from HOSPITAL, 'Palturam' acts as 'CHARACTER ARTIST'

In the new government, which party will have how many ministers, who will get how many portfolios, now there is a round of speculation on this matter. On this, the sources said that the cabinet can be formed on the formula of the Grand Alliance in 2015. Under this, 35 ministers can be made, out of which 16 can be from RJD and 13 from JDU. Whereas one can become minister from Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM and 2 from Congress. The Speaker of the Assembly can be made from RJD.

Nitish Kumar broke the alliance with BJP in 2013 and RJD in 2017. Both times he had formed the government and became the Chief Minister of the state, and once again it was his turn to break ties with the NDA, which Nitish Kumar carried out in a very silent political style. But in the midst of so many years of upheaval and political dramas of change, not a single thing has changed. The name of the person sitting on the chair of the Chief Minister of Bihar, which is Nitish Kumar.
Noida: Shrikant Tyagi, the self-claimed BJP neta who was arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police for allegedly abusing and assaulting a woman at the Grand Omaxe Housing Society in Noidas Sector 93, has said that the woman was like his sister and that a conspiracy was hatched to "politically decimate" him. Tyagi, who was sent to 14-day judicial custody in connection with assaulting & abusing the woman co-resident of his housing society by the Surajpur court, said this while speaking to reports.

He added that the woman whom he allegedly assaulted was like his sister and claimed that the incident was blown politically. "I express my regret on the incident. She is like my sister, the incident is political and was done to politically decimate me," said Tyagi while being taken from the court.

Earlier, the Noida Police said that Tyagi was using an MLA sticker on his car which was allegedly given by Uttar Pradesh MLC Swami Prasad Maurya who revealed this during police interrogation as the matter is being probed.

Noida Police Commissioner Alok Singh shared the information on Tuesday evening. Tyagi initially wanted to go to Lucknow. Till now, it is not been disclosed that he was in touch with a politician, the police said.

Shrikant Tyagi arrested from Meerut

During a press conference, Commissioner of Police Alok Singh said Tyagi has been arrested near Meerut. His three associates also have been arrested. These accused persons have been arrested in connection with a case related to the Omaxe Society of Sector 93 of Noida.

Noida Police have lodged a case of outraging the modesty of a woman against Tyagi and others. CP Alok Singh said that the video of the said incident of August 5, 2022, came to light through the social media monitoring team. However, the matter was not reported to the police by the victim. The victim was contacted by the police. Then a case was lodged and a search for the accused was started.

Initially, eight teams were constituted to apprehend Shrikant Tyagi. But he could not be traced as he was changing his locations and mobile devices. A massive team effort was launched. The number of teams was increased to 12. He was continuously being chased, the police said.

Tyagi was constantly changing his locations and mobile devices. He went to Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Haridwar and Rishikesh. After a massive search operation, Tyagi was arrested along with the people harbouring him during these 3-4 days.

While talking about the reason behind the dispute, the Commissioner of Police said that the dispute was related to the use of the common area in society, which started three years back in 2019. " There is a zero-tolerance policy against crime against women and children," the top cop said.

"Tyagi had first tried to go to the airport but by the time the video was viral. Then he went to Meerut. He spent the night changing his device," he added. "Then he went to Haridwar and Rishikesh. After spending some time there, he again entered UP. Then again he changed his device," he stated.

CP Alok Singh also said that Shrikant Tyagi was using a VIP number series 001 of Lucknow transport authority. These numbers were acquired through bidding of not less than Rs 1 lakh each.

Shrikant Tyagi's cars seized

Police have recovered five vehicles used by Shrikant Tyagi including two Fortuners, two Safaris and one Honda Civic. The police said that his driver got a painted state emblem on the number plate of his car to show influence.

The top cop said," We are invoking the Gangster Act against Tyagi." Earlier on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh police arrested Srikant Tyagi, who was recently seen in a viral video assaulting and abusing a woman at Grand Omaxe in Noida`s Sector 93 and was on the run ever since.

He was arrested by police near Meerut. Tyagi, who claims to be a member of Bharatiya Janata Party`s Kishan Morcha, was seen in a viral video allegedly abusing and pushing a woman who is a resident of Grand Omaxe society in Noida`s Sector 93B, during an argument.

Noida Police had said that IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 447 (punishment for criminal trespass) have been added to the FIR registered on Friday.

(With ANI Inputs)
Lucknow: Former BJP Minister and now Samajwadi Party (SP) MLC, Swami Prasad Maurya has issued a strong rebuttal on his alleged proximity with self-proclaimed politician Shrikant Tyagi. Maurya accused the ruling BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of trying to trap the people of the country in a `web of lies` when it saw itself being cornered over the Shrikant Tyagi incident.

Tyagi, who was on the run for four days, was arrested by the Noida Police on Tuesday in connection with assaulting and abusing a woman at Grand Omaxe Society in Noida.

Soon after the arrest, Noida Police Commissioner Alok Singh said that Tyagi had an `MLA` sticker on one of his vehicles which he said was given to him by his "old political colleague" Swami Prasad Maurya. "We are verifying this information. His driver had painted the Uttar Pradesh government emblem on the car number plate. Probe is underway under the Gangster Act," Singh added.

Maurya, who is in Kushinagar, told reporters, "The BJP is trying to trap the people in the `web of its lies`. I have not been to Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha for months. Got no passes made in the last seven to eight months. I became an MLC on July 11 and no passes were made since then. I did not give any pass to Shrikant Tyagi. All this is a game of the BJP which intends to shift the blame on me for its mistake. Of course, I met him (Shrikant Tyagi) in 2017 when I was a BJP leader. Thereafter, he never met me."

Attacking the BJP over the Shrikant Tyagi issue, the SP MLC said: "He (Shrikant) had half a dozen security personnel allotted to him. Is it possible without the blessings of the BJP government?"

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Zee News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Srinagar: Top TRF terrorist commander Lateef Rather killed along with two other terrorists by Jammu and Kashmir police. Lateef was an A++ category terrorist and was active since 2001. This is a huge success for Jammu and Kashmir police, along with security forces. "Three Lashkar-e-Toiba (TRF) terrorists including Lateef Rather and his mates were killed in an encounter in the Waterhail area of Central Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday," officials said.

Additional Director General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said, "Lateef Rather Alias Osama was among three LeT terrorists who have been killed today at Budgam."

Also Read : Encounter continues in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam

"Lateef Rather was directly involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Rahul Bhat, Social media influencer Ambreen Bhat, and several other civilians. Justice has been delivered," said Vijay Kumar.

While giving details about the operation ADGP Vijay Kumar said, yesterday forces received technical inputs about TRF terrorists hiding in Budgam. After verifying, a ground operation was launched and all three Lashkar terrorists including Lateef were killed.

ADGP said Lateef rather was a recycled terrorist and was an aide of Pak terrorist Abu Qasim, who was involved in the Hyderpora attack in which eight soldiers were martyred.

Vijay Kumar said "Lateef Rather was active since 2001 and was categorised as an A++ terrorist affiliated with LeT. He was actively involved in the recent civilian killing of Rahul Bhat in Budgam District and was planning further killings. Nevertheless, the forces successfully neutralized him in an anti-terrorist operation today. With the killing of Lateef, all terrorists who were responsible for target killings in the last two years stand nullified, except one who is still active.''

Rahul Bhat (35), who had got the job of a clerk under the special employment package for migrants in 2012-11, was shot dead at his office in the Chadoora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on May 12 this year. Amreen Bhat, a social influencer, was shot dead at her residence in the village of Hishroo Chadoora on May 25 this year.

Also Read: Major tragedy averted as security forces detect IED in south Kashmir

ADGP Vijay Kumar further said that around 130 terrorists are currently active in Kashmir Valley, among them 80 are local, and 45-50 are foreign terrorists. He said that so far, this year forces have successfully neutralised 130 terrorists and two terrorist guides. Among them around 35% were hybrid terrorists.

ADGP Vijay Kumar said, "Pistols recovered from a hybrid terrorist in Kashmir were mostly Turkish-made, but overall forces have succeeded in decoding the operating pattern of Hybrid terrorists and they are no longer a challenge for forces."

It's pertinent to mention that it is the 78th encounter of this year. Security force has managed to kill 130 terrorists now. Out of all those who are killed, 33 are Pakistani terrorists, however, 16 security personnel and 20 civilians too have lost their lives.

Jammu Kashmir with other security forces has also managed to arrest 60 active terrorists mostly hybrid terrorists this year since January and have also arrested 195 terrorists' supporters this year in Kashmir.
UPSC: Union Public Service Commission has released UPSC NDA and NA 2 Admit Card 2022 today on August 10, 2022. Candidates who will appear for National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination 2 can download the admit card through the official site of UPSC on upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in. UPSC will conduct the NDA/NA 2 Exam 2022 on September 4 for admission to the Army, Navy and Air Force wings of the NDA for the 150th Course, and for the 112th Indian Naval Academy Course (INAC) commencing from July 2, 2023. The approximate number of vacancies to be filled on the results of this examination will be 400.

ALSO READ: NEET UG 2022 BIG UPDATE

UPSC NDA, NA II Admit Card 2022  Here is how you can download

- Visit the official websites of UPSC  upsc.gov.in or upsconline.nic.in

- On the homepage, click on the link that reads National Defence Academy and Naval Academy II  Admit Card

- Enter your application number and date of birth

- Your UPSC NDA, NA II Admit Card 2022 will be displayed on the screen

- Download and take a printout for future references

ALSO READ: JEE Main students protest at Jantar Mantar today

Candidates who fail to carry their admit cards will not be allowed to enter the exam hall to appear for the UPSC NDA, NA examination on September 4, 2022. UPSC began the application process for UPSC NDA, NA II exam from May 18, 2022 till June 7, 2022. The exam is scheduled to be held for lakhs of candidates on September 4.
Budgam: The security forces on Wednesday trapped terrorists of banned terror outfit The Resistance Front (TRF)/Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in the ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir`s Budgam. The Jammu and Kashmir Police said that terrorist Lateef Rather, who was involved in several civilian killings including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat, is also trapped.

"03 terrorists of terror outfit LeT(TRF) including terrorist Lateef Rather trapped in the ongoing encounter. Terrorist Lateef is involved in several #civilian #killings including Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet quoting Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kashmir.

#UPDATE | Three terrorists of terror outfit LeT(TRF) including terrorist Lateef Rather trapped in the ongoing encounter. He is involved in several civilian killings including Rahul Bhat & Amreen Bhat: ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar pic.twitter.com/aEiFEEgRU0  ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2022

Chadoora Tehsil Office employee Rahul Bhat was shot dead by terrorists on May 12 in his office while Kashmiri TV actor Amreen Bhat was killed by unidentified terrorists in Budgam`s Chadoora area on May 26.

The encounter broke out in Budgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday between terrorists and security forces, said police. "Encounter has started at Waterhail area of Budgam. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet.

Earlier on Sunday, a hybrid terrorist of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been arrested by the Indian Army`s 34 RR unit in the Budgam area.

The accused arrested has been identified as Arshid Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Sangam Budgam. The arrests were made by a joint team of Srinagar Police and 2RR at Lawaypura. The officials also seized incriminating materials which include 5 pistols, 5 magazines, and 50 rounds. Two hand grenades were also recovered from the terrorist.

It's pertinent to mention here it is the 78th encounter of this year. Earlier in 77 encounters, the security forces have managed to kill 127 terrorists out of those killed terrorists 33 are Pakistani, however, 16 security personnel and 20 civilians too have lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces have also managed to arrest 60 active terrorists mostly hybrid terrorists this year since January this year and have also arrested 195 terrorists' supporters this year in Kashmir.
New Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap's daughter Aaliyah went to Bali with her Italian boyfriend Shane Gregoire recently and the romantic pictures were shared online by her. The stunner looked fab in her mustard bikini set while posing in a mirror selfie (which by the way is a mandatory click these days by celebs and star kids).

Aaliyah Kashyap shared her Bali vacay post on Instagram which includes kisses, bikini and loads of love. Aaliyah Kashyap is one such star kid, who is yet to make her entry into the showbiz world but still fans are keen to know updates about her.

In her vlog, she also revealed how her BF Shane was detained at the Bali airport by the authorities.

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap married movie editor Aarti Bajaj in 1997 and the couple was blessed with daughter Aaliyah. However, the couple got divorced in 2009. He then married actress Kalki Koechlin but the duo decided to separate in 2013 and eventually in 2015 they got divorced.

Aaliyah Kashyap and boyfriend Shane Gregoire met on a dating app and the star kid explained how it all went on her YouTube channel. Aaliyah and Shane have been dating since 2020.
A travel agent who helped people plan their great escapes to places all around the world ended up escaping herself  with their money. The 58-year-old scammer, Julie Ann Mincey, ran an "agency" in North Carolina called Country Travel and Tours, from where she took thousands of dollars from dozens of wannabe travelers. She then used the monies to kindly treat herself to  among other things  a trip to Europe.

From Yahoo!:

Officials say Mincey operated a travel agency and accepted thousands of dollars from clients after promising to secure travel packages around the world on their behalf. However, as clients' departure dates approached in September 2018, they learned that there were no travel packages. The woman was unable to provide an explanation to customers.

Investigators say Mincey's business accounts show that between August 2017 and September 2018, she used customer funds to make payments on personal credit cards, on a vehicle for an associate and to fund her personal bank account.

Mincey never reimbursed her customers, and many clients testified that they had not seen or heard from her since September 2018, the statement says.
New Delhi: In an unfortunate incident, actress Shilpa Shetty broke her leg while shooting for her upcoming project, Indian Police Force. Sharing a post on Instagram about the accident, the actress wrote, They said, Roll camera action - break a leg! I took it literally. Out of action for 6 weeks, but Ill be back soon stronger and better. Till then, dua mein yaad rakhiyega Prayers always work With gratitude, Shilpa Shetty Kundra.

In the picture, we can clearly see that her left leg is tied with bandages making her unable to walk or stand. However, the fitness enthusiast can be seen smiling in the picture with a victory sign.

Actress and dancer Shamita Shetty was quick to share her concern for sister Shilpa. My munki strongest, the actress wrote with biceps and heart emojis. Actress Sophie Chaudhary also shared her concern and wrote, Omg!! Get well soon Superwoman Shilpa.

As soon as she shared her health update, the comments from fans started pouring in asking her to take care and rest. Prayers headed your way, commented one user. Oh lord!!! Feel better soonest, added another.

Shilpa Shetty was shooting for Rohit Shettys debut web series Indian Police Force when she injured herself. It is an upcoming cop drama and will release on Amazon Prime Video. The series also stars Siddharth Malhotra, Nikitan Dheer and Isha Talwar in prominent roles. This is the first time Rohit Shetty is venturing into the world of OTT. A day ago, he had shared a BTS video of a fight scene from Indian Police Force captioning it as Pure Desi Hindustaani Action!

Quite vocal about yoga and fitness, Shilpa Shetty is known for her perfect figure in Bollywood. She was last seen in Sabbir Khans Nikamma starring Abhimanyu Dassani and Shirley Setia.
New Delhi: If you are a beneficiary of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN), you should know about the latest update on status checking. Government has yet again restored the process to check status of PM KISAN by feeding mobile details.

In the beginning of this year, the process to check their status like application status, how much money has been credited in bank account on PM KISAN portal by feeding in their mobile number details was discontinued. Consequently, if a farmer wished to check the beneficiary or other status, the eligible farmer had to provide Aadhaar number or bank account number on Kisan portal.

Farmers can now again check their status feeding in their mobile number details. However, from now onwards, this rule will not be applicable --farmers would not be able to view their status by feeding their mobile number.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 11th instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on May 31. PM Modi transferred an amount of around Rs 21,000 crore to more than 10 crore beneficiary farmer families.

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) Scheme was launched by PM Modi in 2019. The Scheme aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions.

Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three 4-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. In a financial year, PM Kisan installment is credited thrice through --Period 1 from April-July; Period 2 from August to November; and Period 3 from December to March.
New Delhi: Elon Musk, the world`s richest man, has sold 7.92 million shares of Tesla Inc worth around $6.88 billion, as per a series of regulatory filings by the company. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Inc, sold around 7.92 million shares of the company between August 5 and August 9. Musk has sold Tesla shares just months after declaring that he would not sell any more stock of the company.

"No further TSLA sales planned after today," Elon Musk had said in a tweet on April 29.Tesla share price has slumped by around 30 per cent so far this year. The scrip traded at around $850 on Tuesday. (ALSO READ: PM Kisan: BIG update for crores of eligible farmers, THIS important facility restored before 12th installment announcement)

Musk is involved in a high-stakes legal battle with microblogging site Twitter. Twitter recently sued Musk after he decided to back out of the $44 billion takeover deal. (ALSO READ: CNG car owners alert! No CNG sale in Delhi today 10 August 2022; fuel stations to remain shut till 10 pm)

In April, Musk reached an acquisition agreement with Twitter at $54.20 per share in a transaction valued at approximately $44 billion. However, Musk put the deal on hold in May to allow his team to review the veracity of Twitter`s claim that less than 5 per cent of accounts on the platform are bots or spam.

Back in June, Musk had openly accused the microblogging website of breaching the merger agreement and threatened to walk away and call off the acquisition of the social media company for not providing the data he has requested on spam and fake accounts.

Musk alleged that Twitter is "actively resisting and thwarting his information rights" as outlined by the deal, CNN reported, citing the letter he sent to Twitter`s head of legal, policy and trust, Vijaya Gadde.
New Delhi: Garena Free Fire releases redeem codes on everyday basis. The 12-digit redeem code consists of alphabets and numbers. Players can get rewards such as skins for in-game weapons and characters to improve their gaming experience.

Garena Free fire is banned in India. However, if you are located outside India, you can access the reward codes and redeem them. For that you will be required to visit official Garena Free Fire reward site and log in to your Facebook, Google, Twitter IDs to access the Free Fire redemption page. (Also read: iPhone 12 gets massive price cut on Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale, offer details here)

Check out the Garena Free Fire Redeem Codes for August 10, 2022

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(Also read: Shocking! Ex-Amazon Web Services engineer hacked data of 10 crore customers)

How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, August 10, 2022

Step 1: Go to the official Garena Free Fire redemption portal



Step 2: Log in on the portal with either your Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Google, VK, or Huawei ID.



Step 3: Enter a redeem code in the designated text box.



Step 4: Click on the Ok button to get free rewards in your game account.

(Disclaimer: Garena Free fire is banned in India. Hence we advise people to adhere to government rules)
New Delhi: The government is exploring the adoption of a common charger for a variety of devices, including smartphones and tablets, and has called a meeting on August 17 to discuss the issue with the industry, a senior consumer affairs ministry official said on Tuesday.

(ALSO READ: Google services face MASSIVE outage; netizens react)

The meeting with mobile makers and sector-specific organisations has been scheduled to assess the possibility of ending the use of multiple chargers in India and reduce the burden on consumers besides preventing e-waste, the official said.

Recently, the European Union announced the adoption of a USB-C port common charging standard for small electronic devices by 2024. A similar demand is in the US as well.

(ALSO READ: Elon Musk has a secret Instagram account? Know why he uses it)

"If companies can serve in Europe and the US, why cannot they do it in India? Portable electronic devices like smartphones and tablets should have a common charger," the official told PTI.

If India does not push for this change, such products might get dumped here, the official added. Currently, consumers are forced to buy a separate charger every time they buy a new device due to incompatibility of the ports of the existing charger.
New Delhi: Amid a sudden spike in Covid-19 cases in the national capital, schools in Delhi have stepped up measures aimed at preventing students from falling ill and getting infected. Delhi schools are now taking measures like online classes and recorded lectures for those who are not well and recovering in isolation and cannot attend school during their treatment. Among other measures, the schools are now putting study tours on hold.

"We are all aware that COVID-19 is not over yet. We have instituted a proper mechanism of checks to ensure that a student's health is not negated and undermined. Unwell students are isolated and dropped off at their homes so that they can have proper rest and others can study without apprehensions or worries," said Anshu Mital, principal of MRG School, Rohini.

"We also send recorded lectures to unwell students so that they do not lag behind in studies. Students are receiving proper training to give priority to hygiene and sanitisation through health-centric workshops organised for them. Proper social-distancing is being followed as usual," she added.

Shubhi Soni, head of The Shri Ram Wonder Years in Rohini, said although the sudden uptick in COVID-19 cases is alarming, shutting down schools is not an option as students are habituated to planned routines and study timelines which must not be disrupted as it can impede their revived academic progress after the lockdown.

"The health of students should also not be compromised, which is why we are taking necessary precautions of temperature checks and isolation measures for students who are ill. We are also sending worksheets to them so that they do not miss out on studies and can comfortably learn from their homes as well.

"School trips have been put on hold for a while. Outside food is not allowed, and we are facilitating hygienic meals for students. Students are encouraged to bring home-cooked food and abstain from sharing meals with peers," she said.

However, health experts are against shutting down schools in the national capital again. They are of the view that there is a need to reinforce Covid-appropriate behaviour, something which the elders and the younger cohort are not adhering to.

Covid-19 spike in Delhi

Delhi reported 1,372 more Covid infections and six deaths as the case positivity rate rose to 17.85 percent, the highest since January 21, according to health department data. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Covid cases are on the rise in Delhi but there was no need to panic as most new cases were mild in nature and the city government was keeping a close watch on the situation.

According to Dr Anil Sachdev, director of the Paediatrics Intensive Care at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, children are at an increased risk due to the coronavirus and seasonal illnesses.

"However, we have seen that children have had mild Covid symptoms. Only two children in the last one month were serious but they had comorbidities. One child had Down syndrome and the other had some comorbidities but those children have recovered. Schools should not be closed but there is a need to reinforce Covid-appropriate behaviour, something which the elders and the younger cohort is not adhering to," he said.

Schools reopened in completely offline mode in April after prolonged closure of nearly two years in view of the pandemic. Experts have been warning against any further closure of the school, citing irreparable learning loss.

Dr Sameer Punia, consultant of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Aakash Healthcare, said his hospital is seeing a lot of patients with symptoms of Covid such as fever, cough, runny nose, and body pain in OPD.

"There are other viral infections that are also coming up like enterovirus, adenovirus, and rhinoviruses. Yes, there are 4-5 cases related to Covid in children out of 20. Basically, the age groups are not defined. All babies and even adults are tested positive for Covid, any member of the family can get infected. The age group which is basically having all those flu-like symptoms are those who are going to school and work. We need to take precautions as we did earlier-- maintaining good hygiene and using masks which we are compromising recently," he added.

(With PTI Inputs)
Pakistani intelligence agency ISIs terrorist proxy Haqqani network is involved in the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Al-Zawahiri claims a think tank report. The report also mentions that the Haqqani network was involved in Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri`s movements and his stay in Kabul.

Infamous terrorist and a key 9/11 plotter, Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed by a US drone strike on 31st July in Kabul. The prospect of Pakistani involvement in Zawaharis targeting has surely raised many eyebrows as neither the US nor Pakistan has so far publicly acknowledged such a role.

Recently the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) reported about Zawahiris stay in Pakistan till the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, probably under the protection of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

By quoting a New York Times report, the think tank claimed that for many years Zawahiri was hiding in the border areas of Pakistan and it remains unclear why he returned to Afghanistan. Following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, it is believed that Zawahiri`s family returned to the safe house in Kabul.

Many reports quoting top intelligence sources also claimed that Zawahiri was being sheltered in Karachi. He was then shifted to Kabul soon after the Taliban takeover through the Chaman border by the Haqqani network.

The strong links between ISI and Haqqanis were pretty evident when the then chief of the ISI, Faiz Hameed, openly visited Kabul on multiple occasions after the Taliban takeover. The chief of Pakistans intelligence agency was lobbying to fetch key ministries for the Haqqani network in the upcoming Taliban government.

https://zeenews.india.com/world/did-us-use-pakistan-airspace-to-kill-al-qaedas-zawahiri-2494163.html

A senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Michael Rubin said that he is convinced that Pakistan had a role in Zawahiri`s killing. He underlined that "Pakistan`s economy is in danger, and the country is in danger of collapse. It was in this context that, Pakistani Army Chief Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke to Washington to seek U.S. help to expedite the dispersal of a USD 1.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund." Pakistan needs the cash now to avoid default as its foreign reserves stand only at $9 billion, and its currency crashes.
Far-right extremists, aka MAGA Republicans, are now violently threatening the judge who allegedly signed the search warrant allowing the FBI to raid Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home.

Using platforms such as 4chan, Telegram, Gab, and Trump's Truth Social, loyal Trump pawns are naming the judge, disclosing his alleged phone number and address along with the names of his relatives, and posting messages such as "This is the piece of shit judge who approved FBI's raid on Mar-a-Lago  I see a rope around his neck," "That is a k***. And a pedophile  He should be tried for treason and executed," and "Let's find out if he has children.where they go to school, where they liveEVERYTHING," according to Vice.

From Vice:
In 1977, a New Mexico judge reading The Amazing Spider-Man comic in his daily newspaper had a flash of inspiration. In the strip (excerpted above), Kingpin is seen slapping an "electronic radar device" on Spidey's wrist so he could "zero in" on Spidey's location whenever he wanted. Judge Jack Love realized such a device would be of great use people in the criminal justice system, such as those convicted of drunk driving who were banned from going to bars or driving. So Love partnered with an engineer named Michael Goss to make the "Goss-Link" system, which he described as "electronic handcuffs." Goss's company that he launched to cash in on the idea didn't survive, but electronic monitoring remains a key technology in the criminal justice system. From Gizmodo:

The Goss-Link was roughly the size of a pack of cigarettes and communicated with a receiver that was attached to the home telephone. The device sent a signal every 60 seconds to the receiver, which was able to dial a central computer if the device was found to be out of range during one of those pings every minute. In this case, being out of range was roughly 150 feet from your home telephone. Judge Love was himself the first person to wear the Goss-Link as an experiment, putting the ankle monitor on his own leg to see how it operated. A newspaper article syndicated by UPI in 1983 quotes the judge about the experience. "It put me on a very, very short leash," Love said at the time, even claiming that he wore the device in the shower.

"How 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Led to the Creation of the Prisoner Ankle Monitor" by Matt Novak (Gizmodo)
Despite its left-wing-sounding name, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is conservative, and many high-ranking members have ties to the right-wing cultish Unification Church (aka "Moonies") founded in South Korea by Sun Myung Moon (19202012).

The man accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July said he shot Abe because his mother (a Moonie) was bankrupted after she was coerced into to donating large sums of money to the church.

The Unification Church's right-wing political influence has been compared to the rise of Donald Trump and the alt-right in the United States, as they are both based on anti-communism and extreme nationalism. The Unification Church owns the far-right paper The Washington Times, which runs articles like "Pelosi drums bogus COVID fear to extend remote voting," and "Leftist attack on Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban."

In response to rising public outcry against the Unification Church's influence in Japan's politics, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has moved at least seven parliament members out of his cabinet.

From Reuters:

[A] dozen or so politicians from the conservative LDP have disclosed links to the church or affiliated organisations  such as speaking at events  highlighting a relationship with the fiercely anti-communist church that stretches back to the Cold War. read more "We need to respect freedom of religion but it's only natural that these groups need to obey laws and be dealt with if they veer from them," Kishida told a news conference, adding he did not believe he had any connection with the church. "I don't think the Unification Church's policies have unjustly influenced party policies," he said.

And if you believe that, I've got a hashi in the Chiyoda ward to sell you.
Blink and Tipping Point Author Malcolm Gladwell is a funny fellow. Remember the time he explained to New York magazine about his trip on Jeffery Epstein's plane like this: "I don't remember much except being baffled as to who this Epstein guy was and why we were all on his plane?" Or when he upset Larry Nassar survivor parents by using interview quotes out of context? Or the time he claimed poets had the highest suicide rate and used this as the source? Or his cozy paid relationship with tobacco companies and other corporations he writes about?

Gladwell's latest funny thing? Scolding people who enjoy working from home and don't want to go back to the office to work. As you might guess, Gladwell has been working from home and from coffee shops for years and loves it.

Here's what he said about it when he was a guest on the Diary of a CEO podcast, according The Daily Mail:
The central figure in an increasingly bitter primary battle between Republicans Carl P. Paladino and Nicholas A. Langworthy has few connections to the 23rd Congressional District and lives far away in Florida.

But Donald J. Trump continues to dominate the contest as both candidates hype their connections to the former president, and a key Paladino supporter now takes the offensive against Langworthy and his claims of support from the party's most influential member.

Michael R. Caputo, a former Trump administration official in the Department of Health and Human Services and a longtime Trump confidant, said he met with the former president over the weekend at the C-PAC conference in Dallas and described him as "visibly upset" about developments in the race.

"The president is not happy about Nick using his name," Caputo said. "And when he is not happy, things happen."

In a district Trump claimed by 20 points in the 2020 presidential election, both candidates are now emphasizing their connections to the former president, even though neither has gained his official endorsement. Langworthy's TV ads accurately note that Trump asked him to become new chairman of the New York State Republican Party in 2019. His ads depict him shaking hands with Trump at Buffalo Niagara International Airport in 2014.

Paladino, meanwhile, features his photo with the former president at the top of his Twitter page.

"President Trump and I have been good friends for a long-time," Paladino tweeted Friday. "Im happy to hear he feels the same way about me."

Paladino also features on Twitter a clip of Trump recognizing Paladino  though not endorsing him  during a recent affair both attended in Westchester County.

"I love Carl," Trump says in Paladino's Twitter clip of the Westchester affair. "Carl and I have been friends for a long time."

But while the "Trump factor" has hung over the race for weeks, Caputo a few days ago began fueling the fire by sending texts to district voters that blast "desperate Nick Langworthy" for implying the former president's endorsement, and noting his own association with him over "decades."

"There is no possibility President Trump would endorse an establishment politician over a personal friend like Carl," Caputo said in his text. "Zero."

Caputo also told The Buffalo News he may not be done with attacking Langworthy over claiming an association with Trump.

"I'm upset about this," he said. "This is just the beginning."

But Langworthy notes he has never claimed anything beyond the former president's role in naming him state GOP chairman in 2019.

"I certainly have not and will not imply that he has endorsed me," Langworthy said. "Any allegation otherwise is blatantly and patently false."

But the candidate also has no problem associating himself with Trump in the Republican-dominated district.

"He's a key player and obviously someone I support wholeheartedly and maintain a wonderful relationship with," he said, adding he will seek to restore Trump policies if elected to Congress. Paladino, he noted, was expected to continue his relationship with Trump after the 2016 election, which never materialized because of continued controversial comments.

"He couldn't have a voice in government matters because of the things that came out his mouth," he said. "He blew it."

Still, Trump has not officially indicated a choice, and Paladino acknowledged so much during his news conference last week.

"Its very tricky and, its very, in this case, youve got the New York State Republican chair  OK, for the entire state  running against me," he said then. "So the Trump administration doesnt want to dig the hole ... to absolutely bury him.

Paladino may benefit from local campaigning by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Saratoga County, a close Trump associate who is lending her own endorsement and logistical support to the candidate. But neither her office nor the Paladino campaign have yet confirmed any visit to Western New York for the North Country congresswoman who is third in the House Republican hierarchy.
Every county in the state is being directed to come up with its own domestic terrorism prevention plan, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday.

The move comes in response to what Hochul described as a troubling surge in domestic terrorism and violent extremism typified by the racist mass shooting at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue on May 14.

In virtual remarks during a two-day threat assessment and management summit, Hochul called on counties to devise plans to combat acts of domestic terrorism that are frequently planned and disseminated on social media and other internet forums.

"In the wake of the horrific domestic terror attack in my hometown of Buffalo, I committed to New Yorkers that we will confront the scourge of domestic terror head-on," Hochul said. "New York is providing local governments with the tools they need to address the threat of domestic terror and targeted violence, so we can prevent tragedies before they even occur."

The governor said $10 million will be available to counties to assist in the creation and management of their own behavioral assessment management teams comprised of local law enforcement, mental health professionals, school officials and others who will assist in identifying potential purveyors of terroristic violence.

In June, Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia announced the formation of a unit aimed at monitoring such threats in an effort to prevent future mass shootings.

The Erie County Sheriffs Office Behavioral Threat Assessment Team continues to move forward with its organization and training, Garcia said in a statement Tuesday.

Some team members have been actively participating in networking opportunities and setting the groundwork well ahead of the governors deadline. Erie County is in this position because of the collaborative work among my office and the members of the Erie County Legislature. I believe we are in an advantageous position to apply for funding next year and to continue protecting the people of Erie County, he added.

The county Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services will also partner with the sheriffs team to address the threat assessment, said Peter Anderson, press secretary to County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

Hochul said state police will create a new unit within the New York State Intelligence Center dedicated to tracking domestic violence extremism and monitoring social media as part of the effort.

Meanwhile, the two-day summit is being hosted by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and its Office of Counter Terrorism at the State Emergency Preparedness Center in Oneida County.
Stacked against the racist massacre of 10 Black supermarket shoppers in an African American neighborhood in Buffalo, the vandalism of a Black Lives Matter sign at a church in overwhelmingly white East Aurora may not seem like much.

But though there is no comparison when it comes to the impact of the two acts, they both stem from the same demented mindset that categorizes certain people as other.

Traditional education alone is no defense, as evidenced by the proliferation of racists  in government and elsewhere  with degrees.

But in the right kind of education, particularly if started early enough, can be a prophylactic.

After battling both the village and bigots who twice vandalized its BLM sign, the Unitarian Universalist Church of East Aurora is stepping up its outreach campaign with just that kind of education: concurrent two-day immersive workshops for children and adults to explore race and ethnic identity and how to build an anti-racist society.

The workshops, in the works for well over a year, resulted from both the churchs desire to start a childrens program as well as its 2020 dispute with the village  ostensibly over the size of its BLM sign, not the sign's message  and discussions with village leaders.

Nobody wants to get close to the issue, the issue of racial justice, because our country is so polarized, said Rich Moglia-Cannon, UUEA board chairman.

So he said the church started pondering ways to prepare kids for a multicultural world amid book bans and school board fights among adults over teaching Americas history, mindful that without such efforts, you get distorted realities like the 18-year-old accused in the May 14 Buffalo supermarket murders.

Widening the Circle: Journey to Togetherness will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 20-21 at the Buffalo Road church.

The workshop for kids in grades 3-7 will be based on the Jubilee Circle program developed by Sheila Schuh, religious education director at First Unitarian Church in Rochester, who will be the lead facilitator.

Using experiential learning techniques like body sculpting, puppet plays and painting to engage kids, the workshop will help them explore physical differences, family cultures, pop culture and concepts like power and equity.

Its not a lot of talking, in terms of lectures. Its very interactive, said Schuh, who will conduct the childrens workshop along with Saladin Allah, an author and elementary school educator at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, and Heather Schneider of Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES.

The goal of the adult workshop is deepening ones understanding of historical and contemporary racism and building ones skills to promote inclusion. A key component will be The 1,000 Cut Journey, an immersive virtual reality experience in which participants step into the shoes of a Black male who encounters racism as a child being disciplined in school, as a teen dealing with police and as a young adult in the workplace.

It was developed by Columbia Universitys Courtney Cogburn, who granted the church license to use it after Moglia-Cannon heard her speak at the Chautauqua Institution last year and approached her afterward.

Fritz Galette, a New York City psychologist who does crisis intervention sessions for corporations and who has been holding monthly Zoom sessions with church members, will lead the adult workshops, which also will feature Henry L. Taylor Jr., founding director of the University at Buffalos Center for Urban Studies.

Galette said the sessions will not be didactic, but he will instead try to elicit reactions to the virtual reality experience, explore questions participants may have as a result, and well take it from there.

A key, he said, is the recognition that people can experience the same phenomenon in different ways, depending on their own lived experience.

That can lead to the realization that, Oh my god, my reality isnt the same as another persons. That, by itself, can be pretty  powerful, Galette said.

It can be easier to teach children about the social construct we call race than to teach adults because kids dont bring the same baggage to the topic, Schuh noted. As proof of the impact such sessions can have, she recalled an Indigenous child whose teacher habitually lined up students by hair color. The child was always at the end of the line because he had black hair; but after experiencing the workshop, he alerted his mother, who then complained to the school. Not only did the school change the practice, the principal came to the churchs adult program.

Thats how change starts, Schuh said, recalling another instance in which a workshop participant alerted the school principal about a transgender classmate who was being harassed.

Its teaching them a critical lens through which to view behavior, she said. Thats what I think is transformative about it  If youre able to say, This isnt OK, thats the thing.

The workshops, which include lunch, are free but registration is required at https://www.uuea.org/widening-the-circle. Kids and adults will meet together at the beginning, for lunch and at the conclusion while breaking into their separate workshops in between.

While the website lists a sign-up deadline of today, Moglia-Cannon said they will keep registration open a day or two longer, space permitting, but will have to close it shortly for planning purposes.

Though the workshops were planned long before the Tops supermarket massacre and are small potatoes compared to that tragedy, he said the shooting just increased our determination that this was important. Hes excited about the potential synergy of kids and parents going through the program at the same time, noting that with the internet and social media, children are not empty vessels. Theyre going to learn about race; the only question is: in what context?

Still, given the backlash against teaching accurate history and dealing forthrightly with the nations past and how it shapes the present, its easy to imagine critics complaining that the workshops, especially those for kids, will be attempts at indoctrination.

Schuh has a ready answer.

I would say were trying to inoculate them, she counters. Its our responsibility to help our kids to be inoculated against racism.

After May 14, Buffalo Niagara should need no reminder of how fatal that disease can be.
Its not often that even our favorite politicians can be counted on to tell the truth. So its beyond refreshing to hear two of NY States prominent GOP politicians  Carl Paladino and Nick Langworthy  resort to the unusual political tactic of honesty as they vie for the GOP nod for U.S. congressman from the seat that Chris Jacobs vacated once he realized he wasnt Trumpy enough to retain it.

Most of us already know what Paladino is all about. (Then again, we all knew what Trump was all about long before we elected him President.) Paladino currently has the endorsement of Elise Stefanik (New Yorks own version of Marjorie Taylor Greene and fellow stop-the-steal kool aid drinker from our rural, deeply Red north county). Paladino gladly tells anyone willing to listen that lying Langworthy doesnt really have Trumps endorsement and is only interested in going to Washington to be a big shot. Hes a swamp animal and I dont respect him, he says.

Langworthy, current chairman of the NYS GOP (who, as the former chairman of the Erie County GOP, endorsed Paladino for governor a decade or so ago) has said that Paladino, like the man whose lap they both long to sit on, has not filed the required financial disclosure form. Hes called him cowardly Carl for not agreeing to debate him, while a member of his campaign recently said that [Paladino] continually has to choose between praising Hitler and [his] protection of a child sexual predator.

Congratulations to voters in the 23rd district. One of these two will be your next congressman. We should all thank them for telling the truth  at least about each other.

John Nelson

Kenmore
Many contributors to this column have echoed a national chorus petitioning a need to increase US energy output to meet our ever-expanding requirements. Current worldwide energy sources are diverse; a partial listing includes coal, natural gas, petroleum/oil, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. A comprehensive energy review, with a secured transition to clean energy, has been published recently (Outlook of World Energy, International Energy Association, 2021; 386 pages).

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), founded in 1952 by the University of California at Berkeley, is a world-renowned research center having expertise in emerging technologies to meet current and future national obligations. The primary source of funding for LLNL is from the US Department of Energy. The LLNL has documented that approximately two-thirds of the energy produced in the US in 2020 was released into the environment, mostly as heat; this provided no economic or social benefit.

The loss of energy from each of nine energy sources, listed above, has been quantified yearly and flow charts generated for all US states (2010-2021) and currently for all countries (2021; https://flowcharts.llnl.gov). Energy wasted, and unnecessary energy consumption, is not only rejected energy but also contributes to global climate change.

This author is of the opinion that applications for government/public funding or corporate/private partnerships of new energy initiatives would be well-served to include proposals addressing the prevention of wasted energy. Could eliminating wasted energy be cheaper than harvesting more fossil fuels and/or implementing new energy schemes?

John Pauly

Amherst
Bangladesh garment export growth seen slowing to 'normal' 15% this year FILE PHOTO: Garment employees work in a sewing section of the Fakhruddin Textile Mills Limited in Gazipur

By Ruma Paul and Krishna N. Das

DHAKA (Reuters) - Growth in Bangladesh's garment exports could drop to about 15% this year after an unusually strong expansion of more than 30% in 2021, two industry leaders told Reuters on Wednesday, as U.S. and European customers grapple with cost of living pressures.

The garment industry accounts for more than 80% of total exports for Bangladesh, which sells to clients such as Walmart, Gap Inc, H&M, VF Corp, Zara and American Eagle Outfitters - some of which have already flagged weak sales as their customers prioritise basics.

The slowdown follows a surge in sales in 2021 after coronavirus lockdowns eased and government stimulus measures left consumers with disposable cash, leading to what some experts have dubbed "revenge shopping".

"We should be at about 15% growth for the calendar year - this is going to be a normal year," said Miran Ali, a vice president at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA). "Last year was an abnormally high jump".

Bangladesh, the world's second-biggest garment exporter after China, saw exports soar 30.4% to $35.8 billion last year, the biggest year-on-year jump in about 25 years. BGMEA data since 1994 shows a big jump in exports in a year is typically followed by slower growth in the next.

Fazlul Hoque, managing director of Plummy Fashions and former president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association, said he too believed exports would rise by about 15% this year.

INPUT COSTS

Hoque said his customers were delaying orders by a month or so and cutting order sizes. One big U.S. client, which he declined to name, initially wanted a small shipment that was to leave this month to be delayed until December.

The client later asked for only a month's delay after Plummy warned them about penalties and other charges for holding on to the stock for longer.

"If they want to delay such small orders for a few months, that means the situation is not really good," Hoque said. "They can't even accommodate the small volume."

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The other worry is rising input costs, after Bangladesh on Saturday raised fuel prices by around 50% amid high international prices. Fuel accounts for about 10% of garment companies' total costs, Hoque said, adding that the use of diesel generators had gone up due to lengthy power cuts.

"After the abnormal oil price hike, production costs will go up sharply," said Shahidullah Azim, another BGMEA vice president. "We'll have to bear losses for the already placed order."

He said exports could grow to between $38 and $40 billion this year - or 6%-12% growth - and that the next year "could be even worse if the global economy tips into recession".

Bangladesh last month became the third South Asian country after Pakistan and Sri Lanka to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund as its foreign exchange reserves shrank and the trade deficit jumped.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Krishna N. Das in New Delhi; Editing by David Holmes)
MONTREAL  Three years after new rules came into force, the regulator overseeing Canadian airlines has not issued any fines related to passenger compensation claims for flight delays and cancellations.

The lack of action reveals a reluctance by the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to exercise its authority on consumers' behalf, says Air Passenger Rights advocacy group president Gabor Lukacs.

The absence of fines so far comes despite a flood of complaints made by travellers both formally and through social media who say their claims for compensation were rejected after airlines cancelled or delayed their trips amid the airport chaos of the past few months.

That's really where the concern lies  what enables airlines to behave this way," Lukacs said.

The country's passenger rights charter mandates airlines to pay up to $1,000 in compensation for cancellations or significant delays that stem from reasons within the carrier's control when the notification comes 14 days or less before departure.

But airlines including Air Canada and WestJet have denied payments on the basis of crew shortages, deeming the reason a safety issue that would make it exempt from compensation.

The CTA stance is that a lack of staff typically falls within the airline's control and therefore should result in compensation.

"If a crew shortage is due to the actions or inactions of the carrier, the disruption will be considered within the carrier's control for the purposes of the APPR (Air Passenger Protection Regulations). Therefore, a disruption caused by a crew shortage should not be considered 'required for safety purposes' when it is the carrier who caused the safety issue as a result of its own actions,'' the agency said in an email.

Customers whose claims are rejected by an airline can file a complaint with the regulator, but the backlog tops 15,300, with the time between initial submission and final ruling taking as much as one year.

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Separate from the complaints process, federal legislation grants the agency's enforcement officers the power to investigate companies and individuals it believes have breached the legislation, allowing it to demand documents, search premises and issue fines of up to $25,000. So far this year, fines have been levied for such infractions as posting unclear terms or conditions, failing to explain why a flight was delayed and lacking a permit for a charter flight.

The agency's list of enforcement actions does not include any monetary penalties against carriers over customer compensation for flight disruptions.

Air Canada passenger Brittany Noppe was scheduled to fly with her partner on June 9 from Ottawa to Toronto and then on to the United Kingdom, but the initial flight was delayed by more than three hours. When the pair arrived at Toronto's Pearson airport their plane to Manchester had already taken off, forcing the couple to book a hotel for $589 and book a new tickets to London's Heathrow airport the following evening for $2,260, she said.

"When I submitted a claim for compensation for the delay and to be reimbursed for the expenses, both were denied because it was a 'safety related issue' and I was offered a $300 e-coupon as a 'goodwill gesture.' I requested my complaint be escalated and appealed, but they have not gotten back to me in over 30 days," Noppe said in an email.

Since the Air Passenger Protection Regulations came into force in mid-2019, the officers have issued no fines against an airline above $20,000.

The transportation agency did issue 11 penalties amounting to $253,975 in the fiscal year ending March 31. But the vast majority  $210,000 of that total  came in the form of fines against Canada's two main railways. Penalties against air carriers comprised most of the remaining $44,000.

Air Canada's pre-pandemic annual revenue of $19.13 billion. WestJet's annual revenue in 2018, the last fiscal year before Onex Corp. purchased the airline, was $4.73 billion.

"Say I'm selling fake watches, and my cost is $10. I'm selling for $100, so the profit is $90 on each one. Then the penalty has to be such that it is not worth it for me to engage in unlawful conduct," said Lukacs.

"Otherwise it's just another cost of doing business."

In its 2020-21 annual report, the transportation agency recommended that the government raise the penalty cap to $250,000 for corporations from the current $25,000, which is "outdated as it was set in 1996," the document states.

The agency also said it lacks the power to deal with a violation that continues day after day, calling for an amendment that lets officers issue multiple violation notices.

"This will act as a deterrent to ongoing non-compliance and ensure service providers are solving issues without delay," the report says.

Lukacs deemed the call for a 10-fold increase to the penalty ceiling "smoke and mirrors," noting the agency had yet to issue a fine against airlines that approaches the current limit of $25,000 in the past three years.

As for compensation claims filed by individuals, the agency said it aims "to resolve the matter quickly and informally through facilitation or mediation," with 97 per cent of cases settled that way.

"If facilitation or mediation don't work, the complaint may, at the passenger's request, then go through adjudication, a court-like process where a decision will be issued based on the elements of proof submitted."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 9, 2022.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)

Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Google is seen at VivaTech fair in Paris

By Francis Mukasa and Sofia Christensen

KAMPALA, August 10 (Reuters) - Ugandan IT student Andrew Njuki spent years hunched over English-language textbooks, often grappling with material that would have been easier to grasp in his mother tongue Luganda.

As of May, the 27-year-old has been able to copy-paste his online teaching materials into Alphabet Inc's Google translation service and read them directly in Uganda's official language Luganda, spoken by millions across the east African country but not taught in schools.

"To understand something better you need to first understand it in your mother tongue," said Njuki, who also finds the service handy for surfing the internet and social media.

It is not perfect, he said, he rates it around 60% for quality and 65% for accuracy. But it is a start.

Translation and language-learning giants like Google and DuoLingo are expanding language databases available online, in a push to widen representation and reduce bias in artificial intelligence systems.

Isaac Caswell, a research scientist at Google Translate, said for speakers of minority languages "it can feel like the world of tech is ignoring you." Online translation "is a very important signal to show that we do care about you," he added.

Luganda is among 24 languages added to Google Translate in May, with others from sub-Saharan Africa, India and South America. There are now 23 African languages on the platform, accounting for 17% percent of the total.

DuoLingo, which includes eight under-represented languages out of 40 on offer, is working to add Zulu and Xhosa - spoken by 20 million people mainly in South Africa - later this year.

Kampala resident Hussain Bharmal, originally from India, struggled to find resources to study Luganda, and believes the instant translations on his phone will help to bridge that gap.

"When you speak someone's language you get the keys to their heart," said the web developer.

(Reporting by Francis Mukasa and Sofia Christensen; Editing by Bhargav Acharya and Alexandra Hudson)
Aimee Dunn says she stands no chance of taking on the hospital and doctors after losing her infant overnight while in the care of the Fredericton emergeny room. (Submitted by Aimee Dunn - image credit)

Aimee Dunn, who lost her baby in March while in the care of the emergency department of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, says she could never afford to sue for medical malpractice.

Dunn consulted the law firm Wagners about bringing a lawsuit against the hospital and the doctors involved, but decided it was impossible after being advised of the costs and risks.

"I figured I wouldn't be able to do anything," said Dunn, who left the phone call feeling hopeless.

Nick Hooper, a lawyer with Wagners, says the first issue in Dunn's case is that her daughter had no vested legal rights under Canadian law.

Had to be born alive

"The law says you are a legal person and you obtain legal personhood when you are born alive and not before that point," Hooper said.

According to the autopsy report, Dunn's infant daughter died in utero, likely overnight.

A C-section was required to deliver a stillborn infant in the afternoon of Marh 23.

Dunn's insists this could have been prevented. She said nobody checked for a heartbeat until 12 hours after she was admitted to the ER 35 weeks pregnant and showing signs of preeclampsia.

Hooper said a fetus that suffers harm and is subsequently born alive has the right to sue for harm sustained in utero.

But families cannot bring claims on behalf of someone who's deceased, he said.

In the case of a stillborn infant, the parents could only bring legal claims for the harms that they, themselves, had suffered.

Submitted by Aimee Dunn

In Canada, damages for pain and suffering are capped at approximately $417,000.

"And that amount is reserved for the most catastrophic circumstances imaginable," Hooper said.

Furthermore, he said, a plaintiff could easily spend half or more of that amount on legal fees and independent medical experts in a case that could drag out for years.

'Aggressive' doctors' defence fund

Dunn, a part-time housekeeper and her partner Mitchell Waite, who works as an auto mechanic, were also cautioned about the formidable power of the doctors' defence fund.

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Last year, the Canadian Medical Protective Association reported $6.4 billion in assets.

"As of December 31, 2021, we held $6,410 million in assets against $4,746 million in liabilities, $3,997 million of which represents the accumulated provision for outstanding claims," said the association's financial report.

After paying $276 million in compensation to patients and $223 million in legal defence fees for physicians, the association still had excess revenue of $196 million.

Submitted

"The physicians' insurer, the CMPA, is worth billions," said Hooper. "Defendants leverage the fact that, if trial is required, a loss will be felt profoundly differently  between the parties."

Hooper said it's a sad reality that "cases of medical malpractice are litigated very aggressively."

"Even where there is care that appears to be substandard, the insurers involved generally make the claimants go through every hurdle.

"And if they go to trial and they lose, they will be saddled with a potentially enormous costs award."

He said the presumption in New Brunswick is that costs would be about $7,375 for the first $100,000 claimed plus three per cent of the amount over $100,000, plus taxes, plus the defendant's disbursements.

"If, for example, two parents each claimed half of the general damages cap  each claiming $208,500, for instance  they would risk a costs award of approximately $16,885, plus taxes of approximately $2,532, plus the defendant's disbursements, which, in a medical negligence trial of this kind, could easily approach or exceed six figures."

Taxpayers subsidize doctors' fund

Canadian taxpayers also contribute to the doctors' defence fund through agreements negotiated by their provincial governments.

First, the doctors are levied fees, according to the risk associated with their type of medical practice and the litigiousness of their region.

For example, doctors in obstetrics in Ontario pay some of the highest dues  about $50,000 per year. In B.C. they pay $31,000 and in New Brunswick, it's $23,000.

Meanwhile, doctors in family medicine who don't work anesthesia, obstetrics or shifts in the ER pay $3,500 in Ontario, $2,500 in B.C. and $2.100 in New Brunswick.

Then the doctors get paid back. In New Brunswick, under an agreement with the New Brunswick Medical Society, the province reimburses physicians for any amount over $500.

Rachel Cave/ CBC News

"The reason why [provinces] have done this, of course, is the competitiveness and retention and attraction tool for physicians who see this cost as a significant one for maintaining practice," said Anthony Knight, the society's chief executive officer.

"And I will say it's dramatically less than that which American physicians pay for what would be considered malpractice insurance in that part of the world."

Last year, 1,957 doctors in New Brunswick received reimbursements worth a total of $6.23 million, paid by the government.

Apology isn't admission of guilt

Two months after the death of their daughter, Dunn and Waite said, they met with hospital leaders, including department heads  and all of them apologized.

However, an apology by health-care personnel is not an admission of fault and is not admissible in any civil proceeding, under New Brunswick's Health Quality and Patient Safety Act.

And for Dunn, it's not enough.

"If I was rich, I would still go after them," she said.
Did human brains shrink 3,000 years ago? (CC Attribution)

Did human brains shrink 3,000 years ago, downsizing by an amount equal to around four ping-pong balls?

A study last year suggested that our ability to store information externally in our social groups meant we no longer needed large brains - and our brains shrunk accordingly.

A controversial study last year proposed this idea, based on human fossils and a comparison to evolutionary patterns in ant colonies.

But University of Las Vegas, Nevada researchers reviewed the study and concluded that not only did human brains NOT shrink 3,000 years ago at the dawn of modern societies, but human brains are unlikely to have shrunk in the last 300,000 years.

UNLV anthropologist Brian Villmoare analysed the dataset that the research group from last years study used and dismissed their findings.

Read more: Melting snow in Himalayas drives growth of green sea slime visible from space

Villmoare said, We were struck by the implications of a substantial reduction in modern human brain size at roughly 3,000 years ago, during an era of many important innovations and historical events  the appearance of Egypt's New Kingdom, the development of Chinese script, the Trojan War, and the emergence of the Olmec civilization, among many others.

We re-examined the dataset from DeSilva et al. and found that human brain size has not changed in 30,000 years, and probably not in 300,000 years.

In fact, based on this dataset, we can identify no reduction in brain size in modern humans over any time-period since the origins of our species.

The UNLV research team questioned several of the hypotheses in the previous study, base don dataset of nearly 1,000 early human fossil and museum specimens.

The UNLV team says the rise of agriculture and complex societies occurred at different times around the globe  meaning there should be variation in timing of skull changes seen in different populations.

Read more: A 1988 warning about climate change was mostly right

The researchers say that DeSilvas dataset sampled only 23 crania from the timeframe critical to the brain shrinkage hypothesis.

Story continues

The study also lumped together specimens from locations including England, China, Mali, and Algeria.

The researchers say that the previous study is heavily skewed because more than half of the 987 skulls examined represent only the last 100 years of a 9.8-million-year span of time  and therefore dont give scientists a good idea of how much cranial size has changed over time.

Watch: Archaeologists find 9,000-year-old shrine in desert
In 1947 Mahatma Gandhi began a march for peace in East Bengal and later that year began his final fast before being assassinated by Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse. That same year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in McCollum v. Board of Education that religious instruction in public schools was unconstitutional.

Then, U.S. President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan. A few months later the World Health Organization was formed by the United Nations.

Also in 1947, the alleged Roswell UFO incident occurred. Pakistan gained independence from Great Britain. Harry Truman made the first Presidential televised address from the White House.

And in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, 67 students graduated from McDonell Area Catholic Schools. Nine of those graduates attended their 75th high school reunion on Tuesday.

This town was so much better then, said 1947 graduate Bob Miller. Let me tell you, on the East hill a kid coming out of the first grade going home and getting out of his school clothes to get in his play clothes, that kid could go anywhere on the hill at the age of 5 or 6 and not worry about anything terrible happening.

The remaining members of the class of 1947 are in agreement that Chippewa Falls was a safe and adventurous place to grow up, full of rivers and hills, parades and churches. It was all wholesome, so far as they recall.

For those who remain from the class of 47 gatherings are a part of life.

I see them all the time. These characters. I know them like the back of my hand, said Marilyn White Dachel. I mean were the group that grew up here. Weve known each other for, how long, 80 or 90 years?

White took over as the groups historian in a way. She keeps the photos, the names, logbooks and yearbooks.

Well, it wasnt just me, you know. It was a lot of folks. Good folks. They did good work for many decades. But some of them arent here anymore. Have you met our class president? He did great. For many, many years, she said.

While numbers keep dwindling between reunions as members of the class of 1947 age, its still a time to laugh and rejoice when they get to come together.

Were just so glad to be here. Together, said Lenore Westcott. I dont hear so good anymore but Im glad Im here amongst friends.

White said the class was more than just fellow students. They were friends.

We had an excellent class. Everyone got along. Amazing, she said.

When asked if he was excited to be there at his 75th reunion McDonell alum, Norbert Sedlacek said, Im excited that I lived this long.
A slate of non-incumbent candidates who have promoted the myth that the 2020 presidential election can be decertified lost their primaries Tuesday against other Republicans who have been less enthusiastic about the notion or spoken out against it.

Campaigning on lies about widespread fraud in the 2020 election that largely originated with former President Donald Trump, the groups loss comes as many Republican leaders are encouraging conservatives to look forward, not backward.

But while decertification proved to be a losing issue for the several candidates who proposed it, Trump-backed candidates did well on Tuesday, a sign that the former presidents influence is still very much present in Wisconsin.

Candidates who ran largely or partially on decertification, which cant happen under state law and the U.S. Constitution, include Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, who ran for governor; attorney Karen Mueller, who ran for attorney general; Adam Steen, who ran against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester; Chris Connell, who ran in an Assembly district near Eau Claire; Jay Schroeder, who ran for secretary of state; and Ruth Villareal, who challenged Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg.

No one in the group immediately responded to a request for comment.

Members of that group were often supportive of each other, appearing at one anothers events and backing other decertification proponents on social media.

Two legislators who have repeated claims that the 2020 election can be decertified besides Ramthun  state Rep. and Assembly Elections Committee chair Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, and Rep. Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego, whom Ramthun said supported his legislation to decertify the 2020 election  did not face primary challenges.

Sen. Kathleen Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, said single-issue candidates generally dont do well but added the decertification platform was very unsuccessful because the Republican base knows that you cannot undo an election.

Ramthun was perhaps the most prominent candidate promoting decertification, but he failed to gather widespread support or Trumps endorsement. He ended up with about 6% of the vote in the race, according to The Associated Press.

While he hasnt made it a central aspect of his platform, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tim Michels last week said everything will be on the table when asked about the topic, marking a shift from his comments a week earlier that decertification was not a priority.

Steen, whom Trump endorsed in early August, also welcomed the support of former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman. Vos chose Gableman to lead a 2020 election review but on Tuesday night called him an embarrassment to Wisconsin. Steens tight race against Vos  unofficial numbers showed Vos leading by 260 votes out of nearly 10,000 cast  made him by far the most competitive decertification proponent this cycle.

Steen had not conceded the race by Wednesday afternoon. In a video that appears to have been recorded late Tuesday night, Steen said he would consider his next steps Wednesday morning.

Bernier said Steens relative success against Vos was a reflection of the Trump endorsement and many Republicans dislike of Vos.

The most bizarre behavior Ive ever seen in politics is the hate by Republicans for Robin Vos, she said. You know, its kind of obsessive.

I think the better man won because if you ever check the Steen website, youll find that he is definitely an odd duck, she continued.

Mueller, who also ran on investigating hospitals that didnt provide ivermectin to patients with COVID-19  despite numerous studies showing the drug was no more effective than a placebo  garnered about 25% of the vote, putting her in third place behind former state lawmaker Adam Jarchow and the winner, Fond Du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney.

Connell, a Republican candidate in the 68th Assembly District near Eau Claire, whose website put his impossible desire to Reclaim the Electors and Repeal the Steal front and center. He received about 23% of the vote Tuesday, behind Village of Fall Creek Trustee Karen Hurd with 57% of the vote. Hillarie Roth got just under 20%.

Schroeder, who called to decertify the 2020 presidential election after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled absentee ballot drop boxes are illegal, got around 40% of the vote Tuesday. Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, who wants to bring more election duties to the secretary of state office, received about 46% of the vote.

Villareal, who shared a flyer about her speaking at a rally supportive of decertifying the 2020 election, received around 18% of the vote in the 9th Senate District to LeMahieus 71.4%.
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes won the Democratic U.S. Senate primary Tuesday, becoming the states first Black major party nominee for U.S. Senate in a race that could determine the Senate majority for the next two years.

He will face off against U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson on Nov. 8.

Only in Wisconsin would it be possible for the son of a third shift auto worker and a public school teacher who grew up on 26th and Locust to go on to become Lt. Governor and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Barnes said in a statement.

The primary election was all but a formality after Barnes top opponents dropped out two weeks ago. But the names of those candidates  Milwaukee Bucks executive-on-leave Alex Lasry, state Treasurer Sarah Godlewski and Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson  were still on the ballot as well as lesser known ones like Millennial Action Project founder Steven Olikara, attorney Peter Peckarsky, Kou Lee and Darrell Williams.

The Associated Press called the race for Barnes on Tuesday at 8:27 p.m. with the lieutenant governor registering over 80% of the vote.

The Lieutenant Governor will support all the destructive policies of President Biden and his enablers in congress, Johnson said in a statement Tuesday. This is a contest between radical left socialism versus freedom and prosperity.

Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Anna Kelly said its laughable Barnes is trying to convince people hes a moderate after nearly a decade of fighting for fringe-left policies.

Barnes all but secured the nomination after Nelson, Lasry and Godlewski dropped out in late July and endorsed Barnes. Within a week of Nelson dropping out, Barnes received endorsements from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, the states Democratic congressional delegation and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Barnes has campaigned on rebuilding the middle class, abortion rights and patching up what he considers threats to democracy.

Barnes has called Johnson self-serving and a pro-insurrectionist Senator. He along with other Democrats have consistently slammed Johnson for working a provision into a 2017 tax bill that mostly benefited the wealthiest Americans, including some of his top donors. Johnson has campaigned on that provision too, saying it helped business owners.

Johnson, in turn, has framed Barnes as a radical candidate who wants to double down on expanding the government, something that Johnson has consistently rallied against.

We are ecstatic to kick off the general election with Mandela Barnes as our nominee for the United States Senate, Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler said in a statement. From his days as a community organizer to his service in the Wisconsin Assembly and as our states first Black Lieutenant Governor, Mandela has been a tireless champion for the issues that matter to Wisconsins working families.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos declared victory in a surprisingly close primary challenge against Donald Trump-endorsed Republican Adam Steen in a tight race largely driven by the former presidents lies and continued discontent about the 2020 presidential election.

He also called former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, whom he hired to review the 2020 election, an embarrassment to this state, a stunning rebuke after Gableman endorsed Steen and appeared at Steens election night watch party at a Racine County facility owned by a funeral home company.

Vos also said he would meet with the Republican caucus to discuss whether Gablemans investigation, which has found no evidence of widespread fraud after costing taxpayers over $1 million, would continue.

Unofficial results from Racine County late Tuesday showed Vos leading Steen by 260 votes out of nearly 10,000. Vos spokesperson Jenny Toftness said the campaign confirmed his victory with the Racine County clerk.

No Democratic opponent will appear on the ballot to face Vos, R-Rochester, in November if he retains his lead in the primary election, giving him a clear path to another term. Steen, an election denier, was boosted last week by a Trump endorsement.

Vos, the states longest serving Assembly speaker and one of Wisconsins most influential Republicans, has fallen out of favor with Trump for not supporting his repeated calls to back the legally impossible decertification of the 2020 election. As a result, Trump has repeatedly referred to Vos as a RINO, which means Republican in name only.

Wisconsin primary: See live election results

Trump accused Vos of blocking efforts to secure Wisconsins elections, even though Vos has since 2020 steered through bills seeking to tighten election procedures, which were vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated Trump by about 21,000 votes in the states 2020 presidential election.

Steen, who has spoken in favor of decertifying the election, held a campaign event Monday afternoon in Burlington featuring a Vos tossing slingshot contest, in which participants launched a puppet representation of Robin Vos using a bungie slingshot.

In late July, Vos had $223,290 cash on hand compared with Steens $13,185. Up until that point, Vos had raised about $120,500 and Steen had raised about $65,500, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.

Legislative races

While Vos lead over Steen was narrow Tuesday night, two other high-ranking Republican state senators were far ahead against Trump-supporting Republican challengers.

In a primary race against Senate Majority Caucus chair Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, election denier Jay Stone held about 25% of the vote to Wanggaards 75% late Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, also held just under 75% of the vote late Tuesday in his primary against two Republican primary challengers, Jeanette Deschene and Ruth Villareal. By press time Tuesday, the AP estimated that about 30% of the ballots had been counted. None of those Republican-leaning districts have Democrats on the ballot, meaning the primary victor is all but certain to win the seat.

In and around Dane County, candidates are facing off to fill several mostly Democratic-leaning districts whose current officeholders are retiring, running in other districts or seeking a different office.

The victors Tuesday will move on to the general election on Nov. 8. The winners in November will join the senators not up for reelection to become the first group of lawmakers to serve under the new 10-year legislative maps, which were settled in April after a long legal fight that spanned from Madison to the U.S. Supreme Court. The maps are likely to expand on Republicans majority in the Legislature, though the redrawn districts are unlikely to give them enough of a majority to override the governors vetoes.

In the 46th Assembly District covering Cottage Grove, Sun Prairie and parts of Madisons East Side, five Democratic candidates faced off to fill the Assembly seat that has been held by departing Rep. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, for the past two decades. Leading the pack with 36% of the vote late Tuesday was Dane County Sup. and Cottage Grove Village Board member Melissa Ratcliff, who was ahead of Sun Prairie City Council member Mike Jacobs, Dane County Sup. Analiese Eicher, Madison Ald. Syed Abbas and former Assembly aide Andrew Hysell.

The winner of the primary will face GOP candidate Andrew McKinney in the Nov. 8 election. New maps adopted earlier this year give the district a more than 30-point Democratic lean, meaning the winner of the primary will likely secure the seat in November.

In the 79th Assembly district covering parts of Middleton, Verona and Cross Plains, Democratic candidate Alex Joers, a former staffer of outgoing Rep. Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, is running for her seat against former NASA employee Brad Votava. Joers was leading Votava by about 50 percentage points late Tuesday.

That district has a 43-point Democratic lean, according to an analysis by Marquette Law School research fellow John Johnson. The winner will face Republican Victoria Fueger in the Nov. 8 election.

Covering much of western Dane County as well as some of Iowa and Green counties, the 80th Assembly District has a Republican and Democratic primary whose winners will face off for a seat that has been held for 20 years by retiring Rep. Sondy Pope, D-Mount Horeb. The 80th District has a 35-point Democratic lean, Johnsons analysis shows.

With about half of the votes counted late Tuesday, Dane County Sup. Mike Bare was leading the Democratic field with just under half of the vote. He was leading Mount Horeb gun safety activist Anna Halverson with about 26% of the vote, Verona City Council president Chad Kemp with 20% of the vote as well as Belleville Village Board president Dale Yurs and former corrections officer Doug Steinberg, of Oregon.

In the Republican primary in the 80th Assembly District, painter Jacob Luginbuhl was leading business owner Nathan Graewin 57% to 43% with about half of the votes counted late Tuesday.

In the redrawn 33rd Assembly District, which includes northwest Rock County and the southern half of Jefferson County, Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann with 48.3% of the vote was trailing Scott Johnson, a farmer and consultant, who had 51.7% of the vote with 63% of them counted late Tuesday.

That district has a 4-point Republican lean, Johnsons analysis shows. The winner in that district, formerly held by held by retiring Rep. Cody Horlacher, R-Mukwonago, will face three-term Rep. Don Vruwink, D-Milton, who currently represents the 43rd District. Vruwink opted to run in the 33rd after the new maps brought his hometown of Milton into the new district.

In Vruwinks former Assembly district, now covering the area around Stoughton and Oregon, Village of Oregon trustee Jenna Jacobson had over 80% of the vote late Tuesday in a Democratic primary against former Edgerton mayor Matt McIntyre. The winner will face Republican Marisa Voelkel. That district has a 24-point Democratic lean, according to Johnson.

Beloit City Council member Clinton Anderson had about 75% of the vote to Ben Dorscheids 25%, with less than 10% of the vote counted late Tuesday, in the 45th Assembly District that includes parts of Beloit, Rock and Green counties. The district has been represented by outgoing Democratic Rep. Mark Spreitzer, who is running for state Senate, since 2014.

The district has a 15-point Democratic lean, according to Johnsons analysis. The Democratic nominee will go on to face the sole Republican candidate Jeff Klett on Nov. 8.

Racine Journal Times reporter Adam Rogan contributed to this report.

This story was corrected to reflect that the Adam Steen watch party was at a facility owned by a funeral home company, not a funeral home.
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The President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), Vasco Alves Cordeiro, met today the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, in an exchange meant to present the priorities of President Cordeiro at the helm of the CoR for 2022-2025.



In this context President Cordeiro highlighted: "Prime Minister Antonio Costa is very knowledgeable about the Committee of the Regions (CoR). He was an outstanding member of the Committee, having even chaired one of its Commissions, CIVEX. I know the importance he attaches to the levels of regional and local power in Europe, and cooperation between all levels of power to strengthen the EU's own internal democracy and its ability to deal with present and future challenges."

The meeting, held at the official residence of the Prime-Minister in Lisbon, was also an opportunity for both leaders to exchange on the current situation in Europe and for the President of the Committee of the Regions to discuss two important aspects facing the EU in the near future: the implementation of the recommendations resulting from the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFE) and the future of cohesion policy, to guarantee its long-term added value.



Vasco Alves Cordeiro stated "In relation to CoFE, what I had the opportunity to convey was the CoR's desire to increasingly assert itself as the political assembly of local and regional authorities of Europe, with the effects that this has in terms of reinforcing its participation in the EU decision-making process, bringing the perspective of local and regional authorities to that process, and bringing citizens closer to the European project."

In todays encounter, the recently elected President of the CoR and the Portuguese Prime Minister also discussed the future of EU Cohesion policy, with Vasco Alves Cordeiro underlining its relevance not only to face the immediate challenges of the fight against the pandemic of COVID 19, support for Ukrainians and Ukraine, as well as support for cities and regions dealing with the socio-economic costs of the war, but as a long-term EU investment policy and guarantee that no region is left behind



When referring to the process, which will start soon, on the preparation of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, post 2027. Vasco Alves Cordeiro said " As far as Cohesion Policy is concerned, it is also important to emphasize the importance that this policy has for local and regional authorities, the challenges it is faced with, the lessons that can be learned from having helped to deal with the pandemic and those that still result from the war in Ukraine. Lessons that must be incorporated into a reflection process on how the Cohesion objective, which is linked to the very definition of the European project, can be achieved in the near future".



The President of the Committee of the Regions also took the opportunity to invite Prime Minister Antonio Costa to participate in one of the next plenary sessions of the Committee of the Regions, bringing his perspective on these and other matters.



Note to editors:

Prime Minister Antonio Costa was a member of the European Committee of the Regions between February 2010 and April 2015, as mayor of Lisbon, having assumed the position of Chair of the Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX) between September 2012 and January 2015.



Contact:

Francisco Tavares

Tel. +32 475 999 427 or +351 926789659

francisco.tavares@cor.europa.eu


For the first time this summer, Cumberland County moved into the moderate level for community spread of COVID-19 in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's community levels chart for Pennsylvania.

That shift up in case data included two deaths for the county in August so far after reporting seven deaths each in May, June and July.

Despite that shift up in cases, the county's hospitalization numbers due to COVID are trending down.

The county's 14-day rate for hospitalizations sits at 12.5 Wednesday according to the state Department of Health, down from 12.9 on Aug. 2 and 14.1 on July 26. The county has had 10 straight days without a patient on a ventilator, and only one day in the past 10 with a patient in the ICU.

The CDC updates its community levels data every Thursday afternoon. It uses new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population (7-day total), new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population and percent of inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients (7-day average) to determine its community spread levels of high, medium and low.

Last Thursday's update shows 15 counties in the state in the high level for COVID community levels as of Aug. 4, two more than the previous week. Only Mifflin and Lebanon counties are in the high category for the southcentral region, with Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, and Juniata counties dropping to the medium level.

Cumberland County, also in the southcentral region, moved to the medium level of spread category last week for the first time in several months. York, Adams, Franklin, Dauphin and Perry counties are also listed in the medium level.

The state has 32 counties in the medium level (two more than the last week).

County data

The Health Department reported 384 cases for Cumberland County in the past seven days, seven fewer cases than the previous week. The county's seven-day average for case counts decreased to 54.9, down from 55.9 on Aug. 3, with two deaths reported for the week.

The southcentral region totaled 16 deaths in the past week (five in York County and three in Dauphin County).

There were 14 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in Cumberland County in Wednesday's update, an increase of two since Aug. 3.

There were no adults in intensive care and no one on a ventilator Wednesday. Twenty-two adult ICU beds remain open of the 67 currently staffed across the county, and 24 of 58 ventilators in the county are in use.

Franklin County's hospitalizations decreased by one to 25 patients Wednesday, with eight of its 26 currently staffed ICU beds available. There is one adult in the ICU and no one on a ventilator.

Dauphin County's hospitalizations increased by 11 this week to 52 patients Wednesday, with 33 of its 164 currently staffed ICU beds available. There is one adult in the ICU and three on ventilators.

Vaccine update (Aug. 10)

In data updated Tuesday evening, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 72.1% of Cumberland County's population is fully vaccinated  the eighth highest percentage for a county in the state (Chester tops the state at 80.7%). The CDC also reported that 76.1% of the population 5 and older is vaccinated, and 79.5% of the population 12 and older is fully vaccinated.

The CDC also reported that 45.1% of the county's fully vaccinated population has received a booster vaccine.

Early Warning Dashboard update (Aug. 10)

Cumberland County saw decreases in its COVID-19 percent positivity and incidence rate per 100,000 people in the Health Department's weekly update to its Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard.

The county's percent positivity decreased to 22.3% for the week of Aug. 3-9, down from 22.4% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people decreased to 104.6, up from 110.9 the previous week. It was 107.7 two weeks ago and 95.5 from three weeks ago.

Franklin County has the highest incidence rate in the Midstate at 248.3 (also the highest in the state). Dauphin County has the highest percent positivity rate in the Midstate at 24.1%, with Cameron County topping the state at 40%.

County numbers in the southcentral region (updated Aug. 10 - weekly totals):

Adams County (pop. 103,009): 248 new cases; 27,578 total cases (23,153 confirmed, 4,425 probable); 385 deaths (+1); 56.8% of county population vaccinated

248 new cases; 27,578 total cases (23,153 confirmed, 4,425 probable); 385 deaths (+1); 56.8% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 101 new cases; 11,728 total cases (7,865 confirmed, 3,863 probable); 281 deaths; 39.6% of county population vaccinated

101 new cases; 11,728 total cases (7,865 confirmed, 3,863 probable); 281 deaths; 39.6% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 144 new cases; 31,751 total cases (25,421 confirmed, 6,330 probable); 638 deaths; 54.1% of county population vaccinated

144 new cases; 31,751 total cases (25,421 confirmed, 6,330 probable); 638 deaths; 54.1% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 384 new cases; 56,486 total cases (42,786 confirmed, 13,700 probable); 919 deaths (+2); 72.1% of county population vaccinated

384 new cases; 56,486 total cases (42,786 confirmed, 13,700 probable); 919 deaths (+2); 72.1% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 501 new cases; 65,016 total cases (53,847 confirmed, 11,169 probable); 995 deaths (+3); 65.2% of county population vaccinated

501 new cases; 65,016 total cases (53,847 confirmed, 11,169 probable); 995 deaths (+3); 65.2% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 432 new cases; 44,530 total cases (37,250 confirmed, 7,280 probable); 720 deaths (+2); 50.7% of county population vaccinated

432 new cases; 44,530 total cases (37,250 confirmed, 7,280 probable); 720 deaths (+2); 50.7% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 61 new cases; 4,473 total cases (2,403 confirmed, 2,070 probable); 66 deaths; 36.7% of county population vaccinated

61 new cases; 4,473 total cases (2,403 confirmed, 2,070 probable); 66 deaths; 36.7% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 85 new cases; 12,373 total cases (10,320 confirmed, 2,053 probable); 258 deaths; 52.2% of county population vaccinated

85 new cases; 12,373 total cases (10,320 confirmed, 2,053 probable); 258 deaths; 52.2% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 22 new cases; 5,109 total cases (4,723 confirmed, 386 probable); 183 deaths; 41.5% of county population vaccinated

22 new cases; 5,109 total cases (4,723 confirmed, 386 probable); 183 deaths; 41.5% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 293 new cases; 40,125 total cases (34,640 confirmed, 5,485 probable); 530 deaths (+2); 57.4% of county population vaccinated

293 new cases; 40,125 total cases (34,640 confirmed, 5,485 probable); 530 deaths (+2); 57.4% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 108 new cases; 13,259 total cases (12,607 confirmed, 652 probable); 283 deaths; 50.8% of county population vaccinated

108 new cases; 13,259 total cases (12,607 confirmed, 652 probable); 283 deaths; 50.8% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 59 new cases; 9,495 total cases (7,370 confirmed, 2,125 probable); 191 deaths (+1); 50.2% of county population vaccinated

59 new cases; 9,495 total cases (7,370 confirmed, 2,125 probable); 191 deaths (+1); 50.2% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 1,007 new cases; 130,606 total cases (108,869 confirmed; 21,737 probable); 1,544 deaths (+5); 60.5% of county population vaccinated

(Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list)

Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 17.2% last 7 days (17.3% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 130.1 (134.2 previous 7 days)

Adams County: Percent Positivity - 20.9% last 7 days (21.3% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 186.4 (194.2 previous 7 days)

Cumberland County : Percent Positivity - 22.3% last 7 days (22.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 104.6 (110.9 previous 7 days)

Dauphin County : Percent Positivity - 24.1% last 7 days (24.9% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 148.8 (137.3 previous 7 days)

Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 23.3% last 7 days (20.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 248.3 (215.4 previous 7 days)

Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 21.2% last 7 days (23.0% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 180.5 (179.8 previous 7 days)

Perry County: Percent Positivity - 22.8% last 7 days (22.9% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 64.8 (75.6 previous 7 days)

York County:

Percent Positivity - 21.0% last 7 days (20.3% previous 7 days)

last 7 days (20.3% previous 7 days)

Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 179.0 (173.7 previous 7 days)
The random act of kindness doesnt cut it anymore.

At least, thats how Chuck Kish sees the necessary response to the pattern of mass shootings across the U.S.

When you look at all these horrific murders, they havent been random, said Kish, lead pastor of the Bethel Assembly of God Church in South Middleton Township.

Theyve been premeditated, thought through, things purchased, organized and then set in motion, he said. So, I think there needs to be premeditated acts of goodness to raise funds, step in and bless the living daylights out of people.

Over the winter, Kish led an effort called Stock Their Shelves where local residents donated money so that volunteer shoppers could supply the break rooms of first-responders. Kish is the lead chaplain for the Carlisle Borough Police Department, the North Middleton Township Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office and Cumberland Goodwill EMS.

In light of what happened in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, Kish wants to focus his latest effort on the break rooms of local public schools where teachers go to relax and refresh.

Were going to fill every break room with $400 worth of healthy food, beverages and kind notes on all the refrigerators, Kish said. We will initiate this in the fall. Here in Carlisle, we will not wait for a tragedy to happen to appreciate those who sacrifice so much for our community. We will continue to plan, meditate and initiate goodness.

Kish has spread the word through his congregation and over Facebook. Weve already raised $1,500 toward it, he said. We want to open it up to the community.

Those interested in donating money can make a check out to Bethel Assembly of God and write on the memo line Stock their Cupboard, Kish said. The effort will focus first on break rooms in the South Middleton School District before moving to buildings in the Carlisle Area School District and beyond as the supply of donated funds last, he said.

Well do all the shopping, Kish said. Well make sure they [the teachers] have healthy food. The whole thing is to show kindness. I sense that people want to do something. This is a good test to unleash some of what theyre feeling in their hearts.

Aside from money for healthy food and beverages, Bethel Assembly of God is collecting letters of encouragement from the community to local teachers. You can email them to me: pastorchuck@bethelcarlisle.com, Kish said.

Kish plans to wait until after Labor Day to contact administrators and coordinate times when volunteers can come in and stock the break room of faculty members. He has already been in contact with David Boley, principal of the W.G. Rice Elementary School.
Top 10 in the nation. Thats what Irondale resident Isabella Beck has achieved in a national Jobs for Americas Graduates (JAG) competition.

She is the daughter of Terry and Donna Beck and is a junior at West County High School.

Beck won third place in Missouri in JAGs Competitive Events Program in financial literacy, so she qualified to compete at the JAG National Career Development Convention (NCDC) in Dallas, Texas.

She traveled to Dallas recently with Cindy Martin, her JAG teacher, called a specialist, and students and sponsor from Arcadia Valley.

Beck competed at 2 p.m. on the day the group arrived at the national convention.

While at the JAG convention, Beck was able to attend several leadership workshops. She was able to attend one where a fifth-generation lawyer discussed how he started working in the field and shared work experiences.

Beck also gained ideas on how JAG organizations can become more involved in their communities.

When the students werent competing or attending workshops, they visited the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys; dined at area restaurants; visited a museum; and more.

JAGs Competitive Events Program in which Beck competed is motivational and instructional because it provides guidance and inspiration for students while also setting high goals for achievement. The NCA Competitive Events help encourage students to improve their personal, leadership and employability skills. The goals also help members to understand the value of competition in a market-driven economy; provide them with the chance to refine their skills before transitioning into the workplace; offer a chance to build self-confidence through participation; and recognize outstanding individual and team performance and achievement.

For the financial literary competition, Becks financial literary knowledge and skills were assessed through a multiple-choice test. General financial literacy topics included money management, budgeting, saving, borrowing, building credit, setting goals, investing and financial internet safety.

Specifically, Beck answered questions about practical money and basic budgeting skills; money management and living independently; credit and debit card basics; identity and finances protection; credit score control; retirement basics; and financial life events such as buying a car, going to college, renting an apartment or buying a home, elder care, handing the unexpected, health care, landing a job, and family life.

She completed the financial literacy test within a 60-minute period.

Beck said her classes at West County High School helped to prepare her for the national financial literacy competition. She joined JAG as a sophomore by accident. Only sophomores, juniors and seniors can take the class.

I was trying to get out of Spanish class and JAG was the only option that was available for my schedule, she said. I was like, Whats JAG?

Now looking back, Beck is glad she made the decision to try out a class shed never even heard of.

Through her participation in JAG, Beck has been fortunate to meet many professionals who have taught her many things. Shes also learned a great deal from Martin.

Shes a great teacher who keeps things fun but still structured, said Beck. She has great activities. I really enjoy the class.

She said Martin is the perfect fit for the role as WCHSs JAG specialist because she thoroughly enjoys leading the group.

She loves the kids and thats why she came back to teach [after retiring from Central], said Beck. Its very obvious that Mrs. Martin cares a lot about her students.

In only a year, Beck said she learned a lot from the class. She not only learned financial and life skills but also acquired leadership skills and how to have a voice.

JAG is all about the students having a voice, she said, and thats really important.

This year in JAG, Beck will be co-president with Kaylee King. Beck is planning to stay in the JAG program for all three years.

I hope to learn how to be in the world a little bit better, she said. I want to have more confidence in myself and my voice.

She plans to pursue a masters degree in psychology. Shes currently in the A+ program. After graduation from high school, she will attend Mineral Area College.

I wouldnt have expected JAG to do so much in my life, but it has helped me to grow and mature, said Beck. Ive seen it with other kids, too. Its cool to see it change other peoples lives like mine.

She recommends the JAG program to other students.

JAG is for any student because you can build the curriculum around the students and thats what its for, said Beck. The specialists train and learn how to meet their students needs.

JAG was founded in 1979. The program helps students recognize and unleash their potential by ensuring they graduate from high school and prepare to attend college, enter the military or begin a career.

JAG assists young people with succeeding in school and in careers and leads them to productive, rewarding careers. The program is led by a public-private partnership at the national level, comprised of state governors, C-Suite executives from Fortune 500 companies, and national leaders. The organization supports more than 1 million students.
Southeast Missouri residents, especially those who live in the Parkland, are already aware of the unique, scenic wonders that can be enjoyed along its byways, from gravel roads to interstates.

Inviting more people to enjoy those natural wonders is the aim of an organization called Scenic Missouri, which proposed an Ozark Run byway to the state highway department to preserve cultural, natural, archeological, rustic, historic or recreational roads.

If the effort is successful, the next step would be to approach national inclusion on a route that would connect it to byways in Oklahoma and Arkansas. The full national route, as currently proposed, would cover 1,155 miles, making it one of the five longest National Scenic Byways.

For now, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) is proposing to tie together many of those beautiful routes into a proposed 375-mile-long scenic byway which would locally include areas in Washington and Iron counties. The commissions of those two counties have already expressed support for the project, as well as the mayor of Pilot Knob, Shelby Chan, according to MoDOTs Missouri Application and Corridor Management Plan.

Several more communities will be asked for a vote of approval and a list of public meetings is being scheduled.

The entire Ozark Run Scenic Byway would involve six routes (Missouri Highways 21, 185, 106, and 19, and U.S. Highways 63 and 160), 11 counties (St. Louis, Jefferson, Franklin, Washington, Iron, Reynolds, Shannon, Oregon, Howell, Ozark and Taney), and eight incorporated towns (Hillsboro, Sullivan, Caledonia, Centerville, Ellington, Eminence, Alton and Forsyth).

No new roads would be built as part of the initiative, and civic and county participation is voluntary.

Of local interest, the St. Francois Sprint would run on Highway 21 from Highway 8 in Potosi to Highway 106 in Ellington. South of Potosi, the Ozark Run would pass through the historic town of Caledonia on the way to beautiful Arcadia Valley.

Arcadia Valley is where Pilot Knob, Ironton, and Arcadia offer visitors unique cultural, recreational, commercial and historic points of interest. Elephant Rocks, Johnsons Shut-Ins, and Taum Sauk Mountain are three state parks nearby, and two divisions of the Mark Twain National Forest are in the vicinity.

South of Arcadia, the road passes through Royal Gorge, and the towns of Lesterville and Centerville, destinations for campers and river boaters. Then the road straightens out, the speed limit goes up a bit, and the spring ends in Ellington.

The Ozark Scenic Byway with its six sprints runs from St. Louis south to the St. Francois Mountains, across the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, west past Bull Shoals Lakes, and ends near Branson.

According to an Aug. 4 news release from the Missouri Department of Transportation, each governmental agency located along the proposed route will receive a Written Notice of Intent requesting a public meeting be held within the next 30 days. The local cities and counties then must approve or disapprove the scenic byway designation through their communities. The application requires 100% local government approval before its taken to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for approval and official designation.

Nina Gilliam, a trustee of Caledonia and owner of Old Village Mercantile which is on the route, said she had heard mention of the proposed byway, and while she wasnt yet versed on all the details, she thought it was a great idea.

Theres just so much to see, do and enjoy in this area of Missouri, she said. Ive always said, this is the best-kept secret down here. It's so beautiful, the Bellevue Valley and just this whole area is gorgeous. I think putting the scenic byways together would just be amazing to bring awareness of what we offer our visitors

Gilliam pointed out the history of partnerships among many of the towns in the Parkland.

Im obviously a champion of the Village of Caledonia, but there's just so much more and all of our towns are doing such a great job of developing and coming up with new things. I hope it all goes through, she said. I think of Door County (Wisconsin) and how its a whole area, not just one particular town, and its become an amazing tourism destination.

So many visit Branson and Lake of the Ozarks here in Missouri, and thats great, but we offer a lot more hidden adventures that this byway could really draw attention to.

And tourism packs a financial wallop in Missouri. The industry, according to the Department of Tourism, provides more than 304,000 tourism-related jobs and generates nearly $18 billion in tourism-related spending.

National corridors like the souths Natchez Trace Parkway and the west coasts Volcanic Legacy have reportedly made an annual impact of $142 million and $163 million, respectively, on the communities through which they run.

More information about the Ozark Run Scenic Byway proposal is located at modot.org/ozark-run-proposed-scenic-byway. Anyone along the route who is interested in providing feedback is encouraged to contact their local government agency.
Quirk Gallery Charlottesville will present an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday for its new exhibitions, With a Thousand Other Heartbeats by Kathleen Markowitz and Slant by Don Crow.

Markowitz graduated from the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University and studied overseas with the New York School of Visual Arts in Barcelona, Spain, and The Academia Di Belle Arti Pietro Vannucci in Perugia, Italy. Crow, a Richmond-based teacher, painter and collage artist, has taught at VCU in Richmond and Doha, Quatar.

The works can be seen through Oct. 9. Get all the particulars at quirkgallery.com.

The Gallery at Studio IX is presenting Dave Moore: Fleeting Moments Forever through Aug. 28. Plan on attending an Artist Talk & Happy Hour at 5 p.m. Aug. 25 and a WTJU Vinyl Takeover Party from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 27.

His exhibition is filled with large-scale paintings created over the past two years. Some are new; others are older pieces that have been reworked.

When Moore, a Hampton native who has lived and painted in Charlottesville since 2003, isnt in an art studio, he often can be found in a different kind of studio; he serves as a DJ in the rock department at WTJU. Learn more at studioix.co.

Charlottesville artist William Bennetts work is featured in the SculptureNow Exhibition 2022 in Lenox, Massachusetts. His Omphalos V: The Mount was selected to be this years presentation of art in nature. It is created from earth, stone, brass, concrete and fiber optics.

A free map and self-guided audio tour are available; go to sculpturenow.org/visit.

Bennett taught sculpture at the University of Virginia for 42 years before retiring in 2021.

Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond is presenting Theres Just Us, an exhibit of photos by Longwood University professor and photographer Alec R. Hosterman, through Dec. 30.

Hosterman took the photographs during the Unite the Right rally and protests on Aug. 11 and 12, 2017.
NEW YORK  The New York Film Festival will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a robust 32-film main slate and a number of hometown tales, including James Grays Queens coming-of-age drama Armageddon Time and Laura Poitras documentary All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, about artist Nan Goldins battle against the Sackler family.

Film at Lincoln Center, which puts on the annual festival, announced this years lineup Tuesday. The gala screenings are notably New York-centric, beginning with the previously announced opening-night film from longtime New Yorker and New York Film Festival regular Noah Baumbach. Hell debut his Don DeLillo adaption White Noise shortly after it also opens the Venice Film Festival.

The festivals centerpiece will be All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, in which the Citizenfour filmmaker chronicles Goldins fight to stem the opioid crisis and the pharmaceutical companies that benefitted from it.

Elegance Bratton, who drew from his own experiences in his documentary about homeless queer and transgender young people in New York in his documentary Pier Kids, will close out the festival with his semi-autobiographical fiction film The Inspection, starring Jeremy Pope as a gay man in Marine Corps basic training.

Grays Armageddon Time will screen as part of the festivals 60th-anniversary celebration. The film, which premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival, draws from Grays own childhood in 1980s Queens. It co-stars Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway.

Other entries include Todd Fields anticipated TAR, starring Cate Blanchett as a world-renowned composer; Paul Schraders Master Gardner, starring Joel Edgerton as a horticulturist; Joanna Hoggs The Eternal Daughter, with Tilda Swinton; and master documentarian Frederick Wisemans A Couple, a monologue drama based on the letters of Leo Tolstoy and wife Countess Sophia Behrs.

Several standouts from this years Cannes will play at the festival including Charlotte Wells feature debut Aftersun; Park Chan-wooks Decision to Leave; Mia Hansen-Lves One Fine Morning; Kelly Reichardts Showing Up; Cristian Mungius R.M.N.; and Ruben Ostlunds Palme dOr-winner Triangle of Sadness.

Also among New Yorks selections is the latest from Iranian director Jafar Panahi, No Bears. In July, Panahi, one of Irans leading filmmakers, was sent to prison for a six-year sentence related to a 2011 charge of producing antigovernment propaganda. His imprisonment has been widely decried internationally and in the film community.

The New York Film Festival runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 16. Along with premieres at Lincoln Center, the festival will host screenings throughout New Yorks five boroughs, at Staten Islands Alamo Drafthouse Cinema; Brooklyn Academy of Music; the Bronx Museum of the Arts; the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens; and the Maysles Documentary Center in Harlem.
A young boy says Kaddish in a small synagogue in Shanghai, his mournful Hebrew expressing the prayers connection with life in the wake of his fathers death.

In the past year, the resilient 10-year-old has experienced the split of his family, the horrors of Kristallnacht, the hurried escape to a foreign city, and now the death of his father.

With the few loved ones he has left, the boy, Jerry Lindenstraus, says goodbye to his father and his childhood as he knew it. As he recites this Jewish prayer for the dead, he faces a new world full of uncertainty and loss not uncommon to the other 18,000 Jewish refugees in the Hongkou district of Shanghai.

Lindenstraus, now 93 and a resident of New York City, survived a childhood that took him to four continents and near-constant loss and persistent trials. As a survivor, he seeks to memorialize the struggles of those he knew and lived with in the ghetto of Shanghai, having spent most of his life fighting for the increased awareness of Holocaust survivors.

Thousands of European Jews braved the miserable conditions of the ghettos to establish a refuge in Shanghai, a fact that often surprises many people.

When asked about the anti-Semitic events in history that led to the upheavals in his life, he simply said: There were, and always will be.

He also aims to inspire the next generation to be proactive in learning from mistakes of the past, and maybe to make life better for his grandchildren and others.

He was especially shocked and horrified by the Nazi-inspired torch rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 11, 2017. He viewed the rally as a backslide into anti-Semitism. He condemns former President Donald Trump or anyone else who said there were good people on both sides of the rally.

Its terrible, he said. It [Anti-Semitism] has been there, it has always been there, hundreds of years ago, thousands of years go, and it will always be there.

And it has to be called out for what it is, Lindenstraus said.

From childhood joy to terror

Lindenstraus was born in June of 1929 to parents Louie and Lillie, in the German town of Gumbinnen. He had a joyful childhood, and his family was a staple of the Jewish community. He was a typical mischievous boy with many friends, he said, even sneaking off to watch military parades that fulfilled every childs desire for excitement.

Life was great until 1933, he said, when the Nazis took power. Thats when life changed completely. From there, he moved to Konigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, where his parents then got divorced.

What happened next went down in history.

On the nights of Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, German Nazis unleashed a series of violent attacks on Jewish communities throughout Germany. This incident came to be known as Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass.

The sounds of shattering windows and the crackle of flames as synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses burned to the ground continues to haunt the minds of survivors. Lindenstraus didnt hear the noises or the fires because he was asleep. But he learned about the devastation in a hard way.

I didnt see the flames because it was at night, Lindenstraus said as he recalled the infamous event, but when I tried to go to school the next day, it wasnt there anymore.

Soon after, his father decided it was time to leave Konigsburg for their safety.

They had heard of a place that would let in refugees without a visa.

Out of all places, Shanghai, China, Lindenstraus said. The city was a melting pot of vying international powers, vice, indulgence and poverty. The Chinese section was overrun with Japanese officers and Nazis.

It was incredible, he recounted. I mean nothing that I could have ever expected.

The blinding lights of the nightclubs and restaurants could not gloss over the poverty that was rampant among both the Chinese and the Jewish refugees.

The poor living conditions and stress led to his fathers death from pneumonia six months after their arrival in Shanghai, adding another shock to Lindenstraus turbulent childhood.

After the death of his father, he lived with his stepmother in half of a room, without running water, separated from another family only by a Persian carpet.

Like many other refugees in Shanghai, he contracted malaria and other tropical diseases due to the poor sanitation. But he still considers himself one of the more fortunate ones. He lived in the cramped ghetto for seven years, only allowed to exit once the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

We woke up one day, and the Japanese were gone, he said, grateful for his escape from the ghetto that served as a prison during his teenage years.

From China to South America

As Lindenstraus left his Shanghai life behind, he began a new one in Bogota, Colombia, where his birth mother resided.

At first, he was hesitant due to their estranged relationship from years apart, but a relative reminded him gently: Blood is thicker than water. So when his mother sent him a ticket, he left the Shanghai ghettos rickshaws and opium dens for Colombias glitzy parties and political unrest. I had to go, he said, [it was] my third lifestyle, with again different parents.

After seven years in Colombia, Lindenstraus traveled around the U. S. until he started an export business in New York City in 1953, utilizing his multilingual skills.

Lindenstraus since has called New York City home. When I came to New York, my money ran out, and I stayed, and Im still here.

In the 70 years he has spent in New York City, Lindenstraus married, had a son, and has seen his grandkids grow up as well.

Sixty-seven years after the funeral of his father in the small Ohel Moshe synagogue in Shanghai, Lindenstraus was invited back to speak at the grand opening of the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum, which immortalizes that same synagogue. In the same place where he said Kaddish for his father, Lindenstraus was given a chance to speak for the survivors of the Holocaust.

It was pretty emotional, he said when asked about how it felt to come back to Shanghai after all those years. While his story is not the most common among those who lived through the Holocaust, he still wants the stories of the Shanghai refugees to be commemorated.

The story of Shanghai is very unknown; even American Jews dont know the story, he said. Lindenstraus is glad that the city of Shanghai decided to recognize those who lived in the ghetto, and further educate the public of the atrocities that occurred under the Nazi regime by constructing a museum.

Staying on guard

Not long before Shanghai was commemorating Jews who had lived in ghettos there, the U.S. was experiencing renewed flashes of anti-Semitism. Neo-Nazis allied with white supremacists who did not want statues of Confederate war heroes Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson removed from downtown Charlottesville. On Aug. 11, 2017, Neo-Nazis shocked the country as they carried lit torches, a totem of Nazis during Lindenstraus childhood, onto the University of Virginia Lawn, yelling anti-Semitic slurs and threats.

The modern-day Nazis and their confederates had planned another rally for the next day on the downtown mall. The day ended in violence, with Heather Heyer being murdered by James Fields. Several dozens were injured. Lindenstraus was one of many Jewish people around the country and the world who took notice.

Many in Charlottesville will never forget.

The man who survived Nazi Germany, a Shanghai ghetto, the loss of his family, his father and a peaceful childhood, will not forget, either. And he does not want future generations to forget how easily their freedoms, homes and family can be taken away by anti-Semitism.

Keep your eyes and ears open, and make sure to be involved, and be active so that these things dont happen again, he said.
The neo-Nazi torch rally on Aug. 11, 2017 shook Charlottesville and the entire nation, but perhaps no single institution was as affected by the rally as the University of Virginia.

Recognized as one of the top universities in the country, UVa and its loyal alumni and supporters have long guarded its reputation. Honor and good citizenship are strongly held ideals. Supporters and others across the land were stunned by the images of torch-carriers on the Lawn and in front of founder Thomas Jeffersons statue, with many taking it as a personal affront.

But even more than a reputation to protect, UVa has students, professors, workers and others to protect. An extensive report released in November, 2017 said that the university had been slow to respond.

Former federal prosecutor Tim Heaphy, who headed the investigation and later became lead counsel for the university, said the University Police Department ignored information about the rally as well as offers of aid. In turn, that led to a volatile, inflamed atmosphere that continued into the tragic events on Aug. 12.

There was ample notice of the Friday night torch-lit event to university officials, Heaphy said at a news conference announcing the reports result in late November, 2017. They knew perhaps days in advance and perhaps early in the day on Friday, that there would be some sort of event by the white nationalists that were coming to the Unite the Right rally.

Some activists were particularly upset that their warnings went unheeded.

I called it in, the mayors wife called it in and students called it in, said Jalane Schmidt, who is also a professor at UVa. They called us hand-waving leftists for using the F-word: fascist.

UVa has since worked to create a safer and more inclusive future with all of its students and faculty in mind. And while many changes have been made, many people believe there is need to do more.

Limits on Lawn

Teresa Sullivan, who was UVa president at the time, immediately formed a working group to review all of the universitys policies to see where it could have handled the situation differently. The group made several suggestions.

Since that time, UVa updated its open flame policy to make it enforceable by security officials. The Lawn is now a facility, which allows for safety measures such as regulating firearms. It adjusted its time, place and manner restrictions to require university outsiders to apply for permission to hold a speech event at least one week in advance with a two-hour time limit. Events are only during week days between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and have a 50-person maximum.

Sullivan said she had done everything she could before the rally to thwart any violence. After the Ku Klux Klan had held a rally in Charlottesville in July, 2017, Sullivan consulted with the Southern Poverty Law Center for the best course of action.

After learning that many white supremacist groups are looking to create a media event, she decided she would give the media some good news instead. She organized an extensive teach-in at Alderman Library for Aug. 12, 2017. The family-friendly event was set to include several classes on different topics, exercises and film sessions as an alternative to going downtown, as many people routinely do on a Saturday afternoon.

Part of the goal, she said, was to distance UVa from groups with harmful ideologies that target large populations within the UVa community.

The measures did not work, to Sullivans deep regret.

I wish Heather Heyer were alive today. I wish those state troopers were alive today. Its an eternal grief, Sullivan said. I did my best to try and ameliorate the bad effects of it and, as it turned out, it didnt work. There are still bad things that happen. January 6 was like post-traumatic stress for me. I just couldnt believe it all over again.

Recognizing enslaved laborers

As a part of its goal to create more visibility for minority groups on Grounds, Sullivan approved plans proposed by the Deans Working Group to construct the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers located on Central Grounds.

Administrators and university faculty also have been developing plans and policies to thwart hateful ideologies that target people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and Jewish people.

UVa President Jim Ryan is adamant that his 2030 plan, crafted upon his arrival in 2018, will propel the university into a future worthy of its foundational ideals.

This is a university based on certain ideas. They werent fully realized when they were articulated, but they remain captivating and compelling, Ryan said. The way that you change that is by moving closer to the values and ideals that were expressed, in some cases, two centuries agoexpanding the We in We the People.

Ryans 2030 plan emphasizes strategic goals to increase cultural diversity among both faculty and staff as a part of strengthening its foundation. The SuccessUVA initiative, for example, is the expansion of the universitys financial aid program in an effort to bring more low-to-middle income, minority, first-generation and underrepresented students into the fold.

The initiative includes construction of a new Health and Wellness Center, a new Contemplative Sciences Center and an expanded Multicultural Student Center to support an increasingly diverse student body with a variety of needs.

Public safety changes Associate Vice President of Safety and Security and Chief of Police Tim Longo, who took his post in 2020, had a goal to create more synergy between the UVa, Charlottesville and Albemarle County police departments.As the former Charlottesville Chief of Police, Longo regards this alliance as a positive and necessary change for the future of safety at UVa.

[An alliance is] essentially important when we have largescale events, whether they be spontaneous demonstration by a student body, civic group or an organized demonstration to a ballgame, Longo said. What I think the university has done well is have the foresight to know it makes sense to bring all those assets into one place.

The university increased the presence of ambassadors and doubled up on Lawn security, Longo said. Donning bright yellow shirts, the unarmed ambassadors are UVas first line of defense and report suspicious or dangerous activity to police rather than intervening.

A gentle middle ground between security guards and police officers, the ambassadors create a sense of heightened awareness and protection for students, parents, faculty and visitors alike, Longo said.

Although the group has not met in about a year, the UVa Student Councils University Police Accountability Board facilitates collaboration, communication and transparency between the student body, the University Police Department and other safety and security officials at UVa.

When I first got here, there were actually faculty and staff members within that group as well, Longo said. I always envision that as not just a mechanism for oversight and accountability and asking questions, but also input on safety measures or preventative actions. More than its ever been, its always that balance between individual rights and governmental responsibilities that create safe environments.

Executive vice president and chief operating officer at UVa, J.J. Davis, has a Safety and Security committee that is a cross-section of people representing different positions and experiences on Grounds, including student representatives. The committee meets once a month to discuss issues within the university on, both, broad and specific scales. Even with the policy and committee developments since 2017, students would like to see more intentional action from the university.

Student body president Cecilia Cain, a Black rising fourth year at UVa, sat on the University Police Accountability Board but said she did not find it effective. Cain said she is looking toward a new future of policing on Grounds.

Im hoping to work with UPD this year, Cain said. Removing university police from mental health crises and instead having trained counselors and EMTs as a part of that system is something weve been working on. I think a really good way to reimagine public safety is to divert funding from police and into different types of public safety, such as mental health professionals.

While UVa is making plenty of progress in culturally diversifying the student body and instituting anti-racist hiring practices, students would still like to see more vocal and firm stances on the kinds of speech that are institutionally protected.

The university has come a long way since Aug. 11 and 12, 2017, but there is still much work to be done, many believe. Aligning the experience that forced students into a head-on confrontation with hate and racism with the truth about what happened that weekend is one major step toward smoothing tensions in the UVa community.This is a place with a very deeply rooted, dark history, and without doing the work that we need to confront that and change current conditions, manifestations of that racist history will happen, Cain said.

On Aug. 11, UVa is hosting a moment of silence during the noon chimes, followed by an extended ringing of the University Chapel bells. Anyone under the sound of the bells may participate. Also on Aug. 11, the Karsh Center for Law and Democracy and the UVa Jewish Studies Program is hosting The Legacy of Charlottesville, A Fifth-Anniversary Conversation About Law and Democracy in America on Zoom from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To register for the Zoom conversation, click here.
When it comes to Black history, Lauren Broussard thinks people often focus so much on the important but somber topics of slavery and segregation that it overshadows important contributions Black trailblazers made in spite of racism.

I think when you learn about Black history, it should not just be, this is depressing, said Broussard a rising senior at Western Albemarle High School, after giving a tour of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center Tuesday.

Saturn Edwards, a rising senior at Charlottesville High School, agrees.

A lot of times African American history focuses on the depressing parts. And a lot of the history that we learn is a bit depressing. It is important, but its not always good to focus on that and I feel like we should also learn more about the joys in African American history, Edwards said.

Broussard, Saturn Edwards and her sister Jean Edwards are participants in the heritage centers Trailblazers program, which teaches area Black students the history of Charlottesvilles Black community. The goal is for the students to become tour docents.

The program started in 2015 and runs every summer. Over the course of six weeks, students engage in discussion, complete projects, go on field trips to historical sites and museums in and out of the area and learn to be community educators.

The students are paid for their training and for the tours they give. The tours focus on the history of Black people in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, starting with early enslavement and telling the story of emancipation over time.

Parts of the tour highlight the razing of the thriving Black community of Vinegar Hill, as well as successful Black leaders and businesspeople in the community throughout time.

We started this program largely because we wanted to shorten the distance of history. We felt like young people thought history was in the past, said Andrea Douglas, executive director of the heritage center. We encourage the students to speak in their own voice.

Douglas said the goal is for the students to become tour guides if they so desire, and to give tours to both their peers and adults.

These young people are very smart. Theyve done a lot and Im very proud of them, Douglas said.

This week, the newest class of Trailblazers is completing their training. They say they want the community to learn about the successes of Charlottesvilles Black community.

Jean Edwards, a rising senior at Charlottesville High School, said she grew up spending a lot of time participating in heritage center programming with her family, but she wanted to learn more.

I went ahead and applied because I never actually learned the real history behind this place, she said. Id been here for Kwanzaa celebrations and events like that, but Ive never been able to be acquainted with the people behind here and the people behind this history until now.

Broussard said one of the things she learned through her experience is how many Black businesspeople and property owners contributed to the success of the community. Thats why shes so passionate about focusing more on Black joy and success in her tours.

When you talk about Black history, they dont really mention the Black middle class, and usually it goes from Civil War to Civil Rights era and you leave this almost 100-year gap, Broussard said. And so learning about the Black property owners and learning about their influence, learning about how people tried to prevent Black people from buying property and gaining wealth, thats what shocked me the most and I was most interested about that.

Saturn Edwards said she hopes people will come to the heritage center to learn more about the history of the place they live in, which they may take for granted.

I feel like its really important for people to become familiar with the areas history. Before the program, I didnt know a lot of the places Ive been to are historical places, she said. I feel like its really important for people to be well-versed in the area and to expand their knowledge on the area they live in.

JSAAHC offers guided tours throughout the year. Those interested can visit https://jeffschoolheritagecenter.org/about-us/guided-tours/ to sign up.
To support breastfeeding, area women and their babies gathered in Culpeper Countys Lenn Park to nurse their children for one solid minute as a group on Saturday.

Longtime Culpeper lactation consultant Cindy Curtis organized the event, her eighth oneand now back in person after the COVID19 pandemic paused The Big Latch On for two years.

Many people dont realize how beneficial breastfeeding is to babies, and yet how difficult it can be to do, Curtis said.

Many things can interfere with the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding, she said. We do Latch On to draw attention to breastfeeding and provide education and support to women who might be struggling with it.

At Lenn Park, 41 moms and 42 babies participated, including one set of twins. Joining them were supportive family members and community business representatives interested in promoting womens health.

The local event echoes the annual Global Big Latch On, which began in 2005 in New Zealand. It has previously taken place during World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7), with 22,592 women participating during the last one held prior to the pandemic.

Born and raised in Culpeper, Curtis worked for 32 years in the birthing center at Culpeper Medical Center helping women latch on properly. In recent years, she started a lactation consulting business, Pink Cocoon. Now, she brings her expertise directly to her clients, visiting them in their homes.

I dont tell moms what they should or shouldnt do, Curtis said. I educate them, I try to give them the skills they need to be successful and have options.

Experts including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for a minimum of six months.

On Saturday, womens and childrens health vendors provided information and giveaways, along with about 60 local businesses that offered support or gifts to the moms who participated.

I love that connection breastfeeding gives me to my baby, Kecia Glascock said as her nursing partner, 18-month-old Alice, smiled back from her mothers arms.

Glascock has two older children, a 4-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, who were also breastfed. She plans to return to employment this fall as a teacher after seven years of being a stay-at-home mom.

Glascock, who is from Warrenton, attended a previous Latch On event organized by Curtis in the towns Yowell Meadow Park.

I loved it, it was such an uplifting, supportive event, so when I saw this on Facebook, I knew I wanted to come again, she said.

Dominique Wilson traveled with her first child, 10-month-old Akasha Wilson-Gittens, to Culpeper from Fredericksburg for the Latch On.

A professional photographer, Wilson said she enjoyed the associations with other moms at the Latch On event, and sharing parenting war stories.

Its great having so many women who are mothers all in one place, Wilson said. Ive always been one in favor of supporting women.

Curtis said breastfeeding is not just an important womens issue, but its also a human rights issue, a general health issue and feminist issue.

Breastfeeding empowers women, Curtis said. Women who wish to breastfeed their babies but do not, because of inadequate support from family or constraints in the workplace, or misinformation, often feel guilty because of this failure at something they wanted to do.

Her Latch On event is designed to draw attention to breastfeeding, to encourage society to recognize it as a normal and natural occurrence and to provide more appropriate public spaces to accommodate breastfeeding mothers.

Breastfeeding your baby will bring you a joy that words cannot express, Curtis said. The feeling you get when you nourish your baby at your breast and see your baby grow and thrive on your milk is awesome.

Local businesses who gave items to the moms include Courts Kitchen, Green Roost, Honeybee Home, Pepperberries, Old House Vineyards, O and A Coffee Car, Botanical Dwellings, Windmill Heights Nursery, Weathered Barn Mercantile, Kash Imprints, Jackalope Ridge Bakehouse, Acorn Farm and Pottery, the Smyth Team Realtors and Blue House Blooms.

Several photographers volunteered to do free photo mini sessions for the breastfeeding moms, including Ashley Rene Photography, August and Jo Photography, Authur Photography and Kristin Lane Photography.

The Global Big Latch On, which began in 2005 in New Zealand, has taken place annually during World Breastfeeding Week (Aug. 1-7), with 22,592 women participating during the last one held prior to the pandemic.

Organizers of the Global Big Latch On changed the timing of their latest event to April 7-8, 2023, to avoid Augusts hot weather in the Northern Hemisphere and flu season in the Southern Hemisphere.

For more information, visit Curtis website, pinkcocoon.com.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Wednesday denounced Gov. Glenn Youngkin for impugning the Department of Justice over the search of former President Donald Trumps Florida home and for the governors characterization of its role in a Loudoun County schools controversy.

Im very disappointed in legislative colleagues who are quick to trash this search ... and trash its legitimacy, Kaine said in a Zoom interview with reporters and editors at several Virginia newspapers.

And I was most disturbed this morning to see Virginia Governor Youngkin basically ... impugning the Department of Justice and saying that this was the same Department of Justice that labeled Loudoun school parents terrorists.

Thats just a lie. The Department of Justice never labeled Loudoun schoolchildren or their parents as domestic terrorists, Kaine said. A national school board association wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking if they would investigate violence and threats of violence against school board members as possible acts of domestic terrorism.

In a tweet Tuesday from his personal Twitter account, Youngkin called the search at Mar-a-Lago a stunning move by the DOJ and FBI. He added that This same DOJ labeled parents in Loudoun County as terrorists and failed to enforce federal law to protect Justices in their homes.

Youngkin was referring to a controversy over a high school student in Loudoun who assaulted students at two different schools. The governor, who highlighted parents role in schools during his successful campaign, has faulted Loudoun school officials for their handling of the case. An executive order he signed the day he took office authorized Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate Loudouns schools.

Youngkins tweet on Tuesday apparently referred to a letter that the National School Boards Association sent to President Joe Biden last year comparing parents protests in the county to domestic terrorists.

Now, whether the school board (association) should have used that phrase or not, it was not the Department of Justice that did it, Kaine said Wednesday. The Department of Justice has not labeled anybody in Loudounschool, parent or otherwisea terrorist.

For Governor Youngkinwho knows betterto trash the Department of Justice in that way shows a severe lack of judgment. What it also shows is that too many in the GOPeven people who should know betterfeel like, for political reasons, they have to be water carriers for Donald J. Trump.

They should be, instead, protectors of our democracy and the rule of law, rather than ... trying to court favor with Donald J. Trump, private citizen.

Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin, said in a statement: Its alarming that Senator Kaine doesnt think Virginians deserve an explanation from Attorney General (Merrick) Garland and the Biden Administration on the unprecedented raid of the private residence of a former president. His clear disagreement with many of his Democratic colleagues and Virginians is notable.

While Youngkin and Kaine differ politically, each has praised the other on occasion. For example, in June Youngkin thanked several Virginia Democrats, including Kaine, for playing roles in Boeings decision to move its headquarters to the state. Last month Kaine said he was pleased that Youngkin acted quickly to declare a state of emergency in response to flooding in Buchanan County.
Yonhap News Agency: During the talks between the Chinese and ROK foreign ministers, on the THAAD issue, the two sides underlined the need to take seriously each others security concerns and to strive to properly handle the issue. The first stage of deployment of the THAAD system elements that have been shipped to the ROK has been completed. Could you elaborate on the meaning of to take seriously each others security concerns and to properly handle the issue? Do the two sides believe that the use of the THAAD system currently deployed in the ROK should be limited?

Wang Wenbin: First let me share with you some details about the talks between the two foreign ministers. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held long talks with visiting ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin yesterday in Qingdao. They held in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest and reached important common understandings. We have released the readouts on the talks. We believe this was a constructive and productive meeting.

Wang Yi said that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK. At the age of 30, this relationship has every reason to have become more mature, independent and steady. As history and reality have shown, China and the ROK have always been neighbors who share a common stake in security and partners who need each other. The two sides have respected and supported each other and contributed to each others success. This has not only delivered important benefits for both countries and peoples, but also contributed significantly to regional peace, development and prosperity.

Wang Yi stressed that for the next three decades, China and the ROK need to take stock of the useful experience and keep bilateral relations moving forward in the right direction. Chinas policy towards the ROK remains consistent and stable. We hope the ROK will work in the same direction with China. The two sides need to stay committed to independence and keep this relationship free from external interference. The two sides need to stay committed to good neighborliness and friendship and accommodate each others major concerns. The two sides need to stay committed to openness and win-win cooperation and keep industrial and supply chains stable and unfettered. The two sides need to stay committed to equality and mutual respect and not interfere in each others internal affairs. The two sides need to stay committed to multilateralism and follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. These five points represent the shared desire of the people in both countries and the trend of the times. China stands ready to work with the ROK to stick to the mutually agreed characterization of bilateral relations, i.e. a strategic cooperative partnership, and work together for the sound and steady growth of bilateral ties.

Wang Yi pointed out that globalization is facing headwinds and certain countries have politicized economic issues, used trade as a tool, and weaponized various sets of standards, which has destabilized global industrial and supply chains. As beneficiaries of and contributors to the global free trade system, China and the ROK should jointly reject such behavior that breaches the laws of the market, and keep our two countries and the global industrial and supply chains secure and stable. The two sides agreed to speed up phase-two negotiation of the China-ROK FTA and strive to reach an early agreement. The two sides agreed to hold dialogue on keeping industrial and supply chains stable and committed to keep industrial and supply chains intact, secure, unfettered, open and inclusive. Both remain committed to trade and investment liberalization, WTO rules, and the principles of non-discrimination, non-exclusion, openness and transparency.

As to the issue of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system that you asked about, I would like to point out that the USs deployment of THAAD anti-missile system in the ROK clearly undermines Chinas strategic security interest. China has made clear its concern to the ROK side on multiple occasions. Previously, the ROK government officially announced its policy of three nos and one restriction (no additional deployment of the THAAD system in the ROK; no participation in a US-led missile defense network; no involvement in a trilateral military alliance with the US and Japan; and restriction in the use of the THAAD system deployed). China attaches importance to this position of the ROK government. Based on the understanding between the two sides, China and the ROK were able to properly handle the THAAD issue. During yesterdays meeting between the two foreign ministers, the two sides once again had an in-depth exchange of views on the THAAD issue, elaborated on their respective positions, and deepened mutual understanding. Both agreed to take each others legitimate concerns seriously and continue to prudently handle and properly manage this issue to make sure it does not become a stumbling block to the sound and steady growth of bilateral relations.

Bloomberg: Still on the South Korea topic. I noticed that the Foreign Ministry issued a statement regarding the floods in Seoul in the past couple of days. There are reports that two Chinese nationals were among those who died during the floods. Can you confirm that and do you have any more information about the Chinese nationals who died during the floods in Seoul?

Wang Wenbin: During his talks with ROK Foreign Minister Park Jin yesterday, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed sympathy to the ROK side over the casualties caused by the heavy rain disaster in the ROKs capital region. Foreign Minister Park Jin thanked him for that.

Two Chinese nationals lost their lives in the floods. Upon learning that, the Chinese Embassy in the ROK immediately contacted local government authorities to seek confirmation and information on what happened, and contacted the families of the victims to offer condolences and assistance with follow-up matters. At the same time, the Department of Consular Affairs of Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in the ROK also released consular notices to remind Chinese personnel, institutions and enterprises in the ROK to take precautions against secondary hazards associated with the heavy rainfall to stay safe. For those in need of emergency assistance, please contact the Chinese Embassy in the ROK.

Xinhua News Agency: The Xinhua News Agency yesterday released a report titled The US Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts. Do you have anything to say on that?

Wang Wenbin: This report provides an account from various angles of the historical facts and reality that many people have fallen victim to forced labor in the US over the past two centuries and more since the founding of the US, which deserves peoples attention. Id like to take this opportunity to share some of the main points in the report with you.

First, forced labor in the US was born and grew with the founding of the nation and its primitive accumulation of capital. Slave trade was an original sin of the US. The blood and tears of the millions of black slaves and the bones of the hundreds of thousands of Chinese laborers are unmistakable evidence of forced labor in the history of the US.

Second, the US has a horrible track record of forced labor. At least 500,000 people in the US are living under modern slavery. Forced labor is rampant in US prisons. Private prisons in the US have colluded with greedy politicians to force prisoners to work, essentially creating slave labor in prison. Forced labor in the US is pervasive in sectors including agricultural planting, domestic services, catering, tourism and medical service, and forced labor among children and women are particularly abhorring.

Third, the spillover effect of the egregious impact of forced labor in the US has caused serious transnational human trafficking and human rights violations in other countries. The US is a source, transit hub, and destination country for victims of forced labor and slavery. Up to 100,000 people are trafficked to the US annually and fall victim to forced labor. Multiple transnational companies in the US have long engaged in forced labor overseas in violation of the human rights in other countries.

Fourth, the international community has long been seriously concerned about forced labor in the US. The Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) and the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons have repeatedly questioned and criticized the US. However, the US has chosen to be oblivious to this and even wantonly smeared other countries by falsely accusing them of forced labor. Anyone who knows the facts can easily see through the USs double standard and hypocrisy and its lies about Xinjiang.

Facts prove that the US, which has serious human rights problems such as forced labor, is in no position whatsoever to lecture other countries on human rights, still less posing as a human rights judge and adopting unilateral and illegal sanctions. If the US truly cares about human rights, it should own up to and reflect on the forced labor issue at home and remedy its human rights deficit with real actions. It should stop lecturing on human rights and stop creating forced labor, forced return to poverty and forced decoupling and disruption of industrial and supply chains in Xinjiang. It should also stop violating human rights, rules and laws in the name of upholding them.

CCTV: Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry both said that Chinas decision to suspend bilateral climate talks with the US doesnt punish the US  it punishes the world. Whats Chinas comment?

Wang Wenbin: We have taken note of the relevant remarks of the US side. I would like to stress the following points:

First, the measure taken by the Chinese side is part of our legitimate and reasonable countermeasures against Pelosis visit to Taiwan. For quite some time, we have repeatedly stressed to the US side that the one-China principle is the political foundation on which China develops bilateral relations with other countries. In disregard of Chinas strong opposition, Speaker Pelosi went ahead with the provocative visit to Chinas Taiwan region, which seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. This visit took place with the US governments connivance and support. The visit has undermined the political foundation of the China-US relations and will inevitably cause major disruption to the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. China had made those points perfectly clear long beforehand. We said it and we mean it. The US has no reason to feel surprised.

Second, due to the egregious impact of Pelosis visit to Chinas Taiwan region, China has suspended its climate talks with the US. All consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the US. As a responsible major country, China will continue to actively participate in international and multilateral cooperation on climate change. China is a country committed to real action on global climate governance. We have made a solemn pledge to strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. We are endeavoring to formulate and implement a 1+N policy framework for low-carbon development and green transition. China will staunchly pursue its carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets, actively participate in main-channel negotiations on climate change, provide other developing countries with support and help as our ability permits, and make our own contributions to tackling the global climate challenge.

Third, the US side should earnestly shoulder its historical responsibilities and obligations on climate change. It is our consistent belief that to address climate change, it is not enough to just chant slogans without doing ones part. Not long ago, the US Supreme Court decided that it would limit the US Environmental Protection Agencys powers to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Besides, the US has been sanctioning and suppressing Chinas solar companies citing the so-called Xinjiang-related issues as a pretext, which has dealt a direct blow to the atmosphere of our cooperation and the climate response of China and other countries. These self-contradictory moves make the world question the USs capability and seriousness on addressing climate change. The US should earnestly deliver on its historical responsibilities and due obligations on climate change and stop looking around for excuses for its inaction.

Bloomberg: About Chinas military drills around the island of Taiwan, are they ongoing or have they already ended?

Wang Wenbin: As we have made clear, Chinas military drills in the waters surrounding our own territory are justified, legitimate and lawful. They are a warning to the provocateurs, and a punishment for the Taiwan independence forces. I would refer you to the Chinese military for the specific question you raised.

Kyodo News: Today the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his cabinet. What expectation does China have for the new Japanese cabinet?

Wang Wenbin: We have noted relevant reports. The cabinet reshuffle is Japans internal affair. China attaches importance to China-Japan relations. We hope the new cabinet can work with the Chinese side in the same direction, and advance the bilateral relations along the right track for sound and steady development.

China Review News: According to reports, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi questioned in an interview why her trip to Taiwan has received so much attention, while the visit of a group of US lawmakers to Taiwan several months earlier had no impact. She also said, We cannot allow the Chinese government to isolate Taiwan. Whats Chinas comment?

Wang Wenbin: We have always opposed visits to Taiwan by members of the US Congress. Nancy Pelosi is the third highest-ranking political figure in the US. She travelled to Taiwan on a US military aircraft. While she was there, she repeatedly mentioned herself being there on behalf of the US and described the trip as an official visit. The DPP authorities touted the visit as a major breakthrough in Taiwan-US relations. All these show that Pelosis visit to Taiwan is a major political provocation that upgrades US-Taiwan exchanges. This goes against the USs commitment of only maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan in the Sino-US Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. This goes against the one-China principle, which is widely accepted by the international community and has been affirmed by UNGA Resolution 2758. This goes against the principle in international law of non-interference in other countries internal affairs, which is enshrined in the UN Charter.

Since four months ago, China has time and again made clear to the US through multiple channels and at various levels our stern position of firmly opposing Pelosis visit to the Taiwan region. However, the US has chosen to pursue the wrong course of action in disregard of Chinas dissuasion and warnings. It is the US that has gone back on its commitment, not China. It is the US that has infringed on Chinas sovereignty, not the other way round. It is the US that connives at and supports Taiwan independence separatist activities, instead of China conniving at and supporting separatist activities in the US. The US made the provocation first, and China has been compelled to take legitimate countermeasures, which are justified, lawful, necessary and proportionate.

The US has been going further down the path of fudging, hollowing out and distorting the one-China principle, and yet it accused China of changing the status quo. The US conducts up to one hundred military drills in waters around China on an annual basis, and yet it accused China of overreacting. This is gangster logic. China does not accept it, nor will the international community recognize it.

China will not hesitate to fight back each time the US makes a serious provocation that violates Chinas sovereignty and interferes in Chinas internal affairs. We will never allow our sovereignty and territorial integrity to be trampled and sabotaged.

If the US truly hopes to adhere to international law and uphold all countries sovereignty and territorial integrity as it claims to, it should play no games but return to the one-China principle and the three Sino-US joint communiques. The US must not act recklessly, and stop going further down on the doomed path. The US should give up the attempt to use Taiwan to contain China and do right things and take concrete steps to facilitate peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Bloomberg: Id like to ask about the US President Biden signing into law a competition bill that would include US$52 billion to boost America semiconductor research and development. Does the Chinese foreign ministry have any views on this new bill which has been signed into law?

Wang Wenbin: The Chinese competent authorities have already made our position clear on the relevant Act. The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the China Chamber of International Commerce, among others, have also issued statements opposing the Acts intervention in and restriction on economic, trade and investment cooperation of the global business community.

The Act claims to enhance the competitiveness of the sci-tech and chip sectors of the US. In fact, it provides huge subsidies to US domestic chip industries, and promotes differential industrial policies which include terms limiting relevant companies normal investment and trade in China and normal China-US sci-tech cooperation. It would distort the global semiconductor supply chains and disrupt international trade. China is firmly against that. The so-called protection measures have a strong geopolitical undertone and constitute another example for the USs practice of economic coercion.

How to develop itself is the USs own business, but the approach needs to be in line with WTO rules, consistent with the principle of openness, transparency and nondiscrimination, and good for maintaining the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains. It cannot set up barriers to normal economic and sci-tech exchange and cooperation between China and the US, still less undermine Chinas legitimate development interests. China-US economic and sci-tech cooperation serves the shared interests of both parties and contributes to the common development of humanity. Creating restrictions and decoupling would hurt others without benefiting oneself.

I want to stress that China puts the development of our country and nation on the basis of our own strength. No restriction or suppression will hold back Chinas science and technological development and industrial progress.
Integrity First for America spent well over $1 million supporting the plaintiffs and legal team that won a $25 million civil judgment against organizers of the deadly Unite the Right hate fest that took place in Charlottesville five years ago this week. Now, IFA, a non-profit group which hired technicians to gather evidence and paid for logistics in the case known as Sines v. Kessler, will shut down.

IFAs executive director Amy Spitalnick announced the groups winding down Tuesday. She promised to distribute any leftover funds to one or more non-profit groups in the Charlottesville community that focus on survivors of the 2017 rally.

Helping win the lawsuit was the privilege of my life, Spitalnick said. The verdict sent a very clear message about the consequences of extremism.

She called the seven-figure sum it cost to mine information from hundreds of cell phones and social media accounts, along with other collection of terra bytes of information, money well spent. All the evidence and transcripts of Sines v. Kessler will remain accessible for free to lawyers, journalists, writers or any interested members of the public on a website IFA will maintain after the groups other operations cease, Spitalnick said.

Revealing operational secrets of the white supremacy movement is an ingenious way to thwart recent attempts by some politicians, notably former President Donald Trump, to normalize extreme behavior. In fact, many Trump supporters who invaded the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 to overturn the 2020 presidential election looked eerily like the Unite the Right participants in 2017.

The Unite the Right lawsuit pulled back the curtain on how these groups operate, said Spitalnick, who will now work as CEO of Bend the Arc, a group dedicated to mobilizing American Jews around the threat of white supremacy and white nationalism.

Several other civil suits have been modeled on the Charlottesville case, Spitalnick said. These include legal actions against the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who led the attack on the Capitol, according to the House Select Committee investigating the insurrection.

IFAs announcement that it is shutting down coincides with the fifth anniversary of Unite the Rights assault on the people of Charlottesville. The event left Heather Heyer murdered by neo-Nazi James Fields Jr. who drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters. Fields also injured more than a dozen people, some seriously. Hundreds of others suffered various forms of trauma as bigots, including some wearing body armor and carrying assault weapons, tried to bully and intimidate people by their mere presence.

Among the most grotesque displays of hate was an Aug. 11 parade of neo-Nazis through the University of Virginia campus. The marchers carried lit torches and chanted, The Jews will not replace us. The creepy drill seemed designed to mimic demonstrations that ushered Hitler to power in Germany.

Across the 48 months it took to bring to trial the architects of this anarchy, IFA not only paid for evidence collection, it picked up travel expenses of plaintiffs and lawyers and other logistical costs.

Now, as Sines v. Kessler works its way through what will be months, if not years, of posttrial motions, possible appeals and collection efforts, Spitalnick said the legal team can handle the filings.

That does not mean that she or anyone else in the war against extremism can stand down.

Plenty of people still talk about history or heritage to disguise an underlying belief in white supremacy. The planners of Unite the Right did so in claiming that they were merely coming to town in 2017 to protest attempts to remove statues of Confederate heroes Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson from public parks.

The racist and anti-Semitic movements still hope to gain legitimacy by pretending to be something they arent. And, as Spitalnick rightly noted, this strategy goes hand-in-glove with recent political efforts to ban teaching about institutional racism in public schools.

For those who found the bigotry of 2017 repulsive, that means one thing: The battle continues.
Firetrucks and aircraft were sweeping the Cascades and portions of the Willamette Valley for new forest fires Wednesday, Aug. 10, after a fast-developing thunderstorm made more than 1,000 lightning strikes overnight.

Land managers and firefighting coordinators tracked 5,223 lightning flashes in Oregon between 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 and the same time the next day. Around 1,500 flashes struck the Cascades, connecting with the ground.

It was not immediately clear how that compares to previous storms.

But, there was a lot of lightning, said Kris Eriksen, a spokesperson for interagency firefighting efforts in the Pacific Northwest.

Most of that lightning struck Tuesday evening or later, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, a regional, multiagency, firefighting dispatcher and forecasting service.

Eriksen said the storms brought rain and hail that kept large fires at bay and suppressed potential new fires caused by lightning. But as temperatures warm and forests dry, smoldering debris at the site of a lightning strike can flare up into a new blaze.

It waits for heat and sun and a little bit of wind, and it pops back up, Eriksen said.

The coordination center reported 92 new fires in Oregon by 8:20 a.m. Wednesday, most of those fewer than half-acre and totaling 123 acres.

Which ones turn into something will be told over the next week or so, Eriksen said.

Lightning started small fires that burned for weeks in 2020 before blowing up to destroy hundreds of thousands of acres, raze thousands of buildings and kill at least 11.

The Lionshead fire started when lightning struck forests near Mt. Jefferson on Aug. 16 of that year. It pushed downhill with hot westward winds over Labor Day weekend, merging with the Beachie Creek and P-515 fires.

Dubbed the Santiam fire, the blaze burned more than 400,000 acres.

The Bootleg fire burned more than 410,000 acres the next year mostly on the Fremont-Winema National Forest in Klamath County, sparked by lightning.

Eriksen said the U.S. Forest Service had firefighters positioned throughout its lands in Oregon after the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning Monday, forecasting abundant lightning on dried-out trees in the western slopes of the Cascades.

The Weather Service extended that warning over much of Central Oregon and the Willamette National Forest in eastern Linn and Lane counties through Wednesday morning.

The warning expanded to cover most of the Willamette Valley as storms began dumping down hail and lightning from Eugene to Salem. The Weather Service warned Tuesday evening of a "powerful thunderstorm" forecasted over parts of Linn County.

As soon as it went over and went by, they went out looking for anything that was new, she said.

Oregons largest uncontained blaze, the Cedar Creek fire, was burning on 3,536 acres in the Willamette National Forest about 18 miles east of Oakridge and also was started by lightning.

Eriksen said rain and hail dropped by the Tuesday storms may have slowed the advance of the fire as it creeps to the west where crews are clearing roads and clearing vegetation from contingency fire lines.

But it likely will just be days or weeks before sunny summer temperatures once again speed up the fire's spread.

With the heat and wind that comes this time of year, it dries out relatively quickly, she said.
The state has extended the public comment period for an air pollution permit requested by a controversial Corvallis glass fiber plant.

The facility operates two glass manufacturing furnaces, and the glass is used to produce fibers used as filtration media and battery separators.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality pushed back the deadline to speak up about Hollingsworth & Voses request for an upgraded air pollution permit until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12. Following a July 21 virtual hearing, written comments were initially due Aug. 4.

Public input is sought regarding H&Vs proposed air quality permit, known as a standard air contaminant discharge permit. Its a prerequisite to a higher-emitting permit known as a Title V permit.

A standard air contaminant discharge permit would allow the company to keep operating at the higher emissions of a Title V permit until such a permit is issued, according to DEQ.

The plant, which sits on the bank of the Willamette River in South Corvallis, has run afoul of environmental regulators in the past. Hollingsworth & Vose officials have said that was because they had the wrong type of permit, a situation they are hoping to rectify.

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Under the previous permit, the Department of Environmental Quality required Hollingsworth & Vose to pay $240,000 in fines and fees for over-emitting but allowed the company to keep operating its riverside plant, 1115 SE Crystal Lake Drive, while it applied for a higher-level permit.

The July 21 virtual hearing was scheduled despite requests to delay to give time for two appeals which assert the factory falls outside of local zoning rules, according to a news release from the Corvallis-based appellants.

In March, Corvallis leaders backed a City Hall administrative-level decision that could lead to the new, different air emissions discharge permit for the company. To get the higher-level permit, the company first needed a statement from the city that its use of the land is compatible with the general vicinity.

When first city staff and then Corvallis City Manager Mark Shepard in 2021 determined that it was, a group appealed to the City Council, asking members to overrule Shepard's decision upholding the staff decision and to allow for public testimony. They didn't, ultimately backing the city manager in a 7-1 vote.

The pending appeals allege the emission increase is an industrial intensification that conflicts with the zoning laws for this grandfathered industrial site. Both appeals were filed with the State Land Use Board of Appeals in April.

Written comments can be submitted for the public record by sending them by mail, fax or email: Suzy Luttrell DEQ Permit Coordinator 4026 Fairview Industrial Drive SE Salem, OR 97302. Fax: 503-378-4196 Email: suzy.luttrell@deq.oregon.gov.
Benton County officials want their own rules in place when the state starts issuing licenses for psilocybin, also known as magic mushrooms.

Heading the psilocybin treatment rollout, the Oregon Health Authority is establishing rules for manufacturing, selling and administering the hallucinogenic mushrooms. The agency is slated to begin licensing providers starting Jan. 2.

With Measure 109, Oregon was the first state to legally approve psilocybin, which advocates say can be used to treat the effects of anxiety, depression and trauma. While some counties and municipalities are floating moratoriums or bans, Benton County will instead regulate when, where and how psilocybin is allowed in unincorporated areas.

Oregon counties and cities automatically opt in to permitting psilocybin unless they place a ban or moratorium on the Nov. 8 General Election ballot. The deadline to make the ballot is Aug. 19. Those accepting the states rules can still set time, place and manner restrictions for the drug, which is the way Benton County officials opted to go.

Health issue or land use?

This really is a health issue more than it is a land use issue, Community Development Director Darren Nichols said at the Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Aug. 9. Having said that, it appears that the approach to therapy and treatment could have some moderate or maybe even substantial land use impacts.

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Though he doesnt want to distract from the health side of the conversation, Nichols said the treatment should be done at the right places, with safeguards established to enable the treatment to happen in a way thats appropriate in Benton County.

Measure 109 passed in Benton County with 63.4% support, the most from any county outside of Multnomah. Statewide, 55.7% of the electorate voted yes.

Anticipating more information from the state this fall, Nichols said that would help determine best practices from a health perspective as well as guide community development standards. He suggested Public Health and law enforcement should be involved in local discussions.

Health Department Director Suzanne Hoffman raised the question of equity, asking whether psilocybin treatment would be a service for community members or would the county become some sort of destination spot for people of means? She said drug prevention and behavioral health staff should also be involved in setting regulations.

There are unanswered questions for law enforcement too. Sheriff Jef Van Arsdall has raised questions about the potency and longevity of psilocybin dosing and what law enforcement can do if patients have trouble at a facility  or if they try to leave care before the drug wears off.

What 109 does and doesn't do

Measure 109 puts regulatory framework under the OHA, allowing trained practitioners to administer psilocybin at licensed facilities. The measure requires training and licensing for psilocybin facilitators, manufacturers and testing labs. It also requires a psilocybin product tracking system.

The measure does not allow retail sales; off-site consumption, possession, or production; branding or advertising of products; unregulated or untracked psilocybin production, delivery, or inventory; service centers near schools; or access for minors.

During a July 26 meeting, the Board of Commissioners heard from Sam Chapman, executive director of the Healing Advocacy Fund, a nonprofit working on development, implementation and education about the first regulated psilocybin therapy program. Chapman also managed the campaign for Measure 109.

Citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, Chapman told the board that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of five Americans were experiencing symptoms of clinical anxiety or depression, but now over a third of Oregonians say they are experiencing symptoms amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Research studies on psilocybin mushrooms in the last five to 10 years show promise in using the drug to treat depression, end-of-life anxiety and addiction, Chapman said. The Food and Drug Administration granted it a breakthrough therapy designation, meaning it may surpass whats currently available today.

Nichols told commissioners there are not yet any inquiries regarding psilocybin manufacturing or treatment facilities in Benton County.
US extends anti-dumping probe into plywood imported from Vietnam

The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced the extension of deadline for the final determination on the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tax evasion investigation into hardwood plywood imported from Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).









Vietnamese plywood products are under investigation in the US market. (Illustrative photo).



In its preliminary determination, the DOC said it will release the final results of its investigation by October 17, 2022.



The DOC initiated an investigation into hardwood plywood imported from Vietnam on June 17, 2020. It will see if Vietnam's plywood manufacturers import materials from China for plywood production to be exported to the US.



If the manufacturers prove they are not evading the trade remedy measures the US is applying to China, they will not be subject to the anti-subsidy tax rates.



The US is imposing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on these Chinese products with an anti-dumping duty of 183.36% and an anti-subsidy tax of 22.98% to 194.90%.



Vietnamese plywood exporters have been working closely with the DOC to clarify that they do not aim to evade the US' trade remedy measures.



Statistics of the US Customs and Border Protection show that the export turnover of plywood using Vietnams hardwood materials to the US has increased considerably in recent years, from US$112.3 million in 2018 to US$226.4 million in 2019, US$248. 5 million in 2020 and US$356.7 million in 2021.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

Belarusian and Russian Railways have launched the transport of goods from Belarus to Azerbaijan by express trains, Azernews reports per Belarus media.

The project was launched within the framework of the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

The report says that the project allows to delivery of goods produced in Belarus to Azerbaijan within a week and at competitive rates.

The first three trains loaded timber products from Orsha-Zapadnaya station (Belarus) to the Absheron station (Azerbaijan).

"Today the service for the transportation of goods by rail is the most popular and competitive. It opens up new opportunities for economic entities of the Republic of Belarus to sell products for export," said the report.

According to the message, one of the strategic directions for the Belarusian Railway is the development of export-import transportation of goods of Belarusian enterprises, including to Azerbaijan.

The North-South Transport Corridor was established on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement signed on September 12, 2000, by Russia, Iran, and India. Azerbaijan became a party to this agreement in 2005. The corridor's goal is to reduce cargo delivery times from India to Russia, as well as to Northern and Western Europe. Given the current global situation and sanctions, this route and Azerbaijan's role as a transit country have become critical for Russia.

In short, the volume of international freight traffic passing through Azerbaijan is likely to increase significantly in the near future. The country's infrastructure of ready for this. Azerbaijan is now transforming into a regional transportation hub, ensuring that the global economy does not stall.
Where in the world is Kit Carson?

The once-iconic downtown Denver Pioneer Monument which celebrated the likeness of one of Colorado's most infamous mountain men is now weirdly barren.

The statue stood as a symbol of Western expansion at the southwest corner of Broadway and Colfax for over a century before the city of Denver removed it on June 26, 2020 to keep it from being torn down by protesters.

Two other monuments, the Union soldier which stood on the West steps of the state capitol, and Civic Center Park's Christopher Columbus statue, had been toppled during downtown's 2020 George Floyd riots just days before.

Today, it's an empty pedestal surrounded by a three-foot-tall fence and a sign warning people to leave it alone. Pedestrians walk by without a glance.

The Pioneer Monument was a statue and fountain erected 111 years ago at a cost of more than $70,000, paid for by donations and by the city and state. In 2020, a crane removed the huge bronze topper to cheering onlookers. Kit Carson and his horse disappeared into the sunset unceremoniously driven away in a semi-bed by crews with the City of Denver.

The Kit Carson statue comes down in Denver. A person with the city said they wanted to take it down before it got ripped down and caused damage to the fountain around it. They knew it wouldn't make it through the night. pic.twitter.com/NuxdTh963V  Justine Sandoval (@Justa_Jus) June 26, 2020

Exactly where the artifact is stored today is a mystery, perhaps for its own good. The city of Denver will only say that it is in a "safe" place.

To some, Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was a brave frontiersman and trapper who floated between cultures. He spoke the language of seven different tribes and even took two Indigenous women as brides an Arapaho and a Cheyenne. Kit Carson was the most famous of the Indian Scouts and mountain men, said University of Colorado Denver emeritus professor Tom Noel. He was a real service to the US Government leading troops into battle.

But to others, he was no war hero.

During his military years, Carson forced the Navajo from Canyon de Chelly, Arizona into the reservation system in a march which killed thousands of men, women and children during an era the Navajo called the Time of Fear.

In a 2020 letter to the Mayor's office, the American Indian Movement implored Michael Hancock to remove Carson's likeness from the Pioneer Monument. He is known to AIM an Indian murderer.

Chester Whiteman, a Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Representative does not want to erase history, just tell it like it was. Kit Carson was a half-truth. He was a pioneer and in the end, he sold out the Indians, Whiteman said. He admitted that he would be happy if the city replaced the offensive buckskinned model with an image of Carson standing next to one of his Indigenous wives.

The future of the dry fountain base which sits in the shadow of the state Capitol is a tricky issue. Tariana Navas-Nieves, Director of Cultural Affairs for Denver's Arts and Venues, said that because of Carsons dark and complex history, his statue will never return. Carson carried out the U.S. Armys scorched-earth policy, burning crops and starving the Navajos into submission.

Even after two years, she admits that the evaluation process hasnt started, but it will certainly include the entirely of the Pioneer Monument.

She is referring to the three bronze settler figures still attached to the structure which many anticipate will follow Carson to The World of Misplaced Statues.

Those figures surrounding the empty pedestal are a life-sized hunter, a prospector and a pioneer mother and child, dedicated to the spirit of manifest destiny. It is a term which first saw light in 1845 to describe the United States supposed pre-ordained mission to spread democracy westward.

To Colorados Indigenous community, however, the notion of a female settler holding a rifle is just as offensive as the Kit Carson statue. Glenn Morris, a professor of Ethnic Conflict at the University of Denver and leadership council member for the American Indian Movement, asked a reporter. Who do you think that rifle is for?

The strange beginning of the Kit Carson bronze

Controversy and division haunted the monument from the start.

A group of elite Denverites known as The Denver Real Estate Exchange first commissioned it, and Mayor Robert Speer approved it in 1907 as part of a movement to bring historical statues, trees and parks to Denver. Speer dubbed the era City Beautiful.

The group chose Frederick McMonnies, one of the most influential sculptors of the time, to draw up a sketch, and 50 members of the Exchange approved his original version of the statue which was topped with the nude figure of a Plains American Indian offering peace. Circling the hexagon underneath the Indigenous hero, were three pioneer figures, early on not including a woman.

The applause for McMonnies' vision was short-lived. When his original design was published in the Rocky Mountain News in April 1907, local outcry was vicious.

A Union soldier and leader of the Society of Pioneers, Captain J.D Howland, wrote that the triumphant Indian towering above settlers was an abomination. It does not represent truth. It does not represent Colorado. It does not represent pioneer days. The place for the Indian in such a monument is dead upon the ground, or subjugated or fighting at the base. The pioneer himself should be triumphant over all and holding the place of honor, wrote Howland.

A Denver Post editorial cartoon showed a drawing of raucous men in long beards throwing bricks at the offensive image. We dont want no tarnal redskin on our monument! said one cartoon balloon.

The drawing was captioned, How McMonnies design is apt to stir up the old spirit of 59. The reference to '59 meant the year the Gold Rush peaked in Colorado when people flooded into the state looking to get rich quick and settled here.

Public pressure proved to be the final catalyst for change. Angry and hurt, McMonnies traveled from Paris to Colorado for Denver Pioneer Monument Round Two, this time settling on Kit Carson, now dead 39 years, to top his sculpture.

Tom Noel noted, though, that the offended artist made one concession: He was so upset, he drew Kit Carson in a smaller scale as a protest.

Denvers Pioneer Monument was erected in 1911, joining similar homages to Western settlers unveiled in Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon.

Whats left of Denvers Pioneer Monument, the life-sized bronze pioneer woman protecting her child with a rifle in her hand, stares ahead as commuters buzz by on scooters and in horseless carriages.

While she waits for the city to decide what to do with her, Noel believes that in this instance, history should literally go back to the drawing board. Why not adopt McMonnies original plan? We have the drawing. We have the specifications, said Noel. I cant imagine a lot of people would protest today.
A Denver police sergeant surrendered to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday after investigators say he made sexual advances toward a 14-year-old girl online.

Timothy Hyatt, 45, was being held on suspicion of internet luring of a child, according to the Sheriff's Office.

An investigation into Hyatt began in February after investigators say he began communicating with the teenage girl online using a number of social media platforms and online identities. Hyatt is accused of making sexually explicit advances while interacting with the teen.

Hyatt has been a member of the Denver Police Department since 2005 and most recently was assigned as a sergeant within the department's patrol division. He has been placed on non-paid administrative leave, according to the Police Department.

"DPD finds these allegations very concerning," police said in a news release. "DPD has a robust discipline process which includes the Denver Department of Safety and the Office of the Independent Monitor, a civilian oversight agency. Since the criminal investigation is being conducted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, DPD is unable to comment further on the case."

Police said an internal investigation into the incident will begin once the criminal case is adjudicated. If convicted, Hyatt, would be ineligible to work as a police officer in Colorado.

He was scheduled to appear in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday.
The confluence of the need for renewable energy with Chinas dominance in the "rare earth minerals market" puts Americas supply chains for these essential components in a precarious position, say extraction and refining executives in Denver.

China controlled more than 80% of the supply for these minerals in 2017, but that share of worldwide production dropped to about 60% by 2021, according to a 2022 U.S. Geological Survey report.

Minerals like neodymium, dysprosium and terbium are needed in the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries, magnets for windmill generators and other high-tech products including cellphones.

One of the concerns, say experts, is that China provides government support for its rare earths industry.

But executives at Denver-based Energy Fuels Inc. say China isnt the only source of the types of minerals needed by the renewables industry. They say there are ample supplies of the needed minerals sitting in huge piles all over the country contained in mine waste.

The mineral, known as monazite, is a byproduct of titanium mining.

Monazite is very important because it's super high in rare earths, Curtis Moore, vice president of marketing and corporate development told The Denver Gazette during a tour of the companys uranium mill near Blanding, Utah.

Historically, because the rare earth industry didn't need the neodymium, dysprosium and terbium, monazite wasn't as important, but it's also more radioactive than the bastnaesite they mine at Mountain Pass. This stuff was considered a waste, but the rare earth industry has shifted over the last 20 years. Now this stuff is like gold.

The problem is that the monazite is slightly radioactive due to the presence of uranium and other radioactive substances like thorium, so it cannot be processed without the proper permits from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. And according to Moore, the White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill left in the U.S that holds the necessary federal and state permits to process naturally radioactive materials.

The mill, built in 1980, has been processing uranium for nuclear power plants, but it has changed hands several times. Energy Fuels took ownership of the mill in 2012.

Energy Fuels is branching out from processing just uranium ore into extracting rare earths from the same sort of ores as well as using alternate feed materials containing uranium that, under federal regulations, they are permitted to process. These materials usually come from other facilities that do not handle uranium or that have waste piles that need to be cleaned up by extracting the uranium and properly impounding the remaining substances according to NRC and EPA regulations.

With Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, there's a lot more interest in trying to restore some of these capabilities here in the United States, said Moore. That's why this facility is just so important right now.

Nuclear power aside, the need for rare earth minerals from domestic sources is pressing, says Moore, and San Juan County, Utah, will benefit enormously from processing them there.

We really think that San Juan County is on the cusp of becoming this clean energy hub for the United States, where we're producing the raw materials that we need for many of the clean energy technologies that we're developing today from renewable energy to electric vehicles to nuclear power.

The mill employs about 60 people and half of them, says Moore, are Native Americans from the surrounding Ute Mountain Ute and Navajo nations.

Moore says there are likely millions of tons of monazite-bearing ore available for processing, and he says Energy Fuels White Mesa plant is the best option for domestic extraction of both uranium and rare earth minerals a lot cheaper than from foreign sources, in part because the monazite has already been mined and stockpiled, needing only to be shipped to Utah for processing.

There's lots of monazite in the United States, and lots of it has already actually been mined at these heavy mineral sand projects where they were going after titanium and zirconium minerals, said Moore. There are stockpiles of monazite-bearing materials throughout the United States that could be accessed, and they could provide rare earth minerals for the United States for decades.

The combined rare earth carbonates are shipped to a former Soviet-era uranium plant in Estonia that has been converted into a separation facility that extracts each individual mineral. Energy Fuels is examining the potential for creating its own separation facility in the future.

The company is also moving forward with monazite mining in Brazil, and has ore reserves in the U.S.

Energy Fuels produced 205 metric tons of combined rare earth carbonates in 2021, with a goal of producing 650 to 1,000 metric tons in 2022.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story said the Mountain Pass Mine in California is not profitable and that it repeatedly shut down because of Chinas unfair trade practices that undercut the price of the minerals. Matt Sloustcher, Senior Vice President for Communications & Policy for MP Materials, the mine's current owner, said the mine is, in fact, highly profitable. "We reported revenues of $143.6M and net income of $73.3M in the second quarter of this year, a margin of nearly 50%. In the full year ended 2021, we reported revenues of $332M and net income of $135M," he said. "MP Materials would be profitable today at any price prevalent in the market over the past decade."
Globe Telecom hit back at rival Dito Telecommunity by requesting permission from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to sever interconnection lines until the operator pays back PHP622 million (US$11.1m) in fines, for failing to prevent fraudsters from accessing its network.

As reported yesterday, Dito chief administrative officer Adel Tamano first hit out at Globe and Smart by claiming only 20% to 30% of customer calls were connecting to rival networks. A claim Globe denied, stating interconnection is existing and it is working.

Globe said in a statement, that Dito is violating an interconnection agreement between the operators by refusing to pay the PHP622 million it allegedly owes Globe, for allowing fraudulent calls through its network and opening risks for its customers. The company has denied Ditos claim it is using the debt as a ruse to hamper interconnectivity.

The operator called for the NTC to temporarily disconnect the interconnection trunk lines due to the consistent fraudulent calls passing from Dito to Globes network.

Globe Group general counsel Froilan Castelo said: "These illegal calls clog the network to the detriment of our customers. We need to take utmost caution as ISR (international simple resale) calls also carry the risk of exposing our customers to vishing or voice call scams."

"This is a clear violation of Article 10.1 of our interconnection agreement with DITO, which defines bypass as activity, whether undertaken unilaterally by a party, or jointly by a party and its subscriber, or a third party, that deprives a party its due compensation for traffic terminated or routed to its network.

Dito chief administrative officer Adel Tamano responded stating Globes demand for fine payments was an admission that the operator is hampering interconnection, reported the Philippines News Agency.

Dito is equally a victim of such calls. Additionally, there are also ISR calls from Globe to DITO. It is not true that DITO has not taken steps to stop ISR calls to Globe. We have the data and the facts to show the steps undertaken by DITO to minimize these ISR calls, said Tamano.
Telecom Egypt has signed a five-year national roaming deal with Orange Egypt.

As reported by CommsUpdate, Telecom Egypts current roaming agreement with etisalat by e& (formerly Etisalat Misr) is due to expire in December 2022, prompting the operator to tender for a new deal. Orange was awarded the contract as  according to Telecom Egypt  its technical and financial proposal offered the best value and return.

Telecom Egypt claimed that the roaming agreement would ensure that [the operator] continues to provide high-quality voice and data mobile network coverage to its customers nationwide, and also claimed that the deal would offer a technical edge enabling it to boost the development of [its] services.

Adel Hamed, Telecom Egypts Managing Director and CEO, said: The new milestone will cement our position as a strong contender in the mobile market through the technical, commercial, and financial benefitsin particular, financial savings for our mobile call costs starting in 2023, which will improve the business line and consequently the overall marginin line with our growing customer base. Concurrently, Telecom Egypt is committed to expanding its mobile network coverage by rolling out its mobile sites all over Egypt to provide superior telecommunication services to its customers.
To meet what it describes as growing demand for cloud services in Asia-Pacific, Google has announced plans to bring new Google Cloud regions to Malaysia, Thailand and New Zealand. This is addition to similar plans for Berlin, Dammam, Doha, Mexico, Tel Aviv and Turin announced in July.

Google Cloud infrastructure services are available in locations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. These locations are divided into regions and zones. Customers can choose where to locate their applications to meet their latency, availability and durability requirements.

When these new regions launch  though there seems to be no specific date for this yet  they will join Googles 34 cloud regions currently in operation around the world, 11 of which are located in Asia-Pacific. The services will be running on what Google calls the cleanest cloud in the industry.

Google says it continues to invest in expanding connectivity throughout the region by working with partners in the telecommunications industry to establish subsea cables  including Apricot, Echo, JGA South, INDIGO and Topaz  and points of presence in major cities.

As the Data Centre Dynamics website points out, Google is the first US cloud provider to announce a region in Thailand. Chinese players, including Alibaba and Tencent, already have a presence in the country. Microsoft announced plans for a Malaysian cloud region in April 2021.

Google says digital tools offered by cloud computing are fuelling transformation around the world, including in Asia-Pacific. In fact, it points out, analyst company IDC expects that total spending on cloud services in Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) will reach US$282 billion by 2025.
ENTERPRISEAn Enterprise man was arrested early Wednesday morning after allegedly shooting into a neighboring home and refusing to surrender to police for hours.

Kenneth Young, 61, was arrested and charged with shooting into an unoccupied dwelling, stalking second degree, and menacing. Young was booked into the Coffee County Jail at 5:16 a.m., according to the online jail roster. Additional charges may be pending, according to a news release from the Enterprise Police Department.

Around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, police responded to the 100 block of Woodfield Place in Enterprise on reports of shots fired. The responding officers discovered a resident of the area allegedly shot into a neighbors home.

After negotiations to surrender failed with the suspect, Enterprise police requested assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Tactical Team.

On Wednesday at 4:30 a.m., the suspect surrendered to the tactical team without further incident.
Less than a week before it was set to begin, the trial for the suspect in the 1999 killings of two Dothan teenagers has been continued due to the lack of available jurors.

Jury selection in the State of Alabama vs. Coley Lewis McCraney began on Monday. According to reports by WTVY, only 75 of the 250 potential jurors summoned actually showed up at the Dale County Courthouse on Monday. Of those, 17 were quickly excused for different reasons. The remaining potential jurors were questioned individually about their knowledge of the case and their death penalty beliefs. On Tuesday, media reports continued to reflect the challenge of finding an impartial jury let alone enough people to empanel a full jury from such a small jury pool.

Circuit Judge William H. Filmore issued the order to continue the case Tuesday afternoon, citing the lack of jurors to strike a jury from. According to media reports, the trial will be rescheduled for 2023.

J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett were found shot to death Aug. 1, 1999, in the trunk of Beasleys car on Herring Avenue in Ozark. They had planned to attend a party near Headland on the night of July 31 but got lost and were last heard from when Hawlett called her mother from Ozark to let her know they were on their way home. Both were 17.

McCraney faces multiple counts of capital murder in the deaths of Beasley and Hawlett, including one capital murder charge for the rape of Beasley.

McCraney was identified as a suspect 20 years after the killings when DNA from the crime scene was submitted for genetic genealogy testing similar to how California law enforcement identified the Golden State killer in 2018. McCraney was indicted in June 2019.

Originally set for trial in November 2020, the case was continued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial was continued again in 2021 and was set for May 2022 before being continued to August.

The last few weeks have seen a number of pre-trial motions and hearings in case, including one hearing where witness Rena Crumb, 53, admitted she lied about police involvement and police wrongdoing in the killings.
By Trend

Latvia is particularly interested in the fields of construction and other restoration projects in Azerbaijans Karabakh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia told Trend.

"Latvian Embassy, together with our partners in Riga, is continuing to inform Latvian companies about the process of rebuilding recovered territories - the creation of green energy zones, water and waste management, the construction of infrastructure, the design of buildings, as well as the restoration of historical and cultural monuments," the source said.

According to the ministry, Latvian business community follows the development processes and seeks to identify the possible forms of cooperation in the restoration work.

Regarding the implementation of green energy projects on the liberated lands, the ministry noted that there is understanding on both Latvian and Azerbaijani sides of the importance of strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. A further sharing of experience and information between both sides in the energy sector and on energy regulation issues is essential for the implementation of common projects.

As the MFA noted, Latvia sees potential for fruitful cooperation with Azerbaijan in renewable energy sector.

"Ensuring investments in sustainable energy capacities, notably wind- and solar-based generation, are perceived as a strategic priority in cooperation with Azerbaijan. There is a huge potential in the areas of research and development, knowledge transfer and technological exchange, as well as solar installation development", the source added.
A Vietnamese workers is seen in a factory in Japan. Photo by VnExpress/Thai De

For two years, Minh Nguyet has struggled to find a suitable job after returning to Hanoi from Japan where she worked for several years.

"With no certificates, I can only apply for a blue-collar job, but most factories turned me down," the 24-year-old woman said.

Factories in Vietnam demanded that she work faster than in Japan for one-fifth of the salary she got there, at around VND6 million ($256) a month.

In Japan she received VND30 million a month and was able to send two-thirds of it back to her family and live comfortably with the remaining one-third.

"I had enough to spare, but in Vietnam, I run out of money very quickly."

Nguyet is among nearly 548,700 Vietnamese citizens whod gone abroad to work in the last five years to earn higher incomes and help their families back home.

However, many of them are returning home to great disappointment, their expectations of resuming work at home for decent pay belied in no uncertain manner.

Data from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shows that in Japan and South Korea, the two major labor markets for Vietnam, Vietnamese workers can earn $1,200-1,400 and $1,400-1,800 a month, respectively.

"Many people choose to stay abroad, even illegally, because of the high income," said Thien, a 40-year-old worker from Nam Dinh Province who returned to Vietnam from Taiwan a year ago after 16 years.

An overtime session in Taiwan can meet his expenses for two days, but in Vietnam, this would only cover a bottle of beverage, he said.

The work cultures of the two markets are vastly different, he said, stressing how well protected he was when fixing air-conditioners in high buildings, while in Vietnam, there is just a rope and hardly any insurance.

Thirty-seven year old Hai from the central province of Thanh Hoa is among those who have struggled to find a suitable job for three years after returning from abroad. The highest salary companies offered him was VND7 million a month, and he would have to work far away from home.

"That is why nine out of 10 people do not want to come back to Vietnam. Jobs are more stable overseas and the pay is much higher."

Vu Quang Thanh, deputy director of the Hanoi Center for Employment Services, said that most workers who return from aboard are not satisfied with the pay local companies offer as it is only one-third or one-fourth of what theyd got in other countries.

"This is why they struggle to find a suitable job. They cannot demand the same salary as they had overseas," he said at a job fair held recently.

Company leaders say that they have a demand for returning workers, but many do not have the language and management skills they require.

Dao Lan Phuong, human resource manager at electronics manufacturer Intops Vietnam in the northern province of Bac Ninh, said that most workers did labor intense jobs overseas and were not trained in high-skilled jobs and their language fluency remained at a basic level. This is why companies could only offer them basic jobs in Vietnam, she said.

Kim Jin Ho, CEO of car parts manufacturer Cap Global in the northern province of Hoa Binh, said his company needs managers, but few returning workers have enough experience and skills for such positions.
Ong Lao Bridge in Tan Phuoc District, Tien Giang Province has been inaugurated by Bridgestone Vietnam in Bridgestone's "Bridge to Knowledge in Vietnam" project.

Bridgestone Vietnam provides bridge to Tien Giang students Bridgestone Vietnam provides 7th bridge to Tien Giang students - edited Bridgestone Vietnam builds bridges for students in Tien Giang.

Bridgestone Tire Sales Vietnam LLC (Bridgestone Vietnam) inaugurated the new bridge on Aug. 5. The company representative said the project realizes its commitment of contributing to a society in which access and dignity are guaranteed to everyone, which was announced in "Bridgestone E8 Commitment" in March 2022.

Naoki Inutsuka, General Director of Bridgestone Vietnam (L), performs the ritual of crossing the new Ong Lao bridge with co-sponsors, representatives of local authorities and a large number of students and people in Tan Hoa Thanh commune, Tien Giang Province. Photo by Bridgestone Vietnam

Ong Lao Bridge is a part of Bridgestone Vietnam's project "Bridge to Knowledge" starting in 2019. The project is implemented with the desire to provide a safe and joyful way to school for disadvantaged children, and equal access to knowledge for all future generations.

This August, the journey arrived in Tien Giang. On Aug. 5, thousands of students and people in Tan Hoa Thanh Commune, Tan Phuoc District, Tien Giang Province welcomed the bridge in joyful atmosphere.

The old makeshift bridge was built from limited local contributions more than 10 years ago. Until now, the bridge has been degraded and badly damaged, with many places temporarily patched. The beams and piers were already partially damaged, reducing the load of the bridge and making it unsafe for people who need to use it to transport goods and agricultural products.

Crossing the old unstable bridge means facing the dangers of accidents. The old bridge also had no railing, with a narrow and tall design leading to restricted sight. Such bad features caused many accidents.

Despite that, crossing the old bridge has been a part of the daily commute of 245 households of about 1,350 people in Tan Hoa Thanh Commune, including 120 students who use the bridge to reach school.

Ong Lao Bridge provides a joyful path to school for children in disadvantaged areas, thereby giving them equal access to knowledge. Photo by Bridgestone Vietnam

Cao Vo Hoang Dung, an 11th grader at Nguyen Van Tiep High School, said: "Every day, I go to school two times by bicycle, so I have to go back and forth across the bridge four times a day. The old Ong Lao bridge has deteriorated since I was in elementary school. Every time I crossed the old bridge, I would have to get off my bicycle and walk because the old bridge is so high and narrow. The bridge surface is also so shredded and slippery, especially when it rains. I myself witnessed a few small students falling while walking across this bridge."

Dung also shared: "My father is a pineapple trader, so he has to carry pineapples across the bridge every day. Such an old bridge makes his job difficult and dangerous."

Bridgestone Vietnam spokesperson said: "A solid new bridge will be a meaningful gift for all residents in Tan Hoa Thanh. That is also the motivation for Bridgestone Vietnam to bring the bridge-building initiative to Tan Hoa Thanh."

Ong Lao Bridge is 27 meters long, three meters wide, and has a load of two tons.

Huynh Ba Nhat, vice chairman of Tan Hoa Thanh Commune People's Committee, said Ong Lao Bridge made a great contribution to local economic development.

A large number of locals at the inauguration ceremony. Photo by Bridgestone Vietnam

Naoki Inutsuka, general director of Bridgestone Vietnam, said sustainable growth of the society is now recognized as the most important foundation of the business. "Bridgestone Vietnam always acts to gain the trust of future generations in line with our global Bridgestone E8 Commitment. We bring ease of life through our practical activities, empower the vulnerable groups in society, and would like to grow together with Vietnam with passion and love."
A screenshot of several images of Vietnamese identity cards that are leaked on an online cyberhacking forum. Photo by VnExpress

Personal data pertaining to two thirds of the population is being collected and shared online in Vietnam, the government warns.

In a report to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Ministry of Public Security said leakage of personal data occurs due to inadequate awareness about protecting data online when sharing it during business activities.

Some are even willing to trade their own data for "technological convenience," it said.

Both raw and processed data are collected and sold. Raw data includes lists of names and contacts at certain organizations, while processed data also includes other personal information like dates of birth, ID card numbers and addresses.

The ministry said certain businesses collect customers' data and then allow third parties to gain access to it without policies or regulations to prevent it.

These loopholes allow parties to continue passing data and the chain goes on, leading to widespread availability online, it said.

Since 2019 the ministry has detected hundreds of individuals and organizations involved in the sale of personal data adding up to around 1,300 GB, including sensitive stuff like names of students in certain schools and their parents and bank accounts.

Other data sold commonly includes mobile phone numbers and information about investors in real estate and securities markets.

The report said the risk to information security is high, especially at government, Communist Party and financial entities, with hackers often using malicious codes to gain access to sensitive information and steal them.

The ministry said a lack of comprehensive legal framework to ensure cybersecurity has contributed to the problem.

It plans to issue a decree for protecting personal data.
Foreign tourists are seen in Hoi An, central Vietnam, on July 24, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung proposed expanding visa exemption for tourists from the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India to boost sector recovery.

He also suggested the government consider simplifying immigration procedures to attract foreign tourists as Vietnam reopened after over two years of border closure, he said in a report submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Tuesday.

Hung also proposed extending tax cuts to tourism businesses until the end of 2023 to help them recover after the pandemic crisis.

Though Vietnam reopened tourism and lifted most Covid restrictions, Hung said travel firms and those working in the tourism industry are grappling with difficulties and have not really benefited directly from current policies.

The country welcomed 954,000 foreign arrivals in the first seven months this year, up nine times year-on-year.

This year, Vietnam targets five million foreign tourists, around 30 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

The government has allowed quarantine-free entry and resumed its pre-pandemic visa exemption policy for 24 tourism markets including Western European countries from mid-March with a maximum stay of 15 days.
Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.5 Million to Support Economic Diversification Efforts in Northwest Colorado Coal Country

Awards Include Funding from U.S. Economic Development Administrations American Rescue Plan Coal Communities Commitment and Assistance to Coal Communities Initiative

WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Departments Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $8.5 million in grants to support economic diversification efforts in coal communities in Northwest Colorado.

The EDA investments announced today are:

Craig, Colorado, will receive a $3.3 million grant to construct a multi-use park and river access corridor along the Yampa River to boost tourism and outdoor recreation. This EDA investment will be matched by $1.4 million in state and local funds and is expected to create 129 jobs and generate $16.3 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

Hayden, Colorado, will receive a $5.2 million grant for roadway and water infrastructure to support development of an industrial park that will bring new businesses to the region. This EDA investment will be matched by $712,341 in state and local funds and is expected to create 79 jobs and generate $12 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

President Biden is committed to ensuring that our coal communities are provided with the resources they need to diversify and grow their economies, said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Through the American Rescue Plan Coal Communities Commitment and the Assistance to Coal Communities program, these EDA investments will create new opportunities for economic and industry diversification in Northwest Colorado.

The Economic Development Administration is pleased to support locally-driven strategies to boost business recovery efforts in Colorado, said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. These projects will support Craig and Hayden as they transition away from coal-centric economies, creating new businesses and jobs for their local economies.

These federal grants will help create over 200 new good-paying jobs in Craig and Hayden and boost Colorados strong economy, and we appreciate Secretary Raimondo for supporting Colorado communities, said Governor Jared Polis. We recently made it nearly free to start a business, and these federal grants build on our work supporting hardworking Coloradans and expanding economic growth across our state.

When Ive visited communities in Northwest Colorado over the years, Ive heard concerns about what coal mine and power plant closures will mean for their main streets, schools, and way of life, said Senator Michael Bennet. These federal grants will help coal communities like Craig and Hayden attract new businesses, create new jobs, and diversify their local economies so they can thrive.

When we visited Craig and Hayden this spring, we heard how important it is to diversify rural economies and create new jobs. Our Northwest Colorado communities are full of entrepreneurs and this EDA funding will help build even more resilience and create new opportunities in the region, said Senator John Hickenlooper.

These projects were made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC). EDA funds AGNC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

The Craig project is funded under EDAs Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) initiative, through which funds are awarded on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal. ACC projects support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.

The Hayden project is funded under EDAs American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDAs most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs.

EDAs Coal Communities Commitment allocates $300 million of EDAs $3 billion American Rescue Plan appropriation to support coal communities as they recover from the pandemic and to help them create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector. Specifically, EDA has dedicated $100 million of its Build Back Better Regional Challenge funds and $200 million of its Economic Adjustment Assistance funds to directly support coal communities. Effective May 26, 2022, EDA has officially closed all of its American Rescue Plan programs for applications. The $3 billion program funding will be awarded on a rolling basis through September 30, 2022.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)

The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
The costs of Russias unprovoked war on Ukraine continue, with thousands of civilians killed or wounded; millions more displaced; historic cities reduced to rubble; skyrocketing food shortages and prices world-wide.



All this, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken, because President Putin was determined to conquer another country.

Putin has failed in his goal, however. Ukraine will remain sovereign and independent, said Secretary Blinken, because of the courage and strength of Ukraines military and its people, and the determination of the United States and its allies to stand with them and help provide what is necessary for Ukrainians to defend their freedom.



What is on display as the war stretches on, Secretary Blinken said, is a series of evolving Russian justifications and ever-shifting goals.



The latest is the Kremlins announcement that it seeks to claim more Ukrainian territory, even beyond the so-called peoples republics of the Donbas.



When the war first began, Russia made the claim it had to de-nazify Ukraine; after that, it was because of a supposed threat from NATO.



Then they said the war was to protect ethnic Russians living in Donbas from genocide, before relentlessly targeting the largest Russian-speaking city in Ukraine, Kharkiv.



What this is about and has always been about is President Putins conviction that Ukraine is not an independent state and belongs to Russia.



Secretary Blinken pointed out that Russia is now following its 2014 playbook: installing illegitimate proxy officials in areas it controls; forcing residents to apply for Russian citizenship; sabotaging outside access.

Heres what we expect to see next, he said: Russia-installed leaders will hold sham referendums to manufacture the fiction that the people in those places want to join Russia.  We must and we will act quickly to make clear to Russia that these tactics will not work.

Annexation by force of the territory of a sovereign and independent country is a gross violation of the United Nations Charter, Secretary Blinken stated. Members of the international community that have committed to uphold the charter and international law have a responsibility to denounce these plans by the Russian Government and to make clear they will never recognize these illegal acts. Otherwise, no one can claim to be surprised when Russia follows through on its plans  or if other countries follow suit in the future.
ELKO  An Elko man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of survey tools has been sentenced to prison.

Wade A. Knight Jr., 33, was arrested in January after police identified him from video surveillance as a suspect in the theft from a civil engineering firm. A truck at the business was broken into and more than $7,000 worth of survey tools stolen.

Knight was charged with grand larceny but pleaded no contest to attempted grand larceny. He was sentenced to 16-40 months in prison by District Judge Al Kacin on Aug. 8, and given credit for 46 days already served.

While out on bail, Knight was also arrested in May for two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and for possessing or receiving forged instruments or bills.

He has been arrested more than three dozen times since 2008, according to Elko County Jail records.

Knight was one of four people arrested in a July 2006 incident in Spring Creek. One of the men with him fired shots into a house during a confrontation over a money dispute, then-Sheriff Neil Harris reported.

Knight, then 17 years old, originally faced multiple charges including attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon. The charges were reduced in a plea agreement to burglary and principal to discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.

He was sentenced to 2-5 years in prison in August 2008, according to the Nevada Department of Corrections.

Knights other arrests include drug possession in April 2009; domestic violence in October 2011; kidnapping in April 2012; open and gross lewdness, convicted person failure to register, and violation of a temporary protective order in August 2012.

He was arrested in February 2013 after Elko police officers spotted him in a Jeep that got stuck near Riverview Park and determined it had been stolen. That October he was found guilty by a jury of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He was sentenced to 16-48 months in prison.

Knight was arrested again in February 2019 on a robbery charge at Walmart. Police said they were called to the store when a shoplifter attempted to make off with a cart full of items. A female employee attempted to stop him and he allegedly knocked her to the ground as he fled.

Knight was arrested about four hours later in the Burger King parking lot off Mountain City Highway. He was booked on charges of robbery, felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of a hypodermic device, false statement to obstruct a public officer, and resisting a public officer.

He pleaded guilty that November to petit larceny and was ordered by Elko Justice Court to serve 10 days in jail.

He was arrested again in January 2020 at Elko County Jail on a felony warrant for battery by a prisoner and fighting or challenging to fight. He pleaded guilty to battery in February and was ordered to serve an additional 180 days in jail.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  Nicole Schmidt vividly remembers the pain she felt watching body camera footage of her daughter Gabby Petito sobbing while Utah police officers questioned her about a fight with her boyfriend.

The video was released last summer after Petito had gone missing during a cross-country van trip with her boyfriend. Schmidt was desperately looking for her daughter and on the video she saw a young woman crying for help.

Instead of answering those cries, police in the tourist town of Moab, Utah, allowed the couple to leave after requiring them to spend one night apart.

Petitos strangled body was discovered the next month on the edge of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, admitted killing her in a notebook discovered near his body in a Florida swamp, where he took his own life, authorities have said.

The officers actions that day are the center of a wrongful death lawsuit the Petito family announced Monday they plan to file against Moab, arguing the officers failed to recognize their daughter was in a life-threatening situation last year and in need of help.

I wanted to jump through the screen and rescue her, said Schmidt, wiping away tears as she appeared by video at a news conference to announce a notice of claim filed Monday.

After the notice of claim was filed, Moab city government spokesperson Lisa Church declined to comment, saying the city does not comment on pending litigation.

Notices of claims are required before people can sue government entities and the familys claim said that the lawsuit will seek $50 million in damages. Moab officials have 60 days to respond before the family can file a lawsuit based on the claim.

The family's lawyer, James McConkie, told reporters in Salt Lake City that the officers fail to recognize the serious danger that she was in, and failed to investigate fully and properly.

He added: "They did not have the training that they needed to recognize the clear signs that were evident that morning, that Gabby was a victim and that she was in serious need of immediate help."

Public workers such as police officers typically have immunity from lawsuits in many states, including Utah. Debate over that legal doctrine, known as qualified immunity, emerged after police shootings in 2020 and has reached both Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Petito familys attorneys said they planned to argue that applying Utahs governmental immunity law to wrongful death claims is unconstitutional and a roadblock to accountability.

The only effective way to correct these problems is to hold our institutions accountable for failures, including law enforcement, said another Petito family attorney, Brian Stewart.

The search for Petito drew worldwide attention, spurring amateur sleuths to scour social media for clues. It also brought scrutiny of authorities and the news media, both of which have been criticized for focusing more attention on missing white women than on women of color.

Earlier this year, an independent investigation found that police in Moab made several unintentional mistakes when they came across Petito and Laundrie. In the report, police said it was very likely that Petito was a long-term victim of domestic violence, whether that be physically, mentally, and/or emotionally.

Petito and Laundrie were originally from Long Island, New York.

In addition to filing the notice of claim, Schmidt recently announced a $100,000 donation from the Gabby Petito Foundation to partner with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to help others survive turbulent and violent relationships.

Schmidt told The Associated Press in an interview last week that she still has many unanswered questions about what went wrong.
Daniel Larson described the Madison River as Montanas most loved river.

Die-hard fans of the Big Hole, the Yellowstone, the Smith, the Bitterroot and a host of other scenic and fishable rivers might disagree.

But Larsons observation seems accurate if you measure love by usage.

For years now, both commercial outfitters and recreational anglers floating the river have expressed concerns that the Madison is being loved to death. There are fears that familiarity breeds descent in angler experience.

Bozeman and Gallatin County keep growing. Yellowstone National Park visitation set a record in 2021, before this years flooding, and some of those visitors want to fish the upper Madison River.

Larson spoke Aug. 4 during a work session of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. He has been a member of the Madison River Work Group, which has focused since September on providing recommendations to the commission about managing commercial and non-commercial use of the Madison River.

Larson added that the 800-pound gorilla in the room was non-commercial use.

The Work Groups recommendations in May called for developing a daily Madison River Float Permit for recreational floaters as a way to initially gather data about river use and to eventually help manage that use. There would be a small fee for the permit to help offset costs of the reservation system.

For commercial users, the work group recommended capping the number of river trips for an outfitter at the number of trips he or she reported for 2019 or 2020, whichever was highest.

Why would outfitters agree to a cap?

Larson said commercial interests have concerns about the quality of the fishing experience and about the fishery itself.

Work Group Chairman KC Walsh, who is also a Fish and Wildlife Commission member, said 25% of the fish in one stretch of the river show evidence of hook scarring, the likely result, he said, of anglers using treble hooks or performing catch-and-release with poor technique.

Work group member Brian McGeehan, an outfitter, said he and others routinely turn down trips during the peak season because of the limited availability of guides.

In June, Fish and Wildlife Commissioners voted to move forward with a process slated to include analysis of the costs and potential legal snags of the recommended changes, as well as public input.

Public scoping meetings are scheduled to begin in early September, with details to follow.

Some critics of the Madison River Work Groups composition and recommendations have observed that the groups makeup is unduly outfitter friendly and that management of non-commercial use could be a step toward unfairly restricting recreational float access to the river.

Concern has been expressed too that restrictions on public use could reflect an income disparity between wealthy outfitter clients and working class Montanans.

As designated by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the 12-member Madison River Work Groups makeup was to include three commercial outfitters with current recreational use permits on the river. And that happened, with members Mike Bias, McGeehan and Mac Minard filling those slots.

Yet three other members have or once had close ties to outfitting and guiding on the river. Larson of the Madison Valley Ranch, an Orvis endorsed lodge, told commissioners Wednesday that he works with outfitters. John Sampson, an owner of the Madison Double R, once worked as a fishing guide and the lodges website notes that float trips are certainly a main focus at Madison Double R. Finally, member Allison Treloar has been married to fishing guide Mike Treloar.

The Work Groups recommendations for commercial use advise keeping the Special River Permit system, which is a cooperative agreement between Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. There would be no limit on the granting of such permits to new river service providers.

A separate Madison River Use Permit could cap the total annual commercial trips by a Special River Permit holder based on the number of trips reported in 2019 or 2020.

Anglers who are clients of a permitted outfitter would not need a separate float permit.

Public scoping meetings for the Work Groups recommendations are due to begin in early September, with the first meeting tentatively set for September 6 in Bozeman. Details about time, place and additional meetings will follow.
By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

The trial version of a digital platform on container transportation between the Asia-Pacific countries by railway operators is ready, Azernews reports via ADY Container under Azerbaijan Railways CJSC.

The discussion of the project took place during a meeting of railway operators of the International multimodal route of Asia-Pacific countries - China-Kyrgyzstan- Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkiye-Europe was held in Baku

Talking at the meeting, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways Iqbal Huseynov noted the joint cooperation between railway administrators of participating countries in the direction of increasing the attractiveness of the route.

"It is necessary to combine the efforts to attract cargo to the route, accelerate the operational solution of emerging problems," he said.

According to him, a trial version of the digital platform, which will ensure an increase in the efficiency of cargo transportation along the corridor, and optimization of operations is ready.

The implementation of the platform developed by UNISER cargo handling company, specializing in this area, in test mode begins," Huseynov explained.

Furthermore, within the framework of the meeting a discussion about the web page on which the information about the route will be posted, took place.

The participants in the meeting stressed the necessity of creating a consortium with the participation of the parties to improve the efficiency of the route and decided to continue discussions in this direction.

To recap, the International multimodal route of the Asia-Pacific countries - China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan-Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey-Europe was established in 2019 with the participation of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and state railway structures of the respective countries.
President Xi Jinping has underlined the importance of mutual assistance and win-win cooperation in enabling all mankind to share the results of human development, saying that China has taken concrete actions to promote the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi made the remarks in a letter of reply to students and teachers at a secondary school in Malta that was made public on Tuesday.

The president said in the letter that seeking the common interests of all and promoting peace among all nations has been a long-held aspiration of the Chinese nation for human society, adding that it is also the cultural root of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

"We live in a world where history and reality meet, where opportunities and challenges coexist, and where humanity as a whole rises or falls together. Countries must assist each other in times of need and choose win-win cooperation if we are to share in the fruits of development," he added.

China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative in order to build up consensus and strength in solving global challenges for growth and security, he added.

In a letter to Xi recently, the students and teachers of St Margaret College Secondary School in Malta, who participated in an initiative known as the China Corner, expressed their fondness for Chinese culture and spoke positively of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the BRI.

Through cooperation with the China Cultural Center in Malta and with the support of the Education Ministry of Malta, Maltese teacher Martin Azzopardi set up a China Corner in his classroom at the school in 2010 and the initiative has been going on since then.

The China Corner has been teaching science, through the introduction of Chinese culture to students by creating a bridge between scientific knowledge and Chinese culture, science and technology.

In his letter, Xi commended the initiative for bolstering the understanding of young people in Malta about China and promoting bilateral friendship.

He expressed his hope that the initiative can attain greater success and he welcomed the students and teachers to visit China for study and exchanges.

He noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malta, and these ties have become a model for friendship between countries with different histories and cultures.

The president called on more young people from the country to promote mutual learning and friendship between the two nations.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army (Photo: VNA)

The President expressed his hope that Hun Manets visit will significantly contribute to the success of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 marking the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967).

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Cambodian people on great, comprehensive achievements they have recorded over the past time, and noted his belief that Cambodia will gain more attainments in both home and external affairs in the time ahead, and successfully fulfill its ASEAN Chairmanship 2022 and organise its general elections in 2023.

Highlighting the traditional friendship between the two neighbouring countries, the President said he hopes that the Lt. Gen., in both his current and future positions, will make more contributions to preserving and developing the good neighborliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable, long-term cooperation.

For his part, Hun Manet also congratulated Vietnamese people on their achievements, especially in COVID-19 prevention and control, socio-economic recovery and development and the organisation of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

He conveyed the deep gratitude of Cambodian people to the Vietnamese Party, State, army and people for their support during Cambodias struggle against the genocidal regime as well as the present cause of national construction and development.

The officer also thanked Vietnam for backing Cambodia in performing the role of ASEAN Chair 2022, suggesting the two countries strengthen their solidarity in the face of regional and international uncertainties.

The two sides noted with pleasure active developments of the Vietnam-Cambodia multi-faceted cooperation, especially joint efforts in maintaining all-level meetings at all channels and coordination in organising activities within the friendship year.

They said two-way trade has maintained its growth, hitting 6.3 billion USD in the first half of this year, up more than 20% year-on-year.

Emphasising the progress in defence cooperation - an important pillar in the bilateral ties, host and guest expressed their hope that the collaboration will grow further for peace, stability, independence and self-reliance in each country.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Hun Manet to convey his wishes and regards to King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen and other senior leaders of Cambodia./.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna has signed an additional agreement with the European Union on financing the EU Energy Efficiency Support Program for Ukraine  EE4U, aimed at increasing funding for the Energy Efficiency Fund.

"This involves a three-year extension of the program until 2028 and an increase in co-financing from Germany by EUR 10 million. This agreement also aims to improve cooperation between donors, the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the International Finance Corporation and the Energy Efficiency Fund," the press service said.

According to Stefanishyna, energy independence and energy sustainability through the introduction of energy efficient measures are an important element in the development and national sustainability of Ukraine.
The Russian war against Ukraine and against entire free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea  its liberation. Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula for the Crimea liberation.

This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in a traditional video message on Tuesday.

"Russia has turned our peninsula, which has always been and will always be one of the best places in Europe, into one of the most dangerous places in Europe. Russia brought massive repression, environmental problems, economic stalemate and war to Crimea," he said.

According to Zelensky, "historians will someday determine how many people were killed due to Russia's use of Crimea for terror. Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? From Ukraine and Georgia to Syria and beyond."

"The presence of Russian occupiers in Crimea is a threat to all of Europe and to global stability. The Black Sea region cannot be safe while Crimea is occupied. There will be no stable and lasting peace in many countries on the Mediterranean coast as long as Russia can use our peninsula as its military base," he said.

Zelensky reminded about the Crimea platform, a key diplomatic platform for work on the liberation of Crimea. The Crimea platform will work this year as well. We are already preparing this summit, he said.

According to him, "the world is beginning to admit that it was wrong in 2014 when it decided not to give full answers to Russia's first aggressive steps."

"Our state is native to peoples whose national cultures and aspirations were formed in Crimea. Therefore, when we work to liberate the peninsula, we are fighting for the restoration of the territorial integrity of our state, and for returning home to the indigenous peoples of Ukraine," the President said.

"I believe it will be so. I know that we will return to Ukrainian Crimea. And I am grateful to all our partners and international organizations that help us in this," Zelensky said.

According to him, "this year the work of the Crimea Platform will be no less weighty and representative than last year, when its first summit was held in Kyiv. The format will be different, but the meaning will be even greater."
In the sky over Zaporizhia on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday night, the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down three missiles, head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Starukh said.

"Late yesterday at about 23:00, a loud explosion sound was heard near Zaporizhia. According to preliminary information, this is the result of the work of the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which shot down an enemy missile. At the moment, the circumstances of the incident are being established," he wrote on the Telegram channel on Wednesday night.

Starukh added that after midnight the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down two more missiles.

"Weve lost some windows, but the enemy has lost two missiles!" he clarified.
The United States will provide Ukraine with $89 million to deploy 100 de-mining teams, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink has said.

"Landmines, unexploded ordnance, and other hazards block farmland, delay reconstruction, keep people from returning, and kill and maim innocent Ukrainians. That's why we're providing $89 million to enable Ukraine to deploy approximately 100 de-mining teams to make Ukraine safer," the ambassador said on Twitter.
Currently no immediate threat to nuclear safety at Zaporizhia NPP  IAEA

The International Nuclear Energy Agency (IAEA) has declared that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety at Zaporizhia nuclear power plant (NPP) after the latest shelling of its site by the Russian military.

"Based on the information provided by Ukraine, IAEA experts assessed that there was no immediate threat to nuclear safety as a result of Saturday's incident," IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a press release on the IAEA website on Wednesday night.

A shelling incident on August 6 near the dry spent fuel storage facility at Zaporizhia NPP caused some damage, but that available radiation measurements continued to show normal levels at the site.

The IAEA also said that there was no visible damage to the containers with spent nuclear fuel or to the protective perimeter of the facility.

However, the agency added that the shelling damaged communication cables that are part of its radiation control system, with a possible impact on the functioning of three radiation detection sensors.

The IAEA also once again drew attention to the fact that the shelling of Zaporizhia NPP site on August 5 and August 6 breached virtually all the seven indispensable nuclear safety and security pillars, including those related to a nuclear power plant's physical integrity, functioning safety and security systems, staff and external power supplies.

"Ukraine informed the IAEA after the incident that plant staff had restricted access to the Zaporizhia NPP's on-site crisis centre, potentially impacting response activities in case of an emergency even if access to an off-site centre remained possible," the IAEA said.

In addition, the Ukrainian nuclear regulator said its communications with Zaporizhia NPP were "very limited and fragmentary," the IAEA aid.

Grossi, for his part, again stressed the need for an IAEA expert mission to go to the plant as soon as possible to help stabilise the nuclear safety and security situation, and added that the IAEA is in close contact with the Ukrainian authorities and continues to monitor the nuclear safety and security situation.
By Azernews

By Laman Ismayilova

Some 42 monuments have been put on record on Azerbaijan's liberated territories including 30 in the city of Shusha, Azernews reports, citing Azertac.

Speaking about the documentation of monuments, the head of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, Nurida Allahyarova, stressed its importance in assessing the damage caused by the Armenian occupation.

Around 42 monuments and 10 conservation areas have been noted and put on record in the liberated territories.

These monuments were included in the Karabakh Digital Geoinformation System in accordance with paragraph 3 under a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on "Regulations on the temporary register of buildings in the liberated territories" on ensuring the execution of the presidential decree No. 1422 of August 12, 2021.

We should note that hundreds of cultural institutions were destroyed as a result of Armenian aggression.

Azerbaijan's Culture Ministry has recently disclosed the number of cultural monuments in the liberated territories.

Up until now, almost 1,100 monuments have been registered, most of which are completely destroyed.
As a result of explosions at the military airfield Saky (the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea) on Tuesday, nine aircraft of the occupiers were destroyed, the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"Saky! Minus nine aircraft of the invaders," the Air Force Command informed on Facebook.
This week, the Ministry of Health plans to deliver a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson & Johnson throughout Ukraine.

"We expect that this week we will start distributing a single-dose vaccine by Johnson & Johnson," Viktor Kuzin, chief sanitary doctor of Ukraine, said on the air of the telethon on Wednesday.

He noted that vaccines by Pfizer and CoronaVac are currently being used to vaccinate against COVID-19.

"The vaccine is available in sufficient quantities," he said.

As reported with reference to Minister of Health Viktor Liashko, 3,893 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in Ukraine last week, which is 40% more than a week earlier. Some 16 people died from complications of COVID-19, and a week earlier it was 14 people.
More than 700,000 people will starve because of russia - Embassy of Ukraine in Israel

Russian shelling and attacks on Ukraine's food facilities, as a major exporter of grain and oilseeds, created the prospect of starvation for more than 700,000 people. The relevant statement of the Embassy of Ukraine to the State of Israel is posted on the official Facebook page.

"Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine's grain regions that supply wheat, sunflowers, and corn to 400 million people. Recently, Russia even murdered in a targeted attack Oleksiy Vadaturskyi, one of the major wheat importers in the region and a Ukrainian patriot", - the Embassy said.

Separately, the Embassy emphasized: "Because of the Russian aggression, over 700 thousand people will suffer from hunger!".
G7 countries call on Russia to return control over Zaporizhia NPP to Ukraine  statement

On Wednesday, the G7 countries' Foreign Ministers called on Russia to transfer Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) to Ukraine's control.

The G7 Foreign Ministers issued a statement in which they reiterated their strongest condemnation of the ongoing unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression of Russia against Ukraine.

"In that context, we demand that Russia immediately hand back full control to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine, of Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant as well as of all nuclear facilities within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders to ensure their safe and secure operations," they said in the document.

It is also noted that the Ukrainian staff operating Zaporizhia NPP must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure. It is Russia's continued control of the plant that endangers the region, the ministers said.

They also welcomed IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi's efforts "to strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine."

"Against this background, we underline the importance of facilitating a mission of IAEA experts to Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant to address nuclear safety, security and safeguard concerns, in a manner that respects full Ukrainian sovereignty over its territory and infrastructure," the document says.

The G7 ministers also reiterated their full and continued support for the IAEA.

"IAEA staff must be able to access all nuclear facilities in Ukraine safely and without impediment, and engage directly, and without interference, with the Ukrainian personnel responsible for the operation of these facilities," they said in the statement.
Kuleba calls on all EU, G7 countries to stop issuing visas to Russians: They should be deprived of right to cross intl borders until they learn to respect them

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba calls on all EU and G7 countries to stop issuing visas to Russians, as they overwhelmingly support the war against Ukraine.

"I call on all EU and G7 states to stop issuing visas to Russians. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is absolutely right to insist on this. Russians overwhelmingly support the war on Ukraine. They must be deprived of the right to cross international borders until they learn to respect them," he said on Twitter.
It is vital to end the active phase of the war before the onset of winter, since the risks of Russian attacks on Ukraine's thermal power infrastructure remain, said head of the Presidents Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak.

"Of course, such risks [missile attacks on thermal power facilities] persist throughout the war. The Russian army continues to attack our infrastructure facilities. This is one of their goals, they don't even hide it. Accordingly, this is one of the reasons why we want to take maximum measures to end the active part of the war before the end of autumn," Yermak said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, this is a difficult and ambitious task, but vital.

"We are doing everything to ensure that the goal of de-occupation is achieved. And, accordingly, we explain this to our partners. They share our position," he added.

At the same time, the head of the Presidents Office stressed that the longer Russian troops are in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and try to dig in there, the more difficult it will be to de-occupy these territories.
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said he currently sees no obstacles to launching a competition to elect the head of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU).

"The NABU competition is launched, as far as I know, by the commission. I see no obstacles for this competition to be launched today. As far as I know, all the necessary procedures have been completed by the Cabinet of Ministers," he said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency.

As reported, on July 19, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal instructed the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers to urgently organize the first meeting of the commission for the selection of the NABU head.
Relations with Russia after war will depend on what happens to it in future  Yermak

Relations with Russia after the war will depend on what happens to this country in the future, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency.

"We definitely will not have fraternal relations, about which Russia has been repeatedly talking all the time. It is hard to say what it would be like, whether it will be a new "Berlin Wall", or it will be just pragmatic coexistence. First of all, because it is hard to say what will happen to Russia. Probably, much will also depend on this," Yermak said.

According to him, the great symbolism of this war is that Russia is destroying old Soviet buildings and infrastructure in Ukraine.

"[By doing all this] they have also destroyed the last connection between Ukraine and the USSR. Even people who lived in the Soviet Union will no longer have any sentiments. And this is good," Yermak said, stressing that the future of Ukraine is in the European vector and Western values.
Seven people died and 13 were injured when a microbus overturned on Ismailia Desert Road. The dead and injured were a family heading to Fayed to spend a day at the beach, the prosecution said in a statement published at Al-Ahram Arabic news gate on Wednesday.
Taiwan displayed on Wednesday its most advanced fighter jet, the missile-equipped F-16V, in a rare nighttime demonstration in the wake of China's unprecedented military drills around the island.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan have held a meeting in the city of Konya.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the invitation to the opening ceremony of the 5th Islamic Solidarity Games.

The Turkish president, in turn, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for accepting the invitation and participating in the event.

The Azerbaijani president also congratulated President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the excellent organization of the Islamic Solidarity Games.

During the conversation, they hailed the successful development of the relations of friendship, brotherhood, and alliance between the two countries in all areas.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan once again expressed Turkiye`s support in connection with the recent events in Karabakh and offered condolences to President Ilham Aliyev regarding the martyrs.

The president thanked him for his support and condolences.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the post-conflict period in the region and discussed cooperation in economic, energy, transport, and military fields.
The joint grid's capacity is expected to reach 240 MW by the end of 2020, the Egyptian cabinet said in September

Related Connecting Egypt and Sudan Egypt and Sudan will start operating an electricity interconnection project linking the national grids of the two on 12 January, with a capacity of 50 Megawatt (MW), Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said.

The project's cost stands at EGP 509 million ($31.74 million) and it spans a distance of 1,000 kilometres, the minister added, as quoted by the MENA state news agency.

The joint grid's capacity is expected to reach 240 MW by the end of 2020, the Egyptian cabinet said in September.

The project is being implemented by the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) and the Indian construction firm Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T).

Egypt is seeking to become a regional hub for energy transmission and a leader in renewable energy in the region.

The country currently has electricity connections with Libya and Jordan, with a capacity of 100 MW and 450 MW respectively, and is working on connecting its national grid with Greece, Cyprus and Saudi Arabia.

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France, which is a large producer and exporter of wheat, has made it a priority to ensure that Egypt gets the wheat it needs during the current harvest season, affirmed Frances Ambassador to Egypt Marc Barety.

The move came in a bid to support Egypt in its efforts to confront the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian War, which resulted in food security problems around the world, he added in a meeting held with a host of journalists on the occasion of Frances National Day on 14 July.

Meanwhile, the ambassador said France has played a crucial role in allowing Egypt to obtain 100 million in support from the EU to counter the rising food prices earlier this year.

He added that the aid will be used in establishing more silos and increasing grain production.

Also, the World Banks (WB) Board of Executive Directors announced its approval on Wednesday of a $500-million-loan to back Egypts social protection net and food security in the face of the impacts of the war.

The loan will support Egypts national efforts to lower waste and loss in the wheat supply chain by upgrading and expanding climate-resilient wheat silos under the Emergency Food Security and Resilience Support Project, the WB said.

Egypt  one of the largest wheat importers in the world  used to get 80 percent of its imported wheat from Russia and Ukraine prior to the conflict, which started in February.

Thus, the country announced that it would be diversifying its import sources to include other countries  such as France, Bulgaria, Romania, and India  in order to ensure sufficient wheat supplies.

Furthermore, in June, Egypt received a new shipment of 63,000 tonnes of wheat from France. The country will also import an additional 180,000 tonnes of wheat from India within a few days, said Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Aly Moselhi late last month.

Moreover, Egypts General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC)  the countrys grain buyer  announced on Thursday that it has secured 815,000 tonnes from a bid in which four counties  France, Romania, Russia, and Bulgaria  participated as part of the countrys plan to diversify its sources of wheat on the heels of the war.

In June, the GASC also announced the signing of a contract to purchase 465,000 tonnes of wheat from Russia, Bulgaria, and Romania in what is reportedly the countrys largest wheat purchase since the start of the current crisis.

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Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt, said the first major regional roundtable for financing climate action has removed barriers between all climate actors, bringing them under one roof.

During the closing session of the Africa Roundtable titled Towards COP27: Africa Regional Forum on Climate Initiatives to Finance Climate Action, which took place in Addis Ababa from 2-4 August, Mohieldin said that the forum addressed investment in different areas of climate action, and stressed the importance of balancing investments in mitigation and adaptation measures.

"We will build on the success of the Africa Roundtable in the next four regional forums that will take place in August and September," he said.

The forum is one of five regional roundtables that Egypt will be holding over the coming two months in its role as president of the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in an unprecedented initiative to catalyse investments in different climate sectors.

Mohieldin said that the African forums outcomes added more clarity about climate action financing plans, including new mechanisms to scale up investments in climate projects and reducing the cost of transition to a green and stable global economy.

Mohieldin said that the forum also discussed fulfilling previous COP commitments to finance climate projects, such as the $100 billion pledged at the Copenhagen conference, and the $130 trillion pledged by the GFANZ coalition.

"Projects and plans presented during the forum showed that Africa has its climate solutions, which will be showcased to the world at COP27. It also showed Africas readiness to participate effectively in curbing climate change," Mohieldin said.

Mohieldin said that the forum participants confirmed the importance of the participation of all actors to achieve food and water security, smart climate agriculture, land restoration, benefiting from new and renewable energy sources and investing in a green economy in a way that helps save African livelihoods and increase resilience.

Bangkok will host the second roundtable on 25 August for the Asia-Pacific region, while Santiago will host the third roundtable on 1-2 September for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Beirut will host the Arab world roundtable on 15 September, while Geneva will host the last roundtable on 20 September for Europe.

The outcomes of the five meetings will be announced during COP27, slated to be held 7-18 November in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Egypt and the African Union are seeking to develop a unified vision for energy transformation in the continent ahead of COP27.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, the president-designate of COP27, has said that Egypt will speak up for Africa's aspirations to cope with climate change during the conference.

Hopes are pinned on COP27 to turn climate-related pledges into action to help facilitate the move to green energy in order to reduce harmful gas emissions and adapt to climate change as per the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement  adopted at COP21 and signed by over 190 states including Egypt  came into effect in 2016 with the aim of limiting the rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Climate finance has been debated at every COP meeting since, as developed countries have failed to meet their promise to mobilise $100 billion annually by 2020 to help developing nations with mitigation and adaptation measures.

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Turkey's president inaugurated the country's newest and largest undersea hydrocarbon drill ship Tuesday that he said would head for a spot northwest of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean, which is not claimed by any other country.

Related Turkey begins laying Black Sea natural gas pipeline

``Our exploration and drilling in the Mediterranean is within our own sovereign dominion,'' President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the ceremony in southern Mersin province, only to add: ``We don't need to seek permission or ratification from anyone.''

Turkey is embroiled in acrimonious disputes with Greece and Cyprus over maritime boundaries and offshore energy rights, which triggered high tensions in the eastern Mediterranean two years ago.

Erdogan said Tuesday the new Abdulhamid Han ship would begin drilling at the Yorukler-1 well about 55 kilometers (34 miles) off the coast of Gazipasa, in Antalya province.

``Neither the puppets nor the ones who hold their strings will be able to prevent us from getting our rights in the Mediterranean,'' he said, in an apparent reference to Greece and Cyprus on the one hand, and their Western allies on the other.

In the summer of 2020, tensions escalated after Turkey sent a seismic survey ship escorted by warships to an area in the eastern Mediterranean where Greece claims exclusive rights to potential undersea oil and gas deposits.

Greece sent its own warships to shadow the Turkish flotilla. Both countries later conducted military exercises as a show of force.

Turkey insists that small Greek islands near the Turkish coast should not be taken into account when delineating maritime boundaries, and accuses Athens of trying to grab an unfair share of the eastern Mediterranean's resources.

The NATO allies routinely accuse each other of airspace violations. Turkey also claims that Greece has violated international treaties by militarizing eastern Aegean islands close to Turkey.

Turkey's other drill ships, Fatih, Kanuni and Yavuz, are operating in the Black Sea where Turkey discovered natural gas reserves. All four ships are named after Ottoman sultans.

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The Philippines has scrapped an order for 16 Russian military helicopters, an official confirmed Wednesday, following reports former president Rodrigo Duterte decided to cancel it due to US sanctions on Moscow.

Manila -- a longtime Washington ally -- agreed in November to pay 12.7 billion pesos ($228 million) for the Mi-17 helicopters, as it seeks to modernise its military hardware.

The United States and its allies imposed wide-ranging sanctions on Moscow in the wake of its assault on Ukraine in February.

They are aimed at cutting off Russia from the global financial system and choking off funds available to Moscow to finance the war.

The Philippine defence department was "formalizing the termination" of the contract, spokesman Arsenio Andolong said Wednesday.

Without mentioning US sanctions on Moscow, Andolong told AFP "changes in priorities necessitated by global political developments resulted in the cancellation of the project by the previous administration".

Delfin Lorenzana, who served as defence secretary under Duterte, said in March that the Philippines had paid a deposit for the transport helicopters before war erupted in Ukraine and the deal was "on track".

But last week Lorenzana, who now heads a different government agency, told local media that Duterte himself decided to cancel the deal in the waning days of his administration over the sanctions threat.

"I don't know if we can still get back the money since we were the ones who terminated the contract," Lorenzana told reporters.

Russian embassy officials in Manila could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Romualdez recently told AFP the decision to cancel was triggered by "the Ukrainian war".

Romualdez said Manila was also wary of falling foul of a US law passed in 2017 that sanctions anyone doing business with Russia's intelligence or defence sectors.

The United States was offering "alternative helicopters to meet our needs", he added.

Manila began a modest military modernisation programme in 2012. Until recently, its equipment featured Vietnam War-era helicopters and World War II naval vessels used by the United States.

After President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took power on June 30, the new government reviewed the Russian deal, arriving at the same decision as Duterte.

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After a moment when hopes dimmed that the United States could become an international leader on climate change, legislation that Congress is poised to approve could rejuvenate the country's reputation and bolster its efforts to push other nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more quickly.

The head-snapping turn of events, which has generated a joyful case of whiplash among Democrats and environmentalists, is a reminder of how domestic politics is intertwined with worldwide diplomacy.

Advocates feared that last month's breakdown in negotiations in Congress had undermined efforts to limit the catastrophic effects of global warming. Now they're energized by the opportunity to tout an unprecedented U.S. success.

``This says, `We're back, baby,''' said Jennifer Turner, who works on international climate issues as director of the Woodrow Wilson Center's China Environment Forum in Washington.

The legislation, which also has provisions on taxes and prescription drugs, includes about $375 billion over the next decade for clean energy development and financial incentives for buying electric cars, installing solar panels and weaning the power grid off fossil fuels. Although the proposals were downsized during difficult negotiations, it's the single biggest investment in climate change in U.S. history, and a significant shift from years of inaction that limited Washington's clout overseas.

The Senate passed the legislation on Sunday, and the House is expected to approve it on Friday. Then it goes to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Poor nations remain concerned that rich countries like the United States have not fulfilled financial commitments to help them cope with global warming and transition to clean energy, something the legislation does not address. But Biden can still point to it as evidence that the U.S. political system can address the world's most pressing problems.

``Our ability to have credibility on the global stage depends on our ability to deliver at home,'' said Ali Zaidi, the White House deputy national climate adviser. ``We are the pace car. That helps other people go faster and faster.''

After President Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris climate accord, Biden entered office pledging to rejoin the fight against global warming. He set an ambitious new target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions _ at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 _ and began proposing policies to put the country on track.

The legislation that Biden is expected to sign is estimated to reduce emissions between 31% to 44%, according to an analysis by the Rhodium Group, an independent research firm. Further regulatory steps by the administration could close the rest of the gap.

``It's good that finally the U.S. is trying to catch up after years of dragging its feet on climate change and this investment will go a long way to undoing some of the harm caused by the administration of President Trump,`` said Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, a think tank based in Nairobi, Kenya.

The movement on the bill comes just three months before the next U.N. conference on climate change, which is known as COP27 and will take place in Egypt.

``Let's hope this legislation is the start of more international cooperation in the lead up to the COP27 summit, where the most vulnerable get the support they need,'' Adow said.

Although the U.S. will still face entrenched skepticism, the progress in Washington may also give John Kerry, the White House's special envoy on climate, more momentum going into the conference in November.

``It puts wind in his sail, it gives him a real credibility boost,'' Turner said. ``This will change the whole dynamic.``

Several experts said the U.S. will be empowered to put more pressure on China, India and other nations that have high emissions but have been unwilling to cut back for economic reasons.

``This restores some diplomatic legitimacy to the U.S. as an influential player in international climate negotiations,'' said Scott Moore, director of China Programs and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.

Shayak Sengupta, a fellow at the Observer Research Foundation America, a Washington-based affiliate of a think tank in India, was less enthusiastic.

``Considering that this bill is long over due after years of U.S. climate inaction, many countries may view this as the `bare minimum' of the U.S.'s historical and moral responsibility for climate,'' he said.

Sengupta emphasized that poor nations are still looking for rich countries to fulfill their $100 billion commitment for financial assistance to address global warming, an issue that's been a sore spot during international negotiations.

There will be no shortage of other challenges, too. If Republicans retake Congress or the White House, they could unravel Biden's progress. Supply chains could struggle to accommodate increased demand for equipment like solar panels and batteries. China's foreign ministry on Friday announced the country is cutting off direct climate talks with the U.S. in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, severing a rare point of longstanding, if sometimes tumultuous, cooperation between the two countries.

However, experts said China will still take notice if the U.S. succeeds in becoming a clean energy powerhouse.

``For a while now, China has been leading in clean energy investment globally,'' said Xizhou Zhou, an expert in climate and sustainability at S&P Global, a global research firm. ``They will probably see this legislation as a competitive move.''

Deborah Seligsohn, an expert on China's politics and energy at Villanova University and a former U.S. diplomat in Beijing, said the result could be lower prices globally.

``To the extent the U.S. starts really investing in things that compete with key Chinese businesses _ in solar, wind, electric vehicles, batteries _ I think you're going to see Chinese businesses interested in ramping up their competitiveness in these industries, by making better products and bringing prices down,`` she said.

That could have a ripple effect around the world.

``Developing countries may see prices for renewable energy going down, and adoption going up,`` Seligsohn said.

Vibhuti Garg, an energy economist focused on India, said U.S. investment in clean energy research could pay dividends in poorer nations that don't have the same resources to develop new technologies.

``The U.S. can share the technology know-how with other countries, especially the Global South,'' she said.

Aditya Ramji, from the Institute of Transportation Studies at University of California, Davis, said that cooperation _ along with financial help _ will be critical.

``At some point there will have to be discussions on how they can provide intellectual property access or lower costs to countries like India and others to leverage electric vehicle technology,'' he said.

Climate activists said the U.S. legislation is just one step on a larger path towards climate action. More progress is needed to put the world on track to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), a target that some scientists believe is slipping out of reach.

``We need to fight for political commitments in other countries,`` said climate activist Luisa Neubauer, a leading figure in the Fridays for Future activist movement.

``That's the only way we will manage to turn this from a year of fossil fuel backlash to a year of climate justice,'' she said.

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Egypt's exports of food industries grew by $51 million - 2.4 percent year on year during the first half of 2022, according to the monthly report of the Food Export Council (FEC) that was issued on Tuesday.

The value of the food industries' exports registered $2.169 billion in the first half of 2022, compared with $2.118 billion in the same period last year.

Exports registered $307 million in January 2022, a 15 percent growth compared to the same month last year.

In February of 2022, exports reached $340 million, a 0.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Exports to the Arab markets amounted to $1 billion in the first half of 2022, representing 50 percent of total food industries exports, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the European Union came second in the list, receiving $427 million in Egyptian food industries' exports, or 20 percent of the total.

Finally, the food industries' exports to the US increased by 31 percent in the same period to reach $144 million, or 7 percent of the total.

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Aston Martins Regional Director: We truly appreciate the efforts of our Egyptian team in establishing our brand.

Hisham Ezz Elarab: We still have a lot to offer to the luxury brands enthusiasts.

Eng. Muhammad Aboul Nour: We have worked extremely hard last year to demonstrate what we are really capable of, and I do believe that The harder you work for something the greater you will feel when you achieve it and we did.

Cairo, August 2022 ------------------------

Ezz Elarab Automotive Group, the exclusive dealer for Aston Martin in Egypt, has been awarded the 2021 Wings Award being after being identified as the best performing dealer in the region.

Aston Matin Egypts Team committedly hardwork, outstanding performance, and concentrated efforts have paid off.

Aston Martin Egypt | Ezz Elarab was ranked the first among 13 other countries in the MENA region, based on multiple business criteria, which include: the sales of new cars (including limited edition versions) and used cars; after-sales services through the sales of spare parts, accessories and extended warranty; as well as the results of customer satisfaction surveys.

The Team

Hisham Ezz Elarab, Chairman of Ezz Elarab Automotive Group, expressed his happiness with winning the award and said: We are very proud to have won this award, which has been given for the first time in history to Aston Martin Egypt. This award is the result of the hard work and continuous efforts of a great team that has accomplished a number of achievements for lovers of the luxury brand, despite the difficult circumstances that the world has been facing since the beginning of 2020.

He added: With every award we receive for Aston Martin, our responsibility and aspirations grow towards this luxury brand that many people in Egypt love. Yes, we have reached the summit, but we need to double up our efforts in order to maintain it.

Eng. Muhammad Aboul Nour, General Manager of Aston Martin Egypt, said: We have worked hard over the last year, despite of the challenges and difficulties we have faced, in order to provide our customers with one of a kind customer experience in the sales and after sales. Part of our plan was the opening of a new state-of -the-art showroom and after sales workshop to be able to provide our customers with the quality service that they deserve, besides complying with Aston Martins international standards. Furthermore, we are currently planning to expand the brands existence into Egyptian markets.

Sidi Larbi Bensouda, Executive Manager Aston Martin Middle East & North Africa Ltd, said: Congratulations to the whole team at Aston Martin Egypt on this extraordinary award in terms of Sales and Aftersales performances. During these post pandemic challenging times, they have demonstrated a superb resilience to continue delivering the world-class customer service Aston Martin is renowned for

Houssam Bakkour,, Manager Aftersales, Aston Martin MENA Limited, said: I work very closely with the team in Egypt, they always strive to deliver the best to meet our standards and exceed their customers satisfaction. On Behalf of Aston Martin MENA Limited and Aston Martin Lagonda I would like to extend our warm congratulations to the team in Egypt and well done for their hard work throughout 2021

It is worth mentioning that Ezz Elarab Group has celebrated receiving the Aston Martin Outstanding Transformation Award last year, where it was awarded for fastest transformation of the brand in all areas across the MENA region in 2020. The award has been handed to the company as a token of celebration for Aston Martin Egypts success.

The Showroom

Aston Martin Egypt also launched the latest showroom for the English luxury brand during the end of last year, located in Park Street Business Complex in the heart of Sheikh Zayed City, 6th of October; which is an exclusive business-focused complex that includes the finest restaurants and luxury stores.

This new showroom provides a convenient location in order for the brand to reach a large base of existing and potential customers for Aston Martin in Egypt. This newly launched showroom is considered to be the first showroom for Aston Martin in the world that is inspired by Formula One Colors.

It was built with F1 elements that comply with the latest international designs and methods that display the full line up of the brand; all of which are in line with the identity and heritage of one of the most famous brands in the world. The interior space of the showroom is 254 square meters with an external space of 167 square meters in order to accommodate a large number of cars both inside and outside the premises. It displays all Aston Martin models, DBX, DBS, DB11, and Vantage, along with used cars through the exclusive Aston Martin used cars program Timeless.

The General Manager

Eng. Muhammad Aboul Nours love and passion for cars began in his childhood. He loved collecting cars and had his own free hand sketches, this was the reason why he decided to support his hobby by pursuing studying in that field. He excelled in his Engineering studies at the University of Cairo, graduating as 3rd of his class. He then began his career in the automotive field, where he went through a long journey of work in the industry.

Enhancing his career development through achieving his MBA followed by a special program in the top ranked universities INSEAD. During that period, he held a number of leadership positions at various car manufacturing and distribution companies in Egypt.

Today, he has significant experience in the automotive sector that extends to more than 20 years, he has also received many awards and certificates of appreciation during his career. The most recent was last year when he won the Outstanding Transformation Award for Aston Martin in the Middle East and North Africa region for the year 2020.

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The National Reading Programme (NRP), affiliated to the Emirate's Research Science Institute, launched the final round of its nationwide competition (8-10 August) at El-Massa Hotel in the New Administrative Capital, Egypt.

With the participation of around 900 contestants, the programme aims to boost Egypts cultural leadership and achieve knowledge sustainability in alignment with Egypts Vision 2030.

This year, the programme witnessed high turnout among the participating students across all educational stages, Deputy Minister of Education for Teachers' Affairs Reda Hegazy said. The preliminary qualifiers saw intense competitions among students from across the country, which aims to support the ministrys plan that comes in line with Egypts Vision 2030.

Meanwhile, Al-Azhars Deputy Sheikh Mohamed El-Doweiny pointed out that Al-Azhar students participation in this contest, especially this year, reflects their passion for reading and high sense of responsibility to pass on knowledge to the younger generations and to the community.

Hisham El-Sangary, director of educational projects at the Scientific Research Foundation, Egypt, and North Africa Branch, hailed the efforts exerted since the inception of the project in 2020 to support national values to boost the national identity.

The institution managed to achieve great accomplishments through collaboration with partners in the educational scene this year, which adds to last years achievements, he added.

The number of final round candidates of the Intellectual Student pillar at the Ministry of Education and Al-Azhar are 648 students, where only 20 candidates will be nominated for winning.

The total number of candidates of the Diamond Reader pillar is107 students from various universities and institutes. These have reached the final qualifications, and only 10 of them will be shortlisted.

Moreover, the Intellectual Teacher pillar has witnessed more comprehensive competitions, with 108 teachers from various fields reaching the final round. These candidates will be screened in order to qualify for the top 10. Concerning the fourth pillar, "Enlightening Institutions," 10 institutions have been nominated for the final rounds from among the dozens of community institutions participating in this year's competition, and only five of them will be picked as winners.

The total financial value of the prize is estimated at EGP 20 million, to be distributed among the four pillars of the competition; where the winners of the first pillar receive prizes starting from EGP 50,000 up to EGP 1 million in addition to the Intellectual Student Cup. The winners of the second pillar receive awards starting from EGP 100,000 up to EGP 1 million in addition to the Intellectual Teacher Cup. The award of the third pillar starts at EGP 100,000 reaching up to EGP 1 million and the Diamond Reader's Cup. "Enlightening Institutions" Awards start from EGP 100,000 reaching up to EGP 1 million in addition to the Enlightening Institution title for the first place winner.

The National Reading Programme kicked off in March 2020 as a 10-year sustainable project that aims to encourage Egyptian children and youth to embrace functional reading and make reading a priority for all social strata.

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The Public Prosecution started on Tuesday questioning a man who is accused of the killing of a female university student colleague in broad daylight in the city of Zagazig in the Nile Delta earlier today, the second such incident in less than two months.

According to the prosecution's statement, Salma Bahgat, a 20-year-old student who was studying mass communication at Shorouk Academy, was stabbed multiple times with a knife by an Islam Mohamed, a 22-year-old colleague, in the lobby of a building in the city of Zagazig, the capital of Sharqiya governorate in the Nile Delta.

The authorities arrested the accused at the scene of the crime, according to the prosecution statement.

The prosecution have asked forensics to examine the injuries on the victim in order to determine the cause of death.

It also plans to hear the testimony of a number of witnesses.

Media reports suggested that the suspect has recently expressed rage and threatened the victim in posts on social media platforms after she ended their relationship.

Last June, a similar incident stirred public anger when a 21-year-old student at the Faculty of Arts Mansoura University killed his colleague Nayera Ashraf also in broad daylight after she rejected his interest in her. In July, a criminal court issued a preliminary death penalty verdict against the perpetrator in the case.

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First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva have visited the Mevlana Museum in the Turkish city of Konya.

Director of Konya City Culture and Tourism Department Abdulsattar Yarar informed First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva about the museum.

The Museum, dedicated to 13th-century Muslim mystic poet Mevlana Jalaluddin al-Rumi, has been operating since 1926 as a building complex. It is also known as the Mevlana Tomb. Mevlanas tomb, called the Green Dome, was made of four thick columns.

The sides then exchanged keepsakes.




Egypts Public Prosecution ordered on Wednesday the four-day detention of the suspect in the murder of a female university student, Salma Bahgar, in the city of Zagazig in the Nile Delta a day earlier.

Related Prosecution questioning accused in new broad daylight murder of university student colleague in Zagazig

The prosecution said in a statement that it detained 22-year-old university student Islam Mohamed for four days pending investigations into charges of the premeditated murder of 20-year-old Bahgat in the lobby of a building in the city of Zagazig, the capital of Sharqiya governorate.

According to the prosecution, Mohamed committed the murder after the victim and her family rejected his offer to marry her due to his bad behaviour, abnormal beliefs, and his addiction to drugs.

The suspect killed the victim, who was studying mass communication at Shorouk Academy, after stalking her for some time, the prosecution said.

Witness testimonies

The prosecution said that the victim was in the building where the crime took place to visit a friend who worked at a local newspaper there.

The victims friend revealed to the prosecution that they had spoken a day earlier and that Bahgat was in emotional distress. They then agreed they would meet at the paper.

That night, the friend said that the suspect, Mohamed, called her to ask about Bahgat, to which the friend said that Bahgat would be visiting her at the newspaper the next day.

Mohamed then contacted the owner of the newspaper to ask if you could work as an intern there, to which the owner agreed, the prosecution said.

According to the prosecution, 11 witnesses were questioned, including five who saw the murder take place. These were the doorwoman of the building where the crime happened, her son, a grocer from a grocery next to the building, his young assistant, and one of the building residents.

The grocer and his assistant revealed to the prosecution that the accused was in the area for an hour asking about the location of the newspaper prior to the murder.

The five eyewitnesses said that they saw the accused stab the victim to death.

A shopkeeper from a house appliance store next to the building testified that the suspect bought from him the knife that he used to commit the crime.

According to the prosecution, the suspect took photos of the victims body after the attack.

Last June, a similar incident stirred public anger when a 21-year-old student at the Faculty of Arts Mansoura University killed his colleague Nayera Ashraf, also in broad daylight after she rejected his advances. In July, a criminal court issued a preliminary death penalty verdict against the perpetrator in the case.

Family Testimony

The prosecution stated that it listened to the testimonies of the victims father and uncle who said that the accused and the victim were colleagues in the same university and the accused asked her hand in marriage, but he was rejected because her family wanted her to complete her education.

Her family added that the girl then noticed his bad behaviour, how he was addicted to drugs, and decided to end her relationship with him, which led him to stalk and threaten her to harm and kill her.

Her father revealed that on 29 June, during her last exam at the university located in Cairo, the victim was worried that the accused might meet her there and asked her father to accompany her.

On that day, Bahgats father said that he was surprised to see the accused and his parents in front of the university waiting for them, asking his daughters hand in marriage again, but he refused, and they left.

He added that he found the accused sending him threats that he would defame his daughter if he continued to reject him and when he blocked his contact on his mobile phone, he found out that the accused sent his threats to the victims brother and uncle.

Bahgats uncle added that her family rejected the accuseds marriage proposal because he leaned towards atheism and had abnormal ideas, the prosecutions statement read.

The prosecution stated that it checked that the victims family did not report the accuseds threats to the authorities prior to the crime.

Confessions of the accused

According to the prosecution, 22-year-old Mohamed confessed that he killed the victim and that after her familys rejection for his marriage proposal, he continued his relationship with the victim but then they disagreed after his attempt to prevent her from work and to meet her friends to allegedly protect her.

The accused added that she ended her relationship with him after accusing him of blasphemy and atheism due to his tattoos which he claimed to have to draw her attention to him.

Mohamed told the prosecution that he threatened the victim to defame and murder her after ending her relationship with him.

He revealed that on 29 June he planned to kill her at the university with a pocket knife he had. When he failed he called his parents to come to ask her hand in marriage from her father after knowing that he was there on that day. Mohamed that her father refused his proposal until he removed his tattoos and continued his education at the university.

Since that time, Mohamed lost contact with the victim. He tried to call her brother and uncle because he was blocked by the other members of her family. He reached her friend on Monday who informed him about her upcoming meeting with the victim the next day.

Mohamed confessed that he intended to commit his crime during that time and bought a knife and waited for the victim at the buildings lobby. He attacked her, stabbing her several times. He added that the people gathered around them when she screamed and closed the gates of the building until police arrived.

Mohamed told the prosecution that he took photos of the victim after he had stabbed her with his mobile phone and called his mother to tell her that he committed the crime, adding that he had been consuming hashish and alcohol for several months.

Meanwhile, a man standing at the gate filmed him in a clip that went viral on social media.

The prosecution added that it confiscated the accuseds mobile phone that contained several digital evidence, including the threats he sent to the family of the victim, as well as the mobile phone of the victims friend and the newspapers owner.

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Ethiopia has recently announced it would start the third-phase filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam's (GERD) 74-billion-cubic-metre reservoir during the current flood season  which lasts until September  without Egypt and Sudan consent, again.

This comes though the two downstream countries have been for over a decade now adopting a diplomatic approach to persuade Ethiopia to sign a legally binding deal on the filling and operation of its GERD.

Egypt has repeatedly protested against Ethiopias moves on regional and international platforms to date, most recently by sending a letter to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the third time late in July to voice its rejection of the unilateral third filling.

Egypts latest letter was in response to a message received from the Ethiopian side on 26 July stating that Addis Ababa would continue filling the GERD reservoir during the current flood season, according to Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Hafez.

The third filling comes after Ethiopia unilaterally completed the first and second filling of the GERD, which Addis Ababa has been building on the Blue Nile since 2011, and started earlier this year operating the first turbine of the GERD to generate power.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry described such unilateral continued filling as a clear violation of the 2015 Declaration of Principles and a grave violation of the applicable rules of international law that oblige Ethiopia, as an upstream country, not to harm the rights of downstream countries.

Egypt stresses its demand for Ethiopia to be responsible and comply with the rules of international law and the principles governing transnational watercourses, Shoukry said in the letter.

The primal rule, Shoukry says, is avoiding significant damage, and holding Ethiopia fully responsibility for any significant harm to Egyptian interests that may result from Addis Ababas violation of its aforementioned obligations.

Egypt will not tolerate any prejudice to its rights or water security or any threat to the capabilities of the Egyptian people, for whom the Nile River represents the only lifeline, Shoukry said.

Egypt also reserves its legitimate right guaranteed in the UN Charter to take all the necessary measures to ensure and protect its national security, including against any risks that Ethiopian unilateral measures may cause in the future.

With Ethiopia continuing its unilateral acts and rejecting mediators at the now-stalled African Union-sponsored negotiations on GERD, questions have been raised on the options available for Egyptian diplomacy to change the current fait accompli and end Ethiopias intransigence.

A number of experts opined that Egypts diplomatic options include leaning on the UN and United Arab Emirates  the only Arab non-permanent member of the UNSC  to break the stalemate in stalled negotiations. Nevertheless, other experts have ruled out any influential role by the UNSC, especially amid the current global developments.

Egypts diplomatic campaign

It seems that Ethiopia will never stop its unilateral acts on GERD despite the pressures it faces, Attia Essawi, a long-time Africa expert at Al Ahram daily newspaper, told Ahram Online.

Egypt, however, will continue its diplomatic and media campaigns to expose the faulty Ethiopian stance to the international public opinion and the influential countries that share good relations with Ethiopia, including the US, Western European countries, Russia, and China, Essawi said.

The African affairs researcher stressed that the continuation of Egypts diplomatic and media campaigns will highlight to the world the countrys concerns regarding the potential horrible repercussions on its water interests.

Some 85 percent of the Niles waters in Egypt flow from the Ethiopian highlands through the Blue Nile  one of the Niles two main tributaries, along with the White Nile.

Egypt, which is considered one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, receives around 60 bcm annually  mainly from the Blue Nile  while its needs stand at around 114 bcm, placing the over 103-million country well below the international threshold for water scarcity, at 560 cubic metres per person annually.

This would pave the way for any international movements either through the UNSC or the US to bring all parties back to the negotiations table to reach a solution, Essawi said.

The GERD project violates international laws regulating transboundary rivers, which stipulate that a new project on a joint watercourse should not obstruct older projects built on these waters, Essawi said, shedding light on Egyptian and Sudanese concerns regarding the negative impacts of GERD, if operated and filled in the absence of an agreement, on their dams and water share.

Continuous US role

Through the recent visit by the US Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Ambassador Mike Hammer to each of Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, the US has been trying to bring views closer regarding GERD.

Late in July, Hammer met with Egyptian officials to advance a diplomatic resolution for GERD that supports the water needs, economy, and livelihood of all the people of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia, the US Department of State announced.

I came to Cairo on my first official trip to the region to hear from our Egyptian partners on the critical issue of the GERD and to better understand Egypts water needs, Hammer said.

He added the US is actively engaged in "supporting a diplomatic way forward under the African Unions auspices that arrive at an agreement that provides for the long-term needs of every citizen along the Nile.

The US attempts since 2019 to break the long-running stalemate between the three countries have failed despite reaching advanced levels.

Under Donald Trumps administration, Ethiopia pulled out of a final meeting and refused to sign a binding deal that was sponsored by the US Treasury Department and the World Bank in February 2020 to resolve the dispute.

To pressure Addis Ababa to sign a binding agreement with Egypt and Sudan, the US under Trump in September of the same year cut $100 million in US foreign assistance to Ethiopia. The Joe Biden administration reversed the decision in February last year.

"I had a deal done for them and then unfortunately Ethiopia broke the deal, which they should not have done. That was a big mistake, and we have stopped payment to them of a lot of aid because they did it, and they will never see that money unless they adhere to that agreement. But they built a dam which stops water from flowing into the Nile. You can't blame Egypt for being a little bit upset, right?" Trump told then-Sudanese pmrime inister Abdalla Hamdok.

Although tensions continue to exist between the US and Ethiopia over the ongoing conflict in Tigray, the Biden administration has taken a softer line on GERD. The US has reiterated support to GERD talks under the AU and invited the three countries to the negotiations table.

However, the US has imposed sanctions on individuals and parties due to their role in the Tigray conflict ongoing since November 2020, which led to gross human rights violations.

The US can play an influential role on GERD by using the carrot-and-stick approach, which means lifting sanctions if Ethiopia showed more flexibility with the negotiations, or else it will be subject to more sanctions, Essawi said.

Anticipated UAE role

The UAE shares warm relations with each of Egypt and Ethiopia, which has enabled the Gulf country to play a role in the GERD talks. In May and June this year, Abu Dhabi hosted two rounds of technical talks on GERD, which have failed to yield any tangible results.

Experts believe that the UAE has the chance to play a role in the GERD talks given the big role it played in ending two decades of hostility between Ethiopia and Eritrea since conflict erupted due to a border dispute in 1998, killing tens of thousands of people.

The UAE can also play a big role in the GERD issue in case Ethiopia extended its hands and changed its stubborn stance a little bit, Essawi said.

The UAE, which imports half of its meat needs from Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, which imports 20-30 percent of its meat from Ethiopia, and Kuwait, which hosts about 50,000 Ethiopian workers, are able to bridge the gap and reduce discord, Essawi said in previous remarks to Ahram Online.

The UAE has recently put the ball in the court of the AU, calling on the three countries to continue the GERD talks under the umbrella of the union in good faith and in the spirit of finding African solutions for African problems.

The UAE affirmed that the Declaration of Principles on the GERD agreed upon by the three countries in 2015 remains a basic reference for negotiations, according to a recent statement by the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the UN.

This comes despite the fact that the AU had failed to break the stalemate between the three countries on GERD over the past two years in the presence of representatives from the EU, the US, and the AUs legal and technical experts as observers.

The AU-brokered negotiations led by South Africa  the 2020s AU chair  from June 2020 until January 2021, and by the successor AU chair, DR Congo, until April 2021 without reaching an agreement due to Addis Ababas intransigence, according to the two downstream countries Egypt and Sudan.

Former Egyptian minister of irrigation and water resources Mohamed Nasr Allam recently said that the Emirati statement claims that the three countries have the same desire to reach an agreement on GERD despite knowing that Ethiopia obstructs all the ways leading to a deal that abides by the international law.

The UAE is throwing the responsibility of the negotiations to the impotent AU although Ethiopia has obstructed all attempts made by Egypt, Sudan, and the AU, Allam wrote on his Facebook page.

UNSC action unlikely

In September 2021, the 15-member Security Council has done his best regarding the GERD dispute, issuing a legally non-binding presidential statement that urges the three countries to resume AU negotiations and reach a binding solution to the crisis as soon as possible.

The AU, which is chaired by Senegal in 2022, has not brokered any negotiations for the $4.8 billion Ethiopian hydropower project since then.

Abbas Sharaky, a professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, says the council will not lift a finger after receiving the third Egyptian letter on GERD unless Cairo explains the issue from a security perspective rather than a technical one.

Sharaky thinks Ethiopia has made GERD a water bomb after increasing its capacity to 74 bcm instead of 11.1 bcm initially amid unstable geologic conditions.

This water bomb can be more destructive than a nuclear bomb as it endangers the lives of more than 20 million Sudanese people living on the banks of the Blue Nile, Sharaky wrote on his Facebook page, warning that the danger may extend to Egypt.

According to Sharaky, Ethiopia has already embarked on the third filling phase with a capacity of 5.5 bcm until 5 August. This raises the volume of water stored at the dam's reservoir to 13.5 bcm, he added.

The unilateral implementation of three consecutive filling phases for GERD and the operation of a turbines increase tensions in the region and can inevitably threaten security and peace in the region, Sharaky warned.

Sharaky said Egypts resorting to the UNSC for the third time despite the UN bodys ditching of the GERD issue last year and affirming that it is not entrusted with water issues indicates that the mega dam threatens regional security and peace.

On the other hand, Essawi believes that the UNSC will not take any action on GERD except at least its five permanent members, which include Russia, China, and the US, reached consensus over the issue, which is highly unlikely in light of the major differences between them.

The UNSC is not expected to take any action in the near future unless a water war takes place, Essawi said.

He added that it is also unlikely that the UNSC will authorise Egypt to use armed force against the dam especially amid the current global circumstances.

In addition, some permanent UNSC members, including Russia, have huge investment and security interests in Ethiopia and will not allow the UNSC to act under Chapter 7, Essawi stressed.

Although the AU-sponsored talks may resume over the coming months, as per the request of the three countries, a solution to the dispute seems out of sight, Essawi said.

In order to end the stalemate, Ethiopia has to abandon its rejection of a binding deal on GERD and the US and other influential countries, including the UAE, have to put foot, he noted.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Tuesday with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani the latest regional developments especially the Israeli aggression in the Palestinian Gaza Strip and the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire.

In a telephone call he received from the ruler of the Gulf state, El-Sisi and Al-Thani exchanged views about the regional developments in the framework of coordinating the Arab efforts to confront regional challenges, the Egyptian presidency said.

From his side, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian efforts led by President El-Sisi to strengthen regional peace and security especially lately with the success of the Egyptian brokerage to reach a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group earlier this week.

Qatars Emir also discussed with the Egyptian President other issues related to bilateral cooperation asserting that the Gulf state is keen to boost the current cooperation between the two countries.

They agreed to continue bolstering coordination and consultation regarding the ongoing regional developments to protect Arab National security.

Sheikh Tamim bin Al Thani visited Egypt in June for the first time since Cairo and Doha resumed diplomatic ties last year as part of Al-Ula agreement that ended an over three-year-long diplomatic rift.

Fighting between Israel and the Islamic Jihad started in Gaza on Friday after Israel assassinated prominent Islamic Jihad leader Taysir Al-Jaabari in Gaza through airstrikes, ending a year of calm in the enclave and prompting the group to retaliate.

Both Israel and the Islamic Jihad said that they had agreed to the Cairo-brokered ceasefire proposal.

The ceasefire came into effect on Sunday at 11:30 local time (8:30 GMT) after Egypt conducted intense communications with both sides to contain the escalation since the launch of the airstrikes.

The three-day Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip left at least 43 Palestinians dead, including 15 children and four women, and 311 wounded, the Palestinian health ministry said.

On Monday in a statement released by the White House, US President Joe Biden thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and the senior Egyptian officials who played a central role in this diplomacy, as well as Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar and his team for helping to bring these hostilities to an end.

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The Ministry of Health and Population said on Wednesday that a hearing survey has been conducted for 3.444 million children as part of a presidential initiative for early detection and treatment of hearing loss and impairment for newborns nationwide.

Some 198,519 children would be re-examined, a week after the first screening at the same unit, Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar said.

Around 21,235 children were referred after the second test to 30 hospitals and referral centers nationwide for higher evaluation and the start of medical treatment, the installation of a hearing aid, or the transfer of the child for a cochlear implant in accordance to his/her condition, the spokesman added.

Abdel Ghaffar highlighted that the childs failure to pass the second test in most cases does not mean that he has a hearing disability, but that he needs advanced tests at the referral centers of the initiative. He stressed that early detection of hearing impairment or loss avoids hearing impairment and facilitates treatment opportunities.

He added that nearly 7,585 non-Egyptian newborns residing in Egypt have been examined as well.

The initiative was launched in September 2019 at 3,500 health units and offices across all governorates, to conduct auditory screening tests for children from birth until the age of 28 days.



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Egypt has currently strategic wheat reserves that can cover domestic consumption for 7.2 months, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhy said on Wednesday.

In a meeting for the Committee to manage the Russian-Ukrainian crisis at Cabinet, Moselhy stated that the ministry succeeded in getting 2.7 million tonnes of wheat from different countries during the crisis including France, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Germany.

He added that Egypt has a strategic reserve of rice that covers 3.2 months while the strategic reserve of subsidized sugar covers 6.6 months.

The strategic reserve of subsidized oil covers 5.3 months while the strategic reserves of live meat cover about 14 months, the minister added.

In 2020, Egypt  the largest wheat importer  imported 12.8 million tonnes of wheat for about $3.2 billion, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).

In recent years, Egypt has imported nearly 80 percent of its grain from Russia and Ukraine through the Black Sea due to its high quality, competitive pricing, and geographical proximity.

In late July, the Minister of Supply stated that Egypt has received all the wheat shipments for which it had signed agreements with Russia and Ukraine prior to the war between the two countries, with the exception of one 63,000-tonnes shipment that is still stuck in the Black Sea.

About 300,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat that were bought by Egypt were stranded in Ukraine in May, Reuters reported at the time.

Egypt has harvested over 4 billion tonnes of wheat in the ongoing harvest season  which started in April and will continue until the end of August  with a total cost of EGP 23 billion according to officials.

Aside from the strategic food commodities reserves, the committee headed by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly discussed other related issues that impacts Egypt during the crisis.

According to Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, the number of Egyptian university students that are still in Ukraine is less than 100 students adding that around 600 Egyptian students who used to study in Ukrainian universities have joined Egyptian universities.

He revealed that the third and last evaluation test for Egyptian students who returned from Ukraine will be held next September.

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Senegal's main opposition alliance on Wednesday announced it would not appeal against the July 31 legislative election results.

Related Senegal elects parliament in test for presidential vote

The final figures must be published by the Constitutional Council, Senegal's highest court, no later than Thursday.

Provisional results, published on August 4, saw the presidential coalition lose an absolute majority, a first in history for the West African country.

President Macky Sall's coalition, which includes his party Alliance for the Republic (APR) and other parties, won 82 seats of the National Assembly's 165, the national vote-counting commission said, down from the 125 it won in 2017.

The opposition alliance won 80 seats in total, with 56 for "Yewwi Askan Wi" (which means "Liberate the People" in Wolof), a coalition led by the main opponent Ousmane Sonko, and 24 for the "Wallu Senegal" ("Save Senegal") coalition, led by former president Abdoulaye Wade.

Three other members of parliament come from the ranks of three other small party coalitions.

"The Yewwi-Wallu inter-coalition will not appeal to the Constitutional Council," said Dethie Fall, one of its leaders, at a news conference Wednesday, without specifying whether he accepted or contested the results.

Yewwi Askan Wi had complained on August 4 about the vote-counting commission "refusing" to let it "verify" the voting records in four localities in the north of the country, a stronghold of President Sall.

Fall also announced that the alliance will boycott the elections of members of the High Council of Territorial Communities (HCCT), an advisory institution comprising 150 members, 70 of whom are appointed by the president and 80 of whom are indirectly elected by local elected officials for five years.

That vote, scheduled for September 4, has aroused little interest domestically.

Several officials have called for the abolition of the institution.

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Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday.

The shootout came a day after a cease-fire ended three days of Israeli deadly airstrikes against the Palestinians the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a separate incident in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 17-year-old was killed by Israeli fire.

The Israeli occupation army said forces were responding with live fire, among other means, to a protest.

Israeli police said security forces encircled the home of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, who they say was wanted for a string of shootings in the occupied West Bank earlier this year. They confirmed that al-Nabulsi and another Palestinian militant were killed in a shootout at the scene, and that troops found arms and explosives in his home.

The Israeli occupation army said that troops came under attack from Palestinians throwing rocks, and that soldiers responded with live fire. It confirmed Palestinians were shot, but did not elaborate on their condition.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said three people were killed _ al-Nabulsi, Islam Sabouh and Hussein Jamal Taha - and at least 40 were wounded.

The armed wing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, the Al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, later claimed the three as its members and vowed retaliation. The Fatah party said the organization ``mourns its martyred sons'' and said the three had ``sacrificed their lives in defense of our great people and their right to freedom and independence.''

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China on Wednesday criticized a U.S. law to encourage processor chip production in the United States and reduce reliance on Asian suppliers as a threat to trade and an attack on Chinese business.

The law signed this week by President Joe Biden promises $52 billion in grants and other aid to investors in U.S. chip factories. It responds in part to warnings that supplies might be disrupted if China attacks Taiwan, which produces up to 90% of high-end chips.

The measure will ``disrupt international trade and distort global semiconductor supply chains,'' said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin. ``China firmly opposes that.''

Parts of the law ``restrict companies' normal investment and economic and trade activities in China,'' Wang said, without giving details.

Disruption in chip supplies following the coronavirus pandemic hampered production of goods from smartphones to autos and highlighted the world's reliance on Taiwanese chips and Chinese factories that assemble most electronic devices.

The ``CHIPS and Science Act'' calls for research spending that would total about $200 billion over 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

China has spent tens of billions of dollars developing China's own chip production industry. Its factories make low-end chips for autos and other products but cannot supply high-end smartphones and other devices.

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UAE-based GrubTech, which is a cloud kitchen and restaurant tech solutions provider, signed an agreement with Geidea, a e-payments and fintech platform, to provide services for the POSs of GrubTechs clients.

GrubTechs Egypt Country Manager Osama Harfoush and Head of Commercials at Geidea Ahmed Magdy signed the agreement in the presence of GrubTechs Founder and CEO Mohamed Al Fayed, the General Manager of Geidea in Egypt Ahmed Nader, and the Commercial Director of GrubTech in Egypt Ahmed Walid.

Founded in 2019, GrubTech is a platform that provides tech solutions to manage cloud kitchens and restaurants that enables them to automate businesses and manage the food delivery process online.

Recently, GrubTech opened its office in Egypt which is the first in the North Africa region.

GrubTech also provides sales and marketing solutions as well as in-depth analyses of restaurant data that contribute to accelerating work and reducing costs.

Commenting on the agreement, CEO and Founder of GrubTech Mohamed Al Fayed said that part of the companys strategy aims at expanding by establishing grand commercial partnerships with the major key players in the food and beverages (F&B) market in the MENA region.

This cooperation will come into effect in Egypt, originally, and then it is planned to cover other countries that GrubTech operates in, including in MENA, Asia, and Africa, Al Fayed added.

Egypts Country Manager of GrubTech expressed his excitement about inking the agreement, asserting that it represents a significant step in terms of GrubTechs plan to build a system that integrates with its objectives to create a platform that contains all solutions the restaurants and cafes in the local market need.

For his side, General Manager of Geidea in Egypt Ahmed Nader said This agreement is imperative for Geidea in order to expand in F&B market that is growing rapidly in Egypt. It will enable cafe and restaurant owners to work more efficiently, while providing a better experience in terms of online food delivery. It will also help the business owners in increasing sales through utilizing multifarious trademarks through a single window in an easy way, Nader stated.

Through collaborating with GrubTech, we target expanding our operations in the F&B sector by introducing cutting-edge e-payment solutions. The cloud kitchens and restaurants sector is notably growing in Egypt with accelerating digital transformation, which gives us a significant opportunity to provide an all-in-one operating system that eases the process for our clients, according to Magdy.

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The recently-established Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC), which is owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), has acquired minority stakes in four Egyptian state-owned companies in a deal worth $1.3 billion, the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE) announced on Wednesday.

The four companies are Abu Qir Fertilisers and Chemical Industries (ABUK.CA), Misr Fertilisers Production Company (MFPC.CA), Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling (ALCN.CA) and E-Finance for Financial and Digital Investments (EFIH.CA).

All four companies are listed in the Egyptian Exchange (EGX).

The deal implements a June agreement between Egypt and Saudi Arabia that aims to boost PIF investment in Egypt.

The SEIC aims to support the Egyptian economy amid the ongoing global economic crisis by directing Saudi investments into infrastructure; real estate; healthcare; financial services; food and agriculture; as well as manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.

Chairman of TSFE Hala El-Said, who is also the minister of planning and economic development, expalined that the deal comes as a part of the country's strategy to maximise the value and utilisation of the state-owned assets by enlarging the ownership base of state-owned companies and fostering foreign direct investment, El-Said stressed.

The deal also comes within TSFEs strategy that focuses on attracting direct foreign and Arab investments across various sectors in the Egyptian market, the minister added.

El-Said stressed that the deal reflects foreign investor confidence in the Egyptian economy as a promising strategic market that enjoys numerous attractive investment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Saudi side said on Wednesday that the SEIC's acquisitions in the four companies is in line with PIFs strategy of exploring new investment opportunities in the MENA region.

The PIF aims to support the creation of long-term strategic economic partnerships to achieve sustainable returns to maximise the fund's assets and diversify Saudi Arabias economy in line with Vision 2030.

According to the Saudi side, the SEIC will contribute to boosting access for PIF and its portfolio companies, along with the Saudi private sector, to a variety of investment opportunities in Egypt.

New investments in Egypt will help drive long-term commercial returns, as well as enhance cooperation across many strategic sectors within the Egyptian market, the Saudi side added.

Yazeed Alhumied, deputy governor and head of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Investments at PIF, stated that the SEIC's establishment comes in line with PIFs ongoing expansion domestically and globally, and in alignment with Saudi Arabia's 2021-2025 strategy.

"In light of the economic growth in the region, SEIC will capitalise on lucrative investment opportunities within a number of promising Egyptian economic sectors, which will also support the expansion efforts of Saudi businesses and other PIF portfolio companies. The strategic economic partnerships that PIF has established with many investors and leading companies are among the most fundamental elements of its success," Alhumied added.

Egypt has recently launched a new strategy to expand the role of the private sector in the economy as well as attracting more foreign direct investment

Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries such as UAE and Qatar, have recently committed to increasing their investments in Egypt with the aim of supporting the Egyptian economy against the harsh impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian war that exacerbated the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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By Trend

New German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ralf Horlemann has arrived in Baku, Trend reports via the ambassador's Twitter post.

"It's great to take up my duties as Ambassador in Azerbaijan. I am looking forward to exploring this beautiful country and to strengthening the German-Azerbaijani ties in the years to come," the diplomat tweeted.
Egypt is seeking financial support for environmentally friendly projects and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the run-up to the COP27 Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The EU has made four million euros available to Egypt under a cooperation agreement that is part of coordination efforts between the Egyptian Ministry of Environment and the EU to help protect the environment and support Egyptian industry.

The agreement, signed by Yasmine Fouad, the minister of the environment, is part of ongoing preparations to host the 27th session of the UN Conference of the Parties (COP27) Climate Change Conference in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh in November.

The grant will fund a portion of the third phase of the 145-million-euro Industrial Pollution Control Programme (EPAP) implemented in partnership with the EU, the European Investment Bank, the French Development Agency, and the German Construction Bank, Fouad said.

The EPAP, one of the Ministry of Environments largest initiatives, aims to help local industry improve its performance and comply with environmental laws and regulations. It also aims to help companies reduce their consumption of energy and resources in a way that supports sustainable development.

The companies the EPAP supports receive technical and financial help through monetary packages, including soft loans and grants, to encourage them to implement environmentally friendly projects that help to reduce pollution, Fouad said.

Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) enrolled in the programme receive grants of up to 30 per cent of the total cost of projects, Fouad said, adding that the EPAP is currently preparing and implementing projects that are environmentally compliant and energy efficient to the tune of more than 200 million euros.

The EPAP is designed to offer financial incentives to companies to enable industry to transition to a green economy and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. It provides innovative solutions to industry to enable it to make this transition.

All industrial facilities nationwide can benefit from the EPAP, Fouad said, adding that companies enrolled in the programme will receive help in reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, accessing export markets, making financial returns, improving productivity, and enhancing their competitive edge.

Fouad, ministerial coordinator and envoy at COP27, took part in a session on boosting investment in adaptation and risk-reduction efforts at the African Regional Forum on Climate Initiatives to Finance Climate Action and the Sustainable Development Goals held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the preparations for COP27.

Fouad reviewed ways of financing adaptation projects in Egypt within the framework of the countrys National Adaptation Strategy that has been amended and linked to the National Climate Change Strategy 2050 and the updated National Specific Contributions Plan 2030, both of which were recently launched.

She said financing came in two forms, the first from government and allocated to projects such as coastal erosion, nature-based solutions, and the protection of the Delta. The second form of financing is in the form of grants to help implement pioneering experiments such as planting different crops in Upper Egypt.

Egypt is implementing a large programme funded by the Green Climate Fund on integrated coastal zone management in several governorates, testing how nature-based solutions can protect and sustain the quality of life for local communities in areas most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, Fouad said.

Like many other African countries, Egypt is making adaptation efforts, such as flexible infrastructure that can protect beaches and limit coastal erosion, and these require financial aid.

Fouad emphasised that protecting the environment should be at the heart of adaptation efforts and that there should be diversified sources of financing to face common challenges such as food security, the availability of water, and beach protection.

Adaptation projects are often not attractive for banks to finance, while the environmental challenges can be greater than the financial aid available, she noted.

The focus should be on protecting the environment to reduce risks and support communities that are able to survive the effects of climate change. This should be linked to grants and loans for the environment, Fouad said, creating a comprehensive plan for diversified sources of financing, including the participation of the private sector and partners in development.

The African Regional Forum was held from 2 to 4 August as part of a series of regional forums prior to the COP27 Conference to bring together policy-makers, the private sector, and other stakeholders to work towards raising capital for emerging markets and developing economies, especially for projects that are regional priorities.

It also aimed to identify effective mechanisms for mobilising private financing for adaptation efforts in the face of climate change.

Emad Al-Din Adly, coordinator of the Arab Network for the Environment and Development, said the COP27 Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh was an opportunity for African countries to convey the message that developing and poorer countries will face the consequences of climate change despite the fact that they only contribute four per cent of harmful emissions.

He said that Egypt would focus on procuring the needed financial support for the African and developing countries to face up to the repercussions of climate change, including by adaptation efforts and efforts to achieve zero-carbon emissions.

COP27 will see negotiations on issues that directly affect the developing nations, and there will be efforts to turn the promises made at the previous Glasgow COP26 Conference into action on the ground, Adly said.

It will work towards empowering the developing countries with urgent financial and technical support to boost their ability to adapt to climate change in a sustainable manner and will stress the need to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, he added.

Figures presented by 13 Arab countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2020 say that they will need between $436 and $478 billion by 2030 to mitigate the repercussions of climate change, Adly said.

But only between $5.1 and $7.4 billion are channelled towards climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts in the Arab region on an annual basis, including international aid of between $3.6 and $4.9 billion that is largely concentrated in renewable energy investments, innovative partnerships, and financing arrangements that allow the use of public and private resources to help the Arab countries meet their commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement and achieve the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Adly said.

He said that the Arab region, one of the most water-scarce areas in the world, seeks to achieve benefits from adaptation and mitigation efforts, adding that the international finance allocated to mitigation is 3.5 times higher than the funding allocated to adaptation in the region.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 August, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Following its withdrawal from Mali, Frances declining influence in West Africa has escalated into a legitimacy crisis. Popular protests against French presence have erupted in Burkina Faso, Guinea, the Central African Republic and Chad, and Paris relations with a number of West African capitals have deteriorated considerably in recent months. This phenomenon has proceeded in inverse proportion to Turkeys growing influence in Africa to which testify a growing number of bilateral political, economic and security agreements between Ankara and countries in the region.

Capitalising on the fertile environment created by Frances shrinking profile in West Africa, Ankara has worked to establish broader and more solid alliances based on an array of interests ranging from the economic, technological and military sphere to culture, education and healthcare. Evidence of the strategic importance that Ankara attaches to its West African drive could be seen in the Turkish-African summit hosted in Istanbul in November 2021. The theme of the summit, the third of its kind, was Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity.

Not surprisingly, the end of Operation Barkhane and the withdrawal of French forces from Mali gave Ankara an opening to boost its relations to West Africa in counterterrorism. In November 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a military cooperation agreement with Niger, stating that his country aimed to support Nigers efforts to fight terrorism. In a similar spirit, Malian Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Maiga said his country was open to cooperation with Turkey in defence industries, adding that Mali needed friendly countries such as Turkey to help it fight terrorism.

But this is far from the only context in which Turkey has expanded its footprint in the continent. Energy is another. With the growing discovery of oil reserves in the region, Turkey has achieved major inroads in joint oil exploration and extraction projects with a number of West African nations. In Nigeria, Turkey has stepped in to fill the vacuum created by the departure of International Oil Companies (IOCs) from Nigerias oil and gas sector.

In tandem with such ventures, Turkey has been developing political and diplomatic relations in the area. For example, President of the Chadian Transitional Military Council, Mohamed Idriss Deby, paid an official visit to Turkey on 27 October 21. This was followed by the Turkish-African summit in November, attended by 16 African heads of state and 102 ministers. Then, in February 2022, Erdogan undertook an African tour that included Senegal, DRC and Guinea-Bissau.

Turkeys African drive seeks to achieve a number of aims, one of which is to market its defence manufactures. By the end of last year, Ankara had signed defence cooperation and sales pacts with Morocco, Ethiopia, Niger, Angola and Chad. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), Turkish arms sales to Africa had risen by 39.7 per cent as of December 2021, with exports reaching a record high of $2.793 billion in the first 11 months of that year.

More generally, Ankara seeks to invest in resources abroad as a means to boost its ailing economy. It is particularly interested in mineral resources (oil, uranium and gold), but also in developing African agricultural and livestock wealth. President Erdogan has frequently expressed how keen his country is to increase its volume of trade with Africa, which had topped $29 billion by the end of 2021.

Politically, Turkeys drive to forge and develop ties with North and West Africa is informed by a desire to strengthen its ability to rival French influence in the area, on the one hand, and to counter moves by Paris that Ankara sees as contrary to its interests in the Mediterranean. Analysts therefore expect Turkey to invest the progress it has made in its African relations in offsetting the mounting pressures it has encountered, not just from France but from Western powers in general. In this regard, Washington still sees Africa as a strategic sphere for countering its Russian, Chinese and Iranian adversaries, and observers have noted its concern that the French withdrawal from the Sahel has given an opening to Russian influence. Accordingly, despite its tensions with Ankara over a number of issues, the US might consider supporting Turkish presence in West Africa as a counterweight to Russia and Chinas growing influence there. If so, Turkey would naturally try to leverage this role to win concessions in areas of dispute between it and the West.

Ankaras foreign policies are often a projection of its domestic policies and concerns. In this instance, Turkeys growing presence in Africa is an asset under the belt of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) as it approaches the critical elections in the spring of 2023. This would be all the more the case if, in addition to the economic payoffs, it could boast victories in its contentions with the West. Turkey has been unable to retrieve the standing it once had in the Arab region, but Africa offers the AKP an opportunity to revive its dwindling status. Turkish opinion polls have shown steady declines in the popularity of the ruling party and its leader, Erdogan, against the backdrop of rising consumer prices and lower living standards.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 August, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Thursday to address the crisis at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex, the power plant that Kyiv and Moscow accuse each other of having bombed, diplomatic sources said.

A source in the Security Council presidency, currently held by China, told AFP on Wednesday that the meeting would occur August 11 at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT).

A second diplomatic source at United Nations headquarters in New York said the council's 15 member nations would gather at the request of Russia, one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, along with Britain, China, France and the United States, which hold veto power over UN resolutions.

Bombings on Tuesday night left at least 14 people dead in southeastern Ukraine near the Zaporizhzhia power plant, the largest in Europe and whose occupation by invading Russian forces has alarmed the international community.

The G7 group of most industrialized nations warned on Wednesday that Moscow's continued occupation of the plant "endangers the region," and called for return of the facility to Ukrainian control.

The tensions have brought back memories of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in then Soviet Ukraine, which killed hundreds of people and spread radioactive contamination over much of Europe.

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Spain has launched a pilot project to import grain from Ukraine by train to explore the possibility of using rail transport while maritime routes are blocked or restricted by war.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February has severely disrupted Ukrainian grain exports, hampering harvests and trapping up to 25 million tonnes of wheat and other grain in Kyiv's Black Sea ports.

The war has sent global food prices soaring and sparked fears of famine.

As part of the Spanish project, a Renfe freight train "consisting of 25 containers, each measuring 40 foot (12 metres)" left Madrid late Tuesday for the Polish town of Chelm near the Ukrainian border, the transport ministry said.

It will travel 2,400 kilometres (1,500 miles) to Chelm where it will collect 600 tonnes of grain and return to Barcelona in early September.

"This is a pilot project... to demonstrate the technical and economic viability of transporting grain via the railway network crossing Europe from Lodz in Poland to Barcelona," the ministry said in a statement.

The containers have been fitted with special liners to allow them to carry grain, the ministry said.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine signed a UN-backed deal brokered by Turkey to lift Moscow's naval blockade and release millions of tonnes of blocked grain, thereby helping avert a global food crisis.

A total of 12 ships have so far left three different Ukrainian Black Sea ports since then.

With the reopening, the Spanish project will also help "to analyse the capacity of land transport to support maritime routes," the ministry said.

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A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington was ready to quickly reach an agreement to revive the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), on the basis of the EU proposals.

Earlier, a senior EU official told reporters that no more changes could be made to the text, which has been under negotiation for 15 months, and said he expected a final decision from the parties within a "very, very few weeks." "It is a package proposal... You cannot agree with page 20 and disagree with page 50. You have to say yes or no," he said.

"What can be negotiated has been negotiated, and its now in a final text. However, behind every technical issue and every paragraph lies a political decision that needs to be taken in the capitals," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted. "If these answers are positive, then we can sign this deal," he added as EU, Iranian and U.S. prepared to leave Vienna.

The European Union on Monday said it put forward a "final" text to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as four days of indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian officials wrapped up in Vienna.

Iranian officials suggested that they did not regard the EU proposals as final, saying they would convey their "additional views and considerations" to the European Union, which coordinates the talks, after consultations in Tehran.

Iran has also made demands the United States and other Western powers view as outside the scope of reviving the deal.

For example, Iran has insisted the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, drop its claims Iran has failed to fully explain uranium traces at undeclared sites. Each side sought to put the onus on the other to compromise.

"They (the Iranians) repeatedly say they are prepared for a return to mutual implementation of the JCPOA. Let's see if their actions match their words," the U.S. spokesperson said.

Iran and six major powers struck the original accord in 2015 under which it agreed to restrict its nuclear program to make it harder to use it to develop atomic weapons -- an ambition it denies -- in return for relief from U.S., EU and UN sanctions.

In 2018, then U.S. President Donald Trump ditched the deal and reimposed harsh U.S. sanctions designed to choke off Iran's oil exports, its major source of export income and government revenue.

In response, Tehran -- which says its nuclear program is for power generation and other peaceful purposes -- began about a year later to breach the agreement in several ways, including rebuilding stocks of enriched uranium.

It has also enriched uranium to 60-percent purity -- far above the 3.67 percent that is permitted under the deal but below the 90 percent that is regarded as weapons grade.

U.S. President Joe Biden has sought to revive the agreement since he took office in January 2021 and negotiations -- indirect because Iran refuses to deal directly with the United States on the issue -- began in Vienna in April 2021.

Iran has also sought to obtain guarantees that no future U.S. president would renege on the deal if it were revived, as Trump did in 2018. Washington cannot provide such ironclad assurances because the deal is a political understanding rather than a legally binding treaty.

Iranian state media hinted at this issue on Monday. "The final agreement must ensure the rights and interests of the Iranian people and guarantee the effective and stable removal of sanctions," Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told Borrell in a call, state media reported.
The lightning strike initially caused a fire at just one oil tank, but that quickly spread early Saturday to a second one, triggering explosions at the facility. The explosions led to the fatality and the missing firefighters. Officials say the fire spread to a third storage tank late Sunday and is now threatening a fourth one out of the original eight tanks at the facility.

One firefighter has died, and 16 others are missing since the fire at the port of Matanzas began Friday night after a lightning strike. Authorities say more than 100 others have been injured, including 24 people who remain hospitalized.

A fire at an oil terminal in western Cuba has spread to a third tank as firefighters struggled to put out the blaze, officials said Monday.

The governments of Mexico and Venezuela have sent teams to help local firefighters put out the blaze. Authorities are using planes, helicopters and water cannons to try to stop the fire.

Governor of Matanzas province Mario Sabines told state TV that the containment effort is "very complex," according to Agence France-Presse. He said teams are preparing an operation to douse the flames with foam but said "this could take a while."

Officials say more than 5,000 people have been evacuated from around the port. The port of Matanzas receives crude oil and fuel imports, much of which are used to generate electricity on the island.

Smoke from the fire can be seen in Havana, located more than 100 kilometers away, according to The Associated Press. Health officials are warning residents to wear masks in smoke-affected areas and to avoid the rain. Officials say the cloud of smoke contains poisonous chemicals, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide.

The fire comes as Cuba is already facing shortages of electricity and fuel that has led authorities to impose energy blackouts. The power outages and economic troubles helped spark anti-government protests last year.
Powerful explosions erupted at a Russian air base in Ukraines Crimean Peninsula on Tuesday, killing one person and wounding five others, authorities said, but the cause of the blasts was unknown.

Russia's Defense Ministry said munitions blew up at the Saki base in the region seized by Russia in 2014, but it emphasized the installation had not been shelled.

There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian authorities, but there was widespread speculation on Ukrainian social networks that Kyiv's forces had hit the base with long-range missiles. Sunbathers fled a nearby beach as huge clouds of smoke from the explosions rose over the horizon, while authorities sealed off the area around the base within a radius of five kilometers.

Ukraine's forces have not attacked Crimea during Russia's offensive, now in its sixth month, with officials in Moscow warning Ukraine that any attack on Crimea would trigger massive retaliation, including strikes on "decision-making centers" in Kyiv.

But a small-scale, makeshift drone hit the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol last month, an attack blamed on Ukrainian saboteurs. The Saki base has been used by Russian warplanes to strike areas in Ukraine's southern region.
Actor Daniel Henney is set to make his first appearance in a Korean film in nine years with the action comedy "Confidential Assignment 2: International."

The sequel to the 2017 hit "Confidential Assignment" revolves around three detectives who team up in pursuit of an international crime organization. Henney plays an FBI agent who comes all the way to Seoul to work with a North Korean special agent and a South Korean detective played by Hyun Bin and Yoo Hae-jin, respectively.

Expectations are running high about the chemistry the three actors will generate.

Henney first rose to stardom in Korea with his TV debut in the 2005 hit series "My Name Is Kim Sam-soon" and expanded his activities to the U.S. His last Korean film was "The Spy" directed by Lee Myung-se in 2012. Since then he has focused on working in the U.S., appearing in "Criminal Minds" and other TV series.

The film's director Lee Seok-hoon said that he "created the character of the FBI agent with Henney in mind" for the sequel.

"Confidential Assignment 2: International" will hit local theaters in time for Chuseok next month.
Foreign Minister Park Jin met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Qingdao on Tuesday and asked him to help maintain peace and security on Korean Peninsula.

Park is the first minister in the Yoon Suk-yeol government to visit China. The two apparently discussed a wide range of issues, including the U.S.' Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery stationed in South Korea, Seoul's participation in a U.S.-led semiconductor alliance and cross-straits tensions heightened by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taiwan.

"We must adhere to a win-win strategy and protect stable supply chains," Wang said, voicing displeasure at the U.S.' Chip 4 alliance and other polices to reduce dependence on China.

Park said, "Peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula faces unprecedented threats. We ask China to play a constructive role so that North Korea will choose dialogue instead of provocations."
In a sign of solidarity between global pariahs, North Korea is discussing the dispatch of laborers to the Donetsk People's Republic, founded by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, to rebuild infrastructure there.

Denis Pushilin, the head of the DPR, told a local TV station that Donetsk is in discussion with North Korea over the dispatch of workers and an advance team from North Korea will visit Donetsk soon to make a final decision on what they could do there.

The North Korean regime made good money from labor export to various corners of the world before the UN Security Council banned the practice.

Pushilin said the DPR and North Korea are also in consultation about establishing embassies in each other's countries. "We have exchanged notes," he said. "Diplomatic relations are being established in the framework of recognition."

Like the Luhansk People's Republic, the DPR is a Russian puppet state proclaimed in 2014 in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbass.

On Feb. 21, three days before its invasion of Ukraine, Russia recognized their independence on the pretext of protecting ethnic Russians there. Only Syria and North Korea have also recognized them, while Belarus, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Sudan support Russia's recognition of them.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has welcomed in Baku Ramtane Lamamra, Algerian foreign minister and special presidential representative, Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

A tete-a-tete meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Bayramov Jeyhun and Ramtane Lamamra, Minister of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Special Representative of Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has just started, the ministry wrote on its Twitter page on August 10.

Following the one-on-one discussion, the sides held the expanded meeting of the delegations.

Meeting between Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Algeria with the participation of delegations from both sides has started, the ministry tweeted.

Bayramov welcomed the guest and conveyed his sincere congratulations on the 60th anniversary of Algeria's independence. The minister emphasized that there is a wide potential for the further development of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Algeria.

Talking about the importance of political dialogue and mutual visits between the two countries, the minister mentioned the historic visit of former Algerian President Abdelkader Bensalah to Azerbaijan to participate in the XVIII Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement and his meeting with the Azerbaijani president in October 2019.

The minister noted with pleasure the participation of the Chairman of the National People's Assembly of Algeria, Ibrahim Boughali, in the Baku Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network, as well as the participation of the Algerian representative in the Youth Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Bayramov spoke about Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan for 30 years, the post-conflict situation in the region after the 44-day war in 2020, issues related to the implementation of trilateral declarations, reconstruction of the liberated territories, and large-scale peace-building efforts by Azerbaijan. Information was given on the activities of Armenia contrary to its obligations and the obstacles it caused to peacebuilding.

It was emphasized that Algeria unequivocally supports Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity, its borders recognized at the international level, and demonstrated this position during the adoption of various resolutions, including in various international organizations.

Lamamra expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and noted the importance of maintaining the current political dialogue and the intensity of bilateral contact between the two countries.

He emphasized issues such as the further expansion of the dialogue between the foreign ministries and various institutions of the two countries, the development of energy and economic cooperation, and the creation of friendship groups between communities.

Lamamra talked about Algeria as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and its activities during its tenure as the chairman. He said that the initiatives carried out by Azerbaijan within the framework of its chairmanship from 2019 were important.

He also briefed about the political processes in the Middle East, and the work done within the framework of the League of the Arab States and the African Union. He said that it is important to solve international problems in line with the norms and principles of international law.

In addition to the bilateral framework, cooperation issues were discussed between the two states in multilateral international and regional formats, including the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The parties also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

After the meeting, the ministers signed the "Protocol on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria" and the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Algeria on visa-free travel of citizens with diplomatic and service passports".

Later, the ministers made statements on the results of the meeting at the press briefing.

"An agreement was signed on the abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic and service passports, as well as a protocol on holding political consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries," Bayramov said during a joint press conference with his Algerian counterpart..

Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan and Algeria have solid connections on international platforms and that there is a lot of room for collaboration in the economic sector. The minister said that Algeria strongly supports the Azerbaijani embassy's endeavors in this regard.

Bayramov emphasized the importance of high-level visits between the two countries and praised the Algerian delegation's participation in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) parliamentary network conference in Baku.

He stressed that Azerbaijan seeks normalization of relations with its neighboring nations.

The first internally displaced people's return to their native Aghali village in Zangilan District, according to Bayramov, marked the beginning of the first stage of the 'Great Return.'

"I briefed my colleague on the reconstruction activities, the return of former internally displaced persons to liberated Karabakh, as well as talked about the ongoing situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the non-constructive approach of Armenia," Bayramov added.

Addressing the conference, Lamamra stressed that Algeria supports the prospects of peace and stability in the South Caucasus based on international law.

"We aim to contribute to this issue. The role of Algeria as the former chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Azerbaijan as the current chairman oblige to this," he said.

The minister praised the fruitful conversation they had and expressed optimism for continued productive collaboration between the two countries.

He added that the establishment of a business council between Azerbaijan and Algeria is necessary.

"It's necessary to develop business contacts between our countries. To do this, we need to create a business council, which will contribute to the significant development of economic relations between Azerbaijan and Algeria," he said.

More active contact between the two ministries and governments, according to the minister, is required to realize the potential for bilateral partnership.
KYODO NEWS - Aug 11, 2022 - 00:17 | All, Japan

At least five members of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's new Cabinet were revealed Wednesday to have had relations with the Unification Church, despite a reshuffling that was aimed at purging links to the controversial religious group amid plummeting public support.

The revelations, made by the Cabinet members to the press, came as the revamp replaced seven ministers found to have had links with the church, including former defense minister Nobuo Kishi, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was fatally shot last month.

"I have only appointed (to the Cabinet) those who have agreed to examine their ties (to the church) and impartially review it based on the findings," Kishida said at a press conference.

"We do not recognize that the Unification Church's policies have inappropriately influenced those of the LDP's," he added.

Koichi Hagiuda was moved to the pivotal post of LDP policy chief, despite earlier revelations that he had given a speech at an event related to the church.

When asked at a press conference Wednesday if he would sever all ties with the group, Hagiuda said, "for our part, we will continue to make a clear distinction (between the party and church)."

Among new Cabinet members appointed Wednesday, Minoru Terada, a special adviser to Kishida named the new minister of internal affairs, said he paid 20,000 yen ($148) in October 2018 to attend an event organized by a group affiliated with the church, although he was not aware of it at the time.

Terada told reporters he ultimately did not attend due to scheduling issues and that he had never received any donations or campaign support from the group.

Akihiro Nishimura, the new environment minister, also said he had not been aware the church was involved in an event he had previously attended, thinking it was a "conservative forum."

Naoki Okada, appointed regional revitalization minister in his first Cabinet posting, said that a local secretary had attended an event of a group related to the church, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that a local secretary of his deputy Seiji Kihara had done the same.

Meanwhile, Katsunobu Kato, who returned to his former post as health minister, and Daishiro Yamagiwa, who retained his post as economic revitalization minister, both admitted to having previously paid "membership fees" to organizations affiliated with the church.

Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who retained his post, apologized for accepting an interview in 2012 with Sekai Nippo, a publication known to have close ties to the Unification Church, but said that he had not received donations or election support from the group.

LDP policy chief Sanae Takaichi, named minister for economic security, said she was featured in a monthly magazine released by a publisher affiliated with the church in 2001.

The controversy over the church, now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, began after Abe's killer told investigators that his mother's donations to the religious group had ruined their family's fortunes and he held a grudge against it.

Kenta Izumi, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, criticized the reshuffling, calling the new Cabinet lineup a "cover-up" for the Unification Church controversy.

"Despite (the LDP) saying it would conduct an impartial review, they have not clarified the links between many lawmakers and the church, which does not inspire public trust," Izumi said.

Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the church's Japan branch, said at a press conference Wednesday that he would find it "extremely regrettable if involvement with our organization was the criteria" for the Cabinet reshuffling.

Related coverage:

Just 2 women picked as ministers in Japan Cabinet reshuffle

Profiles of Japan PM Kishida's Cabinet members

Japan PM revamps Cabinet to reverse flagging public support
KYODO NEWS - Aug 10, 2022 - 10:18 | All, Japan

Six members of two apparently unrelated families were found dead in Aichi and Saitama prefectures on Tuesday and Wednesday, with local police investigating the deaths as suspected cases of murder and family suicide, respectively.

In the central prefecture of Aichi, three members of a family were found dead -- a 9-year-old girl and her 6-year-old brother inside a station wagon, and their 42-year-old mother in their home -- with murder suspected. Police are searching for the siblings' father.

In Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, three members of the same family found dead in their home are suspected of having committed suicide, while a fourth family member, a son of high school age, is in hospital with serious wounds.

In the Aichi case, a police officer found the bodies of the children covered with blankets in the station wagon after responding to an emergency call from a passer-by around 5:20 p.m. Tuesday reporting that "a car was about to go off a cliff" in Inuyama.

The bodies were later identified as those of Chiyu Tanaka and her younger brother Tora, investigative sources said.

In Saitama, police have yet to confirm the identities of the three people found dead in a house in Kawajima around 2:05 a.m. Wednesday, but they are believed to be a couple in their 40s and their daughter of grade-school age.

Police searched the house following an emergency call late Tuesday night from a male acquaintance of the couple, saying he had been "unable to contact them and visited their home, but there was no sign of anyone."

When police and firefighters broke a window to enter the two-story house, which was locked, they found four people lying inside with external injuries and bleeding heavily, police said.
By Maricar Cinco, KYODO NEWS - Aug 10, 2022 - 11:56 | World, Feature, All, Japan

Seventy-seven years on, war-displaced Filipino-Japanese descendants on an island province in the western Philippines continue to struggle to openly claim their roots.

But the descendants, known as Nikkeijin, who reside in Palawan, where anti-Japanese sentiment has run deep due to the casualties incurred on the island during World War II, have become increasingly emboldened about revealing their ancestry.

This month, they will finally launch in Palawan a branch of an organization that helps Nikkeijin to press their efforts to acquire Japanese citizenship.

Angelita Sakane, whose Japanese father Tamisuke Sakane was executed by Filipino guerillas and American soldiers they had teamed up with to fight the Japanese, is among those who will join the Palawan Nikkeijin chapter on Aug. 27. At 78, Angelita is the latest Nikkeijin to be recognized by a Japanese family court as a Japanese descendant.

Angelita, who is now frail and can barely speak, was finally given the recognition on July 20, after a five-year search for birth records and undergoing a DNA kinship test to prove her bloodline.

Organizing a Palawan chapter was "long overdue," said Palawan chapter president Margarette Lumauag, who said it had to be started for the sake of older descendants.

Lumauag, 64 and a third-generation Nikkeijin, said they are also hoping for acceptance and reconciliation with Filipinos, whose forefathers experienced war atrocities by Japanese soldiers.

Their group will be the 13th Nikkeijin chapter in the Philippines, with the others organized as early as the 1980s.

All Nikkeijin Kai chapters are under the umbrella organization Philippine Nikkeijin Kai Rengokai, which works with the Philippine Nikkeijin Legal Support Center to help descendants recover their Japanese identities.

In Palawan, the center traced 53 Nikkeijin since it began its work on the island in 2012. Thirty-one have since died without recognition by the Japanese government.

The Philippine office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said Japanese emigration in the Southeast Asian country peaked after around the turn of the 20th century as work in road construction and abaca plantations boomed in the Philippines.

But with the outbreak of World War II, Japanese men were repatriated, leaving behind Filipino wives and children, or were conscripted into the Imperial Japanese Army.

PNLSC Secretary General Norihiro Inomata said that in particular, "Palawan had a huge, sad history with the Japanese."

In 1944, Japanese soldiers reportedly burned alive 150 American prisoners in a military base in Puerto Princesa, a coastal city on Palawan, and executed a former Palawan governor and resistance fighter, who posthumously became known as a local war hero.

"I realized people never (easily) forgot these incidents," Inomata said.

Toward the end of the war, Filipino-American guerillas executed most of the Japanese civilians they thought were spies in Palawan, Inomata said, adding that anti-Japanese sentiment in the island province was passed on to succeeding generations.

He said the descendants over the years since the war have lost or discarded their documents, or deliberately changed family names to avoid retribution.

Some second-generation Filipino-Japanese children suffered discrimination in schools due to their physical features, according to Inomata.

When the Palawan Nikkeijin first met in May, they were surprised to find out that neighbors, fellow church parishioners, and even former schoolmates had been Japanese descendants all along.

"It's very symbolic," Inomata said of the encounter.

Ines Mallari, president of the federation of Nikkeijin, has called on younger descendants in Palawan to emerge as well.

Along with helping the few remaining second-generation Nikkeijin with pending citizenship petitions, the organization can also reconnect younger generations with their ancestry through Japanese-language classes it plans for September, said Mallari, adding that acquiring the language could also improve youth job opportunities.

"The war ended seven or almost eight decades ago. People have healed already," Mallari said, adding the time is ripe for the Nikkeijin (in the Philippines) to "take pride in your Japanese roots."
As 25,000 tourists are stranded in local hotels due to the recent epidemic flare-up, the southern Chinese city of Sanya has launched all-out efforts to provide better services and ease their financial burden.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service 
The photo taken on Aug. 9 in South Korea's Seoul shows sidewalk cordoned off because of heavy rainfall. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)

Up to 300 millimeters of rains are forecast for the metropolitan region through Wednesday, leaving five people dead and four missing in Seoul, while three died and two others were unaccounted for in Gyeonggi province.

Nine people suffered injuries in the province, and 391 people from 230 households in the capital area were displaced and took shelter in public facilities.

SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and six others went missing as South Korea's metropolitan region was pounded by heavy rains, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said Tuesday.

Over 100 millimeters per hour of rains hit the capital Seoul, the western port city of Incheon and Gyeonggi province, which surrounds Seoul, on Monday night.

The per-hour precipitation in Dongjak district of Seoul reached 141.5 millimeters at one point, marking the highest since August 1942.

Up to 300 millimeters of rains are forecast for the metropolitan region through Wednesday.

The photo taken on Aug. 9 in South Korea's Seoul shows high Han River water level. (Xinhua/Wang Yiliang)



The downpours left five people dead and four missing in Seoul, while three died and two others were unaccounted for in Gyeonggi province.

Nine people suffered injuries in the province, and 391 people from 230 households in the capital area were displaced and took shelter in public facilities.

One of the victims was a Chinese citizen who was killed in a landslide in the city of Hwaseong in Gyeonggi province at around 4:23 a.m. local time Tuesday, according to the Chinese Embassy in South Korea.

The heavy rains flooded railroads in Seoul and Incheon, leading to the temporary suspension of services in sections of some subway and railway lines.

Part of a highway, roads, underground roadways and riverside parking lots were blocked, and hiking courses at five national mountain parks were closed for safety concerns. Eight passenger ferry routes were left out of service.

Eighty-eight people were rescued from flooded streams.

The interior ministry has upgraded its flood damage watch level from "alert" to "serious."
A Cambodian scholar says that the U.S. is attempting to create instability and conflicts in Asia, and the ramifications of its hegemonic and bullying policy globally will be imminent and severe.

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said in a recent interview with Xinhua that the U.S. undermines the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries.

Matthews said that the weapon industry in the U.S. is eager to create a war-like atmosphere around the world.

Matthews stated that the U.S. hegemonic and bullying policy globally will not take the country too far.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
CARACAS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- President of Venezuela's National Assembly Jorge Rodriguez on Tuesday condemned U.S. sanctions against his country's largest airline and flag carrier Conviasa, and what he called a "hijacking" of a cargo plane in Argentina.

"Agents of the North American empire should know ... there is a river of people here who are rising up against the sanctions, who are rising up against the blockade, who are rising up against the attack on our company Conviasa," said Rodriguez.

The top lawmaker spoke in downtown Caracas, where thousands of protesters marched against the U.S.-led sanctions and illegal seizures of the nation's financial and nonfinancial assets abroad, including a cargo plane in Argentina, which belongs to Venezuelan company Emtrasur, a subsidiary of Conviasa.

The sanctions against Venezuela are the worst "that a country on this continent has ever suffered," said Rodriguez, a congressional deputy representing the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela.

The sanctions have mainly undermined the interests of children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups, he added.

On June 6, a Boeing 747 of Emtrasur, used to deliver humanitarian aid to the Caribbean and African countries, was seized by the Argentine authorities and was later impounded due to an order issued by a U.S. judge. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The military operations of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the Taiwan Island were righteous and necessary countermeasures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, said a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense Wednesday.

The operations also acted as a deterrent against the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' collusion with external forces in making provocations, said Tan Kefei, the ministry's spokesperson.

He made the remarks in response to media reports in Taiwan claiming that the mainland's military operations restricted Taiwan's strategic space.

The relevant exercises and training were open, transparent, professional, and followed domestic and international laws as well as international practice, Tan said.

"For the sake of the wellbeing of people in Taiwan, we will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But the PLA will leave no room for separatist activities of 'Taiwan independence' and external interference in any form," he said.

Ignoring the interests of the Chinese nation in exchange for gains of their own, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces have embarked on a road of no return, he said.

Currently, cross-Strait relations are again facing two options that will lead to two different futures, the Taiwan authorities should make the right choice, Tan said. 
by Elias Shilangwa

LUSAKA, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The desire to ensure the growing and continuous supply of mushrooms prompted Stephanie Sakala, a resident of Lusaka, the Zambian capital, to undergo a mushroom training program financed by China.

Sakala, the Operations Manager at Maiwase Farm, a subsidiary of Kasalari Development Corporation, and two other workers decided to undergo oyster mushroom growing training at the China-Zambia Agricultural Technologies Demonstration Center (ATDC) in March this year.

After undergoing training, she said they started the mushrooming project in June and that she was happy with what has been achieved in such a short time.

She said the training was worthwhile and the knowledge acquired will go a long way in ensuring all-round production of mushroom unlike the traditional way of waiting for the rainy season before seeing mushrooms.

"So far we are impressed. We did not expect this much of a harvest. When we started we thought we would get less than this. We have been overwhelmed with what has come out so far," she told Xinhua.

The farm, she said, managed to harvest 20 kg of oyster mushroom in the first week which moved to 50 kg and later to over 100 kg.

While acknowledging that the market for oyster mushrooms in Zambia was still a challenge, Sakala expressed confidence that with more sensitizations, Zambians will be able to appreciate it because of the benefits it has compared to traditionally grown mushrooms.

She further commended the training center on the training it has been providing because they cater to categories of people regardless of their educational background.

On future plans, she said the farms intend to venture into the growing of other mushrooms such as Button mushrooms as well as the production of seeds as currently there is a challenge in accessing the seeds.

Sydro Simantombwe, another beneficiary of the training program and a worker at Maiwase Farm, expressed gratitude for the training provided, saying he has been empowered with a skill he can use to empower himself.

He said he will use the knowledge acquired to train other people, adding that it was important that the growing of mushrooms throughout the year was encouraged in the country unlike depending on traditional mushrooms.

Theresa Sakala, who participated in the training in 2021, said the training has benefited her because apart from providing her a source of income, it has helped her employ some young people who were helping her.

She encouraged local people in Zambia to consider participating in the training so that they become self-employed instead of waiting for the government to provide them with jobs.

"They need to utilize such opportunities because mushrooming growing is very easy. It just needs commitment. It also has crazy profit," she said.

Diana Kamau, the Mushroom Instructor at ATDC, said she was happy to see people who have trained to put their knowledge into practice.

"I get impressed when I see mushrooms and I always encourage them to continue," said Kamau, who has been training farmers for the past 10 years.

According to her, the demonstration center has been conducting training for an average of 20 farmers per week with farmers coming from different parts of the country.

She was, however, grateful that the demonstration center was working with some civil society organizations that send their people for training so that they could train others in different parts of the country.

The training, she said, has been helpful to the farmers as they are meant to cater to all categories of people.

The ATDC started operating in 2011 as part of the Chinese government initiative mooted in 2006 across Africa to consolidate the China-Africa trade and agriculture cooperation.

The ATDCs are meant to transfer Chinese technology and new methods of production through demonstrations and training, with the ultimate aim of increasing agricultural productivity.

The mushroom project is just one of the training programs being provided by the ATDC. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced the appointment and removal of officials on Wednesday.

Zhang Xingwang was appointed vice minister of agriculture and rural affairs.

Huang Guo was named deputy commissioner of the National Medical Products Administration, replacing Chen Shifei.

Wang Aiwen, was removed from the post of vice minister of civil affairs.

Zhang Xu no longer serves as vice minister of culture and tourism.

Lin Wanhong was removed from the post of deputy director of the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration.

Liu Zhenfang no longer serves as head of the National Railway Administration.

Wang Annan no longer serves as director of the Yellow River Conservancy Commission. 
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has ended his working visit to the Republic of Turkiye.

A guard of honor was lined up for the head of state at Konya Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were seen off by Governor of Konya Vahdettin Ozkan and other officials.
TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Navy has rescued an Iranian ship from "unidentified" invading boats after armed clashes in the Red Sea the night before, the state-run IRIB TV reported on Wednesday.

Speaking in a televised interview on Wednesday, Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajoddini, a deputy commander of Iranian Navy's strategic operations, said that the naval forces immediately rushed to the scene upon receiving a rescue call from the Iranian ship under attack by unidentified boats.

After a heavy exchange of fire with the attacking boats, the Iranian Navy's escort team, led and commanded by the homegrown Jamaran destroyer, managed to save the vessel after forcing the invaders to retreat, Tajoddini said.

He stressed that ensuring shipping security and safeguarding the country's interests in the high seas and oceans are among the main missions of the Iranian Navy, whose escort team constantly patrols the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. 
HARBIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong on Wednesday stressed the need for opening-up and win-win cooperation to accelerate 5G development.

When addressing the opening ceremony of the 2022 World 5G Convention in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Wang urged efforts to improve new infrastructure related to 5G, promote technological innovation, and facilitate the integration of digital technology and the real economy.

China will deepen international exchanges and cooperation in its 5G development, Wang said, citing network construction, the setting of standards, research and development, application, and talent cultivation.

Both Chinese and foreign enterprises are supported in their participation in China's 5G development, he said.

Wang called on countries around the world to uphold true multilateralism, strengthen mutual trust in cybersecurity, share the benefits of technological innovation, and create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for 5G development. 
YINCHUAN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base has inked a deal on a spandex manufacturing project worth 4.47 billion yuan (about 661.1 million U.S. dollars) with Taekwang Industrial Co., Ltd. of the Republic of Korea (ROK).

An agreement on the project was signed on Monday in Yinchuan, capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as a highlight of an event held from Monday to Thursday to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK.

Spandex, known for its exceptional elasticity and abrasive resistance, has been widely used in modern textile industry such as the production of sportswear.

The Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industry Base, located in eastern Ningxia, is one of China's largest coal production bases and a coal-to-chemical industry base.

According to official data, a total of 33 ROK enterprises have made direct investments in Ningxia including spandex manufacturing and software development.

The total volume of foreign trade between Ningxia and the ROK reached 1.46 billion yuan in 2021, with a year-on-year growth of 105.6 percent.

Some 45 guests from the ROK, including officials and business people, will attend a series of activities in Ningxia during the four-day event.

A slew of cooperation agreements are expected to be signed online and offline in trade and investment, education, and sister-city relationships, among others, during this event. 
CARACAS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Venezuelans marched through the streets of the capital Caracas on Tuesday to protest U.S.-led sanctions and illegal seizures of the nation's financial and nonfinancial assets.

About 10,000 protesters took part in the demonstration called by the government to press for the recovery of the assets, the transportation minister and president of state-run airline Conviasa, Ramon Velasquez Araguayan, told the publicly-owned Venezolana de Television.

"We are going to march to the National Assembly (Congress) to offer a forceful demonstration by the Venezuelan people," he said, adding they will continue to mobilize until all seized assets are returned.

Among the assets is a plane belonging to Venezuelan company Emtrasur that was "illegally" impounded in Argentina due to an order issued by a U.S. judge, said Velasquez, adding the aircraft must be returned.

Venezuelan accounts at international banks have also been seized, he said.

Protester Irma Gomez told Venezolana de Television that as workers, "we ask the U.S. government to give us back what is ours. We do not agree with them continuing to take away from us what we have achieved through so much struggle."

Earlier in the day, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said via Twitter: "Venezuela marches today #9Ago to defend and recover illegally confiscated and held national assets."

On Monday, the president said the march would be the starting point of a "great campaign" to recover the nation's assets. 
A Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying 16 new satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Aug. 10, 2022. The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time (0450 GMT) and entered the planned orbit successfully. (Photo by Zheng Bin/Xinhua)

TAIYUAN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday sent 16 new satellites into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern province of Shanxi.

The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched by a Long March-6 carrier rocket at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time and entered the planned orbit successfully.

The new batch of satellites is mainly used in the fields such as commercial remote sensing and atmospheric imaging.

This launch marked the 432nd mission for the Long March series carrier rockets. 

A Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying 16 new satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Aug. 10, 2022. The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time (0450 GMT) and entered the planned orbit successfully. (Photo by Zheng Bin/Xinhua)

A Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying 16 new satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Aug. 10, 2022. The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time (0450 GMT) and entered the planned orbit successfully. (Photo by Zheng Bin/Xinhua)

A Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying 16 new satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Aug. 10, 2022. The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time (0450 GMT) and entered the planned orbit successfully. (Photo by Zheng Bin/Xinhua)

A Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying 16 new satellites blasts off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Aug. 10, 2022. The satellites, including a Jilin-1 Gaofen 03D09 satellite and Yunyao-1 04-08 satellites, were launched at 12:50 p.m. Beijing Time (0450 GMT) and entered the planned orbit successfully. (Photo by Zheng Bin/Xinhua)
Palestinians inspect the rubbles of residential buildings damaged by Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Aug. 7, 2022. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Israel's three-day attacks are regarded by analysts as a muscle-flexing by Israel's ruling Yesh Atid party.

It's feared that a new round of clashes might break the truce any time, given the deep-seated grudge between Israel and Palestinian factions.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- A ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip appears to be holding since Sunday evening, ending a rare preemptive strike by Israel at the besieged enclave.

Israel's three-day attacks, which came when the Gaza-based Jihad vowed to retaliate for the arrest of a senior Jihad member in the West Bank, are regarded by analysts as a muscle-flexing by Israel's ruling Yesh Atid party to win a broader base in the run-up to the parliamentary elections.

It's feared that a new round of clashes might break the truce any time, given the deep-seated grudge between Israel and Palestinian factions, especially the Gaza-ruling Hamas, and the lack of effective truce monitoring.

DRIVEN BY ELECTION INTERESTS

Key Jihad military facilities were bombed, and 44 people including two high-ranking commanders, were killed in Gaza during the three-day airstrikes by Israel.

Fire and smoke are seen during an Israel airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

Caretaker Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid claimed that the Israeli operation has achieved all goals and that Jihad's "entire military high command was killed."

It was unusual for Israel to make a preemptive strike on the Palestinian territory. Ibrahim Abrash, a political science professor from Gaza, told Xinhua that Lapid and Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz were motivated by their election interests to launch the attacks with an aim to gain reputation and support.

Israel will hold parliamentary elections in November, the 5th in less than four years. Now polls show the centrist Yesh Atid party led by Lapid could win fewer seats than the right-wing Likud bloc led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Through the latest confrontation, the Israeli government also intended to divert attention from its crackdown on Palestinians in the West Bank, including the endless arrests and land confiscation, and expansion of Jewish settlements, said Abrash, also a former official in the Palestinian Authority.

AN EASIER TARGET

In this round of conflict with Gaza, the Israeli military set their target very clearly: only the Jihad, not the Gaza-ruling Hamas, which is much more influential in the enclave with stronger military prowess.

Israel did not want to play "overtime" in the conflict, considering that prolonged conflict could drive Hamas to join.

Members of Israel Defense Forces Artillery Corps are seen near the Israel-Gaza border, on Aug. 7, 2022. (Ilan Assayag/JINI via Xinhua)

"There might be unnecessary failures and losses, no matter in terms of economic or military, and "therefore it sought to end the operations as soon as possible," Palestinian political commentator Ismat Mansour said.

On the other hand, the Jihad was believed to also want to reach a truce to stop the massive hemorrhage of members, as several commanders were killed and no signal of the release of its senior leader Bassam al-Saadi, whose arrest triggered off the recent conflict.

On Hamas' inaction on the Israel-Jihad conflict, Palestinian political analyst Nur Oda believed that it was probably because that Hamas has yet fully recovered from the bloody 21-day military conflict with Israel in May 2021.

Experts also hold that this time Israel may further divide the Palestinian armed groups in the coastal enclave and weaken their internal cohesion.

POLICY INERTIA

Israeli political commentator Gideon Levy said that no strategic goal other than policy inertia could be seen behind the fresh Israeli raids on Gaza.

"There are no goals, except the desire to prove that ours is bigger," said Levy in his opinion article published by Israel's Haaretz newspaper.

Anything less than recognizing Hamas, lifting the siege on Gaza is a direct continuation of the policies adopted by all Israel's governments, he added.

"The ceasefire will not solve the whole Gaza problem, nor will the greater Palestinian conflict with Israel," Assaf Orion, a senior researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, told Xinhua.

Mourners carry the bodies of Palestinians killed in clashes with the Israeli soldiers during a funeral in the West Bank city of Nablus, on Aug. 9, 2022. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua)

Both sides know it is uncertain how long the ceasefire will last. What stood in the way are not only the outstanding issues between the two warring sides, such as the Jihad's insistence on releasing its jailed members, but also the absence of a strong monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement, making another round of conflicts still looming.

On Monday, only one day after the ceasefire went into effect, Jihad General-Secretary Ziad Nakhaleh threatened to resume attacks if Saadi and another member currently held in Israel are not released.

However, Israeli Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev told public broadcaster Kan that Israel has rejected the Jihad's demand.

Sporadic clashes already broke out between the Israeli military and Palestinians in the West Bank, days after the truce and may ignite an escalating conflict at any time. 
QINGDAO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has expressed his condolences over the casualties caused by the heavy rains in Seoul and its surrounding regions.

Wang made the remarks during his talks with Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province on Tuesday. In response, Park expressed his appreciation.

Eight people were killed while six others went missing as the ROK's metropolitan region was pounded by heavy rains, and the country's interior ministry has upgraded its flood damage watch level from "alert" to "serious." 




MOMBASA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Launched on May 31, 2017, the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR, financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has injected fresh vitality into Kenya's economic pillars, including tourism, manufacturing and agriculture, through enhanced mobility of passengers, goods and services.

According to Philip Mainga, the managing director of state-owned Kenya Railways Corporation, the modern railway has transported 20 million tons of cargo and about 8 million passengers in the last five years, elevating Kenya's status as regional manufacturing, trade and logistics hub.

Gloria Chahonyo, who has been in the hospitality industry for decades, told Xinhua that the SGR has contributed largely to the success of tourism in the port city of Mombasa.

"I have been in hospitality for almost 20 years, but I think SGR was a great idea. I think it opens up the coast not only to the international market. I feel the most important market which is our core market in Bamburi beach is the local market. SGR was the best thing for that. It's affordable. It's quick. It's easy to get to for most of the people. So for tourism, I think it's a good thing. I feel that it will open up the border for us as well, seeing as we are the gateway to the landlocked countries in East Africa," Gloria Chahonyo said.

Small and medium-sized enterprises have also seen a change in growth in terms of business.

This has created employment and business opportunities around the railway stations and towns along the various stops from Mombasa to Nairobi.

Beatrice Mbiku, a female cashier at a nearby restaurant, said that a large influx of travelers has made her business thrive and created additional jobs for local youth.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service






DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Tuesday wished neighboring Kenyans peaceful general elections as they went to the polls to vote for their leaders.

"I am praying God be with you (Kenyans) as you fulfill your constitutional right of getting leaders of your choice in a peaceful environment, unity, harmony and solidarity," President Hassan said in her official tweet. "Wishing you all the best."

President Hassan was inspecting the Njombe region in the country's southern highlands Tuesday.

Millions of Kenyan citizens on Tuesday cast their ballots at about 46,229 polling stations across the country to elect the country's fifth president as well as members of the National Assembly, senators, and county governors.

William Ruto, Kenya's sitting deputy president and presidential candidate under the Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) Alliance, cast his ballot at 6 a.m., local time, Tuesday at a primary school located in his ancestral Sugoi village in the northwestern county of Uasin Gishu. Soon after casting his ballot, Ruto said he will respect the election outcomes, after months of heated campaigns.

Ruto is running for the presidency with three other candidates including his closest rival, Raila Odinga, a veteran opposition leader who is running for the presidency under the Azimio La Umoja (Resolution for Unity) One Kenya Coalition. Odinga also cast his ballot at a polling station in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, later Tuesday. 
By Trend

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that his Mar-A-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, has been raided by FBI agents, Trend reports citing Reuters.

"After working and cooperating with the relevant Government agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate," Trump said in a statement.

Trump did not say why the raid took place.

Mar-A-Lago "is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents," he said. "They even broke into my safe," Trump said.

The U.S. Justice Department has launched an early-stage investigation into Trump's removal of official presidential records to his Florida estate, a source familiar with the matter said in April.

The investigation comes after the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in February notified Congress that it had recovered about 15 boxes of White House documents from Trump's Florida home, some of which contained classified materials.

The U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee at that time announced it was expanding an investigation into Trump's actions and asked the Archives to turn over additional information. Trump previously confirmed that he had agreed to return certain records to the Archives, calling it "an ordinary and routine process."
Mourners carry the body of Palestinian teenager Mo'men Jaber during his funeral in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Aug. 9, 2022. Four Palestinians were killed on Tuesday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

RAMALLAH, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Four Palestinians were killed on Tuesday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.

Among the victims were three from the northern West Bank city of Nablus and one from the southern city of Hebron.

The clashes in Nablus broke out when Israeli special forces stormed the city before dawn, hunting for wanted Palestinians over their suspected involvement in carrying out attacks against Israel.

The Israeli police said in a statement that Israeli forces encircled the home of Ibrahim al-Nabulsi, wanted by Israel for carrying out a series of shooting attacks in the West Bank this year, in the old city of Nablus.

In a separate statement, the Israeli military said its troops traded fire with "several terrorists" inside al-Nabulsi's home, killing three Palestinian gunmen, including al-Nabulsi.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said the Israeli soldiers even opened fire at the Palestinian ambulances and prevented medical teams from entering the area to evacuate the victims.

In Hebron, 17-year-old Mo'men Jaber was shot in the chest and succumbed to his wounds during clashes with Israeli soldiers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Tension mounted across the West Bank following the clash in Nablus, with Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem all seeing fierce conflicts between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian youths, according to Palestinian eyewitnesses.

The youths burned tires, chanted anti-Israel slogans, and threw stones at the soldiers who fired teargas canisters, rubber bullets, and live ammunition to disperse them, said the witnesses.

The clashes come after a three-day conflict between the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Israeli army that ended on Sunday, which left 44 Palestinians killed and at least 360 injured. 

People mourn Palestinian teenager Mo'men Jaber during his funeral in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Aug. 9, 2022. Four Palestinians were killed on Tuesday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian teenager Mo'men Jaber during his funeral in the West Bank city of Hebron, on Aug. 9, 2022. Four Palestinians were killed on Tuesday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. (Photo by Mamoun Wazwaz/Xinhua)
A medical worker gives a dose of monkeypox vaccine to a recipient in Chicago, the United States, on July 25, 2022. (Photo by Vincent Johnson/Xinhua)

The researchers said that "current findings indicate that community transmission of monkeypox is widespread and is disproportionately affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; this is consistent with data reported from other countries."

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- New data published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 99 percent of monkeypox cases in the United States are in males.

The report released on Aug. 5 also showed that 94 percent of those male infected patients reported male-to-male sexual or close intimate contact during the three weeks before symptom onset, and racial and ethnic minority groups appear to be disproportionately affected.

Moreover, the data from the report, which was gathered from reported cases of the virus in the United States from May 17 to July 22, showed that clinical presentations of some patients differed from typical monkeypox, with fewer persons experiencing prodrome and more experiencing genital rashes.

These epidemiologic details should guide treatment and vaccine protocols, the authors of the study said, adding "current findings indicate that community transmission of monkeypox is widespread and is disproportionately affecting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men; this is consistent with data reported from other countries."

It noted that although the largest proportion of cases have occurred in white persons, Black and Hispanic persons, who represent 34 percent of the general population, accounted for more than one half (54 percent) of confirmed monkeypox cases.

As of Monday, the United States had the world's most number of confirmed cases of monkeypox, which stood at 8,934. It is likely that the figure is a severe undercount because of the lack of testing. 
NANJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has accomplished all tasks in the series of joint military operations carried out recently in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island, a spokesperson with the Command said Wednesday.

The operations involving troops of multiple services effectively tested the armed forces' integrated combat ability, said Shi Yi, spokesperson with the Command.

The Command will closely follow the development of the situation across the Taiwan Strait, continue to carry out military training for war preparedness, and organize normalized combat-readiness security patrol in the Taiwan Strait to defend China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Shi said.

The military operations around the Taiwan Island began on the night of August 2, when Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, landed in China's Taiwan region.

The rocket force under the Command launched multiple types of conventional missiles targeting designated maritime areas to the east of the Taiwan Island while the army conducted precision strikes on specific areas in the eastern part of the Taiwan Strait, according to Shi.

Over the past few days, troops from the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistic Support Force under the Eastern Theater Command conducted joint exercises and training in the waters and airspace off the northern, southwestern and southeastern coasts of the island, including operations of joint blockade, assault on ground and sea targets, airspace control, joint anti-submarine drill, and integrated logistics and support.

The armed forces' integrated combat ability has been improved and their readiness in contingency response been tested, Shi said.

New armaments including stealth fighters, multiple launch rocket systems and YY-20 refueling aircraft were applied in the operations. 
SANYA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Donning a hazmat suit, Lai Yuming began his volunteer work to help with the nucleic acid testing at a hotel in Sanya, a coastal resort city in south China's Hainan Province.

Lai, a physician at Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in central China's Hunan Province, came to Sanya for a trip with his colleagues.

But their travel plan was disrupted by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, and they were stranded with more than 3,000 other tourists at the airport as their return flights were canceled.

Local authorities later made arrangements for their temporary stay in 11 hotels.

But, instead of staying at the hotel and waiting, Lai and his colleagues decided to volunteer to aid the local anti-epidemic fight.

"The local government and hotel staff have done a lot for us, and we hope to do as much as possible to help Sanya," Lai said.

Lai's colleague, Liu Meifang, also joined the volunteer work. "We're grateful for the arrangement made by the Sanya government," Liu said.

Between Aug. 1 and 9, over 2,400 COVID-19 infections were reported in Hainan, of which about 1,900 cases were detected in Sanya.

More than 8,500 people from 18 provincial regions across China have been drafted in to help Hainan in fighting the latest COVID-19 resurgence. Liu said that even if she had not been on vacation in Sanya, she would have still come to the city to actively support Hainan's anti-epidemic work during this critical time.

When cluster infections began to emerge, about 80,000 tourists were stranded in Sanya, a key tourist destination in Hainan, and many of them have voluntarily thrown themselves into the local anti-epidemic efforts.

In a warehouse in Sanya's Tianya District, Chen Yi, from east China's Zhejiang Province, is busy moving medical supplies with other volunteers.

Chen, who runs a trade company in Wenzhou City, fell in love with Sanya after visiting the city for the first time in 2008. Sanya has hence become his ideal vacation destination and he visits the city multiple times every year.

"I love Sanya so much that I want to do a small part to help the city recover soon," Chen said.

Thanks to the concerted efforts and swift response measures, the first batch of 125 stranded tourists embarked on their journey home Tuesday afternoon, and arrangements will soon be made for the remaining tourists.

"This is my first visit to Sanya. It's a really beautiful city, but I didn't have enough time to enjoy the trip. I will definitely come again in the future," Lai said. 
People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at Town Square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States, May 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Especially in Uvalde, families and community members show little faith that adding more police officers to monitor school property will do much good to protect students and staff, referring to the 376 law enforcement agents who responded to the May 24 shooting and failed to intervene for 74 minutes.

by Brooke Crum

UVALDE, the United States, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- As students and staff across the United States are returning to classrooms for the first time since the Uvalde school shooting in which 19 students and two teachers died in May, many are wondering whether school officials have done enough to secure campuses and quell the fears of families sending their children back.

Especially in Uvalde, families and community members show little faith that adding more police officers to monitor school property will do much good to protect students and staff, referring to the 376 law enforcement agents who responded to the May 24 shooting and failed to intervene for 74 minutes.

Uvalde resident Tina Quintanilla-Taylor, with her daughter Mehle standing next to her, said at an open forum with the city's school board Monday night that she doesn't feel comfortable sending her kids back to school in September.

Her son has special needs and must attend school in person, so she is worried about his safety because she can't keep him at home to learn virtually, said the mother.

"I'm scared about this as a parent in this community," she said. "I am very, very scared."

Adam Martinez, another Uvalde resident, told the forum that when he told his son that more police would patrol schools this year, the boy said, "who cares about the cops? They're not going to go in anyway."

People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at Town Square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States, May 31, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

Resident Diana Olvedo-Karau said families are worried about sending their children back to school, despite the fact that the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) has started adding 8-foot-high fences around campuses and will have 33 Texas Department of Public Safety officers at schools.

"Will police respond appropriately?" Olvedo-Karau asked. "At the end of the day, there's still no accountability for what happened. The administration, the law enforcement community in this city want it to go away."

At the forum, many people in the audience criticized the administration for not firing suspended school police chief Pete Arredondo and for reinstating former Robb Elementary Principal Mandy Gutierrez to a new administrative role. A woman at the meeting held a red sign with white letters that read "we want accountability."

Uvalde CISD Superintendent Hal Harrell acknowledged at the forum that trust has been broken between the community and district leadership.

"It's going to take a while to regain that trust," he said.

The Uvalde school district has poured almost 4.5 million U.S. dollars into school safety upgrades and mental health resources for students since the May 24 shooting, but families still don't feel that district leadership has done enough to rectify the failures that they say led to the shooting.

Most of the money, which comes from grants and donations, has been used to add fences, security vestibules at the front entrances of schools, door locks and cameras. The district also received a 750,000-dollar federal grant to provide counseling support services.

The status of Robb Elementary School, where the shooting took place, is still unclear. Harrell announced in June that the school would be demolished but said this week that it is still being used for investigative purposes. Robb served about 540 students in grades 2-4.

People mourn for victims of a school mass shooting at Town Square in Uvalde, Texas, the United States, May 30, 2022. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

When school starts from Sept. 6 in Uvalde, students who would have gone to Robb will instead go to another two elementary schools. A virtual academy will be available for families who don't want to send their students back to school.

Across the country, some schools have sharpened the emergency operations plans they would employ in the event of an active shooter situation, while others have "hardened" campuses by making them less vulnerable to outside threats. That involves adding fences around the perimeter of schools, security cameras and campus monitors who would walk the halls and ensure doors are locked.

Nationwide, school systems also are adding more police officers on school campuses. In Livingston Parish schools in Louisiana, officials approved a 3-million-dollar agreement with the sheriff's office and several police departments to pay for daily patrols of all 52 campuses in the parish, The Advocate reported.

Other states have pushed for more guns in schools. At least 29 states, including Texas, allow school staff other than police or security guards to carry guns in schools, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Ohio lawmakers have made it easier for teachers and other school staff to carry guns on school grounds after the Uvalde shooting, reducing the number of required hours of training from 700 to 24, The New York Times reported.

While the Uvalde shooting was the deadliest so far in 2022, there have been 27 school shootings in 2022 that resulted in injuries or deaths, according to the school shooting tracker of Education Week, an independent news organization. There have been 119 since 2018, when Education Week began tracking such incidents. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- As a result of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China has suspended China-U.S. talks on climate change and all the consequences should be borne by the United States, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

"Firstly, the countermeasures taken by China are justified and a reasonable response to Pelosi's provocative visit to Taiwan," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing.

China has repeatedly made clear to the U.S. side that the one-China principle is the political foundation for China to develop bilateral relations with other countries, he added.

In disregard of China's strong opposition, Pelosi insisted on her provocative visit to China's Taiwan region, seriously harming China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

This trip was in fact conducted with the connivance and support of the U.S. government, which has undermined the political foundation of China-U.S. relations and is bound to cause major disruption to bilateral exchanges and cooperation, Wang added.

"Since China has already said this before, the U.S. side should not be surprised," he said.

Secondly, all the consequences of the suspension of China-U.S. talks on climate change, which is a result of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, should be borne by the U.S. side, Wang said.

"As a responsible major country, China will, as always, take an active part in international and multilateral cooperation on climate change," he added.

China will remain committed to the goal of carbon peaking and neutrality, take an active part in negotiations on major channels of climate change, provide support and assistance to other developing countries within its capacity, and make its own contribution to tackling the global challenge of climate change, Wang said.

Thirdly, the U.S. side should earnestly undertake its historical responsibilities and obligations in the field of climate change, Wang said.

"China has always maintained that in tackling climate change, we cannot rely on shouting slogans without taking action," Wang said, adding that the U.S. Supreme Court has recently passed a ruling limiting the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Also, the United States has used Xinjiang-related issues as an excuse to impose sanctions on China's photovoltaic companies, which has directly undermined the atmosphere of China-U.S. cooperation and the efforts of China and other countries to address climate change, he said.

"Such a contradictory approach has raised doubts about the ability and determination of the U.S. side to deal with climate change. The United States should earnestly fulfill its historical responsibilities and due obligations in addressing climate change and stop making excuses for its inaction," he said. 
WELLINGTON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's long-tailed bat is seen as a tasty snack by cats. New research confirms what has long been suspected - feral and domestic cats are repeatedly hunting and eating the country's native bats.

Researchers report an observation where seven of these critically-endangered bats, or pekapeka-tou-roa in Maori, were killed or injured by cats in a rural landscape over two years.

Bats are the only land mammal native to New Zealand.

According to a research paper published in the New Zealand Journal of Zoology on Wednesday, there is little data available about confirmed attacks in New Zealand, but in Britain, cats are thought to kill as many as 250,000 bats annually, so the researchers suggest the full impact in New Zealand is "substantial."

Department of Conservation (DOC) Science Advisor Kerry Borkin examined the gut contents of a feral cat trapped in the North Island's Pureora Forest Park and found the remains of a lesser short-tailed bat. She also recorded the reoccurring hunting of long-tailed bats by a pet cat owned by a nearby household living on a rural property, who discovered pekapeka remains around their home.

"The two cases we report on are just the tip of the iceberg," Borkin said, adding not just feral cats killing and eating the precious pekapeka, pet cats are killing and injuring them too, which is an important point to know in protecting New Zealand's only native land mammals.

The two cases explored in the research demonstrate how a single cat - feral or domesticated - can impact a local bat population, she said.

Although not all cat attacks on pekapeka will result in its death, they will reduce the overall likelihood of survival for individual bats and populations, Borkin said, adding native bats can be found in towns, cities, farms, and forests - if cats are there too, then bats are at risk of being killed.

Domestic cat owners who live in areas with bats and other native wildlife can make their pets more conservation-friendly with a number of approaches outlined on the DOC website.

DOC has a legislated mandate to control feral cats on public conservation land and has an advisory role to the National Cat Management Strategy Group, Borkin said. 
HONG KONG, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- At the heart of Central, the bustling business district in Hong Kong surrounded by skyscrapers, an unusual "building" has attracted the attention of many locals.

Made mainly of bamboo, iron wires and fabrics, a brightly colored, four-story-high lantern has set a new Guinness World Record for the highest hanging paper lantern in the world. The lantern will be on display from the beginning of July to mid-October, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland.

The creator behind the traditional Chinese paper lantern is Ha Chung Kin, also known as the "king of paper crafting" in Hong Kong. Having worked as a paper craftsman for more than 40 years, the 61-year-old has witnessed both the glorious and difficult times of paper crafting, now recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in Hong Kong.

BREAKING RECORD

It was not the first time that Ha has set a world record. Back in 2017, he made a paper lantern above nine meters high, taking home a Guinness record for the world's largest hanging paper lantern. But the record was soon broken by the Japanese.

"The paper crafting technique has been developed and handed down by our Chinese ancestors. We can't lose to others," Ha said.

To win the record back, a lantern must be of a height of 13 meters or higher, and that would require a significant amount of experience from the craftsmen.

This time, Ha took the role as the teacher, or "master", in guiding his students and some disadvantaged groups in making the lantern. In two years, master Ha and his students worked together on the components of the lantern, and every substandard part would be carefully fixed.

On the first day the lantern was completed, Hong Kong was hit by a typhoon.

"My phone kept ringing and people kept asking if the lantern would be destructed by the wind. I assured them it would be okay," Ha said.

The typhoon was gone, and the lantern was just as good. Ha said that since he knew from the very beginning that the lantern would be displayed outdoors for three months, he had already taken into account factors like typhoons in the design, and used the best fabrics and other raw materials.

The colorful lantern also attracted John Lee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who paid a visit there and took a selfie.

"It is very exciting to see another world record made through an extraordinary display of skill," he said.

PRESERVING TRADITION

Paper crafting is a technique that embodies the history and culture of different ethnic groups and carries significant social and cultural values. Ancient Chinese people used simple materials such as bamboo splints, rice paper strips as well as paper to make all kinds of crafted products, including lanterns, dragons, lions and paper offerings.

Back in the early 20th century, the industry was booming in Hong Kong, with large-scale paper crafting workshops making substantial profits. In the 1960s, hand-made lanterns were popular even outside China, and craftsmen can make a sound living exporting their products overseas.

However, as traditions give way to the modern city lifestyle, the technique of paper crafting also risks losing its successor. Ha remembered his workshop has some 20 paper crafting "masters" during the 1980s, but there are only four now, including himself and his son.

"The young people would rather make quick money in finance than spend a whole day here facing the same bunch of people," Ha said.

In 2017, the paper crafting technique was put on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hong Kong. Under government support, Ha and other craftsmen started to teach citizens and students the technique through various workshops.

At a local primary school, Ha teaches the students how to make a fish-shaped paper lantern for holiday celebrations. He makes the body of the fish, while the kids are responsible for the scales.

"Every day after school they would make one fish scale to put on the lantern. It will be done in more than one month, just in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival," he said.

REMEMBERING ROOTS

In his career as a professional craftsman, Ha has made thousands of artworks, but there is a single creation that he is most proud of.

The requirement from the client was simple: Ha could make any papercraft he wants as long as the artwork could be understood by viewers instantly.

Ha spent several days brainstorming, but with no luck. The TV was on and news came that Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei came back safe from China's first human spaceflight mission.

"The idea struck me instantly that I should make a craft that speaks the spirit of Chinese astronauts," he said.

In 15 minutes, he drew up the script for the paper craft, which featured astronauts, rockets and astronomical objects nearby. The project was displayed in a park, where many citizens came by to take photos.

For Ha, the Chinese mainland is both his source of inspiration and his roots.

As the youngest son of the renowned lion dance master Ha Kwok Cheung, Ha grew a deep passion for traditional Chinese culture from a young age. His grandfather was a martial arts master from Guangdong Province, who developed Kung Fu skills both on the mainland and in Hong Kong.

Ha also traveled to Guangdong Province on a regular basis to find sparks for paper crafting, and exchanged ideas with locals on how to better protect cultural heritages.

In Dongguan of Guangdong, Ha has a factory with more than 300 workers making different kinds of paper crafts.

"Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland must work together for the paper crafting technique to survive and develop," he said.

Ha is confident that the demand for paper crafts always exists.

"We Chinese like to put on lanterns or perform lion dances during festivals and on big occasions. Wherever Chinese are, there is always a demand for paper crafts," he said. 
CAIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed on Tuesday the latest regional developments, highlighting concerted Arab efforts to address regional challenges, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.

In their phone conversation, the Qatari emir expressed appreciation for Egypt's latest success in mediating a cease-fire between Palestinians and Israelis in the Gaza Strip, calling it part of the country's efforts to strengthen regional peace and security, according to the statement.

He also expressed Qatar's keenness to build on current cooperation between the two countries to open new horizons.

For his part, Sisi stressed the close ties that bring together the two countries within the framework of Arab solidarity.

The two leaders also agreed to push forward the mechanisms of mutual consultation and coordination on all issues to safeguard security in the Arab world.

In the three-day Israeli airstrikes on Gaza that ended on Sunday in an Egypt-brokered truce, at least 44 Palestinians, including 15 children and four women, were killed, and more than 360 injured.

In June, the Qatari emir visited Egypt for the first time since Cairo and Doha ended their over three-year-long diplomatic rift early last year.

In January 2021, the Arab quartet of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the Al-Ula Declaration with Qatar, ending their all-around boycott of Doha since mid-2017. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China published a white paper titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" on Wednesday.

The white paper was released to reiterate the fact that Taiwan is part of China, to demonstrate the resolve of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people and their commitment to national reunification, and to emphasize the position and policies of the CPC and the Chinese government in the new era.

Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence, according to the white paper.

The UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is a political document encapsulating the one-China principle whose legal authority leaves no room for doubt and has been acknowledged worldwide, says the white paper.

The one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community; it is consistent with the basic norms of international relations, says the white paper.

"We are one China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable," says the white paper.

The CPC is committed to the historic mission of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification. Under its resolute leadership, people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits have worked together to de-escalate tension across the Straits. They have set out on a path of peaceful development and made many breakthroughs in improving cross-Straits relations, according to the white paper.

Under the guidance of the CPC, great progress has been made in cross-Straits relations over the past seven decades, especially since the estrangement between the two sides was ended. Increased exchanges, broader cooperation and closer interactions have brought tangible benefits to people across the Straits, especially of Taiwan. This fully demonstrates that cross-Straits amity and cooperation are mutually beneficial, says the white paper.

"The realization of complete national reunification is driven by the history and culture of the Chinese nation and determined by the momentum towards and circumstances surrounding our national rejuvenation. Never before have we been so close to, confident in, and capable of achieving the goal of national rejuvenation. The same is true when it comes to our goal of complete national reunification," says the white paper.

China's development and progress -- in particular, the great achievements over four decades of reform, opening up and modernization -- have had a profound impact on the historical process of resolving the Taiwan question and realizing complete national reunification, according to the white paper.

The actions of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have resulted in tension in cross-Straits relations, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and undermining the prospects and restricting the space for peaceful reunification. These are obstacles that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification, says the white paper.

External forces have encouraged and instigated provocative actions by the separatist forces; these have intensified cross-Straits tension and confrontation, and undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. This runs counter to the underlying global trends of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and goes against the wishes of the international community and the aspiration of all peoples, says the white paper.

Relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan's separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. The wheel of history rolls on towards national reunification, and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force, says the white paper.

Peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification. Embodying the Chinese wisdom -- we thrive by embracing each other -- they take full account of Taiwan's realities and are conducive to long-term stability in Taiwan after reunification, according to the white paper.

"To realize peaceful reunification, we must acknowledge that the mainland and Taiwan have their own distinct social systems and ideologies. The 'one country, two systems' principle is the most inclusive solution to this problem. It is an approach that is grounded in democratic principles, demonstrates good will, seeks peaceful resolution of the Taiwan question, and delivers mutual benefit. The differences in social system are neither an obstacle to reunification nor a justification for secessionism," says the white paper.

"We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification; but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form," it says.

"We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances," it adds.

The future of Taiwan lies in China's reunification, and the wellbeing of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. "We will join hands with our fellow Chinese in Taiwan to strive for national reunification and rejuvenation," says the white paper.

Once peaceful reunification is achieved under "one country, two systems," it will lay new foundations for China to make further progress and achieve national rejuvenation. At the same time, it will create huge opportunities for social and economic development in Taiwan and bring tangible benefits to the people of Taiwan, it says.

Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole, says the white paper. 

Full Text: The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era
Export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port up over 90 pct yoy

Xinhua) 08:52, August 09, 2022

Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles being shipped onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Staff work during the shipment of commercial vehicles onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles being shipped onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

A staff member checks commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows commercial vehicles before their shipment onto a ro-ro cargo vessel to depart for Africa at Qingdao Port in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. By far this year, the export volume of commercial vehicles from Qingdao Port has grown over 90 percent on year-on-year basis. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Electronic Security Service under the Azerbaijani Digital Development and Transport Ministry has warned against possible cyber-attacks in the country, Azernews reports.

Given the recent increase in cyber-attacks on Azerbaijans Internet resources, the Electronic Security Service has recommended owners of Internet information resources tighten security measures, continually monitor their resources, and temporarily block requests from outside when required.

According to the service, targeted attacks are being carried out on various internet information resources belonging to Azerbaijan as part of the cyber-attack campaign launched against the country in recent days.

The main purpose of the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks is to limit the availability of services provided through information resources, it added.

As a result of the attacks, there were short-term interruptions in the operation of some taxi services and a number of Internet information resources belonging to banks, mass media, and other various service areas.

According to the Electronic Security Service, owners of Internet information resources were warned about prospective cyber-attacks and given proper assistance.

At the moment, authorities are working together to prevent attacks and mitigate their impact.

In the event of a cyber-attack, the service requested internet users to notify the agency using the 1654 hotline, www.cert.az online information resource, and e-mail address [email protected].
YAOUNDE, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- One soldier and four civilians have been killed in Boko Haram attacks in Cameroon's Far North region, according to security and local sources.

Militants of the terror group ambushed and killed a soldier at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday in the Kolofata subdivision of the region, a military official familiar with the attack told Xinhua.

The soldier, identified as Corporal Tchana, was riding with his colleague on a motorcycle along Zeleved and Ldaoussaf road in the subdivision when the militants opened fire, killing him on the spot. His colleague is still missing, the official who asked not to be named said.

Overnight into Tuesday, the militants attacked two civilians who were riding along the road in Kolofata, killing one and wounding another, according to locals who buried the corpse early Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, the militants killed three internally displaced men who were working in their farms in Kolofata, according to local media.

Kolofata is one of the strongholds of Boko Haram in Far North region since the terror group began offensives in the region in 2014. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Finance issued this year's second batch of renminbi treasury bonds in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Wednesday, according to a statement of the ministry.

The second batch worth 5 billion yuan (about 739.5 million U.S. dollars) included two-year bonds worth 4 billion yuan and ten-year bonds worth 1 billion yuan, the statement said.

The issuance was well received by institutional investors with the total bid amount reaching 21.79 billion yuan, 4.36 times the amount in circulation, it said.

The ministry planned to issue treasury bonds worth 23 billion yuan in four batches in the Hong Kong SAR this year. The third batch worth 5.5 billion yuan will be issued in October. 
DAMASCUS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Abu Salem al-Iraqi, a senior Islamic State (IS) leader in southern Syria, blew himself up during a Syrian security operation in the southern province of Daraa on Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported on Wednesday.

Citing a security source, SANA said the Syrian security forces carried out a security operation, which led to al-Iraqi detonating his explosive belt after being encircled by the Syrian forces inside a house in the town of Adwan in the western countryside of Daraa.

Al-Iraqi had received several gunshots before detonating his explosive belt, said the report.

Opposition activists said the explosion injured a civilian hostage taken by al-Iraqi and a local militant who was negotiating with him while he was besieged.

Al-Iraqi, an Iraqi national, sneaked into Daraa after IS was defeated in the Yarmouk Camp area south of Damascus. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- With the resurgence of infections in neighboring countries, China's COVID-19 prevention and control efforts are facing increasing pressure, a health official said Wednesday.

Nine provincial-level regions in China have each reported more than 100 COVID-19 cases since August, with over 2,000 infections in Hainan, said Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC).

The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sanya, a coastal resort city in south China's Hainan Province, is still evolving at a high level, said Mi.

The epidemic situation in provincial-level regions like Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Guangdong is evolving rapidly, Mi said, cautioning about the risk of community spread.

The NHC spokesperson added that the recently reported cases in the Tibet Autonomous Region also pose a high risk of spread.

The epidemic situation in some provincial-level regions that previously reported infections has been brought under control, according to Mi.

Noting that working groups have been dispatched to affected regions to aid containment efforts, Mi reiterated the importance to guard against imported cases and domestic resurgence and adhere to the dynamic zero-COVID policy.

As of Tuesday, 3.427 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland. Nearly 239 million elderly people aged 60 or above had been vaccinated against COVID-19, the NHC spokesperson said. 
* Provided that China's sovereignty, security and development interests are guaranteed, after reunification Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region: white paper



* After reunification, foreign countries can continue to develop economic and cultural relations with Taiwan: white paper

* All Taiwan compatriots who support reunification of the country and rejuvenation of the nation will be the masters of the region: white paper

BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday released a white paper to expound on the position and policies of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government to achieve national reunification in the new era, including the envisioning of a new special administrative region (SAR) for Taiwan.

The white paper, titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era," is the third one on the Taiwan question in the history of the People's Republic of China. The first two were issued in August 1993 and February 2000.

Provided that China's sovereignty, security and development interests are guaranteed, after reunification Taiwan will enjoy a high degree of autonomy as a special administrative region, according to the white paper released by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the State Council Information Office.

The release of the white paper is a powerful countermeasure against "Taiwan independence" separatists and external interference, said Lau Siu-kai, vice president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies.

"It helps debunk the smears of 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and the United States and other Western countries, and fully demonstrates our strong will and determination to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation," Lau said.

Taiwan has belonged to China since ancient times. This statement has a sound basis in history and jurisprudence, says the white paper, adding that the one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community.

"We are one China, and Taiwan is part of China. This is an indisputable fact supported by history and the law. Taiwan has never been a state; its status as part of China is unalterable," says the white paper.

"Never before have we been so close to, confident in, and capable of achieving the goal of national rejuvenation. The same is true when it comes to our goal of complete national reunification," says the white paper.

A spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee said the white paper demonstrated "our strong confidence toward complete national reunification, our resolute determination in fighting against separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external interference, as well as our original aspiration in safeguarding the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits."





OBSTACLES THAT MUST BE REMOVED

Blasting the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the white paper says that the actions of the DPP authorities have resulted in tension in cross-Straits relations, endangering peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, and undermining the prospects and restricting the space for peaceful reunification.

"These are obstacles that must be removed in advancing the process of peaceful reunification," it says.

External forces have encouraged and instigated provocative actions by the separatist forces; these have intensified cross-Straits tension and confrontation, and undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, says the white paper.

Relying on external forces will achieve nothing for Taiwan's separatists, and using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to fail. The wheel of history rolls on toward national reunification, and it will not be stopped by any individual or any force, it says.



Under the current complex international and cross-Straits situation, the release of the white paper is conducive to exposing the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' collusion with external forces in making provocations, as well as their vicious words and deeds that attempt to undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity or stand in the way of its reunification, said the spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee.

The release of the white paper is timely and targeted at "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the interference of external forces, said Zou Zhenqiu, a national lawmaker and head of the Jiangsu provincial federation of Taiwan compatriots.

"No matter what the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external anti-China forces may do, the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same China will never change," he said.





PEACEFUL REUNIFICATION

Peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" are our basic principles for resolving the Taiwan question and the best approach to realizing national reunification, says the white paper.

"We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form," it says.

"We will work with the greatest sincerity and exert our utmost efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. In no way does it target our fellow Chinese in Taiwan. Use of force would be the last resort taken under compelling circumstances," it adds.

"The future of Taiwan lies in China's reunification, and the well-being of the people in Taiwan hinges on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This is becoming a consensus of Taiwan compatriots," said Cheng Kuang Yi, a young entrepreneur from Taiwan.

Cheng, who has been living on the mainland for 15 years, said more and more young people from Taiwan are coming to the mainland for study and work as the motherland provides great opportunities for their personal development.

In the meantime, these Taiwan compatriots have also taken an active part in the economic and social development of the mainland.

"We hope Taiwan compatriots will stand on the right side of history, be proud of their Chinese identity, and fully consider the position and role of Taiwan in China's rejuvenation," said the spokesperson for the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee.





TAIWAN AS SAR ENVISIONED

"To realize peaceful reunification, we must acknowledge that the mainland and Taiwan have their own distinct social systems and ideologies," the white paper says. "The 'one country, two systems' principle is the most inclusive solution to this problem."

The white paper says that after peaceful reunification, Taiwan may continue its current social system and enjoy a high degree of autonomy in accordance with the law.

Taiwan's social system and its way of life will be fully respected, and the private property, religious beliefs, and lawful rights and interests of the people in Taiwan will be fully protected. All Taiwan compatriots who support reunification of the country and rejuvenation of the nation will be the masters of the region, the white paper says.

With a powerful motherland in support, the people of Taiwan will enjoy greater security and dignity and stand upright and rock-solid in the international community, the white paper adds.

After reunification, foreign countries can continue to develop economic and cultural relations with Taiwan. With the approval of the central government of China, they may set up consulates or other official and quasi-official institutions in Taiwan, international organizations and agencies may establish offices, relevant international conventions can be applied, and relevant international conferences can be held there, according to the white paper.

Peaceful cross-Straits reunification is of benefit not only to the Chinese nation, but to all peoples and the international community as a whole, the white paper says. 
WINDHOEK, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A body condition assessment of lions in Namibia's northwest region has shown that lions maintaining home ranges further west, also known as desert-adapted lions, are in poor, though not dire condition.

That was disclosed by Romeo Muyunda, a spokesperson for the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in a statement.

The desert-adapted lion population in Namibia has increased over the past 20 years from approximately 20 lions in 1997 to about 100 at present, which has resulted in increased conflict between humans and lions, becoming particularly acute due to drought, Muyunda said.

According to Muyunda, since 2021, ten lions -- out of 80 to 100 lions excluding cubs of less than a year -- have been killed across the landscape, primarily as retaliatory killings following human-lion conflict incidents.

Following the lion body condition assessment, which was carried out between March and April this year, the ministry has overseen the collaring of more than 35 lions across the northwest to study behavior via movement patterns while also providing farmers, ministry staff, and lion rangers with notifications to prevent and mitigate human-lion conflict in the shared landscape.

"The Ministry will continue to monitor lion movements and conditions, together with the lion rangers, in these areas. This includes more than fifty lion rangers performing regular foot- and vehicle-based patrols, monitoring GPS-satellite collars, deploying early-warning towers at human-lion conflict hotspots, and intensive research on lion spatial ecology conducted by the Ministry and its partners," he said.

To maximize monitoring and communication effectiveness across the landscape, the ministry recently had early-warning systems rovers fitted in the vehicles to enable staff to communicate in real-time across the landscape, monitor collared lion movements, and respond to potential human-conflict incidents, Muyunda said.

The body condition assessment of lions in northwest Namibia was done for the first time following publicly-voiced concerns about their wellbeing, said Muyunda, who added that lions maintaining home ranges further east, along the escarpment and the communal regions west of Etosha, are thriving and in good condition. 
DAMASCUS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian forces repelled a rebel group attack in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib on Wednesday, state news agency SANA reported.

The army forces foiled an attempt of a "terrorist group comprising fighters from foreign nationalities" to sneak from the Nayrab area into the town of Jobas in the eastern countryside of Idlib, said the report.

Most of the rebels were either killed or wounded, it said.

Idlib has been the final major rebel stronghold in Syria, though some rural areas are under government control. 
FREETOWN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone said Wednesday they have successfully rescued an 11-year-old Sierra Leonean boy from a deep coma.

Liu Meng, a member of the team, said the boy lost consciousness for four hours and was in a deep coma when he was admitted Friday by the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Hospital where the team is based.

The boy, diagnosed with acute intracranial hypertension, accompanied by cerebral herniation, was immediately taken over by a squad of Chinese doctors.

"The condition of the boy was critical, the vital signs of the boy were sabotaged, and his life was under great risk," Liu told Xinhua.

The squad gave a tailored treatment to the boy with attentive care. After learning the fact that the boy's family could not afford the medical fees, the hospital decided to take no charge.

"After a five-day course, the boy turned into a talkative and smiling figure who can walk and move as usual. We were moved by the innocent smile that flashed again on the face of the boy," Liu said.

The team also handed over a package of medicines and food items and some cash as a token and demonstration of love and sympathy to the boy's family who praised the Chinese medical team and local medical staff for bringing the family's only child back to life.

"We are willing to dedicate our services to saving lives and helping the injured because we believe that great love has no boundaries, which is also the motto of the team," Liu added. 
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani State Border Service prevented the smuggling of 11.5 kg of drugs and psychotropic pills on the border with Iran, Azernews reports, citing the service.

The State Border Service of Azerbaijan successfully continues border protection measures in the field of ensuring the protection of the state border and combating drug smuggling.

At 2040 hours on July 27, the border guards serving in the area of the border post near Avash village of Yardimli District noticed the violation of the state border from Iran to Azerbaijan by two unknown individuals.

The service area had been sealed up. The smugglers dropped the package in their hands and rushed back toward Iran, disobeying the border guards stop command and warning shots and taking advantage of the dark weather and complicated terrain.

As a result of the border search and operational measures carried out in that area, in one package, a drug-like substance (opium) weighing approximately 5.025 kg and one "PULSAR HELION 2" thermal night vision device were found in the area.

The second incident took place at 2230 hours on August 5, when the border guard discovered signs of the state border violation from Iran to the area of ??the border post located near Astaras Kapicimahalla.

The area was cordoned off and the border search was launched following the inspection of the border strip and control devices.

As a result of the operational measures, border guards noticed a suspect getting out of a car that had stopped near the engineering technical fence near Kapicimahalla village at approximately 2300 and taking a package hidden in the bush after inspecting the surroundings.

Mammadov Ilgar (54), an Aghdam District resident, who had previously been convicted, was detained while attempting to take the package and leave the scene ignoring the border guards' stop command.

During the inspection of the package in his hand, methamphetamine pills with an approximate weight of 5.780 kg and 695 grams of narcotic substance (marijuana) were seized.

When the driver of the car saw Ilgar Mammadov was detained, he defied the border guard's legal obligations and drove away from the location at high speed.

The relevant Interior Ministry authority was alerted about the arrest of the car that left the scene, and as a result, the driver of the car, Khojavand resident Aslanov Anar (42), was detained by traffic police in Masalli District. It was established that Aslanov had previously been convicted for illegal drug trafficking as well.

Operational-investigative measures are underway into both cases.
SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The construction work for a water canal kicked off late on Tuesday in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province, the state-owned Bakhtar News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) at a cost of 100,000 U.S. dollars, the project was launched in Faizabad district and would irrigate 47 hectares of land, allowing more than 4,000 people to have potable water, the media outlet said.

Similarly, the news agency also reported that work for the construction of a water canal at a cost of 8.5 million afghanis (94,320 dollars) financed by UNDP began in Khogiani district of the eastern Nangarhar province recently.

The 8-km-long canal will irrigate more than 2,000 acres of land and benefit 18,000 local families, Bakhtar added. 
TOKYO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his cabinet and the executive lineup of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday as the administration faces slipping public support.

According to the lineup, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno remained in their posts, as Kishida aims to ensure continuity in the face of pressing economic and diplomatic issues.

LDP Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi and LDP Vice President Taro Aso also retained their posts.

Former Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada replaced Nobuo Kishi and took the defense portfolio again.

The new cabinet also includes LDP policy chief Sanae Takaichi as economic security minister. The party's PR chief Taro Kono was named digitization minister.

Kishida appointed industry minister Koichi Hagiuda with the key post of LDP policy chief, and gave the industry minister job to Yasutoshi Nishimura, a former economic revitalization minister who was in charge of the government's COVID-19 response. 
Fireworks light up the sky during the 57th National Day celebrations in Singapore, Aug. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

People take photos as a helicopter squadron passes by during the 57th National Day celebrations in Singapore, Aug. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

Parachutists present a sky diving show during the 57th National Day celebrations in Singapore, Aug. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

A helicopter squadron escorts a Singaporean national flag during the 57th National Day celebrations in Singapore, Aug. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)

Fireworks light up the sky during the 57th National Day celebrations in Singapore, Aug. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey)
NEW DELHI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- India on Wednesday launched an indigenous vaccine to contain the lumpy skin disease outbreak in cows, officials said.

The vaccine Lumpi-ProVac Ind -- developed by the two institutes of India's agriculture research body, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) -- was launched by the federal agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

The federal ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare said the vaccine launch has provided "a big relief to the livestock of the country".

The vaccine has been launched at a time when many Indian states are battling the outbreak of lumpy skin disease among the livestock.

According to the ministry, research institutes have been engaged in developing the vaccine ever since the disease came to India in 2019.

"Scientists accepted this as a challenge and undertook limited trials in a short period, and have developed a vaccine 100 percent effective complying with all standards, which will be effective in getting rid of the lumpy skin disease," the ministry statement said.

Tomar has directed officials to provide the vaccine in large numbers at the earliest for relief to the cattle.

According to official estimates, there are 300 million livestock in India.

Lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that spreads through blood-feeding insects like certain species of flies, mosquitos or ticks and through contaminated food and water. The disease causes acute fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, salivation, soft blister-like nodules all over the body and difficulty in eating among cattle.

Reports said the disease has now spread to Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Andaman and Nicobar. 
PARIS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires near Landiras, a city in France's southwestern department of Gironde, have burnt 6,000 hectares of land and evacuated more than 6,000 people from their homes, French daily news channel BFMTV reported on Wednesday.

More than 1,000 firefighters and an aerial fire brigade have been mobilized to put out the flames. Local authorities said high winds, heat waves and a persisting drought are likely to aggravate the fires.

The wildfires, which began in Landiras in July, reignited on Tuesday and spread to the neighboring department of Landes during the night.

In the city of Belin-Beliet, 16 homes were destroyed by the flames. No casualties were reported thanks to timely evacuation. The fires have also prompted evacuations in the cities of Hostens, Saint-Magne and Moustey, according to BFMTV.

Several roads have been closed, including the highway A63 linking the cities of Bordeaux and Bayonne, said local authorities, adding that heavy trucks are advised to bypass certain highways in the department.

The wildfires that broke out in Gironde last month were never extinguished and have burnt 20,600 hectares of land and evacuated at least 36,000 people, local authorities said.

In another development, wildfires that broke out on Friday in the mountains of Diois, in the southeastern Drome department, have burnt 280 hectares of land and are yet to be put out.

Likewise, wildfires raging in the departments of Lozere and Aveyron in southeastern France destroyed 700 hectares of land and evacuated more than 3,000 people in the cities of Mostuejouls and Riviere-sur-Tarn early Tuesday morning. 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis:

Aviation munitions went off at an airfield in western Crimea on Tuesday, causing no casualties so far, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Several aviation munitions were detonated at a storage area on the territory of the Saki airfield near the settlement of Novofedorovka, the ministry said, adding that the blast caused no damage to aviation equipment.

The ministry said measures are being taken to extinguish the fire and uncover the cause of the explosion.

- - - -

Twelve ships carrying more than 370,000 tonnes of agricultural products to seven countries left Ukrainian ports during the nine days since the "grain corridor" started operating, the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency on Tuesday cited a Facebook post of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority as saying.

"One ship entered the Chornomorsk port for loading," it added.

- - - -

Ukraine has received 50 Turkish-made Kirpi armored vehicles, Yuriy Mysyagin, deputy head of the Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, said Tuesday on Telegram.

The vehicles produced by Turkiye-based military vehicle manufacturer BMC were handed over to two marine brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Mysyagin said.

Another batch of 150 Kirpi vehicles equipped with machine guns and fire extinguishing systems is set to be delivered to Ukraine soon, Mysyagin added.

- - - -

From July 8 to Aug. 5, the number of foreign mercenaries in Ukraine decreased from 2,741 to 2,192, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

During this period, 335 foreign fighters were confirmed killed, and another 389 left Ukrainian territory on their own, the ministry said in a daily briefing, adding 175 more foreign fighters arrived in Ukraine in the meantime.

- - - -

The Ukrainian government on Tuesday signed an agreement with the World Bank to receive 4.5 billion U.S. dollars in grant funds from the United States, said the Ukrainian Finance Ministry.

The deal was signed by Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko and World Bank Regional Country Director for Eastern Europe Arup Banerji.

- - - -

Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Tuesday called for a peaceful solution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

In a post on his official Twitter account, Masisi said he had a telemeeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The two leaders also discussed the need for Ukraine to continue grain exportation to ensure food security particularly for African countries. 
PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Wildfires were still rampaging across southeastern France on Tuesday, with several firefighters injured and thousands of residents evacuated.

In the mountains of Diois in the department of Drome, wildfires that broke out on Friday are still not stabilized. Three firefighters have now been injured and 180 hectares of land burned, French daily newspaper Le Figaro reported on Tuesday.

240 firefighters were mobilized to bring the wildfires under control. However, local authorities say that due to shifting winds, the fires are spreading towards homes located downhill.

Aerial fire brigades were mobilized on Tuesday to help the firefighters located at the bottom of the summit.

Meanwhile, 140 kilometers away in the mountains of Chartreuse in the Isere department, wildfires broke out on Friday due to lightning. Local media reported that 130 hectares of land were burned, and three firefighters were injured out of 380 who were mobilized to tackle the blaze, along with the aerial fire brigade.

The wildfires are not stable but no progression has been reported since Tuesday morning, said local authorities. Meanwhile, 170 people were evacuated on Sunday, and several roads are still closed.

Additional wildfires in the departments of Lozere and Aveyron that broke out on Monday evening burned over 700 hectares of land, and over 3,000 people had to be evacuated. According to Le Figaro, more than 600 firefighters were deployed on Tuesday morning.

The fire in Lozere broke out on Monday evening due to an agricultural engine scraping tar from the road in the city of Massegros.

The extreme drought and heatwave in France have also contributed to the wildfires.

The villages of Riviere-sur-Tarn and Mostuejouls, and campsites in Aveyron were also evacuated.

"The flames were a few hundred meters away, the gendarmes and firefighters came to tell us to evacuate, we all had to leave during the night," bed and breakfast owner Gabin Castro told Le Figaro.

According to the European Forest Information System (EFFIS), more than 47,000 hectares of land have been burned in wildfires in France since the beginning of the year. 
BUDAPEST, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Major Hungarian oil and gas company MOL has tried to restart the flow of crude oil to Hungary by paying a transit fee to Ukraine, the company said on Wednesday. The oil will arrive in Hungary on Thursday.

Following negotiations with the Ukrainian and Russian parties on the resumption of the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline, MOL transferred the transit fees for the use of the Ukrainian section of the pipeline.

The payment provided a quick solution to the problem of crude oil delivery, MOL said, which had been halted on August 4 due to technical obstacles with banks. Before that, Russia's crude oil arrived in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic via the southern section of the Druzhba pipeline.

Local news portal Telex said that Russian oil exporter Transneft had sent the transit fee to Ukraine's accounts held in European banks, but the latter refused the payment from Russia, not wanting to break the European Union's economic sanction rules against Russia.

MOL also said that its subsidiary in Slovakia had made a payment in order to enable the resumption of the flux to Slovakia. 
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump declined to answer questions in a civil investigation into his business dealings on Wednesday morning.

After arriving at the New York attorney general's office for a deposition, Trump issued a statement saying that he would invoke the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The Republican also lashed out at New York Attorney General Letitia James for what he called a policy of "Get and Destroy Trump."

James' office has been conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization improperly inflated the value of assets on financial statements in order to obtain loans and tax benefits.

Trump's two children -- Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump -- were deposed earlier this month.

The deposition came two days after Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents raided Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

The unannounced operation was said to have involved classified materials that Trump allegedly took with him from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, when he left office in January 2021.

Neither the FBI nor the U.S. Department of Justice has commented on the raid, of which the White House has denied any advance knowledge. 
Last week Amber Heard was spotted in Israel, dining at a Tel Aviv cafe with one of her staunchest supporters, journalist Eve Barlow, who was barred from testifying in the Johnny Depp defamation trial. According to Fox News, the 36-year-old actor was with Barlow on Aug. 1 sitting at a table outside. After Depp's attorneys discovered Barlow tweeting and texting from the front row, which is reserved for attorneys, in the Fairfax, Virginia courtroom in April, for which Barlow was expelled.

As a result of Barlow disobeying a court order banning phone use, the Pirates of the Caribbean star's attorneys were successful in their motion to have Barlow permanently removed from the case. However, during the Fairfax County Circuit Court trial, Barlow continued to tweet unceasing messages of support for Heard outside of the courtroom.

The former deputy editor of the revered music publication NME and a contributor to New York magazine has denounced Depp supporters as misogynists and abusers. Online, Barlow has been viciously attacked by Depp backers.

In other news, Johnny Depp is appealing part of the verdict in his defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard"Now I will dip my big toe into the . cesspool of Johnny vs. Amber squabble and lay out a couple of facts in Amber's favor," he wrote in a Facebook post. "She is a strong supporter of Israel, Jews and Israel's cause...And expresses it by wearing a gold Jewish star around her neck."

He praised Heard's parenting and called her a "modest, polite, friendly, inquisitive self-effacing customer with high literary tastes." Since her memorable court case, Heard has kept a low profile.

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By Azernews

By Sabina Mammadli

The Azerbaijani Prosecutor-General's Office hosted a conference, titled "Ensuring cybersecurity of society in conditions of media freedom and the increasing influence of social media," Azernews reports.

The event was organized with the aim of improving the information environment in Azerbaijan and preventing the replication of false information.

During the conference, the basics and results of the use of acts of prosecutor influence in recent years in connection with violations in the field of mass media, and existing problems in the application of the rules of professional behavior of journalists were discussed. An exchange of views took place and proposals were presented.

The prosecutor-general, the executive director of the Media Development Agency (MEDIA), the chairman of the Press Council as well as heads of media structures, representatives of universities, and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) participated in the conference.
Lebanon: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon on Tuesday cautioned Israel against attempting to access offshore gas reserves while talks to resolve a maritime boundary dispute are being facilitated by the US.

Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed Shia Muslim political and military movement, warned supporters in Hezbollah's stronghold southern Beirut that "hands reaching for any of this money will be cut off."

In his televised speech commemorating the Shia mourning ritual of Ashura, he declared that "Lebanon's oil, gas and water resources must remain under its control and no one should be allowed to plunder the country."

The conflict heated up in the first few days of June when Israel moved a production vessel close to the Karish offshore area, which is partly claimed by Lebanon.

As a result, Nasrallah has repeatedly issued threats in response to Beirut's call to resume US-mediated talks.

On 2 July, Israel claimed to have shot down three Hezbollah-launched drones that were headed towards Karish.

The production ship sent to Karish was one of Israel's chartered ships, whose movement claimed to be under surveillance the same month it released a video of the incident.

Nasrallah made his remarks on Tuesday amid Israel's response to a proposal from Lebanon to US mediator Amos Hochstein last month over the border dispute.

In response to the demands of the Lebanese state, Nasrallah said, "We are waiting for a response, and we will respond accordingly, but let me tell you ... we must be ready and prepared for all possibilities." No one should try to challenge us because we will win.

Maritime boundary talks between Israel and Lebanon, which last engaged in hostilities in 2006, were put on hold by recent developments until they resumed in June.

This month, Hochstein said he was working on a solution that would let Lebanon compete in the energy market while still enabling Israel to maintain operations in Karish.

An Israeli official claimed last month that Lebanon would be able to develop the disputed Qana area, also known as the Sidon Reservoir, with the help of an Israeli proposal.

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BEIRUT: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah, has cautioned Israel against misjudging Lebanon and emphasised that the Lebanese party will take all necessary precautions to safeguard Lebanon's oil and gas.

On Ashura Day, Sayyed Nasrallah spoke to mourners in Dahiyeh, a suburb of Beirut in the south, and reaffirmed that Hezbollah is fully prepared to face all alternatives in response to Israeli threats and to send a clear message that it is ready for war.

"We are taking the struggle for Lebanon's wealth very seriously. In response to Israeli threats, we should be prepared for all eventualities "Hezbollah is ready for military action, Nasrallah made plain in a broadcast statement on Tuesday to commemorate the Shia holy day of Ashura.

He issued a warning to foes not to mess up while dealing with Lebanon's people, its "stronger than ever" resistance, or maritime borders or oil and gas issues, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Lebanese officials are attempting to resolve a maritime border issue with Israel that has gotten worse since Israel deployed a vessel to the Karish field on June 5; Israel claims the area is in its economic zone, while Lebanon claims it is in disputed waters.

Following his visits to both nations, US energy ambassador Amos Hochstein stated earlier in August that he was confident about finding a resolution to the maritime issue between Israel and Lebanon.

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Taiwan: In response to Beijing's ongoing saber-rattling against the self-governing island, Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang, has sent a delegation to the mainland.

KMT Vice President Andrew Hsia and his group left for Xiamen in Fujian on Wednesday afternoon for what the party described as a 17-day "fact-finding" trip to improve cross-strait communications and to understand the plight that Which Taiwanese people face in mainland China. , Hsia is the former head of the Mainland Affairs Council, the island's apex body for planning mainland policy.

Before leaving Taiwan, Hsiao spoke at Taoyuan International Airport: "At this critical time, we need to express our concerns to our [compatriots] in mainland China and to have more communication channels for both sides. There is a strong need."

Hsiao stressed that the KMT has a duty to understand the challenges facing Taiwan's businessmen, students and others as cross-strait relations continued to deteriorate as one party experienced managing them.

Since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president in 2016 and rejected the one-China principle, relations between Taiwan and the mainland have deteriorated.

After Tsai moved closer to the United States to counter the mainland, Beijing cut official ties with Taiwan and increased military threats to the island.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island, which Beijing has repeatedly warned of and called a "provocation", has prompted the People's Liberation Army to conduct extensive live-fire exercises around Taiwan since last Thursday.

Pelosi, who is next in line for the US presidency, arrived in Taiwan on August 2, the highest-ranking US official to do so in the past 25 years. Beijing, which considers Taiwan's self-government as part of its territory, is furious and has called the visit a serious violation of its sovereignty.

According to Hsia, the KMT had previously voiced its concerns about the PLA exercise and condemned Beijing for its escalating military threats.

They claimed that the visit, which was held in June before the war games began, was intended to raise awareness of Taiwan's concerns on the mainland and to inform local authorities about their issues.

If we are to better fulfill our obligation to facilitate cross-strait exchanges and communications, we should not be constrained by any constraints, Hsiao said, even as Tsai herself has been the main had declared himself capable of negotiating with the land.

The independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party of Tsai has strongly criticized the KMT visit at this critical time, failing to consider public sentiment and outrage over Beijing's saber-rattling.

The visit has drawn disdain from some DPP politicians who see it as proof that the KMT is moving to Beijing and perhaps selling Taiwan.

Even some members of the KMT strongly opposed the visit, arguing that the timing was inappropriate, especially after Beijing released a white paper on cross-strait relations on Wednesday that stressed Gaya that Taiwan is part of China and that reunification is necessary.

The visit was deemed "inappropriate" by the Mainland Affairs Council, which stated that Hsiao should not have led the delegation to the mainland while Beijing was oppressing Taiwan.

Hsia insisted that her delegation of five officials, each with knowledge of mainland affairs, would not attack Beijing's united front after just one visit.

Hsiao denied some local media reports that he was on his way to meet with Wang Yang, the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, Liu Jie, said during his visit that the delegation had no clue. There was no plan. Take a trip to Beijing or meet with senior officials from the mainland.

He announced that if invited, he would not rule out the possibility of meeting with local mainland Chinese officials.

Asked whether he was concerned about the KMT's prospects in local elections in November, he replied that Taiwan was a pluralistic society full of diverse voices. While some oppose our arrival, some others support us, he said, adding that the KMT must fulfill its mandate and not be stopped from doing so just because it was difficult.

Regarding the white paper, Hsiao claimed that while Beijing had long held views on reunification, Taiwan had its own stand on the mainland.

It is unlikely that our position will change as a result of anything said on the other side of the Strait of Taiwan. He said Beijing must also accept the reality of our existence.

Due to the quarantine rules, the KMT delegation is expected to be in Xiaomi for 10 days. Thereafter, it traveled to Guangzhou, Zhejiang, Jiangsu to catch a flight to Taipei before returning to Xiamen on 26 August.

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TANZANIA: Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of Tanzania has wished neighbouring Kenyans peaceful general elections as they went to the polls to vote for their leaders.

"I am praying the Almighty God be with you, Kenyans, as you fulfill your constitutional right of getting leaders of your choice in a peaceful environment, harmony, unity and solidarity," she said in her official tweet on Tuesday. "Wishing you all the best!" President Hassan was inspecting the Njombe region in the country's southern highlands on Tuesday, the reports reads.

With as many as 46,230 polling booths nationwide on Tuesday, millions of Kenyan voters cast their ballots to choose the nation's fifth President, members of the National Assembly, senators, and county governors.

In his ancestral Sugoi village in the northwest county of Uasin Gishu, William Ruto, Kenya's current deputy president and presidential candidate running under the Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) Alliance, cast his vote at six in the morning on Tuesday.

After months of contentious campaigns, Ruto declared he would respect the results shortly after casting his ballot.

Along with three other candidates, Raila Odinga, a seasoned leader of the opposition, is Ruto's main challenger in the race for the presidency. Raila is a member of the Azimio La Umoja (Resolution for Unity) One Kenya Coalition. Later on Tuesday, Odinga cast his vote at a voting place in Nairobi, the nation's capital.

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China: The Chinese military announced that it had "successfully completed" a number of operations during recent exercises around Taiwan, but issued a warning that it would continue to conduct regular warfare exercises against the island.

Eastern Theater Command spokesman Xi Yi said in a brief statement on Wednesday that the command had recently conducted several joint military operations in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan.

He claimed that it had "effectively tested the integrated combined combat capabilities of the troops" and had accomplished a number of tasks.

He announced that the command would conduct regular battle preparedness exercises and monitor any changes in the situation in the Taiwan Strait.

In retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island, Beijing on Thursday launched a series of unprecedented exercises, including a mock attack and a blockade of Taiwan.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei claimed in a separate statement that Taiwan was being headed for "disaster" by the Democratic Progressive Party's attempt to advance its independence agenda through closer ties with other countries.

"With the utmost sincerity and best efforts, we stand ready to work towards the possibility of a peaceful reunification for the benefit of the people of Taiwan. Tan, however, insisted that the PLA do not allow any "Taiwan independence" separatists. Will not tolerate activity or outside interference.

The People's Liberation Army conducted the exercise launching 11 missiles of the Dongfeng series, also known as Kinmen, over the Taiwan-controlled island of Kwamoy.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, Pelosi's visit was a serious provocation that undermined the one-China doctrine.

Whenever America takes provocation, China will fight back. Wang argued that the US should abandon its plan to "use Taiwan to control China".

According to Taiwan, Beijing has been accused of using Pelosi's visit as an excuse to practice aggression.

He has conducted his military exercises to prepare for an attack on the island. On Wednesday, it released video showing how its air, land and sea forces reacted to the mainland exercise.

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China: China's largest wire and cable producer Far East Cable on Tuesday accused the US Commerce Department of breaching export laws by sending telecommunications equipment to Iran.

According to the Commerce Department chargesheet, Far East Cable entered into a contract in 2013 to purchase equipment from Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE Corp, and later made deals with Iranian firms to supply telecommunications equipment and parts. . Far East Cable was accused of breaching US export laws 18 times between September 2014 and January 2016.

According to the charging letter, Far East Cable entered into an agreement in 2014 with the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI) and another Iranian business, Khadamate Ertebati Rightel.

They were both ZTE customers, and the company stopped shipping US-origin goods to Iran in 2012, when Reuters disclosed that there were agreements from US companies to distribute products to TCI despite US sanctions on Iran. However, the letter claimed that the following year, ZTE planned to resume shipments to Iran through third parties, despite an investigation by the Commerce Department.

A statement by John Sonderman, a Department of Commerce official, claimed that the Far East cable "acted as a cut-out for ZTE, at the time ZTE facilitated ZTE shipments to Iran, at the same time that ZTE would be able to deliver ZTE shipments to Iran." Knew it was under investigation for the exact same conduct."

Requests for comment from ZTE and Far East Cable were not immediately met. Far East Cable has 30 days to respond to the charging letter, which is dated 29 July.

ZTE agreed to pay a US$892 million fine and in 2017 pleaded guilty to breaking US laws that prohibit the sale of US-made products in the US to Iran. It also admitted to obstructing justice, after executing a complex plan to hide its illegal Iranian business.

Until 2018, when it was revealed that ZTE was lying about disciplining employees associated with the original wrongdoing, ZTE was allowed to continue purchasing American goods and technology.

The maker of smartphones and network equipment was banned in April 2018, barring sales to ZTE from US businesses that supplied between 25% and 30% of the components used in their devices. But after three months, the Trump administration lifted the ban after ZTE paid US$1 billion, changed its leadership, and agreed to other terms.

ZTE's court-ordered probation ended in March as a result of its guilty plea in 2017, but it is still being watched by monitors selected by the Commerce Department.

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NEW YORK: A US court has found former Twitter employee Ahmad Abouammo guilty of obtaining the personal data of some Twitter users and giving the data to Saudi Arabian government officials.

Abouammo and Ali Alzabarah -- two Twitter employees -- and Ahmed Almutairi, alias Ahmed Aljbreen, a Saudi national, were accused in 2019 with working as unregistered Saudi government agents in the US.

In connection with a federal inquiry, Abouammo was also charged with fabricating, deleting, or changing records.

Abouammo now faces up to 20 years in jail after being found guilty by a jury in a San Francisco court of conspiring to commit wire fraud, fabricating records, and money laundering.

The prosecution said throughout the trial that a powerful official in Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's administration asked Abouammo for assistance in looking into his rivals.

Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist for the Washington Post, a resident of Virginia, and a vocal opponent of the regime, was killed and dismembered by Saudi government agents in 2018, as per The Verge report.

The US Department of Justice filed a complaint alleging that between November 2014 and May 2015, Almutairi, 30, of Saudi Arabia, and foreign representatives of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia persuaded Abouammo and Alzabarah to use their employee login information to gain unauthorised access to specific nonpublic information about the people behind specific Twitter accounts.

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Russia calls for UN Security Council meeting due to alleged Kyiv strikes on Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant 10 August, 11:20 AM Zaporizhzhya NPP (Photo:ZNPP/Facebook)

Russia has requested a meeting of the UN Security Council on Aug. 11 in connection with the alleged "strikes by Kyiv" on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, which is under the control of Russian invasion forces, Russian propagandist outlet RIA Novosti has reported.

The Kremlin wants to call IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi before the council as a rapporteur.

This comes after on August 5, the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant had to disconnect one of its three operating reactors from the grid due to damage to a high-voltage line following shelling.

 

Three reactors at the nuclear power plant started operating on July 14. Before that, from the moment it was captured by Russian invasion forces on March 4, two reactors out of six were in operation.

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Home  Society  If you havent, go get a booster shot against Covid. Heres why and how to get it in Nepal

As Covid cases rise again, experts say booster shots provide greater immunity. South Asia Check explains why additional doses are essential for preventing serious illnesses and hospitalisations.

Representational image: Covid vaccines

Covid cases are on the rise again in Nepal in what health experts fear could be the onset of the fourth wave of the pandemic. Even as severe illnesses grow and hospitals report running out of beds, the imperative of getting vaccinated against the virus, with booster shots, is becoming more conspicuous than ever.

With the passage of time and the influx of new variants, the vaccine efficacy continues to erode, which is why experts advise administering booster shots to those who have received a full dose. The booster shots provide greater immunity to the vulnerable group.

Nepal started its booster dose campaign on January 17 this year and opened it for all above 18 on April 3. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, over 7.3 million people have received booster shots.

So, today, we will explain why getting booster shots is necessary for Nepal now and how you can get them.

What is a Covid booster shot?

Photo for representation only. Unsplash

A booster dose for Covid is an additional dose administered to individuals who have completed their full dose at least three months earlier. The Covid vaccine helps the body produce antibodies against the virus it has to fight.

This additional dose helps your body ramp up your ability to fight the virus, says Dr Anup Subedee, an infectious disease specialist.

According to Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, joint spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Population, booster doses are being administered to all vaccinated individuals across the country. Having limited resources means that we cannot identify immunocompromised people and vaccinate them. A better alternative was to administer it on all eligible candidates as advised by the National Vaccine Advisory Committee, he says.

Why do you need a booster shot?

A graphical representation of the coronavirus. Photo: Pixabay

Generally, a booster shot is targeted at immunocompromised people who fall in the vulnerable category. But, as new variants continue to appear, a booster dose helps protect everyone who completed a full course whose efficacy could have eroded with time.

A blanket approach to administering booster doses is to reduce infections throughout the country, says Dr Adhikari.

The virus is changing with time. New variants are making their way into the bodies of the infected, to which the earlier antigens produced by the vaccine may not respond appropriately. An additional dose of vaccine helps immunocompromised people fight the virus and curb the severity of the disease. Those who have received a booster shot are less likely to become exposed to severe infection or death, says Dr Subedee.

Where to get a booster shot?

File: A senior citizen is vaccinated against Covid.

Dr Adhikari says booster shots are being administered in coordination with local governments. He adds the local governments manage the vaccine administration, while in cities, big hospitals also administer the process.

In the case of children, we have mobilised schools to administer vaccines. If someone belonging to that age group could not be vaccinated at school, they can be vaccinated through local level wards offices, Dr Adhikari tells South Asia Check.

The person who wants to get vaccinated with the third dose of the vaccine has to provide a vaccine card as proof. However, those who declare themselves fully vaccinated three months earlier receive an additional dose of the vaccine, says Sagar Dahal, the chief of the Child Health and Immunisation Service Section at the Family Welfare Division under the Department of Health Services. Right now, we have Pfizer available for additional dose vaccination, Dahal added.

Is the booster shot available all the time?

Local governments manage vaccination programmes in coordination with the district officials and the ministry, according to Dr Adhikari. It depends on the availability of health workers. In big cities like Kathmandu, hospitals such as Sukraraj Tropical Hospital, Teku and Patan Hospital are administering vaccines daily, he adds.

Why is there a general apathy towards a booster shot?

A girl from Bhaktapur getting vaccinated.

The response to booster shots is pretty poor, as per the Nepal governments data. There is a significant difference between a fully vaccinated and a vaccine-boosted population. While 73 per cent have been fully vaccinated, only 25 per cent have received their booster shots, raising concerns that they may not be interested in booster doses.

Dr Adhikari thinks otherwise. There is a three-month gap to get a booster dose after full vaccination, and this could be why there are no huge turnouts for booster doses.

The low turnout is why the government has stopped importing vaccines designated for Nepal, as the consumption is low, says Dr Adhikari. We are trying to balance consumption and vaccine availability so as to avoid increased vaccine wastage ratio, he says.

Could the low turnout of people at vaccination centres result from a dwindling risk perception, as people think the virus is gone for good? Dr Adhikari believes otherwise. Now, as the cases are rising, the number of people coming for booster shots is rising.

This article first appeared on South Asia Check.
Description

It's the event of the summer. FUN, FOOD, MUSIC and an amazing night that YOU won't want to miss for a VERY important cause - STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE! Legislator Caracappa hosts a White Party benefiting Freebird Org - an advocacy group for domestic violence victims . The Freebird Organization offers pro-bono legal help for victims, process servers, court advocates, training, financial solvency, information and assistance for those involved in abuse. Abuse can be anything - from financial to physical and freebird is there to help. FreebirdOrg.com for more info. ElectNickCaracappa@gmail.com for event info.
By Trend

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan has denied the dismissal of police officers who detained former Chairman of the State Customs Committee Safar Mehdiyev, Police Major Elshad Hajiyev told Trend.

to be updated
Description

Toby Tobias: Journey from Johannesburg

South African-born TOBY TOBIAS will share select scenes from his show Journey from Johannesburg, a story of hope during a time of war and upheaval across three continents, from Johannesburg to Jerusalem then here. His inspiring story and his original songs will enlighten, entertain, and touch your heart.

home, and many stark parallels, in the United States of America. His inspiring story and his original songs will enlighten, entertain and touch your heart. Toby will present the vivid tale of his life in South Africa under the rule of an apartheid government; then in Israel on the brink of battle for its own identity; before finding a
Fortune Business Insights

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global aerospace bearings market size is projected to reach USD 17.44 Billion by 2028, at CAGR of 7.95% during forecast period 2021-2028 | Increasing Demand for Emergency Air Medical Services to Aid Growth

Pune, India, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global aerospace bearings market is set to gain impetus from the increasing demand for cost-effective and lightweight products. TriStar Plastics Corporation, for instance, is seeking out polymer aircraft bearings by replacing stainless steel and other materials. This is because the former would require lesser maintenance and lubrication. At the same time, they are highly durable and have excellent load-bearing capacities. As per a report by Fortune Business Insights, titled,  Aerospace Bearings Market 2021-2028, the market size stood at USD 7.21 billion in 2020. It is projected to grow from USD 10.21 billion in 2021 to USD 17.44 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 7.95% in the forecast period.

A list of renowned vendors of aerospace bearings operating in the market:

AST Bearings (The U.S.)

Aurora Bearings (The U.S.)

GGB Bearings Technology (The U.S.)

JTEKT (Japan)

Kaman Specialty Bearings (Germany)

National Precision Bearings (The U.S.)

New Hampshire Ball Bearings (The U.S.)

August Steinmeyer GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)

UMBRAGROUP (Italy)

Kugel Aerospace & Defence (The U.K.)

Thomson Industries, Inc. (India)

Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Inc. (The U.S.)

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Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast CAGR 7.95% 2028 Value Projection USD 17.44 Billion Base Year 2020 Historical Data 2017-2019 No. of Pages 200 Segments Covered By Product Type, Platform, By Material Aerospace Bearings Market Growth Drivers Increasing Demand for Emergency Air Medical Services to Aid Growth

COVID-19 Pandemic: Huge Order Backlogs and Low Aircraft Deliveries to Hamper Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on this industry. The declining number of aircraft deliveries worldwide owing to the slowdown in airport activities and travel bans would affect growth. Airbus SAS, for instance, stated that it had an order backlog of 7,184 in 2020 and delivered 566 commercial aircraft the same year, whereas in 2019, the delivery count of commercial aircraft was 863. The huge order backlog has resulted in the lower demand for aircraft systems and components amid the pandemic.

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Report Coverage-

The report provides an accurate assessment of various customers journeys related to this industry, regions, and segments. Besides, it offers several customer impressions about industrial liquid coating and its usage. The analysis takes a closer look at their fears and pain points across multiple customer touch points. Stakeholders can improve customer engagement with their own companies.

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Segments-

Ball Bearings Segment Earned 29.32% Share in 2020: Fortune Business Insights

Based on the product type, the market is divided into plain, roller and ball bearings, roller screws, and ball screws. Out of these, the ball bearings segment held 29.32% in terms of the market share in 2020. These are extensively used in aircraft components and systems and hence, the segment is likely to showcase steady growth in the upcoming years.

Drivers & Restraints-

Increasing Demand for Emergency Air Medical Services to Aid Growth

The demand for lightweight helicopters for multiple military and commercial applications has surged rapidly in recent years. Also, the high popularity of emergency air medical services is expected to bolster the aerospace bearings market growth in the near future. The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), for instance, declared that every year, around 560,000 patients use air medical services in the U.S. Coupled with this, the increasing demand for e U.S. use air medical services per year. Moreover, the rising lightweight for transporting military troops and border surveillance purposes would accelerate growth. However, manufacturers nowadays are using high-grade steel for making aircraft bearings. As the price of steel is fluctuating constantly, the cost of bearings is also surging. It may obstruct growth.

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Key Industry Developments  Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis

Quantitative Insights-Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Aerospace Bearings Market Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Aerospace Bearings Market Steps Taken by Industry/Companies/Government to Overcome the Impact Key Development in the industry in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Potential Opportunities due to COVID-19 Outbreak



TOC Continued!

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Regional Insights-

North America to Lead Stoked by Presence of Aurora Bearings & National Precision Bearings

Geographically, in 2020, North America procured USD 2.80 billion in terms of revenue. It is anticipated to remain in the leading position throughout the forthcoming years because of the presence of various reputed manufacturers of aerospace bearings in the U.S., namely, New Hampshire Ball Bearings, Beaver Aerospace & Defense, Inc., National Precision Bearings, and Aurora Bearings. On the other hand, Europe would exhibit significant growth backed by the spurring adoption of advanced technologies.

Competitive Landscape-

Key Players Focus on Acquisition Strategy to Enhance Their Product Portfolios

The global market contains multiple prominent manufacturers that are striving persistently to strengthen their positions. Most of them are engaging in mergers and acquisitions to broaden their pre-existing product ranges. Below are the two vital industry developments:

January 2021 : Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing Inc. acquired Aurotek TSB Inc. to broaden its product portfolio by adding the latters precision radial bearings. Auburn currently specializes in thrust ball and roller bearings.

November 2019: Kaman Corporation acquired Bal Seal by giving USD 300 million in cash to drive free cash flow generation, enhance margins, and accelerate the highly engineered products business.

The Study Objectives of this report are:

To analyse the worldwide Aerospace Bearings Market size by product types, By Material.

To comprehend the design by recognizing its different sub-fragments.

To study flooring market by individual manufacturers' growth, and future trends.

To study Product Overview and Scope of segment, Revenue Sales Status, and Outlook

To understand market Upstream and Downstream analysis

To understand the Market Competitive Situation and Trends

To understand market Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Challenges faced by Flooring Market

To analysis new product and new technology release

Analysis of Industry Development Trends under COVID-19 Outbreak

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Read Related Insights:

Aerospace Fasteners Market Size & Growth | Forecast [2029]

Airport Services Market Size, Share, Growth | Global Report, 2029

Aircraft Aftermarket Parts Market Size, Share & Forecast [2028]

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MIRAMAR, Fla., August 10, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AllClear Aerospace & Defense (AllClear) is excited to announce the opening of its new sales office located in Oklahoma City, OK. The office is strategically located adjacent to Tinker Air Force Base and will support requirements under all business segments and VPAC JV LLC, a joint venture between VertiPrime Government Services and Airborne Technologies, an AllClear subsidiary.

"The addition of our new office in Oklahoma is an important step toward our continued support of the United States Air Force and expanding our capabilities under the VPAC joint venture," stated Eric Hillewaert, Vice President of Global Growth at AllClear. "It remains our commitment to deliver the highest level of quality and customer service to keep our customers fleets mission ready."

About AllClear Aerospace & Defense

AllClear Aerospace & Defense is the military aftermarket industrys leading provider of mission-ready solutions. We provide excellence in sustainment for the U.S. militaries and its allies. Headquartered in Miramar, Florida, AllClears sustainment solutions cover over 25 of the most utilized military aircraft platforms, supported with distribution agreements from leading OEMs, in-house and managed repair services, engineered products, manufacturing, and logistics solutions.

AllClear represents more than 55 years of defense aerospace sustainment experience and expertise, focused on the bigger mission mindset of keeping militaries mission ready. AllClear locations include Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Camarillo, CA; Chatsworth, CA; Greenville, SC; Macon, GA; Miramar, FL; Seoul, S. Korea; Singapore, South San Francisco, CA; and Tokyo, Japan. To learn more visit GoAllClear.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220810005281/en/

Contacts

Ruth Garcia

VP, Marketing & Communications

AllClear Aerospace & Defense

pr@goallclear.com
Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

The global building automation and controls market was worth USD 130 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 340 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period (20222030). Europe is the highest revenue contributor and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period.

New York, United States, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The automatic central control for lighting, security, and access control systems, as well as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, is known as building automation and controls . The sensors, detectors, relays, and other intelligent electronics used by the building automation and controls system provide access to a central computing system that allows it to function. They are employed in various business sectors, including retail, hospitality, residential, and industrial. The growing need for HVAC control, energy-efficient lighting control, and a higher standard of living will likely fuel the growth of the global building automation and controls market.





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Growing Deployment of Building Automation Systems Ignites the Market Demand

The increasing deployment of building automation systems in office buildings, shopping malls, and public transportation hubs, such as train stations and airports, is anticipated to fuel the growth of the building automation and control system market. The most widely used items in the home, enterprise, and commercial sectors are lighting controls, commercial sectors, and security and access control systems. Security and access control systems have become integral to several industrial verticals as security concerns have increased across all industries. Therefore, the rising demand for HVAC management, energy-efficient lighting control, and a better quality of life is anticipated to boost the global market for building automation systems.

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Development of Smart Cities in Emerging Countries Gives Rise to Untapped Market Opportunities

The smart homes and buildings market has promoted the adoption of increased energy efficiency, greater security, and user-friendly access control. It is anticipated that it will serve as the foundation of intelligent buildings in future smart cities, making it the next great opportunity for industry leaders to pursue. It integrates smart building technology with other systems, such as HVAC and lighting management. The building automation and controls market offers attractive opportunities due to the increased acceptance of smart city projects.





Report Scope

Report Metric Details Market Size USD 340 Billion by 2030 CAGR 11.3% (2022-2030) Historical Data 2019-2020 Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product, Offering, Industry Vertical, Regions Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAME, and Rest of the World Key Companies Profiled/Vendors Honeywell International, Siemens AG, Beijer Electronics, ABB, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, General Electric, Legrand, Lutron Electronics Co., and Control4 Corporation. Key Market Opportunities Development of Smart Cities in Emerging Countries Key Market Drivers Growing Deployment of Building Automation Systems

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Regional Insights

Europe is the highest revenue contributor and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% during the forecast period. Increased penetration of digital electronic devices and strong acceptance of modern technologies have created numerous prospects for building automation and controls for the European industry. Due to stricter energy-use laws, it is anticipated that the market will continue to expand rapidly in European nations with thriving building businesses. In addition, the growing need to modernize an aging building stock is driving the building automation systems (BAS) market.

The North American building automation and controls market is projected to reach USD 80 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 10.8%. North America holds a sizable revenue share of the building automation and controls market due to the emergence of automated security systems with a distinct approach to building security systems, wireless sensor network BAS technologies, and growing IoT penetration in buildings. In addition, the presence of a leading company in building automation systems, such as Siemens, along with the evolution of innovation and significant technological contributions, increases the demand for the building automation and controls industry.

Asia-Pacific is one of the fastest-growing regions for building automation services . The growth is attributable to the rapid economic expansion of leading Asia-Pacific countries and the subsequent growth projections for the building industry. In addition, the rapid urbanization and desire to adopt smart cities in APAC are anticipated to generate potential possibilities for the building automation and controls market. Numerous firms and their facilities are also investing in embedded building automation and controls, significantly contributing to the market growth.





Key Highlights

The global building automation and controls market was worth USD 130 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 340 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period (20222030).

By product type, the global building automation and controls market is divided into HVAC Control, Lighting Control, and Security & Access Control. The HVAC Control segment is the highest contributor to the market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.2% during the forecast period.

By offering , the global building automation and controls market is bifurcated into Integration and Services. The Integration segment is the highest contributor to the market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.8% during the forecast period.

By industry vertical , the global building automation and controls market is classified into Residential, Enterprise, Industrial, Hospitality, Retail, and Others. The Industrial segment is the highest contributor to the market and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11.9% during the forecast period.

By region, the global building automation and controls market trends are analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA. Europe commands maximum market share.





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Competitive Players in the Global Building Automation and Controls Market

Honeywell International

Beijer Electronics

ABB

Siemens AG

Johnson Controls

Schneider Electric

General Electric

Legrand

Lutron Electronics Co

Control4 Corporation





Global Building Automation and Controls Market: Segmentation

By Product Type

HVAC Control

Lighting Control

Security & Access Control

By Offering

Integration

Services

By Industry Vertical

Residential

Enterprise

Industrial

Hospitality

Retail

Others

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

LAMEA





TABLE OF CONTENT

Introduction Market Definition Market Scope Research Methodology Primary Research Research Methodology Assumptions & Exclusions Secondary Data Sources Market Overview Report Segmentation & Scope Value Chain Analysis: Building Automation and Controls Market Key Market Trends Drivers Restraints Opportunities Porters Five Forces Analysis Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining Power of Buyers Threat of Substitution Threat of New Entrants Competitive Rivalry Market Share Analysis Product Type Overview Introduction Market Size & Forecast HVAC Control Market Size & Forecast Lighting Control Market Size & Forecast Offering Overview Introduction Market Size & Forecast Integration Market Size & Forecast Services Market Size & Forecast Regional Overview Introduction Market Size & Forecast America North America U.S. By Product Type By Offering Canada By Product Type By Offering Mexico By Product Type By Offering Latin America By Product Type By Offering Europe Market Size & Forecast Germany By Product Type By Offering France By Product Type By Offering U.K. By Product Type By Offering Italy By Product Type By Offering Spain By Product Type By Offering Rest of Europe By Product Type By Offering Asia Pacific Market Size & Forecast Japan By Product Type By Offering China By Product Type By Offering Australia By Product Type By Offering India By Product Type By Offering South Korea By Product Type By Offering Rest of Asia-Pacific By Product Type By Offering Middle East & Africa Market Size & Forecast Saudi Arabia By Product Type By Offering South Africa By Product Type By Offering Kuwait By Product Type By Offering Rest of Middle East & Africa By Product Type By Offering Company Profile Honeywell International Company Overview Financial Performance Recent Developments Product Portfolio Siemens AG Company Overview Financial Performance Recent Developments Product Portfolio Beijer Electronics Company Overview Financial Performance Recent Developments Product Portfolio Conclusion & Recommendation Acronyms & Abbreviations





Table of Content and Figure @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/building-automation-and-controls-market/toc





Market News

In June 2022 , Siemens AG, a leader in industrial automation and software, infrastructure, building technology, and transportation, and NVIDIA, a pioneer in accelerated graphics and artificial intelligence (AI), announced the expansion of their partnership to enable the industrial metaverse and expand the use of AI-driven digital twin technology, which will contribute to the advancement of industrial automation.

In June 2022, Siemens AG introduced Siemens Xcelerator, an open digital business platform, to accelerate digital transformation and value generation for clients of all sizes in the industry, buildings, grids, and mobility. The company platform simplifies, accelerates, and scales digital transformation. Siemens Xcelerator consists of a curated portfolio of internet of things (IoT)-enabled hardware, software, and digital services from across Siemens and certified third parties; a growing ecosystem of partners; and an evolving marketplace that facilitates interactions and transactions between customers, partners, and developers.





News Media

The Wave of Industrial Automation Across Automotive and Manufacturing Sectors Will Drive the Computer on Module Market During Forecast Period, 20192026







Have a Look at the Related Research Report

Smart Building Market : Information by Component (Software, Hardware, Services), End-User (Commercial, Residential, Industrial), Automation Type, and RegionForecast till 2029

Alternative Building Material Market : Information by Material (Bamboo, Wood), Application (Construction, Furniture, and Flooring), End-User (Residential), and Region  Forecast till 2030

Automotive HVAC Market : Information By Technology (Manual, Automatic), Vehicle-Type (Cars, Light (LCVs) and Heavy (HCVs) Commercial Vehicles and Regional Outlook - Forecast Till 2026

Smart Home Market : Information by Product (Lighting Control, HVAC, Home Healthcare, Smart Kitchen, Smart Speaker, Home Appliances and Smart Furniture) and Region  Forecast Till 2026

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Shares of Centerra Gold Inc. fell to their lowest value in more than two years as the miner nearly halved its annual gold production guidance and reported an adjusted net loss of US$36.2 million, down from a profit of US$78.3 million in the same quarter last year.

The Toronto-based company now aims to produce 245,000 to 256,000 ounces of gold compared to its previous guidance range of 400,000 to 450,000 ounces after revealing that it doesnt expect further gold production this year from its Oksut mine in Turkey.

The company said during its Q2 earnings release that it had been asked by Turkish authorities to submit a new environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the mine after mercury was detected in the projects gold recovery process in March.

We have met with the ministry of environment yesterday and in terms of the solution  they have recommended that we file a new EIA, the companys CEO, Scott Perry, said during a conference call with investors on Wednesday.

We will be submitting (the EIA) by the end of this month  in terms of when that EIA will be approved, right now we dont have a high degree of confidence that would allow us to provide an outlook (for the mine) for 2023, he added.

The company is also evaluating whether to suspend mining and crushing activities at the project.

In March, Centerra had suspended gold bar production at the Oksut mine after mercury was detected in the gold room of its absorption-desorption recovery (ADR) plant, used to recover gold. Soon after, the company detected elevated mercury values in 12 individuals, who Centerra says are currently doing well and ready to return to work.

The company is upgrading its facilities to prevent recurrence, a process that is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Since the suspension, the mines ore has been processed into a gold-in-carbon form. On Aug. 9, Turkeys environment ministry denied Centerras request to use more activated carbon than permitted in the mines EIA, an increase the company required because it was unable to operate the gold room at the ADR plant, which allows it to recycle activated carbon.

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Following these discussions with the ministry, Centerra was asked to submit a new EIA altogether. I am hopeful that it will be an expedited process, but I cant really (give) any more clarity or visibility, said Perry when asked when the EIA is likely to be approved.

Gold production for the quarter was 42,728 ounces, solely from the companys Mount Milligan mine in British Columbia, compared to overall production of 93,784 ounces of gold in the previous quarter and 69,854 ounces in the Q2 last year.The Oksut mine produced about 58,469 recoverable ounces of gold that have been stored as gold-in-carbon inventory.

Aside from being unable to sell the gold from the Oksut mine, the company also said a lower-than-expected volume of gold sold at Mount Milligan and a decline in revenue earned from its copper projects due to falling prices contributed to its loss from operations.

The company produced 17.3 million pounds of copper compared to 19.5 million in the same quarter last year.

Bank of Montreal analyst Trevor Turnbull described Centerras latest update as negative in a research note to clients on Wednesday.

We are downgrading our recommendation  due to the uncertainty over the timing of Oksuts permits, concern that the extending mine life plan at Mount Milligan could come with capital cost risk, and the unknowns implied by the suspension of 2023 guidance, he wrote.

He added that Centerras net loss of 12 cents per share was below his expectation of a 4-cent per share profit.

Centerra shares ended the day at $6.27, down 21.6 per cent in Toronto after touching $6.20, their lowest value since March 2020. The company has a market cap of $1.37 billion..



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(Bloomberg) -- Chinas plans to accelerate its world-leading expansion of solar and wind power are facing a major hurdle as floods, droughts and food-supply issues present authorities with a reality check about how much precious farmland the nation can afford to lose.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Solar and wind farms have been supercharged in the past two years since Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a 2060 target for the nation to be carbon neutral, creating an incentive for local governments to allow more large-scale renewable energy projects.

But the pandemic and recent bouts of extreme weather have shown how susceptible the nation is to disruptions in food supply. Good arable land is relatively limited considering the appetite of the nations 1.4 billion people, and large tracts of some of the most fertile soil in the heavily populated eastern and central provinces have already been swallowed up by urban growth. With administrations now prioritizing ecological protection and food security, plans to build big, new solar projects are coming under increasing scrutiny.

China is already the worlds largest producer of renewable energy, with the capacity to generate some 679 gigawatts of wind and solar power plus another 390 gigawatts of hydropower. More than a fifth of the solar and wind capacity has been added since 2020 and expansion plans by local governments would carry the nation to its 2030 target of 1,200 gigawatts more than five years early if fully implemented.

But in May, the Ministry of Water Resources issued a rule that bans solar and wind projects on some waterways, lakes and reservoirs as part of measures to protect the ecology and prevent over-development that could disrupt flood control. A separate draft regulation is under consideration by three government agencies, including the Ministry of Natural Resources, that would prohibit new solar projects from cultivated land or forests.

Story continues

Some local authorities are already clamping down on over-development. In Jiangsu Province a 1 gigawatt floating solar plant that covered 70% of a major lake was partially dismantled this year after local authorities said it was illegally constructed and intervened with flood discharge.

The shift in priorities has put some provincial governments  especially those in the highly urbanized east  in a bind. While theyve been tasked with decarbonizing rapidly under Chinas national climate pledge, they also face a central government red line to protect farmland.

It was considered a political achievement to expand renewable energy and thats why some authorities have been blindly over-developing solar and wind, said Qin Yan, an analyst at financial data firm Refinitiv. But its inevitable that some projects violate the rules for ecological protection and cultivated-land protection. The environmental authorities have noticed the problem and are trying to regulate it.

The shift to prioritizing crops may encourage solar and wind developers to adopt alternative strategies. One is to integrate renewable energy systems into farms in a way that doesnt curtail food production, such as installing solar panels on top of animal sheds and farm buildings, and placing wind turbines so that they dont interfere with agricultural operations.

Since last year, China has launched programs such as Whole-County Rooftop Solar. The nation aims to cover more than half of newly built public buildings and factories with solar panels by 2025.

Another strategy is to head west, to less heavily populated regions, or mountainous and desert regions with lower agricultural potential, or to use land thats already been degraded, such as disused coal mines. The country has begun construction of 100 gigawatts of such solar and wind projects, mostly in deserts, and another 450 gigawatts are planned to be built by 2030.

One area garnering attention from solar developers is the Gobi Desert, straddling Chinas northern border with Mongolia, where land is cheap and the wind and sunshine are abundant. But its thousands of miles from the countrys biggest cities and power-hungry industrial centers, making it expensive to transport the electricity.

To help tap the potential of more remote areas, China is on a spree to build new transmission lines across the country. The nation currently has 33 ultra-high-voltage power lines, and State Grid, which operates 88% of the countrys grid, is investing 380 billion yuan ($56 billion ) to build 38 more between 2021 and 2025.

While those solutions are good in theory, in practice local authorities know they can get much higher revenue from energy generators than from cropland and many violate or bend the rules. Money flows to the sectors that are most profitable, said Qin.

Earlier this year, a fight between villagers in Xingtang county in the northern province of Hebei and workers from a solar company made national headlines. The local government had leased farmland for a 200 megawatt agricultural solar farm, and farmers became incensed after the company bulldozed 6.7 hectares (16.6 acres) of wheat that was almost ripe.

Still, the increased concern about arable land means that theres unlikely to be any utility-scale power plant development in central and eastern regions after this year, so most renewables growth in the next three years will be in the northern and western deserts, according to Peng Peng, general secretary of industry group China New Energy Investment and Finance Alliance.

Policies that involve land, not only those related to solar projects, are clearly moving in the direction of prioritizing food production, Peng wrote in a commentary.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
LONDON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - The Chinese embassy in London on Wednesday condemned what it called Britain's "irresponsible rhetoric" after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss summoned its ambassador over Beijing's actions towards Taiwan.

Truss summoned Zheng Zeguang earlier on Wednesday, saying China's "increasingly aggressive behaviour" following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit was threatening peace and stability in the region around Taiwan.

Zheng "firmly rejected & strongly condemned UK side's irresponsible rhetoric about China's legitimate & necessary response to US House Speaker's Taiwan visit" in a meeting with a senior British foreign ministry official, the Chinese embassy said on Twitter.

"Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. No foreign country, UK included, has the right to meddle with the internal affairs of China." (Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)
Fortune Business Insights

According to Fortune Business Insights, disposable gloves market is projected to grow from USD 26.82 billion in 2022 to USD 44.64 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period; Increasing Implementation of Enhance Industrial Safety and Hygiene Standards to Drive Market Growth

Pune, India, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global disposable gloves market size was valued at USD 23.03 billion in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 26.82 billion in 2022 to USD 44.64 billion by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period.

List of Key Players Mentioned in the Disposable Gloves Market Report:

Top Glove Corporation Bhd (Malaysia)

Hartalega Holdings Berhad (Malaysia)

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (Malaysia)

ANSELL LTD (Australia)

Sempermed (Austria)

Cardinal Health (U.S.)

Supermax Corporation Berhad (Malaysia)

Intco Medical (China)

Bluesail Medical Co., Ltd. (China)

Riverstone Holdings Limited (Malaysia)

YTY Group (Malaysia)

Comfort Rubber Gloves Industries Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)

JIANGSU JAYSUN GLOVE CO., LTD (China)

Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. (U.S.)

Synthomer plc (U.K.)

3M (U.S)

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Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2022-2029 Forecast CAGR 7.5% 2029 Value Projection USD 44.64 Billion Base Year 2021 Disposable Gloves Market Size in 2021 USD 23.03Billion Historical Data 2018-2020 No. of Pages 250 Segments Covered Type, End-user and Regional Disposable Gloves Market Growth Drivers Increasing Adoption of 3D Simulation and 3D Printing Software to Fuel Market Growth Concerns of Privacy and Security to Impede Adoption of Twin Solution

Segments:

Natural Rubber Latex Gloves Segment to Hold Considerable Share Owing to Extended Usage in Healthcare Sector

Based on material, the market is segmented into natural rubber latex gloves, nitrile gloves, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) gloves, and others.

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In 2021, the natural rubber latex gloves segment led the market. Latex gloves are amongst the most expansively used gloves in the market.

Healthcare & Medical Segment to Hold a Significant Share Owing to Growing Demand from Healthcare Amenities

In terms of application, the market is segmented into healthcare & medical, industrial, food industry, and others.

In terms of both volume and value, the healthcare & medical segment characterized the prime share of the market.

Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, Oceania, South America, and the Rest of the World.

Report Coverage:

The report offers a holistic review of the market along with current trends and future anticipations to establish proximate investment gains. An in-depth analysis of any upcoming opportunities, threats, competitions or driving aspects is also mentioned in the report. Step by step, thorough regional analysis is offered. The COVID-19 influences have been added to the report to help investors and business owners understand the threats better. The top players in the market are recognized, and their strategies to bolster the market growth are shared in the report.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/disposable-gloves-market-106777

Drivers and Restraints:

Increasing Implementation of Enhance Industrial Safety and Hygiene Standards to Drive Market Growth

The construction sector is responsible for the prime share of work-related injuries and mortalities among all industries. Owing to the construction, workers' hands are open to unsafe conditions on the working site as insufficient precautionary measures can consequence in mishaps. All of the threats linked with such accidents may be effortlessly reduced to a suitable level by wearing satisfactory PPE on the working site, which comprises gloves. Surging infrastructure and building ventures in the U.S., China, and India are predicted to create a considerable global development prospect for the market growth.

Raw materials, such as latex, utilized in production of disposable gloves is majorly manufactured in Asian nations such as Malaysia and China. The greatly concentrated raw material source suggests that any commotion at the source can considerably affect majorly every shareholder throughout the value chain. This may hamper the disposable gloves market growth.

Regional Insights:

Southeast Asia to Dominate Backed by Rising Demand from Healthcare Sector

Southeast Asia held the largest disposable gloves market share in 2021 and is likely to maintain its position during the forecast period, owing to increasing demand from healthcare sector.

North America is projected to observe growth, owing to the escalating demand from industrial sector. Manufacturing sector in the U.S. has been gradually rising since the start of the pandemic.

North America is estimated to observe growth, owing to increasing demand from the industrial sector. Production sector in the U.S. has been sturdily rising since the commencement of the pandemic.

East Asia is predicted to observe considerable growth rate owing to the upsurge in demand from the food & beverages industry.

Competitive Landscape:

Procurement Commenced by Prime Companies to Endorse Market Growth

The dominating players in the market constantly opt for effective strategies to bolster their brand value as well as promote the global market growth. One such proficient strategy is acquiring competitive companies and further securing a profit for both the companies.

Inquire Before Buying This Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/disposable-gloves-market-106777

Table of Content

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Market Trends

Key Insights Key Findings Key Industry Developments Key Emerging Trends Porters Five Forces Analysis Insights on Regulatory Scenario Latest Technological Advancement

Qualitative Insights  Impact of COVID-19 on Global Disposable Gloves Market Supply Chain Challenges Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak



TOC Continued!

Speak to Analyst:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/disposable-gloves-market-106777

Key Industry Development:

January 2021: Ansell Limited, accomplished the procurement of the Primus brand and associated assets that establish the Life Science business belonging to Primus Gloves and Sanrea Healthcare Products (Primus).

Read Related Insights:

Protective Gloves Market Size Share, Industry Forecast 2029

Disposable Medical Gloves Market Size Share, Industry Forecast 2029

Europe Protective Face Mask Market Size Share, Industry Forecast 2027

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The Department of Justice is preparing a second major antitrust suit against Google, according to new reporting by Bloomberg. The DOJ could sue Google "as soon as next month," according to the report, which details that the lawsuit will be filed in federal court in either Washington or New York.

Unlike the first major Google antitrust case the federal government initiated during the Trump administration, the new lawsuit would focus on the company's command of the digital ad market. Bloomberg reports that DOJ antitrust lawyers are in the process of wrapping up interviews with publishers after "years of work" that will ultimately culminate in the coming lawsuit.

In 2020, the DOJ sued the tech titan over its dominance in the online search market, accusing the company of "unlawfully maintaining monopolies in the markets for general search services, search advertising, and general search text advertising in the United States."

At the time, Google pushed back against the suit, arguing that consumers use its product because it is superior, not because they don't have alternatives.

The Biden administration went out of its way to name a prominent Google critic, Jonathan Kanter, to lead the DOJ's antitrust division. In a 2016 NYT op-ed, Kanter argued that Google is notorious for using an anti-competitive playbook to cut off the oxygen supply to its competitors.

The first Google antitrust suit was filed during Trump's tenure, but the Biden administration inherited that framework  a rare bit of policy continuity between the Trump and Biden White House  and is still working to hold the tech giant accountable for the anti-competitive behavior that cemented its dominance over the last decade.
Annette Taddeo is not afraid of a challenge.

The 55-year-old Florida State Senator was taught from a young age to fight for her beliefs and stand up for justice, something she carries with her throughout her campaign for a congressional seat in Florida.

If elected, she would become the first Colombian woman to have a seat in Congress.

In an exclusive interview with People Chica, Taddeo shared how she hopes to represent Miami, her key to success and the lesson that allowed her to persevere during the most challenging periods of her life.

Annette Taddeo Campaign

You're running for a congressional seat in Florida at a time when many Americans have lost faith in politics. How do you hope to bring change?

Our Democracy is at stake. January 6 was something many of us never thought we would see happen on U.S. soil, especially those of us like me, who fled from other countries. Politicians in Miami love to advocate for freedom and democracy in Cuba and Venezuela, but how can we do that if we won't defend Democracy right here?

I'm in this race to return real representation to Florida's 27th Congressional District. We're at a pivotal moment in our country and we desperately need leadership in Washington.

After a conversation with my daughter about the realities our kids today are facing, from rampant gun violence to the government making decisions about our own bodies, I knew what I needed to do. Families in Miami need a representative in Congress who will stand up for them and make sure we finally tackle issues like the cost of living that affect working people across Miami and restore the hope that has been lost in far too many Americans.

Photo by Johnny Louis/WireImage

You've been a fighter all your life and have endured challenging situations since childhood. What do you think has been the most important lesson you've learned and that helps you carry on when times are tough?

I get my fighting spirit from my dad, a fighter pilot who fought the Nazis in World War II. I learned a lot from him over the years. Seeing my parents persevere through seemingly impossible moments, taught me to always believe and never give up.

Story continues

My dad always used to tell me growing up, "When the cause is just, don't stand on the sidelines, get in there and fight for what you believe." I've taken that message and their resolve with me. You should know that when you fall, what matters is not only to always get back up but to learn from the experience and persevere.

There are a lot of young Latinas and women across the country who want to make a difference and don't know where to begin. What would be your best advice for them?

Find your passion and go for it! Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done. The world is full of people who never get the courage to follow their dreams. Once you achieve your dream, help open the doors for others.

Throughout my political career, I have professionally and personally recruited, supported and mentored many Latinas in politics throughout the state of Floridafrom school board to the Senate. My advice to anyone is to start by getting involved in your local community and surrounding yourself with other inspiring women. When we work together, we can lift each other up.

How do you find a balance between your work and personal life these days?

My daughter is my rock. She is my best friend and the one that keeps me grounded. We cherish every moment we're able to spend together. As a matter of fact, the most important voice in helping me make this decision to run for Congress was my daughter. She knows that serving in Congress means less family time, more time on the campaign trail, and eventually in Washington D.C.

But her generation has grown up in the midst of a global pandemic, a climate crisis, the threat of gun violence in her school, and now is faced with [fewer] rights as a woman than I was afforded growing up.

She told me she knew I could make a difference in these fights and that she wanted me to run. It's a sacrifice for her too, and I'm honored to have in her a fighter in the making who, along with my family, supports me every step of the way.
Fitch Solutions, a leading provider of credit intelligence, has said that Omans latest data release supports its view that the sultanate will post its first yearly fiscal surplus in a decade in 2022 amounting to 6.5% of GDP.

Revenue figures were in line with Fitchs expectations, and it expects revenue to rise further in H2 2022 as a result of high energy prices.

We expect that expenditure growth will remain moderate due to authorities commitment to fiscal consolidation. Government debt data also came in line with our view as we expect it to further decrease to OMR17.5 billion ($45.46 billion) towards the end of the year, bringing Omans debt to GDP ratio to 47.5% in 2022, down from 67.3% in 2021, Fitch said.

Posting surplus

Omans Ministry of Finance released data showing that the sultanate posted a surplus of OMR784 million in H1 2022 following a deficit of OMR1.1 billion in H1 2021. The improvement was driven by a 54.2% y-o-y increase in government revenues, mainly supported by a 40.1% y-o-y increase in oil revenues and a 137.8% y-o-y increase in gas revenues.

Data also showed a decrease in the public debt from OMR20.8 billion at the end of 2021 to OMR18.6 billion at the end of July 2022, in line with government efforts to reduce debt servicing cost.

Fitch expects that Omans hydrocarbon revenues will continue to grow in H2 2022, further widening the countrys fiscal surplus. Omans average oil price of $87.0 per barrel (/bbl) for H1 2022 is below the average Brent oil price for H1 2022 ($105.85/bbl) as Omans budgeted oil price is lagged by approximately three months.

More hydrocarbon revenues

An increase in Omans average oil price in the coming months will lead to more growth in its hydrocarbon revenues in H2 2022, supporting overall revenue growth which we forecast at 41.3% in 2022.

Similarly, Fitch expects that expenditure growth to moderate in H2 2022, in line with authorities fiscal consolidation efforts.

The data release showed an increase of 8.6% in total expenditures, on the back of additional fuel and food subsidies due to soaring prices. Fitch expects that spending growth will decelerate in H2 2022 as global commodity prices start decreasing, reducing pressure on total expenditures, which Fitch forecasts at 5.1% in 2022.-- TradeArabia News Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac) has declared a third quarter dividend of $0.95 per share for each of Farmer Mac's three classes of common stock  Class A Voting Common Stock (NYSE: AGM.A), Class B Voting Common Stock (not listed on any exchange), and Class C Non-Voting Common Stock (NYSE: AGM). The quarterly dividend will be payable on September 30, 2022 to holders of record of common stock as of September 15, 2022.

Farmer Mac Logo (PRNewsFoto/Farmer Mac) (PRNewsfoto/Farmer Mac)

Farmer Mac's board of directors has also declared a dividend on each of Farmer Mac's five classes of preferred stock. The quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share of 6.000% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C (NYSE: AGM.PR.C), $0.35625 per share of 5.700% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D (NYSE: AGM.PR.D), $0.359375 per share of 5.750% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E (NYSE: AGM.PR.E), $0.328125 per share of 5.250% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series F (NYSE: AGM.PR.F), and $0.3046875 per share of 4.875% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (AGM.PR.G), is for the period from but not including July 17, 2022 to and including October 17, 2022. These preferred stock dividends will be payable on October 17, 2022 to holders of record of those classes of preferred stock as of October 3, 2022.

About Farmer Mac

Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of capital for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation's secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac's customers benefit from its low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. Additional information about Farmer Mac is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com.

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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/farmer-mac-declares-quarterly-dividends-on-common-and-preferred-stock-301603807.html

SOURCE Farmer Mac
ReportLinker

Heat Interface Unit Market Research Report by Component (Controllers, Heat Exchangers, and Pumps), Type, Deployment Type, Application, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Heat Interface Unit Market Research Report by Component, Type, Deployment Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06303491/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Heat Interface Unit Market size was estimated at USD 925.36 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 1,004.94 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8.77% to reach USD 1,533.00 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Heat Interface Unit to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Component, the market was studied across Controllers, Heat Exchangers, Pumps, Sensors, and Valves.



Based on Type, the market was studied across Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type D.



Based on Deployment Type, the market was studied across Direct HIUs and Indirect HIUs.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Commercial, Industrial, and Residential.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Heat Interface Unit market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Heat Interface Unit Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Heat Interface Unit Market, including ALFA LAVAL, Armstrong, Bosch, Caleffi, Comap International, Danfoss, Docherty, Dutypoint, Elco Heating Solutions, Elson, Emmeti, Essco Controls, Evinox Energy, GIACOMINI, Heatrae Sadia, Honeywell, Intatec, Johnson & Starley, Kamo Systemtechnik, Kingspan, Kvm-Conheat, Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK), Rhico, Stokvis Boilers, and Thermal Integration.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Heat Interface Unit Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Heat Interface Unit Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Heat Interface Unit Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Heat Interface Unit Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Heat Interface Unit Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Heat Interface Unit Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Heat Interface Unit Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06303491/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




ReportLinker

Paint Protection Films Market Research Report by Material (Polyester & Polyethylene terephthalate(PET), Polyvinyl Chloride & Polyethylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane), End-User Industry, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Paint Protection Films Market Research Report by Material, End-User Industry, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301431/?utm_source=GNW



The Global Paint Protection Films Market size was estimated at USD 871.23 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 933.61 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 7.41% to reach USD 1,338.20 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Paint Protection Films to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Material, the market was studied across Polyester & Polyethylene terephthalate(PET), Polyvinyl Chloride & Polyethylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane.



Based on End-User Industry, the market was studied across Automotive, Construction, Electronics, and Transportation & Marine.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Paint Protection Films market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Paint Protection Films Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Paint Protection Films Market, including 3M Company, Avery Dennison Corporation, Bluegrass Protective Films LLC., BRITE COATINGS PVT. LTD., Eastman Performance Films, LLC, GARWARE PPF, GLOBAL PPF, GRAFITYP Selfadhesive Products NV, Hexis S.A., OPTICSHIELD, ORAFOL Europe GmbH, Permagard India, PremiumShield Limited, Reflek Technologies Corporation, Saint-Gobain, SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC., Skyfol, Stahl Holdings B.V., STEK-USA, and XPEL, Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Paint Protection Films Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Paint Protection Films Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Paint Protection Films Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Paint Protection Films Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Paint Protection Films Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Paint Protection Films Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Paint Protection Films Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301431/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




ReportLinker

PTA Balloon Catheter Market Research Report by Matrerial (Nylon and Polyurethane), Application, End-User, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19

New York, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "PTA Balloon Catheter Market Research Report by Matrerial, Application, End-User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301395/?utm_source=GNW



The Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market size was estimated at USD 2,291.23 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 2,521.72 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 10.31% to reach USD 4,129.28 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2019 and 2020 are considered historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the PTA Balloon Catheter to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Matrerial, the market was studied across Nylon and Polyurethane.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Coronary Artery Disease and Peripheral Vascular Disease.



Based on End-User, the market was studied across Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Hospitals or Clinics.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for PTA Balloon Catheter market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the PTA Balloon Catheter Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market, including Abbott Laboratories, AndratecGmbH, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Biosensors International Ltd., BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Boston Scientific Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., Cardionovum GmbH., Cook Medical Inc., Cordis Corporation, Creagh Medical, Jotech GmbH, Medtronic PLC, Meril Life Pvt. Ltd., MicroPort Scientific Corporation, NATEC MEDICAL LTD, QX Medical LLC, Terumo Corporation, Tokai Medical Products Inc., and TriReme Medical.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global PTA Balloon Catheter Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06301395/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




The Greenrose Holding Company

AMITYVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Greenrose Holding Company Inc. (OTC: GNRS, GNRSW) (Greenrose or the Company), a multi-state grower and producer of cannabis brands and products, will hold a conference call on Monday, August 15, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022. The Company will provide its financial results in a press release prior to the conference call.



Greenrose management will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Conference Call Date: August 15, 2022

Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time

Registration Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIf28abed85b5049a0b4c66781e778ec42

Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact Gateway Group at (949) 574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here.

About The Greenrose Holding Company Inc.

The Greenrose Holding Company Inc. is a multi-state cultivator and producer of cannabis brands and products. Greenrose is driven by cultivation. It is understood that being a leader in the cannabis industry starts with outstanding flower derived from sophisticated genetics and scalable grow methods. Greenrose aims to be a vertically integrated company that looks for scale and horizontal consolidation. For more information, please visit www.greenroseholdings.com .

Investor Relations Contact:

Gateway Group, Inc.

Cody Slach or Jackie Keshner

(949) 574-3860

GNRS@gatewayir.com

Greenrose Contact:

Daniel Harley

Executive Vice President, Investor Relations

(516) 307-0383

ir@greenroseholdings.com




(Bloomberg) -- An ally of former Pakistan premier Imran Khan was arrested and a TV channel seen to be close to his party has been pulled off air for allegedly broadcasting seditious content against the South Asian countrys powerful army.

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Pakistans political risks have remained elevated since Khan was ousted in April through a parliament no-confidence vote. The former leader has continued to accuse Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani military of conspiring with the US to remove him from power -- an allegation all three have denied.

Shahbaz Gill from Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf was arrested on charges of sedition, based on comments he made on the local ARY channel, that were part of a plan, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said in a news briefing.

The latest episode adds to Khans worries after the countrys election commission earlier this month ruled that his party received illegal funding from overseas. Prime Minister Sharifs administration has said it will start legal proceedings looking to ban the PTI from politics.

Imran Khan took to Twitter to call the incident shameful and alleged that the manner in which Gill was arrested was like an abduction. If found guilty of sedition, Gill could face the death penalty.

Gill, who is Khans chief of staff, appeared on local station ARY News on Monday and urged army troops not to accept any illegal order from the top military leadership, the Associated Press reported.

ARY News, a known critic of the current government, had been taken off air and its head of news was arrested in Karachi. The media outlet is now streaming content through its website and has accused the government of victimization.

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Spokespersons for the government and Khans party were not immediately available to comment on the events.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Plant-based yogurt company Lavva announces it has been acquired by lead operating partner Next in Natural, in concert with Lavva Founder and Chief Growth Officer Liz Fisher. The new alliance brings forth a team of strategic investors, including David Heller, Art Wrubel, and David Blitzer. In addition, Jeff Lichtenstein has been appointed Chief Volcanic Officer (CEO). Lichtenstein's years of experience in the natural CPG category helped launch and scale companies such as Chobani, Stumptown, and Hu, amongst others, as the founder and CEO of Gourmet Guru, later acquired by UNFI.

LAVVA

"Lavva is what's next in natural  delicious and nutritious plant-based products aligned with consumer demand for clean, whole food, functional, regenerative ingredients, and convenience," states Lichtenstein. "Joining forces with these outstanding partners allows us to fortify the supply chain to keep up with demand and to produce additional innovation."

The future of the plant-based yogurt market is promising, with total revenues projected to hit $3.6B by *2026 (Research & Markets). Lavva is well positioned to capitalize on this surging segment with its unique offering that eliminates the use of gums, oils, flavors, and added sugar. It is a rich, creamy, nutrient-dense blend of pili nuts, coconut, and young plantains, with naturally occurring prebiotics and probiotics making it a gut health powerhouse. Lavva gets its name from the nutrient-dense volcanic soil in which the pili nut grows.

"We are on track to propel the company's growth by leveraging Next In Natural's expertise in production, R&D, business development, and marketing, which will help us evolve and reach new audiences. Our goal is to become known and trusted as one of the few truly healthy and delicious foods at the grocery store that doesn't still have its leaves attached," adds Liz Fisher.

About Next in Natural

Next in Natural is a Brooklyn, New York-based venture studio that helps invest in and operate emerging natural CPG companies focused on sustainable and regenerative agriculture.

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About Lavva

Lavva is on a mission to realize the full potential of plant-based foods made without compromise. Powered by the regenerative pili nut, Lavva is the only yogurt that is Paleo and Plantricious Certified made fresh using only whole, unprocessed raw ingredients to support a healthy metabolism, digestion, and immune function.

Lavva is available exclusively at visionary retailers and D2C partners seeking to elevate their yogurt selection.

For More Information:

Contact: Hello@LovveLavva.com visit www.lovvelavva.com or follow the company @LovveLavva .

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SOURCE Lavva
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 9, 2022) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report initial results of the high-resolution ground Induced Polarization ("IP") survey. The IP chargeability correlates with the two URU-Central copper-silver rich discoveries and extends at least 200m below surface. The IP data is to be integrated into a detailed geological and structural three-dimensional model for the upcoming drill program (refer to Figure 2 and 3D video below).

First URU-Central discovery, URU-C returned chip channel widths of 9.0m@7.0% copper + 115 g/t silver (new results) and 16.8m@8.3% copper + 146 g/t silver at the lower levels of the prospect. The upper level (+190m vertically above) is +290m along strike and returned 4.9% copper + 41 g/t silver along a 52m ridgeline, true width yet to be determined (new results).

The second discovery, URU-CE is located 750m to the east of URU-C, consisting of substantial sized outcrops with visible copper mineralization +15m wide, trending SSW for +250m of strike, open in all directions (refer to Figures 3 and 4 video).

The Company's wholly owned URU-Central forms part of the 20-km-long URU district, located along the southern portion of the CESAR North 90-km-long copper-silver belt.

"The initial IP survey has achieved the objectives of defining the vertical dimensions of the primary chalcocite-bearing mineralized body at the two URU-Central discoveries. Max is preparing drill sites and planning to mobilize the diamond core drill rig late next month, initiating the first ever drilling program targeting copper-silver mineralization on its URU mining concessions," commented Max CEO, Brett Matich.

"Concurrently, Max continues its regional exploration programs along the 90-km-long CESAR copper-silver belt, utilizing its approximately $20 million treasury," he concluded.

Initial results show the primary chalcocite mineralization extends from surface and displays a clearly defined chargeability contrast with the known unmineralized barren wall rocks. The IP results indicate that the defined surface mineralization appears to continue both along strike and at least 200m vertically at the two parallel discoveries (URU-C and URU-CE).

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The high-resolution IP survey generates three-dimensional chargeability and resistivity data to vertical depths of 200m. The initial ongoing 4-line-km survey was conducted over four lines spaced at 100m and with IP stations every 50m and confirmed strong correlation between surface copper-silver rich rock geochemistry and IP chargeability zones.





Figure 1. Location of URU District

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/133218_f5c55a3e94cb5b16_002full.jpg





Figure 2. IP Plan and Section Looking North

(Click the play icon to view IP 3D video)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/133218_f5c55a3e94cb5b16_003full.jpg





Figure 3: CESAR copper-silver project

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/133218_f5c55a3e94cb5b16_004full.jpg





Figure 4:URU-C and URU-CE discoveries

(Click the play icon to view URU Discovery video)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/133218_f5c55a3e94cb5b16_005full.jpg

Cesar Copper Silver Project

CESAR lies along the copper-silver rich 200-kilometre-long Cesar Basin in Northeastern Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's mining concessions collectively expanse over 212-km.

Max is proactive, with the corporate goal of moving the Cesar basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for the Colombia's transition to clean energy.

Max executed a 2-year co-operation agreement with Endeavour Silver Corp., which assists Max to significantly expand its 100% owned landholdings at CESAR, Endeavour will hold underlying 0.5% NSR.

Max is focusing on three major copper-silver districts individually located along the CESAR 90-kilometre-long belt, with the objective of expanding the zones and defining drill targets:

The 32-km long AM district with highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver

The Conejo district , averages 4.9% copper (2% cut-off) over 3.7-km

The 20-km long URU district returned 7.0m@8.5% copper+143 g/t silver and 16.8m@8.3% copper+146 g/t silver

Geologically, Max interprets the sediment-hosted copper-silver mineralization in the Cesar basin to be analogous to both the Central African Copper Belt (CACB) in the south and the Kupferschiefer deposits in Poland of the CESAR copper-silver belt. Almost 50% of the copper known to exist in sediment-hosted deposits is contained in the CACB, including Ivanhoe Mines Ltd 95-billion-pound Kamoa-Kakula discovery in the Congo.

Kupferschiefer, the world's largest silver producer and Europe's largest copper source, is a mining orebody ranging from 0.5 to 5.5m thick at depths of 500m, grading 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver. The silver yield is almost twice the production of the world's second largest silver mine.

Source: Central African Belt Descriptive models, grade-tonnage relations, and databases for the assessment of sediment-hosted copper deposits with emphasis on deposits in the Central Africa Copperbelt, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia by USGS 2010. Kamoa-Kakula by OreWin March 2020. World Silver Survey 2020 and Kupferschiefer Deposits & Prospects in SW Poland, September 27, 2019. Max cautions investors that the presence of copper mineralization of the Central African Copper Belt and the Polish Kupferschiefer are not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at CESAR.

Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43:101.

About Max Resource Corp.

Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale Cesar copper-silver project. The wholly owned Cesar project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron).

In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres.

Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011

For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/

For additional information contact:

Tim McNulty

E: info@maxresource.com

T: (604) 290-8100

Rahim Lakha

E: rahim@bluesailcapital.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 adequacy or accuracy of this release

Except for statements of historic 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates 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 statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133218
The Government of Canada reiterates its commitment to Francophones and Acadians in Nova Scotia

CHURCH POINT, NS, Aug. 10, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will take part in a press conference on Thursday along with the Honourable Colton Leblanc, Nova Scotia's Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie.

They will announce significant funding to support Nova Scotia's Francophones in accessing quality education in their language, from early childhood to the post-secondary level. This funding will also support the vitality of Acadian and Francophone communities in Nova Scotia.

Journalists must confirm their attendance by sending their full name and the name of the media outlet they represent to media@pch.gc.ca by 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 10.

Please note that all details are subject to change. All times are local.

The details are as follows:

DATE:

Thursday, August 11, 2022

TIME:

10:00 a.m.

PLACE:

Bibliotheque Louis-R.-Comeau

Universite Sainte-Anne

Church Point, Nova Scotia

SOURCE Canadian Heritage

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View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2022/10/c4646.html
(Bloomberg) -- While crude prices may have softened in the last few weeks, theres a strong case to be made for $100 oil starting next year, according to veteran industry analyst Paul Sankey.

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Its easy to argue for $100 oil on an ongoing basis starting in 2023, Sankey said in a Bloomberg Television interview, referring to the price of the global oil benchmark Brent. I dont think youll do much above $150 over time simply because the demand elasticity, the effect of the strong dollar, combined with that kind of oil price, will hold you below that level.

Despite the very recent pullback, oil prices have surged this year as Russias invasion of Ukraine tightened supplies at a time when consumers emerging from the worst of the pandemic drove up demand. The USs historic release of 1 million barrels a day of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve has helped put a cap on recent gains. If it werent for the SPR release, we would be a lot higher, the founder of Sankey Research LLC said.

Rising costs of global exploration and the lack of refining capacity is an ongoing problem. More than 2 million barrels a day of refining capacity outside of the US has been shut since 2019, bolstering the export market for its products. US oil exports reached a record last month amid a widening gap between West Texas Intermediate and Brent oil futures.

That is terrible energy security policy; theres no question about that, Sankey said. Its good market policy because theyre hammering the oil price.

While Sankey refrained from calling a short-term price for oil, he did note that technical analysts are pointing at $80 a barrel. In the near-term, Im kind of bearish right now to be honest with you.

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Bahrain-based GFH Financial Group, a dynamic financial investment group, saw its first-half (H1) net profit attributable to shareholders rise 13.9% to $42.18 million compared with $37.04 million in the first six months of 2021.

Currently, GFH manages over $15 billion of assets and funds including a global portfolio of investments in logistics, healthcare, education and technology in the Mena region, Europe and North America.

Earnings per share for the period was US cents 1.22 compared to US cents 1.21 for the first six months of 2021. Total income for the first half of 2022 was $182.76 million versus $181.01 million for the 2021 period, an increase of 1.0%.

Consolidated net profit for the six-month period increased by 2.8% to $45.38 million compared with $44.15 million in the first six months of 2021. Total expenses for the period were $137.39 million up 0.4% from $136.87 million for the first six months of 2021.

Total equity

Total equity attributable to shareholders was $0.98 billion at 30 June 2022 up 1.61% from $0.96 billion at year-end 2021. Total assets of the group were $8.52 billion at June 30, 2022 compared with $8.08 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of 5.4%.

The group reported net profit attributable to shareholders of $23.06 million for the second quarter of the year, up 10.2% compared with $20.92 million for the second quarter of 2021 reflecting continued steady growth and progress.

Major contributions included income generated from the placement of the groups global investments, commercial banking business and sustainable infrastructure platform.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share for the second quarter was US cents 0.67 compared to US cents 0.68 for the comparative quarter of 2021.

Total income for the second quarter of 2022 was $91.95 million compared to $90.62 million for the second quarter of 2021, a rise of 1.5%. Consolidated net profit for the second quarter was $26.03 million compared with $24.81 million in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 4.9%. Total expenses for the second quarter were $65.92 million compared to $65.82 million in the comparative period of 2021, an increase of 0.2%.

Commenting, Ghazi Al Hajeri, Chairman of GFH, said: The groups continued its steady performance for the first half of the year. In line with our strategy of diversification, we further built our portfolio of investments across the Middle East, Europe and the US and listed our shares on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). GFHs fourth listing on a regional exchange, the move aligns with efforts to broaden our geographic reach and shareholder base and to enhance visibility among key global and regional investors as we enter another phase of growth.

Spinning out

During the period, we also successfully spun out the groups infrastructure and real estate assets into Infracorp, which was capitalised with more than $1 billion in infrastructure and developed assets. The aim is to accelerate growth and investments in sustainable infrastructure assets and environments across the Gulf and internationally, an area of significant opportunity and one in line with our focus on furthering embedding ESG principles and impact into the heart of our business, investments and development principles. With positive momentum from the first half of the year, we look forward to maintaining our upward trajectory and creating even greater value for our investors and shareholders.

Hisham Alrayes, CEO of GFH, added: During the period, we acquired a majority stake in SQ Asset Management, a US-based student housing specialist, strengthening our presence in the US real estate sector and supporting new transactions of approximately $0.5 billion in the student housing space during the first half of the year alone. Our commercial banking subsidiary, KHCB, has also performed well during the period, continuing to increase its contributions after a successful turnaround. We are also very proud that Infracorp, which was launched in January of this year, has already announced good profits during its first reporting period.

We expect even further progress in these key areas of our business And continued expansion of our investment activities, deal flow and global footprint. This remains a priority in the forthcoming periods as we actively pursuing organic and inorganic growth with an eye towards delivering even stronger results during the remainder of 2022.-- TradeArabia News Service
Al Jalila Childrens Specialty Hospital is on a mission to diagnose critically ill infantsand serve underrepresented patient populations

Northampton, MA --News Direct-- Illumina

Born in Kuwait and raised in Lebanon, Dr. Ahmad Abou Tayoun developed a passion for genetics and genomics during his high school and college years in the early 2000s, when the Human Genome Projects first draft was nearing completion. There was a lot of excitement around the promise of the field, he says. Abou Tayoun traveled to the United States for a PhD in genetics, a postdoc in molecular diagnostics at Dartmouth College, and a fellowship in clinical molecular diagnostics at Harvard Medical School. Finally, after a three-year stint co-leading genomic diagnostics at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, he moved to the United Arab Emirates. I always wanted to do something in this region, says Abou Tayoun, who is now the director of the Genomics Centre at Al Jalila Childrens Specialty Hospital in Dubai.

Established in 2016, Al Jalila Childrens Specialty Hospital is the first and only dedicated pediatric hospital in the UAE. The 200-bed facility is home to regional centers of excellence in critical care, pediatric kidney care, mental health, genomics, neurosciences, and cardiology, in addition to more than 25 specialty clinics. It has Dubai's first robotic pharmacy as well as its own molecular diagnostic/NGS laboratory, making it a destination where smart technology and design converge to improve patient care and outcomes.

Abou Tayoun was part of the team that built the Genomics Centre from scratchdesigning the lab, purchasing equipment, recruiting world-class talent, and getting CAP accreditation. In 2019, Al Jalila Childrens began offering clinical genomic testing for rare diseases.

Abou Tayoun and colleagues recently published a paper in Genome Medicine detailing a study of five critically ill newborns and infants in their hospitals intensive care unit (ICU). At the Genomics Centre, the team performed rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS) for trio analysis using samples from each patient as well as their parents. The average turnaround time was about 37 hours, and three out of five patients received a diagnosis.

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One patient was diagnosed with Pallister-Killian syndrome. Another was found to have pathogenic variants in the LIPA gene and became a candidate for an FDA-approved enzyme replacement therapy. The diagnoses were speedy, precise, and informative, guiding the personalized treatment plans in the facilitys ICU.

While two patients had no positive diagnosis, their data could still prove valuable. In one patient whose parents are related by blood, a large proportion of the patients genome consisted of pairs of genes that were identical to each otherand those regions also showed identical variants (also called homozygous variants) in genes that have not been known to cause disease. But these genes or variants can be opportunities for research, Abou Tayoun says. One of those homozygous changes might turn out to be the cause of a disease.

In the Middle East, marriages to first or second cousins are common and, in some countries, can account for as many as half of all unions. Consequently, there is a higher genetic disease burden, yet you dont have access to genomic services, Abou Tayoun explains. People talk about diagnostic odysseys lasting five or six years in Europe or the US, but I would bet the wait is even longer in this part of the world. Not many people are able to travel to Europe or the US to access genomic testing services, let alone wait for results and get treatment. This is one reason his Genomics Centre is focused on tackling rare diseases, and why its critical for the hospital to provide pediatrics-trained, multidisciplinary teams under one roof, from genetic counselors to lab technicians and physicians.

Photo courtesy of Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital

Increasing RepresentationTo date, diverse populations are underrepresented in the body of existing genomic data, limiting the scope of our knowledge of disease and the potential for precision medicine. Seventy-eight percent of the data in the public database Genome wide Association Study (GWAS) Catalog comes from individuals of European descent. Most patients receiving care at Al Jalila Childrens are of Middle Eastern, North African, or Asian origin. The babies in Abou Tayouns patient cohort were Emirati, Pakistani, Jordanian, Kenyan, and Filipino.

Its not a large study, but this is three out of five diagnoses based on literature created in the West, he says. One of the patients who did not receive a diagnosis may have a condition that hasnt been studied yet, so their data could present a research opportunity for gene discovery, which may lead to a diagnosis in the future.

The Genomics Centre team wants to address and bring awareness to the need for increased representation and access to genomic services for diverse and underserved patient populations. Abou Tayoun is also an associate professor of genetics at Mohammed Bin Rashid University (MBRU); Al Jalila Childrens is affiliated with MBRUs Center for Genomic Discovery, where the staff is enrolling families with inconclusive genomic testing into a research pipeline that will use the genomic data to look for any novel candidate genes that could inform gene discovery work.

For now, Abou Tayouns mission is to generate evidence demonstrating that rWGS should be the standard of care in the ICU setting. He hopes to show that if even a fraction of Al Jalila Childrens patients receive life-saving treatments through rWGS, it will save the hospital and health care system money in addition to saving lives. As of 2020, just 11.9% of the UAE population are native Emiratis; the remaining 88.1% are immigrants. Abou Tayoun explains that the former receive health care through the government and the latter have private insurers, so both the government and insurance companies must be well educated about the utility of rWGS: Although it looks slightly more expensive than traditional testing, it has its value. It's quick, and theres no unnecessary diagnostic workup or inefficient treatment.

At Al Jalila Childrens, physicians are looking forward to offering rWGS to more families and, soon, to launching a pediatric oncology service. In the meantime, Abou Tayoun and colleagues are doing what they can to advocate for an improved health care infrastructure in the UAE as well as for equitable access to genomics worldwide.

Every diagnostic case is rewarding, especially given the rare disease burden and lack of access to genomics services, he says. Doing this work means a lot to me and we feel lucky and grateful we were able to establish this service to help children and families in the Middle East.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Illumina on 3blmedia.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/how-one-childrens-hospital-is-transforming-care-for-kids-in-dubai-785553086
Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

The global PVC Window Profiles Market size market was valued at USD 550.13 million in 2021. By 2030, it is predicted to reach USD 763.97 million with a CAGR of 4.19% during the forecast period (2022-2030). The growth of the North American PVC window profiles market is led by industrialization and the growing construction sector.

New York, United States, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PVC window profile is a protective and supportive border made of PVC material that surrounds the windows. It refers to a somewhat thick material used for a decorative window. The principal objective of PVC window profiles is to shield the window from external elements to ensure the window's longevity. PVC window profiles come in various forms, sizes, and patterns, and these are simple to install. These are often used for windows in business buildings, homes, and apartment complexes.

The global PVC window profiles market has been divided into four segments: type, window design, application, and region.



Key Insights

The global PVC window profiles market size was valued at USD 486.4 million in 2021, and it is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 4.19% from 2021 to 2030.

The global PVC window profiles market is segmented into turn and tilt, sliding, and casement windows.

Due to increased commercial building constructions with window-based facades, the turn and tilt window category is estimated to grow at the fastest CAGR of 7.53 % throughout the projection period.

Based on window design, the PVC window profiles market is classified into three categories: decorative, solid color, and white. Solid color held the most market share in 2021 and is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 4.49 % by 2030.

North America and Europe are the two dominant markets for PVC window profiles.





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Competitive Pricing Edge Over Other Window Profile Materials to Drive Market Growth

Pricing is another essential factor to consider when it comes to the growth of the PVC window profile market. There are various materials to select from for profile manufacturing , and PVC is one of the most economical, with an outstanding price-quality ratio. PVC is a long-lasting, easy-to-maintain material that is often ideal for replacement windows. PVC prices are falling due to increasingly efficient production technology, and 3D printing will likely add to market development.

Furthermore, its continuous popularity within the market due to its highly competitive price and durability is likely to contribute to the growth of the PVC window profile market. PVC windows are lightweight and have a high impact strength, contributing to their growing popularity. It is also simple to work with and has excellent resistance to corrosion and wear and strain, which is common when repairing and replacing windows.

PVC windows have excellent insulating and soundproofing capabilities and provide perfect sealing. As a result, the low price and other benefits are predicted to boost the PVC window profiles market growth.

Story continues





Design Enhancements to Provide Lucrative Opportunities to the Market

PVC windows were often considered unsuitable for listed buildings or those in conservation zones due to their barren and unstylish appearance. Due to their lack of aesthetics, these appeared out of place in classic grand Victorian homes. On the other hand, PVC windows did not allow much customizationalthough altering the colors and patterns is possible. Nonetheless, just a few options may not appeal to end-users who desire a more tailored solution.

However, ongoing improvements in window design introduce a slew of new uses for PVC window profiles. Profiles are now being used as a medium to upgrade any property and create one-of-a-kind architectural looks at a minimal cost. Many businesses, organizations, and government buildings employ window profiles to give them a distinct look and design. Further advancements in the production of PVC profile windows and uPVC, which will make them more sustainable and less harmful to the environment, will also pave the way for market growth during the forecast period.







Report Scope

Report Metric Details Market Size USD 763 Million CAGR 4.19% (2022-2030) Historical Data 2019-2020 Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Million ) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, Window Design and Application Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAME and Rest of the World Key Companies Profiled/Vendors Deceuninck, Schuco, Profine Group, Rehau Group, Aluplast GmbH, Epwin Group, Rehau Group, Salamander Window and Door Systems (Salamander Group (Sg)), and others. Key Market Opportunities The Advanced Materials Industry'S Substantial Growth Fuels The Pvc Window Profiles Market Key Market Drivers increasing demand for housing as the average number of persons per household declines





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Impact of COVID-19

The pandemic of COVID-19 had a significant influence on the building sector. The construction industry, which covers everything from public infrastructure to residential projects, has faced several obstacles, including a lack of money and credit, serial fraud, and environmental regulations. In addition, to limit the outbreak, governments in various countries ordered a short shutdown, suspending building and business activities.

Government restrictions imposed to prevent the virus's impact led to a lack of raw materials and labor and a disruption in the supply chain, making meeting contractual commitments more difficult. In the sector, consumer demand has decreased. Some building and engineering materials are imported from nations that may negatively influence, causing a ripple effect across the sector.





List of Key Players



Deceuninck, Schuco

Profine Group

Rehau Group

Aluplast GmbH

Epwin Group

Rehau Group

Salamander Window and Door Systems (Salamander Group (Sg))





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Global PVC Window Profiles Market: Segmentation

By Type

Turn and Tilt Windows

Sliding Window

Casement Window

Others

By Window Design

Decorative

Solid Color

White

By Application

Residential

Commercial

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific





TABLE OF CONTENT

1 Introduction

1.1 PVC Window Profiles Market Definition

1.2 PVC Window Profiles Market Scope

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Primary Research

2.2 Research Methodology

2.3 Assumptions & Exclusions

2.4 Secondary Data Sources

3 Executive Summary

4 Market Overview

4.1 Report Segmentation & Scope

4.2 Value Chain Analysis: PVC Window Profiles Market

4.2.1 Vendor Matrix

4.3 Key Market Trends

4.3.1 Drivers

4.3.2 Restraints

4.3.3 Opportunities

4.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.4.3 Threat of Substitution

4.4.4 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.5 Competitive Rivalry

4.5 Environment & Regulatory Landscape

4.6 Forecast Factors & Relevance of Impact

4.7 Macro-Economic & Geopolitical Scenario

4.8 Parent Market Overview

4.9 Technology Landscape

4.10 Market Share Analysis

4.11 Potential Venture Analysis

4.12 Regional Price Trends

4.13 Raw Material Trends

4.14 Cost Structure Analysis

4.14.1 Labor Cost

4.14.2 Consumables

4.14.3 Maintenance Cost

4.15 Covid-19 Impact Analysis:

4.15.1 Pre and Post Covid-19 Market Scenario Analysis

4.15.2 Market Recovery Timeline and Challenge

4.15.3 Measures Taken by Top Players

4.15.4 Quarterly Market Revenue and Growth Forecast till 2021

4.15.4.1 North America

4.15.4.2 Europe

4.15.4.3 Asia-Pacific

4.15.4.4 Central and South America and the Caribbean

4.15.4.5 The Middle East and Africa

5 Type Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

5.2 Turn and Tilt Windows

5.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

5.3 Sliding Window

5.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

5.4 Casement Window

5.4.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

5.5 Others

5.5.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6 Window Design Overview

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6.2 Decorative

6.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6.3 Solid Color

6.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

6.4 White

6.4.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

7 Application Overview

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

7.2 Residential

7.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

7.3 Commercial

7.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

8 Regional Overview

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume)

8.2 North America

8.2.1 Economic Overview

8.2.2 Market Scenario

8.2.3 U.S.

8.2.4 Canada

8.2.5 Mexico

8.3 Central and South America and the Caribbean

8.3.1 Economic Overview

8.3.2 Market Scenario

8.3.3 Brazil

8.3.4 Argentina

8.3.5 Colombia

8.3.6 Rest of Central and South America and the Caribbean

8.4 Europe

8.4.1 Economic Overview

8.4.2 Market Scenario

8.4.3 Germany

8.4.4 France

8.4.5 The U.K.

8.4.6 Italy

8.4.7 The Rest Of Europe

8.5 Asia-Pacific (APAC)

8.5.1 Economic Overview

8.5.2 Market Scenario

8.5.3 China

8.5.4 Japan

8.5.5 India

8.5.6 Australia

8.5.7 South Korea

8.5.8 Rest Of APAC

8.6 Middle East

8.6.1 Economic Overview

8.6.2 Market Scenario

8.6.3 South Arabia

8.6.4 The UAE

8.6.5 Qatar

8.6.6 Oman

8.6.7 Turkey

8.6.8 The Rest Of Middle East

8.7 Africa

8.7.1 Economic Overview

8.7.2 Market Scenario

8.7.3 Nigeria

8.7.4 South Africa

8.7.5 The Rest Of Africa

9 Competitive Landscape  Manufacturers & Suppliers

9.1 Competition Dashboard

9.2 Industry Structure

9.3 Deceuninck

9.3.1 Business Overview

9.3.2 Financial Performance

9.3.3 Recent Developments

9.3.4 Portfolio

9.4 Schuco

9.5 Profine Group

9.6 Rehau Group

9.7 Aluplast GmbH

9.8 Epwin Group

9.9 Rehau Group

9.10 Salamander Window

9.11 Door Systems (Salamander Group (Sg))

10 Conclusion & Recommendation

11 Acronyms & Abbreviations





Table of Content and Figure @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/pvc-window-profiles-market/toc





Market News

In February 2022 , VEKA announced the launch of 3 new profiles for windows and doors, expanding the color and design range.

In May 2021 , Deceuninck announced a partnership with Finestral, a company based in Malta specializing in uPVC energy-efficient apertures. They formed a partnership, and Deceuninck authorized the company to work on its behalf to develop energy-efficient PVC apertures with superior thermal performance.

In June 2021 , Eurocell announced the addition of three new retail locations to its growing network in the U.K. The three new branches, which will open over the summer, are located throughout the U.K. and will help to meet the ever-increasing demand for Eurocell's product range in these areas.

In September 2021 , Schuco International announced a joint venture with Alufit International to focus Schueco's efforts in India on large commercial and infrastructure facade projects.

In October 2021 , Profine announced the opening of a new training workshop for its operation in Berlin. Internal training phases, such as bare plastic and metal technology training, can be covered with the new machines. The company had to rely on external partners to accomplish this until now.

In April 2019, Chelsea Building Products, part of Aluplast, announced that it had opened its second production facility in a renovated 126,000-square-foot plant in Greenville, Texas.





News Media

Competitive Pricing Edge Over Other Window Profile Materials to Drive PVC Window Profile Market

Lightweight PVC  The Most Preferred Chlorine Form Material for Electric Vehicles





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The former Priceline Partner Network executive will lead the global business development efforts of Roomer Travel's NEW B2B private label program.

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rick Schneider, one of the founders of both Priceline Partner Network and Travelocity Partner Network, has taken the helm to lead Global Sales for Roomer Travel, which has launched an innovative B2B trip protection program designed to pay OTAs up to three commissions on a room booking.

The Roomer private label program operates on a simple, elegant idea: dramatically reduce losses of hotel commissions caused by up to a 35% industry-wide cancellation rate of non-refundable hotel rooms. Roomer Flex converts non-refundable room rates to refundable, earning OTAs a commission on the trip protection and protecting the booking commission 100%. Roomer then sells the canceled room at a discount by listing the room on its Marketplace, resulting in an additional commission to the OTA.

Roomer's B2C marketplace was launched in 2013. Simple and brilliant, with global reach and thousands of choices, Roomer Travel saves consumers money. PC Magazine said it best: "What should you do when you've prepaid for a hotel, and you suddenly have to cancel? Download the Roomer Travel App or go to roomertravel.com/sell, the marketplace for prepaid hotel stays. Roomer can help you recoup money that might otherwise be lost to the travel gods, and it can save you money when you buy a hotel reservation at a discount from someone who can't use it. You can explore hotel stays that people are trying to sell by location or date.

Schneider commented, "The travel space continues to evolve and is booming. The more I learned about Roomer and its unique position and offering, the more convinced I became of the urgent need to bring this product to OTAs around the world and help them recoup from the challenging past couple of years for our industry. I am thrilled to be part of the leadership team at Roomer, and I am confident that I will be an integral part of building on its already impressive track record. I am equally looking forward to helping my long-time industry friends earn more money per booking at no additional cost to their bottom line! We are seeing high demand for travel again and Roomer is the perfect solution for consumers as well as B2C operators."

Story continues

The Roomer offerings can be easily implemented to partners' proprietary inventory via API connectivity with the refunding process handled quickly. Partners can also add deeply discounted re-sell inventory to their own results via an API feed, while the entire experience is privately branded.

Schneider was instrumental in building Priceline Partner Network from a startup to one of the world's largest travel partner programs, repeating his original success by doing the same thing at Travelocity Partner Network for a decade before joining Priceline. He is considered one of the founders of global private label online travel programs and has helped over 3,000 online travel companies prosper during his success at both Travelocity and Priceline.

Gon Ben David, Founder/CEO of Roomer Travel, commented, "We feel quite fortunate to have Rick join our team. His background, reputation and experience will add significant value to our partnerships and to the Roomer platform. He will be building on the incredible momentum we have achieved in our global marketplace."

ABOUT ROOMER TRAVEL

Roomer Travel is the marketplace for travel accommodations, recognized by CNN, YAHOO!, Forbes, Mashable, The New York Times, NBC News and others. We host a marketplace for holders of nonrefundable hotel rooms to sell to buyers seeking a great deal or last-minute getaway. And our automated validation system verifies the authenticity of every single reservation on our website. As Fox News Channel said, "Roomer is the first-ever company to provide a solution for nonrefundable hotel room cancellations and does so in a way that is both helpful and trustworthy to all parties affected by these cancellations."

For more information:

For information on adding Roomer Flex to a travel website, contact Rick Schneider at 772-252-4608 or via email at rick@roomertravel.com.

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.




Bell's strategy includes dramatic growth, uncompromising product quality and a strong commitment to franchisees

MARKHAM, ON, Aug. 10, 2022 /CNW/ - Fat Bastard Burrito Co. was acquired by MBI Brands in July, joining fellow Canadian brand, Mary Brown's Chicken, under one umbrella company.

Sean Bell, Former Mary Browns Chicken CFO, Named President of Fat Bastard Burrito, Co. (CNW Group/MBI Brands)

Sean Bell, formerly the CFO of Mary Brown's Chicken, was instrumental in closing the Fat Bastard acquisition and brings his outstanding record of achievement at Mary Brown's to this role  having led Finance, IT, Risk Management, People & Culture, Procurement and Culinary functions. He was a key contributor to Mary Brown's recent record-breaking results, having added team members and implemented processes to help facilitate continued expansion, as well as being one of the lead contacts for the brand's franchisee advisory committee.

What was at the heart of MBI Brands' decision to acquire Fat Bastard Burrito?

"The two brands are quite complementary," states Bell, "They are both 100 per cent Canadian owned and operated franchise businesses, both serve premium quality made-fresh food, and both have exceptional growth potential in the QSR space." "What's also notable," he emphasizes, "is that they can coexist in close proximity without fear of cannibalizing each other as they appeal to different demographic groups and are strong in different day parts."

"Today, Fat Bastard Burrito is just in Ontario, but we have the talent, the infrastructure and the vendor partnerships to go coast-to-coast," he continues. "The brand has many strengths. We have already started the process of building on those strengths, actively engaging with franchisees to make enhancements where needed. In short, we're ready to do business and seeking qualified franchisees to take advantage of this incredible opportunity."

The burrito space is in the growth phase and while there are already several key players, Fat Bastard Burrito is unique.

"It starts with the name," says Bell with a smile, "it's memorable and impactful. But behind the name is delicious product, excellent menu variety, premium ingredients, and Canadian passion  and we've seen with Mary Brown's that those things really matter to Canadians."

Story continues

There's no doubt that Sean Bell knows the food business. His career has been exclusively in the food & beverage industry, including Tier 1 CPG brands like Coca-Cola, Coors Canada, Maple Leaf Foods and Mars. In addition, he led the finance function for Montana's Cookhouse and Kelsey's Roadhouse at Recipe Unlimited. He was also a successful entrepreneur, as Co-Owner and CFO for The Works Gourmet Burger Bistro and helped facilitate an eventual sale to MTY Food Group.

How does Bell envision the future for Fat Bastard Burrito?

"Category Leadership is our plan. We have the team, resources, and Mary Brown's systems in place  coupled with industry-leading levels of support and training  to scale Fat Bastard Burrito into Canada's largest and most respected burrito concept."

He concludes, "Our team is excited. Our franchisees are engaged. We're all thrilled to begin working our magic on Fat Bastard Burrito."

About Mary Brown's Chicken

Mary Brown's Chicken is a Canadian quick-service restaurant, founded in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador in 1969. Currently, it boasts around 215 stores across Canada, with a further 30 stores opening by end of year. Mary Brown's is Canada's premier quick-service chicken brand, with a craveable menu of handcrafted items made with premium ingredients. Its chicken and potatoes are locally sourced and delivered whole and fresh to each store, where they are hand-cut and hand-breaded throughout the day. Proprietary cookers are used to achieve a golden consistency and superior flavour. The Big Mary has been named Canada's Best Chicken Sandwich and Mary Brown's Inc. has been awarded Canada's Best Managed Company for three consecutive years.

For more information about Mary Brown's Chicken, visit www.MaryBrowns.com.

About Fat Bastard Burrito Co.

Fat Bastard Burrito is a Canadian quick service restaurant, founded in Toronto, Ontario in 2010. Currently they operate or have under development over 75 locations across Ontario and due to strong consumer demand, they continue to grow at an accelerated pace. The Fat Bastard Burrito Co. is a distinctive brand with an innovative and delicious menu focusing on burritos, quesadillas, tacos and loaded waffle fries. The brand's goal is to serve great tasting, high quality food, fused with distinctive flavours that customers love. Combining traditional cooking methods and unique toppings with healthy and fresh ingredients are what makes a Fat Bastard Burrito the best burrito in Canada and soon to be, the world!

For more information about Fat Bastard Burrito, visit www.fatbastardburrito.ca.

For further information:

Kasserine Nifras, rock-it promotions inc. | kasserine@rockitpromo.com

Sarah Harris, rock-it promotions inc. | sarah@rockitpromo.com

Mary Brown's Chicken Logo (CNW Group/MBI Brands)

Sean Bell, Former Mary Browns Chicken CFO, Named President of Fat Bastard Burrito, Co. (CNW Group/MBI Brands) (CNW Group/MBI Brands)

SOURCE MBI Brands

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2022/10/c4287.html
(Shows Golar Ice is docked; adds Energy Integrity, Maran Gas Hydra; removes Arctic Discoverer after it leaves port) Aug 10 (Reuters) - The following liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are expected to arrive in Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands in the coming weeks. Estimated arrival dates, often revised by port authorities and AIS Live ship-tracking data on Refinitiv Eikon, are updated below. Some tankers heading for Belgium and Britain may be loading at the terminal. Those expected to load are indicated with an (L). Those likely to perform ship-to-ship transfers are indicated with (STS). Tankers that have docked are indicated with (A). For the Reuters LNG guide, click here: LNG TANKER CAPACITY in EXPECTED ARRIVAL FROM PORT cubic metres BRITAIN Umm Slal 261,000 Aug. 10 (A) Qatar South Hook Al Mafyar 261,000 Aug. 14 Qatar South Hook Pearl LNG 156,000 Aug. 15 Peru Milford Haven Al Rekayyat 212,000 Aug. 17 Qatar South Hook Al Ghashamiya 213,000 Aug. 20 Qatar Milford Haven Lngships Athena 174,000 Sep. 14 Peru Milford Haven BELGIUM Al Utouriya 212,000 Aug. 12 Qatar Zeebrugge Mozah 262,000 Aug. 16 Qatar Zeebrugge Al Karaana 206,000 Aug. 19 Qatar Zeebrugge Energy Integrity 170,000 Aug. 20 (L) N/A Zeebrugge Hoegh Gannet 170,000 Aug. 21 (L) N/A Zeebrugge Tembek 212,000 Aug. 21 Qatar Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Golar Ice 160,000 Aug. 10 (A) India Gate Gaslog Wales 176,000 Aug. 10 Egypt Gate Maran Gas Hydra 173,000 Aug. 10 Trinidad & Tobago Gate Georgiy Brusilov 173,000 Aug. 11 Russia Gate LNG Rosenrot 177,000 Aug. 13 United States Gate Cubal 160,000 Aug. 14 Angola Gate Soyo 158,000 Aug. 14 Angola Gate BW Magnolia 170,000 Aug. 15 United States Gate Maria Energy 174,000 Aug. 20 United States Gate Sonangol Etosha 158,000 Aug. 31 Angola Gate Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date calculated using www.searates.com at an average speed of 13.5 knots (Reporting by Nora Buli in Oslo)
AS Tallinna Sadam

In the second quarter, Tallinna Sadam Group's revenue, adjusted EBITDA and profit increased year-on-year. Group revenue amounted to EUR 30 million in the second quarter, increasing by 25% compared to the same period last year. The group's adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter was EUR 15 million (+38%) and the profit was EUR 5.1 million (+205%). In the half-year summary, the revenue was EUR 57 million (+16%), the adjusted EBITDA was EUR 16 million (+31%) and the profit was EUR 12 million (+44%).

The Groups results for the first half of 2022 were strongly affected by the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions and a continuing decline in cargo throughput. As a result of lifting the restrictions and increased passenger confidence, the number of passengers increased nearly threefold in six months, especially on the Helsinki route. The decline in cargo volumes is mainly due to the third consecutive quarter of a decline in dry bulk and liquid bulk cargo volumes. At the same time, ro-ro and container goods showed a considerable increase. In shipping, the strong second quarter was supported by additional voyages of ferry Regula based on growing demand; and chartering of Botnica at the same level as last year.

Valdo Kalm, chairman of the management board of Tallinna Sadam, is pleased that despite the difficult circumstances, the company paid a dividend to the extent promised by the dividend policy. "We continued with the planned investments, and in order to secure future business, we decided to invest in the Paldiski South Harbour by building a new quay for the construction and servicing of wind farms," said Kalm.

Tallinna Sadam will present the financial results of the Group at a webinar on 10 August at 11:00 (EET), to attend, please click here . The webinar will be held in English.

Key figures (in million EUR):

Q2 Q2 +/ 6M 6M +/ 2022 2021 % 2022 2021 % Revenue 30.4 24.3 25.2 57.1 49.3 16.0 Adjusted EBITDA 15.4 11.1 38.2 24.2 Adjusted EBITDA margin 50.7% 45.9% 4.8 50.5% 49.0% 1.5 Operating profit 9.1 5.2 74.6 16.3 12.4 31.3 Income tax 4.1 3.3 25.5 4.1 3.3 25.5 Profit for the period 5.1 1.7 205.4 12.3 8.5 44.1 Investments 4.3 4.3 0.5 9.0 7.9 13.1





30.06.2022 31.12.2021 +/ Total assets 618.6 629.5 1.7% Interest bearing debt 199.9 203.3 1.7% Other liabilities 51.0 45.3 12.6% Equity 367.6 380.9 3.5% Number of shares 263.0 263.0 0.0%

Major events in Q2:

Investment decision to build a new quay in the Paldiski South Harbour to serve the wind farms

Record volume in ro-ro cargo (3.5 million tonnes in 6 months)

Termination of Worldwide Cargo Establishments contractual penalty lawsuit

Voting on the resolutions of the general meeting on 525 April 2022, including election of new supervisory board

AS Tallinna Sadam paid the shareholders a dividend of EUR 0.097 per share, i.e. a total of EUR 25.5 million for 2021 (100% of previous years profit)

AS Tallinna Sadam and the Port of Gdynia signed a letter of intent on cooperation in the field of developing hydrogen solutions

Story continues

Revenue

Revenue for the six months of 2022 grew by EUR 7.9 million (+16.0%) to EUR 57.1 million. Most of the growth resulted from the second quarter when revenue grew by 25.2%, supported by an increase in the number of passengers as well as higher revenue from the operation of ferry service between Estonias mainland and two largest islands. All revenue streams increased, the most being passenger fee (+163%), operating lease (+14%), vessel dues (+12%) and ferry service revenue (+10%).

The six-month revenue of the Passenger harbours segment grew by 57% year on year, mainly due to a rise in passenger fee revenue due to rapid growth in passenger numbers and an increase in vessel dues. The segment also increased its lease income (EUR +0.46 million) by leasing out new premises and electricity sales revenue. In the second quarter, revenue grew by 88% year on year to EUR 10.7 million.

The six-month revenue of the Cargo harbours segment remained at the same level as a year earlier (+0.6%). Its vessel dues revenue dropped (EUR 0.5 million) due to the decline in dry bulk and liquid bulk cargo. The decrease in vessel dues was offset by the growth in cargo charges (EUR +0.3 million) due to changes in the cargo structure, an increase in lease income (EUR +0.2 million) due to changes in lease rates and growth in electricity sales revenue (EUR +0.3 million). In the second quarter, the revenue of the Cargo harbours segment grew by EUR 32 thousand year on year.

The six-month revenue of the Ferry segment grew by EUR 1.6 million (+10.9%) due to growth in both ferry service revenue and lease income. Ferry service revenue increased through a rise in contractual fees due to an increase in the Estonian fuel cost, employment cost and consumer price indices and growth in the number of trips. In the second quarter, the revenue of the Ferry segment grew by EUR 1.0 million year on year (+12.8%).

The revenue of the segment Other grew by 2% in the first half-year and by 3.9% in the second quarter. Revenue growth was supported by the revision of the contractual fee due to a rise in the Estonian consumer price index.

EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of the year grew by EUR 4.7 million (+19.5%) to EUR 28.9 million. The strongest contributors to EBITDA growth were the Passenger harbours segment (EUR +4.5 million) and the Ferry segment (EUR +0.7 million). In the second quarter, EBITDA grew by EUR 4.3 million (+38.2%) year on year. Thus 90% of the growth in six-month EBITDA was delivered in the second quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin for the first half-year increased from 49.0% to 50.5% and the adjusted EBITDA margin for the second quarter increased from 45.9% to 50.7%.

Profit

Profit for the first six months amounted to EUR 12.3 million, exceeding the profit for the comparative period by EUR 3.8 million (+44.1%), profit before tax for the first six months grew by EUR 4.6 million (+39%) year on year. Second-quarter profit was EUR 5.1 million (EUR +3.4 million) and profit before tax grew by EUR 4.2 million.

Investments

In the first six months of 2022, the Group invested EUR 9.0 million, EUR 1.0 million more than a year earlier. The largest investments were made in reconstructing the outdoor area around Terminal D, upgrading the quay equipment and reconstructing the shoreline reinforcements in Old City Harbour and in increasing the capacity of Muuga Harbour to serve ro-ro cargo. Investments of the second quarter totalled EUR 4.3 million (in the second quarter of 2021 also EUR 4.3 million).

Interim condensed consolidated statement of financial position:

In thousands of euros 30 June 2022 31 December 2021 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 31,110 34,840 Trade and other receivables 9,453 14,151 Contract assets 575 0 Inventories 565 399 Total current assets 41,703 49,390 Non-current assets Investments in associates 1,881 1,559 Other long-term receivables 896 896 Property, plant and equipment 572,082 575,563 Intangible assets 2,042 2,130 Total non-current assets 576,901 580,148 Total assets 618,604 629,538 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Loans and borrowings 15,916 15,916 Provisions 958 1,572 Government grants 1,665 1,223 Taxes payable 829 890 Trade and other payables 12,953 10,291 Contract liabilities 3,551 57 Total current liabilities 35,872 29,949 Non-current liabilities Loans and borrowings 184,015 187,398 Government grants 29,741 29,835 Other payables 552 652 Contract liabilities 788 809 Total non-current liabilities 215,096 218,694 Total liabilities 250,968 248,643 EQUITY Share capital at par value 263,000 263,000 Share premium 44,478 44,478 Statutory capital reserve 22,115 21,271 Retained earnings (prior periods) 25,791 26,534 Profit for the period 12,252 25,612 Total equity 367,636 380,895 Total liabilities and equity 618,604 629,538

Interim condensed consolidated statement of profit or loss:

In thousands of euros Q2 2022 Q2 2021 6M 2022 6M 2021 Revenue 30,363 24,260 57,135 49,248 Other income 434 335 728 659 Operating expenses 9,841 8,070 18,504 15,372 Personnel expenses 5,554 5,100 10,325 9,744 Depreciation, amortisation and impairment 6,225 6,076 12,512 12,098 Other expenses 66 130 194 254 Operating profit 9,111 5,219 16,328 12,439 Finance income and costs Finance income 34 27 63 37 Finance costs 323 365 605 741 Finance costs  net 289 338 542 704 Share of profit of an associate accounted

for under the equity method 350 52 577 41 Profit before income tax 9,172 4,933 16,363 11,776 Income tax 4,111 3,275 4,111 3,275 Profit for the period 5,061 1,658 12,252 8,501 Attributable to owners of the Parent 5,061 1,658 12,252 8,501 Basic and diluted earnings per share (in euros) 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.03 Basic and diluted earnings per share

 continuing operations (in euros) 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.03

Interim condensed consolidated statement of cash flows:

In thousands of euros 6M 2022 6M 2021 Cash receipts from sale of goods and services 67,852 55,753 Cash receipts related to other income 71 34 Payments to suppliers 23,580 19,123 Payments to and on behalf of employees 9,664 9,064 Payments for other expenses 238 271 Income tax paid on dividends 4,335 0 Cash from operating activities 30,106 27,329 Purchases of property, plant and equipment 9,618 9,255 Purchases of intangible assets 261 426 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 77 263 Proceeds from government grants related to assets 4,954 0 Dividends received 255 0 Interest received 2 1 Cash used in investing activities 4,591 9,417 Repayments of loans received 3,383 3,383 Dividends paid 25,287 20,082 Interest paid 570 734 Other payments related to financing activities 5 1 Cash from/used in financing activities 29,245 24,200 NET CASH FLOW 3,730 6,288 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 34,840 26,679 Change in cash and cash equivalents 3,730 6,288 Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 31,110 20,391

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. According to unaudited financial results, the groups sales in 2021 totalled EUR 110 million, adjusted EBITDA EUR 54 million and profit EUR 26 million.

Additional information:

Marju Zirel

Head of Investor Relations

Tel. +372 5342 6591

m.zirel@ts.ee

Attachments




TikTok is testing a new feature that enhances the popular short-form video app's search functions. The new feature highlights keywords in comments and links to search results for the term. TikTok's search function already allows users to discover content and trends, but the new feature would take the app's search capabilities even further. The test feature also shows that TikTok is interested in competing with more than just its social media competitors, as it's now looking to cut into Google's core products as well.

It appears that the feature is currently available to a small group of users who are part of a limited test. When we reached out for comment about the test, a spokesperson for TikTok said the company didn't have anything to share at the moment.

tiktok is testing a new feature identifying key words in comments and linking to search results for them pic.twitter.com/7dRQMoV4Pk  Olivia Deng  (@olivia_deng_) August 5, 2022

There's already talk about TikTok acting as a search engine for Gen Z, and the new feature would position the app as an even bigger threat to Google.

The test comes as Google itself has acknowledged that TikTok is cutting into its Search product. Senior vice president Prabhakar Raghavan, who runs Googles Knowledge & Information organization, recently noted that younger users are often turning to apps like Instagram and TikTok instead of Google Search or Maps for discovery purposes. He outlined that younger users are looking to discover content in new and immersive ways.

For instance, Raghavan said nearly 40% of young people go to TikTok or Instagram when looking for a place to eat, as opposed to Google Maps or Search. He had noted that Google plans to enhance Google Search to meet younger users' demand for visual content, which indicates that the threat it faces from TikTok is forcing it to rethink its strategy.

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TikTok has been able to successfully function as a search engine due to its ability to quickly surface relevant and short videos based on what you're looking for in that moment. For instance, if you're looking a for a banana bread recipe, you may be able to find a better one on TikTok, as opposed to Google Search. When you search for the recipe on Google, you'll likely be presented with search results that prioritize lengthy blog posts where you have to scroll for a bit before actually getting to the recipe. On the other hand, TikTok will present you with quick recipe videos that are to the point and short.

All this goes to show that TikTok is already successfully eating into Google's core products and that it plans to get better at doing so.

However, if TikTok is looking to position itself as a search engine, it will have to ensure that the results it surfaces are high-quality and actually good, not just popular. For instance, just because a recipe has gone viral doesn't mean that it's the best one. People have found ways to optimize their pages on Google using SEO for maximum exposure, leading to subpar results in some cases, which suggests that creators could end up doing the same thing on TikTok with videos that are designed to go viral. The new keyword test feature could change the way TikTok operates in some ways, as creators may start to include popular keywords in their posts to make their content rank higher and reach more viewers. All of this begs the question of whether visual search with algorithmic ranking on TikTok will actually lend better results than Google.

There's also the issue of trust and accuracy, as some young users may use TikTok to search for medical information. Young users may be keen to trust medical information on TikTok simply because it's relevant to them and has lots of views, just like how some people may trust the search results that are optimized to be displayed on the first page of Google Search, which raises questions around trust.

It's also worth noting that TikToks take on a search engine would differ from Google's Search model. For instance, Google indexes the web and sends users to other websites, whereas TikTok is trying an internal search model that keeps users on its app while still fulfilling their search needs.

TikTok has already proven to be a dominant threat in the social media industry and looks to be gearing up to take on Google Search next by enhancing its search functions even more.
Donald Trump released a statement Wednesday saying that he's invoking his Fifth Amendment right not to answer questions from the New York attorney general, who's investigating his business practices.

"I once asked, 'If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?' Now I know the answer to that question. When your family, your company, and all of the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice," he wrote in a statement posted on his social media site, Truth Social.

The New York office is looking into whether Trump and his children lied about the value of their real estate holdings, and the sworn testimony could have had the potential to reshape his business prospects. Instead, he said he's invoking the Fifth Amendment, which protects against self-incrimination.

The deposition comes amid a swirl of investigations into Trump, including a probe into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that led to federal agents raiding Trump's Mar-a-Lago home on Monday. It also comes ahead of a widely expected third run for the presidency that he could announce as early as this year, as he continues to perpetuate the perception that he's wealthy. The civil inquiry from New York Attorney General Letitia James and her team threatens to undermine that image.

The investigation is centered around the claim that Trump undervalued his properties when reporting taxes to the IRS, but then overvalued those same properties when it came time to use them as collateral in bank loans. Depending on the true value of the asset, the maneuver opens up the Trump organization to claims of bank fraud.

In a court filing last January, Jamess office said it has developed significant additional evidence indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions.

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Former President Donald Trump takes the stage at a conference in Texas on August 6, 2022. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

Smoke and mirrors and the Trump organization

The former president was expected to face questions during his deposition under oath about a complicated topic: his net worth.

For Trump, "what matters is looking like you're a billionaire, says Gwenda Blair, a Columbia University professor and Trump family biographer.

The perception that he has vast wealth has fueled Trump's fame and political clout and more practically, helped him secure funding necessary to keep his businesses afloat. But his actual net worth is unclear, with even Trump himself giving conflicting estimates of the assets at his disposal.

For decades, journalists and prosecutors have tried to dig into that opaque black box called the Trump Organization but not ever gotten very far, Blair told Yahoo Finance.

How strong would a case against Trump be?

I am 120% confident that he pulled those types of shenanigans, says Harry Hurt III, another former Trump biographer.

Hurt seems doubtful, though, that the public will ever be completely privy to Trump's financial dealings. Asked by Yahoo Finance if he thought the public would ever have a real sense of Trumps net worth and whether he believes Trump was a billionaire, Hurt responded no and no.

If Trump is actually a billionaire behind all the smoke and mirrors, Hurt said, it will only be because of property in Brooklyn left behind by his father, Fred Trump, that Donald has had little to do with.

He wants to present to the public as both a billionaire and a self-made billionaire, neither of which have ever been true, Hurt said.

Despite doubts by some that Trump is a billionaire, Forbes estimates Trumps wealth at $3 billion as of early August. In recent months, Forbes reports, Trump's wealth has gotten a boost thanks to investors betting on Trump Media. During a single day in October, shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp (DWAC), the special purpose acquisition company aiming to merge with Trump's social media site, jumped by over 350%.

'They even broke into my safe!'

Trump faces no shortage of groups examining his potential misconduct. The Justice Department is reportedly looking into his role in the Capitol riot as part of a criminal probe spurred on by the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack. The D.C. attorney general is also preparing to go to trial over fraud at Trumps inaugural committee. Prosecutors in Georgia are digging into his alleged interference in Georgias election in 2020. And the Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating his arrangement with Digital World Acquisition Corp.

Monday's unannounced raid in Florida was reportedly focused on Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and represented a dramatic escalation of the face-off between Trump and federal officials.

"They even broke into my safe!" Trump wrote in a statement confirming the raid.

Meanwhile, at the state level, there are overlapping investigations into Trump's business practices in New York with the state attorney general's probe being the most prominent. That office has reportedly already deposed three of Trumps children  Eric, Ivanka, and Don Jr.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James at a canvassing event on October 30, 2021 in New York City.(Scott Heins/Getty Images)

During his deposition, Eric Trump asserted his Fifth Amendment rights more than 500 times, according to court filings cited by CNN. Don Jr., on the other hand, reportedly answered questions, opting not to invoke the protection against self-incrimination.

Trump over the years has repeatedly suggested that people who plead the Fifth could be guilty, though he has also invoked that amendment himself in previous instances.

The New York attorney general's office declined to comment on details of the ongoing investigation. Likewise, representatives from the Trump Organization did not respond to questions about their preparations for the upcoming testimony.

I look better if I'm worth $10 billion

Trump is touchy when it comes to questions about his own net worth. He sued one biographer who wrote that he wasnt a billionaire, and he's engaged in a long-running battle with Forbes over its calculations.

A former reporter for the magazine has revealed audiotapes from the 1980s that appear to show Trump  posing as his alter ego John Barron  falsely claiming Fred Trumps had passed on many of his assets had to his son.

I have learned that [Trump] should not have been on the first three Forbes 400 lists at all, wrote the former reporter, Jonathan Greenberg.

Donald Trump with his then-wife Ivana in September 1984. (Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images)

Then during the 2016 campaign, Trump filed forms claiming to be worth $10 billion. I look better if I'm worth $10 billion than if I'm worth $4 billion, he told Forbes. The magazine ended up pegging his actual wealth at $4.5 billion that year.

In more recent years, Trump has fallen off the Forbes 400 as the pandemic cut into his business.

This article was originally posted on Aug. 9 and updated on Aug. 10 with the date of his deposition.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

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FILE PHOTO: American flag waves outside the U.S. Department of Justice Building in Washington

By Jody Godoy and Michelle Price

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Three former JPMorgan Chase & Co employees were acquitted of racketeering and conspiracy charges in a landmark futures manipulation trial on Wednesday, although two were found guilty on other charges including fraud, a Department of Justice spokesperson said.

The case against the bank's former global precious metals desk head Michael Nowak, precious metals trader Gregg Smith and salesperson Jeffrey Ruffo is seen as the Justice Department's most aggressive to date targeting a manipulative futures trading tactic known as spoofing.

Nowak was convicted on 13 other charges including fraud, spoofing and attempted market manipulation, and Smith was convicted on 11 charges. Ruffo, who was only charged with racketeering and conspiracy, was acquitted of both. All three men had pleaded not guilty.

While financial reform advocates hailed the convictions as a clear signal that Wall Street executives are not above the law, attorneys said it underscored the difficulty of proving the more ambitious charges of racketeering and conspiracy.

Spoofing involves placing and then quickly canceling orders to falsely create the impression of high demand or supply. The three defendants were accused of using the tactic to manipulate futures on precious metals futures between 2008 and 2016.

"While we are gratified that the jury acquitted Mr. Nowak of racketeering and conspiracy, we are extremely disappointed by the jury's verdict on the whole, and will continue to seek to vindicate his rights in court," Nowak's attorney David Meister said.

Attorneys for Smith and Ruffo did not immediately provide comment.

Defense attorneys argued during the trial that Smith and Nowak's orders were not fraudulent. Ruffo was not a trader, and there was no evidence that he understood others were using illicit tactics, his attorney told jurors.

Their trial in Chicago began July 8 and hinged on testimony from two former JPMorgan metals traders who had pleaded guilty and cooperated with the government, as well as trading data that prosecutors said showed Smith and Nowak engaged in a repeated pattern of spoofing.

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The case is part of a push by the Justice Department to crack down on spoofing and commodities market manipulation more broadly.

Spoofing was outlawed in 2010 when Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Act after the financial crisis. Since then, prosecutors have argued that earlier instances constituted fraud.

The racketeering statute, a federal law enacted in 1970 to take down the mafia, is rarely used to prosecute corporate crime. It allows prosecutors to charge a group of individuals, including those indirectly involved in alleged wrongdoing, on the basis they participated in a "criminal enterprise."

While the law also allows prosecutors to seek prison sentences of up to 20 years, Wednesday's verdict highlights that the charge can be tough to prove when it comes to competing traders on desks, said Robert Frenchman, a partner at Mukasey Frenchman LLP who was part of a trial team in 2018 that won a full acquittal for former UBS trader Andre Flotron.

Flotron had been charged with a single count of conspiracy to engage in commodities fraud.

"The reality is that traders have competing interests, run their own trading books, and often conduct themselves more like rivals than co-conspirators," Frenchman said.

(Reporting by Michelle Price; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Stephen Coates)
Ukraine's creditors agree 2-year freeze on $20 billion overseas debt FILE PHOTO: A glow rises over skyline during a shelling in Kyiv

(This August 10 story corrects paragraph 8 to show that JPMorgan had been appointed as sole solicitation agent .. not.. to keep the records of the consent solicitation)

By Jorgelina do Rosario, Rodrigo Campos and Karin Strohecker

LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ukraine's overseas creditors backed its request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds, a regulatory filing showed on Wednesday, a move that will allow the war-ravaged country to avoid a messy debt default.

With no sign of peace or a ceasefire on the horizon nearly six months after Russia's invasion began, holders of around 75% of the outstanding total agreed to Kyiv's proposal, documents showed.

"Ukraine will save almost $6 billion on payments," said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in a statement. "These funds will help us maintain macrofinancial stability, strengthen the sustainability of the Ukrainian economy and improve the power of our army."

The solicitation needed approval by holders of at least two-thirds of the total and more than 50% of each issue.

"The two-year debt freeze makes sense because even if the war ends soon, Ukraine's situation is not going to improve overnight," said Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist at London-based research firm Tellimer. "Creditors were even surprised that the country decided to be current on the bonds until now."

BlackRock Inc, Fidelity International, Amia Capital and Gemsstock Ltd are among the biggest holders of Ukraine's debt, whose market value has slumped by more than 80% since a build-up of Russian troops on its borders began late in 2021.

"Creditors made some suggestions during the process that were reasonable, so the consent moved forward," Stefan Weiler, head of CEEMEA debt capital markets at JPMorgan, said on Thursday. "There was more sensitivity in the short-term bonds."

Kyiv had appointed JPMorgan as sole solicitation agent.

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A separate but related consent solicitation approved by creditors allows changes to about $2.6 billion of GDP warrants, a derivative security that triggers payments linked to a country's gross domestic product.

Creditors of Ukravtodor and Ukrenergo, two state-owned firms that have government guarantees on their debt, have approved separate solicitations similar to the one proposed by the sovereign.

DEBT RELIEF

With Ukraine facing an estimated economic contraction of as much as 45% in 2022, bilateral creditors including the United States, Britain and Japan had also backed a debt repayment delay and a group of governments in the Paris Club agreed to suspend payments until the end of 2023.

"This will improve the foreign currency cash flow for Ukraine, but by itself it's unlikely to be sufficient to stabilize FX reserves," said Carlos de Sousa, emerging markets debt portfolio manager at Vontobel Asset Management.

Ukraine's international reserves fell to $22.4 billion at the end of July from $28.1 billion in March.

A comprehensive debt restructuring is expected following the debt freeze, De Sousa said, as it is "unlikely" that Ukraine will be able to regain market access in two years.

Ukraine completed a $15 billion debt restructuring in late 2015 after an economic crisis linked to a Russian-backed insurgency in its industrial east. The deal left it with a large number of payments due annually between 2019 and 2027, and it returned to international markets in 2017.

With a monthly fiscal shortfall of $5 billion, Ukraine is heavily reliant on foreign financing from Western allies and multilateral lenders including International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

It has so far received $12.7 billion in loans and grants, Finance Ministry data shows.

The United States said this week it would provide an additional $4.5 billion to Ukraine's government, bringing its total budgetary support since Moscow began what it calls a "special military operation" to $8.5 billion.

Ukraine also aims to agree a $15 billion-$20 billion IMF programme to help shore up its economy, its central bank governor said, and the government expects to receive this assistance before the year-end.

(Reporting by Jorgelina do Rosario, Rodrigo Campos and Karin Strohecker; Additional reporting by Anna Pruchnicka in Gdansk and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Alexander Smith, Matthew Lewis, Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan and Mike Harrison)
Emirates Islamic, one of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the UAE, has secured three awards at the World Finance Islamic Finance Awards 2022, recognising the banks excellence in products and services.

Emirates Islamic was named the Best Islamic Bank in UAE for the banks performance across banking segments and for driving growth in the uptake of Islamic banking solutions across the UAE.

The bank also won the accolade of the Best Islamic Bank for Customer Experience in recognition of its commitment to a customer-centric banking experience.

The banks third win was for the Best Credit Card in UAE for its Etihad Guest Credit Cards  a range of exclusive, co-branded credit cards with Etihad Airways.

The World Finance Islamic Finance Awards bring together key players in the Islamic finance industry and recognises the most successful operators from around the globe. Now in their 10 year, the awards are held annually by World Finance, a leading bi-monthly financial magazine published by World News Media in the United Kingdom.

The judging panel comprises senior financial and business journalists, supported by a research team as well as reader insight and experience to provide nominations to the judging panel.

Salah Mohammed Amin, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Islamic, said: As a home-grown Islamic bank, we are honoured to be awarded these prestigious international accolades. A key component of our success has been our pursuit of excellence in providing a comprehensive Islamic banking proposition to all our customers, backed by seamless, customer-centric banking experiences that are both rewarding and memorable. We continue to endeavor to strengthen our reputation as an Islamic bank that firmly supports Dubais vision of becoming the global capital of the Islamic economy.-TradeArabia News Service
The Stafford County School Board will hold a special meeting Aug. 23 to hear a report on what went wrong during the planning and execution of last weeks convocation event, which left more than 80 attendees in need of medical attention due to heat.

The convocation was held Friday morning at Virginia Credit Union Stadium and was meant to gather all division staff together to kick off the new school year and the new strategic plan, Elevate Stafford. However, soaring temperatures caused the event to be halted early and eight division staff were transported to local hospitals to be treated for heat-related illness.

On Tuesday, the School Board held a special meeting before and after its regular business meeting to evaluate the performance of the superintendent, according to the agenda, and agreed to call for the after-action report.

Superintendent Thomas Taylor addressed the board and the community at the beginning of the regular meeting, taking full responsibility for the way the event ended.

Even for those who did not receive medical attention, it was traumatic to see friends and colleagues in distress, Taylor said. I am profoundly sorry that so many of our Stafford family were adversely affected and I sincerely apologize to the entirety of Team Stafford for the event.

Taylor promised that he and his team will learn from the failure and will address the organizational culture that we have in Stafford County Public Schools.

He said people should have the freedom ... to say something that concerns them without fear or worry.

This is tough in any large organization, but for us especially, for some reason, Taylor said. I havent gotten to the root of that, but we need to change that perception on a large scale.

The Stafford Education Association earlier this week released a statement noting that staff had expressed concerns about the heat forecast for Aug. 5.

Why werent we listened to? SEA vice president Christian Peabody asked Taylor and board members during public comments on Tuesday.

The SEA is also asking that restitution payments be made to all employees and that the division make better accommodations for medically fragile staff at future events.

Taylor said Tuesday that he will hold two listening and healing sessions for staff in coming weeks.

We can do better and we will do better, because we must do better, he said. We will be sharing our findings as we unpack this issue.

Board members on Tuesday said the events of the convocation were upsetting but asked staff to allow Taylor and the division leadership team to learn from the mistakes.

We would be remiss to treat the superintendent any differently than a teacher or student, Sarah Chase said. People are allowed to make mistakes. People in Central Office are allowed to make mistakes. We want people to make mistakes and then learn from our mistakes.
Roanoke County has issued and extended its first substantial risk order since Virginias red flag law went into effect two years ago.

The order came after a man is reported to have made threats to kill local government officials over the phone late last month.

According to court documents, Douglas Paul England, 45, of Vinton called the Roanoke County Commonwealths Attorney Office on July 21.

He stated to [the secretary] that he was going to start hurting people and was going to [expletive] you up, an affidavit read. He had called the office several times that day stating that he was a United States citizen and was being deported due to a previous custody issue.

England had been in a previous relationship with a Roanoke County police officer, the document continued. He and that officer shared a child, who had recently reached out to England to mend their relationship.

England did not respond, having no contact with the officer or the child, the affidavit read, however at that time began contacting Roanoke County government offices.

England contacted several departments, wishing to file a complaint against the previously mentioned officer and demanded help in getting his rights back, the affidavit said.

While a Roanoke County police officer was investigating Englands complaints, officers from the Vinton Police Department performed a well-being check at Englands Vinton residence.

When England saw the officers were from Vinton and not Roanoke County, he let them inside his apartment.

He denied suicidal or homicidal ideations and stated that there were firearms in the bedroom of the apartment, the affidavit read. England expressed his dislike for Roanoke County Police and government agents.

The next day, the county officer investigating Englands complaints discovered that he had also called the Veterans Crisis Hotline on July 21, stating that he was being deported and wanted answers.

When the crisis line was unable to provide England with rational answers he stated, Im done. Ill just start taking people out. Ill start killing off some people. Somebody will start answering my god-[expletive] questions. Time to start ending peoples lives, the affidavit continued. He made statements for the crisis line not to send police or he would flip his [expletive] lid.

The call to the hotline was recorded and supplied to the investigating police officer July 22. The Vinton officers that checked on England on July 21 werent aware he made the threatening statements when they stopped by his apartment.

England is known to have purchased multiple firearms as late as 2021, the affidavit read. His threats to kill people in government offices coupled with his known possession of firearms causes concern for the safety of those in those offices.

The investigating officer believed Englands possession of firearms posed a substantial risk to the community, and an emergency substantial risk order was served to England on July 22.

On that day, England voluntarily turned his weapons over to law enforcement officers. His concealed carry permit, issued on April 15, 2021, and set to expire in 2026, was also turned over.

Among the guns England surrendered were four handguns and a shotgun.

In accordance with Virginias red flag statute, a hearing to review the emergency order was scheduled Aug. 1, within 14 days of the orders service.

According to court documents, a copy of the notice for the civil hearing was posted on the front door of Englands Vinton residence July 27. But on Aug. 1, England didnt appear in court.

The judge called for police to personally visit Englands residence to deliver the notice, and the hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 5.

Four days later, the substantial risk order filed against England was extended through Oct. 21, when his case is scheduled to be reviewed again. Englands weapons will remain in police custody until then.

The extension was made upon motion of the Respondent and for good cause shown and with the concurrence of the Commonwealth Attorney, court documents read.

The terms of Englands extended risk order and the agreement reached between England and the court was not publicly discussed.

Red flag laws rarely used in Roanoke, New River valleys Elsewhere in Virginia, prosecutors, police and sheriff's offices used red flag laws hundreds of times since they were adopted in 2020.

Red flag cases in Montgomery, Franklin counties illustrate challenges of firearm confiscation Commonwealth's attorneys filing risk orders in the region have experienced repetitive case continuances and gun seizure complications. And because red flag law is still brand new to many of them, they're not sure what details about specific cases they can provide to members of the press.
Virginians owe a debt of gratitude to Gov. Glenn Youngkin and congressional candidate Yesli Vega. On the issue of abortion, these two politicians have made clear the stark line between principled conservatives and the extremists who now control much of the state Republican Party.

Just after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down Roe v. Wade, Youngkin outlined his plan to curtail abortion access in Virginia. In a June 24 statement, he stated: Im proud to be a pro-life Governor and plan to take every action I can to protect life. The truth is, Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions.

(The truth is, abortions in Virginia are already down, sharply, and have been falling steadily since 2008.)

Unlike governors in Texas and Oklahoma, however, who did nothing to stop trigger laws all but outlawing abortion completely, or the governor in Indiana who signed new legislation essentially banning abortion, Youngkin took the position of disallowing abortions after 15 weeks.

Explaining to the Washington Post why he didnt back a total abortion ban, Youngkin said: I am not someone who is going to jump in and try to push us apart.  There is a place we can come together.

By contrast, Vegawho has spoken little to the press and not responded to emails or phone calls from The Free LanceStarhas now twice expressed abortion positions that are both grossly uninformed and steeped in Christian nationalism.

First came her incoherent, rambling statement during an event in Stafford County about rape.

As reported by Axios, when asked if its harder for a woman to get pregnant as a result of rape, Vega said:

Well, maybe because theres so much going on in the body. I dont know. I havent, you know, seen any studies.  It wouldnt surprise me. Because its not something thats happening organically. Youre forcing it. The individual, the male, is doing it as quicklyits not like, you knowand so I can see why there is truth to that.

Anti-abortion politicians have made this claim before, and its patently false. In a piece summarizing research on rape and pregnancy rates for Scientific American, Kate Clancy showed that rape and consensual sex have the same pregnancy rate.

Then on Aug. 4, VPM released a video of Vega speaking in May to a group in Spotsylvania County about abortion policy. Heres what she had to say:

And then you have the other liberal states where theyre gonna have a free-for-all at taking innocent life, and thats where we have to step in and say What is acceptable and what is not? in my opinion, Im sorry, look, God is a giver of life, right, and therefore God takes life.

Not only is Vega dangerously uninformed about rape and its consequences, she is making clear what other extremists are now pushinga total nationwide ban on abortion in the U.S.

Two evangelical, anti-abortion Christian politicians. Two very different understandings of democracy.

To Youngkins credit, at least for now and on this issue, he recognizes that not all (or even most) Virginians want an abortion ban. As governor, he has a responsibility to find solutions that balance the voices of those who put him into power, and the very large number who do not share his views.

Vega, by contrast, is a Christian nationalist. She not only rejects the opinions of those who disagree with her and her theology, she would disallow the majority of voters in states like Kansas, who overwhelmingly voted to keep abortion, from setting their own policies.

Vega says on her website that the wisdom of our Founding Fathers has never been more needed. We agree, and Vega needs to spend considerably more time in their works.

The Founding Fathers, James Madison in particular, were clear about the importance of preserving minority rights, which is the cornerstone of the American Constitution (See Federalist Paper 10). And no legitimate reading of the Constitution places Christianity above any other tradition.

As Christianity continues to shed adherentsit has been in a steep decline since 2007extremists like Vega, knowing they cant use reason to convert people, have adopted an authoritarian posture.

On abortion, we commend Youngkin for balancing his religious beliefs with respect for the constitutionally protected views of those who disagree. We would like to see him take the same approach in other policy areas.

Vega offers no balance. Just arrogance, ignorance, and an iron fist for anyone who disagrees.
Aug. 11 is almost here, and Nebraska811 hopes that the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. Every few minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811.

When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Nebraska811, the local one call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Requests can also be made online at ne1call.com.

The state 811 center will take the online user or callers information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then either indicate that the excavator is clear to dig or visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags, or both. Once a site has been accurately marked or the utility company has communicated to the excavator that they are clear, it is safe to begin digging.

Excavators should confirm that all utilities listed on their locate request have responded before beginning excavation. For private utility lines, it is the owners responsibility to determine their location.

Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants contacting 811 by phone or online. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are just some examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting.

Nebraska811 encourages homeowners to take the following steps when planning a digging project:

 Always call 811 before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.

 Plan ahead. Call two business days ahead of time to provide ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.

 Confirm that all lines have been marked and all utilities have responded.

 Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.

If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Dont allow work to begin if the lines arent marked.

Visit ne1call.com for complete information.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Powerful explosions rocked a Russian air base in Crimea and sent towering clouds of smoke over the landscape Tuesday in what may mark an escalation of the war in Ukraine. At least one person was killed and several others were wounded, authorities said.

Russias Defense Ministry denied the Saki base on the Black Sea had been shelled and said instead that munitions had blown up there. But Ukrainian social networks were abuzz with speculation that it was hit by Ukrainian-fired long-range missiles.

Videos posted on social networks showed sunbathers on nearby beaches fleeing as huge flames and pillars of smoke rose over the horizon from multiple points, accompanied by loud booms. Crimea Today News said on Telegram that witnesses reported fire on a runway and damage to nearby homes as a result of what it said were dozens of blasts.

Russias state news agency Tass quoted an unidentified ministry source as saying the explosions primary cause appeared to be a violation of fire safety requirements. The ministry said no warplanes were damaged.

Ukraines Defense Ministry said sarcastically on Facebook: The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine cannot establish the cause of the fire, but once again recalls the rules of fire safety and the prohibition of smoking in unspecified places.

A presidential adviser, Oleksiy Arestovych, said cryptically in his regular online interview that the blasts were caused either by a Ukrainian-made long-range weapon or were the work of partisans operating in Crimea.

During the war, Russia has reported numerous fires and explosions at munitions storage sites on its territory near the Ukrainian border, blaming some of them on Ukrainian strikes. Ukrainian authorities have mostly remained mum about the incidents.

If Ukrainian forces were, in fact, responsible for the blasts at the air base, it would be the first known major attack on a Russian military site on the Crimean Peninsula, which the Kremlin annexed in 2014. A smaller explosion last month at the headquarters of Russias Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean port of Sevastopol was blamed on Ukrainian saboteurs using a makeshift drone.

Russian warplanes have used the Saki base to strike areas in Ukraines south on short notice.

One person was killed, said Crimeas regional leader, Sergei Aksyonov. Crimean health authorities said nine people were wounded, one of whom remained hospitalized. Others were treated for cuts from shards of glass and released.

Officials in Moscow have long warned Ukraine that any attack on Crimea would trigger massive retaliation, including strikes on decision-making centers in Kyiv.

For his part, Ukraine's president vowed to retake Crimea from Russia.

This Russian war against Ukraine and against all of free Europe began with Crimea and must end with Crimea  its liberation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday in his nightly video address. Today it is impossible to say when this will happen. But we are constantly adding the necessary components to the formula for the liberation of Crimea.

Earlier Tuesday, Ukrainian officials reported at least three Ukrainian civilians were killed and 23 wounded by Russian shelling in 24 hours, including an attack not far from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

The Russians fired over 120 rockets at the town of Nikopol, across the Dnieper River from the plant, Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko said. Several apartment buildings and industrial sites were damaged, he said.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of shelling the power station, Europes biggest nuclear plant, stoking international fears of a catastrophe.

The governor of the region where the plant is situated, Oleksandr Starukh, said Tuesday that radiation levels were normal. But he warned that an accident could spread radiation whichever way the wind blows, carrying it to Moscow and other Russian cities.

A Russian-installed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region said an air defense system at the plant would be reinforced in the aftermath of last weeks shelling. Evgeny Balitsky, head of the Kremlin-backed administration, told Russian state TV that power lines and other damaged portions of the plant were restored.

The Ukrainians in recent weeks have been mounting counterattacks in Russian-occupied areas of southern Ukraine while trying to hold off the Kremlins forces in the industrial Donbas region in the east.

Also Tuesday, a U.S. official said Iran has agreed to supply Russia with drones for use in the war in Ukraine. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information, said during the last several weeks, Russian officials conducted training in Iran as part of the agreement for UAV transfers from Iran to Russia.

The White House released satellite images in mid-July indicating that Russians had visited an Iranian airbase to see weapons-capable drones. But U.S. officials said later that month that they had seen no evidence yet of Iran supplying Russia with the drones.

Ukrainian officials this month said Iran has transferred drones to Russia and some have been used in combat.

Associated Press writer Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A humanitarian group says that one year into the return to power of the Taliban, Afghan girls have been confronted with a grave economic crisis, a crippling drought, and new restrictions that have shattered their lives, excluding them from society and leaving them hungry.

As a result, a quarter of Afghan girls are showing signs of depression, Save the Children said in a new report on August 10.

The report, titled Breaking Point: Life For Children One Year Since The Taliban Takeover, found that a whopping 97 percent of families are struggling to provide enough food for their children and almost 80 percent of children said they had gone to bed hungry in the past month.

Girls were almost twice as likely as boys to frequently go to bed hungry, and eat less in general.

Hunger is affecting children's health and development, with 90 percent of the girls saying that less and less food over the past year caused them to lose weight and lack energy to work or even play.

The girls mental and psychosocial well-being has also been endangered seriously, the report said.

According to the research for the report, 26 percent of girls are showing signs of depression compared with 16 percent of boys, while 27 percent of girls are presenting symptoms of anxiety compared with 18 percent of boys.

Since taking power following the withdrawal of NATO-led forces in August last year, the Taliban has failed to achieve recognition for its government, with many in the West demanding that the group respect the rights of women and minorities in the country.

Billions of dollars in international aid were blocked, foreign currency reserves were frozen, and the banking system collapsed.

Furthermore, since the militant group's return to power, thousands of secondary school girls were ordered to stay home, reversing years of progress for gender equality.

Girls interviewed by Save the Children expressed disappointment and anger over the fact that they can no longer go to school and said they felt hopeless about their future because they dont have the rights and freedoms they had previously.

More than 45 percent of the girls interviewed by the humanitarian group said theyre not attending school, compared with 20 percent of boys.

Life is dire for children in Afghanistan, one year since the Taliban took control. Children are going to bed hungry night after night. Theyre exhausted and wasting away, unable to play and study like they used to," said Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children's Country Director in Afghanistan.

Girls are bearing the brunt of the deteriorating situation. Theyre missing more meals, suffering from isolation and emotional distress, and are staying home while boys go to school. This is a humanitarian crisis, but also a child rights catastrophe," Nyamandi said.
An adviser to Pakistani ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan and the news chief of the private TV station that aired his recent comments about the country's powerful military will face sedition charges, the interior minister has said.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's announcement on August 10 follows the arrests late on August 9 of prominent Khan adviser Shahbaz Gill and the head of the news department of private broadcaster ARY News, Ammad Yousaf.

"We've set up a special team to probe [the charges]," Sanaullah told reporters in the capital, Islamabad. "It was a planned move to malign our institutions."

In a current-affairs program broadcast by ARY on August 8, Gill suggested the ruling party was behind a smear campaign against the army. He added that army officers should not follow "illegal and unconstitutional orders."

Gill is a key adviser to Khan, who was ousted after three years in office by a no-confidence vote in April.

He was accused of "hateful statements against the army" and of trying to "incite soldiers against military" structures.

Police said a case was filed against Gill and several ARY News employees on August 8 in the Malir district of Karachi.

The state-run media regulator suspended ARY's broadcasting on August 9 for what it alleged was "false, hateful, and seditious" content.

An ARY presenter was also said to have been detained.

ARY's coverage is regarded as generally friendly toward Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf party.

Before his arrest, Yousaf, who is also ARY's vice president, called officials' decision to suspend the channel's broadcasts "illegal and ridiculous" and vowed to challenge it in court.

Khan called Gill's apprehension "an abduction, not an arrest."

On Twitter, Khan added: "Can such shameful acts take place in any democracy? Political workers treated as enemies. And all to make us accept a foreign-backed government of crooks."

The Pakistani Federal Union of Journalists warned of nationwide protests if full transmission was not restored.

With reporting by Reuters
In case you missed it  summer's most popular meteor shower is set to peak tonight above Colorado, with the celestial event remaining active through September 1.
Saudi Cabinet's decision to establish the Roads General Authority contributes to enhancing the sector's governance, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

The authority, set up by the Cabinet on August 2, will help separate legislation and operation, enhance the competitive condition for establishing, operating and maintaining roads, and increasing the level of safety and quality on roads in a bid to making Saudi Arabia reach the sixth rank globally in terms of quality of roads, it said.

The decision is part of several decisions that were issued by the Cabinet to restructure and develop the sector of transport and logistics services in a way to keep pace with the comprehensive civil renaissance that the kingdom is witnessing in all fields towards realizing the Saudi Vision 2030.

Establishing the Roads General Authority is in line with the historic reforms of the transport and logistics services system through implementing a series of decisions, which included launching the National Transport Strategy, establishing an agency concerned with logistics services at the Ministry of Transport, and combining the activities of railway transport under the administration of the Saudi Railway Company (SAR), which enhance the supervisory role of the Ministry of Transport on all sectors of transport and logistics services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said the report.

The authority will be tasked with setting terms, standards, constraints and qualities for establishing roads and preparing safety and environment standards within the urban borders and beyond, in addition to implementing maintenance works for roads in coordination with stakeholders and following up on abiding by them and their implementation.

The authority will also be tasked with assuming relevant operational tasks, such as planning, designing, execution and maintenance and supervision on these works, where the Roads General Authority will also has the power to grant licenses and permits in the road sector, and technically verifying accidents resulting from the implementation and maintenance of roads, and coordinating with other stakeholders to provide roads with necessary services and to establish training and research centers for the road sector.

It will be responsible for conducting studies and research concerned with roads and their projects, organising exhibitions and conferences concerned with roads, representing Saudi Arabia at international commissions and organizations.

The Roads General Authority will seek to ensure the sustainability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's infrastructure, provide road networks with high levels of efficiency, increase connectivity among cities and governorates, and facilitate the transport movement of individuals and goods in Saudi Arabia's regions according to high security standards that can contribute to enhancing the quality of life, said the report.
The Enstroms got their Golden Ticket.

Rick and Linda Enstrom were reunited with their candy delivery van Tuesday, just over a week after thieves broke into it, drove it while committing a series of crimes and then dumped it near a homeless encampment along the Platte River.

The white GMC Safari decorated with huge almond toffee decals was easy to spot among the tossed beer bottles and cardboard signs.

Denver police alerted the couple that the missing van had been found on Lindas birthday, Aug. 8.

People need things worse than I do if they have to steal something like this, she said.

On Tuesday, inside the Denver County Vehicle Impound office, the candy power couple took a number and waited in plastic chairs behind other people who were not happy to be there to collect their wayward vehicles. Some owed hefty fines because their cars had been towed over unpaid parking tickets.

The Enstroms candy man is here! announced the clerk at the window.

Linda Enstrom identified the bruised and battered van on a fancy live camera monitor, signed paperwork and ventured into the hot sun hoping the van robbers did not realize that the real treasure was not the vehicle itself. It was the license plates.

Their toffee truck was crookedly parked near a chained barrier. Underneath its sprung front hood a dead battery hung from its cord. The sawed-off gas tank cap had been tossed on the floor, and a green garbage bag marked trash in white ink was parked on the passengers seat.

I dont know if thats a body or what, said impound clerk Will Currat.

Stuffed inside, he found a mound of grimy clothes.

But visible on the front dash was the treasure only the Enstrom family would appreciate: a faded blue Colorado Toffee license plate.

This is the only thing of value right here, said Rick Enstrom.

Those old designer plates were ordered by his father, Emil, around half a century ago and attached to every Cadillacs he ever drove. Emil died in 1999.

Employees eventually secured the plates to the toffee van as an ode to a sweet, storied era. On the precipice of the Great Depression, Ricks grandfather, Chet, moved the family from Castle Rock to Grand Junction to start Velvet Ice Cream.

Though Chet Enstrom and his partner Harry Jones were just getting their fledgling business going as the stock market crashed, they always managed to make payroll.

Before long, the ice cream with groundbreaking flavors like Butter Brickle and Peppermint Stick was the regional favorite. In 1960, Velvet Ice Creams reign was nudged out by the low-fat ice cream craze.

But Chet had an idea that stuck.

While selling ice cream, he spent a lot of his time fiddling around with toffee, folding warm sticky slabs over almond-scattered tables and then sealing the top with melted chocolate. Friends and family loved it. Who wouldnt?

By 1979, the king and queen of Sweden, Robert Redford, Art Linkletter and Raquel Welch were ordering Enstroms World Famous Almond Toffee. In 1984, Rick and Linda expanded the business from its iconic Grand Junction store to Denver where Rick said we knew 5 people.

Emil Enstroms toffee license plates were on his sons mind when he heard the delivery van had been found abandoned in a gravel space at 31st and Arkins. Rick Enstrom hoped the thieves ignored what looked like a silly promotion, but he knew that the candy van that delivered toffee during the holiday season was not worth saving.

For Rick Enstrom, that loss is merely an annoyance. Think of the single mom with three kids holding down a job and she needs her car. For other people, a stolen vehicle is a life-altering tragedy, he said.

As if on cue, CC Cordova walked up to Will Curats window to pay the fines to collect her stolen 2020 Nissan Rogue, which had been missing since Sunday night. Her husband had left it idling as he rushed into a downtown hotel to deliver Door Dash for the desk staff. In those few minutes, thieves floored the mini-SUV and disappeared.

Police found it at South Dale Court and West Virginia Avenue at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, crushed on one side. Cordovas purse and a briefcase were long gone, but it was drivable.

Tears ran down CCs face. Im sad. I worked my butt off for that car.

The Enstrom candy van and CCs Nissan were examples of vehicles that were stolen in one week in Colorado, which is No. 1 on the list of worst states per capita for auto theft.

During a town hall hosted by The Denver Gazette, Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen addressed the spike. He reasoned that stolen cars are on the rise because theyre expendable. We talk about property theft, and context matters, said Pazen. Stolen cars do have an impact. Theyve been used in hundreds of additional violent crimes.

Many of the stolen autos that end up in the Denver impound lot are trashed and out of gas. They steal a car, drive it around until they run out of gas and get another one, said Currat.

The saga of the candy van is a history Rick Enstrom would rather not revisit. Im over it, he said.

With that, he gave Currat some toffee for his time, and left with his dusty prize.
The Colorado Springs City Council voted to approve the construction of a new convenience store near Ivywild.

The council voted 6 to 3 to allow the Kum & Go proposed at the corner of South 8th and West Brookside streets where the now-shuttered Consignment Gallery stands. The Iowa-based company purchased additional lots near the closed shop and expects the store will cover about 1 acre.

A convenience story and gas station was allowed on the property by right, and that is why several of the councilmembers said they voted for the project despite extensive opposition from residents who are worried about increased traffic, noise and light pollution. In some cases, residents' bedroom and bathroom windows will be about 20 feet from the new gas station.

Councilman Wayne Williams said the project fit within the confines of the existing zoning and was not substantially different in any way that would merit the council's denial.

"I dont believe the property is improperly zoned," he said.osed the project, siding with the neighbors.

"There is the letter of the law, and there is the spirit and what is right for our city," Henjum said.

The council reversed an earlier 4-1 vote from the planning commission who found the gas station was not harmonious with the neighborhood.

However, proponents of the project pointed out that the si

Councilmembers Nancy Henjum, Stephannie Fortune and Bill Murray all oppte had been home to a gas station previously and they plan to make numerous improvements to the property that are not required by city code.

Kum & Go plans put in a retaining wall and landscaping to buffer the station from nearby apartments, ensure lighting is downcast, and prohibit semitrucks from driving east on Brookside Street.

The company also plans to capture storm water in an underground tank to help address drainage issues and improve the safety of parking on the site. Right now, drivers leaving parking stalls at the site back out into the street, said Mary Kasal, a civil engineer with Entitlement and Engineering Solutions speaking on behalf of the company. The company is also putting a slightly smaller building than is typical, at less than 4,000 square feet, compared with the more typical 5,600 square feet.

Jon Severson, who helped lead the opposition, presented his longtime personal experience in the convenience store industry and saying it was highly unlikely the store could control the flow of traffic, and diesel trucks at the station after 7 p.m. will violate the city's rules around noise.

He voiced clear frustration with the council after the vote.

"Our council doesn't work for us. ... They had compelling evidence and they ignored it," he said.
Tara Sabin, stepmother of an 11-year-old boy who died after being forced to drink large amounts of water, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, a Class 5 felony, on Tuesday.

Sabin, 44, was originally charged with first-degree murder after her stepson, Zachary Sabin, was found dead in a urine-soaked diaper on March 11, 2020, at their Black Forest home. Her husband and the childs biological father, Ryan Sabin, 43, was charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in Zacharys death as well as child abuse counts related to their other children, ages 2 to 15.

Zachary was a fifth grader at Explorer Elementary School in Colorado Springs, according to his obituary. His mother, Angela Tuetken, said he sang in the choir there, was an avid reader, and loved animals.

Zachary and his brother, Mythias, switched between their mother's and fathers houses every other week since their parents' divorce in 2011. Zachary also had four half-siblings and four step-siblings.

Zachary died of forced water intoxication, the El Paso County Coroners Office said, after he was forced to drink four 24-ounce bottles of water over a four-hour time period, without eating. During the investigation, Tara Sabin told authorities that Zachary suffered from a genetic urological issue and needed to stay hydrated.

That night, Zachary began vomiting and developed pain in his legs, an arrest affidavit said. When Zachary complained about the pain to his father and threw a tantrum on the floor, Ryan Sabin allegedly kicked his son twice in ordering him to get up.

According to the affidavit, Ryan Sabin picked up his son and when he let him go, he dropped to the ground and hit his head on the floor. Zachary became nonverbal and drowsy before he was put to bed, an autopsy stated.

Ryan Sabin called 911 about 6:15 a.m. on March 11 after he found Zachary in his bed with foam coming from his mouth and blood on his bed.

The coroner found blood on his left eyebrow and forehead, according to the report. The 11-year-old also had bruises on his head, arms, shin and buttocks.

Five other children also were victims of abuse, the affidavit said.

Warrants for the couples arrest were issued the morning of June 16, 2020, and they turned themselves in that night, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office.

Before pleading guilty Tuesday, Tara Sabin admitted it was clear that Zach was injured the night before he died and that she did not call 911 or seek medical attention for him.

The next hearing for Ryan Sabin is set for Aug. 23. The prosecution said his jury trial is not expected to occur before November.

Tara Sabin was sentenced to four years' probation. If she violates any conditions of the plea deal, she could be sentenced to one to three years in prison and a subsequent mandatory two-year parole period. She and Ryan Sabin have posted bond and are not in custody.
CRIPPLE CREEK  Cripple Creek voters will decide in November whether to legalize the sale of recreational and medical marijuana in city limits.

If voters in the small gold-mining and casino community of around 1,200 residents approve the ballot question this fall, Cripple Creek would be the first Teller County municipality to allow marijuana sales.

Campaign proponents say the measure would boost the city's revenues, which have taken a hit since casinos closed for several months in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city's budget depends heavily on revenue from tourism and its casinos, and money from gaming device fees hasn't rebounded back to pre-pandemic levels, despite increased device fees City Council imposed in April.

A boost in Cripple Creek's coffers from marijuana sales could help fix local roads, sewer and water infrastructure, and could help address parks and recreation needs, among others, Kyle Blakely said. Blakely is the registered agent of Cripple Creek Wins, a citizen group that submitted an initiative petition advocating for the issue. It went in front of the council last week, but city leaders ultimately chose to refer the matter to voters in November's general election.

"This would help diversify the city's revenue to avoid a situation like in the pandemic, when the casinos had to shut down and the revenues dropped," Blakely said Wednesday.

Some elected officials in Teller County have spoken against allowing marijuana sales in the city. They said Cripple Creek is too small to address emergency, law enforcement and public health needs they say would follow if voters approved the measure.

"You're going to have higher homeless(ness) issues. You're going to have more violence," Sheriff Jason Mikesell told City Council last week. "It's not all based on the marijuana but (it's) because of the issues that you're bringing in with that type of thing."

Mikesell said allowing pot sales would increase the need for emergency services response, increase the cost for law enforcement regulation and response, and would increase hospitalizations.

Teller County Commission Chairman Dan Williams said since there is no state regulation on marijuana potency that could increase the negative health effects some users might experience.

"This is not like (3.2%) beer or 80-proof alcohol," he said. "So you have no idea what's going to happen to the folks that come up here."

The Sheriff's Office is "already dealing with" public safety issues from marijuana, Mikesell said. "I don't know how we deal with it exponentially if we're selling it legalized up here at a much higher dosage than somebody can grow at home."

Blakely said legalizing pot sales in Cripple Creek wouldn't "significantly increase the use of cannabis" locally.

"They're looking at is as if nobody up in that area uses cannabis today," he said. People he and other petition-gatherers spoke to who already use the drug say they're buying it in Pueblo or Manitou Springs, he said.

Allowing sales in Cripple Creek would "provide additional revenue that could provide services to deal with those issues," Blakely said. "They're looking at dealing with it now without those revenues."

Williams said relying on pot sales to generate revenue wouldn't be a good long-term solution for the city, since sales have declined statewide in the past year.

Colorado reported $146.4 million in total sales for recreational and medical marijuana in June, down from $187.3 million in June 2021, or a 22% decrease, according to figures released Tuesday by the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Medical pot sales dropped 44% in the last year, raking in $19.2 million as of June this year compared to $34.5 million in June 2021, data show. Recreational sales are down 17% in the same time frame, dropping from $152.7 million in June 2021 to $127.2 million this June.

Williams said the Board of Teller County Commissioners is looking for other solutions to help fill in the city's financial gaps left by decreased gaming device fee revenue.

Voters will also have to choose whether to approve a proposed 5% excise tax imposed on unprocessed retail and medical marijuana as well as processed products.

Funds from that tax are proposed to go into the city's general fund, with 25% of all marijuana excise tax revenue going to promote tourism marketing for the city.
Colorado health officials are again recommending schools take a "layered" approach to COVID-19 prevention, but they're advising districts not to require mask or quarantine for in-class exposures unless there are larger outbreaks or cases are rising to high levels in the broader community.

The guidance, drafted and released by the state Department of Public Health and Environment, seeks to keep schools open and in person as much as possible and is a continuation of state policy of guiding, not steering, COVID-19 mitigation.

Exactly how schools and districts prevent and respond to COVID-19 is up to them, their county health departments or other local governance, as was the case to varying degrees last year. The state recommends  but doesn't require  schools take a multilayered approach to COVID-19 mitigation, including improved ventilation, masking, hand-hygiene, testing and vaccinations.

Broadly, the guidance recommends schools encourage vaccinations, and to investigate and respond to clusters of cases, rather than individual ones. Outbreak and case reporting are still required of school entities, and the agency admitted in its guidance that, without individual case investigation, actually identifying outbreaks may be difficult. Health officials recommend that schools monitor for "increases in absenteeism, especially due to respiratory illness, or an increase in reported cases of COVID-19"; if such trends occur, the school or district should work with local public health authorities to respond to outbreaks.

The guidance-first approach is also furtherance of what's become state policy for COVID-19 response for more than a year. Last summer, Gov. Jared Polis said the emergency involving the virus was over and that the state would cede much of its handling of response to individual counties. That resulted in frustration months later, when the delta wave peaked and omicron emerged; several counties in the metro area asked Polis to institute a statewide masking order. When he didn't, the counties rolled one out themselves.

In a statement, state epidemiologist Rachel Herlihy noted that the state had already shifted away from a case-by-case response in schools toward a "transmission mitigation strategy." The state previously announced that students don't need to quarantine for routine exposure in classrooms, and it announced last month that it would no longer publicly report outbreaks in schools, as it had since the beginning of the pandemic.

In a separate statement, Colorado Education Association president Amie Baca-Oehlert said the group supports the new guidance "because the best place for students to learn is in-person, in the classroom  and it should be a safe place for students and school staff alike."

"Everyone can help keep kids in school by doing their part in keeping the whole community safe by staying home from work or school when sick, quarantining when necessary and frequent hand washing," she said. "Maintaining the health and safety of our students and educators should be everyones priority.

The shift is unsurprising: The state has signaled for months that it's beginning to treat COVID-19 like other infectious diseases, now that vaccines are widely available and approved for every person over the age of 6 months old. The health department wrote in its guidance to schools that districts "should implement a more typical routine disease control model for disease control in schools. Such a model focuses more on response to clusters of cases, outbreaks, and evidence of ongoing transmission in schools, and less on individual case investigation, contact tracing, and quarantining of staff and students following school exposures."

To that end, quarantines should only be used, the state wrote in its guidance, as part of broader mitigation strategies implemented by local officials, like when COVID-19 cases are rising or when there's an active outbreak. Staff and students who test positive should isolate, and schools should notify parents, staff and students of positive cases.

When there are identified outbreaks, the health department said, schools should consider limiting mixing of impacted classrooms or grades and temporary universal masking and testing.

As for masking generally, perhaps the most controversial COVID-19 mitigation measure implemented in schools or society generally, the health department deferred to federal guidance: It recommends schools "support" mask wearing and notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend "indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, when CDCs COVID-19 Community Levels are high and when a school or child care facility has identified cases or outbreaks of COVID-19 among staff or students."

The agency did say schools may consider universal masking and other measures "when they serve or employ large numbers of high-risk or vulnerable individuals."

Masking was also not required last year, but state officials said repeatedly that their own internal analyses indicated that districts that required masking had fewer outbreaks and cases than those that didn't. Some major districts, including Denver Public Schools, required masking at the beginning of the year. After the omicron wave subsided in February, DPS and other mask-requiring districts ended the mandate.

The state will continue to offer weekly rapid testing to schools for free this year, the health department said.

COVID-19 has affected schools and their operations as much as any other facet of American society since 2020, and those effects have touched off intense debate across Colorado and the country. Indeed, last year's decision to give districts and their health departments agency in deciding masking requirements helped lead to the destruction of the Tri-County Health Department, after Douglas County opposed Tri-County's school-masking order. That then spurred a lawsuit launched by the county's school district against county leaders, which, in turn, fueled a wave election that unseated four incumbent school board members.

Last year, COVID-19 cases began rising in Colorado shortly before students returned to school in August. That rise continued almost continually for months, triggering outbreaks in schools, nursing homes and elsewhere. That surge was sparked initially by the arrival of the delta variant and then morphed upon the December emergence of the omicron strain.

Though the last two years have seen late-year COVID-19 surges, what will happen this year remains unclear. Eric France, the state's chief medical officer, told The Denver Gazette last week that the biggest risk for a surge in September or October is the emergence of a new variant.
The mental health evaluation of Letecia Stauch is still not complete after months of waiting, according to an El Paso County judge.
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Oman Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI) on Tuesday ( August 9, 2022) signed the SHE STEMS social development programme agreement with Oman Cables Industry (OCI) and the Ministry of Labour (MoL).

Emphasising hands-on skills development and on-the-job training, SHE STEMS program aims to prepare more Omani women for the nations manufacturing and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) sectors.

Registration in the program starts in September 2020 with a first cohort of 20 Omani women who will attend an extensive six-month practical Operating Maintenance course certified by MoHERI.

The training will be supervised by a number of highly proficient and qualified instructors. Upon completion, each participant will receive a SHE STEMS certificate recognised by MoHERI.

The eligibility criteria for participants are: Omani nationals aged between 18 to 28 years who are registered as job seekers with the Ministry of Labour, and who have a General Education Diploma as a minimum academic qualification. Candidates who has attended other training supported by the Oman government wont be considered as eligible.

For enrollment, interested people can apply through omancables.com/careers before August 25, 2022.

The programme was signed on behalf of MoHERI by Dr Rahma Ibrahim Al-Mahrooqi, Minister of MoHERI; for the MoL by the Ministrys Undersecretary for Human Resources Development Salim bin Musallam Al Busaidi; and for OCI by the companys CEO Cinzia Farise.

Al-Mahrooqi stressed the importance of engaging all vital sectors in the effort to achieve the goals of the nations comprehensive development plans, and to implement Omans ambitious Vision 2040 with regard to building promising national employees in all fields.

Her Excellency Al-Mahrooqi also indicated the Ministry's keenness to cooperate with many sectors to ensure the quality of programmes

directed at female graduates and job seekers is maintained. This would ensure that participants receive high quality practical skills and work ethics, which would qualify and empower them to compete in local and international labour markets.

Underlining its support for SHE STEMS, the Ministry of Labour affirmed its full readiness to cooperate in this qualitative programme and to provide the necessary support and incentives to contribute to the upgrading of human resources in the Sultanate of Oman.

According Farise, the SHE STEMS programme is considered an important milestone in OCIs social ambition to support the local community.

As part of the Prysmian Group, OCI is launching SHE STEMS as a joint amalgamation with Prysmians sustainability development strategy and goals, and within the framework of the Prysmian Social Ambition 2030 objectives of diversity; equality and inclusion; digital inclusion; community empowerment; and employee engagement and upskilling, Farise explained.-TradeArabia News Service
An onlooker takes images as soldiers take part in an annual live fire military exercise with 155mm howitzers while a man uses his cellphone to take images by the shore in Pingtung county, southern Taiwan August 9, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang
Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen) has received an international award in recognition of conducting a transformation plan that focuses on driving greater economic impact for the kingdom.

Tamkeen was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of non-profit or government organisations in the 14th Annual 2022 Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards.

The Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards are one of the worlds leading business awards programmes honouring achievements in various sectors. The programme recognises the worlds best in organisational performance, innovations, executives and management teams, relations and marketing campaigns, creativity, partner programs, customer satisfaction programs, and more.

Maha Mofeez, Acting Chief Executive of Tamkeen, expressed deep pride in this achievement and highlighted the active role of Tamkeens employees in receiving this international recognition.

She stated: We are honoured to receive this internationally acclaimed award which is a testament to the impact of Tamkeen programmes and its transformation initiative. Since inception, Tamkeen has been a leader in government work and translating the vision of our wise leadership in driving economic development and growth in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This achievement was made possible by the unwavering support from our leadership and the great efforts of Tamkeens dedicated employees. This recognition motivates us to continue driving change in Bahrain by being entrepreneurial in everything we do. We look forward to further success as we continue this journey of transformation to drive greater economic impact for Bahrain.

In the beginning of this year, Tamkeen embarked on its 5th strategy cycle with a full-fledged transformation strategy developed based on market requirements.

Tamkeens new strategy is focused on productivity and impact and guided by the organisations two primary mandates. The first is centered around making the private sector the engine of growth and sustainability in the local economy by supporting private sector enterprises and developing strategic partnerships in order to create new and innovative solutions. The second covers empowering Bahrainis to become employees of choice and a key supporter of the private sector to create high quality jobs for locals.

To achieve this, Tamkeens strategic direction was designed to incentivise positive change by linking support to impactful key performance indicators, enabling high-potential sectors, encouraging business model changes, supporting innovative and economically viable concepts, and supporting the acceleration of human capital development to cater to market needs and emerging opportunities.

Tamkeens transformation resulted in 16 specialised programmes offering individuals and enterprises tailored support designed to help them reach their highest potential. As well as a new assessment framework to ensure transparency and fairness in evaluation, and a framework for data analytics to streamline performance reporting.

Tamkeen also launched an updated online portal, which improves customer experience and reduces the time required to review applications.

Furthermore, Tamkeen unveiled a new brand identity that communicates and emphasises this new approach. The identity features a unique element: the Growth Mark, a visual representation of Tamkeens promise to drive growth, impact and prosperity for Bahrain and its people. The brand change was not only visual, as the organization embraced an empowering tone of voice for its communication, adopting a consistent, transparent, and informative approach when developing and curating content.

Following the launch of the programmes and new brand identity, Tamkeen announced a series of strategic partnerships and initiatives with banks, global training and education providers, and world-leading consultants that will support with the implementation of the new programs and provide enterprises in Bahrain with access to financing and international expertise across various fields, as well as support in the upskilling and reskilling of the national workforce in emerging and high potential sectors.

According to Tamkeen, it will continue to work to provide the high quality and impactful support to enterprises and individuals in Bahrain to enhance productivity and achieve sustainable economic growth for the Kingdom. -TradeArabia News Service
All 135 judges who are seeking retention in Colorados November general election have met the standards for judicial performance, according to the findings of citizen-led commissions across the state.

On Tuesday, the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation released the reports and recommendations from judicial performance commissions operating in each of Colorado's 22 judicial districts, plus one panel that evaluates state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals members. The commissions analyzed judges using such factors as their demeanor, managing the flow of cases on their dockets, and knowledge of the law  incorporating lawyers' and non-lawyers' ratings of judges into their recommendations.

Big money pours in for ballot measures on housing, liquor and magic mushrooms The committee Natural Medicine Colorado, which is behind Initiative #58, has so far raised $2.766 million, almost all of it from the New Approach PAC of Washington, D.C., a pro-marijuana group. Among its biggest funders is Sean Parker of California, a billionaire who founded Napstar and was briefly president of Facebook.

Of the 135 judges who sought to be retained by voters this year, the commissions concluded they all met the required standard of performance.

However, the results of Colorado's retention process do not provide the complete picture of judicial performance. A total of 164 judges were eligible for retention in 2022, but only 140 received evaluations and 135 chose to remain on the ballot. Judges may opt to resign or retire prior to their retention for multiple reasons, including the expectation of a negative performance evaluation.

The retention process is one of the means of holding Colorado's judiciary publicly accountable, in addition to the appellate review of judges' decisions and investigations into alleged misconduct by the state's judicial discipline commission. Once the governor appoints a judge, he or she will face a retention vote after approximately two years. If successful, the judge will serve for a term of four to 10 years, depending on the type of judicial appointment.

This election cycle marks the first time the appointees of Gov. Jared Polis will appear on the ballot, including five Polis-appointed members of the Court of Appeals. None of the state's seven Supreme Court justices is up for retention this year.

Although the vast majority of judges received unanimous favorable recommendations from the performance commissions, 14 judges received split votes to varying degrees. Eight women and six men had one or more commission members cast a vote against retention, with one judge registering a tie vote in her commission.

State Sen. Pete Lee indicted on felony charge of falsifying residence information An El Paso County fourth judicial district grand jury has indicted state Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, on a Class 5 felony charge of falsifying his residence address for electoral purposes.

District Court Judge Kimberly B. Schutt of Weld County received mixed reviews from her commission, with four members finding she met performance standards and four believing she did not. Schutt, who handles emotionally-charged divorce and parental rights cases, received higher-than-average marks from attorneys and non-attorneys who provided their feedback. She also exceeded the averages for her case management skills, knowledge of law, demeanor, fairness and communication.

Commission members' only specific area of concern about Schutt was the length of time she takes to issue rulings.

"The Commission takes seriously that Judge Schutts caseload has been reduced due to this issue and feels strongly that she should be handling an even share of cases with all due speed," the performance commission wrote in its narrative to voters. "Despite her high ratings and performance in almost all other areas, the deficiency in timely case management cannot be ignored and is something that demands Judge Schutts prompt attention if she is to be a successful District Court Judge."

Because a majority of commissioners must vote to label a judge as not meeting performance standards, the tie vote resulted in a favorable recommendation for Schutt. This is her first time standing for retention.

Six other judges garnered at least two negative votes from their commissions. The most narrowly divided evaluations involved Kiowa County Court Judge Gary W. Davis, Rio Blanco County Court Judge Joe Fennessy and La Plata County Court Judge Anne Kathryn Woods  all of whom received 6-3 or 5-2 votes deeming they met performance standards.

Davis, who has been a part-time county judge since 1992, scored well on his demeanor and for helping self-represented litigants navigate the legal process. However, the performance commission raised concerns with Davis' docket management and his inconsistent application of the law. Docket management was also an issue the commission previously warned about in Davis' 2018 evaluation.

Fennessy's commission decided he was respectful, prepared and committed to serving the public. His evaluation noted he came out of retirement to serve on the bench and will reach the mandatory retirement age within the next year. Nevertheless, some members believed his communication skills, legal knowledge and administration were deficient. Notably, the commission received feedback that prosecutors appeared to be "directing the docket," as Fennessy would otherwise become confused.

"A related concern articulated was Judge Fennessy often seems not to have mastery over the law applicable to various routine criminal-court proceedings," the commission warned. "Because of these concerns, both sides expressed reluctance to take cases to trial, indicating that they are so afraid of judicial error, they enter settlements in his court that they otherwise might not."

For Woods, who was appointed in late 2020, her commission applauded her efforts to improve her handling of cases during her two years on the bench. It still cautioned of a perception that Woods, a former public defender, was too lenient toward defendants.

"The public still may be partially anchored on the view that Judge Woods is a pro-defense judge, but the Commission noted a significant increase in cash bail and sentences above the minimum" since her preliminary 2021 evaluation, the commission wrote.

Finally, the judicial performance commission for Larimer County decided by 7-3 that County Court Judge Thomas L. Lynch met performance standards. Calling him respectful, patient and kind, the commission nonetheless warned about his docket management. It also noted concerns about Lynch's demeanor "outside the courtroom, which has been described as inflexible." Lynch's 2018 evaluation also took issue with delays to his docket.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the vote count for the evaluations of three county court judges.
Colorado's second-highest court has found a Mesa County judge provided a jury instruction that was unsupported by the evidence, requiring reversal of the defendant's 2019 murder conviction.

Although the defense attorney for Joseph William Peace did not object to the faulty self-defense instruction at the time, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals deemed the error obvious because it ran contrary to clear court precedent.

"Given that the evidence presented to disprove Peaces self-defense claim was far from overwhelming, the courts instructional error, as exacerbated by the prosecutors commentary, casts serious doubt on the reliability of Peaces conviction for second-degree murder," wrote Judge John Daniel Dailey in the July 28 opinion.

There was no dispute that Peace shot and killed Eric Ludwig in March 2018 while Peace was the passenger in a vehicle and Ludwig was driving. The question for the jury was whether Peace's actions amounted to self-defense.

Peace had gone to an acquaintance's home to settle a small monetary debt. The jury heard evidence that Ludwig, who was also living there, was having a "serious meltdown" and "just completely losing his f---ing mind." Eventually, all three men went to bed in the house.

Peace decided to leave around 1 a.m. and called for a ride. The noise from Peace leaving woke up the acquaintance, who ordered Peace out of the home. Ludwig reportedly "forced" Peace to accept a ride with him, even though Peace was uneasy given Ludwig's behavior. A toxicology report would later show Ludwig had a "moderate" amount of methamphetamine in his blood.

After the two men got into the car, Peace, the only witness, said Ludwig threatened to physically harm him. Ludwig also allegedly began reaching beside the driver's seat for something out of Peace's view. Reportedly, Peace vocalized his fear that Ludwig had a gun.

"Dude, please stop reaching on the other side of the seat," Peace said, according to his interview with police. "I said, 'I have a gun on me. And I dont want you to pull a gun on me because this is going to end up badly for both of us, one of us is going to get hurt. Like, please stop.' Im begging him to stop."

At one point, Peace pulled his gun from his waistband and allegedly set it on his lap. Ludwig reportedly slammed on the brakes and "lunged" at Peace. Peace then fired a single shot into Ludwig's chest.

"I thought he was pulling a gun on me," Peace later said. Peace fled from the scene.

After a 2019 jury trial, Peace was convicted of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and other gun- and drug-related charges. He received a sentence of more than 100 years in prison.

On appeal, Peace challenged only his murder conviction. In particular, he focused on an instruction Chief Judge Brian J. Flynn provided to jurors at trial.

Under Colorado law, people are justified in using deadly force to defend themselves if they reasonably believe they are in imminent danger of death or serious injury and using a lesser degree of force will not stop the threat. In order to obtain a conviction, the prosecution can disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt or show a defendant was not justified in using force if, among other things, he was the "initial aggressor."

Flynn instructed the jury that Peace had acted in self-defense unless he was the initial aggressor. On appeal, Peace contended the evidence at trial  namely through his own testimony  had shown Ludwig was, in fact, the aggressor.

"Basically, the exception is inapplicable when the alleged victim attacked and/or threatened the defendant first (or at least appeared to do so) and, in response, the defendant shot him," wrote Deputy State Public Defender Meredith O'Harris.

The government countered that the jury could nonetheless have deemed Peace the initial aggressor, based on him pulling out his gun and displaying it. It also pointed to Peace's behavior after the fact  fleeing, hiding from police, disposing of evidence  as suggesting Peace had not lawfully acted in self-defense.

The appellate panel acknowledged the only evidence about what happened in the car came from Peace. However, the information all indicated Peace was not the initial aggressor in the confrontation.

"Yes, Peace had displayed his weapon before shooting Ludwig. But Peace had done so only in response to Ludwigs threats and perceived threatening behavior, and, even then, only after warning Ludwig to stop the particular behavior before someone got hurt," Dailey wrote.

He elaborated that Peace's post-shooting conduct did not illustrate what happened in the lead-up to the encounter. Dailey explained the jury instruction amounted to an error because juries may try to fit the facts of the case into the instruction. Statements by the prosecutor during closing arguments also may have given jurors the impression they had to decide whether Peace was the initial aggressor.

"Who was the initial aggressor in that vehicle? Well if you believe everything (Peace) told you in that interview he is still the initial aggressor," the prosecutor said.

"Without, as noted before, any supporting evidence, the prosecutor characterized Peace as 'the' initial aggressor," Dailey observed. "And she did so on the assumption that Peace had to be the initial aggressor (and thus, could not be acting in self-defense) because he was the only one with a gun and was responding only to verbal conduct. But that is not correct."

The panel ordered a new trial for second-degree murder.
DES MOINES (AP)  Iowa's Democratic candidate for governor pressed Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday to commit to debates ahead of the November election.

Democrat Deidre DeJear said she has asked Reynolds for three debates but has received no response to multiple invitations with about 90 days to go until the election.

"The people of Iowa have a right to hear from my opponent and I on key issues impacting our state and the respective direction we intend to move Iowa in, " DeJear said.

DeJear said third-party sponsors have reached out to Reynolds to schedule debates but have not received a response.

Reynolds campaign spokesman said the governor is happy to debate, and that those details will be ironed out as fall approaches.

Rick Stewart, the Libertarian Party candidate for governor, posted on social media his own debate challenge to DeJear, calling on her to reject any offers from debates that do not also include him.

Reynolds has curtailed news conferences and public schedule events since the Iowa Legislature adjourned in May and she began campaigning.

The conservative Republican endorsed by Donald Trump has a multimillion-dollar fundraising advantage; Reynolds' campaign reported $5.2 million to spend in July and DeJear just over $418,500.

A Des Moines Register Iowa Poll published in July indicated a Reynolds lead of 17 percentage points with Reynolds at 48% support and DeJear at 31%.

Reynolds won her first election in 2018 by a narrow 2.8% margin over Democratic businessman Fred Hubbell. She is seeking a second full four-year term.

This is the second time DeJear, who was a campaign organizer for President Barack Obama, has run statewide. In 2018, she became the first Black candidate to win a major party nomination for a statewide office in Iowa when she became the Democratic nominee against Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. She was defeated in the general election.
They say two heads are better than one, and a collaborative effort usually works better than going it alone.

The county teamed up Tuesday with the city of Mason City to apply for an $11.8 million slice of the state of Iowas recently allocated $100 million Destination Iowa fund.

Destination Iowa was created to assist with funding new tourism and quality of life opportunities throughout the state. The fund provides 40% of the total cost of a project.

Mason City Administrator Aaron Burnett filled out the grant application, laying out 12 city and county projects that would tie all the bike trails together. The plan also includes updating a county campground near Thornton as well as creating trailside amenities such as shelters, bouldering equipment, seating and art and education installations.

To be approved for the grant, applicants need to demonstrate how their projects will be a draw to people from outside the community and/or outside of the state. If the Bike North Iowa project is approved, Burnett estimated a Sept. 1 start date with anticipated completion in the summer of 2024, according to the application.

Our projects total about $1.5 million of the $11.8 million submitted by the city, said Tom Meyer, chief administrative officer at the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse. Well be a co-applicant on the grant.

Meyer explained the county would be responsible for 60% of the cost of its three projects and the city responsible for 60% of its remaining projects. In the application Burnett combined the two entities and listed $6.2 million would come from public funding, $20,000 from private fundraising, $850,608 from the federal American Rescue Plan funds, as well as the anticipated $4.7 for the combined project plan.
Iowa Republicans jumped to former President Donald Trumps defense after the FBIs search for documents as part of an investigation into whether he took classified records from the White House to his Florida estate.

Some quickly denounced the Monday search by the FBI of Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, where agents executed a search warrant for classified documents, the Associated Press reported.

The Department of Justice must immediately explain their justification for this unprecedented raid, Marion Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson tweeted Tuesday.

A Republican majority will provide rigorous oversight of the Biden Administration and ensure they are serving the American people, not targeting them, Hinson tweeted.

The Miami Herald reported agents obtained a search warrant from a federal magistrate judge in West Palm Beach to get dozens of boxes allegedly containing classified material that Trump had taken to his home when he left the White House. A source close to the investigation told the Miami Herald the FBI was able to show probable cause because Trump and his lawyers had already turned over classified documents sought by the National Archives and Records Administration, and agents suspected that Trump was unlawfully holding other classified documents from his presidency in his private club and residence at Mar-a-Lago.

Some of the materials Trump took included letters and notes from foreign leaders, such as North Koreas Kim Jong Un, the Washington Post reported.

Trump and his allies, including Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann, sought to cast the search as a weaponization of the criminal justice system and a Democratic-driven effort to keep the former president from winning another term in 2024  though the White House said it had no prior knowledge and current FBI Director Christopher Wray was appointed by Trump, the AP reported.

Fellow Iowa House GOP members Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa and Randy Feenstra of Hull also denounced the FBIs search.

Feenstra called the FBIs search an unprecedented escalation of the use of law enforcement against a former President.

Our Justice system should be consistent, fair, and transparent, Feenstra tweeted. The FBI must immediately provide a full accounting of facts. The American people deserve answers.

Miller-Meeks tweeted: Its time for Washington to focus on the crimes happening at our border and cities, energy independence and not wasting taxpayer dollars investigating political rivals.

Trump ally and Iowas senior Republican senator, Chuck Grassley, said conservatives have reason to be skeptical of Trump-related investigations.

Transparency brings accountability & if the FBI & DOJ arent transparent about raiding a former presidents home they risk further damaging their credibility, Grassley tweeted.

Fellow Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said, The American people deserve answers, now.

A totally unprecedented action by the DOJ and FBI  the same agencies who labeled parents domestic terrorists and sat on the sidelines while Justices were threatened and churches were vandalized, Ernst tweeted.

While no former president has ever been the subject of an FBI search of their home, former White House aides say Trump repeatedly and flagrantly mishandled classified documents.

Multiple federal laws govern the handling of classified records and sensitive government documents, including statutes that make it a crime to remove such material and retain it at an unauthorized location.

There is no revenge happening here, Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, tweeted. There is no deep state acting here. There is a former president who appears to have broken multiple laws. There is an AG who is enforcing the law. That is what is happening. Dont let them gaslight you.
avohden wrote:

Midway through the parade, the rodeo queen from New Mexico appeared  a red sash across her chest, a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse, waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally.



A. appeared  a red sash across her chest, a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse, waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally



B. appeared  a red sash across her chest and a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse and waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally



C. appeared  a red sash across her chest; a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse and was waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally



D. appeared with a red sash across her chest, a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat, she rode in circles on her gray horse, and was waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally



E. appeared with a red sash across her chest and a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat, rode in circles on her gray horse, waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally





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correct answer

She rode and waving are not parallel



'a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat' separated by ';' is not a complete sentence

'She rode in circles on her gray horse' must be separated by ';' and not by ','

'Appeared' and 'Rode' are not connected

I welcome critical analysis of my post!! That will help me reach 700+ Signature Read More

A. appeared  a red sash across her chest, a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse, waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personallyB. appeared  a red sash across her chest and a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse and waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally.C. appeared  a red sash across her chest; a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat; she rode in circles on her gray horse and was waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personallyD. appeared with a red sash across her chest, a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat, she rode in circles on her gray horse, and was waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personallyE. appeared with a red sash across her chest and a crown hugging the band of her cowboy hat, rode in circles on her gray horse, waving at the crowd as if she knew each of them personally._________________
Coy Harville, a community leader who served for 20 years on the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors, died Tuesday at age 79.

Harville, who stepped down from the board in 2015 due to health issues, died of cancer. First elected in 1995, he represented the Westover District on the board.

He had retired from the board while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

Pittsylvania County would like to offer its condolences to the friends and family of Coy Harville, a former, long-time member of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors and Pittsylvania County Service Authority, said a post on Pittsylvania Countys Facebook page.

Former supervisors recalled Harville as a dedicated public servant who was instrumental in the city and county acquiring what is now the Southern Virginia Mega Site at Berry Hill.

Coy was a leader, said former Tunstall Supervisor Tim Barber. He knew how to get things done. If you told him he couldnt get something done, hed figure out a way to make it happen.

Barber served on the board of supervisors with Harville from 2004 to 2016.

He was a visionary, Barber added. He had a good vision of where he wanted the county to go.

During an interview in April 2015 in which he announced his intentions to step down, Harville pointed to his work on the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority, where he helped start the 3,500-acre mega site, Cane Creek Centre and the Cyber Park.

Harvilles lengthy tenure on the board included accomplishments in the county, such as spearheading formation of Riverbend Volunteer Fire Department following Danvilles annexation of Westover Hills.

Ive really given a lot of time to the board of supervisors, its been my life, Harville said during the interview at his Riverbend Road seven years ago. Its hard to give it up. My hearts in the county.

He said he also enjoyed talking to residents and working to keep taxes low and bring jobs to the Dan River Region.

Calling Harville a long-time public servant, former Staunton River Supervisor Elton Blackstock said, He was very dedicated to the betterment of his district and the county.

Blackstock, who was on the board with Harville from late 2013 until Harvilles retirement, said he valued Harvilles advice but they didnt always agree.

But I feel like we always had deep respect for each other, Blackstock said.

Longtime Danville City Councilman Sherman Saunders had a working relationship with Harville dating back 40 years to the early 1980s.

He was honest and he spoke what he felt and it was for the good of the region and the way he saw it, Saunders said.

Harville showed support for Saunders while Saunders was president of what was then the Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, before it merged with the citys chamber to form the Danville-Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce.

They also served together on the former Pittsylvania Economic Development Organization as well as the Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority.

It was a pleasure to work with Coy, Saunders said.

Among Harvilles other accomplishments, he pushed for consolidating the countys open trash-box sites into more efficient compactor units and he worked to change the countys intensive livestock ordinance to allow dairies to grow, helping to increase agriculture in the county.

Other county accomplishments during Harvilles tenure included construction of the countys four middle schools, renovations at its high schools and working with the Virginia Tobacco Commission, Danville and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to make plans for and purchase Berry Hill mega park. The city and county also bought land for Cane Creek Centre.

In 2010, Harville partnered with then-Banister Supervisor William Pritchett to transfer Gretna Industrial Park from the county to the town of Gretna.

Saunders, Blackstock and Barber all pointed to Harvilles efforts to acquire the Berry Hill mega site as Harvilles most significant contribution to the region.

Without Coy, that would have never happened, Blackstock said.

Coy did a heck of a lot of work in getting that started, Saunders said.

Harville was also instrumental  along with then-Rep. Virgil Goode  in getting a water line built from Henry County to Pittsylvania County via U.S. 58 West.

A 1961 graduate of Whitmell Farm Life High School, Harville joined the U.S. Navy upon graduation and served from 1961 to 1964. He worked at Goodyear for 30 years before retiring from its quality technology department.

Besides the board of supervisors, Harville has served on the Pittsylvania County Service Authority and the countys Economic Development Board. He also served as chairman of Danville-Pittsylvania Regional Industrial Facility Authority, on board of supervisors committees and on committees for the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

He also was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for Southside in 2000 by the Virginia Economic Developers Association in Richmond.

He was a former member of the Riverbend Volunteer Fire Department and served on the board for the Danville Life Saving Crew. He was also a former deacon at West Main Baptist Church.
The United States' Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts

Xinhua) 08:13, August 10, 2022

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States' Practice of Forced Labor at Home and Abroad: Truth and Facts

August 2022

Introduction

Over the years, the United States has concocted the biggest lies of the century such as the so-called "genocide" and "forced labor" in Xinjiang, in an attempt to smear and contain China. It has enacted and implemented the "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act", denigrated the human rights situation in Xinjiang and undermined people's livelihood and development of Xinjiang. In fact, the claim of forced labor does not apply at all to Xinjiang. It is instead a chronic disease of the United States that goes all the way back to the founding of the country. It remains rampant today, and is getting worse than ever.

This report records the United States' practice of forced labor at home and abroad from historical and current perspectives. The aim is to clarify facts, debunk lies, and help the world better understand what is forced labor and who is doing that. Let the truth shine through the darkness of lies.

I. There is clear definition of forced labor in international law

Since the 1930s, a series of conventions, protocols and other documents have established clear definition and determination standards of forced labor in international law.

 The core standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on forced labor include: Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29, ratified by 179 member states by the end of 2021), the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105, ratified by 176 member states by the end of 2021) and the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (ratified by 59 member states by the end of 2021).

 According to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, the term forced labor "shall mean all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily." In other words, "involuntariness", "menace of penalty" and "work or service" are three core elements of forced labor.

 According to ILO statistics, the United States has ratified only 14 international labor conventions, one of the lowest numbers among member states. It has ratified only two out of the ten core conventions, and has not yet ratified the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 till this day.

 China has ratified 28 international labor conventions. The Forced Labor Convention, 1930 and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 were ratified in April 2022. China faithfully fulfills its obligations under international conventions, and truly protects the rights of workers and prohibits forced labor through legislation and policy formulation and implementation. Forced labor is explicitly prohibited by Chinese law. The crime of forced labor is specified in Article 244 of the Criminal Law. In Xinjiang, workers of all ethnic groups choose jobs according to their own will, and enter into labor contracts with employers and get remuneration and rights and interests in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law, and on the basis of equality, voluntariness and consensus. The governments at various levels in Xinjiang also provide necessary job skills training to workers who apply voluntarily. Workers of all ethnic groups are free to choose where they work and what they do. They are never menaced by penalty or restricted in their personal freedom. There is no such thing as forced labor in Xinjiang.

II. Forced labor in the United States was born and grew with the founding of the nation

Slave trade was an original sin of the United States. When the United States was founded, it was the blood and tears of millions of black slaves sold to the country that helped create immense wealth and complete the primitive accumulation of capital.

 For a country with a history of only 246 years, slavery had been legal in the United States for almost one-third of its history. According to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, in the history of slave trade, there were at least 36,000 "slaving expeditions" between 1514 and 1866. And according to German data firm Statista, there were about 700,000 black slaves in the United States in 1790, while by 1860 the number had exceeded 3.95 million, and fewer than 490,000 African Americans were free in the whole nation.

 Black slaves, without adequate food or clothing, were forced to work under harsh conditions at the bottom of society. They were cruelly exploited and many were even tortured to death. Lots of black slaves were forced into the cotton industry. As American writer Edward Baptist wrote in his book The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism, the whip drove the slaves to devote all of their physical strength and most of their energy to cotton picking, making the speed faster and faster. Under the brute force of slave owners, cotton production in the United States by 1860 reached 130 times that of 1800. Behind the rapid increase in cotton production are the blood and tears of black slaves.

 Data shows that the value of labor extracted from black slaves by U.S. slave owners is as high as US$14 trillion at current prices. According to the website of James Madison's Montpelier, the home to the fourth President of the United States James Madison, the slavery economy was once the main engine driving the American economy. Slavery was essential to the U.S. economy from tobacco farming in Virginia to shipbuilding in Rhode Island. In 1850, slaves produced 80 percent of America's exports. Sven Beckert, a historian from Harvard University, said that the United States and the West prospered through slavery, not democracy.

 The Conversation, a nonprofit news organization, noted when tracing the history of slavery in the United States that "criminal slaves" and "real estate slaves" have coexisted since the late 18th century. In Virginia, the state with the most African Americans in jail, prisoners were declared "dead spirits" and "state slaves". It was not until the early 20th century that states stopped leasing criminals to farmers and industrial and commercial operators as cheap labor for railroads, highways and coal mines. In Georgia, a 1907 cessation of renting out criminals led to an economic shock in industries ranging from brick making to mining, and many companies went out of business as a result.

 Archives show that by the end of the 1860s, hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers had taken part in the construction of railways in the U.S. Poor Chinese peasants boarded ships known as "floating hells", where they were packed like sardines, and drifted on the sea for about two months before arriving in California and working as coolies. On these journeys, up to 64.21 percent of the Chinese died due to inhuman treatment, typhoons or infectious diseases. Those who survived became the target of racial discrimination and whipping from white supervisors. It took them only seven years to build a railway originally planned as a 14-year project. As some historians put it, the bones of Chinese laborers could be found under every sleeper of the railway.

III. The United States has a horrible track record of forced labor

Over the years, the U.S. government has deliberately evaded its responsibility for labor protection, resulting in "slave labor" among prisoners in private prisons, rampant use of child labor, and appalling forced labor in the agriculture sector, effectively making America a country of "modern slavery".

1.Forced labor is rampant in U.S. prisons

 The United States is a country of prisons in every sense. According to a report by the Prison Policy Initiative, 2 million inmates are held in 102 federal prisons, 1,566 state prisons, 2,850 local jails, 1,510 juvenile correctional facilities, 186 immigration detention facilities, and 82 Indian country jails, as well as in military prisons and other facilities in the United States. With less than five percent of global population, the United States holds a quarter of the world's detainees, making it the country with the largest imprisoned population and highest imprisonment rate.

 The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, while nominally protecting citizens from forced labor, excludes criminals. The U.S. prison system abuses the 13th Amendment to legalize forced labor among prisoners. In prisons at the federal and sub-national levels, there are a large number of incarcerated workers engaged in the daily maintenance of the prison system, including repairs, cooking, facility cleaning and laundry. Most of them are black or other people of color. Some prisoners are leased to public projects or employed by businesses in construction, road maintenance, forestry and funeral services, jobs that are considered dirty, heavy-duty or high-risk. According to Reuters, Suniva, one of the largest U.S. solar panel makers, uses prison labor to keep costs down. The head of the company has admitted to working with the Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) in the relocation of production lines from Asia back to the United States for a lucrative federal contract.

 According to a report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), at least 30 U.S. states include prisoners as a labor source for disasters and other emergency operations, and at least 14 hire prisoners for forest firefighting. Most incarcerated workers say they have never received any formal job training and often have to conduct dangerous operations against safety protocols and without protective equipment. Casualties, which are not uncommon, often go unrecorded by the prisons. The Atlantic commented in 2015 that "convict leasing was cheaper than slavery, since farm owners and companies did not have to worry about the health of their workers."

 The United States has effectively formed a sprawling "prison-industrial complex". Private prisons operating under contracts with the government have become a major source of forced labor in the United States. Incarcerated workers in private prisons are entirely at the mercy of their employers and have no right to refuse to work. As high as 76 percent of the inmates interviewed reported various punishments when they were unable or unwilling to work, including solitary confinement, reduction of family visits, or denial of bail or commutation. Besides, prisoners have no choice in their work assignments which are entirely based on the arbitrary, discriminatory or even punitive decisions by prison management personnel. Laura Appleman, a professor at the College of Law of Willamette University, points out in her report Bloody Lucre: Carceral Labor and Prison Profit that private prison is a "pernicious form of servitude", and that prisoners are "trapped in the service of endlessly increasing profit, the literal revenues of physical toil, suffering, and exploitation."

 For years, private prisons in the United States have colluded with greedy politicians to force prisoners to work, thus turning private prisons into "concentration camps" of slavery where they could make fortunes by exploiting the poor. Due to lack of oversight, prisoners of forced labor work long hours in harsh conditions while getting paid little, or in some cases, nothing at all. In early 2022, the ACLU filed a lawsuit, exposing the pervasive power-for-money dealings in the operation of detention facilities in American private prisons, which exacerbate excessive imprisonment and forced labor, and demanding that the U.S. Marshals Service provide information about operators' contracts and make it public.

 American prisons spend less than one percent of their budget on paying incarcerated workers, who produce goods and services worth more than US$11 billion every year. Big American corporations use prison labor rampantly, as prisoners have no labor rights and are cheap. Private prisons under contracts with the government make millions of dollars a year from forced labor in prison. As of May 2022, average hourly wage in the United States was about US$10.96, while incarcerated workers were paid less than one dollar per hour. Moreover, many prison facilities have not given prisoners any pay raise for years or even decades. In seven states including Florida, prisoners are not paid at all for most of their work assignments. In addition, the wages of many prisoners are withheld by prisons for "taxes, room and board expenses, and court costs". Over 70 percent of respondents said they were unable to afford basic necessities during imprisonment.

 During the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 40 U.S. states asked prison inmates to manufacture masks, hand sanitizers and other protective equipment, dispose of large amounts of medical waste from hospitals, move corpses, build coffins and dig graves. The inmates who performed these high-risk tasks hardly got the necessary protection. Since the start of the pandemic, nearly one third of the incarcerated people in the United States have contracted COVID-19, and 3,000 of them have died from inadequate health care or poor detention conditions. The Los Angeles Times revealed that during the pandemic, thousands of prisoners in California were forced to make masks and furniture under high-risk conditions. Prison factories kept running despite the numerous confirmed COVID cases. The inmates had to sew thousands of masks a day, without getting one for themselves. Prison staff threatened postponed release date if inmates refuse to do the work.

2.Forced labor of women and children is appalling

 Child labor has long been an issue in the United States. American mines, tobacco farms and textile factories started hiring and exploiting children since over a century ago. To date, the United States remains the only one of the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) that has not ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and child labor remains an unresolved problem in the country. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other institutions show that half of the 100,000 people trafficked into the United States each year for forced labor are minors.

 According to estimates by the nonprofit organization Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, there remain about 500,000 child farm workers in the United States, many of which started working at the age of eight and work up to 72 hours a week. These child farm workers are regularly exposed to dangerous chemicals such as pesticides. In addition, they are at a greater risk of work-related injuries due to the need of operating sharp tools and heavy machines without necessary training and protection measures. According to the U.S. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, an estimated 907 youth fatalities happened on U.S. farms between 1995 and 2002. The Washington Post reported that about 452 children died of workplace injuries in the United States between 2003 and 2016, including 237 child fatalities in agriculture. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report in November 2018 shows that around 5.5 percent of child labor is in agriculture and accounted for over 50 percent of all work-related child fatalities. In several U.S. states, tobacco farms employ a large number of children to harvest and dry tobacco leaves, posing a significant risk to their physical and mental health. Many children suffered from nicotine poisoning and some were even diagnosed with lung infection.

 According to official statistics, in 2019 alone, U.S. law enforcement officers found 858 cases of child labor in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and 544 minors were found working in hazardous places. The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the largest federation of unions in the United States, said that the Department of Labor (DOL) only reported 34 child labor violations on annual average, far lower than the real number, revealing deficiency in DOL's law enforcement.

 The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported that 240,000 to 325,000 women and children are at risk for sexual exploitation each year in the United States. American NGO End Slavery Now said a child trafficked to the sex industry "works" 12 hours a day and seven days a week, and perpetrators can exploit US$150,000 to 200,000 each year.

3. Forced labor is prevalent in numerous sectors in the United States

 An article published on the website of the University of Denver reveals that at least 500,000 people in the United States are living under modern slavery and victims of forced labor. With pervasive forced labor, labor trafficking in the United States is particularly serious in 23 sectors including domestic services, agricultural planting, tourism, catering, medical care and beauty services. In 2004, after studying relevant cases from 1998 to 2003, the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, pointed out that ten thousand or more people work as forced laborers in scores of cities and towns across the country, forming an illicit trade that is hidden, inhumane, widespread and criminal.

 The existing U.S. immigration law is breeding modern slavery. The temporary visa system of the United States binds foreign workers with their employers by law, leaving them in a vulnerable position, as workers, for fear of deportation, dare not quit their jobs even if employers arbitrarily lower their wages or extend working hours. The asymmetry between employers and employees is systemic, and there is evidence that connects forced labor in the United States to certain visa types. A 2014 study by the Urban Institute and Northeastern University shows that more than 70 percent of the interviewed victims of forced labor entered the United States legally with a visa. Ending this form of modern slavery requires reform of U.S. immigration law. However, both the Congress and the administration lack the will to do such reform.

 Most of the sweatshops in the United States are headquartered in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. These shops usually make garment, coffee and electronic products. The DOL estimated that as many as 22,000 sweatshops in the country were in the garment industry alone. In order to minimize cost and maximize profit, sweatshop owners exploit legal loopholes by various means to evade government regulation. Workers get wages and benefits far below legal thresholds and are not paid accordingly for working long and extra hours. In extreme cases, they are even abused by employers. According to a DOL investigation report obtained by The New York Times, Vietnamese workers at a garment factory in American Samoa were routinely beaten by factory guards, and a female worker lost her left eye after a guard beat her with a pipe. Indian workers at a food factory in Oklahoma were constantly provided with inadequate food. Many workers at the factory suffered serious malnutrition and looked like "walking skeletons".

 In the domestic services sector, the vast majority of service personnel are immigrants and are not recognized as employees by American law. According to the U.S. immigration policy, they are not allowed to freely change their clients, or they will be deported. Most of the victims work in very poor conditions. They often cannot get their wages on time and are paid below the minimum rate. They are subject to violence, sexual assault and intimidation from employers and their families, and are prohibited from complaining to anyone, otherwise they will face deportation. According to the 2014 report of the Urban Institute and Northeastern University, more than one third of the victims of forced labor in the United States are domestic servants.

 In the agricultural sector, about 30 percent of farm workers and their families live below the federal poverty line. They are subject to threatening, violence and forced labor, and unable to express their wishes. The town of Immokalee in southwest Florida is known as the "tomato town" of the United States. It has a population of around 26,000 people, most of whom are farmers from countries including Mexico, Guatemala and Haiti. The local minimum wage is US$8.65 per hour. Yet those farm workers are only paid US$5.5 per hour, far lower than the minimum rate.

According to a survey by The Guardian, foreign workers of American corn farms are not protected by law. They live in extremely poor conditions and are paid only US$225 after working 12 hours a day for 15 days. They often fall victim to sexual assault, harassment, wage theft and work injuries or even fatal accidents in work places, and are often exposed to hazardous chemicals.

Independent journalist Gina-Marie Cheeseman pointed out in her 2017 report Forced Labor is More Common in the U.S. Than You Might Think that in some U.S. farms, foreign workers are forced to sleep in shacks and box trucks, and are asked to pick farm products without being paid. Those who attempt to escape get beaten up.

According to a report by the American Economic Policy Institute, seasonal agricultural workers in the United States are vulnerable to wage theft and other abuses due to their immigration status and fear of retaliation and deportation. Millions of dollars of wage arrears are reported every year. The Wage and Hour Division of the DOL is too underfunded and understaffed to provide adequate protection and relief for agricultural workers. As a result, those workers believe it is neither necessary nor helpful to report employer violations to the DOL.

 According to a 2015 survey by The New York Times on the nail industry in New York, the vast majority of workers in the nail industry are paid below the minimum wage and sometimes even not paid at all. Those workers are seriously exploited and subject to various kinds of humiliation including constant video monitoring and physical punishment. Most of these workers are immigrants from China, the ROK, Nepal and South America. They often work overtime with very low wages. Without legal residential status, many nail industry workers in New York, though being exploited by their employees, are often too scared to report.

 Denise Brennan, a U.S. writer, noted in her book that the U.S. immigration policy, instead of redressing the problem of human trafficking and improving the situation of vulnerable groups in society, has exacerbated social problems and allowed more disguised forms of forced labor to appear in American society. American society does not provide enough support and relief to victims who were freed from forced labor, leaving them voluntarily falling into new traps of forced labor just to make a living, and forever haunted by a vicious cycle of enslavement and oppression.

 According to the 2021 Federal Human Trafficking Report published by the Human Trafficking Institute of the United States in June 2022, the number of criminal forced labor cases filed in 2021 increased by 22 percent since 2020. Of the 449 victims in human trafficking cases filed to federal courts in the United States in 2021, 162 or 36 percent were victims of forced labor. And 93 percent of identified victims in forced labor cases were foreign nationals.

IV. The spillover effect of forced labor in the United States is felt worldwide

The widespread negative impact of forced labor in the United States has caused serious transnational human trafficking and human rights violations in other countries. The United States is an underperformer in the ratification and implementation of international labor conventions, which matches its long-standing poor record of forced labor and labor rights violations.

1.Forced labor leads to transnational human trafficking

 The United States is a source, transit hub, and destination country for victims of forced labor and slavery. Both legal and illegal industries in the United States have serious human trafficking problems. According to the U.S. Department of State, up to 100,000 people are trafficked to the United States annually and fall victim to forced labor. In the past five years, cases of forced labor and human trafficking were reported in all the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C. According to statistics released by the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the number of reported cases increased significantly from over 3,200 in 2012 to about 11,500 in 2019. In 2020, 10,583 cases were reported, involving 16,658 victims.

Modern slavery featuring forced labor is widely seen in U.S. hotels, restaurants, massage parlors, farms, construction businesses, and domestic services industries. The victims are mostly new immigrants, children, women and other vulnerable groups. Means such as physical and mental abuses, threatening and humiliation are widely used to control the victims.

 According to a joint statement issued in April 2021 by the UNHRC Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the U.S. government forced foreign individuals to work with it by threatening to use sanctions, indicating a situation of forced labor and rights and interests violation. Urmila Bhoola, the UNHRC Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery pointed out in her 2018 report that cases of forced labor, bonded labor, sexual violence and threats of deportation against female migrant workers were discovered in several tomato farms in the United States.

 As highlighted by the Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2021, tighter U.S. immigration policies, combined with weak supervision at home, have exacerbated human smuggling and labor trafficking targeting immigrants. Citing an indictment released in November, 2021 by the U.S. Department of Justice, the report reveals that dozens of workers from Mexico and Central American countries were smuggled to farms in the State of Georgia, where they were illegally imprisoned and forced to work under grueling conditions. These victims of modern-day slavery, under the threat of guns and violence, were required to dig onions with their bare hands for only 20 cents per bucket. At least two of the workers died and one suffered from multiple sexual assaults.

 Besides harsh working conditions, cruel management, confiscation of personal documents and restrictions on freedom are also typical features of forced labor cases. In 2021, the Associated Press reported that hundreds of Indian workers were lured to build a massive Hindu temple in New Jersey. Their passports were taken away on arrival and they were forced to work over 87 hours a week for US$1.2 an hour, while New Jersey's minimum hourly wage was US$12. Reuters reported that Goodyear, an American company and the world's largest tire maker, was sued multiple times by foreign workers at its Malaysian factory, for accusations of unpaid wages, unlawful overtime and the denial of their full access to their own passports. According to the workers' lawyer, some migrants worked 229 hours a month in overtime, far exceeding the Malaysian limit of 104 hours.

 The U.S. law enforcement clearly have not done enough to crack down on human trafficking and forced labor. According to the Report on Human Trafficking Data Collection Activities, 2021 released by the U.S. Department of Justice, a total of 2,091 persons were referred to U.S. Attorneys for human-trafficking and forced labor offenses in 2019, but only 837 were convicted. Chrissey Buckley, a scholar at the University of Denver, points out that forced labor lingers on in the United States because it is a lucrative business, and because inadequate legislation and inefficient law enforcement diminish the risks of prosecution of the offenders.

2. U.S. companies has long practiced forced labor abroad

 In 2019, the Washington Post disclosed that in almost the past two decades, a number of U.S. chocolate giants including Mars and Hershey had been using raw cocoa harvested by child workers in West Africa. More than two million cocoa workers are children earning less than US$1 a day. UK's Channel 4 revealed in 2020 that the coffee beans used by Starbucks and other famous U.S. coffee companies were picked by workers aged under 13 in Guatemala. These children worked eight hours a day, over 40 hours a week, and the youngest was only eight. Their daily wage sometimes is only about the price of a cup of coffee.

V. The international community has long been criticizing forced labor in the United States

Long being seriously concerned about forced labor in the United States, the international community has been calling on the U.S. government to earnestly reflect on and address relevant issues.

 Child labor in America's agricultural sector has been an indelible stain on the U.S. track record of implementing International Labor Conventions (ICLs), in particular the fundamental conventions. It is also the most prominent concern of the ILO standards supervisory mechanism regarding U.S. implementation of conventions. Since 2012, the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations (CEACR) has repeatedly expressed concerns over fatal work-related injuries and accidents suffered by children under 18 working on U.S. farms. During the 103rd Session of the International Labor Conference in 2014, the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) had a detailed discussion on U.S. violations of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999.

 In addition, over the past decade, the CEACR has commented on the U.S. compliance with the Abolition of Forced Labor Convention, 1957 and the Shipowners' Liability (Sick and Injured Seamen) Convention, 1936, urging the U.S. government to reverse its inappropriate practices and earnestly fulfill its obligations. The CEACR pointed out in 2017 that the U.S. government should adopt federal legislation to ensure that racial discrimination does not lead to racial disparities in the punishment involving compulsory labor in the criminal justice system, and should take necessary measures at the federal level to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice system to ensure that the punishment involving compulsory labor is not meted out more severely to certain racial and ethnic groups.

 In her statement made in 2016 after visiting the United States, the then UN Special Rapporteur in Trafficking in Persons Maria Grazia Giammarinaro urged the United States to engage in a more effective effort to detect trafficking for forced labor and labor exploitation. The statement cited data in 2015 that 75 percent of trafficking cases in the United States were related to sex deals, 13 percent labor trafficking, and 3 percent both. Women and girls, migrant workers, unaccompanied and homeless children, people fleeing conflict, runaway youth, Native Americans and the LGBTI individuals are particularly vulnerable to labor and sex trafficking and exploitation.

Conclusion

In disregard of its own enormous problems of forced labor and modern slavery in the past and present, the United States willfully discredits other countries and spreads lies about "forced labor". This reveals nothing but its hypocrisy and double standards on human rights, and its modus operandi of using human rights as a pretext for political manipulation and economic bullying.

The "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" pushed by the United States is not an act of care and concern over the alleged "forced labor" in Xinjiang. It aims to deprive the people in Xinjiang of their right to work by creating "forced unemployment", destroy the livelihoods of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang by creating "forced poverty", and disrupt international economic and trade order and industrial and supply chains by creating "forced decoupling". What the United States has been doing is, in essence, violating human rights under the pretext of human rights, defying rules under the banner of rules, and breaking the law under the guise of law. Such attempts that go against the trend of the times are doomed to failure.

What the U.S. government should do is to stop styling itself as a "lecturer" on human rights, review its own spotty record on forced labor, stop spreading rumors and lies, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, stop implementing the "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act", and stop "using Xinjiang to contain China."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Sabic Agri-Nutrients Company (Sabic AN) and Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (Salic) have partnered to jointly explore commercial and innovation opportunities to help ensure food security and address climate challenges.



Abdulrahman Shamsuddin, CEO, Sabic AN, and Suliaman Abdulrahman AlRumaih, CEO, Salic, signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU), which sets a general framework of cooperation that includes studying the possibility of joint investment in the agriculture value chain, exploring the potential for international contract farming, and studying opportunities in international distribution targeting key agricultural markets.



Commenting on the MoU, Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Chairman of Salic, said that the world is increasingly giving top priority to food security and preservation, especially after the pandemic.



The fertilizer industry is a key strategic factor in agricultural production. Being rich in natural resources, the Kingdom seeks to be one of the largest exporters of fertilizers in the world, he said. This memorandum, he added, is part of the integration of local and international investments. Salics geographically diverse investments in agriculture provides the appropriate channels for marketing and exporting Saudi fertilizers to different countries. This will contribute significantly to sustaining agricultural production in those countries, and goes in line with the realization of the Kingdoms food security strategy, he said.



Yousef Al-Benyan, Sabic AN Chairman, said that the MoU seeks to maximize and drive collaboration between the two companies. Sabic AN is constantly looking to improve efficiencies through realization of synergies with leading companies and maintaining a competitive edge in global markets. Toward this direction, our MoU with Salic will jointly identify, prioritize and execute opportunities in the area of agri-nutrients, where our expertise is helping farmers produce higher yields and is playing a vital role in providing secure, reliable food sources, he noted.



The MoU also covers evaluating the possibility of cooperation in logistics and supply chain costs optimization; developing and testing new agri-nutrient grades and applications; and utilizing best practices, new grades, and digitalization.



Sabic AN, is a global leader in the agri-nutrients industry, manufacturing, distributing and marketing fertilizers and related specialty products. It supplies customers around the world with a wide variety of fertilizers ranging from general to highly specialized, urea, ammonia, MAP, DAP, phosphate-based fertilizers, a comprehensive portfolio of nitrogen-based inorganic products, and specialty solutions.



Salic is a Saudi joint-stock company owned by the Public Investment Fund. Its investment activities, inside and outside Saudi Arabia, is centered on achieving a food security strategy by establishing subsidiary companies or through national, regional, and international partnerships.  TradeArabia News Service
Danvilles Institute for Advanced Learning and Research recently was awarded nearly $334,000 to continue its Dan River Year AmeriCorps.

The money comes from AmeriCorps, the federal agency leading the nations volunteering and service efforts, according to a news release.

The local program aims to engage students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics  known as STEM  in Southern Virginia.

The Institute is hosting open interviews from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday. No appointment is needed for the interviews.

The open interviews will fill positions in Danville, Martinsville and Pittsylvania, Henry and Halifax counties for community health educators, STEM/literacy tutors and STEM/literacy educators.

Only five programs in Virginia received AmeriCorps funding, according to the release. The Dan River Year AmeriCorps represents the only non-metro program awarded outside of Northern Virginia.

The Institute has acted as the lead agency for the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program since 2015.

With 14 service sites spanning Southern Virginia  including Pittsylvania County, Halifax County, and the cities of Martinsville and Danville  Dan River Year AmeriCorps connects individuals with opportunities to advance careers and education while providing service to the community.

The Institute, along with the Danville Regional Foundation, support the programs vision to address literacy challenges in the region by building STEM capacity.

AmeriCorps members have opportunities to provide services that support education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and service to veterans and military families, according to the release.

AmeriCorps members earn a stipend and financial awards for education as well as professional development and leadership skills.

To learn more, visit www.ialr.org/americorps or contact Dana Silicki at dana.silicki@ialr.org or 434-766-6729.
An officer with the Caswell County, North Carolina, Sheriffs Office was hospitalized with serious injuries Wednesday after being shot by an armed man at a residence in the rural town of Semora, officials say.

The shooting occurred in the late morning when two sheriffs deputies arrived at a home to serve a domestic violence protective order, Sgt. Greg Ingram told The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

The man at the home started shooting deputies with one one of the officers shot multiple times, Ingram said.

The officer was hospitalized at Duke University Hospital with serious injuries.

At this time, the officer is responsive and alert, which is a great sign, said Sgt. Ingram.

The suspect in the shooting was still barricaded in his residence on Paradise Lane and remained in a standoff with law enforcement Wednesday.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene, including the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Sheriffs offices of Orange, Person and Alamance counties.
A former Rocky Mount police officer who joined his mentor and supervisor in breaching the U.S. Capitol, only to later testify against him, should be sentenced to probation, prosecutors say.

Jacob Frackers incrimination of Thomas T.J. Robertson was cited Tuesday as one reason for a judge to depart from sentencing guidelines that would otherwise call for 15 to 21 months in prison.

The testimony led directly to Robertsons conviction in Washington, D.C.s federal court, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. It also came at great personal cost to Fracker, as Robertson was his friend and mentor; their relationship was so close that Fracker routinely referred to Robertson as dad. 

Fracker, who like Robertson was off-duty at the time of the insurrection, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 16.

In addition to probation, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper should consider either a term of home detention or time in a treatment center or other noncustodial setting, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Aloi and Risa Berkhower wrote in the memorandum.

Robertson, whose sentencing is set for Thursday, faces a harsher punishment.

Prosecutors are asking Cooper to impose an eight-year sentence  which would be the longest issued to date in the Capitol riots cases  for a man they say recruited Fracker and a neighbor to accompany him to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, to hear then-President Donald Trump speak at a rally about what he claimed to be a stolen election.

Encouraged by the president to fight like hell, the crowd became a mob as it approached the Capitol, where lawmakers were meeting to certify an election won by Joe Biden.

Fracker conspired with Robertson to stop the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 6, Aloi and Berkhower wrote. Despite both men being military veterans and trained law enforcement officers, neither did anything to help the vastly outnumbered group of law enforcement officers who were trying to defend the building from the advancing mob.

But Fracker played a lessor role in several respects.

He was not armed  Robertson carried a large wooden stick that he brandished at police during an encounter  and acted at the behest of his mentor and higher-ranking police supervisor, prosecutors say.

Robertson was a sergeant with the Rocky Mount Police Department at the time of the riots. Both men were fired shortly after their arrests.

It is not disputed that Mr. Fracker, who was not particularly politically involved or motivated, would never have come to Washington on J6 had he not been invited to go by Mr. Robertson, Frackers attorney, Bernard Crane, wrote in a document also filed Tuesday.

Crane agreed with the governments request for probation, saying that Fracker has been already been severely punished without ever serving a day in jail.

He has lost the respect of the community and his sense of belonging in a place he has always called home, Crane wrote, saying that people on both sides of the political spectrum now revile him  some for what they perceive he did to his country on J6, and some for what they perceive he has NOW done to his co-defendant, who is still held in high regard by many in that area.

Prosecutors also pointed to Frackers contrition  which they say Robertson lacks.

In his testimony to a jury in April, Fracker said that at the time it was all fun and games. Here lately Ive had it all presented to me and shown to me for what it is. And thats not the person I am. Thats not how I act.

And so I sit here today just ashamed of my actions, he told the jury. I didnt have to do all that stuff, but I did.
PINE HALL  It takes a lot of brick to lay a business foundation that will stand the test of 100 years. And Pine Hall Brick on Aug. 5 celebrated its success at doing just that.

Pine Hall Brick employees and retirees, as well as local and state leaders, gathered beneath tents outside the plant on Lindsay Bridge Road to celebrate with speeches, the opening of a time capsule and an announcement of $50 and $100 bonuses for workers on Aug. 5.

A national land world leader in brick manufacturing with corporate headquarters in Winston-Salem, Pine Hall Brick got its start in Rockingham County near Madison on Aug. 7, 1922.

Its founder was Flake Steele, son of J.C. Steele, a patented brick maker and founder of J.C. Steele & Sons, a company that manufactured extrusion and brick-making equipment, beginning in 1889 in the county.

The companys original brick and clay pipe production operations began in two manufacturing facilities located in Pine Hall and expanded to Madison in 1936.

In 1996, the company added a brick paver production facility in Madison.

The brick pavers can be found around the world at locations, such as Disneyland Hong Kong, Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Today, Pine Hall Brick has multiple manufacturing plants in both North Carolina and Georgia and has become a major industry leader in manufacturing and product development of clay brick for home construction and paving.

The company is still owned and operated by the Steele family with Walt Steele, a fourth generation leader, as Pine Hall Bricks current president.

The Steeles say they attribute their years of success to their focus on quality products and a culture that prides itself on customer service and adapting and expanding to accommodate what consumers want.

The company in 2020, hosted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the Pine Hall plant site and invited North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and then-North Carolina Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Mandy Cohen to tour the plant and meet workers as part of its health and safety campaign at the start of the pandemic.

Their success is exemplary and a gift to Rockingham County, economic development leaders said.

Its not often we have the opportunity to celebrate a century of success for one of our manufacturers, but when we do, we encourage everyone to take notice, said Leigh Cockram, director of Rockingham County Economic Development. Congratulations to Pine Hall Brick on reaching this incredible milestone. May you continue to grow and expand in your next century of success.

Cockram said the county will honor Pine Hall Brick by displaying its products in the foyer of the Rockingham County Governmental Center in Wentworth throughout this month.

Some of the companys earliest manufactured brick was on display during the luncheon where brick-makers took a break to dine and hear dignitaries.

Rockingham County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mark Richardson presented the companys leaders with a plaque to commemorate the centennial anniversary.

Madison Mayor William Phillips congratulated the company for its contributions in establishing the local economy.
RALEIGH

Because I am an inveterate optimist who likes to think the best of other folks, Im going to assume for the sake of the following argument that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and former governors Jim Hunt, Mike Easley, and Bev Perdue sometimes sign documents theyve not closely read.

I make that assumption because they and several other Democratic governors and former governors of Southern states have just intervened as amici curiae in a matter before the U.S. Supreme Court. Its justices are considering two related cases challenging the use of racial preferences by the admissions departments of Harvard, the nations oldest private university, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the nations oldest public one.

More to the point, the two universities currently engage in rampant and indefensible racial discrimination. To a significant number of high-performing Asian and white applicants, they essentially reply: you are well-prepared to succeed on our campus but you are the wrong color. Therefore, you will not be admitted.

The amicus brief submitted on behalf of the governors shuffles all around this fundamental truth, kicking up a lot of dust to try to cover it up. The attempt fails.

The brief states, for example, that the appreciation of diversity is a deeply held value and diverse student bodies also encourage civic engagement and promote skills that future leaders need, like openness to debate and a willingness to seek out different viewpoints. Agreed! But in this context, defining diversity in racial or ethnic terms is absurdly narrow and grotesquely offensive.

If the goal were truly to foster debate and discussion of differing views on campus and beyond, for example, universities would use their admissions policies to engineer student bodies that approximated the broader society in religious sentiment, partisan affiliation, and personal philosophy.

I wouldnt favor that, either, but it would make more sense. We can have reasonable confidence that students identifying as Christian, Jew, Buddhist, and atheist have real differences in opinion about the nature of existence and the meaning of life. Ditto for Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, etc. Can we say the same about students to whom racial and ethnic labels are attached, as if there is such a thing as a white or black or Hispanic opinion?

The amicus brief also presents an extensive argument that some racial and ethnic minorities are statistically underrepresented in higher education when compared to the general population. Agreed! This has little to do with the issue at hand, however.

Students for Fair Admissions has sued Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill. Its case implicates other highly selective universities, to be sure. But if it prevails, ending racial discrimination in admissions, then some students who might otherwise have gone to UNC-Chapel Hill will instead be admitted to, say, UNC-Greensboro (one of my alma maters). Given that some campuses are experiencing declining enrollments, and others are non-selective in the first place, there is simply no possibility that a win by the plaintiffs will have any discernible affect on the college-going rate of minority students.

Again, remember what the current policy does. It essentially tells a significant number of high-performing Asian and white applicants the following: you are well-prepared to succeed on our campus but you are the wrong color. Therefore, you will not be admitted.

Au contraire, insists the brief filed on behalf of the governors. Racial discrimination has no place in American society, it states. But careful consideration of race as one factor in an individualized assessment of a college applicant is not discrimination.

This is, to paraphrase Jeremy Bentham, nonsense tottering on very high and rickety stilts. These universities dont use race and ethnicity as plus-factors to break a few ties. The proportions are wildly skewed. Favored students with lower GPAs and test scores are routinely admitted over unfavored students with higher GPAs and test scores.

UNC-Chapel Hill has engaged in pervasive discrimination. I wish North Carolinas current and former Democratic governors hadnt signed their names to a defense of it.
GREENSBORO  Guilford County Schools is contributing $1 million toward a project to bring reliable home internet to students in designated areas of need.

The district's Board of Education approved the expense at its meeting Tuesday night, at the recommendation of Whitney Oakley, who is acting superintendent.

The money will come from the district's federal COVID-19 relief dollars and will go to the Technology and Data Institute.

TDI is a consortium that includes the district, the cities of Greensboro and High Point, Guilford County, N.C. A&T and UNCG.

According to the meeting materials, TDI expects to facilitate the design, build and operation of a CBRS/5G wireless network to support the development of the network, connectivity, and in-home connection in designated high-density areas.

Later in the meeting, the school board voted 8-0, with one member absent, to approve the 2022-23 budget resolution, which incorporates information from the budget passed by state legislators and replaces the district's interim budget.

The budget includes $19.2 million more this year from the Guilford County Board of Commissioners for the district in annual operations funding. Of that increased funding, $13.2 million would pay for local salary supplement increases for teachers, assistant principals and principals. The remainder would cover required distributions to public charter schools and to help pay for state-legislated raises for locally funded positions.
GREENSBORO  County Commissioners Chairman Melvin "Skip" Alston vowed Tuesday to look for a way to give more money to a group of school construction projects now expected to cost more than 50% above what the county had planned.

One option he suggested: using some of the $1.7 billion that voters approved in May for a much larger slate of school construction projects, which are expected to follow the work included in a 2020 bond referendum.

The 2020 bond projects aim to address some of Guilford County Schools' biggest facility challenges and to replace the district's schools that are in the worst condition for student learning.

The $300 million that voters approved that year was expected to be enough to cover eight major school construction projects, plus land acquisition and design work for two more schools. Instead, school leaders estimate they need another $170 million to complete the projects as planned, for a total of $470 million, or a cost increase of nearly 57%. And that estimate is still far from a finalized figure.

School district leaders have spoken several times in their own meetings the last six months or so about soaring construction costs seen across the country and expectations for major cost increases for some of the projects.

Tuesday, however, was the first time that members of the Guilford County boards of education and commissioners gathered together to discuss the challenge. Alston plans for this joint facilities committee to meet monthly.

Being able to issue those 2022 bonds still requires the county get the go-ahead from North Carolina's Local Government Commission in September. The county must convince the commission that it has a fiscally responsible plan for managing the debt. The county went through the same process for the 2020 bonds.

Taking money from the 2022 package to help pay for the 2020 projects would mean less money for that second round of projects. Still, Alston said it could be eight years or so before the county would have to grapple with running out of bond money for school construction.

The projects are ranked by priority based on a study of district facility conditions conducted by consultants. The projects in the 2020 bond package are the district's top priorities to tackle first.

During Tuesday's meeting, school district leaders gave a detailed presentation about construction costs, school design choices, and progress on the projects that won kudos from commissioners attending the meeting.

That presentation did not, however, fully clarify what portion of the expected increase is tied to widespread rises in construction costs and what part is related to the district's design choices or other factors.

During his part of the school district's presentation, Ken Grube, the regional vice president for Greensboro-based Samet Corp., shared that the industry was in an unprecedented situation. On average, non-residential construction bid prices nationwide are expected to have risen by about 30% by the time the district's 2020 bond projects will go out for bid, he said. That's compared to mid-2019, when the bond referendum was put together.

School officials said costs in the Southeastern United States are most likely higher due to a construction boom in North Carolina, Georgia and other places. The Greensboro area, they said, also has a number of new industry builds on the horizon, from the new Toyota battery plant to a production facility for airplane manufacturer Boom Supersonic.

The cost estimates also came before the COVID-19 pandemic and the "growing number of safety concerns," a district spokeswoman said in an email after the meeting.

"For example, school shooting incidents have more than doubled over the last two years, according to the Center for Homeland and Security," spokeswoman Gabrielle Brown said. "We also know the negative impact COVID-19 school closures had on learning. As a school district, we have a responsibility to build new schools that allow us to keep schools open during a future pandemic and put the safety of our students and staff first."

In discussing their design choices, district leaders talked about a desire to create flexible learning spaces for students and to provide for enhanced ventilation to help ward against contagious airborne diseases, among other priorities.

Commissioner Kay Cashion asked whether the county could save money by using a "prototype" design that could be used for multiple schools, rather than having each school designed individually. School leaders told her that four of the new schools to be built from the 2020 bond package are magnet schools, which each have unique themes and programming needs, so it would not make sense to copy them.

However, they said they have been discussing replicating components of designs among multiple schools for the 2022 bond projects.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for six of the school construction projects for the 2020 bonds are planned for Aug. 22 and 23. The district had been planning to have them this week, but moved them back due to scheduling conflicts, according to a district spokeswoman.

Immediate plans include dirt moving and other preparatory site work, but not any major construction yet.

That early site work is expected to begin in the fall, Brown said Tuesday.
GREENSBORO  Guilford County health officials have reported three cases of monkeypox among residents as of Tuesday while the statewide count continues to rise.

All cases have been advised of proper isolation and quarantine guidelines and have been placed under mandatory isolation orders by the Health Department, Kenya Smith Godette, a spokeswoman for Guilfords health department, said in an email to the News & Record.

The first case of monkeypox in North Carolina was identified on June 23. Since then, a total of 114 monkeypox cases have been reported statewide as of about noon Tuesday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. For comparison, the states total was 20 on July 19.

It is important that everyone stay informed on what monkeypox is and how it spreads so they can take steps to protect themselves and others, Godette said Tuesday, noting the health departments ongoing efforts to provide education about the disease to providers and residents.

Monkeypox symptoms are similar to that of smallpox but milder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters.

Monkeypox is not a virus that stigmatizes or discriminates, Godette said. Anyone who comes into contact with an infected person or materials that have been used by an infected person are at risk for contracting monkeypox.

Dr. David Priest, chief safety, quality and epidemiology officer with Novant Health, emphasized that the primary ways monkeypox is spread are through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, or prolonged face-to-face contact during which it can be spread through respiratory droplets.

Nearly all monkeypox cases in North Carolina have been in men who had sex with men, DHHS reported on its website. However, local health officials cautioned residents not to think of monkeypox as an issue that only affects a specific group of people in the community.

This is a community problem for all of us, Priest said Tuesday during a call with local media.

For those who are most at-risk, health departments in Guilford and Forsyth now have supplies of vaccines to help protect against the virus. Initially, Forsyth was the closest county that received a vaccine supply and served as a vaccine hub for surrounding counties.

It is because of the high demand, and very specific criteria required for a monkeypox vaccine that we are not reporting our exact dose counts in Guilford County, Godette said. The community, however, should be confident that if they qualify and are in need of a vaccine that we will be able to assist them at the Health Department.

The Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency last week in an effort to slow the outbreak that has infected more than 8,900 Americans, according to the Associated Press.

If someone suspects they have monkeypox or have been exposed, they should call their doctor immediately, describe their symptoms and request to be tested, according to local health department officials.
PITTSBURGH  The idea for Sarah James' debut novel had been around in one form or another since she was 19. All it took was more than a decade to gestate into something tangible.

The 32-year-old Forest Hills native had always been interested in World War II, specifically the Manhattan Project that led to the U.S. creating the world's first nuclear weapons. During her undergraduate days, James came across a lecture by Manhattan Project theoretical physicist Richard Feynman where he discussed a raucous celebration following the first-ever nuclear detonation  except for one person, who seemed consumed by the horror of what they had accomplished.

"That was really interesting to me, the way all these smart people could lose sight of something so big," James told the Post-Gazette. "That was definitely something I wanted to explore."

James' exploration of that topic is available in "The Woman with Two Shadows," her debut novel about a budding physicist in New York City determined to figure out what happened to her twin sister after she goes missing on an Army base in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

As someone who writes more for her own amusement than to entertain others, James had to learn how to mold her quirky ideas into a form that readers could understand.

"It's like, people are going to read this?" she said of her mindset while writing. "To have something that you spent years of your life working on and ... putting all that attention to it, to have it finally out in the world is really exciting and cool."

James is a Woodland Hills High School graduate, former theater kid and diehard Pirates fan. Her father's office had access to Pirates tickets, and they were usually available because of how poorly the team was doing. She ended up going to a lot of Pirates games, which helped kick-start her "writer brain" with how many stories were playing out on the field at PNC Park during every game.

She majored in playwriting and American studies at Fordham University in New York City. After college, she moved to Chicago and spent three years focusing on her improv work with Second City and iO Theater. James then moved to Los Angeles for a screenwriting graduate program at the University of Southern California. She still lives in the LA area.

"The Woman with Two Shadows" began its journey as a play James wrote at Fordham. In 2015, she revived the concept as a screenplay during her first semester at USC. Ultimately, she decided that the story of Lillian Kaufman assuming her twin sister Eleanor's identity as she tries to solve the mystery of her disappearance would be best-served as a novel.

"It definitely works better as a book," James said. "You need to be a little more in the characters' heads than you could get in a screenplay."

Lillian and Eleanor's sibling dynamic is unspooled through flashbacks of their time in the Big Apple before Eleanor left for Tennessee. James is an only child, so she got a kick out of crafting their relationship and coming up with story beats that were "on the heightened side" to test the strength of their bond.

"Fun" isn't the word James uses to characterize the experience of writing "The Woman with Two Shadows." Between her improv background and editing the Medium humor vertical Slackjaw, she clearly gravitates toward more comedic pieces. This novel was a departure for her in terms of tone and intensity.

"A lot of the characters have a very dark worldview," James said. "To write their worldview, it just feels like a bummer sometimes to get into that headspace. It's very satisfying work, but is it more fun to write comedy? Yes."

She did, however, enjoy researching all the math and science to make the world these characters inhabit feel authentic. There are plenty of intricate math equations woven throughout. James got them from a textbook and assures her readers they're correct.

"I love research," she said. "To try to force my brain to understand some of the science stuff and then regurgitate it out in the mouths of characters who have their own motivations and emotions about what they're saying, that was fun for me for sure."

James is already hard at work on her next novel. She recently completed the first draft of another World War II period adventure set in Hollywood that she described as being a bit campier than "The Women with Two Shadows."

For now, though, sink your teeth into this thriller about a slightly less well-known aspect of the Manhattan Project.

As James put it in her final pitch: "It will make my mom happy if you buy the book."
The Montana Department of Corrections is contesting a decision by the states Human Rights Commission that overruled a hearing officer and found in favor of a former DOC employee who says she was wrongfully terminated from her job.

Judge Michael McMahon of Montana 1st Judicial District Court in Lewis and Clark County on July 11 granted a request to hold its judicial review until the states Human Rights Commission issues a final order in the case.

The Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) petitioned the court in the case involving Adrianne Cotton on July 7, who had filed a discrimination charge with the human rights bureau in 2019. A hearing officer had said Cotton, the DOCs government relations director, failed to prove the department had retaliated against her.

However, the commission in March reversed the hearing officers decision and demanded that Cotton be awarded damages. They sent the issue back to the hearing officer for consideration of damages the employee is owed.

The legal move by the DOC follows a June filing by Cotton, seeking judicial review and legal fees and costs. She argued the commission should not have allowed the DOC to argue that the way it treated Cotton was based on legitimate business and budgetary reasons, which had not been in prehearing discovery or the DOCs prehearing. She said the panel was given incorrect legal advice by its counsel, which prejudiced her rights.

The state DOC in its filing said the panel disregarded factual findings made by the hearing officer which supported the conclusion of law that the DOC did not retaliate against Cotton. The state also said the commission exceeded its authority and that the ultimate decision on the staffing changes came from the governor's office.

They said the hearing officer failed in concluding when the complaint was dismissed that Cotton did not prove retaliation when she was terminated from her job. This occurred after several women came forward with sexual harassment allegations against Reginald Michael, who was then the DOC director. The state had argued her dismissal was due to department's reorganization and budget savings.

Commission members said in March the state had erred in not starting a sexual harassment investigation within 10 days of the allegations being filed. They also had questioned whether Tom Lopach, who was chief of staff for then-Gov. Steve Bullock, had interfered with the investigation headed by Peggy McEwan, a state employee with 25 years of human resources experience, but were told that investigators said they did not feel pressure.

Lopach said in a 2020 hearing the DOC had too many senior staff members and reorganization made sense. He said there is not a government relations director in other agencies and the director and deputy director could handle legislative relationships. Michael had also said the decision to cut staff had come from his supervisors.

Cotton, who worked at the department from 2010-2018, testified to the Office of Administrative Hearings in late 2020 that she had spoken with the DOC human resources department about Michael after he allegedly made what she considered to be inappropriate comments during a 2017 business trip. Cotton said he then began to get more aggressive with her, rolling his eyes at her during staff meetings and steadily withholding information from her.

Cotton, in her filing, said the commission denied her appeal on these issues during the hearing. She said the DOC was given incorrect legal advice by agency counsel, which prejudiced her substantial rights. She said the hearing officer failed to provide an accurate and complete statement of the commissions decision.

Cotton asks the court to affirm unlawful retaliation occurred, modify the decision so the commission can address the requested changes and award her fees and costs, which are in excess of $225,000.

The DOC declined to comment on this story, saying it was pending litigation.

Cotton said Tuesday she remains grateful for the careful and thorough review by the Human Rights Commission which resulted in an overwhelming victory.

We are disappointed that the Department of Corrections has chosen to prolong what is already four years of costly litigation and we hope they will acknowledge their mistakes, she said.
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation's (Sabic) revenue for the second quarter reached SR55.98 ($14.93 billion), representing an increase of 6% compared to the previous quarter and a 32% increase year-on-year.

Net income during the second quarter totaled SR7.93 billion ($2.11 billion). This is higher than both the net income of SR6.47 billion in the previous quarter and the net income of SR7.64 billion in the second quarter of 2021, said the company.

Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan, Sabics Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: The second quarter strong financial results demonstrates Sabics robust operational performance across the different segments. Our commitment to sustainability and innovation was evident through winning two silver and three bronze awards in the prestigious Edison Awards. These awards also reflect our commitment to helping achieve our long-term objective of carbon neutrality by 2050."

Al-Benyan continued: Distributing dividends to our shareholders remains a priority for Sabic. In June 2022, Sabics board approved a cash dividend distribution of SR2.25 per share for the first half of 2022, approximately 29 % higher than the cash dividend distribution of SR1.75 per share for the first half of 2021."

To maintain the companys growth and marketing momentum, Sabic continued to invest in sustainable business solutions and strategic partnerships that deliver innovative technology to customers around the world.

Among the major developments this quarter in its Truecircle portfolio of circular products and services were the launch of the worlds first packaging-label materials made from polypropylene based on advanced recycled ocean-bound plastic. In July, Sabic also obtained the worlds first independent certification recognising blue" ammonia production.

Sabic also continued to innovate its products throughout the course of the second quarter. In May, it introduced a new upcycled LNP ELCRIN IQ resin made with ocean-bound plastic waste to help reduce pollution and support a global circular economy. The company also announced a new cement enhancement solution  carbon black grade N330  that will improve the quality and strength of future concrete-based infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In June, Sabic introduced Bluehero, an integrated portfolio of automotive products and services aimed at accelerating the worlds energy transition to electric power. Moreover, Sabic launched a long-term innovation partnership with Formula E, the worlds first net-zero sport, ahead of the 2022 London E-Prix, where SABIC debuted its title sponsorship of the race.

Over the course of the reporting period, Sabic strongly delivered on its Corporate Social Responsibility objectives, investing $19.2 million across 45 different programmes, including community partnerships with Jazan Autism Center, the International Conference and Exhibition for Education, and the Saudi Sports For All" Federation, said the company. - TradeArabia News Service
Helena Public Schools is reaching out to the community to help address a shortage of bus drivers for the 2022-2023 school year.

While the exact number of drivers needed is difficult to pin down, school district spokeswoman Karen Ogden said "we still have a significant number of openings to fill." Ogden confirmed the district has more than 10 vacant bus driver positions but noted "it can change so fast depending on how many people complete the training."

Ogden said First Student, the district's transportation contractor, received 16 applicants in July and 27 so far in August, and many of them are currently in training.

Most years in this unit, we've never had a driver shortage like we have now. The last couple of years, and of course, the Covid years, were the first time in 22 years that weve had to accommodate students because we didnt have enough drivers, Tom Cohn, Helena Public Schools director of transportation, said. Other than that, weve been one of the best units in Montana for around 20 years.

Cohn noted that one of the factors contributing to the bus driver shortage is that a generation of older drivers left the job because of health risks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He pointed out that the labor market has changed dramatically over the past couple of years with nationwide driver shortages.

No final decisions have been made yet regarding permanent route suspensions or rolling bus route suspensions. The final decision on this will come mid-August, when officials have a better feel for the total number of drivers and for the number of students registered, and the public will be notified.

If the decision is to move to rolling bus route suspensions, families may have to transport their children one week out of every month to and from school. This allows the district to run its regular bus routes for families most of the time and not have to cancel any routes permanently. If this is the case, families can receive reimbursement for their week of transportation by completing a new Family Transportation Contract for the 2022-23 school year (https://helenaschools.org/departments/transportation/transportation-forms/).

Prior to COVID-19, around 1,500-2,000 students rode the Helena buses. Now, around 900-1,200 ride the bus. This varies from day to day. With all these students, the buses make around 3,800 stops and drive close to 4,000 miles a day, stated Cohn.

Parents and caretakers are encouraged to register their children for the bus before Aug. 15. Visit https://helenaschools.org/departments/transportation/ for information on how to register.

The district is also working to improve upon the safety of students riding and getting off school buses.

All students swipe a card when they enter and leave a bus, allowing parents and guardians to track their location through the parent portal app.

The buses have cameras that monitor everyone onboard. They also have new cameras outside that can catch the license plates of vehicles that do not obey the bus stop sign.

School bus drivers are guaranteed four hours of work per day -- about two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. If drivers want more hours, they can drive for field trips, extra curricular activities, and more.

First Student is offering incentives including $22-$25.25 per hour based on experience, a 401K, and A Child Ride Along Program where drivers can take their own children on the bus as long as they are well behaved and over the age of 1, which can help alleviate day care expenses.

There is also a $300 stipend available while training for a commercial drivers license (CDL). After a commercial learner's permit (CLD) is attained, the training takes about three weeks to finish to get a CDL, stated Dan Redford, location safety manager for First Student Helena.

Redford confirmed that there have been drivers who've taken advantage of the paid CDL training, obtaining it and then quitting to work at other companies. First Student said it cannot elaborate further on this subject.

There are varying bonus amounts for successfully completing the training, getting hired, and becoming a First Student driver. If applicants complete those successfully but have no experience, its a $4,000 bonus. The hiring bonus is paid out in three installments: $1,000 after 30 route days, $1,000 after 75 route days, and $2,000 after 150 route days. If applicants have experience, the bonus amount rises to $6,000.

Theres also a $4,000 employee referral bonus for referral of a candidate who is successfully trained and hired and starts work as a driver for First Student.

For people who may be interested in driving a bus but would like to get a better feel for being behind the big wheel, Big Bus, No Big Deal is an event that took place on Aug. 6 and will happen again on Aug. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds. At this event, people can test drive a school bus.

No experience is required to apply. To learn more, visit https://workatfirst.com, select Job Search, and enter your zip code. You can also call First Student at 406-227-7400.

School bus drivers are the first people that kids see coming to school in the morning. We have a lot of kids who get up without seeing their parents and go to the bus stop, so the first person that they see during the day is a bus driver, said Cohn. If the bus driver is a good person, jovial, that is important to a child because thats the start of their day.
The Republicans seeking to win Montanas two U.S. House seats defended former President Donald Trump this week after an FBI raid on his home at Mar-a-Lago in what Trump's attorneys have said was a search for classified documents related to the Presidential Records Act.

The Democrats in those races and an Independent candidate said the process should play out but expressed concerns about partisanship and GOP attacks on the federal law enforcement agencies.

In a statement posted to Twitter, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, of California, vowed an investigation into the U.S. Department of Justice if Republicans win back the House in this fall's midterm.

When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts and leave no stone unturned, McCarthy wrote. Attorney General (Merrick) Garland, preserve your documents and clear your calendar.

Democrats hold a majority in the House and the Senate is split evenly. Montana has two House seats up for election this November.

In the eastern part of the state, U.S Rep. Matt Rosendale is seeking re-election to one of Montanas two newly drawn House seats. He faces Democrat Penny Ronning, Independent Gary Buchanan and Libertarian Sam Rankin. Republican Ryan Zinke, former Secretary of the Interior under Trump, is running in the west. His opponents are Democrat Monica Tranel and Libertarian John Lamb.

Western race

In a statement posted on Twitter on Tuesday, Zinke said as of today, we are in a police state where the FBI and the IRS can do whatever they want without cause. If they can do this to a former president, think what they can do to an average citizen. He also said the IRS and FBI were being used for political witch hunts.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday the search was authorized by a court and part of an investigation into if Trump took documents that should have been sent to the National Archives instead to his Florida estate. Under the Presidential Records Act, documents related to the president's official duties must be preserved.

Zinke was also asked in an interview Monday, before news of the raid broke, about investigations into his actions while he was Secretary of the Interior. As a part of his answer, Zinke said people don't trust the FBI, don't trust the DOJ, they don't trust the AG. We need to restore trust. We should be able to trust our government. 

  We need to return to accountability to make sure that our public officials are held accountable, and our federal employees are also held accountable, Zinke continued.

Zinke was the subject of several investigations during his time as Secretary of the Interior. While he has been cleared in some, a report from that agencys Inspector General released this February found that Zinke misused his official position and failed to abide by ethics obligations, as well as not complying fully when questioned by ethics officials. The investigation was related to his involvement working with a foundation on a project in Whitefish that he said he would not be involved with after being Secretary. Zinke has called the investigation a hit job.

He was also investigated over redrawing the boundaries of a national monument in Utah but cleared of wrongdoing. One probe by a grand jury into his statements to federal investigators about the permitting of a tribal casino is still pending.

In a statement Tuesday, Zinke said taking back the House was critical for Republicans to halt what he called abuse of powers.

Leadership absolutely is important for holding government accountable, Zinke said. "... Republicans need to be more judicious and wield the power taxpayers trust us with to investigate what matters.

Tranel in a statement Wednesday pointed to the investigation against Zinke in light of his statements about the raid.

He is still under federal investigation for lying about whether he was unduly influenced by donors when blocking a casino deal, Tranel said.   No one is above the law

In her campaign, Tranel has gone on offense against Zinke, working to highlight the investigations, both closed and still pending. On Wednesday she also pointed to Republicans in Congress that have called for revoking funding for federal law enforcement operations because of the Trump raid. That includes far-right House members Lauren Boebert, of Colorado; Paul Gosar, of Arizona; and Marjorie Taylor Greene; of Georgia, among others.

They want to stop an ongoing, serious, and sensitive criminal investigation. Due process means letting evidence be gathered and making judgments on the facts that exist, Tranel said. Shutting down an investigation before we even know what is going on serves only to avoid accountability.

While winning the western House seat in Montana could be a part of Republicans taking back a majority in Congress and enacting what McCarthy calls for, Zinke has not advocated for defunding those agencies. Zinkes campaign said he would back a Federal Employees Accountability Act to create a removal pathway for federal employees who abide their power or are bad public servants.

Eastern race

In a statement emailed Tuesday, Rosendale said the DOJ has been weaponized to go after the Lefts political opponents.

  These types of actions are eroding the American peoples trust in our institutions. If this can happen to the former President of the United States, it can happen to you. The unprecedented raid, however, will only strengthen the Republican base, and it will bring a larger red wave in November.

Ronning, a former Billings city councilperson who also works as an advocate against human trafficking, said that experience in working with the FBI and DOJ has shown getting warrants is not an easy task.

These types of search warrants, theyre not random. These are the type of search warrants that have extensive work done to collect evidence to have a federal judge be able to sign off on them, Ronning said in an interview Tuesday.

McCarthys vow to investigate the DOJ, Ronning said, is far from addressing the issues shes hearing as she travels the district about an inability to find affordable housing, problems paying for health care and child care, and struggles to survive in the ag industry. She said elected officials should focus on those issues.

Its time that elected officials really start focusing on the needs of the people versus playing some sort of political chess game and bumping fists when they get to Washington, D.C. That serves no one, Ronning said.

Ronning felt it would be irresponsible to form an opinion about the raid without further information but that she didnt think conclusions should be drawn based on party affiliation.

Buchanan said Wednesday that the allegations better be serious for the DOJ to take a step like this.

These records belong to the American people and may involve sensitive national security issues, Buchanan said. The sooner the results are publicly released, the better. Former President Trump is entitled to due process.

Buchanan said hes noticed both major parties rush to extremes following news of the raids.

Beyond the news about Trump, Buchanan said that hes hearing from people while out knocking doors that they're tired of the extremes of both parties and the excessive partnership.

If we start the next congressional session in January with these kinds of extremes, were once again in trouble, Buchanan said.
Three abortion laws will continue to stay on hold in Montana following a unanimous state Supreme Court order issued by a five-justice panel Tuesday.

In a related order, the court also blocked requests from the state attorney general and governor asking justices to reconsider the state constitutional underpinnings on access to abortion, as part of a lawsuit making its way through the court system in Montana.

Republicans in the Montana Legislature passed four new laws in 2021 to change access to abortion in the state. Three of them have been on hold since an October ruling in the lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Montana seeking to overturn them permanently.

The stalled laws would ban abortion after the 20-week point of a pregnancy; eliminate tele-health services for medication abortion and create informed consent rules; and require abortion providers to offer the opportunity to view an ultrasound.

The state Supreme Courts order Tuesday means those laws will not go into effect while the lawsuit progresses through Yellowstone County District Court.

Last year, Billings Judge Michael Moses issued a preliminary injunction, writing that "(Planned Parenthood) and their patients will be irreparably harmed through the loss of their constitutional rights, thus the preservation of the status quo is necessary to prevent that harm."

In a statement Tuesday, Planned Parenthood of Montana praised the orders.

We are pleased that the Montana Supreme Court ruled today to uphold the preliminary injunction put in the place by (the) district court in the fall, president and CEO Martha Fuller said in a statement. This means that three anti-abortion laws remain unenforceable, including a 20-week ban.  Abortion remains legal in Montana, protected by our constitutional right to privacy. This is a victory for our right to make personal medical decisions, free from the interference of government.

In their order Tuesday, the justices did not get into conflicting expert opinions provided by the state and Planned Parenthood about the point of viability of a fetus, when that fetus could feel pain, or the intent and possible outcomes of the informed consent requirement and offering to view an ultrasound. Those will be decided by the district court, they wrote.

The justices on the panel, which included Beth Baker, James Shea, Laurie McKinnon, Dirk Sandefur and Jim Rice, did find the district court judge was on legally solid ground in issuing the preliminary injunction.

Having found no error of law or manifest abuse of discretion, we affirm the district courts preliminary injunction order, the justices wrote.

A spokesperson for the attorney general on Tuesday criticized both orders from the Supreme Court.

The current standard for preliminary injunctions is so low that its not really a standard at all, wrote Emilee Cantrell. As a result, constitutional laws like these may be blocked for months  or even years  before courts ever decide cases on the merits. Armstrong was wrong the day it was decided and its use in delaying these common-sense laws that protect the health and safety of Montana women makes that even more clear.

The attorney general is also challenging another preliminary injunction, this one in place for nearly a decade while a case has stalled in district court, related to parental notification in Montana.

At the heart of the current case is a 1999 state Supreme Court decision known as Armstrong, which cited privacy provision in the Montana Constitution as protecting the right to access a pre-viability abortion. Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Gov. Greg Gianforte, both Republicans, have argued the case was wrongly decided and the issue of abortion access should be left to the state Legislature. Theyve also said Armstrong should be revisited following the overturning of Roe v. Wade at the federal level.

The Montana Supreme Courts order Tuesday said it did not address the question of if it should overrule Armstrong because it wasnt the proper time to take that issue up but that would happen later.

The court recognizes the potential implications of the Dobbs (v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case that overturned Roe) decision and the desire to afford full opportunity to be heard, justices wrote, adding that the governors filing came when they were in the final stages of reviewing their opinion.  ... The appeal of this preliminary injunction is not the time for those arguments to be made and considered.  The merits proceeding and review after final judgment will afford opportunity for the issues and arguments to be fully aired.

The state Supreme Court found that the district court judge properly relied on Armstrong in issuing his injunction.

Fuller celebrated the court not opening up Armstrong at this juncture, while both Gianforte and Knudsen were critical of the decision. Both had filed requests to submit briefs after the deadline asking the court to rethink Armstrong in light of Dobbs.

Its unfortunate that the state Supreme Court dodged that question and reaffirmed one of the most radical abortion regimes in the nation based on their made-up Armstrong decision, Cantrell said.

Gianforte also issued a statement saying The Montana Supreme Court kicked the can down the road today on Armstrong, the 1999 decision which used Roe v. Wade to recognize abortion rights in Montana. With Roe overturned, the Montana Supreme Court must revisit its decision in Armstrong, and I look forward to it doing so promptly.
April 12, 1994, the day 11-year-old Jeremy Bullock was killed at Margaret Leary School, is a day that haunts many 28 years later.

Anyone who grew up with us knows exactly where they were that day, said Hunter Terry, who went to school with Bullock and his twin brother, Josh. No matter what was going on, even if you werent there, you remember that day.

Bullock was the unintentional victim of a school shooter, who meant to shoot a bully and got Bullock by mistake.

In his honor, Bullocks family created the Jeremy Bullock Memorial Trust and Charities through Jeremy, which sponsor and fund a number of things, including the Jeremy Bullock Safe Schools Summit.

The third annual summit took was held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Copper King Hotel and Convention Center with two days of speakers and workshops for teachers and school staff, with the mission of making schools safer for students.

A fan favorite at the summit is the Student Voices Panel, which features a number of students who answer questions about what makes their school safe and what could make their school safer, among other things.

The students on the Tuesday panel were Rylan Beye, a rising senior at Park High School in Livingston; Kip Pumnea and Reid Whitlock, both seniors at Butte High School; Will McGree, a freshman at Butte Central High School; Jason Johns, a sophomore at Butte High; and Keeley Janecke, a rising sixth-grader at Hillcrest Elementary School.

Jeremy Bullocks sister, Kaity Bullock, moderated the student panel.

As the students answered questions, a number of themes formed: open campus at Butte High, School Resource Officers and teachers are a big contributor to the students feelings of safety, and transparency in the reporting processes for things that alarm the students and the general goings on in the schools would make the students feel safer and more willing to report things.

When Kaity Bullock asked the students what their schools key issue was, all three of the Butte High students  Pumnea, Whitlock and Johns  mentioned Butte Highs door being unlocked and open campus.

My key safety issue is kids being able to leave the school and coming back and being able to prop the doors open, Pumnea said.

During the question portion of the panel, Butte High Principal John Metz asked how the students who spoke about open campus thought others would feel if it were to be taken away. He mentioned that its not just students who would be affected by this policy, but local businesses.

The students all agreed the student body would be upset and mad.

Were not really at school to have fun, were there to learn, Pumnea said, eliciting a chuckle from the audience.

Beye, for his part, mentioned his school, Park High, allows open campus for sophomores, juniors and seniors, but also only has one door people can enter through, the main door, which can always be seen by an administrators.

And I think that is definitely super helpful, he said. I think thats something that other students can use and maybe build on.

When asked what makes their schools safe, all the students mentioned being able to reach out to the authority figures at the school, whether that be teachers, counselors or SROs.

Later, when Bullock asked what the role of an SRO is in school, they all seemed to agree that it is to listen to and protect students and the school.

Beye elaborated on this by saying that an SRO in his school is not just a police officer in the school, but someone you can confide in, be friends with and trust.

The students also seemed to reach a consensus that none of them really know what happens after they report something suspicious in their schools to a teacher or trusted adult, and a more transparent process where they know exactly what next steps are after the initial report would encourage them to speak out.

They also all seemed to agree that schools are safer now than when their parents were in school, with the exception of Janecke  who said that schools could be safer still  and Johns  who said that while schools are technically safer they seem less safe because of how prevalent violence seems to be now.

The Law Enforcement Panel, which took place a couple of hours before the student panel and featured a number of SROs and law enforcement officers, talked about how active shooter protocols have changed since the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, active shooter trainings for both parents and teachers, how an officer becomes an SRO and teachers being armed while at school.

Sheriff Leo Dutton of Lewis and Clark County was on the panel, and retired Butte-Silver Bow undersheriff George Skuletich moderated.

Dutton spoke about how, since Columbine, officers have been trained to act more immediately when theyre alerted of an active shooter, rather than waiting for backup.

Sgt. Hal Richardson with the Bozeman police department, who oversees the SRO program there, spoke about an in-depth active shooter training the department has planned in the area for later this summer, and spoke about the importance of teachers knowing what to do in an active shooter situation.

Skuletich echoed his sentiment, comparing active shooter training to fire drills.

We havent lost a student in a fire since 1955, he said.

Richardson said to become an SRO in Bozeman, an officer must have at least three years of experience in the department before they apply.

So theyre already coming to the interview with hundreds of hour of training, he said.

Both Skuletich and Dutton spoke against the idea of teachers carrying guns in schools, primarily because they said if an officer goes into a school with an active shooter and sees a teacher with a gun, they could mistake that person for the shooter.

A video from Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., recorded specifically for the summit and shown earlier in the day, reportedly showed him speaking out against the idea of arming teachers in schools.

The summit concludes Wednesday at 4 p.m.
FICTION: A teenage girl gets pregnant in 1960s Ireland and surrenders the baby against her will. Thirty years later, a letter arrives.

"The Making of Her" by Bernadette Jiwa; Dutton (336 pages, $26)



In 1964 in Catholic, Catholic Ireland, 17-year-old Joan falls hard for a young blond man she sees each evening, toiling up the hill on his bicycle near the factory where she works. She knows him only as "the messenger boy" for the town's biggest business, Egan's Builders and Supplies. They have never spoken, but she lurks, hoping to catch his eye.

Joan comes from working-class people who have fallen on hard times; her mother died giving birth to her seventh child, and her father took to the drink. All but one of her siblings are farmed out to other families, and Joan and her younger sister, Teresa, hunker down together in the family home, placating their father  when drunk, his temper is fierce.

Joan is determined to get out of town and better herself, but she can't get the messenger boy out of her mind.

It is only after they have met and fallen in love that she finds that the boy is Martin Egan, the rich son and heir to the business. And that stubborn determination he showed by tackling the steep hill night after night  well, that stubbornness is a crucial part of his personality.

Irish-born Bernadette Jiwa is the author of 10 books of nonfiction and a teacher of the craft of writing in Australia, where she now lives. "The Making of Her" is her debut novel, and is about societal pressure, the repression of women and, especially, adoption and motherhood.

When Joan falls pregnant, she and Martin concoct an elaborate scheme whereby he will go to London and she will follow. They'll get married, and they'll come home with the baby. But when he is summoned home early, it becomes clear the plan is not going to work.

Martin loves Joan, but he loves his mother and the family business more, and he begs her to give up the baby because an "illegitimate" child will hurt his future. We can have plenty of other babies later, he tells her. Joan doesn't agree, but while she sleeps, the nuns quietly take baby April away.

The memory of April haunts Joan's every day, keeping her from bonding with their next daughter, Carmel, and slowly hardening her against Martin.

The novel moves smoothly between the 1960s and the 1990s, when April reappears, now in her 30s and with a child of her own.

Babies are the heart of this book  those plump, sweet-smelling creatures with their starfish hands and toothless smiles and their deep, deep power. Babies determine the fate of nearly every character in this novel.

Jiwa's characters are broadly drawn  the good people are very good, and the bad are quite bad, and the ending, while satisfying, might be a bit too pat. But she gives us a lot to think about, especially now. While the issue of accidental pregnancy might have seemed an old-fashioned problem just a year ago, it's suddenly deeply relevant again.

Jiwa reminds us that no such decision can be made lightly, and whatever happens will follow the parents  but mostly the mother  for the rest of their life.
Dan Oakes, president of the Decatur Public Schools Board of Education, is stepping down after seven terms on the board.

The district said that Oakes told the school board Tuesday that his next meeting, Aug. 23, would be his last. Oakes is relocating to Florida, the district said in a statement, adding that the move has been in the works for more than a year.

"Ive enjoyed my time on the Board immensely, both the good and the bad, but its time for me to move on, time for a change," Oakes said.

Oakes was first elected to the board in 1991. He has served continuously since 1998.

President Oakes has been a steady force on the Board for more than 20 years and we appreciate his leadership tremendously, said Superintendent Rochelle Clark in a statement. We wish him nothing but the best as he heads for retirement in Florida.

The district said the board has 60 days to fill the vacancy. The board will accept resumes from residents who are interested, and it may then appoint a candidate or invite the candidate for personal interviews to be conducted during closed meetings.

The person chosen by the board will serve the remainder of Oakes' unexpired term until the next school board elections in April, the district said.

This is a developing story that will be updated.
DECATUR  Immediate plans to construct a new Dennis School are now on hold, giving way to the prospect of a new American Dreamer STEM Academy .

We're out of options for the west end, said board Vice President Andrew Taylor said during a meeting Monday of the Decatur Public Schools' Finance Committee. There's no magical parcel we can use. But I'm not willing to give up on a new Dennis School. It won't work for this opportunity.

The "opportunity" in this case being the availability of federal COVID relief funds that could have been used to finance the project.

Instead, Taylor said, the board can look at the usual route when the district needs a new building  a referendum to pay for it. By going that route, the district would also have more time to look for another site in the west end.

The district has the remaining borrowing power to issue $30 million in bonds, said Mike Curry, chief financial officer.

Superintendent Rochelle Clark said the place to begin is a survey of the community to see if there is support for such a plan, and then a committee to make plans if there is support.

With a new Dennis off the table for now, talk turned to the issue of American Dreamer STEM Academy, whose renovations were put on hold in May after the costs of those renovations were revealed to be far higher than anticipated due to the cost of building materials.

Just to provide a middle-school gym and some of the smaller items on the list of needed renovations was going to cost $10.8 million instead of the $2.5 million anticipated, Taylor said, and that did not include classroom additions that are necessary for the school to accommodate the seventh and eighth graders that have been added. The building also needs a new roof and repairs to windows, both of which will also require asbestos abatement. Windows are one item that require a long waiting period for delivery, Metzger said, due to supply chain holdups.

Replacing the roof is already in the district budget, as all district buildings are on a rotating schedule for roof replacement. However, if the board decided to build a new American Dreamer within the two years left to use those COVID funds, replacing the roof on the existing building would not be necessary.

The location is inconvenient, said board member Regan Lewis, one of five school board members who attended the Finance Committee meeting. When it was at French (now Dennis School's Mosaic campus at 520 W. Wood St.), families could walk. There's a huge issue of getting families to the site for family nights and parent-teacher conferences.

One of the attractions of French Academy, as American Dreamer was known at that location, was the generations of families that had gone to school in that building who lived in the area. When the school moved, enrollment fell, Lewis said.

Seventh and eighth grade students have no lockers, which means they have to hang their things on hooks in a room used for passing periods, ceiling tiles are falling off in the gym, and the middle school students have only two bathrooms, one for boys and one for girls, each with two stalls. That makes it difficult for over 100 students to use them in a timely fashion, so teachers have to give bathroom passes during class time. The orchestra class meets on the stage in the gym while two physical education classes are underway at the same time.

We thought we were doing the best thing for those kids (by moving the school to that location, formerly Enterprise School at 2115 N. Taylor Road), Lewis said.

But that building is also old, and fixing the problems with it would only be putting a finger in the dam, she added.

There are certain inherent problems with the building that we can't fix, she said.

Board member Al Scheider said all of these things should have been considered prior to moving the school, and that the building should have been upgraded before the move. When Taylor said American Dreamer is also an old building and new construction would cost less in the long run, Scheider disagreed.

Age is not the definition of a bad building, he said.

Taylor suggested considering the former Oak Grove site for a new American Dreamer building. Oak Grove is closed and the building has been demolished, while Lewis said the grounds at the current location on North Taylor Road are extensive enough to build a new building there while students continue to use the existing building. That campus is also the site of the Ag Academy's Living Science Farm, but even considering that there is still space for construction of a new American Dreamer.

American Dreamer STEM Academy is a magnet school and draws students from throughout the district, so it can be located anywhere inside the district's boundaries.

In order to use CARES funds for a new American Dreamer, Curry said, the district would have to change the parameters of the application they used to get approval to build a new Dennis School and reapply and hope it will be approved in time. The deadline for that approval would be Sept. 30. The Illinois State Board of Education would make the decision.

We have two weeks to have a pretty good idea (of our plans), he said, to allow time to resubmit the application and get approval in order to move forward and still make that deadline.

Clark said she could get a tentative plan ready for the board's approval at its Aug. 23 meeting.
DECATUR  A Decatur defendant accused of being involved in gunfire in the parking lot of a city bar  violence that prosecutors say involved another accused gunman firing a machine gun  has been sent to prison for eight years.

Taurus C. Booth Jr., 29, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a weapon.

Booth took a plea deal negotiated by his defense attorney, Steve Jones, that saw two additional charges of the aggravated discharge of a firearm dismissed. Booth appeared in Macon County Circuit Court on Aug. 4.

The charges date to around 12 a.m. Nov. 10 when the Decatur police switchboard was flooded with calls of numerous shots fired in a parking lot in the 2200 block of East Wood Street.

Sworn police affidavits said one suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Justin T. Miller, was seen on video surveillance starting a physical fight with another man in the parking lot.

When the fight is broken up, two male subjects armed with handguns fired multiple times, said one of the affidavits, which also said the shots were aimed at a crowd of people gathered outside the bar. It said the two gunmen appeared to be allies of Miller, and identified them as Booth and Cameron D. Slater, 31, who is accused of opening fire with a handgun converted into a fully automatic weapon.

Slater is pleading not guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a machine gun, two counts of the aggravated discharge of a gun and being a felon in possession of a weapon. A check of court records shows he has a previous conviction for second degree murder and was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2014.

Slater is due to face trial on his new charges on Oct. 18. He is free after posting a bond of $25,000 on bail set at $250,000.

Miller, meanwhile, is pleading not guilty to a charge of mob action and is due to appear in court for a pretrial hearing Sept. 29. He is free after posting a $3,000 bond on bail set at $30,000.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
BRISTOL, Va.  After being urged on by city business leaders Tuesday, the Bristol Virginia City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that makes camping or sleeping in streets, on sidewalks and other public rights-of-way a misdemeanor.

Three people spoke in favor of the measure, which is similar to a new Tennessee law except it is a felony on that side of State Street. Two others urged the council to do all it could to help address issues surrounding a growing homeless population.

Homeless is a very complex issue to deal with. We understand that, business owner Allen Hurley told the council. The vagrancy is less complicated because its crime, its the drug transactions, its the violent behavior, its the running off business from the downtown merchants.

Hurley said he walked through Anderson Park in Bristol Tennessee on Monday night, encountered no one camping or any issues. At Cumberland Square Park however, Hurley said there were several people and aggressive situations, so he took a few photos and left.

Among his holdings, Hurley owns the Michael Waltrip Brewing property next the park and said this problem is hurting their business.

Were losing businesswere feeling the pain from the vagrancy, Hurley said. Were losing business. People walking over from the hotels, were losing tourism for the vagrancy. Homeless is a complex issue. Vagrancy is not as complex.

Beth Rhinehart, president and CEO of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce said the overall problem will take the entire community to solve.

Im asking you all to address the issue at hand because we get calls daily from our business owners. I think we all have to step up to the table and be part of the solution and appreciate you all are taking action to try and help address that, she said.

She said the chamber is part of a large coalition of agencies and individuals dedicated to providing services for displaced families and individuals.

Council members acknowledged the problem is multi-faceted and any real solution will have to match that and take time and energy.

There are two groups experiencing homelessness. Some people are just on a streak of bad luck, substance abuse and addiction and there are people who dont necessarily want help. Theyve become aggressive and the situation has escalated, Vice Mayor Neal Osborne said after the meeting. It does create a safety issue, not only for our businesses but for our residents who are trying to enjoy downtown or trying to enjoy the park, or just walk down the sidewalk.

Councilman Bill Hartley said hes heard from both business and residential areas concerned about this issue.

These people are getting in the woods, in areas along the railroad tracks and going up to peoples houses and walking through their yards, Hartley said, adding the range of services available to the homeless here are likely helping draw more of them here. Hopefully we can find a way to address this problem that is beneficial for the businesses, beneficial for the residents but, most importantly, beneficial for those that need it.

After the meeting, city leaders were asked if the new ordinance, which goes into effect in 30 days, is strong enough, since the Tennessee law carries a stiffer felony charge.

I think it is. You dont want to run the risk of criminalizing homelessness. That is an unwise path to go down in my mind, Osborne said. You cant criminalize someone wanting to go to sleep at night. We dont need that to happen.

Mayor Anthony Farnum called the new ordinance, a start.

I think this is the start of a greater conversation about what were dealing with in our city in general, the mayor said. There are homeless here who are using our community resources. There is this other group, that has come from somewhere else maybe, and theyre causing issues  being aggressive, stalking, drug use, physical damage to property downtown.
Godel Technologies, a UK-based agile software development firm founded in 2002, has become the latest digitally oriented business to join the UAEs landmark NextGenFDI initiative, the Ministry of the Economy announced.

The move supports national efforts to achieve the goals of NextGenFDI, which was launched by the Ministry in partnership with seven strategic partners that are also some of the leading organisations in the UAE. As the latest member of the initiative, Godel Technologies will move its regional headquarters to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in the UAE, with plans to create 250 job opportunities within two years.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said: The UAE continues its efforts to attract FDI, innovative minds and talent. The implementation of the NextGenFDI initiative is in line with the UAEs vision to build a new economic model based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability. Attracting leading global businesses such as Godel Technologies to invest and expand in the countrys markets reflects the initiatives promising potentials, following its launch last July.

More companies

He further pointed out that the Ministry of Economy continues its cooperation with partners to achieve the goals of the initiative, and to attract leading businesses and international talent  be it from developed markets or developing economies, and that more new companies are set to join the initiative soon.

The NextGenFDI programme strives to attract some of the world's best software developers, data scientists, computer programmers, and digital asset leaders across a broad range of technology fields, including Web 3.0, AI, games and data science.

The Ministry of Economy, along with other stakeholders of the initiative, will support Godel Technologies by facilitating optimal corporate structuring, banking readiness support with Emirates NBD, batch visa processing, and provision of accommodation for employees.

Globally competitive

Godel is the second company to take advantage of the NextGenFDI programme, which offers globally competitive market entry support to global businesses to help them foray into the UAE market. Krush Brands, a full-stack food technology company, was the first to join NextGenFDI and relocate its global HQ to the UAE under the scheme.

Neil McMurdo, CEO of Godel Technologies, said: The opportunity to be part of the NextGenFDI programme will give Godel Technologies beneficial access to market entry fundamentals. The initiative will support our ambitious plans to grow to 250 people over the next two years and we look forward to establishing the Godel brand at the heart of one of the UAEs leading financial hubs.

Godel Technologies currently employs over 1,800 staff across its offices in the UK, Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Georgia, and Ukraine. It specialises in software engineering, quality assurance, automation, data engineering and analytics, agile consulting, digital transformation, AI and machine learning, mobile solutions, and more. The company serves e-commerce, finance, energy, automotive, travel, manufacturing, professional services, and retail industries.

Benefits of NextGen FDI

The benefits of NextGen FDI include expedited business set-up processes, banking readiness, simpler visa procedures, and attractive commercial and residential leasing terms. In an effort to provide smoother market-entry, the initiative brings together stakeholders from across government and the private sector. Current partners include DIFC, Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre, Dubai Internet City, Dubai South, Emirates NBD and the digital banking platform Wio.

Godel Technologies will set up operations in NextGenFDI partner DIFC, joining nearly 600 other digitally enabled businesses. DIFC has the regions largest FinTech and innovation community in the Middle East and North Africa, and about 60% of regional FinTech companies are already based there, according to the DIFC Authority. Fellow NextGenFDI partner Emirates NBD will provide Godel Technologies with banking support.-- TradeArabia News Service
The Washington County Board of Supervisors agreed to receive state funding to complete the Mendota Trail Tuesday.

This move approved a grant from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to accept $466,500, as approved this summer by the Virginia General Assembly.

The money is being used to complete the entire 12.5-mile-long rail trail in the western side of Washington County.

In other business, the board approved Supervisor Mike Rushs nomination of Stuart Wright of Damascus, to the Washington County Park Authority.

I think Stuart is the right person at the right time for this, Rush said.

The board also approved a lease of $1,500 a month for a parking area near the Washington County Courthouse. The lease runs for two years with an option for a third year, County Administrator Jason Berry said.

On Tuesday, the board approved spending $16,500 from the current fiscal year budget to pay for the lease, drawing money from the courthouse construction funds.

The parking area at a former pediatricians office is owned by K-VAT Food Stores, Inc., and will be used for parking by construction workers and courthouse employees, Berry said.

Ideally, there will not be a lot of wear and tear on it, Berry said.

Supervisor Dwayne Ball made a motion to approve the parking lot lease, seconded by Supervisor Randy Pennington. Both supervisors serve on the Courthouse Committee.
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., on Wednesday denounced Gov. Glenn Youngkin for "impugning" the Department of Justice over the search of former President Donald Trump's Florida home and for the governor's characterization of its role in a Loudoun County schools controversy.

"I'm very disappointed in legislative colleagues who are quick to trash this search ... and trash its legitimacy," Kaine said in a Zoom interview with reporters and editors at several Virginia newspapers.

"And I was most disturbed this morning to see Virginia Governor Youngkin basically ... impugning the Department of Justice and saying that this was the same Department of Justice that labeled Loudoun school parents terrorists.

"That's just a lie. The Department of Justice never labeled Loudoun schoolchildren or their parents as domestic terrorists," Kaine said. "A national school board association wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking if they would investigate violence and threats of violence against school board members as possible acts of domestic terrorism."

In a tweet Tuesday from his personal Twitter account, Youngkin called the search at Mar-a-Lago "a stunning move by the DOJ and FBI." He added that "This same DOJ labeled parents in Loudoun County as terrorists and failed to enforce federal law to protect Justices in their homes."

Youngkin was referring to a controversy over a high school student in Loudoun who assaulted students at two different schools. The governor, who highlighted parents' role in schools during his successful campaign, has faulted Loudoun school officials for their handling of the case. An executive order he signed the day he took office authorized Attorney General Jason Miyares to investigate Loudoun's schools.

Youngkin's tweet on Tuesday apparently referred to a letter that the National School Boards Association sent to President Joe Biden last year comparing parents' protests in the county to domestic terrorists.

"Now, whether the school board (association) should have used that phrase or not, it was not the Department of Justice that did it," Kaine said Wednesday. "The Department of Justice has not labeled anybody in Loudoun - school, parent or otherwise - a terrorist.

"For Governor Youngkin - who knows better - to trash the Department of Justice in that way shows a severe lack of judgment. What it also shows is that too many in the GOP - even people who should know better - feel like, for political reasons, they have to be water carriers for Donald J. Trump.

"They should be, instead, protectors of our democracy and the rule of law, rather than ... trying to court favor with Donald J. Trump, private citizen."

Macaulay Porter, a spokesperson for Youngkin, said in a statement: "It's alarming that Senator Kaine doesn't think Virginians deserve an explanation from Attorney General (Merrick) Garland and the Biden Administration on the unprecedented raid of the private residence of a former president. His clear disagreement with many of his Democratic colleagues and Virginians is notable."

While Youngkin and Kaine differ politically, each has praised the other on occasion. For example, in June Youngkin thanked several Virginia Democrats, including Kaine, for playing roles in Boeing's decision to move its headquarters to the state. Last month Kaine said he was pleased that Youngkin acted quickly to declare a state of emergency in response to flooding in Buchanan County.
Texas Guardsman Competes at National Best Warrior Competition Story by: SGT Jason Archer

AUSTIN, Texas  Texas Army National Guards Spc. Nickalus T. Johnson, continuously follows and meets his goals, quietly accelerating toward the next challenge. He completed his Army Advanced Individual Training in 2020. In two years, he has been recognized as one of the best 13 junior enlisted warriors in the National Guard.



Johnson, a Combat Engineer in the 836th Sapper Co., 111th Engineer Battalion, 176th Engineer Brigade, 36th Infantry Division, Texas National Guard, recently competed at the state and regional level for Best Warrior Competition, which challenged Airmen and Soldiers from across the force to test their tactical and technical skills, including professional military knowledge, marksmanship, land navigation and physical fitness. Johnson humbly placed in top categories and will move on to represent the Lone Star State at the national-level Best Warrior Competition.



Johnson learned resiliency at a young age moving from state to state before arriving in Texas.



I am from a small town at the top of the Texas Panhandle, said Johnson. I was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, lived in Southeast Colorado, and then we moved to Texas.



Johnson went to school in Gruver, Texas, a town of about 1,200 people. He spent his time working on his familys cattle ranch and playing sports.



I liked working on the ranch, but I dont talk about [living on the ranch] as much as other people, Johnson said. I like the military to be my focus, instead of what I did before the military.



Presently, Johnson is preparing for the national competition. His daily routine includes studying military history, weapons familiarization, and physical training. When he first joined the military, he didnt have intentions of participating in the Best Warrior Competition.



I didnt really know what the National Guard was when I was in high school, said Johnson. From an early age, everyone in my family pushed me to go to college. When a recruiter came in and said I could go to college while serving in the military, I was sold.



Johnson enlisted into the Texas National Guard as a high school junior and was part of the split training option program which allows 17-year-old juniors to join the Guard, with parental consent, while still in high school. In this program, he attended monthly drills with pay while still attending high school, allowing him to run in varsity track and participate in academic competitions.



The Split Training Option allows 17-year-old juniors in high school to join the Army Reserves or the Army National Guard, training as a senior with a local unit one weekend per month. They get paid for staying in shape and keeping on track to graduate. The summer following graduation, soldiers attend Advanced Individual Training and train for their respective Guard job (MOS).



Taking a ranchers work ethic he learned in Gruver, Johnson now serves in the Texas National Guard and is in Rudders Rangers, a unique training company in Texas A&M Universitys Corps of Cadets.



I have goals, and I know what I need to do to accomplish those goals, said Johnson. I think Ill make a career out of the military. Id like to go to Ranger School and the Special Forces Qualification Course.



Johnson continues to showcase resiliency, balancing academics, military service, and extra participation like the current Best Warrior Competition. He passed all his classes at TAMU while being in charge of four soldiers at his unit in San Angelo, Texas.



When I went to the state-level Best Warrior Competition, I had finals the same week, Johnson said. My physics and calculus professors were understanding and allowed me to adjust when I would take my exams. I have the mindset that wont let me quit.



After the spring semester of his sophomore year, Johnson continued to add to his responsibilities. He became a platoon sergeant for Rudders Randers, signed a contract to become a cadet through the TAMU (spell out) ROTC program, and won the Texas Best Warrior Competition.



The Army Reserve Officer Training Corps is an educational program that combines college electives in Military Science with practical and unmatched leadership training. Through this training Cadets can pursue the best academic plan for their needs while ensuring they meet all the requirements for commissioning as an Army Officer.



On the weekends, I log into the Army Learning Management System to do professional development courses while my college friends go to parties, Johnson said. It is worth it though. Im working towards a bigger goal.



Because of his performance with the 176th Engineer Brigade, Johnson was able to attend Sapper Leader School, a 28-day course designed to create elite combat engineers.



During my first annual training, I was named the MVP of my team, which earned me an opportunity to attend Sapper School Johnson said. [Sapper School] was definitely the hardest thing Ive done, so far. Johnsons endless determination has earned him many opportunities in the military. Due to Sapper Leader Course, and military experiences contributed to Johnsons preparation for the challenges of being in the Best Warrior Competition and as a leader in the National Guard.



I hope me making it this far motivates other people to go for their goals, Johnson said. I wasnt the most physically fit at basic combat training, and Im not that great of a planner. I just won't quit.

Johnson credits his professional and academic achievements to his upbringing and spirituality.



I went to a small Lutheran Church, just outside of Gruver, said Johnson. When I was stressed out during basic braining, I would say a little prayer. I couldnt have accomplished this without someone watching my back.



The national-level Best Warrior Competition will take place July 22-29, 2022, in Smyrna, Tennessee. Johnson is currently training and has been mentored by fellow Aggie and winner of the Texas National Guard Best Warrior Competition 2020, Jacob Arndt.






On August 2, local time, the launch ceremony of the first batch of African fresh avocados exported to China was held at the Sanrep factory in Limuru, Kenya.

This marks the first time that African fresh avocados were exported to China, and Kenya became the first country in Africa tomake it, which is another triumphant result of Chinas comprehensive implementation of the Nine Programsof the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

The launch ceremony.

The first batch offresh avocados was packed intofour containers, totaling about 88 tons,which is expected to arrive in China around August 25, and will be sold to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Changsha and other cities. And more than 150 containers of avocados are expected to reach the Chinese market later this season.

Kenya avocado packaging.

Kenya is the second largest avocado producer in Africa, and has been actively promoting avocado exports to China in recent years; In 2019, Kenya received the license to export frozen avocados to China after inspection and evaluation by relevant Chinese authorities, becoming the fifth country to obtain the license to export avocados to China.In January 2022, China and Kenya signed the Protocol on the Export of Fresh Avocado from Kenya to China. On June 1, Chinas General Administration of Customs issued a notice allowing fresh avocados from Kenya that meet quarantine requirements to be exported to China.

Avocado production line.

As the exclusive partner of the Kenyan government avocado project,GuoRui Shanghai information technology Co., LTD.assisted both China Customs and Kenya,and adopted logistics transportation and preservation technology from China for the first shipment of four containers of avocados to ensure they were were fresh and transported to China with good quality.

Kenyan avocado production company.

Du Gongming, general manager of Guorui Technology,introduced that theirgoal for the new production season in 2023 is to help Kenya export more than 1,500 containers of avocados to China, which will create new jobs for tens of thousands of people in Kenya and allow more avocado farmers to increase their incomes.

The first shipment of fresh avocados from Kenya to China.

With Kenyas fresh avocadosaccess to China, the Chinese market is expected to consume 40% of Kenyas avocados, making it the largest importer of avocados from Kenya.
Kayla Berquist Memorial Blood Drive

The 18th annual Kayla Berquist Memorial Blood Drive, Cruise In, Hot Dog and Bake Sale will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, at St. Enoch Lutheran Church, 701 Campbell Ave., Kannapolis.

The One Blood Drive begins at 9 a.m. and the cruise in, hot dog and bake sale begins at 10 a.m.

St. Stephens celebrating homecoming

St. Stephens Lutheran Church, 4401 St. Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill, will celebrate 185 years of ministry.

The annual Homecoming will be Sunday, Aug. 28. Sunday school will be at 10 a.m., led by Pastor Constance Garrett. Worship with Holy Communion will begin at 11 a.m., with Pastor John Mark Beam as guest preacher.

A catered lunch will follow in the fellowship building. RSVP for the lunch by Aug. 21, by leaving a voice message on the church phone (704-279-3768). Donations will be received to defray the cost of the meal.

Support group for grief to be offered

If you need help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend, you are invited to join a GriefShare Support Group at Pitts Baptist Church, 140 Pitts School Road NW, Concord.

The weekly support group is held Tuesdays, Aug. 23 to Nov. 15, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. For more information, call Linda Bounds at 704-793-8155.
Is the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence fact or fiction?

Meck Dec is a shorthand term sometimes used to refer to the Declaration of Independence adopted on May 20, 1775, by a group of Mecklenburg leaders.

The debate about that question could continue forever, but one former Charlotte lawyer has put it at the center of a fictional murder mystery set in a Charlotte retirement community.

The new book, Deadly Declarations by Landis Wade, opens with the death of a 96-year-old resident, a historian named Mathew Collins.

Years ago, Collins wrote a scholarly book titled American Hoax. It argued that the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was a fake. But he had, shortly before his death, changed his views and was writing a new book that argued that the Mecklenburg Declaration was real.

Possibly, he was killed by someone who wanted to suppress whatever evidence the professor may have that showed that the Mecklenburg Declaration was genuine.

Supporting this view, all of Collins drafts of the new book and his records relating to Meck Dec were missing from his apartment.

One possible suspect could be Robert Elkin, a prominent Charlotte lawyer and top partner in a giant multistate law firm on the 45th floor of the American Bank office building. Elkin, a native Virginian, was a worshipper of Thomas Jefferson.

Some of the language in Meck Dec sounds very Jeffersonian. For instance, Resolved, That we do hereby declare ourselves a free and independent people, are, and of right ought to be, a sovereign and selfgoverning Association, under the control of no power other than that of our God and the General Government of the Congress; to the maintenance of which independence, we solemnly pledge to each other, our mutual co-operation, our lives, our fortunes, and our most sacred honor.

If the Meck Dec was really adopted more than a year before the Jefferson-drafted American Declaration, then Jefferson might be deemed to have copied its language. Elkins and his pro-Jefferson allies might do anything, including murder, to prevent proof of Meck Decs legitimacy  and Jeffersons plagiarism.

There is another possibility. Collins loved his granddaughter, Lori. He had long planned to leave everything to her. But shortly before he died, he made a handwritten will that left everything to another woman.

Collins was not only a scholar. He had made a $50 million fortune publishing popular magazines. So his last-minute switch of beneficiaries created another big mystery.

Wade credits Charlotte lawyer Scott Syfert and his book, The First American Declaration of Independence, with inspiring him to write about Meck Dec.

Wade hosts a series of podcasts featuring book authors. When he interviewed Syfert about his contemporary non-fiction book, he liked Syferts balanced treatment of the Meck Dec question.

Wade says Syfert does a really good job with it. Being a lawyer, he covers both sides of the story.

As he interviewed Syfert, Wade became interested in the Meck Dec because it had never been taught in schools. I didnt really know much about the story. Because I became intrigued with it and learned that theres so much conflict in it, I actually changed the mystery I was writing to incorporate the Meck Dec into the story.

I thought, wow, nobodys written a mystery involving the Meck Dec. Its got lots of conflict. You need conflict for a good novel. Lets put this in the story and see what we can do with it.

Wade says it is a North Carolina story because North Carolinians, for more than 200 years have been proud of the fact that North Carolina was first in freedom.

I mean, he told me, Weve got it on our license plate, right?
Microsoft has released patches for 118 vulnerabilities on its monthly Patch Tuesday, with one aimed at fixing a remotely-exploitable hole in the Microsoft Windows Support Diagnostic Tool.

This vulnerability is a zero-day and is being exploited in the wild. Of the 118 flaws for which patches were issued on Tuesday, 17 were rated as critical and 101 as important.

Security firm Tenable said in a blog post that Microsoft had also issued fixes for three security bypass flaws in a third-party driver that affected Secure Boot.

"These flaws were reported through the CERT Co-ordination Centre (CERT/CC). We have not included these flaws as part of our metrics for this months Patch Tuesday release because they are standalone security updates for third-party drivers," the company said.

Tenable senior staff research engineer Satnam Narang said: Microsoft patched CVE-2022-34713 and CVE-2022-35743, a pair of remote code execution (RCE) vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows Support Diagnostic Tool (MSDT).

"According to Microsoft, CVE-2022-34713 has been exploited in the wild as a zero-day and was publicly disclosed prior to a patch being available.

"The flaw is credited to Imre Rad, who first disclosed this type of vulnerability in MSDT back in January 2020. Microsoft originally declined to patch the flaw in 2020, but says that it qualified for a patch after a revision to its bug bar. CVE-2022-34713 appears to be a 'variant' of a flaw that researchers call DogWalk.

He said MSDT had received renewed focus since May, when it was discovered that attackers had used a zero-day in MSDT as part of malicious Word document files. The flaw, which was dubbed Follina by security researchers, was patched in June and is identified as CVE 2022-30190.

With reports that CVE-2022-34713 has been exploited in the wild, it would appear that attackers are looking to take advantage of flaws within MSDT as these types of flaws are extremely valuable to launch spearphishing attacks," Narang added.

"A variety of threat actors leverage spear-phishing, from advanced persistent threat (APT) groups to ransomware affiliates. Weve seen flaws like CVE-2017-11882, a remote code execution bug in Microsoft Office, continue to be exploited years after patches have been made available.

"For attackers, bugs that can be executed via malicious documents remain a valuable tool, so flaws like Follina and CVE-2022-34713 will continue to be used for months. Therefore, it is vital that organisations apply the available patches as soon as possible.

Greg Wiseman, product manager at cyber security and compliance solutions and services provider Rapid7, said 141 separate vulnerabilities had been patched, but from a patching perspective the numbers were slightly less dire.

"Twenty CVEs affect the Chromium-based Edge browser and 34 affect Azure Site Recovery (up from 32 CVEs affecting that product last month)," he noted. "As usual, OS-level updates will address a lot of these, but note that some extra configuration is required to fully protect Exchange Server this month."

Wiseman said Microsoft had also patched several flaws affecting Remote Access Server.

"The most severe of these (CVE-2022-30133 and CVE-2022-35744) are related to Windows Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol, and could allow an RCE simply by sending a malicious connection request to a server," he explained.

"Seven CVEs affecting the Windows Secure Socket Tunnelling Protocol on RAS were also fixed this month: six RCEs and one denial of service. If you have RAS in your environment, but are unable to patch immediately, consider blocking traffic on port 1723 from your network."
Unofficial word from a reliable grain source today is that early corn yields in east central Illinois may be in the 150 bushel range.

That would be sufficient for 1980 when the U.S. produced 5 billion bushels per year, with enough left over for a few hundred million bushels to be exported. But that is far from acceptable in 2022 when it will take 15 billion bushels of corn to meet the 2.5 billion bushel export demand.

Of course, Champaign, Vermilion and Douglas county farmers say Mother Nature was not kind to them this year, and rains never came. So, while 150 bushels per acre is going to make it hard to pay for fertilizer for the 2023 crop, they did the best that the weather allowed. And ironically, 150 bushels may be a bumper crop in another part of the world where weather is usually not an issue.

Not everyone may have followed what has been happening in Europe. International news sources have frequently reported record heat of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit across much of Europe this summer. But along with that has also been a shortage of precipitation. France is a major international corn producer and in the past month over 90% of that nation has had less than 25% of typical moisture.

The Matif grain exchange in Paris reports corn prices are at record high levels, primarily because farmers are not selling. It is likely that corn sales have diminished, not because farmers are looking for higher prices, but more so because they may not have any corn to sell.

Frances corn crop probably will drop 19% this year because of the hot, dry weather, the Agriculture Ministry said Friday. The crisis is a tragedy for our farmers, our ecosystems and for biodiversity, according to the prime ministers statement. Weather forecasts suggest the drought could last another two weeks and become even more concerning, officials said. The country just had its driest July in decades.

Three-quarters of Romania, Europes biggest producer, is affected by drought of varying severity. Farmers in parts of eastern Germany could lose their entire crop.

And what is happening with great irony, is that the first shiploads of corn coming from Ukrainian ports that have been blocked by Russia are headed for ports in the European Union. Instead of hauling wheat across the mine-laden Black Sea to African and Middle Eastern ports where millions of people are reported starving because of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian corn is headed to England and Ireland.

Other ships are hauling sunflower meal to China and sunflower oil to Italy. And there is some corn headed for Turkey. But there are no reports of grain headed to Middle Eastern or African ports. It is likely a case of nations that have the most money are getting the early grain shipments.
CHICAGO - A man was stabbed on a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line train Tuesday night, just a day after Chicago police pledged to increase CTA security in an effort to make public transportation safer.

The 37-year-old man had been riding an L train when he became involved in an argument with a woman around 10:30 p.m., police said. The pair exited the train at the Fullerton station, where the woman struck the man twice in the neck with a sharp object before running away, police said. Paramedics took the man to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in serious condition, officials said.

Much earlier in the day during an unrelated incident, Chicago police arrested a 22-year-old man who was charged in connection with carrying a gun at the Roosevelt CTA station, 1167 S. State St., police said. According to a news release, around 1:10 a.m. officers saw the man on a CTA platform, clutching onto his waistband area where (he) appeared to be concealing a firearm.

The man started to run but he was stopped by members of the public transportation tactical team, police said. A weapon was recovered, and Erion Harrington, 22, was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon, police said.

A few hours later, around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, a man riding a Red Line train had his bag stolen in another unrelated incident, police said. Officers responded, located and arrested the thief, police said.

Violence at CTA platforms and trains has spurred alarm in recent weeks. On Friday, a man shoved someone off a Near West Side train platform onto the tracks.

A week earlier, four people were stabbed when a group of six tried to rob a man at a Near North Side Red Line station.

Then, early Saturday, a 29-year-old was shot and killed while riding a Red Line train.

CTA workers are doing everything they can to stem these egregious acts of violence, CTA President Dorval Carter Jr. said at the time.

The Police Department is dedicated to ensuring that the people who ride the CTA are safe, Superintendent David Brown said Monday.

CPD plans to add more officers and police dogs to the transit system in response to the recent violence, he said. Officers are being pulled from desk duties to help meet demand, he added. Brown said crime on CTA property is down 43%, when compared with pre-pandemic numbers from 2019.

CTA authorities and police planned to increase security in March to combat a spike in transit crime. They said they would double the number of unarmed security guards and add more police officers and supervisors to patrol the transit system.

Chicago Tribunes Paige Fry, Adriana Perez and Shanzeh Ahmad contributed.
A federal judge has paved the way for Wake County prosecutors to pursue potential criminal charges against N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein and his campaign staff over a 2020 political ad that Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill claims was defamatory and false. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles denied a motion asking her to block enforcement of a state law that Wake County prosecutors are using against Steins campaign. The state law, established in 1931, prohibits people from publishing or circulating false and derogatory information about a candidate that could harm that candidates chances at getting elected or being nominated.

Steins campaign, Ralston Lapp Guinn Media and the woman in the disputed ad filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court on July 21, claiming that the state law was archaic and violated the First Amendment protections for free speech.

ONeill, a Republican who is now running for re-election as Forsyth County District Attorney, was challenging Stein, the Democratic incumbent, for N.C. Attorney General in 2020. One of the major issues in the campaign was how each man had handled backlogs of untested rape kits. ONeill accused Stein of doing little, and Stein hit back with a campaign ad that ran between August and October 2020. The ad featured a woman, identified only as Juliette, who was a part-time employee in Steins office and who said she is a sexual-assault survivor. Juliette said she was shocked and upset to learn that Jim ONeill left 1,500 rape kits sitting on a shelf leaving rapists on the street.

ONeill lost the election.

ONeill objected that the ad was false, saying that he, as a district attorney, had no authority to order law-enforcement agencies to submit untested rape kits to the State Crime Lab. He then filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections, which investigated and then turned its findings over to the Wake County District Attorneys Office for possible criminal prosecution.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman has said she recused herself because of her professional relationships with both men and assigned a senior prosecutor, David Saacks, to handle the case.

Eagles temporarily blocked the state law on July 25, the same day that Wake County prosecutors were planning to present evidence to the grand jury so that the grand jury could determine if criminal charges were warranted. But she reversed herself in her ruling Tuesday.

In a written decision Tuesday, Eagles ruled that the state law, only used one other time since it was established in 1931, is constitutionally valid and concluded that Steins campaign is not likely to succeed in a lawsuit on the merits.

She also said that the law does advance a compelling interest of the state in protecting against fraud and libel in elections and is narrowly tailored to serve those interests.

Eagles also concluded the law withstands legal scrutiny.

Because the speech that (the state law) prohibits  false defamatory speech about candidates intended to affect elections  must be made with actual malice ... the law provides appropriate breathing space for protected speech, Eagles writes in her opinion.

Vanessa Watson, a spokeswoman for Steins campaign, said theyre reviewing the decision. Steins campaign has the option to appeal Eagles decision to the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

Freeman could not be reached for comment Tuesday. In a statement, ONeill said, The American people have lost faith in our political system because of career politicians like Josh Stein who readily lie to the public in order to maintain their own power. Its difficult to comprehend that the Attorney General would fabricate a story during our campaign about the role of the prosecutor in our criminal justice system, and then, retroactively, try to extinguish the very law designed to prevent politicians like himself from lying to the public. What an embarrassment to the people of North Carolina.

At a hearing on July 25, Joseph Zeszotarski, an attorney for Freeman, argued that any block on enforcing the law could jeopardize Wake County prosecutors chances of pursuing criminal charges because there is a two-year statute of limitations that expires in October. Zeszotarski said in court on July 25 that prosecutors were looking at charging at least two people but did not identify those people.

According to court documents, William D. Marsh, an agent with the State Bureau of Investigation, was prepared to testify that he had uncovered evidence that Steins campaign had produced a false ad and that Stein and his staff should have known that the ad was false when they had the ad aired.

Zeszotarski said in court papers that Stein and others in his campaign were aware of and/or recklessly indifferent to that falsity (of the ad), given their positions as lawyers and elected officials intricately involved in the legislation creating the SAECK (Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits) initiative and that the Stein Political Ad was derogatory toward his political opponent.

Pressly Millen, an attorney for Steins campaign, has argued that the ad was accurate and fact-checked. He also has said that the ad did not specifically say ONeill had the authority to submit untested rape kits but ONeill can advise law-enforcement agencies.

Violations of the state law are considered misdemeanors and punishable by a maximum of 60 days in jail and court fines. People who have little to no criminal record likely will not face jail time if convicted.
EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) focused on boosting sustainability best practices and promoting the adoption of Clean Energy Certificates (CECs) across the emirates industrial sector.

The joint initiative aims to reinforce the competitiveness of Abu Dhabis energy sector and its relationship with the various Industrial and private sectors manufacturing players.

EWEC will collaborate with ADDED through the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) to develop new solutions to support innovation in energy products.

The parties will also spearhead the development of proposals to ensure continuous enhancements of the ecosystem to attract new investments and enable sustainable factories to thrive in Abu Dhabi, supporting Abu Dhabis long-term strategic plans, including Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, by leveraging the full potential of innovative technologies and enhancing sustainability across the ecosystem in line with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, said the statement.

Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) issued a Regulatory Policy for Clean Energy Certificates in August 2021, in a bid to drive the transition to a sustainable decarbonised energy sector and marking a foundational step to establishing an Energy Attribute Certificates market and facilitating trading renewable and nuclear energy attributes in the emirate.

Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, said: We continue to actively pursue partnerships and alliances with both public and private sector market players to ensure that Abu Dhabis smart and circular economy is on track to achieve its objectives, and in turn, the UAEs sustainability goals are being met.

Al Blooshi explained: Our initiatives serve to reinforce and continuously upgrade our economys attributes, as we work towards building an even stronger future one, based on environmental, social, and corporate governance models and investments. We have achieved steady progress in this regard and demonstrated the extent of our diversification initiatives with our strategic ecosystem of partners.

Othman Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of EWEC, said: The new strategic partnership with ADDED is a significant opportunity to enhance Abu Dhabis economic competitiveness with sustainability at its core. Abu Dhabis CEC scheme has already shown the significant impact it can have in helping companies decarbonise their energy consumption and take tangible action on climate change. With this new innovative partnership, we can further ensure that all entities in the industrial sector can participate in the scheme, helping consolidate Abu Dhabis position as an economic leader, benefiting our country and enabling the UAE to meet its net zero goals.

EWEC is playing a key role for Abu Dhabis CECs scheme, acting as a Single Registrant and auction operator to establish a primary market for this new instrument. EWEC has signed strategic clean energy partnerships with entities across energy, real estate, healthcare, and events sectors including Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), Aldar Properties, the World Future Energy Summit, and the World Utilities Congress. - TradeArabia News Service
Talaya Hinson confirmed Tuesday that her boyfriend Alexander Weah fatally shot her estranged husband in the parking lot of a Charlotte apartment complex on Aug. 3, but says Weah snapped after receiving ongoing threats from James Michael Hinson, the husband.

On top of that, Hinson said that Weah planned to turn himself in to Charlotte authorities last Friday, two days after her husbands death.

Instead, Weah was fatally shot that morning by police officers in the parking lot of a Speedway convenience store in Clemmons.

Authorities said that Weah fired at officers during an arrest attempt at the store just off Interstate 40 and that they returned fire, killing Weah.

But Talaya Hinson, who was there, says that Weah was shot twice in the back as he fled from officers, and that he was shot four more times after he reached for his gun and fired once.

A Greensboro police officer was struck by a bullet from Weahs gun and received non-life-threatening injuries. At the time of his death, Weah was forbidden from having a gun under a domestic violence restraining order obtained by his wife.

In a telephone interview, Hinson said that she had separated from her husband Michael Hinson in March. The couple had a daughter who is now 4, and on the day her husband was shot, he had driven over to give back Talayas food stamp card.

Weah had moved in with Talaya Hinson in July, and she described him as her fiancee. She said that her estranged husband became confrontational with Weah after that, threatening to put him in a body bag and calling him by a racial slur. Weah was a Black man from Liberia, and Michael Hinson was white. Talaya Hinson is carrying Weahs unborn child.

According to Talaya Hinson, on Aug. 3, a Wednesday, she and Weah were in Weahs car and had pulled up to her apartment complex parking lot near Michael Hinson, who had come over in his car. Talaya Hinson said she got out of her car and approached Michael Hinsons car, and that they started arguing while their daughter stood nearby.

Tears and a scream

During the argument, Talaya Hinson said, her estranged husband began pulling on her shirt and the little girl cried and told him to stop because he was hurting mommy.

Thats when Alex jumped out of his car ... and (said) Whats your problem, let her go.  Talaya Hinson said. She said Michael Hinson told Weah that he was next and called him by a racial slur. Hinson let go of her shirt, she said, and she took her daughter inside the apartment and came right back out. (Weah and Talaya Hinson were staying with her mother.)

I tried to run back out and by that time Michael was opening up his door, he stepped his foot out, he had his hand on his waist, like in his shorts like he had something, and I heard Alex scream, Dont do it, drop it,  before firing a bullet at Michael Hinson that struck him in the chest, Talaya Hinson said.

Weah drove off after shooting Michael Hinson. Talaya Hinson said she got into her husbands car and tried to put pressure on the wound and keep his head up while calling 911 at the same time.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, emergency responders came to the scene of the shooting and pronounced Michael Hinson dead at the scene.

According to Talaya Hinson, Michael Hinson was supposed to drop off the food stamp card and then leave. But he had found out that she was planning to move in with Weah the following weekend, and became angry about that on the day Weah shot him.

Police investigators questioned Talaya Hinson at the crime scene, she said.

I told them everything, she said. Investigators asked if she could talk to Weah or do anything to convince him to turn himself in.

Hinson says she told police that Weah was scared.

Thats why he took off, she said. Hes an African. He was scared. Not to be racist, but he just shot a white man. And he was scared. I saw it in his face.

Police also told Hinson they found no gun on her husband. Hinson said her husband had brought a gun to the apartment several weeks ago and had threatened to shoot Weah the next time he saw him.

On Thursday, the day between the shooting of Michael Hinson and Weahs own death, Weah and Hinson and the 4-year-old went to Greensboro and visited Wet n Wild Emerald Pointe water park, Talaya Hinson said. She wasnt sure what her daughter might have witnessed, she said, and wanted to give the little girl a distraction.

To turn himself in

On Thursday, he told me Friday morning he was going to turn himself in, she said. I had stayed up all night talking to that man, crying, pleading begging for him to turn himself in. Thats why we left and checked out of the room at 7:30 (a.m.). We got to the gas station about 8 oclock. We were going to put gas in the car and head back to Charlotte, and I was going to drop him off downtown so he could turn himself in. That was the plan.

Authorities said five police officers  four from Greensboro and one from Charlotte-Mecklenburg  shot at Weah during the arrest attempt in Clemmons. The Greensboro Police Department is not identifying its officers involved in the shooting, but said they are on administrative duty pending an internal investigation.

The Winston-Salem Journal made public records request for the names of the officers. Kurt Brenneman, the public information request tracking administrator for the Greensboro Police Department, did not provide a reason for why the police department is not releasing the names. The police department is also not releasing any information about the officers salary or information about whether the officers had previously been demoted or suspended.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has not responded to the Journals request for information about its officer.

Under state law, certain information about law-enforcement officers is public, including names and salaries. Both the Winston-Salem Police Department and the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office routinely release the names and other information about officers involved in such shootings.

Hinson said she doesnt know why Weah didnt go ahead and surrender when the police officer confronted him with a drawn gun at the door of the Speedway on Lewisville Clemmons Road.

The arrest effort on Friday may have been in Clemmons, but was mainly an operation of Greensboro and Charlotte-Mecklenburg police along with the State Bureau of Investigation.

The official statement from Greensboro police says that on Friday, officers made contact with the suspect while he was exiting the gas station, and that as officers approached, an exchange of gunfire occurred.

During the exchange of gunfire, the suspect fired his weapon, striking Greensboro Police Officer M.J. Ambrosio, the report reads. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

However, Hinson has been telling a very different account since the day of the shooting. According to Hinson, Weah ran and was shot by an officer twice before he reached for his own weapon and fired.

Hinson said officers told her on Friday that they fired at Weah because they saw he had a gun.

Greensboro police have not said whether Ambrosio fired his weapon but did say he has been released from the hospital and is recovering from his injuries, authorities said.

Prior offenses

Michael Hinson, Talaya Hinsons husband, pleaded guilty in August 2011 in Mecklenburg Superior Court to several charges, including first-degree burglary and two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon. The charges were consolidated into one and he received a sentence of a minimum of five years, 4 months and a maximum of seven years, 2 months in prison, according to court records.

Meanwhile, at the time of his death, Weah was under a court order not to carry a gun. Malika Weah, his estranged wife, obtained the order after alleging multiple occasions when her husband had threatened to use a gun.

During a July 1 argument, she said, her husband pulled a concealed gun from his waistband and threatened her brother who was at her home.

Court documents said Malika Weah was able to convince her husband to put the gun away, but that later he pulled out a different handgun from a bookbag. Alexander Weah then threatened to shoot up the house, the court order said.

The order said that Alexander Weah frequently carried guns and that there was a May incident in which the couple got into an argument over a cell phone. On that occasion, she said, he threatened to get into a shootout that would put their year-old daughter in the crossfire if police were called. Malika Weah went to her car to call the police. When she got back to her front door, Alexander Weah was wearing a bulletproof vest and had a gun in his hand, the order said.

Despite those allegations, Malika Weah said after her husbands death that he was not a violent man.

If things didnt go his way, he was hot-headed, she said.
When Lincoln Northwest opens next week, expanding the number of public high schools in the Capital City to seven, the number of school resource officers working in Lincoln Public Schools will also grow.

On Tuesday, the Lincoln Board of Education got its first look at the district's interlocal agreement with the city of Lincoln to pay $602,595 for 13 school resource officers at the districts middle and high schools.

The agreement also provides LPS with a threat-assessment officer for the period between Sept. 1 and Aug. 31, 2023.

General fund dollars go toward paying for the officers from the Lincoln Police Department who are assigned to work in schools. This years agreement is 4.95% higher than last years, coming in just less than the 5% annual growth cap that was set out in the original agreement.

Board of Education member Lanny Boswell said the proposal to add a resource officer has been in the works since planning for the new high school began.

"Over the last two years, there's been a lot of work done to make sure that fits in the budget and provide that same level of security in all of our high schools," Boswell said.

Continuing to expand the number of school resource officers as LPS continues to grow is important, board member Kathy Danek added.

"Keeping this moving forward with the school resource officer contract is important to the families in our community," she said, adding that an additional officer is planned to start in the 2023-24 school year when Standing Bear High School opens.

The interlocal agreement between the city and LPS, called Safe and Successful Kids, was created in 2018 in the aftermath of a mass shooting that killed 17 people in Parkland, Florida.

School resource officers had been present in the halls of Lincoln's public high schools for years, but the agreement added six new officers to cover the district's 12 middle schools.

The LPS board is expected to give final approval to the proposal at its Aug. 23 meeting.
Outside the Planned Parenthood clinic near 48th Street and Old Cheney Road, a crowd gathers.

Some are kneeling, praying the rosary. Others are dressed in rainbow colors and hold signs that read Honk 4 Choice. People dressed in blue vests hand out pamphlets. Clinic escorts shake tambourines and blare music.

While the grassy space outside the clinic has been home to prayer gatherings and protests in the past, Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska, said the Lincoln clinic has seen an uptick in peripheral activity since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Lincoln is a health center that has always seen quite a bit of protest activity, she said. We have seen a bit of an increase.  There's more people, and they're a little bit more amplified.

For years, abortion opponents from Lincoln Right to Life and various Catholic churches have been gathering outside the Planned Parenthood clinic to pray. Tuesday morning, more than 40 people recited a prayer to end abortion and sang God Bless America. Afterward, they convened at the Lincoln Right to Life Pro Life Center right next to the Womens Care Center  a pregnancy center that offers ultrasounds but does not provide abortions.

Mike Davis, president of Lincoln Right to Life, said the group seeks to end abortion, and it does so through prayer and encouraging women to visit the clinic across the street from Planned Parenthood.

He said the Womens Care Center has seen an increase in visits in the past few weeks. Davis, one of five Lincoln Right to Life members who bought the building strategically located across the street from the Planned Parenthood location, said that's proof his group is helping women access health care.

Were reaching out to them to not make a terrible mistake, he said. They all regret it. They know that it's a child in their womb.

But abortion rights activists are gathered, too. They began coming after the Supreme Court decision, and they hope their presence puts pressure on the anti-abortion group, which they believe is disruptive and uncaring toward women seeking affordable health care.

Judy King is one of the demonstrators whos been active this summer. She said things arent always civil between the two groups. At times, hateful things are chanted and signs displayed that she believes could be upsetting.

These protests are taking over a space that should just be quiet, she said. They come in, and theyre passing out flyers, and they're teaching lies.

King called the police a week ago after she alleged someone threw salt on her, though Lincoln Police Department Assistant Chief Michon Morrow said officers did not pursue the incident because it was unclear whether it was intentional.

LPD Capt. Todd Kocian said officers were also dispatched to the clinic another time in July during a protest dispute.

On this Tuesday, Thia Hartley holds a sign that encourages drivers in support of abortion rights to honk. Horns blare as she waves and smiles.

She said shes supporting women who might want to enter the clinic.

Its like a dragon has awoken since Roe, Hartley said. Women and men are pissed off.

Mary Sand is one of the prayer group members, and she said she believes the abortion rights activists have been hateful, not her group. Things often get tense on the Planned Parenthood lawn when the other group chants explicit things, she said.

We've been coming here for years, praying peacefully, and we continue to pray peacefully, she said.

Curry Grubb said that while there have been abortion rights demonstrators at the clinic, its not something Planned Parenthood encourages or organizes.

Instead, the organization has clinic escorts outside the entrance to welcome those who attempt to enter. Curry Grubb said the escorts are necessary because anti-abortion demonstrators harass the women walking through the clinic doors.

Our patients are the ones that should be able to make decisions about their own health care, she said. That's what we've always stood for. That's what we'll continue to stand for.

One tactic, she said, is for people with the anti-abortion group to pose as clinic escorts and appear as though they are associated with Planned Parenthood. Then, they direct women to the clinic across the street.

Lisa McInerney wears a vest, similar to the Planned Parenthood clinic escorts rainbow garments, except her vest is blue. But she doesnt believe shes deceiving women. Her vest says sidewalk advocate."

Sidewalk Advocates for Life is an anti-abortion group that places volunteers outside clinics to pass out flyers and encourage women to visit centers such as the Womens Care Center.

We try to make sure that we have a posture of just offering help and not shoving information onto people, she said. We don't yell at people.

But Curry Grubb worries about the effect activity outside the Lincoln clinic might have on patients. She never wants women or staff to avoid coming to the Planned Parenthood clinic because of a crowd outside. In response, a few more clinic escorts than usual are stationed outside.

Our focus is always making sure that our patients and our staff are safe. That's our No. 1 priority, she said. No matter how many people are there, that's where our focus is going to be.
A judge has ordered an Omaha man charged with second-degree murder to be held on no bail.

Jordan Humphrey, 21, is accused of fatally shooting Dayton Wenz, 18, on Saturday night near 34th and Davenport streets.

Police were called to the area about 11 p.m. Saturday to investigate a report of gunshots. Officers found Wenz suffering from gunshot wounds. Wenz, a 2022 graduate of Omaha Central High School, was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center, where he died.

Prosecutor Eric Fabian from the Douglas County Attorneys Office said in court Tuesday that Wenz and Humphrey had met up so that Wenz could buy Xanax from Humphrey. Wenz reportedly grabbed the bag of Xanax that Humphrey was holding and ran off.

Fabian said two people who were with Humphrey, Schuyler Buckingham-Yeoman, 18, and Alicia Granneman, 19, followed Wenz, yelling out his location to Humphrey. Humphrey eventually caught up with Wenz and fired a gun at him seven times, Fabian said.

Buckingham-Yeoman is accused of hiding the gun Humphrey is alleged to have used in his basement. He also is accused of hiding the getaway car in his garage. Granneman is accused of helping hide the car.

Douglas County Judge Thomas Harmon ordered that Buckingham-Yeoman and Granneman each be held on $500,000 bail, meaning each of them would have to put up 10%, or $50,000, to be released.

Humphrey also has been charged with use of a weapon to commit a felony, possession of a defaced firearm, tampering with evidence and two counts of drug possession with intent to distribute.

At a vigil Tuesday afternoon near the spot Wenz was killed, dozens of family, friends and well-wishers described Wenz as kind, funny and someone who kids looked up to before his life was derailed by drug addiction.

He was my shining star, said Wenzs mother, Sarah. Hes already very missed.

The slaying was the 13th homicide recorded this year in Omaha. That compares with 23 homicides at this time in 2021 and 25 in 2020.

World-Herald staff writer Dan Crisler contributed to this report.
LAUREL  As residents of Laurel trudge forward after losing four of their neighbors in a quadruple homicide last week, friends and loved ones of the victims are remembering them for the positive impact they had on the town of 1,000 people in southeastern Cedar County.

Gene Twiford, 86; Janet Twiford, 85; Dana Twiford, 55; and Michele Ebeling, 53, were shot at their homes within blocks of each other in the early-morning hours Thursday, according to police. The suspect, 42-year-old Jason Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling, allegedly attempted to burn down both Ebelings home and the Twiford house after the victims were shot.

Laurel and surrounding communities have offered waves of support to the victims families, holding a prayer vigil Saturday, contributing to funds for funeral expenses and embracing the families through phone calls, texts and social media.

Ebeling and the Twifords were well-liked by many Laurel residents.

Ebeling, who enjoyed collecting and amassed about 500 salt and pepper shakers, lived at 209 Elm St. for about two years with her boyfriend, Brian Welch, who works as a trucker.

One of Ebelings brothers, Mike Shankles, said Ebeling often would tag along with Welch when he traveled out of state for work. Welch wasnt home on the morning of Aug. 4 when Ebeling was killed, Shankles said.

Shankles said his sister was a loving person who wouldnt hurt a fly.

If she met you, shed be your friend for life, he said. She had a heart of gold.

Ebeling, whose kids all live out of state, would tell people how proud she was of her two children and two step-children. Any accomplishments the kids had that they shared with their mother were passed along to Ebelings friends in Laurel, daughter Richele Ebeling said.

Richele Ebeling said her mother always would call to check in. The last such phone call with her mother, she said, was the evening of Aug. 3, about seven hours before Michele was killed.

Im so grateful that the universe gave us one last time to hear her voice, Richele Ebeling said.

She started a GoFundMe to help the family pay for funeral expenses.

The Twifords were staples in the Laurel community. Gene Twiford, who lived near or in Laurel his entire life, was a military veteran and deeply involved with American Legion Post 54 in Laurel.

Jim Thompson, another veteran and a friend of the Twifords, said he knew the family for about 40 years. Gene Twiford was always around, Thompson said, and desired to lend a hand with anything someone needed.

The Twifords, like Thompson, attended United Lutheran Church in Laurel. Thompson said he enjoyed seeing Janet, Genes wife, and Dana, the couples daughter, because they always had a smile on their face.

Wayne Freeman, another veteran and Post 54 member, said he had known the Twifords for nearly 50 years. Gene Twiford was crafty and enjoyed welding, Freeman said, and the American Legion was really lucky for all that he contributed.

He crafted flag stands, metal posts and shelves for military trophies and medallions.

And nothing was ever done shoddy, Freeman said. He would build something with the goal for it to last 1,000, 2,000 years.

You never heard the word no come out of Twifords mouth if you asked him to help with something, Freeman said.

He liked helping people wherever he could, Freeman said. It didnt matter what it was.

Regg Ward, a childhood neighbor of Gene Twifords, said he often would see Janet and Dana around town. The two women were the friendliest of people, he said.

Janet Twiford was active in United Lutherans Women of the Church, a charter member of Sarah Circle, and served on the church council, according to her obituary. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, in which she held several positions over 37 years, including District 3 president of the auxiliary.

But the titles Janet Twiford was most proud of were grandma and great-grandma, and some of her most cherished times were days with her granddaughters.

Dana Twiford worked at Hillcrest Care Center in the kitchen  a place where she loved talking and laughing with the residents during the 20 years she was employed there. She was a lifelong member of United Lutheran Church and was an avid Husker volleyball fan, never missing a match on TV.

Memorial services for the Twifords will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at United Lutheran Church, 305 W. Third St. in Laurel. Visitation will be at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Services for Ebeling are pending.

Freeman said Laurel, a town with a population of about 1,000 people, has had its share of bad happen but nothing like this.

Weve got a dark cloud over town, but were working to get our spirit back, he said. We will get that spirit back.
RACINE  For the last 30 years, Chad Lewis has been searching the world for the strange and bizarre. And boy, did he find it.

More than I could ever have imagined, he said.

Lewis will be at the Racine Public Library on Thursday to share the stories of his adventures during a Paranormal Wisconsin presentation.

The program is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to anyone brave enough to show up, he joked. This is going to be a visual road trip to some of the weirdest places Wisconsin has to offer.

During the presentation, Lewis plans to share aspects of the various investigations he has conducted, which includes weird photographs, history and folklore.

There will be popular stories, the ones everyone enjoys hearing, but there may also be folklore people have not heard, such as abandoned Wisconsin roads that are allegedly haunted by ghost chickens.

Lewis will also include some paranormal Racine, including stories from the historic DeKoven Center and alleged Lake Michigan sea serpents.

History

Lewis is a native of Eau Claire and credits the interest in the paranormal to his upbringing in Wisconsin, which boasts not one but three capitals for most UFO sightings.

He happened to live near one of those capitals, Elmwood, and while in high school he began to wonder why so many people were seeing UFOs. Lewis traveled there and interviewed people, trying to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Lewis went off to college and began studying psychology, which only deepened his curiosity as to why some people believe in all this and others do not.

Thirty years later, he said there is not one answer but a whole plethora of reasons.

First, if someone had a mysterious experience, they are more likely to believe in the paranormal or supernatural over someone who did not have an experience.

Lewis was able to increase his understanding with his masters thesis in which he studied the beliefs of other students about the paranormal.

Second, if your friend or family member had a mysterious experience, whether it be with a ghost, UFO or monster, you are more likely to believe in the possibility of it being real, even if you didnt experience it yourself, he said.

Think about it, he continued, if grandma tells a ghost story she experienced, youre likely to believe her and thus believe the story.

Otherwise, theres no rhyme or reason for who believes and who doesnt, he said.

In terms of who is more likely to have a paranormal experience, that runs the gamut  everyone from people who are highly-educated professionals to folks with little formal education, believers and non-believers alike.

Lewis said he has heard people say, I dont believe in UFOs, but this is what I saw.

Road trip

Typically, there will be a variety of people with a mix of different beliefs who come out to hear Lewis presentations.

I think a lot of people who come to my programs are not die-hard believers or researchers, he said. Theyre really just curious.

It is meant to be fun and he wants people to know that they should not take his word for things; rather, he hopes they will take the time to see for themselves.

His advice is: Go out and explore for yourself. Does Wisconsin really deserve to be the UFO capital? You decide.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, people may not be traveling far, so it may be a good time to explore the local area, state and region.

People are craving to go to some of the unique places that you cant find anywhere else, Lewis said.

Many places are now additionally embracing their unique history, no matter how bizarre, which makes it easier for people to visit.

For example, Elmwood  the place that set Lewis on his 30-year adventure  has been hosting an annual UFO Days event since 1978.

Tales

Lewis has spent decades hanging out in creepy places at night, listening to people describe their supernatural experiences, trying to separate fact from fiction. So what does he believe?

He said he has a combination of beliefs. For example, he put the possibility that there are sea serpents at the top of his list due to the potential there is a species that has yet to be discovered or one people thought was extinct.

The potential for phantom chickens haunting old dirt roads? Well, that one could be a little tougher to believe. And yet, there are so many people who have reported seeing these ghost chickens.

These are rational, logical people, and they believe they have experienced it, Lewis said.

But whether there are actually ghost chickens, he cannot say. He can only say he did not experience them himself.

He explained he is there to sort fact from fiction, but he is also the collector of the stories, trying to discern what the stories mean to society.

If you say you saw a vampire roaming the local cemetery, its very difficult for me to prove or disprove that, he said.

Lewis said he gave up trying to figure it all out years ago

If you approach it that way, you get burned out very easily, he said. Most of the time when Im at these places, nothing ever happens.

Instead, he is enjoying the undertaking and collecting stories.

I see it as an adventure, he said, rather than an endgame.

CORRECTION: This article was corrected to reflect a start time of 6:30 p.m. for the program.
RACINE  The city is considering a new ordinance that will make disorderly conduct toward/harassment of election workers an offense with possible fines of $300-$1,000.

The Finance & Personnel Committee voted on Monday to recommend the City Council adopt the ordinance at the next meeting of the council on August 16.

City Clerk Tara McMenamin (formerly Coolidge) said the ordinance would protect everyone working during an election, which includes those working on mobile election units.

McMenamin said there has been an increase in disorderly conduct during elections.

There is a lot of misinformation out there, so tensions are high on both sides, she said and added that election officials and workers are worried.

McMenamin said she did not want those working during an election to think they had to subject themselves to yelling or other misconduct.

They are there to serve democracy, she said. I want to make sure were defending them.

Reaction

Alderman Maurice Horton was supportive of the effort.

In the district where I vote, theres a lot of elderly people, and I dont think they deserve to be harassed or become fearful of coming back to work, he said.

Alderman Henry Perez, who was in attendance but does not sit on the committee, wondered who would be defining disorderly conduct and who got to decide if something rose to the level of disorderly conduct.

City Attorney Scott Letteney said disorderly conduct was already defined under the statute.

He also explained that while an election worker would make the decision to call the police, whether or not the accused actually received a citation would be up to the police.

Ordinance

The new ordinance reads in part:

Conduct toward election official. (a) No person shall, in a public or private place, engage in violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud, or otherwise disorderly conduct directed at or toward an individual working in their capacity as an election official or based on their position as an election official, under circumstances in which such conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance.

(b) No person shall knowingly interfere with or obstruct any individual working in their capacity as an election official in the performance of such individuals duties related to the conduct of an election.

(c) No person shall send an individual working in their capacity as an election official or based on their position as an election official a telecommunication message, with the reasonable expectation that such individual will receive the message, using any harassing, violent, abusive, threatening, indecent, or profane language or image, or any other message in which such telecommunication message tends to cause or provoke a disturbance.

d) Definitions. i. Election official has the same definition provided in Wis. Stats.  5.02(4e),

(e) Penalty for violation. i. Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction for a first offense, forfeit not less than $300.00 nor more than $1000.00.

ii. Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction for a second or subsequent offense within one year, forfeit not less than $1,000.00 nor more than $5,000.00.
RACINE  City of Racine voters resoundingly rejected an increase in taxes by $2 million cumulatively in order to hire more police.

The referendum would have funded 11 positions at the Racine Police Department, which were eliminated in 2020. The city administration says the eliminations were due to budget restraints and consistently decreasing support from the state, while critics say it was due to poor fiscal management.

The referendum would also have provided around $500,000 for other crime prevention initiatives and would have allowed an additional $150,000 per year, every year afterward, to cover increases in salaries and benefits.

Had the referendum passed, for a homeowner with a home assessed at $135,000, the tax increase would have represented approximately $71.55 per year.

2,846 Racine voters cast ballots in favor of the referendum, according to Tuesdays unofficial count, compared to 3,695 voting against the referendum.

Mayor Cory Mason said the feedback he received from the public was conflicted. Generally, people wanted more policing, but they did not want their property taxes increased.

Their fiscal concerns outweighed their public safety concerns, he said.

Opposition

One of the people who voted no on the referendum was Alderman Henry Perez, who is a retired Miami police officer and wants to see the RPD better-funded, but not with an increase in property taxes.

He said he wanted to see the council prioritize public safety in the budget.

Perez was also critical of the way the city used federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. He said the city used the money for feel good projects when it should have gone to necessary spending, such as public safety.

However, ARPA funds could not have been used to permanently fund the 11 positions eliminated in 2020, since it was temporary money, but it could have been used to strengthen public safety. Perez said the money could have been used for a task force, as one option.

Fiscal

Alderman CJ Rouse described the voters he interacted with as angry and appalled that the city was asking to raise their property taxes.

He said his district has a lot of people who are on fixed incomes as well as people who are struggling financially. Neither group felt they could afford an increase in property taxes at this time, he continued.

He also said even the folks living in apartment buildings were concerned about what an increase in property taxes could due to rent.

Rouse said voters also expressed concern that if the funds from the increased taxes were not used, that money would be rolled over into general government spending.

He also heard from some voters who intended to vote against the referendum because they do not support law enforcement. He stressed, though, that those were few, and the majority of comments he heard expressed concern about the increase in property taxes.

Alternatives

There are alternatives to funding the 11 positions that were eliminated.

Mason pointed out the state is sitting on a historic budget surplus, which could be used to increase aid to municipalities in order to shore up law enforcement budgets during a time when there has been an increase in crime.

The surplus is projected to be $3.8 billion.

He said for those in the legislature who purport to support police, here was the opportunity to do something meaningful and walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

Efforts by Gov. Tony Evers to use the surplus  for education and to send checks to voters  have been rejected by the Wisconsin Legislature, which is firmly in GOP control. Republicans plan to build a plan to spend the money next year, and hope to do that with a Republican governor instead of Evers.

Polls

Relatively few Racine residents voted in the election.

In a community with approximately 77,000 people, only 35,285 people are registered to vote, and only 6,541 voted in the referendum  just 8.5% of the population.

It hurts my heart to see it, Rouse said of the low voter turnout; though, he acknowledged it was part of the trend of people disengaging themselves from civic activities.

Alderman Marcus West admitted he missed many a primary as a young man because he did not understand how local and state elections impacted the community.

West noted that communities of color are more likely to vote in national elections and then skip local and state elections.

If we want change in the state, we have to go to the polls, and vote for people who match our ideology, he said. It is important for us to get out in primaries and make our voices heard.

West added the black community has a vision for itself, but in order for that vision to come to fruition, in order for change to come, they had to show up and vote in all the elections.

Forward

Rouse said the way forward to increase civic engagement should start in small ways, including the way officials interact with the public.

As an example, he pointed out if a member of the council assisted a resident with reporting a burned-out streetlight, and then the streetlight was fixed, that person has engaged with the city in a positive way and might be open to more interactions.

Rouse said he was currently on a mission to get more people to public meetings where their voices could be heard  with particular reference to public comments  and perhaps down the road with a run for an elected position.

The main thing I want is to see people engaged, he said.

The question The text of the referendum question that appeared on ballots Tuesday was as follows: "Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of Racine for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2023, is limited to 0.50%, based on the Citys best estimate, which results in a levy of $56,682,358. Shall the City of Racine be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2023, for the purpose of increasing authorized sworn police personnel by 11 police officers and for the implementation of additional crime detection and prevention programs, by a total of 3.53%, based on the Citys best estimate, which results in a levy of $58,682,358 in 2023, and an additional $150,000 per year for each fiscal year thereafter?"

Future

Mason indicated prior to Tuesdays vote that the referendum being rejected could lead to cuts to services next year or in the years to follow.

Due to state legislation that ties property tax increases to net new construction, the city is limited in its ability to raise revenue because it has so little net new construction.

Mason called referendums one of our only paths forward for additional resources, outside of net new construction.

This was the second failed City of Racine referendum in two years. In November 2020, a similar referendum aiming to raise taxes in order to fund public services failed by a vote of 19,106 to 10,198.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Robin Vos appears to have made a complete 180-degree turn on Michael Gableman. In July 2021, Vos called Gableman well qualified. On Tuesday, Vos called Gableman an embarrassment and indicated he wants to fire Gableman.

Vos more or less single-handedly created the Office of the Special Counsel and picked Gableman to lead it, with a budget of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The goal of the OSC? To investigate potential irregularities and/or illegalities in the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin.

Vos and Gableman agree there were problems with the operation of the 2020 election, but they disagree about what to do next.

Gableman has repeatedly asserted that retroactively decertifying the election is possible and should be considered. Vos has been steadfast in saying that decertification is not possible.

Vos initially expressed confidence in Gableman to uncover wrongdoing if there was any. Gableman now says Vos never wanted a real investigation into the 2020 election in Wisconsin.

Less than a week before Tuesdays Election Day, Gableman endorsed Adam Steen, the Republican challenger to Vos.

After declaring victory Tuesday night, Vos said the former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice he hired is an embarrassment to the state. Vos said he plans to meet with the Republican Assembly caucus Aug. 16 to discuss next steps, which may include ending Gablemans contract.

Gableman asserts that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, even though neither he nor anyone else has uncovered substantial evidence of widespread instances of votes being cast by those who legally could not vote.

Even with the increased attention, the number of election fraud cases prosecuted in Wisconsin and nationwide are in line with the numbers from previous presidential elections.

How Vos opinion of Gableman has shifted in 13 months, in quotes

June 26, 2021: Vos announces at an annual GOP convention in Wisconsin Dells that Gableman will lead the probe.

July 27: Vos says, We have people who are very well qualified to do this work of probing the 2020 election. Lets give them the time to actually accomplish what weve asked for.

July 30: Justice Gableman will have the resources and ability to determine the need for any future adjustments, Vos says in a statement, indicating Gablemans wide breadth of freedom to investigate as he chooses.

Sept. 28: Vos says: I am supremely confident that at the end of the day, Justice Gableman will produce a report that will show that there are issues with the 2020 election, where potentially changes could be made to make it better ... The goal has nothing to do with overturning the election. Its to make sure we have every opportunity to make sure that the results that occurred in 2020 were accurate.

April 7, 2022: Gableman begins to publicly display distrust in Vos. In an appearance on the War Room podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to Trump, Gableman encourages Bannons listeners to contact Vos office and pressure him to keep supporting and funding the election probe.

I cant think of anything more important (than) to thank Speaker Vos for starting up what became the Office for Special Counsel. And to show our appreciation to Speaker Vos for my continuation I would ask your audience to call Speaker Vos office, Gableman told Bannons audience. There must be more investigation. We havent even had the benefit of having any of the wrongdoers comply with our subpoenas. They gave us some stuff initially, but it was pablum, virtually all stuff that they had publicly released before.

May 11: The investigative side of the OSC is paused. It is to remain open likely only as long as litigation the office is involved in weaves through the courts.

Late Tuesday night: Vos told WISN-TV, I hired him (Gableman) on recommendations, thinking we were going to have someone who was a good, articulate, independent voice  We asked (of Gableman) two simple things  dont get involved in politics, and please try to make sure you focus on the investigation, not being on TV. He couldnt help himself but to try to inject his own opinions into this race.

Also Tuesday night, an Associated Press reporter asked Vos if he regretted hiring Gableman. After a pause, Vos replied, Im going to have to think about that.

The timeline itself

When the OSC was launched in spring 2021, Vos expected its work to be done by October of that year. The OSC remains open today, although its investigative work is reportedly concluded. Gablemans original contract was slated to begin July 1, 2021, and end Oct. 1, 2021.

Aug. 25, 2021: Vos says Gableman will conduct a swift, complete and thorough investigation.

Oct. 19: Vos tells Wisconsin Public Radio that the investigation will likely be wrapped by the end of 2021.

Oct. 26: A week after saying the OSC would likely be done by the end of 2021, Vos says it might have to go longer.

March 8, 2022: A new contract extends the review through April.

April 25: Without using Vos name, Trump puts on pressure to keep the OSC open in a public statement. Anyone calling themselves a Republican in Wisconsin should support the continued investigation without interference, the former president says in a statement.

April 26: Vos said the OSC will continue.

May 11: The investigative side of the OSC is paused, but the OSC is not closed. Gablemans pay is slashed from $11,000 per month to $5,500 per month. The OSC is to remain open, Vos says, as numerous pieces of litigation continue. At least five lawsuits related to the OSC are still active today.

Costs

The actual cost to taxpayers for the OSC when all is said and done will likely be at least double the original estimate.

Sept. 1, 2021: A copy of the OSC contract shows a budget of $676,000.

May 31, 2022: Newly released invoices show the state had already spent $896,500 on the probe.

July 28 and Aug. 2: In two separate instances, two Dane County judges order the state (and thus taxpayers) to cover attorney fees to the watchdog group American Oversight, which had to fight for OSC records to be released, $98,000 and $160,000. These payments would then push the cumulative taxpayer costs over $1.15 million.

On Trump

Vos stepped up his efforts to have the 2020 election investigated after Trump attacked Vos and other Wisconsin Republican leaders by name.

Despite aiming to curry favor with the former president last year, Vos was openly not been the biggest Trump fan before he was elected president.

August 2016: Vos said it was a sad day in America when Trump won the GOP nomination for president, although Vos continued to support Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

July 23-25, 2021: Trump said in a statement Wisconsin Republican leaders Robin Vos, (Senate President) Chris Kapenga, and (Senate Majority Leader) Devin LeMahieu, are working hard to cover up election corruption, in Wisconsin ... Dont fall for their lies! These REPUBLICAN leaders need to step up and support the people who elected them by providing them a full forensic investigation. If they dont, I have little doubt that they will be primaried (sic) and quickly run out of office.

Vos and LeMahieu responded soon after by saying Trump was misinformed.

(All of the Republican incumbents who were challenged in Tuesdays primary won their elections, although Steen, who Trump endorsed, came within three percentage points of beating Vos.)

Aug. 21: Vos travels to meet with Trump personally. They pose together for a photo on Trumps private jet. Afterward, Vos said in a statement: It was an honor to be invited to travel by private plane with President Trump and top staff to attend his rally in Alabama. I provided him details about our robust efforts in Wisconsin to restore full integrity and trust in elections.

July 18, 2022: Trump begins going on the attack. The Democrats would like to sincerely thank Robin, and all his fellow RINOs (Republicans In Name Only), for letting them get away with murder. A Rigged & Stolen Election!

July 19: Twenty-one days before Election Day, Vos tells WISN-TV political reporter Matt Smith, I think we all know Donald Trump is Donald Trump. Theres very little we can do to try to control or predict what he will do.

July 29: Vos tells The Journal Times: The single thing that Donald Trump is obsessed with is the 2020 election. I have been consistent for a year, saying we constitutionally cannot decertify the election. Now, when people are threatened by someone who has a loud microphone, a lot of times they buckle, right? I am proud that I have stood for what I believe in and what I know to be true in the face of withering criticism from President Trump. Now, he hasnt criticized me for the fact that weve cut taxes or that Im pro-life or that Ive worked harder than most people for his election in 2020. He just wants me to do something I cannot do.

Tuesday: Vos told the Associated Press that his win in the primary over Steen proved that lawmakers dont have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

Gablemans there-and-back-again on partisanship

While the OSC has long been viewed as a partisan endeavor  supported really only by those on the right, and not universally  Gableman has abandoned all semblance of being nonpartisan. Before being hired, he gave voice to Trumps baseless claims that he actually won the 2020 election, but then Gableman claimed to be a nonpartisan actor, before giving up on trying to appear balanced.

Gableman served one 10-year term on the state Supreme Court, running as a Republican-backed conservative in 2008, and did not seek reelection in 2018.

Nov. 7, 2020: Months prior to the creation of the OSC and four days after the presidential election, Gableman attended a pro-Trump rally and said, I dont think anyone here can think of anything more systematically unjust than a stolen election. That day he also said, Our elected leaders, your elected leaders, have allowed unelected bureaucrats at the Wisconsin Elections Commission to steal our vote.

He defended his comments to WISN-TV in an interview that aired Aug. 1, 2021, arguing he didnt say the election was stolen. He did, however, acknowledge that most of the attendees at the rally did believe the election was stolen and he did not refute that unfounded claim. Gableman, as recently as Monday, now says outright the election was stolen because drop boxes were used to collect absentee ballots in 2020. I believe they facilitated fraud and a stolen election.

There remains no evidence regarding how many ballots delivered via drop box were in favor of Biden vs. how many were in favor of Trump.

Aug. 1, 2021: During the interview with WISN-TV, Gableman also said, I firmly believe that this is not a partisan issue, that everybody should be interested in making sure that going forward, our voting and ballot system is transparent and honest.

Monday: In the latest of his appearances on Bannons podcast, Gableman lambasted leftists and so-called Republicans for not supporting the position that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Gableman has continued saying that decertification is lawful, but he told Bannon that moving forward on that is a political decision.

Actual election law experts and the legislatures own attorneys have repeatedly said decertification is a legal impossibility. In October 2021, Gableman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  before he blacklisted the outlet  that he did not have a comprehensive understanding or even any understanding of how elections work.
MOUNT PLEASANT  With a landslide election victory Tuesday over a man at the center of spreading conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election, state Sen. Van Wanggaard is poised to become the longest-tenured state senator to ever represent Racine County.

Assuming Wanggaard, R-Racine, successfully serves all four years of the term hes expected to be formally elected to this fall, he will have served for 14 consecutive years. The current record holder for longest tenure representing Senate District 21 is the late Democrat Henry Dorman.

Dorman, a Racine native, represented District 21 for 13 years. He was elected in a special election in 1965 and lost in a primary in 1978. He died in 1998.

District 21 for almost a century has included Racine, although the districts boundaries have shifted more than a dozen times in the states history. It currently includes most of Racine and Kenosha counties outside of the cities of Racine and Kenosha themselves.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Tuesdays unofficial vote tally found that Wanggaard received nearly three times as many votes as his opponent: 20,194 to 6,831.

In a brief speech Tuesday evening, Wanggaard indicated he was never worried he might lose the primary and spent his time thanking supporters, staff and loved ones before pulling Assembly Speaker Robin Vos into an embrace.

Who is the longest-tenured state senator ever? Fred Risser, a Madison Democrat, served in the state Assembly from January 1957 until December 1962, when he became a state senator. From then until his retirement in 2021, he never lost an election, giving him a record 65 uninterrupted years in the state Legislature. He was the last World War II veteran to serve as a state legislator anywhere in the U.S. "No one will ever catch Fred," Scott Kelly, chief of staff to state Sen. Van Wanggaard, said in a text to a reporter. Risser is still alive. He's 95.

Wanggaard was first elected in 2010, but was voted out in a recall election two years later.

In 2014, the Democrat who defeated Wanggaard, John Lehman, did not seek reelection because he was in the middle of a bid to become Wisconsins next lieutenant governor, leaving the door open for Wanggaard to more easily win his seat back.

Wanggaard was reelected in 2018 and again won Tuesdays primary. With no Democrats running in the district, hes a shoe-in to retain his seat following the November general election.

Losing Tuesday to Wanggaard was Jay Stone.

Stone is a hypnotherapist who lives in Kenosha County and has been central to planting seeds of doubt in the results of the 2020 presidential election throughout Wisconsin. Hes the vice president of the HOT (Honest, Open, Transparent) Government group and has used that platform to share claims about what he calls the Obama Crime Family, for the Obamas support of using nonprofit donations to fund municipal election efforts, and has been praised on Fox News by Michael Gableman, the former state Supreme Court justice leading the taxpayer-funded review of the 2020 election that so far has uncovered no evidence of widespread fraud.

Stone was hired by Gableman as a consultant for that review and was paid $3,250, watchdog American Oversight uncovered.

HOT Governments president is Harry Wait, the Racine County man the state Department of Justice is investigating for apparent election fraud after Wait admitted to requesting absentee ballots online using the names of elected officials without their permission.

Despite a consensus of the legislatures attorneys, elected officials themselves and election law experts, Stone and Gableman  as well as former President Donald Trump  have furthered claims that the 2020 presidential election should be decertified.

Wanggaard, in a statement to The Journal Times last week, said As I have said, repeatedly after thoroughly investigating the subject, there is no legal or constitutional authority for the Wisconsin Legislature to decertify 2020 election. Its not legally or constitutionally possible.

Stone and Adam Steen ran for office alongside one another. While it was much closer, Steen also lost in a primary election Tuesday to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, according to the unofficial initial tally of the votes. Trump did not endorse Stone, but he did endorse Steen.
Rotana, a leading hotel management company in the region with over 100 properties across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkiye, has announced its foray into the Algerian market with Azure Rotana Resort & Spa.



The resort in Algerias port city of Oran is set to open in March 2023.



Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Azure Rotana Resort & Spa is in close proximity to the city's iconic landmarks including Fort Santa Cruz and Place du 1er Novembre. Combining authenticity and contemporary designs, the property will boast 185 spacious rooms and suites including eight sea view ambassador suites.



Guests will enjoy a wide array of food and beverage options from five outlets including a lobby lounge, a shisha terrace, an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar, and a specialty restaurant.



Guy Hutchinson, President and CEO of Rotana said: As we continue expanding our footprint in the region, Azure Rotana Resort & Spa represents a key milestone for us as our first hotel in Algeria. North Africa has tremendous potential, and we look forward to further growing our portfolio in the region. Setting new standards in design and hospitality, our new resort will ensure we deliver on our brand promise of Treasure Time and make for a great destination holiday for families and visitors to enjoy.



Furthermore, Azure Rotana Resort & Spa will offer a range of services and amenities including a state-of-the-art spa and treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, and a kids club. The grand ballroom will cater for up to 300 people in addition to three fully equipped meeting venues and a business centre to answer any business need.



Ali Saradjia, CEO of Chez Saradjia Group, owning company of Azure Rotana Resort & Spa, added: Rotana is our partner of choice to help realize our aspirations for the hospitality landscape in Algeria. With their experience in hotel management, we are confident of achieving our project goals that will serve the tourism and hospitality sectors even further. We look forward to providing guests with a memorable experience taking advantage of Azures stunning beachfront setting.



As Rotana continues to expand in the region and diversify its portfolio, Azure Rotana Resort & Spa represents the groups commitment to development in North Africa and beyond. The soon-to-be-opened resort & spa will make for the perfect option for both business and leisure guests, a Rotana statement said.  TradeArabia News Service
The vehicle, purchased using donated funds from the Center for Tech and Civic Life, has been used since 2021 as a remote polling place and voter registration station. It remains a target of right-wing conspiracy theories regarding ballot stuffing despite there being no evidence of that.

A City of Racine referendum backed by the mayor and the majority of the City Council that would have increased taxes to pay for more police failed by more than 800 votes in an election that saw only 6,541 ballots cast.

During early voting in the primary election that ended Tuesday, the vehicle was available for absentee voters at 21 sites around the City of Racine on 11 dates for three hours at a time.

The complaint, filed by Brown and the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, alleges that the vehicle violates a state law. The law states, in part, that the designated (alternate early voting) site shall be located as near as practicable to the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners and no site may be designated that affords an advantage to any political party.

Brown claimed, when talking to a reporter Tuesday night, that having early voting sites that are not in the clerks office itself (located inside City Hall) are only allowed if the clerks office is not available. The city used the Mobile Election Unit in addition the clerks office throughout early voting in the primary election that just concluded.

The complaint calls for the MEU to stop being used entirely.

The City of Racine rejects this argument and has no plans to stop using the Mobile Election Unit in future elections unless it is told otherwise.

Prior to purchasing and using the Mobile Election Unit, the city had vetted the legalities with our attorneys, City Clerk Tara McMenamin said in an email Tuesday afternoon. Our legal staff and myself believe we are in compliance with the law. Until an official ruling is provided, or new laws created, we will continue to provide accessible voting to all those legally able to vote in the City of Racine.

The complaint filed by WILL with the Wisconsin Elections Commission Wednesday alleges that Conducting an election in this fashion leads to voter confusion, creates opportunities for partisan advantage and directly contradicts (state law).

WILL alleges that the locations picked for early voting afforded an advantage to the Democratic Party because they tended to be in more heavily left-leaning districts.

Whether Racine intended for partisan bias in their selection of locations is not a component of the law and therefore irrelevant to the issue at hand, states a WILL analysis.

State Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, applauded the complaint in a statement Tuesday, tying it to a complaint he filed against the city April 6.

Wanggaards complaint alleges that the city is illegally allowing ballot harvesting, citing an injunction from a Waukesha judge who interpreted state law to not allow ballots to be delivered by someone who isnt the voter. McMenamin said that the ruling Wanggaard cited has no effect on Racine.

The judges injunction called on WEC to pull back guidance issued to clerks on how they could accept ballots delivered by someone who isnt the voter. WEC complied, but the injunction did not have a practical statewide effect.

Just like with their illegal ballot harvesting in the spring election, Racine is again breaking the law with its mobile voting van, Wanggaard said in a statement Wednesday. Abraham Lincoln once said, A law without enforcement is just a suggestion. It is clear that the City of Racine believes election laws are merely suggestions to be manipulated to advantage Democrats politically. They are not. Like all laws, the election laws must be enforced, or they dont need to exist at all.

I applaud WILL for filing this complaint, and call on the Wisconsin Election Commission to issue its ruling quickly. We cannot allow Racine to cheat in another election.

WEC still has not ruled on Wanggaards complaint as the commission continues to work through a backlog of complaints filed in the last two years.

Two other arguments raised in the complaint include:

State law tends to refer to polling places as a building and not the inside of a van.

That state law says absentee ballots cast early are to be kept in the clerks office or at the alternate site until they are to be counted. Brown alleges that keeping the ballots in the vehicle as it moves from place to place violates chain of custody requirements. The complaint refers to the location where the vehicle would be parked as the polling place itself, and thus keeping the ballots in the van and then driving to another location violates state law.

The city said the second argument is baseless.

After each visit, they (the ballots) are brought back to a secure location. They are never left in the MEU unattended, according to McMenamin.
1. Yes. The new high school has made it a must. Thousands of people are impacted..

2. Yes. Even if it means revising some budgets, these entities must move on the project.

3. No. Its been known for years that the road was a problem.. Why the urgency now?

4. No. If prioritizing the road means more taxes, forget it. The project will just have to wait.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say until school has been in session for a few months.

Vote

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Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) has signed a consultancy agreement with Lufthansa Consulting (LCG) for the latter to provide business optimization and process improvement consultancy services.



A signing ceremony took place recently between BAS and LCG at the BAS headquarters in the presence of BAS CEO, Mohammed Khalil, alongside Alexander Manakos, Head of Market Middle East at Lufthansa Consulting.



To assist BAS in its transformation, LCG will conduct a comprehensive study of the companys current operating model with the aim of developing transformative initiatives that aim towards improving efficiency and achieving operational excellence.



Mohammed Khalil, CEO of BAS, stated: We are honoured to partner with Lufthansa Consulting (LCG), and welcome their assistance on our upcoming transformation. Through this partnership, we aim to further enhance the companys operations in order to provide the best-in-class services in the field.



Alexander Manakos, Head of Market Middle East at Lufthansa Consulting, said: Lufthansa Consulting is honoured to be entrusted with this important project and we are very much looking forward to working in a dedicated partnership with BAS. Our intention is to achieve sustainable improvements in BAS performance in order to strengthen the competitiveness of the company and to be ready for any future challenges.



In order to accomplish this, we have selected a project team that consists of experienced individuals, all with practical industry backgrounds. They will act as a team with their BAS counterparts and spend the majority of their project time on-site in Bahrain, he added.



The new partnership with LCG will enable BAS to transform the organization through the adoption of a more stream-lined method of operation, which aligns with the companys ongoing strategy to achieve long-term operational excellence.  TradeArabia News Service
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A fear of attacks that rippled through Muslim communities nationwide after the fatal shootings of four men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, gave way to shock and sadness when it turned out the suspect in the killings was himself a Muslim.

Muhammad Syed, 51, of Albuquerque, was arrested Monday after a traffic stop more than 100 miles from his Albuquerque home. The Afghan immigrant denied any connection to the crimes that shook the city and its small Muslim community.

In court documents, in fact, he told police that he was so unnerved by the slayings that he was driving to Houston to find a new home for his family.

But investigators say they have ample evidence to prove his guilt, though they have yet to uncover the motive. The first ambush-style shooting happened in November and was followed by three more between July 26 and Aug. 5.

According to the criminal complaint, police determined that bullet casings found in Syeds vehicle matched the caliber of the weapons believed to have been used in two of the killings and that casings found at the crime scenes were linked to guns found at Syeds home and in his vehicle.

Of the more than 200 tips police received, it was one from the Muslim community that led them to the Syed family, authorities said, noting that Syed knew the victims and an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings.

The news of Syed's arrest stunned Muslims in Albuquerque.

I wanted a little closure for the community, as we saw it going out of hand and people were really panicking, but, Ill be honest with you, I was shocked, said Samia Assed, a community organizer and member of the Islamic Center of New Mexico.

I was angry, frustrated, Assed said, adding that she did not want these heinous crimes to be in any way, in any capacity used to divide a community. But she also said the Muslim community in New Mexico is going to have a more united front.

Prosecutors on Wednesday filed a motion to detain Syed without bond pending trial. He is a very dangerous person, and the only way to protect the community is to hold the defendant in custody, they said.

Authorities seized a 9 mm handgun from his vehicle and found an AK-47-style rifle and a pistol of the same caliber at the family home while serving a search warrant, according to court documents, which indicate the weapons were legally purchased last month. Syed bought the rifle, and his son Shaheen Syed purchased the pistol, at a local gun shop.

On Wednesday, Shaheen Syed was charged by federal prosecutors with providing a false Florida address when he bought two rifles last year. He has denied any role in the killings and has not been charged in connection with them.

Muhammad Syed has lived in the United States for about five years, police said. When interviewed by detectives, Syed spoke through a Pashto interpreter and said he had been with the special forces in Afghanistan and fought against the Taliban, the criminal complaint said.

Police say they are looking at a number of possible motives. When asked at a news conference Tuesday if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.

Ahmad Assed, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, on Tuesday acknowledged that there was a marriage, but he cautioned against coming to any conclusions about the motivation of the suspect, who occasionally attended the centers mosque.

CNN interviewed Syeds daughter shortly before the announcement of his arrest. She said her husband was friends with two of the men who were killed. She also acknowledged her father initially was upset about her 2018 marriage but recently had been more accepting.

My father is not a person who can kill somebody, the woman told CNN, which did not disclose her identity to protect her safety. My father has always talked about peace. Thats why we are here in the United States. We came from Afghanistan, from fighting, from shooting.

The earliest case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, from Afghanistan.

Naeem Hussain, a 25-year-old man from Pakistan, was killed last Friday. His death came just days after those of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41, who were also from Pakistan and members of the same mosque.

Investigators consider Syed to be the primary suspect in the deaths of Naeem Hussain and Ahmadi but have not yet filed charges in those cases.

Ehsan Chahalmi, the brother-in-law of Naeem Hussain, said he was a generous, kind, giving, forgiving and loving soul that has been taken away from us forever.

Police said they were about to search Syeds Albuquerque home on Monday when they saw him drive away in a Volkswagen Jetta that investigators believe was used in at least one of the slayings.
LAUREL  As residents of Laurel trudge forward after losing four of their own in a quadruple homicide last week, friends and loved ones of the victims are remembering them for the positive impact they had on the town of 1,000 people in southeastern Cedar County.

Gene Twiford, 86; Janet Twiford, 85; Dana Twiford, 55; and Michele Ebeling, 53, were fatally shot at their respective homes within blocks of each other in the early morning hours Thursday, according to police. The suspect, 42-year-old Jason Jones, who lived across the street from Ebeling, allegedly attempted to burn down both Ebelings home and the Twiford household after the victims were shot.

Laurel and surrounding communities have offered waves of support to the victims families, holding a prayer vigil Saturday, contributing to funds for funeral expenses and embracing the families through phone calls, texts and social media.

Ebeling and each of the Twifords were well-liked  if not loved  by scores of Laurel residents.

Ebeling, who enjoyed collecting and amassed about 500 salt and pepper shakers, lived at 209 Elm St. for about two years with her boyfriend, Brian Welch, who works as a trucker.

One of Ebelings brothers, Mike Shankles, said Ebeling often would tag along with Welch when he traveled out of state for work. Welch wasnt home on the morning of Aug. 4 when Ebeling was killed, Shankles said, and Ebeling stayed in Laurel because she had an appointment scheduled with a cardiologist. She had been planning to have surgery on her knee later this month.

Shankles said his sister was a loving person who wouldnt hurt a fly.

If she met you, shed be your friend for life, he said. She had a heart of gold.

As affectionate as Ebeling was, she was just as bold. Both Mike Shankles and one of Ebelings two other brothers, John Shankles, said their sister was sassy and would say whatever came to mind at that moment  she was filterless.

Ebeling was a family person  someone who cared deeply about the successes of her loved ones, John Shankles said.

Richele Ebeling, Micheles daughter, said her mother loved Richele, her brother, William, and their two half-siblings dearly.

Ebeling, whose kids all live out of state, would tell people how proud she was of her children. Any accomplishments the kids had that they shared with their mother were passed along to Ebelings friends in Laurel, Richele Ebeling said. It wasnt simply because she wanted to brag about her kids, but rather, it was a genuine display of how much she cared about others triumphs.

Richele Ebeling said her mother always would call to check in. The last such phone call with her mother, she said, was the evening of Aug. 3, about seven hours before Michele was killed.

Im so grateful that the universe gave us one last time to hear her voice, Richele Ebeling said.

Despite having a job and home in Oklahoma, Richele Ebeling said she would make every effort to be at each of the suspects potential court proceedings in Hartington, where the Cedar County Courthouse is located, saying, I want justice.

The younger Ebeling started a GoFundMe to help the family pay for funeral expenses. Travel expenses to possible legal proceedings for the family, who live in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Hawaii, wont be cheap, either.

My mom meant so much to me, Richele Ebeling said. Im going to miss the calls, pictures and everything she did for me.

* * *

The Twifords were staples in the Laurel community. Gene Twiford, who lived near or in Laurel his entire life, was a military veteran and deeply involved himself with the American Legion Post 54 in Laurel.

Jim Thompson, another veteran and a friend of the Twifords, said he knew the family for about 40 years. Gene Twiford was always around, Thompson said, and desired to lend a hand with anything someone needed.

The Twifords, like Thompson, attended United Lutheran Church in Laurel. Thompson said he enjoyed seeing Janet, Genes wife, and Dana, the couples daughter, because they always had a smile on their faces.

Wayne Freeman, another veteran and Post 54 member, said he had known the Twifords for nearly 50 years. Gene Twiford was crafty and enjoyed welding, Freeman said, and the American Legion was really lucky for all that he contributed.

He crafted flag stands, metal posts and shelves for military trophies and medallions.

And nothing was ever done shoddy, Freeman said. He would build something with the goal for it to last 1,000, 2,000 years.

Twiford also attended nearly every local funeral that included military rites, and he was present at countless events entailing flag presentations.

Moreover, Twiford, who served as post commander in 2000, played a major role in the eventual signing by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts of paperwork renaming the states 432-mile stretch of Highway 20 as the Nebraska Medal of Honor Highway.

Freeman said he would need more fingers to count off the number of contributions Twiford made to Laurel and local veterans.

Twiford, Freeman said, orchestrated the creation of the Missing Wall, which consists of a list of dozens of veterans who served in the Vietnam War but dont have their names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall. Specifically, Twiford wanted to make sure the late Gary, Gregory and Kelly Sage of Niobrara had their names inscribed on the missing wall.

You never heard the word no come out of Twifords mouth if you asked him to help with something, Freeman said.

He liked helping people wherever he could, Freeman said. It didnt matter what it was.

Regg Ward, a childhood neighbor of Gene Twifords, said he often would see Janet and Dana around town. The two women were the friendliest of people, he said.

Janet Twiford was active in United Lutherans Women of the Church, a charter member of Sarah Circle and served on the church council, according to her obituary. She was an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, in which she held several positions over 37 years and served as District 3 president of the auxiliary.

But the titles Janet Twiford was most proud of were grandma and great-grandma, and some of her most cherished times were grandmas day with her granddaughters.

Dana Twiford worked at Hillcrest Care Center in the kitchen  a place where she greatly loved talking and laughing with the residents for the 20 years she was employed there. She was a lifelong member of United Lutheran Church and was an avid Husker volleyball fan, never missing a match on TV. She loved being an aunt and spoiled all of her nieces and nephews every chance she had.

Memorial services for the Twifords will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at United Lutheran Church, 305 W. Third St. in Laurel. Visitation will be at the church from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Services for Ebeling are pending.

Posts remembering the Twifords and Ebeling have flooded social media since their deaths. One expressed that the manner in which the Twifords died would not be their legacy. Instead, their legacy will be the impact they had on Laurel and surrounding communities.

Freeman said Laurel, a town with a population of about 1,000 people, has had its share of bad happen but nothing like this.

Weve got a dark cloud over town, but were working to get our spirit back, he said. We will get that spirit back.
KEARNEY  As the Wall That Heals rolled into Kearney Tuesday, some veterans of the Vietnam War said their memories today are more poignant than they were a lifetime ago when they fought the war.

Veterans remember the terror of firefights, the loneliness of being in a foreign place and the emotional pangs of losing a comrade or a high school friend in battle.

He wrote me in a letter, Theyre trying to kill me here, said one of the 25 Patriot Guard motorcyclists who escorted The Wall That Heals into Kearney. When I wrote back, I told my buddy to keep his head down. But they sent me that letter back as undeliverable. I guess he didnt keep his head down.

Depending upon which veteran you speak to, they have a variety of painful memories, but the common thread, they say, is their homecoming experience.

The Americans they fought for and risked their lives for were not welcoming the veterans home as heroes. Instead, they were shamed.

One Patriot rider said he couldnt wait to get out of his uniform and put on civilian clothes because of the ridicule he encountered waiting for his flight home in an airport.

After risking their lives for two years in Vietnam, veterans said their homecoming was unhappy  the kind of memory most people would love to forget.

Vietnam veterans say theyre beginning to feel a shift. Theyre feeling more as if what they did in Vietnam was worth it.

Theyre starting to honor veterans, but they didnt back then in the 1960s and 1970s, said Robert Shafer, a Navy veteran from Gibbon. He was one of the 17 Vietnam veterans who escorted the Wall into Kearney. In total, there were 25 riders that led the way from Gibbon to Kearney, where the Wall will be displayed Thursday through most of Sunday.

Were getting a lot of handshakes now. Im glad I served, and I would do it again, Naval veteran Tom Rayburn of Gibbon said.

Jim Catterson said riding with the Patriot Guard helps him feel healed. Its to honor them.

Organizers who are bringing the Wall to Kearney hope it can help heal veterans, their families and loved ones from the wounds inflicted by warfare.

Denny Houska, one of the organizers, said that veterans will be drawn to the wall. Theyll want to find the names they remember from their wartime experience.

In all, there are 58,000 names on the Wall, each belonging to someone who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation.

The traveling three-fourths-size replica of the Vietnam War Memorial will be open to the public from 8 a.m. Thursday  with a wreath ceremony at 9 a.m.  through 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Wall will be displayed at Patriot Park at 4511 E. 56th St., near the Central Nebraska Veterans Home at 4510 E. 56th St. The Wall will be a centerpiece of the 37th Annual Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion, planned Thursday through Sunday at the Younes Conference Center.

The United States fought in the Vietnam War from 1965-1975.

The Wall That Heals will be displayed 24 hours per day for the benefit of veterans whose scars prevent them from approaching the monument during daylight. Volunteer hosts will welcome and assist visitors at the Wall and assist with tear down. Melinda Haag, the volunteer coordinator, can be reached at 308-379-8840. Interested individuals can contact Haag by email at BalloonGirl83@gmail.com or by phone at 308-379-8840. The volunteer registration page is at signup.com/go/vSkBRPe.

Volunteer host training will be 6 p.m. Wednesday at Patriot Park.

Its estimated 7,500 to 10,000 people will view the wall during its Kearney stop. Included with the walls appearance will be an educational multi-media component. There will be professionally guided educational tours, Hometown Heroes and a program titled In Memory.

The 53-foot trailer that carries The Wall That Heals transforms into a mobile education center. The trailers exterior features a timeline of The War and The Wall and provides additional information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Additional exhibits give visitors a better understanding of the legacy of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the collection of items left at The Wall.

More information about the 37th Vietnam Veterans Reunion and The Wall That Heals is available at VetsReunion.com, PatsBuzz@gmail.com and 308-233-1612.
The Wisconsin State Building Commission this week approved funding for a UW-La Crosse project to update Graff Main Hall.

State Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee of the State Building Commission, voted in favor of approving the funds at the meeting in West Allis.

The $13.8 million project replaces the Graff Main Hall HVAC system with a new variable air volume system with reheat and variable-air-volume terminal units. Existing ductwork that is functionally adequate will be cleaned, repaired and returned to service.

The project scope includes replacing three air handling units with five air handling units; replacing 12 existing exhaust fans with one heat recovery unit; installing a new central hot water heating system, new variable frequency drives, and motor starts; improvements in cooling for data and telecommunication rooms; and updated ventilation and controls.

Projects on campus provide jobs and an uptick our local economy, said Billings. Im proud to be in a position to support this project that updates an historic building on our La Crosse campus, replacing 40- to 50-year-old HVAC systems to improve heating, cooling, and efficiency.

Graff Main Hall was constructed in 1909 and has been heated with steam terminals since its original construction. The facility was renovated in 1979, but no significant capital reinvestment has occurred since. Most of the steam convectors and fin radiation units are at least 50 years old.

The majority of the HVAC equipment and components are more than 40 years old and at the end of their useful life expectancy.
Michael Gableman has turned on Speaker Robin Vos, who has paid the former state Supreme Court Justice more than $100,000 in taxpayer dollars to to lead the one-party review of the 2020 presidential election, claiming in a new robocall endorsing the speaker's primary challenger that Vos "never wanted a real investigation."

Gableman's endorsement of Adam Steen, who is challenging Vos in Tuesday's primary, was first mentioned by former President Donald Trump, who has also backed Steen, in a Waukesha County rally on Friday in support of Trump-endorsed candidates, including gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels.

While Vos, R-Rochester, launched the GOP-ordered review into the state's 2020 presidential election at Trump's behest, the former president's opinion of Vos has soured due to the speaker's refusal to entertain Trump's calls to decertify the election, which is impossible under state law or the U.S. Constitution.

Gableman, whose election review has so far failed to show any evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was "surprised" by Trump's remarks on Friday.

Gableman laid out his endorsement in a robocall posted on Rumble.com over the weekend.

"Robin Vos never wanted a real investigation into the 2020 election in Wisconsin and everything that my office and I have been able to do to expose all the corruption that took place has been in spite of Robin and not because if him," Gableman said in the ad, which was paid for by Steen's campaign.

"Please join President Trump and me, Mike Gableman, in supporting Adam Steen for state representative," the former justice adds.

Here's why the 2020 election will never be 'decertified' There is no provision under the law or the Constitution by which the government can wipe out millions of citizens' votes.

Vos, the state's longest serving Assembly speaker and one of the most influential Republicans in the state, has fallen out of favor with Trump for not supporting his repeated calls to back the legally impossible decertification of the 2020 election. As a result, Trump has repeatedly referred to Vos as a "RINO," which means "Republican in name only."

"Justice Gableman knows overturning the election is both unconstitutional and impossible," Vos said in a statement. "His attempts to lie to voters and gain favor with Adam Steen are sad and show how desperate he is to remain relevant."

Vos hired Gableman last summer at a cost of $676,000 after pressure from Trump, though legal fees and other court costs have pushed the price tag to more than $1.1 million  all of which will ultimately fall on taxpayers. Gableman was paid $11,000 per month for 10 months. Vos earlier this year paused Gableman's probe to allow time for pending lawsuits related to the review to play out in court and halved Gableman's monthly salary from to $5,500.

While Trump has spoken highly of the investigation, Gableman himself reversed his position on decertification just weeks after proposing it. In releasing an interim report of his inquiry on March 1, Gableman told state lawmakers they should "take a very hard look" at decertifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. But just two weeks later, on March 16, the former justice concluded that decertification was a "practical impossibility."

"While decertification of the 2020 presidential election is theoretically possible, it is unprecedented and raises numerous substantial constitutional issues that would be difficult to resolve," Gableman wrote in the March 16 memo. "Thus, the legal obstacles to its accomplishment render such an outcome a practical impossibility."

Steen, who has also been endorsed by Trump and has spoken in favor of decertifying the election, announced plans to hold a campaign event Monday afternoon in Burlington that will include a "Vos tossing slingshot contest," in which participants will launch a "puppet representation of Robin Vos" using a bungie slingshot. Gableman is listed as a special guest for the event.

"Adam Steen, his campaign team, and campaign volunteers, do not condone violence," according to a disclaimer on the event release. "The real Robin Vos will not be used in this contest, rather, we will be using a puppet representation of Robin Vos."

A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated Trump by about 21,000 votes in the state's 2020 presidential election. Only 24 people out of nearly 3.3 million who cast ballots have been charged with election fraud in Wisconsin. Nonpartisan attorneys, experts and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Vos, have said decertification of 20-month-old election would be illegal and unconstitutional.

Even so, the topic of decertification has become a major talking point leading up to Tuesday's primary, where gubernatorial candidates Michels, the millionaire co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp., and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch are running in a tight race for the chance to face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November.

Michels last week said "everything will be on the table" when asked if he would consider decertifying the election, marking a shift from his comments a week earlier that decertification was "not a priority."

Kleefisch has described the 2020 election as "rigged," but has said decertification is impossible. State Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, is also running for governor on a campaign largely focused on his ongoing efforts to "reclaim" the state's 10 Electoral College votes delivered for Biden.
The number of visitor arrivals to Bahrain in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022 has increased by 38% compared with the first quarter, the latest statistics issued by the Information and e-Government Authority (iGA) show.



The Ministry of Tourism indicated that the tourism recovery rate reached 82% compared to the pre-pandemic period, specifically, on Q2 of 2019, reported Bahrain News Agency (BNA).



The ministry said that the hospitality and hotel sector in Bahrain recorded 2,973,000 nights of tourism during the second quarter of this year, compared to 569,000 nights of tourism in the second quarter of 2021, an increase of 422%.



Total tourism revenues during the same period amounted to BD330.4 million ($871 million), an increase of 562% over the same period last year, when revenue figures were BD49.9 million.



Tourism Minister Fatima bint Jaafar Al Sairafi said the encouraging results reflect the fruitful efforts of promoting the Bahraini tourism sector regionally and internationally through its participation in many external activities.



The minister highlighted the importance of restoring the vital role of the sector in supporting the national economy, diversifying its sources and creating job opportunities, within the framework of the effective implementation of Bahrains tourism strategy 2022-2026.



The statistics prove that the Kingdom is moving in the right path towards the full recovery of the sector post pandemic, she added.



Al Sairafi expressed confidence in the ability of the tourism sector to continue to record a steady increase in the number of tourists, the number of hotel nights and occupancy rates in general, with the almost complete lifting of restrictions on the movement of tourism and travel around the world as well as the current and future programs organized by the authority in partnership with the private tourism sector.
Although primary elections can often mean a lower voter turnout, some key elections in Wisconsins partisan primary on Tuesday brought La Crosse County voters to the polls.

In addition to some local races, Tuesdays election featured the race for Wisconsins 3rd Congressional District, a crowded and pivotal race expected to help determine which party controls the House, and the statewide gubernatorial race that featured a divided Republican ticket.

Turnout at the polls was steady all day, according to La Crosse County Clerk Ginny Dankmeyer, and overall there was almost a 35% turnout.

Turnout in primaries largely depends on contested races and the amount of candidates running. Dankmeyer said that after candidates began dropping out of races in recent days there was the thought that turnout would be slower, but there were still enough contested races on both sides to bring voters out.

Obviously the political climate has certainly changed a lot in the past few years and Im sure that played a part in the higher turnout for the last few partisan primaries, Dankmeyer said.

We expected a higher turnout for yesterday considering the number of candidates running, the contested races and the money being spent on the campaigns by candidates and outside groups and I think that showed in the turnout numbers, not only in La Crosse County, but statewide as well, Dankmeyer said.

At the Myrick Park Center in La Crosse, voters were flowing steadily in and out of the polling place on Tuesday afternoon, and they were emblematic of how the contested races on the ballot were motivating voters.

Some Democratic voters viewed the election as critical to preserving democracy and said that abortion and womens issues motivated them even more.

Im very concerned about where our country is at right now, said Mary Justinger. And no matter which party, I think its important we have really thoughtful, intelligent candidates who have at least read the constitution and understand how democracy is supposed to work.

Justinger, a former history teacher who is 75 years old, said she has voted in nearly almost every election since she was 21. She called the division in America deeply troubling, and described voting as a way to come together, and said the general election in November was the turning point in Americas future.

Betty Benford shared this urgency. I am a Democrat, and I think we need to get in the House and stop them from trying to tell us what to do with our bodies.

Justinger said she was inclined to vote for a woman in the 3rd Congressional District race because she thought womens rights were critical. Although she called all of the Democratic candidates in the 3rd Congressional District excellent, she voted for Deb McGrath because of her background.

As a Black woman, Benford said that voting was especially important to her. Being in the Black culture, sometimes we think that voting wouldnt make a difference, but I believe that one vote that the party gets makes a difference, she said.

Every morning, Benford sends a good morning text to about 10 people, and on Tuesday morning, she added: Dont forget to vote.

If youre not going to get out and vote, then dont complain about it, Benford said.

For Greg H., who didnt want his last name used in this story, the gubernatorial and congressional races similarly encouraged him to vote Republican.

We need to replace the leadership we got, he said.

He said he didnt have much insight on other races on the ballot, but his vote for Tim Michels in the gubernatorial race demonstrated the current divide in the Republican party.

I dont really know a lot about him, but I just know Trump endorsed him, he said.

In total, 13,317 La Crosse County Democrats cast votes in Tuesdays election, and 10,087 Republicans.

Those voting at the Myrick Park Center had to navigate the reconstruction of La Crosse Street, routing them by way of HWY 16 and Losey Boulevard, but voters said they had little to no trouble still getting to the polling place on Tuesday.

Greg H. said he drove by the polling place on Sunday to make sure he knew how to get around the construction, and Benford similarly looked it up ahead of time to map things out.

Justinger said she didnt check her route ahead of time, but still found her way.

It took longer, but its important enough to do, she said.

Dankmeyer said there were no major issues to report at the polls as of Tuesday afternoon.

Its been a typical day and good training for November when we expect to be a lot busier, she said.

This story was updated at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to include updated turnout details.
The stage has been set for Wisconsins battleground 3rd Congressional District after state Sen. Brad Pfaff won Tuesdays Democratic primary.

According to preliminary results, Pfaff of Onalaska led the field of four Democrats with about 39% of the vote and will face off against Republican and former Navy SEAL Derrick Van Orden in November.

Van Orden of Prairie du Chien ran unopposed and received about 64,561 total votes.

All 18 counties in the district had reported results as of 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

Van Orden and Pfaff are the last two standing for the western Wisconsin seat, which is expected to be a critical district to help determine which party controls the U.S. House after the midterms  and the race is already heating up after a relatively tame primary season.

Make no mistake, this election will be one of the most important of our lifetime, Pfaff said in a statement, claiming his victory. Derrick presents a clear and present danger to democracy and has proven time and time again that he lacks the temperament, character, or the judgement to be in Congress.

Van Orden said in his statement that, The real campaign starts today.

My opponent Brad Pfaff has never had a job outside of politics and enthusiastically supports President Biden and Pelosis radical policies and spending that are destroying America in real time, he said.

He added, Wisconsinites have had enough. They want new leadership, someone who is not a career politician and will be a strong leader in these hard times.

Whoever wins in November will fill the shoes of longtime Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, who is retiring at the end of his term after more than two decades in office.

Kind endorsed Pfaff, who previously worked for him, and the two watched results roll in on Tuesday night. Pfaff relates to Kind as a moderate Democrat, but has tried to distance himself some with his rural background and priorities on manufacturing, trade and labor.

Van Orden has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump and other top Republican leadership. He has largely followed Trumps lead throughout the fractures of the party, speaking with him at rallies and campaigning in similar ways as the former president.

Close behind Pfaff in the Democratic primary was Eau Claire small business owner Rebecca Cooke, who had received about 31% of the vote. Former CIA officer Deb McGrath of Menomonie received about 19%, and La Crosse City Council member Mark Neumann received about 11%.

While the election results are not what we hoped for, I am proud that we built a movement prioritizing experience, patriotism and pragmatism over the past 10 months, McGrath said in a statement.

This is Van Ordens second time running for Congress. In 2020 he ran against Kind and narrowly lost by 1%, something Democrats have flagged as a critical fault line in their race to keep the seat blue.

Van Orden is a former Navy SEAL and previously lived in Hager City before moving to Prairie du Chien this election cycle.

He has not been without controversy, and one of the largest clouds looming over him is his presence in Washington D.C. during the Jan. 6 insurrection, though he denied he attended the attack. Reports have claimed that social media posts place him on Capitol grounds during the insurrection, though the Tribune has been unable to independently verify these claims.

Pfaff was elected to the Wisconsin Senate in 2020, and has worked in government and policy for decades. He is the former secretary-designee of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and previously worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The La Crosse County Democratic Party said in a statement that it was enthused by Pfaffs nomination.

Sen. Pfaff promises to use his strong work ethic, deep knowledge of our community and his years of governmental experience to improve the lives of all of us, the statement said.

The Democratic primary was crowded but tame, and the four candidates mostly focused any mud toward Van Orden.

Our 3rd CD primary was a showcase of civil discourse in politics and proved to all Wisconsinites that elections can be won without stooping to negativity, the LCDP said.

In his statement, Pfaff thanked his Democratic opponents for a spirited race, saying, I look forward to working with them to beat Derrick Van Orden in November.

McGrath said in her statement that the nation is in crisis, citing Jan. 6, abortion and inflation.

I will work to help [Pfaff] defeat Derrick Van Orden, because nothing is more important than Democrats holding the House this year, she said.

Below are live results as of 8:30 a.m. with all counties reporting results. All results are preliminary until the official canvass.

Democratic primary

Candidate Vote tally Percentage

Rebecca Cooke 19,093 31%

Mark Neumann 6,607 11%

Deb McGrath 11,742 19%

Brad Pfaff* 23,952 39%

Write-in N/A N/A

Republican primary

Candidate Vote tally Percentage

Derrick Van Orden 64,561 N/A

Write-in N/A N/A
The La Crosse Democratic Party chair William Garcia sent the party's reaction to Tuesday's vote in a news release:

"The La Crosse County Democratic Party is extremely proud of our 2022 Democratic nominees, and excited for the November 8 General Election

The La Crosse County Democratic Party is very excited to work with the amazing slate of candidates that have advanced to the General Election in November. Collectively, our candidates represent a strong, diverse and compassionate slate who will work tirelessly for the people of La Crosse County and all residents of Wisconsin.

We are especially enthused by the election of Senator Brad Pfaff to ensure Democrats retain control of the 3rd CD Wisconsin currently held by Democratic Representative Ron Kind. Brad Pfaff is a Western Wisconsin local who has dedicated his life to supporting the people of the 3rd CD through his expertise and hard work on behalf of farmers and others living and working in rural communities,and on all of us hit by life challenges. . Senator Pfaff promises to use his strong work ethic, deep knowledge of our community and his years of governmental experience to improve the lives of all of us in Western Wisconsinites.

Additionally, the LCDP thanks the other primary candidates for their hard work and dedication to our district, and we certainly look forward to working with them as they advance the aims and principles of the Democratic Party. Our 3rd CD primary was a showcase of civil discourse in politics and proved to all Wisconsinites that elections can be won without stooping to negativity.

Locally, we are pleased to once again have the chance to send Rep. Jill Billings and Rep. Steve Doyle to Madison to continue their work standing up for La Crosse County. Our Democratic Representatives are a major factor in preventing the Wisconsin GOP from having a veto-proof majority in the state legislature. We are also looking forward to the La Crosse County Sheriff race, with La Crosse County Sheriff department Captain John Seigel poised to become the first Democratic sheriff in the county in decades.

We are enthusiastic about ensuring the re-election of Governor Tony Evers, who is now joined by State Rep. Sara Rodriguez as Lt. Governor. Governor Evers has spent the last four years navigating an unprecedented pandemic while delivering better schools and lower taxes for the people of Wisconsin. His veto pen has stopped a conservative onslaught of bills designed to restrict our voting rights and divide us as a state.

After a long campaign which featured 8 candidates, Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes proved he was the best person to take on Senator Ron Johnson for Wisconsin Senate. Lt. Governor Barnes grassroots support and constant focus on Wisconsin values set him apart and ensured his victory. Now, he looks towards defeating one of the most unpopular Senators in the country and returning the seat to representing the strong, progressive values of Wisconsinites.

In short, the Democratic candidates stand in stark contrast to the far right wing candidates presented by the GOP. Our candidates will hit hard against the Big Lie that President Trump won Wisconsin and the Presidency instead of accepting the truth of the 2020 election results.

While the GOP continues to try to score political points by attacking the rights of women and the LGBTQ community, the Democrats are focused on results that make life better for all Wisconsinites."
Turkish Technic, a leading aviation services provider, has signed a ten-year global repair license agreement with Honeywell for Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) of Boeing 737MAX, 737 Next Generation (NG) and 787.



Under the terms of the agreement, Honeywell will supply subparts to Turkish Technic, and Turkish Technic will operate as the Authorized Global Service Center for Honeywells ADIRU components, providing repair services for its local and international customers.



Expanding the Channel Partnership between both parties, the new agreement supplements Turkish Technics existing Honeywell license agreements that cover GTCP131-9A/B APUs (Auxiliary Power Units), CFM56-7B HMUs (Hydro Mechanical Units), Boeing 737MAX, 737 NG APU Starter-Generators and hundred more Honeywell Mechanical and Avionic LRUs (Line Replaceable Units). As the Authorized Service Center for ADIRU components of Boeing 737MAX, 737 Next Generation and 787, Turkish Technic will provide extensive repair and component pool services for its customers.



On the signing of the agreement, CEO of Turkish Technic, Mikail Akbulut stated: While cementing our long-standing partnership with Honeywell, this new agreement will allow us to support Boeing 737MAX/NG and 787 operators for their ADIRU needs with our expert and proven component repair and overhaul facilities on two continents. As we continue to further increase our service portfolio offered to operators worldwide and increase our capabilities to boost our market share, we are glad to expand our cooperation further with Honeywell as a strategic partner.



Uygar Doyuran of Honeywell, President Turkiye, Israel and Central Asia, said: Turkish Technic is a global aviation MRO hub, serving the most important airlines in the world with next-generation technology. As Honeywell, we are very happy to work with Turkish Technic as a strategic partner in the region. We believe that our cooperation will become stronger with this new agreement.



Operating as a one-stop MRO company with high-quality service, competitive turnaround times, comprehensive in-house capabilities at its state-of-the-art hangars, Turkish Technic provides maintenance, repair, overhaul, engineering, modification, tailor-made PBH and reconfiguration services to many domestic and international customers at five locations.



Honeywell Aerospace creates a range of hardware and software solutions that are found on virtually every commercial, defence and space aircraft, including aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components and more.  TradeArabia News Service
Across the United States, pandemic aid money is helping to fund a growing number of big-city schools with shrinking numbers of students.

When the money runs out in a few years, officials will face a difficult choice: Keep the schools open despite the financial difficulty, or close them, upsetting communities looking for stability for their children.

The summer program at Chalmers School of Excellence in Chicago, Illinois, offers one-on-one teaching that parents love. But school principal Romian Crockett worries the school is becoming too small. Chalmers lost almost one-third of its enrollment during the pandemic. Today, only 215 students attend Chalmers.

In Chicago, COVID-19 worsened enrollment declines that began before the virus. Some poor Black neighborhoods in the city, like Chalmers North Lawndale, have seen families leave in large numbers over the past 10 years.

The number of small schools like Chalmers is growing in many American cities. More than one in five New York City elementary schools had fewer than 300 students last school year. In Los Angeles, California, over one in four have fewer than 300 students. In Chicago, nearly one in three are that small. In Boston, Massachusetts, it is almost one in two. These numbers come from research by Chalkbeat and The Associated Press.

Many of these schools were not designed to be small. Educators worry there will smaller budgets in the coming years, even as schools continue to recover from the pandemic.

When you lose kids, you lose resources, Crockett said. That impacts your ability to serve kids with very high needs.

A state law prevents Chicago from closing or combining its schools until 2025. Across the U.S., COVID-19 relief money is helping fund shrinking schools. It is unclear what will happen to those schools when the funding runs out.

My worry is that we will shut down when we have all worked so hard, said Yvonne Wooden, who serves on Chalmers school council. That would really hurt our neighborhood.

The pandemic quickened enrollment declines in many districts. Many families started homeschooling or sought enrollment at charter schools and private schools. Some students moved away or stopped attending school for unknown reasons.

Many districts like Chicago give schools money for each individual student. That means small schools sometimes struggle to pay for costs like the principal, a counselor or building upkeep.

To deal with that, many school systems send extra money to small schools, taking money from larger schools. In Chicago, the district spends an average of $19,000 yearly per student at small high schools. Students at larger high schools get $10,000, Chalkbeat and the AP found.

Small schools are popular with families, teachers and community members because of their supportive environment. Some argue that districts should send more money into these schools. Many such schools are in Black and Latino neighborhoods that have been hit hard by the pandemic.

In 2013, 50 schools closed in Chicago. Most were in Black neighborhoods. The move damaged trust between locals and the district. It also hurt learning for students from poor families, researchers at the University of Chicago found.

When schools close, it is devastating for families, said Suleika Soto. She is with the Boston Education Justice Alliance, which supports underrepresented students.

And then if parents dont like it, then theyll remove their children from the public school system," she said.

Still, some city school systems losing students are considering school closures. Earlier this year, the school board in Oakland, California, voted to close several small schools despite protests.

In other cities, leaders have continued to invest in small schools.

Chicago received $2.8 billion in COVID-19 relief. It will use about $140 million of the money to help small schools this school year, officials said.

In Los Angeles and New York City, officials say they are centering their efforts on bringing students back into school, not closing them.

But federal relief money will run out in two years. Districts must use the money by September 2024. When the money is no longer there, it may be difficult for districts to keep small schools open.

Its a huge problem, said Bruce Fuller, an education researcher at the University of California, Berkeley. Its going to be increasingly difficult for superintendents to justify keeping these places open as the number of these schools continues to rise.

Im Dan Novak.

Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press.

Quiz- Big US School Systems Are Losing Students Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

stability  n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change

enrollment  v. to enter as a member of or participant in something

impact  n. the act or force of one thing hitting another

devastating  adj. causing great damage or harm

superintendent  n. a person who directs or manages a place, department, organization, etc.

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The two major American political parties have nominated a record number of female candidates to lead states in the country. Voting for new governors will be held in 36 American states in November.

So far, 20 women have won party nominations, breaking the record of 16 set four years ago. Thirteen represent the Democratic Party, and seven represent the Republican Party.

It's notable because this is an area where women's underrepresentation has been quite persistent, said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at Rutgers Universitys Center for American Women in Politics.

But it's especially important as we see major policy issues being allocated back to the states, Dittmar said, noting recent constitutional court decisions on reproductive rights and voting rights.

Currently, nine women serve as governors in the United States, the highest number in its history.

It's a powerful and influential political position where we want women's voices and experiences to be heard, Dittmar said.

In total, the two parties have named 47 candidates for governor.

Fifteen nominations are still to be decided.

In five of the governor races this year, women represent both major parties.

It's a good reminder for us not to make assumptions that women are the same in ways that we don't make that assumption for men who are competing against each other, Dittmar said.

Seeing women in positions of power sends an important message to donors, voters and future female candidates about the ability of women to succeed at the highest political levels, Dittmar said.

We want enough women in these offices that there are a diversity of them.

Dittmar added, You know, we've only ever had three women of color governors in all of U.S. history. We only have one woman of color currently serving as governor. We've never had a black woman governor.

Im Faith Pirlo.

Dora Mekouar wrote this article for VOA. Faith Pirlo adapted it for Learning English.

_______________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

persistent  adj. continuing over and over again

allocate - v. to divide and give out (something) for a special reason or to particular people, companies, etc.

assumption  n. something that is believed to be true or probably true but that is not known to be true: something that is assumed

diversity  n. the condition or fact of being different

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The two-day tribal fair held at Morhabadi ground in Ranchi saw boisterous music, mouth-watering cuisines, tribal artworks and discussions on tribal history and affairs.

Sami Ahmad | TwoCircles.net

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RANCHI (JHARKHAND)  A two-day tribal fair Jharkhand Janjatiya Mahotsav, showcasing unique tribal works, tradition and culture, will conclude today in the state capital Ranchi.

Held on the occasion of World Tribal Day, celebrated every year on August 9 to acknowledge the contributions tribal communities make towards world issues, the two-day tribal fair held at Morhabadi ground in Ranchi saw boisterous music, mouth-watering cuisines, tribal artworks and discussions on tribal history and affairs.

Julita Thithio, who works with the Jharkhand Tribal Development Society as Manager, Convergence, is facilitating different stall owners to set up their wares. This fair has given a chance to all tribal groups to explore the market while preserving their cultural heritage, she said.

The former three-time chief minister of Jharkhand Shibu Soren was the main political attraction and inaugurated the fair. Current chief minister Hemant Soren addressed a packed house. Stressing that his most important identity is his tribal roots, he said though the constitution has provided many facilities for the tribals, the indifference of later policymakers has pushed the tribal community into poverty, illiteracy, displacement and exploitation.

A young woman Ashamani Tudu is trained in Sohari painting, a unique tribal-style painting offered by Jharcraft, a state-government-run initiative. She has travelled 90 kilometres from Behara, Hazaribagh to attend this fair and make quick money.

She told TwoCircles.net that the fair gives her an opportunity to present her craft and make money. We used to learn this art form in our families but the training by Jharcraft helped me a lot. I use to earn around 8 to 10,000 Rupees a month but such fairs allow us to earn more in lesser time, she said.

Another artist Alin Jaduptia travelled 300 kilometres from Dumka, the eastern part of Jharkhand, to show and sell his Dhokra art at the tribal fair. Alin makes show-pieces and other artwork as demanded by the customers. This fair gives me a good opportunity to showcase my work and earn money too, Alin said.

A woman Sarojni Purti is selling natural medicines, which she said are based on tribal traditions. She is from Khunti, which falls adjacent to Ranchi. She told TwoCircles.net that although the sale of her medicines in her home town is good these fairs provide an occasion to sell a good amount in just two days, which would usually take one month to sell.

People who are not getting any cure from allopathic medicines use our pain killer oil. For gynaecological needs, our medicines are very popular, Sarojini said.

Arvind Kachhap, in his mid-twenties, works as a cinematographer. He is here for a clothing brand called Johargram. He loves music and has adored his stall with tribal musical instruments like Dhol. These occasions help in bringing the Adivasi culture into focus. It also provides an occasion to revive the dying Adivasi traditions.

Professor Tom Thomas is from Kerala and teaches at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Ranchi. He is attending the fair to showcase the 26 exquisite delicacies of Jharkhand. This part of tribal culture gets very little attention even on occasions focused on tribal affairs. It is my first experience telling people that the traditional Adivasi cuisines are so healthy at this age. Less use of oil is an important thing in Adivasi foods, he told TwoCirlces.net.

Apart from stalls showcasing tribal culture and traditions, a seminar on tribal literature was also held which highlighted the inseparable connection of Adivasis with hills, rivers and forests. Another seminar on tribal anthropology discussed the role of tribal communities in the development of the human race.

Sami Ahmad is a journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He tweets at @samipkb
Oregon passed a ballot measure to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, but Albany city leaders are not sure they want the psychedelic 'shrooms in their town.

The therapeutic fungi were once again a hot topic at the Monday, Aug. 8 City Council meeting, as city leaders have to reach a decision on whether to put a ban or moratorium before voters in the Nov. 8 election.

A final decision may come on Wednesday, Aug. 10.

In 2020, Oregon became the first state in the nation to legalize psilocybin for supervised therapeutic use after 56% of voters approved Ballot Measure 109. In Albany, 52% of voters approved the measure: Wards 1 and 2 voted in favor while Ward 3 did not, according to Deputy City Clerk Gabe Shepard.

When therapeutic psilocybin legalization was first brought before council, members did not know much about it.

In previous discussions, some members expressed concern over legalization of yet another substance, while others seemed to welcome the opportunity it allows for those struggling with mental health concerns.

Councilor Marilyn Smith proposed a two-year moratorium as a compromise between a ban and a full embrace of Measure 109. Such a move would put a two-year hold on therapeutic psilocybin facilities inside city limits.

But not everyone is in favor of a moratorium.

Patrick Winczewski, an Albany native and self-proclaimed mushroom enthusiast, came before the council on Monday to share his enthusiasm. He acknowledged that he is not an expert but had done some research on the guidelines the Oregon Health Authority had set for the therapy.

Psilocybin therapy requires the mandatory presence of a licensed facilitator who has undergone 160 hours of training, Winczewski said. Those seeking the therapy must be 21 years or older, he added.

Winczewskis three minutes were up before he could finish sharing, leaving Councilor Dick Olsen wanting to hear more.

Winczewski hoped his words would make the council reconsider placing a moratorium on the ballot, said in a later interview.

I wanted to give background on what a huge difference psilocybin is from marijuana legalization, he said.

He added that psilocybin would be less accessible than marijuana, given the restrictions, and there's a lot of misinformation circulating about the therapy.

City Attorney Sean Kidd confirmed the information Winczewski shared was correct and that the psychedelic could only be used in the facility. There are restrictions on the placement of the facilities, such as being 1,000 feet from schools, he added.

A moratorium approved by voters would ban the setup of psilocybin therapy for two years, and after that period a permanent ban could be placed before voters on the 2024 ballot, Kidd said.

Councilor Ray Kopczynski, who had been absent from previous meetings, said he was surprised at the past discussions and would prefer to do nothing at all, though he's willing to compromise with a moratorium.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

No action would enact state legislation to approve the therapeutic use of psilocybin come Jan. 2.

Mayor Alex Johnson II said he had hoped psilocybin would be taxed so that the city could see some benefit.

The ordinance for placing a two-year moratorium on the General Election ballot was read first, with a 5 to 1 vote in favor. Olsen was the only no vote. The ordinance was read a second time, failing with two no votes from Kopczynski and Olsen.

Because the vote was not unanimous, a final decision on the matter was pushed to the next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 333 Broadalbin St. SW.

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OMAHA -- When the company that became Enron skipped town en route to its corporate meltdown, executive Howard Hawks decided to remain in Omaha and start something new.

After co-founding Tenaska Energy in 1987, Hawks helped build an $18 billion company that now ranks among the largest privately held corporations of any kind in the United States.

Now after 35 years of executive leadership at Tenaska, Hawks is preparing to step down as company chairman. His move is also leading to a reshuffling at the top of Tenaska.

Current CEO Jerry Crouse will transition into the role of chairman of the board, taking over at the end of the year. And Chris Leitner, currently president of a Tenaska group focused on strategy and acquisitions, will succeed Crouse as president and CEO.

Hawks, who recently turned 87, said the changes have been in the works as part of its long-term succession plan. He had previously stepped down as CEO in 2010.

Hawks said he plans to remain actively engaged and involved with the company as both a member of the board and chairman emeritus, helping guide the companys overall direction and management.

I have a major stake in this company, and I plan to continue tending to it, he said. I have worked with Jerry and Chris for many years, and we are aligned in our understanding of Tenaskas mission, goals and strategy.

In 1985, Omaha-based natural gas company InterNorth acquired a Texas-based power company, then moved its headquarters to Houston and became Enron. But Hawks and five other former InterNorth executives decided to stay in Omaha to start a new energy company.

In 1987, they launched Tenaska, with Hawks as chairman and CEO. Hawks team set out to use their combined experience and contacts in the private energy field.

Enron eventually collapsed under a corporate scandal that sent some of its executives to prison. But Tenaska thrived.

Over the past 35 years, it has developed expertise in power plant development and operation, including renewables; buying and selling electricity, natural gas and biofuels; finding, producing and delivering natural gas; and putting together billion-dollar energy deals.

The private energy companys profile is relatively low in its home state. Since Nebraskas power is provided by publicly owned utilities, most of Tenaskas plants are elsewhere.

But Tenaska, which has 700 employees, currently ranks 53rd on Forbes list of Americas largest privately held companies. Its also the nations No. 2 marketer of natural gas.

Hawks was selected as the first independent power representative on the board of the North American Electric Reliability Corp. and is a member of both the Omaha Business Hall of Fame and Nebraska Business Hall of Fame.

In addition to his leadership of Tenaska, Hawks served for 18 years on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents before deciding not to seek election to a fourth term two years ago.

A native of Bruning, Nebraska, Hawks said the leadership changes at Tenaska will also free up more time for philanthropic interests important to him and his wife, Rhonda. That includes ongoing efforts to raise $60 million for an outpatient mental health treatment facility in Omaha.

Hawks also has served on the boards of Creighton University, Joslyn Art Museum, the Omaha zoo, Boys & Girls Club of Omaha, the Greater Omaha Chamber, Methodist Hospital, Heritage Omaha, the Omaha Symphony and Opera Omaha.

Crouse joined Tenaska in 1991. Prior to taking over as CEO, he served as chief financial officer.

(Crouse) has played an integral role in driving growth and innovation in our business, and I look forward to his next chapter as chairman, Hawks said.

Leitner joined Tenaska in 2003 as an executive responsible for investing capital and managing energy-related assets. Crouse said Leitner is an innovator who understands Tenaskas history and culture.

He is the right leader at the right time to help navigate our company through an increasingly complex and changing energy landscape, Crouse said.
LEXINGTON  Two diesel tanks were moved into place amid the ongoing Fat Dogs redevelopment project in Lexington.

Dirt work had been going on for the past several weeks, but on Wednesday, Aug. 10, two large diesel tanks were moved by crane into a hole dug for the purpose.

High volume diesel pumps will be added to serve the, significant semi-truck market, according to Wilkinson Development, the owners of Fat Dogs. As a part of the redevelopment plan, the current building will be remodeled and expanded to provide a new restaurant and travel center.

Clarine Erickoff, Chief of Operations with Wilkinson Development, said in July they have not yet found a tenant for the restaurant space.

The expanding of the store will add 6,480 square feet to the location, making the total coverage after development 13,820 square feet. Five full time jobs plan to be added after expansion.

When completed, the expanded facility will be similar to the North Platte Fat Dogs location, which features a Hardys restaurant and the Ogallala site, where a Subway is located

Erickoff noted Wilkinson Development also owns the former Sonic location, soon to be host to a Noels Tacos Mexican Food site, the third in Nebraska. The owners are hoping to open this month.

When construction is completed, trucks will also be able to access the diesel pumps through Noels parking lot, as it will connect to the Fat Dogs site. Access from this location will help alleviate turning traffic off of Plum Creek Parkway.
Local

featured

Jail committee discusses use of ARPA funds, overcrowding

WRIGHT

With an anticipated $16 million in government funds to spend, local officials gathered Tuesday afternoon to discuss options to potentially address Angelina Countys overcrowded jail and its short-staffed district attorneys office.

During the last couple years, COVID-19 and its related mandates and protocols interrupted systems across the country, placing an even larger burden on certain infrastructures on which communities rely  including the criminal justice system. But while many parts of the criminal justice system halted, crime itself did not.

Instead, Lufkin and Angelina County as a whole saw a spike in violent crime, Constable Tom Selman said. The jail is currently filled mostly with accused violent offenders who cannot yet be released, while people who commit non-violent criminal acts are being let out on a personal bond  if they are booked in at all.

This is frustrating to officers as well as residents, both Selman and another committee member said.

But the problem county leaders are attempting to address now has been a problem for decades. Angelina County struggled with jail capacity in the 1980s, 90s, early 2000s, 2016 and it is a problem again in 2022.

The current proposed plan is to use $10 million of grant funding and $3 million of county money to create room for more than 90 beds at the jail.

Angelina County has until December 2024 to have the money obligated to the project and until 2026 to have the work completed. Gary Adams, a jail planner and consultant for DRG Architects  the firm who designed the current jail  said time is not a friend in this case  there is not enough of it.

Wayne Gondeck, president of the firm, said the county would not want to wait to obligate the funds  it needs to put the issue on the front-burner and get moving.

The question for many in attendance, though, is whether this use of the American Rescue Plan Act funds would help or hurt.

Angelina County Jail Warden Nick Gardner was not alone in the fear of the new beds filling quickly. District Judge Bob Inselmann guaranteed the beds would be filled within two months of the expansion being completed, if not two weeks.

Justice of the Peace Billy Ball said the county could build a jail, but if it does not hire more prosecutors, more judges, more staff and find more space, then the county will just have another full jail. He believes the jail expansion will require more support staff and more resources to run and will not solve the problem of capacity.

Ball recalled how 20 years ago, the new jail was supposed to solve all these problems, but here we are 20 years later.

And several attendees said they had no interest in having to come back to the drawing board in five years or so.

Key issues

Intervening in the lives of people who are committing criminal acts is an important part of city and county government, Lufkin assistant city manager Gerald Williamson said. That generally means arrests.

But if the county does not have jail cells to facilitate that, it means little to nothing.

Williamson served in law enforcement for decades, starting in Lufkin in 1987 working patrol, narcotics, as a criminal investigator and in support service selections until he was appointed to chief in 2009. He was appointed to the citys management team in 2020.

It is frustrating to many officers who arrest boogers just to have to turn them loose, Selman said.

And as a result, the jail is filled with more people accused of violent or felony crimes.

Acting Angelina County Judge Keith Wright expressed frustration about a stopped-up state criminal system. He said the system has resulted in about a dozen convicted inmates waiting for transportation to a state prison and several inmates who were deemed incompetent for trial waiting for a bed in the mental health system.

When they dont take the prisoners, theyre pushing the costs to the county, and taxpayers are footing the bill, he said.

Possible options

For the most part, participants agreed this would be a decent option for the use of part of the ARPA funds. It is a chance to expand capacity in a way that, for the most part, will not affect taxpayer dollars.

Williamson called it a one-time infusion of funds and said the best option is for the county to get as much bang for its buck as it can.

Gardner would like to prioritize cells for people struggling with mental disorders, as the county jail has essentially become a form of ad hoc mental health facility, he said.

It also was suggested the county could create a wing of the jail meant for low-level offenders and trusties. By doing this, the county could save money on costs because it would not have the same rigid requirements the full-fledged jail has, Gondeck and Adams said.

They said they are working on a design for a structure like this in another county.

They also could install a medium-security building where violent or nonviolent offenders could be held.

There were no decisions made on Tuesday except to meet again later this month to discuss the issue more in depth. Wright asked participants to think about the possibilities and asked the DRG representatives to bring preliminary ideas for mental health facilities and a medium-security facility to the table next time.
Views from a tower in Portugal, gondolas in Venice, beaches in the Bahamas  as you scroll through your social media feeds, it seems like everyone youve ever met is on a picturesque vacation this summer. Compared to the last two years, 2022 is seeing a steep increase in travel, especially international, and it may feel impossible to keep up.

The number of outbound international U.S. flights increased about 97% year-over-year from April 2021 to April 2022, according to U.S. International Air Travel Statistics. Airbnb data from May 2022 also showed an all-time high in long-term stay bookings, with U.S. travelers gravitating toward Italy, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Bahamas as well as domestic beach destinations.

If youre not planning to travel this year, hearing about other peoples vacations might give you a twinge of FOMO: fear of missing out. But dont let comparisons pressure you into panic-booking a trip that could upend your finances. Even with time and budget constraints, its possible to have a fun-filled summer.

How are people affording this?

For many travelers, this summer is an opportunity to travel for the first time in two years, and the anticipation makes it worth the cost. Some are likely even willing to overextend their budgets or go into debt to be able to take their dream vacation.

Its pent-up demand, says George Hobica, founder of Airfarewatchdog.com. People saved up a lot of money over the past two years and can afford the price increases.

For many, the shift to remote work has also made travel more accessible. Yaslynn Rivera, a Los Angeles-based executive assistant at a video-streaming company, makes the most of working remotely by taking opportunities she would have otherwise been unable to pre-COVID-19.

I have friends from childhood and college who live all over the country now, she said. If Im going somewhere, its because I know someone there, she added, explaining her near-constant location changes. She stays with friends instead of booking hotel rooms and Airbnbs, and when she does book a room, she sticks to a tight budget.

I dont mind being inconvenienced to have the experience, she says, citing motel rooms, red-eye flights and working from the road.

Though some travelers are in a position this summer to afford luxurious trips, travelers like Rivera make the most of the opportunities and connections they have, even if it means sacrificing convenience. If you work remotely and have a flexible schedule, trying Riveras approach could be a good way to add more travel to your summer.

The social media influence

Despite the realities, social media can still make travel look like a Pinterest-worthy paradise.

Theres definitely a fear of missing out, says Giacomo Moriondo, a Chicago-based client services manager at an aviation services company, referring to seeing friends post from scenic destinations. Im jealous; I would love to have the freedom to visit my family in Italy and Argentina, but its not financially possible for me this summer.

Moriondo has felt the pressure to travel this summer, but with an in-office job, limited time off and out-of-budget airfares, his options are restricted.

When you see some people posting lavish vacations, you cant compare yourself, Rivera notes. They might be from a wealthy family, or taking a sponsored trip; theyre not on the same playing field.

Consider limiting your social media intake if such posts are bumming you out. Or if youre curious, ask consistent travelers how they make their trips happen. People can be refreshingly honest about their circumstances, and the answers might surprise you.

The perks of staying home

U.S. travelers are flocking to vacation destinations in record numbers, but this summer may not be the best time to take the trip youve been waiting for.

I personally think this is a bad year to travel, Hobica says. With rising airfares, strikes in the travel sector and price increases in every category, an international trip  especially with kids  may be more trouble than its worth.

Resisting the temptation to join the travel rush this summer can help you take advantage of milder weather and crowds in the fall or even next year.

I would wait until things settle down, Hobica says. Too many people are traveling, and there arent enough workers to support them; its not reliable right now to get where you want to go.

Meanwhile, if you dont have a trip planned this summer, plan adventures closer to home.

I turn myself into a tourist in my own city, says Moriondo. It doesnt feel like youre missing out when youre doing something yourself.

Exploring your own city or state, visiting family and friends domestically and seeking low-cost outdoor experiences can enrich your summer and satisfy your travel cravings without overextending your budget.

This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by The Associated Press.

Dalia Ramirez writes for NerdWallet. Email: dramirez@nerdwallet.com.

The article Shield Your Finances From the Power of Summer Travel FOMO originally appeared on NerdWallet.
FICTION: Megan Giddings turns the wilds of the Upper Peninsula into a land where magic and oppression exist side-by-side.

"The Women Could Fly" by Megan Giddings; Amistad (288 pages, $26.99)



Jo's mother, Tiana, disappeared from their Michigan home years ago. She cannot be found, and Jo and her family agree that it is time to have her declared dead in "The Women Could Fly" by Megan Giddings  herself a longtime resident of Michigan who will take up a professorship at the University of Minnesota this fall.

Jo enters the storage unit that houses Tiana's things. "The unit smelled like black and mild jazzes  faint whiffs of her when I opened different boxes. Cedar. Mint. Rosemary. I want to be precise because every time I'm precise about her, she returns for a half-second."

The body blows felt when an evocative scent hits is familiar to those who know that a long-ago grief can be summoned in a single breath. Giddings salts her cloudlike prose with these types of immersive sensory details.

Jo is in her late 20s, a native of Michigan, and subject  as are all women in this novel  to either marrying a man by age 30 or registering as a potential witch and facing stringent oversight. Girls are taught to start monitoring themselves for "magical expression" at the age of 14; witches are denied economic opportunities, and they are also vulnerable to mobs who blame them for an individual's misfortune or some collective catastrophe.

Tiana was a Black woman and Jo's father is white, thus making Jo's identity  her Blackness, her bisexuality, her work at a museum documenting "cursed art"  precarious. The pressure to find a husband has made her dating life fraught; Jo senses that any love she might find is one that can't be free  how can she fall in love when she is being coerced by the state to do so?

But why are women thought to be magical? Tiana argues that it is not only a means of social control, but a diminution of women's humanity. Not only because it led to oppression of those who didn't conform to traditional standards, but because "most of what people believed was magic was actually just a way to wash out the accomplishments of women, make their hard work small."

Giddings takes readers on a journey of magical realism, but in doing so, she asks readers to question how such a world functions against a reality where oppression has circumscribed human possibility. Magical realism creates a possibility of rebellion that lies outside the reach of a surveillance society, but it's one that requires creation of a separate reality. Unable to effect real political change, is it better to retreat? And can individual acts of magic have any effect on systemic violence?

Part of the brilliance of Giddings' novel is that the larger questions she is asking are subtle, and readers who are looking for immersion in a magical world of female autonomy (as Lauren Groff also provided in "Matrix") will find much to love.

As the summer of our discontent scorches us sere, the coolness of Lake Superior's waters and the promise that an alternative world is a boat ride away is a soothing balm. But beneath its surface, "The Women Could Fly" boils as hot as a witch's cauldron.



Lorraine Berry is an Oregon-based writer.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  Alaska will receive at least $100 million through a new federal program to expand high-speed internet to underserved rural areas and promote workforce development, officials said Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, coordinated a summit with state, federal and tribal officials in Anchorage, in an effort to ensure parties were on the same page moving forward. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill at the summit establishing a broadband office to help coordinate between all entities.

Sullivan said it is important to seize this incredible opportunity that we have before us, which is to connect every part of Alaska, every village, every community to broadband and other internet activity.

The federal infrastructure package included $65 billion to help ensure all Americans have affordable, reliable and high-speed internet through the Internet for All program. Sullivan said that through this program and others, Alaska could ultimate receive more than $2 billion.

Alan Davidson, the assistance secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, saw and heard about the needs while taking part in a round-table discussion in Fairbanks on Monday and then visiting the village of Tanana.

The need for affordable, reliable, high-speed internet is great, and the challenge of reaching the unconnected here is immense, Davidson said during a news conference before flying to Bethel to survey needs there.

While in Fairbanks, he announced a $50 million grant to the Doyon Regional Corp. as part of the tribal broadband connectivity program. He said the funding will help connect hundreds of households in 23 Alaska Native communities to state-of-the-art Internet service.

Hundreds of tribes applied for grants last year, five times the amount of funding the agency could accommodate, but Davidson announced an infusion of $1 billion dollars into that fund during his Anchorage visit. He said they can now approve more of the applications they received last year without having to make the tribes reapply.

He also said they have reached an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to streamline the permitting process for building high speed internet networks on tribal lands.

Asked when Alaska Native villages might be connected to high-speed internet, Sullivan said he describes it as a five-year plan, though some areas will have connectivity before others.

We need to plan it, coordinate it and shoot for that long five-year goal of trying to connect everybody in the state, Sullivan said.
MOUNT PLEASANT  Robin Vos appears to have made a complete 180-degree turn on Michael Gableman. In July 2021, Vos called Gableman well qualified. On Tuesday, Vos called Gableman "an embarrassment" and indicated he wants to fire Gableman.

Vos more or less single-handedly created the Office of the Special Counsel and picked Gableman to lead it, with a budget of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The goal of the OSC? To investigate potential irregularities and/or illegalities in the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin.

Vos and Gableman agree there were problems with the operation of the 2020 election, but they disagree about what to do next.

Gableman has repeatedly asserted that retroactively decertifying the election is possible and should be considered. Vos has been steadfast in saying that decertification is not possible.

Vos initially expressed confidence in Gableman to uncover wrongdoing if there was any. Gableman now says Vos never wanted a real investigation into the 2020 election in Wisconsin.

Less than a week before Tuesday's Election Day, Gableman endorsed Adam Steen, the Republican challenger to Vos.

After declaring victory Tuesday night, Vos said the former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice he hired is an embarrassment to the state. Vos said he plans to meet with the Republican Assembly caucus Aug. 16 to discuss next steps, which may include ending Gableman's contract.

Gableman asserts that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, even though neither he nor anyone else has uncovered substantial evidence of widespread instances of votes being cast by those who legally could not vote.

Even with the increased attention, the number of election fraud cases prosecuted in Wisconsin and nationwide are in line with the numbers from previous presidential elections.

How Vos opinion of Gableman has shifted in 13 months, in quotes

June 26, 2021: Vos announces at an annual GOP convention in Wisconsin Dells that Gableman will lead the probe.

July 27: Vos says, "We have people who are very well qualified to do this work" of probing the 2020 election. "Let's give them the time to actually accomplish what we've asked for.

July 30: Justice Gableman will have the resources and ability to determine the need for any future adjustments, Vos says in a statement, indicating Gableman's wide breadth of freedom to investigate as he chooses.

Sept. 28: Vos says: I am supremely confident that at the end of the day, Justice Gableman will produce a report that will show that there are issues with the 2020 election, where potentially changes could be made to make it better ... The goal has nothing to do with overturning the election. Its to make sure we have every opportunity to make sure that the results that occurred in 2020 were accurate.

April 7, 2022: Gableman begins to publicly display distrust in Vos. In an appearance on the War Room podcast hosted by Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to Trump, Gableman encourages Bannons listeners to contact Vos office and pressure him to keep supporting and funding the election probe.

I cant think of anything more important (than) to thank Speaker Vos for starting up what became the Office for Special Counsel. And to show our appreciation to Speaker Vos for my continuation I would ask your audience to call Speaker Vos office, Gableman told Bannon's audience. There must be more investigation. We havent even had the benefit of having any of the wrongdoers comply with our subpoenas. They gave us some stuff initially, but it was pablum, virtually all stuff that they had publicly released before.

May 11: The investigative side of the OSC is paused. It is to remain open likely only as long as litigation the office is involved in weaves through the courts.

Late Tuesday night: Vos told WISN-TV, "I hired him (Gableman) on recommendations, thinking we were going to have someone who was a good, articulate, independent voice  We asked (of Gableman) two simple things  don't get involved in politics, and please try to make sure you focus on the investigation, not being on TV. He couldn't help himself but to try to inject his own opinions into this race.

Also Tuesday night, an Associated Press reporter asked Vos if he regretted hiring Gableman. After a pause, Vos replied, Im going to have to think about that.

The timeline itself

When the OSC was launched in spring 2021, Vos expected its work to be done by October of that year. The OSC remains open today, although its investigative work is reportedly concluded. Gableman's original contract was slated to begin July 1, 2021, and end Oct. 1, 2021.

Aug. 25, 2021: Vos says Gableman will conduct a swift, complete and thorough investigation.

Oct. 19: Vos tells Wisconsin Public Radio that the investigation will likely be wrapped by the end of 2021.

Oct. 26: A week after saying the OSC would likely be done by the end of 2021, Vos says it might have to go longer.

March 8, 2022: A new contract extends the review through April.

April 25: Without using Vos' name, Trump puts on pressure to keep the OSC open in a public statement. "Anyone calling themselves a Republican in Wisconsin should support the continued investigation without interference," the former president says in a statement.

April 26: Vos said the OSC will continue.

May 11: The investigative side of the OSC is paused, but the OSC is not closed. Gablemans pay is slashed from $11,000 per month to $5,500 per month. The OSC is to remain open, Vos says, as numerous pieces of litigation continue. At least five lawsuits related to the OSC are still active today.

Costs

The actual cost to taxpayers for the OSC when all is said and done will likely be at least double the original estimate.

Sept. 1, 2021: A copy of the OSC contract shows a budget of $676,000.

May 31, 2022: Newly released invoices show the state had already spent $896,500 on the probe.

July 28 and Aug. 2: In two separate instances, two Dane County judges order the state (and thus taxpayers) to cover attorney fees to the watchdog group American Oversight, which had to fight for OSC records to be released, $98,000 and $160,000. These payments would then push the cumulative taxpayer costs over $1.15 million.

On Trump

Vos stepped up his efforts to have the 2020 election investigated after Trump attacked Vos and other Wisconsin Republican leaders by name.

Despite aiming to curry favor with the former president last year, Vos was openly not been the biggest Trump fan before he was elected president.

August 2016: Vos said it was a "sad day in America" when Trump won the GOP nomination for president, although Vos continued to support Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

July 23-25, 2021: Trump said in a statement Wisconsin Republican leaders Robin Vos, (Senate President) Chris Kapenga, and (Senate Majority Leader) Devin LeMahieu, are working hard to cover up election corruption, in Wisconsin ... Dont fall for their lies! These REPUBLICAN 'leaders' need to step up and support the people who elected them by providing them a full forensic investigation. If they dont, I have little doubt that they will be primaried (sic) and quickly run out of office.

Vos and LeMahieu responded soon after by saying Trump was misinformed.

(All of the Republican incumbents who were challenged in Tuesday's primary won their elections, although Steen, who Trump endorsed, came within three percentage points of beating Vos.)

Aug. 21: Vos travels to meet with Trump personally. They pose together for a photo on Trumps private jet. Afterward, Vos said in a statement: It was an honor to be invited to travel by private plane with President Trump and top staff to attend his rally in Alabama. I provided him details about our robust efforts in Wisconsin to restore full integrity and trust in elections.

July 18, 2022: Trump begins going on the attack. The Democrats would like to sincerely thank Robin, and all his fellow RINOs (Republicans In Name Only), for letting them get away with murder. A Rigged & Stolen Election!

July 19: Twenty-one days before Election Day, Vos tells WISN-TV political reporter Matt Smith, I think we all know Donald Trump is Donald Trump. There's very little we can do to try to control or predict what he will do.

July 29: Vos tells The Journal Times: The single thing that Donald Trump is obsessed with is the 2020 election. I have been consistent for a year, saying we constitutionally cannot decertify the election. Now, when people are threatened by someone who has a loud microphone, a lot of times they buckle, right? I am proud that I have stood for what I believe in and what I know to be true in the face of withering criticism from President Trump. Now, he hasnt criticized me for the fact that weve cut taxes or that Im pro-life or that Ive worked harder than most people for his election in 2020. He just wants me to do something I cannot do.

Tuesday: Vos told the Associated Press that his win in the primary over Steen proved that lawmakers don't have to be a lapdog to whatever Donald Trump says.

Gablemans there-and-back-again on partisanship

While the OSC has long been viewed as a partisan endeavor  supported really only by those on the right, and not universally  Gableman has abandoned all semblance of being nonpartisan. Before being hired, he gave voice to Trumps baseless claims that he actually won the 2020 election, but then Gableman claimed to be a nonpartisan actor, before giving up on trying to appear balanced.

Gableman served one 10-year term on the state Supreme Court, running as a Republican-backed conservative in 2008, and did not seek reelection in 2018.

Nov. 7, 2020: Months prior to the creation of the OSC and four days after the presidential election, Gableman attended a pro-Trump rally and said, "I don't think anyone here can think of anything more systematically unjust than a stolen election." That day he also said, "Our elected leaders, your elected leaders, have allowed unelected bureaucrats at the Wisconsin Elections Commission to steal our vote.

He defended his comments to WISN-TV in an interview that aired Aug. 1, 2021, arguing he didnt say the election was stolen. He did, however, acknowledge that most of the attendees at the rally did believe the election was stolen and he did not refute that unfounded claim. Gableman, as recently as Monday, now says outright the election was stolen because drop boxes were used to collect absentee ballots in 2020. "I believe they facilitated fraud and a stolen election."

There remains no evidence regarding how many ballots delivered via drop box were in favor of Biden vs. how many were in favor of Trump.

Aug. 1, 2021: During the interview with WISN-TV, Gableman also said, I firmly believe that this is not a partisan issue, that everybody should be interested in making sure that going forward, our voting and ballot system is transparent and honest.

Monday: In the latest of his appearances on Bannon's podcast, Gableman lambasted leftists and so-called Republicans for not supporting the position that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Gableman has continued saying that decertification is "lawful," but he told Bannon that moving forward on that is a "political decision."

Actual election law experts and the legislature's own attorneys have repeatedly said decertification is a legal impossibility. In October 2021, Gableman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  before he blacklisted the outlet  that he did "not have a comprehensive understanding or even any understanding of how elections work."
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP)  Two anti-government extremists sought to spark a second American revolution by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a prosecutor told jurors Wednesday, as the government tried for a second time to get convictions in an alleged plot to shock the country into chaos before the 2020 election.

Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. are on trial again, four months after a jury couldn't reach a unanimous verdict while acquitting two other men.

The jury will hear competing themes. Prosecutors will present secretly recorded conversations and video, text messages and social media posts to show that a band of rebels was serious about snatching the Democratic governor.

Defense attorneys insist there was no actual conspiracy. They will attack the motivations of undercover FBI agents and informants who infiltrated the group and built the investigation.

Fox, 39, lived under a vacuum shop in the Grand Rapids area, and Croft, 46, is from Bear, Delaware. They regularly communicated with other extremists who were angry with Whitmer and various public officials over COVID-19 restrictions.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher O'Connor said the seeds were planted well ahead of the pandemic.

Before Fox and Croft planned and trained to kidnap the governor of Michigan, they called for a second American revolution, O'Connor told jurors. They wanted to violently overthrow elected government officials because they believed those officials were tyrants who were constantly violating their rights.

Barry Croft believed all it would take to start that revolution was to hang a governor, the prosecutor said. That was a call to action in early 2020. ... His promise to elected government officials, the tyrants: expect us.

Fox's attorney, Christopher Gibbons, repeatedly told jurors that the government had charged big talkers.

Adam Fox is an American citizen. He may not be the best of us. I don't think he's the worst of us, Gibbons said. But like all of us, he has a right to have an opinion. He has a right to be homeless and poor in the Vac Shack in the middle of the pandemic, to be angry and frustrated. ... It's ugly but it's not a crime.

Fox and Croft are charged with two counts of conspiracy. Croft faces a third weapons-related charge.

The plot to kidnap Whitmer followed training in Wisconsin and Michigan, and two trips to scout her second home in northern Michigan.

In remarks to the jury, defense attorney Joshua Blanchard repeated an argument that he vigorously made in the first trial, accusing the FBI of targeting Croft and pulling him in because he had encouraged violence and protest.

Blanchard played an audio clip of an agent telling an informant: A saying we have in my office is, Dont let the facts get in the way of a good story.' Right?

He didn't offer jurors any context to the sound bite.

Because they weren't willing to let the facts get in the way of a good story they wanted to tell, Barry has been sitting in jail for the last 672 days waiting for you to tell the FBI that the facts do matter. ... The way you do this is you return a verdict of not guilty, Blanchard said.

Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were found not guilty in April. Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and will testify again for prosecutors.

Whitmer has blamed then-President Donald Trump for stoking mistrust and fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn hate groups and right-wing extremists like those charged in the plot. Democrat Joe Biden sought to tie Trump to the plot as well, pointing to the presidents tweet in earlier in 2020 to LIBERATE MICHIGAN!

Trump referred to Whitmer last weekend during a speech in Texas.

Gretchen Whitmer was in less danger than the people sitting in this room right now, it seems to me, said Trump, who called the plot a fake deal.

White reported from Detroit. Cappelletti is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Find APs full coverage of the Whitmer kidnap plot trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/whitmer-kidnap-plot-trial
Chinese vice foreign minister answers questions on Pelosi's Taiwan visit

Xinhua) 08:15, August 10, 2022

BEIJING, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Tuesday took questions from the press on Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Q1: Over the past few days, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has caused strong public outrage in China. What's your take on this?

Ma: This is just a political farce, and a dangerous, malicious provocation. Speaker Pelosi made this provocative visit in disregard of China's warning. The visit infringed on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity; violated the one-China principle and provisions in the three China-U.S. joint communiques; affected the political foundation of China-U.S. relations; and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It is unacceptable to the Chinese people. China has every reason to respond with countermeasures. The incident is also a lesson, revealing to the world U.S. motives to contain China with Taiwan and the intention of the Taiwan authorities to seek American support for independence. In its aftermath, the one-China consensus of the international community emerged stronger, and the U.S. attempt to play the "Taiwan card" and contain China proved more unpopular and futile.

Q2: The U.S. claims that there is no change to its one-China policy and that Pelosi's visit does not violate the one-China policy. How would you respond to that?

Ma: The one-China principle is the consensus of the international community. It is also the political foundation on which China develops relations with other countries. It is a red line that must not be crossed. What does one China mean? There can only be one answer. That is, there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. This is a basic norm of international relations confirmed by UNGA Resolution 2758. It is a commitment made by the U.S. in the three China-U.S. joint communiques. The principle, written down in black and white, is crystal clear. There is no room for ambiguity or arbitrary interpretation.

The U.S. claims that there is no change in its one-China policy. But in fact, it has been undermining the one-China principle over the years. It has put into its one-China policy some unilateral stuff, including the "Taiwan Relations Act" and the "Six Assurances." This is against international law. China never accepts it, and is always opposed to it.

The U.S. also claims that Pelosi's visit does not violate the one-China policy. The three joint communiques provide that the U.S. can only maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with Taiwan. The executive, legislative and judicial branches are all part of the U.S. Government. Pelosi is the number three figure in the U.S. Government. During her stay in Taiwan, she was speaking on behalf of the U.S. from the beginning to the end. Even she herself admits that it is an official visit. If this is not official engagement, then what is it?

Q3: The U.S. claims that the change to the status quo that's prevailed with regard to Taiwan for more than 40 years is coming from Beijing, not from the U.S. What is your view on this?

Ma: So what is the status quo of the Taiwan Strait? The status quo is that both sides of the Strait belong to one and the same China, Taiwan is part of China, and neither China's sovereignty nor its territorial integrity is ever divided. It is not China who is changing the status quo, but the U.S. and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Over the years, the U.S. has been colluding with the Taiwan authorities, and elevating its substantive relations with Taiwan. It has sold large amounts of weapons to Taiwan, helped it develop so-called "asymmetric capabilities," and emboldened the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. If these are not changing the status quo, what are they?

Refusing to recognize the 1992 Consensus, the DPP authorities have insisted on pushing for "incremental independence," and redoubled efforts to remove the Chinese identity of Taiwan. If these are not changing the status quo, what are they?

China's countermeasures are a necessary and legitimate response to the provocations by the U.S. and the "Taiwan independence" forces. They are just and lawful.

Q4: The U.S. says it will not seek and does not want a crisis, and China should take full responsibility for the current escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. What is your take on this?

Ma: This is confounding black and white. The crisis is unilaterally provoked by the U.S. Despite China's many representations, the U.S. still allowed Pelosi to visit Taiwan. Faced with this, China has no choice but to fight back and defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The responsibility and consequence of the current tensions have to be borne by the U.S. and the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

Q5: The U.S. claims that China's military exercise and crossing of the median line of the Taiwan Strait are overreaction that has escalated the situation and threatened regional peace and stability. What is your take?

Ma: It is the U.S. that is threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan is part of China's territory. There is no such thing as a median line in the Strait. The Chinese armed forces conduct military exercises in waters off China's Taiwan island to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. Our measures are open and proportionate. They are in line with both domestic law and international law and practices. They are beyond reproach.

The U.S. and its allies often come to the adjacent waters of China, flexing muscles and stirring up troubles. They conduct up to a hundred military exercises each year. They, instead of someone else, are the ones that overreact and escalate the situation.

Q6: The U.S. claims that China's decision to suspend cooperation with the U.S. in multiple areas does not punish Washington but the whole world. What is your comment?

Ma: The U.S. cannot represent the whole world. China has warned the U.S. well in advance that should Pelosi visit Taiwan, it would cause a crisis and major disruptions to China-U.S. exchange and cooperation. Unfortunately, the U.S. side ignored that, and went ahead with the visit. The Taiwan question is at the very heart of China's core interests. The United States, while undermining China's core interests, is asking for China's cooperation where they need it. What kind of logic is this? China's decision to cancel or suspend cooperation in some areas does not come without warning. We say what we mean and mean what we say. There is no reason why the U.S. should feel surprised or upset.

Let me stress this: As a responsible major country, China will, as always, take an active part in international cooperation on climate change and other matters. We make our own contribution to the tackling of global challenges. What the U.S. should do is to fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations. It should stop making excuses for its own mistakes.

Q7: Some in the U.S. compare China's military drills in the Taiwan Strait to Russia's "invasion of Ukraine," which they claim will be denounced by the international community. What is your comment on that?

Ma: Such a claim is ill-intentioned. The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. It is different from the Ukraine issue. The U.S. always stokes tension and provokes troubles. Preliminary numbers show that between the end of the Second World War and 2001, there were 248 armed conflicts in 153 regions across the world, among which 201 were initiated by the U.S. Since 2001, wars and military operations launched by the U.S. have resulted in over 800,000 deaths and tens of millions displaced from home. After starting so many wars and killing so many civilians to preserve its hegemony, the U.S. is now creating troubles in the Taiwan Strait. How could we possibly allow this to happen?

Q8: A few days ago, the G7 foreign ministers issued a statement regarding Taiwan with negative language, expressing so-called "concern" over China's actions. Meanwhile we see an increasing number of countries and international organizations speaking out in support of China's justified measures. What is your take?

Ma: More than 170 countries and many international organizations have spoken up for what is right, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle and expressing support for China in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Both the President of the UN General Assembly and the UN Secretary-General have stated that the UN will continue to adhere to UNGA Resolution 2758, the centerpiece of which is the one-China principle. Compared with over 170 countries, what do G7 think they are? Who cares what they say?

Q9: The U.S. claims that if China continues to take more countermeasures, the U.S. will be forced to respond, which may lead to a spiral of escalation. What is your view on what may happen next?

Ma: It has been proved time and again that the U.S. is the biggest troublemaker of cross-Strait peace and regional stability. If the international community allows the U.S. to do what it wants, the UN Charter will be just a sheet of paper, and the law of the jungle will prevail. In the end, it will be the developing countries that suffer.

The Chinese people are not to be misled by fallacies or scared by evils, and will never waver in defending our core interests. We want to stress to the U.S.: Do not act recklessly, and stop going further down on the doomed path. Give up the attempt to use Taiwan to contain China, play no games but return to the one-China principle and the three joint communiques, and do right things and take concrete steps to facilitate the steady development of China-U.S. relations.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A Madison man was injured after confronting another man trying to break into his home on the Near West Side late Monday night.

The homeowner was working in the living room of his residence on the 500 block of Randall Avenue late Monday night when he heard someone enter his home, Madison police said. The man confronted the burglar and the two got into a physical fight. The homeowner suffered minor injuries but was able to force the intruder outside. Part of the home was damaged during the incident.
A witness called police at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday after seeing a man punch a woman several times at a home on the 500 block of East Johnson Street, police said.

The man ran from officers once he left the home and eventually fell, knocking down officers who were following him. The victim then tried to stomp on officers while they were on the ground and trying to take the suspect into custody, police said.
Attorney general Republican nominee Eric Toney and Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul have pivoted to the general election by claiming the other is not able to handle the offices public safety responsibilities, a preview of the attacks to come in the race over the next three months.

Toney, Fond du Lac Countys district attorney, who beat two opponents in a close Republican primary Tuesday night, said during an acceptance speech that Kaul had turned his back on law enforcement.

In his criticisms of Kauls leadership at the Department of Justice, Toney cites longer processing times at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and vacant prosecutor posts. Kaul has said lame-duck laws passed by Republicans before he took office have denied his department millions in needed funding.

Unlike him, I promise to uphold the rule of law and make public safety my top priority as Attorney General, Toney said on Twitter.

Toney defeated former state lawmaker Adam Jarchow and lawyer Karen Mueller in Tuesdays primary with 37.5% of the vote. During the campaign, he used his decade of experience as a prosecutor to contrast himself with his main rival, Jarchow, who is a private practice lawyer.

Kauls campaign hit back at Toney early Wednesday.

Sondra Milkie, Kauls campaign manager, faulted Toneys office after a nine-time felon who was released on a $500 bail would go on to kill a firefighter during a shootout with police. In fact, the judge in the case set the man's bail.

Toney not only refused to take responsibility, but tried to divert attention by fanning the flames of the Big Lie, Milkie said, referring to Toneys lawsuit to remove five members of the Wisconsin Election Commission that he announced the day after the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel first reported on the botched bail case.

Milkie boosted Kauls experience as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore as well.

As a federal prosecutor, Josh Kaul put murderers, gang members and drug traffickers behind bars, and as Attorney General, public safety has been his top priority, Milkie said.

On Wednesday, Kaul appeared at the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association annual conference in Green Bay. A Department of Justice spokesperson was unable to provide a copy of Kauls remarks from the event.

The Wisconsin Fraternal Order of Police and dozens of police chiefs and sheriffs have already endorsed Toney, who is branding himself as law enforcements choice for attorney general.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct how the bail was set for a man released in 2019 who would go on to kill a firefighter during a shootout with police. The judge in the case set the man's bail.
Longtime Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette won his Democratic primary on Tuesday, advancing to a general election in which Republicans hope to win back the seat and give it power over elections.

And in Minnesota, Republican Kim Crockett  who has called the 2020 election rigged and campaigned on rolling back changes that have made it easier to vote  has advanced to the November election against Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat seeking his third term. Primaries were also held Tuesday in Connecticut and Vermont.

This year, races for secretary of state have drawn tremendous interest and money largely because of the 2020 election, when voting systems and processes came under attack by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. There is no evidence of widespread fraud or manipulation of voting systems occurring in the 2020 election.

In Wisconsin, state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck defeated two primary opponents to advance to the November election against La Follette, a Democrat first elected in 1974.

Unlike many states, the Wisconsin secretary of state is not the top elections official and the offices only duties are to sit on a state timber board and verify certain travel documents. But Loudenbeck and other Republicans have said they want to change that and dismantle the Wisconsin Elections Commission, an agency established just six years ago with bipartisan support.

Loudenbeck and her primary opponents have echoed Trumps false claims that fraud cost him the 2020 election and sharply criticized decisions made by the commission heading into the 2020 election, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought major challenges to running elections. They had argued that empowering the secretary of state would allow voters to hold someone accountable for important election-related decisions.

Wisconsin voters have taken the first step forward in the effort to restore purpose and respect to the Office of Secretary of State," Loudenbeck said in a statement Tuesday night.

To accomplish their goal, Republicans also would need to defeat Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who would block such a move, in November.

La Follette, 81, said he didnt think primary voters were focused on the issue of who runs elections, but they will be.

Thats what the election is all about now,  La Follette said Tuesday in a phone interview. My message is simple and very clear: I think we in Wisconsin want to keep partisan politics out of the election process the way we have for 50 years."

At a polling location in Ozaukee County's Thiensville, Wisconsin GOP primary voter Franklin Szpot, 42, who works in marketing and sales, said he felt more confident in elections this year.

I think its secure right now. Im hoping that there isnt any nonsense that happens," Szpot said. After Trump lost, I had lost a lot of faith in that, and now I feel its kind of coming back with some of these candidates that are on the ballot.

In Minnesota, Crockett has also called the 2020 election a "train wreck" and accused state election officials of using the pandemic as "cover to change how we vote, but also how the vote is counted." Simon has defended the state's actions, calling the 2020 election "fundamentally fair, honest, accurate and secure."

Simon, in a statement Wednesday, described Crockett as a "hyper-partisan extremist who embraces bizarre conspiracy theories and traffics in bigotry" and said she was unfit to serve. Following the state convention in May, Crockett had been criticized for showing a video there attacking three prominent Jewish Democrats, including Simon.

"My opponent has a dark, divisive, and dangerous vision," Simon said.

Crockett, in a statement Wednesday, said her goal was to "restore everyone's confidence in Minnesota's elections" and pledged to work with state lawmakers and local election officials. She accused Simon of attempting to circumvent the Legislature with changes to voting procedures during the pandemic and said the office should be a "nonpartisan operation."

There is no evidence to support Trump's claims of a stolen election in 2020 or to suggest widespread fraud or tampering with voting machines or ballot drop boxes. Dozens of legal claims made by Trump and his allies after the election were rejected by judges, including ones appointed by Trump.

Indira Neill, 36, of Moorhead, Minnesota, said after casting her primary ballot Tuesday that she was more concerned about voters being manipulated than ballots being miscounted.

"My greater concern is generally things like disinformation campaigns and the spread of disinformation through social media," said Neill, a college professor who supported Simon. "We know this happened in the 2016 election, and there is no reason to believe these campaigns have stopped."

Races in Connecticut and Vermont were noteworthy because it was the first time in more than a decade that the seats were open. Both longtime Democratic secretaries of state opted not to seek reelection this year.

In Connecticut, GOP primary voters selected Dominic Rapini and Democratic primary voters nominated state Rep. Stephanie Thomas. Rapini is the former board chairman of a group called Fight Voter Fraud Inc. and has called for tightening ID requirements and cleaning the states voter rolls. Thomas opposes additional ID requirements.

I would like to appeal right now  today  and to all unaffiliated voters, Republican voters who are looking for an alternative to conspiracy theories and the sowing of misinformation, who believe that its time to invest in our democracy and make sure that we have the infrastructure to run clean elections, Thomas said in a speech Tuesday night.

William Simmons, 75, a retired school principal who recently moved from New York to Hartford, Connecticut, said he believes that the claims pushed by Trump and embraced by some secretary of state candidates across the country are a bunch of baloney. He said he's confident that elections in Connecticut will be fine.

I think people are fair and honest, and Im not worried about my vote here, Simmons said, adding it doesnt matter to him whether a Democrat or Republican wins in November as long as it is someone who is "fair and honest and has good morals.

In Vermont, the Democratic primary had drawn the most interest. The candidates were Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters, state Rep. Sarah Copeland Hanzas, and Montpelier City Clerk John Odum.

A perennial candidate for office, H. Brooke Paige, was the lone person running in the GOP primary. He also appeared on the ballot for three other statewide offices.
Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney has defeated former state lawmaker Adam Jarchow in the Republican primary for Attorney General, a race where he was far outspent and often attacked for not being conservative enough.

Jarchow conceded on Twitter at 1:07 a.m. Wednesday.

Toney had 37.5 of the votes to Jarchow's 36.9% with 98.7% of the votes counted as of 2:40 a.m. Lawyer Karen Mueller, who has boosted fringe theories about the 2020 election and COVID-19 vaccines, won a shocking 25.6% of the vote, potentially splitting hard-line conservative voters that might have otherwise supported Jarchow.

Jarchow could seek a recount if the final difference between him and Toney is less than 1 percentage point. But Jarchow did not discuss that option in his statement blasting Kaul and saying that Toney has the "political fortitude to right the ship" and "has my full support."

During the campaign, Toney touted himself as the preferred candidate of law enforcement, raking up dozens of endorsements from sheriffs, district attorneys and other law enforcement groups.

Toney entered statewide legal battles over elections too. His office has charged five people with election fraud for using a UPS store P.O. Box as a voting address. One of them has been convicted and a different man entered a no contest plea last week to voting while on felony supervision.

Jarchow lost the election despite raising five times the amount of money Toney did. Jarchow's campaign had raised $448,000 compared to Toney's $102,000 in the first half of this year, according to campaign finance disclosures. Conservative electioneering group Americans for Prosperity even gave the former state lawmaker a critical independent funding boost of $89,000 for consulting, canvassing, brochures and advertising for the candidate.

But Toney had more time on the campaign trail to interface with the party's grassroots, first entering the race in April 2021. A district attorney for 10 years, Toney also frequently chided Jarchow for lacking the right experience for Attorney General. Jarchow would have been the first elected Attorney General since the 1950s to not have first served as a county or federal prosecutor.

Toney now faces Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul in November's general election.

Toney, 38, has promised to give the Department of Justice original jurisdiction over violent crime in Milwaukee and support reforms to Wisconsin's bail laws.

The showdown between Toney and Kaul, like other statewide races, will likely veer into a battle over crime. Kaul is going into November facing a tough landscape for Democrats on the issue, even as statistics give a mixed picture of whether crime is rising overall.

In Wisconsin, homicides rose by 72% between 2019 and 2021, according to data from the Department of Justice. The amount of aggravated assaults and rapes have remained more steady in recent years and robberies have fallen to at least a five-year low.

Toney has tried to paint Kaul as a radical who has abandoned law enforcement across the state and supported the mass demonstrations of 2020. Toney has further accused Kaul of mismanaging the Department of Justice. As evidence, the Fond du Lac District Attorney has pointed to empty prosecutorial posts at the department and longer processing times despite lower caseloads at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. Kaul has said lame-duck laws passed before he took office has denied his office tens of millions of dollars in funding.

The future of abortion could emerge as another key issue in the race as well.

Toney has vowed to enforce Wisconsin's 1849 near-total abortion ban which does not include exceptions for rape and incest, saying he has to enforce the law. Kaul is currently leading the legal challenge to the ban, arguing in a lawsuit that it is impossible to enforce and conflicts with other abortion statutes on the books.

Toney's ascension to the party's ticket denies Kaul the ability to contrast his political pedigree with Jarchow's dearth of experience as a prosecutor. Kaul was first elected Attorney General in 2018, and his mother, Peg Lautenschlager served as Attorney General from 2003 to 2007.

Prior to becoming Attorney General, Kaul worked as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore and later worked in the Madison office of Perkins Coie, the in-house counsel of the Democratic Party.

Kaul's campaign on Wednesday tried to frame the race as being about stark contrasts and hot-button issues, including gun rights and abortion rights. Toney supports an 1849 state law banning all abortions except to save the life of the mother, while Kaul is suing to overturn the law.

Kaul also supports universal background checks and a "red flag" law that would allow judges to take guns away from people determined to be a threat to themselves and others, efforts that Toney opposes.

Kaul campaign manager Sondra Milkie said Toney would represent "the far-right fringe."

Over the campaign, Toney faced criticism from Jarchow and other conservatives. He was blasted repeatedly over his decision to charge 10 Fond du Lac residents with violating the state's stay-at-home order at the onset of the pandemic. Toney dismissed the charges. The district attorney faced other criticism over leaked text messages that purport to show him saying he would support Joe Biden for president over Donald Trump.

But Toney had an impressive showing at the Republican convention in May, an early indicator of support for him in the party. He won 54% of the delegate vote compared to Jarchows 27%, with 19% not endorsing. Toney did not meet the 60% threshold to automatically get the partys endorsement.

The race for Wisconsin's top law enforcement post has already drawn the attention of national partisan Attorney Generals Associations too. Those groups have spent about $2.76 million on reserved TV ad time in the fall.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
Angel Hope looked at the math test and felt lost. He had just graduated near the top of his high school class, winning scholarships from prestigious colleges. But on this test  a UW-Madison exam that measures what new students learned in high school  all he could do was guess.

It was like the disruption of the pandemic was catching up to him all at once.

Nearly a third of Hopes high school career was spent at home, in virtual classes that were hard to follow and easy to brush aside. Some days he skipped school to work extra hours at his job. Some days he played games with his brother and sister. Other days he just stayed in bed.

Algebra got little of his attention, but his teachers kept giving him good grades amid a schoolwide push for leniency.

It was like school was optional. It wasnt a mandatory thing, said Hope, 18, of Milwaukee. I feel like I didnt really learn anything.

Starting a step behind

Across the country, there are countless others like him. Hundreds of thousands of recent graduates are heading to college this fall after spending more than half their high school careers dealing with the upheaval of a pandemic. They endured a jarring transition to online learning, the strains from teacher shortages and profound disruptions to their home lives. And many are believed to be significantly behind academically.

Colleges could see a surge in students unprepared for the demands of college-level work, education experts say. Starting a step behind can raise the risk of dropping out. And that can hurt everything from a persons long-term earnings to the health of the countrys workforce.

The extent of the problem became apparent to Allison Wagner as she reviewed applications for All-In Milwaukee, a scholarship program that provides financial aid and college counseling to low-income students, including Hope.

Wagner, the groups executive director, saw startling numbers of students who were granted permission to spend half the school day working part-time jobs their senior year, often at fast food chains or groceries. And she saw more students than ever who didnt take math or science classes their senior year, often as a result of teacher shortages.

We have so many students who are going on to college academically malnourished, Wagner said. There is no way they are going to be academically prepared for the rigor of college.

Her group is boosting its tutoring budget and covering tuition for students in the program who take summer classes in math or science. Still, she fears the setbacks will force some students to take more than four years to graduate or, worse, drop out.

The stakes are tremendously high, she said.

Remediation strategies

Researchers say its clear that remote instruction caused learning setbacks, most sharply among Black and Hispanic students. For younger students, theres still hope that Americas schools can accelerate the pace of instruction and close learning gaps. But for those who graduated in the last two years, experts fear many will struggle.

In anticipation of higher needs, colleges from New Jersey to California have been expanding bridge programs that provide summer classes, often for students from lower incomes or those who are the first in their families to attend college. Programs previously treated as orientation are taking on a harder academic edge, with a focus on math, science and study skills.

In Hanceville, Alabama, Wallace State Community College this year tapped state money to create its first summer bridge program as it braces for an influx of underprepared students. Students could take three weeks of accelerated lessons in math and English in a bid to avoid remedial classes.

The school hoped to bring up to 140 students to campus, but just 10 signed up.

Other states have used federal pandemic relief to help colleges build summer programs. In Kentucky, which gave colleges $3.5 million for the effort this year, officials called it a moral imperative.

We need these people to be our future workforce, and we need them to be successful, said Amanda Ellis, a vice president of Kentuckys Council on Postsecondary Education.

Time to reengage

After the pandemic hit, Angel Hope worked up to 20 hours a week at his job with a local nonprofit aid group. He felt the time away from school was worth it for the money, especially when nobody was paying attention in the online classes. With his parents away at work, he often felt alone, shunning social media for days and eating ramen noodles for dinner.

I think isolating myself was a little bit of my coping mechanism, he said. I was kind of like, Keep it in a little bit and youll get through it eventually.

The pandemic led many high schoolers to disengage at a time when they would usually be preparing for college or careers, said Rey Saldana, president and CEO of Communities in Schools, a nonprofit group that places counselors in public schools in 26 states.

His group worked in some districts where hundreds of students simply didnt return after classrooms reopened. In Charlotte, North Carolina, the allure of steady paychecks kept many students away from school even after in-person classes resumed, said Shakaka Perry, a reengagement coordinator for Communities in Schools.

Perry and her colleagues spent last school year bringing students back to school and getting them ready for graduation. But when she thinks about whether theyre ready for college, she has doubts: Its going to be an awakening.

A couple months after struggling through his math placement test, Hope headed to the UW-Madison, for six weeks of intense classes at a summer bridge program. He took a math class that covered the ground he missed in high school, and hes signed up to take calculus in the fall.

He also revived basic study skills that went dormant in high school. He started studying at the library. He got used to the rhythms of school, with assignments every day and tests every other week. He rediscovered what its like to enjoy school.

Most importantly, he says it changed his mindset: Now he feels like hes there to learn, not just to get by.

After this, I definitely feel prepared for college, he said. If I didnt have this, I would be in a very bad place.
Less than 12 hours after Donald Trump-backed candidate Tim Michels won the Republican nomination in Tuesdays GOP gubernatorial primary, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers took aim at his Nov. 8 challenger over his ties to the former president.

Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, spoke with reporters after having breakfast with his new running mate, state Rep. Sara Rodriguez, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, at Montys Blue Plate Diner in Madison on Wednesday. Asked about Michels, Evers predicted that while Trumps backing may have helped the millionaire co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp. defeat former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch on Tuesday, Trump may prove to be an albatross around Michels neck in the general election.

Hes not going to be able to stand in front of all these microphones today ... and say, I forgot to tell you Im going to become a moderate Republican, Evers said. Its just not in the cards. His relationship with Trump is going to drive his campaign.

Trump owns him. He is connected to Trump, Evers added. Thats his problem, thats not mine.

While primary elections are often decided by the partys base, statewide candidates tend to shift back toward the middle to appeal to general election voters and win in November. Moving too far toward the campaign talking points that invigorate primary voters could make that pivot challenging in the short time between the August primary and November election.

Evers pointed to Michels support for issues like the states 173-year-old abortion ban, which prohibits abortions from the time of conception unless its necessary to save the mothers life. Marquette Law School polls conducted between September 2012 and last October found that six in 10 Wisconsinites say abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

Michels campaign adviser Chris Walker said Evers and President Joe Biden are going to desperately attempt to do everything they can to distract the people of Wisconsin from their massive failures.

This race is about Tony Evers and his disastrous record, Walker added.

In his victory speech Tuesday, Michels thanked Trump for his endorsement, which he described as a tremendous validation of our meteoric rise in this campaign, while also pledging to stand up for the hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding citizens of Wisconsin.

Evers balked at Michels claims of being someone who can relate to blue-collar residents, pointing to Michels ties to lobbying groups and his $17 million home in Connecticut. He also said Michels claim of being a political outsider was one of the biggest jokes of his campaign.

He can wear a blue shirt so he can have a blue collar, but at the end of the day Im not quite sure someone that is of his status, with houses all across the country, could say, Well Im just one of you, because theres not many like that in the state of Wisconsin, Evers said.

Michels released a new TV ad the day after his win that calls Evers and Biden both career politicians in way over their head. The ad does not mention Trumps endorsement of Michels.

Evers also criticized Michels inconsistency on whether he would seek to decertify the results of the 2020 presidential election as Trump has repeatedly demanded.

Michels last week said everything will be on the table when asked if he would consider decertifying the 2020 election, marking a shift from his comments a week earlier that decertification was not a priority.

Decertification cannot happen under state law or the U.S. Constitution. A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes.

Here's why the 2020 election will never be 'decertified' There is no provision under the law or the Constitution by which the government can wipe out millions of citizens' votes.

Trump also backed election denier Adam Steen, who narrowly lost in Tuesdays primary to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, one of the most influential Republicans in the state who has fallen out of Trumps favor for refusing to entertain calls for decertification.

Steen was also endorsed by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, whom Vos hired last summer to lead the one-party review of the 2020 election. Gablemans review was originally allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds, but legal fees and other expenses have brought the total cost to more than $1.1 million.

After declaring victory Tuesday, Vos called Gableman an embarrassment to this state.

Vos also said he would meet with the Republican caucus to discuss whether Gablemans investigation, which has found no evidence of widespread fraud, would continue.

Hes got to fire Gableman and get over the last election, Evers said of Vos. Thats the bottom line.

Michels and Evers will meet on Nov. 8 in a high-stakes midterm election for both parties that could dramatically change state policy for the next four years, including election practices for the 2024 presidential contest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Self-proclaimed political outsider Tim Michels will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November after defeating his primary challenger Rebecca Kleefisch in Wisconsin's heated GOP gubernatorial primary Tuesday.

Despite entering the race in late April, more than six months after former Lt. Gov. Kleefisch, Michels rode a surging campaign into Tuesdays primary thanks in part to an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who held a rally supporting Michels in Waukesha County on Friday. Michels, the millionaire co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp., also pumped more than $12 million  the most a gubernatorial candidate has spent in state history  into his campaign in a little over three months, including millions on television and online ads.

Thanks to you, we took on the Madison Establishment and won, Michels said in a statement. Tonight we celebrate, but then, first thing tomorrow, lets get to work.

The Associated Press called the race for Michels at about 10:30 p.m., with Michels leading Kleefisch by about 4%, or about 22,000 votes, with almost 80% of votes counted. Votes are unofficial until formally canvassed.

Kleefisch conceded to Michels a little less than three hours after polls closed Tuesday, offering brief comments to her supporters.

"I could not be more grateful," Kleefisch said. "You left it all on the field."

As is often the case, Wisconsins WOW counties of Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington, which wrap around Milwaukee, played a major role in Tuesdays primary. While Kleefisch won Waukesha and Ozaukee counties, her margins werent enough to counter Michels gains in many of the states more rural counties.

Tuesdays primary served as the latest proxy between Trump-backed Michels and Kleefisch, who was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence. Once allies, Trump and Pence are mulling potential 2024 presidential runs.

"Congratulations to Tim Michels on his win against a wonderful and highly-competitive opponent, Rebecca Kleefisch," Trump said on his Truth Social social media account. "I know both sides will come together and defeat one of the worst Governors in the Country, Tony Evers."

While stumping for Michels in Waukesha County on Friday, Trump described Kleefisch as "the handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the 'RINOs.'" "RINO" is an acronym for "Republican in name only," a derogatory term for party members deemed insufficiently loyal.

Michels is slated to face Evers, who is seeking a second term this fall, in a high-stakes midterm for both major parties that could play an increased role in the battleground states 2024 presidential election. Independent Joan Beglinger is also running in the Nov. 8 election.

Michels will be paired on the ticket with state Sen. Roger Roth, who came out on top of a packed field of GOP candidates for lieutenant governor. Evers, meanwhile, will be paired with state Rep. Sara Rodriguez, who won the Democratic nomination Tuesday.

Evers' campaign manager Cassi Fenili issued a statement shortly after Michels declared victory blasting what she called a "scorched earth primary thats seen constant attacks and a dizzying race to the radical right."

"The Republican Party has chosen the most extreme and divisive nominee possible, one that will tell Donald Trump anything just to keep his endorsement," Fenili said. "From abortion and voting rights, to gun safety and public education  Tim Michels has staked out the most extreme positions possible, with the goal of dividing our state and pitting neighbors against one another."

The race for governor could drastically impact state policy for the next four years, including election practices for the 2024 presidential election.

Evers has maintained the role of goalie since taking office in early 2019, vetoing more than 100 bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature, including GOP-authored bills to limit abortions and alter state election processes  measures his Republican gubernatorial challengers have said they likely would sign if elected.

Michels last week said "everything will be on the table" when asked if he would consider decertifying the election, marking a shift from his comments a week earlier that decertification was "not a priority."

Legal experts, nonpartisan lawyers and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, have said decertification cannot happen under state law or the U.S. Constitution. Despite saying the 2020 election was "rigged," Kleefisch has also affirmed that decertification is impossible.

A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes.

Both Kleefisch and Ramthun have called for dismantling the state's six-member Elections Commission, which was created by Legislative Republicans six years ago. Ramthun has said he wants to put election responsibilities under the secretary of state, while Kleefisch has proposed an agency within the state Department of Justice.

Michels wants to replace the Wisconsin Elections Commission with what he's called "WEC 2.0," an agency made up of appointees from each of the state's eight congressional districts. Michels has not provided specifics on who would appoint the new agency's members.

Reproductive health will also be a factor in the Nov. 8 election. Experts have predicted the 2022 midterms will be bleak for liberal candidates, but Democrats, including Evers, have made abortion rights a key campaign talking point. Marquette Law School polls conducted between September 2012 and last October found that six in 10 Wisconsinites say abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

Michels has said he supports the state's 1849 abortion ban following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The state's 173-year-old abortion ban only provides exceptions to protect the life of the mother.
With 32 cases of monkeypox reported and growing demand for the states nearly 3,300 doses of vaccine, Wisconsin plans to extend supply by giving people one-fifth the normal dose just under the skin instead of in deeper tissue, as approved this week by federal authorities.

The ability to stretch our vaccine that much farther is a great opportunity, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, a chief medical officer with the state Department of Health Services, said Wednesday. As soon as possible, and in as many places as possible, were going to be encouraging people to use the new technique.

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved the shallower, dose-sparing approach based on a 2015 study that found the method generated an immune response similar to that of a full dose given deeper below the skin.

Nearly 9,500 cases of monkeypox have been reported nationwide this year, leading health officials to urge people at highest risk to get immunized even as a shortage of vaccine poses challenges. The viral illness, spread through close physical contact, causes a rash that may be painful or itchy and can include fever, chills, aches, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms.

With most cases so far occurring among men who have sex with men, vaccine is being targeted at gay and bisexual men, trans men and women and nonbinary people who have had multiple sex partners in the past two weeks. Other priority groups are people with a sexual partner recently diagnosed with monkeypox, those who attended events with known monkeypox exposure and close contacts of cases identified through public health investigations.

Vaccine is also being prioritized for people with HIV or other conditions that contribute to a weakened immune system.

Wisconsin has been allocated nearly 6,000 vials of vaccine, of which 3,286 vials had arrived as of Wednesday, Westergaard said. Nearly 600 doses had been given as of Tuesday as clinics are ramping up around the state to meet demand, he said.

The state should be able to request more vaccine next week, and splitting vials into five doses as now allowed should extend supply, he said. Clinics that arent ready to switch to the lower-dose, shallower method should continue giving shots the normal way, but will be encouraged to make the shift as soon as possible, he said.

To be considered fully vaccinated, people must get two shots two weeks apart.

Like some other vaccines, the monkeypox shots can be given to people after exposure in an attempt to prevent infection, as well as before people are exposed, Westergaard said. As supply increases, both methods will be used, he said.

Dane County, which has reported six cases of monkeypox, has given 130 doses of vaccine, said Morgan Finke, spokesperson for Public Health Madison and Dane County.

At the departments monkeypox vaccine clinic that started Aug. 1, 150 shots can be given per week, Finke said. As of Wednesday afternoon, some appointments were available for later this week and next week, she said. For information, call (608) 243-0556 or visit publichealthmdc.com/health-services/monkeypox.

Westergaard said that even though most cases of monkeypox in the U.S. this year have been among men who have sex with men, anyone who has close physical contact with others could be at risk.

We may be in the very early phases of this, he said. Anyone with skin could be infected by this.
PRAGUE (AP)  Oil shipments from Russia through a critical pipeline to several European countries resumed after a problem over payments for transit was resolved, Slovakias Economy Minister Richard Sulik said on Wednesday.

Oil is already on Slovakia territory, Sulik said on Facebook. He gave no further details.

But no oil has reached the neighboring Czech Republic yet, the countrys Mero pipeline operator said, and Hungary also was still to receive deliveries by Wednesday evening.

Russian state pipeline operator Transneft said Tuesday it halted shipments through the southern branch of the Druzhba, or Friendship, pipeline, which runs through Ukraine to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The northern leg of the Druzhba pipeline, which runs through Belarus to Poland and Germany, was unaffected, Transneft said.

Transneft cited complications due to European Union sanctions for its action on Aug. 4, saying its payment to the companys Ukrainian counterpart was refused.

Earlier Wednesday, Sulik said the payments would be made by Slovak refiner Slovnaft after both the Russian and Ukrainian sides agreed to the solution. Slovnaft is owned by Hungarys MOL energy group.

MOL confirmed the money has been transferred.

Slovakia receives practically all its oil through the Druzhba pipeline. Sulik said the payment is worth some 910 million euros (up to $10.2 million).

He said his country would work on a long-term solution to the problem which he said was caused by the refusal of an unnamed bank in Western Europe to transfer the money due to the sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia for its war against Ukraine.

I wouldnt look for a political context behind it, theres none, Sulik said.

However, Simone Tagliapietra, an energy expert at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, said Russia has weaponized natural gas heading to Europe by claiming technical issues, and this opens questions on whether it might now do the same with oil.

Russia has blamed equipment repairs for its decision to slash flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany, whose government has called it a political move to sow uncertainty and push up prices amid the war in Ukraine.

EU leaders agreed in May to embargo most Russian oil imports by the end of the year as part of the blocs sanctions over Moscows invasion of Ukraine.

The embargo covers Russian oil brought in by sea, but allowed temporary Druzhba pipeline shipments to Hungary and certain other landlocked countries in central Europe, such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

These countries are very dependent on Russian oil and as such they might face shortages in the short term should the interruption be lasting, Tagliapietra said.

Some drivers in Hungary were anticipating that on Wednesday, prompting MOL to appeal to the public asking customers to reduce their petrol purchases.

For now, I keep trying to keep my cars tank topped up, so I dont run out of fuel. And then well see, said Erzsebet Kovacs, a motorist.

Courtney Bonnell in London and video journalist Bela Szandelszky in Budapest, Hungary, contributed.

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
News broke Monday evening that the FBI searched the Florida home of Donald Trump, the former president. In fact, Trump himself informed the world, calling it a "raid" and an "assault."

While both words are colloquially defensible, it wasn't some Eliot Ness style breach with a battering ram or sledgehammer. The FBI called the Secret Service in advance and was let in. But that wasn't the image Trump and his echo chamber wanted people to have in mind. His statement begins, "These are dark times for our nation, as my beautiful home, Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided, and occupied by a large group of FBI agents."

According to various accounts, including from his son Eric Trump, the warrant was to find classified materials the former president took with him, allegedly in violation of the Presidential Records Act. The National Archives had been in negotiations with Trump's lawyers for a long time in an effort to retrieve documents they say Trump improperly took with him.

Rather than proceed with those negotiations, the FBI obtained a warrant from a judge.

I'd say "these are the facts," but initial reports are often wrong, so it's probably safer to just say all of this is undisputed. Notably, nobody publicly commenting on the raid even knows the contents of the search warrant -- except Trump, and he's not talking about that. The Department of Justice, as a matter of policy, is not commenting on the case at all.

Legal experts on both sides of the political divide insist that such warrants in normal cases require a high degree of evidence and proof of probable cause that a crime has been committed. This, of course, is not a normal case. Trump is correct when he says, "Nothing like this has ever happened to a president of the United States before." It is reasonable to assume that the Department of Justice, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, considered and examined their warrant application with great care given the political stakes.

For some political commentators and politicians hostile to Trump, this supposition is proof that the department must have a very good reason to seek a search warrant. If all the FBI -- which is currently led by a Trump appointee -- is looking for are some letters and other mementos, it would be crazy to do something so politically incendiary.

For other political commentators and politicians supportive of Trump, the extraordinary nature of the raid is proof that the Biden administration or the Department of Justice is persecuting Donald Trump as part of a political "witch hunt."

"I've seen enough. The Department of Justice has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said. "When Republicans take back the House, we will conduct immediate oversight of this department, follow the facts, and leave no stone unturned."

Such statements are a bit hard to take from McCarthy, who once boasted that Republican investigation into Hillary Clinton's role in the Benghazi terrorist attack were justified because it hurt her poll numbers.

Still, Garland had to know he would be inviting this kind of firestorm with partisans on both sides rushing to confirm their biases.

This battle of confirmation biases amounts to a fascinating political Rorschach test. The GOP House Judiciary Committee tweeted, "If they can do it to a former President, imagine what they can do to you." But that's the point, others argue. "They" can do the same thing to you. The FBI lawfully searches homes every day. If former presidents aren't above the law, then there shouldn't be a higher or different standard for them.

Rather than prove that America is behaving like a "corrupt" "third world country," as Trump and his defenders claim, the FBI's defenders argue that holding a former president accountable to the law just like everyone else proves we're the opposite of a banana republic.

I think they are right in theory, but wrong in practice. The very argument that Garland must have taken extra special care before proceeding demonstrates that we do have different standards for former presidents. We have even stricter standards for sitting presidents, which is why the DOJ has a rule that a president cannot be indicted while in office.

Under normal circumstances, it's a good standard that the Department of Justice does not comment on ongoing investigations. But this is an extraordinary situation that requires extraordinary measures. The FBI search is now a very public fact, and its significance is not lost on anyone. Its meaning, however, in the absence of authoritative explanation, is open to manipulation and exploitation, both by partisan defenders of Trump eager to delegitimize an investigation and by critics determined to raise expectations unsupported by the evidence.

The DOJ should release the warrant. If Garland refuses, President Biden should overrule him, to calm the political waters for the good of the country.

Of course, Trump can release the warrant for the good of the country, too. But he's already fundraising off the "witch hunt."

Interpret that Rorschach blot however you like.
The Republican Party is thrilled that Milwaukee will host the 2024 Republican National Convention following a thorough selection process. In two years, we look forward to presenting Americans with our Republican vision of freedom, prosperity and security as we nominate a strong Republican candidate for president. We also look forward to the great city of Milwaukee being front and center on the national stage.

Were thankful to Mayor Cavalier Johnson, the Milwaukee Host Committee and Visit Milwaukee for their vision, cooperation and leadership. They have put this city above all else and been incredible partners, which will culminate in a tremendous economic benefit for Milwaukee, Milwaukee County and Wisconsin. As we undertake the important work of creating an outstanding convention experience that highlights everything Milwaukee and Wisconsin have to offer, we could not ask for better partners.

We chose this Midwestern city not only because it was a good logistical fit, but because of its rich history and the tremendous destination it is for work and play. Milwaukee is situated on beautiful Lake Michigan in a purple state that showcases the breadth of Americas political spectrum. Wisconsin plays an important role in presidential elections, and we look forward to making our partys strong case to such a crucial audience.

Its not our first time in town. Last September, we were proud to open an RNC Hispanic Community Center in the Lincoln Village neighborhood of Milwaukee.

Political conventions are a special and uniquely American tradition, and the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee will be the latest chapter in a long story of great moments, great speeches and great candidates. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan took the stage at the RNC in Dallas and talked about an election that was about more than just left or right: that election was about embracing American optimism or accepting left-wing, big-government decline.

We face a similar choice now.

That year, President Reagan won our nomination and went on to win 49 states on his way back to the White House. In 2024, 40 years later, we want to make a similar statement about the winning power of our conservative vision. In other words, this convention will see the Republican Party nominate the next president of the United States.

Regardless of who we end up nominating, we know this: Americans are fed up, and we need a return to Republican leadership to undo President Joe Bidens failures in office. From skyrocketing prices, to rising violent crime and deadly drugs pouring through an open border, to indoctrination in our kids classrooms, Democrats have let the American people down at every turn.

Now, even as we struggle with a recession, Biden and the Democrats are working to raise taxes on hardworking Americans by billions of dollars and doubling down on the mistakes that delivered this failed economy. This is what liberal one-party rule looks like: Everything is more expensive, communities are less safe and our so-called leaders have no solutions.

Republicans offer a different vision. We want to cut your taxes, not raise them, and we will unleash American energy to drive down costs at the pump. We will always support our police, hold criminals accountable and give law enforcement the tools they need to keep our communities safe. We want parents to have a role in their kids education and to ensure that young students arent bombarded with radical and inappropriate curriculum.

Above all, Republicans celebrate America because we understand that this nation is  and always will be  the shining city on the hill that the rest of the world looks to as an example of freedom and opportunity.

When Republicans gather in Milwaukee in 2024, well be doing so to present an optimistic, prosperous alternative to years of Democrat failure. Our convention will offer a national platform and deliver tremendous economic impact to this great American city while showcasing the best of the Republican Party and uniting us behind our next president.

The countdown to the 2024 Republican National Convention has begun.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  A campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Missouri gathered enough signatures to make it on the November ballot, Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Tuesday.

If voters approve the constitutional amendment on marijuana, those age 21 and older could buy and grow it for personal consumption as early as this year.

We look forward to engaging with voters across the state in the coming weeks and months," LegalMo22 campaign manager John Payne said. "Missourians are more than ready to end the senseless and costly prohibition of marijuana.

Missouri voters approved medical marijuana use in 2018. Efforts to allow recreational marijuana use have failed to pass Missouri's Republican-led Legislature for years, prompting advocates to go to voters for approval instead.

Recreational marijuana is already legal in 19 states, and legalization proposals are on the ballot this fall in South Dakota and Maryland. Supporters are also trying to get measures on the ballot in Arkansas, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

Backers of the Missouri ballot proposal are highlighting a provision that would erase past marijuana-related convictions for nonviolent offenders and those whose conviction didnt include selling to minors or driving while high.

Local NAACP chapters, the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, criminal defense lawyers and other civil rights advocacy groups endorsed automatic expungement, and it could broaden support for the initiative among Republican criminal justice advocates. Seven other states with legal recreational marijuana have also adopted automatic expungement policies.

Marijuana sales would be taxed at 6% under the Missouri measure. The tax is estimated to bring in more than $46 million during the first full year the amendment is in effect and close to $70 million the following year. Revenues would be earmarked for veterans homes, drug treatment programs and public defenders.

Cities and other municipalities could enact local sales taxes on recreational marijuana up to 3% or enact local bans on non-medical marijuana sales by a public vote.

Ashcroft said a separate proposal to allow ranked-choice voting failed to collect the roughly 170,000 voter signatures from six of the states eight congressional districts to get on the ballot.

Under that proposal, candidates from all parties would have been listed on primary ballots beginning in August 2024, meaning voters could pick from Republicans and Democrats without requesting a party-specific ballot. The top four candidates with the most votes would move on to the general election, when voters could either pick only their favorite or rank the candidates from first to last.

Better Elections spokesman Scott Charton said in a statement that proponents would honor supporters with continued work on the issue.

If we want leaders in elected office who put our country and state over their political party, we're going to have to change the system, he said.
TWIN FALLS  An air show being planned for next year will be a salute to Joslin Field.

It will be a celebration of the airports 75th anniversary. Included in the plans are showing vintage aircraft that have ties to Magic Valley, giving insight into the airports role in firefighting efforts, and perhaps providing free airplane rides to children.

The show is planned for June 17, 2023.

Part of the air show is to remember the airports 75th year and we will have aircraft that span from World War II to the present, planner Jim ODonnell said. It will showcase the aviation history of Twin Falls County.

Joslin Field, also known as Twin Falls Regional Airport, is named after Sgt. Raymond Ralph Joslin, the first airman in Twin Falls County killed during World War II. He was part of a B-17 crew that was shot down in 1942 over the Solomon Islands, said ODonnell, co-chair of the group Joslin Field Celebration Inc. The group has been planning the show for several years and ODonnell recently joined after recovering from some health issues.

A lot has happened at the airport since it was dedicated in 1948. During that time period, it was pretty empty, ODonnell said. West Coast Airlines, flying Douglas DC-3s, began providing commercial service to Twin Falls that year, he said.

And because of that connection, ODonnell said the group is trying to locate a DC-3 to be on display at the show.

Joslin Field visitors pass by a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, displayed on a pedestal, as they enter the airport property. Appropriately, Greg Colyer, a pilot from San Francisco, is expected to fly to Twin Falls with his T-33, ODonnell said.

And were trying to get a B-17, of course with the connection to Sgt. Joslin, ODonnell said, adding that he is seeking aircraft from World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War and Desert Storm for the show. ODonnell said several exhibits will honor veterans.

A water drop from an aircraft might take place to highlight the role Joslin Field has in fighting wildfires in the region. It will be either hundreds or perhaps thousands of gallons, depending on the size of the aircraft, he said.

To give a thrill to children, ODonnell said talks are underway to offer them free airplane rides.

A lot of kids havent had that experience, he said.

While air show planning is still in the works, we are making progress, ODonnell said. The air show will be free, with the purchase of a parking pass.

The show will be paid for by local sponsors, he said.

The air shows planning is really getting some traction, Jim Carberry, airport manager. The airport is supporting the air show but is not leading the efforts.

ODonnell, who was a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, has been involved with Twin Falls air shows since the 1990s.

The first air show at the airport, at least in recent memory, was in July 1998, which marked the 50th anniversary of Joslin Field. Airplane rides to Shoshone Falls and back were offered for $5.

We have had great success with the shows, ODonnell said.

The U.S. Navys Blue Angels performed in 2012. While next years show wont have an act as well-known as the Blue Angels, ODonnell said it will be entertaining.

In some ways, it will be low key, he said, and in some ways, it wont.
The U.S. Senate adopted the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act Tuesday, 86-11. Good for them. The Senate went through too much drama and delay in the process, and the people needing help the act would provide didnt need that.

The bill will enhance health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits with veterans reporting respiratory illnesses and cancers they attribute to serving near burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, used to dispose of such things as chemicals, cans, tires, plastics and medical and human waste.

According to an Associated Press report, veterans who served near burn pits will get 10 years of health care coverage through the Department of Veterans Affairs upon their separation from the military rather than five. The bill directs the VA to presume that certain respiratory illnesses and cancers were related to burn pit exposure, taking the burden of proof off the veteran, allowing them to obtain disability payments to compensate for their injury without having to show the illness was a result of their service.

The report said roughly 70% of disability claims related to burn pit exposure were denied by the VA due to lack of evidence, scientific data and information from the Defense Department.

At first, the House and Senate approved the bill overwhelmingly with the Senate first passing it in June, 84-14. The bill contained a revenue-related provision that must originate in the House, requiring a technical fix, and the House approved the fixed bill 342-88. It needed to go back to the Senate for another vote.

Then came the delay. Nearly two weeks ago, more than two dozen Republicans who voted for the bill in June voted against advancing the fixed bill, blocking the needed 60-vote majority, going along with Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who was seeking a vote on an amendment that he said would not reduce spending on veterans but would prevent spending increases in other nondefense programs down the road.

And if anyone wonders where Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch stood on the bill, they voted against it each time it came before them, including the final approving vote.

The PACT Act failed to advance in the Senate ... because Democrats forced a vote on a bill filled with budget gimmicks to score political points, Crapo told a Boise TV station. The Democrats are pushing a false impression that Republicans dont support veterans. That notion is, of course, blatantly false. I, along with all Republicans, have been longtime, strong supporters of the veteran community. The Democrats should now take the opportunity to truly work in a bipartisan fashion, remove the gimmicks and come to the negotiating table to make commonsense and needed improvements to the bill, including demonstrating true support for veterans.

Crapo said he has led or co-sponsored four bills to address burn pit injuries and illness, bills he said had broad bipartisan support and could have passed the Senate without opposition, accusing Democrats of creating a nearly $400 billion slush fund for additional unrestrained spending.

The delay created a firestorm.

You just screwed veterans yesterday, said Tom Porter of the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Now, were going to hold them accountable.

Veterans are angry and confused at the sudden change from those they thought had their backs, said Cory Titus of the group Military Officers Association of America.

In a visit to the Boise VA Medical Center, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said killing the legislation would inexplicably delay necessary health care to veterans who have faced 30 years of war and exposure to toxic particulates from burn pits.

Montana Democratic Sen. Jon Tester, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said on the PBS Newshour there wasnt one thing that changed in the bill from when it was first overwhelmingly approved with the exception of one line that was taken out that allowed the VA to buy out provider contracts, taken out because it was a revenue-raiser. Tester noted that the VA secretary said if Toomeys amendment were passed it would lead to rationing of care to veterans.

Health care that is delayed is health care that is denied, Tester added.

So, where are the budget gimmicks that Crapo mentioned? Has that been fully explained? Or is this politics as usual at the cost of veterans whose health cant afford the delay?

Toomeys argument had to do with what he said was shuffling $390 billion in VA spending from the governments discretionary category to an annual mandatory, automatic spending category.

Did anything really change that much to bring about final approval? Veterans organizations are celebrating the bills final passage. But a question remains.

Was the delay worth it?
Here's a look at trending topics for today, Aug. 9:

Anne Heche

Anne Heche has remained in critical condition since crashing her vehicle into a Los Angeles residence on Friday, according to a new representative for the actress.

"Over the weekend a representative stated that Anne was in stable condition but that information was inaccurate. She has always remained in critical condition, slipping into a coma following the accident," a spokesperson for Heche told CNN in a statement Monday. "She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention. She is currently being treated at the Grossman Burn Center."

Earlier Monday, CNN reported that Heche is under investigation for misdemeanor DUI and hit and run, according to LAPD Officer Annie Hernandez.

Read more about it here:

Issey Miyake

Issey Miyake, who built one of Japans biggest fashion brands and was known for his boldly sculpted pleated pieces as well as former Apple CEO Steve Jobs black turtlenecks, has died. He was 84.

Miyake died Aug. 5 of liver cancer, Miyake Design Office said Tuesday.

Miyake defined an era in Japans modern history, reaching stardom in the 1970s among a generation of designers and artists who reached global fame by defining a Japanese vision that was unique from the West.

Miyakes origami-like pleats transformed usually crass polyester into chic. He also used computer technology in weaving to create apparel.

Find out more about his life and fashions here:

Roquan Smith

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles plans to continue to work for a contract extension with linebacker Roquan Smith instead of his request to be traded.

Smith, who is under contract through the 2022 season, is staging a hold-in and attending practices without actually practicing until he gets an extension, but Tuesday he made public an official request for a trade.

Right now my intentions are to sign Roquan to this team, Poles said after the Bears held a Tuesday practice at Soldier Field. And were going to take it day by day."

Get more information here:

***

Get more of of today's trending topics here:

Monkeypox vaccine

Lyme disease vaccine

Rita Ora and Taika Waititi
US Defense Secretary Tuesday condemned the degradation of democratic gains in Tunisia but ruled out interference in the internal affairs of the North African country.

Lloyd Austin was speaking at a leadership change ceremony of the AFRICOM, in Stuttgart, Germany. The head of US defense and security system was addressing several challenges including threats to democracy in Africa and Chinas expansion on the continent.

You can see those headwinds in Tunisia, where people have inspired the world with their demands for democracy. Today, Tunisias dream of self-determination is once again at risk. But the United States stands committed and supportive of our friends in Tunisia and throughout Africa as they work to forge an open and inclusive democracy, Austin said.

The remark is a veiled attack on Tunisian President Kais Saied who is currently doing a one-man show in the North African country which was considered the only success story of the Arab Spring that swept away several Arab autocratic leaders in 2011.

Saied bolstered his grip on power on July 25 through a referendum that adopted a new constitution rejected by vast majority of Tunisians who boycotted the voting process.

Washington refused to back the referendum and hinted at using its influence for the restoration of democracy but Tunisia slammed President Joe Bidens administration for interference in its internal affairs.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Amid longstanding debate on the effectiveness of the tuberculosis vaccine, a new study suggests that the vaccine is protective against TB in children under 5, but adolescents and adults in high-burden countries may need additional protection to maintain immunity beyond childhood.

The tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), is one of the most widely administered vaccines across the globe. Nearly 100 years old, it is the only vaccine ever administered to treat TB, which afflicts more than 10 million people each year.

Despite the age and widespread use of the BCG vaccine, there is still considerable debate on its effectiveness in preventing TB, and how long immunity may last after it is administered in infancy. And as experts study and propose new TB vaccines to supplement the BCG vaccine, an important consideration is the age at which these new vaccines should be administered to high-risk populations.

Now, a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher provides new insight and clarity on these issues.

Published in The Lancet Global Health, the study found that BCG vaccination at birth does provide significant protection against TB diseasebut only among children under 5 years old. The vaccine provided no protection among adolescents or adults in this study.

These results suggest that protectiveness from the BCG vaccine may begin to wane as children get older and, thus, children over 10 years old and adults should receive a booster BCG vaccineand eventually a new, supplemental vaccine, as the researchers note that the BCG booster may also have limited efficacyfor immunity against TB beyond childhood. Unfortunately, a BCG booster has limited efficacy, so new vaccines are needed.

"Unlike many of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which we know are highly effective, there is widespread debate on the BCG vaccine's effectiveness and duration of protection, as well as whether the vaccine only works in selective settings," says study lead author Dr. Leonardo Martinez, assistant professor of epidemiology at BUSPH. "Our findings indicate that BCG vaccination is effective at preventing tuberculosis in young children. Since tuberculosis in children is a highly debilitating and severe disease, BCG vaccination should continue to be used."

However, since the results show that the vaccine was ineffective in adolescents and adults, "boosting immunoprotection is needed for older populations," Martinez says. "Novel vaccines are urgently needed to supplement BCG vaccination in high-burden settings."

These findings provide up-to-date assessments on TB vaccine effectiveness, as the majority of previously published studies on this subject were conducted more than 50 years ago, with varying results, and primarily in settings with a relatively low burden of the disease. This new analysis presents data over the past 10 years, from high-burden settings in 17 countries, including South Africa, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Uganda, The Gambia, and Brazil.

For the study, Martinez and colleagues analyzed individual-level data from 26 longitudinal studies that included nearly 70,000 participants exposed to TB from 1998 to 2018. The researchers examined the impact of BCG vaccination for all TB disease, as well as specifically for pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB. The analysis examined variability across the studies, including the use of skin and blood TB infection tests, and accounted for potentially confounding factors such as HIV, exposure status, and history of prior TB, amongst others.

Among all children under 5 years old, BCG vaccination was 37 percent effective. The researchers did not find conclusive evidence that the vaccine was protective among children over 10 or among adults. When focusing only on pulmonary TB, BCG vaccination was 19 percent effective, however this effect was also only among young children.

Although the BCG vaccine is not widely administered in the United States, Martinez says that this new information lends important implications for the US and other wealthy countries.

"The vast majority of tuberculosis in the US and other high-income countries occurs in immigrants who recently traveled to the US from settings with a high burden of tuberculosis," he says. "Several cost-effectiveness and mathematical modeling studies have found that devoting resources to countries with a high burden of tuberculosis outside the US is amongst the most effective intervention to control tuberculosis inside the US. So although our results are mostly in settings with a high burden of tuberculosis, they are also relevant to low-burden settings."

The researchers stress that substantial investment in TB vaccine development is critical to controlling global TB.

"We urgently need vaccines that are effective against TB in adults," says study coauthor Dr. C. Robert Horsburgh, professor of epidemiology. "There are a number of promising TB vaccine candidates under study and we hope that one or more of them will prove effective."

Click here to read the full study, and here to read the accompanying commentary by Mark Hatherill of the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative at the University of Cape Town's Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Frank Cobelens in the Department of Global Health at Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam.

More information: Leonardo Martinez et al, Infant BCG vaccination and risk of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis throughout the life course: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis, The Lancet Global Health (2022). Journal information: The Lancet Global Health Leonardo Martinez et al, Infant BCG vaccination and risk of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis throughout the life course: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00283-2
A man pulls his mask to get his routine COVID-19 throat swab at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Chinese authorities have closed Tibet's famed Potala Palace after a minor outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in the Himalayan region. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

The number of coronavirus deaths fell by 9% in the last week while new cases remained relatively stable, according to the latest weekly pandemic report released by the World Health Organization Wednesday.

The U.N. health agency said there were more than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths in the last week and nearly 7 million new infections. The Western Pacific reported a 30% jump in cases while Africa reported a 46% drop. Cases also fell by more than 20% in the Americas and the Middle East.

The number of new deaths rose by 19% in the Middle East, while dropping by more than 70% in Africa, 15% in Europe and 10% in the Americas.

The WHO said that the omicron subvariant BA.5 remains dominant globally, accounting for nearly 70% of all virus sequences shared with the world's biggest publicly available virus database. The agency said other omicron subvariants, including BA.4 and BA.2, appear to be decreasing in prevalence as BA.5 takes over.

The WHO cautioned that its assessment of COVID-19 trends remains compromised by countries dropping many of their testing, surveillance and sequencing efforts as most countries have relaxed pandemic controls.

Still, Chinese authorities have announced new restrictions this week, after finding COVID-19 cases in the tourist island of Hainan and in Tibet. Earlier this week, the Chinese government shut down Lhasa's Potala Palace, the traditional home of the Dalai Lama, and also locked down Haikou, the capital of Hainan, in addition to several other cities including the beach resort Sanya.

Residents wearing face masks wait in line to get their routine COVID-19 throat swabs at a coronavirus testing site in Beijing, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022. Chinese authorities have closed Tibet's famed Potala Palace after a minor outbreak of COVID-19 was reported in the Himalayan region. Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

About 80,000 tourists were stranded this week in Sanya after Chinese officials declared it a COVID-19 hot spot and required people to test negative five times within a week before being allowed to leave.

On Tuesday, the Chinese government sent a first planeload of 125 tourists out of Sanya and said other flights would be organized to fly out tourists in batches once they fulfilled the criteria to leave.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
A. Conventional HIR image and B. conventional DLR image show blurred appearance of proximal aspect of stent (arrow). C. Subtraction HIR image and D. subtraction DLR image show discrete region of hypoattenuation at proximal aspect of stent (arrow). Both readers provided a diagnosis of in-stent restenosis only for subtraction HIR and subtraction DLR. Diagnostic confidence score for the four methods for reader 1 was 2, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, and for reader 2 was 1, 2, 3, and 3, respectively. Patient subsequently underwent invasive catheter angiography. Fluoroscopic imagines obtained (E) before and (F) after contrast media injection demonstrate in-stent restenosis of proximal aspect of stent (arrow). Credit: ARRS and AJR

According to research published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), the combination of deep-learning reconstruction (DLR) and a subtraction technique yielded optimal diagnostic performance for the detection of in-stent restenosis by coronary CTA.

Noting that these findings could guide patient selection for invasive coronary stent evaluation, combining DLR with a two-breath-hold subtraction technique "may help overcome challenges related to stent-related blooming artifact," added corresponding author Yi-Ning Wang from the State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases at China's Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

Between March 2020 and August 2021, Wang and team studied 30 patients (22 men, 8 women; mean age, 63.6 years) with a total of 59 coronary stents who underwent coronary CTA using the two-breath-hold technique (i.e., noncontrast and contrast-enhanced acquisitions). Conventional and subtraction images were reconstructed for hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and DLR, while maximum visible in-stent lumen diameter was measured. Two readers independently evaluated images for in-stent restenosis (50% stenosis).

Ultimately, coronary CTA using DLR and subtraction techniquewith a combined (conventional and subtraction images) interpretationyielded PPV, NPV, and accuracy for in-stent restenosis for reader 1 of 73.3%, 93.2%, and 88.1%, and for reader 2 of 75.0%, 84.3%, and 83.1%, respectively.

Acknowledging that the two-breath-hold subtraction technique requires an additional noncontrast acquisition (and thus a higher radiation dose), "DLR allows a reduction in radiation exposure, while improving image quality," the authors of this AJR article pointed out.

More information: Cheng Xu et al, Coronary Artery Stent Evaluation by CTA: Impact of Deep Learning Reconstruction and Subtraction Technique, American Journal of Roentgenology (2022). Journal information: American Journal of Roentgenology Cheng Xu et al, Coronary Artery Stent Evaluation by CTA: Impact of Deep Learning Reconstruction and Subtraction Technique,(2022). DOI: 10.2214/AJR.22.27983
Colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory. Credit: NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland

Monkeypox has been declared a national public health emergency. Two epidemiologists at the University of Michigan School of Public Health discuss the disease and its implications.

Joseph Eisenberg, professor of epidemiology, is an infectious disease epidemiologist studying environmental determinants of infectious disease with a focus on waterborne and vector borne diseases. Andrew Brouwer, assistant research scientist in epidemiology, uses mathematical and statistical modeling to address public health problems in infectious disease, cancer and tobacco control.

Should we be worried now that the monkeypox virus (MPV) has been declared a public health emergency in the United States?

Brouwer: MPV has been declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and some states and localities. These declarations serve to bring attention to the topic, enhance coordinated responses, and make money and resources available. It does not mean that we're all in imminent danger of being infected.

Is monkeypox going to be the next pandemic?

Eisenberg: Monkeypox is the next pandemic. It is spreading globally through several countries, including the U.S. In the U.S., cases are rapidly increasing into the thousands. It's a different kind of pandemic than what we see in COVID, however, because it is much less infectious and it is currently affecting a specific risk group that involves very close, intimate contact. And so, yes, it's a pandemic, but it's not anything like the COVID pandemic.

Brouwer: The COVID-19 pandemic has sensitized us to disease transmission. Other outbreaks, such as the hepatitis A epidemic (predominantly 20162018, with more than 30,000 cases in the U.S.), received much less attention. That is not to say that we should let the MPV and other outbreaks fly under the radar, but we should have some perspective that outbreaks of various diseases happen all the time and not all are existential threats. It is good that there is a lot of attention being paid to MPV so that transmission can be interrupted and those infected can be treated. But MPV is not the next COVID.

Unlike SARS-CoV-2, MPV is not spread by casual contact. It is primarily sexually transmitted. It is unlikely to become a widespread epidemic in the broader public, and we should not be too worried about catching it when we're in public. However, the virus has likely spread to many localities throughout the country, so sexually active individuals should be aware of the signs and discuss MPV with their sexual partners.

What is monkeypox?

Eisenberg: Monkeypox is a viral disease related to smallpox. It's different from smallpox in that the disease primarily is spread among nonhuman animals like rodents and primateswhat we call a zoonotic diseaseand historically has been endemic in central and west Africa, primarily in rainforest areas.

Historically, monkeypox is able to be transmitted from animals to humans with some limited person to person spread. But this new strain is different in that it is now spreading more rapidly through close person-to-person contact and spreading globally throughout different countries in the world. We don't fully understand why this strain is spread globally.

How is monkeypox spread?

Eisenberg: This virus is spread through very close contact, often skin to skin. Monkeypox causes lesions and rashes, and the fluid from the lesions and rashes are infectious. It also can be through droplets, that is, droplets that are released through your mouth, through even just talking. The virus can, in addition, contaminate objects like fabrics and it can survive there for a period of time, and people can be exposed through touching those objects, but this mode of transmission seems to be rare.

Brouwer: The vast majority of monkeypox transmission is through skin-to-skin sexual contact. Transmission can also occur through nonsexual close contacts and from contaminated objects, typically within a home.

Should we be worried that this is going to spread like COVID-19?

Eisenberg: No. The big difference between monkeypox and COVID is that monkeypox is much less effective in spreading. First of all, it can't aerosolize into the air and therefore stay in the air for hours or even days like COVID. Second of all, it requires a much higher dose to become infected. So the fact that it's much less infectious is one reason why monkeypox will not spread in the way we see something like COVID spreading.

Also, it is thought that only symptomatic individuals that have these rashes and lesions are infectious. As far as we know, people that are infected but pre-symptomatic cannot transmit the disease. And that's also very different from COVID, as somebody could be walking around with COVID without any symptoms and be infectious and spread the disease.

What are the symptoms?

Eisenberg: A lot of the initial symptoms of monkeypox are what we call broad spectrum, symptoms like fever, headache, muscle ache, typical respiratory symptomstypes of symptoms that don't necessarily tell you that it's monkeypox as opposed to COVID, the flu or common cold. The lesions are what's the most characteristic symptom of monkeypox. And those lesions are what is diagnostic for a clinician to say, oh, this is monkeypox and not COVID. And that comes sometimes a little later than the first phase of just having your general fever and headache and respiratory symptoms.

What should someone do if they are experiencing these symptoms?

Eisenberg: If they're experiencing these symptoms, they should isolate themselves. If they've got lesions and rashes, they should separate even within their house, separate themselves from animals, because this can be transmitted to animals as well as family members. And then contacting their physician would be also prudent to see whether or not there are treatments that are available for them.

There's been some confusion about the spread of this disease, and there has been a lot of focus on the gay and queer communities. Is MPV an STI? Should we be focusing on those communities?

Brouwer: MPV is a sexually transmitted infection. Sexual transmission is not the only mode of transmission, but it is by far the most important one right now. The fact is that 98% of cases worldwide in this epidemic have been in men who have sex with men. To gloss over this fact creates incorrect risk perceptions for both low- and high-risk individuals. It is possible to be forthright about who is currently at highest risk and what precautions can be taken without stigmatizing whole populations. In general, public health messaging needs to do a better job of recognizing that diseases create fear responses and that people with infections (of any kind) are often blamed for their infection. We saw this in the COVID-19 pandemic, too.

And how concerned should the public be? Should everyone get the vaccine?

Eisenberg: Only people that have been potentially exposed or have high-risk behaviors or are immunocompromised should be considering getting a vaccine. It's just not widespread enough to make it something that everybody should be getting.

Brouwer: No, at this point the vaccine should be targeted to high-risk individuals. There is little indication that the outbreak will become epidemic in the larger population. It may become an endemic sexually transmitted infection, however, so continued awareness and education is important.

So if I go to the grocery store, I most likely won't get monkeypox?

Eisenberg: Exactly. So that is not the kind of casual contact that can occur and cause transmission for, again, COVID, the flu, common cold, those are all things that you could get if you just went to the grocery store. Monkeypox is much less infectious.

Can you talk about zoonotic diseases and how climate change might impact how often we see these types of diseases coming up?

Eisenberg: Zoonotic diseases are diseases that are coming from nonhuman animals, livestock and even wild animals. Most of the emerging and reemerging pathogens that become human diseases, including all the childhood diseases like measles and smallpox and such, were originally zoonotic. That is, pathogens have been emerging from animals into human populations, ever since the development of agriculture. Agriculture created a situation where there is much more intimate contact with animals.

What climate change has done is exacerbate the risk of new emerging or reemerging pathogens that we've always had. For some pathogens, we will see an expansion of transmission and more intense transmission. For other pathogens, we'll just see geographic shifts. That is, some locations will have less transmission and in some locations we will have an increasing amount of transmission.

This geographic shift in transmission will be challenging to address. Public health infrastructures will have to be much more nimble and flexible in addressing future risks that may be different than what the risks were in the past. So, again, we should not only be focused on the idea that climate change is going to be increasing the risk of disease, rather that it's going to be shifting where the high-risk locations are over time.

Explore further What you should know about monkeypox
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued warning letters to three companies, including Amazon, for selling unapproved products for removing moles and skin tags.

No over-the-counter medications have FDA approval for that purpose, and the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits interstate sale of unapproved drugs and cosmetics.

"It is the FDA's duty to protect public health from harmful products not approved for the U.S. marketplace," said Donald Ashley, director of the compliance office in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "This includes where online retailers like Amazon are involved in the interstate sale of unapproved drug products. We will continue to work diligently to ensure that online retailers do not sell products that violate federal law."

Besides Amazon, the FDA issued warning letters to Ariella Naturals and Justified Laboratories.

The agency emphasized that it has not examined the mole and skin tag removal products sold by these companies for safety, effectiveness or quality.

The warning letters put the companies on notice that failure to address the violations cited by the FDA may result in legal action, including seizure. Once they receive the warning letter, the companies have 15 days to inform the agency of any corrective measures they have taken.

The agency warned earlier this summer that using unregulated products for do-it-yourself removal of moles, skin tags and another type of growth known as seborrheic keratoses can mask skin cancer and result in wounds and scarring.

"There are several reasons that patients should avoid trying to treat moles at home. And that is certainly the most concerning... that cancer patients often mistake skin cancer for benign moles," Dr. Chad Prather, a board-certified dermatologist in Baton Rouge, La, said at the time. "We commonly see patients who have a skin cancer. It's been diagnosed and their initial process was to try to treat that at home with either physical means or sometimes these over-the-counter products."

That can cloud the diagnosis of very serious skin cancers, such as melanoma, Prather said.

"We judge how bad a melanoma is by how deep it goes. And we really need that initial biopsy to know the true depth so that we can choose the most appropriate treatment method, whether it's surgery or checking lymph nodes or followed by immunotherapy," Prather explained.

The FDA said Tuesday that it will continue to use all the tools available to protect public health and remove fraudulent or unproven drug products from the American market. The warning letters were just the first step.

Consumers and medical professionals are asked to report any adverse events related to the products to the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting.

More information: BeSafeRx is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration site for BeSafeRx is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration site for online pharmacy information

Copyright  2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Epidemiologists and public health officials have a new predictive tool to analyze the course of pandemics, thanks to a mathematical formula derived by a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) professor in partnership with a collaborator who is a UAH alumnus.

In work a journal reviewer referred to as seminal, they provide a mathematical solution to a model which describes chemical autocatalysis. Based on an analogy they draw between autocatalysis and epidemiology, their formula accurately predicts the future spread of a pandemic, as well.

The formula, which the researchers say is simple to evaluate, can be used to judge the effects of various mitigation measures designed to stem the epidemic. As such, they say it can aid public health authorities in their efforts to deploy resources to mitigate a pandemic's effects.

Created by Dr. James Baird, professor of chemistry at UAH, a part of the University of Alabama System, and Dr. Douglas A. Barlow of Alderman Barlow Laboratories in Trenton, Fla., the formula calculates the spread of diseases of either viral or bacterial origin and takes into account the effects of various mitigation efforts such as masking, social distancing, quarantine, vaccination rates and the efficacy of medical treatment.

Chemical transformations are autocatalytic when a catalyst molecule combines with a reactant molecule to produce more catalyst molecules, a result that serves to accelerate the reaction.

"In this sense, an autocatalytic reaction is completely analogous to the spread of an infectious disease," Dr. Baird says. "In the disease case, contact between a susceptible individual and an infectious individual results in two infected individuals."

According to Dr. Baird, the formula he derived with Dr. Barlow is a highly accurate approximate solution to the mathematical theory of epidemics developed in 1927 by the British scientists W. O. Kermack and A. G. McKendrick, who published their results in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. Kermack was a biochemist and McKendrick was a British army physician, whose mathematical intuition rivaled that of many professionals.

"Kermack and McKendrick showed that, if the rate of transfer of the infectious organism was faster than the rate of recovery of the population of infected individuals, then the disease would spread," Dr. Baird says.

"If the reverse is true, the disease will go extinct," he says. "Although Kermack and McKendrick gave a proof of this assertion, they were unable to provide an exact, closed form, analytic solution of the basic differential equation that governed the time development of the various populations."

No one since has been able to find an exact solution to that equation that doesn't require several pages to write down.

"My coauthor Doug Barlow and I fared no differently from our predecessors in the search for an exact solution," says Dr. Baird. "We did, however, find the next best thing, which was an approximate analytic solution that can be written down on one line."

Dr. Baird presented the model in May at the Southeastern Theoretical Chemistry Association meeting in Atlanta.

"The World Health Organization could program our equation into a hand-held computer," Dr. Baird says. "Our formula is able to predict the time required for the number of infected individuals to achieve its maximum. In the chemical analog, this is known as the induction time."

The formula is capable of predicting the number of hospitalizations, death rates, community exposure rates and related variables. It also calculates the populations of susceptible, infectious and recovered individuals, and predicts a clean separation between the period of onset of the disease and the period of subsidence

"During the onset, the number of infected individuals steadily increases, and as a result the rate of increase in the number of recovered individuals accelerates," Dr. Baird says. "To slow down the spread, mitigation effects need to focus their attention on a parameter known as R-zero."

R-zero is the rate of spread divided by the rate of recovery.

"If the value of R-zero is greater than unity, the disease is spreading," says Dr. Baird. "If the value of R-zero is less than unity, the disease is going extinct."

To reach the extinction phase, public health officials want to decrease the rate of spread while increasing the rate of recovery. "The period of subsidence of the disease begins after the number of infected individuals has reached its maximum," Dr. Baird says.

During subsidence, the number of infected individuals begins to decrease, while the number of recovered individuals is still increasing but at a rate which is decelerating.

"Among our results is also a formula, which when combined with population data collected during onset, can be used to predict the time when the number of infected individuals needing hospitalization is expected to reach its maximum," Dr. Baird says.

"To get an idea of the accuracy of our formula, we compared its predictions with that of a numerical solution of the Kermack-McKendrick equation that we generated using MathCad computer software," he says. "In all cases tried, the difference between our analytic solution and the computer solution was never greater than 2%."

Dr. Baird's curiosity was sparked in 2020 by news reports describing the rapid increase in numbers of people infected by COVID-19.

"The rate of infection initially accelerates until it reaches a point where the infection rate is balanced by the recovery rate of infected individuals, at which point the number of infected people peaks and then starts to decay," he says.

That mechanism reminded him of the mechanism that governs an autocatalytic reaction.

"I subsequently learned that the mathematical description of the spread of infectious diseases was first described by Kermack and McKendrick," Dr. Baird says.

"When I read their paper, I realized that their mechanism was exactly the same as that of an autocatalytic reaction, where a catalyst molecule combines with a reactant molecule to produce two catalyst molecules," he says. "The rate of production of catalyst molecules accelerates until it is balanced by the rate of decay of the catalyst to form the product."

The research was published in the International Journal of Chemical Kinetics.

Explore further Traditional model for disease spread may not work in COVID-19

More information: James K. Baird et al, Analytic solution to the rate law for a fundamental autocatalytic reaction mechanism operating in the "efficient" regime, International Journal of Chemical Kinetics (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society James K. Baird et al, Analytic solution to the rate law for a fundamental autocatalytic reaction mechanism operating in the "efficient" regime,(2022). DOI: 10.1002/kin.21598
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In Greek mythology, the story of Odysseus and the Sirens illustrates a paradigmatic example of self-control.

When the hero of Homer's epic prepared to travel past the Sirens, mythical creatures who lure sailors with their enchanted singing, Odysseus instructs his crew to plug their ears with wax and tie him to the ship's mast. That way, Odysseus can listen to the Sirens as he sails by, and the crew can keep their wits. No matter how much he begs to be released, no one will hear his pleas.

Was Odysseus exercising willpower with his plan, or was he merely removing his ability to cave to temptation?

Jordan Bridges, a doctoral student in the Rutgers Department of Philosophy, has coauthored a paper in the journal Cognition explaining why this distinction matters for the study of self-control, and what it might tell us about how mere mortals view the power of willpower.

Researchers have long wondered what tools people successfully use to resist temptationslike eating another bag of potato chips or checking Facebook one more time before bed. And while no one really knows why some of us have more self-control than others, psychologists and behavioral economists know a lot about the methods people use to resist temptation.

Bridges said one method is called diachronic regulation, which involves selecting and modifying one's situation and cultivating habits over time to avoid temptationessentially removing willpower from the equation. A second approach, synchronic regulation, relies on deliberate, effortful willpower in the moment to resist temptation.

Psychologists and economists have increasingly argued that because willpower is difficult to exercise, diachronic regulation is more effective than synchronic regulation. This conclusion is based in part on the failure of willpower-driven campaigns (such as Nancy Regan's "Just Say No" campaign, which had no measurable effects on youth tobacco, alcohol or drug use).

But Bridges and her colleagues hypothesized that such assessments of synchronic regulation rested on a faulty interpretation of the data, that supposed examples of effective purely diachronic strategies involved the use of willpower to implement, and that the popular, or "folk," view of willpower is just as important.

"We theorized that it takes willpower to implement temptation-avoidance strategies," said Bridges.

Using a multifactorial research design, the researchers sought to decontaminate cases of self-control to test how people viewed synchronic and diachronic regulation as separate entities. Participants in four experiments were asked to read a short story about a character named Moin which he uses different self-control tactics to refrain from drinking coffee, eating junk food, using social media and socializingand then rate his level of self-control.

What they found was that when synchronic and diachronic forms of regulation were pulled apart, participants thought only willpower counted as self-control; pure diachronic strategies did not. And in mixed cases involving both forms of regulation, when participants rated the cases as involving the exercise of self-control, they did so only because they involved synchronic regulation, not the more behavioral framework of temptation avoidance.

Bridges said these findings are important for the study of self-control, and for how psychologists, philosophers, economists and clinical practitioners discuss these concepts.

"Scientific discussion, and science communication, can often involve debates over terms that don't track how we ordinarily use them," said Bridges. "If we care about successfully communicating scientific results, we need to speak in terms that people understand."

She added that "people often infer that it's the diachronic strategy doing the self-control work, when really, moments of synchronic regulation are being amplified with diachronic strategy. Understanding the role of willpower in self-control has implications for the way we talk about helping people break habits."

Explore further Finding the willpower to lose weight

More information: Zachary C. Irving et al, Will-powered: Synchronic regulation is the difference maker for self-control, Cognition (2022). Journal information: Cognition Zachary C. Irving et al, Will-powered: Synchronic regulation is the difference maker for self-control,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2022.105154
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Southern California air regulators are investigating several facilities that sterilize medical equipment with a carcinogenic gas after preliminary monitoring confirmed their emissions may pose an elevated cancer risk to people who work nearby.

After months of screening for chemical emissions near large commercial sterilizers in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued several violation notices for improperly handling ethylene oxide (EtO), a colorless and odorless gas used to sterilize 50% of the country's medical supplies.

"Ethylene oxide is an exceptionally good compound at sterilizing these kinds of equipment," said Dr. Cyrus Rangan, director of the Bureau of Toxicology and Environmental Assessment at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. "The downside of it is that ethylene oxide is also a pretty powerful chemical. It's got some carcinogenic properties. It's one of a handful of chemicals where there's pretty good evidence of a link to human cancer with prolonged exposure."

The violation notices were issued to Parter Medical Products, in Carson, and two facilities run by Sterigenics in Vernon and Ontario.

The actions come as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reevaluates the potential toxicity and regulation of ethylene oxide, which epidemiological studies say is a much more potent carcinogen than once thought. The agency describes the chemical as a known carcinogen that increases the long-term risk of developing leukemia, lymphoma and breast cancer when inhaled over a period of years.

In response to the EPA's growing concern with ethylene oxide, Southern California air regulators have stepped up their monitoring of sterilizing facilities as well. They are also considering amending their rules for sterilizers, including mandates for additional pollution control measures and fence-line monitoring.

The recent notices of violation were issued after testing revealed that concentrations of EtO were many times higher than the state's "significant" cancer risk threshold for people who work near these sites. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, is also investigating possible workplace health risks within the Vernon facility, which sterilizes more than 45 million essential medical devices and other items every year.

So far, preliminary monitoring has determined the concentrations are much lower farther away from the Sterigenics facilities and do not appear to pose an elevated risk to residential areas or schools in Vernon or Ontario. However, the air district is in the process of expanding monitoring in Carson to establish if there may be exposure outside of the Parter sterilizing facility, which is about 700 feet from the nearest homes and 2,000 feet from an elementary school.

In a prepared statement, Sterigenics said it was "confident in the continued safety of our employees and the surrounding communities near our Vernon and Ontario facilities. Sterigenics has been fully cooperating with SCAQMD and has addressed the alleged SCAQMD violations at each facility."

Parter has not yet responded to multiple requests for comment.

The use of ethylene oxide as a sterilizing agent has grown in recent years as hospitals look to reduce the risk of introducing infections with medical implants while also meeting the drastically higher demand for medical equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although heat, steam and radiation can be used to sterilize objects, some medical devices can only be safely treated using ethylene oxide.

Facilities that use the gas typically have sealed chambers where medical supplies are disinfected and operators are required to capture the vast majority of emissions. Afterward, the treated medical equipment is moved to aeration rooms where remnants of the gas are allowed to dissipate over a period of hours before shipping.

Regulators believe that when they detect high concentrations of the gas at facilities, it's evidence of so-called fugitive emissions escaping aeration rooms. Emissions may also come from medical supplies as they are loaded onto trucks.

In the South Coast air basinwhich includes L.A., Orange and Riverside counties and a portion of San Bernardino Countythere are 15 permitted facilities that actively handle ethylene oxide.

The air district has begun screening six facilities that handle more than 4,000 pounds of ethylene oxide a year, but local environmental organizations are demanding more oversight. They say fence-line monitoring should be mandated for EtO, a gas that's virtually impossible to detect without expensive equipment.

"If a diesel truck goes by, you can smell it. With a sterilizer, you see nothing, you smell nothing," said Jane Williams, executive director of California Communities Against Toxics. "You have no idea what's going on and you could be being exposed to massive amounts of it."

At the Parter facility in Carson, between July 10-25, air quality monitors detected average ethylene oxide levels of 81.8 parts per billionabout 25 times higher than what the air district defines as a significant health risk to nearby workers. The district issued a notice of violation July 29 for discharging large quantities that endanger public health.

Consistent exposure to concentrations of just 3.18 parts per billion is considered a "significant" cancer risk for workers over the course of 25 years. Those conditions present the risk of one additional case of cancer per 10,000 workers, according to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment.

The air district now plans to erect new air monitors at nearby Hemingway Park, Ambler Avenue Elementary and residential areas. For a city that has long struggled with a variety of air quality nuisancesincluding acrid odors from refineries and the putrid stench of decaying bacteria in the Dominguez Channelthe prospect of additional air testing was greeted warmly.

"These monitoring systems were long overdue," Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes said.

The other company that was found to be releasing elevated emissions, Sterigenics, has had a history of regulatory issues in other parts of the nation. In suburban Chicago, one of its facilities was shut down due to elevated levels of ethylene oxide.

In unannounced inspections at its Vernon facility, between April 22 and July 2, the average concentration was found to be 21.5 parts per billionabout six times higher than the risk standard for people working nearby.

The air district issued an abatement order after learning five to 40 people who work adjacent to the facility could be exposed to these elevated emissions, according to the air district's public records.

To satisfy the order, Sterigenics has agreed to install temporary enclosures around its aeration rooms, routinely check for breaches and increase its aeration time at least 24 hours.

Although the air district says it is working with Sterigenics to lower emissions, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn called for the Vernon facility to cease operations.

From June 16-24, the Sterigenics facility in Ontario had average concentrations of 63.6 parts per billion. The facility is in an industrial park with a number of other businesses. However, it is more than a mile away from residential areas and schools.

The air district issued violations alleging the company failed to maintain its equipment in good condition and did not report equipment breakdowns in a timely manner.

Sterigenics has insisted that its operations are safe.

"SCAQMD's review has indicated the Vernon facilities are not a risk to nearby residents, and SCAQMD's review of Ontario likewise has not suggested residential concerns," read a company statement. "We are committed to continuing our record of longstanding compliance with regulatory requirements and safely fulfilling our critical role in safeguarding public health through the sterilization of tens of millions of essential medical devices and supplies at our Southern California EO facilities each year."

Federal regulators, however, continue to acknowledge an outsized cancer risk from sterilizers, which could see greater enforcement nationally.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan has vowed to propose a federal air pollution regulation by the end of the year that would address the EtO emissions from commercial sterilizers.

The Food and Drug Administration is also exploring potential alternative sterilizing methods.

Environmental organizers, like Williams, understand there are medical devices, such as a heart valve, that may need to be treated with EtO to prevent infections. But the unsafe concentrations of EtO in Southern California should motivate regulators to minimize its use, where possible.

"The vast majority of the stuff being sterilized with EtO could be sterilized with something much less toxic, and that needs to become part of the conversation now."

2022 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Monkeypox vaccines are shown at the Salt Lake County Health Department Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Salt Lake City. Monkeypox spread typically requires skin-to-skin or skin-to-mouth contact with an infected patients lesions. People can also be infected through contact with the clothing or bedsheets of someone who has monkeypox lesions. Credit: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

Since May, nearly 90 countries have reported more than 31,000 cases of monkeypox.

The World Health Organization classified the escalating outbreak of the once-rare disease as an international emergency in July; the U.S. declared it a national emergency last week.

Outside of Africa, 98% of cases are in men who have sex with men. With only a limited global supply of vaccines, authorities are racing to stop monkeypox before it becomes entrenched as a new disease.

CAN MONKEYPOX BE CONTAINED?

Theoretically, yes. The virus does not spread easily and there is a vaccine. But there are only about 16 million doses available now and only one company makes the shot.

Except for Africa, there is no sign of sustained monkeypox transmission beyond men who have sex with men, meaning that stopping spread among that group could effectively end the outbreak. Last week, British scientists said there were "early signs" the monkeypox cases in the U.K.which once had the world's biggest outbreak outside Africahad peaked.

IS THIS ANOTHER PANDEMIC?

No. A pandemic means that a disease outbreak has spread to the entire world. Monkeypox does not transmit as quickly as the coronavirus and stopping it will not require dramatic interventions like the COVID-19 lockdowns.

WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he declared monkeypox an emergency in part to prompt countries to take the epidemic seriously, saying there is still an opportunity to contain the disease before it becomes a global problem.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?

Monkeypox spread typically requires skin-to-skin or skin-to-mouth contact with an infected patient's lesions. People can also be infected through contact with the clothing or bedsheets of someone who has monkeypox lesions.

It also can be spread through contact with respiratory droplets, but scientists are still trying to figure out how often that happens. British health officials say they haven't confirmed any instances of airborne transmission.

WHO IS GETTING INFECTED?

A large percentage of cases have been in gay and bisexual men. The initial outbreaks in Europe and North America were likely triggered by sex at two raves in Spain and Belgium.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99% of monkeypox cases in the U.S. are men. Of those, 94% reported sexual contact with other men in the three weeks before they developed symptoms.

Still, anyone can catch the virus if they are in close contact with an infected person or fabrics that touched an infected person.

WHO IS GETTING VACCINATED?

With supplies limited, health officials are not recommending mass vaccination. They are suggesting the shots for health workers, people who have been in close contact with an infected person, and men at high risk of catching monkeypox.

Officials are also trying to stretch supplies of the vaccine, Jynneos. It requires two doses, but many places are only giving one dose.

U.S. health officials on Tuesday authorized a new strategy that would allow health professionals to vaccinate up to five peopleinstead of onewith each vial. The approach uses just a fraction of the typical amount of vaccine and administers it with an injection just under the skin rather than into deeper tissue. Recipients would still get two shots a month apart.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO TO LOWER MY RISK?

WHO's Tedros recommended that men at risk of catching monkeypox consider making "safe choices" and reducing their sexual partners "for the moment."

Britain's Health Security Agency has advised people to check themselves for monkeypox lesions before they have sex or go to a social event, noting that most of the country's cases are believed to have originated at festivals, saunas and other venues where sex has taken place. Anyone with monkeypox lesions should isolate until they are completely healed, which can take up to three weeks.

WHAT'S THE CONNECTION TO AFRICA?

Monkeypox has been endemic for decades in parts of central and west Africa, where people have mostly been sickened after contact with infected wild animals like rodents and squirrels. The acting director of Africa's top public health agency said last week that sex among gay and bisexual men was "not relevant" to the continent's outbreak, with about 40% of cases among women.

Scientists think the monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America originated in Africa long before the disease started spreading. Samples from cases in Europe show dozens of mutations, suggesting the initial virus was silently spreading for months or years before the current epidemics were detected.

The version of monkeypox spreading in Europe and North America has a lower fatality rate than the one circulating in Africa. Countries that didn't see many monkeypox cases before this outbreak have reported a handful of deaths, while Africa has had at least 100 suspected deaths this year.

WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS?

Most people infected with monkeypox recover without treatment, but it can cause more severe symptoms like brain inflammation and in rare cases, death.

Monkeypox can be serious in children, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions, like cancer, tuberculosis or HIV. In the U.S., the CDC says about 40% of people with monkeypox also have HIV.

The longer the current outbreaks continue, the greater the chances the virus could spread in other communities, similar to how HIV was first spotted in gay men before becoming established more widely.

"There is some crossover between the sexual networks of gay and bisexual men and networks of heterosexual people with high sexual activity, so it is possible we could see monkeypox more widely," said Dr. Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at Britain's University of East Anglia. "If that happens, we may have a much bigger problem."

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Auto-robot samplers scattered across the UC San Diego campus and at other sites, such as the Point Loma wastewater treatment facility, help monitor levels of SARS-CoV-2 virusand now monkeypox virus too. Credit: Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego

An ongoing program that monitors wastewater for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and which has effectively predicted subsequent surges in COVID-19 cases in San Diego has been expanded to detect the presence of monkeypox.

Since the first confirmed case of monkeypox in California in late-May, reported cases have steadily risen in the state and across the country, now up to almost 100 in San Diego County and more than 1,300 in California.

On August 1, 2022, the state declared a public health emergency; San Diego County followed suit the next day. On August 4, 2022, a federal public health emergency was declared with more than 7,000 cases reported nationwide. It is just the fifth such national emergency since 2001. The nation remains in a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.

Monitoring and testing for the monkeypox virus is a relatively simple add-on to the current wastewater surveillance program for SARS-CoV-2, said Rob Knight, Ph.D., professor and director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at University of California San Diego.

But with a twist.

"It's the same process as SARS-CoV-2 qPCR monitoring, except that we have been testing for a different virus. Monkeypox is a DNA virus, so it is a bit of a surprise that our process optimized for SARS-CoV-2, which is an RNA virus, works so well," he said.

Researchers began experimenting with the possibility their test might work with both virus types in May and began monitoring wastewater from the Point Loma treatment plant, which serves 2.2 million San Diegans, for the presence of monkeypox virus in early June.

The first positive indicator occurred July 10, 2022 at levels near the limit of detection: 10,565.54 viral copies per liter of wastewater. Levels have dramatically increased since then, rising and falling slightly, but trending upward with a current high of 189,309.81 viral copies per liter of wastewater on August 2, 2022.

Knight said it remains to be seen whether monitoring monkeypox virus load levels in wastewater can predict future infection or case rates.

"We don't yet know if the data will anticipate case surges like with COVID," he said. "It depends on when the virus is shed from the body relative to how bad the symptoms are that cause people to seek care. This is, in principle, different for each virus, although in practice wastewater seems to be predictive for multiple viruses."

And the system is not yet set up to sequence monkeypox genomes, a necessity to detect emerging variants. But, in general, said Knight: "DNA viruses evolve a lot slower than RNA viruses, so we would not expect variants to emerge and spread as quickly."

Christopher Longhurst, MD, chief medical officer at UC San Diego Health, said monkeypox monitoring was an important innovation in what he called "anticipatory surveillance."

"Rising levels of monkeypox in wastewater clearly correlate with the increasing spread of this virus. Detection and monitoring will help alert us to situations before they become crises, providing time for health systems and public agencies to respond, prepare and act."

Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, San Diego County public health officer, agreed: "As we saw with COVID-19, it can serve as an additional window into how a virus is moving through and impacting our community. The county appreciates the work of all the partners, and looks forward to our continued working relationship to address threats to the public's health."

Evidence and experience

Persons infected by SARS-CoV-2 shed the virus in their waste, even before they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. That fact spurred development of the first wastewater screening program in late-2020, when researchers at UC San Diego and UC San Diego Health began an ambitious collaboration to collect wastewater samples across campus using auto-sampling robots for subsequent analysis. The program was designed to help safely return students to campus.

Wastewater monitoring and sequencing was eventually expanded to the region.

Central to these efforts has been SEARCH (San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health), a consortium of scientists from UC San Diego, Scripps Research and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, working with San Diego County public health officials and others.

Also involved: The Expedited COVID IdenTification Environment (EXCITE) lab, a collaboration of Knight; Louise Laurent, MD, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; and Gene Yeo, Ph.D., professor of cellular and molecular medicine, both at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

"Building on the success of SEARCH over the last few years, it is fantastic to see the wastewater surveillance here in San Diego expanded to also include monkeypox, while also creating a flexible system for future human pathogens," said Kristian Andersen, Ph.D., professor at Scripps Research. "This work is only possible thanks to the close collaboration between UC San Diego, Scripps Research and the County of San Diego. It truly sets a standard for effective public health-academic partnerships for the country."

In July, SEARCH collaborators published a report in the journal Nature describing the success of wastewater sequencing and virus detection, reporting that program effectively identified new viral "variants of concern" up to 14 days before traditional clinical testing, and could be reliably used to anticipate upcoming surges in local infection and case rates.

An earlier published study estimated wastewater surveillance provided early detection of 85 percent of COVIID-19 cases on the UC San Diego campus, allowing for more effective mitigation and prevention efforts.

Researchers said they are exploring the possibility of adding other pathogens to the wastewater surveillance program, including the poliovirus, which has reappeared in parts of the United States.

"It's fairly easy to add new pathogens to the process," said Smruthi Karthikeyan, Ph.D., an environmental engineer and postdoctoral researcher in Knight's lab who has overseen wastewater monitoring at UC San Diego. "It's doable on short notice. We can get more information in the same turnaround time."

The SEARCH wastewater surveillance dashboard is available online.

Explore further Scientists develop tools for early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater

More information: SEARCH wastewater surveilance dashboard: SEARCH wastewater surveilance dashboard: searchcovid.info/dashboards/wa  er-surveillance-mpx/ Smruthi Karthikeyan et al, Wastewater sequencing reveals early cryptic SARS-CoV-2 variant transmission, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05049-6 Smruthi Karthikeyan et al, Rapid, Large-Scale Wastewater Surveillance and Automated Reporting System Enable Early Detection of Nearly 85% of COVID-19 Cases on a University Campus, mSystems (2021). DOI: 10.1128/mSystems.00793-21 Journal information: Nature
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that the number and severity of pressure ulcers suffered by Medicare residents in U.S. nursing homes is substantially underreported, leading to unreliable data that many consumers use to determine where to receive long- or short-term care. These findings are detailed in a study published in the journal Medical Care.

The study is the latest from University of Chicago researchers investigating the accuracy of data reported by nursing homes to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Their previous study examined the accuracy of self-reported figures detailing the number and severity of falls by residents in U.S. nursing homes. Both studies focused on the reliability of the CMS Nursing Home Care Compare system, launched in the 1990s as a consumer-friendly way to research nursing homes based on a Five-Star Quality Rating System.

For a second time, researchers found the self-reported data to be highly inaccurate.

"Given how inaccurate the falls data turned out to be, we wanted to look at other Nursing Home Care Compare patient safety indicators. So, we next considered pressure ulcers. There's a lot you can do to prevent them, but they can have very bad outcomes if they're not managed," said Prachi Sanghavi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Chicago.

Researchers compared the resident-level data behind the ratings to patient-level hospital admission data and skilled nursing facility claims for Medicare beneficiaries. They found that between 2011 and 2017, nursing homes self-reported only 59.7% of hospitalized pressure ulcers between stages 2-4 among long-stay residents. Pressure ulcer severity is assessed on a six-stage scale, based on skin color and tissue loss, with stage 6 being most severe.

Long-stay residents typically live in nursing homes long-term and receive care there, often paid for by Medicaid. Short-stay residents usually stay in these facilities while recovering from a surgery or procedure that needs additional care outside of the immediate hospital stay, and are often covered by Medicare.

In addition, researchers found that Black nursing home residents suffered from more severe pressure ulcers than white residents. The research showed that among short-stay residents, 40.8% of white residents, 50.4% of Black residents and 46.1% of Hispanic residents suffered stage 4 ulcers.

Among long-stay residents, 45.6% of white residents, 54.2% of Black residents and 48.9% of Hispanic residents suffered stage 4 ulcers. However, this was offset by higher reporting rates for more severe pressure ulcers, so differences in reporting by race were small.

"I don't quite understand the logic of relying on data that nursing homes may find both administratively challenging to reportand have a strong disincentive to reportas opposed to using data sets that CMS already has that are far more objective and cover a large part of the nursing home population, either alternatively or additionally," Sanghavi said.

"I'm hoping that CMS will recognize that their measures are inaccurate and misleading, and I hope that they shift to using more objective data sources for measuring quality of care in nursing homes," she said.

Sanghavi and her team now are researching the accuracy of self-reported data on urinary tract infections and pneumonia cases, the two most common infections among nursing home residents prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. That paper is expected to be published next year.

Explore further Significant underreporting in safety data found on Nursing Home Compare website

More information: Zihan Chen et al, Accuracy of Pressure Ulcer Events in US Nursing Home Ratings, Medical Care (2022). Journal information: Medical Care Zihan Chen et al, Accuracy of Pressure Ulcer Events in US Nursing Home Ratings,(2022). DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001763
Hotspots of SARSr-CoV bat host species richness and human overlap in Southeast Asia. a Species richness of SARSr-CoV bat host species in Southeast Asia, created by overlaying area of habitat maps for all 26 SARSr-CoV bat host species known for this region. b Relative bat-human overlap: bat host species richness multiplied by human population count. Values were ln(x + 1) transformed and then normalized to a 01 scale. For both panels, redder colors indicate larger values and bluer colors indicate smaller values. Credit: Nature Communications (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31860-w

An approach to estimate and map the risk of potential SARS-related coronaviruses spreading from bats to humans in Southeast Asia is presented in a paper in Nature Communications this week. The study could aid the design of surveillance and prevention programs in regions where these disease spillover events may be more likely to occur.

Bats are known to host coronaviruses that may be transmitted to people, including SARS-related coronaviruses. Some studies have suggested that transmission of these viruses to humans may be relatively common in certain regions.

Cecilia Sanchez, Peter Daszak and colleagues devised a strategy to assess the distribution and frequency of bat SARS-related coronavirus spillover risk in Southeast Asia. The authors built distribution models for 26 bat species known to host SARS-related coronaviruses in the region, which allowed them to map where human populations overlap with these bats. The researchers then used epidemiological data and probabilistic risk assessments to estimate the number of people infected with SARS-related coronaviruses of bat origin in Southeast Asia every year.

They estimated a median number of around 66,000 annual cases, many of which may be undetected due to limited surveillance, or because they might resemble other illnesses. However, the authors caution that more data are needed to validate these estimates.

Sanchez, Daszak and co-authors propose that their spillover risk assessment strategy could be used as a tool for improving preparedness for emerging diseases of bat origin.

Explore further Scientists find SARS-CoV-2-related coronaviruses in Cambodian bats from 2010

More information: Cecilia A. Sanchez et al, A strategy to assess spillover risk of bat SARS-related coronaviruses in Southeast Asia, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Cecilia A. Sanchez et al, A strategy to assess spillover risk of bat SARS-related coronaviruses in Southeast Asia,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31860-w
What if a rare viral illness with the potential to cause excruciating pain was in fact treatable, but the only drug for that use was nearly impossible to get, despite being in plentiful supply?

That is precisely the dilemma now confronting thousands of monkeypox patients across the United States.

"I was in so much pain it was pretty hard to even talk," recalled Josh Watson, a Chicago-based wireless communication expert who was diagnosed with monkeypox in mid-July.

"Lesions were starting to appear in my rectum, and I already had them on my chin, in my pubic area, and in my mouth, so it was also becoming difficult to drink," the 33-year-old said. "It was getting to the point where I was scared I might not even be able to breathe."

Luckily, Watson was aware of a medicine that promised significant relief: tecovirimat (TPOXX).

Unfortunately he, and many of his friends, found out the hard way that there's a big difference between knowing about TPOXX and actually getting it.

On its face, the news about TPOXX seems pretty good. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the U.S. federal government has already amassed nearly 2 million doses of TPOXX as part of the nation's Strategic National Stockpile, following its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018. The expressed purpose: to protect Americans from a potential bio-weapon attack involving the now eradicated smallpox virus.

But the bad news, explained Rutgers School of Public Health Dean Perry Halkitis, is pretty bad: TPOXX was never actually approved for the treatment of monkeypox, despite the fact that monkeypox and smallpox are essentially close viral cousins from the same orthopox family.

"The problem is that this medication was only tested and approved as an effective treatment specifically for smallpox, even though for ethical reasons the tests that were conducted, and that led to approval, involved only monkeys and rabbits, so the virus that was actually studied in the drug trials was actually monkeypox, not smallpox," Halkitis noted.

The upshot is that "TPOXX is not intended to treat monkeypox, and it's not meant to be prescribed that way," he explained.

Red tape in getting TPOXX

There is, however, a way around this roadblock. It's called "off-label use," which the FDA defines as the "unapproved use of an approved drug" to treat a disease that the medicine in question was never expressly approved to treat, and/or dispensing it in an unapproved form or dosage.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does allow doctors to prescribe TPOXX off-label to monkeypox patients on the basis of "compassionate use" rules that govern investigational new drugs.

But in practice, patients battling severe and debilitating viral symptoms have often found a dearth of information, widespread confusion and reams of red tape standing between them and the only relief available.

"I have one friend who got monkeypox in Fort Lauderdale who went to an ER and was told he couldn't get it," said Watson. "But I have another friend, also in Fort Lauderdale, who was able to get it directly from their Public Health Department.

"Also, in San Francisco I have a friend who has been struggling with lesions for three to four weeks now, and he's tried every possible avenue to get TPOXX and just can't," he said. "But another friend in the same city was able to get it from a clinicthe same clinic that turned my other friend down."

In his case, Watson noted that when he was first diagnosed TPOXX was never even mentioned as a treatment option by his doctor or by the Chicago Department of Health.

"I had friends in New York who had monkeypox before I did, so they told me about it," he noted. "But they also warned me that it was going to be very hard to get, and that I'd need to try and find an infectious disease doctor who would be willing to do it."

So Watson headed straight to the ER at Chicago's Northwestern Medicine. There he was informed that the hospital had no TPOXX on hand because all of the local supply was held by the city's health department, which would only courier it over if and when approval came through. And that approval, he was warned, "would involve a lot of paperwork."

In his case, Watson said, that amounted to roughly 130 pages of preapproval authorization forms that needed to be completed by the dispensing facility, alongside physician resumes, photographic documentation of his condition, lab tests and signed informed consent documents.

"When they saw my symptoms, how bad I was, they did start the process," Watson said. "But I didn't even speak to the infectious disease doctor until the next day, and nobody was sure how long it would take. So I had to be admitted, while they figured it out."

None of that sits well with Halkitis.

"I'm not going to just poopoo the FDA for all of this, because it's true that they are trying to protect us," Halkitis acknowledged. "That's their job. But at the same time we're in the middle of an emergency, and to any logical human being none of this makes sense. This endless amount of paperwork, overregulation and bureaucracy."

FDA, CDC loosen rules for patients

It's a critique that has not gone unnoticed at either the FDA or the CDC.

For one thing, roughly a week after Watson went to the ER, the agencies partnered to loosen the TPOXX approval process, streamlining and reducing the paperwork involved; giving patients a new option to seek the drug via online doctor visits, and allowing dispensing facilities to submit their approval forms after treatment is launched, so long as patient consent is obtained first.

Since then, the Biden administration has declared monkeypox to be a public health emergency. And in the Aug. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, leading infectious disease experts from the FDA, the CDC and the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases published a collective letter that offered a detailed explanation of the rationale behind both the regulations that initially governed how TPOXX is prescribed and the subsequent relaxation of the rules.

In it, the authors acknowledge that "monkeypox can cause severe disease and that tecovirimat has been shown to have efficacy in animal models of monkeypox and an acceptable safety profile in healthy people." Efforts to ease access will continue, they added, even as they stressed the need for more research to get a better grasp on exactly how safe and effective the drug is among human monkeypox patients.

For Watsonnow fully recoveredthe results are already in.

He was luckyhe got on TPOXX within 48 hours of trying. And just 12 hours after taking the first dose of a 14-day regimen, "the lesions that hadn't yet formed into actual pustules just kind of stopped mid-track," he said. His throat swelling subsided, allowing him to eat soft foods again. The only side effect was extreme fatigue, which lifted once he finished his course.

"And every friend who has been able to get it says it has helped a lot," Watson stressed. "It's stopped their severest symptoms, and cut down their healing time."

Yet, Watson cautions that despite the CDC's easing of the rules, the people he knows continue to battle "a process that still seems very much like a roll-of-the dice. It's still very hard to get TPOXX. To some extent, it doesn't always matter how persistent you are. It seems to depend on where you are and who you ask. If you're not very lucky, you're going to just keep hitting walls. And then maybe stop even trying."

All of which, says Halkitis, amounts to a failing grade for the federal response to an emergency that the country should have seen coming.

"Look, I understand that this is a challenging issue," Halkitis said. "But the thing is I believe quite frankly that we're now in an era of pandemics. This is going to continue to happen. But we dropped the ball, and we have to admit that the way TPOXX was handledand the vaccine as wellwas a mistake, and points to the structural problems we have with a health care system that is really under stress.

"So, the U.S. can either decide right now that it's going to rethink its strategy around this and around the entire response we have to pandemics, or we're going to keep reliving these mistakes," he said.

Explore further 'Unbearable': 3 patients tell of monkeypox ordeal

Copyright  2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
When Cameron Michael Fehring was studying for his undergraduate degree in music at the University of Montana, he took his first job in retail.

It was a Fortune 500 company, one that hes declined to name, except to say that its a former department store, and his job was to sell tools.

That was in 2009, but his experiences over the course of a year of employment in that world have lingered but remain unsoftened.

They fed into his original musical, The Retail Song Cycle, which hes producing here in Missoula at the ZACC Show Room. (See info box.)

It chronicles the arc, not only of the companys failings from the top, but my own failings as an employee, as what I view work to be, he said. "It chronicles that year from both of our perspectives."

He began threatening to write songs while he was still there, and not long after leaving the job, premiered the song at a cabaret night at the old Crystal Theater (now GILD Brewing).

He worked on it more in 2015, after he injured his hand at a different retail job. He's held readings of it in New York City, where he pursued theater for six years, and in Wyoming, his home state, where he now teaches at Casper College.

What memories were so, well, memorable?

The show begins with his protagonist, Mac, on his first day.

He starts as an optimist and a humanist and ends up as a realist, Fehring said. He's trying to balance being torn between the corporate world  that portrays a world that doesn't exist, but people believe in  and the actual worlds of the monotony of retail work and the endless soul-sucking realities of dealing with the general public in a service industry job, he said.

While the story is fictional, the exchanges with customers are verbatim.

Every single time a customer opens their mouth, that is something that was said either directly to me or to someone who I was working with standing near, he said.

For instance, there is an interaction recreated verbatim about how a customer was convinced that they were called UBS cords instead of USB ports and would not let it go.

The crush of the holidays is a feature of the plot as well.

Theyre realistic enough that he heard positive feedback at readings from people who have different public-facing fields, such as a schoolteacher and an accountant.

Theres a scene, written before COVID, in which all of the employees call in sick.

I left it in because it's still an active concern, but it definitely hits differently now, he said.

Hes brought the show back to Missoula, since thats where it originated. He has help from a former mentor, David Cody, a UM professor, whos serving as music director and conductor.

He has a cast of locals: Lucy Schindler, Gabe Rayle, Courtney Crary (who did the first reading in NYC), Jon Bell, Tim Shonkwiler, Kelsey Seals, Saige Perchy, Maisie Gospodarek, Randi Nelson, J. Thornton, Nathan Poukish, Jalynn Nelson, and Alicia Treichler.

Theyre accompanied by a four-piece band: Mac Merchant, Kurt Skrivseth, Saje Johns, Troy Bashor.

Musically, he said it touches on pop, rock and has a rarity for musical theater, a dubstep canon. For scenes with managers, he wanted a hymn-like quality, while the employee-centric songs are looser, reflecting their weary reality.

Its billed as a staged reading, so the costumes are limited to polo shirts. They will be acting, but will have pages in hand. Fehring said they were confined to a few weeks of rehearsals, and lines could be adjusted over the course of the four-night run.

His final thoughts included a reminder for the audience: these stories are real.

No matter how incidental and scenes actually happened, and every single character interaction is so even though it seems incredibly absurd, and like no one could actually behave this way, he said. "It's all real, and it all was witnessed firsthand."
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Most older U.S. adults are prepared to roll up their sleeves to get an updated COVID-19 booster shot once one becomes available, a new poll shows.

About 3 in 5 (61%) people over 50 who have gotten at least one dose of COVID vaccine say they would get an updated booster that offers protection against the new variants that have emerged, the University of Michigan poll found.

And even more might get the booster if their doctors specifically recommend it, the National Poll on Healthy Aging suggests.

Groups especially hard hit by COVID -- people older than 65, Black adults over 50, people with low incomes -- in particular are interested in the booster. About 68% of people in each of those groups said they're likely to get a booster.

How you feel about getting a booster depends a lot on your current vaccination status. Only 24% of people who have been vaccinated but not boosted said they are very likely to get a fall booster, compared with 56% of those who have gotten one booster and 88% of those who have had two.

The poll shows that only 19% of 50- to 64-year-olds and 44% of folks over 64 have gotten the full course of vaccination with two booster doses. On the other hand, 17% of people over 50 haven't been vaccinated at all.

Your doctor's advice also matters. About 77% of older adults say their health care provider's recommendation about COVID vaccination is very or somewhat important to their decision to get vaccinated.

A doctor's advice was most important for those over 65 (56%), Black people (79%), retirees (56%) or those with incomes under $30,000 (56%).

"The vaccines we've had since late 2020 have saved countless lives and made COVID-19 much less serious for millions worldwide. We also know that those who got at least one booster dose have done better than others in the Omicron variant era," said poll director Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease doctor also trained in geriatrics at Michigan Medicine.

"But if we're going to drive down deaths, hospitalizations, serious illness and long-term effects even further, we will need to get as many people vaccinated with these new formulations as possible," she said in a poll news release.

The poll, conducted in late July online and by phone, included a nationally representative sample of 1,024 adults over 50.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about COVID vaccines.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Aug. 9, 2022

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(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

(THE CONVERSATION) Every year I ask the college students in the course I teach about the 14th-century Black Death to imagine they are farmers or nuns or nobles in the Middle Ages. What would their lives have been like in the face of this terrifying disease that killed millions of people in just a few years?

Setting aside how they envision what it would be like to confront the plague, these undergrads often figure that during the medieval period they would already be considered middle-aged or elderly at the age of 20. Rather than being in the prime of life, they think theyd soon be decrepit and dead.

Theyre reflecting a common misperception that long life spans in humans are very recent, and that no one in the past lived much beyond their 30s.

But thats just not true. I am a bioarchaeologist, which means that I study human skeletons excavated from archaeological sites to understand what life was like in the past. Im especially interested in demography  mortality (deaths), fertility (births) and migration  and how it was linked with health conditions and diseases such as the Black Death hundreds or thousands of years ago. Theres physical evidence that plenty of people in the past lived long lives  just as long as some people do today.

Bones record the length of a life

One of the first steps in research about demography in the past is to estimate how old people were when they died. Bioarchaeologists do this using information about how your bones and teeth change as you get older.

For example, I look for changes to joints in the pelvis that are common at older ages. Observations of these joints in people today whose ages we know allow us to estimate ages for people from archaeological sites with joints that look similar.

Another way to estimate age is to use a microscope to count the yearly additions of a mineralized tissue called cementum on teeth. Its similar to counting a trees rings to see how many years it lived. Using approaches like these, manystudies have documented the existence of people who lived long lives in the past.

For example, by examining skeletal remains, anthropologist Meggan Bullock and colleagues found that in the city of Cholula, Mexico, between 900 and 1531, most people who made it to adulthood lived past the age of 50.

And of course there are many examples from historical records of people who lived very long lives in the past. For example, the sixth-century Roman Emperor Justinian I reportedly died at the age of 83.

Analysis of the tooth development of an ancient anatomically modern Homo sapiens individual from Morocco suggests that our species has experienced long life spans for at least the past 160,000 years.

Clearing up a math misunderstanding

Given physical and historical evidence that many people did live long lives in the past, why does the misperception that everyone was dead by the age of 30 or 40 persist? It stems from confusion about the difference between individual life spans and life expectancy.

Life expectancy is the average number of years of life remaining for people of a particular age. For example, life expectancy at birth (age 0) is the average length of life for newborns. Life expectancy at age 25 is how much longer people live on average given theyve survived to age 25.

In medieval England, life expectancy at birth for boys born to families that owned land was a mere 31.3 years. However, life expectancy at age 25 for landowners in medieval England was 25.7. This means that people in that era who celebrated their 25th birthday could expect to live until they were 50.7, on average  25.7 more years. While 50 might not seem old by todays standards, remember that this is an average, so many people would have lived much longer, into their 70s, 80s and even older.

Life expectancy is a population-level statistic that reflects the conditions and experiences of a huge variety of people with very different health conditions and behaviors, some who die at very young ages, some who live to be over 100 years old, and lots whose life spans fall somewhere in between. Life expectancy is not a promise (or a threat!) about the life span of any single person.

What some people dont realize is that low life expectancy at birth for any population usually reflects very high rates of infant mortality. Thats a measure of deaths in the first year of life. Given that life expectancies reflect averages for a population, a high number of deaths at very young ages will skew calculations of life expectancy at birth toward younger ages. But typically, many people in those populations who make it past the vulnerable infant and early childhood years can expect to live relatively long lives.

Advances in modern sanitation  which reduce the spread of diarrheal diseases that are a major killer of infants  and vaccinations can greatly increase life expectancies.

Consider the effect of infant mortality on overall age patterns in two contemporary populations with dramatically different life expectancies at birth.

In Afghanistan, life expectancy at birth is low, at just over 53 years, and infant mortality is high, at almost 105 deaths for every 1,000 children born.

In Singapore, life expectancy at birth is much higher, at over 86 years, and infant mortality is very low  fewer than two infants die for every 1,000 who are born. In both countries, people do survive to very old ages. But in Afghanistan, because so many more people die at very young ages, proportionally fewer people survive to old age.

Living a long life has long been possible

Its incorrect to view long lives as a remarkable and unique characteristic of the modern era.

Knowing that people often did have long lives in the past might help you feel more connected with the past. For example, you can imagine multigenerational households and gatherings, with grandparents in Neolithic China or Medieval England bouncing their grandchildren on their knees and telling them stories about their own childhoods decades before. You might have more in common with people who lived long ago than you had realized.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/old-age-isnt-a-modern-phenomenon-many-people-lived-long-enough-to-grow-old-in-the-olden-days-too-184625.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A chemical called perfluooctane sulfate (PFOS) has been linked to the most common type of liver cancer, a new study indicates.

PFOS are used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, and are referred to as forever chemicals because they break down very slowly and accumulate both in the environment and in human tissue.

Researchers at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine combed through human blood and tissue samples gathered as part of a large-scale study. They then compared samples from 50 liver cancer patients with 50 others who didnt develop cancer.

Researchers found several types of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) -- the family of chemicals to which PFOS belongs -- in the blood samples of patients taken prior to their liver cancer diagnosis.

The strongest link was between PFOS and liver cancer. People with PFOS levels in the top 10% were 4.5 times more likely to develop liver cancer than those with the lowest levels, researchers found.

They also found evidence that PFOS disrupts normal metabolic processes in the liver, causing more fat to accumulate in the organ. Fatty liver disease is known to increase the risk of liver cancer, and is expected to affect 30% of U.S. adults by 2030.

Some manufacturers have phased out the use of PFOS and other types of PFOA, but because the chemicals are long-lasting, they can be found in the blood of more than 98% of adults in the United States, researchers said.

This builds on the existing research, but takes it one step further, Jesse Goodrich, a postdoctoral scholar in the department of population and public health sciences at Keck, said in a university news release. Liver cancer is one of the most serious endpoints in liver disease and this is the first study in humans to show that PFAS are associated with this disease.

The findings were published Aug. 8 in JHEP Reports.

More information

The Environmental Protection Agency has more about PFAS.

SOURCE: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, news release, Aug. 8, 2022

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WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarettes are still responsible for far too many cancer deaths every year in the United States, a new study finds.

In 2019, nearly 123,000 U.S. cancer deaths were from cigarette smoking (30% of all U.S. cancer deaths), leading to nearly $21 billion in annual lost earnings. These losses were much higher in states with weaker tobacco control laws, particularly in the South and Midwest, the researchers reported.

"Our study provides further evidence that smoking continues to be a leading cause of cancer-related death and to have a huge impact on the economy across the U.S.," said researcher Dr. Farhad Islami, senior scientific director of cancer disparity research at the American Cancer Society.

"We must continue to help individuals to quit using tobacco, prevent anyone from starting, and work with elected officials at all levels of government for broad and equitable implementation of proven tobacco control interventions," Islami said in a society news release.

For the study, the researchers estimated the number of cancer deaths tied to smoking as well as lost earnings among people aged 25 to 79.

They looked at cancers associated with smoking, including cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, colon, liver and liver bile duct, pancreas, larynx, lung and bronchus, cervix, kidney, pelvis, bladder and acute myeloid leukemia.

They found death rates were highest in the 13 states with weaker tobacco control policies and a higher prevalence of smoking. These states include Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The researchers calculated that years of life lost was 47% higher in these states. They also found that if other states had followed Utah, a state with more smoking regulations, for example, more than half of the lost years of life would have been avoided.

"Increasing the price of cigarettes through excise taxes is the single most effective policy for reducing smoking. In many states, state tobacco excise tax rate remains low, particularly in the states with the highest smoking rates," said co-author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior vice president of surveillance and health equity science at the American Cancer Society.

"Eliminating existing gaps in Medicaid and private insurance coverage of cessation services is an important intervention to reduce smoking-related cancers," he said in the release. "This would also provide access to all types of counseling and all medications approved by the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] without cost-sharing to the patient."

The report was published Aug. 10 in the International Journal of Cancer.

"This report further demonstrates just how critical reducing tobacco use is to ending suffering and death from cancer," said Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.

"To end the scourge of tobacco on this country, reduce the health disparities it inflicts, and decrease tobacco-related diseases like cancer, we need local, state, and federal lawmakers to pass proven tobacco control policies, including regular and significant tobacco tax increases, comprehensive statewide smoke-free laws, adequate funding for state tobacco prevention and cessation programs and ensure all Medicaid enrollees have access to comprehensive tobacco cessation services, including all three types of counseling and all FDA-approved medications," she said.

"We have the tools to get this done. We just need lawmakers to act," Lacasse said in the release.

More information

For more on smoking and cancer, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCE: American Cancer Society, news release, Aug. 10, 2022

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Four people are dead following a crash in Glacier County on Saturday evening.

The Glacier County Sheriff's Office responded to multiple calls about a head-on collision on Highway 2 near Cut Bank around 11:08 p.m., according to a press release from the Glacier County Sheriff's Office. The crash happened near mile marker 215.

When officials responded, they found Shawn P. Neal, 60, of East Glacier Park dead in one vehicle. Ti S. Stalnaker, 50, also of East Glacier Park, was severely injured and later succumbed to her injuries, the press release stated.

The second car was carrying five people.

Deputies found Madhavan Annamalai, 34, from Redmond, Washington, and Keshav Ramaswamy, 28, of Bellevue, Washington, both dead at the scene.

Also inside the second car were three other adult men transported to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.

The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, and alcohol is a suspected factor, the press release stated.

Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Montana Highway Patrol, East Glacier Fire, Blackfeet Emergency Medical Services and Browning Fire aided the Glacier Sheriff's Office in responding to the scene.
For the next five days, Missoulas fairgrounds will bustle with life, the smells of fried food and yells from roller coaster rides and rodeos.

General admission and much of the Western Montana Fair is free to the public, which organizers said allows people to come and go as they please. A new carnival and more competitive exhibits should bring a new excitement under the forecast long, hot days.

This year is a little more streamlined and there is a good energy about it, said fair organizer Emily Brock, as carnival rides were erected behind her Tuesday.

Some of the fun has already started. Shooting competitions and 4-H animal judging from alpacas to chickens got underway last week.

Things kick off Wednesday with First Nations Family Day, featuring Indigenous dancing and games open to the public. The evenings extreme bull riding performance is dedicated to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Live music by Pinky and the Floyd will close out the night. Brock said each evening and night will have a live band for free at Fairway Plaza. Thursday features former The Voice contestant Tommy Edwards. Drunken Hearts will play Friday and Dammit Lauren will finish the series on Saturday.

During the day there will be classic fair competitions, including the Rochambeau barrel race, musical chairs and bubble blowing contests at the historic plaza. The winners will receive a prize each day.

The Missoula Stampede PRCA rodeo will open at the fair grandstands on Thursday, which will operate in the background through most of the fair. The first night of roping and racing is titled Tough Enough to Wear Pink to help raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

Brock said the rodeo is bound to attract both fairgoers and those from home, as the rodeo will be broadcast live on The Cowboy Channel.

It can get 40 million people on prime time, Brock said. Our rodeo has always been good, but now we're getting national attention.

On Friday, fair organizers spotlight riding a bike to the fair, and will offer the first 250 bikers a $2 meal voucher for any participating food booth. Missoula In Motion will cater a bike valet from noon to 9 p.m. and the nonprofit Freecycles will be on hand to teach bike maintenance techniques from noon to 6 p.m.

On Saturday, the 4-H and FFA begin their annual livestock sale, where young people working on animal projects can sell their animals. Saturday is also the last day to enter the Fur & Feather Silent Auction, which will close at noon.

Competitions have also grown from last year, now taking up the entire Commercial Building at the fairgrounds. Brock said there are 1,000 new exhibit entrances, which rank art, linens or other skillfully crafted projects from across the region.

Scattered throughout the fairgrounds are dozens of food vendors, some traveling and others local favorites. The Big Sky High School Marching Band trailer, which serves nachos, raises money annually to help supplement the bands travel budget.

For us, this is just another way to involve ourselves in the fair, said parent Ben Slater. Slater grew up going to the fair as a kid, was involved in 4-H and now is helping out his child at the nacho stand. Its really neat to be a part of something over 100 years old."

Near the grandstand rodeo entrance, Ammar Omar worked to prepare three Arabic food trucks, Kamoon, Qataye and Rageef, that he owns and operates with three families in town. Hes been doing the fair for three years with the hope of getting more people from outside of Missoula to enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine.

We want more people to try our food and enjoy these Arabian delicacies, Omar said.

As tents for carnival games popped up around the rides, Izzy Murietta, a carnival employee, said Missoula is one of the most beautiful places he has traveled to for work so far. A new carnival contractor has brought much of the same rides, like the Zipper and the Super Slide, while including two Ferris wheels for fairgoers.

Were out here to have fun and make sure the kids have fun, too, Murietta said.

The carnival opens at 11 a.m. for each day of the fair. To check a full schedule of events, visit missoulafairgrounds.com/2022-fair-schedule.
SUNNYVALE, Calif. (AP)  A Hawaii man has been arrested after DNA technology helped investigators identify him as a suspect in the 1992 slaying of a 15-year-old girl who was abducted in Northern California from a bus stop, raped and killed, authorities said.

Karen Stitt was waiting for a bus in Sunnyvale when she disappeared in the early morning hours of Sept. 3, 1982. A delivery truck driver discovered her naked body among some bushes 100 yards (91 meters) away from the bus stop, the Mercury News reported Tuesday.

Last week, Sunnyvale police arrested Gary Ramirez, 75, in Maui after they say his DNA matched the blood from Karens leather jacket and the 4-foot (1.2-meter) cinder block wall where the killer left her after stabbing her 59 times, the newspaper reported.

Ramirez remains incarcerated in a Maui jail awaiting an extradition hearing Wednesday to bring him to California. It was not immediately clear if he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

Santa Clara County cold case investigators say they used DNA technology linked to family tree genealogy, the same investigative process that led to the arrest and guilty plea of the Golden State Killer in 2018.

Sunnyvale police Detective Matt Hutchison said he arrested Ramirez, a man with a bad hip who appeared so shocked he could say little more than, Oh my gosh.

Ramirez, a retired bug exterminator, had no criminal record, police say. His older brother, Rudy Ramirez, who also lives in Maui, said he cant imagine that his younger brother would be capable of such a horrific crime.

Ive never seen him violent or get angry ever, Ramirezs brother told the newspaper. He wouldnt hurt a fly.

Three years ago, Hutchison teamed up with a genealogist who narrowed the DNA down to four brothers. Hutchison then sought out one of Gary Ramirezs children and collected a DNA sample, which showed a high probability that the suspect was their father, he said. After that, authorities used a search warrant to swab Gary Ramirezs mouth for a DNA sample, which a crime lab confirmed matched the DNA found at the crime scene.

When he opened the email with the DNA match, I wanted to scream, but I cant because I didnt want to wake up the hotel, Hutchinson said. So I just took a moment to reflect.

He opened up his laptop and clicked on the photo of Karen.

I took a quick glance at her photo, he said, and I just told her, We did it.
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August 10, 2022 by Tricia Sears , Greg Wessel

Category: Emergency Management , Guest Author



Here in Washington State, our spectacular geology also gives rise to spectacular natural hazards, including volcanoes, earthquakes, landslides, floods, and tsunamis  all of which threaten lives and property. Recent events, such as the Nooksack River floods in November 2021, and others across the nation continue to provide dramatic reminders of the natural hazards that impact society.

Most of the burden for dealing with potential impacts from natural hazards falls to local jurisdictions because cities, towns, and counties focus on health, safety, and welfare at the local level, and regulate development and land use. Mapping has been the primary tool to help local jurisdictions identify potential hazard areas. However, local jurisdictions may not have the necessary expertise and resources to use these maps to fully reduce risk and mitigate impacts.

Fortunately, there are existing federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations that can provide guidance, assistance, and expertise to local jurisdictions, and much of it is offered at low cost or no cost. This blog will describe some of the resources available in Washington State, and we encourage you to reach out to these organizations with questions.

Sources of Information from Washington State

State agencies are excellent sources of data on natural hazards. However, due to the number of agencies, it can be confusing for local jurisdictions to find the information they need. A great one stop shop is the Washington Geological Survey (WGS), which develops and publishes information about geologic hazards, including a large variety of maps and reports.

Specifically, the WGS Geologic Hazard Maps webpage provides links to downloadable hazard maps and reports. Information on the topics listed below can also be found on the WGS Publications and Maps webpage, through the Washington Geology Library, or on the Washington Geologic Information Portal:

Tsunami evacuation

Tsunami inundation

Active faults and folds

Earthquakes

Seismic scenario catalog

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) site class and liquefaction susceptibility

Seismic design categories

Hazardous minerals

Lahar hazards

Landslides

Inactive and abandoned mines

WGS believes a multidisciplinary approach that combines science and policy helps build resilient communities. With this in mind, WGS established a Geologic Planning Liaison position in January 2022. This position focuses on the topics of geologic hazards, mineral resources, and climate resilience, especially as they relate to the Growth Management Act (GMA). With this position, WGS outreach and communication will be more comprehensive across the state and specifically targeted to address individual jurisdictional and agency needs. The goal is to better understand decision-making, assess needs and concerns, gather feedback, establish connections, and share information.

In addition to the new liaison position, WGS contributes to GMAs critical areas and land use planning around the following topics:

Geologically hazardous areas (see WAC 365-190-120): Erosion, landslide hazards, seismic hazards, volcanoes, tsunamis.

Mineral Resource Lands (see WAC 365-190-070): Sand, gravel, and metallic mineral resources.

Best available science (see WAC 365-195): What it is and how to obtain it.

The Climate Commitment Act

If your local government is seeking assistance in any of the areas above, reach out to WGS.

WGS also provides geologic planning support to local governments, including

Providing the best available science for many geologic hazards;

Discussing the appropriate uses of our data and maps;

Assisting with communication for local outreach about WGS science;

Providing examples of local land use codes, outreach, and examples from other jurisdictions;

Reviewing land use codes related to geologic hazards; and

Assisting with GMA periodic updates.

WGS is part of the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Other state agencies with scientific information, planning, and technical assistance that may be of interest to local jurisdictions include, but are not limited to the list below:

Sources of Information from Nonprofits

In addition to the state, there are also nonprofits with resources on the effects of climate change, including drought and wildfire risk. One example is Geology in the Public Interest, a 501c3 headquartered on Vashon Island, which has expertise in landslide hazard mapping and other geologic hazards. If your jurisdiction needs assistance in these areas, reach out to Geology in the Public Interest.

Things to Remember

Using best available science for local decision-making around geologic hazards and land use planning involves, but is not limited to, obtaining and using data and maps from multiple sources. State and federal agencies, as well as nonprofits, can provide resources and technical assistance.

The diagram below illustrates the intersection of the hazard, vulnerability, and value as risk. Local jurisdictions can use available expertise and resources to reduce risk and mitigate hazard impacts to their communities.

You may also find great examples of local jurisdiction information by checking with other local government staff. Its okay if you dont have the answer; just reach out with your questions to those who do.

Strong land use codes, comprehensive plans, building codes, and other implementation provisions and strategies, as well as robust policies and programs, are your best approach to protecting life and property.

Related MRSC Resources

MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Eligible government agencies in Washington State may use our free, one-on-one Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, policy, or financial questions.

About Tricia Sears Tricia R. Sears is the Geologic Planning Liaison with the Washington Geological Survey (WGS), a position she has held since January 2022. WGS established this position to more effectively connect science at WGS with other state agencies, local jurisdictions, and tribes. Previously, Tricia worked as a Natural Hazards Planner with the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development where her primary responsibility was assisting local jurisdictions with natural hazards mitigation planning. She has also worked for the City of Portland, Multnomah County, and the City of Beaverton. Tricia holds a Masters in Environmental Management from Portland State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Kansas, and she earned a post graduate certificate in geologic risks from the University of Geneva. Tricia is writing as a guest author.The views expressed in guest columns represent the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MRSC. VIEW ALL POSTS BY Tricia Sears
MUSCATINE  The Friends of the Fairport Fish Hatchery (FFFH) has just made another step towards completing its ongoing trail project, assuring that those who walk along this new trail will not only have a means to learn about the former fish hatchery but also safety as they walk what will be the new path.

Last month, FFFH was awarded $6,600 through an Impact Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine. Using these funds, FFFH will be replacing a connective bridge at the Fairport Fish Hatchery  a replacement that was deemed to be a priority due to the bridge being extremely old and not up to ADA guidelines.

Were really excited, Sandy Stevens, President of FFFH said. Were happy to have been awarded this grant, and with the incline services and donations we have, we should be able to get all that completed and open by this fall, which will help open up the trail for visitors and students.

Stevens added that while it feels good to see progress being made on the plans that FFFH has spent several months on, he also understands that theres still a long way to go and until we cross the finish line, I dont think we can let off the gas.

The new bridge will be designed by Steve Tomfield, who has experience in constructing this particular style of bridge with some of his work being found in Columbus Junction at a few of its parks. The bridge will be much wider than the current one, allowing for more visitors - including those who are disabled - to travel across it at a time, and it will connect the interpretive elements on both the west and east sides of the creek.

Additionally, while the bridge will be mostly new, it will still include some history through incorporating two iron roof trusses that were salvaged after the fish hatcherys pumphouse was demolished in August 2021.

We were able to salvage those pieces and theyre pretty unique, being a special kind of truss, and to incorporate them into the bridge decision, I just thought it would be another way to share the history of the hatchery and the pumphouse, Stevens said, adding that it would tie into the groups mission of historic preservation.

As FFFH works on building the new bridge, there are still several other fish hatchery features that are either still being planned out or are nearing completion. Stevens shared that FFFH is still waiting on the design templets from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for the educational signs that will be placed along the trail.

Looking ahead to next year, FFFH and DNR will be focusing on the beginning stages of the educational pavilion planned for the site, which Stevens hope to see mostly complete by fall 2023, as well as an observation deck that would then be placed over one of the sites ponds, acting as a sort of outdoor classroom that would allow visitors to get up close with the fish and mussels that will be raised at the hatchery.

Itll be an educational opportunity for students who are there to learn about mussel propagation, mussel-fish relationships and what DNR does with the different ponds and fish nowadays, Stevens said.

These later structures, however, will still need to be funded. Currently, FFFH is looking for additional grants to help fund the educational pavilion. If anyone would like to donate money to the cause, they are invited to send their checks to the Friends of the Fairport Fish Hatchery group at the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine.
DES MOINES  Deidre DeJear, the Democratic candidate for Iowa governor, on Tuesday called on Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds to participate in at least three debates before the Nov. 8 election.

At a news conference near the Iowa Capitol, DeJear said her campaign has accepted at least three invitations from media outlets and advocacy organizations that are hosting debates or candidate forums, and has been in discussions with more.

When we talk about all political power being inherent in the people, the peoples way is through democracy and exercising their right to vote. And the people deserve myself and our current governor on a stage, DeJear said at the news conference.

Reynolds campaign spokesman said the governor is happy to debate, and that those details will be ironed out as fall approaches.

Rick Stewart, the Libertarian Party candidate for governor, posted on social media his own debate challenge to DeJear, calling on her to reject any offers from debates that do not also include him.

MATHIS ENDORSEMENTS: The campaign for Democratic congressional candidate Liz Mathis announced the endorsements of nine Black pastors in Black Hawk County. The endorsements were reached as a group, according to one of the pastors statement in a Mathis campaign news release.

Mathis, a state legislator and nonprofit leader from Hiawatha, is running against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Our group met with Liz Mathis and I believe Liz is the only one who can eliminate the division in our state and restore the much needed unity we have longed for, said Dr. Frantz Whitfield, a pastor at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Waterloo. Iowans need a person who has our best interests at heart. Lizs work in the Iowa state senate proves shes ready for the task ahead and we need her in Washington. She will get the job done and she will not put party over people.
Most South African banks dont charge additional transaction fees for rand-based payments to international merchants, despite charges levied by payment provider schemes like Visa and Mastercard. FNB customers recently highlighted this issue after the bank started charging such fees with its latest pricing revisions that came into effect at the start of July 2022. Several customers had noticed small amounts going off their accounts with descriptions relating to services like Netflix, Spotify, and Flight Network. FNB previously only charged these fees for payments made in foreign currency, but the new charges applied to rand-based subscriptions and purchases. The bank had included a new phrase in its pricing guide, explicitly mentioning a 2% fee on international payments made in rands. In an explanation to one of its unhappy customers, the bank said it could no longer absorb the cost due to the increase in international ecommerce. As a result, payments to the following merchants would incur additional charges:

Airbnb

Alibaba

Amazon

Bolt

Bookings.com

BritBox

Facebook

Google Play Store

iTunes

Netflix

Spotify

Steam

PayPal

PlayStation

Xbox (not Microsoft ZA)

MyBroadband asked all of South Africas other major banks and looked at their pricing guides to find their approaches for rand-denominated payments to international services.

The banks responses made it clear that they were either choosing to absorb the costs by adding no charge or passing this cost onto the customer.

Five of the eight other banks we queried did not charge any additional fee on rand-denominated payments for international services.

These were Absa, African Bank, Bank Zero, Discovery Bank, and Nedbank.

Nedbank told MyBroadband it might charge a cross-border fee to smaller merchants that it was not aware were acquired internationally.

The bank also said it had an agreement with American Express, which exempted rand-denominated payments from the cross-border transaction levy.

Capitec, Standard Bank, and TymeBanks approaches were similar to FNBs.

TymeBanks fee was the same as FNBs  at 2% of the value of the transaction.

Standard Bank told MyBroadband it charged a tiered fee based on the type of account the customer held.

According to the pricing guides of every account listed on its website  from the entry-level MyMo to the top-end Signature offering  it charged 2.75%. That made it the most expensive of the banks we considered.

Capitec had a slightly different approach than the other banks, opting for a fixed fee instead of a percentage-based one.

It charges R1.00 for each transaction of up to R200 and R3.00 for payments greater than R200.

The table below summarises the charges various banks levy on international transactions paid in foreign currency and rand. International payment charges by South African banks Bank Charge on transactions in foreign currency (Online and point-of-sale) Charge on rand-denominated international transactions Absa 2.75% No charge African Bank 2% (credit cards) No charge Bank Zero 1% No charge Capitec Up to R200: R1.00

Above R200: R3.00 Up to R200: R1.00

Above R200: R3.00 Discovery Bank No charge No charge FNB 2% 2% Nedbank 2% No charge Standard Bank 2.75% 2.75% TymeBank 2% 2%

Now read: TymeBank to acquire Retail Capital
Elon Musk offloaded $6.9 billion (R114.6 billion) of stock in Tesla Inc., the billionaires biggest sale on record, saying he wanted to avoid a last-minute selloff of the electric-car makers shares in the event he is forced to go ahead with his aborted deal to buy Twitter Inc.

Teslas chief executive officer sold about 7.92 million shares on Aug. 5, according to a series of regulatory filings that landed after US markets closed Tuesday.

As speculation mounted over the reason for the disposal, Musk responded in a series of late night tweets, saying he wanted to avert an emergency sale of stock if he is compelled to complete the $44 billion takeover of Twitter, which he walked away from last month.

Asked by followers if he was done selling Tesla shares and would buy the stock again if the deal doesnt close, Musk responded: Yes.

Yes. In the (hopefully unlikely) event that Twitter forces this deal to close *and* some equity partners dont come through, it is important to avoid an emergency sale of Tesla stock.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 10, 2022

The sale comes just four months after Musk, the worlds richest person, said he had no further plans to sell shares in the carmaker hes built into a global force after disposing of $8.5 billion of stock in the wake of his initial offer to buy Twitter.

Since then, Teslas shares have rebounded from lows reached in May, benefiting from broader gains in US equities.

He certainly is clarifying that he is cashing up for Twitter, said Charu Chanana, strategist at Saxo Capital Markets Pte in Singapore.

The timing of the sale  just ahead of the US CPI release  does say something though. The bear market rally has started to falter, and further repricing of Fed expectations could mean more pain for equities ahead, especially in tech.

Tesla shares have risen about 35% from this years lows, though are still down about 20% this year.

Teslas market fortunes have been tied to those of the Twitter deal since Musk made his surprise overture earlier this year.

The billionaire last month said he was terminating the agreement to buy the social network where he has more than 102 million followers and take it private, claiming Twitter has made misleading representations over the number of spam bots on the service.

Twitter has since sued to force Musk to consummate the deal, and a trial in the Delaware Chancery Court has been set for October.

In May, Musk dropped plans to partially fund the purchase with a margin loan tied to his Tesla stake and increased the size of the equity component to $33.5 billion.

He had previously announced that he secured $7.1 billion of equity commitments from investors including billionaire Larry Ellison, Sequoia Capital and Binance. In his tweets late Tuesday, Musk said the stock sale was also to contingency for if those private investors dont come through.

At the weekend, Musk tweeted that if Twitter provided its method of sampling accounts to determine the number of bots and how they are confirmed to be real, the deal should proceed on original terms.

Good summary of the problem. If Twitter simply provides their method of sampling 100 accounts and how theyre confirmed to be real, the deal should proceed on original terms. However, if it turns out that their SEC filings are materially false, then it should not.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2022

The Twitter deal included a provision that if it fell apart, the party breaking the agreement would pay a termination fee of $1 billion, under certain circumstances. Legal experts have debated whether the conflict over spam bots is enough to allow Musk to walk away from the deal.

Musk, 51, has now sold around $32 billion worth of stock in Tesla over the past 10 months.

The disposals started in November after he polled Twitter users on whether he should trim his stake in the platform, kicking off the rollercoaster ride thats stunned even the most seasoned Musk watchers.

He now owns 14.84% of Tesla, leaving him still by far the largest stakeholder.

Commenting before Musks tweets clarifying the reason for the sale, Gene Munster, managing partner of Loup Ventures, said he put the odds of the tycoon buying Twitter at 75%.

Im shocked, Munster said. This is going to be a headwind for Tesla in the near term. In the long term, all that matters is deliveries and gross margin.

Musks $250.2 billion fortune is the worlds largest, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, but his wealth has fallen around $20 billion this year as Tesla shares declined.

The carmakers shareholders approved a three-for-one stock split last week, a move designed to attract an even larger number of retail investors given the shares recent rebound.

Teslas better-than-expected second-quarter earnings have been a tailwind, along with landmark US climate change legislation that aims to boost the use of clean energy through a series of tax incentives.
St. Helena's Grace Episcopal Church is planning a Summer Rummage Sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 20 at the church, 1314 Spring St. Money raised will be used to fund the church's Outreach Ministries. The church's teenagers will raise funds from sales of their food cart.

Only those manning booths will provide articles for sale.

Volunteers are needed on both Friday and Saturday, and coordinator Diane LeBlanc is asking people to volunteer for one or more two-hour shifts. To reserve a booth, sign up to volunteer, or for more information, contact LeBlanc at angwindiane@aol.com.

(This article has been corrected to clarify that only those manning booths will provide articles for sale.)
An ordinance requiring St. Helena residents to safely store firearms when theyre not in use will soon be coming to the city, following a unanimous vote by the St. Helena City Council on Tuesday.

Once in place  30 days after the council passes a second reading at a future meeting  the ordinance will be used to regulate firearm storage by lodging a penalty of up to $500 against those who dont lock up their firearms while not using them. At the meeting, however, the city attorney stressed the law would primarily serve an educational purpose, and that police officers would not actively look for violators.

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St. Helena Police Chief Chris Hartley said he was inspired to bring the ordinance forward after Councilmember Anna Chouteau gave him a package of information about the impact of guns from the Napa chapter of Moms Demand Action, a national organization that focuses on reducing gun violence.

One small child dies almost every day in this country after finding an unsecured firearm in their home, or in a relative's home, or while playing at a friends house, Hartley said at the meeting. Two older children, particularly teens, die every day in this country by suicide from an unsecured firearm that they obtain from their home or their family members home. In addition, 80% of school mass shootings are done by current or former students using an unsecured firearm obtained from their own home or a relatives home.

The need for safe storage became more urgent during the COVID-19 pandemic, Hartley said, owing to a dramatic rise in gun sales and the increased time people were spending at home. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were over 45,222 firearm-related deaths in the United States in 2020, and more than half were suicides.

Keeping a firearm locked when it is not being carried ensures that it cannot be accessed or used by others without the owners knowledge or permission, decreasing the risk that the gun will be used to commit suicide, homicide or inflict injury, whether intentionally or unintentionally, Hartley said.

Hartley added many cities in California have passed similar rules in recent years  including Davis and Woodland in nearby Yolo County  though St. Helena is the first in Napa County municipality to make such a move.

Research shows keeping guns securely stored does not hinder self-protection, Hartley said. A gun can be accessed within seconds. But it does prevent unintentional deaths of children and teen suicide by as much as 85% depending on the type of storage.

Hartley also noted that the police department gives out free gun locks, and also takes possession of firearms or ammunition community members turn in for destruction.

Though some cities have opted to attach a criminal misdemeanor penalty for violating their gun storage ordinances, St. Helena is opting for a civil infraction penalty, according to City Attorney Ethan Walsh. That means that under city code, those who violate the ordinance would pay $100 for the first violation, $200 for the second and $500 for each subsequent violation.

Walsh said that, for the most part, the ordinance is intended to be an educational measure.

Its not like were going to start going into peoples homes searching for their guns, Walsh said at the meeting. But because they have the information, people, most people, will try to comply with the law as long as theyre aware of it, so then theyre doing things they may not otherwise do. it kind of will change behavior in that way.

Also Tuesday, the council recognized the contributions of Julie Spencer, who recently retired as founding executive director of the Rianda House Senior Activity Center after 14 years in the position.

The proclamation, read by Vice Mayor Paul Dohring, notes that Spencer oversaw a growth in weekly attendance of Rianda House programs, classes and events from 100 clients in 2008 to 637 in 2020. It goes on to note Spencers substantial contribution to Rianda Houses positive impact for older adults, through providing services and partnering with a variety of other organizations.

The statement also notes that Spencer and her team particularly shined through the COVID-19 pandemic by partnering with the St. Helena Hospital Foundation to educate and encourage local seniors to become vaccinated, by initiating wellness calls to local seniors, and by quickly transforming Rianda House into a virtual network of Zoom meetings to keep our seniors connected and engaged.

Mayor Geoff Ellsworth wasnt present at the meeting, but left a note offering his gratitude to Spencer.

Spencer said she was touched and honored, and that shes proud to be part of the collaborative effort behind Rianda House.

Rianda House has always been a mirror out to the public, Spencer said. What do you want? What would you like to see? And we listen. It has grown based on everyone's collaboration and interest in making St. Helena an age-friendly community.
UpValley Family Centers has joined the Listos California Campaign  a statewide network of community-based organizations working to enhance disaster preparedness to ensure vulnerable populations are ready when a disaster strikes.

UpValley Family Centers was awarded a grant from the California Governors Office of Emergency Services to reach Upvalley communities in an effort to build resilience among populations living in areas susceptible to natural disasters.

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Increasing disaster preparedness is imperative for our small rural communities which have been impacted by multiple wildfires in the last five years, said Jenny Ocon, executive director of UpValley Family Centers. As part of Listos California, our team of trusted messengers will draw on local relationships and a people-centered approach to reach isolated residents at risk of severe impact from disasters.

Disaster preparedness is a growing area of work for the UpValley Family Centers, which has served as a second responder for residents in need of information and resources immediately following a disaster, and for their longer-term recovery. Having emergency preparedness information and resources accessible to residents who face barriers geographic, linguistic, physical, or financial will increase safety and build resilience.

Using tools from the Listos California campaign, and emergency go-bags provided by the Latino Community Foundation, UpValley Family Centers will be hosting emergency preparedness workshops in Spanish, in Calistoga and St. Helena during August and September. It will plan additional community events in coordination with the Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster, or COAD, in the coming months.

Cal OES announced $25 million in grants to 93 community partners through the Listos California campaign. As unfavorable conditions like extreme heat and drought continue to fuel wildfires throughout California, socially vulnerable communities remain disproportionately impacted, not only by devastating wildfires but also earthquakes and other disasters.

UpValley Family Centers played a key role in connecting survivors to information and resources in recent disasters, in addition to its community education and preparedness efforts.

Most recently, it distributed over $900,000 in emergency financial assistance to 2020 wildfire survivors living in the region, and provided long-term recovery disaster case management to 324 households experiencing property loss and other disaster-related impacts. For 23 years, UpValley Family Centers has been a trusted resource for the people who live and work in the northern Napa Valley, serving as a one-stop shop for access to the resources people need to survive and thrive.
Making their Mark

Napa Valley artists Nancy Willis, Nikki Ballere and Will Callnan of NBC Pottery and Melissa, Mercedes and Anna Baker have created an exhibition of paintings, works on paper and ceramics at the NBC Pottery Gallery and Studio 410 Circle Drive, Angwin. It runs through Oct. 1.

Gallery hours are Monday through Friday,1 to 5 p.m. and by appointment

This exhibition coincides with an upcoming feature article on the artists in Visit Napa Valley's annual magazine due out this fall. The artists have a long and colorful artistic history in the Napa Valley and first met at Nimbus Arts where they also teach. This is the first time they are presenting their work together .

For more info about the artists or the exhibition contact nancy@nancywillis.com or info@nbcpottery.com

Meet the artist

Meet award-winning Vacaville photographer Philip Venable at the Napa main library at at reception on Aug. 12, from 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.

Venable is the artist of the month for August at the library. Part of the local art scene for the past decade, he is president of the Napa Valley Photographic Society, and a member of the Professional Photographers of America. The library show will feature works spanning Venables professional career.

To attend the reception register at philipvenable.eventbrite.com. The Napa library is at 580 Coombs St., Napa.

A Midsummer Night in Winters

The final performances of Winters Theatre Company's "Midsummer Night's Dream," are Friday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 13 in the amphitheater stage behind the Winters Community Center. The show begins at 7 p.m.

Bring a picnic and wine or enjoy dinner at one of Winter's restaurants. Root beer floats and snacks will be for sale at the event. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by going to www.winterstheatre.org. All tickets are $10. Children 12 and younger are free.

'Every Brilliant Thing' at Lucky Penny

Craig A. Miller, well-known for his work at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, will present a one-man show at Lucky Penny in Napa on Aug. 13 and 14.

"Every Brilliant Thing" is the story of a little boy making a list of all the good things in life for his mother, in hospital after a suicide attempt.

When the play debuted in London, The Guardian called "Every Brilliant Thing" one of the funniest plays youll ever see about depressionand possibly one of the funniest plays youll ever see, full stop.

The shows are on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m.

All seats are $30. Purchase tickets at www.luckypennynapa.com.

Lucky Penny is at 1758 Industrial Way, Napa.
SAN FRANCISCO  A naturopathic doctor charged with selling fake COVID-19 immunization treatments and fraudulent vaccination cards will be sentenced in November after a California judge on Wednesday denied her motion to withdraw her plea agreement.

Juli A. Mazi, of Napa, pleaded guilty last April in federal court in San Francisco to one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements related to health care matters.

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Mazi, who has since fired her attorneys and is now representing herself, sought to vacate her plea agreement while also filing a motion challenging the very laws that led to her prosecution.

There were no laws broken, Mazi read from her motion during a virtual hearing Wednesday. Can you provide the laws that allow you to disregard the procedures that a naturopathic doctor is licensed to administer?

After hearing her out, U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer told Mazi that it appears you are not contesting the facts outlined in the plea agreement.

Napa naturopath Juli Mazi may withdraw guilty plea for alleged COVID-19 scams Juli Mazi had pleaded guilty in April after her 2021 arrest on suspicion of providing falsified vaccination cards and a purported homeoprophylaxis" remedy for COVID-19.

To the extent you are making a motion to withdraw your plea, that is denied, Breyer said. To the extent that you are not making a motion to plea, but challenging the laws upon which you entered your plea, or this prosecution, that is also denied.

Breyer set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 29.

The case was the first federal criminal fraud prosecution related to fraudulent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccination cards for COVID-19, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mazi provided fake CDC vaccination cards for COVID-19 to at least 200 people with instructions on how to complete the cards to make them look like they had received a Moderna vaccine, federal prosecutors said.

Naturopathic doctor from Napa pleads guilty in fake vaccine, immunization card case Dr. Juli A. Mazi faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and making false health care statements when she is sentenced July 29.

She also sold homeopathic pellets she fraudulently claimed would provide lifelong immunity to COVID-19. She told customers the pellets contained small amounts of the virus and would create an antibody response, they said.

Mazi also offered the pellets in place of childhood vaccinations required for attendance at school and sold at least 100 fake immunization cards that said the children had been vaccinated, knowing the documents would be submitted to schools, officials said.

Federal officials opened an investigation against Mazi after receiving a complaint in April 2021 to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General hotline.
Napa County supervisors want to start seeking the next person to manage the half-billion-dollar-a-year county government operation, but arent rushing to make a choice.

The county needs a new county executive officer. That person will do everything from make policy recommendations to the Board of Supervisors to make sure county programs run smoothly.

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Think of the head of a large corporation, only in this case, the operation is paid for by taxpayers to serve all local residents. That operation does everything from run libraries and jails to maintain rural roads to make land use decisions for world-famous wine country.

We need a lot in terms of (the) leadership this Board depends on and the county as a whole depends on, Supervisor Belia Ramos said.

With Minh Tran no longer filling the role as of July 29, Assistant CEO Rebecca Craig is acting CEO. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday discussed whats next.

There are currently seven California county executive/administrator positions open or anticipated to be open in coming months, county Human Resources Director Christine Briceno wrote. Timing of the recruitment and hiring a professional executive recruiter are very important.

Finding qualified candidates and choosing one will likely take four to six months, she said.

The Board of Supervisors has its own timing issue to consider, given Supervisors Brad Wagenknecht and Diane Dillon didnt run for reelection. They will be replaced in January by two new supervisors to be determined in the Nov. 8 election.

Wagenknecht said the CEO position is important, so he doesnt want to wait until January to start the search.

But I dont want to hire that person, because I think that needs to be done by the new Board and I want a 5-0 on that, he said. I dont want to put (a CEO) in and have that person be limping immediately.

There seemed to be consensus on the Board that the next CEO shouldnt be chosen until the new supervisors are seated.

Meanwhile, the county is also searching for a new county counsel to oversee the department that provides county legal services. Ramos said filling this position is her top priority.

Dillon said hiring both positions at the time is challenging. She agreed the Board should focus on the county counsel and let the next Board hire the CEO.

But she expressed concern about Craig having to do two jobs, both acting CEO and her regular position of assistant CEO. Dillon recommended hiring an interim CEO, perhaps a person retired from the position who can fill in at Napa County for six to nine months.

Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said his goal is to get the best CEO thats a fit for Napa County. The county has been through bumpy times but is still productive. He wants to stabilize the organization with the right leadership.

An initial step could be creating a profile of the type of person the county is looking for to be its next CEO.

Supervisors ended Tuesdays conversation without taking a vote. Briceno was to take the comments into consideration and proceed from there.

The Board of Supervisors released Tran from the CEO position after news broke that Riverside County could appoint him as county counsel. A Board statement on July 28 said it needs a CEO with a laser focus on Napa County instead of one seeking employment elsewhere.

He was released without cause, which means the dismissal wasnt related to neglect of duties or other grounds for dismissal listed in his employment contract. A county memo said Tran is on administrative leave from July 29 through Oct. 27.

County code says the Board of Supervisors can give the CEO three months notice before removal or relieve the CEO of his or her duties immediately and place the CEO on three months paid leave of absence.

Supervisors chose the leave-of-absence option in the Tran case. However, if and when Tran starts the Riverside County position, the paid leave of absence would end.

Riverside County in a press release said its Board of Supervisors will appoint Tran as county counsel on Aug. 30, though it didnt say when Tran would begin work.
In a revised playbook guiding University of California admissions, the system's nine undergraduate campuses accepted a record number of California first-year students for fall 2022, while significantly narrowing entry to out-of-state and international applicants amid widespread demands to preserve coveted seats for state residents, according to preliminary data released Wednesday.

The UC system admitted 85,268 California first-year applicants  a 1.2% increase of 1,045 students over last year. Offers to out-of-state applicants declined by 19%, or 5,359 students, and those to international students decreased by 12.2%, or 2,442 students.

Campuses also set records for diversity, as students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups increased to 43.8% of the admitted first-year class. For the third straight year, Latinos were the largest ethnic group at 37.3%, followed by Asian Americans at 35%, Black students at 5.7%, and whites at 18.6%. Overall, both applications and admission offers increased for Latino, Asian American, Black and Native American students and declined among whites and Pacific Islanders.

"The University's enduring dedication to California's young people and its partnership with the state continue to attract unprecedented numbers of talented Golden State students," UC President Michael V. Drake said in a statement. "It is our privilege to be able to offer admission to the state's largest-ever class of California students."

The rollback in out-of-state and international students represents a significant policy shift years in the making. The public research university system began aggressively recruiting and enrolling higher-paying nonresident students as a source of additional tuition revenue after the 2008 recession when the state slashed its UC funding by one-third.

UCLA and UC Berkeley, for instance, increased the share of nonresidents among undergraduates from about 9.5% in fall 2008 to about 24% in 2021.

The growing number of nonresident students sparked a public outcry and a 2016 state audit, which found that UC admission practices were harming California students. UC sharply disagreed, arguing that the extra nonresident tuition dollars allowed it to pay for more California students and that state budget cuts had forced its hand. Eventually, the state economy recovered, funding for higher education began to rebound, and state elected leaders made clear that UC should boost California student enrollment as their constituents were demanding.

This year, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature provided $82.5 million to enroll an additional 5,632 California students in 2022 and 2023. That includes $31 million to replace 902 nonresidents with in-state students at UCLA, UC Berkeley and UC San Diego  funding set for annual renewal over at least four more years.

UC admission directors hail the growing access to California students but also note that those from other states and countries greatly enrich the learning and social environment for all.

"It's important that we do all we can to ensure that California residents have access to a UC campus," said Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, UCLA vice provost for enrollment management. "But having students learn in classrooms that resemble the state, nation and world enhances their educational experience. It's a tough balancing act."

UCLA drew 91,544 first-year applications from California residents for fall 2022, as the campus and UC system shattered their own previous records. The Westwood campus admitted 8,423 of those applicants, an increase of only 54 over last year, but plans to enroll an additional 400 first-year students and about 400 more transfer students. Because more students offered admission are accepting it  about 54% in 2021 compared with 44% in 2011  UCLA does not need to make as many admission offers to hit its enrollment targets as in the past, Copeland-Morgan said.

Admitted students had near-perfect grades, and UCLA looked for evidence that they had taken full advantage of the opportunities available to them to stretch themselves with challenging courses and extracurricular activities, she said.

Five of the nine UC undergraduate campuses admitted fewer California first-year applicants compared with last year in the first round of offers  mainly cautious about overenrolling. After monitoring the number of acceptances, campus officials then sent out additional offers to students on the waitlist.

UC Santa Barbara, for instance, offered first-round admission to 273 fewer California first-year students than last year  but increased its waitlist offers by nearly 700. Among the 2,792 waitlisted students offered admission, 633 accepted. Overall, the campus plans to enroll about 4,000 California students, an increase of about 350 over last year. UCSB hopes to educate some of them off campus in study abroad or Washington D.C. programs or enroll more in summer sessions.

"We couldn't risk overenrolling even a single student," said Lisa Przekop, the campus admission director. "We're at capacity and didn't want to experience any housing issues."

Last year, UC Santa Barbara scrambled to house students in hotels after a last-minute crunch in housing requests and shortages of off-campus rentals due to an influx of nonstudents who wanted to work remotely in the scenic coastal city during the pandemic. Przekop said all student housing requests have been accommodated this year.

At UC Irvine, the calculus of admission targets was a bit more complex. Offers to California first-year applicants declined by a few hundred students, or 1.6%, but significantly dropped by 39% for out-of-state students and 37% for international students.

Dale Leaman, Irvine's executive director of undergraduate admissions, said the campus was "trying to be responsive" to the state's expectations to decrease nonresidents. At the same time, the number of out-of-state students accepting UC Irvine admission offers increased last year and might do so again this year.

"We're being very careful about overadmitting nonresidents," Leaman said, adding that Irvine also used the waitlist more robustly this year than in the past. "It's complicated calculus."

UC Berkeley faced an unprecedented admissions season marked by a lawsuit and subsequent court ruling that would have forced the campus to slash fall 2022 admission offers by one-third without a state rescue effort. The campus ultimately was able to meet its planned targets, admitting 10,518 California students for fall 2022, about the same as last year, and reducing offers to out-of-state students by about 33% and to international students, by 26%.

Admission rates for California first-year students declined at UC Berkeley to 14.5% this year from 16.9% last year. They dropped even lower at UCLA, to 9.2% from 9.9% during that same period. Systemwide, admission rates for California students declined to 64.4% this year from 65.7% last year.

UC Santa Cruz cut back its admission offers for fall 2022 because it enrolled two large classes of Californians the previous two years, said Michelle Whittingham, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management. The campus expects to enroll about 700 fewer new undergraduates this fall. Although the first-year class was larger than expected because about 250 more computer science majors accepted their admission offer than predicted, that was offset by a smaller transfer class, enabling Santa Cruz to hit its lower enrollment target for new undergraduates.

"We're really trying to balance access with quality," she said, noting that the campus faces housing, curricular and classroom constraints.

Whittingham added that Santa Cruz is still trying to increase out-of-state and international students, whose share of undergraduates fell during the pandemic to about 9.2% last fall from 12% in 2019.

Two campuses with plenty of room for California students are UC Riverside, which admitted 1,600 more applicants, and UC Merced, which increased offers by about 2,000. UC Riverside plans to enroll about 600 more first-year and transfer students this fall than last.

UC San Diego led all campuses in admitting transfer students. Systemwide, however, admission offers to California Community College transfer applicants declined to 25,253 this year compared with 28,453 last year  due to fewer applications from fewer students at the system's 116 campuses. Several admission directors expressed concern about the declining enrollment, which complicates UC's obligation to enroll one community college student for every two first-year students.

About 47% of admitted California first-year students are low-income, and 44% would be the first in their families to earn a bachelor's degree.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nikkei: Apple in talks to manufacture Apple Watch and MacBook in Vietnam

Chery to release new flagship crossover Tiggo 9

FT: Risk of Eiffel Tower collapse due to rust will persist until 2030

Apple Inc. to introduce iPhone 14 on September 7

Cambodia accuses American billionaire of buying stolen sculptures

Suren Petrosyan: Aghavno systematically surrendered

UK inflation hits new 40-year high in July

What is reason for restrained US reaction to reports about Turkey's purchase of second regiment of S-400?

Germany warns gas will run out in less than three months if Russia completely cuts off supplies

Rescuer: Site is difficult, there are large structures, we try to cross sections piece by piece

Thames Water bans customers from using hoses for irrigation

Search operations at Surmalu shopping center ceased until morning

Most polluted cities revealed

Investor pessimism in Germany has worsened even more in August

Electricity prices in Europe continue to rise steadily

NATO to increase its peacekeeping forces in Kosovo in case of escalation of tensions with Serbia

OPEC Secretary General: Organization is not involved in gas and oil prices rise

Estonia to ban Russian citizens who received visa in third EU country from entering Estonia

Goldman Sachs: Europe's chances of recession are now twice as high as US

NEWS.am BREAKING on Yerevan market blast: 16 people killed, 1 person still missing

French MFA expresses solidarity with Armenia over Surmalu tragedy

Philippines ready to support US in case of war with China

Mayor of Venice looking for two 'pushy idiots' who raced Grand Canal

Mishustin and Pashinyan discuss cooperation in trade and economic sphere

Velayati says China is strategic ally of Iran

Norway will provide military aid to Ukraine

Garo Paylan appeals to Ankara Prosecutor's Office

Mourning liturgy for victims of explosion and fire at Surmalu will be held in Armenia

Iran to develop cooperation with Pakistan

UN Secretary General arrives in Lviv

Explosions and fires in at least 17 locations in southern Thailand

Lithuanian FM calls for cancellation of tourist Schengen visas for Russians

Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan sign agreement on international transit corridor

Management of Surmalu shopping center expresses condolences in connection with explosion

Wildberries denies information about leakage of customer data

1 injured in explosion has been discharged, and four citizens are currently undergoing treatment

Armenia Investigative Committee asks to hand over unused fireworks obtained from Surmalu market to police

Iranian Foreign Ministry aims to expand regional transit routes

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Eurozone GDP is up in second quarter

Charles Michel expresses his condolences in connection with Surmalu explosion

Israeli President welcomes Turkey's decision to restore diplomatic relations

Turkey decides to restore diplomatic relations with Israel

Five injured in explosion are being treated at medical centers

NYT: Western countries want to give Russian diamonds bloody status

Karabakh teen drowns in reservoir (PHOTOS)

More than 50 people questioned in Yerevan shopping market explosion criminal case

President: Armenia underscores development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Indonesia

Azerbaijan ombudsperson is interested in convicted Armenian captives

Kazakhstan President sends condolence message to Armenia PM

Armenia has new consul general in Russias Rostov-on-Don

No bombs found at Gyumri international airport, railway station

3 men who strangled Yerevan woman, 47, to death are arrested

People continue bringing flowers, toys nearby tragic Yerevan explosion site

Book of condolences opened at all Armenia diplomatic missions abroad

Bomb threat made at Gyumri international airport, railway station

Russian embassy upset by reports about Russia organizations participation in Yerevan market tragedy

Armenia ex-deputy PM Avinyan visits Yerevan market blast site

Yerevan market explosion: We have one missing person, Armenia official says

Armenia Prosecutor Generals Office: No one is charged in Yerevan market blast case

World oil prices going up

Day of mourning declared in Armenia, Artsakh today and tomorrow

Kazakhstan embassy offers condolences over Yerevan market explosion

People laying flowers nearby Yerevan market blast site

Newspaper: One person is charged in Yerevan market explosion case

Newspaper: Armenia ruling party plans to make state institutions employees become party members

Yerevan explosion: 2 people still being searched for

Yerevan market explosion: 2 people still considered missing as of midnight (PHOTOS)

Turkey launches airstrike on Aleppo countryside, 3 Syria soldiers dead

Is Western unity over Ukraine about to crack?

Which countries could survive nuclear war?

Surmalu re-inspection scheduled for November

In Lebanon, man who held hostages in bank released without charges

TerraPower of Bill Gates raises $750 million for projects in nuclear energy and medicine

China's 'Galaxy Fold clone' sold out in five minutes and became a bestseller

Germany plans to postpone closure of its last three nuclear power plants

Expert estimates environmental consequences of Yerevan explosion and gives advices

Switzerland signs agreement with Uzbekistan to return $131 million seized from Gulnara Karimova

Artsakh also declares mourning

Norway can no longer supply Germany with more gas

UN Secretary General to meet with Presidents of Ukraine and Turkey in Lviv

Ministry of Emergency Situations: There were about 4 tons of flammable substances in Surmalu

Russian Security Council says Kyiv threatens global nuclear security

Content of toxic substances in air after explosion in Yerevan has increased sharply

Scholz says Sweden and Finland's NATO accession process goes according to plan

Macron and Zelenskiy discuss situation over Zaporozhye nuclear power plant

Expert: Biden is not preparing Americans for what is to come

Armenian Prosecutor General's Office: Representatives of management and employees of Surmalu will be interrogated

Mourning declared in Armenia

Latvia will not extend residence permits previously issued to Russian citizens

NEWS.am BREAKING on Yerevan market explosion: 16 people killed

First Lady of US contracts COVID-19

Aghvan Hovsepyan undergoes surgery

Investigative Committee: More than 20 people questioned in case of Surmalu explosion in Yerevan

Head of Armenian HM visits victims of explosion on territory of Surmalu in Yerevan

Deputy PM of Singapore: US and China may slide into conflict

Director of Surmalu shopping center is in heavy psychological state and does not comment

Identity of another victim of Surmalu shopping center in Yerevan established

Two Armenian startups advance to EWC Global Finals (PHOTOS)

Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences in connection with Surmalu shopping mall explosion
Oil buyers in southern Europe are quietly returning to the market for Russian crude, with a European Union ban on such shipments still four months away from coming into force, Bloomberg reported.

Shipments of Russian crude to ports in Italy and Turkey rose to multi-week highs in the seven days to Aug. 5, offsetting another drop in shipments to customers in northern Europe, according to vessel-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg. Shipments from Russia to the Mediterranean region as a whole were the highest since mid-June.

Deliveries of crude from export terminals in the Baltic and Black Sea to refineries in Italy rose to a seven-week high, while shipments to Turkey were the biggest in six weeks. Spain took its first cargo of Urals crude since April, with a shipment belonging to Kazakhstans KazTransOil delivered to Bilbao. Last week also saw the first Urals shipment from the Baltic to Greece since February.

The increased flows to several European countries ahead of sanctions coming in to effect highlight the difficulty the region will have in ending its reliance on Moscow's oil. The identification of some of those cargoes as non-Russian, even though they are a Russian grade shipped from a Russian port, shows just how difficult it will be to police the sanctions when they do come into effect in December.

Based on current destinations, the average flow of Russian crude to Asia remained close to 1.75 million barrels a day, down from a plateau of more than 2.1 million barrels a day in April and May. Shipments to European buyers including those in northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea region rose to a five-week high of 1.38 million barrels a day, but they are still down from more than 1.85 million barrels a day before the Ukrainian war.
In 1979, President Carter formally repudiated the 1954 Mutual Defense Treaty with Taiwan. Carter's actions abruptly ended Washington's commitment to defend Taiwan from attack from mainland China. Nevertheless, when asked by a journalist whether he would use military force in response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, President Biden said, that's what they are going for.

When it comes to defense and foreign policy, there are very few cold-blooded realists in Washington policy circles. Since 1945, with a few notable exceptions, most American presidents have tended to put short-term political prominence or ephemeral liberal goals above real, concrete national interests in America's relations with other nation-states. Biden is no exception to the rule, writes former Pentagon adviser Col. Douglas McGregor in an article in the American Conservative.

Guided more by impulse and emotion than reason or knowledge of the facts, President Biden, like much of Washington's ruling political class, may be privately pleased with Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taipei. However, when Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is viewed in the context of Biden's apparently ill-considered remark, it is clear that the combination has a negative impact on all of Asia.

Hirokazu Matsuno, a high-ranking Japanese government official, expressed a view widely shared in Asia when he said: "Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is important not only for the security of Japan, but also for the entire world." Asked whether Japan, perhaps America's most important strategic partner in Asia, supported Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, Matsuno replied, "We can't comment." The president of the Republic of Korea simply refused to meet with Pelosi.

These developments should not surprise Americans. The Speaker of the House is not a foreign policy spokesman unless authorized by the president and secretary of state. In an era when his representatives so often refute the president's comments, this lack of clarity adds to the tension that comes from not holding senators and congressmen accountable for events outside America. Americans should also be suspicious of politicians who use crises abroad to make headlines at the expense of US national strategic interests. Such behavior is dangerous for the nation.

A prudent foreign policy and military strategy must involve more than treating every potential conflict as a grand moral affair in which all the values of American civilization are at stake. In other words, do not engage in empty gestures that could lead to an armed conflict for which the U.S. military is not prepared. Do not engage in military action until the true purpose of the ensuing conflict is understood, its demands on the American people are accurately defined, and the desired end state of the conflict is not only defined but achievable. While these points should seem self-evident to casual observers, history shows that they are not.

On August 1, 1914, the day Germany mobilized for war with Russia and France, leading members of the British Cabinet opposed entering the war against Germany. But the final decision to fight was not the result of a long and difficult decision-making process. Sir Edward Grey, Foreign Secretary, declared that Britain had a moral obligation to maintain Belgian neutrality.

Sir Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, argued that the British electorate demanded action. British Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith eventually concluded that if his government did not declare war on Germany and Austria-Hungary, his political opponents would replace him with a new government that would. On August 4, after the British government declared war, General Kitchener, recently appointed chief of the British Imperial General Staff, delivered the bad news: the war, Kitchener insisted, would last at least three years and would require British participation in the war. The ministers were stunned.

The British decision to go to war with Germany and Austria-Hungary was not informed by an objective assessment of the respective strategic strengths and weaknesses of both sides. Those in Washington who call for confrontation with China are also guided more by emotion than reason.

Beijing expects that the immediate threat to China will come from the US Navy's Pacific Fleet and the US Air Force. Consequently, Beijing has invested heavily over the past two decades in a combination of echeloned air defenses and an extensive arsenal of ground-based tactical and medium-range precision-guided ground-to-ground missiles, missiles and barrages associated with persistent space and ground targets. intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR-Strike) platforms.

In the event of a confrontation over Taiwan, the US Navy surface fleet would have to operate away from China's coastline to avoid PLA missile strikes, severely limiting the surface fleet's ability to influence events ashore inside China. Washington could still blockade China's Pacific coast, but it would have to rely primarily on its deep water, multipurpose nuclear-powered submarines to do so.

But the blockade will not negate China's main strategic advantage. The depth of its continental position with a friendly, resource-rich Russia to the north suggests that the blockade is unlikely to succeed. Judging by the rate of consumption of ammunition and precision-guided weapon systems of all kinds in Ukraine, the current US stockpile of precision-guided missiles and ammunition will quickly be exhausted. Unrealistic perceptions of the demands of modern warfare, combined with a false sense of moral superiority, have irreparably damaged the British Empire and ultimately relegated Britain to the status of a minor power. The question for Americans is whether leadership in Washington is like a brontosaurus with a body 50 yards long and a brain the size of a pin. Every day it becomes more and more important for Americans with common sense to replace the pin-brains of the controlling showmen before they lead Americans down the disastrous path that the British took in 1914.
The collapse of the EU is now inevitable. Hungary and Poland will not be governed by Brussels, writes the British newspaper Daily Express.

A grudge is brewing between progressive Brussels and conservative-nationalist Central and Eastern Europe over the tying of EU money to the rule of law, which Hungary and Poland see as a poorly veiled attempt to impose liberal values on them.

Hungary and Poland have been in the club long enough to know the rules. Budapest and Warsaw must already understand that the EU is not going to change to suit them.

Officially, most in the central and eastern EU states support EU membership. In reality, however, most of them have begun to lean toward becoming part of an enhanced trade union rather than an ideologically anchored political union.

Moreover, the EU cannot exclude both countries. As Brexit supporters know, Article 50 is the only way out, and it must be enforced by the country in question. Article 7 can impose sanctions, up to and including disenfranchisement from the European Council. However, this requires unanimity, and Hungary and Poland, not to mention other Central and Eastern European states, usually support each other.

How long can Hungary and Poland continue this dance, and how long can both sides of the EU divide ignore the cultural iron curtain that has caused the continent to split?

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban doesn't just annoy Brussels, he looks at the world from a very different perspective.

Since Orban returned to power in 2010, the number of marriages in Hungary has doubled, the number of abortions has been halved, the divorce rate has reached an all-time low, and the birth rate has risen by a quarter. Orban has also curated a constitution with references to God and Christianity; funded Christian schools and banned content thought to promote LGBT issues among minors. None of this has garnered him sympathy in Brussels, but it has proved extremely popular in Central and Eastern Europe.

But almost certainly what Brussels sees as the draconian policies of Hungary and Poland are direct reactions to what Budapest and Warsaw believe are coming from Brussels.

Isn't it obvious that if most Central and Eastern European states cease to be members of the EU, they will no longer feel that their values are under attack and, therefore, will not pursue such harsh policies in the first place?

Both sides are unhappy with this toxic relationship, but seem to refuse a peaceful divorce that could preserve economic ties while severing political ties: creating a new conservative European confederation in the east with a progressive EU centered in the west.
Greece will exit the European Union's so-called enhanced surveillance system on August 20, giving the country more freedom to conduct economic policy, Reuters reported.

Greece's economic developments and policies have been monitored under the framework since 2018, after Athens withdrew from three international financial aid programs totaling more than 260 billion euros from the European Union and IMF between 2010 and 2015.

"After 12 years ... a difficult chapter for our country comes to a close," said the minister, Christos Staikouras. "Greece returns to a European normality and will no longer be an exception in the euro zone."

He added that Athens has fulfilled most of the political commitments and reforms it promised, and its exit from the system on August 20 was confirmed by a letter from European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis and Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni.

Greece's withdrawal from enhanced supervision will mean more degrees of freedom in implementing economic policies and will bring the country's goal of regaining "investment grade" status, Staikouras said.

The supervisory system was designed to ensure continuous action to address potential sources of economic hardship and structural reforms to support sustainable economic growth.
Former President Donald Trump's main potential rivals for the 2024 Republican Party nomination have stood up to him over the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago estate, claiming that he is the victim of political persecution by the rogue Biden and the Justice Department, Axios writes.

At a time when Trump's power over the Republican Party showed signs of waning due to the summer committee hearings on Jan. 6 and the rise of a popular alternative in Florida, in the form of Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential Republican candidate in the 2024 election, suddenly the field around Trump began to strengthen.



The expression of support from the likes of DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and other potential presidential contenders in 2024 underscores that ambitious Republicans must walk a tightrope in an era in which Trump remains the dominant force in the party.

They would like to remove Trump from the battlefield of 2024, but they also recognize that they must join the hype to attract Trump's base, which has been re-energized by new allegations of wrongdoing by the deep state.

By backing Trump on an issue that has largely defined his political trajectory, his party rivals are inadvertently giving him a run for his seat.

DeSantis tweeted hours after the FBI operation, criticizing the raid as another escalation of federal agencies' use of guns against regime political opponents.

Pence expressed deep concern about the unprecedented search and used it as an opportunity to reconsider his claims that the FBI acted for "political reasons" during the Trump administration.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who exercised his freedom of action against his former boss, including openly attacking Trump-backed candidates such as Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania's Senate primary, tweeted that the execution of the search warrant against the former president was dangerous.

Senator Josh Hawley, Missouri Republican, called the search an unprecedented assault on the ... rule of law and demanded the removal of FBI Director Christopher Wray and the impeachment or resignation of Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Senator Rick Scott, Republican from Florida, made similar comments, saying that Garland and Wray no longer deserve to remain in office unless they immediately explain the purpose and rationale behind the search.

Other potential 2024 Republican candidates who have issued vehement tweets or statements defending Trump and attacking the FBI include Senator Ted Cruz, Republican from Texas, Marco Rubio from Florida and Tom Cotton from Arctic State, former Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican, said he spoke with Trump Tuesday afternoon and is now convinced - more than ever - that the former president will run again.

Eric Trump said for the first time that he thinks his father should run again.

The aftermath of the search has revived deep-rooted right-wing beliefs that the Justice Department, FBI and government are corrupt and politically motivated, which has united conservatives around Trump in a way not seen since he left office.
The resettlement of residents from villages along the Lachin (Berdzor) corridor contradicts any logic and is an unlawful process; people are unlawfully being dispossessed of their homeland. Gagik Minasyan, representative of the former ruling Republican Party of Armenia and an ex-MP, told this to a press conference Wednesday.

He stated that the illegally built new road is located at a maximum distance of one kilometer from Aghavno village, the latter is located in the Lachin corridor whose width is 2.5 km on both sides, and therefore the safe travel of people to and from Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) should be ensured by the new road.

In this regard, the politician expressed bewilderment that the authorities of Armenia, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, and Turkey are telling the local residents to leave their homes.

"This is nothing but dispossession of the homeland. The authorities of Armenia and Karabakh are implementing this very program according to the plans of Turkey and Azerbaijan. All the guilty will be held accountable for this," added Minasyan.

He noted that Turkey and Azerbaijan are constantly talking about the need to fulfill the arrangements.

"What arrangements are we talking about? Obviously, there are unpublicized agreements, as a result of which Kovsakan [(Zangelan)] and other territories were handed over, which, according to the [trilateral] statement of November 9, [2020] should not have come under the control of Azerbaijan.

It is possible that the Armenian authorities received money in exchange for these arrangements, and therefore Turkey and Azerbaijan speak with them in the language of blackmail. Otherwise, the representatives of the incumbent regime in Armenia would at least deny these statements. If they don't do it, the Armenian authorities have obviously agreed to these arrangements," Minasyan emphasized.

The former lawmaker noted that the current Armenian authorities are implementing the Turkish-Azerbaijani plan and keeping Armenia under their occupation.

"Therefore, it is necessary to show an appropriate attitude towards them, declare a national liberation struggle, and get rid of them. Any way to liberate the homeland from invaders is permissible. It is necessary to achieve a change of power [in Armenia] in any way, as the process overseen by the treacherous regime leads to irreversible losses," concluded Gagik Minasyan.
Khachkar, dedicated to the victims of the Genocide, is removed from the territory adjacent to the Holy Ascension Church in Berdzor, Deputy Minister Lernik Hovhannisyan told Artsakh Public Television, adding that if the monuments remain under Azerbaijan's control, they will be destroyed. "Back in February 2021, in the courtyard of Tsakhkavank Church in Tsakuri village of Hadrut region, the President of Azerbaijan clearly stated that the monuments that have been erected for thirty years are to be destroyed. He also said that all Armenian monuments must be written off," he said. Most of the monuments evacuated from Berdzor, Aghavno and Sus will be in the yards of other churches. The martyrs' memorials on the grounds of the Church of Holy Martyrs in Aghavno will be evacuated and moved to the "Yerablur" military pantheon.

The situation in Artsakh heated up from August 1. The Artsakh Republic President Arayik Harutyunyan stated at the meeting of the Security Council convened on August 2 that Azerbaijan through peacekeepers demanded to set up the corridor connecting Artsakh with Armenia by a new route. The next day the Azerbaijani side roughly violated the ceasefire regime and opened fire at the combat positions of the Defense Forces and the permanent deployment of one of the military units with the use of mortars, grenade launchers and assault rifles. On the Armenian side 2 casualties and 19 wounded. Already on August 5 the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Artsakh Hayk Khanumyan stated to the habitants of Aghavno and Berdzor that they should leave their houses till August 25.

It should be mentioned that point 6 of the trilateral statement of 9 November 2020 says that in three years' time a new alternative road will be built to connect Artsakh with Armenia. Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan said on August 4 that the work on the construction of the Lachin corridor alternative road has already begun and will be completed by spring. Azerbaijan has built a 30-kilometer section of the road, which should connect with the road built by the Armenian side. Russian peacekeepers will be stationed on a 5-kilometer section of the new route.
The US administration is prepared to impose dire consequences on Iran if it tries to infringe on the lives of American citizens, including retired officials, Jake Sullivan, assistant to the US president for national security, said Wednesday.

"We have said this before and we will say it again: the Biden Administration will not waiver in protecting and defending all Americans against threats of violence and terrorism. Should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences," Sullivan said in a written statement released by the White House.

A US official stressed that Washington will continue to deploy all resources to protect its citizens.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. authorities accused a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in absentia of planning to assassinate John Bolton, who served as assistant to the president for national security during Republican Donald Trump's presidency.
Sri Lanka's former leader "bound for Thailand"

Former Sri Lankan leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected in Thailand on Thursday, according to sources. File photo: AFP

Former Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested entry into Thailand for a temporary stay in a second Southeast Asian country after fleeing his island nation last month amid mass protests, the Thai foreign ministry said on Wednesday.



Rajapaksa fled to Singapore on July 14 following unprecedented unrest caused by Sri Lanka's worst economic crisis in seven decades, and days after thousands of protesters stormed the president's official residence and office.



The retired military officer then resigned from the presidency, becoming the first Sri Lankan head of state to quit mid-term.



Rajapaksa is expected to leave Singapore and head to Thailand's capital Bangkok on Thursday, two sources said, asking not to be named. Sri Lanka's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.



Tanee Sangrat, a Thai foreign ministry spokesman, said Rajapaksa holds a diplomatic passport that allows him entry into the country for 90 days. He did not say when Rajapaksa intended to visit.



"The entry to Thailand by the former president of Sri Lanka is for a temporary stay," Sangrat said.



"The Sri Lankan side informs us that the former president has no intention for political asylum in Thailand and will travel to another country afterwards."



Rajapaksa has made no public appearances or comments since leaving Sri Lanka, and Reuters was unable to immediately contact him.



Singapore's government said this month that the city state had not accorded him any privileges or immunity. (Reuters)
Iranian charged with plot to kill ex-Trump adviser

Iranian charged with plot to kill ex-Trump adviser

The United States charged a member of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps on Wednesday with plotting to murder John Bolton, a national security adviser to former president Donald Trump.



The Justice Department alleged that Shahram Poursafi, also known as Mehdi Rezayi, 45, of Tehran, was likely motivated to kill Bolton in retaliation for the death of Qassem Soleimani, a commander of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps killed in a US drone strike in January 2020.



Iran's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Iran does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, and Poursafi remains at large. The FBI on Wednesday released a most-wanted poster.



Washington does not believe the charges should affect talks with Tehran on reviving the 2015 nuclear deal under which Iran curbed its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, a US official said on condition of anonymity.



According to the criminal complaint, Poursafi asked a US resident identified only as "Individual A" to photograph Bolton, under the guise that the photos were needed for a forthcoming book. The US resident then introduced Poursafi to a covert government informant who could take the photographs for a price.



Investigators said the following month Poursafi contacted the informant on an encrypted messaging application and offered the person US$250,000 to hire someone to "eliminate" Bolton - an amount that would later be negotiated up to US$300,000.



When the informant asked Poursafi to be more specific in his request, he said he wanted "the guy" purged and provided Bolton's first and last name, according to a sworn statement in support of the complaint.



He later directed the informant to open a cryptocurrency account to facilitate the payment. In subsequent communications, he allegedly told the informant it did not matter how the killing was carried out, but that his "group" would require a video as proof that the deed was done. (Reuters)
US President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed the historic $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act into law that includes $52 billion to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The CHIPS and Science Act is the Biden administration's bet to incentivise chipmakers to reverse course and build fabs in the US and cut the dependence on China. "Today, I sign into law the CHIPS and Science Act. It's a once-in-a-generation law that invests in America by supercharging our efforts to make semiconductors here at home," Biden said in a tweet. "Today represents a more secure economy, jobs, and a stronger future for our nation. America is delivering," he said, adding that the future of the microchip industry is going to be 'Made in America'. Late last month, the US Senate and the House cleared the $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen science and technology innovation in semiconductors, manufacturing and other technologies. "The American people may not know it, but semiconductors are integral to their everyday experiences. They are microchips that are used in automobiles, consumer electronics, and washing machines," Democrat Representative Frank Pallone Jr had in a statement. The bill also creates a 25 per cent tax credit for semiconductor manufacturing, earmarks $1.5 billion for technology development for US firms dependent on foreign telecommunications, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, South Korea is reviewing its possible participation in the US-led semiconductor alliance from the perspective of national interest and has no intent to build an exclusive grouping against China. Industry Minister Lee Chang-yang made the remarks on Monday, amid concerns that South Korea's possible joining of the "Chip 4" could cause friction with China, its largest trading partner, if it develops into an exclusive grouping against Beijing. The Chip 4 is an envisioned alliance of semiconductor powerhouses tentatively involving the US, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, widely considered a grouping against China and aimed at countering Beijing's influence in global supply chains. --IANS na/vd ( 337 Words) 2022-08-09-22:36:02 (IANS)
Dallas [US], August 10 (ANI/PRNewswire): OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (Foundation) is pleased to announce the publication of a peer-reviewed article, The Power of Advocacy: Advancing Vision for Everyone to Meet the Sustainable Development Goals in the International Journal of Public Health, an independent society journal of the Swiss School of Public Health. The article was written by members of the Vision Impact Institute, which recently joined the Foundation. It explores the case for advocacy in advancing good vision globally, while making a clear connection to many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It builds on a critical review of bibliography and proposes new perspectives for vision advocacy to achieve significant policy change. "Evidence-based advocacy is essential to make good vision a global priority," says Eva Lazuka-Nicoulaud, the article's lead author and Head, Advocacy and Partnerships, Europe/Africa, at the Foundation. "In this article, we develop the connection between good vision and more than half of the SDGs." "With 1 in 3 people unable to see clearly, we must collectively advocate for solutions to address this issue," says Prof. Kovin Naidoo, Global Head, Advocacy and Partnerships, OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation. "Aligning with the UN Resolution on Vision: Vision for Everyone: accelerating action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we define a new outlook for the framework and key pillars of advocacy to scale up success by 2030. We propose that addressing poor vision globally can improve poverty, hunger, education, gender equity, economic growth, climate action and more." The article's complete author list includes Prof. Kovin Naidoo, Eva Lazuka-Nicoulaud, Kristan Gross, Judith Marcano Williams and Andrea Kirsten-Coleman, all recently having joined the Foundation. The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation (formerly Essilor Social Impact) is a French registered charitable organization (endowment fund) reflecting the commitment and values of EssilorLuxottica to eliminate uncorrected poor vision in a generation. It was rebranded in 2022 to bring together EssilorLuxottica's philanthropic, advocacy actions and investments including: Vision for Life, Essilor Vision Foundations in North America, India, Southeast Asia and China, Fondazione Salmoiraghi & Vigano in Italy as well as the Company's long term global partners OneSight and the Vision Impact Institute. It is headquartered at 147 rue de Paris, 94220 Charenton-Le-Pont, France. https://onesight.essilorluxottica.com/ This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)
Boston [US], August 10 (ANI/PRNewswire): Recorded Future, the world's largest intelligence company, today announced the launch of the National Cyber Defense Intelligence Kit for national cyber security organizations and governments to protect their critical infrastructure and mission-critical areas. Fueled with over a decade of human and machine intelligence combined with the most comprehensive dataset in the private industry, Recorded Future has the unique visibility on common national priorities that countries need to secure their infrastructure, assets, and data. "Alliances are one of democracy's strongest weapons. They are a thing that autocrats don't have. Mutual support is what makes us strong. It is in all our interests to see cyber defense capabilities rise across the board, enabling allies to defend themselves and to defend each other. In the new gray zone of conflict, all of our threats connect. I'm proud that Recorded Future has taken a leading role in the vital task of helping our friends help themselves and thereby making us all stronger." - Sir Alex Younger, Former Chief of MI6 The scope of national security is constantly evolving based on which threat actors are targeting a country, newly identified vulnerabilities affecting critical assets, and the geopolitical landscape. Recorded Future's Intelligence Cloud uniquely provides a comprehensive composite as threats leave digital markers that can be collected, collated, contextualized, and delivered directly to technical defenses. Analysts are then enabled to rapidly investigate geopolitical, cyber, and influence operations threats. Over 30 national cyber defense organizations and over 150 government, defense, intelligence, and law enforcement organizations around the globe leverage Recorded Future's intelligence. "With the diversity and escalation of threats to critical infrastructure and governments around the world, cybersecurity is now more than ever before a matter of national security. As such, intelligence is essential to keep up with the threats and expose adversaries. With Recorded Future's new intelligence kit, governments can identify and prioritize threats while collaborating and using common language to make global cyber defense stronger." - Yigal Unna, Former Director General of Israel National Cyber Directorate The National Cyber Defense Intelligence Kit centralizes intelligence on specific industries and areas of interest, enabling analysts and leaders to quickly answer intelligence requirements, set up real-time alerts, and conduct deep investigations. The mission-critical areas the National Cyber Defense Intelligence Kit covers includes, but will not be limited to: Government, Utilities, Energy & Industrial Control Systems, Telecommunications, Elections, Finance, Defense, and Health. "The convergence of threats - cyber, geopolitical and kinetic, and influence operations - demands a centralized view of the threat landscape, and we've built an expertise from working with governments and national security organizations for over a decade to manage their risk from a world of threats - whether it's state-sponsored cyber threats, physical warfare and geopolitical issues, disinformation campaigns, or even disruption to global supply chains." - Dr Christopher Ahlberg, CEO and Co-Founder, Recorded Future Learn more about the National Cyber Defense Intelligence Kit and request a demo of the Intelligence Cloud Platform at go.recordedfuture.com/demo. Recorded Future is the world's largest intelligence company. Recorded Future's cloud-based Intelligence Platform provides the most complete coverage across adversaries, infrastructure, and targets. By combining persistent and pervasive automated data collection and analytics with human analysis, Recorded Future provides real-time visibility into the vast digital landscape and empowers clients to take proactive action to disrupt adversaries and keep their people, systems, and infrastructure safe. Headquartered in Boston with offices and employees around the world, Recorded Future works with more than 1,400 businesses and government organizations across more than 60 countries. Learn more at recordedfuture.com. CONTACT: Cait Mattingly, Global Communications, Recorded Future, media@recordedfuture.com This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire)